kscans

Chapter 136 - Conquering the Labyrinth

The Minotaur sprinted towards me as I was sent flying. Just as its axe was about to come down, a shadow appeared, swiftly grabbing me and pulling me out of the monster's range.

But it wasn't enough. The golden blade pursued with a follow-up strike, and I kicked off the ground to accelerate. We narrowly escaped the battle axe, putting about fifty meters between us, and I readied my sword again.

Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at the person standing next to me.

"Tch...!"

[Arcane Gear] isn't supposed to change its shape so drastically. The nature of the mana flowing through a person's body is generally constant. Even if it's supplied from an external source, one doesn't become tainted by it. It's the same as how a blood transfusion doesn't change your blood type.

And yet, Aira-san's [Arcane Gear] had become something completely different.

A black leather bodysuit, like a biker would wear, that clung to her body's every curve.

Over it, she wore a red coat, and her long silver hair was tied up in a ponytail with a black ribbon.

A futuristic headset was fitted to her head, and a black visor concealed her eyes.

In her right hand, she held a pistol, but it wasn't the standard revolver I'd seen a little while ago. It was a rugged, rectangular firearm with a grip attached, an ornate piece. Perhaps as part of the decoration, a row of fang-like protrusions lined the area around the muzzle.

It wasn't just that her clothes and weapon had changed. An [Arcane Gear] couldn't possibly transform like this without some large-scale and special procedure, something on the level of a bone marrow transplant.

"You... have you lost your mind...?!"

The Minotaur, wary of the new participant, readied its battle axe and observed us. Keeping my eyes on it, I spat the question at the fool beside me.

But the reply came in her usual nonchalant voice.

"Oh my. It's not a moonlit night, and my dance partner isn't a demon but a lovely fairy, you know."

"Is this really the time for jokes...?!"

"You're right. It's coming."

"Tch!"

"■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛---!"

The white monster roared and moved again. Its descending battle axe shattered the debris-strewn ground.

Dust flew into the air. Along with the shockwave, a tsunami of stone spears surged towards us.

I moved forward to shield Aira-san, but a hand pushed my right shoulder.

Thrown off balance by the unexpected strength, I dodged the approaching stone spears with a cartwheel. As I batted away the second and third waves with my sword, my gaze fell upon her.

Her long silver hair whipped around.

With an agility unimaginable from her usual self, Aira-san weaved through the tsunami of spears and ran to the opposite side, putting the Minotaur between us.

Seeing her, I barked into my earring.

"Can you fight?!"

'That's why I've taken the stage!'

"Then match my lead!"

'I'm counting on you to lead!'

"Stop being so damn dramatic!"

"■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛---!"

The monster trampled through the spear wall it had created and closed the distance to me. In a literal blink of an eye, it reached me and swung its golden axe in a horizontal arc.

I met it with my sword wreathed in wind and fire. The space behind me was scorched, but I used it as propulsion to match the battle axe.

The immense heat melted the ground that had been shattered by its charge, and our blades scraped past each other with a shower of sparks.

The blades, having cut through empty air, immediately reversed and clashed again. One blow, two blows, we exchanged high-speed strikes, but slowly, surely, I was being pushed back.

This thing, it really is adapting to my movements...!

Each time sword and axe collided, the resulting flames tore through the earth and the remains of the spectator seats. The bonfires had long since been extinguished; the only light sources were the blade I wielded and the chunks of molten rock scattered about.

There was no safe footing left. The ground was trampled by the monster, red-hot from the flames.

And through it ran a silver light. The being the monster had dismissed as insignificant, as a non-combatant, was rapidly approaching.

Arisugawa Aira slammed the muzzle of her gun into the monster's side. The spikes dug into its fur, steadying the barrel.

That alone wasn't enough to be a decisive blow. No matter how much her physical abilities had improved, this stage was too much for her.

But...

---KA-BOOM!!

The means by which man turns a beast into a monster. That is what a weapon is.

A roar echoed from the muzzle. Along with a gunshot that seemed impossible for a pistol to produce, fresh blood sprayed into the air.

"■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛---!?"

Letting out a cry that was both a scream and a sound of surprise, the Minotaur swung the pommel of its battle axe down at Aira-san, who was recoiling from the force.

You won't...!

I swung my sword and closed in, but the monster quickly pulled its axe back. The shaft blocked my blade, but I accelerated further. Red blood gushed from the hole in its white fur.

Aira-san leaped back and 'broke open' her gun.

An empty casing, large enough for two thumbs to fit inside, was ejected. She pulled the next round from her coat and screwed it into the breech of the barrel.

Single-shot. She'd sacrificed rate of fire for power.

"■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛---!!"

The Minotaur roared, flinging blood-mixed saliva from the corner of its mouth.

In an instant, a stone wall appeared, surrounding her. The monster, having forced a one-on-one duel again, brought its axe down from a high stance.

I dodged to the right, and the blade pursued me. I ignored the stone fragments that flew like shrapnel and focused only on the tip of the axe.

My armor deflected the stone fragments as I parried the battle axe and retreated further. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw holes being punched into the stone wall one after another, as I continued to engage.

I leaped to avoid a reverse diagonal axe swing, jumped over the monster, and reversed my body. I kicked off the air and swung my blade at its neck, but the Minotaur arched its massive body back to dodge.

A powerful leg, swung like an overhead kick, caught me in the side, sending me flying. My consciousness flickered from the intense pain, but I was jolted awake as my back slammed into the colosseum wall.

The Minotaur charged. I unleashed fire and wind from my blade and dodged to the side. Immediately after the monster's massive body disappeared into the stone wall with a roar, I thought I saw several lines run across the foundation of the spectator seats.

Immediately after, the structure exploded in unison. A massive cloud of dust flew up, and the white giant was sent flying.

"■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛---!!"

Amidst the falling debris, the Minotaur charged again. In response, I also charged.

The golden axe passed over my head. I slid under its feet, then used a combination of forward rolls and cartwheels to get back up, my feet scraping against the ground.

The Minotaur reversed direction and ran towards me. As I ran, I aimed my left hand at its face and fired a rapid succession of fireballs. Ignoring the attack, which was nothing more than a diversion, the monster closed the distance.

The golden axe swung down. To meet it, I did not raise my sword. Instead, I poured all the mana I had into my blade.

In that moment, a silver flash leaped in from the side, kicking the flat of the axe away. She danced, using the hilt as a stepping stone, and spun halfway around. As if presenting a bouquet of flowers, she thrust the muzzle of her gun into the monster's face and fired.

With a deafening roar, the Minotaur's right eye exploded. As a scream rained down on me, I slammed a slash, backed by my entire body weight, into the monster's left thigh.

It wasn't a clean cut, but I felt it tear deep into the flesh. I ran past and leaped in the opposite direction from Aira-san.

"■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛---!!"

Its right eye was gouged out, its throat was pierced, and blood flowed freely from its side and right knee.

But the white monster did not fall.

The wind pressure from its roar blew me back, and then it arched its back and looked at me.

In an instant, I twisted my body and started running. My destination: the silver-haired girl.

Finally, the Minotaur had recognized her as an 'enemy'...!

I attacked from the side, but I wouldn't make it in time. Aira-san dodged the swinging battle axe by a hair's breadth and struck the monster's lower jaw with the barrel of her gun.

But it had no effect. A merciless backhand was about to strike her side---the moment I saw that future.

Aira-san folded her long legs and dodged the fist.

Simultaneously, she ejected the spent casing, reloaded, and fired up into its jaw from below. The Minotaur tilted its head, and the bullet grazed its left horn.

Almost at the same time, I charged in, and the monster leaped back to avoid me.

"Protect me, Kyou-chan-kun!"

"As if you'd just let yourself be protected!"

I moved forward, keeping her at my back. I burned mana to accelerate and swung my sword in a horizontal arc. The axe met it and sent it flying.

Don't stop. Keep accelerating.

I leaped from side to side, showering it with slashes. The Minotaur, now on the defensive, skillfully parried the barrage with the blade and shaft of its axe. I couldn't break through its guard.

Then, a bullet flew in. Strangely, I knew when it would come, and I dodged to the side. But the monster also dodged the lead ball that passed through the space where I had just been.

I can't break through...! Despite all these wounds, its fighting spirit hasn't waned, and the mana circulating throughout its body is still surging.

On the other hand, I don't know how much longer Aira-san can move. She's in a state where she could start coughing up blood from the backlash at any moment.

"■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛---!!"

"You...!"

Another clash. With a creak, my blade made a strange sound.

At this rate...!

'Rest easy.'

A voice came from my earring.

'The cavalry has arrived.'

A deafening roar echoed from an unexpected direction.

From there, familiar presences poured in.

"Jump!"

"Got it!"

I leaped back at the sharp cry, and a giant shuriken flew past my side. The Minotaur tried to block it, but the labyrinth generated mana, attempting to create a wall in front of it.

But the wind wreathing the four blades absorbed it, turning into a storm.

"■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛---!!??"

The monster narrowly escaped to the side. A shadow fell over its head.

A pillar, even larger than the Minotaur. An elf, with red cloth wrapped around it, swung it with her entire body.

"Hah!!"

The stone pillar slammed into the monster's head and shattered. The legs covered in white fur wobbled slightly.

But just as its hooves steadied themselves, they were suddenly swallowed by a poisonous swamp.

"■゛■゛...!?"

Like a sponge soaking up water, a poisonous purple color invaded the white giant.

As the Minotaur let out a short cry of surprise, a spiked iron ball slammed into its stomach. The monster's body bent into a 'V' shape, but it grabbed the iron ball and crushed it.

Finally, a clear opening had been created. Into it leaped myself, and one other.

"Shall we make it a trio?"

"That's the part I'm talking about!"

See? She won't just let herself be protected.

As we ran alongside the silver figure, our allies prepared to deliver follow-up attacks. To scatter us all, the Minotaur, blood gushing from its throat, slammed its axe into the ground.

In that instant, our footing collapsed. The entire area was covered in a cloud of dust, and the ground we should have been treading on cracked and tilted.

But we could still run. Using the wind as a foothold, she and I sprinted.

I'm sure Aira-san could also see the world shown by my [Spirit Eye].

A horizontal blade tore through the dust cloud. I thrust my left hand out towards the golden axe that resembled solidified lightning.

Normally, blocking with one arm, let alone a fist, would be the height of recklessness. But though the arm was one, the counter was twofold.

---KA-BOOM!!

The iron fist and the bullet collided with the blade and won. Immediately after, my own blade, which I had swung, lightly cut the Minotaur's stomach. She, who had placed both hands on my back, used both her feet to kick that wound.

"■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛---!!?"

The Minotaur stumbled, letting out a scream. Aira-san threw me over its head.

In an instant, I reached a height of about twenty meters, reversed my body, stomped on the air, and looked down at the earth.

Our gazes met for a moment—mine, and the monster's, whose blue eyes shone without whites—and then I kicked off the wind I had used as a foothold.

"■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛■゛...!!"

Realizing it couldn't block with its axe in time, the Minotaur thrust its sharp golden horns upward. But, ah, did you notice?

That horn is the very spot her bullet grazed, the spot its grandmother had struck.

"BREAK, YOU BASTARD!"

My blade, spinning with centrifugal force, and the bull's horn, thrust upward like lightning ascending to the heavens.

The stalemate lasted for several seconds. Wind and fire scorched my blade and burned my right shoulder, but I pushed forward.

---Crack.

With a surprisingly light sound.

"------"

The Minotaur's horn snapped, and the red-hot blade bit into its neck.

The blade sank deep, to about its chest. It cut through the thick armor of muscle and bone, and reached its heart.

The blade, filled with mana to its limit, finally broke, snapping in half. At the same time, the tip, which remained in the monster's body, exploded.

A storm and scorching flames erupted, and my body was sent flying.

I no longer had the energy to right myself instantly. Still, I landed on one knee and raised my face.

A cloud of dust billowed up. The scene was exactly like when I had pierced its neck but failed to finish it off.

Eventually, the white giant's form appeared.

Its left shoulder was gone, and its chest was gouged out. Its half-severed left arm hung limply.

But its hooved feet stepped forward.

Watching it, I too stood up.

But there was no need to counter. I just didn't like the idea of seeing it off while lying on the ground.

The wound on its left knee widened, and the monster's leg was left stuck in the ground.

The blue glow vanished from its eyes, and the one-legged, blood-soaked giant fell to its knees.

Still, it raised the battle axe in its right hand... and then everything turned to salt and crumbled.

Clatter. The lightning axe fell to the ground. It too turned white and scattered in the same way.

The slowly collapsing monster's eyes glared at me until the very end, and then they were gone.

All that remained was a small mountain of salt of the same mass. Seeing this, I quietly exhaled.

There was no doubt that it intended to fight until the moment of its death... and even after.

Honestly... why are all the monsters I fight such 'warriors'?

I wanted to offer a silent prayer, but I didn't have the luxury. I confirmed that my right shoulder, which had been dislocated by the impact, had healed, and turned to face Aira-san.

"You pulled a pretty damn reckless stunt..."

"Hey, now, you have no right to be angry. If I hadn't made that choice, we both would have died."

"Senpai... that outfit, could it be..."

Erina-san asked, supporting the right-armless and right-legless Byakuren with Ooyama-san.

As the Professor and Mia-san watched with bated breath, Aira-san shrugged.

"Don't look so worried. As it turns out, fusing with a spirit isn't such a big—"

Her words were cut off unnaturally.

In that moment, her body twitched. It wasn't from an external cause; it was clearly a reaction as if she'd been knocked on from the inside. I couldn't tell because of the visor, but her mouth was wide open, exhaling silent air.

She was clearly not in a normal state. We all rushed to her side.

"Aira-san!"

"Senpai!"

"Nee-san!"

"Aira!!"

Surrounded by me and her family, just before our hands could reach her.

"GIEPĪ!!??"

She collapsed with some kind of incomprehensible scream.

Immediately after, Aira-san's strange outfit, which wasn't her [Arcane Gear], reverted to a shirt and jeans.

Her large eyes rolled back into her head, and she was foaming at the mouth. The birdcage with the spirit in it was perched on her back.

...Uh, sorry. My brain can't quite keep up.

"..."

The Professor, having removed the birdcage, picked up Aira-san and quickly examined her.

"...Hmph."

"Professor, what is this!"

"She has muscle tears and hairline fractures all over her body. Her life is not in immediate danger. Kyouta-kun. What about this child's mana?"

"...It's normal. The flow is a little stagnant, but she'll probably just have a severe headache and nausea."

...Somehow, although she was seriously injured, it was lighter than I expected.

In the midst of my fears that she might die, I was bewildered by this outcome and picked up the birdcage.

The spirit, which was staring intently at me, seemed to have consumed a great deal of mana.

"Don't tell me... you took the brunt of the damage for her?"

---Nod.

As the spirit gave a small nod, I offered it my fingertip. As it began to absorb mana, I bowed my head slightly.

"Thank you. Truly."

"I don't really get it, but it looks like senpai is okay! Check!"

"No, she's still seriously injured..."

Erina-san nodded emphatically, her arms crossed under her chest, while Mia-san looked at Aira-san with concern.

"Is this case closed... I wonder."

"We still don't know how to get out, though."

I turned at the sound of Busujima-san and Ooyama-san's voices, but quickly turned my face back.

"Um, Busujima-san."

"Yes, what is it? Are you okay too, Yagawa-kun? It looked like you and Arisugawa-san were fighting together until we arrived..."

"Somehow, I'm okay. My injuries have already healed."

"That's good. The dungeon paths stopped changing partway through, and we were able to proceed straight. It's because you two drew the boss monster's attention to yourselves."

"...Sorry. First, um, your clothes."

"...Ah."

She was an exhibitionist. She looked exactly like an exhibitionist.

Her small breasts seemed ready to spill out of the black fabric. Her stomach was dazzlingly white and slender, and the area around her crotch was so low-rise that her maidenly secrets were in danger of being revealed.

I sensed the dismissal of her [Arcane Gear] through the flow of mana and turned my gaze back to them.

Busujima-san's face was red up to her ears, and she was trembling slightly with teary eyes. All I could say was, tough luck.

"Putting aside the pervert over there."

"Shizuku-san!?"

"Yagawa. You know a way out or something? Also, I broke Byakuren again. Sorry."

"Don't worry about the golem. That's what it's for. As for a way out..."

I approached the mountain of salt and picked up the drop item.

It was a crystal orb with numerous fine lines etched into it, reminiscent of a ball of thread. This seemed to be the Minotaur's drop item.

If her prediction was correct, this was the key to our escape. With that in mind, I started walking towards Aira-san, and just then, she woke up, thanks to a magic potion dripped from a thermos.

"Hah! I am the super beauty, Aira-chan! Where is this!"

"You seem lively. Could you appraise this for me right away?"

"Oh, Kyou-chan-kun. I don't really get it, but sure... 'Operation of a specific dungeon?' What is this... I remember!"

I see. So this was the rescue measure for the people who worked here.

I tried pouring mana into it while imagining a gate. As I did, mana ran through the entire dungeon.

It was honestly a disgusting feeling. Like my nerves were being forcibly stretched.

A corner of the collapsed colosseum. A relatively undamaged wall suddenly opened, revealing an exit gate.

"...It seems we'll be able to return safely."

"Wait! If we go back now, that item will be confiscated, and the dungeon will be placed under the management of the SDF! Before that, we're collecting all the research material we can find!"

"Do you think you can do that without an application or permission to investigate? We're going back so you can get proper treatment."

"How cruel, Baba-sama!? We'll never get a chance like this again!?"

"I'd rather not have a second time..."

"Mia, you too!?"

"I have a rubber boat in my [Item Box], so we'll be fine even if we end up on the ocean."

"With Erina-san, you can teleport us all, can't you!"

"We can finally go home..."

"The high school girls are already in 'going home' mode!?"

"Aira-san."

"Kyou-chan-kun! You understand, don't you! Right?!"

"We're going home."

I grabbed Aira-san's arm, and the Professor and I restrained her from either side as we started walking.

"NUOOOOOOOOO! LET! ME! GO! Sana-kun! Fuse with me again! Give me power! The power to shake off these two gorillas!!"

"Who are you calling a gorilla?"

"You'll be getting a lecture later, so be prepared."

"THIIIIIS IS SOOOOO UNFAIIIIIIIIIR!!"

And so, our overly eventful summer trip came to an end.

To think the day would come when I'd be relieved that Aira-san was back to her usual disappointing self. You never know what life will throw at you.

We passed through the gate and stood on a ridiculously large rubber boat.

I looked up at the dazzling sun.

"It's not over! It's not over yet! My researcher's spirit is burning red-hot!!"

"Shut up. Seriously."

What an anticlimax, honestly.