Chapter 6

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

TL NOTESASAFS: dam It’s been such a long time. I guess i really set the expectation bar for myself too high and i get discourage and lazy too easily. Sorry for what late chapter, you know monster hunter came out :p and i also had crazy weeks. I didn’t thought that i would have like 12+ test for the last three weeks(TWELVE! I MEAN WTF) combined with homeworks and btw, being asain and all, our tests are so fucking ridiculously hard. Also, my final exams are coming next week so yeah(Our geology teacher guaranteed that we won’t even get full points along with biology[She said the most that had ever happened is like 76 out of 80 points by competing biology dude] chemistry and physics. wtf?) Lastly, I think im going to set the bar at a chapter every other week or at least 2 chapters per month. (I know it’s slow. I know the pain of waiting for the monthly manga that I’m reading.) I hope this wait time doesn’t kill the series by making you guys forget the story.

Sorry for these grumble about my life and please enjoy the chapter(unedit as always)

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“It’s almost time.”

He said with tired voice. His face is pale and full of sweat. Normally, just walking around the forest for some distance shouldn’t be a problem for him but in this situation, it almost exceeds human’s limit. There’s noone who would get their blood and soul sucked out like that. Ester himself is still wondering about how is he still alive at the moment.

Help me!!!

The voice can be heard once again and he could hear it clearer than ever. As if he’s going insane, people around him seems like they couldn’t hear a thing. He musters his courage to keep walking forward while trying not to pay too much attention to the voice.

The son of Devald… must walk straight ahead.

“I will help if I can. But if I can’t, I won’t.” He mumbled.

The deeper it is, the darker it gets. The plants that was small before is now so tall that you might not even see the top of it. The moonlight has already disappeared at the top leaving only dim light like a dying candle. Being in the darkness, the forest seems a lot bigger than it is. Not one animal appear on the way making it even more quiet. The silence starts to cloud human’s heart slowly. Sometimes he could even see a normal tree smiling at him. The only human in the group starts to get frighten with the girls walking along without a care.

One of them could see in the dark, live in the dark and use the darkness to survive.

Another one doesn’t need to look at anything and doesn’t need to perceive anything.

Last one’s already in the soul form. No need to get scared at all.

The three girls forgot an important thing.

Humans fear the dark. They fear it no matter what unless they are already used to it or have experience it since birth. The quieter the scarier. The sounds of footsteps only make it more terrifying. In this time where there should be a conversation, they stayed silent. His group doesn’t even know what he seeks coming here.

“Victoria.” Ester spoke.

“Yes? What’s the matter?”

“So, in the heart of this forest. What’s there? I’m dying to know.” He spoke quickly wanting to plug his ear from the whispering voice.

“I think it’s better for you to see it for yourself. We’re already in the middle area.” The translucent face shows discontentment when she heard his request. “That way is the exit.”

After a few steps, they have already left the dense forest area.

In front shows a circle field which is full of flowers. Its diameter is around a football field. In the middle, a huge tree that ten people might not even be able to hug it stands there in the moonlight. All of the flowers are bloomed as if they doesn’t care about the time. Around the field, there are symbols but they couldn’t tell what its meaning are.

“Eeeek!”

A sound from the vampire girl could be heard making all the members turned their heads. There are golden magic circles around her. She showed a confused expression before disappearing.

“Game Over. It’s already midnight.” The chain said amidst her master confusion.

“It’s recall magic. They are taking people back to the castle, everyone should’ve gone back now. Except you.” Tartarus said that like it’s a normal occurrence.

When he came back to his sense, a normal question for the humanity came out.

“Why?”

“Why didn’t I get taken back? Can you explain?” Ester tried to calm himself. Sure, looking at the flowers is calming but it doesn’t take all his stress away. His head now runs with stress, wounds from the cross that he did to himself start to ache after not feeling it for quite a while.

“The key on your neck.” Tartarus said. “It’s the reason.”

“Another cursed thing?”

“No… It’s the creators’ resentment.” She paused when she saw his curious expression before talking again. “There’s a lot of side effects. One of them is that no matter what, they won’t ever depend on the teachers. Because of that, anything that is considered teacher’s help, they will get erased automatically. Even if you die, the key will make you respawned there. Not going back to the castle like everyone else.”

“Hey… Are you crazy?” He started to shout trying to pull of his necklace but no matter what he did, it won’t come out. “This is cheating…Giving a curse along…”

After a while of tug-o-war, he started to get tired. His left hand starts to hurt again so he had to stop but he still haven’t gave up on finding the way to take it out. If it’s something that’s full of demerit, it’s not different from a parasite.

“Don’t waste any more time… Please come here.” Victoria called out.

The translucent body that got hit by the moonlight was strangely pleasant to look at, so Ester stared at her. Even though he couldn’t see it clearly but he could feel something powerful in her. Pictures of a female knight swinging her sword at demons in a war popped up in his head.

He keeps staring at her who’s floating to the big tree.

At the base of the tree, there’s a hole which strangely let moonlight through. If you look closely, you can see that there’s a grave. Around there, there are less grass and flowers around. A grey tombstone in front has already decayed quite a bit. Even though a lot of characters are fading away, you can still make some of it out.

Sanctus Windell. A selfless warrior is resting here at the forest of slumber.

“A warrior graveyard.” Ester said that while bowing at the tombstone.

“Commemorating for person you just met… you are odd…” Voice that disturbed the tranquil can be heard from below. “Just leave me be…” He answered.

After a few seconds, he starts to notice something. Voice that he heard is a male voice… because in his group there’s only two girl and him left. If there’s another guy here, he’s not a welcomed person.

Dark pupils start to move around with fear. Forgetting that he also has a ghost following him around. The wind that was calm now starts to blow. Voices can be heard in Ester’s ear before everything started to calm down.

“This year’s heir is pretty interesting. Let’s see if you can beat me.” A familiar voice. Even though it’s more bold but it couldn’t deceive him. It’s like the ‘Help me’ voice from earlier, there only difference is that it used to be in pain.

“Welcome to the forest of slumber.”

The ground shook creating a big fissure. A red hair guy in white that has red flame at the edges walks out of the hole. Even though his outfit looks like it came out of a kungfu movie, it gives a different atmosphere. You can see a blue sword with black hilt on his back and a white pearl Kanata at his waist.

“ Nice to meet you.”

Why did you have to wake up now?…Just sleeping soundly would have been better for me.

“It’s just that I’m that thing owner.” He points at the key that is hanging from his neck. “So I want to have a test. I don’t like having some weak guys holding that key. To be honest, I wanted to invite the others that used to be its owner too but they are resting in peace… I too am just a soul fragment.”

Do you know him? Ester thought ignoring his words. This out of place warrior?

When Tartarus heard that, she instantly replied. No way..This red head zombie? No way I have met this guy before. Maybe, we are from a different era.

Sanctus laugh as if he heard what they were talking about. Sanctus’ gaze when he looks at Tartarus is more like seeing an acquaintance than seeing a stranger, this makes Ester more curious but he can’t say too much. Right now, he’s more interested in the man in front of him.

“Do I really have to take this test?” The heir asked with hope.

“You can…die now too.” The answered was sent back with a smile.

Ester didn’t say anything back. If you don’t asked about his mediocre psychic power, he’s still confident in his close-range battle. Even if his opponent have weapons on him, he still thinks that the skill might got rusty over the time.

“Well…There’s not much time. Get that chain off then let’s start.” The senior that was asleep a moment ago points at the chain on his feet.

“Nah, just think of it as handicap.” Ester answered.

Even if I take out, there’s no way I survive. No difference.

Courageous, nice. Strong-willed, passed. Sanctus gives him points without thinking too much about it. Even if he’s getting on my nerve.

Now there’s two left. Fighting and how much I like you.

The slumbering warrior think back to when he first got the key from the war. The girl that give it to him wanted it to be in the hand of the suitable person. The people that hold it wasn’t superb but they are still good people. Something told Sanctus that the person in front of him will be the last person to hold it.

“Ocean.” Ester said quietly before a black book starts to appear. “I won’t use you this time, Tartarus but can you please transform back into a human?”

“No. Wake me up after you die.”

Even though she didn’t transform, you can feel the weight getting lighter. His power are starting to come back and with this chain length, you can even do high kicks.

“Thanks.”

You can kill a man but you must bury him too!!! [TL:Notesasfasf : how tf do I translate this to make it sound cool?]

After he finish thinking that, he instantly threw his book into his senior direction. The red head warrior smiled before lifting his big sword and try to slash it down. In that moment, both the book and the sword were in flame and with the slashing force, the book was threw back at Ester. Even though the sword was in flame, he didn’t release the sword.

“Your trick is really interesting but a real fire magic should be like this!!”

Tens of fireballs float around him before going into his body making it looks like he’s being burned alive but he just smiled as if nothing happened.

Sword versus book. Sword versus kicks. Ester uses the moment when he moves his sword to dodge and hit his face with the book. The senior isn’t that bad too, he uses fire as it they are shield. They harden when Ester’s attack hit making the attack looks like it did nothing. The big sword was thrown at the side because the user think that it’s not suitable for this opponent.

Sanctus draws out his katana. The wind around him blows violently making the flame rises up more. The blade shines as if it is responding to the flame. Slashing sounds hit the target but they can’t stop target’s breath. The blade was blocked by only one book. The red head senior retreated a bit while slashing his blade in the air a lot of times, making Ester wondering what he’s up to.

At his last slashed, he changed his form slightly. A really big human-size magic circle appeared spitting out vacuum blades silently. The area was as if it got hit by a storm but they were missing their target.

Ester didn’t what to do so he just get down to the ground. He racks his brain for a solution both winning and surviving the fight.

“I’m on the disadvantages if I fight head on so let’s just do sneak attacks.” Ester mumbled.

He pulled out his throwing weapon once again but this time, it’s not for fighting.

A book flew forward with the red head as the target. Sanctus pulled out his sword and slash at it making it flew away but what he doesn’t realized is that Ester has already close up their distance.

“THE LEGENDARY KICK!” After the shout ended, Ester pulled up his leg and kick him in the back of the knee making him fall down on the grass. Not giving the time to stand up, Ester quickly strangles him with his chain. “Hey, what are you… Ogh—“

The sound of a ghost suffocating can be heard but Ester knew that he’s not just a normal ghost. Even though He was getting burned by the fire armor, Ester doesn’t even care about it. He throw his bodyweight on him and keep rotating the chain in his hand making the chain tighter and tighter. Also it might be because Tartarus increased her weight, he couldn’t get up. In the end, he smacked the ground signaling the he’s given up.

Seeing that he’s already given up, he send telepathy signals to his torturing device to stop having fun.

“Idoit.”

A clear voice sent a word back but still, he released him.

“Thanks for pulling your punches.” The junior talked with smiling face, on the other hand, the senior is staring back intensely.

Fighting skill passed. Not bad at all. Hahaha.

Likeable scale? Being a full-scaled jerk? I will give you max points.

“Okay, okay. At least now I know that you have some fighting skills so I can just leave this world peacefully.” He said. “But don’t forget about today’s fight even though it’s as short as one breath but I hoped that you’ve learned something more than just throwing books. So my duty has ended… It’s time for me to go to sleep.

His eyes gaze beyond Ester and look at his own grave. Even though they looked sad for a split second, Ester didn’t asked anything because he knew that it’s about when he was still alive.

A young warrior looks at his junior while offering his katana and he’s also pointing at the big sword laying on the ground. “They are yours. Do whatever you want with it, I hope it will benefit you who will succeed our will. This forest will go back to its original form. Remember, this forest is your ally and don’t forget to use the key.

Ester accepted the katana willingly while he’s walking to pick the sword that’s in flame.

“Also, don’t spoil that chain too much.” A smile surfaced on his face.

After the last word, his body turned in to ashes before getting blown away by the wind.

Everything was turning back into what it used to be. The hole in the ground was restored back. The flowers that was cut emitted lights and flew back to where it once was. The whole forest was glowing as if saying farewell to a dear friend. Seems like the person he was fighting was really loved by this forest.

“Really comes and goes fast, huh?” Ester said that while gazing the nature for a while. The standing body suddenly fell down with a scary cross wound on his chest. Blood came gushing out making a small pond. The young man who got slashed smile a little before saying

“Hahaha, when did he even slash me?”

“So the fact that he was pulling some punches is real huh?” The chain said surprisingly.

The wound on his left hand and on his chest increases the pain he’s having. He couldn’t even stand up. But Ester still force himself to stand up by using the katana. His eyes look at the big fire sword on the ground.

Curve blades was carved on the blade. There seems to be some energy flowing in its core, something like heat energy. Its hilt is wrapped with old cloths but they have fire carefully drawn on them. Ester looked at it for a while before saying.

“Tartarus.”

“What? I won’t help you this time.” She responded with monotone voice, seems like she wanted to tease him before he died.

“Eat it.” His wounded hand points at the sword.

“What!?” Now it’s not only one voice but Victoria’s as well.

“You must not do it. A sword is a warrior’s resolution, how can you feed it so easily?” Polite voice came from the bodyless girl. “It’s something for you to use.”

“Just eat it quickly.” The answer is still the same. He thinks that it’s more useful to let his weapon eat it instead of using it himself. He regrets nothing about his decision.

“As you wish…” The chain transformed back into a girl wearing tattered clothes and right now it’s even more tatter than before. You can even see blood on the bandage at her right eye. She walked toward the sword and picked it up with her hands.

Clank!

Metals that was parts of the swords split up in pieces. The pieces flew into Tartarus’ mouth as if there are invisible hands feeding her little by little. If it’s too big, it will get broken down into powder.

Ester sits there look at Tartarus who’s changing. The tattered clothes change into black gothic dress. There’s flame pattern laced into her skirt. The chain around her became tattoos on her and it moves as if they are alive for a while before moving to her right hand combining into black chains with a cross on the back of her hand. Also, all of the wounds are already healed.

Cute….

Ester saw everything. Before he thought that her look isn’t bad but because of this he halts those thoughts. The girl in front of him is… really pretty.

He orders her without the fear of dying.

“Hey, do a spin.”

Tartarus was dumbfounded and Victoria was lost of words.

Not knowing why, the girl who almost killed him once before, do a 360 for him.

“So damn cute.” His voice that was once frail suddenly has a lot more energy along with smile on his face. He points at the katana that’s been holding his body and say “Then eat this too. So we can be done already.”

“I think I could die happy today.” Mumbles can be heard from his mouth. “My Goddess!!”

Don’t tell me he’s… Lolicon?

Both of them look at the near-death person with disgust. Tartarus and Victoria now look at Ester as if he’s trash that’s spilling out of trash can that almost hit them. Being look at that way, Ester quickly refuses.

“Hey don’t look at me like that.” He utmost refused which made choke a bit. “I just want to see her in different clothes, that’s all”

“Fine.”

Tartarus now knows that eating weapons not only changes her outfit, it also increases her power. She doesn’t hesitate to grab the katana without a care making him fall onto the ground.

The moment all of the sword flew into her mouth, her outfit changes once again. The height seems to increase a bit and her clothe is now black kimono with flame around the edges. The sleeves are shorter than it should be and the bottom part is perfectly at the knee level. Obi around her is blood red and her bandage came back to being pure white… the only thing that didn’t change is her monocle.

Hey. That outfit and that face is really familiar. Only the pattern on the clothes and the tattoos that’s not the same.

Ester doesn’t think like a person who’s dying at all. “Chain that can cosplay…” Mumbles can be heard. His crazy passion about novels and books of the old world is coming out. One of the girl from hell looks really alike.

“This looks pretty good and I can also moves a bit better now.” The girl mood now changes into a good one. She always eat scraps in the room so she doesn’t know what will happen when she has a chance to eat something good.

“Ester.” Chain girl said while giving him her energy. His wounds started to heal itself rather quickly, blood that was lost is restored. What’s left are wounds on his hand and his chest that isn’t fully healed yet. “I will cancel the three times rule. From now on, I will be your weapon.”

“For real?” He asked with disbelief. Fluke? What’s even the chance?

“For real.” She said. The only grey eye shows her resolution. “But I will be in other forms. I don’t want to be at your feet anymore, the blood are everywhere.”

“So get me more weapons or something delicious to eat later.” Tartarus said selfishly while holding her master hand. Dark aura starts to come out of her making her looks a bit scary but her smile almost melt Ester heart.

“Please treat me well, master.”

That was her first time that she called him with acknowledgement.

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