Chapter 11
"I've Returned."
I look up, and a face appears within my sight of view. Long eyelashes, twinkling purple pupils, fair skin like an angel, a sweet smile formed by her pink tiny lips and grey hair freely fell on her back, and just a second passed by, she disappeared.
I shook my head, lifelessly placed my head onto the barstool used to serve customers that came into the bar.
Another blurry, imaginative image of her in my sight and I don't even know what to do about it, I'm so hopeless.My eyelids feel heavy, I probably look like a person who lost all hope in life if one sees me.
Haah… heartbroken feel pretty shit.
I took a sip of whatever the hell in the mug, slight, unnoticeable but excessively annoying pain kept jolting from my head. Shitty overwork side effect! I softly but still loudly placed the mug onto the stool, grasping my head with my other hand.
Am I this free that I could describe everything I did? Pathetic Myself, freaking pathetic! You could train like what your two previous Senseis told you but no! No, instead, you're just wasting your time in this bar you randomly came across and drink until your consciousness drops.
Why did I make such a mistake? I was all-powerful and arrogant and I betrayed someone's trust in me? Where're the teachings my father gave to me? Are they all gone? Just because I'm so proud of myself?
Am I deserving to protect them? Am I capable? Am I qualified?
Doubts kept affecting me, and I hated it. Is this what it feels like to be a grown-up? I missed the days where all I did was to train, to learn magic and do whatever my sensei told me to. Now I know how hard it is to make my own path. My brain kept suggesting random things that somewhat connected with my current problems and most of them? Doubts!
To be independent.
Even for such a simple matter such as feeling like this, I have to painstakingly think to make it right. Argh! Annoying!
I know affection! I always give it to my family, but what is this…? This thing called love…?
I asked myself a few months ago when I felt a… unidentified thing from my heart. When I saw her for the first time, it appeared. And from that came various questions.
What is a relationship? Affection truly is? "I Love"? "I Like"?
But discussing them is pointless now, it was all in the past. The fact that I actually did that to her must have agitated her. I wanted to apologize but it was too late, her 'father' took her away to another heaven.
My stupid arrogant, clueless stronghead past ass! Moron! Stupid! Fool!But alas, it was all too late.
…
…
...
I felt the light was blocked by a shadow, I took a glance and saw one of the dimwits I actually befriended. Shaggy, stupid-looking purple hair that he thinks looks cool, lecherous but still credible smirk and a pair of half-lidded blue eyes. Sharp jawline, definitely manly looking face and pointy-shaped eyebrows, and typical fair skin.
This guy looks suspicious and I really wanted to not have anything to do with him if I judge him by his look, but as the saying goes, don't judge the book by its cover.
He's trustworthy, and actually pretty mischievous inside, if one actually couldn't guess that. But still, this guy is pretty lecherous, openly telling the female occupants in this bar about how shapely their figures are. If one is a female, she certainly couldn't stand this guy.
"What? You're still depressed? Come on, it's just a girl, there are plenty of fishes within the seas!"
"There are plenty of fish in the sea" You mean? And just a girl? She's a Junior Goddess!"
She's a Goddess, not just any girl.
"And we? What? Morons? No! We are gods too!"
"But unlike her who was created by 'it' , we are just transcendents seeking ways to be more powerful in this realm."
"Whatever, whatever. The point is, just let it go, would ya?"
Let it go? That bright, humble, sweet, honest, beautiful girl and he told me to let her go?
"I know you love her-"
"Yes! I am! I do love her, but why are you suggesting such a-"
"But it's over, it's already over. Why are you so persistent about her anyway?"
Why am I so persistent about her? There's one thing that I always admired in her.
Her traits.
Innocent, pure, clean, gentle, humble.
I grew up in an environment where I had to kill many lives and seeing myself as 'innocent and pure' is pretty much nonsense and absurd. Maybe because I admired someone's trait that I don't have in me?
Memories of being a baby to a 3 years old kid are all blurry, and by the time I became a 4 years old kid, The Grand Magician took me under his wings and trained me to become a merciless protector, a Guardian.
Maybe I was so persistent because I wanted to see that side of her more. Her innocence reminded me of Komekko, her pure, clean and gentle appearance reminded me of that Pseudo-Angel girl. Although, she still couldn't be compared to my little sisters, especially Megumin, who always stuck by my side.I'm with her longer than Komekko, so it couldn't be helped! I really missed her, she probably enjoyed her classes.
Argh, stupid time difference between Mortal and Transcendent Realms, such nonsense! 1:1000?! What kind of fucked up system is this?!
But she is, in the end, my sister. While she's a girl I met across on my journey.
Living for nearly 100 years, which is equivalent to approximately a month and a week in Mortal Realm, I realized that love is not as simple as it seems, there's a lot of meaning behind it!
Loving your children is different from loving your parents, loving your partner is different from loving your friends.
…
…
…
"My father said that if you already broke someone's trust, it was difficult, extremely difficult to restore to what it was before."
"But what if I managed to-?"
"It doesn't matter mate, it doesn't matter anymore. Do you know how far the distance between the heavens is? It's so far, that it's unimaginable to just imagine how far it is. And tell me, how will you meet her?"
"Teleportation?"
He stared at me briefly before sighing, what's up with the exasperation within it?
"Even an elder couldn't do it alone."
He knows I like to do everything alone.
It was silent. And I just… I just don't know.
Just to give her up? It's pretty… difficult.
"I know it's not- no, it's never easy to walk away just like that. But just let it go, uncaged it, you know? It would be alright, trust me. It will hurt for a bit of time, but as time goes, it will disappear. I'm 230 years older than you so I know what you felt. I felt it too in the past, but now look at me! Free as a bird and play like the lion I am!"
I merely nodded, and just did and listened to whatever he said.
But letting her go?
It's impossible.
Now he knows being an actual adult is hard. Being old is easy, let the time do it for you, but an adult?
Difficult.
"Foolish child, you're so intelligent but where's the wisdom you were supposed to have? Has exploring this vast realm affected your mind so much?"
Family Room, Hyoizaburo's Residence (Renovated), Crimson Demon Branch Village, Kingdom of Belverg.
May 31, XXXXXXXXX46.
"So… you want me to be Komekko's teacher in the academy I studied in?"
"Yep, your Father, I rolled her in yesterday and they accepted it."
"But why?"
"...You know why."
Visiting the academy and seeing the Pseudo-Angel and Empyrean students within it, Kazuma just smiled wryly. It was obvious, their antics did not amuse his father, not at all. They were supposed to be 'holy' but the human's influences such as their entertainments, hobbies, traditions etc. probably alter their tendencies.
While other races focus on strengthening themselves like dwarfs who constantly forged weapons and elves who always pray to Mother Nature to bless them, what did humans do this past century?
They only focus on comforts, entertainment and other insignificant things. Not that insignificant actually, it did make life easier. But it was for that reason they are so weak! Ever since their 'Super Intelligence' brought an idea that strengthening themselves are pointless, because The Demon King actually never bothered them while other races focused on themselves, they turned their back to 'Strength' and kept its development to the minimum.
Monsters? They're troublesome but they still could handle it by hiring adventurers, a group of people who wanted to live by adventuring. Territories? Their ancestors dominated over 1/3 of the whole continent. Possible threats? Just by giving 'Super Strong But Silly' races money and stuff to take care of it!
Honestly, they're frightening but sometimes, they're just too dependable on these 'Heroes' and 'Empyreans'.
"But I was too small, weren't I? Look at me!"
Indeed, he just reached his father's shoulders. At 13 years old, this height could be considered as tall. But still, from one glance, he looks skinny. How could he be accepted into the Academy as a Teacher?
He could actually do it 'in certain' ways but it would be hard to explain it to his parents. For example, the appearance he wore as The Demon King is a devilish, emotionless pale-skinned man with not too tidy black-charcoal hair and a pair of glimmering light green eyes, height approx. 5'9. While as an Overlord, he would use a similar appearance, but! His eyes wouldn't be as bright as it and his hair would be a little messier, his height would be equivalent to roughly 5'2… yeah…
Because, in this realm, he was still a mere 13 years old kid.
It's so unfair, the gap of time between realms is too absurd.
He ascended to the Transcendent Realm when he was 9 years old and he would go back and forth between Mortal Realm and Transcendent Realm. A day here is equivalent to 1,000 days, add 3 months and 5 days and it would be 3 years!
So, 4 years here is equivalent to…
4,000 years.
He was pretty curious about the third realm, the Supernatural Realm but he heard it was filled with nothing more than creepy lingering voices and wastelands covering the whole realm.
"Does size matter? You're powerful and mature enough to take care of a bunch of kids!"
Well, his father isn't wrong…
"Anata?"
"U-Uh… Y-Yes?"
"Do you exclude me in this matter? Hoh? You are getting more daring and daring each past day huh?"
"No! No, o-of course not! How could I do such a thing?"
"But your father is right, Kazuma-Kun. Take care of your little sisters there, I trust you! Okay?"
With a confident smile on his face, he exclaimed out.
"Absolutely!"
Patting Komekko's head who's already fallen asleep moments ago, she's making some noises in her sleep. He snickered softly and looked at her with compassion in his eyes.
'No one could hurt you as long as I'm alive, not even Arch-Gods could.'
June, 01, XXXXXXXXX46.
"You ready, Komekko?"
"Yes Onii-chan! Let's go! I'm so excited!"
"Goodbye, my children! Do your best Komekko-chan!"
"Yes, Kaa-chan!"
"Always remember to uphold your pride as a Crimson Demon!"
"Yes, Tou-chan!"
Holding her little hand while walking with her side by side, he looks back at his parents, who watch as they go farther and farther away. He gave them a big smile and waved his hand.
"Protect your siblings!"
"Give them what they deserve if they even dare to touch them out of their will!"
He merely nodded at their words, giving them a thumbs-up before turning around and focusing solely on the road ahead.
"You're gonna meet your Onee-chan, how do you feel?"
'I too, would like to meet her, it's been a week!'
"Happy!"
Well, it's the first day of school after all.
Transcendent Race's Academy, Unknown.
"How old are you, Komekko? Sorry, this silly big brother of yours forgot."
Such a bizarre thing he did, he is ashamed, excessively so. However, instead of being mad, she merely giggled and answered enthusiastically.
"I'm 7 Onii-chan! And you don't have to apologize, you are always taking care of me! I love you!"
He sweeps the manly tears that managed to come out, smiling widely. Ah! As expected of Komekko, she's so understanding!
"Yes, y-yes, Komekko-chan, Onii-chan here love you too, much so."
He sobered slightly, how lucky he is to have such a loving sibling?
So many good things he could say about his little sisters! It's simply impossible to pronounce them one by one. That was to show how amazing they were! In his eyes at least. But it's tru-!
She hugged his arm tightly, rubbing her cheek against it. He responded with a typical older sibling antic, rubbing her head, pinching her cheeks, and she just giggled. It warms him seeing such a lovely, innocent little girl behaving happily like this.
"Halt! Show us your qualifications to enter!"
A seven-foot tall man with black-charcoal armour completed with gold edges on it, a big spear taller than him readily in his hand, showing not even a single bit of carelessness, showing extraordinary discipline. Black hard eyes, a scar through an eye, and a boisterous figure, making his stature bigger than it already is.
A Superguard was used to merely guard the outer entrance of the academy, this was to show how powerful this place possessed.
And us? Hmm...
...Indeed, it is 'us'.
'Ah, we came too late, I should've come earlier, like when me and Megumin attended this academy for the first time.'
He glanced at Komekko and she nodded, her little hand entered the bag she carries and a dark-grey card revealed itself from inside the bag. She inspected it for a moment before giving it to the guard.
The guard plainly draws a surge of pulse created by mana from his palm and a layer of transparent object appears. It goes through the card and he nodded.
"Race : Crimson Demon. Name : Komekko. Age : 7. Blood Type : Branch. Tier : A. Register Date : May 30. Qualified, enter!"
"Oji-san, can I bring my Onii-chan with me?"
The Superguard glanced and was intending to reject it from the way his face was distorted, before he saw the face of the said Onii-chan. A flash emitted within the green eyes, a pair of eyes similar to what the Empyrean told them.
The Overlord of The Overlords.
'You dare go against me?'
One of the traits people despised the most is arrogance, but if you have power, influence and good attitudes to back it up, instead of animosity, you would get respect.
As if the guard heard what he just said, he went out of the way and shakily gestured for them to enter with his arm.
"W-Welcome!"
He gives Komekko a side look, implying her to enter. She, as a Crimson Demon, of course noticed it, and promptly ran inside, big shining crimson eyes wandering here and there, with her big brother following her. And when they entered the gate, they arrived in a whole new world.
It was just like he remembered, 4 grandeur buildings, an enormous empty greenfield, a bowl-shaped barrier covering the whole sky and a sky-piercing tower as the Teacher's Palace placed in the middle. He heard it was a place where the Sovereigns discussed things with each other. The top, the one that above all, is the place where they talked to each other.
And it's the building he would enter.
"Waah! So big! This place is amazing Onii-chan! You and Onee-san live here?!"
"Yeah."
At least Megumin did. Komekko looked at him downcastly and pouted.
No, no, no!
"I'm envious!"
"No, no, no Komekko-chan, let go of the grudge! Besides, you will live here like us! So don't be sad! We three will go through our days with each other to keep company! How's the sound of that?"
"Really?"
She already knew the answer. A glance is all he needs.
"Yay!"
'I will keep Komekko accompanied until she finds her classroom, then I will visit the Teacher's Palace and see if she could help me become a teacher.'
Well, at least he already has a schedule ready throughout the day.
In the middle of the town, people bustling here and there, negotiations and transactions happening everywhere, workers carrying various stocks to distribute and women hastily stride through the crowd to find what they wanted to buy.
A stone, grey statue of a man, his back is straight, his stature is proud, not a single bit of doubt could be felt within his straight posture. Forehead scrunched, eyes narrowed, and one hand posing salute, it could be told that the man as the statue is a dignified character, an important person, a proud legend.
In front of a statue are two men, sitting with each other, resting from the tiring work they've done every day to live. One of them looked down and turned his head to the statue, his face showing sadness as he looked at it. The man beside him just glanced at him in wonder, thinking why would he show such an apparent emotion.
The man with the apparent emotion strongly stood up, he faced the statue and saluted. The man sitting on the ground just wondered why the man did such a thing in the middle of the town.A brief moment later, and the man lowered his hand, staring at the statue with a look between pride, sadness and resentment.
"...General, why would you respect them?"
"General, other than your name, they don't even know you! So why did you respect them?"
"General, they don't deserve your respect, general!"
"General! Please lower your hand!"
"General! Please lower your hand!"
"GENERAL! PLEASE LOWER YOUR HAND!"
The man kept screaming at the statue, the man near him just dumbfoundedly stared at him. But still, the man kept screaming, then he climbed up the statue, then he clutched onto the hand of the statue while screaming the same line over and over again.
"LOWER YOUR HAND GENERAL! THEY DON'T DESERVE YOUR RESPECT! GENERAL! LOWER YOUR HAND!"
As time went by, people started to notice him, and gazes of scorn, confusion and surprise were directed at him. But still, despite all of that, the man kept screaming, as if there was no one near the area.
And he witnessed it all, within a crowd, from there, he witnessed a man, with an immense patriotic heart. A man who respects their ancestors and the heroes in the past. A man who will sacrifice himself for the country the sacrificed heroes painstakingly fought for.
The man on the statue is a soldier.
He looked up, and wondered. There were so many corrupt people in the past and even though they were like that, people were still thankful for them. People respect them, and are in awe of them. Why? Because they fight for their country.
He realized today that as long as you fight for your side and win, people in the future will respect you. And from the man he learnt that, heroes in the past, they deserve recognition, they sacrificed themselves to make the current era possible.
Of course, every hero has a dark background, some are even worse than what most criminals did, but if they didn't exist, then the current era wouldn't exist. And doesn't every person have a dark background?
Those priests and popes, even gods are no exception.
"Hah! I'm better than you! Look! Piercing Light!"
"Nonsense! I, a proud Crimson Demon, wouldn't accept it! Action speaks louder than words! Goring Beam Dust!"
"Tsk!"
"Wait! Don't fight in class! Class is to study, not to fight!"
"Fighting is a part of studying, moron!"
"Hey! Who do you call a moron?!"
"Hahaha-"
The door of the class opened, and a teenage boy appears, a pair of glasses, disorder raven hair, lazy green eyes, plain black robe, white shirt and black trousers. No, he did not wear shoes, only sandals.
The students in the class looked at him in confusion, and he just groaned.
"Alright little shi- kids, class has started!"