nChapter 114: Reaper’s Curse

nTranslator: imperfectluck Editor: vb24

nNatsuya Yoruhana didn’t pick up her phone when Seiji tried calling her.

nPerhaps she was busy or resting. At any rate, this wasn’t a good time for her.

nSeiji gave up on attempting to contact her. She was probably worried about the upcoming Yin Yang Master duel, so bothering her about another matter seemed inappropriate to him.

nShika Kagura’s issue wasn’t something that needed to be solved immediately. While he sympathized with her, she had already lived with her condition for a long time, so one or two more days probably wouldn’t make a difference.

nThe most important part was that she herself had given up on asking for help.

nSeiji sighed at the situation.

nIf he was able to meet her again tomorrow and have a discussion again, then he would try contacting Natsuya one more time.

n‘Let’s stop thinking about it for now.’

nSeiji returned to his apartment.

nAfter turning on his computer and checking his email, he noticed that Editor Yoshizawa had sent him a message.

nThe message basically said that his final draft of

"I’ll Die If I Don’t Become Handsome

" was excellent and asked whether it was his final version which would be published by Thunderbolt Literature.

nIf so, he needed to fill out some forms via email.

n‘Final version to be published… of course, yes.’

nSeiji filled out all the necessary applications and sent the confirmation to Editor Yoshizawa.

nIt was now time for his usual grinding session.

nOh, starting from today, he planned to begin grinding art as well…

n…

nThe next day.

nSeiji and Mika walked to school together with Kaede Juumonji for the second time.

nKaede began the conversation with normal topics. She didn’t talk about anything strange.

nMika, who had mentally prepared herself beforehand, felt this situation was even more unexpected for her.

nSeiji, however, considered this to be only natural.

nIf Kaede acted up every single morning, then that would give him and Mika an excuse to refuse to walk together with her, so of course she wouldn’t behave that way.

nSince Kaede was making normal conversation, Seiji also responded in turn and smoothly pulled Mika into the conversation.

nAnd so, they reached school with no conflict whatsoever between the trio.

nAfter splitting up from Kaede and meeting up with Chiaki, Seiji suddenly remembered the drama club president’s kidnapping… er,

"capturing

" of Shika Kagura. Did something happen to the drama club president as well then?

n

"Chiaki, has something unlucky happened in the drama club recently?

"

nThe tomboy blinked in surprise.

"Why do you suddenly ask?

"

n

"Because I heard some strange rumors… so I just wanted to ask.

" Seiji acted rather casual about it.

n

"Hmm…

" Chiaki looked deeply at him before running her hand through her hair as she considered things.

n

"Our demonic vice president has been feeling tons of stress lately due to the upcoming school festival. Her forceful comments and book throwing ability have greatly improved as a result. Everyone in the club has been victims, especially the club president! Does this… count?

"

nSeiji was rendered speechless upon hearing this.

n

"What strange rumors were you talking about?

" Chiaki asked a question of her own.

nMika also looked in his direction curiously.

nSeiji rubbed his chin.

nAbout Shika Kagura… he felt that it might have something to do with

"mystical abilities,

" so he didn’t really want to say it out loud.

n

"Not much of a big deal, really… Just leave it at that for now. If it becomes something, I’ll let you guys know.

"

nChiaki tilted her head slightly.

nMika reflexively copied her and also tilted her head.

n

"Okay, that’s that, then.

" The tomboy accepted it for what it was, and didn’t pry further into the matter.

nThe pigtailed girl had a confused expression on her face.

n…

nIn between classes.

nSeiji received a call from Natsuya.

n

"Sorry for not picking up your call yesterday, Harano-kun.

"

n

"Not a problem, President. I’m the one who should apologize for bothering you so impulsively when I know you have so much on your plate…

"

nNatsuya smiled at hearing Seiji’s apologetic tone.

n

"Since you knew all that and still contacted me, it must have been something important.

"

n

"Important…? To tell the truth, I don’t really know.

" Seiji paused for a moment.

"President, do you know the middle school second-year student named Shika Kagura?

"

nThere was nothing but silence on the other end of the phone.

n

"President?

" Seiji had an ominous premonition.

n

"Shika Kagura… I know her name,

" Natsuya answered in a calm tone.

nSeiji raised his eyebrows.

nThe president actually knew Shika’s name, and had such a tone, which meant…

n

"She’s… a unique existence… but as for you, how did you know about her, Harano-kun?

"

n

"It was like this…

"

nSeiji gave a brief explanation of what happened last night.

n

"I see, so she wanted to ask for help.

" There was a hint of sympathy in the president’s voice.

"But… I’m so sorry, Harano-kun. Nobody will be able to help her.

"

nThe commotion from Seiji’s fellow classmates having fun, walking around, or chatting with each other during break suddenly seemed to fade into the distance for him.

nSeiji frowned.

n

"Why’s that, President?

"

nNatsuya could tell that Seiji wasn’t as calm as he appeared on the surface.

n

"She’s a unique existence, because her problem… isn’t one that’s solvable, even by mystical abilities.

n

"It’s difficult to explain over the phone, so come on over to the student council office if you would like to know more.

n

"Although I think that it would be better for you to give up on knowing or doing anything about this…

"

n

"I’ll come right away during lunch break; is that fine?

" Seiji interrupted her without giving her a chance to finish.

nNatsuya remained silent for several seconds.

n

"Okay.

"

nAnd so, their conversation ended.

nSeiji put away his cell phone and looked out the classroom window up towards the sky.

nDense dark clouds loomed overhead. It seemed like it was about to rain.

n…

nLunch break.

nSeiji arrived at the student council office.

nNatsuya was waiting inside by herself.

n

"It seems like there’ll be bad weather today, Haruta-kun.

"

n

"It seems likely it’ll rain, President.

"

nThe two of them casually conversed about the weather before they both lapsed into silence.

nNatsuya sighed.

n

"Are you angry, Haruta-kun?

"

nSeiji blinked.

n

"Not at all; why do you ask?

"

n

"Because I feel like you’re angry.

" Natsuya walked over to the table and began to pour some tea.

nSeiji stood where he was as something flashed in his eyes.

n

"Fine, perhaps I am, just a little.

" He sighed.

"But not at you, Prez. I’m angry at… I don’t know how to describe it.

"

n

"Sit down first and have some tea.

" Natsuya remained calm.

n

"Mmm… Thank you.

"

nBoth of them sat down and began sipping tea at the round table.

n

"Shika Kagura…

" Natsuya slowly began to talk after she set down her teacup.

"She was someone that I noticed during my investigation.

n

"After I confirmed that I was about to be challenged to a Yin Yang Master duel, I investigated every single student that came to this school either this or even last semester… Of course, that didn’t include you.

n

"In order to prevent the enemy from sending a Spirit-branded Retainer as a spy?

" Seiji rubbed his chin in contemplation.

nNatsuya nodded.

n

"Yes, this type of example is rather common. Sending a Spirit-branded Retainer into the enemy’s defense to obstruct their plans or attack from within are all popular tactics. Only one person stood out from the other students—Shika Kagura.

n

"Her identity was filled with abnormalities, and as a student she was abnormal as well, to the extreme… This made it obvious she wasn’t a spy.

"

nSeiji nodded in understanding.

nAn enemy’s agent who had secretly infiltrated the school would want to avoid standing out more than anything else. Any spy who was ridiculously handsome or beautiful and attracted attention everywhere he or she went like in some television dramas was no better than suicidal.

n

"Nobody else seemed abnormal, while she was the complete opposite. Although I didn’t feel that she would be a Spirit-branded Retainer, I still carried out a deeper investigation on her. Then I discovered… her uniqueness.

" Natsuya sighed.

n

"What uniqueness?

" Seiji asked in a calm manner.

nNatsuya looked directly at his face.

n

"The ‘Reaper’s Curse,’

" she said in a soft but clear voice.

"In the realm of Yin Yang Masters, we call it by that name.

"

nSeiji paid attention quietly.

n

"In this world, every person’s actions will have some effect on him or herself, on others, and on the world—some people call this ‘karma.’

n

"According to this explanation, all of these effects and people that produce them are like a huge unstoppable wave, as huge as the ocean—the so-called ‘Sea of Karma.’

n

"Everyone is caught within it, and they create karma and are affected by it… Fortune or misfortune are produced by it as well.

n

"But within the ‘Sea of Karma,’ sometimes unique existences similar to whirlpools will appear. They themselves won’t be affected, but will affect everyone around them instead…

n

"‘Karma…’ Those that come into contact with these special existences will become strongly influenced by ‘karma;’ they will either meet with great misfortune or fortune, or even sink into chaos.

n

"The ‘Reaper’s Curse’ is the term for the unique abnormality which affects everyone around the carrier… and brings them misfortune.

"

n