章節 1: Chapter 1: Childhood Friend Kasumigaoka Utaha
Chapter 1: Childhood Friend Kasumigaoka Utaha
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"According to reliable sources, ghouls in Kyoto have been active recently. Hunters are urged to remain vigilant."
"The Magic Association has released the latest news claiming that magic will reshape the world, but the Clock Tower has restricted revealing this knowledge to ordinary people."
"Jujutsu High School will begin full enrollment this year, allowing Jujutsu masters to recruit from the general public."
"The first-generation leader of the Nura Group declared they will remain irreconcilable with the Feathered Fox."
"A tiger-level monster appeared at a high school in Kanagawa, but the hero known as Magic Hands destroyed it."
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Japan, Kyoto, Private Kunugigaoka Highschool, Class 3, Grade 1.
"I can't stand another day like this. If this continues, I'll die again sooner or later," Elric Takahashi muttered.
Sitting in the back row by the window, the self-proclaimed "hometown of the king," Elric was deep in thought.
As a member of the so-called time-traveling army, Elric had arrived in this anime-like world eighteen years ago, transported here after writing a paper and watching a movie in his original life.
It's a well-known fact that being a time traveler is a high-risk "profession," with family members often bearing the brunt of the danger. Apart from an older sister, most family members of time travelers don't survive.
This reality had proven true for Elric as well. After arriving in this world, his family members had passed away one after another, leaving only him and his younger sister, Kasugano Sora.
With the memories of an adult from his previous life, Elric managed to adapt and live relatively comfortably in this world—at least financially, he had no worries.
For a while, he thought he could lead a peaceful and uneventful life.
That was until he accidentally saw a monster.
It was then Elric realized this wasn't an ordinary anime-like world but one filled with danger and fantastical supernatural elements.
Magus, ghouls, monsters, cursed spirits, Red World apostles, heroes—the world was teeming with them. The risk factor was extraordinarily high, and the seemingly peaceful surface only concealed the chaos underneath.
Through sheer effort and determination, Elric pieced together the truth: this fragile peace was maintained by an organization called the Hunter Organization, a coalition funded globally to combat supernatural phenomena, protect ordinary people, and stabilize society.
The information on his phone, classified as "confidential," was something ordinary people couldn't access without registering as hunters. While Elric lacked supernatural powers, obtaining a basic E-level hunter license wasn't too difficult, granting him access to insider knowledge.
As he delved deeper, Elric noticed a troubling trend: supernatural occurrences were becoming more frequent and increasingly dangerous.
"Lately, there's been so much trouble in the world," he sighed. "Maybe I should take Sora and hide in some quiet countryside."
"Even though getting into Kunugigaoka High school wasn't easy, it's better than losing my life," he muttered.
Elric was neither ambitious nor competitive. As an ordinary person, his sole wish was to live peacefully with his sister, Sora. The idea of saving the world held no appeal to him.
"Hey, Elric, want to go sing karaoke after school?"
A melodious female voice interrupted his thoughts.
He turned in the direction of the voice, his gaze landing first on a pair of long, slender legs clad in black silk stockings.
Following his line of sight upward, he saw the tailored uniform of Kunugigaoka Private High school, which accentuated the girl's tall, curvaceous figure to perfection.
Although her attire and features were similar to those of other students, there was something distinctly captivating about her.
Her exquisite face, striking rosy eyes, and commanding presence exuded confidence. This was Kasumigaoka Utaha, renowned as the "freshman goddess" of Kunugigaoka High School.
Standing beside Elric, Utaha smiled slightly, her aura both inviting and intimidating, as she extended her casual invitation.
"After school? Forget it. I need to go home and cook for Sora today."
How would I describe my relationship with Kasumigaoka ? It's pretty solid. Our families live close to each other, and back when my parents were still alive, they were on friendly terms with hers.
We grew up together naturally, so it's not surprising that we're close. I've even given her a lot of advice on her writing over the years. For example, I've shared my thoughts on God of War and The Dragon King's Doghouse. What's that saying again? Oh, right—"I don't usually read bad novels, but if it's this bad, I have to read it!"
Our relationship works both ways. For someone like Kasumigaoka, who's infamous for her sharp tongue, I might be the only person who doesn't fall victim to her barbs. She genuinely considers me a friend, which says a lot.
"Cook for Sora? You're such a good brother," Utaha remarked, her voice teasing.
She twirled a strand of her silky black hair between her fingers and added, "Since no one's home at my place today, I'll come over to yours for dinner. Is that okay?"
Her tone was light, but the glint in her eyes suggested she wasn't taking no for an answer. It seemed she had a plan B for spending time with me, the so-called idiot.
After all…
Kasumigaoka suddenly felt a strange sense of helplessness as her gaze lingered on me.
The reason? It was simple—Elric was too handsome.
Bathed in the afternoon sunlight, his perfectly sculpted features were accentuated. His delicate, fair skin seemed almost luminous, softer and smoother than a baby's.
His long, feathery lashes cast shadows over his dark eyes, which glimmered like stars—not just a metaphor, but an undeniable reality when it came to Elric.
Under the sunlight, Utaha caught a glimpse of something extraordinary in his pupils. They seemed to hold the image of a feathered flower, unfolding delicately like a sacred lotus.
She had always thought he was handsome when they were kids, but as time passed, Elric's allure grew exponentially. He had become a treasure, radiating a magnetic charm that seemed to draw people in effortlessly.
"Free food? Sure, but you'll have to bring your own ingredients," I replied nonchalantly.
My feelings toward Kasumigaoka were simple. She was my childhood friend, someone I'd grown up with. Despite her venomous tongue, I still considered her a good friend.
To be honest, she had a reputation for being exceptionally sharp, but for some reason, I was the only one exempt from her usual sarcasm.
"Bring my own ingredients? You're such a cheapskate!" she exclaimed, feigning annoyance.
Her pout was convincing, but I could tell she was secretly pleased. My casual remark had shown I didn't see her as an outsider.
If I ever ignored my sister just to fawn over someone like her, I'd be no better than the countless ordinary people who shamelessly tried to get her attention.
"It's settled then—I'll go grocery shopping after school and meet you at your place," Utaha declared.
Her parting words drew the attention of several onlookers, leaving many envious. She tossed her hair back with a graceful motion and sauntered off to her classroom, her aura of confidence unwavering.
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Note: The world in this story will be fleshed out gradually.
It's a setting where supernatural powers exist, but the Hunter Association works hard to conceal these phenomena from the public.
Most ordinary people are unaware of the supernatural forces around them. Despite this, there are systems of checks and balances in place, along with a low probability of direct exposure, which helps maintain basic social order.
The protagonist feels uneasy because the frequency of supernatural incidents has increased in recent years. As an ordinary person, it's only natural that he'd want to steer clear of them.
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