##########-Shizuku-##########
We were here once again...
As expected there are mixed thoughts about this place...
Kaori [...Wait for me Nagumo-kun...]
Kaori whispered to herself, she's probably hoping for her feelings to reach Nagumo-kun... As improbable as that is...
On the other side...
Kouki [...]
Shizuku [...Kouki?...]
Kouki [...? Shizuku, did something happen?]
Shizuku [No, I mean, that's what I want to ask]
Kouki has been weird recently.
It's not just being gloomy.
He's been acting different for a while now but... It's getting worse.
He's thinking about something... That's not it, he's completely trapped in his thoughts but doesn't even want to admit it.
The fact that he tried to look normal when someone talked to him make it even more clear.
I hope nothing bad happens...
##########-Yuuki-##########
Yuuki [I think I can see... Yep, it's definitely Horaud]
It'll probably take us... 5~6 hours to get there.
Yukitoshi [Who?]
Yuuki [Horaud, the town where the Orcus labyrinth is located]
Yukitoshi [Doesn't ring a bell]
Yuuki [You were there before]
Yukitoshi [Was I now?]
I see, no interest...
...Hm?
Yuuki [...Yukitoshi-kun?]
Yukitoshi [What is it retard?]
Yuuki [What are you doing?]
When I looked at him, he was... Playing with his fingers?
With the other hand he was playing with tiny pebbles, flipping them like coins.
He was doing it while walking so it was quite impressive.
Yukitoshi [Nothing really]
He was really into it though...
Yuuki [I see... Then changing the subject]
We have a few hours until we reach the town so we have a bit of time.
Yuuki [About your sword... have you thought about giving her a name yourself?]
Yukitoshi [...A name... It already has one though?]
Yuuki [About that, It's like the difference between a "True" name and a nickname...]
Yukitoshi [...]
Yuuki [...Or something like that?]
Yukitoshi [...]
Yuuki [Giving her one will strengthen your bond...]
Yukitoshi [...]
Yuuki [...Or something?]
Yukitoshi [...]
There is no reaction... I feel confidence leaving me with every word...
Please come back... I need you.
Yukitoshi [...As "sure" as you sound about that, can you give a reliable source?]
Yuuki [Teiko told me]
Yukitoshi ["Teiko"?... Right, your sword... It does have two names indeed...]
Yuuki [I named her Teiko based on her true name
Yukitoshi [I guess I don't need to break my head then... Let's see, the true name is
Yuuki [Here]
Yukitoshi [...Yep, not bad...]
Yukitoshi then showed the paper to me.
"
Yuuki ["Himei"?... Does it mean something?]
Yukitoshi [It's written on the side]
Yuuki [...I can't read that though?]
Yukitoshi [*Tch* useless...]
He clicked his tongue.
Yuuki [Sorry?]
Teiko [(Just what does he expects from my little sister to name her like that?)]
Oh? Teiko reacted to the name... Negatively that is...
...?
Yuuki [(Teiko, do you understand what's written?)]
Teiko [(I do, but I can't say I like it)]
Yukitoshi [It means "cry" or "scream" relating to pain, fear, sadness or negative emotions in general... It can also mean the same with happiness etc... That's not what I mean though...]
It is quite the doubtful choice for a name indeed.
Teiko [(...Eh?... Are you serious?... But why?)]
?
I wonder if something is wrong?
Teiko [(She says she like it)]
Really?
Well, it IS a cool name so I can't say I don't get it...
Yukitoshi [Now it's my turn to ask]
Yuuki [Oh! bring it on then]
Yukitoshi [Why are we walking?]
...
Yukitoshi [...]
Yuuki [Well, we need to walk to move from one place to another]
Yukitoshi [That's not what I meant, WHY AREN'T WE USING THE HORSE TO MOVE?]
Oooooh, that...
Yuuki [Well, about that, Kirin is in a bit of a bad mood right now... I wonder why?]
Teiko [(It's because you didn't call for her when you fought against Miledi Reisen)]
I see, it was that...
I'm sorry for making you feel lonely, I love you...
Wait, she's not here right now so she can't hear...
Yukitoshi [Stupid horse with mood swings...]
I would love to get there as fast as possible but we probably will get there in time... I hope...
Right now, Amanogawa Kouki and his party should be exploring Orcus.
Did they already made contact with the demon race?
~~~~~
I hate not to know what's going on right now~...
I'll send Tsuki-chan first to gather information...
Also, we'll probably meet HIM...
Yuuki [I wonder if Hajime-san is already there...]
Yukitoshi [...Oi, retard...]
Hm? Yukitoshi-kun stopped and looked at me, strangely right at the eyes. The pebbles he was playing with fell to the ground.
That's weird, normally he doesn't look at you when he talks... Or listens.
Yukitoshi [What did you say just now?]
Yuuki [...Eh-?]
...Ah...
Right, I didn't tell him Hajime was going to be there...
Is this maybe bad?
Yukitoshi [Bring the horse out]
He was not asking.
Yuuki [Even if I do, she won't listen]
He slowly reached to me with his hand, grabbed my collar and then violently pushed me against a tree.
Yukitoshi [Then find a way to get us there faster]
His hand grabbing my collar was trembling, not from anger, or at least not completely, his lips twisted into a ear to ear grin.
As if he was looking forward to something.
Yukitoshi [Those wings you pulled out in the labyrinth, can you use them to move around?]
Yuuki [I can but speed is not her strong point]
Compared to Miledi-san's labyrinth where using magic was harder she would certainly move faster but...
Yukitoshi [It doesn't matter, just do it]
I called for Yozusume.
Unlike Kirin, there was no trace of reluctance from her.
##########-Shizuku-##########
On a very familiar bridge lies a monster that until recently was close to a trauma for many of us.
We had prepared for this, mentally, physically, this won't go the same way as before...
...Still, for a second, no one made a move...
Some of us probably needed a second to prepare.
I sighed, one deep breath and move-.
Shizuku [...Eh?...]
A shadow moved past me, silently but far from subtle.
Golden armor over white clothes and a cape that honestly I couldn't like.
Kouki threw himself against the "Behemoth".
Meld [!? Follow Kouki!]
Confused but taking advantage of Kouki's established role, Meld-san charged and impulsed everyone else to do so.
I was already following after Kouki when everyone else started moving.
Kouki's sword hit the Behemoth's skin, the damage was almost non-existent.
Kouki [Haaaaaaa-!]
Still he didn't gave up.
He slipped through the Behemoth's attacks by a single hair.
I am not praising him, he almost got crushed like three times already.
If he's out of combat, does he know what that will do to everyone's moral?
I followed with an attack myself but I wasn't hitting blindly, I wanted to get it's attention.
We, as a group, had already come to an strategy to defeat the monster.
At first everyone ELSE was counting on Kouki for an strategy but he was not up for it, "Please think something together" he said, clearly not including himself.
Saying I wan counting on him wouldn't be exactly the truth, but I was surprised he didn't even try.
Ryuutaro and Yuugo flanked the beast while Kouki, me and others fast on their feet got its attention. Kaori and other magic users blinded the beast using multiple magic attacks as a screen.
Finally Ryuutaro and Yuugo reached the limbs of the beast, grabbed onto it and with all their strength they broke it's balance. If we can't pierce through its tough armor, we'll expose it's vulnerability by breaking it's stance.
It's what Kaori and I came with.
We don't know how good or bad it works as a strategy but at least we thought the core idea was correct.
Everything went perfectly, had the Behemoth used the skill we saw before, it would have been hard to hurt and almost impossible to reach.
Seeing the Behemoth exposed neck, Kouki immediately went for it. The blade of the holly sword was able to dig into the flesh but it wasn't enough.
The air became hot, steamy, the body of the Behemoth was burning inside out. It was about to use it's skill.
Will we have to retreat?
Kouki [
Kouki screamed, the blade of the holy sword was engulfed in pure white light.
The blade dug deeper and finally with a last pull, the head of the Behemoth rolled in the floor.
The Behemoth was dead... we defeated it...
Meld [*Sigh*... It's finally over...]
Meld-san muttered the words that many of us had in our hearts...
It's finally over...
This time, we didn't lose any of our comrades...
Kaori [...Nagumo-kun... We finally avenged you...]
Suzu [Kaoricchi, I think you should make up your mind about him being dead or alive~]
Kaori [H-he's alive! He's totally alive you hear me!?]
Eri [Don't worry, even if he's dead I can turn him into a zombie for you]
Suzu [Oohhh~ nice Eririn! Now we just need to find the corpse!]
Kaori [I told you he's alive!]
The place that was a battlefield until a few seconds ago was little by little being filled by warmth.
I passed by Kaori, Suzu and Eri...
Kaori [...Shizuku-chan?...]
Kaori called to me with a bit of confusion in her voice, but I didn't stop.
I walked towards the Behemoth...
Towards the person standing right in front of the Behemoth...
He was just there, looking at the fallen monster...
The closer I am, the more impatient my steps become.
When he is finally in front of me my heart exploded...
Kouki [...]
In Worry...
Shizuku [...Kouki...]
And in anger...
Shizuku [What were you thinking you idiot!?]
I shouted a bit louder than I intended, the bridge became silent.
I'm surprised myself so it's not weird for everyone else to be also surprised.
Shizuku [We had already planned how we would fight the Behemoth, it didn't include you jumping head first into it]
Kouki [...Sorry, I wasn't paying attention...]
Shizuku [You could have died, do you understand!?]
Kouki [...]
Shizuku [Do you understand what would happen to us if something happened to you?]
Rash, careless, hasty... That sounds cute compared to Kouki's actions.
Some would even think he was throwing away his life.
Kouki [...Sorry...]
He didn't look at me, he just stood there looking at the Behemoth's corpse.
My anger rose again, I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to look at me.
Kouki [...]
He looked at my eyes with sore eyes before looking away.
Kouki [...Sorry...]
This is probably how a child reprimanded by his mother would look...
It was pitiful to the point I felt a bit of guilt, I pulled back my arm from his shoulder and also looked away.
Shizuku [...No, I'm also sorry... I lost myself...]
Ryutaro [Don't be so angry Yaegashi, he was just doing his best]
Shizuku [...But...]
Ryutaro [Also... That helped the few of us that needed a push]
It's as Ryutaro said, there was still fear from the day when we lost Nagumo-kun in our hearts.
Kaori [Thanks for your hard work Kouki-kun, do you need me to treat you?]
Kaori stood between Ryutaro and I.
Kouki [...No, I'm still fine, just a bit tired]
Kaori [I see, then I'll just scold you a bit... You should take more care of yourself... No one would be happy if something happened to you...]
Kouki [...]
Not as carefree as Ryutaro but not as emotional as I was...
Kouki [...Yeah... Sorry, I'll be careful...]
Kouki put a smile... A fake smile... The grip on his sword handle was not relaxed but sloppy, he said he was tired but he probably wasn't talking about the fight.
Did Kaori and Ryutaro noticed?
It was like a wall, like a separation between him and us...
Can our words reach him past that wall?
Can even a bit of our feelings reach him?
...
This is probably not the right time for this...
This is also not the place...
Still, I can't help but to worry...
We are childhood friends after all...
After we return, After we clear this labyrinth...
I'll try to properly talk to him again...
Ryuutaro [Don't worry Yaegashi, I get you...]
Shizuku [*Sigh*... Thanks, I really mean it]
##########-Kaori-##########
Kouki-kun finally "snapped"...
...At least, that's the feeling I get, not that I know what that means...
The "normal" Kouki-kun was self-centered, he was really bad at reading beyond his own sphere...
Instead of trying harder to understand others, he always came with his own answers to fit in his own world...
He is by no means a bad person, he is actually very kind...
...But being kind doesn't mean you won't hurt others with that "kindness"...
That's how I would describe the normal Kouki-kun...
But right now Kouki-kun is clearly different...
The Kouki-kun giving a fake smile as if running away from us is completely different...
At first I thought he was reflecting on something, though I was not not sure in what exactly.
Now, he acted as if he had become overly conscious of himself in a very negative way...
It's as if he was being tormented by something... As if he was running away from something...
...
...
Kaori [This is no good...]
I have something I should be worried about right now...
I have to save Nagumo-kun...
It'll be fine, Kouki-kun is not that weak...
For now, I'll just focus on saving Nagumo-kun...
After all, I promised... I promised that I'll protect him...
##########-Kouki-##########
We left Meld-san and the other knights behind, from that point it was only us...
As I see the different floors of the labyrinth, one single thought repeats in my head.
Kouki [...Just like "last time"...]
"Last time"... Just what does that mean I wonder?
Kouki [Even when this is supposed to be the first time...]
The lower we go in this labyrinth the stronger a sense of deja vu I get...
It's just like how I saw in those dreams... I guess calling them nightmares would be better...
A cold feeling of emptiness expands from my stomach through my whole body...
I want to throw up...
Kouki [No... It's still fine...]
I think I heard something before, back in Japan.
'When you dream about something before it happens, most of the time it's because you filled the empty spaces of the dream with your reality'
Like when you think you had a dream about meeting with a person before meeting them for real, it's probably because you put that person's face in your dream...
'Dreams are not as detailed as most people think, If you could property look at a picture of your dream, it would look like a half done abstract painting...'
At least that's what the guy in the tv show Mitsuki was watching said... I wasn't really paying attention after that though...
Kouki [It'll be fine...]
We advanced to the next floor...
We moved carefully so we wouldn't be ambushed by monsters.
Kousuke [It's clear...]
Endou reported...
...Right, he was scouting, I forgot...
As we explored the floor, I had a strange-... no, a bad feeling about it...
Then I noticed...
My heart suddenly raced, it was about to explode...
'Ah, right... it's the same...'
Shizuku [There are... no monsters?]
'The same as "last time"...'
??? [Should I suppose you are the "Heroes"?]
A voice... I remember that voice...
Shizuku [Who are you!?]
Everyone was on guard... I guess they did...
I wasn't really paying attention to them... I was just looking...
??? [Oh my... That was rude on my part]
Red hair, tanned skin, pointy ears...
Cattleya [I'm a messenger from Garland, my name is Cattleya, it's a pleasure to be your acquaintance...]
Shizuku held her sword ready for whatever could come at us.
Shizuku [And what does a messenger from the demon territory want from us?]
Cattleya [Straight to the point? Quite the impatient child...]
The demon race lady-... Cattleya naturally changed her posture in an alluring manner.
Cattleya [Well, I don't mind, straight to the point will be... Are you willing to join us?]
Shizuku ["Join" as in joining the demon race?]
Cattleya [Umu umu🎶, precisely that, of course I'm not saying for free, we are more than willing to reward you... Be it money, status or any kind of comfort]
Cattleya talked gleefully.
Shizuku [Sounds tempting but... what would happen if we refuse?]
Cattleya [...In that case...]
Cattleya moved her hand and as if waiting for that, a pack of monsters came out of hiding...
Chimera [Gurururu-]
Yeah... of course they did...
Should I just laugh...
Cattleya [So? What is your answer?]
My head was spinning, everything became dark...
##########
*SLAP* *SLAP*
...My face hurts...
Shizuku [Kouki!!]
Shizuku was grabbing my collar and slapping me repeatedly.
Ryuu, noticing I was reacting, grabbed her arm and told her to calm down.
Kouki [Where are we]
I asked without really understanding what was happening.
Shizuku [We are hiding]
We were all in a cave, an improvised base to protect ourselves from the enemy.
Kouki [Where is Endou]
It felt weird, I never thought in my short life that I would ever ask that.
Shizuku [...? Ah, Endou-kun, right, he went to get help]
Kouki [What happened?]
Shizuku [... That's what I want to ask... You suddenly fainted while we were being attacked by the monsters controlled by that demon race woman]
Kouki [How did I get here]
Shizuku [..."How"? We brought you here of course... What do you even mean by that?]
Kouki [...Unnecessary...]
Shizuku [...Eh?]
I stood up looking for Nagayama's group and walked to Nomura Kentaro the one that I was sure had made the cave, he looked surprised and confused to see me.
Kouki [Nomura, where is the exit?]
He looked at me confused so I asked again.
Kouki [How do I get out]
Kentaro ["Out"? But that's dangerous! Whe should wait until help-]
While he talked, for a moment he looked at a corner of the cave.
I headed to that corner and destroyed it, everyone got surprised.
I heard Shizuku and Ryuu taking to me but I ran without caring to listen.
'Kill her'
...Right... That's the correct answer...
This time I don't need to think about it, because I already know what I have to do.
Did everyone got hurt? Did Meld-san got hurt too? Are Alan and the other knights dead?
Kouki [I wasted too much time doubting...]
I had the chance to do better but at the end it's the same-
-No... There's still one thing I can change...
I found her, the demon race woman with her monsters following her.
The moment her eyes looked at me-
Kouki [
For a moment I could swear she trembled, it didn't matter though.
Cattleya [!? Stop him, quickly!]
Three chimera were taken care of almost instantly.
They moved slowly, so slow it felt peaceful how all of them were gone in a blink.
The big one didn't die in one hit, I knew this one was stronger.
I pushed harder, each of it's attacks meant two of mine.
First it's right arm, next the left.
Still tried to charge at me, but I easily dodged while taking one of its legs.
Finally, with a single slash it's head rolled on the ground.
Was it always this easy?
What was I doing until now?
Like this, I could just-
Cattleya [Are you sure you want to do this?]
The demon race woman smiled, a chimera, probably the last one, dragged something from the shadows.
It was a heavily injured Meld-san.
Meld [K-Kouki... Please... Forget about me...!]
Yeah, I already knew this was going to happen.
Kaori [Kouki-kun!]
Kaori's voice, I at least looked back at her.
Shizuku, Ryuu, Nagayama and company had also come.
Why did they...?
It's not like I need them to win... Do they even want to be here?
Probably not.
They probably think they need me, that's why they came.
Well, good for them, soon, very soon-
*Crash*
A thunderous sound fell between me and the demon race woman.
The dust dissipated, still, I didn't need that to know what that was.
*Bang*
With a red flash, the last chimera was dead.
The wounded Meld-san was now laying on the ground free to be rescued.
Kaori and Shizuku came closer, when they saw through the dissipated dust-
Kaori [...Nag-]
Kouki [It's been a while, Nagumo-kun... I would like to say I'm glad to see you in one piece... But you're not exactly in one piece]
The figure, Nagumo Hajime paused after hearing my words, the girls at his side too, Yue-san and Tio-san had a hard to read expression, if they weren't confused, they probably would be angry.
Hajime [...I didn't know you were the type to joke like that, Amanogawa]
Nagumo half forced a grin as he talked.
"Joke"?
It doesn't matter, I passed by them, towards the demon race woman.
Hajime [What are you going to do?]
He asked a meaningless question.
Kouki [Kill her, don't get in the way]
Hajime [...I won't if I don't have to]
I sprinted, the demon race woman prepared a spell but I sliced the magic circle forming and her hand in one swing, the hand fell to the ground with a wet sound.
Next I killed the white crow in her shoulder with a single slice also leaving a deep wound on her.
On one side a missing hand, on the other a useless arm.
The demon race woman fell on her butt.
Cattleya [... I'm sorry...]
Understanding her defeat and approaching death, the woman apologized, not to me, Meld-san or any ot us...
Again I moved towards her, this time there was no hurry, one more swing-
Hm?
I was pulled back.
When I turned around, Shizuku was grabbing my left arm with a hard to read expression in her face.
Kouki [Shizuku? What are you doing?]
I don't understand, why was she stopping me at this moment?
Shizuku [Can you please just wait for a moment!?]
A bit loud.
What was this even about?
Kouki [Shiz-]
Shizuku [Shut up! I told you to wait!]
Even Nagumo got surprised by her screaming voice.
After a deep breath, her grip on my hand became more firm.
Shizuku [Kouki, what are you planning to do with her?]
Kouki [I already said I'm going to kill her]
Shizuku paused for a second as if processing every word.
Shizuku [Kouki, did something happen? Is there something you haven't told us]
When I looked at the demon race woman, she was dragging her feet away.
Hajime [She's getting away]
Shizuku [Nagumo-kun be quiet for a moment... I need him to answer me]
I'm getting angry.
Kouki [Why are you stopping me?]
Shizuku [Kouki, this is not like you]
Not like me, what does it mean?
Not like me to do what's necessary when it counts?
Not like me to be the one that saves the day?
Not like me to do what Nagumo does?
Kouki [Why are you saying that? I'm doing it you know, this is what I had to do from the start, why are you acting like it's wrong when it's me? Wasn't this the reason why-]
'-You threw me away?'
The words didn't left my lips, I was able to stop myself, there was no meaning in telling her that.
Still, this probably wasn't enough...
Kouki [Shizuku, are we friends?]
She got confused by my sudden question but immediately smiled.
Shizuku [Of course we are, how long do you think we have known each other?]
Kouki [Then, would you love me?]
Shizuku's face froze in that same smile.
Kouki [Would you stay with me forever?]
I asked Shizuku with a calm voice, I already knew the answer though, she and Kaori would respond the same way.
But Kaori wasn't the one grabbing my hand, that's why I asked Shizuku directly.
Shizuku's smile slowly disappeared, replaced by cold surprise before the grip in her hands became loose, her eyes started to trembled, it was becoming hard for her to look at me directly, her face was getting pale.
It wasn't embarrassment, it was rejection.
Hajime [Are both of you sure this is the right time for this?]
Kouki [It is not]
I went too far, I should calm down. Shizuku doesn't matter right now.
I released my hand from her grasp and headed to where the demon race woman was.
I raised my sword and swung down.
*Clank*
Weird, it was hard and noisy, not what happens when you split someone's head.
I focused my sight, I noticed I wasn't even looking at what I was going to kill.
Between me and the demon race woman, there was someone wearing a blue cloak, the hood covering the upper half of his face, my sword stopped by his own sword, a translucent like crystal curved blade.
??? [Sorry, I can't let you kill her]
A soft, young male voice, probably around my own age.
Strange, I don't remember him, I don't really remember every single thing though.
I pressed the holy sword forward, pushing his blade easily.
I wasn't expecting something to stop my swing so I hadn't put much strength on it but right now I'm under the effect of "
As he tried to push back with all his strength, I kicked his stomach, sending him flying like 10 meters away.
I turned back to the demon race woman but then a clear blue, whip looking thing made of mana grabbed onto her, pulling her away.
I followed the whip looking thing with my eyes until it connected with the left arm of the boy in the blue cloak who caught the demon race woman in his arms before letting her down in the ground and standing between her and me.
I then noticed footsteps, from the place the blue cloaked boy probably came from, a figure in complete black, a long cloak covering most of his body, although while the left side of his body was completely hidden, the right side was not, it seemed to be how it was meant to be worn as I couldn't see excess of fabric, it was like a half cloak half cape.
Another person I didn't know.
The person in black reached to his left side hidden by his cloak and pulled out a sword, a pitch black sword.
What... The hell is that thing?
My body trembled, a shiver ran from my whole body.
*Bang*
Something flashed by my side, a bullet aimed right at the head of the blue cloaked boy-
*Clank*
-Was met by the pitch black sword before it could hit it's target.
??? [Woaa-!]
The boy fell back from the surprise.
??? [...Hm?...]
The black cloaked person looked at the pitch black sword with a tiny little hint of confusion as if he didn't know what just happened but immediately lost interest and turned to Nagumo.
??? [...*Grin*]
Another shiver... That one was dangerous, I don't know how strong is he but I know he doesn't mean good.
Hajime [...? What's so funny?]
Nagumo asked with a hint of wariness. There's no way I can feel something he can't.
The black cloaked person was about to move towards Nagumo when-
??? [Wait! Let's talk!]
The blue cloaked boy grabbed onto his leg.
"Talk"? About what exactly.
He stood up, cleaned his clothes with a few pats and looked at us.
??? [Please let us go]
He said confidently with his hands on his hips... And a clear lack of mood reading abilities.
...Me actually reading the mood? It may rain today.