Chapter 77: Crimson and Fried horse mackerel

Translator: Soafp

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Inside the black battleship where the demons were aboard, they occupied a corner and held a discussion.

“First, we should gather magical energy. Extract negative emotions from those humans in that world. The demon trio, Try Rebellion, seems to be able to convert emotions into magical energy.”

“Hahahaha, then I should go for it.”

The fallen angel and the lion were actively engaged in the conversation. Asura remained silent, not saying anything, while the angel smiled.

“First, we need to deal with those annoying and incomprehensible pests. Once we’ve done that, the rest will be easy… Can you handle it?”

“Of course. However… dealing with all of them would be a hassle. Let’s start with one or two… Yes, that red one seems like she’d be satisfied to crush it into a mess.”

“Your sense of humor is as crude as ever.”

“What?! Shut up!”

“Please stop.”

Just as the two were about to argue again, the angel intervened once more, introducing a faint sense of tranquility into the tense atmosphere.

“Anyway, I’ll go first.”

“Alright, if you think you can handle it.”

The lion left the room. After seeing him off, the fallen angel spoke to the angel.

“Do you think he can do it?”

“That’s a silly question… Of course, he can. If he, who can nullify magical energy, goes, he will have a ninety-nine percent chance of success. Handling everything alone might be impossible, though.”

“Well, if he can take care of even one person, that would be considered a success.”

“Yes, indeed… Apparently, our opponent is quite rich in magical energy. Even one person is significant.”

The angel calmly stated, then grinned with a hint of defiance.

“Now then, let’s see how things unfold…”

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“Oi, are we just going to let those guys do as they please?”

“We have no choice.”

Don, the Golem, deep voice and Dr.Michelle dissatisfaction were evident as they discussed the situation. It’s natural to feel annoyed by these impudent guys who suddenly appeared and took over their ship, treating it as their own.

“Well, their power is still unknown. We have no option but to step back.”

“…If they get on my nerves, I’ll cut them off.”

Suddenly, Bone Saburo, the skeleton, joined the conversation. Although these three lack any strong bond, they share the common trait of not liking the Four Heavenly Kings.

“Well, do as you like. I’ll just keep an eye on things.”

“Same here… I’ll just wait and see.”

Grumbling, the two decided to observe the situation. Seeing their attitude, Bone Saburo also closed his non-existent eyes, as if agreeing with the sentiment.

“It can’t be helped… We’ll just observe for now.”

Although they don’t have a strong bond, these three somehow find a common understanding…

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[Hihara PoV]

Izayoi is an important person to me. At first, I didn’t think much about Izayoi, just considering him as a like-minded friend in the world of two dimensions. Being someone I could find anywhere and yet humble, the time spent with Izayoi was significant and enjoyable for me, especially since I didn’t have any two-dimensional friends before.

However, during that time, I was troubled by family issues, which I tried to ignore. Izayoi, forcefully and gracefully, made me face those problems. He protected me from behind the scenes, supported me, and that’s when a faint feeling began to bloom. I started to wish to be with Izayoi more often, to have many conversations together.

But then, a rival appears, and things get even more chaotic with the sudden introduction of fantasy elements into our modern world. Izayoi always runs off, defeating monsters alone, all out of his kindness not wanting to hurt us.

However, I can’t help but feel that he doesn’t fully trust me. Maybe he thinks I’m not worth relying on. This insecurity gnaws at me.

I have many things to say, but I can’t express myself openly. It’s not that I can’t say anything at all, but I can’t say everything.

Anxiety swirls inside my heart. I need to do something about it.

I should talk to Izayoi… I think about it, but days pass without being able to have that conversation.

I need to muster my courage somewhere…

---

[Izayoi PoV]

I, who had turned into an infant, successfully returned to my original state. However, the memories of my time as an infant are gone… When I asked the girls how it went, they said everything was as usual, which made me feel a bit relieved.

Now, I am in Mel’s research lab. I feel bad for making her work in the lab most of the time, but I want to help with everything I can.

I always carry not only my magical equipment but also various magic items with me. Although their usage may be limited, it’s better to have something than nothing, especially since the “Story” may not always go as expected.

However, lately, I’ve started to think that maybe things are going according to the flow after all. During the “if Story,” it went exactly as planned, making me feel like there’s some force guiding the story’s fate.

But I try not to dwell on it and act accordingly.

“You always carry so many things with you.”

“Just to be prepared.”

Mel speaks to me while sitting at her desk in the research lab. Various materials are scattered on her desk, and I can’t read the languages from the other world.

“You might be pushing yourself too hard… It might be better to rely more on those girls.”

“Well, when I think they might be in danger… I can’t help it.”

I admit that I might have pushed myself too much… When I worry about them being in danger, my body just moves. However, I feel like there might be a more efficient way to handle things, and real combat experience is important.

“But those girls definitely don’t want you to be in danger either.”

“That might be… true.”

They also care about me and act to avoid burdening me. However, at the same time, they may end up burdening themselves in a different way.

“Those girls have talent and can become strong with training alone. But I think there might be emotional gaps between you since you fight together. You need to cooperate more since you’re fighting together.”

“You’re right…”

“Don’t take everything to heart, though… Well then, here’s this.”

She smiles lightly and hands me a gun-shaped magic item. I put it in my pocket and carry several backups in my bag before leaving the research lab.

What should I do…

I’m troubled, but there’s no clear answer. Should I just keep rushing forward as I’ve been doing until now… Is that the right thing to do? Will I be able to keep up soon? Maybe it’s best to just do what I can until then, with this simple thought in mind…

The answer is not so easily found.

---

That day, a large black hole appeared above the outlet mall. From there, the lion-like demon appeared.

As soon as the lion appeared, it began to destroy the town. People ran in panic, generating negative emotions and accumulating magical power. Sensing the anomaly, Izayoi and the others quickly donned their magical equipment and rushed to the scene to confront the lion.

“That’s the lion, right?”

“It seems so.”

“Definitely a cliché.”

The girls arrived at the scene and started analyzing the opponent. Their expressions were calm and focused on analysis.

However, Izayoi couldn’t help but feel anxious and restless. After all, there shouldn’t be any events happening during summer vacation. Furthermore, the demon before them wasn’t supposed to be here.

In “Masou Shoujo,” the story is divided into “Beginning,” “Middle,” and “End.”

The “Beginning” involves the three of them fighting against monsters. The “Middle” starts with Kataumi Aoi transferring to their school until the end of the year. The “End” follows after that.

And the lion in front of them is an enemy that appears in the “Middle.” Moreover, it is a mid-power-up enemy, one they won’t be able to defeat without powering up as well.

“Gwahaha! So you’ve come! Well then, let’s get started!”

“Run away! It’s dangerous!”

The lion tries to activate something, and Izayoi quickly instructs the others to run away. For a moment, the girls feel uneasy about Izayoi’s anxiety, but they decide not to run away as long as he’s here.

“Collapsing world…!”

The lion fires a large black sphere at Hihara Karen. It moves at tremendous speed, trapping her inside.

Izayoi tries to protect her, but they both get caught and disappear from the world.

The remaining three girls react with a mixture of panic and anger, unleashing their “Magical Techniques” one after another.

Gindou Kohaku fires a laser of light, but the lion dodges it. The laser continues and pierces through the sky, reaching the clouds. Seeing this, the lion breaks into a cold sweat and decides to retreat.

“This is… let’s withdraw for now.”

“Where did you send them?!”

“They’re alive… for now.”

With that said, Moegi in “Raijin Mode”, who is clad in electricity all over her body, gives him a heel drop from above and the Lion crashes into the concrete.

And then, Aoi tries to cut the lion into pieces with her Water Knives. The Water Knives extend like serpents, flexible and agile.

The lion dodges them and releases the black sphere again, this time entering it and disappearing.

Left behind, the girls are left with a profound sense of loss.

---

[Hihara PoV]

There, we woke up. Our magical armors were no longer usable, and we couldn’t sense any magic power around us.

The surrounding scenery was gray. The plants were withered, and there was no sign of people anywhere.

“Are you okay, Izayoi?”

“Yes…”

“I’m sorry. You told us to run away…..If only I had listened.”

I regretted being so stubborn and dragging him into this unknown world.

However, seeing Izayoi heading into danger alone, I couldn’t just stand by… I became a burden to him…

“Don’t worry about it… But, more importantly…”

Izayoi quickly glanced around at the scenery and closed his eyes, lost in thought for several minutes.

After finishing his contemplation, he made a proposal.

“For now, let’s walk. It seems we can’t use magic here.”

“Yes, you’re right…”

With caution, we started walking. The horizon stretched on endlessly. Izayoi guarded every direction – front, back, left, right, east, and west – as we moved forward.

This feeling is familiar… I remember being embarrassed about looking like a chuunibyou back then…

We walked for a while in this desolate land. There was nothing here. Nothing…

If I had come here alone… I would have felt incredibly lonely.

I’m grateful that Izayoi is with me. But still… am I just a burden? Looking at Izayoi being vigilant while walking, I couldn’t help but think that.

“There’s nothing here…”

“Yes… It’s a low-quality world. No magic, no food, no people. The worst kind of world.”

“Yes, you’re right…”

We continued to walk, just trying to make progress. Suddenly, strange humanoid shadows appeared.

“Let’s run away!”

“Y-Yeah…”

I grabbed Izayoi’s hand, and we started to run. Even in this situation, I felt happy, and it made me realize how foolish I am.

He came here to protect me, to be with me, yet here I am feeling happy.

The strange humanoids kept attacking us. We ran multiple times, and it wore us down. It felt like we were being toyed with.

“Haa, haa…”

“S-Senpai, here’s a cola.”

Izayoi took out a cola from his bag and offered it to me. It wasn’t cold, but it was still refreshing enough to quench my thirst.

I brought the can to my lips and drank it all at once.

Huh? Was this can already opened from the beginning?

“U-Um… Is this… already half-drunk?”

“Ah, I’m sorry… It was the only one I had…”

Eh?! D-Does that mean… indirect… kiss…

“A-Ah, well… I guess there’s no help for it.”

In this situation… a romantic comedy-like development… Is this even possible? I’m being so self-indulgent, what a hopeless idiot!

We gathered our determination and continued to run away from the humanoid shadows that occasionally attacked us.

Hours had passed, and fatigue had taken over our bodies. My legs felt like they could no longer support me.

“S-Sorry… Let’s take a break for a moment…”

I was just an ordinary high school girl now, without any powers or abilities. But even in this situation, another humanoid shadow appeared.

If we stayed together like this… both me and Izayoi…

“Just leave me and run…”

“I can’t do that.”

Izayoi lifted me on his back and started running again. He was always there to support me…

My favorable impression of him kept increasing. His back was firm and big, giving me a sense of security… I couldn’t help but feel my heart race.

“Am I… heavy?”

“No, it’s okay. You’re actually light.”

“I-Is that so…”

Izayoi continued to carry me as we walked on, and there was not much conversation. Yet, his kindness was clearly conveyed. Gradually, my feelings for him grew stronger…

…I want to be with this person forever.

I wonder what Izayoi thinks of me? Am I just a burden to him? Just a fellow otaku friend?

As for me…

Suddenly, the monster lion appeared from above…

“I’ve enjoyed watching you two run around in panic! But it ends here!”

So that’s it… the monster deliberately released the shadow humanoids to make us run desperately. We struggled to escape, but we were just playing into its hands.

In this world, we couldn’t use magic or wear our magical armors.

At this rate, both of us would collapse together…

Izayoi was carrying me. He had supported me all this way. If he abandoned me, he might be able to escape…

“Hey, Izayoi… Just leave me and run away…”

I was genuinely scared. But losing Izayoi was even scarier. He had supported me, saved me. At least, I could do this much in return…

That’s what I thought. And then he gently put me down on the ground.

Yes, that’s right. Just leave me… run away…

“I won’t leave you. Even if it means risking my life… I’ll be fine. Please stay here… Everything is going according to plan.”

He turned his big back toward me. I was in awe of his figure…

“Guahaha! In this world, you can’t use magic!”

“I know. But you better come quickly. I’ve set everything up here.”

“I have an idea! Leave the girl with me and I’ll spare you!”

The monstrous lion glared at me with its fierce eyes, and fear gripped me, causing my body to tremble.

“Don’t say something stupid. This person is important to me. She is right behind me, and I won’t back down…”

Izayoi’s legs were trembling slightly. He was scared too. I realized… Izayoi was amazing, but he was not invincible. Just like me…

“I see… Then die!”

The lion swung its massive arm at Izayoi, but I couldn’t see anything.

Magic armor enhances visual acuity. With magic armor on, I might be able to see it coming, but normally, it’s impossible to detect.

However, a shield was deployed with pinpoint precision, blocking the attack completely.

I can’t see anything… Can Izayoi see it? Moreover, how can he deploy such a shield without using magic?

“Hoh… You blocked it, huh? Then how about this!”

The shield was repeatedly blocked, and Izayoi shot the lion with his gun-like magical item.

Why can he track its movements? How can he hit it?

Even though he couldn’t use magic… Mel said that magic and non-magic abilities have an absolute hierarchy.

That lion was using magic, but Izayoi couldn’t. Despite that, Izayoi was pushing back.

Izayoi kept hitting the lion, shot after shot, without missing, inflicting damage.

“Guha, why… in this world… am I cornered…”

Even the lion seemed taken aback by this unexpected turn of events. It was bleeding from multiple wounds, with holes all over its body.

And Izayoi kept firing, relentlessly. Shooting at the lion over and over. It couldn’t move anymore, yet Izayoi continued to open new holes with his gun.

“Gyura, gaha, dea!!”

Merciless… As expected of Izayoi… So cool…

And finally, the lion’s limbs were blown away. Izayoi then aimed for its forehead.

“W-Why am I losing…”

Realizing its impending death, the lion showed fear and confusion. Hearing that, Izayoi spoke up.

—-Why you lost huh, think about it until tomorrow.

He said it confidently, then followed with more words.

“Well, you won’t even have until tomorrow.”

Uttering ironic, provocative words, the lion’s face tensed up. But without delay, Izayoi shot its forehead, causing cracks to appear in the gray world.

Probably because he defeated the ruler of this world.

Izayoi put away his gun and approached me.

“Are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah.”

E-embarrassing… Was Izayoi always this cool?

His face was like the usual coolness, but with an extra 50% charm.

Lately, my feelings have been somewhat settled. I had been thinking about what Kohaku said, feeling like I was causing trouble for him, so I decided to put a “Save” on my emotions.

However, those feelings were reignited once again.

It’s like reheating a completely cold fried fish filet in the microwave. No, not just that, it came with tartar sauce and a drizzle of lemon juice. Compared to before, it was on a completely different level. My feelings started to grow stronger.

Izayoi smiled shyly and said,

—I’m glad you’re safe.

At that moment, it felt like Cupid’s arrow pierced my heart with at least ten hearts all at once.

My face is so hot… This is unbelievable… It’s burning, burning, burning.

R-Right, I should say thank you… I have to say it…

“Hmph, it’s not like I couldn’t have handled that on my own. Izayoi just did whatever he wanted, so I don’t need to thank you!”

H-Huh? My thoughts and words are completely different… I blurted that out reflexively and turned my face away.

How rude of me… He went out of his way to help me…

W-What on earth is h-happening to me…