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High School Hack and Slash Chapter 145 Part 2

―― the peripheral world 『BIBLIOTHECA』, the glazed myth 『＊＊＊＊』――

――『Poem of Champion Reaching the Realm of God』, 『Stands』 domain ――

「Hercules’ movements are finally growing dull, aren’t they, Kome-san?」

「Yeah, yes. I guess this is proof that the bottom of his regenerative abilities is beginning to show, Resu-san!!」

The pair, holding a weapon in one hand and a microphone in the other, continued to fight hard.

The wreckage of skeletons was forming a mountain around them.

Standing with their backs to the live broadcast seats were two djinns, one blue-skinned and the other red-skinned.

The monsters summoned by Kome and Resu from their respective cards fell under the category of humanoid spirit-type monsters, whose users were few in number.

Many of the high-ranking spirit or fairy-type monsters were of the type that had an established ego.

This meant that they could be expected to adapt to the situation and carry out fuzzy countermeasures, but at the same time, there was a high possibility of unintended actions or even rebellion.

There were also cases where even though they were obedient on the surface, they would betray their users at the last minute.

The only ones who could handle such monster cards were those who treated their summoned monsters with care, or the special cases where they had an especially good affinity with the monsters cards.

Of course, in the case of these girls, they were the epitome of the latter.

They were muscular, macho male djinns that although their legs had vanished like smoke, their upper bodies alone were over two meters in height.

The djinns, who were supposed to be specialized at magic, were beating the Dragon Fang soldiers with their muscular physical attacks.

They were a rather unorthodox and rare type, and it was believed that their feelings as fellow oddballs were in an alignment.

「Currently, Hercules has more than 10 stack weapons embedded in his body, but….」

「Yeah, it is a tactic used against bosses endowed with super regenerative abilities.」

The swords and spears that were stuck in Hercules’ body were something that were intentionally given away.

It was a tactic aimed at inflicting continuous damage against opponents with super regenerative abilities or large-type monsters specialized in toughness.

The technique of using specialized weapons such as harpoons, which were equipped with barbs, and chains in conjunction to impede the monster’s movements had also become well known.

Although no such preparations had been made this time, Hercules, bearing a myriad of weapons, was fitting of the phrase: having wounds all over one’s body.

However, there was no air of tragic heroism in that figure of his.

Rather, he was howling and raging in high spirits against a battlefield where he could exert his deadly power.

That standing figure was truly that of a champion.

「Oops, once again, the S-ranked allied party is charging in! Their shallowness of aiming to steal the last attack is obvious for all to see!」

「Yeah. I guess they preserved their force so much that they missed the turning point. Talk about unsightly, is it not? Yes.」

「To be honest, though, I do think things have progressed to an unexpected development. What do you think, Kome-san?」

「Yeah, yes. I am also quite surprised. To think I would get to see the figures of rival clubs coordinating and on top of that fighting together, this is an exciting development that I would have never expected, oops.」

With a staff like a microphone stand, the Dragon Fang soldiers that were drawing closer to them were pushed back.

「I thought it was going to burst and turn into a great disaster, but I sure have misjudged it. Kome-san」

「Yeah, yes. I suppose I am also of the same opinion as you. Resu-san.」

Not only the girls, but everyone had thought it would turn out like that.

It turning out like that would have been a matter of course, a natural development.

If that was the case, then this development must have been a miraculous coincidence.

「Look there, Hercules falls on his knees~! Has the final moment come for the immortal champion as well?!」

「Yeah, yes! Aah, Hercules’ head is….?!」

A light-like sword flash, running through the void, cut off Hercules’ head.

Amidst the follow up attack that was launched one after another, the figure of the person who landed the last attack wound up being lost.

Among them, holding a worn out and chipped katana, stood a girl who was raising her fist.

A look of rage was etched on Hercules’ head, but a smile of satisfaction was floating on the lips.

◇ ◇ ◇

―― the peripheral world 『BIBLIOTHECA』, the glazed myth 『Sacred Ballad (Oratorio)』――

――『Poem of Champion Reaching the Realm of God』, 『Heavenly Sky Gate (Anemoi)』 domain ――

「Welcome back. Touma-san.」

「Yeah.」

Just when I thought I was turning it into a nice mincemeat, I ended up being spit out onto the arena stage.

I think I delivered the finishing blow, probably, but, well, I feel refreshed now.

Shizuka, who is hugging me tightly as she seems to be replenishing her Toumanium, starts sniffing around for some reason.

I have nothing to be guilty of, so me dripping with cold sweat is also just my imagination.

「…Touma-san, let us have a talk later.」

「… Yeah.」

I’m not at fault.

「Welcome back, Touma-kun. This side was faced with an amazing boss, you know. One that went bam, and then boom, you see.」

「Good job. Mikan-senpai.」

I pat Mikan-senpai, who is proudly puffing out her chest.

「Ehehe.」

「Dear me~. I wish I could have shown you the great performance of our duo too, Touma-kun. We were the MVP for sure, right, Peperon?」

「Gekoko.」

I can hear his triumphant cry, but I can’t see his figure.

I mean, I think it’s honestly amazing that he doesn’t even allow for his presence to be sensed.

I do think it’s amazing, but his stealth is so perfect that no one seems to have noticed his endeavor.

Well, the person, or rather the dragon in question is happy as he gets showered with praise by Otoha-senpai, so there doesn’t seem to be any problem.

「You’re finally back, huh. Geez, both Touma-kun and Seiichi, you were too late this time, don’t you think?」

「Yeah, I’m ashamed of it.」

「Even if you say so. It was inevitable for us too, you know? I mean, I got kicked out before I could tell what was what, after all.」

Even as I observe Seiichi, who is making effeminate excuses, there is no sign that he has gone and transcended into that something.

He seems to be back to normal.

By any chance, I wonder if the channeling would align if I were to smack him like an old CRT TV.

Well, I won’t do it though.

「Wanushi-sama.」

I’m a little startled when I get called out by Natsumi.

It’s unusual for the twins, who usually act as one set, to act separately.

But she sports a very proud look on her face.

「Saki-chan worked very hard.」

「Yeah, I know.」

And then, I also know that Natsumi did her best.

When I gently pat her head, she ducks her head ticklishly.

「Saki.」

Tattered uniform.

From the many scabbards strapped on her waist, the contents are missing.

It must have been a hard-fought battle that even Saki, who never breaks her katana in the usual battles, had to use up her katanas.

The last remaining katana is the one she has been using as her favorite katana, the first one she has asked Mikan-senpai to forge, I guess.

Saki, who has been gazing at the stage as if in a silent prayer, turns around.

「Danna-sama.…」

「Yeah.」

I catch Saki’s body, which is wobbly and shaky, in my arms.

It seems that she has ended up using up all of her strength.

I lift up her exhausted body in a princess carry.

「Let us let her take some rest. Since Saki has worked really hard.」

Shizuka is also looking at Saki with gentle eyes.

「Yes. Saki-chan was very amazing, you know? She mustered up ferocious great efforts, not retreating even a single step against Hercules, after all!」

「Yes, that’s right. For sure, I believe it was Saki who delivered the finishing blow to Hercules, but….」

Next to Mikan-senpai, who is clutching her hands in the state of ever-high excitement, Otoha-senpai turns a fed up gaze toward the center of the stage.

For some reason, just as in the normal dungeon, a skirmish seems to have occurred over the drop items of Hercules, whose flesh has ended up volatilizing.

How should I put it, they truly are a hyena-like bunch.

I refuse to take part in that at this point.

「Shall we go back?」

「Yeah, I guess so. I’m crazy tired. Let’s go back to the dorm and eat something sweet!」

「Oioi. What about the tournament?」

Mai, who agrees with me, crosses her arms and snorts.

「I bet it’d either be postponed or suspended anyway, right? I mean, if we stay here as we are, I think we’d get caught up with the cleanup, you see.」

「I guess so. We ended up standing out quite a bit, so I think it is a good idea to stay put for a while. Well, there seems to be plenty of people who want to make an appeal of their merits anyway….」

「Well then, I’m sending withdrawal signal to everyone, too, okay~.」

「You must be hungry after all the hard work you put in, right, Peperon? Once we get back, I’m going to let you eat a lot of meat, okay.」

「Geko!」

Giving a sidelong glance at the skirmish that seemingly would turn into duels, the Adept Orders (we) depart the stage.

Rinko-senpai and the others are waving at us from the audience seats, which have changed slightly in shape.

They seem a little flustered when they notice Saki who is being carried in princess carry style, but I hope they’d be at ease.

Even though she is exhausted and battered, she is sleeping with a satisfied look on her face.

「Well done.」

She must have done what she ought to do.

Her sleeping face is very peaceful.