Lord Of Doom!Reincarnated Into a Novel as the Strongest Side Character

Chapter 37: "Binding!? Now!?"

The incense faded as Reikishi stepped gracefully out of the temple. He passed by Kaito, and no words were needed to convey that he should follow. Kaito fell in line behind him, wearing a silent expression.

They walked along the path back to the hidden village.

"I ordered you not to let your emotions take over. While you managed to stay silent at the last moment, don't make such a mistake again," Reikishi said.

Kaito shook his head in response, about to speak, but Reikishi cut in again.

"No need to explain what happened in there! The cleanup team is scheduled to discreetly handle the aftermath tomorrow. The parents of the children will be given a believable story, so go clean up and get some good sleep. Tomorrow shall bring new surprises."

Kaito paused, waiting for Reikishi to enter the village before he followed - a norm that was compulsory to abide by, no matter the situation.

Surprisingly, no one knew the location of Reikishi's dwelling, even though it was in the same village.

Moments later, Kaito sighed and stared up at the night sky. Stars twinkled like distant diamonds scattered across a vast, deep blue canvas, while a crescent moon hung low, casting a glow over the land.

Every day really brings new surprises, but they are no worth being happy of as it's always the bad gifts.

...

The next day, morning broke.Gojin, Kenji, and Sakura had slept comfortably on the floor of the room. The three of them sprang up simultaneously, their eyes meeting with a hint of weariness. They slowly stood up and stretched their legs a bit.

However, Sakura and Kenji noticed that their hands had gone numb from blood loss; they were now quite pale, almost resembling lifeless limbs. They could hardly feel their hands.

"Morning, Sunless!" The stone door opened, and Sensei descended the stairs with a grin, though it was partially obscured by the mask covering the other half of his face.

"I see you slept in here. You're one step closer to awakening that raw energy apart from the unrestrained powers in you. Anyway, that's part of today's upcoming training, though your daily task remains breaking that wall."

His eyes unexpectedly landed on Kenji's and Sakura's hands, clearly pale, almost as white as snow.

"The two of you must have bruised your fists during the struggle. Gojin didn't for some unknown reasons like one: He is the Lord around here," he said with a grin.

Gojin felt no sense of pride from that remark, nor did the others try to awe him; this was something well known and already praised. He needed no introduction of any kind.

"Get treatment before your hands become useless. The infirmary is just up the path past the old pine tree. You can't miss it—it's the building with the red lanterns hanging out front. I will be waiting here on the first floor as always."

He gestured for them to head up the stairs. Gojin decided to follow, eager to see the outside once more and maybe even explore further—though that would come after they bathed in ofuro, the traditional bath.

Ofuro was a deep soaking tub filled with hot water, often made of wood or ceramic. Bathing was not just about cleanliness; it was a ritual of relaxation and rejuvenation, where one would soak away the fatigue in them.

Afterward, they would change into fresh clothes or, rather, the new uniforms of this era.

As Gojin, Kenji, and Sakura made their way up the path, the air was crisp and filled with the scent of pine. The village was quite scanty, with only a few Exorcists and Soul reapers moving about. Some were leaving their sections to tend to daily tasks, while others quietly chatted as they passed by. The towering trees stood like guardians, their needles whispering softly in the breeze.

The trio walked in silence. The path wound through the village, leading them to a modest building nestled among the trees.The infirmary was a simple structure, its wooden walls were weathered. A sign hung above the entrance, adorned with kanji that read "Infirmary."

Two red lanterns flanked the doorway just like Sensei had described it.

Upon entering, they were greeted by the faint smell of herbs and antiseptic. The interior was bright yet calming, with sunlight streaming through the three windows.

In one corner, a small wooden counter held various medical supplies, while the walls were lined with shelves filled with jars of herbs and remedies.

In the center of the room lay two children, the young siblings Kaito and Saito had brought in. They were now resting, lost in their dreams, their faces were serene. Nearby, a single female physician tended to them. Her name was Dr. Aiko.

She wore a plain, kimono, its soft fabric was a muted shade of indigo, cinched at the waist with a simple obi. Her hair was neatly tied back, and her gentle demeanor radiated warmth.

Dr. Aiko had ethereal beauty, with high cheekbones and a delicate jawline. Her deep-set warm brown almond-shaped eyes were full of tenderness and grit. Her face was usually decorated with a placid smile while her blonde hair was tied back nicely, with a few stray strands tucked into her face.

Dr. Aiko gently took Kenji and Sakura's hands in hers. Their skin around it was pale and numb, as if they could barely feel their fingers. Aiko examined the injuries carefully, noting the signs.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Aiko," she said warmly, looking into their eyes.

Sakura smiled back, her enthusiasm was evident.

"I'm Sakura, and these are my friends, Kenji and Gojin," she introduced, her voice bright with a hint of admiration for the physician.

Dr. Aiko nodded, her expression softened. "It's nice to meet you all. How did you injure your hands?"

Sakura beamed and replied, "We were trying to break the stone wall in Sensei's abode with raw energy! We're planning to try again today, so is there a way this could heal before noon?"

Aiko chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "I would have to use my healing technique, but it might take around an hour for your hands to be good as new. However, I must advise you not to punch hard again. No one has broken that wall before with raw energy."

"We would be the first to then!" Gojin, Kenji, and Sakura replied in unison, their determination palpable.

Aiko was momentarily stunned by their resolve. She could sense the immense aura radiating from Gojin, quite overpowered. As for Kenji, she couldn't quite pin down his aura, but it was menacing and powerful, just a mere 15% below Gojin's.

This was Kurozai's influence which he had just plotted so as to hide behind Kenji's soul, unseen. But she could certainly feel the weight of his aura.

"Alright, let's get started," Dr. Aiko said, preparing her healing technique. "I'll do my best to help you recover quickly, but promise me you'll be careful."

Meanwhile, Gojin stood by the door, staring out the third window. The view revealed a beautiful garden filled with calm flowers, their colors were bright and attractive. Yet, Gojin's gaze was distant, as if he were searching for something beyond the beauty before him. He wasn't planning to wander into the garden; instead, his mind was focused on a larger goal.

I would have to find a small mountain far away from this village, likely could not be seen. Bringing it down and getting rid of any evidence of it ever being there would help me rank up and collect extra rewards from this error incarnated System - Gojin thought. All this was quite easy for him at this point as he could even bring down a larger mountain, get rid of the particles and explosion sounds before anyone could see or hear.

Suddenly, a notification echoed in his mind:

[All techniques are now unrestricted since Host has left the space]

[Errors have been fixed]

[Would you like to bind with the system and two more expected hosts for new rewards and...]