High School Girl Warrior

Chapter 108 – Let’s go on an adventure – part two *

(Inugami Renji’s PoV)

I returned to my den, closed the automatic door, lowered the shuttles, then retreated into my usual cardboard house.

As soon as I was back to my small home, I let out a deep sigh.

I just couldn’t calm down, and I had a hard time standing on my legs.

Somehow, I managed to throw the that helmet I received from the woman onto my bedside, then turned on the portable electric light that I had and… I noticed that my hands were soaked with blood.

… What a horrible day this was.

I used some tissues with alcohol to clean up my hand, and was then immediately assaulted by drowsiness.

… Let’s just sleep. I’ll sleep and forget about everything that happened today.

I closed my eyes and pulled the blanket over my head… It took only an instant for me to fall asleep.

***

… For how long was I asleep?

Was it just an hour or two? Or was it half a day?

Ever since I started living underground, my concept of time passage became quite blurry.

In any case, now that I was properly awake, I decided to pick up the woman’s helmet and take a proper look at it.

“… Just what is this?” I muttered to myself.

It looked like a medieval knight’s helmet, the kind that covered one’s entire face, but its insides were covered with a soft cushion-like material.

Moreover, the eyes’ part of the helmet had some sort of monitor display in it.

… At the very minimum, this doesn’t look like a simply ornamental piece.

Also… The owner of this helmet had some sort of magical power.

Perhaps this helmet was a magical item then?

Come on… There’s no way…

But well, even if I thought that, I just couldn’t help wanting to at least try wearing the helmet.

After all, I have a nigh-infinite amount of free time on my hands anyways, so… Might as well give it a shot.

So, I put it on my head.

“Oh…!” I accidentally let out an exclamation.

Because the helmet’s built-in monitor was suddenly switched on.

I could now see very well even though it was quite dark in here… Does this helmet have some military-grade night-vision functionality?

And then, just as I thought that, I heard a strange buzzing sound, as if something was loading.

I watched the monitor with a bit of excitement as I waited to see what that meant.

–HERO: ONLINE

Those characters were displayed in front of me… “Hero…? Huh? Wait, for real…?” I muttered.

I, who couldn’t become a hero for that girl, was now being referred to as a hero?

A sarcastic smile formed on my lips… What a joke.

–The Immortality skill has now been authenticated.

–Booting up SAVE POINT.

–Please wait.

And after a small amount of time passed…

–Boot up completed.

Then as soon as those words were displayed…

[You’re laaaaaaate!] I heard a woman’s voice in my ears.

“W-whoa!” I exclaimed.

[For how long are you going to make me wait!? If a mysterious beautiful girl entrusts you with a magical item, you should try it right away!] She exclaimed next.

“H-huh?” Was the only thing I could say as a reply.

[I thought I would be able to revive right away, but instead…. Blegh.] She said some strange words.

“W-what’s going on…?” I managed to ask.

I didn’t quite get what was happening, but it seemed like I was connecting over the phone (?) to someone…?

“Uhn… My name is Inugami Renji… You?” I decided to ask.

[Me? I’m Amata Mitsune.] She replied.

“Then… What do you want with me, Ms. Mitsune?” I asked her.

[Sorry, but I don’t have time to explain things in detail.] She replied.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

[You’re in danger.] She told me.

“… Huh?” I said.

[If you think I’m lying, get out of this small, smelly lair and look outside.] She told me next.

I frowned, but I did as I was told and walked out of the cardboard house.

And… “W-whoa…!” I couldn’t help muttering.

… All hope was lost.

This underground location had been mostly quiet so far, but now, at the end of that long long corridor… With the help of the night-vision provided by the helmet, I could see ‘them’.

A very large zombie horde was here.

I wasn’t sure of how many were there because the corridor was fairly narrow, but I could see that they were all moving in my general direction.

… Such a large number of zombies had never entered this place before…

[I was a bit too flashy before, so this was probably my fault. Sorry.] She said with a playful tone.

“Sorry…?” I repeated her playful word.

I could hardly process the meaning of what she had just said.

I could only fall on my knees.

It was nice that the zombies had yet to see us, but… This was only a matter of time. There were too many of them there.

Sooner or later, this area will be filled with them.

I might be able to avoid their detection for a while if I live very carefully without saying anything, but eventually, one of them will surely notice me.

And once that happens, it will be over.

They don’t get tired and they show no mercy. They’ll forever chase the prey right in front of them.

The security shutters of this convenience store will only last a few days at best.

For a moment, I felt like I was falling… Falling down an endless abyss of despair.

But then… I realized something.

“Are you perchance aware of my current situation?” I asked Mitsune.

[Of course.] She replied.

… Is she watching us through a security camera or something?

“Then, are you able to call for help?” I asked next.

The chances of that working out were low, but there was nothing else that I could do other than rely on whatever hope this girl could provide me.

[Call for help…? Unfortunately, I can’t do that.] She told me.

“W-why…?” I asked.

[Because we’re together now.] She replied.

“Together…? What? Where?” I muttered.

I looked around, but unsurprisingly, she was nowhere to be found.

[Yeah, I’m a spirit right now.] She explained.

“S-s-s-spirit…?” I repeated.

[Yep. Like a ghost of sorts? Something like that.] She told me.

“H-h-how? Why?” I couldn’t help asking.

[Don’t you remember using a shovel to deliver the final blow to a girl a small while back? That was me.

[I mean, can’t you recognize my voice?] She explained.

I suddenly remembered the image of that magic swordswoman fighting zombies.

And now that she mentioned it, I can kinda notice the similarity between her voice and the voice I’m now hearing in the helmet.

[The details are a bit more complicated, but you can think of it as the voice of my dead spirit speaking to you through this helmet.] She told me.

“W-what…? Your dead spirit from… The helmet?” I was so overwhelmed that I could only repeat what she had just said.

[Yes, that’s exactly it.

[Oh, and I forgot to say it earlier, but thank you for coming to my rescue back then.

[It would have been better if you arrived on time though…] She told me.

So, I’m talking to the dead now…?

One would normally think that this is absurd and plain impossible, but… I can’t even consider doubting her words.

After all, there are tons of dead people walking nearby.

“Okay, whatever, I’m just gonna believe your words and not question anything.

“So, do you have some kind of miraculous plan that can save me in this situation?” I asked her.

[Of course I have one!] She exclaimed.

Oh, dear gods… I felt like praying in thanks after hearing those words.

[Well, for now, let me show you your equipment and stats.] She said.

“My what…?” I asked when hearing those game-like terms being suddenly brought up.

But Ms. Mitsune continued without paying attention to my question.

And then, it was displayed in the monitor in front of me.

————

Basic info:

Name: Inugami Renji

Job: Trainee Hero

Weapon: Hero’s Sword

Head: Silver Helmet

Body: Silver Armor

Arms: Silver Gauntlets

Feet: Silver Boots

Ornament: Crimson Mantle

——

Stats:

Level: 1

HP: 36

MP: 13

Attack: 29

Defense: 28

Magic: 4

Agility: 19

Luck: 6

————

A bunch of data was listed for me without any extra explanation…

[Well, that’s how it is right now… Not too bad for level 1, right?

[It’s a bit concerning that your Magic and Luck are so low though…] Ms. Mitsune told me.

Hold on, what do you even mean with ‘that’s how it is’?

I mean, in the first place, it’s not like I have a weapon or anything like-

… And just as I was thinking that, I turned my gaze towards my body and was astonished at what I saw.

Before I realized it, my whole body had been covered in a shiny silver armor. I didn’t notice it appearing because it didn’t feel like I was wearing a heavy thing or anything like it.

I tried jumping on the spot.

… My body was light.

It’s as if the armor was made of an extremely light and resilient material somehow… Moreover, it’s not inhibiting the movements of my body at all. It feels as if this armor was tailor-made for me.

Also, the ‘Hero’s Sword’ was also with me. A magnificent sword hidden within its sheath.

[Do you like it?] Ms. Mitsune asked me.

“I liked it alright… So, what next?” I asked her back.

[We fight, of course!] She replied.

“Seriously…? That was your plan?” I sighed.

Somehow, I had a hunch that this was her idea.

“Are you really telling me to handle that huge number of zombies by myself?” I asked.

[Yep.] She said.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” I told her.

[It’s alright, it’s alright! Small fries like those won’t give you any trouble!] She replied.

“I saw a certain someone get killed by those small fries a small while back…” I pointed out.

[Ah, that… There’s a reason behind it. I got tangled with some troublesome players before meeting you.] She told me.

Seems like there were some circumstances that made things worse, then…

But I guess there’s no time to listen to all the details of it.

So, I sat cross-legged on the spot, with my body still covered in the silver armor, and started using my limited time to desperately think of the best course of action in this situation.

Mmmmmm… Well, I definitely have to get out of this place.

And it’s not like I had never thought about what I’d have to do if things came to this at some point.

First of all, I can’t go above ground, as there are way too many zombies there. I need to proceed while remaining underground.

It would normally be quite risky to move around in the dark, but fortunately, zombies can’t see well at the dark, so if one is lucky, one can slip through the crowd and find a new safe area.

Also, I now have a helmet that gives me night-vision, so I currently have a considerable advantage over the zombies.

“… Alright, let’s go.” I made my decision.

I quickly put my favorite portable game console into my backpack that I had prepared for an occasion like this, then put it all on my back.

[A backpack on top of an armor and a cloak… This looks so lame.] Ms. Mitsune commented.

“Shut up.” I replied.

I looked back at the place that has been my home for a while and indulged in a small moment of silent, letting me take in the emotions that were coming over me as I had to leave this home.

… And then, I quietly walked out of the convenience store.

[Alright, new hero! Let’s do our best and save this world!] Ms. Mitsune exclaimed.

My expression was quite bitter, in contrast to her cheerful voice.

But well… It seems like I’m going on an adventure.

—————————————–

* Translator’s Note: In the raws, this is the exact same title as what chapter 4 had (but with the “part two” added). The translated title is different because I think that this sounds better than the translation that the previous translator used in c4.

Ah, and in case anyone is curious, we’ll be seeing Inugami Renji’s Point of View for 10 or so chapters. After that we’ll be going back to the main cast.