Chapter 16 - Volume 2 (1/2)

Chapter 6 : Demon of the Sealed Room

A purple liquid jetted from the needle on the scorpion’s tail. Hajime jumped aside at once. The floor started to dissolve when the purple liquid splashed onto it. Seemed it was an acid.

After he looked around and confirmed his surroundings, Hajime discharged Donner.

Dopan! (Bang)

Donner was shot with maximum power. A bullet going 3.9km per second smashed into the scorpion’s head and exploded. The passenger on his back was shocked. She had never seen such a weapon; a weapon that could attack at a flash. There wasn’t even any sign of magic. Some static could be felt around his right hand but there was no incantation or magic formula. Yue noticed that Hajime was the same as her. He was able to directly manipulate magic. The same as her and somehow he was in this abyss. She wasn’t sure if that was the case, but she had tuned out the scorpion and Hajime.

Hajime was continuously moving around with his “Air Walk”. On his face was a grim expression he never had before. Using his “Perception” and “Magic Perception”, he noticed the scorpion wasn’t moving.

To prove to him, the needle on one of the tail aimed towards Hajime. The tail enlarged for just an instant and the needle was shot with a tremendous speed. When Hajime was about to dodge, the needle exploded in mid air and turned into a buckshot.

“Ku!”

Hajime groaned out while he emptied Donner, swept with his “Grand Kick” and chopped with his “Air Claws”. Even with the pressure he was able to get a shot off from Donner. He threw Donner into the air after firing it and hurled a grenade from his pouch.

Once again, the scorpion endured the shot from Donner. It was preparing to unleash its acid and buckshot again. Before it was ready, a grenade approximately 8 cm in diameter rolled near it and popped. The grenade scattered burning tar onto the scorpion.

Hajime called it an “incendiary grenade”. The reagent used to cause the scorching was the Fulham ore Hajime had found on the tar level. With its ability to burn at 3000 degree celsius and its easy ignition, it was the perfect choice.

The “incendiary grenade” was almost extinguished as it had burned through the tar. Smokes were coming off the scorpion and it appeared to be damaged, but it had also made it angry.

“Kishaaaa!!”

Using its 8 legs, it rushed forwards fiercely while it screamed. The four arms it possessed elongated like a cannon shot and sped towards Hajime.One of the arms he shook off with “Flicker” and another he leapt away from using “Air Walk”. The third arm was smacked away with “Grand Kick, his posture was thrown off balance and the fourth arm was about to hit him. Donner was suddenly shot, and using the force from the shot he was able to twist his body to dodge the attack. All those move put a lot of pressure on Yue, but she was able to tolerate it and held on.

While in the air, he leapt onto the scorpion’s back. Hajime was able to balance himself on the raging scorpions back and fired his Donner at point-blank.

Zugan!

A terrible explosive sound ripped through the area, and the monster that had taken that explosive attack slammed into the ground. However, only the crust was scratched and no real damage was done to it. Grinding his teeth, he prepared his “Air Claws” with Donner. When his ability clashed with the scorpion’s armor it only made a clink; no damage was seen on it.

Fed up, the scorpion aimed its tail and shot its needle.

Hajime immediately jumped aside with a twist. He fired at the point where the needle was launched. The bullet hit its target at the tail and caused the tail to flick, but still there was no damage because of the outer shell. He was lacking offensive power.

The beast’s four arms started to attack the aerial Hajime like a storm. In desperation, Hajime quickly leap backwards as he threw an “incendiary grenade” at the scorpion’s back. Once again the tar scattered over the scorpion, but this was only going to work as a delay.

When he was thinking about what to do at this point, an unprecedented scream came from the scorpion.

“Kyiiii!!”

Chills ran through his body and immediately he tried to retreat with “Flicker”; it was too late. The surrounding terrain started to waver and countless splinters ejected from the ground.

“Damnit!”

This was a complete surprise. Hajime was going to desperately escape into the air, but he twisted his body to protect Yue from an approaching splinter. This action caused his balance to be broken. He was able to dodge using Donner and “Grand Kick”. When he was dodging at the edge of his vision he saw the scorpion preparing its acid and buck shot.

Hajime’s face drew stiff. With its preparation done, the scorpion fired its attacks. He steeled himself. In this situation, dodging both of them was impossible. Hajime clenched his teeth. Using “Air Walk”, he was able to dodge the acid. Quickly after he started to protect his body. His left arm went to his heart and his right arm to his face. Hajime used his magic to strengthen his body to the limit. Then dozens of needles pierced into this body.

“Gaaa!!”

Any fatals injury were avoided while he screamed. Since Yue was on his back, he decided to take the needles and stop them with his body. Hajime was blown away from the impact, and rolled onto the ground; while intense pain wrecked his body. Yue was flung away from his back by the shock.

While dozens of needles were pieced into his body, Hajime took out a “flash grenade’ and lobbed it towards the scorpion. The grenade drew a parabola, and flashed right in front of the scorpion’s eyes.

“Kyishaaa!!”

Blinded by the sudden flash of light, the scorpion instinctively stepped back. It had been tracking Hajime’s movement from the beginning. The beast had judged which step to take and it didn’t make a mistake.

Hajime pulled out the needles stabbing his body and consumed the “potion” pill near his molar.

“Guu!”

A groan leaks between his gritted teeth. Hajime looked for Yue while pulling his needles, but Yue found him first and came towards him.

“Hajime!”

Yue ran up to Hajime anxiously. Her expressionless was gone; she was ready to burst into tears.

“I’m fine. His armor is too hard. I can’t think of a strategy…his four arms also cover his mouth and eyes…kamikaze?”

Despite Yue’s worries, Hajime continued to mull over the scorpion. Looking at Hajime, she started to cry.

“…Why?”

“Ah?”

“Why don’t you just run?”

If he left her, he might escape. Yue brung up the topic because she knew it was possible. However, Hajime had an amazing gaze.

“What are you saying now? Just because a slightly strong enemy showed up, don’t give up.”

In order to survive, Hajime was willing to do anything: bluffing, lying, surprise attacks, foul play, and whatever is needed to win. His fight with the bear was the only exception, he basically thought you could take “fair play” and shove it up your ass. This was not the place for such a naive thought. There is not guilt here. You have to live this way.

But he wasn’t going to allow himself to become heartless. He still knew right from wrong, humanity and justice. The reason he remember these and regained them was because of Yue. That was why, he had no choice but to save her. She had entrusted herself to him. The moment he accepted that he could not become heartless.