There was a crimson tent boasting a majestic appearance that was too splendid for
something in a school's courtyard.
The audience seating in stairway shape set up inside it was filled to the brim. Myuu
and others were also sitting at the front row with eyes that were filled with expectation.
Among them, there were people who were making serious expression.
"It's amazing that they built this kind of facility. This isn't at the level of school festival."
"Yeah. Besides… don't you think it feels strangely spacious? I got the feeling that it
doesn't match with its outside appearance…"
"Perhaps, it's their way of using space? I won't doubt it even if I'm told that this is the
work of pro. Perhaps it might even be the government that gave them the referral?"
The people who were talking with each other like that were the reporters――a senior
and a junior of a certain weekly magazine. The senior reporter was someone who was
famous in their business circle. His sharp assessment and investigation were
acknowledged. Perhaps because of that, there were a lot of people of the same
profession sitting near the senior reporter in order to pay attention to his behavior.
Inside the noisy tent where various sentiments wondering what in the world would
happen were mingled, the buzzer that notified of the curtain raising finally rang. The
lighting was turned off and a spotlight illuminated the back of the stage.
When they followed the source of the spotlight, there was the figure of Kouki there.
From the appearance, the light was exceedingly splendid. There wasn't any doubt that
the equipment could be used even in theater or the like.
No one would even think that the lighting at the level of pro was only the outward
appearance. In actuality Kouki who possessed unparalleled attribute in light element
magic was in charge of the lighting using magical mean as well as camouflage.
The audiences focused at the spotlight.
Then
――No, no way-. I never heard about this! Why should I!
――To be more precise it's not you. What we need is the "lord".
――In the scenario it's clearly written "Opening: South Cloud leader"!
――Endo… that's a lie
――You, you guys, you schemed this!? Don't screw around-, I absolutely won't do it! Ah,
this is binding light chain!? Shirasaki!?
――Nn, Endo. Will you relax?
――Even Yue-san… do, don't tell me, you'll force me with Divine Statement? No, no
way-, stop-, stop ittttttttA scream burst out from within the darkness.
The venue fell completely silent in a good way.
A beat later, someone came out with an amaziiing rotation! Kouki's lighting hurriedly
chased after the silhouette that moved to the center of the stage while rotating in
succession with high speed.
"Ladii~~es & gentlemeeen! Welcome, to South Cloud Circus group! To the world of
dream!!"
A trademark pose while making the sound *kyu kyu* from the floor! The butterfly
mask that was replacing the sunglass was pushed up smartly-. Without a pause the
person brushed up his hair with a smooth hand motion while breathing "Fuh" with a
superb leaning posture!
"Your guide of the waking dream――Kousuke E Abyssgate… no"
Another "fuh" was leaked out! One hand brushed up the front hair and stayed up while
the other hand pointed sharply at the audience seats! The audiences jerked and
shivered. In various senses.
"The Abyss Lord."
*Dodododo-* A drum roll resounded and a music that sounded excessively solemn for
some reason danced in the air.
"Today in this time, in this place, everyone here will surely taste the mystery of the
world."
Another meaningless rotation.
"Everyone will surely sense a fragment of the abyss and put a lid on your common
sense!!"
Lighting, come onn-.
Kouki desperately responded to the instruction that wasn't in the plan. As the captain
of the people in charge of the lighting, he gave instruction without delay and produced
spotlights of seven color in conjunction with the other classmates.
In that instant, "Ooo!?" commotion spread.
From behind the guide of waking dream――Abyss Lord, another Abyss Lord with
exactly the same appearance showed up as though they had split.
" "But, rest assured!" "
The voices that were in harmony were also completely the same. 'What trick is this!?'
the senior reporter stared hard with his eyes opened wide like a dinner plate.
But, from behind that senior reporter…
"You can simply, simply, enjoy this moment to your heart's content!"
An Abyss Lord with exactly the same appearance appeared. Since when he was at the
audience seating? Of course, the instant Abyss Lord appeared, the clones normally
came. Without really hiding, the clones came normally.
The audiences were dumbfounded and the reporters were overcome with surprise.
Even amidst that, Abyss Lord's multiplication didn't stop. Abyss Lords appeared from
two more places. They went "Oh, isn't this my beloved little sister and big brother" and
"Fuh" toward the middle school female student and the male university student who
were nearby, but the two of them looked down until the limit and wouldn't meet the
lord's gaze.
" " " " "An experience that will be only once in your life. This is the stage of wonder that
you won't be able to see for the second time!!" " " " "
The outside appearance of the person who was smoothly multiplying was exactly the
same. Even when it was seen from nearby no one could guess what kind of trick was
behind it.
By the way, looking at how clones were further making more clones, it went without
saying how deep the depth level of the lord was. Our vampire princess-sama was
without mercy.
Right after that, scream rose from the audience seating. It wasn't because of
synchronization with scathing opinion of "Looking at the multiplication process once
more… it's a bit scary huh" from the classmates behind the stage.
It was because flame was suddenly spreading on the stage. A wing that was starting
to blow from somewhere whirled and swept away the flame. It was as though the
flame itself was spreading like it was dancing.
Then, a single young man appeared from inside the flame. With a way of walking that
was like a model, he walked to the center of the stage while making a look that might
be the best posed look the person himself could do――
Before he arrived at the center, he vanished. It was as though the young man received
a tackle from a certain someone who flew out with godspeed and got sent flying.
'What is he showing up for… ' The audiences questioned in their mind. The answer for
that was, "… Even I wanted to stand out… I saw you on the stage! Please go out with
me! I wanted someone to tell me that…". With how the audiences couldn't listen to that
testimony of a certain Shinji, the answer would be forever covered in darkness.
The Abyss Lords pulled themselves together and gathered on the stage with acrobatic
movements. While astonished voices were raised seeing the midair leaps, Abyss Lords
became one once more on the stage and he spread put both his arms in a flash.
"Now, carve it into your memory! It's the time of mystery!!"
With those words as the signal, the Abyss Lord vanished behind the curtain with super
consecutive back somersault that would be impossible for most people. The one who
leaped out as replacement was――
"Wha, what's that-"
Someone yelled. Everyone held their breath. After all, what appeared by breaking
through the wall of flame was a huge wolf. The howling figure was like the king of
beast. The huge body and pressure that were impossible for existing organism in this
world made the audiences to make noise 'waa' and 'kyaa'.
That was why, no one hear any sound like the sobbing voice of a person who seemed
to be the Abyss Lord resounding from behind the curtain.
Next,
[Everyone, please don't worry! The name of that wolf is "Karashio"-chan. He is a pet
doggie that can be found anywhere.]
The heavenly voice in the role as presenter and commentary――Nana emphasized."No
matter how you looked at it, that's a monster like Fenrir or Cerberus isn't it!?""If there
is any pet like that it will be an immediate report to the police!" Right after those rapid
pounding of tsukkomi from the audiences,
――Ka, Karashio she said!? Ah, metamorphosis magic huh!? I don't know anything
about this y'know!? Shouldn't it be substitution using Grim Reaper or something!?
――Sakagami… that was a lie.
――So you schemed this huuuh-. Wait, Suzu, why won't you meet my gaze since some
time ago. Don't tell me, it's you!? What the hell have you done to our Karashio!
――Ka, Karashio-chan also said that he want to become wolf! More importantly look!
It's your turn now!
――God dammitSuch voices also resounded, but even those yells weren't noticed.
Ryutaro leaped out from behind the curtain.
"Karashio-. I'm gonna return you to normal now!"
[It's the entrance of the owner! The two of them are always together! They're like close
siblings!]
Ryutaro quietly held out his hand.
*Haup*, there was such sound. Karashio's jaws were snugly covering Ryutaro's hand.
It was exactly the scene of a pet dog biting the hand of its owner.
*Splurt* The blood that was spurting out was surely paint, no doubt about it.
[Oops! Karashio-chan is trying to overthrow his owner! What will the owner do!?]
Nana was getting into the mood. Even though it was circus, she was becoming like a
live commentator.
Originally it was a scenario of Grim Reaper versus werewolf, so Ryutaro transformed
half in desperation.
"You're being disobedient huh, KARASHIOOOOOOO-"
A stir surged from the audience seats. A high school boy was transforming before their
eyes. That appearance was exactly like the werewolf in story.
"Se, senpai-, just what is this!?"
"The, the flame must be projection mapping or something! The clones and the wolf
and the werewolf, they're all special makeup!"
"That's too forced-"
The reporters were also in chaos. In any case the gazes of everyone were fixed on the
stage. It was truly just like the Abyss Lord said, it was like they were pulled into a world
of dream. In addition, the vice principal who came to monitor the situation collapsed
with the white of his eyes showing. Aiko who was also came to supervise hurriedly
supported him.
"Garururu- (I won't return to be dog-)"
"Stupid idiot!"
Karashio who became a wolf that was his dearest wish and the werewolf Ryutaro
clashed on the stage. Even the audiences who were in daze at the beginning, after
hearing the voices like "Both sides do your best~~" from Myuu and others who
conveniently turned into hired applauder, they gradually threw away their common
sense "Who cares about the detail!" and began to get excited.
[Strong-, Karashio-chan is strong! As expected from the partner of the wolf boy! At this
rate this might get out of hand!]
Nana might have talent as a live commentator. Sparked by her yell, the audiences sent
out words of encouragement to Karashio and his owner in loud voices.
Nana raised her voice following the scenario of South Cloud leader toward those
audiences.
[Is there any wild-animal tamer among the audiences!? Or perhaps, is there any zoo
caretaker here who can manage somehow if they're against something at the level of
Fenrir or werewolf!?]
Everyone thought, 'No way there's anyone like that!' and 'You raise the hurdle of zoo
caretaker too much!'.
"There is!"
'There is one!?' while such tsukkomi echoed, the one who stood up from the audience
seats was a high school girl who dressed like a gal. Or rather, it was Taeko.
Takeo got down on the stage with light and jaunty footsteps. Announcer Nana
addressed her.
[Dear audience! Do you have a whippp!?]
"I have! I'm a high school girl after all!"
'Where in the world there is high school girl who constantly carry around a whip', such
tsukkomi resounded inside everyone's heart.
They also did their best to ignore Nana's sales pitch [That's certainly natural! Whip is
convenient. It can be used for taming, and also for taming, after that it can also be used
for taming! If there are those who still doesn't have one, after this show we will open
a stand that display and sale the product, so please look around and purchase one
there!].
Taeko swung her whip *pishi- pishi-* loudly with a strangely good mood. Karashio's
gaze moved to behind the curtain. The leader's thumb up came out suddenly. Karashio
nodded and changed his target to Taeko while growling.
"Ei-"
A cute shout. However, the sound of slashing through wind that the whip generated
wasn't normal. It was to a degree that Karashio leaped back quite fearfully. *Hyugoh,
buruannn, shugoooo-*, the tip of the whip that made the pleasant sound moved with
a speed that easily surpassed the speed of sound. It was already producing
afterimages that it looked like it was splitting into many whips.
"Ei-"
"Owah-!?"
The whip flew toward the werewolf with a smile. The whip's ferociously attacked
Karashio and werewolf Ryutaro like Yamato no Orochi.
The two of them dodged with splendid combination, but seeing Ryutaro and
Karashio's desperate look, the whip handling of Taeko who was gradually looking
more ecstatic was increasing in intensity…
Karashio left behind his master and quickly showed his belly. It was a posture that
screamed "I'm fine with being just a dog already".
"Karashio!?"
Ryutaro let his guard down and the whip hit. "Abii!?" Ryutaro made a strange scream,
however, he endured it with his inherent guts. He took a stance imposingly and
grinned fearlessly,
"Come at me more! Get me even more heated up!"
Ryutaro intended to make the audiences even more excited with a lovely adlibbed line
but…
When he accidentally looked, there was a small silhouette peeking out from the edge
of the curtain――it was Suzu. Her eyes were expressing her feeling more eloquently
than anything. It said, "… pervert". At the same time, there was a cheering voice that
was louder than anyone from the audience seats.
"Keep going-, Ryutaro! Thy should open that door-"
It was the hopeless dragon-san. When he turned his gaze to her, she gave a thumb up
with a nice smile.
"I, I ain't like youuuuuuu-"
At this rate he would be acknowledged as pervert. He ignored things like rousing the
audiences and quickly moved to end the show of whip's superb technique and
werewolf's godly dodging but… Taeko-san who was starting to get into the mood was
unexpectedly strong!
The rampage of Taeko was really getting out of hand, so a new instruction came from
South Cloud leader.
[This is a disasterrr-. Among the audiences, is there a wizard who can do something
about this with just a few words of "because it's fantasy"!?]
The audiences weren't having any doubt anymore.
"There is one here! Today is the anniversary of the establishment Hogwar○ school of
witchcraft and wizardry, so I'm accidentally here yeah!"
The one who stood up was Kentarou. He headed to the stage and waved a short wand.
Instantly, thick white smoke rose up and covered the stage from view. It was the magic
of petrification. Taeko and Ryutaro whose movement was forcefully stopped were
recovered by Kaori in godspeed.
The flame and wind were also settling down along with the white smoke. During that
time the leader gave Shia the go sign.
The one who leaped out from inside the white smoke was a rabbit eared clown riding
on a giant ball. She was wearing a colorful clown costume that was arranged to look
cute and a red cushion ball on her nose. It was a rabbit clown.
Cheers rose seeing the display of magnificent acrobatics that would make any
acrobatic group went pale.
Then,
[Dear guests! Please look at below your seat!]
When they followed the words of announcer Nana, they found a basket there that was
filled with a lot of rubber ball.
Right after that, the rabbit clown was,
"Try hitting me with that if you can desuu~~. Well, it'll be impossible for the ordinary
people thoughhh! Pugyaaa—-"
She provoked with an annoying face and gesture as though she had a role model for it.
Tio who accepted the role as hired applauder stood up in order to make the guests
discarded their hesitation,
"Thou shall die-"
She said and threw quite seriously. The ball that flew while making the sound of
roaring wind caused the guests to instantly go pale, but the rabbit clown dodged with
a nimble somersault. She grinned while standing upside down with one hand on the
large ball.
"Eeeh? Did you do something just nooow? Ah, you threw just now eh! Slooo~~w!
Coould it be you have stiff shoulders? Puu-giggle giggle-"
Even though she knew it was just an act, vein snapped on Tio's forehead. The rabbit
tail that was shaking left and right to make fun of her looked excessively irritating.
"Dear guests~, what are you doing hesitating like thattt~. Even though you won't be
able to even graze mee! Fuhyahyahyah"
Behind the curtain, Hajime and Yue spoke "Uwaa, her copying rate is high~" in
admiration. One of the audiences stood up, then another…
They started to throw all at once!
"Funfufu~~n♪ Can't you quickly throw alreadyy~. Ah, I'm sorry! Everyone has
actually started!"
Why won't the ball hit! You- you-! Don't get carried away damn you!
"It's fine for everyone to get serious soon you knoow? Ah, everyone is already serious?
I'm sorry-, I never even thought that everyone's level is only to that degreee~, pupuh"
Match the timing! What're you all doing there! The barrage is thin!
A mysterious sense of unity was starting to form among the audiences. Even the
reporters right now were getting absorbed with throwing balls.
However, the annoying rabbit clown was hopping *pyon pyon* from ball to ball, from
the stage's pillar to pillar. She moved around freely to every direction round and
round, and it was just as she said, the balls didn't even graze her. Coupled with her
nonchalant face it was truly irritating.
And so, announcer Nana asked the audiences like every time.
[This is annoying! Isn't there any master of throwing among the guests!?]
"If there is any then that clown will have been shot down already!"
"The, there is one here!"
"There is one!?"
The one who stood up was Yuuka. The angry yell of the senior reporter was only
natural, so she went forward while twitching slightly.
[Do you bring anything to throoww-]
"I do!"
Yuuka crossed both her hands in a flash, and trump cards were spread out in a fanning
shape.
"Go-, Funne○!!"
It was the leader's instruction. It seemed he wanted her to say that no matter what.
The trump cards were thrown all at once. Even though they were thrown
simultaneously, all of them rotated in high speed while approaching from different
directions. They didn't stop there, right after the rabbit clown dodged, the cards made
a U-turn and rushed from behind. The trump cards came from literally every direction.
The trump cards that returned to their owner were immediately thrown again. Two
set of cards were already thrown into the storm of trump cards. A total of 108 cards
were dancing wildly on the stage.
It was an omni-directional juggling by throwing more than a hundred cards.
In front of that godly feet, the audiences were watching with their anger toward the
provocation vanishing without a trace.
However, as expected from the rabbit clown.
"I, is she splitting up her upper body?"
"I, is that, afterimage? That's impossible"
The voices of the reporters were astonished. Their mouths were fully opened as
though their jaw had come off from beign shown the afterimage dodging like a certain
Matri○ agent in real life.
[That was close-. It seems that the speed is insufficient by throwing cards! And so, is
there any greengrocer among the guests here!?]
Why greengrocer? While such question was filling the audiences, naturally,
"There's one here!"
Kaori said while standing up and lifting up shopping bags with full capacity on both
her hands.
[Next is there a master of old school of sword art here!?]
"There is one!"
Of course, Shizuku also stood up. It was really audiences seats that were filled by every
kind of people.
Like that, Kaori threw vegetables――radish, carrot, celery, cucumber toward Shizuku.
Shizuku shaped them into sticks with butter knife. Courteously, the vegetable sticks
were then flying toward Yuuka from the impact of the cutting.
The electrifying sword art, or rather the butter knife art due to the consideration
toward the swords and firearms control law didn't even give the audiences time to
raise their voice in admiration. The vegetable sticks that got settled between Yuuka's
fingers were thrown with speed that made them looked blurry.
It was the moment that the vegetable stick throwing skill that not only could pierce
wooden plank, but even thin iron plate or smartphone was born.
At the same time, the side effect was activated.
"It's a waste!"
The rabbit clown couldn't dodge. She could only catch the sticks with her mouth and
chewed *kari-kari, mokyuu-mokyuu* in high speed.
As the result, she couldn't win against the quantity,
"Abaah"
The rabbit clown was toppled over while holding on the vegetable sticks. It was truly
comical like a buffoon. 'Waaaaah' The audiences cheered in excitement.
Yuuka who helped the rabbit clown to stand up, and Kaori and Shizuku, the four of
them bowed gracefully toward the audiences. Everyone sent them applauses without
holding back.
In front of the developments that were like raging waves from the start, there were
already no one who could focus to question or doubt anything, right now anyone was
boiling up to simply do nothing but enjoying the world of dream that was overflowing
with godly feat.
After that.
The shows of the other classmates were completed, and at the end it was Yue.
The lighting was turned off temporarily on the stage and when the lighting showered
down once more, there was the figure of a girl sitting on a chair floating there. That
figure that wasn't twitching at the slightest while sitting limply without any strength,
coupled with her beautiful face caused many audiences to misunderstand that she was
a life-sized bisque doll.
Using telepathy, Yue's voice resounded directly into everyone's head. A tale of a doll
that wished to become the lover of the young man it loved was spun.
Right after that, the space glittered. It was the beginning of a time of magic.
Countless fine fragments were tinged with light and glittered. Suzu who was one of
lighting team produced them. It was a show using "Holy Severance – Cherry Blossom"
(the technique to control the fragments of a broken up Holy Severance).
Doll Yue that received magic had life breathed into her and moved. There many
audiences finally understood that she wasn't a bisque doll but a real girl. Enraptured
sighs were leaked out from them.
But, the change didn't end. Golden light enveloped Yue, and her figure changed into an
adult woman. The peerless beauty caused everyone to forget to even breathe. Then
right after that, the audiences cheered 'waaah'.
It was because the beauty floated lightly. It was as though she wasn't restraining by
anything anymore, she drifted in the air lightly like a feather. The figure that was
enveloped in golden light like aurora was so beautiful it would entrance anyone.
It should even be expressed with the word divine.
It was completely silent. The quietness came as though there was a tacit understanding
that they mustn't break the mystical time.
In the middle of that, Yue sang. The voice that was smoother, more charming, and more
glamorous than any musical instrument rode on the melody and spread.
Anyone was intoxicated by the gentle and calm singing voice.
But, the song was gradually rising in tempo. When anyone noticed the musical tone
had changed into a joyful song that would make anyone's body naturally followed the
rhythm.
It was the finale.
The people who had been performing until now were coming up on the stage one by
one.
Even Kouki and others who were in charge of lighting came up on the stage and the
one who came out last was the South Cloud leader aka Hajime.
Yue showed a happy smile from the bottom of the heart that anyone understood that
only this smile wasn't an acting. She got down and took Hajime's hand.
The sprightly song excited the audiences to the peak…
Like that,
"With this the dream time is over. Thank you very much for coming to watch the
performance of us returnees. Please enjoy the continuation of the school festival."
Hajime came forward and bowed. Following him all the classmates also bowed.
Right after that, cheers shook the air as though there was explosion. The wild
enthusiasm that was reverberating like an electric shock was surely without a doubt
spreading throughout the school. Whistling resounded and applauses were playing
out like heavy thunder.
Hajime and others smiled wryly, however they bowed once more with a face that
showed a sense of accomplishment. Yue secretly opened the tent with magic, and from
there light of reality shined in.
With that the audiences finally went out in droves as though they had woken up from
their dream but…
The heat inside their heart didn't feel like it would cool down for a while.
After that, perhaps that heat propagated.
The people who learned that the performance was only for one time rushed the school
festival committee to protest. The vice principal said "Do it until your limit!" even
while almost fainting. With that go sign, Hajime and co hurriedly performed nonstop
until four times.
At the post-festival event after the school festival was over, as expected even the
returnees from other world became totally exhausted.
"…Haa, in the end we couldn't look around the school festival except at the morning.
Even though I wanted to show Myuu around more."
Hajime said that while sighing. Yue who was snuggling on him let out a chuckle.
"…Nn. You regret it?"
When Hajime noticed, all the classmates were looking at him. Hajime looked to be
thinking for a bit before he shrugged. And then, he lied down spread-eagled and
entrusted his body to the pleasant fatigue that he hadn't felt for so long.
"There's a sense of accomplishment that is equal with that last decisive battle. It's not
a bad school festival."
He said such thing along with a gentle smile.
Seeing everyone's demon king-sama like that, Yue and others were also lying down
spread-eagled one after another while laughing in agreement.
"…You're trying to end this with a good vibes but, Nagumo, I won't forget the
resentment of turning me into Abyss Lord."
"…Endo? So you're here."
"Obviously I'm here! I'll cry you know!"
Everyone jerked for a moment. When they recognized that it was the lord――or rather
Kousuke, bright laughter spread once more.
Also, this matter of school festival was greatly publicized in the mass media. It also
became a great commotion in the internet and Hajime ended up running around to
deal with the fallout but…
It was the fault of the performance of South Cloud leader who knew no self-restrain――in
other words he reaped what he sowed, so he worked hard even while shadow was
forming under his eyes.