Chapter 142
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Chapter 142: The two small miracles
Ah…
I crumble down in front of it.
‘There’s no problem, we just need to rebuild it later. That’s why I took the store’s sign and disposed of the store’
When I went to hear about the situation, Tomoe told me this without hesitation.
By the time I noticed, I was already here.
My mental state was as if someone told me: ‘hey your house is burning’.
There’s no traces of it being burned though.
Without thinking, I was on my hands and feet, and looking at the place that has turned into rubble.
Kuzunoha Company.
The first store I had.
I didn’t even have previous part-time job experience, left a lot of the work to others, and can only remember lots of bad experiences though.
There were lots of painful memories but… but!
When I see it destroyed like this, I feel sad.
There wasn’t anything important left and it isn’t like my rights for the lot will be gone.
And the things Tomoe said were plausible.
The inventory has all been stowed away in the storage of Asora.
Also, if the stores around are all destroyed and only my store remains safe, it would only bring about unnecessary misunderstandings.
Well the store itself was only furniture and goods, and the renovation was done in a single day.
If I wanted to make it again from 0, I just have to ask the eldwas and it wouldn’t even take 3 days.
Even so…
I understand all the reasons, but since it was heavy, a sigh leaks out from my mouth.
It still doesn’t change my sadness.
The buildings at both sides are also destroyed completely and the one opposite to us has smoke coming out from the rubbles.
Yeah.
Destroying the store was an appropriate move.
I can tell that a variant unluckily appeared around this area.
I don’t know their conduct principle, but if their target is the teleport formations, there was a part of me that thought the damage in town wouldn’t be that bad.
That’s why I had small hopes in seeing my store safe.
Hah…
Things like Asora and military power… Let’s try putting them to practical use.
Is what I resolved to do not that long ago.
Or is she telling me to set sail anew from an empty lot?
… Let’s take it in a positive manner.
Change of attitude.
“If the guy who made all this place a mass of rubble was around here, I would still be able to take it down but…” (Makoto)
The remains of what seem to be the results of a fireball crashing. No, it is as if something of high-temperature charged through the place.
Was this done by a variant resembling a fire element wild boar, or something like that?
When I try to picture the offender, the only common point I can find is the gray color skin of the two I have already seen.
The chances that it has a shape I can’t even imagine are pretty high. Even so, with small hope, I look around.
But to my disappointment, the area around here is already quiet.
Looks like the residents have already evacuated, and even when I can hear commotion from afar, there’s nothing like that in these areas.
My store is gone, so they probably finished evacuating the people in the early stages of the uproar.
Well, physical things will one day break.
I do have lingering affection towards my store, but for now let’s just go to where the students have evacuated.
It wouldn’t be strange for a temporary teacher to be there and it is safe.
“N?”
I think I heard something.
I perk up my ears.
Yeah, I really do hear something.
A scream.
And it is pretty close.
Several people are screaming intermittently.
That direction is… directly straight from the back of my store.
Wait.
Isn’t that the brothel avenue?
There’s a variant in such a place too?
The current mission of the Kuzunoha Company is evacuation.
As the representative, I’m no exception.
Or more like, the chances it is the same one that laid waste to this place is pretty high.
It might be the opportunity for retribution.
The equipment the eldwas made for me, the open version jacket. I activate the speed mode.
In the spacious street that has turned slightly athletic-like because of the rubble, I run directly towards the direction of the scream.
Even so, the brothels, a place that would normally not be an objective in a battlefield.
I wonder what reason Rona had to place a variant in such a place.
And in this timing nonetheless.
If the variants rampage following their instincts, their uses would be quite limited, but if their objective is the teleport formations, maybe there’s one in that area and she chose to place a variant there?
No, that’s not it.
Ilumgand was a student.
He transformed in the tournament grounds.
In the first place, the chances of ending only as a disturbance if they are driven by instinct is pretty high.
Thinking that she did this even when she withdrew her subordinates, means this plan should not be assured to succeed.
No. What if the demon race is still unable to control the timing of the activation in this tactic?
There’s the possibility that they spread the medicine and accessories to the people that get close to their target locations frequently.
If they don’t care about the numbers they produce and the amount of casualties, they would probably put the plan in motion.
As usual, I can’t imagine what Rona is thinking, but while I was thinking about this and that, I arrived at the source of the scream.
As I thought, it really was the brothel avenue.
In this place the damage to the buildings is not that high. But in the corners of that place, the sounds of screams and destruction resounded.
Over there huh.
Without losing my way I head there, and from the window of a store, a cluster of something comes flying at me.
Oh, a boulder.
A cluster made up of a stove or something of the sort.
It flew at me with quite the speed, but without even touching my jacket, it stopped about 1 meter away from me with magic power and changed directions before falling.
A heavy noise sounds in a place a bit far from me.
Several clusters continued flying towards me, but they all ended up with the same result. Without minding it, I step into the brothel store where the screams come from.
To think that my first step into the sex industry would be in this manner.
Pardon my intrusion~
“Looks like this is not the one. An octopus?” (Makoto)
It didn’t have the shape I was expecting and I clicked my tongue.
The variant there is an octopus.
No, the details are slightly different.
It has 8 legs, but 2 of those are strangely developed and long. At the tip it looks like the hands of a person.
But the impression it gives is that of a white octopus.
For such a creature to be attacking the prostitute *Onee-sans*, how maniac.
One woman is holding an edged tool that doesn’t look battle oriented and confronting it.
What a brave woman.
And also, there are several Onee-sans at the back showing a fighting stance.
Some were crying, some weak on their knees; there were many varieties.
Since I entered the fray, the situation changed and the body of the octopus faced towards me and had its legs wind.
Was this the one that was throwing stuff at me? Did it do it while against this Onee-san? That’s pretty handy. Moreover, it used some sort of method to detect me before I even arrived and began attacking me.
This one also has a special power?
I think that just moving all your legs as an individual being is a pretty impressive power in itself though.
Well, from what I see, it doesn’t look like it is that strong.
An opponent that I don’t need to mind about what power it has.
Thanks to the fact that it noticed me quick, there’s definitely Onee-sans that were saved, so it was actually a good thing.
There’s the scent of blood in here as well, so there’s no doubt casualties have already happened though.
Even if I begin to think about how many stores that octopus has already attacked, nothing will change.
If that woman with the edged tool that looks like a fruit knife weren’t here doing her best, there would definitely be more casualties.
“H-Help us!!”
The words of one of the prostitutes served as the cue. Several high-pitched voices seeking for help came out from their mouths.
No need to tell me, I came with that purpose in mind.
Hm, but the one I defeated with Brid a while ago, exploded.
I don’t want to get splashed indoors.
The store’s interior has a strong scent drifting about and right now the smell of blood and fat are not that strong, but if the meat of the variant scatters, it would be difficult to clean up in the close future.
[I will take care of this, so take this chance to leave the store. I will guide you to the evacuation point]
“?!! Boy, this guy is pretty strong. I am grateful that you came to help us, but… I will try to somehow hold it back, so please save the girls at the back”
First bring everyone out.
I don’t know if she understood what I said, but I tried to tell her that I would be guiding them later to the evacuation point so wait.
But it seems the woman that is fighting didn’t accept it.
Saying something that can only be taken as self-sacrifice, she asked me to help the others escape.
When I check, I see that the Onee-sans are beginning their mobilization for escape, but the people that are weak on their knees just… can’t move the way they want to.
In a situation where it wouldn’t be strange to just run away without caring, everyone still lent their shoulders to the Onee-sans that can’t move properly to escape together.
Their sense of camaraderie is strong.
But you know…
Between joining the Onee-sans and guiding them to escape, or defeating the variant; the “easiest” one for me would be, without doubt, the latter.
Actually, I should be the one defeating this thing, and that woman should put away that knife and guide the Onee-sans.
The octopus tried to move, but it restraint itself and stopped its movements.
Looks like it at least has enough intelligence to be wary.
“Boy, stop! This is a really dangerous monster! It has already killed several people. Even if I look like this, I was a former adventurer. From the people here, I am the one that knows about battle the most, that why…”
Heh~, a former adventurer.
There are few adventurers in Rotsgard.
The main reason is that there’s no existing guild here that gives out requests, but it is also because there’s few profitable hunting grounds.
Lately, they have been selling a medicinal plant that can be gathered in a part of the area and is high priced, so the situation has improved a bit though.
By the way, I think the reason might be because of the medicine recipe I exhibited in the church.
It is also the medicinal plant that my students brought to me as a souvenir in summer vacation.
The recipe that we taught the church was created by Shiki and the Arkes with that medicinal plant as the base.
I was surprised when Shiki and the Arkes said they would be able to make it, but thanks to that, my students were able to gain pocket money from it.
It is a bit sad that this is the main way for adventurers to gain money in this place though.
And for a former adventurer who’s a prostitute (probably) to be in this town.
… Now that I think about it, what do adventurers do when they retire?
I think being a prostitute should be in the rare side though. Don’t really know.
If it’s men, I think something with a tough atmosphere like a bar, or the master of a cafe.
[In that case, I am a temporary teacher working in the academy. If you stay by those girls’ side, they will definitely feel safer. I will be fine. I will rejoin you later outside, so please go with them]
“A teacher… from the academy? I see. Then you would be a lot better than a *rotor* like me. Is it really okay to leave it to you?”
I know a few prostitutes here that have come to my shop before, but I haven’t seen this one.
If she knew me beforehand, I wouldn’t need to do unnecessary explanation.
While I was feeling a bit troubled, the octopus, without learning its lesson, throws something at me.
Of course, that didn’t hit me and was repelled by my magic power.
“?!”
Even if the woman who was talking to me didn’t know what I used to defend myself with, it seems she does know that I did something to defend against it.
The way she looked at me changed again.
Looks like she revised her thoughts.
What was thrown was… Geh, the head of someone.
Even if she was beautiful, if it is only a head, there’s no way to be charmed by it.
[Don’t worry. Please wait outside. If possible, it would be great if you were to guide everyone in the other buildings as well. I will guide everyone to the evacuation point later]
“Not being able to gauge the strength of someone so close to me, I have really grown old. That thing’s regeneration ability is quite strong, beware of it. I have wounded it several times, but it regenerated it all”
[I appreciate the information]
“… I owe you one. Don’t go dying”
Seems like she consented. She joined the prostitutes that were watching and with clear instructions, they began moving.
That’s great.
And so, the only ones left inside the building are the octopus and me.
Ah~, I was nervous there.
Maybe I am not used to battle situations where so many girls are looking at me, I felt a strange pressure.
It was a different nervousness to that of being in a party.
The woman just now was in a wine red short dress that had quite the high exposure rate, and on top of that, she tore a part of it to make it easier to move, so I was troubled settling my eyes.
To be in the brothels and feel calmer around an octopus instead of being surrounded by girls makes me sad though.
‘Your appearance is poison to my eyes, I will be looking forward to the reward. Now, escape quickly’ is something I don’t think I will be able to say.
“Sorry but, the Onee-sans around this place are regulars that come often to buy my energy drinks. Having you kill them is troublesome” (Makoto)
Luckily, this thing only says ‘Shukoshuko’ and I can’t understand what it is saying.
Ilumgand’s case might have been a rare one.
Let’s finish this.
I gather magic power to my right hand.
She said something about regeneration, so I do an aria of a single word for rapid-fire Brid.
On the palm of my right hand, a white ball of light is born.
The size is close to that of a baseball.
I turn my palm towards the octopus.
Several short bullet-sized arrow Brids were created from the light ball and they all pierce the octopus one after the other.
It is trying to block with its tentacles, but without caring, I continue shooting several tens of arrows.
It gradually backs off, and in the end, the octopus is sewed in the wall.
The firing continues.
In time, there was a change.
The head of the octopus gets bigger than its original size and then, it began to swell irregularly.
That doesn’t look like regeneration.
It is done huh.
I make an earth element aria, and from the floor, a wall is created as if hiding that thing’s body.
I don’t want it splattering on me after all.
If I were to hit the weak point properly, it might not scatter and turn into a lump of meat like Ilumgand though.
It would be troublesome to search for it all the time, and with things like: effective element, resistances, and absorption, it makes it even more troublesome.
In that case, it is easier to just damage it till its regeneration limit and finish it.
Things like having several amounts of hyuman magic power increasing its defensive power don’t affect me much anyways.
*Buchatto
A big and unpleasant noise sounded.
I release the wall I created and, looking at the white gel-like substance, I confirm that the octopus was defeated.
I can’t feel life signs from it.
It is the same as the beaked variant.
It is finished now.
After confirming it, I go outside.
[Sorry for the wait]
When I go outside, I was welcomed by a large amount of gazes.
Ooh.
There are quite a lot.
Moreover, it looks like they are still increasing in numbers.
There are some that are hugging each other from the happiness of being saved.
With these numbers, the slum where the demi-humans are, is an appropriate evacuation point.
Luckily, the demi-human leader there is an acquaintance of us and we already have permission to use the place.
I heard that the Forest Oni Akua is guarding the surroundings of that area.
There’s a good amount of space and there’s no variants appearing there.
They will get surprised, but they are able to accept this numbers, and I don’t think they will reject it.
When this group is done gathering, I will guide them to the slums while protecting them.
Looks like I can kill a good amount of time.
As Tomoe said, it might take one day or, depending on the situation, several days.
Until then, we will steadily evacuate the residents, and when we ‘end up encountering’ a variant, we exterminate it.
It looks like my employees are scattered here and there and playing an active role in the evacuation places, so every one of us will probably gather when everything is over.
“You! You are alright. Did you defeat it?”
With her unchanged poisonous appearance, the Onee-san from before approaches me, and after confirming my safety, she asked me the situation.
[Yeah. I’m not sure if any more of those will appear, but I did defeat that… monster. It looks like your side is still increasing in numbers]
“An academy teacher, as expected, quite the impressive one. Well, I don’t want to think that more of those things will appear though. And yeah, this was an unexpected situation for the people here after all. In that avenue, there were several customers. You probably already know, but in the brothels there’s no day or night. Is the evacuation point far?”
The brothels are active even at daytime huh.
I didn’t know that one.
I thought it was a business that operates only at nights.
[From here, the closest place would be the slum. Thinking about the space, it is the most appropriate place. Bringing everyone, I think it will take around 20 minutes]
“Slum?! In the slum where those demi-humans are?! Is it okay to go to such a place to take refuge?”
Just as the name slum implies, it is a place that is recognized by hyumans as a place with bad public order, so it can’t be helped that she is surprised.
The people in the slums are actually simplistic and good natured though.
Because of the prejudices, people just go and hate it, so it must be hard to enter that territory because of fear.
[Fortunately, an acquaintance of mine is doing the role of putting the place in order. I work in a company, and that person is part of my connections]
“Ah! You, could it be, you are the Kuzunoha Company’s… uhm, Raidou-san?”
I try telling her just in case so she feels more at peace, but for some reason, she reacted in a different point.
I don’t know which store in specific are the customers that come to my place, but prostitutes do come to buy in my store frequently.
Maybe she immediately felt familiarity towards me, with a broad smile, she guessed my identity.
[Yes. I’m the representative Raidou]
“Hmph~, you are huh. That place sells a drink that works well for fatigue. I haven’t gone to the store myself, but that drink has been helping me a lot”
[Thank you for your patronage. And thank you for your continued work]
To think that she was one of the people that drank it.
I lower my head and express my gratitude.
In present, the energy drink is selling decently. And a percent of it is because of the purchase of people in the night business.
No, it seems they also work at day, so maybe the wording night business is not correct?
Not only is it a rigorous manual labor, it also has irregular times. It really is a rough job.
Thinking that way, I lower my head deeply with those emotions in mind.
“… You, are pretty unique. Well, you are the representative of a unique company so that’s a given huh. In this situation, no matter if it’s the slum or any other place, as long as they accept us, I am grateful. Can you please wait for a bit? I will convince everyone first so it doesn’t become troublesome later”
But it must have been strange for me to lower my head, she was surprised and after that she made a bitter smile.
I was treated as a ‘unique’ person.
Why?
She is a regular customer that buys a lot of my merchandize, and even if she hasn’t taken care of me in that aspect, she does her best working day and night.
Well, I don’t get it but I am glad for her proposal.
Telling the people beforehand to avoid problems when they arrive there.
That place is originally the place where demi-humans live, is what Tomoe said and with that in consideration she is not sending people there though.
If the people evacuating have this in mind, the worries will lessen.
[That will help a lot. The academy is already on the move, so I think the situation will be resolved promptly. Please persevere for a bit]
“Of course. I’m sorry for troubling you. It may be late but, I am Ester. Nice to meet you” (Ester)
[Raidou]
We belatedly finish our introductions.
Several minutes passed before Ester-san returned from the crowd.
We began moving to our evacuation point, the slum.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
“Shiki, take those kids and the remaining audience and go ahead first” (Mio)
“Wa? What is Mio-dono going to do?” (Shiki)
“Hm? I remembered some business. If it’s just guiding the people to the evacuation point where the students are, even if it’s only Shiki it will be enough right?” (Mio)
“That’s true but… understood. Then I will be going first” (Shiki)
“I will catch up soon-desu wa” (Mio)
When Jin’s group and the followers of Makoto were going to leave the competition grounds, Mio suddenly told Shiki to go ahead.
Shiki was troubled in asking the reason, but in the end, he agreed.
The distance to the evacuation point he has to guide the students and spectators isn’t that far, moreover, he is going along as a guard.
With just that, the defense power was already at an excessive level.
“Well then…” (Mio)
Mio turns back on her heels and returns to the stage of the competition grounds.
In there, there is – no – there was a meaningful meat lump of a variant.
“My regeneration is on the special side, but maybe because of that, I can feel it. The smell or maybe the breathing of it; the signs of regeneration” (Mio)
After those words directed to no one, Mio makes one big sigh.
When she does so, the lump of meat that was before her eyes began to move as if it concurred.
“Even though the part that served as the nucleus was completely destroyed, how pitiful. As a person that is specialized in regeneration, I don’t want to compare to you but, I will at least praise your vitality-desu wa” (Mio)
The moving lump of meat copies the outline of a hyuman shape.
But the appearance was not that of a hyuman but meat in the shape of a hyuman, and there was no strength detectable like before when it was a variant.
“… It may only be fragments, but I remember. You are a woman of Kuzunoha? Am I still alive?”
“Ara, you can speak? I didn’t expect you to have a personality” (Mio)
“I am Ilumgand Hopelace”
“You were” (Mio)
Mio cuts into the words of the hyuman shaped meat lump.
The lower part of its face swelled and it made words as if coming out from its mouth.
And subsequently, when the upper part vibrated slightly, a horizontal cut is made, and when it opens it up and down, there were eyes there.
“… Was I… played around by those guys? How pathetic. Showing such a shameful behavior and even dirtying my family name!!”
“…”
“I used drugs, turned into a monster, and even with that, I still lost. Kukuku, how unsightly”
“Yeah” (Mio)
“The destruction impulse I was feeling a while ago and the emotions that were welling up and couldn’t control, are so silent right now, as if it was all a lie”
“… The nucleus was destroyed, so it is obvious” (Mio)
Mio already reached to a conclusion as to why he returned to his senses, but without voicing out any details, she narrows her eyes as if examining at the situation.
After that, while recognizing the hyuman shaped thing as Ilumgand Hopelace, she muttered several times. He continued talking to Mio but she just gave short responses or ignored him.
“But with this body of a monster, I should end my life already right? If I didn’t die, my responsibility of carrying the Hopelace household would get heavier. That would increase the burden of the residents in our territory” (Ilumgand)
“… Fuh” (Mio)
The second son noble is already dead.
That’s why, released from his firm convictions, he muttered in a calm tone.
Looking at Ilumgand, whose circumstances Mio practically didn’t know at all, talking about responsibility and standpoint, she saw it as humorous.
“It is alright. I don’t know how long I will be able to live in this body. In that case, at the very least, I will relay my feelings before dying” (Ilumgand)
Ilumgand didn’t show signs of minding the sneer of Mio.
With heavy dragged steps, he walks to where Mio is.
That face was steadily molding into that of when he was a hyuman, but he wasn’t able to recreate that appearance perfectly.
The parts of the face were subtly apart from their respective locations, and if anyone saw it, they would feel disgust. Moreover, he had a terrible looking part resembling a keloid.
Even calling him a demi-human would be hard to do. That’s how unbalanced and unsightly he was right now.
“That body, it isn’t unstable to the point that you have to prepare for death. But do you intent to live as Ilumgand whatever-desu no?” (Mio)
Hearing the information from Mio, the hyuman shape glances at her.
“Hoh, I see. I can live. I have heard something good. I was talking about relaying my feelings, but don’t worry. I won’t lay a hand to Gotetsu or Ruria anymore. Why I wonder? Even though I was so stuck into it. I am choosing my ideals over my deep affection to her”
“Hm? Gotetsu, Ruria?” (Mio)
“I will fight. If I clad my whole body in armor, I can hide this unsightly body. Even if I am unable to realize my ideals basking in the sunlight, I will at least be able to serve as a shield for Hibiki-sama. I can still do that. When thinking that way, I even feel happy about having this giant unsightly body” (Ilumgand)
“N, Hibiki? Did you say Hibiki just now?” (Mio)
Hearing a familiar name being said, Mio asks again.
“… Yeah. It’s the hero-sama that descended to Limia. If it is that person, she will definitely be able to overthrow the demon race. And then, the people will be able to do their own roles, and be able to follow their own dreams. She will realize that kind of peaceful world” (Ilumgand)
“Ah, so you were talking about the hero-desu no. Then it is a different person from the Hibiki I know-desu wa ne. To think that the hero has the same name as her, how pitiful. The hero in Limia is named Hibiki?” (Mio)
“That’s right. You have an acquaintance named Hibiki? In Lorel that kind of name isn’t unusual, so it isn’t impossible. Well then, see you. We probably won’t meet again” (Ilumgand)
The hyuman shape with the memories of Ilumgand passes by the side of Mio. Without looking back at her, he tries to leave the stage.
“Right. I only intended to exterminate you, but since the memories of the original person are acting as the base, this is a pleasant surprise-desu wa ne. It will serve as punishment” (Mio)
The hyuman shape tried to turn when he heard the voice of Mio at his back, but he was unable to.
Because he couldn’t to put strength into the legs that supported his body and fell down.
Prostrating on the ground, he bended his neck towards her. The hyuman shape with the memories of Ilumgand learned about what was done to him.
“My legs are… You, what are you doing?” (Ilumgand)
What did she do?
He didn’t know how it was done, but looking at the result, he could tell.
Both legs were severed.
From knees down, it was cut off.
Because he doesn’t feel pain, he didn’t scream. The expression of the hyuman shape had no pain reflected in it either.
“What, you say? Punishment-desu wa” (Mio)
Mio didn’t show much change. Slowly shrinking the distance she has between the hyuman shape.
“Kugh?! I already don’t have any intentions in harming your company or Raidou as Ilumgand”
“So?” (Mio)
“So, you say?”
“Yeah. You troubled Waka-sama so much and said abusive words to him-desu wa ne? I understand what you want to do, but your atonement comes first-desu wa” (Mio)
“Atonement?”
“Yes, atonement. It is simply the order of things. You were hostile to Waka-sama, antagonized him, interfered, and rampaged against the students of Waka-sama. Then after being defeated, you are not even a hyuman anymore” (Mio)
“…”
“See? You haven’t atoned for your actions towards Waka-sama. You were only defeated. But right now – maybe a miracle happened – you have retained your memories, personality, and recovering the ownership of your body; you are still alive. Your soul and core that you were composed of were clearly destroyed, and yet, you are still able to act as a hyuman” (Mio)
“… But I am already…”
The hatred he had towards Raidou, the hostility he directed at Jin’s group; those things were already gone.
Why did he do something so stupid that resembled the nobles he hated so much?
‘Even if I wasn’t sane, there was nothing but shame’ is what the hyuman shape was thinking.
“Your defeat and your current appearance isn’t retribution. It is just the result of your own weakness. Ah, maybe you should think about it this way? You were given a miracle ‘for the sake of atonement’” (Mio)
“What… are you saying? Also, my current self has nothing that can be given as atonement. Nothing… But if it’s an apology, I will put my hands down and apologize to Raidou and the students”
“I am fine with your life-desu wa” (Mio)
“?!”
“An amendment death. It won’t suffice by a lot, but since it was a miracle, I will forgive you with just that. If you have a wish, disappear with the regret of being unable to fulfill it” (Mio)
The hyuman shape trembles heavily.
Because Mio smiled.
An innocent smile, with a glaze that one would be charmed with.
Despite that.
In the memories of the hyuman shape, it was a smile that brought forth an extreme intensity he has never seen in his whole life.
“!!”
A dull shock resounded in its body, and the hyuman shape looks at its own stomach.
There’s a big hole there.
Mio’s index finger and middle finger were pointed at the hyuman shape.
“Impossible. The resistance to magic in my body…”
“It has gotten stronger-desu wa ne. I intended to get rid of every trace of you with that one attack though. I am a bit surprised that you even have resistance to the darkness element. Maybe you obtained it with that miracle of yours. For the sake of thoroughly tasting this atonement” (Mio)
“… Raidou, does he hate me that much?! Is it because I hated him that he hates me too?!”
A shock resounds once again.
This time a hole opened in its chest.
“Waka-sama, at you? Ufufu, when one surpasses stupidity, there’s also a cute side to it-desu no ne. Waka-sama doesn’t even think of you as a pebble. That death of yours, and obviously that so called interest in you, he has none of those” (Mio)
“?!! T-Then why are you…?”
If it’s not Raidou’s orders, why is Mio doing something like this?
The hyuman shape didn’t understand.
“Isn’t that obvious? Because I can’t forgive you. If it’s Waka-sama’s order, I would even save you, but I didn’t receive any such order. I do think that Shiki received an order of incapacitating you, but that was something that happened before you died” (Mio)
“But he did order it right?! Then”
The hyuman shape already understood.
The outcome.
No, this wasn’t even a match to begin with.
It understood that there would be no way to escape from this on its own.
The regeneration didn’t show signs of beginning.
Those two holes in its body were telling the hyuman shape the difference in power like never before.
“But… Waka-sama didn’t say anything special even when you died. That was because ‘there’s no helping it if he died’, that’s the extent of what he thought, right? In that case, it is fine to just make it as if the miracle regeneration never happened. There’s no problem-desu wa” (Mio)
“I… can’t die. In this kind of place, even if it’s a life given by chance-!!”
Stomach, chest; and then, after the two fingers of Mio were pointed at the head of the hyuman shape, a dull shock resounds in the stage.
In that place that’s already desolate, no one would see it.
All the remaining people and the students already went along with Shiki towards the evacuation point. And she knew that very well.
“Limia, Hibiki… how pitiable. To only have that level of power and hold the same name as the hero, that girl is misfortunate-desu wa ne. When I meet her again, I will recommend her to change her job to chef” (Mio)
Finishing the disposal of the thing that was once Ilumgand, Mio left the competition grounds and was about to head towards the place Shiki is, but she suddenly stops.
Because she recalled the conversation with the hyuman shape.
The name that remains in her memories, Hibiki.
Mio recalled the black haired girl that said came from Limia.
But that was only for a moment.
She had to return to where her master ordered her to be. She rejoined Shiki.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 142: The two small miracles
Ah…
I crumble down in front of it.
‘There’s no problem, we just need to rebuild it later. That’s why I took the store’s sign and disposed of the store’
When I went to hear about the situation, Tomoe told me this without hesitation.
By the time I noticed, I was already here.
My mental state was as if someone told me: ‘hey your house is burning’.
There’s no traces of it being burned though.
Without thinking, I was on my hands and feet, and looking at the place that has turned into rubble.
Kuzunoha Company.
The first store I had.
I didn’t even have previous part-time job experience, left a lot of the work to others, and can only remember lots of bad experiences though.
There were lots of painful memories but… but!
When I see it destroyed like this, I feel sad.
There wasn’t anything important left and it isn’t like my rights for the lot will be gone.
And the things Tomoe said were plausible.
The inventory has all been stowed away in the storage of Asora.
Also, if the stores around are all destroyed and only my store remains safe, it would only bring about unnecessary misunderstandings.
Well the store itself was only furniture and goods, and the renovation was done in a single day.
If I wanted to make it again from 0, I just have to ask the eldwas and it wouldn’t even take 3 days.
Even so…
I understand all the reasons, but since it was heavy, a sigh leaks out from my mouth.
It still doesn’t change my sadness.
The buildings at both sides are also destroyed completely and the one opposite to us has smoke coming out from the rubbles.
Yeah.
Destroying the store was an appropriate move.
I can tell that a variant unluckily appeared around this area.
I don’t know their conduct principle, but if their target is the teleport formations, there was a part of me that thought the damage in town wouldn’t be that bad.
That’s why I had small hopes in seeing my store safe.
Hah…
Things like Asora and military power… Let’s try putting them to practical use.
Is what I resolved to do not that long ago.
Or is she telling me to set sail anew from an empty lot?
… Let’s take it in a positive manner.
Change of attitude.
“If the guy who made all this place a mass of rubble was around here, I would still be able to take it down but…” (Makoto)
The remains of what seem to be the results of a fireball crashing. No, it is as if something of high-temperature charged through the place.
Was this done by a variant resembling a fire element wild boar, or something like that?
When I try to picture the offender, the only common point I can find is the gray color skin of the two I have already seen.
The chances that it has a shape I can’t even imagine are pretty high. Even so, with small hope, I look around.
But to my disappointment, the area around here is already quiet.
Looks like the residents have already evacuated, and even when I can hear commotion from afar, there’s nothing like that in these areas.
My store is gone, so they probably finished evacuating the people in the early stages of the uproar.
Well, physical things will one day break.
I do have lingering affection towards my store, but for now let’s just go to where the students have evacuated.
It wouldn’t be strange for a temporary teacher to be there and it is safe.
“N?”
I think I heard something.
I perk up my ears.
Yeah, I really do hear something.
A scream.
And it is pretty close.
Several people are screaming intermittently.
That direction is… directly straight from the back of my store.
Wait.
Isn’t that the brothel avenue?
There’s a variant in such a place too?
The current mission of the Kuzunoha Company is evacuation.
As the representative, I’m no exception.
Or more like, the chances it is the same one that laid waste to this place is pretty high.
It might be the opportunity for retribution.
The equipment the eldwas made for me, the open version jacket. I activate the speed mode.
In the spacious street that has turned slightly athletic-like because of the rubble, I run directly towards the direction of the scream.
Even so, the brothels, a place that would normally not be an objective in a battlefield.
I wonder what reason Rona had to place a variant in such a place.
And in this timing nonetheless.
If the variants rampage following their instincts, their uses would be quite limited, but if their objective is the teleport formations, maybe there’s one in that area and she chose to place a variant there?
No, that’s not it.
Ilumgand was a student.
He transformed in the tournament grounds.
In the first place, the chances of ending only as a disturbance if they are driven by instinct is pretty high.
Thinking that she did this even when she withdrew her subordinates, means this plan should not be assured to succeed.
No. What if the demon race is still unable to control the timing of the activation in this tactic?
There’s the possibility that they spread the medicine and accessories to the people that get close to their target locations frequently.
If they don’t care about the numbers they produce and the amount of casualties, they would probably put the plan in motion.
As usual, I can’t imagine what Rona is thinking, but while I was thinking about this and that, I arrived at the source of the scream.
As I thought, it really was the brothel avenue.
In this place the damage to the buildings is not that high. But in the corners of that place, the sounds of screams and destruction resounded.
Over there huh.
Without losing my way I head there, and from the window of a store, a cluster of something comes flying at me.
Oh, a boulder.
A cluster made up of a stove or something of the sort.
It flew at me with quite the speed, but without even touching my jacket, it stopped about 1 meter away from me with magic power and changed directions before falling.
A heavy noise sounds in a place a bit far from me.
Several clusters continued flying towards me, but they all ended up with the same result. Without minding it, I step into the brothel store where the screams come from.
To think that my first step into the sex industry would be in this manner.
Pardon my intrusion~
“Looks like this is not the one. An octopus?” (Makoto)
It didn’t have the shape I was expecting and I clicked my tongue.
The variant there is an octopus.
No, the details are slightly different.
It has 8 legs, but 2 of those are strangely developed and long. At the tip it looks like the hands of a person.
But the impression it gives is that of a white octopus.
For such a creature to be attacking the prostitute *Onee-sans*, how maniac.
One woman is holding an edged tool that doesn’t look battle oriented and confronting it.
What a brave woman.
And also, there are several Onee-sans at the back showing a fighting stance.
Some were crying, some weak on their knees; there were many varieties.
Since I entered the fray, the situation changed and the body of the octopus faced towards me and had its legs wind.
Was this the one that was throwing stuff at me? Did it do it while against this Onee-san? That’s pretty handy. Moreover, it used some sort of method to detect me before I even arrived and began attacking me.
This one also has a special power?
I think that just moving all your legs as an individual being is a pretty impressive power in itself though.
Well, from what I see, it doesn’t look like it is that strong.
An opponent that I don’t need to mind about what power it has.
Thanks to the fact that it noticed me quick, there’s definitely Onee-sans that were saved, so it was actually a good thing.
There’s the scent of blood in here as well, so there’s no doubt casualties have already happened though.
Even if I begin to think about how many stores that octopus has already attacked, nothing will change.
If that woman with the edged tool that looks like a fruit knife weren’t here doing her best, there would definitely be more casualties.
“H-Help us!!”
The words of one of the prostitutes served as the cue. Several high-pitched voices seeking for help came out from their mouths.
No need to tell me, I came with that purpose in mind.
Hm, but the one I defeated with Brid a while ago, exploded.
I don’t want to get splashed indoors.
The store’s interior has a strong scent drifting about and right now the smell of blood and fat are not that strong, but if the meat of the variant scatters, it would be difficult to clean up in the close future.
[I will take care of this, so take this chance to leave the store. I will guide you to the evacuation point]
“?!! Boy, this guy is pretty strong. I am grateful that you came to help us, but… I will try to somehow hold it back, so please save the girls at the back”
First bring everyone out.
I don’t know if she understood what I said, but I tried to tell her that I would be guiding them later to the evacuation point so wait.
But it seems the woman that is fighting didn’t accept it.
Saying something that can only be taken as self-sacrifice, she asked me to help the others escape.
When I check, I see that the Onee-sans are beginning their mobilization for escape, but the people that are weak on their knees just… can’t move the way they want to.
In a situation where it wouldn’t be strange to just run away without caring, everyone still lent their shoulders to the Onee-sans that can’t move properly to escape together.
Their sense of camaraderie is strong.
But you know…
Between joining the Onee-sans and guiding them to escape, or defeating the variant; the “easiest” one for me would be, without doubt, the latter.
Actually, I should be the one defeating this thing, and that woman should put away that knife and guide the Onee-sans.
The octopus tried to move, but it restraint itself and stopped its movements.
Looks like it at least has enough intelligence to be wary.
“Boy, stop! This is a really dangerous monster! It has already killed several people. Even if I look like this, I was a former adventurer. From the people here, I am the one that knows about battle the most, that why…”
Heh~, a former adventurer.
There are few adventurers in Rotsgard.
The main reason is that there’s no existing guild here that gives out requests, but it is also because there’s few profitable hunting grounds.
Lately, they have been selling a medicinal plant that can be gathered in a part of the area and is high priced, so the situation has improved a bit though.
By the way, I think the reason might be because of the medicine recipe I exhibited in the church.
It is also the medicinal plant that my students brought to me as a souvenir in summer vacation.
The recipe that we taught the church was created by Shiki and the Arkes with that medicinal plant as the base.
I was surprised when Shiki and the Arkes said they would be able to make it, but thanks to that, my students were able to gain pocket money from it.
It is a bit sad that this is the main way for adventurers to gain money in this place though.
And for a former adventurer who’s a prostitute (probably) to be in this town.
… Now that I think about it, what do adventurers do when they retire?
I think being a prostitute should be in the rare side though. Don’t really know.
If it’s men, I think something with a tough atmosphere like a bar, or the master of a cafe.
[In that case, I am a temporary teacher working in the academy. If you stay by those girls’ side, they will definitely feel safer. I will be fine. I will rejoin you later outside, so please go with them]
“A teacher… from the academy? I see. Then you would be a lot better than a *rotor* like me. Is it really okay to leave it to you?”
I know a few prostitutes here that have come to my shop before, but I haven’t seen this one.
If she knew me beforehand, I wouldn’t need to do unnecessary explanation.
While I was feeling a bit troubled, the octopus, without learning its lesson, throws something at me.
Of course, that didn’t hit me and was repelled by my magic power.
“?!”
Even if the woman who was talking to me didn’t know what I used to defend myself with, it seems she does know that I did something to defend against it.
The way she looked at me changed again.
Looks like she revised her thoughts.
What was thrown was… Geh, the head of someone.
Even if she was beautiful, if it is only a head, there’s no way to be charmed by it.
[Don’t worry. Please wait outside. If possible, it would be great if you were to guide everyone in the other buildings as well. I will guide everyone to the evacuation point later]
“Not being able to gauge the strength of someone so close to me, I have really grown old. That thing’s regeneration ability is quite strong, beware of it. I have wounded it several times, but it regenerated it all”
[I appreciate the information]
“… I owe you one. Don’t go dying”
Seems like she consented. She joined the prostitutes that were watching and with clear instructions, they began moving.
That’s great.
And so, the only ones left inside the building are the octopus and me.
Ah~, I was nervous there.
Maybe I am not used to battle situations where so many girls are looking at me, I felt a strange pressure.
It was a different nervousness to that of being in a party.
The woman just now was in a wine red short dress that had quite the high exposure rate, and on top of that, she tore a part of it to make it easier to move, so I was troubled settling my eyes.
To be in the brothels and feel calmer around an octopus instead of being surrounded by girls makes me sad though.
‘Your appearance is poison to my eyes, I will be looking forward to the reward. Now, escape quickly’ is something I don’t think I will be able to say.
“Sorry but, the Onee-sans around this place are regulars that come often to buy my energy drinks. Having you kill them is troublesome” (Makoto)
Luckily, this thing only says ‘Shukoshuko’ and I can’t understand what it is saying.
Ilumgand’s case might have been a rare one.
Let’s finish this.
I gather magic power to my right hand.
She said something about regeneration, so I do an aria of a single word for rapid-fire Brid.
On the palm of my right hand, a white ball of light is born.
The size is close to that of a baseball.
I turn my palm towards the octopus.
Several short bullet-sized arrow Brids were created from the light ball and they all pierce the octopus one after the other.
It is trying to block with its tentacles, but without caring, I continue shooting several tens of arrows.
It gradually backs off, and in the end, the octopus is sewed in the wall.
The firing continues.
In time, there was a change.
The head of the octopus gets bigger than its original size and then, it began to swell irregularly.
That doesn’t look like regeneration.
It is done huh.
I make an earth element aria, and from the floor, a wall is created as if hiding that thing’s body.
I don’t want it splattering on me after all.
If I were to hit the weak point properly, it might not scatter and turn into a lump of meat like Ilumgand though.
It would be troublesome to search for it all the time, and with things like: effective element, resistances, and absorption, it makes it even more troublesome.
In that case, it is easier to just damage it till its regeneration limit and finish it.
Things like having several amounts of hyuman magic power increasing its defensive power don’t affect me much anyways.
*Buchatto
A big and unpleasant noise sounded.
I release the wall I created and, looking at the white gel-like substance, I confirm that the octopus was defeated.
I can’t feel life signs from it.
It is the same as the beaked variant.
It is finished now.
After confirming it, I go outside.
[Sorry for the wait]
When I go outside, I was welcomed by a large amount of gazes.
Ooh.
There are quite a lot.
Moreover, it looks like they are still increasing in numbers.
There are some that are hugging each other from the happiness of being saved.
With these numbers, the slum where the demi-humans are, is an appropriate evacuation point.
Luckily, the demi-human leader there is an acquaintance of us and we already have permission to use the place.
I heard that the Forest Oni Akua is guarding the surroundings of that area.
There’s a good amount of space and there’s no variants appearing there.
They will get surprised, but they are able to accept this numbers, and I don’t think they will reject it.
When this group is done gathering, I will guide them to the slums while protecting them.
Looks like I can kill a good amount of time.
As Tomoe said, it might take one day or, depending on the situation, several days.
Until then, we will steadily evacuate the residents, and when we ‘end up encountering’ a variant, we exterminate it.
It looks like my employees are scattered here and there and playing an active role in the evacuation places, so every one of us will probably gather when everything is over.
“You! You are alright. Did you defeat it?”
With her unchanged poisonous appearance, the Onee-san from before approaches me, and after confirming my safety, she asked me the situation.
[Yeah. I’m not sure if any more of those will appear, but I did defeat that… monster. It looks like your side is still increasing in numbers]
“An academy teacher, as expected, quite the impressive one. Well, I don’t want to think that more of those things will appear though. And yeah, this was an unexpected situation for the people here after all. In that avenue, there were several customers. You probably already know, but in the brothels there’s no day or night. Is the evacuation point far?”
The brothels are active even at daytime huh.
I didn’t know that one.
I thought it was a business that operates only at nights.
[From here, the closest place would be the slum. Thinking about the space, it is the most appropriate place. Bringing everyone, I think it will take around 20 minutes]
“Slum?! In the slum where those demi-humans are?! Is it okay to go to such a place to take refuge?”
Just as the name slum implies, it is a place that is recognized by hyumans as a place with bad public order, so it can’t be helped that she is surprised.
The people in the slums are actually simplistic and good natured though.
Because of the prejudices, people just go and hate it, so it must be hard to enter that territory because of fear.
[Fortunately, an acquaintance of mine is doing the role of putting the place in order. I work in a company, and that person is part of my connections]
“Ah! You, could it be, you are the Kuzunoha Company’s… uhm, Raidou-san?”
I try telling her just in case so she feels more at peace, but for some reason, she reacted in a different point.
I don’t know which store in specific are the customers that come to my place, but prostitutes do come to buy in my store frequently.
Maybe she immediately felt familiarity towards me, with a broad smile, she guessed my identity.
[Yes. I’m the representative Raidou]
“Hmph~, you are huh. That place sells a drink that works well for fatigue. I haven’t gone to the store myself, but that drink has been helping me a lot”
[Thank you for your patronage. And thank you for your continued work]
To think that she was one of the people that drank it.
I lower my head and express my gratitude.
In present, the energy drink is selling decently. And a percent of it is because of the purchase of people in the night business.
No, it seems they also work at day, so maybe the wording night business is not correct?
Not only is it a rigorous manual labor, it also has irregular times. It really is a rough job.
Thinking that way, I lower my head deeply with those emotions in mind.
“… You, are pretty unique. Well, you are the representative of a unique company so that’s a given huh. In this situation, no matter if it’s the slum or any other place, as long as they accept us, I am grateful. Can you please wait for a bit? I will convince everyone first so it doesn’t become troublesome later”
But it must have been strange for me to lower my head, she was surprised and after that she made a bitter smile.
I was treated as a ‘unique’ person.
Why?
She is a regular customer that buys a lot of my merchandize, and even if she hasn’t taken care of me in that aspect, she does her best working day and night.
Well, I don’t get it but I am glad for her proposal.
Telling the people beforehand to avoid problems when they arrive there.
That place is originally the place where demi-humans live, is what Tomoe said and with that in consideration she is not sending people there though.
If the people evacuating have this in mind, the worries will lessen.
[That will help a lot. The academy is already on the move, so I think the situation will be resolved promptly. Please persevere for a bit]
“Of course. I’m sorry for troubling you. It may be late but, I am Ester. Nice to meet you” (Ester)
[Raidou]
We belatedly finish our introductions.
Several minutes passed before Ester-san returned from the crowd.
We began moving to our evacuation point, the slum.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
“Shiki, take those kids and the remaining audience and go ahead first” (Mio)
“Wa? What is Mio-dono going to do?” (Shiki)
“Hm? I remembered some business. If it’s just guiding the people to the evacuation point where the students are, even if it’s only Shiki it will be enough right?” (Mio)
“That’s true but… understood. Then I will be going first” (Shiki)
“I will catch up soon-desu wa” (Mio)
When Jin’s group and the followers of Makoto were going to leave the competition grounds, Mio suddenly told Shiki to go ahead.
Shiki was troubled in asking the reason, but in the end, he agreed.
The distance to the evacuation point he has to guide the students and spectators isn’t that far, moreover, he is going along as a guard.
With just that, the defense power was already at an excessive level.
“Well then…” (Mio)
Mio turns back on her heels and returns to the stage of the competition grounds.
In there, there is – no – there was a meaningful meat lump of a variant.
“My regeneration is on the special side, but maybe because of that, I can feel it. The smell or maybe the breathing of it; the signs of regeneration” (Mio)
After those words directed to no one, Mio makes one big sigh.
When she does so, the lump of meat that was before her eyes began to move as if it concurred.
“Even though the part that served as the nucleus was completely destroyed, how pitiful. As a person that is specialized in regeneration, I don’t want to compare to you but, I will at least praise your vitality-desu wa” (Mio)
The moving lump of meat copies the outline of a hyuman shape.
But the appearance was not that of a hyuman but meat in the shape of a hyuman, and there was no strength detectable like before when it was a variant.
“… It may only be fragments, but I remember. You are a woman of Kuzunoha? Am I still alive?”
“Ara, you can speak? I didn’t expect you to have a personality” (Mio)
“I am Ilumgand Hopelace”
“You were” (Mio)
Mio cuts into the words of the hyuman shaped meat lump.
The lower part of its face swelled and it made words as if coming out from its mouth.
And subsequently, when the upper part vibrated slightly, a horizontal cut is made, and when it opens it up and down, there were eyes there.
“… Was I… played around by those guys? How pathetic. Showing such a shameful behavior and even dirtying my family name!!”
“…”
“I used drugs, turned into a monster, and even with that, I still lost. Kukuku, how unsightly”
“Yeah” (Mio)
“The destruction impulse I was feeling a while ago and the emotions that were welling up and couldn’t control, are so silent right now, as if it was all a lie”
“… The nucleus was destroyed, so it is obvious” (Mio)
Mio already reached to a conclusion as to why he returned to his senses, but without voicing out any details, she narrows her eyes as if examining at the situation.
After that, while recognizing the hyuman shaped thing as Ilumgand Hopelace, she muttered several times. He continued talking to Mio but she just gave short responses or ignored him.
“But with this body of a monster, I should end my life already right? If I didn’t die, my responsibility of carrying the Hopelace household would get heavier. That would increase the burden of the residents in our territory” (Ilumgand)
“… Fuh” (Mio)
The second son noble is already dead.
That’s why, released from his firm convictions, he muttered in a calm tone.
Looking at Ilumgand, whose circumstances Mio practically didn’t know at all, talking about responsibility and standpoint, she saw it as humorous.
“It is alright. I don’t know how long I will be able to live in this body. In that case, at the very least, I will relay my feelings before dying” (Ilumgand)
Ilumgand didn’t show signs of minding the sneer of Mio.
With heavy dragged steps, he walks to where Mio is.
That face was steadily molding into that of when he was a hyuman, but he wasn’t able to recreate that appearance perfectly.
The parts of the face were subtly apart from their respective locations, and if anyone saw it, they would feel disgust. Moreover, he had a terrible looking part resembling a keloid.
Even calling him a demi-human would be hard to do. That’s how unbalanced and unsightly he was right now.
“That body, it isn’t unstable to the point that you have to prepare for death. But do you intent to live as Ilumgand whatever-desu no?” (Mio)
Hearing the information from Mio, the hyuman shape glances at her.
“Hoh, I see. I can live. I have heard something good. I was talking about relaying my feelings, but don’t worry. I won’t lay a hand to Gotetsu or Ruria anymore. Why I wonder? Even though I was so stuck into it. I am choosing my ideals over my deep affection to her”
“Hm? Gotetsu, Ruria?” (Mio)
“I will fight. If I clad my whole body in armor, I can hide this unsightly body. Even if I am unable to realize my ideals basking in the sunlight, I will at least be able to serve as a shield for Hibiki-sama. I can still do that. When thinking that way, I even feel happy about having this giant unsightly body” (Ilumgand)
“N, Hibiki? Did you say Hibiki just now?” (Mio)
Hearing a familiar name being said, Mio asks again.
“… Yeah. It’s the hero-sama that descended to Limia. If it is that person, she will definitely be able to overthrow the demon race. And then, the people will be able to do their own roles, and be able to follow their own dreams. She will realize that kind of peaceful world” (Ilumgand)
“Ah, so you were talking about the hero-desu no. Then it is a different person from the Hibiki I know-desu wa ne. To think that the hero has the same name as her, how pitiful. The hero in Limia is named Hibiki?” (Mio)
“That’s right. You have an acquaintance named Hibiki? In Lorel that kind of name isn’t unusual, so it isn’t impossible. Well then, see you. We probably won’t meet again” (Ilumgand)
The hyuman shape with the memories of Ilumgand passes by the side of Mio. Without looking back at her, he tries to leave the stage.
“Right. I only intended to exterminate you, but since the memories of the original person are acting as the base, this is a pleasant surprise-desu wa ne. It will serve as punishment” (Mio)
The hyuman shape tried to turn when he heard the voice of Mio at his back, but he was unable to.
Because he couldn’t to put strength into the legs that supported his body and fell down.
Prostrating on the ground, he bended his neck towards her. The hyuman shape with the memories of Ilumgand learned about what was done to him.
“My legs are… You, what are you doing?” (Ilumgand)
What did she do?
He didn’t know how it was done, but looking at the result, he could tell.
Both legs were severed.
From knees down, it was cut off.
Because he doesn’t feel pain, he didn’t scream. The expression of the hyuman shape had no pain reflected in it either.
“What, you say? Punishment-desu wa” (Mio)
Mio didn’t show much change. Slowly shrinking the distance she has between the hyuman shape.
“Kugh?! I already don’t have any intentions in harming your company or Raidou as Ilumgand”
“So?” (Mio)
“So, you say?”
“Yeah. You troubled Waka-sama so much and said abusive words to him-desu wa ne? I understand what you want to do, but your atonement comes first-desu wa” (Mio)
“Atonement?”
“Yes, atonement. It is simply the order of things. You were hostile to Waka-sama, antagonized him, interfered, and rampaged against the students of Waka-sama. Then after being defeated, you are not even a hyuman anymore” (Mio)
“…”
“See? You haven’t atoned for your actions towards Waka-sama. You were only defeated. But right now – maybe a miracle happened – you have retained your memories, personality, and recovering the ownership of your body; you are still alive. Your soul and core that you were composed of were clearly destroyed, and yet, you are still able to act as a hyuman” (Mio)
“… But I am already…”
The hatred he had towards Raidou, the hostility he directed at Jin’s group; those things were already gone.
Why did he do something so stupid that resembled the nobles he hated so much?
‘Even if I wasn’t sane, there was nothing but shame’ is what the hyuman shape was thinking.
“Your defeat and your current appearance isn’t retribution. It is just the result of your own weakness. Ah, maybe you should think about it this way? You were given a miracle ‘for the sake of atonement’” (Mio)
“What… are you saying? Also, my current self has nothing that can be given as atonement. Nothing… But if it’s an apology, I will put my hands down and apologize to Raidou and the students”
“I am fine with your life-desu wa” (Mio)
“?!”
“An amendment death. It won’t suffice by a lot, but since it was a miracle, I will forgive you with just that. If you have a wish, disappear with the regret of being unable to fulfill it” (Mio)
The hyuman shape trembles heavily.
Because Mio smiled.
An innocent smile, with a glaze that one would be charmed with.
Despite that.
In the memories of the hyuman shape, it was a smile that brought forth an extreme intensity he has never seen in his whole life.
“!!”
A dull shock resounded in its body, and the hyuman shape looks at its own stomach.
There’s a big hole there.
Mio’s index finger and middle finger were pointed at the hyuman shape.
“Impossible. The resistance to magic in my body…”
“It has gotten stronger-desu wa ne. I intended to get rid of every trace of you with that one attack though. I am a bit surprised that you even have resistance to the darkness element. Maybe you obtained it with that miracle of yours. For the sake of thoroughly tasting this atonement” (Mio)
“… Raidou, does he hate me that much?! Is it because I hated him that he hates me too?!”
A shock resounds once again.
This time a hole opened in its chest.
“Waka-sama, at you? Ufufu, when one surpasses stupidity, there’s also a cute side to it-desu no ne. Waka-sama doesn’t even think of you as a pebble. That death of yours, and obviously that so called interest in you, he has none of those” (Mio)
“?!! T-Then why are you…?”
If it’s not Raidou’s orders, why is Mio doing something like this?
The hyuman shape didn’t understand.
“Isn’t that obvious? Because I can’t forgive you. If it’s Waka-sama’s order, I would even save you, but I didn’t receive any such order. I do think that Shiki received an order of incapacitating you, but that was something that happened before you died” (Mio)
“But he did order it right?! Then”
The hyuman shape already understood.
The outcome.
No, this wasn’t even a match to begin with.
It understood that there would be no way to escape from this on its own.
The regeneration didn’t show signs of beginning.
Those two holes in its body were telling the hyuman shape the difference in power like never before.
“But… Waka-sama didn’t say anything special even when you died. That was because ‘there’s no helping it if he died’, that’s the extent of what he thought, right? In that case, it is fine to just make it as if the miracle regeneration never happened. There’s no problem-desu wa” (Mio)
“I… can’t die. In this kind of place, even if it’s a life given by chance-!!”
Stomach, chest; and then, after the two fingers of Mio were pointed at the head of the hyuman shape, a dull shock resounds in the stage.
In that place that’s already desolate, no one would see it.
All the remaining people and the students already went along with Shiki towards the evacuation point. And she knew that very well.
“Limia, Hibiki… how pitiable. To only have that level of power and hold the same name as the hero, that girl is misfortunate-desu wa ne. When I meet her again, I will recommend her to change her job to chef” (Mio)
Finishing the disposal of the thing that was once Ilumgand, Mio left the competition grounds and was about to head towards the place Shiki is, but she suddenly stops.
Because she recalled the conversation with the hyuman shape.
The name that remains in her memories, Hibiki.
Mio recalled the black haired girl that said came from Limia.
But that was only for a moment.
She had to return to where her master ordered her to be. She rejoined Shiki.
Chapter 142: The two small miraclesAhI crumble down in front of it.There's no problem, we just need to rebuild it later. That's why I took the store's sign and disposed of the store'When I went to hear about the situation, Tomoe told me this without hesitation.By the time I noticed, I was already here.My mental state was as if someone told me: hey your house is burning'.There's no traces of it being burned though.Without thinking, I was on my hands and feet, and looking at the place that has turned into rubble.Kuzunoha Company.The first store I had.I didn't even have previous part-time job experience, left a lot of the work to others, and can only remember lots of bad experiences though.There were lots of painful memories but but!When I see it destroyed like this, I feel sad.There wasn't anything important left and it isn't like my rights for the lot will be gone.And the things Tomoe said were plausible.The inventory has all been stowed away in the storage of Asora.Also, if the stores around are all destroyed and only my store remains safe, it would only bring about unnecessary misunderstandings.Well the store itself was only furniture and goods, and the renovation was done in a single day.If I wanted to make it again from 0, I just have to ask the eldwas and it wouldn't even take 3 days.Even soI understand all the reasons, but since it was heavy, a sigh leaks out from my mouth.It still doesn't change my sadness.The buildings at both sides are also destroyed completely and the one opposite to us has smoke coming out from the rubbles.Yeah.Destroying the store was an appropriate move.I can tell that a variant unluckily appeared around this area.I don't know their conduct principle, but if their target is the teleport formations, there was a part of me that thought the damage in town wouldn't be that bad.That's why I had small hopes in seeing my store safe.HahThings like Asora and military power Let's try putting them to practical use.Is what I resolved to do not that long ago.Or is she telling me to set sail anew from an empty lot? Let's take it in a positive manner.Change of attitude.If the guy who made all this place a mass of rubble was around here, I would still be able to take it down but MakotoThe remains of what seem to be the results of a fireball crashing. No, it is as if something of high-temperature charged through the place.Was this done by a variant resembling a fire element wild boar, or something like that?When I try to picture the offender, the only common point I can find is the gray color skin of the two I have already seen.The chances that it has a shape I can't even imagine are pretty high. Even so, with small hope, I look around.But to my disappointment, the area around here is already quiet.Looks like the residents have already evacuated, and even when I can hear commotion from afar, there's nothing like that in these areas.My store is gone, so they probably finished evacuating the people in the early stages of the uproar.Well, physical things will one day break.I do have lingering affection towards my store, but for now let's just go to where the students have evacuated.It wouldn't be strange for a temporary teacher to be there and it is safe.N?I think I heard something.I perk up my ears.Yeah, I really do hear something.A scream.And it is pretty close.Several people are screaming intermittently.That direction is directly straight from the back of my store.Wait.Isn't that the brothel avenue?There's a variant in such a place too?The current mission of the Kuzunoha Company is evacuation.As the representative, I'm no exception.Or more like, the chances it is the same one that laid waste to this place is pretty high.It might be the opportunity for retribution.The equipment the eldwas made for me, the open version jacket. I activate the speed mode.In the spacious street that has turned slightly athletic-like because of the rubble, I run directly towards the direction of the scream.Even so, the brothels, a place that would normally not be an objective in a battlefield.I wonder what reason Rona had to place a variant in such a place.And in this timing nonetheless.If the variants rampage following their instincts, their uses would be quite limited, but if their objective is the teleport formations, maybe there's one in that area and she chose to place a variant there?No, that's not it.Ilumgand was a student.He transformed in the tournament grounds.In the first place, the chances of ending only as a disturbance if they are driven by instinct is pretty high.Thinking that she did this even when she withdrew her subordinates, means this plan should not be assured to succeed.No. What if the demon race is still unable to control the timing of the activation in this tactic?There's the possibility that they spread the medicine and accessories to the people that get close to their target locations frequently.If they don't care about the numbers they produce and the amount of casualties, they would probably put the plan in motion.As usual, I can't imagine what Rona is thinking, but while I was thinking about this and that, I arrived at the source of the scream.As I thought, it really was the brothel avenue.In this place the damage to the buildings is not that high. But in the corners of that place, the sounds of screams and destruction resounded.Over there huh.Without losing my way I head there, and from the window of a store, a cluster of something comes flying at me.Oh, a boulder.A cluster made up of a stove or something of the sort.It flew at me with quite the speed, but without even touching my jacket, it stopped about 1 meter away from me with magic power and changed directions before falling.A heavy noise sounds in a place a bit far from me.Several clusters continued flying towards me, but they all ended up with the same result. Without minding it, I step into the brothel store where the screams come from.To think that my first step into the sex industry would be in this manner.Pardon my intrusion~Looks like this is not the one. An octopus? MakotoIt didn't have the shape I was expecting and I clicked my tongue.The variant there is an octopus.No, the details are slightly different.It has 8 legs, but 2 of those are strangely developed and long. At the tip it looks like the hands of a person.But the impression it gives is that of a white octopus.For such a creature to be attacking the prostitute *Onee-sans*, how maniac. One woman is holding an edged tool that doesn't look battle oriented and confronting it.What a brave woman.And also, there are several Onee-sans at the back showing a fighting stance.Some were crying, some weak on their knees; there were many varieties.Since I entered the fray, the situation changed and the body of the octopus faced towards me and had its legs wind.Was this the one that was throwing stuff at me? Did it do it while against this Onee-san? That's pretty handy. Moreover, it used some sort of method to detect me before I even arrived and began attacking me.This one also has a special power?I think that just moving all your legs as an individual being is a pretty impressive power in itself though.Well, from what I see, it doesn't look like it is that strong.An opponent that I don't need to mind about what power it has.Thanks to the fact that it noticed me quick, there's definitely Onee-sans that were saved, so it was actually a good thing.There's the scent of blood in here as well, so there's no doubt casualties have already happened though.Even if I begin to think about how many stores that octopus has already attacked, nothing will change.If that woman with the edged tool that looks like a fruit knife weren't here doing her best, there would definitely be more casualties.H-Help us!!The words of one of the prostitutes served as the cue. Several high-pitched voices seeking for help came out from their mouths.No need to tell me, I came with that purpose in mind.Hm, but the one I defeated with Brid a while ago, exploded.I don't want to get splashed indoors.The store's interior has a strong scent drifting about and right now the smell of blood and fat are not that strong, but if the meat of the variant scatters, it would be difficult to clean up in the close future.I will take care of this, so take this chance to leave the store. I will guide you to the evacuation point?!! Boy, this guy is pretty strong. I am grateful that you came to help us, but I will try to somehow hold it back, so please save the girls at the backFirst bring everyone out.I don't know if she understood what I said, but I tried to tell her that I would be guiding them later to the evacuation point so wait.But it seems the woman that is fighting didn't accept it.Saying something that can only be taken as self-sacrifice, she asked me to help the others escape.When I check, I see that the Onee-sans are beginning their mobilization for escape, but the people that are weak on their knees just can't move the way they want to.In a situation where it wouldn't be strange to just run away without caring, everyone still lent their shoulders to the Onee-sans that can't move properly to escape together.Their sense of camaraderie is strong.But you knowBetween joining the Onee-sans and guiding them to escape, or defeating the variant; the easiest one for me would be, without doubt, the latter.Actually, I should be the one defeating this thing, and that woman should put away that knife and guide the Onee-sans.The octopus tried to move, but it restraint itself and stopped its movements.Looks like it at least has enough intelligence to be wary.Boy, stop! This is a really dangerous monster! It has already killed several people. Even if I look like this, I was a former adventurer. From the people here, I am the one that knows about battle the most, that whyHeh~, a former adventurer.There are few adventurers in Rotsgard.The main reason is that there's no existing guild here that gives out requests, but it is also because there's few profitable hunting grounds.Lately, they have been selling a medicinal plant that can be gathered in a part of the area and is high priced, so the situation has improved a bit though.By the way, I think the reason might be because of the medicine recipe I exhibited in the church.It is also the medicinal plant that my students brought to me as a souvenir in summer vacation.The recipe that we taught the church was created by Shiki and the Arkes with that medicinal plant as the base.I was surprised when Shiki and the Arkes said they would be able to make it, but thanks to that, my students were able to gain pocket money from it.It is a bit sad that this is the main way for adventurers to gain money in this place though.And for a former adventurer who's a prostitute probably to be in this town. Now that I think about it, what do adventurers do when they retire?I think being a prostitute should be in the rare side though. Don't really know.If it's men, I think something with a tough atmosphere like a bar, or the master of a cafe.In that case, I am a temporary teacher working in the academy. If you stay by those girls' side, they will definitely feel safer. I will be fine. I will rejoin you later outside, so please go with themA teacher from the academy? I see. Then you would be a lot better than a *rotor* like me. Is it really okay to leave it to you? I know a few prostitutes here that have come to my shop before, but I haven't seen this one.If she knew me beforehand, I wouldn't need to do unnecessary explanation.While I was feeling a bit troubled, the octopus, without learning its lesson, throws something at me.Of course, that didn't hit me and was repelled by my magic power.?!Even if the woman who was talking to me didn't know what I used to defend myself with, it seems she does know that I did something to defend against it.The way she looked at me changed again.Looks like she revised her thoughts.What was thrown was Geh, the head of someone.Even if she was beautiful, if it is only a head, there's no way to be charmed by it.Don't worry. Please wait outside. If possible, it would be great if you were to guide everyone in the other buildings as well. I will guide everyone to the evacuation point laterNot being able to gauge the strength of someone so close to me, I have really grown old. That thing's regeneration ability is quite strong, beware of it. I have wounded it several times, but it regenerated it allI appreciate the information I owe you one. Don't go dyingSeems like she consented. She joined the prostitutes that were watching and with clear instructions, they began moving.That's great.And so, the only ones left inside the building are the octopus and me.Ah~, I was nervous there.Maybe I am not used to battle situations where so many girls are looking at me, I felt a strange pressure.It was a different nervousness to that of being in a party.The woman just now was in a wine red short dress that had quite the high exposure rate, and on top of that, she tore a part of it to make it easier to move, so I was troubled settling my eyes.To be in the brothels and feel calmer around an octopus instead of being surrounded by girls makes me sad though.Your appearance is poison to my eyes, I will be looking forward to the reward. Now, escape quickly' is something I don't think I will be able to say.Sorry but, the Onee-sans around this place are regulars that come often to buy my energy drinks. Having you kill them is troublesome MakotoLuckily, this thing only says Shukoshuko' and I can't understand what it is saying.Ilumgand's case might have been a rare one.Let's finish this.I gather magic power to my right hand.She said something about regeneration, so I do an aria of a single word for rapid-fire Brid.On the palm of my right hand, a white ball of light is born.The size is close to that of a baseball.I turn my palm towards the octopus.Several short bullet-sized arrow Brids were created from the light ball and they all pierce the octopus one after the other.It is trying to block with its tentacles, but without caring, I continue shooting several tens of arrows.It gradually backs off, and in the end, the octopus is sewed in the wall.The firing continues.In time, there was a change.The head of the octopus gets bigger than its original size and then, it began to swell irregularly.That doesn't look like regeneration.It is done huh.I make an earth element aria, and from the floor, a wall is created as if hiding that thing's body.I don't want it splattering on me after all.If I were to hit the weak point properly, it might not scatter and turn into a lump of meat like Ilumgand though.It would be troublesome to search for it all the time, and with things like: effective element, resistances, and absorption, it makes it even more troublesome.In that case, it is easier to just damage it till its regeneration limit and finish it.Things like having several amounts of hyuman magic power increasing its defensive power don't affect me much anyways.*BuchattoA big and unpleasant noise sounded.I release the wall I created and, looking at the white gel-like substance, I confirm that the octopus was defeated.I can't feel life signs from it.It is the same as the beaked variant.It is finished now.After confirming it, I go outside.Sorry for the waitWhen I go outside, I was welcomed by a large amount of gazes.Ooh.There are quite a lot.Moreover, it looks like they are still increasing in numbers.There are some that are hugging each other from the happiness of being saved.With these numbers, the slum where the demi-humans are, is an appropriate evacuation point.Luckily, the demi-human leader there is an acquaintance of us and we already have permission to use the place.I heard that the Forest Oni Akua is guarding the surroundings of that area.There's a good amount of space and there's no variants appearing there.They will get surprised, but they are able to accept this numbers, and I don't think they will reject it.When this group is done gathering, I will guide them to the slums while protecting them.Looks like I can kill a good amount of time.As Tomoe said, it might take one day or, depending on the situation, several days.Until then, we will steadily evacuate the residents, and when we end up encountering' a variant, we exterminate it.It looks like my employees are scattered here and there and playing an active role in the evacuation places, so every one of us will probably gather when everything is over.You! You are alright. Did you defeat it?With her unchanged poisonous appearance, the Onee-san from before approaches me, and after confirming my safety, she asked me the situation.Yeah. I'm not sure if any more of those will appear, but I did defeat that monster. It looks like your side is still increasing in numbersAn academy teacher, as expected, quite the impressive one. Well, I don't want to think that more of those things will appear though. And yeah, this was an unexpected situation for the people here after all. In that avenue, there were several customers. You probably already know, but in the brothels there's no day or night. Is the evacuation point far?The brothels are active even at daytime huh.I didn't know that one.I thought it was a business that operates only at nights.From here, the closest place would be the slum. Thinking about the space, it is the most appropriate place. Bringing everyone, I think it will take around 20 minutesSlum?! In the slum where those demi-humans are?! Is it okay to go to such a place to take refuge?Just as the name slum implies, it is a place that is recognized by hyumans as a place with bad public order, so it can't be helped that she is surprised.The people in the slums are actually simplistic and good natured though.Because of the prejudices, people just go and hate it, so it must be hard to enter that territory because of fear.Fortunately, an acquaintance of mine is doing the role of putting the place in order. I work in a company, and that person is part of my connectionsAh! You, could it be, you are the Kuzunoha Company's uhm, Raidou-san?I try telling her just in case so she feels more at peace, but for some reason, she reacted in a different point.I don't know which store in specific are the customers that come to my place, but prostitutes do come to buy in my store frequently.Maybe she immediately felt familiarity towards me, with a broad smile, she guessed my identity.Yes. I'm the representative RaidouHmph~, you are huh. That place sells a drink that works well for fatigue. I haven't gone to the store myself, but that drink has been helping me a lotThank you for your patronage. And thank you for your continued workTo think that she was one of the people that drank it.I lower my head and express my gratitude.In present, the energy drink is selling decently. And a percent of it is because of the purchase of people in the night business.No, it seems they also work at day, so maybe the wording night business is not correct?Not only is it a rigorous manual labor, it also has irregular times. It really is a rough job.Thinking that way, I lower my head deeply with those emotions in mind. You, are pretty unique. Well, you are the representative of a unique company so that's a given huh. In this situation, no matter if it's the slum or any other place, as long as they accept us, I am grateful. Can you please wait for a bit? I will convince everyone first so it doesn't become troublesome laterBut it must have been strange for me to lower my head, she was surprised and after that she made a bitter smile.I was treated as a unique' person.Why?She is a regular customer that buys a lot of my merchandize, and even if she hasn't taken care of me in that aspect, she does her best working day and night.Well, I don't get it but I am glad for her proposal.Telling the people beforehand to avoid problems when they arrive there.That place is originally the place where demi-humans live, is what Tomoe said and with that in consideration she is not sending people there though.If the people evacuating have this in mind, the worries will lessen.That will help a lot. The academy is already on the move, so I think the situation will be resolved promptly. Please persevere for a bitOf course. I'm sorry for troubling you. It may be late but, I am Ester. Nice to meet you EsterRaidouWe belatedly finish our introductions.Several minutes passed before Ester-san returned from the crowd.We began moving to our evacuation point, the slum.Shiki, take those kids and the remaining audience and go ahead first MioWa? What is Mio-dono going to do? ShikiHm? I remembered some business. If it's just guiding the people to the evacuation point where the students are, even if it's only Shiki it will be enough right? MioThat's true but understood. Then I will be going first ShikiI will catch up soon-desu wa MioWhen Jin's group and the followers of Makoto were going to leave the competition grounds, Mio suddenly told Shiki to go ahead.Shiki was troubled in asking the reason, but in the end, he agreed.The distance to the evacuation point he has to guide the students and spectators isn't that far, moreover, he is going along as a guard.With just that, the defense power was already at an excessive level.Well then MioMio turns back on her heels and returns to the stage of the competition grounds.In there, there is no there was a meaningful meat lump of a variant.My regeneration is on the special side, but maybe because of that, I can feel it. The smell or maybe the breathing of it; the signs of regeneration MioAfter those words directed to no one, Mio makes one big sigh.When she does so, the lump of meat that was before her eyes began to move as if it concurred.Even though the part that served as the nucleus was completely destroyed, how pitiful. As a person that is specialized in regeneration, I don't want to compare to you but, I will at least praise your vitality-desu wa MioThe moving lump of meat copies the outline of a hyuman shape.But the appearance was not that of a hyuman but meat in the shape of a hyuman, and there was no strength detectable like before when it was a variant. It may only be fragments, but I remember. You are a woman of Kuzunoha? Am I still alive?Ara, you can speak? I didn't expect you to have a personality MioI am Ilumgand HopelaceYou were MioMio cuts into the words of the hyuman shaped meat lump.The lower part of its face swelled and it made words as if coming out from its mouth.And subsequently, when the upper part vibrated slightly, a horizontal cut is made, and when it opens it up and down, there were eyes there. Was I played around by those guys? How pathetic. Showing such a shameful behavior and even dirtying my family name!!I used drugs, turned into a monster, and even with that, I still lost. Kukuku, how unsightlyYeah MioThe destruction impulse I was feeling a while ago and the emotions that were welling up and couldn't control, are so silent right now, as if it was all a lie The nucleus was destroyed, so it is obvious MioMio already reached to a conclusion as to why he returned to his senses, but without voicing out any details, she narrows her eyes as if examining at the situation.After that, while recognizing the hyuman shaped thing as Ilumgand Hopelace, she muttered several times. He continued talking to Mio but she just gave short responses or ignored him.But with this body of a monster, I should end my life already right? If I didn't die, my responsibility of carrying the Hopelace household would get heavier. That would increase the burden of the residents in our territory Ilumgand Fuh MioThe second son noble is already dead.That's why, released from his firm convictions, he muttered in a calm tone.Looking at Ilumgand, whose circumstances Mio practically didn't know at all, talking about responsibility and standpoint, she saw it as humorous.It is alright. I don't know how long I will be able to live in this body. In that case, at the very least, I will relay my feelings before dying IlumgandIlumgand didn't show signs of minding the sneer of Mio.With heavy dragged steps, he walks to where Mio is.That face was steadily molding into that of when he was a hyuman, but he wasn't able to recreate that appearance perfectly.The parts of the face were subtly apart from their respective locations, and if anyone saw it, they would feel disgust. Moreover, he had a terrible looking part resembling a keloid.Even calling him a demi-human would be hard to do. That's how unbalanced and unsightly he was right now.That body, it isn't unstable to the point that you have to prepare for death. But do you intent to live as Ilumgand whatever-desu no? MioHearing the information from Mio, the hyuman shape glances at her.Hoh, I see. I can live. I have heard something good. I was talking about relaying my feelings, but don't worry. I won't lay a hand to Gotetsu or Ruria anymore. Why I wonder? Even though I was so stuck into it. I am choosing my ideals over my deep affection to herHm? Gotetsu, Ruria? MioI will fight. If I clad my whole body in armor, I can hide this unsightly body. Even if I am unable to realize my ideals basking in the sunlight, I will at least be able to serve as a shield for Hibiki-sama. I can still do that. When thinking that way, I even feel happy about having this giant unsightly body IlumgandN, Hibiki? Did you say Hibiki just now? MioHearing a familiar name being said, Mio asks again. Yeah. It's the hero-sama that descended to Limia. If it is that person, she will definitely be able to overthrow the demon race. And then, the people will be able to do their own roles, and be able to follow their own dreams. She will realize that kind of peaceful world IlumgandAh, so you were talking about the hero-desu no. Then it is a different person from the Hibiki I know-desu wa ne. To think that the hero has the same name as her, how pitiful. The hero in Limia is named Hibiki? MioThat's right. You have an acquaintance named Hibiki? In Lorel that kind of name isn't unusual, so it isn't impossible. Well then, see you. We probably won't meet again IlumgandThe hyuman shape with the memories of Ilumgand passes by the side of Mio. Without looking back at her, he tries to leave the stage.Right. I only intended to exterminate you, but since the memories of the original person are acting as the base, this is a pleasant surprise-desu wa ne. It will serve as punishment MioThe hyuman shape tried to turn when he heard the voice of Mio at his back, but he was unable to.Because he couldn't to put strength into the legs that supported his body and fell down.Prostrating on the ground, he bended his neck towards her. The hyuman shape with the memories of Ilumgand learned about what was done to him.My legs are You, what are you doing? IlumgandWhat did she do?He didn't know how it was done, but looking at the result, he could tell.Both legs were severed.From knees down, it was cut off.Because he doesn't feel pain, he didn't scream. The expression of the hyuman shape had no pain reflected in it either.What, you say? Punishment-desu wa MioMio didn't show much change. Slowly shrinking the distance she has between the hyuman shape.Kugh?! I already don't have any intentions in harming your company or Raidou as IlumgandSo? MioSo, you say?Yeah. You troubled Waka-sama so much and said abusive words to him-desu wa ne? I understand what you want to do, but your atonement comes first-desu wa MioAtonement?Yes, atonement. It is simply the order of things. You were hostile to Waka-sama, antagonized him, interfered, and rampaged against the students of Waka-sama. Then after being defeated, you are not even a hyuman anymore MioSee? You haven't atoned for your actions towards Waka-sama. You were only defeated. But right now maybe a miracle happened you have retained your memories, personality, and recovering the ownership of your body; you are still alive. Your soul and core that you were composed of were clearly destroyed, and yet, you are still able to act as a hyuman Mio But I am alreadyThe hatred he had towards Raidou, the hostility he directed at Jin's group; those things were already gone.Why did he do something so stupid that resembled the nobles he hated so much?Even if I wasn't sane, there was nothing but shame' is what the hyuman shape was thinking.Your defeat and your current appearance isn't retribution. It is just the result of your own weakness. Ah, maybe you should think about it this way? You were given a miracle for the sake of atonement' MioWhat are you saying? Also, my current self has nothing that can be given as atonement. Nothing But if it's an apology, I will put my hands down and apologize to Raidou and the studentsI am fine with your life-desu wa Mio?!An amendment death. It won't suffice by a lot, but since it was a miracle, I will forgive you with just that. If you have a wish, disappear with the regret of being unable to fulfill it MioThe hyuman shape trembles heavily.Because Mio smiled.An innocent smile, with a glaze that one would be charmed with.Despite that.In the memories of the hyuman shape, it was a smile that brought forth an extreme intensity he has never seen in his whole life.!!A dull shock resounded in its body, and the hyuman shape looks at its own stomach.There's a big hole there.Mio's index finger and middle finger were pointed at the hyuman shape.Impossible. The resistance to magic in my bodyIt has gotten stronger-desu wa ne. I intended to get rid of every trace of you with that one attack though. I am a bit surprised that you even have resistance to the darkness element. Maybe you obtained it with that miracle of yours. For the sake of thoroughly tasting this atonement Mio Raidou, does he hate me that much?! Is it because I hated him that he hates me too?!A shock resounds once again.This time a hole opened in its chest.Waka-sama, at you? Ufufu, when one surpasses stupidity, there's also a cute side to it-desu no ne. Waka-sama doesn't even think of you as a pebble. That death of yours, and obviously that so called interest in you, he has none of those Mio?!! T-Then why are you?If it's not Raidou's orders, why is Mio doing something like this?The hyuman shape didn't understand.Isn't that obvious? Because I can't forgive you. If it's Waka-sama's order, I would even save you, but I didn't receive any such order. I do think that Shiki received an order of incapacitating you, but that was something that happened before you died MioBut he did order it right?! ThenThe hyuman shape already understood.The outcome.No, this wasn't even a match to begin with.It understood that there would be no way to escape from this on its own.The regeneration didn't show signs of beginning.Those two holes in its body were telling the hyuman shape the difference in power like never before.But Waka-sama didn't say anything special even when you died. That was because there's no helping it if he died', that's the extent of what he thought, right? In that case, it is fine to just make it as if the miracle regeneration never happened. There's no problem-desu wa MioI can't die. In this kind of place, even if it's a life given by chance-!!Stomach, chest; and then, after the two fingers of Mio were pointed at the head of the hyuman shape, a dull shock resounds in the stage.In that place that's already desolate, no one would see it.All the remaining people and the students already went along with Shiki towards the evacuation point. And she knew that very well.Limia, Hibiki how pitiable. To only have that level of power and hold the same name as the hero, that girl is misfortunate-desu wa ne. When I meet her again, I will recommend her to change her job to chef MioFinishing the disposal of the thing that was once Ilumgand, Mio left the competition grounds and was about to head towards the place Shiki is, but she suddenly stops.Because she recalled the conversation with the hyuman shape.The name that remains in her memories, Hibiki.Mio recalled the black haired girl that said came from Limia.But that was only for a moment.She had to return to where her master ordered her to be. She rejoined Shiki.
