Instant Death

Chapter 16 - Good evening. I’m called Shion the sage, do you remember me?

The plump boy, Hanakawa Daimon.

Lute, a Devil’s kin, who disguised their appearance of that of a beautiful girl’s.

The two continued their journey, and finally arrived at the royal capital.

“What a huge croud~. Is there a festival or something?” (Hanakawa)

They passed through the royal capital’s gate before long. Despite it being night, the town was overflowing with people and energy.

“Bufu~! It’s the countryman exposed templatee! No no, I think this degree is a scene that’s anywhere if it’s Japan, but when it’s another world, isn’t it raree?” (Hanakawa)

“You……you’re getting too caught up in the moment because you know that I won’t kill you, aren’t you……” (Lute)

Lute looked shocked. It seemed he didn’t even feel angry anymore, as Hanakawa had said all he had to say even on the journey until here.

“There are many ways to cause you pain even without killing you, you do know that?” (Lute)

“Fufu~! If I know that I won’t die, then it doesn’t matter. ‘Cause I’m a healerr. As long as I prepare myself for any kind of injury, I can withstand it!” (Hanakawa)

“Is that right. By the way, the underground of here is where the younger sister god is, our goal.” (Lute)

“Hohou? They were able to develop a city this big above a demon that will injure such people.” (Hanakawa)

“It’s because Lord-sama is sealed. She can’t leave that easily.” (Lute)

This was information which the humans didn’t know.

At any rate, that the younger sister god was sealed was a millennium-old story, the details weren’t handed down.

In legend, the Grand Sorcerer sealed the Devil, and made this town. However, the Grand Sorcerer didn’t do anything more than make the gigantic walls surrounding the town.

Hell itself, which existed underground, was something the Devil Alubagaluma made to seal the younger sister

“But only the younger sister god is sealed, so the kin can come above ground. But, it doesn’t mean that the humans are standing and watching either, you see. Those of special bloodline are sealing this place more. That’s why the ranks of skills go down in this place, but……shall we try out how long your recovery magic will pass?” (Lute)

Hanakawa’s movements were quick. He jumped down before Lute finished speaking, and got into a state of prostrating himself without being afraid of what the public might think.

“I was caught up in the momenttt!” (Hanakawa)

“You, you rely too much on prostrating, you know?” (Lute)

Lute looked like he was fed up with him.

“As long as it’s another party I can talk to, if I prostrate for the time being, I have time. If space is available, there’s the possibility that the opponent’ll also lose the feeling of ‘let’s travel together’, and then do it some other way!” (Hanakawa)

“It’s fine already, so stand up for now.” (Lute)

As one would expect, prostrating stood out in the street traffic. Hanakawa slowly stood up.

“So, we’ve come to the town, but what should we do?” (Hanakawa)

“That’s right. We must go to hell, but we don’t know where the entrance is, and what kind of way it is managed, so first we’ll collect information, I guess.” (Lute)

“I see. If it’s like that, then in cases like these, isn’t it a standard to go to a bar?” (Hanakawa)

Hanakawa, with his knowledge of games and manga, said so for some reason.

“A bar? Is it that?” (Lute)

“Well, but our appearances are that of children’s, aren’t they? Going is fine, but what will the female bar owner do? She’ll say things like ‘go to another place for milk’——there’s a lot!” (Hanakawa)

On the street, there were signs lined up with things like beer mugs, alcohol bottles, and barrels were drawn on them that just screamed ‘We’re bars, really!’.

“Aren’t there too many bars!? Well, for now, I guess we’ll try to go?” (Hanakawa)

There was nothing like a ‘criteria to choose from’, so they had no choice but to go to a nearby place. He might’ve gotten involved with a hoodlum if he went with just a little girl, but this girl was the Devil’s kin. Hanakawa also made his way to the bar with a composed mood.

“Welcome! Is it for two peoplee?” (Waitress)

A waitress called out to them willingly. It appeared that they didn’t turn people away, even if it was these two people.

They were guided to a table, so Hanakawa ordered randomly. Hanakawa had also lived for a long time in this world. He understood what preferable things would come out if he ordered in this sort of establishment.

“This is my first time coming to a bar, but what to do for the information gathering?” (Lute)

“Hmm? Come to think of it, what should we do. How about pricking up our ears and listening to the surrounding conversations, or something like that?” (Hanakawa)

“Haa……you said it full of confidence, so I thought ‘maybe he has a good idea or something’. Hey, Miss. I have something I’d like to ask a little about.” (Lute)

Lute called a waitress to a halt.

“Oo! What a natural girl voice! It’s a feat that I can’t possibly imitate!” (Hanakawa)

“There’s so many people today, is there a festival or something?” (Lute)

“Hey! Did you listen to a person’s conversation!? If it’s from the scale of this town, this much is norma——” (Hanakawa)

“Indeed there is~! They’re saying the sage candidates reached the fifth layer of hell! Even though three layers was the reached limit, it’s five layers suddenly a few days after they started capturing! It’s been stagnating for a millennium, and there’s a festival already from the capture of hell advancing.” (Waitress)

“Wh-, what did you say!?” (Hanakawa)

Lute stared at Hanakawa with a proud face as if to say ‘How’s that’.

“So it’s a special procurement, a special procurement! Look, it’s our gracious sage candidates! They also came to our store today!” (Waitress)

“Haa!?” (Hanakawa)

Hanakawa looked the direction the waitress was pointing. Over there, were three people wearing uniforms he recognized.

Ushio Shinya, Munakata Keiichi, and Yatate Mitsuo. He noticed they were in a group often, even at school.

They, who only talked about eroge, and Hanakawa were treated the same by their classmates, but they didn’t really interact with each other. There were also things like ‘difference in hobbies’, but it was because they treated him as an idiot, even calling him a disgusting otaku.

“You’ve gotta be joking. I wondered if they’d end up doing it, but how many times will they cry ‘gay’!?” (Hanakawa)

“Hanakawa?” (Lute)

He suddenly remembered his quarrel with them and got angry, but if it was from Lute, it seemed to be too cryptic.

“This is bad! I’ll be found by them! What should I do!” (Hanakawa)

Hanakawa decided to run away suddenly from them in that case. He was to shamed to meet them now.

“Somehow, huh……whatever.” (Lute)

Lute waved his hand lightly.

“I used a recognition obstruction of the extent that those guys won’t notice for some reason.” (Lute)

“It’s fine with such a degree?” (Hanakawa)

“When trying to do things like hiding your figure completely, it’s hard to be consistent.” (Lute)

“You being proud that you’re the Devil’s kin is surprisingly dull.” (Hankawa)

“How about I throw you in front of them, then? …Don’t try to prostrate yourself! If you do such a thing now, your at-great-pains disguise will be ruined!” (Lute)

Lute stopped Hanakawa after seeing him move to try to prostrate himself.

“Fufu~! But, if you said ‘they won’t notice’! Then it’d be best to get closer and try to listen to their conversation? Doesn’t it look like they’ve gone to hell!” (Hanakawa)

“That’s righ——no, it looks a bit strange.” (Lute)

Lute once again stopped Hanakawa, who was trying to stand up.

When he looked in the direction of the three people, there was a girl concealed in a hood was standing nearby.

***

“What is it, that bastard Takatou! Appearing suddenly in the middle and nabbing the beautiful girls of the class, what bullsheettt!” (Ushio)

The one who was throwing out complains while drunk was Ushio Shinya—the eroge master.

“Every night, Ninomiya-san, Carol, and Dannoura-san disappear somewhere. It’s something enviable, dammittt!” (Keiichi)

Who replied to him was Munakata Keiichi—the eroge meister. He’d also opened many bottles of alcohol. It would be a problem if it was in Japan, but from when they’d come to this world, it had reached the point that most of the students were drinking alcohol.

“That guy does whatever, doeeeesssn’t he. He’s just summoned to areas with bugs occasionalllyy. Ushio plays more of an active role, right? Why areeeen’t we popularrr!” (Yatate)

Yatate Mitsuo—the eroge enthusiast—also agreed. They had a good relationship since they were in Japan.

“That’s, well……it’s because we’re called the three eroge aristocrats……how will we be popular with such a thing!” (Ushio)

“But, why just us! I liked it and it didn’t become such an abilityyy!” (Keiichi)

Ushio was angry, and Munakata also downed his beer mug.

“Though your likes and preferences are reflected in your abilityyy, everyone thinks we want to do things like stop time and do ero things, or want to look through clothes, or become a transparent person and invade the changing rooms, or entwine them with tentaclesss! Only us are viewed as garbage by the girls!” (Yatate)

“No, not the tentacle.” (Ushio)

“No. Only that is a little different.” (Keiichi)

“Whattt!?” (Yatate)

Only Yatate was denied, and raised a moan as if he didn’t understand.

“Well, you guys have it better. You can enjoy yourselves secretly.” (Ushio)

Ushio said jealously.

Their abilities couldn’t be used towards their classmates. However, there were no problems other than that.

“Well. I’ve been looking at a waitress’s entire body for a while now like licking her all over.” (Keiichi)

Munakata’s ability was to become transparent, and he also had an x-ray ability. He could look through things and see freely.

“My tentacles can’t be used secretly either. Ah, I don’t do such an appalling thing? It’s enjoying the sense of feeling a little bit at most.” (Yatate)

Yatate was able to grow a tentacle in any spot, and the tentacle’s feeling was synced with the ability user.

“On that point, my time stop seems to be useless other than for crimes.” (Ushio)

Ushio’s time stoppage was ‘to stop the movements of the target’. It was very helpful in battle, but it wasn’t too suited for secretly doing erotic things. Due to it completely restraining things in the state they were stopped in, it only felt like you were stroking stone on the places touched.

“No, whatever. It isn’t using the abilities or whatever. Don’t oppose the girls of the class. Ordinarily, you go to the sex industry thing, donnnn’t you? There seems to be such a corrode in the town?” (Ushio)

“Ha? No, if the girls know that, won’t we be seen as even more garbage?” (Keiichi)

“Anyway, they think ‘they’re garbage perverts’, so it doesn’t matterrrr anymore. There’s money, and we’re hero-samas while capturing hell? Aren’t we popular?” (Yatate)

“That’s……that’s right! Those classmates don’t matter!” (Ushio)

They hit it off with each other, and made a toast. When they were drinking more alcohal, they noticed that someone was standing motionless beside them.

“Good evening. You’re sage candidates, right?” (???)

It was a young woman. Even though she came with a cloak with a hood attached, they knew from both her voice and figure.

The three people brightened.

“Oi oi, as I thought, aren’t us heroes popularrr?” (Yatate)

“Right~? There’s no reason beings outside the norm like us can’t be popular~. Usually it’s something coming from a woman~.” (Ushio)

“Eh? But……” (Keiichi)

Munakata tried to use x-ray, and noticed an abnormality.

『Ability use towards a classmate is contrary to the oath, is that okay?』1

The oath skill of Akino Sora. They were under that influence, and would die if they violated the oath. However, it didn’t mean that a question and answer was useless, and a warning was displayed like this.

The woman took off her hood. What appeared was a face they knew.

Ayaka Shinozaki.

The students were viewed as sage candidates, but it was the girl who was left behind on the sightseeing bus as a lure.

“You were alive as well?……” (Ushio)

While they were overcome with surprise, Ayaka stretched out her left hand, and grabbed Ushio’s wrist.

“Caught you.” (???->Ayaka)

Ayaka sweetly smiled. And, struck Ushio’s face with her right hand. Ushio fell, and the table was blown off flashily, but Ayaka didn’t release the hand she’d grabbed. She got on him like a horse rider, and struck his face again.

The inside of the bar suddenly became noisy.

But, perhaps this much was a regular occurence, as the bar’s customers just stirred up fiercly with a look of onlooking watchers.

“Stop it!” (Yatate)

When Yatate shouted, several tentacles smeared in mucus grew around Ayaka.

Ability use on classmates was banned, but it didn’t apply to those exerting violence on a classmate.

The tentacles entangled Ayaka.

But, Ayaka didn’t stop those movements. Not caring at all, she kept striking Ushio while tearing off the tentacles.

“GYAA!” (Yatate)

Yayate raised a scream and crouched. The tentacles’ sense of pain was linking with his real body, and he’d be tormented with hellish pain if they were torn off or something.

“Wh-what are you! Why are you doing such a thing!” (Munakata)

Munakata’s transparency was suited for surprise attacks, but it wasn’t helpful in a setting like this.

“I’ve decided on revenge, you know?” (Ayaka)

While saying so, Ayaka continued striking Ushio disinterestedly.

“What are you doing, Ushio! Stop that person!” (Munakata)

“I-, I’ve been, trying, Buu——” (Ushio)

He stopped mid sentence and she struck him even more.

“Such a thing doesn’t pass on a dragon, you know?” (Ayaka)

The bar’s customers had been stirred up at first, but they lost words at the gruesomeness of that.

On the other hand, they couldn’t even go in to stop it. They’d be killed if they went in to stop it. If you saw that ghastly situation, it was natural to think that.

Only the sound of Ushio being struck resounded in the quiet bar.

After a while, Ushio didn’t even twitch.

Ayaka stopped her hands which were striking him at last, and stood up. Her hands were bloodstained.

“Now, Munakata-kun?” (Ayaka)

“Y-, yes!” (Keiichi)

“I will kill one person at a time after this, so drink while being scared as much as possible, okay? I wonder if you’ll tell that to every one of the class. Ah, that’s right. He’ll be revived or something if his corpse remains…is it?” (Ayaka)

Ayaka turned her right hand towards the unmoving Ushio. When she recited something, the bar’s floor—including Ushio’s body—disappeared.

“Since I’ll do this all by myself.” (Ayaka)

With those words as a cue, the customers of the bar ran away like a spider’s children scattering.

***

“Wh-why’d she do that!? That is! Ayaka-tan, I thought she was a rich girl character, but before I knew it she’s like that!” (Hanakawa)

Hanakawa was taken aback at Ayaka’s sudden atrocity.

“Well~, that’s amazing~.” (Lute)

Lute was admiring her. Ayaka seemed to be something considerable, even if seen from a Devil’s kin.

“Judging from the situation a little while ago, she looks very angry that she was left on the bus. Then, I have a feeling that I’m a target as well!” (Hanakawa)

“Heehh. Is that right?” (Lute)

“‘Is that right?’ What will you do if she kills me!” (Hanakawa)

“I said I won’t kill you, so I’ll keep that promise, but I don’t know about someone else killing you.” (Lute)

“Eh? Um, about information on Yogiri Takatou? Look, if I’m not there, you don’t know who Yogiri is, do you?” (Hanakawa)

“Those guys from before are friends of the sage candidates, are they not? Then, if I ask them, it’s a done story.” (Lute)

“It’s like thaat! No, um, even if you say that, I feel like we’ve been friends for some reason in our journey so far, will you endure me dying by such a thing! What will kill you will be this me! There’s a feeling like that, there’s a feeling like Lute was tied with Ayaka-tan and『Fu~, my journey with you was surprisingly good……』, you know!” (Hanakawa)

“There’s not something like that at all.” (Lute)

“There isss!” (Hanakawa)

Though he said such a thing, Hanakawa, thinking ‘moving poorly is bad’, was motionless

Whether or not Ayaka was satisfied with killing Ushio first, she left the bar immediately.

“W-, well, if it’s information collecting, shall we go to another store for now?” (Lute)

There were no customers, the shop assistants were in a state of absent-mindedness, and there was no use in staying here.

Hanakawa and Lute also tried to leave the store slowly, but a new customer entered there.

“Oh my, did something happen?” (???)

What entered was a beautiful woman wearing a white dress, and she looked around the shop seemingly interested.

And, her eyes met with Hanakawa’s.

“Oh, the recognition obstruction didn’t pass.” (Lute)

Lute said, seemingly in curiosity.

“Are you Hanakawa-san? Good evening. I’m called Shion the sage, do you remember me?” (???->Shion)

At the premonition of continuous trouble, Hanakawa looked like he’d scream.