My Past Life
My past life.
In other words, back when I wandered the world with the demon ghost.
My goal, no matter the reason, was to tear apart as many demons as possible in this world.
When I came to my senses, nothing remained in my heart but that.
At some point, I knew all too well that I could never live a normal life.
Yet with such a grand purpose lodged in my chest, what use were gold, jewels, or honors if I was a warrior with no path to self-redemption?
So I had no choice but to live in blind devotion to power alone.
And for me, that power was her.
The demon fox who had never once vanished from history.
Her alone.
That's why I poured every ounce of my mental energy into controlling the demon ghost dwelling within my body.
The moment I let my guard down, she'd try to annihilate my soul and seize control of my flesh.
Her presence was no mere nuisance.
But after I stubbornly held out for months, even years,
she finally let slip a hint of acknowledgment and said,
…Hmph, Valter. You're a stubborn bastard who doesn't know the meaning of giving up. I thought you wouldn't last long, but even this lady is tired of your tenacity.
Shut up. I don't have the energy to talk.
Is that so.
In the heart of a battlefield where enemy corpses piled into mountains and blood filled the seas.
When I needed strength most to break through that crisis,
Just give up already and hand over your body. I'll get us out somehow. Wouldn't that make it easier to achieve your foolish goal, Valter?
─she'd taunt me relentlessly like that, pushing my mind to the brink so harshly I couldn't tell if she was ally or foe.
But I endured even that, holding my body steady.
Finally, she grew fed up with my form.
So, a hardworking little one deserves a reward, doesn't he?
Reward…?
The jade hanging from the neck of that demon general at your feet. I permit you to take it.
…That's your idea of a reward? Just looting battlefield spoils? It doesn't even have any mana infused in it. Looks like cheap junk from some artisan's shop. Do you think my eyes are clogged?
It does seem that way. No distinguishing features at all.
What a ridiculous situation.
When we'd raid temples holding actual legendary treasures instead of trash like that unremarkable junk,
That's nothing compared to this lady. I won't allow it.
─she'd throw tantrums like a greedy wife scraping every penny.
But for something utterly worthless, she acts like she's bestowing a grand favor. It grated on me.
Tch…
Snap─.
But if I argued more, she'd sulk for real and stay hidden in the sword for days, so I took it for now.
Thinking back, she said something then.
Well, it might seem worthless now, as you say. But that's because you don't grasp even a sliver of what it means to have earned this lady's recognition, Valter.
What the hell does that mean?
This lady is a legend. A living myth, a yokai fox from ancient tales. For one like me, the path I take is the right one, naturally.
She said it with a sultry smile that seemed genuinely pleased.
What? So you're saying even this useless jade becomes a legendary treasure in some future hundreds of years from now, just because I possess it?
Idiot, by then I won't be around. Unlike you, I can't live forever. It's still meaningless.
Heh heh, mortals are so pitiful…. Too bad you won't live to see it. What a shame.
Fuck.
─Well, since you're moping, I'll grant it a name. From now on, this jade shall be called the Blood Jade. Know that this lady, mistress of blood magic, steps forward personally because of your whining.
Blood Jade, huh? What does it do?
Who knows? Even I won't know until fifty years pass and something emerges.
Anyway, after that deflating remark,
I lacked the will to press further and just sulked.
The demon ghost, amused by my reaction, started adorning me with such trinkets one by one from then on.
With malicious intent, no less.
So.
The moment I sensed the aura of the impudent evil spirit lashing out at me, I knew instantly.
She'd made more than one or two for me.
Even now, the bitter regret from back then lingers, so I know exactly what each item is and where it came from.
It's a memory that unfolds the instant I close my eyes.
"Now, look into my eyes and answer truthfully."
"Y-yes, Sword, Sword Ghost─."
Crack─!!
"What did I tell you to call me?"
"Valter, sir! Valter, sir!"
"Good. My new little sister is trembling over there in fear. Can't have you calling me Sword Ghost out of the blue."
"Noted firmly! I shall never commit such a foolish blunder again!!"
So, the instant I declared I'd thrash him for daring to touch Ia,
I was curious how much stronger our jade had grown by now─six times the fifty years she claimed it would take.
But seeing this evil spirit manifest physically and get pulverized like grain in a mill without resistance drained my enthusiasm a bit.
One thing was clear, though.
This guy truly sees me as his master.
That's why no resistance,
and why he politely rolls onto his back even when I beat him senseless.
"Tired."
My legs ached anyway, and I needed a seat, so I sat regally atop the kneeling bastard, using him as a chair.
Then,
he let out a moan of profound gratitude, as if even that was an honor, and said,
"Ahh…. Ahh, the weight of the revered Valter, sir. So light it is. Back when it hung from your neck, I never dreamed a day like this would come."
"Cut the pervert talk, Jade."
"You've even memorized my name already…!"
"It's a simple name. Why wouldn't I? You look exactly like some villainous ringleader."
"I'm moved!! This Jade's lifelong pyre of reverence now blazes even fiercer."
"………Yeah. Do whatever."
Well, with his resistance broken this thoroughly, it seemed safe to reassure the terrified Ia and call her back.
But declaring submission so quickly might look suspicious even to an oblivious Ia.
So, while we're at it,
to kill time, I decided to ask a few things.
Some of what he'd said caught my attention.
"Anyway, Jade. As I said, I was reincarnated three hundred years into the future by that demon ghost."
"Ahh─. Lady Fox. Just as she foretold…!"
As expected, that knowing look.
I scowled and continued.
"…But I have no idea what happened in the meantime. I was just ambushed by Seradion, jumped through time, and woke up."
"─Then this Jade shall answer any question, with material aid if needed."
"What are these Blood Apostles you mentioned? From calling me your true master, they seem like my followers."
At that,
Jade answered without hesitation.
"Beings like me. Blessed with Lady Fox's incantation, we followed the traces of your feats from the items on your body and finally gained flesh. We awaited the day you would descend once more."
Well, I expected as much.
Seems that's how it went.
Hate to admit it, but three hundred years is a long time.
If the incantations were just her teasing whims,
the snowball rolling through those ages had grown uncontrollably massive.
"So, like a secret society or underground organization? Seradion fucked things up royally, so my past self isn't exactly welcome among humans."
"…Foolish humans know nothing of you, so please trust only us. But to answer, yes."
He showed the fang mark burned red into the back of his hand.
"All who bear this mark are Blood Apostles. During the Great Revolution, when your feats were trampled, we followed your traces directly and confronted Seradion."
"They're all still alive? That's quite a span."
"Many have perished or been sealed like me, but most endure. The 'siblings' you forged for us are no weaklings."
"Good. That's fortunate. If they're to follow me, they must be."
"Ahh…!"
At my casual praise,
he sobbed beneath me as if a lifetime of battle had been rewarded.
I had no desire to indulge his sentimentality.
Besides, the shaking would ruin the ride.
I ignored him roughly, rose from his back, and said,
As I looked down,
Jade knelt demurely.
"So. Is the demon ghost alive?"
"Lady Fox, you mean?"
"Yeah. I'm looking for her. That's my top priority. It has to be…."
"Of course! She awaits you still, even after three hundred years."
And at that,
a flush of color briefly lit my face.
That instant.
Small footsteps rushed toward us.
"Die!"
Thwack─.
A stone smashed into the defenseless Jade's head.
It was Ia.