7 Coming Home

Spirit Weapons.

Items from distant history that had gained sentience due to the strong remnant spirit within.

These weapons need to find a wielder every generation, or else they will die and crumble into dust. Each spirit weapon grows stronger the more suitable the owner is to it.

Supposedly, each country only has about five of these, but in Japan, they have seven.

The weapons may need to find owners to survive but it will not compromise with choosing just anyone.

"Take this!"

The tiny embers in the air swiftly gather together into forming the red-haired girl, as she swung the longsword towards my abdomen.

The remaining embers sparked into large flame walls surrounding me to keep me from escaping.

Unfortunately, I had no plans of dodging.

"Naive."

Stretching out my hand in a fluid motion, I grab the girl's wrist and held it in place.

The longsword was dropped onto the ground as a result of losing its target, and the girl immediately shows an expression of shock.

"What!? How?"

Of course its to be expected.

What professional Spirit Weapon Holder would scream out their location like that?

It had to be either overconfidence or lack of battle experience resulting in naive decisions.

Both of which, are fatal in a real battle.

I'm guessing this girl has only just started training.

I was worried it would take longer than I thought, but it seems I was thinking too much.

I mean, those monsters who hold Spirit Weapons all gave me a tough time when I was a kid.

Even in my past life as a hero, I can compare them to high-level holy knights or demon generals.

But I digress, the main point is that this girl...

"Not worth my time."

"What did you say scum!?"

Oops, I was just trying to say that she's no threat to me as she is right now, but it seems my tongue has a mind of its own. I should be explaining but...

"Troublesome."

Indeed, it is too much work.

But as soon as I've said that, the power within the girl begins to stir. I should end this quickly already.

"[Glittering Embers]"

Ah.

Damn it.

It seems this generation's owner of 'Helios' shows more compatibility with the weapon than the last one. This is just great.

As I slap myself in my head, the longsword on the ground begins to float and soon after, separates into tiny fireballs, moving towards me.

At the same time, the girl is trying to break out of my hold by bursting her hand into flames.

Hey, are you trying to burn me?

A person could die from this.

Well, a normal person would.

As a matter of fact, I would have let go if that was the case. Sucks that it had to be me you're facing.

So.

I have to use it now, don't I?

If I don't do it now, she would escape and this will get even more troublesome. I just want to go home already and eat something.

Now that I think of it, I wonder whats for dinner?

I hope its croquettes. I am fond of my useless brother's dishes. One of the few joys in this life.

Alright, it's decided.

"You think this is enough?"

My eyes suddenly begin to turn azure-coloured.

"Eh?"

My voice drops into a colder tone, as the fireballs around me dissipate. Instantly, the surrounding temperature takes a nosedive into subzero levels.

The longsword 'Helios' materialises but is soon frozen into an ice sculpture. But I am only paying attention to the red-haired girl's expression of disbelief right now. Her rosy red cheeks turn pale as a sheet in a split second as her teeth begin to chatter.

"H-how? Who, who are you!?"

It seems she had been the only one asking questions, but sadly I don't plan to give any answers.

It's not worth the trouble after all.

A newbie Spirit Weapon Holder who cannot even detect their opponent's power level is only this much. For the sake of my ideal peaceful life, I will not show mercy. Not to anyone who gets in my way.

Hmm, I have an idea.

Bone-chilling coldness slowly travels from within towards the redhead girl's wrist that I was gripping.

"No, what are you doing? Stop!"

Struggle as she may, there is no escaping from this.

An imprint made of frozen energy was forming inside her body. This will neutralise any attempt of using her power towards yours truly.

I mean, I can't have her coming after me everyday from now on. I know this because I noticed she had the same uniform as that annoying woman.

Which meant she goes to school here.

Probably, they were close friends or something.

Ah, thinking about how troublesome the one woman was, and how this girl makes it twice the annoyance is making my head ache so much.

Usually, I kill my enemies as soon as they show killing intent towards me, but in this situation there is no need for it. My guess is she was trying to protect the annoying woman.

Since she isn't evil, let's just let her off with a warning this time. Yep, seems fair.

As soon as I was done forming the imprint, I let her wrist go and she soon falls limp on the ground.

Both women were on the ground kneeling.

If someone saw me right now, I would have taken a trip to the police station huh.

Withdrawing the chilling frost into my body, the temperature returns to normal.

I stare into the redhead's listless eyes.

"Kuh, kill me!"

Even though she can't fight anymore, she still isn't giving up. I can't say if I'm impressed or disappointed, but it is rather commendable.

But I'll have to disappoint her this time.

"Don't bother me in the future."

I utter each word slowly and clearly.

As soon as I did, I walk towards the school gates and turn into the corner, swiftly disappearing from sight.

If she doesn't understand and recklessly attacks me later, don't blame me for destroying another holder.

My old man's probably gonna scold me again though. That guy's buddies are in the government.

No matter, those bridges will be crossed when I get to it.

For now, I'm hungry.

•••••

What kind of monster has the young mistress provoked? If I had not come in time, that demon would have squished her brain into juice.

Even so, I couldn't even land a hit on him even with 'Helios' first spirit skill. What notion is this?

Originally I had felt a disturbance outside the student council room and thought about how the young mistress always attracts trouble towards her.

I, Hojou Saya saw a hoodlum gripping the young mistress' head as she screamed in pain.

As I was assigned to protect the young mistress, I instantly moved and brought out my Spirit Weapon 'Helios' and pierced it towards the man.

As one of the seven stars, I was licensed to kill anyone within sufficient reason. This was the benefit of working directly under the government.

But little did I know that fighting that devil almost cost me my life. I still can't believe how he made me, someone who can take on a team of martial artists, so powerless. It was like I was a child fighting an adult. Utterly weak and helpless.

But most of all, that power.

The power to control ice, a legendary elemental skill.

Even my master might only fight to a draw with that guy. This is so frustrating, I can't even control my powers now that 'Helios' is sleeping.

The intense cold made it go into hibernation mode.

Picking up the longsword, I make my way towards the young mistress, the target I was assigned to protect. I remember she had said she was stopped by hoodlums a while back, but since I was called into the house of senate at that time, I didn't notice.

It's good that she was fine.

"Mistress, wake up."

Gathering my strength that was slowly coming back once that existence left, I rouse her awake.

"Hmm? Saya, what happened?"

As her eyelashes tremble for a while, the young mistress slowly opens her eyelids, revealing pure black pupils, like the abyss.

"It's like this. You had lost consciousness in school."

I try to explain the situation as best as I could.

"I see. So Kurokami-kun did that.."

Pleased with my explanation, I hurriedly nod my head in reply. I bet she will get really angry now.

But that devil's name was Kurokami huh. Truly fitting for a monstrous existence like him.

But even if that was the case, the young mistress wont let this go. Since the young mistress' family is really powerful, his fate is sealed.

This family was so powerful that the country's forces may move at their single command. That guy might be strong, but can he withstand the power of the entire country against him!? I'm sure no one can, not even him.

"He really is playing hard to get. So irritating!"

"Yes, yes he really is playing hard-wait, what!?"

That's what you're worried about?

What about how he almost tried to kill you?

Does that not matter to you at all?

The question marks fill my head as I stare at the young mistress, looking for an answer.

"Yep, I'm sure that he will eventually join my student council in the near future. I guarantee it!"

Eh?

Why?

Of all things, you're letting him join the council!?

And you look so fired up, why?

Rendered speechless, I could only watch the young mistress as she slowly got up, dusted her skirt and went towards the school. Turning her head, she asked towards me...

"Are you coming? We have to lock up the council room and go home. I have to make a new plan tonight so he will surely join tomorrow!"

A bright smile appeared on her face as she said this.

How did it come to this?

•••••

"Oh, right."

I forgot about that thing.

The reason why I got surprised at that annoying woman wasn't because of her energy or how much of a pain in the neck she was.

It was because of that thing, a strange entity.

A shadowy, murky substance was within that girl's sea of consciousness. I only detected it because of how it started to move around.

I immediately tried to infuse some frost energy into her head to get rid of it, but it seems I forgot to do it completely due to that redhead interrupting me.

Well, it won't matter that much but somehow that weird thing gives me the creeps.

A deep, mysterious darkness.

So far, I don't remember any Spirit Weapon Holder wielding the power of darkness, but as I don't know how many weirdos are out there in the world, I think it won't be considered unusual.

Besides, my power from my past life was always attuned to the light attribute. The last thing I'm scared of would be darkness.

I still don't know how to bring it out right now, but I'm sure it would come eventually.

Daily training may be troublesome but it indeed breeds results. I can only grow stronger from here.

Now enough about that.

It seems I've already reached my destination.

*Rumble*

My stomach roars as if on cue.

I really hope that useless brother of mine made dinner already. I am starving.

Placing one hand on the large metal gates, I push it open only to see two rows of black-suited men of different body builds stand in position.

"Welcome back, Young Master!!!"

As I saw that each of their strengths had slightly improved since yesterday, I nod slightly in approval.

"Yeah, I'm home."