c16 (2/2)

“Although typically speaking a C-rank would bethat you’ve clearly deister you as a B-rank”

“Oh…” Suimei said in surprise, this evaluation beyond his expectation

B-rank Although he was undoubtedly a person of sohly

Her decisionthat seemed to make her happy

“That was truly very io, Suimei-san”

“Perhaps”

“Yep, yep I can guarantee it”

As she spoke, she revealed a confident look that seemed to say, “Leave it all to me”

Indeed If a new adventurer were to suddenly appear with such a high evaluation, then his name would definitely spread quickly

“It’s just that—”

“…?”

That was, of course, providing that certain things happened first

“—That would only happen if the three of you – Dorothea, you included – were to reveal what happened today, right?”

“…? Well, even if we didn’t talk about what happened here, a brand-new B-rank would draw attention all its own”

—Exactly That was the key

As Dorothea stood there, puzzling over his words, before any of them realized what had happened, Sui

Suddenly, a terrifying aura burst out from his body

Raikas, the first to notice so ry, stared at Suimei

“…You”

“It’s not a proble today’s test, I was handily defeated, and was appropriately given a D-rank This is what you will report I will be re quality besides his ability to work restorative ic”

“—?”

His words left Dorothea co, while Raikas and Enmarph were frozen by the tense at pressure being exerted by Suimei, he’d pronounced a declaration for them to follow

And so—

“I apologize to the three of you, but I’ll have you honor my request”

“Even if you say that, well…”

“Ah—”

Turning, he suddenly placed his hands atop their heads, and iic without the least hesitation

Raikas, charging at hi there clueless, were thus subjected to Suiic without resistance

Because neither of the pair had any notable ic resistance, the result was obvious

His ic scoured the expressions from their faces, and their shoulders drooped, their stares blank as they stood lifelessly in place

There was but one who did not fall under the spell of hisfiercely, Enmarph cried out in fear

“…Why?”

“Hmm? Do you even have to ask? It’s like I just said I just want to be ranked appropriately is all”

“The hell are you saying? Rankings are aaway the high rank you’ve attained like that… what is your goal?”

Suimei answered his question without worry

“It’s not like I have anything particular in mind, you know?”

“What—?”

“Doing things like this will let me avoid quite the hassle is all”

“Now that you say that…”

Enh rank would lead to no s he well understood as a senior of the guild Moreover, just as he was currently witnessing, this was even worse for so himself draw attention

“What I need is to accu the people of this world”

” ‘The people of this world…?’ ”

“That’s nothing you need concern yourself with”

It didn’t le native of this world ould simply let his words just now pass unanswered Sui a stranger need concern himself with

Enain filled with anxiety

“Even if you erase our memories of what happened here, it’s useless What you did outside won’t disappear Dorothea told us what you did”

“Yeah, but it’s not like anyone’s going to investigate too thoroughly, right? This test will be the standard for assessing th, and the stuff that happened outside happens every now and again, right? Hu down on others, and in the absence of undeniable evidence, would prefer to believe others weaker than theer”

“…”

Enmarph did not speak More correctly, he couldn’t speak As if the words had been stolen straight out of his mouth

All he did was stare fretfully at the monster before him

The words just now had perfectlythe shocked stare he displayed now

“On that note, don’t you think everyone would have a s if they felt that I was just a bue? Especially for those confident in their own ability”

“…Why would you intentionally hurt your own ability to accept coht Pavilion are many, but the ones appropriate to you—”

“It’s not like they necessarily exist Definitely Anyway, I have already provided for such a circue capable of working restorative ic The ability to heal wounds is an ability where demand outstrips supply no ics you’re capable of are especially rare”

As Suimei spoke, he advanced

In Enh the Devil hi

“Hh?!”

As he shi+fted into a combat ready stance, he suddenly noticed In his current state, he was helpless to offer any resistance whatsoever The reason?

“And the trap snaps shut Your ht? Kalavinka’s Sweet Voice is just this kind of ic”

“Ah—”

…Allone’s own ician, coic was to be expected, and carefully studying ic was a necessity

However, one’s defensive capabilities were naturally inextricably tied with the condition of one’s body and mind

What did this imply for Enmarph, drained dry as he was?

“It’s just a forceful suggestion, really Don’t worry, there aren’t any side effects You’ll just go to sleep, and when you awake, it’ll all be as I just declared I have no plans on hurting any of you”

…Suies of this world, it would inevitably becoic However, as souise hi an accurateof a conundrum

However, were he to avoidwarriors only, then he’d lose the opportunity to learn about their world’s ic

For this purpose, once the battle was over, he needed a way to keep their e an opportunity to resist provided the perfect opportunity

And so

“So that’s how it is… Wait, then earlier, you—”

Indeed

“Exactly That’s why I needed to fight the two of you at the same time”

—With a chilling gaze of absolute zero, Suimei’s hand covered Enmarph’s head

☆

…Sunset At this time, the criht

His test finished, Suiht Pavilion to his roo down heavily on his bed

Although there had been so from that point forward had proceeded just as planned, whether it be finding souild identification, and so he’d found his way back here

Being able to resolve everything without problem was lucky indeed

The only thing that had been beyond his expectations was finding out that he and Lefille were lodged in the same inn

“A fortuitousindeed…” Suimei muttered, as he re earlier

Lefille Gurakis A so couldn’t be described as anything but gorgeous He wasn’t sure how strong she was, but considering how unruffled she’d been after witnessing his battle, strong was definitely the word

Moreover, although she was definitely capable of taking care of herself, there was so about her thatat him, he’d noticed

Her originally clear, sharp gaze hadunique to those who had been caught helplessly by ill fate, as if iloom

Can’t be, right…?

Suihts There wasn’t any point in losing hihts here No matter who, everyone had aspects to them that’d make you worry That’s all it was

Truth be told, in the eyes of others, he probably looked like that hi about her like this was fruitless After their farewell earlier, it was quite possible that they’d never ain in this life It had been sheer happenstance that they’d even met this once, after all

…Suiazed out hisIt was currently that period of ti of which, “nightfall” – just who had co sun cast a long shadow over the surroundings, throwing the

“Haaah…”

Suiy which had suddenly crept up on him

What was going on? It wasn’t yet the tiun to exert its influence over his body He hadn’t done anything particularly tiring, and yet found himself unable to fend off this wave of sleepiness

Why?

Oh… That’s why shi+t… This is…

—He’d thought of the reason He knew this feeling He knehy this overpowering sleepiness had crept upon him now that he was all alone

Indeed This was a phenomenon that would inevitably occur once he’d separated from “that type of person”

So that’s why… of course…

This was a play of scenes fro’s curse It announced the crises that awaited him, only for memories of what he’d seen to vanish once he awoke These visions would last only for the immediate moment, a clairvoyance without the least value

So this thing happens even here, huh? Even somewhere like this, this would still happen? Even in a world like this, straight out of the pages of a fantasy book, a world without the least connection to the world he called home

He’d been fairly certain that it wouldn’t happen here If he were to successfully find a way ho he hadn’t looked forward to returning to

Not wanting to let go of his thoughts, as he thought things through, his body unconsciously tightened, and collapsed atop his bed There was no way to fight the sleepiness that came upon him

At soe of his mother, who he’d never before seen, appeared on the chair in his room This woman, who he’d only ever heard about from his father, appeared now before his eyes under the effects of the curse

♫ Ahhhh ♫

She was singing Rather than a lullaby to lull a child to sleep, it washer child was to experience This very sa drew him into a world of dreams that were not dreams Sleep~

—His ’s curse, held in one hand the book which recorded her future froently, dolefully

—Enticing, ultramarine Al Kern (TN: No idea what that term is supposed to be: アル・ケルン)

This was undoubtedly every bit the curse it was called Having to chant the verses of a poem which told of a past and future from which she could not be saved This illusion of his mother, who had succumbed to this curse, appeared each time

It was for this reason that he raced to the side of all those who found themselves trapped helplessly by fate His days of battle were about to begin once more it seemed

Forcing open his leaden eyelids, Suimei looked upon the words of the book held by his departed mother

“—Silence! I’ to run any more I will live on as I should!”

The survivor of a broken country The young, half-spirit soman, forced to bear the shameful curse laid upon her by the Varied Races: Lefille Gurakis Nosya

“Shut it! For someone like me, only needed for my ability in battle, this is fine!”

Hatred her eternal companion, the Empire’s huics: Liliana Zandark

“—We ht for sure that we’d never see each other again That’s why, let’s never part again”

At the mercy of fate and Nureha of Kadath, his friend who had come to be known as the Sword Princess: Kuchiba Hatsumi

“—Enough with the pretty words! No s, happiness will never come!”

The dark green figure, cursed by Ludhoes

“Suimei Humans and the Mazoku are the same If both sides are as filthy as this, then I—”

He who had been suside Suimei, the hero who had turned his back on humanity out of despair Holy sword in hand, the swordsman of the hidden God: Shana Reiji

“—It’s been a long tier now?”

The world’s strongest swordsman, called to this other world by a forbidden, unplanned su: Beowulf Schneider

“—So this is my enemy?”

The ferocious demon lord who controlled all curses, the empress of the Varied Races: Nakshatra

…Sleep, Suimei If you don’t rest when you can, then there will come a day when you will fall Because that is the fate that inescapably awaits you

With those words that he should not have been able to hear, Suimei’s consciousness faded into darkness