It was a deep, pitch-black night. The entire forest was shrouded in darkness, the shadows stretching endlessly between the trees. Renji still lay unconscious, completely unmoving, in the heart of the Crimsonwood Jungle. From far away, the deafening roar of the jungle's wild beasts echoed through the dense canopy, bouncing off tree trunks and filling the night with an ominous presence.
In the morning, the white tiger from before finally caught the scent. It sensed both blood and Renji's unique aura lingering in the air. Slowly, deliberately, it approached him. Seeing Renji in such a vulnerable state, the tiger circled him cautiously, moving with silent, deliberate steps. When it realized he could not resist or move, it let out a powerful roar, asserting its presence with undeniable authority. Throughout the night, the tiger had stayed vigilant, remaining by Renji's side. None of the other beasts dared approach him, intimidated by the tiger's overwhelming aura.
By morning, Renji finally regained consciousness. Pain shot through his legs and shoulders, sharp and relentless. He felt utterly weak from blood loss, barely able to move a single limb. Soon, the tiger appeared directly before him. Fear coursed through his veins, making his heart pound, yet the tiger did not attack. Instead, it placed its massive paw gently on his body. Instantly, the skin on Renji's exterior began to heal, smoothing over injuries, though the broken bones and torn muscles beneath remained unhealed. Renji was astonished, his eyes widening in disbelief. Could the tiger really heal him just like that? A mix of wonder and confusion churned within him.
The tiger then lay down in front of him, settling its massive body onto the forest floor. Renji understood its intention clearly: it wanted to guide him out of the jungle. A small, hesitant smile crossed his face. Without hesitation or fear, he climbed onto the tiger's broad back. The tiger carried him carefully, moving through the dense forest with steady, deliberate steps. No other creature dared approach during their journey, intimidated by the tiger's powerful presence.
After a long trek, Renji reached out and placed his hand on the tiger's head. Feeling a slight discomfort, the tiger reacted almost playfully, picking up a stick from nearby and nudging Renji with it. "Wow… you're so cute," Renji whispered softly, laughing a little. The tiger seemed to understand, turning back and continuing their journey quietly, its pace steady and measured.
Using the stick as a guide, Renji slowly made his way toward the town. In his mind, he questioned why such a dangerous forest existed so close to the town, without any protective walls or barriers. The town's residents cautiously observed him from a distance as he carefully moved toward the guild. Along the streets, people used minor magic to organize their market goods into small, pocket-like magical containers—a sight Renji had never witnessed before, and one that fascinated him quietly.
Suddenly, the residual magic from the tiger's power began to fade. Pain surged sharply through Renji's legs, and he lost balance, collapsing to the ground with a groan. The already broken skin covering his injuries split open once more, sending unbearable pain through every fiber of his body. He groaned inwardly, thinking, "How am I supposed to make it to the guild now?" Despite his weakened condition, he forced himself to rise. Step by painful step, he continued the grueling journey, determined not to give up.
By midday, the sun hung high in the sky, casting harsh rays over the town. Rika was outside the guild, watering the garden, when she finally noticed him. "Huh? RENJI!? What happened to you? And where's that girl from the forest? What happened yesterday?" she asked, her voice laced with urgency. Renji, exhausted and barely conscious, muttered, "It's… it's a long story…" and collapsed forward onto the ground. Rika reacted immediately, catching him in her arms, her face etched with concern. "Renji! Are you okay?"
Renji had been without food for a long time, and the blood loss had left his body extremely weak. Seeing him in this state, Rika quickly informed the guild master and then carried him home. She laid him gently on her own bed, moving carefully to avoid worsening his injuries. She examined his condition with a careful, precise touch. Both his right and left legs were broken, and his muscles had been torn apart. Rika muttered softly to herself, "How could this happen? This is catastrophic."
Placing her hands over his injuries—one at his feet and the other near his head—Rika began chanting a healing spell:
"Let the divine angle of health and humanity come to know the circumstances and grant me the power to recover unhealed wounds. HEAL!"
Even she doubted whether her magic could mend such extensive damage. Step by step, she focused, slowly healing most of Renji's external wounds. His bones, however, were too severely damaged for her to fully mend. By late afternoon, Renji regained consciousness, groaning softly. "Miss Rika… where am I?"
"You're still at my home," Rika replied gently, her voice calm and reassuring.
Hearing his story, Rika realized something important. "So you're also… the son of Yamamoto-sensei. He told me about you a long time ago. I was only five back then… I barely remember everything clearly."
Renji turned to her, eyes wide with surprise. "Miss Rika… you knew my father?"
"Yes, and you can just call me Rika," she smiled warmly.
Renji's mind raced, thoughts swirling in confusion. "Awww man… what is happening in my life? I didn't sign up for this chaos. I just wanted to get home from school safely."
"Are you feeling alright?" Rika asked, concern evident in her tone.
Renji replied, "Nothing… but could you please release Mizuki? Her seal… please."
Rika, calm yet serious, said, "There's no need to be so formal. Your father… I'll explain everything later."
Renji sighed, exhaling slowly. "Why is everything so strange in this world?"
"Yes, Mizuki is sealed inside you," Rika confirmed. "And I want you to release her."
At Renji's request, Rika cast a powerful spell:
"Let the mighty rulers of space and time grant me the permission to see inside the victim's body. X–RAY VISION!"
Immediately, she could see the mana flow inside Renji. Two separate flows coursed through his body, one of which could not be fully predicted. Near his heart, a powerful seal trapped Mizuki. A curse seal was embedded in his left chest. Rika stepped back, her expression serious. "Renji, you can't understand this, because even I don't know all the details."
She cast another spell:
"Remove the seal and free the trapped spirit. My request to the divine rulers of judgement, RELEASE!"
Rika extended her hands toward him, putting all her strength into breaking the seal. It was incredibly strong, far beyond anything she normally encountered. Renji thought, Spell casting, huh? I've never seen Mizuki do this… Rika struggled, almost losing control, but finally, the seal broke. She collapsed to the floor, coughing as blood trickled from her mouth.
Rika muttered, "This… was an unbelievably strong seal."
Renji asked worriedly, "Rika… are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine," she reassured him softly.
From within Renji, a soft pink light began to emerge. It was Mizuki Ayasaka. "Hmm… Rika, you've done well," Mizuki said.
Renji, still weak, asked, "Mizuki… please heal her."
Mizuki extended her hand swiftly toward Rika. Her entire body glowed, radiating warmth. In seconds, Rika was fully healed.
Rika exclaimed, "Impossible… you can cast a spell without incantations?"
Renji thought silently, Hmm… this is different from Mizuki.
A rumbling sound came from his stomach. Mizuki noticed immediately. "Awww Renji… you still haven't eaten anything."
Rika smiled, "Don't worry, I'll prepare something for you."
Rika headed toward the kitchen. Her room was small—just enough space for a single person to live comfortably. The living room sat in the center, with the main gate to the east, and the bedroom opposite it. The kitchen lay to the north, with a small storeroom to the south. Renji tried to stand, but his body was still weak. Mizuki stopped him gently. "Renji, you're not in any condition to move yet. Rest first."
Renji asked, "Mizuki… who was that earlier?"
Mizuki began explaining everything about the Demon Kingdom and the Hell Generals, revealing the dangers Renji would face. Rika, busy preparing meals, thought to herself, "Mizuki… how can she cast spells without incantations?"
Just before evening, Rika finished preparing a simple meal and brought it to Renji—a bowl of mushroom soup and a piece of bread.
"Sorry, there's nothing else in the house," Rika said softly.
"Ah, no worries. This is enough," Renji replied.
"Damn it… I really don't like mushrooms," he thought silently.
Mizuki fed Renji with her own hands, guiding the spoon gently. Seeing this, Rika felt a little awkward. Suddenly she got up and went outside the room. Mizuki, after feeding renji followed her.
"Mizuki… I don't think Yamamoto-sensei ever told me anything about you," Rika said, her tone a mix of curiosity and confusion.
Mizuki looked at her calmly. "Fourteen years ago, Yamamoto-sensei told me that when the time comes, I should take Renji to the Adventurers' Guild in this town. There, someone would be able to train him properly. At the time, I didn't fully understand why, but now I do."
Rika's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait… Yamamoto-sensei actually told you to bring Renji to the guild?"
"Yes," Mizuki replied firmly. "And now your duty is to train him properly."
Rika stared at the ground for a moment, absorbing the weight of Mizuki's words. Then she asked hesitantly, "So… you mean Yamamoto-sensei asked you to train his son?" She continued, "let's go outside for a bit"
Rika and Mizuki stepped outside and found a spot on the grass. They sat down, letting the cool evening breeze brush past them.
Rika broke the silence first. "Yamamoto-sensei actually told you to bring Renji to the guild?"
"Yes. And now… your duty is to train him properly," Mizuki said with quiet seriousness.
Rika remained silent for a moment, processing this revelation. Then she asked cautiously, "Mizuki… so you mean Yamamoto-sensei asked you to train his son?"
Mizuki nodded. "At first, I didn't want to agree, but after his repeated requests, I had no choice. He was very insistent."
Rika swallowed and added softly, "And… even more surprisingly… sensei chose me as Renji's wife."
Mizuki's expression didn't change. "I have no problem with that."
Rika hesitated, glancing at Mizuki. "But… you're always inside him. Won't that… I mean… won't it be uncomfortable for you?"
Mizuki shook her head lightly, calm as ever. "Don't worry. I'm just a spirit placed inside him. If I die, I cease to exist. I no longer feel emotions like before. I'm only a spirit trapped in this world after death."
Rika nodded slowly, still trying to grasp the situation. The weight of what Yamamoto-sensei had planned, and her own role in it, pressed quietly in her mind.
At that moment, Renji emerged from inside Mizuki.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
Mizuki told him to sit down with them.
Renji listened carefully as Mizuki said, "From now on, she'll be training you."
Rika's heartbeat raced, worried that Mizuki might reveal everything to him.
Night fell. Darkness crept through the room as Rika prepared for bed. She had already gone to sleep herself, leaving a mattress neatly laid out for Renji. She had intended to sleep elsewhere, giving him privacy, but Renji wasn't ready to rest yet. Mizuki remained inside him, a quiet presence guiding his thoughts.
Renji tried to lie down and close his eyes, but memories of Mizuki's earlier words returned. He whispered softly, "Mizuki… the Hell General?"
"Listen, Renji," Mizuki began, her voice calm yet firm inside his mind. "In this world, demons have occupied a kingdom. That kingdom is ruled by the Demon King. Hell Generals are among the most powerful demons in that kingdom. They serve directly under him, controlling vast forces."
"Oh… now it makes sense," Renji thought, his mind racing as he tried to process the information.
"There are nine Hell Generals in total," Mizuki continued. "Among them, five are S-rank, slightly less powerful than the rest. The remaining four are Elite Hell Generals. They are the most powerful demons after the Demon King himself. You are lucky that Ozyrith let you go without incident."
Renji's mind worked through the implications, trying to understand how he fit into this dangerous world.
Suddenly, Rika's voice called out softly from her side:
"Renji, are you still awake?"
"Yeah… I woke up for a moment," he replied, his voice barely audible.
"Is it hard to sleep down here? Then I'll stay nearby," Rika offered, her tone gentle and caring.
Renji thought about his mother. A tight feeling gripped his chest. He whispered quietly, "I want to go to Mom…"
Mizuki spoke from inside him, her voice calm but instructive. "Both of you can sleep now. To restore your mana, you need rest. If your mana drops too low, I won't be able to do anything. Your mana powers mine, and without it, I can't act."
Renji exhaled slowly, the tension in his body loosening. "Okay… I'll sleep," he said quietly.
Rika returned to her side, sitting softly on the edge of the mattress. Renji closed his eyes, finally allowing himself to drift. (Mom… I want to come to you) he thought, his mind filled with longing as sleep slowly took over him.