ch21-ch40 · 022-ch22

Chapter 22: The Fourth Member

The World Clock countdown dropped below 24 hours.

We'd been called together in the underground strategy meeting room.

"—So, the operation on the day will proceed as planned, no changes. Any objections?"

Momose-san wrapped up the discussion.

My sister and Shiki-kun nodded without objection.

"By the way, do you normally coordinate with other guilds during World Clock events?"

With the plan settled, I asked a simple question.

This time it was decided that Remnant Guild alone would handle the Aoba Town World Clock, but there are Association-affiliated guilds like the Hunting Dogs, and independent guilds like us that aren't bound by movement restrictions. Under normal circumstances with all of them mixed together, how do they usually deal with World Clocks?

Shiki-kun answered that question.

"First, roles change significantly depending on whether you're assigned to a position directly under the World Clock or not. If you're assigned directly under it, your job is to fire long-range attacks into the door of the World Clock. Otherwise, you're assigned to zones, and basically each guild operates within its own area."

That makes sense — if you're going to wipe out the monsters coming through the door in one go, that timing is optimal.

But being directly under the clock is probably the most dangerous spot. The most important and the most dangerous.

"How is it decided who gets which spot?"

"Currently, locations are assigned by lottery. You can't take the direct under position unless you've got considerable combat power, so I think everyone frantically builds up their strength and aims to participate in the lottery."

"So being assigned directly under is popular even though it's dangerous?"

"Yes. Danger means a higher number of enemies, which means the most opportunities to build battle records. Plus, items go to whoever defeats the monsters, so it's an important lottery for boosting a guild's funds."

Shiki-kun finished his explanation.

Seen this way, with Japan having as many as 12 S-Rank Hunters, it might create a situation where even dangerous spots become contested.

Hunting is also a popularity business in some ways.

Dangerous spots get more attention in broadcasts, and you can show off your power. Then new Awakeners volunteer, and your strength increases.

In other words, it's good publicity.

I remember seeing it on the news too — maybe this is why World Clocks have become sportified rather than treated as disasters.

"If Japan's number of S-Ranks is 4th in the world, then if dangerous spots are contested, does that mean they have plenty of combat power to spare?"

When I said that, Momose-san let out a troubled "hmm."

"Well, even if they say 12, that's mostly the government saving face. The correct number is S-Ranks born in Japan. In reality, 2 were taken by other countries. If you exclude Akira-kun, who was semi-retired until recently, the country's maximum effective strength was essentially 9 people."

Momose-san continued.

"And then a second World Clock appeared, everyone was deployed to Akayama Town, and Aoba Town was on the verge of collapse — that's when Hagane-kun and Lumiel-kun appeared. From the country's perspective, they're probably seen not just as heroes of Aoba Town, but as national heroes."

That's probably why they tried so hard to secure us, Momose-san concluded.

"For two such heroes to be in the same guild as me — I'm proud of that."

Shiki-kun was praising us.

Oh my, this feels good.

"Praise me more."

Lumiel slid up next to Shiki-kun with a smug face.

"Lumiel-san is amazing. You can greet people, and you can cook too."

"I'll make you something next time."

"Ah, well, that's..."

Shiki-kun averted his eyes from Lumiel's wink.

I've been teaching Lumiel language and math, but I haven't taught her cooking.

No, that's wrong — I tried to teach her, but she showed zero improvement.

I never want to see that kind of cooking again — appliances breaking, fires starting, or even if she finishes, it comes out as charcoal.

Oops, I got sidetracked.

As I was thinking that, Momose-san corrected course.

"At any rate, unless an Antlion-type appears, there's no change from the previously decided plan."

On the round table we were gathered around, a hologram of Aoba Town — already half-fortified — appeared, with red, blue, yellow, and green humanoid pins placed in the east, west, south, and north.

Remnant's strategy was very simple.

Divide the area into four equal parts — east, west, south, north.

Place four people there.

Defeat the monsters that come into your assigned area — that's all.

"Shiki-kun and Ren-kun have wide attack ranges, so I've placed them in the east and west so they won't overlap."

Looking at the hologram, red is Shiki-kun. And this blue would be the person named Ren.

"And where might this Ren person be?"

"Come to think of it, he still hasn't come back. Well, with him, that's pretty much business as usual."

Is it okay for this guy to be wandering around until the day before the World Clock opens?

Shiki-kun clicked his tongue and made an exaggerated "hmph" with a clearly disgusted look.

"If that guy doesn't show up, I'll handle two zones myself. Actually, let's do that from the start. As Maeda-san said, counting on someone who isn't here is a mistake."

Don't drag me into this!

I didn't go that far!

Seems like there's some bad blood between Shiki-kun and that person.

My sister gave a wry smile and said, "It's fine."

"I already told him about the operation over the phone. He said he'd be back by the day. Sounds like he's been doing mock battles with overseas Hunters until the last minute."

"Akira-san, having a phone call with that guy is a waste of airwaves."

Shiki-kun, what does "waste of airwaves" even mean?

"Ren-kun might not be serious, but he's never once been late for a World Clock. I trust him on that."

"Hah... fine."

With Momose-san's backing, Shiki-kun didn't say anything more.

Momose-san then handed us a small bag.

"And these are the restorative medicines for the day. There might not be many, but if you run out, I'll send Ken-kun over, so contact me."

"Understood."

The pouch-like bag handed to us — this is the Magic Bag, a Hunter essential.

Despite its appearance, it can hold a considerable amount of items inside. Apparently you could fit a sword in there, or even a house depending on the item.

The Magic Bag I received was also packed tightly with restorative medicines.

I know that what I can see in there is worth hundreds of millions.

"Um, where should I be on the day?"

Vice President Mineyama said that I and Lumiel must not participate this time. So we weren't even included in the operation.

Momose-san immediately answered as if it was already decided, "You'll ride on Ken-kun's back."

"They told me not to get involved, but they didn't say I couldn't bring you to the battlefield. Besides, it's a good opportunity to show you our combat style."

If I can watch from above, if anything happens, Lumiel can move immediately. That works.

"Alright then, everyone do your final adjustments, rest well, and get ready for tomorrow."

"Understood."

◇◆◇◆◇

And then, the day of the World Clock—

Though debris remained here and there, we stood in Aoba Town, which had lost all trace of its former self.

"(This feels kind of empty.)"

The apartment I used to live in, the nearby shopping district, workplaces, schools, and other places full of memories — all demolished in less than a month, leaving nothing.

Losing your hometown hits you pretty hard. If I feel this way after only 25 years, how must the elderly feel seeing this scenery...?

Walls were being constructed in a circle around the town (still just frameworks), with gun turrets installed. It looked about half-fortified already.

World Clock remaining: 00 hours 14 minutes 27 seconds—

We were in the shadow cast directly under the clock.

Just in case, Lumiel and I had already finished preparations to take off on Ken-kun's back at any moment.

"That's strange, they're quite late...?"

My sister muttered with an uneasy expression, looking up at the clock's remaining time.

That's right — the last person still hadn't come.

As if unable to bear seeing Shiki-kun's irritation, Momose-san started walking toward him, having made some decision — at that moment.

Something sparkled high above, and then something came plunging down from the sky like a meteor.

It landed with dramatic flair, sending up dust clouds.

"Alright, just in the nick of time."

A brown-haired, blue-eyed pretty boy stood there.

Faded blue jersey with white lines, sandals, a hoodie underneath — a very casual getup.

What drew attention was the Black Knight that had carried him here.

An unnaturally large upper body clad in pitch-black armor, standing about three meters tall.

It knelt beside him as if in attendance. An overwhelming presence.

So this is Remnant's last member — Kunimori Ren.

"What were you thinking, not coming back until this late? I can't find a single shred of cooperativeness in you."

Shiki-kun burst out in fury the moment they met.

Kunimori-kun, looking spaced out, just took the verbal abuse without reacting.

"More importantly, why were you this late?"

"Mm. A match."

"Against who? For what?"

"Some American guy named Brian Something. Said if I beat him, he'd give me Black Mary."

Brian Something?

Is he talking about Bryan Smith?

The guy ranked 8th in the US Hunter rankings — a bona fide world-class Hunter, right? (I knew about him because he was featured on TV recently.)

"So, did you get a power-up?"

My sister's question made Kunimori-kun nod, and he drove a jet-black greatsword glowing crimson into the ground.

Seeing that, my sister just smiled and said, "I'm expecting great things," without a single word of reproach.

"Karakuri Divine Armament."

As Kunimori-kun called out, the Black Knight's body creaked open.

He pulled the greatsword from the ground and inserted it into the Black Knight's body (which seemed to be pitch-black darkness inside) as if storing it.

What kind of skill is that... as I stared, our eyes met.

"...Huh? Who's this?"

A beautiful double-take.

Then his gaze shifted to Lumiel.

"If you're here to watch, go to the spectator seats."

"I'm not watching."

"??"

Kunimori-kun frowned, completely unable to understand Lumiel's response. Momose-san smiled wryly and said, "I thought I told you beforehand..."

『World Clock liberation in 10 minutes...』

The terminal's alarm blared.

It was almost time.

"Alright everyone, get to your positions as planned. Ken-kun, I'm counting on you two."

With a short instruction, everyone nodded briefly.

As Ken-kun took flight, I could see all four of their movements from above.

The three aside from Momose-san headed to their designated positions, while Momose-san summoned something else in the center.

"Now then, I'm counting on you — Kiki-kun."

It was a small white monkey.

The white monkey let out a high-pitched "Kee!" and a trail of light spread from him, enveloping the entire town.

Then, a massive barrier was generated, neatly covering even the half-built fortress.

Within this range, flying monsters couldn't escape either. The reason they were wary of the Antlion-type was probably because the barrier doesn't extend underground.

『World Clock liberation in 3 minutes...』

The World Clock began emitting ominous sounds.

It was the same sound I'd heard a month ago.

Outside the barrier, several news helicopters were hovering, watching the movements of the four Hunters who'd been saddled with unreasonable conditions by the Hunter Association.

『World Clock liberation in 30 seconds...』

"All four of you... do your best."

I gripped Lumiel's hand tightly.

All I could do was watch their battle.

"It's fine."

Lumiel whispered.

『5... 4... 3...』

"It'll probably be over soon."

Her whisper was drowned out by the dull metallic sound.

And then, the clock's door swung open with force.

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