vol 8 PT 4

ARIFURETA SHOKUGYOU DE SEKAI SAIKYOU (WN)

V8 C7

Accompanied By A Red Thunder

"It's a lie… right? How can Kouki… lose?"

"N-No way…"

"N-No… w-why…"

Coming out from the hidden room, Kouki's comrades were bewildered in seeing him being hung, and they uttered incoherent words. Even Shizuku, Kaori, and Suzu were speechless. Towards the classmates who had lost their fighting spirit, the Demon Race woman spoke with a cold attitude.

"Hmm, it looks like I'll be able to catch you guys easily. I… have underestimated you brats, but it looks like it'll work out just fine."

With a pale expression, Shizuku asked the Demon Race woman with courageous tone.

"… What did you do?"

"Nn? It's this, you know this."

After replying to the question, the Demon Race woman turned her gaze towards Commander Meld who was gripped by a Brutal-look-alike even now. Following her gaze, Shizuku came to understand the moment she saw the dying Commander Meld. Commander Meld was used to divert Kouki's attention. If his acquaintance was caught and was dying, Kouki would surely react to it. Furthermore, he would've considerably lost his composure.

The Demon Race woman had most likely to understood Kouki's straight forward character from their previous fight. Thus, using Chimera's peculiar ability, she hid a strong demonic beast who aimed at the moment Kouki jumped in anger.

"… So? What do you want from us? You must want something since you're purposely letting us live and started to converse with us, right?"

"Ah, as expected, you're the one who can understand situation the best. What, it's not such a special conversation. When I saw you guys earlier, I thought to once again invite you guys. Look, before, it was this Hero-kun who selfishly decided everything, right? And, there are also excellent people among you, so I want ask you again. So? What do you think?"

Some people reacted to the Demon Race woman's words. Because of that, Shizuku narrowed her eyes and questioned the woman again.

"… What about Kouki?"

"Fufu, what a fast learner… Sorry, but I can't let Hero-kun alive. He didn't want to come to our side, so it's impossible to persuade him, right? After all, he is the self-contained type. That's why I don't have any reason to keep such a dangerous creature alive."

"… Isn't that the same with us?"

"Of course; why did you think I let you live even though I know it'll only make me anxious of my back?"

"Haven't you thought that we might joined now and betray you later?"

"Naturally, I have thought that. That's why I'll make you wear collars. Ah, there's no need to worry, it's only make you unable to rebel against us. No one will be deprived of their freedoms."

"That's just like slaves with high degree of freedom. What you mean is we will keep our free will, but we won't be able to harm you."

"That's right. It helps me that you're quick to understand. Also, it's good that this conversation is going somewhere until the one with Hero-kun."

Although the classmates were silently listening to the conversation between Shizuku and the Demon Race, they were also looking at each other with fear-stricken eyes and full of worries. If they did not accept the invitation from Demon Race, then nine out of ten they would be killed by the demonic beasts that were even difficult for Kouki to defeat, but they would not be able to fight against Demon Race again if they sided with Demon Race and wore the collar.

In other words, they would no longer be "God's Apostles." If it turned to that, would Church of the Saints whom they had been summoned to protect became useless… and, would it be possible for them to return to their original world…

No matter what option they chose, they could not see a bright future. However…

"I-I think we should accept that person's invitation!"

Among the silent crowd, Eri unexpectedly desperately spoke while trembling. Thus, the classmates opened their eyes wide in surprise, and carefully paid attention to her. To such an Eri, Ryuutarou shouted back with face red in anger.

"Eri, you! So, you are going to abandon Kouki!"

"Hih!?"

"Ryuutarou, please calm down! Eri, why do you think so?"

Ryuutarou's attitude made Eri frightened, and she stepped back as a result. However, Shizuku admonished Ryuutarou and was somehow able to stop him. Thus, Eri took a deep breath and spoke her mind with tightly clenched fists.

"I-I just… don't want everyone to die… Even I don't know… what to do with Kouki-kun… ugh, gulp…"

Eri spun her words with all of her might with tearing streaming down her eyes. Seeing her, the other party members' hearts were shaken. Thus, one person who agreed with Eri appeared.

"I also agree with Nakamura. Our lost has already been decided; between annihilation and survival, there's no need to hesitate, right?"

"Hiyama… you mean, you don't care what happen to Kouki, huh? Huh?"

"Then, Sakagami, are you trying to do double suicide with Kouki who could not fight anymore? And with all of us involved?"

"That's not it! As if I'd do that!"

"Then please shut your mouth if you don't have any alternative. Right now, it should take precedence on how to survive by ourselves."

With Hiyama's remark, the atmosphere turned into one where it looked like it was necessary for them to accept the invitation. And just like what Hiyama said, they only had one choice if they wanted to survive.

However, they could not just choose that since they felt guilty, thinking, 'Is it really okay for us to survive while Kouki gets killed? It was as though they were boldly sacrificing Kouki for their survival.

To their dilemma, the Demon Race woman made another proposal with such perfect timing.

"Hmmm, if you guys are that worried about Hero-kun… shall I keep him alive? Naturally, a collar with stronger effect than yours will be put on him. But, I want all of you to side with Demon Race first."

Shizuku secretly clicked her tongue when she heard the proposal. It was because she had guessed since the beginning that the Demon Race woman would propose it. It was strange for Kouki to be kept alive if she had already decided to kill him. The woman only had to kill him if there was no need for discussion after all.

That's why by not killing him and keeping him alive were all for this moment. The Demon Race woman had likely acknowledged that Kouki and the others were useful after the last fight. However, she was convinced she could not make Kouki waver even through talking. But the others didn't know of that. So, she planned to draw in the others aside from Kouki.

First, she did not kill Kouki to not raise the animosity of the others. Second, she told them to make a choice while she cornered them between choice of death or survival. Third, she guided them to think "if we do that," and she chose that time to erase the problem from their thought.

Actually, by making the best use of Kouki, the atmosphere changed to one where they thought it'd be okay to side with Demon Race if they survive. Though in reality, they didn't have any guarantee Kouki would be kept alive. Even if they regretted if he was killed after this, they could no longer act against the Demon Race.

Shizuku noticed that, but she kept silent as she told herself they currently could do nothing but to side with Demon Race if they want to survive. There should be a way to save Kouki as long as they were alive.

There were huge merits for the Demon Race woman if she got her hand on Shizuku and the others. First, needless to say, it'll give an impact to the human's side. After all, the "God's Apostles" who were humanity's hope are siding with Demon Race. That impact… no, it was much more like despair will be a huge advantage to the Demon Race.

Second, she would get new battle force. Having come to «Orcus Great Dungeon», the Demon Race woman's real purpose was to conquer the dungeon and bring back the power inside. Though up until now, it was at the level where she could easily sweep the floor with the demonic beasts she had on hand, but it couldn't be said that she'd be able to keep it up. It would be a good thing to obtain Shizuku and the others as fighting force to replenish the demonic beasts killed by Kouki's party.

If this keeps up, she would obtain Shizuku and the others. The Demon Race woman floated a faint smile as she realized the mood.

However, her smile was immediately erased by the pained voice that suddenly rang out.

"E-Everyone… this is bad… please run away…"

"Kouki!"

"Kouki-kun!"

"Amanogawa!"

The voice's source was the hanged Kouki. All of his comrades' gazes turned to him.

"… Don't believe her… she killed… Alan-san and the other knights… don't… be fooled… you'll be used as slaves… to fight humans… so run away… I am… okay… just… escape by yourself…"

With feeble breathing, Kouki told the danger of the deal and insisted for them to leave him and bet on running away, which once again shook the hearts of the classmates.

"…In this situation, just how many do you think will survive? Just look at the reality already! We already lost! Even the knights… were killed! So there's no other choice! We can do nothing but accepting the invitation if we want to survive!"

Hiyama's angry voice rang out. He angrily looked at Kouki who still didn't come to terms with the situation. Hiyama certainly wanted to survive. At worst, he would make sure Kaori and himself survive even if the others didn't. However, the possibility of doing that if he bet on escaping would be too low.

If he went to the Demon Race side, there's enough possibility of being promoted o an important position if he displayed his usefulness, and he'd be able to obtain Kaori. Naturally, he'd limit her freedom using the collar. Hiyama did not care whether she had free will or not. He'd be satisfied as long as he made Kaori his.

Because of Hiyama's angry voice, the others were charmed by the more certain and nearer future.

At that moment, a pained but powerful voice rang inside the room. Even though it was a small voice, it resounded well to others. It was a voice that had encouraged them many times in the battlefields. The person calmly judged any kind of situations, said words without any hesitation, and a model for them who also had a reliable back. For everyone, he was like a big brother and even a father they were fond of. Meld's voice rang out.

"Guh… you guys… you only need to think on how to survive! … Advance on the path you believed in! … I am sorry involving you… to our war… Even though the time I spent with you isn't that long… I've regretted involving you… That's why, live and return to your world… no need to worry about human race… In the first place… this war should be fought by the human in this world!"

Meld's words weren't words of a Herrlicht Kingdom's Commanding Knight. They were words of a man, Meld Loginz, his true feelings as he cast aside his position. He exposed his feelings because he realized here would be the end for him.

Kouki and the others had their eyes wide opened while muttering Meld's name and Meld shook off the Brutal-look-alike while a light shone from his whole body. Then, he immediately grappled the Demon Race woman.

"You demon… let's die together!"

"… That is… hee~, self-destruction? How brave. I can say I don't hate it."

"Shut it!"

The light wrapping Meld was similar to Kouki's "Limit Break" in a glance while magic power gushed out of his body. However, it was actually not from his body but the crystal hanging on his neck.

Seeing that, the Demon Race woman instantly saw through his personality and satisfyingly praised him.

The crystal's name was "Last Loyalty," an evil tool to self-destruct just like the Demon Race woman said. Someone with high position in the Kingdom and Church of the Saints naturally carried important information with him. And because there's magic capable of reading one's memory in dark attributed magic, that person would be forced to carry the crystal when he went to the frontline. It would be used in time of emergence so the memory could not be read, along with the intention of involving the enemy with the self-destruction.

Meld's last attack that risked his life made Kouki's party screamed out his name. However, unlike them, the Demon Race woman was still calm even though she'd be swallowed by the explosion and die.

Thus the "Last Loyalty" Meld carried increased its shine further, and one sentence was muttered right before it activated.

"Devour it, Absod."

Immediately, after the Demon Race woman's voice rang out, the "Last Loyalty" on its limit let out tremendous lights, and lost its shine.

"Wh-!? What's happen!"

If one looked carefully, the overflowing lights were flowing into a certain direction. Meld frantically moved only his gaze towards that direction while still pinning the Demon Race woman, and there was the six-legged turtle shaped demonic beast whose opened mouth was inhaling the lights wrapping Meld.

The six-legged turtle demonic beast was called Absod. Its peculiar magic was "Magic Storage." It was a skill to freely take and stock magic inside its body. On the other hand, it could not use the stored magic if more than one magic if it took different elements. It only had the ability of letting out the magic again by compressing it from its mouth. However, the storage could even store high-ranked magic. It was a natural enemy for people who fight using magic.

The light wrapping Meld from "Last Loyalty" rapidly lost, and it exhausted all its powers and became a normal crystal. Suddenly, an impact from an attack hit Meld who was flabbergasted because his last struggle had been obstructed in an unexpected way, but the impact wasn't that strong. What is it?, Meld looked down towards his abdomen where the impact came from.

A reddish brown blade could be seen. Accurately, a blade of sand had pierced through Meld's abdomen from his back. The blade piercing him from behind had blood dripping at the tip.

"… Meld-san!"

Kouki shouted Meld's name without minding his vomited blood. Meld reacted to his call and the gaze on his abdomen shifted to Kouki. He then frowned he moved his mouth to say, "Sorry," while revealing a mortified smile.

Immediately, the sand blade swung horizontally and Meld was blown away. Just like a powerless doll,thud!, he was thrown to the ground. The pool of blood spread little by little. Anyone see it would think of it as a mortal wound. It was already a miracle he was capable of moving while covered in wounds, but everyone knew that this time it was the true end.

Even though she understood she would not make it in time, Kaori immediately used ranged recovery magic on Meld. Although the amount of bleeding had slightly decreased, Kaori could not block Meld's wound since she herself hardly have any magic power.

"Uu, please! Be healed!"

Even as she fell to her knee due to the severe exhaustion from magic power depletion, Kaori desperately continued using healing magic.

"I never thought he'd be able to stand up and pinned me with such wounds. As expected of the Kingdom's Knight Leader. He's worthy of praise. However, this is the end… this'll be your last. So, what do you think?"

The Demon Race woman glared at Kouki and the others as she swung the sand blade dyed in red. Seeing someone close to them dying once again, everyone, except some, were trembling. Even if they didn't want to admit it, they'd be the next to die if they did not accept the Demon Race woman's proposal.

Representing the others, Hiyama was about to say they accept the proposal. However, at that time,

"… –me."

Kouki, who powerlessly tried to escape from being hung by the horsehead, muttered something with a small voice. Even though he shouldn't be able to create any miracle since he covered in wounds, Hiyama swallowed his words. He somehow could not ignore the pressure coming from Kouki.

"Ha? What did you say? So, you want to die."

The Demon Race woman heard Kouki's mutter, she snorted, and asked him thinking it was just another rave. Kouki raised his cast down gaze, and his straight glare pierced the Demon Race woman.

The Demon Race woman instinctively held her breath when she saw Kouki's glare. After all, the color of his irises had changed to silvery white as it shone. Instinctively backing away due to an unknown pressure, she ordered the horsehead according to the warning her instinct was telling her. She instinctively realized it was not the time to think about the advantage and disadvantage of gaining Shizuku and the others.

"Ahatd! Kill him!"

"RoOoOoAaR!!"

The horsehead nameded Ahatd faithfully executed the Demon Race woman's order. It tried to crush the suspended Kouki's sides using two fists equipped with "Magic Shock Wave."

However, at that moment,

CLiiIIInnNG!!

Tremendous light overflowed from Kouki. It became a torrent and rose into the ceiling just like a tornado. Next, Kouki swung his right fist towards Ahatd's arm that was grabbing onto him,SNaaaAAAAP!, and the arm was easily crushed.

"ROooOOAR!!"

With a roar different from a while ago, Ahatd inadvertently dropped Kouki, and Kouki moved to make a roundhouse kick as though he could not feel his injury.

ThUuUumpP!!

Cannon-like impact sound rang when the kick hit, Ahatd's huge body was bent into < and was blown towards the wall behind with an extraordinary momentum. Ahatd, who was crushed into the wall accompanied with a thunderous roar, could not move well its body thanks to the impact, desperately trying to slip out of the wall but resulted in nothing.

With a swaying body, Kouki picked up the dropped Holy Sword and glared at the Demon Race woman with a piercing gaze that could almost kill. At the same time, similar torrent that of a tonado rose and began to envelope Kouki's body.

A skill derived from "Limit Break," "Supreme Break." If the normal "Limit Break" increased the basic states by three times within the time limit, "Supreme Break" was higher skill, and basic stats were multiplied by five. However, he had to use limit break to now forcibly dragged out his power. That's why the current Kouki only had 30 seconds until the limit. The effective time had been cut greatly because of the side effect.

However, without minding that, Kouki rushed towards the Demon Race woman in anger. The only thing in his mind was to beat Meld's enemy. Only revenge.

The Demon Race woman raised a panicked expression and ordered the surrounding demonic beasts to attack Kouki. Chimeras were sneaked attacking, the black cats were firing their tentacles, and the Brutal-look-alike swung their maces. However, Kouki ignored those demonic beasts. Without swinging Holy Sword, he kept advancing, and raised angry cry towards where the Demon Race woman was.

"Bitch-! How dare you do that to Meld-san-!!"

"Tch!"

Kouki unhesitatingly swung down the Holy Sword that was held in upper stance. The Demon Race woman clicked her tongue and she immediately densified the sand into a shield… but cladded in torrent of light, the Holy Sword easily cut through the shield and slashed the Demon Race woman behind it.

Although she was not cut in two; she backed away and created the sand shield, the Demon Race woman had a deeply cut diagonally on her body, and blown backward, spraying blood.

Her back crashed into the wall behind, the Demon Race woman skidded down from the crushed wall, and Kouki approached her as he shook of the blood off the Holy Sword.

"What luck… to have the situation reversed just like this… It's as if I am looking at a cheap drama."

Having the table reversed thanks to him awakening his hidden power due to him being in a pinch, made the Demon Race woman say sarcastic words while her wandering gaze was looking at the approaching Kouki in resignation.

Even though the white crow on her side activated its peculiar magic, her wound was too deep that it could not be healed immediately, and Kouki won't give her such a time either. It was a true checkmate, and the Demon Race woman endured the severe pain, moved her right hand, and took out a locket pendant from her breast pocket.

Seeing that, Kouki sharpened his expression, thinking it was the same self-destruction tool similar to the one Meld used, and he suddenly dashed out. Regardless of the Demon Race woman's death, he could not let the explosion swallow his comrades. That's why, I will defeat her before it activates! He attacked to stop her.

However…

"I am sorry… I am going to die before you… I love you, Mikhail…"

Looking at the locket pendant in her hand dearly, the Demon Race woman muttered, which made Kouki inadvertently stopped the Holy Sword. Due to the attack not being delivered, the Demon Race woman dubiously raised her face and she noticed the Holy Sword had stopped just a few millimeters overhead.

Kouki expression was aghast as he looked down at the Demon Race woman with wide-open eyes. His eyes expressed, but when he noticed something, it generated fear and hesitation. Seeing his eyes, the Demon Race woman realized the thing that made him stopped his sword and watched him with a condemning gaze. Her gaze made Kouki shaken further.

"… I am amazed… Did you notice it only now? That you are going to kill a 'person.'?"

"Kh!?"

That's right, for Kouki, the Demon Race was a cruel and cowardly higher ranked demonic beasts. It also meant they were recognized as existences evolved from demonic beasts, that was what the Ishtar had taught him about the Demon Race. Actually, they were recognized as such because they were accompanied by the demonic beasts, their slaves. However, just like a normal human, they love and loved, desperately tried to survive for the sake of something. But Kouki never thought he was going to fight "people." In a way, it could be said he unconsciously did not want to think so…

The recognition was overturned when the Demon Race woman dearly called the name of her loved person. Whether he liked it or not, the one he was fighting was not a demonic beast. He noticed she was in truth a "person" just like him. He recognized what he was trying to do was "murder."

"Surely, you did not admit us as "people"… What arrogance."

"N-No… I, I didn't know…"

"Hah, isn't it you "did not try to know"?"

"I, I…"

"See? So, what's wrong? After all, what you're doing is not fighting but "hunting," right? There's one animal before you here, you know? Even though you have thought like that until now…"

"… L-let's just talk… surely if we talk…"

Kouki said as he lowered Holy Sword. Demon Race woman looked at him with pure scorn, and she shouted an order instead of answering him.

"Ahatd! Aim at the swordswoman! The others, attack!"

Having recovered from the impact, Ahatd approached Shizuku with tremendous momentum, exactly what the Demon Race woman had ordered. Within Kouki's party, although her charisma to lead people could not be compared to him, to excel in making calm judgement of the situation made her the most troublesome enemy, so Shizuku was the first to be targeted.

The others demonic beasts also began attacking the other party members. Rather than the merits gained by making them betray their allies with attached collars, she judged, because of his last attack, it was necessary to kill Kouki. The Demon Race woman felt Kouki's latest attack was a threat.

"Wh-, why!"

"You're a boy without any self-awareness… we are at "war!" You who possessed huge power with immature mind is too dangerous! You are going to die here no matter what! Look, your comrades will be annihilated if you don't help them!"

Kouki shouted at the Demon Race woman who ignored his suggestion, but the woman didn't care at all.

Next, Kouki turned around because of the woman's words, and at the same time, Shizuku was blown away and she crashed into the ground. Ahatd was already a monster that had already far surpassed the strong demonic beasts. It overpowered Kouki who was using "Limit Break" even if it was just a surprise attack. So, Shizuku should not be able to fight it by herself.

Kouki turned pale and used the power from "Supreme Break" to instantly move between Ahatd and Shizuku, and caught the "Magic Shock Wave" attack. Next, he counter-attacked by swinging Holy Sword which cut off its arms.

However, by the time he was before its bosom to finish it off with a stab, just like before, he fell to his knees, lost his strength, and fell forward.

"Supreme Limit" had reached its time limit. It was the worst case scenario. Not only was weakened because of the after effect he had accumulated one impossible plight after another, he also could not move his body as though he was paralyzed.

"A-At Such a time!"

"Kouki!"

Covering Kouki, Shizuku slashed towards the wound Ahatd had on its arm that was cut off. Unable to calm down after its wound was slashed, Ahatd screamed and retreated. At that moment, Shizuku grabbed and threw Kouki to where their comrades were.

With Kouki incapable of moving, his comrades could only defend against the encircling demonic beasts. Then… I must do something! Shizuku aimed at the Demon Race woman. Her gaze unmistakably carried killing intent.

"…Heh~. You seem be conscious about the murder. Rather, aren't you the one most suitable to be called as Hero?"

"… I don't care. It is our fault Kouki did not realize it. That's why I will pay for that debt!"

Completely healed by the white crow's peculiar magic, the Demon Race woman stood up steadily and commented on Shizuku actions.

Shizuku should have known Kouki's straightforward character, and how deeply he sets his heart on something. She gritted her teeth because she felt responsible that it was only until now that Kouki realized they were killing people, and how he didn't realize their true enemies during this war.

Shizuku had no experience of murder, and she felt she did not want to experience it either. However, she was prepared such a day would come if she was going into a war. By learning swordsmanship, the "heaviness" of hurting people was driven into her.

However, now that the time has come, her resolution was easily shaken because of fear neither from the shame nor honour, but because she wanted to cry due to the thing she was going to do. Even so, she bit her lip and gritted her teeth to desperately suppress her fear.

Thus, she took a stance as she activated "No Beat" to kill the Demon Race woman using the Godspeed from the sword drawing technique. However in that moment, a chill ran along her spine because her instinct warned her to imminent danger. Immediately, from the side of the location where she jumped back from, a black cat's tentacles was fired.

"I never told the other demonic beasts to not aim at you. Do you think you can kill me with Ahatd and other demonic beasts as your enemies."

"Kuh."

Saying, "Of course I am also going to kill you," the Demon Race woman began to chant. Shizuku somehow managed to break through the waves of attacks from the demonic beasts using acceleration and deceleration without preliminary action of "No Beat," but her expression was gradually dyed in despair when she tried to move before the Demon Race woman through an opening.

The most difficult was that Ahatd had speed similar to Shizuku. The sturdy and gigantic figure was certainly seen by Shizuku, so even if she used the chance to jump towards the Demon Race woman, its swung fist give an explosion-like impact that would immediately reach Shizuku.

Shizuku was a swordsman who specialized in speed, so her defense was extremely brittle. Evasion and parry were the basic of her defense. Besides, damages would accumulated little by little from "Magic Shock Wave"'s after effect. Also, she could neither completely evade nor parry.

Following that, Shizuku's movement had slightly become duller because of the accumulated damages. And that was fatal in a fight to death such as this.

WHHAAAAAM!!

"Aghh!!"

Although she immediately used the sword and sheath as shields, Ahatd's fist crushed Shizuku's partner and hit her shoulder. Having blown parallel to the ground, forcefully crashing, and continued skidding on the ground, Shizuku laid down helplessly. The arm on her right shoulder was bent into an impossible angle. It was completely crushed. And because the impact was passed into her body, she sometimes coughed up blood.

"Shizuku-chan!"

Kaori called Shizuku with tone overflowed with uneasiness, but Shizuku could not move at all even as she gripped the handle of her broken sword while crouching.

At that time, the things about her comrades, formation, and her exhausted magic power, there was be no meaning for her to come to Shizuku's side, but other logical reasons had completely disappeared from her mind. Kaori's only thought was she "must go to her important best friend's side."

Kaori dashed out due to impulse. Her body was swaying and her feet weren't steady because she hardly had any magic power. Although there were voices behind that tried to stop her, they did not reach Kaori's ears. She was only trying her best to recklessly rush towards Shizuku. Naturally, the demonic beasts did not overlook the defenseless Kaori, and merciless attacks poured towards her.

However, all of those attacks were received by shining shields. Moreover, the numerous shields were standing just like a passage between Kaori and Shizuku.

"Ehehe. As expected, being alone is unpleasant."

Suzu said with a pale expression. She held out her right hand straight towards Shizuku, and used all of her shields to make a beeline between Kaori and Shizuku. A faint smile floated on her face.

Suzu had realized it herself. Realized they could not survive at all. That's why, she thought of using her magic to allow her to be together with the best friends she loved even in the last moment. Naturally, the defense on the other comrades had become thinner as the effect… so Suzu, "I am sorry," apologized in her mind, and continued to put up her shields for Kaori and Shizuku.

With Suzu's shields, Kaori reached Shizuku with only few wounds. Then, she embraced Shizuku's body tightly.

"K-Kaori… what are you doing… Get back, hurry. It's dangerous here."

"Uun. It is the same anywhere. That's why, it's okay for me to be by Shizuku-chan's side."

"… I am sorry. I can't win."

"Me, too, I am sorry I can't really do anything. I have hardly any magic power."

Supporting Shizuku, Kaori was frowning while smiling while using her magic to lessen Shizuku's pain. Shizuku on the other hand, used her solid right arm to grasp the hand Kaori was using to support her, and sported a troubled smile.

A shadow appeared before the two. It was Ahatd. With bloodshot eyes, it approached and looked down at Kaori and Shizuku. "RoOoOaR!!," it raised its characteristic roar and swung its thick arm.

Unbeknownst to them, Suzu's shields had been put between Ahatd, and Kaori and Shizuku to interrupt it from coming any closer. However, it just ignore such barriers. It was probably because it was convinced that its swung fist would easily destroy the shields just like papers and use the shockwave to crush Kaori and Shizuku.

Currently, with the iron hammer of death swinging before them, various scenes passed through Kaori's mind. "Ah, I wonder is this the revolving lantern?," and she strangely calmed down, but Kaori who was flooded with memories had her heart shaken by the latest scene that appeared.

It was the tea party under the moonlight. The memories of the two conversing. The night when she said a vow. The disappeared him who made a troubled smile. How she began to realize her "love" once he disappeared. How she chased after him, believing in his survival.

However, those would also end here. "In the end, I was once again unable to hold up my promise," thinking so, tears flowed on Kaori's cheeks before she was aware of it.

First, I want to call out to him if we ever meet again, Kaori thought so. With such a wish, at the very least, I will call his name at the end… and she naturally said.

"… Hajime-kun."

At that moment.

KABOoOoOM!!

The ceiling above Ahatd fell with a roaring sound, and at the same time, a huge, jet-black stake flew out with an extreme power cladded in red thunder.

Raising sparks, the jet-black stake pierced through Ahatd as though it was a tofu, and it then pierced and was stuck on the ground.

With length around 120 centimeters, the huge stake buried itself into the ground while releasing red sparks. Flesh and blood scattered from the center where Ahatd's remains were with its original form nowhere to be seen. The spectacle made Kaori, Shizuku, and of course Kouki's party, the demonic beasts attacking them, and the Demon Race woman stiffened.

A silent unbecoming of a battlefield ruled the room. No one, not even a thing understood what had happened as they stood in bewilderment. Suddenly, a shadow jumped down from the opened ceiling. The person landed and lightly trampled down on the Ahatd's remains with his back before Kaori and Shizuku, and when he got off it, the person glared at the surroundings.

When he looked over his shoulder, he saw Kaori and Shizuku who were embracing each other.

The moment the person turned around, their eyes met, and a lightning ran through Kaori's body. Her heart had been cold accompanied by sorrow, no, probably it was freezing since the day her important person disappeared, but a sudden fire lighted it and heated it up Thu-thump, thu-thump.Her heart began to throb intensely.

"…Your relationship is good as usual, you two."

The person said with a wry smile, and Kaori's mind was filled with delight even before she could think about it.

The hair color was different, the aura was different, the tone was different, and the appearance was different. However, she knew. It is him. It is he whose survival she believed in while she looked for him.

That's right,

"Hajime-kun!"

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ARIFURETA SHOKUGYOU DE SEKAI SAIKYOU (WN)

V8 C8

The Peerless Incompetent

"Eh? Hajime-kun? Wait, Nagumo-kun? Eh? What? What do you mean?"

Kaori's ecstatic shout made Shizuku, who was by her side, confused and looked alternately between Kaori and Hajime. Apparently, Kaori was able to see through the white haired, eye-patched, black-coated person before her as Hajime with just a single glance, but Shizuku was still unable to recognize him.

However, when she saw the boy's face who was looking back over his shoulder with a wry smile, it immediately overlapped with Nagumo Hajime in her memory, and Shizuku, with widened eyes, raised a surprised voice.

"Eh? Eh? Really? Is he really Nagumo-kun? Eh? What? What's really happening here?"

"Well, just calm down, Yaegashi. Aren't calm, cool, and collected your main selling point?"

The chain of events happened after she, Shizuku, just like Kaori, was prepared to die which made her perplexed and she forgot her pain. Admonishing her as he said Shizuku's name, Hajime suddenly looked overhead, feeling their presences. Thus, the falling blond-haired girl, Yue, was caught by him in princess carry style and he carefully let her down, next he received the rabbit-eared girl, Shia, who jumped down the same way.

The last to jump down was a boy dressed in black, Endou Kousuke.

"Na-Nagumoo! You-! I was blown away by that! Wait, what was that just now!? It suddenly pierced the dungeon's floors…"

Endou looked at the surrounding, started complaining. Then, he saw his best friends and the others together with a group of demonic beasts. After noticing that he was being watched by his stiffened classmates, "Nuoh!," and released a strange shout. To Endou, they voices were half-filled with joy because of their reunion, and anger because he came back.

""Kousuke!""

"Jyuugo! Kentarou! I've come with help!"

Reacting to "I've come with help," Kouki's party and the demon race woman finally returned to their sense. Then, they once again stared at Hajime and the two girls. However, not minding the gazes of those in his surroundings, Hajime quickly ordered Yue and Shia with a slightly irritated expression.

"Yue, sorry but please protect those people gathered there. Shia, please look at the condition of the fallen man in Knight's armor there."

"Nn… leave it to me."

"Roger~!"

Yue calmly walked without caring about the surrounding demonic beasts, while Shia used her marvelous jumping power to jump overhead the group of demonic beasts and landed beside the collapsed Meld.

"Ha-Hajime-kun…"

Kaori once again called Hajime's name with a shaking voice. Her tone was probably filled with joy due to the reunion, yet there was also sorrow. It was because she thought Hajime had came here to die. Although Kaori didn't know the details, her expression was telling him to immediately get away from the place.

Shrugging his shoulders, he returned Kaori's gaze. Hajime briefly said, "It's okay now, so just wait there." After saying that, he activated "Light Speed" which greatly improved his perception. Then, he took out three Cross Bits from "Treasure Box" which surrounded Kaori and Shizuku like shields.

The floating cross-like objects that suddenly appeared from empty space surprised Kaori and Shizuku. With his back before the two, Hajime made a proposal towards the demon race woman whose appearance could be seen as nothing but arrogance. It was his mercy since the demon race woman was still not his enemy.

"The red-haired woman over there. I won't do anything if you leave immediately. Just disappeared quickly from here if you don't want to die."

"…What did you say?"

It was not a remark that could be said by an ordinary human while being surrounded by demonic beasts. It was the reason why the demon race woman inadvertently asked back. As a response, Hajime repeated himself with an amazed expression.

"Prompt decisions are needed in battlefields. That's why I said, just disappear from here quickly if you don't want to die. Understand now?"

Knowing she did not hear it wrong, the demon race woman erased her expression and ordered the demonic beasts while pointing at Hajime, "Kill him."

This time, the too abrupt situation—— especially the dead of her treasured Ahatd due to an unknown attack made the demon race woman lose her calm and make a fatal mistake.

Even if Hajime had his own objection, the woman was too enraged by Hajime who by the course of events treaded on Ahatd, a demonic beast she didn't want to lose since it was given to her by her revered superior. In addition, there was the confusion due to the unbelievable situation where the dungeon's ceiling had been destroyed just because he wanted to go downstairs. In any case, she would have been able to make a more careful judgement if it was the usual her. However, the glove had been thrown out.

"I see… So, I take it that you're an "enemy", right?"

Hajime muttered at the same time the Chimera attacked him. Behind Hajime, "Hajime-kun!" and "Nagumo-kun!" warning voices filled with urgency could be heard. However, Hajime casually clawed the Chimera attacking from his left with his artificial arm and lifted it without any difficulty.

The Chimera was surprised and struggled to escape which made the space blurred intensely. Looking at it, Hajime looked at it with scorn.

"Oi, oi, what is this? This half-assed peculiar magic. Are you a street performer?"

Because there's no meaning if one's presence and figure disappears when spaces blurs when it moves. Hajime inadvertently retorted. Even in the abyss, there were demonic beasts that could conceal their presences and figuring out what each of them has was extremely troublesome. Comparing it to them, Hajime thought it was too childish that the concealment exposed when it moved.

Standing still while he raised a Chimera with huge body weighing several hundreds kilograms as it struggling mid air, Hajime made the demon race woman, Kaori, and the others dumbfounded.

Hajime leered at them and used "Great Arm" to throw the Chimera on the ground as though he had lost his interest in it.

BoOoOoOmM!!

BaAaAaANNNG

With a raw sound ringing out, the Chimera had its head crushed and made a crater on the ground. Next, having drawn out Donner, Hajime turned the railgun towards the space that seemed to be empty at a glance and fired it in succession.

BAAANG BAAAAANNNG!!

Dry, explosive sounds rang out and two flashes cut through the air, mercilessly piercing respective targets. The space blurred for a moment, then a Chimera with a blasted head and a Brutal-look-alike whose heart had been shot through appeared. They stood still for a second, swayed, and crumbled to ground.

Not moving but could not conceal the wind flow, the shaking of the air and ground, their gazes, killing intent, flow of magic, and temperature made them nothing but unmoving targets for Hajime.

Without even looking at the demonic beasts he instantly killed, Hajime took a step forward into the battlefield, no, the execution ground. What started could not even be called deathmatch. It was a one-sided execution by the monster who shouldn't be made into an enemy.

The demon race woman was shocked seeing the demonic beasts were killed casually and easily while the classmates stood still feeling the chill from the weapon that shouldn't exist in this world. Leaving aside those stiffened people, the demonic beasts were attacking Hajime one after another, faithfully executing the demon race woman's order.

A black cat creeped behind him and fired its tentacles, but Hajime didn't turn around and only turned the wrist of his lowered arm where Donner was and fired behind. The bullet exceeding the speed of sound easily gouged through the black cat's forehead.

Without stopping to look at their companion, four-eyed wolves rushed towards him from left and right at the same time. However, Schlag, unknown as to when it was drawn, blew the enemy on his left while Donner blown off the one on the right.

At that moment, the black cats hidden behind the annihilated four-eyed wolves shot their tentacles in cooperation with the Chimeras that were approaching Hajime's back. However, Hajime had jumped several meters above, flipped mid-air, and while hanging upside down, the floating black cats and the two Chimera, who lost sight of their target, became preys for the railgun.

Within the scattered flesh and blood that looked like flower storm, two Brutal-look-alikes came and swung their maces, aiming for the moment Hajime landed. However, such an easily predicted future wouldn't work on a monster such as Hajime, and he jumped further using "Aerodynamic" mid-air. He then fired Donner-Schlag to his left and right in succession while spinning like a top.

The released wind of killing intent not only moved towards the two Brutal-look-alikes that were waiting for him, but it also pierced and burst to pieces the heads of the Chimeras and four-eyed wolves that were approaching from behind. While each of the demonic beasts sprayed and scattered blood, Hajime descend as though to follow the law of inertia and dulled the momentum right before he landed.

Landing soundlessly in the center of the corpses and a ground dyed with blood, Hajime took out ammo from an empty space and use gunspin to reload them.

And at that time, "KuWAaAA!," a strange sound rang out all of a sudden. Hajime turned toward the source and there was the six-legged turtle-like demonic beasts, Absod, whose wide opened mouth was turned towards Hajime. Inside its mouth was a compression of tremendous power shining a pure white light.

It was the previously stored huge magic power from Commander Meld's "Last Loyalty." The "Last Loyalty"'s range was only few meters but its power was more than enough to decimate a person.

The magic power was compressed to the limit and in the next moment it was launched like a laser towards its target, Hajime. The death light approached as it gouged out the ground on its track. However, Hajime calmly took out a large, coffin-like shield from an empty space, equipped it on his left arm, and activated "Vajra" the same time he held up the shield. Just like a huge tree whose roots were firmly rooted on the ground, there was no impatience in Hajime's eyes which showed his firm will.

A tremendous roar resounded the moment the laser-like magic power hit, and the trembling air expressed how strong it was. However, Hajime, who received the direct hit, didn't even move a step away, but rather, he sported a mischievous smile, and began to slant the shield to parry the attack. The destination of where the attack was averted to was…

"Kh!? Damn it!"

It was the demon race woman. Since the time Hajime began to easily kill the demonic beasts, she sensed the crisis and began to chant powerful magic with an exaggerated chant, but Hajime noticed it and redirect Absod's attack towards the demon race woman to obstruct her.

The unexpected situation made the demon race woman take an evasive action in a panic, but Hajime only adjusted the angle of his shield for the attack to reach her. The torrent of light approached her and destroyed the wall, made the demon race woman frantically ran on the side of the wall. Her expression was one where there was not the slightest hint of composure remained.

However, the attack gradually drew near her back, and when she thought she would be mowed down by the attack she had ordered to be released, the magic power stored by Absod had reached the bottom and the attack ended.

"Tch…"

Without any room to react to Hajime who clicked his tongue, the demon race woman breathed a sigh of relief only to be frozen in the next moment.

BaAaAaANNNG!!

An explosive sound roared along with the feeling of heat passing right beside her right cheek, and something white splattered.

That something was the remains of the white crow which was previously stood on the demon race woman's shoulder. Although things had not been going the way he expected, Hajime countered by firing Donner aiming at Absod while Schlag was aimed at the white crow.

Even if Absod tried to evade only to endure the bullet so even with its tremendous velocity, it would only leave a small sound, but it could not even sense the bullet which ended up piercing through its opened mouth and its consciousness fell into darkness for eternity.

Even the white crow had its body burst open and had died in an instant, scattering white feathers along with its flesh and blood. Receiving the after effect of the railgun, the demon race woman lost her balance, fell on her butt, and absentmindedly patted her own cheek. What stuck there were the white crow's flesh and blood, and at the same time she felt the heat from the severe burn.

If it shifted just by a few centimeters… The demon race woman was trembling when she thought of what might have happened. In other words, Hajime whose matchless strength allowed him to playfully kill the army of demonic beasts as though he was killing bugs before her eyes, and could have also killed her at any time. Even now, her life was in the palm of his hands.

The demon race woman had a strong pride as a warrior, but she could not stop her trembling body before the monster-like existence. What was that? Why did such a thing exist? How can I survive from that monster!? Such thoughts filled the demon race woman's mind, and it continued to circle round and round inside her.

Kouki and the others felt the same as her. They could not immediately see through the white haired, eyepatched boy as Hajime. They could not understand who was the unknown person who easily annihilated the demonic beasts that had put them into such predicament.

"What was that…? Just who in this world is he!?"

Kouki muttered while his unmoving body was laid on the ground. Everyone around him also had the same questions forming in their minds. The one who answered was the person they asked to retreat only to return here by his own will, Endou.

"Haha, I know it is unbelievable… but he is Nagumo."

""""""Hah?""""""

Endou's words made Kouki and the others leaked those words at the same time. Seeing Endou, they though, "Is this guy's head okay?," and made some gesture with their hands. Thinking, it can't be helped, huh~, Endou could only shrugged his shoulders because he was only stating the truth.

"Like I said, he is Nagumo, Nagumo Hajime. The Nagumo who fell from the bridge at that day. He survived in the depth of the dungeon and climbed up with his own power. When coming here, he treated the demonic beasts as if they are just small fries. It's seriously unbelievable!, I thought so, too… but it is the truth."

"Nagumo, eh? You mean Nagumo is alive!?"

Kouki said with a surprised voice. Thus, the others also simultaneously tried to look at the boy with monstrous strength who was advancing the annihilation progress… but as expected they tried to deny it while thinking, "Just how is he Nagumo?" Endou understood their feelings and with a gesture he said, "Well, it's true. Although he has completely changed, I've seen his status plate," Endou told them again that the boy was Nagumo Hajime while sporting a dry smile.

Everyone felt it was unbelievable as they vacantly looked at Hajime's peerlessness, and a person who was awfully flustered said,

"L-Lies. Nagumo is dead. Wasn't that the case? Everyone also saw it. There's no way he is alive! We have already agreed on that!"

"Uwah, what's with you! I have seen his status plate so there's no mistake it is him."

"Lies! There's must be some trick! He must be in disguise and trying to trick us!"

"No, just what are you saying? There's no reason for him to do that."

The one who was saying unreasonable things and grabbed Endou's collar was Hiyama. He was denying Hajime's survival with an abnormally paled complexion. Kondou and the others around him were somewhat taken aback by Hiyama's appearance.

The agitated Hiyama was doused by cold water, literally. A large amount of water suddenly appeared above Hiyama and poured down on him like a small waterfall. Hiyama somewhat drowned because it matched the timing when he inhaled. After being doused with water, he had a coughing fit. What on earth!? Hiyama was confused only to be told by a cold voice far colder than the cold water.

"… Be quiet. It's irritating."

Although Hiyama seemed to getting more agitated and tried to object, he instinctively swallowed his words when he turned his gaze towards the source of the voice. After all, the source of the voice, Yue, was looking at Hiyama with a very cold gaze as though she was looking at an insect. At the same time, not only a few would forget their situation after they were captivated by the ideal girl whose beauty was just like the highest grade bisque doll.

Same could be said for Kouki's party. Their gazes were naturally attracted to the beautiful looking girl whether they were female or male. Even Suzu was obviously captivated and said, "Whooaa~," with a strange voice. It wasn't simply because of her beauty, she was also cladded in a bewitching atmosphere contrary to her young appearance which made Kouki's party captivated.

And at that time, maybe because of the demon race woman's instruction, several demonic beasts came to attack Kouki's party. She probably thought of turning them into hostages just like how she had used Meld. It was a normal measure since she couldn't even imagine of capturing Hajime with a fair challenge.

Suzu immediately thought of creating shields. Having activated magic one after another, her exhausted body was screaming. She bit her lips to prevent herself from blacking out… but Yue gently stopped Suzu with her hand. Having Yue quietly patting her head, "Ehh?," Suzu inadvertently said with a relaxed voice and stopped her chant.

"… Don't worry."

Yue muttered, and Suzu said, "Ah, it's already safe now," without any basis for it nor any power left her body. Even she herself didn't know why she could simply accepted Yue's words, but she felt she was being defended by a reliable big sister.

Yue looked away from Suzu and glared at the demonic beasts that readied their fangs, claws, tentacles, and maces. Then, with one sentence she pulled her magic's trigger.

""Blue Dragon.""

In the next moment, a bluish-white sphere with one meter in diameter appeared above Yue and the others. Those who used flame attribute magic knew it was one of the highest level magic, a blue flame magic capable of decimating anything it approached, "Blue Imperial." It was abnormal to be able to activate it without any chant and in no time. Especially the rear group; they knew what happened and could only looked up at the blue blaze in blank surprise.

However, this was just the start of what would make them truly surprised. The blue flame burning radiantly suddenly changed its shape to one of a snake, attacked the incoming maces swinging Brutal-look-alikes and the others by swallowing them. They were instantly killed, and not even an ash remained.

Before long, the shape of the blue flame changed and swam in the air. It was a blazing blue dragon, with length of around 30 meters. With Yue in the center, the blue dragon protected Kouki and the others by coiling around them. Then, it raised its head, and opened its jaws towards the demonic beasts which were standing still because they could not approach the the blue hellfire that would perish everything.

RoOoOAAAAR!!!

It roared. And immediately, the bodies of the demonic beasts flew. As though they were attracted by gravity, they jumped into the blue dragon's mouth one after another. Although the others understood it was not suicide since the demonic beasts desperately tried to escape in mid-air in panic due to the abrupt situation. Seeing the demonic beast throwing their bodies in queue towards the annihilation that didn't even leave an ash, made them think it as nothing but a bad joke.

"What is this magic…"

Someone muttered. The unknown magic had one-sidedly burnt the demonic beasts to annihilation by pulling them, which made Kouki's party unable to close their wide opened mouths. But it couldn't be helped. After all, this magic was the same as "Thunder Dragon," an original magic of Yue's, formed by combining the highest fire magic element, "Blue Imperial," and one of the Age of Gods' magic, gravity magic.

Incidentally, the reason she used "Blue Dragon" and not "Thunder Dragon" was simply because Yue was training herself. Thunder Dragon was a combination between gravity magic and high-ranked wind attribute, thunder, so "Blue Dragon" had higher difficulty and power. Because she was just recently capable of combining highest level magic, she wanted to make its debut.

Naturally, Kouki's party who didn't know of the circumstances shifted their gazes from the "Blue Dragon" to Yue, about to ask for an explanation. However, calmly straightening its back, the Blue Dragon stopped and its flame shone brighter. Together with Yue's sublime figure, it made Kouki's party hold their breath, and they were unable to say the words to ask for an explanation. Several people quickly had their hearts stolen by Yue… especially Suzu; she was letting out an exclamation of joy like a small old man.

On the other side, when the demon race woman saw the bizarre "Blue Dragon" from the distance, she cursed in her mind, "There's only monsters here, huh!" Frustrated due to the demonic beasts being exterminated one after another, she changed her aim to the RabbitMan girl beside the mortally wounded Meld, and the two girls close to each other who were separated from the others.

However, the demon race woman was further exposed to the arbitrary.

The Brutal-look-alike which came to attack Shia had its head blown away like a pinball with a swing from Doryukken. She then rotated her body using the momentum from her first attack towards the four-eyed wolf coming advancing from behind her and it died easily with its head crushed by an attack carrying enough centrifugal force.

Once again, Chimeras and black cats were about to attack Kaori and Shizuku. Shizuku gritted her teeth, and readied her broken sword towards the incoming; the scattered demonic beasts filled with killing intent. However, as if to stop them, the cross bits floating in her surrounding came in between Shizuku and the Chimeras.

Shizuku was somewhat shaken by the mysterious crosses were moving as though to protect her. Suddenly, the longer point of the crosses turned towards the Chimera and a roaring sounds rang out. "Seriously, what are those!?" Shizuku was shouting inside her mind, when something spinningly flew almost grazing her cheek and fell to the ground with a metallic sound. The same roaring sound rang out beside Kaori, and the same sound of metal resounded, too, as expected.

Although confused, Kaori and Shizuku returned their attentions towards the incoming demonic beasts, and there were only the figures of demonic beasts with heads blown to pieces… They were speechless and turned their gazes towards the source of the metallic sounds and confirmed its identity.

"Isn't that… cartridge?"

"Cartridge… a gun's?"

Kaori and Shizuku faced each other as they said the unfamiliar term out loud. They were convinced once they saw Hajime's figure rampaging with guns in both hand. The crosses floating to defend them were similar to an all-range weapon from somewhere.

"A-Amazing… Hajime-kun can use Funnel."

"Just, since when did he become a NewType…"

Kaori and Shizuku regained a lot of their composure after the surrounding demonic beasts were instantly exterminated. They let out unbecoming retorts which were actually transmitted to Hajime through the Cross Bits. And on the contrary, Hajime wanted to retort back in regards to how the two knew such references. However, Hajime did not worry about it thanks to the skill he honed by being in the company of Yue and the girls, "Let it be".

"Seriously… what's with this."

The demon race woman muttered powerlessly. No matter what she tried, everything was held down and crushed by sheer power. Such irrational things allowed her mind to be invaded by feeling of throwing in the towel. There were hardly any demonic beasts remaining, and it was obvious to anyone who was the victor and loser.

My last hope! The demon race woman fired magic towards Hajime for the sake of escaping and ran towards one of the four exits with all of her might. The magic fired towards Hajime was "Final Prison." It exploded right beside Hajime, and the petrifying smoke wrapped around him. Kouki's party held their breaths while Kaori and Shizuku screamed Hajime's name.

Leering at the shaken Kouki's party, the demon race woman finally reached one of the exits.

However…

"Haha… I've been checkmated, huh."

"It is certainly as you say."

Before the demon race woman was the floating cross with its dark muzzle pointed at her from inside the passage. With a dry laughter, only now did she realize she had been checkmated long since before she attacked Hajime, and the demon race woman inadvertently leaked a dry laughter. The hateful calm voice came from behind.

This time, the demon race woman looked back in resignation and she saw Hajime walking closer from inside the petrifying smoke as if nothing happened. Next, he scattered the petrifying smoke to the other passage by sweeping it away using the red wave of "Magic Emission."

"… You monster. To take a high-ranked magic as something insignificant… You, are you really human?"

"Actually, even I've doubting that. But, it isn't so bad to become a monster, you know?"

Hajime and the demon race woman said in a joking manner with only a slight distance between them. When the demon race woman took a look at the room, the demonic beasts had truly been annihilated before she was aware of it. Once again she cursed in a small voice, "You monster."

Ignoring her, Hajime aimed Donner's muzzle towards the woman. The weapon of death pointed right before her eyes made the demon race woman realize it was time for her to die, and she looked back.

"Well then, "Do you have anything left to say?" Is what is usually said in these kinds of situation… Unfortunately, I don't have any interest in hearing your last will. More importantly, about why a person of the demon race had come here… and where you obtained those demonic beasts… Shall I have you spit it out?"

"Do you think I will speak? It might become an advantage for human race, right? As if I am that stupid."

The demon race woman snorted scornfully, which made Hajime look at her with cold gaze. Thus, without hesitation, he fired Donner to both of the demon race woman's legs.

"AgaaAH!!"

The demon race woman screamed and collapsed. The scream resounded inside the silent room where the demonic beasts had ceased to breathe. Hajime knew the classmates behind him were gulping because of his merciless action. However, not worrying about such things, Hajime asked again with Donner aimed at the woman.

"Whether it's human race or demon race, I don't care about your world's circumstance. I am asking you not as someone from human race. I am only asking because I want to know it. So, answer it now."

"…"

The demon race woman was glaring at Hajime while gritting her teeth from the pain. Seeing her eyes, Hajime realized she was not likely to speak, so he began to speak instead.

"Well, I have roughly guessed it. You came here to conquer the "True Great Dungeon," right?"

The demon race woman's brows twitched from Hajime's words. Hajime continued speaking while carefully observing the woman's reaction.

"Those demonic beasts were the product of an Age of Gods magic… looks like I hit the bull's eye. I see, so the change in demon race side was because they conquered a Great Dungeon and obtained the Age of Gods magic which could enslave demonic beasts, huh… Resultantly, the human race side moved to conquer the Great Dungeon by investigating and then inviting the heroes…"

"How… it can't be…"

Hajime had stated his theories which was right on the mark, and it rattled the demon race woman. With the mortified expression, she questioned how he knew when a possibility came to mind. Seeing her expression, Hajime noticed the demon race woman had guessed Hajime was also another dungeon conqueror. With his glance, he responded, "Correct."

"I see, if you are the same as that person… then I can understand your monster-like power… Ah, isn't that enough? Just kill me. After all, I have no intention of being a captive…"

"As that person… right. You must be referring to the conqueror whom you received the demonic beasts from, huh…"

The expression of the demon race woman's face told him she would rather commit suicide rather than to be taken as a captive. Thus, she wanted to at least die in battle. The information about another dungeon conqueror was enough for Hajime, so with thoughts of ending it, killing intent appeared in his eyes.

As revenge for dying in the middle of her path, and unwillingness to admit defeat, the demon race woman muttered towards Hajime.

"Someday, my lover will kill you."

Her words made Hajime's lips curved and floated a fearless smile.

"I will kill my enemy, even if it is God. And if that person is someone who dances inside the palm of God's, then he wouldn't be able to reach me."

There's nothing left to talk about, so the two closed their mouths. Hajime turned Donner's muzzle towards the demon race woman's head.

However, the moment he was about to pull the trigger, a loud voice stopped him.

"Wait! Just wait, Nagumo! She can no longer fight! So, it's not necessary to kill her!"

"…"

With his finger still on Donner's trigger, "What is this guy saying?," Hajime looked over his shoulder with a dubious expression. Kouki managed to unsteadily stand up after he had slightly recovered and further raised his voice.

"Capture, right, just make her a captive. It's absolutely unforgivable to kill someone who cannot resist. I am the hero. And Nagumo is my comrade, so please back away in consideration of me."

Excuses that rendered too much retort was something Hajime thought there was no value in hearing it and swiftly discarded them. Silently,… he pulled the trigger.

BaAaAaANNNG!

The dry explosive sound echoed inside the room. Killing intent was aimed and a shot was fired through the demon race woman's forehead where she instantly died.

Silence engulfed their surrounding. The classmates finally understood and could only hold their bated breaths, puzzled to the spectacle where one of their classmate killed a person without hesitation. Amongst all of them, Kaori was most shocked by it.

It was not about him killing a person. After all, Kaori herself had been prepared for it. It was a natural thing since they had entered the fight in this world. After all, fighting the demonic beast inside the dungeon was only combat exercise.

That's why, a day where killing one another would surely come, for she must kill hostile people, and she was prepared to do it. She was a healer who stand by the rear, but thinking of Shizuku, Kouki, and the others who were in the front lines — the time when her the hands of her friends will be dirtied by blood, even if it was just a little, made her heart resolved to not averting from such situations even just for a moment.

What shocked Kaori was because she could not sense any aversion, disgust, and hesitation towards murder from Hajime. He killed a person as though it was natural as breathing. The Hajime Kaori knew was someone who even though he couldn't go against the others, he was a gentle and strong person capable of being able to jump into a whirlpool for the sake of others.

That form of being "strong" was not a power that came from violence. It was a strength due to "thinking about others" no matter what time or situation he was in. That's why, Hajime who could kill an enemy who had lost her spirit and would not resist with neither hesitation nor had any deep emotion, had become someone completely different from Hajime she knew, and it shocked her.

Shizuku was her best friend, so she understood Kaori had received a powerful shock. However, she was able to guess what shocked Kaori from the scattered talk they usually had about Hajime when they were in Japan.

Shizuku looked at Hajime with a cool expression and she thought he had certainly changed, but she knew it was wrong for her, who knew nothing, to complain about it. That's why, as the result, she could do nothing but to stop being nestled close to Kaori.

However, naturally, the lump of justice called hero wouldn't be able to stay silent about it. Kouki's voice rang out as if to subdue the space filled with silence.

"Why, why did you kill her. Was there any necessary to kill her…"

Hajime was walking towards Shia's side and caught Kouki staring at him with a penetrating glare at the edge of his view. He hesitated for a moment thinking how he should answer, but in the next moment, to begin with, there's no need to answer!, he thought and decided to ignore Kouki.

However, whether the other party would allow Hajime's attitude was another problem…

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