First Outer World Story Series: The Black Mist that Devours - Chapter 154
Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter
(Ichiko POV)
After Kurokiri headed for the God of Calamity’s place, I paid a visit to Lady Ryo’s dungeon, “The Shrine of the Mist Life”.
“It has been a long time, Lady Ryo.”
“It sure has been a while, hasn’t it? Ichiko.”
Lady Ryo slowly emerged from the depths of the dungeon.
Her appearance was different from when she was once a “Kirijin,” with pure white hair and red eyes, and her attire had shifted to a loose-fitting outfit.
“So, what can I do for you today?”
“Yes. Actually…”
I informed Lady Ryo that Kurokiri had gone to confront the God of Calamity. After that, I explained to her why I didn’t go with him.
“That’s why I came to see you today, Lady Ryo, because I have a favor to request of you.”
“Go ahead and share it with me.”
Lady Ryo’s unique skill was ?The One Who Guides All Lives?. When it came to recovery, it had the potency to save the life of a person on the verge of death. With its commanding effect, it can make the dead and the living serve Lady Ryo irrespective of their physical condition.
And this time, after the battle between Kurokiri and the God of Calamity would be over, I had come to request Lady Ryo to heal the returning Kurokiri.
After all, the opponent was the God of Calamity. Even if Kurokiri triumphed, he may not remain unscathed, and depending on the severity of his wounds, it may not be possible to heal him using only those with healing skills who were present in “White Mist and Black Swamp Forest”.
And when I had told that much to Lady Ryo, she said…
“I understand. I will accept the treatment for his injuries under one condition.”
“Condition?”
I stiffened somewhat. Although I was positive that Lady Ryo would not be that unreasonable in her request, I was nevertheless apprehensive.
“Ichiko. Go and join Kurokiri.”
“Eh, but Miss. You want me to go to Kurokiri’s side…!?”
“It doesn’t matter what circumstances Kurokiri is in. Besides, Ichiko, from the bottom of your heart, I know you wish to accompany him too.”
That is… certainly true… but with my abilities, I would serve as a hindrance… that’s why Kurokiri left me behind.
“Don’t worry, we have a countermeasure for that. Izumi.”
“Ichiko onee-chan, it’s been a long time.”
In response to Lady Ryo’s call, Izumi came out from the back of the room.
“Izumi!? When did you come back!?”
“It was only a short while ago. I had a hunch that something bad would be happening so I came back,” Izumi replied with a cheerful smile.
“Is… that so? And the countermeasure is…?”
“The details are a trade secret, but I can do something to counteract the interference of the God of Calamity and make a couple of special things to happen without any problem.”
With an extremely pleasant smile on her face, Izumi puffed up with pride.
“So the rest is up to you, Ichiko. You can either stay in this world and wait anxiously for Kurokiri to return, or you can go after him and defeat the God of Calamity together. That’s what I’m talking about.”
“Me…? The decision lies with me…?”
This approach caused me to ponder.
Assuming that I do not go to the God of Calamity’s place, will Kurokiri prevail over the God of Calamity unscathed? And if I head over there, will Kurokiri be able to overcome the God of Calamity in one piece?
…I don’t have to worry about this aspect at this point. Should I prove to be a burden for Kurokiri, I will simply retreat. As long as I can be of help, then I can be useful. If I do not go there, though, neither choice is accessible to me.
I locked my gaze on Izumi.
“Ichiko onee-chan, what do you think about him? If he is who you have in your heart, then there is no need for you to be hesitant, right?”
How do I feel about Kurokiri?
I didn’t need to be confronted with such a question now.
After all, Kurokiri is the one…
“Izumi. Please tell me if you have a strategy against the God of Calamity. I want to save Kurokiri.”
…I love.
“I understand.”
Izumi took my hand in hers and channeled some kind of power into it.
Perhaps this was the countermeasure against the God of Calamity, as Izumi claimed.
“Then off you go. The battle has already begun, so you’d better hurry.”
“Yes.”
And I rushed out to save Kurokiri.
————–
(Ryo POV)
“So who the hell are you?”
“What are you talking about? Ryo onee-chan.”
After Ichiko had left, I called out to that someone who was in the guise of Izumi.
“Several days ago, it was confirmed by a meeting of the Six Demon Kings of this country, including myself, that Izumi has been located on the continent of America. So, at this point, she would have to use ‘Ultra-long-distance Transportation Formation’ to be here. However, according to my memory, the last time the ‘Ultra-long-distance Transportation Formation’ was deployed was two weeks ago. For her to show up here physically, it’s impossible.”
“Couldn’t I have just used some unknown skill that you don’t know about, Ryo onee-chan?”
“That may be so. But unlike Ichiko, who was preoccupied with Kurokiri, you can’t deceive my eyes.”
“?”
“Your wording is clearly different.”
At my remark, someone smiled with an insane smirk that Izumi would never show.
“Oh no, even though I did it on purpose, it is obvious that I will be exposed. Well, don’t worry about it. This is the end of my interference in this world. I’ll leave it to those two to defeat that counterfeit.”
“Counter… feit…?”
You call that God of Calamity a counterfeit…?
Then, who is the one controlling Izumi’s body now…
“Do not be so cavalier in your understanding. Well then, I will return her body and leave the care of this child to you.”
Izumi’s body collapsed forward on the spot as she said this, and I rushed to support her.
When Izumi passed out, her face already had no trace of the insanity she displayed earlier.