Chapter 111 (1/2)

The thick clouds underneath them were quickly passing by. The grass plains and trees were overlapping with the clouds, occasionally a small village could be seen, but as expected it would be quickly left behind in no time at all. It was supposed to going at a considerable amount of speed but, some kind of barrier was placed which made the breeze comfortable.

Someone’s ponytail trademark was drifting in the comfortable breeze, It was Shizuku who was watching the scenery before her eyes, and she changed her glance over towards the sun which shone brightly overhead.

The blessing of lights seen from clouds, if we reached out would we be able to grasp it? it was so close that it could be mistaken as so. Shizuku was leaning her back on the handrail while blocking the sunlight with her hand, as if looking far into the distance, she suddenly muttered something as if she was tired from just thinking about it.

[…..Who would have expected that he built an airship. …..He can already do everything huh]

Right, the place where Shizuku was currently at was the rear deck of the airship “Feruniru” that Hajime created.

This Feruniru was mainly made out of gravity stones and induction stones, along with other various functions built in, it was their new way of transportation. The reason why they’ve never used it up until now was solely because Hajime had thought that it was too early.

Though it wasn’t difficult to move something through gravity stones, the bigger the mass became the more you needed to be experienced in Creation magic. As far as the Cross bitts go, they had a limit of being able to only lift up 1 person.

However, through the results of pilling on training between several intervals of time, he finally became skilled enough to freely operate a large floating mass, the compiled data was then used to create the airship, “Fenuniru”. Since they’ve left the Kingdom, everyone was doubting Hajime as they gathered at the grass plains on the outskirts of the Kingdom without a wagon nor a car which ran on magic, when Hajime showed Fenuniru he had a triumphant look on his face.

[It’s commonsense that flight transportation devices are obtained near the end of a journey]

Is what he said while full of confidence.

This Feruniru was 120 meters in length and in the shape of a devil fish, inside of it contained halls that led to the bridge towards the front and living quarters at the center, furthermore there was also a kitchen and room to take baths. Though I say that, because they’re able to travel to the Empire which usually takes 2 months by carriage in only 1 and a half days, how much the utilities are going to be used is unknown. Even just floating in the sky consumes quite a bit of magical power. If it wasn’t Hajime, then using it for long times would be impossible.

[So this was where you were……Shizuku]

[Kouki…..]

As Shizuku was recalling Hajime’s words and tsukkomied in her mind, just what about this is commonsense?, she was called out to.

When Shizuku looked towards the voice, Kouki’s face appeared from the hatch that just opened up. Kouki came straight up besides Shizuku and with both arms on the handrail, he began to look towards the clouds that were in the distance.

And he started to mutter something.

[This is…..incredible]

[That’s right. ……I’m already tired of being surprised at every little thing]

Naturally, what Kouki was talking about was the airship Feruniru. However, his expression showed no colors of admiration, it was somewhat discouraged and at the same time, mortifying.

[Hows everyone else?]

[Ryutaro and the imperial guards are eating what Shia-san cooked for them. Suzu is chatting with Riri. …..Nagumo is…..flirting around. At the bridge laying down and relaxing…..]

The reason they accompanied Hajime was to keep their promise of protecting and sending off princess Ririana and her imperial guards to the Empire, and it was only Kouki’s Hero party. The remaining students who couldn’t fight were left with Aiko, the Nagayama front-forces as well, they decided to protect the Kingdom while Kouki and them weren’t there.

To begin with, the long-distance transfer that Freed left behind at the Kingdom gave them a hint, there was an artifact that allowed them to return at anytime, if Kouki and them asked Hajime they’d be able to return immediately.

Shizuku glanced towards Kouki who was a biting his words. Shizuku could somehow sympathized with his behavior, she scratched her cheek and showed a wry smile as if asking, what’s up, and talked.

[What is it, you seem pretty dissatisfied? Does it not sit well with you that Nagumo-kun is popular?]

[……It’s not like that]

Shizuku called out while poking fun at him, Kouki’s expression seemed to have been ill-humored and replied bluntly.

[……Being able to create something this amazing…..and being insanely strong…..why is it that he’s able to act so nonchalantly like that. …..Why was he so easily able to abandon them….]

[……..]

It appears that Kouki is still not comfortable with Hajime’s judgement to not fight god and abandon this world. If he himself had that much power then he’d go off and save the world from god himself……while he was thinking about that, Shizuku completely understood what he meant.

[……He’s probably already chosen]

[chosen?]

Shizuku’s reply which she muttered made Kouki turn his glance at her again. While Shizuku was looking far into the distance, she took her time to choose her words.

[He is…..probably not as free as he appears? Perhaps, even though he looks calm, I think he’s probably always “frantic”. He’s always “frantically” trying to survive with his important people]

[…….]

[He’s already said it too right? You don’t do something because you’ve gained power, because you want to do something you use power. Right now what you’re feeling is the “difference”, it wasn’t something that he had from the beginning. “Incompetent”, “Good-for-nothing”, while being told such things, he crawled up from the bottom and obtained it. …..Literally, what he obtained at the end was determination and resolution. Not In order to defeat god, nor save the world. It’s much simpler, it’s for those who are close to him…..it’s completely different from us who “because we can, we will”. That’s why, even if hes being told “because you can, then do it”, he won’t easily nod and agree with it. Because, he didn’t obtain power for that purpose, if he looks the other way and loses his most important things then he’d obtain nothing out of it….]

[…..I don’t really understand]

[U~n. Though it may be a bit different, look, in order to become the boxing world champion I worked hard, since you’re strong, wipe out all the evil in the town! saying something like that just doesn’t work out?]

[Mu….when you say it like that…..but, what’s on the line are the lives of the people of this world]

Midway in, Kouki stubbornly refuted Shizuku while his eyebrows were in a ? shape.

[Ma~a, not being able to leave behind people in need is one of your good traits but…..that’s only Kouki’s senses of value so you shouldn’t force them onto Nagumo-kun]

[…..What’s with that, do you have his back on this?]

[What childish things are you saying. I’m simply talking about people in general? Besides, I’m sure you haven’t forgotten it, somehow or another Nagumo-kun has saved numerous people including us. It was the same for the town of Ulu as well, Kaori also said that he saved the Ankaji dukedom too. It seems he also wiped out the hidden organization that took part in human trafficking at Fuyuren and he also rescued Myu who was a Umininzoku child and returned her to her mother too. ……As for us, I don’t think we’ve done much to save the people from this world?]

[That’s……]

[Surely for himself…..he’d only act for those who are important to him such as Yue and them…….fufu, thinking about that, eventually he might “Take the opportunity” to send god flying away?]

[What’s with that, that pitiful god….]

While thinking of such silly things, Shizuku laughed as she thought that it was possible in the future if it was Hajime. Kouki had a complicated expression but, he didn’t have the strength to deny Shizuku’s words so he tsukkomied and stopped at that. For a while, a time of silence passed by. Shizuku guessed that Kouki was thinking while carrying conflicted feelings within himself again and decided to not say anything.

Then, at that time, Feruniru which had flown in a straight course and fixed speed suddenly went off course. Kouki and Shizuku were wondering what happened since if they just flew straight they’d reach the Empire.

[…..Did something happen?]

[For the time being, shall we go back inside]

The two nodded in consent and quickly returned into the ship.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Shizuku and Kouki entered the bridge, everyone had already gathered around the crystal like object at the center.

[What happened?]

[Ah, Shizuku-chan. Un, for some reason people are being chased by the Empire’s soldiers]

Kaori answered Shizuku who asked. What Kaori pointed towards in cubic crystal was, several Usagininzoku’s running through a valley, behind them were approaching empire soldiers who were playing a real game of tag with them.

This crystal was created with the “Distant Viewing Stone” and “Distance Transmitting Stone” through Creation magic, it was possible to project the image of the distant surroundings with the crystal installed in the bridge, in simple terms, it was a telescope which was capable of projecting an image.

When Shizuku looked at the crystal display, certainly, there were 2 Usagininzoku women between a narrow valley without any flowing water, they seemed to be worrying as they ran away from the Empire soldiers who were approaching behind them. Behind the approaching Empire soldiers were several large transportation carriages, rather than chasing them from the beginning, did they escape instead? Or were they trying to catch the Usagininzoku’s that they found by chance?

It appears that Hajime and them saw the situation and slowed down Feruniru. Normally he’d just ignore it but, because it was Shia’s race he decided to be concerned about it.

[Isn’t this bad! If we don’t immediately help them!]

Kouki shouted out as expected. It seemed like he’d jump out at any moment even though they were in the sky.

However, Hajime didn’t answer the rushing Kouki, he drew his eyebrows closer to the crystal display and looked at it suspiciously.

[Oi, Nagumo! Surely you’re not intending to abandon those girls are you!? If you won’t be helping then I’ll go! Hurry and let me down!]

[Shia, these guys are…..]

[Eh? ……Ar~e? These 2 are…..]

Hajime ignored the raging Kouki and called out to Shia. Shia also seems to have noticed now that they zoomed in on the image.

[Why are you two so laid back! Their the same race as Shia-san right! Do you think nothing of it!]

[I’m sorry, you’re a bit noisy so could you quiet down for a bit? …..Hajime-san, there’s no doubt about it. It’s Rana-san and Mina-san]

[As expected huh. ……Because of their sudden change in condition I had a hard time remembering. ……These guys movements and expressions…..fumu]

Kouki’s opinion was completely cut off by Shia and he instinctively became quiet. By the way, the reason why Kouki was addressing Shia with “San” was due to the results of her introducing herself by her first name with a refreshing smile, but Shia had said to just call her by her first name without adding honorifics with a smile.

In the meantime, the two Usagininzoku women stopped moving their legs as they fell onto the ground. Their current position was at a slightly more open valley.

When he saw that, Kouki regained his senses and decided that he’d leave the bridge and go to the front deck. Though there’s still quite some distance between them, for the time being he was intending to shoot magic to attract the Empire soldiers attention.

[Ma~a, wait. Amanogawa. It’s fine]

[Wha, what are you saying! Those feeble women seem like they’d be attacked at any moment!]

~Ki~ Kouki glared at Hajime in frustration, However, Hajime was smiling from ear to ear and muttered like something was interesting as he looked at the crystal display.

[Feeble? No way. Those guys are…..the “Hauria” you know?]

What are you saying? immediately after Kouki’s doubtful expression, [Ah!], someone’s astonished voice sounded out. When Kouki looked towards the crystal display to see what happened, what was there was……a mountain of corpses consisting of Empire soldiers who were beheaded or pierced accurately through the head by an arrow.

[…….Eh?]

Not just Kouki but everyone who didn’t know of the Hauria tribe became dot eyed. In the meantime, feeling suspicious that the forces which left the transportation wagons weren’t returning after they went to chase the Usagininzoku, they decided to send out several scouts.

And, when those scouts found the mountain of their comrades corpses, they called out to the two Usagininzoku women who were at the center leaning on one another and shaking as they approached in a threatening voice.

They may have usually been much more careful of their actions after suddenly finding a mountain of their comrades corpses but, before them were the pet slaves who had absolutely no fighting power. They approached while upset but had no caution. They got closer.

The moment when one of the scouts was about to grab one of the Usagininzoku woman by her Usamimis, an arrow shot out from somewhere and pierced through the scout behind him in the head. When the scout noticed the sound of the man collapsing on the the ground and convulsing, he looked back.

In front of him, the Usagininzoku woman who should have been trembling in fear got up without a sound, at some point she was already wielding a short sword in her hand and the scout in front of her was easily beheaded.

And the other Usagininzoku woman also immediately kept a low posture as she crawled on the ground towards the beheaded man who was falling sideways and easily reaped the head of the last scout who was stunned towards the sudden situation.

The head popped off as if it was a toy, Kouki and them, [U~], became pale faced and held their mouths. Princess Ririana and her imperial guards instinctively stared at Shia when the impossible scene of the Usagininzoku killing the Empire soldiers were shown. The special one wasn’t only you!? with their eyes opened wide in surprise.

[No, without a doubt I’m the only special one? There’s no way that there would be so many just like me. That was the results of training for them. …..Hajime-san placed them into a hell which couldn’t be lukewarm, it was training which could be called devil remodeling, that kind of feeling]

[ [ [ [ [……] ] ] ] ]

Everyones line of sight turned towards Hajime. Their eyes all clearly expressed the same things. In other words, [It was you again!?]. Hajime abruptly averted his eyes.

In the meantime, the situation was coming to its final stages. The remaining empire soldiers and the transport wagon finally reached the slaughter site. The Empire soldiers foot completely came to a stop when they noticed the appearance of their comrades that were scattered on the road to block them.

They couldn’t just advance on ahead by trampling on the corpses as if nothing happened, above all they became intensely agitated as they made a ruckus.

And the Hauria tribe didn’t let that chance go by. No, everything may have been done for the sake of that chance to appear. The remaining Empire soldiers numbered 12. The Hauria tribesmen jumped out from both sides of the cliff, suddenly they appeared but even with the 2 women from before their numbers was only 5 people. However the Hauria tribesmen who jumped at them were better prepared to fight against the Empire soldiers, 3 heads were sent flying, and 1 person was shot right through the middle of their forehead by an arrow.

The Hauria didn’t let up their fierce attacks. Just like the flowing water, they attacked the Empire soldiers as a group.

The moment that one of the Empire soldiers managed to grab their sword, a Hauria would jump from the side and immediately cut their head off.

Arrows came flying towards the Empire soldiers from the front. It’s speed was unlike those before it, they were transparent and the instant they tried to clear away as the Empire soldiers read where the arrow was going, a different Usagininzoku would come in from their blind spot and cut off their head.

While the Empire soldiers gave out a courageous roar as they approached and kicked the heads of the beheaded soldiers. The moment that their eyes were fixed onto the Haruia who were unforgivable due to their angered hearts, a different Hauria suddenly appeared behind their backs and beheaded them.