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Maou Gakuen Vol 5 Chapter 3
🕑 Added 2021-07-17 00:16:08 +0000 UTCChapter 3 – The Star is Shooting
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Part 1
Fifty thousand fans has gathered in Tokyo Dome.
There is Call & Response under orderly command like in military. The fans waved around their penlight as though they are performing massed calisthenics.
The audiences here have a loyalty that is far deeper than any other idol’s fans.
The one who monopolized that faith is this me who is ruling on top of the stage.
──The top idol, Hoshigaoka Stella.
I sang out my hit songs one after another and danced.
Every single one of my gaze and gesture toyed the fans and controlled their heart significantly. Colorful penlights swayed as though to display their excitement.
Fufufu, offer your mana, your life forces all of you. To this me.
I’m feeling the overall excitement of the fans.
Human emotions are energy for devils. Even greater mental fluctuation will produce even better quality energy. My fans are offering me mana daily.
The daily fan activities. Buying my goods. Propagating my popularity through social networking services. Even those kinds of things provided me with mana although in lesser quantity.
However the amount of mana that I can collect from a live performance is in different level. This performance is like a Sabbath, a ritual magic. That’s why live performance is essential.
Besides, even discounting the mana collection, live performance is something that I liked to do. Directly facing the fans who are worshipping me give me a different sensation than simply confirming it through a monitor screen.
When I saw them getting drunk in my performance, I can taste deep sense of satisfaction and euphoria.
That’s right.
Look at me more. Get to like me more!
If you do that then my dance will get even more passionate.
When I wriggled my waist to add to my sexiness, the voltage of the venue rose up even more.
Behind me are the support members who are the Cards of Star. They are playing the role of back dancers and heated up the stage to make me shine even brighter.
Nekobe Myaa who joined recently is also one of them.
When I made a turn and glanced at her face, her smile is a bit stiff.
──Mistress’s performance today is even more intense than the rehearsal nya. Just following along is the best that I can do mya.
It felt like I can hear that grumbling in her heart.
My Cards are also dancing desperately so they won’t drag me down.
There is a huge LED display at the back of the stage. It’s projecting a footage with elaborate CG to enliven the stage.
The stars are shining in the night sky, depicting the beautiful nebula. It’s in that moment──,
The footage vanished and the screen turned black.
Incidentally the song has just finished. However the switchover shouldn’t like this. There is no change in my expression, however my blood is boiling inside.
Geez! What are the staffs doing!?
However the next moment──,
「……Eh?」
The black screen displayed some words with a drab font.
The white letters showed,
──『No interest』
「What’s……this」
──『Everyone go home』
When I looked at the wing of the stage, the staffs are getting into panic.
And then the audiences started to make a stir.
No good. For now I need to cover this up.
「Ummm, everyone sorryyy. Looks like there is a mechanical trouble. I think it will be fixed soon so wait a second okay?」
I added a wink as a service.
However the state of the audiences is strange. A fragment of the stir reached my ears.
「For some reason, I’m not that interested anymore……want to go home?」
「I guess. I’m bored.」
──Eh!?
This is……just, what’s going on?
「Or rather, I shouldn’t come. I wonder why I really got into this?」
「Certainly. Well, guess it’s like a popular TV show that is finally past its prime?」
I could feel my face turning pale.
──Kuh!
I bit my lip.
Calm down.
Something is clearly strange. Most likely this is a trap that someone arranged.
The back dancers are also in confusion.
「S-Stella-samaa! What’s going with everyone mya!?」
Myaa looked like she wanted to cry. It made me wanted to yell at her. I’m the one who wanted to know just what’s going on here.
「Ah……!?」
The hearts of the audiences are going away from me. I’m feeling the lines that are sending mana to me getting blocked one after another.
「……Nekobe, do you feel anything strange? What do you think about me?」
「Nyau? That’s, Stella-sama is Myaa’s mistress, you are as pretty and cool as usual mya.」
Myaa’s reaction hadn’t changed. From what I observed, the other members are also the same. They are confused because they can’t understand the audiences’ reaction.
When I turned my gaze to the arena, I can see the audiences flowing out toward the exit.
Something is going on.
Furthermore it’s something really bad.
「……Anyway, it’s impossible to continue the show. We’re going back.」
I headed straight toward the stage’s wing without doing any follow up or saying anything else. From there I went to the backyard right away, into the waiting room.
I kept looking forward as I talked to Myaa and others who are following behind me.
「This is most likely an enemy’s scheme. We’re leaving this place quickly. While it’s still not too late──」
There is a silhouette standing in the way at the corridor ahead.
「Tooo baad. It’s already too lateee」
Blonde hair and tanned skin. Fashion style with a lot of skin exposure like a bitchy gal.
──The Sun, Sansa Summers.
「Sansa……is this your work?」
「No way. There is no way I can do anything directly right?」
Certainly it’s unthinkable that Sansa can do something like this. In that case──,
「!?」
I suddenly got hit by a terrible impact.
I felt my body got blown to the side.
「Stella-sama-!?」
My body broke through even the wall at the opposite side of the corridor and tumbled into the storehouse at the other side.
Horoscope’s defensive ability activated and automatically layered Armored magic over my body. Thanks to that I’m not seriously injured. But, my vision is shaking from too much impact.
Someone launched an attack magic from the other side of the wall.
「……tsu!」
Horoscope’s magic vanished in that moment.
It’s because my mana lines got cut off. A magic like Horoscope consumed a lot of mana. It’s impossible to use it constantly.
Furthermore, because the mana supply got stopped suddenly, there isn’t much magic power remaining inside my body. My mana consumption is already bad even in the best of times. My magic formula is powerful but, I can’t produce enough mana to fuel it. That’s exactly why I needed the mana supply lines.
I need to preserve my mana while escaping from here as quickly as possible!
I got on my feet and rushed toward the exit. However──,
「──Kyah!?」
My ankle got entangled by something and I stumbled forward.
「Fufufu, you won’t get away that easily.」
A woman in an erotic bondage fashion came from the other side of the broken wall. The whip in her hand is entwined around my ankle.
So the magic before this was also from her──Hayachine Yotaka.
「You──hya……!?」
My body got lifted up. It’s like the whip itself has its own will and tossed me away.
「Guah!!」
I got slammed to the ceiling. And then I fell down.
「Guh……cough! Cough-」
The impact didn’t get fully absorbed even though I had deployed defensive magic.
「Kuh……you」
「Ooh, that’s nice state you end up in Stella. Perhaps I should also joiiin?」
Sansa passed the opened hole in the wall and clapped her hands while grinning widely.
A lump of flame floated between her opened hands.
The round fire ball looked like a miniature sun.
「Prominence(Scorching Dragon Flame)!!」
That miniature sun headed to here. It stretched for long and undulated. A dragon made from flame assaulted me.
「Kuh……Barricade!!」
I deployed a defensive magic. This isn’t the time to be stingy with mana.
Prominence collided on Barricade. The area in front of me got wrapped in flame.
「You……kyaaaaah!?」
The flame dragon scattered. The Barricade was also smashed at the same time. The impact blew me backward showily.
「Ahaha, so funnyyy!! What happened with your usual pompousness? Come on come on, try looking down on me now!」
「……tsu」
This kind of woman! Even though I can kill her instantly if I’m in the perfect state!!
「Stella-sama!」
「Eh?」
Myaa and others, my Cards who served as my back dancers stood in front of me to protect me.
「Wait, you girls, you still haven’t run away!?」
「What are you saying mya!? Myaa and others are Stella-sama’s cards nya! How can we just run away nya!?」
「Idiot-! All of you aren’t fighters!! Run away quickly!」
However Myaa and others showed no sign of running away.
They will be slaughtered at this rate.
「Geez!」
I took out Star arcana from the pouch attached on my waist and held it forward.
「Release(Contract Release)!!」
The arcana shined brightly and radiance of stardust also whirled around Myaa and my other Cards. And then that radiance instantly got sucked into Star arcana.
「Nyah!? E-eh!? What was that just now nya!?」
With this everyone isn’t my Card anymore. There is no worry of them getting killed.
Yotaka chuckled seeing what I did.
「Oh, to worry for your underlings like that, I’m so moved I’ll cry.」
Sansa also laughed in ridicule.
「Is this the time to act generous like thaat? Wouldn’t it be better if you use these bunches as meat shield?」
「That’s not your business!!」
I took out the other thing that I hid in my pouch. That’s the magic stone that I brought with me in exchange of a charm for when push came to shove.
I threw it on the floor.
「!? This girl!」
Sansa raised her voice in panic, but it’s too late.
A magic circle formed under my feet. My body already got teleported to other place at that time.
From the backyard of Tokyo Dome to inside a forest.
This place is Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens that is adjacent to Tokyo Dome.
The surrounding is dark with lush trees growing thickly. There isn’t any sign of people.
I sighed in relieve.
The magic stone that has Teleport’s formula and mana sealed inside it was useful. Though I never expected that the time would come I have to use it.
「Even so……this is troublesome.」
At this rate I won’t be able to use both Horoscope and Galaxy Zero. My tactic can’t work if I can’t collect mana from my fans.
Still, right now isn’t the time to relax like this.
I checked the magic stones inside my pouch. I still have several remaining. If I use them──,
「Yaa, young lady of prestigious noble house.」
I closed my pouch in panic.
A shadow is standing like darkness ahead of the dark path.
「I said it before didn’t it? I might kill you the next time we meet.」
「You……」
A man wearing a hood with a fake looking smile.
The devil king candidate of Death, Joudogahama Lost──.
I brushed away my platinum blond hair and glared condescendingly at him.
「Can you not underestimate me too much? I don’t know how you did it but, even without the offering from my fans, do you think that I can be killed by the like of you?」
I can’t possible show weakness no matter the situation. Even if it’s just a bluff, I’ll act self-assured. That’s my style.
However Lost’s smile doesn’t change and he start walking toward here.
「I said it right? I’ll bring death to all of you.」
……? All of you, the way he said that is slightly strange.
However it doesn’t matter right now. I want to get away from here without using up too much mana.
Besides──,
I haven’t forgotten the feeling when I encountered Lost last time.
I don’t know the reason, but he doesn’t feel like a normal devil.
If Lost got serious, would I die at that time? I can’t wipe away that unpleasant thought.
In any case, I want to avoid getting into a fight with him.
But don’t fear him more than necessary.
My childhood trauma crossed my mind for just an instant.
──Because, I already too much of have that kind of feeling.
「Fizard!!」
I held my right hand forward and deployed magic circle at my fingertip. A lump of flame surged from the center of that. If he flinch or dodge even just for a bit, I’ll use that opening──,
However Lost doesn’t dodge. He also doesn’t deploy defensive magic. He doesn’t even stop walking.
He causally walked and caught Fizard with his body just like that.
「!?」
It hit.
The flame pierced Lost’s torso.
His clothes burned and the torn scrap became sparks that fluttered in the air.
However Lost’s expression doesn’t change at the slightest.
「Wha……」
What’s with……this guy?
「What’s the matter, Star’s devil king candidate? You don’t need to hold back you know?」
「……Then! Thunderio(Explosive Lightning Hammer)!!」
Thunder roared and lightning tore through the air toward Lost’s body.
「What about this!? Do you feel a bit numb?」
Lost’s clothes is scorched and smoking. However──,
「Hmm……perhaps it will feel better as electric massage if you do it a bit stronger?」
「……Tsu!!」
Shit-! Don’t screw with me!!
Although it was just an intermediate level magic, my remaining mana will be worrying if I fire it consecutively. But, I won’t be able to create an opening if he doesn’t even flinch at the slightest.
「Fine then! I’ll treat you with a high class magic!」
There won’t be any result if I just stupidly use mana in small amounts. I’ll gamble it with a single powerful shot then!
I lifted up my hands over my head before bringing them down toward Lost.
A large magic circle formed under Lost.
「Destrushear(Demonic Gunpowder Break)!!」
Extra large explosion gouged a hole in the park, creating a crater. An impact that can be mistaken as earthquake shook the ground and air. At the same time flame blast rushed through the park and burned the trees and plants.
The flame blast spread largely even at the night sky and a crimson fire pillar rose tall. As expected, with this even Sansa and Yotaka will notice my presence here. I need to retreat right away.
Thinking that, I hurriedly turned around. It’s then──,
Something is swaying inside the flame.
「No way……」
Lost showed up from inside the flame with unchanging gait from before.
The hood he is wearing has been burned to ash.
I saw his head for the first time.
──There are ears there.
Ears that looked like animal ears.
Wolf ears grew on his head.
「You saw it.」
Lost raised the corner of his lips in a smile. It’s truly a smile of the devil.
「Dreaming(Dreaming Wish Atrocity)」
When he muttered that, Lost’s body got dyed black.
「……Wha-」
──What?
What’s with this guy?
Lost’s form turned into a pitch black shadow.
The outline of his shape isn’t clear. It’s like he is a monster with indeterminate form.
Such thing that is unthinkable to be an existence of this world approached.
My eyes opened wide. My pupils shook.
My body trembled.
Cold sweat oozed out from all over my body.
I saw this once.
This is, like,
The monster that killed my family ten years ago.
The figures of my slaughtered family revived in front of my eyes.
「N……」
The black form is right in front of me.
「You will die here. Young lady of prestigious noble house.」
In that moment──fear broke my sense.
「NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!」
This is the same like that time.
Nothing can be done. Nothing works.
But, the only thing that I can do is run.
Scary.
I don’t want to die.
I somehow resisted my fear and turned back.
There is no black shadow.
Can I……escape?
「There is no way you can escape right?」
A voice came from above my head.
When I looked up, the sky is dark as though it has been painted black.
Two eyes floated glaringly inside that darkness.
「KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!」
A scream burst out from my throat.
Something burst on my back at the same time.
An explosion type magic threw my body to float in the air. I flew for several meters and fell inside a thicket.
「……Gah!」
My back is burning hot.
I can’t breathe from the impact that hit me.
Even so I somehow crawled to escape into the thicket.
I have to run.
I don’t want to die.
Death is scary.
My vision is blurry from tears.
I crawled on all fours and held my breath as I hid behind a thick tree.
I hugged my knees and made my body as small as possible.
No more. Something like this.
My body won’t stop shaking.
Help, someone help me.
*Rustle rustle, the sound of the thicket being parted entered my ears.
「Where are you……」
Scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary──,
Tears spilled out and won’t stop.
I pressed my hands over my mouth that almost sobbed.
This is the same like that time.
I’m hiding while trembling in fear.
Nothing has changed with me since that time.
The footsteps approached.
I pressed my back on the tree trunk, but something is getting in the way.
The pouch on my waist.
The magic stone inside it──.
「──There huh.」
A voice that sounded like it came from the bottom of earth resounded from right beside me.
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Part 2
I’m rushing under the night sky of Rome together with Lizel-senpai.
The city that is illuminated by the orange street lights can be seen below. The rooftop of the building with classical design that was designated as the destination is approaching.
I landed, and then ran on the rooftop before leaping once more.
I went forward and chased after Lizel-senpai’s back.
Her figure isn’t in her usual uniform.
Both Lizel-senpai and I are wearing black body suit so we won’t stand out under the night sky. Putting me aside, senpai’s back is really alluring.
The small headset on my ear is flaring with Lizel-senpai’s delighted voice.
『Fufu, come catch me quickly♪』
She turned back to look at me with a mischievous smile.
Cute, I thought, but I can’t possible speak my impression out loud.
「Roger. Today I’ll definitely catch up for sure!」
We are amusing ourselves with playing tag under the night sky──not, this too is a part of the special training.
It’s a special training in order to skillfully use every kind of magic freely. Furthermore it has to be done subconsciously with delicate control.
There is nothing to be done except practicing by repetition for that. By doing that, magic circuit is engraved in my body.
By the way it seems Lizel-senpai managed to learn it right away when she was a child. But I’m not a genius like Lizel-senpai. To compensate I can only train a lot.
Miyabi said that she was the same like me and trained single-mindedly to learn it.
「Yuuto, heere♥」
That Miyabi appeared from out of nowhere and ran beside me.
As expected she is also wearing a black body suit that clung tightly on her body. Her two large breasts that are wrapped in that suit are jiggling around. My eyes are sucked toward there.
She poked on my cheek.
「Geez, you’re too careless. You didn’t notice me until I’m right by your side! It’s usual for someone to be unable to see anything else when chasing after someone though!」
「Certainly……thanks for the warning, Miyabi.」
「Ehehehe, your welcomee! Ah, also──」
Miyabi scooped up her breasts with her hands and lifted them up.
「My breasts won’t settle down with this suit. It will be a big help if Yuuto can help holding them down firmly in place thoughh♥」
We kicked on a church’s rooftop side by side and made a big jump.
「Oi oi, right now isn’t the training for that right?」
Then Miyabi smiled sweetly in anticipation.
「Ehehe, tonight is my turn. So it’s fine to have fun from now……♥」
「Miyabi……」
Don’t say something that stimulated my lower body like that. My concentration got disturbed here.
When I thought that, there is a shadow that rushed here with terrific speed from the other side of Miyabi.
「Looks like Miyabi’s opponent is here.」
「Heh?」
A beautiful girl with blonde hair and brown skin──Neith approached in the blink of eye.
「Hyah!?」
Miyabi manifested a magic circle midair and used it as foothold to change her direction.
「Whoaaah!!!」
Miyabi yelled as her figure vanished into the night sky.
「Kya!?」
Neith crashed onto me from the excessive momentum.
「S-sorry!」
「……!!」
I can’t reply from getting buried into the valley of Neith’s breasts.
「N-no. It’s alright.」
When I lifted my face, I met Neith’s moistened eyes. Her cheeks are blushing as though she has gotten sexually excited.
When I hurriedly lowered my gaze, I found huge breasts that don’t lose even against Miyabi there. The shape of the nipples that are pushing the thin body suit are clearly displayed there.
Shit! My lower body is getting even worse!!
「T-then! I’m going before Lizel-senpai yell at me!!」
『What did you say I’m going to do?』
A cold voice spoke out from the headset.
Dammit, she heard everything!
「I-it’s nothing at all-!!」
I hurriedly chased after Lizel-senpai. Lizel-senpai is in a large plaza that is dotted with historical ruins. It seems to be a site called Foro Romano and has existed since two thousand years ago.
Eight marble pillars with height around three or four meters are standing in a line. That place was once a shrine. Lizel-senpai is standing on top of there.
I also landed beside her.
「I still can’t catch up with senpai today.」
「You can’t catch up with me because you got distracted by Miyabi and Neith’s breasts you know?」
……She saw through me.
And then senpai too folded her arms and lifted up her large and beautiful breasts from below as though to show them off.
The soft curve and the shape of nipple that came to the surface tightly grasped my gaze and won’t let go.
「Fufufu, should we do mana supply?」
Lizel-senpai felt my gaze and smiled teasingly.
「Ah, no……my mana’s upper limit has also increased a lot so……」
One week has passed since the latter half of the training camp started. There are also only five days remaining for the summer break.
I have cleared the first objective of reaching 10000 mana capacity. It looked like things are going well from that, but then I ran into a wall at that point.
My mana’s upper limit increased until 12000 by doing Healing Lovers with Neith, and yet it’s just like Sein said, the new characteristic magic didn’t activate.
Since then we have tried out various stimulating plays, but we haven’t find an effective way that can solve the problem.
We are in such a stagnating situation, so I kept feeling under pressure no matter what.
There are 80000 remaining until the mana upper limit that Sein mentioned. If I can meet with Sein one more time, perhaps I’ll be able to hear useful information. After thinking that, the question of who Sein is came up once more.
Presumably, that place might not be my own mental world.
No, rather──,
I took the Lovers arcana that is dangling from my neck.
The scenery of that world……somehow, it felt similar with this arcana’s background. Then, did I enter inside Lovers arcana?
Besides that voice……it’s similar with the arcana’s voice that usually guided me.
The arcana’s voice is like an unemotional system voice, so I didn’t notice, but when I tried thinking back real hard, aren’t they actually the same voice?
「Lizel-senpai……the devil king’s arcana, are the arcanas themselves have their own will or something?」
「Why do you think so?」
「Recently I went to a strange place inside my dream. I met with a woman there but……it feels like that person has a connection with Lovers arcana……」
「……」
Lizel-senpai looked across Rome.
「There is a reason why we are training in this place.」
It’s not the answer to my question. However I listened quietly.
「There is no accurate record about the origin of devil king’s arcana remaining. However, it’s said that the origin is most likely this Italy.」
「Eh!? The devil king’s arcana wasn’t created at the devil world?」
「The devils who came to this world created them while receiving the influence of human world……it’s considered to be like that. The theory that tarot cards were created by using that devil king’s arcana as reference is a popular theory.」
「Is that so……」
Then, I’m doing special training in the land of origin of devil king’s arcana right now?
「I thought that perhaps if we have special training in the land where the devil king’s arcana was born, the connection between Lovers arcana and Yuuto might receive some kind of influence.」
──Then, as I thought?
When I met Sein in the dream, it felt like there was even more sense of reality than before……it was also easy to talk to her, and it felt like we could have smoother conversation than before.
Then, the thing that Sein said at the end.
The past’s karma……the moment the missing key is recovered, my seal will be released──if I remember correctly, she said something like that.
Did something happen in my past?
「──Senpai. Before this I──」
At that timing, the arcana’s voice suddenly echoed inside my head.
『Warning. Transart magic detected. Recommending vigilance.』
A magic circle is suddenly deployed at the ground below.
「Yuuto!!」
「Yes!」
I got on my guard and prepared both attack and defense magic.
The white shining magic circle rotated and a fallen person appeared at the center.
「That’s……?」
That silhouette that is illuminated by mana’s light looked like a corpse for a moment.
That’s just how much it lacked vitality.
The whole body is dirtied by blood and mud and the clothes are torn to pieces. The chest and thigh that peeked out from there are pale white as though no blood passed through.
The platinum blond hair that is covered by mood is also crumpled like a discarded doll. The expressionless face is like a corpse and the lightless eyes are unfocused and not looking anywhere.
「No way……」
Lizel-senpai also turned pale.
When the magic circle turned into light particles and vanished, Lizel-senpai and I jumped down from the shrine ruin to the side of the fallen silhouette.
I got shocked once more when I saw that silhouette from nearby.
A shrill voice naturally leaked out from my mouth.
「This is……Hoshigaoka……Stella?」
The fallen figure looked like a torn rag.
It’s unthinkable that this is that beautiful and haughty devil king candidate of Star who shined radiantly on the seat of top idol.
.
Part 3
That person is living inside a mountain in the middle of nowhere.
That’s why it takes time and effort to go meet that person.
The rental car I chartered turned away from the highway to a side road and ran through a small road where it will be difficult to continue if other car comes from the opposite direction. The car passed a path that turned and twisted through the slope of the mountain before an open space suddenly appeared.
There are many houses with thatch roof standing there. The person who I’m going to meet after this is living alone in this settlement that has been abandoned now.
「Dear customer, is this place alright?」
When the rental car stopped, the drive asked me solemnly.
I lifted up my face and nodded a little to the driver through the rearview mirror.
My smiling face is reflected in that mirror.
The face of the devil king candidate of Wheel of Fortune, Shimokadzuma Rinne. That smile is there simply because I’m making that kind of face. It’s not any sign that showed my emotion.
The driver got down from the car and opened the door of the back seat.
「Then, I will wait over here.」
The driver kept standing as he saw me off.
He isn’t a devil, but just a human. The taxi company that I chose is also one that isn’t related to any devil.
It’s not allow other devil king candidates to learn of the location of the person I’m going to meet after this.
If I carelessly used a company that is involved with devil, the information will leak easily. Not just human, even devils under the influence of Shimokadzuma House is just as risky.
And most of all, I don’t trust anybody in my house.
I took out my smartphone and wrote a message in a social networking service.
The name of the person I’m messaging is──Hermit.
『I’m in front of the house. Can I enter?』
Then a reply came immediately.
『Oo, that’s fine.』
The barrier deployed around the house is dispelled along with that lighthearted reply.
I walked until under the eaves, and put my hand on the door with bad fitting. It can’t be opened with one hand, so I used both my hands, then I pried it open by using all my strength.
For me, this door is more annoying than the magic barrier.
Inside there is dirt floor with a tatami room a step higher on it.
I took off my shoes and stepped on the tatami mat, then I walked inside the house with familiarity in my steps. I stopped walking in the middle of the corridor and removed a floor board.
There is a square hole in the floor. Underneath it is a hidden stair.
I went down carefully so I won’t misstep. Underground there is a different space with a completely different image from above spreading out.
Glass cases filled with figurines are lined up. Many tapestries of beautiful girl characters and handsome guy characters are hanging down from the ceiling. Tall bookshelves are laid out on the wall. They are packed full with otaku type books like manga or picture books.
There is a large PC desk at the middle of such room. Three large monitors are lined up there. In front of them, the girl who is the place’s owner is sitting.
When she noticed my presence, that girl with white hair that has pink highlight turned around.
Her eye color is also pink. Her white skin that has no tan and long and bushy white eyelashes are really pretty.
This is the devil king candidate of Hermit──Kozukata Hisoka.
She is a pessimist whose shut-in level has reached transcendental level. She is already close to being an actual hermit.
When she saw me, she turned her gaze to the monitors so she won’t meet my eyes. And then when she placed her hands on the keyboard, she inputted a message into the application that is displayed on the monitor.
My smartphone made a notification sound.
『And, how was it? It was a good job for a Hisoka’s work don’t you think?』
I also don’t talk to her directly and inputted my reply into my smartphone.
『Yes. Looks like it went perfectly. Apparently she got away before she could be finished off, but the Star is surely already an invalid now.』
『I seeee!!!!!! Wheee! It’s also Rin-chan’s achievement ain’t it!?』
『It seems so. Thank you. It’s thanks to Hisoka-chan.』
As I replied like that, I checked the person herself in front of me. There isn’t really any change in Hisoka’s expression.
Even though in the net she is super lively and full of emotion, the actual person is like a doll.
Hisoka is a shut in and is bad at communication on top of that. Normally she won’t show her face to anybody. I’m allowed to enter her house like this is an exception among exceptions.
『But, I’m sorry. Even though Hisoka-chan doesn’t really want to get involved with other people』
『I told you it’s fine already. I can get along with Rin-chan thanks to that after all.』
Hisoka is made to take part because Lost found her out. Unlike me, she is simply cooperating so that she can be overlooked.
It seemed that at first she was obeying reluctantly because she felt that her life was in danger. However, her attitude slightly changed since I became the one in contact with her.
I think that perhaps it’s because we are similar in some respect.
I don’t know the detail, but apparently Hisoka can’t endure the expectation of her family to become the next devil king and became a shut-in. She also terribly feared being criticized or harmed by other people.
Her defensive instinct of not wanting to be harmed is also too strong that she can’t even communicate well with other people.
I’m also similar to her in some respects, she must be sensitively sensing that from me. She is relieved that I won’t do anything she dislike.
『I have been careful……but, I’m worried that Hisoka-chan’s location might get leaked out from somewhere……』
『But well, the work is over already, and I’m planning to hide myself again soon. Ah, but I’ll keep in touch.』
『Yes. With pleasure.』
『It will be nice if we both can survive. Hisoka hate dying more than becoming the devil king you knowww, I really don’t wanna dieee』
Hisoka is likeable when she talked without care like this. I think Hisoka is also considering me as someone amiable.
Perhaps, even I can make a friend……I harbored such hope.
『Hisoka-chan is planning to run away instead of fighting aren’t you?』
『That’s it! Beeecause, Hisoka got zero combat strength here. Hisoka is accidentally useful against Star, but it’s impossible to win against her without anybody’s help.』
Hisoka’s characteristic magic Brain Washer(Bleaching Brainwash) has the power to brainwash the opponent. It sounded like a very terrifying ability from just that description. Like the superior version Devil’s devil king candidate, Mitsuishi Ibiza’s Psyconnect.
However Brain Washer isn’t effective against devil. It’s only effective against human. It might be useful for managing the territory normally, but it’s not useful in Devil King Great War.
But, it was the power of Brain Washer that severed the source of Stella’s mana.
Hisoka carried out the brainwashing through human senses like sight or hearing. She hijacked the stage’s display system and brainwashed the fans through the screen.
『With Hisoka’s characteristic magic, it’s impossible to fight in Devil King Great War! But, there were survivors even at the last battle, so Hisoka will also aim to complete escape by hiding the whole time!!』
『Yep. Do your best.』
『Rin-chan too! Let’s survive together yeah!!』
Actually I want to leave her alone.
But, there is one other thing that Lost asked me to do.
I can’t go against Lost. No, I don’t want to. I have pledged my loyalty to him since that day he saved my soul.
I was receiving strict education since I was little in order to be the next devil king.
I was raised to be the family’s puppet that will fight in the Devil King Great War without my own will. However, I couldn’t produce a result that could answer their expectation at all.
Perhaps I was too serious. That was why I got completely sick mentally. I ended up cutting my own wrist because I wanted to be forgiven for being no good.
My feeling would lighten when I cut my wrist. Perhaps it was just in my imagination, but I’d also be able to slightly feel that I could start over something.
Thinking back now, perhaps that feeling was the impetus that made me awakened to Revival.
The wrist cutting saved me temporarily, but something that made such thing to be trivial happened.
The people of my family announced my death sentence.
My family decided to prop up a branch house’s daughter as the devil king candidate instead of me.
Then I’ll withdraw myself, so please leave me alone──I begged like that.
However, there was also the possibility of me rebelling. In order to not leave behind any enmity, they attacked me to kill me right there.
I begged for my life while crying. I showed my cut covered arms and pleaded while cutting my wrist over and over. However that only brought the opposite effect. They insulted me even more that not only I’m unsuitable as a devil king candidate, I’m not even worthy to be a member of Shimokadzuma House.
I grabbed a cutter with a trembling hand and desperately apologized while cutting my wrist.
In that moment──time rewound.
To when I’m inside my room while waiting for the people of my family to come.
At first I didn’t understand what happened. However──,
「Hee, you can use an interesting magic.」
A hooded man stood beside me.
「You……are?」
「I’m Joudogahama Lost. I’ll save you.」
「Save me?」
What is this person saying, I thought.
「I don’t have any worth for that. No one want me and I can’t be useful to anybody……that’s why……」
「That’s why, you want to die?」
My body jerked.
「Death……」
Fear pierced my body.
「If you wish for death, I shall give you death. But if you want to live, say it. After all, I need you.」
──Need. Me?
It was a word that I never heard at all.
「Other people is in control of your destiny and being treated like trash……I too understand that feeling very well.」
This man know the pain that my heart is feeling.
「Your ability is amazing. I can make use of your power to great effect.」
Those were words that I had wanted to hear the whole time.
That’s why I want to answer Lost’s expectation.
There is just one more thing that I want Hisoka to do.
I resolved myself and input a message into my smartphone.
『……But you know, in the Devil King Great War this time, there is just one person that Hisoka-chan can win against you know?』
『Ee~, no waaay there is anybody like that.』
I let out a deep breath and mentioned the sacrifice’s name.
『You see, the Lover devil king candidate is a human.』
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