Chapter 27 (1/2)

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Enjoy the chapter~.

TL: Thy Unsus

ED: Thy Unsus

Chapter 27 - Reunion with Shuichi Nanami

As one would expect, I pressed my shoulders up against the wall when I returned to the wet underground seventh floor, where the underground water flowed.

Once I entered the room where Enos.h.i.+gaos had been, I took a swig of water from the fountain. Since my throat was scorching in the scorching heat of the underground eighth floor, even the null water felt delicious on my tongue.

“I also have to eat some food.” (s.h.i.+njō)

Possibly due to my extreme fatigue, I had no appet.i.te.

Even so, my body needed nutrition. I fished through my rucksack, and ate the seaserpent's meat.

Things like flavor didn't matter, I regained nourishment anyway, and after, I'd sleep for a little bit.

The boss room was like a closed door. It was specified that other monsters couldn't enter normally, so I could rest a.s.sured and sleep.

In the current situation where formidable enemies were drawing near from a lower floor, time was more valuable than gold coins, but that was why I had to rest when I could.

When I *thud* collapsed onto the large throne, my consciousness dropped, and I dozed off.

“……Fuuu.” (s.h.i.+njō)

My sense of time was amiss, so although I couldn't say for sure, I probably didn't sleep for that long.

I feared I would sleep soundly as is if I slept on the floor, so I took it upon myself to sleep sitting up, but I still slept soundly.

“I don't think I sleep too much.” (s.h.i.+njō)

Despite doping potions of ability rising, against an opponent many ranks above me, battles to the death would continue if done poorly.

Though my body's muscles were creaking, I knew they were getting stronger. Originally, I would have liked to have a more natural rest, but that was supplemented for by the recovery due to the keep-yourself-awake gems and all sorts of potions.

“Well, let's go I guess.” (s.h.i.+njō)

I quickly went back to the seventh floor's wet pa.s.sage.

As I took a direct route aiming for the stairs to the sixth floor while utterly defeating several mermen, the voices of bustling people were heard from ahead.

Just as I arrived in the large room near the entrance.

The group of Nanami and others arrived.

I didn't think about avoiding or running away from them anymore, so I awaited them in the center of the large room.

“Yo……, you guys cleared the sixth floor's boss, huh?” (s.h.i.+njō)

“s.h.i.+njō Wataru-kun!” (Nanami)

Nanami calling me by my full name felt nostalgic.

The『Invasion』of the black death knights would probably extend to the upper floors again. If it was like that, then I thought they needed to be warned because they were also in danger.

“Wataru-kun!” “Dannsama desu!” (k.u.miko) (Ussah)

“Hey, calm down.” (s.h.i.+njō)

Kujō k.u.miko and Ussah clung to my arms.

You guys, don't block both my arms in a dungeon.

Ussah aside, I never had thought k.u.miko would cling to me.

If it was the k.u.miko during school, she didn't behave like this or anything in the presence of the general public, but perhaps it was a change in mental state?

Now wasn't the time to be keeping these guys company carefreely.

The『Invasion』of black death knights was approaching from the lower floors. They were opponents that couldn't be cut through even by me unless I made a serious effort, so they were too dangerous for these guys.

“Sorry, but I'll have a little chat with you.” (Nanami)

“What is it, Nanami?” (s.h.i.+njō)

The one who had something to tell was me, but from Nanami's threatening att.i.tude, ‘little' was out of the question. His att.i.tude changed, and my shoulders were grabbed strongly.

I thought that he might *hug* embrace me like this, like k.u.miko and Ussah, and was surprised for a second.

Even k.u.miko and Ussah, who'd normally make a fuss noisily, were pushed back by Nanami's overwhelming spirit, and stepped back a step.

Nanami, who rushed up to me that forcefully, was pressuring.

“s.h.i.+njō-kun, you were with Kazuha, weren't you? She disappeared from the town, there was someone who said that they saw her shopping with you at the end, that you……” (Nanami)

“Aah? If it's Rindou Kazuha, I hid her because she was starving to death in the city.” (s.h.i.+njō)

“She was about to die!? No, rather than that, is Kazuha safe? Where is she now!” (Nanami)

“Nanami, by chance, did you come here chasing Rindou?” (s.h.i.+njō)

From Nanami's appearance, it felt like it didn't even need to be asked.

I had never thought Nanami would seriously move the eliteparty of the student council for a person reason of ‘I want to search for my childhood friend' and come chasing her until here.

I had thought that he was a guy who properly established the difference between public and private matters.

I thought that because he was a guy like that, he hadn't noticed that Kazuha was being driven into a wall…….

Although Nanami was the leader, how far would the Nanami girls and athletes cooperate in the goal of searching for Kazuha?

On the official stance, it was under the pretext of ‘advancing the capture', and as Nanami's true feelings, it was probably ‘he came to search for me, who took Kazuha'.

But, the fact that I was observed when I was in the store with Kazuha was inopportune. Kazuha disappeared immediately following that, so no matter what rumor was started, it wasn't strange.

The fact that I hadn't been aware of the surrounding student's eyes was careless as well.

“Is Kazuha safe, hey, HEY, s.h.i.+njooō!” (Nanami)

“Don't panic, she's in a safe place, and she's fine. Which reminds me, I'm holding onto a letter to you from Rindou.” (s.h.i.+njō)

I took out Rindou's letter which had『to Nanami-kun』written on it from my rucksack, and handed it over.

I was saved since a letter was prepared. If he read this, he should also understand the situation.

Nanami hurriedly broke the seal, and read the letter.

As he read down the letter, his hands quivered. Before long, his shoulders shook a lot, as if they were cramping.

“It's a lie……a letter like this is……” (Nanami)

“Hey, Nana……” (s.h.i.+njō)

When I saw Nanami's face, I lost my words for a second.

I saw the instant his always eloquent honor student maskpersona *peel* peeled off and dropped.

Who…was this guy……

The man standing there wasn't the Shuichi Nanami we knew until now. His wide open eyes were bloodshot, and the distortion of his mouth was full of hatred. Just like the expression of an Asura.

If he read the letter from Kazuha, Nanami would feel relieved, wouldn't he?

I regretted that I believed the words ‘Kazuha will explain it', and hadn't checked the contents of the letter.

At times like this, my well-bredness became my enemy, huh? No, seeing another person's private message was similar to stepping into another person's territory, and that was just unpleasant. Let's reflect that that part was a mistake.

However, this wasn't as expected. Kazuha, what did you write in that letter!

This wasn't natural.

The important letter that Kazuha wrote, Nanami *crinkle* crushed it with his hands.

Even at that nonchalant action, I was frightened. It felt strange, like he was possessed by something, so to speak. This guy…was dangerous.

“Where is Kazuha……s.h.i.+njō. Let me talk to Kazuha right now……” (Nanami)

“Wait Nanami, calm down first, and listen to the story! Even if you say ‘let me talk to her right now', it's impossible. She's hiding in another place.” (s.h.i.+njō)

“Then, say it! Where that is!” (Nanami)

“I can't say that, you should understand the reason if you read the letter, right? Rindou was the target of bullying, so she……” (s.h.i.+njō)

“s.h.i.+njō……as I thought, you, you kidnapped Kazuha, didn't you!” (Nanami)

“Hey, what do you mean ‘as I thought'?” (s.h.i.+njō)

This reaction, did someone say I ‘kidnapped Kazuha'?

In front of my eyes, Nanami threw away his『Large s.h.i.+eld of Holy Iron』……and drew his sword.

Nanami drew out the『Blacksteel Sword』he wore on his back and drew near me. I couldn't believe the things he did before my eyes.

That Shuichi Nanami, a flawless superman honor student, was taking such frivolous actions without checking the situation…….

“Calm down!” (s.h.i.+njō)

I felt a chilly thirst for blood, and jumped back faster than I planned to.

His black sword *whoosh* pa.s.sed through the place I was originally.

That just and fair Nanami, forget me, swung his sword at a student of the same school.

Both Everyone in the surroundings, and k.u.miko and Ussah, who were nearby, were shocked, and couldn't move. It was a scene they could hardly believe.

“Haha~, that's right. No one said that Kazuha was being bullied. Furthermore that it's because of me, such a thing is impossible. Going as far as to make a polite letter of lies like this……I won't be trickeddd!” (Nanami)

“Wait, eeii!” (s.h.i.+njō)

Seeing as Nanami drew near holding a sword in his hand, I had no choice but to draw『Solitude』as well.

It was a reflexive defensive action, but it provocated Nanami even more.

“It's as I thought! You took Kazuha forcibly, you did, didn't you!” (Nanami)

“No, why do you think that!” (s.h.i.+njō)

I wonder, was Shuichi Nanami such a tawdry man?

Even if ‘I kidnapped Kazuha' was said by someone, and she wrote ‘save me because I was kidnapped by him', even then, he wasn't a man who would swing their sword without checking the situation.

To go this far, Nanami was crazy; what the h.e.l.l was written in that letter?

Nanami, with a facial expression like a ghost, was losing his sanity. Why was this serious a sword coming out from the body of Nanami, who was frail and tired?

“Return, KazuhaAAAA!” (Nanami)

“You intend to seriously do it!?” (s.h.i.+njō)

I caught the blow that Nanami launched with hatred with『Solitude』.

The black sword was covered in a silver effect. Holy Blast. In other words, Nanami's occupation was the high-ranking job ‘Holy Knight'.

Speaking in just the rank, he was on par with k.u.miko and I, I guess.

No, not just the rank, but both the speed and weight of his thrusts had no shortcomings. Shuichi Nanami, was strong.

“s.h.i.+njō, you b.a.s.t.a.r.ddd!” (Nanami)

“Nanamiii!” (s.h.i.+njō)

It was not the time to be admiring it, I attacked the traces of silver that were driven in one by one with all my might. Each blow was heavy, and even for me, turning them aside took all my strength.

It resulted in performing a locking of swords with that Shuichi Nanami, and despite it being a situation like this, I was pleased with the strength of Nanami's sword.¹

I wasn't the only one who trained themselves in the blood-smeared dungeon.

This guy was a formidable enemy. Nanami, the same as me, also swung his sword in the dungeon without rest for a while.

The weight of the attacks I received was like that.

I was fighting for myself, but Nanami had continued to fight on the foremost line as a s.h.i.+eld for more people.

Strength in Genocide Reality didn't lie.

Whether that incentive was good or evil, only those who continued swinging their sword could become stronger, and fight against an opponent with a strong will.

That, was an isolated and sad strength. Had Nanami cornered himself until he acquired this much strength?

While receiving Nanami's black sword that was covered in a silver effect, it seemed that, even if Nanami went mad with this, it wouldn't be strange.

“Kazuha, wouldn't, leave, meeEEE!” (Nanami)

Shuichi Nanami wasn't a blessed honors studentelite, or anything like that. He was covered in mud, covered in blood, kept at it, kept at it, and went for it, but even so, Nanami hadn't been rewarded with even one thing.

The reason why Nanami was attacking me, who spoke to him, was the twisted lie that was said by someone, but the wicked sword packed with countless curses that he was swinging downward while making heavy sounds was still straight.

Nanami probably like Kazuha, his childhood friend, quite a bit. So much so that he attacked me with an unreasonable anger, that he exposed such an unsightly appearance.

He tried to protect everyone, but instead, due to that, the one important to him was hurt. And, when he noticed that, she was in a place out of his reach already.

There wasn't something like a perfect good guy anywhere. Rather, the man blessed with as many qualities as Shuichi Nanami didn't reach her, despite mustering desperate efforts until here.

The regret that he lost the person most important to him due to prioritizing other people.

The s.h.i.+ning silver of Nanami, who crossed the gloomy dungeon, and my white sword. Through the gaps of our swords which violently clashed with each other, Nanami's voice of malice like he was vomiting blood was heard.

Shuichi Nanami, who lost his childhood friend and became like a ghost, was stirred up by a dark impulse that couldn't be stopped even by me, and chased me deep into the dungeon like this.

“s.h.i.+njō, you, youuuuu, uuAAAAHHHH!” (Nanami)

While shouting as if he was cursing my name, Nanami, who blindly a.s.saulted me with his sword with all his power, had anxiety, irritation, bitterness, anger, hatred……and, sadness and despair.

I understood more by exchanging swords than exchanging words. Nanami's shouts, were wails.

“What is it……” (s.h.i.+njō)

If the flawless superman maskcharacter he imposed on himself was broken, then Shuichi Nanami was also the same brat as us, wasn't he?

Just about everything didn't go how he wanted it to, and he cried; he was a brat who became desperate and had an outburst of anger.

Then, I'll treat a brat like a brat!

I thrust Nanami away with all my strength, and cut down with all my strength.

“GUAAAHHH!” (Nanami)

“Did you snap out of it, Nanamiii!” (s.h.i.+njō)

I didn't plan on killing him. But, Nanami was too strong to be held down uninjured.

After all, unless he died, he'd heal with recovery potions; I didn't go as far as killing him, but I deeply cut the wrist of his right arm so he couldn't hold his sword.

“s.h.i.+NJŌ, s.h.i.+NJOOOOŌ!!” (Nanami)

“You'll still comeee!?” (s.h.i.+njō)

Perhaps, Nanami's dominant arm might have been his left hand.

Even if came to one hand, he switched the way he held his sword, and came to a.s.sault me with it. I didn't dislike that perseverance, but he was only hurting himself.

“ooOOOOOOOH!” (Nanami)

“Don't blame me.” (s.h.i.+njō)

Sorry, but I'm not adult enough to kindly take your despair.

I bisected his left wrist holding the sword with all my strength. While spewing blood from the cross-section of his arm, Nanami finally tumbled down.

“UAAAAH……” (Nanami)