Seiji stopped speaking as he looked at the silver orb.
The silver orb then moved again.
To be more specific, it continuously expanded and retracted. It looked like it was shaking. Seiji felt that it somewhat resembled a beating heart.
Seiji, Natsuya, and Kungo all focused their attention on the silver orb that was giving off a strange impression. They were all on guard against any unexpected circumstances.
Seiji couldn't help but think, 'Hey, it won't explode, will it?'
System: [Trust me, it won't.]
Okay, this answer was only imagined by Seiji.
The silver orb then shook for the third, fourth, and fifth time… Its movements kept becoming more rapid as it began to glow and slowly float in the air. It then started making strange and unclear sounds!
'Hey, could this be a god?' Seiji couldn't help but recall a certain story from his original world.
The silver orb kept making strange sounds. Its glow kept brightening and dimming at intervals, just as if it was adjusting its own frequency. Finally, it was able to speak in a raspy voice. "Harano-san… can you hear me now?"
"I can hear you," Seiji answered. "Koutarou… is that you?"
The silver orb fell silent for a moment.
"I am Koutarou, but I am also not Koutarou," it answered raspily. "Still, you can continue addressing me by that name."
"What do you mean?"
"My entire life as Koutarou was nothing more than an illusion in a dream. However, that dream also had parts that were real. I don't wish to completely deny that dream."
"Then who are you?" Seiji looked directly at the silver orb.
"I am someone who's dead already, an undead spirit. Apart from that… my name and identity are no longer important." The silver orb paused for a moment. "Please don't ask me to confirm my true identity. Otherwise, I might go berserk again."
"…Alright, since you don't wish to pursue it, I won't pry." Seiji blinked. "How are you currently feeling?"
"Not very good, although I suppose I'm technically 'alive' again… But I don't know what meaning there is to being alive anymore."
"I think that living in and of itself is a type of meaning. If you're confused, then there's no need to think too much into it, just like with your real name."
"I suppose… you're right." The silver orb started glowing brighter. "Thank you, Harano-san."
"Sure thing."
Several seconds of silence followed after.
"Cough, let's introduce everyone." Seiji broke the silence first as he looked at Kungo. "Kungo, this is the coal seller Koutarou from your town. Koutarou previously went berserk here, and transformed into such a form."
Seiji then looked at the silver orb. "Koutarou, this is the samurai Kungo from your town. You… er, can you see him?"
"I no longer have any eyes, but I can sense him," the silver orb stated. "How are you, Kungo-san?"
Kungo: "…"
"Hey, Koutarou's a survivor from your town. You're not even going to greet him?" Seiji commented to Kungo.
"I don't know what I should say," Kungo spoke raspily.
"Okay then… Koutarou, can I ask you some questions?" Seiji focused again on the silver orb.
"Please feel free to ask."
"First, how did you transform into your current form?"
"I don't know, either… It's probably partially due to the power of this unique dimension that we're in, and also partially due to me recovering a portion of who I really was," the silver orb answered in a raspy voice.
"Okay, what have you remembered?"
"I can remember some things… tattered memories… that make me confused…"
"If it's alright with you, could you tell me about your memories? What did you experience while you were alive? Do you know anything about a white dragon?" Seiji asked cautiously.
The silver orb fell silent as its light dimmed.
"We've accidentally created the Catastrophe Goddess… things shouldn't have happened this way."
"What exactly happened?" Seiji instantly focused his full attention on the orb as he sensed that he was arriving at critical information. Natsuya next to him also started paying full attention.
"It was supposed to only be an experiment, but something went wrong… Or, someone secretly did something…" the silver orb still spoke in a raspy voice. "A dragon appeared, causing everyone to die. An entire village was destroyed. The souls of the dead corrupted the dragon, turning it into the Catastrophe Goddess… I don't know what happened after that."
"What type of experiment was it? Who was in charge?" Seiji continued asking.
"It was an experiment to artificially Awaken spiritual abilities so that ordinary people could become spiritual ability users in large numbers. The person who was in charge of this experiment was named… Sayaka Tendo."
"Sayaka Tendo?" Seiji had never heard this name before.
He looked over at Natsuya. She shook her head, indicating that she also didn't know this name.
However, it was obvious that Sayaka Tendo was from the Tendo Family… So, this meant that the Tendo Family performed an experiment that went wrong, which caused the death and destruction of an entire village. This experiment also accidentally created the Catastrophe Goddess, who had the form of a white dragon!
This Catastrophe Goddess that Koutarou referred to was likely the same Sakura Catastrophe Goddess slash Evil White Sakura Goddess.
If this Sayaka Tendo was still alive, then she would be a critical individual at the center of everything. Seiji could try obtaining information from her. But if she was dead…
Seiji suddenly thought of Kungo's master, the "woman" that he kept referring to!
"Kungo, I'd like to ask again, what's your master's name?"
Kungo remained silent.
Seiji looked directly at Kungo while asking, "Her name was Sayaka Tendo… or maybe just Sayaka, am I right?"
The samurai still remained silent.
"This question is incredibly important. Please answer me," Seiji emphasized.
The samurai still remained silent.
While silence might be tacit admittance, Seiji still wanted a better confirmation.
Just as he was prepared to use harsher words, Kungo finally spoke up. "If my master is in here… Please promise that you won't harm her. As long as you promise me this, I'll listen to anything you say."
Something flashed in Seiji's eyes upon hearing this.
"All I want is information," he told Kungo." As long as I can obtain information, I won't do anything else that's unnecessary. I can promise this to you."
Seiji was implying that he would be merciful if Kungo cooperated, but harsh if Kungo resisted. This applied to both Kungo and his master.
Kungo understood what Seiji really meant. The swirls representing Kungo's eyes kept flashing.
"Yes, my master's name is Sayaka," Kungo spoke slowly.
Seiji had now received confirmation!
Sayaka Tendo had been Kungo's master. Sayaka was also an undead spirit now, and it was highly likely that she was somewhere within the Soul Room.
If they could find her, perhaps Seiji would be able to learn about the entire incident that previously unfolded!
Seiji and Natsuya swiftly exchanged glances, tacitly understanding what needed to be done.
"Let's find Sayaka Tendo together. If she's in here, we must wake her up!"
Kungo remained silent.
He strongly desired to see his master again. But… was this what his master would want?
Kungo was rather confused. However, his desire to meet his master again made him start moving.
'Master, if you're angry after waking up, then punish me!'
...
"I will confirm our final plans once more before we take action," Meisei Sorin spoke to the elites of Soul Society, including Yui.
Meisei then swiftly and succinctly explained the entire ambush plan aimed at the Tendo Family, which involved time, place, everyone's job, Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, and so on…
"…That's all. Everyone, remember it well.
"I don't need to say how important this ambush is. However, let me emphasize it once again.
"Whether our ambush succeeds or not will be directly correlated to the fate of millions of people in the city.
"It's fine whether you care about it or not. Regardless, you must understand the current position we're in.
"If we allow destruction and death to be spread like this, death and destruction will eventually come for us, without us being able to stop it or escape.
"Now, move out!"
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