Exodia 149: Who're you?

We got back to school at around 3:00 pm, of course, only after exploring Altria slightly.

I stayed in my room and chilled with Kisuke until it was around 7:00 pm.

I went into the school building and onto the first-year corridor, where Ms. Frister's office is.

I knocked.

"Come in!"

I heard a voice shout.

I opened the door and saw her sitting in a chair, which looked too large for her and staring at me.

"Have a seat."

She said.

I can't help but want to lau--.

"Stop snickering in your thoughts or I'll keep you on my ceiling for a whole day."

"Right."

It's scary how she knows when I'm laughing at her and when I'm not.

Sitting down in the seat in front of her, Ms. Frister then put her fist to her cheek.

"I haven't asked you this yet because I'm pretty sure you are, but you are the Black Emperor, right?"

Ms. Frister asked me.

I don't see any reason to hide it from her.

"Yeah, I am."

"Can you switch out with Altair?"

"No, Altair is sleeping and has been sleeping for a while now."

I haven't spoken to him since the World Streia Conference. At this point, I just say that he's sleeping but he may not even be inside me anymore.

Regardless, I still have the Black Emperor's Insignia.

"Now, I wanted to ask you this because you possess Erebus, which has been in the possession of each Black Emperor, though most fail to control it."

"Control? I'm not controlling Erebus, we're working together."

I told her.

I mean, Erebus suddenly appeared to me when I was training with Aether. He helped me when I was in a hard time.

"Yet, you're the second Black Emperor, other than Altair, able to control Erebus. It doesn't make sense why it's you."

Ms. Frister seemed to be talking to herself at this point.

I was curious, so I asked.

"Who was the first one to control Erebus?"

"Hm? Oh, that was only 20 years ago. It was the previous incarnation of the Black Emperor. His name was Koichi Takuya. He was a Magi who worked for the SSB."

I never thought I'd hear a story about a Black Emperor before me.

"He wasn't by any means a powerful Magi. Even the current you is stronger than he was. However, he had a strong resolve of stopping evil. That is why Erebus chose him. Now, I wonder why he also chose you."

She smiled at me.

"You can tell me, right?"

"N-no, I honestly have no idea."

The girl then glared at me.

"No, I wasn't talking to you."

What?

Suddenly, my shadow expanded itself, and Erebus, in katana form, popped out. Erebus landed on the table and even more shadows came out of the katana.

The shadows formed the upper half of a person.

[If that's what you want, Mari.]

The person was small, maybe because he was manifested from the katana.

He had jet-black, long, hair and purple eyes. He had purple marks around his eyes and a black halo, which was on his head like a two-part crown.

He didn't wear anything on top except for two arm sleeves. It looked like his lower half was dressed in a robe but it then turned into shadows.

I couldn't help but think of a rich genie when I looked at the manifestation of my weapon, Erebus.

"Been a long time, Sensei."

[Sure has.]

They talked casually.

I felt so confused and I didn't even try to comprehend the situation. I looked, dumbfounded, at the spirit of Erebus.

"Sensei?"

Erebus turned to me.

[Who're you?]

"Oi, oi, oi, you're not the one who gets to say that. You're saying you don't know the one who you've been helping this entire time?!"

I shouted, shocked.

[Helped?]

Erebus seemed to be gathering his thoughts.

He then snapped his fingers.

[Oh, you're the Black Emperor that I'm now contracted to.]

"Contract? You made a contract?"

Ms. Frister asked.

[Yup.]

"We did?"

I asked.

The two of them looked at me.

I don't ever remember making a contract. I mean, I would clearly remember if I made a contract with Erebus.

The blonde-haired girl facepalmed and Erebus faced away from her, whistling, almost like he was feigning innocence.

"Sensei! You forced a contract with him!"

[H-hey, I don't see what's wrong with that?! I've saved his life a couple of times.]

Ah, if he forced a contract with me, then it makes sense, I think...

"Forcing a contract with someone uses some of their life force as a catalyst to form the forced contract. It's different from Armament Contractors."

"Honestly, I'm fine with that."

I told her.

They both looked at me with flabbergasted looks.

"Are you sure, Shoya?"

"As an Emperor, I live longer than usual, don't I? To be honest, I don't want to live for more than 100 years. 100 years would be the max I want to live, of course, if I don't die before then."

Before last April, I wouldn't have even dreamed about living eternally. I still don't. I just want a normal human lifespan.

I don't think living longer than humans necessarily brings happiness. Look what happened with Altair. Being reincarnated for who knows how long only brought more sadness than happiness.

"Anyway, I need to ask. What's with you, Ms. Frister?"

"With me?"

She pointed at herself, confused.

"Well, you knew Nyx and you know Erebus. Since I'm here, can I hear your story?"

I asked her.

More like I want to hear how Earth was 2,000, or so, years ago.

"No--"

[Sure.]

Erebus seemed to answer for her.

She sprung up from her seat.

"Hold on, Sensei! You can't just--"

[This is payback for making me materialize myself.]

He said with a grin.

Erebus then looked at me.

[Well, boy--]

"You're contracted with me and you won't even say my name?"

I confronted him.

The spirit stayed silent for a second before giving in.

[Well, Shoya, I can show you her story through Shadow Illusions. It'll be faster than telling.]

"Uh, sure, whatever works."

The next second, Erebus waved his hand and the world became black. The only other thing, more like a person, I could see was Ms. Frister.

She didn't exactly look happy.

[Now, let me show you, the story of Maria Frister.]