23 Chapter 22 - Tomo's Horrors...

School passed by very quickly. Maybe because I came in 1/3 of the day. After classes, I went to the principal office to ask where Ken and Tomo went off to.

I knocked on the door and entered the room. The principal look in confusion but talked in a cheerful mood. "Welcome back! How were the classes after you returned?"

"They were normal. It seems like classes from yesterday... the day I was last here. Anyway, I have a question. Where did Ken and Tomo go off to?"

"Ah... I thought you might have forgotten. Well, Ken is here but in another class. He is now an official teacher, teaching his own class. As for Tomo..."

She looks down with a shy expression as if she wanted to change the topic. Then, after sulking for a minute, she faces me.

"Tomo left the school about four months after you were missing..."

Oh... Well, it is better than hearing that she died. I can't really stop her. I mean, she must have gone far if she has been traveling for 8 months.

"Okay, thanks for telling me. I think that is all my questions. See you later!"

"Huh?"

As I approach the door, the principal let out an understandable statement.

"Aren't you going to question this more or... I don't know, ask why we didn't stop her or something similar."

"Huh, why would I? I mean, I'm me, and Tomo is Tomo. I'm not a tyrant. Plus, I'm a mere student. Though, I am wondering what she is doing right now."

No, I'm wondering too much. I have a feeling that she is in danger, but that is only my gut telling me. Maybe I should check on her? Well, I don't know where she is, so that is impossible.

"Oh, okay... Have a nice day."

The principal looks a bit dejected, but I ignore her. I left the room and the school. After walking a bit, I came to a sudden stop. I can't take it anymore... 'I must make sure she is okay!'

I begin casting two magic circles: [Boast] and [Expand]. The spell [Boast] allows me to increase my physical and magical capacities while [Expand] increases the range of my spells and myself. I can now see and hear from a distance of 1/20th of the world (2,000 kilometers).

After engaging these spells, I activated one more: [Search]. This spell uses the distance that I can visualize and pinpoints the exact locations of objects I want. With [Boast] and [Expand] activated, I can use [Search] to find any object within a 2,000 km range from me. This also means that I can teleport 2,000 km from me since I can see that far, though it would require lots of mana.

Also, [Search] will allow me to focus on only some targets. Currently, it rather noisy since I can hear anything within a 2,000 km mark. I have to tune them out, which is a pain manually. I cast [Search] with Tomo in mind.

"Akuma... Please... help... me!"

Tomo! It's her! I can hear her. The spell is telling me that she is in a nearby town in a shabby-looking house. I focus on the spell to see that she is in a cell of sorts with... What is the... NO!

My eyes burst into a wide stance. I could feel my body siring up. I could sense that my body was glowing blue. Anger building up... I'm ready to explode.

I cast [teleport] and instantly came into the cell where Tomo was being held.

...

** Onishi Tomo's Point of View **

'He... didn't show... up today... either.'

It has been around one month since Akuma's first day; however, he hasn't shown up since then. I'm worried. Maybe it was because of me that he stopped showing up...

'Maybe... asking about... flight was... a bad... idea.'

My only friend now hates me and decided to stop going to school. It would be better if I left so he can resume school. This is also a good chance for me to find him, the Blue Devil.

After school, I walk to the principle's office to inform her of my decision.

"Is this really what you want?"

"Yes..."

"Okay. Well, whatever you go, be safe, and I hope you find whatever you're looking for!"

I nod to her, then left the school. I started my journey to find the Blue Devil.

...

Ten months have passed in a flash of an eye. I'm currently at the capital of the Ruland Empire. Even with this amount of time, I haven't found the Devil. I search around his den but didn't find anything. That is why I traveled here in hopes that he moved over to this area.

As I walk down a street, I thought of Akuma.

'I wonder... if he... is back at... school.'

While I was lost in thought, someone pinned me down.

"Well, well, well... I finally found you, Tomo."

'That... voice! It... can't be...'

"Surprised? Haha! I have been searching for you, you know? Thankfully, there was this little bird who told me your location. Hehe... How about we find an Inn and catch up on all the stuff we missed..."

"No..."

I squirm, trying to escape.

"Haha! Yes, squirm and yell all you want! This will make you taste even better..."

The men tied me up using [catch] which vines surround the target so that can't move. He then picks me up and heads for a house in the middle of the woods.

...

A month has passed since then. It has now been a full year since Akuma stopped showing up. Luckily, I haven't been 'played' yet and just been locked inside a prison cell, but I feel that the day is soon coming.

Then, he barges in.

"Hoho! Today is the day!"

"Huh, what's today?"

I try acting nice. A wicked smile crossed his face.

"The day I finally eat the 'meat.'"

My body trembled. I knew what he meant. I quickly covered my body with my hands.

"Now, now... You'll enjoy it too. I was going to wait till tonight, but I don't want to lessen your expectations by waiting, so..."

He moves closer to the cage. I back up all the way to the wall. He licks his lips.

"How about we have a 'trial' run..."

He starts to remove his clothes. As he does, I start screaming and crying.

"Akuma... P-please... Save me!"

"Haha! There is no help for you! Now it is time to dive in!"

"NOOOO!!!"

Then, right as he opens the doors with nothing but his briefs, a white light developed between us. It blinds both of us. When the light shimmer down, a human figure appeared to take its place.

'That's...'

"Huh, who are you?!"

The human figure has a blue outfit with blue hair.

"It's... Akuma."

He looks as handsome as I remember; however, he looks a little different. Something was glowing off of him.

He turns his head towards me.

"Hello, long time no see!"

His face was covered in complex patterns, and one of his eyes had a magic circle instead of a retina.

'I'm... saved!'