106 – 106. Normal or Abnormal.
Just as there is a saying that the one who tormented others in the past cannot remember, while the one who was tormented can recall the pain, the relationship between the one who hit and the one who got hit was also one-sided.
In addition to regular academic life, researching unfamiliar attributes of spellcraft called ‘dispossession release.’
Moreover, as the school festival approached, the burden on Eris Betelgeuse as the vice president became unbearable.
Whether it was stress or resentment towards those who hit him, despite being diligent and virtuous, his resentment towards those who dared to hit him was expanding in his heart.
Meanwhile, when he sensed the aura of one of the unauthorized absentees, Eris ran straight to the classroom.
Drrring!
By the time the blonde sorceress opened the door, Sawamura Sento, one of the unauthorized absentees, had already reached Kenichi, who was squatting in front of a prop.
Seeing Kenichi, who looked flustered and held a hammer, Sento simply smiled, not initiating a conversation right away, as she seemed to have arrived just now as well.
Eris Betelgeuse furrowed her brow slightly and took a step forward.
“You, what in the world-“
As the sorceress moved as if she was about to scold him any moment, Sento just smiled at her.
It was around that time that Eris felt something odd from the woman in front of her.
It wasn’t just because of Sento’s smiling face devoid of any conscience, but the strange energy within her suddenly began to bother Eris.
…Something had changed. As she realized this fact, the rich expressions of Sawamura Sento, which had clearly changed from before, also began to feel strangely unsettling.
“…What’s up with you.”
For Eris Betelgeuse, blurting out that question was almost inevitable.
Rather than getting mad straight away, she was more intrigued by the change in her.
It even felt like the capabilities of the mage she thought were equal had clearly been surpassed.
It was a vague feeling.
From magical power, spell composition, to the ability to creatively lead battles.
Nothing seemed advantageous, not even the intuition or vigilance as a living being before a mage.
Yet, as Eris subtly raised my magical power, Sawamura Sento, a sorcerer who had surpassed several limits, simply smiled and muttered.
“Hello, Eris.”
“…What on earth has been going on with you all this time?”
“Hmm, what do you mean.”
It’s a long story to tell.
From Noble mtl dot com
Sento wasn’t stupid enough to blabber about it in the middle of a classroom.
Therefore, after scanning everyone from Kenichi and Eris, who were staring at themselves like fools, to Hotaru who followed behind, he grinned and said.
“Shall we change the location?”
***
Although not as spacious as the Student Council room, Karakura High School had a separate meeting room to encourage students’ study and club activities.
Not very large in size, but a perfect place for a few students to make some noise discreetly.
Sawamura Sento, along with the fool Kenichi, Eris, and Hotaru, all entered the meeting room and took their seats.
“…”
“…”
Then, silence lingered for a while.
Although they were all classmates in the same class, it was the first time the four of them had gathered in one place since Ichimaru Shiki was taken to the shrine.
Although everyone had some composure, as they were dragged into this somewhat strange atmosphere of the secret meeting room, except for Sawamura Sento, the others fixed their expressions and looked around.
It was because a strange and powerful energy spread throughout the room, neither human nor yokai.
“It’s been a while, Sawamura.”
Breaking the awkward atmosphere, it was Ichinose Hotaru who spoke first.
Facing her friend after a month, she tilted her head with an awkward expression.
One of the main reasons for the awkwardness was the clearly detected yokai energy by the miko’s senses.
“If you sense yokai energy from a human, they’re already possessed. They are not to be saved but are clearly targets for exorcism,” said the caretaker of the Inari Shrine, the priest’s words from the early days of learning.
Possession involves entanglement of spirits, which cannot be simply resolved by purification.
Unless it reaches an extreme as a miko, it’s impossible.
“But Sento is a sorcerer.”
It might be different from ordinary people.
While secretly hoping for a miracle, Hotaru steadily prepared to evoke it.
She wanted to believe it wouldn’t be true, but as a miko, she had to be prepared for any possibility.
Having significantly enhanced her divine power and miko abilities over the past few months, she could now communicate with gods through silent prayers alone.
“Oh, Gods, please…”
Let there be no fighting among friends.
Hotaru quietly muttered to herself and gazed at Sento in front of her with a forced smile.
Sawamura Sento, in return, wore a rather refreshing smile as he spoke.
“Well, it’s been a long time. Probably because I haven’t been coming to school for a while. Everyone seems glad, but especially Eris. Thanks for taking care of the class in my absence.”
“…Ah, yeah. Vanishing without a word, you must have had a hard time during that time, right…?”
“Yeah, I should have said something in advance, I’m sorry.”
It was a more normal flow of conversation than expected.
Even Eris, who was a bit standoffish, found Sento’s natural apology particularly striking.
He was always close to common sense, but now he exuded a gentle and mature demeanor.
Sento, now much more relaxed than before, emitted a faint, unnatural aura that clashed with the violent energy of the yokai, which Eris Betelgeuse, sensitive to alcohol and magic, and the fire priestess Hotaru keenly felt.
However, Kenichi, less perceptive than them, thought, “He seems more mature now,” nodding in agreement.
“Well, you look healthy, which is good. I was worried if you were feeling unwell.”
“Thankfully, I’m perfectly fine, no signs of any illness.”
Sento’s face indeed seemed brimming with vitality.
There was no stiffness in his expression, no hint of a bright energy radiating.
Truly refreshing atmosphere.
While the other two women looked more stern, the warrior Kenichi’s expression brightened as he greeted his friend.
“So, you’ll keep coming to school from now on?”
“Yeah, there’s no reason not to anymore.”
“Good. It was tough training alone after you disappeared along with that devil Shiki. Oh, right. You didn’t break up with Shiki, did you?”
“…?!”
“…Kenichi!”
Unaware of the situation, Kenichi’s words made Hotaru and Eris widen their eyes as they stared at him.
Even if they weren’t dating, such a rude question was disrespectful. If they were truly breaking up, why would he blurt out such a thoughtless remark?
Despite the shocked reactions of the two women, Sento chuckled and nodded.
“We haven’t broken up yet.”
“…Oh.”
Even Kenichi, who was less intelligent than the others, felt the chill in her voice.
With a meaningful smile, Sawamura Sento looked at his fellow student.
“I have no intention of leaving like this.”
As Sento quietly muttered, a dark red aura formed above his head.
Two horns shot up like a goblin’s.
At this eerie sight and the clearer presence of the yokai’s energy, everyone’s eyes widened.
Amidst the shocked atmosphere in the room, Ichinose Hotaru stood up abruptly and unleashed her power.
“…O mother of fire, existing since the beginning! Lend me your strength, your daughter-!”
Was it something that emerged from the sky or the ground?
The hot and bright energy of the sun immediately enveloped the fire priestess Hotaru.
Though it was a temporary sanctuary, it was the antithesis of the yokai, the power of fire.
Sufficient power against a single entity.
Hotaru dared to make that judgment, yet in essence, there was always a ‘gap’ between souls and energies.
“───God, fall asleep.”
Tap, tap. Sawamura Sento, who drummed the desk, looked firmly at the miko and murmured.
The aura in the room flickered for a moment, and just with that, the divine power that clung to the miko’s body hid its presence.
“……Hm?”
Ichinose Hotaru was astonished, but Sawamura Sento calmly held his ground.
There was no altar of fire, no robes, nor any equipment including Buddhist tools by the miko’s side.
The fusion of a yokai almost divine and a spellcaster far removed from the Shrine of Flames was enough to overwhelm the miko.
“……Oh, this is troublesome.”
Eris Betelgeuse, who had conjured stars in the sky, paused as he sensed the outcome.
The blonde wizard smirked.
It seemed like the spellcaster who had once been under his command had now reached for the skies.
Having swiftly taken control of the secret room, Sawamura Sento casually spoke.
“No need to be on guard. I am perfectly fine.”
Kenichi thought suddenly.
Weren’t people with strange thoughts always convinced they were normal?
He might have spoken up in the past, but now, with some sense having developed, Kenichi kept quiet.
Without a word, he simply grasped the cross-shaped necklace in his hand.
─Open.
If a friend seemed to be losing their mind, it was one’s duty to help them.