English Novel
Chapter 32: L’s Twin!? A history untold!
Chapter 32: L's Twin!? A history untold!
Within the confines of the temple, one could feel the calmness and solemnity that had surrounded it. The hall was large enough, designed with tall wooden arches above, which increased the magnificence of the place. Sunlight came in through the shades of paper lanterns falling on the shiny wooden floor in soft designs. Slight vestige of incense agitates calmly the surrounding ambience.
Seating at the fore of the hall sat a man who appeared to be miles away in thoughts, his back towards them. He was dressed in a long white silk kimono which fell perfectly on his frame. On his head was a short crop of grey hair which was well groomed. The sleeves of the kimono were hanging freely, and a plain but beautiful sash was tied around the waist enhancing the elegance of the man.
Kaito, Suki, Hana, Yumi, Ren knelt onto the tatami mat, down into seiza position-on their knees, legs tucked beneath their bodies-straightbacked, heads up but with a respectful bow, hands laid upon their thighs. Gojin was the next to follow, then Kenji and Sakura, all sitting similarly, awaiting the man to finish his prayer.
A few minutes later, the man finished his prayer, his back still turned to them. He took a deep inhale, followed by a slow exhale.
With a low voice that surprisingly carried through the hall as if amplified, he spoke:
"Are they the first-years that are expected?"
Kaito nodded. "Yes, master. They're—"
Reikishi cut him off. "Gojin, Kenji, and Sakura. Gojin is from the Seren clan, while Kenji is from the Kuroyami clan. As for Sakura..." He paused for a moment, turning around. "Her history is for later."
Gojin stared at the man, stunned, feeling as if he might pass out. The man looked exactly like L— in fact, he could be L's twin. However, the others didn't know this, as they hadn't seen L's face.
"What the heck? L has a twin!? And they share the omnipotent insight," Gojin quickly realized. It seemed as if L's twin had known who they were from meters away. Many hints had been dropped, including his pause when about to reveal details about Sakura, suggesting he had seen something he couldn't disclose in front of them...
It was also highly likely that he knew about Kurozai being inside Kenji but chose not to mention it, and the second-years seemed to share the same understanding. Kurozai's aura was unmistakable; it couldn't be ignored. The final conclusion was that they either wanted to avoid that discussion for some reason— but why?
"Welcome once again. The second-years were chasing after our Assit Akuma when they encountered you," Reikishi said.
"Uh, Assit Akuma? Wait a second, you don't mean—?" Gojin and Kenji exclaimed in unison, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.
Assit Akumas are classified as Exile grade, a grade 4. They are highly perceptive and can comprehend complex situations, making them effective training assistants—or, better said, training dolls. The second-years had been engaged in combat with it without using any special skills, relying solely on the enhancement of their tools, as cutting through an Assit Akuma is nearly impossible. Yet Gojin had managed to do it with a mere swipe of his hand.
"The five of you can continue with your training, and when night falls, feel free to do some hunting in the mountain area and also in Kamakura village, childrens have been going missing for over a month now."
"The recruits—reapers and exorcists—have been facing significant challenges combating this suspected Akuma there, often returning severely injured or even dead, with some missing altogether. I believe the five of you will be able to take them down," Reikishi said, gesturing for them to leave the temple.
The five of them got up and exited, leaving only Gojin, Kenji, and Sakura with Reikishi.
....
The new recruits of soul reapers and exorcists typically worked together on missions. The reapers guided lost human souls to the afterlife, while the exorcists fought against malevolent spirits. In this era, reapers were not permitted to assist in battle, but in the modern world, the reapers had all perished, leaving the exorcists to combat the Akumas—souls or demons.
Without the special skills needed to guide lost souls, the exorcists could not help them reach the afterlife, resulting in these souls wandering the earth and becoming prey for the Akumas.
Bored with merely consuming souls, the Akumas returned to their old ways of killing and devouring humans along with their souls.
Again, In this era, an organization similar to the one in the modern world existed, but it had fallen due to the ongoing war between clans. This impending threat could not be halted, as human greed—an insatiable desire for more—had persisted for countless centuries. The organization was called Kurokage, overseen by an unknown person, likely not a clan head or anything related to one of the clans.
As was customary, all clans contributed their members to this organization.
Reikishi, despite having experienced the modern era, could not foresee the fate of the clans. Similarly, Gojin, Kenji, and Sakura were bound to forget significant historical events, like epic battles and falls, as they transitioned between realms. This was one of the effects of transmigration, a safeguard against altering past incidents—an effect not imposed by mere humans or gods, but by the Almighty.
Revealing or intervening in past events could lead to greater calamities if not from the era, making such matters perilous. Rankings were established for soul reapers and exorcists, differing from those in the modern world:
Soul Reapers:
Guardians (High):
Guardians are the highest-ranking soul reapers, responsible for chasing after runaway souls that are most likely to come into contact with demons. They ensure these souls are safely guided to the afterlife, preventing them from falling into the hands of malevolent spirits.
Sentinel (Low):
Sentinels support Exorcists by assisting in their missions and helping to escort lost souls. While they may not possess the same level of power, they are skilled and dedicated to their roles.
Exorcists:
Adept (High):
Adepts are elite exorcists capable of facing the strongest Akumas. They possess advanced combat skills and a deep understanding of all energies apart from Ki, making them formidable opponents in battle.
Hunters (Mid-High):
Hunters are experienced exorcists who actively engage in missions to eliminate Akumas. They have honed their skills through numerous battles and are respected for their determination and effectiveness. Getting to this rank is only about kill counts, eliminating 50 Akumas and 2, grade 2 or 3 radiant can get any exorcist to this rank.
Wraiths (Mid-Low):
Wraiths are intermediate exorcists who have some experience but are still developing their skills. They often work alongside Hunters and Adepts, gaining experience and training in the field.
Occasionally, a high-grade Akuma, such as a Grade 1 Radiant, can form a pact with a soul. This pact grants the soul special abilities, but it also corrupts it, leading the soul to become increasingly hungry for more souls.
As these corrupted souls grow stronger, they become too powerful for the Guardians to handle, necessitating their transfer to the Exorcists. The Exorcists then take on the critical task of eliminating these corrupted entities entirely, ensuring they are removed from existence to prevent further chaos and suffering.
....
"Would the three of you follow me so I can show you around and provide some important information? Also, Gojin, in this era, training will be compulsory for you, as there are Akumas nearly at your level—and Kurozai's," Reikishi warned, turning to look at Kenji.
He added:
"Remember, believing you are the strongest can blind you to the truth. The mightiest are bound to face the toughest challenges. It's not just about power; it's how you rise to those obstacles that truly defines your strength. As they say, 'True strength is not the absence of struggle, but the ability to overcome it.'"
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