Chapter 221: The small details don’t matter (1/2)

The gate opened.

A richly colored marbled pattern that was not kind to the eyes and a strange space was in sight.

And so what?

Without caring about it, I held up my left hand.

I create arrows with magic power in a manner that it surrounds the gate, and shoot them.

The target is big, so there’s no need to aim.

Obviously, the arrows hit both the strange space and the gate.

“Not only are you big, you can’t move either? For someone that was talking all high-and-mighty, you are—Otto.” (Makoto)

My arrows were returned.

The ones that hit the marble pattern huh.

Hmph~, so it has that kind of power.

A number of the arrows that hit that strange space had their trajectory deviated.

It is a gate, so it has specialties that even I expected.

It is probably not an individual that can fight much himself.

While brushing away the arrows that were deflected towards me, I observe its form.

I don’t need to worry about Tomoe and Shiki.

The two shouldn’t have problems in their self-defence.

And at this moment, those kind of things are of no matter.

“You are quite the sturdy gate.” (Makoto)

“This makes me question your sanity, Misumi Makoto. You, do you really intend to fight me?” (Samal)

The gate didn’t have a single wound.

“Fight? No way.” (Makoto)

“Then what was that preemptive strike just now.” (Samal)

“Ah, that wasn’t what I meant. It will probably not even be counted as a fight. That’s how I thought.” (Makoto)

My thoughts sinking into deeper cold was pleasant.

The confusion I felt in the past fight with Io was not present here and was all disappearing in this occasion.

I look at my enemy, do my next action, and then defeat it.

“Insolence, arrogance; you are the very representation of that. Truly foolish.” (Samal)

Hm?

Something came out from Samal.

A mamono?

“You can’t even fight yourself? Who’s the foolish one here?” (Makoto)

Strange-looking things came out in succession from the gate.

But…every single one was weak.

It is on the level of the weakest top in the wasteland.

If it’s a number of them, Toa’s party would be able to deal with them without any problems.

Well, there’s already tens of them coming out from the gate, so a normal town would be destroyed.

But this is Asora, and the ones here are not adventurers but us.

We are not in a normal town at all, so this supposition is totally pointless.

I will shoot them all to death.

For some mysterious reason, I knew where to shoot them in order to kill them.

When I thought this was easy game…

“…Shiki huh.” (Makoto)

“I do think I have stepped in unnecessarily.” (Shiki)

“…No.” (Makoto)

I was planning on headshotting every one of them, but those guys suddenly began falling on their own.

I soon understood the reason why.

Shiki’s ring.

The activation of Niflheim that can be used in a wide scale.

If used while holding back, it can be restrained to only weakening, but if there’s no holding back, it can dry up life itself.

There’s differences between individuals, but the mamonos that were trying to attack us were being wiped out without exception.

“So you at least possess the power to summon me huh.” (Samal)

There was still composure in the words of Samal.

Well, they are coming out without any signs of stopping, so he is probably trying to push through with numbers.

From within the group, there were humanoid shaped ones, Elf and Dwarf-looking people, and armed human-like ones too.

Humans are a pretty rare race to begin with, so I think it is something resembling them, but that doesn’t matter either way.

If they are coming at us, they can just die within Shiki’s mist -Niflheim.

If they pass the boundaries of Niflheim, I can just shoot them with arrows.

It is truly a simple method with no need to worry about anything.

That’s nice.

Well then, let’s aim well this time.

“Bow? What an unfitting thing to use from the many choices you had for a weapon.” (Samal)

“…You are really good at irritating me. Almost like the Goddess.” (Makoto)

Taking my stance with Azusa, I heard the words of Samal.

Seriously, I feel like I am doing a rehearsal for the time when I actually fight the Goddess.

Thinking about silencing him a bit, I aim at the masked part and concentrate.

And just like that, I shot.

“!!”

My arrows, that have become progressively faster since coming to this world, hit his mask and pierced through it.

It is not as if the strength was proportional to the speed, but it is not a problem even if it is fast.

It is actually welcoming.

A big hole was made right in the center of the mask and broke.

“Like I said, be a bit more quiet.” (Makoto)

I speak to the mask that was regenerating at high speed as if trying to cover up the damage.

While at it, I shoot several shots at the frames.

Every single one was able to gouge out Samal, but all were healed.

Does he have better stats in other points to compensate for not being able to move?

Then I have to find the vital points.

I lower Azusa for now and activate [Sakai], at the same time, I concentrate and observe Samal.

“…Oh. You have one interesting hidden card.” (Makoto)

“Perish.” (Samal)

While I was doing that, I felt honest surprise at what came out from the opened gate.

This is kind of…interesting.

“Well, you move from world to world, so it is a given that you will pick up a lot of things from various places huh. You seem to be specialized in that after all.” (Makoto)

The mamonos and the other random things that are coming out don’t seem to have uniformity.

I strangely don’t feel scared.

That’s because I could tell it wasn’t a threat for me.

I think it is a missile.

I don’t know the specific warhead though.

For some reason, I was sure of it: this isn’t something that can kill me.

At the same time as Samal spoke, a gigantic and blue something that can only be called a weapon came out at a close range of several tens of metres and was directed at me.

Of course, I already had a number of methods to stop it.

“…This time it is Tomoe huh.” (Makoto)

“It may be of no concern, but this isn’t something that I can just spectate. Sorry for intruding.” (Tomoe)

“It is fine.” (Makoto)

Noticing the tactic of Tomoe and confirming it, she readily admitted about intruding.

The several missiles, that were heading directly at us, passed through us, and after advancing for a while, they disappeared like mist.

I was thinking about stopping it with an arm of the Magic Armor though.

“You rascals…Could you be divinities?” (Samal)

Samal was spitting out mamonos continuously, but he has finally noticed the stupidly big mountain of corpses.

Even when they tried to climb over it, they died, and even if they were able to get pass it, they fell and died.

Well, it has become a pseudo-mountain now.

“Divinity? I don’t know about that.” (Makoto)

Shiki’s Niflheim and Tomoe’s Pure Illusory Reality.

Hah…

So this is all it takes?

I don’t know about this divinity he is talking about, but honestly, I don’t have any interest aside from crushing him.

“Fuh…there’s no way. They are all interesting techniques, but if it is just one talent, there’s plenty of people that have gained a technique that has reached the level of divinity.” (Samal)

“…Waka, there’s an interference in the surrounding space.” (Tomoe)

Before the notification of Tomoe, I had already noticed it.

It wasn’t only from the gate; it seems like he is able to put some tricks in his summonings as well.

So he does have a main method of attack huh.

It wouldn’t do much if the opponent were to notice before the activation though.

“Well done noticing. It is normally hard to even see it; the notorious frenzied dance of weapons. But it is too late even if you notice it now.” (Samal)

“I see. The missiles were a lot better than this. So this time it is just an imitation of Sofia?” (Makoto)

With one of them appearing behind me as the onset, western and orient weapons of ancient and modern times were appearing in succession at the surroundings.

This spectacle was pretty similar to what the Dragon Slayer Sofia, who had a contract with the Blade Dragon Lancer, showed me once.

The power behind it might be different.

Actually, it might be a different spell altogether.

But there’s no way for me to know the details of it.

“Even if you rascals can erase missiles, you won’t be able to deal with these swords that have the understanding of experts—?!” (Samal)

“A weapon that doesn’t have a user; no matter how many there are, there’s no point in it. I don’t know about this ‘understanding’ you talk about, but an expert that exists is a lot more scary than this. No matter how much performance, no matter what legend these masterpieces come from…their real worth doesn’t come out unless it comes in a set with their masters.” (Makoto)

And if it’s a rehash, that’s more the case.

There’s 108 -no, 112 huh.

So it wasn’t the same number as the worldly desires huh.

So close.

The numbers are not many. I locked them all in my sniping image.

I lift Azusa and take a stance.

The swarm of weapons that are moving simultaneously…

“Disappear.” (Makoto)

“…”

I could tell that Tomoe and Shiki gulped their breath. This is something that happened after I destroyed the hundred or so weapons.

I shot only once.

With my aim on the targets, the light streaks that branched from my hand had pierced them all.

The end.

“…I am a God, you know.” (Samal)

“That’s a bluff, right? I know a number of others that are not Gods and are still stronger than you.” (Makoto)

“I wouldn’t tell lies.” (Samal)

“Then, there are also weak Gods huh.” (Makoto)

I found several candidates for vital spots.

I tried shooting through one of them, located at the lower part.

“?!!”

Haha, the regeneration is clearly slower.

So it really is one huh.

Then, the next one.

“I have lived for long, obtained volition, and obtained the status of God. Just a bit more, and I would have been able to reach further beyond…” (Samal)

Outside frame, from my location, at the left shoulder, 7 centimeters and 2 millimeters in the inner part.

“Too bad then.” (Makoto)

I could feel that Samal was in pain.

There’s definitely damage.

The regeneration is clearly slower than in all the other parts.

The appearance rate of the mamonos and other things has grown slower too.

We have been intercepting them with Shiki’s Niflheim and my sniping, so even if it hadn’t grown slower, there wouldn’t have been any problems at all.

From my point of view, I can’t see the full picture of Samal with all the wreckage and corpses, but there’s no meaning in it.

As long as I know he is there, that’s fine.

“…Something’s strange—?!!” (Samal)

The protuberance at the upper part’s right side of the mask.

That place as well huh.

Maybe all the candidates I found are all correct?

So they are not the type that bring instant death huh. It is a pain that he seems to still be fine.

I shot when he was in the middle of talking, so his words were cut off.

‘Something’s strange?’

Nothing’s strange.

Just what is this guy saying?

“Not really. There’s nothing strange. You are simply unsightly. I wondered about what you would do -being huge and all- but the only thing you did was bring stuff out like the gate you are. Moreover, they were all weak.” (Makoto)

Left gate door, top metal fixtures of the handle.

Right gate door, two points at the frame.

I continued piercing them.

“?!!!! Then!! Why are you smiling faintly?! In the middle of a fight!!” (Samal)

“So you were still misunderstanding something? Didn’t I say it in the beginning? This is not a fight; this is just trampling.” (Makoto)

So I was smiling huh.

There wasn’t anything amusing though.

“…Tomoe, Shiki. Was I smiling?” (Makoto)

“Yeah. This is the first time I saw you like this though.” (Tomoe)

“This is also…the first time I see Waka-sama have a faint smile while preparing your bow.” (Shiki)

“I see. I wasn’t amused but angry though. I will be careful.” (Makoto)

Being conscious of my mouth and my eyes, I bear in mind to keep it emotionless.

If it was unconsciously, it was probably a habit of mine, but it is a strange habit.

Let’s be careful.

This might have been the reason that made Tomoe and Shiki draw back.

“You are saying I am unsightly and weak? I was born as an excelling magic tool! After several hundreds of years, I gained will! Collected souls as an existence that connects worlds! And I was finally able to obtain the status of God! And you are calling someone like me unsightly and weak?!” (Samal)

The status of God.

Divinity.

Hah…

So that’s what he meant by ‘divinities’ huh.

I don’t know what’s the difference between that and a God, but well, that’s fine.

In that case, this guy is in short…

“…Heh. Even if you say you are a God, you are just an object that gained will?” (Makoto)

“What was that laugh for? You rascal are a simple mortal yourself.” (Samal)

“And you are about to lose to that mortal. Sorry but, in my perspective, you are not a God, but more of a *Youkai*. If I had to choose, I would classify you as a mamono.” (Makoto)

“What insolence.” (Samal)

Because you know, when you talk about an object that gained a will, wouldn’t that be a Youkai?

In my perspective, he doesn’t feel that much of a God.

However, I like the basic idea of a tool obtaining a will after being treasured for a long time or being treated roughly.

That’s why I treat my tools with care.

This guy called Samal might have been born from the result of one of those.

I wouldn’t think about treasuring this guy at all though.

I would rather break it.

“You are demanding a thousand lives, so classifying you as a monster is plenty enough. You know, after being called a monster a lot of times, you actually get used to it. It isn’t as suffocating as being called a God, and in the first place, it suits you.” (Makoto)

“Unforgivable. I definitely won’t forgive you.” (Samal)

“Hahaha, what a coincidence. I feel the same way.” (Makoto)

From below the mask, 3 millimeters at the contours of the chin region.

“…Fool.” (Samal)

Even though he has been shot to the point of being unable to properly speak, he is still energetic enough to continue his impudent talk.

He is already broken here and there, and he still has the nerves.

“…Could it be…there’s no way.” (Tomoe)

“What’s wrong, Tomoe?” (Makoto)

I heard words of surprise from an unexpected direction.

“This is the space of Waka and I. Even though neither of us has given the permission…there’s no way he would be able to retreat. Is that a special characteristic of this guy?” (Tomoe)

“So you intend to run away. So that wasn’t impudent talk but retreating words.” (Makoto)

To have him stay here, Tomoe and I had prohibited the exit and entrance of anything.

And yet, from what Tomoe said, it seems like this guy intends to run away.

“There’s no way I will let myself be defeated by a rascal like you. The day I obtain a position worthy for me, I will celebrate it by slaughtering this world along with you all.” (Samal)

“Waka, this guy will escape. I can’t stop his interference with the space!” (Tomoe)

Is it because he is a God-like existence that’s specialized in space manipulation?

Is there a position higher than that of a God?

It seems like Samal thinks that that position is what’s truly worthy for him, so there’s probably one.

If that’s the case, then maybe there’s some sort of difference between obtaining a spot as a God and actually becoming one?

Just like how he said himself: ‘if it’s only in one talent, there’s already people that can imitate God-class’, so it is not strange for Samal himself to be able to achieve this kind of feats in terms of teleportation.

It would be hard to keep him inside Asora by force or block him from entering.

But hearing Tomoe’s agitated and nervous voice is kind of rare.

She cooled me down a bit.

Unnecessary noise has mixed in my mind.

Emotions are an hindrance for my objective of crushing Samal.

Hah…

“I have stored this place in my memories. You, your slaves, your world, and your family that lives in the Origin world; one day, I will definitely—” (Samal)

“I definitely won’t let you escape. That’s what I have decided.” (Makoto)

“?!”