Chapter 47

As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

Hayato's pent-up emotions erupted into a scream that echoed through the night forest. The vast magical power, as if pouring out from that scream, intensified the density of the spirits.

Hayato had a tantrum. Struggling with conflict and contradiction, unable to find the allies he needed, and unable to convey his thoughts, he could no longer process it all and accepted the spirits' temptation. Spirits have no concept of good or evil. They greedily desire magical power (life force) and, in exchange, wield their power. They do not consider humans or living beings.

"Hayato, pull yourself together!"

Alice tried to run to Hayato, but was held back by Kaede from behind. This was the second time Hayato had lost control. If Alice approached now, it would lead to another tragedy, and she might die. That was something that had to be prevented.

Seeing the party's panic, Zangyo looked around for answers at Hayato's unusual state. Of course, Hayato's party wouldn't tell Zangyo, and Akari and Aoi shook their heads. Makishimu, who had become like the air, naturally knew nothing. Finally, Ophelia, meeting Zangyo's gaze, spoke.

"I'm not entirely sure, but more major spirits are gathered here than when using the highest-level magic. It's something unimaginable by common sense. It's as if all the spirits except those of darkness are gathered to use the highest-level magic."

Using the highest-level magic has conditions. One is affinity. Another is sufficient magical power. And then, the number of spirits. Given the nature of spirits, which can only be sensed, a precise number cannot be defined, but if the proportion of spirits within a certain range that the caster can influence exceeds sixty percent, the highest-level spirit magic can be used. For all the spirits to be involved, as Ophelia said, it was a phenomenon that defied common sense, as if forcibly gathering over a thousand percent of the spirits that would normally fill a hundred percent.

Zangyo suspected it was due to another blessing, "The Spirit's Beloved."

He then called out to someone who seemed to know the situation.

"Hey, you with the pointy hat... kid."

At Zangyo's voice, Alice glared resentfully.

"Is this because of 'The Spirit's Beloved'? When did it start? What's the cause? What will happen if it continues? Is there a way to stop it?"

Ignoring such a gaze, Zangyo fired off rapid questions.

"Why should I—"

"Shut up. There's no time for questions."

Zangyo had no intention of allowing any objections. Others, not just Hayato's party, were also watching Alice. Despite her obvious disgust, Alice reluctantly answered, looking like a sulking child.

"...Yes, the cause is as you said, 'The Spirit's Beloved.' The first loss of control happened when fighting a dragon-like monster, to protect the other heroes. However, even after defeating the monster, he remained out of control for a day and night. As a result, the mountain behind the academy was completely destroyed.

"The cause is psychological, and it seems to react to Hayato's feelings of powerlessness and hatred. If this continues, the entire area will be destroyed by the uncontrolled actions of the major spirits, changing the landscape."

"Landscape?"

"When fighting the dragon-like monster, all his power was directed at the monster. Thanks to its abnormal regenerative ability, it didn't lead to a disaster involving the academy. However, if it happens here, the mountain will repeatedly rise and sink, ice pillars will sprout, a sea of flames will form, winds will turn into tornadoes, lightning will rain down, and water will gush from the ground, with a blinding light lasting for three days."

Of course, if caught in such a place, even a hero would surely die, Alice continued.

"So, can it be stopped?"

At Zangyo's question, Alice frowned.

"...No, last time he remained out of control until his magical power was exhausted—"

Alice made a gesture as if she had an idea.

"Perhaps, but it seems he regained his senses when reacting to the voices of Erica, Kaede, and the other heroes and civilians he had saved. However, since it happened almost simultaneously with the exhaustion, it's hard to be certain. Both could be possible."

Zangyo was exasperated by how much of a hero Hayato was. But even while exasperated, his eyes never left Hayato. He couldn't look away.

"This is like 'The Spirit's Beloved' isn't just a spirit's obsession. Is this the power he stole from me?"

At this whispered question, Hayato reacted slightly.

Immediately after, a mass of wind struck Zangyo. It shattered two of his barriers in one hit, far surpassing the strength of that girl Kuu. Zangyo broke out in a cold sweat. He had thought the hero's power wouldn't affect other heroes. Thinking about it, how did 'The Spirit's Beloved' distinguish between heroes and others? Or was the attack on Zangyo already free of 'The Spirit's Beloved's influence, with the efficiency and power of the magic stripped away, leaving just raw spirit magic? If so, Hayato's magical power and skills were superior. Zangyo couldn't help but feel exasperated.

But it seemed to be the stolen power. Otherwise, it wouldn't have reacted so sensitively.

"Hey, I'm not going to eat it, so calm down."

Zangyo spoke to Hayato and to something else. He had no attachment to the power. If it was returned, he would take it back, but reclaiming talent was impossible. It was impossible. But he couldn't understand the lingering sense of unease.

Zangyo stared at Hayato. He couldn't help it; he felt something. He took a step closer. This time, a cluster of lightning bolts passed by when he noticed. Two barriers were breached, and he felt a slight static shock. While reactivating the barriers with minimal magical power, Zangyo suddenly wondered why he was doing this. He was risking his life, using his dwindling magical power to try to restrain Hayato.

It was because he didn't want to die. That was the obvious answer. But what was the cause? It was because of the two who had attacked him. At that moment, Zangyo felt cornered. He couldn't let the two who attacked him kill him. But if he killed them, Hayato would surely retaliate. The only option was to capture them without killing and negotiate with Hayato, but he couldn't trust Hayato, who didn't care about principles. If he released them as Hayato demanded, they would attack again someday. Living in constant fear was unacceptable. He was thoroughly cornered. Thinking about it, he wanted to punch Hayato. So, he said what he had to say.

"The situation you created is undoubtedly your fault, Hayato. If you hadn't stolen the power, this wouldn't have happened."

At Zangyo's words, Hayato reacted again. But this time, he didn't cast any magic. Zangyo continued to approach Hayato.

"I wanted to settle this, but unfortunately, I don't have that kind of power. If I took it from someone weaker, I'd lose the chance to settle it."

The sense of unease grew as he approached Hayato.

"I've given up on many things. I'm just a below-average person, a nobody, and that's fine. But I still have the right to be angry."

Zangyo approached Hayato, as if pulling the sense of unease toward him. He no longer expected an attack from Hayato.

"I wanted to punch you someday. So, consider this punishment and accept it."

Hayato didn't move. No, he couldn't move. In Hayato's mind, the sense of unease was pulling Zangyo. It was like the S and N poles of a magnet, an irresistible force. In his dazed state, he couldn't resist it. The sweet urge to destroy and the nagging sense of unease. They seemed contradictory but were very similar.

Then Zangyo raised his fist. He was still wearing the giant's glove but hadn't reinforced it.

Hayato couldn't move. He was defenseless. He had no barriers.

Without mercy, Zangyo swung his fist.

Zangyo's fist struck Hayato's cheek.

At that moment, Zangyo's sense of unease reached its peak and then disappeared. Along with it, his magical power was rapidly drained. Zangyo felt a slight relief. But that was all. As expected, he didn't feel the power returning.

The spirits gathered around Hayato stopped increasing. But that was all. Hayato still retained a vast amount of spirits. Zangyo turned around. Alice, Fon, and Kaede were approaching, their faces determined. Zangyo didn't look at Hayato again and passed by the three.

'The Spirit's Beloved' has no personality. However, there was no precedent for a blessing being taken away. So, it wasn't strange for 'The Spirit's Beloved' to listen to its original owner, Zangyo, and stop the loss of control. It was like a girl who had been temporarily stopped from meeting a bad guy by her beloved uncle. "Calm down and think clearly." Hayato was loved, deeply loved, but somewhere in her heart, she was also seeking help. That sense of unease had drawn Zangyo. But no matter what, she loved Hayato the most. No matter how much she was advised, she wouldn't change her mind. To her, Zangyo was just a beloved uncle. Therefore, Zangyo's power wouldn't return. Zangyo thought that was probably the case.

Hayato was touching the cheek that had been punched, dazed. But his eyes still lacked focus.

"Hayato, are you okay?"

"Hayato, are you hurt?"

"Hayato, come back. Let me repay your kindness."

The voices of the three women. Hayato recognized them as he focused his eyes. Ah, Kaede, Alice, and Fon. His important comrades, the women who had accepted him. At that moment, Hayato seemed to wake up, his consciousness becoming clear. It felt like the fog had suddenly cleared.

As Hayato's consciousness returned, the spirits he had retained dispersed. The reason was unclear, but perhaps the spirits, controlled by another consciousness, were released when that consciousness ceased.

Hayato's eyes regained their strength. When he saw Zangyo sitting far behind the three, holding two people hostage, he was filled with anger and hatred.

Seeing such a Hayato, Zangyo sighed.

"Well, well, you're back, and this is what I get. It feels like we're back to square one."

"What do you mean by 'square one'? Release the two!"

That was the Hayato from before. It seemed he had no memory of the loss of control.

Shirahoshi rubbed her head against Zangyo's knee. Zangyo lightly scratched the underside of her ears, and Shirahoshi purred contentedly.

"Hey, you, cut it out!"

Hayato, ignored, became even angrier. It seemed he couldn't afford to escape reality. Zangyo looked at Hayato with a weary expression.

"So, what do you want to do?"

"A duel!"

Had his thoughts been reset and simplified? Zangyo was exasperated and didn't want to say anything, but he couldn't just ignore it.

"You're an idiot. I won't accept. In what world does a naked person challenge a fighter? Or are you saying something? Since coming to this world, you haven't accepted such barbaric systems, have you? That's a system where the stronger one is right, a system that's morally questionable. Moreover, challenging a weaker opponent to a duel is just plunder."

At Zangyo's explanation of the meaning of a duel, Hayato's face slightly twisted. He might be embarrassed by his own words.

"I don't think it's that bad a proposal."

"Ridiculous."

But Aoi seemed to think differently. Despite the possibility of being killed by the spirits just moments ago, she showed no signs of panic. She had remarkable courage. Zangyo looked at Aoi with suspicion and annoyance.

"However, no blessings, no magic, no weapons, no armor. Just a fistfight. The conditions are: if Zangyo wins, the two go to prison, and Ichihara and his associates will never harm Zangyo or his associates and will not leak any information. I can't prevent a change of heart, but they will swear by 'The Scythe of Truth.'"

"Can't prevent a change of heart, so it's no good."

Zangyo wasn't interested. Even in a simple fistfight, he didn't think he could win.

"Indeed, 'The Scythe of Truth' only proves the truth at the time. But with so many witnesses here, I don't think Ichihara and his companions will break the agreement."

Aoi looked at Ophelia, Makishimu, and Akari, who all nodded.

"But there are still the two who attacked me."

Zangyo looked at the two lying at his feet.

"This time is a bit different. Everyone here knows Zangyo's background, so if the agreement is broken, the exposure of the truth is also possible."

"—Aoi!"

Alice's voice, as if blaming Aoi. Aoi looked at Alice with clear hostility, making Alice flinch slightly.

"We are not the same as when we were summoned and didn't know left from right. We no longer need to live by sacrificing one person. And I have never forgiven you, remember that."

Alice, rebuked by Aoi, lost her momentum. Zangyo, seeing the sudden revelation of the root of all evil, glared at her as if to say, "If you hadn't done something foolish, this wouldn't have happened." It was a glare that could curse for a thousand years. Zangyo, whether a child or a woman, showed no mercy to an enemy. Alice, under Zangyo's merciless gaze, shrank even more. Having met Hayato and recognized her own sins, Alice was even more afraid of Zangyo's gaze.

Hayato stepped in front of Alice, as if to protect her. Zangyo clicked his tongue. Aoi continued.

"Of course, for the safety of all the summoners, we must do our best to protect Zangyo's information and person. I intend to do so."

"But you are a hero like Hayato!"

Alice, behind Hayato, protested. Despite her fear, she was still trying to protect Hayato.

"Yes, but Zangyo is also a summoner, a comrade. ...I have always disliked your elitist attitude. Can't you shut up already?"

With a killing intent in her words, Aoi left Alice no choice but to be silent.

Aoi was threatening that if they broke the agreement and attacked Zangyo again, the truth they tried to hide would be exposed by "other places."

And "other places" included Aoi and others.

"We will also cooperate. We have a promise with Kurodo-san."

"I will do my best to assist Zangyo-san."

"I have a promise too. Well, I broke it, but I can't break it any further. I'd be killed by my ancestors."

Aoi, Ophelia, Akari, and Makishimu guaranteed Zangyo. If anything happened to Zangyo, they would not remain silent.

Realizing the meaning of Aoi's words, Zangyo looked up at the sky with a tired face. With just these words, the heroes could no longer eliminate Zangyo. They would have to hide the information and secretly protect him. The damage from the exposure of the information would be greater for Hayato than for Zangyo. It was more effective than using self-destruction as a shield. Zangyo felt a bit sulky, wondering what all his efforts had been for. He twirled Shirahoshi's whiskers with his fingers.

—Ku, ku, kaun

Shirahoshi sneezed when her whiskers were twirled.

No matter how much he thought about it, he wasn't that important. He scratched his face while looking at the struggling Shirahoshi. He had been trying so hard, so desperately. He had been struggling not to drown. But he couldn't see a way out.

To trust someone. To explain the situation and seek cooperation.

But just that alone had almost solved the problem. At this point, he couldn't trust