Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou

Communication Break

「BURUAAAAAAAH!!」

「Geeh, geh gugeeh!?」

Pale, or perhaps it ought to be described as transparent. Anyway the demon──er, Director Dime was enveloped in a black colored energy.

Gargoyle-san was pushing its hands forward while shaking its head. Perhaps it was saying 「W-wait a second!?」. Its gaze kept glancing at Hajime, so others could hear the unspoken words 「I never heard anything about this, your majestyyy!」.

And so Hajime,

「Gotta record this for now.」

「A boss without any blood or tear lol.」

He took out his smartphone and started recording. Kousuke looked pityingly at gargoyle-san.

Right after that, the gong that signaled the second round rang. The man-eating fiend──er, Director Dime heaved nuuhn. Gargoyle-san roared with desperation and faced him.

Shockwave and thunderous sound burst out. Meanwhile Hajime was recording while pressing the call button.

『Hajime, what’s wrong?』

Yue picked up the call after just one ring. It was always like that. Perhaps she could somehow sense it. She always picked up the call with godspeed fast draw only when the call was from Hajime.

「The exorcist’s director is fusing magic power and willpower with his own strength and entered a Limit Break-like state. What do you think?」

『I don’t understand what you’re saying.』

Naturally.

Hajime turned the call into video call mode and showed Yue the war god father’s figure.

『……I see.』

「Did you notice something?」

『……He isn’t human. QED.』

「I understand your feeling.」

It seemed that was the conclusion Yue reached after seeing Director Dime unleashing rapid blows that looked like gatling gun firing.

It was understandable. Gargoyle-san was pressed on the barrier and had no place to escape. It was single-mindedly enduring by hardening its defense, but its metallic body was gradually breaking.

It couldn’t possibly be a human feat. The “Book of Holy Destruction” wasn’t even used as a blunt weapon anymore and left lying on the floor. Perhaps it was just their imagination, but it was looking somewhat listless.

『Wait wait Hajime-san! What’s going on there desu!? Is something like fusing two energies possible!?』

Shia pressed her cheek on Yue’s cheek and pushed her aside to cut into the screen.

「No, I’m calling because I’m also shocked here.」

It wasn’t like Hajime himself had never considered such thing. Because, “fusion of energy” was romance.

But, all his experiments ended in failure. He also tried asking the goddesses, like Aularodde, but they asserted that fusing inherent energies of each world with each other was impossible.

In the first place the experiment was also to find out what would the result be from fusing the energies. He also expected result like explosive increase of power that was common in stories, but he was currently busy. It was also unclear whether such thing would be cost-effective, so he gave up on experimenting with that field for the time being.

「In the first place, Director Dime doesn’t have willpower. Even him being able to use it is incomprehensible.」

『……As I thought, he isn’t human.』

「Then what is he?」

『……The same bug like Shia? Something that is hard to describe, is the only thing I can say……』

『Yue-san, just what do you think I am desu?』

There, Tio cut into the screen from the opposite side of Shia. As expected she also pressed her cheek *munii-* on Yue’s cheek too. Yue’s mouth became puckered comically with Shia and Tio sandwiching her.

Even though it should be a funny face for the world in general, Yue’s cuteness still wasn’t harmed by it. ……Hajime couldn’t help but secretly though that she was the one who was actually bugged.

『This art just my guess but, perhaps the director art manipulating the willpower of the natural world?』

「Hm? What do you mean?」

『It happened once, in the past. A dragonman ignored the process that ordinary people didst where they “took in the magic power of the natural world and convert it into their own magic power” and instead control the magic power as it is.』

「It’s that person’s characteristic magic huh. But still, isn’t that crazy? He got unlimited magic power then?」

『No. It put a heavy burden on him. It seemed that he hath limit in how much natural magic power he couldst control.』

As expected from a dragon race. Her knowledge was extensive as usual.

「But, the director having that kind of characteristic magic is……」

Hajime glanced at Claudia. In respond she shook her head energetically in negative.

Kousuke opened his mouth with a very complicated expression.

「Nagumo, you know. This is a story that I heard from Zhu and Liu.」

「Ou?」

「Taoist you see, apparently it originally refers to people training to become immortal sage.」

「Sage……」

「Those two said that when you become a sage, not only you can manipulate your own willpower, you can also control the nature’s willpower as you please or something……」

Hajime and Kousuke’s gazes turned toward the epicenter.

Gargoyle-san was holding out both his hands forward with a desperate expression. There was a crater formed around Director Dime. He himself was supporting his body with his hands on his knees while looking like he was enduring something.

It was gravity magic. The gargoyle had an authority that was befitting its rank as a high demon.

But……

「Is that all?」

The muscles all over his body throbbed. A growl came out from between his gritted teeth. Bloody tears flowed from his bloodshot eyes. The black aura burst out like Super Sai*an.

*ZUN-* A step, and then another step. Director Dime sidled up closer as though to crush the stone paving with his feet.

His figure, was just like a monster crawling out from hell……

「Sage?」

Hajime pointed with his finger while asking Kousuke.

「……T-this is an age of diversity after all.」

Kousuke said that with a fading voice. It’s fine even if there’s that kind of sage……isn’t it? He said.

Well, in any case.

『That man art a personage who hath trained himself continuously for more than half a century correct? He’s the greatest in controlling magic power among the exorcist. Not to mention, that land art also one of the lands with dragon hole that Goshujin-sam doth not shut. It’s overflowing with willpower there.』

「I see what you mean. The theory is logical, more or less.」

Hajime was in command of the willpower but, he intentionally left some places with dragon hole──areas with overflowing willpower, the so-called sacred ground or holy land and the like──opened.

Several sacred grounds that the Shadow Monk had been protecting for generations, Tsuchimikado’s principal residence, Fujiwara’s mansion, etc, etc. This Vatican was also one of them.

The exorcists were people who had ancestor from another world──the residents of the hell world──who possessed magic power, so they were exceptions who could handle magic power in this earth that was a world with willpower.

Naturally that blood would thin with the long flow of time. In other words, their aptitude as earthling got thicker instead.

If it was only seen from the theoretical side, then certainly it might be good to think that from the start exorcists had the aptitude for the two types of energies.

If that kind of human continued to accumulate diligent training for more than half a century on a land that ought to be called as a holy land, combined with the revival of the King Tree too, it wouldn’t be strange for that person to become able to handle the willpower in the nature……

Maybe. In the end this was all just a theory that was made up in the spot!

But, but still.

「Even then, it’s still not a reason how he can fuse them with his own power……」

Hajime held his head in his hands with great perplexment as a technical expert.

There, a simple answer was presented to him.

『You just need spirit for something like that desu!』

「Spirit」

Just how many times the common sense had been smashed to bits by that word. When he looked at the smartphone’s screen, he could see Shia’s eyes blazing. She was burning with motivation.

『I can’t lose! I’ll try it too! Even if it’s impossible with magic power……I got the feeling that I have a bit of chance with spiritual power desu!! After all I have the divine protection of divine spirits! I’m going to the “miniature garden” right now!!』

Shia only said that and vanished from the screen in a flash.

Yue saw off her back before looking at Hajime over the screen once more.

『……What now, Hajime? Shia will get even more bugged.』

「I-it’s still not guaranteed that she’ll succeed……」

Hajime averted his gaze. Because he was aware that his words were futile.

Shia would undoubtedly become even more bugged. There was no doubt that her Level X would go Plus Ultra.

「Err, Nagumo. For now let’s set Director Dime aside.」

Gargoyle-san crumbled on its knees ahead of Kousuke’s gaze. *Kan kan kan* It felt like there was a gong sound like that ringing.

Director Dime clenched his fist and raised it high.

That figure, was truly Manly-.

The people of Omnibus cheered 「Uoooooooooh!!」 loudly. There were even shouts of 「Direc~tor~~ Direc~torr!!」.

The people of USA were making expressions that looked like they had received culture shock while saying 「E-exorcism is really physical isn’t it……」「I thought it would be more like, ceremonial using things like cross or holy water……」「I see……so demon can be defeated with fist……」.

「Next.」

「「「「「!!?」」」」」

The director’s eye glint that seemed to say 「I’m going to exterminate……all you bastards-!!」. That gaze was fixed on the other demons standing in a daze at the outer edge of the barrier. All the gargoyles twitched simultaneously.

They looked at each other. 「You go」「No, you go」「You were the one who said that kind of old man won’t be any challenge」「Y-you yourself said that you’re stronger while looking cocky before this!!」 They were pushing each other like that.

The director pointed with his finger. The gargoyles twitched again.

The director’s finger glided from side to side slowly. And then, it stopped in front of one gargoyle.

「You. You look the strongest.」

*Bun-bun-bun-bun-* The gargoyle shook its head energetically……if the beaten up gargoyle-san before this was A, the pointed gargoyle B pointed at gargoyle C beside it. It said 「This guy is stronger than me ssu!」.

Gargoyle C said 「Wait-, you-, that’s dirty you demon!」 and slapped down the pointing finger.

「No, it’s you.」

「GEEH!?」

A chain of light stretched in an instant and caught gargoyle B’s leg.

Looking closer, the director was stepping on the “

Book of Holy Extermination”. Actually due to Hajime’s extreme modification, if the user could hold a clear image in their mind, the book was able to activate its effect just by touching it even without opening it but……

Just because of that, it wasn’t normal to then think 「I see. Then you can use it by stepping on it huh?」.

He was more or less still a clergyman, and the book was one of the highest rank weapons that Vatican boasted to have.

「Gegyaaaaaaah, gugeeeeeh」

Gargoyle B-san got dragged into the barrier. It stumbled and clawed on the ground desperately while reaching its hand toward its comrades. 「Helppppp」 it said.

Of course, everyone else averted their eyes. 「I don’t wanna end up like that」「You say it」 It seemed like they were saying that.

The thunderous sounds started ringing again. Accompanied by a demon’s desperate roar.

「So, about this situation」

Kousuke glanced at that sight while asking Hajime.

Hajime had just finished talking with Yue and others and cut off the call, but he still kept recording the fight while replying back.

「Just like I said before I got interrupted, you remember that I got a negotiation with USA?」

Hajime concisely explained about USA’s circumstance, demand, and the framework for cooperation in the future.

「Even so, religion is popular over there, or rather a lot of their people are deeply religious right? Naturally there’re also many of that kind of people in their government.」

「I see. They’ll be uneasy if staffs that’re actually demon inside got transferred to their place.」

It seemed that Claudia reached the answer first.

They were willing to help with dealing against supernatural phenomenon in USA. But, they couldn’t send personnel that they didn’t have.

The number of onmyouji and also their returnee comrades weren’t many.

To protect a vast swath of area, a sizeable amount of combat force was required. Therefore, it was inevitable that Hajime would need to dispatch golems with demons residing inside them.

However, if such move was looked objectively.

「I see. “Joining hands with demons” does sound and look really bad.」

「Their side hurriedly asked for this negotiation in order to suppress their extremists. And yet if they brought home the result of “We’re partnering up with demons now!”, well, things will grow worse there.」

Hajime shrugged with a troubled face.

In that sense apparitions were also out of the question. From USA’s perspective, they were also “demon”. And yet, Hajime too found them difficult to use because of their nature of being faithful to their own conception. Using them would require a careful screening. It was also difficult to use them through onmyouji turning them into familiar because of the vast sea lying between the two countries.

For USA too, demon’s existence was easier for them to comprehend than apparitions, also, there was an opposing organization that was easy to accept too because of its history. Yes, it was the church, and its headquarters the Vatican.

「So that’s why director is fighting? No, perhaps the talk is also entering the direction of obtaining Vatican’s recognition?」

「As expected from the saintess. You get it quick. That’s how it is.」

The demons were properly collared. If necessary they could be destroyed anytime. God wouldn’t blame them for making use of demons.

That was the recognition of the third party that was none other than Vatican.

Even so there still would be devout believers who disapproved because of emotional reason, but presently there was no better persuasiveness than that.

「After that if Vatican and they form an agreement directly without going through me, a lot of their worries and dissatisfactions might get cleared up.」

「So it’s like that.」

Of course, even exorcists were limited in number. After all their fighting strength was also decreasing because the previous incident produced a lot of wounded and death.

Vatican couldn’t dispatch enough exorcists to cover the whole territory of USA. But, they could at least promise to send help in the small chance that the demon golems went out of control.

「What about Chief Magdanese and Vanessa?」

「There’s no way that chief would just ignore this kind of chance right?」

「Aa……she’s trying to assert dominance make a deal? She has a force that is experienced with supernatural phenomenon and actual combat experience after all.」

「Yep yep. She must be trying to sneak in someone into the new department that must be getting formed over there. One or two spies under the guise of advisors.」

「She got no opening huh……」

By the way, Vanessa was here as Chief Magdanese’s bodyguard as well as the evidence of their actual battle experience.

Even with Vatican shouldering the responsibility of dealing with demons, the original urgent problem that was bothering USA was “human”.

What kind of danger should they expect against human or organization that was using supernatural phenomenon, how should they conduct themselves against such thing?

Chief Magdanese proved her side’s usefulness by giving advise for actual case that USA’s side had prepared beforehand.

The discussion of that was already over and Chief Magdanese’s negotiation was apparently successful.

「Even so……」

「Ah?」

「Many sides are moving huh, as expected……」

The great hall was dyed crimson. It seemed gargoyle B-san was summoning hell fire. The inside of the barrier became crammed with raging flame. The people of USA were screaming.

The demon’s spasming voice resounded in between the flames. It was as though it was speaking 「I’ve done it, I’ve done it now, hehe. His majesty is going to kill me……heheh」 with a despairing voice.

It seemed that his heart succumbed against Director Dime’s pressure and Hajime’s order “don’t kill” got completely blown away from its mind.

But, that worry was misplaced.

「Lukewarm.」

「GEE!!?」

Director Dime was unharmed. A globe of faint light was enveloping him and protecting him from the flames.

He was stepping on the “Book of Holy Destruction”, so he must be activating one of its five abilities, the “barrier”.

He then kicked up the metal book with his toes.

There wasn’t any respect or carefulness for book at all in him!!

But, the chain was released. For the first time the “Book of Holy Destruction” was opened!! Book-chan was shining! Anyone watching got the vague feeling that it seemed to be delighted!

However,

「Nuuhnnn!!」

Director Dime didn’t read it as expected. He swung the book around in its opened state. Yes, just like a fan.

The “Book of Holy Destruction” that was gripped with inhuman grip strength fanned the air with aberrant physical strength when it was spread out to its maximum width.

Naturally it produced wind blasts. The surrounding flames were erased with just that, while the flame in front got returned back to gargoyle B-san with increased intensity.

「Geeeeh!!?」

Its metallic body was going to melt! Gargoyle B-san hurriedly put up a barrier.

And then, the “Book of Holy Destruction” didn’t get read just as expected. Perhaps it was just their imagination, but was its radiance dimming? If it had a crying function, surely a drop of tear would trickle down right about now, no doubt about it.

In any case.

……Perhaps, it was already enough.

The contingent of USA were already losing strength in their waist. They were shaking fiercely, asking if the exorcists of Vatican were monster.

It could be said that it had been satisfactorily proven that they would be able to oppose the demons enough when necessity arose.

But,

「……I’m seething with power. My thanks, demon.」

The director started saying something. The cardinal said 「Dime, it’s enough already~」 but he didn’t hear. Or perhaps he didn’t intend to listen.

Also, somehow it felt like his whole body was tinged with heat and became red……

「I feel like I can go to higher stage.」

Outside the barrier 「Eh? Dime? Oi, Dime! Are you listening!?」 the cardinal was screaming, but it looked like that voice didn’t reach at all.

Along the center of the “Book of Holy Destruction” that was still in the opened state was coiling chain like a bookmark. When the director muttered a single word 「Harden」, the chain snapped straight stiffly like a rod. The metal book also got fixed in place while still being opened.

This too was a new function that Hajime applied on it. He didn’t assume that it would be used like that though!

A metallic book that was opened wide and a chain stick that stretched from it. The way it was rested on the director’s shoulder made him looked like a warrior who was armed with a battle axe.

「UOOOOOOOOOH!!」

A terrific roar burst out.

The cardinal yelled 「Stop that battle junkiee!」 to the exorcists. Gargoyle B-san was also yelling 「Someone stop this guyyy!」.

The exorcists and gargoyles……harmoniously averted their gazes together.

Kousuke glanced at that sight while speaking hesitantly toward Hajime who was still recording like before.

「Hey Nagumo, it’s not like I’m not thankful but……it’s fine even if you don’t act too reserved okay?」

Hajime narrowed his eyes. What is this guy saying so suddenly? His gaze said dubiously.

Kousuke scratched his head while continuing speaking with a wry smile.

「I know that you stop information from reaching me as much as possible in consideration of my new living style. In fact, I’m helped out by that.」

「In your case there isn’t just college life after all. You also have the things with the security bureau, the onmyou bureau, and also Vatican. You keep running around for this and that.」

「Yeah, well, that’s true……」

Kousuke recalled when he heard about Mao and Akito from Noboru in the response division.

The matter this time too, its information didn’t reach him despite how important it was. Most likely, he also wouldn’t get any explanation like now if he wasn’t accidentally here in a good timing.

Perhaps he would only get the short ex post facto report, through Vanessa or Claudia.

The truth was, Kousuke was extremely busy even without any request coming from Hajime.

And so he was honestly happy with the consideration. It helped him out. That was true.

But, how should he say it……

Hajime who should be even busier than him, was actually on the go getting involved with this kind of major matter where there was talk between nations. When he saw it,

「Fufu, Nagumo-san. Surely Kousuke-sama is feeling lonely.」

「Haa? Lonelyy?」

「Wait, Claire!?」

Hajime let out a hysterical voice. In respond Kousuke flapped his hands around in a fluster. It seemed that Claudia hit the bull’s eye.

Claudia narrowed her eyes warmly and let out a chuckle.

「He’s happy with your consideration but, seeing various matters progressing outside of his knowledge like this makes him feel lonely because it’s like he’s unneeded……even though it would be fine if you rely on him more just like before. Is that how you feel, Kousuke-sama?」

「Y-you’re wrong though!?」

Kousuke reflexively denied it, but his ears were a bit red. She hit the bull’s eye no matter how they looked at it.

「Endou, you……」

「No, it’s really not that! That’s why, don’t look at me with that kind of conflicted gaze!」

「Sorry……」

「Don’t apologize! It makes it unnecessarily embarassi──」

「Your mentality has completely turned like a black company employee because of the cruel working environment that I put you in.」

「Who’re you calling corporate slave-. That ain’t it!!」

I have done something that I can’t undo……Hajime-san pressed his hands on his face with that kind of atmosphere.

But right after that he raised his face and grinned.

「Well, if that’s what you want then it can’t be helped. I’ll work you to death I guess.」

「Crap……I might be stirring the hornet nest?」

As I thought, the consideration like until now is okay for me you know? Kousuke corrected himself with a twitching face, but Hajime said 「Yep yep, I see. Protein is it」 and completely ignored it. He put his arm around Kousuke’s shoulders in a good mood. (TN: The bit about protein is a reference to a joke made by a comedian named Passion Okura)

「I’ll share information properly with you from now on so don’t worry, lonely boy.」

「I’m not worried, and I’m also not lonely. I’ll punch your face you know, you bastard.」

「Recently both of us are really busy that we can’t even talk to each other about our recent situation aren’t we.」

「……It feels like, I’m being treated like a troublesome girlfriend? It’s disgusting you know?」

Right now, a certain little sister somewhere in Japan grinned repulsively from sensing something happening. Seeing that, the young exorcist beside her also raised his voice 「Hih」.

Kousuke slapped down Hajime’s arm and stared fixedly at him. Claudia’s warm smile felt really embarrassing for some reason.

「M-more importantly, isn’t there any other information huh? Things that can be solved faster if I’m on the case.」

「H~mm, there’re a ton of that kinda things though……」

Although, Kousuke might broke down if Hajime really threw everything at him without any reservation. And so, he still would rely a bit more on him but, Hajime would need to choose the job to give more carefully to some degree.

「Anything that I can help with this case?」

「No. For now, the urgent work here is to “mass produce golems with demons inside that can only be seen by human”. That’s not your field right?」

「That’s……true.」

「I’ll send the information and work list to your PC later. Check it out.」

「Ou」

The two didn’t notice while they were having such conversation that was filled with friendship.

Behind them, gargoyle B-san had become a scrap without the realizing it, and gargoyle C-san was already taking its place.

That gargoyle C-san was pleading 「Your majestyy! It’s fine to stop already isn’t it!? Stop this demonnn!」 with a desperate look.

Of course, Director Dime’s roar drowned out that voice.

The director lifted up the “Book of Holy Destruction – Battleaxe Mode (what is being said is incomprehensible)” with both his hands. Everyone couldn’t help themselves from making tsukkomi that it would be better for him to just normally bring a battleaxe if he was going that far with the book. Then the director lifted up one foot.

Right after that, a terrible stomp split the ground. It created a shockwave and the backlash also made the ground bulged and formed countless thorns that showered gargoyle C-san with blows. 「Gugee!?」 That kind of scream could be heard faintly.

「Ah, that’s right. There was one information that I want to tell you.」

「Oh, what?」

The cardinal had given up on stopping the fight. He was desperately talking to the people of USA with a twitching smile. He must be wanting to prevent Vatican’s image from going down in various senses.

His eyes also kept glancing at Claudia. Claudia noticed that and she also started raising her voice for the director to stop.

Hajime ignored that gruesome spectacle and spoke with a wide smile.

「I, made friends. College friends.」

「……」

Kousuke’s mood went down. A second later, he tilted his head with a slightly twitching expression.

「Is that, a need to know information?」

「Furthermore! They’re proper male friends!」

「Is that-, a need to know information-!!?」

「Here, look at this. Actually there was a get together after the meeting with USA.」

Hajime neglected the recording and showed his smartphone’s screen. It seemed he was really pleased. He completely ignored the situation around him and Kousuke’s nihilistic expression.

The screen was showing a lot of university students gathering in a restaurant somewhere.

Not only there were Yue, Shia, Kaori, and Shizuku, there were also other familiar members like Yuuka, Nana, and Atsushi, and furthermore there were more than ten men and women other than them.

Everyone looked like they were having a blast. The atmosphere of people really having fun with their college life was really expressed from the screen. Light vanished from Kousuke’s eyes.

「I was worried that the discussion might get dragged longer, but thankfully I managed to make it in time. Yue and others had explained about our relationships beforehand, and in the first place these guys are people that Kaori and others judged to be alright. All of them are good guys. Naturally I got a interrogated a bit by the women though.」

「Hee~, you got it hard huh.」

「Look, these four people here. They look a bit scary but they’re good guys. I even promised to hang out with them soon.」

「Good for you.」

「Ah, also, can you believe it?」

「Aa?」

「Believe it or not, I also got reunited with a gaming friend from my middle school era. I had talked with him too about staying the night in either of our house and game for a whole day to our heart’s content.」

「Ah, that so.」

Claudia’s voice 「Directo~r!! Please stooo~~pp!」 was resounding.

The music of battlefield was increasing in fierceness even more. Director Dime’s body was generating heat so much that his body was turning crimson.

He finally discarded the battleaxe. The abandoned “Book of Holy Destruction” that rolled on the ground looked pitiful……

「I’ve given you enough courtesy. Now I fight as Patric Dime. Warriorrr-」

「No, you’re the director of us exorcists you knowww! Return to your sensess!」

The heavily muscular old man whose whole body was tinged red rushed toward the demon with his arms spread wide open.

Gargoyle C-san reacted too late because of how fast that movement was and how heavy the rush’s pressure was.

The director scooped up his opponent with both hands and threw it right above him. Then he jumped and caught it in midair before slamming it down.

That TERDIRECTOR, is he evolving the more he fight? That kind of tsukkomi could be heard from here and there.

Of course, the two who were being absorbed in reporting their recent news to each other in a different sense ignored it.

「Well yeah I’m so busy like crazy, I thought that it would be impossible for the time being to play for the whole day and even stay the night but, Yue and others said that they would work hard in my place. But, if you’re going to help out then Yue and others might be able to have it easier.」

「So I’m going to make time so you can play with a friend huh. I see. By the way you, have you ever peered into the abyss before?」

Gargoyle C-san vanished before it could get stomped on.

That was “Godspeed”! The cracks all over its body and its broken limbs also got restored instantly. It seemed to be a high ranked demon with the authority of regeneration magic.

But, Director Dime only sported a fearless smile even after seeing that.

A jump. With an inhuman jumping power, he attacked from above like a meteor.

Gargoyle C-san escaped once more with “Godspeed”. It seemed it couldn’t use the magic at Kaori’s level. It could only use it to traverse several meters with some cooldown time in between.

Normally that would be enough. It wasn’t a speed that human could perceive.

But, the director also thrust both his arms into the ground as soon as he rammed onto the ground. Then he pulled out his arms while roaring.

No, that was like a table flipping applied to the ground. Cracks ran through the ground in a wide area, and then light surged out. 「What’s that lightt!?」 Everyone watched with eyes opened wide, then right after that there was eruption inside the barrier. The ground was blown off so greatly that it looked like that. It was incomprehensible.

Naturally, gargoyle C-san also got swallowed by the explosion’s impact while it expression was frozen in a look that said 「No way……」. It spun in the air from the impact.

「And, what about you, Endou. You made any friend?」

「……」

「Making friends in the medical faculty, all of them must be elites aren’t they? You hit it off with them? What’s the matter, Endou? Oo~i, Endou?」

「……Forget about the talk just now. I’m not gonna help out with your work forever-!!」

「!!?」

Gargoyle C-san who got dominated physically.

Kousuke-kun who got dominated about having innocent friend.

It was at such timing, the carnage──between the TERDIRECTOR and gargoyle C-san──finally reached the end.

The director was unleashing repeated blows that surpassed the regeneration speed, but he suddenly stopped moving while raising his fist.

Oh? Something is strange……the audiences were watching while holding their breath.

A second later, blood spurted out *PSHEEEEEEWW* from all over the director’s body. It was so over the top it looked like a scene from a gag manga.

「「「「「Diーーーreccーーーーtorrr!!!?」」」」」

It seemed that his physical limit had arrived.

The director was dyed crimson in a different sense this time. Gargoyle C-san saw its chance and ran away. To outside the barrier! While crying slightly from the joy of surviving!

「Mediccc! Mediccccc!!」

Exorcist who could use healing type sacred treasure ran and applied treatment, but in the first place it was unknown what was the injury. The director himself was unconscious with his eyes still opened wide.

Claudia came running and thrust her cross toward gargoyle C-san and dragged it back.

Gargoyle C-san too could only follow along with the strongest sacred treasure that could exterminate even its existence in one attack pointed at it.

Regeneration magic was applied on the director that was laid down on the floor and his wounds were closed. Naturally his consciousness also returned. However……

「Mu, my body can’t move even an inch……」

「Nagumo-saaaann. Please lend us a handddーーー!!」

Rescue request came from Claudia.

As a former loner university student, Hajime finally noticed Endou’s current state and his gaze darted around while thinking 「Crap, did I mess up?」, but

「O, oo~, leave it to mee~」

「……」

He took the request as a lucky break and ran away. But then he suddenly stopped still and looked back across his shoulder to observe Kousuke’s state. An intense reproachful gaze came back and Hajime’s lips twitched.

He must understood Kousuke’s mental state as well as the back of his own hand. Hajime was unusually reflecting with seriousness. And so, words of encouragement which was also a rare phenomenon from him spilled out.

「It’s fine, no problem. If it’s you then you’ll be able to make friend right──」

「I don’t need your pity! One month! I’ll one up you in one month!」

「O-ou……」

Kousuke glared and pointed his finger at Hajime while looking like a tear was going to spill out anytime now. Hajime replied back at him looking like he didn’t know any word to say at all while leaving toward Director Dime.

「Kousuke-san」

Smoothly, Vanessa had sidled up to Kousuke’s side when he realized and spoke to him.

It seemed that she had succeeded in running away from Chief Magdanese’s side by taking advantage of the ongoing commotion.

「Yoo, Vanessa. How’s your side──」

「Setting up a target outside of the scope of possibility will only create another seed for mental sickness you know?」

「What do you mean by that HUHHH」

Her eyes were like she was looking at a pitiful person, or perhaps those were loving eyes even toward a hopeless boyfriend who was talking about his pipe dream. In any case, her expression was simply annoying.

However.

Making a friend within one month……Kousuke doing that……

Indeed. It was certainly next to impossible. Even him being able to be friend with Kentarou and Juugo was only possible because of many miracles.

「I-I’m the demon king’s right hand. The abyss lord who makes the impossible possible ye, ah?」

His voice was trembling.

「Thinking really really carefully, isn’t it fine even if you call the people in the assault division as your friends? You had even got invited to have dinner in Barnard-san’s home right?」

「……College friend, the same age is good……」

「A plan need to be created then.」

Was this matter something at a level that needed a plan before it was attempted……Kousuke question with a faraway look.

「Well, rather than something like that」

「Something like that!?」

Hourrible!? Since when Vanessa became a cold fellow like this!? Your head is a bit SOUSAKAN but you’re a good fellow deep down isn’t it!? Kousuke looked at her with eyes that were saying that.

But, Kousuke became puzzled in front of Vanessa’s cheerful grin that looked really happy.

「What happened? You look really happy for some reason.」

At the former battlefield that was a slight distance from them, 「What? His soul is detaching? Crappp-」「W-what do you mean by thattt!?」 such tense atmosphere was hanging in the air, but well, Nagumo was dealing with it so there wouldn’t be any problem. Kousuke didn’t really pay it any mind.

「It’s nothing special, but it has been two days you know, since I was able to talk properly with Kousuke-san. Obviously I’ll be happy.」

「O-ou, I see……you were really busy.」

「Yes, very much so. I had lost count of how many times I was considering to knee the chief’s head from the back.」

「Don’t do thattt!」

Even though she was called as the iron lady of Britain, Chief Magdanese was a normal human.

If she got hit by Vanessa who had been given with various buff artifacts through Kousuke’s requests, her head might get crushed easily and turned into tomato.

「Good grief. Even though I’ve finally managed to live together with Kousuke-san, I can’t shake off the feeling that our time together is even less than before. That cursed chief, she dragged around only me with her……」

「Didn’t you normally come for meal even when we were still in Emily’s home?」

In reality, the occasion of Vanessa accompanying Chief Magdanese was increasing greatly. Especially for the works where negotiating organizationally or politically was required.

Because of that, now she often failed to even eat together with the others. It seemed that Vanessa had been accumulating a considerable amount of stress.

(I’m just guessing here but……madam chief, are you considering Vanessa to be your successor?)

That person’s principle was the nation’s interest above all else. It was unthinkable that she would put an agent who had intimate relationship with external force into a vital post.

That was what he wanted to think but……looking at the chief’s treatment toward Vanessa recently, the words “successor cultivation” just wouldn’t stop crossing his mind.

Of course, something like the seat of security bureau’s chief wouldn’t be decided by Magdanese’s sole decision.

But, her setting her eyes on the future decades from now and nurturing a bud with some kind of intention……that sounded like something that the chief would be thinking.

「Will it be alright if I just quit my work and become full-time housewife instead?」

「Eh, I won’t mind that.」

「Nnn-」

Vanessa launched a jab with a grin, but she ate a counter instead and reddened.

Her fingertip timidly twirled her hair that seemed to have lengthened recently.

The hair length had grown from very short to short, but woman was a mysterious thing. Her atmosphere had changed considerably just from that. It was even more so when her face was blushing.

Normally she would either be a “cool-headed agent” or a “screwing around SOUSAKAN”, but Kousuke wasn’t really dense. He had already realized from long ago.

「But, you won’t quit right?」

「Well, yes……」

「You like it right, your current job. You’re doing it with pride.」

「You understand?」

「I understand.」

Regardless of what she said, Vanessa who was working as an agent of the security bureau was cool. Though he wouldn’t say it out loud because that would make her got totally carried away.

Even so, Vanessa looked really satisfied. She placed her hand on her waist and made a smug face while making sound ehhen. Her other hand also brushed her slightly longer hair *fuasa-* while she was at it.

「Well, a capable agent like me can do my job perfectly while also having a date with my lover. I’m truly a normie. Invincible.」

「The word normie is a painful word for the me right now who can’t make a new friend, but you look like you’re having fun Vanessa so you’re forgiven.」

「And that’s why, Kousuke-san」

「Yep, I’m not listening.」

Vanessa took Kousuke’s hand. She then fell on a kneed and for some reason spoke with a cool expression and atmosphere like she was proposing.

「I’ll wrest off a holiday within these several days so please take me to Akiba. Let’s go into a date, a date.」

「Doesn’t it feel like going to Akiba here is more important than the date?」

Her eyes were sparkling.

By the way, behind them 「Cooome back! It’s still too early for you to diee!」「Direectooorrr! Please hang in there!」「Eeei, art Kaori or Aiko not here yet!? I wouldst not be able to keep this up forever!」 that kind of tense exchange was taking place.

Hajime was desperately attempting resurrection on Director Dime who apparently had fainted again using Arachne or artifact or whatever he got on him. Also, Tio was there too before they realized.

It seemed that the director couldn’t be resurrected with just a simple soul magic. An expert of soul magic was required.

That fusion technique was considerably dangerous as expected. Yue too was currently going away to stop Shia with a scared look on her face.

「That’s not true. What’s important here is who you go there with. It’s a date with my lover to the holy land. Doesn’t that sound like the greatest holiday? Let’s go to a continuation of the Akiba date before this.」

「I got it, I got it. Let’s go to anywhere you like. After all it looks like you got it really hard recently.」

「Hyahhooou!!」

As expected Kousuke and Vanessa had gotten a bit worried and sent some glances toward Hajime and others, but they were relieved for the time being seeing a gate opened and Kaori arriving.

Kaori’s eyes widened seeing the situation and immediately made a gesture of gathering something in the air. She then shouted 「Take thisss!!」 with a gesture like attacking in volleyball. Right after that, 「Buruaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!」 the director revived with a roar. Seeing that sight, What the hell’s going on……they thought.

「Ah, also please help me with some DIY works. My room still doesn’t contain enough romance right now.」

「I want you to help me with that instead! Or rather I also want that for my room. I want to line up bladed tools behind my bookshelves!」

「Nicee! I also want to store things like shuriken or kunai! Share some with me please!」

「Can’t be helped huh! Then share your shotguns with me! I want to put one under my bed!」

A room that stored weapons in it was romance! The two otaku made merry at the edge of the site that was filled with relieved sighs seeing the director escaped death.

Yaa~y! The figures of the two doing high five looked truly harmonious.

Of course, the demon chief noticed.

「Vanessa!! What’re you doing playing around? Come right here quickly!」

「Sorry chief. Right now we’re in the exciting moment of our DIY planning──」

「I’ll put the rare trading cards you’re hiding in your desk into the shredder you know?」

「!!!? How did you!? Even though I only looked at them secretly to heal my heart, you demon!」

The people of USA made faces that seemed to say 「Eh? Don’t tell me the inside of the chief of the security bureau is actually……」. Chief Magdanese headed off that doubt by saying 「That’s just a metaphor」 with a demonic look.

「It can’t be helped……Kousuke-san, I believe you must feel lonely being unable to talk with me but」

「No, that’s not the case though. The impact for each of my conversation with you is through the roof after all.」

「To say such delighting words that I leave an unforgettable impression like that」

「Okay, go back already. Chief-san is flashing some kind of card from her pocket over there.」

「!!!? She already confiscated them!?」

Vanessa hurriedly turned around.

It seemed that Director Dime had also safely revived. Apparently the inspection of anti-demon measure was already shown enough too, so later on everyone would enter negotiation to decide the little details.

The cardinal started showing the USA contingent to a different room with a completely exhausted expression. Hajime would also join them. He was seeing off Kaori and Tio who were going home through a gate with wry smiles.

A gate also got opened in front of the demons who had been sitting near the wall and hugging their knees starting from the middle of the fight.

「Home…..we’re going homeee!!」「Come on, it’s the light! You can see it right!?」「Fight on! We’re taking you guys back home now!」 The demons lifted up A to C who were turned into scraps and retreated while making filthy crying voices.

It was there,

「Ah, that’s right」

「Hm?」

Vanessa returned looking like she had forgotten something.

And then she kissed Kousuke with a very smooth movement.

Kousuke’s eyes widened slightly.

「Aaaa-, even though I failed!!」 Claudia’s voice rang out.

She dropped her cross from surprise. Its edge hit the face of Director Dime who was being put on a stretcher because it was judged that he still needed to rest and recuperate.

Moreover the two exorcists who were carrying the stretcher lost their balance and stumbled. They hit the director’s face and crotch with their elbow and knee as they fell. 「Nuuuuuuh!!」 Such growl? Resounded.

Naturally the people of USA also noticed and turned around. Their eyes turned into saucer──though some of them whistled──seeing Vanessa kissing Kousuke.

Chief Magdanese? Of course, she took out the trading card. The fate of rare card-kun was in the precipice.

*Chuu* A bewitching lip sound was faintly made as Vanessa’s lips withdrew. It was a kiss that was filled with her wholehearted feeling.

And most of all,

「Then, I’ll do my best in my work, Kousuke-san.」

「……Ou」

Anyone looking at her happy smile and passion filled eyes would clearly see that she wasn’t simply making a parting gesture or a mischief.

Yes, Kousuke understood.

Vanessa had a screwing around nature, but she was far more serious than at the start.

He had never heard it directly from her mouth.

How she was so thankful that no words could describe it, and how her heart had gotten put into a tight grip.

How she was truly falling in love from her heart.

To Kousuke who saved her like a movie hero that day, when she was betrayed by a fellow agent, saw a lot of her trusted comrades killed, and she had to protect Emily no matter what by her lonesome in the middle of a despairing situation where she didn’t even know who in the world was alright to trust.

To Kousuke who allowed her to punch the face of the traitor(Kimberly) in consideration of not only Emily’s feeling, but also her heart.

But, to repeat, Kousuke wasn’t dense. He realized from spending the same time with her in private and public.

(Good grief……)

Vanessa smiled pleasantly and turned around. She really left for real this time with a gallant step.

Kousuke saw off her back while scratching his cheek with an embarrassed smile.

(She’s a cool and intellectual lady when in work, but a screwing around otaku most of the time, and yet she’s showing the face of normal woman when with the one she love……she’s really the embodiment of gap moe)

Regardless of everything, Vanessa too was a woman overflowing with charm that didn’t even lose with Rana and others. Just like with how she started growing her hair, she was showing him behaviors and expressions that he couldn’t help but feel attracted to, especially recently.

Kousuke couldn’t deny her self-professed title of “the third wife”.

At the distance, Vanessa was touting up her normieness even while getting scolded by Chief Magdanese.

Perhaps she also had the purpose of showing off her intimate relationship with the returnee faction to the people of USA.

Perhaps that aspect of her that possessed both love and toughness was what made Chief Magdanese recognized her. After all she returned the trading card at the end even while sighing.

Well, putting that aside.

「Ko~u~su~ke~saa~maa~~!!」

Claudia ran his way with weak-footed steps tearfully. She then fell down as a matter of course, so he slid in and caught her without any hurry.

「Nn~~~」

Claudia pushed out her lips. Surely the matter of her colleagues apologizing profusely and the director writhing expressionlessly behind her had already fell out of her mind, no doubt about it.

Kousuke smiled wryly and pulled Claudia’s hand.

Like that,

「Kousuke-sama?」

「For now, let’s heal the director with the potion I got with me and then finish up the written report for our mission this time.」

「Eh? And the kiss?」

「I wanna eat at homee」

「The kiss!?」

Kousuke laughed hahaha to dodge the question while leaving the place.

Although the two women were his important people, somehow it felt awkward doing the kissing one after another.

.

AN: Thank you very much for reading this every time.

Thank you very much too for the thoughts, opinions, and reports about misspelling and omitted words.

The subtitle this time is from [Communication Breakdance]. When I wrote Hajime’s 「Did I mess up?」, for some reason I recalled the nostalgic boss rush series at Nico douga. I might like Nanoha Sts Rush the most. I’ll watch it again after so long.

※Material introduction

– Plus Ultra

From [Boku no Hero Academia]. Shia is going even further to the other side!

– I’ve given you enough courtesy

From Hoarah Loux of [Elden Ring]. If the director’s second from is Father Andersen from [Hellsing], then his third from is Godfrey, and his final form is Hoarah Loux, something like that? I had too much fun with the director’s fight that I forgot to restrain myself, sorry.

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