Chapter: 110
Renji walked alongside Hiroto on the quiet road leading away from the guild headquarters. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows behind them, and the breeze carried the faint scent of sakura petals drifting from the trees lining the street.
Renji kept his hands in his pockets, glancing up at Hiroto.
"Thanks… for bringing me to your guild," he said quietly, almost awkwardly.
Hiroto smirked immediately.
"Ohhhhh? You just chose my guild because you wanted to be beside Arisa, didn't you?" He leaned in with a teasing grin, eyebrows wiggling.
Renji's face froze. His eyes widened.
"H-Huhhh?! What—no! I just chose it because you're my rival!"
Hiroto laughed loudly, clapping Renji on the back.
"Riiight, riiight. Sure. Well go home then. You have a date to prepare for tomorrow."
Renji sputtered, "I-I do NOT—! Hiroto!!"
But Hiroto was already walking ahead, waving an unserious goodbye.
Meanwhile, in the USA
The Raijin Guild headquarters buzzed with life.
Hunters in tactical gear moved between briefing rooms. Analysts typed rapidly at glowing blue holographic screens. Agents wearing ID badges hurried through corridors with stacks of reports and artifact boxes. The massive facility looked less like a guild and more like a military command center.
Deep inside, Marcus Steel—the USA Pillar and Guild Master of Raijin sat in his office, the room dimly lit by the evening sun streaming through the blinds. His presence alone felt heavy, authoritative. His broad shoulders relaxed only slightly as he skimmed through paperwork on his desk.
A sharp knock came at the door.
"Come in," Steel said, voice steady.
The door opened, and a young woman stepped inside. Lizzy Sherman, dressed in a fitted black office suit, held a tablet folder against her chest.
"Good morning, Guild Master Steel," she said politely. "These are the database and entry permits for each country. You have already been licensed to enter any country, sir, according to the International Guild Summit."
Steel nodded, accepting the documents.
"Thank you. You've done a great job, Lizzy."
She bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, sir."
"You may leave," Steel added.
Lizzy stepped out and closed the door behind her.
Silence returned.
Marcus Steel leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. His gaze drifted to the ceiling.
Uhh I remember when I fought that general back in Japan…
I felt a presence. It was weak—but it was growing.
Could it just have been the clash of mana? No… it was different. Something else entirely.
His brow furrowed.
What was that?
In any case… I need to speak to Takeda myself.
Back at Takeda's Place
Renji tightened the straps of his bag as he prepared to leave Takeda's home. Choji and Lily stood beside him, their belongings packed as well.
Takeda stood near the wide window, arms folded behind his back, the fading light reflecting off his calm expression.
"Thank you, Takeda-sama," Renji said, bowing deeply.
Choji and Lily bowed with him.
Takeda's eyes softened.
"So… you are really leaving?"
Renji lifted his head, tears forming unexpectedly.
"Yes… You've done a lot for me this past year. You became a mentor… a teacher… and a father figure. You gave us a home, and I can't ever be grateful enough."
His voice cracked slightly.
"Thank you, sensei."
Choji and Lily echoed, "Thank you, Takeda-sama."
Takeda smiled gently.
"Will you be okay, Renji?"
Renji wiped his face and nodded.
"Yes. I will. I've mastered a little control… And I'll always have you as my master."
Takeda's smile deepened.
"Thank you, Renji."
Choji and Lily stepped through the doorway, heading outside.
Renji was just about to follow when
"Renji!!" Takeda called.
Renji paused and looked back. "Yes?"
Takeda's eyes narrowed playfully.
"You think I didn't notice, huh? You're concealing your mana output. I know you're as strong as a Pillar now."
Renji's face drained of color.
"E-Ehh?! S-So you noticed…."
A voice echoed from the shadows.
"Of course," Dracan said, emerging slightly. "As expected of my master."
Takeda chuckled.
"Why don't you go for another re-evaluation? You'd be given the title of a Pillar immediately."
Renji scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.
"Ehhh… that's not what I want, Takeda-sama. I don't want attention on myself."
Dracan stepped forward, kneeling dramatically.
"Master Renji, your humbleness moves me. That is why....where you go, I go. Where you lead, I will follow."
Renji's face went pale.
"Ehhh?! Wait— I'm just going back to my home, you know!?"
Dracan raised his head.
"If it is your home… then it is mine as well."
Renji blinked, then laughed softly.
"…Alright. Let's go."
Dracan's body shrank, shifting into a small dragon about the size of a housecat. He fluttered up and perched on Renji's shoulder.
Renji stared at him. "Ehhh?! You're tiny!"
Dracan grinned with pride.
"Let us go, Master!"
And with that, Renji stepped out the door toward a new path, a new beginning.
The next morning arrived quietly.
Back in Renji's apartment, golden sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft lines across the wooden floor. Birds perched on the windowsill chirped cheerfully, their song blending with the gentle hum of the city outside.
Then
RING! RING!! RING!!!
Renji shot halfway up in bed, hair sticking in every direction.
"Ehhh… uhhh…" he groaned, blindly tapping the alarm clock with his hand. "Shut up…! I said… shut up…"
He slammed his palm down one last time—
CRACK!
The alarm broke in two.
Renji blinked. "Ehhh… it broke."
He dragged himself out of bed, rubbing his eyes.
"Damn it… I slept late yesterday…"
Yawning loudly, he grabbed his phone from the table and glanced at the screen.
Then his face froze.
"Ahhh shit.....I totally forgot about the date with Arisa!!"
Renji sprang to his feet like he had been electrocuted and sprinted toward the bathroom.
The shower ran. Steam filled the room.
Minutes later, he stepped out with droplets still clinging to his hair. He slipped into a fitted outfit a black long coat, a crisp white T-shirt, dark trousers, and clean sneakers.
He stared at himself in the mirror.
"Uhhh… today is the day…"
He stepped toward his room door.
Then..
GBIM!
GBIM!
A violent thump echoed inside his skull.
"Ahhhh—!" Renji clutched his head, teeth grinding. "What… is this?!"
He staggered, breath uneven.
Memories ones he had never lived—flooded into him like a broken dam.
Scenes, voices, a story Dracan had once told him… all replaying faintly, incomplete, missing pieces like a book with torn pages.
"What is going on…" Renji gasped. Sweat streamed down his face. His vision blurred.
He shut his eyes tightly
and when he opened them, the world was gone.
He stood in a familiar void.
A limitless darkness with no floor, no walls.
Only silence.
This was the place where he communicated with Januza.
Renji collapsed to his knees in the endless dark.
Gasping..
"What is this?! What are you doing to my head?!"
A throne formed from bone and shadow rose before him.
Sitting atop it was Januza, gazing down with glowing eyes, darkness swirling around him like a living storm.
Januza sighed in relief.
"Uh, thank goodness… finally. You are starting to remember who you are. I thought you never would."
Meanwhile, at Arisa's House
"AHHHHHHHHH!" Arisa screamed, dragging her fingers through her hair. "What am I going to wear?! Why is this so difficult?!"
Her room was a battlefield dresses thrown everywhere, accessories tossed aside, shoes scattered like fallen soldiers.
Knock Knock
"Come in!" Arisa shouted desperately.
The door creaked open.
A small voice came in first.
"Big sister… aren't you going on your date again?"
Arisa spun around to face her little sister, Sakura.
"I don't know what to wear, Sakura…" she said with a gloomy, almost dying expression.
Sakura smirked proudly.
"Honestly, big sister, you are useless without me."
"Shut up!" Arisa snapped. "Just help me! I want to look a little good!"
"Yes, yes," Sakura replied with a playful smile. "Leave it to me!"
After a short war with fabric, colors, and hair accessories, they finally found the perfect dress. Arisa changed into it.
It was beautiful slim-fitted, elegant, the kind of gown meant for a dance ball. Its texture shimmered softly under the bedroom light.
Sakura gasped dramatically.
"Ooooooi, big sister you look BEAUTIFUL!"
Arisa blushed, twirling slightly.
"You think so? You think he'll… love it?"
"If he doesn't love it," Sakura said confidently, "then he's a big idiot."
Arisa giggled softly.
Then Sakura added, "Ehh… big sister, where are you even doing your shopping?"
Arisa froze.
Her face went completely red.
Then she screamed:
"EHHHHH?! It's true we didn't talk about the place!!"
Sakura stared at her, deadpan.
"Huhhh?! Are you stupid, big sister? You didn't decide where you'll go, and you ALREADY picked a date?!"
Arisa rubbed the back of her head, grinning awkwardly.
Sakura sighed.
"Try calling him so you can pick a place."
Arisa's face turned pale.
"Ehhh… I don't have his number…"
"EHHHHH?!" Sakura screamed. "Honestly—you really ARE stupid, big sister!"
She crossed her arms.
"Okay, then go to his house!"
Arisa flinched. "Is that okay? Won't it be weird?"
"Naahh, it's fine, big sister. I'm sure he'll love to see you too."
Arisa smiled warmly.
"Then… yes! I'll go!"
Now Renji stared coldly up at the towering god.
"What do you mean… memories? Have you become bored and started pouring nonsense from your mouth?"
Januza's eyes narrowed.
"Do you think you are just a vessel?"
Renji's eyes shifted.
Januza leaned forward.
"Who do you think you are? You think you're just a normal vessel for a powerful god? Think, Renji. There's no time."
Renji clenched his fists.
"What do you mean 'there's no time'? I have no idea what you're talking about!"
GBIM!!
He screams Ahhh!!
Another sharp shock tore through his skull.
More memories—stronger ones—flooded in mercilessly.
"Ahhh—!! What is this?! Why am I seeing these things? Is it because I'm your vessel? These aren't my memories—they're yours!"
Januza stood up.
"No. They are ours."
Renji froze.
"You are me. You are not a vessel. You are JANUZA."
Renji's expression shattered.
"What?! Shut up!! Is this another one of your sick games? Are you stupid?! What nonsense are you spilling from your mouth?! If I'm Januza, then how are you here giving me power?! Remember our deal? You said if you help me, I would fade and you would continue to exist!"
His voice grew louder, angrier.
"Don't tell me trash because you're lonely! If I am Januza, why do I borrow power?!"
Januza grit his teeth and roared
"BECAUSE YOU CREATED ME!!!"
Renji felt his entire body tremble.
"W..What… are you talking about…? Me? Created you?!"
He laughed incredulously.
"you....You've completely gone nuts. Created you?? Me? I am NOT some god of destruction! I didn't give mana to this world! YOU supply me with mana—remember?! This power I'm using—it's YOUR power!"
Januza slowly shook his head.
"No. It's not my power."
His voice deepened.
"It has always been yours."
Januza stepped forward, shadows swirling.
"I told you, didn't I? You are me and I am you. From the very beginning."
The void trembled as Renji stared, unable to breathe.