Editing Ultimate Antihero:Volume 2 Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 2===

Tokyo life sphere・the seventh administration district.

At the state guest house that was located in a conspicuously high building at the old Akasaka, the 101st platoon’s members except Homura were gathering.

Each of them were completely armed, with their bodies wrapped with their <Magi’s Jacket>.

The reason was of course, to protect the <Fairy Queen> Elfiena.

“Looks like it started.”

Onjouji Shiori, the <Operator> of the 101st that boasted enemy searching ability that was far removed from common sense whispered from the south-facing window of the room where Elfiena was confined while staring at the low hanging cloudy sky.

Nobody at that place needed to be told to understand what she meant by happening.

“I wonder if Master is okay…”

“Shiori-san. Do you understand the detail of the battle situation?”

Asked by Sumika, Shiori made a mean smile widely.

“First move, Y’golonac.”

She said it as if whispering into Sumika’s ear.

Sumika’s expression distorted from unpleasant feeling hearing the name of that <evil god>.

It was because she who was deeply knowledgeable about <evil god> knew really well just what kind of god it was.

“…He called out something unbelievable just because there is nobody around didn’t he?”

“Y’go, what? This is also the same <evil god> like the giant skeleton the other day?”

“Yes. It’s the same <Great Old One> like Ithaqua that Homura-san summoned that time at the battle with Jambure. Its power is not as great as Ithaqua, but if it’s about nastiness then this one is far above. Also it’s fine to not remember its name. Even if you remember it please don’t recklessly say out its name. If a human without any preparation said out its name then it won’t end well for them.”

“Eh, wh, what will happen?”

“After one thing or another they will die.”

“After one thing or another!?”

“The point is that each person will reach that end through different processes, but in the end everyone will be ruined all the same.”

“Sc, scary-“

“Those evil gods are mostly like that. It seems that Homura-san controls them with his extraordinary power and self-control, but they originally are not existences that are the allies of humanity.”

After Sumika warned Chikori who held an interest to the name of the <God of Corruption>, she then thought.

She was wondering just why did Homura summon Y’golonac.

Just as she explained to Chikori before, Y’golonac was not a god that possessed that powerful of a power.

As the first hand against a large army, wasn’t it a little insufficient in power.

……No,

(Wait. Large army? Come to think of it…)

“Say, Elfiena-san.”

Suddenly Sumika, who obtained a flash of inspiration, called out to Elfiena, who was sitting still on the sofa quietly with a nervous expression.

“Yes. What is it?”

“When you explained about the state of affairs of the demon world, you said that powerful clans in each territory repeatedly fought each other, weeding out and absorbing each other many times over, until it became four giant forces in the end, isn’t that right? Is the <Giant Army> also one of the clans that did something like that?”

“Yes. Just as you said. At the beginning the <Giant Army> was just like the name imlplied, they were an army of the giant race with <Gyges> <Kottos> <Aegaeon> as the head of the race, but currently, they had absorbed a great number of tribes and became a mixed army.”

“…I see.”

Hearing that answer, Sumika understood the reason why Homura summoned Y’golonac as his first move.

And then at the same time, she also admired Homura’s wisdom that wouldn’t overlook even the slightest information.

Certainly, it was the best possible first move.

(So it seems there is no need to worry about Homura-san.)

Rather than that, they should worry more about themselves.

And just when Sumika reconsidered so, it was right at that time.

“―Leader. It looks like our side will also start soon.”

Shiori informed her so with a serious expression.

The girl’s sensing had caught the enemy’s presence heading to this state guest house.

“Two large-type vehicles going up the hill in front of the state guest house. There are multiple magic power reactions from the inside.”

“So they came…! The number?”

“Wait. I am now counting.”

At the same time with those words, a mission map of the overhead view of one kilometer around this state guest house was displayed at the field of vision of Sumika and Chikori.

From the information of the structure detail of the building until the enemy’s accurate position, on top of that the magic power amount possessed by the enemy and even the rank of the magicians listed from the highest to the lowest, all of those were displayed. It was Shiori’s original work, a super high precision battle control sorcery ―<Oracle>.

Looking at the battlefield that was visualized by <Oracle>, certainly it was just like Shiori said, there were red light dots countlessly overlapping each other climbing the long hill road in front of the state guest house with fierce speed.

When the eyesight was focused at the overlapping markers, the map automatically displayed detailed numbers of the marker.

The number was 43 in total.

Magicians who was scarce in number even at the best of times wouldn’t take group action in this many a number meaninglessly.

There was no doubt, they were enemies aiming for Elfiena.

“Furthermore at the very least they are skilled B-rank magicians. Perhaps during these three days they were calling <Paladins> from their own country.”

And then, the markers of the enemies kept climbing the hill with fierce speed―

*GASHAAN!!!!*

Raising a loud voice, they broke through the barred gate of the state guest house right from the front.

“My, how bold. They drove into her altogether with the bus.”

“They are really confident to come right from the front without hiding.”

“I had shown my battle control system <Oracle> in the battle with Jambure, so I guess it made them give up on a surprise attack right from the start.”

“I see. Certainly if it’s like that then rather than poorly dividing their force, it’s better for them to charge in right from the front as a whole. So the other side is also not altogether stupid then.”

“…They are really, breaking the promise aren’t they?”

Suddenly, Elfiena whose face was gloomy all this time leaked out her voice talking to herself.

“El-san……”

There was a deep dejection in that voice.

It was understandable. Even though she had fulfilled her promise to give the information of the demon kings and accepted the house arrest in the state guest house, but the human race’s side had broken the promise one-sidedly.

Sumika gave consoling words towards Elfiena who was feeling dejected like that.

“Elfiena-san. Just like there are various kinds of demons that exist in the demon world, there are also various kinds of humans. That’s why… please don’t think that all humans are like them. Besides, even if the <Holy Path Church> and the <United World Government> break their promises, since Homura-san who is none other than the <Evil God User> had said that he will protect you, he will without fail protect not just Elfiena-san, but also all the fairies that will come later on. That’s why please be relieved.”

Her words were filled with a strong conviction.

That was because Sumika knew, that the biggest reason the <United World Government> could stand in superior position against the <Evil God User>, the <Aureole> was only a rusted chain that Homura could tear apart anytime he felt like it.

Hearing those words, although there was still a little shadow left in her expression, but it made Elfiena recover her smiling face.

“Yes. I understand. …Besides it’s not only <Evil God User>-sama, but Sumika-san and Chikori-san and others are also protecting me right now like this. I’m not going to come to hate all of you humans from this.”

“Hearing that makes it worth it for us to do our best like this.”

She returned a smile at Elfiena’s words which was filled with gratitude, then Sumika once again took a look at the mission map.

After the enemy broke through the barred gate, the bus stopped at the garden of the state guest house and they began to form their ranks.

It was only a matter of time before they charged.

(…Right, if Homura-san can just return back, Elfiena-san and the others will be absolutely safe then.)

Then Sumika felt the problem was rather in this moment right now.

The reason was that Homura right now was in the southern hemisphere. He was right at the other side of the earth.

Of course, they couldn’t expect reinforcements or the like. They had to protect Elfiena from the approaching hostility only with the power of the 101st platoon.

The enemy was a <Special Missionary> that was famous even as the greatest battle strength of the <Holy Path Church>.

Among the enemy battle force that was displayed in <Oracle>, the marker that emitted a conspicuously strong light was indicating [A-rank].

If only talking about rank, Sumika was the superior one, but she too had heard a rumor regarding the <Special Missionary>.

Demon hunters under direct control of the <Holy Path Church>.

There was a high possibility that they were in possession of a trump card that normal magicians didn’t have.

She could easily imagine this would be a harsh battle.

(―But, even so I’ll show that I can do this. …Because)

If she couldn’t protect this single weak woman, who didn’t have any power or weapon yet still crossed over to the human world with the preparedness to die for the sake of her comrades, there was no way she could catch up to Homura.

“So, what should we do Leader?”

“For the time being, we are hiding until the enemy detects us.”

The state guest house was spacious, there were also countless rooms here.

Furthermore, anticipating an attack, Sumika had twisted the space everywhere in the building, reconstructing the internal structure like a labyrinth. As long as the enemy didn’t have a super precise skill for searching enemies, then it should take more than half a day just to reach this room.

“But, what will we do in the case we are detected?”

“At that time of course we will make our resistance to the bitter end. However―”

Sumika met Shiori’s eyes and talked while returning answer to the question.

“Chikori-san and I have determined our hearts, but we don’t have any intention to force Shiori-san to go along with it. I’m thankful to you for just helping us in enemy searching, so it’s fine even if Shiori-san withdraws from here while you still can. Rather, I think that if you are going to escape, then now is the last chance.”

This was something that she had to say as the leader of the 101st.

Because this battle was not a legitimate duty of a trainee platoon.

However Shiori shook her head towards this recommendation of Sumika.

“Fufu. …Well, certainly, I’m not as motivated as much as you two. But it’s fine. I will also remain here. Because I have been asked by Homura-kun to help everyone.”

“Is it fine?”

“Rejecting the request of the man that you love is not what a good woman does.”

“Waa…! Shiori-san, how adult……!”

“My my-. So <Evil God User>-sama and Shiori-sama are lovers?”

“No. Unfortunately this is just a one-sided feeling. It’s just something from far in the past.”

Chikori and Elfiena had their cheeks reddened from Shiori’s bold statement.

Making a sidelong glance to the two who were like that, Sumika recalled that in the end she couldn’t ask about the past of Homura and Shiori because of the various commotions since that day at the sea.

But this was not a topic that should be talked about right now.

Sumika decided in her heart to try to ask once more when this battle ended,

“Understood. If Shiori-san is going to back us up then it’s really reassurin―”

Right at that moment when she was going to welcome Shiori’s participation.

 

A chill.

 

The chill that suddenly ran through her spine made Sumika’s heart leap.

Sumika knew well of that sensation.

It was the danger signal brought about by the Hero Skill of the <Gun Saint> Billy the Kid that she was contracted with, the <Back Sniper> which foresighted the cause and effect and detected attacks coming from blind spots with 100% accuracy.

“Everyone get downnnnn!!!!”

“ “ “–―……!?” ” ”

Even while the three who were in that place felt surprise from Sumika’s sudden yell, they immediately understood about the danger that was approaching them.

Less than a second after Sumika’s <Back Sniper> activation.

<Oracle> detected magic power attack stretching out straightforwardly piercing through the wall of the state guest house, heading to the room they were in from the enemy formation.

But, Sumika’s movement was faster than the arrival of that attack because of the foresight of the cause and effect.

She wasted no time to warn the other three and leaped in front of the wall of the room where she guessed [that] would come, before she deployed <{{furigana|Protection|Magic Barrier}}>.

And then, the next instant, the wall was pierced through and a magic power bombardment that shined scarlet crashed into the barrier that Sumika deployed, everything was just like what her instincts had told her.

The scarlet flash that was filled with a definite intent to kill made the barrier creak with tremendous power.

However, the one who deployed this barrier was Hoshikawa Sumika.

A magician of the highest class where there were only ten among the human race.

It was not something that would break so quickly, the flash was blocked by the barrier, it was sliding on the surface of the barrier and got scattered to the side.

Even though the flash gouged and destroyed everything all over the room, but it couldn’t bring a single harm to the target that was Elfiena and vanished before long.

“As expected from Leader. To detect the attack even faster than me like that. But I wonder how can they know our location here. I cannot imagine that the other side has an <Operator> at the same level as me but…”

Even though they should not be detected, but an attack accurately came to their position.

Shiori expressed her doubt just how that could happen.

But, her voice didn’t enter Sumika’s ear.

The reason was―

(The technique just now… don’t tell me……-!)

The worst premonition filled Sumika’s thought completely.

“Strategy change! Since we became unable to hole ourselves here, we can only repel the enemy! Chikori-san, please come together with me! Shiori-san, I ask you to stay here as Elfiena-san’s guard-!”

“Le, Leader!?”

Giving that order without even hearing back the reply, Sumika then leaped out from the hole that was gouged in the room.

And then she passed straight through the tunnel that was made from the piercing crimson flash and came outside.

There, Sumika knew that her worst premonition was right on the mark.

“…As I thought.”

An accurate attack even without searching the enemy beforehand.

Such thing was normally impossible.

But it was possible if an abnormal power was used.

For example, a demonic lance that would pierce the enemy without fail just by thrusting it.

If such thing could be used, then no matter how much distance there was or how the figure of the enemy was unseen, none would matter.

After all that lance piercing the enemy was already an established destiny.

And then Sumika knew one person that was like that.

A person that was bestowed with the divine protection of a hero wielding a demonic lance that would pierce even the whole army.

“…I never thought that you will come, Lily.”

Among the group armored with present day armor and helmets, lining up with their backs towards the setting sun―

A sister of familiar red hair that Sumika knew really well, standing with an <Arms> of lance-type in hand.

With an awful face as if she had been crying throughout the night.