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Chapter 61: Sage (Sapiens)
Tsuna had just taken Ryuu's uppercut.
"I-I am so terribly sorry… Mr. Sawada…"
"It's fine, really… But why won't you look at me?"
Ryuu was offering her sincere apologies to Tsuna, who had entered the pub and sat down on a stool. However, her body was completely turned around, her face pointed toward the back of the room.
"Are you still worried about what happened earlier?"
That's not it!! How dense can you be!?
Lunoire retorted to Tsuna's sheer obliviousness, clutching her head in exasperation as Tsuna assumed Ryuu was simply feeling awkward about accidentally punching him.
"Lunoire. I leave the rest to you. I have things I must attend to."
Still refusing to meet Tsuna's eyes, Ryuu briskly walked off toward the kitchen.
"She really didn't need to worry about it, though…"
This is going to be a disaster…
Between Tsuna, who was impossibly dense, and Ryuu, who was so hyper-conscious of him that she couldn't even hold a normal conversation, Lunoire was absolutely certain that any progress in their relationship was going to be an uphill battle.
.....
Having finished his meal at the Hostess of Fertility, Tsuna ended up leaving the pub without getting to properly speak with Ryuu.
"I didn't get to talk to her at all…"
He had tried to start a conversation a few times, but Ryuu had actively avoided him, making it impossible. With no other plans for the evening, Tsuna decided to head back to the church and watch the home base.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi."
"Eh?"
Suddenly, a voice called out his name. Tsuna turned toward the sound and saw a mysterious figure completely shrouded in a black robe standing in a dark alleyway.
Is that the person from before!? But they don't have a mask!! Are they a comrade of theirs!?
Seeing the full-body cloak instantly reminded Tsuna of the masked figure from the 18th floor. He immediately went on high alert.
"It is only natural that you would be on guard when a suspicious person appears out of nowhere, but please calm yourself. I am a messenger sent by Ouranos."
"From Lord Ouranos?"
"My name is Fels. I have come on Ouranos's orders to bring you to him. He has told me everything about you. Including the fact that you came from another world."
So he really is…
The only ones who knew he was from another world were Hestia, Bell, and Ouranos. Realizing this person was genuinely Ouranos's messenger, Tsuna dropped his guard.
"I apologize for the suddenness, but I need you to come with me. Ouranos wishes to speak with you."
"Understood."
"Follow me."
"Eh? The Guild is that way, isn't it?"
"There is another entrance. While a God might be fine, it would be highly suspicious for a human like you to repeatedly visit Ouranos's altar through the Guild. Furthermore, it would be problematic if my existence were made known. Therefore, I ask that you keep my identity a secret from others."
"Got it."
.....
Guided by Fels, Tsuna made his way toward the secret entrance leading to Ouranos's altar.
"I didn't know there was an entrance here."
They descended into the underground passage, walking down a narrow, dimly lit corridor.
"Hardly anyone knows this secret path exists. And the number of people who have actually used it can be counted on one hand."
"Does that mean it's a closely guarded secret? Is it really okay for me to be down here?"
"Using this path is the only way to ensure neither your identity nor mine is compromised. It is the most optimal choice."
Chatting quietly with Fels, Tsuna eventually arrived at the underground chamber.
"We're here."
Just as Fels announced, they stepped into the very same altar room Tsuna had visited once before.
"Good work, Fels. And thank you for coming despite the sudden summons, Sawada Tsunayoshi."
"Umm… What did you want to talk about, Lord Ouranos?"
"A progress report. Regarding the clues to returning you to your world."
"Did you find something!?"
"No. Fels and I have looked into it, but the reality is that we haven't found a single lead."
"I see…"
"Fels and I searched desperately during Giotto's time as well, but we never figured out how he managed to return to his world. Truthfully, finding a clue will prove to be exceedingly difficult."
"Eh!? Fels knows about Giotto too!?"
Tsuna couldn't hide his shock. He hadn't expected anyone other than Ouranos to know about Giotto.
"Wait, does that mean Fels is a God too? Or maybe an elf?"
In this world, the only beings capable of living for hundreds of years were Gods and elves. Tsuna naturally assumed Fels belonged to one of those two races.
"Incorrect… I am human. Or rather, a former human, I suppose."
Denying Tsuna's assumption, Fels gripped the edge of the hood with both hands and pulled it back, revealing its true face.
"Hiee!?"
The moment Tsuna saw Fels's face, he let out a pathetic shriek and collapsed onto his rear. Staring back at him was a face completely devoid of flesh and skin—a bare, bleached skull.
"Fels was once the sole Sage in the Magic Kingdom who successfully synthesized the Philosopher's Stone, a relic that manifests eternal life."
"So you're immortal…?"
"In a manner of speaking. However, all the flesh and skin on my body rotted away, leaving me as a creature more hideous than a monster. I can no longer feel the pangs of hunger or the parched ache of thirst. And because I lost my physical vessel, I can no longer update my Status. This form is the ultimate fate of one who sought immortality. It's poetic justice, so to speak."
"I see…"
"You're not very surprised… I know I'm not one to talk, but a normal human would have been far more terrified."
"Ah, no… It's just, there's someone exactly like you back in my world…"
"Seriously…?"
The sheer shock of learning that another immortal being existed in a different world caused Fels's typically composed tone of voice to completely shatter.
The person Tsuna was referring to was Bermuda von Veckenshtein, the man he had fought during the Representative Battle of the Rainbow. Bermuda was the leader of the Vindice, the mafia's underground law enforcement organization that judged those the law could not. He was also a former Arcobaleno.
Bermuda had been one of the Arcobaleno sacrificed to protect the world's order. During the generational shift, he was supposed to die when the flames were drained from his pacifier. However, in his final moments, he created the 8th attribute, the Flame of Night. By igniting his pacifier with this new flame, he artificially extended his own life. Since then, he had lived for centuries, driven solely by the singular desire to kill Checkerface—the entity who had cursed him into an infant.
Now that I think about it, Bermuda is…
Despite living for centuries, Bermuda's body hadn't rotted away. Not only that, he had used his Flame of Night to save others who shared his hatred for Checkerface and possessed the resolve to survive, allowing them to live for centuries as well. Tsuna realized that Bermuda was essentially a vastly superior version of Fels, giving him a renewed appreciation for just how terrifyingly powerful Bermuda truly was.
"I was indebted to Giotto in the past. Like Ouranos, I feel a sense of destiny in meeting you, his descendant. Therefore, I intend to spare no effort in researching a way to return you to your world. I fully intend to, however…"
"Did something happen?"
"The truth is, there is an organization operating in the shadows of Orario. We are currently in a situation where we must investigate their movements. And you, it seems, have already been caught up in their conspiracy. Specifically, during your expedition to the 59th floor with the Loki Familia."
"H-How do you know about that!?"
"I handed an item to the [Sword Princess] through an intermediary to monitor the situation on the 59th floor. I never imagined you would be there, however."
"A-Ah, no!! That was just—!!"
"Please calm down. I have no intention of punishing you. Isn't that right, Ouranos?"
"Indeed. In fact, allow me to express my gratitude."
"Eh!?"
Instead of being punished for sneaking down to the 59th floor as a Level 1, Tsuna was being thanked. Tsuna couldn't hide his confusion.
"If you had not gone to the 59th floor, the Loki Familia would have been annihilated, and Orario might have been set on a path toward total ruin."
"Ruin…? What do you mean…!?"
"To cut to the chase. The Spirit you fought. It was artificially created."
"That thing was…!?"
A cold shiver ran down Tsuna's spine at the revelation that such a grotesque abomination was man-made.
"It is not just the Spirit. The caterpillar-like monster that spits corrosive acid, and the Man-Eating Flowers—they were all artificially created."
"Could it be the Evils?"
"So you knew."
"Yes. Also, I fought someone who might be part of the Evils. They were wearing a mask and a full-body cloak, hiding their identity just like Fels."
"We knew such an individual was among the enemy… but to think you had already made contact with them."
Hearing Tsuna's report, Ouranos realized that Tsuna was now squarely in the Evils' crosshairs.
"Sawada Tsunayoshi. Did you go on this expedition of your own free will?"
"Yes. Finn asked me if I could lend them my strength."
"I see. If you made the decision of your own volition, then I shall say nothing, nor will I attempt to stop you. However, there are people waiting for your safe return. Never forget that."
"I won't."
"This conversation has gone on long enough. Fels. Give him the item."
"Understood."
Fels approached Tsuna and pulled a small, palm-sized crystal from their robe.
"What is this?"
"This is an Oculus. With this, you can communicate over long distances with anyone holding a paired crystal. If anything happens, Ouranos will contact you through this. Conversely, if you ever need to contact Ouranos, please use it."
"Thank you."
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