Chapter 418

Chapter 418

Abyss Lord Chapter Three   The Battle Behind the Scene   Last Part   ~Isn’t Everyone Already More Than Enough by Themselves?~

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Inside a deep forest that was filled with thick mist of pure white.

Ten giant Hihis(baboons) were carefully walking forward. Their body  length was around three meters with black fur and features that could be  mistaken as human face. They were distinguished apparitions even in the  main land with a lot of legends of liking to eat women and children.

Although they had been reduced to the status of mere grunts right  now, their slyness and brutal nature hadn’t been weakened at all. They  were even eagerly waiting for opening to take down their temporary  master who was binding them.

These Hihis were such apparitions. However, at this moment they  weren’t even making the coarse laughing voice that became the origin of  their name. They were giving off a tense atmosphere as though they had a  blade pressed on their throat even now.

They were restlessly moving their gaze everywhere to cover each of their blindspot.

Carefully, carefully they were moving their legs so that they  wouldn’t make any footstep, so that their breathing sound wouldn’t be  heard.

If possible they wanted to turn around and escape right away, but  there was no change to their order from their master, so they couldn’t  possibly stop their invasion. They had kept reporting the danger  befalling them, but their master didn’t even reply to them.

Their master shouldn’t be outside the forest, but did something  happen to him? Although, even though their master was a thoroughly  detestable person, they could do nothing except obey as long as the  “binding” was active.

No, even if they were allowed to escape, surely it had been too late for them.

The Hihis understood that fact instinctually.

This forest, this thick mist that was so disgustingly white……

「――tsu!」

The leader Hihi stopped moving while holding his breath.

An especially old Hihi was said to be able to read human’s heart like  a Satori(folklore monster that can read minds). That legend wasn’t  mistaken. This leader of the Hihis was in possession of that ability.

The ability to read mind that it kept active in full strength was,

――

Everyone, I’m counting on you-

Sensing a woman’s voice. The voice sounded courteous. It really tickled the leader’s instinct as a Hihi.

It understood just from the woman’s voice. Its instinct screamed  「First rate prey!」, while at the same time its mind screamed 「Run away  quickly!」 from deep inside.

The Hihi leader didn’t hesitate. It punched its instinct and cried  shrilly to warn its pack. Dodge, it ordered. But, it was too late.

*GOO-* The ground burst. Or that was how it felt like when roots powerfully snapped out from underground.

Tree roots that had been hardened to a degree that wasn’t a joke at  all instantly speared two Hihis. They didn’t stop there and entwined  around the Hihis tightly.

One more Hihi managed to jump aside before it got swallowed by a plant that had a large mouth opened wide.

At the same time one other Hihi got instantly constricted by a vine  that was smeared by viscous liquid. This one was also instantly foaming  in the mouth with its eyes rolling back as its body started to spasm.

The Hihi leader had no room to make a choice.

「――tsuu!!」

Rush at the direction of the thought that I sensed, there is a first rate prey there. First come first served!

The leader gave such order to its subordinates to fire them up.

With their inability to sense their master’s thought, they already  had no path of escape. Because this thick mist was throwing their sense  of direction into astray.

They also didn’t know when the plants around them would attack them like just now.

But, even after receiving such catastrophic damage that reduced its  subordinates from originally a hundred strong until just a tenth of it  right now, the leader had managed to trace the thought of the enemy that  was hiding somewhere in this forest, and now they had finally shortened  the distance until where they could reach the enemy.

Then, there was already no other path than charging forward!

Beastly roars accompanied the radiation of their ghostly air, blowing  away the white mist slightly. They dashed through that path in a  straight line.

Their eyes were bloodshot in anticipation to devour the terrifying lord of this forest to their heart’s content――

「Awawa-, no good no good! As I thought they have already grasped my position!」

What came into view was a small woman sitting on top of a particularly huge tree.

They had closed the distance until they could see the enemy. It looked like she was panicking.

She was a woman who looked like a kid. Furthermore she was overflowing with power.

The Hihis were sensing nervousness and fear from her. Their mind  immediately flipped from that. Ecstasy, sadism, and hunger filled their  entire being.

Their pack had been thoroughly trounced. They wouldn’t let her die so  easily. They would toy with her until she cried and screamed. They  would taste her flesh from the tip of her body bit by bit, slowly.

It didn’t matter even if she was more than ten meters above ground.  Such place couldn’t bring her to escape from the grasp of the Hihis.

They clung on the thick trunk and climbed up fast while letting out low joyous voice……

「――”Soul Impact”!!」

Fancy pink shockwave surged.

If it was just a mere shockwave, then surely they would be able to  endure it. But something like physical defense was completely  meaningless against this shockwave. Because it was an impact that  directly hit their soul.

「「「「「――GIHHH!?」」」」」

Blank spot was formed in their thought. Their consciousness receded  from unknown reason. Strength left their limbs and all of them dived to  the ground together.

On that ground,

「Mister king! Please let them have it!」

The adorable voice was responded by the rustles of the leaves. Mountain of swords made from roots flew out from the ground.

Half of the Hihis were stabbed all over, while half were skewered and became unable to move.

Perhaps because of luck or perhaps because of actual strength, the  leader was the only one who managed to twist its body between the gap of  the sword mountain and got away unharmed. But it was meaningless.

*GO-GO-GO* A sound that was similar to a tremor reverberated. The leader whipped its hazy mind and looked forward.

「……」

Surely, if its human expression was described, it would say 「You’re kidding me……」.

A giant tree with total length of 30 meters was standing up.

Yes, standing up.

Countless tree roots lengthened and bundled together into legs that  were like a spider. The middle part of the trunk split and formed a  mouth of uneven teeth. Thick branches with great mass undulated like  tentacles and whipped the air.

The manifestation of the king of the forest. Perhaps that was one way to described this.

The ground was rumbling loudly as the “King Treant” roared. The air  rattled. The Hihis’ instinct was trembling in fear from the presence of  this existence that was clearly in different dimension from them.

No, it wasn’t just the Hihi. It was something that was felt by all  the external enemies that were currently invading this “Sanctuary of  King Tree”.

『Wai

――

』

The Hihi that had even the ability to speak in human language  attempted to open its mouth to purchase sympathy. Its sly nature had  noticed the naïve personality of the woman――Aiko who was protected by  the leaves and branches of King Treant.

Its realization was certainly accurate. It was impossible for Aiko to  commit murder proactively. That was even truer if someone begged for  their life toward her.

However, the Hihi didn’t know. Because even though it could read the thought of human, it couldn’t read their memory.

That Aiko was the type of person who would commit when it was really necessary.

In addition, she was also a type of person who when she was at her  wits’ end, other people’s words would enter her right ear before it  simply came out from her left ear as she was spinning her wheels.

「Hajime-kun and all the divine spirits aren’t here……the world will be  in grave danger if I failed……uu, my stomach hurt……but you can’t break  down Aiko! You have to stand strong! After all Hajime-kun trusted me to  do this! Fiiighttt, fightttttt-」

Just when the Hihi wondered what the woman was muttering with low  voice, she suddenly huffed with fighting spirit and completely ignored  the Hihi leader’s pleading.

「Mister king! Do itttt!!」

Acknowledged!

King Treant skillfully made a thumb up with  the tip of its branches and sent its countless branches to batter  violently at the Hihis desperately trying to get away from the field of  root swords.

Although they were called branches, each one of them was extremely  thick. And when it came to their destructive power, it was at the level  that could pulverize a single house in one blow.

And those branches, they mercilessly hit, hit, hit, hit, hit. Like  doing tap dance! Tap dance! Tap dance! Tap tap. Of course, the Hihis  were apparition so they would only disperse after dying. They didn’t  leave behind any pile of minced meat.

The Hihis vanished with a look of despair.

「U~mm, with this all of the large packs should be dealt with for the  time being……I prioritized defeating the monkeys just now……next there is  still the few at the east, and a new group from the west? Muu, as  expected this might not end as long as I don’t dispatch mister Treant to  subdue the caster. I don’t really want to send them out of the sea of  trees though……」

Aiko fell into thought before deciding her plan with a nod. Then she poured magic power into the stick in her hand.

It was a wooden stick with appearance of around 30 cm. It was  something using the wood of the King Tree as the base that Hajime  combined with ore.

Not only it could connect with the avatar Laila, it was also a  license as a proxy who could use a part of her authority. At the same  time it was also an artifact that had the power to explosively increase  Aiko’s ability as a master farmer and her soul magic.

Its name was “Protection Wand”.

Currently this sanctuary forest was in a different state than usual.  That too was the result of this wand’s authority combined with Aiko’s  power.

Even though there was already a barrier that disturbed perception to  protect the King Tree constantly, thanks to the “Sea of Trees  Manifestation” being applied on top of it, the area was transformed into  a haunted area filled with the white mist’s ability to throw perception  into disarray and an army of plant type monster and demonic tree.

「Mister Knight! Mister Bishop! Also ten mister Pawns, please investigate the outer edge of the sanctuary!」

The surrounding trees immediately started moving. Pawn Treants that  were around five meter tall, Knight Treant that was around ten meter  tall and possessed the greatest sturdiness, Bishop Terant that was  around eight meter tall and could use every kind of magic were humbly  bowing toward Aiko before moving to the other side of the thick mist.

As could be understood from their naming, even the Treants had type and special technique that was connected to chess pieces.

And not only the sea of trees area, the surrounding of the King was always surrounded by a royal demonic tree guards.

Even just now, actually the Hihis could be annihilated before they  arrived here, but King who was apprehensive that it wouldn’t get any  turn to fight intentionally allowed them to pass with the reasoning of  「Even I want to get ordered around by Aiko-dono!」.

Also, inside the trunk beside Aiko, there was a “humanoid demonic  tree Queen Treant” acting as guard. It possessed equal ability with the  humanoid cockro*ch aka the imitation apostle that once stood as the  opposition in the labyrinth of the great tree, so there wouldn’t be any  danger to Aiko either way.

Aiko was at her wits’ end was simply because of her usual habit of spinning her wheels.

「That’s really amazing sensei. You’re exactly like a “queen of the forest”.」

「Why are all of these people in the type of “isn’t it’s enough with them alone”?」

Aiko was startled by the voices of a man and woman that suddenly  addressed her. When she looked ahead of the branch where she was sitting  on, she found Kouki and Moana coming out from a gate.

「Amanogawa-kun and Moana-san!」

The two walked toward Aiko with a conflicted expression, as though  they were a bit exasperated, or smiling wryly from a loss of  self-confidence.

「Is the other side alright?」

「Yes. Yes, Yue-san is mowing down the enemies like grass.」

「I see. It’s Yue-san after all.」

It was the first wife-sama’s quality that could make other convinced just from that.

「Then you two are coming here to help out?」

「Yes. Both of us came just in case, we thought that it will be  balanced if two front liner like us come as backup for sensei but……」

「It doesn’t seem necessary isn’t it? I understand now the reason why  his majesty the demon king said “it’s limited to just inside the  sanctuary but, Aiko is practically unrivaled when she is holding the  Protection Wand with Sea of Trees Manifestation activated”.」

Kouki and Moana said that while handing the orb filled with magic power stock that they obtained from Hajime.

In addition, it was possible for the sea of trees’ white mist and the  plant type monsters to regenerate in the blinbk of eye as long as  Aiko’s magic power hadn’t run out. Furthermore, she could also grasp the  whole situation inside the sea of trees through the white mist.

The otherworld of mist and forest that was impossible to destroy,  filled with unending army, where it was impossible to hide or escape  inside.

And here was the forest’s king who had the whole forest in her grasp.

No wonder. She was certainly unrivaled here.

We are awfully useless……

the light in Kouki and Moana’s eyes were almost dying, but Aiko shook her head in panic seeing that.

「That’s not true at all! I’m feeling discouraged staying by myself……I’m really reassured that the two of you came here!」

The two’s faces softened greatly *howaa~*. They looked like people  who felt healed when looking at cat video after going through an  unspeakable experience.

「Besides, because I lost Laila-san’s support, there is this  discomfort in my control of the sea of trees that I can’t just remove.  It gives me a bit of difficulty……」

The divine spirit slimes who were defending this sanctuary together  with her until not long ago were currently inside the “world inside the  treasure warehouse” ――the “Miniature Garden” because of a certain  circumstance. They did that as a part of solving the present situation.

Because of losing the real time support from the King Tree’s goddess,  the control of the sea of trees――specifically the difficulty of  manipulating the sanctuary that was the base of the sea of trees  apparently shot up drastically.

「Is that, could it be it’s because of the King Tree’s trait?」

「That seems to be the case.」

Kouki made a conjecture from the smattering of knowledge that he  obtained from when he diverted the topic to somehow escape from the  special energy drink’s recommendation.

Aiko nodded at that question. She was waving the Protection Wand  around to give instruction to the whole sea of trees while the finger of  her other hand pointed straight up. She was talking as though she was  giving a lesson in a classroom.

「You know about how the branches of world tree produce particular power that is appropriate for their respective world right?」

「Yes. In Moana’s world it’s the blessing power.」

「And what Kouki and others are using is magic power isn’t it?」

「Right right. And, for earth’s power, Hajime-kun named it as “willpower”.」

That was earth’s unique power. In the past that power had decayed  until just one-ten thousandth of the past, but currently with the  revival of the King Tree, the power was circulating all over the world  through the dragon’s vein.

One of Hajime’s work that he was doing in the sanctuary was the analysis of this unique energy of earth.

Aiko was talking about what she heard from Hajime during his  analysis. According to her, this willpower’s element was quiet similar  when compared to magic power.

「In other words……what does that mean?」

「Perhaps it means that its easier to be converted to other energy?」

「That seems to be the case. At the same time, it also means that it can easily accept other energy.」

Kouki and Moana tilted their head. Aiko lightly tapped the tree trunk with her Protection Wand’s tip.

Thin foliage immediately stretched out and formed human shape and the letter of earth.

「We earthlings are people with latent willpower residing inside us or perhaps a race with affinity to it.」

「……I see. By all rights it’s strange for earthlings like us to be  able to handle Tortus’s magic power that has different property. But」

「In the first place it’s the willpower’s property to be able to  easily accept other energy, so Kouki and others who have aptitude with  willpower are able to control magic power.」

「Both of you are really smart!」

Aiko praised with a cheerful smile. It caused the two’s expression to  soften *howaa* again. Kouki asked a question while looking a bit  embarrassed.

「In that case, can we also control other energy if we try it?」

「In theory. However, we already accepted the property of magic power  into us, so it might be difficult unless we can somehow reset ourselves  first. A human’s body isn’t so convenient that it can freely switch  multiple powers of different nature so easily.」

「I see. In the end it just means that we have the foundation for such possibility.」

「That’s right. And, do you remember it Amanogawa-kun? What Pope Ishtar said when we were summoned to Tortus.」

Kouki thought for a bit and recalled the memory of past talk that seemed to be related with the current talk.

「You mean, the talk about how our fundamental spec is higher than Tortus people?」

「Correct! It must be because we have gone through something like high-altitude training.」

In other words, because earthling was living in a world where the  energy was mostly dried up even though they possessed a body with a  property that could adapt to element energy, they possessed the  grounding that could accept magic power, and just like when people who  lived in a high ground where the oxygen was thin went down to low  ground, they had also cultivated the grounding to be able to receive  vast amount of magic power.

In Tortus, magic power was also related with human’s physical  ability, so naturally the specs of earthling also became superior than  Tortus people after receiving magic power.

「Though remember that this is still just a theory in the end. Right  now we have to prioritize with dealing against this situation.」

「I see. But I think this theory holds merit.」

「I also think so. And, we got off topic, but we summoned people have gotten accustomed to magic power so……」

「In this sanctuary that is filled with willpower, it’s possible for

Sensei-dono

to absorb the energy, but because of the different property it’s harder to control it, is that right?」

For some reason Moana was getting a radiant smile on her face from  the middle of the talk as she looked alternately at Kouki and Aiko  before she spoke of the conclusion.

Aiko smiled at Moana’s way of addressing her and she nodded. Kouki  didn’t notice the two of them exchanging gaze and lifted his face after  looking down deep in thought.

「I see. Laila-san was in charge of adjusting that before this but  because she is in the Miniature Garden right now……wait, sensei? Moana?」

Kouki finally noticed and tilted his head in puzzlement.

Then, Aiko smiled in a bit of embarrassment while,

「Good work. The class is over with this!」

She said such thing. Moana smiled beside the dumbfounded Kouki and bowed.

「Thank you very much, Sensei-dono.」

「Please ask if there is anything that you don’t understand. Although,  even though I said that, I myself only have impromptu knowledge so  there are a lot of things that I don’t have the answer for.」

Kouki finally understood after hearing that. Aiko’s explanation  wasn’t simply an explanation of the situation, but also her  consideration for Kouki who had dropped out of school early. Her  explanation just now wasn’t simply “like in a lesson”, it was definitely  a lesson that he hadn’t received for so long.

For some reason he felt nostalgic. Even though he had run away on his  own because of his inability to just sit still, it made him extremely  happy to still be treated as a student like this. Kouki let out a  strange voice 「Nnn~~」 while covering his face with both hands.

And then, with a mutter in a small voice,

「Thank you, for the lesson.」

He said that.

「Yes-. Then, please go out of the sanctuary and catch the caster! It  seems the caster isn’t at the outer edge, so they might be hiding quite  far away from here while sending their apparitions to attack! Now, chop  chop!」

「……Sensei. Please let me to bask in the aftermath for a bit more」

Aiko-chan-sensei clapped her hands and easily changed the atmosphere.

Kouki made an expression like a lost child while leading the wryly smiling Moana to immediately search for the enemy outside.

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At Nagumo house――or rather the house across the street in midnight.

「Dear! Dear look! There is someone entering the house of Nagumo-san again!」

The madam was peeking from the gap of the curtain while calling for her husband with a stifled voice.

The husband who was relaxing at the living room made an undisguised  frowning expression. He looked like he really wanted to tell his wife  who frequently observed Nagumo family house from the curtain’s opening  just how distasteful her hobby was.

「Say, dear. Have you ever seen the video of more than ten people coming out from inside a normal car?」

「Aa, before this it was done in a special show of shocking footage wasn’t it?」

The husband tore his gaze from the television screen with a dubious look at the sudden change of topic.

His wife was staring fixedly at the other side of the curtain while speaking with a voice that was trembling from fear.

「Nagumo-san’s place, it’s certainly a large house. After all the  husband is a company president, and Sumire-san is that “Sumire-sensei”.  Their earning is different from us.」

「Nhh-, w-well, I guess……」

「Their earning is just different.」

「I guess!」

It was an important (?) matter so it was said twice. The husband agreed with a bit of desperation.

「But their house isn’t anything like a mansion by all means. At best it’s just a level better than the surrounding houses.」

「That’s obvious just from looking. What is it that you want to say?」

「The number of people invited into the house is too many in contrast to the house’s size!」

The wife looked back across her shoulder. Her eyes were filled with a definite fear from witnessing something incomprehensible.

「……You have been watching the whole time since some time ago, but are there really that many people?」

「It’s more than a hundred already.」

「So many!? Is it a celebrity party!?」

Indeed. Although the house was a splendid one, Nagumo family house  still hadn’t left the category of an average residential area’s house.  That number was definitely an over capacity no matter how they looked at  it.

「Thinking normally, the inside of the house should be like the hold  of a smuggling ship right now with that many people inside shouldn’t  it?」

「If they got jam packed like sardines inside there, well, guess that  many people will be able to enter. It’s scary from just imagining it  though.」

「That’s not all. Today there wasn’t any drama that I wanted to see, so I have been observing for four hours you know?」

「Yeah. I couldn’t say anything because I was scared.」

「Yes-, it’s scary! People who I never saw entering keep coming out  from the house! Just what’s going on! And recently the police officers  are patrolling around here too often! And not too long ago there was  this abnormal presence from their garden! Besides there are also people  who looked like mafia or people who clearly aren’t civilian visiting!  Just what’s going on!」

The mafia looking people were in other words the group of Director  Magdanese of Britain’s security bureau when they visited during the  Vatican incident. The men in black riding the black cars in charge of  protecting the director. Magdanese herself wasn’t giving off an  atmosphere of a decent person.

The people who clearly weren’t civilian were the disciples of Yaegashi-style and government officials like Fukube.

The many things happening since Nagumo Hajime’s return from his class’s disappearance.

The housewife across the street had witnessed all of them! Even her  husband couldn’t avert his eyes from how she was trembling hard with a  pale look.

His gaze ran through his house that still had remaining unpaid loan,  then he resolved himself to speak to his wife about the thing that he  had actually been thinking all this time since things became hectic with  Nagumo family.

「……Let’s move.」

「Ha? I absolutely don’t wanna though?」

The wife looked at her husband as though he had lost his mind. Just  what is this person saying even though they haven’t even finished paying  the loan for this house? Her gaze said. Her expression was serious  despite looking like she almost lost her sanity just before this.

「Eh, no, but, you’re scared right?」

「Yes, it’s scary. It’s strange no matter how you look at it,  Nagumo-san’s place. You’re happy because you can look a lot of beauties  from there though. How many times it has been for you to go to work with  a sloppy face after Remia-san greeted you hmm? Dear, have you perhaps  been aiming for the timing when Remia-san go to send off Myuu-chan?」

「That doesn’t matter at all right now! I’m worried about your mental health here!」

Ride the momentum to get through this!

The husband yelled as though to say that. The wife said this to her husband who was like that.

「My mental health……it’s in extremely good state. Or rather, because  too many things are going on so often since Hajime-kun returned home, I  can’t stop feeling excited every day! Something like a normal daily  life……that kind of daily life without any thrill will be absolutely  unbearable! If you want to move then do it yourself!」

「Ah, that’s what you mean……」

The wife gestured with her hand ‘shuh shuh’ to her husband. The  husband sat back down on the sofa. His gaze immediately returned to the  TV screen. It seemed that Mountain Fuji was letting out smoke. What a  disaster, perhaps this is also related to Nagumo-san’s place, haha……he  muttered the absolutely correct answer inside his heart while healing  his heart with the dinner-time drink that didn’t really taste good.

「Ah!? A silver haired beauty broke the second floor’s window by  jumping out through it! Aah, she fell on the ground with her head……she  was definitely got thrown out! Look-, there is a girl holding a knife at  the window!」

The wife was witnessing everything even today. Of Nagumo house’s abnormality, from the curtain’s gap.

With a scared face of someone enjoying a haunted mansion.

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And, about the girl holding a knife who sent fairy Etemp flying from the window of Hajime’s room――Yuuka.

「Yuuka-chi, calm down~」

「Looking at this scene normally, it’s totally the event of a murder case isn’t it?」

「Shaddup! This is because you guys are making fun of me!」

As usual, Yuuka was angrily lifting the corner of her eyes after she  got teased about her relationship with Hajime and Etemp went too far  with her joke that she got shoulder thrown out of the site――Hajime’s  room.

Also, she went too far by pushing down Yuuka on Hajime’s bed and wrapping her with the bed’s blanket.

Yuuka’s face almost blushed boiling red from the fact that it was  Hajime’s bed she was on, but she snapped when the grinning Nana and  Taeko readied their camera, and when even her parents and Shuu &  Sumire were peeking into the room also while grinning.

Embarrassment was power. With that she performed a magnificent escape & shoulder throw.

「Ah, sorry! I broke the window――」

「Yeah, really. Please reflect on yourself, Ka-chan.」

「Who are you calling Ka-chan! Or rather, don’t stand behind me!」

She protested hard at Etemp who instantly flew back inside like a  phantom. During that time, somehow the window frame shined and the  window glass was repaired automatically. It seemed that there was an  artifact of regeneration magic set up somewhere in this house. It seemed  that Nagumo house had been installed with self-repair function before  she knew it.

「Yuuka, it’s already midnight. Not just the neighbors, the other  people who are already asleep will also get disturbed even if they are  underground. What you did is appalling.」

「Geez, my daughter is just not honest at all……I’m really sorry, Sumire-san.」

Yuuka’s father――Hiroshi chided his daughter while the mother Yuuri  spoke with a troubled expression. Their daughter just threw out someone  from the second floor even though it was an inhuman existence despite  the human appearance but……from the way the parents ignored that, it  should be said that Sonobe family had gotten infected quite seriously  too.

Sumire and Shuu who also ignored the throwing as expected replied  「Preposterous!」 and responded with a serious face as though they were  preaching logic.

「What are you saying Yuuri-san. Being tsundere is a status. That’s just Yuuka-chan’s good side.」

「Exactly. This cuteness isn’t something that can be obtained just in a  day. Even Hajime seem to hold Yuuka-chan in high regard, so we will  always warmly welcome her anytime!」

The parents were getting heated up by themselves. And when it came to the embarrassment and discomfort that they were causing.

Yuuka’s face couldn’t turn any redder than right now as she crouched down.

……While the city was put under a strict watch by the cooperation between Yaegashi family and the local polices.

With the ascertainment of the mastermind’s true identity and the  drastic development of the situation, currently the families of the  classmates were taking refugee in Nagumo house.

There was no problem during the school trip thanks to Myuu’s combat  force, but the majority of that force right now was currently out with  Myuu to Kyoto. Half of the classmates headed by Yuuka were standing  guard here, but in preparation of the worst case, they were staying  awake for the whole night today.

Each of the refugees were asked to spend time in their own room that  was like a hotel room in the underground space that was expanded using  space magic.

Just in case, Hajime and others had taken care of all the enemy  agents in the surrounding area, and Fukube’s subordinates were also  laying out a security net in the area, so there had been no particular  problem occurring so far.

And so the atmosphere in Nagumo house wasn’t heavy. Perhaps that was  why, Yuuka couldn’t avoid from getting teased about her relationship  with Hajime.

Not only by her classmates, but even by the parents.

That’s not true!

The more she denied like that, for some reason the more the surrounding’s gaze at her became warmer.

Whyyy!

She could only cry like that while performing Charism* Guard in her mental state.

Though even that tickled the hearts of the parents and made them went 「So cuteee」.

「And so, Ka-chan. How is the scent of master’s bed――」

「More importantly! Just where is Netemp!」

Change it, change! That topic is still better than this!

Yuuka yelled with such intention.

「Mu, what is it. Are you dissatisfied with me? Why in the world?」

「Because you are a lump of dissatisfaction compressed into a human shape.」

So insulting!

Even while thinking that, because Yuuka-chan’s  gaze was gradually turning into that of a murderer (knives were also  slipping out from inside her sleeves), Etemp answered the question with a  pout.

「If you’re looking for my foolish sister, she has been in the Miniature Garden this whole time.」

「Miniature Garden? You mean the world inside the treasure warehouse. What is she doing there when there is emergency like this?」

「It’s exactly because there is an emergency. It’s annoying but, my  foolish little sister is more useful for master than me for this  situation.」

「? What do you mean?」

「Just like how I have reincarnated into a beautiful fairy who possess  so much loveliness that there won’t be anyone like me ever again in the  future」

「You will become even more lovely if you cut down on that excessive confidence by some you know?」

「My foolish little sister has hijacked the exclusive android of the  SF world’s boss character. With that blasphemous method, she slyly  achieved an extremely deplorable reincarnation into something like a  maid robot that is self-evident to be an overly blatant attempt to curry  favor to master.」

「Do you notice that you yourself are a hopeless fairy who is too  blatant in slandering your little sister to make yourself look good?」

「Because of that! When it comes to mechanical analysis and  calculation, adjusting the element conversion system, and programming,  she is in the level that is beyond anyone else. What an annoyance.」

「You don’t need to say the last sentence.」

「Do you know? Master personally bestowed her with a maid uniform! Even though I made my own outfit!」

「That information is even more unnecessary.」

「That shitty bi*ch!」

「Shouldn’t you reexamine the meaning of loveliness one more time?」

Taeko, Nana, and then the parents of Nagumo family and Sonobe Family  were whispering to each other. When it came to Yuuka’s uprightness, or  her nature to react properly even toward attitude that was screwing  around, that kind of aspect of her made her really easy to tease, so  cute, they discussed.

Anyway, Netemp Mother, aka Netemp-san who had apparently transformed  into a maid robot was currently in charge of an important duty in the  Miniature Garden.

In that case, she still had to accompany this annoying creature that  was rushing headlong toward an annoying direction for a bit more.

「Nagumo……come back quicklyyy」

Yuuka muttered a bit of lamentation.

Of course, all the parents writhed while going 「Ara ara my my!」 like  Remia when they heard that. At the same time her close friends were  securing the moment in their smartphone with rough breathing.

There, Remia came up to the second floor. She saw the situation  inside the room and made an expression of someone looking at some  troubling people while asking if they also wanted to eat together  because she had cooked the dinner for the other classmates who had the  turn of standing guard.

Yuuka took advantage of the offer eagerly. However in the middle she  let out 「……Ah」. She sensed the air of anxiety that was subtly drifting  around Remia.

「……Remia-san, I would cook the dinner if you just asked me.」

「Yuuka-san?」

「You are worried right, about Myuu. ……Please don’t force yourself.」

Her daughter went to a place that was like a battlefield. There was no way she wasn’t worried as a mother.

Or perhaps, she couldn’t calm down unless she was doing something, that was why she made the dinner.

Although, even if that was the case it should be better if she wasn’t  doing it alone. Just like how it was better to eat a meal together  rather than alone, it was also more fun to cook together rather than  doing it alone. Yuuka knew that very well.

Remia’s eyes widened slightly at that consideration from Yuuka, then she smiled happily as she went 「My my ufufu」.

「Thank you very much, Yuuka-san. But I’m fine you know?」

「Is, that so?」

「Yes. After all Shizuku-san and the demon rangers are also together with her.」

That was why she would believe in her daughter and wait, Remia said.  Hearing that, Etemp who was considered as the trump card for this  house’s protection, which sounded nice in paper but currently she was  simply a mass production factory of stress for everyone raised her hand.

Yuuka asked 「What?」 at her while both her hands were holding knives  tightly. Nana and Taeko were making twitching expression saying 「Crap,  we made fun of her too much. She is defaulting to equipping knives while  conversing……」 while standing by at both sides of Yuuka. They casually  held her hands in place.

「There is Arachne at Ojou-sama’s side, so we can watch the situation  over there if the Arachne here share its vision, how about it?」

「You’re giving a respectable opinion!?」

The knives slipped from Yuuka’s hands and stabbed the floor. Just a  bit more and the knives would hit the toes of Nana and Taeko. The two of  them screamed 「Hyaa!?」.

「Oh, that’s good isn’t it, Remia-chan. Let’s watch it.」

「This is also a good chance to check the friends that Myuu has. Or  rather Etemp-tan, you should mention it quicker that such thing is  possible.」

Remia also nodded at Sumire and Shuu’s words.

「No, because of getting this body, I became unable to use mechanical  part to project image……I didn’t want to give any chance for my sisters  inside the arachnes to get achievement.」

「There is a limit even in being narrow-minded.」

Yuuka’s tsukkomi was sharp as usual.

An Arachne which was Etemp’s sister of unknown number came out from a “treasure warehouse” with a screech of

Ii-

and landed on Hajime’s desk.

And then, its movement stopped slightly before its red eyes flickered  *beep beep*. Then a tip of its food reached out to connect with a port  of Hajime’s PC and its display turned on.

Then, the screen showed a glitchy image while sound came out clearly.

『Return! Come back here-, Hujiao(tiger dragon)! Why are you ignoring me!?』

『Shit-, even though the binding should be holding still!』

『Bafuku! What’s with that face!? I never saw you making that kind of fawning face before!?』

『W-what the hell, what the hell are youuu!! Are you Tsuchimikado’s caster!?』

『Nice to meet you, I’m Myuu! What are you name uncles! Nano!』

『You’re, introducing yourself!?』

It was the voices of multiple men that were filled with confusion and Myuu’s energetic voice giving a greeting.

The voices 「Aa~」 of understanding echoed inside the room. Perhaps the  inhuman creatures that were employed by the opponents got snatched  away, or rather became Myuu’s friend, that must be what was going on.

Sure enough, what was shown in the image when it got clearer was……

Countless strange fishes and mysterious animals swimming in the air  were snuggling obediently on Myuu. That sight caused the people wearing  pentagram mask――most likely the casters of “Shadow Monk” to be thrown  into complete pandemonium.

「Fumu, it looks like the casters of “Shadow Monk” are trying to  capture the apparitions of Kyoto, including those that are sealed in the  temples and shrines there. However Ojou-sama and others got in their  way, which lead to this situation.」

Throughout the process, the monsters of the main land that they  employed――especially all of the aquatic type among them seemed to be  ignoring the order from their master to send love call at Myuu.

A human faced monster was immediately looking lovestruck after Myuu immediately called it with a pet name.

「Myuuu」

Remia covered her face with both hands.

「It seems that Ojou-sama’s friends that has been in Kyoto since the  beginning added with the friends of the friends are splitting up to  capture the “Shadow Monks”. Right now they seem to be in a place called  Oikeniwa? A place located in Kyoto Imperial Palace. Apparently that  place is a first rate “dragon’s den” and Ojou-sama and her friends are  protecting that place. If left alone, it looks like the enemy is going  to toss in Ojou-sama’s friends into the dragon’s den in order to pollute  it.」

The picture of Shizuku with a distant look was projected beside Myuu.  Sometimes her right hand would blur. Most likely she was cutting  something with a godspeed unsheathing. The sheath of her black katana  itself was wrapped in a faint shine, so perhaps she was also cutting  some curses with sword skill that could tear apart even the immaterial.

But, that was all that she was doing. The apparitions that betrayed  (?) their masters and demon rangers were turning the table on the  opponents.

「It looks like Ojou-sama’s friends that were captured and bound by  the “Shadow Monk” has also been mostly rescued. It seems they are also  going to protect the cornerstones of the barrier. Fumu, as expected from  the young lady. She might really form the Hyakki Yakkou at this rate!」

「Myuuuuuuuuu-」

Remia mama crumbled down. She knew that many apparitions were man  eater or disaster with a lot of terrifying legends. She knew because she  was worried and studied about those beings.

It would still be better if the number of the friends could be  counted with the fingers of two hands, but seeing her daughter rushing  headlong on the path of “can I make a hundred inhuman friends?” for real  made the mama’s mental state to be burdened heavily.

There, suddenly,

『How can this be! You cursed man-eating fiends, how dare you swarm such innocent little girl like that!』

A voice of a young man interrupted. The place that was already  wrapped in chaos was visited by a youth wearing a fox mask while making a  cool pose.

『Young ladies, you can rest assured now! Justice is here!!』

『We will manage. Please leave.』

Shizuku-san’s dead tone replied swiftly!

But, Justice aka Tsuchimikado Taiga didn’t get discouraged by such extremely scathing reply. Or rather, he wasn’t listening!

『Accursed monsters! You all better leave that girl alone right away!  And then all of you scoundrels who are laying waste to the capital of  Kyo! I have already defeated your comrades! I got lured away from the  city due to a cowardly scheme but, justice will always come back no  matter how many times! As long as there are people who cry for help!』

Justice was making cool pose and movement with excessive sharpness in  them *shuba- shubababa-* while at the end he spread out several charms  in fanning shape in both hands with a posed look.

Everyone realized,

aa, he must be Aby’s victim huh…….

『Please wait, Justice-san! These children aren’t bad people nano!』

『What? Still, little girl, you don’t understand just how terrifying of beings they are――』

『It doesn’t matter nano! We all can become friends if our hearts are  connected with each other nano! Isn’t that right, everyone!』

All the apparitions nodded energetically together. Justice staggered in shock.

『How……can this be……. What is important is the heart-. I, have  forgotten such important thing despite touting up justice around! It’s  you who are none other than the true Justice!』

Everyone thought. Perhaps, even all of the “Shadow Monks” there were also thinking the same.

What the hell is with this farce……

.

『My justice is about to run out after the battles that came one after  another. I thought that perhaps this is where I will die but, fuh.  Young lady!』

『Yes nano!』

『There are still enemies. Apparitions are serving them but, if it’s  you then surely you will be able to become friend with those new  apparitions too! That is your path of justice! Then I shall commit  justice together with you!』

『Everyone! Let’s carry out justice together nano!』

The apparitions somehow got into the mood and roared 『oOOOOOO-』.  Somehow the casters of “Shadow Monk” were shrinking back by the abnormal  pitch.

Justice paid no mind to that and directed a gallant smile toward Shizuku too while offering his hand.

『Now, you too shall hold justice――』

「――”Soul Demolition”」

*ZAN-* An invisible slash cut Justice. That was how it looked like. Justice cried 「Ah!?」 and fell.

The place, fell silent.

Justice gasped and jumped back on his feet. There wasn’t any external  wound on him. It seemed that he only lost consciousness just for a  moment.

Shizuku’s slash that could cut something optionally if it was an  immaterial existence seemed to cut his consciousness just for an  instant.

Just what the hell did you do!

Justice almost protested, but, he saw Shizuku’s smile and screamed 「hih」.

『Originally this was caused by my friend’s clumsiness, so I apologized that I reflexively used force.』

『Eh, ah, yes?』

『But, please stop yelling justice over and over in my presence while also inciting Myuu-chan. If not』

『I-if not?』

『I won’t be able to stop myself from punching your face until you cry and apologize.』

『……I thought that it will be a good time soon to pick up freedom too.』

Justice was defeated. It seemed that Shizuku-san didn’t really like  to have justice pushed on her. Because of various things that happened  in the past with a certain childhood friend.

Shizuku’s dead gaze rolled toward Myuu. Myuu let out a 『Hih』 from her mouth.

『Myuu-chan, I won’t tell you to choose your friends. But, being  indiscriminate is not admirable. Don’t just get carried away by the  place’s mood, look properly at the other party too. After doing that, if  it looks like you can really make friend with them, talk to Remia-san  about it. You don’t want to make her worry right?』

『Y-yes nano.』

After saying what she should say as a big sister, she gave a smile at  Myuu who was nodding her head up and down. Like that, she did a  skillful thing of erasing her smile just from her eyes while running her  gaze at the apparitions around.

『Please remember. Regardless of what feeling you harbor toward that  child, I won’t let any of you get off lightly with just cutting you down  if any of you harm her. ――I’ll twist up absolutely every little bit of   your legends.』

Surely, perhaps, such thing wouldn’t be really desirable for them.  Strangely they didn’t think that she wouldn’t be able to do that. Ah,  this was someone who would really do it if they said that they would do  it. They were made to understand that as apparition. After that they  could do nothing except nodding up and down obediently.

『Right, then let’s go without letting our guard down.』

The enemy’s reinforcement came rushing in that timing, so Shizuku smiled cheerfully and clapped her hands once.

The apparitions kept sending concerned glances at Shizuku even while  they started fighting with desperation somewhere inside them to try and  win some trust 『We are fighting for Ojou-sama’s sake! We don’t have any  wicked thought at all! It’s true』. Perhaps that was why their strength  couldn’t be compared with the apparitions that were under the binding of  the enemy and simply carried out order.

Shizuku cut apart all types of curses that were coming at them, while  Justice too was toying with the opponents using a freedom way of  fighting while keeping his tension suppressed, so their defensive line  was solid.

「Fumu. With Shizuku-sama’s protection as well as monitoring, it looks  like there won’t be any problem there with just Ojou-sama’s combat  force taking care of things.」

There wasn’t any objection at Etemp’s conclusion.

But, only Remia alone was,

「I wonder, how many friends I’ll get introduced to when they come home? Ufufu……」

She got a slightly distant look in her eyes.

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At the base of Omnibus, the anti demon organization that was located underground Vatican.

At a space that was particularly big even there――the great hall that  served as the training ground as well as the experimentation site, a  violent roar of a beast was reverberating.

The sound was so loud that anyone would reflexively cover their ears.  Furthermore it was a roar of a dragon that originally would send any  kind of creatures to fall into fear.

However, there was nobody there who harbored any fear to that being. Rather they were feeling pity for it.

Because, that roar sounded like a crying voice somehow.

「Nuuhn!!」

Raw sound of destruction and shockwave surged out each time that low voice of fighting spirit resounded.

The four entrances that connected into the great hall were blocked by  the Omnibus members who were staying behind, but they were just  standing still while looking completely speechless.

「Uwaa, just what is this situation?」

「My, Shia-san. You are quick.」

The one who entered the training ground was Shia. The one who  answered her was the former exorcist, the one who was considered as like  the mother of everyone here, Madam Maya who had been notified  beforehand of her arrival.

She had already retired and right now she was given the role of  managing the secret passage, but currently she was dressed in black  combat uniform with a large bow hanging from her shoulder.

「Your warning really saved us. Sure enough, dragons almost manifested  from the holy relics in our possession that are related to them.  Patrick is facing it right now.」

Looking closer to the scene once more, there was something at the  center of the training ground that was sinking into the ground. A dragon  that only had its upper body manifested was there with the chief of  Omnibus, Patrick Dime straddling it.

And then, for some reason his upper body was bare naked. His macho  body that was unthinkable for an old man was sweating with vapor rising  from it while his muscles were undulating――he was giving a beating down  on the dragon’s head.

His expression could only be described as the expression of a man-eating fiend even if it was understated.

In one hand he was holding a large metal book. He was using it as a  blunt weapon like a war hammer. His other hand was holding a chain that  was connected to the metal book. He was shutting the dragon’s mouth by  wrapping the chain around the dragon’s jaw. In addition it seemed he was  also choking the dragon’s neck with it.

Each time the voice

nuuhn

resounded, scales were smashed and  scattered to the surrounding. No matter how fiercely it struggled, he  was balancing himself like in a rodeo and wouldn’t stop his beat down!  Perhaps it was just their imagination, but it looked like the dragon’s  eyes were starting to get teary……

Nuuhn!!! GUOOOOOOOOH!!

「That person, is a human desu?」

「That question is often asked. But, he is really a human.」

「I came after hearing that there are quite a number of relics that are related to dragon here though……」

「That’s the last one. In the end Patrick beat up all of them.」

「……I’m not needed for this from the look of it. Just in case I also  bring some weapons and barrier artifacts that are effective against  apparitions but……that director alone is already enough by himself isn’t  it?」

Nuuhn!! GIIYAAAAAAAAAA!!

Thinking about it once more, it was an old man who couldn’t be  subdued even by Kousuke unless he created clones. He must be  strengthening his body using magic power unconsciously, even so he was  like the incarnation of violence.

Madam Maya shrugged at the half exasperated and half impressed Shia while changing the topic.

Just in case she was standing by with her sacred weapon, a bow and  arrows so that she could give back up anytime, but it looked like it  wouldn’t be necessary.

「”Shadow Monk” was it? Do you think they will also try something here?」

「H~mm, I wonder. I was told to bring barrier artifact to here because  this place apparently is also a first class spiritual land but……no  matter how many manpower they have, they are dispatching most of their  combat force to Fuji so I came here just in case you know? Their  secondary target is the sanctuary after all, and our activity in Vatican  stand out too much so we don’t think that this place will get  targeted.」

「The fundamental reason why they desire Japan so much is that then.」

According to Hajime, the land with nice circulation of willpower was  temporarily termed as 'sacred ground”, and it seemed that Japan was an  extraordinary one. Vatican was also a first rate land, not to mention  the sanctuary, but they still couldn’t compare to Japan at all.

The reason for that went without saying. That was because Japan was actually a land that wasn’t a land.

「To think, that Japan itself is a dragon……」

「Thank you for lending us Claire-san and the others. In exchange I’ll put up a barrier properly here.」

「Japan itself might become a great disaster, so there is no way we won’t cooperate. Please don’t mind it.」

Funnuuu!!! iYAAAAAAAAA!?

「……That dragon, is it crying?」

「An exorcist that made even demon cry, that’s Patrick.」

As expected, Vatican would be fine with Director Dime here……Shia  thought as she tossed away her worry for the people who might become  relative through the connection with Claudia.

A thought befitting a warrior bunny 「I wonder who is stronger, this  person or my father?」 showed up from her face just for a bit.

Patrick who got power, or Karm who got technique.

In the end……

NUUWAARAAAAAAAA!!

aAAAAAAAAA~~

The dragon raised a particularly loud roar and cry at the end before vanishing without being able to manifest fully.

After that, the figure of Director Dime raised his fist toward the sky while vapor was rising from his upper body.

That was truly the figure of the victor.

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A beat later.

The people of Omnibus burst with loud cheers.

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