kscans

Chapter 77 - The Devil

"Where… am I…?"

My head was fuzzy as I looked around.

The room was in ruins, but it had once been a classroom. Piles of rubble lay on either side of me.

A group of men and women were clustered near the doorway, staring at me. I spotted a familiar face among them, and the situation finally came rushing back.

"Right, the demon…!"

A sudden roar made me drop into a crouch.

…That wasn’t close. Outside? It sounded like heavy metal being slammed onto the ground…

"Kyo-chan!"

"Huh?"

Busujima-san’s sudden use of the nickname made me blink in confusion.

Her eyes widened for a second before she gave a small cough.

"Yagawa-san! Erina-san is fighting outside. That monster that fired the giant beam is still floating there, but we don’t know when it’ll move again."

"R-Right, I see. And… who are they?"

These strangers were looking at me with an unnerving amount of expectation.

"They’re the ones who helped clear the rubble that was on top of you."

"Oh… uh, thank you?"

My head was still a bit foggy as I thanked them and stepped out into the hallway.

This is bad. I need to get my head on straight.

I shook my head from side to side, trying to clear my thoughts. I reached for my ear, but the earring was broken. I had no way to contact Aira-san.

"…Do you know where my parents are?"

"They’re still inside the school building."

"…Understood."

I took a deep breath. The dust still swirling in the air was irritating, but I tightened my grip on my sword.

"I’ll engage the monsters. All of you, get somewhere safe."

"Y-You’ll fight for us…?"

I nodded at the unfamiliar male student who had asked.

"Yes. And again, thank you for clearing the rubble."

I had no memory of it, but if Busujima-san said it happened, it must be true.

"No, it’s fine. Good luck…!"

"Please, save us!"

"Win for us!"

"We believe in your potential…!"

I was a little bewildered by the chorus of words, not sure if they were cheers or pleas.

But there was no time to dwell on it. Feeling a little lighter on my feet, I stepped onto the frame of a shattered window.

"Well then… I’m off."

"Yes. Be careful."

"Go get ‘em."

I felt a little embarrassed as they sent me off.

I launched myself outside.

Kicking off the wind to accelerate, I surveyed the area.

The large demon seemed to be absorbing something from the lesser demons, but it would have to wait.

My partner was fighting on the school grounds.

"Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat…!"

The self-proclaimed ninja darted across the field with a strange battle cry.

She gracefully dodged the attacks of the ‘husks,’ which swung their claws at her, ignoring her invisibility as if they were tracking her with some other sense.

She slid between the legs of one that swiped at her, then spun to slice its calf.

She dodged an outstretched arm by springing up like a wind-up toy, then placed a hand on its elbow and cartwheeled over it, lopping off the goat-like head as she went.

Her movements were like a leaf dancing in the wind. She truly lived up to her title of ninja.

Still, she was outnumbered. The ‘husks’ were closing in to crush her.

───VWOOOOOM!!

A flail came crashing down, pulverizing them all at once.

Byakuren was swinging its chain, the spiked iron ball at the end sweeping through the monsters. The way it scattered its foes with storm-like fury was the complete opposite of Erina-san’s style.

But that was precisely why it was able to hold back such a massive horde. The problem was the golem’s fuel consumption. It wouldn’t last long like this.

I dove down, landing right beside her and simultaneously slicing a ‘husk’ in two from top to bottom.

"Kyo-chan!"

"Get down!"

"Okay!!"

Without a moment’s hesitation, my partner dropped to the ground, and my blade passed over her head.

The sword whistled through the air, ignited, and, accompanied by wind, became a raging storm.

Bracelet of the Flame Horse.

Mana Conversion: Wind.

A wild dance of raging flames. The output was so high my arm was nearly torn away, but I forced it under control, holding my ground as I swept through the monsters.

One flash, two, three. With every dance of the flames, the leather-skinned husks were incinerated and blown away by the gale.

In a matter of seconds, the ‘husks’ that had been swarming the field were reduced to ash, which turned to salt a moment later.

"Phew…"

I extinguished the flames on my blade and turned to my partner, who was getting back to her feet.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. What’s the situation?"

"Heh, you didn’t keep me waiting at all! So, umm…"

Suddenly, Erina-san grabbed my head with both hands and pulled my face toward hers.

Startled, I bent at the waist without resisting. Our foreheads touched, separated only by my helmet.

"Whoa, you’re close…!"

‘That virgin-like voice, is that you, Kyo-chan-kun?!’

"What kind of voice is that, you good-for-nothing college student?"

‘Oh, good, you’re safe…!’

"See? I told you so, Paisen. I said Kyo-chan would be up in no time."

I could hear Aira-san’s voice coming from her earring. So that’s why she did this, to let me hear the Telepathy.

That aside, she was too close. Her beautiful face filled my vision, and a pleasant scent filled my nostrils.

This is bad. We’re in the middle of a battle and my head is going haywire.

"Paisen, situation report, please!"

‘Very well. JSDF, advance unit wiped. Rescue, delayed. Enemy, power-charging. Probably finish soon.’

"Understood, but why are you speaking in clipped sentences…?"

‘I was merely simplifying it so even you simpletons could understand, but?’

"You’re gonna get it later…"

I understood her desire to call us idiots, but we had our reasons for not being able to retreat.

There was no time to argue, so I pulled my head back. As I did, Erina-san touched my ear.

For just a moment, her fingertips brushed against my earlobe, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Here, a spare earring! Now you can talk to Paisen!"

‘Hiii, Kyo-chan-kun. It’s Aira-san, your ear’s one true love.’

"…Right."

I had a lot to say, but no time to say it.

"I’m going to attack the demon now. Support me if you can."

"I’ll try if I get the chance!"

‘That’s your way of saying you won’t, Erina-kun.’

"Is it?!"

With the comedy routine of the two useless beauties behind me, I replenished Byakuren’s mana. As I poured it in, I felt someone else’s magic.

It seemed Erina-san and the others had been supplying it with mana to prolong the fight. That explained why it was still moving.

I’d need it to hang in there a little longer.

"Okay, see you later."

"Yeah, see you later."

After a quick glance at Erina-san, I broke into a run.

I kicked off the ground, leaped into the air, and then kicked off the wind to soar through the sky. In an instant, I was higher than the school building, just as the demon seemed to have finished its ‘meal’.

It tossed aside the last lesser demon and began to gather mana in its mouth.

Less than ten seconds until it fired.

No.

I had a whole ten seconds.

"Hrrraaaaaaaah…!!"

My acceleration was different from before. Without any hesitation, I charged straight at it.

Just before the beam of light was unleashed, the demon’s neck came into range. The instant the tip of my blade would have slit its throat, the monster arched its body back with incredible speed.

It bent into something like a bridge in mid-air, then immediately followed up with a somersault kick. I dodged the kick aimed at my chin, only for its other foot to lash out in a roundhouse.

This thing can fight up close, too?!

Its sharp claws grazed my helmet, sending sparks flying. It followed with an upward diagonal slash from its scythe.

I parried it with my sword and tried to counter, but the demon ducked to evade and charged in with a shoulder tackle.

I blocked with my left gauntlet and retreated. The demon closed the distance I’d created by flapping its wings.

I blocked its downward scythe swing with my sword and noticed something was off.

It was heavy. To be on par with Lefkos, its every ability was far too high.

Sparks flew as our blades clashed, and it was my sword that was knocked away. I jumped to evade the sweeping tail that came next, like a spinning kick, and brought my sword down from high above.

It backed away to dodge but showed no sign of creating too much distance. It knew that if it tried to fire its mana cannon, I’d take its head for sure this time.

It’s strong…! Why are all these monsters such masters of combat?!

‘Kyo-chan-kun! It’s likely diverting the resources for its mana cannon to physical enhancement! It won’t last long!’

"That’s easy for you to say…!"

The demon pointed its left hand at me, and my foresight activated. I dispelled my foothold of wind and dodged diagonally downward, just as a heat ray shot through the space I’d just occupied.

This was on a different level from the fireballs the lesser demons used. A direct hit would be far worse than a simple burn.

I kicked off the wind again, changing direction and closing the distance in an arc. I slashed diagonally, using my momentum, but it was deflected by the scythe.

"Tch!"

I threw a knife as I spun, but it was knocked aside by a whip-like reptilian tail.

Scales shattered the blade, and the tip of the tail wrapped around my left leg. I raised my sword to sever it, but before I could, I was yanked sideways with sudden acceleration. My body was swung around against my will.

After one full rotation, I was flung toward the fourth floor of the school building. I crashed through a window and slammed into the hallway, but I immediately got to one knee.

‘■■■■!’

"You!"

The demon’s massive body charged in right after me. It smashed not just the window but the wall itself to tackle me.

The hilt of my sword was pushed back as our blades met, and my back slammed into a wall. I felt my lungs compress as I was blasted through it into a classroom, a cracking sound echoing around me.

We scattered desks that belonged to who-knows-who, ending up in the center of the room. Our weapons were knocked aside, and in the next moment, we were clashing again.

I deflected a diagonal scythe swing with a horizontal slash and threw a punch, but it was knocked away by the shaft. I followed with a spinning slash, but it was blocked by its elbow, and I had to use footwork to evade a heel stomp aimed at crushing my toes.

I sidestepped to aim for its neck, but its massive body ducked, and I hit nothing but air. I too had to leap to avoid a low slash. From above, I used the wind to accelerate. I spun parallel to the floor, swinging my sword, but it was blocked by the scythe’s shaft.

I slid my blade along the shaft to aim for its fingers, but my opponent spun its weapon like a baton. My sword was sent flying, and a tail whip slammed into my side.

I can see the future, but I can’t react in time!

"Gah…!"

‘■■■■■───ッ!!’

I let out a cry of pain as I was slammed into the blackboard, and the demon pressed its attack.

As I fell to the floor under gravity’s pull, I kicked the teacher’s podium at it as a distraction. The monster charged through, shattering the wooden podium with ease, but its aim was thrown off just slightly. The scythe passed over my head as I ducked low.

I swung my sword in a counterattack, but the blade was deftly deflected with the butt of the scythe’s shaft. Immediately after, its roundhouse kick smashed into my side.

Even through my breastplate, the impact was immense. Crack! The armor fractured, and I was sent flying like a soccer ball.

My back crashed through the wall, and I was thrown out into the open air. I dodged upward to avoid the pursuing demon’s scythe and brought my sword down on its head.

But…

‘■■■ッ!!’

"Tch!"

Its horns deflected my blade, and a heat ray from its left arm scorched my left ankle.

It wasn't severed, but the intense pain disrupted my control of the wind. At this rate, I was going to fall.

"You bastard!"

Before I could, I grabbed the demon’s right wing and hacked it off with my sword.

A scream erupted from the monster’s mouth as it headbutted me in the chest.

My body shot upward as if I’d been hit by a truck. Through my spinning vision, I saw the demon hook its scythe onto the side of the building.

In the next instant, it pulled itself up and delivered a body blow to my stomach. The repeated impacts completely shattered my breastplate, and I was slammed onto the rooftop.

I broke through the fence, my body bouncing several times across the concrete floor before finally coming to a stop as my back hit the steel frame supporting a water tank.

The rain had gotten heavier, turning the rooftop into a giant puddle. And into that puddle, the monster leaped up.

I staggered to my feet, but my helmet fell off with a clatter. It looked like it had taken a beating, not just my breastplate.

The cloth that had tied my hair back seemed to have come undone as well, and a piece of white fabric fluttered to the ground.

My now-free hair danced in the wind as I faced the demon.

Our eyes met for only a second. In the next instant, we were both kicking up water and charging forward.

The scythe and the hand-and-a-half sword collided, letting out a high-pitched shriek. Despite the rain, the blades threw off hot sparks as they clashed, each seeking to reap a life.

We exchanged one blow, then two, our positions shifting with each strike.

Gradually, I was forced onto the defensive. I gripped the blade with my left hand, adopting a half-sword stance to withstand the flurry of circular attacks from the scythe.

Every time I blocked a slash, a sharp pain shot through my shoulders and palm, but it seemed my opponent was just as pressed.

Its breathing was ragged. Its body was so hot from forcibly circulating mana that the rain evaporated on contact, and black smoke rose from the corner of its mouth.

Aira-san was right; it couldn’t fight for long. But the same was true for me.

───Ping.

I felt a strange sound through my palm. If I kept blocking like this, my sword would surely break. Then it would be over.

Growing impatient, the demon raised its scythe for an overhead strike. My chance!

I switched from defense to offense, stepping forward. I met the descending blade with my own held at an angle, letting it slide along the curve.

Not aiming for its fingers──I thrust the tip of my sword toward the demon’s eye.

I was holding the blade in a reverse grip with my left hand. The power was sufficient. The monster’s eyes widened at the approaching point, and…

‘■■■■■ッッ!!’

It roared, meeting my blade with its horn.

"Tch…!"

A hard impact. I broke its left horn, but the tip of my sword was deflected just slightly, grazing its temple.

My foresight triggered. I instinctively threw myself to the left, but it was too late. A kick slammed into my side, and just as I lost my balance, its tail whipped around and struck me.

"Gah…!?"

I tumbled across the rooftop, scraping the concrete, and the sword flew from my right hand. It clattered and skidded across the rain-slicked floor.

This is bad…!

A scooping slash came for me in a follow-up attack. At the last second, I managed to block it with my left gauntlet, but my body was launched into the air.

An impact. A half-second later, I realized I had slammed back-first into the water tank.

Drenched in a torrent of water, I fell toward the floor, the demon swinging its scythe to finish me before I even landed.

I desperately tried to block it again with my gauntlet──and in that split second,

A grappling hook wrapped around the shaft of the scythe.

The swing slowed for an instant, and both our eyes widened. What happened next was determined by the difference between knowing who did this and not knowing.

The monster instinctively glanced toward the owner of the rope, while I, without a moment’s hesitation, slammed my fist into its face.

The scythe flew from its grasp, and the massive red and black body was sent flying.

The demon used its tail to scrape the rooftop and regain its footing. Sparing it a glance, I ran for my weapon.

‘■■■■■ッ!!’

Heat rays fired continuously from both its hands. If I dodged, I’d lose my chance to get my sword. So, I just kept running.

Because I knew a shadow would step between me and my opponent.

Chains knocked away the approaching magical flames. Byakuren took the brunt of what couldn’t be intercepted with its armor.

The impact forced it to one knee, but it had done its job. The hand-and-a-half sword was back in my hand, and I fell into a ready stance.

I looked back at the demon to see it was already charging, its claws glowing with intense heat as it raised them to tear me apart.

Can I intercept it in time?!

"Senju Ban’on."

A voice echoed.

In the corner of my vision, a girl stood beside the rooftop door.

The ribbon holding her ponytail vanished, and her long black hair fanned out. Her drab jersey transformed into a provocative outfit.

A black, halter-top swimsuit with an absurdly small amount of fabric covered her modest chest, while the bottom was a piece of cloth that was somehow both a high-cut and low-rise. The hip cloth started from her side and was faintly translucent.

With the golden ornaments on her limbs, the outfit looked like a dancer’s costume made even more risqué. But the magic she unleashed was a swamp of deadly poison that could bring even a monster to its knees.

"Suiten Dokko!"

The characters on the knife she held aloft glowed, and the rainwater around the demon transformed.

The surface of the toxic lake roiled with mottled black and purple. From it, countless hands stretched out and grabbed the demon’s body.

The difference in raw power allowed it to easily shake off the arms. But there were nearly a thousand of them, and poison corroded it wherever they touched.

Slightly, just ever so slightly, the demon’s movements slowed.

That one moment was more precious than gold. Before I could even think, I shattered the floor beneath me and charged, the splashing water at my back.

Busujima-san, collapsing from mana exhaustion, stared wide-eyed at my actions. She must have thought jumping into a pool of poison was suicide.

But I told her before.

Your magic cannot kill me.

I stepped into the deadly poison that corroded even the demon’s flesh and raised my sword. From the other side, a giant shuriken was launched.

‘■■■■■■───ッ!!’

The demon stretched out its arms to the sides. The mana that formed in its palms created a barrier, one sturdy enough to stop even a tank shell, and it met our blades.

Even a blade accelerated by wind could not shatter this wall. The demon had undoubtedly poured its last dregs of mana into this defense. If it could just withstand this, it would surely come for my head in a final, suicidal counterattack.

But.

Concept Interference.

It’s time to──end this.

"Oooooohhhhh!"

Warp. The two blades enveloped the barrier. The speed of the slashes, of the rotation, increased, and their destructive power rose to a level sufficient to finish the monster before me.

Two trajectories passed through the demon’s body.

The monster’s left arm and head flew into the air. The shuriken that had severed its arm crashed through the fence and flew all the way to the schoolyard, while I, unable to handle the momentum of my swing, collapsed to my knees.

Still, in the corner of my vision, I saw it clearly.

The headless body of the demon turning the color of salt.

"…Haaaaaaah."

I let out a huge sigh and fell onto my back. I was beyond exhausted. I had almost died again.

The wet floor felt disgusting against the back of my head and my back, but I didn't have the energy to care. My physical wounds and exhaustion were healing, but my spirit was on the verge of depletion.

"Kyo-chan!"

"Yagawa-san!"

At the sound of Erina-san and Busujima-san’s voices, I sluggishly raised my gaze.

And then I burst out laughing and shot upright.

"Whaaa?!"

From down here, I had a direct view of how their outfits were… riding up. And on top of that, one of them was a complete exhibitionist.

What was with Busujima-san’s outfit? Her top half was revealing enough that her small breasts looked like they could spill out at any moment, but her bottom half was insane.

It was an extreme high-cut, yet the fabric was as low as a low-rise. I didn't even know how to describe it. In any case, if she moved the wrong way, her maidenly secrets would be on full display.

"What are you doing, Busujima-san?!"

"That’s my line!"

"What?!"

Was there something I did to deserve a lecture from this exhibitionist?!

"Jumping into a poison swamp, are you insane?! Is there anything wrong with your body?! I’m out of mana, I can’t detoxify you! We need to get you to a hospital…!"

"Oh, I’m fine. Poison doesn’t really work on me."

"What kind of creature are you?!"

"Well, it’s just a skill… and I think I told you that before."

My eyes kept drifting to her small chest, where the tips were just barely out of sight, her cinched waist and pretty navel, her slightly visible ribs, the dangerously exposed lines of her groin, and her fully displayed beautiful legs, making it impossible to form a coherent thought.

Was this outfit designed specifically for visual distraction? What is this human-battle-specialized Arcane Gear?

"A-Anyway, cover yourself up! All of it!"

"Huh? …Hoaaaaah?!"

She finally seemed to notice her own attire. Busujima-san let out a strange shriek and wrapped her arms around her body.

Well, I could still see plenty. Did she think she was safe as long as her nipples and crotch were covered?

"N-No, this is a misunderstanding! I used my magic at full power, and my Arcane Gear just…!"

"I-I get the situation, just calm down…"

"Don’t look at me before you say that!!"

"I’m sorry!"

I hastily twisted my neck in the opposite direction, and there was Erina-san.

Since I was sitting down, her well-toned thighs were right at eye level…

"You two! Being too energetic is a problem too! Let’s try to maintain a more serious atmosphere!!"

Wait, you’re the one saying that?

Looking up, her huge breasts obscured her face, but I was sure she was making a smug face. A smug face that was almost as loud as her beautiful features. I said it twice because it was important. Or, thought it?

Seriously though, her boobs are huge…

"Hey, you over there. The idiot, the exhibitionist, and the virgin."

"I’m not an exhibitionist!!"

"I’m not an idiot!!"

"………"

Unable to deny it, I turned my gaze to the rooftop entrance, where Ooyama-san was looking at us with an exasperated expression.

"There are a bunch of what look like JSDF vehicles heading this way, so you should do something about your outfits. Especially you, exhibitionist."

"I told you, I’m not an exhibitionist, it’s just that when I noticed…!"

"Just cancel your Arcane Gear."

"Oh…"

Poof. Busujima-san’s outfit reverted to her jersey jacket and gym clothes.

She covered her face with her hands, red all the way to her ears. Well, whatever the case, thank you for the view.

I guess I should stand up too… and then I hunched over.

It can’t be helped after such a fierce battle. This is the devil’s handiwork. My whole body aches because of him, so I’m just leaning forward a little.

It’s all the devil’s fault. Various religions say so too.

"Byakuren, you did well…"

I replenished the mana of the golem, which had collapsed from exhaustion, and reactivated it. As Byakuren stood up, I could see numerous scratches and dents on its brand-new armor.

Well, I guess I had to accept it. It was a small price to pay for my life.

"Kyo-chan! I got the drop items! Let’s bounce!"

"I don’t think we can hide, given the circumstances."

In fact, if we bailed now, it would definitely cause trouble later.

"It’s about the feeling! Don’t forget your ninja spirit, that’s a no-no!"

"I’m not a ninja."

"And Kyo-chan, your disguise! Cancel your Arcane Gear!"

"Huh? …No way."

If I canceled my Arcane Gear, I’d still be in my cross-dressing outfit. No way was I going to be rescued by the JSDF in a maid uniform.

"But we already canceled our Arcane Gear. If you’re the only one still in it, won’t you stand out?"

"Yeah, you’ll stand out in a bad way!"

"I had to endure embarrassment too, so…"

"That last one was just a personal grudge."

Being cornered by three girls wasn’t making me happy at all.

I used Byakuren as a shield and slowly backed away.

"Alright. I’ll cancel my Arcane Gear after I find a change of clothes…!"

"We don’t have time for that. Just suck it up. Okay?"

"No. I don’t want to give up."

"It’s okay, it looked really good on you!"

"That doesn’t make me happy."

"What’s the problem? You have a bigger chest than me, after all…"

"Just so you know, it’s padding, okay?"

Well, in terms of chest muscles, my circumference might actually be larger than hers.

Just as Erina-san stored Byakuren in her Item Box, I made a break for it. First, I needed to find my parents. As soon as I confirmed their safety, I’d escape…!

‘Oh, Kyo-chan-kun. I just confirmed over the phone, but it seems the JSDF has rescued your parents. That’s great! Also, some other JSDF members are heading to the rooftop right now ♪’

"You set me up, you good-for-nothing college student!!"

‘Oh, come now. I just told your parents where you were, that’s all.’

Damn it! I can just imagine her smirking face through the Telepathy!!

"Damn youuuuuu! Daaaaamn youuuuuuuuuu!!"

At some point, the rain had stopped, and I screamed at the pointlessly clear sky.

That day, I felt like I had lost something precious.