Chapter 20 /// Partners ///

Tomb of The Divine Eye

Located north of Organ, it is said that it’s a place where the predecessor of the Hero of Divine Eyes slumber.

A huge and majestic Temple dedicated to the Tombs has been built on a vast land, resulting so many tourists came and go to the Temple, which instigated the building of a small village beside it.

Shion and Haku came to the village for a certain reason.

‘Feel anything?’

“Yes, it certainly was here”

‘Well then, let’s go all out to search it!’

“Yeah, it’s important to regain back my power after all”

The ‘thing’ that Shion search is the fragments of Magic Crystal that has been scattered all over the world. He didn’t actually know ‘where’ but he can feel where it ‘approximately’ is because it’s his own magic.

The village road is big enough for Haku to walk around. Shion thinks that this is a nice village. The bazaar has started, and there are many people who sell things and perform various arts to tourists.

‘Shion, Shion! That’s an alligator meat! I have never eaten one before~’

“Haha, you want to eat it, right? We have money, so go on”

‘This is why I love you, Shion-sama’

Shion challenged himself to try eating an alligator meat, right beside Haku who’s clearly enjoying the meat. The meat looks like chicken tender but it’s chewier, especially the tail part. It was so elastic.

Only people with strong jaw, if not as strong as Haku, can handle it.

As they walked around shopping, Shion made eye contact with a thin, sharp-eyed merchant.

“Hmm, what if…”

‘An eye-witness?’

“Maybe…”

Shion speaks to street vendor who spread a cloth and sell various stones and ornaments.

“Where did you find this stone?”

“It fell into a rocky area near this village”

Shion is convinced after hearing the answer. It’s definitely a Magic Crystal.

“How much is it?”

Please, don’t be higher than 10 million, Shion prays from the bottom of his heart.

But—

“20 Million Gown”

“I— Isn’t it too expensive?”

“Heheh, I’m good at judging, y’know? This stone is filled with huge amount of magic y’know? To the point that if someone said it’s filled with the Demon Lord’s magic, I will believe it”

“Can you please lower it a little? How about 10 Million?”

“Sorry laddie, but I’m being generous with 20 Million, y’know?”

There won’t be anymore negotiations if he’s that stubborn. In the first place, Shion is not good with these things. Shion turns his back, and decided to save some money before ca=oming back.

But, Haku tries different approach. He’s quite persistent.

‘Hey~ How about we barter it with my fur?’

“Hou~ He’s not a normal familiar it seems”

‘Yes. I’m a White Fox, a mutated version of the Fox Demon’

“As I thought. It’s rare indeed”

Fox Demon’s fur and pelts are the most expensive among the other materials. It was also famous for becoming a medium during magic tool creation and alchemy.

Because each hair contains magic, it is different from a normal fox.

Haku didn’t have to explain it, and the merchant knew it, so the conversation proceeds quite fast.

“But! It’s still not enough”

‘Ngh, how stubborn. How about my fur PLUS money?’

“Hmm, ok. Your hair plus 5 Million Gowns, and I’ll trade it”

‘If it’s that much, you can pay, right?!’

“Yes! I can!”

“So, shall we shake on it?”

It was decided to exchange it for the stone in this way, but Shion’s heart feel a little tingle when Haku’s soft hair was cut, even though it’s just a little.

When he gets the stone and goes out of the village, he says with a sunken expression.

“Hey, is it alright? Losing your magical power means that you lose some of your powers too”

‘It’s just a small bit, and it’s just temporary. The fur will grow again, don’t worry’

“I’m sorry… It’s always you who helped me, Haku’

‘If I’m in trouble, you’ll do the same. And, I’m indebted to you after all. Food and others, fufufu’

Shion laughs, and decided to finally recover his power from the Magic Crystal. The mechanism is simple, if he destroys the stone and let it touch the skin immediately, it will be absorbed immediately because it is his magic power.

Right after he did it, Shion immediately feel a surge of power inside his body. He feels as if his power doubled.

“I want to test it, like right now”

‘Well then, let’s kill some monsters. Hop on my back’

If you leave the village and run through the basin, you will easily meet about one or two demons.

Today the sunlight is so strong, and they found 3 lizardmen behind a rock wall, trying to shade themselves from the sunlight. They also called ‘Lizardman’, and is a demon of a heinous nature that attacks human without questioning or answering.

They are famous for skillfully handling weapons and armor taken from humans, and these three demons also have weapons in their hands.

When Shion comes down from the Haku, he quickly activates wind magic to the oncoming Lizardman.

“Wind, Dance”

An innumerable blade of wind appeared and the Lizardmen was cut without any resistance.

After about 20 minutes prepping, the Lizardmen has become a finely chopped meat.

‘Hiieek~ It’s not a dark magic but it can do that? Can I call you a monster?’

“What? Even though you have a much powerful wind attack?”

‘Nonono, mine was like a breeze wind. On the other hand, yours more like a storm, Shion. To the point that the Lizardmen can’t even scream’

“Well, it’s a bad demon, so it’s good. My power has somewhat recovered. Let’s test it a little more, and then go back to Organ”

‘Okay’

After seeing how far his powers have returned, including dark magic, Shion returned to Organ inn.

At dinner, Shion asks the shopkeeper to bring all the dishes he has today.

“There’s something I want you to do. I’d like to put a year’s meals worth in Haku’s stomach”

‘Wait, wait. Doesn’t that make me look like a stupid fox who’s always hungry?’

“It’s okay, Haku. Eat as much as you want today. It’s a celebration for me regaining my power!”

‘Well then………… If it’s a celebration!’

On this evening, the shopkeeper cooked more than he ever did in the past, and 90% of it ends up in Haku’s belly.

By the time it was an hour after the meal, there’s a figure of Haku sleeping with a happy face in the room.

‘Hrrrrnggh, I can’t eat more than thisss~~~~ but desserts enter a different belly’

Trying his best to hold his laughter, Shion left the room without making any sound. When he gets down to the first floor, he asks the shopkeeper.

“If I didn’t come back by morning, give this to Haku”

He gave him a letter and 5 Million Gown.

The shopkeeper seems like he wants to say something, but he nodded silently in front of Shion’s determined expression.

The world outside is dominated by night, and it gives Shion more power than daytime. However, he’s still need power to fuel his determination.

Because, he’s going to face the Hero of Divine Eye, after all.

He thought that if his strength returned, he would definitely have to meet and listen to them. In any case, he needs to set the matter into his own hands, because leaving it to the hands of God of Death is absolutely a big no.

But it’s not going to only become a conversation.

Shion inhale deeply, trying to feel the magic in the city with his recently regained Dark magic.

Because, by following the flow of the biggest magic, there’s a high chance that there’s a Hero there. However, just before using magic, a wind shook Shion’s hair.

‘Well, ain’t this pleasant’

“…Haku, …Why?”

Behind him was someone who should be sleeping in the inn right now, Haku.

‘Shion has a strong sense of justice, after all. Once you regained your power, I have a feeling you will do it. It is almost certain that the hero is involved in the robbing case.’

“You can see through anything, huh? I’m ashamed”

‘The least you can do is invite me. We’re partners, right?’

With words that stabbed him deep in his chest, Shion endured the overflowing emotions and calmly lean his back to Haku’s gentle torso.

“…Haku. Let’s go, together”

‘Heh, I’ll accompany you’

With an unprecedented sense of versatility, Shion used his Dark Magic.