High School Hack and Slash Chapter 135 Part 1
Alternative
「— We did it! Danna-sama, with this, we’re now an 『S』 rank, right?!」
「Yeah.」
The cheers pouring down from the audience seat can be said to carry physical heat.
It’s no wonder, I guess.
And then, the Adept Orders, who had not attracted much attention, have beaten the current S- and A-ranked clubs to reach the top four.
We can be said to be a dark horse bringing about stunning upset.
Of course, it was by no means an easy battle.
The opponents belonging to the top A-rank and S-rank clubs were all monsters who had reached fourth step classes and mastered the use of their abilities.
Us standing here is by no means due to a fair result, but simply because we forcefully wrenched away victories from our opponents.
In order to win through the tournament, we are setting foot into a different realm than we have ever been in before.
There is no more naivete on the part of me and Saki and the others.
We aren’t allowed to and won’t allow ourselves to harbor such a thing.
「In fact, after coming this far, it’s nothing much, huh….」
Seiichi, combing up his bangs, mutters with a liberated look on his face.
The authority used by Seiichi, who has thrown prudence out of the window, is a cheat on the level of inevitability.
The opponents who were struck down seem to not understand what happened, and I don’t understand it either.
「I guess so. We should have done this from the beginning.」
Mai, waving her sooty magic wand, looks up and lets out an exhale.
Under her eyes, which seem to be looking into the distance, deep dark circles are etched.
Thanks to her mercilessness in turning her opponents into literal cinders, she is beginning to be known as the 『Funerary Flame Witch (Gehenna Witch)』.
「Yes! We’ll slaughter them all.」
Saki, looking back, floats a smile.
However, I guess it is she who has changed the most.
The 『Authority (Might)』 wielded by Saki is simple yet vicious.
Class rarity 『GR』, second『 』.
The authority it boasts is to turn into , and thanks to the effect of , it’s not exaggeration to say that she’s invincible against opponents.
The beloved sword in her hand, 『 』, serves as a trigger item to bring out the full power of this class.
An old blunt sword I’ve seen somewhere before.
Since when has she had it in her hand, I wonder?
「Yeah, it’s a massacre.」
I, nodding expressionlessly, declare in an ominous voice.
Let’s slaughter everything that’s against us, like worthless things they are.
As to not lose any more.
We, the six of us.
… Ah, lacking, someone.
That one, who has ended up missing, is not here.
◇ ◇ ◇
「–… Well, I guess that’s just how it is.」
Midway, I noticed that it was all a dream.
Before dawn breaks, the night duty room of Asagi-sou.
I look up at the familiar ceiling absentmindedly.
Though, depending on the gimmick that is activated, I may not have so much recollection of it.
Shizuka is sleeping on my right, and Saki is on my left, snuggled up to me.
Well then, what to do now?
There’s a slight discrepancy in the situation with the usual dreams.
I caught a glimpse of a scene not of the past, but of the future.
A scene that can be seen in the place we’ll be headed for later, today.
Shizuka, who is hugging my right hand tightly, is endowed with a passive ability called 『Dream Mirror (Oracle)』.
It’s one of the basic abilities of the Miko-type class and is an ability that falls under the category of 『Prophetic Dream』 or 『Future Vision』.
There’s also a possibility that I relived this ability through Shizuka crystal.
Even if so, various preconditions are out of order.
There was an error with reality.
「… Niu …」
Mikan-senpai, who lets out a cute and strange sleep-talk, raises her face in the futon.
Not only Shizuka and the others, but also the Senpais are staying in the night duty room.
Since beds on which everyone can sleep with room to spare will spring up in a matter of a single switch click.
Furthermore, they can also be combined to form one huge bed.
By the way, everyone is properly wearing pajamas.
It’s a bit harsh of a season to sleep naked.
Mikan-senpai, crawling out of the futon slightly, rests her cheek on my chest with a plop.
「… It’s still, to early to get up, you know…?」
「… Yeah. I have, a bit of nightmare.」
I return a quiet whisper to her quiet whispering voice.
But still, it’s embarrassing to wake up from a scary dream, as if I were a child.
「Funi… Then, I’ll do, a spell for you….」
She must have been more than half asleep.
Mikan-senpai, creeping up my breastplate, reaches out and holds my head in her arms.
What a feeling of motherhood.
「… Chijin buyuu wa goyo no ontakara (wisdom, virtue, military prowess, and courage are priceless treasures)… Bad Dreams Go Away ……」
And then comes some kind of authentic-sounding spell.
Mikan-senpai, stroking me on the head, is mumbling with her eyes remaining closed.
She’s a hard worker and a bit of a clumsy girl.
She also has a strong sense of camaraderie and responsibility.
It’s not bad to be spoiled by such Mikan-senpai, but I would like to be the opposite.
I want to spoil her and protect her.
But I didn’t know what to do, how to accomplish that.
「… chichinpuipui … munya …」
I pull up the futon so that Mikan-senpai is not cold.
Wisdom, virtue, military prowess, and courage, huh?
Yeah, true enough, with those four things, I think we could do anything.
What is it that I’m lacking, I wonder?
When she wakes up, let’s ask Mikan-senpai about it.
I have a feeling that she would surely tell me the answer.
◇ ◇ ◇
「You know, you see, Touma-kun. It’s, about time, right?」
「For what?」
A fidgety Mikan-senpai pleads me with upturned eyes.
「P… Put me down?」
「I refuse.」
Good graciousness, what is she saying, I wonder?
Still placing Mikan-senpai, who once again tries to escape, on my lap, I continue enjoying my breakfast.
Breakfast is an energy supply that signals the beginning of the day to the flesh.
It’s an important ritual before the crucial battle.
「That’s all well and good, but why do you have to hold me~? Everyone is looking at us, you know?」
「No, it is business as usual, I should say… I believe no one mind it.」
Shizuka, with a teacup in her hand, is leisurely enjoying her after-meal break.
Uninvited people who have been mixed up in the women’s dormitory, Asagi-sou.
Such is the case with me and Seiichi, but all in all, we’ve completely fit in.
「It is just that, I do find it questionable to try to take Mikkan-senpai into the women’s restroom while still holding her in your arms.」
That’s because she said she wanted to take care of some business.
The blushing and puffing Mikan-senpai hits me over and over.
We properly made it in time, so I think there’s no need to be that angry about it.
「… Well, Touma-kun’s eccentric behavior is nothing new, but he seems to be yearning Mikan-chan quite a bit today, I suppose.」
Rinko-senpai, who is enjoying her after-meal coffee, directs me a lukewarm gaze.
During the period of this time’s inter-club tournament, it’s practically like a temporary school holiday.
Not only us, but all the dorm students are also relaxing in the dining hall.
「Senpai, Senpai, please tell me the continuation of the story~.」
「Err, ah… yes. I suppose you mean the one about the quest of 『Tartarus Arena』?」
Rinko-senpai smiles wryly at Saki, who nods vigorously as she says: Yes.
「Where were we, again? I mean, I have a feeling that I told you about it before, too… Though.」
「Yes! But I forget, so one more time, please~.」
「Then, yes, it was about the raid quest conquest at back in those days, wasn’t it?」
Shaking her head lightly, Rinko-senpai continues with the story.
「The other world (raid) quest 『Tartarus Arena』 falls under the classification of 『Lore (Legend)』 and the difficulty of 『Super Class』, but….」
「Yes~.」
「It’s said that what serves as the motif of the Lore is the amphitheater of the ancient Roman era, I suppose. As a matter of fact, there are several amphitheaters in existence and they have even become tourist attractions, I suppose. With the most famous one being the Flavius amphitheater in the capital of Italy.」
Rinko-senpai explains it in a thorough manner, but Saki in question seems to be overloaded already.
Mikan-senpai said it’s a staple material that appears on the test, so she must be trying to memorize it on this occasion.
Well, even if you get a failing mark on the written periodic test, there being no particular penalty is a trait of this academy.
「It seems that the Colosseum was used for fights between gladiators, battles against ferocious beasts, and executions of criminals, but there is a theory that stated that, lumping all those things together, it was a recreational facility for the citizens, I suppose. I do think it’s pretty bloody, though.」
It seems that from time immemorial, public executions have been an entertainment for the masses.
There must have been no other entertainment, but talk about disturbing.
「And the one that served as base of the program for such entertainment seems to be the 『Twelve Labors (Hercules Quest)』, I suppose.」
Theatrical events based on myths and legends that were held in the arena at those times.
As opposed to just making people fight, they also added a storyline to enhance the entertainment element.
From the audience’s point of view, it must have been like watching a movie or a musical.
『The Great Lion of Gold (Nemea)』
『The Water-Serpent of Ceaselessness (Lernaea)』
『The Hind of the Goddess (Ceryneia)』
『The Boar of Retribution (Erymanthos)』
『The Livestock Stable of the Foolish King (Augeas)』
『The Mechanical Bird of Bronze (Stymphalides)』
『The Bull of the Sea God (Crete)』
『The Man-Eating Horse (Diomedes)』
『The Belt of the Queen (Amazons)』
『The Three Princes (Geryon)』
『The Daughters of the Evening (Hesperides)』
『The Gatekeeper of the Underworld (Cerberus)』
By completing all those 12 quests, the other world (raid) quest 『Tartarus Arena』 was conquered, apparently.
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High School Hack and Slash
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