Chapter 104: Chapter 104 Favour.
"Oi, Hina?!".
Soma, who saw Hina retreating, had a blank face on his expression. Her parents are also wondering what is happening to their daughter.
Hiroshi, who still retains his calm, asks his wife to search Hina's whereabouts.
"Hisako, please".
"...Okay".
Hisako, who heard her husband's plea, wiped the tears that streamed down her cheeks and then turned her back, leaving the two males in the room. Hiroshi, who saw Hisako had left, approached the door before closing it tightly after making sure that no one else heard the stories Soma had told.
Hiroshi approached the bed and flopped his butt on the chair, and kept his gaze straight at Soma.
"So, you still have something to tell, right?".
"...Yeah".
Soma, who received Hiroshi's solemn gaze, nodded his head and started to tell the rest of the story that had been disturbing him.
"It will be fast if I show you".
Soma waved his right hand, and the translucent window that showed his status appeared in front of him without any concealed words. He laid bare the status for Hiroshi to see. After spending time with him and his family, Soma is sure that he is the person he can put his trust in.
[Status window]
Name: Soma (M)
Race: Human (Half-Devil)
Age: 14
Class: Martial Saint
Level: 21
Exp: 284/400
SP: 810
Statistics:
Physique: 120
Soul: 81
Luck: 9
Extra point: 10
Skill: Adapt(Extra), Puppeteer, Mana Manipulation 1, Oni Strengthening technique, Lightning Magic 1, Curse Resistance 3
Title: Martial Saint Inheritor, Soul Pact contractor, Wolf Conqueror
Blessings: -
Curse: Slow Growth
Seeing the status window Soma had. Hiroshi's eyes gradually widened before it almost popped out from its socket. His jaw slacked, seeing a specific word that glued to his eyes.
"...Half-devil, What in the world?".
"Here is the story…".
Soma told Hiroshi how he managed to get a small amount of devil blood in his body.
"...After dividing the content of the devil's blood in two and using my blood as a disguise. I managed to give half of the content to that demon woman and intend to give the half to you later. But I didn't know she had a comrade with her, and that comrade accidentally pierced my heart, which coincidentally had the other devil's blood in it, and it assimilated with my body".
"My god".
Hiroshi covers his face with his palm. This is something beyond his comprehension. The devil's blood, he thought had been lost, seemed like it was being carried within Soma's body.
Soma's story still didn't end. He started to tell Hiroshi, albeit faintly, about his transformation and the existence of the devil residing in his heart.
The more he heard about it. The more his mind boiled to the point. Hiroshi thought it was just some made-up stories Soma had plotted. But, seeing the living proof of his status and knowing the trait Soma has, Hiroshi doubted if all of that was a fake.
So he turned his gaze to face the ceiling while exhaling every disturbing thought he had. He never thought the kid before him contained much agony and secrets, which were too heavy for a kid his age. Once he calmed his heart, he glanced at Soma once more and opened his mouth.
"Who else knows this secret?".
"No one but you. I plan to tell all of you, but Hina and Miss Hisako seem busy tending to Hina".
"...I see".
Soma saw Hiroshi, who seems aged ten years faster after hearing the absurd development Soma had. The story he had told to the family was the story Soma in this world had. His mind seems not particularly bothered by him telling this story, and his mind also did not affect much. Instead, his heart felt lightened, and his shoulder felt light for some reason.
He is afraid that telling this story will invoke some sort of resonance that will change his personality a hundred eighty degrees and let the real Soma take over, but so far, he seems not to see the indication of it. Also, he is wondering, "Where the hell is the real Soma?".
Of course, he still concealed many things from them, but he thought it could be revealed later or not at all for the absurd story that he is someone from another dimension.
"Soma, let me ask you this?".
"Yes?".
"From the story that I heard. Your parents were killed by the demon called Gura, right?".
Despite not being his real memories, the fact that his body is still twitching for his parents being mentioned shows that even though many things change, it couldn't still change someone else's core.
"Yes".
"Do you hate them? The demons?".
"Not, all of them. but…".
Soma paused for a second, closing his eyes, thrust it open and locked his gaze with Hiroshi.
[Extra Skill Puppeteer activated]
"...I will kill the demon called Gura with my own hands and every demon who tries to get in my way. I will dispose of it".
"...I see".
Hiroshi flinched as his body stiffened, looking at Soma's appearance and atmosphere. Soma has not noticed it yet, but his skin exudes a faint red glow that seems ominous from Hiroshi's observation. That red aura seemed so violent that it made him an S-rank awakener's hairstand.
The aura that emerged from Soma's body was probably the remnant of the devil that resides within Soma's heart. Little by little, it affects his mana quality and turns his mana into something ominous.
While Hiroshi seemed affected by the aura that Soma unconsciously released, Soma sighed in relief, seeing that Puppeteer's skill was still within his grasp. Seeing the ominous detail of the skill had given him a sense of discomfort, knowing that such a dangerous skill was now in his hands, controlling him.
This information would be a source of headache for Hiroshi if this came out to the public. So he closed his eyes for a moment and tried to separate the issues that he thought would be okay if it was revealed.
"Mr Hiroshi?".
Soma, who needed help, asked Hiroshi, who seemed to be thinking deeply. Hiroshi opened his eyes and looked toward Soma.
"What is it?".
"Can you help me with something?".
"What is it?".
Seeing Hroshi, who leaned his body closer, not showing any sign of dissatisfaction, opened his ears.
"Okay, so here is the thing…".
Soma put his hand around his neck and felt the cold metal that strapped over the tiny chain. He released the hook that locked the chain in a circle, taking out one of his storage rings before presenting it to Hiroshi.
Hiroshi tilted his head, not understanding what Soma intended to do with the ring.
"You know, recently, Hina and I were conquering a trial gate, right?".
"Yeah, I am aware".
"Inside this storage ring. There is a mountain of gold and jewelry that we obtained in the gate, and I want your help to exchange it for gold bars that are used as currencies in this city because I need it for something".
After mulling it every day, Soma decided to exchange all of his gold currencies and sell all the treasure within his grasp for him to attend the auction that would be held the day after tomorrow. As for telling Hina, he could explain it later, for she is currently absent and doesn't seem to be showing any sign of returning.
Hiroshi, who opened his ears to listen. He glanced at the storage ring in Soma's hands. He extended his hand, grasped the ring in his hands and opened his mouth.
"Leave it to me".