Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 9 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 5===
 
When Listy set foot in the tower of Babel tower with Akatsuki received a rough welcome.
 
From one eyed giants to ox-headed monsters, stone statue demons, and even hell hounds.
 
Countless demonic beasts stood in front of the two, launching wave after wave of attacks.
 
Most likely those were created by the security program Haruka mentioned -- the [Guardian Beast system].
 
"Ku......!"
 
List barley avoided the fangs from a swooping hell hound, afterwards she drove her magic staff into its side.
 
Inside Babel there was a special barrier that changed physical damage to mental damage. In theory, any attack to these beasts being physical or magical should be ineffective.
 
But......
 
The hell hound Listy hit tumble to the ground, significantly dulling its movement.
 
Listy's strikes did indeed seem effective.
 
...... With this, somehow we might manage......!
 
Listy felt some feedback from the hit, and tightly grasped her magic staff.
 
The whole staff was covered in a faint blue light.
 
However, the glow that mounted the effective attack to the beast didn't originate from Listy. As from whom -- the answer emerged out the corner of her eye.
 
"Hey! There has to be a mistake. This is all you're capable of? That is way too weak!"
 
A provocative voice spread throughout the battlefield. The Cyclopes and Minotaurs were more than double his size, yet Akatsuki defeated one after another with a punch or a kick causing them to change into particles of light.
 
Whether from his fists or legs, the same pale glow spread out covering Listy's magic staff.
 
It was a brightness caused by renkan keikikou.
 
The nature of renkan keikikou differed from pure physical or magical attacks, and just like that was effective against the guardian beasts. Akatsuki's skill with renkan keikikou allowed him to refine the energy (Ki) in his body into something else. Therefore, after the discovery of its effectiveness Akatsuki acted right away. He immediately infused his energy into Listy's staff, greatly enhancing her ability to fight.
 
The only draw back probably was its inability to kill with one blow like he could but,
 
"-- Still!"
 
Listy's voice was filled with fighting spirit, as she repeatedly attack with her magic staff.
 
After the third hit she had been able to eliminate the hell hound, and without stopping Listy went after a nearby gargoyle.
 
Although the number of enemies were enormous, due to space constraints the number of beasts that could attack at once were limited.
 
Therefore, Listy by using wind magic, and Akatsuki making use of his flexibility and footwork made their way through the enemy ranks, defeating one Guardian Beast at a time.
 
When number of enemies had dropped to roughly half, the opportunity they had been waiting for arrived. While Listy and Akatsuki were fighting each of them were attracting the enemy towards them from opposite sides, coercing them into position. Now the Guardian Beasts were arrange in a straight line.
 
So,
 
"-- Akatsuki!"
 
"Yeah, leave it to me!"
 
Listy shouted out loudly. Akatsuki immediately summoned his black magic sword -- Lævateinn.
 
He amassed the energy within his body, and then infused it into the sword blade,
 
"Oraaaaaaa-!"
 
A cold light flashed, as he swung Lævateinn with all his strength.
 
The torrent of energy let loose became a shock wave, and instantly swallowed the remnants of the guardian beasts.
 
Along with the violent roar, the beasts were blown clear off to the end of the long corridor.
 
In the distance, countless particles of light floated up caused from the eliminated of a large amount guardian beasts.
 
"Ssha, it's settled. Let's quickly advance."
 
"Yeah......"
 
There was no time bask in the joy of victory.
 
Because Miu had to be rescued as soon as possible.
 
The tower of Babel was vast, and had many corners. However, every step Akatsuki took there wasn't the slightest hint of him getting lost.
 
Akatsuki was familiar with Miu's energy, and could feel where to go.
 
However, as the two entered the elevator and began to rise Listy's expression was very stiff.
 
Akatsuki had secretly glanced beside him.
 
A serious look with a confident attitude to match was on her face. It the usual face he had known her to have.
 
On the surface, it looked like there was no damage.
 
But -- it wasn't like that at all.
 
Listy had witnessed Akatsuki and Kaidou's fight a little while ago with Chikage and Kuzuha.
 
At the time she was unable to help Akatsuki because of the barrier Kaidou set up, but even if there wasn't any barrier then also herself and the others wouldn't have been able to intervene because of their capabilities.
 
Kaidou was equally matched with Akatsuki, or perhaps was even slightly better. The damage Akatsuki suffered was difficult to estimate. Even though renkan keikikou could enhance his ability to heal himself, the thought of him being fully recovered was inconceivable.
 
...... Also.
 
It could of been her imagination, but at the time he return to house in the evening it seemed like he was worn out. Although the story was he was having Sleipnir maintained, but he might have been involved in some sort of sudden battle.
 
...... If that happened.
 
Akatsuki's strength might be at its limits.
 
-- Listy didn't know too much about Hikami Kyouya. However, she knew that he was a member of COCOON, who were known as the administrators of this world, and that there was some unknown grudge.
 
But according to Haruka, each one of their abilities including Kyouya's were definitely greater than Akatsuki's.
 
Moreover Kyouya might have gained Miu's power as a ultra-higher-order life form.
 
Akatsuki in his current state, facing such a formidable enemy was too unthinkable.
 
"............"
 
Listy couldn't help think, at the very least, was there a way for him to completely recover?
 
...... If Lulu were here......
 
She recalled one of her irreplaceable companions that she went through thick and thin together in Alayzard -- Loutier Trum, with half high elf blood she was an expert with recovery magic.
 
If she came, maybe Akatsuki could of quickly recovered. Then,
 
........ Speaking of which...... before......
 
Listy suddenly remembered one possibility. During their travels around the world of Alayzard together to defeat the demon king Galious, Loutier had once mention a method.
 
...... Maybe......
 
She could use that method to restore Akatsuki's strength. The moment she thought so,
 
"Hian!?"
 
Listy couldn't help but cry out.
 
She did so because somebody had suddenly raised her skirt up high, and grab her butt.
 
Moreover, accurately pinpointed the most sensitive spot.
 
"Wh-what are you doing grabbing me so suddenly like that!"
 
It was just the two of them confined in the elevator, so the culprit went without saying.
 
Questioned by the bright red Listy,
 
"It look like you were brooding, so I thought to alleviate some of your tension."
 
Not in the least ashamed Akatsuki boldly declared.
 
"Most women having their butt or breasts touched suddenly would jump, having their tension resolved by surprise."
 
"If it was only to relieve the tension, there also much better ways... ... What, HEY!"
 
In the middle of her sermon, Akatsuki forcibly embraced her by the waist.
 
He gently put power into his arms, stopping her from resisting and,
 
"I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me."
 
Although the tone was light, there was conviction in his words.
 
"...... Nn."
 
Listy could only nod in response. Taking the chance she nestled in his arms, and lightly closed her eyes,
 
"We must rescue Miu-chan soon......"
 
Because......
 
"Even now, she must be desperately fighting."
 
"Yeah......"
 
Along with his voice and nod, he strengthen his hold. Just when a quite silence filled the elevator,
 
"......?"
 
Listy suddenly felt a sense of incongruity in outside scenery from her view in Akatsuki's arms. The elevator shaft had been fitted with glass as it raised. Gradually approaching the night sky a shadow floated into appearance.
 
The shadow rapidly spread. No -- the shadow had not spread out. It grew.
 
"That is......"
 
At that time, Akatsuki also noticed something, and calmly looked outside,
 
"Oh...... so there was also that."
 
Akatsuki muttered, and with that Listy finally understood the true nature of the shadow. It was a jet black dragon.
 
Unfortunately -- by the time she realized it was already too late. The giant fire-breathing dragon was already in front of her eyes,
 
"-!"
 
Listy immediately focused her mind to set up a protective barrier in front of them. At the same the huge dragon rammed into the elevator the two were riding.