51. If You Give, the Game Will End Here
51 If You Give, the Game Will End Here
Within the recreation accommodation’s lodgings, a recreational space created from the building’s 1st and 2nd floors exists. The area can serve as both an auditorium and a dining room. It is located on the first floor and is large enough to fit every student in building.
“Fua~, I’m sleepy.”
It’s 7 in the morning. Having sluggishly finished our morning preparation we are now gathering in the auditorium for the morning assembly. That’s when I spot Owl-chan and Uruna-chan sneaking glances at the class representative.
“Morning, class representative. Did something happen?”
“Good morning, Yuuki-kun. I’m not sure either… I’ve asked the 2 of them if there’s a reason for it, but they refuse to tell me anything.”
The class representative answers with a troubled expression.
My impression as an outsider is that their gazes are closer to those of admiration than anything else, much less hostility. It’s probably fine to just leaving it alone for now.
“Everyone, good morning.”
I greet everyone else after the class representative. Then, once the teachers greet everyone in the auditorium, the 2nd day of the recreation accommodation begins. Today we will be continuing the survival recreation from yesterday afternoon, but before that, all the groups have time slotted for breakfast.
Therefore, after the morning assembly, we all move to the dining room. Along the way, I release a long yawn.
“I’m sleepy…”
After all, I barely got any sleep last night. While being vigilant against the teachers’ patrols, we stayed up late playing the games Takigawa had brought.
Well, my head feels a bit fuzzy, but my body is completely fine. This must also be an effect of kami-sama strengthening my body.
I’m very grateful, I’m very grateful.
“That’s right, everyone, did you hear? Last night, a lustrous black giant appeared in the parking lot!”
Takigawa’s face is flushed with excitement as he starts talking.
“A lustrous black giant?”
“Yeah, some of the other students opened their windows to look at the night scenery and, when they glanced towards the parking lot, they saw a lustrous black giant tidying up the gravel!”
The heck is that? That urban legend makes no sense.
“They were probably dreaming. That’s just too ridiculous.”
“Yep, yep, Takigawa sure is energetic in the mornings~.”
“Hold it, it’s like they say, ‘There’s no smoke without fire,’ right? Let’s go check out the parking lot later!”
Ishida and Aihara-san try to smooth things over, but Takigawa absolutely refuses to settle down.
“A giant? That’s gotta be some sort of mistake! Instead of checking out the parking lot, we should be focusing on our recreation!”
“That’s right, desu! There’s absolutely no way something like a giant could exist, desu!”
“Eh, ah, yeah…”
The unexpected vehement denials by Uruna-chan and Owl-chan overpower Takigawa and he quietly starts to eat his breakfast.
–something like a noble diamond is here–
Occurring withing the room of an empty mountain retreat near the training institute is a serious discussion between a captivating, long haired, woman and a girl draped with a black robe.
“Ferrum, I never thought you of all people would lose…”
Ferrum failing with her forceful approach has left Io dejected. At the same time, she is amazed by the abilities of the practitioner who defeated her.
“The next head of the Mizukami clan has such unfathomable power… I completely underestimated them. I was under the impression that of the Five Great Clans, they were presently the weakest, but that seems to have been my mistake.”
“I don’t know… about other practitioners of the Mizukami clan, but Mizukami Uruka… she’s a monster.”
Ferrum recalls the previous night’s battle and shivers. In short, it ended with a one sided defeat without her even being able to see Mizukami Uruna. In terms of combat power, Ferrum is a top class magician within the United Kingdom, but that battle shattered her spirit.
“My technique was torn apart by Yuuki Kousuke while Mizukami Uruka is powerful enough to defeat you in combat… We’re at a dead end.”
Io puts their present condition in order and discerns that it is their complete loss. Taking a classmate close to Yuuki Kousuke as a hostage of might change things, but there is no telling how Mizukami Uruna and Owl will respond. Furthermore, such an act would break the unwritten law for keeping ordinary people as ignorant as possible to the existence of magic, the law that prevents the involvement of said people in magical affairs.
“Looks like it’s our, the hawkish group’s, defeat. If Yuuki Kosuke is in possession of the [Fairy All Seed], it will be returned to the moderate faction through Owl-sama. They’ll probably be tightening their security too for a while, but an opportunity to steal it back again should appear.”
“No, no, if you give, the game will end here, de gozaru yo. You should challenge Yuuki Kousuke at once, de gozaru!”
“!?”
The 2 are shocked by Chrome’s sudden appearance.
“Chrome, from where the heck did you… no, more importantly, where have you been until now and what have you been doing!? While you weren’t here…”
“Now, now, calm down, de gozaru yo.”
As Chrome shoves a black sphere into Io’s chest, her mouth opens in shock.
“[History of Iron Manufacturing]!”
Ferrum instantly invokes her [History of Iron Manufacturing] and constrains Chrome with chains of iron sand.
“Uguh, gaah…!”
“What did you… do to Io!?”
As dark red blood vessel like tendrils extend from the black sphere and twine around the suffering Io, a flustered Ferrum presses Chrome.
“Tell me why… depending on your answer…”
Her blood thirst seeps into her spell and the chains unintentionally tighten around Chrome.
“Ugeh, it hurts, de gozaru…
“I’d have properly explained with you doing that, de gozaru yo. I merely implanted her with the heart of an evil god I picked up yesterday, de gozaru. With this, she will be able to use much stronger magic than she has been until now, de gozaru yo. Although…”
“Although…?”
“The evil god’s power will encroach on her mind and she’ll die, de gozaru. It will take 1 day.”
“Kill!”
Ferrum tightens her chain formed of iron sand with all her might and tears through Chrome. However, the dismembered body turns into dirt.
“A fake…!?”
Ferrum, having never seen Chrome use a technique other than assuming the appearances of others, is astonished by the phenomenon before her eyes.
“Correct, de gozaru. That was my stand in, de gozaru yo! By the way, shouldn’t you be worrying more about Io-dono right now, de wa gozaranu ka?”
Getting irritated by Chrome’s voice that is echoing out from nowhere, Ferrum turns to Io. That is when the blood vessel like tendrils coming from the evil god’s heart wrapping around Io transform into a jet black dress.
“Revenge, on god…”
“Io…?”
Ferrum is slightly terrified by the dangerous words Io says in her incoherent muttering. At the same time, she senses that her magic is transforming into something of a different nature.
“What a relief, de gozaru. Looks like she’s going to go on a good rampage, de gozaru na.”
“[History of Iron Manufacturing]!”
Ferrum, unable to discern Chrome’s location through his voice, uses her iron sand to blow away the surrounding mountain villa all without harming Io.
“It’s pointless, de gozaru. I am no longer anywhere near that place, de gozaru yo. More importantly, shouldn’t you be doing something about Io-dono, de gozaru ka?”
“Kuh… Io! Stop!”
Io is treading over the remains of the mountain villa towards training institute when Ferrum cries out.
“Don’t be a bother, Ferrum… [You are on standby].”
“!?”
Just as Io finishes speaking, Ferrum finds she is actually unable to move.
“This sensation… [Army of Fools]?”
Ferrum understands the magic cast upon herself and is bewildered.
Originally, [Army of Fools] is a spell that only affects those with a low ability to think. Furthermore, it comes with the drawback of having a diminished effect on those with a high amount of magical power.
Ferrum’s ability to think hasn’t been lowered and she also possesses a high amount of magical power. Normally, she shouldn’t be susceptible to [Army of Fools].
“How… in the world…?”
“Oh my, how wonderful, de gozaru.”
To answer Ferrum’s doubts, Chrome continues to speak with his light tone.
“[Army of Fools] has evolved further into an even higher dimension, de gozaru yo. Although, I didn’t think it would become this powerful of a technique, de gozaru!”
“[Be silent].”
“Guh…”
Chrome, who had been joyously chattering away, is unable to resist Io’s order and shuts his mouth.
“With this, you won’t be a nuisance.”
Io, affected from containing the evil god’s heart, is without purpose. Regardless, she calmly walks for the training institute as if being drawn by something.
T/N: Well, things have gotten real.
Bruh chrome just leeched off mc power to become op 💀