Volume 1 Chapter 14
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Relying on the flashlight, I explore the dark forest at night.
It’s quite a thrilling experience. The tension of not knowing when a Demonkind might show up feels like a horror game, and it’s fun.
”Hey, Hyakudou.”
The class rep walking next to me speaks up.
”What is it?”
”I have a lot to say, but… it’s pretty inconvenient that the island stays dark after we leave the Base, right?”
That’s true.
Even if I sleep at the Base, time on the island doesn’t move, so whether I like it or not, I have to explore the dark forest at night. I can’t tell if it’s a gain or a loss anymore.
”Well, we did buy a handy light and a flashlight. It’s scary like a horror movie, but just hang in there.”
It’s pitch black around us, and there’s no other way to describe it but eerie. The night forest is silent, and the only sounds are our footsteps, breathing, and the rustling of the grass and leaves.
”By the way, why are just the two of us here? I get that Yodomizu is waiting at the Base, but…”
”Kashiro’s Magic requires line of sight, so it’s not suited for night exploration.”
”What about Ms. Sotozaki?”
”Mayuki gets lost the moment you take your eyes off her. It’s only natural that the class rep was chosen.”
Of course, her self-defense ability is high, and she has few weaknesses in her personality. I’m really glad the class rep is with me.
”Ironically, my magic power has increased, so the Magic is working well… but I didn’t think I’d end up exploring in such darkness.”
The class rep glares at me with a side-eye. …The increase in magic power is because I converted it with ‘Eros Magic.’ It seems she’s still holding a grudge. I need to change the subject.
”With it being this dark, it feels like a ghost could show up, right?”
”If one does, I’ll abandon you and head back to the Base.”
”When we die, we’re all going down together. I’ll return to the Base possessed.”
”Please just scatter away on your own.”
Class rep was in a prickly mood. Thanks to ‘Eros Magic’, I had plenty of points, so maybe I could ask for something I like when I get back.
While I was thinking about that, a window popped up in my view. It seemed like the Base system reacted to something.
’Orc. A 2-legged Demonkind with a pig’s head.’
Thanks to the Base system, I could sense the enemy in advance. It was dark and hard to see, but if I knew it was there, I could recognize it without any problem.
With a signal, class rep silently unleashed lightning, and it was over in one hit.
’Orc defeated. +20pt.’
It’s great that I get points even when my housemate takes down a Demonkind.
”I feel like I’m in a zombie movie. The night forest is darker and creepier than I imagined, and I can barely see anything.”
”In this island, there’s no moonlight or anything. I bet the others are scared too.”
I wonder if modern people can handle spending a night in such a dark place. The ones who are really surviving must be starting a fire or something. If there’s anyone still alone out here, they must be really on edge.
”Hyakudou. Just to be safe… should we hold hands?”
”Class rep… are you scared?”
”I’m just being considerate so you don’t get lost.”
”I see, but I can’t agree. If my hands are full, it’ll be hard to fight in an emergency.”
”I’ll take care of everything with my lightning Magic. It’ll be fine.”
Class rep forcefully grabbed my hand. It made walking really awkward.
”You’re the type who doesn’t like haunted houses, huh? That’s surprising.”
”…It’s just a basic instinctive fear. It wouldn’t be strange if real ghosts showed up on this island, so I think it’s natural to be scared.”
Wouldn’t it be safer to have both hands free? In my case, I was holding a flashlight, so both my hands were occupied.
As I felt fear in a different way, I suddenly heard footsteps approaching.
I stop the class rep, who has gathered lightning energy in her palm, for now.
”Wait. It’s probably a human.”
The Base system isn’t responding. This is getting complicated. I never expected to run into someone else in the dark forest.
When I let go of the class rep’s hand, she looks a bit reluctant.
”Hyakudou!? …Please, help me!”
A boy suddenly appears. Nagaichi Soratarou. He’s a blonde guy with slicked-back hair and earrings. He’s a clueless jokester and doesn’t leave a good impression. He hides behind me, looking like he’s running away from something.
”What are you being chased by?”
Before Nagaichi can answer──an attacker shows up.
A maid suddenly appears next to Nagaichi, lunging at his neck with a longsword. I manage to slip my Halberd in, and the Maid’s figure vanishes.
”If you interfere, I will kill you too.”
The maid coldly glares at us from a distance. Her shiny silver hair could light up the midnight, and her face is striking. I don’t recognize her. She’s definitely not a classmate. …Could she be a native of this island?
”If she can speak, she doesn’t seem like a Demonkind. …Nagaichi, what happened?”
”Oh, I didn’t do anything! That girl just suddenly attacked me!”
The Maid sighs and instantly closes in on Nagaichi with lightning speed. It’s like she’s teleporting. However──at the moment of attack, it seems to slow down. Thanks to that, I can somehow manage to respond.
As I intervene with my Halberd, her cold gaze locks onto me.
”Do you believe that boy’s words?”
”…Even someone like him is my classmate. I can’t just stand by and watch him get killed.”
The Maid smirks slightly. There’s mockery in that smile.
”Just because he’s a classmate. Is that really enough reason to trust him unconditionally?”
She hits the sore spot. Looking at just this situation, the Maid seems like the crazy one, but… maybe Nagaichi did something to make her this angry.
”Can’t we just talk this out for a moment?”
”I can’t trust you guys. The longer this drags on, the worse it gets for me. So──if you’re going to protect that guy, you’ll die right here.”
Before I could even react, the Maid’s longsword was right in front of me. It was fast, but not too fast to handle. I blocked it firmly and then pushed back with all my strength.
”Class rep, go get Kashiro.”
Did she think I was calling for backup? The Maid’s movements became even more intense. Just after I managed to dodge her flurry of attacks, she touched the Halberd with her bare hands.
──Just like that, the Halberd vanished.
Is that even allowed?
My 1200 points disappeared in an instant.
I shoved Nagaichi back and stepped away.
I pulled out the Poison Knife hanging at my waist and caught the incoming longsword.
”…I don’t really want to fight you. Can you just let me go this once?”
”You’re strong. If you let me kill the guy behind you, I’ll gladly step aside.”
”Why are you so fixated on him?”
”I want to ask you the same thing. Would you protect a criminal just because he’s your classmate?”
The Maid laughed coldly. It was a mocking smile.
”There’s no police on this island, and no courts either. I don’t know what happened to you guys, and I’d rather not get involved, but… I can’t just overlook you killing someone without reason. At least tell me why, or I can’t make a judgment.”
”Do you really think you can trust my words? Your classmate’s words versus a stranger’s… You’re stopping me because you believed the former, right?”
If only I had some time, I could come up with a better solution. But since they’re in a rush, it doesn’t seem like a peaceful resolution is possible.
”──Hyakudou. There’s no reason for us to help him.”
That was Kashiro’s voice.
Looks like I managed to buy some time somehow.
But saying, “You don’t need to help” is just too cold, it makes me shiver.
Is it really the right choice to leave a classmate who begged for help to die…?
While I’m still hesitating, the Maid moves.
The long sword swings down──Nagaichi’s head goes flying.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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