The Crisis World XX

Chap. 48: I Will Rise Again!

I am now on the back hill. By ourselves. There was no Herlin who usually accompanied me to practice. I decided to practice on my own, swinging the sword nonstop after school.

I also deliberately did not tell Herlin that I was training in this place. We have two training sites, one for the most frequent sparring exercises we use and the other one that is quite rare, used to increase stamina, sword techniques, and others.

And now I'm in second place. Herlin is also rarely here, so this is a great place to be alone.

As I said before, swinging the sword in endless static movements was the thing I was doing right now. Without lunch, without changing clothes, without a word coming out of my mouth, I kept swinging the sword.

“Iraya ..”

Someone's voice calls. But it was a sound coming from my head - aka Cecilia, so it didn't interfere with the concentration I had been building up since. I kept swinging my sword.

That night, when I found Mom's lifeless body, I had promised in my heart that I would kill the culprit. Then when Cecilia inspected the entire house, she managed to find a trace of faint aura left behind.

Although he doesn't know the owner, but if he remembers, I'm sure we'll definitely meet again. Because if Cecilia could sense his aura, it must be an Exception. And Cecilia also said that the owner of the aura was stronger than me, so here I am now.

Swinging the sword hundreds of times from noon until the sun was almost setting.

“Can you stop this pointless thing?”

Cecilia came back to talk that made me stop my sword swing. “What do you mean in vain?” my many.

“Clean your mind. Wouldn't it be better now to tell your friends in Black Rain?”

That's not actually wrong either. But this is my own business, if contacting them, it is tantamount to admitting my weakness that cannot solve my own affairs.

“No. I can't. Can't.”

“But you're still weak! Are you not aware of that?! You can't beat the man who killed your mother!”

Cecilia slapped me with reality, making me bite my lips in anger. He's correct. And because it's true, it pisses me off. Why should I be this weak? So weak that I can't protect the people I love.

“What you're doing now is just to satisfy your selfishness! You're not thinking straight, Iraya!”

I clenched hard. Everything Cecilia said was true, but why did the more she heard it, the more she wanted to rebel? Is it because it is an indisputable fact?

Then I faced the forest area that still had shady trees and put up the horses. Slightly weak because the left hand that was in the cast was indeed, so I did as much as possible.

Then after that, focusing the aura on the right hand then the sword blade. Electric sparks gathered on the blade of the sword. The light that shimmered up covered the entire blade of the sword, then released in a single slash that destroyed anything that passed through it.

Or so I thought.

It turned out that only a few trees were split in part of the tree and even the rows to the four trees were still standing intact.

“....”

“Are you satisfied?” ask Cecilia.

Of course not. From the results of the slash earlier it was already seen that I was not as strong as I thought. During The One tournament, I thought I was a great person until it occurred to me to hide my strength. But the truth is not like that.

“I am ... stupid, yes?”

“Ya, very stupid.”

And as if affirming Cecilia's answer, it rained heavily all of a sudden. Moistened my entire body that was still silent while looking down gloomily.

“For now, let's get down first, okay? You can catch a cold if it rains like this.”

“Good.”

**

When it came down the hill with rain because I did not bring an umbrella, suddenly someone called my name from behind. This time it wasn't Cecilia, the voice that called me softer. So I looked towards the source of the sound.

"Iraya-kun, why is it raining like this?" It was Yuuki-san.

"Yuki-san? That's .. I happen to not have an umbrella."

"Oh yeah, since it's close, would you stop by the parlour for a second?"

I agree with Yuuki-san's invitation, there is no special reason to reject it either. After arriving, Yuuki-san told me to wait here for a while.

While waiting, I looked around the building. Colorful paint with a funny shape on the wall that aims to make a crowded atmosphere already looks a little faded and peeling. It seems like it hasn't been refurbished in a long time.

A while later, Yuuki-san finally returned. Now in his hand he carries a blue towel and a change of clothes. "For a while change clothes first, the cold can not be underestimated even though you are strong, you know."

“Hehe .. I understand,” reply me sober.

I then dry my head and change clothes with the clothes Yuuki-san prepared. Somehow it feels like this shirt is a little small and I smell a familiar fragrance from this shirt.

"That's Herlin-chan's shirt, you know." Yuuki-san spoke as if she could guess my mind which was certainly surprised.

"Hehe .. Your reaction is funny know, Iraya-kun," he said with a small laugh. "Although it's his shirt, but only in use a few times because it's too big, really."

"Heh~"

Still, this is the clothes that Herlin had worn and the fragrance of his perfume I can still feel even vaguely.

Then after that, an awkward atmosphere attacked both of us. Me and Yuuki-san only smiled faintly because they did not know what to talk about in this kind of situation. But luckily Yuuki-san started the conversation again.

"Iraya-kun, lately you rarely visit the Haiiro Cafe, huh?"

"Ah, yes, lately I've been busy doing something."

Yuuki-san had noticed me for a while, and it seemed like she knew some things from it. “Looks like you're also under-rested, huh?"

"S-About that ...." Words hang.

"Is it really heavy? If you want, I might be --"

"Sorry, Yuuki-san ...!"

I cut off Yuuki-san's words. The feeling he had was so strong that he could tell that I was in trouble. But I promised myself that I would finish it myself. I don't want to trouble anyone else.

"… I'm fine, just a little busy." So instead of him trying to stretch out his hand, let me just cut him off.

"….”

Yuuki-san also seemed surprised that I cut her words out suddenly, but she was still able to maintain a friendly smile on me.

“So, huh? Then good luck.”

“Iya .. thank you.”

Our chatter cut through time and the rain outside had already begun to subside. Looks like it's time to go home, I don't want to be here too long either. It can be troublesome to meet Herlin because he will definitely make me speak the truth.

"Then, Yuuki-san. Excuse me du-!"

But Yuuki-san hugged me all of a sudden. Even while trying to let go, he further tightened his embrace. "Looks like you have a problem you don't want to tell me about, huh? It's okay, I get it. But at least for now, you can rest here for a while."

“....”

This hug made me remember a familiar feeling. A warm and comfortable feeling that I had not felt for a long time, the same feeling as a mother's embrace. The feeling ... that I really miss.

It was confusing at first what I should do, but I know now. The uneasiness, anger, discomfort everything seemed to fade along with the tears that started falling down my cheeks.

"… Sorry." I apologize for being so stupid and stubborn.

While Yuuki-san just stroked my head gently, calming me down and reassuring me that everything would be fine. I was in that position long enough

And after feeling enough, I took off Yuuki-san's embrace.

"Thank you, Yuuki-san. Now I'm okay, really. I've returned to my usual self!" I smiled for the first time today.

"Although that's a little embarrassing, anyway."

We both laughed a little at it. I then walked out and once again thanked Yuuki-san. Don't forget to bring the plastic with my wet shirt.

**

Meanwhile in another place and at about the same time, several people were gathering and seemed to want to discuss something important. In a meeting room with many tables and chairs without lighting, just bathed in moonlight that passes through the ventilation of the room, making the atmosphere cool and tense.

"Tch! What exactly did the Boss think? Gathering everyone up these nights?" A man with messy white hair—Ardenter, sitting on one of the chairs with both feet on the table.

"Take it easy, he said this meeting was just for a moment." A woman with a Katana on her waist—Nimis, leaning comfortably on the wall with both hands folded in front of her chest.

"Yes, just wait a minute. Hasn't this nature become common to you?" A girl sitting on a table swinging her legs relaxed like a child waiting cheerfully—Caramel.

In addition to the three of them, there were also three other people in the room. And as one could guess, they were also the other members of the Assassin. From his appearance they were like ordinary people except for one quiet person who had a large body, approximately 2.5 meters high.

Ten minutes had passed, but there was no sign of the person they called 'Boss' coming, making the bored Ardenter wait back to complain annoyed.

"Alright, it's too late! Shouldn't he be here by now?"

But just after Ardenter complained, the door of the room suddenly opened and two people came inside. An attractive looking man with an estimated age of about 25 years with normal height and short blonde hair.

Behind him tailed a man wearing a robe of a brown canal to his ankles with headgear and a face mask with a smiling motif, making him look even more mysterious.

"You're late, fucking boss!" ardenter Protest.

"I had business a little late. And at this meeting we'll talk about it." The blond man smiled sinisterly at the end of his sentence.

"That thing?"

"You mean?"

"Yes, take back Subject C from its host's hands now."

There was no special response from the people in the room. Nimis and Ardenter showed little reaction, perhaps because only they had ever faced Host Subject C directly. While Caramel only smiled a little considering the previous events in the tournament. The rest don't seem to care much.

"Before we discuss it further, I want to introduce someone to you."

The boss then allowed the person wearing the robe to come forward so that the others could see clearly.

"From now on, he'll join you. He's a little special, so you can treat him well. Just call him Delta.”

Boss patting gently on Delta's back. Delta responded with a nod of the usual introductory sign.

"Hm ... Special, huh?"

As usual, Caramel who was sitting suddenly stood up and approached the Delta. His relaxed and slightly childish nature made this meeting less tense.

"What makes you special, Delta-san?"

The faces of the two meet. Very close distance. White mask with a wide grin, one eye the right part is cross-shaped and the left part is crescent-shaped facing down and a small crown on it.

Caramel tried to peek into her eye hole, but she could not see anything. Just endless darkness. While Delta does not look provoked, just look back at Caramel.

Then the boss answered Caramel's question. Makes everyone who heard it—except Delta of course—shocked.

"Delta is Subject D."

"Subject D …?"

Nymis small muttering. The others were still staring at Delta sharply and vigilantly. The atmosphere became tense when everyone knew that Delta was not an ordinary human, but an experimental creature.

"Okay, that was beyond my expectations. But let's not be so tense. I'm sure the Boss has an explanation for this, right?" Caramel tried to melt the atmosphere. "Because to my knowledge, Ayakashi Corp. only made experiments of three creatures. But why is there suddenly a human being who is used as an experimental material?" caramel asked curiously.

“This is a request from the founder of Ayakashi Corp.—Nakamura himself, so I cannot dispute it. By the way, he had already done one task, which was to kill the parents of the Subject C host."

"Kill his parents? Why not the Host directly?" ask Ardenter.

"If the host dies, then the Subject C in it will also die. We need to use the Host's anger even further, and that's the job I'm going to give Delta."

"I understand.” Caramel then extended her hand. “Then greet Delta-san, my name is Caramel. I wish we could be familiar, even if it seems hard to do that." Delta received Caramel's handshake.

"I'm Nimis."

"My name is Ardenter."

"Did you know, my name is Ivis." A man about 40 years old. With white hair and a slight frown, he wore neat formal clothes like an important one.

"Yahoo! I'm Lennova. Hope we get along, Delta." Cheerful voice of a child who has not fully grown up. With long dark pink hair and a cute face and sticker love on his left cheek.

"Baram." A man who was about 2.5 meters tall and had shoulder-length hair. He was very quiet and could even keep quiet without doing anything during the meeting.

"Oh yeah, actually my calling is Astaroth. But the others are used to calling me boss. So get used to it, huh?"

Delta nodded in understanding with what the Boss meant.

After the brief introduction, the Boss resumed his discussion to further discuss the task of Caramel, which is to bring Host Subject C aka Iraya before them now.

"Caramel, it looks like you failed to do your job this time huh?" said Boss.

"Ara, fig, Boss ... You cannot blame me for this one. Blame the wrong person for giving me information."

Caramel glanced at Nimis. But Nimis realized it and was not happy about it, he considered that he had carried out his duties as he should.

"I have given you the right information!"

"If that's true, why didn't I meet him while I was there?"

"Ask yourself that!" Nimis gave a sharp look to Caramel. Their relationship was never good. I don't know what the two of them went through until they had a complicated relationship like this.

"Have it done, there's no point fighting at a time like this. Even if Caramel can't catch him, we'll still do the plan as scheduled."

"Tch!"

“Hmph!”

They were both managed by the Boss. Although it seems that their business is still not really finished.

"That's it for this time, you can leave if you want. We'll get together again when I call you again."

The boss broke up the meeting this time. One by one they all came out of the room. But when Caramel also wanted to get out, he was briefly detained by the Boss.

"Caramel, stop messing around."

“Hmm ...? What do you mean, Boss?”

“It looks like you have more interest in that Host Subject C. I don't care about that, but what I want is not to make the plan delayed any longer.”

“....”

The boss then left this room, leaving Caramel alone who was still standing processing the previous Boss' words. Silence happened for a while, but after that, Caramel laughed loudly in this empty meeting room.

"Amaha …! I really can't hide anything from her, huh?”

Caramel then took out a panda-shaped keychain that he took out during a previous mission. He then lifted her up high and watched her with a satisfied grin on his face.

“You are really interesting, Satou Iraya!”

Seriate