Naturally, Complications Occur (20.1)

…

If the world changes you, then you lose. Those were my words just three or so years ago. Most of the phrase still rang true. The world is filled with vapid individuals who simply walk the paths society expects of them. Going along with the will of the masses, no matter what that will was, just made sure that you were controlled. There was nothing wrong with choosing to follow society's whims, my parents and a lot of presumably decent people do, but there are times when going with what's accepted by society is wrong, even if everyone believes otherwise.

Three years ago, I thought that was subscribing to cliques, friendships, and romance.

Being a loner, I viewed groups and interactions through the lenses of a "failure" of that particular part of society. Of course, it was easy to demonize parts of society I wasn't involved in. The "me" before the Service Club would most certainly have different opinions of the "me" who had been through several months with the Service Club. No matter what that latter "me" would've said, he could never deny that he wanted to be part of a group, and friends with the people he spent time with every day. The former "me" would've seen that as "losing" to society, but the me after the Service Club, and the me now, would most definitely not agree.

Losing was a matter of opinion. Opinions changed as time passed. So, though the definition of losing could change, the phrase could still be true and I could still be myself.

I didn't turn into some vapid teenage boy who only thought about hanging out after school, going to karaoke, or throwing myself into sports. I'd still held onto what I wanted to be, acted like I wanted to act, and pissed off just as many people as I did before. I remained the same, except for the belief that I thought having friends whose opinions mattered to me, people who could affect my life and my decisions, wouldn't be so bad. It was progression instead of regression. Or, at the very least, I hoped that was the case.

Still, the change from then was different from the change I now faced.

Now, it was whether or not killing someone was the right thing to do when said individual would kill you and everyone you care for given the chance. Ending a life that endangered mine, thousands of others, and potentially a whole world if Orario was destroyed. "Evilus," no matter how stupid their name was, had the goal of destroying the world's shield and sword against the Dungeon. Could people who worked towards such a goal be captured? Would they be sane enough to intimidate or persuade? Was there any way for me to face insane fanatics who wanted monsters to ravage the world without killing them?

As always, I didn't have the answer.

…

Twenty five robed opponents, twenty three monsters, and one figure attempting to escape. Utilize Lightning Sphere. Condense to spear. Mage Gauntlet deteriorates slightly. Too much power for equipment to reliably control. Form four spears. Form into more when strength of each spear is equal to first. Targets: monsters.

"Aiz, Bete, Tiona, and Tione! Pursue that woman!" Deimne took control of the situation in an instant. Two Level 5s and two Level 6s immediately charged. Andromeda was giving her own orders, getting the Hermes Familia into lines, and I changed tactics in light of that. "Riveria, provide support to the pursuing group!" The Braver headed to the front with his spear singing through the air. Solid stone parted at the mere touch of the ends of his staff. Cutting enchantments. The ends were practically buzz saws. "Hikigaya, provide them cover—"

Account for abilities of allies. All allies very capable and agile. Hypothesize ability to utilize tactics. All pursuing forces are of the same Familia and experienced with one another. Leader of allied force? Wallenstein. Preferred tactics? Blitz tactics. Plan: provide pursuing force gap through defenses. Utilize debris as cover. Guide using available spears. Proceed with monster subjugation after success of breakthrough.

"I got it." The spears I'd already made surged forward. The charging Violas, the vine creatures which attacked a few months ago, exploded as I created a passage through them. Arcing shots of lighting shattered stone and blew up dust on the sewer's roofs while another spear flew through the cover. The group charging, led by Wallenstein, realized my intentions. They burst through the hole in the line and ran along the wall and roof of the sewers straight over the enemy force. "I'll deal with the Violas. Focus on capture for interrogation."

Interrogate, I said, but in truth I wanted to say they should try to bring some of our robed attackers in alive.

"Well done and well-reasoned, Hikigaya!" "Lefiya, start a chant, low power and incapacitate if possible!" Deimne gave me a nod of respect before charging forward. Lefiya took to my side just as I drew my rapier. "Everyone! Focus on destroying the monsters! Try to capture the enemy adventurers so we can learn more of their plans!"

There were low chances of them getting past the Hermes Familia. Though eccentric, I was able to see that the team was constructed well. Two Pallums darted from between the front line with heavy weapons, ranged auxiliaries picked off enemies, and rogues provided the most of the damage while the Mage chanted. Andromeda utilized her explosives and items to great effect. They barely needed my help against the first wave of Violas, especially when the Braver arrived to the front. The Level 3 monsters were shredded against a solid wall and an unstoppable object.

Something is wrong. A feeling crawled down my spine. It was instinct, but at the same time it wasn't. I concentrated. There it was again. Magic was being gathered, but I didn't hear any of the robed men casting.

Mortal enemies not ceasing charge. Enemies heading towards death. Incapable of victory. Capture possible. Defeat of frontline impossible. Enemy knows. Allies know. Reason for continued charge must be determined. Desperation? No. Lack of war cries. Fear? No enemies at their back. Fanaticism? Likely. Enemy will not break. Enemy will not allow themselves to be captured. Magic detected. Robes. Enemies emitting magic and wearing robes. Determination is invalid. No. Answer is valid. Charging. Insane. Fanatics. Improbable. Zealots. Wrong. Unstoppable. Cannot be captured. Lines too close for change in orders. Allies not firing. Intends to capture due to advice. Will cause causalities if not dealt with. Familia will be broken due to own advice. Unacceptable. Agreement. Cannot cripple and leave capable. Agreement. Must be dealt with before reaching proximity of allies. Agreement. Monster Crystals cannot be allowed to explode in this confined area. …Agreement.

Grasping the hem of my coat, I unclasped four clasps. Leather straps fell away, and 36 knives flew forth into the dark.

Seize all with lightning.

They grew white hot in contact with the concentrated power. I had seconds to launch them before they exploded into fragments. Within a heartbeat, the whole of the tunnel was lit with 36 glowing embers. I guided their routes through threads of lightning, making sure that they'd swim between by allies, and only then did I let them loose.

Projectiles launch wreathed in lightning. Guide through allied lines. Vaporization trail left by projectiles. Loud. Focus. Cannot make mistake. Enemies closing in on frontline. Must not allow front to be destroyed. Allies have not noticed. Correction. Finn Deimne has noticed. Turning with question on lips. Consider words. Consider Level 6's abilities and experience. Mouth words: "explosives" and "suicide." Ally's eyes widen. Ally turns to call for retreat. Not needed. Projectiles reach no man's land. Enemy ten meters away from front line. Deimne uses spear shaft to throw back whole front line along with himself. Not needed. Projectiles are breaking. Force whole attack into controlled cone through threads. Wall of lightning forms before enemy to ensure no fragments hit allies. Wall forms at back to ensure none escape. Walls ensure allies will not see effects.

Even in the dim light cast by my Lightning and Viridis's circle, I could see the trails left by my 36 knives. The walls I'd created, thin enough for a Level 3 or 4 to throw themselves through, weren't enough to dim the sound. When the backs of Hermes Familia's front line hit the stone floor of the sewers, the sound of metal shattering and exploding echoed through the tunnels. A few of the Hermes Familia ducked their heads or reeled back from the wall of lightning, but beyond that there was no effect on the force I'd gathered. Deimne rose at the front. He had seen what I'd sent forward, what had happened before I'd hidden everything from view, and what had probably occurred.

Then the screaming started.

Level 3. That was the cutoff point where guns and explosives could be expected to matter. The technology to mass produce weapons from my world was present. Monster crystals could easily act as a propellant, metallurgy was incredible given the existence of Blacksmiths, and there was a want for long ranged weapons. There were simple reasons why they didn't exist. Archers created bows from monster bones and could put superhuman strength, accuracy, and speed to work with ease. Mages were the defacto rulers of battlefields. The more complex reasons were that making guns effective meant searching for certain monster drops, enhancing bullets with Enhancements like Cut, and getting better propellant that could be used for Magic Swords instead. It was a waste of money to invest into, especially when Adventurers and Monsters exponentially grew in power, attacked en masse, and even had the ability to heal. Past Level 3, or at the Middle Floors, regular guns became worthless, and the materials needed for their replacements were twenty floors further down.

Still, the principle behind the weapons remained true: projectiles at sufficient speed would always deal damage. That was why I had my knives made with copper cores around iron and used lightning.

"Hikigaya-san." I was brought out of my reverie, my attempts to ignore the screaming from within the walls by Deimne. There was no smile on the Pallum's face. I noticed how no one save for him seemed to look at me. No. Viridis was staring at me. Was that fear in her eyes? Or regret? Did she know what was going to happen if I'd let the charge crash into the Hermes Familia? Or did she just see what everyone else saw. The Braver placed a hand on my shoulder. Somehow, I knew that he realized that this was the first time I'd done something like this. "It's possible that we may be able to capture a few of them. However, we can only do that if you disperse your wall."

"…They still might have explosives on them. I made sure not to cause enough damage to destroy crystals." It took me a moment to find my voice, but once I found it I felt a sick feeling welling up in my stomach. Vertigo and nausea hit me at the same moment. I only had a moment to pull down my mask as my stomach emptied itself. Well… wasn't I lucky to be in a sewer already. I waved the wall of lightning apart, glancing at the strewn, perforated, and broken bodies within, then I looked away. I took what spare potions I had and pressed them into Deimne's hands. "Stabilize them. I'll use Mend to fully heal anyone." I felt another hand on my shoulder, one that was slim and frail, and some of my vertigo dissipated. I still feel sick. "I'll be up in a moment."

"Take your time, Hikigaya-san… and thank you for what you've done."

Looking on the twenty five broken bodies, some twitching and screaming while others were nothing more than piles of viscera and flesh, I didn't exactly feel like I deserved any such thanks.

In the end, I didn't even have the chance to decide whether to kill or not.

I probably never would… unless I made sure I never had to make the decision again.

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