“Please, this way.”
Urged by Dasha, Yuma and the others sat on the sofa placed in the office.
Dasha sat on the opposite sofa, crossing her legs. Yuma couldn’t help but gulp at her bewitching appearance and demeanor.
Looking to both sides, Rui and Akito also had red faces.
–It’s not just me who’s flustered.
Slightly relieved, Yuma straightened his posture.
“I heard you came all the way from Japan. I didn’t think Seekers would come from overseas in this day and age.”
“Ah, um… I thought there was an official request for support from the Indian government, but have you not heard anything about it?”
It was Rui who asked. Dasha crossed her arms and pondered, saying, “Hmm.”
“The story of support coming from overseas is a common phrase used by the government. They say it to give us hope. That help is coming soon. To hang in there just a little longer. But help has never come. No one believes it anymore.”
Dasha gave a wry smile.
Yuma had also heard about the situation in India. While the whole world was suffering from Monsters, India, where the Green Lord was, and America, where the Yellow Lord was, seemed to be particularly bad.
Most of the cities in America were destroyed, and in India, the population of 1.4 billion had been halved in just a few months.
The despair that Dasha and the others felt must have been unimaginable.
“However, it’s surprising that there were actually overseas Seekers who came to help. Is your country alright?”
“Ah, no problem here. We’ve already defeated the Red King who was running rampant. From here on out, it’s about helping others.”
Dasha, who had been listening to Akito’s story, snorted.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t trust that. We know firsthand how terrifying a Unique Monster King is… That’s not a Monster that humans can defeat.”
Akito raised both hands and let out a “ha” of breath.
“Well, whatever. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. But we’ve made a promise to receive a White Magic Gem in exchange for helping to defeat the Green Lord. Is that alright? I heard the capital, New Delhi, was destroyed, but is the Magic Gem safe? We’re not planning on working for free.”
“I think it’s alright. Even though New Delhi was attacked, the government agencies weren’t completely destroyed. Besides, Magic Gems are important resources. They’re especially strictly managed, so I don’t think they’ve disappeared.”
Hearing Dasha’s story, Yuma felt a little relieved.
Even if they defeated the Green Lord, it would be meaningless if they didn’t receive the White Magic Gem as compensation.
Seeing Yuma and the others relieved, Dasha said, “However…” and lowered her gaze.
“I’m very happy that you came from Japan. However, the Seekers here are elites gathered from all over India. If you’re Seekers with only mediocre power, you’ll only be a hindrance.”
“Hee-hee, I see. So you want to know our abilities, huh?”
“I’m glad you’re quick to understand. That’s right, I want you to prove your abilities to the people gathered here. Some people are distrustful of those who come from overseas. I want you to show them something that will convince them.”
Dasha directed her gaze as if appraising them.
Certainly, it would be impossible to trust someone whose background is unknown. Whether they can entrust their backs to them. It’s only natural to want to know their abilities.
Yuma nodded in agreement and opened his mouth.
“I understand. So, how should we prove it?”
“It’s simple. Just show us your best magic in front of everyone. We’re not amateurs. We can tell how strong you are just by looking.”
Dasha stood up and picked up the receiver of the landline phone on the desk.
“Ah, it’s me. Gather the Seekers who are here now in the courtyard. Ah, that’s right. Thank you.”
Dasha put down the receiver and said casually, “Now, shall we go?”
◇◇◇
They walked through the courthouse facility and came out onto the corridor leading to the courtyard.
“Dasha Baramon is a famous Indian Seeker, right?”
Rui whispered.
“Is that so?” Yuma asked, and Rui nodded.
“She’s supposed to be quite skilled. She’s a Wind Magic user, and I think her younger sister is also a Seeker who uses Wind Magic? In India, they’re called the Twin Blades of the Wind God (Vayu) out of respect.”
“Hee.”
The sun began to set, and a large shadow covered the courtyard due to the setting sun. When they reached the edge of the courtyard, several men and women had already gathered, and it seemed that more were still coming.
Yuma felt a little nervous that he had to show his abilities in front of these people. He could easily prove his abilities by using Metallization, but he couldn’t do that.
He had just had a terrible experience in Indonesia. If he used an unusual power that he had never seen before in front of so many people, everyone would change their expressions.
But he couldn’t use magic well with his bare body.
As he was wondering what to do, a woman walked towards them.
She wore a battle suit similar to Dasha’s and carried a huge longsword on her back. Semi-long hair and scarlet eyes. She was a dignified woman with a rather strong-willed expression.
“Sister. Are these the ones? The Seekers who came from Japan?”
A harsh way of speaking. It seemed that outsiders were not welcome.
Looking around, the Indian Seekers were sitting down, glaring at them suspiciously. It wasn’t just her who didn’t welcome them.
“Ah, that’s right. I was just about to have them show us their abilities.”
“Is that so? But if they don’t have abilities that we can accept, I’m going to have them leave from here, is that alright, Sister?”
“Of course. That’s fine.”
Dasha turned around and looked at Yuma and the others.
“I’m sorry. She’s my younger sister, Kaira Baramon, who is also the vice-leader of the Seeker Clan. She looks cute, but she’s quite skilled.”
“Sister!”
“Hehe, excuse me.”
Dasha laughed happily and walked to the center of the courtyard. She looked around at the gathered Seekers and opened her mouth.
“Thank you all for gathering. They are Seekers who have come all the way from Japan. They say they will fight with us.”
A buzz spread through the courtyard. They seemed to be talking in whispers, looking confused.
“Of course, those gathered here are the most skilled in India. If they don’t have the power to fight with us, we will refuse their cooperation and have them return. They say they will show us their abilities now, so everyone should check carefully.”
The area became silent. At the edge of the courtyard, Kaira stood with her arms crossed, glaring at them.
Dasha turned on her heel, patted Yuma on the shoulder, and left.
She stood next to Kaira, watching how things would turn out. All three of them looked tense, but Rui exhaled and said,
“I’ll go first,” and stepped forward.
Standing in the center of the courtyard, he closed his eyelids and concentrated. A moment of silence.
When he opened his eyelids, he put his hand on the hilt and slowly drew his katana from its scabbard.