Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 60

As mentioned in western mythology, fire is the origin of civilization, the beginning, and the symbol that separates human beings from the rest of the beasts.

　A bipedal primate with fragile physical capabilities, however, gained wisdom and with the power of fire, rose to become the ruler of all things. Without the legs of a horse, the fangs of a wolf, the camouflage of fur, the thickness of fat, or the eyes that can see in the distance or the dark, fire was truly the gift of life for humans. No matter what physical abilities the beasts of the field have, they are completely helpless in the face of fire.

　So, human civilization is the civilization of fire. Fire is the one thing that people can no longer do without. Along with water, fire has been the foundation and basis of life and society. It is impossible to imagine a civilization without fire, and it is impossible to live without fire.

　Furthermore, fire, or the spiritual arts belonging to the fire arts, is a basic element for exorcists, and at the same time, it is a very deep field of study.

　One of the many fire-based spiritual arts is the 'Pure Fire'.

　The 'Purifying Fire', a unique ability possessed by Kizuki Touya, is a step or two lower than the 'Annihilation' possessed by the eldest daughter of the original lineage, but that is only because of the bad comparison. Though it is not effective against humans, it can even be said that this power is useful against youkai.

　Its ability to burn only youkai is most effective in a melee situation where friend and foe are intermingled. And the same is true in a closed room. 'Purifying Fire', which burns with spiritual energy instead of oxygen, can avoid the lack of oxygen not only for the person who burns but also for the people around him or her.

　And the result was the calamity youkai who were burned to a crisp in front of their eyes.

　'Ggg... Gh... Gaah......!'

　"You're still alive? What a tough little fish, are you?"

　Kizuki Touya growled mockingly at the moaning of the tiger wolf raccoon (Korouri), who was almost as good as dead.

...But the winner was already decided. As a matter of fact, Touya himself was not that different from Ayaka in terms of ability. However, their compatibility was too bad even before their abilities.

　However, the plague or the poison, which was exhaled by the tiger wolf raccoon (Korouri), was also an object that could be burned by the "Purifying Fire" since they were generated by the youkai energy. And this calamity youkai was not a good one in a simple physical battle, whereas Touya's preparation and skill in a physical battle were no less than his own, since his special ability was ineffective against other than youkai. Then, this situation was also natural in a sense.

　'Ggh... Gaaa!!'

　"Whoa, that was a close one!"

　Just as Touya is about to make a move, calamity youkai raises its head and opens its jaws. The venom ejected from the poison rays in its mouth is evaded with minimal movement of his neck. Almost simultaneously, a sword is thrust into the monster's mouth.