Telos Karma Meta Gacha

[Hajime POV]

I wasn't sure how to feel about what happened.

I didn't feel like killing him was the wrong choice. He was about to kill a child for more power. He didn't deserve mercy.

My method for killing him, though? That was brutal.

I fried his brain, something I doubt I'll forget.

It was my first kill, but Laxus had also killed before, which helped lessen the trauma of it; at least, I think it did. Everyone takes things like this differently, after all.

At least I knew I wasn't psychotic, which was relieving. I didn't feel good killing anyone, but someone this depraved deserved it.

Walking up to the corpse, I saw burn marks radiating across his face, mimicking the lightning that hit him. Crouching down, I removed a dagger from my inventory before cutting the man in the arm.

Pulling out the bounty book, I held the blade over it, dripping some blood onto it.

I waited for a few seconds before the book glowed slightly and opened. When the glow stopped, it opened a page about the man.

[Fujimori Shichiro, 41, Human.]

[A member of the Fujimori family, he asked the head to go on a mission to the Shinra clan. After a meeting to discuss a deal, he snuck away and broke into a sealed chamber. He stole a ritual scroll before killing a guard who he ran into.]

[The Shinra Clan offered $3,000 and a 10% discount for one weapon purchased in the future. The Fujimori Clan offered $1,500 to kill their family traitor.]

(A/N: I know Japanese people use the yen; imagine it's a supernatural currency.)

At the bottom of the book, the reward appeared. Aside from the money, there was a slip of paper with the clan's official seal on it. It even radiated a slight amount of mana to ensure its legitimacy.

Grabbing the reward, I put it and the book into my inventory. Looking at the corpse, I thought for a second before taking it. The book said Shichiro stole a ritual scroll and was a member of a small magical family, which meant he might have some valuables on him. Though distasteful, I wouldn't waste materials just because they were on a corpse.

As for the corpse, I'd still bury it. I had little use for a corpse, and it would feel wrong to keep it.

Feeling the body in my inventory, I mentally examined what was on it. First, there were the clothes, which I ignored. I didn't need them; they got damaged in the fight—not that you could call it that.

There were three things on him otherwise.

First was the sword he mentioned. From what the inventory told me, that magic circle he created was an enchantment the sword had. When activated, it mimicked a cutting spell at a fraction of the cost for a slight power increase—nothing revolutionary but something potentially useful.

The second item was a ring. Like the sword, the ring was enchanted, but in this case, the enchantment was more utility-focused. To save time, the enchantment magically processed bodily functions, a.k.a. using the bathroom.

Lastly was the scroll. Taking that out of my inventory, I looked around the room before hiding it in a drawer. My inventory said it had a tracking enhancement, so I didn't risk keeping it. Even if the Shinra couldn't find it because of my inventory, I didn't want to risk offending them for now. As for why I hid it, I didn't want to risk someone finding it, and with the tracking magic, they'd know it was here anyway.

Leaving through the front door, I decided to continue my search, and it seemed like I finished just in time.

Though a distance away, I could hear police sirens coming closer. Someone probably found the kid and learned what happened. At least that means he's safe.

Picking up the pace, I moved opposite where the police were coming, taking several turns until I slowed to rest.

I wasn't tired, not physically, anyway. I could hear the police close enough to know they had probably arrived at the scene. Since I removed the ring that let Shichiro hide, maybe a member of the Shinra clan had also arrived. Either way, it's good to be out of there.

Walking down the street, I just took in the city.

Eventually, though, my stomach started growling. Hearing that, I began to look for a restaurant before finding a gyudon place. After taking my seat, I ordered tsukimi gyudon and started eating.

-----

[? POV]

I know I felt that large mana pool somewhere near here. That's just what Father needs to finish the ritual.

As I searched the area, I eventually found a restaurant with a higher concentration of mana.

I went to the restaurant, entered, and looked for the source. I saw that it was coming from a kid.

I need to be careful not to antagonize him. Strong kids like him who are out on their own are aware of the harshness of the supernatural. If I want his help, I can't have him attack me.

-----

[Hajime POV]

I was halfway through eating my gyudon when a strange-looking man entered the restaurant.

He only looked to be in his mid-twenties but looked around the restaurant before stopping when his gaze reached me.

His brown hair reached his shoulders. No normal person other than a cosplayer would wear the clothes he was wearing. Double-checking with my senses told me that he was indeed not normal.

After he saw me, he quickly made his way over to the table.

I immediately went on guard when I saw this. I didn't know who this guy was, but I had three possible ideas. First, he was just a random stranger, so I was curious why he approached me. The other two ideas had to do with that evil mage from earlier. This guy was either from that mage's family or the Shinra clan. No matter who he was, I was going to keep myself alert.

It's been less than a day since I left Kyoto, and the last thing I need is for Yasaka to be mad because I was careless.

As the man reached my table, he finally spoke.

"Do you mind if I sit down? I have something I want to ask you."

Though hesitant, I eventually nodded before he sat down across from me.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Nakajima Tadashi, heir of the Nakajima family," he said while giving a small mock bow.

"Suko Hajime."

"I came to talk to you when I sensed your large mana reserve. My family wishes to perform a ritual, but the ritual requires more magic than anyone in our family has."

"Okay." I understood why he was here then. "I assume I have a large enough reserve for your purposes then?"

"Yes. I came to ask if you might be willing to help us. Of course, we will pay you a reasonable price for your efforts."

This offer could be worth it. This guy's family likely has the information I'm looking for.

"I might be willing to accept, but if you don't mind, I'd like to know more about this ritual you're performing before agreeing to anything."

"That's perfectly understandable, though unfortunately, my father is the only one who understands the ritual."

"I see. Could I speak to your father before entering your house then?"

"I'm sure he'd understand, considering the circumstances."

As I finished my food, the two of us got up. Tadashi went to the door, and I paid for my food before joining him.

Leading me toward his house, the two of us talked a bit.

"Sorry if I'm being rude for being suspicious. I dealt with a rogue less than an hour ago, so I'm a little on guard."

"No, I get it. When I first went bounty hunting with my father, I couldn't sleep for days. It got so bad I needed a sleep spell for weeks. You're taking it well for your age."

"I guess."

"Who was it?"

"Fujimori Shichiro."

"That bastard?"

"You know him?"

"Father had several meetings with their clan, and I had to talk with him. He always seemed unstable. Seems like I was right."

"No kidding. Tried sacrificing a child to become the next Voldemort."

"A phylactery ritual? I'd ask if he's crazy, but anyone trying that ritual would be."

"You can say that again."

"So what are you doing in Kobe? You're clearly not from around here."

"Is it that obvious?"

He chuckles a bit. "Aside from the Shinra clan, there are about 10 families and a few independent mages within the city. Though I haven't seen most of them, I have some idea of the influential figures in the city. You're not one of them since none have a lightning nature magic."

"I see." I'll need to keep that in mind for the future. I didn't realize he could tell; then again, he likely has several years of experience more than me.

"I came here to look for something and get used to the supernatural. The fight I had was my first real fight."

"Well, the fact that you don't look injured means you did good."

"It wasn't that hard. He didn't even use any barrier or silencing magic, not that I know it either. I also don't have memory magic, and the kid he was sacrificing ran away."

"That'll be a problem to deal with; luckily, not mine, though I'll have to report that to my dad."

"Fair enough. I have the books, but I haven't read them yet."

"Really? While he was crazy, Shichiro was at least an intermediate-stage low-class. If you could beat him that easily, how would you not know memory spells yet?"

"I didn't like the whole studying aspect of human magic, but then I awakened my lightning magic, and not using it was a waste. So most of my power comes from that."

"That'd do it. I get it, to be honest. When I first learned to cast a fireball spell, it drove me crazy. I do recommend learning it soon. You'll probably get a warning due to your age and recent power gain, but any more, and you'll be charged for reckless disclosure of the supernatural."

"Thanks for the advice."

"It's nothing. Oh, we're here." He pointed towards a house with a different aura from the surroundings. "Just wait out here for a few minutes so I can talk to my dad."

I nodded before he quickly went inside. Minutes later, he came out with a man who looked just like him but older. His hair was shorter, and his clothes seemed even stranger.

"Suko Hajime, thank you for considering." As he talked, I felt his mana. It was more contained than Tadashi's, likely from decades of training. While he seemed to have enough strength to fight me, I was confident I could come out on top. In the worst-case scenario, I'd have to survive until I complete Laxus' assimilation.

"It was nothing much. We can continue inside if you want."

"Very well, please follow me."

I entered the building behind them, shutting the door once I was in.

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Author's Note:

Thanks for reading. See you next time!