Chapter 560 |
Defensive Battle of All Worlds ⑥ Each’s Defensive Battle Third
「Ooooooho-ho-ho-ho-!!」
Imposing and pomp appearance. Clad in dress armor that was a combination of shiny golden armor and crimson dress, countless slashes flew from the jet black great scythe in an arc. The twelve octopuses thing flying at the sky were blown away by the blond ringlets haired girl.
Behind her were women who looked the very picture of “female knights” with the dress armors that were the combination of silver armors and vermilion dresses. They were appearing one after another from inside a pitch black wall towering at the middle of the intersection.
The grotesque octopus things would usually be thought as balloons or something like that by anyone that saw them. People would guess that they were the prank of an attention seeker somewhere or an event being held by some kind of company.
But, the hundreds and thousands of the people present there were all feeling it without any exception. An instinctual feeling of revulsion and the killing intent that was sending chills into their backs radiating from the octopus things.
Perhaps that was why. Nobody understood what was said or the situation at the slightest but,
――Let’s repay the favor even just a little
For some reason they could easily believe those words that were mysteriously audible throughout the place said by the fearlessly laughing blond ringlets haired woman.
Thank god. We’re saved……as the civilians thought that――
「――This isn’t really working!」
Everyone almost fell down hearing that.
「No, just now it was completely a scene where the monster get defeated wasn’t it!?」
Words that represented the voices inside a lot of the people there flew out. The university friends of Hajime and co, one of the scary faced bunch, the member of boxing club Ikeda-kun was the one who said it.
Reacting to that voice with her sharp ears, the scythe girl whose appearance and behavior and also atmosphere were excessively gorgeous――Hoelscher’s first imperial princess Tracy D Hoelscher’s face snapped toward him.
「Hih!?」
Ikeda-kun had a scary face but inside he was an exceedingly normal youth, perhaps even delicate. He completely cowered with fright under the gaze of her highness the dazzling imperial princess who was clad in innately overwhelming aura toward others.
But, at the same time it made his heart pounding a little!
Because, despite her flashiness and heavy pressure she was a super beauty!
Tracy narrowed her eyes at that. Because Ikeda looked like a rare creature with the way he skillfully blushed a little even while cowering……was not the reason. Men who became like that after getting involved with Tracy weren’t few in number so she was used to it.
And so, the cause lied in other. She was feeling confused that the majority of the civilians still weren’t running away in this situation.
But, the combat maniac but intelligent Tracy immediately realized. This was how dull the reaction of people who had lived all this time in a peaceful world that was unrelated with supernatural phenomenon.
Therefore, she took a deep breath――
「Listen! All of you commoners!!」
She let out a voice that was filled with “authority” as though to rouse soldiers in battlefield.
It was a way of addressing that modern Japanese people would never hear if they lived normally. The common people were astonished rather than offended hearing that.
「You’ve felt it haven’t you? Even though you’re just unenlightened plebeians, your soul should be feeling it!! The threat of those monsters!」
Her voice was really well-projected. Even though she wasn’t even using megaphone, with just her base voice she reached until far away and very clearly at that. People also weren’t really bothered by her natural disparagement!
「In that case」
She was wearing an artifact of “Language Comprehension” but, in the end its function was only translation. Her smooth articulation, the beautiful voice and vocalization that were like opera singer, and all those factors working together to produce the effect of making people wanting to lend her their ears were truly from her innate disposition as an imperial princess.
「Run away already!!」
Her tone was like she was scolding little kids. It was electrifying. The completely bewildered people gasped and returned to their senses from that.
Right after that, screams rose as though to give their survival instincts a push on the back.
The flying octopus things who were blown away further above by the countless slashes were shrieking. Even though they should be far above at the sky, those terrifying shrieks felt like they were directly sent from right beside their ears.
It gave them chilling goosebumps. People who reflexively covered their ears and crouched down appeared one after another.
「This battlefield is entrusted to me, the first imperial princess of Hoelscher Empire, Tracy D Hoelscher!!」
The voice was clear and dignified like flowers blooming proudly to oppose the dreadful shrieks. The voice was overflowing with confidence, which encouraged the hearts as though telling them that if it was this people saying it then they could only believe that it was so unconditionally.
「Turn your back from here without worry! For the sake of your own life! Now, run!!」
A beat passed.
「Let’s run-!!」
「Escape!!」
Dozens of people raised their voices to carry out the princess’s command. Yonekura and Nemoto were also among them.
Screams rose. There were people who ran on their own as fast as they could, and people who roused those around them, urging them to run too, and pulling the other’s hands while running.
「C’mon, stand up!」
「Ah, s-sorry. I can’t feel my legs……」
One of the scary looking quartets, Aoki along with his fellow judo club member Gotanda-kun urged one of Shia’s friends, a girl who had very short hairstyle and was wearing jeans that really suited her obstinate look. She desperately tried to stand up, but her legs wouldn’t listen to her.
「Kh, sorry! You can slap me or whatever later!」
「Hyaah!?」
As the result, Gotanda-kun lifted up the girl. He lifted her into a princess carry. It was like he was lifting her as easily as a feather quilt. Without pause he turned around toward the direction of the shopping center together with his friends.
Seeing that, Aoki-kun and Mukouzaka-kun became despondent. But the other girls yelled at them 「What’re you guys doing!」 angrily so they also started running in hurry.
Meanwhile,
「Akari-san!?」
Nemoto yelled. Because Fudou Akari was starting to run at a different direction from his friends.
Her direction was toward an elderly salaryman who was also unable to run away because his legs wouldn’t listen to him. She easily lifted that man on her shoulder, further she also lifted up a woman who was crouching and trembling behind a store’s sign.
As expected from the one who got idolized by a lot of seniors and juniors like a certain fighting game character――a real Mari*a-sama. Even her mettle was that of a big sis.
「I’m sorry! But I can’t just ignore them!」
「Aah geez! But, even that side of yours is lovely!」
「! D-don’t say something so embarrassing at this kind of situation!」
Seeing them Yonekura and his childhood friend who was also his fiancée smiled warmly despite the grim situation. Their feelings that were like getting washed away in block of ice became a bit warmer.
It seemed it was also the same with Tracy. Fuh, a smile formed on her lips. But, her expression changed immediately.
「Everyone!! Here’s my command!!」
「「「「「「「「「「Ma’am」」」」」」」」」」
*GAN-* She slammed the handle of her great scythe on the ground. The asphalt broke and the impact ran through the ground. Even those who were still in a daze jumped from getting bathed in the physical shockwave and they ran away in panic.
Even while that was happening the monsters were rapidly descending. She didn’t flinch seeing that. Rather the way she was smiling viciously was terrifying but also beautiful.
The female knights who responded to her were also filled with spirit that shook the air.
「Defend this place to the death!!」
For the sake of the homeland of “that person” they were greatly indebted to, and the people living in it!!
The reply came in the form of the adjutant screaming the order and a bombardment of magic.
Magic of various colors were fired toward the sky. All of them were higher than mid-rank. They were high class combined magic from multiple people working together. Among them, there were also highest class magic that came from the squad that included officer class in it.
Perhaps it was just as to be expected from the squad members who were handpicked by the imperial princess personally. It was strength that was unbelievable coming from fulltime maids.
There were also other choice forces dispatched from the imperial army. Or rather, they were the main force. Even now they were getting deployed through “gate” to places that Laila and others designated.
But, magic bombardment that didn’t lose, and even surpassed some of those fulltime military personnel was streaking through the sky of the shopping district.
「Light damage! Mid rank can only serve as smokescreen or stopping action! Highest class is required to inflict noticeable damage!」
「Pay it no mind! Just keep shoot and shoot and shoot! Focus on gathering their hate toward us!」
The unit was deploying to the intersection in circle formation.
They were firing magic barrages so the octopus things attacking from the sky couldn’t reach the ground while fixing the enemies’ attention toward themselves.
Those octopus things opened their jaws while keeping their heads directed to below. The way the heads opened was too extremely grotesque to be described as “flower blooming”. From there black sticky liquids flew like cannon shells.
Barriers were immediately raised, but as expected in this aspect too just middle class magic from one or two people was lacking in hardness. They were smashed like glass, but, at least the trajectories were changed to land on the ground.
Asphalt broke to pieces. At the same time the sticky liquids were sinking in.
The liquid was melting or perhaps rotting what it touched. In any case if it hit them directly, it didn’t look like they would get away lightly due to the side effect of it.
The sticky liquids poured down like hail as though to oppose barrage with barrage. The formation and the unit’s barrage became slightly disordered from it.
One of the things slipped through the barrage’s gap with a liquid-like movement. It was targeting the backs of the running away civilians. It attempted to launch a descending assault with speed that obeyed gravity.
Strangely ahead of the monster was Ikeda and others.
「W-watch out-」
「Nooo-」
A girl reflexively ducked and stopped running. Ikeda covered her under his body without hesitation.
But, her highness the princess was always true to her words. Therefore,
「Impudent desuwa!!」
She yelled with a line like a certain bugged rabbit somewhere while stepping hard on the ground with her boots that had their heel parts sharp like high heels.
Immediately, muddy black aura burst out. Even though she wasn’t even the hero, she broke her limit with her own strength. It was the proof that she was a battle maniac.
Her blond ringlets spread out in the air. Like the mane of lion.
Right after that, the ground’s asphalt was smashed. When that fact was registered, Tracy’s figure had already rushed through the barrage to right beside the octopus thing.
*Niiiii-* The corners of her lips rose viciously.
「It’s time for decapitation desuwaa――Egxeeesss!!」
The great scythe that was clad in muddy black haze rotated. Matching Tracy who spun in the air like she was dancing, a slash that was filled plentifully with centrifugal force was swung at the octopus thing.
The great scythe’s blade dug into the area where the many legs were attached on the octopus thing’s head. This attack could cut apart not only the average large tree, but even a thick marble pillar like it was paper scrap, however, it stopped at the middle.
「AHAH! So hard desuwaa!!」
The spear legs stabbed at Tracy in counterattack. And yet, Tracy didn’t even pay it any mind.
Was it due to her trust in her armor? No.
Rather than something like that, it was “because she was absorbed in cutting through an enemy even if it was the kind of enemy that couldn’t be easily cut”.
This was the height of a battle maniac action.
But, the people selected into this unit were people who were attracted toward her even knowing that this imperial princess-sama was a hopelessly battle nut. That was why.
A flash flew in superb timing as though knowing this would happen beforehand. It blew off the spear leg stabbing at Tracy.
「aAAAAAAAA!!」
A loud scream of fighting spirit burst out. With a savage look like a wild beast baring its fangs that a princess should never show, she poured even more strength into the great scythe. She twisted her body even further as though to twist off her own torso!!
A beat.
*Zan-*
The octopus thing’s head and the multiple legs were separated and whirled in the air.
Tracy spun while falling to the ground. Sparks scattered from the friction between asphalt and golden high heels.
In contrast to the wildness of the battle, the slide was elegant like a figure skater performing a spin magnificently.
「H-holy crap……」
Ikeda kept carrying the girl while looking back over his shoulder. The figure of Tracy majestically standing up was right there within a distance that he felt like he could reach if he just stretched out his hand.
*Fuasaa* The way she brushed off her luxurious golden ringlets with one hand was totally picture perfect.
The blunshing on Ikeda-kun’s cheeks deepened even more. His eyes were filled with heated light that was unique to someone whose heart was in the tight grip of yearning.
The girl whose body was snugly leaning on Ikeda’s large body was also watching with eyes wide like saucers in fascination over Ikeda’s shoulder.
Nemoto and others asked 「You guys alright!?」 while running toward the dumbfounded duo.
And then, seeing a genuine princess from so close and feeling the aura she was radiating, they all held their breaths. And when their eyes met with Tracy as she turned her gaze just a little toward them, they blew their fuse a little.
Perhaps that was why. Yonekura reflexively said his thanks for saving their friends while unthinkingly asking. She was obviously a resident of fantasy world. So he thought that just perhaps…
「T-thank you very much! Err, are you, an acquaintance of Nagumo?」
「My?」
Tracy was about to cut off her gaze to return to the battlefield immediately, but she turned back again with her interest piqued.
「Are you that person’s friend?」
「Ah, yes. We are students in the same university with Nagumo, yes, we’re his friends.」
「Myy! What an unbelievable coincidence! This is truly a godsend for me to be able to protect the friends of that great person desuwa! Desuwa desuwa ♪」
The battle maniac’s vicious smile, and perhaps even the atmosphere of an imperial princess that was filled with dignity and grace, they all crumbled instantly. On the contrary, she even put on a smile that wouldn’t be an exaggeration to be described as innocent. It was an adorableness that could make anyone gasp regardless of gender.
But, there was no time to talk leisurely. Shrieks thundered once more. The report from the adjutant came in like lightning.
And so, Tracy made a respectful curtsy at the end to show respect to “that person’s friends”.
「Please, I ask you to send my regards to my lord.」
She left behind a bomb at the end and returned back to the battlefield.
What was the bomb? It was obvious.
They were able to get acquainted with a beauty who looked like she came out from a fairytale in an unreal situation. Wasn’t it fine if they dreamed for a bit? Because, they were already used to it. Seeing dream.
And yet, perhaps sure enough, that woman was just as expected. Apparently she was someone who was devoting her love and respect to a certain you-know-who.
When it involved a certain you-know-who, one woke up from the dream too quickly. That was the problem.
In that case, one could only yell even when they were in a dangerous battlefield dammit!!
「「「Again……it’s Nagumo-kun again huhhhhhhhhh!!」」」
The screams of Ikeda, Aoki, and Mukouzaka’s souls echoed.
The reason Gotanda-kun didn’t participate in the screams of the souls could be easily guessed seeing how he was still carrying the girl whose very short hair and jeans really suited her, and how she was clinging on him really tightly.
By the way, the girl Ikeda was covering was currently looking up at Ikeda-kun with a blank stare……
By any chance, perhaps Ikeda-kun had let slipped his perfect miraculous chance from his grasp……
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The scream 「Kyaaaaaaaah」 rose at the traffic circle in front of the station.
A woman wearing suits was on her butts on the ground. She must have returned home from work.
Naturally. After all to someone who had no way of knowing that a man who was a kind of magician meddling with the perceptions of others had just gotten cut apart and blown away together with his technique, it only looked like that a man suddenly appeared just before their eyes.
A man was falling facing upward while blood sprayed out just a stone throw away. A beat later a hand that was still holding a hatchet fell down.
What a gruesome scene. It was completely an incident. Of course anyone would scream.
The people around who noticed that scream also stopped walking. They all went What, what? and turned their gazes to that direction. Seeing the fallen man with amputated arm instantly made their thoughts paused and they held their breaths.
But, the scream didn’t propagate.
「Am I correct that you are lady Reina, the daughter of Hattori Koutarou-sama?」
「Fua……?」
The voice was calm and soft. And yet dignified tenor could be felt from it. It was a voice that would make the back of anyone who heard it to straighten up.
「A-a maid?」
「My name is Hellina Ashie. I am here to pick you up Lady Reina.」
She bowed a beautiful bow that showed just how much skill she had. It made it known that she was “the real thing” and not just a thin veneer.
She appeared from a black wall of condensed darkness that was currently vanishing. The thirty maids lining up behind Hellina also performed similar curtsy without a single motion looking out of place.
Yes, it was a maid group. They suddenly appeared here even though it wasn’t a place that had maid café. That was the greatest reason of the feeling of unreality.
In addition. Even though they were wearing classical maid uniforms, each of the woman was equipped with weapon.
The jet black western sword that Hellina temporarily held in reverse grip so it wouldn’t get in the way of her curtsy went without saying.
The others were carrying varied weapons like short sword, buckler with sharp tip, small weapons like claw, battle axe and war hammer, spear then great sword and the like. Among them there were also those carrying weapons like a huge metal glove that must be five times the size of their actual arm or something like whip sword.
Well, if a maid group appeared looking like the manifestation of “residents of fiction world”, of course anyone’s attention would be taken away completely.
It couldn’t be helped even if the people became unable to recognize a grievous incident as grievous incident. Is it a shooting for TV or movie……? It was only natural to wonder that.
In fact, Reina too could only stare at Hellina and co with a dumbfounded look, with no sound coming out from her closing and opening mouth.
Hellina paid no mind of Reina’s state and quickly straightened up.
「Clear out the place.」
Five maids left without making any sound. Further ten were guiding the people at the surrounding including the woman who screamed to leave. The people left despite their confusion when smiling miss maids urged them so.
「Give aid.」
Further two maids were running toward a corner of the traffic circle also with smooth footsteps like they were sliding.
「Suppress them.」
The remaining maids started running toward a minivan.
But, before the evacuation and the people clearing magic took effect completely, and, because this place was in front of the station where people kept coming and going this whole time, may people ended up witnessing it.
A real killing happening in reality, not movie filming.
A fantasy battle that was disconnected from reality.
『OOOOOOOOOOO!!』
A roar rose like it was the signal for the battle to start. At the same time,
「Pardon me, young lady.」
「Heh? Kyaah!?」
Reina’s arm got gently pulled. With a technique that made use the shifting of center of gravity, Reina moved with the feeling like she was lightly floating in the air.
What was reflected in her eyes was Hellina’s back as though she had substituted position with her.
Right after that, *Shann-* a clear sound rang out. Immediately after a roaring sound also resounded.
「W-what?」
Her bewilderment became a voice that slipped out of her mouth. What Reina could see was a jet black sword that was swung diagonally below, and something like a tentacle getting smashed on the ground ahead of it.
She didn’t even register that the tentacle was just swung at her with tremendous speed before it was smoothly parried.
In exchange, her gaze unconsciously followed to where that tentacle originated from. The only thing she knew was that something had just attacked. Though her brain and heart both refused to comprehend.
「Hih, w-what, is that-!!」
『UUUUUUU-』
A huge monster with height over two meters let out a low growl right there. The black clothes it was wearing was ripping and turning into rag.
It was that magician man. The man should end with the fate of dying from blood loss, however, he did something while lying on the ground, and the result of that was this transformation.
Skin that looked like a pale corpse, bloating muscles, cloudy eyes, abnormally long claws and fangs. The arm that should be severed was becoming tentacle that was swung as attack just now.
It was a monster that perhaps ought to be called as a subspecies of the “ghoul” that Kousuke and co encountered not long ago.
That thing was,
『『『『OOOOOOOOO!!』』』』
Not just one but there were four more. The back of the minivan blew up like there was explosion and four huge bodies flew out from inside. They clashed with the maids.
It seemed that the ghoul subspecies had the advantage in pure strength. The maids were all blown away. But, as expected from the maids who were carefully selected by Hellina for the sake of “a certain plan”.
Apparently they were given solid strength from demon god-style training bootcamp, that perhaps also incorporated Hauria style and Yaegashi style also for the sake of “a certain plan”. None of them was wounded seriously. Far from that, each took their fall beautifully without even baring their skirt open and instantly recovered their stance.
「Three-on-one, delaying action.」
「「「「「Yes, head maid.」」」」」
Their formation changed instantly. Those with heavy weapon, small weapon, and magic specialist each formed a team that surrounded the monsters.
Naturally, the first ghoul subspecies attacked Hellina even while that was going on――but before that happened,
「Ignis」
Blood colored slash flew in front of the thick leg that stepped on the ground.
『!?』
The “flying slash” splendidly severed the front of the monster’s foot. It succeeded in spoiling the monster’s start with superb timing.
The focusing point for the strength that was gathered for stepping in was lost. Naturally, the propulsive force had nowhere to go and the large body pitched forward.
「Lady Reina.」
「Eh, ah, yes. Yes-!? Lady Reinaaa!?」
Reina replied reflexively. However, the way of addressing that was never used for her even once in her life finally penetrated her confusion and sent her into confusion.
「Please get a hold of yourself. We are here in order to protect you my lady.」
Hellina looked back over her shoulder and smiled softly for reassurance. It made Reina a bit entranced even though in her head she knew this wasn’t the time for that.
Hellina was taller than her so she naturally had to look up, but her sight caught the really thick whip coming from right above――the ghoul subspecies swung his tentacle even while falling. It made her let out 「Ah」 slipped from her mouth.
For a moment, her face turned pale but her worry was unneeded. Without even looking, sword slashed up in a loose arc and blocked――no, perhaps it should be described as “joining” the tentacle.
The sword blade joined the tentacle without even any sound of impact. Without any pause the tentacle skidded on the blade’s surface. The skin seemed to be hardened because sound of *SHaaaann-* like metals scraping each other reverberated. The tentacle was shifted to another direction just like that.
「My subordinates has already been heading to your mother’s location too.」
Hellina turned her wrist with the smoothness of flowing water and the magic sword slashed up once more. Blood colored aura turned into blade that flew and, cut.
The ghoul subspecies’s head flew surprisingly easily.
「Ah……h-he die……」
She didn’t know what was going on anymore. Reina’s mind was going blank. She simply spoke with trembling voice of the overly shocking sight of head decapitation going on before her eyes.
「Lady Reina, does it look like a human to you?」
「Eh!?」
Reina felt like she was suddenly slapped from the side because of the voice that was just too frank and calm. Her heart and eyes that were fixed on the decapitated corpse turned toward Hellina.
A gaze that contained not even a trace of guilt and had gone past being calm and now even looked gentle was looking at her. They really didn’t look like the eyes of a killer of man.
She glanced at the decapitated corpse. No matter how she looked at it, it wasn’t human. Or rather, the tentacle was energetically wriggling like fish. It was dreadfully disgusting.
「I see-. So it’s not a human that transformed into monster, but a monster pretending to be human!」
To emphasize, Reina never felt like she was at her wits’ end as much as right now in her whole life because of the chaotic supernatural situation! It was to the degree that she was overly absorbed with just that aspect for the time being even though there were things that she should question or focus on more. Perhaps, it was her escaping reality, a defensive reaction for her mind.
「Lady Reina is wise.」
Actually she was mistaken, but Hellina-san instantly affirmed. She wasn’t giving any confirmation to Reina’s conclusion, but she was wearing an atmosphere that really felt like she was telling her 「It’s exactly as you say」.
There,
「Hellina-sama! Two subordinates of Hattori-sama! We aided them successfully!」
Two maids took a long way around the traffic circle where the monsters were rampaging while each was lending a shoulder to two males in suits. They came running while half-dragging the men.
The men’s suits were dyed red. There were also blood splatters on their faces. It was clear from a glance that they were heavily injured.
But, it seemed they were conscious so although they looked to be in agony, they were looking firmly this way. Relieve bloomed in their expressions as soon as they saw Reina.
Reina recalled. Of the photos her father sent to her smartphone beforehand. Certainly it was these men’s photos.
For them to let themselves be supported without looking particularly wary must meant that this unknown fantasy maid group was ally.
With that her blank mind finally recovered a little.
「……Err……t-they are Otou-san’s subordinates……are all of you also?」
Certainly she heard that he was sending his subordinates to pick her up, but she never even dreamed that something like a maid group would come.
Just what kind of people that shitty dad was making into his subordinates? If by any chance he was providing his female subordinates with this kind of outfit because of personal hobby……she would have to sever their parent and child relationship this time for sure.
Hellina didn’t even have an inkling of such fatal crack forming in the relationships of father and daughter as she easily shook her head.
「No, our master is someone else. Substantial information that Lady Reina is being targeted came in so we hastily sallied out as reinforcement.」
「I-I see?」
「We’ll lead Lady Reina to a safe place after this. You will surely be able to reunite with your dear mother there.」
After saying that, Hellina used the “gate key” that was entrusted to her before coming here. A shining membrane appeared behind her, making Reina’s pupils shrunk into dots.
「I will accompany you. Please believe me, and take my hand.」
Something like travelling with teleportation would normally invoke confusion and also fear. Hellina offered her hand with such consideration. Reina naturally held out her hand even while feeling bewildered――
In that moment, two things happened at the same time.
Hellina hugged her while the hand holding the magic sword turned to her back. Instantly, the sound of metal clashing against metal reverberated.
It was gunshot. It seemed there was enemy hiding in ambush who didn’t transform into monster. The enemy aimed a modern weapon toward Hellina to snipe her. She splendidly blocked it. It was thanks to one of the magic sword’s abilities, “bestowal of super instinct”.
But, that metallic sound didn’t reach anyone’s ear.
――aAAAAAAAAA!!!
Because just before Hellina blocked the sniping, there was an aberrant shriek shaking the air.
The scream should be described as the height of unpleasantness, like it was directly scratching off the eardrum, like someone pressing their nails on a blackboard and then scratching with all their strength. The source of the voice couldn’t be pinpointed to a bizarre degree.
The volume itself was simply tremendous that windows of the cars parked in the traffic circle and the station were all cracked at the same time. Other than the maids who brought artifacts that gave them protection, everyone reflexively covered their ears and crouched down.
And then, their consciousness was blown away.
Because the sound explosion rendered them unconscious? Wrong.
「uUU, AA……」
「Aa, a」
The surrounding people stood up while groaning.
There was already no sign of people inside the traffic circle thanks to the magical human clearing. There was also nobody from the station’s entrance and the ticket gate until this side.
But, that shriek was sorcery that pushed human’s mind into madness and to obey the suggestion voice reverberating inside the brain and sent them into rampage. The range was wide enough to reach even the outside.
『Head maid! The evacuees are turning insane-』
『Removing it with darkness type magic doesn’t work!! Usage of artifact is recommended!!』
『There are too many! We can’t hold them back!!』
『We’ll block the path with barrier!!』
The subordinates in charge of clearing out people and commanding the evacuation were sending her “telepathy”.
「What a wretch.」
The muttering she spat out wasn’t her talking to herself. It was criticism toward the culprit.
――※＊＊＊＃＃！！
Because such language that she had never heard about was filling her ears faintly. The voice was similar to the shriek just now.
Language that clearly had some kind of meaning was being spun from a different direction of the sniping. It wasn’t word for the sake of communication. It also wasn’t verbal abuse.
It was chanting. Hellina’s instinct told her so.
When she felt that, she already spun once more like she was dancing with Reina while switching position. She swung down Ignis.
*Zan-* Something was cut. She didn’t know what she had cut. But, she understood that a torrent of unseen power was rapidly approaching, however, she succeeded in cutting it apart just before it landed and it was dispersed.
「I-impossible……」
She could faintly hear a trembling mutter. But, she couldn’t see anyone.
She couldn’t see, but the direction of the attack was already clear so,
The magic sword Ignis carved red tracks at empty air, twice. The blood colored flying slash that cut apart magic power flew at the monument fountain at the station square, and the rooftop of a building at the other side of the traffic circle.
「Uoooooh!?」
The monument slid down diagonally. A deep scream came from behind its cover. A man appeared from inside the fountain jumping to the side and rolled on the ground. His shoulder was cut like it had been lightly sliced off. He was groaning in pain.
Surprise could be felt from his eyes. His gaze was looking straight at the sword Hellina was holding.
He was exposed despite using invisibility magic. Not a single one of the maids, and even the two subordinates of Hattori had fallen into madness. But rather than those facts, it looked like he was more surprised by the fact that his magic of invisibility itself had gotten slashed apart.
He must have realized it somehow. The black sword being held in that maid’s hand, was a magician’s natural enemy.
「Neutralize those without weapon and without will as much as possible. Amputation is within tolerable range including for case where differentiation is difficult. They can be healed later. Don’t overexert yourself to defeat the enemy and prioritize saving stamina. Hold back the magicians and monsters until I return.」
「「「「Yes, head maid!!」」」」
The magicians showed themselves one after another as though they guessed that they could escape with the civilians rampaging in a state that was like zombie. The four monsters were also still paying no mind to the destruction of the station.
But even facing all those, the maid force didn’t falter and formed a defensive formation by working together.
An adorable maid with braided blonde hair who was really young that she even looked younger than Reina came running. Her hands were clasped around the brooch on her chest as though she was praying and activated a shining barrier. She must be the guard for the “gate”.
「Now, Lady Reina. Let us evacuate.」
Hellina took Reina’s hand. She pulled her strongly. It wasn’t the gentle hand holding like before. Her hand was strongly urging her to move.
Surely she had feeling of reluctance to evacuate while leaving her subordinates behind. Even though it didn’t show at all in her face, there was no doubt that she wanted to return here as quickly as possible. That was what Reina felt.
She took a step toward the “gate” following the pulling, however, her gaze was looking around.
Seeing the crowd of people who lost their mind and also speech like zombie moving to attack them……
Perhaps, evacuating just as she was told was the correct thing. Perhaps that was the wise option where she would be a bother the least.
……Was that really the case? Was running by herself while leaving alone the kind of people who easily caused this kind of horrible sight that was like a hell on earth for Reina who had lived in peace her whole life really the right thing?
Because, but……
Her thought was going in circle. The inside of her chest felt tight.
Her feet were planted on the spot when she realized. As though she was going against the pull of Hellina’s hand.
「My lady?」
「U-umm! Does it feel like Onee-san can manage somehow if you fight seriously!?」
Hellina’s eyes widened which was rare for her. Reina was losing herself in her thought. She was speaking her words like there was something pushing her.
「Then, how about you just fight without thinking about me!?」
「No, our duty is to protect you――」
「I think, I won’t be a good hostage for that shitty dad!」
It seemed that Hellina was surprised for real this time. The strength of her hand unconsciously loosened up from pulling.
Reina took it as her telling her to talk. Her mind that was starting to work again hurriedly armed herself with theoretical argument using all that happened until now.
「My shitty dad, he’s kinda like a damn scary person! I don’t know what kinda work he’s doing, but I know that it’s kinda like a real important work……that’s why, maybe, even if I get taken hostage, it’s likely he’ll still do his job! He’s a real shit-」
She remembered that day. The time when the way she looked at her father and their relationship slightly changed.
――You know, I’m far more scared of your father alone than getting attacked by a hundred killers
――When you hear the name “Japan’s Hattori” right now, even the leaders of other countries will at least be more cautious you know?
The words from the unknown and mysterious young man, who undoubtedly was the one who gave the impetus of change in their current parent and daughter relationship, and the famous minister for foreign affairs.
Perhaps that was why. Even while hurling insult Shit Shit, there was no disgust and hatred there. She was acting naturally without her feeling rippling particularly chaotically from the prediction that she would be abandoned.
And, that was an accurate conjecture. Hattori Koutarou would do his job properly even if his daughter got taken hostage. Even though he would do everything in his power to rescue her, it would only with what effort he could spare without affecting his job.
While pushing down quiet rage and grief to the bottom of his heart.
Then after he finished his duty, he would chase the perpetrator until the end of the world, corner them, and took as terrifying revenge as he could. No doubt about it.
「Then there’s really no meaning in putting priority to evacuate me. Rather than that it’ll be more problematic if these guys change their aim after I get away from their grasp! I know I’m right!! Exactly just like the current situation!」
What was Hattori Koutarou protecting?
It was obvious. It was the motherland itself, and its people by extension.
Then, what if it wasn’t his family, but important people who couldn’t be abandoned easily for the sake of the country’s benefit who got targeted? Or perhaps……what if people who could push people into madness, taking hostage citizens in the hundreds or thousands to take Reina’s place?
But, if it was now when Reina was in a position that was within reach, the damage would be contained to just this place. The enemies would be obsessed at her like fly toward light trap.
「Isn’t me going into hiding the worst thing to do here!?」
Reina thought that the most terrifying possibility was the enemies scattering as soon as Reina escaped and they managed to get away. That’s exactly the danger of terrorist ain’t it! She thought. Because who knew when and where they would appear to create this kind of hellish situation again.
Hellina and the maid with braided blonde hair who was putting up a barrier were looking hard at Reina with eyes widened like saucers.
Reina couldn’t endure it, and she also wasn’t aware anymore just what it was she was saying. So her true feeling slipped out even after going through the trouble of preparing a logical argument.
「Uu, I’m sorry! I’m just acting cool-. To be frank, it’s frustrating to run away helplessly after getting threatened by that kind of criminal!! And so, I want to do something-, that kinda thing!! If Onee-san can do it, then I don’t care even if you use me as bait or whatever, beat up those guys! Or something!!」
Haa haa, Reina breathed roughly and felt like she had spewed out everything.
She was out-of-place, misdirected, couldn’t read the room, and simply an annoyance. Her other self-inside her heart was self-abusing herself like that, so when wanted to look at Hellina’s expression she lifted up her gaze fearfully.
A beat passed.
Hellina whose eyes were completely wide open laughed with a huff.
「As expected from the daughter of the person who protected master’s motherland. I even wish to have you as a subordinate.」
Hellina was a princess’s exclusive maid who had been given special education for it ever since she was born. She had watched the exchanges between nobles who were like demons and ogres for her whole life.
Reading the character of a high school girl who had no talent for acting was simple even in just this short time.
To her polished skill of observation, she thought that this girl was certainly feeling genuine “frustration”. She was burning with spirit of not wanting to yield against the unreasonableness that was directed at her.
But, the foundation of that emotion was “not wanting to overlook malice and irrationality”. Digging deeper into it, it was the feeling of “I don’t want to pretend to not know anything in front of the people who are exposed to it”, so to speak it was “a heart of justice” without a doubt.
Hattori Koutarou who accepted the need of necessary evil and also someone living in the dark side of this country would never call himself “justice” even by mistake, even so the conviction lying in the deepest part of his heart was “protecting the country and its people”.
It seemed that character, disposition had certainly been passed down to his daughter too.
『Change of plan! We’ll sever the danger until its root right here!!』
Hellina’s command surged through the “Telepathy”.
The two maids who rescued Hattori’s subordinates sat down the two beside Reina. Then they put their hands around their brooches just like the maid with braided blond hair.
Two more layers of barriers with different functions were put up. Those were the types that couldn’t be seen by naked eye. Because if they showed a defense that was too solid, the attackers might give up and retreat. Of course, in case that the worst happened, the “gate” was kept opened so it could be entered anytime.
Hellina personally stepped out before the barriers could be deployed completely.
Right after that, a part of the defensive formation crumbled in perfect timing. One monster followed by two magicians charged in.
What unfolded from there could only be described as stunning.
「Amazing……」
Reina’s nervousness had gone to the unknown. She was feeling relieve, and excitement as though she was watching an anime of overpowered protagonist.
Steady as well as tricky. It was because she was standing at a slight distance that she understood well how Hellina moved.
Hellina’s spine was straight as though a core of lead was inserted there. Her head didn’t shake. Her footwork was hidden by her loose skirt that spread until her ankle. Her particular way of walking that was so smooth it ought to be described as the height of sliding feet actualized a movement like she was gliding on air.
Because of that the signs of her movement couldn’t be grasped. It was exceedingly difficult to predict her next movement.
In addition she was extremely skilled in reading the opponent’s breathing, and conversely she was also skilled in hiding her breathing. The techniques in her repertory were also greatly diverse.
Blackout curtain and flash from magic, using ultrafine “Binding Light Chain” to restrict the opponent and forceful movement of her center of gravity, making small depression or protrusion on the ground, obstruction of footwork by freezing the ground, several moments of paralyzing through electric shock, etc.
A battle where the opponent couldn’t focus their all into offense and unable to grasp the pace of the fight.
The magicians and the ghoul subspecies had their winds completely taken out of their sail.
Even when they tried to aim for a counterattack by sensing the will to attack from Hellina, she slipperily opened the distance in contrast to the will that they sensed from her.
And the piece de resistance.
「It’s like she’s dancing……」
It was just as Reina said. Even when the enemies forcefully attacked with the resignation of getting harmed themselves, it was like none reached her.
Whether it was the claw attack lunging from the ghoul subspecies’s strong arm, or the whipping blow from the tentacle with hardened skin, or weapon that was used in conjunction with advanced martial art that was unbelievable coming from magicians.
All of them were warded away.
They didn’t feel any sensation of their attacks getting blocked. Hellina’s sword did no more than merely joining the trajectory of their attack before they found the vector of their strength altered with no change to anything else.
Each time that happened there was the clear sound *SHaaaAAANN* of metals scraping each other. The flapping skirt and the jet black sword’s trajectory drew an arc following Hellina’s spinning.
Certainly it was like a dance.
However, the parry caused their stance to break even if just for a small moment. The fate of such people was disastrous.
One hit, sure kill.
If Tracy was described as surging wave, Hellina’s fight was like a large whirlpool. When they noticed they were already getting dragged deeply to the bottom of water where they couldn’t get out.
One, and then one more attacker was falling like it was an assembly-line with all the steps had been decided beforehand.
(This is my first real battle using Ignis but……as expected, this sword is extraordinary.)
Hellina was a maid. She wasn’t a pro fighter who also worked as maid. To the end she was a maid who also doubled as bodyguard.
In other words, Hellina’s fighting style, or Ashie family’s guarding tactic was focused on delaying battle.
As long as she was able to protect Liliana until the royal guards arrived, it was her win. That was her way of fighting.
But that was a fighting tactic that was specialized for protecting, at the same time it was also a way of fighting that lacked “decisive blow”.
Then if.
What if that way of fighting that lacked attack power because it was a battle tactic of iron wall for guarding got endowed with extraordinary offensive power?
Which was to say, that item that wreaked havoc in the demon king’s hand during the era when the Liberators were alive.
After that that highest class of legendary artifact――Ignis was passed down as “sword of protection” despite being “magic sword” that completely protected a part of the demon race from the world’s tide.
The answer was, as could be seen.
「Shit-, what the hell are you guys!」
「We are simply humble maids.」
Long range and short range attacks both didn’t work. They were toyed by iron wall guard and a moment of opening would invite lethal attack to land on them without fail.
Then there was the defensive formation formed by the maids who had the same fighting tactic drummed into them. The enemies who were intentionally allowed to breakthrough from there stepped into the arena of death with the head maid-sama.
They were getting lured in. No, they were completely surrounded and entering into a kill box! They finally realized that but by then it was already too late.
The enemies’ number decreased and the maid unit also got leeway in return. They had already completely lost their path for escape. Not only that, the formation changed further toward the move that would bring them their doom.
The path was created, not for the attackers, but for the head maid’s attack to come this time.
「It’s time for the closing curtain――」
The sword of protection was lifted up as though to pierce the sky. Blood colored aura burst up.
「Ignis!!」
It was swung down. Just a single attack, a straight cut down.
And yet, what flew out from the blade was countless red blades. They rushed through the path the maids created and hit all the targets instantly.
The place became utterly silent. The magicians and also the monsters were frozen with their eyes wide open.
A beat passed.
The bodies of the attackers all shifted diagonally and slid down all at the same time. Naturally, their consciousnesses were also vanishing into eternal darkness.
「Stay alert! How’s the civilians?」
「The spell isn’t broken!」
「Then continue neutralizing them. Try using recovery artifacts on them in turn.」
Hellina gave out instructions briskly while sheathing the magic sword into a sheath that she took out from somewhere while walking back.
So cool……Reina honestly thought so and her cheeks reddened. She walked toward her.
「Forgive me for the wait, Lady Reina.」
「Y-yes……no, not at all, yes……」
She stared at Hellina in a daze *bohee*. Her eyes completely belonged to a girl looking to an older girl she idolized.
Maybe that was why, more words tumbled out again unconsciously.
「O-Onee-san……if you aren’t Otou-san’s subordinate, then who……」
「? Lady Reina, are you not acquainted with my master?」
「Eh?」
A mere high school girl like her, acquainted with someone who was employing someone amazing like this, or rather someone who felt like she came out from a fantasy world?
Reina was confused. Hellina curtsied once more and introduced her master. Together with a shocking fact for Reina.
「It’s Nagumo Hajime-sama.」
She froze, felt bewildered, and it floated up to the surface of her mind. The face of the young man who recently tickled her curiosity a little, someone mysterious who apparently wasn’t just an ordinary person.
「Though to be more accurate, the one I’m serving right now is someone else. He will be my master after my lady is formally married into Hajime-sama’s family and become one of his wives.」
Right now I’m still working for my homeland, Hellina-san said with a wry smile.
……
……
……
If Reina’s expression at this time had to be described, she looked exactly like the cat in “space cat” meme.
She was saturated with information and emotion. It couldn’t be helped. Even before this she was already smackdab in the middle of supernatural incident that pushed her mind and also feeling to the verge of bursting.
And there, this.
Also, Hattori never told anything about information of Nagumo family to Reina. Well of course. Information of Nagumo family could affect the nation. Even if it was something that she could find out herself if she investigated, Hattori would never disclose it seeing that it was information from his work. Even if Hajime gave his permission, he wouldn’t mention it to his family.
There was a time Hattori Koutarou talked about his work to his family――that information itself was dangerous, that was why. Perhaps if it’s his family they’d know something? That fact might cause other to harbor such thinking.
In other words, that young man is a master of a fantasy maid group, what’s more, there’s also a bit incomprehensible information like “one of the wives” mixed in――
There, she got dragged from the fantasy space back to reality by a ringtone.
She looked at her smartphone half reflexively but with a sluggish movement.
It was her father.
She picked up the call.
『Reina? Are you safe? Why haven’t you evacuated――』
Her father’s voice was cold and felt a bit scary. But, Reina didn’t falter. Or rather she didn’t even have the leeway to falter and simply took a deep breath.
「What does this meaaaaaaaaaaaaan!?」
As though to let out her mind that was filled to the brim until it overflowed, she yelled from the bottom of her stomach.
.
.
AN: Thank you very much for reading this every time.
Thank you very much too for the thoughts, opinions, and reports about misspelling and omitted words.
In the comments, I received many warm words that told me to write to my heart’s content seeing that this is the last arc anyway. Thank you very much! I wrote this chapter while grinning like fool, and sure enough, the chapter only progressed by half but……writing Hellina-san and Tracy one after another was just too fun. There isn’t enough time. Seriously I want a Hour Crystal……
Also if the chapters of this part increase even more than this I’m thinking to change the numbering system.
Sorry for the slowness but, please be kind to me.
※Meme introduction
– Hellina-san’s parrying sword style
From Second Lieutenant Alice’s “Main Gauche” of [Pumpkin Scissors].
– It became a habit
From Killua’s 「It became a habit. Moving as assassin like this」 of [Hunter X Hunter].
– Magic sword Ignis
The ability’s detail is from 『Chapter 450 Tortus’s Travel Journey 54 As Expected of Hellina-san』.
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