Chapter 197 Secret

Following the young monk's instructions, Hajime and Yul finally found the brick building where they would live for the next three years. When they entered the house, they found Abrafo alone in the small two-bedrooms house. 

"Hey," Abrafo said, looking up at Hajime and Yul. "The monk told me that we can eat anything here, as long as we don't eat any meat in the temple." He waited for Hajime and Yul's reaction but got none. It feels frustrating because the words that come out of his mouth are not what he means in his heart "So...so, what's the decision?" 

Yul asked, "What decision?" 

Abrafo said, "Should we stay or leave? The most important decision is... um... do you two keep the little guy?" He picked up the water cup and took a sip, then put the cup back down on the table, and then stared at Hajime and Yul. "U-ri and Michio decided that we should stay because Hajime is..." He cleared his throat. "Now that Hajime is pregnant. They also said they respect your two decisions." 

Hajime said, "We have decided." 

"What?" Abrafo asked with his mouth open. 

Yul said, "We decided to stay." 

"Thank Heaven," Abrafo sighed deeply. "Actually, what we say is different from what we think in our hearts. Hajime, we really want you to keep this child. Although the story of the Nephalem Huoyan is terrible, the child in you will not be like that Nephalem Huoyan. You are a mage and Yul is a mortal. My godson will be as good a general as his predecessors. I can feel." He smiled at Hajime as Hajime sat opposite him with Yul. 

"Godson? Who give you permission?" Yul asked with a smile, picking the cup of water that Abrafo poured for him. 

Abrafo looked at Yul and said, "I volunteered myself to be his godfather. I will definitely make him a great general like me in the future." 

Hajime chuckled. "Why are you so sure it's a boy?" Hajime asked. 

Abrafo smiled and said, "An Bayarmaa first born have always been boys." 

Hajime smiled and said, "It's my honor to have you as my child's godfather." 

Abrafo smiled and said, "No going back on your words." 

Hajime nodded at Abrafo. He thought for a moment and said, "If Master Budi agrees to give the three of you some pointers to improve your skills, it will also be helpful for us to get the next key." 

Yul said, "Would he agree?" 

"If we want his teachings, we need to build trust," Hajime said. 

Abrafo said, "You mean... we have to tell him what we plan to do, but based on the story he just told, Eldrys should never leave No Man's Land. If he learns that we are removing the White Dragon Tail in No Man's Land, he will stop us." 

Hajime said, "So I'm going to talk to Master Budi alone. I'm sure I can convince him to help us." 

Yul looked at Hajime strangely and asked, "How are you sure he will help us?" 

Hajime said, "I'm a mage, and the pure phoenix egg chose me, so my words have more weight than the words of the four of you. And, as a monk who sees the world through the eyes of the Buddha, I am sure that they will have mercy on the people of Tanzang." He stood up. "I'm going to find master Budi and Master Yuuto." 

Yul stood up and asked, "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" 

Hajime shook his head. "This is something I have to do alone. I'll tell you the result when I see you at dinner." After saying that, he turned around and left. Hajime stopped at the door and turned to look at Yul and Abrafo. "Actually... I need you to do something for me." 

Yul stood up and asked, "What?" 

Hajime smiled and said, "I'm hungry. Can you find me something to eat? I prefer no meat." 

Yul smiled at Hajime and said, "Okay, I'll find you something to eat." 

Hajime smiled and walked away. 

"Tsk...tsk...tsk..." Abrafo snickered as he walked towards Yul. "I didn't expect that one day you would become so obedient." He put his arm around Yul's shoulder. "Tell me, how does it feel to know you're going to be a father?" He turned to look at Yul. "You know, I was so excited when I found out I was going to have a godson soon." He chuckled. 

Yul said, "I haven't decided yet if you can be my son's godfather." 

"Your wife just agreed. Listen, man, a good husband is one who obeys his wife's every wish," Abrafo said with a smile. "Moreover, no one is more qualified to hold this title than me. And, from the look in your eyes, I knew that this title had been given to me." 

Yul chuckled looking at Abrafo. "Well, godfather of my unborn son, help me find the kitchen," Yul said, pushing Abrafo's arm away and walking out the door. 

When Hajime walked towards the study room, he met Kaizen who was meditating on a boulder. Hajime walked towards Kaizen. 

"Kaizen..." Hajime said. 

Kaizen opened his eyes and stared angrily at Hajime. "What do you need?" He asked angrily. 

Hajime said, "Kaizen, I know that we have our differences, but we are going to stay here for the next three years. Although we can't become friends, at least, let us not be enemies."

Kaizen looked down at Hajime and said, "I'd rather not."

Hajime asked, "Why?"

Kaizen closed his eyes again and said, "Because you are a thief. I will not be friends with a thief."

Hajime approached the boulder and said, "I didn't steal the body. This body was given to me by Avalokitasvara." Hajime's words made Kaizen open his eyes and he stared at Hajime. "I plan to have a good talk with you, Master Budi, and Master Yuuto."

The more Kaizen looked at Hajime, the angrier he became. He knew he shouldn't be angry because Hajime had taken over Xian's body. He had long known that the corpse left in Peace Valley was just a corpse. Xian is gone long ago, not even a trace of his soul remains in this lonely world that Xian has always hated.

On the last day of Xian's death, Kaizen clearly remembered the looks in Xian's eyes. Although the light in his eyes no longer shined, he could still see the excitement and the feeling of a true winner lingering in the corner of Xian's eyes.

Kaizen glared at Hajime and sneered, "Liar."

Hajime said, "Believe me, I'm here for a reason, and that reason can save millions of lives. If one day, when I finally complete the mission entrusted to me, you can take back this body and punish me as you see fit. I just ask you to wait until I finish the task, okay?"

Kaizen rolled his eyes at Hajime and said coldly, "No matter what mission you have, it doesn't matter to me, and it's not enough reason for you to steal Xian's body."

Kaizen has always known that over the years, many people with malicious intentions have been searching for Xian's body, wanting to taste his soul. He had always known that this day would come eventually, so he turned to ask himself, was it wrong that he hated Hajime so much for taking over Xian's body? Should he continue to hate Hajime and Yul for destroying Xian's innocent body? Or should he let go of the past and make amends for the past because it was Heaven's will? 

Hajime said, "I know you're angry at me for using this body. Not only that but impregnating this body. I want you to know that when I came to this world, I really didn't know which body was reserved for me." Hajime could see the hellish look in Kaizen's eyes as he stared at him. "Believe me, I really want to help my host escape the immortal curse." 

Kaisen opened his eyes and looked down at Hajime. "How do you plan to break the immortal curse and help him escape?"

Hajime didn't want to tell Kaizen, so he said, "I'll find a way."

Kaizen knew that as long as Hajime possessed Xian's body, Hajime already knew how to break the immortal curse. Kaisen jumped down from the boulder and stood a few yards away from Hajime. "I know everything about Xian. I even know what food he likes." He moved himself closer to Hajime. "What kind of people he hates, judging from your appearance...you are exactly the kind of people he hates. A thief and a liar." Kaizen sneered at Hajime with a cold face. "Break the curse by finding true love?" He laughed. "What a joke."

"How did you know I had to find my true love in order to break the curse?" Hajime asked in shocked. "This is something only my four friends and myself know. I have not shared this information with anyone else."

Kaizen looked Hajime in the eyes and said, "Hajime, no secret can be kept secret forever. No matter how deep one buries his secrets, eventually the hidden secrets will be dug up. It's just a matter of time."