Chapter 8
Senji and Leticia emerged from the portal, and the first thing that caught their attention was the immense tree dominating the horizon. Its imposing silhouette seemed to connect with the very sky, emanating a vibrant energy that permeated the air.
"Tree of Life..." murmured Senji, a nostalgic smile on his face as he gazed at the majestic tree.
Leticia glanced at him sideways, noticing the expression on his face.
"Has it been that long since you last saw it?"
Senji nodded calmly.
"I've destroyed other Trees of Life in different mythologies," he said without much concern. "But this one is different. It doesn't belong to any myth, it's the Tree of Life of Little Garden… and that's why it still stands."
Leticia remained silent for a moment, understanding that Senji wasn't speaking lightly. Then, with nothing more to add, they continued walking toward the town, paying no further attention to the tree.
As they approached, the bustle of villagers and the aroma of freshly prepared food filled the air.
"Now that I think about it... I'm hungry," said Senji, placing a hand on his stomach.
Leticia let out a small laugh.
"You never change, do you? Let's find something to eat before doing anything else."
Senji walked calmly through the crowd, drawing no attention to himself. The villagers went on with their daily activities, unaware of the presence of the one who had once been known as the Demon Lord, Oni King Sengo.
No one suspected that the figure moving unnoticed among them was the very same one believed to be dead. To everyone, the Oni King no longer existed—his story was nothing more than an echo of the past.
Leticia watched Senji from the corner of her eye, noting his relaxed expression.
"Seems like no one recognizes you," she murmured with some amusement.
"That's for the best," Senji replied with a faint smile. "I'd rather things stay that way for now."
As they walked, the aroma of fresh food grew stronger, drawing Senji's attention.
"Let's eat," he said with determination.
Leticia sighed, but nodded.
Senji calmly cut a piece of meat, bringing it to his mouth while his gaze scanned the surroundings. The aromas of European food surrounded him, but what truly caught his attention was the atmosphere of the town.
The streets were filled with laughter and lively conversations. Families strolled without worries, merchants sold their products enthusiastically, and children played without fear.
It was a sharp contrast to the past. The shadow of "Absolute Evil" no longer existed, and with its disappearance, the fear that had once ruled these lands had also faded.
Leticia, noticing his reflective look, spoke naturally:
"It's different, isn't it?"
Senji set his utensil down on the plate and nodded slightly.
"Yes... it's changed quite a bit."
There was peace. And although he didn't put it into words, a part of him acknowledged that this change wasn't necessarily bad.
As they walked along the cobbled streets of the town, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, a ball shot toward Senji. Without flinching, he caught it with one hand before it could even reach his face.
In front of him, a group of children stared wide-eyed, clearly nervous.
"Sir, we're sorry!" they exclaimed in unison, bowing their heads in apology.
Senji observed the scene with amusement, then looked at the ball in his hand. The innocence of the children brought a smile to his face, and without further thought, he tossed the ball back lightly.
"It's nothing important," he said calmly. "But you should be more careful when kicking the ball."
The children nodded exaggeratedly, as if their lives depended on it. Their overreaction made Senji let out a small laugh.
Leticia, at his side, watched the scene with slight surprise before smiling softly.
"I didn't expect to see you interact with children like that," she commented as they resumed walking.
"They just remind me of someone," Senji replied without elaborating.
Senji and Leticia continued strolling through the town, observing the various market stalls and small shops lining the streets. The bustle was lively, with vendors offering handmade goods, fresh fruit, and all sorts of utensils.
Senji, hands in his pockets, looked around with interest. Though much time had passed since he was last there, he could notice how much the town had changed in his absence.
"It feels livelier," Leticia commented, stopping in front of a stall selling traditional sweets.
"Yes. Before, there was only tension and fear," Senji responded, watching merchants smiling and customers negotiating calmly. "It's a good change."
Leticia picked up a small sweet wrapped in paper and examined it with curiosity.
"Do you want to try one?"
Senji looked at her with a faint smile.
"Are you suggesting I should indulge myself?"
"I'm saying you should try something different," she replied, holding the sweet out to him.
Senji took it without much argument. As he tasted it, the flavor briefly reminded him of a distant moment from his former life.
[•••]
From the lookout, Senji and Leticia observed the immense lake surrounding the Tree of Life. The water's surface reflected the sky with a crystalline shine, and the breeze carried the murmur of conversations from the gathered spectators.
In the water, a group of hippocampi—mythical creatures with horse bodies and fish tails—lined up with their riders, ready to race across the vast lake to a finish line kilometers away.
Senji listened to the crowd's excitement, commenting on the riders and placing bets. Some trusted the experience of veteran competitors, while others supported the more agile riders.
His gaze settled on a short rider. At first glance, the rider seemed far too young to be competing against older, more experienced opponents.
"Interesting..." he murmured with a slight smile.
Without thinking too much, he decided to bet on that rider, intrigued by the chance of seeing an upset in the race.
"Are you sure?" Leticia asked, noticing his choice.
"Yes. It'll be fun to see how this plays out."
The sound of a horn echoed, signaling that the race was about to begin.
The race started with a roar as the riders urged their hippocampi forward at full speed. From the lookout, Senji and Leticia followed the competition closely.
"Your rider is in last place," Leticia commented with a smile, keeping her eyes on the race.
"The race isn't over," Senji replied calmly, resting his elbows on the railing with interest.
On the lakeshore, the young rider felt the tension in the air. She gripped the reins of her hippocampus tightly—her best friend and her late father's racing partner.
"You know we can win this," she whispered, leaning forward.
The hippocampus neighed with excitement, thrashing its tail powerfully in the water. Its muscles tensed, and in an instant, the two surged from last place to begin overtaking other competitors with incredible speed.
Spectators in the stands began to murmur in astonishment at the unexpected comeback.
"Well, looks like your rider has awakened," Leticia remarked.
Senji smirked, watching as the teenager and her companion carved their way through the competition.
Water splashed violently as the hippocampus accelerated, propelling itself with powerful strokes and whipping its tail vigorously. The teenager pulled on the reins, adrenaline coursing through her veins.
"We've passed two... and with this one, three!" she exclaimed with excitement, her eyes fixed on the five competitors still ahead.
The hippocampus neighed with fervor, its competitive fire igniting. It felt the confidence of its rider and responded with even greater speed, as if each word of encouragement pushed it beyond its limits.
"We're going to do it, keep it up, partner!" she cheered with a radiant smile.
Competitors began to notice their advance, some trying to block her way, but she was prepared.
One rider, noticing her rapid approach, frowned and jerked the reins sharply, steering his hippocampus to block her path.
"Not so fast, girl," he muttered with a crooked smile, shoving his mount toward hers in an attempt to throw her off balance and out of the race.
But the young rider wasn't inexperienced. She had trained her whole life with her father, who had taught her not only how to ride but also how to face such dirty tricks.
"So you want to play dirty, huh?" she whispered with a confident smile.
When the other hippocampus rammed into them, hers held firm, its muscles taut as steel. The impact echoed across the water, but they didn't budge an inch.
"Nice try," the teenager said, pulling the reins at the perfect moment to dodge another blocking attempt. In a fluid motion, she used the momentum to circle around the rival and overtake with ease.
The other rider watched in disbelief as she pulled ahead.
"Come on, partner, just two more to go," she whispered, feeling excitement blaze in her chest.
Her hippocampus responded with a loud neigh, pushing even faster.
The roar of the water intensified as the teenager closed in on the second-place rider. This time, there were no dirty tricks, only pure competition of speed and skill.
The rider beside her noticed her presence and gave her a challenging smile.
"So, you managed to get this far," he said firmly, leaning forward to cut wind resistance.
The teenager responded in kind, leaning over her hippocampus and stroking its neck with confidence.
"I don't plan on falling behind now."
Both riders signaled their hippocampi at the same time, and in an instant, the true race began.
The two animals propelled themselves with all their might, slicing through the water with ferocious speed. The sound of bets and the crowd's cheers faded into the background. Now only they existed—the finish line and the thrill of the competition.
Their hippocampi swam in perfect sync, their massive strength raising waves with each stroke. Every second counted, every breath made a difference.
The teenager felt adrenaline surge through her body. She knew her partner had what it took to overcome this challenge.
"Just a little more, partner! You can do it!" she shouted, her voice full of emotion.
The hippocampus let out a powerful neigh, answering its rider with one final burst of speed.
The crowd's roar peaked as both riders overtook the race leader. Now it was only the two of them, competing on equal terms, pushing their hippocampi to the limit.
The teenager felt her best friend's strength responding to each word of encouragement, moving forward with determination and confidence.
The final meters became a battle of pure endurance. Water splashed all around, tension hung thick in the air, and the crowd held its breath as the two competitors neared the finish line.
And then, at the very last instant, her hippocampus stretched its neck forward and crossed the line by the slimmest of margins.
The eruption of cheers was immediate. The young rider had won.
Senji, a smirk of amusement on his face, watched the outcome with satisfaction.
"Looks like I bet well."
Leticia, at his side, crossed her arms and smiled with interest.
"I didn't expect it to end like that, but it was a great spectacle."
The official announcement confirmed the teenage girl's victory in the hippocampus race.
Outer Gate Number: 2105380
Senji and Leticia walked calmly along the path leading to the No Name community. From the distance, they could see how much the place had changed. The structures were better built, the fields greener, and the people busy with their daily tasks.
"It's been a long time since I was last here," Senji commented, his sharp eyes observing every detail of the growing community.
"Yes, No Name has changed a lot. They've worked hard to recover," Leticia replied with a faint smile.
As they approached the main entrance, some children at the gate tensed for a moment, but upon recognizing Leticia, they immediately relaxed.
"Lady Leticia!" one of them exclaimed, bowing his head in respect.
"It's good to see you," she replied naturally before passing through without trouble.
Senji, on the other hand, received a few curious looks. Although few recognized him right away, his presence carried a certain weight of fear.
Suddenly, before they could take another step inside the community, a loud sound of something cutting through the wind caught their attention.
"Senji!" Izayoi's voice rang out sharply before a swift fist shot directly toward Senji's face.
Unfazed, Senji raised a hand and caught the blow with ease, though his arm moved slightly back from the impact.
Izayoi showed a wide grin.
"Hah, seems you still have good reflexes."
Senji looked at his arm, then back at Izayoi with amusement.
"Well, you've improved. It's been a while since the last time we fought, hasn't it?"
Kasukabe Yo, watching the scene with arms crossed, spoke calmly.
"Almost three years, to be exact."
Leticia sighed with a faint smile.
"Some things never change."
Izayoi clicked his tongue, excited.
"Well, since we're here, how about we settle this with a fight?"
Senji raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Again? Are you really that eager to lose?"
Izayoi crossed his arms with a confident expression, a grin full of excitement spreading across his face.
"This time I'll be able to fight you without anyone interfering," he declared with certainty. "My female version won't be able to butt in this time."
Senji let out a mocking laugh at that statement.
"Still bitter about what happened back then?" he said with a defiant smile. "Come on, Izayoi. It's not my fault you didn't stand a chance to actually hurt me."
Izayoi clicked his tongue again, but kept grinning.
"It's not that I couldn't, it's that my female version, Izayoi Saigou, ended up stealing the fight from me."
Senji tilted his head slightly, pretending to consider it.
"Hmmm... Not that it really matters. If she hadn't stepped in, the outcome of that fight would have been your death."
Senji's words weren't just provocation, but a clear, direct statement. Izayoi, far from being upset, only smiled even more eagerly.
"So, what do you say? How about we have our rematch once and for all?"
Leticia, watching the interaction between them, sighed and put a hand to her forehead.
"You haven't changed at all..."
Kasukabe Yo, beside her, nodded calmly.
"They always end up like this when they see each other."
Senji looked at Izayoi with amusement.
"I won't turn down a good fight... but tell me, Izayoi, are you ready to see the difference between who you were years ago and who I am now?"
Izayoi stretched his arms with a confident laugh.
"The real question is whether you're ready to see how much I've grown."
The atmosphere grew tense as the two locked eyes, ready to prove who had become stronger over the years.