Chapter 78: Duel in the Rainy Night
"Excuse me... Kouya, are you actually a magician?" Raphiel's reply came almost instantly, accompanied by a trembling cat emoji clutching a fish as if for dear life.
Kouya blinked, staring at the screen. "What magician?"
"You know, the ones from the internet legends — those mysterious beings who, after being single for thirty years, awaken unparalleled power in their right hand? Their bodies filled with forbidden energy!" Raphiel's message sparkled with mock curiosity.
You've got to be kidding me.
Of course, nothing decent ever comes out of your mouth!
"I'm warning you, one more word and you'll regret it," Kouya replied flatly.
"If it's by you, Kouya, I don't mind..." came her reply, with a blushing face emoji. "After all, I must monitor you for the sake of world peace until I'm sure you're not a danger."
"You're not some kind of divine envoy!" Kouya snapped, typing furiously. "You angels are supposed to be higher beings — even if humanity vanished tomorrow, you wouldn't care!"
"Oh my, Kouya, you really do understand me so well."
Kouya: "..."
He tossed his phone onto the table and sighed.
...
When he finally got back to his apartment, the rhythmic sound of keyboard typing echoed faintly from Gabriel's room next door. That lazy angel was clearly still glued to her computer, 'cultivating' her so-called online enlightenment.
Kouya showered, changed into casual clothes, and made a quick dinner — instant curry, his usual. The room smelled faintly of spices. After finishing, he leaned back on the sofa, scrolling through his phone, browsing bizarre articles about UFO sightings and doomsday prophecies. By the time he realized it, night had fallen completely.
Then, out of nowhere, his phone rang.
He frowned. The caller ID flashed: Takanashi Rikka.
The ahoge girl from today?
He hesitated for a few seconds before answering.
"Hero! Hero, you have to come save me!" came Rikka's voice, breathless and full of panic. "I was exploring the park to locate the Invisible Boundary Line, but I was ambushed by the Bureau's Chief Regulator!"
Kouya froze, staring into space. He waited until she finished her entire delusional declaration before replying in a deadpan voice:
"Speak. Human. Language."
"You're so cruel, Kouya!" she pouted through the phone, sounding both hurt and dramatic. "Anyway, hurry and come save me, or you'll lose me forever!"
Lose you? I never had you to begin with.
"Th-The Final Regulator is coming closer!" Rikka's voice grew urgent, mixed with the sound of hurried footsteps and rain. "If she catches me, I'll break apart!"
What the hell?! That sounds like a crime scene, not a fantasy battle!
Then, a sharp scream echoed through the phone — and silence.
Kouya frowned. "...Did that idiot really get herself into trouble?"
It was probably just another one of her dramatics. Still, he had promised Vigne he'd look out for her.
He groaned, grabbed his jacket, and stepped outside.
The cool night air hit him immediately. Raindrops pattered gently on the street.
Spring was ending, and the rainy season was beginning. The sky hung low and gray, and the faint drizzle made the asphalt glisten under the dim streetlights.
"She mentioned the park..." Kouya muttered. The rain wasn't heavy enough for an umbrella, so he stuffed his hands in his pockets and started walking.
The streets were quiet. The sound of the rain against rooftops and puddles echoed softly in the distance. His shoes splashed lightly as he crossed the empty intersection and entered the small park.
It was the same one where he had met Raphiel the week before — an old park, almost forgotten by time. The playground equipment was rusted and creaked in the wind. The lamps buzzed faintly, casting uneven yellow halos through the drizzle. Thin sheets of rain shimmered like silk threads beneath the dim light.
The air was cold, sharp with the scent of wet earth. The wind whispered through the trees. It was the kind of place that felt like a ghost story waiting to happen.
He followed the faint sound of movement deeper into the park — and soon spotted two figures in the gazebo.
...
Rikka stood on one side, clutching a black umbrella like a knight gripping her sword. Her stance was absurdly serious; her eyes burned with misplaced determination.
Facing her was a woman with long, glossy black hair and wine-red eyes that glowed faintly under the streetlight. She looked to be in her twenties — mature, beautiful, and undeniably intimidating. Her denim shorts revealed long, smooth legs, and her fitted black shirt clung to her body, highlighting curves that could make a model jealous.
"Come home," the woman said quietly. Her voice was calm, but the chill in it made the temperature drop a few degrees.
"No!" Rikka shouted back, her grip tightening on the umbrella. "I still have to find the Invisible Boundary Line with my Hero! We were so close tonight!"
The woman exhaled softly — not quite a sigh, not quite a laugh. "In that case... I'll have to teach you a lesson."
Kouya leaned against a tree, watching in disbelief as the woman reached into her bag and drew her weapon.
A spoon.
A simple, stainless steel cooking spoon.
You've got to be kidding me.
This was supposed to be a showdown, and she's pulling out kitchenware? Where's the drama? The atmosphere just died on impact!
"Y-You dare bring out the Judgment Spear of the Breaking Dawn again?!" Rikka cried, stepping back, eyes wide in horror.
What? The Judgment Spear of what now? That thing isn't even sharp!
Rikka's imagination was clearly working overtime.
The woman tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable.
Rikka braced herself, her voice dropping to a deep tone as if narrating her own epic battle. "If that's how it must be... then I'll fight with all my might!"
With a dramatic flick, she snapped open her umbrella. The sound echoed through the rain like thunder. "Defend, Dark Shield! Summon, Night Barrier!"
The wind picked up as she charged, the rain swirling violently around her. For a second, Kouya had to admit — if you ignored reality, it actually looked kind of cool.
"Eternal Spear — Avalon Break!"
Her shout rang through the night — right before a metallic thwack! silenced it.
The spoon connected squarely with the top of her head.
So much for her 'battle of destiny.' One second of glory, instant defeat.
Rikka crouched, clutching her head. "Oww! That hurts! Sis, why are you hitting me again?!"
Wait, sis?
Kouya squinted through the rain. Now that he looked closer, the resemblance was obvious — same eyes, same stubborn expression. Definitely siblings.
The woman sighed, tapping the spoon against her palm. "You're out here in the rain again, aren't you? Did you even finish your homework? How about your review assignments?"
Rikka sniffled. "I was waiting for my Hero! We were going to find the Boundary Line together!"
The woman's brow twitched. "Your 'Hero'? You mean that boy you just met? A male classmate? In the middle of the night? In a park? In the rain?" She exhaled deeply. "You're coming home. Now."
Rikka pouted fiercely. "I object!"
"Objection denied," her sister said coldly. "What kind of girl meets a strange boy in a park at night? Absolutely not."
She pointed at the rain dripping off the gazebo roof. "And besides, he's probably not coming. Smart boys stay home."
"He'll come!" Rikka shouted, eyes bright with conviction. "We're bound by destiny! We've already formed a contract!"
Kouya exhaled, rubbing his temple. That was his cue to leave.
He turned away, stepping back into the drizzle.
Contracts, heroes, destinies — all just words to fill the void.
He had taken only two steps when his phone buzzed again in his pocket, its ringtone echoing eerily through the quiet, rain-soaked park.
Kouya: "..."