68 – 68. Off the Record (論外).
Splitting the moonlight is a single blade.
Suppressing the joy flowing into the classroom through the window is an overwhelming aura.
Stirring the soul is the sudden encounter with turquoise irises.
All these elements were imbued with killing intent.
The fox spirit froze under the intense gaze but, instinctively as a monster, sensed the danger.
The sword suddenly appearing in the man’s hand, cutting through space, was an immediate threat, prompting her to reach out and tear through the opponent’s defenses.
Human bodies are fragile, and if her hand reached, it would be fatal.
Such arrogant and foolish thoughts she had.
She reached out.
Just as the thought reached her head and she tried to move her body, the blade had already touched.
Crack─!
A sound of something splitting above her head echoed.
After the debris scattered before her eyes, the yokai realized she had shattered the barrier she always had around her.
No matter how much an exorcist poured energy all day, it could not even scratch the iron wall, yet it crumbled and scattered in an instant.
There was still another layer left, but the sensation of the shattered barrier being like glass alerted the yokai’s vigilance.
‘…Something is different.’
Under the falling debris of the defensive spell, the woman quickly reorganized her spell with her eyes wide open.
With one hand forming a new spell for defense, she ignited flames with the other.
The profound energy wove through the classroom’s space, creating a spell.
──Foxfire, the spell of terror (劫火).
Lanterns announcing the midnight festival appeared throughout the classroom, blazing brightly.
Each flickering blue flame contained a power that corrupted souls.
A magic alien to human sorcery, enchanting the mind or distorting the touched body, it was a bewitching force.
Change, the fleeting fire.
It is the sorcery that the spirit of disgrace wields, known as enchantment.
Unlike humans who must put effort into reform, spirits easily manipulate enchantment through will once the ritual is complete.
Merely summoning flames from the air is not enough to strike at the right moment.
What is immediately needed is a bomb that kills only those with dull bodies, unlike spirits with tenacious flesh.
With that thought, the spirit amplified and ignited the flames.
The flames expand.
Moment by moment, an array of dozens of fireballs swell with energy, simultaneously amplifying and exploding.
Amidst the threats rising from all directions, the man’s action was quite simple.
He brandishes his sword.
Had a novice attempted this, it would have surely been a clumsy swing.
Likely ending in death without achieving anything.
But before him stood a man with consummate skill, determination, and experience.
He traces a path in the air.
The result is a painting depicting a sword light cutting through the moonlight.
It was a beautiful sword dance never seen before, but as he watched all the flames in the air perish at the blade’s edge, the man facing such majesty couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread.
“…This guy is dangerous-“
By the time the spirit realized that all its flames had been halved and dispersed, the trajectory of the sword was already aimed back at her.
In the faintly fluttering moonlight, the blue-eyed woman’s gaze flickered.
Desperately weaving enchantment, the fox, however, was struck by the sword first.
Crack!
As the blade made contact, it shattered like glass.
In the fragments of the dispersed enchantment, the woman’s expression momentarily turned desolate.
Originally reconstructing an imperfect defensive enchantment layer, it now lay completely shattered.
“…This guy is no ordinary exorcist.”
The desolate gaze, the sharp sword light, the swirling remnants of enchantment, and the murderous intent intertwined.
“…A monster.”
0.1 seconds until the first barrier fell.
0.9 seconds until all the remaining barriers were destroyed.
Combining all these moments into what is called an instant, the spirit realized the gap.
“I cannot win.”
Survival is impossible through conventional means.
Unlike other spirits who rely solely on brute force to overpower their opponents, the woman was a being of wisdom.
She contemplated for the future and poured all her power into surviving the present.
Flames rise, the spell of terror.
Energy on a scale to manipulate from the surface of Tachibana Sawako emanated.
Emitting in the form of fire, the essence of energy.
The expanded energy was not for defense or offense.
Only for a moment of evasion.
The imminent explosion would engulf not just the man, but also herself.
Quaaang─!!
The explosion in the air pushed back the space, even the sorcerer who had performed the spell was blown away.
The ghostly figure that filled the entire classroom soon turned into a pungent smoke, but as the man with the sword swung it, the figure vanished in an instant, clearing the view.
“…hehehehe. Are you really human? You seem more like a monster than a ghost.”
It was then that the fox spirit spread its arms.
Although his entire upper left body was charred due to the explosion, his innate regenerative and demonic powers were slowly restoring his flesh and skin.
As long as he was alive and not subdued, the injuries would ultimately be meaningless.
“…Well, I may not know your true identity, but I’m pretty sure I can’t defeat you.
Above all, the demon had no intention of facing the man in front of him fair and square.
Although his sinister smile was beginning to waver, it was clear that his physical abilities had surpassed those of a mere human.
He was no ordinary exorcist.
Among all the ‘beings,’ he was undoubtedly superior.
“You said I was ‘yours’ earlier, didn’t you? So, isn’t this body precious to you?”
However, humans always have weaknesses.
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There was bound to be a vital spot that would cause a scream if struck deeply.
The woman with a malicious smile slowly raised her palm to his neck.
As demonic energy gradually rose within her, it soon transformed into blade-like sharpness.
Ssshh─from the faint red blood trickling down the white neck from a shallow wound.
“Since we don’t even know each other’s names and aren’t friendly, shall we refrain from conversation?”
Feeling the intense beating of his heart, the fox spirit occupying Sawako’s body placed a new bet on the table.
“Even if your movements are faster, would I be quicker to end myself?”
The fox spirit, now possessing Sawako’s body, tensed his hand as if he were about to strike his neck at any moment.
At such a provocative sight, the man with the sword simply scratched his head nonchalantly.
He did not seem tense at all.
‘…Huh, wasn’t our relationship deeper than I thought?’
Ironically, it was the demon who started to feel anxious.
After weighing the pros and cons, it would be problematic if that man were to slice through his body entirely.
At the very least, to escape from that monster, he needed to somehow tie his legs down.
“…I’m not telling you to die. Let’s just slowly engage in conversation. We are individuals with our own values, so there might be room for understanding. We could definitely become friends.”
Upon hearing this, the man hesitated for a moment.
For some reason, the eerily chuckling smile seemed even more menacing.
The man with the sword shrugged his shoulders and said, “Hmm, we could certainly become friends…perhaps. In that case, someday we may understand each other.”
“…Yes, we can understand each other-!”
“It’s probably just a coincidence, but it’s such a tiresome statement.”
“…What?”
As Ichimaru Shiki let out a sigh, today’s smile seemed the brightest among the rest.
“Compelled friendships are a thing of the past for me, having experienced them for over a hundred years, I’m fed up now.”
His now empty fingers tapped the air.
It looked exactly like a gesture of resignation.
Yoho was not a creature of flesh, but had seen many things over the years.
Simple movements of the body could be predicted.
Let alone raising a finger, such basic actions were not worth mentioning.
“…What’s this, another sense of unfamiliarity-“
It was impossible to understand why such actions were being taken.
The movement itself was not threatening.
Despite maximizing sensitivity, there was no indication of forming a hostile stance.
There should have been no problem at all, yet for some reason, unease crept in, prompting Yoho to speak.
─Don’t move.
If any part of the body other than the mouth moved, they would die instantly.
That was the threat.
Regardless of their prowess, those who occasionally transcended limits were beyond common sense.
Everything had to be handled with caution.
However, even among those who surpassed common sense to some extent, there were differences.
“…Mm-“
At the moment the words lingered in the mouth, the man was already standing in front of Yoho.
When Yoho blinked, Ichimaru Shiki executed a technique.
His outstretched finger had somehow pierced between her collarbones.
─Spiritual energy, soul’s technique.
Corrects the position of the soul.
Kwong! Overwhelmed by an irresistible shock, Yoho was pushed back. She desperately got up from the ground and soon realized the situation.
Thud─Sawakō Tachibana collapsed on the classroom floor. Watching this scene was the true form of Yoho.
The youkai with blue hair and a tail tried to catch her breath and escape, but when she turned her head, the man was already there.
With a wide, sinister smile, the white-haired Ichimaru Shiki grabbed the trembling fox head.
“Oh dear, you were being too provocative, my hand just moved on its own.”
“…Ugh.”
“Shall we have a calm conversation?”
“…Y-yes!”
Chilmiho nodded vigorously, tears welling up.