Ray of Hope

HIKENSHA!

“What do you mean by that?” Yuki couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Absorbing the fact that Yami was naturally born a Hikensha was already overwhelming, and now his own father needed another Hikensha to save his friend.

“Yes, it’s true that we need another Hikensha, but that’s a different matter. For now, we need to focus on regaining some people’s memories. That way, we can get enough help to save Yami,” Yato explained.

Akari was listening silently and carefully. She was trying to understand the situation rather than panicking unnecessarily. Asking Yato—Yuki’s father—about how they could find another Hikensha was meaningless. Right now, the situation demanded that she help Yato regain the memories of Yami. That was the only way to answer the questions in her mind.

“Father, how will you regain these people’s memories?”

This was a genuine concern for Yuki. Knowing his father well, he knew Yato would go to any extent to save someone’s life.

“I am going to use Ikiryō,” his father said with a serious face.

Akari stayed silent because she didn’t know what Ikiryō meant—an unfamiliar term to her.

Yuki stayed silent as well, but for the opposite reason: he did know.

“What do you mean by using Ikiryō? Father, you know that’s dangerous!” he nearly screamed, his voice full of anger and worry.

“That’s exactly why I need your help.” His father was extremely calm, as if fully aware that what he was about to do was no joke.

“Why are you worried this much, Yuki? Tell me—what is Ikiryō?” Akari asked, her voice gentle.

“Ikiryo is our family’s special magic ability. The one who uses it is… almost dead. Their soul leaves the body and gains the power to control the mind of whoever they choose. But their magic must be strong enough to handle the task of controlling min—”

He paused, as if pieces were suddenly connecting.

He looked at his father.

“Perhaps the hooded man—”

“We can’t talk based on conjectures, but it’s possible,” his father interrupted.

“As far as we know, the hooded man doesn’t want anyone to know about Yami. So if he discovers that we—the Kageyama clan—can remember him and are trying to restore everyone’s memories, he will definitely attack us.” Yato turned his back toward the statue, now facing both of them.

“I need both of you to guard my body in the meantime.”

———

Mizuki, the head of the Kurokami clan, was meeting with Hikari, the head of the Shirokami clan.

“Lady Hikari, if I may, we also need your help in a certain matter,” Mizuki said. For some reason, she looked sad, as if something was missing.

“Yes, what is it, Lady Mizuki?” Hikari asked immediately.

Mizuki was at a loss for words. She couldn’t remember what help she needed—not just as the head of a clan, but also as a mother.

Mother?

What is she thinking?

She didn’t have any children, so why did she feel something like a mother’s emotions?

“That’s a different matter. First, let’s try to find your daughter,” Hikari said, glancing at her most trusted man—Akiko. He was tall, strong, and possessed great magical power, third in line after Mizuki and her husband.

“Yes, ma’am. I will definitely find her,” Akiko said, looking not at Mizuki, but at Hikari.

———

“What is this resistance I’m feeling…? Someone is trying to break my magic. Who has this much power?”

The hooded man felt a sudden pushback against his memory-erasure magic. He couldn’t believe anyone was capable of interfering.

He immediately began searching for the source.

“Found you. You will have to pay for this.”