Arifureta Chapter 479

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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