○And They Dive Deep
This was absurdly fun.
While thinking like that, Kurumi took light steps and pointed straight at the monster.
Her skills had reached ‘Dark Magic: B’ and ‘Time Magic: C’. By combining the ‘Shape Transformation’ skill with ‘Dark Ball’, a wide variety of shapes could now be used, expanding on her versatility all at once.
“Dark Ball.”
At the same time as chanting ‘Dark Ball’, it changed into a needle-like shape. It pierced the chest of the muscular hybrid ogre (A huge tanned body wearing armor, and using a sword and shield). After confirming that it had embedded halfway──
“Shape Transformation/Thorns”
The needle transformed into a spiked chestnut. The monsters whose hearts had torn into shreds received the majority of the damage.
“Muu, as expected of the fourth floor of the highest difficulty level dungeon. They won’t die even from this much.”
“Adversary Appraisal……there are three hearts. I need to smash the remaining two.”
Tsuan stepped in and swung her super heavy halberd──<Lailaps> being aimed at the two remaining hearts.
The hybrid ogre managed to regain its footing as it used its shield to protect itself. However, that shield was crushed as the hybrid ogre collapsed.
“Now, ‘Shape Transformation’ once more.”
Kurumi thinned the ‘Dark Ball’ like wire and thrusted it into the ogre’s ear. A strange scream was let out as the ogre fell.
“It seems like there was only one brain.”
“Wow……these fights are getting more and more difficult……”
Hibiki, who was hiding, suddenly appeared. Hibiki had already reached level 70, but still this dungeon was too harsh, so she eventually returned to the Gadabout position. The Gadabout job can strengthen the ‘Hate Escape’ skill as a special characteristic. If Hibiki didn’t make it to S rank, she would be killed in a single blow.
Moreover, even after activating this skill, there was still the possibility of dying to due to an AOE attack. To thwart even that, she also obtained the Scout’s ‘Vanishing’ skill. It was a chicken tactic of running away and disappearing from each battle.
“It was easy victories up until the third floor, but it’s become somewhat of a tight contest in the fourth floor……”
“Well, these skills won’t be getting any better after reaching the limit……ah, ‘Fire Magic: S’. The four major magics are all S rank. After that, it’s just ‘Light Magic’.”
“That was fast……”
“It looks like the four major magic skills can be mastered at a relatively early stage. What matters are the skills attached to them. ‘Range Designation’ and ‘Automatic Identification of Allies and Enemies’ should be raised up a little bit more.”
“Do you need ‘Shape Transformation’? It is convenient.”
“Hmm……I don’t need to change the shape of fire, water, or wind. On top of varying levels of difficulty, the end result won’t change that much. Earth can do a variety of things by changing shape, but can’t you already substitute for that?”
“That’s certainly true. I was considering picking up either ‘Range Designation’ or ‘Automatic Identification of Allies and Enemies’, but……Hibiki-san?”
Kurumi turned to ask Hibiki for advice. Kurumi had grown accustomed to fighting (in terms of becoming accustomed, it wasn’t to the point of being cleared up), but lacked in-game knowledge. Hibiki’s only contribution to the battle was by putting that knowledge to great practical use.
“Hmm, if it’s between either one, it should be ‘Automatic Identification of Allies and Enemies’.”
“Wouldn’t ‘Range Designation’ be good for expanding the extent of magical attacks?”
“Beyond here, there will be monsters that can’t be settled in a single blow, so we can’t have Tsuan-san continuing with just charging through, right? So, at that moment, there needs to be support coming from ‘Dark Magic’. But ‘Dark Magic’ inflicts several abnormal status conditions, so it would be dangerous if Tsuan-san got caught in it. The battlefield would collapse in an instant.”
“Yup. It will be the worst if I get caught up in the darkness or confused. I could inadvertently use a full range physical attack that could get everyone involved.”
Understanding that what Hibiki and Tsuan said was correct, Kurumi selected ‘Automatic Identification of Allies and Enemies’.
“From here on out, will you fail unless you improve your skills?”
“Ah, I won’t fail. By improving skills, the rate of debuff and damage will be reduced when identifying between allies and enemies.”
This made Kurumi even stronger. As the skill for ‘Time Magic’ increased, all of the bullets that were normally useable can now be used without any problems. Additionally, <City of Devouring Time> can be used on some monsters, so both offense and defense were now complete.
Tsuan and Ariane also expanded on their specialty fields and showcased further growth by overcoming their weak spots.
Hibiki had only built up skills with safety in mind as a priority, so she remained basically useless in terms of combat. What she could do as a Scout became useless as Tsuan acquired the enemy detection system skill.
“Hibikin, ‘Acquisition Appraisal’ please.”
“Yes. It’s super fun appraisal drop time♪”
So in the end Hibiki focused on the hate control of the Gadabout class as the lynchpin, acquiring skills useful outside of combat.
As for the level increases required for skill points, she was fortunate to be automatically gaining experience points just by being part of the party.
“The drop item of the hybrid ogre is～♪ Raw liver, rawhide, a demon’s horn～♪ Ah, also the value of the weapons is 90% less valuable due to weapon deterioration.”
With a happy look, Hibiki dismantled the ogre. However, dismantling was a game mechanic done just by declaring doing so, a gentle design that turned a corpse into a drop item.
Incidentally, drop items can be sold in at least one safe zone vending machine in each floor. In these safe zones, these various tools can be used to make medicine or processed as materials to make weapons and armor. However, Kurumi and the others haven’t been able to use this feature very much.
“I don’t need it. Also, leave the raw liver behind.”
“Then, the liver is just going to spoil……”
“The raw liver and rawhide are either sold or used to formulate medicine. The demon’s horn (Golden Class) can be used to strengthen the physical attack of an Unsigned Angel……I want to use this, is that okay?”
Everyone else had no objections. Tsuan’s attacks were the keystone of this party.
“……Ah. By the way, I suddenly had this thought.”
“What?”
“Does the effect of the demon’s horn disappear when you leave the Fifth Region Gevurah?”
For example, magic related skills cannot be used once you leave the Fifth Region Gevurah. Even the effect of ‘Night Vision disappears if you move away from the Fifth Region Gevurah.
But for physical things──the effect of things like Hibiki’s ‘Mahjong’ and ‘Producer’ won’t disappear even after leaving the Fifth Region Gevurah.
Tsuan’s ‘Flight’ and ‘Unsigned Angel Halberd Mastery’ were also in the category of effects that wouldn’t disappear.
But, what about strengthening weapons?
When leaving the Fifth Region Gevurah, will the enhanced parts of the strengthened weapon disappear? Or perhaps──
“Ah, I didn’t tell you about that. The strengthening of Unsigned Angels remains. At least for mine. But the weapons of you three are special, so I don’t know.”
“That’s right. With <Zafkiel>’s physical attacks strengthened, things wouldn’t necessarily make sense with a tougher pistol or clock piece.”
“I don’t think it’s a problem if my threads become sharper……”
“If so, it may be good for Ariadne-san to process her weapon next time. My <King Killing> is too special, so it’s out of the question.”
“…………”
“Ariadne-san?”
“Somehow……Hibikin has gradually become more like a party leader.”
“Wha!?”
Tsuan nodded in agreement.
“I have a lot of knowledge about skills, but this combination method is really surprising. It’s highly likely that I would have been pushed back if alone.”
“That’s right. The one who suggested the combination of ‘Dark Magic’ and ‘Shape Transformation’ was……Hibiki-san?”
Hibiki was trembling and shivering. Huh, Kurumi and others all slanted their heads. Where was there room in the current conversation for excitement? While thinking like that, Hibiki clung onto Kurumi with a half-tear stained face.
“Hey!?”
As expected, Kurumi let out a scream.
“P-P-P-Please don’t throw me away, Kurumi-san! Certainly, I thought for a moment, “Opps, I’m weak, but quite like a party leader”. This is a party expulsion flag! “Even without you, there are plenty of substitutes”, me becoming that would have led to a happy end!”
“……That’s a good happy end……?”
Tsuan nervously asked about Hibiki’s reply.
“In those cases, everyone will become extremely unhappy with the substitute.”
“You──don’t──say?”
“So please don’t throw me away, Kurumi-san, Kurumi-san, Ku──ru──mi──san!”
“……<Zafkiel>.”
Kurumi shot at Hibiki’s ear.
“……I’ve returned to my senses……my excessive knowledge of fantasy worlds made the idea of those conventions come out……. Thinking it through calmly, that wouldn’t be the case……”
For the moment, Hibiki breathed out a huge sigh of relief.
“So the problem is being too well-informed.”
“No really……Being left behind, I awake a transcendental cheat ability immediately to take revenge on those three people. Around the end, I’m exhausted and don’t want to update anything anymore, even as the comment sections get stormy demanding updates.”
“Please come back to reality. Re──a──li──ty──!”
If Hibiki kept being in this disturbed state, then they couldn’t carelessly wander into the fifth floor. As Kurumi grabbed her shoulders and began shaking, Hibiki regained her sense of reason. “T-That’s right. From around the third floor, I was unable to make a map using the ‘Map Creation’ skill. I’m not as frivolous as a Gadabout, but……”
“This is a dungeon exploration, so it can’t be helped. As expected, I’m not self-confident that I won’t get angry for any frivolous behavior.”
“I understand. ……Well, going straight from here onwards means an unknown area.”
“Hmm.”
The four of them looked deep into the dark passage. Ariadne tried to illuminate with ‘Light Magic’ for the time being, but the magical light was forcibly extinguished perhaps due to some mysterious power.
“I can’t seem to turn on the light.”
“The ‘Night Vision’ skill seems needed to advance. Fortunately, all of us have acquired that skill, so there should be no hindrances to proceed.”
“Muu……”
“What’s the matter, Hibiki-san?”
“……No, it’s nothing. I’m using ‘Night Vision’.”
Hibiki chose to ignore the faintly bad premonition embracing her mind. She had full confidence in the fighting ability of the three people besides herself.
As a result, they reached that foe.
“There’s a sign. Prepared in advance.”
At that moment, as Tsuan said that while preparing <Lailaps>, Hibiki realized her blunder.
“This is bad……!”
A decision made at the spur of the moment──Hibiki reached out and closed Kurumi’s left eye.
“What are you──”
There was no time to ask about the reason as a terrifying flash burned the party’s eyes.
“Light Magic! Shit……”
“Kyauu!?”
Tsuan and Ariadne reflexively cowered. A flash of light magic hitting directly as they had their senses refined through night vision. Sight was now completely blocked as confusion ensued.
“Kurumi-san, please!”
“I’ve got this……!”
Just barely, Hibiki had protected one of Kurumi’s eyes. Closing the other useless eye, Kurumi saw with the other eye the monster attacking from the dark.
“<Zafkiel>──the Second Bullet <Bet>!”
She fired the decelerating bullet. Anyway, it had become an endurance battle now. The flash had temporarily blinded their eyes. So, there needs to be revival so that the warfront can be immediately rebuilt.
However.
A strange sound, seeing a huge mosquito-like monster flew at tremendous speed, Kurumi clicked her tongue.
“Fast……!”
The Second Bullet <Bet> was avoided. In that case, Kurumi shot a rapid-fire barrage of bullets.
However, the giant mosquito was still in hot pursuit even after being shot at. Even with its wings shredded and its legs in pieces, the giant mosquito tried to calmly suck up Kurumi’s blood with its straw-like mouth.
“──That’s a bug all right.”
Kurumi twisted her back vigorously while falling down. The recoil caused her legs to stretch and rise up. She kicked the soft abdomen of the giant mosquito lunging forward. The type of counter using the momentum of being charge at──unable to withstand the impact coming from her toes, the giant mosquito was stuck onto the ceiling.
“Yes, now stop moving.”
Kyeee, Kurumi quickly closed her eyes after hearing that scream. An intense light that can be felt through the eyelids. However, that wouldn’t work on Kurumi again.
“A shallow idea of being open to use the same attack, you’re a monster all right……!”
Striking with <Zafkiel> at the ceiling, the huge mosquito was riddled with holes as it crumbled into fragile pieces. Avoiding the falling corpse, Kurumi hurried to stare back the deeper into darkness.
“Not over yet.”
Cutting off the ‘Night Vision’ skill, she shot at any perceived signs of the enemy.
“Kurumin, dodge!”
As Ariadne’s voice was heard there──she immediately ducked onto the floor. Something passed over her head at a very tremendous speed.
A vulgar muffled scream was heard.
“……Geez. Aiming for the head…… Really, seriously, you know how bad it is to wake up someone who’s sleepy……!?”
Hearing Ariadne’s low voice, Hibiki violently trembled.
“Die. <Taiintaiyounijuyonsetsuki>──!”
The three giant mosquitos entangled in the threads of mercury weren’t able to make a single movement.
They were chopped apart in an instant.
Silence──there were no signs of reinforcements. After confirming this, Ariadne finally sighed.
“Fuu……”
“Ku……it’s still flickering……”
“I-Is everyone okay……I’m still no good either……”
“Now, let’s turn back this way.”
Kurumi said that as she extended a hand out to Hibiki who was still wobbling about.
“Reflection time!”
Hibiki spoke while lowering her head.
“First of all, I had an unpleasant feeling just before using ‘Night Vision’. Thinking it over now, I should have thought about places where ‘Light Magic’ would be most effective. Sorry.”
“Next is me…With Fourth Floor tier monsters, I should have used my understanding of them targeting the opponent’s weak point. ……But I couldn’t see through the trap. Sorry.”
“……Well, at that moment I got Hibiki-san to cover my eye, so both the positive and negative cancel out to zero. Without that, we would have disappeared instead of holding a reflection meeting. The only one who doesn’t have to reflect is Ariadne-san who landed the finishing blow.”
“I just got angry at the last one and threw my threads at the direction that sounded appropriate. I don’t want you to count me in the credit……”
Ariadne turned to the other side while muttering that.
She seemed embarrassed after remembering what she did.
“……Well, I’m finally self-aware of arriving at the Fourth Floor. We are in the most difficult dungeon……there is no doubt that the results will be great. Most of all, only by crossing here, can we land a decisive blow on the White Queen. No change in advancing forward, but we need to proceed carefully.”
“Hibiki-san, please cherish that feeling of discomfort. Perhaps it is something that we’ve missed.”
Hibiki nodded in agreement to Kurumi’s words.
“Yes. I won’t make that mistake again.”
And so, the girls departed once again. A single misstep, no, even taking a half a step in the wrong path would immediately lead to death in the strongest Fifth Dungeon Elohim Gibor.
Even now, they recognized again how terrifying it could be. However, recognizing that fear and being afraid were different as much as they were the same.
They had no hesitation in proceeding. While embracing that fear, they nevertheless continued marching forward──
◇
──The Sixth Floor. The floor boss room.
“……Just for a bit……let’s take a break……”
Hearing Hibiki’s words, everyone nodded with a relived look. It was a fierce battle.
The boss of the Sixth Floor was the Valkyrie Pegasus. A silver-haired war maiden that held a huge assault lance. She rode on the Pegasus and flew through the vast boss room.
It was within expectations she could use all four magics, but in addition to herself, she was the worst enemy that could summon an inexhaustible supply of low level dependent (although they seemed to be as strong as a third floor tier enemy) Valkyries.
And even worse, when their number exceeded a certain threshold, they would receive an even more powerful bombing raid from the Valkyrie Pegasus. So priority was given to the dependents, but naturally main body of the Valkyrie Pegasus wouldn’t take any damage if they continued that.
Incidentally, if left alone for a while, their automatic recovery ability would be activated.
The strategy they had set up for this strangely high leveled opponent was as followed.
First, Ariadne would continue slicing up the dependents. Kurumi assisted with <Zafkiel> and ‘Dark Magic’ by sniping the Valkyrie Pegasus flying in the sky. Tsuan chased after the main body with her ‘Flight’ skill. Hibiki gave instructions while hiding her appearance.
……It wasn’t as simple as saying it out loud. After all, a large number of the Valkyries had an unusual level of endurance. At least ten direct hits from <Zafkiel>, twenty direct attacks from Tsuan, and the strongest bullet in inter-personal combat, the Seventh Bullet <Zayin> that could stop time, it took all three of those factors for them to at last be defeated.
“I don’t know who came up with this……but hey……I think this is too hardcore……”
All of them silently agreed with Ariadne’s whispers.
“……By the way, I have a question for Hibiki-san……”
“Yes, what is it……”
While lying on the rug that Hibiki brought out, Kurumi talked about the concern she had felt during that battle.
“Pegasus is a Greek myth……Valkyries are Scandinavian myth……why are these two fused together……?”
“……As expected of Kurumi-san……for lovers of original fantasy……I agree it’s not very satisfying. Perhaps, a random Quasi-Spirit was made attached to ride it……”
“That’s not satisfying at all……”
Kurumi kicked about her legs in irritation.
“But this clears the Sixth Floor. There are four more floors remaining.”
The three of them breathed out a uniform sigh of relief in response to what Tsuan had said. The turning point had been passed, just a bit more until they approached their destination.
“Ah, but before that……I have do the Valkyrie’s dismantling……”
Hibiki struggled to get up as she placed her hand on the Valkyrie that was on the verge of disappearing.
“Dismantle……huh?”
“What happened?”
“I got an error when I tried to use Dismantle. Ah, no. The drop item has been recovered. Only Valkyrie’s shield.”
“That’s strange. According to ‘Adversary Appraisal’, the drop items of Valkyrie Pegasus should at least have the disgusting three items ‘Valkyrie’s Shield’, ‘Valkyrie’s Hair’, and Pegasus’s Wings’. Other than that, the redropped items are unknown……”
“……Please hold on for a second.”
Kurumi approached and gently touched the Valkyrie.
“……”
“W-What’s wrong?”
“Perhaps the error came out……because this monster was a Quasi-Spirit.”
“Huh!?”
Tsuan and Ariadne, both of whom were still tired, also got up in a hurry.
“No, to be precise, a Quasi-Spirit that has fallen into ruin……people who have succumbed to the Queen’s temptation.”
“……Empty……!”
“B-But what does this mean……? Was the former Dominion secretly experimenting with humans……?”
“No, it can’t be──”
“No this is different, Ariadne-san.”
Kurumi quickly rejected Ariadne’s theory and turned to Tsuan.
“Tsuan-san. The White Queen’s army……in other words, has the attacks from those Empties increased in intensity recently?”
“Yeah, that’s certainly true.”
“Among them, some of the Empties looked like monsters.”
“Right. ……No way.”
“……This dungeon, has been conquered by the White Queen. The upper floor monsters were just monsters, but the lower tiers are her territory……where the monsters and Empty have fused together.”
A number of horrifying monsters had been seen in the Third Region Binah.
Some of them were probably also fusions with the monsters from the Fifth Region Gevurah.
Those girls had as transparent Reiryoku as possible, being an existence closest to purity. And that was why they could be combined with any being. Any powerful monster, if artificially created, could serve as binding material for those Empties.
Then, if it was for the sake of the White Queen, these Empty would hold a strong will to fuse even if it meant becoming an Empty manipulated puppet.
But, in other words this meant.
“The monsters in the lower floors are under the control of the White Queen……that means……?”
Hearing Ariadne’s voice, Hibiki and Tsuan were also at a loss for words. This was beyond just being the worst situation.
“……Not all, if I had to guess. If that was the case, the Fifth Region Gevurah would have long since collapsed. Then, there must be another important point.”
“That is……?”
“If, if you want to fuse with monsters in this dungeon, doesn’t it need to be a floor boss? Otherwise, wouldn’t they have already gone outside to fight?”
“Well, that’s true. This time was the Valkyrie Pegasus. The damage that could be done if that ever left for the surface…… Huh? Why doesn’t it go out to the surface?”
“Perhaps it needs to protect the gate to the Third Region Binah, which is at the lowest level?”
Kurumi shook her head at Tsuan’s words.
“There’s that, but it wouldn’t be something they would go out of their way to protect this much. There are other gates in the Third Region Binah. Even if it’s a roundabout way, isn’t it meaningless to separate their war potential like this?”
“Muu, for sure. ……Then, Tokisaki Kurumi. Do you know the reason why they are dividing their troops like this?”
“I haven’t understood that point either thus far. But it’s a fact that they haven’t come out yet. There’s something in the lowest floor that would be troubling for them if seen. In other words, I wonder if our objective is connected to the weakness of the White Queen’s army.”
The road ahead was connected to the White Queen much earlier than expected.
“……But, we have to be more careful from the Seventh Floor and onward. Up until now, we’ve been fighting high-ranking monsters whose intelligence has been based on routine work. But when they merge with Empties, the story completely changes.”
“Speaking of which……certainly that Valkyrie Pegasus was operating with a fairly advanced thought process. I mean, I was hiding with ‘Hate Control’ but was targeted about ten times.”
“It was one of the reasons why it took so long. There should be no reason for Hibiki-san to be targeted……”
“Each time I gave out instructions, I remember being attacked…… Um? Maybe my ‘Hate Control’ has become meaningless……?”
Hibiki turned pale as she said that. Tsuan also agreed with that.
“It might be bad. I had a feeling that ‘Disappearance’ was effective. However, I also had the feeling that Valkyrie Pegasus wasn’t very familiar with ‘Hate Control’. Originally, that skill has the advantage that malice won’t be raised even if noticeable action is taken. But it seemed to think and act independently from that.”
“W-w-w-what should I do! From here on, I would be on the verge of death from just taking a single blow, no I would just straight up die!”
“Well, please calm down. Even if it has the ability to think, it’s not rational like a human. If that was the case, it would have focused on a concentrated attack after understanding that Higoromo Hibiki is giving instructions.”
“……Huh? That’s true……”
Certainly, the actions of the Valkyrie Pegasus were strange. If you consider Hibiki giving instructions, it should have moved to a concentrated attack at that point.
However, she switched targets to the other three as if nothing had happened after a certain period of time.
“Maybe……it’s not a complete fusion between the monsters and the Empties yet. The programed instincts of the monster are getting in the way.”
Tsuan thought about a reason why they haven’t exited for the surface yet. The Empty monsters she had seen were weak level monsters……but their thought process was on the same level as a Quasi-Spirit. ……However, since they were driven by fanaticism, those girls had naturally been coerced into complete devotion.
“That being said……a chink in our armor has been exposed. I suppose I can only do my best regarding that. Later I’ll search for evasion and defense skills and not hate-related skills.”
“When the battle begins, I will guard with ‘Dark Shield’ anyway. Since it is Shield Magic, it should invalidate ‘Disappearance’.”
“But other than Shield Magic, ‘Disappearance’ will be invalidated because of standing out……”
Kurumi decided to check her status display screen for any other magic or skills she could acquire.
“Skills……I don’t have any. Dark Magic……none. Time Magic should be my <Zafkiel>……huh?”
As mentioned before, Time Magic was unique to Kurumi and at the same time the same abilities held by her <Zafkiel>. Therefore, even if checking the details of the abilities of Time Magic, only names like the First Bullet <Aleph> and the <City of Devouring Time> should be added.
Up until now, the Eleventh Bullet <Yud Aleph> and the Twelfth Bullet <Yud Bet> had been hidden, with Kurumi guessing they wouldn’t be useable in the current circumstances. ……Originally, those two bullets were meant for accomplishing an end, not for battle. So even if they were not useable, it couldn’t be helped and she imagined it not being an issue.
“……Exchange……?”
When touching the Eleventh Bullet <Yud Aleph> and the Twelfth Bullet <Yud Bet> on the display screen, the ‘Exchange’ button appeared.
Kurumi timidly touched the ‘?’ symbol offering an explanation about ‘Exchange’ option.
“This ability is not available in the Neighboring World. It can be used by exchanging abilities. Would you like to exchange? YES/NO.”
……No, no, no, no, no.
Such a thing was accumulation of absurdness. Kurumi immediately selected the NO option. The status display screen returned back to its previous state.
“What’s wrong, Kurumi-san?”
“Hibiki-san. ……No, it’s nothing.”
She breathed out a long sigh. Her heartbeat felt noisy. The spooky option that suddenly appeared threw Kurumi’s mind in an unusual state of disturbance.
……If the original ability couldn’t be used in the Neighboring World, then it couldn’t be helped.
But, if it could be replaced. That means……what sort of ability is it? No, there should be no problems with exchanging it in the first place.
“It’s about time to leave for the Seventh Floor.”
Hearing Tsuan’s voice, Kurumi realized she had been thinking for a while now. Hibiki was staring at Kurumi’s face.
“Did something happen? You seem to be thinking for a while now after looking at that display screen.”
“……I’ll talk to you about it later.”
While answering like that, Kurumi wondered if it would be okay to consult.
“Is that right? Well, please feel free to consult with me!”
Hibiki gave a carefree smile like usual. Kurumi looked slightly away. There was a strange feeling of having a guilty conscience. In this world, everyone had a unique ability. Hibiki, and Kurumi as well.
Of course, there are strong and weak abilities──even if there are walls that can’t be overcome for Kurumi and Hibiki──they couldn’t be changed and are unique.
And that peculiarity was also a source of pride.
Ariadne, Tsuan, and Hibiki all polished their weapons to challenge each battle.
Then, the moment of considering changing that peculiarity……it was a consideration for her alone, a judgement only she could make for herself.
Taking a deep breath──Kurumi decided not to replace. However, for here right now……but.
◇
──The Second Region Chokmah.
Cistus, Carte À Jouer, and Yukishiro Maya. The three of them set foot on a huge building underneath the Second Region Chokmah.
The height was about 40 meters and the width was around 150 meters. Huge pillars lined up smoothly. Even though the ceiling was faintly lit and visibility was good──they couldn’t look up ahead at all. The passage seemed to go on forever.
“Here is……”
“Yeah. The Neighboring World’s Reiryoku pipeline. In other words, the exhaust and intake holes. On the other side is──”
Maya pointed towards northwest.
“The gate to the First Region Keter. Therefore, I want to solidify the passage here.”
“Uhh……is there a passage of this scale in the basement of each region?”
Maya nodded at Cistus’s question.
“Correct answer. The pipeline has been laid along the same route as the <Shamayim Kaveesh>.”
“But, who in the world……built this?”
“Unknown. I can only imagine it’s been here since the beginning. The mechanism itself is necessary for establishing the Neighboring World.”
“What happens if this is destroyed?”
“The order of the Neighboring World will disappear. The whole region would become destabilized like the Fifth Region Gevurah. No, likely even worse than the Fifth Region Gevurah. The disturbance of Reiryoku would accelerate the Emptying process, ushering in an age of carnage as each region struggles to compete with each other for Reiryoku.”
Or perhaps.
Or perhaps another worst expectation. However, Yukishiro Maya chose to keep quiet about this.
“Now……what should we do to harden our defenses?”
“The Second Region Chokmah is concealed to most Quasi-Spirits. We alone will carry the raw materials to build a stronghold. Almost all done manually.”
“Wha……”
Maya let out an unusual laugh. However, her eyes looked hollow as opposed to her laughter. It looked like a manga artist who had spent three days and three nights on a manuscript.
“I can’t inform anyone about here besides Dominion-class Quasi-Spirits. However, it is impossible for me to build a stronghold alone.”
“T-That means……you want us to do subordinate work?”
“Indeed, just as you say. I also have high expectations particularly for Carte. Those four playing cards you have. Ah, do you mind if I place a safety lock so that they’ll burn up if they try leaking any secrets here?”
“That’s……I suppose it can’t be helped.”
Carte quickly abandoned them to their fate.
“What do you mean can’t be helped!”
“This isn’t a joke!”
“I think this is foolish!”
“Please forgive me!”
“Don’t worry; it’ll be okay as long as you all don’t speak. Break the seal──the Fourth Book <Light Law Apostles>. You four people……four playing cards are forbidden from speaking about this place except for people I have given permission to. If you break this ban, you’ll burn up without question from the Fifth Book <Firehouse Mystery>.”
“Gya!”
Simultaneous screams. A translucent chain and padlock entangled the playing cards and disappeared with a clicking sound. But the playing cards all understood.
When it came to this difficult topic, they’ll definitely be burned away.
Despite speaking as if it was a joke, she had been quite serious.
“Hey, hey, as the subordinate of that person who does things at her own convenience, it will be troublesome to be under such a geass.”
Carte intended to protest, so Maya took out a rigid photo of Tokisaki Kurumi from her pocket.
“A video of Tokisaki Kurumi’s great efforts in the Seventh Region Netzach will also be included in the set.”
“……Well, a lynchpin may be necessary for maintaining secrecy……there’s no other way.”
“My boss, do I really need to keep staying here……”
“Lightly rolling at the palm of her hand”
“The former Dominion of the Third Region Binah has no sense of dignity!”
“Don’t end it with there’s no other way, you dumbass!”
“Hey the first person, why are your speech patterns different than usual!? ……Well, it’s fine. Don’t worry, you’re all unlikely to be tortured or anything like that. If so, why would you even talk to other Quasi-Spirits about this? At those times, it’s good to just fake a laugh and run away.”
“(Reluctantly) Yes.”
While they were still dissatisfied, Carte was relived to get their consent.
On the other hand, Cistus gracefully stepped forward to Maya.
“Um, I don’t think I’m very good at manual labor……”
“What are you saying, Tokisaki Kurumi, or rather Cistus? You have to work with all your strength. I’m also willing to do the heavy lifting I would never do normally.”
“T-That’s true……”
“Come on, hurry up! We don’t have time to waste! We need to bring materials that will protect the First Region Keter!”
Maya began to run, followed by Carte, and Cistus who was reluctantly walking.
“……I wonder what’s going on with me on the other side. I’m having such a difficult time, so it wouldn’t be fair unless there are difficulties that way as well.”
She laughed while shedding such idle complaints.
Well, there definitely should be troubles ahead. But if it was her. She should be dancing in a light, relaxed, and elegant manner.
If Cistus was created from cutting off the weak moments of Tokisaki Kurumi, then she was the Tokisaki Kurumi cut off from the moments stronger than anyone else.
◇
The Ninth Floor.
──Higoromo Hibiki spoke out a ‘seriously’ in a tongue in cheek tone.
While running with Hibiki in her arms, Kurumi faintly considered that.
“Everyone, there is a trap up ahead! Three of them, on the floor, ceiling, and right wall, it’s a needle skewer type! Temperature body sensors at the center of each part! Ariadne-san, take care of it!”
Hibiki discovered the traps through ‘Trap Detection’ and communicated it to them through ‘Telepathy’. Instead of speaking through words, communication through thoughts enabled messages to be sent within a few seconds.
Immediately, Ariadne activated ‘Ice Wall’ through ‘Water Magic’. The temperature sensors on the center of the floor, walls, and ceiling were all frozen.
“……Okay, keep going or the enemy behind will catch up. Ariadne-san, please melt the ice as soon as you run!”
“I’ve been working nonstop!”
“Sorry, that’s the fate of a witch!”
Ariadne shook her staff──the generated flames burnt the floor, walls, and celling. The ice melted instantly and at the same time the trap activated by the sensor detecting an above average body temperature.
The monsters chasing behind them were struck by a huge needle.
“Jesus!”
The Ninth Floor was almost like a straight road. It was more like a passageway rather than being a labyrinth.
However, the problem was the pile of traps set up everywhere. Up until now, Hibiki’s laboriously accumulated ‘Trap Detection’ skill (rank A) had been successful. However, it was too late for Hibiki to both find and deal with the traps now.
After all, monsters kept endlessly popping up from behind. Trying to advance forward meant invoking the traps, while being at a standstill meant being caught in a pincer attack with the monsters behind them.
“I think the person that made this Ninth Floor is an absolutely terrible person!”
“I really agree with that……”
Kurumi looked tired as she wiped away her sweat.
Taking a short break before another monster would pop out. Sitting down on the rug, they would drink water, swipe away sweat, and taking in a deep breath. While being only to take a break at two minutes at best, the group realized it wasn’t too much different than before.
“Two minutes have passed; a monster popping out will appear! Start running!”
The three of them silently stood up after hearing what Hibiki had said. Tsuan substituted with Kurumi in carrying Hibiki.
“Trap Detection is activated! Depart!”
They began running. While adjusting to Ariadne’s number one low speed, Kurumi helped in supporting the rear guard.
“I will intercept it!”
<Zafkiel> fired sweepingly at them simultaneously. However, the monsters fiercely pushed forward without any fear. The monsters that popped out this time were a giant flying turtle, a huge monkey with steel teeth exposed, and a white tiger with a jet propulsion system.
“The new ones that appeared are Blue Flying Tortoise, Steel Fang Kong, and White Tiger Jet! The names of these guys are always too long……”
Hibiki quickly conveyed the enemies’ names through Telepathy. While still running, Kurumi responded.
“The names of the monsters don’t matter, but they all seem to be strong……”
“They’ll be difficult to fight normally, and even more difficult in these circumstances.”
“Did you find anything through ‘Adversary Appraisal’, Tsuan-san?”
“Hmm ‘Total Resistance: S’. Reduces all damage to one-fifth.”
“Someone is making fun of us. No, someone is clearly treating us with contempt. Doing so with too much effort!!”
Everyone nodded in agreement with Hibiki’s Tsukkomi performance.
“But we have ‘Full Penetration: S’, right? Because it was convenient, everyone couldn’t help but pick it up, right?”
Ariadne’s rare skill ‘Full Penetration’ gave a piercing attribute to all attacks, increasing damage and also nullifying enemy resistance. Although it was a rare skill that required no questions, the only requirement was high skill points. So both Kurumi and Tsuan obtained it and were growing it up to S rank. From the Fifth Floor onwards, almost all of the enemies possessed some sort of attack resistance and required the penetration skill to fight against.
However, Tsuan sighed as she shook her head.
“Until now, the damage had been increased with the ‘Full Penetration’ skill, but if the opponent has ‘Total Resistance’, the damage is reduced to normal. In that case, it’ll become a long-term decisive battle rather than the short-term one as it was before……for a long term-battle, the monster will keep appearing from the rear and it’ll become endless.”
In the Ninth Floor, three monsters popped out from the rear every two minutes. If they didn’t defeat them within two minutes, a new monster would come out to fight. Four minutes later, the third army of monsters will arrive. Of course, there may be limits to how many can pop out……but they had no intention of ever trying to confirm those limits.
“It just as Tsuan-san says! There’s no choice but to escape!”
The idea of running away was a little too difficult for Kurumi to accept. But she also didn’t want to stay and experience an infinite hell.
“Trap on the floor in front! ……Sorry, I couldn’t see through it. So it definitely must be S-rank!”
“In that case, Kurumi-san! If you will!”
“I’ve been informed──<Zafkiel>……the Seventh Bullet <Zayin>!”
When Hibiki couldn’t see through the trap and could only tell that it is a trap, Kurumi used the Seventh Bullet <Zayin> to momentarily stop the time of the portion where the trap was located.
It consumed a lot of time, but this was the only way to get through that trap. Since she couldn’t snatch away time from these monsters, the mental pressure increased even more.
“Kurumi-san. How many more times do you calculate being able to use the Seventh Bullet <Zayin>?”
“Afterwards……four more times. Needless to say, I will also need to use it against the floor boss, so I will refrain from using it until I can supplement my time again.”
“Got it. Ge, trap up ahead……two of them! The type where the left and right walls would come caving in! Ah, this is the type that can’t be called off! Kurumi-san……this isn’t good. We need to jump over this!”
“Roger. Higoromo Hibiki, hold on tightly.”
“Measuring the timing. Three, two, one……now jump!”
The same moment Hibiki thought about that, Tsuan danced in the air. At the same time, there was a faint noise──the sound of the thick stone wall beginning to move.
A thunderous roar as if coming from a cannon. Hibiki looked behind at where her eyes and nose were before──just a few centimeters where she was at before; she noticed that the wall had completely closed on itself.
“This is bad. The wall is moving fast! Kurumi-san, use the Seventh Bullet <Zayin>!”
“Understood──Ariadne-san!?”
“Sorry, my mistake……!”
At the same time, the walls opened up, Ariadne hurried to jumped in. Kurumi immediately used the Seventh Bullet <Zayin>, but she could shoot at the right side of the wall. Hibiki could only pray as she saw the left side of the wall kept moving inward.
A prayer for the walls to stop mid-way through……!
Ariadne leaped towards the right side which had momentarily stopped. But that wouldn’t solve anything as the left side kept moving to close the center passageway.
Sure enough, the left wall crossed the mid-section without losing momentum. Inevitably, Ariadne would be crushed if nothing was done.
“……!”
Kurumi tried to fire the Seventh Bullet <Zayin> again──but <Zafkiel>’s abilities required a little while to reload.
It was a blank period less than a second.
But at this moment this was deadly shortcoming.
Ariadne also knew this. The Seventh Bullet <Zayin> would come too late. In that case, she would be crushed.
But as she jumped, of course she was also expecting this. At the same time as jumping, she granted hardness to her staff through Earth Magic. Turning her staff against the wall, she used it as a substitute for a pole.
“Please hold on for just one second……!”
The moment the staff struck the wall, the walls remained stationary ever so slightly. But that was just for a moment. No longer able to withstand the pressure, the cane shattered brittlely. “Alright!”
However, Ariadne was able to slip through the wall using that small gap.
“Are you injured?”
As Tsuan asked a question, Ariadne nodded. Kurumi then used the Second Bullet <Bet> rather than the Seventh Bullet <Zayin> to calmly pass through the wall.
“It’s painful to part ways with my staff……but I’ll recover with my Unsigned Angel.”
“Can you still use magic now?”
Ariadne said it wasn’t an issue, but her complexion said otherwise.
“I’ll have to use something else as a catalyst……if it’s not sturdy, it’ll break once using magic.”
Ariadne had chosen a staff because it was light, sturdy, and easy to imagine magic through (the most important thing for doing magic is the image of doing so).
“My Unsigned Angel is strings of mercury, so it’ll be a little difficult to imagine. ……But well, I have no choice but do something about it.”
From Ariadne’s wrist, a floating string extending out.
“Hmm……’Fireball’.”
A fireball was created from the tip of the thread, but everyone noticed that the entire movements were a bit more awkward then when fired from her staff.
“Hey? It’s a bit more difficult to do.”
“……There’s no choice but to get used to it. Let’s hurry! It’ll be a real shame if the monsters come out again!”
Everyone stood up in response to what Hibiki said and started walking again with a tired look.
“Ara? ……Can you see the door ahead?”
The first one to notice was Kurumi.
“There are no traps. One minute until the monster pops out. ……That must mean, perhaps over there……”
“It is a floor boss. While normally strong, it’s highly possible that it’s fused with an Empty. Let’s be careful.”
“Hibiki-san. Please be especially careful.”
“I know. ……From here on out, I’ll give instructions through ‘Telepathy’. If it appears that the Empty notices me, please protect me Kurumi-san.”
“I know.”
“Then, I’ll also slap on ‘Disappearance’.”
As Hibiki declared that, she suddenly disappeared. At the same time Tsuan opened the door, Ariadne gave buffs to everyone, and Kurumi rushed in while holding <Zafkiel>.
Hibiki quickly covered her mouth just as she was about to scream. With the face of an innocent girl, a huge white praying mantis was standing there. It had four arms, each with its own weapon. Sword, sickle, axe, and spear──
“’Adversary Appraisal……uh, failure. Error. Unknown name, unknown ability, everything else is unknown.”
“Hibiki-san, what should be done?”
“Anyway, first let’s wait and see. Observe whatever resistances it has, and then first go for an all-out attack.”
“Hibikin……which one……?”
Hibiki let out scream this time. It seemed that the other side could see through ‘Telepathy’. Not only that, they could also use the ‘Telepathy’ skill to interfere with instructions.
And this meant,
“Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuch!”
Their ‘Telepathy’ had been completely exposed……!
“Gya! I’m talking to you over here! Kurumi-san!”
“Dark Shield!”
The dark shield stretched out by Kurumi surrounding Hibiki. The mantis suddenly rushed forward to clash against the shield, she didn’t care about anything else as she kept hitting the shield.
“Scary, scary, scary──!”
“Hey there. Look this way……!”
Tsuan lunged forward. She leaped while at the same time swinging <Lailaps> from the side. However, the mantis was far from being blown away or even quivering.
“Resistance confirmation. Even with piercing, it’s almost impossible to hit……! Because of its heavy weight, it can’t even been blown away! Only the name could be seen, ‘Innocent Mantis’!”
“To put it simply, that thing is a huge praying mantis!”
Ariadne placed together the four attributes of magic from the tips of her mercury strings. However, none of them had any effect.
“The four types of magic are also less effective. This is……resistance, a regeneration ability that is absurdly high. You have to choose an attack method it has no resistance for……!”
“Next up is me──tch!”
The moment Kurumi held up her gun, the mantis leaped backwards.
“All Shield.”
Then, a shield holding resistances to every attack was set up.
“……! I am a user of Light Magic! Watch out for dizziness and illusions!”
Kurumi fired from <Zafkiel>, but it had no effect. Seeing her opponent grinning, Kurumi smiled back in response.
“──You appear impertinent. If using a shield against me, shouldn’t it be best to cover every direction?”
The sound of high-pitched voice.
“Gu, u……!?”
The bullet that bounced off a pillar in the room pierced the mantis’s eyeball.
“You don’t seem to have resistances against bullets.”
“It hurts, it hurts, it hurts. Why? Why are you doing this? Who are you?”
“Why? The answer to that is such is your fate. Who? For that question, let the answer be Tokisaki Kurumi.”
“Kurumi, Tokisaki Kurumi, the renegade, the traitor, the murderer!”
“……Well, I won’t deny that.”
“Traitor, traitor, traitor! I will kill you!”
“Wha……!”
Kurumi took a step back. Ignoring the shield it had gone out of the way to expand, the mantis ferociously attacked Kurumi.
Dodging, dodging, and evading. The moment of using the First Bullet <Aleph> to accelerate──she derailed every prediction.
“Somehow, it seems to have a grudge against you, any idea why!?”
“Enough counted to pile up into a mountain! Especially if an Empty has been mixed in!”
“That’s right!! It can’t be avoided, Tsuan-san, Ariadne-san. Rather than normal attacks, let’s use buffs on Kurumi-san and debufffs for the enemy. Kurumi-san, since the opponent is a Light Magic user, please use Dark Magic while shooting with <Zafkiel>. Also, do your best to dodge since the target is clearly limited to Kurumi-san!”
“I’m the only one that has to keep busy!?”
“If you want to hold a grudge, hold it against that mantis woman!”
“Ki, hi, Light Magic──Rainbow Violent Flash.”
The moment the mantis’s forehead glowed, an intense light surged out.
“A light ray skill!”
Kurumi wasn’t able to dodge it. This wasn’t because Kurumi’s reaction time was too slow. It wasn’t for a lack of preparedness or being distracted by something else.
Simply, the speed of the beams of light was at a divine level. While enduring the severe pain, Kurumi activated her ‘Dark Shield’. It received the continuous beams of light.
“……You’ve done it now.”
Hibiki and the others were terrified to hear that whispering voice.
The girl named Tokisaki Kurumi was cautious but warlike, graceful but with a short fuse, elegant but with a belligerence just like an automobile running near an empty gasoline tank.
Pressing down on her bleeding shoulder, she twisted her head and huffed.
“I’ll put all my effort……to deliver you death!”
──Incidentally. When a car’s gasoline tank is nearly empty, the ratio of oxygen to gasoline became extremely ideal for explosions, so much that even a stray spark could mean being blown away.
And right now, Kurumi’s fighting spirit had loudly burst into flames.
“Dark Magic──Boundary Painting.”
“Wait, Kurumi-san!? That magic surely means……”
Most of the high-ranking Dark Magic is powerful but difficult to use. For example, Boundary Painting filled the entire area in darkness. This darkness where even Night Vision couldn’t see through, only the user Tokisaki Kurumi could act freely.
“Everyone, please guard Hibiki-san in the corner of the room. I will be the one moving.”
“Wait, are you motivated to do this by yourself?”
“Defeating a mantis woman, I alone am good enough!”
“Why does this person’s lines sound like triggering a flag!?”
“Where……where, where, where, where……!”
“Aren’t I this way, praying mantis-san?”
Just as she didn’t care about her shoulder injury, Kurumi fired blindly with <Zafkiel>’s two guns. In front of Kurumi’s eyes, the figure of the mantis being eroded away by bullets can be clearly seen.
Of course,
“Ku, uh…………! All Shield!”
The mantis, relentlessly retreating back now, invoked her shield with every resistance. Kurumi didn’t hesitate to step in there. However, Reiryoku formed magical shield also had the physical weight and hardness to prevent physical attacks.
But that was also its weak point.
“I will kill you. Absolutely, surely, you, eh────!?”
“That’s my line.”
Placing her feet against the stretched invisible shield, she ran to the top. Pointing <Zafkiel> inbetween the girl’s eyebrows and declared.
“The Seventh Bullet <Zayin>.”
“Hi……”
Struck in-between the brows by the Seventh Bullet <Zayin>, the mantis stood petrified.
“Is it okay to use that!?”
“It’s a shame, but in order to stop this child in a single breath──this was the only way.”
Kurumi was injured and furious, but the battle style of the Innocent Mantis (that is to say, the battle style of a fused Empty) was clearly based on stalling for a long term conflict.
“Dark Magic──Dark Ball・Shape Transformation ・Bullet”
Just before time was halted for the mantis, it looked like she was about to open her mouth to scream. Kurumi put down her pistol and used both hands to support her long rifle.
Darkness was loaded into the rifle rather than shadows. If asked how she could, Tokisaki Kurumi had decided she could.
Whether it be <Zafkiel>, <Elohim>, or Dark Magic, it would be the same technique when playing a game. Everything was knitted through Reiryoku.
Then, if an object has the same shape and properties as a bullet, it is no different from a bullet.
Successfully loaded──and. Shadow and darkness were made from the same material. But the latter had magic mixed in. And of course, Dark Magic has the power to buff the target.
“Black Shell ・Five Fold Recitation”
The power had been strengthened five times. If a lead bullet was a normal bullet, then bullet was the equivalent to a tungsten alloy bullet.
Unlike usual, she had firmly grasped the rifle with both hands because of the powerful recoil that would come in play. With her time stopped, the mantis looked like she was vaguely staring into the void.
However, soon this effect would be cut off and time would begin to move again.
“I will decide it with this.”
Kurumi pulled the trigger.
Hibiki, Tsuan, and Ariadne had all heard Kurumi’s gunshots numerous times when crossing through the Fifth Region Gevurah. They grew so accustomed to the gunshots roaring that it now felt like a flock of birds chirping.
But this sound was different from any gunshot that they had ever heard before.
A sound that could tear through heaven.
At first, Tsuan and Ariadne could tell if this was a gunshot. As Hibiki endured fainting, she was convinced that this sound belonged to Kurumi’s <Zafkiel>.
At the same time, she trembled.
If the sounds so far came from a gun, then todays was comparable to a tank cannon.
The darkness melted and the room gradually returned to its original brightness──the three people that took refugee stood breathlessly at this sight.
As <Zafkiel>’s bullet was fired straight through inside the mantis’s mouth, the tremendous Reiryoku smashed the mantis’s body into pieces like glasswork.
“……It’s over.”
Kurumi casually brushed her hair. Sweat was dripping and smoke was drifting around. The mantis’s blood also clung onto Kurumi’s Astral Dress.
In this state, it would be difficult to describe this as beautiful.
But still──even so, she thought that, Tokisaki Kurumi, who was still standing after this battle, was artistically beautiful.
Travelling through the Ninth Floor, the girls were thus on the last floor.
◇
──The Tenth Floor.
Summoner recognized that she was an abandoned chess piece. Yet, her heart was full of love and hope.
“Hmmm, hmmmm♪ hmmm, hmmm♪”
She was lightly humming.
With a huge stick in one hand, a huge pattern was drawn onto the ground.
“Laughing, laughing, laughing, crying, crying, crying, but none of that is needed anymore. Just need to think of dying for the Queen.”
Thoughts are troublesome.
Work was a pain.
Moving only with a blank mind meant freedom from obstructive thoughts.
Summoner’s role was just that. A huge, huge summoning camp──to be more precise, this thing looked more like the layout from a 3D printer──that did nothing but continue to draw.
This was the knowledge granted by the White Queen.
From the black pillar that appeared during the Compile, she continued to draw based on the memories obtained from it.
Formula──giving direction to all of the Reiryoku interwoven in the Neighboring World.
That was Summoner’s ability. She served the God named the White Queen. By combing with the formula’s pattern, she was limited to summoning any monster in this Fifth Region Gevurah.
However, Summoner wasn’t creating something of that level right now.
Quite literally, she was trying to manifest another God.
The White Queen had said.
“I have a memory of that. Over and over again, I have witnessed it. It has the same power as me. But it lacks having the same thoughts as me. There is no doctrine. There is no feeling of love. Much more than even you guys, far more vacant…….a puppet of nothingness. But I’m sure it will prove very useful.”
This was a rough technique that could only be done in the fantasy world of the Fifth Region Gevurah.
Originally, it should be impossible to pour such a huge amount of Reiryoku into a single template. Just like how you can’t freeze a huge amount of water without it dispersing. While the size varied, each Quasi-Spirit had a template indicating who they were.
The template the Summoner was making right now was comparable to the White Queen──or rather to the White Queen.
She didn’t know who or understand what sort of person this was.
The one thing she understood was that the White Queen was not only intending to take advantage of the girl she was making, but also she was afraid of her.
“──To be honest, I am afraid. But it shouldn’t be a problem if it’s a bomb that can only live in the Fifth Region Gevurah? I don’t want to go there.”
Exactly, what the White Queen felt was precisely correct.
This bomb was like a nuclear weapon that could shake the entire Neighboring World. And the best weapon to defeat Tokisaki Kurumi who arrived here.
“Tokisaki Kurumi has broken through the Ninth Floor. Arriving at the Tenth Floor.”
“……As predicted. Tokisaki Kurumi. Ah, but……”
Regrettably. Your speed didn’t beat me. Your bullet didn’t reach me.
And my pattern had just finished being drawn.
“Summoning team……complete.”
The ground trembled. The pattern competed by Summoner accumulated the Reiryoku to form a monster. With no time to even breathe, she set out for the next task.
“Formation from outflow. The first is missing. The third conceives a child. The fifth turns inside out. Triumph and glory acquired from that which is born from the tenth. From formation to life. From life to fairies. From fairies to ■■.”
Summoner compiled a huge figure as the summoning team considered the entire Neighboring World. The Third Region Binah and the Fifth Region Gevurah working together. The third had conceived of this child and the fifth had been turned inside out to construct the summoning team.
And the result would be discharged into the Tenth Region Malkuth.
“……!”
──It arrived.
So that there would be no error, ritual prayers endowed with blessings.
Using the Reiryoku of the entire Neighboring World to summon this into formation, Summoner’s secret among secrets.
Of course, the once Empty Summoner didn’t have this ability. She was given this Unsigned Angel by the White Queen.
Probably, it was an ability that the White Queen had stolen from a Quasi-Spirit somewhere.
To take away an Unsigned Angel and make it her own, and then even casually duplicate it to give it to her.
That’s why she had the title of Queen. That’s why she was a monster.
Summoner grasped the whereabouts of what had already been born. Born in the Tenth Region Malkuth. Out of breath now, she needed to send that girl here.
“Come……straight ahead. Prepare for transfer………….eh…………?”
Even as Summoner was instructed by the White Queen on what to summon, she didn’t really understand.
The monster-Empty fusions she had created for the White Queen. They were endowed with a breed of violence while also being ferocious and strong.
She saw it as an extension of that. It was a fatal mistake as the Summoner inherited the same recognition as the White Queen.
Summoner had trod on something that should absolutely never invade this Neighboring World.
◇
The Tenth Region Malkuth.
Tsuan’s master Kagarike Haraka was staring at that.
“Um……Haraka-san……”
The Quasi-Spirit that was supposed to be Haraka’s retinue timidly called out to her. In front of Haraka was a black lump.
It was about the size of a light car. While its shape was spherical, the bottom portion looked like a crushed manjuu bun. Muddled and boiling, just looking at it gave terrifying chills.
“Other people shouldn’t get closer……”
Every Quasi-Spirit nearby looking at this could feel level of misfortune oozing from this.
“I know. You guys shouldn’t ever get closer to that.”
Despite saying that, Haraka didn’t take her eyes off it. The moment she looked away, she was afraid of something happening. She was afraid of even blinking and letting it out of her sight for just a moment.
Ah, but, however.
(What……the hell is this……?)
The conflict in the Tenth Region Malkuth had truly come to an end. Perhaps it was because the most influential battle-type Quasi-Spirits had all been murdered by the former Dominion Doll Master.
Haraka’s reign (that is to say entirely forcing opposing Quasi-Spirits into silence) had been progressing smoothly. But then this suddenly appeared and Haraka couldn’t hide her unrest.
Like coal tar, like heavy fuel, despite that there was a tremendous amount of Reiryoku (energy) felt coming from there.
This was exactly what the legends had said──
“……Shit. What am I thinking about?”
Haraka punched her own head. An extraordinary nightmare, there was no need to consider such things now.
“What to do now?”
“……Set a barrier. If you are worried about making a mistake, you don’t need to think about helping me. It’s easier for one person to concentrate……!”
Haraka’s feet took a particular stance. Magical steps──jumping up as she drew a pentagram.
“It’s been a while, hope I don’t forget……is this going to be okay?”
“Please don’t add such anxious words, Haraka-sama.”
“Wow, wow! ……If the separation of grudges comes true, celebrate with a huge basket, huge turtle, huge moon, and long life. Blooming benevolence and loyalty sever the open wilderness. Hesitate in the sixth paths, return to the road of Hades, ask for teachings and all shall frolic!”
Click, the sound of a lock closing. At the same time, a transparent cube appeared to cover the black lump.
Although Haraka was super at hand to hand combat, she was also top class in barrier making and purification rituals.
“Because it’s now trapped in the Ritsuriyo Kibako, it should be okay for a while. Alright forget about this for the time being! Rebuild the objects that were broken, reorganize and contact the remaining Quasi-Spirits, there’s a lot to do!” (TL: 律令鬼筺 translates literally as Criminal Oni Bamboo Basket)
“Yes!”
Haraka nodded in satisfaction to the nice response.
Now, for the time being the Tenth Region Malkuth was safe. After that, as a Dominion, Haraka needed to control them so that they wouldn’t kill each other for as long as possible.
However, there was also the case of the Fifth Region Gevurah. If possible she would like to entrust that place to Tsuan──
Then, as she faintly thought about there.
“……Wh, at……?”
Her entire body felt like it had been mangled. Body in pieces, thoughts destroyed, it was such a shock that she even forgot who she was and what she was doing for a moment.
Her instinct were ringing an alarm, warning her from looking at the direction where the bloodlust was coming.
Never look at it. The moment your eyes meet, you will be crushed without any effort.
That warning was correct. However, reason rejected that instinct.
She had to look. She had a responsibility as a Dominion.
So when turning took back──there was regret from the bottom of her heart.
The mysterious object that had looked a manjuu bun or slime just now had changed directions. Haraka associated it with something she once saw coming from a 3D printer once.
The shape of that thing looked exceedingly similar.
A bipedal creature, a creature holding a weapon, a creature wearing clothes.
Namely, a Quasi-Spirit. Even so, even so Haraka could have just accepted that shape as a girl.
She could have made hand gestures with her fingers, and trying competing with her talismans.
However. Standing over there wasn’t just a Quasi-Spirit.
“……You, are……!”
Holding a large sword. Without any exaggeration, it was the worst of the worst disaster. The outside of the region monster was clad in jet-black Astral Dress.
The silent monster randomly swung her sword. Originally, this would be impossible to be broken from the inside, but this steel-like barrier was torn apart like paper scraps.
“Wha──”
Treating the speechless Haraka as an unrelated matter, the monster turned to look at the sky. Haraka brilliantly scattered her talismans around her.
Bang, the monster flew into the air with the momentum of a rocket launching. After a few seconds, the Quasi-Spirits were relived to realize they were still alive.
“Just now was……”
Haraka shouted at the Quasi-Spirits who were whispering in a daze.
“This is bad. She’s planning on leaving the Tenth Region Malkuth. I need to chase after her. Dangerous, she is absolutely dangerous. We have to figure out where she is heading……!”
Fortunately, the detection talisman had been successfully attached to that monster’s Astral Dress. While doing this, that girl was flying around the Tenth Region Malkuth at a terrifying speed.
“Haraka-sama!”
“No time for questions. I’m heading out!”
Haraka flew in the sky to chase after her. Even at Haraka’s full speed, she wouldn’t be able to catch up to that monster. But, if knowing that the gate was the destination, perhaps it was still possible to make the first move.
“It’s me! Kagarike Haraka! Notifying all Dominions! In the Tenth Region Malkuth……what was thought to be a Spirit has been confirmed! Request for all battle-type Quasi-Spirits to sortie! ……Shit! It’s hurrying to the Ninth Region Yesod! Mizuha and Rinemu! Evacuation warning! Hurry!”
At the present, the White Queen’s army was still rampaging in the Neighboring World, it was honestly unmanageable for something like this to appear.
“……No, wait.”
A shiver struck her. Why did she pop out so suddenly? Was this a coincidence? Or was this intentional?
If so, who summoned such a thing?
……Did someone on their side do this (through some unknown method) while acting out of control. Or, could it be.
“Ah, damn it!”
She scratched her head. Despite having the same on-the-spot hedonism as Kirari Rinemu, the girl named Kagarike Haraka had a greater sense of responsibility than Rinemu.
Incidentally, although Rinemu had a poor sense of responsibility, she was born with the innate ability to read the future and choose the most optimistic option……Haraka took that into the consideration (the person in question didn’t have slightest understanding about her own power).
──Anyway, there was no choice but to chase after her.
No matter what awaited her during this chase, she needed to keep tracking her whereabouts.
A disaster, whether malicious or not──anyone that approached closer would only arrive at death with that thing.
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