BXBX NOVEL Chapter 323 - Terminus
Chapter 323 - Terminus
[Hare-raisingly shocking.]
The Mad Emperor looks at her astoundedly before sighing.
[Even after hearing Kirihara defeat the Great Demon Emperor…… You’ve still got an amplitude of emotions huh. Well, I suppose that’s better than panicking.]
Asagi was the only one summoned into the meeting room.
Kashima and the other Heroes weren’t here.
Also, she wasn’t shown Kirihara’s message itself.
She was just told the gist of his message.
That was a request I asked Mad Emperor to do.
After all, there’s actually this one point in the message that concerned me a little.
This might give Asagi unnecessary information she can make use of.
[Hmm…… Well, I thought that if she’s gonna get defeated, it would be by someone among the S-Ranks. That’s certainly reasonable. Well, if I’m gonna have to defeat that guy…… Well, even if this great Asagi-chan runs wild at top speed, that guy will definitely notice something’s up. I mean, we’re talking about the guy Goddess-chin has trouble dealing with, you know?]
At her words, Wright spoke.
[We are assuming that he has lost his mind.]
[Haha, who decides the line between sanity and insanity? Or so I’d like to say, but I also feel like nyat. It’s the template for self-proclaimed “decent” people to have such a mental defense mechanism in themself, saying that guy is insane, so it’s understandable and all that stuff. Oh well.]
“But you know……”, Asagi continued.
[If that guy defeated the Great Demon Emperor, then Kiri-chan must have leveled up lots, yeah? We are still not sure what kind of factors he used when he raised his levels, but his skills should be powered up an extra heaping amount?]
[Regarding Takuto Kirihara, he will be left in the hands of the Fly King Squadron.]
[Hoho, well, isn’t it a good match-up? With his invincible Sorcery that done in Demon Emperor’s First Oath, he’s gonna deal with him———— like a snap! In any case, my match-up against Kirihara-kun is a no-go. Even with my trump card, I’m worried if I could deal with Kirihara-kun. You see, the difference between him and Granpa Zera the other day…… is the likelihood of my ability connecting. Kiri-chan, you see, he’s quite whimsical. As fickle as a cat. Or perhaps, even more fickle than one.]
“I can’t stand the thought of being fatally wounded just ‘coz he felt like it.”, Asagi shuddered.
[A person who doesn’t show consistency…… just like the quantum with its results always swinging about? Ariri? I guess bringing up quantum theory in the first place is quite old-fashioned nowadays huh?]
Kaiser put his hands to his forehead, looking as if he was suffering from a headache.
From his behavior since earlier, it seems like he has a rough time around Asagi.
[I don’t know what this kwantum teyori was…… but His Majesty was thinking of asking you and the others to persuade Ayaka Sogou. The situation is just as you heard earlier.]
[Alrighty.]
[……That was quick.]
[After all, apart from Fly King-chin, the only one who can stop Great Justice Girl here in Mira is me and the girls. So, Fly King-chin is in charge of Kiri-chan, right? By process of elimination, dealing with her would fall on us.]
At her words, the Mad Emperor asked.
[What are the chances she would be persuaded?]
[In a way, our odds here are better than the others trying the same thing.]
Yes.
Asagi’s words are correct.
After all, against Sogou Ayaka……
[I mean, in the current situation, I’d say that’s her biggest weakness. That girl, she can never kill her classmates. No chance at all that’s happening.]
“Seriously injuring us doesn’t even cross her mind”, Asagi added.
[The screw in her head is so loose that she even wanna protect the ill-mannered High-Rank Hero boy trio, you know? Moreover, we have Poppo-chan, a girl who has close bonds with Ayaka, among us. And from what I just heard…… You got the way for us to return to our original world without the need of Goddess-chin, right?]
[We would still need the magic circle for summoning, which should be in Alion’s Royal Castle, and the heart of the Great Demon Emperor or a necklace that has absorbed their Tyrant’s Miasma in it though. As for the latter materials, we can only hope that Kirihara possesses it.]
[Since we’re talking about Kiri-chan here, he would want to prove to others that he defeated them, so he must have that in his possession, right? Well, in any case, if he had pushed away Goddess-chin and can’t return back to our world, wouldn’t that be a good persuasion material against him? Even President wouldn’t want to rely on that old hag.]
Considering her words, the Mad Emperor shook his head and spoke.
[Have you considered the possibility that you girls would fail to persuade her and would be captured?]
[Ah…… It is possible that she might decide to forcibly capture us. Mnhhh. She might capture us and forcibly bring us to Goddess-chin…… I suppose I could surprise attack her with my Unique Skill. But when it comes to Goddess-chin, I just can’t read her. That Old hag, she’s like my cousin back home. I just don’t know if she’s sharp or insensitive, so it might be a little risky trying to let us get caught on purpose. If it’s just our group fighting, you see, when a slightly stronger enemy appears, wouldn’t we be caught in quite the pickle jar?]
[If you fail to persuade her…… I think we’d fall into a harsh situation. I want to avoid losing you girls before the decisive battle against Vysis.]
[Well, in that case……]
Saying this, Asagi looks at her palms.
[How about I drag that winner-in-life Ojou-sama, who got blessed in the Parents Gacha…… down to our world?]
Hearing her words, Kaiser asked.
[Don’t tell me…… You intend to kill her with that power?]
[Fufun? Whadya think? Well, we’d like to settle things peacefully, right?]
[………………..]
Under the table……
Seras placed her hand on my lap.
The words Asagi was saying at that moment———- all of them were true.
[Even so……. President decided to participate in the war huh. You know, I thought Ayaka would soon die in this world. That girl’s certainly good at studying and has excellent motor nerves, but she’s dangerously idiotic. I mean, it must be because of that…… the reason she’s been able to manage until now is probably that Hijiri-chan was there supporting her. Even I hadn’t expected that Elder Takao-chin would help her. She’s more empathetic than I thought. That monster Elder sister, I mean.]
Monster.
Ikusaba Asagi sees Takao Hijiri that way huh.
[Well, in any case, we’ll handle dealing with the rampaging puppet President.]
[Well then, Asagi and her group will be heading east with me———- This settles the plan then.]
[Ori? You coming too, Zine-chin? Oni Sogou will be there, you know?]
[The enemy’s forces aren’t just made up of Ayaka Sogou. The low morale of the soldiers on our side must also be raised.]
Just like that, Asagi left the room to prepare.
No, to be precise, she was asked to vacate the room.
It was because we had something we wanted to talk about without Asagi.
Incidentally, just as Asagi was leaving……
“Then, I’ll leave Kiri-chan to you, Fly King-chin. Ah, if you killed him, you’d better keep it a secret from Ayaka, okay? Things would turn out bad for real. That aside, Seras-chin…… seriously, this isn’t the first time we’ve met, but aren’t you too beautiful!? Not only are you brimming with innocence, that eroticism around you just won’t lose out! Your breasts and hips are also quite amazing! If I…… If I survive this battle, won’t Seras-chin go back to my world…… I promise you, you’ll quickly rise up in the real-lifer’s world……, ———–Well then, bye bee, Fly King-chin.”
“I wish you the best of luck in your efforts to persuade her, Asagi-dono. Let’s meet again safely.”
I responded so.
Whether she realized who I am or not…… is something I honestly don’t know.
Anyway……
[…………….]
I wish you a safe reunion too———– Kashima.
“Good grief……”, Kaiser shook his head.
[I really can’t keep my bearings around her……]
Now then.
Slei has already recovered.
Pigimaru’s Final Reinforcer is finally done.
Munin can use her Forbidden Curses.
The evolution of the Seras’ Spirit through the Tear of Origin———- completed.
[Your Majesty.]
I called out, the atmosphere in the room returned to how it was before.
[For the time being, Ayaka Sogou will be left to Asagi-dono and her group and Takuto Kirihara will be dealt with by us Fly King Squadron. Is this correct?]
[Umu.]
[Magnar’s magical war pigeon…… I heard that if it was released, it would directly fly into the sky and reach the place where Takuto Kirihara was.]
[Unless something has occurred, it should reach him. Even if the person who released it moves, it’s designed to return to them as long as it has a designated “nest. That’s the kind of creatures magical war pigeons were.]
That being the case……
[Seras.]
I called out to the nearby Seras.
[Seems like this King of the New North wants you.]
[————Yes.]
[I will have Mira respond that they will offer “Seras Ashrain” to him. And indeed, I’ll have them bring you to where Kirihara is, Seras.]
At my words, Seras turned her body toward me with a look of unquestioning confidence.
[If Milord so commands, I will not hesitate to follow your plan.]
[I thank you. Also———-]
Thereupon, I slowly put my hand to my throat……
[Offer to him the head of the Fly King.]
The three brothers are silent, their mouths closed.
“Of course”, I continued.
[As bait to crush this King of the New North.]
[I see…… you’ve already drawn the “picture”, Fly King.]
[We’d like to borrow a few of your men, Your Majesty.]
[The very survival of Mira depends on you. I’ll have what you need prepared.]
[My gratitude. Well then———–]
And so, I told the Mad Emperor the things I needed.
This battle.
Vysis may come along with Kirihara as a set.
In that case, I must take Munin with me.
[……………………]
At this time……
In a corner of my mind, I was thinking about a “possibility”.
That perhaps, Kirihara Takuto was aware of the Fly King’s true identity.
The reason I was thinking about it was that my mind was a little drawn to some of the passages in that letter of his.
For example……
“I don’t deem you acceptable.”
If……
Just in case……
There’s this possibility that perhaps, that “you” in that sentence, it did not refer to the Fly King———– but to Mimori Touka.
Other than that……
“Its meaning…… Those who comprehend it will know.”
This sentence.
I was wondering, couldn’t you ready this message as————
“He already knows who I am, but he dares not to mention my name and instead opts to send the message in a roundabout way.”
Furthermore……
“Your unworthiness is intolerable.”
This sentence could simply be read as……
“It’s not befitting for a Sorcerer who calls himself Fly King to have Seras Ashrain by his side.”
He may just be saying this.
However……
If this “unworthiness”———– was referring to my status as an E-Rank Hero……
It’s just, in that case———–
It’s unclear why the name Mimori Touka wasn’t written in his letter.
Perhaps, he may surprisingly still have rational thinking in his mind.
It may be that Kirihara had some personal psychological reason for not writing it down.
If I start thinking about this and that here…… an infinite number of answers will be generated, so I should leave it aside for a moment.
What I should think about now is the sparks, namely the “worst”.
It’s always possible that such a scenario would come down on us.
I must always assume the “worst”.
What people say about how we should live more optimistically may have been the right thing.
However…… I just can’t help thinking about the “worst-case scenario”.
Suppose……
Suppose that Kirihara knows the Fly King’s true identity.
Then…… How did Kirihara get to know about that information?
Who told him about the possibility of my survival?
If it’s someone who could guess it———— I guess it would be Vysis huh.
In that case……
Does Vysis already know that I escaped from the Disposal Ruins?
Did Vysis, who had been lacking in forces, thought of taking out the Soul Eater and found out?
If there’s a factor that could expose my survival, my connection with the Disposal Ruins would be the most likely cause……
……No.
The sequence of events here is something I can put to rest for now.
Anyhow……
“Kirihara knows who I am.”
“It was Vysis who told me who I am.”
I can’t leave these possibilities behind.
I wonder why I’m so concerned about these possibilities?
That is……
If I were aware of it———–
That would mean the “worst-case scenario” could have happened.
If it’s just groundless fear, so be it.
If I’m just overthinking it, then it’s fine.
However……
I must always assume the possibilities and prepare for the worst-case scenario.
■
I, who was summoned to another world, just before I was disposed of……
[If you’re going to disappear, just disappear already, trash.]
Those were the last words I heard from Takuto Kirihara with my own ears.
And this time———— these words written in his letter……
No matter how I look at it……
I just couldn’t connect the writer of this letter with the Kirihara of that time.
What could have happened after all the battles he had here in another world?
………………….
Everyone is becoming strange.
The same goes for Sogou Ayaka.
Speaking of becoming strange, that did happen to Yasu Tomohiro too.
Is this the influence of that sh*tty Goddess?
I’m not sure.
I mean, if you look at the situation from the side, even I had probably become strange.
I was summoned into this world———— and my former self had been dragged out.
For better or worse, I had no choice but to change.
I suppose we must have been forced into a corner.
Me…… him…… the other Heroes too.
…………………..
Fly King.
King of the North.
King huh……
First of all, I at least…… don’t think I have what it takes to be a King.
The disguise I used just happens to be based on a figure from the folklore who happens to be crowned “King”.
……King?
King, you say?
You’re mistaken———— Kirihara.
Both you and I, we’re not that big of a deal.
Those Kings…… They’re beings who work for the sake of others.
However, we aren’t people like that.
After all, isn’t that so?
We’re just merely———- egotistical, self-centered otherworlders.
………………At this moment————-
I will lead you to your final destination, Kirihara Takuto.