Chapter 563 |
Defensive Battle of All Worlds ⑨ Each’s Defensive Battle Sixth
Rewinding the clock a little bit.
Around the time the fire of battle was lit in Mount Fuji’s sea of trees.
“Void gods” appeared all over the world, the great incident of the century was rapidly getting broadcasted in internet and television and the world was getting in uproar. However, there was a place where the uproar didn’t reach even in the middle of city.
For example, a city where “void god” hadn’t appeared yet, where internet and television also couldn’t be used although only temporarily.
A space and time where the world’s tumult could be forgotten and people could just immerse themselves in something.
This place too was one of such places where people could relax.
「Have a safe trip, dear master♡ We will await your return back here pyon♪」
The one who went Pyon pyonn! energetically too today while forming a heart with her hands and lifting one feet today, while also giving a perfect wink as to be expected from someone who had walked this path for ten years, was the popularly called “Usa-senpai” aka Usami Towa.
The regular customer who was given such warm send-off left the café saying 「See you again~」 while looking extremely healed.
Usa-senpai was also extremely satisfied seeing that response and nodded before she turned around with gentleness that paid attention to even her skirt’s fluttering.
She ran her gaze inside the shop. The business was really booming too today. All the masters were smiling, and her prided rabbit-eared maids were also being wonderful rabbit-eared maids.
(All is right with the world pyon. No, it’s only on the world’s surface I guess pyon.)
The supernatural incident happening behind the scene of the world that she came to learn. Three days ago, her acquaintance Amai Anju was attacked by such incident and she even sheltered her in this café.
Since then everyday after the café closed she would contact Anju just to make sure. She planned to do so too today. Because it seemed, that newest friend of her had the disposition to get dragged into some kind of trouble.
(It’s a world that a resident of the surface is generally unrelated with pyon. It makes my heart feel a little thrilled but, as expected it’s this peaceful world that suits me the best pyon.)
She added Pyon even inside her mind. For her heart that was constantly in the state of Pyon-ness, it was the masters’ smiles and the cute rabbit-eared maids’ smiles that made her felt genuine fulfillment.
It was exactly because she had gotten a glimpse of the hidden world that Usami Towa treasured and loved the ordinary days even more.
But, the world that she thought was unchanging even today too, where she believed that the hidden was hidden and the surface was the surface, was currently falling deep into chaos exactly at this moment.
Without knowing that, she quickly cleaned up the table and then returned to the back with a tray on one hand――it was then.
「……mu」
She unconsciously made a sound. Because a sight that she couldn’t overlook as the manager entered her eyes.
A rabbit-eared maid who came out from the back was carrying a wooden sword on her back……wasn’t the cause.
「Oi, Rin! How can you play with your smartphone during service time pyon! Bad girl-, pyon!」
No, before that warn her about carrying a wooden sword on her back. A new customer to this place would surely make that kind of tsukkomi if they heard this.
Unfortunately there were only the regulars today. There was nobody to make a tsukkomi toward the wooden sword equipped rabbit-eared maid――the popularly called “Kouhai-chan” aka Hino Rin.
Yes, in this café seeing her walking around armed had already become a common view. She was even getting slightly acknowledged as a specialty rabbit-eared maid here.
For some reason the fact that she was good at kendo and able to replicate the sword techniques in game and anime got found out by the customers (perhaps, it was because there were a lot of witnesses of her activity as daily adventuring high school girl), and when she demonstrated it as a party trick not long ago it got favorably received by the customers. Thinking Isn’t it feasible to have her as battle type rabbit-eared maid if it’s like this?, she got permitted (?) to carry around her wooden sword during her work.
So many masters came to the once a week event when she demonstrated a replication of sword technique from fiction world. As expected, it seemed that a battle maid was really a romance.
「Ah, I’m sorry Usa-senpai! No! Look here, it feels like the situation outside are horrible――」
Kouhai-chan reflexively apologized even while looking terribly flustered for some reason. She also looked lost at how to explain.
「Calm down pyon……could it be, it’s related to that pyon?」
「Y-yes! Something related to that pyon!」
Usa-senpai was sharp. Kouhai-chan rushed toward her looking like she didn’t even want to waste time to return to the back to talk, so she moved toward the café’s exit so they at least could have talk without too many people overhearing.
「I noticed just now that the cord of my sword was almost snapped so I went to the locker for a replacement, but there I found that there are a lot of missed calls in my phone.」
If I’m not wrong this wooden sword, it’s camouflaged to look wooden at the outside but the inside is metal pyon? Even so for the cord to almost get snapped……just how heavy it is pyon. Is it really heavy pyon? I permitted her to carry it but, I didn’t order her to carry it around the whole time pyon……Rin, what made you go that far pyon……
Usa-senpai thought that, but it seemed this wasn’t the time to ask such question so she quietly listened to the story.
「After that there are also messages. They’re asking me to evacuate or something? They also mentioned about pickup or something……after that, t-there is this!」
She thought it was unusual. This peppy, bold, and tough adventurer type high school girl wasn’t a girl who would be perturbed by just small matter.
Far from that, even when an attack abruptly happened she would just beat them up and kicked them to the curb with unthinkable sword technique from fictional work. She was an outrageous girl in various senses.
For such girl to act so much at her wits’ end like this……
Usa-senpai felt a chill creeping up her spine like there was a nasty presence approaching, even so she turned her gaze to the smartphone’s screen that kouhai-chan pushed at her. It seemed to be a video? No, a live streaming?
It was at that moment.
「Pardon meeeeee!!」
「Pyoooooooonn!!?」
The café’s door got opened with great force. It even caused a loud sound *BAAAMM*. The door’s bell rang *Chiririririnn* fervently as though in protest.
Combined with the nervousness swallowing her because of Kouhai-chan’s atmosphere, Usa-senpai jumped with all her strength from the surprise.
She raised her hands reflexively like in celebratory cheer. On top of that her feet slipped and she almost fell down on her back.
The plate and cup and tray that she was holding were thrown in the air. Her gaze moved from the smartphone to the ceiling.
Kouhai-chan quickly stretched her hands to catch her, but she too was extremely startled that it slowed down her reaction.
She would fall. At the same time the dinnerware would meet an atrocious end――
「Whoops」
The unexpected visitor who entered the café too forcefully showed a tremendous reaction while the guests and the staffs all turned their gazes toward the sound 「What’s going on!?」 in wonder.
He slid in with a swift movement and held Usa-senpai with one hand while his other hand also caught the tray before also catching the plate and cup on it without any pause. A beat later *to-to-to-* and even the straw, fork, spoon, and even the food scraps fell on the tray.
The tray was moved with repeated and quick movement, and the guest’s gaze was also observing the air so it wasn’t just a coincidence. It was an outrageous feat that was done intentionally.
「Oooooh」 Cheers immediately rose inside the café.
「Y-you are…………the “ultimate pyon stuffed pretty boy” from that time!!」
「I’ve been terribly discourteous that time. Long time no see, rabbit ear lover lady. I’m called Baltfeldt.」
There was no way she could forget. Of that day when she first became acquainted with Nagumo Hajime.
But, for Usagi Towa, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that what left the most impression in her mind that day wasn’t the demon god-sama, but this self-proclaimed Baltfeldt-kun.
A tourist from abroad pyon? Please, allow me to teach you about the genre of rabbit-eared maid by all means pyon! You will make a great memory pyon! Even though she called out to him cheerfully as usual like that.
What came back was 「Why, are you adding pyon at the end of your sentence?」 a genuine question that wasn’t ridiculing or criticizing.
There’s no problem with loving rabbit. But, what’s the connection between pyon and rabbit? Eh? Jump’s sound effect? Why, are you adding jump’s sound effect at the end of your sentence? The mystery is deepening! Give me a rational explanation! His reaction was something like that.
She almost discarded pyon from the vigor and mood that were pressing her. That was the greatest blunder of her life.
Why that Baltfeldt-kun came to her café……
Usa-senpai was bewildered. Baltfel――Pal helped her stood up with a respectful gesture.
From there she realized. That he had grown much taller since that time. Usa-senpai’s height was around 160 cm, but now he could meet her gaze almost at the same level.
Actually, when Myuu got into special training in the time dilated space for the sake of going with the spring vacation trip,
「Ain’t no way we can let the young lady leave us behind in strength!!」
「Boss! Please! We beg you allow us to participate in the training too!!」
He begged like that together with his partner and as the result, it seemed that his time was also accompanied by his growth period so it was worth it for him to writhe in pain of training and joint pain that he got a sudden growth but, putting that aside.
Perhaps this was what people meant when they said that not recognizing a boy after not meeting him for three days. Because of his virile looks and the black tank top he wore (paired with cargo pants that combined made it looked like military fashion) it was clear to see that he had a sturdy body for his age. Usami-oneesan became a bit flustered.
「Big sis Towa, really sorry for being so abrupt but……please come with me!!」
「EH!?」
Her heart was pounding hard! Because, he was still holding her with his hand around her waist, in short the distance between was almost nonexistent! No, wait, Towa! Calm down! Why are you getting so flustered! Something isn’t right with your head if you’re shaken by a younger boy like this no matter what he said――
「I came to pick you big sis.」
「Nnn!?」
His expression was serious from start to end. Straightforward eyes. And the extremely shapely looks that were characteristic of Hauria……in addition, she knew now. That on his head, there were extremely lovely rabbit ears growing. That he was an actual rabbit eared handsome boy. Bluntly speaking this boy was right in her strike zone. The manifestation of an idea that jumped out right from manga.
Usa-senpai shook off Pal’s hand in a flash, then *pyon* she took some distance from him. And then,
「Age difference, ethics, common sense, criminal, pervert, bash your head into a block of tofu and wake up meeeee!」
She headed toward not a block of tofu but a normal wall and started bashing her head. *BAM-BAM-BAM* Dull sounds rang out inside the café. It was the so-called “losing it” phenomenon. It was a fit that often attacked a fan when the target of their idolization gave them fan service.
The inside of the café was also in uproar. The masters were noisily saying things like 「That boy, is so straightforward!」「This is why handsome guy is just-」「To think, that iron wall Usa-senpai is reduced into this……this is, could it be that she…?」, while the rabbit-eared maids were also saying things like 「Shotacon foundddd!」「Are you serious Usa-senpai! As expected that’s a crime you know lol」, or simply screaming 「Kyaaaah」 with voice filled with excitement.
「U-Usa-senpai! Please calm down! He absolutely doesn’t mean anything like that!」
「I know pyon-, I know that pyon-. But, my heart just can’t stop going pyon pyon, pyon! This is the karma of rabbit-eared maid pyon-」
Kouhai-chan desperately stopped her by holding her from behind, but Usa-senpai whose pounding heart and wicked heart were in conflict that made her unable to control herself was flailing around.
「W-what’s wrong? Did I, say something that harm you r mood?」
Pal-kun was bewildered. Of course he was. After all the one he urged to evacuate suddenly started bashing her head on the wall. Hah, could it be a mental attack from someone!?
「Err, if I’m not mistaken you’re Pal-kun from Nagumo-senpai’s place――」
「It’s Baltfeldt yeah, big sis Hinorin.」
「Intonation! It’s Hino, Rin okay! Can you stop saying my name like it’s just a single word Hinorin?」
「Boss ordered me to call you like that so you’re asking for the impossible.」
She had met with Pal several times but, she had never talked directly with him until now. She at least knew that he was from Hauria tribe and what kind of relationship Hauria tribe had with Nagumo family, but they had no point of contact with each other and only met by coincidences this whole time.
Nevertheless, for him to be ordered by Hajime on how to call her in anticipation when they came into contact one day.
As expected Nagumo-senpai was her natural and archenemy based on his pointless display of foresight. Kouhai-chan grinded her teeth Gununuu hearing what Pal said.
But, right now wasn’t the time for that so she yelled even while a vein pulsed on her forehead.
「Let me tell you Usa-senpai! How much age difference do you think there is between you two? Don’t get a misunderstanding and close the café already, you damn crazy sex obsessed rabbit ears otaku!」
「Rin? Please don’t inflict lethal damage on me so casually like that pyon. It’s enough that you’re sharp only in swordsmanship pyon.」
「There’s no way his preference in woman is you right? I’m telling you calm down before you get police called on you!」
「Is that your version of sugarcoating pyon? Next time imagine a sword sheath when sugarcoating your words pyon. The sharpness of Rin’s words is like a masterpiece blade pyon……」
For some reason Usa-senpai became completely dejected and meek.
Even while feeling bewildered, Pal-kun somehow grasped the situation. His personality was inherently docile and honest, so even in his bewildered state he wanted to help and speak honestly. In short, he piled up on the damage.
「No, I think big sis Towa is a charming enough person yeah? I don’t dislike her type or anything.」
「「Eh……?」」
Usa-senpai and Kouhai-chan’s voices overlapped. The people inside the café also went 「O-ou?」 in wonderment and observed how things played out.
「At the very least, among the women I met ever since I came to ear――I mean, to Japan she’s one of the most wonderful y’know. She love rabbit ears beyond all else, have her own castle, have guts and also heart of friendship at the same time. In addition, she’s a reasonably “capable” person.」
「N-noo, but Pal-ku――」
「It’s Baltfeldt, big sis Hinorin.」
「Baltfeldt-kun! Do you know the concept of age difference? Manager Usa is cute and has babyface look but, she’s already twenty e――」
「RIIIIIIINN. Continue that and I won’t hesitate to absue my authority as mana――」
「There ain’t anybody around me who’s bothered about something like age difference! That’s a trivial thing.」
「O-ou……t-that so」
「Yeah. I’m planning to live forever in Japan, so sometimes I also dream for the future, like, it’ll be nice if I can choose someone like this or that as spouse huh. When that time come, someone like big sis Towa will be ideal.」
The inside of the café had fallen silent like grave before anyone noticed. Everyone was fidgety and whispering 「What’s starting here so suddenly?」「What is going on right now?」 while attentively observing the conversation. In the meantime Pal-kun’s virile looks and atmosphere crumbled a little and he showed a slightly embarrassed or perhaps shy look.
And then,
「Well, a brat like me who hasn’t even manage to stand on his own two feet can’t even possibly choose someone splendid like big sis Towa but……if I’m actually chosen, that’ll be my greatest fortune as male.」
He said something like that.
A beat later, the whole café was filled with shrilly screams. The rabbit eared maids were all clamoring. The masters were making conflicted expressions, but they were swept away by the rabbit-eared maids’ joy and excitement and decided to also enliven the place for the time being.
As for the Usa-senpai in question, she was desperately keeping up appearances. She was showing a composed reaction 「Onee-san is happy that you have such a high opinion on her pyon♪」 with a calm face but, sadly, the discomposure inside her was fully displayed from her bright red face.
Kouhai-chan watched such happening from the side and let out a sigh. 「No good. I have to be the level headed person here」 She said and fired herself up. She got close to Pal’s side and checked with him amidst the noises.
「Umm, the thing that’s becoming viral in internet right now, it’s true isn’t it? So, Pal――」
「Baltfeldt」
「Balt! Feldt! -Kun is coming here to pick us up then?」
「Yeah. You two aren’t in the evacuee list that boss wrote up but……」
「So we aren’t listed-!! That shitty senpai!」
Kouhai-chan looked relatively shocked.
It was Nagumo-senpai’s way of showing his consideration, after a fashion.
In the end her standing in relation to him was a junior from school. She also wasn’t fully involved with the hidden side of the world. She became “in the know” during the Christmas last year but, putting it another way that was it as far as she went.
In that case, it would be better if she wasn’t included in the list of “people who should be prioritized for evacuation” each time something happened. Because being in that list meant there was a chance of becoming known by external party as someone important to the Nagumo family.
Even so there was also the “list of related people who should be monitored during emergency” and she was in that list. And coupled with the assault incident on Amai-san three days ago, someone came to pick her up like this.
Then, why was it Pal who came to pick her up?
「My partner is indebted to “Usa-senpai” so…」
Right after Pal said that, *Gashaaan* a black silhouette broke through the window!
KYAAAAAAH, the rabbit eared maids and the masters all screamed for a different reason then just a moment before.
It was like cold water got poured into the café that was in festive mood. The place became silent.
Usa-senpai who was similarly in a festive mood also screamed 「What is it this time pyon!? Wait, my café!?」 with a pose and expression like Munch’s [The Scream].
Beside her Kouhai-chan immediately pulled out her wooden sword. She dropped her waist and took a side stance……no? There was a small gap between the wooden sword’s handle and the blade part? It seemed that the inside could be pulled out like a hidden katana. In short, it was the stance of quick sword draw……
But, no sword draw technique that was definitely a reproduction from some kind of fiction work got displayed.
「Sensei! Are you alright!!」
「Nea-cha――」
「Neastadtrm!!」
「Isn’t it fine to call you with pet name!?」
Yes, what jumped in was the rabbit eared girl who often partnered with Pal, Nea.
「Or rather, isn’t that person not alright at all!?」
The constant state of pyon-ness was gone to who knew where. The gazes of everyone in the café gathered to below Nea’s feet.
An eerie man with mysterious pattern engraved on his face was lying there. Even though his outfit was already black, he was also wearing something like a shabby coat.
His nose was broken and blood was flowing freely from there. His eyes were also rolled up. He seemed to be completely unconscious.
「Please don’t mind this.」
Nea-chan too was dressed similarly to Pal-kun. She was wearing punk-like mini skirt combined with knee socks and short boots.
That boot was grinding down on the man’s head.
There was how Nea was plainly beautiful, so even in this situation there was a master who made the scandalous remark 「H-how envi-, scandalous」.
「No, even if you tell me to not mind it……」
Usa-senpai’s gaze turned toward Nea-chan’s hand. She’s wearing lovely rings that suit her punk fashion pyon! She had such thought that ran away from reality for a moment, but as expected no matter how she looked it was a knuckle duster. What’s more something red was trickling down from it.
「Ever since I heard that sensei got involved with an assault incident, I actually laid low around here independently and secretly as your personal protection since three days ago but, it finally bear fruit today.」
Sensei――based on the situation it went without saying that it referred to Usa-senpai.
The, why was Nea calling Usa-senpai as sensei. Of course, everything was for boss’s sake.
She wanted to serve at boss’s side. And if circumstance permitted, she wanted to be his wife. But however, the hurdle was tall! As tall as the peak of great tree!
In that case, it was the natural result to think for the time being she should serve as Nagumo family’s servant(maid) at their side. Boss was apparently a maid lover anyway.
But, but however.
Nea had seen it. She had learned it. How the summit of maid looked like!
Yes, it was that kingdom’s princess’s exclusive head maid! It was impossible……no matter how much training she accumulated for dozens of years from here on, she couldn’t picture winning against that person as a maid!
And then, when Princess Liliana married into Nagumo family, inevitably that person would also become boss’s maid! Boss too, for some reason he was acknowledging that person! Or rather, there was the feeling that a master-servant relationship had alredy finished forming between them to the degree that Princess Liliana would often gripe about it!
Nea was at her wits’ end. However, she didn’t give up.
Because the concept of giving up had been abandoned ever since that day, when they first met boss and got trained by him in the past!!
Then, after thinking hard, she suddenly recalled.
Come to think of it, at earth there’s a really skilled rabbit-eared maid who kidnapped me. She possessed combat ability that stood out even among the Hauria tribe. But that maid, she showed a terrific speed and agile movement that were shocking even to her.
Even though she was also a maid, there was clear difference between her and Hellina. Like, they were in different vector or something……
Furthermore, after investigating various things, it looked like boss also really loved that kind of maid.
Then there’s only one thing to do.
If Hellina is the final form of the traditional maid.
I, Neastadtrm, swear that I’ll become the final form of Akiba type maid!!
Boss! I’ll, work really hard! I’ll become an Akiba type rabbit-eared (real) maid just how boss like it! So please cherish me a lot-!!
She directly conveyed and discussed such desire and enthusiasm to Usa-senpai and splendidly won over her understanding. Ever since moving to earth, even while working diligently with her normal training and the preparation of the hidden village, she would use her free time to come to her asking for teaching.
It could be said that she was getting worse in various senses from this.
In any case, there was actually that kind of relation between Nea and Usa-senpai. Also, Usa-senpai thought that her actual name was Neastadtrm and Nea was the pet name. Her tsukkomi before this was because of that.
「That’s the first time I hear that pyon. Why are you guarding me secretly pyon?」
「Guarding is more effective when being done both openly and secretly. After all I cannot allow even the smallest chance of my honorable teacher to be harmed to come to pass.」
「I-is that so pyon. Thank……you pyon?」
There was also the request from Amai, so Remia contacted Usa-senpai and Kouhai-chan too, but they couldn’t be reached because they were in the middle of work. After Remia left behind message and the like, she fortunately got told about the whereabouts of Nea and Pal through Rana, and seeing that they were close by and gave them the task to pick these two up.
Also, Pal-kun was here only because Nea dragged him here to accompany her.
「More importantly, sensei. Please come with us immediately.」
「N-no, even if you tell me that so suddenly, it’s still not the closing time pyon……」
Usa-senpai hadn’t grasped the situation that was occurring right now. Naturally she reacted like that.
But, that reaction was immediately overturned. Due to witnessing the chaos that was happening in the world right now.
It came suddenly.
「「「「「–!!?」」」」」
Terror that felt like their souls got tightly grasped instantly overran the café.
The air changed. Even though it wasn’t cold they couldn’t stop feeling chill. Even breathing was becoming harder, and their bodies felt stiff. This must be how frog felt when a snake glared at them. No, rather than like a prey that was being targeted by a predator, it felt like something repulsive that was more primordial.
Perhaps someone had noticed. With Nea breaking through the window, the noises from outside also entered into the café, and yet those noises suddenly stopped still.
There.
There was no need for any special training or ability.
But they knew. Something, a horribly terrifying being was there outside.
「Shaoraa!!」
「Don’t underestimate us!!」
*PAANN* A sound like hands clapping in prayer broke the silence. Everyone gasped and turned their gazes there. It was the sound of Nea and Pal hitting their own cheeks hard.
「Neastadtrm!」
「I know!」
Something like closing time, or explaining the situation, or the eyes of the surrounding, or in a sense, even the decision of abandoning the people inside the café, there wasn’t any leeway to think about those.
Nea and Pal were provided with their own “Gate Key”. It was also because they were close with Myuu. The key was for emergency evacuation to Nagumo house.
Nea took that out while Pal took out the archery artifacts from his personal “treasure warehouse”. Then he ran toward the broken window.
At any rate they had to let Usa-senpai and Kouhai-chan got away. But, they might draw the attention of “something” by activating a “gate”. That was why, Pal would buy time.
It was really doubtful how much he would be able to fight against the “something” outside. Even now he couldn’t help but feel like the concept of death was coiling around him tightly. Dying without being able to do anything the moment he stepped outside. Such premonition was welling up in his chest.
But, even so he fired up himself and went outside with the readiness to lay down his life――just before he could do so.
「Eh, ah, w-what……?」
The one who let out such bewildered voice was Kouhai-chan. And then even the impulse of screaming her lung out and running away blindly was vanishing like mist from her heart. She felt her mind became lighter.
At the same time, light shined in from the window. It was like sunrise.
「Ha, hahah, seriously……」
Pal who peeked outside from the window unconsciously let out his voice listlessly. With that Nea too ran toward the entrance and slowly opened the door.
Kouhai-chan followed behind her with Usa-senpai further behind. The people inside the café also approached the window frame to look outside.
Like that, they witnessed it.
「W-what’s that…………pyon」
What first came into view was a huge white tiger running on the air. The true form of the sunlight that cleared away night’s darkness and terror was the divine light that white tiger was radiating.
Behind it was a man with fine figure and a crowd of various beings of fantastic forms radiating similar holy light following it.
In opposition there were dozens of creatures that looked like black snake with strangely warped head and human mouth that exposed their gums. They also had wings that looked like bat wings or fish fins, while their torsos were repeatedly swelling and shrinking like they were pulsating.
There was no doubt that they were the source of the unknown fear spreading.
But, those symbols of fear were pulling back instead like they were the one in fear toward the approaching white tiger and its crowd.
「That’s the strongest onmyouji of the modern era for ya.」
Usa-senpai and Kouhai-chan went 「Eh?」 from Pal’s words.
They followed Pal’s gaze. Then they could see it just a little. That there was a small human figure on the white tiger’s back. A beautiful black haired girl wearing kariginu (clothes worn by the nobility from Heian period).
「Good grief, the young lady’s friend is also off the charts……in any case, big sis Towa, big sis Hinorin. Let’s send the guests and staffs home before evacuating too while we can.」
Urged by Nea, Usa-senpai and Kouhai-chan who were dumbfounded by the happening that should be kept in the hidden side of the world occurring suddenly all over the city reflexively nodded.
Their minds were right at the limit by the happening that was just too much.
Of course, the two didn’t know. That they would be struck dumb even more by the outrageousness of the evacuation place they would be going to after this. They never even imagined that the finishing blow to their mind would be dealt by Hajime in a sense.
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Around the same time. At another place.
There was the sight of people flooding out from the exit of the subway.
The subway stopped operating and they were asked to leave immediately. Among them there were also those whose train didn’t arrive at the station and got out of the suddenly stopped train on the underground railroad, where they were guided to leave on foot.
Various rumours like there was an accident ahead, or a part of the underground railroad was destroyed, or even outrageous rumour like a monster attacking a running train were flying around, but nobody knew the truth.
Even when the passengers demanded for information from the station staff, nobody would spare them the time, and some even got yelled at instead telling them to quickly get out to above ground.
Amidst such crowd of people,
「Just what are they saying! It’s truly scandalous-」
「Now now, vice principal. Don’t be so angry. I don’t know what happened there but, let’s just be glad that we didn’t get dragged into it! Ha ha ha」
「I-I also think so.」
It was a trio of man who looked like he wanted to vent out his indignation, wearing suits and glasses, and also hair that looked strangely out of shift, a muscular man, and a woman whose luck seemed to be in short supply.
They were teachers of the high school that Hajime and co were enrolled at. The vice principal Kazuura, the macho teacher Asai whose mind and body got altered by Hajime and co, and then Kazuko-sensei whose skill in sneaking like assassin to fix the vice principal’s wig that tended to shift out of place was simply godly.
The time was just right before Obon festival. Finally even the school had completely entered the holiday with no more summer course and club activity. With that the teachers also entered holiday period. Before that the teachers held a drinking party together for celebration of their hard work.
But, the teachers wouldn’t be able to relax completely if he was staying there. Especially the young teachers. Thinking that, vice principal decided to go home early where Asai-sensei and Kazuko-sensei also left together with him.
They invited the vice principal to a second party because regardless of everything he was the one working the hardest in school. No really, the vice principal had been working so hard in the place of the school principal to a degree that it made them wanted to say Principal, do your work! And so they made their invitation to the vice principal in order to show him their appreciation.
「Besides just what’s going on with Hatayama-sensei. Her behavior is especially strange recently, so I was thinking to ask her a lot of things and yet……」
Yes, Aiko (the clone body) also left together with them. In a sense, Aiko was the one putting the most hardship on the vice principal so the clone judged that it was necessary to do a follow-up in soothing down the vice principal’s worry, for the sake of the main body too.
It seemed that the thought that such meticulous consideration would later tighten the rope around the main body’s neck didn’t come to mind though……
In any case, a change came over Aiko while they were on the way toward the platform leading to the subway. She suddenly stopped still in the middle of the street, and right after her expression changed into a seriousness that the others never saw before, and then,
――I’m sorry, I have something urgent to do! Please excuse me here!
She said that and suddenly broke into a run.
No no, you didn’t use smartphone or anything just now. How did you learn about the sudden business then, the others didn’t even have the time to make such tsukkomi.
Furthermore, toward the vice principal and others who asked her what was going on,
――Please head straight back to home today! Avoid places with a lot of people! Do so no matter what!
She said such thing with a voice that was filled with anger that was completely unusual for the normal Aiko.
Naturally, the three hurriedly chased after Aiko, but they lost sight of her after she turned around the corner. Even though it was a straight path ahead for dozens of meters. It was like she vanished into thin air. It went without saying that the three were dumbfounded by that.
「I-it was like a scene from a hero show where the main character rushed toward a secret incident……wasn’t it? The main character entered a back alley after separating from his friends and then fly away……that kind of scene?」
Kazuko-sensei was right on the money. Though to be more accurate she didn’t fly but really vanish.
「Muh? Vice principal, I wish to watch that.」
「How many times I’ve told you to stop talking like you’re in military……well, recently it feels like you’ve stopped doing that so much though……」
The three were walking on the main street along with the flow of the crowd. It was then Asai-sensei pointed his finger toward something.
It was an electronics retail store. Many home appliances and televisions were lined up to be visible from outside. News was playing on those televisions.
「Fumu? Is it an advertisement for some kind of movie?」
「Umm, since some time ago our surrounding is……」
The vice principal tilted his head. An image like in disaster movie was playing on the TV screen.
Kazuko-sensei was looking at the surrounding worriedly. The people seemed to be noisy while looking at their smartphone frequently. They were talking with the people beside them while looking excited and confused.
The atmosphere was somewhat weird.
The vice principal also felt that and he wondered if there was an incident or something while taking out his own smartphone.
Right after that,
「Uwah!?」
「You two hold on!」
A quake. Intense shaking was transmitted up from below the ground.
Screams rose from the surrounding. Some people were falling down.
Asai-sensei grabbed the vice principal and Kazuko-sensei’s arms and supported them even while falling on a knee.
The impact surged up *DON DON* intermittently. Finally the windowpanes of the surrounding buildings started to crack and rain down. The three along with the surrounding people scurried away from the building and gathered on the road.
The quake made even vehicles to bounce. Even the cars sensed the abnormality and braked suddenly. The cars behind that reacted late collided or quickly turned the wheel and charged into the walkway.
More screams rose because of that. Sounds of car horn and angry bellows were mixing in.
It was an unbelievable crash accident. The surrounding turned into uproar.
「T-this is……is it really a quake!?」
Something was strange. There were a lot of people who seemed to harbour the same discomfort like the vice principal.
The feel of the shaking, for a quake……it was just too……
It was then. A sound that pierced the ears like lightning reverberated.
It was an unbelievable sight. The road’s asphalt became cracked. And then, the crack widened with astounding speed. It was like the ground was splitting.
Right after that, there was silence for a while.
Ther surging up vibration had also stopped coming. The people stood up even while feeling confused. They stared at the cracked road in a daze……
――※※＃＃＃＃＊＊＊※ッッ！！
It wasn’t sound, however, it was a shriek. A shriek that resounded directly inside the brain and sent dread pulsing through.
At the same time, the asphalt’s surface exploded. The cracked part bulged up and burst open like an eruption.
What came out from there was difficult to describe.
In few words it was a giant earthworm. However, its thickness might be around six meter in diameter. Right now just its body part that was visible above the ground was already more than ten meter long.
But it had a feature that was too heinous to simply call it a gigantic version of an earthworm. Its whitish body surface was covered with slimy mucus. Its head part was like a drill’s tip that was divided into three. That part snapped wide open and closing repeatedly.
A giant creature that broke through the ground and appeared in the middle of city.
Everyone froze and didn’t move. It was like this wasn’t reality. They could only stare with mouth gaping wide open.
Even when, the appearance of the giant earthworm monster caused some cars to be blown away and one of them unluckily got launched high to the sky right above.
And even when, that car was falling back toward a crowd of people who were pressed together near the walkway.
Even the people who were right on the collision course were having their eyes fixed on the monster.
「OOOOOOOOOOOO!!」
A war cry filled with piercing fighting spirit burst out.
Next *DONN* there was an impact sound.
The surrounding people came back to their senses with a gasp and looked. A large man in his forty……no, a young man? His face just looked a bit like old man? Anyway! The young man with old looking face crashed on the car.
However, the car just now fell *DOSUN* on the ground in 45 degree angle.
The front of the car was dented. In addition it looked as though the young man caught the car and gently put it down on the ground, but that should be impossible.
The one who witnessed the crucial moment was only a salaryman who had resolved himself to die from being inside that car. Though he couldn’t see right now because he was buried in airbag.
「This ain’t a joke. Even though I finally Obon holiday……」
The young man’s face and also voice were twitching. Even so while everyone was frozen in front of the monster, he smashed the side glass on the car in front of him with his bare hand and pulled out the man inside.
The vice principal who was a short distance away reflexively yelled when he saw that young man.
「N-Nagayama-kun!?」
「! Vice principal……」
Yes, the one who caught the falling car with his flesh body was one of the “returnees”, Nagayama Juugo.
He was living in dormitory for police academy, but he was incidentally returning home because of Obon holiday. The food at home was also great but, the rules in police academy’s dormitory were strict so he wanted to have extravagant meal sometimes and went out to the city but……
Emergency contact from his friends came and he was asked to link up with his friends for the time being even while still not really understanding the situation.
Don’t tell me, they’re telling me to deal with this kind of monster? No, this is impossible though? Currently, he was getting drenched in cold sweat while thinking that.
He wanted to respond to the vice principal but, right now wasn’t the time for that. Even like this he was a police officer.
He returned his gaze back to the monster and took a deep breath――in the middle of doing that.
「-!!?」
The monster’s head that was shaped like drill opened. It was like flower petals opening to three directions.
That head slimily moved along the road. It looked like it was aiming toward the many cars stopping on the road, and the people inside those.
His instinct screamed at him how bad it was. He got goosebumps.
But, Juugo moved. He was a police officer even if just a novice, but he would be a failure if he ran away from this place. Fortunately the monster’s head was looking toward the side of the road where Juugo was at so,
「oOOOOOH!!」
Another cry of fighting spirit burst out. He raised his fist and punched the front of the empty car in front of him with all his strength.
The fierce impact and recoil made the back of the car bounced up. Without pause the car then rotated and fell toward Juugo.
Without softening its momentum, Juugo half shouldered it and then throwing it.
Perhaps it should be called as an irregular shoulder throw. The car flew with tremendous speed and splendidly hit the monster’s head.
The monster didn’t even seemed to feel any itch. Juugo didn’t have any naïve thought that there would be any. It was already most satisfactory that it managed to attract its attention.
In the meanwhile he finished taking a deep breath this time, and yelled.
「RUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNN!!!」
The overwhelming volume thundered through the area. It even made the air shuddered. The dazed people felt like they were slapped on the face and returned to reality.
A beat later, countless screams rose and people started running away at full speed. The people inside the cars also abandoned their vehicles and desperately ran away, to get away as far as possible from this nightmarish place.
Juugo also ran. Toward the front of the monster.
From behind 「N-Nagayama-kun! What’re you planning to do! Run away too!!」 the vice principal’s voice called out to him, but as expected he had no leeway to answer.
The monster’s head caught sight of Juugo. Juugo held up another car. This time he directly held up the car’s front to use the engine block as shield.
Right after that, the monster carried out what it tried to do before he got interrupted for real this time.
He had predicted it from its movement, and sure enough, it was spewing out something from its opened mouth. It seemed to be water current that shoot like extremely large laser.
「Uoooooh!!?」
He almost got blown away from how powerful the impact was, but he braced himself with body strengthening and activating the defensive skill “Vajra”. Even so he couldn’t completely stop it and got pushed back while leaving behind groves on the asphalt.
He crashed on another car. His body got pressed between two car frames. Normally human would be turned into minced meat in such situation, but he endured with tough body that was among the best of the returnees and magic barrier.
「Guuuuuh」
Even cars could become excellent wall when dozens of them got clustered together. Juugo somehow succeeded in holding his ground after getting pushed back for a hundred meter while leaving groves on the ground.
But, the car that he was using as shield was a different matter. Or rather, the monster didn’t only have water current attack.
「T-this really isn’t funny at all!!」
He knew even without looking. *Juwaaaah* From the ominous sound, perhaps it was rotting effect or acid, but either way, apparently the monster’s water current attack had melting effect toward the target.
It’ll be bad at this rate……Juugo was about to seriously resolve himself for death, when.
「――”Stop”!!」
Instantly, the monster’s body jerked, furthermore the water current weakened. In addition,
「Oraaaaaah!!」
A young man jumped down from a nearby building. He brandished his huge battleaxe and swung down with all his strength toward the head’s base.
――※※※※※※ッッ！！！？
A voiceless shriek thundered.
The head’s base was deeply cut apart and dark blue liquid spurted out, but it apparently wasn’t lethal. The monster’s body wriggled and then hid itself to underground.
「Tsk, too shallow-」
「Aikawa!!」
The one who split the ground while landing was Aikawa Noboru. The girl in suit who ran to his side was the user of the words of power Liu.
These two were the two comrades who he planned to link up with.
These two were combat ready powerful tag-team even in the response department, but the opponents were also not usual. They wanted one more person. Yuuka and others were each doing their own task. The other classmates could also work but……
Juugo was a police officer. He still hadn’t graduated the police academy, but this was emergency. There were tons of things that needed doing like evacuating the ordinary people and so on, and a student of the police academy would surely get the mobilization order.
A precious combat force couldn’t be allowed to do something like that. Also, they couldn’t bear to make Juugo ignore the assembly order to make use of him as returnee. In that case, it was more convenient to temporarily transfer him to the response department, in other words the public safety as a formal order from above.
This result was the effect of such advice and consideration from Noboru taking place.
Later on, how would Juugo’s instructor and classmates look at him after knowing the public safety ordered 「Hand him over」 for him specifically even though he was still a student of the police academy……
Not only that, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine that even if he managed to safely graduate from the police academy, everybody would surely wonder 「This guy, just who in the world is he……」 and paid great attention to him.
Surely he wouldn’t be able to avoid numerous impacts to his police career from here on……Noboru paid no consideration to that aspect.
But putting aside that matter.
「Or rather, where’s the high class demon that should be dealing with that? We’re assigned with different case you know!」
「Dunno! That thing suddenly came out――」
「News from headquarters! The demon is dealing with things underground even now! In short……that thing just now is a different specimen!」
Liu pressed on her earphone while yelling. Apparently the same creature like that monster was rampaging in the subway. Furthermore, it was an opponent that gave a high-ranked demon a hard time. Noboru and Juugo looked at each other with twitching faces. Somehow, they guessed what would be asked from them to do.
Of course, it didn’t change what they had to do even if they weren’t requested to.
There,
「Nagayama-kun! Aikawa-kun! What are you two doing!!」
「「Vice principal!?」」
The vice principal who Juugo thought had ran away together with the surrounding people ran toward them with a desperate look. Behind him there were also Asai-sensei and Kazuko-sensei too following with a tense look too.
「Why haven’t you run away!?」
「There’s no way I can run away when students of our school even if only formerly are here!!」
Unconsciously the two mumbled 「O-ou」 with admiration mixed in their voices. Or rather, certainly they were also in special standing as “returnees”, but they shouldn’t be standing out like Nagumo as students. For the vice principal to normally remember them……
「Besides Nagayama-kun! What was that just now! You threw a car……and Aikawa-kun! T-that’s, don’t tell me it’s the real thing!? Why are you carrying a large axe like that-. No, in the first place what in the world was that……am I dreaming right now……」
「P-please calm down, vice principal. We are, aa~, that. We came here doing police work!」
「That’s right. And so, a civilian like sensei should evacuate quickly.」
It wasn’t like they were lying. Even if they mentioned public safety the teachers wouldn’t be familiar with it so they mentioned police, but it was true that they came here because of work. They clearly told them that the protected side here was them, not they.
「A-as police……I see. Certainly Nagayama-kun is……hm? But, Aikawa-kun. You’re――」
T-this person, does he fully remember the career each graduate take! Noboru’s face twitch for different reason this time.
「Noboru-san, leave this to me.」
But, even the questioning ended there. Not because Liu used “word of power” to hypnotize the teachers, but because the situation worsened.
Once again, there was impact that surged up from the ground.
They knew now that it wasn’t earthquake. Underground, giant earthworm monster that probably appeared at the subway would break through the asphalt and leap out. This sound was the precursor of that.
At the same time,
「Tsk, as expected there’s still more huh.」
「Over there is one originally responsible huh!」
「News from headquarters! We need to hold them back until reinforcement come!」
A manhole was sent flying and a grotesque thing that looked dirty and made one felt nauseated gushed out from the sewer.
It had skin like rotten human skin, egg shaped torso, and nine legs with warped joint growing from it. The tips of its feet were like frog with blood coloured mottled pattern. Mucus trickled from its mouth that was filled with uneven teeth, its ears were pointy, and no eye could be found on its body.
Several such things were attacking people who were desperately running away.
Juugo immediately picked a broken asphalt fragment under his feet, then he threw it with power that would make even Olympic’s shot put athlete turned white.
Luckily it hit one monster. It seemed the body itself wasn’t that tough. A part of the monster’s body got normally blown away and it became unable to move.
But, he wasn’t Sonobe Yuuka. His second and third throw simply missed. In the first place there were many of them. If more than ten attacked all at once he wouldn’t be able to deal with them.
「Be careful, Nagayama. Their fighting strength isn’t much but, you’ll get seriously sick if you get bitten by them. Apparently their preference is to eat you after you die.」
「Debuff type ability huh.」
Noboru gave a warning. It seemed he had already battled with them.
Apparently the attack from these monsters that looked like badly made frog wasn’t immediately lethal.
In fact, they would immediately go attack the next prey after taking a bite once. The bitten people too, although their knees would lose strength and became unable to stand up from falling down, they apparently wouldn’t die. Though mottled pattern would form all over their body and their faces would turn pale. Their consciousness would also grow hazy so it didn’t look like the bitten victim would last long.
Liu took a deep breath in order to pull the attention of the frog things. She would gather hate using word of power. Rather than chasing the scattered enemies one by one, this way would make it easier to deal with them, and this tactic had already been proven to be effective.
But, before she could do so the ground erupted once more.
Holding back this earthworm monster would be far more difficult. After all it was clearly an opponent whose strength surpassed them.
But, it was wounded. They would manage somehow. No, they would do it……that enthusiasm,
「「Ah」」
Was snapped by the sight of a building at the opposite side of the road a short distance away, a multi-tenant building around ten floor high got half pulverized. It then slowly tilted and fell toward the road.
Yes, other than the giant earthworm monster that broke through the road, there was one more. The same species leaped out from under the building.
「Ah……there’s info from headquarters. It, said, one more appear.」
The three had the same feeling. No, you guys are slow……, they thought. Next, Holding these things back are impossible though……they also thought. Because, even the first monster’s wound was also regenerating.
*Dosaa-* There was such sound. Perhaps, it was the sound of vice principal and others losing strength from their waists.
The building’s collapse looked as though it was in slow motion. The time was late, and it was also holiday season. Surely the number of people inside the building wasn’t as many as during noon. But, there was also no way the building was completely empty.
But, there was nothing Noboru and others could do……
Furthermore, this time the monster wasn’t firing the melting liquid as stream, but spurting out the melting liquid like a fountain above its head from the start. It must be planning to melt the whole area entirely.
Gravity took hold of the raging stream spurted out above, and they returned to the ground while scattering.
「Liu! Take the teachers and run into the building-」
「How far can “Vajra” endure against this-」
The rain of death poured down. After preparing themselves for the worst, Noboru laid a simple magic barrier above his head, while Juugo covered himself with magic power.
But, that resolve.
And, the feeling of shame that enormous damage would come out from among the people who were late to escape.
「――Genbu. Control of steam.」
A voice that sounded adorable like ringing bell, but, filled with staggering amount of spirit made all those unnecessary.
「Wha-」
「The rain, stopped……?」
It was a sight like in a movie when the scene of rain was temporarily stopped in place. The liquid drops were all stopped several meters above their heads before they could come on the ground.
No, that wasn’t all. The giant earthworm’s water spouting itself was stopping. Furthermore, it looked to be suffering for some reason.
At the same time,
「――Gouchen. Suppress it.」
The road bulged and the surrounding asphalt also gathered like there was mudslide. The movement didn’t stop and it crawled up the giant earthworm’s body and constricted it.
It couldn’t go back to underground like that. Not only that, the asphalt and concrete were pouring in from its mouth.
「――Tianhou. Rain of purification for all pain and sickness.」
The gazes of Noboru and others were drawn toward the voice. At the rescue who overturned the situation in one breath.
「Headquarters. Fujiwara Hinata has arrived just now.」
There was a huge turtle enveloped in light at a building’s rooftop.
On its back was a girl wearing kariginu. She was forming handseal with both hands in front of her chest, with a black snake and golden snake coiling around her like a celestial maiden’s raiment.
Beside her stood a beautiful woman also wearing outfit like a celestial maiden. Her hands were directed toward the sky and rain came down once again.
The big turtle opened its mouth and the stopped melting liquids whirled as they got sucked in. In exchange a warm rain showered the people.
The rain cleared away the mottled patterns and bad complexions from the people who were in agony from the attack of the filthy frog-thing. Further their wounds were also healed and they were given energy that enabled them to get back on their feet right away.
「The second, incoming――」
Hinata formed a sword hand seal with one hand and thrust that hand toward the sky. Then she herself was shining bright like a divine being.
「――Seiten’s imperial order Hyakki Yagyou All of the sworn enemies Are to be purged without exception Hasten by heaven’s command」
Those were words of power to exorcise all evils filled with vast amount of willpower. At the same time it was a command handed down to her subordinates.
Power that radiated brightness like the purifying sun that ought to be described as “a great waterfall of willpower” thrashed only the frog-things.
At the same time, a group of fantastical beings――apparitions in staggering number let out a war cry from behind Hinata while charging forward.
Some of them were also leaping into the manhole. Most likely there were still more frog-things lurking inside the sewer.
「Ah, contact from headquarters. Err, they’re telling us to head to the next place.」
Liu reported with looking like she really didn’t know what to say. In other words, it seemed that Hinata alone was enough to take care of this place.
Noboru and Juugo reflexively,
「「Ah, yes」」
Could only answer like that. What’s the use of our resolve just now……they thought.
Once again, their faces twitched seeing just how out of the norm that small strongest onmyouji of the modern era. But,
「J-just what in the world is going on……」
The trembling voice that came from behind made them fired up themselves again. This wasn’t the time for any thought like that.
And then, they looked at each other and nodded. For now they should evacuate the vice principal and others to a safe place.
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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.
Sorry for the wait. Just when I thought I had recovered next eye strain and lower back pain came……my condition is battered in this April……no, perhaps it’s just my age……. Putting that aside, for the subtitle I planned to use [super bottom], but a comment in the comment section said that what a coincidence it is that the next chapter the numbering will become [gegege] when it’s about youkai, so I adopted the idea. Thank you so much for the nice comment! Naturally, next chapter will be Gegege no ge. The defensive battle of earth will continue for a bit more but best regards all the same. (TN: The actual numbering of the chapter doesn’t use number, but using the kanji of up, middle, and bottom in the original text. Seeing that this part is continuing more than three chapters, the author kept adding the kanji of bottom to denote the progression. In this chapter the subtitle is 下下下, which can be read as gegege, which is coincidentally the title of a manga about youkai)
※Meme introduction
– The image source of the monsters
Black snake: Cthulhu’s Hunting Horror. Giant rat: Cthulhu’s Dhole. The giant worm Jeff from the movie [MIB 2] is also an image source. Frog-thing: Cthulhu’s Wamp.
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