Baseka V1c36

Volume 1 Chapter 36

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Edited by: Kanaa-senpai

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 What I got after defeating the Dullahan was a magic tool called the Necklace of Magic Detection.

 It’s a cross-shaped necklace that can sense magic. It can tell not just the location but also the strength of the magic, and it has a wide detection range. Since the Dullahan didn’t have a head, it might have used this necklace to recognize its opponents.

 ”Yūhashi, try making a Phantom.”

 When I asked, Yūhashi created several copies. I could tell that each one had as much magic power as Yūhashi herself. This must be why the Dullahan was tricked by the illusion magic. To hide even the amount of magic power, that’s some impressive magic for a Hero Candidate.

 I closed my eyes and focused, trying to sense the whole island.

 Our magic and the magic of the demons. Comparing them, the biggest magic on this island was definitely the Dragon at the Mountain Summit. I also found magic that seemed to belong to a Hero Candidate, so it looks like we can prepare and make contact soon.

 ”…The numbers don’t add up.”

 There are 2 groups of 3, which must be Nijou’s and Kajihira’s. I heard Kajihira’s group had 4 members, but it seems one is missing. Maybe they died or had a falling out and split up.

 There should be 3 more missing people, but I could only track one. That means there are only 7 people left on this island besides our group.

 ”Just like Tokina’s illusion magic tricked the magic tool, is there a magic that can hide the presence of magic?”

 The president made a sharp comment. If the Hero Candidate’s ability is better than the magic tool, that’s definitely a possibility.

 ”First, let’s go meet the isolated one.”

 It might be someone from the Kajihei Group. If we catch them and make them talk, it’ll make things easier for us later. Even if not, anyone who has survived alone until now is a potential threat. We should deal with any troublemakers quickly.

* * *

 The strongest in combat, Yodomizu, and Hiiragi, who can negotiate and fight well. They went to meet a classmate who was isolated.

 ”…Is anyone here?”

 Yodomizu looked around nervously.

 In the forest of Ogre’s District. There was definitely magic around, but no one was in sight. The boys controlled by the princess had Invisibility Magic, so maybe it was a similar type of magic.

 Without the necklace, we might not have found them.

 ”Choose: get killed by my Battle Axe or come out yourself. Your pick.”

 I spoke to the tree. To anyone else, I probably looked crazy, but it couldn’t be helped. Thanks to the necklace, I could feel Hero Candidate-level magic coming from this tree.

 When I tried to chop it down because there was no answer, the tree made a panicked sound.

 ”W-wait! I’m sorry, it’s my fault!”

 The ordinary tree changed into a handsome guy with short hair and playful spikes.

 ”Cool magic.”

 ”I can use Transformation Magic… Please, don’t kill me.”

 I looked at Hiiragi for confirmation, and she nodded. He didn’t seem to be lying.

 ”So you were running away from Demonkind with that magic?”

 ”…And from humans too. Just now, Kajihira and his friends were wandering nearby. It felt dangerous, and getting involved would definitely lead to trouble, right?”

 Maybe because I was still pointing my Battle Axe at him, he was desperately explaining.

 Minashima Midori. He was a missing boy who was close to Akatsuka. I had talked to him through Akatsuka, so I wasn’t a complete stranger. Despite his flashy looks, he was a smart and cautious guy. With his spiky hair and piercings, he looked like he was always hanging out with girls, but… he actually had good grades and no girlfriend. People who didn’t know the situation called him a 2-timer, but in reality, he was a hardworking student busy with part-time jobs.

 ”…Hyakudou, can we talk one-on-one if you don’t mind?”

 Hearing those words, I noticed the two girls were more on guard than I was.

 ”…Why is it just Mr. Hyakudou?”

 Yodomizu looked like she was about to use some Magic. She’s surprisingly cautious and doesn’t hold back against suspicious people.

 ”It’s easier to talk between guys, right? I mean, there’s no bad intention here, right?”

 ”Ah, yeah. No, I promise.”

 When I threw him a lifeline, Minashima nodded repeatedly. Maybe because she realized I wasn’t lying, Hiiragi calmed Yodomizu down.

 ”Anri-chan, it seems like there’s really no problem. Let’s go back to Base.”

 ”Okay…”

 Somehow, they started calling each other by name. Hiiragi seems to be getting closer to Yodomizu. With their matching Magic gear, it feels like their relationship is really developing. I felt like Takaizumi when he lost the two girls…

 ”Mr. Hyakudou, call me right away if things get dangerous.”

 After looking at me with concern, Yodomizu and the others teleported back to Base.

 ”Minashima… you still haven’t gotten over your dislike for girls, huh?”

 I was amazed, and he explained himself a bit more calmly.

 ”No, it’s just that I’m a bit flustered right now…”

 ”Surprised you managed to do well at your part-time job with that attitude.”

 ”It was a place where girls worked in the hall. The kitchen was all guys.”

 Minashima seemed to have had a rough time with women before and had become completely afraid of them. It sounded like things escalated to compensation claims and honey traps, and since then, he’s been avoiding women. He seems to understand that not all women are bad, but he said it’s just instinctively impossible for him. People can be deceiving, and maybe because he’s a super handsome guy, dangerous women were drawn to him.

 ”About your transformation Magic, are there any limits?”

 ”Hmm, not really. I can turn into Demonkind and copy physical abilities. But I can’t copy Magic itself.”

 Oh. This ability is similar to what Miraa had when fighting in the Succubus area. If he can turn into a Dragon and fight, it could be a strong force.

 ”Does it feel like you can’t stay transformed for long when you change into a strong one?”

 ”You got it. I can stay like a tree for hours, but when I turn into a big Demon, my magic power keeps dropping.”

 So, it means he can’t just rampage around in Dragon form. If he could turn into a giant iron ball like Dullahan and throw it, that would be pretty effective.

 ”…Hyakudou, I want to cooperate as much as I can, but please consider my rights. I won’t be a meat shield. It’s a different story in an emergency, though.”

 Seeing me deep in thought, Minashima seemed to have a bad feeling and chimed in.

 ”On the flip side, how far can we go? If you jump from a high place and turn into a giant rock, most enemies would be taken out in one hit, right? We have someone who can use teleportation magic, so we can try as many times as we need.”

 This strategy is almost a guaranteed win. I can tell it’s strong even before trying.

 ”… The person who can use teleportation magic isn’t a woman, right? If so, that’s definitely impossible. If I get touched, I’ll get goosebumps and won’t be able to use magic.”

 Tch. This plan is off. Hiiragi’s teleportation magic requires physical contact, after all. I could force a teleport, but I don’t want to cause a classmate to fall to their death.

 ”Throwing into the sky is the last resort…”

 ”Hyakudou? We’re friends, right?”

 ”Friends of friends.”

 ”…Let’s hurry and find Jouya. I still don’t want to die.”

 Hmm. Right. He still doesn’t know. Just when the atmosphere was lightening up, I have to say this.

 ”Akatsuka is dead. He’s gone.”

 Minashima stiffens.

 With a face mixed with sadness and regret, he looked down as if trying to hold something back.

 ”…I see. And Sumikiyo is dead. He died protecting me from the demons. He was brave. Usually, he was a scaredy-cat, and I couldn’t fight because I ran out of magic… but still, he protected me.”

 Kadotani Sumikiyo. He was always a nervous and unreliable classmate. He was even scared of Kajihira and the others, but in the end, he found courage. Good or bad, coming to this Another World changed his personality.

 ”Did you see any other classmates? Only Hisakita and Chinou are missing.”

 ”I don’t know about Mr. Chinou, but it seems Hisakita… is dead. I heard Kajihira talking about it. Apparently, he tried to mess with an idol, Ms. Tōmi, and got into a fight with Nijou and the others. They were really angry.”

 They started the trouble but got mad when it backfired on them. They really are useless.

 ”Have you seen Nijou and the others?”

 ”No… but I once hid by turning into a tree. I heard Nijou uses fire magic.”

 That’s good information. If Nijou uses fire magic, then at least it wasn’t Nijou who put a spell on the president and the others. They might have gotten magic tools, so I can’t let my guard down, but the suspects are narrowed down to those 2.

 Nijou and Kajihira. If I can deal with these two groups, the only big problem left is the Dragon. Both are tough opponents, but… it’s time to end this silly fighting among ourselves.

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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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