Konjiki no Moji Tsukai - Chapter 314

Chapter 314 – The enemy that must be fought

Translator – Agni

2nd chapter of the week

「……eh? You have met……me?」

Nikki was staring at the man called Hiyomi who was clad in black and exuding a strong presence. The reason why she was affected by Hiyomi’s words was because he knew about the place, she used to live in.  Rather than having met each other, knowing where she used to live seemed to have more impact.

But listening to those words, Hiiro and Liliyn could grasp with certainty, the kind of existence Hiyomi was. The figure in black that had created the cause which dispossessed Nikki of her family.

Hiyomi seemed to conform to the figure in black. In Hiiro’s mind, it was already clear that Hiyomi was that person.

A light knock, Hiiro tapped a perplexed Nikki on her head and directed his words towards Hiyomi.

「I see now. So, you are the damn bastard that took away this one’s family」

「……!?」

Nikki looked up at Hiiro with tremendous vigour. Then, as if emitting a death agony, like a robot that has run out of oil, she slowly turned her head towards Hiyomi.

「Th, that person is……Ikki and mom’s……?」

「Aa, is not that right?」

「I don’t understand what you are saying but, it is true that we had experimented with the monsters there. And then, there were two Bamboo Bears and a child nearby」

「Did they dress like now?」

「……? That was so?」

Now, there was no mistake. In that【Bamboo Hill】, a single person, clad in black had appeared. And while dressed in black, if he had gone there, used the monsters in his experiment, then there is only one answer.

「Youuuuu!」

An enraged Nikki had almost started to act recklessly when a clenched fist fell on top of her head. It was obviously the person by her side, Hiiro.

「Ahhhhhh! Wh, what are you doing shishou?」

[TN – ‘shishou’ is ‘master’, looked better to keep it that way

Also, the SFX above reads as ‘No ~o~o~o~oh’ in the raw. Basically the sound of her screaming in pain]

Her face distorted into an adorable expression and she looked up with teary eyes. Hiiro crossed his arms and said while sighing.

「It is ok to get angry. But protect the promise with me」

「…………」

「Say what I have taught you one more time」

「……if there is an enemy, I fight」

「And」

「It is ok to be angry. But don’t lose patience」

「And」

「To put in effort for victory」

「……finally」

「Absolutely do not die」

While piling up words, the firmness in her face had disappeared. Looks like she had calmed down a bit.

「Exactly. Also, he is not only YOUR enemy」

「……Camus-dono 」

[TN – ‘dono’ is a polite form of addressing]

「……un, I too have persevered in order to bring him down. Nikki……you are the same too, right?」

「Hai……desuzo」

[TN – felt like saying ‘Hai’ instead of ‘yes’ sounded better here.

‘Hai’ is ‘yes’]

Normally, Hiiro would use『Pry』to peek into his status but for some reason, it does not work on them. But the fact that he is not an ordinary person is transmitted through the air he exudes.  What is more is that his presence could rival Leowald or Judom’s.

「Listen up you guys, that guy is powerful. Might even be at the level of the beast king. That is why, you might be discontent but, you guys fight together」

「At the level of the beast king……」

「Mu……」

[TN – it is sometimes tough to translate SFX sounds but well anyways, the ‘mu’ SFX above was probably a dejected surprise kind of emotion Nikki displayed]

At Hiiro’s diagnosis, Nikki recalled the fight against Leowald and her face cramped and while Camus stayed expressionless, the depths of his eyes glittered.

「This is war. Certainly, you won’t say that you won’t fight unless it is one-on-one, right?」

「Of course. Whoever the opponent, I will deal with it. Even more if that opponent detests me」

「Knowing so I am relieved. That is how it is. You guys defeat him. Your family’s enemy……destroy him」

To Hiiro’s words, the two nodded strongly

「In that case, follow me. I shall lead to a place where it is easy to fight」

Saying that, Hiyomi jumped high and headed towards the west

「Hiiro……I will go now. Sorry that I won’t be by your side」

「It is nothing much. As long as you defeat him quickly and return」

「……un. If I win……will you praise me?」

「Ha? ……say that after you win」

「Un」

「Aaaa! That is unfair! If I win, I too want a present, desuzo!」

「Like I said, say that after you win」

Towards the tedious words of the two, a sigh escaped Hiiro’s mouth.

「Kukuku, is not that ok, Hiiro? If a firm promise serves as good motivation, the results are desirable, aren’t they?」

「Thinking of it as someone else’s problem……」

The two looked fixedly at him with upturned eyes. Taking a deep breath,

「Got it. But only if you win」

At that, the two smiled with satisfaction.  Even Camus looked quite delighted, different from usual.

「The two of you, do not push yourselves」

「Th, th, th, that is right! If it looks dangerous, please escape immediately」

Silva and Shamoe spoke respectively

「……Nikki, it won’t do if you lose!」

Mikazuki said in a loud voice, trying to hide her anxiety

「Leave it to me, desuzo! I will definitely win and receive my gift from Shishou」

[TN – ‘shishou’ is ‘master’]

「Un, definitely receive」

The two’s eyes fluctuated with a fierce flame.

The motives were impure, but will that be enough in exacting revenge on the enemy? Hiiro sighed unconsciously.

「Let’s go, Nikki」

「Yes, desuzo! Well then, we are off!」

Seen off by everyone, the two followed after Hiyomi.

「Well then, I shall also get going」

「Wrong. We……right?」

Liliyn pressed

「……you really are coming?」

「Of course!」

Since she did not have the disposition of being reasonable to anything being said, Hiiro gave up on trying to persuade her and decided to only concentrate on what to do next. Then, Hiiro looked up at the black swan in the sky. The other party also seemed to have realized the meaning of his gaze. It started to move as if to say, “Follow me”.

「There is no other way. Well then let’s go」

When Hiiro turned his gaze towards Judom who was still leading the citizens, he was met with an understanding nod that seemed to imply to leave the things here to him.

Judom having to operate alone is definitely a worry but it could not be helped that Hiiro had to be at places. Hiiro being Hiiro had things he wanted to do and so he sorted out his priority.

「By the way, Hiiro, why did you leave behind the yellow monkey in【Xaos】?」

Like she said, the『Spirit』that always rode on Hiiro’s shoulders, Ten, is not here.

[TN – Ten is Hiiro’s Contracted Spirit, the direct katakana translates as Ten, not Tenn]

「I have told him to return and report to me about any movements」

Ten is connected to Hiiro’s beloved sword ≪Rending Blade・Zangeki≫ and since they are connected, Ten can move to the location of the sword, no matter where Hiiro is. But it will be a one-way journey.

「Something might happen in【Xaos】?」

「Who knows, I left him behind to confirm that 」

「Hmm, but is that ok? Without him here, you won’t be able to use your sword to its fullest extent, right?」

「Not an issue. For that, I have trained until now」

That is right, Hiiro had prepared himself for this kind of situation too. He acquired techniques that will let him fight with his own strength.

Even without Ten, Hiiro is equipped with sufficient power.

「Well, if you are saying so, then it is ok, but if you fall behind and look like you are dying, then I will lend a hand」

「……that is rare」

「Hm? What is?」

「You, caring about other people’s lives that much. Is it going to rain?」

「Hohou, in that case, shall I make it rain blood? 」

Her big pupils came glaring. Like a falcon’s, they narrowed and emanated blood thirst. As if to escape from such a Liliyn, Hiiro quickly moved his legs.

At the Imperial Castle, Avoros saw Hiiro chasing after the black swan.

「U~n, moving as he pleases……was a bit unexpected?」

Originally, about now, he was supposed to have been waiting for Hiiro’s arrival at the Imperial Castle. But, because of his companions’ selfish actions, the plan got deviated somewhat.

「What should be done?」

Val Kiria No. 5 who was beside him, issued her apathetic voice.

「N~since that boy showed so much interest, it means Hiiro Okamura is the real deal after all. Well, I think it is good enough even if it is just that one confirmation. Isn’t that right, Hero-kun?」

[TN – maybe it is unnecessary but nonetheless, ‘kun’ is a way of addressing, equivalent of ‘Mr.’]

Avoros called out to the person in front him who was staring at the leaving Hiiro with a shocked expression, Aoyama Taishi.

「Th, that is Okamura……!?」

「That is right. Isn’t he amazing? Releasing that many citizens from hypnosis at one go. Normally that is impossible. Truly a heroic act of saving the citizens. Different from you」

「Kuu……!」

[TN – frustration SFX]

The sound of grinding teeth could be heard emanating from Taishi’s mouth.

「Hiiro Okamura is the hero of the『Evila』, a powerful person who single-handedly defeated the beast king. Also, a heroic person who valiantly fought in the war. On the other hand, while summoned as heroes, they were frightened by the horrors of war, unaware of the vastness and truth of the world. Instead of defeating the Demon Lord, got captured by her and became her subordinates. What an amazing life full of drama」

Frustrated, Taishi wants to refute but in a situation where he cannot, he glared at Avoros. Amused at this, Avoros raised the corners of his mouth.

「To fight you see, only power cannot save anything. It will be possible to save something for the first time when noble desires are combined. The you now, have power. Then……what about your desire?」

「I will definitely save Chika and the others」

His entire body quivered as he yelled, as if trying to persuade himself.

「……then, that resolution, shall we test it? No. 5, the ≪Transfer Gem≫」

「Here」

No. 5 softly held out a fist-sized blue coloured gem. It is a rare magical tool upon breaking which, the last person to have touched it can transfer to any place he wishes.

[TN – The ‘gem’ could also be translated as ‘stone’, but ‘gem’ sounds rarer]

Avoros receives it and hands it over to Taishi.

「The job, I am wishing that it goes well, ex-Hero-kun?」

「……I am still……a hero……」

Spitting out these words filled with remorse, Taishi took the gem and went outside.

「Ahaha, now the board will become livelier. Come now, show me. The comedy called war! Ahahahahahaha!」

[TN – ‘board’ as in a shogi board or a chess board. The war is being equated with a chess board]

Only the sound of Avoros’s sonorous laughter reverberated in the castle.