Volume 3 Chapter 11 Midsummer Nightmare
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
When I opened my eyes, the sun had already risen.
A thin towel blanket was draped over my body.
Someone was peering down at my face.
I rubbed my eyes and looked up.
”Who is it?” I asked, confused.
”…Guess who?” she teased.
”Mai-chan?” I questioned.
”…That’s right. It’s been a while, Onii-chan.” she replied.
I inferred the person’s identity from her voice and the situation. As my vision cleared, the girl broke into a bright grin. Futami Mai, Yui and Yuu’s younger sister. She was someone who shouldn’t have been here. She was… two grades below us, I think. She was supposed to be in middle school.
Her facial features resembled Yui and the others, but unlike them, she wasn’t wearing “Jirai-kei” (landmine-style) fashion; she was dressed in completely ordinary clothes. At a glance, you wouldn’t know she was blood-related to them. Something felt off.
”Why are you here?” I asked.
”It’s so cruel to leave me out when you’re doing something interesting. I begged everyone to let me come♡” she chirped.
”I see. …But is it really okay? Even if you’re a friend of my sister’s, getting friendly with another [Strong-Male] is…” I noted.
As the initial [Strong-Females], they should exercise discretion when dealing with other [Strong-Male]s.
Even if we were in different grades, I was still a [Strong-Male]. Wouldn’t this jeopardize Mai’s position within her group?
”Oh, come on. I’m Free, you know?” she laughed.
”Ah… is that right?” I checked.
”That’s right! Honestly. Don’t forget it!” she complained.
”Sorry.” I muttered.
She wore an expression that made me feel like I could hear the sound of huff-puff (pumping) frustration.
I sat up and glanced at the wristwatch on my bedside table. It was well past breakfast time.
”My sisters seemed to have gone out. The only ones left at the villa are us and the Mitsuki’s Mother from Onihara?” I asked.
”Seriously? I wasn’t told anything. Where did everyone go?” I added.
”Who knows? I only just arrived here. At that time, there was no one else here but Onii-chan.” she said.
”What about Mitsuki’s Mother?” I asked.
”Trimming the garden trees.” she answered.
When I strained my ears, I could hear the snip-snip sound of branches being cut with shears.
According to Mai-chan, it seemed I had skipped breakfast because I was asleep.
”There was one portion left in the dining hall.” she mentioned.
”My share, huh… I’ll go eat later.” I decided.
”Yeah. That would be best.” she agreed.
”True…” I said.
”……”
”……”
We fell into a mutual silence. Neither of us moved.
”Wait, Mai-chan, could you step out of the room so I can get changed?” I requested.
”Oh, sure. I’ll be waiting in the dining hall.” she replied.
Mai left the room. Her eyes had an impression like a snake eyeing its prey, but… I’m sure that was just my imagination, right? Anyway, the reason I couldn’t stand up earlier was because my lower half was extremely energetic.
It’s been a full three days. I need to release it soon, or my balls will be so packed they’ll explode.
I don’t feel like taking care of it myself. I’ll find someone in the group to help me out. I’d be happy if they did it while wearing a swimsuit.
In the end, my “son” remained energetic even while I changed clothes.
Recalling the style of Mai-chan I had seen earlier, I managed to cool down and headed to the dining hall.
On the table, there was, indeed, one portion of food prepared.
Is it okay to have Tempura as a side dish in the morning? Isn’t it too heavy?
Thinking that, I sat down in front of the remaining food and noticed something.
There were bugs under the Tempura.
Scuttling about was an arthropod with countless legs.
”Ahh!!!” I shouted.
Mai-chan noticed my gaze and let out a loud voice.
”What are these bugs! Get away!” she commanded.
The small arthropods scurried away.
”Even though I went through the trouble of preparing it…” she muttered.
I heard Mai-chan mutter.
So, Mai had prepared this meal for me.
”Sorry, Onii-chan, you don’t want to eat this, do you?” she asked.
”Well, to be honest, I’m not in the mood for it…” I admitted.
”Then, let’s go to the ocean, the ocean!” she proposed.
”You’re always so abrupt.” I remarked.
”My sisters are probably at the ocean anyway. It’s already almost noon, and I’m sure they brought lunch boxes. Let’s go ask them to share.” she suggested.
”Hmm~~ Alright, let’s do that.” I conceded.
I told Mitsuki’s Mother, who was in the courtyard, that we were going to the ocean, and Mai-chan and I headed to the beach.
On the way, Mai-chan asked me a question.
”Hey, Onii-chan, among my sisters, who do you like the best?” she inquired.
”That’s sudden…” I replied.
”I want to know for reference, please!” she begged.
”Eh…?” I hesitated.
Walking next to me, Mai-chan had a look on her face that reminded me of a reptile, a look that said, I am interested.
”Hey, hey, it’s fine, right? I’ll keep it a secret~” she pressed.
”Hmm…” I pondered.
There’s no way she can keep it a secret, I thought.
But having my clothes pulled and tugged at was annoying.
”Chifumi.” I answered.
”As I thought, really?” she observed.
”Well, she’s ranked first in my group. And she’s the only childhood friend who followed me.” I explained.
”Then, who’s next?” she asked.
”Next… Risa, I guess.” I said.
I think of Risa and the others as important members of the group, and I definitely like them.
”…But you know, I don’t think my sisters had any ill intent, either.” she offered.
”Maybe so.” I agreed.
From the interactions I’ve had with my childhood friends over the past two days, I haven’t been able to read any attitude that suggests they hate me. If all of that were acting, the level of distrust towards women I’d develop would be understandable. Above all, if they hated me, it would be unnatural for them to come on this training camp with me in the first place.
If so, I can infer there must have been some circumstances.
Chifumi… she probably knows.
We arrived at the seashore.
On the sandy beach below, everyone was enjoying activities of their own choice.
”Hey-!” I called out.
”Minoru-n! …!!” Yuu cried.
Yuu, who noticed us first, stopped her beach volleyball and waved her hands high.
Seeing Yuu, everyone else looked over towards us.
? Everyone is saying something. Even though the distance is close enough for voices to carry, they unnaturally overlap with the sound of the waves, and I can’t hear them. …What is this feeling? My chest feels clouded, and for some reason, my hands are trembling.
As soon as I clenched both my fists, I saw the ocean behind them swell.
”Eh? What?” I asked.
Mai-chan noticed it too.
For some reason, everyone on the beach hadn’t realized.
”!? Behind you!” I warned.
”? …” she questioned.
At Mai-chan’s reaction, Yuu turned around to face the ocean side.
The next moment, Yuu was impaled by something that had extended from within the ocean.
”!?!?”
Everyone’s movements froze.
No one understood what had happened.
”?”
Yuu looked down, watching as something like an iron pipe, something like a black tentacle, pierced her chest and went straight through to her back. I saw Yuu vomit blood, her body losing its strength. The tentacle had pierced near her heart. I knew at a glance it was a fatal wound.
”Yuu!!” Yui screamed.
I heard Yui’s voice.
As Yui moved to destroy the tentacle that had impaled Yuu, a new tentacle shot out from the ocean and attacked her. It wasn’t just Yui. Countless tentacles attacked Risa and Yurina, who were near Yuu, in the same way.
””!?””
Caught unarmed, they had no choice but to evade.
They managed to dodge the first few, but eventually, all three were impaled by the tentacles. Each of them had holes opened in their stomachs and chests.
”Ah…” they gasped.
Pinned in place, Yui moved only her neck, turning her face toward us.
”Run…” Yui whispered.
Before Yui could finish her sentence, the tentacles that had pierced all four of them rapidly contracted.
The four of them were dragged into the ocean.
As if nothing had happened, the small waves lapped at the shore and retreated.
The now-calm sea surface was nothing but an object of terror. My understanding couldn’t catch up with what had just occurred right in front of me. The four of them were gone. Swallowed by the ocean.
”Group!! Assemble!!” Manaka commanded.
At Manaka’s command, the remaining four—Chifumi, Mitsuki, Sawa, and Asari—gathered.
They moved away from the water’s edge, formed a circle, and observed their surroundings.
Just as I started to climb down the cliff to move to where everyone else was, Mai-chan clung to me.
Mai-chan looked as if her legs had given out. She was hanging on to my body, clinging tightly to endure her collapse.
There was immediate movement in the ocean.
The sea surface swelled, and a black shadow appeared.
What surfaced was the head of a gigantic arthropod. The head alone was as large as a whale. Everything below the head was in the ocean. I couldn’t tell how long it was. It was, without a doubt, a Kai-i (supernatural disaster).
Cold sweat ran down my back. I felt an unbearable chill. Its presence was incomparable to any Kai-i that had appeared in the dungeon earlier. A mouth that could swallow several Red Mantle monsters in one gulp. It was no longer just a living thing; it was a natural disaster. It wasn’t something you could deal with while unarmed.
It had the appearance of a sea Centipede. The red eyes glowing eerily in its head regarded everyone on the beach as bait.
Chifumi and the others backed away, inch by inch.
They moved away from the water’s edge and arrived at the bottom of the cliff where I was standing.
The Centipede began to make landfall.
I didn’t want to provoke the Kai-i, but if things continued this way, even Chifumi and the others would be killed.
”I’ll provide cover, get up there!” I ordered.
Following my instructions, everyone ran up the stone steps leading away from the sandy beach.
I fired a sorcery at the approaching Centipede to keep it from escaping. But, it misfired.
I couldn’t trigger [Shock Sorcery].
I realized it. There was no reaction from the [Tempura]. Had the [Tempura] been destroyed too!?
I tried to use a different sorcery to impede its approach, but the Centipede didn’t care; if anything, it seemed irritated and increased its speed. Damn it!
”[Crystal Wall]!” I shouted.
A [Defensive Sorcery] was deployed between the Centipede and us.
It was Asari’s [Silicic Armor].
With a thud, the Centipede’s heavy charge was blocked by the wall.
”Ugh! Hurry! Go up! It won’t last long!” Asari screamed.
Asari was shouting louder than I had ever heard her.
The Centipede kept smashing its head against the [Defensive Sorcery] to break it; with every impact, cracks spread across the [Defensive Sorcery].
The attempt to buy time succeeded, and everyone except Asari reached the top of the cliff.
”Keep going, please run!” Asari cried.
”Asari, hurry too!” I yelled.
”I’m sorry, I… I can’t go.” Asari apologized.
I saw the same tentacles that had impaled Yui and the others extending from between the sand, piercing Asari’s thigh.
”Asari-oneechan!?” Mai-chan screamed.
Mai-chan screamed.
Asari looked up at my face.
”I don’t have any feeling in my legs. I can’t climb the stairs. I’m not going to make it.” she lamented.
”But…!” I protested.
Asari was going to die too.
”It’s fine. I’ll hold it off here. You all go as far away as possible.” she insisted.
”…Let’s go.” I said.
Manaka was the first to turn on her heels and run.
Sawa and Mitsuki followed.
”Minoru.” Chifumi called.
”…I understand.” I replied.
Chifumi gently squeezed my hand.
Asari was trying to smile with a tear-stained face.
”Asari, I’m counting on you.” I said.
”Yes! Leave it to me! Chifumi-san, please take care of Minoru-san.” she promised.
”Yes. Leave it to me.” Chifumi agreed.
Chifumi and I exchanged one last look with Asari before turning away.
From behind us as we ran, I could hear the sound of the Centipede smashing against the wall repeatedly.
In our final moment, when my eyes met Asari’s, she had said something.
The voice was too small to hear, but from the movement of her lips, I knew what she had said.
”I love you.”
As a group leader, there are times when you must make ruthless decisions. My father had drummed that into me, and I thought I understood it in my head. But here… not in a dungeon, but at the beach where we came to have fun—I never thought I’d experience it.
I could feel my mind filling with regret and hatred.
I will absolutely avenge them.
Moving my heavy feet, I chased after Manaka and the others.
The sound of the Centipede hitting Asari’s wall was no longer audible.
—
Summary:
After waking up at the villa and reuniting with the younger sister, Mai, the protagonist heads to the beach with her. They witness a horrific surprise attack by a massive, centipede-like monster that swallows several companions, including Yui, Yuu, Risa, and Yurina. The remaining group struggles to escape while Asari sacrifices herself to hold back the creature, leaving the protagonist filled with a vengeful resolve.
—
Trivia:
- Mai is not wearing Jirai-kei fashion like her sisters, which initially strikes the protagonist as odd.
- The protagonist realizes his sorcery, particularly Shock Sorcery, is failing, implying his source of power (the Tempura) might be compromised.
- The creature is identified as a Kai-i, a term denoting something far beyond normal monsters, comparable to a natural disaster.
- Asari’s last words were an unspoken confession of love, which the protagonist correctly read from her lips.
Notes:
• A – A student from South Middle School described as an idol who has been recruited into R’s high school squad.
• S – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has taken B from North Middle into his squad.
• Mai – Younger sister of Yui and Yuu, possessing a deceptive, snake-like gaze. She displays a shift from cutesy behavior to predatory indifference and is associated with unusual arthropod-related occurrences.
• M – A first-year student at District 13 High School and the childhood friend of Anonymous Student 0006, described as an atavistic strong-female who looks plain but possesses significant power.
• T – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has recruited K and N from East Middle into his group.
• Futami – The family name of twins, Yui and Yuu. Also their younger sister, Mai.
• Yui – One of the Futami twins and a childhood friend to Minoru, she is a low-tension, observant girl known for her quiet, blunt personality and penchant for copying others. As a disciple of the Onibara style skilled in knife techniques and curse arts, she is a member of the Shisei group and an early social circle. She is recognizable by her short hair, white-dyed lock, and signature pink/black attire.
• Yuu – A girl who is one of the Futami twins, characterized by high-energy, bubbly speech and a penchant for meat. A member of the group who wears a striped, high-leg swimsuit. An older sister to Mai and member of the group. She is energetic enough to participate in beach activities before being caught in the sudden attack.
• B – A student originally from North Middle School who was added to S’s group.
• Mitsuki – Koki’s younger sister and a Shisei first-year, this Onigahara family member is an Onibara-style disciple and childhood friend known for her tsundere personality, poor cooking, and signature cut melon. Recently transformed into a tall, curvy beauty, she is a capable, direct member of the group who manages logistics and equipment while navigating complex ties between the Tatemiya and Onigashima clans.
• Onihara – The family name of Koki and his sister Mitsuki.
• N – A student from East Middle with an eccentric personality who entered National High School due to complex family circumstances and used herself as leverage to negotiate a protective agreement for K.
• R – A first-year student at District 13 High School who has successfully built a squad and added multiple girls, including M and A, into his group.
• Tempura – A shrimp-shaped semi-kai-i anomaly captured ten years ago, this crustacean-like entity serves as Minoru’s loyal familiar, sentry, and the core source of his shock sorcery. Subjugated and tamed, it manifests formidable power to generate destructive shockwaves. Despite its role as a lethal combat asset, the entity possesses a distinctively sharp, blunt, and comedic personality.
• Chifumi – Minoru’s 15-year-old childhood friend is a scrawny, long-haired frost/water mage and elite witch from a Sorcerer bloodline. A brilliant, bubbly, and sharp-witted facilitator, she manages the group’s communications, kitchen, and intimacy schedules. While devoted to Minoru, her airy charm masks an observant, suspicious nature as she probes secrets, maintains diplomatic ties, and leads as his scout.
• Risa – A sharp-witted, high-energy childhood friend and member of Minoru’s group on the island trip. Despite her sorcerer heritage, she is a Plain-folk and a disciplined Onibara style practitioner. Though she initially acted harshly toward Minoru, she remains a central member of their friend group, actively assisting with camp labor and participating in all beach activities, independent of the guild.
• Minoru – A black-haired, pragmatic student and sorcerer reincarnated into a world of reversed beauty standards. As a tactical, possessive leader, he wields shock-based and creature-subjugation magic while navigating a dangerous training camp. Balancing his role as a caretaker and mob-like protagonist, he manages complex political and romantic dynamics with childhood friends, all while uncovering lost memories.
• Yurina – A refined, black-haired Plain-folk student and disciplined vanguard in Minoru’s group, this Kibe-born swordswoman wields high-precision blades capable of severing sorcery. Stoic yet prone to performance anxiety, the piano-talented childhood friend balances combat duties with simple tasks like hedge pruning. Close to Chifumi and Risa, she shows a voracious appetite and eagerness to learn while nearing her limits.
• Yuri – A cheerful and energetic first-year student at Higashi High who is a classmate of Shibuya and an acquaintance of Kibe Yurina from their middle school days. A girl known for being aggressive toward Hayato and displaying overt favoritism.
• Manaka – An elegant, artistic strategist with an aristocratic, god-like beauty and powerful sorcery, she radiates an ojou-sama aura. A former Tatemiya student and leader of the Initial Strong-Females, she is the group’s composed, analytical voice of reason. Though she and Minoru were childhood friends, their relationship became strained, and she now maintains an independent identity as a decisive leader.
• Asari – A tall, long-haired first-year from the Kasakura lineage, this curvy, modest defensive sorcerer specializes in barriers like Silicic Armor. Formerly a Free Girl, she is a loyal, diet-conscious member of Minoru’s group who enjoys communal meals and training. Close to Mari and Nagase, she is known for her self-sacrifice, occasionally finding the Onigahara family lifestyle surprising or confusing.
• Sawa – A childhood friend of Minoru and an original Shisei group member, she is an IT-savvy, bespectacled gamer known for her pragmatic, self-reliant nature. Once heavy, she now has a voluptuous, curvy build. Despite her reserved, laid-back personality and disciple status in the Onibara style, she remains a supportive ally who participates in group chores and enjoys fishing away from the water.
• K – A student from East Middle who followed N to National High School out of care, successfully remaining pure through N’s protection until a misunderstanding involving Anonymous Student 0008 led to her capitulation.
• Centipede – A former high-level Apparition currently reduced to a powerless, disembodied state. It speaks with a manipulative, merchant-like tone.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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