Chapter Six: Return and the First Mission

Chapter Six: Return and the First Mission

Time: Two days later, at dusk
Location: Fortuna
Characters: Nero, Angelo Schuster, Redona

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed two figures, one tall and one small, in its crimson light. Their shoulder-length white hair was cast in hues of red, as if telling of their hard-fought return.

“Hey, Nero, is your arm okay?” the smaller figure asked the taller one.

“Tch, it’s fine now, but I still don’t know why my right hand turned out like this,” Nero replied. “Schuster, how’s your wound?”

“Oh, that’s long since healed. But you’d better keep your right hand hidden and use your injury as an excuse,” the small figure—no, Schuster—answered.

“Tch, such a hassle. Magic—manifest,” Nero grumbled, conjuring a plaster cast with his magic and slinging it around his neck.

“Haha, you look quite funny like this. I wonder if Juliette will worry herself sick when she sees you,” the mischievous cross-dresser teased.

“Watch it, brat, or I’ll clobber you,” Nero threatened, raising his left hand menacingly.

“Whoa! The white-haired demon is coming to eat me—run for your life!” Schuster’s androgynous voice called out from ahead.

“Tch, you little rascal! Don’t run, I’ll teach you a lesson today—stop right there!” Nero paused, then chased after him.

———A certain stone-faced knight chases a mischievous cross-dresser———

The next day, a girl with long brown hair in a white saintess’ robe made her way through the corridors to the captain’s office of the Order of the Magic Sword’s Second Division.

*Knock, knock, knock.*
“Come in.”
*Creak.*
Looking up from his paperwork, Schuster saw who it was. “Ah, Juliette! Please, have a seat. What brings you here?” He hurried to greet her.

“Thank you, Schuster. I heard Nero was injured last time, so I came to check on him,” Juliette replied as Schuster poured her some tea.

“Oh, Nero? He’s in the training yard. Please wait here and I’ll go get him,” Schuster said, placing her tea on the table before hurrying off.

Ah, Schuster was as gentle as ever.

Little did people know how many knights of the Order would be shocked by Juliette’s thoughts—the white devil of the infamous Red-and-White Demons, gentle?

Schuster jogged to the training yard, where Nero was diligently getting used to his right hand. That arm, woven with red and blue, exuded power, a semi-transparent shadow flickering above it. At that moment, Nero was using the shadow to grip a massive stone sword.

“Heave-ho!” With a shout, Nero hurled the giant sword at a stone statue in the target range.
*Boom!*
*Clap, clap, clap.* Schuster entered, applauding. “Not bad, not bad. That’s some power.” He gave a thumbs-up.

“Tch, you again. What is it?” Nero asked, slinging his arm back around his neck.

“Juliette is looking for you. She’s in the office. Better go—don’t keep her waiting. I’ll practice here a bit and leave you two alone.” Schuster patted Nero’s shoulder, grinning suggestively as he made for the center of the training ground.

“Tch, you brat.” Nero spat, but turned and headed for the office.

“All right, let’s try my new abilities,” Schuster said, taking a deep breath.

“Devil Trigger!” Blue arcs of electricity shot upward as a human-sized specter appeared behind Schuster. The specter gripped a massive sword, clad in heavy armor, standing imposingly at his back, mirroring his every move.

“Let’s see how it handles ranged attacks.” Schuster drew the Heaven’s Spark and aimed at the freshly-repaired stone statue again.

*Bang!* The tricolor muzzle flash blossomed as the bullet roared out. The shadow’s right hand flicked, sending a bolt of lightning after the bullet.

*Boom!* The poor practice statue was destroyed yet again.

“Wow! That’s impressive. Now for this one—Thunder God’s Wrath!” The powerful recoil matched the mighty force; the blast drove Schuster’s gun over his head. A pale blue energy orb shot forth, arcs of electricity and tendrils of black energy entwined, radiating a terrifying aura. At last, the shadow made a grand move—its right hand lifted high and crashed down, sending a thunder dragon in pursuit of the energy orb.

*Boom! Sizzle!* The violent explosion and crackling current obliterated the newly restored statue once more. Poor statue—let us mourn you for a millisecond.

“Amazing power,” Schuster exclaimed, eyes wide at the massive crater. Suddenly he remembered, “System, what level is this technique?”

“Ding—Devil Trigger: Thunder God’s Wrath. Power level: Tier Eight, Intermediate.”

“Uh, that’s a three-tier jump. This can be my trump card,” Schuster mused, tapping his chin.

“Let’s try this—Ghost Hand!” Schuster thrust out his right hand; the shadow mirrored him.

“Huh, so Ghost Hand is a command grab like in the games. Not bad, another trump card. Too bad it only works with Devil Trigger,” Schuster said, first surprised, then disappointed. Well, this isn’t a power fantasy.

Dismissing the shadow, Schuster slowly walked back. He entered the office to find only Nero present.

“Huh? Where’s Juliette?” he asked.

“She just left. Now hurry and finish today’s paperwork. Tomorrow we have to go to the opera house to listen to that old fossil’s speech—damn it!” Nero grumbled, clearly displeased.

“Why are you so eager?” Schuster asked in surprise, knowing full well that Nero hated the Pope’s brainwashing.

“Tch, none of your business,” Nero replied and walked out.

“Might as well go get a new sword. Sigh, looks like it’s time to get a Law Weapon,” Schuster muttered.

———A new sword for a certain mischievous cross-dresser———

The next day, the two set out for the opera house. Since the last demon seal breach hadn’t been fixed, the Second Division had been assigned to the church’s outskirts as a precaution against demon attacks. This meant daily paperwork: casualty reports, where major demons appeared, where reinforcements were needed.

On the way, there were still a few demons, though no higher-ranking ones.
*Fsssh!* Schuster dispatched another strawman demon, feeling a slight surge of energy within. He glanced at Nero, also beset.

“Heave-ho!” With the Crimson Queen damaged, Nero was weaponless for now, but that didn’t hamper his strength. His left fist struck a strawman’s head, sending it flying into a collapsed building where exposed steel bars skewered it like a voodoo doll—gruesome!

They raced ahead, soon hearing Juliette’s beautiful singing. Nero donned his wireless headphones, and as the song finished, they arrived at the opera house.

As the final note faded, the two found their seats. Juliette finished, scanned the room, spotted them, and smiled gently as she walked over and sat beside them. Nero placed a gift box on Juliette’s seat; she smiled and accepted it happily. Schuster, eyes closed as if resting, certainly didn’t miss the scene.

Then the Pope entered, clad in white ceremonial robes, and began another one of those excruciatingly tedious historical speeches. Let us pray.

“Ding—Main Quest (C-rank) detected: Defeat the mysterious man in red. Reward: Soul Crystal x1000, Slaughter Blade x1.”

———

PS: Heh, new developments! Applause, please. Thanks to everyone reading along. I, Little Black, promise not to drop this story. The worlds I’ve planned so far include: Naruto, Magic—table of contents.