Magika no Kenshi to Shoukan Maou-Volume 6 Chapter 2 — Enemy territory Infiltration (Part 1-3)

Part 1

“Cramped! Cramped! Cramped! The distance is too cloo―se-! I really dislike you! Despite that, how can your face stay so calm even through this much! You brute!”

Kazuha-senpai, who was like that had a positivity level of 82. There was not even a single skull mark that denoted the decrease of positivity level. Even her abusive remarks couldn’t be felt as anything other than one type of communication to him.

“Senpai, you only say that with your words, but you don’t hate me do you? Also senpai had promised to accompany me on a date hadn’t you?”

“Don’t treat an infiltration mission like a date you―!”

Right at that time, a slightly large wave lifted up the neck of the ship highly.

The neck of the ship rode through the undulating waves and was half falling with a jerk.

Kazuha-senpai was “UWAA!” surprised and her shoulder approached Kazuki.

An endless ocean. The small boat looked like an untrustworthy leaf floating on the sea.

“It’s okay, senpai. When push comes to shove…”

“When push comes to shove…?” Kazuha-senpai, who was shrinking her body looked at him imploringly.

“When push comes to shove, please stabilize the movement of the boat with Psychokinesis Kazuha-senpai.”

“You're relying on me!? I looked like an idiot for thinking that you were a little dependable heree―!!”

“Of course I’m also doing my best in driving the boat. But well, inside the bay, the waves are killed by the peninsula and island making the water quite calm so it’s okay. Though the morning seems early.”

Kazuki peered through the binoculars that were hanging on his neck while reinforcing his eyesight using magic.

“…Rather, what's scarier are human’s eyes, this is an infiltration mission after all.”

“The risk of discovery, the story is that Yamato doesn’t perform the coast security satisfactorily anyway right? If it’s just a citizen’s boat then it’s going to be overlooked even if it’s discovered, right?”

“Because the government cut the electric supply to western Japan, the emotions of western Japan’s citizen have become the worst. Something like a suspicious boat they have never seen might be reported right away to Yamato.”

“Is, is that so…this is the enemy’s territory after all… Even though this is Mie prefecture…”

That odd way of speaking unintentionally made Kazuki float an ironic smile. Kazuha-senpai talked even further.

“…When I studied the administrative divisions of Japan in elementary school, among the few that I couldn’t remember no matter what was Mie prefecture you know? I wonder if I incurred divine punishment…”

“For some reason I always jumbled up Aichi prefecture and Wakayama prefecture, I couldn’t make the distinction between them.”

“Fufufu, in that case you really like orange.”

Kazuha-senpai didn’t only insult him with abusive remarks, unexpectedly, when he made stupid talk with her, she was someone who would respond in a good mood. Finally she relaxed her stiff shoulders and showed a smiling face.

Looking at Kazuha-senpai’s face from the side where her hair was fluttering from the wind, Kazuki was charmed for a while.

And then Kazuha-senpai naturally leaned her shoulder and thigh unreservedly on Kazuki’s body. She became relaxed and from her mouth “~?” a humming sound was starting to leak out.

“Hey, how long are we going to keep like this?”

“It might be around one hour or so.”

“Whaa―tt, that’s unexpectedly short. So it’s not a considerable boat trip then?”

“Is it disappointing?” Kazuki asked Kazuha-senpai whose face was full of disappointment.

Kazuha-senpai suddenly went ‘hah’ and made a face of realization, “I, it’s not disappointing at all, who in the world would want to spend time together with you! I want this to end quicklyy―!” She leaned her body forward in a fluster.

“The boat will shake so please don’t struggle so much I said.”

While Kazuki met an unexpected difficulty in operating the flap, he embraced Kazuha-senpai with his left hand.

When her waist was embraced by Kazuki’s arm, a heart mark flew from Kazuha-senpai with a plop.

“Perhaps, senpai wants to be like this and intentionally made a ruckus?”

“Tha, that’s not true! This lady killer!”

―The enjoyable time passed in the blink of an eye. And then,

“…This is problematic.” Kazuki murmured while peeking through his binoculars.

“There really are that many people?”

They finally reached a distance where they could clearly see the opposite shore, but unexpectedly there were people on the shoreline of Toba where they planned to disembark.

“There are a lot of fishing ships, breeding farms of oyster or seaweed, female divers…something is visible.”

“There are also female divers? Your eyes are absurdly good huh.”

In any case the visibility was exceedingly good on top of the sea, there was no hiding place.

They must go through a route where they wouldn’t enter anybody’s line of sight and make their landing.

“Let’s make a detour slightly and search for a coastline where there aren't any people.”

Kazuki steered the boat going side-by-side with the land.

“Ah. Oi, Hayashizaki, seagulls are coming here!”

Like a child, Kazuha-senpai shook the shoulder of Kazuki who didn’t peel his eyes off from the binoculars.

“Seagulls…? They might be used to humans from the pleasure cruise for sightseeing that scattered feed to them.”

“So they want some feed, yosh!”

It seemed Kazuha-senpai brought some snacks inside her waist-bag. She took out a rice cracker. She stood up on top of the unsteadily shaking boat while guarding her balance, “Here-!” and threw the pieces of broken rice cracker to the sky. The seagulls took a nose dive with good momentum and caught the cracker with its beak.

“Amazing! Come on look Hayashizaki, these guys came along! They are amazingly smart!! Ahaha-”

“Geez, what is senpai making merry for…”

Separating his eyes from the binoculars, he looked up at Kazuha-senpai who was standing beside him―Kazuki watched the girl’s radiant smile in fascination. He involuntarily lost the next word he was going to say. The fringe of Kazuha-senpai’s short casual Japanese clothes was turned up lightly from the strong wind, although she didn’t notice it because she was too engrossed at the seagulls and making merry.

(Well, it’s fine), Kazuki returned to his binoculars while his face was slightly reddening.

In her place, he was going to pay attention seriously at their surroundings.

―When he was looking in the distance, *GATAN!* the boat shook, then he heard Kazuha-senpai’s scream.

“Waaaaaaaaa, Hayashizaki, strange birds are! They scattered the seagulls and charging this way―!?”

Kazuki took his eyes from the binoculars and looked up to the sky―tension ran through his spine.

A large flock of birds blocked the blue sky, “GEE―! GEE―!” they were revolving around the boat while raising ominous chirps. It had protruding eyes that looked as if the eyeball were almost falling out, their beaks were curving windingly like old tree stumps. They were ominous birds from what Kazuki could see.

Of course they weren't natural animals― but Demon Beasts.

“Damn! …This spot is a Haunted Ground!”

Kazuki suddenly realized and looked down at the sea’s surface. The sea color ten-odd meters around them became a darkish color as if a stain was gathered in one spot of the ocean. Because Kazuki only watched the far away land and Kazuha-senpai only looked at the seagulls, they didn’t notice at all that they had stepped into a Haunted Ground.

Haunted Ground only broke out in a place where there were humans―if it was a course where pleasure ships and fishing ships often came, then surely it was possible for a Haunted Ground to be born on top of the sea. A spot where seagulls that were used to humans formed a group. It was suitable to be called a dominion of humans rather than nature.

However, Yamato’s provisional government, weren’t they dealing with the Haunted Ground properly?

Like this the people that worked on the sea would be in danger!

“O the will of whirling heaven god…gather in my hand, grant me the authority of judgement! O radiance of royalty's divine gift, become a dazzling brilliant drawn bow! Lightning Line.”

Both Kazuki’s hands hosted lightning. He drew the lightning to the limit and launched one, two streaks of lightning. This magic of Hikaru-senpai, even though each of its shots was inferior in power compared to Mio’s Barrett, it could be shot repeatedly.

One, two bodies of the demon birds were shot down and sank into the black water surface. With that as the start, the demon birds that were circling around to assess their prey directed their beaks at the boat and took a nose dive.

“I’m having a good fight, welcoming a good death, and wish to participate in even more battles in heaven! The divine protection of blood color in my eye! Berserk!!”

Beatrix’s level 1 magic that could be invoked with a short chanting time. Light flew down from between the gap of the clouds in the sky, it became power and resided inside Kazuki. His eyes were dyed deep crimson, his reflexes and physical strength were amplified.

Kazuki missed nothing of the demon birds’ beaks, he caught the beak of the bird that came the foremost barehanded. He swung the demon bird that he caught with all his strength, directing it to the second approaching demon bird’s beak and [used it as a shield]. Fresh blood scattered, he threw away the demon bird that bore a fatal wound from its fellow bird’s beak to the sea.

The third flying bird that approached him was caught by his left hand this time, and then once more he used it as a shield against the fourth bird.

He caught the birds with his hands and used them as shields before throwing them away…he struggled hard bare handed.

Looking at that scene from the side, Kazuha-senpai who was late in her battle preparations chanted her spell in a panic.

“O peerless master, make another showing from beyond the dream! Along with the flame of transformation, liberate the memory that is sealed inside the silver mirror right here!! Kenki Tensei!!”

Spheres of fire burst out around Kazuha-senpai. From there the phantom of famous swordsmen that left behind their names in history were summoned―the phantom swordsmen that were created from the spheres of fire landed on the water surface just like that―they were drowning while kicking and struggling. While unfortunate, there was no space for summoning on top of the cramped boat.

The mute phantom swordsmen were,

{What are you doing suddenly summoning us here gozaru-}

{Uwaa~, you are making fun of us~}

…They were sinking into the black sea with that kind of feeling.

“Uwaa―! You guys are useless―!”

Kazuha-senpai was completely cornered into the depths of mayhem, she screamed while gripping the edge of the boat.

“Senpai, the magic that you chose to chant was mistaken there!”

That miss was surely because the tactic of first summoning the phantom swordsmen and then using them to buy time for her to chant higher magic had already completely become a habit.

“I am the Miko of the Sword…Rock cleaved, root torn, sin severed, that spirit sword of crushing evil right now in this hand! Draw sword, Futsu no Mitama!!”

While Kazuki was grappling with the demon birds, he managed to chant that spell in some way or other.

Flames welled out inside Kazuki’s hand where a holy ancient sword was created.

If he held a sword, then the fight was his. The nose diving demon birds were cut down one after another.

{Ooh, splendid! This is just like Tsubame Gaeshi !}

Futsunushi no Kami’s avatar appeared and said so in cheers.

“Waa―! Kazuki! This time strange wriggling things from the sea are―!?”

When his attention was preoccupied with the sky, Kazuha-senpai’s scream reverberated once again. This time it was not from the sky but from the sea―countless tentacles were extending out and entangled the limbs of Kazuha-senpai.

“Wh, why is this thing not even sparing a glance at Hayashizaki, but only coming at me!?”

“Senpai, tentacles are that kind of Demon Beast! Before when they attacked Mio it was also like this.”

“What kind of Demon Beast is that, doing something so―! Uwa, stop it, don’t get inside the clothes!!”

The tentacles that were attached with suction pads on it pinned down the side of the boat while invading. Both of Kazuha-senpai’s arms and legs were captured. It forcefully opened up the four limbs and tried to creep in through the collar and hem stimulatingly.

The boat raised a cracking sound!

But the tentacles doing whatever it wanted to Kazuha-senpai was only for an instant.

Sensing the situation, Kazuki immediately ran his sword. First he cut down the tentacles that were going to invade into Kazuha-senpai’s clothes, then next he cut down the tentacles that were binding Kazuha-senpai’s arms and legs.

Kazuha-senpai, who became free leaped vigorously to Kazuki and hugged him, making the boat shake violently.

But no matter how many tentacles he cut down, the main body of the Demon Beast was squirming inside the black sea. Katana wouldn’t reach. Using Barrett would be useless because it would disappear from the sea water. Facing the sea and firing lightning arrows would also endanger themselves. Then…

“O singing voice of mermaid, manifest the freezing thought. Sadness into ice flowers, loneliness into light snowfall, cover the world within a freezing vacuum…White Album!”

Kazuki chose Koyuki’s level 5 magic―a large scale magic that froze the designated space in its entirety. The monster inside the sea was frozen together with its surrounding sea water. And then most likely its breath was stopped just like that.

The dusky sea that was undergoing Haunted Ground transformation quickly became clear blue color.

Haunted Ground was spreading due to the existence of Demon Beasts. By defeating the Demon Beast, the original scenery would be recovered.

“Ah, how tiresome~. Sorry, I’m just completely holding you back…”

Kazuha-senpai was weakly exhausted on top of the boat, she released a deep sigh.

“Senpai…this still isn't the time to be relaxed yet.”

When the tentacles were clamping at Kazuha-senpai, Kazuki heard an awful voice of something cracking.

Cracks were entering the boat that was made of wood. Under both their feet, sea water was entering little by little.

“It's flooding!?”

If the ship was broken in this place, the operation would be a failure. They wouldn’t be able to land inconspicuously.

“…Should we go back for a moment, using [Blazing Wings] back to Irago Cape?”

“Even though the opposing shore is just right there already…! It’s my fault…!”

Kazuha-senpai stared at the opposing shore mortifyingly. Even while she was doing that, the small boat kept sinking. 𝙛r𝚎𝐞𝑤𝚎𝗯𝗻𝗼𝐯e𝚕.𝒄𝐨𝓂

“That’s right! Let’s swim to the farther shore!”

“There are a lot of fishing ships. If we go across swimming while still wearing clothes, we will completely look like suspicious people, senpai.”

“Then let’s go by diving!” Kazuha-senpai faced the sea and pulled Kazuki’s arm.

“How are we going to maintain our breath!?”

“It’s okay, leave it to me! …I’ll relinquish my dishonor from before!!”

Kazuha-senpai forcibly kept pulling *gui gui* Kazuki’s arm, she was trying to make the both of them leap into the sea together. (If she really has some idea), Kazuki hardened his determination.

“We are going! One two-!!”

Water was splashing along with a yell, the two dove into the sea.

…What in the world is Kazuha-senpai planning?

When he opened his eyes inside the sea that had high rate of transparency, Kazuki saw a miraculous sight.

Bubbles that repelled blue lights were pouring down from the surface into the water to Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai's location.

The bubble that was as big as a person’s head followed about around Kazuki’s face and then it entered inside his mouth.

…It’s air. Kazuha-senpai was pulling air into the water using Psychokinesis.

…Amazing. Once again, he felt that Kazuha-senpai’s talent in magic was extraordinary.

Kazuha-senpai grinned broadly inside the water and pointed at the direction of the land. Kazuki nodded at that.

If oxygen was supplied like this, then it was a distance that could be traversed sufficiently.

Utilizing magic and diving with one’s own body―this was his first experience, in a transparent blue world.

Changing from seagulls, this time it was fish, they coiled about around Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai’s surroundings.

Part 2

“Puhaa―! I wondered what was going to happen to us there for a second!”

Coming up from the water, Kazuha-senpai stood up on the beach unsteadily while taking a deep breath. But,

“Before we take a breather! Let’s move to a better hidden spot!”

This area was not a beach that had been developed for swimming, and there was no presence of anyone in the area. But at any rate, the unobstructed view in the beach was too good. The afternoon sun was ning down on them. Kazuki held Kazuha-senpai’s hand tightly and ran away into the forest that grew thickly near the beach.

“Don, don’t suddenly hold my hand like this―!”

“Somehow there is this thrill that makes the heart beat fast right?”

After escaping into the darkness of the forest, finally they could take a breather.

The two let out a wry chuckle while looking at each other’s face―Kazuki spontaneously caught his breath.

It was pink―if he was asked what was pink, it was Kazuha-senpai’s underwear color.

Senpai’s remodeled Japanese clothing was wet and became see-through, making a faint pink color show through it.

Going after the swimsuit, it was lovely underwear that made him feel the gap. That senpai was wearing this kind of underwear, that fact itself was cute. By any chance perhaps she put in considerable fighting spirit into choosing that underwear.

Moreover, because of her run-in with those tentacles and also with having to swim, her collar and hem was slovenly disordered.

Kazuki’s clothes were also similarly drenched, it was clinging heavily onto the skin. Kazuha-senpai saw Kazuki’s state, then she noticed that she was also in the same state, making her face boil red.

“U, u, u, uWAA―!? Don’t look, don’t look this wayy―!!”

“So, sorry senpai! This is an act of god!!”

“I understand this is act of god or whatnot! I’m not particularly angry so just look behind―!!”

Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai turned back at the same time, making their backs meet.

“Senpai, let’s dry the clothes and our body with magic.”

Kazuki suggested. If they used Psychokinesis to get rid of the water and salt and then produced high temperatures with Pyrokinesis, they could dry their clothes far quicker compared to letting it dry naturally.

“…I got it. Then I’m going to take off my clothes. Absolutely don’t look back.”

Kazuha-senpai answered like that for the sake of getting through this quickly.

Dryness was a process where the water particles escape to the air. Rather than letting the clothes dry while still wearing it, taking off the clothes and drying it off piece by piece would increase the surface area that came in contact with the air, making the drying-off several times faster.

…I wonder if this means that she trusts me.

That Kazuha-senpai was, currently, becoming naked right behind him.

Of course Kazuki didn’t have any intention to betray that trust. Absolutely none.

While determining his heart that he absolutely wouldn’t look behind, he himself removed the belt of his hakama and took off his remodeled Japanese clothes. Spreading out the removed clothing with his hands, he concentrated at his magic.

“Wa, WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!?”

However after only a few moments, Kazuha-senpai raised a scream.

“Kazuha-senpai!?”

Kazuki immediately turned around. It couldn’t be helped.

It couldn’t be helped but, Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai too was still in their underwear.

Their eyes met in a glance, shame flashed in Kazuha-senpai’s expression.

But on the contrary she didn’t continue that line of progress.

Kazuha-senpai screamed “Demon Beast!” and pointed forward.

Demon Beast she said? …This forest was real nature, it was by no means a Haunted Ground.

Even though this place was not supposed to be a Haunted Ground―there was a single crow in the direction that senpai pointed at.

It was just a normal bird at a single glance, but thick magic power was compressed inside that small body, warping the surrounding atmosphere slightly. And then above all, [it had three legs].

Kazuki embraced Kazuha-senpai’s shoulders near him and changed places with her. He stood in front to cover her.

The three-legged crow was staring at Kazuki with eyes that were like black gems.

“…There is no need to be alert. I hold no hostility.”

“”The Demon Beast is talking!?”” Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai were taken aback in shock.

The situation where a crow was talking was bizarre but…the words that it spoke were also strange.

The Demon Beast that materialized in this world because of Malignant Alternate BoundaryCancer was absolutely the enemy of the human race.

It was completely their instinct, the meaning of their existence, that Demon Beasts attack only humans.

…No need to be alert? Those were words that overturned the concept of Demon Beast right from its root.

“What is called a Demon Beast is something that is established in Mythology as the enemy of the human race…”

The three-legged crow opened its beak and spun human language.

“…I am different. I am something established to be the guide of the monarch <Yatagarasu>. O King of Solomon, the Japanase Mythology welcomes you. Please head to Ise Imperial Shrine just like that somehow.”

Welcomes? …Even though we came here to defeat Amaterasu.

If he assumed that this was not a Diva or a Demon Beast, then what in the world is this crow?

The crow that introduced itself as Yatagarasu informed just that and then it spread its black wings with a flap and flew away.

The instant it flew to the sky, that figure melted into the air and disappeared.

The left behind Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai were bewildered and stood stock still.

“…Kazuki, just now, what do you think is going on?”

Kazuha-senpai asked with voice mixed with confusion.

[Welcome]. Did it have the meaning exactly like the what word implied, or…

Yatagarasu―it was an existence that was made to be Amaterasu’s messenger in Japanese Mythology.

Both of them unintentionally faced each other. And then, they remembered once more that both of them were still in their underwear.

“Waa!? I forgot, don’t look this way!!”

“I’m sorry, it’s an act of god!”

Both of them sprang up startled and turned their backs to each other again.

“…What’s with you, act of god, act of god. You keep saying that.”

While they resumed drying their clothes, Kazuha-senpai talked with a hint of complaint and then, *bump*, she threw her own back to Kazuki’s back. Kazuha-senpai’s back hair that fluttered behind tickled Kazuki’s nape.

Perhaps there ought to be some more words that he should say. Not an excuse that he said because he was afraid to be scolded. Because Kazuha-senpai was a much softer person than what her surface attitude hinted.

“Kazuha-senpai’s risqué appearance, really made my heart beat fast.”

“What are you saying, idiot!”

“The pink underwear was cute.”

“Aren’t you just thinking too simply that a girl will be happy as long as she got praised!?”

“It’s fine right, I said that was an act of god.”

“You are a pervert!” *BUMP! BUMP!* the hits to his back were strengthened.

But he had the hunch that senpai at this moment was not angry but rather, she was enjoying herself.

“…Really, I’m finished here already.”

Behind Kazuki, there was the presence of Kazuha-senpai wearing her clothes in a rustle.

“Eh, already!? That’s fast!”

“Hmph, that’s because you are saying stupid things. Idii―ot idii―ot. Magic good for nothing.”

Rotating with a twirl, Kazuha-senpai who had finished changing her clothes circled around to Kazuki’s front.

“Senpai…I’m, still in emergency here.”

Kazuki was taken aback being stared at right from the front.

“It’s doesn’t really matter right, you are a man after all.”

What kind of reason was that? Kazuha-senpai bent her knees at that spot and squatted down, then her line of sight was creeping all over Kazuki’s body intently *jii―*.

“…Fuun, just as expected it’s a body with the feel of a boy. …Fuun.”

He didn’t really get embarrassed getting stared at but…for some reason he couldn’t concentrate on the magic.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

When they walked from the coast to the city of Toba, the town that prospered from the sightseeing and fishing industry was changed into quite a place from being put under the state of a [time of war].

“First let’s settle down a little and talk about what we are going to do from now on.”

Saying that, Kazuki pointed at the eatery in the street corner. In Toba, there were a few eateries lining up. This eatery was called <Ama hut> where people could eat fresh maritime products that were just picked by the diver.

“Now that you mentioned it, certainly my stomach is empty.”

Kazuha-senpai was also in agreement. …Today they were having a fairly rushed schedule until now. After Kazuki explained the outline of the operation yesterday they departed from Nagoya at the early morning the very next day, arriving at Irago Cape. There they sailed off after finishing the boat operation training, and then they landed at the town of Toba in Mie Prefecture right at this point of time, the time had already approaching midday. Everything were events that were happening throughout this morning.

They were in the middle of an important operation, be that as it may, it was hard to go against their sense of hunger.

If they didn’t have a meal here, they didn’t know what would happen from now on after this.

Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai sat side-by-side at the counter, then they ordered the shellfish combination platter that was the specialty here with the traveling expenses they received from Akane-senpai. At the opposite side of the counter, the auntie there lined up the shellfish on the earthen charcoal brazier and started grilling.

With a voice so small that could only be heard by Kazuha-senpai, Kazuki confirmed the thing that he was concerned at the foremost.

“Regarding that <Yatagarasu> from before, did Futsunushi no Kami say anything at all?”

“I too asked inside my head what that was about, but…”

A Telepathy directed at Astrum, it was that kind of thing.

“…That guy, he doesn’t give any reply and is ignoring me.”

So it was 'No Comment'. Despite making frivolous talk like commenting on someone’s sword skill as Tsubame Gaeshi or what else.

That crow called Yatagarasu, according to the myth it was the messenger of Amaterasu.

“What in the world does it mean with [Welcome]? Even though we are coming here for Japanese Mythology’s chief god…Amaterasu’s defeat. In the first place, isn’t Amaterasu supposed to lose her sanity from becoming a Wild God?”

There was something strange that he felt from Futsunushi no Kami’s story that was supposed to be [the operation’s premise].

During the operation where they were infiltrating enemy territory that required caution, it was a terrifying matter for doubt to rise to the surface towards the premise of the operation in the first place.

When Kazuki exposed Futsunushi no Kami’s insincerity, Kazuha-senpai made a sad face.

“Bu, but Futsunushi no Kami is…”

“Of course it’s not like I’m thinking that Futsunushi no Kami is Yamato’s spy or something like that.”

When Kazuki said so, Kazuha-senpai released a breath in relief.

“If Futsunushi no Kami and Yatagarasu are trying to set a trap for us, there is no need at all to make that kind of greeting to us.”

Of course he was doubtful whether he really could accept that [Welcome] Yatagarasu said at face value, but wasn’t what Yatagarasu meant to declare at that time was that [this is not a trap].

“…I feel some doubt that this operation can proceed just as planned, but for the time being there is nothing we can do except go to Ise Imperial Shrine to see what’s happening there.”

What awaited them at that place, was it really [a battle against Amaterasu] or… If by some chance that was not whats going to happen, then for what kind of reason did Futsunushi no Kami call Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai here.

…If he was called to the enemy's territory here because of some ill will though, then that was the worst situation.

“Here, our specialty, the large manilla clam! You two are whispering secretly there, but this is not delicious when it’s not freshly baked. Chuck the food into your mouth quickly and eat up!! ”

The auntie presented the large plate piled up with clams from across the counter.

The moment they saw it, Kazuha-senpai went “Wha, this is different from the clam that I know!?” and raised her voice. What they saw was something excessively large to be called clam, its size was almost as big as the palm of a child. Adding to its plump body, soup was pooling in plenty on its shell, the nice aroma of salt rising up.

Next the auntie handed over a big serving of rice. Kazuha-senpai immediately ate a mouthful of the clam, after that she gulped down the rice heartily, “Delicious-!” her expression brightened.

The auntie laughed in a good mood after seeing that scene.

“I’m still grilling lots and lots here! There is turban scallop, or this yesso scallop!”

Kazuki looked around inside the shop once more. It was a snug eatery, but its walls were decorated with autographs of celebrities that even Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai knew. There was even the picture of the auntie in a wet suit as a diver hung on the wall. …Inside that mundane atmosphere, it made them feel a peace of mind somehow.

It appears that even when this place changed from Japan into Yamato, the life of the normal people didn’t change at all.

“…Kazuha-senpai, your [Delicious!] just now is not good. You don’t look like a local.”

Kazuki lowered his voice and whispered on her ears. “Ah, I see!” Kazuha-senpai pressed her own mouth.

“Senpai, let’s make our setting as a bacouple that doesn’t read the atmosphere even in this kind of emergency and still came sightseeing.”

Kazuha-senpai went “Eeeehh!?” and lost her presence of mind.

“I have heard that it’s difficult to get exposed on infiltration missions when the spies act like a couple.”

While Kazuki was whispering, he embraced Kazuha-senpai’s waist and brought her closer to him.

Kazuha-senpai twitched for a moment in hesitation, but perhaps she immediately judged in her reasoning that such a method could work, she meekly reclined on Kazuki’s shoulder.

“…But, I don’t understand what we should do to act as a couple you know.”

Her cheeks were slightly colored and she whispered weakly.

“I think it’s fine if we use Mio’s words as reference.”

“…I see. It’s that kind of feeling…”

Mio, who could make someone understand in one mention was really Mio. Kazuha-senpai nodded slightly. And then she was nuzzling herself on top of Kazuki’s shoulder like a small animal. “…Kazu-kun, aa―n.” Like so, she whispered with a sweet voice while presenting a large clam with a chopstick. Kazuki received a shock in his chest. '…Kazu-kun', she said?

What in the world was this throbbing inside his chest? [This is gap moe desu, Kazuki-oniisan!!] He had the feeling that Lotte’s voice was reverberating inside his head.

After Kazuki accepted that clam with his mouth and ate it, this time he returned the favor to Kazuha-senpai.

“Kazuha, aa―n.” Like that the two of them turned in their seat while flirting and fed each other with clams.

“…Thi, this is too embarrassing…”

“But Kazuha right now, is awfully cute. I’m having a throbbing I have never felt until now.”

“Sto, stop it you idiot! Geez…stupid Kazu-kun…”

This person, wasn’t she getting too carried away with the mood?

“Ooaa~! You two suddenly become really intimate! You know this clam, when fellow lovers eat this there is this legend that you will be able to marry your companion perfectly, eat a lot!!”

The auntie in the counter lined up a lot of grilled clams one after another in front of Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai.

Somehow it's just like what they aimed for, it seemed they could finish this without looking suspicious.

“…I’m doing this, only for the sake of the mission so…”

Kazuha-senpai whispered subduedly.

“Then I will fully enjoy this situation while it lasts. Here Kazuha, aa―n.”

Kazuki embraced her waist even stronger and gave the newly arriving clam to senpai with ‘aa―n’. Kazuha-senpai helplessly cuddled her body closer and obediently chewed the food.

“…However I never thought it would become something this outrageous.”

―A voice from behind.

Even while flirting with Kazuha-senpai, Kazuki didn’t miss that voice of the local customer.

When he took a glance behind, there were two male customers around their thirties sitting in the back table seat.

“Those brats are thinking that it’s interesting, but to say such a thing like a war with Japan. They are thinking such an unbelievable idea. Saying things like Solomon's 72 Pillars are trying to take over the country, though I think there might be some truth in that.”

“But those guys in the new government of Yamato became too eager in war with that Japan. They are completely apathetic with the life of the common people, it’s really vexing ze. Even when a Haunted Ground appears they just leave it alone, when it’s still Japan such a thing is unthinkable.”

“The Haunted Ground has spread until the sea around here huh, recently. When we are going fishing we have to be careful not to carelessly step into that area. …Even though this sea of Ise is Amaterasu-sama’s important kitchen don’t you agree?”

“This is because they just leave the Ise Imperial Shrine alone that it became a stupidly huge Haunted Ground in the first place. With such atrocious accursed things going on…are we really tying a contract with the Divas of Japanese Mythology here?”

“Who knows, no matter which shrine, all of it became under construction or something that we cannot even pray to god. Really, this situation really stinks. When push comes to shove us men of the sea might just use the ships to make off from here!”

“…Kazu-kun, you heard?”

Kazuha-senpai whispered into his ear while continuing their act as a couple.

There was some part of him that became mushy in his chest when ‘Kazu-kun’ was whispered in his ear, but this was not the time to think about such things.

…They said that, Ise Imperial Shrine had become a stupidly huge Haunted Ground?

Anyway, for the time being they had no other choice except to go to Ise Imperial Shrine and see it with their own eyes.

Hardening his heart like that, the moment they exited the store Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai put themselves on guard.

Because right before the store, Yatagarasu was perching on the ground and was waiting for Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai.

Yatagarasu silently directed its beak to the direction of the west, and then it flapped its wings and went flying heading to the west.

It didn’t say anything, but its intention was obvious.

There was a distance around 10 kilometers from this harbor of Toba to the Ise Imperial Shrine in the west.

Part 3

The rail transport was in operation, but the electric train of Sangū line couldn’t travel to the closest station to Ise Imperial Shrine.

The train didn’t operate except until <Futamiura>, which was now the closest station to the Ise Imperial Shrine.

There was a poster inside the station premises that read [Evacuation counsel information of the present].

It was a situation where there was an evacuation recommendation for the area around Ise Imperial Shrine.

“…Surely it’s because Ise Imperial Shrine has become a Haunted Ground, it is expanding little by little that causes trains to be unable to come near there.”

Kazuki too nodded his agreement of Kazuha-senpai’s deduction.

With no other way they first went to the station called Futamiura. From there they began to walk to Ise Imperial Shrine.

Futamiura was supposed to be an area where an evacuation recommendation still hasn’t come out yet, but maybe because there were a lot of people that began to evacuate out of their own initiative, the street that the two walked in front of the station was deserted. While walking Kazuki took out a map from his waist bag. This bag was water proof, so the map inside wasn't wet.

“Futamiura is here, so the distance to Ise Imperial Shrine is…eh? There are two Ise Imperial Shrines on the map though.”

Hearing Kazuki’s confused voice, Kazuha-senpai, who was walking beside him brought her face near and peeked inside the map.

“Aah, that one.” Like that she pointed at two points on the map. “These are the outer shrine and inner shrine of Ise. You didn’t know this and you accepted the mission? There are two Ise Imperial Shrines.”

The outer shrine and the inner shrine were separated by a distance of around 5 kilometers and are respectively located in different places.

…Although, if there were two different shrines it was better if it was closer.

“It’s fine, Amaterasu-Oomikami is located in the inner shrine, so I think it’s fine to ignore the outer shrine this time. But when people are visiting normally, it’s a proper to go from the outer shrine you know. At the outer shrine, there is this goddess called <Toyouke no Oomikami> that is taking care of Amaterasu.”

I see, so it’s a god of maids then. Rather, he would want to go to that shrine personally.

“There is around 8 kilometers until we get there.” While saying that, Kazuki took Kazuha-senpai’s hand.

“…What are you doing, this hand of yours.”

“Although the presence of people here is only a few, we who are intentionally walking to the direction of the dangerous Ise Imperial Shrine are suspicious when looked from the outside. That’s why, let’s act like a couple again!”

“Act, acting like a couple again!? Are you thinking that as long as we act like a couple that everything will turn out okay!?”

“I’m not thinking like that, but I’m thinking that as long as there is some kind of excuse then I want to act like a couple.”

“You are too honest there! Idiot!!”

“But it’s also true that a couple won’t get suspected. A couple that is going to a place where there are no watching eyes around…a bacouple that wants to show the girl a good place and intentionally go to a dangerous place…it has a power of persuasion in double meaning! Come here, Kazuha.”

“Uu―, certainly that, is true. …I get it okay, Kazu-kun.”

Kazuha-senpai gently hugged Kazuki’s arm and she reclined her body on his shoulder.

That Kazuha-senpai (just an act though) was fawning on him honestly.

…The day where he would get used to this gap still hasn’t come yet.

“Just as I thought, you really have a solid body…”

While lightly nuzzling herself on Kazuki, Kazuha-senpai vacantly leaked out such words.

{What an unexpected journey of pilgrimage huh?} Inside Kazuki, Leme was making fun of him.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

While they were walking, they grasped the transformation that happened clearly. The line of a Haunted Ground was generated right there.

From around over the Isuzu River, the road was transforming little by little.

The texture of the road that was made from black asphalt was changed into something that felt clinging onto the soles of their shoes like dripping mud. The private homes along the road grew dull in color into a grayish color and looked worn out. Their outside appearances looked dirty like abandoned buildings. Even the Isuzu River, that was said to be holy, became a completely pitch black stream. The sky was also shrouded with dark clouds all of a sudden, making for gloomy weather.

It appears that what the people said about Ise Imperial Shrine turning into a Haunted Ground was true. With Ise Imperial Shrine as the center, its surroundings were swallowed and the Haunted Ground spread.

Kazuki pictured the map that he saw before in his head. It was about 5 kilometers from here to the Ise Imperial Shrine. That meant that the scale of this Haunted Ground was about 5 kilometers in radius.

“How awful…did Yamato really not set out to exterminate the Demon Beasts?”

Kazuha-senpai pulled a wry face looking at the now completely transformed street.

And then she separated herself from Kazuki. Kazuki too didn’t feel any reluctance from the separation.

The existence of Demon Beasts most likely also meant that there would be battle.

Cancer―pure magic power that spilled out from Astrum into this world, it then transformed into Demon Beasts.

If this Demon Beast isn’t exterminated quickly, it would call even more Cancer and increase the number of Demon Beasts. When Demon Beast multiplication like this was allowed, the surrounding space would be polluted by thick magic power and become completely distorted. A land of Demon Beasts where humans couldn’t live, in that case it had finished transforming into a Haunted Ground.

To defend against the expansion of Haunted Grounds, exterminating the materialized Demon Beasts quickly was also one of the most important jobs of the Knight Order. It seemed that Yamato’s provisional government shirked its duty to do that.

Like this the area of Ise would be encroached completely.

―But saying it in reverse this meant that they didn’t need to fear Yamato’s soldiers in this Haunted Ground. They didn’t defeat any Demon Beasts in the Haunted Ground and yet they posted a large number of soldiers inside the Haunted Ground, such action was not skillful at all.

As expected Yamato’s government didn’t hear anything at all from the Wild Gods about the importance of Ise Imperial Shrine.

Although the Wild Gods became part of their battle strength, their failure in taking close communication with the Wild Gods exposed a fatal gap in their armor.

“But Hayashizaki, isn’t this strange? For the Ise Imperial Shrine to become a Haunted Ground so deliberately…I think it’s just too contrived somehow.”

…Certainly. However if this happening was not just a coincidence…then that meant the government of Yamato intentionally changed the Ise Imperial Shrine into a Haunted Ground. How? For what reason?

With its change into a Haunted Ground, maybe it was for the replacement of its defense squad. Possibly Amaterasu’s change into a Wild God and Ise Imperial Shrine’s transformation into a Haunted Ground had some kind of connection.

They surely wouldn’t understand anything if they didn’t advance forward.

Kazuha-senpai patted around her own waist. Guessing the meaning of that action, Kazuki reflexively laughed. Kazuha-senpai returned a wry smile on that reaction.

“…When there is no katana on our hips, as expected people like us cannot calm down.”

“We can use Summoning Magic so it’s fine senpai.”

For a long time Kazuki had relied on his pride of his skill in sword technique. However before he knew it, he had already thought of his fight using Summoning Magic with similar pride.

It was not like sword skill had become something trivial for him. How he was able to handle sword skill just like Kanae, and how he could chant the same Summoning Magic just like everyone in the Witch’s Manor, he was equally proud of both.

“Fufufuu. Actually, I’m not only practicing sword skills but also doing special training for Summoning Magic recently! Now I’m able to use magic up to level 6 you see!”

Kazuha-senpai said that as if naturally sympathizing with Kazuki’s inner thoughts.

Kazuha-senpai was born with an excellent talent in magic, but she yearned for swordsman instead of Magika Stigma since she was a child. She was a rare person that didn’t make an effective use of that talent at all.

She made a contract with Futsunushi no Kami that was worshipped in her own household even before Solomon's 72 Pillars could discover her talent, but she didn’t do any training for Summoning Magic at all, nevertheless she could handle her magic up to level 5.

If that kind of person seriously set out to train her magic seriously… For her to become able to use level 6 magic already, Kazuki who was also a magic swordsman like her couldn’t be careless lest he'll get left behind.

Kazuha-senpai spun a spell in preparation for battle and performed Access.

“…My crimson hand is red hot grasping the ore. Ridge in the sky, blade in the earth, combining in a flash, become namely a single sword. Thy inscription is <Futsunushi no Kami>! O god of steel and fire, show that forging!”

The god of swords and blacksmithing, Futsunushi no Kami granted a burning flame to Kazuha-senpai. The flame was spreading on senpai’s clothing, its Prima Material disintegrated transforming the shape into a totally different battle costume―Magic Dress.

“For a long time, I only fussed over swords, but when I see Hayashizaki I want to become stronger and stronger using both sword and magic together. After all you and I are the same magic swordsmen!”

Kazuha-senpai’s expression shined brightly.

“Senpai, when you talk about strength you are really lively.”

“Is that so? …That’s right huh. I was born in a household that worships the god of swords. My father is also a swordsman…but swordsmen are weak compared to Summoning Magic and the surrounding is also looking at them in contempt…I too became obstinate and became a swordsman but for a long time I had no talent at all and was made fun of…honestly it was really miserable.”

Thinking back once more, it was something like a miracle that she was raised with such a straightforward personality like this after she went through such a twisted path for half her life. The nature of Kazuha-senpai herself was strong, surely she was fine because of how bright a person she was.

“…I think that’s why the feeling of wanting to become even stronger than others is instilled into me. The feeling of always wanting to become stronger and stronger doesn’t vanish. Though somehow it’s unbecoming boorishness for a woman. …Hahaha.”

Kazuha-senpai floated a bitter smile awkwardly.

“That’s not true at all. The lively Kazuha-senpai at that time is even more charming than usual. …All the more because normally Kazuha-senpai is not honest at all to me.”

“Hmph, don’t say such cheeky things even though you are just my junior!”

When Kazuki talked as if he was poking fun at Kazuha-senpai, she scolded him overbearingly,

“…But when I’m together with you, I have a feeling that I can become stronger without any limit…”

Quietly as if whispering, she said so in addition. A heart mark that signed the increase of positivity level came flying from her chest.

She was being shy for some reason. The both of them walked side by side silently for a while.

“―Now that I remember senpai, the waist bag was also disintegrated and became the Magic Dress didn’t it?”

When Magika Stigma performed Access, things that were attached to the body were dispersed into Prima Material by the reality distortion called magic power, and then it was reconstructed as Magic Dresses with the contracted Diva’s divine response as support.

Did the waist bag also get swallowed by that distortion?

“Ah, that’s true! Like this I can't eat the crackers that I brought as snacks!!”

Kazuha-senpai who realized her lost waist bag after being told patted her own waist with some slaps and raised a sad voice.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

While paying sufficient attention to their surroundings, Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai advanced through the road of the Haunted Ground.

―After a few minutes of walking, Kazuki went “Please wait” and held Kazuha-senpai back.

“Please reinforce senpai’s eyesight with magic power and look far ahead. Something is there.”

Ahead in the road of the Haunted Ground that continued straight forward, his reinforced eyesight caught [a bizarre human shadow].

Even though Kazuha-senpai nervously *gulp* swallowed her saliva, she gathered magic power in her eyes…then her face was dyed with a color of bewilderment. The thing that Kazuki saw was also clearly visible for her.

“…Ee―err, what is it, that thing?”

“It’s a warrior isn’t it?” Kazuki answered.

“…That’s surely a warrior huh, that thing there. …But that answer doesn’t resolve any question at all.”

What was standing in the path far ahead, was a suspicious man in armor and helmet.

Several pieces of steel plate pasted together and built into one, it was large armor that looked bulky and heavy.

Its face was covered with helmet and face cover. Only the glint of its eye could be seen from the outside.

It was an armored warrior that looked like as if it flew out right from the Sengoku period, walking heavily in roaming on the road that had been transformed into a Haunted Ground.

Don’t tell me that it was Yamato’s defensive squad? Even though this was inside a Haunted Ground? Wouldn’t they get attacked by the Demon Beasts?

…No, is that actually human? He couldn’t feel any human-like will from the armored warrior that was roaming the street. Rather, its atmosphere was similar with that of a Demon Beast that wandered restlessly.

“It looks like an opponent that we cannot pass by acting like a couple. Let’s go through another road.”

All along the route they could use to reach their destination of Ise Imperial Shrine weren't limited to one path. Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai turned back through the street and turned into the bend across. They advanced through a different street.

―Even ahead of that street was also littered with armored warriors, making them come into a halt.

For some reason the armored warriors weren't alone, it looked like there were a lot of them wandering around. Their numbers increasingly grew.

…Is there no other way than defeating them? When Kazuki began to incline on bulldozing his way through inside his heart,

“Hayashizaki. How about we climb the building and go from rooftop to rooftop? I have the feeling that those guys don’t look anywhere except straight ahead.”

Kazuha-senpai pointed at the roof of the building beside them and said that.

That was actually a citizen's house before this place was transformed into Haunted Ground, but now it had lost its color and became grayish. It was weathering and looked worn-out, exposing its concrete frame and became an abandoned building.

…Certainly that armored warrior didn’t seem to be really that particularly vigilant. If they advance through the tops of the buildings it didn’t seem like the Warriors would intentionally direct their sight at them.

“But they will notice our footsteps right? Somehow it looks like they have sharp bestial senses.”

“Then it’s fine if we don’t make any noise right? It’s that easy.”

While talking, Kazuha-senpai put her hand on the outer wall of the building that looked abandoned, then she climbed to the roof in one go with physical strength that had been reinforced with magic. The moment she landed on the roof, landing without making a noise.

As if an unseen cushion covered both the feet of Kazuha-senpai.

And then she beckoned Kazuki with her hand.

Likewise, Kazuki climbed the outer wall and landed on the roof. The sound was absent, as expected. Kazuki had the sensation that his feet were enveloped by some kind of magic power. He directed a surprised pair of eyes to Kazuha-senpai.

“…By any chance did senpai erase the sound using magic?”

“This isn't really something to be surprised about right? Something like sound is just a vibration in the air, so isn’t it just a simple matter of Psychokinesis?”

Kazuha-senpai said it nonchalantly but Kazuki couldn’t help but become tongue-tied.

Certainly sound manipulation didn’t need much energy even though it vibrated the air in minute detail.

But the magic power control for it was something really difficult because it was hard to imagine something like that. Sensing the unseen sound waves, it was still easier to simply magnify it, but to do a stunt like beautifully offsetting the sound wave was not supposed to be something so simple.

…She might be a prodigy. This person might be above anybody else in the Witch’s Manor in the field that didn’t have any connection with Summoning Magic.

Of course Summoning Magic was the one that was useful in battle, but general magic that was effective in detailed practical use undoubtedly shone bright in special missions like this infiltration operations.

“I’m also erasing your footsteps, so let’s pass through the armored warriors just like this using the rooftops.”

With a little pride, Kazuha-senpai was soundlessly hopping around *pyon pyon* in the rooftop.

So that they became hard to see from the ground, the two of them took a low posture with their waist dropped and leaped from rooftop to rooftop just like the great thief of the Edo period.

After they passed an increasingly fair number of armored warriors from the rooftops, their gait became even more careful. Suddenly Kazuha-senpai pointed at something a little further ahead.

There was a blue light generated ahead of where she was pointing, *PAN!* and then a little sound as if air was bursting out could be heard.

The armored warrior reacted to that and turned away. It walked heavily to the direction of the sound.

…If she could erase sound, then producing sound was also something possible.

Kazuha-senpai grinned broadly while looking at Kazuki. Kazuki too returned a smile and jest with a light feeling.

“Senpai…how many pranks have you done until now with that ability? I have a feeling that small trick can be completely misused.”

“I, I never did anything like a prank! After all…I don’t have any friends that I can prank or boast to…”

He was just teasing lightly, but Kazuha-senpai hung her head down heavily.

“Senpai…if you are fine with me then please prank me as much as you want.”

“No, I don’t need that kind of appeal! I’m not that bored that I’m going to prank someone like you!”

While they were doing that exchange with small voices, even more armored warriors were walking heavily from ahead of the street, making Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai be taken aback. It seemed that there really is a great number of these armored warriors.

They still must not descend down from the rooftops.

They steadily flew through the rooftops of the row of low buildings in the residential area that had been transformed into a Haunted Ground and advanced.

Along the way, a tall [seven floor multi-tenant building] that stuck out compared to its surroundings stood in their way.

Likely, it was originally filled with various shops that became tenant there. On the side of the tall and narrow abandoned building, several billboards that were written with something unreadable because of the pitch black filth on them could be seen sticking out.

“Ha, Hayashizaki…are we going to climb this too?” Kazuha-senpai looked up at the building and flinched back.

…That’s right, if it was Enchant Aura then he was the more skilled one. As if opposing Kazuha-senpai who was so haughty since a while ago, Kazuki went “Fuffuffu” and chuckled.

“Well then, please leave it to me this time. I’ll leave the footsteps to senpai.”

After declaring so, he forcefully lifted up Kazuha-senpai who was in the posture of standing upright.

Kazuha-senpai who was settled into Kazuki’s arms struggled around with a bright red face.

“Wait a second! You don’t need to lift me with princess-carry like this right, you can just carry me on your back!”

“This is not just a mere princess-carry. This is the Hayashizaki-style Last Secret Art [Wedding?Love Lift]!”

Kazuki was turning round and round like a merry-go-round while carrying Kazuha-senpai in his arms.

“Last Secret Art!? So the Hayashizaki-style is just a joke school of sword arts like that!? Why are you revolving!?”

“Kanae was the one that authorized this as the Last Secret Art though. There is no meaning at all in the revolving though. Here we go!”

Kazuki faced the multi-tenant building while still carrying Kazuha-senpai and jumped.

Stepping his foot on the billboard that was sticking out from the wall, he made the second jump by using it as a foothold.

Using the billboards as footholds, he kept jumping from one billboard to the next. Kazuha-senpai was offsetting all the sounds from Kazuki’s actions. Matching their breaths splendidly, they managed to soundlessly finish leaping.

Only the distance from the last billboard to the rooftop was slightly taller than the previous jumps.

“Berserk!”

Kazuki immediately chanted a level 1 reinforcement magic that he could quickly invoke. The reflexes reinforcement was trivial in this case, his aim was the physical strength reinforcement even just for a little.

With that boosting, Kazuki was able to splendidly land on top of the roof of the abandoned building soundlessly.

He could see the surrounding Haunted Ground with one sweep of the eye from the top of the building. There was a conspicuously darkened forest and building in the center of the Haunted Ground. That was surely the Ise Imperial Shrine there.

“Perhaps both of us are a combination duo that is suited to infiltration missions, aren’t we?”

“Do, don’t just keep grinning happily, let me down quickly-!”

Even while a small heart mark flew from Kazuha-senpai, she said that from her mouth and struggled around.

Kazuki obediently lowered Kazuha-senpai down.

“…Eh? You are simply letting me down like that?”

Kazuha-senpai made an unsatisfied face. Kazuki made a stiff face and faced Kazuha-senpai.

“Senpai…[we are seen].”

…It seemed this mission wouldn’t be that simple.

Kazuki whose eyesight was further reinforced with [Berserk] sensed the small movement amidst the scenery.

“Eh…we are seen you said, this is the tenth floor’s rooftop you know?”

Kazuha-senpai whispered dumbfoundedly.

―At that moment, that human shadow moved out. A human shadow so small like a speck dust that was not visible from the rooftop where Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai were standing was moving out with terrific speed. It was heading to this direction.

Kazuki was just a moment late in his decision to escape was caused by the height of the ten-story building that originally wouldn’t let a human jump down to the ground safely that made his instincts hesitate.

The small human shadow that began to move leaped from the street to the rooftop, making all the surrounding buildings into footholds with superhuman nimbleness―with no time to even say ‘ah’, it jumped from rooftop to rooftop to the roof where Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai were.

Under the sky of the Haunted Ground that was filled with dark clouds, on the rooftop of a narrow building, Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai confronted it.

Following the armored warrior, this one was a figure with bizarre external appearance.

The image that floated inside his head with one glance was―[specter lemur].

A small build that was slender like a monkey, however, only both its eyes were big like a monster. Its eyeballs were even bigger than a clenched fist―was this really human?

With its body clad in pure black, only those huge eyeballs were exposed from the hood it wore.

A completely ninja-like figure. So that was it, there was not only armored warrior here.

At the same time Kazuki recalled once more that this place was a Haunted Ground.

Was this guy human, or Demon Beast, [he couldn’t make a distinction which one it was].

“My Lord…My Lord…I found it…Stigmata…Found it…”

The ninja with a build like a monkey's leaked out a muffled voice from its mouth that was covered with hood. It was a faint, small voice that was not audible except to Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai who were in that place. However―

{…Both of your eyes are my eyes… Is that so, so those guys had come. If they had stepped foot on this ground, they already cannot escape!}

From above the pitch black clouds that filled the sky of the Haunted Ground, a voice was reverberating. The words could be differentiated, but it was a such a muffled voice that he couldn’t tell whether the speaker was male or female.

That was a spell being spun.

{Here a thick cloud rises, put up the barrier that confines all calamity. …My <Yaegaki> of tranquility right here. …Izumo Yaegaki?Severed World CascadeDankai Bakufu!!}

A magic was invoked―the black cloud that fully covered the sky began to flow fiercely.

The clouds spread thinly in the blink of eye, and then it languidly dropped down to the ground at the direction of the sky’s edge. A dome. The cloud in the sky covered the Haunted Ground in the shape of hemisphere, shutting them in from the outside world.

…They couldn’t escape? A cold sensation ran through Kazuki’s spine. That meant the failure of their infiltration. On top of being discovered by the enemy, their escape path was blocked.

“My Lord…Stigmata…My Lord…Stigmata, Kill! Stigmata Kill!”

The monkey-like ninja leaked out a voice like he was talking in delirium.

{So the King of Solomon's 72 Pillars has come to this ground…this war is over if that guy is killed. Sounds good, if he can be killed then I don’t mind if you kill him to your heart’s content!}

The voice from the sky gave his acknowledgement. Thereupon the monkey ninja raised an unthinkably loud voice from beyond its hood.

“…nnn, nGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!”

Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai’s ears naturally shone with defensive magic power to protect their eardrums. That was just how loud a voice it was. There was no doubt that it likely reverberated through the Haunted Ground. Kazuki sensed that innumerable gazes were simultaneously directed to this direction from the ground. This guy called his comrades!

“Senpai, it’s bad if we stay here! Let’s escape!!”

Kazuki finally threw his instincts to the wind and moved in action. He carried Kazuha-senpai once more and leaped with all his strength to the ground. “Kazuki!?” Kazuha-senpai raised a confused scream.

The building’s rooftop―from the height of more than 30 meters―to the ground.

*DAA―NN!* Kazuki landed on the ground while raising a grand sound this time. The soles of Kazuki’s feet, his knees, all were shining with blue defensive magic power and erased the impact of the landing.

Kazuki took Kazuha-senpai's hand and dashed with a speed that Kazuha-senpai could barely follow.

He repeated the path that they followed until this point in one go.

“Let’s conceal ourselves and give them the slip!”

The armored warriors on the ground were all heading here simultaneously and gave chase.

However Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai’s running exceeded the heavy armored warriors. They widened the distance from the pursuers in the blink of an eye. The majority of the armored warriors would surely lose sight of Kazuki’s figure immediately if he ran away like this.

“NGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!”

But that ninja that looked completely like a monkey also jumped down and came chasing Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai. It kicked the wall of the surrounding building and accelerated itself and rapidly shrunk its distance with Kazuki.

A pure black bow and arrow was set up in the hand of that ninja unnoticed.

*SHUU* An arrow was fired cutting through the air. The aim was, Kazuha-senpai.

As if she had foresighted the trajectory of the arrow, senpai’s body quickly evaded the arrow.

Kazuki was surprised for just an instant looking at that splendid body movement, but he immediately returned his awareness to the ninja.

“Barrett!”

Kazuki returned fire to the ninja with a fire arrow. The ninja was blown back while shining with defensive magic power.

…Yosh, they are going to hide themselves just like this!

{I already said that you cannot escape! I’m not going to let you ignore my words, you’ll see!!}

From above the head of Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai who ran with all their might, a voice and spell were coming down.

{…Izumo Yaegaki?Wind Thread BindingKumoito Shibari!!}

From the dome-shaped cloud that covered the sky, two [strings of cloud] were slithering down. Its tips chased the escaping Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai and twined itself around their bodies at once.

The cloud strings twined around Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai, but there was nothing happening to them like restricting their movement or the like. But the cloud strings kept elongating lengthily no matter how far they went, tying Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai with the sky.

This is a mark! Kazuki comprehended that string’s aim. ―If this string of cloud was followed from the sky, then no matter where Kazuki was inside this Haunted ground his location would be constantly known.

“Futsu no Mitama!!”

Kazuha-senpai immediately chanted her spell and created Futsunushi no Kami’s divine sword. The evil crushing sword that severed various magic effect like curse or seal. That sword was directed to the string of cloud and swept sideways.

But―it was not cut. The blade didn’t return any feedback to the hand holding it and passed through the cloud string completely.

“This is…a magic power that's more superior to Futsu no Mitama!” Kazuha-senpai raised her voice.

“What is the meaning of this, Futsunushi no Kami!”

Kazuki yelled while running with all his power.

“Even though there shouldn’t be any mistakes on our part in the infiltration until here, that guy called Yatagarasu sensed our presence! If by any chance someone acquired the knowledge of our movement, that must be because someone blabbed their mouth! Moreover this magic called [Izumo Yaegaki]…this is the magic of Japanese Mythology!!”

Kazuki couldn’t think of any other explanation for this situation other than that the Japanese Mythology had screwed with him.

“Futsunushi no Kami! You are betraying me and Hayashizaki, and led us to a trap!?”

Beside Kazuha-senpai who raised a sorrowful voice―the avatar of the god of sword emerged.

There was no mistake that Futsunushi no Kami was the one that created this situation.

{Wrong…that Yatagarasu is not an enemy. I led you two to this place…not for a trap. This is not a trap but a [request]. In this ground, I wish for you to save the Japanese Mythology. The magic from before, is <Susanoo> of Izumo …one of Japanese Mythology’s two great chief gods, Susanoo’s magic.}

“Two great chief gods!? The chief god is not just Amaterasu, but there are two of them!?”

Kazuki raised a shocked voice after listening to the unexpected truth. Kazuki immediately thought that he was tricked by Futsunushi no Kami. …However, now that he thought back Futsunushi no Kami never said anything about defeating Amaterasu, only that he had to defeat the chief god. But…to save Japanese Mythology?

{…Defeat Susanoo, rescue the sealed Amaterasu and save Japanese Mythology, that is my request.}

“[If I save Amaterasu just like you say, will the Wild Gods recover their sanity]!?”

Futsunushi no Kami was once more [giving them information in small amounts intentionally] and making them fall into confusion. Even if he didn’t spout lies, that was just one type of swindling. Just as he thought it was fine to say that he was deceived.

This is surely not a trap, he believed that.

However, the most important point was if he managed to achieve what Futsunushi no Kami asked then [would Yamato’s Wild Gods return to their senses?]. If that was possible, then he didn’t mind whatever course he had to go through.

“NGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!! STIGMATAAAAAAAAA!!”

A strange voice reverberated shrilly from their back. This was not the place for talking. An arrow was also fired subsequently at them.

“Berserk!”

Kazuki reinforced his dynamic vision once again and brushed off the flying arrow at him barehanded.

“Hayashizaki! If we can just defeat this guy then I think we won’t need to worry of getting discovered. Let’s fight!”

Kazuha-senpai halted, then she turned back and faced the enemy.

“That’s right isn’t it, let’s fight for now.” Kazuki also thought the same thing.

They had already returned back to the place near the edge of the Haunted Ground. The hanging down cloud that looked like curtains had visibly looked close. He wanted to confirm by touching the curtain of cloud whether they really couldn’t escape from here, but if they fought with their back facing this curtain of cloud then they didn’t need to worry about being attacked from behind for the time being.

“…Moreover, these guys don’t look like they can use Summoning Magic.”

The enemy was an unknown, but just with that fact the extent of the enemy’s threat was considerably lowered.

From straight ahead of the street, a crowd of armored warriors were rushing here. The one that was leading them was that monkey-like ninja who was much faster compared to the others. Even while running, it headed to Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai and set up its bow and arrow again.

“Barrett!” Kazuki attacked before it could fired its arrow.

The monkey ninja was blown back to the crowd of armored warriors. That became the signal of the fight’s beginning.

“Sti, STIGMATAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

The instant Kazuki used Summoning Magic, the armored warriors shrieked with a volume that shook the earth.

“…Are these guys holding a grudge against Stigmata!?”

The yelling armored warriors raised their large war swords overhead at the right side of their face like Jigen-style’s <Stance of Dragonfly> and approached Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai. It was a stance that made it easier to immediately swing down the sword that bet everything on a single strike.

The armored warriors that entered battle preparation accelerated with light emitted from all over their body. That rush―was a speed outside of human reason. It surpassed the limit of a normal swordsman.

That monkey ninja was like that too, but it was as if their physical ability was using reinforcement magic. [It made them suspicious of a connection with a Diva here.]

Kazuki and Kazuha-senpai were also without their katana, they were completely unarmed.

“Senpai, watch out!” Kazuki came out to the front to cover for Kazuha-senpai.

The first armored warrior that came approaching with an unstoppable downward slash was quickly dodged by Kazuki. The downward slash of the second armored warrior that came almost at the same time as the first couldn’t be evaded this time, he caught the blade between both his hands.

Catching the naked blade of a real sword―if it was with the reinforcement of [Berserk] to his reflexes and physical strength, such a technique was possible.

However, inside Kazuki’s palms, the long sword that was pinned between them was forcing its way through *gugugu* and was approaching Kazuki.

“O divine protection of military men, double the Megin that whirl inside my body! The purpose of god that spurs me to infinite battle, to this body! …Meginjord!”

Kazuki further chanted the level 2 reinforcement magic of the Norse Mythology’s <Thor>.

The Summoning Magic of this Diva called Thor…for its level 1 and level 2 to be both reinforcement magic was a terrifyingly extreme combination, but…in regards for swordsmen this Diva had far too much great user-friendliness.

A belt of light descended down from the sky and coiled itself around Kazuki’s body. That belt of light amplified the muscle volume of Kazuki’s whole body. With his amplified power, Kazuki stole the long sword that he pinned down between his palms.

Fixing his grip of the stolen sword, he slashed back to the armored warrior in reverse.

The armored warrior was blown away by the backlash of its defensive magic power, *DOSUN!* it fell down with a heavy sound.

It was thick―Kazuki secretly shivered. That defensive magic power had more than five times the thickness of a normal person.

“STIGMATAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

The third and fourth armored warriors that possessed extraordinary power and toughness approached Kazuki even closer. The downswing that they launched were more like a berserker's than a swordsman's.

“O wind of Tatara, summon the scorching heat of steel to my forging! Take the hammer of well-tempered in hand to here, pound away the soul’s disgrace!”

Kazuha-senpai, who was covered by Kazuki finished the chanting of her spell at the back.

“…Wind Hammer of Heaven Plume Fire MakeAmeno Hidzukuri no Kazatsuchi!”

While getting the shine of her magic power worked up, Kazuha-senpai thrust her right hand forward.

From that hand, *DON!!* as if an invisible cannon was fired, a number of the approaching armored warriors were blown away altogether. At the same time the armored warriors were enveloped in flame explosions.

A composite attack of shockwave and flame that was produced from the palm. It was Futsunushi no Kami’s level 4 magic.

“Kazuha-senpai, thank you very much! …Barrett!!”

From the gap that was created from the blown away armored warriors, a ninja with bow and arrow set up leaped out and came approaching. Kazuki vigilantly sensed it an instant earlier and launched a flame bullet.

The armored warriors that were blown away by Kazuha-senpai stood up and took the stance that looked like a dragonfly once more.

“Kazuha-senpai, I’m coming out to the front so please cover me from the rear!”

Kazuki called out while he took a stance with the stolen long sword vigilantly.

“Covering from the back you say? …That’s wrong Hayashizaki, I am a magic swordsman just like you!! …I become the shrine maiden of the sword. Rock cleaved, root torn, sin severed, that spirit sword of crushing evil right now in this hand!! Draw sword, Futsu no Mitama!!”

Futsunushi no Kami’s level 3 magic. Flame burst out from Kazuha-senpai’s own palm and created a divine sword that possessed the power to tear apart magic power.

Kazuki was surprised inside his heart―after she chanted the level 4 magic before, the time she took to finish chanting this level 3 magic was frightfully fast. It was a chanting speed that approached Koyuki's.

And then Kazuha-senpai overtook Kazuki and slashed at the armored warrior’s direction.

The people that once knew Kazuha-senpai would laugh at that action as foolhardiness, but if it was the current senpai then it was not foolhardiness. Kazuha-senpai first cut down one enemy, next she dodged the downswing coming from the side with paper-thin difference and slashed the second enemy in a counterattack, and then she leaped back quickly to dodge the third enemy’s downswing.

Kazuki doubted his eyes looking at her light and easy body movement that didn’t back down for even a step facing enemies with numerical superiority.

Kazuha-senpai who splendidly conducted herself in this narrow street was constantly moving an instant faster than the enemy.

It was not as precise as Kazuki or Kanae, but [she was sensing the opponent’s magic power and making Foresight of their movement].

Not only her chanting ability, her sword skill had also made a terrific improvement.

Once she had self-confidence planted inside here, she was someone that could splendidly achieve fast growth like this.

…He was having the wrong impression. Kazuha-senpai was not something like an object of protection.

She was a partner that fought with him shoulder-to-shoulder.

“Kazuha-senpai, then please I’ll leave the right side to you.”

Kazuki dashed to the left next to Kazuha-senpai and assaulted the armored warrior with his sword.

“Fufufu, leave it to me!”

Kazuha-senpai *don* bumped her left shoulder to Kazuki’s right shoulder and smiled reliably.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

…She didn’t make any conduct that held him back like when they were on the sea. Absolutely none at all.

After Kazuha bumped her shoulder and felt her Kazukipartner’s existence, she leaped into the crowd of the armored warriors. Naked blade flashed many times over, but she slipped away through all of it and return slashing when she passed them through.

If it’s Hayashizaki then he will surely fight like this―while she gripped her sword, such imagination was naturally floating in her mind all the time. Kazuha was always desperately attempting to Trace that movement inside her mind.

This thought that she felt was, without a doubt, yearning.

That was why her own swordsmanship came to resemble Hayashizaki’s closely day by day.

Hayashizaki-style’s Foresight―its fundamental truth was a perception from thoroughly doing intensification of Extra Sense.

For those Hayashizaki siblings to acquire perception power to that level, surely they ought to have spent long months and years honing their bodies. But she was above those two in magic talent, there was no reason that she couldn’t do the same thing like those two.

Perceive―the opponent’s every single move. Those preliminary signs from their breath, muscle tension, and then their state of mind.

Moving like this, moving like this, coming like that.

Kazuha moved with her red and white Magic Dress fluttering around, she evaded the enemy’s attacks as if dancing a Kagura .

And then strike back at the opening in their important point. Realize that image into reality just like that, a definitive response.

―But, for making a crowd this large as her opponent, Kazuha’s Foresight was still incomplete.

An arrow was flying from outside her image.

Kazuha suddenly realized. That monkey-like ninja’s, bow and arrow…!

The instant she resolved herself to get hit, a hand reached out in front of Kazuha’s eyes suddenly, warding off the approaching arrow.

“Barrett!”

Then next a flame bullet was fired from that palm. It was not because of fast chanting, but a smooth action that was as if it had seen through everything. The way of fighting of the man that held the alias of Cyclops.

The ninja’s body was struck once more by the flame bullet and it was blown away to the other side of the armored warriors crowd.

“Thank you, Hayashizaki!” Words of gratitude naturally flowed out from her mouth.

While that guy was facing off against innumerable armored warriors, he was simultaneously paying attention to this side too.

…He is really kind when he is fighting. A fight, more than anything else, was the place that made her truly feel his kindness. The time of fighting was also the only place where she could become honest when it was about him.

That’s why, match the breathing with each other―and help each other.

“Scattering the flowers of night craft, O the tempering of artisans, reach the weave of the sky with the tip of your sword! The role of the sword is for the sake of victory…Under my command, become thunder clouds and pour down! Tenkū Battou Renge Hou!”

While fighting, Kazuha invoked her magic at the same time.

Flames burst out in Kazuha’s surroundings. That flame of transmutation made countless Sacred Treasures emerge in Kazuha’s surroundings. Swords with various shapes from all ages and countries―with Kazuha’s magic power manipulation all of those could be fired to every direction and angle like missiles.

“…GO-!” Together with that command, the countless swords rained incessantly on the armored warriors.

At the same time those Sacred Treasures pierced the enemies, flame and ice, lighting and the like, each of the swords exhibited various different power of elements. Kazuha also directed those attacks at Kazuki’s direction.

“Thank you very much, senpai!”

Kazuha’s chest leaped when she heard those returning words of gratitude.

This feeling of unity in this team battle made her head feel pure white inside with intoxication.

Just as I thought, I like fighting with him.

No…perhaps I, like him already…

It seemed Hayashizaki could perceive the change in positivity level. By some chance even in the middle of this battle right now, perhaps this change that happened inside her had been conveyed to him already.

Normally that was an extremely embarrassing matter but…right now she was happy that her feelings were conveyed. She wanted him to know more about this feeling that she could be honest about in the middle of this battle, that was what she truly felt from the depths of her heart.

What in the world are you thinking when you are being surrounded by all these grim armored warriors, me.

Kazuha’s whole body was spontaneously filled with strength from embarrassment. She directed that shame to the armored warriors and let fly a slash with all her strength to vent out her feelings.