Sousetsuka

620 Normal Way Back

A man is holding the reins of two Grudoses in front of the village.
A different person from yesterday's guide. But Berume seemed to know him and greeted.

"You're going back to the city right? Good work. Got the short end of the stick eh?"

"Nah, I got no complaint I finished early. But you know... Knowing I gotta stay with this guy all the way back..."

So she said as she glanced at me.
I don't ride the Grudos. I'm running on foot, normally you wouldn't think that's gonna be faster than a Grudos.
'What are you talking about?' Thus the man's line of sight seemingly asked Berume. That's a normal reaction since he doesn't know me.
What Berume was trying to say didn't get across.

"Ah, never mind. We're off."

Berume rode a Grudos. The other Grudos followed them.
Followed by me running behind them. The man had a dumbfounded look on his face and blurted out 'Ha?' after a silence.

We ran together for a little while before it hit me that it's not like we have to go back together. I know the road already.
I could have gone back ahead on my own.
So I asked Berume, but she pleaded to let her stay with me since monitoring me is part of her job.

(Monitor huh. I won't ask for what. Most likely it's to decide whether I'm someone they can trust or not.)

Selram tried to get me join her company. But she backed off following her intuition.
Yet she managed to have me undertake her request.

She must be trying to see if her intuition made a mistake.
A monitor is likely part of her effort toward drawing a conclusion.
Berume is definitely going to report everything I did to Selram later.
Selram would base her decision off that. Whether to stay involved with me, or not.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
(But sure she could just blurt that out? Shouldn't stuff like this be kept secret?)

Of course, I don't mind either way but I'm not sure if she could do that.
As it appears, Berume trusts me.
Which made her feel comfortable to divulge that information.

(I dunno how to feel about this... Should I be happy.)

The glances Berume sent my way as I light jogged to keep up with the Grudoses are that of someone looking at a total oddball. But why.
And thus regardless of anything, it took us three days to arrive at the city just as scheduled.

By the way, we came across exactly zero hitches along the way which made me all the warier instead.

(Will there be a huge scale event breaking out at the city the moment I step inside...)

We passed by the city's gate checkpoint smoothly and Berume led me straight to a perfectly ordinary looking cafe.
I could only follow along.
Berume didn't seem to care all the questions I had in mind as she took a seat and made an order to the clerk.

"We're having the 'special'. For two. Oh and there will be more guests coming later, can we borrow the back room?"

I got it after she said that.

(Ah, this must be the base of operation for reporting mission completions and stuff like that.)

I also realized that our seating area is a blind spot from the entrance and took a sip of this cafe's 'special' as I waited.

Previous Chapter

Feeding Kindling

Alright, it's cooking time. Haven't had one in a while.
It's a whole town-wide feeding project. With Alma and Hero-kun as my supports.

I chopped carrots, onions and pork, and then boiled them together in a pot.
They get softened up right away with 'Spacetime Acceleration' Feature, so handy. Woulda taken tens time longer if not for it.

After all, I had to use some real gigantic pots if I wanna feed the town's entire population.
I'm not talking five or six of them too. Nope, dozens.
By the by, I got Hero-kun help me out with his own Spacetime Acceleration.


"Isn't there way too many of these people. You sure just us three can do all the cooking?"

"Moving them to another continent with Fast Travel is not an option when so many can't even move on their own yet. Quite a few of them are nearing their Stamina limit too, we've got to feed them something fast."

"Well, I guess we can get it ready as fast as cup noodles with our Menu, but do you even have enough ingredients?"

"No worries. I bought a stupid amount of food from this world and Japan."

"Oh okay... So why can't I go to Japan anyways? I won't run away before Demon King is dead, you know."

"Ah, it's not because you can't, it's more 'Hero disappearing from this world' is a big no no."

"?"


Taking Hero-kun to Japan could potentially risk it all with no way to undo what's done.
Why you ask? It's simple.


If a Hero were to disappear from this world before they defeated the Demon King, they would lose the Grace of Revival.


According to Menu, the formula for Hero's Grace of Revival is engraved on the world itself by the goddess and the Hero has to permanently stay connected to it.
It's an unimaginably massive yet delicate formula, if the connection is severed for even an instant, there is no reconnecting them again.

In other word, if Hero were to lose his revival and died during this war, everything would all come to waste. Nobody can defeat Demon King anymore.
That's the reason I can't bring him back to Japan until that point. Sorry.


...Well, regardless, we can't pin our hope on the Grace of Revival though.
If everything goes according to Menu's plan, the battle with Demon King will be decided in one fell swoop.

Unlike all the previous heroes, dying in the middle of our combat against Demon King this time will mark the end.
Not only is the Demon King this time super strong with New Game+ Cheat, we also have no continue left... What the hell is this impossible game.


Whoops, gotta focus on the cooking.

Once the heat is passed enough, I put in solid consomme, salt and then washed Aro Rice once everything melted down.
Washing the rice beforehand helps un-clump them and gets you better texture, but there's probably no point to that anyway with this amount...

I shoved in beaten eggs as a final touch, put the lid on and stopped the heat to let it steam itself.
Half-cooked eggs should make for better nourishment. Rice gruel, order up.

Umu, it's done way faster thanks to Spacetime Acceleration.
One pot is enough to feed around a hundred people, we only need to do this like a few dozens more to feed them all.


"Put this in bowls and distribute them to those who need them. Prioritize children and the elderly."

"Ha, haee, it ain't even take five minutes to cook one pot for 'em..."

"They should be able to cook enough in two, three hours. Get them to the tables, pronto!"

"Those who've gotten their shares, take your time eating! You're gonna die if you wolf 'em down with zero stamina!"

"Uu... Thank you, it's so good..."


Adventurers and Anti-demon Army folks helped distributing the piping hot rice gruel to the town's populace.
It's not that luxurious but they need the nutrition more than the taste. Please wait a little bit more for actually good food.


"Uu, I haven't had a decent meal in a lifetime... Yummm...!"

"Those demons took away all the good food... They did give us scrapes to keep us alive as sacrifices, but it was flavorless and so little, they were definitely planning to starve us death one day..."


The people took relish eating such non luxurious food.
I guess any food tastes good when you're famished. What a sorry sight.


"...Hikaru, you're so fast at cutting."

"Well I've been cooking everyday. I'm sure you'll get even faster than me once your Cooking Skill levels up more, Alma."

"Nn, I'll do my best."


I got Alma to help finely chop vegetables.
I may be fast but there's only so much I can do alone. Thank goodness Alma chose Cooking as her Gift Skill.

We kept at it for a while and eventually managed to feed all the townspeople.
The place kept experiencing tremors while we were cooking. Apparently someone's fighting up there.


"An uncle with red lion-like hair is fighting the white dragon, y'see. I got saved by him myself."

"Hmm, should I go lend him a hand?"

"Nope. That uncle happily said, 'Don't butt in, that thing's my prey'. Think you'd better not."


Another battle junkie. Hyulan-san #2.
All the tremors are spilling out the gruel though. Wish they'd keep it down.


"Seeing as he's holding his own against a dragon. Is that man a Special Job holder?"

"Yea. He's called 'Juurou', a real Lv95 monster of an old man."

"...I'll be off for a bit."

"Oy, weren't you listening? You really don't wanna get in there."

"I'm just gonna see his face real quick. Be back in a bit."


I've got to meet him if he's a skilled Special Job holder at that.
Gotta mark as many powerful people as I could.

Otherwise, there will be no way to deal with what's coming after this war.


...Damn you Demon King, sure came up with a real nasty plan.
I'm gonna turn it aaall over your head kekeke. Serves you right.


<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >




~~~~~~~Juurou's POV~~~~~~~~~~






"Ooraaa!!"

『Gwoaaaa!!』


Sparks fly every time my arms fashioned like blades and White Dragon claws clash, letting out shrill metallic sounds all around us.
Ow ouch, dang thing's a tough nut to crack. The title world's strongest dragon ain't just for show huh.

But that's good. It's the best.
Ain't nothing better than having a full blown fist fight!

I blew its claw away and went in during the slight opening. Punching the dragon hard on its side face!


"Take this!!"

『Ogoa...!? Y, you, blasted vermiiiiiiin!!』


The dragon's jaws went for my head. It's tryina chomp my head whole eh.
Niice, I like that merciless instinctual bloodlust. Ain't no humans can emanate that.


『Aaagwuuaaaa!!』

"Aaaaaggu!!"

『Gyaaaa!!?』


I twisted my head and dodged by a hair's breadth before taking a bite of the dragon's face, skin and meat whole.
Guy's got some real thick skin. But the taste's pretty good even raw, that's a high ranking dragon for ya.


"Yer' surprisingly tasty. Gimme more!"

『Utter drivel! I shall eat you alive myself!!』


The white dragon's bloodlust shot right up.
It's finally getting serious at killing me.

That's good.
No hold barrel pure bloodlust. Can never get enough of this tingling sensation.
This sensation that could only be transmitted through exchanging fists, I've gone through it countless times. No matter who they are, be it allies or enemies, be they intelligent enough to speak or not.
Fighting is the ultimate way to communicate with each other!



"Ah, excuse me for interrupting when you're so busy."


............


!?


In the flash I took to blink, a man suddenly stood between me and the dragon.
I almost lost my ability to think for a moment there.
At the same time, I got the heebie jeebies the moment I laid my eyes on him.

He looks nothing more than a rather unreliable looking mild-mannered black haired man.
But who gives a hoot about exteriors. My brain, the cells in my whole body are screaming me.

When did, he show up there.
And what the hell's up with this bizarre presence...!?


"Nice to meet you. Err, am I right to assume you're 'Juurou'-san?"

"O, ou?"

"My name is Kajikawa Hikaru. I'm here to extend my gratitude to you for saving my party member, Reina, from those dragons' jaws a few hours ago."


Besides the way he refers to himself, his speech is the epitome of politeness and his bow is the perfect form.
Eh, what the heck, he got between my fight just for this? Read the room dangit.


"Ah, sorry for getting in your fight. That's all I wanted to say. Please go ahead and continue."

"...You shoulda not come if you knew. But eh, I got ya loud and clear."


The mood went south cuz of some real unexpected intruder, but meh.
Gonna get back in the gear and fight.

....?


『Gwooooooo!!』


White Dragon soared up high in the sky.
Oy oy, it ain't gonna run away on me, ain't it.


『Guhahahaha! Fool, you left an opening! I shall blow you into smithereens!』


It started prepping up for a breath attack after stopping quite high up.
Tch, petty trick. I woulda taken it head-on without all that crap.
No, wait. Ain't shooting this way from there gonna drag everybody underground in the blast...?

Crap, that just don't sit right with me.
Maybe I should swat the breath away? No, not 'should', I will!

Come, at me---


"Oy."


A quiet yet firm cold voice entered my ears.

The voice came from the gentle looking black haired man who made a grabbing motion. That alone stopped the white dragon from moving.
It's struggling hard as if something is grabbing it by the neck.


『Gah...!? Ka, ka...!!』

"Yer' free to fight all you wanna even if I don't agree with it, but who died and gave you permission to shoot breath here. Don't drag those people below into your mess."

『Gaaa...!! W, what, did, you, do to me...!?』

"Who said you can speak. Shut up."

『Hii...!?』


He's looking up at the white dragon with cold eyes like it's trash.
It's such a drastic change I question if he's even the same mild mannered man from earlier.

...This guy is that, the same type as that world's strongest couple and the guild's grandmaster.
They act amiable normally, but their mood swing is so intense, the damage to their surroundings is unfathomable. The fact that the reason for that is usually reasonable makes it even worse.
...Fighting this guy's probably gonna be the fight of a lifetime, quite literally for me. But I guess I'm gonna stop myself from kindling that during this war.

Previous Chapter

619 Accept It

We arrived at our inn. It's fashioned like, a loghouse, I think? One silver coin and six copper coins for a night stay and two meals.

(Can't tell if that's cheap or pricey... but I guess this is reasonable for somewhere out in the bony like this? Or maybe a tad high?)

It's past noon now. The inn will offer meals for tonight and tomorrow morning. I haven't had lunch yet.

"Innlady-san, can we order a meal now?"

"Sure thing! You wanna the bellyfull or bellyless portions? Three copper coins for the full one, half that for the less."

Both Berume and I were famished so we took the full ones.
It was a set of steak, soup and salad. It's a seaweed soup for some reason.
Dunno what's the meat from. But it looks like poultry.
The salad got tomato-like thing with overall red color. As well as some sort of vegetables and dressing.

I've come to accept unknown food these days.
It's normal in this world. No need to fuss over it.
The salad was crunchy while the dressing tasted like mayonnaise.
The steak had a tender texture to it, spreading out meat juice with every bite.
The soup had a thin salty flavor.

"These are all so good... No, seriously."

"What? You? Yer' moved from something like this? I mean, I do admit it's good stuff yeah."

"My oh my? Taken fancy of our food, have you? That's so nice of you. Here, on the house."

The innlady got into a good mood seeing me eating in delight and gave me a cup of tea for free.

"Thank you. Ah, this must use good tea leaves. It's got this strong scent and tastes so fresh."

"You can tell? Couldn't help myself giving extra seeing how much you relished our food."

Apparently her husband is in charge of the food. The fresh tea filled my belly with comfort.

'Thank you for the food', after finishing my tea, I turned to Berume and threw a question.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"So what's the plan. Should we depart tomorrow morning after a night rest?"

"Hm~? Well, yeah. Actually still got some work to do, but there ain't no point anymore. Nothing left to stress over now. I mean we took care of everything real early and all. Guess taking a nap in my room sounds good."

Berume's supposed work probably had to do with the preparations for the beast hunt.
I thought it'd be a waste having a siesta now so I decided to walk around the village. I informed Berume before leaving the inn.
Who knows I might find a 'good spot' near this village. The spot where I could live in seclusion.
I have given up. Partly. But that's no reason to not search.
My stroll around the village bore no fruit. I went back to our inn and had a nap.

The following day, I had a good night sleep despite my siesta and woke up before sunrise.
I groomed myself like usual. Would get cavities if I slacked off on brushing. Only to me and me alone in this world.
This divine blessing thing works on the weirdest thing.

(No wait, it actually does more but I still can't accept it...)

That doesn't really bother me so I gargled out my doubt and pulled myself together.

"We're departing. You done prepping?"

Berume knocked on the door just as I was about done.
I got out my room to greet her.

"I got our breakfast boxed up. We're leaving right away. Ah, put these in your bag."

Thus we left the village after saying our thanks to the innlady.

Previous Chapter 

Next Chapter

Balloon

You've got it wrong. It's a misunderstanding.
I had to wash away all the dangerous toxin sticking to my body, is all.

I was having a bath and taking a little breather after beating down all those big snakes when Menu suddenly warned me about Alma's imminent danger (Etc.)
I didn't think twice and went straight to pile bunking the whale charging at Alma only to realize I was buck naked. How'd it come to this.
Radia looked like he couldn't believe me, while Alma let out a silent scream while covering her face with her hands.


"Why would anyone take a bath in the middle of war...?"

"No well, you see here. My whole body got covered in toxic substance due to some circumstance so I had to wash it off. I got here in a hurry when I found out Alma was in a pinch. But that happened while I was taking a shower as you might've figured out."

"Just put some clothes on."


Yes, you're right... Gotta tidy up.
I wiped my body with a towel, dried myself with Mana Control converted hot air, and got Menu put clothes on me.


"Thanks for waiting."

"That was quick..."

"Alma, it's all good now, you can lift your face now... Alma?"

"...Sorry, give me, some time..."


Alma kept her hands on her face and wouldn't budge. I can tell her face is beet red under those fingers.
Well, guess that's gonna happen when you bear witness to an old man's body outta nowhere. I'd personally shrink back even harder.
...Oh boy, I must look like a pervert after that, oh maaan.


"Looks like it's gonna take a while. Let's give her some space for now."

"...I'm sorr..."

"But geez, here I thought you two were tight as a knot yet she got like this just from seeing yer naked. You two haven't actually gone far huh? ...Actually that was the shocking part to me."


What do you mean by that, Radia-kun. Heck, why'd she be alright seeing naked.
...Ah, aa, you mean that way huh... Would be nice if we could make a progress...



『CLUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!』


Uwah, what the heck!
What was that super loud voice. Kinda sounded like a chicken's cluck, is there a giant chicken beast or something... here...!?

I turned around and saw mountain-sized whales, but that wasn't the surprising part.


No it's the scene where a super gigantic chicken trampling down on a whale while letting out a cry.


What is that.


...Err, the mana I sense from that chicken feels really familiar somehow.
Menu-san, let me check up its Stat for a bit.



Hiyoko

Magic Beast: ★Balloon Bird

Lv63

State: Uplifted - Agitated - Enlarged Body (Great) - Tame (Kajikawa Hikaru)

【Attributes】

ＨＰ：９４７３/９４７３
ＭＰ：８９７/１３５４
ＳＰ：３４５/１１５１

ＳＴＲ：５３１２
ＡＴＫ：５３１２
ＤＥＦ：４２８９
ＡＧＩ：５４２
ＩＮＴ：７５８
ＤＥＸ：３１４
ＰＥＲ：２７８４
ＲＥＳ：３９８７
ＬＵＫ：９７８


【Skills】
Magic Beast Lv 7 - Claw Arts Lv 10 - Sharp Claw Arts Lv 6 - Fang Arts Lv 10 - Piercing Fang Arts Lv3 - Martial Arts Lv 10 - Ultimate Martial Arts Lv7 - Kempo Lv 7 - Throwing Lv 4

【Master Skills】
Drain Claw
Eat Beak
Aura Trans

【Unique Skill】
Balloon Body

Equipment
Safety Necklace
Abnormal Status Resistant Enchanted

【Titles】
Superior Slayer
Fearless
Reckless
Foolhardy
Brave Preemptive Stopper of Final Catastrophe
Living on the Edge
Magic Beast Killer
Magic Beast Genocider
Demon Slayer
Skill Master
Inheritor
Ally of Humanity
Gourmand Magic Beast
Body of Balloon
1000 Wall Breaker
Beyond 2000
To the World of 3000
Crossing the Sea of 4000
At the Sky of 5000
Counting 6000 Stars
Going Up 7000 Stairs
Fastening 8000
Going Beyond 9000


<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >

Ah, it really is Hiyoko.
Oh boy, she sure has gotten real big the short time I missed her hahaha.

Hold up! This ain't right!
I can see that she evolved to a Unique Magic Beast after meeting some sort of conditions. That's good and all.

But, what's up with those crazy Attributes! Her STR shot up 4-5x, the heck!
And what's the deal with that size! That's way too big! She can never stay in the same inn with us now!

<<Hiyoko's current transformed volume as well as Attributes are due to the effects of a Unique Skill, 'Balloon Body'.>>

Eh, what that.


<<'Balloon Body' is a Skill that allows its user to freely enlarge and shrink their own mass and volume. Enlarging gives a large boost to ATK, DEF, RES, and PER while inversely decreasing AGI, INT, DEX. Shrinking works vice versa including the affected Attributes. The size limit increases by Level.>>


Err, so in short, Hiyoko can freely change her body size?
The bigger she becomes the stronger, and tougher she gets at the expense of slower and rougher mobility. Meanwhile smaller size penalizes her strength and defense while raising her maneuverability and speed.
...Umu, she's pretty much a one chicken army now.


『CLUUUUUUUUUUCK!!』

『Vagyaaaaaaaaaa!!?』


I mean, she just beat a mountain sized whale with mere punches and kicks.
She'll prove to be an incredible asset seeing how well she can go up against opponents that size.
Add Energy Control to the equation and she can get multiple times stronger... Huh wait, can't she beat Black Dragon too if she gives it a go?


『Vaaaaaaaaa!! .....Gaba....!!』

『CLUCLUCUCLUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!』


Ah, that's the last whale down. She's way too loud though.
In the end, Hiyoko took care of all the whales besides the one I took down. Well done.


『CLUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!』

"Oy oy, that chicken's still raring to go!?"

"Hiyoko! It's all taken care of. Calm down!"

『CLUUCK! CLUUUUUUUCK!!』


I tried to soothe the still rampaging Hiyoko as she stomped the ground, to no avail.
Cool your jet chicken! Actually quit clucking so loud! My ears hurt!


"Save it against the demons if you still don't have enough! No point going wild here!"

『CLUUUUUUUCK!!』

"Kajikawa-san, it's not listening at all! Actually, it's charging this way!"

『CLUUUUUUUUUEAAAACK!!』


"...Cool off your head right this instant or become part of tonight's crab miso soup. Choose."


『Clu...!? ...Pssssss... Pi...』


The threatening word I quietly muttered was effective at turning Hiyoko back to chick size.
I knew she could heard us. I get you're in high tension from evolving but you gotta know when to lower your wings.


"Alright, good job. You did great, Hiyoko."

『Pipii.』

"...This man just stopped that rampaging chicken with nothing but word..."

"We've got so much whale meat to go around for everybody. All thanks to you, you can have any whale dishes you want later."

『Pi!』


Hiyoko chirped happily with a palm-sized body.
Just don't turn into a giant while you're on my shoulder okay. You're gonna crush me dead.


"Welp, now that Alma and Hiyoko are with me, guess it's time to join up with Reina."

"...Alma-neechan hasn't recovered yet."

"...Err, we'll be Fast Traveling to Reina's place, Alma. You good?"

"...Un."


Alma replied whisper quiet.
Was my bare body such a trauma to her. Kinda shocking.

...? Is it just me or is there blood coming out of her nose under those fingers? Eh, did the blood rush to her head? Is she alright?



Fast Traveling to Reina's place, we were greeted with people running all over the place like in an emergency room.
Apparently the people Reina saved with her Shadow Dive are taking care of the weakened town populace.


"Anyone here with Healing Potions?! This man really needs it!"

"Uu... My stomach... stomach..."

"Oy, get it together! What's wrong with your stomach!?"

"It's... Empty..."

"That's way too cliched!"


...The populace looks like they would make it out alright.
But there's some elderly and children in seriously bad conditions.

Ah, I see Anti-Demon Army's captain and vice captain here too.
The captain is holding one of the populace's hand while talking with them.


"Y, y, you're..."

"Hey, pops. It's me."

"J, Jan... What was it again...?"

"Uh, kinda wish you got that right..."

"Captain, please wipe your tears. Although I understand this reunion must be moving to you."

"No, I'm just down in the dump cause he forgot my name..."


...The situation is rather critical yet all the random skit-like interactions here and there kinda soften it.
Guess I'll go help those in need with Life Force Control and cook some nutritious meals for them.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

618 That Time I Got Told Stuff I Didn't Need to Know

After tying our assailants up and before we started making our way back to the village we're staying at tonight, Berume grabbed one of the men by their collar and started interrogating.

"You guys want to live? Then speak. You were all sent here by the Holy State, ain't ya?"

I have absolutely no clue what she's on about. What even is this Holy State thing she spouted out of nowhere.

(I'm not a fan of these sudden flag raising events...)

I'd rather not know but there's nothing I can do now that I heard it.
That State is for sure gonna be my destination later. That's just how it goes with flags.
For what purpose? Or maybe it's just a whim? I'm heading there?
Dunno if that's still far or near in the future, but the fact that that country's name fell on my ears can't end up any other way.

"Guh! You... How much do you know?"

The pale faced man was in pain and grimaced further at this question.

"I'll let y'all off hook at least if you answer me. I've dug up some dirt 'bout y'all. You folk messed with one of our merchants once. Sniffed out some Holy State's secret service mixed in among Coliseum Committee."

"Bastard... How did you find out!? We made sure to erase our background..."

"Who cares about that now. I'm just gonna say that it's nothing impossible with some due diligence. And I just got my answer from your reaction. Your job was to gradually plant your people among the chief positions of the coliseum city, yeah?"

"...You don't need to hear from me if you've done your research! That's right! There's no end to interest toward that city! Every country is doing exactly the same, they've got people maneuvering on the undersides. Slowly and surely that is. In fact, I'd like to throw a question instead. How are they so united as one?!"
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
The man seems to have given up. He won't stop talking. He even started grumbling.
United as one. What does that even mean. I could tell that was the reason these guys couldn't finish their job at least.
I shouldn't bother, it's got nothing to do with me. In fact, of course it doesn't.
I only arrived at the city the other day. I don't know anything about the city's inner working.

"Got it. I'm gonna be hands off with y'all now. Be thankful you got off with your lives. Consider you've forfeited your life the moment I set my sight on you the next time you wanna have a go. Do your worst to stay far away from me. Go home and report back this matter."

She started the event on her own and ended it on her own. I'm not gonna comment on it.
Gonna keep my mouth shut. It's the secret to success in life. It's not without a fault though. Yep. You can't stop the other party from blabbering on their own.

"Ah, you're clueless 'bout it huh. I work in the dark side of things. Been through countless hell already. Was an orphan, y'see. Got picked up, trained and here I am. Shocking huh?"

It sure is but I'd prefer not to have that on my mind.
The fact that Selram is a merchant that has a strong influence on the dark side.
I couldn't see her as someone who'd dabble in illegal things just to go up in world.
My thought seemed to have shown on my face, Berume tried to correct me.

"We ain't done anything against the laws. Our business is purdy clean. Or what, did you think otherwise? Well then, ya gotta brush up your eyes. There are all sorts of dynamics on the underside of things. We don't do crime. Honest."

She explained with a serious yet humorous-sounding tone. It's just that she doesn't seem to care if I don't believe it either.
It must not be important to her.

We left for the village while ignoring the men's groans.
I decide not to bring them to the authority. Berume made the promise after all.
They'd protest, 'This isn't what we agreed on!' if I did.

(It was Berume who said that, so they'd have no right to protest whatever I did.)

It's just that doing all that takes a lot of work and time.
Knowing how much of a pain in the arse all that is, I got on board with Berume's idea.

Previous Chapter 

Next Chapter

This Pattern Again

Hero-kun told me not to come here until I took care of all those snakes, but I couldn't stay till when I found out about Reina's situation.
Well I offed them already and was in the middle of cutting them up and storing them in Item Screen when Menu warned me 'Reina is in danger' so I left some parts behind... I'll retrieve them later.

I was all bloody thanks to that which made Reina scream in terror like she was in a horror movie.
Her reaction is understandable, but I dunno man, I did come all the way here to save her after all.


"...Who, are you...!"

"Strong black hair, could you perhaps the hero? We lured in another big fish I see."


The two remaining demons muttered. Um no. Heck, present hero is a blondie.
Actually, these demons seem plenty strong, the one I just defeated included. Demon Chiefs? No wait, there should be only one Demon Chief on each continent.


"No matter. You shall perish here regardless!"

"Taste the power of True Demon!!"


The both of them doubled their Attributes. True Demon Release huh.
Hm, they're not Chiefs, just normal demons that match one I guess?
Most demons I came across so far were below Lv50. So stronger ones finally start popping up now huh.


Well, the higher their level the better. Experience wise, that is.


"Now, die   gopa!!?"

"Hahn? Oy, what's, wrong...!?"


One of the two demons' head popped up without me touching it.
I simply blew it up with Remote Mana Controlled pile bunker.

Fumu, their stats may be high but they can't seem to detect invisible mana like Oni-sensei and Alma parents.
It's like they're instinct isn't at all honed. Or more like, they lack practical experience?


"B, bastaaaard, what did you dooooooo!!?"


The last demon lunged at me with a face mixed with anger and terror.
I could've easily dodged that but I let his fist hit my face unimpeded.

Eh, why you ask? It won't work anyway. And anyway, punching me right now isn't gonna end up well.


"What what the hell are you! Why won't you die, that was a direct hit!? ...Wha, my hand, it's burning, it's, melting, u, ugaaaaaaa!!?"


The fist he used to hit me is melting down. Oh my, condolence.
That's what happens when you're smeared with the blood of a Jormungand capable of killing an ordinary human with a single drop.

I waved my hands like I'm trying to dry them, sprinkling the remaining toxic blood at the demon.


"Lookie here, papapa."

"Higyaaaaaaa!! Stop, stop iiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!"


The demon's body rotted and crumbled down with every drop of the toxic blood.
Can't believe I'm perfectly fine getting bathed in this stuff...
I feel bad tormenting the thing for too long, let's end this.

I cut off the writhing demon's neck with Mana Blade Rev, and that's that. Chop chop.


"Sheesh. Reina, are you hurt anywhere?"

"I'm fine. Thanks to you Kajikawa-san."

"All good then... Mind if I go away for a bit and get some much needed wash up? Can't let you get close to me like this."

"That's fine, but what have you been up to anyway, Kajikawa-san...?"

"Had to deal with some real chancy snakey magic beasts. Ah, make sure you don't touch the blood that was on me. You're gonna die."

"T-that's scary... Uh, how are you alright again then...?"


I'll leave liberating the confined people underground to Reina's deliberation. Oh, I wasn't trying to make a dad joke (Etc).
Hero-kun seems to be heading there too anyway, they should have enough hands.

I'll go wash up for now.
Can't do that in a bath house for risk of polluting it. Guess I'll make an impromptu one with Mana Control.
So yeah, time to Fast Travel away somewhere uninhabited.







~~~~~~~~Hyula's POV~~~~~~~~~







"Oh boy, it's demon demon demon as far as you can see. I love that I can go wild as much as I wanna, but it feels kinda lonesome without anybody you know around."

"Uh, that's always been your style isn't it. Going wild on your own. I'm gonna need two or three more lives I wanna fight alongside you again, no seriously."

"Ahaha, don't worry about it, I don't mind."

"It's all you, darn it!? Why'd you make it sound I'm the one dragging you down!?"


Getting stranded in a den full of demons is both bewildering and exhilarating.
I can go as hard as I can without hurting allies.
I thought I was being more careful since Ganan joined up, but I guess I'm still as bad as ever at working with someone else.


"We gotta find other folk asap. Bet they're getting ambushed left and right like us. We must regroup."

"Eh, I'm good on my own. You just gotta beat 'em up, easy."

"No normal guy can deal with dozens of demons on their own, you berserker. I'm worried about them, not you."

"Okay, okay... Hm? The heck is that."


I saw rows of people far away.
I used Clairvoyance thinking they were Anti-Demon Army forces, but something amiss.


"Those people all got deadfish eyes. Their complexions got no vigor either. They steps look just as lifeless."

"There's men and women of all ages, heading in the same direction... And the woman leading the way there, she's got this sinister aura around her, demon?"

"Must be. She's the only one grinning among those lethargic group of people."


Were they brainwashed? What's that demon up to anyway.
Well, it's probably something like sacrificial pawns she'd send against our forces or something.

Ah, upon a closer inspection, she's even got a female captain of the Anti-Demon Army in their ranks.
Gal got herself captive just like that. She got no backbone at all, geez.


...Tch, I don't like this crap.
It's gonna get ugly if she takes those people hostage.

That demon seems pretty skilled too, ambush likely won't work on her. Prolly even stronger than the Demon Chief that attacked Continent 5.
Might be a tad too much for me and Ganan.


...It ain't like me at all but our best move now is to keep our distance.


"! Oy, that's!"

"W, what?"


Turning where Ganan pointed his finger at, I caught sight of someone among the brainwashed people.
...Isn't that...!?


"The heck you doin' over there, Alan...!"

"Did he, fall victim to brainwashing too...?"



<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >




~~~~~~~~Alma's POV~~~~~~~







From the Resistance hideout, I picked 'The area where giant whales and a giant chicken are having a showdown' as my destination.
Resistance members tried to stop me but I just have a feeling that this chicken is Hiyoko.
In fact, I can't think of any other possibility. The mana I feel in the distance is Hiyoko's.

But, it's overwhelmingly powerful.
I wonder if she evolved. To a giant magic beast.
...I understand evolving to one in order to fight on equal ground against another giant magic beast, but it's gonna be quite a handicap in daily life.


I clashed with many demons on my way there.
Their levels weren't that high, but the sheer frequency makes it quite draining.


"Ah, I think those are whales way over there... How the heck are they so big."

"They really are... They must be over Level 80."


Radia who tagged along with me was dumbfounded as he gawked at the whales.
I see, normal sized Hiyoko would have a hard time defeating something that big.


And where's Hiyoko?



『CLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!』



"Yii!?"

"...!"


A roar so loud it created a ripple throughout the air.
My eardrums would have ruptured and knocked me out if I didn't immediately covered my ears. It was just that tremendous.

Was that a chicken's cluck? Which means....


!?


『Vavoaaaaaaa!!』


One of the whales started ramming this way.
Oh no, I have to stop it with 'Grand Blade'!


"Guuuuu...!!"

『Vaaaaaaaaaa!!』


The whale is just as tremendously heavy as it looks.
I managed to somehow stop its ramming attack with my gigantified Grand Blade, but this can't go on for long.
Radia is just as drained, he can't transfer mana to me.


『Vavuu!!!』

"Uaa...!!"


No, it's trying to brute force its way with 'Roaring Rush'.
Both of us will get trampled underfoot if this--


No, we'll be fine.

Because






"This pattern again... Cut the darned crap already y'all!!"



An explosion on the same level as the chicken's cluck earlier could be heard from the whale's head.
That's the sound of 'High Power Pile Bunker'...?


Ah, I knew he'd come.

He'd always come to protect me who couldn't even manage to defend myself.


"Hika...!"


I froze up before I could finish calling Hikaru's name when my eyes caught him.


"K-Kajikawa-san, why are you looking, like that...?"



Because Hikaru is standing there without even a single piece of cloth on him, baring it all like the day he was born.



"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!!!"


An unintelligible scream escaped my mouth.
Louder and more high pitched than the cluck and the explosion earlier.


"...Ah, my bad. No, please don't take it wrong, I was taking a bath, absolutely not because I'm into flashing, no really please believe me, you've got it wrooooong!!"

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

617 Passed By

I walked up and slapped the cheek of a man as the group inched on Berume to gang up on her.
PAM, the sound of air getting clapped. That made for a nice sound, I thought to myself.
The slapped man ended disastrously. His neck bent unnaturally as he spun in the air before crashing down.

"Gotta be an instant death... But, I gave them a chance to run and they instead tried to take someone hostage. There's no reforming them, is there? Not when they don't have the will. It's fine, no?"

The sound must have been so melodious, the other men turned their attention back to me.
One of them lying on the ground, me standing.

"That's a no no. You're in for hell if you shift your focus here."

I'm talking about Berume of course. There's no way she'd overlook this chance. She went and stabbed a nearby man's neck with her knife.
Her carriage must be how assassins do their thing. Never staying still after striking. She's quickly backstapped away, never idling in one spot for long. Who is she really?

It's turned into a mayhem. Another man downed.
The sound of him collapsing drew several men's attention.
This is a group of amateurs. They've got way too many openings. Four of them died in no time. There's only six left. There's not even a shred of coordination anymore. The formation they made to surround us has already collapsed.
Their confusion might be unavoidable. Or not. They simply never thought of the worst case scenario. They lacked conviction and could only imagine themselves coming out on top.
How stupid. They knew my power. Or at least it should be a mystery to them. Despite that fact, they were convinced they would win through sheer number alone.

I walked up to another man who looked away again. I fetched the most pristine sword I had among the swords I put off selling.
I held it high and swung it down on the man's crown of head.
But he managed to block my strike. Barely by a hair's breadth, he put up his sword to stop mine.
But it's too late. Getting in a contest of power with me is a bad move.
Did he think I'm just your ordinary brat? After all that?
I gradually pushed his sword down. The man gradually got pushed back.
He's losing in power. He missed his chance to parry my attack. The only outcome left is for him to get pushed down or fall down with his back on the ground.
He should have dodged my attack. I didn't even swing that fast. I also didn't put much power into it which invited this man's misunderstanding.

But I was stopped by a slash from my side. His friend covered for him.
I'm not particularly fussed. Not even enough to click tongue. No irritation.

I saw the man going in for a slash, dodging it was simple.
No need to Accelerate. Berume had already made her next move.
She stabbed the man slashing me. She was so fast nobody other than me perceived her.
And of course she twisted her knife immediately after.

"Gguooooooooooooo!"
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
The man fell down and foamed at the mouth. The wound must have reached his organs. Just how good she is at quickly making grievous wounds anyway?
Frankly, I'm even scared of Berume now.

(Forgive me for taking you as a delinquent inwardly! For real! So please don't stab me!)

"Ah? You callin'?"

Berume asked at the most opportune timing, I almost believed she could read my mind.

"No, no not at all! I said nothing at all, okay?"

I was sweating a bit when the men decided to take the chance to turn tail and run away.
'Oh?' I thought but it's too late for that. They should have done that sooner. I don't plan on giving them mercy now.
They've long passed by the point of return.

"I won't kill them, but I guess I could drag them to the authority?"

I entered Acceleration, went after them and kicked their left or right shins, all of them, to stop them from running.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter