Mokushiroku Arisu - Volume 01

by Kagami Takaya

  One is giving it the blade of a normal sword.

  And the other is to allow the user to find the point where one can deal a fatal blow to the opponent with the strength of this sword,

  "...... Assassination property."

  I order the knife to see through the weak point of the devil. Upon doing that, a red target point appears before my eyes. The point is at the center of the back of the neck of the devil. It seems like there is a soft spot at the back of its neck. I jump towards there.

  The devil notices me. Its golden eyes catch sight of me jumping in mid-air, and its eyes widen in surprise but,

  "Ha, you're too slow."

  I am holding the demon sword in a backhand grip. I step onto the left shoulder of the devil with my right foot, and stab my sword into the back of its neck in one stroke.

  "Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?"

  The devil screams out in agony but, while twisting the sword, I say,

  "You're annoying. Shut up for a bit."

  I push the sword across and slice half of the devil's neck, then pull the sword to slice the other half of its neck.

  Its head falls off. The devil collapses.

  Just before the place where it's collapsing, Kiri, while remaining crouched, looks at me in surprise.

  "...... y-you."

  For some reason, she's looking up at me with a red face, and smirking, I say to her.

  "Oh ~ my, isn't this the popular Kiri-san? Don't you have a ton of friends you made with your prided large breasts ~?"

  Kiri's eyes widen in mute amazement. Following that, she makes a troubled smile. Even though she has been entirely covered in blood and stained with dirt, she is still beautiful. She had supposedly proclaimed that she would make many allies with her beauty --- but, right now, she has no friends.

  Kiri stands up, pats herself and brushes the dirt off her skirt, then gazes at me and says.

  "Jeez. What's with that? And to think that I have fallen in love in an instant with that prince-on-a-white-horse entrance...... I wonder whether we can do something about that trashy way of talking of yours."

  "Ha, if you believe in such fairy tales, you should just go back to reading picture books."

  "Ah-haha. But, Mr. Aloof Bastard."

  "What is it, Miss Breast-Only Girl."

  But Kiri smiles.

  She says happily.

  "Thanks...... for saving me. I thought I would be done in for sure...... so I'm really happy."

  A few teardrops gather in her eyes. She might have really been scared. Or, perhaps she is feeling hurt after getting betrayed by her friends.

  I look intently at her with half-opened eyes and turn my back towards her. It's not like I'm asking for such a development. I didn't save her to please her, but to make fun of her.

  I say.

  "Of course it's not free. After we get out of the labyrinth, I'll have you pay me a saving fee."

  "Ah-haha. A prince who's corrupted by money huh. How unpleasant."

  "And also, hand me all your intel. Among your classmates ---"

  But, that alone was enough to convey everything to Kiri, it seems

  She is a left-brain type.

  A rational, composed type.

  A sharp-minded type.

  "There was one. One who had labyrinth exploration magic loaded."

  I smirk and say.

  "That person too, must be your friend of course?"

  On saying that, Kiri's eyes roll around, puff out her cheeks, and puuh, she then gushes out and says.

  "Again that obnoxious talk. You won't make any friends if you keep doing that, you know?"

  "A lot say that."

  "But yeah. She did say she was my friend. But she was one of those who readily abandoned me and escaped just now."

  "It must be because you have a bad personality so she ran away from you."

  Kiri smiles.

  "Fufuh, maybe. Well, even for me, it's impossible to make a friend who's willing to risk her life for me in just one day."

  "Because of your bad personality."

  "Ah-ha, I'm going to kill you, you know?"

  "Eh? You want to kill your savior me? You really have a bad personality huh."

  I say but, for some reason, Kiri still gazes at me and smiles happily.

  "Fufuh, hey Shinnosuke-kun."

  "What?"

  "I think I just found a cute side to you."

  "Ah?"

  I say with a scowl but, Kiri quickly goes on to ascend the stairs.

  "But right now, it's not the time to think about such things, so let's save it for later ~. Let's go on ahead. Our destination is the third floor. The leftmost path of a three-pronged branch. It seems like our diseased girl is at the deep end of that path."

  It seems like Kiri has no intention of escaping. Following after her, I say.

  "...... didn't you see what's on your armband? The only person left in your class is you, you know?"

  Kiri gives a small tap to the armband around her slender arm and nods.

  "Ah, yeah. You're right."

  "Then, you should be escaping right? Didn't you get the instructions? Once four stars disappear, the chances of success will be low, so escape."

  Kiri turns around, and smiles.

  "Of course, I heard those instructions."

  "Then, disappear. Someone who doesn't have any friends here is a hindrance."

  "Ah-ha, you too don't have any right?"

  "I have a lot of them. Since, I have already made a hundred friends in this school."

  "Fuh, fufufuh."

  Once again, for some reason, Kiri looks at me with an affectionate, gloomy, smiling face. She gives a small tap on my chest and says.

  "I don't really need a hundred friends. I'm actually really bad at getting close to others. But Shinnosuke-kun. If I'm with you...... I feel that we can save the world."

  I smile with half-opened eyes. I think I see her ulterior motive and make a poke at it.

  "What's up with you? So, that's what it's about? Making an advance on me to use me?"

  However, on hearing that, Kiri's eyes widen a little in surprise.

  "...... eh?"

  Following that, she folds her arms in a troubled manner, ponders to herself, and in a soft voice,

  "...... ah, ah, so that's it ~. You're seeing it in that way huh. I see. Well, after all, I'm no good at showing a cute side when I'm not acting. I have to be more careful."

  She started muttering to herself but I couldn't hear her.

  "What're you muttering about?"

  She shakes her head hastily on hearing my question.

  "Er, nothing. Just forget about what just happened. Let's redo this. Let's go with this. Let's work hard together and clear the labyrinth without escaping, so as to leave behind good results in our school records; we'll go with this direction."

  "Huh?"

  "All right, let's just go with this. And so ~, let's head to the third floor. I know the way."

  On hearing that, I turn around, troubled as to whether I should call Shiro. This should be obvious but, cellphones don't work here. There is also no transmitting tower in the labyrinth, and any kind of scientific-based radio waves are cut off. Thus, unless one has a contacting magic loaded in one's slots, one would have to use the primitive method of calling out to another directly. And, if Shiro is still on the first floor, then he should be able to hear my shouting voice from the staircase here.

  But of course, if I raise my voice, then the wandering devils might notice me, I suppose. Based on the one I encountered earlier, together, Kiri and I should be able to take care of just one or two of them but, we have no time to engage in pointless battles. Besides, Himi possesses the 《Intimate switch》. If she knows that I'm already on the upper levels, they should come after me, I suppose. At any rate, we are friends.

  "...... hah."

  I laugh mockingly, and move my finger. The time limit gets displayed in my mind.

  Thirty-two minutes have passed.

&
nbsp; According to the plan, we are supposed to be killing the diseased girl by now. But, there are still two more floors. We have way exceeded the appointed time.

  "Hey Shinnosuke-kun, what's wrong?"

  Turning around, Kiri asks me.

  "Nothing."

  "Ah, don't tell me that you have friends below?"

  "I don't have any friends."

  "Fuuhn. Hey."

  "Hn?"

  "Is it a girl?"

  "Like I said before, what's up with you?"

  "Aah, nothing, sorry. I made a mistake again. This is difficult. Puhh-puuh."

  For some reason, seemingly discontented about something with herself, she went puhh-puuh. I don't get this girl.

  "............"

  I look at her with half-opened eyes, and sighing, ascend to the second level.

  ♦

  We are running desperately in the castle.

  We have probably covered a distance of more than a kilometer.

  Killed three devils. It was easy doing it together with Kiri. But, the stairs to the third floor has yet to appear. According to Kiri, we still have about five hundred meters or so.

  "............"

  I take a quick glance at the armband I'm wearing. The armband that has 『Class 5』 written on it. I notice that the ☆ marks below suddenly start disappearing rapidly.

  They either died or escaped. One, two --- disappeared, and then three people at one go. With this, the students in 『Class 5』, including me, are left with only nine people.

  Now, does this disappeared group include Shiro or Himi --- or even Gunjou? If Gunjou's comrades had died, would she be crying helplessly?

  Grinning stupidly...... was something I did not do this time. With a somewhat tired face, I look up at the high ceiling.

  "I really suck at running."

  "Haha, what did you get for your 50-meter dash?"

  "I don't have, the practice of keeping track of such useless stuff."

  "Ohh. Me too."

  "...... where were you from?"

  "What about you, Shinnosuke-kun?"

  "A normal middle school."

  "Then, me too."

  "Die."

  "Ah-haha."

  It seems like somehow, she isn't going to come clean, so talking to her would be meaningless. Well, it's the same for me though.

  While running, Kiri points straight in front.

  "After the bend around the corner ahead, we will come out into a large hall, and in the center of that hall will be a spiral staircase. At the top of it, should be the floor where the diseased girl is."

  "Fuuhn. I see."

  I look to the front.

  And at the same time, just ahead along the corridor, a flash of light appears from around the corner.

  The sound of explosion follows.

  "Noooooooooooo!"

  Someone, a girl screams.

  "Ayumi! Damn, what should we do about this!?"

  It's the yelling voice of a young man.

  And finally, Gunjou's voice sounds.

  "Everyone fall back! I'll deal with it! And also, don't waver! It'll be fine! If you guys just leave it to me, I'll get rid of them in no......"

  However, cutting her off, the young man's voice rings out.

  "Don't f**k with us Gunjou! How many people have already died! In order to fulfill your ego of wanting to clear this labyrinth, how many people have already died!?"

  "T-That is......"

  "We are at our limits! I'm going to Escape!"

  "Me too!"

  "Me as well!"

  "W-Wait! Just a little bit more!? Just a little bit more, and we'll save the 3 million people of Kanagawa Pre......"

  Gaaaaaaaaaaaahh, that howl of the 'devil' which we have already heard several times drowns out Gunjou's voice.

  Several other howls follow. There seem to be a few of those devils on the other side.

  "Uwaaaaahh."

  "Sa-Saitou-kun's dead!? It's over, let's bail!"

  "Escape switch."

  "Escape switch."

  Then, Gunjou says in an anguished voice.

  "Damn! Damn! What the hell...... don't screw with me, useless shit! Even though we are just a few steps away...... just a few steps away from killing the girl!?"

  The stars on my armband disappear again.

  Two people escaped.

  One by the name of Saitou-kun escaped from his physical body for good.

  Kiri, who is running beside me, says.

  "My, what do you think? Do we pass them and leave them? Honestly, we don't really have time to save anyone."

  I narrow my eyes, and reply.

  "...... incidentally, those who are fighting there are my classmates, you know?"

  "Ah, is that so?"

  "Yeah."

  "...... so? Are you the type who would save your classmates?"

  I stare at Kiri with half-opened eyes, and once again look to the front. A thin smile then surfaces on my face.

  "Now. I wonder what kind of face that always high and mighty, arrogant, vomit lady is making now?"

  "Eh?"

  I reach the end of the corridor. I kick the wall with my left foot, and change my direction.

  To the right.

  Before me is a huge hall.

  The number of devils --- the black-skinned devils number three. There is one red-skinned devil that I have not yet seen before.

  The surviving students are a guy and a girl.

  "Ah, aaah, it's over......"

  "W-We're also going to die......"

  The two of them have completely lost their will to fight. The girl is sitting down on the floor. Of course, I couldn't blame them. After all, this is a high-level labyrinth. There are those weak-hearted ones who, after seeing their comrades, their classmates, killed before their eyes, can no longer move from the fear.

  But, there is one more who didn't give up on fighting.

  Protecting the guy and the girl, a girl who is short like a child, with a slender body, fair skin and blond hair, is the sole person standing between the two classmates and the four huge devils, and yelling.

  "...... don't screw with me! Who do you think I am! I'm that Mizuiro Gunjou, you know! I will definitely not lose! There's no way...... there's no way I'll allow myself to lose here! Come forth, Sea Moon Wheel switch!"

  She shouts. And raises her left hand. Jellyfish appear around her and start spinning. The devils swing their axes down on them. And slice the jellyfish apart. As an ax bears down on Gunjou,

  "Kuh!"

  One more jellyfish appears at her foot and using that as a foothold, she jumps into the air and dodges the blow.

  And she then shouts.

  To the guy and girl who are no longer able to move, and who are sitting down on the floor,

  "You guys are no longer useful so just escape! I'll buy you time......"

  At that moment, the red devil jumps. The red one is overwhelmingly much faster than the black ones. And just as its ax falls towards her ---

  "D-Defensive Tyrant switch!"

  Gunjou shouts with her hands crossed over one another. Before her hands, a current of water comes forth as if to surround Gunjou. It's probably a defensive magic. That water current strikes the ax of the red devil. Depending on the type of defensive magic, it's possible to cancel out the force of an instant killing blow but --- this is a type of wide-area defensive magic. With this, it wouldn't be able to completely neutralize the force from the ax of the devil.

  "Kyah."

  Gunjou falls to the ground from the blow.

  She falls before the guy and girl. As her head hits the ground, her blond hair becomes stained red with her blood.

  The pair behind look down at Gunjou, the one protecting them, with fearful faces, and finally activate their 《Headphone Fuzz》.

  But what they have activated are probably their 《Escape switches》. They aren't even making an attempt to help the one who is desperately protecting them.

  But that's a na
tural response. It's the reaction of a normal human being. Humans are all self-centered, self-interested creatures that need no friends.

  Appearing to be well aware of that, Gunjou stands up again without even looking back. Perhaps as a result of getting her head hit, her slender legs are wobbling a little. She snaps her fingers three times.

  Despite the fact that I am a short distance away, I too can hear faintly, the roar that has begun playing from the 《Headphone Fuzz》. Isn't the volume enough to shatter her eardrum, I wonder. Boosting the cursed song beyond the capacity of her brain, she is trying to do something about her situation.

  She mutters something to herself.

  "...... d-damn, this can't be...... this isn't me...... this can't be...... if this goes on, Papa and Mama are going to abandon me...... no. Definitely. No way. Who am I? I'm a member of the Mizuiro House, am I not? I can't lose to something like this...... so, I'm going to do this. I can do this. I can definitely do this. Go, Gunjou. GO GO GO GO!"

  Gunjou looks up, and with a ghastly, dismal, and fierce look, she glares at the devil and yells.

  "Here I come monsters! I'm going to mess all of you so much till you die! Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

  She spreads both her hands. Thirty jellyfish appear around her at the same time.

  The guy and girl behind her murmur.

  "Escape switch."

  "Escape switch."

  The pair readily abandoned Gunjou.

  Gunjou is now alone.

  But, as expected, she remains unconcerned. Fighting the devils all by herself. She dodges the ax of the first attacking devil, and using a jellyfish as her foothold, she jumps up into the air. She is aiming for the red devil. That's the right decision. Aside from the red devil, if she knows the weak points of the rest, then they aren't difficult foes.

  Gunjou goes behind the red devil.

  "A-All right! Sea Moon Wheel switch!"

  She waves her hand with a jubilant face. The circular disc of the jellyfish strikes the back of the neck of the red devil.

  That --- should kill the devil.

  But, just when the circular disc strikes the surface of its skin, it stops. The force it dealt was insufficient to reach its weak point.

  "You're kidding......?"

  Gunjou's face turns to shock. The axes of the rest of the devils approach Gunjou all at once. Gunjou can't dodge those. She is going to turn into mince meat.

  However, a thin, smirk breaks out on my face as I mutter.