Vol 2 Chapter 5 (1/2)

Chapter 5 - Necrohter

Part 1

The next day AntiMagic Academy's mock battle tournament; second round

It was sunny weather, the clireat day for the tournament, that's when acoustic feedback from announcer's microphone resounded

All of Sathered and sat on the bench in front

Three girls were sitting on the bench, Ikaruga on the right side, Mari in the center, Usagi on the left, even Lapis was sitting in the corner of it

Takeru was preparing equiplanced at the field

Currently, there was a cere performed on it

While on the first day, there was a concert of a fa of the newest model of heavily armoured infantry exoskeleton by the alchemists These were unlike the one Takeru and the others encountered during the 『Trackless Psalms』 incident, they were the newest state-of-art models

Seeing Dragoons a as sitting on the right responded with a ”Haa haa” panting

”Ohho! T-thin layer of orichalcon throughout the body high frequency vibration blade?! That should cost as ht?! And those human-likeyou can mass-produce! Nonsense!! I-i-i can't hold it in, this state-of-art design is so arousing”

With drool hanging from her mouth, she looked excitedly at the body that was displayed on the field

”What's so interesting in it? Isn't that just a doll”

Mari co

”Not knowing the wonderfulness of Dragoons, Mari loses 12 life”

”Isn't it fine not to know about it”

”That form, that sound, that form and its lustre! Robots have their own eros that cannot be imitated by humans!”

”what a pervert”

”A pervert?!”

She responded at full power, looking at Ikaruga, Mari put some distance between them

Mari shi+fted to the side, her shoulder hit Usagi as there

And Usagi was

RATTLE RATTLERATTLERATTLERATTLERATTLE

”Uwaa”

She was e Her face was blue, her lips purple

”I heard about your fright before, but you really did well to survive up until now”

”S-ss-sss-shut up R-r-rright now, I-I' for s-spriritual unity D-ddon't talk to me”

”If you ry”

”I wonder if it's really alright this platoon well, as long as I a for victory isn't iht?-”

She poised weirdly with her un, and turned the muzzle to Takeru as behind

However, Takeru as asked the question was looking around fidgety He didn't look at Mari at all Being ignored aftera cool stance with a lot of effort, Mari pouted with displeasure

”why are you looking around like that”

”No, it's just that I heard fro late already That fellow didn't co, I'm a bit worried”

”what's with that 'Ootori, Ootori' Are you dissatisfied with me?”

Takeru stood up after finishi+ng his preparations, and he swung his arm around a few times

”I'th decreases by 80 if we don't have her”

Including hith

Marihis arm

”What's with that! Are you really a captain? Trust your members more!”

”Y-you're too close I do trust you, but I think being realistic is also necessary”

”Why are you talking about realis a swordsmanshi+p idiot”

Mari pointed un at Takeru's chest

Closing one eye, she laughed happily

”Since I' on you, Captain-san”

Hearing Mari's words, Takeru made faint smile

Because of various things happening, Mari's tension has been pretty high ever since she woke up It didn't really matter for her whether they lost or won, definitely

But since she was already participating, she wanted to win Seeing her having fun like this, Takeru was the sa Mari laughing like this, he thought it was good to participate

”But she really is slow, that woman Maybe she's scared?”

”There's no way that'll happen, no matter what”

Takeru smiled wryly at Mari's distrust

At the same time, as if it was timed on purpose, the door behind them was opened

”sorry, I'm late”

The one who appeared, was Ouka, just as expected

Ouka was dragging very large gun cases with her, and she ure, and provocatively glared at her like usual

”Oh my, the honour student sure is different froht you were scared and bailed”

Mari provoked her, Ouka glared at her sharply

”Wha what is it I was joking Don't take it seriously”

””

Ouka reaze from Mari, this time she looked at Takeru

”Sorry, Kusanagi we need to talk a bit”

Being suddenly told there's so to talk about, Takeru wondered as it about

Ouka stood there with a serious expression Looking closely, her hair lacked luster, and dark circles could be seen under her eyes

Fatigue could be clearly seen al out of Ouka

”What is it, Ootori what happened?”

”There's no time We'll be back as soon as possible”

Takeru was confused, and Mari made a question mark with both of her hands

Ouka whispered directly as he ondering what is it about

”——It's about Nikaido Mari”

Being told that in a low voice, Takeru looked at Mari

”? What is it?”

Being stared at by two people, Mari had a questioning look

Takeru felt an unexplainable anxiety, told the other platoon members to wait a while and followed Ouka

After opening the door, they moved to hallway

Ouka after leaving the room rested her back on the wall and folded her arms

”saying you want to talk about Mari, what the hell is that about?”

Takeru asked her fearfully, Ouka closed her eyes in response

Ouka quietly told him about Mari

”——————That can't be”

After Takeru listened to everything she'd said all expression disappeared from his face

Part 2

AntiMagic Academy's colosseum tournament's audience seats

In thequietly in seats for the audience

Instead of the Inquisition's uniform, he wore a black suit He didn't want to be noticed by enemy's surveillance

But he didn't look like a respectable hu

”all KnightsSpriggans, report on the situation”

《”There're no probleing hazardous materials either up until now”》

《”At the closed back gate, the outer wall, sealed toith es or contraindicated area, there are no abnor, but there were no reports so far”》

Hearing reports from his subordinates from the earphone microphone, Hayato squinted

”Continue cautiously This is the day Today is the day the forgetting ic will expire The enemy will definitely come Don't lose focus”

Hayato finished confir the situation, and his attention moved to the colosseum as he linked his arms

His right hand was touching the Relic Eater at his chest at all times, he was ready to shoot at any time

”——Well, Kurogane-kun How are you feeling?”

A voice sounded froaze at the source of it

Standing there was a person in a white suit and popcorn in one of his hands it was Ootori Sougetsu

”This place is dangerous Please return to the chairman's room I'll report remotely”

Sougetsu without regard to Hayato's advice sat down next to him

”You're as rigid as ever Isn't it fine to be a bit h?”

”If you think so then please increase the number of personnel If that's the case I'll be more comfortable as well”

”There's no one else other than you from Inquisition that can be used So that'd be difficult”

Munching on popcorn, Sougetsu laughed quietly

”By the way, do you have anything to report?”

”Chairhter see around the criht”

”Oh, is that so? Hi-san the truth now, he won't be shaken”

Talking as if all of it was planned, Sougetsu stuffed hi a cool expression

Without batting an eye, Hayato stared at Sougetsu from the side

”Even if you told hiht?”

”A plan using a witch with i-kun and Ouka Convincing the told that it's an escort i-kun will protect Mari-kun noto attack them, there was no reason to tell them the truth”

”Because of the events in the past, he's unable to abandon a tragedy in front of him”

Sougetsu was, rather than that, in addition, was thrilled with excitement

”I wonder if they'll come, Fantasy CultValhalla”

”I don't know”

”Is that so Well, it'll be a shame if they don't come, if they won't come, in that case we'll just have to mess around with Mari-kun's head a bit”

””

”The enemy won't come you don't really think that do you?”

”it's intuition I don't have any evidence”

Hearing that Sougetsu laughed eerily, extremely pleased

”Your intuition is always spot on”

He continued to stuff himself with popcorn even more happily

The second round battle of tournaetsu applauded 'bravo—!'

Once again, Hayato faced forward cautiously

Part 3

The buzzer indicating the start of battle rang

Small Fry Platoon members spread out, they moved to their planned positions

Although Mari rushed out bravely just as planned, suddenly Takeru grabbed her shoulder

”——u?”

”Mari, don't move away from me”

”Eh? Isn't that different from the plan? I should now——”

”It's all right, come on!”

He said that with a strong voice, Mari tilted her neck

Takeru looked unusually serious, he spoke to the intercom shortly afterwards

”Usagi, move as planned Get to a remote location far away from us”

《”I get it! That's how a sniper acts, it's obvious”》

Next, Takeru glanced at Ouka as close by

She responded with a light nod

”Wha-what is it? What's the plan?”

”You just stick close to ht”

It'll be alright ill? Mari's stare at Takeru seemed to say that

While sweat appeared on Takeru's forehead, he looked at the surroundings nervously

”Kusanagi, the entire audience can see you here, hide yourself behind an object”

”Roger that!”

”Wa-wait a sec?!”

Ouka pushed Mari's back, and ran with full force

Mari followed behind Takeru who beca why

Five h the field, and hid the a blind spot behind an object Takeru entered the familiar fountain square area

”they're here Confirmed appearance of 15th test platoon”

Ouka reported status of the site from the cover point

”The building i a church across the street one person at the bell tower, probably a sniper One person near the entrance probably another sniper I bet One person by the fountain, two people in the rubble on sides”

”We have no tiation There's no plan worthIf possible, I want us to be shot on purpose by the opponent to leave early”

While looking to the side at Ouka, Takeru grabbed the sword's handle while sweating profusely

”At this time if Fantasy CultValhalla strikes this is bad, we have no weapons”

”Bringing lethal weapons to the field is prohibited Because of the systematic body check it's impossible If attackers coh we have spare weapons on the bench just in case, it's quite far away so getting them is unrealistic”

Takeru and Ouka with horrible expressions on their faces pulled Mari in

And Mari was sandwiched between the two of them, and uncomfortable

”umm Why do I have to be squashed by you? The talk about lethal weapons, it's quite disturbing, what is going on?”

Mari asked the the reason

Takeru without answering her questions, just stared at her

”you don't need to think about anything We will definitely protect you”

Mari didn't know anything, and asked anxiously But Takeru deliberately ignored her question

This is no tiet upset

The truth he has been told by Ouka today would be too heavy for Mari to bear

If the circumstances were different, and they could explain it calmly

Thinking like that, Takeru was notInsults came from the audience

”What are you doing! Fight!”

”It's uninteresting if you just sit still!”

”Do you have any motivation?!”

Hearing that rew impatient

At this rate it'll be bad They need to change sites at once to ensure Mari's safety

Just when Takeru thought that,

”Kusanagii!! Are you looking down on me?! Haa?!”

In the centre of the field froaya Kyouya appeared

Kyouya holding an assault rifle glared at Takeru, blood vessels could be seen on his temple

”Do you even want to fight?! I' you here to crush you fair and square! Or do you wait until we tras?!”

He exposed himself on purpose to stir them up

Kirigaya Kyouya is surprisingly serious and has a tendency to be rude That attitude is his habit

Being fair and square, playing ga, that was his personality

the feeling of nervousness softened a little bit

”It would be good if we got shot and left early but that's probably impossible”

”It can't be helped we have to at least pretend we're fighting”

Takeru smiled wryly——at that moment,

A faint foreign sound entered his ears

”——Wait!”

Takeru stopped Ouka and squinted

Though it wasn't clear because of the noise fro

splsh splsha sound that felt as if it was tinged with moisture

He looked around the field, he checked the locations Ouka er saw enemy's silhouettes,

they weren't there

The opponents froer be seen except for Kyouya

”How annoying! Hey, 15th platoon! Don't shoot yet! I'll beat this guy up!”

Kyouya yelled towards the intercom

But seeing as there was no response from his members, he frowned

”Hey, you guys, can you hear me?! Answer me bastards!”

Kyouya yelled again while spilling saliva at it, at that moment

splrtt

———Frorown out

”eh?”

Kyouya looked at his abdomen and witnessed what happened

Thefrom his belly, he vomited blood

The thorns that grew out of Kyouya's belly, started to twist and grow at high speed ai for Mari

——— Magic-Sweeping Sword『Soumatou』!

Takeru i SwordSoumatou, and unsheathed the mock sword at once

The blade captured the trajectory of thorns beautifully, and struck thereat force

The thorns danced in the air, and raised a cry like some kind of insects

”what is this”

Seeing so unbelievable, Takeru was confused He confirmed Kyouya's fall in the distance

And coure

Behind Kyouya, showing up in the opened door of the church——

”I it was it wasn't me”

In charge of healthcare of 15th platoon, Yoshi+mizu Akari

Takeru couldn't understand what kind of situation was that, as going on

Yoshi+ Her cries could be heard fro this place

Fro

”Yoshi+mizuyou!”

”I-I don't know! It's not !”

”Then, what's that?!”

”I don't know!! Help i-kun!”

Hearing Yoshi+

But those thorns definitely grew out of her body

”What should I do!”

”Kusanagi, have Nikaido crouch!”

”But what about Yoshi+mizu?! And Kyouya?!”

”Protecting Nikaido is top priority now!”

He was yelled at by Ouka, but Takeru still kept an eye on Yoshi+ her seek salvation, he couldn't just abandon her

”Help Kusanagikun”

Weakly, Yoshi+mizu stretched her hand out to him

But, her body slowly started to give off a radiance and a weird sound

The radiance spread in no ti down Yoshi+mizu's body

”Kusanagiku”

”——Yoshi+mizu!”

Takeru not knohat to do, tried to stretch his hand towards her

Instantaneously, Yoshi+mizu's body, cracked It was literally, broken apart, and crushed

The moment it shattered, black thorns overflowed from the inside

It was a sight that could only be called odd Thorns and liquid spilled from Yoshi+mizu's body

All of the liiant bud

As if there was nothing else in the world, Takeru and the others, even the audience fell completely silent

After a few seconds, the bud stopped its activity

And the bud, like a flower petals in thesun, flourished

Fro bud

Fro the flowers, a person in black——

”HAAAAAALLLLLEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLUUUUYAAAAAAAAAAA!”

The figure of a sorcerer who looked like the ringleader suddenly appeared

A erated pose, like an actor on stage

He looked at the field with a face drowned in ecstasy

Decorated by thorns, he bowed to the audience, and finally bowed to Takeru and the others

”We meet for the first time I'm Fantasy CultValhalla's scout troop captain, Haunted Nice to meet you I want to participate in the ic Acadeive rateful”

Takeru, unable to accept what's happening, stopped thinking

The audience was the sa himself Haunted appeared, they understood he was a sorcerer

Chaos broke out in the venue, along with horrible screams

Witnessing the e to escape

Haunted laughed like crazy seeing them

”Thank you—! Thank you! Thank you, everyone—!!”

And, slowly, he turned towards Takeru

”Well, I came to help you——My little Mari-san!”

He sently

Even though he was s, incredible chills ran down Takeru's spine

”ho why do you know my name”

Mari stepped backwards, trying to make distance from Haunted

”Why what is this what's going on ?”

With a frightened voice, looking as if she was about to run any moment, Mari said that worried

Takeru regained his sanity hearing Mari's voice, he glared at Haunted sharply

Hauntedcloser to Mari

”What's wrong? Mari-san You don't have to be that scared I came here to help you”

”No don't come!”

”That frightened expression of yours is wonderful It's unbearable I want to hug you I've never hugged you, but I want to I want you to be even more scared as I embrace you”

Before his chilly smile, Mari retreated with tears in her eyes

Ghastly as if grim reaper appeared in front of theive it He stood in front of Mari

In order to protect her

”Ufuufufufufufufu! How fun I'm happy It's the first ti I can't stop myself”

But Haunted did not stop walking

As if he didn't acknowledge Takeru's existence at all

”Co froe of mine——”

Haunted stretched his hand, reaching out to her

At that moment

———kan!

A gunfire sounded, and penetrated from the side of Haunted's head

Haunted staggered while s eerily

Starting with that one gunfire, a tremendous amount of bullets hit Haunted's body

”Gah! Ughh! Geh!”

The bullet stor it up

Takeru looked towards the audience to see what's going on

There, was the Inquisition who asseuns

Part 4

”Keep firing Don't stop even for a uy is a lump of meat”

From the audience, Hayato issued a command to all of the Inquisitiors

Haunted's body on the field was convulsing vigorously, it continued to be pierced by bullets

《”Why?! There should be no problems with Yoshi+mizu Akari!”》

From the earphone came out a voice of dismay from his co-workers

Hayato, while watching as Haunted continued to be shot, answered to his colleagues

”The enemy is a necromancer Yoshi+mizu Akari was probably already killed by the eneuy”

《”A copy—?”》

”A clone, homunculus Used by necromancers to infiltrate, it's a common practice of theirs That's a clone of Yoshi+mizu Akari's body, it was sent back to school while it was infested by seeds of a ed at the same time tournament started”

《”Magical organis a huanis!”》

”Garden of despair『Belladone Garden』 That's the ic It should be common sense to know it”

Hayato squinted

”I told you I told you to expect they will coine”

《””》

”That's how ic was in the first place”

Hayato switched the coave orders to other members

”Security is to focus on evacuating civilians Don't let anyone die”

《”Affirmative”》

Hearing Hayato ordering his subordinates, Sougetsu watched leisurely while gnawing on popcorn on the side

”It's fine not to evacuate theuy”

”With all due respect, I don't want to sacrifice a single civilian As long as I'm here I won't let a doomsday like the Hero attack happen”

”Well, you were at a business trip at the ti as you capture him properly”

”Capture is iainst this guy”

”Didn't we talk about it before? Is that impossible even for you?”

”It is impossible”

”Mm we can draw information even from a dead body, you can kill hiinal form properly”

”Thank you for your consideration”

Sougetsu said that while clearly having fun

Looking at Haunted as kneeling as he was showered by storm of bullets and finally fell down on spot

Confir

”Who told you can stop shooting!!”

Hayato roared with his eyes wide open

《”B-but he fell down——”》

”——Everyone prepare for interception! Inco!”

Hayato howled, and took up his gun

Hayato's gun was a very large revolver, giving off a black ulster, its calibre was 050 The total number of bullets was five Its form was black and beautiful, and it looked clunky

On its barrel, 『The Malleus Maleficaruraved

Hayato pointed thehis body half-way up

At the same time,

”——Kuuuuuuuurooooooooogaaaaaaaaneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!”

Shouting with a queer voice, Haunted lifted his body from where he fell down

In an instant Inquisitors witnessed a phenoravity, and could not move

Haunted with a face and body full of holes, laughed at Kurogane Hayato

That's when below Haunted's feet, from Garden of despair『Belladone Garden』, thick thorned tentacles flew out

There were five of therew at tremendous speed and fleards the Inquisitors and the escaping public rather than Hayato himself

Hayato in a fluid motion, shot all of the tentacles

All five bullets were fired in an instant The five bullets with 050 calibre that were shot landed on tentacles It wasn't power of an ordinary gun The sound discharged was like an anti-shi+p cannon, there was a huge impact

Bullets crashed into tentacles but the poasn't enough to kill them, they were bloay in other direction rather than thrusting into the audience

”———!”

However, one of the tentacles was bloay towards the control tower that was adjacent to the colosseum

The tentacle hit a spot on the base of control tower, it started falling straight into the centre of colosseum

”Retreat!”

He shouted towards all of the Inquisitors

The control tower fell straight into the field

RUUMMBLE

As the control tower fell down, a tremendous amount of dust rose up and a roar could be heard inside of colosseum

After enduring and trying not to be bloay by the impact and cloud of dust, Hayato yelled into the microphone immediately

”Dae report!”

《”Left wing here, cough cough we have injured but the audience escaped a direct hit”》

《”Right wing here, large number of wounded As for deaths we don't know”》

”Everyone injured is to leave together with general public, close the gates right after withdrawal What's the situation of 35th test platoon?”

《”unknown Communication is cut completely Intercom failure or maybe”》

Listening to report, Hayato's eyes spasmed

He looked at the cloud of dust at the sa of this degree

With oun at the field

”where is he”

Visibility was terrible, there was not a single huure visible

No There was a silhouette crouching on the ground Just one

Hayato tried to aiure

”———『Area 666Number of The Beast』”

Just as he heard a voice froic circle appeared beneath the silhouette

At the saer towards him

”Haunted!”

”See you, Kurogane Hayato”

That ic overflowed

I in his ears——bashi+n

Covering just the colosseue black wall appeared

Although Hayato squeezed the trigger ihtly faster

The bullet hit the black wall, it fell down to the ground far fro Haunted

Hayato grit his teeth and lowered the muzzle reluctantly

”a new ical barrier”

Sougetsu by his side put a hand on his chin looking interested, and went to see the barrier that appeared

The barrier that was stretched out by Haunted looked like a black shadohite ical circles hovered on its surface and flowed

”The uouslyWe can't break it nor Vlad is probably necessary”

”Ootori is inside the barrier Probably, su her from the inside would be iic interference”

”Is that Caligula's analysis?”