Chapter 32 Voices
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The next morning, I visited Kanon-chan and went to the first-year class C classroom. However, the classrooms are located in the same hallway next to each other.
I’ve only been to class once so far, so I’m a little worried about whether Kanon-chan will come to class or not. Most of the students seem to be taking classes, and Kanon-chan seems to be serious, so I think she’ll probably be fine.
Actually, this is the first time I’ve met Kanon-chan since I gave up on Tsuchimiya-senpai’s return in front of that door. I don’t remember how I responded to Kanon-chan, who was talking to me with concern at that time. I don’t even know what Kanon-chan was saying.
Anyway, Kanon-chan never came to see me after that, and she never even thought about meeting me either.
At that time, I felt completely disconnected from the world. Inside me, there were only feelings of unrequited love for Tsuchimiya-senpai, while friends and other people felt like characters from a distant picture book I once saw.
Since reuniting with Tsuchimiya-senpai, I finally feel like I’ve returned to this world. Suddenly being transported to a different world and experiencing dramatic changes in my life, I can’t even see my family. But even so, if I can be by Tsuchimiya-senpai’s side, if we can move forward together, that alone fills my future with hope.
As companions moving forward together and as fellow lovers of Tsuchimiya-senpai, I’ve come to invite Kanon-chan.
One day, it all started with Asuka-chan’s proposal. The plan was to create a harem centered around Tsuchimiya-senpai. Of course I was surprised when I first heard it. But Asuka-chan says that the current two-person system, me and Asuka-chan, is the minimum number of people. If something were to happen to either of us, the remaining one’s current relationship with Tsuchimiya-senpai would be destroyed. So if there were three people, if there were more people, it would be safer. Of course, we have to carefully select the members, so we won’t force the number of members.
I was surprised at first, but I felt almost no resistance. Perhaps it’s a psychological change due to leveling up, but harems and reverse harems are not uncommon in schools these days, and I may have been influenced by them too. However, I think the main reason was that the first person that came to my mind was Kanon-chan.
On that day, while waiting for Tsuchimiya-senpai in front of the Magic Circle, I shared my feelings towards Tsuchimiya-senpai with Kanon-chan out of anxiety. Despite Kanon-chan also having feelings for Tsuchimiya-senpai, she smiled and encouraged me.
The cruel reality is that if Kanon-chan, who is an Evold, doesn’t end up with Tsuchimiya-senpai, she would have to find another man to satisfy her s*xual desires.
Thinking about that makes my heart feel like it’s about to burst, and I want to repay Kanon-chan’s kindness.
So, when I recommended Kanon-chan to Asuka-chan as a member of our harem, she immediately agreed. Now, it all depends on Tsuchimiya-senpai, but I believe that he will accept Kanon-chan if he remains the same as he is now.
I feel that Kanon-chan’s feelings for Tsuchimiya-senpai are a little different from my love for him.
I felt that Kanon-chan had feelings for Tsuchimiya-senpai from the beginning. But the deciding factor for her was the “Magical Girl’s Wand” that she received from Tsuchimiya-senpai. I don’t know what that means for Kanon-chan. However, Tsuchimiya-senpai, who gave her that gift, is like a god to Kanon-chan. Yes, that seems more like a feeling of faith.
Even in a situation where I felt hopeless, Kanon-chan believed in Tsuchimiya-senpai’s survival. Kanon-chan said that even if he didn’t come back, he would always be alive somewhere.
After that, Tsuchimiya-senpai actually returned alive and well, just as Kanon-chan had said. I want to convey that fact to Kanon-chan as soon as possible. I’m sure she’ll be happy.
I had been waiting for Kanon-chan in front of the classroom since no one had come yet. I wanted to tell her as soon as possible, so I couldn’t stand still.
After about an hour and 20 minutes of waiting, Kanon-chan appeared.
”Kanon-chan!”
When I called out to her and ran towards her, Kanon-chan, who looked depressed, looked up and looked surprised.
”Himeno-san!?”
”Kanon-chan! Tsuchimiya-senpai is back!”
Kanon-chan had a shocked expression at first, then slowly smiled and hugged me.
”I’m glad… really glad, Himeno-san…”
It seems like I’ve caused Kanon-chan a lot of worry. She seems more concerned about me than herself. I hugged little Kanon-chan tightly.
”So, that’s why I came to invite Kanon-chan today. Just as we promised, let’s form a party with Tsuchimiya-senpai. Tsuchimiya-senpai was happy when I told him that we’re inviting you, Kanon-chan. Do you remember the other person, a wonderful friend? Her name is Higurashi-san.”
”Oh…”
When Kanon-chan lifted her face, it somehow looked sad, and she slowly let go of my arm.
”I’m sorry, Himeno-san. Right now… I can’t.”
”Kanon-chan?”
”But, I promise I’ll keep my word. When that time comes, I’ll contact you…”
With those words, Kanon-chan rushed into the classroom without looking back.
”‘Still can’t go,’ huh? Hmm…”
Asuka-chan tilted her head slightly as she listened to the story.
”She does want to go, but there are circumstances preventing her from doing so. And those circumstances are either something she can’t tell Asagiri-san, or something she doesn’t want to share.”
Asuka-chan is a reliable friend who calmly analyzes the situation.
”So, what should we do…”
”Normally, since it’s Watarase-san’s circumstances, you should wait until she resolves it herself. But now, the situation is different. Both the school and the dungeon are full of danger.”
”Then…”
”Yeah, I’m worried that she might be caught up in something troublesome. Let’s gather information here as well and find out about Watarase-san’s current situation. However, since we don’t understand why she can’t tell Asagiri-san about the circumstances, it’s best to have minimal contact with Watarase-san and not attract too much attention. We can report to Tsuchimiya-senpai when we meet at noon.”
”Got it! Thanks, Asuka-chan!”
Asuka-chan is definitely a reliable friend. I’m not the type to just sit around and wait, so I’d rather take action and investigate to distract myself.
”But, I don’t have any idea who might know about Kanon-chan’s current situation…”
”Well, I guess that’s true. After the fourth period, we’ll randomly grab a student from Class C and do some questioning… I mean, gather information quickly. Gotta make sure Watarase-san doesn’t catch us.”
”Right. Then, as soon as my class is over, I’ll leave the classroom and be on standby.”
”I’ll leave a message for Tsuchimiya-senpai to let him know I might be a little late for our appointment.”
”Please! Well then, talk to you later!”
With homeroom time approaching, I slipped out of Asuka-chan’s classroom and returned to my own classroom.
* * *
I was resting my head on the desk, trying to catch a quick nap before homeroom started.
My body felt a bit sluggish, but I wasn’t too tired.
When I woke up in the morning, I found myself alone, and there was a note on the table written in red letters that said, “Don’t think you’ve won yet!” It looked like someone had hastily scribbled it down.
I could hear Maekawa-san and the others chatting around me. For some reason, they were surrounding me and having a conversation.
Sometimes, they would suddenly ask me something when I least expected it. Yesterday, we had introduced ourselves, and I managed to remember their names. The girl with brown hair was Hano Chikako-san. The one with long, slender hair was Satou Akari-san. And the petite girl with a strawberry hairpin was Nishina Tomoko-san. I had to be careful not to forget their names, even though it felt like I could easily slip up. Since the incident with Himeno, I’ve been reminding myself of that strongly.
”Hey, Tsuchimiya-kun. Are you listening?”
”Yeah?”
I lifted my head as Maekawa-san shook me.
”So, I’m in a bit of a bind right now and I was wondering if you could join me for the dungeon dive this afternoon.”
I hadn’t been listening at all. I could vaguely hear the voices around me, but I was half asleep.
”It’s tough just the two of us. We’re both low level, and whenever we ask for support, they just look down on us.”
Hano-san complained.
”Sorry, but I already have plans for the afternoon, so I can’t.”
”Aww, that’s too bad. Maybe we can recruit some other people and explore the 2nd floor within our limits.”
Maekawa-san sighed. I’m busy with various things too. Sorry, but I don’t have time to take care of others right now.
At that moment, an unexpected ringing echoed in my ears.
’────Yesterday at 3 p.m., Satou-san, Nishina-san, and Maekawa-san were added to the list of deceased.’
”!?”
”Hm? What’s wrong, Tsuchimiya-kun?”
What was that just now!?
Maekawa-san and the others were added to the list of deceased… Wasn’t that Minazuki-sensei’s voice?
”U-um, did you hear any voices just now?”
”Voices? Well, everyone was talking, so nothing particularly caught my attention…”
Satou-san tilted her head in confusion.
Certainly, it was a voice that resounded in my mind. But I heard it clearly. What is this feeling of unease?
”I heard that the white hobgoblin is dangerous, so let’s be careful not to stray too far from the safe zone.”
”If we see them, we better retreat right away.”
”…Hey, do you have time right now? I can give you some combat training. How about we go to the dungeon?”
Without realizing it, I found myself speaking hesitantly. If I just leave it like this, I have a feeling I’ll regret it.
”Huh? Right now?”
”Well… We do have dungeon class today…”
”But if Tsuchimiya-kun is willing to help, we can’t miss this opportunity, right?”
”Yeah, you’re right.”
”Okay, then let’s get ready.”
”Well then, Tsuchimiya-kun, please take care of us.”
Saying that, Maekawa-san and the others bowed their heads.
At that moment, the classroom began to buzz with excitement.
When I looked, unfamiliar male students were entering the room one after another. They looked ordinary, but with a thin smile on their faces, they walked around with their hands in their pockets, giving off an unfriendly vibe, like delinquents.
”You guys! What the hell are you doing here?”
Akiyama, the popular kid, stands up and raises his voice.
”Akiyama, back off, you slimy jerk.”
”Just so you know, we’re all Level 3, you know?”
The group of five stares at Akiyama with a smirk on their faces.
”Hey, you guys! Causing trouble in other classes is strictly forbidden! If you start any problems, I’ll report you to the Student Council!”
Irie-san, the class rep, confronts the group of five.
But the group doesn’t seem fazed and just laughs smugly.
”Huh? That’s a rule the Student Council made up, right? Why do we have to follow that crap?”
”We’re members of the Demiurge, man. Kibakura-san told us to ignore the Student Council.”
”First of all, we’re just here to solicit, right? If you guys stay quiet, there won’t be any violence.”
At that moment, one of the five members grabbed the arm of a female student sitting nearby.
”Kyaa!?”
”Happy little cutie. I’m going to put you in the Demiurge.”
”Hey! Get your hands off her, you bastard!”
When Akiyama grabbed him by the shoulder, he was hit with a front kick from the guy next to him and was sent flying 5m away. A desk overturns, and loud noises and screams intersect.
Kageyama and the lanky guy stood in front of the fallen Akiyama, and they exchanged glares with the guy who gave him the front kick.
Meanwhile, the guy who was wandering around somehow comes over here with another guy in tow.
”Hey, Chika! Are you disgusted there?”
”Huh, Hiroto!?”
It seems that Hano-san is familiar with this person’s face.
”Hey, why did you leave the party without permission? I don’t remember giving you permission.”
”Don’t mess with me! Your permission doesn’t matter! I joined the party because Aki was there!”
”Oh? If Aki died and you left, who will take care of our needs?”
”I don’t know! Scratch yourself with a stick! You idiot!”
”You bitch! You’re disrespecting me! Seems like you still don’t get it!”
”Stop it! Let go of me!”
Ah, it’s noisy. Honestly, I don’t want to get involved in weird troubles, but I guess it can’t be helped. They came first.
”Um, Hano-san is supposed to go to the dungeon with me, so it would be troublesome if you take her away… Can you let go?”
Let’s try to resolve this through discussion first. I put on my best awkward smile and spread my arms to show that I have no harmful intentions.
”Tsucchi!”
”Huh!? What the hell?! Who do you think you are, bothering me like some annoying girl? Which prince are you supposed to be, punk?!”
Calling me a girl… but this one doesn’t understand human communication. Sadly, there’s only one thing left to do.
”You don’t like it, huh?! I’ll smash all your front teeth in, gyahhh?!”
I had jammed my thumb into his left eye. Crushed, or rather my thumbnail had stabbed in up to the first knuckle. I wondered if his eyeball might pop out, but if I could get it back in within five seconds it should be OK. Thrusting straight into the globe did seem to be the right move.
As a human, I wouldn’t actually kill or seriously harm someone just for an insult. But I wanted this guy to understand. That hurtful words can deeply wound people. And the deep sadness they cause.
I calmly led Hano-san to safety, then unleashed my pain on the shrieking beast clutching his eye.
”Oraaaaa!!”
My spinning kick landed directly on his left eye, shattering his grip.
He crumbled to the ground, convulsing and oozing a yellow liquid from his groin.
The next time we meet, I hope he’s human. I clasped my hands together and silently prayed.
”Ah… I accidentally exterminated him, but he wasn’t Hano-san’s friend, right?”
”Not at all! Thanks, Tsucchi! You were amazing!”
Hmm? Usually, people would be appalled in situations like this, but maybe the effects of leveling up have made me more tolerant. That’s a good thing.
”Eek!? Y-You, from back then…!!”
When I turned my gaze to the remaining figure, it was the Goblin Leader from our morning training session.
”Hey, long time no see. Your teeth have been fixed, huh? I wonder if it can cure cavities too?”
”Hey, stop! Don’t come over here!”
I just wanted to see his reaction, but he’s totally refusing. Why? Did the level up affect him?
To prove that I’m harmless, I put on an awkward smile and spread my arms wide, but the Goblin Leader starts scratching the desk and moving away from me.
”Hey, Hiroto!?”
”What’s up? What’s going on!?”
”It’s him! He’s the one who messed with Hiroto!”
The three of them are pointing at me and causing a commotion. Dealing with all three of the Evold at once would be tough. If I get caught, it’s game over. I might have to go all out and kill them to survive.
Just as I thought that, Kageyama, the playful troublemaker, jumps right into the action and lands a kick on the guy, who was distracted. Boom! The sound of impact echoes through the air as the tough-looking guy gets launched two meters high into the air.
The impact just now was a shockwave! That guy, he knows Bajiquan!
The fights between Evold fighters are so flashy. Since I don’t have that kind of power, my only option is to aim for the vital points and take them down in one hit!
”Hey, Tsuchimiya, keep going! Don’t let them underestimate us in Class E!”
Akiyama shouted and attacked the remaining two.
”Keep going with Kageyama and Akiyama!”
I casually corrected.
”Hey! Tsuchimiya, is he the one who killed a cop!?”
”I don’t know! I don’t want anything to do with him anymore!”
Don’t call me by that nickname! It just makes me sound like a dangerous guy!
The Goblin Leader quickly fled, while the remaining two were beaten up by a group of determined students. Kageyama dragged the defeated student and ran away.
”Hey, Tsuchimiya. What should we do now?”
Akiyama’s thumb was dripping blood from one eye, a pathetic guy. I forgot his name. It seemed like no one bothered to collect him since he had collapsed at the back of the classroom.
”Since it’s from the next class, why not return it?”
”Haha, sounds good. I’ll help too.”
So, it looks like I’m the one who has to take care of it. Well, having such a filthy object placed near my seat is annoying anyway.
Akiyama and I dragged the wretched creature by his ankle. It would have been tough if I were alone.
When we reached Class E, Akiyama grabbed the wretched creature’s collar and threw him into the classroom.
”Hey! You forgot something!”
Screams erupted from inside the classroom.
Hey! Shouldn’t we quietly put it in a corner where no one will notice?
”Don’t mess with Tsuchimiya, the cop killer!”
Stop it, you little punk!
”Hahaha, feels good! This is fun, man!”
Akiyama casually puts his hand on my shoulder and starts hitting me playfully. What’s with the attempt to make it all seem like a refreshing youth drama? I couldn’t care less! I just got dragged into it!
As I return to the classroom, for some reason, I’m greeted with applause. When I look back, Akiyama and Kageyama are clapping from a slightly distant spot, making me feel trapped.
”Tsuchimiya!”
”Tsuchimiya-kun!”
”Cop Killer!”
Stop it! It has nothing to do with me! I’m not like that! Don’t look at me!
The sound of applause feels like the crumbling of my peaceful school life.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.