Chapter 12 - Tortus Travel Journal (12)

That man was in a horrible state.

――Guh, so my hidden secret technique is shatteredHis breath was short and gasping. One of his arms were limp and didn't

move at all as though it had been dislocated.

――So it can't reach-. My strengthThe blood that was flowing out from his split forehead dirtied his face

gruesomely. The black outfit was blackly dyed by his bleeding. He was

literally wounded all over.

――So this is… as far as I go…

He ran out of weapon with only a single broken dagger remaining. His

stamina was already at the limit.

However, but.

Only the oath he swore in his heart, was going strong!!

――Even if it's hopeless by yourself, I'm still here

――My other half…

――We'll go together-, isn't that right!?

――Yeah, exactly. Exactly, partner!

That was why!

Although there wasn't anyone watching! He played two roles alone like

performing conversation!

――Not yet-. It's still not over yet! You master of the deep labyrinth! My

abyss has no limitWell, he was the abyss lord.

He swung around the limp arm forcefully while making a turn, the only

action that he couldn't possibly stop doing. Right after that, the abyss lord

ate Miledy golem's iron fist and he was blown away.

――Ogeeh, fuh, that was an, gofuh… afterimage!

It wasn't an afterimage so he received great damage. He was literally

vomiting blood.

And then, the current Miledy golem was an automatic type that didn't

reflect her personality, so it attacked further without the slightest mercy at

all.

He desperately leaped from floating block to floating block desperately, but

there the group of knight golem drew near.

――Wai-, sto-, don'-

He was ganged up and beaten black and blue. He was beaten up within an

inch of his death. He was also kicked and grinded repeatedly. Next he also

almost got everything he had torn off from his body.

The lord barely escaped with his life from the encirclement of the knight

golems by jumping out. He was in a half naked state. He hugged the black

outfit that had been reduced into a tattered scrap on his chest. His figure

running in totter with teary eyes looked completely like a girl who was

desperately running away from a rape.

Seeing such figure that was pathetic in a sense,

"He really doesn't learn. As expected, Endou got guts."

Words of praise echoed.

It was Hajime.

It was Hajime-san who prevented the great labyrinth capture of Kaori,

Shizuku, and Tio as the result of his passion and romance gushing out

excessively in developing and deploying the last boss in the style of series

collaboration type Gun○m――Super Miledy G.

After getting hounded by the extremely enraged Kaori and co and made the

Super Miledy G self-exploded tearfully, Hajime and co entered the deepest

room. There, they got on Miledy's magic circle, but as expected it seemed

they weren't recognized as successfully overcoming the last boss, so Kaori

and others couldn't obtain the gravity magic.

Naturally they pressed at Hajime in double extreme rage mode.

If asked how angry they were, it could be easily guessed when that Tio was

starting her lecture with monotone voice that was filled with logic,

prudence, moral, ethics, and sense. There was nothing more terrifying than

a pervert who was scolding with composure as well as seriousness.

Also, Kaori was staring fixedly *jiii~~~* at him with eyes that were like

whirling black hole, while Shizuku was starting to sharpen her black katana

quietly. That sight was also absurdly terrifying.

It was to the level that Hajime displayed an astonishing scene of

spontaneously taking seiza posture and said "I'm really sorry for getting

carried away…".

And, that was why Hajime who was unable to endure the complicated gazes

of the parents as well as Yue and others relied on our abyss lord at the same

time when Tio's scolding finished.

If it's that guy then surely! He'll smash apart this atmosphere without a

doubt! Hajime thought.

Like that she asked Yue to replay the past to observe abyss lord VS last boss

golem that was still normal at that time but…

"Yeah, even though he has been beaten up like this for almost nearly one

hour."

Shuu agreed with Hajime. His expression was showing strong color of

admiration as expected.

The lord's fragrant behavior was reaching the extreme when entering the

climax of the labyrinth capture. At first both parent and son would cover

their face with both hands while appreciating the playback from between

their fingers, but right now they weren't being like that anymore.

The other people were also the same.

That was solely due to the deep impression they received from the strength

of the lord's will that endured through this far. He exhausted every possible

mean, however he wasn't a match against what he faced. Even though he

was in abyss lord mode he was running around without regard to his

appearance, screaming pathetically, and even became teary eyed. And yet

apparently there was no option of giving up within the lord.

Even though Hajime aimed to "smash apart the atmosphere" with the

fragrant act that would make anyone able to endure watching, the lord's

battle was unexpectedly tugging at their heart.

Right now there was no one who would make tsukkomi at every little

fragrant action or getting red faced. They were purely cheering at the lord's

deathly battle.

"…Nn. It's making us feeling thrilled like this even though we already

know the result… Endou, keep going."

"Doing something like this for someone she love, it's really firing you up!

Do your best~!"

Yue was feeling sweaty in their palm, while Shizuku, Tio, and Aiko were

also cheering while making comment at the same time regarding the main

culprit.

"Really, after seeing this I'm reminded once more about how absurdly

brutal the requirement that was set up."

"After this an even more brutal requirement would be waiting. Normally it

wouldn't be strange for someone to think that they're indirectly being

rejected from being given such requirement but…"

"From the atmosphere of Rana-san at that time, it was like she was I

unconsciously said that! wasn't it? Really, as expected from Hauria."

"I'm sorry for our Rana-san-"

If it had to be said further, if this requirement was cleared it still didn't

mean that Rana would go out with Kousuke. She would simply just

"considering" going out with Kousuke. It made anyone wanted to make

tsukkomi, Rana-oneesan, are you trying to act like a certain princess from a

country somewhere huh?

Of course, for the person herself it was the first super passionate wooing

from the opposite sex in her life that made her embarrassed and flustered

that her mouth unconsciously slipped but… that kind of thing was also

related with "So it's Hauria again huh" as expected.

"But doing this for the sake of a girl he love is wonderful isn't it."

"Really. Endou-kun is a mysterious kind who I can recall completely how

he look even though I should have met him several times but, after seeing

this I won't be able to forget him anymore――perhaps."

Kaoruko agreed to Sumire's words. Akiko and Kirino also nodded deeply.

"Actually, before seeing the past image here I was thinking "Endou-kun?

Who was that?", but to think he is actually someone this amazing."

"His battle technique is also splendid. I even want to make him learn the

reverse side of Yaegashi style."

Even the evaluation from the mama~s was extremely favorable. And it went

without saying how Shuu and others the papa~s were feeling. Kousuke's

evaluation was rising explosively.

But, there Sumire suddenly tilted her head.

"Eh? But it's strange. I can't really remember his face…"

"Now that you say it… even while looking at him like this, mysteriously I

can't see his face."

"Strange… Things like his front hair, or the dust, or the golem, when his

face almost come into view there will be something in the way and I won't

be able to see his face clearly."

Kaoruko and Kirino were also puzzled by that profoundly mysterious

phenomenon.

"Kousuke-oniichan, she is like the faceless god nano~"

" " "!!?" " "

The gaze of Hajime and Shuu and Sumire snapped at Myuu. Remia asked

Myuu with her usual nonchalant tone.

"Myuu, what do you mean by faceless god?"

"He is a friendly uncle nano~"

"Myuu! Give me a bit more detail of that! What kind of uncle he is!?"

"? I can't really remember nano. That's why he is just like Kousukeoniichan!"

"Right now Kousuke-oniichan doesn't matter!"

"Wait Hajime! Myuu-chan is joking isn't she? She is isn't she!?"

"Pe, perhaps, she saw something at the internet right? Right? Myuu-chan,

that's the case right?"

"?"

In respond to Shuu's question, I don't really get what you are saying…

Myuu made a puzzled expression that seemed to say that. Seeing that, the

Nagumo parents and child's expression spasmed together.

"It's someone's bad joke, obviously that's the case. But Hajime! Just in

case, do something about it!"

"Yeah, you're right. That's just a fiction after all! But Hajime! Just in case,

do something!"

"Acknowledged!"

It seemed it was only the Nagumo parents and child who really got an idea

about it. Everyone was making a puzzled expression wondering what they

were so flustered about.

Then, right after that, the lord inside the past playback screamed. The

blocks on the ceiling came off and fell down like heavy rain.

"Ah, that one huh. That was also dangerous for us wasn't it."

Even Hajime who was greatly worried by Myuu's disposition to attract

strange occurrences immediately returned to his senses and let out deeply

emotional words. In the past he used Limit Break and Lightspeed to

somehow slip through this, even so he couldn't get away unharmed from

this "ceiling drop". In a manner of speaking, it was a last boss's handbook

all area attack.

"Eh? But unlike with our time, the way they fell is systematic isn't it?"

"…Nn. Perhaps, without Miledy controlling it, they're falling through the

pattern that had been set beforehand."

Just like Yue said, the ceiling blocks were only falling straight with their

timing slightly off. So to speak, it was like high speed tetris. It seemed that

it became something that could be slipped through somehow just barely.

Although, the lord had been wounded all over and past his limit from a long

time ago. He desperately slipped through the heavy rain of ceiling blocks

but his movement was lacking luster as expected. Finally he got hit by one

block.

He raised a voice of anguish and his body was blown away. The lord fell

toward the ground of the vast space. Just before he crashed on the ground,

he somehow deployed a barrier in an instant and softened the impact. But,

he vomited blood from the great damage.

While his expression turned despairing seeing the mercilessly falling

blocks, he crawled and rolled on the ground, somehow shoving himself into

the gaps between blocks and avoided becoming a stain on the ground.

Although, that was all. He was buried under the mountain of blocks and no

matter how they looked it he had run out of option. He was also running out

of strength too.

"…Oi oi. That guy, from here how did he…"

Hajime's question was only normal. It was like the checkmate had been

unspokenly declared from what they could see.

Then,

――Damn ittt… this is pathetic…

Kousuke's mutter echoed. It was a small mutter that sounded hoarse and

weak.

However, it was a voice that contained no resignation at all.

――But well, something to this degree… yeah

――If not, then dealing a wound on that guy… will just be a pipe dream

The automatic Miledy golem and the knight golems were surrounding him

at midair. In the middle of that a disquieting presence was rising up from

under the ceiling blocks restlessly.

――Because that guy… Nagumo… he didn't give up a single thing

"…"

――He was against an opponent he was totally helpless against… against a

god-… even so he fucking won-

"…"

――Then, even Iii-

*Stir stir stir stir* Something like a black mist was flowing out from

between the gaps. It completely covered the ground in the blink of eye…

――Who the hell is going to give up at the end like this-, I'll burn this soul

until nothing remainClone bodies were gradually rising from the black mist.

Naturally, Raisen's degrading effect dispersed them.

Clone bodies were created again right after.

Disperse.

Appear.

Disperse, appear, further dispersion.

Disperse, appear, appear appear…

If it was dispersed then even more appeared! Appear appear appear disperse

appear appear appear appear disperse appear appear appear appear appear

appear appear appear appear disperse appear appear appear appear appear

appear appear appear appear disperse――

The appearance rate of the clone bodies was suprassing Raisen's magic

power dispersion effect!

A sublime will was mastering the stunt of creating clone bodies from clone

bodies at this eleventh hour, realizing multiplication at overwhelming

speed!

Seeing that scene, seeing the friend who used his way of living as the

support of his heart to rouse himself, Hajime was――

"Uwah, disgusting-"

Creeped out.

Next,

"Papaaa-, it's scary nano~~"

Myuu hugged her papa with tearful eyes.

Because, it couldn't be helped. They were crawling out rustlingly without

end from the gaps of the blocks. The ground was completely covered with

the stirring lords in the blink of eye.

That scene looked exactly like a great swarm of gokiburi?cockroachG. It

was the reappearance of nightmare in Haltina sea of trees.

"Hiih. No more of thaatt-"

"Shizuku-chan! Get a hold of yourself! That's not G but Endou-kun!"

"Both of those things are the same!"

"I understand that you're confused but-, Shizuku-san! As expected that's

too pitiful for him desuu!"

"Black thing, a lot, no!"

"Aa, Yaegashi-san is regressing into infant! Here-, soul magic!"

"Don't return me to sanity! Ai-chan-sensei!"

"Shizuku, that's pathetic. In our Yaegashi style, there is also

ninjutsu――cough, acrobatics and torture――cough, questioning art that

used cockroach."

"Ojii-chan! Confess already that we're ninja! I won't be deceived at all!"

"I'll teach it next time to Shizuku so you can conquer your weakness."

"I'll sever our parent and child relationship! Okaa-san!"

Shizuku recalled the gruesome pass of loving G at Haltina Great Labyrinth

and slipped into small madness. But even during that time the abyss lord

that had been truly awakened began his last battle.

Using the clone bodies as stepping stones, or sometimes throwing them,

with the overwhelming quantity that continued to multiple endlessly he

leaped toward Miledy golems and others.

The knight golems were wrestled by several dozen lords in a flash and

taken down to the ground, or perhaps they were dragged into simultaneous

self-destruction and got pulverized.

The clones plundered the shield or sword from those knight golems and

shaved down the weapon of Miledy golem using wave attacks from all

directions.

――Kuh, this black steel-, it's too hard-

――There isn't a scratch even with suicide bombing-

The azantium armor that protected the Miledy golem's core. Although its

power was reduced, it was a protective wall that blocked even Hajime's

railgun. The lord gritted his teeth before it. But, at the same time,

――Muh!? This is… so that's how it is!

――Begone!

――I shall self-destruct! Glory to the abyss!

The piled up ceiling blocks were blown away. The ceiling blocks were

pulverized with brute force using quantity of suicide bombing. Cutting

across the cloud of dust, the clones carrying black sword or spear leaped up.

"That kind of thing huh…"

"…Nn? Hajime, what's the matter?"

Hajime showed a face of understanding. Yue tilted her head and asked him.

"No, it's the azantium chest armor protecting Miledy golem's core. It's

practically impossible to destroy in a place where you can't use magic

decently. It will be a checkmate if you can't brute force using magic with

colossal magic power."

"…Nn. Certainly."

"Even though it's a place where you can't use magic, you can't clear it

without using magic… as expected from Miledy! Dirty! You're dirty

Miledy!"

"No, there was a relief measure after a fashion. You know, even my pile

bunker, even if it has enough power it will be broken if it's only normal

metal stake right? But mine was also manufactured from azantium."

Right after that, the clone bodies hit Miledy golem's azantium armor dozens

of times with the black swords or spears before it finally cracked. They

were shaving off the armor bit by bit in order to widen the crack.

Kaori nodded in understanding.

"I see! The weapons that Endou-kun are holding are also made from

azantium! The reward of enduring the rain of ceiling blocks is obtaining

those weapons from inside the blocks after destroying them!"

"It seems that originally it's something like that."

"That's a lie! There is no way Miledy can have that kind of conscience!"

"Shia, you are really scathing toward Miledy huh. No, I understand your

feeling though."

Even while making such conversation, the lord endlessly continued

thrusting at Miledy golem exactly like hungry G swarming at just one food.

――We, still have this much strength!?

――This power that is welling up from inside…

――I see. This is, this is… the power of loveThat was just the special quality of abyss lord mode you know? That

exposition was thoroughly explained from Kaori to all the parents.

Right after that, the clones finally succeeded in throwing the Miledy golem

to the wall. The main body of the lord landed on the floating block right

above it while holding a black spear. His last charge was fierce.

――Try to receive this-, o ancient protector! This is my Abyssgate

Zeroabyss style final ultimate sec――――

He said such thing. No matter how much time passed boy would always

love the cliché or chuuni… as though to proof that, not just Hajime and

Shuu, even Tomoichi and others were also going "Oooh" in excitement,

and finally Kousuke E Abyssgate's finishing attacK――

――BUURRRRRRRNIN○ LOOOOVE-!!!

Struck out. It was a normal thrust, but perhaps surely it was the final

ultimate secret technique. Just to be clear, it reached Miledy's core without

fail.

Miledy golem turned limp, light was gone from its eyes, and it was

crucified to the wall. Then the lord fell to the ground as though he had used

up all of his energy and willpower and lied spread-eagled. Seeing that

Hajime was――

"Was that a rip-off?"

"That was a rip off."

"That was a rip off wasn't it~"

Nagumo family was merciless. Certainly, it was like a certain fast battleship

that was personified into human. Perhaps before long he would also speak

"YES! I will show you what Aby is made of!".

"A, anyway he won! Endou-kun is amaziiing"

"Really. As expected from someone who is called "nonchalantly the

mankind's strongest" or "the demon king's right arm"."

When Kaori and Shizuku said that in order to repair the mood that was

broken by the Nagumo family, words of praise were expressed as though

they had just seen a great Hollywood movie.

"Yeah, really."

Although he spoke few words, Hajime's expression that formed a small

smile expressed his praise more eloquently than anything.

"H~m, but is he really alright? Endou-kun, it feels like he really had spent

everything he has…"

"He isn't even twitching you know? Somehow it feels like he will die

anytime now."

The Hatayama mother-daughter worriedly looked at the lord on the ground.

――Hics hics hics hics, I did it, I did it me… I want to die… hics hics hics

hics, with this I'm one step closer to Rana… I'm glad I came alone… hics

hics hics hics… what the hell did I mean by the inner me… why did I play

two role by myself… I am me… ah, this way of speaking is also… shit-,

my heart is invaded… I'm becoming not me… wait that's why that's not it,

me! I cannot speak in that way! Ah, I'm talking to myself again! This is

bad, really baad, even though the lord mode should have been dispelled my

words are strangely fragrant like thiiss…

He couldn't move from the damage, but, rather than the damage to his body,

the damage to his heart was unbearable that the flood of tears couldn't stop.

The figure of Kousuke continuously muttering to himself could be seen

there.

The impressed face of Hajime and co was overwritten with "Uwaa" to the

expression of pity right away.

Although, it was the truth that the damage was serious, even the recovery

medicine that he brought with him had been used up since a long time ago.

If that was the case then just how on earth Kousuke could advance forward

from here and then returning back later?

While everyone was watching over him, that answer finally arrived.

One knight golem was regenerated and approached Kousuke with noisy

footsteps.

Kousuke moved only his eyes to confirm that and his expression turned

pale. He was extremely fatigued that he couldn't even move a finger. He

was truly in a hopeless situation. If he was attacked right now, he would be

killed as easily as killing a baby.

But, that knight golem didn't even unsheathe its sword and slowly kneeled

beside Kousuke. Then at the next moment, it took a surprising action.

Shockingly, it took out a small jar filled with liquid from somewhere and

gently placed it on Kousuke's mouth. Due to that, Kousuke was healed to

the degree that he could lift up his body.

It seemed, there was some healing bonus as the reward for clearing the

great labyrinth.

Seeing that,

"Lies-, this is a lie-! There is no way that Miledy is someone this

uprighttt!!"

"…Nn!? Shia, calm down! You forget your "desuu" desuu!"

"Yue too calm down! The end of your sentence got a "desuu" there!"

Shia was frenzied. Yue's mind was in chaos that she snatched Shia's end of

a sentence. Hajime understood the two's feeling and soothed them down.

That was just how shocking Miledy's kind consideration was even now

when they knew that she was a true protector who thought of the world. At

the very least, it would be impossible for her to make him drank the potion

like that. Even if she gave someone a recovery medicine, surely she would

place it on a position that was just barely couldn't be reached by the hand of

someone who couldn't move!

"That's right desu! Surely, it was a paralyzing medicine or something that

she dressed up as recovery medicine――"

"Ah, Endou-kun stood up! Looks like he recovered!"

"I don't want to admit iiit! I don't want to aaadmit it!!"

It seemed that Shia's feeling toward Miledy was really strong whether for

good or bad. Her rabbit ears and rabbit tail were shaking left and right

wildly.

While everyone was soothing down Shia, a floating block came in front of

Kousuke. It was the same with the one that Hajime and co rode. Kousuke's

step was unsteady but he somehow got on it and vanished into the deepest

room.

Like that, around the time Shia somehow calmed down.

There was the sound of a lot of water flowing along with the scream

"Aa~~~~~~!!" reaching their ears.