kscans

Chapter 56 - Tragedy

(...While I have many questions, this situation is clearly not good.)

A beautiful woman dressed like an exhibitionist crying in the common area of an apartment building.

There's no way to describe it other than terrible. Although she must have cleared everyone else out before revealing herself, this is still bad for my mental health.

"F-for now, let's go to my room."

I took the hand of the sobbing Thanatos and led her to my apartment. Once inside, I seated the still-crying Thanatos on the sofa and prepared some coffee.

"...You're Thanatos, right?"

"...Yes."

She's still crying, but she seems calm enough to hold a conversation. Coffee is truly magnificent. My sincere respect to whoever developed or discovered it.

"What on earth happened...? No, more importantly, let's do something about that outfit first."

Being a woman, I'm not exactly excited of revealing clothes. But regardless, this is definitely detrimental to my mental well-being. I can't focus on the conversation when a male acquaintance has somehow turned into a woman wearing something so ridiculous.

"For now, I'll lend you some of my clothes."

"...That's impossible."

"Excuse me?"

What is she talking about? Seeing my confusion, Thanatos stood up and said,

"...Miss. Please try attacking with all your power. Not at me, but at these indecent ribbons covering me."

"Huh? Why so suddenly...?"

"...Please."

Unable to resist her insistence, I nodded. I didn't want to attack at full power inside my apartment, but I could set up a barrier. After preparing to avoid damaging the room, I summoned my great scythe again and imbued its tip with the power of death.

A blade of absolute death that would instantly kill any living thing it touched and cause any inorganic object to disintegrate. It would be dangerous even for Thanatos, a fellow death god, but if I only cut the ribbons without touching her, it should be fine, right?

"I-I'm going to do it now, okay?"

"...Yes."

I swung the scythe. It hit the ribbons precisely, but—

"——Huh?"

The moment it made contact, my scythe shattered completely from the base. The great scythe forged by Hephaestus himself and attuned by my father Hades. It was destroyed as if it were a joke. Seeing my astonishment, Thanatos explained.

"...As you can see, this is hopeless. There's nothing that can be done about it."

"W-what is happening...?"

I mean, even if you can't take it off, couldn't you at least wear something over it? When you first appeared, you were covered with a cloak, after all...

"...Let me explain what happened that night. May I use your television?"

"Y-yes."

Thanatos (in her exhibitionist form) waved her hand, and images appeared on the television.

"This is a record of that night."

The footage showed Satou Hideo, our target, and an unknown woman confronting Thanatos and the other death gods.

"Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!!!"

Satou Hideo was laughing with an attitude that thoroughly looked down on everyone.

"What's so funny?!"

"How can I not laugh? You're all such transparent liars."

...So he saw through it. Satou Hideo systematically exposed all of Thanatos's lies.

(Well, isn't that something...)

Satou Hideo understood the god Hades well. Having faced him multiple times, he seemed to have completely grasped his personality.

(And he also knew about me... or rather, the successor...)

Though he hasn't realized that Sarna Diadokos is that successor. My human disguise is effective, but more importantly, my position as a friend of the child he cares for is significant. Because of that position, I'm recognized as someone he wants to protect. It seems approaching Rika wasn't a mistake after all.

"...He's strong."

On the screen, the battle with the rejuvenated Satou Hideo and his companions had begun. The unknown gyaru woman was quite powerful, but Satou Hideo was in a league of his own. Even fighting bare-handed, his skill was extraordinary. It was obvious. While the woman was fighting seriously, Satou Hideo was completely toying with them. He was only interested in humiliating Thanatos and the others.

"..."

I glanced at Thanatos. She was biting her lip in frustration. Well, that's understandable. Even giving it their all, they couldn't land a single hit, let alone draw out his full power.

This one-sided massacre that could hardly be called a fight ended in about an hour. In the end, Thanatos and the others achieved nothing. But there was one confusing point.

"W-why don't you kill us?! Even if you spare us now, we'll never give up! We'll devise new strategies and come after you again...!!"

Yes, that's it. Satou Hideo didn't kill Thanatos and the others. He even stopped his female companion when she tried to finish them off. To Thanatos's question, Satou Hideo replied with a vulgar smile.

"Hehehe... you see, my high IQ, they call me the Einstein of Shinjuku, came up with something more fun than killing you."

"Nobody calls you that... So? What's this fun thing?"

"Just watch."

He clapped his hands together and shouted.

"—TS Divine Fist Ultimate Technique: Ten Thousand Fist Storm!"

Countless fists rained down from the sky, striking all the death gods who had participated in the battle. They screamed horribly as their bodies melted... and somehow they all transformed into women.

Not all of them originally had human-like forms. Some were monstrous death gods, yet they all transformed into human-like forms.

(And they're all beautiful women, too.)

So this is why they turned female? But for what purpose...?

"Hehehe, hey there, little death gods. You were all pathetically weak, but you know what? I think you tried your best, for weaklings."

His expression oozed malice. Well, from his perspective, he was suddenly attacked during what should have been a pleasant trip, so there's no reason for him to show any goodwill.

"So I'll give you a reward. Let me show you a glimpse of my power."

His anger at involving children was justified, and his attitude was warranted. It should have been warranted, but...

"This is a curse. I'm quite skilled with curses, you see."

Black mist erupted from Satou Hideo's body. A curse. What dense malice... I've never seen such powerful output before.

"I can create powerful curses on the fly. Like this!!!"

The curse's tendrils wrapped around Thanatos and the others, instantly blowing away their clothes. But the curse didn't stop there. After making them naked, the curse transformed, dressing them all in various exhibitionist outfits.

"What is this?! D-damn it! I can't take it off!!"

"What's happening?!"

"Ah, ah, ah..."

The curtain of despair fell.

"Aren't you lucky?! You guys did your job splendidly!"

"Kekeke! This is a masterpiece! That's our Satou! Your cruelty knows no bounds!!"

"Don't say such terrible things. I'm just showing respect to these great warriors who fought valiantly despite the overwhelming difference in ability."

"And this is how you show respect?!"

"Yes, exactly."

Th-this is...

"Go show your master! Show him that form! The fruits of your labor! Gyahahahahahaha!!"

His laughter was like that of a devil, utterly unsuited to the peaceful setting. Knowing his caring attitude toward children (us), the gap is enough to drive one mad.

"Ahh! I feel so good~ Shall I sing? Shall I break into song!?"

"Go for it!!"

"I'll sing! You handle the tambourine!!"

In a paradise where flowers bloomed and winds danced, Satou Hideo began passionately singing into a microphone that appeared from nowhere. The mysterious woman frantically played the tambourine in accompaniment, while the death gods wept in despair.

(What kind of hellish scene is this...?)

And that's where the footage ended.

"...This is what... what... what happened..." Thanatos choked on her words, overcome with humiliation.