Ecstas Online – Volume 7 – Chapter 2

Chapter 2 「The wild bunny girls and the hot spring」

 

 

Several days later, we set sail from Infermia onboard of the Hellzard, and headed to the Elven country of Arzheim.

I was standing on the deck of the Hellzard, staring at the ocean on our way. We’re currently sailing along the coast of the Balgaea Continent. The steep mountains of the Maldrake Mountains continue to the right, and eruptions of smoke are rising from here and there. There’s good weather. The sails are getting filled with wind. Things are going smooth.

Behind the Hellzard, a trail becomes a line of white bubbles, getting drawn to the sea, and ten transport ships continued as if going after it. They are bringing in 10,000 soldiers in total, most of them belonging to the Undead Corps.

– My King. Given that half of the Demon King Army’s troops are being mobilized, I have to assume that it will be a considerably big battle, yes?

After finishing the patrol inside the ship, Adra came to me.

– Yeah. I don’t know when the army of the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven will move. Besides, I’m also doing this to investigate the sea side of the wall.

– The walled area they came out from… is it perhaps the kingdom of the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven? Is this investigation about the invasion from other than Astel?

– Correct. I secretly send troops to that 『Wall Kingdom』. It’s a tall wall, but if it’s you guys, you can climb over it.

As for towns with ramparts like Caldart, it’s necessary to destroy the ramparts by sheer strength.

However, the Wall Kingdom is only delimited as an expansion map. As long as the expansion is enabled, even its walls should be surmountable. Even the gates of Astel are open. If we get inside without being noticed, we may be able to forestall Shikiba and the others.

– Oh, that means things will get crazy, huh.

Grasha, who was drinking with his subordinates in the cabin, came up with a bottle of alcohol.

– Yup, but we don’t know the enemy’s strength. First, we’ll make sure we can get inside.

Better not limit ourselves to think that guys like Shikiba are waiting for us. If we come across people like him right when we get over the wall….

– We’ll send scouts first. And move carefully. Agreed?

Satanachia, who had been sitting on the bowsprit, a horn-like pillar protruding from the front of the ship until just now, came to hear our conversation.

– Hellshaft-sama. Please give me your orders.

– Alright… but the location is the quay at night. It will take time and effort to climb it. Then the advance party should fly in the air, reach the top of the wall and build footholds. When it comes to covert operations──

I looked at Adra.

– Yes, my King. As you command.

Adra bowed his head with a smile of satisfaction.

As I wondered what to say to the dispirited Satanachia,

– Oh! Something comes flying!

I heard the voice of Forneus who is far away in the sky.

When I look up, a fallen angel with her white, spread wings is sitting on the top of a mast that is more than fifty meters high.

– Who is it!? Forneus!

– I don’t know, but it’s kind of sparkling!

Becoming aware of it all of a sudden, Satanachia extended her hand towards the sky. Then, the sparkling thing that Forneus mentioned came flying from the direction of the ship’s travel.

That light gently lands on the palm of Satanachia.

– Thank you for your hard work.

When Satanachia gave her gratitude to it, the little fairy held the skirt between her fingers and bowed cutely.

– A messenger fairy?

A long-distance communication method used by the elves.

When she heard what the palm-sized fairy had to say, Satanachia turned to me.

– This is the message from Zeragiel-sama and Ulriel-sama. “We are impatiently waiting for the coming of Hellshaft-sama. And the Berserkers are not moving”, they report.

I thought a little and then replied to Satanachia.

– We’re taking soldiers there, so it will still take a few days to arrive. Tell them that I’m looking forward to seeing them too.

When Satanachia released the messenger fairy into the sky again, her small body disappeared into the sky in the blink of an eye.

– Hmm?

A small alert appeared in the corner of my field of vision.

『A new quest has been generated!』

When I tap the alert with my finger, a window opened.

『A group of bandits are attacking a Magic Beast village in the Kyrs region! Damage is growing. Subjugate the bandits and save the magic beasts!』

… What? Is this?

It had an unfamiliar window color and design.

Furthermore, it’s my first time seeing these details. Normally, it’s a system that generate quests based on the actions of the demon side. However, in this case, the subjugation targets are humans.

Above all, the title given to this quest,

– Exodia Quest….

Is it a quest that crowns the title of the game for coming here? Satanachia, who heard my mumbling, looked puzzled.

– Hellshaft-sama? What is “Exodia”?

– I don’t know, but it seems that a quest like that has been generated.

Forneus, who had been pondering with her arms crossed like an adult, screamed “Ah!”.

– I know that name!

– You do? Forneus.

Satanachia asks seemingly worried, wondering if she was saying something strange again. However, Forneus nods brimming with confidence.

– Yup!

– Hold on, you’re not saying something irrelevant again, are you?

Even Adra has no choice but to agree with Grasha who makes fun of her as if representing everyone’s feelings. As if getting ready for the punch line, he fixed the position of his glasses and asked.

– So? What is that Exodia?

I wonder what kind of stupid thing she’ll say. Hurry up, Forneus!

Forneus answers with a smile like a summer sunflower.

– It’s the name of God.

– ….

God?

I fixedly stared at the smiling face of the fallen angel.

– What do you mean by God? Forneus?

– I told you it’s the family that Forneus had before, the God in the heavens.

What!?

Wait a minute. Is there really one? A God?

Come to think of it, Satan also said something like 『I’m going to defeat God』, but wasn’t that a metaphor!?

However, although I controlled about 80% of this world, I’ve found no shape or shadow of God, have I?

– Forneus. Is there really a god in this world?

– There is. After all, Forneus lived with him before I fell to the earth.

Adra looked down at Forneus with suspicious eyes.

– It didn’t seem that you could remember much, but… you are not remembering poorly, are you?

– I-I’m not. I just forgot it.

Forneus waved her hands and denied it.

– There’s a staircase to heaven on the island closest to heaven. If you go up the stairs, you can reach God’s house.

Unexpected information emerged somehow.

Hmm? The island closest to heaven?

Now that she mentions it, it seems that Calharias called the silhouette of the island that can be seen on the way to the Logress continent by boat like that.

However, in Calharias’ story, the waves and winds were in the way, they didn’t let anyone get near it.

Perhaps the island closest to heaven is also included in the expansion.

If that’s the case, it’s possible to land now. And the god “Exodia” will also appear in the expansion.

Who is he?

A being who will help us, or──,

A new last boss?

I stared at the window that was left displayed in the air.

Do I give this thing a try?

I pressed the accept button.

– Take course to the Kyrs region.

– Hmm? What’s wrong? King-sama.

To Grasha who looks at me with suspicion,

– There seems to be a Magic Beast tribe that is being attacked by humans in the Kyrs region. We’ll head to rescue them.

– What the!? Really!?

Grasha hurriedly began giving instructions to the Magic Beast sailors.

– Everyone! Let’s go to Kyrs! Increase the sails!

A huge black sail stretches on the mast that extends towards the heavens. The sail quickly got filled with wind and spread its black wings in the blue sky.

The Demon King Army’s flagship, the Hellzard, accelerated and headed towards the Kyrs region.

 

 

+      +      +

 

 

In the Kyrs region, there is a central city exactly named Kyrs.

Having anchored the Hellzard in the harbor, I took only the Hellzekter to the town.

It should have been a human-dominated town with stable politics and economy. It was unrecognizable now, and desolated.

– This is terrible….

The size of the town is close to Caldart. There were probably dozens of thousands of inhabitants──not many NPCs had the most advance AI, but it was still a fairly big town.

Despite being a town like that, it was deserted and the ruins of the town went on and on. In the center of the town there was an area that was destroyed as if it had been bombed.

– What on earth happened….

No one can answer that question. We walked down a street that I presume was once busy.

– Over there, my King.

At the point where Adra points, a white smoke extends into the sky.

I nodded silently and we approached the place where smoke was rising without making a sound. We carefully take a look from the shadows,

– Aa! No! Stop, stop, please!

A girl was hung with her arms tied up.

Around her, there are four men wearing vulgar smiles. Although they’re humans, when I look at their armed parts, they look like soldiers. However, they’re not well dressed, and when they pick up the old armor that has fallen and I see that what they’re wearing is patched together, they don’t seem to be legitimate soldiers.

– Oneechan! Don’t pick on Onee-chan!

A kindergarten-looking little girl is held by a man. She’s desperately struggling, but she cannot go against the strength of a man.

– Be quiet, kid! Or we’ll cook you and eat you!

– *Eeek* !?

The little girl trembled violently when she saw the bonfire smoking in front of her.

– S-stop, please! Don’t touch that girl! You can do whatever you want to me… kyaa!!

A man slapped the girl’s cheeks.

– Don’t give me orders! You livestock don’t have the status to give me orders!

– That’s… I’m not, giving….

Tears flowed down the girl’s cheeks, and the little girl burst into tears as if linked to her.

──It appears that this is the quest. Because there are long ears on the girl’s head. A round and fluffy tail on her butt. Dressed in luster swimsuit-like clothes and fishnet tights.

In a nutshell──a bunny girl.

– Certainly, those beasts may be called beasts….

Isn’t the range of the magic beasts too wide? Nonetheless, her ears and tail look real.

– Hey, what do we do? King-sama.

Grasha urges me impatiently. Certainly, I feel sick seeing a pretty girl being harassed by a dirty old man.

– Alright. Give them a hand, Grasha.

– Uoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

As soon as I ordered, he jumped out with a brutal smile.

And five seconds later, the four rascals fell to the ground and stopped moving.

– Uaaaaaaaa!! Damn it all! I’m not satisfied at aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall!

Ignoring Grasha who plucked the hair from his head in distress, Satanachia untied the girl. 

– Onee-chaaaaaaan!

Hugging the little bunny who ran up to her, the bunny girl shed tears.

– Thank you… thank you very much.

The girl and the little girl bow to each of us sincerely. Every time, their big ears bent as if greeting flappingly.

– Hmm?

A window called 『Exodia Quest Achieved!』 appeared in front of me.

『You got 200 magic jewels as a reward!』

What? Magic jewels?

Is it some item or material? When I put out the window with the intention to look it up later, the two bunny girls were still bowing.

– You can stop. More importantly. Tell us what happened.

– Yes. We are bunny girls living in the nearby forest.

Is that their name?

– In the past, we had a good relationship with humans, but since the town was completely destroyed, the hearts of humans became rough and hunted us….  

Satanachia distorts her well-shaped eyebrows and muttered a few words.

– What a terrible thing….

– But why did the town of Kyrs became like this? It should have been a peaceful town.

– Yes… It seems that the mansion of the feudal lord who governs Kyrs was attacked a while ago. It was so severe that it completely destroyed the whole region… Then public order deteriorated and the town fell into ruin──

I grabbed the head of the fallen angel who was about to leave silently.

– Forneuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus!! You’re the cause of thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis!!

Earlier, I ordered Forneus to give an official letter to the feudal lord of Kyrs. And she destroyed the lord’s mansion of all things and killed all the people around it.

– To think that you would cause something like this….

I rack my brains.

– Got it. Leave this matter to us. Where are the humans now?

The girl pointed in the opposite direction of the harbor.

– They are building a fort in that direction, and a lot of my friends are captured there.

– I see. If so, we’ll release them.

The girl adds in a hurry.

– B-but there are hundreds of them! 500 people in total….

Grasha sighed and dropped his shoulders.

– Too little….

– Eh?

The bunny girl and the little bunny girl blinked in surprise.

– Hey, King-sama. Can I go alone?

– Come on, don’t say that. Everyone has gotten tired of the cruise. Have fun with everyone here.

Wearing a happy smile on his face suddenly, Adra started walking immediately.

– Ahh, wait a minute! Don’t go ahead of me!

This time, Satanachia passes by him, walking like a model.

– In that case, stay here and do nothing, I will be going.

– Hey! Satanachia!!

– Cool ♪ Forneus will do her best too!

But I don’t let go of Forneus’ head.

– You should watch and stay silent as punishment.

– Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!? Y-you’re mean!! Hell-sama is a demon!!

What did you just say to me?

The fort of the humans was quite large. A moat surrounded it, it had high walls, and its guards and weapons were well prepared.

However, apart from the 2A Guild that leveled up, ordinary NPCs weren’t a match for the Hellzekter.

Thirty minutes after the three of them started the attack, the fort fell and the humans were annihilated. And all prisoners were released.

For that reason, the bunnies thanked us over and over.

And we most certainly were invited to the village.

– Our heroes! The Demon King Hellshaft-sama and the Hellzekters-sama!

The whole village welcomed us.

It’s surprising that hundreds of villagers are all women and bunny girls. Well, now I understand why men seem to have an eye on them.

– Grasha-sama was really cool!

– Your muscles are wonderful!

– And he is the son of the King of Goland… ♡.

– Oh!? How do you know that about me?! Hehehe, alright, I’m getting excited today!

As rabbits gather around the wolf like that,

– Adra-sama is… beautiful.

– Cool, elegant and noble….

Adra dealt uninterestedly with the bunnies staring at him with rapt attention.

– I just obeyed the orders of my King. There is no need to give me a friendly reception. Your feelings of gratitude should be directed to my King.

Even with such words, high-pitched cheers such as *Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaa* erupted.

And even to Satanachia,

– Satanachia-onee-sama… what a beautiful figure ❤.

– I will never forget thy dignified and gallant figure when I was saved.

– Umm, please let me wash your body in the hot spring ❤.

– Eh, ah… no, I….

She’s unexpectedly popular with women….

She was staring at me, wishing for help, but I deliberately saw her off being taken away by a group of bunnies.

– This is so boring.

Said the sulky Forneus, but she got back in her good mood after she started eating. It helps a lot that she’s simple.

The food, alcohol, songs and the dance of the rabbits entertained us thoroughly.

Especially the dance, it was erotic and pretty good.

While thinking that I have to hurry up, I, against my better judgment, end up having fun and staying here. It was late at night, so we decided to stay here for the night and we also decided to get in the hot spring.

It’s here, the hot spring event!

The happy moment had come for me.

It was an open-air bath that overflowed with rural beauty, a bathtub made by stacking fieldstones.

– Oh my, the hot water is so good. King-sama.

– My King, I propose that Kyrs should be developed as a health resort.

There was a men’s bath.

Why?

The bunny tribe is composed of women, isn’t it?

I sank in the bathtub wearing the Demon King Armor. Hot water overflows from the onsen made of rocks.

Yeah. Hot water is definitely great.

Since I kept the armor on, it feels like washing a car, but my body can’t be seen, so it doesn’t bother me.

Grasha and Adra are also in the steaming water. Grasha leans against the rocks and stretches his legs to the fullest. Adra was sitting up straight in the bathtub.

– Now that I think about it, it’s the first time I take a bath with you two.

His glasses getting cloudy in a pure-white color, Adra spouted out spontaneously.

– Certainly, doing this kind of thing in the past would be──

Adra takes off his glasses, submerges them in the hot water and removes the cloudiness on them. And with the naked eye, he stared at me.

– Unforgivable.

… Eh?

I reflexively look at Grasha,

– Yeah, I think so.

Eh? Eh!?

– A person of the Demon King’s standing participating in a fleetingly trivial quest and taking even a bath with his subordinates is a ruler who has no weight──that is what I have concluded.

Wait a minute.

No way, a 《LOYALTY》 crisis!? It’s been a long time, I forgot about it!

I focus my attention on it and confirm the status of Adra and Grasha.

Adra 《LOYALTY》 MAX

Grasha 《LOYALTY》 MAX

… Huh?

– You’re not turning against me, are you…?

Adra wears a slight smile on his mouth, and Grasha smiles bitterly.

– There’s no way. Not at this stage.

– I concur. When I saw your behavior that wasn’t becoming of the Demon King before, killing intent strangely welled up in me, but… mysteriously, that has not happened lately.

What?

You guys.

Are growing a heart?

– As a matter of fact, it is a strange topic, but every time I see what part my King lacks, the feeling that tells me to be more supportive grows stronger… rather, it makes me happy that I can see one side that commoners cannot see.

The face of Adra is blushing a little. Is it because of the hot water? Or──

– Yup, it feels like we have to be by your side!

Grasha. You too.

– Really, you guys──

Lacrimal glands become loose.

I looked upward all of a sudden.

The starry sky shining in the night sky.

Tears, don’t fall, please.

– The best starry sky ever.

Adra and Grasha also looked up at the stars.

The stars I see with my best companions are definitely the best.

 

 

+      +      +

 

 

I was planning to go to Arzheim with the Demon King Army’s fleet, but the thought of trying to check how things were going for the 2A Guild came into my mind by accident.

My plan was just to take a look and return immediately, but I ordered Adra and the others to keep the ship moving as scheduled even if I don’t go back.

If troubles arise and it becomes difficult to move, it’s not a good idea to leave the Demon King Army stranded here. If I’m by myself, I can go directly to Arzheim.

On the contrary, if I teleport from Caldart to the western end of the continent──to the port town of the Edfu Desert and get on board of a ship from there, I’ll arrive faster than the Demon King Army’s fleet.

I left the town of Kyrs, took off the Demon King Armor and teleported to Caldart.

No, really, the system command “teleport” is wonderful. It would be the best if I could cross the sea with this though.

I look at the alley and the food stalls lined up there and walk cautiously.

It’s possible that Shizukuishi has exposed me, and I take into consideration that she’ll probably use the Black Dawn Group to attack me.

Besides, the movements of Asagiri are ominous too. Recently, she has been acting alone a lot, and it appears that it’s difficult to understand what she’s doing even within the 2A Guild. I don’t know what she’s planning, but I have to brace myself anyways.

– I knew it, it’s darling!!

The tightened string was pulled to the utmost. In the slackening direction.

The Platinum Dragon Princess came running, raising a cloud of dust, and jumped at me.

– You came to pick me up! Let’s depart!

– Depart…? Where?

– What are you saying? It’s obvious that I’m talking about Montfort.

Right, some time ago….

– Well, I’m busy right now, let’s do so next time.

Then Mel became dejected and separated from me. She’s pinching the hem of my jacket with her fingertips as if telling me she’s not going to give up.

– I want to go out with darling….

– It’s not like I don’t want to go, but there are some things that are priority.

– I know nothing of that room in Montfort, but if I go and see it, I might remember something.

– Well, maybe that’s how it is….

– I… want to spend more time with you….

Well, that’s her real intention.

It’s true that I feel bad for leaving her alone, but a bad guy like Shikiba has appeared. I have to get her to be patient for now.

I stroked Mel’s head.

– I’m a little busy right now. We’ll go there after I get some things done, so be a good girl and wait, okay?

Mel let go of the jacket she was grabbing and dropped her shoulders.

– I understand… I’ll be a good girl. Instead, I want you to come see me again soon.

– Sure.

I turned my back on Mel and headed to the Guild Hall.

After a while, I thought to myself: Wasn’t I a little too rough? I felt bad for her. But now time is really of importance. I feel regretful, but she has to be a little patient. If several issues are solved, then I can look after her.

──How? Because of Mel, I became negligent and lowered my guard.

I thought so after I unexpectedly came across Yuuki Uiko.

Yuuki had hollow eyes and was walking staggeringly. Because she was walking while looking around, she found me easily.

But well, she ignores me. But if she had known that my real identity was the Demon King Hellshaft──.

Yuuki approaches me in an unsteady manner, it makes me wonder “Isn’t Yuuki floating about 5 cm above the ground?”

– … Hey, is she here?

– Eh? Is she here…? Who?

Yuuki glanced at me. The area around her eyes is dark like she lacked sleep.

– None other than Naru-chan. Hinazawa Naru-chan.

– ….

She has been looking for her the whole time?

It’s already been a few days since then. She’ll revive and definitely come back to the Guild Hall, right…?

However, when I saw the bloodcurdling face of Yuuki approaching, I couldn’t say that.

– I’m sorry… I haven’t seen her these days. I’ve been outside Caldart a lot, so I’ll try to pay attention there.

Yuuki stared at me with upturned sanpaku eyes. Those eyes cursed everything in the world.

– If you see her, tell me immediately.

– … Understood.

Turning her body around in a large, slow motion, Yuuki turns a corner and walks in the opposite direction of the Guild Hall.

Her back was too painful to look at.

 

 

+      +      +

 

 

When I peeked into the lobby of the Guild Hall, only Ougiya was sitting in the usual place.

– Doumeguri… it looks like you have free time too.

– Where’s everyone?

– I don’t know.

Ougiya replied in a lazy manner.

– Yuuki keeps looking for Hinazawa, and Busujima and Miyakoshi are hanging together as always, I’m not really sure. I don’t know much about Alice, Yamada, and Leonhardt, as for the leader, well, there’s no person who’s directing us.

– Eh? Ichinomiya?

– He hasn’t left his room.

What!? That Ichinomiya!?

I was stunned and speechless.

– Is… is that so…? Then, what about Asagiri?

– It looks like she went somewhere alone, I don’t really know.

– I see… by the way, Shizukuishi hasn’t come back, right?

– Huh? Why would she come back? Anyway, isn’t she playing at “I love the Devil Club”?

It’s called the Black Dawn Group.

In addition to the members Goma and Tsuzumida, Yoshiwara and Matsudo, who were confined by Orzelia Order until now, also joined it. They were actually saved by the Demon King Army, so it’s no wonder that they joined the Black Dawn Group.

They seem to admire Hellshaft even now.

However, I wonder what Shizukuishi, the leader, is doing now. The good news is that she hasn’t revealed my identity to the 2A Guild, but it’s eerie to not know what she’s thinking.

– Okay. Thank you, Ougiya.

– It’s nothing… but, somehow.

Suddenly, Ougiya laughed scornfully.

– Everyone seems to become like you. The 2A Guild is going through a Doumegurification.

– What on earth are you saying?

With a bitter smile, I went up the stairs to Ichinomiya’s room. However, even though I knock on the door, there’s no response.

– Heey, Ichinomiya. You’re there, aren’t you? It’s me, Doumeguri.

However, there’s no reply. As I wonder if I should go to the 『Dancing Unicorn Restaurant』, the door opened.

– … Doumeguri?

He had a pale face. One’s physique shouldn’t change that much in this world, but he looked emaciated.

He doesn’t say anything, but I interpret it as saying that I can enter because he turned around, leaving the door open. I went inside and closed the door; we were alone.

Empty alcohol bottles are scattered on the floor. On the other hand, bottles are put along the wall and arranged neatly. Anyway, there’s a lot of them. If we were in the real world, he’d be hospitalized.

– Don’t drink too much.

– There’s no use in this world. No matter how much I drink, I can’t fall into alcoholism.

– You want to fall into that or something?

– If this was real, I wouldn’t care harm my health, but I feel good just getting drunk. Why doesn’t my HP decrease even though I drank this much?

As he lamented, he puts his mouth directly on a bottle of wine and gulps it down heartily.

After staggering a little, Ichinomiya sits down on the bed with great force. There was a squeaking noise. I picked up the downed chair and sit on it.

As I wonder what to say and how to begin to talk,

– I let her die….

It was a voice that echoed from the bottom of a hole. Ichinomiya put down the bottle and covered his face with both hands.

– She really died.

– But it’s not your fault, is it?

– Hinazawa was killed in front of me… I couldn’t do anything. If I had argued with Shikiba, I would have been killed. I understood that.  

– And the usual message, was it displayed at that time?

– It was displayed. Hinazawa collapsed, and exactly at that moment….

Ichinomiya’s fingers bend and power is put into them. He clenches his teeth and distorts his mouth into an angry, crying shape.

– Shikiba ‘s fist was popping out of Hinazawa’s back… I could see Hinazawa falling down slowly. I tried to rush over to her, but my legs didn’t move.

– Ichinomiya….

– I was scared… there’s no redoing. Failure is unacceptable. I realized for the first time how scary it was that death was real death. I never realized it when I was in our original world.

I get how you feel. I didn’t want to sympathize with such a thing though.

– Hey, was that guy certainly Shikiba?

-… I wonder. His clothes were completely different and his aura was different as well, but Hinazawa seemed to be convinced it was him.

Which reminds me, Hinazawa’s seat was next to his.

– He called our names. He was laughing. His smile was scary.

Just listening to his story makes me feel sick.

– He’s different from the old Shikiba. If we approach him as his classmates, we’ll be killed. And his level is a lot higher than ours. All I could do was drag the rampaging Yuuki and run away.

– You did well. I think it was a big deal to be able to do that much.

– You can say that because you aren’t the affected one.

Having being told that, I can’t say anything back… but I managed to find it.

– I know you blame yourself, but others don’t think so, do they? Rather, they should be waiting for you to return to your usual self.

Ichinomiya raised his face, and showed a self-deprecating smile on his face.

– Anyone can do what I was doing.

– No, I don’t think so.

– I’ve already failed. I let Hinazawa die.

– … That’s Shikiba’s fault, isn’t it? It’s not your fault.

– But the world doesn’t see that… I shouldn’t be here.

──The world?

I felt uncomfortable with Ichinomiya’s words.

– The world… edits the facts into what they want. The truth doesn’t matter… they see the facts as they want. I tried to help, but I never thought so.

What does this guy want to say?

Ichinomiya chugged the remaining wine in one go. The bottle slipped off his hands and rolled on the floor.

– Doumeguri, I want you to believe this. I have nothing to do with this trouble.

– Yeah, of course I believe you. So, rely on the coordinator. Currently, the 2A Guild is a chaotic bunch. It would be disastrous if Shikiba attacked Caldart.

Ichinomiya lay down on the bed as if collapsing.

– Shikiba… will come?

– I don’t know his objective, but Shikiba intends to kill us, no? If so, he’ll come. Anyway. But as things are, the number of victims will increase. Even if Hinazawa has really died… it’s best to have few casualties, don’t you agree?

– … Isn’t it going to be troublesome for me to be the leader again?

– I’ll say it again and again, you’re still the leader.

– If we are wiped, how can I apologize?

– If you can’t do it, nobody can.

Ichinomiya covers his eyes with his hands. His mouth smiled slightly.

– You’re as honey mouthed as usual.

He separated his hands from his face and lay with his arms and legs outstretched on the bed.

– … When you wake up, go downstairs.

Ichinomiya’s eyes gradually close.

– Got it.

I got up and tried to leave the room. When I opened the door, I heard a faint voice from behind.

– … Why am I logged into this game… tell me… Ririko.

──What?

– Why… am I… involved in this?

– H-hey, Ichinomiya?

I rushed to the bed.

What were you trying to say now? Say it again!!

I shook him quite a bit, but he gave no signs of waking up.

I gave up and left the room. Then, from the other side of the corridor, Busujima and Miyakoshi came around.

– Just right in time, Busujima, Miyakoshi!

– Ah!?

Busujima stopped with a surprised look. Miyakoshi, who’s next to her, stared at me with disgust.

– Wai… why are you calling us? How gro──

– Can you keep an eye on Ichinomiya for a moment?

I ignore Miyakoshi and ask Busujima. Then she looked even more surprised.

– Eh? He opened the door!?

– Yeah. And if you have magic that will help him to sober up, please use it.

– Okay… but I’m bad at it… maybe Alice-chan is better at it.

– Understood. I’ll call her.

– Why are you giving orders!? Give me an explanation… ah, don’t ignore me!

I have no time to play games with Miyakoshi. I went to Arisugawa’s room and knocked on the door. She’s not here. I turned on my heels and ran down the stairs and looked around the lobby. She’s not here either.

Is she at the 『Dancing Unicorn Restaurant』?

I went out of the Guild Hall. The lights in the storefronts are lit, gently illuminating the darkened town.

As I move at a quick pace, weaving my way through the crowd, the figures of people gradually become sparse. The burned down Orzelia Order church is in sight. And in front of it, there’s a big hole.

The subsidence that occurred when the expansion was temporarily applied. It was open again.

Was this also part of the expansion?

When I went to the edge and looked into it, I saw a ruin-like arrangement of stones and many pillars at the bottom of the hole that was two or three meters deep. At the center there’s a staircase-shaped, semi-circular stage. Is it a Roman amphitheater… hmm?

When I saw it before, I thought it was just an archeological site… but when I look at it now, it resembles the stage that was in the square of Astel.

– That’s….

I saw a white figure on the stage.

──Asagiri?

She’s talking face to face with someone. Who on earth are they?

I look around the edge of the hole, and found a gentle slope. Asagiri may have gone down this way too. I went down the slope without making a sound.

I went down to the bottom of the hole and hid myself in a historic ruin-like pillar. I move cautiously from pillar to pillar. As I do so, I heard a faint voice. I can’t hear the details well. But more than that. When I saw the face of the person Asagiri was talking to, I almost screamed by reflex.

The face of Asagiri was there.

To be precise,

Asagiri’s face reflected in a mirror.

──The mirror mask.

Hey.

Why is Asagiri──?

The louder the sound of my heart got, the greater it echoed.

In the end, is Asagiri a companion of the mirror mask?

– … Just… an average murderer.

Asagiri’s voice.

– Look at my face.

Is this the voice of the mirror mask?

It was a mechanical, inorganic, eerie voice.

– What do you see?

– ….

– The acts of venting anger and hatred. Everything is reflected on me.

What is reflected in the mirror mask is the face of Asagiri facing each other. The Asagiri reflected in the mirror speaks to Asagiri herself.

– Anger that is considered justice. Hatred that feels irrational. Desire for revenge for the loss of a close friend. Those have done nothing but hurt your own interests. If you try to make a profit, you infringe on the interests of others. After all, people are creatures that can only point their swords at themselves.

– Isn’t it you who has desire for revenge?

The mechanical, suppressed laugh sounded like noise.

– I’m liberated from the woes of man. Such feelings are trivial.

What the hell are they talking about? Asagiri… are you really a companion of the criminal?

– I want to verify the identity of the living creatures called human beings and I want to make them known widely. Peace, equality, ethics, such things are contrary to the original nature of human beings.

– I don’t know if they go against our original nature, but I think we can learn them.

– That’s because you can afford them. But the people who can’t, they show their true nature. For example──

– … What’s your point?

The face of Asagiri reflected in the mask of the mirror became grim.

– Only one of the two will be saved. One of them has to be sacrificed. What will you do at that moment?

– I didn’t ask that!

Suddenly, Asagiri revealed her intense emotions. She puts her hand on the handle of the sword hanging on her waist.

Then, the sound of an explosion reverberated above the hole.

──What!?

Then, the screams and shrieks of people overlap.

I look up at the edge of the hole, but I can’t see anything other than the starry sky.

When I look at the stage again, Asagiri was the only one there. The figure of the mirror mask had disappeared.

No way, he teleported?

– Doumeguri… kun?

──Oops.

Distracted by the commotion, I jumped out from behind the pillar. Being unable to hide anymore, I walked up to the stage.

– Asagiri. Who were you talking to now?

– That’s what I want to ask. Isn’t Doumeguri-kun an associate of the mirror man?

– What?

Is she feigning ignorance?

Still, the atmosphere is weird. Asagiri is staring at me with a vigilant look. She looks a little scared.

– It seemed to me that you were having a discussion with the mirror mask.

– That’s because Doumeguri wants to think so.

– Is that so? But didn’t you arrange the meeting beforehand?

– … You didn’t hear what we talked well, did you?

Asagiri isn’t as naïve as getting hooked on a simple sickle. However──,

– This ruin looks a lot like the stage in Astel.

Asagiri’s expression solidifies. Bull’s eye.  

– Weren’t these historic ruins prepared to display you?

– You’re very talkative today, Doumeguri-kun.

– Asagiri… this isn’t your first time coming to this world, is it?

– What about you, Doumeguri-kun?

Asagiri fixedly stares at me.

– … How much do you know?

I couldn’t reply.

Asagiri had a face that seemed to start crying at any moment. Her moist eyes are like clinging to me.

From her half-open pink lips, I feel I can hear the words 「Help me」 coming out at any moment──,

– Aah!! There you are! Doumeguri-kun! Asagiri-san!!

The voice of Arisugawa echoed from above.

When I look up, Arisugawa put her hands on her mouth and shouted above the hole.

– T-they have come already! The enemy! The enemy has attacked!

– Whaaat!?

Asagiri ran past me who screamed. I also chase after her in a hurry.

When I run up the slope and go out of the hole,

– Wha….

A fire rises from near the gate, I hear screams.

The townspeople try to running away to the right and to the left. From the other side, soldiers wielding swords came around. Their hair disheveled and their faces all dirty. Vulgar men in shabby armor and covered all over with dust.

They let out incomprehensible screams, slash people, snap at them, and destroy every single thing that their eyes catch. They’re berserk itself.

Asagiri quickly drew her sword.

– The castle gate was breached!? What about the guards!?

– T-that’s… it appears that they got in normally.

In spite of myself, I was about to say──that’s impossible,

– Oh….

I remembered Satanachia’s report.

『The problem is that there are reports that humans become berserkers in battle』

If they were monsters, they wouldn’t be able to enter the town. They can’t enter in the first place unless they breach the castle walls and break through the guards with all their might.

However, they’re defenseless against humans. Humans can enter towns freely.

As that happened, the screams of people, the sound of swords slashing flesh and bones, the sounds of the windows of the houses breaking and stalls getting destroyed approach us.

If those are Berserkers──,

Shikiba!?!?

The Berserkers opened their eyes wide, opened their mouths like beasts, and let out incomprehensible screams. A flag waves among them.

──Tenka Fubu.

– Arisugawa! Where are the others!?

– Eh? I think they’re in the Guild Hall.

– Let’s go!!

I turn back and run towards the Guild Hall. But I notice that Asagiri doesn’t move, so I stopped.

– Asagiri! Hurry up!!

– We have to help the townspeople!

Ku!

I turn back and grabbed Asagiri’s wrist.

– That’s Shikiba’s army!

– Eh…?

Asagiri opened her eyes wide in amazement.

– The fact that he has come here means that he’s after Ichinomiya and the others. In other words, his prey is us! If we stay here, the town will be in ruins! Let’s go!!

However, it’s a means to let Asagiri go. Shikiba has destroyed the towns he has passed through completely, but he’s not satisfied. That’s evident when looking at Montfort.

Asagiri and Arisugawa ran at full speed towards the Guild Hall.

As I ran, I wondered.

──Montfort?

Why did I think Montfort was taken by Shikiba?

Shouldn’t I? say Astel, right?

Am I confused?

I’m sure that’s the case… maybe it’s just associated it with the ruins.

This time I suddenly remembered Mel.

By the way, is Mel okay?

In my mind, I pictured Mel’s house in Caldart Parktown. However, I have no time to go to confirm Mel’s safety for the moment.

What? We’re talking about Mel. She’s not someone who will be killed by something like a Berserker. She’s going to be fine. Thinking so, we rushed into the Guild Hall. Then Ougiya’s quavering voice greeted us.

– Where the hell did you go!? Asagiri, Alice! And Doumeguri!!

All the members of the 2A Guild had gathered there. At the center of it is──Ichinomiya.

He’s making a toned face that looks different from the last one I saw.

– Did you see the enemy? What is the situation?

Because he looked in my direction and asked, I answered right away.

– The enemies are NPC humans! Both the walls and the guards are useless. Moreover, they are in a Berserk state and out of control.

– Got it. Even though they’re NPCs, it feels awkward that they’re humans, but it cannot be helped. We have to elimi──

– We have to escape as fast as we can! Let’s escape from Caldart!

– What?

– That’s Shikiba ‘s army!

The moment I said that, he fell completely silent.

Ichinomiya has a painful expression on his face.

– … Are you sure?

– Yeah, there was the flag of Tenka Fubu.

Silence spread again.

Hey, hey, we have no time to stand still, do we!?

– We’re their target! At this rate, Caldart will get embroiled in. Let’s depart from the back gate immediately!!

Ichinomiya took a strong breath once, as if firing himself up.

– Alright! Let’s go out the South Gate. We’ll use the dragon horses parked nearby!

Dragon horses are horses turned into reptiles-like creatures. Their faces are that of a lizard, but they’re obedient to humans and have fast legs like a horse.

Among the 2A Guild running towards the back door, there was only one person who started running in the opposite direction.

──Yuuki!?

– Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!

She screams and rushes out.

– Catch her!!

I shouted so and ran after her.

– Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

However, Yuuki, who sprints while screaming, is fast.

Dammit! I can’t catch up with her at all!!

However, wind blows through my side.

Asagiri!?

Yuuki turned the corner.

Then Asagiri also disappears to the corner. Furthermore, I was overtaken by Ichinomiya, Ougiya, and Leonhardt, and turned the corner a few seconds later.

As I turned around the corner, Ougiya and the others came to a stop. I almost bump into them.

Ah, why did they stop──,

In front of the back of the 2A Guild standing in the way, the flames burn Caldart.

In front of those flames, a group of Berserkers emerges in an evil manner.

He was in the middle.

– Hee… you guys hated this place that much?

He lifted one of the corners of his mouth and laughed.

– Thank you for welcoming us.

Eyes of madness.

A smile of insanity.

– ──.

Horror fills my chest.

I’m scared.

I stepped back and quickly hid in the corner of the building.

──Eh?

What?

What am I doing?

When I look at my hand, it’s trembling short and repeatedly.

Why?

I, who confronted Souma and the Demon King Satan.

My body trembles of its own accord.

– Ku….

I desperately endured the fear and stealthily take a look from the corner.

The man standing in front of the berserkers──there’s no doubt.

There are no traces of him in terms of appearance and facial expression, but he is Shikiba Takumi.

His hair looks unmaintained and unkempt. His clothes look like what orcs wear: a leather jacket with a lot of exposed skin and tacks and thorns. On the contrary, that worn-out appearance makes him feel intimidating. I can tell that he is a fighter because he wears no armor and there are tekkou put on his arms.

Even so, what am I saying?

Why am I scared of a classmate like him?

Shikiba looked around composedly.

– There’s no more of you? It feels like your number is small, but whatever. I’ll think about that after killing you.

My heart shrank painfully.

Ichinomiya shouts reproachfully.

– Shikiba! What the hell are you thinking!? We’re in the same class, aren’t we!?

But Shikiba responds with a creepy laugh.

– Stupid. Who would be your friend, you piece of shit? Oh right, your friend was killed, but you let her die without helping her and ran away. Am I wrong, Ichinomiya-kun?

– … Don’t mess around.

It wasn’t Ichinomiya who muttered that.

But Yuuki. Her back is trembling with anger.

– Naru-chan isn’t dead. We just can’t find her now.

Shikiba frowned with a 「Huh?」.

– Are you talking about Hinazawa? Oh right, she died as easily as a bird.

– I’m telling you that she’s not dead!!

It was a scream unbecoming of her. However, tears and sad feelings are put into it.

– It’s obvious that she’s dead! You moron!!

A threat that even shaved my HP.

The members of the 2A Guild looked at each other with a confused expression. Shikiba looked at them with a suspicious face.

– What kind of religion are you addicted to, where you die and come back to life!? This isn’t a game!!

My heart resounded like a bell.

Like I thought, that was the rule from the beginning behind the wall.

If you die, you’re done for. It’s game over.

But far from getting the cold feet, Yuuki started walking towards Shikiba. She strongly and tightly grasped her fists.

I suddenly noticed that Asagiri ran after her out of nowhere and pinned down Yuuki from behind.

Yuuki glares at Asagiri and uses foul language.

– Don’t fucking get in the way!!

– We’re running away now! You’re being reckless!

Yuuki waved her fist as if to shake off Asagiri. It was an unrestrained, serious blow. Asagiri barely dodged it by a paper-thin difference.

– Uiko-chan!

– Shut up! I can’t, I can’t forgive him… for what he did to Naru-chan…! I’ll kill him! I’ll absolutely kill him!!

I stared at Yuuki, who yelled like a demon, in blank amazement.

– I’ll kill him, I’ll kill him, I’ll kill him! I’ll riddle his body with holes and tear off his limbs! I’ll tear off his head and crush it underfoot!!

Yuuki shouted while making a bloodcurdling expression and shedding a stream of tears.

– Hahahahahaha! You’re all mouth. You were going to run away too, no?

Shikiba laughed mockingly at Yuuki.

– But that was the right answer. Thanks to that, you’ve lived a long life for a few days. You have to thank yourself for being smart and letting her die without helping her.

Asagiri shouts as if being unable to put up with it anymore.

– Quit it already! What’s wrong with you!? Shikiba-kun!

– Asagiri. What are YOU doing?

– Eh?

– Why are you hanging with these guys?

– Hanging… out?

This world is different from reality. We join forces, form parties, and create a guild. Then overcome the difficulties. It’s a prerequisite for Asagiri, as for those who throw questions at it, it’s hard to understand.

But I get it a little.

That’s because others are scary.

I’m worried about interacting with others.

Because I’m afraid to hurt others. And it’s even scarier when others hurt you.

However, Asagiri is just confused.

– W-why!? Isn’t that obvious!?

– No. No. No!

“Why don’t you get this?” Asagiri showed signs of confusion on her face due to the words of Shikiba. 

– Are you listening!? You can’t trust others! The only ones that can be trusted──

Shikiba smiles with pride as if giving the answer to a quiz that no one can solve.

– Are corpses.

– Uaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

Yuuki rushed out and soon her legs lost strength.

– Wha──

Her weakened body fell forward as if bending easily.

– I am sorry… Yuuki-san.

Behind me, Arisugawa was pointing her wand at Yuuki. And yelled.

– Asagiri-san! Pick up Yuuki-san quickly!

Asagiri quickly held Yuuki’s body in her arms and turned back.

Shikiba, who looked at the situation uninterestedly, spits. Then he crashed the tekkou of one hand into the other.

– The farce is over. It’s killing time.

The 2A Guild began to retreat. I also want to run away right now.

But can we outrun him?

As soon as I thought so, the Berserkers roared and came for us.

– They’re coming!

Ichinomiya and Asagiri drew their swords.

I have to fight too. I think so, but my legs don’t move.

Yes, my fighting power is far below everyone. There’s no point in joining them. It’s useless. No,

If that’s the case, I’ll think about some strategy.

But I can’t think of anything.

Shit! What’s wrong with me!?

When I was at wits’ end, the sound of the hoofs of horses was approaching. A number of sounds overlap each other.

As I look back, a herd of dragon horses came from the South Gate in the opposite direction to the Berserkers.

Among them, there are two figures straddling the dragon horses.

──Busujima and Miyakoshi!

I jumped out of the corner and shouted at the 2A Guild.

– The dragon horses are here! Withdraw!!

In response to my voice, the 2A Guild comes back all at once. Just as Busujima and Miyakoshi stopped the dragon horses in front of me.

I straddle one of them as if jumping upon it.

After Ichinomiya put Yuuki on the saddle, he straddled it.

– Once you ride them, leave immediately! The meeting place is the place where we found Holy Grave!

The place where Holy Grave was found. In other words, the dungeon remains in the Rammel Mountains south from here.

The 2A Guild runs off as it straddles the dragon horses one after another.

I also was about to kick the belly of the dragon horse,

– Asagiri! Drop it! Now!!

I yell at Asagiri who makes her sword meet the Berserkers to the last.

– 『Accelerator』!!

Asagiri used her trump card. By consuming half of her HP, she temporarily increases her speed, and reduces the weight of her attacks to zero.

While I blink, she slashes a dozen Berserkers. However, the effect of Accelerator will wear off soon. Asagiri turned her back as the Berserkers faltered and started running in my direction.

– Hurry!!

Compared to her superhuman speed up to that point, she was irritatingly slow.

– Asagiri!!

A Berserker draws near right behind her. Asagiri kicked the ground, spun in the air, and jumped, landing right behind me. And without turning around, she sticks out her sword behind her.

The Berserker that came running after her was skewered.

– Get out, fast!!

In response to the tensed voice of Asagiri, I kicked the dragon horse’s belly with all my strength. The dragon horse breaks into a run as if an arrow was fired.

Asagiri swung her deadly sword towards the Berserkers who were right behind us.

– 『Lightning!』

The trail of light slashed the crowd of Berserkers.

– !?

But Shikiba jumped out from behind them.

– Wait, you fuckers! Guys, go after them quicklyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!

I clutched my heart which was pounding so hard that I could hear it.

It’s okay. We can escape.

However, I’m afraid to turn around.

– A-are they chasing us?

When I ask with a quivering voice, the dispirited voice of Asagiri comes back from my back.

– No. They seem to be kind of slow.

I sighed so deeply that I surprised even myself.

– … Is, that so?

– No matter how much they level up, they can’t run at the same speed as a dragon horse, can they?

– You, are right.

– So, rest assured.

– ….

Don’t say something that you don’t know, I used foul language in my mind.

We barely made it.

If you had been a little slow, you would have been killed!

And me!

Even though I vowed to help you!!

But after a while──,

I strangely wondered why I lost my temper so much.

Moreover,

I was surprised at myself, wondering if I was still cherishing the vow to help Asagiri.

I believed in it in doubt and considered it important in fear.

I don’t even understand my own mind.

– … We’ll keep going to the dungeon remains in the Rummel Mountains.

– That’s right.

Asagiri put her hands around my abdomen.

It’s a setting where I really have to be careful.

If I was slashed like this──,

The weight of a person leans on my back.

– …?

A soft elasticity was pressed against my back. Through its softness, a strong heartbeat is transmitted. The arms turned around my abdomen are trembling. From the clinging arms, I felt the fear and anxiety of Asagiri.

It may be an illusion.

Asagiri may be trying to ensnare me. Her fear and anxiety seemed to be the same as mine.

Strangely enough, I had the feeling that our feelings overlapped.

 

Go back to Volume 7 – Chapter 1

Go to Volume 7 – Chapter 3