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c105: The Prologue to Nightmare
While shortcutting with jump, jump it’s been a little time since we began climbing the mountain.
「Still further is it.」
Doing a countless number of leaps, I confirmed fallen luggage scattered about beneath my eyes.
Is it people from the enemy side’s troops lead by Shigen who climbed before us or, people from Enishi-san’s allied troops who were sent in pursuit.
In any case, something that isn’t normal is happening……just what could it be?
「Otto, it’s about time isn’t it.」
I faced upward and, Jin-san came falling just about then.
Catch!
Aミnd, release!
I threw him off toward the clouds again.
To be precise, the impression is that of blasting him away like a volleyball.
Eh?
Since something like embracing him to jump would feel bad so isn’t there no way I could do that?
Since it’s not like Eclair or the like is here……
Aiming to summit in such a manner, we landed to rest for the time being.
It’s the location of our original objective, the mountain cottage.
「Fuu, when in a hurry, take the longer path. Since we also have to manage our endurance in order to save Rin-chan don’t we.」
Jin-san vomited from behind me.
「Are you alright?」
Should I suppose he feels sick?
Pathetic isn’t heー.
It might’ve been, a little more intense than a jet coaster though.
It couldn’t be helped so I rubbed his back for him.
「……Oi.」
「Hai?」
「Are you devoted to my otouto?」
「No, not at all.」
「……Do you hate men?」
「No, I wouldn’t say there’s that sort of reason.」
It’s not the case that I hate men or the like iss it.
But it’s a little hard to explain.
「I see……the complete race, I suppose there is the fact that you’re called just that.」
The complete race?
「Eh? Is it possible, that you know my race?」
「What are you saying at this point. You’re already overly famous. Fairy of Silver Lightning, elf maiden.」
Even though ossan said he’d keep quiet didn’t he, I wonder where it got out?
Though I suppose it would’ve been dangerous if it had been when I had no power but, since the current me has a rather significant backing to protect my body so.
I guess I don’t think it’ll be that much of a problem anymore.
「Fu～n, we’re, called something like the complete race are we.」
Though I suppose I’m a half elf.
Then Till is, unmistakably the complete race I suppose.
「Elves are disconnected from common matters I suppose.」
「Since they act in such a way as to not involve themselves in much.」
Since there hasn’t been a time I’ve seen an elf besides Till, and Till is also a hikikomori.
……Though there is Libra.
「You all, there’s only women to begin with right?」
「……Nn?」
On that note, doesn’t it seem like there was a time when I heard such a thing?
I’ve had a small question since a while ago but, then how is the race maintained?
If there’s such a thing as that they regularly mix with other races, meeting something like pure elves would basically not happen.
Or rather than that, such a thing as the pure race would disappear in no time at all.
But that’s strange.
I mean Till was surprised after all wasn’t she, at the fact that I’m a half elf.
The event of being a half, that is to say the event of mixing with other races is what’s rare.
「……That is to say?」
I know but, what of it?
I’ll try taking that attitude?
「As such, you fundamentally don’t come to love anything but the same sex right?」
「……Fu, mu.」
There’s no mistake.
In relation to myself there’s no mistake.
I don’t know about Till.
「And so, the other sex is fundamentally unnecessary for you all to produce children right? As such, us humans and the other races, call your people, the complete race.」
「……」
To produce a child, the other sex isn’t necessary?
「Huge, incident!!!!!」
I’m trembling in fear and, Jin-san was surprised.
「Wha, what was?」
「Ah, no, it’s this side’s affair. Please don’t mind it.」
……Wait, a little.
The other sex isn’t necessary to create a child?
Then how are children doable?
Is the stork explanation plausible?
Or perhaps, something of this sort, more fantasy like and mysterious?
「……Magic power?」
Mu～～.
It’s a mystery.
It’s a mystery but, I crossed my arms and nodded bombastically.
――How would it be to, make a family with oneechan?
Same sex?
Nay, what of it.
That’s normal for an elfー.
Uhahaa!
Yatta!
Yatta zo!
Ma～ne～?
But whether children are doable or whatever isn’t everything is it～?
But somehow can’t I imagine a happy family!
Myself happily surrounded by oneechan and children!
Myself preparing meals!
Myself sending off oneechan going to work and children going to school with a have a good trip!
「……Isn’t that role strange?」
I twisted my head.
「You’ve been deep in thought since a while ago, what is it?」
It’s fine already, you make me empty my stomach.
Grosses me out.
I am currently, in the process of considering the plan of my life’s hereafter.
――Alice, you……are an elf aren’t you?
――Wha, what are you saying idiot! This is why elves are!!
I’m able to recall those 2 people’s voices, without any error.
I recalled even the imagery a little and, blood rushed to my head.
Uumu……No, could it possibly be……?
This could become a, huge incident……seriously.
「Really what is it? Are you okay?」
Jin-san worried about me, as I wouldn’t come back from my own world however much time passed.
「……It’s fine to have 6, 7, people that you love isn’t it? It’s not strange at all.」
「It’s strange isn’t it……」
I won’t let myself be confused by the voice from the outfield.
Nodding strongly, I entered the mountain cottage so we could take a break for the nonce.
◇■◇■◇
――The mountain cottage I entered, really wasn’t the sort of place where I could take a break.
I’m a little accustomed to this sort of thing but, I gaped while looking at this spectacle.
There wasn’t a corpse with its four limbs 『properly』 attached.
Dirty blood colors the floor like a carpet.
There’s also parts of the corpse that have melted……
It has no eyes, the nose is split, the brain is……
「Uu――」
「Don’t force yourself, go outside.」
Our positions reversed this time and, Jin-san dispassionately examined the spectacle.
The smell is also rather severe so, I obediently went outside.
I washed out my mouth with the canteen I brought with me.
I feel, bad……
My festive self looks like an idiot.
Thinking that I brought Rin-chan to this sort of place with me I……!
「Oi……」
As I took deep breaths so as to calm my feelings, Jin-san came out from the mountain cottage making a pale face.
「It’s become something bad.」
「That is……I can tell by looking, that’s something dreadful……」
「That’s not it.」
It wasn’t the case that his face went pale from looking at the corpse.
Jin-san shook his head without force and, looked up to the mountain’s peak.
「……It’s reviving.」
Impossible……
「That is……?」
「The Yamata no Orochi, is reviving.」
「Is that, the monstrosity that was sealed?」
「Aah……」
Yamata no Orochi.
That giant snake, said to have eight heads?
This world really has, something that connects it in some way doesn’t it.
「…………That the seal is coming undone, why should that be?」
「The mountain cottage’s corpse, that wasn’t the act of a human. Not to mention, it wasn’t the act of a monster either. This mountain is the sacred mountain Misogi mountain. It’s a mountain enshrouded in sacred spiritual power. Therefore the culprit behind the product wasn’t a monster either……」
So that means nothing but the giant snake that had been sealed can be thought of.
「The troops were, attacked around when they were taking a break in the mountain cottage?」
「No, I suppose they were most likely done in by an attack at a different location――there are traces from being swallowed.」
……Hideous.
It seems that there’s a snake that swallowed its prey and, coughed it out in a different place so……
「……But if the seal has come undone then, is the miko of the seal unnecessary?」
In short, Rin-chan will remain safe?
「It’s determined that a resealing would be sought. Besides that, the event of her being eaten by Yamata no Orochi is thinkable.」
To begin with what sort of position is Makina in.
Those eyes……those eyes like a snake’s concern me.
「Let’s hurry.」
「Wait! Is, your magic okay?」
「This isn’t the time to worry about that.」
This place isn’t a setting where I can expect my condition to be perfect.
The situation has already changed.
I have to fight for every moment.
To begin with, as if a guy who regularly doesn’t fight except in perfect condition could rescue someone in the event of an emergency.
「At the point where we arrive, there’s no meaning if we’re defeated in turn! There’s still the option to wait for support!」
「Are you an idiot!?」
Wait for support!?
For how long?
「The things you’re saying are probably correct! They’re rational! My 1 self might not be able to do anything!」
And when everything’s ready, alright let’s do it?
Rin-chan is?
Hypothetically even if the enemy troops and the giant snake haven’t layed their hands on her, when I think of such a small child abandoned on top of the mountain without being swallowed and without being eaten, it makes me anxious and I can’t stay still.
「Do you understand? This isn’t within the scope of dispute. I’ll somehow push through even if it’s unreasonable, that’s all.」
My blunder has, exposed Rin-chan to danger right before my eyes while I was unable to process the situation.
Just as Saira said, right now there’s nothing except to keep moving while believing until the end.
「……Reckless person. But the things you’re saying aren’t wrong. We have no nothing but to say the conversation is which one to choose. Since in the end, I suppose that in this case what we can do is choose one and, there’s no alternative but to fail to achieve the other.」
I won’t fail to achieve this, it would be great if I were strong enough to put that to my mouth and declare it though wouldn’t it.
「I’m going now but, what will Jin-san do? If you have the determination to vomit, I’ll provide transportation though.」
「At that level it’s a cheap service. Since I can’t let the situation be that even my beloved woman’s forgotten memento is lost can I.」
……Nn?
Beloved woman, iss it.
I’m sure it’ll be fine to regale about romance after the finale won’t it?
I shook my head at the mood that seemed to be easing and having shaken that off, I suddenly, felt something out of place.
I noticed something was, shaking my feet.
「What is it?」
「No……」
As I inspected my feet, Jin-san floated a question mark.
At the current point it’s not like there’s what or why, I couldn’t do anything but answer vaguely.
However this sense of unease, there is a scenario where the act of overlooking this develops into a situation I’d be unable to take back.
「I’m going to check this, for a bit.」
Just in case, I deployed LightningポField with that sort of level of conviction.
I’ve been encountering earthquakes and the like ever since I came to this country.
As such something like a minor shaking won’t create a sense of unease.
The shaking at my feet that I faintly sensed.
Something is bizarre.
Just and only that thing, held my interest regardless of everything at that time.
I took the space with my barrier.
Of course, I also passed magic power through the earth with the image of drawing a circle.
――Something, charged toward the surface!
「Distance yourself from the cottage!」
「Chii……!」
The instant Jin-san distanced himself with sharp movements, the cottage exploded.
Because of 『that』 protruding from within the earth, the cottage and the corpse were blown away to every direction.
「－－Snake!」
「Shit! As expected it’s already!」
An eye with a vertically split pupil.
A long body covered in lustrous slippery scales.
The length of that body protruding from within the earth was long and, large enough for the act of coiling itself around a house.
Brutal seeming fangs connect to its large mouth such that they avoid its cheeks, a thin tongue extends from there.
A physique that could, swallow something like a human whole.
「Thunder!!」
「Shaaaaaaa!」
Before the opponent moved, I pounded my attack into it.
It rampaged due to the lightning attack but, it wasn’t a mortal wound.
I couldn’t see anything but its anger expanding to ever greater levels.
「But, if I defeat this guy does that finish this!?」
「Don’t say something stupid! This is just one part!」
Simultaneous with Jin-san’s words, one after another of the giant snake’s heads came jumping out from the mountain’s face.
This number, 1 head, 2 heads!
3, 4, 5――still growing!!
「Isn’t this not in the area of 8 heads!?」
This is already, an army!!
The swarm of giant snakes, encircled us.
「Who said something like 8 heads! If you have the time to speak, do an attack!」
Jin-san yelled while cutting down 1 snake head.
「Even if I’m told to attack……」
Making all of them my opponent like this, what should I do then.
If I narrow my aim to each in turn this’ll never end.
Yosh!
Running it through the ring on my left hand, I gathered my magic.
「Oh ancient goddess, wield that power and bring heaven’s judgement down before me! ――Ishtar・Edge!!」
I’ll mow down everything within the area of my amplified serious high rank magic.
As the terrifying thunderclap rumbled, a bolt of lightning ran freely throughout every direction.
There’s nothing like a place to escape to, the iron hammer of god.
The mountain shook.
The swarm of giant snakes raised a howl and fell thrashing in agony.
Something burnt to a crisp.
Something with its body rent.
「Fairy of Silver Lightning……something I’ve only been told of is here.」
However, that had considerable magic power consumption.
The exhaustion is also large, my legs are howling.
「With ths, maybe I can somehow make something of this.」
「It, does seem to be that way.」
The swarm of giant snakes that raised their heads from within the earth, lay defeated without a single exception remaining.
Having no place to stand is this situation.
But from here on, using jumps to move is harsh.
「How long would it take, to walk this?」
「Until we summit, it won’t take even half a day from here I suppose.」
Climbing the mountain in a little less than half a day is it.
I think I can slowly recover my magic power but, in terms of endurance I guess this might be the limit.
Just as Jin-san said, it might not be a condition to fight in.
「Jin-san.」
「What is it?」
「When there’s something on the summit, I might not fight.」
「Aah.」
「At that time, if I rescue Rin-chan I’ll run for my life but, if you value your life go ahead and make your return within the present.」
I advise him that, I’ll overlook you and return while bringing only Rin-chan with me.
In the present time, make a simulation of the situations that seem like they could happen.
「There’s also the sort of option where you gather time and, I escape with the miko?」
「That’s rejected. Rather than the value I put on my life, since I don’t trust you to that degree. It’d be problematic if you performed a living sacrifice to seal the snake.」
If it were Eclair or Shion-san, that sort of thing would be thinkable though.
「I see, you’re somehow considerable. A realistic and determined woman.」
Jin-san smiled strangely.
「So, what will you do?」
「I’ll go. My interest in you is bubbling up.」
「That’s a pitiable thing.」
When I said as such with a variety of meanings, Jin-san smiled again.
――While we were doing as such, 1 head from a fallen giant snake came flying at us from.
The 2 people both instantly turned their bodies and evaded the snake’s thrust up from the ground and, Jin-san ran after the head without a delay and stabbed his kodachi into it.
「It seems there’s no time to drop our focus.」
「I suppose so, let’s go.」
「Aah.」
A buzzing, pain ran through my arm.
From below my Regenerate Robe, there’s a small amount of blood staining it.
Was it the attack just now?
Whatever it was, the level of injury doesn’t even need a Heal.
I suppose the robe will heal it.
「――Hu,h?」
「Are you tired?」
My feet became unsteady when they began walking.
I try to somehow place my foot correctly.
There’s, no problem……I think.
Is it really that, I’m a little tired?
「I’m okay, because until we at least find Rin-chan, I won’t say something like I’m tired.」
「……I understand.」