Meanwhile …
The wind is cold, and the night is at its prime. Gusts of air blow through my brown hair and knock all the powder off. In the distance, I can see it. Gessen Academy. The place is completely dead as everyone has turned in for the night. The only visible light comes from the dorms, and a temple Kurokage built. Every night, the elites go there to pay their respects to him and others that have passed on. Luckily, Gekko and Senko haven't ruined that. Yet.
"My momma told me and Miyabi to always try and do the right thing. Regardless of what the outcome maybe." Alan's statement buzzes around my head.
Those words have filled my soul with guilt as I stare into the dull shimmer of my older brother's sword. As the image of me takes form, I detest what I see. They were right, I'm not worthy of wielding this sword. Why am I even here in the first place? I'm just going to get myself killed.
Pouches of snow collect on the image and begin to melt. Water runs down the deep blood grooves of Roger's broken sword and evaporates. The reflection of myself becomes bigger and the armor and the sword starts to glow blue with a heavenly aura.
"Roger!? Is that you!?"
Words of red engrave themselves down the metal of the blade, "How are you Octavian?"
"I don't know… I just… I don't."
"What's the problem?"
The fact I don't want to admit that I'm afraid of what might happen keeps obstructing the pride I am feeling. Part of me is applauding because this is the right thing to do, but another part curses me because I didn't do it when I should have. Then the suspense and fear of the unknown, and the outcome only adds to the stress.
"Roger…I'm…afraid. I'll be honest with you."
"Why?"
"Because there's a chance people could get hurt."
If I don't win this, then Fubuki may end up killing all the Gessen girls as well as Ryoki for returning. As long as I stayed away, Fubuki, Senko and Gekko promised they wouldn't hurt Yumi, and the others.
I never really understood the complexity of a situation until now. When Oliviera wouldn't believe Alan's statement about Asuka being innocent, I didn't really understand why he made the decisions he did. I even thought he was somewhat dumb for taking on such a feat when it didn't even concern him, but he did it to protect Asuka and her innocence.
Then when Mr. K told me that Alan refused to tell Oliveria where he found the duplicate, I looked down on him because he held up to his end of the bargain. Even when Oliveria was being unreasonable, Alan wouldn't move because he feared that Yumi, and the others would be killed for a crime they may not have committed. Even though it put Hanzo academy in danger, those girls still love him, and that's what I don't understand.
Yagyu had an eye gouged out, and she was still worrying about him. Hibari had a sizable bite that cleaved all the way to the bone, and yet she stands with Alan. As for Ikaruga, the last time I heard, the Queen said she could save her, but at the cost of making her a half blood. Still, Ikaruga and Murasame wanted Alan by their sides.
Now that I'm in a similar situation, I can feel the pressure. The feeling of uneasiness, and it's like carrying the weight of the world with no signs of the burden ever leaving your shoulders. I was only a toddler, but I can faintly remember mom and dad talking about this to Roger. How power and prestige come with the heavy price of responsibility, and that responsibility will eventually get others hurt. No matter how hard one tries to avoid it.
Roger's letters take form on the blade, "It is worse for a person to stand by and allow tragedy rather than attempting to stop it."
"Do you really think I can do this?" I ask.
"You are more than capable."
Some relief comes to my heavy heart as Roger's last words finally engrave themselves into the blade, "I love you little brother."
I press my forehead into the side of the blade and clear my swelling throat," I love you too Roger."
Roger's presence slowly fades away and suddenly, it's just me out here by myself. If Roger believes in me, then this must be done. I take a deep breath and wait patiently for Murasame's contact. Supposedly, this guy has been working for him, and he's the one that got Alan those uniforms.
Of all the time I've been here, I've never seen him. Although I heard from some of the girls that this boy works at the middle school. Probably to avoid being associated with Yumi since it would put his identity and real intentions at risk.
A twig snaps behind me. The barrel of my revolver finds where the sound came from as I pull the hammer back. I stick my sword back into the sheathe and hold it behind me. My hand starts to rumble as the weapon charges.
"Easy there." A young boy dressed in a grey, Gessen overcoat says as he walks out from the woods with his hands up. His hair is almost the same silver color as Yumi's, but just a tad bit shinier.
"For a boy, you're mighty brave walking around in the wastes with no weapon." I reply as I slowly drop the hammer on the revolver and re-absorb the power my sword was charging up with.
"Who you calling boy, boy? And you call that a gun?" He replies as he pulls out a long double-barreled shotgun from under his coat. The appearance hasn't changed much. Other than it has been modified and corrupted to shoot hellshot shells.
He pulls his hoodie off his head and brushes his dangling hair away from his crystal blue eyes, "You the one Murasame was talking about?" The boy states as he points the shotgun at me.
"Octavian."
"My name?"
"Luke Ainz Ooal Gown. You go by the name Buckshot, and that shotgun was passed down to you by your great grandfather. He used black blood buckshot to slay yoma, which is where you got the alias."
"Close enough." He states as he puts his shotgun back underneath his overcoat.
I think it was actually Ainzworth, but my mind slipped. Murasame told me his full name, and that if I wanted to keep my face intact, I'd have to tell him his full name since he goes by the title Buckshot.
When Murasame told me his name was Luke Ainzworth, I had it committed to memory until I got on the train. Then I tried to use this series Alan and Katsu liked to watch as a way to bridge the gap. Apparently, it worked. Two thumbs up for Overlord.
"Murasame told me you would be coming back. What brings you here?" Luke asks as he makes his way down the steep incline.
"Unfinished business."
"The girl?"
"That's one reason." I reply.
We get to the gate Luke opened up and enter. The courtyard is very quiet. So quiet that I can hear my boots crushing through the small layer of snow and tapping against the concrete below. My senses, and the change in wind pressure tell me that there are no shinobi or patrols around. The only ones that can be sensed are all in the dorms.
I can't even feel Fubuki or the other two around. Although I know Fubuki tends to use suppressant pills that hide her yoma presence from people like me. That's why she was able to get around undetected.
"Now tell me. Why are you really here?" Luke asks.
"I have another matter to tend to." I reply.
"Do you want to see Shiki first?"
As much as I want to make things up to her, Ryoki comes first. Once she's taken care of, then I'll go see Shiki. Not only that, but knowing that if I want to see her again, I have to survive whatever is sealing Ryoki.
"This matter needs to be taken care of first."
"I see. It would be a mood killer if you and Shiki were in the middle of something, and you didn't take care of business prior." Luke replies as he climbs up the side of the archives.
I quickly scale up behind him and run across the top of the roof. Part of the tower's window has been boarded up because someone busted the glass out. It would be rude to just assume it was Alan, but it was Alan. I know he didn't have a plan, got trapped and had to bust out the window to escape when he came here for the talilbasha.
"Murasame said you came here for Shiki, but you were also looking for two grey headed middle school twins, and a vampire looking woman." Luke says.
"Something like that."
"Well they've been messing around this lake, and the archives a lot during the night. Where they go is beyond me, but they tend to disappear the moment they get on this back porch."
"Probably some kind of hidden dojo." I reply.
"Very likely."
We drop down on the back porch that extends over to the middle of the lake. A swirling pool of glowing lights emerge from below the end of the path. I lean over the railing and try to get a closer look. The fact that there is no telling where this is going to take me, or whether I will be coming back is unnerving. Even If I succeed in killing this yoma, who's to say there will be a way back?
"Well this is where my journey ends. After the job is done, come find me in the morning. That ought to give you some time alone with Shiki." Luke states as he turns around and hops back on top of the archives roof.
"I can do this." I silently reassure myself as I hop up on the railing and prepare for the jump. I slowly lean forward and let gravity overtake my balance. The middle of the whirlpool opens up, and the surface swallows me. Clouds of white break apart as I rapidly descend towards the bottom.
My boots finally hit ground, and the forceful pull of gravity lets go. I look up and observe where I currently am. Old buildings that have suffered severe structural damage are scattered over the place. Despite being underwater, the moon is providing sufficient light from above. Specks of white and blue dot the ground and reflect up.
Chunks of charcoaled wood and busted up stone path disintegrate under my weight as I stand up and walk forward.
The atmosphere is dreary, depressing and hot. The air that enters my body causes my lungs to warm up as it filters back out my mouth. Blue rays from above cast light upon some of the buildings that are still standing. My focus adjusts to the outlines of the buildings, and the finer details form within my eyes.
An old gate with collapsed sections here and there enclose the entire area. Most of the buildings that are still standing are hexagonal shaped. It kind of makes me think of a destroyed Gessen. Then it hits me. I immediately take off running through the courtyard and towards a certain tree. If that is here, then I will know exactly where to go.
I rush through the path between the library, and the math building. Off in the distance, I can see it. A sense of unease grabs ahold of me, and I come to a stop. Something within my mind is telling me not to go up there. I clench my sword tightly and continue anyway.
The feeling only gets more grim and bitter within my heart as I step on the path leading up to the tree. An orange flicker of ceremonial candles rest all throughout the branches of the bare tree.
"I knew you were a stupid boy, but not this stupid." Fubuki's voice echoes through the area as I reach the top of the hill.
She is sitting directly underneath the tree with Gekko and Senko by her side. Sickness racks Fubuki's face, and she grabs her stomach and coughs. Both of her eyes have changed color, and she is desperately trying to regain her strength. The veins in the front of her face have turned black and formed a bizarre looking occultic marking.
Fubuki leans over, smacks herself in the chest and spits out a jagged, black sphere that skates across the puddle of corruption underneath her feet. I don't know what is happening, but it's not good. It's almost like she's suffering from the same disease Alan has.
"Did you come all this way so I can give you another spanking?" Senko taunts with a face brimming with arrogance.
As much as I hate that girl, I can't give her the satisfaction of knowing she bothers me. Although Senko gleefully knows how much she really pisses me off.
"I came to demand that you release Ryoki!"
"We won't be doing anything." Fubuki chuckles as she wipes black fluid from her mouth and stands.
She takes a deep breath and her shallow breathing returns to normal. Her irises change back to a grey color, and the black dissipates from the sclera of her eye. The black demonic tattoo that stains the front of her face fades back underneath her pale skin.
"Ryoki and that girl deceived you. Is there no greater sin than to save a liar?" Gekko teases with her snarky smile.
"And I suppose you causing strife isn't? Claiming innocence upon the multitude of problems the three of you caused? I guess there really is no such thing as sin if you never did anything wrong." I state.
Fubuki walks over to what appears to be a seal shaped like a five point star, "So tell me Octavian, have you ever heard of Korin Fuma?"
"Please, enlighten me shinobi master Fubuki." I reply.
"Korin Fuma, a forbidden technique used to seal its victims in a nightmarish void of endless insanity. Because of its cursed ability, it takes the life of the caster. According to the creators. But we know better, don't we?"
Fubuki presses her finger into the seal, "Would you like to know what really happens to the caster after death?" Fubuki replies. Blood squirts out of the star shaped seal as she runs her hand down the middle. The seal rips in two, and a huge rift opens up.
From the edge of darkness, a misshapen palm places itself on the ground and a set of bones covered by strands of blue muscle fiber fold out. A snout shaped like that of an alligator snaps open and clicks its rotted teeth together. Fubuki, Senko and Gekko disappear with a flash of light. No comment, not even a gesture.
"Ah, fuck you bitches." I state as I grab a bottle of mercury from my side satchel.
The creature lunges at me. I slide my sword across the mercury filled vial. The glass shatters and silver liquid splashes the creature in the face. The monster squeals and backs up as the metal burns through to its bones.
My sword catches enough liquid to coat half of the sword. I quickstep forward and slash. The blade slices through the bottom part of the creature's snout, and a chunk of flesh plops against the ground. The creature slams its head down, and I get caught underneath the mouth.
The force of a boulder lands on top of my head and plows me head first into the ground. Despite the amount of strength that thing put behind the attack, it barely did anything in terms of damage. Senko hits harder than this thing.
I roll to the side and get up. Some blood drips from my forehead, and my left eye feels like the vision is somewhat blurred, but it quickly returns to normal. The creature tries to slam its head down on top of me again, but I roll to the side and get out of the way. An imprint of where the thing drove me straight into the ground gives me the assurance that I can survive this fight.
The creature continues to snap at me with its mouth. I quickstep to the side and slice into the monster again. The blade cuts into the creature, but it doesn't penetrate deep enough. The creature goes on the offensive and forces me back with its sheer size.
That first hit was the only good thing I landed as of now, and the thing appears to know that I'm trying to hit the moment it attacks me. Neither of us are gaining ground, and it appears this fight is going nowhere.
The thing snaps its jaws at me. I dodge and get underneath it, but this is just a test. The creature flops down to try and crush me. For a moment, it looks like that could actually work, but by the time I'm returning to my feet, the thing is standing back up and chasing after me again.
What would Roger have done? I ravage my mind and try to come up with some way to overcome this situation while trying to avoid being crushed or eaten whole. For some reason, Yumi comes to mind. Suddenly, the thought transforms into an idea.
I rush up underneath him and jump out before he falls on top of me. As he recovers, I run over to the tree and rapidly act like I'm trying to block to antagonize the creature. He stands up and gives chase. The monster turns his head sideways and charges at me. I jump up, and the creature's mouth slams directly into the tree.
Jaw ligaments within the creature's mouth snap like twigs, and the thing violently spasms around as I point my sword downward. The tip of the broken sword breaks the surface of the creature's cheek and buries nearly all the way up to the hilt. With all my strength, I drag the sword down the side of the creature.
A geyser of blood rains out of the wound as I pull the sword out and stab into its underbelly and slide down to the ground. The weapon cleaves the creature completely in half. The weight of the monster finally gives away at the seams and splits open.
I shove my sword back into its sheathe and pull power from my soul. My eyes fill up with power, and the divine, white armor from my lineage forms around my body. The sword turns a bright orange color and spits out a black fog from the broken tip as I yank it out of the sheathe and slash.
The weapon rips into the yoma, and the flesh melts into a puddle of red. Bones pop and turn into a grey colored dust as the sword quickly absorbs the blood colored ash. The veins within the orange metal pulse as I place the sword back in my sheathe and think back to the experience that saved my life earlier.
Kurokage was making Yumi face me because he wanted her to learn how to deal with a hunter if the situation ever occurred. We used safety spells to avoid hurting one another, but it allowed us to use the weapons we preferred.
When she took me directly on, I won every time. Yumi just wasn't physically strong enough nor skilled in magic as much as me. So about the ninth or tenth try, Yumi lured me over to the trees. Since she was a shinobi, I was expecting her to hop up on the branches, and that's where we were going to duke it out. That or she was going to try one of her swan dives that I'd block and counter.
Yumi baited me into lunging my sword at her, and she planted it directly into the middle of a tree. She then stomped on the hilt and knocked the weapon out of my hand.
If Yumi wouldn't have ever done that, then this fight would have probably had a much worse outcome. I put my sword back into the scabbard and search the area around the tree as my white armor disintegrates away.
The impact of the yoma managed to uproot the tree to where it's tilted. Huge gashes from where the creature's teeth clamped down nearly snapped the tree in half. Branches that were holding weak leaves flutter down in a mist of red and pink.
I walk over to where Fubuki was sitting and look around for anything that might help me find out where she was possibly going. At first, I was extremely reluctant to help because I had heard all the horror stories of what happens if you crossed Oliveria. Which now that I think about it, it actually isn't so bad.
At least if you are a good shinobi, it's quick and painless. Although the families of the victims have to live with the humiliation of never getting their belongings back because Oliveria collects them as trophies, but that's relatively miniscule compared to what happens to evil hunters.
A skull with a fully intact spine is all she will accept from them, and that's taking in account what happens if that thing called Alice doesn't get a hold of them before Oliveria does. Mojo told me what Alice does to evil hunters, and that's something a lot worse than what Oliveria does.
The bench Fubuki was sitting on is completely covered in leaves. All around, used syringes litter the ground. Just like the ones Alan uses to keep from going mad. Judging by how many broken vials there are, she must have been doing this for a long time.
I swipe the leaves off the bench and look for any signs or clues that might give me a lead. Not only that, but I'm sure Alan isn't through with Fubuki yet either. He took me in, so the least I can do is help him get back on the case.
So far, there isn't anything of value. No maps, no letters, nothing to give me any indication where they could be going.
"Octavian?"
That voice causes my heart tenses up. As much as I don't want to turn around, I don't really have a choice. I take a deep breath and count silently in my head. Two…Three… I force myself to turn around and acknowledge what had been said and done.
The first thing I notice is the joyful blue eyes and black strands that flow from her head. Her hands are locked together and placed over her heart. A force that is beyond my control comes over me, and I charge towards her. Ryoki holds open her arms and walks towards me.
I jump and wrap my arms around her waist as I fall to my knees. One of Ryoki's hands caresses the back of my head as I bury my face into the torso of her blue dress.
"Ryoki…"
"Shhh… It's okay…"
"No, it's not. I should have been a more responsible master to you, and I failed…"
"A master that's never failed isn't any master at all. I just want you to know that I would have still loved you even if you didn't come back for me." Ryoki says in a pacifying voice.
"I wouldn't have been a master at all if didn't come at all."
Ryoki helps me up to my feet, "Would you happen to know where Fubuki, and the other two would be heading?"
"I overheard Gekko and Senko talking about going to some place up in the deep north called Tenalbrum yesterday. They mentioned something about a delivery to the shinobi up there."
"So, it was the north that put them up to stealing the stone!"
That's how the north is going to take over the southern and eastern parts of the country! Fubuki managed to get Oliveria and Hebijo to turn on Alan and Hanzo Academy, and then tried to frame Yumi and Gessen by hiding the weapons, and the decoy here! It all makes sense now!
"What are you going to do?" Ryoki asks.
"I'm going to Tenalbrum with Alan."
"There's no way Alan is going to take you with him once he finds out."
"That's okay. He can't tell me what to do if I'm already there." I reply.
Ryoki softly chuckles, "You are beginning to sound more like Alan since we last talked."
"Well I don't know whether to take that as an insult or a complement." I joke as we hug once again. "I want you to stay here and keep an eye on Yumi and the Gessen girls. Just in case that Luke fellow or Fubuki try anything. Now that you are at full power, you should be able to hold them off."
"Yes Octavian. Have you talked to Shiki yet?"
"That's what I'm about to do."
"Well you better get going. If you are quick enough, you can wait on the steps before she gets back to her dorm."
I nod my head and Ryoki takes me into her arms. Her white angelic wings sprout from her back, and we ascend up towards the surface of the water. The temperature of the atmosphere drops back below freezing as we break the surface of the water. In one swift movement, she flaps her wings, and we glide over the top of the girl's dormitory.
Ryoki drops me off at the stairs and waves goodbye. She flies off back to the room the both of us were staying in before I left. I sit down and try to gather my bearings. Perhaps I should have asked if I was still covered in blood or smelled like decaying yoma.
Shiki has always had a thing for the noble look, and she might pass me by if I were constantly dripping from my armor during the conversation. That's if Shiki is willing to have one. My armor has managed to absorb all the blood from earlier so everything is fine. Plus, I brushed my teeth before getting off the train.
Off in the distance, I can see her walking towards me. The rest of the elites aren't with her, so this is good. That means it truly will be between me and her. What am I going to say though? What is there to say?
Before another frenzied thought comes to mind, she notices me. Shiki clenches her fist and looks away as if she doesn't want to talk.
My mind kicks in automatically and generates the words, "I know I'm the last person you want to see, but I traveled all this way to apologize."
Shiki acts like she doesn't want to pay attention, and she is fighting with everything she can to try and ignore me, but I can tell it's not working. "Look, if you want to hear it, I acted like a privileged prick. I let my immaturity get the better of me, and I lashed out at the ones I cared about. Especially you."
"How do I know you aren't just saying that?" Shiki utters as she turns her back and crosses her arms.
"Because dad and Alan would beat my ass if I wasn't saying it from the bottom of my heart, and even this isn't going to save me from the punishment they are going to give, but I didn't do it to make them happy."
Shiki turns around and avoids making eye contact as she approaches me. I swipe some of the snow off the step and she sits down beside me. Her blonde hair shines like gold underneath the blue moonlight of the sky, and her red eyes sparkle as she takes a heavy breath.
"You were the only one… I ever had to hold onto…when I lost my parents…" Shiki mutters. "Ever since that day…you learned what mine did to yours, I've stayed up countless nights trying to think of a way to tell you just how sorry I truly am…"
I clench my fist and try to fight back the resentment I feel towards myself. That day Alice told me I smelled like Shiki's family, I asked Mojo what that meant. He showed me a looking glass that retold the final moments of Shiki's parents.
They were sent to kill Oliveria in Ursania. Unlike many shinobi though, Shiki's parents were very respectful, so Oliveria honorably sat on her throne and listened to why they were there. All of the Hebijo girls were ready to fight to the death, but Oliviera stood up and dismissed them all. Except the woman named Alice.
Despite her respect towards Shiki's parents, Oliveria knew there was no way she could kill them without being consumed by her hatred. So, she called upon Alice to humanely dispose of them both for her.
Shiki's dad died from being stabbed in the chest covered in Angel Tear numbing gel. Shiki's mother knew she had no chance against Alice, but she fought regardless. Shiki's mom died the exact same way. Quick and painless. When they were both dead, Alice took Oliveria a family photo of them and their daughter.
Instead of taking their weapons as trophies, Oliveria sent the weapons as well as the bodies back in elegantly decorated coffins. I remember that moment as if it happened yesterday. The amount of devastation Shiki went through was tenfold compared to me because I still have dad.
Shiki draws her legs up with her arms and buries her head into the grey fabric of her skirt. Hearing the pain Shiki is experiencing causes my heart to ache deeply. The stress is so much that it feels like the arteries of my body are seizing up and cutting off circulation. The shame I feel for lashing out when she needed me causes my mind to cease.
Shiki stands up and tries to run off, but I snag hold of her hand and pull her back. My neck presses up against her left shoulder as I wrap my arms around her, "NO!" My voice cracks with sadness.
"But Octavian…"
"I don't care what your parents did! There's no way I'm going to get my mother back, but I can't hold something that was beyond your control against you! I know I fucked up and ran from responsibility, but I want to do everything I possibly can to make things right!"
"Octavian…" Shiki mutters as she wipes the tears streaming down my face and leans in.
I remain still, and she presses her lips up against mine. This hot, feeling of euphoria rushes over my body and my legs nearly cause me to collapse. Shiki places a hand on my back and keeps me stable as my eyes close out of reflex and let this ecstasy take me away.
Shiki pulls away and looks me in the eye. Neither of us say a word, but Shiki tugs and urges me to follow. She heads through the main hallway while I go around to the side her bedroom window is on and climb up.
I grab hold of the balcony and pull myself over. My boot catches the marble railing, and I trip into her room. Shiki helps me stand as we constantly lock lips.
She pulls my armor and clothes off and kisses me around the neck as I unbutton her dress and nibble on her soft shoulders. She pulls me on top of her as we both lay down on the bed. My heart beats harder and harder as I finally get the final button on her dress undone. Shiki leans forward and raises her arms as I work the dress off completely and toss it to the floor. Intense lust overtakes me at the sight of her naked body.
Shiki lets out a desperate cry of happiness the moment my mouth touches her chest. I rapidly kiss each breast and work my way back up to her lips as we lock our hands together…
Ending song: "Lilium" by: Yukio Kondo
End of Part One