Chapter 143 Decisive Battle! vs. Beast ②
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Gasp…!”
A searing wave of heat and a blinding flash erupted from a gargantuan maw—one large enough to swallow a human head whole. Fujisaki Kaede threw herself into a defensive crouch, bracing for a crushing impact that never came.
When she tentatively opened her eyes, she found herself standing in a quiet, small stone room. It seemed her Absolute Escape¹ skill had triggered instinctively. The relief of being alive lasted only a heartbeat before distant thuds and screams made her stiffen. She had likely teleported to a nearby room; the effect of Absolute Escape was random, and users often landed somewhere not far from where they started.
(I… I have to run!)
It was an instinct etched into her very bones. Now that terror had taken root, the thought of trying to fight again was unthinkable. Kaede didn’t even know if Absolute Escape could trigger twice in a row, or how long the cooldown was. Returning to that monster felt like nothing short of suicide.
(I did my best. I really did. But there’s no way anyone can win against a monster like that. Everyone else must be running away by now, too.)
But as she reached for the handle, her body froze. She staggered back from the door as if she had approached something she wasn’t allowed to touch.
”Run… If I run away from here, where am I even supposed to go…?”
Lost and hollowed out, Kaede slumped to the floor. While her physical abilities were extraordinary and she possessed a talent for swordsmanship that surpassed most, she loathed fighting. When she was first teleported to this world, the school had immediately descended into civil war. To survive, you had to join a faction and were forced to kill your fellow students. Hating that, she had switched her class to Thief, focusing on scouting and intelligence.
The hypertrophy of her aggressive instincts from Evold-ification² was useful for dangerous missions, but it never made her want to fight. To be swallowed by the urge to attack, to drown in power, and to kill former friends just because they were in a different faction had become her daily life. For the cowardly Kaede, the exchange of human lives was unbearable.
By the time the school was unified and the civil war ended, conflicts with other academies had begun. Even those who didn’t back the winners could rise if they were strong, but Kaede had endured poverty and irrational abuse at the absolute bottom, scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Her heart was desolate, yet she still refused to join the front lines. She spent every day earning just enough to survive in the relatively safe layers of the dungeon. Those who knew her potential called her a coward to her face, but she never sought a higher rank.
Even among the failures at the bottom, people watched and sabotaged one another over the smallest distribution of earnings. To Kaede, this world was hell. Still, she had lived alone in this ugly world, holding her breath and believing she might return home one day. That was how it was supposed to be. But now…
”Oh. You’re safe, I see.”
Kaede jumped at the sudden voice.
”Wh-Who is it!?”
She scrambled away to gain distance and turned around. Standing against the far wall was a tall girl in a Seito Academy uniform. She wore large round glasses and a loose side-braid that hung over her left shoulder. Kaede tensed; as an assassin class specializing in presence detection, the fact that her back had been taken so completely was terrifying. The girl raised both hands to show she wasn’t a threat.
”I seem to have startled you. I was watching things over there when I felt a presence in this room. I just got curious and came to check it out.”
(Is she from the first wave? Or the subjugation squad?)
The girl offered a reassuring smile.
”I’m going now. I have to help out… just a little bit.”
The girl started toward the door, her interest in Kaede already fading.
”W-Wait! Are you going back in there!? You can’t beat a monster like that!”
The girl reached for the door handle and then paused, turning back as if she’d changed her mind.
”Aren’t you going back? Well, do as you like. Combat isn’t really my thing either, but I was asked, so I have no choice.”
”Asked?” Kaede said.
”Yeah. I decided I’d listen to him just once before I left this place. I owe the guy. It wasn’t exactly a comfortable place, but he saved me from a daily life that was like hell. I’ve been waiting for him to ask me for something, but man, he makes some ridiculous demands. But this looks like it’ll be his last request… so I’m going. I decided this myself. Once this is over, the debt is paid. I’ll finally be free.”
The girl laughed as if talking to herself, though she didn’t look happy. Only a cold determination remained in her eyes.
”Because you… decided yourself…?”
”It’s nothing grand,” the girl said with a self-deprecating laugh. “I’m a weak person, so I hate my weak self. I finally gained power; I just don’t want to be disappointed in myself again. It’s just a whim. Maybe I just wanted to vent to a stranger.”
The girl quietly opened the door and left. Kaede stood there, dazed. The girl’s presence had been so surreal that she wondered if it had been an illusion. (Is any of this real? Am I still sleeping on that trash-filled floor, having a nice dream?)
Feeling the crushing weight of her solitude, Kaede pulled out her smartphone with trembling hands. She opened the group photo Higurashi Asuka-san had taken in Hiromi’s room.
”Takeru… Hiromi…”
She traced their faces with her fingertip. In the desert, she had stopped thinking and only focused on surviving. Then Tsuchimiya Takeru had appeared. Considering their past, it wouldn’t have been strange if he had killed her, yet he accepted her. And it wasn’t just him.
”Chikako… Akari…”
She had known they were beginners the moment she saw them. They hadn’t lost their humanity yet. To the Kaede of back then, it was something she envied so much it felt like hatred. Because of her looks, she struggled to open up to people, but she had become friends with them so easily. They were kind. She felt safe.
”Himeno…”
Himeno-san was Takeru’s main girl, and Kaede should have been someone to eliminate. But when Kaede awkwardly opened her heart, Himeno-san responded. Her combat power was unmatched for a beginner, yet she was a sweet junior who respected her seniors, including Kaede.
”Tomoko… Kanon…”
They had only just met, but they accepted Kaede as a comrade. She could build a real life here.
(I promise I won’t let Seito Academy become like that. But I can’t do it alone. Fujisaki-kun also from now on as a member of Seito Academy, I want you to lend your strength.)
”Karen…”
Karen-san wasn’t in the photo, but her words echoed in Kaede’s head. Karen-san was a beautiful, mature woman who was actually just a normal, lovely girl. Kaede finally understood the weight of that promise.
”I… I haven’t done anything yet! I haven’t given anything back…!”
The contract with Takeru. The promise to Karen-san. Kaede didn’t want to lose this place. She wasn’t alone anymore. She wouldn’t lose her friends again.
”I… I won’t run away!”
* * *
(Well, this is it. I’m dead.)
The Beast blew Moriya away with a single horizontal swing, shattering his tower shield. Now, it stood over me, raising a warhammer in both hands.
”Takeru-kun!” Hiromi cried.
I heard her boots pounding against the floor.
(Idiot, stay back! You’ll get caught!)
I finally realized it wasn’t the time to be lying down and tried to force my numbed body to move. The Beast had only grazed my head, but I was losing a lot of blood.
”Moonrise!”
Kanon’s voice rang out. A blinding light from the rearguard flooded the room.
”Luminous! Fabulous! Shining Change!”
Kanon floated into the center of the light, her clothes melting away and reconstructing. A vivid red-and-white dress materialized, followed by ribbons, lace, and boots. It happened in a split second, but I perceived every single part of the outfit as it was created. It was the opposite of perception inhibition—a forced perception³. It triggered for every tiny detail.
(Th-That’s incredible… What is that!? That is a massive waste of mana!)
(It’s not a waste! The transformation scene is the most important part! You can’t just skip it—there are contracts and rules!)
”Magical Girl Luminous Flare! In the name of the moon, I’ll beat you to death!”
Against the backdrop of a giant moon, the transformed Kanon struck a pose.
”Whoa…”
I was actually moved. I knew Kanon would pull through. I’d been terrified I’d die before seeing her transformation, but my fears were unfounded. This was the real deal.
Kanon looked adorable in an outfit that perfectly suited her petite frame and baby face, but the sheer “impact” of her straining, bursting bust was the kind of thing usually reserved for late-night television. Of course, I’d seen and touched Kanon’s naked body before, but this… this was composed of a completely different kind of soul-fuel. Talk about a feast for the eyes!
Kanon shot forward like a crimson arrow, trailing a wake of red light as she cleared the space above me in a heartbeat. She slammed a flying kick into the Beast, sent it reeling. Suddenly, Himeno appeared, driving Izayoi⁴ into the creature’s flank before leaping back. The Beast’s massive frame was sent tumbling across the stone floor with incredible force.
”Two minutes! I’ll buy you two minutes!” Kanon shouted over her shoulder, her voice brimming with strength. She turned back to the front and charged, closing the distance instantly as the Beast scrambled to its feet.
”Watch out!” Hiromi cried.
”Kanon-chan!” shouted another.
The Beast swung its war hammer like a slugger going for a home run, aiming a high-speed strike at the oncoming Kanon. It was a perfect connection. Red lightning and light exploded at the moment of impact, but Kanon caught the massive hammer with both hands. Her braced feet dug in, the stone floor groaning and shattering under the pressure.
”Daaaaaaah!!”
The red aura surrounding Kanon flared. With a surge of spirit, she repelled the war hammer and the clinging red lightning. Becoming an arrow of light once again, Kanon drove a flying kick into the Beast’s gut, followed by a small fist that sent the creature’s boulder-like jaw snapping upward.
”Aaaaaah!!”
Kanon danced through the Beast’s blind spots, hammering it with a relentless barrage of heavy punches and kicks. Under the pressure, the Beast actually began to retreat. (She’s like a living mass of mana! I’ve never seen a class with such broken performance stats!) Kanon, you’re incredible! So that’s what a Magical Girl can do!
”Kyah!”
Zap! Red lightning crackled as Hiromi tried to reach out to help me up, but she jerked her hand back in surprise. I realized the red lightning was still clinging to my body. That explained the numbness and the stinging pain, like a thousand needles pricking my skin.
I had Tina pull a Universal Potion⁵ for me to recover, but the red lightning was stubborn; it wouldn’t fade. I have a natural resistance to electricity, so I could at least move, but I worried the others were completely out of the fight. Sogahara-senpai had finished his potion but remained on one knee, his face contorted in pain. Himeno was using Izayoi to roughly flip the face-down Sumiya over, unable to touch him directly because of the lingering discharge.
The girls from Togamine’s squad were struggling to rescue Iwakura and Moriya for the same reason. Big brother Magara was already being treated by Onitsuka-san and the recovery team.
”Takeru-kun, are you okay?” Hiromi asked, her voice tight with worry. I used my Kondou Spear⁶ as a crutch to stand.
”Yeah, I’ll manage,” I replied. My body felt fine otherwise, but the numbness was a pain in the neck. Just as I thought that, the stinging began to recede. Red sparks began to dance along the surface of the Kondou Spear in my hand. (It’s absorbing the charge! That’s a lifesaver!)
Kanon had the Beast pinned against the north wall, raining down blows. With every hit, the Beast sank deeper into the stone, its armor-like carapace spiderwebbing with cracks.
The Beast tried to unleash a breath attack like a cannon blast, but Kanon was too fast; she kicked its jaw up, sending the blast into the ceiling. Kanon kept up the assault, but suddenly she leaped back, putting distance between them. Pashun! The red light flickered and died, and Kanon stumbled and collapsed. (The time limit!)
”Kanon!” I shouted.
The Beast tore itself from the wall and charged at the fallen girl with a deafening roar. I tried to sprint, but my legs buckled. Suddenly, Himeno ran in from the side, leaping high to drive Izayoi into the side of the Beast’s head. The moment the Beast stopped to shake her off, a black shadow streaked through the air and snatched Kanon up. The shadow beat large black wings, gaining altitude before banking sharply back toward us.
”Shitone-senpai!?” I gasped.
It was Shitone-senpai, flying with Kanon cradled in her arms, bat-like wings sprouting from her back. Her school uniform was perfectly crisp-I seriously doubted those wings were natural. She soared over my head and touched down near the southern passage, gently setting Kanon down. Himeno, who had been tracking Shitone-senpai with her sword leveled, skidded to a halt.
”Tsuchimiya-dono~~. I need some Nectar-nyuru,” said Njorn. The creature, which had been acting as a pendant on Kanon’s chest, popped its head up like a frilled lizard.
Just then, Togamine, Katsura, and Saegusa-senpai burst out of the southern passage, their treatment finally finished.
”I’ll support you, Tsuchimiya-kun! Finish it now!” Shitone-senpai commanded.
”Y-yes!” I said. I had questions-a lot of them-but I had to focus on the kill. I tossed a bottle of Nectar⁷ to Higurashi, who was standing by Kanon, and charged the Beast. The numbness was gone. Himeno fell into step right beside me.
The Beast raised its hammer with both hands. It was a gamble whether I could slip inside its guard using a change in tempo, but this was the moment. As the gap closed, a swarm of bats appeared from nowhere, clouding the Beast’s vision. (Shitone-senpai’s cover!)
”Himeno! Aim for the heart!” I yelled.
”Got it!” Himeno replied.
I triggered Blast for a sudden burst of speed, diving under the Beast’s guard while it swiped at the bats.
”Ballista!” I shouted.
”Time for some teamwork!” Himeno added.
We aimed for the center of its chest. Two spears shattered the cracked shell and buried themselves deep in the monster’s flesh.
”Gaaaaah…!!”
The Beast hit its knees with a heavy thud. We broke through.
”Both of you, get back!” Hiromi warned.
I must have been too focused on the hit; I was slow to react to her scream. I tried to scramble away, but the Beast’s claws lashed out, carving deep furrows into my left arm.
”Tsuchimiya-senpai!” Himeno cried.
I stumbled, but Himeno caught me, helping me retreat. Blood was spraying everywhere, but that wasn’t the real problem. The problem was that even with the Kondou Spear buried in its heart, I couldn’t pull out the Sacred Artifact Card. I thought the Monster transformation happened because a card was forced into them-if that wasn’t it, we’d have to kill this thing the hard way.
The Beast tried to stand, then slumped back to its knees. It looked heavy-the gravity debuff was holding. Without it, that thing would be moving twice as fast. But that debuff wouldn’t last forever. Even now, its wounds and shell were knitting back together. It was reflecting magic, and we simply didn’t have the DPS to finish it.
”Tsuchimiya-senpai! Have faith! The conditions to extract the Sacred Artifact Card just haven’t been met yet!” Higurashi shouted, reading the doubt on my face. She was certain there was a card in there. If Higurashi was sure, that was good enough for me.
The Beast used its hammer to drag itself up. I was in no shape to fight, but there was no time for a doctor.
”I’ll buy us some time! Takeru-kun, get yourself healed up!” Hiromi said, leveling her spear and charging the Beast.
”Is everyone alright?!” Amahara-senpai’s voice boomed from the back as the second wave of the vanguard entered the room. It was more meat for the grinder, but without a real plan, it was just a stay of execution. What were we missing to pull that card?
”Everyone, get to the sides! Move!” Hiromi screamed.
The Beast was winding up, pulling its hammer back to build momentum. It was that long-range nuke. Himeno, who was fumbling with a potion bag, grabbed me and dove. The bats in the air coalesced into a massive black sphere, and Shitone-senpai shot out of it. She held a mass of energy wreathed in purple lightning above her head, slamming it directly into the Beast’s skull. Shell fragments flew as its neck twisted at an unnatural angle.
But the Beast ignored the pain, following through with its swing. A torrent of energy and red lightning roared forth, screaming toward the second wave.
”Everyone!!” I shouted.
I looked back. Akari had grabbed Amahara-senpai and Chikako, yanking them out of the blast zone. The others scrambled, but not everyone was fast enough. A secondary shockwave of gale-force wind slammed into the western passage. Students were tossed like ragdolls. Luckily, the lightning-charged wind had angled toward the ceiling, so it wasn’t a direct hit. Still, several were down, paralyzed by the red sparks.
In the meantime, Hiromi didn’t let up, weaving through the chaos to prevent a follow-up. She used Future Sight to dance around its swings, landing sharp counters while Shitone-senpai peppered it from above. Himeno poured a Universal Potion onto my arm, but the wound wouldn’t close.
(The bleeding is too fast! It’s washing the potion away! You have to drink it so it heals from the inside!) Njorn’s voice hissed.
”Himeno! The potion can’t take hold because of the blood! Just let me drink it!” I told her.
”Right!” Himeno said.
Wait… how did it happen with Himeno? After I beat her, the cards just shattered and left her body. In the future, I had to rip the card out with the spear, but that was also after the fight was decided. The common factor was my victory.
So we do have to kill it first? No, think. Himeno was compromised the moment Kujinami’s words shook her heart. That was when the card took over, playing on her obsession with protecting me. But when I won, the logic that allowed the card to stay in her collapsed. It lost its anchor and was forced out. I see. That’s the key.
”Then what about Kibakura?” I thought. “What twisted his mind, and what was he trying to achieve? I have to strike his soul with a shock so great it shatters those impulses. But does he even have enough sanity left to understand reason?”
Hiromi dodged the Beast’s savage onslaught with movements that looked nothing short of divine. Her own strikes weren’t doing much, but while she acted as the decoy, Shitone-senpai⁸ was finding openings. She slammed those Blight Orbs⁹ of hers directly into the monster, and they packed enough punch to actually shatter the Beast’s heavy carapace.
”Look out! Get back!” Hiromi yelled as she leaped away.
A split second later, the war hammer in the Beast’s hand erupted, radiating arcs of crimson lightning through the air.
”Kyaa!?”
Shitone-senpai tried to pivot, but she was a hair too slow. The red lightning fanned out in a massive arc, catching her in the blast. Ensnared by the crackling red energy, she was hurled backward and out of the fight. Hiromi staggered, her knees nearly buckling, but she jammed her spear into the ground to stay upright. Blood flowed from her wide-open eyes like tears. (Is she overusing her Mystic Eyes¹⁰?!)
The Beast roared, lunging toward Hiromi with its hammer raised high.
”Hiromi!”
I’d only just downed a Universal Potion¹¹ and my wounds weren’t fully closed, but I moved to spring forward by reflex. Hiromi threw her hand up, palm out, signaling me to stop.
”It’s okay,” she said.
CLANG! With a dull, heavy sound, the war hammer slipped from the Beast’s grip and hit the floor. Emerging from the air high above its back was Fujisaki, swinging a broadsword.
”Just drop dead already!” said Fujisaki.
Her blade bit deep into the Beast’s neck, tearing through the shell and lodging firmly in its vertebrae. The Beast let out a guttural shriek, staggering back a couple of steps. But the monster wouldn’t stay down. As Hiromi finally collapsed to her knees, the Beast lurched forward again, raising its claws to finish her.
”Hiromi!”
Fujisaki used the Beast’s own shoulder as a springboard, leaping in front of Hiromi to shield her. And yet, I still couldn’t move. Hiromi kept her hand held out toward me and Himeno, a faint smile on her face as if to say, “Don’t worry.”
(What the hell is she seeing?!) Before, Hiromi could only see a fraction of a second into the future. She’d told me that after our training on the trash floor¹², she’d managed to push it to a few seconds. But right now, she looked like she was staring into an entirely different timeline.
The battlefield shifted in a blur as another shadow lunged between the girls and the Beast.
”Akari!?”
It was Akari, standing defiant before the monster. She wasn’t even in a stance; she just stood there, completely natural-and completely unarmed. She must have ditched her spear when she hauled Amahara-senpai and Chikako out of the shockwave zone. The Beast swapped targets, swinging its claws down at Akari. She slipped the blow with a fluid grace, her hand grazing the Beast’s forearm with a light, parrying motion. That tiny redirection was all it took; the Beast’s momentum carried it past her, its balance completely shattered.
As the Beast threw its right leg out to catch itself, Akari was already there, delivering a lightning-fast kick to the side of its right knee. The massive creature groaned as its entire frame tilted. In one continuous motion, Akari hooked her arm around the Beast’s thick bicep and twisted her weight into a falling pivot. To my utter disbelief, the Beast’s massive feet left the ground. It traced a wide, helpless arc in the air before being slammed head-first into the stone floor.
(She threw him?! That massive Beast?! You’ve got to be kidding me!)
Fujisaki, looking pale and shaking, helped Hiromi to her feet and retreated toward us.
”Fujisaki… you actually came back,” I said.
She always talks a big game, but deep down, she’s a total coward. Honestly, I thought she’d run for the hills, and I wouldn’t have blamed her as long as she stayed safe.
”Hmph! Of course I did!” Fujisaki snapped, flashing a haughty smirk. “I’m your slave, aren’t I? I’m planning on having you look after me for a long time, so I can’t have you going and dying on me!”
She laughed through her nose, acting the part of the villainess. Her eyes were red, but I decided to keep my mouth shut. It must have taken everything she had just to turn around.
As the Beast began to stir with slow, heavy movements, the second-wave vanguards finally snapped out of it. They leveled their weapons and prepared to charge. But then, Higurashi’s sharp voice cut through the air.
”Everyone! Stay away from the Beast!” said Higurashi.
The vanguards froze. I was about to rush in too, but Hiromi grabbed my arm, her grip iron-tight. Blood-tears still stained her cheeks as she looked at me.
”Not yet, Takeru-kun. Don’t be impatient. When the time is right, this spear will let you know,” said Hiromi.
”O-oh… okay,” I replied.
(The Kondou Spear? Just what kind of vision is she seeing?)
I looked back at Higurashi, who was huddled in a quick conference with Kanon.
”Tsuchimiya-kun! Are you alright!?” shouted Amahara-senpai.
”Amahara-senpai! No! Stay back!” Togamine yelled.
It looked like Amahara-senpai was trying to push through to us, but Togamine was holding her back. Between her serious training and all the power-leveling we did hunting treasure chests, Amahara-senpai had hit Level 7. In this Academy, that makes her a heavyweight. But against a Beast? A few levels might as well be a rounding error. (Seito Academy can’t afford to lose a guy like her. Hang in there, Togamine.)
”Shiny Floral Spring Wind!”
Kanon thrust her staff into the air. Suddenly, a kaleidoscope of glowing flower petals began to swirl around the Beast. (That’s the brainwashing beam!) She’d narrowed the area of effect to just the monster, but I still felt my skin crawl. To me, that magic is basically a terrifying drug-it strips away your will and replaces it with a forced “happy place” trip. I couldn’t even imagine this Beast turning into a cuddly puppy.
Sure enough, the Beast stood up slowly, its eyes burning with a feral, murderous light.
”TURBO!!” Kanon screamed.
The gentle breeze surrounding the monster instantly erupted into a violent tornado. A blizzard of petals encased the Beast in a shimmering, rainbow pillar of light until he vanished from sight. (Is this the “finishing move” she was talking about?!) Kanon’s transformation broke, and she slumped to the ground.
”That’s… that’s all I’ve got, nyuru~” said Njorn, looking completely drained.
We all watched with bated breath as the tornado died down. When the petals finally cleared, the Beast was still there, standing perfectly still. (Did it… did it work?)
The Beast’s eyes slowly scanned the room until they locked onto mine. In its right hand, it now gripped a massive, iron-spiked club.
”Tsuchimiya… try… killing me… I’ll eat you… first,” the Beast growled.
It had regained its intelligence. It seemed calmer than before, but “peaceful” was definitely not on the menu.
”Yeah? Well, I’ll be happy to put you out of your misery. Don’t get cocky just because you grew a few feet and learned how to breathe fire, Kibakura,” I said.
His tough-guy act pissed me off. I shot back a retort and shouldered the Kondou Spear, stepping forward. As I walked, I summoned three wind spirits to swirl around me. They’re a moody bunch, but they’re great for soaking up damage or knocking projectiles aside when they feel like helping. I stepped into his reach and flashed a provocative grin. The Beast mirrored me, its lips peeling back into a twisted, eager snarl.
I slowly leveled the Kondou Spear. The Beast dropped into a low crouch, hauling its spiked club back. My focus narrowed until the rest of the world blurred. I could feel every ripple in the air, every shift in the atmosphere. This was that peak state I’d only hit a few times in training. (Right now, I feel like I could take him down with my eyes closed.)
But then I noticed something weird. Himeno and Fujisaki were just standing there. They weren’t moving up to support me. In fact, nobody was. Why was I the only one squaring off with this thing? Since when did this become a 1v1 duel?
”Reminds me… of the first time… we clashed,” the Beast rumbled.
”I should’ve finished you then,” I muttered, keeping my eyes locked on him. “Saves me the trouble of doing it twice.”
I checked my peripherals. (Why is no one jumping in?! I wasn’t talking to him because I wanted a heart-to-heart; I was stalling for the gank! Someone help me out here!) The vibe in the room was getting seriously strange.
”Tsuchimiya-senpai! You can do it!” Kanon suddenly shrieked.
”Tsuchimiya! Go for it!”
”Tsuchimiya-kun! Do your best!”
”Kill him, Tsuchimiya!”
”Don’t lose, Tsuchimiya-kun!”
”Is that… ‘Mad Dog’ Tsuchimiya? He’s totally lost it…!”
Following Kanon’s lead, the entire room started cheering for me like I was in a stadium. (Wait, wait, wait! Have you guys lost your minds?! This isn’t a spectator sport! Get over here and fight! There’s no way I’m taking this freak down solo!)
But the mood was set. I couldn’t exactly scream for help now without looking like a total loser. My path of retreat was cut off.
”Let’s settle this, Tsuchimiya!” shouted Kibakura.
”Fine! You want a piece of me? Come and get it, Kibakura!” I replied.
And just like that, the fight I absolutely didn’t want was on.
(Tell me it’s a lie, Bernie.)
—
Summary:
Fujisaki Kaede escapes a lethal attack only to confront her own cowardice and trauma from the school’s civil war. After an encounter with a mysterious girl, she finds resolve through the bonds she’s formed with Takeru’s party. Meanwhile, Takeru is nearly crushed by the Beast until Kanon arrives with a flashy, mana-heavy transformation.
Takeru’s group continues a desperate battle against a monstrous ‘Beast’ that is reflecting magic and regenerating. Kanon unleashes a powerful transformation but hits her time limit, requiring Shitone-senpai to intervene. Takeru realizes that extracting the Sacred Artifact Card requires breaking the ‘anchor’ of the host’s conviction.
Following a chaotic group assault on the Beast, Akari demonstrates overwhelming physical strength by throwing the monster. Kanon attempts a final magical strike that forces the Beast to regain its intelligence but not its mercy. The chapter concludes with Takeru being forced into a 1v1 duel against Kibakura by the social pressure of his cheering allies.
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Trivia:
- Absolute Escape has a random destination effect.
- Evold-ification amplifies aggressive instincts but doesn’t necessarily grant courage.
- Kaede was originally a Swordsman but switched to Thief to avoid combat.
- The ‘Forced Perception’ effect of Kanon’s transformation is the opposite of stealth skills.
- Kaede’s internal struggle reveals the school was unified by a dominant power before the academy wars.
- The red lightning creates a persistent numbing debuff that prevents physical contact.
- Takeru has a natural resistance to lightning, which allows him to move when others can’t.
- The Kondou Spear has the ability to absorb electrical energy.
- Shitone-senpai’s wings are suspiciously crisp, implying they might not be part of her body.
- Healing potions can fail if the physical bleeding is too intense to allow for topical absorption.
- The extraction of a card is linked to the ‘logic’ or mental state of the host.
- Hiromi’s future vision has evolved beyond a few seconds due to training.
- Amahara-senpai is Level 7, a significant power milestone.
- Takeru’s nickname ‘Mad Dog’ is used by other students to describe his reckless fighting style.
- Kibakura’s intelligence returns after Kanon’s ‘TURBO’ attack.
- Takeru uses three wind spirits as a passive defense buff
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Character Insight:
Kaede experiences a major breakthrough, moving from a survivalist ‘coward’ mindset to a loyal comrade willing to face her fears. Kanon demonstrates that her ‘Magical Girl’ persona is governed by meta-rules like ‘contracts and sponsors,’ adding a layer of absurdity to the dire battle.
Takeru shows strategic growth by analyzing past encounters with Himeno to solve the current deadlock. Kanon’s loyalty is proven through her high-impact, though brief, combat support.
Takeru shows a mix of strategic cynicism and involuntary heroism, while Fujisaki’s loyalty is masked by her ‘villainess’ persona.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author parodies the ‘Magical Girl’ genre specifically by focusing on the ‘waste of mana’ that realistic characters would notice during a transformation sequence.
The author uses ‘late-night TV’ meta-commentary to describe Kanon’s design, grounding the fantasy in a contemporary otaku perspective.
The final line ‘Tell me it’s a lie, Bernie’ is a classic reference to Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Fujisaki – Black‑haired Level 20 fighter from Akatoriba Academy, in revealing bikini armor, ample bust, villainous “akunin‑zura” face. Former assassin who dueled the MC in an abandoned dungeon, now a sword‑wielding vanguard for Takeru’s faction, fears the monster’s level and takes the “sex‑slave” label to transfer to Seito Academy. A Thief/Swordsman student with high physical ability but a deep hatred for conflict.
• Higurashi Asuka – A girl afflicted with an incurable disease. Another MC’s girlfriend.
• Higurashi – Asuka Higurashi is a pale, frail girl with an incurable disease; she commands headquarters operations and leads the attack squad, keeping a poker‑face in crises. She’s the main character’s girlfriend and a tactical ally who grasps Sacred Artifact Card mechanics.
• Hiromi – She leads the four‑girl squad in the MC’s class, a confident spear‑wielder and Takeru’s companion. With striking silver hair, sharp eyes and a poised stance, she’s the charismatic leader who spots the Beast’s trap and halts Hoshikawa’s chant, and remains a core member of Takeru’s party, constantly concerned for his safety.
• Asuka – Higurashi Asuka. A girl afflicted with an incurable disease. Another MC’s girlfriend.
• Takeru – Ore, a determined youth in simple armor, wields a spear and leads the luring team with Blast and spirit magic, bearing minor lightning resistance. As the party’s protagonist and leader, he recently welcomed Fujisaki Kaede as a comrade, guiding allies and confronting threats.
• Chikako – Hano Chikako. Brown-skinned, brown-haired gal, and free-spirited. Honest and straightforward. She joined Maekawa Party after being helped in the past.
• Akari – Satou Akari, known as The Scout, sports long black hair, a slender cool look, and hides a passionate former yakuza leader. She joins Takeru’s party wielding the Gift “Master Key” (All‑Knowing Key) and boasts uncanny luck—duplicating keys, disarming traps, and, unarmed, hurling massive monsters via redirection.
• Chika – Hano Chikako. Brown-skinned, brown-haired gal, and free-spirited. Honest and straightforward. She joined Maekawa Party after being helped in the past.
• Himeno – She is MC’s first girlfriend—a swift spear‑wielder who brandishes the black spear Izayoi, silver hair flowing, sharp eyes, sleek combat outfit, fierce loyalty, close bond with MC and the team. Formerly a Sacred Artifact Card, now the wielder of Izayoi.
• Tomoko – Nishina Tomoko is a shy high‑schooler who looks like an upper‑elementary student. She’s a childhood friend of Satō Akari and a member of the Maekawa group. As a mage, she wields the Nectar Staff, casting high‑tier ice and defensive magic.
• Kanon – Watarase Kanon is a magician girl with a sparkling staff, wielding Flare Missile magic and often partying with the MC. As a student, she can trigger a Magical Girl transformation that imposes forced perception effects on those around her.
• Karen – Student council president, poised in a navy blazer with a bright smile and school badge, rallies peers and uses the Morale Boost skill to stabilize the party’s spirit.
• Moriya – Demiurge Number 2, a massive hulking executive, bears a towering shield marked +2 correction and a greatsword; after Kibakura‑kun’s retreat he can rally troops as the faction’s second‑in‑command vanguard warrior.
• Sogahara-senpai – Student Council Vice President
• Sogahara – Tall, sharp‑eyed student‑council vice president and upperclassman senpai, who calls himself Boku, leads a skilled vanguard team and fires slashing energy waves, cutting threats with decisive command.
• Sumiya – A second-year human in Demiurge and Kiyotaka’s younger brother, he first appears at the Academy cafeteria negotiation. In that meeting (direct: share intel and ally; underlying: protect the Academy), he tries a swap-positions Gift to seize Amahara; Fumioka leads Demiurge, Amahara presides; he meets Tsuchimiya; relationships: brother to Kiyotaka, subordinate to Fumioka, peer of Moriya/Shiraishi; trait: swap Gift.
• Tina – An entity providing technical analysis on magic and titles to the protagonist.
• Onitsuka – Onitsuka Momoko is a blunt, short‑tempered delinquent in Haraguchi’s party who answers Higurashi’s obstacle queries. She calls herself a “simple delinquent,” idolizes Satō Akari after witnessing her legendary fight two years ago, treats Satō as her anego, and often blurts dangerous remarks that nearly get her buried.
• Togamine – Togamine Hatsune, a petite teen with electric‑blue twin‑tails and a crisp school‑uniform blazer, commands the rear‑guard. She respects the student council but loathes the main character, sparking tension, and she blocks Amahara from entering the danger zone.
• Iwakura – Second‑year Class 2‑G student and Demiurge officer, rugby club member who wields the Black Thunder Decay Claw — a battle‑axe that rots anything it cuts. Cocky and aggressive, he harbors a grudge against Tsuchimiya‑kun.
• Magara – Elder brother Magara Kiyotaka, a third‑year human in Demiurge, wields a war hammer that physically increases the weight of targets hit; appears in the Academy cafeteria negotiating the hunt for monsterized Kibakura, where Sogahara exposes his concealed knife as Amahara presides and Fumioka fronts Demiurge, meets Tsuchimiya; brother of Sumiya, subordinate to Fumioka, peer of Moriya and Shiraishi; straight‑laced knife‑carrier.
• Shitone-senpai – A mysterious and sexy third-year from Class 3-E. Wears round glasses and braids, has a beauty mark under her left eye. Struggles with isolation and harbors a deep sense of emptiness.
• Shitone – Shitone Shizuka-senpai, a senior third‑year of Class 3‑E, sports bat‑like wings and wields purple lightning and shadow magic. She wears round glasses, braids, and has a beauty mark under her left eye. Mysterious and alluring, she battles isolation and a deep sense of emptiness.
• Njorn – A creature attached to Kanon’s chest that resembles a frilled lizard.
• Saegusa-senpai – Third-year vanguard student in Sogahara-senpai’s party
• Amahara-senpai – Amahara, a Level 7 senior and Student Council President, is regarded as a powerhouse at the Academy. Tall and poised, he wears the council’s formal uniform with a silver pin, exuding authority. Known for mentoring juniors and leading school initiatives, his influence spans both academics and student affairs.
• Amahara – Amahara, a Level 7 senior and Student Council President, is regarded as a powerhouse at the Academy. Tall and poised, he wears the council’s formal uniform with a silver pin, exuding authority. Known for mentoring juniors and leading school initiatives, his influence spans both academics and student affairs.
• Kibakura – Leader of the Demiurge. Now, he becomes a colossal being that has a monster’s clawed hand, a sharpened nose, and a half‑ogre face like early‑mutation Ryūji Goda. He wields a war hammer then an iron‑spiked club.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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