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Owari no Seraph - Volume 1 - Chapter 5




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Chapter 5: War and Supermarket

 

“Nooow then now then, from tomorrow there will finally be the start of the weekly Academic Acceleration Examinations!” The female teacher says as she writes on the blackboard.

 

The Academic Acceleration Examinations is in summary, “that”. It seems to be an exam where students fight their fellows directly, and decides who is superior.

 

Of course as a consequence of that, you cannot say that the results of it are already decided. However, points can be considerably weighted during their consideration. Having been informed of that, the rabble of the class got excited.

 

When they do, Shinya speaks up from where he was seated next to me.

 

“That's great, huh... that way those guys who don't fight seriously and would have to drop out of school can be at ease.”

 

Guren turns to look at Shinya,

 

“I feel that those who would want to take me out with one shot are getting impatient, though?”

 

“Haha, that's because you can't avoid that stuff. Speaking of, did you really not avoid my attacks?” Shinya asks, looking back towards Guren.

 

“To receive those, you have to be quite an idiot, or...”

 

“Trash with no true ability? For your information, I'm the latter. You're buying into my strength too much.”

 

“--someone who can say that about themselves is scary, or at least that's been my own experience up until now.”

 

“You're too cautious. Right right, you think there's a monster that can compete with you? Aren't someone that the Hiiragi House-- that Mahiru chose?”

 

“...”

 

“But, at the very least I wasn't chosen. That one thing that you are very concerned about, doesn't concern me. Am I wrong?” Guren states.

 

In response to that Shinya laughs.

 

“You know, if that really wasn't an act, it makes you incredibly negative.”

 

“I was born that way.”

 

“Haha, I wonder what exactly Mahiru liked about someone like you?” Shinya wonders to himself.

 

Guren looks at Shinya, then once again turns to look towards the teacher.

 

The teacher was still explaining the Academic Acceleration Examination.

 

It was a talk about how there has not been one drop-out in this class, and how according to the number of people who drop out, the teacher's grading will change, so everyone try your best.

 

It was then Shinya spoke, “Ah, by the way, you met with Mahiru?”

 

“...”

 

“Well, how was it? Were you able to be friendly with her?”

 

In that moment Guren responds to Shinya without looking at him,

 

“Not really.”

 

“Aah, there's no particular need to take my feelings into consideration. Since while I may be that girl's fiance, but I am not her lover.”

 

“...”

 

“Incidentally, tell me something. After you met up with her, she was strangely a little cross. What happened?”

 

It seems that after that happened, Mahiru and Shinya met up somehow. At those words, Guren smiles a little and responds.

 

“She was disappointed at how weak I was.”

 

Shinya looks at Guren with an astounded expression.

 

“You really are incredibly negative after all.”

 

“Is that so? If you don't like it, it's fine to stop talking to me?”

 

“Haha.” Shinya smiles with amazement.

 

Guren ignores it.

 

The female teacher is writing on the blackboard again.

 

“Make sure you absolutely do not lose to the people from the other classes! That is all!”

 

It is then the bell signalling the end of homeroom chimes.

 

All of the students simultaneously rise.

 

There are people going home. People talking to friends. People staying behind to clean the classroom. This school had no club activities. If you had the free time to do that sort of stuff, as everyone here was concerned with magic, you would go to training.

 

Since homeroom was over, Guren grabs his bag hanging on the side of his desk and rises.

 

At that, Shinya asks from his side, “Ah, shall we go home together?”

 

“Die.” Guren declines politely.

 

He looks towards the classroom exit. He knows that his two attendants are already there, stealthily concealing themselves while watching him.

 

He spots Sayuri.

 

“Ah, ah, Guren-sama!” She says while waving at him.

 

Shigure is at her side, “Wait a moment, as he said he'd kill us if we stood out, he's going to get angry again.”

 

She tries to control Sayuri as best she can. Guren bows his head.

 

In the end those two really do stand out after all.

 

“I'll lecture you later...” Guren mutters.

 

At that, Jujo Mito, who was in the classroom, gives them a sharp look.

 

“Honestly, to even bring along two women as attendants, the people of the Ichinose house are utterly craven, aren't they.”

 

At that, the students laugh.

 

Subsequently, Goshi Norito speaks up.

 

“It's true, it's true. Not only that, they're both beauties. For the time being, introduce me to them a little.” He says, while approaching.

 

The students then all look like they're not sure if they should laugh or not.

 

Generally speaking, in this class, Hiiragi Shinya, Jujo Mito, and Goshi Norito, who all have ability and good pedigree, are together in being ranked within the top four.

 

The other person ranked in the top four was called Sanguu Aoi, a girl from the Sanguu household, but she was quiet and always went straight home when class was over.

 

Setting that aside, the three people from distinguished powerful houses were strangely over-familiar and close with Guren, so the other students didn't know what kind of attitude was good to take at the moment.

 

Of course, the students from the other classes, the upperclassmen, and the teacher's attitudes, had not changed from the start, so the amount he was harassed hadn't decreased.

 

As always, Goshi's face is frivolous as he drew close.

 

“Hey, Ichinose. Are you going out with one of two from your house or something?” He asks, and Guren turns to look at Goshi.

 

“What's this, I thought you wouldn't want to go out with one of the people from the filthy Ichinose house?”

 

“Beauties are different.”

 

“What kind of logic is that.”

 

“It's fine, so tell me. Those two, are like “that” right? Attendants who directly handle you? Which is to say, they do “that”? They even attend to you at night?”

 

In that moment Mito's face goes red and she raises her voice indignantly.

 

“Wait a minute, Goshi, you vulgar man! Will you not stop that indecent talk in the classroom?!”

 

Additionally, Sayuri also pipes up from outside the classroom,

 

“T-that's right! Guren-sama has yet to make a move on me!” She shouts with an angry face.

 

“...”

 

At that moment, the class falls silent.

 

Goshi's face becomes heated. Mito looks at me like she just saw some outrageous beast.

 

And Shinya, while smiling like he'd enjoying himself, speaks up.

 

“Hey, Guren. This conversation we're having right now, is it okay for Mahiru to know about it?”

 

Guren, who looks like he's had enough of this, just sighs and walks out of class.

 

“Haah... I'm going home already.”

 

From behind him, Goshi says, “Oi, Ichinose. Your social standing of being Ichinose is pretty sly. Let me join in and be buds that play around with the ladies, too.”, and is ignored.

 

Guren exits the classroom.

 

Shigure looks up at him, “Um, I will lecture Sayuri...”

 

“Naturally.” Guren responds.

 

“Eh? Eh?” Sayuri says with a face that doesn't understand and eyes swirling. Guren ignores it and tries to head home.

 

However, as soon as Guren exits the classroom into the corridor, he realizes it won't be that easy.

 

It is right after he reaches the other end of the corridor, that he understands that there's a strong bloodthirstiness aimed right at him.

 

“...”

 

However, Guren pretends he does not notice that thirst.

 

He continues on with the act that he is weak, has no power, and is an idiot.

 

Of course, his attendants had noticed. Sayuri and Shigure both were products of training to protect Guren, the big guns.

 

Which is why they both would react to that thirst for blood.

 

However, “Don't move. I can benefit from this,” Guren quietly orders them.

 

“Eh? But,” Shigure, who was on my right, raises her voice and protests hotly.

 

But it was too late, someone's foot collides with the right side of Guren's head.

 

“Guh!”

 

He drops, and clumsily falls to the ground. He rolls. Then he glances up while holding his head, looking at what kicked him. Doing so, he sees there is one man with a number of followers.

 

He has brown hair, and narrow eyes like a snake. His lips are pierced. He looks down on me like I am an idiot, and speaks.

 

“Ah, sorry sorry. My foot slipped.”

 

His followers laugh at that moment.

 

“You bastard!” Shigure yells angrily, and launches forward. Her fists were raised to hit the pierced man.

 

This would be where Guren should control her, however one of the supporters behind the pierced man, a girl student, seizes Shigure's fists.

 

Shigure is a little astonished. Of course she was. After all, her movements were rather quick just then.

 

Even so, that female student was able to stop her. Furthermore, she even speaks,

 

“Wait, do you even understand exactly what you are doing? This person here is Hiiragi Seishirou?”

 

Somehow it seems that this pierced man carries the name of Hiiragi. In this school, he was a human with such a high class pedigree that it would be fine to call him God.

 

The female student continues, “To even raise a fist to this Seishirou-sama, means certain death...”

 

Seishirou interrupts her.

 

“It's fine, Yumi. After all, for the idiots of the Ichinose, you need to speak straightforwardly. And you have to strike them to break them, like the animals they are.” He says, raising his hand.

 

Shigure reacts to that, and tries to swat away Seishirou's hand. However,

 

“Haha, you're slow, little woman.”

 

Seishirou's fist is faster. Which is to say, this guy's movement was that much overwhelmingly faster than Shigure's.

 

“Shit--” Guren exclaims, standing up to try and stop that Seishirou's fist. However at that moment, his fist had already stopped.

 

The reason for this is that someone has grabbed onto Seishirou's arm. Looking over, the one who had stopped it was Shinya, who had just exited the classroom. Just like that, Shinya speaks,

 

“Seishirou-sama... if you raise your hand in this place, to a weak woman from the Ichinose House, there will be gossip and you will hurt the family name.”

 

Seishirou glares at Shinya.

 

“Yeah? Who asked for the opinion of a bastard who has the social standing of being adopted.”

 

“... my apologies. However,”

 

“No 'however' about it.”

 

Seishirou raises his hand, and just like that, he swings it once again. His fist hits Shinya's face.

 

Shinya doesn't try to protect himself. He lets out a thick sound, and blood drips from Shinya's lips.

 

Seishirou laughs at that.

 

“Haha, that was a good call. After all, someone like you can't win against me.”

 

“...”

 

“Because you can make that call, you were chosen by Father to be Mahiru's partner. Be sure to keep that in mind.”

 

“...yes.”

 

“Also, since you're in the same class, tell me. These rats that come from the Ichinose house, are they strong? Though I know I'll win the second round of the Academic Acceleration Examination...”

 

In other words, that's how it is. That's why Seishirou came here. He came to see how strong Guren was before the examination.

 

And thus, Shinya responds, “... at first, I also thought that he may have some power... in any case, I suspected that if it was the candidate for the next Ichinose House Head, they may hold a degree of power.”

 

“Hm.”

 

 

Accordingly, Shinya looks down on me. His eyes are cruel and cold.

 

“I bought into it too much. Even when it seemed like his girl attendants were going to be hit... even when his friends seemed like they were going to be hit, he's trash that can't even move. In the end, he's a person from a second-rate fallen house.” He says, outrageously.

 

Seishirou laughs.

 

“Haha, what's this. So he's like that after all. It seems that people from the Ichinose house are always trash, huh. While I heard that even when his father attended this school, he trembled while walking in the corners of corridors... so you're the same, huh.”

 

At that, Seishirou's followers laugh once more.

 

Furthermore, the people from class had come into the corridor and were laughing at Guren. It may be due to how Shinya's attitude had changed, with how he was finally against Guren, so they now understood what kind of treatment was fine to give Guren.

 

Seishirou turns on his heel.

 

“Aah, whatever. This is boring. If they're weak, my desire to mess with them is also gone. Let's go.”

 

All the same, the students laugh. They laugh at the statement of how weak and incompetent the Ichinose are.

 

Nonetheless, Goshi, who had also entered the corridor, looks down on me with piteous eyes,

 

“My oh my, you really have become trash. As expected, someone who can't protect women is no good.”

 

Or so he said. Furthermore,

 

“You gave then utterly no resistance, and were called those kind of things, are you not at all frustrated?” Jujo Mito asks with an angry face.

 

Even so, Guren replies in a troubled way, “...when I left home, I was told not to defy the Hiiragi house...”

 

“In that case, would you die if they asked you to die!” For some reason, she begins shouting. And being in that state, dissatisfied with appearing angry, Mito leaves.

 

Guren vaguely watches her go, then stands. The students around him also begin to leave now that the strife is over.

 

Except one.

 

Only Shinya stayed behind, and looks towards me, before speaking.

 

“Somehow, you really are a boring guy, you know.”

 

“...”

 

“How disappointing, even though I had hopes for you.”

 

“...don't just expect things from people.”

 

“Yeah, you're right. It was my bad, for expecting anything from actual trash without any power.”

 

“...”

 

“Well whatever. Don't speak to me a second...”

 

Guren interrupts him at that, “You were the one who spoke to me.”

 

Shinya looks at Guren with cold eyes, and speaks.

 

“Yeah, you're right. Then, not just me, but don't approach Mahiru either.”

 

“...”

 

“You don't have the qualifications to do so. The point is, people who have no resolution or no power should not have come to this school. People who have nothing they've worked hard at... shouldn't have come to the school Mahiru is in.”

 

Essentially he's saying that someone who hasn't tried hard at anything has no right to stand in front of Mahiru, Guren thinks.


 

Someone with no power has no right to lift their head. In this world, getting your hands on what you want means having power.

 

In order to smile without worrying about a thing, means having power.

 

And, he still had no power. No power for himself. The power that had the extent to smash to Hiiragi House, he especially did not have.

 

Therefore, Guren responds,

 

“Then, what should I do? I'm also not returning home. I know that I don't have a place here. Even so, I was called out by you Hiiragi House people. Thus I acted accordingly. But even then, if you say that is no good, in what way can I make you happy? In what way can I be good?”

 

He dares to venture a complaint.

 

He said it, showing his own incompetence.

 

At that, Shinya stares at me with a face of someone who was completely fed up with this.

 

“...”

 

However, that is all. Without saying a word, he turns his back on me.

 

At that, Guren was left in the corridor with Shigure and Sayuri.

 

Now, no one was paying attention to Guren and the others any more.

 

He has returned to simply being trash. Returned to being a filthy Ichinose rat who does not interact with Shinya, Mito or Goshi.

 

It's then Shigure speaks up.

 

“F...for being completely weak... I apologize.”

 

Sayuri adds onto that with her own frustration, “B-but, was it really necessary for you to endure that much? Guren-sama, you really are...”

 

Guren speaks quietly, “Sayuri.”

 

At her name, Sayuri stops. She puts on something like an enduring face, but even while enduring it, a tear falls from Sayuri's eye.

 

“...”

 

Guren stares hard at it.

 

The circumstances were as such, that a subordinate was brought to tears because their master was made too much of a fool of.

 

“...I'm sorry.” Is all he can say.

 

At that, Sayuri gets flustered and shakes her head vigorously.

 

“Ah, ah, I... it is not that. It is just, dust in my eye...”

 

From her side, Shigure seems amazed, “Nowadays, that excuse cannot pass at all.”

 

“Weeh, but,”

 

“Yes yes, I understand. Your important master was perpetually mocked, I share your feelings on it.”

 

“Y...Yuki-chan...”

 

“But, please endure it. Our master is not crying, though it was surely more painful for him, so shouldn't it be preposterous that his attendants should cry before he does?”

 

“Weeeeh, but...”

 

“I will report this to your parents?”

 

“Wehhh”

 

“Now, stop your tears. Because we exist to protect and comfort Guren-sama.”

 

At Shigure's words, for some reason Sayuri's face clears and becomes bright as she cries.

 

“Ah, I see! In other words, tonight will be when we attend...”

 

“No!” Exclaims Shigure.

 

Guren smacks Sayuri's head lightly.

 

“Owie.”

 

Holding her head, Sayuri smiles at Guren.

 

“Well, in any case, that you're both so optimistic comforts me plenty. Now, let's go home.”

 

He pushes Sayuri's back and begins walking.

 

“Yes!” Both attendants respond.

 

However, Guren was already developing a new thought in his head. It had to do with the man he had just met. Hiiragi Seishirou.

 

He was likely a sibling related to Mahiru by blood, a person from the Hiiragi house.

 

While he had not heard that Mahiru had a twin brother, for them to be the same year in school must mean they were siblings with different mothers. This is what he thought about Seishirou.

 

He thought of Seishirou's movements.

 

He reproduced both Shinya's and Shigure's offence and defence in his head. Seishirou's movements were sharp. While he could not know how much power he had from one move, nonetheless,

 

“As expected from the Head House-- that's what it means to be Hiiragi.” Guren mutters quietly.

 

“Now then, to what extent will my power work here.”

 

That Seishirou said something about them being enemies in the second round of the Academic Acceleration Examinations. And the exam was starting tomorrow.

 

- - -

 

The sun sets.

 

The town is dyed red.

 

They are on the road home from school.

 

There aren't many people around, and there is a small supermarket located in the middle of a residential neighbourhood.


 

While Sayuri and Shigure shop for dinner, Guren waits with his arms crossed, sitting on a guardrail.

 

And there,

 

“Saitou-san! Saitou-san! Is it really okay for me to buy any sweets I want?!” The voice of a happy, young boy can be heard.

 

Guren glances in the direction of the voice. As one would expect, there was a young boy there.

 

A boy with blond hair, and a fair-skinned, beautiful face. He was likely not Japanese. Or it was possible that he had foreign blood in his veins.

 

The boy speaks while smiling very happily.

 

“I wonder what I should buy to make everyone at the orphanage happy~? Hey Saitou-san, even if I buy ice cream, do you think that the Director wouldn't get mad?”

 

It was then the man named Saitou-san responds,

 

“I wonder. In that orphanage, is there a fridge...”

 

“Of course there's one.”

 

“Then it should be fine. Even the director should allow for sweets.”

 

“Yay!”

 

“There now, take this money and go to the supermarket. Will you be alright buying it yourself? Mikaela-kun.”

 

The boy called Mikaela responds to that question,

 

“Of course. What age do you think I am? I'm 8!” He smiles.

 

 

It was then Guren saw Saitou take out 10,000 yen.

 

“Eh, this much...” Mikaela exclaims, surprised.

 

Saitou smiles.

 

“It's for everyone after all.”

 

“But, is it really okay, to take 10,000yen...”

 

“It's fine, it's fine. Now go on.”

 

“Okay! But if it's going to be that many sweets, it would've been good to have brought Akane-chan with me...”

 

Having said that, the boy named Mikaela enters the supermarket with sparkling eyes.

 

And thus,

 

“........”

 

Guren watches that with his arms crossed. Once inside, Guren then switches to watch the man called Saitou.

 

Saitou wore a black suit.

 

The man who had attacked Guren ten days earlier, had worn the same black suit.

 

“........”

 

He and that man had tried to kill each other in that elevator, as they were an assassin from the 'Hyakuya Church'.

 

“Saitou? Didn't you say to me that your name was Kijima?”

 

The assassin smiles cordially at that.

 

“At the orphanage, I go as the kind Saitou-san.”

 

“Hmm. So then is Kijima your real name?”

 

“I do not have a real name.”

 

“To put simply, you're an assassin?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then, at that orphanage, you like playing the role of Daddy Long-Legs?”

 

“Haha, that's what it looks like. Well then, knowing that I am such a kind Daddy Long-legs, have you become interested in hearing my story...”

 

“Nope.”

 

The assassin laughs at the interruption.

 

“Even so, please call me Saitou-san while we're here. If Mika-kun overheard, there'd surely be some confusion.” He says.

 

With that, Guren glances towards the supermarket where the boy named Mikaela had gone.

 

“And? You guys will use that kid, then what will you do?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“The Hyakuya Church is famous for their human experimentation. Don't go senile on me now.”

 

“No no, that is a huge misunderstanding. Even if the Hyakuya Church are demons, they administer the Hyakuya Orphanages as charitable work...”

 

“Then where did you come from?” Guren asks Saitou.

 

“Who did that thing to your body? Where did that happen? There's no way you're going to say something like that your parents raised you in good health and with love, riiight?”

 

“.......”

 

At that, Saitou stops smiling. He then replies in all seriousness,

 

“...you're right. It's certainly true that I came from the Hyakuya Orphanage. But I undertook laboratory testing on my own free will, and obtained this body.”

 

“Huh, so brainwashing.”

 

And yet, as expected Saitou continued on while Guren stares hardly at him.

 

“No, I seriously think that the Hyakuya Church wants to guide this country on the right path. While Guren-sama may not be aware of this, if Japan continues down this path, the trumpet of the end will drag us into decay.”

 

He says such strange things.

 

Still, Guren smiles and replies,

 

“Ha, so you've come out with it. The end days, huh? That's a signature move used against newcomers of a religion. If you do not believe, you won't survive the apocalypse? Even we use that kind of talk. So do the Hiiragi House. In the doctrine there's a component that resembles it. And? Using that, did you think you'd be able to solicit me?”

 

He says that, but Saitou's facial expression does not crumble. As expected, he's serious,

 

“That is not what I was talking about.”

 

“Then what is it.”

 

“In truth... if this continues, a virus will spread via an untouchable forbidden magic, who knows how much it will rampantly spread to, and the people of this world will find no place to live.”

 

“And, you're saying you guys are protecting us from that?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“That's why you are trying to get the sinful people who won't join the Hyakuya church, and therefore die from the virus, to hurry and join?”

 

But Saitou smiles and shakes his head at that.

 

“No, as I said, this is not that kind of religious conversation. I do not think that is the kind of conversation to have with you right now.”

 

“Ah? Then what kind of conversation is it?”

 

“This is a conversation about war. The one who made the virus is not God, but humans. And these are humans you know very well. The humans named, Hiiragi.”

 

“Wha, that's...”

 

Saitou ignores that and continues,

 

“The “Emperor's Demon” who stole the seat of the National Magic Organization from Hyakuya Church is running wild, no one can touch them as they practice forbidden magic. That's why, we are frantically working to protect.” Saitou smiles as he says that.

 

“Well? Don't you think we have common interests?”

 

What a thing to say. Saitou then presents his hand to Guren,

 

“That's why, won't you join forces with us? Before the word ends, let's strike a blow against the Hiiragi.”

 

Or so he says.

 

Guren looks at his hand.

 

He's said that the Hiiragi were going to destroy the world with forbidden magic they got their hands on, and that they were protecting everyone from it.

 

And then, in the dawn of the Hiiragi being destroyed,

 

“...will the position of the Ichinose House, rise?”

 

At that, Saitou smiles and nods his head.

 

“Of course. We will seize control of the current society and it will be noted what the position of the Hiiragi was, as well as both sides of the “Emperor's Demon” and the “Emperor's Moon”, and the names of houses which cooperated with the Hyakuya Church.”

 

“Hmm. Well, then what? You've been offering collaboration to all of the Ichinose-- no, all of the “Emperor's Moon”?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Then why, why, are you offering it to me? The Head of the Ichinose House is--”

 

“Your father, is that right? However, your Father is part of the docile faction.”

 

At that, Guren smiles once again.

 

“Then, I'm meant to be an extremest?”

 

Saitou nods apologetically.

 

“While this happened a while ago and I apologize for it, we have also done some investigations into the past. Including yours. And your father's. Considering this conversation in going forward, we made a choice.”

 

“You chose me?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You thought that I would readily accept, did you?”

 

Saitou shakes his head.

 

“No. We did not think that. However, we thought that before it starts we should speak out to you.”

 

Or so he says.

 

Before it all starts, huh.

 

In other words,

 

“Even if you did not have the Ichinose House, you intend to go to war?”

 

At that Saitou shrugs his shoulders.

 

“The ones who started it were the Hiiragi though.”

 

“To make matters worse, by giving me this much information, it won't be some distant future where you'll garishly start a dispute, huh.”

 

Smiling widely, Saitou nods.

 

“We'll postpone it by 10 days. After 10 days, Hyakuya Church will go to war with Hiragi House.”

 

“10 days, huh. So I will have until then to reply...”

 

“No, we need your reply now. If you do not join us today, then the plan for you to also be our enemy will be put into progress.” Saitou says, staring right at Guren.

 

Guren glares right back in return.

 

“That's not happening. In the first place, if I don't know the authenticity of what you say, I cannot accept. Is the Hiiragi House really going wild with forbidden magic? Is it really necessary to stop them? Far from that, if you Hyakuya Church guys want to wrestle with Hiiragi House, it's possible you're test-driving with the Ichinose House to erase us. With that state of affairs, you expect me to give a response right away? That's asking too much.” He responds.

 

However Saitou simply bows his head at that.

 

“I see. Then negotiations have broken down.”

 

“No.”

 

“What is it? Or is it that you going to fight us? Please be decisive. In all honestly, we're fine either way. With whether you became our comrade, or not...”

 

In other words, it is what it is. If a war began, lots of comrades would be preferable. Even so, these guys thought the Ichinose House would not influence a great amount of people with or without the degree of power they brought with them.

 

It was just fact.

 

None the less, the Hyakuya Church, with the Ichinose House continuing their many years of submission, is a bigger organization than even the Hiiragi House. Though he went as far to bow his head here, one could not say that the power of the Ichinose was necessary.

 

Until the end, before it began, they just spoke out. If they did not reply immediately, the Ichinose House will be destroyed.

 

That's why inside Guren's head he was wondering how to best act. What was the best method to ensure a future where Ichinose House wouldn't be destroyed. A method to ensure a future where those that belonged to the “Emperor's Moon” would not be destroyed.

 

Right now, with one answer he had to give, there was a possibility that nothing would change.

 

In that case, what was the best thing to do?

 

What is the best way for him to move?

 

As Guren is forming those thoughts in his head, he replies.

 

“At least, give me an hour.”

 

“I cannot.” Saitou declines.

 

At that, Guren narrows his eyes.

 

“Then my answer is 'No'. If I am unable have a frank conversation with you, I won't be able to form an alliance. I won't be trampled over by you guys.”

 

“Is that so... that is deplorable.”

 

“No, what is deplorable will happen much later. You will feel pain and regret over not giving me time and properly getting along with me.”

 

“Haha, that's a funny joke, isn't it.” Saitou smiles.

 

At that point, the supermarket's automatic doors open.

 

“Saitou-san! Hey, help me! As I suspected, buying this many sweets-- it's heavy!”

 

And out came the young blonde boy named Mikaela.

 

Guren looks over in his direction.

 

Mikaela became aware he was being watched.

 

“Hey hey, Saitou-san. Who is that mister with the bad look in his eyes?” He asks.

 

At that Saitou smiles at Mikaela, however, he replies whilst not looking at Guren.

 

“Who knows? I'm unaware. I thought maybe he was an acquaintance of Mikaela-kun.”

 

“I don't know him.”

 

“Is that so? Then I suppose he's a pervert.”

 

“Uwa, scary.”

 

So went the ridiculous exchange Saitou had with the boy.

 

With that, negotiations had met their conclusion.

 

Saitou said he did not know Guren.

 

In other words, they were no longer comrades.

 

With that, Saitou and the boy turn their backs on him and walk away. Probably to return to the orphanage.

 

In silence, Guren watches them until they disappeared into the distance.

 

“Now then, we'll see whether or not my judgement was accurate.”

 

He thinks that it's important for him to double-check later. There must have been some underlying message behind Saitou's words for him to think it necessary to reach out to the Ichinose house even a little.

 

In ten days time, a war between the Hyakuya Church and the Hiiragi Household will begin-- whatever he meant by that, Guren did not know. Yet, if that was true, how the Ichinose House would position itself, where it would position itself, and to what extent it would participate in this war, it was necessary to determine that as soon as possible--

“No, or is it that making a move is the very thing the Hyakuya Church is aiming for? They'll make the relationship between the Ichinose and Hiiragi bad, and in the meantime reap the benefits, or something.”

 

In any case, it was imperative that he move cautiously.

 

With that said,

 

“Guren-sama! Sorry for making you wait~!”

 

Shigure and Sayuri both exited the supermarket with hands full with shopping bags. Guren unfolds his arms and gets his ass off the guardrail. Then, he turns his eyes to the bags his attendents are holding.

 

“What exactly are you planning, buying that much?”

 

“Wellll, today had a lot of bad things happen, so I thought that we should have a party with barbeque curry and yakisoba.” Sayuri replies happily.

 

“How much do you plan to eat?”

 

“It is all food Sayuri likes, isn't it. Of course, I have thought to make food Guren-sama would want to eat. Right, Sayuri?” Shigure says from next to Sayuri.

 

“Yes! Guren-sama, what would you like?”

 

“Whatever's fine.”

 

“--you always say that, it's so troubling~. Anyway, since tomorrow the Academic Acceleration Examinations are starting, you need to eat properly and built up your strength.”

 

She says that, but after having that conversation about the Hyakuya Church, Guren couldn't care less about the Academic Acceleration Examinations. Because in ten days time, a war might begin between the comrades of a large magical organization.

 

With an excited face, Sayuri forcefully presses Guren, “Come, come come, what would you like?”

 

Since it seemed like it would just go on longer if he didn't answer, Guren reluctantly replies.

 

“Then, I'll go with curry.”

 

“Indian curry? European curry?”

“The way a Soba shop does it.”

 

“Leave it to me! Alright, today I will make delicious curry! Ah, if it's like how a Soba shop does it, we have to buy spring onion! Wait a moment, Yuki-chan, I'll be back!”

 

Sayuri turns on her heel and heads back into the supermaket.

 

Shigure watches her do so, then turns her eyes up to me. As expected, they're cold.

 

“Guren-sama.”

 

“Mm?”

 

“I will say this incidentally, but you do remember that yesterday was also curry?”

 

“Eh? Aah, was it?”

 

“By some chance, is there something bothering you?” She asks, then immediately continues, “If you are concerned about the incident that happened at school today, if I am good enough, please consult me...”

 

Guren shakes his head.

 

“Aah, no. It's not like that. Besides, in the next several days I'll need advice from you both, so don't mind it.”

 

“The next several days? You mean...”

 

“But before then, I need to call home. So, the wiretap in my cellphone...”

 

Immediately understanding that the circumstances right now must be stressful, Shigure's face turns deferential.

 

“Certainly, the mechanism to block the wiretap has been repeatedly installed, but...”

 

“But currently we're in Hiiragi territory, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“So you can't say it's definitely blocked.”

 

“As you say.”

 

“Alright. When we get home, I'll write a letter. Send word forward to the delivery person.”

 

“Understood. Shall I move forward immediately?”

 

“Do that.”

 

Shigure nods her head. She begins to run, but becomes aware of the bags she is holding.

 

“Ah...”

 

“I'll take them.” Guren says, snatching the bags.

 

“Thank yo...”

 

“Hurry and go.”

 

“Yes.”

 

At that, Shigure runs off.

 

Coincidentally, Sayuri exits the supermarket at that moment. She looks around them restlessly.

 

“Huh, where's Yuki-chan?”

 

“On a separate errand.”

 

“Ah, ah, that it's necessary for Guren-sama to carry those bags... please pass them over to me.”

 

“It's fine. Let's go home.”

 

“But,”

 

“I said it's fine.” Guren says, and begins walking towards home.

 

Walking behind Guren, Sayuri speaks up, “U-um, Guren-sama.”

 

“Mn?”

 

“Um, walking together like this with Guren-sama, that is, I wonder how we may be seen by outside...”

 

Guren cuts her off.

 

“Keep your wild ideas to yourself.”

 

“Weh... yessssir.”

 

- - -

 

That night, Guren writes home to his family. He writes about the contact made with the Hyakuya Church. About how the Hiiragi Household will run wild, and how it is possible they will cause the destruction of the world with a virus. About how a war between the Hyakuya Church and the Hiiragi House will begin in ten days time.

 

And then, about the proposal Guren was given by the Hyakuya Church, and his own judgement.

 

The intention is for the letter to reach home that very day. When it concerns an issue this big, the Ichinose House will gather the staff that are familiar with “The Emperor's Moon” and then deal with how to resolve it.

 

It is intended to be the beginning of authenticating Saitou's speech via gathering information.

 

It would likely take around three days time to do so. After that they would have a week to make preparations.

 

However, if the ten days given was Saitou lying, soon they would have no time at all to take things leisurely. There is a chance a war would start.

 

Additionally, if one is careless, it would be a war that quite possibly ruins Japan--

 

During that time, how would he and the others conduct themselves?

 

“No, in that confusing off chance, I need to think about how I would become number one.”

 

That night, it was all Guren kept thinking about on his own.

 



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