by Chuuni Suki
However, her composure proved to be fatal.
"I already know that!"
Sparks came from Schlagen along with Hajime's words, he fired the full-metal jacket-like thing that was accelerated by electromagnetism towards Miledi Golem's chest at zero distance. A great roar and impact were generated while Miledi Golem was blown backward.
However, Hajime didn't withdraw like last time. He kept clinging using the anchor, his artificial arm pushed into the Miledi Golem's chest that was broken, once it was inside he fired the shotshells until they were exhausted. The tremendous impact blew Miledi Golem even further, and she was thrown into the floating block behind her.
"E-even after this, eventually..."
"Yue!"
Ignoring Miledi's words, Hajime called out Yue's name. Following that, Yue jumped and released her magic.
"Be frozen! "Ice Coffin"!"
Just as she wished, she pulled the trigger to activate the magic that's originally used to confine objects inside a coffin of ice. However, this ice magic was a high-ranked water magic. Middle-ranked and above magic should be unusable in this area. Even so, this magic was necessary to restrain Miledi Golem.
The ceiling blocks that she threw along with the back of Miledi Golem were frozen immediately, then the floating block was at a stand still.
"Wh-!? How did high-ranked magic—!?"
Miledi raised a shocked voice. It was a simple story on how Yue was able to use high-ranked ice magic. Just like "Rupture," by preparing the water beforehand she was able to reduce the consumption of magic power. That's why beforehand, water was scattered on the blocks that Miledi was thrown to. Also, water was also scattered on the back of the composed Miledi Golem. That was the objective of the previous "Rupture."
Even so, it still consumed enormous magic power, Yue used up all of the magic power that she stocked inside the magic crystallization stone. Yue evacuated on the nearby floating block while panting.
"You did it, Yue!"
Standing on Miledi Golem's chest, Hajime took out his last resort from "Treasure Box." What appeared from the void was a large elongated cylinder with a length of two and a half meters. A lot of mechanisms were installed outside, while inside a jet black stake with a diameter of 20 centimeters was loaded. On the lower side, four sturdy arms were installed, and it began to synchronize with the mechanisms inside Hajime's artificial arm.
Just like that, Hajime inserted the arms right above the unmoving Miledi Golem, and fired the anchors that were installed on it's outer casing. Six arms deeply pierced the surface and firmly fixed the large cylinder in place. At the same time, Hajime poured his magic power into it. Then, the large cylinder let out red sparks, the jet black stake that was loaded inside began to strongly rotate.
KIiIIIII!!!
The melody coming from the high-speed rotation echoed. Hajime was grinning, if not for having a golem's body, Miledi's expression would surely seem cramped. This atrocious form was the artificial arm's attachable weapon called "Pile Bunker." Using "Compression Transmutation," four tons were compressed into a stake with a diameter of 20 centimeters and length of 1.2 meters, and its surface was coated with Azanthium ore. It was the heaviest and hardest stake in this world. It was shot out using a large amount of combustion powder that was compressed and electromagnetic acceleration that was set on the upper part of the large cylinder.
"Take it with all your might and die."
Accompanied by those words, as if driving a stake into a vampire, the jet black stake struck Miledi Golem's core.
GOoGAGAGAN!!!
The pile bunker activated accompanied with a terrific impacting sound, the jet black stake pierced through Miledi Golem's absolute defense. The Azanthium armor on the chest was immediately cracked, and the stake buried itself into it without mercy. Because of the impact, Miledi Golem's body sank and created a radial crack on the floating block. The floating block immediately descended. From Miledi Golem, white smoke was rising from the chest part because of the friction from high-speed rotation.
... ... however, the light didn't disappear from Miledi Golem's eyes.
"Ha, hah. Apparently its power is still insufficient. But, well isn't it the real deal? I wonder, did it pierce 3/4 of the armor?"
Somewhat, her voice was stiff, but Miledi still kept her composure. She secretly drenched in cold sweat. Although the pile bunker was a certain kill weapon, because of insufficient electromagnetic acceleration, its real power couldn't be shown. Therefore, it was disappointingly unable to fully penetrate the defense.
However, Hajime's eyes didn't show any resignation. It was as if he already took it into account.
"Do it! Shia!"
Hajime put everything away into "Treasure Box" except the stake, then he quickly jumped away from Miledi Golem's chest.
What appeared instead of him was Shia with rabbit ears blown by the wind and Doryukken in an upper stance, while she fell from far above.
"Kh!?"
Miledi had probably guessed what Shia tried to do. This time, Miledi Golem tried to hurriedly get away. When she realized, with Shia's current speed, even if she moved the floating block now, she wouldn't make it in time... ... she gave up and stopped moving.
Shia, using the force from the shotshell, brought down a blow with all of her might into the stake.
DOGOoOO!!!
The stake sank further accompanied with a great roar. However, it was still unable to fully penetrate the armor. Shia decided to attack using all of the remaining shotshells, then she pulled the trigger.
DOGONh! DOGONh! DOGONh! DOGONh! DOGONh! DOGONh!
"AaAAAAA!!"
Shia's shout rang out. She decided to show all of her will and pour it into the Sledgehammer that was her partner. With all of her might and will, she let out all of her power. Together with the attack, the floating block was greatly pushed downwards by the impact.
Finally, with a roar the floating block crashed onto the ground. The jet black stake penetrated the absolute defense of Azanthium with the last attack, and reached Miledi Golem's core. Although it was just the tip, but 'bishih,' the core was cracked along with that sound.
When it crashed into the ground, Shia used Doryukken as the starting point, and with one hand, she somersaulted. Then, with all of the body strengthening power directed to her leg, the kick that carried enough centrifugal force was used to drive in the stake.
Having received Shia's kick, the stake was immediately pushed deeper into the core and expanded the cracks... ... until finally it was completely crushed.
The light in Miledi Golem's eyes disappeared. Having confirmed that, Shia gradually loosened her power, and let out a sigh of relief. Immediately, Shia heard landing sounds behind her. There was Hajime and Yue as expected. Shia turned toward the two with a smile that sums up everything. Hajime and Yue also let out smiles that sums up everything.
One of Seven Great Dungeons; Raisen Great Dungeon's last trial was certainly over.
* * *
Chapter 49: You did well
* * *
Dust drifted in their vicinity, and numerous cracks were carved on the ground. On the floating block that had crashed was a large crater, and on top of that laid a gigantic golem with a jet-black stake sprouting from its chest area.
On top of Miledi Golem, Shia let out, "zehaa zehaa," gasping breaths while being supported by Doryukken. Hajime narrowed his eyes in admiration, while Yue looked at her with gentle eyes.
"You did it Shia. The ending was filled with great vigor. It made me think better of you, right?"
"... ... Nn, you've worked hard."
"Ehehe, thank you very much. But, Hajime-san, it's okay if you put "I've fallen for you" instead, you know?"
"From the beginning, I would never fall for you."
Even with her exhausted appearance, Hajime and Yue's praise made Shia feel shy. Actually, until just recently she didn't think anything about battle. She only single-mindedly wanted to stand on the same stage as Hajime and Yu
e and to always be together with them. Those were Shia's wishes. With those deep and strong wishes, Shia faced one of the Seven Great Dungeons' trial with her potential, and it resulted in her delivering the finishing blow.
Even for Hajime, the last scene where Shia delivered the finishing blow was something he had predicted. Because he expected the pile bunker's power to be insufficient, he already had other means to drive it in. However, although the Rabbitman tribe was gentle and not good in combat, Shia never whined, saying "I want to go back", while she fought, but surely she must have felt anxious and scared entering the depths of a Great Dungeon. That's why he thought to leave the finishing blow to Shia.
The result was magnificent. She delivered the last attack with great vigor, it was so splendidly done that it even made Hajime praise her. Shia's desire to become strong surely reached him. Even so, Hajime's feelings did not reach the level Shia wished for. But, her perseverance and will-power certainly made him feel their bonds. That's why Hajime gazed at Shia with gentle eyes.
"Fue? So-somehow... ... Hajime-san is looking at me with such gentle eyes... ... I-is it a dream?"
"You know... ... No, well, although it can't be helped when I think about how you were usually treated..."
Because the way Hajime gazed at her was unbelievable, Shia pinched her own cheek. Although Hajime wanted to complain about her reaction, once he thought of how she was treated until now, he could only think it was the natural reaction.
Yue tokotoko, approached Shia who was still pinching her cheek. Then, Shia's clothes were pulled to make her bend down and her head was patted slowly. Her disordered hair was fixed, slowly and gently.
"U-umm, Yue-san?"
"... ... Because Hajime won't pat you, although it's regrettable, I'll do it instead. You did well."
"Y-Yue-sa~n. Uu, huh, I wonder why? Somehow I can't stop crying, fueee."
"... ... Good girl, good girl."
At first, Shia was confused by Yue's sudden actions, but when she understood she was being praised, as if the string of tension was cut, Shia began to weep and immediately hugged Yue. As expected, she was trying to endure herself with her first journey suddenly becoming against the Seven Great Dungeons. That's because she was determined to go together with Hajime and Yue. To be praised and acknowledged, she couldn't stop her tears because of the relief.
By the way, Hajime surely wouldn't pat her, as Yue said. Shia was the type that easily got carried away, if Hajime awkwardly patted her it would result in troublesome things like Shia misunderstanding his feelings as love. This time, although Shia would be treated comparatively better by Hajime, there was no reason for multiple people to have the same feelings as Yue. That was her "special feeling." More or less, Hajime never considered how Yue would be saddened by that.
Moreover, "Fueee~n", there was a happy cry from Yue's chest. It was Shia crying out of relief while being spoiled. That's why, when Yue who patting and looking at her with gentle eyes was seen... ... well, somehow the future could be predicted.
Yue was spoiling Shia while embracing her, and Hajime watched this with an indescribable expression. While that happened to the trio, suddenly, a voice rang out.
"Ummm~, although it's such a good atmosphere~, it's about to get dangerous for me, so can I have some of your time~?"
It was a truly familiar voice. Hajime and his party let out "Hah," then looked at Miledi Golem, unbeknownst to them, the light in her eyes that was previously gone has returned. Immediately, Hajime and his party jumped back to put their distance. Because they were certain that her core was destroyed, they could only take stances with wariness in their minds.
"Wait, wait a sec, it's okay~. The trial was cleared! It's your victory! Because there is some power left inside the core's fragments, I wanted some time to talk~, it'll only take a few minutes."
As if to prove those words, Miledi Golem was completely unmoving, while the lights in her eyes parts were repeatedly blinking. It seemed to disappear at any moment. That's why, it must've been true when she said she only needed a few minutes.
Hajime relaxed his mind and continued to talk to Miledi Golem.
"So? What is it? Undead? To be incapable of reading the mood even after death... ... Although it's regrettable for the future "Liberators," maybe I should help you pass on."
"Wa-, stop it~, what's with that obvious harassment. That was completely unpleasant."
"Well? I won't hear anything about killing "those shitty bastards," you know?"
Toward Hajime's authoritative speech, Miledi somehow gave out an atmosphere as if she wryly smiled.
"I won't say that. That's not necessary after all. What I want to talk about... ... is more like advice. Even if there is no age of gods magic that you're looking for in the dungeons you visit, try to obtain all of the age of gods magics... ... because they are necessary for your wish..."
Maybe because Miledi's power was almost exhausted, her words gradually became blurred and more intermittent. But, without worrying about that, Hajime told her his problem.
"All of them huh... ... then tell us the locations of the other dungeons. Because they were lost in legend, I truly don't know anymore of it."
"Aa, there is that... ... I see, the other dungeons' locations are unknown... ... it's been a long time after all... ... Un, the locations... ... the locations are..."
Gradually, Miledi Golem started to lose the power in her voice. Toward her voice that somehow contained sentimentality, Yue and Shia wore serious expressions. After a long time, for her duty, rather for the sake of her wish. To have put her soul inside a vessel was an act that made them stare at her with respect.
Miledi slowly talked about the whereabouts of the remaining Seven Great Dungeons. Inside her words was a place that seemed to surprise them.
"That's all... ... Good luck."
"... ... You've become completely modest. What happened to those annoying lines and that infuriating tone?"
Just as Hajime said, the current Miledi gave out an atmosphere as if she had no relation to the Miledi that prepared those annoying sentences inside this dungeon, with a completely different tone, filled with sincerity and seriousness. She had also displayed it before the fight when she wanted to hear Hajime's objectives. This was probably her real self. It was as if there was no more need to hide it before she completely disappeared.
"Ahaha, I am sorry~. But... ... those shitty bastards... ... were truly unpleasant fellows... ... they only say unpleasant things... ... that's why, even just a little... ... I want you to get accustomed to it..."
"Oi, you. I already said I won't defeat the Gods. That's why, don't say it as if I'll fight against those guys."
Toward Hajime's unpleased voice, Miledi replied with unexpected conviction and seriousness.
"... ... You'll surely fight them. As long as you are you... ... For sure... ... You'll, kill those gods."
"... ... I don't understand what you mean. Well, if they try to obstruct my path then it can't be helped..."
Hajime was somewhat perplexed. Miledi who had seen his appearance let out a joyful laugh.
"Fufu... ... that's good... ... it's okay as long as you live like that... ... your choice... ... will surely... ... be the best... ... for this world..."
Afterwards, Miledi Golem's body was wrapped in a pale light and glowed. As if it became fireflies, the light separated into smaller lights and ascended towards heaven. It was similar to how a dead soul ascends to heaven. A very, very mysterious scene.