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Arifureta Chapter 478
🕑 Added 2023-12-10 15:11:37 +0000 UTCThe War God Father, is Here
「Fufufu fufufu 腐腐腐腐腐……」(TN: Alright, time for Japanese lesson. This “腐” kanji is read as “fu”, and used to write the “fu” in fujoshi. The kanji’s meaning is rot.)
「Tsu」
The source of the laughing voice that greatly invoked anxiety took a step, into inside the room.
Aziz unconsciously backed away. But, he was already in front of the desk. He couldn’t step back any further than there.
The girl stepped forward, then she stepped forward again. Her abnormal atmosphere made him unconsciously gulped.
Bluntly speaking, it was repul──terrifying.
But, even so, the girl who was approaching in front of him while scattering an unknown power──the Fuorce (temp) was a precious little sister of someone who Aziz was greatly indebted to.
O God! Please grant me strength!
He tightly grasped the cross that was hanging on his neck. Then he thrust it forward while shrieking these words.
「I command you in the name of god! Demon! Show me your name!」
「Eh, how horrible to call me a demon-. Or rather, why’re you asking my name now!? You know that I’m Manami aren’t you!?」
The Fuorce vanished and a normal tsukkomi burst out.
Yes, it was Manami.
She was Kousuke’s little sister. She was also engaged in two trades that were too unique at the same time, one as a staff officer of the Soul Sisters, and one as a trueborn fujoshi. She was a second year middle school girl with fetishes deep in the abyss despite her young age.
Aziz made a puzzled expression.
He wordlessly took out a small bottle from his pocket, opened the lid skillfully with just one hand, then covered the opening with his index finger while,
「Demon, leave!」
「Ah, cold!? What’re you doing!?」
He drew cross symbol in the air while splashing the content of the small bottle──drops of holy water on Manami.
The drops of water avoided Manami’s glasses and hit her forehead and cheeks. As expected from someone of his skill but……
Aziz looked even more puzzled seeing that Manami didn’t start smoking from getting hit by the holy water. He also didn’t hear any agonized voice that directly resounded inside his head.
Even though those were what should happen in the case of demonic possession……
「……How?」
「How what!?」
Manami puffed up her cheeks and glared at Aziz. Aziz’s eyes opened wide like saucers.
Even the glasses that reflected light despite there was no light source around was only looking normal right now. He could see her eyes clearly. She was wearing her usual cute pink pajama, and her hair was also tied in pigtails like usual. There was also no strange aura from her.
「Don’t tell me……you’re Manami-san?」
「Do I look like anyone else!?」
They were the same age but because Aziz was taller, Manami’s line of sight was a head shorter than him.
And so Aziz took a step forward with a lot of caution while slightly stooping to match the height of the glaring Manami.
He looked at her ca~refully from that close. Into Manami’s eyes.
He couldn’t see any disquieting shadow that was unique to demonic possession, much less any cloudiness in there. There also wasn’t any red light or the like there. Those eyes were just normal.
「……How?」
「That’s why I’m asking what do you mean!?」
Just what in the world was that presence just now……Aziz thought in bewilderment.
For him, Manami was a kind girl who was friendly and could be considerate except for those times when she sometimes looked at him strangely.
She loved story above all else. The atmosphere around her was truly that of a literary girl, except when her glasses glinted strangely sometimes.
From a glance she seemed to be the type of girl who was meek with weak self-assertion. To put it badly she looked like a plain and inconspicuous girl, but in actuality she was an extremely bright girl with firm principle, excepting those times when she held her breath to make herself stood out less and observed her surrounding (particularly the boys?).
By no means she could be a girl who radiated such, repuls──terrifying aura……
「Good grief, more importantly!」
「Y-yes……」
Was it just his misunderstanding? That’s right, this too was some kind of mistake…….
There was no way this kind of thin book, could be inside Kousuke-san’s room that was being lent to him. Aziz straightened up his body while telling himself that half to convince himself.
But, that was what they called escaping reality.
「……You saw didn’t you?」
「Tsu」
The Fuorce, once more!!
The aura changed instantly. This was truly the special characteristic of demonic possession. People who normally spent their daily lives ordinarily would suddenly take action one day as though they had arranged it beforehand. Together with such repulsive aura.
「That, give it to me?」
「T-this what in the world……was it you Manami-san-? The one, who put this in Kousuke-san’s room!」
He didn’t want to believe it. He didn’t but, the reality was always cruel.
「……I was careless. Aziz-kun using Kou-nii’s room……everyday, Aziz-kun is sleeping on Kou-nii’s bed……that kind of situation, isn’t it stirring?」
「Stirring what!?」
「I’ve been holding back, all this time since it was decided that Aziz-kun would come here for homestay. But, when I saw with my own eyes how you’re sleeping on Kou-nii’s bed-, there’s no way I can hold back anymore! It had been a long time since I got so absorbed that I even forgot myself. Not to mention you even appealed how you luv luv Kou-nii, every single day! It can’t be helped even if Two People Folded Extremity(Wild Ideas) are Fuorce Thrusting Zero Method(Big Bang-ing) from Flashes of the Heavenly Flying(Inspirations) descending down on me one after another isn’t it!?」
He didn’t understand what she was saying. But, he at least understood that he had caught a glimpse of something terrifying. Also, she was talking really rapidly like machine gun.
Unknowingly, Aziz’s foot was taking a step back. Even though he was able to face even a named demon, now he was overwhelmed by Manami who rattling on and on while radiating a strange pressure. He was getting cornered both mentally and physically.
But, the youngest exorcist Aziz had been taught that his greatest weapon was calmness and unshakeable conviction. With that he took in the situation from some fragments of Manami’s words despite everything.
The unexpected situation that he found it hard to believe.
「Don’t tell me……don’t tell me, the one who drew this was…………Manami-san?」
Manami stopped abruptly. Her glasses glinted once more. Her eyes being not visible provoked anxiety from inside him. An eerie quietness drifted in the air.
「……Reading your own creation once more, in the actual spot where the scene took place. That is truly the one and only ceremony of pilgrimage to sacred place.」
As expected he didn’t understand just what she was saying.
But, perhaps, she meant that her head was too immersed with a lot of things that she carelessly left behind the essential thin book in this room. He somehow got that meaning from all those words.
But putting that aside, Manami slowly held out her hand toward him. He couldn’t imagine how could a simple gesture like that be so terrifying.
「……You didn’t see anything. You don’t know anything. You understand don’t you?」
「M-Manami-san……」
Normally, Aziz would be able to punch flying a mere creepy person like this but, this time the opponent was Manami. There was no way he could lay his hand on her. He shut his eyes with the resolve to accept any kind of fate that was lying in store for him……
「Just what are you doing, you idiot.」
「It hurtsss!?」
He opened his eyes in surprise and,
「Kousuke-san!!」
The hero that Aziz trusted the most in this world was there before him.
He caught Manami in a head lock with one hand while his other hand was grinding his fist on her head.
「There was a rescue request from Aziz so I came running expecting that something happened here, but this is what I found……」
「Eh, rescue request from me?」
Aziz was startled and hurriedly looked at his smartphone once more. Judging from his look, it seemed that 「Help」 was something that he did unconsciously.
「Hohou? So he sought Kou-nii unconsciously……」
「For those words to be the first thing coming out of your mouth in this situation……someone like you reeally just beyond help.」
「Ouch ouch ouch, I’m sorry I’m sorry-」
Manami was becoming teary from the grinding that got stronger. Aziz glanced at her from the side while checking his smartphone once more. There was Kousuke’s name in his phone’s call register.
It was night so he also kept his phone in silent mode. He didn’t notice because he was distracted by Manami.
Actually, after Kousuke’s call failed to connect, he also tried to call the house’s phone, Manami’s smartphone, and then his parents’ smartphones.
However Manami and his parents’ smartphones were also in silent mode, and Manami even left hers in her room.
And then, as for the house’s phone……actually, very recently there had been silent phone calls coming in repeatedly, so the house residents set the phone’s ringing volume to small and those at the second floor couldn’t hear it.
In any case.
「I-I’m sorry, Kousuke-san. I was bothering you……」
「No, I understand the situation in general now from looking at that thin book. Rather, sorry I guess, for this stupid little sis of mine. You were scared right?」
「N-no, how can Kousuke-san’s little sister be scary or anything……」
「I’m plainly scared of her though? When this fellow entered her creator mode」
「……」
Aziz-kun averted his gaze. As expected, he seemed to be a little scared.
Kousuke stopped the grinding and smiled wryly.
「Well, when this girl start acting and talking incomprehensibly, mostly it’s when she’s feeling ashamed and about to blow her fuss. She must be really desperate seeing Aziz finding out.」
「Uu-」
It seemed to be bull’s eye. Manami was still being kept in head lock, but somehow it looked like she was burying her head on Kousuke’s chest.
It seemed that she didn’t want Aziz to find out. She tried to ride the momentum before this to make it like this never happened.
Hearing that, tension left from Aziz’s shoulders.
「W-what’s going on? Do you know what time it is──」
「Eh? Kousuke? You got back home?」
As expected with this much ruckus, their parents──the father Hidekazu and the mother Misato also got wakened up.
The two were confused seeing Aziz standing near the desk with a troubled face, Manami who was put in a headlock, and Kousuke who should be in Britain being here.
But, when their eyes caught the thin book that was held in Aziz’s hands.
「「We’re really sorry for our daughter! Did she do anything to you!?」」
「Just what are you all think I am!?」
Normally, when a commotion happened after a boy who came for homestay was found together with the daughter in the middle of night, the natural flow of event was for the male one to be regarded with suspicion. That would be even more so when the discoverers were the daughter’s parents.
And yet, the parents apologized with any hesitation for their daughter’s wrong deed……
It showed just what kind of reputation Manami had among family.
But. it couldn’t be helped that she had that kind of reputation after seeing her doing things like muttering 「Aa~, I wanna marry this kinda woman」 each time she saw a talent that looked similar to Shizuku in TV, or letting out a strange laugh 「Dyufufuh」 each time she saw two male idols entangled with each other.
「Kuh, as I thought perhaps we should ask Sousuke to keep staying here.」
「Kousuke already left the house, so he also wouldn’t be burning with envy.」
Hidekazu-tousan lamented while Misato-kaasan spoke anxiously.
Actually, the eldest son Sousuke-niisan had started living alone since this spring.
『Who’s gonna stay in this kind of house where my little brother might flirt with his harems at the drop of hat! I’m leaving this house! I’ll get my own girlfriend!』
He said that sentence over his shoulder while leaving.
Sousuke-niisan who had vented his frustration and envy toward his little brother into his study was very brilliant.
He was practically guaranteed to graduate as the top of his college’s law department, and he had also already acquired the qualification to be judicial clerk.
His enrollment into law school had also been decided. Surely in several more years he would have gotten the lawyer qualification too, no doubt about it.
His face also wasn’t bad. His attitude with other people was also good. When his little brother wasn’t in the picture, he was a nice young man with no fault that could be seen.
But, he just couldn’t make a girlfriend.
Even if he managed to get into a good mood with a girl, some kind of problem would definitely crop up and the girl would be taken away by someone, or it turned out that she already had a boyfriend……
He simply had no luck at all with the opposite sex.
It was as though, yes. If the thinness of Kousuke’s shadow was because the sense of presence in his family had been taken away by his big brother and little sister, he got all the luck with the opposite sex in exchange, even his big brother’s portion……
It seemed the person in question was under such impression. Anyway he seemed to be thinking to escape from his little brother’s shadow──no, from the start such shadow was almost nonexistent but, anyway he would get away and regain his luck with woman.
Surely it was just a pointless effort. But nobody said that. After all Sousuke looked really desperate.
Getting back on topic.
「Sou-nii and Aziz-kun? 腐(Fu)h, that’s no good. It doesn’t heat me up at all. That’s pairing error.」
Manami-chan had sat with seiza posture on the floor when they noticed.
She was doing that without being told. As expected it seemed she was reflecting for causing this much commotion. There wasn’t any such sign from her speech but, it couldn’t be helped because of her fujoshi nature that was beyond salvation.
Please, accept me even though I’m somebody like this, that kind of atmosphere could be felt from her. ……As expected, perhaps she wasn’t reflecting at all.
「But still, you, I don’t want to even consider it but, you haven’t been selling this right?」
The thin book wasn’t a manuscript. It was properly bound with cover and back pages and all.
The biggest festival for doujinshi was still quite far in the future but……that wasn’t the only convention for selling and buying those things. Kousuke-oniichan’s eyes turned grim from that unpleasant hunch.
If BL books of Aziz and him were circulating without his permission……he was willing even to burn book no matter who tried to stop him.
「Don’t look down on me! I will never circulate anything without the models’ permission, I swear it on my pride! That one is just for my own use! I even did the binding myself!」
It was a work that was to her satisfaction. If she was going to read it once more, she absolutely wanted to do it in the real world spot of the scene. That was just how good the result turned out to be.
The impression after reading it was also the best from how good the work was, to a degree that she half went into a trip.
……Well, that was why she had one for her own reading, one for preservation, and some for sharing with a very very small part of her kindred souls. But then she got careless and didn’t notice that she left behind one of them.
「Well, if you’re going that far then I’m not doubting you, but still……」
His little sister was troublesome in this aspect where she was being properly good mannered in that kind of thing.
Even though they were family, as expected he couldn’t go as far as denying her individual fun time, rather he didn’t want to.
Although.
「But, this time Aziz is getting dragged into it.」
Kousuke-oniichan’s words were mixed with harshness in it. Hidekazu-otousan and Misato-okaasan were also in agreement with him.
「We can’t possibly cause a child who’s entrusted to us from other family to have unpleasant experience.」
「And so, that book is confiscated. From now on, you’re also forbidden to use Aziz-kun as model!」
「No way……a fish can’t breath if there’s no water you know!?」
So it was to that level……. When she fantasized about Aziz, there would also be desire to draw it into shape……the Endou family were at their wits’ end. Even though they were already being gentle from not destroying the book.
Aziz who was watching that scene of Endou family half in a daze dropped his gaze on the thin book that he was still holding.
A second passed. Haa, he let out a sigh, with a troubled face. But, his gaze turned to look straight at Manami.
「Umm, I……don’t mind this.」
「「「「!!?」」」」
Kousuke, Hidekazu, and Misato opened their eyes wide. Manami’s expression also looked shocked, but then it immediately turned into a knowing look 「Ah hah~」, and a weeet grin formed on her lips due to the image that formed in her mind.
Of course, the grinding punishment descended from her Onii-chanb. Ouchhhh–.
「No, of course, it doesn’t mean that I accept the content. To be honest, it’s creepy.」
「Well of course it is.」
If, that thin book became the trigger for something like 「This kind of relationship with Kousuke-san, I guess that’s one way……」 and opened a new door, Kousuke would be troubled. Very troubled.
「But, well, I also understand that there are various shapes of love in this world. Especially in Japan……it’s amazing here.」
Aziz said the word “amazing” while smiling wryly. The Endou family could somehow guess that there were various meanings inside that word.
The days he had spent in Japan hadn’t be that long, but apparently Aziz could understand a little about the abyssal state of this country’s subculture.
It was none other than Manami who taught him a lot about it, so he knew even more unnecessarily.
「Besides……」
Aziz walked toward Manami who was sitting with seiza posture and fell on a knee.
He spoke while straightening up the thin book that had gotten slightly creased because he unconsciously gripped it too strongly from nervousness.
「The drawing itself, is really pretty.」
「Eh?」
Manami’s eyes behind her glasses rounded widely like saucers.
「I think it mustn’t be easy drawing like this. I can feel the great effort behind it. It’s a field that I don’t really understand but, I can feel that this must be something that Manami-san really loved and crazy about.」
「……」
Oh? Manami-san’s eyes were darting around for some reason. That must be because this was her first time the result of her hobby got recognized to this degree so straightforwardly, and by an opposite sex at that.
I don’t know what kind of face I should make for this kind of time……her face seemed to say that.
「In the first place, it’s wonderful that she can already create something that other people will want to get even if they have to pay for it, even though she’s the same age like me. I’m only good at destroying things, so I’m a bit jealous.」
Aziz too had already heard how Manami had published her own creations for sale in internet and how they were sold in considerable number, though those works had different content.
It seemed that Aziz was honestly impressed when Manami talked to him about it while looking slightly proud. It was clear from a single look at his eyes that he was being earnest.
Before anyone realized it, not only Manami, even Hidekazu, Misato, and also Kousuke were swallowed by that gentle and kind atmosphere and listened quietly to Aziz’s words.
It was mysterious. Even though there wasn’t any light source here other than the light leaking in from the hallway, it felt strangely bright here deep in the night……
「As expected from Kousuke-san’s little sister. My deepest respect. It’ll be a bit troubling if a work based on Kousuke-san and me get out into the world but……」
Aziz slowly held out the thin book. He was holding it carefully like a treasure.
「At the very least, I won’t deny your “like”.」
That’s why, everyone too shouldn’t scold Manami-san too much, please, Aziz-kun concluded his talk with a smile.
They now understood, the true identity of the phenomenon that made it felt strangely bright.
A halo! There was a halo shining from Aziz-kun!!
「S-so brighhttt-, I’m getting CLEANSEDDD-」
Manami-chan held her arms before her face and withered down. Her parents and big bro somehow got the illusion that she was crumbling into dust that the wind carried away.
「A-as expected from the saintess’s little brother. This is a true clergyman!!」
Even Kousuke backed away from Aziz.
「Aziz-kun…………please, keep staying in this house forever. No, rather I want you to call me Otou-san(father-in-law).」
「Our daughter is like this, but please I ask you to treat her well from here on too.」
「Eh? Ah, yes-. Please take care of me too!」
Hidekazu-otousan and Misato-okaasan took Aziz’s hands with emotionally moved expressions and sincerity oozing out from them.
The two had been constantly worrying about the future of their daughter who was a Soul Sister and a fujoshi. It wasn’t like they harbored any prejudice, so as long as Manami was happy they would be fine with it but……
Even so this was, a big chance that suddenly fell on their lap. Had there been a male that could accept their daughter’s hobby to this degree before this? When even he himself had been used as material!? No, there absolutely hadn’t!
They mustn’t let Aziz-kun got away here! Their feeling was definitely like that. Perhaps.
Aziz-kun couldn’t even imagine right now that the parents were locked-on to him as their daughter’s future partner.
He was feeling honestly happy, because he would become their family when Claudia-neesan and Kousuke married, but instead they had already accepted him as that kind of family right now.
In the end, Aziz-kun’s future would be……
It was a done-deal that he would become Kousuke’s brother-in-law but, would that be simply because he was Claudia’s little brother?
Or would he become brother-in-law due to another way? There was still nobody who knew.
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「Something like that happened. Sorry, my little sis was making trouble.」
That apologetic voice of Kousuke echoed from inside a long old hidden passage that connected Rome’s street to inside Vatican──the underground base of Omnibus.
There was Claudia beside him. They were on their way home from a mission that had lasted several days.
Actually there was also a hidden passage that could be passed through directly with car, but Claudia intentionally chose to walk through an old passage that was hundreds of meter long.
It was made from stone with the lamps’ faint orange lights being the only thing illuminating the path.
It created quite the mood. It was a quiet place where there would be nobody bothering them.
Actually, just a little bit before they returned to Rome from their mission, the two had gone to a slightly nice place for eating, and also strolling through the city.
They were in the middle of busy period. It should be fine if they at least had meal together and taking a slightly longer path. That was what Director Dime who emitted murderous eye glints from his eyes said. With that permission the two were able to have a date in their spare moment.
They were walking through this old passage was also because of Claudia’s maiden heart who was hoping that this alone time of theirs could last as long as possible.
That was the intention but……
The slightly sweet atmosphere between the two changed drastically with Claudia’s next statement.
「I see. The forbidden world that I heard about, so Manami-san has finally completed it.」
「Wait a second」
The shocking reaction from Claudia-san.
Inside this old passage made from stone where two adults standing together still left a lot of space, Kousuke’s expression changed as though he had met an unexpected betrayal.
Kousuke reflexively stopped still. His face was faintly illuminated by the passage’s old lamp.
「Before this, when staying in your home, I heard a lot of things from Manami-san……」
「That girl-, she didn’t slack off with her proselytizing-」
「By the way, Rana-san and others also know about it.」
「Everyone’s sense of values is already corrupted-」
「I need to ask her to borrow it the next time we meet.」
「……」
She’s already infected? Kousuke’s expression turned into despair. Seeing that, Claudia’s straight face instantly burst into laughter.
「K-Kousuke-sama. That face of yours-. I’m just joking, joking! Fufufu-」
「A-aa, what, so it’s just a joke. Thank god. I thought Claire already opened a new door and panicked there……」
A saintess going dufufu while having delusion of her lover and little brother’s relationship……certainly, that would be unpleasant.
「When coming to our house, everyone gathered in Manami’s room for girl’s meet? Pajama party? Could it be it was at that time?」
「Yes. It was fun. As expected from Kousuke-sama’s little sister. Manami-san too is a unique individual.」
「H-hm~m. That, can I honestly feel happy about that?」
「It’s fine. At the very least, I think that she’s a lovely person. I was happy when she called me Claire-neesama. Very much so.」
It seemed that Manami was doing well in her own way with Rana and others as a future family.
「Well, it was a bit vexing that Vanessa-san was the one who hit it off the most with her. I can’t keep up with even half of their talk.」
「Aa, yeah, well, she’s a kindred mind after all. Rather I want Claire to just stay as you are.」
Even though she was deathly busy with works of security bureau, Vanessa-san apparently was in regular contact with Manami. From the start that SOUSAKAN(agent) was an otaku who proclaimed that her bible was Japanese manga, so those two must be genuinely hitting it off.
It seemed Manami too was treating Vanessa alone like her own friend rather than her brother’s wife.
「Regardless, if they’re accepting Aziz then it’s nothing to apologize about, Kousuke-sama.」
Claudia smiled sweetly and linked her arm with Kousuke. She strongly hugged her arm on her chest and resumed walking immediately.
「Aziz often contacted. How he did this or that, how he learned that, how he got surprised by that……he really never ran out of story to tell. I could feel how much fun he has there.」
「I see……」
「Especially when he talked about school……」
Actually Aziz wasn’t just doing homestay in the house of Endou family. He also transferred to the school where Manami was at.
On the surface he was a transfer student from Italia. Behind the scene he was a bodyguard for Endou family while Kousuke was away & provisional staff for dealing with the returnees respond division during emergency.
But, there was another actual reason why he transferred. It was a personal circumstance of Claudia.
「Now that you mention it, this is the first time Aziz study abroad, no, in the first place this is also his first time enrolling to a normal school isn’t it?」
「Yes. He mostly went to Omnibus’s specialized agency or got individual lesson. That’s why, everything must feel fresh for him. He also often talk about Manami-san. How she’s treating him well, or how he might have caused her trouble again. Fufu」
「Hee, that Manami, she has been taking care of him really well huh.」
「That’s right you know? That’s why, I’m really thankful to Manami-san. As that boy’s big sister.」
Claudia threw her gaze at empty air with a fond look.
「……To be honest, I wanted that boy to live a normal life.」
Aziz was born as a sacrifice for demon. Claudia welcomed him as a family even when he didn’t even have any human-like emotion, that was exactly why she actually didn’t want him to become something like exorcist.
「I didn’t want him, to live in the same way like me……」
Until now she had abandoned the notion of normal life, and spent her days going through trainings that made her vomited blood, and battles that whittled her life and mind.
But, that was a path that she chose because she had a clear motive for it.
A personal motive called revenge.
But, Aziz didn’t have anything like that. Of course he must have a sense of duty. But there was no doubt, that his biggest reason was to repay his debt toward Claudia and others.
「You never know what’ll happen in life. To think, that mankind’s sworn enemies the demons would become allies now……but, thanks to that the organization’s activity has changed slightly. That boy managed to run into a good chance like this.」
What was the most important was Aziz’s own will.
If fighting demon was still the most important thing for Omnibus right now, Aziz would never leave the organization no matter what he was told.
But, the current Omnibus’s main activity was changing. It went without saying, that was because the threat of demon was gone after a fashion.
And so, the highest priorities for the current Omnibus was dealing with the awakened, giving consultation and the like for various countries about supernatural phenomenon, and also doing their original role──investigating, monitoring, and managing relics or companies that might increase their threat level.
In the first place it was rare for demon to manifest. 90% of times it was man-made calamity by demon worshippers.
And so, although their workload itself increased explosively, the threat was currently decreasing.
There was no problem at all for Aziz to temporarily leave the organization to experience normal life.
「Aziz himself too, he couldn’t completely hide his interest with life in Japan after meeting Kousuke-sama, so I’m relieved that it looks like he’s having fun right now.」
「That’s good then. I too am feeling peace of mind that Aziz is there back home.」
「It seems that’s also a happy thing for that boy you know?」
She must be feeling genuinely happy that her little brother was having fun with his student life at Japan.
Claudia’s expression relaxed happily. Her atmosphere was also warm and soft.
Even while they were having such nice talk, she had actually stumbled around four times at spots where there were nothing and almost fell down hard each time, but she paid it no mind.
For Kousuke it was something troubling that made it hard for him to focus to their talk though……
「Ah, we already arrived……」
Claudia looked at the end of the corridor with reluctance. The wall ahead of her gaze had a metal door that was decorated with a cross.
「Fun times are always ending in the blink of eye aren’t they.」
「If it’s time there’ll be another chance. Regardless of everything I can create clones after all.」
It went without saying that in exchange the main body would shave off his sleeping time. And so Claudia’s expression became troubled, but as expected she couldn’t hide her happiness.
She pressed her body even more on him.
It was a narrow path. Kousuke got pushed by that and his back touched the wall. Claudia’s moist eyes were reflected in his eyes.
「……」
「……」
There was no word from either of them, but their hearts were undoubtedly as one. Both of them naturally brought their faces closer──
*ZuuuUUUUNN* There was a tremor.
*Rustle rustle* Dust fell down and covered the two of them.
「W-what is thisss-」
Claudia reflexively let out an angry shout from getting bothered, but her indignation only lasted a moment.
The tremor was coming in succession.
Ahead of here was the underground base of Omnibus. Above the ground was Vatican City. If there was construction work nearby then there was no way Claudia wouldn’t be aware of it.
Kousuke and Claudia looked at each other. Their expressions were already the one for battle.
「Let’s go, Claire.」
「Yes-, Kousuke-sama.」
They opened the door and rushed into Omnibus’s underground facility. Clair activated the “treasure warehouse” that she received for her personal use and took out the “Holy Cross”.
It was a sacred treasure that was specialized to deal with demon, but now after she had gone through the sea of trees battle, it had been extremely modified by Hajime with various abilities that it could display Claudia’s strength sufficiently whether she was facing human or apparition.
She carried the heavy thing on her back and followed behind Kousuke rushing toward the epicenter of the tremors.
「Ahead of here is……the training facility?」
It was a large hall for training or experiment. Kousuke and Claudia looked at each other once more.
While they were doing that, roars like 「Nuuuuhn」 or 「ZEAAAAAAAH」 could be heard. The two’s faces became like 「Ah, I think I know this……」.
They didn’t slow down and break into the large hall. There, a sight that was just as they expected entered their eyes.
「Funnuuuh!!」
「GYOEEEEH!?」
A two meters metal gargoyle with a heinous face got socked by a father with a fiendish face. Using a metal book.
Gargoyle-san’s head rotated by 360 degree and its body was spinning midair like in a dance while it fell down. It then clawed on the ground desperately to crawl forward──no, it was trying to run away?
「Where do you think you’re going?」
「GEE!?」
The black father robe looked like a death god’s attire right now, which couldn’t be helped.
The death god──aka Omnibus’s leader, Director Patrick Dime dropped his sacred treasure the metal book “Book of Holy Destruction”.
*ZUUNN* A heavy sound resounded. The stone floor was cracked. No matter how they looked at it, the book’s weight didn’t match its appearance. Or rather, it wasn’t that heavy in the first place.
It was the proof of the extreme modification that it received from Hajime.
A chain entangled the book as though to say “Zero intention to read the book”. The chain stretched tautly and the book that cracked the ground just from being dropped started getting spun around like lasso.
The air immediately started to growl *GOU GOU* from the rotation.
「Stand up, demon.」
「Ge, gee……」
「I’ll kill you if you back away. I’ll kill you if you falter. I’ll still kill you even if you turn your back on me and cry-!! Stand and fight if you want to live–!!」
「ONGYAAAAH!!!」
An angry voice that sounded similar to earth rumbling reverberated. Gargoyle-san roared half in desperation.
Right after that, the metal book that was choke full with centrifugal force was swung down. Gargoyle-san successfully dodged it in a hair’s breadth.
Instantly, *ZUUUUUUUUNNN*, an impossibly strong shockwave surged out and a small crater was formed on the ground.
Looking carefully, the hard stone paving looked like it had been hit by a meteor shower from the craters dotting it here and there.
「J-just what in the world……why is the director fighting demon?」
Claudia’s eyes opened wide to show her confusion.
There, Kousuke’s focus finally turned toward the surrounding.
Intense roars, half-desperate howls. Awful shaking on the ground and──cheers from both sides.
Yes, there were a lot of people in this space.
「More than ten metal gargoyles and, Omnibus’s people? Besides, geh!? So it’s like that! No, just what is this!?」
It went without saying, the people cheering for Director Dime were the exorcists. Beside them the metal gargoyles were similarly swinging around their fists cheering for their comrade (?).
Looking closer there was a dome shaped barrier placed around the two fighting. It was so that the damage also wouldn’t reach outside.
Seen from the outside, this was like an illegal underground ring. The cheering was also wildly enthusiastic. It seemed that the pride of each camp was hanging on this battle.
And, if asked why a demon and the director of exorcists were in a death match (?) when they should be allied, well, it went without saying.
「Nagumooo!!」
He reflexively yelled that name. The person in question who must have noticed them from the start──Hajime was standing at slight distance away. He looked back across his shoulder and lightly waved his hand at them.
Near him were Hattori-san and several people. There were also people with atmosphere like bureaucrat. Not only them, there were even Chief Magdanese and Vanessa, and also someone from Vatican──one of the cardinals who knew of Omnibus there.
For some reason, they were watching Director Dime’s battle with the gargoyle while talking with several people in suits. Based on their appearance, were they Americans?
「Ah, come to think of it I received a text. It said that some outsiders suddenly got invited.」
「Eh? Is that so?」
「Yes, but I don’t know the detail.」
「Is it something important that can’t be written in text message?」
「N-no……my smartphone, is in this state, after all.」
Claire awkwardly took out her smartphone like an elementary school student whose test with bad score got found out.
It was split in two.
「Again……」
「He, hehe. I’m sorry that my butt is so big……」
She must have stumbled when Kousuke wasn’t looking. There was no doubt that it was when she was in the middle of reading the text message. Then, because of some kind of Pythagoras, smartphone-kun slid in under the saintess’s magnificent butts, then perhaps there was a pebble or something below it that made it angled (second failure factor) just right.
「It was after the mission was over, and the text also had no mark for emergency, so I thought I can just ask after returning……hehe-」
The saintess made a twitching smile like a small fry hoodlum. Kousuke’s heart was already in a Buddha-like state rather than feeling exasperation. His gaze turned warm.
There, Hajime finished his talk and came their way.
Vanessa also tried to casually come their way, but Chief Magdanese grabbed her collar from behind and she went Gueh. She made eyes at him asking for help, so Kousuke simply abandoned her.
He was a hero, but his body refused on its own so it couldn’t be helped.
「Yo, Endou, long time no see. Did you cut your hair?」
「Eh? I’m amazed you notice. I cut my forelock just 3 mili.」
「Are you a girl huh?」
Even though he was saying that jokingly, it turned out that he was right. Hajime’s face fell in disappointment.
「More importantly Nagumo. Just what in the world is this situation? Why’re you here? Or rather, that gargoyle, it’s metallic which means it’s your artifact right?」
「Aa, actually you see. Yesterday, I had a meeting with USA but──」
Hajime was about to explain the situation. It was then.
「Eh, ah, um! Both of you! That! That!」
Claudia’s eyes looked like she had seen something that was hard to believe while desperately pointing her finger.
The two turned their gazes there wondering just what was going on.
There──
「As expected from high ranked demon dwelling inside a metal body. Truly tough. Then──allow me to test it!! My new technique that is still incomplete!!」
Director Dime dropped his waist heavily like a sumo doing their ceremonial leg stomping. He was thrusting his right hand to the side.
Somehow lights with grey and pure white colors were whirling around him!!
「Magic power in the right hand」
The grey colored light converged in his right hand.
「Willpower in the left hand」
When he also thrust his left hand to the side, pure white light gathered into there.
Lights with two different colors of grey and white were shining radiantly on the left and right hands of Director Dime!
Blood veins pulsed on his forehead. Nosebleed burst out and his eyes turned bloodshot!! Scary!! A demon!!
「Combine!!」
The left and right fists were struck on each other. Instantly, the priest uniform was blown away for some reason. An armor of muscles that were too bulky and tight for an old man was bared in the open!
「BURUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!」
Director Dime’s whole body got enveloped in an aura of light black color. At the same time, the presence of power he was radiating shot up to a level that was equal to “Limit Break”.
There were too many things to tsukkomi at.
Why was his clothes blown away? Why, was his sweat evaporating and steam rose up from all over his body? That was clearly not an appearance that a clergyman should show in public. Why was he able to control willpower? Or rather if grey and white mixed with each other, shouldn’t they become even paler grey? Why did their color thickened instead? These kinds of tsukkomi.
But, rather than something like that.
Originally, energies from two worlds shouldn’t be compatible with each other. For those energies to be combined……
As expected, even the demon king and his right hand man had their jaws dropped seeing that.
「「No waayy……」」
They could only mutter like that in a daze.
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.
※Material introduction
– Flash of Heavenly Flying Dragon, Two-Fold Extremity, Fang Thrust – Zero Method
From [Rurouni Kenshin]. All the techniques were filled with highest grade of romance.
– A glimpse of something terrifying
From Polnareff of [Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure].
– Where are you trying to go?
From the colonel in [Laputa: Castle in the Sky]. The feeling of despair that was brought when the director said it was staggering.
– You’ll age if you pull back. You’ll die if you hesitate.
From Zangetsu-san of [Bleach]. Words with high stylish level. Only despair would come when the director used it.
– Eyes asking for help
From Deku of [Boku no Hero Academia].
– Fusion of magic power and willpower
From Kankahou of [Negima]. Perhaps, if Tortus’s bugged character is Shia, then the earth’s bugged character is the director. She doesn’t want to lose so the war god rabbit would also start upping her effort.
– BURUAAAAA
In Shirakome’s imagination, the director’s voice actor can only be Wakamoto-san.
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