𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 | ᵇˡᵃᶜᵏ ᶜˡᵒᵛᵉʳ

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED TEN

UPON HEARING THAT the Wizard King was dead, Yoshiko, while feeling a sense of dread, also, for some reason, felt a sense of relief. She wasn't sure why she felt such an emotion. The man who was an inspiration for Asta, Yuno and herself, dead, and she was relieved?

"Yoshiko, are you alright?" Ryuko asked, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm fine," she said, thinking that he was asking about her physical condition. "Um... Can I... come too? ...Please?"

"That... Yami?" Ryuko asked, looking over at the dark magic user.

"If she wants," Yami said.

"You and Yoshiko are Lord Julius' godchildren, it's only natural that you both go," Fuegoleon said.

Yoshiko was confused. Julius was... her godfather? Since when?

Oh right. I didn't even know I had a dad or brother until a few months ago...

"Come on, let's go," Ryuko said, grabbing her hand.

Yoshiko nodded as she allowed herself to be dragged by Ryuko.

-&-

Upon reaching the edge of a cliff, Yami used his magic to undo a sphere of dark magic. Within the sphere was an open coffin with a white flower... but no body.

"What's going on here?" Yami asked. "Lord Julius' body is gone?!"

'It should have been right around here,' Yami thought.

"The hell you mean it's gone?" A voice asked behind them.

Hiruko, who was still injured, walked to them, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Don't tell me he rose from the dead just to explore magic..." Hiruko said.

"Is he... alive?" Yoshiko asked.

"No, he was very much dead the last time I saw him," Hiruko said, leaning his head on her head.

Suddenly, the five picked up on a mana from behind them. A familiar one that shouldn't be here. They turned around and their eyes widened.

"I'm sorry for disappointing you all, I wasn't able to help. During the kingdom's crisis, I thought the effects of my magic would kick in a bit faster," the person who's mana they sensed said. "I think it was about 13 years worth. That's how much I saved up. But it was a gamble whether it would activate properly,"

And suddenly, Yoshiko picked up on the scent. She also saw the person who was speaking. He looked young but his clothes were old and... familiar.

"What?! Lord Julius?!"

"Thank you for your service, Yami, William, Ryuko, Yoshiko, Hiruko," the tiny man said. "Ah, but somehow, I managed to survive. Although, I ended up becoming little,"

"Wha..." Yami said before deadpanning. "Hold up, hold up, nah. You straight up died, buddy,"

He then grabbed Julius by the collar and picked him up off his feet.

"There is no way you were gonna live that. Those were your final moments," he said. "If I recall, you entrusted a certain something to as well, yeah? You gonna give back the determination and resolve I gave to you back then? And what, you're just gonna get to do your life over again? Must be nice to be in your position,"

"You're scary, Yami," Julius said.

"Yeah and by the time I'm done with you, you're gonna wish you died," Hiruko said, taking a katana out.

"Wait! Y-You can't kill him!" Ryuko said, grabbing Hiruko by the arm.

"Oh no, don't worry, kid, I won't kill him," Hiruko said. "I'm just going to torture him so much that he wished he was,"