Chapter 6
While we were having fun, I felt the presence of someone I knew well. I turned my gaze, frowning, at Shiroyasha.
"Tell me. Why did you invite Leticia?"
That was my question. She only shrugged her shoulders as she continued her turn.
"Because I think it's time for the two of you to have a conversation. It's been hundreds of years since you last spoke, hasn't it?"
"Hmph. Even if you're right about that, you shouldn't meddle in someone else's relationship."
The door opened, allowing the entrance of a beautiful girl with long golden hair that curled at the ends, and red eyes. Her small, childlike body was adorned with an elegant black dress with white details, complemented by a ribbon tied into a large black bow that stood out in her hair.
"I'd like you to stop using the appearance of a ten-year-old girl."
I let out a sigh of resignation.
"I'm surprised to hear you say that, Senji," Shiroyasha commented. "You used to do the same thing as Leticia. You always entered [Buddhism] by changing your appearance to that of a child."
"I did it to weaken myself, not because I wanted to be a child."
My brows furrowed at the conversation I was having with Shiroyasha.
The topic she mentioned about [Buddhism] refers to a state in which you obtain [divinity], but at the cost of losing a large portion of your powers.
For that reason, your appearance changes to that of a child.
"..."
Leticia, who had approached the table, said nothing. She only watched the game with an expressionless face.
"How strange. I thought she'd be more... how should I say it?... less apathetic."
"I am," Leticia finally replied, but now showing a more expressive face. Smiling with tenderness and affection, with a light in her eyes as if she had been waiting for this encounter deep in her heart. "It's been a while, Senji."
"... You got me. I didn't expect you to show that face to me."
A sudden tingling ran down my spine.
"Haha. As always, you don't feel comfortable receiving that kind of affection."
"It's not that I like it," I replied to Shiroyasha. "It's better this way, that I don't receive such affection. After all, I don't deserve it. We've lived for millennia and, in my case, I lived as a villain, killing and destroying. Someone who lived like that... doesn't deserve the love or affection of someone as precious as Leticia Draculea, a unique, shining jewel I came to know by chance and who, to my misfortune, ended up falling in love with the worst person ever born in Little Garden."
A soft sigh broke the silence.
"You've always been like this, Senji," Leticia's voice, firm yet warm, filled the air. "So quick to judge and condemn yourself."
Her eyes, shining as if they captured the stars themselves, looked at him with a mixture of sadness and determination.
"But you never asked what I think," she continued, stepping closer to him. Her smile never faded, as if holding onto an unshakable truth. "No matter how much you insist that you don't deserve it. Love isn't something you can reject so easily, especially not when I already gave mine away, long ago, to someone like you."
A spark of surprise crossed Senji's face, followed by an expression difficult to read. It was as if something within him began to crack—the armor of guilt and rejection he had built over centuries.
"Leticia..." he whispered, averting his gaze, as if his eyes weren't worthy of meeting hers.
She didn't stop, coming closer with light but determined steps. Each of her words seemed to carve deeper cracks into the walls he had raised.
"Do you know what it means to me?" she asked softly, tilting her head slightly to seek his gaze. "That you're still here, even after everything. That you keep fighting, even when you believe you deserve nothing. For me, that's enough."
Senji clenched his fists, unable to find an immediate answer. Leticia's words sank into his mind, echoing something he had buried long ago: a tiny spark of redemption, of hope.
Finally, he sighed and lifted his eyes, meeting Leticia's gaze. In them, he saw something that completely disarmed him: the truth of her affection, so pure and resolute, that he couldn't deny it.
"If that's the case..." he murmured, his voice mixing exhaustion with acceptance. "Then I can't escape it, can I?"
Leticia's smile widened, radiating a warmth that seemed capable of healing even the deepest wounds.
"No, you can't," she replied tenderly. "But you don't have to either."
Senji let out a small laugh, more of a sigh than humor, as he lowered his head, defeated but... at peace.
"Wonderful and incredible," he murmured, raising his eyes again to Leticia. "That's what you are, Leticia Draculea. A jewel that not only shines but also challenges everything I thought I knew."
Leticia observed him in silence, her smile remaining, though a slight blush colored her cheeks. It was rare, almost unheard of, to hear Senji compliment someone in that way.
Before she could respond, Senji straightened, raising an eyebrow with a subtle gesture of defiance that only he could make look natural.
"But I'm not going to let you surpass me that easily," he said, pointing at the billiard table. "I still have a match to finish, and if you're so determined to stay by my side, you'd better show me if you can keep up."
Leticia let out a soft laugh at his clumsy yet unique way of inviting her to play.
"Are you sure you want to lose in front of me?" she replied with a playful touch in her voice.
At that moment, Shiroyasha, who had remained silent until then, stepped forward holding the cue stick.
"Oh, how inconvenient," she said with a mischievous smile, handing the stick to Senji. "It seems I suddenly have something urgent to take care of. You two have fun."
Senji and Leticia exchanged glances, both perfectly aware of Shiroyasha's clear intention.
"How considerate of you," Senji remarked dryly, turning toward the billiard table. Then he looked at Leticia, offering her the cue stick with a gesture of invitation. "Well, what do you say?"
Leticia took the cue stick gracefully, her small smile reflecting the joy she kept within.
"I say it'll be interesting to see if the great [Demon Lord] is as skilled at billiards as he is with his compliments."
Both of them positioned themselves by the table, as the sound of the balls being set echoed through the room, marking the beginning of something more than just a match: a step toward their reconciliation.
[•••]
Japan
"How long will it take Senji to come back?"
That was Masachika's question.
"He said it would take a while," Julie replied. "Since he had a reunion with someone from the past."
"From the past?" Masachika was confused. "How far back are we talking? The only person I remember from my childhood being with Senji was... Ai Hoshino."
"I'm surprised too, you know! Since when did Senji even know anyone besides me?!"
A hysterical Ai Hoshino made her presence known in the classroom.
"Leaving her aside. You also mentioned new people were going to be admitted today."
Masachika and Julie ignored Ai.
"Yes. Kurumi Tokisaki, Sawa Yamauchi, Akame Tokisaki, and Kurome Tokisaki. These new people are acquaintances of Senji. But... Akame and Kurome work for the Muramasa Clan. I was surprised to hear they even have a surname."
"Huh? Why wouldn't they have one?" Masachika was confused.
"It was three years ago when Akame and Kurome were taken in by Senji. That's all I know. And at the time, they didn't have surnames."
"So... they only just got surnames. It's not a bad thing on Senji's part not to have given them one."
"... Yes... but no one pointed it out to Senji..."
Masachika's eyebrows rose as he looked at Julie's impassive face.
"... It's my fault..."
"No, it's not your fault," he quickly replied, firmly. "Senji's the one with a screw loose."
Julie wanted to defend him, but there was no way to lie to herself about that truth.
Masachika sighed.
"Well... then, do you know how long it might take Senji to come back?"
Julie shook her head.
"He only said it was something important... and nothing more. He didn't want to tell me the truth about his trip."
"Alright, alright. All we can do is wait for him to return. And this close to Christmas too. I wonder what he'll do this time."
"Hm..." Julie tilted her head. "Last year we went to Canada. And that was while Senji was serving his sentence in Juvenile Detention."
"Wha?! The hell?! That's the first I've heard of that!"
"I think besides Canada, they also went... to Greece."
That was Ai's answer, who had been listening silently to Masachika and Julie's conversation.
"How do you know that?"
Julie showed a surprised expression.
"I remember telling you I investigated Senji, didn't I?"
"Impossible... there's no way that trip could have been leaked so easily."
Julie was skeptical about Ai's claim.
"Let's just say I've got a pretty good information network."
Julie's eyebrows twitched at Ai's words.
She's dangerous... in her own way.
"Seems someone's good at getting information. In that case, why don't you find out what Senji's doing right now in Italy?"
What Masachika said sparked something inside Ai, who took it as a challenge.
"Fine! I'll find out what Senji's doing in Italy! Muahaha!"
Grabbing her smartphone, she stormed out of the classroom, leaving behind a very confused Masachika and Julie, who watched her noisy exit.
"Looks like you just woke up something dangerous inside her," Julie remarked, glancing at Masachika.
"Cough, cough. It's fine. At least she'll be distracted for a while... as long as she doesn't figure out Senji's movements in Italy too quickly."
"Don't jinx it," Julie's gentle, soft voice showed a hint of fear.
"Sorry."
Julie began standing up from her seat. —I'll head back to my classroom. It's almost time for class to start. And also for the arrival of two new students.
"So Class 1-C will be getting the new students we talked about," Masachika added.
"Yes, but I don't know who they are. So it'll be a surprise to discover the new students entering our classroom, 1-C."
"I'll be waiting to hear about them from you," Masachika said, giving a thumbs up.
"See you later," Julie said, waving her hand in farewell.
[•••]
"This is fun."
Kurumi, with a dazzling and happy face, walked through the halls of Seiren Private Academy, heading toward the classroom she'd been assigned.
Since she had arrived, she had wandered all around the school grounds of this high school, taking some interest.
After a while, she returned to her assigned classroom, 1-D. Beside her was Kurome Tokisaki, wearing a bored look as she ate taiyaki.
"Alright, Imouto. I hope this school life will be to your liking."
"Sure," Kurome replied, still eating another taiyaki, not paying any mind to Kurumi's words.
"Ara, ara. I've got a spoiled little Imouto who needs a bit of punishment."
"I'm happy to live a school life," Kurome straightened her posture, putting aside what she was eating.
She didn't have a reason for sitting up straight, but she didn't want to find out what kind of punishment she'd receive from the new person she now had to protect.
"You may come in."
The teacher's voice reached the ears of the two girls waiting on the other side of the door.
Kurumi and Kurome walked in slowly, reaching the blackboard where they picked up the white chalk and wrote their names: Kurumi Tokisaki and Kurome Tokisaki.
"Nice to meet you. I hope I won't be a bother as the school year draws to a close. I'll be delighted to make new friends."
"Likewise," Kurome's introduction was drier. She let Kurumi shine through her presence, and her beauty captivated the students, both male and female alike.
"What a beautiful girl."
"Does she have a boyfriend?"
These were some of the whispers that were most audible. Kurumi found amusement in what she overheard.
In classroom 1-C, the same presentation was happening.
Akame didn't say much about herself, letting Sawa take the lead. Distractedly eating candy, she didn't even get a complaint from the teacher.
"Alright, alright. You may take any seat you like. And also, you should know you can't eat in class."
Akame immediately realized that was directed at her and stopped eating the candy she had brought.
Sawa and Akame took seats in the back rows on the right that were unoccupied, sitting side by side.
"Let's begin Science class."
[•••]
Italy
The billiards game was evenly matched.
"By the way. There's something that intrigues me."
"Hm..." Senji gestured for her to continue.
"Shiroyasha... gave me information that you ended up having more daughters. I thought my case was special and unique, being the only one to have a daughter with you, Senji."
"Oh... so that's what you're talking about. You're right, it was something unique and special when we had a daughter hundreds of years ago... How old is Alicia now?"
"..." Leticia rolled her eyes at Senji. "436 years old. I'd forgotten how absentminded you are with time. Do you even remember your exact age?"
"Let's see..." Senji began to calculate his age. "We passed 1,000 years... 100 years I didn't do anything... that was also when Alicia was born... then after 100 years I started with my craziness, having fun messing around with Shiroyasha, also bothering Scathach and a few others... when I was around 1,300 I was "sealed" for two hundred years... so I'm over 1,500 now... How old are you, Leticia?"
"1,544. We're almost the same age."
"Seriously?" Senji's mouth fell open in surprise. "Hm... I even forgot my birthday. It could've been March 15... August 24... I don't even remember anymore."
"I think birthdays are irrelevant for immortals. I don't remember mine either. So I decided to make my birthday January 1."
Senji nodded. "That's the best decision. No point in fighting over an exact date of birth when you don't even remember."
They chatted calmly as they played at the same time.
"What do you plan to do in this new life, Senji?"
Lining up his shot, Senji quickly thought of his answer.
"Nothing."
The ball sank cleanly into the pocket.
"If you don't mind my asking. I'd like to know, sincerely, from the heart, about the lifestyle you had as a [Demon Lord]. Putting aside regrets and everything you've carried inside. How would you describe the life you lived? Fun, mediocre, or... ruin?"
Senji dug into his memories while thinking of a simple answer. The lifestyle he had led might be repulsive to many, but in the end, it was a decision he had made. He didn't much care about others' opinions of him, or the complaints from the many important people he had met along the way before becoming a Demon Lord.
"Hm. It was very fun. Setting aside some traumas I had at the beginning of my journey in Little Garden. I also lost many friendships when I became a villain. I don't think anyone likes it when one of their friends turns into a criminal."
"It would be strange if they did."
It seemed they shared the same thought. And the match ended with Leticia's victory.
"I'd like to know something," Leticia sensed a trace of seriousness in Senji's voice. She gestured for him to go on. "Is something important going to happen in Little Garden?"
With an expressionless face, Leticia replied with the truth.
"It's already been a thousand years. So next year begins the war for the [Solar Authorities]. And several communities, deities, and heroes are preparing to participate... but there are two new rules in this war."
"That's the first I've heard of it."
"No killing is allowed, and only those under twenty years old may participate."
Senji raised an eyebrow. "There are ways for deities to reduce their ages to enter this war easily."
"Unfortunately, that will happen. There are rumors that Odin may be participating in this war, or someone might take part in his name."
"Oh... it would be interesting to fight Odin, but I'm not interested in doing so right now."
"You won't participate?"
Senji shook his head.
"Even though it would be fun to fight deities and heroes, right now I don't want to be part of that troublesome life."
"Alright, I understand if that's what you want."
Leticia placed the cue stick back in its place, then glanced at Senji out of the corner of her eye.
"Do you plan to do anything else?"
"I was thinking of traveling to the Vatican. After all, it has a way to reach Little Garden."
"Hm. Someone will be participating in the Pope's name in the war."
"I think it'll be the first time humans from the outside take part in an important Little Garden event."
Leticia shrugged. "Times change."
"Do you have more information on the participants?" Senji asked, after hearing Leticia's casual remarks about the war for the Solar Authorities.
"Just enough to know what I have to do."
"Huh? So you're going to participate," Senji remarked, surprised at Leticia's involvement.
"Since killing is prohibited, this time I will. The war a thousand years ago caused the deaths of half a million participants. That's why they added that rule."
"It was a massacre that day. But I obtained the [Solar Authority Leo]. Giving me a great advantage for the future."
"For the victims it was absolute terror," a small bead of sweat appeared on Leticia's cheek.
"Leaving that aside. Would you like to go for a walk through the streets of Italy?"
"Hm... alright, I don't have anything else to do right now."
They left the private room reserved by Shiroyasha.