367. The provided job test.

WARNING!

The story contains graphic depictions of violence, sexuality, strong language, and/or other mature themes.

[The Demon's God Pursuit: Arc 17]

Once upon a time, on Planet Earth, a young girl was born; the story goes that her identity was never adequately clarified, but she was effectively known as the 'Holy Light.'

Her title depicted the real life of one's planet. Humankind did not know the Dimensions that had appeared alongside her birth, only of the Spirits that had been destroyed or disappeared.

The woman... The Holy Light, the heir of all the inhabitants, was not born alone. The arrival of the Demon God, whose name was Rez, caused anarchy, and humanity was on the brink of extinction.

Humans terrified him because of his recklessness and hunger for blood, and Demons started to manifest all over the Earth and The World of Zero, alongside alternate races such as The Inner Fiends, The Shades, Wraiths, and Spirits.

To combat the challenge, a new breed of people has awakened, the 'Spiritual Duelists' and 'Substitute-Duelists,' who have been dubbed the "First Army to Face Evil."

With their Legendary Weapons, the Ginken. This swarm of humans increased the world's cleanliness to the greatest extent possible, overwhelming the Demons of various grades and placing their survival at risk.

But, after several years of waiting, the 'Holy Light' gave birth to a human child, a girl of theoretically greater worth than Zero herself, but unlikely to become the next 'Holy Light,' their Goddess gave the girl to a friendly family, and since her mother needed to participate in protecting the divinity, the girl's memories were wiped.

But there is another royalty trapped within the shadows that have been concealed for millennia, even longer than the birth of a Demon...

The only one who has beaten the 'Holy Light's own is the Fiend Lord. Its lurkers will undoubtedly be wiped out, and the newfound foe will ready the battlefield...

- Nitsuragi City, Thursday, 11.15 am -

As both of them arrived at their destination, Ena's body was still in Codey's possession.

"Nitsuragi Farm is right there. We were able to arrive sooner." Codey smiled as he entered the village, but farmers stood in front of him, their giant forks, shovels, and hoes pointed ahead.

"Please don't get any closer! Keep your distance!" When Codey was surrounded, people screamed. "What the heck?! What do you mean, I'm just passing through?" Codey was worried, but the citizens objected due to the breeze.

"You are not allowed to travel through! We've been warned that a baby girl might be a Demon. Those heinous devils have now destroyed 20% of our whole population! It's time for the kid to pass away!"

"Yes!!!" The rest called.

("This can't be right. Why are they so concerned about her power? I'm pretty sure she won't be the next Demon Goddess! And even if she is, I'm sure she isn't like my dad! We have to get out of here; I can't strike or I'll end up killing these helpless villagers ") Codey had been careful not to kill an innocent man or woman, but he had avoided any battles as much as possible.

- Yashikami City, Thursday, 12.12 pm -

Ayuka heard footsteps in the corridor as she finished tying her hair.

She became interested in what was going on and immediately spotted the grandmaster, who was joined by someone else, at which point the boy's cheeks blushed.

(".... T-Tim?") She was wrong, for the boy went in without hesitation. "hmm... H-Hi... S-Sorry to interrupt you, b-but I have a few questions for you... My name is O-Okuda Ken..." Ken asserted, his hair the same shape as Tim's.

He seemed to be reserved as he spoke to her, but he had felt about her. ("She's gorgeous...") "M-May I ask your name?" He claimed, bowing a few inches forward, at the time that the grandmaster had smiled.

"Oh... Kirashito Ayuka! It's a pleasure to meet you! We've come to you in response to the threat you received yesterday. I think a couple of my employees alleged to destroy the Guild." The grandmaster gave a wry chuckle. ("K-Ken? B-But he's.... he's the same as- ") However, just when Ayuka was about to get heated up due to her liking Tim and then saw almost the same guy standing before her, she grabbed her forehead, embarrassed.

"Is e-everything all right, lass Ayuka?" Ken pondered, perplexed. "It's.... fine... it's just that... N-never mind..." She talked while staring down at the ground.

"What on earth do you think you're doing?" Elliot raced past the grandmaster, bent his upper body over Ken's, and looked him in the eyes. "You think you can just walk in and start looking at girls? Isn't it preferable to being polite?" With his rage issues, Elliot inquired as to why Ken turned red.

"I-I just..."

"No way! You'll pull your gaze away from her and get your ass out of here!" Elliot gasped, looking at him, as Ken's mouth shook and he put his right hand on Elliot's face, and instantly a bolt of fire caught Elliot in the blast, sending him crashing through the hallway and forcing Elliot's back to be slammed on the floor before the fire dissipated.

"Stay there, you fool!" Ken exclaimed, which caught Ayuka's attention.

"Elliot!" She ran for him and crouched right away, wasting no time. "How are you doing? Get your act together!" Ayuka claimed, concerned, as Elliot spoke up right away.

"C-Could you please come c-closer, I-I'd like to tell you something privately?" Ayuka reached closer in surprise, but Elliot's face went probing between her breasts while her eyes twitched.

"Squishy!"

"Hey! W-What in the world do you think you're doing?!" But, just as Ken was about to run there, the grandmaster grabbed his left arm. "It wasn't why we came here." You've targeted important people; don't do it again, understand?".

Ayuka relaxed by taking his head and pushing it backward, at which point she rolled him and bound his wrists. "W-Wow! H-How did you manage to do that?!" Elliot inquired, but his body rolled against the wall as soon as Ayuka stood up straight and adjusted her clothes.

"I can't believe you're really such a creep at your age," Ayuka said after Elliot glanced over his left shoulder. "Come on! Even so, you were so close! I knew I had the chance!" Elliot sobbed, his tears running down his cheeks.

- Yashikami City, Thursday, 12.18 pm -

The grandmaster and Ken met Shin.

"So yesterday's people were forgeries? Then, how come you haven't figured out where they are yet?" Shin inquired, seated behind the office table, at a time when Ken couldn't take his gaze away from Ayuka, and when Ayuka saw him as if he were Tim. ("Damn it... How come I can't stop thinking? They're two totally different people? ") She averted her gaze, her expression troubled.

"We couldn't find them and they didn't yell out their names. We had not intended to see a gang of imposters running around the department, I must confess. In any case, we would like to refute the damage because it was entirely fabricated." The grandmaster smiled as he explained.

"So, what's the point of bringing him?" Shin looked about, perplexed. "I've heard you've been running low on 'Top Tier' duelists. Is it true that two of you have gone missing? I figured he would be able to assist you for a short time. Believe me, he's much more competent than you realize." The grandmaster spoke.

"Sir, my name is Okuda Ken! I'll do my utmost to assist in every way that I can!" Ken called out, bending over. "I'll see whether we accept his assistance or not. I'll bring him through a quick test to see if he's worth our time." Shin asserted himself after everyone glared at him.

"Okuda Ken, you'll be battling Azumi Hotaru Kylin, and if you beat her, I'll welcome your job," Shin said calmly and without a grin.

"Oh, Toyama! What is it about her? Allow me to fight him! He's already launched an assault on me! Allow me to go after him; I'll beat him to a pulp!" Elliot yelled but was soon silenced. "Masahiro, you've had your fill. You'll be standing on the sidelines, waiting. You're about as good as Katorishi." Shin expressed himself.

("Damn this jerk... We need someone who can ensure his failure. I don't want this jerk in this dumb guild, looking like Tim and attempting to snatch my girl... However, who-") Elliot was facing Ayuka at the time.

"Oh, Toyama! How about Ayuka? She's more talented than all of us! That will make it a true test!" Shin, on the other hand, frowned. "I've already made my choice, and Kylin will be the one to confront him. Avoid complicating matters and get back to your chairs, okay?" Shin pondered as he gazed at Elliot.

Yet Elliot had run out of options when Ayuka glanced at him puzzledly. ("What's the deal with him? Don't tell me he wants to murder this guy. Or what's the case?") Ayuka asked why Ken was perplexed.

"Now, please. Masahiro, find Kylin and inform her about the result." Explained Shin, Elliot was tempted at the time, but in the end, he made his decision and went tracking her away.

("I hope she'll win because she hasn't fought in a long time... So she's been working out at the gym and honing her talents... If she struggles, I'll have to put up with his ass.")

- Yashikami City, Thursday, 12.30 pm -

Kylin and Ken were staring at each other at the battlegrounds.

("Why in the world does he want me to rough this man up so badly? Isn't it nice to have an ally now that Tim and Codey have disappeared? ") Kylin puzzledly wondered, her sword dangling from her hip.

"Azumi Hotaru Kylin. If you think that going soft on him would make me change my mind after your defeat, you are mistaken. I want you to fight your hardest. If I note that you were gentle with him, I would refuse the appeal and be certain that he is battling someone who has no intention of backing down..." Shin spoke up, seated in the middle of the group.

"Yes, I understand."

"Kylin seems to be perplexed by what is going on... I'm hoping she'll be able to continue at full strength..." While Ume stared at Sakami, she asserted.

"I'm sure she knows what she's been told. But there's no need to make this a contest. Couldn't he have just made a different one?" Sakami, on the other hand, most certainly remained silent.

"Don't ask... I have no idea what Toyama's plan is..."

"The rules would be straightforward. You will have 5 minutes to beat Kylin. If either of you are pulled out of the line or knocked unconscious, the one who remains in the line and awake is the victor. Of course, you are not permitted to kill, otherwise, you will be imprisoned in Yashikami City. Furthermore, since they are meant to be your Ginken, any additional items such as throwing knives or daggers are not permitted. Without further ado, start the timer and fight as though you want to win!"

Shin swung his arm out with the noisy explanation, and the timer started to count down.

- Gyuma City, Tuesday, 12:30 pm -

At the top of the rooftops, four shadows emerged, with Tim standing in front of the others.

"... Do you expect me to murder those innocent people?" Tim inquired, his gaze fixed on the civilians. "You are aware. 'The Fiends' are said to prey on humans. You must kill those people to show to us that you are capable of wasting our time." Kaoru smiled, ready to see him struggle.

"Except if you're scared of killing them. If that's the case, we may as well give up..." Kaoru spoke up.

Tim reached for his collar, pulling it up to hide his lips, and once again kept his thin sword in his left arm.

"All right, let it be..."

"Whoa, whoa! I didn't say that in jest. It was to put your bravery to the test. Don't kill them, otherwise, we'll end up in jail." Kaoru spoke up, but Tim's body vanished at the same moment.

"Tim! Stop! I mean it! Stop!"

However, before Kaoru could restrain him, blood started to erupt from people as they screamed, frightening those who had ordered him to do so.

When Tim was about to cut a girl's head, he stood in front of a girl with white hair.

However, the instant he attempted it, his sword came to a halt in front of the girl's face

When the girl realized she was going to die, she started crying and slowly opened her left eye while staring at the blade, frozen on the spot.

"Amelia!" Both of her parents came up to her and hugged her, which reminded Tim of the past and caused his head to hurt.

"... Damn it... What the hell is going on? Why is this really bothering me?" Still, as soon as Tim's eyes opened and he glanced about, he went expressionless, having seen the murder of thirteen people around him.

To be continued...