Izuka - Chapter 157

A file was attached and Jim downloaded it. A bar popped up and slowly went to the right. As Jim downloaded the file, Narukami shifted his attention to his spatial world and sent his consciousness there. It then took a human form and descended from the sky.

As he was descending, he saw Ryu was talking to Zero as they were watching an English tv show. Not sure if both of them understand though.

Aware of someone was coming, Ryu and Zero stopped talking and lifted their heads.

“Narukami, care to join in?” Zero casually asked.

The edge of Narukami’s lips twitched, since when we got too close, and how the heck the two of you close already? Narukami pondered in his mind and was curious how Zero and Ryu like buddied within short moments.

Probably because of Ryu’s friendliness vibe he constantly produced, Narukami probably thought.

Replying to Ryu’s answer, Narukami shook his head.

“How did the two of you get close?” Narukami pondered as he slightly frowned. As this was his spatial world, the rules were his to decide so the side effect was not applicable here.

“Turns out we have a lot of things in common. He said that he was just too embarrassed to talk about it with his friends. Oh right, speaking of his friends. I’ve seen them appear one and another out of nowhere but then dragged to the ground by black hands? What’s that all about?” Ryu was replying how they were close and then shifted the topic in the middle.

“They got what they deserve,” replied Narukami with a mysterious smile. Ryu got a bad premonition and his entire being told him that he must and had to avoid probing much further.

Lest he learned something terrifying and probably a nightmare fuel.

“So, why did you come here?” Ryu asked curiously as he extended his hand to a chip bag and grabbed a handful of chips. Put it into his mouth.

Right, forgot to point out he was lying sideways with his head resting on his hand.

“I want you to check on Asahi. I have a bad feeling,” replied Narukami.

“Bad feeling? That reminds me, I sensed something terrifying earlier. Did anything happen in the outside world?” Zero asked as he abruptly joined in their conversation. Narukami did not mind this. He shifted his vision to Zero but the latter had the urge to avoid Narukami’s gazes, to which he complied.

“Yeah, a big shot came to me and asked me to help him,” answered Narukami.

“Who is this big shot?” Ryu pondered curiously. He never saw any big shots in his life and wanted to meet one but he doubted he could do it.

“No point in hiding this so I’ll tell you guys. It’s Saiko Hito, All Beyond grandmaster. The strongest and broken Sorcerer even existed.”

His words caused Zero and Ryu’s hearts to skip a beat. Saiko Hito! This was Saiko Hito they were talking about!

Only a few certain individuals had seen his face and people like them only know him through the innumerable feats Saiko had done in his career as a Sorcerer yet the person before him, Narukami, had met him and Saiko even asked for his help!

Suck luck was heaven-defying.

“I feel like if you use your luck on a lottery. You could have won ten times in a row,” said Ryu abruptly.

“What?” Narukami was confused. What lottery had anything to do with meeting Saiko?

At this point, Narukami grasped Ryu’s meaning. Meeting Saiko was a particularly rare occurrence, let alone the said person asking him for help.

“So, what’s your answer?” Zero pondered and Ryu get up from his position as he anticipated Narukami’s answer.

“I said no,” replied Narukami simply.

“What?!” Ryu was shocked as he yelled out loud.

“Are you dumb! That’s like getting an offer to become the richest man in the world without doing anything and you reject it!” Said Ryu without waiting for Narukami to utter a sound.

Narukami understood Ryu’s words and why he said so. Those who had met Saiko have to go through a lot of difficulties. It was like a businessman went through many trials and tribulations before being rich but in this case. Narukami did not need to walk that path as God took pity on him and rained down money on him yet Narukami chose to burn those papers.

It was pretty much like that.

Notice that most example scenarios are related to money? Well anyway. Back to the story.

Realizing that his words were a bit, wait no, quite blunt, Ryu covered his mouth and instantly apologized, “I’m sorry, Narukami.”

“It’s okay, I understand how you feel,” said Narukami as he sat in a lotus position.

“Then why?” Zero asked with a frown.

“After asking me for help, he threatened me. Those who know me better will understand,” responded Narukami as he retracted his gaze from Zero to Ryu.

The latter paused for a short moment with a frown, seemingly pondering. A few seconds later, three seconds to be exact. Ryu nodded.

“What? Why are you nodding?” Zero pondered as he wore a confused expression.

Ryu looked at Zero as he said, “Narukami hates to be under someone but if it is necessary, he would not mind. Put this in thought, Narukami probably hated Saiko.

“If Saiko asked for help like an ordinary person would do, probably Narukami would help him but I could guess that Saiko asked him with arrogance and eyes looking down at him, making Narukami hate him instantly,” explained Ryu as he speculated the scene of Saiko asking help.

“You know me well,” said Narukami with a smile as he patted Ryu’s shoulders a few times.

It was normal. They have been through life and death situations together and probably closer than they thought (no homo).

Ryu chuckled as he embarrassed and gently stroked his cheek, “It’s nothing but I feel like something is missing in what I just said but could not find out what it is.” Ryu frowned as he squeezed his chin.

“Yeah, it seems your instinct is sharper than usual. After he ask for my help, he quickly threatened me that something might happen if I say no. That is when I realized he was not asking for help but forcing me to do something I don’t want to.

“Who do you think he is? Just because he’s my boss, I have to be like an obedient dog and do as I told? Isn’t he just mocking me?” The irritation could be heard in his voice.

Ryu was confused, however. He expect this kind of reaction but the scene right now was slightly off from what he imagined.

One word to describe it, probably a bit too emotional? If he had to describe his feeling, it might be something like this, a drunk dude ranting and Ryu heard the guy’s ranting from start to end. It was tiring.

But different from that, what Ryu felt was something inexplicable to say in words. Probably between strange and shocking.

“This is the first time I heard you complaining…” said Ryu as his eyes were wide open. His expression was like a five-year-old seeing an elephant for the first time.

“What’s so shocking about it?” Narukami frowned. He had to admit he was the calm type but that does not mean he could not complain.

As he rarely did it, he even forgot such a thing exists.

As to why he did it now, Narukami had no idea. He just felt like doing it.

Ryu shook his head and pondered, “What did he ask for help anyway?”

Something that even a powerful person required assistance. How tough was the task? Was it so tough that even the Seventh Child could not succeed? Hence shifting attention to Narukami? Or was it something extremely dangerous and in hell difficult?

“It would be better if you guys did not hear it. Curious killed the cat, ever heard of that word?” Said Narukami.

“More than a hundred times,” said Ryu with a nod. He had no intention of asking more questions as he fell silent and lay sideways again, watching the tv.

Grabbing one chip instead of a handful this time, Ryu asked, “What do you need me to do? Protect Asahi?”

“I want you to report anything strange that may happen in Japan. I don’t think Saiko is going to accept the fact I said no and act like I did not bat an eye to his threat. He will do something to make me heed his words,” said Narukami as his voice was serious.

After a brief silence, Ryu said, “… How do I say it, Saiko is not what I think he is. I thought he’s an amazing figure that despises dirty and underhanded tricks.” Ryu ended his words with a sigh.

“Disappointed?” Narukami asked.

“Very. I guess the phrase, “low your expectations so you don’t get disappointed’ is true..” Ryu closed his eyes as he let out a long sigh with a heavy heart.