Sora’s POV

Argh….another world….another world….this is so ridiculous….how can this be another world…..isn’t that the stuff that happens in anime and manga’s? I am certain I began playing a game…..this must be a game…..I want this to be a game….

T_T

If this isn’t a game…there are several problems….

1. Where the HELL is my precious? My poor precious….even if I learn to let *it* go….(which I will never be able to….)…it just won’t be the same….T_T

2. I can never become human again, can I? Nooooo!!!! I don’t have a tongue!!! How can I taste all the good cuisines of the world??? Argh, I should have kept my original tongue…….

3. If this isn’t a game….I am not sure if I can kill another intelligent being….killing in a game and killing in real life are very different. Aren’t they?

Keep calm Sora…this cannot be another world!

***

“Master” Claire called out as she moved closer to Crayford.

“Yes?” Crayford asked as he turned to her.

“Is that monster, really your sensei?” She asked meekly – she didn’t want to offend Crayford by doubting him.

“Certainly.” Crayford replied as cooly as ever. “Those martial arts move don’t belong to this world, he is the only capable of performing them.”

Claire turned around and glanced at Sora, who at the moment was banging his head against the wall while muttering to himself.

“Is he going to be okay?” She asked out of concern.

“Probably not.” Crayford replied – an answer Claire was not expecting.

Seeing Claire stunned, Crayford add, “He is right now, traversing through a river of denial. I know my Sensei well – once he is in denial there is no changing his way of thinking….”

“But shouldn’t we stop him from hurting himself?” Claire asked helplessly.

“Absolutely not.” Crayford replied with a smile.

Once again, Claire was stunned by the reply. Aren’t they disciple and teacher? Doesn’t Master care about his Sensei?

“W…Why?” Claire murmured. “I thought he is your Sensei…”

“Seeing him in agony is so much fun….after what he has put me through….I deserve to enjoy this. Ah just seeing him like this, makes me think, I have lived a life of no regrets….” Crayford replied to her as his eyes gleamed in delight. “Also, he being my Sensei and watching him writhe in agony are two different things…”

“O…Okay…” Claire replied with great uncertainty – she didn’t understand their relationship. She was greatly bothered seeing a new side of Crayford. The Master she knew was kind hearted and compassionate….not someone who took joy in another person’s grief….

“What did he say?” Boze asked Claire. The three warriors had been silently watching the spectacle of Sora beat himself up, over and over again.

“Is he really Master’s Sensei?” Tulda butted in.

Claire simply nodded.

“Really? That odd creature which is banging its head against the wall, is our Master’s Sensei?”

Claire could only helplessly nod.

“Then shouldn’t we stop him?” Hem asked.

“Master said to leave him be….”

The three warriors raised their brows in surprise. Leave him be…??

***

“Think of the world as a house. A house occupied by a Papa’s Girlfriend-san, Mama-san, a Papa-san and a Child-chan. If Papa’s Girlfriend-san leaves the house, then nobody will care. They will forget about her….however, if…” Crayford was explaining the rules / logic of ‘sequential forgetting’ to Sora.

“I think if Papa’s Girlfriend-san leaves the house, Papa-san will be really sad.” Sora interrupted.

“This is just an example….let me complete the damned example…”Crayford muttered – speaking through his clenched teeth. “You have already made me repeat this four times….”

Completely ignoring Crayford’s objections, Sora continued, “Also shouldn’t she be known as Bitch-san? Or Whore-san? I mean how dare she live under the same roof as the family? Don’t you think this will be detrimental on Child-san’s growth…”

“You are just screwing with me aren’t you?” Crayford asked – his eyes had a fiery glow in them; the fiery glow of annoyance.

“Well, I just think all these are valid questions. Especially, since your poor example lacks details.”

“Oh! Forgive me for not adding details to an example I have repeated three times!” Crayford shouted as he stood up.

“Heh, just like your examples, your memory is rotten too! It was four times! Four lousy examples!” Sora shouted back.

“That’s it….” Crayford pulled out his sword. “I should have killed you the first time you interrupted!”

“Heh…with those shitty skills, if you could kill an ant, it would be amazing! I am ashamed you are my disciple…” Sora retorted.

With that much said, the two of them began exchanging blows….The three warriors and Claire sat crouched in a corner….they weren’t even interested in watching the two fight. The first time, they fought, the four panicked – not knowing what to do. However, seeing them fight like this again and again over something very stupid….they weren’t even sure if they could look into the eyes of their Master respectfully anymore.

“I am bored….” Tulda spoke up, as he doodled in the sand.

“Just bear with it….” Hem replied in a dead beat voice.

“They started fighting again…” Boze spoke up as he turned around and glanced. “They are so weird, why are they laughing and smiling while attacking each other….do they like fighting that much?”

“Claire feels ignored.” Claire spoke while pouting…. “That’s it! I have had it!”

The three warriors fell back in fear – Claire lost it.

“I am putting an end to this!” Claire declared.

The next scene had Sora and Crayford both in seiza position, whilst they were being lectured by Claire.

***

Sora’s POV

Here is the *improved* explanation of Crayford’s stupid example, there are three people in a room. A,B & C. If A leaves the room, then B & C will forget about A existence. Then B leaves the room. C will believe he was the only one ever to occupy the room.

So if Crayford remembers his sister....he would have to be A. Sister would have to be B and I would have to be C.

However, it is quite possible for C to believe he was never alone if A or B held too much importance in his life or the world. Think of it like this – same example:

Three people in a room. A,B & C. A is the mother. B is the father. C is a minor child of both A &B. A leaves room. B & C's brain creates imaginary person 'D' to replace A as B could not possibly conceive C without A. A holds too much significance.

As per Crayford, his ‘Oneechan’ disappeared from my life because she entered the game. However, she was too important for me to forget. Therefore, my brain creates 'Enma' to replace her.

So who is this Enma?

As per Crayford’s explanation – My ‘Enma’ is a figment of my imagination. According to Crayford, my mind used random bits of information from my own memories to create a fictional ‘Enma’ to replace ‘Oneechan’.

When Crayford explains all this….it kind of makes sense. The face I remember, could just be some random strangers super imposed on the memories of Oneechan. The name, ‘Enma Ikeda’, came from the high score list of the VR simulator in the gaming arcade (Author's note: Refer Chapter 1.3).

So who is the Enma Ikeda with a 1.5mn high score? The person I believe to be my real disciple?

Crayford says Enma Ikeda is a real person and the strongest adventurer in this world. As per Crayford, the VR simulator got it absolutely right, when it showed Enma Ikeda as the top scorer.

So isn’t this just a game? If a VR simulator is showing high score with a player’s name on it, isn’t this a game??

Apparently not, for two reasons. The first being, Crayford is convinced he died in the old world(car accident) and was reborn in this world – simply said, this world is too real to be a game. The second reason is, if I ever to ever meet the real Enma Ikeda of this world, he would not remotely resemble the Enma of my memories. Also, Crayford argues if this was a game what kind of psycho would indulge in creating such a twisted game….well let’s forget his *baseless and emotional* arguments.

I can never prove the first reasoning Crayford offered. However, the second is something worth testing. If I ever meet the Enma of this world, it will become immediately clear if this is another world or a game.

Honestly, I would rush to meet the Enma of this world….however (according to Crayford) no one knows where he is right now. Therefore, meeting him immediately is not possible. There are more reasons why, I can’t meet him immediately…but I will explain that later.

Therefore, for the time being, I will treat this world as a game and treat Crayford is a crazy idiot. However, I will pretend in front of Crayford that this is the real world.

There is one thing I must clarify, even if this world was real, I would treat Crayford as an idiot. I can’t pinpoint it….but this guy….is just so irritating. It is almost like he knows my every weakness.

***

“Everyone, please forgive me for the delay introductions. This is my Sensei.” Crayford presented the ice mage / skeleton warrior to his four disciples.

“Sensei is an absolute genius amongst genius however he lacks common sense.”

Did he just insult me?

“Sometimes, he may pretend to be an idiot, but he really just lacks common sense.”

He is insulting me? Isn’t he?

“Please do not feed his ego, his narcissism knows no bounds.”

Sora began feeling a certain rage building up within him – this annoying brat is so dead…

“Also, please never give in to his impossible to fulfill whims and desires. He lacks the ability to see the difference between the impossible and possible…”

At this point Sora swung out his sword, and the two were enveloped in a cloud of dust.

They are at it again….the three warriors sighed. Are they really master and disciple?

***

After several minutes of anime styled clobbering each other…The two stood side by side, panting heavily, Crayford had a blue coloured eye (work of Claire) and Sora’s skull was unusually wobbly (work of Claire).

 “Sensei, these are my four disciples. They are also my familiars.” Crayford introduced.

The four bowed to Sora respectfully – although they did not like the idea of bowing to a skeleton. However, they had to accept their Master’s wishes.

“Familiars?” Sora asked as he greeted them back with a bow. “I am sure I have Guardians…and not familiars… Is there a difference between familiars and guardians?”

“Not really….” Crayford replied back sheepishly while thinking it through. “If you are born in this world, then like any resident, you can make a soul contract and obtain a familiar. However, if you are transported to this world, then you are granted Guardians.”

Granted Guardians by whom? The cricket, Jiminy?

“You speak as though people are often transported to this world…”

“More than often! Nearly, every day someone or the other is being transported to this world!”

Despite so many people being ‘transported’, you believe this is another world? This has to be a game!

“Many of these people are not from our previous world.” Crayford replied as though he sensed what Sora was thinking. “Some are elves, some dwarves… some are demons, there are no restriction on the races..…nor is there a restriction on how they come here…some come through reincarnation, some through transportation, and some through summoning….in this world everything happens….”

“Is that so….” Sora spoke while lost in thought.

This is becoming more and more like a fantasy novel….isn’t it?