Return of the Fallen Volume 11 Chapter 106
Kazuki went quiet. He couldn’t even begin to think about having the kids fight at his side. Maybe back in the Lower Realms when those that brought danger were at the 7th stage and below but that was then and this is now. Up in the Higher Realms, the enemy could easily be a Demigod or even a God. The chances were not high but they were never zero.
(If they came face to face with a Demigod, knowing Kosaru’s speed, the possibility of him escaping is high but what about Mei? She would not be able to contend with a Demigod. Of the three of us, she is physically stronger than Kosaru but she isn’t as tough nor as fast. Kosaru managed to survive a partial blast from a God. Albeit he was on the very edge of the blast but still, that is a feat not many can achieve. Mei however just doesn’t have the capabilities to escape a Demigod and neither could escape the clutches of a God.)
(Why mention all of this Kazuki? You act as if I don’t already know. It’s like you’re just trying to convince yourself rather than me. This however is a failing attempt. They would be nothing in the clutches of a God but then so would you. Stop thinking about the now and look to the future. The very moment you step into the half-God stage and become a Demigod, what would stop you from helping the two children enter the Demigod stage right along with you? If entering the Demigod stage requires one to master an element and have a transformation of the soul, is this not something you can help both achieve?)
(You want me to carry them into the demigod stage?)
(Why not. Orberus is a piece of shit bastard of a grandfather, yet even he helped his children to become Gods. Why would you not help Kosaru and Mei? You already helped them to reach the 7th stage right? So what’s another stage or two? Mei is already close to mastering the element of wind and Kosaru uses fire/darkness and wind. You can easily help both of them master these elements and with your soul-reading ability, you can help with their soul transformation as well. Just as you absorb the souls of the ones you slay, you can use those souls and help grow the children’s souls as well.)
Kazuki was still unsure.
“Big brother…you’ve been quiet for a while now. What are you thinking about? What do you think about us staying? Even if you try and send us back, Kosaru and I won’t go without a fight.”
Mei said this with full confidence. To Kazuki, this was an empty threat as she could do nothing to them but he understood she was serious.
“Mei, it’s not that I don’t wish for you two to stay but the danger is far too great. If I were to lose you two after everything else, I don’t know how I would ever be able to go on living. The pain would be too much to bear.”
Mei nodded.
“Big Brother, that pain you speak of. I already feel it every single day. Mama is gone, Danny is gone. The one who did it all walks around with no remorse, no guilt. Meanwhile, it’s eating away at me. If I don’t fight, if I don’t try…I will go insane. You can’t bare to lose us, I can’t bear to do nothing. Even if it cost me everything…I have to try…I have to.”
“Kosaru, you don’t also feel this way do you?”
Kosaru nodded.
“Big brother, Mama is sad every day. Before I was found, I was all alone and scared. I was so so hungry and didn’t know where I was and then mama found me and took me in. She let me hers and she was mine. With her and you and Detra and everyone else, Mama became really really happy and I became really really happy. For the first time, I wasn’t scared anymore. I wasn’t lost or hungry. I had a family. Now, Mama is like me when I was first found. Scared and sad. Running here, she will be even sadder but just like Big sis, I have to try. I want to go back to when we were all together but as long as Sephra is alive, we can never ever be free. We’ll always have to wonder if this is the day she finds us if this is the day she takes the last bit of family away from me. I’d rather die than let that happen, so Big brother, this is something we have to do.”
Kazuki could read both of their souls and right now there were no lies or falsehoods in anything they said. There was deep seeded hatred within their souls for Sephra and there was also some damage to their souls. it was similar to the damage Kazuki had received when his brother Kai had been killed in front of him. Thankfully there wasn’t as terrible. With some help from Kazuki, he could heal their injured souls.
Kazuki couldn’t help but sigh.
“Damn…How can you children have such determination?”
Mei shook her head.
“It’s easy when you have something to fight for.”
Mei pointed at Kazuki.
“You’re my big brother and Kosaru is my little brother. For mama and Aunty Alutra, uncle Lin. Detra, Danny, and everyone else. I won’t stop until everything is finished once and for all.”
Once again this stung Kazuki’s heart. He had made such a pledge himself. Had he stopped long ago, he thought maybe he could have avoided Sephra and Fera but no, they themselves would not stop. Not until he was gone and dead for good. Kazuki at some point did wish to die but as he went on, he found there were things he wished to fight for, to live for.
(These children are like me. The only difference is that for a long time I was blinded by my hatred and fueled by rage. These children though have something else they are holding onto. The thing that took me so long to find again and understand…Love. They have so much hatred for Sephra but their love for me and each other is more than their hatred. They aren’t just trying to fight to be stubborn or to fulfill their revenge but it’s also to protect me. They know that if Sephra were to ever find out I was still alive, she would once again try and kill me so they wish to kill her first. These two…They’ve been through so much yet we adults have failed them miserably. For them to willingly put their lives on the line to try and kill Sephra…What a fucking twisted universe we live in.)
(Kazuki what are you going to do? How will you answer these kids who put their faith and trust in you? Will you throw it away or will you accept them wholeheartedly and show them the path you were denied all those years ago? Will you be a hypocrite or will you face the truth and let them fight with you as equals?)
Kazuki hated it but Arc was speaking the truth. he was a hypocrite. he himself had vowed revenge and left for the Higher Realms. Mei and Kosaru were just following in his footsteps and doing the same. To tell them no and to deny them their revenge. That was something he could no longer do.
(To have children fight with me…I really am a lowly bastard.)
(Yep, but Kazuki, you’re still going to do it anyway, right?)
Kazuki ignored Arc and his expression became cold as he looked at Mei and Kosaru.
“Fine…You two will stay with me and we will do what we must, to see to it that Sephra is destroyed once and for all.”
Kosaru and Mei breathed a heavy sigh of relief but Kazuki was not done. He released his aura and his aura breath and suppressed the two of them. This caused them to collapse to the ground and stole their breath in one go. It felt like a star was resting atop their shoulders.
“I will tell you this here and now. You two, in order to have the highest chance of achieving our mutual goal, you will not be a burden to me. You will do exactly as I say when I say it. If I tell you to run, you run and you don’t look back. I tell you to fight, you fight with every ounce of strength and every bit of energy. If you fail to listen to me I will seal your powers and trap you in one of my tiny worlds. There you will remain for the rest of your life in peace and safety and out of my path. If you can agree to this, I will let you stay by my side. NOW LOOK AT ME AND ANSWER!”
Kazuki said this but his pressure had forced them to the ground already. His pressure was crushing them into the floor and it was almost impossible for them to move any part of their body and look up.
The two did not move for a long time and both were crying nonstop.
(Did I expect too much from them?)
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