Volume 2 - CH 261

(Fui : Oni May cr- sorry)

We arrived at Everlasting Realm in no time at all.

It took us about ten seconds to get through the gate.

However, when we finally arrived at the Everlasting Realm, the eeriness of the place gave us goosebumps.

As reported, the surroundings were dark, with only moonlight illuminating the ground.

If that were all, it might still not have seemed eerie, but the red-burning sky in the background seemed to instill fear as a sign of discomfort to those who came.

Could it be a volcano?

The ground and sky were burning red, with occasional roars that shook the ground.

In contrast, the dark area is very cold.

It was as if my body was constantly being exposed to the cold air, and my feet were almost cold already.

I have a hunch that the fact that the gates of the everlasting realm close in an hour may be an indication of the time that those who are not spectre can operate in the everlasting realm.

Whether or not that was correct, staying longer would obviously make us less mobile.

This was not the first sight I saw when I entered the everlasting realm.

Even though I was flying on Lacc through the air, I could see that there was someone standing on the ground.

That number was …… one person.

“! Uchikage! Alena! Are you okay!?”

The two who had entered the everlasting realm first were confronted by a stranger.

Alena is still on Uchikage’s shoulder, but she has her sights set on the person so that she can use her skills immediately.

In one hand she is holding a shuriken, and in Uchikage’s hand he is holding a rake, which he had newly acquired after coming to the village.

However, the situation was a little odd.

The opponent did not seem to be doing anything, and the ground had not yet been broken.

On the other hand, Uchikage and Arena also seemed to have done nothing yet.

It should be the enemy that is in front of them.

Why are they not attacking one another?

While I was thinking about this, Houen and Tenda arrived.

At the same time, Lacc increases its speed and moves away from the spot.

Tenda quickly found Uchikage confronting someone and instructed Houen to put him down.

Houenen quickly let go of his hand so that he could fall down near the Uchikage.

Tenda jumped down with a loud bang, and after only one leap, he was next to Uchikage and ready with his hand on the katana he was carrying at his waist.

However, as soon as he saw his opponent, his eyes widened in surprise.

It was the same for Uchikage.

Although he was equipped with a rake and was holding it, his eyes were wide open and he looked as if he was looking at something unbelievable.

“…… how ……..”

“Tenda ……. Am I hallucinating ……?”

“…… no, it’s real ……. “

In front of Tenda, Uchikage, and Alena, there was a Oni who had become an Spectre Oni.

He was an Oni with blue horns.

It was a horned Oni with a color similar to Uchikage’s.

“……. Yo. Tenda, Uchikage.”

“Father, …….”

“Eh ……?”

Alena reacts to what Uchikage blurted out.

Both Tenda’s and Uchikage’s fathers were supposed to have died along with Tenma of the Great Temple when the slave traders attacked their village some time ago.

But neither of them had actually seen their father dead.

He had fought to protect the escapees.

He was protecting them by punching the sky with all his strength, trying to deflect their attacks from a distance.

But the two …… surviving Oni should have known that after a while they could no longer hear the sound of the attack.

The fact that they could no longer hear the sound of the attacker’s repulsion meant that he was dead.

That was the thought on everyone’s mind.

“Father, why ……”

“Why, because I’ve become a spectre Oni. I was so disappointed in my own worthlessness that I cried.”

“……I thought you were dead, so you are not.”

“Oh. I turned into a spectre when I was fending off the enemy’s attack. The last sound was loud, wasn’t it? There was a terrible sound, and I realized that I had become a spectre oni. Then, interestingly enough, the gate to the everlasting realm opened a little. And I was sucked in and taken away.”

After saying this, Gouki, their father, laughs hysterically.

The three of them had no idea what was funny.

The only thing they could tell was that he seemed happy.

The same goes for Tenda and Uchikage.

They were able to meet their father, whom they thought they would never see again.

They should be happy …….

Yet, they somehow couldn’t be happy about it.

The fundamental difference in status, the spectre Oni and the oni.

And now, they are enemies.

The fact that the father who became an spectre oni is here, it is reasonable to assume that he is one of those who plotted the kidnapping of Hisui, the princess

That is what Tenda meant when he said “why ……” earlier.

“Alena. Can you please go to Ouren-sama?”

“Yea. ……”

“With your skills, you should be able to fly. This is our problem. We have to handle this on our own.”

“He…… He is right.”

“Got it.”

Alena lightened herself up and quickly went past Gouki in the direction where Ouren and the others had gone.

Gouki did not interfere, but just watched them all the way.

“Hey, how’s Den doing?”

“Yes, he’s fine. He was scolded by Raiki-sama for working in the fields as usual.”

“Ha-ha-ha! That’s just like him! How about Shimu? Was he not saddened by the death of Tenma-sama?”

“…… The great feudal lord …….  Tenma-sama really passed away.”

“Ah, ……. I was going to follow him, but I ended up here ……. The fact that Tenma-sama isn’t here means that he’ s a strong man after all. Besides-“

“Father!”

Tenda shouted to stop Gouki from continuing to speak.

There was something he needed to hear.

It was the same for Uchikage.

If the answer depended on the question, he would have to be completely confrontational.

“Is Father our enemy?”

“……”

Gouki’s smiling face changed and became serious.

Knowing that this question was coming, Gouki answered immediately.

“Nahh, I’m more on your side.” (He literally said it with playful attitude)

Hearing these words, the two did not break free from their posture, but secretly, they were relieved.

Neither of them wanted to fight as father and son.

The same goes for Gouki.

However, this is when Gouki finally slowly took up a fighting stance.

In response, the two of them took a serious stance.

Tenda unsheathed his katana, and Uchikage took a low posture, ready to move at any moment.

“I’m on your side. There is no doubt about it. What Garak did is unforgivable. And it is outrageous that he would bring the princess with him. That’s why I opposed going to that place and just waited here. If possible, I would like to work with you to crush Garak’s plans.”

“Then why do you want to fight us? ……”

“It’s simple.”

Gouki sends out a killing intent to both of them.

The pressure almost crushed them, but they quickly regained their composure and sent out their own killing intent as well.

“You can’t beat him. But if you realize his essence, you can. Therefore, from now on, I will do my best to crush you until you realize the essence of spectre oni. If you can’t, you will just die. So, realize it quickly, will you?　Otherwise,…… whoever is late to grasp …… will die.”

Gouki pierced the ground without a footstep.

The three jumped at the same time as if it was the signal to start the battle.