Orange_Rain Author's Pre-Chapter Note: I'll be taking the week off to prepare for family coming over to visit during the weekend. We'll be back to doing weekly updates on the following Sunday evening (08/22).
Thank you very much for your understanding and I hope you enjoy this week's chapter.
{Jinma}
"And so, with these new powers as D-Humans, the Kurokichi Clan took on the Shirogechi Clan in Hanami, floored them with an overwhelming victory, and won back the village's freedom," Sue said, really getting into her current role as a storyteller, "The Kurokichi Clan made Hanami their territory and regulated labor and exchange back to what it was initially. There were some small adjustments to the arrangement that the villagers made to pay the clan as thanks as well as continuing their service for protection. Some of the youths in the village joined the clan, too, assigned to some of the subsidiaries to start building the families that would branch out to neighboring towns and provide their protection against their rival clan. The two clans would continue to butt heads, but the Kurokichi Clan came out on top everytime, especially with the 'Demon of Calamity' leading the charge. Down the line, their numbers grew not just with those joining the clan, but with the original subsidiaries making 'families' of their own, including the demon, quickly finding out that their powers as D-Humans can be passed down to their children. Thanks to the Devil they summoned, the clan's wishes as stated in the contract were granted, and they all, as they say, lived happily ever after."
When Sue finished her story, Ren and I were sitting on the couch in shock, having no idea how to respond. Ume, on the other hand, was thinking seriously with a claw to her chin.
"I get it, so you're suggesting Jin is perhaps a descendant to the founder, the Demon of Calamity, and that's why he's a D-Human that possesses the [Devil Eyes] skill," Ume summarized.
Sue nodded firmly, "That's right!"
"But from what I remember, Jin had white irises when his [Devil Eyes] activated. Shouldn't he share the same color as his ancestor's being red?" Ume asked, "Moreover, what about the subsidiaries that seem to have incomplete [Devil Eyes]? What phenomenon is that?"
"Well, despite Jinma not being a Devil, having different colored [Devil Eyes] is no surprise," Sue said, "A Devil's eyes will change color when activated, and just like how they differ in personality, the colors of their [Devil Eyes] differ, as well. The chances of an offspring having the same [Devil Eyes] color as one of their parents are actually very low. The only exception is if one’s [Devil Eyes] turn white upon activating, which means the user doesn’t have full control over the skill, but the other way around. The user would fall into what’s called the Mad State, quickly going into a mindless, violent rampage and indiscriminately attacking anyone in their sight. A Devil needs to control the [Devil Eyes] enough to where they have an eye color that’s anything but white, indicating they’ve completely mastered it and acquired a color that best represents them. From what I heard of Jinma’s exploits in Dondegarm during the raid, to even communicate while his eyes are white, much less distinguish friend from foe, is a total first for me. It was a miracle that everything played out the way it did at the end of the raid.”
An unsettling shiver ran down my spine as I looked down on my hand, opening and closing it, I … should have lost total control over myself? Then how was I able to do all that, then?
Thinking back on that night, I felt very different, like my mind was thriving with confidence, excitement, and a lust for bloody action, and my body was almost moving according to those thoughts. It sounded like I had fallen in the Mad State like Sue described, but I was still somewhat aware of what I was doing at the time. I don’t know how I was able to get through that night without harming innocents, but this information gave me all the more reason to watch myself from falling into it again, at least until I know how to fully control my [Devil Eyes].
"As for those who possess the 'incomplete' [Devil Eyes], they have what's called the [Demon Zone] skill, or [D-Zone] for short,” Sue continued, “It works similarly to the [Devil Eyes], except it doesn't hold the same degree of power, physical, magical, or otherwise, and they don’t exactly fall into a Mad State, either. There are different colors, but those in the Kurokichi Clan share the same iris color as their founder due to the effects of the contract," Sue explained while shrugging, "That color won't change as they produce offspring, no matter how many generations have passed. You could say it marks them on which clan their family's bloodline came from. As you might expect, only D-Humans can possess that skill, and they don't even need to be with another D-Human to produce one, too.
“The same can be said for direct descendants of the founder to possess [Devil Eyes], but not all of them are able to inherit them, though. It was said the chances of someone carrying the [Devil Eyes] increase if they were born from two D-Humans, more so if they both possess the skill themselves. So, as you might expect, the founder slept with many human females and had lots of children in the process, all in the hopes of finding a successor to lead his clan while carrying the [Devil Eyes] skill," Sue concluded.
"I see, and the magic that Devil used to make the contract … that's exclusive to the Devil race, yes?" Ume asked.
"That's correct," Sue answered while nodding, "Part of what makes the Devil race so powerful is their latent connection to the Immortals, and that power is realized through their contracts. There are different kinds of contracts, with some lasting a short time and others that last their entire lives. Once a 'client' agrees to the terms in the contract, the Devil will receive the power and instructions necessary from the Immortals to follow through to their end of the deal. That night-long fornication as told in the story was one such example of her merely following instructions from the Immortals."
I’ve read in some christian mythology that it was best to never make a deal with the Devil. I think it was not only a sin to do so, but the prices the contracted must pay from their end of the deal are quite heavy, usually having their very souls taken as payment. I imagine the power the Devils in those myths need to fulfill those deals didn't come from nothing. Maybe that power was borrowed from the ruler of Hell or something? If the process is similar to what Sue’s explaining, then those myths I’ve read may not have been as fictional as I thought they were.
"But to fulfill a contract that would last generations, wouldn't that leave the Devil in the story …" Ren trailed off, fearing what she'd say next would be true.
Sue shrugged again, "The act of sex is when two beings join together and become one, metaphorically speaking. It sounds like the effects of that contract took that metaphor quite literally. I'm unsure whether to say she's alive or dead, but it's possible she lives on inside Jinma and his relatives to this day."
I had lowered my head partway through their conversation to stare at the ground, being totally silent. I could only imagine what my face looked like right now from how tight and stiff I was feeling on it. There were a lot of things running through my mind, enough that I tuned out the majority of my surroundings.
"Um … Jinma? Are you doing okay there?" Sue asked apprehensively.
Startled at the call, I slowly looked up to the fake Arch Imp, my face still tense from before, "Sue … what about the deal? What exactly was it that this clan had to give up in exchange for that kind of power?"
Sue, who seemed to be in a good mood as she told her story moments ago, deflated after hearing my question. I had a feeling I didn’t like what she was about to tell me, but the words I expected her to say, “That’s classified,” never came.
"... I wish I knew the answer to that question, I really do," she said before hanging her head, "This is one of the biggest mysteries that had bothered me for years since I heard that story, but it seemed so cool at the time that I didn't think about it too much. I wouldn’t have thought such info would be so important right now."
Huh, my [Intuition] didn’t kick in here. If Sue’s not pulling any tricks on me, then she, of all people, actually did not know the answer to something for once. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing here.
“So, you really have no idea what the Kurokichi Clan had to give up in exchange for that power?” I asked her again for confirmation.
Sue looked back up and shook her head solemnly, “What I’ve told you up to now sums up what I know about D-Humans, the [D-Zone] skill that most of them learned, and you possessing the [Devil Eyes] skill.”
“And there are other D-Humans out there? Including ones not linked to the Kurokichi Clan?” I asked.
“If there are other people who made a similar contract to a Devil like the founder of the clan did, it could be possible, and the color of their eyes while in the [D-Zone] would tell whether you’re linked to them or not,” Sue answered, “Since this happened hundreds of years ago, though, it’s hard to say if many of them even know about this fact, especially if you weren’t filled in on it until now.”
“I see …” I trailed off before exasperating a sigh, hunching over and rubbing my eyes in frustration.
Seriously, what the fuck is going on here?
“... Is hearing this story really that big of a shocker to you, Jinma? Do you believe it to be true?” Sue asked in both concern and curiosity.
“I don’t know how true it really is, but what scares me is that … I think I might have heard this story once before,” I answered, of which I could feel Ume and Ren jolting their heads towards me with widened eyes. Sue also looked just as shocked.
The Kurokichi Clan, the Shirogechi Clan, the Ochitaken-Ryu sword style, and the use of magic and witchcraft. There were subtle differences in Sue's version like the country and town it took place in, but I've heard the terms in this story before. Partway through her story time, I had Nyra look into a part of my foggy childhood memories and clean it up a bit for confirmation. The result?
Orange_Rain Author's Pre-Chapter Note: I'll be taking the week off to prepare for family coming over to visit during the weekend. We'll be back to doing weekly updates on the following Sunday evening (08/22).
Thank you very much for your understanding and I hope you enjoy this week's chapter.
{Jinma}
"And so, with these new powers as D-Humans, the Kurokichi Clan took on the Shirogechi Clan in Hanami, floored them with an overwhelming victory, and won back the village's freedom," Sue said, really getting into her current role as a storyteller, "The Kurokichi Clan made Hanami their territory and regulated labor and exchange back to what it was initially. There were some small adjustments to the arrangement that the villagers made to pay the clan as thanks as well as continuing their service for protection. Some of the youths in the village joined the clan, too, assigned to some of the subsidiaries to start building the families that would branch out to neighboring towns and provide their protection against their rival clan. The two clans would continue to butt heads, but the Kurokichi Clan came out on top everytime, especially with the 'Demon of Calamity' leading the charge. Down the line, their numbers grew not just with those joining the clan, but with the original subsidiaries making 'families' of their own, including the demon, quickly finding out that their powers as D-Humans can be passed down to their children. Thanks to the Devil they summoned, the clan's wishes as stated in the contract were granted, and they all, as they say, lived happily ever after."
When Sue finished her story, Ren and I were sitting on the couch in shock, having no idea how to respond. Ume, on the other hand, was thinking seriously with a claw to her chin.
"I get it, so you're suggesting Jin is perhaps a descendant to the founder, the Demon of Calamity, and that's why he's a D-Human that possesses the [Devil Eyes] skill," Ume summarized.
Sue nodded firmly, "That's right!"
"But from what I remember, Jin had white irises when his [Devil Eyes] activated. Shouldn't he share the same color as his ancestor's being red?" Ume asked, "Moreover, what about the subsidiaries that seem to have incomplete [Devil Eyes]? What phenomenon is that?"
"Well, despite Jinma not being a Devil, having different colored [Devil Eyes] is no surprise," Sue said, "A Devil's eyes will change color when activated, and just like how they differ in personality, the colors of their [Devil Eyes] differ, as well. The chances of an offspring having the same [Devil Eyes] color as one of their parents are actually very low. The only exception is if one’s [Devil Eyes] turn white upon activating, which means the user doesn’t have full control over the skill, but the other way around. The user would fall into what’s called the Mad State, quickly going into a mindless, violent rampage and indiscriminately attacking anyone in their sight. A Devil needs to control the [Devil Eyes] enough to where they have an eye color that’s anything but white, indicating they’ve completely mastered it and acquired a color that best represents them. From what I heard of Jinma’s exploits in Dondegarm during the raid, to even communicate while his eyes are white, much less distinguish friend from foe, is a total first for me. It was a miracle that everything played out the way it did at the end of the raid.”
An unsettling shiver ran down my spine as I looked down on my hand, opening and closing it, I … should have lost total control over myself? Then how was I able to do all that, then?
Thinking back on that night, I felt very different, like my mind was thriving with confidence, excitement, and a lust for bloody action, and my body was almost moving according to those thoughts. It sounded like I had fallen in the Mad State like Sue described, but I was still somewhat aware of what I was doing at the time. I don’t know how I was able to get through that night without harming innocents, but this information gave me all the more reason to watch myself from falling into it again, at least until I know how to fully control my [Devil Eyes].
"As for those who possess the 'incomplete' [Devil Eyes], they have what's called the [Demon Zone] skill, or [D-Zone] for short,” Sue continued, “It works similarly to the [Devil Eyes], except it doesn't hold the same degree of power, physical, magical, or otherwise, and they don’t exactly fall into a Mad State, either. There are different colors, but those in the Kurokichi Clan share the same iris color as their founder due to the effects of the contract," Sue explained while shrugging, "That color won't change as they produce offspring, no matter how many generations have passed. You could say it marks them on which clan their family's bloodline came from. As you might expect, only D-Humans can possess that skill, and they don't even need to be with another D-Human to produce one, too.
“The same can be said for direct descendants of the founder to possess [Devil Eyes], but not all of them are able to inherit them, though. It was said the chances of someone carrying the [Devil Eyes] increase if they were born from two D-Humans, more so if they both possess the skill themselves. So, as you might expect, the founder slept with many human females and had lots of children in the process, all in the hopes of finding a successor to lead his clan while carrying the [Devil Eyes] skill," Sue concluded.
"I see, and the magic that Devil used to make the contract … that's exclusive to the Devil race, yes?" Ume asked.
"That's correct," Sue answered while nodding, "Part of what makes the Devil race so powerful is their latent connection to the Immortals, and that power is realized through their contracts. There are different kinds of contracts, with some lasting a short time and others that last their entire lives. Once a 'client' agrees to the terms in the contract, the Devil will receive the power and instructions necessary from the Immortals to follow through to their end of the deal. That night-long fornication as told in the story was one such example of her merely following instructions from the Immortals."
I’ve read in some christian mythology that it was best to never make a deal with the Devil. I think it was not only a sin to do so, but the prices the contracted must pay from their end of the deal are quite heavy, usually having their very souls taken as payment. I imagine the power the Devils in those myths need to fulfill those deals didn't come from nothing. Maybe that power was borrowed from the ruler of Hell or something? If the process is similar to what Sue’s explaining, then those myths I’ve read may not have been as fictional as I thought they were.
"But to fulfill a contract that would last generations, wouldn't that leave the Devil in the story …" Ren trailed off, fearing what she'd say next would be true.
Sue shrugged again, "The act of sex is when two beings join together and become one, metaphorically speaking. It sounds like the effects of that contract took that metaphor quite literally. I'm unsure whether to say she's alive or dead, but it's possible she lives on inside Jinma and his relatives to this day."
I had lowered my head partway through their conversation to stare at the ground, being totally silent. I could only imagine what my face looked like right now from how tight and stiff I was feeling on it. There were a lot of things running through my mind, enough that I tuned out the majority of my surroundings.
"Um … Jinma? Are you doing okay there?" Sue asked apprehensively.
Startled at the call, I slowly looked up to the fake Arch Imp, my face still tense from before, "Sue … what about the deal? What exactly was it that this clan had to give up in exchange for that kind of power?"
Sue, who seemed to be in a good mood as she told her story moments ago, deflated after hearing my question. I had a feeling I didn’t like what she was about to tell me, but the words I expected her to say, “That’s classified,” never came.
"... I wish I knew the answer to that question, I really do," she said before hanging her head, "This is one of the biggest mysteries that had bothered me for years since I heard that story, but it seemed so cool at the time that I didn't think about it too much. I wouldn’t have thought such info would be so important right now."
Huh, my [Intuition] didn’t kick in here. If Sue’s not pulling any tricks on me, then she, of all people, actually did not know the answer to something for once. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing here.
“So, you really have no idea what the Kurokichi Clan had to give up in exchange for that power?” I asked her again for confirmation.
Sue looked back up and shook her head solemnly, “What I’ve told you up to now sums up what I know about D-Humans, the [D-Zone] skill that most of them learned, and you possessing the [Devil Eyes] skill.”
“And there are other D-Humans out there? Including ones not linked to the Kurokichi Clan?” I asked.
“If there are other people who made a similar contract to a Devil like the founder of the clan did, it could be possible, and the color of their eyes while in the [D-Zone] would tell whether you’re linked to them or not,” Sue answered, “Since this happened hundreds of years ago, though, it’s hard to say if many of them even know about this fact, especially if you weren’t filled in on it until now.”
“I see …” I trailed off before exasperating a sigh, hunching over and rubbing my eyes in frustration.
Seriously, what the fuck is going on here?
“... Is hearing this story really that big of a shocker to you, Jinma? Do you believe it to be true?” Sue asked in both concern and curiosity.
“I don’t know how true it really is, but what scares me is that … I think I might have heard this story once before,” I answered, of which I could feel Ume and Ren jolting their heads towards me with widened eyes. Sue also looked just as shocked.
The Kurokichi Clan, the Shirogechi Clan, the Ochitaken-Ryu sword style, and the use of magic and witchcraft. There were subtle differences in Sue's version like the country and town it took place in, but I've heard the terms in this story before. Partway through her story time, I had Nyra look into a part of my foggy childhood memories and clean it up a bit for confirmation. The result?
