One's Eden: Hanayuki Travel

Chapter 73: Madly in love

Aster moves swiftly, going to cut the undead woman’s head immediately. The sword struck her neck with a loud metallic sound. Surprised at the result of her attack. Aster immediately stepped backward, noticing that the undead woman had attempted to grab her arm.

“This one is bad…”

Aster wasn’t done talking when the undead woman already had her sharp claws in front of her face.

Responding at high speed, she moves her sword covering her face. The claw was very sharp and it cut down the white saber of Aster.

After the first claw, it was immediately followed by continuous furious swipes. Aster covered herself with defensive magic to block the attack. But the defensive magic wasn’t enough, her body had damage and cuts all over her body.

“Lightning kick!”

I jump into the fight, kicking the undead toward its face. The undead woman didn’t even flinch after taking my kick. While my feet were on her cheeks. She grabbed me and slammed my body down on the ground.

My body was in tremors.

Aster took her secondary weapon. Another sword, but it's shorter and thinner than the first one she had. She dashed forward fencing. Thrusting her blade into the undead’s head.

*Snap!*

The thin blade snapped.

I forced myself into recovery and rotated my body. I moved my left foot behind her head and hooked her down with all my strength. Locking down the undead on the ground. I stood up and pulled her right hand.

Come off!

“Over limit lightning speed!”

Empowering my strength, I successfully ripped off the undead’s right arm.

“Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeecccccccccccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!”

What the heck?!

A picnic screeching sound was released from its mouth. Aster and I stepped back and placed our hands on our ears.

Having her escape, the undead goes made distance between her and us. She crouched down, placing her left hand on the ground. Followed by her action was the trembling of soil.

This feeling… There is a huge magical power around us.

“Hanayuki from the ground!”

Aster said and took my hand as she leaped high up in the sky.

Giant roots pop out from the ground and their tips are sharp as a spear. While we’re both airborne, the roots extended to chasing Aster and me.

This zombie could use magic.

“We can’t move while in mid-air… What should we do?”

Aster wondered.

Before the roots come to pierce our body. I took Aster's hand away from me and kicked her in the opposite direction. By using her as a stepping stone, I could move and her body, after taking my kick, was blasted away. Resulting from the two of us avoiding the roots.

comes crashing into one of the houses nearby, destroying the roof. Debris came flying in her wake.

“My butt hurts… But I can say that idea was genius. Time for me to become serious. I’ll tell this undead what power can do.”

She opened her special inventory and from the hole, she opened. A hilt could be seen. She pulled it down and revealed a golden sword. The sword was full of magical power.

Aster holding the sword made her magic twice… No, ten times bigger.

“This is one of the legendary weapons from a hundred years ago… The sword used by the legendary hero himself… the Legendary sword, Exculiburn.”

Aster turned her glance at me and said,

“Hanayuki, run away as fast as you can. This next attack will make a mark on the whole city.”

“Who do you think I am? My speed is top-notched…”

I followed her advice and ran away from the scene.

Using my magic detection, I could not sense anyone nearby besides the three of us. This is the perfect time for her to use her ultimate attack.

Running at high velocity until I could not see Aster.

Behind my back a tower of light manifested. Heavy gusts from the towering light. After the lighting, a huge sound of an explosion was heard throughout the entire city.

I didn’t see what exactly Aster did, but that magic is terrifying.

I climbed up a church tower and looked at what happened in the distance.

I was astonished at what I saw. The capital city was marked by a huge crater. A crater so deep, red-orange magma could be seen.

Not a trace of the undead was left.

This is the true power of Sword Powers.

A few minutes later, I went back to Aster's location to check. She was looking down at the crater.

The undead woman crawled up to the surface with her body all burned down blazing with flames.

“She is still alive… She is a tough nut to c***k. If my most powerful attack could not kill her. I didn’t know what to do anymore.”

Aster said.

“I think I know how to kill her…”

I replied.

“Honey… Honey…”

The zombie woman goes to search for the mad scientist. She seeks him but is never found. Unusual tears come gushing down from the zombie.

She is crying…

Aster could not hide it but she could feel a little sympathy for the zombie. She averted her head away by gritting her teeth.

It is very sad… It's very sad to know that the thing you love is not on your side any longer. People will do something mad just for the one they love. That is natural.

The reason why the mad scientist revived his wife is that he missed her so much.

The wife who became a zombie still remembers some fragments of their memories together. Living a dream life of peace.

Memory link.

Their life was full of regrets… They regretted not confessing their love to each other. Even though they love each other so much. It was when one of them was gone, that their value was acknowledged. They realize how important they are to each other. Like two sides of a coin. They won’t be one if they lose one another.

“It's very sad… I’ll take you back…”

I muttered.

My hand was covered with holy magic. I pierced her chest open, destroying her heart.

“... I pray that you’ll meet the one you love the most again.”

♦♦♦♦♦

After Hanayuki successfully kills the undead.

The woman had woken up on the table.

She could only hear the drops of water from the faucet and the boiling pot on the stove.

She was still in a daze… Putting her hand on her head, she began walking toward the boiling pot. She turned off the stove and was still unable to comprehend what was happening.

“Am I dreaming?”

She whispered.

She moved the curtain and opened the window. All she could see were tall buildings and loud noises in the streets. The moon was shining brightly above the night sky filled with sparkling stars.

The television was open. It took her interest and she sat down on the sofa watching a drama.

“I felt sad… I felt very sad…”

Holding her bosom tightly. It was not the drama that made her feel sad. She dreamed that she couldn’t understand.

A knocking from the door was heard. She opened it immediately and saw her husband. With a gift in his hand, he greeted his wife.

“Happy anniversary, Honey.”

“Honey…”

I see, I’m sad because I thought he didn’t remember our anniversary… I’m so happy.

The wife hugged her husband crying.

“Why are you crying?”

“I just had a long painful dream earlier… In that dream, I lost you.”

“What are you talking about? There is no way I will die before you. I’ll take care of you until the day you die. That’s my promise.”

The husband said.

The unbearable happiness surges through their mind and body. Unable to resist, they both pressed their lips together passionately. After kissing, they both laugh.

The wife and the husband spent the night happily.

♦♦♦♦♦

...

“Holy magic… You’re indeed one of the exceptional… Are you sure that you don’t want to join my party? I’ll offer you a mansion and talk to a high-ranked noble about your engagement.”

Aster offered.

“My answer won’t change… Status, wealth, and power are not something I desire.” I replied as I shook my head.

“That’s weird. Those things are what everyone wants in life.”

For sure, that was the case for certain people. I still believe that there are people like me who just like a nice and quiet life. Living peacefully away from dramas and conflicts.

Still…

“I wouldn’t mind if someone gave me some reward after this… I need money to survive after all.”

I said.

“Of course, you’re getting something… I saw you’re knightly heart in helping the weak. I’ll make sure you’ll get something after this chaos. There are still lots of monsters and demons around. The giant danger beast has been taken off by the other powers already. All we have to deal with is the small fry.”

I happily joined her in defeating the remaining mobs roaming in the city.

It becomes much easier fighting with Aster. The remaining demons can’t even hold a candle against her and the other powers.

Most of the residents are all protected by barriers in the shelter. After the battle, the monsters all cleared. The casualties made by the monsters are easy to tell. Destroyed buildings, a road to use for a while, and people were killed by the monsters' sudden attack.

♦♦♦♦♦

There was once a mage. 50 years ago, this mage was banned from the royal capital. He was banished for stepping on the capital because he is not a human anymore. After everything, he did for the kingdom. His good deeds are never repaid kindly.

The mage swore revenge.

I will not forgive that king.

His mere death won’t settle this.

I will demolish the kingdom under his care.

I will bring it to the ruins.

I will s*******r its citizens.

I will bring him to despair.

I’ve lost everything because of him. All make sure that he’ll I lose everything the same way… No, worse.

The mage made his vow of revenge to the king a long time ago. Now, his revenge was about to bear its fruit. The mage from 50 years ago, the Skull King, has returned.

He sneaked inside the kingdom, killing the knights on his way with his deathly magic and summoning monsters. While everyone is distracted outside. The king was not on guard, lying down on his bed.

Two years ago, the king became ill. Illnesses that have no cure. His body weakened and the once muscular body was thin as skin and bones. Without the continuous supply of magic to his body, he's already dead.

“Look at you how pathetic… The man who called me bones became bones himself. I bet lying very hard living lying down unable to do anything you want.”

Skull King said as he walked slowly to the king's bed.

The king turned his eyeball toward the entrance door of his room and saw the king's skull.

“What are you doing here, Golzam?”

“I’m flattered that you still remember my name, my king… I’m here to take everything away from you. My summoned danger beasts, demons, and monsters are currently creating chaos in the city. In a few moments, your beloved kingdom will fall into nothingness. If you despair, I’ll burn you down to cinders.”

“I don’t care.”

The king replied.

“... What do you mean that you don’t care? This kingdom is your everything. I want you to feel despair.”

“I already knew despair… Dying will come as a relief for me. Ah, I still don’t understand why I’m still living. I live a life full of regrets. I was sinful… Having many women, too much money, fame, and power. But in the end, all I wanted was one thing… I wanted my children to visit me. That is the only reason I’m living and resisting my death. I want to at least see their faces one last time. But since I was an evil king… None of them have come to visit, but I still look forward to it. Maybe I’ll see a miracle.”

“Asking pity at your last moment… How ironic… Everything you have taken everything away from you… I felt like I don’t want to kill you any longer. Your current state is much more like torture already. Living like that is like breathing underwater. If my monster came here to kill you, then that’s how your life would end…”

“I won’t let that happen.”

The sentence on the king's skull was cut after the arrival of a knight.

The knight was named William. One of the royalty and fiance of the princess Yusael Archangel.

“This is the end of you… We have already defeated all the monsters roaming around the kingdom. The powers already take care of them swiftly. For the witch cultist allied with you. They are all slathered to death after refusing to spill the beans. Now you’re the only one left… Are you going to leave the location of the witch cultist hideout or are you going to die?”

“That’s impossible! Impossible!”

“Turn your eyes on the window and look for yourself.”

The Skull king did what William told him. Looking from the giant window of the king’s room. He saw not even a shadow of the giant monster he summoned.

Frustrated at the result of his revenge. He turned his body toward William and fired a magic attack. Which William intercepted with his sword.

“My sword and armor are created with high-quality white metal. Materials are known for anti-magic. A man like yourself can’t do anything against someone like yourself… The entire room is already covered with my dimensional magic. There is no way you can go out… It’s your defeat.”

“I’ll still enact my revenge… I won’t let my revenge end up like this.”

A red magic circle appeared on the king's chest and skull. Magical energy was collected at one point. Seeing the magic circle, William realized what it was.

“Self-destruction magic?”

“That’s right! There is no way I can escape… I’ll just make you and the king explode together with me.”

“High-powered sealing magic!”

A woman's voice was heard. Instantly, the king's body and skull were embraced together with glowing chains.

The woman who had the voice made her entrance into the room. William patted the girl's head.

“Good girl Marie… You’re in perfect timing.”

“I had better have lots of reward money after this big brother.”

“You sure are greedy…”

“Also, pat my head for a few more minutes.”

“You’re so demanding… Now there is no denying that you’re defeated… We'll put you in prison later for questioning and after that execution.”

The king's skull was lost. He fell to his knees with despair. He realized that nothing good was coming from revenge. The decades of his work just for this day are all wasted.

On the outer layer.

Hanayuki helped out rescuing the surviving residents of the outer layer. The casualties in the middle layer are small and nothing bad happened in the inner layer.

While Hanayuki was having a break, he was sitting on the destroyed clock tower. Aster came to her and tossed a juice drink. Hanayuki catches and bows.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t sweat it… I appreciate your help today. I heard that the adventurers who help will have some reward later. I also found out that there will be a dinner party in the kingdom to celebrate our victory. You’re invited.”

“Really?”

“Of course you are… You’re one of the heroes who protected this city after all… Now that I remember it… Hundreds of years ago there was a similar event that happened in the capital city. Monsters and demons from dark territory come to attack the capital city. The hero was sealed down and the one who took care of the monsters was the Sword demon, Kaede Kishimoto.”

“Kaede Kishimoto… That’s a weird name… Some said that she is from another world. Oh, I finally remember one of the adventurers who helped on that monster attack was named Hanayuki. It's a coincidence, another Hanayuki has come to help the capital city after hundreds of years.”

“That’s wonderful.”

I thought she had a connection to my past.

I took the straw on the back of the juice drink and punched it down into the cardboard box. Sipping the juice queued my thirst.

All I wanted was to get a pen… I got into another mix-up.

After taking a sip, I made a big sigh.

“You look down.”

“Well, the inn that I rented has been destroyed… I guess I’ll join the refugees tonight.”

“No problem about that… You’ll fit in my house. I have a guess room to spare. You can stay at my house for a while.”

“No no no, I’m a peasant. Nobles hate having people in their house.”

“Don’t put me in their ranks… I’m not one of those people. The party will be held two weeks from now. You need a dress. I want you to look good when you receive your reward. Let me take care of everything.”

The awarding ceremony is happening at the party.

“... It's good for me because I can have lots of time to persuade you to join my party.”

“My answer won’t change.”

I replied.