Interlude - Declaration

***

Arata could not help but recall that voice he heard back there in the alley. It didn't exactly sound foreign to him but even Lemegeton had said she didn't hear anything. Which probably meant it was just his imagination. After all, there wasn't anyone else there.

Arata was sure that wave of exhilaration he felt when dealing with that pig certainly came from within him...and yet somehow, it also didn't. Just like how that voice didn't exactly sound foreign to him as well.

As Arata slowly transverse back home, he decided to shift those thoughts away for the time being.

Although he was quite sure that girl wouldn't recognize who he was at that moment, there was still a chance that the authorities or Hunter association discovered who was behind the incident. However, since a D rank Hunter was taken out so easily, it definitely had to be someone who was at least C rank or above. There was no CCTV to be found anywhere near that alley as well. Even if the girl decided to report him and they somehow found him through description, not many would believe the notion that an E rank Hunter managed to take down 3 other E rank and a D rank Hunter. The Hunter's association has also taken his magic energy reading back at the hospital and clearly confirmed that he wasn't a Reawakened and was still the lowest of E ranks. Therefore, the probability of him getting into trouble was quite low.

Finally reaching home, Arata took the key he left under the mat as he entered the premises. One could say that he lacked security but he was living near the outskirts of the city, in one of the poorest and most rural neighborhoods. There was nothing of value in his house.

It was dark inside. It was pretty obvious there was no one expecting him back. Back when he decided to become a Hunter, he was practically chased out of the house and left to fend for himself. He managed to survive by living frugally and through the pitiful income he earned from Dungeon raids.

Turning on the lights in the kitchen, Arata took out the leftover ingredients and prepared himself a simple meal, which was really simple.

Rice, an Egg and Miso Soup.

[Master, that's really a simple meal.]

'Yeah, I really need to stock up some food since I haven't been home for a while.'

After finishing his meal, Arata crashed on the bed as he looked up at the ceiling. So much had happened since he 'died' in that Dungeon. However, he didn't regret saving Honoka as well. After all, if he didn't, he wouldn't have ended up with this power as well.

Arata quietly spoke to Lemegeton.

"You know, Lemegeton, you are technically the first person who visited my apartment. And a girl at that."

[Well, now that I am Master's contracted Grimoire, I will follow you to the end.]

Arata paused for a few seconds before forming his next words.

"Lemegeton."

[Yes Master?]

"This power of mine, which doesn't belong to this world...if the world finds out about it, they will definitely not let us simply roam free."

[Yeah.]

"They'll definitely try to make us their dogs and use us as a political weapon."

[Yeah.]

"If it was just humans and the Dungeon monsters we had to deal with, it wouldn't be so bad. But, you know our main enemy isn't them."

[Yeah.]

The calamity that would soon visit their world...he needed to get strong enough in time to face that threat. Lemegeton knew about it as well. But, there will definitely be sacrifices along the way. And then, perhaps after that...

"We might end up making the entire world our enemy in the process. No matter how many lives we have, it might not be enough to come out unscathed."

[So what?]

Arata smiled at Lemegeton's unconcerned response. For a moment, he thought he saw the faint silhouette of a girl.

***

[Even if the entire world decides to go against Master, I will still be by your side. We'll beat down anyone that dares to stand against us. Even if they are a God. Together, we are stronger than anyone.]