Darrion frowned and looked at the fairy in sceptical after he listened to what it had told him. "Really?"The little mushroom fairy nodded. "Really really.""Could it be that it's related?" Darrion asked.The fairy hesitated. "Sadly, we cannot read more than that... Waji can... But we have to bring the beast to him...""Waji is real?" Darrion asked.The fairy frowned at him, looking adorably angry. "Of course, Waji is real! What is that supposed to mean?!"Darrion raised his hands up. "Hey! Hey! I don't come from Pyreblair! I don't know you two exist!"The fairy raised up its wand and started hitting Darrion with it. "Of course we exist! We and Waji exist! Everything exist! How could you say that?!"Darrion raised his hand to shield himself, but the hit was actually not painful at all. He was also grinning, although apologetically, because for some reason, he didn't really feel guilty. "S-Sorry! Really, I am!"Seeing the two banter against each other, Harris felt a tiny bit of jealous
Jai fell on the ground with multiple rolls. But he got up and skidded a little bit on the ground. He felt his knee grazed the ground a little bit, but it was nothing serious. He got a few light bruises on his arms though, as he was wearing a short-sleeved white shirt today underneath his blue vest."What's just happened?" Jai murmured to himself as he stood up. He patted himself to get the dirt and leaves off of him. "That was Darrion, isn't it? That was also the purple fairy from before."The flashbacks of him meeting the purple fairy with Claude came to his mind, and he was sure that they were the same. Except if they have several siblings of the same color like the blue fairies, then his assumption is wrong.He then looked around. The area he was in right now wasn't the same as before. The trees weren't in a very close distance to each other, and that's the only difference.He heard sounds somewhere in the northwest direction. Rustlings and some thuds. He didn't need to see whether
"Let me go! You inconsiderate little Pop Cat!!" Beto moved around as she was being floated in mid-air.Darrion only looked at her briefly as he brought her up before he ignored her completely. He didn't know what she was talking about. Both of his translators weren't here, so he couldn't possibly understand what she was saying. But he knew she was complaining about something. Either it's about Jai that was left out, or she couldn't handle being in mid-air. Either way actually made him a little bit concerned, but he chose not to for a while.He had his reasons on leaving Jai, while if she was nauseous, they would be arriving shortly there."Hey! I'm talking to you!!" Beto said. She tried turning her body around so that her feet would face the blonde and she could kick him. But she couldn't. So she did something else to get his attention. She shot a fireworks at him.The flame licked Darrion's exposed skin, surprising him that he pulled his hand in surprise. "What was that?!!" He looked
Alex grunted as he poured the water from the bucket inside the bigger and wider bucket near the well. He then put the bucket down on the ground and said. "I think that's enough. Don't you think, little Shitone?"He looked at the baby inside the wider bucket, happily splashing the water around her while blabbering incomprehensible words."Aba ba ba ba...." The little girl with short auburn hair murmured. She was wearing a lime green swimsuit with spaghetti strap. Her bangs were pulled up with a red squid hairband and it made her look adorable. She smiled at Alex and reached her hand to him. "Ato-nii! Ato-nii!"Alex gave her a charming smile and bent over, taking her hand in his. "I'll be here watching over you. So just play as long as you like."The little girl giggled and nodded. "Water! Dank you!"Alex nodded, understanding what she meant. "You're welcome."He let go of her hand and little Shitone enjoyed herself by playing with the water, just like he had said. He took the bucket an
“Where did you say you’ll be going again?” An old man asked his wife beside him. He was walking his wife down the hallway of their small mansion. The old man’s hair was greyish black, and it was combed neatly to the side. He was wearing a dark green yukata white dark grey for its top.“Oh dear… I want to visit our nephew in the South district. I want to know how he’s doing.” His wife said. Her hair was also greyish dark hair. She was wearing a soft tone blue yukata with dark green bow.“Our nephew in the south… Do you mean Takeshi’s son? That four-eyed teacher?” He asked.The wife nodded. “Yes. That one.”“Why?” He asked, his expression seemed indifferent.“You know I can be very curious when it comes to children, Eiji.” His wife patted his shoulder with a smile, unperturbed by her husband’s lack of expression.“Yes, I can see that, Rio. You visited the orphanage nearby often. What does that mean when it comes to him?” The husband, Eiji, asked.The wife, Rio, chuckled. “He’s a teacher
“Hey. This one is cute. What is this, Chie-chan?” Kiyo asked her friend while pointing the rows of pink flowers in front of her. These flowers were like tulips, but the flowers were lopsided or looking down, as if they had withered, and the tip of the petals were facing the upward.Kiyo’s friend who is a florist, Chie Haruno, hurried over to her from inside the store. The girl had curly dark hair and dark orange eyes. She was a little bit shorter than Kiyo, but she’s chubbier. She was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans with green floral apron covering her waist to the knees. She was bringing a small white flower between her fingers that looked like lily flower but with slightly wider petals. When she looked at the flower pointed by Kiyo, she answered. “Oh! That’s the Taihou no Hana. It’s cute isn’t it?”Kiyo giggled. “Yes, it is. Did it just come in? I didn’t see it this morning.”Chie nodded. “Yep! My mother ordered it since a client asked for it.”Kiyo slide her fingers on the petal
The sound of water droplet echoed and a blue mushroom fairy appeared in an area in the ancient forest. The fairy looked around and looked confused. “Eh? Jai is not here?”Another blip sounded and another appeared beside it, its other blue sibling. “He’s not here too?”Anorther blip appeared, but this one was a bit far from the area. “Jaaai?” Another blue fairy called.The three then vanished at the same time and appeared in front of their other blue siblings that had regrouped in a certain area. “Jai is not here.”“Not in this area either?” The other asked.A blue fairy shook its head. “Oh this miasma is making it difficult…”The blue fairies then talked among themselves, trying to figure out how to get to Jai like they had planned.“Why is there miasma in here anyway? Waji’s forest should be free of demonic energy…”“It’s like that time with purple sibling and the wolf.”“Wasn’t Jai also there? He was hurt but he was healed.”“Oh yes… Purple sibling said that there was miasma around
“Jai had been bitten once? By what?” Darrion asked after the purple fairy had finished explaining why the miasma wouldn’t affect Jai at all. “And by the way, what is miasma?”“Miasma is the bad aura from demonic monsters. It is demonic energy and is bad for both humans and animals.” The purple fairy explained. “That puppy was once demonic, but Waji cleansed it and now it’s free.”Darrion looked at Shoru, who looked clueless of what was currently discussed by the humans around. “What would happen if a human touch it?” Darrion asked.“They will become weak and sickly. They won’t be able to move freely anymore. If they are not cleansed, the miasma will stay inside the body until the human dies.” The fairy explained.“Kind of like a tumor…” Kasuga commented with a hum.“What’s the difference between miasma and that poison in the air that you mentioned before? Because from your explanation, it doesn’t seem like it’s different from poisons.” Darrion asked.“It’s because miasma is magical. I
Jai felt something wrapped around his stomach from behind. He immediately looked down to his waist, spotting two smaller sized hands coiling on his waist.‘A kid, obviously. But who is it?’ Jai wondered. This was a baby shower event, so he wasn’t feeling weird if children attend too. The question is, who is this kid?He tried to turn around to look at the hugger, but the kid was hugging him tight. It wouldn’t be hard to push it, but he was reluctant because it’s a kid. He knew there’s nothing he could do but ask.“Oh? Hello? Is there anything you need?” Jai asked with a friendly tone.He could hear giggles, but the kid didn’t answer his question.“Oh are we playing guess?” Jai asked.More giggles.“It’s a boy.” Someone whispered from his left side. A familiar voice yet he could not name.“Hey!” The boy protested.But from that tone alone, Jai could already figure out who it is. So he said. “Hello, Ruta-kun.”The kid let him go and Jai could finally turn around. True, it was Ruta. The
On the day when the baby shower was held, Jai arrived at the place with Baji.The venue is in a mansion in the North Town. Jai hadn’t been in that certain neighbourhood, but he finally understood that the North Town is the place for the riches, and the neighbourhood they were in is probably among the richest. The mansion building is tall, and the garden is so wide. There’s a medium sized pond with two gazebos on the side, and then there’s also a small orchard on the right side of the mansion.Baji leaned in to whisper something. “The party is in the back garden. And keep your mouth shut, please. You’re a famous guy and I don’t want you looking stupid.” Then he leaned back.Jai immediately closed his unconsciously parted lips and recited the plan. He couldn’t, of course, confront an important figure of a clan in a crowded venue. So Baji and Gilbert had made a plan to help him talk alone with Fuuji Fu in the venue. He just have to make sure he could deal with the ‘fans’, though he hoped
It isn’t a doubt that Cynthia was reluctant to share that information with Harris because Jai was there. So Jai proposed to the brunette to re-visit the place later in the day to ask about it.Baji was there when they returned, and Jai immediately told him about the findings he got also to consult about the Fiery Lotus.Baji crossed his arms on his chest and nodded in acknowledgement. “It’s fortunate that a promising lead is finally here. We’re sorry for the late initiative from our part. We should’ve worked harder.”He didn’t think that he would receive an apology from Baji. But it showed that the man is a responsible person. Jai shook his head. “It’s alright. From the start, it was already a scavenger hunt. But do you know anything about either of those?”Baji fixed his seating before he explained. “Well about the Chief of Fuuji, he’s a strict person on males. He’s nice to females, and he’s really into babies. There’s only one male person he had shown his friendly side to in public,
“So uhh, this person whom you mentioned before with Tsubasa is a very important person. And you want to ask him about Alex?” Darrion asked when they were in the carriage, heading back.Jai narrowed his eyes. “Why aren’t you being straightforward?”“I’m a bit tired from today. There are so many deliveries like yesterday. But ahh… I’m more tired in trying to understand what they say.” Darrion said with nervous smile.Jai forgot that his friend is not adept in Shouha language, it must be hard to work without understanding what anyone is saying.“Sorry.” Jai apologized.Darrion nodded. “It’s fine. Let’s just stick to no name for now, if possible. I… Can’t really erect a barrier right now.”“Sure.” Jai nodded. “The… Family, you know, told me about him. Saying that he is the first person we can ask about Alex. But he has a very high standing, as you’ve listened to me and the father talked about him, so it won’t be easy to talk to him.”“I see. So that’s why you go to them. They can be consi
"Sorry if it's too much of me to ask." Jai said."Oh no, no. It's fine. But my mother is not at home though, is that alright?" Yuta asked as he turned to Jai and Darrion behind him."It's alright. It's very sudden after all." Jai said."Alright then. Would tea be alright?" Yuta asked."Yes. It's fine. Thank you." Jai answered.Fu Fuuji is the head chief of one of the notorious Ten Guardian Clans, the Fuuji clan. After leaving the Komatsu’s residence, he was thinking about how to get in touch with this person. And the Akamine clan is the first thing that came into Jai’s mind.While they don’t really owe him a favor, this family is the closest connection that he has to the Fuuji clan, because they’re also one of the Ten Guardian Clans.Also, he knew that it’s not guaranteed that he would get an audience with Fu Fuuji through the Akamine. There’s a possibility that they are enemies with each other. But he would at least try to ask. So here they were, in the Akamine clan’s residence.Yuta
Returning to the present.“Little Sparks. Fiery Lotus. What the hell are those?” Jai asked as they left the compound.“Quiet down. You’re gonna get us killed for that.” Claude remindedJai turned around and talked in slight whisper. “If it’s associated with the Queen, that means it’s very private. In the North Town, in a community place like thing. It doesn’t ring any bells from the previous search. Do you know anything about it?”He saw an empty horse mount coming in their direction and waved it.The mount stopped in front of them and they immediately climbed in the carriage. “Southeast Windlet Post Office.” He told the horse mount driver.Weaving the air barrier thicker, Claude replied. “I don’t. I’m a hunter, not a mercenary. How do you suppose I know these things?”Jai smiled shortly with a shrug. “Maybe? Ah… But this is a major progress in the case. At least we know he’s not dead, and it will take more effort to rescue him now.” Jai smiled.Claude stared at Jai suspiciously. “Why
They were led to a corridor which have several doors across from each other. Alex immediately knew they are resting rooms, because he could see a bed from one of the opened doors.One of the committees, the previous guy who shot the Cloud Viewing Rune in the ceremony, pulled his hood down, showing his blonde hair. Then he turned around while the other committees went past him, leaving him to deal with the new freshmen batch.“Good morning. My name is Liam. I am one of the guild members and I am one of the supervisors of the freshmen. Well, not really supervisor, but I’m the one they put in charge to look after you when the super seniors are out. Like right now. Oh and umm, I’m not alone. I have my friends with me to look after you. So please don’t do anything rash, because we outpower you by a lot. And we prefer not to hit you, because you’re a potential junior. Please be nice to each other, okay?”Alex didn’t really pay attention. He stopped listening when he uttered the fourth sente
That morning on the day when Jai went to the Komatsu’s house, Alex had already settled in ‘the place’.He wasn’t familiar with the kingdom, as such, he didn’t know where he was taken to.And since he was late, he was grouped with those who were also late. Many eyes stared at him when he entered the room—it was an average room with beds—reserved only for those who arrived late.Apparently, those who arrived first had attended the ceremony and the first phase—and those who were late had to attend on their own. But they would be gathered together after that, and he would be able to meet his roommate. That was what Master Fu said yesterday when he dropped him off. But the old man wasn’t lying.He went through a sleepless night—because there were many others here that he didn’t know and he wasn’t keen on getting surprise attacked in the middle of his sleep. But the night went by uneventfully, fortunately.He and the others were given a tray of scone and tea to start the day. He didn’t eat
“Don’t. Test. Me.”Jai’s eyes glowed brighter for a second as he emphasized the last words.The civilians, of course flinched at his threat. All of them knew him as a humble and righteous young man. Always smiling and looked very kind. They never knew this side of him. That’s why they were very surprised. The Kizuato group wasn’t included though, they were there exactly to prevent Jai doing what he planned to do.Akane, who had have enough of her parents’ plan, stood up.“Akane-chan!” Rio tried to stop her, but she went anyway and spoke.But instead of retaliating at the guest in their house like the rest of her family, she was looking at her mother instead. “Just tell him, mother!”Rio frowned deep at her. “What are you saying, Akane?”Akane gritted her teeth. “Just tell him!! If you tell him, no one will be hurt!”Rio shut her mouth and swallowed, but she didn’t say anything.Akane looked at her mother with bewildered expression. “If you don’t, then I will.” She turned to Jai. But