"Are you planning on getting up anytime soon?"
I replied by grabbing an unlabeled bottle, cracking it open and pouring the pills down my throat. Swallowing them dry, I turned to the fading illusion.
"No."
I ignored the disapproving stare as Kaede vanished, tossing the empty bottle aside and grabbing a cold beer.
"At least the modern times did something right." I scoffed before gulping down the cool liquid. A random show played on the TV, dimly lighting my messy apartment.
'I'll clean it tomorrow.'
Cracking my neck, I stood up, finished the beer and chucked it into the pile of empty bottles. I kicked aside the junk on the floor just to make a path to the food cupboard. Opening it, I clicked my tongue in annoyance at the lack of anything edible—just a single rotten apple.
"When was the last time I went out?" I muttered to the empty apartment, shrugging as I straightened up. I searched for a clean pair of clothes and only found fresh boxers.
"Whatever... not like I'm trying to impress anyone."
Yawning as I stripped and threw on the clean underwear, I reached for my old clothes. Just as I was getting dressed, the channel on the TV switched to the news.
"Hmm?"
["Explosion Rocks Downtown Building!"]
Live footage showed a normal apartment complex erupt into flames from one of the upper floors. My eye twitched. Instinct screamed one thing while logic whispered another.
"Whatever... doesn't matter to—"
Knock knock.
I frowned as heavy knocking echoed through my door.
Knock. Knock.
Two more firm knocks followed. Grunting, I decided to forgo pants—couldn't care less who saw me like this.
"Bastards know what time it is?"
Knock knock knock.
"I'm fucking coming!" I growled, unlocking the door. As it swung open, I kept my expression neutral. A dozen men and women in suits stood before me.
'Fuck...'
Just looking at them was enough. Sorcerers—obviously. I didn't even need to see them. The amount of Cursed Energy gathered here was a damn beacon.
'How did I not sense them until they were in front of me?'
I shook off the thought. I probably already knew the reason.
The Sorcerer in front of me spoke first. "Sasaki-san, please come with us peacefully."
I tilted my head, scratching the back of my right leg with my left foot. "Why? You lot don't look like officers."
A few Sorcerers twitched at the motion. Coughing before speaking again, the lead Sorcerer motioned for me to step out.
"This pertains to your... past. Please, come with us peacefully."
The TV behind me replayed the explosion. I withheld a sigh, shaking my head.
"Why should I? If your bosses want to see me, tell them to come to me instead of sending their dogs to fetch."
I dropped my foot and began backing away, but the Sorcerer responded quickly—without the anger I was hoping for.
"Sasaki Souta—"
I looked sharply at him as he ignored my gaze at the mention of that old name.
"By order of the Elders, come peacefully or we will be forced to use force."
I grunted, running my eyes over the Sorcerers.
'Damn pests.'
Sighing, I cracked my neck and scratched my hip. "If I'm correct... you all know perfectly well who I am—"
Leaning slightly on the doorframe, I continued.
"We are, Sasaki-san. The Elders are also aware you are no longer what—"
I cut him off by ripping the door off its hinges and swinging it at the barely-prepared Sorcerers.
They reacted faster than I gave them credit for. As they scrambled to regain their footing—some already moving—I channeled Cursed Energy into my leg and stomped down. The shock knocked them off balance and the ground beneath us gave way from the force.
As we plummeted, I used falling rubble as makeshift footing and escaped the collapsing building.
'I'll pray for those who lost their lives later.'
A spear whizzed past my ear, nicking it. Tilting my head, I saw a young woman—slightly roughed up—also using the rubble as footing.
I landed barefoot, still in just my underwear, on the now abandoned road. The woman followed seconds later.
"Y-You—"
I ignored her and blitzed toward her, stopping short when a Shikigami shaped like a giant earthworm erupted from the ground.
'Fucking great.'
Backing off as Sorcerers emerged from the ruins in various states, I spotted the one who'd taken the brunt of the door hit.
"Sasaki-san, I see you've chosen the forceful way."
I snorted, leaping to the side as another giant earthworm burst up from where I'd just stood.
'I blame that girl for this.'
Twisting, I dodged another spear thrown by the same woman. I caught the end mid-air and hurled it back at her—twice as fast.
"Look—"
The spear pierced her skull before anyone could react. I landed smoothly.
'Need to thin out the numbers.'
One of the earthworms slammed into the ground and began tunneling.
"No, you don't!"
Grabbing its tail, I ripped it free just as a few close combat Sorcerers charged in.
Grunting through the flare of pain in my chest and the strain of holding the Shikigami, I swung it like a bat.
"Recall your Shikigami!" someone shouted—probably the leader.
The worm began shrinking, slipping from my grasp. Not letting it go for free, I channeled Cursed Energy into my right hand and swung it like a blade in the creature's direction.
"Cursed Slash."
A six foot blade of deep purple energy erupted from my hand, cleaving clean through the Shikigami and continuing on its path. It struck a young girl—I assumed the summoner.
'Poor kid.'
I watched the arc split her, her life fading instantly.
"You truly are despicable."
Cracking my neck, I responded flatly. "Says the 'noble' Sorcerers who tried to drag me out like a stray dog."
The lead Sorcerer struck a dramatic pose—one arm raised above his head, a wide stance, bent knees—and glared at me.
"You are a rogue and dangerous Cursed User, Sasaki Souta, The Conqueror of the East!"
...
..
'The fuck is wrong with this generation?'
I didn't dignify his nonsense with a response. Instead, I shifted my stance, centering my weight on my right foot. Cursed Energy surged through my limbs, building until my chest burned.
The remaining Sorcerers prepared their own attacks—some already firing.
I moved.
Leaping into the air, I twisted mid-flight and raised my right leg high, Cursed Energy pulsing to the breaking point.
"W-what's he doing?!"
I smirked as gravity took hold, dragging me down like a meteor.