ch21-ch40 · 036-ch36

Chapter 36: Resolve and Determination

"There's still more left."

Everyone looked at Lumiel, startled. Of course I looked too. I'd been sure that giant rock-dumpling thing was the boss and...

"B-but the radar shows..."

"There's still a king remaining. It's hiding."

Interrupting the other Hunter's words, Lumiel continued. I could see even Narashima-san was clearly shaken.

"W-wait. Wasn't that Maha guy the ringleader!?"

Tilting her head slightly, Lumiel said that everything here was just small fry. Narashima-san looked stunned and muttered, "For real..." falling silent.

"These two species wouldn't coexist. It's also strange that they share the same power. The source that granted them that power is—"

The moment she started speaking.

There was no sound.

No voice, not even a breath — something enormous was standing next to Lumiel.

"Huh?"

For an instant, I felt like everything had stopped.

The next moment — a fist came flying from the side.

Lumiel's body was sent flying diagonally.

Her silver wings vanished from my sight in an instant.

"...Lu...miel...?"

A delayed CRASH of destruction thundered, and Lumiel's body was slammed into the wall.

『Did I crush something?』

An unpleasant voice, like it was stabbing into the back of my head, rang out.

What just happened? What is this thing?

This thing hit Lumiel —

"Lumiel!!"

A huge fist was rushing toward me as I reflexively dashed forward. A dull GOKIN! rang out as the Black Knight stopped it.

『You ruined my plans.』

The being locked fist-to-fist with the Black Knight like a blade clash — a giant was looking down at me.

Even bigger than the Langoth tribe. Skin and arms, a dark purple bordering on black. A crown-like ring of magic power.

『Let's see. I'll wipe you lot out and head to the living world.』

The enemy conjured blue flames in its other hand and flashed an eerie smile. I could sense an incredible amount of magic power packed into it, unlike anything I'd ever seen.

"Hagane-san, this guy might be bad news."

I could hear Kunimori-kun's voice.

I could see Narashima-san drawing his sword.

All the other Hunters too —

『Perish, intruders.』

The blue flames came rushing at me.

I absorbed them with the palm of my hand.

『!?』

At the same time as the immense energy flowed into my body, I felt it disappear into an inexplicable somewhere.

I didn't care how strong or how tough the enemy was. I'd heard it was a higher class than any monster so far. But I couldn't stay quiet about something that hurt Lumiel.

I leaped forward with that momentum and punched the big bastard with all my strength.

A sound of something cracking and splintering rang out.

『How insolent...!』

Surprisingly, my fist landed.

It obviously didn't do any real damage, but I felt the impact.

I had no idea how it worked... was it that adrenaline strength thing? Was that why I could jump about four meters too?

"Maeda Hagane."

"Lumiel!!"

At the edge of my vision, Lumiel fluttered her silver wings and returned completely unharmed.

The enemy stared at her, stunned.

『Impossible... you...!』

"『Bind.』"

Lumiel held out her hand, and chains of light wrapped around the enemy. The enemy couldn't move, couldn't even speak — it writhed and twisted, groaning.

Ignoring it completely, she landed in front of me, gently placed her hand on my right hand, and looked up at me.

"Maeda Hagane. Your hand is broken."

This was my own fault.

It hurt. But that didn't matter.

I'd taken her overwhelming strength for granted, assumed she'd definitely be fine. Complacency. But there are no absolutes on a battlefield.

"Don't make that face."

She placed a hand on my cheek.

Lumiel's expression was emotionless, but her hand was warm.

"I fight for you. I won't die before you. Not in the past, not ever."

Lumiel muttered those words like a vow, then glared up at the enemy and pointed her index finger.

"『Judge.』"

『...!』

Suddenly — intense light leaked from the enemy's eyes and mouth, and a terrible groan echoed through the area.

The Hunters around us were frozen, unable to understand what was happening.

『Fool... you... return...』

The enemy pitched forward and collapsed, muttering something under its breath, smoke streaming from its eyes and mouth as it died.

Did we... get it?

"...Compensation. I want it."

Lumiel muttered, looking up at me with upturned eyes.

I hugged her.

Happiness, regret — all sorts of emotions overflowed.

"I'm glad you're safe."

"—Mm."

Lumiel buried her face in my body.

I'm a coward and a weakling.

"S-sorry...?"

Someone muttered quietly.

The next moment, a roar of cheers erupted from the Hunters.

"Amazing! Taking down a monster like that!"

"Uoooo we're saved—!!"

"Kido-san, you did it...!"

As if signaling it was truly over, the king's corpse disappeared and the bodies of the other enemies began transforming into items one after another.

The light of the items reflected off every wall, dyeing the entire area in a fantastical golden hue.

There were restorative potions in colors I'd never seen before, weapons with lavish ornamentation, various magic tools, jewels — every single one was clearly in a different league from normal drops.

The sharp pain in my right hand brought me back to reality.

I looked down — it looked like a hamburger patty before it was cooked.

Wait, is that bone showing? It is, isn't it?

"It hurts hurts hurts, I'm gonna use this."

"Ah, that's—"

I grabbed a random restorative potion lying nearby and desperately poured it over my right hand.

My hand's bones reversed back into place like rewinding a video (even the hangnail I'd been annoyed about healed), and in an instant it was good as new.

"Whoa, not only is the pain gone, it's completely healed..."

So this is what using a potion on an injury feels like. If potions were covered by insurance, a lot of people would be saved, but supply is the issue.

"Ooh, living large, huh."

Kunimori-kun muttered, dumbfounded.

"Huh? What?"

"That's a Level 8 potion. The kind where even if your head gets chopped off, as long as you pour it on fast enough you come back."

Wait, seriously? That means...

"...How many tens of thousands?"

"Uh, about 5000 billion?"

I'll spend my whole life paying that back. Well, it didn't belong to anyone, so is that okay? Or is it not?

"Maeda-san."

"Y-yes! I'm sorry!"

"Why are you apologizing? If anything, that's our line."

The speaker was Narashima-san.

When I looked, all the other Hunters had gathered around too.

"I wanted to express my gratitude again. If the Remnant Guild hadn't come, we'd have been wiped out for sure. Thank you, truly."

The Hunters bowed their heads deeply once more.

The Cross Guild members followed suit.

"This way, surely—Kido-san's soul can rest in peace. Thank you... thank you..."

I couldn't find words for them as they wept.

I was able to save them, but there were lives I couldn't save. Still, when the next World Clock opens, they'll head back to the battlefield.

An unknown place, fighting unknown enemies at the risk of their lives, overcoming the deaths of comrades to protect the people — this is what being a Hunter is.

'You only see the people you saved, but do you also properly see the ones you couldn't save?'

My sister's words.

Now I clearly understand what she meant.

'Being a Hunter means living while carrying the weight of the lives you couldn't save. You might see your comrades die right in front of you. Do you still want to do it?'

I've made up my mind.

I've got my answer, sis.

"—I'm going to become a Hunter too."

It wasn't addressed to anyone in particular.

I just wanted to put my feelings into words and let them out.

"I can't just stand by and watch when there are threats this dangerous out there. I want to become a strong Hunter who can protect everyone on my own — and protect Lumiel too. I want to fight alongside all of you."

If an emergency comes up, I definitely won't be able to look the other way. But I want to minimize the risk of putting Lumiel in danger like this time.

That's why I have to get stronger. Whether it's mastering Absorption, or learning to use a weapon — I need to become stronger than I am now.

"Maeda-san, aren't you a Hunter?"

Someone asked me.

"Huh? Yeah, I'm not."

"Huh!?"

Pandemonium.

Sorry I'm unlicensed...

○○○○○○○

The chapter is now complete — daily updates until the end of arc 2.

If you could follow, rate, or leave a review, I'd really appreciate it!