Chapter 19 – Azurite Girl
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A female voice called me to stop as I tried to head into the reward room, even though no one other than me was supposed to be in this dungeon.
“Who are you!?”
At once I whirled around, readying Dragon Eater. My eyes zoomed in on her alongside the drawn katana’s clicking sound.
I hadn’t sensed her presence at all. It’s unthinkable for me to have completely missed her with my sharpened senses, despite the fact that she has apparently been tailing me the whole time. Still I got so surprised that this matter became completely irrelevant as my thinking stopped. I literally lost the strength to grip my katana.
The dim light illuminated her small face. She had glossy black hair with a nice luster that was dyed by a conspicuously deep blue inner color. Her shiny eyes, which looked like azurites, were focused on me. I was immediately charmed by her graceful features that carried a certain fleetingness. Seeing her made me even feel that translucence would be a good word to describe her.
This space, which had been crammed with ants just moments ago, sparkled as if it was suddenly filled with colors by her just being present.
She was around as tall as I am, but unlike me, she was wearing some mysterious gear. A harness strap spanned across her blouse with its ribbons. Although it’s close to spring, Sendai is still cold around this time. I think that’s also the reason for her to wear a coat with its hem reaching almost all the way down to her knees on top. The coat’s sleeves are awfully long in contrast to the cuffs. It almost looks like a kimono.
The golden design, which had been gaudily applied to it, gave the coat a flair of combining Japanese and Western fashion styles.
Below she was wearing a mini skirt. Her right leg wore shortish socks and a leg pouch attached to its otherwise bare skin. The left leg, on the other hand, wore a sock reaching up to her knee and had a belt that held a knife attached to it.
At that moment, I realized that all of her equipment was based on the assumption that she’d need to fight. Even when looking from afar, I could tell that her clothes were made out of fine materials. Her entire outfit looked so expensive that my lousy wear couldn’t even hold a candle to it. It also looked pretty sturdy.
With a short delay, I also realized that she was holding a weapon looking like a bishop’s staff in her right hand.
“Umm, do you have a moment?”
“Eh………? Okay.”
Probably because I had closely scrutinized her in silence while getting ready for combat at the same time, she called out to me timidly after having waited for a while. Kinda lackluster.
“You’re the 『Dungeon Seekers』 Player Kurase Hirotatsu, aren’t you? My name is Amamiya Satoha. Let’s see, it’s difficult to explain in various ways, but I’m someone with the management of 『Dungeon Seekers』,” Satoha slowly spelled out her words.
Her posture as she explained things to me after putting her arms together and thinking was quite normal, yet it looked extremely appropriate for her.
“You killed the PK of Sendai City, didn’t you? Please come with me to Tokyo for the sake of being questioned about this case.”
“━━━━━━━━━”
The management caught wind of that battle? Does that mean Venom had lied and the crystal was fake? No, maybe we were seen…?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. What’s this about a PK?”
“…The management decided to not punish you for this. Please don’t worry and come with me.”
I almost ended up nodding against my better judgment when I heard how a trace of pleading was blended into her voice. But, I can’t afford to leave Sendai right now.
“…Sorry, but I have to refuse. I must stay in Sendai and clear dungeons. Besides, I doubt that you’re really with the management. If you want me to come with you by all means, you might as well freeze my 『Dungeon Seekers』 app as proof of your affiliation right now.”
If she does it, it’ll be a checkmate for me. I’ll obediently give up and go along with her. Though I don’t know what will happen to me, if they truly freeze my app.
Seeing her faintly widening her eyes with a feel of being in a bind here, I got convinced that she didn’t possess the authority to execute such a punishment. Either that, or she might not be with the management in the first place.
“So you really won’t come with me?”
“No, I won’t. I just want to play DS. Or is there any other problem I should be aware of?”
She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. Then she rotated her weapon in her hands and powerfully struck the ground with it, before declaring, “In that case it can’t be helped. I won’t take your life. Nor will I injure you. But I will force you to cooperate by suppressing you.”
After preparing her wand, she expanded her golden-blue mana. Next she dropped four octahedral objects similar to dice on the ground from within her coat. Those golden objects grew in size and spread out, before attaching themselves to her sides as four shields.
Neither 『Magic Tactics』 nor 『Magic Swordsmanship』 possessed any information about this. But I still instinctively grasped her strength. She was no pretentious small-fry. My heart told me that she possesses power comparable to that of a commander from the Warring States era.
She was looking very calm, making it clear that she wasn’t being serious at all. And although no wind was actually blowing, I felt like I was being hit by a gale. I tried to block it by holding out my left hand.
What a tough warrior! Will I be able to win against her!?
…I’m not one to fear formidable opponents. I tightened my grip on Dragon Eater’s hilt, and scowled at her sharply. I’ll test whether I can manipulate my mana and release it from my body like she does.
A billowing miracle. The black, glossy mana enveloping my body intimidated her.
Surges of mana that collided and blended with each other.
Unlike Venom, I can’t sense any bloodlust from her as an enemy. Somehow it feels more like she’s being forced to do something she doesn’t really want to do.
However, then I must really ask just how much power this girl hides, if the pressure released by her reached me with such an intensity despite her not being willing to duke it out. A truly mighty fighter who has taken the shape of a peerless beauty.
If she comes at me for real, I don’t see any prospects of winning, except using my Hidden Style.
Let me think. If it’s just about me wanting to win, I can simply use 『Hidden Style』. I can’t even fathom just where the limit of this katana lies, if I keep pouring power into it. I have a feeling that I might be able to even defeat such a mighty foe by just swinging it.
I remembered the day when I used the Hidden Style. A dark night. Blood gushing out. And a person fallen with her eyes wide open.
Not once have I regretted killing her. After all, she was out to kill me. That’s why I simply eliminated her. I was walking my own path and her blocking that path merely led to me taking her on as an enemy.
But, is it okay to keep wielding that power so easily?
「You’ve been swallowed, haven’t you? You go around and kill people like me, don’t you? Yep, kill, kill, kill」
I felt like I heard her voice from somewhere.
…Yeah, I got it. If I continue using my power against human opponents, I’ll definitely end up crossing that crucial line some day. I don’t plan on holding back against opponents who try to kill me, but if I brandish Dragon Eater against human opponents, who don’t intend to kill me, over and over again, my perception will go haywire at some point. I’ll stop being able to react, depending on the circumstances.
That alone is something I must avoid at all costs. I’m different.
The figure of that person, who tried to kill people just for the sake of her own ego, crossed my mind.
I’ll say it again. I won’t become like her. If you say it might be possible to choose another path, I’ll answer that’s good since I’ll show you how I struggle with all my power. Right? I’m at least that strong, am I not?
The figure of my deceased mother surfaced in my mind for just a split-second. I live my life in my own way. But, it must be something that makes her proud of me.
I’ve made up my mind. I’ll wield this blade for the sake of making her proud.
“In that case, I won’t take your life either. Nor will I injure you. But, I’ll put you down.”
“…I see.”
…Now’s the time to show my skill.
“Well then, let us have a fair fight.”
A mana blade lit up at the tip of her staff. The golden shields rushed off in tune with her swinging the staff. The clashing sound caused by Dragon Eater striking against a flying shield became the starting signal for this battle.
｡ ₊°༺🫀༻°₊ ｡
Four shields cutting through the wind and my footsteps as I sprinted past them intersected inside the queen’s room. This room, which had been built for the sake of the queen ant, was perfect for our fight.
Sounds of weapons clashing, followed by me dodging the golden shields flying at me, just to slash at her with Dragon Eater. But, before my slash could reach her, another shield blocked it. Seeing an additional shield coming at me from the upper right, I withdrew from that location.
I was fascinated by her combat style, which you could rightfully call unique as it was based on staff techniques and four shields.
At first I was slightly scared to swing Dragon Eater at her. No matter how strong she might be, this katana is a magic sword. I worried I might end up killing her by mistake.
But, now I unleashed a chain of three attacks after slashing upwards. Those attacks by Dragon Eater, who had been reinforced with my mana, made the wind howl.
She pulled through this by simply diverting the attacks three times, using her staff with one hand.
Ah, this is what a battle is about. Something like going around and killing those good-for-nothing ants doesn’t even qualify as a battle. I want this sort of battle, this sort of exchange. I’m addicted to it!
While considering my means to suppress her, I blocked her counterattack with Dragon Eater.
I’ve been living for the sake of this moment now and here.
｡ ₊°༺🫀༻°₊ ｡
I alone had continued to observe his battle after he charged into the ant nest.
He appears to have a certain air of composure and maturity to him that contradicts his age. He’s as tall as I am and he’s clearing the vortex while looking happy enough that it actually drowns out the first impression I had of him.
If I had to give my honest opinion, I’d probably say it’s unbelievable. He has been overrunning the occult beings like a veteran occult slayer.
He’s different, but generally 『Dragon Seekers』 players prefer active over passive skills. There’s also some reason to it, I guess.
To put it very simply, you usually don’t possess the foundation allowing you to put the knowledge and theories you obtain through a passive skill into practical execution. Moreover, even if you obtain an effect that is active continuously, you won’t be able to fight efficiently while using it.
It’s said your intuition stops being able to stay in tune with your physical abilities which will suddenly get boosted not only by the passive skill, but also your levels. In other words, your body can’t keep up with your knowledge. Because of that, many players fall into a state where they know that they can do something, but they’re unable to put it into practice.
Active skills, on the other hand, allow you to execute simple techniques while relying on the assistance of the system. The players like them for that very reason.
But he, who was chosen by the magic sword, can only be described as being outside that box. The instant a passive skill is downloaded into his soul, he makes it completely his own.
He’s definitely strong. The weapon he obtained is doubtlessly a first-class item and I think he’s a fairly capable guy. But, even then, he is no match for a high-ranking Occult Slayer like me.
Or so I believed. But, by now a lot of time has already passed and yet I couldn’t suppress him uninjured.
He kept dodging the golden shields I unleashed at him at hair’s breadth. So closely that they actually grazed his body. Each step he took looked almost like a dance.
At once I made my next move against him. I sharply swung my staff with both hands, trying to make him faint by hitting him with a huge amount of mana.
“Haaah!”
A follow-up attack by the staff after the onslaught by the flying shields.
He thrust out the magic sword in his right hand in response, defending against the attack. And all that although he had turned his back on me as he continued to dodge the shields. Does he have eyes on his back?
“Hahahaha! How fun, Satoha!”
“Please don’t call me by my first name as you please…”
I evaded the sword slash he launched at me as a counterattack by stepping backwards. Seeing that, he brushed up his forebangs and laughed with an expression as if he couldn’t hold back his joy. At first I had seen wavering in his sword work, but the longer the battle went on, the more it disappeared, just to be now replaced by a daring smile.
Even the attack I released just now was restricted, but it’d definitely hurt if it connected. And it also had a possibility of taking his life, if I had failed in my adjustment, even if it was a very, very slim chance. He should understand as much as well. Yet, he doesn’t seem to mind.
It’s almost as if he’s enjoying this battle by itself━━━━
…I’d also love to get enlivened by something in such a way.
Sword dance. A raging gust of wind caused by the shields.
While these sounds were carved into the fabric of the world, he yelled, “This rocks, Satoha! Words are unnecessary! As long as I have this sword, I will fully grasp your existence which you’ve polished so elaborately! You’re the best for me!”
This guy is saying some very crazy things. But, there are no lies in his words and swordsmanship. His appearance, which clearly imparted on me his will to continue this forever, carved itself into my mind.
But, this battle has already gone on for too long.
I have grasped the extent of his abilities. All I have to watch out for is that magic sword. Otherwise, it won’t be much of a problem to suppress him. In the first place, it’s my own limitations that have been dragging out this battle. Without those, I’d have been able to put him down within seconds.
…Just as I won’t kill him, I cannot injure him either. After all, it’s not just Amamiya who has taken notice of him, who has become a “Magic Sword-wielding” player. The management has designated him to be a special observation target. And if you consider the objective of 『Dungeon Seekers』, we will definitely get criticized for laying our hand on him.
That’s why those elders probably planned to have me bring him to Tokyo and then steal his magic sword under the pretense of a fake agreement. And then they would triumphantly use that sword as leverage in their little political schemes.
…I don’t even want to think about that. Let’s stop it now. All will be fine if I quickly finish this mission and go into hiding as usual.
I will seize him unhurt by using my trump card as Occult Slayer. That’s my order after all. I don’t know what will happen afterwards. And I don’t want to know either.
I breathed in deeply and spoke up, “…『As long as I vanish as if becoming transparent』.”
I spun those words of power by myself. Using those words, I got everything read for the invocation of a powerful technique I possess as an Occult Slayer.
『Becoming Transparent』
Thanks to this ability which erases my presence and mana response, I had come all the way here without being noticed by him, who’s oddly perceptive. I thought I was found out at one point, but it apparently was his strong reaction to “hostility.” But, there was no way he’d spot me, if I kept that in mind.
I made the four shields, which had been moving about separately, bunch up and attack him all at once. For an instant his sight was blocked as those shields approached him side-by-side.
Using that opportunity, I melted with the world and vanished.
“━━━━!?”
After repelling the shields straight from the front, his visual field opened up again. But, being unable to find me, he became surprised. I quickly circled behind him, and brandished my staff, aiming at the back of his head.
With this it’s over. I’m not visible and the staff’s tip is charged with mana. The tip is tearing through the air soundlessly. Without any presence.
But.
Right before hitting him, the staff, which ought to have been swung without any hostility, was blocked by his magic sword that had inserted itself between the staff and the back of his head.
No way!?
At that instant, he let go of the sword, whirled around, and rammed himself at the spot where I was.
“Kyaa!”
Seeing him taking the battle into a close-combat hand-to-hand melee, I got terrified. My face reflexively grew pale.
You have to be kidding, right!? Tossing the magic sword away…if you do something like that, the curse of the sword━━━━
My eyes widened.
The magic sword didn’t move as it lay on the ground.
Because I totally lost control over keeping up my transparency due to the extreme shock, it came undone.
That’s bad.
He, who had caught me and was now straddling me, swung his right arm. A punch loaded with mana approached me.
Oh damn…even if I try to get my magic armor back up, with that speed, I won’t━━━━
The powerful punch struck the ground right next to my ear. His black, shiny mana turned into a wave, spreading from the impact site. It felt like a throbbing spread through my body. Exposed to a mana wave without any preparation, my consciousness slowly faded away.
｡ ₊°༺🫀༻°₊ ｡
Ah, what a wonderful, exhilarating time it was.
When I looked at the queen room with the magic circle for entering the treasure room in the center after the combat thrill and aftertaste settled down, things had become quite nuts.
Panting hard, I looked at her lying on the ground face up, her chest slowly moving. She’s a truly pretty thing. There’s no way I can just leave her lying around here.
I wracked my brain about what to do about this situation.
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