They had ultimately decided to stay in Rome's house. However, Hinata still retains her sleeping alone record...after fighting everyone off...for 5 days straight. In those 5 days they prepared for Melusine, talked with Salze, fixed the submarine, and dealt with the spreading rumors of Hinata and Rome.
And so the day to embark came. They left Erisen and a sad Moku, who was comforted by Rome. And before they left Rome actually refered to Hinata as "dear". Meld and Hinata grew more worrisome for Rome. Did the man have no fear? Was her ignorant to the flames he was adding fuel to?
Anyway, they went to the middle of the ocean. The sunken ruins was as the name implied is under the ocean. Miledi said it was near Erisen but that might've been as good as saying "it is under the ocean." Hinata had told them that she had an idea of how to locate it but could only be done at night.
During the sunset Hinata was sitting on the submarine watching it. The guys were testing out the showers she installed. She expects that Meld and the others would thoroughly enjoy it. As she watched she heard footsteps from behind her.
She turns around to Seiji. "Hey Seiji, you done showering?"
"Yeah." The boy replied. "What are you doing ?"
"Just watching the sunset."
"Really? But that sounds like a cliche."
"Hehe, it does doesn't it?" They both laughed. "But I'm not being emotional or anything. I was just thinking that...even in another world the sunset still looks the same."
"..." Seiji sits down next to her. "A lot's happened and it's not even half a year yet."
"Yeah...hey Seiji."
"Hm?"
"What do you think's gonna happen when we get back to Japan?"
"Huh? Can you elaborate?"
"Like when we get back do you think it's gonna be like a time difference thing? Like we spent months here but it's only a second there. You know, like the usual isekai."
"Maybe...it would be more convenient than missing for months. If that was the case my parents must be really worried and yours probably are too."
"...Sure." Seiji didn't notice Hinata's discomfort.
"Hey, do you think it's ok we missed like most of the school year ?"
"Eh, worse case scenario we'll just repeat the grade."
"Hey Hinata, I..."
"There you are." They both look back and see the others. Akira and Shu seemed to be pissed. "Enjoying a sunset together?"
"No fair."
Seiji pouts as his romantic moment ruined. The group then watches the sunset together. After it became night Hinata stood up and pulls out the necklace she got from Gruen and holds it up.
"What are you doing Hinata?" Meld asked.
"Oh just doing what Miledi-" Before she can finish Meld, Akira, and Shu's expression darkens, shocking Seiji and Tio.
"You guys are still triggered by that? Fine, she who shall not be name said that in order to get to Melusine we needed Gruen's proof and the moon. So..."
The necklace bathes in the light of the moon. The lantern on the necklace starts glowing. It then shot a straight stream of light into the ocean.
"Well...looks like we know where to go."
They all get into the submarine. The stream of light went through the front glass of the submarine so they were still able follow it. The submarine steadily moves down deeper...deeper... deeper and deeper until...
"Ok, what the hell is this?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why the hell did Melusine put her labyrinth this deep? This is worse than you know who's labyrinth."
"Well, you have a point there." Meld strokes his chin. The only reason they managed to reached this deep is because of Hinata's submarine. Meld doesn't think Melusine could have predicted something like this to be invented.
"If you didn't have a submarine, you would need a really strong barrier to get here." Shu said. "Maybe you're suppose to team up with some merfolks like back in Haltina, where you needed to team up with some beastmen." Shu guessed.
"Shu, I don't even know if even merfolks can survive this kind of water pressure." Despite her ranting they still moved. As they did Hinata only got more annoyed. The light led them to a underseas chasm, it's walls opened up as they got close. After they did they got attacked by a school of fish monsters.
After getting through those, the light led them towards a stone wall with star on it. When they got close just like the chasm walls it opened up. Hinata followed the pathway which let down.
As they were going down the group suddenly felt an acceleration when the submarine suddenly sped up.
Instead of sinking they felt as if they were falling, eventually...
Crash*
They all get out of the submarine and find themselves on dry land. They look up and see the water up there suspended similar to the magma in Gruen.
Hinata stores back the submarine and then "Akira."
"Got it." The water from above suddenly shot two pillars of water at the group.
"Ah!" Seiji jumps in surprise and is caught by Meld. While Akira creates a black hole usingAsurato absorb the water.
"You ok Seiji?" Meld asked concerned. "Y-Yeah sorry just surprised that's all. But you guys don't seem surprised at all." He shakily replied.
"Oh, you mean didn't sensed it?" Akira didn't realize it but that question had struck a deep wound on Seiji.
Luckily Meld noticed. "Ok, let's get going."
They make their way through the cave eventually running into a bunch barnacles. The same barnacles that shot that stream of water from before. After dealing with that they had to deal with a narrow pathway getting narrower. And the water inside was getting less shallow.
The guys were knee deep as for Hinata she was...waist deep. The poor girl kept rushing forward while blushing out of embarrassment. But then Meld got closer, picked her up, and put her on his shoulder.
"Gah! What the- Meld put me down!" She demanded.
Meld simply kept walking. "Isn't this more effective? Now you can focus on shooting any monsters that comes down while we manuver through the water."
"Like hell, this is more embarrassing than effective!" She was blushing even redder now. Meld then felt a poking on his shoulder and turns around to see... Oh dear.
"Meld, hand her over." Akira ask- or ordered.
"I wanna carry her." Shu whined. Tio was simply biting the nail on his thumb while all three were glaring at them.
Hinata and Meld just stared at them "Still wanna complaint?"
Hinata turns her face away and begrudgingly says. "F-Fine."
They make their way forward and ran into more creatures such as shuriken starfish and water snakes. Each of them were easily vanquished. Of course the group confused, all of them agreed that the monsters here are far too weak for a labyrinth well... everyone but Seiji.
All he can do is closely watch Akra dispose the monsters with such ease wether it's with his sword or magic. This was the one she made through Orcus with? Can he compete with him?
As they reach a wide space Hinata took the first opportunity to get off Meld's Shoulder. The group a big wide round room an right after enter...
"What is that?!" The entrance was now blocked by some goo coming from the walls above.
"I'll handle it!"
"Shu wai-"
Shu rushed in with his hammer hitting the goo. The goo splatters getting some of it on Shu's chest. "Ow, it burns!" The goo melts through his clothes leaving a burn mark on his chest. As for the covering the entrance, it was still intact.
"Is it acid?"
"From above!" They all look up and see shots of goo coming straight at them. Akira quickly put up a barrier blocking it. Tio sends a wave of flame to blast the goo off.
"Is it another slime?" It is kinda similar to the one back in Ankaji.
"Hey Hinata..." Shu calls out. "Can you...rub some medicine on it." He points to his chest wound.
"Are you serious?" Hinata deadpanned.
Seiji who had been chanting after seeing Shu get injured was about to heal it and stop his scheme in the process. When Meld got closer and immideatly healed it.
"Waaaaahhhh, why did you do that!?" Shu cried.
"Get serious for goodness sake." Seiji disables the spell he was about to use and couldn't help feeling a bit...disappointed.
"Uh guys we have a problem. The goo is melting my barrier." Akira informed. The others look up and see that some of the goo dripping through the barrier.
"And that's not all, my fire seems to be less effective." Tio added.
Many of the goo around the room suddenly flew off to one place. It all came together eventually forming some shape.
"A seaslug?" Hinata wondered based on the creature's form. The seaslug starting blasting goo from all of it's body. They all fired their own attacks, blocking them all. But the creature then launches forward.
"Hold on guys, Hallowed Ground!"Seiji shouted creating a barrier outside of Akira's damaged one. It managed to block the sea slug. "I'll hold the barrier, now Akira!" Akira sends a torrent of flames to the sea slug causing to explode and it's body scattered apart.
"It's over." Akira stated proudly
"Hold on blondie." Hinata said, pointing forward. They are all shocked as the scattered parts of the creature regroup on their own and once again form the monster.
"It can regenerate? Then we must find it's mana crystal." Tio pointed out.
"But where is it? The body's transparent but I don't see any crystals. Hinata?" Shu asked. Thinking ahead, Hinata had already put on her goggles trying to find the mana crystal however...
"It doesn't have one."
"""WHAT?!""" Everyone gasped while Hinata stores the goggles.
"Then it's not a monster?" Seiji asked.
"Not exactly, it's more like...all of it is the mana crystal." Hinata tried explaining
"What does that mean?" Meld asked, still needing more clarity.
"Just what I said. It's whole body gives off the same appeal as mana crystals. Actually, the entire room does as well." Deciding to test something out, Hinata brings out a flamethrower from the Treasure Trove and sprays the walls behind them with fire.
"I was right." They watch the burnt parts of the wall, or what was presumed to be the wall crumble and peel off revealing the actual cave wall. "This bastard already covered the walls before we-AH!" Hinata is pulled away by Meld as he cuts the tendril that the sea slug fired through the barrier. The tendril had already struck the floor and there was water coming from the hole.
"Crap! Akira, Meld, you two handle the monster. Seiji maintain the barrier and Shu protect him from any projectiles. Tio, help me burn the ones on the walls. Go!" She ordered and all of them gave a nod.
However, her clear cut orders proved to be quite ineffective. The sea slug keeps regenerating whenever it is destroyed by Akira and Meld. The same goes for the goo on the walls, no matter how much Hinata and Tio burnt off, it would simply be covered again by more goo. As for Seiji, the creature had no problem breaking through barrier he had created. In which Meld had to take over creating while he says the chant for another one.
And finally to make things worse the holes left by the creature have started to fill the room 'tch this isn't working' Hinata thought. She then noticed a small whirlpool on the water they were all in.
'Maybe...' She turns to Meld. "Meld, break the floor!"
"What?!" He asked surprised.
"There's space underneath. We can't beat this thing right now so hurry up!" Trusting her, Meld nods and reels back his fist and punches the ground with all his might.
After they fell through they all felt getting pushed by a powerful current. In the state disarray Seiji tried collecting his thoughts. He tries hanging on to some rocks. He tried to look for everyone else.
The boy was panicking until...he blacked out.
Seiji slowly opens his eyes only to be blinded by some bright light. The light was then blocked by a familiar face, Hinata's. He figured they were on some kind of beach from the feeling of sand below and the sounds of the waves in front of him.
"Seiji, you ok?" Hinata asked.
"Hinata?..." As he woke up he starts recollecting recent events. After they fell through the floor they were in a tunnel and got swept by the current. Meld had used his sword to stop himself and then grabbed Shu, who in turn grabbed Tio. Hinata had did the same with an azanthium knife she had brought and stopped just at the exit of the tunnel. Akira and himself were swept outside the tunnel and were split apart.
As he was holding for dear life he can remember seeing Hinata looking up. She must've been looking at Akira..."Hey Hinata...why did you save me?"
"Hm, what are you talking about?"
"Back in the water, me and Akira were in the same situation. So why did you save me?" He repeated the question.
"Because I knew Akira would be fine plain and simple." She answered immediately.
"You trust him that much?"
"I trust his strength. The same goes for Meld and the others."
"I see..." Seiji can't help but feel saddened by the fact that he was con-
"O-Ow! Hinata, what are you doing?" Hinata let go of Seiji's cheek that she had pinched.
"What are you acting all mopy about? Your clothes are soaking wet hurry up and go change."
"R-right, Sorry!" He quickly got up and pulled out spare clothes from his mini Treasure Trove, which Hinata had been able to make now that she has access to spatial magic.
Hinata had turned away and while he was changing. "Uh Hinata...how did we not drown?" He tried changing the subject from before and he is genuinely curious.
Without turning around Hinata holds out to Black cylindrical object with it mouth piece on it. "With these miniature oxygen tanks, enchanted with wind magic remember? It was obvious that we could've drown. Because you know...we're in the bottom of the sea."
The other guys had some in their mini Treasure Troves too.
"Hehe, oh yeah." He finally puts on his last piece clothing. "So what do we do now?"
"Let's keep moving forward. The others probably know we can regroup at the end of the labyrinth." She summarised. "Lets go."
"O-Ok."
They both walk into the the jungle. Hinata used her knife to hack away at the tall grass. As they were Hinata suddenly turned around stopping Seiji. Then she moves forward and thrust her knife sideways just behind Seiji's head.
"Wha- Hinata?" Hinata moves her hand back and Seiji sees that at the end of her knife was a large spider. "Eek, A monster?!" He shrieked.
Hinata raises her eyebrow and takes a closer look at the spider. "Uhh...no just a regular spider. No mana crystals. How did it get here?"
"O-Oh sorry..." It was just a spider. Just a regular everyday spider. He shrieked over something like that?
Hinata ditches the spider carcass and continues hacking. Not noticing Seiji gritting his teeth in frustration.
As they walk, the scenery of a jungle disappear and they find themselves in a dark rocky terrain area. They can see multiple ships all battered and broken on those rocks.
"It looks like a ship graveyard." Seiji commented. Hinata observes their surrounding. "They all look like battleships, judging by the damage from battles and cannons. Well except for that big one over there." The boat she was pointing at was at the far back. It was also the biggest one and it looked more like a cruise ship.
The pair walks pass the damaged ship while keeping guard. At first it seemed there was nothing her but really old and broken ships when suddenly their visions got blurry and then they find themselves on top of a ship
"Huh? When did we-"
*Boom*
Their ears were filled with the sound of explosions. They then were shocked to find the ship graveyard before them is gone and is now replaced by a vast ocean filled with hundreds of battleships.
They see 3 fireballs comings straight at them. Hinata tries to shoot them down but her bullets go straight through them. "What?!"
"I'll handle this!" Seiji puts up a barrier just in time. As the fireballs were blocked, Hinata was still confused, she was sure she hit them.
Another 3 fireballs came at them. This time Hinata jumps forward deciding to try something. She kicks all three fireballs with Gale Claw, dispersing all of them.
"So it can be blocked by magic." Hinata surmised.
"Hinata, what was that?" Seiji wondered.
"I think they're...physical illusions. They're not real but they can still hurt us. So we should probably..."
"AAAAAAARRRRGHHHH!" They turn to the source of the scream of pain. They see a man crawling on the ground bleeding.
"Oh no! Don't worry I'll heal you."
"Seiji wai-" Ignoring Hinata, he quickly heals the man only the man to suddenly vanish into nothing.
"What the- what happened?!"
"Looks like they can be destroyed just being touched by mana. It doesn't even have to be offensive." Hinata concluded.
"Wait what?! But that means I-I killed...them." he stuttered.
"Huh, killed?" Hinata hits Seiji on the head. "No dude! I told you they're illusions, they're not real! And also, we're in a labyrinth, who the hell did you think that was?" She scolded.
"R-Right sorry..."
"Again with the apologies.." Hinata whispered.
"What...?"
"Come on."
The two of them then hear something.
"All for Ehit!"
"Die heathens, DIE!"
They now see some armed seeming ready to attack them and attack them they did. Hinata easily disposed them by shooting them all with bullets of pure mana instead of her usual ones.
After they were gone, Hinata brings out her grappling hook and grabs Seiji. She shoots the top of the mast and after being pulled up , they land on the crow's nest. They watched the massive battle before them
"Don't exactly see a clear way out." Hinata said trying to see any kind of sign. "You see anything Seiji?"
"Uhh...nope, just chaos."
"Tch we can't investigate anything in the middle of a freaking war."
"Wait, what if that's it? Maybe we're suppose to stop the war." Seiji guessed.
"So we just have to kill everyone? I'm cool with that."
"Huh?! That's not what I-"
"Let's bounce." Hinata grabs Seiji and jumps off the crow's nest. They land on the deck and are welcomed by more apparitions.
"Remember Seiji, you can get rid of them with healing magic. So focus on quantity not quality." Seiji nods and begins chanting. As he does Hinata mercilessly shoots down any ghost that tried to attack them until finally...
"Divine Mother, smiling down from heaven, encompass all in thy heavenly embrace, Aetherflow."
Waves of light expand from Seiji, covering multiple ships and vaporizing every ghost touched by it. Aetherflow, the highest ranked healing magic. Not only does it have an insanely long chant, it's also usually casted by multiple people but Seiji casted it by himself.
"Nice one Seiji." Hinata complimented.
"Huh? Oh yeah thanks." Seiji should be overjoyed over being complimented by Hinata...and yet he's not...why?
Because he knows that Meld and Akira could've done it faster. They wouldn't need to chant and they have much more mana than him...Seiji kept those thoughts to himself.
And so they continue their objective. Even if the illusions are all weak it would still take some time to clear it by normal means. Luckily the two teens can't be considered normal.
Under an hour, illusion armies of two clashing countries had been annihilated by Hinata and Seiji. After they were done, they returned to their original location, where Seiji fell to his knees.
"Hinata...what was that?"
"It felt like we were in a historical movie, like the one they show in class, only way more exciting."
"So those illusions were something from the past?"
"Yeah, it could be related to the theme of this place."
"Theme?"
"Each labyrinth has a theme to it. We concluded that back in Gruen."
"So the theme here is...to show us something in past?"
"Something to do with Ehit I'm guessing. Was he the cause of that massive battle before?" Seiji felt nauseous upon hearing about that battle. He had witnessed how some of the illusion people were all dead and creating pile of corpses. Seeing the sickly Seiji, Hinata figured they should take a break.
Seiji was now lying down on a a piece of driftwood they found. Hinata was simply watching him and waiting until he was ready to move again.
"Sorry Hinata." He really wished he didn't feel like this but he needed a break after seeing...that.
"Don't worry about it." Fortunately, Hinata understood. Even someone as hardcore as her can understand how terrifying war can be...for normal people. "Great labyrinths are crazy for first timers. Meld was a nervous wreck in Orcus, even after he got stronger. And Shu literally pissed his pants in Reisen. No, seriously he actually pissed his pants." She tried to lightened he mood, but it didn't seem effective.
"Speaking of Orcus... that's when you met Akira right?"
"Hm? Yeah...despite him being very annoying...*sigh* I have to admit, Meld and I would've been screwed without him. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, i-it's just that...I can't help but feel jealous. I really wish I had been down there with you. I wanted to keep my promise and keep you safe...but Akira and Meld are just too strong...hehe." he gave himself a pity laugh. "I can't even cast chantless ma-"
"UGH, ENOUGH!" Hinata snapped.
"Huh?!" Seiji flinched.
"Seiji, let me ask you something. Why the hell did you want to come with me ?" She angrily asked.
"Wha-I...are you saying...I'm slowing you down?"
"That's not what I asked! But yeah, you kinda are." Seiji felt as if his heart just got stabbed as Hinata continues. "Since we've gotten here, you've done nothing but apologize over and over again and I'm sick of it!"
Seiji couldn't give a single reply.
"I honestly don't know why you fell for me, or why Akira, Shu, and Tio did as well. But I do know that I don't feel the same nor did I make any promises to change that! And I told that to all of their faces, but unlike you, none of them used it as an excuse to feel sorry for themselves!"
"Th-That's not what I'm doing!" Seiji tried defending himself.
"Really? Even with all the apologizing and comparing yourself? You even compared yourself to Meld, who isn't even in the running."
There was long silence between the two.
Hinata sighs. "Seiji...when you asked to join, I agreed because of several reasons. The first is that I already rejected the others and it didn't do squat. The second, you were a healer, so it would've been useful for the party. And the third...I just thought it'd be fun to hang out again."
"..."
"I already told you I don't like you that way, and if that's too much for you...maybe you should just go back." Seiji felt another stab. "I don't care how much you or your sister complain, I'll drag you there myself."
"..." Instead of crying Seiji, was mulling over the conversation...trying to make sense of it and figure things out.
"Now come on, we've rested enough." Hinata ordered with a quite dejected expression, with Seiji following. They head towards the biggest ship they had seen earlier. Once there they feel a similar feeling from before.
"Looks like we're in for another history lesson."
The moon was glistening.
Lanterns and decorations were hung around the ship.
All the passengers were wearing regal clothing. Some of them had a cup on their hands and some were conversing with others.
"Is this a party?"
"Ugh, formal social gatherings." Hinata gagged.
They can't help but be confused watching the scene. It was definitely contrast to the illusion from before. Even more confusing was the party guests. They can clearly see the passengers comprised of not just humans but also a bunch of different beastmen and even demons. This definitely contradicts the current state of Tortus.
In fact...was peace like this ever possible?
While trying to discern the meaning of the illusion all of the people's attention was turned to one man. Hinata and Seiji see what they were looking at. They see a quite old man in fancy clothing wearing a crown. Hinata assumed he was most likely a human king and figured this was a party of royal...and she had a feeling of dread about what's to come.
The human king started a speech of how glad he is to see peace between all races like this. Seiji was enjoying the view of said peace but Hinata was skeptical. They continued listening until...
"...And I must say...how stupid."
Just like that the mood took a complete 180. The human king begin insulting the peace he had claimed to be grateful for. One of the beastmen guest had objected and asked what he mean by that and...
Shink*
Just like that, he was stabbed through the chest by what seems to be a soldier. And that soldier wore the same equipment as the ones in the Heiligh kingdom.
The other guests scream as more soldiers appear and killed them too. It wasn't just stabbing, other guests had been burned to death by fire spells. While all of this was happening the man from before was laughing and screaming Ehit's name to heavens.
In all the horror, Hinata only had one thing to say "Meld's not gonna like this." Hinata looked up at the laughing lunatic and noticed something. Behind him seemed to be a man covered in a hooded robe all Hinata can see was his white hair.
Hinata can't help but wonder who that was. The robed man had no problem watching the massacre, so that means he was with the king. But if that were true why wasn't he wearing party clothes like the others? He also didn't seem to be a soldier or a personal bodyguard.
So who was he?
The disturbing sight eventually disappear. And after it does Seiji immediately leans over the railing and vomits. Who can blame him? Considering he witnessed a scene that was somehow worse than a war.
"Maybe we need another rest." Hinata suggested as she patted Seiji's back.
"N-No! I'm fine... let's just finish this labyrinth already." Seiji was trying hard to power on and Hinata decides to comply.
They go to the ship's interior. Hinata brings out a lantern to illuminate the way. As they thread through the rotting wood of the ship, Seiji can't help but think back to what they just saw.
"Hinata...did that king really slaughter everyone, even though they were at peace?"
"Looks like it, but something seemed off."
"What was?"
"If that guy wasthatcrazy, you'd think people wouldn't give him the time of day. And yet for some reason, all those people that he killed had agreed to meet him on his boat, filled with his soldiers, go to the middle of the ocean, and in the dead of night."
"So that means he must have been somewhat trustworthy but then became like...that. If I remember his speech, he said that the treaty was created a year ago. He must've changed in that one year."
Hinata wondered about that too. Can someone really change that drastically in a span of a year?
Oh wait...
She already knows the answer to that.
They continue to progress through the ship. The ship became more and more similar to haunted house in the eyes of the two teens. Mostly because of things such as bloody handprints and weird noises. Not to mention the fact that the ship was actually haunted. It was still filled with monsters and ghosts that attack the two of them.
However they eventually had to deal with something else.
*Snap*
Hinata quickly grabbed whatever was flying towards her. "A wire?" Then from the holes on the walls multiple arrows shot out. They were all blocked by the barrier Seiji created.
"Wiretrap and arrows from the walls? That's kind of old school." The traps here can't hold a candle to Reisen, but did Melusine really set this up after showing something so messed up?
They were welcomed by another trap as a powerful gust of wind appeared. When they were lushed back Hinata managed to stop herself using her knife. But when she tried to grab Seiji the boy was already blown far back. Hinata couldn't even see him anymore.
Once the wind disappeared, Hinata immediately tried to go after Seiji only to be stopped by human soldiers or at least ghosts of ones. After a couple of mana bullets were fired Hinata managed to find Seiji. He had already gotten up, smiling even.
"Seiji, you ok?"
"Oh yeah, I'm fine." He walked closer "But it was really scary. Mind if stick close-" Seiji stopped upon feeling the end of gun under his chin.
*Bang*
Hinata fires a mana bullet, causing Seiji to fall to the ground.
"H-Hinata..wh-"
"Shut up." Hinata shoots Seiji again. She then rustled through his pockets to find a rusted knife. "Get out of his body." She commanded. Possession or not, a liar is still a liar. Of Course she can tell.
"Fufufu." the supposed "Seiji" started laughing. "So you know. So what? This boy is mi-"
*Bang*
"Gah! What are you doing?! This boy i-"
"Bite me!" She cuts him off. "These are mana bullets. Seiji's gonna be fine, but you on the other hand..."
"Heh, is that you think? Well guess what! If I die so does this boy. So just put that weapon awa-"
*Bang*
"I don't want to repeat myself, so get out already." Hinata didn't the slightest bit fazed.
"Gah! Seriously?! Didn't you listen to me? This boy will die if I do!"
"And..?"
"What?"
"Let me lay it out for you dumbass. If I don't shoot you, you keep Seiji's body and do whatever kinky shit your into. If I do shoot you, there's a chance Seiji would die, but I get to make you suffer for it. Also his death would totally be on you, not me. "
The formerly cocky spirit is unable to comprehend the human in front of it. "What is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me? What the fuck's wrong with you?" She returned the question. "You're the one stealing people's bodies you pervert!" She activates her Intimidation skill. "And that body happens to belong to a guy that I actually willingly hang out with."
She glares at the spirit while emanating a murderous aura. "And when you mess with someone on that list you have hell to pay...so let's see..." Her face breaks into a grin. "If I CAN BREAK YOUR SPIRIT! hehehe...hahaha...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The ghost was now tearing up upon hearing the maniacal laughter. "As long as you don't die I can torture you until-"
Hinata stops when she saw Seiji's body glowing. When the ghost lost it's will to fight Seiji had regained some control of his body. He had casted one off the reserve healing he had. The spirit might've taken over his body but he still wanted to make it pass on peacefully. That's just the person he is.
Also, he felt bad at how much Hinata scared the ghost.
After the light disappeared Hinata stares at Seiji's body. His eyes were still shut and he wasn't moving. Hinata waits for a moment...before slapping him across the face.
"Ow!"
"Hurry and wake up already." She gets off him while he rubs his cheek from the pain. "Why were you pretending to be unconscious?"
"Hehe I...kinda wanted you to get closer. And then I'd kiss you." He nervously admitted with a goofy smile.
"Seriously? That doesn't sound like you ." Seiji of all people coming up with a scheme? It sounded so...unreal.
"Do you remember when you asked me why I went with you? Well I'm ready to give you my answer." He looked at her with complete confidence. "I love you Hinata. I want to be with you forever." He proudly stated.
"Won't you just hurt yourself?" He should still realize that Hinata hadn't changed her mind.
"Yeah maybe.." he admitted. "But I would be even sadder if I weren't your side."
Hinata lets out a sigh. She was hoping Seiji would just give up but...this was better than being a sad sack. "Well anyway, let's keep moving."
"Uh..Hinata can you hep me get up?" Seiji requested while still on the floor. "That ghost took a lot out of me so I can't really walk."
Hinata narrower her eyes. "Can't you just heal yourself? Or if you're tired just useSanctorumto take some of my mana?" She asked with suspicion.
"Uh...well...I..um..pleaseeeee." His frantic expression turned to one similar to a puppy dog.
"Well, it was nice knowing ya." It took her less than a second to walk away. "I'll break the news to Kaori."
"W-wait Hinata!" Hinata didn't even turn around as the boy caught up to her. He was starting to sound like Shu. Coming up with dumbass schemes like that...
Did they forget she can...
Actually, she never told them that she can do that, did she?
They eventually find a magic circle and activate it, thus kissing the ship graveyard goodbye.