"I see. To think that something like that could be found in a Mortal World."
After hearing me talk about the cut-off piece of a higher world, I was expecting him to be more surprised but his response was kind of lukewarm.
"You, you already know about..."
Just how much does he already know? Will he only be surprised if something happened beyond his prediction? Just like the sudden emergence of the Corrupted Individuals before the date he estimated.
"You don't need to be so surprised, Kuramoto-kun. I am aware. Don't worry, those were also useful pieces of information so they count. However, you said an incarnation appeared before you that was too strong which even Yumiko-chan couldn't cope?"
He started tapping his table as if he's waiting for more information that will come out of my mouth. I don't know if it's just him mocking me since he clearly knew more than what he's showing.
"Yes. If not for him being lenient to us, I wouldn't get as much information from him."
"You made a good call to stop at his first warning when you tried to test his limits. Those existences aren't someone that the likes of us can hope to cope as of right now."
He nodded and praised the decision I made but well, that's just logical. But his words... 'Those existences'.
"Then--"
Before I even finished what I was about to ask, he already answered and filled up the gaps in the information I discovered.
"I heard about Transcendents and Higher Worlds or it should be called Transcendent Worlds or a Level 2 World. Let's see. These pieces of information you brought me were quite valuable, that was if it fell on another person's ears. However, since you're the Heroes' support and I put you in that position, I'll still credit it for you."
"Is that something I should say thank you for?"
I underestimated the extent of his knowledge. Surely he's already aware of the true nature of the Corrupted back then but he still credited it to me. Just like today.
"It depends on you."
The Principal comfortably lies back on his seat with his slight smile still hanging on his face. That expression is that of someone enjoying what's in front of him. In a sense, I should thank him but he's the one who actually forced me into this role.
However, I also accepted it completely when I saw Yuko's state in that world. So in the end, he's only responsible for pushing me on this path. His way of giving credits to anything I discovered even if it's already a known knowledge to him… Was that his own form of compensation for me?
I don't know what he truly planned but he even told me that I can do whatever I want and I still chose to become a support for the Heroes. Only my presence was needed to save them which means I was actually given freedom of what I really want to do compared to the Heroes who were given the duty of defending their Otherworld.
"Say. What if I rejected the offer on the first day? What will happen? Will you kill me? Considering you used Bind on me on that chair so I wouldn't be able to run…"
His actions from that day were still fresh to me. The way he used Bind. Was that to instill fear for me? Which led me to believe that accepting the forced engagement was the only way for me to survive?
Though it was just a verbal engagement, I already accepted that as a fact after my experience with her. But until now, it stays as a verbal engagement, there's not even a talk for the date of our wedding or any official documents concerning it.
"Is that still on your mind? Do you not like my daughter?"
Did he already push what happened to the back of his mind? I needed to know what he's thinking that day. Why me? Why does he have to force it like that? If he offered me monetary gains, I would probably accept that but he only put Yuko's hand on the table when I asked for what's in it for me.
"I already love Yuko, you know that. However, I'm asking for what if? I actually reluctantly accepted it, even with my Adaptability and my thinking process by then, the way you only put the engagement on the table is weird. Even so, I decided to accept because I was afraid that if I refused and went out of that door there's a possibility that you'll kill me."
Now that I'm confronting him about this, he still looks calm as if this scene was something he already saw happening. This is what's scary about his Clairvoyance. I might be able to hide some things from him but if it also concerns him, he will probably see it through his ability before I come here.
"Let's see. I wouldn't actually kill you. You would leave that door safely, you could even enroll in another school. However, in one way or another, you would be sent back here, meet Yuko-chan, meet those girls you made a bond with, travel the different worlds, know about the things that even the Heroes don't know. You'll just take a little detour."
Like narrating a story, the Principal said all those in a slow manner. Drilling it into my brain.
"I see, so in the end, my destiny is here with her and becoming someone who will support her and the others."
The convergence of our destinies.
If my guess is correct, our destinies were already tied up even before meeting here again and it possibly happened within the time frame of the blank in my memory. The way he described the order of things that would've happened if I rejected it back then sounded the same as the answer which the Spirit Queen provided. That even if we became apart from each other, we'll be reunited, one way or another.
"Right. Destiny. That's the easiest explanation you can fall into."
The Principal smiled and nodded at my answer. He then stood up from his seat, turned around and took out a bottle of alcohol before pouring himself a glass of it.
"I admit. You always exceeded my expectations of you, Kuramoto-kun. Your growth is phenomenal that no other Heroes could compare. Moreover, you're like me. A sly one. You purposely left these pieces of information out from your report and you chose to report first before Yumiko-chan. The purpose of doing that was to make me talk, right?"
He sipped his drink and went back to his seat.
Haa. He already saw through me and he played along with it. Tricking someone with Clairvoyance and high intelligence was this hard.
"Yes. If you're this willing to talk, does that mean you already determined that I now have the right to learn about this?"
He could just brush me off again and give me superficial truths but this time, he's willingly answering my questions.
"You could say it's like that. Furthermore, you still left out one more thing right? I saw it."
Ah. The Totem Pole.
"Even that didn't escape your Clairvoyance? Here. It's a Transcendent Equipment we got from that piece of a higher world "
I took out the Totem Pole from the Necklace. Upon seeing it, the Principal finally has a change in his expression for the first time. His face now screams treasure.
"This… Alright. This one truly gave me a genuine surprise. What is its function?"
Not just a surprise. The way he gawked at it was like someone looking at something precious, even without holding it, his eye already determined its value.
"It enhances an ability. Right. You're also like us. This can enhance your Clairvoyance."
If it was enhanced, will his predictions be clearer? Will the date of the widening of the Portals be determined if he used that?
"Astonishing. Whoever made this isn't just an ordinary Transcendent. Will you give this to me?"
With a hint of greed in his eyes that he immediately hid, the Principal asked.
That reaction from him spoke the value of this Pole. Though he wouldn't probably harm us, I changed my mind of letting him hold onto this
"No. I decided to hold onto this myself. You wouldn't forcefully take it from me, right?"
He surely can if he truly wants to take it for himself. His real strength is still a mystery. That Bind and that Portal. How could he use those if the Earth was still devoid of any inherent energy? Is he also a Hero that still has a connection to his Otherworld?
"Of course. Even if you saw that greed in my eyes just now. I'm not that unscrupulous."
He coughed twice before sipping from his glass again.
"I can let you use this, I don't know how this will enhance your Clairvoyance but I really want to know what will happen or what we should expect in the coming future."
He can see into the future so letting him use the Pole to enhance his Clairvoyance will also benefit us in more ways than one.
Being Yuko's father and the one who arranged for the Heroes, his goal was tied to us.
"I see. That's fair. I'll do that and tell you what I can tell you. You know, sometimes, it's still better to hold onto information."
He nodded and even left some kind of a reminder to me. Holding onto information. Just like how we shouldn't let the other Heroes be aware of their own doom.
"Just don't forget to tell us before it's too late."
"Of course."
After we got into an understanding, I handed him the Pole. He put it down on his table and looked at me again, waiting for my next words.
Right. We finally reached this part.
"Now that that's out of the way. Can you tell me now? Yuko's memories. Is it real or…?"
I already expected what his answer would be. He wouldn't count it as a piece of information if her memories were real.
And like I thought, his answer came immediately and even probed what I already know about myself.
"Some of it was fabricated. Kuramoto-kun, I know you already guessed, your existence is special."
Just how special? Being the only one who can travel into different worlds was already special enough…
"I see. So something really happened. Who modified her memories about that day? And who tore that page in my memory and left it in a blank state? Why not fabricate some memories just like with her?"
With my continuous questions, the Principal simply listened until I'm done throwing it.
"…I couldn't really answer all of that. However, Kuramoto-kun, do you believe in reincarnation?"
And after a few minutes of silence, he threw me his own question instead of answering mine.
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