271. VS Vanguard – Total War (Part 12)

Gashmash felt the change instantly.

(No abnormalities in my body… Good. That Sword Saint bastard, making a quick exit all by himself. He could’ve at least neutralized our self-destruct devices while he was at it.)

Regardless, the fact remained that Randall was dead. With this, he was officially a free man.

“Hey, Master Rialdo—! Looks like we don’t have to fight anymore! That scumbag Randall is dead!”

Gashmash immediately called out to the other Vanguard member, Rialdo, who was still trading blows with the warriors of this world.

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!”

“URYAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

“RUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

However, Rialdo and the others showed no sign of stopping.

(Ah, this is no good. They’re just genuinely enjoying the fight now…)

Unlike Gashmash, Rialdo was a pure battle junkie who had volunteered for the Vanguard specifically to fight strong opponents. He was clearly having too much fun to stop.

And to some extent, his opponents were the same. The High Orc Lufen went without saying. Rikka, too, was in a high state of euphoria due to the effects of “Onification.” Everyone was now in a state where they were fighting simply because they wanted to.

“Seriously, give me a break. ——’Partial Freezing’.”

Gashmash held out his hand, and the limbs of Rikka, Lufen, and Rialdo froze solid.

“Eh?”

“Goa…?”

“Nuu!?”

The three of them ground to a halt. With their limbs completely frozen and fused to the ground, their movements were entirely sealed. Rialdo, having had the best fight of his life interrupted, glared at his comrade with a look of pure fury.

“Gashmash! You bastard, what do you think you’re doing, interfering in my fight?! I’ll kill you!”

“That’s my line, Master. You should be able to sense it now, right? That idiot Randall is dead. There’s no reason for us to follow that prick anymore.”

“What…?”

Rialdo stood stunned for a moment, but as he probed the surroundings, he realized Gashmash wasn’t lying.

“…Indeed, his presence is gone. Though I feel something else in its place…”

“Randall was your leader, right? Does that mean Big Brother won?”

Nishino approached the boundary of the barrier.

“Rikka, what he’s saying is true. I just received word from Kudo-san.”

“For real?”

Nishino nodded to the blinking Rikka. Meanwhile, Rialdo’s smile deepened.

“…I see. In that case—from here on out, I can fight however I want without that scumbag giving me orders! Come on, let’s pick up where we left off!”

“RUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“No, why is it turning out like that?! And why is that Orc so into it too?!”

Because they loved fighting, obviously. There was no other reason. After watching Rialdo and Lufen break through Gashmash’s restraint on their own and resume their brawl, Gashmash let out a long sigh and turned his gaze toward Nishino outside the barrier.

“Er, look… like I’ve been saying, I have zero intention of fighting. Can we just talk for a second?”

“…Then release Rikka’s restraints first.”

“Of course.”

With a snap of his fingers, the ice on Rikka’s limbs melted. Gashmash urged her to step outside, and Rikka moved beyond the barrier.

“Is this sufficient?”

“…Fine.”

Gashmash breathed a sigh of relief that they had at least agreed to a dialogue.

—The black infant was a monstrosity composed from Randall’s flesh.

Perhaps that was why its movements closely resembled Randall’s.

“—’Fire Style Jutsu: Zenith’.”

A Fire Style technique strengthened to the limit by the effects of “Heroic Hymn.” Its power even surpassed the firepower of the Ifrit summoned by Libera-san.

“OGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

“Ts… hardly a scratch, huh.”

Even so, it only slightly scorched the surface. Then, Sora and the others dove from the sky.

『Get back, Kazuto!』

『Sora! Our breaths are outside the scope of “Reflective Armor.” We will compress the range and fire! Sync with me!』

『Ts… Y-yes, Darling!』

Sora perfectly matched her movements with her husband, Flamme. …Her tail was wagging furiously.

『『——GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!』』

The ultra-compressed breath traced a path like a massive laser and struck the black infant. It looked like a satellite cannon from a mecha anime. True to its appearance, the horrific attack penetrated the infant’s body, opening a hole.

『—Did we do it?』

『No, not yet. Sora, do not let your guard down.』

『Ts… Y-yes, Darling! …Hey, call my name one more time?』

『? Sora…?』

『~~~~~~~~Ts! Yes, Darling!』

…Sora-san, look, I know you’re happy, but think of the time and place. Her eyes turn into hearts every time he calls her name. Well, she reunited with her husband who died, so maybe it’s unavoidable. As I was thinking that, Arrogance stood beside me.

『My, my, what an extraordinary monster. That black infant.』

“Even if the appearance changed, that thing is made from Randall’s flesh. Its strength is undoubtedly equal to or greater than Randall’s.”

In short: strong, durable, and fast. To make matters worse, those hands are a problem. They likely nullify skills.

“But that’s all. Compared to Randall, its movements and thoughts are too simple. Like Libera-san said, we can kill it with our own hands. The problem is whether the effect of ‘Heroic Hymn’ will last until then.”

『How many minutes left?』

“Twenty.”

『Heh, plenty. Let’s sync our movements like those lovey-dovey dragons. Shall we go?』

“Damn right!”

『Hey! Who are you calling lovey-dovey! I-I am not flirting!』

Ignoring Sora’s protest, we launched our assault.

“—’Sunset Territory’.”

『—’Fresh Blood Territory’.』

“—’Holy Territory’.”

The three voices overlapped. Libera-san was syncing with our movements as well. My super-speed slashes and ninja arts, Arrogance’s magic sword and blood-based omni-directional attacks, and Libera-san’s barrage of magic and summons. With a crack, fissures spread across the black infant, centered on the hole opened by the dragons’ breath.

“OGYA… GIGYAAAA…”

The infant curled its body, and suddenly, massive needles sprouted from its entire form, launching in every direction. I felt my skin crawl at the sight of that attack.

“Ts… Dodge! Don’t let them hit you!”

『I know that!』

“—Coordinate Exchange: Change!”

In a flash, Libera-san’s position swapping activated. We were swapped with three summons standing by in the rear. Black needles pierced the summons’ bodies.

“—A…”

Without even time for a death cry, the three summons vanished.

『Physical annihilation… The hands nullify skills, and the black thorns nullify matter—annihilation, I suppose.』

“……A real monster.”

『It’s best to avoid close-quarters combat. Assume that even a graze means annihilation.』

“Then the deciding blow has to be Sora and Flamme-san’s combined breath…”

Our maximum firepower was the extra-large compressed breath from the two dragons. But even that hadn’t dealt a fatal blow to the infant.

“If only it had a weakness…”

『…If it is a killable existence, we should assume it has a “Core” somewhere, just like us monsters. We have to concentrate our attacks there.』

“Your guess?”

『The heart has a hole in it, so if there is one, it’s probably the neck or the head.』

“Agreed. Let’s focus our fire there, and——”

Boko-boko-boko.

From the black infant’s head, countless “hands” sprouted like hair.

『……』

Arrogance unleashed a slash. When it hit one of the hands on the head, it dissipated like mist.

『…It seems the sprouted hands also nullify skills.』

“Dammit.”

『But it’s confirmed. The head is the weakness. However, if skills are nullified, our methods of attack are limited.』

With that many hands in the way, even the dragons’ breath would be difficult. It would be nullified before it reached the head.

“But methods of attack that don’t rely on skills are limited, you know? In close combat using pure stats, we’d get done in by those black thorns… How frustrating.”

Libera-san was right.

“Attack methods that don’t rely on skills. And long-range ones with enough firepower…”

“—There is one. If that’s the case, leave it to us.”

A voice called out. Simultaneously, countless presences overflowed from the shadows, surrounding us.

“—FIREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!”

Along with the command, a hail of bullets was unleashed. They were drawn in, striking the black infant and blowing away the countless hands sprouting from its head.

“F-Fujita-san…? And even Towada-san and the others!?”

“Hah, I’m relieved. To think there’d be a situation where even we could be useful.”

“We used all the missiles and bombers in the first strike, but we still have ammo for the rifles. It may be a small contribution, but we will help.”

The SDF members poured their available firearms into the black infant. Indeed, the equipment they used didn’t rely on skills; they were products of pure technology from this world. Like Towada-san said, I had assumed they’d exhausted all their weapons in the beginning, so this was an unexpected boon.

“OGYAAAA… AAA—”

“Ts— Everyone, cease fire! Evacuate!”

The moment the black thorns were about to fire again, Fujita-san and the others retreated into the shadows. They must have been watching our battle from within the shadows beforehand. Arrogance and I, having already seen the attack, were able to dodge this time without needing Libera-san’s coordinate swap.

“Aa… agyaa…”

Thanks to the SDF’s firearms, the hands on the infant’s head were shredded. They weren’t… regenerating, it seemed. As expected, those hands nullify skill-based attacks but are fragile against other means.

“—Our weapons are completely out of ammo now. Sorry, but we’re leaving the rest to you.”

“Yes, thank you so much.”

Thank you, Fujita-san, Towada-san, and everyone in the SDF. Excellent work. Thanks to them, the hands protecting the head were gone. We could aim for it now. And it wasn’t just Fujita-san’s group; the presences in the shadows were increasing. This was—

“OGYAAAAAAA!”

The black infant enlarged its own hands and covered its head to protect it.

“—Then I’ll just chop the arms off too!”

Rikka-chan leaped vigorously out of my shadow.

『Interesting, I’ll sync with you.』

Arrogance moved to match her. Naturally, the black infant tried to sprout thorns to intercept them.

“—’DON’T MOVE’!!”

“Ts…!”

The moment the voice rang out, the black infant’s movements were hindered for an instant.

“—’WITHOUT RESISTANCE… TAKE THE ATTACK’!!”

The enlargement of its hands stopped, and its presence weakened. In that opening, Rikka-chan and Arrogance sliced deeply through both of the infant’s wrists.

“Nishino-kun!”

“Geho… S-sorry. I even used the skill-up I’d been holding since I evolved into a ‘Celestial,’ and I’m already at my limit…”

No, that’s not true. When Nishino-kun evolved, he had held onto the right to convert to a higher skill. He likely used it on his unique skill “Absolute Obedience,” which manifested from my “Heroic Hymn.”

Normally, racial level-ups cannot be used on unique skills. But right now, thanks to Mayor Uesugi’s “Unity of High and Low,” our party limit is gone; over a hundred people, including non-combatants, have joined the party, and everyone has awakened to unique skills. Among them, there must have been someone with a unique skill that removed the restrictions on Nishino-kun’s racial traits. Truly “Lucky.”

“Geho, geho… Not yet. If I use that item, maybe one more time…”

“No, Nishino-kun, that’s enough. Please step back.”

As Nishino-kun and Rikka-chan evacuated into the shadow, the black infant’s hands fell to the ground. Instantly, a pale blue barrier enveloped the severed hands. The hands tried to return to the infant but were blocked.

『…It seems once they are separated from the main body, the skill-nullification ability cannot be used.』

“S-Sea King!?”

“Shuram, are you alright?”

Libera-san and I were taken aback by the slime—Sea King Shuram—suddenly at our feet.

『…I am far from perfect, but I can manage a small barrier. I could hardly stand by and do nothing at this stage.』

“Ts… Thank you!”

I won’t let this chance everyone created go to waste.

“Pour every bit of firepower we have into that thing’s head!”

“Right!” 『Indeed!』 『Let’s go!』

Libera-san, Sora, Flamme-san, and I launched our attacks simultaneously.

“…Ogia.”

Realizing it was in trouble, the black infant tried to sprout thorns again. But in the next moment, something strange happened. The black thorns that were produced retracted for an instant, then pierced the infant itself.

“Ogyo…?”

“What is this…?”

It looked as if it were acting against its own will, much like Nishino-kun’s command.

“—’Hiyoku Tenrin’ (Intertwined Turning Wheel). It seems my unique skill makes the target’s actions opposite.”

A voice whispered from the shadows. Dragging her battered body halfway out of the shadow was—

“…I-Igarashi-san?”

“Why the questioning tone?”

“No, it’s just your appearance…”

I apologize, but for a second I really didn’t know who she was. She had been heavily injured by Glen’s self-destruction. Her body was wrapped in bandages, and her long black hair had been burnt short. Her injuries were so severe it was a miracle she could move.

“I am fine… though that would be a lie. However, I could not simply stay quiet in the shadows without striking back. Neither I… nor him.”

“…Him? You mean—”

Before I could say his name, countless shadows—no, Darkness—overflowed from beneath the infant’s feet.

『WAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!』

A roar full of majesty and dignity. Emerging from the darkness was the “Wolf King” Schwarz. He was covered in wounds just like Igarashi-san, but his sharp gaze hadn’t faded one bit.

『GARUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!』

Responding to Schwarz’s roar, the darkness shredded the black infant’s body. And it wasn’t just Schwarz. His kin were unleashing attacks from the darkness as well—Shadow Wolves, Killer Ants, and other monsters. Under their collective assault, the black infant’s body was becoming a wreck.

“…Garu…”

Schwarz’s eyes locked onto mine. —I’ll leave the rest to you. That’s what it looked like he was saying. Yeah, thanks.

“Now! Everyone, fire your maximum output!”

As Schwarz returned to the shadow, everyone moved.

“—Super Ninja Art: Fire & Lightning Style Imbue! Max Slash Strengthening!”

『—Fresh Blood Territory: Magic Sword Convergence: Moonlight Blood Dye.』

“—Holy Territory: Divine Majesty: Taiji Transmigration.”

『『——GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!』』

The maximum firepower from me, Libera-san, Sora, and Flamme-san was slammed in all at once. With a tremendous explosion, the black infant’s head burst like a balloon, exposing the “Core” inside.

“I see… so that’s your core.”

The core of the black infant—it was a ‘brain’ disproportionately small for the giant head. It likely belonged to Randall, the original source.

—Thump.

The moment I saw that core, I felt something pulse inside me. Is this… the power of the system? Simultaneously, I noticed the weapon I was holding was emitting a faint light. A pale blue light. The same brilliance as the Master Key.

“…You want me to cut it with this?”

—”I feel something very intentional here.”

Arrogance’s words flashed through my mind. I had a conviction now.

—The system wants us to defeat him.

The Administrator Privilege granted by that white girl, this sequence of events—it’s clearly that. I don’t know what the motive is.

But I have to go with it.

I understood by intuition. That core—only that core—could not be destroyed by anyone but me. It was a mass of bugs. Even as bugs, it was a system-side existence. Only someone who can interfere with the system can destroy it. With this “power,” I will crush that core. I’ll end this fight with this.

『—Ku-dou… Ka-zu-to…』

Then the core spoke. It was Randall’s voice.

『If it weren’t… for you… I… I…』

The core—the brain—created a tiny mouth. I see, the black infant was composed of Randall’s flesh. Because it had been whittled down and the core exposed, his consciousness had returned.

“……Pitiful.”

To still be alive in that state. Or rather, he couldn’t die. He must have heard me. Randall, reduced to just a brain and a mouth, ground his teeth in resentment.

『SHUT UP! DIE! JUST DIE! YOU MONKEYYYYYYYY!』

Randall moved his tiny mouth. Ptu! As if spitting, tiny “teeth” were launched with terrifying speed.

“Waon!” “~~~~~! (shake shake)” “Kyuu!” 『I won’t let you~』

But Momo’s shadow, Aka’s body, and Kiki’s reflection, strengthened by Shiro’s skill, blocked Randall’s attack. Truly reliable comrades.

“—Thanks, everyone.”

『DON’T COME… DON’T COME… STAY AWAYYYYYYYYYYYY!』

What a noisy voice. That attack just now was likely Randall’s final resistance. Now that we’re this far—

“Kazuto! Don’t let your guard down!”

Libera-san’s voice.

“Eh—”

『——…Ha.』

In that split second, I had been distracted by Randall’s voice and was late to notice. A single black thorn had been launched at me from a blind spot in the crumbling flesh.

“Ts—!”

I see, you bastard. The previous attack and the noisy shouting were all to keep me from realizing this. A piece of shit until the very end. I can feel the black thorn closing in. Ah, bad. This is going to hit—

“—I won’t let it.”

Paan! The black thorn shattered, followed by the delayed sound of a gunshot. Even if I can’t see it or feel it, I know regardless of the distance. It was Ichinose-san’s sniping. Her bullet had shot through the black thorn closing in on me. Unlike me, she was far away and had a clear view of Randall’s surprise attack.

『Guh… giii…』

This time, Randall truly let out a voice of pure frustration. That was genuinely his last resistance. I raised my ninja blade.

『N-NO… STOP, PLEASE STOP IT OOOOOOOOOOOO!』

“—It’s over, Randall!”

『——AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!』

With an all-out strike carrying all my feelings, strength, and everything up to now, I sliced the core—Randall’s brain, his ambition—completely in half.

—Thump.

In that instant, something flowed into my head.

『—Foolish. Why can Libera and Ruriel be so optimistic? I cannot understand.』

Somewhere else. A man was clutching his head.

『”If we talk, we can understand each other”? Folly. From the perspective of the people in the other world, we are no different from invaders. Conflict is unavoidable. How much blood and sacrifice do you think will be born before we “hold hands and understand” like you say?』

Is this… Randall’s memory?

『…What do the humans of the other world look like? No, can we even communicate? If they have power or technology that exceeds ours… how many sacrifices…』

The emotion flowing from the man muttering to himself was—Fear.

“……I see.”

It was nothing complicated. Randall was just scared. He was simply afraid of an unknown world and unknown people. That was why he wanted to bring it as close to the world he knew as possible, to make a world advantageous for his own people. His insults calling us monkeys, that arrogance—at the root of it all was nothing but fear and bluster. Even with all that strength…

No, it’s the opposite. Because he was strong, the things he did not know were more terrifying than anything.

『…What would you have done? Kazuto Kudo.』

Suddenly, the man in the memory looked at me. Strangely, I wasn’t surprised.

『If you were in my position, you surely would have thought the same. You would have felt fear and cowered before an unknown, alien world. And if you had the means to change it in your hands, you wouldn’t have failed to use them. Sacrificing others to make a world more livable for your own. History has proven this.』

…Yeah. Fighting others for your own profit, to protect what’s yours. To a greater or lesser degree, everyone does that.

『—Then—』

Even so, your choice was wrong. A massive mistake.

『…How can you be so sure?』

It’s obvious. Because you didn’t believe in anyone—not even your own comrades.

『————』

Libera-san, Ivar-san, the members of the Vanguard. You didn’t believe in a single one of them. You didn’t even try. No matter what grand justification you carry, if you get that part wrong, it’s over, isn’t it? Nothing said by someone who discards their comrades and thinks of them only as pawns will ever reach anyone’s heart. If you had believed in the Vanguard members—in your comrades—the result might have been different.

“……I believe in them.”

Ichinose-san, Momo, my comrades—I believe in everyone. I will never betray the friends I’ve fought alongside until now. That much I can declare. At my answer, Randall wore a slightly sulky expression. As if he didn’t like it.

『…Foolish. So naive it’s unbearable to watch. Believing in others. You just haven’t realized yet how difficult that truly is. I had a time like that too, but I was quickly made to realize. That such a thing is nothing but an illusion.』

Something must have happened. That something was the trigger that made Randall unable to trust others. The result of that led to now.

“……If possible, I would have liked to meet the ‘you’ from back then…”

If that had happened, I’m sure the outcome would have been different. A different future might have been waiting.

『It is a bit of a shame, Kazuto Kudo. That I won’t get to see whether you walk the same path as me…』

“……I told you, I won’t.”

『—Then struggle as much as you can for the future ahead. This battle… is your win.』

Pariin.

Randall’s memory shattered.

The battle—was over.

End of 271