Ultimate Antihero:Volume 1 Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Part 1

The last day of <Walpurgis Night> where everything above earth was wrapped in flame.

Sumika was alone, standing on a pier that stuck out to the sea.

And then she looked straight ahead.

Calmly flying through the burned sky acting as if it owned the place, the seven headed giant dragon that came from the other side of horizon―the figure of <Demon King Typhon>.

{What are you doing in this kind of place?”

At that time, a voice suddenly came from behind.

When Sumika turned back at the voice, a young boy around the same age as her was standing there.

{Who are you?}

{Just a passer by.}

A young boy that answered curtly.

The first impression that Sumika got from that boy was―a corpse.

Exhausted pale blue face.

His clothes was torn into rag, wounds were everywhere on his body.

It was mysterious how he still alive from all of those.

But, the boy didn’t pay attention at all toward his own state and continued his words.

{There was also notification to head to the shelter right? That [Japan Mainland is abandoned]. The allied forces and the knight order too had already escape. If you don’t hurry with them you’re gonna left behind.}

Hearing those words, Sumika shook her head left and right.

{If you are going to escape then please escape alone. I’m not running away.}

{Not running you say, then what are you gonna do?}

That was obvious.

{I’ll fight.}

{Haa!? You, just alone!?}

Sumika returned an astonished voice to the surprised boy.

{Do you see anyone else here?}

{Don’t say something so idiotic. Your opponent is a demon that didn’t get even a single wound even though the army of the whole world went at it all at once you know.}

Even the child Sumika knew about that much.

Yesterday, in other words the ninth night of <Walpurgis Night>.

Human race came out facing a great battle.

The allied forces that concentrated the whole battle strength of each country and the mixed army of the <Knight Order Without Border>.

With all that an all-out attack was launched at Typhon.

But it ended in failure.

In the end they couldn’t deal a single wound at Typhon and were annihilated within one hour.

This information was immediately notified to the shelters throughout the world and brought about a deep despair.

She knew.

After all whether it was adult or children, soldier or magician, everyone was choked with tears from this merciless fate.

But, that was why Sumika thought.

{And then so what?}

{What?}

{I understand just how much threat that thing is. I understand so I will fight.}

{!}

{No matter where we run, we cannot escape from that. Because that demon king, just in ten days it thoroughly burn the world all over. It’s impossible to run or anything from that <Demon King>. You will understand just from thinking about it a little. We cannot survive even if we run. If we don’t fight, if we don’t defeat it, we will be killed eventually.}

That’s right. That was something obvious.

The earth was round. There was nowhere to run.

Then, what was it going to accomplish turning your back at destruction.

It was no different than an indirect suicide.

―What are you going to do not fighting. What are you going to do giving up on living.

{We are alive. If so just what are you doing to not fight in order to live-!}

They couldn’t survive if they didn’t fight.

They could protect nothing if they didn’t face the threat.

(Then―I’ll fight!)

There was magic power in her to some extent.

That was why she would resist.

She wouldn’t turn her back at the approaching destruction.

Because that was the pride of the living, the way how one ought to live.

―That was, truly an immature way of thinking.

Not even having power, not even having technique. What she had just a single feeling.

What could she do just with her feeling.

There was nothing she could do. She could only die meaninglessly.

However―

{……haha, hahahaha-}

Listening to those laughable words of a foolish child, that boy raised his voice and laughed.

He laughed truly, happily. There was even tears gathering at the corner of his eyes.

{What is it?}

Just in the world he was being that happy for.

When Sumika asked that in wonder, the boy wiped his tear with the back of his hand before answering.

{…No, it’s nothing. It’s just, I’m happy. ……that among the people those guys protected, and then among the people that I decided I’m going to protect, there is a fine woman like you.}

It was an answer that Sumika couldn’t comprehend. And then the next moment,

{―-!?}

• BU* Black darkness was blowing out from the boy’s body.

It flickered like flame, painting out the world, Sumika who was hailed since she was little as a prodigy in sorcery immediately understood just what it was.

This was―pure magic power.

It was excessively strong, excessively thick, therefore it lost its brightness. It was the light of the boy’s magic power that paint out the world.

A power to this degree, even S-rank magician didn’t have it.

{You, …who in the world}

‘What are you?’ She asked the boy in front of her eyes with a shocked expression.

But the boy didn’t answer that.

{You are correct. This world, is gonna survive whatever the circumstances may be.}

He made a little smile and flew.

Not even using Air Raid, his flesh and blood body gently floated on the air just like that.

{That’s why look at that in order to live. I’m going to protect you all.}

Saying that, he made his challenge.

Just by his lonesome. Against the Demon King that burned to ash the world―

―Hoshikawa Sumika stopped the shower that washed her body, she opened her eyelid slowly and returned from her deep reminiscence.

(…Even now the memory of that day is still really clear.)

It was burned at the back of her eyelid.

After that, the boy―Kamishiro Homura realized exactly the words that he had left behind to Sumika.

He showed how he protected the world, just by himself.

Sumika was the closes person who saw everything of that battle.

From beginning to end, she didn’t miss a single thing.

And then, …she felt a yearning.

Toward that figure who personified her ideal, that way of living.

However, for that reason―

{Helping a useless leader that has no ability at all save yelling around, is also the duty of a comrade.}

“……-“

Those words pierced her heart deeply.

Deeply, sharply.

Because she idolized that person, because she had did her best desperately of wanting to be like that person, for her everything to be denied by that person Homura right from the front was really frustrating that she couldn’t help it.

And then, because of that Sumika’s heart was roused up.

…She had to make him looked at her.

Yesterday the atmosphere suddenly turned dangerous, so she was unable to ask whether Homura remembered her.

That was why, she didn’t know whether Homura remembered her or not.

But, such thing didn’t matter anymore. It was trivial.

Whether he remembered her or not, his recognition of her, had to be corrected before her feeling could settle down.

“…I’ll absolutely, win.”

Part 2

The enrollment of <Evil God User> Kamishiro Homura, had became well-known to all the students at the morning next day.

{O, oi, have you heard!? The talk that that <Evil God User> is enrolling into this academy!?}

{Incomprehensible. Why is that traitor become student…. Just what is the board chairman thinking.}

{Even though we already got the short straw just because we can use sorcery…! Will we get killed, if we irritate his feeling even just for a little?}

Scary. No way. I want to run.

Everywhere in the academy, the pale students raised their voice as if screaming.

It was not unreasonable. The other party was the unknown <Evil God User>.

A man that could blow away their life even easier than blowing away a candle light if he felt like it.

That kind of threat was moving around freely right beside them.

It was like being in the same cage with a lion.

They shuddered in fear. It was only normal reaction.

People like Sumika and Chikori, that could perceive Homura’s existence with positive feeling was the abnormal one.

And then, a new information was brought to the students.

It was about what was going to happen after this, the story about Sumika and Chikori’s mock battle.

{The <Evil God User> is pleased with the lowest ranking of all year Ichinotani, he said that he is going to make her even stronger than Hoshikawa in one day.}

{Furthermore it seemed that if she lost he is going to obediently become Hoshikawa’s subordinate.}

{Really!? But even if he is that <Evil God User>, making that Chikori-chan stronger than that Sumika-san in one day, that’s impossible…}

The information spread in the blink of eye. Whispers were exchanged.

It was the opposite of the fear toward <Evil God User>, the manifestation of interest toward existence that far transcending their own common sense.

Perhaps because of that.

At the training field the morning of that day, great number of onlookers were rushing there even though they were not invited.

The ring for mock battle use installed at the training field―

No matter how wounded someone became inside the ring, if they went out from the ring even for just a step the wound would be all gone. Standing on top of the ring where a special magic barrier that made [reality] to [dream] and [dream] to [reality] was applied, Sumika who was waiting for the arrival of Homura and Chikori looked at the onlookers and sighed deeply.

(…Really. Even though usually they won’t even step into the training field as long as there is no class.)

She felt like a spectacle. Honestly it was not a good feeling.

(Well, though I don’t have plan of chasing them away because of that.)

Suddenly, at that time there was a stir from the onlookers.

{<Evil God User> and Ichinotani came!}

{That’s the traitor of human race that sold his soul to evil god…}

{Somehow…his appearance is normal. Rather he might be a little cool.}

Ignoring those commotions, Sumika pierced Homura who appeared in the match place with prickling tone.

“So you come without running away.”

But Homura wasn’t moved at all and returned ridiculing words.

“There ain’t any reason to run away after all.”

“Then as promised, are you able to make Chikori-san stronger than me in one night?”

“That’s going to be proved after this right?”

Saying that, Homura lightly clapped Chikori’s back and pushed out the girl to the front.

Toward Chikori, Sumika asked a question.

“…Chikori-san. Now that I thought back, I still haven’t asked Chikori-san’s feeling about this. Is Chikori-san intend to fight me, just like this man said?”

This was a trouble that was started from the quarrel between Homura and Sumika.

Chikori was just dragged into it.

That was why before the fight, Sumika had to confirm this.

Sumika asked from that thinking. On the other hand, Chikori was―

“…Ahaha. …At first, I didn’t intend to do this. I don’t want to fight or anything. Because, leader has always been my ally all along, you are my important friend. …However”

Without even being told by Homura, Chikori sent a challenging gaze at Sumika,

“Because you are an important friend like that, I want you to know my power right now. That’s why, we are fighting-!”

Chikori showed her own will.

“…Is that so? If you say that you come here with your own will, I will not hesitate too.”

In order to respond, Sumika put her hand at the tie of her uniform, and pulled it down.

It was the switch.

Instantly, the <Standby Mode> of the <Magi’s Jacket> became particle of light and dissolved, changing its shape.

Hat with wide rim and two revolvers.

An extremely short skirt that stressed easy movement, and long boots.

It was the <Battle StateMagius Mode> of <Gunner> style that imitated a cowgirl.

At the other side, Chikori also put her finger on her tie in respond and she too changed her clothes into <Magius Mode>.

It was lightweight clothes that exposed her abdomen and legs.

But only her two arms were covered by heavily blunt shining gauntlets.

That was the girl’s <Arms> of the <Grappler> style.

It was a pure blow weapon made from mythril that wasn’t attached with any extra sorcery mechanism.

Chikori opened and closed her arms twice, three times to ascertain the feel of the gauntlets, then she tensed her expression.

“Then, here I go. Master.”

After leaving those words with Homura, she went on top of the ring.

And then, she hit her gauntlets at each other in front of her chest *GANN!*

―At that moment, her recovered power was liberated.

Part 3

It was a sudden explosion of light.

• GOU*

Blowing away the atmosphere, shining storm was created with Chikori in the center.

It was wind that emitted light similar with sky colored flame.

It raged until a degree where it could be visualized, a vast magic power.

Chikori’s magic power that was liberated widely illuminated the training field that had size as big as a gymnasium.

{ { {O, OOOoOOoOO!?!?} } }

That rampaging magic power light made the onlookers raised surprised voice.

The magic power light that gushed out from Chikori, no matter one looked at it, it was even stronger than the magic power of the academy’s top student―the S-rank magician Sumika.

Even though she was supposed to be the lowest rank student of the academy until yesterday night.

But, as expected the one who was the most surprised from that fact was Sumika.

(Eh…. Wh, what is this, this magic power is……!)

That reality that was hard to accept so suddenly sprouted uneasiness that was even similar with confusion.

But, the moment both of them were already on top of the ring, the fight had already begun.

“Heree I come―! Leader!”

While pulling a line of light behind, Chikori headed to Sumika in a straight line and rushed.

In an instant that was like a blink of eye, Chikori filled the distance between her and Sumika that was almost 20 meter, and caught Sumika in the range of her fist.

(Fast-!?)

The right arm covered in gauntlet that aimed for Sumika was swung through from below.

It was an uppercut that rode the momentum of Chikori’s charge.

But, Sumika was also not a naïve opponent that would easily get hit by a surprise attack at the raising of curtain.

She immediately forced down the confusion inside herself with her strength of will and recovered her body’s initiative.

And then she avoided the swung uppercut with sidestep. That moment,

{ { {UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA} } }

Chikori’s swung strong arm swept away the air on its trajectory and produced a squall.

And then the created and launched squall uprooted a part of the onlookers outside from the floor, raising them until 30 meter from the floor until near the ceiling.

{This is a lie right!? Those people are blown away just from the wind pressure!?}

{What kind of arm strength is this-!?}

{A, anyway everyone get away a bit! You’re going to get blown away!}

A charge with impossible speed. An attack with impossible magic power.

The onlookers made commotion from Chikori’s unexpected strength.

Among them, Sumika was convinced. This was,

(Hero Skill!)

Every magician was contracted with hero of the past that was the guardian spirit of human side, by making themselves possessed by that soul they would receive the hero’s strength.

And then naturally Sumika who was the leader of 101st platoon, knew about the heroic spirit Chikori who was a platoon member was contracted with.

Possessing giant physique and aberrant herculean strength, the great man who was even called [ogre]―

The <depraved monk> Musashibou Benkei.

The blessing from her contract with him, the Hero Skill was the reinforcement of the whole body’s physical strength dozens of times stronger, <Peerless Herculean Strength>.

Right now Chikori’s small body was carrying a herculean strength that could even send an ogre flying.

Of course all of her action was reinforced by that enormous physical strength.

Her speed, ―and her power too!

(However, until yesterday she couldn’t use thing like Hero Skill……!)

If she was able to use it, she should be able to escape from the restraint of something like an orc and even break its fingers in the process.

There was no way to doubt anymore.

Homura had really raised Chikori’s power dramatically in just one night.

To the degree that she could use Hero Skill skillfully.

And then possessing that overwhelming physical strength, Chikori pursued the running away Sumika.

With the action of pulling back her uppercut that hit empty air, what came out linking to the next was, a right straight.

If the approaching fist cutting through the wind hit then Sumika’s consciousness would be reaped away in one attack without her being able to even complain.

However,

(But, seeing it another way…!)

In short it would be fine if she just didn’t get hit, Sumika immediately rally herself that was shaken by Chikori’s unexpected attack power, and invoked a single sorcery.

Wind element second grade sorcery・Wind WalkAero Step.

It created air current under one’s own leg, a movement sorcery to move in high speed.

Among the sorcery of human race with the fifth grade possessing the highest difficulty, this magic didn’t have that high of difficulty, because of that it didn’t take much effort to chant, and if one was able to even reach Sumika’s level then it was an extremely convenient sorcery that was possible to be used chantlessly and breathlessly.

“Fuh-!”

Sumika followed that air current and sidestepped.

She was faster than the approaching right fist, moving her body she avoided the blow.

And then while she jumped her body at Chikori’s flank,

“――-!”

She drew the silver revolver from her holster on her waist.

• PAN-*, gun sound of one shot. For the sake of this match Sumika loaded rubber bullet for use of suppressing rioter and shot it, hitting at Chikori’s forehead temple.

The audible gun sound was one shot.

However, in an instant there was three bullets that were shot.

The quick draw that couldn’t be caught by eye and couldn’t be even heard its sound, was a Hero Skill of <Gun Saint> Billy the Kid that was similar with <Back Sniper>.

It was the <Quick Draw> that could be said as his representative.

And then those bullets were all impacted at the same place.

This could be said as a natural result.

If asked why it was because Sumika’s contracted heroic spirit <Gun Saint> Billy the Kid’s <Quick Draw> was a special move that was wrapped in a curse of absolute hit that created a powerful cause and effect that added with a speed that even the eye couldn’t catch, [shooting] = [hit].

Instantaneous three rapid-fire. The piercing impact shook Chikori’s brain, and smashed her consciousness mercilessly.

It couldn’t be endured. The living being called human didn’t have the toughness and body structure that could endure this impact.

Therefore the match was decided. It was really too quick. Yet despite how it should be so,

“IT HURTSSSSSSS!!!! ……BUT, I’LL ENDUREEEE!!!!”

How was that possible, far from losing her consciousness Chikori didn’t even fall down and braced herself.

“L, lies-!?”

The rubber bullet should have impacted Chikori’s temple already.

Looking at the reality that should be impossible, as expected even Sumika couldn’t hide her wavering.

But, Chikori smiled wryly to Sumika who was like that.

“It feels embarrassing for you to be that surprised. The Hero Skill that <Heroic Spirit User> can use is not just one. After all the miracleHero Skill the heroic spirit caused come from the number of legend that hero left behind when he lived. …Leader. My contracted heroic spirit the <depraved monk> Musashibo Benkei, what do you think his most famous episode was?”

(Famous, episode…….ah-)

Instantly, Sumika realized her own blunder.

“Benkei’s standing death…-!”

“Correct. This is the Hero Skill derived from that standing death’s anecdote, <Niou no Mie>. The magician possessed by Musashibo Benkei will not faint against whatever kind of impact, become able to continue fighting until the body’s physical limit. That’s why, that kind of toy bullet absolutely won’t beat me.”

“Ku……!”

A clear impatient appeared in Sumika’s expression.

That’s right, rubber bullet was a weapon with a purpose to [stunfaint] the enemy.

Therefore it was completely powerless against <Niou no Mie> that possessed the power of [Stun Nullification].

…This was Sumika’s fatal miss.

Originally, even though this was just a practice, the confrontation between fellow magicians would use real bullet with mythril head.

A special magic circle was spread under the ring of the training field, no matter how heavy the wound one bore inside it, even something to the extent of having one’s head shot, if they took a step outside the ring all of those wound would become [dream].

Due to that, there was no need to be considerate of the opponent’s wound.

But even so Sumika presumed to choose rubber bullet, the reason for that was simple.

In short, Sumika was underestimating Chikori until that much.

“…It’s a little, vexing. …In the end, it became just like what Master said yesterday.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Master said it. [Hoshikawa is completely making light of you, so in order to defeat you gently, she will come with equipment that won’t hurt and make you faint instead. That’s why there is absolutely nothing that can make you lose], he said.”

“――-“

Homura had fathomed Sumika’s shallow conceit at the occasion yesterday.

That fact deeply pierced Sumika’s heart.

But in some meaning it also couldn’t be helped.

After all, there was really that much of difference between these two at that point of time yesterday.

Rather filling that difference in just one night was the irrational thing. It was something impossible.

That was why, Sumika pressed a question at Homura who was standing at the ring side with a strong tone.

“You, just what in the world that you did to Chikori-san!? To obtain this much power just in one night, normally it’s unthinkable…!”

On the other hand the questioned Homura was chuckling a little “Fuh-“ and,

“Well, just as you said. In reality, it’s not like Ichinotani actually obtained that power in one night after all.”

Like that, it were words that was quiet hard to comprehend that were returned to Sumika.

“What, do you mean?”

“Saying it frankly, all this time Ichinotani was sick you know.

Day by day her magic power conduit vein was degenerating, really troublesome illness.

Getting this thing happen to you will normally make all your conduit vein degenerate in two months, you won’t be able to use sorcery then.

But with aberrant training the she did obstinately, Ichinotani continued to persist during these two years.

Normally it’s an unthinkable story.

After all no matter how much training you piled up, even if you create new magic power conduit vein, it’s already starting to degenerate from the moment it was created, in the end it’s nothing more than a minus result. Your condition gradually turn worse, wasted effort, to continue through such mortification until two years, your average joe won’t be able to do that. But Ichinotani carried out that until yesterday. Carrying out all that, and continued to be a magician until now.

If the degenerated magic power conduit vein of someone like that, is restored all of it then how do you think she is going to turn out?”

“――–!”

Homura’s words, when she tried to imagine their meaning, Sumika turned speechless.

Correct. In other words that was the reason for Chikori’s radical power up.

This power was not something that Chikori grasped in one night yesterday.

It was the fruits of these two years of hers, where she didn’t give up to continuously work hard even while continuously being in hardship until she reached this stage.

The compensation that hadn’t been paid to this girl for these two years continuously was paid to Chikori by Homura’s hand in one night, it was only something like that.

“Hoshikawa Sumika. A magician of your level should be able to imagine enough from the legend, just what kind of Hero Skill Benkei has. That’s why against Ichinotani that made heroic spirit contract with Benkei, just how much of a fatal stupid plan that is to bring that kind of toy, you can understand if you think about it a little right? But you didn’t even think about something that little. From the start there is no way Ichinotani can win against me, there is no way she can fill the difference with me in just one night, you underrate her like that and completely take it easy on her as your lower rank.”

Homura rebuked Sumika with a strong tone. ―This stupid idiot girl. Like that.

“You should know far better than me just how much effort Ichinotani had done until now. You should have seen it yourself until now. Then you, toward your teammate that worked that hard, ―ain’t you looking down on all that?”

Instantly, Chikori’s swung fist caught Sumika.

Thereupon Sumika’s body was blown away as if she was hit by a large truck, keeping that momentum she collided with the concrete wall of the training field, and rolled until off the grounds.

Translator's Notes and References

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