Chapter 53: The Secret of the World
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In the heart of Tokyo, the Hoshino house was located. The front yard of the modern mansion with slight Japanese touches to it was spacious and neat, covered in thick and lush green grass.
Some trimmed hedges and small trees surrounded the lawn, providing a nice, natural ambiance, and there was also a small flower garden. A stone walkway led from the main gate up to the front door, while a few potted plants were placed near the entrance. It was a slick and charming layout, with a very welcoming aura.
However, it was only welcoming for those who were allowed in by the guards at the front gate. Only the Hoshino and Saitou families were welcome here without any need for permission.
So, standing at the door, Ai wondered how this priest got inside. She peeked over to look at the guards at the gate and frowned seeing they were standing with their backs facing her. They swayed slightly in their spots, oddly enough, as if they were in a trance; as if they were drunk
"How did you get in?" Ai asked as she looked at the short young man in front of her, wearing a frown.
She didn't have a good experience with 'fans' visiting her house. If it wasn't for his priest outfit that made it unlikely that he was a fan, she would have called for the guards by now. Oh, and she also had a guess as to why he was here.
"Why, through the front gate of course. Your guards are very cooperative, which surprised me a little since you are quite famous. They should be more cautious." The man, who had introduced himself as Freed Sellzen earlier, said. "Now, if you'd allow me to do the questioning. Could you have perhaps seen a blonde little girl in a priestess outfit around here?"
He said as he tiptoed and peeked through her shoulders, making AI scowl deeper.
"Whoa, what a scowl." Freed let out a fake gasp. "Your fans would be stunned if they saw you like this; stunned, I tell you."
Ai sighed. This guy wasn't normal, there was something wrong with him. Given her exceptional ability to read body language, this was not the first time she had felt like this in her 31 years of life. Sometimes, there were odd humans with weird aspects. As if somewhat magical, if she had to explain in simpler terms.
However, that wasn't the only thing. This guy, his body language, and his style of speech told her a disturbing fact about him. In the past, she had to talk with a criminal psychopath due to a role she had to act in. The production crew had her talk with a real psycho about this, and from that experience, she could tell that this guy before her was not sane.
So there was no way she was going to tell him that— yes, she indeed had seen a young blonde priestess, who happened to be living in her house for the last few days.
"Nope," Ai smiled, pushing the door and slowly closing it. "No idea what you are talking about. You should leave."
She pushed the door closed, but the lock didn't click into place. Freed pushed the door from the other side and then pushed more strength to open it all the way again.
'Shit,' Ai cursed. 'That can't be a human's strength.' She realized he was supernatural just like Asia.
"Hey, hey, why the hurry?" Freed said with a broad smile. "Since I'm here anyway, can't I at least check the living quarters of Japan's biggest face?"
Ai was getting nervous now. This guy was not only a psychopath, but one with magical strength; this could get very bad. Also, now that she took a better look at him, he had a sword hanging from his waist, which wasn't visible from outside due to his long coat.
He had a weapon.
There was also something wrong with the guards. Three days ago she wouldn't have had these thoughts, but it seemed they were some kind of magical spell. Even if she called, she doubted they'd respond. All that'll do is escalate the situation. She had to weave through the situation slowly.
"If you want an autograph," Ai said, letting out a sigh as if she was tired. "I'll give you one. Just promise that you'll leave after that, I don't like fans visiting my house."
Freed smiled, "Now, how could—"
He paused. Ai paused too. "Missus, is there anything wrong at the door?" A small figure walked from behind them, peeking her head out and blinking. The girl smiled broadly.
"Oh, you must be Sir Freed! I recognize you from the picture I was given. Have you finally come to receive me?" She rushed out to the door, but Ai grabbed her by the collar right before she could cross her. "Huh?"
"Asia, get back inside. You got the wrong person, I'll explain to you later." Ai told the little girl.
"Now, now, madam, what is this?" Freed revealed a grin, his yellow teeth lined up. "No, it can't be, Ai, Japan's greatest Idol, is holding a priestess hostage?!"
"Ah," Asia blinked, tilting her head, before quickly shaking her hands at him. "Wait, no, no, she's not holding me hostage. She's a really nice person, she treated me really well the past few days!"
"Oh, poor, poor Asia," Freed shook his head, clicking his tongue. "It seems you're already under her manipulation. Ah, I know, she must be working for the devils. I heard the entertainment industry has quite a lot of humans who are contracted with the devils. To think Japan's most recognizable face is one of them." He grinned, "Oh well, that's why we exorcists are here. For a woman who not only has a contract with the devils but is also holding a priestess hostage, there is no other way with it."
He yanked out his sword and swung it at Ai. His red eyes were wide. "I must exorcize the disgusting human! Meet my Excalibur Rapidly!"
The Excalibur Rapidly, was one of the Excalibur sword fragments. It was shaped like a long kris, shaped as a wide blade with a diamond-shaped gap through it and spikes on both edges.
Excalibur Rapidly granted the wielder the ability to increase the velocity of the sword and incredibly enhanced personal speed, fast enough to create afterimages of oneself. With such speed, Freed could easily cut Ai into a dozen pieces without her eyes being able to see anything. However, he didn't do that, he liked torturing his victims, and he liked to see the expression of fear in their faces.
Ai looked frightened, as he expected, but she moved swiftly and turned her back to the sword. She didn't do that to run, no, but because Asia was in front of her, she held Asia and turned around to protect the little girl with her back.
'Oh,' Freed saw the scene and grinned. 'So lovely. Oh, so lovely. I'll take her arm first.'
Then, the sword hit her right shoulder. But before it could phase through her flesh, electric energy leaped out of her the moment the blade touched the fabric of her clothes.
A very strong lightning attack blasted out of her, traveling through the sword, and into Freed's body.
"A- arghh!" Freed let out a shriek of pain and dropped the sword, falling to his knees.
Smoke was coming out of his body, and he was trending as he stayed on his four on the ground.
"W-what the..." He trembled and looked up, glaring up at Ai. "What the hell?! What was that?! I'll kill you, you weird bitch!"
He didn't know what that was, but he knew that if didn't have Excalibur that took most of the damage, he'd have been ashes right now. He looked at Excalibur Rapidly which was on the floor, it looked greatly damaged from that attack. An... attack that could hurt a holy sword, and not just any sword, but one of the Excalibur pieces.
'Shit, who is this woman?' Freed stood up with a growl.
Ai had turned back right then, looking at his state. Her eyes sparkled as she quickly pushed Asia inside and tried to close the door.
Freed scoffed, uncaring to pick up the sword to deal with a mere human who was protected by a spell. It was a one-time spell, he could tell that much, so there was nothing that would stop him from yanking out her heart now.
He kicked the door just as it was about to get locked, and the woman behind was knocked backward.
"Stupid bitch," he growled as he looked inside, where Ai had fallen on her butt. He walked inside, his face contorted in pain and anger.
"M-Mr Freed! Stop! Why are you doing this to her?!" Asia yelled, trying to come running, but Ai gestured for her to stop even now.
"Huh, stupid bitches." Freed curled his fist in a punch. "I can't even kill you because of Kokabiel. Stay back, I'll kill this bitch. I was planning to use her for some fun at first, but she's weird, so I shouldn't take any chances."
Then, he leaped down at her, his punch rushing toward her face. It burst her skull into a mess of brain and bones.
Or at least, that was what would have happened if it landed.
[Cosmic Magic: Blaze of the Scintillating Quasar]
A purple sun descended upon the world as a beam of stellar mana raged outwards from inside the house. There was no pause, no dramatic chance to block, as the light-speed attack of absolute destruction rushed out of Ruby's palm and slammed into the foolish bastard that was Freed Sellzen.
Cells eroded, bones got erased, and the solar energy left not even the idiot's ashes.
The beam ended, and there was nothing remaining where Freed was just a moment ago. The door frame was carved in a circular shape, and buildings kilometers ahead in a straight line had a hole in them.
"Uh..."
Ruby stood in the hallway, her hand raised and pointing at the door and her eyes wide. Her clothes were messy, as was her hair, as she had just woken up from sleep when she sensed something odd. She reached just in time to launch an attack, and she didn't have the time to think about the lethality of it.
"M-mama," However, none of that was important; she regained her composure and rushed to Ai's side and helped her stand. "Mama, are you alright?! Are you injured anywhere?!"
"Y-yeah, Ruby, I'm fine." Ai cleared her throat and accepted her daughter's hand to stand up.
Asia, who too was dazed just now, quickly helped her stand up too. The two little girls helped Ai to the couch in the living room. She still had trouble walking, so Ruby cast a simple telekinesis spell to lift her and place her on the couch.
"A-are you really alright?" Ruby asked as she gulped, her eyes were teary as Ai gave her a strained smile.
"Er... it looks like my spine hit the raised floor. I should be fine, don't worry..." She said, holding back a painful scream.
"A-ah, I-" Ruby gulped, her hands shaking. "R-right, Healing Magic."
"L-let me!" Asia quickly placed her hands on Ai's body. "[Twilight Heal]!"
Ruby watched the process with her eyes lighting up. She had been taught quite a few spells by Aqua, and since she could now learn just by looking, it was much faster. So Aqua taught her a bunch of attack spells, and naturally, healing spells as well for emergency situations. But she still allowed the girl to use the spell, it was much faster and powerful than the one she could cast.
Ai's body shone in a green light, and she blinked, feeling all the pain slowly subside. A few seconds later, the light vanished and her expression relaxed. She slowly sat up on her own, letting out a sigh and staring at the air.
"Whoa."
She was surprised. But this wasn't the end of it, in a moment's notice, a dark silhouette flashed out of nowhere and appeared in the room.
"What was that nuke-like explosion of mana earlier?!" Yelled the girl in worry, her white hair flowing behind her and her cat ears twitching in high alert. It was Black Hanekawa, who Ai easily recognized to be Tsubasa.
"Okay..." Ai let out a long breath and then exchanged glances with the three girls. "It's explaining time. What's going on here?"
The secret was out. But Ruby didn't regret it one bit, as she jumped at her and started crying out loud.
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