Chapter 801 – That Guy That Bothers Me

000

While Cleon was busy catching the ghosts with Noctis outside, many residents were looking around inside the temple.

However, Tokoyo, the great shaman who can be said to be another protagonist of the Five Elements Festival, continues her sacred dance without stopping even after the flower of the sacred tree blooms in the ritual hall near the main temple where ordinary people cannot enter, and uses the magic power flowing in the ley lines. Efforts were being made to purify.

There is no doubt that moving your breathing, feet, and arms without stopping is a difficult task for several hours, no matter how many times you practice it, or even if you build up your stamina.

However, if the ritual is not continued like this, the magical energy that has been quickly kicked out and the accumulated bad energy will create more ghosts in Asteris than there are now –

Furthermore, the ghosts that have accumulated so much that they cannot be dealt with will possess the residents and create nobles.

Even to prevent such a tragedy, the great shaman could not stop her dance.

Fortunately, Kuon was present at this year’s ceremony.

If she, like Tokoyo, had the skills to be a great shrine maiden, she could keep her rituals going uninterrupted by taking turns performing purification rituals through her sacred dance.

Tokoyo does not stop the movement of her body for her consciousness, even though she must enter a kind of trance state, as she naturally clears her head to accept the consciousness of her divine tree within it.

In her memory, she recalled in detail her mother performing her duties just a few years ago.

And after she continued her duties for three days alone, she was almost exhausted and the strain on her body was so great that she could not get up for several days.

Not only that, but having to accept the ritual of her divine tree and keep turning on her magical organs for purification was sure to shorten her lifespan.

There were times when great shamans lost their lives early after giving birth to an heir, perhaps because they repeated such harsh rituals every year.

Because it couldn’t have been done without them, the tradition has continued.

＇…─What a foolish thought… I’m still in the middle of consciousness right now.’

Thinking like that, Tokoyo was lamenting her own shortcomings.

Even though Tokoyo was currently in the middle of her consciousness, there were too many distracting thoughts.

Thanks to this, not only could Shinmok’s voice not be heard properly, but there were parts in the dance that were slightly out of rhythm, and it seemed like his stamina was easily depleted.

When I was in a state of perfect concentration and became one with the spirit tree and all things, I was able to forget my fatigue and the pain in my arms and legs because my body was moving through the possession of the spirit rather than by my own will.

The reason she couldn’t focus on her new job this year was simple. It-

＂Kuon’s dancing moves are so erotic…!＂

＂Ugh!?＂

In the end, when his legs became weak, and he could not move, Tokoyo, who was waiting, walked to Kuon’s side and said this, and Kuon blushed and covered his chest with his arms.

Because there was nothing of the right size, Kuon’s clothes were wrapped in bandages and tucked in somehow, so that her cleavage was exposed.

Moreover, when you move your body while concentrating your mind, your facial expression naturally relaxes, and you create a water-like movement with half-open eyes.

She has a bewitching expression that seems to transcend everything, her breasts bounce every time she moves, and even her thighs are visible through her skirt.

＂I think it would be perfect to be mistaken for a great shaman because the great shaman’s breasts are so big…”

“Well, that’s not true!”

As Kuon said that, she even covered her own breasts.

“Uh, anyway. I don’t want my stream of consciousness to be interrupted, so I’ll do my best! Tokoyo, please rest well!”

With that being said, Kuon moves forward to the center of the dance ritual without complaining even after only an hour of shift, and she takes a deep breath.

… For Cleon, who is working hard to exorcise ghosts outside.

And, if the magical power of her divine tree is not calmed and purified, the plan laid out by Laila will also be disrupted.

This is for everyone in Asteris.

I would say that after she once again made up her mind about her own responsibilities, she naturally lost some of the flab in her heart.

Feeling her mind clear to complete the task in front of her.

Slowly, she was able to move her body according to the dance moves engraved within her.

Then-

At the same time that Kuon begins her dance, Tokoyo notices a green light rising around her.

The strange phenomenon that appears around the great shaman was originally a phenomenon that symbolized that the great shaman accepted the voice of her divine tree and was connected to her.

Earlier, when she was dancing, it was a little late for it to appear, but Kuon’s spirit was immediately connected to her sacred tree.

Just a few days ago, she had not been able to reach this level, but by changing her mental resolve, she has grown quickly.

Tokoyo was happily deep in her heart – but the problem happened later.

“… Really. It shouldn’t be like this…”

Tokoyo looks down at her own hands.

Twin shaman- The two sides that were originally separated unite once again to bring out their true power as the shamans of the sacred tree.

Tokoyo, who spoke to her Kuon, believed that her thoughts were not that wrong.

However, the problem is that when the power of the two sides begins to differ, the weaker side is pulled by the stronger side.

Just a little while ago, Kuon was being dragged by Tokoyo, but now – on the contrary, Tokoyo was being dragged by Kuon.

If the power is not balanced, the power of the larger one eats up the smaller one, and in the end, only one person’s power is effective.

‘Maybe… The shrine maiden sisters of the past also felt this phenomenon, and one of them left the other…’

As Tokoyo thought so, she felt that she was not able to keep up with her power in a situation where Kuon had surpassed her as a great shrine maiden.

Of course, in terms of technology and rituals as a shrine maiden, Tokoyo is still far superior.

But – simple magic attribute output. In other words, Kuon was already far ahead of Tokoyo as a vessel shaman.

Tokoyo herself was trying to change her mindset to do something about it, but she wasn’t quite like Kuon.

What she felt there was no jealousy of her Kuon, but bitterness and resentment over her own shortcomings.

It may be natural that Kuon, who had seen so much in the outside world, surpassed her just by renewing her resolve.

Once again, Tokoyo looked at Kuon’s divine dance.

Before, I spoke in that way to lighten her mood a little and hide her true feelings, but-

Kuon’s sacred dance was beautiful, and it was a kind and maternal movement that seemed to embody the divine tree’s love for all things.

It was like her past, her mother’s dance that she had seen.

That’s why Tokoyo thinks like this.

‘Maybe I need it too. … I want to protect this person with my whole life – not ‘everyone’, but someone ‘individual’…’

Since they are beings who sacrifice themselves to the gods, it is contradictory for shamans who usually hide their identities with masks.

As a feeling to overcome her own limitations, the most important thing to them is

Personal feelings take precedence over the cause.

In other words, it may be loved toward others.

＂─What~＂

After thinking about that, Tokoyo smiled, blushed, and waved his hands.

He was thinking on his own terms, and all his thoughts up to this point were his own hypotheses.

It is true that the difference in power between Kuon and her has widened, and it is also true that she is unable to properly adapt to consciousness because of that.

There is no way that such differences can be easily bridged with emotions alone.

Above all, there is no one like that to me─

＂…＂

When I even thought about such an opponent, why?

What the black-haired young man thought was passing through his head.

＂… Ah… No, no no. That doesn’t happen.”

Shaking her head, she cools her flushed face with her hand fan.

She coveted her friend’s man. That’s something that a great shrine maiden shouldn’t do.

She couldn’t help but think that way.

When I thought about it like that, one part of my heart felt a little tingly.

001

＂GRaaaaa!＂

Another ghost’s body split in half and fell to the ground.

When Cleon tried to return the sword to its sheath, a grumbling voice was heard.

[Hey! Let me face someone with substance who can cut more! It’s like cutting clouds or cotton candy from earlier!]

＂Calm down…＂

As Cleon said that, he returned the irritated sword, Slash, to its scabbard.

＂Wow~ I took a good picture this time too! But since he keeps cutting you down with one blow, maybe we need a more suspenseful scene…?”

And coming up behind Cleon was Noctis, the trainee reporter girl who had been following him ever since.

No, it would be a bit rude of her to chase her around.

Surely, thanks to her using ‘Zuzu’ to look into the sky, I was able to chase down and respond to her ghost in a timely manner.

＂How is it? Next time, how about deliberately adjusting the crisis situation?!”

“What are you going to do if you take so much time and end up having to deal with ghosts elsewhere? I’m sorry, but I didn’t wear this mask to make a good article.”

When Cleon said that and touched the mask worn by the main character of the exorcism, Noctis responded with a ‘cheet’ and seemed not amused.

After all, her child is still a child. Looking at her, her awareness of the seriousness of her situation seemed to be slightly lacking, Cleon let out a sigh and gently wiped the sweat under her mask. Pay

Of course, most of the ghosts were eliminated in one go, but repeating the battle while moving a fairly long distance without stopping was a bit difficult even for Cleon.

Noctis seems to be full of energy as he continues to guide Cleon while riding a bicycle.

＂Hehe, here.＂

At that time, when I thought something was extended from Noctis, it was a small water bottle.

＂I prepared this because I had to interview the person in charge of the ceremony. If the protagonist gets hurt or has trouble with consciousness, I won’t be able to write an article.”

“Rather, if the main character is injured, isn’t that something that can be reported as a scoop?”

“No way. Articles like that are actually cut off at the top.”

Although it was for a snobbish reason, Cleon replied that he would gratefully accept the favor, took the water bottle, and gently lifted his mask to expose only his mouth.

When cold water passes through the mouth and throat, the heat accumulated in the body escapes and the thirst is quenched.

And, when I felt someone’s gaze and looked over Noctis’ hat, I saw the exhausted figure of Zuzu, almost like a mushy mess, with his wing feathers sticking out here and there as a result of being thrown into the sky several times.

＂This guy also has his limits.＂

Saying that, he carefully filled the lid with the water bottle and brought it to Zuzu, who drank it helplessly.

＂Don’t make me too foolish.＂

“You really treat animals too harshly. If you are a partner, be more careful.”

“Are you okay. Zuzu is not an ordinary sparrow-“

It was that time.

Zuzu, who was drinking water, suddenly let out a scream-like cry and pointed her wing at Cleon’s back.

“Eh?! Wow…!”

Noctis also noticed Zuzu’s approach only after she made a sound, and the small-shaped ghost had approached right behind Cleon.

Cleon quickly returns the sword to its scabbard and blocks the ghost’s swinging arm with a slash.

‘There was no sign of a ghost until just now. But where…!?

“Now, wait a minute! It’s not just one or two!?”

As Noctis said that, Cleon looked around her, and just as she said, several ghosts had gathered as if they were targeting Cleon.

＂Tch…!＂

Perhaps they judged Cleon, who was mercilessly exterminating them, as a dangerous element, and formed some kind of alliance.

They looked like they were going to rush in at any moment, surrounding Cleon and Noctis, with their eyes showing resentment towards Cleon.

“If you don’t run away…!”

When Noctis says that and tries to move from her seat, Cleon quickly grabs her arm.

“You idiot! Don’t leave her side!”

＂Ugh…!＂

As Cleon’s words echo, her ghosts come running in, targeting her.

For ghosts, Cleon, the protagonist of exorcism, may be an opponent they cannot defeat, but if they take Noctis’ body and become a demon, they will be able to avoid being cut by a sword and disappear.

As soon as Cleon saw the scene, he kicked the stomach of the ghost that was blocking her arm and pushed it away, and then blamed it! Then he spun his body and jumped into the air.

And, he succeeded in landing on the ground by cutting off the heads of the two ghosts that were running towards Noctis while standing upside down in the air.

With his light movements that seemed to be unaffected by gravity, Noctis looked at Cleon with an expression as if he had seen a fantasy, but Cleon had no time to act cool.

As a rough estimate, there are about 7 bodies, even if you exclude the one we just cut down.

Just when I thought I had to come to my senses and respond, they rushed towards Cleon at the same time as if the timing was right.

A short but nimble guy with inverted joints, a big guy with fists as strong as stone, a guy holding something like an ax, and a guy with both arms like blades.

A guy with a tail like a spear, a guy with a huge horn like a unicorn, a guy with two heads and teeth like a shark.

＇… They’re all guys who seem to have high combat power.’

The first to reach Cleon was a small guy.

When Cleon sees that the guy is reaching out with his hand blade from below, he kicks the guy’s head and slams it into the ground.

At the same time, a ghost with a blade on its arm jumped in, aiming for Cleon’s neck.

Cleon swung his sword and struck the guy’s side, where only a gap was visible, sending him flying to the side.

Meanwhile, the second wave approaches.

＂Kyaaaaa!＂

When I thought Noctis’ screams rang out again, a guy with a tail like a spear was extending his spear, as if trying to pierce Cleon’s back with Noctis.

At the same time, a huge ax held by a ghost is swung in front of Cleon.

＂Noctis, bow down!＂

As Cleon shouted, she grabbed her back and lowered her body, and the spear and ax that cut into the air hit each other and bounced off.

＂Stay as is.＂

After saying that, Cleon grabbed the spear-like tail that had been thrown off and pulled it with all his might. The resistance of the guy who tried not to be dragged away was meaningless, and the ghost was dragged right next to Cleon and threw it at the ghost holding the axe. .

The ax ghost, whose posture was broken, had its arm pierced by the tail of the spear-tailed ghost flying towards it. It let out something like a scream and then got so angry that it cut the spear-tail ghost into pieces with the axe.

As expected, there seemed to be no such thing as friendly consciousness.

Meanwhile, the small ghost was trying to free itself and escape by removing its own foot, but when the large stone-fisted ghost came up behind it to target Cleon, it stepped on its foot with a thump, and its body was trampled by it.

＂… It looks solid.＂

Cleon muttered like that, and simultaneously struck down the man who was swinging his fist at her with the scabbard on her waist and the sword with one hand.

As the shock passed through his hands, a painful sensation spread to his bones, but Cleon pursed his lips tightly, held the sword in reverse, and rotated his body 180 degrees, cutting off both arms of the ghost.

Because of its weight, the arm with the stone-like fist fell to the ground, fell on the head of the small ghost underneath, and exploded, finishing it off.

The next moment, Cleon, who thought he felt a slight vibration in the ground, looked around and saw that the unicorn ghost and the two-headed ghost were not in sight.

＂──＂

And then, Cleon crouched down and pushed Noctis, who was protecting himself, to the side.

Then, a unicorn ghost rose from the ground, piercing the ground with its huge horn and jumping out.

Wow! It made a sound and succeeded in slightly piercing Cleon’s side, but it did not result in a fatal wound.

Moreover, as Cleon clicks his tongue, watching the guy dig into the ground once again and hide under the surface, as if he was angry.

Perhaps it was targeting the moment when Cleon could no longer move, when the double-headed ghost that was waiting hidden behind the back of the large ghost climbed up the back of the large, suffering monster and opened its mouth towards Cleon over its shoulder –

From within, a blizzard-like breath of intense flames and cold energy spewed out and attacked Cleon.

Cleon, realizing that it is not something that can be physically blocked, deploys a magic barrier to protect himself and Noctis.

＇If you can’t move like this, your good prey for the unicorn ghost…!’

Cleon, who has already thought about it up to that point, clicks his tongue and wonders if there is a good way, and then he realizes the existence of a ghost lying next to him, with his waist half cut off and his arms like swords, unable to get up.

Cleon moved his feet and kicked the guy’s upper body.

＂KIIK!?＂

With that force, the ghost was completely cut off at the waist, but thanks to that, it became a wall between Cleon and the two-headed ghost, at least for a moment.

Meanwhile, when Cleon jumped forward, holding the sword with both hands, he plunged the sword into the abdomen of the large ghost, and the slash went straight through the back and even into the double-headed ghost’s stomach.

As it screamed, it let out a more intense breath-like breath, but because it was in pain, its direction was towards the sky, so it did not reach Cleon.

Just like that, Cleon used his legs to jump upwards and slashed with his sword, cutting down both the guy and the large ghost at the same time.

Cleon saw that the guy with two heads stopped breathing when his body was split into two.

At that time, when a tremor occurred in the ground once again, Cleon grabbed both of the severed heads of the twin-headed ghost, threw them into the hole the unicorn ghost had made in the ground, and stepped on its neck.

Then-

Quaaaaa! A sound can be heard from inside the ground, and a little bit of hot heat and cold air escapes from between the holes.

The unicorn ghost, unable to hold on inside, breaks through from nowhere, but its body is already a mess of heat and cold, so if you time it right and stab the body of the thing floating in the air with a slash.

Due to the power of exorcism, it also turns into ashes and scatters.

As the sound of a clang rang out, Cleon returned his sword to its sheath and looked around him while taking a deep breath.

After confirming that the ghosts are slowly dispersing into ashes and disappearing, they approach Noctis, who is trembling and crouching on the ground.

“Noctis. It’s okay now.”

Hearing Cleon’s words, Noctis, who was breathing so fast that it was almost like hyperventilation, gently opened his eyes and looked at Cleon.

At that time.

＂Lord, master! Back!”

Behind Cleon, the moment when the ax ghost, who had not yet reached the fatal wound, jumped to strike the ax down sharply.

Pajik! Thinking that a spark has leapt out, Cleon turns around and extends his hand at the same time, and black lightning flies towards the ax ghost floating in the air, paralyzing its body and causing it to fall on the spot.

The thing that fell to the ground was pierced in the stomach by the horn of the unicorn ghost that still remained, and it stopped moving.

After Cleon’s cold eyes confirmed that the disappearing ghost was the last, I suddenly felt a little heat on my side.

Come to think of it, I was hurt by that unicorn guy earlier.

＂Blood, blood…＂

“Are you okay. To this extent. What about you? A little while ago, I was pushed quite roughly…”

“Well, rather than thinking about things like me, I need to heal your body!”

As she said that, she took out a potion from her bag and handed it to Cleon, as if not noticing the blood flowing from her bruised elbow.

“It’s not commonly used in eastern countries, but I got it from a merchant from overseas!”

“… Thank you. Then I’ll write it.”

As Cleon said this, he poured the potion on her own wounds and watched her wounds regenerate, feeling her bitterness slowly disappear.

And Cleon carefully places his hand on Noctis’s elbow, who is still panting and seems to have been pushed to his limit by the previous situation.

Shaking pupils, flushed face, if things continue like this, the mental burden of almost dying a moment ago rather than the physical injuries will cause my lungs to run out of oxygen, and I might pass out.

Therefore, just like with Zwei, when healing magic was used, a warm energy surrounded Noctis’ body, and the effect of Kuon’s healing magic, which calms the mind of the person who used the healing magic, was applied at the same time.

＂Haa… Haa… Ugh… Keuhuk… ＂

Little by little, Noctis’ breathing is becoming more stable.

As expected, Cleon thought she was just a girl of the same age as Sasha, and tried to tell her that her reporting was okay and that she should go back to her newspaper.

At that time-

＂Beep, beep…＂

Zuzu reacted once again and pointed somewhere to Cleon.

It was an alley not far from the place where the battle had just taken place.

When Cleon’s gaze turned towards that direction, his eyes met the girl who was secretly watching him with blonde hair shining at the end of his gaze.

＂Chiit…!＂

When the panicked girl immediately ran into the alley, Cleon remembered the story he had with Aine and helped her up.

“Noctis! Now that we’ve covered the story, let’s go back to the newspaper! If you stick with me, something like this will happen again!”

＂B, but…!＂

Cleon picked up her hat, which she had dropped, and placed it in her hand, then ran to the alley where the girl had disappeared.

It was true that Noctis was worried, but the ghosts from before were clearly combative ghosts targeting him.

I would say that there are many parts that are a bit suspicious to say that it occurred in general.

Cleon turns around the alley and jumps between the dark walls.

Then-

Sigh! If Cleon hadn’t immediately stopped with the sound, he would have been slashed right in the face.

＂I avoided it!?＂

＂…!＂

As soon as Cleon confirmed that it was the blonde girl he was chasing, he pulled out a slash and struck the sword from top to bottom.

Pakak! And, as a sad sound rang out and it was confirmed that her sword had been shattered, she said, ‘Ahh…!’ And let out a voice filled with fear that was close to a scream.

At the same time, Cleon’s arm reached out and grabbed her by the collar.

“Are you controlling the ghosts?!”

If you speak to her in a loud voice or in an overbearing manner, she will respond by struggling in Cleon’s hands.

＂Who, who, will tell you… To a scum like you…!＂

＂Answer me!＂

As if Cleon had no intention of looking at her no matter how much she was a girl, she looked straight into her eyes, clenched the fist of her right hand and tried to strike her down-

The moment she felt a sense of déjà vu as her eyes looked at her, she stopped her fist.

The girl, who was trying to protect her head with both arms in preparation for being hit, seemed a little embarrassed when her fist stopped, but she soon raised the corner of her mouth.

＂Yeah, right! Can you see her hair color and eye color!? I am a noble of the kingdom! What would happen if you hit me like that─＂

＂… Are you Alvain…?＂

Cleon is a boy who, in his tone and eyes, is like the beginning of everything she has ever known.

She feels similar to the hero Alvain. She was asking her that question.