Grief

"Hey idiot, yeah you, fuck you!!" = Conversations

'Idiot?! Me?! I hate this guy...!' = Thoughts

"Begone Thot!" = Spells, Attacks, Rage moments, demonic forms, yada yada yada. You get the point.

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Enma's POV

After the whole monster horde situation was calmed down, we went straight ahead at Yagoo's mansion. 8th ranked magicians are really extravagant.

'I wonder what's my rank though, maybe 9th or even more? Now I'm kinda curious about those tests they do to determine one's rank.' I thought silently as we watch Yagoo order his men regarding the aftermath of the monster horde. After all, there were some casualties that happened even though Pekora already dealt with the overwhelming number of the horde.

"So, Hoshimachi-san. I don't mean to pry, but I'm curious as to why a Royal Guard from Eldefein Kingdom, doing all the way out here in Rufubin City." Amelia asked, to which I find myself curious as well. Glancing at her, she fidgeted slightly before speaking.

"That's because I heard some rumors that the third princess of Atlantis is wandering around this parts. I need to find her and send a message regarding the state of Atlantis." Atlantis? Third Princess? I tilted my head and thought that, the title seems familiar to me.

"Ah! You mean that shorty?" I exclaimed and everyone gazed at me in disbelief. I did just call a princess of Atlantis a shorty.

"You know her?" Hoshimachi faced me and asked, to which I nodded in confirmation.

"Yeah, I visited Atlantis once. The ruling family of Atlantis are very accommodating that time, and I met that princess you were talking about. At that time, she was still small, a bit mischievous too. Loves to bite my hand." Narrowing my eyes at that and then staring at my hand. I shook my head and returned my attention to Hoshimachi.

"Her name was Gawr Gura if I'm not wrong. So, what's up with Atlantis? I'm pretty sure they won't need to send a Royal Guard just for this kind of matter." Hoshimachi sighed and nodded in agreement at that.

"That will be the case, if its just a normal message. But sadly, this might be the last message Eldefein will received from Atlantis." My eyebrows rose in alarm at that, it can either mean two things.

'One, Atlantis is preparing for war and too busy to send anymore message in case of sabotage or.' I clenched my fist at the latter thought.

"Atlantis doesn't have that many enemies right now, nor I doubt anyone will be strong enough to destroy it peko." Pekora stated and Amelia nodded in agreement. I stayed quiet and waited for Hoshimachi to say what really happened.

"Sadly, just a few weeks ago. A group of cult members from the Eldritch Malevolent attacked Atlantis, it wouldn't have succeeded, after all, its just a cult of mad people. However, according to the report. Someone powerful was amongst the group, said person was called as the High Priestess and summoned minor Eldritch beings dealing large amount of deaths and damage to Atlantis. The King and Queen was amongst the casualties. Even the second princess was not spared by the sudden attack. As of now, only the first princess, Artemis, is handling everything." The atmosphere grew solemn as Hoshimachi let the information sink in.

"How is this possible? The king and queen of Atlantis are both 8th ranked magicians in their own right. Even the first and second princess are at least 6th to 7th ranked magicians!" Amelia stood up in confusion and anger, I was rather confused about that.

'Shouldn't I be the one doing that? Because I have more connection to them than you? What the hell‽' I thought to myself as I try to calm down my simmering anger.

"The Majesty was confused as well, but according to Artemis. At the last second that the High Priestess were about to be defeated, her whole person seemed to suddenly changed greatly. All of a sudden, humongous pitch black misty portals appeared around the priestess, and gross, slimy tentacles lashed out. Severely catching the king and queen off guard, which end up with them getting captured. Then, no matter what they do, the grip of the tentacle won't let go. No matter how powerful the king and queen are, at the end, they were wrapped and squished to death by those tentacles. The tentacles then went to lash out at Artemis, only for the second princess push her out of the way. You could only guess what happened to her as well. Just when Artemis thought that it was her end, the priestess suddenly hesitated and spasmed, then shrieked and shouted in pain. After that, it retreated and ran away." Hoshimachi finished retelling what was said in the report. Amelia was openly crying, Pekora was trying to keep it in, but I can tell that she was deeply affected about the death of the King and Queen, plus the sacrifice of the second princess.

Yagoo who was listening to the side, sipped at his tea and looked at the ceiling. His eyes containing what I can tell as melancholy and grief.

As for me, I'm trying my best just to keep myself from moving even an inch from where I was sitting. Because I knew that the moment I move, the anger that I'm suppressing will surge out. But I was also confused, specially at the last part of the report. Something is more to the High Priestess than she seems. After all, from the very start, she was described as someone who is merciless and will ruthlessly kill anyone. But for her to hesitate at the last possible moment. Something is missing, and I'm determined to find out what it is.

~Change of POV brought to you by a Chibi Gura standing atop a mountain with her trident held at her right hand as she gaze at mini Rufubin City from afar with excitement. Chibi Bloop floating and circling around her as well~

Yagoo's POV

I sighed sadly after Hoshimachi finished the report given to Eldefein.

'It seems that, I won't be able to repay the debt I owe you old friend. But what I can do, is help your beloved daughters be safe. Plus, I don't think I'm the only one.' I thought to myself as I glanced at Enma's stiff posture.

'He is trying not to move, in order to suppress all that anger building up inside of him.' I can tell that my old friend and their family is already a sensitive part in his heart. To one day find out that they were almost all wiped out and killed in a gruesome way is tantalizing.

"Enma-kun..." I glanced at the princess of Pekoland and saw her gazing at Enma in concern, while trying to hide her tears away. Who knew that a war criminal can feel emotions?

(A/N: *spit takes)

"I'm fine Pekora. I just need some time alone." Enma said and smiled at Pekora before teleporting away.

"Ah wait!" Hoshimachi shouted in vain before sighing.

"He'll come back later, for now, I'll lend you a helping hand in searching for Princess Gura." I stated while gesturing to one of my personal guards, who nodded and walked out of the room.

"Thanks a lot Earth Sage." I internally cringed at that. I still can't get used to people calling me that.

"Ah, no need to address me like that, just Yagoo is fine." I waved my hands and stood up. Hoshimachi nodded and decided to get some rest. Pekora on the other hand followed Amelia around and was toured around my mansion. I made sure to let some of my shadow guards follow them just in case the Princess of Pekoland decided to do her war crimes again.

Teleporting myself towards the highest concentration of magicka essence around Rufubin, I saw Enma in front of a huge mountain that has a hole in its mid section.

"I suppose that was your doing?" Enma stiffened and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Sorry bout that, this is the second time this happened." I only waved my hand non-chalantly while cursing inside my mind.

'That's the famous Caligula Mountain, what the fuck? Why vent on mountains when you have a whole flat ground in front of you‽'

"Its normal to vent out your anger young man. However, one must be mindful of your surroundings, if not, innocent lives will be in danger. Specially when it comes to magicians of our status and rank. A single spell can cause devastating damage to not just your surroundings, but also towards people." Enma nodded.

"I know that Yagoo-san. That's why I always vent in places where there are no people." My eyebrows twitched at that.

'So this kid still know not to cause damage to people but, what about the damage to your surroundings‽ You totally ignored it kusogaki!' Keeping up a straight face, I patted Enma's back to calm him down.

"They were the closest thing I have to a family Yagoo-san. The King was always laughing heartily whenever I make Gura laugh when she was still a baby. The Queen always worry about me whenever I injured myself, even just a tiny scratch can make her worry so much that she even tried to protect me using her personal guards. Artemis was the onee-san I have longed for so long. If Artemis is my onee-san, Gura is my imouto. Always begging for my attention, she will reach out from her crib and make noises, if I don't look at her or pay attention to her, she'll immediately have a tantrum." I watched as Enma smile as he reminisce his past. I smiled as well, as I do remember Neptune boast about a boy he treats like his son.

"Then there is Sera. Sera was my twin in the family, we always do pranks together, eat together, even bathe together. She was the one who made me open up to them, she was also the one who saved me from a sure-death situation. It caused her to be bedridden for a whole month, I promised her the I will repay her someday. I PROMISED HER! Now..." Enma raged and yelled out as tears run down his soft and feminine face.

"Now she's gone. If I was there, I could've done something! None of that would've happened! WHY DOES THIS WORLD HATE ME SO MUCH‽ First my clan and parents, now, even the people closest to me are slowly vanishing!" Enma yelled and yelled as he kneeled down beside me, looking at his palms.

"What's the use of all this powers and abilities if I can't even protect those who are closest to me..." I gently patted his back as he sobbed in grief.

"Enma, there are times that even the most powerful man in the world, will face helplessness in the face of the world's cruelty. Its unfairness is something no man can escape from. However, no matter how unfair the world treats you. In order to successfully protect those closest to you, one must have the courage to fight back against the world and its unfairness, one must be willing to shoulder all kinds of burden, scars, and hardships in order to succeed. I can see those in you Enma." Enma chuckled lowly at that.

"Then you must be blind Yagoo-san." I shook my head as I continued.

"No, its you who are blind. You have went through this same thing once Enma. The day your clan was massacred, you were in great grief. Then you turned that grief into anger, anger to those who joined forces to massacre your clan. In the end, you avenge them, killing those are responsible for your clan's extinction." Enma sobbed silently and breathe heavily.

"Since you were able to do it once, why can't you do it again? After all, Gura and Artemis is still alive. Queen Artemis would no doubt want to avenge her family. Once Princess Gura heard of what happened, she would, without a second thought, want to do so as well. But you heard the report, that priestess is too powerful. I'm afraid that is Artemis or Gura tried to exact vengeance, then and only then, would you truly lose those who are close to you." I hate to do this kind of emotional manipulation, but in order to guarantee the safety of Princess Gura and the now Queen Artemis, I can make Enma do this. Forgive me old friend for doing this to your beloved adopted son.

"I know what you are trying to do Yagoo-san." My heart skipped a beat when I heard that. I wanted to explain but Enma was a step ahead of me.

"But even then, it wouldn't matter. Thank you for accompanying me Yagoo-san, I already know what to do." The moment Enma finished that sentence, surroundings seemed to freeze. A suffocating killing intent descended and wrapped around Enma, its so thick and suffocating that it made me think that it's gaining corporeal form around Enma.

"A debt of life can only be paid with another life. The moment I found out whose behind all of this, I'm gonna take my sweet time enacting my revenge." I shuddered at that and almost pitied the person that triggered and harmed Enma's reverse scale.

"I'll be on my way now Yagoo-san, I still have to catch a smol shark. I will be the one breaking the news to her, because its anyone, other than me. They will be fed to Bloop." Enma smiled suddenly when he mentioned Princess Gura and flew away.

Gazing at his departing back, I knew then and there that, its only a matter of time when Enma finds out who is really behind the massacre of his clan. I intended to keep a secret for a while, but it looks like I worried over nothing.

"A storm is coming, and its one hell of a storm." I muttered to myself as I stared upon the horizon, specifically the direction of Atlantis.