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High School Hack and Slash Chapter 129 Part 1

Covenant of the Day to Come

「Hmm. I understand the situation. But we must follow the rules.」

We, who for some reason were attacked by duel committee members wearing white hoods, ended up being taken to the back of the school building where there were no public gazes.

There seems to be a lot of misunderstandings, but well, humans are creatures that can understand each other if they talk.

But I hope the duel committee members who came jumping on us without question will reflect on their actions.

I would like to state that me working together with Bandit Mask-san and going on a rampage was a legitimate self-defense.

He is a masked man of unknown identity, but he is a comrade-in-arms who fought on the same stage at the school festival.

I have no qualm about trusting my back to him.

Fortunately, should I say, before the school building was completely destroyed, an arbitrator appeared and kept things from turning for the worst.

「Like I told you, we didn’t break any rules, duh.」

「It is true that you have complied with the rules of the qualifying round of the inter-club tournament, but vandalism to the school building is a clear violation of academy rules.」

In front of me and Bandit Mask-san, who are sitting side by side on the bench, Punishment Mas-san, the mysterious arbitrator, is standing in an imposing manner.

「Why? … Why the mask?」

「Basically, it is customary for even members of the student council not to interfere with the regular department.」

「I see. So that’s why Vice-Pre… I mean, Punishment Mask-san reappeared, huh~」

The three girls sitting on the adjacent bench are chatting amicably.

Shizuka, student council-marked Massive Lady-san, and then War Maiden-san wearing the skin of an innocent girl.

How should I put it, that’s quite the unusual combination, one you would not normally see.

「Are you listening to me? Ah… Mr. Paperbag-man.」

「But of course.」

I’m confident to say that the fight itself was a legitimate self-help, but it’s also true that we ended up destroying the school building a little bit.

Considering that it was ultimately a legitimate self-defense, I’d like to ask for an assessment of the amount of reimbursement.

「Oh, what a poor bastard you’re. Wanna come to my place, the Tyrannical Dragon Chicken King (Volkei King)? If it’s you, I’ll gladly welcome you and even let you make tons of sen, you know?」

「I appreciate the offer, but….」

I may look like this, but I am still carrying the signboard of the Adept Orders.

Also, I think he’d be better off refraining from making any remarks that could reveal his true identity.

「Good graciousness, you people should learn some moderation and common sense.」

So the mysterious Masked Man-senpai says.

The mask like a bag with the logo (Punishment) totally speaks volumes of moderation and common sense.

「To begin with, you see… I just can’t stomach the rules for this time’s qualifying round. The weak ones crushed each other first, so given things, the fierce-looking ones like us can’t enjoy the battle, can we?」

「Yes, I totally agree.」

That’s why I went and commenced『Assertive Receive』.

Us ending up catching the duel committee members was unforeseen.

「… Seeking pleasure in battles is not wholesome.」

「Ha! What a classy answer. O Vice-Prez-san, lying is not good. You’re one of us, aren’t you?」

He rests his chin on his elbow on his knee, a ferocious smile peeking out from his mask.

「Moderation, discretion, decorum, order, dignity, discipline, morality, common sense and so on are all fine and dandy! But you see, it’s obvious that you’re itching to release the beast that has been bound by such chains, you know?」

「What nonsense are you talking about now?」

One mustn’t use proper nouns.

And then, it’s a trivial matter, but Shizuka-san and the others are having a fishy meeting, face to face.

「… Student council is indispensable when it comes to an academy setting. Am I right?」

「… True enough, no, but there is no way we could tolerate that.」

「… Yes, of course I understand. I have no intention of demeaning it. The image is『noble』 and『aesthetic』, so with this, could you please turn a blind eye to it?」

「… A, a new development. By all means, our President too.」

I’m a little curious about it, but my sixth sense is whispering to me not to get involved.

「… I have no intention of disrupting the order of the academy. I just, want to offer. Wonderful entertainment for our kindred spirits.」

The overwhelming stench of rottenness that emanates from Shizuka-san, who speaks with an unprecedented fervor.

The scream of the unleashed rotten beast.

It’s the temptation of the Demon Lord that leads you to the abyss of the rotten realm.

I feel like I should stop her, but the situation is such that over here I can’t move either.

「How nonsensical. For argument’s sake, even if we wish for battles, humans are no beasts. That is the reason why humans are humans.」

Those words already affirmed the point made by the Bandit Mask.

It may be a deceit, but I guess neither side is wrong in their assertion.

If I may express my personal opinion, the true nature of humans is that of an animal, and it’s exactly because they’re animals that they should strive to be humans, by all means.

If we go and think of beast and human as separate things, the answer we’ll be led to will probably be hazardous.

Even if there is a statue known as truth, what you see will differ if you look at it from different directions.

The Vice President shouldn’t be someone incapable of tolerating such multifacetedness.

「Being a great person is also constrained in its own way, huh. Right?」

From the point of view of a trueborn commoner, I have no choice but to nod my head in agreement with the words of the Bandit Mask.

I think that’s just so pitiful.

「Haah, I just can’t stand to watch this. But you know, I may look like this, but I’m a man who can sympathize with his own kind. During this inter-club tournament, the Violent Dragon Chicken King (we) will win through it and I’ll let you enjoy a frigging battle that’ll make your blood boil.」

「Does that mean you are going to win through the『S』 ranks and clam the championship of the tournament?」

「Damn strait! Of course you’re going to appear this time too, right? O 『Punisher』-san.」

This exhibition match where the champion club of the inter-club tournament fight against the strongest team of the supreme department.

For the C-ranked Adept Orders, this is an alien matter, like something that is from another world.

Ah, but it’s something that makes me hot in the pit of my stomach.

I guess I, the Adept Orders, will head there as well.

「… Kukkukku, I guess so. If you are a man, there’s no way you wouldn’t go for it, right? Kuhahaha!」

Floating a ferocious animal smile with a crazy intense male scent, the tyrant king stands up.

「I’m gonna take the liberty to go back first. If I stay here, I feel like I’m gonna end up getting things started… Kukkukku, when it comes to the finest beast meat, no doubt it’s better when it’s aged.」

「Ah, please wait for me~. Master!」

Shaking her hips sexily, the fake-innocent War Maiden runs after him.

But still, when it comes to the main tournament, I haven’t thought about how far we could actually win through.

We, who have just reached the fourth step, have finally gained the qualification to participate in the battle.

Most likely, we’re only that level of an emerging club.

From the perspective of the top rankers, the fourth step class is not the destination, but merely the starting point.

Even if they’re GR class holders, experiences are necessary to be able to perfectly wield their authority.

「Reiji-sama.」

「Right now, I am not Reiji. But… it seems I was seen through. Yeah, I guess there is indeed a shura in me that finds battles pleasurable.」

As Massive Lady-san is worried about him, the Punishment Mask looks up to the sky and exhales the heat in the pit of his stomach.

Even so, there’s no way to hide the pressure that would overwhelm you simply by being there.

「This is just incorrigible, is it not?」

「No, it is not. No. Please do what you want to do. I will follow you wherever you go.」

I receive a nodding from Massive Lady-san, who, true to her words, runs after Punishment-san as he turns on his heels.

Please don’t send me bills or anything of the sorts later.

Well then, let’s give up fishing and go back as well, shall we?

With such a thought in mind, I look back at Shizuka, to see that she’s crouching on the bench and covering her mouth with her hand.

Her body is trembling and fresh blood is seeping from between her fingers.

「Shizuka!」

「… I, inspiration is….」

I end up running up to her without thinking, but well, let’s give her a tissue to stuff in her nose, shall we?

◇ ◇ ◇

　As such, the qualifying round of the inter-club tournament is over.

I’m left somewhat frustrated, but I’m looking forward to the main tournament.

The rules of the main tournament this time seem to be a team battle, so I won’t be left waiting forever.

Incidentally, it seems that some irregularities occurred during the qualifying round, where the rules were quite irregular.

Like a club that used to be『A』-ranked failed the qualifying round and was set to be of the lowest rank of『F』.

Even among the『B』-ranked ones, there were some clubs that ended up failing the qualifying round.

The academy newspaper also issued critical articles pertaining to the rules, which were overwhelmingly unfavorable to clubs with a small number of members.

「They failed the qualifying round for real. Are those guys idiots? The Overrun Brigade, I mean.」

Seiichi, holding the academy newspaper extra, lets out a sigh with an indescribable expression on his face.

I think such a never-seen-or-heard-of club is not worth paying attention to.

Doggy-senpai and the others from the Black Honey for instance, they broke through as they should, so such clubs must’ve been defeated as they should’ve been defeated.

「Ahn, aah… Touma-san, please mercy… mercy.」

Holding down Shizuka, who is crying with a tragic voice, I put her on my lap.

It’s punishment for worrying me, so I’ll show her no mercy.

I’m punishing Shizuka by holding her by the waist as she tries to escape and repeatedly pulling her to myself.

Shizuka usually does not refuse any kind of play, so the fleeting and rare resistance ends up making the punishment progress further.

「I, inspiration is… At, at least, let me get the memo, hauu!」

I feel like if I let her go, something bad would happen, so I’m not letting her touch any storage medium.

The night duty room at Asagi-sou.

For better or worse, the place is the official residence for me and Seiichi.

And yet, to put it bluntly, it’s turned into like a hangout for everyone.

Next to Saki, who is doing her daily katana maintenance routine, Miharu and Natsumi are sitting on the same cushion, listening to a pair of headphones together.

As for Otoha-senpai, she’s already conked out on the bed.