107 – Overwhelming Power.
Humans are foolish beings who repeat mistakes.
No matter how wise a person may be, they were bound to make a foolish mistake at least once.
Sento was no exception.
She desired the power to stand against, yet had no intention to fight, Shiki.
But blinded by power, she had her control taken by the monster within her.
In her heart, watching herself target Shiki Ichimaru, Sawamura Sento thought.
…How foolish am I.
After returning from Kyoto, she secluded herself in her room, endlessly blaming herself.
Even with closed eyes, the image of her then, the violent residue, flashed in her mind.
Despair and self-loathing covered her soul as if to bury it in the ground.
For a weekend, two days, she lived like a recluse, not venturing out, consuming food and drink.
If she had been a bit more foolish, unaware that her time with Shiki Ichimaru was running out, that time would have lasted longer.
Sawamura Sento had a premonition.
The swan that had leisurely stayed on the Sehei River was now preparing to depart.
Shiki Ichimaru would soon leave.
Fortunately, she wasn’t foolish enough to repeat the same mistake twice.
Wisely, she realized a way to hold onto him, or at least a way to follow him.
‘I need to become stronger.’
In a way, it was the same old story.
She just needed to become noticeably stronger than before, not to let the inner monster sway her, and firmly take control.
The underground was something that couldn’t be done without a contract.
“Shutendouji.”
Therefore, the wise and cold-blooded Sawamura Sento came to this conclusion.
The Three Great Yokai of Japan.
They had to make the power of the great yokai known as the Goblin King entirely their own.
“Be my familiar.”
“…What?”
There was no intention to compromise halfway.
Despite the absurd demand, the goblin raged, but she was unaware of what was to come.
Even if it was considered coercion.
What she desired was not moderate power, but overwhelming power, authority.
Ichimaru Shiki.
She had to somehow justify her place by his side, which had taken on a significant role in her life.
For him, any means were acceptable.
Whoever stood in her way, she would fight and conquer, no matter who it was.
Even if they had learned together, nothing would change.
From Noble mtl dot com
◈Unleashed.
Watching Kitagawa Kenichi firmly grip the demonic sword, Sento suddenly thought.
How long had it been since they had sparred?
The faint memory of countless clashes on the sandy beach of Okinawa’s villa came to mind; it had been quite some time.
Yet, apart from Ichimaru Shiki, he was the one who knew best about his abilities.
Having learned together under him for a long time.
He had grown a lot.
The rookie hero who was only known in manga as a black-and-white page, the foolish high school girl plagued by misfortune, the naive sorcerer had all come this far.
At the end of his turbulent and youthful days, the sprout of a respectable hero had emerged.
Looking at the hero wielding the demonic sword, the magician who conjured stars, and the bewildered priestess, she closed her eyes.
Though it was a mere commonplace to achieve significant growth in a short time, Sawamura Sento was convinced.
Yet, I am the strongest.
What she desired was not to contend with children, not mediocre power.
The genius sorcerer had managed to conquer everyone but one, possessing the overwhelming power to dominate.
Sawamura Sento opened her eyes.
With horns fused with goblins and crimson energy emanating, she clasped her hands together and chanted.
“Unfold.”
At that moment, a new world opened up.
***
“…Hmm?”
The Student Council President Tokito Minami raised her head at the sudden wave she felt.
Although the point where the wave occurred and the Student Council Room were quite distant, this overwhelming power, evident to anyone who awakened, was not dependent on the title of a skilled commander.
The meaning of this was crystal clear.
…Someone who had reached a transcendent state had suddenly unfolded their domain at the school.
A situation where I cannot turn a blind eye as the one in charge.
As soon as Tōkito Minami was about to embark on a reconnaissance mission as the Second Commander of the Divine Palace.
If the man in front of him didn’t intervene, that’s how it would have been without a doubt.
“Oh, the conversation isn’t over, where are you off to?”
“But my mission…”
Seeing Minami about to retort, Ichimaru Shiki flicked his finger with a tap.
Small but discreet, a clear ripple emerged.
Minami, the Second Commander, blinked involuntarily, smirked, and sat back down.
“Well, upon further thought, it seems acceptable. Shall we continue our conversation?”
“Hmm, a very appropriate idea. Above all, trust is crucial.”
“…Yes, since you said so.”
Satisfied, the man nodded, crossed his legs arrogantly, and folded his arms.
In front of him, a senior, a key figure in the Divine Palace, he truly exuded arrogance…
No, always diligent, serving the nation, with exceptional intelligence and skills, it was indeed a fitting attitude for him.
“Well, as a member of the Divine Palace, you must prioritize the nation above all, right?”
“Correct.”
“Then, you must also serve the people, and for that, you must report all the Palace’s affairs to me.”
“Understood.”
Minami, whose mind was being controlled in real-time, nodded repeatedly, engraving Shiki’s true words.
He answered all questions.
He discussed everything from the recent upheavals in the Divine Palace to upcoming events, even the trivial details.
“Moreover, the Ascension Festival is approaching.”
“Ascension Festival?”
“This year, it’s a holiday to give thanks to the heavens and receive blessings for the upcoming year. It’s the most virtuous day when the Emperor conducts a ritual for the Heavenly Deity.”
“Oh, they conduct a ritual?”
“Yes, the great deity, the Emperor who is also a priest, personally presides over the ritual. It’s said to be the day when the connection to the Heavenly Deity is strongest.”
“Ah, I see. Then, for the true blessings of that day, Minami-san, you must assist me for the sake of many people.”
“Oh, that’s a wise idea.”
However, as he listened to the true words, Minami cautiously raised a concern as his collaborator.
“…But, your friends were at the site of the recent disturbance, are they alright?”
The Second Commander of the Divine Palace.
This prestigious title meant that he was the second most skilled and agile in detecting magical energies among the exorcists and ability users gathered from all over Japan within the Palace.
While Minami couldn’t discern the mix of spiritual energy and Senki, he easily sensed Kenichi, Eris, and Hotaru’s energy.
As far as she knew, they were close to the man in front of her, Ichimaru Shiki.
Of course, there was no way the superior man hadn’t noticed their superiority, but how could she not worry when it seemed like the friends of the upright citizen Ichimaru Shiki were involved in some conflict.
Listening to the true words and stewing in worry, Minami finally voiced her concerns to him.
Wouldn’t your true friends, the sincere citizens, be hurt?
Even with such worries, the man with the real eyes just smiled and replied.
“Oh, no, maybe? It should be fine. A clap of hands can make a sound.”
“…Really?”
Ah, there doesn’t seem to be such a saying around here. Anyway, there’s no need to worry. If the strength is somewhat similar, wounds will be inflicted on each other.
Ichimaru Shiki, with a violent yet distinctly refined energy, subtly raised the corner of his mouth.
“Right now, that side is overwhelmingly dominant.”
***
Mt. Yeongsan, Shrine of Fire.
Kamado Kyoju, the chief priest and caretaker of the shrine, was slowly surveying the grounds.
Until the Fire Priestess Ichinose Hotaru arrived, they couldn’t proceed with the formal ceremony, so all he could do was tidy up the shrine.
Having finished tidying up the shrine’s interior and courtyard alone as usual today, he stood at the stairs to greet her as she arrived.
She was a diligent priestess and a student who always arrived at the same time if possible.
As her senior and the one who had to guide her, he felt grateful.
Diligent and sharp, she was an excellent disciple who absorbed any teachings he imparted.
Although she was young and would take time to mature properly, that was how saplings were supposed to be.
Chief Priest Kamado Kyoju watched the orange sunset that had begun to fall.
He thought that this time the Fire Priestess would grow steadily and correctly more than anyone else.
She wouldn’t despair in failure and would always shine.
Until he faced her with her reddish-brown hair in disarray and tears in her eyes.
“…Sniff, I want to learn too.”
“…”
“…Chief Priest! Our Fire Goddess! Please tell me about this ‘territory unfolding’ or whatever it is!”
Ichinose Hotaru, who had come stomping in at a ratio of one to three, shouted with a determined expression.
Territory unfolding, indeed.
As a mere traditional healer and the Fire Goddess, it was quite awkward.
Domain Expansion is trending, hah.