Ultimate Antihero:Volume 1 Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Part 1

High at the cloudy sky.

At the sky where the light of the living flame disappeared, the figure of the baphomet was gone.

In the mission map, the marker that was assigned to baphomet had also gone already.

All the people in the battlefield raised their voice in great joy knowing that fact.

“We, we did it―!”

“Awesome! So this is the power of S-rank magician that only ten people in world can claim to be!”

“Yo―sh! Only the small fries remained! We are going to clean them up in one go!”

With Sumika destroying baphomet, the moral of all the magicians that were in that battlefield were heightened to the max.

With the most dangerous threat removed, the national defense magicians gathered their strength and began the extermination of the demon remnant.

The enemy markers on the mission map were vanishing one after another.

The situation at the national defense magician’s side made a comeback in one go.

The troop of demon was routed, they began an escape that was really crude to be called as a retreat.

It was fine already to judge the situation as the national defense magician’s victory.

Shiori who was observing everything from the far sky believed that to be true.

At the same time with that confidence, a transmission from the commander of seventh division, Hassad came at the corner of her field of vision.

{Shiori, I believe? My thanks for your cooperation. Thanks to you a lot of the troops were saved.}

Shiori returned a small nod toward his thanks.

{Even though we are still trainee, but we are shouldering the same duty. So you don’t need to mind it. Rather than that, I think the situation has calmed down to the level that that the seventh division alone is enough to deal with it. Do you mind if we begin withdrawing the student magician soon?}

{Right. Of course. Can I entrust you with the withdrawal’s instruction?}

{…Yes. I will take responsibility for this side, so I’ll leave the extermination of the enemy remnant to the seventh division.}

{Got it. You really helped us today. Thank you.}

With that thanks as his last word, the transmission from Hassad was cut.

At the same time, Shiori sent the sign and route for withdrawing to the all the student.

Later her ghosts should guide them and finished the withdrawal.

If she had worked this much than even Sumika shouldn’t have any complain.

“The situation is over isn’t it?”

Shiori took a breath and relaxed her body from tension.

After that, she looked at the north sky once again where the threat had gone.

She was looking at the young S-rank magician that was hovering there.

“But even so, there is no other way to say it than ‘just as expected’.”

Shiori who had watched the battle between Sumika and baphomet from the same sky leaked a voice of admiration.

If it was S-rank magician, then it was only natural for them to defeat <General class>.

This situation could be viewed with that way. Yet,

To be this strong at that age.

As expected it was unusual.

That strength…reminded Shiori of a memory inside her, of <Book Burning Corps> that once existed in the <Knight Order Without Border>.

She might even rivaled the strength of that elite squad that included Homura when he was young.

(If it’s this person, perhaps……)

―Then, at that moment where Shiori stopped her thinking due to such idle thought, that change happened.

Part 2

“Haee―, as expected Sumika-chan when she get serious is amazing isn’t she?”

Far below the sky.

Rozaling nodded in agreement of Anna’s murmured words that were said while she was looking at the sky from between the tilted buildings.

“Yes. There is a magician of the same age as us that is this strong. …We too mustn’t lose.”

“Ain’t that right―. But the withdrawal instruction has come already, this is the end for today.”

Saying that, Anna gave out instruction to her own subordinates that were Rosalind and Ayumi.

“Let’s withdraw. As expected my eyes is pretty tired here.”

After that she turned at Homura that had saved them and expressed her thanks.

“Thanks so much for today, Homura-kun. We narrowly escaped death.”

“Really, thank you, very much-“

Ayumi who was the person that got helped also swiftly bowed her head.

“I said it already. If you want to say thanks just say it to the leader.”

“Well, we are going to say thanks to Hoshikawa-chan too, but Homur-kun had also helped us. ―Ah, that’s right. Looks like today we can withdraw early, Homura-kun, can you eat together with us later? I‘ll treat you today as thanks you know~?”

“Oh? Really?”

Treat. Homura showed a reaction to that word.

Being stuck with the label of [traitor], Homura’s monetary situation where he couldn’t even get a decent job was basically always under pressure.

“If you gonna treat then there ain’t any way I’m not going.”

“That’s really greedy.”

“I’ll take whatever I’m given except for disease.”

“Then, let’s go back together. Homura-san-“

“Yeah.”

Homura returned a nod toward Ayumi’s voice and followed behind the withdrawing three.

No, he was going to follow them.

But his step immediately stopped.

“……”

And then, Homura looked up at the cloudy sky with a sharp gaze as if glaring at something.

“What’s wrong?”

Rozalind asked Homura who suddenly stopped walking.

But, Homura didn’t respond to her voice,

“Oi, oi, are you serious?”

With a powerful kick that exploded the ground, Homura flew to the air.

“Wh, what, just what in the world―”

“Looks like he is heading to Hoshikawa-chan’s direction, but, has something happened?”

Anna and Rozalind saw off Homura who suddenly flew to the sky in puzzle.

Even though the battle had ended already, just what made him that panicked they wondered.

That was what the two were thinking.

But, Ayumi who was opening her mission map by chance in that place was,

“Anna-chan! Rozalind-chan! Look at the mission map!”

―She saw the moment of that unusual event.

And then, the one who witnessed that was not only Ayumi.

“Eh, wha, what, this is”

“Oi oi, what is happening!?”

Commotion was happening everywhere in the battlefield, many agitated voices could be heard.

Why?

The reason was in the mission map that they saw.

The sky above the battlefield.

There, marker that showed the enemy position, one, two, three, five, spots of enemy marker was increasing.

The number of markers was gradually increasing with the momentum like raindrop blotting the map, before long new markers that numbered more than fifty were created.

The fact that was indicated by that display, was enemy reinforcement.

But, everyone’s attention was not directed there.

Such thing, was only a trivial matter right now.

What they were staring at, was not the markers that had just increased into more than fifty,

But the marker with remarkably enormous size, that was gradually blotting the center of those markers.

“-――!?”

They looked above.

With the same timing, everyone looked up at the sky.

At the end of their sight, the cloudy sky distorted, white lightning scattered, what appeared was―a new army of demon race.

A gigantic, … an enormous golden dragon clad in lightning with size that made one hallucinated that it might have the size of thousands of kilometers, and

Surrounding that dragon, black humanoid demon that numbered more than fifty.

In the back of the mind of everyone that were dumbfoundedly looking up at that, Shiori’s voice that was exuding a little uneasiness reverberated.

{…Emergency situation occurred. The force of enemy reinforcement has been confirmed.

The classification of their lineup, <General class> baphomet―66.

And then…unknown dragon-type gigantic demon―1.

Further the presumed ability of this unknown demon is equivalent with Typhon. There is no doubt that it’s a <Demon King class>.}

That demon would later be named the <Demon King Jambure>, it was the second <Demon King class> demon’s invasion in human history.

“This is, a lie……right?”

“Even though just one baphomet…is impossible already.”

“Again, will that thing, start <Walpurgis Night> again……!”

Everyone that were in this place had witnessed and knew about <Walpurgis Night>.

Just how much unreasonable strength a <Demon King class> demon possessed.

It was like looking at a giant comet that falling to the earth.

A symbol of ruin that they couldn’t do anything against, that they could only laugh.

A part of the people there had their fighting spirit taken away thoroughly, they dropped their weapon and fell to their knees.

However, just who in the world could blame them?

With this, enormous coiling golden dragon that covered the whole sky as their opponent, just how in the world a human that at most only two meter high could win against it.

And then―as if to laugh scornfully at the humans, Jambure lifted its long neck,

It opened its enormous jaw.

Instantly, bluish white light surged out from under the golden scales that covered Jambure’s whole body,

{High magic power reaction in the level that is impossible to measure from the enemy <Demon King class>! All hands, escape as far away as possible!}

Almost at the same time with Shiori’s warning, a beam that was bundled from several million lightning was fired from Jambure’s mouth.

Breath of lightningDivine Breath that stole all color and dyed the world white surged out in straight line heading right below Jambure, toward the S-rank magician that defeated baphomet, and everything that survived at the battlefield below.

“A, …….ah,”

Facing the approaching burning white, Sumika that was just right below it couldn’t even escape.

She was swallowed by the pressure of <Demon King class> that she witnessed for the first time from really close.

That was why she could only accept that destruction in the air―

“MOVEEE!!!!”

Her body was thrust away by Homura who ascended vertically from the ground.

“Ho, Homura-san-!”

Sumika reflexively called that name.

But Homura didn’t even look at her, he thrust out his left hand at the approaching Divine Breath, and deployed a barrier of pentagram <Ancient SealElder Sign> so huge that it completely covered the whole battlefield. It blocked the demon king’s attack right from the front.

“OOOOOOooOOoooOOooOoOoooooOO–!!!!”

Raising a howling voice, Homura wringed out all the power he possessed and maintained the barrier.

The Divine Breath that was obstructed by the pentagram barrier had several line of light scattered from it and pierced the ground.

It blown away abandoned building, gouged the land, evaporated body of water, and blew away the sacred mountain that was visible from afar right from its base.

A power so great that it changed the terrain of earth itself.

But against that abnormal pressure, Homura bit his teeth and pushed back,

―He somehow held out against the attack.

However,

“Chih. …As expected, picking fight with <Demon King class> with <Aureole> attached is a bit troublesome.”

The compensation for that was heavy.

“Homura-san! Yo, your arm is……-!”

{Master…-!}

Sumika beside him and Vel, the two of them screamed.

Homura’s left arm that blocked the Divine Breath was hideously burned, the majority of that arm was turned into black charcoal.

His flesh melted, and his bone was exposed in some places.

It was a heavy injury to the degree that even recovery sorcery might not be able to heal, but Homura,

“Aah, don’t mind it. It’s not really a big deal.”

Homura bluffed while his forehead sweated from enduring the pain.

“The, there is just no way it’s not a big deal…!”

{Master, why didn’t you use me as shield…!?}

“Aah geez, you guys are noisy. It ain’t the time to prattle about thing like that y’know.”

After yelling at the restless two, Homura looked up straight at the sky.

Correct, right now is not the time to say that it’s hurt or it’s painful.

The second invasion of <Demon King class>. Right now such thing was truly happening.

Then, there was only one way left to oppose this.

Just like there was no way to defeat Typhon but one.

“―This is as far as I goes, huh.”

With a small voice, Homura leaked out those words, he then asked a question at Shiori that was far away with mind transmission.

“Shiori. Has the permission for limited release come?”

{No. It still hasn’t come yet. Otou-san and also Kinugasa-san are hurrying it, but looks like those guys are reluctant.}

(Well, I imagined already that it’s like that though.)

“…Really, what a bunch of hopeless old geezer.”

With his eyes quietly getting angry, Homura made a single decision inside himself.

The demon king floating at the sky was already entering the preparation for the second Divine Breath.

He guessed its preparation was longer than before was because this time it was gathering just that much power.

If it kept like this then he wouldn’t be able to defend against the second attack.

He had a way that he didn’t really want to do, but life that was lost now couldn’t be replaced.

“Shiori. I’ve got a request.”

Part 3

The matter about the appearance of Jambure that was presumed as <Demon King class> near the Tokyo life sphere, was immediately notified toward Orion Tower that was the center of <United World Government> located in Detroit life sphere, the Five Great Leaders that was doing a meeting for the <One Year Plan> just before this stayed in place for the countermeasure meeting against the newly appeared demon king.

However that meeting was only a meeting in name.

Five years ago. The time when there was still more than a hundred country in this world.

Even by mobilizing all the magician and army of those countries that numbered more than a hundred, they still couldn’t win against <Demon King class> demon.

Thing that humanity could do against this threat was particularly non-existent.

They could only lament the situation.

“What a thing to happen…! Just in five years, a new <Demon King> class appears again……!”

“Even so, it’s great that we can have five years until something like this… maybe it’s better to say that I wonder…”

The image of Jambure was projected at the hologram above the middle of the round table.

The president of America Joseph Franklin and Britain’s prime minister Leti Cline that were watching that made a heavy sigh.

In contrast the one who raised his voice was the secretary general of China Republic Union, Wan Tairon.

“O, oi! The hell are you doing just getting dazed like that! <Evil God User> is there right! It’s fine if we just make that guy fight!”

“Ah, right. That’s right! The one that can oppose <Demon King class> is only him!”

“If I remember right the petition for limited release already came right?”

“Then quickly approve that limited release ―”

“It’s unnecessary.”

“ “ “Eh?” “ “

Suddenly, a heavy voice remonstrated the three who were talking so vigorously that they might bit their own tongue.

It was the voice of the highest leader of Holy Path Church, Innocentius.

“Your grace!?”

“O, oi oi! Just what d’you mean by that!?”

“If, if it goes like this then Tokyo life sphere will be erased from map you know!? Do you understand that!?”

“Whether that place is erased from map or anything, is there a problem? It’s nothing more than an erasure of those heretic in Tokyo life sphere. Isn’t that fine, even if they are erased right now.”

Innocentius said out those cruel words with calm voice until the very end.

And then as if to support that opinion, Soviet’s supreme ruler Gregorio Rasputin that hadn’t opened his mouth until now continued after Innocentius.

“In the first place there is little benefit for us even if we let Japan remain. It’s obvious that they will be a hindrance for the <One Year Plan>. Perhaps this is a good move for them to be destroyed by the new demon king altogether with the <Evil God User>.”

“That’s……perhaps it’s just as you say.”

“Bu, but if <Evil God User> die, just who will take care of the <Demon King class>!?”

“There is no problem at all regarding that matter. The <Messiah Creation Plan> has already ninety percent complete.”

“ “ “――–!” “ “

Hearing Innocentius’s words, the expression of the three people other than Gregory was colored in shock.

That was only natural. It was because the <Messiah Creation Plan> that was said just now, was a project of absolute secrecy that had importance rivaling even the <One Year Plan>, a plan to create a pawn that was loyal to them possessing a power that rivaled the <Evil God User>, so that they wouldn’t need to rely on <Evil God User> forever.

“Tha, that plan was already, advancing until a stage that can be implemented!?”

“Indeed. The <Messiah> has already awaken.”

“O, ooh!”

“Therefore, there is not a single problem at all. Rather, this demon king’s invasion is a great fortune for us. A new demon king that destroyed the messiah before. That demon king will be destroyed by our Messiah. And with that, this time we will become the ruler of this world both in name and reality.”

“Magnificent-! If the <Messiah> has already reached that stage, certainly the <Evil God User> is unneeded!”

“With this we can discard that annoying man.”

The good news that Innocentius brought about excited the atmosphere of the place.

Then they didn’t need to do anything regarding this case with Jambure.

After they made sure that Homura who was tied by <Aureole> got killed, they could depart for the battle at ease.

The moment the opinion of the Five Great Leader was settled like that―it happened.

{As always, you guys are thinking of good-for-nothing matter.}

Suddenly, a voice filled with contempt resounded inside the room, noise was running at the display that was projecting the figure of Jambure.

And then at the next moment, at the display that was projecting Jambure’s image until now―the figure of <Evil God User> Kamishiro Homura was reflected.

“Wha――-!!!!”

“<Evil God User>!? Ho, how can you be in this screen…!? Besides this voice is…!”

{There is an expert of magic power transmission that can do as she please with magic power communication network throughout the world at this side y’know. I got her to take over the transmission system of Orion Tower for a little.}

“……So it’s that experimental body.”

The solidness of Orion Tower’s magic power transmission mechanism was number one in the world.

To so easily take it over, was something even Homura couldn’t do.

But in this world there was only one person, a human with transcendental proficiency that far surpassed human standard for this kind of thing.

Realizing about that existence, Innocentius warped his face in annoyance.

And the looking down at that Innocentius from the display, Homura continued his words.

{Well, it doesn’t matter what are you guys sneakily doing there, but right now is emergency situation. You guys understand my reason accessing this place right? Currently <Demon King class> has appeared beside Tokyo life sphere. It cannot be dealt with if not with me as <Evil God User>. That’s why approve the limited release of <Aureole> quickly. The contact from Kinugasa should have come already.}

Homura threw that demand at them with unrespectful tone.

The one who responded toward that demand was Joseph who talked while wiping the sweat at his forehead with a handkerchief.

“Ah, yes. Right. Of course the contact has come. But the limited release of <Aureole> is an absurdly big decision even for us. The By a certain degree, the <Evil God User> is feared by the people even more than the demon king. It’s unimaginable just how great the disturbance that will run among the populace if that power is released. We need to pile up deliberation on top of deliberation, there is a necessity to make a comprehensive decision by including every factor. At the very least after one more hour…..”

Homura scoffed at Joseph’s mumbling reply.

{Hah. Don’t give me an answer with your aim that transparent. ―If you bastards has that kind of intention then I’ll say my piece too. I’ve got no more intention to let somebody die in front of my eyes for the second time. That’s why if right now you bastards are sayin’ that you won’t release <Aureole>, I’ll use my own power to bust out <Aureole>.}

“There is no way you can do something like ―”

{You think I can’t?}

Saying that, Homura who was above the sky far away from Detroit life sphere intentionally flowed his right hand with power.

The suffocating pressure that usually surrounded his own body as if he was inside the deep sea.

He wielded his power intentionally trying to shake off that pressure.

That moment―, the planet trembled.

As if creaking,

As if cracking,

Along with the sound of fatal destruction that brought about terror just by hearing it, the earth shook.

Against that shaking, Joseph felt sweat gushing out from his back.

(Co, come to think of it, <Aureole> is, a magic that is using the power of earth itself to continuously seal his power.)

‘Then―could this shaking possibly be’, a chill that was near conviction ran through his body.

And then after that,

{I, i-i, it’s a disaster president!}

Due to an urgent transmission from the top secret facility underground the South Pole where the installation of <Aureole>’s seal formula was built, that chill was immediately confirmed into fact.

{The pressure from <Evil God User> is suddenly raising, it’s in the process of surpassing the endurance of <Aureole> underground the South Pole-! I, if it keep like this the power will be unrestrainable and blow away the <Aureole>-! P, please give the evacuation order! Presidentttt!!!!}

It was a transmission filled with fierce alert sound accompanied with explosive noises.

And then the voice of the person at the other side of the transmission that was at his wits’ end, made all member of the Five Great Leader convinced.

Homura didn’t tell a lie or anything.

That he was able to tear off the collar of <United World Government> by his own will anytime he wanted.

“That’s, impossible……!”

“U, unbelievable. Then just why you don’t try to get free from the seal all this time until now!? Even when you fight my army, ain’t you able to win even more easily like this!”

Tairon who previously attempted to kill Homura by throwing the army that he had at Homura and instead had the table turned on him awfully asked with all blood leaving his face. Against that question Homura,

{That’s obvious. ―That’s because I myself understand, just what kind of existence I am.}

Without hiding anything, Homura made clear of his own thinking.

Just how much terror an existence like him that possessed power outside of norm would cause for the people.

Homura understood really well about that matter.

And then, he also understood how such reaction was correct, something that couldn’t be helped for a living creature.

For that reason, he pretended to be controlled by <United World Government>.

The leaders of their own society, had put under their control the existence that possessed an unknown power.

It was for the sake of the weak people who couldn’t feel peace of mind unless they convinced themselves like that.

After all Homura himself didn’t wish to thoughtlessly threaten the people.

{But that too is depending on the situation. It’s fine at time when I have leeway. There is no need to release the seal for every single time I’m just playing around with you bastards. But―this time is different.}

The enemy was <Demon King class>.

The power as <Evil God User> was necessary to defeat the enemy.

Without it he couldn’t win.

If he couldn’t win―he couldn’t protect.

That was why, Homura asked―no, he threatened once again.

{After understanding that I ask once more?

Am I gonna bust off the <Aureole> like this and crush your honor to dust.

Or are you gonna release <Aureole> temporarily and order me to exterminate the demon king as the <United World Government>.

―Which one you gonna choose?}

It was a forceful voice filled with killing intent.

“U, understood. We will acknowledge the limited release.”

The one who answered was Innocentius whose forehead was oozing sweat.

“Your grace! Is that fine!?”

“It’s fine. However the limited release will only be 30%. The time is 50 second.”

Hearing those conditions, Homura readily consented without any hesitation.

{That’s enough.}

And then the transmission was cut one-sidedly with his business with them finished.

At the same time, an oppressive silence wrapped the meeting room.

“Your grace……”

“…It can’t be helped. Letting that man rampaging as he pleased right now will affect our cohesive power.”

Innocentius emphasized to Joseph with expression of anguish.

“However be thorough in the information manipulation. Until the end, insist that from the start we are the one that give the order to that man.”

“Ye, yes…”

Joseph’s answering voice also didn’t have any dignity.

The feeling that was currently enveloping him was powerlessness.

They who until just now were thinking of the distribution of territory of the dismantled countries from the <One Year Plan>,

These Five Great Leaders who were holding the world in their hand,

Were they this powerless facing only a single kid that was at most just 17 years old, such thing was running in their mind right now.

However, after a while that feeling of powerlessness changed into selfish hatred that burned inside their heart.

For a mere brat whose birth place was not even known, to dare to look down on they who were great rulers, it was something unforgivable.

Without fail, before long they would without fail, taught that brat his place in this world.

Innocentius buried his nail into the sofa and grind his teeth.

Translator's Notes and References

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