S-Ranker, Amaterasu

The Magic Guild Association (MGA) is the primary governing body of all licensed mages and guilds.

Their code of law is justice. They plan and supervise all matters related to warp gates and guild raids.

The higher-ups are planning for a brand-new raid: 'Project Annihilation', a nationwide raid initiative to enter the Demon Realm for the first time.

Mages never entered the Demon Realm before, as the warp gates are unstable and might close anytime; leaving no way for a return back home.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures, you know the proverb, right? Let's take a step forward! We can't be sitting on our hands while the world races forward!" said one of the elite, old men who sat around the round table along with his colleagues.

"He's right. We have to prove Japan's worth. If we make a break through here, we would have the upper-hand."

On the Global chart of the Strongest S-rank mages, Japan currently sits in the 4th place with Amaterasu.

Above them are:

Muruga from India (3rd, Ranged Lancer)

Zhelong from China (2nd, A Pair of Assassins who use fire magic), and

Buster Max from the USA (1st, Identity and Magic usage unknown).

The MGA ambition is to produce the No. 1 strongest S-rank mage in the world.

Amaterasu partially listens to this monologue of his higher-ups, before leaving mid-meeting when he saw a notification on his phone.

Back to Akira's home.

I slept well that night and woke up for an early departure to Kyoto.

"Study hard and take care of mom and dad, Hikaru. I'm assigning you to protect everyone when I'm not here, Do you understand?"

"Yes, captain!" replied Hikaru with a smile, I patted his head.

"Stay safe, Mom. Do exercises to keep yourself active when you have time." I said to my mother and hugged her.

"Alright. you take care of yourself too, Akio. Eat and study well, you don't need to work part time anymore." Akio's mother, Terumi Tsukishiro replied.

Despite my refusal to take money, my father, Akio gave me pocket money, along with my magic school fees, which I had planned to pay by working part time.

I accepted it, with a hug to my father, and left for the door. I have to catch a train soon.

"Akira." My father called me back, just when I touched the door.

"What's the matter, dad?"

"Do you have something you would want to say?"

For a brief moment, I didn't know what he wanted me to say.

"Yeah... Lately, I've become stronger like you. I was able to think about others more. I'm done living in the past version of myself."

My father, Akio turned his back and replied: "In that case, do what you must to live in the moment. Don't be afraid. Your family has got your back."

"Thank you, dad!"

After arriving in Kyoto, I rented an apartment with the money I received from my father.

It's a small room, but it'll suffice for now.

I did my usual training, and finally went to my magic school, the Kyoto Academy of Magic, A grand and prestigious school for mages in all of Japan.

As I stood near the entrance, Virgilia’s voice echoed in my mind.

"Not so fast, Hero. Hide your pendant. People here are far more skilled at detecting demonic mana than the outside world. It would be like dropping a honey jar in an ant pit."

"Oh! You're right..."

I ran back to my apartment.

When I got close, I was met with a mysterious figure outside my door.

'Huh...?'

Amaterasu, the Strongest S-rank mage of Japan, is standing in front of my doorstep.

'Hero, The man before you is exceptionally dangerous. I sense a literal wall of mana covering his own heartbeat!!' Virgilia's voice warned me.

Amaterasu is fundamentally different from any other mage.

I do know about his strength, because in my past life, the only thing that kept appearing regularly on the news is the guild raids led by Amaterasu.

His appearance is nothing short of striking—wearing a slim white scarf concealing his eyes, which complements his bright red middle-parted hair; with a sharp black suit, and gold rings on every finger.

If I fight him, I will meet a gruesome death.

"Have you met me before?" Amaterasu breaks the silence.

"Uh... No, I don't. I have heard about you on TV though. Can I have an autograph?"

Any talk of the 'Guild accident' would only heighten his suspicion.

But, I also cannot lie. I'll have to tread carefully here.

"I don't sign autographs."

I sighed.

"Not a charmer, huh... You shouldn't be this cold-hearted to fans, you hurt their feelings."

"I know who you are. That clock pendant managed to miss my initial radar, but I know for sure that is the source of your power."

Amaterasu had shrugged off all my effort to break the ice between us, by burning up the ice itself to nothingness.

I can't make any attempt to be friendly now.

"..."

Silence is my forte. If I die, I die here.

"But... I'll not kill you or hand you over to the MGA."

As It goes without saying, Amaterasu operates by his own personal code of law.

"I will be the one to kill you, when all is said and done." said Amaterasu who walked away into the street. “Until then, Demon hero... I’ll be waiting.”

In an instant, Amaterasu disappeared.

I got outside and to see the earth is scorched where Amaterasu once stood.

'What a terrifying power... I dodged a bullet here...'

"Jester who risked his life to make his King laugh; he would get his head chopped if his Majesty wasn't feeling well. Hahaha.." Virgilia mocked me with her usual cheesey poetry.

I sighed.

'When time comes, I'll outrank you. Wait until then, Amaterasu.'

I got inside my apartment and took out my smartwatch.

I removed the straps, and converted the pendant into a watch by coiling the chain into the straps, holding the clock, as a wristwatch.

An over-sized, fancy wristwatch. It doesn't suit my looks but, oh well.

‘Conceal’

I cast a basic mana concealing skill on this new watch to suppress the demonic mana.

It will be nullified if someone touches it, so I'll have to be careful.

After this quick fix, I rushed back to the Kyoto Academy of Magic, but arrived ten minutes late.

As punishment, the Instructor, Lee sensei refuses to let me enter the classroom.

"Stand outside."

I can hear all my classmates laughing. Well, that's expected.

'Uh...' I stood near the empty ground, looking at the sun. It felt like afternoon.

"What should I get for lunch... I can't buy anything expensive though." I muttered to myself, feeling hungry.

At that moment, all my classmates had come down to the ground.

This is the final year for my class. So, there'll be plenty of hands-on training.

I was allowed to join the class too, with a warning from Lee Sensei.

"You are allowed to engage in 1v1 battles with any opponent of your liking, Pick your opponents."

Naturally, everyone tried to pick me, an 'easy target' in their view.

"Back off, everyone. Akira?" Lee Sensei intervened.

"Sensei..?" I replied.

"You will fight me, instead."

"Why..?" 

"If I let them get you, you will never learn. You'll always act like you're weak to take the easy way out. That's why."

My low-profile facade had been shattered.

"..."

"I know you can fight, so fight with all you got!”