Arifureta Vol 2 Chapter 9 (2/2)
Suzu poured the original 4 verse worth of magic into the s.h.i.+eld and it was restored perfectly. All the cracks were repaired in an instant. Frustrated that it couldn’t break through the barrier, it gave an angry scowl at the impertinent caster. She didn’t budge at the stare and returned one instead.
Finally, the horn started to lose its red hot effect. The Behemoth loses its momentum and falls to the ground. Suzu’s barrier ceased to exist at the same time.
Behemoth tried to aim at the breathing Suzu, but the vanguard was already on top of it.
“Rear guard retreat!”
The back group fell back at Kouki’s direction, and the advance guard enclosed upon the monster. A hit and evade strategy was used on the Behemoth, until the rear guard finished their chant.
“Step Back!”
Eri, the rear guard representative, signaled. Kouki and the others at that signal distanced themselves from the Behemoth.
After they retreated, an advanced fire based magic spell went off.
“””””Scorching Sun”””””
Five people performed this advanced spell. High-temperature flames gathered into a sphere, and burned the surrounding area like the sun. The “Scorching Sun” was made directly above the Behemoth and was 8 m in diameter; immediately after it swelled it was dropped onto the beast.
A tremendous amount of heat attacks the Behemoth. The magnitude of the power was too much that an ally might have gotten damaged. So, they quickly put up a barrier. “Scorching Sun” did not give any spare time for the Behemoth to escape, and soon its strong outer crust started to melt.
“Guuruagaaa!!”
The Behemoth’s death throes filled the hall. A familiar scream from that day. Its cries were earsplitting, but soon it was exhausted like it was burnt away by the flames.
In the center of the blacken area, all that remained of the beast were ruins.
“D-Did we win?”
“I think we won…”
“We won…”
“Seriously?”
“Serious?”
Everyone was looking stunned at the area the Behemoth was. Bit by bit mutters of victory spread throughout. Kouki was stunned, and when he regained himself; he hoisted his Holy Sword above his head and straightened his back.
“That’s right! It’s our victory!”
The sword seemed to respond to his feelings as it started to sparkle. At his victory cry, the others came to the same realization and cheers arose. Guys were patting each other shoulders, while the girls hugged each other. Meld and the knights were impressed.
s.h.i.+zuku called out to Kaori, who was still staring at the place the Behemoth occupied.
“Kaori? What’s the matter?”
“Eh, Ahh, s.h.i.+zuku-chan…Yeah, it’s nothing. I was just thinking how far we came.”
Kaori answered s.h.i.+zuku with a wry smile. She was immersed in her emotions after defeating her previous nightmare and confirming she was stronger now.
“That’s right. We did get stronger.”
“Yeah…s.h.i.+zuku-chan. Further ahead is Nagumo-kun…”
“You are going to check, right? It was for that reason you tried your best.”
“Ehehe, that’s right.”
To move forward. To ascertain Hajime’s state, because of possible specifics. Scared that there would be no answer, she became faint-hearted. s.h.i.+zuku sympathized, and held Kaori’s hand.
Kaori showed a smile at her forceful grip.
Kouki started to gather around the two.
“Are you two safe? Kaori, your heals were the best. If you are here, I fear nothing!”
A refres.h.i.+ng smile dawned on his face as he thanked the two.
“Eh, I’m fine. Are you fine too, Kouki?”
“Yeah, no problems. Kouki-kun, I was glad to have been helpful to everyone.”
The two also gave a smile in return. However, Kouki’s words casted a small shadow over their hearts.
“With this, Nagumo-kun can rest in peace. Because the cla.s.smates he defended was able to defeat the beast that killed him.”
“”…””
Kouki did not notice the expression Kaori and s.h.i.+zuku had, as he was immersed with his emotions. In Kouki’s mind, the only reason Hajime fell into the abyss was the Behemoth. There was no mistake. The direct cause of the bridge collapsing was the shock from the Behemoth’s attacks. However, the magic that hit Hajime was the real reason.
Right now there was an unspoken agreement to not talk about what happened, but the fact does not change. Kouki seemed to just forget or was unaware about this fact, and thought that defeating the Behemoth would allow Hajime to rest in peace. For he unconditionally believed in the good will of people. Those that were negligent would not be blamed forever. Besides, he would never dream that someone had done it intentionally.
However, even if she didn’t mind it, she won’t forget about it. Since she did not know “who”, she just tolerated. She would certainly torture severely(*) if she knew. That is why she is shocked at how Kouki forgot that fact.
s.h.i.+zuku dropped a sigh. She wanted to complain reflexively, but Kouki did not mean anything bad with it. Rather, his speech was his best at thinking about Hajime and Kaori. In a sense, that is why standing up to him would be bad. In addition, the cla.s.smates were celebrating. s.h.i.+zuku was woman who could read the atmosphere, so talking about this out loud was not the time.
An energetic girl flew in this delicate atmosphere.
“Kaorin!”
Suzu embraced Kaori after calling her out with such a weird way.
“Fuwa!?”
“Ehehe, Kaorin, I super love you. If Kaorin didn’t support me, I would have been flattened.”
“M-Mou, Suzu-chan. Where are you touching!”
“Gehehe, is this place okay? I guess this place is no good?”(*)
She was embarra.s.sed by what Suzu was saying, Suzu got carried away and started to fondle Kaori’s body like an old pervert. In response, s.h.i.+zuku gave a chop. An intense tsukkomi smashed into Suzu’s head.
“Stop it. Who is Suzu’s?…Kaori is mine.”
“s.h.i.+zuku-chan!?”
“Fu, I won’t allow it~. Only Suzu will get to do those things with Kaorin.”
“S-Suzu-chan!? What are you thinking of!?”
Kaori was stuck between s.h.i.+zuku and Suzu, so she quickly did a tsukkomi. The delicate atmosphere was gone.
From this point on, they would be entering unexplored territory. They had shaken off their past and advanced.
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