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Arifureta Chapter 541
🕑 Added 2025-09-21 15:18:21 +0000 UTCAbyss Lord’s Summer Vacation Arc Unforgivable-!!
An unbelievably huge moon was ruling the night sky that was shining like it was studded with jewels.
Sea of clouds were stretching until the horizon, glistening from the clear and bright light shining on it. There must be several distant tall mountains on the surface. The summits of the mountains with varied altitude and scale were jutting out just like solitary islands floating on the sea.
Unbelievably, multiple small ships were coming and going on that shining sea of clouds as though to claim it was really a sea. Each of the mountain summits that were like solitary island had beautiful building like ancient Japanese shrine or five-storied pagoda built on them.
It was truly a mystical world.
The sight that was exactly like the heavenly world depicted in human imagination was spreading out here.
Such heavenly world that was filled with mystique――was one of the planets in the fairy world under the control of Japanese mythology’s gods. And this planet was the residence of particularly high ranked gods even within the myth. In one corner of a shrine in that planet,
「That kind of thing happened over there」
「Kuh. What’s with that kind of horror movie development! That’s Hauria’s favorite you know!? As I thought I should have gone together with you all!!」
A very frustrated voice resounded. It was Rana.
The place looked like an observation deck surrounded by handrail with beautiful vermilion color. There was a huge torii behind, and at the other side of it there was a long and large stair that made the ancient Izumo Grand Shrine came to mind.
The place was above the cloud but the oxygen there wasn’t thin. Rather it had clear air that was extremely easy to inhale. Furthermore even though it was night the temperature was pleasant accompanied with flowing breeze.
The wooden floor was covered with carpet that had beautiful weaving, and the texture was also shockingly soft.
Of course, it was Kousuke and co who had returned back who were relaxing on that carpet while explaining about the strange incident. Claudia and others were also showing a relaxed look while sipping hot tea.
This was the result of Rana giving her greeting to the gods just as planned.
The divinities who welcomed her――for some reason gods of military arts with muscular physique numbered the most among them――were slightly disappointed when they learned that Kousuke wasn’t with her, but their mood was fixed from the first wife(Rana)’s respectful and polite greeting as well as explanation of the situation and they welcomed her warmly.
And then, while waiting until the welcoming banquet began, the group was offered the observation deck with the greatest view like this where they could talk without any interruption because they too must need to discuss about the emergency situation.
What a splendid first wife capability. As expected from Rana!
「To think, there’re monsters like that at earth……I know that there’s nothing to worry about with Kousuke-san’s presence there but, I’m glad that everyone is alright.」
「That’s right. Is this too the so-called tragic fate of hero? Kou-nii, you run into crazy incident in succession too much~」
Aziz was also listening to the story and let out a relieved sigh. Manami was looking at her brother with an exasperated gaze.
「So, what do you think Blau-tan? Is there apparition with traits that match the one we just talked about?」
「Hmm~, certainly me don’t know of any apparition with that kind of traits. In other words……it’s not a child born from thought but a child that actually exist……」
In respond to Vanessa’s question, the manly goddess Blau also elegantly sit with her legs flexibly pressed together as she pressed her finger on her cheek and shook her head.
「Although, me don’t a hundred percent sure. In the end me is just a substitute goddess. The possibility that me cannot sense such apparition isn’t zero, and it’s not like me has inherited all the knowledge so……sorry dear. If it’s Aularodde-sama then she might know something but……」
「Please don’t mind it, Blau-tan. Perhaps, no, in all probability this isn’t related with the fairy world. I’m asking just now only to make doubly sure. Right, Kousuke-san?」
「Yeah, well, even for a substitute a goddess is still a goddess. I can’t imagine that there’s apparition that Blau can’t sense.」
Vanessa looked meaningfully toward Kousuke and he nodded back. However, for some reason his face looked slightly troubled. No, should it be called a face that looked half in doubt?
「I guarantee that thing art not an apparition. Or rather, it’s insulting to be suspected to be an existence from the same world like that thing.」
Hidzuki who was the only one who had her cup filled with sake huffed with a really displeased expression.
Kousuke smiled wryly and said 「I told you that question is just to be sure, Hidzuki. Don’t be angry」 while nodding to Rana and Emily and others who were tilting their head while asking 「Based on your reaction, do you have an idea about the beast monster’s true identity?」.
「Actually, Vanessa has a little clue about it.」
「It’s just an inkling in the end. There’re many different aspects of it compared to my knowledge after all.」
Apparently there was actually something that was noticed by Vanessa exactly because she wasn’t a specialist in demon or apparition, but an enjoyer of subculture of extensive genres.
Although, in the end it was just a hypothesis. There was also the fact that it wasn’t a genre that was her preference, so she hadn’t read the original work and her knowledge itself was relatively vague.
Because of that too she didn’t say anything at the crime scene, but actually she had conveyed it among friends only through telepathy just in case.
「From subculture? In short, it might be a monster that appeared in earth’s folklore or tale? And it actually exists for real?」
Rana blinked. Earth is really a fantasy world eh……the former inhabitant of fantasy world of sword and magic got an impressed look on her face.
「I guess. It’s from famous works in cosmic horror genre. It’s not a genre that Manami-san and I like, so the most I know is from anime and manga that used those works as theme.」
「Eh, ah, you mean it’s that kind of thing?」
Manami hit the palm of her hand pon in understanding. Her face than immediately grimaced in unpleasantness.
It wasn’t because she particularly disliked the works from that genre. It was because she got a chill from realizing that the monsters――the mythological creatures and gods that appeared in those works might actually exist.
Yes, it was the fiction mythology of cosmic horror type, what was popularly known as “Cth*lhu Mythos”.
「But still……」
「? You sound hesitant, Kousuke. Are you not really convinced by Vanessa’s conjecture?」
Emily who was sitting femininely beside Kousuke while pressing herself to his side tilted her head.
「I’m not convinced, or perhaps I should say, I’m half in doubt.」
「However, Kousuke-san. Don’t you think that beast monster is really similar with that “Hound”?」
「Yeah, there’s that. But you know, if an existence from a fictional myth actually exist, would Nagumo really miss it? When I consider that……」
「……Aa, certainly」
Yes, that. That was the part that bothered Kousuke this whole time.
「Everyone remember the incident during Christmas right?」
Question mark floated above those like Blau, Manami, and Zhu. Kousuke smiled wryly, thinking that certainly they wouldn’t know.
He briefly explained. The happening during Christmas last year. The case when Hajime mailed a black robed man while Kousuke and co were partying.
The battle between the black robed man and the Santa Claus Four over an eerie “book”. An incidentally passing by Myuu resolved it using her sure-kill technique, “calling Papa’s phone”.
The black robed man seemed to be possessed by something, but when he was restrained the “something” was already gone. It resulted to Hajime throwing the job of investigating the man to Kousuke. By physically tossing the man to him.
I see, Blau and co nodded.
「In the end, that man doesn’t know anything……or rather his mind was broken and we couldn’t gain any information from him.」
「He didn’t know anything even after getting healed with regeneration magic after all……we concluded that he was just a manipulated victim.」
Claudia smiled wryly.
In fact, there wasn’t anything suspicious from that man even after they probed his memory. He was an ordinary person with no relative or even friend. Like it was intentional. That was suspicious but, the impression that he was simply being used by someone was stronger.
And so, he ended up being placed inside Omnibus’s facility for observation as well as his own protection.
By the way, they also questioned the driver who was entrusted with the “book” and the recipient but, they had too many possible suspects that they couldn’t narrow it down instead. Though it was apparently certain that a worshipped must be involved.
In any case, rather than the true identity of the black robed man, the existence of mythological creature was more important.
「Nagumo naturally asked about the situation from bus guide-san……her name is Amai-san if I’m not mistaken. He shared it to me too.」
In other words, at that point Hajime should have learned about the battle between the explorers and worshippers that had continued unbroken until now in the shadow of history, and from there considered the possibility of Cth*lhu Mythos’s beings actually existing.
Amai herself was a person who firmly believed that the best way to protect her life was to not know, not asking, and not hearing anything! So Hajime also couldn’t get any really useful information from her but, he had the compass.
「I heard from Nagumo that he couldn’t detect that kind of existence.」
「There’s no existence that boss’s compass cannot detect. If it can’t be detected then it doesn’t exist. In other words, the monsters from that fiction mythos also don’t exist. That’s what it mean isn’t it?」
Kousuke nodded to Rana’s question. He further said that was why they sent the man to them the collection of specialists thinking that it would be lucky if somehow they managed to get something out from the man.
「Both demons and apparitions are honest with their own desire. It is sufficiently possible that they had been meddling with humans for a long time. And even after Nagumo-sama is exercising his authority over them, some of them who are particularly powerful might still be meddling with humans who are not related with Nagumo-sama.」
「They might’ve also changed their method or their form. After all bringing fear to human is also their meaning of existence……」
「Some people who encountered that fear that we brought about might found it amusing and fleshed it out, which resulted in that fictive mythos. That might be the conclusion that demon god-dono arrived at.」
Most demons were especially the worst criminal who committed crime for fun. Therefore, perhaps they were staging things hoping for new nightmare story to be created. That was the idea that Hajime considered.
That was the origin of Cthu*hu Mythos. The explorers and the worshippers believing that the mythos were actually real might also the work of demon? Hajime thought.
In any case, that was why Kousuke was unable to stop doubting the existence of Cth*lhu Mythos type monster.
「I think Blau won’t fail to notice it with her goddess authority if it’s an apparition. That’s why, the likelihood is higher it’s an existence from hell where the great tree there still doesn’t have an avatar but……」
「Or else……I too, if have not actually seen that beast monster with my own eyes I might think of it as some type of “Shiki” from someone.」
But, they had seen it. And they felt it. The abnormality of the beast monster. And its repulsive differentness.
The fiction mythos shouldn’t exist for real. But, the beast monster was too unusual for the existing knowledge to be applied to it. That was why, they were confused like this.
Kousuke sighed. He shook his head because they would get nowhere no matter how hard they thought about it.
「In the end, the best thing to do is to consult with Nagumo. Nagumo family is a repository of subculture knowledge after all, and I’ll have to report to him anyway about this.」
「True that, this is a case that ought to be reported to boss.」
「Yeah. Its true identity is unclear but if it’s only something at that level then it won’t be any big trouble, and I also don’t want to bother them during their long-awaited trip so I’ll report when they get home. There’s only several days left of it anyway.」
Kousuke said that and shrugged.
He knew how much Hajime had thrown himself into work in order to fit this time’s other world trip into his schedule, and he was also still making arrangements for Kousuke’s new life even while he was deathly busy like that, so he didn’t want to bother him with something troublesome like this.
Besides, he had prepared countermeasure to respond to anything no matter what happened anyway……he whispered inside his heart.
「Well, you’re right. Let’s forget about that beast for now. In any case, thanks for your hard work, Kousuke.」
「Ou, thanks Emily.」
「But, Kousuke left only for around two~three hours you know? ……You all returned right away after getting out from that underground right? Are you all alright?」
The deviation of time axis between the fairy world and earth was currently nonexistent because countermeasure was immediately applied after Hajime and others contacted them. Actually such explained had been given to them from Blau at the first day.
Even though there must be a lot of clean up to do after that investigation……the sensible Emily commented like that. It was only natural for her to get worried for them.
At the same time, she must be feeling lonely even though it was only two~three hours. Emily’s hand softly grasped Kousuke’s hand.
Kousuke grasped back that hand. Emily’s face loosened up silly――
「Of course, I toss it all――cough. I left the rest to Agent J so there was no problem with us getting back here.」
「……That’s no good isn’t it!? Mr. J absolutely tried to stop you from leaving right!?」
「……Yeah. He was clinging at me looking like he was going to cry so I just shook him off……」
「Horrible. You acted just like that person(Nagumo Hajime)-」
「At the end his hand still try reaching out at me while crawling on the ground. He was like a boyfriend who has just gotten dumped by his girlfriend but still unable to accept it……it was a bit putting off.」
「Be more understanding with his feeliiing-」
――COOME BAACCCK ENDOUUUUUUUUUU!!
He recalled the pained scream of J during their parting.
It couldn’t be helped.
Getting out safely from the underground. Agent K was so happy he leaped up when he saw the two comrades whose chance of survival was despairingly low were safe. Seeing K acting like that made both M and H said things like 「You’re overreacting」 even while looking shy.
It seemed they had very strong bond between them for agents of a special organization. J’s expression was also truly happy seeing his comrades acting like that. But, even that only lasted for a brief moment.
In any case, he resumed acting immediately because they needed to report to MCB headquarters and requested reinforcement.
It wouldn’t be ideal for them to go until outside the forest where there was phone signal because they also still needed to monitor and preserve the incident site, so they used Kiyotake’s interworld communicator and Agent J contacted MCB headquarters through Japan’s intermediary.
Right after that, what came out from the phone was an extremely loud and angry baritone voice. The phone wasn’t put in speaker, and a staff of the respond department who was connecting the call was also currently listening, and yet the voice’s volume was like it was proclaiming 「I’m gonna tear the eardrum of you bastard-」.
It was the result of running off on his own. Agent J resigned himself to the angry yell, but his complexion turned pale in the blink of eye from how heavy the pressure was. Next his complexion turned white before turning ashen at the end.
――H-he might be……scarier than my director……
Vanessa muttered. The habitual criminal who was the most often at the receiving end of the iron-blooded woman’s punishment was cowering. Based on that, it could be seen just how menacing the voice was.
Although, Director Magdanese was the type who silently smiled when she snapped, while MCB’s director seemed to be the type who was like raging fire when he snapped, so in Kousuke’s opinion the two were simply different type of people while their terrifyingness was about the same.
In any case, the young Agent K screamed 「I’m really sorry-」 while his hip lost strength once more and he started trembling while holding his head. It couldn’t be helped……maybe, because it was just at that level of terrifying.
At the end the voice sounded relieved by Agent M & H’s survival and gave the two warm words so he mustn’t be a bad person.
After he more or less finished blowing his top, there was an alarming talk of Agent J’s resignation――where he might get Flash-ed and sent away to the sticks to work as post office worker――told to him in a heavily menacing tone. J must have been prepared for it he still looked like he was about to turn into ash anytime and vanished. But then the voice apparently calmed down a bit around that time.
Then, the voice mentioned that in any case he had to give greeting and apology to the cooperators from other countries and turned his attention toward Kousuke and co……
「Director-san too, he changed 180 degree from when he was angry and kept apologizing and saying thanks over and over with a tone like he was going to kowtow to us……or rather, he was begging with the tone like someone pleading for his life so that we at least won’t turn this matter into an international problem……」
「That’s……well, I guess that’s the natural reaction.」
Emily smiled wryly. At the opposite side, Rana hugged Kousuke’s arm on her breast and brought her face closer. She was making a wicked expression that somehow looked like the face of a female upper echelon of an evil organization.
「This is Kou-kun we’re talking about anyway so you must be telling him it’s fine right? That’s no good you know, Kou-kun. Kou-kun’s kindness is your good side, I also like it but……not eating the meal(weakness) set before you is a disgrace for Hauria! You know! An opponent who show their weakness has to be squeezed for all their worth!」
「Wait Rana-san, stop that! You’re trying to lead Kousuke to a bad path again like that!」
「Fufu, we’re going to be the close aide husband and wife for the demon god family you know? What’s so wrong about being heinous and merciless! No, it’s not wrong! Rather, that is instead our justice!! Doctor Emily, you too should stop resisting and come over to this side already okay? Kukuku-」
「I-I won’t lose! My common and good sense is firmer than steel! I’ll beat them into your head even if I have to split it open!」
「No, Emily Grant. What you’re saying is plainly going off rail from common and good sense, and in the first place have you forgotten about the first day of the trip? You’re a MAD scientist who made me drink a strange medicine without any hesitation whatsoever. You’re already a fully-fledged pawn of the demon god……」
Zhu-san was looking at Emily with the eyes of someone looking at an unhinged criminal. Right after that, pshew.
Astonishingly, Emily-chan took out a small sprayer from her chest pocket with the speed like quickdraw. She sprayed it at Zhu’s eyes like a girl repelling a deviant! Completely MAD!
「GYAAAAAAH!!? My eyes-, my eyeeess」
「! Zhu-san!? Are you alright!? Emily-oneesama! No matter what this is just――」
「My eyees――are feeling crazy refreshed!? The fatigue I’m recently feeling in my eyes is gone!? No, not only that……is it just my imagination that it feels like my sight is better than ever!?」
Even Hinata-chan who rushed to nurse Zhu-san who was rolling around on the floor was startled of that.
「Who’re you calling MAD! I’ll turn you healthy!」
「Emily-san, are those meant to be threatening words?」
Claudia, no, everyone looked like they were at a loss for words.
「By the way, it’s true that this has instant effect to treating eyestrain but, the sight itself isn’t improved. What you call eyesight isn’t made up from just the eye’s function. Apparently it’s also related to the image correction by brain. This medicine also work on brain as side effect and seems to heighten that correction ability but……it’s still in testing stage so the effect will only last temporarily!」
It was plainly a dangerous drug. It sounded good if they only listened on the effect but, it was a drug that affected the brain by entering through the eyes. It was plainly bad. Furthermore, it was still in the testing stage……bad. And above all else, how she sprayed it without hesitation in the place of making tsukkomi was the worst factor of this. She was seriously MAD.
She was striving forward on a path worthy for someone in charge of the research of the demon god’s faction!!
「Fuh, as expected of Emily-chan. You are truly befitting as the second wife who I recognized!」
「What do you mean by that!?」
「To tell the truth, I am considering that perhaps it’s you who I ought to feel the most wary against within this group.」
「Really just what do you all mean by that!?」
Their words meant exactly as they sounded. In the legend, the cause of Shuuten Douji’s defeat was from drinking poisoned sake. She couldn’t be opposed just with strength, so perhaps what she ought to fear the most was human’s wit.
In a sense, she was the real thing when even the legendary evil oni was looking at her like someone terrifying.
「L-look here! It seems there’s a misunderstanding but, even though I’m saying that it’s in the testing stage I’ve used it on myself and there’s no problem that’s why I use it! My eyes just can’t stop feeling tired because of all my research so……」
Emily’s defense of herself was meaningless as could be seen from the gazes of Kousuke and co that were warm but filled with dread somewhere in them. You see Emily, you’re, a terrifying scientist you know, their eyes said.
She had no ally. Uuuu, Emily became teary.
「M-more importantly! You talked with with MCB’s director right? Didn’t he ask you to stay then?」
「No, he asked us to stay. If we’re already inside USA, the please come visit MCB’s headquarters by all means, he said. As expected with how gruesome the details of this incident are, even knowing that it’s rude he deeply requested that we keep staying even if it’s earlier than scheduled.」
「Well of course they would be like that.」
「Yeah. And, I told you right? I tossed it all to J and ran――I politely declined and went back here.」
「You aren’t deceiving anyone by saying that.」
Emily also tightened her hug on Kousuke’s arm and stared fixedly into his eyes from extremely close by. She was telling him that it was no wonder Agent J clung on him if he still gave no compromise and returned here in that situation.
「The incident sounds real bad even just from hearing about it. I wonder if it’s really the time for us to continue our trip even then……Takehiko-san and Kiyotake-san also stayed behind right? If there’s anything that I can do to help then……」
Her expression immediately turned worried. She was fundamentally a good natured person, Emily.
The one who first replied to such Emily was unexpectedly Rana.
「This is the time for us to continue our trip you know, Emily-chan.」
In the place of Kousuke whose both hands were occupied, she patted the head of Emily who was genuinely worried about the incident in other country and the people involved in it while saying good girl, good girl.
Although she often raised objection to Hauria style, apparently she wasn’t as dissatisfied by Rana’s head pat as she would like other to believe. When she wasn’t getting teased, Emily honestly and also fondly accepted the comfort with her eyes closed.
「Eh, that’s……aa, that’s true. Certainly we have promised the gods that we’ll come play……it’ll be also bad if we just cancel it isn’t it.」
「Well, certainly there’s also that. I also stayed behind so that we wouldn’t offend them after all. But you know, there’s more to it.」
Rana’s gaze looked around at everyone. A warm gaze looking at family. From that gaze it was clear that she was feeling dear affection to this sight.
「There’s nothing more important than the time you spend with family.」
Emily’s eyes widened. But, she immediately understood what Rana was trying to say and her eyebrows lowered in complete relaxation.
Claudia and others also smiled fondly to Rana’s words. Those were eyes filled with understanding and agreement, and overflowing with warmth, like they were slowly digesting the happiness.
「……Yes, that’s true. It’s exactly like you say. I absolutely don’t want Kousuke doing nothing but helping people and getting eroded by that.」
「Even I super looked forward to this trip. I’m not going to let anyone get in the way of it.」
Takehiko and Kiyosuke……those two were important comrades, and also relatives of Hinata. So he went to save them when he thought they were in a pinch.
If not for that, even if MCB made a request to hasten the schedule for helping with the investigation because their agents went missing, Kousuke would prioritize this trip, spending the time with his family.
「Besides……I’m not a hero. I’m the demon god’s right-hand man.」
If it was Amanogawa in his place then he would surely call off the trip and try to help. After all regardless of anything, that guy was someone who decided that he couldn’t, wouldn’t ignore the word 「Help」 from the many others no matter what.
But, I’m not him. I can’t be a laudable hero to that degree. Nor even I want to. I also can’t be as resolute as Nagumo but, even so my order of priority is clear.
My important people has first priority. There’s no doubt about that.
Such unsaid feeling could be felt from his warm gaze that was very similar to Rana.
「Fuh, so you’re saying that even if you’re a hero you’re a dark hero?」
「Vane-oneesama, aren’t you making it sound a bit cooler than necessary? Someone like Kou-nii is at best a super random joke hero from somewhere.」
「Who’re you calling Dea*pool huh」
Everyone let out a chuckle at the exchange between Vanessa and Manami.
Suddenly Kousuke’s cheek got poked. Rana’s fingertip was the culprit. There, he found her eyes looking at him from real close, like she was seeing through him completely, and yet those eyes were overflowing with affection.
「But, Kou-kun? It doesn’t change the fact that you’re a hero who many people are looking up to. And, for you to be called a hero is because there’s enough reason for people to call you one.」
「Err?」
「Your wording of tossing the job away to other……it’s not the apt word isn’t it? Fufufu」
「Aa~」
Kousuke looked up to the sky. Eh? Emily tilted her head. Manami, Aziz, and also Blau copied her along.
On the other hand, Claudia and others blinked before they looked at each other. A beat passed, and they smiled wryly as though to say, as expected from Rana.
「You want to get back quickly……that statement is truthful but, half the reason you made that decision was because “getting back quickly will be more beneficial for resolving the case” isn’t it? ――You secretly left behind your clone at that site right?」
「Yep, exactly so. Even though later on I’m going to say, Actually~ with a smug face……」
「My! I’m sorry for that. But, I couldn’t come along to there you know? I’ve only learned the high points of the incident, and what’s more, only the concise facts. There’re still other things that you’re hiding aren’t you?」
Kousuke almost looked startled but he desperately controlled his facial muscles. But it was pointless. Rana’s eyes were looking at Claudia and others, especially at Hinata-chan. Apparently she had seen through the faint agitation from Hinata when talking about the way of defeating the beast monster.
「Claire-chan and others know, and yet I don’t know……fufu, I’ll go crazy if you’re making me impatient anymore than this.」
「I-I’m sorry! It’s my bad, I’ll tell you so……」
Rana whispered into his ear while blowing heated breath. It was rare for her to radiate jealousy like this. Her large breasts were also sandwiching Kousuke’s arm munyuu and changed to a lovely shape. Even her rabbit ears also flattened down with the tips pressed on Kousuke’s head fidgetily.
In respond even Kousuke surrendered right away.
「I really can’t hide anything with you Rana.」
「Fufu, naturally. Because I’m Kou-kun’s first wife after all.」
Kousuke thought. Thank god everyone was here. If not, perhaps he would have pushed Rana down already. Rana’s destructive power was just that terrific when she stared at him from this close.
At the very least he couldn’t even avert his gaze. They stared into each other’s eyes from so close their nose touched each other……
「Cough!! This is awkward for a little sister. Can you get into this kind of atmosphere when it’s only the two of youu!?」
Manami’s face reddened while she raised her voice in protest. Aziz was also averting his gaze shyly.
Even Emily and others were only watching the two so they didn’t disturb the two or perhaps they had gotten completely swallowed by the mood. As expected from the true little sister.
Thanks to her everyone came back to their senses with a gasp.
Rana said 「Oh my, I’m sorry?」 with a beguiling smile and parted from Kousuke’s body. Perhaps because of feeling competitive, it felt like Emily’s hug got stronger in exchange, but let’s put that aside for now.
Actually it was just as Rana suspected, there was a reason why the quickly withdrew. It was also true that he left behind his clone. There was no way he could completely ignore the incident.
「Ahaha……actually」
Kousuke told Rana and others about that “reason” that was already being shared with Claudia and co and the Tsuchimikado father and son.
After a while, 「I see……」 air of slight surprise and understanding, as well as acceptance filled the place.
Only Blau commented 「All of yous have it hard with how complicated human world is……」 while looking like she didn’t know what else to say. Hidzuki too was relishing in the sake she was drinking as though to say 「Spare me from the troublesome matters」.
「And that’s why, Emily. Takehiko-san and Kiyotake-san are also okay. It looks like the two are continuing with their assistance for the investigation but, in the small chance something happen I also plan to give backup using my clone behind the scene. But……overdoing it also won’t be good.」
「MCB too need to score some exp after all. Locking down the village, preparing the facility to contain the ghouls, safely transporting them……and also, dealing with the civilians who learned about Banwitch’s existence due to this. I think it’ll be a good experience for them.」
They would assist but they mustn’t be mothering. Vanessa said with a smug face and the air of a senior despite only having a bit of seniority when it came to being agent involved with supernatural case.
Emily, no, Aziz and also Manami smiled like they were tickled knowing that Kousuke was lending a hand regardless of what he said.
The expression of Rana and Claudia and others also became warm by the mood that enveloped the group.
「Don’t overdo yourself okay, Kousuke.」
「Kousuke-san, let’s enjoy the trip as proper vacation!」
「Well, it’s not something I can find fault about but, don’t work yourself too hard, Kou-nii.」
「Obviously. I’ve said this many times but, I’m not someone that laudable. I’m gonna have my fill of this world of gods~」
And then, in a very good timing there was signs of someone going up the stairs. It was a divine presence that made them reflexively straightened their sitting posture.
Who appeared was a handsome man with a sword hanging from his hop. He radiated a terrific aura that should even be called as battle aura the moment he saw Kousuke, but apparently it didn’t mean that he come for fighting.
「Abyss lord let’s fight group, the banquet’s preparation is finished so let’s fight I come to notify everyone. The other gods have already gathered too I wanna fight. If it’s not a bother please head there let’s fight later!!」
It seemed that the banquet’s preparation was finished and a god personally――if their memory when receiving self-introduction was right then this should be a famous sword god but……anyway, apparently that god came here to notify them.
Kousuke and co looked at each other and nodded. Of course, they ignored the heavily leaking desire and the blazing eyes that couldn’t stop piercing the abyss lord. Perhaps the god himself wasn’t aware of it after all.
「Thank you very much for coming here to notify us. We’ll head there immediately.」
Kousuke stood up and politely bowed. Although he was just a being of the fairy world in the end, he was still a god. He ought to be in his very best behavior――a part of it was because of that, but he wanted to thank him was also because of another reason that was Nice Timing!!
Yes, he didn’t lie to Rana. But, he didn’t say that he would say everything. He didn’t want that freshly made dark history to be known, so he was wondering if there was a way to somehow avoid talking about the true motive behind the withdrawal. And thanks to this god the end of the conversation came!
Of course he would want to wholeheartedly thank him for that.
But, perhaps there was a cost for that. The sword god seemed to see something from Kousuke who was thanking him with a serious expression and nodded deeply.
「Very well. Let’s have a pre-meal match then!!」
「Eh? What?」
Despite saying that he wasn’t a hero, Kousuke would have a sudden deafness when it was convenient to him. It couldn’t be helped. A martial god suddenly said something incomprehensible after all.
But, Kousuke’s disrespect didn’t get criticized. Before that, tremendous battle aura, multiple of them burst out from the palace at the distance. All of them poured down to the god before him with great and violent intensity.
Perhaps, the phenomenon meant 「Ha? What’re you doing stealing a march? You wanna die?」.
Even though those auras weren’t directed to them, Rana and others raised their guard with their hair standing on end. That was just how many powerful presences were being paraded.
「I-I can’t help it! After getting shown that kind of fight with the onis……of course it makes me fired up!!」
Apparently it was that kind of thing. It seemed the martial gods of Japan mythology wished for a match against Kousuke.
「He fought while making that kind of merry smile! Abyss lord definitely love comparing strength too!」
「You’re wrong. It’s a misunderstanding.」
「In that case, how can we martial gods not stand at the forefront to give him hospitality!」
「I’m telling you you’re wrong」
「He……he want to fight even at this very moment. No, he’s fired up to fight right away. I understand him! That bow, and then that gaze……the two of us are definitely of the same mind!」
「Rather our thought are completely at the opposite sides. Or rather, why’re you suddenly hard of hearing?」
In that case it should be fine even if it’s me! Presences swelled up here and there as though to say that. The martial arts of Japan mythology were going to rush this way!
And then from right beside him battle aura, no, it was oni aura! Hidzuki-san Standb~y! There was a fearless but actually very delighted smile on her lips. Her fist was making cracking sound. She was fully on board!
But, such naughty, or perhaps rampaging desire of the martial gods got stopped――no, suppressed by the sun that suddenly manifested in the night sky at the next moment.
Sunlight beamed with pinpoint precision toward multiple places like spotlight.
「Hawwtttttttt!?」
The sword god before him also became on fire. For some reason he was burning from inside his body. Light flew out like scorching heat from his eyes and mouth and ears. He was turned into a state that was like a gag manga.
It was plainly putting off.
Because the beams of light pillar were also going down at the palace. Most likely that area was the banquet hall. A lot of martial gods were definitely being cooked into steak at that hall right now, no doubt about it.
「T-that might be more powerful than Nagumo’s Hyperion.」
There was no harm at all to the surrounding. The atrociousness that was burning only the target from inside their body. Somehow the image that came to the surface of his mind was one of the highest gods of Japan who ruled over the sun.
「Kou-kun Kou-kun, that’s Amaterasu-sama. She also went mad just like the other apparitions, but before she completely lost her mind she apparently shut herself inside a cave so that she wouldn’t harm the surrounding.」
「She’s naturally just like in legend then.」
Apparently there was also Ama no Iwato in this world. Though it seemed the reason for her being a shut-in wasn’t because of her godly little brother’s violence.
「Then, when the Divine Tree got revived and her sanity returned and she tried going out after five thousand years……the resurrected sibling gods and gods she were close with has completely changed from before……」
「A-aa. I see? So there’re a lot of gods going the same route like Ibaraki Douji.」
「She got shocked by that and became a shut-in again apparently.」
「That’s no good」
――I don’t understand what is everyone saying! The outside is scary……no more……
In other words, apparently Amaterasu-sama felt generation gap effect everywhere and couldn’t keep up with the conversation around her, so she went inside her cave once more and tightly closed the rock door to shut herself inside.
To add further, since the past she was a goddess who would immediately hide herself when something happened, and the world also didn’t get enveloped in darkness like in legend when she did so, so the other gods tended to only go 「This again」 and ignored her when that happened.
Because of that, her shut-in tendency was worsening even more or something.
When Rana and co arrived, it seemed they learned about that story from Amaterasu herself who sent a small light sphere as her avatar to welcome them and from the conversation of other gods.
It went without saying that Manami was averting her gaze from start to end as a creative writer herself. Sorry for always drawing you as I pleased, god……that was the kind of thought going through her mind.
「But you know, Kou-nii. Amaterasu-sama you see, is popular in the world of fiction isn’t she?」
「W-well, yeah I guess. She’s the highest god after all.」
Even if his mouth got torn apart he couldn’t possibly say that he suddenly remembered a certain ero game produced by the game company of the father of his friend who was also his boss.
No, it wasn’t like he bought it. He also didn’t want it or anything. He just accidentally caught sight of it when going to Nagumo’s house and looked toward the shelf of their family manufactured goods.
Just, yeah, Amaterasu-sama was super amazing in that game so……
「Kou-kun?」
「Kousuke?」
「Kou-sama?」
Rana and Emily sent him their fixed stare. Puttin aside the question whether these two were esper or not when it came to female relations, the confused stare from Hinata-chan made him felt extremely guilty.
Even though she felt some kind of unpleasant sensation with her excellent intuition, there was no way the Kousuke she knew would have any kind of bad thinking in his head……such pure thought was conveyed to him which made him feeling even more guilty.
「Kou-nii? Are you listening?」
「O-ou! I’m listening! Creators always do something like that aren’t they! Just what do they thing gods are!」
「Y-yes? Why do you suddenly snap? Scary……anyway, because the absolute amount of the thought is too much it looks like she got affected in no small amounts.」
「Wait, I’m getting a bad feeling.」
Bull’s eye. Amaterasu-sama of the fairy world was a bit weak minded but, she possessed radiance and affection worthy of a sun god, her temperament was also gentle and she wouldn’t do something like throwing her anger around. That Amaterasu-sama had also changed greatly.
『Having fun without me……unforgivable-』
A beautiful voice suddenly descended from the sky.
『Fufufu, people who are having fun without me, they all can go die.』
「She’s saying line like what an immature demon king will say though! That’s scary!」
Kousuke unconsciously shivered.
The kind sun goddess disliked conflict, that was exactly why no matter what happened she tended to choose the option to shut herself and waited until things calmed down. That sun goddess’s personality now had drastically changed to be like a gloomy shut-in who loved to harbor unreasonable grudge.
No, from the start she already had such disposition but, she was suppressing it with her reason and heart. However the shock from generation gap and thought of modern era seemed to have liberated that disposition?
Furthermore, her strength had increased to be far greater thanks to the thought supply, and in addition she also obtained new authority so there was almost no god who could oppose her. Because of that too various feelings burst out from inside her.
『As I thought it’s violence. Resolving everything with violence while staying cooped inside home while spending everyday at leisure, unbothered by anything……if I remember rightly, it’s called “wo~rk from homee” or something in the modern era. How wonderful.』
「What in the world is this……」
Hinata-chan received great shock, like someone who had witnessed a dramatic before-after. Japan’s highest god is receiving bad influence from the modern societyyy!! She thought.
The sword god who had completely grilled well-done was smoldering with smoke and unmoving. No, his fingers were twitching. Furthermore his wounds were visibly healing……
As expected from a god. Apparently he wouldn’t die just from this.
『……Guests from other world. Pardon me. I have shown you something ugly.』
Kousuke and others were addressed by a voice so kind and gentle they wondered if the speaker had a split personality. Scary. Even more so.
『I shall dispatch someone else to show everyone the way.』
「Ah, yes. Thank you very much, great goddess?」
『Unfortunately, I myself won’t participate but I too warmly welcome everyone.』
「Ah, yes. That’s enough. Thank you very much.」
『Umu, enjoy the banquet to your heart’s content. Then, I too have ordered “delivery~”, so I’ll take my leave.』
Amaterasu-sama left behind an impression of smiling at the end before her divine aura vanished. Kousuke and co thought. Amaterasu-sama, is adapting really well? Or rather, the world of heaven also has online food order huh……
「The sin of Japanese people are deep.」
「No, Zhu-sama. Perhaps this might not be limited to only Japanese people anymore? ……Before this, I saw one of the cardinals reading manga with enjoyment. Furthermore, he was saying things like “I am an agent of god, the executor of divine punishment on earth……” or something while secretly posing.」
「……Now that you mention it, the Shadow Monk bunch who got dispatched to Japan, before they returned home……they binge shopping anime goods……」
Zhu and Claudia both looked like they were at a loss for words.
Right now anime and manga were showing expansion rate to a degree that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call them a world culture. Considering that, the fairy world might be rapidly changing from here on.
「Changing is far healthier compared to declining without any change pyon? Even if that is accompanied with pain, uproar, or danger okies?」
Blau-tan winked loudly. Those words came from the fairy who had watched for thousands of years a goddess desperately trying to hold back the state of the world that received no influence, no change at all, with the only path available was decline, turning mad, and vanishing.
Those words were heavy, and persuasive. Extremely so.
「In other words――Way to go, do it more! Is what are you telling us right!」
「Even so Manami-san, your plan to propagate BL among the gods is……no, it’s not really a problem but, be very careful to not act impolitely ‘kays? Please have a bit of self-restrain.」
Counting on something like thought is too slow. I’ll directly beat the quintessence of subculture into the gods! And then, if I get lucky I might witness entanglement of male gods……gu-he-heh. Manami leaked out wicked thought uncontrollably. Aziz made cross sign with a troubled face. Just in case, he also splashed holy water on her.
「Kou-kun, let’s get a move on already. It’ll also be bad to make the gods wait for too long, okay?」
「Ah, yeah. You’re right.」
Urged by Rana, Kousuke and others started walking toward the torii. While carefully avoiding the twitching sword god.
Like that, they walked down the grand wooden stairs that provided superb view while finding a beauty wearing robe of feathers waiting at the bottom of the stairs, bowing at them. She must be their new guide.
The group bowed in return and fastened their walking pace a bit――but before they could,
「Aa, that’s right. I missed the timing to hand it over but, I’ll give this souvenir to Rana-san now before I forget.」
「Oh? Souvenir?」
「Vanessa? Since when you prepared something like that?」
Vanessa’s sudden statement made everyone tilted their head. Well of course. There was no way there was anything like souvenir shop at Banwitch, and there was also nothing that could be souvenir from there.
Don’t tell me, she filched that strange and profane statue for souvenir……Kousuke and co sent her such doubting gaze while Vanessa took out that from her chest pocket.
「It’s a nice shot even if I say so myself. The video has been destroyed but, the one for my private use is safe so here you go. Though rather than calling it a souvenir, perhaps it should be called as an offering to the first wife-sama in this case?」
Urged by Vanessa’s gaze, Rana took out her smartphone and Vanessa brought her hand closer to it.
Yes, her hand that was holding a smartphone.
Kousuke’s mind was in chaos!
「………………………Wait a second? Eh? Hm? Vanessa, what, is that?」
「Geez, Kousuke-san. No matter how you see it this is a smartphone isn’t it?」
「Yeah, right it is. It’s a smartphone. I should have destroyed it already.」
Vanessa and Kousuke’s eyes met. Fully.
Feet stopped walking, silence flowed like the time had stopped. The celestial maiden who was waiting for them wondered 「What’s the matter over there?」 with a tilt of her head……
Meanwhile, Kousuke’s face convulsed while he confirmed one more time. Word by word, so they were conveyed distinctively and clearly.
「I, broke it, right? Your, smartphone」
Even Claudia and others understood at this point. What was the photo saved inside that smartphone.
The photo of that D incident, that he should have skillfully avoided from having to explain to Rana even though she had guessed that he was hiding something (that was what Kousuke was thinking but Rana had read the mood and only turned a blind eye to it)!!
The fact that even they who read the atmosphere didn’t mention!
Hinata-chan seemed to recall it again and her cheeks burned vermilion! Next Zhu-san’s cheeks also faintly turned red.
Manami and Aziz along with Emily were confused by the strange mood. Blau blinked her eyes in wonder. Rana was watching the development with a cheerful smile. Meanwhile Vanessa spoke.
As though she had been waiting for this moment, she spoke with the perfect and finest quality――smug face.
「Too bad. You thought wrong!」
「You’re annoying!」
It wasn’t anything complicated. She simply had two smartphones, one for work and one for private use. Though how she took video for private use using her work smartphone could only be commented with “she’s a SOUSAKAN after all”.
Or rather, when stepping into the underground of Banwitch, she normally used a smartphone as flashlight, but she did it so naturally that no one even noticed. In a sense, she was suitable to be a wife of the abyss lord based on that.
Anyway, in any case.
Ping
「Ah!? Damn you-」
Even the smug reveal itself is just a trick! As though to say that, the offering to the first wife-sma had finished sending while Kousuke was astounded. It was a pointless skill done pointlessly skillfully with no pointless opening.
「Rana, don’t ask any question and hand over your smartphone.」
Aah, my smartphoneee. B-but however, I have delivered my offering to first wife-sama! There is not the slightest regret in my life!!
Vanessa……art you fine with such life?
I’m fine with it, no problem!!
Such exchange could be heard but, right now wasn’t the time to care about it. Kousuke turned toward Rana and held his hand toward her.
Surely, if it was Rana then she should obediently hand him the smartphone――
「As the first wife, there’s no way I can make light of the feeling my family entrusted to me!」
「I’m also family though!」
At this point she must be so curious she couldn’t bear it. She must knew the thing that happened when Kousuke went running for rescue and now he was trying to hide at all costs.
Emily and others also noticed and tried to peek at Rana’s smartphone with sparkling eyes.
「Aziz! Hold Manami back! Peeking in is also forbidden!!」
「Eh, no, but――」
「I’ll hate you Aziz if you don’t listeeen-」
「!!!!? Just leave it to me-, Kousuke-san!!」
「AH!? Kou-nii you cowarddd!! Aziz-kun, don’t get tricked! Let go of me!!」
「Hidzuki! For goodness sake! Restrain Emilyy!!」
「If that’s mine beloved’s request then it couldst not be helped♪」
「AH!? Kousuke you cowarddd! Even though I also want to seee!!」
Kousuke gave instructions in rapid order while moving to take away the smartphone from Rana.
But however, hyoi! He was dodged!
Swoosh! Kousuke’s hand extended faster than before. However, hyoi hyoi he was dodged again.
「Fuh, how naïve, Abyssgate. Even though I’m not your match in pure speed, I’m thoroughly knowledgeable with your movement! Better than anyone in this world! If it’s only limited to you……my “foresight” is already at the level of “Future Sight”!!」
「Can you stop displaying your true strength for this kind of thinggg!?」
Swoowoowoowoosh Kousuke’s hand stretched out so fast that it generated afterimage!!
To that Hyohyohyohyohyohyoi Rana’s hand completely dodged or parried with movement that eyes could follow and yet had all its waste shaved off to the limit!
Seen from the side it only looked like two people exchanging fierce offense and defense. The celestial maiden guide was flustered. What do I do! What do I do!
But, even such moment immediately ended.
Rana operated the smartphone while dodging and displayed the image――she used an opening that only lasted for an instant and kissed Kousuke!! With that Kousuke stiffened slightly and she used the opening even more and glanced at the smartphone.
「My my my my♪ Really Kou-kun, you – are – so – bold♡」
「NOOOOOOOO!!」
Kousuke screamed like a girl and covered his face. I want to enter a hole if there’s one……no, I want to throw myself over this stair’s handrail! He became bright red as though to say that.
「You don’t need to feel that shy……I often see this already. Rather I’ve also seen something even more embarrassing――」
「That’s not the problem! Also, can you stop talking about that kind of thing when there’re children present!?」
Hou? Hidzuki sounded really interested, while Claudia and others muttered 「Something even more embarrassing!?」 while blushing. Zhu covered Hinata’s ears as fast as she could. Hinata seemed to recall something and stared absentmindedly to empty air with a blushing face. Emily and others were flailing 「What!? What is it!? Show it to me tooo!」. Meanwhile,
「I want to show only my cool side to Rana all the timeee!」
He leaked out his true feeling. It made Rana’s heart skipped a beat and she said 「Geez, Kou-kun you dummy. Don’t worry okay? You’re always cool all the time♪」. Kousuke glared resentfully Vanessa……
「It cannot be forgiven that there’s something only known to us while first wife-sama(Rana-san) is unaware, and furthermore it’s something that is intentionally hidden. I have done a good job!」
Kousuke was plainly unable to argue. Certainly, Kousuke himself also thought it wasn’t right for him to conspire with others to hide something from Rana.
But, but however! This wasn’t something based on logic!
Kousuke yelled Even so from the bottom of his heart in the style like a certain handsome idol who showed reaction in prank video or variety show that put even actual comedian to shame toward Vanessa who had a satisfied look from a job well done.
「Unforgivable-!!」
Of course, after that, the photo of the problematic scene also got shared with Emily-chan.
Kousuke yelled 「That’s unforgivable-」 once more, but Rana told him 「But, in that case Emily-chan will become the only one left out……」 sadly, while Emily herself was sitting on a stair hugging her knees. When he saw that he couldn’t say no……
In the end, it got published to everyone other than Aziz and Manami.
It also went without saying that he received scolding 「What kind of thing are you showing to Hinata!」 from a bright red Emily.
Also, after that.
Kousuke and co safely (?) participated in the divine banquet and enjoyed extremely wonderful foods and sacred sake. In great mood they returned to their lodging but before everyone realized it Kousuke and Rana had vanished.
As expected it went without saying that it was the work of Rana who had gotten into an extremely passionate mood.
The next morning, Kousuke said to Vanessa.
「Forgiven-!!」
Vanessa didn’t get what he meant but, for the time being she gave him a thumb up.
.
AN: Thank you very much for reading this every time.
Thank you very much too for the thoughts, opinions, and reports about misspelling and omitted words.
Next chapter abyss lord’s summer vacation arc is planned to end. That’s the plan.
※Material introduction
– Unforgivable-
From Kikuchi Fuma-san. He’s that cool of an idol and also doing great as actor, and yet he put his body on the line just like comedian, simply amazing. I think the unforgiving Kikuchi Fuma-san is the funniest.
– Creator is always like that aren’t they!
From [I’m the Only One Not Attacked in the World Overflowing With Zombie].
– As expected it’s violence!
From [Detective Kindaichi’s Case File Gaiden The Criminals’ Case File].
– I’m an agent of god~
From Father Anderson of [Hellsing].
– Too bad. You thought wrong!
From Bennett of the movie [Commando].
– I don’t have any regret in my life
From Raou of [Fist of the North Star].
– I’m fine, there’s no problem!
From Enoch of the game [El Shaddai].
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