Archive for May 2018

Chapter 4 Hunt the Moon

After separating from her companions at the fortress, Hatsumi wasn't quite sure just where she had run to. Since she was within a forest, it was probable that she had entered territory that was under the demons' sphere of influence. She was unable to retreat to the south, so it was likely the case.

She had been running while cutting down the demons in front of her and the demons who were pursuing her hot on her heels. She was completely engrossed in running continuously while demons kept popping up everywhere. Before she knew it, her surroundings had become profoundly dark and her field of vision was considerably poor.

This evening, there should have been a crescent moon in the sky. But likely because of the tight clutter of black trees in the area, it was just that much darker. It was pretty much pitch black. The deep blue and dark grey leaves hung off the branches of the trees and the bark of the black wood trees also looked like the night sky was peeled off and pasted on top of them. Despite there being a fair amount of space between trees, all of this darkness was likely what made her feel like the dark forest was just that much denser.

Because she had looked at a map of the area beforehand, she was at least aware of the general area that she was in, but because the Alliance territory was in the completely opposite direction, it would be quite difficult to escape the demons' sphere of influence. Not to mention that even if she managed to get out of the forest, it still couldn't be done so easily. Now that she thought of it, she felt like the demons were only aiming after her. They persistently hounded her and moved in a way to make sure that she was unable to use the correct path of retreat―in other words.

“This, was their aim from the very beginning...”

Everything that happened was their scheme. They thought it was a plan to attract and disperse the troops, but in truth they were only aiming for the hero's life. It was plan that didn't care for anything else.

If the human army was caught in a dilemma, the hero would definitely depart for the front line. Because the hero could do the work of several units, it was efficient to put her in action and it was much simpler to do too. Using that to turn the tables, they aimed to take down only the hero who came to rescue the fortress.

First they kept the main Alliance army restrained by preparing a large force of similar scale directly to the front and put several other units to use. Those other units attacked the fortresses. The units attacking most fortresses were intentionally insufficient to actually throw them over, but the one they wanted the hero to come to was allocated a much larger force. Everything else in the scheme was exactly as it happened at the fortress. The exact moment they sallied out, the demons suddenly came pouring in from every direction.

The reason the demons suddenly swelled in number, was because the other demons to the northeast were divided in a way that they were all prepared to be annihilated. Those beings who thought nothing of the life of others easily used their own allies as sacrificial pawns. Either that or they only put monsters in place, and only the demons came in to attack. In that case, she could be convinced of the sudden outbreak of reinforcements.

Hatsumi knew from the beginning that there was some ulterior motive. That's why they prepared a sufficient amount of forces as they moved and were not negligent when gathering information. However, because they were unable to properly deduce what the enemy was aiming for, defeat was a certainty. They misunderstood the main aim of the enemy as the annihilation of the main force, so they easily ended up falling for this scheme.

Using an obvious plan as a cover, they aimed just for the hero. In other words, when they linked up with the main force, the best hand they could have played was to send a large number of reinforcements to the boundary fortress, or to abandon their allies.

Sending a large number of reinforcements seemed like it was bound to fail against that number of demons, and there was no way she could simply abandon her allies. Making use of those facts, they were definite that the hero would break through the situation herself. Though it was far too late for her to notice now.

“I see...”

After discerning the truth behind it all, she suddenly lost strength in her body. Just like that, she crouched down at the base of a tree. And then, like she was embracing herself, she tucked her body into a small ball. Her eyes may have been clouded over after her victories up until now. Because she never lost to the demons, she could just keep fighting. She was aware that there were demons who could come up with strategies, and was careful of that fact.

No, even if she thought she was careful about it, in truth that was not the case. Being blind to the truth was just the same as being unable to recognize it. Her foresight was shallow. Just from having power, a battle was not something that could be so easily won.

“Come with me, huh...”

Suddenly, she remembered the words Yakagi Suimei said to her on that evening. If it was going to turn out like this, she was thinking if it would have been better to have just taken his hand honestly at that time. Without making a show of courage, if she took the responsibilities of the hero and the pangs of guilt from cutting herself off from the fighting and just cast them off into the winds, she probably wouldn't have ended up in this predicament brimming with anxiety.

―She didn't have a reason that she had to fight for no matter what.

Just as he had said, she was just summoned over. On top of that she ended up losing her memory. There was no need to force herself. While thinking of these things, Hatsumi shook her head vigorously. At this rate, she was only complaining. They were all only convenient excuses. Even though she swung her sword of her own will, even though she decided to take independent action of her own will, just what would she accomplish by playing innocent now? She was simply suffering the consequences of her own actions.

“...”

However, even so, the pain in her heart only grew stronger. It was because she was all alone in this pitch darkness. No, that wasn't the only reason that her painful feelings of loneliness were swelling up. She was lonely ever since coming to this world. Even if she was showing a smile to her surroundings, she did not think that it was a smile which came from her heart. As long as she didn't know who she was, she was unable to calm down after all.

The reason she fought up until now, was perhaps solely for this reason. Though she was filled with anxiety, only when she took up a blade and swung it, was she able to distance herself from these lonely emotions. That's why up until now, she believed that she was unconsciously desiring to liberate herself from her loneliness by fighting.

However, right now, that anxiety had slightly weakened. Why was that? It was because there was someone who knew who she was, and this made her feel at ease. He said that he was family. That he was a cousin connected to her by blood, an important relative. It was embarrassing to talk about, but in this place where nobody was present, those words certainly rang in her heart.

She was being thought of. She was being waited for. Because that person was there, she was able to feel just a little, just a tiny bit less anxious. As she shut her eyes, she could see the contents of her dreams playing on the back of her eyelids. What came up was herself and the boy she was playing with. This was probably an experience from her childhood before she had lost her memory. If only just like in that dream where they were playing hide-and-seek, he were come and find her.

“―My goodness, so you were in this kind of place huh.”

Yes, just like that, completely out of nowhere...

“Eh―?”

“Yo. You're quite tattered.”

Hatsumi turned towards the voice she heard and doubted her eyes. As she pointed her gaze towards the voice, she found Yakagi Suimei's figure among the darkness created by the forests branches and leaves. Due to the darkness she wasn't able to see clearly, but he really did just appear completely out of nowhere.

“Yakagi!? Really!? You're kidding...”

“Y-Yakagi you say...”

After saying that, he put on a frown. It could simply be because he wasn't used to being called like that. He was wearing different clothing from before. Last time he was wearing modest green clothing, but right now they were black―a black suit.

“Why, are you here...?”

“Isn't it obvious that's because I came to find you? Cause I heard you departed to fight the demons, then after meeting with the main force you went missing or something. I'll worry about it.”

“Ah, un...”

Hearing him say that, her face suddenly felt hot. To distract him from this fact, she changed the subject.

“Y-you were wearing a suit?”

“No, when I came to this world I had my student uniform on. But I can take this out anytime the occasion asks for it after all.”

“It's useful being a mage huh.”

“A magician. At the very least, it's distinct from the ones of this world.”

She didn't quite understand how they were different, but as he said this, Yakagi pulled an old fashioned lantern from the bag he was carrying.

“So, I'm going to switch on the light, okay?”

“Eh?”

“Hm?”

“W-wait! If you do that won't the demons find us!?”

“Maybe, but no matter how you put it, isn't it too dark for you?”

“But.”

“Darkness wears out your nerves. Just being unable to see properly is a bundle of anxiety. Someone who is unable to see would be used to it, but for anyone else the darkness will definitely weigh heavily on their spirit. If demons suddenly came and attacked, wouldn't it be fatal if your concentration was lowered?”

Yakagi did not wait at all for her to consent. She didn't know what kind of trick he used, but after poking the lantern with his finger, a light came on within the glass container. The light was a warm orange. The source of the light was very small, but it provided as must illumination as an open fire. Hatsumi became able to clearly see Yakagi's figure and the forest. After the area brightened, just as he said, she felt like she was able to calm down somewhat.

“Now then, show me where you're hurt.”

“Can you heal it?”

“Cause I'm a magician.”

As he said this in a reliable and refreshing tone, Hatsumi obediently showed him the cuts on her arms and legs. There were quite a few deep wounds, but thanks the divine protection from the hero summoning ritual, they had become less serious ones. As she did, Yakagi recited one or two words, and a green magic circle appeared in the palm of his hand, letting out a faint light. That light landed on the cuts on her arm. She could feel a faint warmth that felt gentle. Before long, when he separated his hand from her arm, the cut that was there vanished without a trace.

As he continued healing her other wounds, suddenly she started imitating his words as she hummed to herself. This was certainly the good luck charm that she heard in her dreams. The smile he showed her as he finished the treatment was the same reliable smile the young man in her dreams showed her. After the treatment ended, for some reason, the tension that had been binding her heart was cleared away. Having noticed the subtleties of that change in her expression, Yakagi looked at her with a worried gaze.

“What's wrong? Are you alright? Do you want to take a rest before we move?”

“I'll walk. I can't stay like this forever.”

The kindness he was showing her was somehow embarrassing, and she abruptly faced away from him. As she did, he suddenly opened his mouth with a flabbergasted expression.

“What is it?”

“Aah no, after being healed you're instantly full of energy... is all. That part of you is exactly the same as before you lost your memories.”

“Mu... Well excuse me for being a tomboy.”

Hatsumi spoke with irritation in her voice. She somehow just couldn't stomach being seen like that by him. On the other hand, Yakagi spoke up as he laughed quite pleasantly.

“Well then, shall we go?”

“Do you know the way back?”

“I can tell which way is north at least, it'll work out somehow.”

“That's so haphazard...”

But right now, they couldn't do anything else. There was a possibility they would bump into demons, but if they remained where they were, the situation would only get worst, and since she was now brimming with power, it was better to move. The fact that the hero did not lose energy was said to be because of the divine protection from the Goddess. It was likely that because her anxieties were dispelled, the divine protection was once more working in full force. Like this, even if demons did appear, she could fight well enough.

Hoisting up his lantern, Yakagi began to walk. Even though he was walking through thickets, he cut down anything that was in the way skillfully with magic and created a path while he walked. Hatsumi followed after him while focusing on the orange outline of his shadow drawn by the light from his lantern. He then suddenly began speaking to her.

“These are quite the sturdy trees huh?”

“They seem to be called black wood trees. They're trees that can be found in the north. I heard they're used for weapons and other stuff.”

“Now that you mention it, I heard it was an unusually sturdy wood before this.”

Yakagi let out his admiration. In spite of it being a critical situation, he didn't seem to be carrying an ounce of tension. Somewhat astonished at his behaviour, Hatsumi asked him about something that was on her mind.

“Hey, did you meet with Selphy and the others on the way here?”

“Yeah, I met them. I had my companions stay with them too. Right now all three of them are probably just resting. I didn't ask in detail, but it looked like the other soldiers were with them.”

“I see, thank goodness... They got away safely.”

One of Hastumi's fears just vanished and she let out a sigh of relief. It was a blessing that all of them were safe. But that could also have been entirely because of her previous conjecture. And just as she was thinking about it, Yakagi moved on to that exact topic.

“But to think only you would come all the way here.”

“It's probable that their aim was me alone. That's why I ended up here.”

“Mu...?”

After Yakagi knit his brows at her suggestive reply, Hastumi explained her thoughts briefly. About the strategy the demons employed, the results born of that plan, and just what the demons had to gain. After quietly listening to her to the end, he began speaking like he was fully convinced.

“... I get it. Because they were only aiming for you, the others were able to get away easily.”

“That's probably it. It's just a conjecture from how the situation turned out, but if we think about it that way their strategy seems practical.”

After walking side by side for a while, deep within the darkness in front of them, Hatsumi could see a pale blue light illuminating the trees.

“It's bright over there...”

It was probably the moonlight. After Hatsumi blankly looked at it and spoke softly, Yakagi turned his lantern towards it.

“Shall we take a look?”

After nodding back at him, they cut through the thickets and came upon a strange area with enormous stones lined up. Even though the surroundings were filled with those sturdy black wood trees, for some reason, the trees were cut down only in this place making an open space where the moonlight poured down on them. The enormous stones were placed here and there, and due to the long years they were worn down and chipped away in places. However, the way they were lined up indicated that they were placed there by human hands.

It had a different appearance from the ruins left behind around the Alliance. Illuminated by the moonlight, it looked like this space was being lifted in the air. It somehow resembled the decline of a single civilization.

“What is this? A ruin?”

“Looks like it, but...”

As he muttered in response to Hatsumi's question, Yakagi got closer to the ruins. When he got closer, he came to a stop when he was able to see the centre of them clearly.

“What's wrong?”

“This is...”

He didn't answer her question. Rather than ignoring her, he seemed to be unable to hear her. Looking at his face, she could see that he was making a surprised face just like she thought he would be. After he walked around while carefully looking at the surroundings, he muttered once more.

“To think it was all the way out here...”

Yakagi strangely came to some sort of understanding as he raised his voice with a hint of happiness. It was like he was talking to himself. As Hatsumi also drew closer and looked around as well, she also noticed something.

A magic circle was drawn in the centre of the neatly lined up enormous stones. In the centre was a reversed triangular shape. The words inscribed in it were words from this world. And despite being here for what was probably ages, the paint used to draw it looked like freshly drawn blood.

“Isn't this, the magic circle for summoning heroes?”

“Yeah. It seems there are some points that are a bit different from the one created in Astel, but there's no mistaking it.”

“But, why is it out here?”

“I told you before that I came here to look for a way back right? That's because I heard that the first time the hero summoning ritual was performed, it was somewhere in Alliance territory.”

“So this was that clue you were looking for?”

“Yeah, this was my goal. But really, to think I would find it out here... To find it at a time like this is really ironic.”

Yakagi let out a foolish laugh and shrugged his shoulders in good humour.

“Hey, does that mean that if we use this we can return to our world?”

“Hm? Aah, no. We can't return with this thing. This is a circle for calling things over. To return I need to get information by getting a good reading of this original circle and make a new teleportation use magic circle based on it.”

“How tedious.”

“Don't say it. It's different from sci-fi warp devices or wormholes or portals after all.”

Yakagi rebuked her while listing convenient sounding examples. All of the examples he casually brought up were things Hatsumi felt like she heard before and was able to understand. As expected, talking to someone from the same world as her was different.

“Well then, sorry, but you're going to have to wait a bit.”

“Eh? C-could it be that you're going to take a look now!?”

“I'll finish quickly. I'll just transcribe the magic circle and examine it in a jiffy.”

The young mage said this as he walked briskly towards it. She couldn't tell at all what he was thinking in spite of the fact that demons could be coming at any time. He then started to gather his mana. Unlike when he turned on the lantern, his mana was now being released in the open.

“Seriously? The demons will notice...”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

Yakagi didn't pay her any mind and was just going 'Heeeh' or 'Hooou' in admiration as he started to use some kind of magic.

“Wait, that's not it right!? Why are you going out of your way to make them notice us!?”

“No, I don't really care after all.”

“Why can you say that so calmly!? Do you understand the situation we're in right now!? Really! Properly! Understand!?”

“What are you getting pissed about? Calm down, it's fine. It's not like I don't get it.”

“Ha... Haa?”

His reaction was so casual that her tone had weakened. And then, Yakagi turned towards Hatsumi with a troubled expression as he scratched his head. And then in a complete change, he sighed like he was resigning himself and let out a tranquil and cold atmosphere like when he first appeared at the palace. Hatsumi unconsciously held her breath, and then Yakagi's eyes shined red.

“You said earlier that you were entrapped by the demons right? That the demons were only aiming for you as the hero, and that this was their plan this time around.”

“Th-that's what I believe... Why do you ask?”

“If they went out of their way to put up a plan like that, they would be aiming to take you down after you ended up on your own. In that case, it's impossible that they would only send small fry at you. To definitively bring a result, a demon general will absolutely appear.”

“... That's...”

She was also convinced of this fact. Hatsumi had previously defeated a demon general. That's why it was necessary for someone with similar combat abilities to take her down. Just like he said, it was extremely probable that a demon general would show up.

“But, what does that have to do with acting in a way that will get us noticed?”

“Well just listen. In other words, a demon general is currently in the middle of looking for you. There's an eighty to ninety percent chance it's the same guy who set this trap up in the first place... So there's two choices we can make from here. Run away, or stand and fight.”

Pausing for a moment there, Yakagi then continued.

“It may be fine for you not to defeat that demon general yet. It's also a choice to run away and gamble on your next meeting with them after you rally. But you know, I have a reason that I have to defeat that guy here and now.”

“Wh-why is that?”

“It's not out of the realm of possibilities that that guy will trap you in another scheme next time. It's also not definitive that I'll be nearby like this time around. That's why, to me, that demon general needs to be taken down definitively right here.”

As if his foolish attitude earlier was a complete lie, his words were earnest and passionate. And she could certainly feel that his bright red shining eyes were telling her, 'For the sake of protecting you.'

“That's the reason we're not running away in a hurry. Do you think I'm being impudent?”

“U-uun... I got it.”

Expecting that their gazes were about to suddenly line up, Hatsumi dropped her gaze downwards and averted it. She couldn't look at him. If she looked directly at those eyes shining with determination, she thought her heart would be seized in an instant.

The reason she evaded him like that, was likely because she was in a state where she had amnesia. She didn't know what kind of feelings she held for this man before, or whether it was fine for her heart to be stolen by him either. She was likely thinking of such things unconsciously. After speaking of his resolve, Yakagi returned to his investigation. Hatsumi then looked at his back.

Just like when he infiltrated the palace, he came here for her sake. He wasn't looking for any compensation. He demanded nothing. As if it was completely natural for him do so. Therefore, she couldn't help but feel that she had to ask.

“... Why?”

“...?”

“Why do you go so far for me?”

“Didn't I tell you already? To me, you're family. That's why...”

“I get that. I also get that it's because we're cousins. But, is that really the only reason?”

“The only reason...?”

“I'm saying, are you and me...”

Just as she was about to ask, the leaves and branches in the forest suddenly began rustling. They could feel the atmosphere begin to prickle from being chased. From a distance they could hear the sound of footsteps and flapping wings, and they could sense an eerie presence.

“―So they showed up.”

It was exactly as he said. The demons had been completely lured in by the bait he spread by scattering around his mana. As the rustling of the forest suddenly came to a stop, the repulsive figure of demons appeared between the trees. Perhaps because of the ruins, there were no demons behind them, but they were still half surrounded.

“...”

Hatsumi took a stance silently. As she took a fleeting glimpse to the side, Yakagi was standing next to her with his hands in the pockets of his slacks. The demons were not showing any signs that they were about to attack. Normally, the moment they found a human, they would lunge in immediately, but right now they only bore their fangs and hostility towards the two of them. The way they were behaving was just like dogs waiting for permission to have their meal.

Before long, something wearing a black robe with golden embroidery on the fringes showed up from the centre of the demons. From it's figure, one would think it was a human for only an instant, but after looking at it properly, the body that was supposed to be inside the robe was nothing but a pitch black haze, so it was easy to see that it was not a human at all.

Unlike the other demons, it did not give off the impression that it was waiting, and the demons around it were acting like they were all obeying it. It was likely that this was the demon general. It's red eyes shined like fire in the darkness. Anticipating its arrival, Yakagi questioned it in a somewhat listless tone.

“Are you a demon general?”

Perhaps to respond to his question, a voice came out of the unsettling black robe that was floating in the air.

“I am called Vuishta, one of the demons who was entrusted with one of the seven demon armies. It's a pleasure to meet you, Hero-dono who has received the blessings of the hateful Goddess.”

He had a haughty tone of voice. Deep inside, he was likely looking down on her and ridiculing her. The way he spoke was as if deep down, he believed this to be an absolute reality.

“The one next to you doesn't seem to have any of the characteristics of the people who came up in the reports, but are you one of the hero's companions?”

“Nope. I'm a relative.”

“...”

The demon general―Vuishta, must have found this to be a completely incomprehensible reply. Certainly, after hearing that he was a relative of someone who was summoned from another world, he didn't really understand at all. Suddenly, Vuishta began laughing.

“I received a report that we had lost sight of you and panicked a little, but you really saved us the trouble of searching for you. After all, as if to announce that you were here, you've been scattering around easy to understand mana.”

“Well that's good. So using my powers turned out to be fruitful. How about you give me a reward for it?”

“Yes, of course. I will compensate you with your blood. Hehehe...”

Vuishta started to let out an eerie laugh, and in complete contrast, Yakagi was not even moving his mouth in the slightest. Hatsumi then turned to him to criticize him.

“... Just why are you going along with him?”

“Don't be so tense. It's fine to be a little frivolous right? But I guess this kind of guy doesn't really fall for being stirred up huh.”

“... Mu.”

It seemed he was measuring the demon up just now. Rather than playing around, he was just being sly. Next, Hatsumi questioned Vuishta herself.

“Are you the one who thought of this scheme?”

“That's right. Hero of the Alliance, you are strong. That's why I thought to throw you down with a scheme. And so, it took this kind of shape.”

“And that's how it ended up like this.”

“Yes, you all managed to defeat Mauhario. In that case you would definitely become enthusiastic and I believed it would be easier to trap you within a scheme after that. It just means it was worthwhile stirring him up.”

“You, used your own allied general?”

After saying that, Hatsumi realized. Just by the fact that he set up this kind of plan, this demon did not have such morals regarding his allies. And just as expected, Vuishta began laughing.

“You're wrong. Mauhario simply exhausted his body for his allies' sake.”

“You scum...”

With clear disgust in her voice, Hatsumi pointed the tip of her sword towards the black robed demon. She was pointing her blood thirst at him, but he was not agitated at all. After she took a step forward, Yakagi's voice chased after her in a somewhat perplexed tone.

“Oi Hatsumi.”

“I'll take the front. Please take care of the other demons.”

“No, I'll take this guy.”

He was likely implying that he was the one who acted out to attract them, so he should take responsibility for taking them down. However, Hatsumi could not just stand there being protected. A swordsman's blood flowed through her veins. It was telling her to defeat the opponent before her. She couldn't just entrust that malice to someone else. After they quickly exchanged looks as she glanced back at him, he seemed to have grasped her will, or perhaps he just gave up on convincing her. After letting out his breath without quite sighing, Yakagi obediently stepped back.

“Got it. I'll do something about the guys in the area first.”

As Yakagi said this, his body swelled with mana. Sensing this, Vuishta brought his eerie laughter to an end and raised his arm.

“Now, get them!”

Swinging down his arm and giving out his command, the demons sprung to action all at once. However, even with that wave of demons, Hatsumi didn't feel like she was in any particular danger. It was the same as always. These demons attacked all at once like a mob every single time. They were just like wild beasts being thrown a piece of meat. Though that was almost certainly exactly what they were.

Normally a human wouldn't have any techniques to deal with a large mob springing upon them. However, that was only the case for a normal human. For someone who possessed sufficient skill, they would hold knowledge and plans for overcoming a many against one situation.

In this situation, it was vital to cut them down quickly before they could completely surround her and gang up all at once. In a situation where one was surrounded by enemies, instead of defending, there was some swordsman in the past who always said it was better to go on the offensive and cut down the enemy. Hatsumi's memory wasn't definite of the fact and she wasn't confidant about their name, but there would be no problems in acting along those lines in reality.

Before the demons came into range, Hatsumi dashed forward like a gale towards the nearest demon. The demon had no time to be surprised at her footwork which brought the distance between them to zero in an instant. By the time its expression could reflect that, its head was already tumbling on the ground. And then, without losing any momentum, she moved on to the next demon. She leaped towards the demon who was trying to react towards the one next to it being done in. Seeing that the demon was taller than her, she thrust out her right arm out and stabbed at its face.

Against a large number of enemies, a thrust was a very poor choice of move. It was a powerful technique, but after the thrust it was necessary to pull the sword back out of her opponent's body which would delay her next action.

However, her skill was to a point where it could be said that she didn't care about that kind of thing at all. After stabbing the demon in the face, without even pulling the tip of her blade out, she pushed in further using the strength in her legs. Disregarding the spray of blood, meat and grey matter, before the demon could fall over, she slashed out her sword through its head at her next enemy.

In a single breath, the next demon was rendered into five pieces as a spurt of blood soared in the air. It was only an instant before the blood cleared up, just a single moment. As if everything was moving in slow motion to her, she placed her large sword on her shoulder, and determined to decapitate all of demons in a single line, she cut the air with all her strength.

After that slash which happened in an instant that she perceived in slow motion, everything reverted to regular speed as every demon before her slash split in two and were blown away. And with that, all the demons who were charging her were taken care of. With that single slash, every one of them was brought down.

But, it was dull. The abilities of the demons could hardly be taken into consideration at all while her own powers were overflowing. It felt like a geyser that would never dry up, her power was swelling out endlessly.

While being vigilant of Vuishta's movements, she worried about Yakagi's side of things. Since he was also surrounded by demons and they were leaping at him just as they did to her. Yakagi's actions were lagging, he had still yet to move. He was completely composed just like that evening when he first came to the palace. There was somewhere around ten demons lunging at him. He had nowhere to run, it seemed to her that he didn't have enough time to deal with it. However―

The demons around Yakagi, along with the ground beneath them, all burst in an instant.

“... Amazing.”

While listening to the sound of an explosion, Hatsumi unconsciously muttered. Yakagi shaped his hand like a blade and swung it out in a horizontal line, the moment he raised those fingers to the sky, the demons were all swallowed in an explosion of flames. The man standing at the centre of the explosions had an opened stance as he moved in a relaxed manner, it was as if he was a fierce god who controlled the flames.

... As she thought, he was quite skilled. She had seen magic used in battle against the demons several times already, but those differed in quality from what this man used to the point where they couldn't even be compared. Yakagi then pointed a composed gaze towards Vuishta.

“At this level, no matter how many of them you let loose at us, you'll never defeat us you know?”

“However, if they drain your mana and stamina considerably, it's a different matter right?”

As Vuishta declared this, a massive number of demons began to appear from within the forest.

“Nothing but small fries swarming around like bugs...”

“Hehehe, please keep those small fries company for me. I must serve as the hero's opponent after all...”

While letting out another eerie laugh, Vuishta turned towards Hatsumi. It seemed he had the intent to come at her immediately. Paying close attention to his movements, she charged towards him on her own.

Flying type demons came at her from the right and left. She swung her large sword at them, and in a single breath, she struck down both of them and aimed for Vuishta. But just like Yakagi, Vuishta's movements were composed, she was getting an ominous feeling from his figure just floating there.

Going around and cutting in from the left, Hatsumi extended her large sword while her opponent extended his claws clad in an evil violet aura. She took a swing with her sword from the side, but he dodged it. As she thought, the demon general was seemingly different from the other small fries. Like a piece of paper blowing around in the wind from her sword, her blade did not even graze Vuishta's robe.

“Ku...”

Seeing that it wasn't going to end so simply, Hatsumi let out a slightly bitter groan and she leaped back. She then prepared to take on Vuishta's attack that would be coming at her, when suddenly, a purple flash came flying in from behind her.

“Nuu?”

As if escaping the light, Vuishta's black robe lightly flutter as he greatly opened the distance between them. What was fired out, was magic from Yakagi who was currently still facing down a large number of demons.

“Yakagi!”

“... Seems you're able to do something quite skillful.”

Instead of replying, he only looked towards Hatsumi. But his gaze soon returned to the demons who resumed their attack on him. Using fire and lightning, he continuously shot down the demons one after the other.

Yakagi was supporting her from the back. On top of facing off against the surrounding demons, he was making it so that there were no gaps in Hatsumi's attacks by keeping Vuishta in check.

(He really is quite capable...)

While fighting a constant stream of ten or more demons, it was not normal to be able to provide support to her own battle. It was to the point where she was suspicious of whether his eyes, ears and ability to perceive all of his senses with his brain were at least ten times the level of a normal person.

In the meantime, focusing on her own battle―

“SEAAAAAH!”

Hatsumi attacked Vuishta as she let out her fighting spirit. Naturally, she wasn't able to strike him so easily, but she continued to attack as she linked her sword techniques together in a chain. Before her incessant chain of attacks, no longer able to keep up with her movements, Vuishta's movements eventually dulled.

(Right there!)

Using that opening, Hatsumi slashed down from his right shoulder to his left waist in an instant. She didn't yell as she let out her killing blow, that fighting spirit was held in her sword as she silently struck. Just as she planned, her sword cut through Vuishta's body. However...

“Eh―? Kuu!?”

Hatsumi caught a violet aura coming at her with her eyes and backed away immediately. Right after she finished swinging her sword, in no time at all, Vuishta's evil claws came in and attacked her.

“You dodged that well. I intended to kill you with that just now.”

“What are you saying so hastily!?”

She was stunned for an instant by the unexpected event, but she immediately yelled back as she swung her sword. This time, Vuishta did not move in the slightest or make any attempts to evade it. As if telling her that he had no need to do so, her large sword cut through the darkness without any resistance at all.

“What's the matter? You won't be able to defeat me with that kind of attack you know?”

“That can't be!? My sword certainly...”

Connected. In spite of that, she couldn't feel such a response in her hands. In a fluster towards that mysterious situation, she became negligent of her defence. Yakagi then yelled at her from behind.

“Hatsumi! Move!”

“―Tsu!”

Reacting to his voice, Hatsumi abruptly retreated a large distance. In that instant, she could hear the satisfying sound of Yakagi snapping his finger, which quickly transformed into the sound of a large explosion. The air in front of Vuishta detonated. The shockwave directly impacted Vuishta's body, but as if nothing happened at all, his black robe was still lightly swaying in the air.

“―Aah?”

“What's the matter? That level of magic will not work on me you know?”

“...”

Yakagi did not respond to his provocations. Disregarding the demons who were lunging at him from behind, he simply glared at Vuishta in silence―

“Eh―?”

Yakagi's figure suddenly vanished like smoke and the demons lost their target. When Hatsumi noticed, he was already standing behind those bewildered demons. And then, a great number of magic circles took shape suspended in the night sky.

“Wai...!?”

Looking at the many magic circles that seemed to be filling the night sky to capacity, Hatsumi reflexively raised her voice in a fluster. She understood it was something being done by an ally, but she was not yet able to organize her thoughts on the matter.

“Adcentum transcription. Augoeides maximum trigger!” (Brilliant spell at maximum operations. Continuously deploy bombs from number one to a hundred, Carpet Bombing!)

A flash of light was fired from numerous magic circles that were filling the night sky. As the light impacted the ground, it let off an explosion along with a violent flash. The demons and Vuishta had nowhere to run to, and everything in an extensive range was blown away. It was entirely appropriate to call this a carpet bombing.

With this, there was no way they could survive. Hatsumi shuddered at the thought of taking on something like this―but setting that aside. Eventually, the afterimage of the light burned into her eyes vanished. And Vuishta was there.

“Hehehehehehe...”

“No way!?”

All of the winged demons had completely vanished, but Vuishta was the same as before. He was still quietly letting out an eerie laughter filled with excitement. Yakagi's attack just now didn't even leave a three centimetre gap anywhere to escape to in a fairly wide range. Even the sturdy black wood trees in the area were cruelly blown away and had fallen over in their surroundings. The storm of light was so intense that all the ground around them had been dug up... But despite that, Vuishta was in perfect health. Just as if nothing had happened at all, his robe was just swaying in midair. Yakagi turned his gaze over to Vuishta, and let out a troubled groan.

“Even high order magic doesn't work...? Wasn't the one just now high quality enough to annihilate all the other ones? No, is it just that magic didn't pierce his body...?”

Hatsumi could hear him speaking in a perplexed voice with a couple of technical terms mixed in. It seemed he was also unaware of the reason why their attacks weren't working on Vuishta. Despite his bewilderment, Yakagi once more opened his mouth.

“―Et Factus, est Invisibilis. Instar Venti Tempestas!” (My blade is invisible, however, it is sharp as steel and will drown my enemy in a pool of blood! Blow away into atoms!)

As Vuishta was about to take action, Yakagi fired off his next magic. Right as his chant came to an end, the black wood trees, the ground and the scattered stones were all abruptly torn to pieces and blown away. Hatsumi could not tell whether they were blades made of air or just invisible blades, but their surroundings were being cut to pieces as the tempest of invisible slashes continued with no signs of stopping. Vuishta was being hidden by the kicked up dust and wood chips and was impossible to see. However, until everything in the area was reduced to rubble, the tornado like windstorm continued. This time for sure...

“With this...!”

“Nope, this is the opening performance.”

“Eh―?”

Just as Yakagi spoke, an invisible power pulled Hatsumi's body over to his side. After landing next to him, within the sandstorm of wood chips, she could see a thin fire similar to a red string cutting through it. Before long, a bright red monster was born within the sandstorm of wood chips and swelled up. And then, everything exploded. Neither the heat nor the shockwave from the bomb blast reached her. Yakagi was likely intercepting it. The two of them weren't injured in the least. However...

“C-could this be... a dust explosion!?”

In complete contrast to Hatsumi's surprised expression, Yakagi was only persistently pointing a cold gaze towards the exploding fire as if nothing was going on. Not only did he fire off magic, he used the effect created by it to incite this phenomenon as an attack. Thinking of how he created this kind of phenomenon by combining his magic into a consecutive attack sent chills down Hatsumi's spine. However, even so, Vuishta was in perfect health.

“So he can't be blown away... huh.”

As if accepting that reality, Yakagi's meek tone rang in the air. After that, he didn't speak anymore. Even though Vuishta was acting defenceless, he didn't chant and he didn't fire off any more magic.

“Yakagi!”

“...”

Yakagi did not reply. As if he gave up on defeating the enemy before him, he simply stood there with his head hung down.

★

The hero's expression was becoming more bitter and unpleasant as time passed. It was no wonder, no matter how much she cut Vuishta's body with her sword, all her sword ever touched was the air. The reason she was starting to become flustered to the point where it burned her body was likely because Vuishta was just that unusual.

The man had stopped using magic, the hero was just recklessly swinging her sword. Despite not knowing why her sword was not connecting, she still moved her feet and let loose her blade. They were fluent sword techniques. Her techniques were matured to the point where Mauhario's sword could be said to be only practice swings performed by a child. If he let his mind wander, it had a beauty that could steal one's gaze, even as a demon. However, right now it was all just reckless. Her sword that had no conviction that it would hit was simply too clouded. Naturally, even a cloudless, clear and masterful sword would not strike his body.

As the hero swung around her sword, she was muttering 'why,' 'how' quietly as she was puzzled at the outcome. She probably wasn't intending to do so. But her impatience was likely making her mouth move on its own.

Rotating her body, the hero's sword drew a spiral in the air, and her sword came flying in with plenty of power from the outside. Vuishta exposed his body openly to that slash. However, without any resistance at all, he shook off the blade. Mimicking the movements of someone being struck by a sword in front of the hero's eyes, she could only gaze in wonderment. She was being shown clearly that her sword techniques would not work after all, it was only natural.

“It is useless no matter how long you go at it. Your sword will never strike my body.”

“Ku―!”

Vuishta spoke as if remonstrating her as she let out a sort of groan. He was acting like the attacks from the hero didn't pose any threat at all to him after all, but even so, her movements were a pain to deal with. These were the techniques that defeated Mauhario. It was obvious that she was able to do at least do that much, but because of that, dealing the decisive blow back to her would prove difficult.

However, even the hero had limits. As long as he kept dealing damage to her will to fight, she would weaken along with her depleted stamina. She had been fighting continuously since the fortress was attacked. She probably didn't have any chance to rest. Right now she was panicking and slowly coming to an understanding. At this rate, her power to fight would just die away.

Simply thinking of this outcome, Vuishta was naturally filled with laughter. He was leading around an opponent who was supposed to pose a threat to the Demon Lord by their nose. There wouldn't be anyone out there who would be able to contain their laughter. It was simply such a delightful and pleasant feeling.

“Hehe... It seems your breathing is starting to get rough huh. How about giving up already?”

“You talk too much.”

“Unfortunately, unlike you humans, I don't have a tongue to bite on after all.”

He began to corner the hero with his words. Humans were beings with weak hearts, no matter how strong their constitution was, if their emotional strength was chipped away at, every single one of them was the same. They would only be degraded to a delicate a living being.

Both Rajas and Lishbaum were well aware of this point as well. Aiming directly at their mental state, they could steal away their fighting spirit right at the root and make it all too easy. Vuishta was reminded of what they had said at each and every opportunity. Therefore...

“It's about time you gave up, could you just graciously hand me your head?”

“Who would do that!?”

“The man behind you seems to have already resigned you know? While you've been swinging around your sword, look, hasn't he just been standing there stock still the whole time?”

“... Tsu!”

The moment he pointed out that man, the hero's complexion worsened to the extent where he could see it plainly. It was a vivid depiction of her being driven into a corner. If he attacked her using that man as a pretense, the hero would easily capitulate. He thought it was somewhat troublesome that she had a companion present, but it turned out to be quite fortunate.

It was no wonder, the hero stepped forward on her own and fought quite prominently, but the fact that she was relying on the man behind her was clear as day. She peeped at the man's complexion, and was using it to judge whether they were in a superior or inferior position. When she fought, she did so in a style that relied on his support. And then, after that man became completely silent, she started sweating a bit, and had become indecisive. Vuishta was confident of this fact.

While defeating Vuishta's brethren, that man provided precise support for the hero like it was natural. He was quite skilled, but in the end he was only human, after all that, he could only provide that level of entertainment. That man's magic was not able to inflict a single wound on Vuishta's body after all. It was impossible. No matter who it was, probably not even Lishbaum, who taught him this technique, or even the Demon Lord Nakshatra could inflict a single wound on him.

At last, the hero's shoulders dropped like she was abandoning hope. Perhaps she finally perceived that no matter what she did, she couldn't defeat him. She cast her gaze downwards, dropped her shoulders, and bit her lips bitterly. That figure which made the power that she was firing out earlier look like a lie was far too humorous.

“HehehehehyaHAHAHAHAHA!!”

Unable to contain his joy, Vuishta poured his evil power into his claws. It would only be a few more moments. In a few more moments, he would take the hero's head and gain the honour of being the first to kill a hero. There was no longer anybody who could get in his―

“―Aah, what the hell. So that's what it was.”

“... Wha?”

“... Eh?”

Two simultaneous voices were raised at that completely out of place statement that came out like someone realized something. When Vuishta noticed, the man who should have been standing stock still behind the hero was exhaling with a stunned expression. His stunned face was as if he was astonished that he was unable to realize such a simple truth up until now.

“I thought you were quite the difficult opponent to deal with, but now I totally get why attacks aren't working on you. Your real body isn't exposed here, so obviously there's no way an attack would really connect huh. Just why the hell didn't I realize something so simple earlier? I'm far too much of an idiot.”

And then, the complexion of the man in black clothes worsened as he acted greatly perplexed. That behaviour was just like he was suffering over matters in a completely different world from the fight between Vuishta and the hero that was happening right in front of him.

After he let out that out of place statement in a lax tone, Vuishta fired the evil power he had been gathering as a magic bullet towards him. However, the man noticed it and as he snapped his finger, the attack was sent flying away with an explosion.

Up until now he was simply staying silent like he had given up, but now he was showing a bored-looking expression as he looked as Vuishta just as he did in the beginning. Before he realized it, the hero also moved as if dodging Vuishta's attacks and leaped towards that man's side.

“Didn't you give up...”

“Ha? What the hell are you talking about? Why would I give up in this kind of situation?”

“Eh...? But you know, to survive, or something...”

“No, if we can't win it's fine if we just run away. You... After losing your memories, did you also lose some of your intelligence?”

“Who're you calling stupid!?”

The hero began yelling at the man. The man was also making a fool's face back at her, but his gaze was attentively pointed towards Vuishta. As Vuishta once more gathered his power for an attack, the man raised the hand that he had put down once more. His ability to intercept seemed perfect. It would be difficult for Vuishta to get an attack in. The hero then pointed her sword towards Vuishta as she spoke to the man once more.

“... Did you figure it out?”

“Yeah. Seriously, I thought the guys in this world couldn't do it, but it looks like there's an exception. There's a part of it that I'm a little curious about, but... Well, I'll just set that aside.”

The man was speaking like he would be able to deal with Vuishta's technique somehow or other. Could it really not be a bluff and he actually figured it out? No, that was absolutely impossible.

“... I don't know what you're talking about at all though.”

As Vuishta said this in a deep voice, the man made a bored expression and he started speaking in a taciturn fashion.

“Then should I just explain it simply? The reason attacks don't connect with you, is not because your physical existence has become ambiguous, but because the place you are occupying itself has become ambiguous, right?”

“...”

“It looks like your body becomes hazy, so at first I only thought you were turning into vapour or making your physical existence ambiguous... But my goodness, to think that you had that kind of body from the beginning, it's amazing. Well you're a demon after all, anything goes I guess.”

“... You're completely off the mark.”

“Quit lying this far into the game. I've fought a guy who used a similar technique to what you're doing right now. Well, from the beginning, that guy's technique was several levels better than yours though.”

The man was confident that his conjecture was correct. Vuishta was unable to deceive him.

“... Fine then. You are correct. I'll praise you for seeing through it. However, this technique cannot be broken by anyone.”

“That ain't the case at all. There are countless ways of dealing with it.”

The man's face as he said this, was smiling. It was as if he had just heard a completely incorrect assumption. That attitude which looked like he was sneering at Vuishta greatly fanned his anger.

“That kind of technique doesn't...”

“I'm saying it does, you hear? Pretending to be knowledgeable like that really is uncool you know?”

“―Ku! What are you... With that kind of bluff!?”

“Fuu, whether or not it's a bluff, shall we test it out?”

Vuishta gathered the power in his hand once more, and it swelled up into the shape of a gigantic hand. As he swung it with all his might, the ground was turned over along with a great shockwave and flew towards that man.

The man's defences would not make it in time. Even for the hero, by the time she reacted, it would already be too late. However, even that underhanded play seemed to have been anticipated. The instant his attack was crashing into them, the man's figure fizzled out, and when he noticed, both he and the hero were now in a different location.

... Just what did they do? Vuishta was unable to read when that man had used a technique. On the other hand, even the hero, who was his companion, was baffled by their instant movement and was looking around at her surroundings incessantly. And then, that man quietly shut his eyes, and began reciting words from memory like he was singing.

"He who reveals the truth. Open the gates of knowledge, the third eye held by the Fool, and return all ignorance to the fate of the Earth. The purified soul of Jnanachakusya. Transcribe the ninety six spokes revealed by them as two spheres and semi-circles, and draw them at my feet." (Spell is in English)

The man's chant resounded in the air. His mana was agitated, and matching up with that, it poured out into the atmosphere surrounding him. The fierce wind created by his mana was systematically wounding the earth, and eventually, the man opened his eyes.

“―Before the opened eye of Danguma, obliterate all falsehoods."

Anything and everything in the area was drowned in a dazzling light that looked like it was reflecting off of a surface of water. However, that light immediately settled down, and just like before, the darkness of the black wood forest illuminated by the crescent moon returned. Vuishta could not tell at all what effect the light just now had. However, nothing about his body had changed. The hero also seemed to have realized this, and looked at the man with a puzzled expression.

“Yakagi...? That magic just now?”

“It's done.”

The man conveyed to her that the magic was over. As Vuishta thought, it was only a bluff made in desperation.

“Fu, fu, fuHAHAHAHA! What's that!? Like I thought, wasn't it just a bluff!? Just as I thought you were doing something exaggerated, nothing happened at all! Everything is the same as before!”

“Nope, that's not true―Look, this right here is different right?”

As the man declared this, he tapped the ground with the sole of his shoe. On the ground, there were several circles drawn there with a pale glimmer which looked to be imitating several eyes.

“And what is that picture supposed to do?”

“Hm? It'll take a while to explain you know? The Buddhist symbols, Danguma and Ajunya. I'd have to start explaining it from the western magic born from Indian Buddhism.”

“Saying such incomprehensible...”

He was brimming with composure, but it wasn't like there was any change. That picture at his feet was simply a left over magic circle from his bluff. There was nothing to be worried about.

“W-wait a sec! After you were brimming with confidence like that, nothing at all changed didn't it!? What are you doing!?”

“... Even you're going to say crap like that? It's out of your area of expertise so just be quiet.”

“But...”

“Look, then how about this?”

The moment the man spoke, a cold light suddenly rushed out. It was the man's magic. Despite knowing that it would not work, that it would only repeat the same event, he was worst than an idiot who only knew how to do one thing. It wouldn't hit. Absolutely―Or it shouldn't have.

“Guuu―!? Wh-what the...”

Betraying all his expectation, that light pierced through Vuishta's shoulder. The shock of being struck by magic and a sharp pain ran through his shoulder.

“You see? It hit didn't it?”

“You're kidding... So that magic earlier was for this?”

“B-bastard, just what did you...”

“Demon general Vuishta. You falsified the location that you were occupying. However, as long as this eye of Danguma is open in the physical world, you are unable to falsify where you are. Either the vision of your body that we see here or the one in another phase will vanish, and everything will simply be exposed right here.”

“Ridiculous! Just from something like that picture, my true body can't be struck by magic! My body is already always in the realm of the dead!”

“Ha? Always in the realm of the dead? Don't go spouting such nonsense you damn octopus. You're simply existing on the boundary line of different phases and making your existence ambiguous right? Despite using the damn technique yourself, you don't even know this? It's not like your body is in a faraway place.”

“An attack from here couldn't possibly...”

“Yeah, it can't. It really can't reach. However, your understanding of the technique is still unclear. Each and every time you attack or defend, your current condition is only matching up with being here or there. The supernatural skill of being able to attack from a distance across different phases is something only someone like Kudrack could do. In short, you're only hiding your body on the other side just a little bit.”

“Wha...!?”

It was a shock. That man could see through portions of the technique that Vuishta knew nothing about.

“H-however, just because you've broken through this technique doesn't mean I've lost!”

“―But, the fact that you're now able to be cut by me, is quite serious isn't it?”

The hero who had been quiet up until now declared this as she let out her blood thirst. Just like when the fighting began, no, she was overflowing with even more spirit than before.

“Shut it you stupid little girl!”

As Vuishta gathered his evil power and fired a magic bullet, the man acted in concert and shot forward his light magic. The two magics crossed each other in the space between Vuishta and the hero. Using his evil aura, Vuishta deployed his defensive wall, and the man's magic was blocked and vanished.

On the other hand, the man also blocked his attack with a magic wall. A golden magic circle floating in the sky was deployed before him like a shield. Suddenly, the hero pointed her gaze towards that man.

“Yakagi.”

“What, was it none of my business?”

“Um, that's not it but...”

Seeming to have grasped her feelings after she had hesitated to speak, the man let out a sigh like he was resigning himself.

“Fine. The Phantom Sword of the Kurikara Dharani is a sword that cuts down the evil that haunts the world. Go ahead and thoroughly show that guy those sword techniques that have been polished for five hundred years.”

After his fearless statement, the hero resolutely nodded back. She then pointed her sword towards Vuishta, and came charging in with a sweeping strike.

“HAAAAAAAA!”

“Don't underestimate MEEEEE!”

The moment he thought he had caught her in his sight, she suddenly vanished, and a horizontal slash was coming from his side. She was fighting while remaining out of his field of vision. It was also clear that her movements were much sharper than before. However...

“All that means is that I just have to evade! I've already seen through your sword!”

Even if her sword was no longer clouded, even if it was now perfectly clear, there was no way her blade would strike him. Vuishta had seen through the hero's sword. Her technique was clear to him. Whenever she slashed out at him, the mithril blade was glittering quite clearly after all. Even if the hero herself vanished from his field of vision, the light cast by her blade as it drew a line in the air instructed him exactly where her strikes were coming from. Just like when the fighting started, all he had to do was dodge it. Nothing more.

The foolish hero seemed to have yet to realize this. She simply continued to honestly send her blade flying towards him. And just like before, all he had to do was toy around with her until her power faded.

“Ku, I can't hit him...”

“That's right! Even if I can't use my technique to make your sword strikes pass through me, you can't hit me! You will never be able to!”

“...”

Seeing the hero become silent, Vuishta's joy leaked out. Watching his enemy who had heated up with passion bite down on their lips due to their powerlessness brought him unbearable levels of joy.

“Fu, fuha, FUHAHAHAHAHA! After I defeat this stupid little girl of a hero, next is you, you damn brat!”

After the hero would be that man in black clothes. There was no way he would let that man who understood his technique and held power to break through it to get away alive. Vuishta fully understood from the magic he shot out earlier that the man's magic was unable to pierce his defences. After being spoken to in such a cocky way, Vuishta had to pay him back greatly by killing him.

On the other hand, something was wrong with the hero, in complete contrast to how she was moving around non-stop while attacking him just now, she stood there quietly with her sword in position. Her sword was pointed right at his eyes and the hilt of her sword was just a little lower than her chest. He didn't know what she was planning. However, the light shining off her sword showed him what her next actions would be. It told him of the reality behind the sword. The moonlight which reflected off her sword. The moon, light...

“Ha―?”

It was gone. The glittering that was supposed to show him her next move that was supposed to be there, abruptly vanished. And just as he lost sight of her sword, he could hear the voice of a woman before him.

―The Phantom Sword of the Kurikara Dharani, the Hazy Cross.

Her spirit was sharper than the crisp and cold night. While the hero's awe-inspiring voice echoed in his eardrums, Vuishta's body was now laying face down in the ground. Within the darkness, Vuishta turned his neck. Before he knew it, his body was divided into four pieces. Before he could even raise his anguish, his doubt came pouring out of his mouth.

“H-how...”

How did she do this? Just what had happened―

“―On the night of a new moon, never compete against a swordsman. My goodness, as one would expect of father. I really need to take my hat off to him.”

The man in black clothes looked up at the sky as the night wind blew against him. And he spoke up as if he was reading Vuishta's thoughts.

His voice vaguely held a somewhat nostalgic yet happy tone. However, he then looked at Vuishta with a smile. That smile was just like the one the Demon Lord Nakshatra would make, as if everything was only allowed to play out as he willed it on the palm of his hand.

“Ridiculous... The moon is thin, but it should certainly be shining down in the sky...”

“Is that so?”

Because of the way his voice was ridiculing him, Vuishta looked up at the sky. However, the shining crescent moon...

“It, isn't there...!?”

As if the crescent moon never existed, the night sky was pitch black, not even a single star was shining in the sky.

“―Hunt the moon. The moon is a mirror which reflects all truth in the solar system. Everything under the moonlight is made clear by its brilliance, and all beneath that light becomes honest. Therefore, I hunted it from the sky.”

Vuishta could not understand what that man was saying as his voice rang out like he was reciting a poem. However, that black clothed man shrugged his shoulders as if ridiculing Vuishta's bewilderment.

“Well I said it in quite an exaggerated way, but this isn't even the same solar system as the Earth, and I don't even know if there is the ninety degree spectrum here. I said it like that, but it's only for mere consolation. Consolation. However―”

―To you, it was quite the fatal consolation wasn't it.

Those shining red eyes that he looked down at Vuishta with were more ominous than even the Demon Lord Nakshatra's as he spoke in a cold voice which caused him to shudder. Though it was far too late, he realized that this man was a god of death.

“Bastard... You knew, that I had captured the light reflecting off her sword.”

“You said yourself that you saw through everything. And just like that, your eyes were always focused on Hatsumi's large sword. I thought that would be the case is all. Well, if the sword wasn't made from corroded silver and was made from the naturally brilliant orichalcos it would be a different story. Well, after all, it's your loss for being captivated by her killing intent like that.”

His words mercilessly rang through the nighttime forest. And then, the man once more tapped the ground with his black shoe. As he did, Vuishta realized something was out of place. If the moon was not shining down on them, then the surroundings would be completely dark, and he wouldn't be able to see. However, his surroundings were plainly visible because the picture of eyes at the man's feet was filled with a pale light.

“It just means that the dazzling light that reveals the truth can also hide a lie. That's all.”

“If... Only you, weren't here...”

“Well, I wonder about that? There could be other techniques that could capture your real body and Hatsumi could have done something about it at the eleventh hour. Also that sword skill just now, you got cut down because you didn't properly measure the distance right? You could have been chopped up before you even realized it.”

The man boasted that Vuishta's probability for victory was basically nonexistent in the first place.

“Well, if you were at least as strong as Rajas, you may have defeated us, but it seems you're really inadequate when it comes to the foundations.”

As the man spoke like he was remembering something, an impossible shudder passed through Vuishta's body.

“Bastard, it couldn't be...”

And then, the man made an expression like a brat playing a prank who got found out, and let out a light laugh.

... Then this man, was the one to smash down the demon general who was chosen to make the first move as the vanguard among all the generals.

“Reiji was the one to defeat Rajas. Let's leave it at that, and have you kick the bucket right here.”

The man's voice as he tried to create a smokescreen of his actions, was the last thing the demon general Vuishta would ever hear.

Epilogue

By Kuchiba Hatsumi's hand, Vuishta was severed from his right collar to his left thigh, and from his flank to his right armpit. The school of the Phantom Sword of the Kurikara Dharani, the Hazy Cross. If he remembered correctly, it was supposed to be a phantom blade where a strike to the collar went to the waist, and that strike transformed into one from the waist to the collar. And Vuishta ate both of those long swords. In other words, even if one could see the sword technique, there was a high probability of taking either of the slashes.

“With that, the moon hunt was completely unneeded meddling huh.”

“Seriously. But, there is no doubting the fact that I was able to take him down with absolute certainty thanks to your help.”

Hatsumi replied as she let out a long sigh. The moonlight which revealed her sword's movements would become like a heat haze, and become 'unseen.' She concluded that Vuishta would be unable to match that. It was an ingenious hand for her to play, and may have been the single strike she was sure would bring about certain death. It may have been a decision she made that would bring about an end to the fight, but―

“Despite having amnesia, why can you do that kind of thing?”

“I don't want to be told that by you. Even if you were alone, you could have defeated him while laughing scornfully at him right?”

“That's just overestimating me a bit too much. There was a vanguard present, so it just made it an easy victory is all. If I was on my own it wouldn't have gone like that.”

“I wonder. Rather, from the very beginning of the fight, frankly speaking you were quite shady.”

“It's just that sort of occupation.”

After being called shady, Suimei replied with the courtesy of a gentleman showing his gratitude. Magicians were fundamentally suspicious people. They'll act foolish, shady, and mysterious. In that sense they were wretched. However, she didn't care about any of that, and looked at him suspiciously with half closed eyes.

“If you came up in a story of heroes, then you would be the type who showed up as an ally but was actually the secret boss.”

“The kind that you can't beat without just going around them huh? Certainly I fit the mould of the shady guy who shows up at first perfectly.”

Suimei shrugged his shoulders as he laughed, and Hatsumi made an exasperated face as she smiled.

“You sure are composed.”

“Well, thanks to you.”

Hatsumi seemed to have relaxed quite a bit. As they had that frank exchange, she spoke up like she suddenly remembered something.

“Now that I think about it, you said so earlier, but did you fight someone like that guy before?”

“Well... Yeah. It was a guy who used magic which was a lot like his technique to make the location of his real body ambiguous. Actually, it was far too similar though...”

Suimei's face grew hazy as his tone dropped. It was a memory of an unpleasant battle. Just by remembering it, he was reminded of his own worthless figure.

“Fuu. Could it be, that guy is also here?”

“Don't be stupid, that's impossible.”

“There's the exception of myself and Yakagi though. I don't think it's something you can outright deny without listening to me though?”

“Nope, that can't be. It really shouldn't.”

As he repeatedly denied her, Hatsumi was becoming a little angry, but she calmed down after seeing Suimei's expression. His face as he kept saying it wasn't possible was grim, and also filled with anxiety. Suimei then looked up at the moon, and began speaking unprompted.

“―One of the Ten who Fell to Greed, Kudrack the Ghosthide. That is the name of the man who used that magic.”

It was quite a while ago when he fought that magician. Even so, after Hydemary became his assistant, and after he was acquainted with Isrina―using modern magic, living for the ideals of the Society, it was the man who betrayed the dream he was aiming for.

He was a magician who killed others, and did not loathe making the mysteries known to the entire world, but because those who were released from death could not be stopped by anyone, his criminal record piled up completely neglected over the span of half a century.

However, because he was planning something far too serious, many magician organizations sent in magicians to subjugate him, and as a result Suimei also went until he was defeated, but―

“That guy was obliterated by me. Even if he was a lich, he can't exist after having his roots severed. And even in the case where he survived due to my failures, just who would summon that man here? Besides, I can't see any reason for that man to team up with the demons. He was an extreme asshole who thought that all living creatures would find the best salvation by dying and returning to the Earth you know? That kind of asshole...”

There's no way he survived, just by imagining it, goosebumps ran down Suimei's skin. As he said this, he wasn't sure how Hatsumi took it, but she made a strangely convincing statement.

“If everything is destroyed by the demons, it may end up like that.”

“I'm begging you, don't say any more... It'll seriously turn into reality.”

“Is he that strong?”

“He's about a million times stronger than the guy we just beat up. It's possible he might even be ten million times stronger. If we had to go up against him, it would be simpler to take on all the demons, demon generals and the Demon Lord all at once. Aaah, I feel like puking.”

She wasn't sure if he was fooling around, but Suimei's complexion worsened as he dropped his shoulders. Not knowing the circumstances at all, Hatsumi spoke like it wasn't a problem in the least.

“But, you defeated him right?”

“I did. It's cause the world's number one shittiest enemy was an ally at the time. If it wasn't the case, I would have been cut into mincemeat by those phase blades.”

At that time, the one who had become an ally for just that very moment, was the man who laughed at his dreams. Suimei talked about him when he saved Lefille, the one who showed him the way to his dreams was just that very man.

“... I don't want to do it a second time. If that guy is alive, before the demons could annihilate humanity, that guy would completely obliterate humanity and every other living being.”

Hatsumi then questioned him in a puzzled tone.

“... Is our world, that dangerous a place?”

“Not at all. It's so peaceful you could die.”

“Then why is it...”

“Who knows. The reason the balance between danger and peace became so weird just shows how far into the end of days it is. I don't know whether it's the delimitation for reform or in the middle of the process headed towards the world's demise, but I really can't laugh at the possibility of the world ending before we even make it back.”

“It's not really the time to be saving another world huh.”

“Even if you say that, no matter what we do, when it ends, it ends. In the place we lived, we don't have that kind of position as a hero. About all we can do is tremble in our houses until the world ends.”

After letting out a sigh like it wasn't funny at all, Suimei ridiculed the movements of a soldier doing a complete about face accurately and turned towards the ruins.

“Well, setting that aside, I'm going to go ahead and continue my investigation.”

After the matter that was causing him concern vanished, he seemed completely refreshed. Suimei walked towards the remains of the stones where the magic circle was drawn. Hatsumi followed after him with generous steps. And then, Hatsumi's eyes suddenly sharpened. Beyond where her vigilant gaze was pointed, was a dreadful presence. It was probably...

“... Hey, Yakagi.”

“So it isn't over yet?”

As if replying to Hatsumi's warning, Suimei sighed like it was getting tedious. Just how much more was he supposed to put off his investigation? That presence that was wriggling about within the darkness of the forest was without a doubt the remnants of the demons.

The two of them faced the directions that the demons were likely coming from and lie in wait. Between the black wood trees in front of them, they could see the darkness opening up. Anticipating that they would come out from there, Hatsumi shouldered her sword, and Suimei prepared his magic.

Before long, the demons showed their figures. From the darkness, a single figure, followed by another continuously. They didn't quite number as much as they did when they were surrounded earlier, but they were in position to charge in all at once and were brimming with blood thirst.

“... It'll be a series of battles, but will you be alright?”

“Don't be stupid, I won't fall behind from small fries.”

Though he talked frivolously, Suimei was not smiling. Even though she didn't think that Suimei's manner of speaking was haughty, his expression didn't show any signs of negligence. And then, it was right at the moment of whether they would attack or be attacked. Suddenly a shadow fell down from directly above the demons.

They didn't have any time to wonder who or what just appeared. Only Hatsumi's puzzled 'Eh―?' rang through the air. In an instant, the demons were struck by a shockwave from above, and along with the ground and trees, they were all blown away.

There was still a few left after the shockwave, but even where Suimei and Hatsumi were standing at quite the distance, going along with the shockwave, huge splinters of wood and lumps of earth became bullets and came flying in towards them.

“Wh-what is this?”

“...”

While gripped by confusion, Hatsumi held her sword forward while Suimei used magic to repel the debris that was flying towards them at a murderous speed. As the thunderous roar settled, within the cloud of dust, was a man with silver horns growing out of his head, wearing clothing similar to traditional Japanese attire, with his fist planted into the ground at the centre of the dead demons, who announced himself as he complained.

“―How fragile. To think these pests worst than shit could threaten all that live under the Goddess. I don't know who said it, but it's such a bad joke it sends shivers running down my spine.”

He spoke like he wasn't expecting anyone to listen, perhaps he was only spitting out at the demons at his feet. Eventually, the other demons noticed the unexpected visitor, and lunged at the man with horns from the sides. However, he brushed them away with the back of his fist, and the demons were smashed up along with the black wood trees they flew into.

... Suimei and Hatsumi were at a loss for words before that overwhelming figure.

It was fine that he was blowing away the demons. It wasn't like the two of them were unable to defeat all of those demons though. However, lightly, with movements like he was just swatting away a fly, it was incomprehensible that even the sturdy black wood trees would be smashed to pieces. The man shook his hand like he had just touched something dirty, and suddenly, his gaze was fixed on Suimei.

“... Tsu!”

Suimei's heart leaped with a single strong thud. His body was seized with fear. It was because he was shown that overwhelming strength. No, it wasn't his strength. It was that man's existence, his gaze. Unexpectedly, one of Suimei's feet took a step in retreat. Completely reflexively, his feet moved in fear.

Even since coming to this world, such fear, and having to step back like this, was a first. On the other hand, Hatsumi who was standing beside him, was unaware of the crisis that was approaching them. Perhaps she judged that an ally had appeared. She was only looking at the man with silver horns in wonder.

“The hero and... Hou? Are you one of her companions?”

Suimei was unable to answer his question. Alarm bells were clanging nonstop inside his head. Other than the sound screaming at him to run away, all others sounds all flew away beyond the distance. In contrast, Hatsumi stepped forward, and returned the man's question.

“Just who are you? Why do you know that I am here? An ally?”

“I wonder. That depends on you.”

“What do you mean?”

Those words like the man was trying to purposely confuse them, Hatsumi's puzzled voice, all of it couldn't be heard by Suimei. And he finally realized, just what the man before him was.

“... Are you, a dragon kin?”

Perhaps because Suimei's trembling voice was on the mark, only the man's mouth warped into a smile. On the other hand, Hatsumi finally noticed the complete change in Suimei's expression, and looked at him with a puzzled gaze.

“Yakagi...?”

“As I thought huh...”

“Bastard, you seem quite frightened. I can't approve of a man who can't at least bluff before his enemy.”

“―Sh-shut up! This is a normal reaction!”

“However, I don't have any business with a scared weakling. Sorry, but I'll have you vanish.”

As if concluding that Suimei was someone boring, the man pierced him with a cold gaze. And then he slightly opened his mouth, and began sucking in air.

―A dragon's roar.

The moment Suimei sensed this, the tension that was binding his body and the trembling which urged his cowardice vanished from his body. The only thing occupying his mind was evading the menace before him. Hatsumi did not seem to be anticipate the tragic event that was about to happen, she stepped forward as if covering for him with her sword pointed at the ready. Suimei strongly grabbed her shoulder.

“Hatsumi! Come here!”

“Eh?”

“Behind me! Quickly! You'll get swallowed by the dragon's roar!”

“Dragon's r... Kya!?”

Suimei pulled the bewildered Hatsumi behind him forcefully, and thrust both his hands forwards as he began chanting.

“―Non amo Munus Scutum. Omne Simpetumin Victus. Invincibility Immobilitas Immortalis. Cumque Mane Surrexissent Castle.” (My shield is not a shield. It is solid before any kind of offence. It is one that would not waver before any amount of gunfire. It will never fall apart, it is immobile and completely solid. It is the strong fortress which collects the breath of the stars and ostentatiously shows its golden brilliance. Its name is...)

Along with the mana Suimei was letting out, many golden magic circles were deploying around the two of them. The magic circles to the front were revolving, the large magic circle at their feet had a needle etched in which was counting the seconds like a clock. As Suimei's six verse chant came to an end, all of the magic circles stabilized.

“―Firmus! Congrega Aurum Magnalea!” (My solid shield! The brilliant golden fortress!)

As Suimei let out his keyword, the man with horns released a high pitched grating sound from his mouth which shook the air. Just as the wave of oscillations spread into their surroundings, the ground was astir like it was boiling, and fissures resembling red lightning were flickering in the air. The air was electrified as the molecules were agitated. Within that illusion of the world being thrown into a bright red plasma ball, everything was transformed into a red hot mass.

Between the flickering flashes, everything in their vision was dyed red, and eventually the earth, the black wood tress, the corpses of the demons, the summoning ruins, anything and everything was equally swallowed up in an explosion.

That thunderous roar and the whirlwind of incandescence could be mistaken for a small scale solar flare. The still night had fallen into a burning hell. If the dust explosion Suimei created could be described as dynamite, this could be said to be the equivalent of a nuclear explosion.

... Eventually, the flames settled down, and the scenery around them completely changed.

“This... is...”

Hatsumi was gazing around in wonderment, she wasn't able to grasp what had just happened. When she realized, the dark forest and the ruins had been completely blown away together with the ashes. All that remained, was the overturned dirt on the ground and the red burning embers.

On the other hand, the man with horns, for some reason, opened his mouth wide completely unexpectedly. For a while, he only looked at Suimei in a complete daze. Just as Suimei was thinking that, the man with horns suddenly began laughing like a fire had been ignited in him.

“―KukuHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!... Kuku, to think you would endure that head on! I always thought it was something that a mere human could never defend against, but my goodness it seems I was just being imprudent huh! Bravo! Bravo!”

What he was letting out, was certainly joy. After laughing for a while, he gazed at Suimei fanatically. In spite of focusing entirely on the hero up until now, he was not even sparing her a single glance, and was only staring at Suimei like he was scrutinizing a sword of the finest quality. And then...

“Man in black. Bastard―No, when I called you a weakling, I take it back completely. Calling a man who steps forward to protect a woman a weakling, whatever the case may be, is simply not the truth. Besides, you endured that without a single scratch too, the reason for your trembling was not simple fear was it?”

This time, the man smiled while bearing his fangs. It was just like a starving beast who had finally found their prey, a terrifying and ferocious smile. Just from that joy of preparing for a meal, Suimei's fear towards dragons was dug back up. Beside Suimei who had once more began trembling and shivering, Kuchiba Hatsumi once more questioned the man.

“You're...”

“Hm? Ooh! That's right. I completely forgot because of that just now. My goodness, to think I have to do my duty at the same time as finally finding such a trophy, the whims of the world are truly nothing but ironic. However―”

He was speaking as if he just remembered what he was doing. No, that man seriously may have completely forgotten of Hatsumi's existence just now.

“I am the dragonnewt Eanru. Hero of the Alliance, Hatsumi, regardless of whether you consent of it or not, I will have you come with me this evening.”

Under the moonlight, the dragonnewt Eanru bore his dragon fangs towards them.

Chapter 04 fix

Tuesday, 22 May 2018

Author : Unknown Comments : 0

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