Chapter 55 - Sojobo (Patreon)

Tengu slowly raised the two katanas at his sides. The wind in the clearing stopped.

Ten years ago, I failed. Now, I wouldn't make the same mistakes.

My feet sank into the ground as I shot ahead, a crimson blur streaking across the clearing.

The Tengu's wings moved like blades of air as they flapped to propel him forward. When the first katana blade came down, my body was already at his side.

My right hand rose, and a magic circle formed between us and a spear appeared in my hand. I threw it.

The Tengu turned his body and dodged, his katana cutting the spear in half as if it were made of glass. But that attack wasn't the main point. With my other hand already outstretched and my Magic Power concentrated, the Tengu still anticipated my movement. His left katana came down towards my neck.

An instant before the blade hit me, a gust of wind propelled me backward. The Hygron Ring on my finger glowed faintly.

The Tengu gave me no time to breathe. As soon as my feet touched the ground, he was already there, advancing with multiple slashes.

Fortunately, I was no longer that child from last time. Now, my eyes caught every movement with absurd clarity. My heightened reflexes allowed me to predict the trajectories of the blades before they arrived. The katanas passed within millimeters of my face, but I was already moving before the blow was complete.

My hand touched the ground for an instant, and a circle of transmutation appeared. The minerals buried beneath the earth responded to my call, transmuting into stone pillars that shot up around the Tengu.

He jumped backward, avoiding the pillars that tried to trap him, but that moment of retreat was all I needed.

My hand went up again, and this time the magic circle summoned water. The liquid condensed into floating spheres, spinning at high speed before shooting out like bullets.

The Tengu blocked some with his blades, but one of them hit his shoulder. The impact sent his body flying backward.

For the first time, the Tengu's gaze locked with mine, and it seemed almost approving. He then flapped his wings and a blast of raw energy spread from the clearing like a shockwave, devastating the surrounding trees. My body was pushed back, my feet digging furrows in the earth. And then it was gone. A split second later, the blade of the katana was coming towards my chest.

Once again, a magic circle appeared at my side. My hand entered it and, on the other side — inside the vault in Gremory Manor — I grabbed an item prepared earlier: a sword. When the Tengu slashed forward, my blade was already raised to block. The collision echoed across the clearing. The sword I was holding was no ordinary one — it was Kiba's Sacred Gear Balance Breaker. A little souvenir I'd picked up from the battlefield against Kokabiel.

It was a pleasant surprise to discover that they weren't fake swords, but real ones. The downside was that now Kiba had one less sword, but the sword of a Sacred Gear Balance Breaker was forged by God. I could never resist having something like that in my collection.

Still, defending myself wasn't easy. When the Tengu's katana struck from above, my legs sank into the ground. My arms shook from the absurd natural force behind the Tengu's blow.

However, I had taken fencing lessons. I used my body and sword to twist the trajectory of the blow and redirect it into the ground, creating an opening. The black blade moved in an arc, and the Tengu had only enough time to raise one of his katanas to block. The collision echoed with a bang, and he was thrown backwards.

[Several patrons were thrilled to see your skill with the sword.]

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The Tengu landed, its wings closing. He looked at his katana and noticed a crack. It was at that moment that I finally saw him smile with his mouth closed. Then, the Tengu lowered both blades.

Zatouji, who until then had been standing on the sidelines, stepped into the clearing when he saw this.

"Finally, isn't it, Mr. Tengu? You've found the one you've been waiting for."

The Tengu lifted his face at the Familiar Master's words.

Slowly, he moved one of his wings, straightened his threadbare robes, then drove both katanas into the ground and bent his knees, bowing his head to me.

"I've waited many long years for someone worthy. And today, I've witnessed what I've been searching for," said the Tengu.

I widened my eyes — I hadn't known a Tengu could speak.

"So, you've been waiting for me?" I asked, not taking my eyes off him.

"I come from an ancient lineage of warrior spirits. My purpose is to find a master who is truly worthy. Before you, they all failed."

Indeed, every muscle, every fiber of his body showed he wasn't someone who would submit to just anyone.

"I need no further proof to recognize a master. Your swordsmanship, your alchemy, your magic... all of it shows your strength. But above all, your presence in battle confirmed that you are the one I must follow."

When I approached the kneeling Tengu, he looked up and saw me offering my right hand, palm up.

An ordinary person might have thought I was asking him to rise, but he met my gaze and understood my intent.

"It's yours now, master," said the Tengu, handing me his cracked katana.

I took the sword, and a transmutation circle glowed upon it. The metal responded to my thoughts, the crack vanishing as the molecular structure realigned.

I lifted the sword and examined it briefly before returning it to him. The Tengu received it with both hands, his eyes analyzing the restored blade.

His wings twitched slightly, though he remained in his respectful stance.

Zatouji chuckled softly. "Well, well... Looks like he's truly accepted you, Milicas."

The Tengu lowered his blade and looked me straight in the eyes.

"Now that I've pledged my loyalty, I'll be at your side whenever you need me. My name is Sojobo, and from this day forward, I am your blade."

And so, I gained a Familiar.

As we made our way back to the safe zone of the Forest of Familiars, fate — as always — brought Asia together with the Sprite Dragon called Rassei.

I mean, since Issei wasn't with us in this universe and they hadn't formed a close bond, the dragon was affectionately named Ralicas — a little tribute to me.

So we returned to Earth, and I still, unfortunately, hadn't spoken to Makima about the wedding. Something told me she wouldn't be as receptive as Asia had been.