Aoi lightly clutched at her neck, feeling the skin instead of that collar. Her face was in a shock as a single tear went down her eye.
The most emotion I'd ever seen from her.
Aoi had completely stopped fighting. She even dematerialized her arcana. Now she was just standing there, muttering something about finally being free.
Suddenly she then moved towards me at quick speeds. As I was about to attack her she slammed herself onto my body, tightly hugging me.
"What...is going on?" Lily asked, clearly confused at the situation.
"Hey! Hands off!" Pouted Iris.
A couple of dangerous stares poured themselves into my back.
"It's not like you like being hugged by some random girl, right Ken? Right?" I heard Erica say in a eerie tone I hadn't ever heard from her before.
I was about to answer before Aoi cut me off, whispering two words under her breath.
"Thank you." She whispered, her voices muffled as her face was shoved into my chest.
Her collar...could it be she was being forced by the Demon King? That's dark. And the reason no one noticed is because she barely displays emotion.
And well, she was also trying to take off their heads, so it's obvious to think that she's gladly doing it.
That makes me feel sad for her in the anime. She never ends up being saved. It's possible that happens in the last episode, but for some reason I don't think that's the case.
However, I shouldn't jump the gun. She could be faking it. It could be a ploy for the Demon King to get a new "inside man" since I killed the king.
But when I remember that single tear that ran down her cheek, it's hard to imagine that she's faking it. The girl who is almost always emotionless (like Bianca) actually let out a tear.
Or she's good at crocodile tears.
Bianca walked over, staring at Aoi. Her eyes seemed to burn a gaze into her. Aoi detache herself from me looked at Bianca, their eyes connecting.
They stayed like that for a couple seconds, emotionlessly staring at each other as they seemed to have some sort of telepathic kuudere conversation.
And then Bianca raised her hand, placing it into Aoi's head and starting to pat it.
"Did they..." Yui started to say, utterly confused. "...Just bond from staring at each other?"
A rustling noise suddenly caught my attention, as Irene stumbled out of the tent. "What's...going on?" She asked.
"You alright?" I asked her, walking over to her.
"Yes..." She slowly replied. "Just a little tired."
Ironic, considering you just came out of a sleep.
"Why is Bianca patting her on the head? Isn't that a Child Of Lupercio?" Irene wondered.
"Yeah...apparently I somehow freed her or something from the Demon King. I'm not sure rather to trust her or not yet..." I replied.
"Hm." Irene hummed. "Let me go see."
Irene walked over to Bianca and Aoi. Oh god, now it's a whole kuudere group.
"You never answered my question Ken." A sickly sweet voice said from behind me as a chill ran down my spine. I could feel a bead of sweat condense on my forehead. Something dangerous was behind me.
I started to sweat as I felt the cold steel of a blade resting by my neck. Glancing at it, I could tell it was Excalibur.
"O-of course not..." I slowly replied.
I felt the sword retract from my neck. Okay...since when did Erica become this crazy?
And then I felt something soft on my back. Glancing behind me, Erica was now hugging me from behind. She shoved her face into the space on my back between my two shoulders, snuggling in.
She seemed so at peace, it was hard to believe that she just threatened me a second earlier. Especially since that's the first time that Erica's done that...
Not worrying at all...
"No fair!" Yui and Iris wined, completely in tune. Amber just pouted as she looked away.
I looked back at the three kuuderes, who hadn't noticed Erica's display of affection and seemed to be getting along despite their collective lack of showable emotions.
I should call the Principal. See what she thinks about this. Also, she'll give me an earful is she finds out that something happened and I d didn't tell her.
"Hey Erica, can you let me go so I can call the principal?" I asked her.
"Fine..." Erica sighed, releasing me from her hold.
Flipping out my phone, I dialed Principal's number and moved the phone up to my ear as she answered the call.
"Is everything alright?" I heard her worriedly ask.
"Yes, everything is fine. However we were attacked by some Children of Lupercio. We defeated them, and don't have any injuries except for a couple bruises." I explained.
The line was silent.
"...Principal?" I slowly asked.
"I'm coming." She stated.
"What?" I replied, confused.
"I'm coming there right now. This paperwork can wait. Sit still." She ordered.
"Okay." I sweatdropped. "Uh, there's more."
"What?" She asked.
"So, remember that blue-haired scythe wielder?" I wondered.
"Of course I do. She was even stronger than Bianca. Wait, don't tell me-" She gasped.
"Yeah, she was there. But, I...well, somehow I ended up freeing her." I explained. "Apparently she was being forced by this collar that I short-circuited."
"...You think she was forced?" Principal slowly asked.
"Maybe. I'm not naive enough to suddenly trust her, but I think there is a possibility." I stated.
"That's...worrying." Principal stated. "If they have a way to force people, this group is going to be tougher than I expected. We don't even know what their goal is..."
"Wait! That's it!" She suddenly shouted as she reached an epiphany. "Of course, why didn't I think of that! Try interrogating her. Not in a bad way, but just ask her if she'll tell you about the Children of Lupercio."
"You really think she'd give us info?" I asked.
"It would be too suspicious for her not to." Principal replied. "She'll have to give us info if she wants us to think she's being forced. And if she is being forced, then she should still give us info. It's a win-win."
"Fair point." I replied. "I'll try it then."
"Good." I heard Principal respond. "I'll be there in a couple hours, and I'll judge the girl myself when I arrive."
"Alright." I stated.
"Stay safe." She replied, before hanging up.
I pocketed my phone as I turned towards the three kuuderes. As I walked towards them, I noticed the collar on the ground.
I picked it up, examining it. It was sleek, slightly bulky, and black in color. From it's looks alone you could tell it obviously had some sort of electronics in it. It certainly wasn't for fashion, that was sure.
On the outside was some sort of inscription. Was it some sort of magic to keep it invisible? Or could that have been the work of Aoi's arcana? She can already turn herself invisible.
"Irene." I said, catching her attention. I threw her the collar, which she effortlessly caught.
"When we get back can you have your scientists examine that?" I asked.
"Of course." Irene nodded.
"Thanks." I replied. "You two mind if I talk to her alone?"
Irene narrowed her eyes at me. "Another one?"
"What?! No! That wasn't the plan!" I quickly denied.
Bianca finally stopped patting Aoi's head. She emotionlessly walked past me, letting out a small "okay".
They call her the Ice Queen, but I'm starting to think she's just socially awkward.
Irene also walked past to the others. As they grouped together I heard a small mumbling from one of them.
"Ken you womanizer." One if the girls muttered.
I'm a...w h a t?
"Ken." Aoi said, turning my attention back towards her. She tilted her head curiously. "What is it?"
"I wanted to ask you some things about the Children of Lupercio." I stated. "Do you mind?"
"No." Aoi replied, shaking her head. "It's best if I tell you. I fear what may happen should he succeed."
"The Demon King?" I guessed.
"Yes." Aoi nodded. "The same one which the Four Great Sages sealed along ago. Demon King Lupercio."
I already knew that, but thanks I guess.
"He's been slowly regaining his power these 50 years. He almost has enough to breech the seal and come into our world." Aoi stated. "He's making one final push, trying to gather as much chaos and disarray as possible to fuel his arrival."
We're getting close to his arrival. Two months, unless something changes.
"He's getting close. He has enough power to rip holes into the seal. He hasn't destroyed it yet though." Aoi stated.
"Wait, what do you mean he's ripping holes in the seal?" I wondered.
"He creates monsters, then sends them through rifts he created." Aoi stated.
"But I thought that the rifts were just tears in space time? You're telling me he's the one making them?" I worriedly asked..
"Some." Aoi replied. "Some are natural, however he has learnt the power to make his own. So he's been using that to create monsters and send them through. The rifts that are natural bring in monsters from other places."
"This is worrying." I muttered.
He's strong. Will we really be able to beat him? I've messed with this timeline so much that the original barely even matters anymore.
Which makes me afraid of his arrival. It took four powerful arcana-users to seal him, and they disappeared after that.
What will happen to us?
"Agreed." Aoi nodded. "His return is inevitable. I was afraid that I would have to help him with it, but...because if you, I don't have to. Thank you."
Despite her lack of emotion, she seemed sincere.
"You're welcome." I replied.
Aoi lightly smiled, showing some rare emotion. "I'm glad. The human world is much more interesting than he told me. I don't want him to ruin it."
"The...human world?" I asked, picking up on her weird wording.
What does she mean by that?
"Yes, the human world." Aoi nodded.
"No, why did you refer to it as the human world?" I worriedly asked.
"Because I'm not human." Aoi stated. "I'm a monster. The first and only intelligent monster created by Lupercio."
And then I realized.
"You're his daughter." I gasped.