kscans

Chapter 121 - Surprise Hell

Sunday. Only today and tomorrow remained of summer vacation.
Having the very end of a long break like this fall on a Sunday made me feel a little cheated. Was I the only one who felt that way?

"Rika-san, Rika-san, it’s morning."

Setting aside my strange frustration, I gently shook Rika-san, who was sleeping next to me. I felt bad for waking her while she was so blissfully dead to the world, but we had plans, so she had to get up.

"Ngh, ugh… mornin’…"

"Good morning to you. Let’s go wash your face first."

I took Rika-san by the hand and led her to the washroom.
Even though we knew we had plans, we couldn’t help getting carried away last night. Then again, it was all the fault of that incredibly fun game Rika-san had bought, the one brimming with occult elements. We were not to blame.

"Hah! I feel so refreshed."

"I’m glad to hear it. Now, let’s have breakfast and get ready."

"I’m going to show you something interesting."
That was what Hero-san had told us, so we had all arranged to meet early in the morning. He never told us what, exactly, he was going to show us. That was just like him, always a fan of surprises. He did say it would be something that would help us grow, so I was sure it wouldn't be anything strange.

"Still though… doesn’t having a Sunday at the end of summer break feel like you’re getting ripped off?" Rika-san grumbled while munching on a sweet roll we had bought the night before. It seemed I wasn’t the only one.
Even this sort of casual chat with a girl my own age, physically speaking, felt so enjoyable to me. It made me realize just how barren my life had been, which was a little depressing.

"Fufu, I suppose so. But there’s not much we can do about that."

"I feel like the old man could do something about it, though."

Time, space, fate.
A man who could casually manipulate things that seemed utterly impossible to struggle against was in a league of his own.

"Like, he could brainwash the whole world and shift the date or something."

"I can’t imagine what we’d do if he pulled off something so grand for such a petty reason."

And so, after finishing breakfast, we got ready and headed to the park where we were supposed to meet.
Akatsuki-kun and Ayase-san were already there, and they greeted us with canned juice in hand.

"Hey there. Sacchan, you started living at the old man’s place yesterday, right? Did you sleep okay?"

"Yeah. Perfectly."

"I see. Things are probably a lot different here than back home, so if you run into any trouble, don’t hesitate to count on us, okay?"

"Thank you."

She could be a tomboy, but she was a truly good person. I think I was incredibly lucky to have become friends with Rika-san.
Which, of course, only made me feel guiltier about all the things I was hiding from her.

"By the way. Is it cooler over there, even in the summer… Sarna-chan?"

"Everyone, on your guard."

I had sensed a yomotsu presence, one that disturbed the refreshing morning air despite the heat.
Seeing me take out my great scythe, Rika-san and the others must have realized this was no ordinary situation, as they immediately took up battle stances.

"Ah, please, calm yourselves. I am no suspicious character."

Appearing before us was a single black cat. This was, if I recall, a servant of Hell…!?
My wariness shot up for a completely different reason than before.

"Kieeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaah, it taaaaaaaalked!?!"

"Rika-chan, calm down. Well, I know how you feel though."

"Um, you are…?"

"I am a Hellcat, a servant of Hell. As I stated a moment ago, I have no intention of bringing any of you harm."

The Hellcat explained that Hero-san had sent it to retrieve us.

"The old man did?"

"A large-scale drill will be held in Hell today."

"A drill, you say?"

"Indeed. It is a military exercise with Satou-sama, Takahashi-sama, and Suzuki-sama as the mock enemies."

"Ah… now that you mention it, he did say something before about invading the afterlife…"

The Hellcat gave us a summarized explanation of the events leading up to the drill. The other three were just listening with interest, but I had more pressing concerns.

My father is the root cause of this!!

And his subordinate!

"Satou-sama requested that we grant you all permission to observe the exercise, saying that even just watching would be a valuable experience."

It would certainly be an experience worth a king’s ransom. To see such powerful individuals, even with restrictions, fight the afterlife with all their might. Watching alone would be enough to help us grow. It would, but!!

This is bad, this is bad, this is bad. Because, well, they’ll find out! They’ll find out for sure!?

I’ve managed to fool Hero-san, thanks to his arrogance born from overwhelming power and the fact that I am someone under his protection.
But King Enma would notice. With his keen eyes, there was no mistaking it. Wh-what should I do?
Ah, I know! I can do it! This way I can make a natural exit!!

"Um, in that case, would it be all right if I declined?"

"What’s with the sudden change of heart?"

"From what I’m hearing, the one who caused the underworld to re-evaluate its defenses was…"

"Oh, right. Hades is a god from Greek mythology, isn’t he."

"Yes. For me, someone who bears the blood of a Death God, however minor, to go there would be…"

Yes, yes, create an atmosphere of "well, if that’s the case, it can’t be helped."

"No. That is by no means the young lady’s sin."

You, you Hellcaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!!

"Enma-sama is not so petty as to make a fuss over such a thing, so please rest assured."

"There you go. That’s great, isn’t it, Sarna-chan!"

"How about looking at it this way? It’s a chance to work on improving Greece’s image after what happened."

"Sarna-san is a polite and dependable girl. I’m sure everyone in Hell will welcome you."

It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! Their goodwill hurts! It stabs me! This kindness is stabbing me right through!!
This is impossible! There’s no way I can refuse after they’ve said all this, is there!?

Guh, guh-guh…

King Enma’s discerning eye is terrifying. But right now, the power I inherited is sealed away, so… m-maybe I’ll be okay? I also have the filter of being one of the children Hero-san is protecting.
I-I can do this! I should be able to! Please, let me believe I can!!
Besides, we’re just observing in the afterlife. It’s not like we’re guaranteed to meet King Enma!

That’s right, it’s probably not good for King Enma to interact with the living unnecessarily either…

I started to calm down a little.

"W-Well, in that case, I’ll accept your kind offer."

"If anyone gives you trouble, I’ll protect you! So don’t you worry!"

"Thank you very much."

"Then let us be on our way."

We boarded the chariot pulled by the Hellcat, who had returned to its original form.

"I know this is for our studies, but… I’m still so excited."

"Going to the afterlife while you’re still alive is a once in a lifetime experience. Mom and Dad are going to be so surprised when I tell them."

"Even Mama has never been to the afterlife, I bet. I’m gonna brag to her when I get back!"

I-It’s fine. It’ll be fine.