Reincarnated As An Extra With The 10x Link System-Chapter 41: The First Demon Hunt: 2
Chapter 41
A day earlier...
Megumi was kneeling on the ground, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade as he drew raspy breaths. The tip of the dark katana pierced deep into the ground while he continued to stare at the golden figure standing before him.
Clad in golden armor, the knight stood before him, wielding a double-edged sword that glowed as bright as the sun, two crimson flames burning in the visage of its helmet.
Suddenly, the knight turned into a cloud of yellow sparks, vanishing and leaving him alone in the stillness of the night.
Having regained some of his strength, he slowly got up from the ground, pulling the blade up along the way. Then, he brandished his sword, making sure all the dirt was away from the blade, and subsequently, he carefully sheathed the weapon.
He turned around and slowly walked away. Going around the mansion, he soon arrived at the garden, and standing by the side was Gekka, staring blankly at the vast expanse of the sky with her hands held together behind her.
She slowly turned her attention to him as soon as he walked in, a solemn expression resting on her face. Then she turned around and gestured to a bench that was set to the side, just behind the garden.
They both walked to the bench and sat down, admiring the starlit sky in a moment of silence. Up above, the sky was sprinkled with a myriad of twinkling diamonds, the full moon gracefully staying at its center.
Gekka cleared her throat and looked toward Megumi, her eyes full of worry and admiration.
"I guess you’re putting that birthday gift to great use... Your mom gave me that sword when I was just about your age, about to go on my first demon hunt as well. She was pregnant with Rikiyo back then; I can still remember it like it was yesterday."
She paused and leaned back on the bench.
"I’ve watched you two grow up ever since then, and now, you’re on your way to performing the very same ritual... I’m proud of you, kid."
Megumi remained quiet in the stillness of the night, staring at the scabbard in which the cold steel of his trusty katana rested. A smile slowly spread across his face.
"I truly wish I had a great way to thank you."
Gekka chuckled softly.
"You can think of a way to thank me later, kiddo. The demon hunt begins early tomorrow, and you’ll be there along with about fifty other children from every branch of the Boma Clan. If there’s anything you should be worrying about, then it’s how you cope with your team once you’re assigned one."
Megumi looked up at the sky, still smiling.
"I’ve prevailed against every test you put me through; a bunch of kids will not make me falter."
He wanted to laugh at his own stupid joke, but before he could, Gekka instantly wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling him closer to her. Then she slightly butted her head against his, a cheeky smile on her face.
She then gently pulled him up from the bench. With her right hand wrapped around his neck, she knelt down on one leg and quickly wrapped her other hand around him as well.
She held him tightly for a few seconds, her cheeks gently brushing against his.
"I really am proud of you."
Lingering for a bit, he raised his nimble hands and threw them around her, the smile on his face pleasantly widening.
Their hug soon came to an end when Gekka slowly pulled away and ruffled his hair like she usually did. She then patted him gently on the head.
"Now then... go get yourself some rest; you’ve got a long day ahead of you... Oh, and also... remember what I told you about your innate ability?"
Megumi nodded curtly.
"I should never use it during the demon hunt."
Gekka nodded as well.
"Great... now go to sleep."
With a slight bow, he turned around and left, heading toward the mansion. With a deep breath, he walked through the sliding door, anticipating the day that loomed ahead.
*******
The day every child of the Boma clan of his age had all anticipated finally arrived, with the sun bathing the horizon as it rose from the east. He and Yuki had quickly gotten ready and dressed, and Gekka took them to the venue.
Vanishing in a blinding glow of lightning, they arrived at a meadow, birds chirping as the tall grass gently blew in the wind. Before them stood a towering crimson gate.
Flanking the gate was a great ivory fence reaching over sixty meters in height. There were towers with red roofs built on the edges of the massive walls, and circling those walls was a gentle stream with a white arch built over it.
In awe, they watched as the gate slowly slid open, revealing what they knew to be a castle with alabaster walls gleaming like polished jade and multi-tiered roofs swooping upward like the outstretched wings of a mystical dragon.
’I don’t even know what a dragon supposedly looks like.’ 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
Megumi didn’t bother to dismiss the strange thought of his as he admired the marvelous building. Here and there, massive trees stood around the castle, their leaves fluttering in the wind.
The three of them proceeded past the arch through the gate, and finally they ascended steep stone steps to reach the main keep, where other children stood waiting, and many more were yet to arrive.
Gekka gently patted them both on their backs, and with a smile, turned around and left, leaving them both alone in the midst of all the other children. Megumi glanced around the place, his gaze coming to an abrupt stop at a set of stairs that led to a platform inside the room.
It was built of ivory stone, as white as his skin, just as everything else in the castle was. But something had drawn him to the raised stage, causing him to lose focus for a brief moment.
Light footsteps swiftly approached him, drawing him out of his daze. He quickly turned around to see a boy with curly white hair standing before him, his head lowered in a simple bow.
He stepped back slightly, a bit startled by the boy’s action. Soon enough, he realized who it was standing before him and quickly performed a simple bow of his own.
The boy slowly raised his head, revealing a set of gleaming hazel-green eyes and an enthralling smile. He possessed spotless ivory skin and a petite body, with his muscles being almost non-existent.
Each of the three main branches of the Boma clan possessed an ability, a family heirloom that was only passed down to the rightful heirs of the clan, just like he had inherited Light Manipulation. He didn’t know what the Hiraboma’s ability was, but he did know that the Kitsuboma’s was the opposite of the Fujiboma’s.
Their ability was attributed to darkness, or shadows, to be rather precise.
And looking down at his feet on the ivory floor of the castle, as the boy’s shadow swiftly moved to his own, he was able to tell instantly who it was in front of him.
The heir to the Kitsuboma Clan.
As the Kitsuboma’s heir’s shadow came close, his shadow suddenly moved as well, swiftly moving away. He thought he was going crazy, but he could see his shadow staring apprehensively at the boy’s shadow as it quickly moved away; in fact, it seemed to be cursing it.
The boy instantly called back his shadow and chuckled softly.
"Well, your shadow clearly isn’t the most chatty."
He then took a careful step forward.
"I’m Kuran Kitsuboma; it’s a pleasure to meet you."
Megumi smiled.
"A pleasure to meet you as well. The name’s Megumi, Megumi Fujiboma."
Megumi then watched as Kuran made a fist and quickly brought it to his chest, his voice turning pleasantly somber.
"May the best exorcist win."
Megumi performed the same gesture, his voice echoing with great resolve.
"May the best exorcist win."
... Suddenly, the entire keep grew deathly quiet, prompting both their attention as they looked up to see a man in his late thirties now standing atop the jade-white platform.
His voice echoed throughout the room.
"I am Adept Sorcerer and Exorcist Hakuro Hiraboma. It is an utmost honor to welcome you aspiring exorcists here today—for this marks the dawn of your journey as fellow Exorcists... and humanity’s saviors."
