Chapter 32: A Slap of Reality

I didn't understand why Rena was blocking me. This was my business. Besides, who told her? Why is she here? Was this a coincidence? Deus ex machina?

The clashing of metals and sparks that never stopped became a language completely out of sync between us.

Even though it looked balanced, actually Rena was far above me in terms of swordsmanship. Step by step, I was pushed back. Rena kept swinging her sword, never giving me a gap to pass through.

Rena sheathed her katana again, but leaned her upper body as low as possible.

I blinked a few times, confused at first but soon understood and prepared my best defensive stance.

Just as Rena shot forward like a bullet, closing the distance, then released a horizontal slash in one quick draw that shot like lightning.

Clang!

My hand reflexively raised my sword to block but it only pushed me back by her force until I rolled several meters backward. My sword itself shattered into pieces of green energy.

I immediately got up, even though staggering. While before me, Rena stood without breaking a sweat, still pointing the sharp tip of her katana at me.

"Move aside, Rena, I don't want to fight you!"

"Sorry, I won't let you break the taboo."

"What business is it of yours?!" I shouted, full of anger. "He's already killed many people! There's no reason to let him live! He has to face the consequences! He's dangerous!" Pointing at Tachibana who was still dying behind her.

"What business is it of mine, you say?" she asked, in an ice-cold tone I rarely heard from her. "Of course it's also my business. As the heir of the Fearborn hunter organization, I can't let an incarnate break a clear taboo. And you should know, the organization already suspected the existence of dark apostles. We've already facilitated rehabilitation and strict supervision for former dark apostles. Just hand everything over to the organization."

"Huh, hand it over to the organization, you say?" I grinned dismissively. "You mean to the organization that always comes late and is negligent with every danger that exists? The organization that caused Sakura to lie in the hospital?" Looking away. "From the start, I've never truly been able to trust the organization. Too many incompetent people."

"Maybe the organization still has many shortcomings now, I won't deny that," she answered, in a firm tone without hesitation. "Can't you give us time to gradually improve?"

"Time, you say?! I've been patient for over two months waiting for news about Sakura, but what did I get? Nothing! Not even news about the perpetrator who took her soul! How long do I have to wait? How long do I have to hang my trust on something so incompetent?!"

Rena fell silent without a sound.

Silence once again filled the empty space between us. However, this time it wasn't a comfortable silence like when walking together, darker, and uncomfortable. Our sharp gazes clashing were already enough of a signal without words.

Rena sighed, bowing her head deeply and murmuring softly.

"So... that's your reason for wanting to take the law into your own hands, huh?"

That whisper-like soft voice was carried by the wind and caught by my ears.

"Yes, that's my decision." I raised my hand, recreating a long spear in my grip. For the last time, I narrowed my eyes as cold as ice at her. "Final warning for you, I don't want to hurt you."

Instead of giving me way, Rena drew her sword. She slashed the concrete ground beneath us, a long line formed on it. She stepped forward and stood before it.

"I won't let you cross this line.

"Oh, yeah? Let's bet."

I snorted, a faint thin grin beginning to spread on my lips. My heart beat fast, a strange sensation crept through my veins.

I knew this feeling.

Spirit. The joy of slaughter, conflict, war, battle, and killing. I knew who owned it. But I didn't care. Whether it was him, me, or even us, I didn't want to care who owned this feeling. All I wanted now was to move forward and settle everything.

Tap!

I took my first step, without a single doubt. Then started running forward. Rena did the same. In a second, once again, we were already facing each other.

Slash!

I attacked first, a horizontal slash.

Rena stopped in time, my blade didn't reach her. She was about to step forward in the narrow space that opened up when I spun my body, but I was faster and managed to parry her attack again, pushing her back.

"Kugh..."

Wrinkles appeared around her face.

With a longer weapon, a sword user like her wouldn't be able to place the tip of her blade on me. This was the basic theory of why spear users are always a step ahead in fights against katana users.

Our weapons clashed again. My green spear kept pressing against her red katana. Slowly her steps were pushed back almost past the line.

For the final blow, I thrust my spear with all my strength. Rena blocked it with her katana, which strangely didn't shatter from my attack, bending her body, holding the base of her sword with her other hand. Then desperately pushed me back with her small strength.

Rena tried to step forward, unfortunately it was like walking in place, the gap in our physical strength was too far.

I grinned arrogantly, moving slowly, pushing her past the line.

"You lose."

"No! Only I crossed the line, not you!" she retorted, while clenching her jaw until the muscles in her hands and neck bulged as if about to burst.

"That's just a matter of time."

I pushed her, advancing step by step so casually. Xiang Yu wouldn't lose in a contest of physical strength. I had read about his greatness many times even before merging with him. That's why I knew very well the strengths of us.

Suddenly, Rena threw a knife with a charm attached to my face.

Too bad, that cheap trick could be dodged just by tilting my head.

At first I didn't want to pay attention to it, but Rena suddenly smiling thinly made my eyes widen. Before I could turn around, a monkey came from somewhere riding on my head from behind.

That monkey scratched my face, rubbed it roughly, even punched it without stopping. Its agile movements made it impossible for me to catch it.

"What the hell?! Get off!"

That was when an opening appeared, I was careless. Rena took advantage of it, releasing two cross slashes that sliced my chest.

"Argh!"

I roared in pain, along with blood spurting heavily, making me stagger and lose balance.

Rena leaped, taking the opportunity. Instead of thrusting with her katana, she actually hugged me until we both fell sprawling on the hard concrete floor.

Thud!

A soft thudding sound marked our landing on the ground.

As I was about to get up, I realized Rena was already sitting on top of me with the tip of her katana pointed right at my neck. Just one gentle push, and her katana would definitely pierce my skin and flesh.

I still tried to struggle, remembering Rena's body was very light so it must be easy to break the lock. But several monkeys suddenly came and held my hands and feet so I could no longer struggle.

"Rena! Let me go!"

"Shut up, you hypocrite!"

That shout... there was a bitterness mixed in that shook my chest. I didn't know why, but seeing Rena's mixed expression, my intention to break free suddenly disappeared.

My spear grip loosened, clattering to the floor. I myself remained silent, with guilt suddenly haunting me when I saw the mixture of anger and sadness in her expression. She seemed to be holding back tears so they wouldn't spill.

"I know... I know you hate heroes!” she shouted, her trembling hand gripping her sword. “I know you never wanted to be part of them! I even know you consider them no different from murderers or cruel dictators! But now look at yourself!" Her breath was ragged, its heat reaching my face. "You... you... you almost became something you hate! You almost crossed the line! You almost became a judge! You almost became a monster that would bring misery like you always thought! You almost became a hero... or maybe a murderer, whatever you want to call it!"

"And you expect me to stay silent and let you become something that's no longer yourself?! You think I'll act indifferent?! You think I'll pretend to be silent?!"

A raw slap landed on my cheek. All her emotions were so palpable, penetrating to the core of my soul.

"Maybe... you're right. I'm just a hypocrite." I rubbed my reddened cheek from her slap.

That slap was like reminding me who I was. Where my path was. And where my goal ended. Also like exposing me with words and my desire that always felt reluctant to become a hero.

Maybe... deep in my heart, I wanted it. I wanted praise, recognition, and glory for bringing peace and justice to this world. Very small, like a firefly trying to illuminate the darkness of night with its dim light.

"I'm... just a loser," I whispered softly, with a fragile bitter smile.

Rena suddenly smiled. She stood up, then extended her hand.

I was about to reach for her hand. However, doubt stopped me.

What I didn't expect was that Rena pulled me up herself. "Don't be shy. Everyone has made mistakes. And everyone has a chance to fix them."

Her words slipped so easily into my heart. Before I could fully process what happened, my gentle smile had already spread.

"Thank you, Rena."

She only responded with a warm smile, with her head slightly tilted.

Oh, there was still one more problem we just remembered. We hurriedly shifted our gaze toward Tachibana who was still dying and hadn't received help. Luckily, because of the dark apostle's power, even with wounds that fatal, he wouldn't die easily.

"What should we do with him?"

"Just take him to the organization. Let my grandfather handle it."

"Ugh... that annoying old man again."

She puffed out her cheeks. "That's rude. At least don't say it in front of me."

"Sorry." I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. Sometimes, I often forgot that Rena was his granddaughter.

As we were about to take Tachibana's body, a dark shadow suddenly snatched him like an eagle.

We gasped.

"What was that?!"

Clap. Clap. Clap.

We looked up simultaneously.

A giant eagle flew above us. Tachibana lay on its back. Meanwhile, a dark horned figure stood clapping at us.

"An extraordinary fight between two hypocrites," he mocked, with a sarcastic tone. "Unfortunately, the result is the same—a naive answer that changes nothing."

Rena was about to draw her sword, but I stopped her.

"He's not our match. You should be able to feel it, right?"

"Who is he?"

"Krampus..."

Rena turned and blinked a few times. But I didn't explain further. Better to focus on what Krampus might do. We didn't know what he wanted, or what he would do.

"A wise decision, Yuuki," he said, somehow knowing my name. "Besides, I also have no intention of fighting. Not now. I just came to pick up my foster child. See you, you two, I'll remember your faces. Oh, by the way, here's the key to leave the mirror world."

He threw the key toward us.

Krampus's body and the eagle carrying Tachibana began to be enveloped in such thick dark clouds.

"Keep being good children. Because on Christmas night later... you might receive gifts from me... or... it could be punishment."

Before those dark clouds fully swallowed him, his final words echoed, bringing fear that even made my hair stand on end.

We could only stand frozen. Hands clenched, holding back the fear that spread all the way to our backs.