CH 21

Great Sage 21 – Tonight’s Flaming Death Fist is Different than Usual

We exit into the parking lot in front of the building.

“I can’t see Queen anywhere”

Maya-chan looks up to the sky in concern,

“The whole building….. all the way up to the sky is enclosed in a barrier”

Haruka frowns in disgust.

“Were going to charge in, but first let’s inspect our equipment”

Haruka must be accustomed to this because she checks over her western style hand fan and recently made shikigami while a flustered Maya-chan watches.

“This is the basics of combat, with preparation there is nothing to fear”

Slightly concerned, I walk up to Maya-chan…..

I bring out a glove with knuckle guards and leather breastplate from storage magic and use reinforcement magic to adjust the size.

“Hey, what’s that?”

“These gloves were used by the legendary berserker, they increase the force of your blows so its perfect for someone as ferocious as you”

Maya-chan accepts them with a somewhat twisted face.

“…..I see, t-thanks. So, the other one is?”

“Armour worn by the Amazons, it makes your body feel lighter and quickens your movement. It’s an excellent piece of armour that has resistance to both physical and magical attacks. Not to mention, it’ll be able to hide that”

I look at her jiggling chest when…..

With the gloves equipped, Maya-chan throws a splendid uppercut towards me.

×　×　×　×　×

Entering the barrier revealed a battlefield.

The familiar scent of blood mixed with screams, the smell of gunpowder and the sound of gunshots.

The men in suits have formed a barricade of chairs and desks on the first floor reception, shooting their automatic rifles at the sword wielding demon army and their giant ogres.

Proceeding to the center of the barricade, there are injured people collapsed on the reception counter. Maya-chan and Haruka rush to them when,

“Samon, Umon, hold on!”

I hear a familiar voice.

“Yuikuu, what are you doing here”

“You’re….. I see, Alona did mention say something like that. That you’ve become the bodyguard of this place”

“More importantly”

Maya-chan removes the gloves in a hurry and begins treatment on the long haired siblings covered in blood.

“The head temple has been making strange moves, so we’ve been watching this building”

“Head temple?”

“The ones up top are divided between those who oppose the Shimogami and those who want to remain neutral you see. The guys in the neutral faction have been spending their money flashily and as a result I’ve been stuck with nothing but strange jobs”

So Yuikuu and the others did a personal investigation and discovered they were related to this case when,

“We were suddenly attacked”

Yuikuu clenches his teeth as he looks at the brothers’ wounds.

One has their leg twisted while the internal organs of the other can be seen protruding from the gap in their leather jacket.

Maya-chan uses healing magic over and over but their condition doesn’t improve. Her bloodstained hand trembles as she takes it out from the leather jacket.

“It’s impossible for me….. please, help”

She mutters, looking up to me.

“You did well”

I pat Maya-chan on the head and look around the reception desk.

Inside is over twenty injured and Haruka who is running around treating them.

“Yuikuu, the other injured?”

“I gathered all the injured on the first floor here, it seems the guys on the second and third floor have been made into hostages”

I nod and create a gate to Onsen Inari while deploying healing magic over the whole floor.

“I….. can’t believe it”

Alongside Maya-chan’s murmur, the injured begin to heal.

“I’ve contained my power to avoid excessive restoration. Just in case, you should transport the injured, Maya-chan, Haruka”

Yuikuu walks up to the long haired man whose consciousness has returned.

“Are you alright, Samon!”

“Aaah, brother….. the pain has disappeared. Am I going to paradise”

Maya-chan checks on the recovery of his abdomen which was gouged out,

“It seems you won’t be going to paradise yet”

She smiles with tears in her eyes.

“Even though I’m a practitioner of Buddhism, to think I would meet an angel”

The long haired man smiles and grabs Maya-chan’s trembling hand.

I’m sure it was his way of trying to calm Maya-chan down but Yuikuu takes the staff in his hand and smacks his head.

“Elder brother, what was that for”

“If you can move then help carry the injured, Samon”

“I’m Umon though”

He lets go of Maya-chan’s hand and with the other brother whose leg has healed walks towards Haruka,

“Let me help, hey what’s your name?”

“Ah, I’ll carry that so go rest a bit”

The two laugh.

“They’re quite capable men”

I’m impressed by their vitality,

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It sounds pitiful but I was prepared to part with them in this life”

Yuikuu bows deeply.

“This is related to my contract with Alona-san, it’s work….. so please raise your head”

Yuikuu takes a breath and raises his head,

“You’re not an honest person are you, just like my brothers”

He looks away and mutters.

“I’ll deal with all the monsters here. Take all the people still fighting and evacuate”

“Leave that to Umon and Samon. It seems my fellow anti demon warriors are on the second floor and I can feel the presence of that old man on the third. If I’m there my way of fighting will be of some reference and I’m curious about that [Curse] the old man put on you”

Yuikuu picks up his conical hat that had fallen down,

“Besides, tonight’s Flaming Death Fist is different that usual”1

From the gap in his hat, he looks to me and smiles.