Vol.4
Chapter 16
Wednesday, November 2, 2022.
As November begins, and Christmas approaches in everyone's minds, Fuyuki and Kuoh start decorating themselves in the colors of the upcoming holiday. Garlands and colored lights begin to appear here and there.
I think it's a bit too early, but that's the way it is, most students are still children after all. A lot changes in life, and even more so in high school. The students' clothes have changed to reflect the harsh cold of winter. And with it, all the new activities offered by the school or clubs, every day.
As for me, I just wear a scarf. Thanks to the dragon living inside me, my body is warmer than normal, so the cold doesn't have much effect on me - well, the winter cold.
I'm sitting quietly, looking out of the window at the flakes falling slowly to the ground, waiting for Fuji-nee to arrive, having forgotten some photocopies.
Bored with the outside world, I turn my gaze to the members of my class. Groups have formed here and there, chatting quietly so as not to disturb the classes next door.
The only people left alone are me and Shiki. She's dressed in a kimono like every day.
I receive a message from Fuji-nee, asking for help, apparently the photocopier has broken down. I sigh and stand up, looking for my dear guardian.
"Fujimura-sensei can't seem to get enough of you." Passing in front of her, Shiki calls out to me.
"The photocopier broke in front of her, so well..." I say, waving my phone.
"Oh? Can you fix photocopiers?"
"Hmm, I've never tried it, but I've fixed other stuff like that, so we'll see. By the way, aren't you cold like that?"
"Not just yet, no." She replied. "But maybe in a few weeks."
"Do you wear that in winter too?"
"Without fail. But there's nothing to worry about. I can wear something over it, after all."
"Okay, I didn't think there was anything you could wear over it, after all. Well on that note, I've got to go, I mustn't keep the tiger waiting too long."
She simply nods, then goes back to staring into space.
The last bell of the morning goes off, announcing the end of classes and time for lunch. On Wednesdays we finish at noon, but the clubs continue their activities. But at this hour I have no plans, so I head for the roof, looking for a quiet place to eat.
"Are you going to eat on the roof?" Shiki asks me.
"Indeed, would you like to join me?" I ask out of pure politeness, even though I wanted to eat alone.
She accepts, and I can see that it's also out of pure politeness. Arriving at our destinations, we can already see other students having lunch. We settle into a corner and start eating. Watching my phone for the news, lunch passes off calmly. Shiki isn't much of a talker, so she just eats quietly, watching the other students.
Then I come across an article, showing a murder, and reading the description, it's clearly the person we're looking for. He's already on his second kill.
"The murder occurred on the last day of October. It was in the west wing of the commercial district. All the media are talking about it, while the first one went radio silent. Did he do it on purpose?" I'm thinking out loud.
"...That's not really a good thing, is it?" Shiki asked nervously.
"Yes... He probably gained confidence and decided to show his massacres to everyone. Apparently, the suspect cut off the victim's hands and feet and left him to die. The crime scene is a mess and they've had to cordon off the entire site. Worst of all, the suspect is still at large."
"You say the suspect cut off the arms and legs? Can some die from that?"
"Blood loss leads to a lack of oxygen in the body, but in this case, I'd say circulatory shock came first." I say, casting my eyes over all the articles talking about it. "Oh, I'm sorry. I guess it has nothing to do with you, Shiki."
"Tis all right... But Senji, that's not really a meal topic, don't you think?" Shiki complains
"Oh, yes sorry."
Regaining the calm of earlier, I finish eating, keeping my thoughts to myself this time.
Having finished eating, I head for the occult research club after separating from Shiki, who has gone home.
Apparently, my task of distributing the leaflets was originally entrusted to Buchou's familiars.
Senpai changes the forms of the mouse and the bat she owns into human forms, and makes them hand out the leaflets like I did.
They do this both day and night. The reason why I was assigned to do it was because Buchou wanted me to know what kind of job Devils have to do from the beginning. This is something Kiba and the others did as well.
Kiba, Toujou Koneko-chan, Himejima-senpai are all Servant Devils of Rias-buchou, so they're my seniors. They all have experience in doing the work I did.
And so, today, I was called over to the clubroom. I went inside the old building that I'm getting familiar with and headed towards the room on the second floor.
"I'm coming in." When I went inside after saying that, everyone was already there.
The room was dark and the window was covered to block the light from entering. The only light in the room was from the candles spread on the floor.
"So you've come." As soon as Buchou confirms that I'm here, she gave an order to Akeno-san.
"Yes, Buchou. Senji-kun, please come to the center of the magic circle." Akeno-san motioned for me to come with her hand.
I walked to the centre of the circle.
"Senji, your work of giving out the leaflets is over. Well done." Buchou's smiling. "Now I'll have you do a Devil's actual job."
"Oh? Now I'm gonna make contracts?"
"Yes, that's right. Though, since it's your first time, it's going to be a contract with someone who wants to make a small wish. Koneko has two reservation contracts, so since it's hard to do both, I'll leave one to you."
"...Please help me out." Koneko-chan bows her head.
So I'm going on behalf of Koneko-chan. That's okay. I was getting tired of handing out the leaflets.
The other members are outside the circle. Akeno-san, who is inside the circle, is casting something.
"Um, I just thought of it but wouldn't I normally wait until dark to do this? Since we're only supposed to be working at that time."
"Indeed, but who said we play by the rules?" Says Rias with a big smile. "Besides, this is the only time available for your future customer."
Then, the magic circle starts emitting blue and white lights.
"U-Umm..."
"Akeno is currently inserting your carved seal into the magic circle." Buchou says.
My carved seal? It seems like the magic circle inside this room represents the "Gremory". I was told that for us, Servant Devils of Buchou, it's something like a family crest. So for people who are trying to summon us, and for people who want to make a contract with us, this sign represents our symbol.
So the activation of the so-called demonic power is related to this. Kiba and the others have these signs on their bodies in different sizes and it operates whenever they use their demonic powers, is what I was told.
I thought about getting engraved with the same signs, but it seems like you have to learn how to control your powers beforehand, and then use that power, which creates natural phenomenon by coordinating it through the magic circle, after that.
"Senji, put your palm towards here." I put my left hand towards Buchou, just like she said. Buchou writes something on my palm with her fingers. Is she writing a charm?
It feels like she's drawing something like a circle... Then my palm glows. There's a circular symbol, a magic circle engraved in my hand. It's glowing blue and white.
(There it is, a magic circle.)
"This allows you to transport to the client's place instantly by making you go through the teleportation type magic circle, and when the contract is done, it lets you return to this room."
(Oh, I get it now. So that's its ability.)
"Akeno, are you ready?"
"Yes, Buchou." Akeno-san steps out of the magic circle.
"Now stand in the centre."
I do what Rias tells me. Then the magic circle starts to emit a stronger glow.
Somehow, I can feel power coming from it. When I'm touching this magic circle, the power inside me is flowing out. So is this the trait for being a part of the group?
"The magic circle is responding to the client, so you'll be teleported there now. You already have the manual for what to do after getting teleported right?" Ask Rias.
"Yes!"
"Good response. Now, get going!"
My first job. If this is truly my first step to becoming stronger, I must surely accomplish it safely. The magic circle starts to glow even stronger. It looks like I'm getting instantly teleported there.
There's many lights covering my body which caused me to close my eyes due to the brightness. Next time I open my eyes, I'll be at the client's place.
And then—
I—
Instantly—
Teleported—
...
...
Hm? Hmm.
Huh? Have I teleported? Is it done? I timidly open my eyes.
... I'm speechless from where I am. It's the club room. Huh? What about the instant teleportation? When I look, Buchou seems to be troubled and puts her hand on her forehead.
Akeno-san says "Ara ara"with a disappointed face. Kiba is sighing. did something happen to me?
"Senji." Buchou calls my name.
"Yes."
"It's unfortunate, but it seems like you can't use the magic circle to get transported to the client's location."
Huh? What's the meaning of this? Oh, now it's coming back to me, of course. Because of him. I touch my stomach, the being sealed inside me prevents me from doing many things, and apparently teleporting is added to the list.
"Even that, eh? Always sleeping, that one. Although you tell me that might be for the best."
"A magic circle requires a certain amount of energy... quite little, actually. In fact, it's a feat that can be achieved by any Devil, even children. Crossing the magic circle is the first and easiest step in becoming a Devil."
(Do I really need to explain myself?)
"And yet Senji, when I healed you last night, I took the opportunity to analyze your power. I couldn't get very far because something prevented me. But I... You possess an astronomical amount of energy. It's extremely rare at our age to possess so much. And yet, there's something inside you that prevents you from using it. From the look on your face, you already know that, so can you explain? Maybe I can help."
"Yes, I know what's going on. But sorry, I can't say anything."
Hearing my answer, Rias sighs, but remains understanding.
"All right, we've all got things to hide so I won't insist any further, but if you want to make progress. We're going to have to find a solution to this, you understand?"
I nod, ashamed, ashamed of myself and the beast that lives inside me.
"Don't be, partner, we don't need him to progress."
"...Unsightly." Koneko-chan says expressionlessly.
"Ara ara, we're in trouble. What should we do, Buchou?" Akeno-san also has a troubled face and asks Buchou.
Damn, if I hadn't forgotten that, all this wouldn't have happened, I should have said no after all.
Then after thinking for a while, Buchou tells me clearly.
"Since there's a client, we can't let him wait. Senji."
I'd have thought she'd have done a complete U-turn and taken me out of the group, but no, she wants to continue taking me under her wings.
"Yes, right."
"This has never happened before, but you'll have to go there on foot."
"Yeah, I was expecting that."
"Yes, just like how you handed out the leaflets, you'll have to go to the client's house by bicycle. This can't be helped, you can't use your energy. You'll have to make up for it with your own body."
"Okay, I'll do it, but hey, what kind of devil goes to his customer on a bike..."
Koneko-chan points silently at me. She seems to be on guard against me. Does she know? How?
"Hurry and get going! It's a Devil's job to make contracts! You can't make humans wait!" Buchou urges me on with a serious face.
"Alright, I'll do my best." I leave the club completely drained.
It's early afternoon and I was peddling my bicycle at maximum speed. A Devil who can't get summoned through a magic circle. That will be me. Apparently this is the first case ever.
Thanks to this, I find it hard to concentrate, I can hear the voices of people calling me a monster, I feel the harassment I've experienced coming back, I get nauseous...
I stop to calm down. Then I use the Devil's portable device, peddling my bicycle towards the person who called me.
It's an apartment located 20 minutes away from the school. The client is in one of those rooms.
If it's a delivery service, customers will get mad because of the late delivery. It's usually instant teleportation. But I made the client wait for 20 minutes. If you are working in a store, then your manager will be mad at you. It's the first time I've ever been late for something, which makes me even more stressed.
I knock on the door.
"Good Evening! I'm an errand from the Devil Gremory-sama! Excuse me, but this is the house that summoned us right?"
It should be okay with this. It seems like only the client can hear what I just said. During the time when we are doing our job as a Devil, a special demonic power gets activated and it won't cause trouble to those who isn't involved in it. That's what Buchou told me.
"W-Who's there!?" What I heard is a voice of panicked man.
"Umm, I'm a Devil. I'm a newbie and I came here because I was called by you."
"D-Don't lie! There isn't any Devil that knocks on doors! Devils come out from this leaflet! That's how it was for the past summoning! And the one I called for is Koneko-chan!"
Yeah, he's right, I will apologise for that. I'm sorry. It's also an unexpected incident for me and the others. Well, not really, but anyway.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I can't use my powers properly, so I can't get out of the magic circle."
"You might just be a pervert!"
I got pissed off as soon as he said that.
"I'm not a pervert! And how should I know! If I could, I also wanted to appear through the magic circle! What kind of loner devil would peddle their bicycle through the town in middle of the day!?"
"Why are you the one getting pissed, you super pervert!"
"Super pervert!? Fuck you! I'm telling you that I'm a Devil!"
"Go home!"
My anger escalates and I raise my fist to hit his door, but shortly before impact, suddenly, at these words, my body loses all the stress, all the accumulated tension. I feel empty, exhausted. Is it over already? Do I have to move on already?
No, I can't, I promised Kiritsugu I'd take this quest for him, I have to get stronger, I have to... move on. I put my hand on the door and take a deep breath, needing to unblock the situation, but my emotions are getting the better of me.
"Please listen to me. As I said earlier, I can't use my powers properly, and it's because of a beast inside me, it... it stops me using my energy and every time I have to use it, I have to force the activation of my magic circuits, destroying my body little by little. But I need to get stronger, I need to move forward, I have to prove to myself that I'm not the monster they think I am, so please, can you open this door? I'm sorry, I'm..." A complete nervous breakdown, I don't recognize myself anymore.
The door opens slowly and my hand falls limply, no longer resting on the door. I keep my head down, not having the courage to look at him. He hands me a pack of tissues and I raise my head. He's a thin man. He looks in poor health but I can hardly see him, my vision is completely blurred.
"Come on inside, and clean your face, you're crying your eyes out. Ahhh, how can I leave you outside after that..."
I take the handkerchief and touch my wet face, the incident about the teleportation and the argument earlier crushed my heart more than I expected, and unconsciously I was crying.
I enter apologetically and ask for the bathroom. I put on some water and wash my face, taking the time to calm down for several minutes. When I come out, a cup of tea is waiting for me on the table.
"Is that so? So you were shocked to find out that you can't teleport through the magic circle..."
"It's more complicated than that."
The client, Morisawa-san, who saw that allowed me to come inside his room after feeling sorry for me. His room looks clean. It's a tidy room for a single guy like him to live in. He told me that he works for the government. Morisawa-san does his job seriously, but he was craving to get in touch with other people, so he ended up summoning Devils from that leaflet.
"So, you're the child from this book aren't you?" Morisawa-san places a book on the table.
I recognize it immediately, I'm shaking, I can hardly breathe.
"Yes." A simple answer was so hard to say.
"Okay, I understand better, I'm sorry." He pulls out the book and hides it.
Seeing the book no longer, I calm down and he pours me a new glass, which I drink immediately, thanking him.
"So it's not Koneko-chan..." He fell in love with Koneko-chan at first sight who was the first Devil he made contract with, and since then he has been summoning her.
"I'm sorry, but apparently that girl is popular with other clients as well. It seems like she is in charge of the "cuteness" department."
When you summon a Devil, you can wish for which Devil to summon by calling out that Devil's name. Well, that's how it was explained to me. And today Koneko-chan's job was passed to me.
There are cases when the Devil they chose can't be summoned, so another Devil goes as their substitute.
"I wished for a Devil from the cuteness category when I used the leaflet..."
"Yes, I know, sorry, I can't tell you anything about that."
"It's okay, I don't blame you for it after all." He says that, but his face clearly shows the opposite.
"By the way, what were you going to wish for when you tried to summon Koneko-chan?" That is my question. Maybe I can also grant that wish of his.
But that is instantly shattered when Morisawa-san took out a certain thing from the corner of his room.
"I wanted her to wear this."
Which girl's school uniform is that from? I think I have seen it somewhere before. Or maybe, I haven't.
"It's the uniform of Nagato Yuki."
"Nagato...ah! From Suzumiya Haruhi."
Even I know that. Suzumiya Haruhi series. This was a popular anime years ago.
"Devil-kun, do you also like Nagato?"
"Sorry but I didn't watch that anime."
"Hmmm, so what's your thing? Do you play games?"
"Indeed."
"Oh which?"
"Mainly competitive games and open worlds."
"Ah, I see, these are good choices, even if I don't have the time and talent to play competitive games."
"And so what kind of game are you playing?"
"Let me show you something."
He gets up and heads for his bookcase, filled with books, manga and games. So much so that it looks like it's going to fall in on itself. I turn my gaze to the schoolgirl outfit hanging further on.
(That's... really weird though...)
"Well, we all have our little pleasures."
(Did you really have to say it that way?)
"Don't you think she, Koneko-chan, looks similar to Nagato? For example her atmosphere. Though she's a bit short" He asks, sitting back down.
I've only seen a few clips of the anime on the internet, but when you say it like that, Koneko-chan has a small body, she shows no expression, she has a body with no curves, her hair is short, and so they do seem similar. Nagato Yuki is also a character like that.
"That's why I wanted her to wear this. I really wanted her to wear it!" Morisawa-san shed tears of regret. He sure is regretting it.
(He really wanted her to wear it, huh?)
"Maybe you should wear it instead?" Ddraig teases me.
"There's no way I'm wearing that." I reply aloud.
"Obviously, I would never in a million years let you touch this work of art!"
"Okay, this one's really something."
Morisawa-san tries to calm down after whipping off his tears. He takes a deep breath and calms down.
"Well, never mind. So what is your power? Something like using a mysterious power. You told me you can use your magic circuits? What can you do with them? Just to tell you, Koneko-chan has extreme strength. She carried me like a princess." Morisawa-san says it with pride.
(Yeah, there must be people who get all high by being lifted up by a girl.)
I lightly extend my arm forward and activate my magic circuits. Bright lines of green light travel down my arm to my fingers, and in a mass of lightning and energy, a sword appears.
"I can make what's called a projection."
"Wow but it's so cool! How is this possible? You create them like that with nothing?"
"Hmm, well first I have to think of a sword on which I've laid my eyes on."
"Oh? So you have some kind of sword bank in your memory? Like an inventory?"
"Pretty much yes, and I can do that too."
I pick up the teacup in front of me and strengthen it. Now streaked with lines of green light, I let go and it falls to the ground without breaking. Morisawa-san is surprised by my action and by the result. He picks up the cup and inspects it. Seeing no cracks or damage, he puts the cup down and takes my hands in his.
"You're amazing young man, your hands are worth gold!"
"Um thank you. And you have something too?"
"Oh no, unfortunately, I haven't been spoiled. You'll tell me, it's better this way."
"Why?"
"Possessing that kind of talent takes a lot of responsibility, and I think I'd do what most of the population does, I'd put it on the back burner."
"I see..."
"Anyway!" He pulls out the dvd box he wanted to show me earlier. "Do you know this game, young man?"
"Oh No Man's Sky? Yes of course, I've easily got a hundred hours of gameplay on it."
"Ah perfect! I bought this game not long ago, and I can't get enough of it! Hmmm, since you know the game so well, would you be my guide?"
"Oh, sure."
He doesn't wait any longer, turns on his TV and the console and we're off for several hours of play, with snacks and soda. Moriwasa-san in charge and me showing and explaining all the little details of the game.
As we talk, we forgot the age gap between us and have already became friends.
"Oh wow look at the time, it's going to be 7pm soon! Well, I guess it's time to make a contract with you as well."
"Oh yes, that would be great."
"Okay it might be a standard wish, but can I wish to become rich?"
(I see. That is indeed a normal but a popular wish people would ask.)
"Okay. I'll check." I turned on the portable device for Devils, and operated it.
When I input his wish, the answer appears.
"Ah, umm, in your case, for you to fulfil that wish, your price would be your life. So you will die."
"Die!?"
"Yes, in the Devils' world, they say that "Individuals life isn't equal". I'm sorry. So for you to wish becoming rich, Morisawa-san, you would have to die."
"It feels like I just got my heart ripped out, but that's okay. Anyway, if I make that wish, where will I die?"
"Umm. Ah, you will die as soon as the money starts dropping from the sky. Looks like you can't even touch it. This is awful."
"Guha! So I can't smack the money onto your face then!?"
"Hey, don't try to hit me with it."
Yeah, I just witnessed someone's dream getting crushed. I see. Like I thought, making a wish like that is basically near impossible for Morisawa-san. So this is what Buchou means that people's value isn't equal. What an unfair world we live in.
"T-Then how about a harem? How about wishing for lots of girls in a sumptuous feast!?"
(Oh. So you will go there, huh.)
I input his wish in the device. Oh my, that's a harsh answer.
"Well, it says that you would die as soon as the beautiful woman and girls come into your sight."
"I'm going to die just by seeing them!?"
"No, it says as soon as they come into your sight, so you won't be able to tell whether they are beautiful or not. That's harsh."
"U-Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Suddenly Morisawa-san who is an adult, starts to cry. "So I was a human who didn't have much worth!? Uggh, I can only say I'm sorry for being born..."
I pat softly on Morisawa-san's shoulder.
"Let's keep playing No Man's Sky. If you want I can make you something to eat too, I'm a pretty good cook. Is that okay?"
Morisawa-san nods his head while crying and like this, my first contract became invalid because I have to take care of my client.
Hello everyone, thank you for reading this chapter. I don't have much to say about this one. Only one thing: when the story has progressed, will I do a chapter dedicated entirely to a flashback of Senji's childhood, or will I continue to put fragments, passages from his past and let the thing unfold like a puzzle? I don't know yet and we'll see, there's time. Anyway, see you next week.