Chapter 61: New Friend.
Kazuka spoke, voice casual:
"I saw you sitting there crying, didn't know what was wrong so came close to check. Not any bad intentions."
She frowned, hostile eyes with Kazuka.
"It is still too hard to believe."
Kazuka had a bit of discomfort in his eyes, voice also had a bit of change:
"Then you learn to believe things hard to happen. Suddenly attacked us and broke our transport tool. Your disbelief made it difficult for us."
The whole group standing behind were open-mouthed at the way of reverse-blaming, answering back of Kazuka.
The girl still kept the tension and concentration, eyes not changed.
"That, how could I know? I only defended myself."
Kazuka with one eye twitching because of discomfort.
"Are you denying responsibility? Granting you defended yourself, but now we have no bad intentions towards you. And you compensate money for our horse carriage."
Airi and Ayaka standing behind, stroked their faces because of being speechless. Aoto and Takeshi standing on two sides of Kazuka immediately turned away laughing gigglingly.
Kazuka also saw it a bit strange and turned over.
"Hey? Laughing at what?"
The girl frowned.
"So you guys want to rob me?"
Kazuka without a moment of hesitation replied:
"Who bothers to rob you? We passed by and wanted to help, then were attacked by you."
"Is there anyone like you?"
Aoto then spoke up:
-"She will find it hard to believe Kazuka here."
"Anyway, we are the victims."
The girl straightforwardly replied:
"I have no money."
Kazuka intended to speak further then Takeshi immediately interrupted:
"This is not the time for money, Kazuka."
Hearing so, he stopped.
Then Takeshi turned over and shouted:
"So why are you here?"
The girl straightforwardly replied:
"I am lost."
Airi then stepped up, gave a suggestion:
"Then do you go with us out of here?"
Still keeping that caution, the girl frowned.
"Of course not... how can I believe you guys?"
Airi: "So you want to be lost in here?"
She then froze for a beat, hesitation was appearing, it seemed this girl also wanted to escape from here.
Airi then dealt a psychological blow:
"You are also lost in here like us, but sitting there crying. You think your tears can open a way and escape?"
The girl angrily grit her teeth before Airi's words.
"What the hell do you know?"
Airi nodded.
"Granting I don't know, but do you want to be stuck here?"
All three boys stood observing, and all had a common thought:
-"As expected, girl's business must be for girls to solve."
That girl stood there in silence, it seemed to have been hit correctly.
"How can I believe you guys?"
Airi: "You almost killed us, and we are believing you. What do you think?"
The girl stood silent for a while thinking. Then nodded lightly.
"Fine, but I must be the one going at the end."
Airi nodded.
"Agreed."
The whole group went to the place of their horse carriage which had been crushed by the large trees falling caused by the girl.
The girl stood behind silently and observed the whole group.
Kazuka and Takeshi were trying to use strength to pull the logs out.
Kazuka slid his hand into a wood gap, he pulled out a large bag. That was a bag inside was food, its fragrance wafted out.
Takeshi pulled from inside a large money bag of the group.
Both jumped down from the fallen wood pile and nodded signaling they were done.
Aoto: "Let's go."
The whole group started to move. Aoto went in front and the whole group followed behind, the platinum-haired girl went last.
Ayaka: "This fog is too thick, don't know if some creature will jump out?"
Aoto: "You are too humorous, there won't be."
While going, the girl watched the food bag of the group being held by Kazuka, while walking while swinging.
Kazuka shifted his eyes back and immediately locked eyes with the girl, he raised his hand looking at the food bag, and then glanced at this girl.
Kazuka hooked from the bag a large piece of meat with red color but faded. That was a piece of smoked meat, helping preserve for a long time.
Kazuka held the meat, walked backward and offered it. The girl with caution looked at Kazuka, but eyes still glanced down at the meat getting closer.
"Want to eat?"
The whole group going ahead glanced back, then turned away. It seemed they also guessed it beforehand.
That girl immediately reached out her hand fast and snatched the meat from Kazuka's hand while he hadn't even noticed.
Then ate the meat voraciously.
Kazuka walked parallel with the girl and took the water bottle at his hip out.
"Want to drink?"
The girl while eating shook her head.
"Not thirsty yet."
He then fastened the water bottle back to his hip and smiled.
"Oh."
While eating she spoke:
"Consider it the first time I believe a demon."
Kazuka was surprised, froze slightly.
"I am not a demon, don't call me that."
Airi in front turned back to say:
"Kazuka, let me talk privately with her for a bit."
Kazuka was a bit confused, but also nodded.
Kazuka and Airi then exchanged positions for each other.
Airi walked beside the girl, expression shifted to serious.
As if sensing the different atmosphere, the eating girl looked up.
"Speak."
Then she put the last piece of meat into her mouth and chewed, expression becoming bright again.
Airi with an extremely serious voice, lowered as if to show the importance in her words.
"Into the point directly."
"Surely we only go together until escaping the forest with this fog."
"But I hope you don't mention him being a demon anymore."
The girl frowned, eyes glanced forward. Kazuka was still walking beside Ayaka.
She calmly replied:
"You guys want to hide?"
Airi nodded.
"Right."
"Why?"
Airi: "Simply he needs to know later, that's all."
The girl was silent for a bit, but also accepted because there was also no harm.
"Fine."
"But let me know, a collection that shouldn't exist is going around or has some goal. Why go together?"
Airi glanced at the group going ahead.
"We are friends, and we are only going everywhere and don't have many clear purposes."
That girl was calm.
"Friends? I think it's impossible."
"But I also don't understand, why you guys know each other's identities and still play with each other. And why cover up one person?"
Airi still very patiently explained:
"Didn't you hear clearly just now what I said? We are friends."
"I am a vampire, and I need to suck blood. My friends don't mind that."
"In general, you don't need to worry."
The girl looked with suspicious eyes.
"So what about a demon but doesn't know he is a demon?"
"Are you guys afraid that he cannot accept?"
Airi took a deep breath and nodded in admission.
"Could say so."
Aoto was leading the group, but in his head were series of different thoughts:
-"Why does she have two sources of energy?"
-"And when I sensed the strangeness. Why did I not notice? Kazuka is also similar to that girl."
-"Two energies... two energies..."
He seemed to realize something.
-"No way..."
-"IS A HALF-BREED!"
-"That girl has the energy of an angel, but intertwined, I still sense a bit from the Yokai race."
Long ago, when a group of monsters came together, they needed a name.
Calling themselves the Monster Race sounded too crude. So they chose the name Yokai—the Yokai Race.
-"Kazuka is the same, sensing the energy of a demon, but the Yêu energy almost doesn't appear clearly. It is fainter."
-"Surely Airi doesn't know either."
-"But the problem is a half-breed yet not killed?"
-"I am not clear about Kazuka's identity, but it seems somehow he escaped. That girl too."
-"And has Airi thought about the case when the group has a bit of fame, and other races hear about it, what will happen?"
Back to Airi and the platinum-haired girl.
Airi: "Are you planning to go anywhere?"
That girl shook her head.
"I am not, I am aimless."
Airi then gave an offer.
"I guess you also have some stories. But go with us?"
The girl's eyes were very serious looking straight at Airi.
"Although I am not arrogant, but you also know. How can an angel go with a demon?"
Airi thought:
-"Is there any angel who is not arrogant?"
The group continued to walk, going past trees that seemed close but fog covered half.
The two girls at the end were very tense.
Airi: "Then should try. We are extremely welcoming to that."
"I will not try."
Airi: "But you are currently aimless."
"You also know, the energy Kazuka emits is very little and almost cannot be sensed. Surely except for angels."
"Like that he lived until now."
"You are an angel, with pure energy emitted of an angel. Living here is almost impossible."
"Although not knowing why you must come down here, but originally. The place of the human race then only the human race lives. Others will be enemies or slaves."
"Do you understand?"
The girl narrowed her eyes.
"You want to force me?"
Airi was casual, tone as if not caring:
"I only explained. The decision is still with you."
"So going together then what do I get?"
Airi: "Not many rights. But..."
"We will be friends, and Aoto is an elemental, he will have a way to hide your energy."
"Although you also know it is impossible to hide completely. But only need to be hard to recognize will also make you live temporarily in this world. Unless we meet a super strong one."
Airi then pointed towards Aoto.
"Look, he hid his ears already. Now he has ears like normal people and lives like normal people here."
"He also helped me hide my energy a bit."
"Only angels, demons, and some elementals have the ability to sense through these coverings."
Airi stared at the girl. As if to create pressure making her decide.
"What do you think?"
The girl hesitated, silent for a long time.
The girl's eyes looked towards Kazuka.
"I will become your friend?"
Airi as if understanding the girl's intent immediately turned to Kazuka.
"Right, and we don't care about background or anything. Don't worry."
"It is not bad, don't think much."
The girl was silent as if weighing every word of Airi, eyes staring down at the ground below.
Then raised her head slowly, eyes looking straight at Airi.
"Fine, I agree."
Airi thought:
-"Knew it would work, being aimless then persuading is easy. With having 1 angel, the group will be much stronger."
Both girls walked at the end. Two heads of hair almost the same color swayed in the fog.
Then Airi raised two hands and shouted loudly:
"Wonderful!"
The four people walking ahead, turned back because of the attention caused by Airi.
Airi looked at everyone, and then turned to look at this girl. Airi clapped the girl's back and smiled.
"Alright, introduce yourself."
"Everyone, from now on she will go with us."
The four then turned back, curious and excited faces.
Kazuka: "Really?"
Takeshi: "So it's six people."
Ayaka: "What is your name?"
Aoto stood there, but said nothing.
The girl was not shy, immediately introduced herself:
"I am Elyssia Shirayuki."
"I am Kazuka."
"I am Takeshi Rin."
"I am Ayaka."
"I am Aoto."
Airi stood there smiling both outwardly and inwardly.
-"Great, so the group is balanced. Talking only to Ayaka was also a bit boring, having three people will be funnier, now there is another person."
Airi then shouted loudly:
"Alright, from now on we will be friends."
Airi stretched her hand out face down. She offered it forward. Everyone immediately understood the intent and placed their hands on.
Elyssia did not need to waste time integrating, she immediately smiled and placed her hand on. Although still with a bit of caution not yet cooled, but temporarily for her it was safe, and could be temporarily trusted.
The whole group at the same time threw hands up to the sky, like a promise by action, and from now on would be friends.
Elyssia: "So now what will we do?"
Kazuka smiled.
"Of course escape from here and buy you another set of clothes."
Airi and Ayaka as if realizing they forgot something.
Airi: "Seems we still..."
Ayaka nodded.
"On the carriage, we stored a set of clothes there. I forgot."
Takeshi smiled.
"I know what we need to do."
Aoto with an exhausted voice:
"Must turn back again."
Kazuka with right hand holding the meat bag, then slung it over Aoto's shoulder and burst out laughing.
"Haha, it's fine. Having one more person is fun."
The whole group then turned back to the carriage.
Three girls went in front and three boys followed behind.
Aoto: "Too much fog."
Kazuka: "Let me blow them away?"
Takeshi: "No need, just walk like taking a stroll."
Kazuka with curious eyes watching Elyssia walking in front.
"Don't know how strong an angel is?"
Takeshi nodded, seemingly also very curious.
"Yeah, do you know Aoto?"
Aoto nodded.
"I know a bit."
Kazuka with excited and expectant voice:
"Tell us."
Aoto: "Strength of an angel is usually judged on three factors."
"First factor is their 'Authority'. Also like our Elementals. At a certain level, they will possess an Authority for themselves."
Kazuka: "Authority?"
Aoto nodded lightly.
"Roughly, most angels and elementals have it, very few who don't."
"Authority will allow the possessor great power. For example: ability to control gravity, or temporarily neutralize an opponent's ability, manipulate emotions, manipulate memories, or even time..."
"In general, a lot, and the ones I just mentioned must be called very strong."
Takeshi: "So what about you elementals?"
"We elementals are the same, and also have another ability which is Blessing. It allows me to bestow some ability to another."
Kazuka: "So elementals have two ways of power division, while as you just said angels have three?"
Aoto nodded.
"Could say so."
"Now I will continue with the second factor."
"This second factor is divided based on the number of wings of an angel. Lowest angels have two wings and the most have twelve wings. And the quantity of wings will reflect their strength."
Kazuka and Takeshi were both surprised, eyes opened wide.
Kazuka: "Up to twelve wings."
Takeshi: "Sounds like a lot."
Aoto: "I also saw through drawings in books. Looks peak."
Takeshi: "So what's the last?"
Aoto shrugged, shook his head.
"Actually the third factor I am also not clear. But only know, angels will possess a pair of eyes. Those eyes not only see but also have super strength."
"But what I said is only the limit of the present. Who knows what surprises there will be?"
Kazuka stroked his chin in thought.
"Don't know how many wings Elyssia has?"
"And don't know what demons have? Why does she hate them so?"
Aoto sighed.
"A feud, from ancient times they already opposed each other."
Takeshi: "So what do demons have?"
Aoto: "Have strength and super-regeneration ability stronger than even vampires."
Takeshi glanced at Airi walking ahead.
"Really?"
Aoto nodded.
"Let me explain for you guys to be less curious."
"Like angels, demons are divided according to the strength scale of the quantity of something. And the 'something' here is the number of horns they have."
"From two to eight horns."
Takeshi: "On the head up to 8?"
Kazuka: "So are they weaker than angels?"
Aoto shook his head.
"Of course not."
"Fighting demons has one extremely miserable thing, I also said about the recovery ability of demons, right?"
"With a large source of energy, they will continuously recover when injured. And if encountering demons truly strong and smart. Then this will be a bloody battle."
"I am talking about strong demons. At this time, will have to fight until the demon is exhausted of energy."
Kazuka and Takeshi were very surprised.
Takeshi: "Like that when fighting then humans don't have recovery ability, how to fight."
Aoto: "You forgot the humans' strongest point is terrible quantity? And especially, at a certain level, their strength limit is almost infinite."
"But if it is a one-on-one battle, there are also many strong people."
Takeshi and Kazuka looked into their palms, mouths mumbling:
"No limits?"
Aoto glanced at Kazuka, watching his gestures.
All three boys walked behind talking, mouths not ceasing.
In front the three girls were the same.
Ayaka with sparkling eyes, happy expression. She while walking, wrapped her arms around Elyssia, Ayaka's cheek rubbed against Elyssia's cheek repeatedly making Elyssia speechless.
"Oh my god, you look so beautiful. Cute too."
Elyssia tried to push Ayaka away but could not.
She looked at Ayaka, behind her back was an arrow case with arrows stuck inside, on her chest was the bow.
"Wait, let me speak."
Airi also didn't know what to say before Ayaka's action.
-"She seems to like Elyssia very much? I haven't seen her act like that before."
Ayaka finally bore to let Elyssia go, while walking, Ayaka peered close to her face making Elyssia's face turn red.
"Is something the matter?"
Elyssia then materialized a bow with sophisticated patterns.
The bow with a frame made of some white metal, with stones of many brilliant colors. Small wavy lines curved on the bow body.
The grip curved, and there were two pairs of wings on two sides, where the curve of the bow bent down to form the grip.
The bowstring was white and taut.
Airi and Ayaka were very surprised with the bow on Elyssia's hand.
"You try to hold it, if it works then you will possess it."
Ayaka pointed at herself in surprise.
"Me?"
Airi exclaimed:
"The bow looks great."
Elyssia nodded.
"Try it, Ayaka."
Ayaka: "You give it to me?"
Elyssia shook her head, Airi glanced at Ayaka who was confused and explained:
"Hard to say, if meeting some conditions, then the bow will be yours. If not then impossible."
Ayaka swallowed saliva inside with worry.
"I understand, let me try."
Ayaka slowly reached out her hand, worried face. Fingers trembling could be clearly seen.
The three while walking, watched intently every moment.
Touch!
Ayaka successfully touched the bow without any phenomenon happening.
Elyssia smiled radiantly.
"You did it."
Ayaka rejoiced, slowly pulled her hand and the bow closer and observed it. Two hands she stroked the bow.
"So beautiful."
Airi: "Great, so no worry about the problem of losing a weapon."
Ayaka then rushed to kiss Elyssia's cheek one kiss on the cheek. She turned red-faced, hand holding the cheek stepped back, she didn't know how to react, eyes only knew how to look at Ayaka with shyness.
Ayaka: "Thank you."
Elyssia: "You..."
Airi burst out laughing.
"Don't do that, Ayaka."
Ayaka watched the bow on her hand for a long time.
Airi: "You should throw the bow on your person and the arrow case away already, Ayaka."
Ayaka puzzled, she froze, frowning.
"Huh?..."
Elyssia then explained:
"This bow doesn't need to use arrows, you transmit energy into it and in your head imagine the arrow and it will create an energy arrow according to what you imagine."
Ayaka opened eyes wide in surprise before the bow's ability.
"Really?"
Elyssia: "Actually I don't like archery, seeing you bring a bow thought it was your specialty."
Airi: "Exactly her specialty."
Ayaka's eyes were glistening looking at Elyssia. As if knowing what Ayaka wanted to do, she reached out her hand and held Ayaka's shoulder back.
"You should try to use it."
Ayaka as if suggested, she took the bow she was bringing on her person off. She pulled the string at her waist and the arrow case immediately fell down.
The three boys while talking saw the bow and arrow case lying on the ground. All three stopped and looked towards the three girls walking.
Aoto: "That's Ayaka's bow?"
Kazuka: "She threw it away?"
Takeshi then shouted loudly:
"Hey? Why throw things away?"
The three girls stopped and turned around. Airi proactively waved calling the three over.
"Ignore it, come here I'll tell."
The three then ran past the arrow case and bow Ayaka threw on the ground, and ran over.
Kazuka: "Is something the matter?"
Ayaka then offered the new bow Elyssia gave out.
"Look."
Kazuka: "Huh?"
Aoto: "New bow?"
Takeshi: "Is that the reason you threw that bow away?"
Ayaka nodded.
"Yeah, and this new bow Elyssia gave me."
The three were quite surprised and at the same time shifted eyes towards Elyssia.
Elyssia being stared at turned her face away out of embarrassment.
Kazuka: "Then you try the bow."
Ayaka nodded. The whole group stood to one side for Ayaka standing there.
Elyssia: "You only need to pull the bowstring and transmit energy. At the same time imagine the arrow."
Ayaka entered the stance, pulled the bowstring, the bow curved a bit. Ayaka's energy overflowed wrapping around the bow, energy gradually transmitted to the middle and created an energy arrow.
Blue energy formed an arrow and automatically set into the two fingers pulling her bowstring.
Everyone standing beside was also quite surprised.
The arrow with curved shapes was immediately released by Ayaka.
Whoosh!!!