Sai Ken bellowed with an air of authority, his countenance stern and unwavering. "Listen closely, everyone gathered here. This is an edict from your esteemed mayor. What the youth just revealed is to remain shrouded in silence."
Tatsuki sprang to his feet, his voice brimming with frustration as he addressed Sai Ken, "Oi, oi, oi!"
Sai Ken retorted with an unwavering gaze, his words delivered with unyielding determination. "Now is not the hour for your rebellious outbursts, young one. Hush."
Tatsuki, his head slightly bowed, questioned in hushed tones, "Why are you obstructing the dissemination of my accomplishments?"
Sai Ken responded with an unshakable resolve, "Child, you may not fully grasp the gravity of this matter. The avarice of people can swiftly cloud their judgment. If whispers of Lily's covert abilities were to spread, not only mages but also the common folk, especially those with deep coffers, would act recklessly. Ponder the chaos it would unleash."
Tatsuki allowed his thoughts to wander, pondering the unusual gravity of the situation. "Hmmm, pervy Gramps isn't one to easily adopt such a serious tone. If he's this concerned..."
Tatsuki let out a disapproving click of his tongue and, with a resigned expression, acquiesced, "Tsk, tsk. My existence alone stands as evidence that I've conquered the trial. I have no need for fame."
Sai, in a gesture of consolation, gently placed a hand on Tatsuki's head. Moments later, he immersed himself in his mayoral duties, engaging in conversation with the gathered crowd.
The first judge, with a silent yet commanding demeanor, summoned Tatsuki's attention. "There is something I wish to inquire about. Indulge me."
Tatsuki, suspicion etched across his features, retorted, "Huh...? Baldy, what's with the cryptic approach?"
The first judge, visibly irked but trying to maintain his composure, whispered, "I've had enough of your insolence, young one. I'm not bald. I do have hair..."
Tatsuki took a deliberate step back, his gaze traveling up and down the elderly judge, and he couldn't resist a snarky comment. "I'm fully aware of that, and boy, is it a jungle down there. If only you had half of that foliage on your head."
The first judge, attempting to control his mounting anger, clenched his fists and gritted his teeth while speaking in a hushed tone, "You speak as if you know everything. Have you, by any chance, encountered my wife during your travels across the plains?"
Tatsuki's face lit up with an eerie smile, his eyes narrowing and his lips seeming to stretch beyond the boundaries of his face. Breathing heavily, he murmured, "So, if I understand you correctly, you're implying that your wife actually ran away, right? 'Ahe, aheeee, ahehehe, ahhehe...'" Tatsuki made a series of peculiar and wheezing noises.
Panic consumed the first judge, and he couldn't contain it any longer. A small stream of blood trickled from his mouth as he clutched his chest and, with his last breath, muttered, "You unruly beast."
As Tatsuki's expression gradually returned to normal, he couldn't help but wonder, "What did I do...?"
A sudden light tap landed on Tatsuki's shoulder, startling him. He swiftly turned to see the source, and upon setting his eyes upon it, he let out a piercing scream, "It's a frickin' Mummy!"
Standing before Tatsuki was a figure shrouded from head to toe, leaving no room for doubt in Tatsuki's conclusion.
The mummy raised both of its wrapped hands, seemingly engaged in a peculiar ritual.
Tatsuki, his fists clenched and his voice trembling, gestured towards the mummy and quivered, "It's trying to curse us! Someone, deal with this mummy!"
A light chuckle filled the air, and Shinji began to laugh, calling out, "Brother, he's not the bizarre creature you believe him to be. This is Lione. We all met in the locker room earlier, remember?"
Tatsuki, still suspicious, inquired, "Are you absolutely certain? He certainly looks like a mummy to me."
Shinji continued to chuckle as he explained, "Oh, brother, during his trial, although he managed to succeed, he was severely injured and was promptly taken to the physician."
Tatsuki was left in utter shock, his thoughts spoken aloud. He had been convinced that Lione's injuries were so severe that they had taken his life. However, what was even more surprising was that Lione held such a deep grudge against Tatsuki that he transformed into a mummy and emerged from his tomb.
Shinji continued to laugh heartily, responding with a chuckle, "Yes, brother, you've got it all figured out."
Tatsuki joined his hands in front of Lione and closed his eyes, beginning to pray earnestly. "I know we had our grievances, but from the depths of my heart, I wish for your soul to find peace. Please, cease haunting me and return to your tomb."
Shinji, still struggling to contain his laughter, couldn't resist joining in the jest as he teased, "Yes, 'mami,' return to your tomb."
The mummy, hopping around and clearly agitated, prompted Tatsuki to exclaim, "The mummy has gone flipping nuts!"
Shinji, now sitting up on the ground and wiping tears from his eyes, short of breath from laughter, managed to say, "Brother, he's just venting his frustration, expressing how dare you mock him."
Tatsuki, clearly taken aback, asked in surprise, "Huh...? You can understand the mummy?"
After catching his breath, Shinji calmed down and with a kind gaze, he said, "Yes, brother, I can understand 'mami.'"
Tatsuki's excitement was palpable, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He puffed up his chest and quickly grabbed Shinji's hand, expressing his eagerness. "You must teach me. I've always dreamed of having a legion of mummies under my command, and this day marks the beginning of it all."
Shinji, looking puzzled, responded, "Brother, it's going to take quite some time for you to learn. Why not let the mummy return to his tomb in the meantime?"
Tatsuki agreed, recognizing the moral implications, "Indeed, keeping him out like this isn't morally correct. What if he gets exorcised? Shinji, please tell him that from now on, he's the commanding leader of my legion of mummies. He can rest in his tomb until I call for him."
Shinji complied and moved to relay the message to Lione. After some time, he turned toward Tatsuki, a look of concern on his face, and stated, "Brother, I'm afraid 'mami' isn't going back to his tomb..."
Tatsuki was left perplexed, his voice reflecting his confusion, as he inquired, "Huh... why?"
Shinji proceeded to explain Lione's situation to Tatsuki, stating that Lione had been admitted to the recovery room after the trial. However, upon hearing the news of Tatsuki's supposed demise, he had attempted to reach here as quickly as possible. Due to him being covered in cloth strips , he couldn't walk swiftly, and now, he had no intention of returning without knowing what was happening.
Tatsuki, with a quizzical expression, mused, "Oh, so he waddled here like a penguin?"
Lione approached Tatsuki and began speaking in mummy language, leaving Tatsuki baffled. He turned to Shinji for assistance, asking, "Shinji, what is he saying? I think I need your help."
Shinji, sitting with crossed legs, responded, "Brother, he's trying to say that you've created quite a conundrum."
Tatsuki, still bewildered, replied with a smile, "Oh, no, no... the good part is just about to begin."
Tatsuki called for the announcer and asked, "Hey, Mr. announcer, have you ever heard of something called a 'mic'?"
The announcer, with a shaky voice, replied, "Oh, what a peculiar name. I don't think I've even heard of it before."
Tatsuki, with a mix of frustration and amusement, questioned, "Seriously, why are you afraid of me now? Just what kind of cowardly 'dondoo' are you?"
The announcer, baffled, inquired, "Dondoo?"
Ignoring the announcer, Tatsuki abruptly shouted, "Eonforge Magic!" With that, a blazing microphone appeared.