Chapter 274: Outbreak of War (1/2)

Chapter 274: Outbreak of War

This is probably the last.

19th floor, Grave palace, deep area.

Standing at the front of the teleport formation for the next floor, I nod.

It is a plan that I had Tomoe and Mio hear out, and made some retouches to.

Even when we have already arrived at one step before our goal, I still haven’t been able to think of a way to break the heart of Rokuya-san and his group, the Japanese people that have accepted immortality.

We are going to be marching into the enemy’s territory, and without killing anyone, we have to gain their cooperation including the person that hates me. Moreover, there’s no doubt that there are several forces there that are on a level that can be considered a threat to the Kuzunoha Company.

No matter how you look at it, there’s no doubt that this is a big challenge.

That’s why I think the idea that came out after cleanly piecing the information at the hotel was a miracle.

…The trigger of it was the casual conversation of Iroha-chan and Akashi-san though.

“Now then, looks like this will be a big job. My blood is boiling.”

While touching the blade of her katana, the silver haired mode Tomoe looks at me with a smile.

It is not as if this floor was challenging enough to warrant an enhancement.

It is because we will be needing that level of strength from Tomoe on what’s coming ahead, so I gave her the power beforehand.

Tomoe wasn’t there when the incident with Root happened, so she probably feels happiness at having a place to utilize her power aside from training.

“It will be difficult not to crush anyone, but if it’s the order of Waka-sama, I will carry it out perfectly-desu wa. But if possible, I would like to show people like Rokuya some pain. I wonder if that thing will stand in my way.” (Mio)

Mio, who now has glossy straight hair extending till her waist, said some dangerous stuff at the latter half as she laughs and narrows her eyes.

That figure of hers was gloss itself.

Tomoe’s smile has seductiveness in it, but Mio’s gestures have become more and more sexy lately.

Right now she is leaking out bloodlust from here and there, so if possible, this is the kind of gesture I would prefer to just look at instead of being in the receiving end.

But, in my personal opinion, I would like Mio to confront Haku Mokuren-san, Ginebia-san, or Rokuya-san depending on the situation.

Most of the reason she is like this is because ‘he pointed his blade at me’, but even if our thoughts are different, our desired pairings were the same.

“Bringing this much here, moreover, we have even received a ring from Tomoe-sama that’s only appropriate to call a sacred treasure…this Beren, if it’s today, I would be able to crush thousands!” (Beren)

…

Frankly speaking, I will be having Beren, Hokuto, and Shii, take on what’s probably the toughest role today.

Because, excluding the Adventurers of Origin, they will be fighting against practically everyone, and until things are settled, they will have to endure.

At first, I told the three that I was thinking about increasing the number of personnel, but their answer was the substantiality of the ‘equipment’.

The picnic side probably has less than a hundred, and we have analyzed the information we have gathered until now.

There’s quite the skilled ones that are S-class at the 20th floor, so I was thinking about calling Lime, Akua, Eris, and the elite four Arkes, but to my surprise, all three of them told me to wait.

They told me they wished for perfect equipment and the permission to utilize their full strength.

The three probably had some sort of plan.

There were several floors that were tough enough I would want to use them as training for the Kuzunoha Company, so that might be influencing too.

That’s why Beren got the permission of Tomoe and Mio, and also Shiki and Tamaki to bring a big amount of weapons that looked okay to bring.

Since a while ago, he has been looking at the ring Tomoe gave him with a face filled with motivation. It is an item that lets you use Asora like a storage.

For someone like me who is not good at the technical stuff, I simply see it as an item that opens a storage of big capacity.

Tomoe nodded when I said that, so the effect must not be far from my understanding.

It is not like you can just freely use it. Every time, you will expend a decent amount of magic power, so Beren will probably be using most of today’s magic power utilizing this.

“Ninja costume. As long as I have this, there’s already no worthy opponent. Whether it is to act as a wall, support, or damage dealer, I will show that I can fulfill those roles.” (Hokuto)

…The second one.

The big body of Hokuto was dressed in a ninja costume that felt incredibly out of place. A ninja look.

The motivation of the person himself, who recently changed into it, was quite high.

At the last area of this floor, there was one trap that was on a different level from the rest, and one of his arms was blown away, but the treatment has already been done.

Well, it may look weird, but its defense is high, and in the hidden parts of the clothe, there’s ornamental equipment that enhances it.

He is a high level Arke that can hunt adventurers like crazy with only his bare hands and skills to begin with. With training on top of that, and coordination as well, if it is the current Hokuto, even if the opponent is the legendary mercenary group, I don’t think his fighting power would lack to them.

His body technique and magic working together are without doubt powerful after all.

The only thing is that Hokuto doesn’t call it ninjutsu, but ninjutu, His way of speaking is clearly not that of a ninja, which is the only problem point of his.

“Even though you let us accompany you, the ones who will be doing the toughest work today will be Waka-sama’s group. On top of that, I even received assistance from Akua-sama and Eris-sama. Personally, I won’t be able to recover from that for a while. It is like, ‘mercenary group, prepare yourself’, kind of thing.” (Shii)

I thought Shii would be the one who would be the happiest in having reinforcements, and yet, the moment I brought out the names of Akua and Eris, she said ‘there’s no need, I can do it’, and suddenly changed her attitude.

After telling them the plan, everyone said something weird like: ‘we will defeat them all with a homerun’.

At the belt around her waist, there’s a number of multicolored experimental *sedges*. At her arm, there’s a bracelet that shines a pale green light, and at her ears, there’s new earrings.

She said: ‘I will be fighting with my all, as a physical type Forest Oni, and as an elf ancestor’.

She doesn’t use a bow, and she isn’t that good at magic, so those words were pretty rare to hear from Shii.

By the way, I called Lime to the hotel just in case.

I don’t think there will be an opponent appearing today that he wouldn’t be able to buy time against.

Truly the meaning of insurance.

“…Everyone, ready?” (Makoto)

Thinking that it is about time, I try speaking out, and what was returned were the same gazes.

Okay.

Just as planned, I will be the first one entering the teleport formation.

Enveloped in the light that I have already grown used to, there’s a 9 out of 10 chances that there will be a preemptive strike poured at me the moment the scenery changes.

Or maybe there will be a negotiation.

“Like hell that would be possible huh.” (Makoto)

Even if I could guess it from the words of Rokuya-san, what welcomed me the moment I appeared alone, was the bloodlust of a battlefield.

Also, the attack with no questions asked.

Not only arrows, there were even javelins, daggers, adzes, a variety of spells like offensive magic, debuffs, barriers being deployed; the types of debuffs were pretty plentiful.

“What a spectacle. But it is still not a threat.” (Makoto)

I do a few steps forward.

My head is calm.

Currently, what’s the scariest would be the surprise attack of Rokuya-san.

And the unknown power of the other Adventurers of Origin like him.

In other words…my beginning move is…

“?!!!”

I set Sakai to perception and search, and grasp the fighting force of the other side.

At the same time, the Magic Armor that had its concealment effect released had caught the eyes of everyone as it appeared.

Of course, this body constructed of magic power was steadily perceived by the other side, and maybe because of surprise or fear, there was some sort of atmosphere going around the place.

The attacks stopped -for only a small frame of time though.

The attacks raining down, the magic coiling about; in this space of time I was given, I evaporate both of those with the shockwave that the Magic Armor released.

If Sakai can’t detect them, there’s nothing I can do, but beginning with Rokuya-san, there’s no presence that might be of an Adventurer of Origin.

And everything I wanted to grasp, I was able to.

After several seconds, a number of presences appeared at my back.

Everyone has arrived.

Thanks to the network that Mio has connected with all six of us, the information is linked, and we are able to coordinate without any mistakes.

“We still don’t know how Rokuya-san and his group will be involved in this, so don’t lower your guard—-” (Makoto)

!!

The attack resumes.

The wave of magic attacks that were like a downpour.

On top of that…

“Fumu, it is quite the stuffy visage, but it is not on the level of Rokuya-ja no.” (Tomoe)

Tomoe disclosed the skill and exposes the assassin-like corps that were trying to come in contact with us.

There’s seven.

While at it, I burn the people that were most likely doing long ranged attacks to provide support.

Tomoe had her katana directed at the frontline unit, and Beren’s group of three came to her front and take a stance.

“They got us first, but let’s charge as well!!” (Beren)

Beren shouts without looking our way.

“Of course. I will blow them away to an extent that’s not fatal~!” (Shii)

“There was no need to even propose it, we are all on the same mindset huh. I was with the intention of bringing it to a melee fight and cause a disturbance to begin with. We are overwhelmingly at a disadvantage in terms of numbers after all.” (Hokuto)

When bringing it to a melee confrontation in those kind of situations, there’s the need to be prepared for death, but there was no light of desiring death in the eyes of the three.

They rushed like bullets aiming at the assassins, and in a second, two of the seven were rolling on the ground with good momentum, and had went out of combat.

Beren didn’t stop moving.

Swinging the big axe that’s in his hands with all the strength of his body, he throws it at the stronghold. Right after, he activates the power of the ring and brings out a new axe to his hands, and the assassin that was aiming at the supposedly barehanded Beren was repelled by his weapon.

Okay. This is on a level that can be a fight.

In that case…

“As expected, it begins from now on huh. Can’t expect much from the traps either. Leaving aside their numbers, the quality is pretty high.”

“Rokuya-san, you said there was a 7:3 chance that they would be going through the Buggy Palace, even the traps, that side’s where our real setup…”

“Now now, I have already contacted them, so the unit there will probably return in a few minutes. Let’s do our own job.”

“?!”

When I turn around, there’s the shadow of three people.

I couldn’t detect them at all even with the perception Sakai.

Moreover…it wasn’t only Rokuya-san, but the other two as well.

“…You really like surprising from the back…” (Mio)

Mio takes a fighting stance and makes a chilly whisper.

“The reason you didn’t attack us as it is, was it because of leeway, or maybe conceitedness? Which one should I take it as?” (Tomoe)

Tomoe’s words were tinged with slight anger.

If they weren’t putting any airs, they should have attacked just like that, and yet, they didn’t do that and were even talking on purpose to have us notice, which most likely rubbed both Tomoe and Mio in the wrong way.

“No way. We wanted to watch your playing hand a bit more, but since it was such an unexpected situation, we hurriedly came down. This here can hide me together with my companions, but it is an inconvenient item that doesn’t let me attack as it is. The limitations are many.” (Rokuya)

As he said ‘this’, Rokuya-san made a hiding gesture.

Together with his companions. Being able to hide your presence this perfectly is enough to make it a scary skill.

“…”

“What’s with that outrageous magic power? Honestly speaking, it hit my guts. Even in my long life, I haven’t seen anyone with as much magic power in its body as you.” (Rokuya)

“Who knows. People call me things like ‘Devil’ though. I don’t understand the reason well.” (Makoto)

“…So you were quite the racoon . Looks like my reading was wrong. I thought you were more of the honest type though.” (Rokuya)

“And so, I take it the one there is the Muse Danger, Haku Mokuren-san, and the Over Mash, Ginebia-san?” (Makoto)

“…”

Eh?

From their looks and equipment, there’s probably no mistake, but the two who are gazing at me are silent.

Are they not?

If that’s the case, that would be a bit uncool.

“…I am an Arrow Dancer. I am not a religious person, so there’s no way I would take a job that sticks to a God.” (Haku)

“…I am a priest or a bishop. I don’t remember being in a job that doesn’t sound like it has any relation to priesthood…… Why do you know that?” (Ginebia)

They both probably have strong special jobs, unique jobs.

But it seems like they don’t have a good impression of its name.

They mutter this as they turn their faces to the side.

In the case of the Adventurers of Origin, the things called jobs were probably born from the power called Guild Verse, and it is most likely strictly close to the ones currently at the guild.

They probably can’t set the names of their own jobs.

Well, this is convenient.

It seems it is still not the time to do what I asked of Tomoe and Mio after all.

I wanted to buy some time.

If we are able to do that with these three without the need of a fight, that would be most welcomed.

“Ah, Shougetsu-kun huh. If it’s him, he might have known things like this.” (Rokuya)

Rokuya-san scratched his head, and while making a wry smile, he spoke out the possibility he thought of.

It is exactly that.

“Later, I will go to the Osakabe house and give him a scolding.” (Haku)

“It seems there’s the need to teach that mongrel just how much of a taboo it is to lightly speak the secrets of a woman.” (Ginebia)

Mongrel?

It seems like my utterance has send sparks flying at Shougetsu-san.

It is a rare case where I am not affected much by it, but this is important.

Sorry, Shougetsu-san.

Being at the hotel is good payment, so please forgive me for this.

(Waka, we are done.) (Tomoe)

(Here as well, with no problems.) (Mio)

Okay.

I received the report I wanted to hear from Tomoe and Mio.

From here on, the true battle will begin.

Let’s do our best.

“Rokuya-san, here they come.” (???)

“?!”

“Good grief, looks like they were able to fix it huh.” (Rokuya)

I couldn’t feel any magic power, yet, a voice resonated from the whole floor.

…

“Something is…coming.” (Makoto)

From our surroundings, several presences appear.

Looks like it is not a direct attack though…

As if telling myself, and the other two, I mutter.

Even if my voice itself didn’t reach, it was also relayed to Beren and the others thanks to Mio.

It is true that this is enemy territory.

It is obvious that the opponent is at an advantage.

“Because of Takane-kun, my spirit received damage.” (Haku)

Haku-san.

“Me too.” (Ginebia)

And Ginebia-san also responded with slight grudge in her voice.

Takane, huh. It isn’t an Adventurer of Origin.

It is a magic power I can’t detect with Sakai, and the voice that resonates from the whole floor is definitely not that of a natural voice, it sounded artificial.

Is it the labyrinth manager, designer, or whatever it was?