Kaze no Stigma

Volume 2, Epilogue

“Become a nun?”

Hearing a term that was rarely present, Kazuma repeated it blankly. He had thought that it was a joke, but Juugo before him looked very serious about it.

“------ What fun is there about it?”

“That is not what this is about!”

Hearing Kazuma’s question, Ayano sitting beside Juugo replied in a rough manner:

“Misao intends to separate herself from the mortal world and uses her entire lifetime to compensate for her sins. That is to say, there is no room for you in her heart anymore, you deserve it.”

Ayano laughed, and seemed to be happy from the bottom of her heart. As to why she is so happy------ there is no need to ask at this point of time.

Ignoring the delightful Ayano, Kazuma asks Juugo:

“So, has she left?”

“Not yet, she was here just now to bid her final farewells, if you rush over now, you will probably still make it.”

“You should have said so earlier.”

With that Kazuma stood up immediately, and left the room without even turning back. Juugo quietly watched as Kazuma left. That was a natural reaction, and his daughter following behind Kazuma quietly is also within his expectations. In the empty Japanese room, Juugo sipped his tea leisurely. What he has in mind, no one knows.

“------ Why are you following me?”

Kazuma finds this unbelievable, and questions Ayano who is walking beside him. Ayano raised her head, her eyes opened wide to stare at Kazuma. Those eyes look as though they are looking at a criminal under custody.

“How can I let you and Misao be together alone. Then you would definitely threaten her, and take her to a motel.”

Kazuma did not reply, but only shrugged his shoulders, walking on his own to the backdoor.

“Misao’s room is not there.”

He ignored the halting voice and opened the door. Misao is there.

“------Kazuma-san.”

Her voice seemed a little shocked. Misao did not shift her eyes away, but stared at Kazuma without turning her eyes away.

“Are you really leaving?”

”Yes------ I have already decided.”

With a solid determination, Misao nodded in reply.

“Just praying alone, that will not lessen my sins. So, I have decided to reevaluate myself through training, and find out what I can do to redeem myself.”

“Is it, then good luck.”

He said easily. Misao's eyes widened in shock.

“What’s wrong?”

“No...... Err......”

(The promise------)

On the gradually collapsing Vritra’s head, the promise made to Kazuma. Since she has already decided on the path she wants to take, even though she would never be able to fully keep her promise, so she cannot but feel regret because of it. So, she had thought about it. If she ever meets Kazuma, she will at least fulfill her promise once------ But, for an introverted girl like Misao, to place “that kind of thing” to her mouth, that would really require courage of her lifetime.

------Besides, there’s an Ayano with a scary look on her face at the back.

Just as Misao is hesitant about it, Kazuma decided that the chat is over.

“Bye.”

He bid farewell and turned around, Misao hurriedly called out to Kazuma from behind:

“Please...... Please wait a minute!”

“------Hmm?”

I must say it------ Misao bore an incomparable determination, yet the question that came from her mouth is completely unrelated.

“Why did you help me? To the extent of having suffered such a heavy injury.”

“I didn’t want to get hurt either.”

Kazuma turned back and looked at Ayano past his shoulder.

“If not for some dumb girl doing dumb stuff, I might have been able to solve everything without a scratch.”

“............!”

Veins appeared at Ayano’s temple, but, she did not say anything to rebut. Because in comparison to scolding him, she is more interested in the truth.

“Even so, isn’t it much faster to just kill me?”

Misao did not loosen up her questioning. Even though things weren’t going the same way as she expected, this was a question she cannot leave unanswered. Perhaps sensing her determination, Kazuma began to say with a bitter smile on his face:

“It has been ten years already...... You were still so small then.”

Saying that, Kazuma used his thumb and index finger to open up a gap of around three centimeters.

Misao complains very politely:

“Erm...... I think that even when I was just born, I was not that small. I am not a dwarf.”

“Don’t mind the minor details. Yup, around that time, just as I was being bullied by those people of the branch clan, you saved me once.”

“............”

She waited for the explanation to come, but Kazuma doesn’t seem to want to open his mouth again. A silent atmosphere looms around the two.

“......Is that it?”

“Yup.”

Kazuma simply nods in response to that question filled with question marks.

To Misao and Ayano, they will never know, when Kazuma was belittled by everyone around him, during that period where his body and mind are tortured continuously, that only one single time of gentleness, how great a support it was to Kazuma in his heart.

Kazuma would never forget; that trembling voice, that small back. Even reminiscing about it now, the image was as clear as though it happened just yesterday. So, he did not hesitate. To save Misao------ That is the natural conclusion that doesn’t even require any thought. Because Misao lent him a hand then, that is why he could live up till now. With that said, there was no way he would say such an embarrassing thing out loud. Kazuma began to forcefully end the topic. He raised his hand to hold Misao’s chin, and lifted her face up. As he slowly moved his face closer, Misao shyly blushes and closed her eyes.

“Hey! Wait a minute!”

Ignoring the noise at the back, their lips touched gently. This shuts one up both effectively and joyfully.

Kazuma showed a cheeky smile, and murmurs lightly to Misao who blushed all the way to her ears:

“Let’s continue next time, I will not let you owe me anything, so just go!”

“------Yes, I will be waiting.”

Misao smiles as she nods.

A sweet promise. Yet, Misao knew very well in her heart that this will never be fulfilled. Kazuma was saying this to a girl whom he might never meet again.

This also implied “I will never forget you”.

It was also meant to tell this lonely girl who lost her family, being exiled from her clan, that she was not alone.

“Thank you to you all. Kazuma-san, Ayano-sama------ Please take care.”

Misao lowered her head deeply in the end, and then walked out once more. Those steps did not show any sign of doubt. She did not turn back at all, and disappears from the sight of the two. The two watched the leaving shadow silently.

------ But......

“What did you say just now?”

Closing the door, Ayano questioned Kazuma immediately. Her eyes stared straight at him.

“Are you bothered by what I said?”

“Of course not! However, if you dare disturb Misao, I will not let you off! Don’t tell me you intend to sneak into a nun’s living quarters?”

Kazuma’s eyes seem a little blurred, he seems to be fantasizing------ thinking about Misao in a nun’s costume.

”That seems not bad too.”

Hearing Kazuma’s mumble to himself, Ayano had a sensitive reaction.

“Ka------zu------ma------!”

A deep low sound sounded off from below the ground, the tight fist trembled due to a dangerous feeling. A vigorous explosion was at hand.

Ayano still did not know now, why she was so angry. Or where that immature, childish feeling of wanting to keep Kazuma to herself came from. Whether she will ever realize what this feeling is------That is another story.