Chapter 187: Humanity Don’t Need You

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The fight between the Devils and the Hero faction was not that interesting to watch to Erik. While the descendants of the old Heroes were strong, not one of them could claim that they were as strong as their ancestors. The only thing remotely interesting that happened was that two more teenagers appeared to enter the fray in the middle of the fight. Xenovia Quarta and Irina Shidou had noticed the magic going up while visiting other parts of the festival and went to investigate the origin of it. When they discovered their new 'allies' fighting against unidentified people, they asked Asia Argento, who was by Erik's side watching the fights going on. After getting the gist of it, the two exorcists entered the fight and relieved the 'stress' on some of the Devils that were fighting two opponents.

Fifteen minutes later, the fights were over with a landslide victory from the Devils. The only ones that had not won their fights had, at least, got a draw from their opponents. During the entire fight, Erik could see Cao Cao, the wielder of The Longinus, gripping his golden spear strongly enough to turn his knuckles white. The dark-purple-haired young man would from time-to-time throw glances in Erik's direction, wanting very much to fight too but had to refrain himself from it because of Erik's threat.

"As expected. Aside from two or three of you, the rest are still weak."

Erik announced just after the last fight was over. Issei Hyoudou and the descendant of Heracles managed to do a double-knockout and that was something that Erik couldn't say that he had already seen happening. Cao Cao and George looked warily at Erik. The fight had ended and his team had lost in a spectacular way.

"What happens now?"

Cao Cao asked while still gripping the golden spear strongly. Erik shrugged at that.

"You get your trash and flee, of course. I already have each of you marked, so if any of you ever get within a kilometer from any of my people, you will lose exactly what makes you think that you are great stuff."

Erik said to Cao Cao. His tone sent, again, chills down the young men's spines.

"I really don't understand your group. Because of who some random ancestor of yours was you call yourselves the Hero faction and want to fight the supernatural? For what? For the safety of humanity? Beach, please… It has been more than five hundred years since the supernatural world decided to separate itself from the normal world. Since then, humanity has had more conflicts between themselves than during all the time that they were fighting monsters. I would know that because I have been alive during both periods. You and your merry band of miscreants have to understand that the world doesn't need Heroes to fight against the supernatural. They need Heroes to make discoveries in the field of medicine and cure diseases that are killing millions every year, they need heroes that will stop the genocides that are still happening in some parts of the planet, and they need heroes that will satiate the hunger of those dying from it. You all are trying to be Heroes for people that do not even know that the supernatural exists."

Erik continued saying to Cao Cao and George while demonstrating genuine confusion. Both teens were frozen by all that the strongest human was saying to them. Erik was laying in front of their faces with clear words that they were not needed.

"Some of you had bad encounters with the supernatural. So what? Do you think that you all were the only ones that suffered? Grow up and grow a pair, will you? Your faction should change its name from Hero faction to Villain faction. It would be more concise with your actual behavior."

Erik finished saying

"We are not Villains!"

Cao Cao replied loudly to Erik's accusation.

"Really? You almost had me there then. How else would you call someone that tries to kidnap a kid to get to her mom? How else would you call a faction that when they get a 'no' as an answer from a promising recruit reacts with coercion? That is, when brainwashing is not possible, of course."

Erik replied to Cao Cao while looking directly at his eyes, daring him to refute his words. The young man could not hold eye contact with the truth that Erik was throwing at him.

"Face reality, will you? You all are just a bunch of young men and women vying for attention. I suggest you all stay focused on the incoming news from the Alliance. Some of them could very well fill this need for attention that you guys seem to have."

Erik said again and raised his hand.

*SNAP*

With a snap of his fingers, Erik canceled all the magic that he had put up to block the use of Dimension Lost and other transportation magics. George felt that change inside his very being and immediately started to use his Sacred Gear to envelope every member of his group in the mist generated by it. Ten seconds later, Cao Cao and his group were gone from Kyoto with the fear that had been seeded inside their hearts by Erik.

Erik let out a sigh at that and looked at his students.

*sigh*

While he 'talked' with Cao Cao, they had got together and were having their wounds treated by Asia Argento. The young blonde had become an amazing healer under Joan's teaching and was not dependent on her Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing, anymore. He then looked at Kunou in his lap and smiled again.

"See, little fox. That is why your mommy doesn't want you to wander alone. There are a lot of people that would use you to gain something from her. And your mommy, loving you so much as she does, would not think twice in giving those people what they want to have you back safe and sound."

Erik said to Kunou, who was looking at him with her big golden eyes.

"Even if it means that what they want is her life. Understood?"

Erik added, making the little girl's eyes go wide at that. She then eagerly nodded her head at Erik, showing that she had understood him.

"Good. Now…"

Erik said and looked around the street that was filled with people some time ago.

"... It seems that the festival is over, unfortunately. So I will be getting you home early."

Erik said to Kunou and looked at his students.

"You guys better go back to the hotel after here. The appearance of those stupid kids ended the festival early than expected. I will take Kunou home and explain things to her mom."

Erik said to them and received a nod from the teens in answer. He then turned and started to walk in the direction of Yasaka's palace with Kunou in his arms.

"Teacher Ravenclaw?!"

Issei Hyoudou, who had already woken up, called Erik when he had just turned to walk, making the man stop and turn to look at him.

"Thank you for the opportunity."

Issei Hyoudou said while bowing in Erik's direction. Some of the other teenagers took his clue and did the same, bowing in Erik's direction as thanks. It was not always that they could fight an enemy in a controlled environment. Better saying, they could never fight an enemy in a controlled environment. The maximum that they could get were spars with other Devils or friends, but that was not enough to give them the fighting experience that they needed to grow strong. And Erik had just given them that opportunity and, for that, they were grateful.

"Your welcome, Mr. Hyoudou. Your Welcome."

Erik replied and turned again to leave. It had been just the time of the teenagers blinking and Erik was gone.

–

In front of a great Japanese palace located in a strategic and hidden place of Kyoto, sentinels were doing their usual job when they blinked and saw that a person had appeared out of nowhere very near to the entrance that they were guarding.

"Halt! Identify yourself!"

One of the sentinels yelled while he and the others pointed their spears at Erik.

"Erik Ravenclaw, bringing back home a sneaky little fox."

Erik said with a smirk on his face, showing the cute little blonde in his arms, who was cutely pouting at being teased again by him, to the sentinels. The sentinels immediately recognized their princess and lowered their weapons while adopting a respectful pose. They all had been warned by their leader that the princess, who had sneaked from the castle early, was safe and sound, being already found by a friend of the family.

"Lord Ravenclaw, welcome to Kyoto's Castle."

The sentinel said while he and the others gave the man a bow in a show of respect. Erik nodded his head at that. During his first visit to Kyoto, many and many years ago, the Yokai had been very confrontational with him. The fights between them and the humans were still happening throughout Japan. It took Yasaka to come and receive him and his wives for them to calm down and even so, they only did it at the time because Yasaka mentioned that they were friends of goddess Amaterasu. Their behavior toward him and his family only changed with time.

"Thank you. Could anyone guide us to Yasaka? I think that she is already waiting for us."

Erik replied to the sentinel, who nodded his head.

"Of course, Lord Ravenclaw. This way, please."

The sentinel said to Erik and started to guide him to Yasaka's room. In truth, the sentinel's guidance was not necessary at all. Erik could guide himself to where Yasaka was with his senses and if that was not possible for any random reason, he still had Kunou with him. He was just following protocol to not make the sentinel's life difficult.

After a minute or so of walking, Erik was guided into a big room together with Kunou. Sitting in a seiza position on an elevated platform with a banner that read 'WEST' hanging on the wall was a beautiful and busty blonde woman with golden eyes. On top of her head was a pair of golden fox ears and behind her, lazily swinging from one side to the other, were nine majestic golden foxtails. She was Yasaka, Chosen of Amaterasu, Queen of Kyoto, and leader of the West Yokai faction.

"You can go now."

Yasaka said to the sentinel while raising for her place. The sentinel bowed in her direction and quickly left the place back to his post. As soon as he left, Yasaka threw herself at Erik, or more rightly sayin, threw herself at the little fox that Erik was holding, taking her in her arms. The mature nine-tailed fox mothered Kunou in a hug while Erik watched with a smile on his face. Yasaka then looked seriously at Kunou.

"Don't you have anything to say to me, young lady?"

Yasaka asked Kunou, who bashfully looked down, not wanting to look at her mother's eyes.

"Sorry, mama. I will not do it again."

Kunou said to Yasaka, who nodded her head in approval. And she would probably not do it again. Kunou had learned her lesson with her almost kidnapping. She didn't know what would have happened to her if she had not found Erik tonight. It was then that she really realized what had almost happened to her. Kunou sniffed a little and then hugged her mother's neck while the dam broke and she started to cry while hiding her face in her mother's bosom. Yasaka just comforted her daughter while slowly caressing the little girl's hair while muttering 'there there' and 'it is all right now' near her ears.

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