Volume 1 Chapter 43
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
As I stepped into the Ruins, my friends had vanished. So, it’s a solo mission from here on out.
The door slammed shut on its own, making a loud bang.
”──You can’t get out now. You’ve been tricked by Hiiragi.”
Before I knew it, there was another me standing inside the Ruins.
That cool, unfriendly face is kind of annoying. Plus, it feels a bit like a horror movie since it’s like my reflection just started talking on its own.
”I see. So, how do I clear this place?”
”I told you. There’s no way out. This isn’t some Trial venue; you’ve been trapped.”
I can tell it’s trying to shake me up, but it’s kind of sad, too. Just having another version of myself pop up and start talking is surreal enough, and it’s so obvious it’s trying to create a rift between us. It’s almost childish.
Is this really the final Trial? I’m at a loss for words.
”Don’t you think it’s unfair that you can see through Hiiragi’s lies?”
”Yeah.”
”If Kashiro and Hiiragi teamed up, you’d be easily fooled.”
”That might be true.”
”Right now, you’ve been led into Hiiragi’s trap.”
”That’s a scary thought.”
As I casually replied, the other me glared at me. Man, this guy has a mean look. Is this how others see me? I should try to have a kinder expression.
”Tch. It’s basically a spoiler for someone who’s been through the Trial before. It’s tough facing an opponent who’s on guard. Damn it.”
Giving up already? I don’t need to hear your complaints.
But I get it, I really do. If someone told you, “You’re about to be mentally crushed. Watch out!” you wouldn’t be able to take anything seriously.
Honestly, I just need to not engage properly.
”Get ready. Honestly, this is the quickest way for me.”
No sooner had I said that than the other me swung his fist without holding back. My palm throbbed from the impact. He smirked and knocked me back.
”No doubt about it. I appreciate how straightforward this is.”
While we were throwing punches without holding back, we were both laughing. There aren’t many people who can go toe-to-toe with me. A rival with equal skill is rare, and it made the fight worth it.
”Alright. Don’t forget. This is your true self.”
The other me, getting hit in the face and spitting out blood-tinged saliva, kept talking away.
”Before coming to this Island, there weren’t many chances to be violent, and it felt unsatisfying. But in Another World, it’s different. You can punch anyone, as many as you want. Just unleash all the violence you want and crush everything with your strength.”
I was having a blast fighting, but then I suddenly stopped. It hit me that my excitement was actually weird when it was pointed out.
”So that’s my true feelings, huh? Good to know.”
I realized I’m a pretty shallow person. There’s a thrill in knocking someone out without holding back, but… getting too drunk on violence isn’t good. The ladies might not like it. Enjoying fighting isn’t a common value that people can relate to. I should hold back.
”What’s up? You’re not joining in?”
The other me looked like he was let down.
”I might have agreed with you before. I felt unsatisfied because I couldn’t make good use of my well-trained body. But now, it’s different.”
”Huh…”
”Since coming to this Island, I’ve got too many things I want to protect. I’ve started to think I should hold back on being selfish.”
”I see. Well, I won’t say anything more. Just go already.”
Surprisingly, he cleared the way easily. A new door had appeared at the back of the room without me noticing.
As I tried to pass by, the other me moved. Seriously, what a greedy guy. I shook my head in disbelief and countered, sending him down to the ground.
”…You saw through me, huh?”
”Of course. You wanted to check if I was off guard. That’s something I’d think of.”
”Hah…”
I laughed one last time, and the Trial ended. The other me vanished.
He was even more trivial than a Dragon. The fact that I was this weak was kind of a downer.
* * *
When I opened the door, it seemed like a few people had already arrived in the next room.
”──Who was the first one here?”
When I asked, Hiiragi smirked confidently. What’s up with that? Did she not struggle after all?
”It was a pointless trial.”
”Weren’t you saying you couldn’t clear it last time?”
”That was my first time. Plus, the situation was different back then. Having strong teammates gives you a mental boost.”
That’s not like you to say. Well, I’m relieved to hear she cleared it without any issues. Of course, the president breezed through it too; she really are something else.
”What was the president like?”
”I thought it was silly to even engage… so I just cut them down.”
Yeah, that makes sense. If you know it’s a trial that messes with your head, it’s better to ignore it from the start.
”But after I cut them down, I had to relive my past mistakes… that took a bit of time.”
For just a moment, the president’s expression darkened. Even that look was beautiful. They really are a sight to behold.
”When the president and Ms. Hiiragi are standing next to each other, they really look like they belong in Another World~.”
Touka was laughing brightly as usual, watching the two of them. With her blonde and silver hair, she definitely have a striking visual together.
”Touka, you’ve got some strong mental game, huh?”
”Right? I don’t really get it, but I cleared it super fast.”
”Maybe you just didn’t think too hard about it.”
”Hey! Were you just dissing me!?”
”No, I’m complimenting you. It seems like having an empty head makes life more fun.”
”I think about stuff too! Like, if I dry my hair with wind magic, I won’t need a hairdryer…”
”That’s a groundbreaking discovery.”
”Hyakudou, you’re totally underestimating me, aren’t you!?”
I still hold a grudge from when I got slammed into the ground while flying. That hurt a lot, and I never want to experience that fear again. She messed up controlling the wind magic, but if I had been unlucky, I could’ve easily died. At that moment, I really envied Mayuki’s toughness.
”Ms. Sotozaki, who was talking big, still isn’t here, huh?”
Kashiro showed up, looking for Mayuki.
”That girl has a delicate side, despite how she looks.”
As I casually said this, Kashiro gave me a meaningful look.
”What’s up with that?”
”Nothing. I just thought it was interesting that she’s really childhood friends.”
──What’s that supposed to mean? Were you doubting that? That’s a weird thing for Kashiro to say.
* * *
The wait felt long, but most of us cleared it without a hitch.
Except for one person.
Mayuki was still missing even after a few hours.
”…I’ll wait alone now. You guys go ahead.”
Even when I said that, nobody was eager to move.
At the back of the room, there was a shining door that clearly looked like the finish line. If we went through that, we’d have cleared the Trial.
”…Hyakudou.”
I had a feeling I knew what Kashiro wanted to say.
”Don’t worry. Mayuki will definitely show up.”
I said it firmly, and Hiiragi backed me up.
”He’s not lying. Let’s go.”
Reluctantly, my friends started heading toward the Door of Light. Once Hiiragi went in, it was just me and Kashiro left in the room.
”Hey, Hyakudou. I need to talk to you.”
I sensed that kind of vibe in the air. And I had a pretty good idea of what she was going to say.
”Remember when I said, ‘Even with ‘Analysis Magic,’ I can’t understand Ms. Sotozaki’?”
Yeah, I remember that. I thought it was just because Mayuki’s thoughts were too out there…
”Back then, I couldn’t say it because I was worried about your relationship… but the truth is, ‘Analysis Magic’ didn’t work on her at all.”
That changes things a lot.
”I’m sorry I couldn’t say it sooner. I was scared you’d think I was trying to break you two apart, and I thought you trusted her enough that it wouldn’t matter.”
Huh. I guess it’s clear now that I still wasn’t fully trusted.
”Well, neither Mayuki nor I get angry over stuff like that. It’s true that she’s hiding something.”
I kind of noticed it, but I decided to leave it alone until Mayuki talked about it herself. If she’s not saying anything, it must be something serious, and she probably has her reasons. I haven’t talked about my big sister either, and even childhood friends have things they want to keep secret.
”Thanks for sharing. But really, you don’t need to worry. You know I’m not lying, right, Kashiro?”
”…Yeah. I’ll go ahead and wait. Let’s meet in Another World.”
Kashiro said that with a hint of resignation. I could hear her footsteps slowly fading away.
I was left alone and let out a deep breath.
Then I opened the previous door and started retracing my steps.
”What’s up, back again?”
”You know this isn’t the time for that. Move.”
The other me shrugged.
Maybe this situation is my final Trial. I thought something so silly.
As I put my hand on the door to the Ruins, a warning came from behind me.
”Are you sure? If you open it, the Demonkind might swarm in.”
”Bring it on. It wouldn’t be bad to score some points at the end.”
”Isn’t Mayuki moving ahead on her own? Let’s check it out at the Door of Light.”
”She might, but I can confirm that later.”
No matter what, leaving Mayuki behind is not an option. No matter what the circumstances are.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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