Inside the hell like place — Magano,
"...!"
Benio Adashino's eyes narrowed.
For a brief moment, she simply stood there, staring at the man who had appeared before them.
There was something strangely familiar about him.
Benio had seen him before.
During the battle against the human-turn-Kegare, she had sensed an aura that was almost identical to this one. At the time, the terrifying spiritual pressure released by the two sides had even caused her to tremble in fear from a distance.
And now...
That same presence had appeared right in front of them.
Seigen Amawaka slowly lowered the hand he had raised. His expression remained as serious as ever.
He glanced at Benio for a moment before turning his attention toward Rokuro Enmado, his student.
"Yo." His voice was light and almost frivolous. "Long time no see, little brat."
Rokuro's entire body stiffened, as he clenched the fist of his demonic like right hand before he unclench them.
To fend of the attacks from his brother and to protect pthers he had used the thing he so desperately want to forget.
His expression immediately changed, the earlier happiness or relief that he felt gone.
Every time Seigen used that particular tone, something unpleasant was usually about to happen.
Rokuro instinctively took half a step backward.
"Master..." His voice carried a mixture of uneasiness and untoled emotion.
Seigen raised an eyebrow.
"What? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Rokuro's mouth twitched.
"That's because every time you look at me like that, I end up getting beaten."
"Hm."
Seigen gave a small nod, trying to take the pressure of the guy, "At least you're learning."
"That's not something you should be proud of!"
Even in the middle of the dangerous situation, Rokuro couldn't help but complain.
However, his expression quickly became grave again as he looked toward Ryogo Nagitsuji, who was lying several meters away. Body heavily injured.
"Master..." Rokuro clenched his fists, he asked the question he desperately need answer for, "Can he still be saved?"
Seigen's gaze shifted toward Ryogo.
The former Twelve Heavenly Commander studied the Kegare silently.
"The Fallen Impurity is generally beyond saving."
Those words immediately caused Rokuro's expression to fall.
For several seconds, he didn't say anything.
The answer was exactly what he had feared.
Even Seigen, one of the strongest exorcists among the Twelve Heavenly Commanders, was saying that Ryogo might already be beyond recovery.
Rokuro lowered his head.
"...I see."
Benio noticed his expression.
Seeing Ryogo in this state was obviously painful.
But then Seigen continued.
"Of course..." He paused. "I said generally."
Rokuro's head immediately snapped upward.
"What?"
Seigen looked at him with a faintly gentle expression. "There may still be another possibility."
Rokuro's eyes widened.
"Another possibility?!"
He rushed toward Seigen.
The next instant, he grabbed Seigen by the collar.
"Then tell me! What can we do?!"
Seigen's eyebrow twitched.
His expression became noticeably colder.
"You've gotten bold." He grabbed Rokuro's arm and easily pulled it away, as he clenched his hands tightly, "Are you seriously grabbing your master's collar?"
Rokuro froze.
"Ah..."
"And another thing." Seigen looked down at his arm. "Didn't you once swear that you would never use that power again?"
Rokuro fell silent.
The atmosphere immediately became heavier.
Everyone knew what Seigen was talking about.
Rokuro had once been terrified of the power within him.
The memories surrounding the Hiinatsuki Dormitory tragedy had left a deep scar on him. The power he possessed was connected to memories he desperately wanted to forget.
But today...He had used it again at the last moment.
Not because he wanted to. Because there had been no other choice.
Ryogo and the others had been in danger.
And Rokuro had decided that protecting them was more important than his own fear.
Seigen stared at him with cold gaze, "Yet you used it."
Rokuro lowered his head.
"I..." He hesitated. "—I wanted to use this cursed power to save the people who needed saving."
His voice became quieter.
Seigen watched him for a few seconds.
Then—
Smack!
Seigen struck Rokuro across the face.
Rokuro fall back on the ground roughly, a red mark appearing on his cheek.
"Master..."
Benio's eyes widened.
Seigen didn't even blink under the confused gaze of his student.
"Then stop talking."
Seigen pointed toward Ryogo with his thumb, voice cold as his claws.
"If you have decided to become an exorcist again, then act like one. There are countless people in this world who have become Kegare or Fallen Impurities. If you can fight them, then fight!"
Rokuro's eyes trembled.
"But this one is Ryogo!"
He, of course understands the principles taught by his master and grandpa. But understanding something and being able to accept it were two different things.
That wasn't some nameless Kegare.
He was family.
How could he bear it in his heart to attack him!
BOOM!
Before either of them could continue, the ground suddenly trembled.
A shockwave spread across the battlefield.
Ryogo had made his move.
His body twisted unnaturally as the severed parts regenerated. Due to the injuries being more severe than before it took more time than before.
The fallen Kegare rose from the ground and let out a furious roar.
"ROAAAAAR!"
Rokuro immediately turned around. "Ryogo!"
The monstrous figure charged.
Seigen sighed. "You two really are troublesome."
He raised his hand.
"Be quiet."
A flash of blue-white light crossed the battlefield.
Ryogo's regenerated limbs were cut away again, forcing the Kegare backward, falling flat on his back. Screaming in plain and fury.
Rokuro stared. "Master..."
Seigen glanced at him.
"He's someone important to you." He paused. "So I won't destroy him yet."
Rokuro's eyes widened.
Seigen's gaze shifted toward Benio.
"And after I deal with my other idiot disciple, I'll contact taht annoying Gojo."
Benio's expression changed slightly.
"Gojo-sama?" Seigen nodded. "If anyone in this strange mixed world has a way of dealing with this situation, it's probably him."
Before Benio could answer, Seigen suddenly turned toward the empty field. He scratched the side of his head.
Then he called out loudly.
"You're taking your time." His voice echoed through Magano. "Come out already."
Silence.
No response.
Seigen narrowed his eyes.
"This second idiot disciple."
Rokuro's expression changed. "Second...?"
He immediately understood.
There was only one person Seigen could be talking about but he was...dead.
A figure appeared in the distance.
The person walked slowly across the barren landscape.
A hood concealed most of his face.
One step.
Then another.
The figure stopped roughly one hundred meters away.
He slowly raised his hands and removed the hood.
Blue hair.
A slender face.
An eyepatch covering his left eye.
And a faint, almost harmless smile.
"WHY ARE YOU STILL ALIVE! YUUTO!!!"
Rokuro on the ground finally couldn't suppress the anger at the moment and roared angrily, gnashing its teeth.
While, Benio breathing turn heavy as her face turn pale, her pupils trembled at the new guest that have appear before them.
"...Nii-san?"
It was Yuuto Ijika, her big brother — that had died.
"Impossible..." Her voice became barely audible.
Yuuto's smile widened slightly at the sight of his old acquaintances. "It's been a long time."
He looked at Seigen first.
Then Rokuro.
Then finally Benio.
"Seigen-sensei." He paused, "Rokuro." His voice brighter than before.
Then his eyes settled on Benio.
"And you too, Benio."
Benio couldn't move.
Her memories came rushing back.
Her older brother.
The person she had believed had died protecting others.
The person she had admired.
The person whose death had been one of the most painful memories of her childhood.
Her lips trembled.
"Nii-san, where...have you been all these years? Didn't they say you died protecting others?"
Benio asked hurriedly with rough breathing.
She wanted to step up her legs and run over, but Seigen didn't let her as he out a hand to block her before she could recklessly walked towards him.
Hearing the question from his good-for-nothing sister, Yuuto asked back pretending to be puzzled.
"Protecting people?" He let out a quiet laugh with his innocent face, "Why would I waste my life protecting useless waste?"
"...!"
Benio froze.
No...The gentle older brother she remembered would never have said something like that.
Never!
Seigen watched her carefully.
Benio had been deceived for years.
Yuuto's appearance had been different from the truth.
His smile had been false.
His kindness had been false.
And the image Benio had preserved in her heart had never been the real Yuuto.
Seigen sighed.
"So you were deceived too."
Benio looked at him in confusion and horror. "What are you talking about?"
Seigen's expression became colder.
"You know about the Hiinatsuki Dormitory tragedy. The children who died..." Seigen looked toward Yuuto, eyes turned colder than ice. "That night, there were no Kegare in the area."
"What?"
"Think carefully." Seigen continued, his voice became heavier. "There were no sign of impurities in the area or the gate opening — so, why did those children die?"
"...!!"
"The answer is simple." He pointed toward Yuuto. "The person who caused the tragedy wasn't an ordinary Kegare."
Seigen looked toward Rokuro.
"Rokuro never killed those children, he only killed Kegares." His eyes narrowed. "The real culprit—the person responsible for turning them and the man lying over there into Fallen Impurities—is your brother."
Benio couldn't speak.
Her memories of Yuuto were colliding violently with the person standing before her.
The gentle brother she remembered.
The monster standing before her.
Two completely different images.
And yet...They were the same person!
Yuuto's smile remained unchanged.
"Seigen-sensei..." He slowly raised his hand. "You're still as unpleasant as ever."
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,638