Instant Death

Chapter 14 - There’s a feeling like the class that appeared in your heart was ‘I want only myself to be saved’, right~

The Devil’s subjugation was chosen by the sage candidates as the exploit they should achieve.

This was something selected with half-hearted reasons.

Even if they were told ‘obstruct the invasion of the Empire’, what they should do was unclear. They didn’t know how they should conduct themselves against the nation, and they couldn’t avoid killing people if they were involved in a war. Even if it was said that their minds were becoming more warlike, they were hesitant.

On the contrary, the Devil’s subjugation was easy to understand. There appeared to be a Devil in the basement of this royal capital, the lowest layer. They should just go there and kill it; there were no points to be confused on as the things that should be done were clear. Moreover, what appeared on the way seemed to only be monsters that the Devil created. If the opponent wasn’t a person, then there was no need to hold back. Their maximum power would be able to be shown.

As a result of the leader meeting, their future course of actions were decided and announced. They decided to prepare first, assigning work such as gathering information and securing necessary materials to each group.

And then, the next day after the audience

First of all, it was decided that reconnaissance would be conducted in groups of one to five.

When it became like that, Yogiri and Tomochika were the standby group, but first there was a need to measure their abilities, so it was decided that they’d participate in the hell reconnaissance strategy this time.

Tomochika was in group one, and Yogiri was in group two.

The environment inside hell was varied, but the area around the entrance was small enough that they couldn’t move in large numbers. Due to that, those referred to as ‘explorers’ who searched hell to eliminate the Devil moved in groups of about six at most, and the sage candidates decided to follow that.

***

The entrance to hell below the royal castle was strictly controlled.

Going in and out of hell itself, which there were entrances and exits to in various parts of the royal city, wasn’t restricted because this place was directly connected to the royal castle.

Due to that, it was impossible to enter in groups, and they were expected to enter in the order of each group.

Up until the entrance was divided into several rooms. In the situation there was something, they were making sure that direct influence on the royal castle was unattainable.

First, they’d enter hell from group one. The meeting place was the room just before the entrance, and Tomochika came along last.

“Your appearances have no feeling of ‘a parallel world’!” (Tomochika)

Tomochika, who saw every one of group one, said so.

Akino Sora, who was in the position of unifying the sage candidates, and the leader of this group, was wearing clothes that were really similar to a stage performers’, such as an idol.

“These are almost the same as the clothes I wore live, okay?” (Akino)

They seemed to be exactly what was ordered for her. Her flashy outfit that couldn’t be worn by an ordinary person at all was quite familiar.

“How did you prepare that……and, what about Carol?” (Tomochika)

Carol S. Lain was wearing a showy, red ninja costume. She was equipped with things like forehead guards and a ninja sword, so she appeared to fight more than Sora, but she didn’t seem to have defensive power at all.

“Because I’m a ninja!” (Carol)

“A ninja! They blend into the dark!” (Tomochika)

“Fufu~! What a common retort. I wonder how many people have said that so far?” (Carol)

“If you think so, then improve it! ……I won’t retort anymore, but what about Ninomiya-san?” (Tomochika)

Ryouko Ninomiya had an appearance similar to a two-sworded samurai in a haorihakama. She had heard that her class was samurai beforehand, but it seemed that her appearance was following that. Although she was disguising herself as a man, it really suited her.

“Sorry. It’s regrettable that I as well appear to be in high spirits while in such a joke appearance, but……there’s something called clothing compensation.” (Ryouko)

In short: there seemed to be something called ‘suitable equipment’ for each class, and by wearing the suitable equipment, your status and skills would improve.

“Ahhh, I wonder if I seem to be the most ‘joke’ appearance……” (???)

“‘An idol and a heigh-ho, I guess’, it feels like that though.” (Tomochika)

Who said so apologetically was Yui ōtani. She was dressed as a cheerleader, and was even holding pompoms.

These four were the current members of group one, and this time it was composed of five people including Tomochika.

“No, but everyone, your defensive power is paper, right? I don’t know what an monster is like, but if you get bitten, a hole will open up, right?” (Tomochika)

She could hardly think they were in appearances like they were challenging a den of monsters after this.

“Even this has defensive power. Well, I think that the attacks I’ll receive will be almost none.” (Akino)

Sora, who was dressed as an idol, didn’t seem to be strong at all, but she seemed to have confidence regarding combat.

“Tomochika is giving it her all! What is this? An American comic book? A science fiction?” (Carol)

“I’m not wearing this because I want to either, okay……” (Tomochika)

Carol asked with a look of keen interest.

Tomochika’s entire body was wrapped in clothes that neatly clung to her, like a leotard. It was made of black, honeycomb-structured material, and covered even her fingertips without a gap. On top of that, she wore a black coat on her body that went up to around her thighs.

These were made up of the substance obtained from the gigantic robot aggressor. Its shape could be freely set, so Mokomoko designed it as armor.

『Truthfully, I wanted to cover your face as well. Well, one part of your hair is in a weave, so even attacks to the head are possible to deal with to some extent.』(Mokomoko)

“If up to my face was covered with this, I’d think I’m a pervert……” (Tomochika)

Whether or not it was a confident work, Mokomoko was prideful.

“I see. That’s your class. It’s the power of the egotistic blacksmith, huh.” (Sora)

“Hahaha……” (Tomochika)

Sora was impressed, but Tomochika laughed without power and dodged the question.

Tomochika’s class was explained as ‘egotistic blacksmith’. She could make weapons and armor, but it was exclusive to her, and couldn’t be given to another person. It was a setting like that.

In actuality, it was possible to lend it to another person, but fine adjustments couldn’t be made without Mokomoko nearby. It was troublesome, so Tomochika decided to insist it was exclusive to her.

“Come to think of it, I can make mine myself, but how did you prepare things like the idol and ninja outfits?” (Tomochika)

“These are made by group three’s Harufuji-san. Her class is dressmaker.” (Akino)

According to Sora’s explanation, dressmaker was a class which could produce clothing at will as long as cloth was the material. It appeared that she could not only make it, but also bestow various effects on the clothing. It was quite useful as a create-type class.

“I see. Harufuji-san’s forte was like that in the sewing club…huh? If there’s a connection like that, then why is my class……” (Tomochika)

“That’s right~. There’s a feeling like the class that appeared in your heart was ‘I want only myself to be saved’, right~?” (Carol)

“That’s an awfully bad mental image!” (Tomochika)

Like Carol said, maybe it seemed that way to everyone in the class.

“Whatever. I’m at the end, right? Are we going in immediately?” (Tomochika)

“No. This time is our first time, so a guide will be travelling together with us——it appears that they’ve arrived.” (Sora)

Sora looked at the room’s entrance. The door opened, and a man wearing silver armor entered.

“Long time no see, Dannoura-san.” (Rick)

“Huh? Rick-san?” (Tomochika)

What turned up was Rick, who had acted together with them in the tower of the canyon. In short, he was the current Sword Saint.

***

Group two—which had 4 people: ōtori Haruto, Yazaki Taku, Fukai Seiichi, and Ushio Shinya—was where Yogiri was to temporarily participate in.

ōtori Haruto’s class was consultant, and his forte was information analysis. With only that explanation, whether or not he could handle combat easily was uncertain, but seeing that he was a member of group two, he probably could fight.

Yazaki Taku was a general, and during battle, he handled all sorts of tactics. Maybe because he was a general, unrefined armor made of metal was worn on his body. By the way, the others were still in their school uniforms.

Fukai Seiichi was a shinigami, and it appeared that he could use instant death magic. Whether it was due to that ability, or because his social disposition was bad originally, distance seemed to have been placed from his classmates. Though, Yogiri couldn’t talk about people with bad social disposition either.

Ushio Shinya was an eroge master. His ability couldn’t be associated from that class name, but he could stop the things he touched. It could also be used on people, and the side it was used on felt like time jumped. Him taking a provocative-like attitude with the king was in recent memory, but his fingers that were cut at that time were treated.

And, one more person. As a guide, the sentinel David was accompanying them. He was the vice-commanding officer who disagreed and fought with Tomochika at the entrance of the royal capital.

It was also David’s first time entering the hell, but he seemed to have information regarding the environment inside. Speaking of why such an undependable person was the guide, it was because a person who extended to the royal family.

“The royal family has the power of sealing. This, is the biggest reason for why the king’s blood relatives can continue managing this country.” (David)

The royal family had the power to weaken gifts, and that power passed even to the monsters in the hell.

Of course, there were individual differences in the sizes of power and valid range, and it seemed that the one who owned the strongest power was the king.

“So, boarding a large ship1 is what’s planned. If it’s a monster of a lower layer, then it will able to be sealed with my power.” (David)

“No, I’ll be troubled with that. Because there’s also the objective of measuring our abilities. Is it possible to restrain your power?” (Yazaki)

“Of course it is. If it’s like that, then it’d be better to guide you to where the monsters are, right?” (David)

Haruto gently listened to the prideful David. He was the leader of this group, and also the representative of the male’s side.

Group two was walking on the first layer of hell. This place was a cave where the rocky surface was exposed, and the passage was about three meters in both width and height. It was branching in a complex manner. Without guidance, they’d lose their way immediately.

Hell was bright. A light was lit on the top part of the cave. Poles made of metal were sticking out here and there, and their tips were shining dimly.

“They are absorbing the extremely small amount of souls drifting about in the surroundings and emitting light. One of an explorer’s tasks is to install torches in the captured areas.” (David)

In other words, the places with lights were relatively safe, and it appeared that maps of the areas captured were also being created.

They walked silently in accordance with David’s guidance.

After advancing for a while, there suddenly was an empty space spreading out. It was a space so vast that the end of it couldn’t be seen.

“I think it was investigated beforehand, but shall I explain? This place is a mortar-shaped structure. In other words, what we are walking on now is just the end part of hell.” (David)

Every layer was estimated to be circular in shape with a width of about ten meters. The first layer was 140 kilometers in diameter, the second layer was 120 kilometers; they became smaller little by little, and the last layer—the seventh—seemed to be circle-shaped with a diameter of about 20 kilometers.

Yogiri and others were taken aback by the sudden scene, but they pulled themselves together before long and started walking.

When they went straight, the ground vanished, and there was a cliff. Following David’s explanation, there should be a similar place on the other side as well, but it was 120 kilometers across. They couldn’t have seen it.

If they looked down from the cliff, only darkness was spreading there. It was almost vertical, so going down here without any equipment would be difficult.

“The hell that is introduced in the divine tune was such a structure. Although, that one seemed to be from nine layers.” (Haruto)

What Haruto said was about the writings of Dante, an Italian poet2. Yogiri remembered the game that made the hell text of the divine tune into a motif.

“Hey. As it’s ‘mortar-shaped’, does that mean you can struggle on to the central part if you fly slanted here?” (Ushio)

“You’re saying that, huh? In actuality, there are quite a few daredevil explorers who did that, but none returned. So, you will basically move to the lower level by looking for an entrance leading to the next level.” (David)

“What is the height to the lower level?” (Yogiri)

“It’s said to be about one kilometer.” (David)

“Such a……Isn’t there nooooo way you can struggle on to it then!?” (Ushio)

Ushio shouted when Yogiri confirmed the height with David.

“Aren’t we taking time like idiots by only moving! How do we go to where the Devil is like this?” (Ushio)

“There’s no way we can go, you know? Because even we’ve only reached as far as the third layer.” (David)

“Ha?” (Ushio)

Ushio’s face became openmouthed. It appeared that he had been thinking fairly simply.

“Ushio-kun. Such a thing was understood when we researched the structure of hell. You didn’t listen to the story, did you?” (Haruto)

Haruto said, as if amazed.

“Mostly because we place more importance on defending rather than capturing hell. Basically, continuing to thin out monsters up to the second layer is enough, and those who obtain income by exterminating monsters can earn enough. That’s why there aren’t that many benefits in going below the third layer.” (David)

Though it was the Devil’s subjugation which was thought to be easier than obstructing the Empire’s invasion, the journey ahead seemed to be full of troubles.