Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer
Vol. 4 - Ch. 194

Ibuki Douji flashed a bold smile before taking another gulp of sake. With a rhapsodic gasp, he put the gourd on the ground with a wham.

"Hiccup... there's not much time so let's end it in a flashy way."

He give Tenji a sidelong glance while saying that.

The next thing Tenji knew, Ibuki Douji had disappeared from his spot silently. But with the direct heart link he had with Ibuki Douji, Tenji was faintly aware of where he was, what he was doing, what kind of expression and feelings he was harbouring.

Ibuki was currently facing that monster. Tenji couldn't tell where that monster had disappeared into distance with naked eye but the shared sense with Ibuki gave him a general feeling.

Ibuki's eyes had already settled on the back of the fleeing monster.

†　†　†

On the other hand, with the disappearance of Ibuki Douji, the stagnant air between Kujou and team had finally found a way out to escape.

Kujou had already guessed the overbearing pressure, resembling that of a king, would be over once she escaped out of its limited range. But knowing was one thing, being able to act  another.

She was seized by the unreal development. Not just her, the same could be said about the rest three team members too, who were having a dumbfounded expression.

"M-Mo...ve......"

Fuyuki muttered next to her who, too, had suddenly found himself prostrating despite his will. He might be forcing his body to move but that was a futile attempt when his mind had yet to comprehend the reality and even now, he was working his brain overtime to gulp down the sudden phenomenon.

There was hardly anyone who felt otherwise.

They were having a bitter struggle, yet that Oni made even their greatest adversary kneel like a dog, toyed with it around and at the end, even kicked out like a soccer ball out of mere amusement.

It was like saying they never stood the chance to confront that monster ever in reality.

What had happened? Just what kind of being Tenji Amagi had summoned in this world? And who exactly was that...Oni?

They all, even his Master Chisato, was seized by the incomprehensible complexity. Chisato glanced at Tenji while wondering about all this, since she was sure Tenji wasn't supposed to have such a level of hell beast.

She knew there was a demerit to Tenji's hell beast---the peculiar aura of fear those hell beasts exude.

The master of hell beasts, Tenji, seemed to have zero inkling about the peculiarities but it was bright as day for people who knew about them.

Regardless of strong or weak, the hell beasts evoke a sense of fear in humans without fail. Though it's also true that that fear wasn't an uncontrollable avalanche. As long as they were strong and held their qualities as explorers, they could brush off that fear.

The explorers of Chisato, Fuyuki and Leon level wouldn't find it particularly hard to stand next to Tenji. But they would always feel that mild fear; a presence similar to a savage dog constantly barking at them.

The situation had been even far worse for the general populace. The visage of hell beasts alone was enough to put them in deep state fear, pushing them to the edge of their consciousness, just one step away from fainting.

Kaido, who was just a normal person, had quoted the feeling to be 'it was like there is a bloodthirsty killer with a chainsaw standing next to me all the time.'

This was the primary reason why Tenji held back himself from using it.

There were a lot of explorers who hadn't been privy to Tenji's ability so summoning those terror balls which affect anyone and everybody would just create another wave of chaos that was to be avoided at any cost.

Fuyuki, having apprehension against it, had discussed with Tenji to not summon them during the chaotic battle. Chisato also gave the same piece of advice.

Impanting the fear within a range, even to allies alike, was the huge demerit of hell beasts. And that demerit had changed its shape in the appearance of that Oni further.

Fuyuki and Chisto could no longer stay unfazed at this point, the only thing they could do was let that pressure take control over themselves.

What they felt was not something they could sum with just a word fear. That pressure was almost akin to an abstract concept.

Their instinct and explorer senses were reflexively screaming at them to just kneel down in its presence.

The present four could tell that Oni hadn't particularly pulled any trickery. The obvious example was the absence of hostility from its gestures. Yes, the issue had lied in their instinct, that just unknowingly brought them to their knees.

It was like Kujou's ability to bind the enemy with a call, but on the scale of another dimension. Taking an example of video games, it was like that absolute debuff with 100% chance to apply on the enemies.

The shock between the four naturally changed into them staring at Tenji.

As for the person himself, noticing their gazes, he flashes his usual smile---

"The situation is under control now. I will---I mean Ibuki Douji will handle the rest."

Though Tenji said that, a tint of regret was floating in his eyes for some reason. At the very least, Chisato and Fuyuki, who had been with Tenji for the last several years, noticed that change.

"Are you really fine, Tenji?"

Fuyuki asked in a gentle yet concerned tone.

Tenji's corner of eye dropped as an incomprehensible expression masks his face.

"Fine, you win. Did I look that beat up in your eyes though? And here I had wanted to keep this a secret from all of you at least."

"Wishful thinking. I am sure no one can beat me in my time with you. Well, I could vaguely tell what's going through your eyes. Right now...you look as regretful as if thinking 'you shouldn't have bought an expensive cake'."

"I see."

'There really is no beating you,' Tenji giggled in to say that. However, in the next moment, that teasing expression swiftly changed to a serious one.

"Alright, that was a lie. My bad. I'm just scared."

"What of? Of course, If it's something you can say..."

"Well......I'm sure I had said this before as well, about the day when I awakened---"

Tenji spoke, paused for a moment as he stared at the sky, which had started to welcome the glow of another day.

"I just came to know, maybe I have already used 'Compensation' once, though I still don't know what I paid with. Anyway, I have triggered that...the 'Compensation' again. So I think something is bound to happen to me."

The words had made everyone present speechless.

They're the top rankers after all, it was most natural for them to know about 'compensation'... and also the demerit of fate worse than death that accompany it.

However this was also why they were stunned. And even more so at the face they just heart.

He was a student, yet he had activated compensation twice.

Frankly, neither of them present could imagine what kind of despair lies ahead. Neither they had a past precedent to cross-check. But that's expected, after all, who had even remained human after using the compensation even once.

Even if anyone fortunate remains sane, they would never think of using the compensation again.

It was no brainer why they had lost the words. Fuyuki, too, could only fumble around in search of suitable words in front of the unimaginable situation.