Chapter 19: Same Race
"Although I've heard that gods have been appearing frequently around here lately, I can definitely sense the lingering aura in the air."
In a luxurious high-floor suite of a hotel in Chiba City, an elderly man who looked remarkably spirited sat cross-legged on the sofa and spoke to a silver-haired girl standing beside him.
The old man had the distinct facial features of an Eastern European, but his complexion was unnaturally pale.
The girl had a slender figure and the beauty of a fairy from a fairy tale. Her smooth silver hair was tied in a ponytail. She wore a black form-fitting outfit with a half-length cape patterned in blue and white checks, a short skirt, white stockings, and small leather boots.
At her waist hung a long sword, secured in a leather scabbard attached to her belt.
Everything about her appearance suggested she was no ordinary person.
Suddenly, the old man stood up.
While sitting, his height wasn't noticeable, but upon standing, he appeared extremely tall.
Anyone seeing this old man for the first time might mistake him for a refined figure like a university professor, having no idea about the ferocity hidden beneath his cultured appearance.
The Demon King of Eastern Europe, Sasha Dejanstahl Voban, also known as Marquis Voban.
He was also the oldest God-slayer in existence, once a tyrant who plunged the European continent into fear, and is universally acknowledged among magicians as the most violent of the Campione.
Voban walked over to the window, from where one could clearly see the cityscape.
"That young kin of mine is from this place?"
"Yes, Marquis."
The silver-haired girl with the sword responded, showing a hesitant expression.
"If you have something to say, say it. You've pleased me very much so far — I still have that much patience."
Voban suddenly said this while still facing away from the girl.
Although he didn't turn his head, he was perfectly aware of everything happening in the room.
"Marquis, regarding the birth of another Demon King, so far it's only a one-sided rumor. Should I go verify it? If he really is your kin…"
"No need. If someone of my kind truly exists, they will definitely appear." Voban interrupted Liliana coldly. "Be it gods or kin, it doesn't matter — all I want is an exhilarating battle."
"Speaking of which, since I'm here, I might as well reclaim my property. If I recall correctly, one of the survivors from back then is in this country, isn't that right?"
Voban finally turned around, his emerald eyes revealing a trace of menace.
"I'm rather free right now. Go and find that shrine maiden for me. Don't keep me waiting."
Upon hearing this, the girl felt a chill run through her heart.
She didn't know why the old king suddenly summoned her to accompany him — crossing a vast distance to come to this island nation in the East — but every European magician fears him. They fear him so much they don't even have the courage to question his orders.
Awe born from pure fear. Even among God-slayers, he stood at the pinnacle. Perhaps only the cult leader from China could be considered on the same level in this regard.
She hadn't expected to receive a command that went against her conscience so soon, but since the other party was the king, neither her organization, the Bronze Black Cross, nor her personal status as a Great Knight, allowed her to disobey.
All she could do was try to delay things — although that was largely meaningless. That girl would be captured eventually, because no one could stop Marquis Voban.
"Yes, Marquis."
The girl gave Voban a bow and silently exited the room.
If she stayed there any longer, she felt like she would suffocate.
But within this city, in a high school called Sobu High, someone's feelings were in sharp contrast to hers.
If someone entered the clubroom of a certain group known as the Service Club, they'd find it pitch-black inside, devoid of any light.
Luckily, it was still the school festival period, and everyone was busy having fun or working hard, so no one came to this usually quiet clubroom.
Thus, no one witnessed the bizarre scene inside.
"Huff…"
A long sigh suddenly echoed through the darkness.
Sunlight then streamed in through the windows, driving away the shadows.
As the light returned to the room, its contents became visible.
In the spacious room, there was only a long table and a few chairs. A young man sat in one of the chairs, and a pure white fox lay on the table.
"Hachiman-sama, this ritual won't let you gain strength through 'training' in the conventional sense."
The white fox actually spoke, something that would've prompted someone to scream "Youkai!" if seen.
And indeed, she was a youkai.
The young man was Hikigaya Hachiman. The white fox was Tamamo-no-Mae. Since he was interrupted on the first day of the festival, he hadn't been in the mood to continue enjoying it. So on the second day — today — he had returned to the Service Club room as usual.
As for the commotion during Class 2-F's performance, after carrying Miura back, he left the matter alone. He believed that Hayama, with his MAX organizational skills, would handle it well.
Just now, he had been feeling out the power he had received.
Kuafu was a goddess of the earth who fed on the light and fire of life — and Hachiman had gained this power.
Devouring light and consuming fire, converting it into the essence of all power — life force — granting the ability to command serpents and control the sun.
Of course, "controlling serpents and the sun" wasn't to be taken literally. Simply put, it was life force. Furthermore, he could even steal the sun from his enemies — if they had such power.
But no power in this world is perfect. Not even gods are exempt from this; naturally, God-slayers aren't either.
The transformation required time. If it wasn't completed, the absorbed light would backfire, potentially leading to a tragic end.
Hachiman hadn't forgotten how he had killed Kuafu.
It wasn't the Set Beast that finished her off — it was the unconverted solar fire within her that burned her alive. The Set Beast merely interrupted the transformation and caused the power to explode from within.
Light is indeed the source of life, but once it reaches the intensity of solar fire, it becomes extremely destructive.
"Maybe, in battle, I could channel the more violent parts outside my body — that would be much safer…"
He tapped the table thoughtfully as he spoke.
He did have this idea, since he could use his moisture power as fuel to create a sun — a method he had already used in the battle against Kuafu.
If it was a sun, it could surely house the violent light that couldn't be converted internally in a short time.
Of course, it was just a theory.
"Hachiman-sama is referring to the 'sun', correct?" Tamamo-no-Mae nodded as well, though still in fox form, so she looked rather cute. "The sun, as a spirit of fire, is the source of all light. Hachiman-sama could indeed consume gentle light and store violent light like blazing fire within the sun. However, I think Hachiman-sama could also try something else. It won't increase your strength, but it will benefit you greatly."
"Oh? What is it?"
"To constantly store the sun and moon in both eyes, so that light merges with the body and communicates with truth — reaching the realm of eternal life and perpetual youth. Even as a King of Rakshasas, it should be possible."
"Eternal life and perpetual youth?"
"Yes. For humans, it means long life with keen senses. For a Rakshasa King, it means no signs of aging regardless of how long you live. The sorcery in the body remains full. Many Rakshasa Kings cannot achieve this because they can't draw in the power of light. No matter how strong they are, they show signs of aging after 300 years."
"Oh…"
Hachiman's eyes lit up. Indeed, in the anime, Voban was depicted as an old man.
Which meant God-slayers could still age — at least in appearance.
Nobody wants to become an old man, after all.
"Hm?" Tamamo-no-Mae suddenly let out a surprised noise.
She jumped to the window and sniffed the air outside repeatedly.
"I believe I've sensed another Rakshasa King's power. Mm… Yes, this is the scent! It's the same as Hachiman-sama's!"