Volume 2 - CH 467

10-53. Lingering Thoughts

I woke up startled.

I’m lying down with a hazy mind, looking up at the sky… it’s white.

Where am I?

Well, I can’t completely rule out the possibility that it’s clouds.

But nothing’s moving, and I can’t see a blue sky… what is this place?

I sit up and look around to confirm my surroundings.

Nothing but a completely white space.

Wait wait wait.

Um, can I remember?

I think… I noticed something about the clue of the Voices… and then the voice of the sky clapped its hands…

“What happened?”

{You lost consciousness.}

“Holy shi-!”

Suddenly, I heard a voice right next to me.

I turn around abruptly, and there’s a person standing there who looks similar to me.

Long white hair, one eye hidden.

Wearing a black kimono, with a katana at the waist.

His posture is graceful and refined.

Just by taking a few steps, I can tell how strong he is.

The man sitting quietly in seiza takes the katana from his waist and places it on his right side.

He throws the wide hem behind him and rests his palms on his thighs.

{You seem surprised. My apologies.}

“Could it be… Hiwa?”

{Indeed.}

I can’t believe it.

But he looks similar to the image Dacia showed me… Wait, why can we have a conversation?

Hiwa… he should have disappeared…

“You… vanished, didn’t you?”

{My body did. But my thoughts remained.}

“Is this going to be a long story?”

{Yes. Please, have a seat.}

I comply, sitting down and reaching for the Sanshakuken… (Three foot sword)

No, it’s not there.

“It’s gone!?”

{Don’t panic. Since this is a dream, there’s no need to worry. In the mortal world, an Oni called Uchikage possesses it.}

“Oh, I see… So, is this a dream?”

{It’s the boundary between dreams, the mortal world, and the eternal world. A hidden place even gods and Mystical beings can’t approach.}

“Is it like a spiritual realm?”

{I do not comprehend the meaning of that word.}

I see…

Well, I had a feeling he was an old-fashioned person, so I should explain things more clearly next time.

Can I do it…?

Well, never mind.

Um… wait a minute, do I have to ask something?

I don’t know what to ask.

Actually, I’d prefer if he woke me up!!

I immediately stood up and approached Hiwa.

“Oh right! There’s no time to be in a place like this!”

{It seems the Voices have manifested.}

“So, please wake me up quickly and let’s go defeat them! I’ve figured out how to beat them! By the way, why do I wake up so slowly after passing out?”

{I could.}

“Then please wake me up quickly!”

{I refuse.}

“Why?!”

{Our conversation is not yet finished.}

Eh…

No, forget about that!

“I know how to defeat them, so I need to wake up quickly!”

{Ouryuu’s Judgement… The price will be high.}

“I don’t care!”

{In that case, listen to the story. Dacia hasn’t seen me use the skill yet.}

“Ugh… You’re really not going to wake me up until you tell me, are you?”

{Correct.}

“Fine, fine, I get it!”

I sit cross-legged in front of Hiwa.

“…Actually, your tone and what I’ve heard before sound different.”

{When I existed in this world, I merely adapted to my surroundings. A single sea bream stands out among a school of sardines. However, with you, there’s no need to be concerned.}

“Well… I understand what you’re saying. So, is that your true self?”

{Yes.}

“Then, could you please get to the point?”

{Very well.}

Hiwa nodded slightly. He took a fan from his pocket and quickly opened it.

{First, the skill of the voice of the sky.}

“You know about it?”

{Yes. His skill involves ‘sound.’ It might be a form of illusion, but when you hear the sound he emits, it causes abnormalities in the body.}

“So, we passed out just from the sound of him clapping his hands?”

{Yes. Sound is an invisible blade, faster than swinging a sword. It passes through the body in the blink of an eye.}

Hiwa folded the fan with a snap.

{Therefore, when you use the Ouryu’s Judgement, you must keep your distance from him.}

“That makes sense…”

{And as for the reason why your awakening is slow…}

“What?! You know about that too?”

{It’s a guess, but it should be accurate.}

“…And it is?”

{Seiryuu, Ouryuu. These creatures are different from the beings of this world. Sleep is essential to maintain their massive bodies. They don’t need to eat. The most important thing is sleep. They fall asleep to recover their magical power.}

“Hmm? So, they keep sleeping until their magical power is replenished?”

{Exactly.}

…I see. When I passed out or slept for a long time due to Seiryu’s Decision, I did use a lot of magical power… So it takes time to recover because of the large amount. If I don’t pass out, my magical power should recover normally. They’re a powerful species, so some weaknesses must have been created.

Then I remember being knocked out. Looking back on everything… I was supposed to sleep for a while, right?!

“Wait a minute!! How long did I sleep?!”

{Three days.}

“And if I hadn’t been woken up by you, how much longer would I have slept?!”

{Three months.}

“The heeeeell?!”

Before that happens, the world will be destroyed! The voice of the heavens will be restored! I can’t allow that, so for now, let’s listen to Hiwa’s story!!

I sit with good posture and listen to Hiwa’s story. He seems pleased to see me in a position to listen carefully, and he nods slightly with a satisfied expression.

He opens the fan again and closes it with a snap.

[Second, the Seiryu’s Decision that I used. I used it right after conquering all human countries. Hinata, an Oni, who lives in the space where the Akki dwell, was the only one who saw it.}

“Hinata is the name of the Akki over five hundred years old, right?”

{…Remarkably, she’s still alive.}

“She regained some memory. About you and the last words you left.” 

{Did you encounter anyone else? Suisui, Engetsu, Enma, or Ranki?}

“I don’t know about them. The ones in that space were Garakk and… Uchikage’s father, I think. I don’t know his name.”

{I see, I understand. Let’s get back to the story.}

The fan opens. Then closes and is placed on his knee.

{What I wished for was the erasure of memories other than the Devils, the disappearance of my own existence, and the lingering of my thoughts.}