Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 1 Record.4

Record.4: Elmekia Dusk

1

The heat and the temperature which felt like it could choke you.

Simply breathing in the air would burn your lungs. A place where the atmosphere was filled with such high heat which made you feel as such.

The town of the blazing cliff, Jio.

“It’s hot! So this isn’t a heat coming from the people but the steam which is coming from the mountain right?”

“This is a town which lies before the Great Volcano of Galia after all. Over there, you can already see it.”

Ranges of mountain where the summit of the mountain were tainted red.

Fear pointed at the top of a mountain, an active volcano where the magma spurred, with her finger.

——The location where one of the Five Great Disasters, Demon General of Blaze Achendia, awaits them.

“Huh? Are you a bit nervous, Ren?”

“There’s no way I won’t be. I’ve been like this before we even entered this town.”

Even though the surface of his body was hot, the part of his body deep within was icy cold.

The tension and the fear. Even for Elise whose current body was that of after reincarnating herself, their opponent would be someone who a former Demon Lord such as herself cannot face alone to the extent that she sought for help.

“Anyways, am I the only one nervous?”

“Are you implying I am?”

“You are like usual, Kyelse. I’m talking about the parties scattered all over the places.”

The people that passed through the main street.

About half of them weren’t the residents of this town but the members of powerful parties. There were obviously MASTERSKnights that were forging that swords and also what appeared to be parties exchanging information.

“Oh my. Achendia sure is popular.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she looked at the presence of dozens of parties.

“They will all be slayed, I guess? I doubt they won’t be able to defeat not only Achendia but even her henchmen.”

“……Don’t say such scary thing naturally like that.”

“I’m dead serious. That’s because there aren’t any impressive bunch here.”

The parties gathered at this town must mostly be newly formed parties. They must have gathered here to get their fame by defeating the Demon General of Blaze.

“Huh? Aren’t you Ren?”

That was the time when a young man’s voice came from behind them.

“Oi, it really is. The so called fake Brave Hero.”

“That one, right? The one who failed last year’s promotion exam and is repeating his second year.”

“……Senpai?”

The two MASTERSKnights that were wearing top grade armaments with carved seals engraved in them.

They graduated Holy Fiora Journey Academy last year and formed a party among their five friends. For someone like Ren who had repeated a year, they were three grades his senior. That made them a grade above Fear.

——I wouldn’t forget.

——That’s because they were seniors that always tried to pick a fight with me ever since I enrolled.

“Hey, what’s going on here? Skipping classes, are we? You aren’t telling me you formed a party? You are still a middle-rank student and haven’t even graduated yet. You are still III-Grade MASTERKnight aren’t you?”

“Or did you withdraw from the Academy? Hey. Who are those young girls? Huh…..aren’t you——”

“It’s been a while.”

The party of five members that graduated from Holy Fiora Journey Academy. The one who the female ENCHANTERBarrierer among them looked at was Fear who was famous for being considered as the first prodigy ever since the establishment of the academy.

“I think your name was……Fear. The one who was being favoured by the instructors.”

“That would be an exaggeration for someone like me.”

The Archangel responded with a smile.

“So, how come all of you are here?”

“Hunting down the Demon General of Blaze. Having a hotshot like that showing up on earth rarely happens after all.”

The one who answered was the ARIACaster who was wearing a robe.

He was one of the top students who was ranked among the top ten of the graduates. Not only did he receive lessons from the instructors of the academy, but he was also famous for receiving special lessons from his teacher who was a professional ARIACaster.

“Fear, why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to graduate this year? And what about your party?”

“I already formed one. I decided to go on a journey together with Ren.”

“H-Hey, Senpai!?”

Fear wrapped her arms around Ren and hugged him gently.

“Eh……that was unexpected. What happened with your graduation exam?”

“I decided to graduate from the academy earlier on my own.”

“Huh! These guys sure are naïve minded. Even though you were the instructors favourite, you are playing party-game with this fake Brave Hero……”

The I-Grade MASTERKnight spoke in a scornful tone while he sighed.

“A student MASTERKnight who repeated a year and only looks like a Brave Hero while trying to act——”

“Shut up.”

Kyelse’s voice which was filled with anger cut of the young MASTERKnight’s words.

“Keep your mouth shut, human. Someone of your calibre is a thousand years too early to insult Ren who is my comrade.”

“Huh? What’s with this girl?”

“——Fool, if you really want to be crushed, then——”

“Alright, that’s it, Kyelse.”

Ren rested his hand on Kyelse’s shoulder who was shivering with anger while he smiled at her.

“It’s fine. What he’s saying is true.”

“Ren?”

“It can’t be helped. It can’t be helped if I get such comments.”

If it frustrated you, then you shouldn’t use words but make achievements with simple determination.

That was the reality in both the inside and the outside of the academy.

“Mmm……”

“Well, I was happy you became angry for me. Thank you.”

He smiled at Kyelse who was making a face due to her dissatisfaction.

——She became angry as if she was the one insulted.

That was the reason why Ren was able to keep his calm instead.

“So will all of you be hunting the Demon General of Blaze? The enemy is the great Demon. It would be too risky to challenge it when you just formed your party last year.”

“That’s why this is the situation we couldn’t ask even more for.”

The I-Grade MASTERKnight declared boldly.

“Look around you. Dozens of these parties are our allies. Most of the parties made an alliance and are preparing for a strategy to defeat the Demon General of Blaze. With these numbers, no one can stand in our way no matter who the enemy is. Obviously the reward and the fame will be shared among the parties. But even with that, what we will get is more than what we can ask for since our enemy will be a hotshot like one of the Five Great Disasters.”

They were currently coming up with a strategy.

Even though parties which would normally be rivals were everywhere, the reason why they were on standby without rushing was due to the majority of these parties having made a temporary alliance.

“Bad news for you, Ren, since this has nothing to do with you. Do you think there will be a party which would form an alliance with you, an III-Grade MASTERKnight, and three girls?”

“Wrong. We don’t plan on—”

Just before he was about to say that they would challenge the Demon General of Blaze with the four of them.

The noises around them quieted down.

The sounds of hard footsteps could be heard from behind them. It wasn’t a sound of just several people. It was more than that. The footsteps which was timed perfectly with the sound of other footsteps. And the pace of their footsteps which had no flaws to each other——

“Hey, isn’t that……”

“Elmekia Dusk!? Why is the highest-level party with the most man-power in the world here? Does that mean a request of reinforcement was given to the supreme metropolitan of Elmekia!?”

Shocked voices which sounded like screams spread through the scene rhythmically.

ELMEKIA DUSK Royal 72 Order of the Special Knight Squad—— the highest rank party led by the Knight King Zellbright.

Twelve people that appeared in the town of the blazing cliff.

They wore their symbolic black battle-wear and progressed through the main street without even being concerned about the parties around them. Maybe they were overwhelmed by their silent pressure. It was clear that the groups of party members and pedestrians on the streets gave path to the members of Elmekia Dusk which was like a path was made in the sea.

——They are clearly different.

——The pressure given out from their body was very different from the other party members gathered in this town.

“What’s with those snobbish guys?”

“Elmekia Dusk. It’s the biggest party in the world. Not only in terms of numbers, but they are one of the strongest party in the world for having groups of the strongest MASTERSKnights among the elites as their core members.”

The one who answered smoothly to Kyelse who looked at the party without moving her head was Fear.

“Among the seven-hundred and twenty MASTERSKnights they have hired, only seventy-two of them can become the official party members. There’s nothing to criticise about their achievements and strength. But since there is a clear ranks in terms of strength, there are rumours that there is an intense battle happening to take higher ranks within the party at all times.”

“Looks like you are awfully well-informed.”

“I sure am. I haven’t been attending the party raising institute for four years for nothing.”

The Archangel responded with a smile.

“Hey, Ren?”

“Hmm……ah, yeah. There were certainly many seniors back in the academy who wanted to join the Elmekia Dusk.”

But the competition was very intense. Potential MASTERSKnights and ARIASCasters throughout the world gathered at the supreme metropolitan of Elmekia but only very few of them would be selected every year.

“I think the 1st rank was the Knight King Zellbright. I don’t see other high rank upper echelons among them either so I’m assuming that group is made up of lower ranks of the ELMEKIA DUSK Royal 72 Order of the Special Knight Squad. Even still, just as you see……you can tell they are clearly different from others from the atmosphere they are giving out.”

The noises finally returned to the main street. But the discussions were all about the Elmekia Dusk which had just walked past the street.

“……Geez. A troublesome bunch sure did come.”

“We really didn’t expect this.”

The ones who distorted their face with hatred was the party of the Holy Fiora graduates.

“Looks like we don’t have a time to waste anymore. ……See ya then, Ren. I will give you a good news before we go. There were rumours going around about you, though not much as Elmekia Dusk. The reason we found you is because we heard your rumours and thought that it may be you.”

“Eh?”

“Congrats, fake Brave Hero. You have already joined the celebrities even outside the academy.”

“……Ah, so that’s how it is.”

The rumour about a young boy who had a mirror image of the Brave Hero Elline.

It must mean that the rumour had spread fast even in this town of the blazing cliff. By the time Ren realised his senior was being sarcastic, the party of the five young members had already disappeared into the crowd.

At the large auditorium of the town of the blazing cliff.

A meaningful crimson carpet was laid on the passage. The windows for lighting the passage was set on both sides of the wall where all of them had stained glass on them. So it gave a dazzling, yet sacred light.

“Wow, is the whole passage like this? It’s insanely gorgeous that I haven’t seen a beautiful building like this in Mstier. ……The world outside sure is amazing after all.”

Ren made a sigh of admiration after witnessing a scenery as spacious as a castle.

“Hey, Kyelse. Don’t you think it’s amazing?”

“I don’t mind it, except why do we have to line up here for almost one hour?”

There are dozens of people behind them and also dozens of people front of them where all of them were people from different parties.

The Dragon Princess looked fed up by being surrounded by many humans.

“It’s for the party registration.”

The Archangel who hadn’t lost her usual smile.

“For requests such as that from towns, a set amount of money is prepared beforehand and is given to the parties where the reward would be determined by their achievements. You won’t receive a reward if you don’t register your party. And even if you did defeat one of the Five Great Disasters, you wouldn’t know which party had defeated it.”

“So it’s to distribute the reward and fame, huh. It sure is a cunning method a human would come up with.”

“You know, Kyelse, we wouldn’t be able to buy the sweets you are really fond of if we don’t have the money.”

“Hmm? That sure is a serious matter. We need to secure our reward then.”

Kyelse started to nod reluctantly.

“Oh well. You don’t need to worry since the only ones who is capable of defeating Achendia would be us so there’s no need to rush things~. Ren, you also need to give your all and survive, okay?”

“……Don’t say such ominous thing.”

Ren shrugged his shoulder after the previous Demon Lord slapped his back.

“But what about those guys? Maybe the Elmekia Dusk would be able to defeat Achendia……”

“Ren. Aren’t you taking the Five Great Disasters lightly?”

She lifted her eyes like a cat.

Elise made a fearless smile which could be considered disrespectful and looked up at Ren.

“You know they were Demons that were the candidates to become a Demon Lord three-hundred years ago? Ren, you said it yourself before but aren’t the members dispatched by the Elmekia Dusk lower rank members? Don’t you reckon they won’t be able to do anything?”

“I……Is that how it is?”

“Well, I would be grateful if they could stall one or two of Achendia’s henchmen at most. Majority of the Five Great Disasters are lone wolves but Achendia would be quite troublesome since she had many faithful subordinates under her. So having many parties come with us would be an advantage for us. We will have them deal with Achendia’s henchmen so we can concentrate solely on Achendia, you know?”

“They are that powerful huh. ……You’re right, they were strong enough to be the candidates of becoming a Demon Lord.”

The species known as Demons naturally had strength that were in different leagues to humans. For that reason they were called the superior beings and continued to rule the underground world known as the Underworld.

“————.”

“By the way, Kyelse, why have you been looking around yourself since a while ago?”

“It’s not me. Instead, we are the ones being looked at.”

The parties that bypassed them.

It wasn’t just them. Even before they entered the auditorium, merchants and salesboy of the street stall had been glaring at them with curious eyes and had been whispering at each other.

“They are saying, “So that’s the rumoured party a lookalike of the Brave Hero belongs to……”.”

“Eh? You can even hear them whispering even far from here?”

“You shouldn’t take lightly of a Dragon’s senses. Your appearance resembles Elline to begin with. And now the three of us is here with you as well.”

The Elline Sword Emperor Brigade which ended the End War with the only four of them. Everyone knew the legend of Elline and the Three Great Princesses which represented the three world.

And now there was Ren, a lookalike of the Brave Hero, and the three girls that were with him.

——Such party appeared for the hunt of the Five Great Disaster.

——A mere coincidence? Or do they have some connection with the famous Elline Sword Emperor Brigade?

There was no way the other parties and the town’s resident wouldn’t become curious.

“Oh well. The three individuals among us four is the real thing. Hey, do you think they will get shocked if we tell them?”

“……Don’t. It will cause a stir.”

Ren calmed Elise whose tone sounded like she was having fun.

“But the thing is, you will have to become one too, okay?”

“Me?”

“Don’t remain being called a fake Brave Hero and start working hard to become someone who would get called a Brave Hero since you are with us.”

“It’s too early.”

The one who said that was Kyelse who had candy inside her mouth.

“There’s no need for you to rush it. Ren, you need to aim from something easy first. It’s to become a Sword Saint.”

“……Both of them would be hard to accomplish.”

Fear rested her hand on Ren’s shoulder who had just said that.

“Ren. It’s our turn to register.”

It was one of the four counters.

The girl who appeared to be a receptionist looked towards them and started to explain in a nervous manner.

“You must be here for the special-code 09 “Five Great Disaster Hunt”. Please register your party’s name.”

“……Party name?”

The supreme metropolitan of Elmekia’s “Elmekia Dusk”, the holy-land of Canaan’s “Canaan Pilgrim, the Boat of the Sacred Teaching”, and also “Elline Sword Emperor Brigade” from three-hundred years ago had a party name taken from their territory or the name of their representative and such.

“Oh, crap. We haven’t decided yet. Any good name any of you can come up with?”

The three girls behind him showed a sign of thinking up a name for a moment.

“I do! Adorable Elise-chan and her happy-going subordinates!”

“The party led by the noble, the strongest, the beautiful Silver Dragon Princess who had woken from her long seal—”

“Why don’t we just stay anonymous?”

“……Fear-senpai’s suggestion it is. Please register as anonymous.”

Both Kyelse and Elise that were behind Ren started making a sound of displeasure but he acted as if he didn’t hear them.

“Registration is completed. For this quest we have requested the aid of Elmekia Dusk for the hunt of one of the Five Great Disasters. They would be heading out tomorrow morning.”

“So you are saying other parties should match them?”

“To have everyone cooperate, that is what we are asking for.”

The receptionist girl said that with a begging eyes.

“The subordinates of one of the Five Great Disasters are gathered at the summit. If we don’t suppress them before their forces increases more than this, there is a risk that this town would be destroyed……so I beg you.”

“It will be alright~.”

The one who waved her hand with easygoing tone was Elise.

“Rather, if Achendia felt like it she could have destroyed this town on her own. Since that hasn’t happened, it means she has no intention to destroy this town. She’s a moody individual. If she is in a good mood she wouldn’t do anything unless we take action so relax.”

“It doesn’t sound relaxing at all you know!? What would happen if her mood changes for the worst!?”

“That’s why we will take her down before that happens.”

The previous Demon Lord smiled.

“That’s why we should head to the inn. I have been sweating so I want to take a bath. You too, Kyelse.”

“The party’s name……the special party name I have been coming up with since yesterday……”

“That was the name you came up with after seriously thinking about it!? Oh well, anyways, let’s get going.”

Ren took Kyelse’s hand who was putting on a sulking face and left the auditorium quickly.

And then——the moment they came out. Noises. The parties and the residents that seemed to be waiting for them outside the auditorium all looked at them.

“Woah?”

“They were the parties that were looking at us before. I guess rumours brought more rumours and ended up gathering all these people.”

It was exactly like the situation when the Elmekia Dusk showed up before. They didn’t come to talk to them directly. But they were whispering to each other quietly.

“Ren. Let’s go. We need to book an inn first and have you concentrate on your training like usual.”

“…...Alright. The inn it is. Umm, I’m sure there was one this way.”

Kyelse who was following right behind him.

Ren walked through the main street while taking her small hand.

“By training, do you mean you will teach me about sword again?”

“At noon, yes. I will look after you in terms of swords. But at night it will be Fear and Elise. The ancient summoning, the one we had you train every day. It seems like you can’t hear the voices of the spirits yet. But we will have you continue it until we can.”

“……Roger that. Though I am trying.”

“It’s natural that you can’t perform it yet. It wouldn’t be called ANCIENTS“the lost spells” if it was that easy to acquire.”

The public road filled with people.

The silver haired girl then plainly said it while looking ahead.

“Even so, our battle against Achendia would be tomorrow. We don’t have time but we will have you train much as time would allow it. Both sword and ancient summoning.”

2

The town of the blazing cliff where there was still heat and commotion.

The hot wind which came from the active volcano where one of the Five Great Disasters awaits them. Even late at night, where jet-black curtain has covered the sky, the hot air was still present which made you sweat slowly.

“Thank you for waiting, Ren. You seemed to be quite tired now.”

“Hey, Fear-senpai…… Yeah, I’ve been sword training with Kyelse till just now. But seriously, no wonder this place is called the town of the blazing cliff. I never thought it would be this hot even at night so I was cooling off while taking a break.”

Ren turned around with a smile to the blonde girl who appeared on his way to the inn. Though his smile turned into an expression filled with fatigue immediately——

“……Except, I couldn’t calm myself down even though I took a break.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think I’m……nervous. The Demon General of Blaze would be a great Demon who I would never have imagined to face. Even though I was training with Kyelse, I kept on realising that I’m still inexperienced.”

“That’s how it should be.”

The response the Archangel gave was a peaceful nod.

“Instead I would have been troubled if you said you were confident in yourself. That attitude is much better than those people from the other parties around here who are trying to face one of the Five Great Disasters without having the proper strength to face her and simply rushing for glory.”

“That may be true……”

“Knowing your weakness is the key to your growth. Ren, that modesty of yours is your strong point. Though talking about it in the middle of the street is strange. Let’s head to my room.”

The room Fear pointed at was right beside the room where Ren was staying at.

They booked two rooms.

The other rooms were already fully booked by the other parties, but luckily there were two rooms left.

It was good that they were able to divide the room among Ren and the three girls. Though the room would be too small for three people to stay in so they had no choice but to share each room among two people. So the room was shared between Ren & Kyelse for one room and Elise & Fear for the other room.

“Please come in. Elise went to take a night walk but she should be returning soon. Till then, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“About the ancient summoning?”

“Yes. We would be facing Achendia tomorrow so I’ll tell you a bit about it.”

——You don’t need to feel so reserved.

Fear entered her room gallantly as if she wanted to say that.

“T-Then excuse me————!”

Exactly when he entered the room.

The explosion of light. Ren took several steps back in reflex and had his eyes blinded by the light which was so strong that it could lighten the sky of the night.

“Oh my, pardon me. Was it too bright?”

“Senpai, those wings are……?”

The Archangel Fear who was the strongest in Heaven.

Fear who had pure-white wings growing out from her back was smiling normally inside her room.

“But first, there is something I must give you.”

The Angel who touched her own wing. What she pinched using her fingers was a single feather, a beautiful feather which was glowing, from her wing which just appeared.

“Here, please take this.”

“Eh? Isn’t this——”

“This is my present for you. Ren, this will be a ritual item for activating your ancient summoning.”

The Angel continued with a casual tone.

“We had you train by trying to have you communicate with the small spirit which is attached to you till we reached this town of the blazing cliff.”

“……Yeah. I was actually giving my all for the training.”

For the past three days, the small spirit of fire certainly appeared in front of Ren when they were camping outside.

It was certain that it was attached to Ren.

But no matter how much Ren tried to concentrate in trying to hear its voice, the spirit didn’t say anything to him after all. It was floating in the air optimistically and disappeared when it felt like it.

“So then, what do you mean when your feather would be a ritual item to activating the spell?”

“There are two factors you need in order to use ancient summoning. One is the power to hear the voices of the spirits. And the second is the activation substance for the spell. We are talking about a powerful spell to summon the spirits here, so you would need a suitable activation substance for it.”

“And this is……”

Ren stared at the Angel’s feather held in his hand.

The sacred ritual item which was giving out a shallow light.

“I certainly was taught that using the leaves of an ancient trees or items which is possessed by spiritual power would enhance the power of normal spells. Would it be safe to assume that the same logic would apply here?”

“Exactly. Though a normal activation substance wouldn’t be able to activate the ancient summoning. The “divine item” which is much superior than a mere ritual item——please excuse myself but I am an Archangel who has the second highest rank in Heaven after the Goddess Resflaze-sama. With a powerful activation substance such as this, even for you who doesn’t know much about ancient summoning yet would perhaps be able to succeed in activating simple spells.”

“Even for me right now?”

“Yes. Though I may be repeating myself but the most crucial factor in this is for you to be able to communicate with the spirits. I was originally planning to hand this to you once you were able to do that.”

“Is it alright for me to receive this now?”

“You can say it’s a replacement for a lucky charm. And also as a reward for you as you were working hard for the past three days.”

The blonde Archangel answered with a graceful smile.

Right after that.

“I’m back! Oh, Ren’s here!”

The door opened and a dark skinned girl rushed into the room.

“Did you receive Fear’s feather already? Then I should give you one as well.”

“You will give me something too, Elise?”

“Yup. I’ll give you this.”

A gold-like jewel which was glowing in yellow-brown colour.

Amber——a fossilisation of a large tree’s resin over a long period.

“Remember what Fear said? About how ancient summoning is a high-level spell which involves the manipulation of space. Spirits aren’t the only things you can summon. It should be even possible to summon simple objects.”

“What do you mean?”

“Assume that the Angel’s feather is the activation substance for the ancient summoning. And the one I handed to you will be to summon physical objects. In other words, you would need different ritual item for different types of summoning.”

“So even a jewel like this can become an activation substance?”

An Archangel’s feather which looked powerful no matter how you saw it.

On the other hand a jewel given to Ren from Elise looked like a simple jewel at first glance.

“Well, it’s natural for you to feel that way. But it isn’t a normal amber. It’s a jewel condensed from the resin belonging to a one-thousand years old tree which was present in the Underworld. Also, can you see a black line inside the amber?”

“……Umm, oh this.”

A narrow line which Ren originally thought was a crack.

There was something, something narrow like a string inside the amber.

“It’s my hair. I used this as a medium to seal my, a Demon Lord’s, power. It was a jewel I had prepared three-hundred years ago but it wasn’t enough to make my reincarnated body mature. I’ll give it to you since I won’t be using it.”

“Is it really okay?”

“Yup. You’ve been training to summon that spirit till yesterday, right? Even though it may be the same ancient summoning, summoning a physical object might be easier. Rather than summoning a special being like spirits, you would be summoning something you are familiar with. To explain it in details, you can for example summon a book you left at the academy.”

“……Isn’t that also amazing enough!?”

“Right? But this will be hard in terms of when to use it.”

Elise answered with a meaningful smile.

“Anyway, the effect of the ancient summoning apparently had to do with the spellcaster’s skills and the power possessed inside the divine item. Ren, you haven’t actually started training spells yet. But what you have are the divine items which came from me, the previous Demon Lord, and Fear, an Archangel. So you will be compensating your skills with a powerful activation substance.”

The Angel’s feather would be for the spirit summoning purpose.

The Demon’s jewel would be for the physical object summoning purpose.

Ren nodded his head while holding onto both of those activation substances.

“So I’ll be able to summon everything besides the spirits with this amber of yours then, right?”

“That’s how it is said. Even though I said physical object, it’s for non-living objects so you should give it a try. Ren, try to summon one of the education books you left in your so-called academy.”

“……By the way, how should I do it?”

“I don’t know. Ancient summoning was a spell which belonged to the humans. It’s said that spirit summoning is to summon the spirits through communication with them. But there is lack of information in regards to summoning physical objects.”

The previous Demon Lord shook her head immediately.

“Though if it’s a space-manipulation spell like the ancient summoning, then there is a spell created by the Demons which resembles it. The trick I used back then was, let me see……you make your mind go blank, then imagine you are manipulating space quietly, and then bang, you activated it. Easy right?”

“Pardon me?”

“That’s why I’m saying that you make your mind go blank, then imagine you are manipulating space, and then bang!”

“……Hold on a sec. My brain is about to explode.”

Ren stopped Elise and put this hand on his forehead.

In terms of the way how Kyelse taught Ren sword techniques, the training would involve Ren watching Kyelse wield the sword and learn it. According to Kyelse “explaining it in words is hard” for her so Ren would have a hard time acquiring it since there wasn’t any explanation given to him in words. Though Elise’s explanation was hard to comprehend in a different way.

——I need to imagine my education book to appear strongly.

He could guess that was what she wanted to say. But he never anticipated that a Demon’s logic behind spells would be a vague sense of feeling as this.

“Well then, start already! I’m also looking forward to your summoning, Ren!”

“I’ll give it a shot but don’t hold too much hope. I still can’t do the spirit summoning either……”

The Demon Lord’s jewel which was glowing in his left hand.

What Ren imagined in his head was his education book he left in the academy while he gripped the Demon Lord’s jewel for a long time.

His education book which he read through it so many times that the pages were torn. Ren still remembered the sensation and the weight of his book within his hands——

That instant.

The Demon Lord’s jewel was enveloped by a strong golden light.

“……What!?”

Ren was about to drop the jewel due to the sudden activation but he managed to stop himself from dropping it.

After the light settled.

A familiar old education book dropped on the floor close to Ren’s foot.

“……Eh? Does this mean I succeeded?”

He still couldn’t believe it even though he activated it himself.

But the book which was on the ground in front of him was certainly the education book he imagined inside his head.

“Hmm, nice job Ren. I was actually surprised for real this time.”

Elise who picked the education book from the ground.

The innocent looking eyes which belonged to a young girl rises up happily. But her eyes becomes so sharp and gets filled with devilishness that even Ren felt chills on his back.

——The smile she is making while she showed a slight expression of when she was a Demon Lord.

——Therefore the praise she just gave must have come from the bottom of her heart.

“Even so, I only succeeded in summoning a single book as this……”

“Ren, you are saying that because you don’t realise how hard space manipulation spells are. You do know that the spell you just showed would be a level where the instructors from the Holy Fiora Journey Academy would faint due to the shock if they saw that?”

The one who answered with a bittersweet smile was Fear.

The Archangel who took the book Elise had just picked up and started observing it.

“I see. It certainly is Ren’s book. It’s certain that this is a book which was summoned from the Holy Fiora Journey Academy which is located very far from here. Though you would require more training for spirit summoning, it seems like you would improve this summoning more than I thought.”

“……Y-You think?”

“That’s why your aim would be to maintain this book at this spot for more than an hour.”

“Eh?”

Ren couldn’t understand Fear’s word immediately.

The exact moment when Ren was about to ask her——

“This is what I mean.”

The education book Fear was holding onto disappeared after being engulfed by golden sparkles.

“!? It disappeared!?”

“It returned to its original location. “Karma” and “time” are the two important requirements for ancient summoning.”

Elise gave a steady answer.

With an unhesitant tone as if she already predicted that Ren would get shocked.

“Though it’s also the weakness of ancient summoning since you can’t keep what you have summoned within your reach for unlimited time. It is said that you would be given the “time” restraint. By the way, I was actually counting in secret just now and that book returned exactly after twenty seconds.”

“For such short time…… Oh, so this is what you meant when you said it will be hard to find the situation to use it.”

“Exactly. That’s why the main target of summoning for ancient summoning would be the spirits after all. The spirits would respond to your voice and stay in that location. But lifeless objects which doesn’t have consciousness has a trait to return to its original location immediately. Right, Fear?”

“That’s correct. Except, the factor which would connect the summoned object and Ren would be the “karma” shared between them. For that reason you were able to summon it on your first try, Ren. For example, even if it was another education book which was located in the library, the chances you would be able to summon the said-book would be very low due to the weak karma between you and that book. Even if you were able to summon it——”

“So rather than twenty seconds, it would return in few seconds?”

“Yes.”

“……I see. But I think I got the gist of it.”

Ren wouldn’t be able to summon an object which has a weak karma with him. Even if he did, it would disappear instantly. It meant the ancient summoning wasn’t perfect even if it was is considered as ANCIENTS“the lost spells”.

“If that’s the case I might as well try again since I did succeed in——”

“Ren.”

Ren wanted to practise it once more.

But the one who spoke over Ren’s words was Kyelse who had entered the room all of a sudden.

“Huh, Kyelse? Since when were you there?”

“I was here since before. You didn’t notice me since you were all ears to Elise’s explanation.”

After having said that, Kyelse held Ren’s hand tightly.

“This is enough for today so you should take a rest already. You should be tired because of the sword training you had with me as well.”

“At least let me try once more——”

“Tomorrow will be the battle against one of the Five Great Disasters. We would be troubled if you go down at a crucial moment due to lack of rest.”

She didn’t even allow him to argue back.

Kyelse’s words was so appropriate that Ren was about to laugh without thinking.

“Let’s go.”

“……Fine. Anyways, Fear-senpai, Elise, thanks.”

Ren returned to the room next door while being dragged by Kyelse.

Soon as they went to their room——

“Seriously, you get caught up with training easily. You were tired a moment ago due to the training with me.”

Kyelse sighed while sitting on the bed.

“Let me confirm but did you receive the activation substances?”

“I got one each from Fear-senpai and Elise. I may ask you a weird question but these are valuable items which would hold high values if I sold them, right?”

The divine items which had the power of the Archangel and the Demon Lord respectively.

“If I put it into the human’s value, then just selling one will allow you to buy a whole town.”

“That much!?”

“The ritual items, which has the power of either an Angels or Demons, would function as a defence barrier which has resistances against all sorts of spells. If it’s a divine item with the power of an Archangel, who is the second highest rank after the Goddess, or the Demon Lord, then it would normally become a “shield” which would be too powerful for a human to be in possession of.”

Ren couldn’t actually understand it since he was given them so normally. But the Archangel’s feather and the Demon Lord’s jewel he was holding onto would indeed be the world treasures.

“But think about it very hard. Why do you think Elise and Fear gave you such valuable divine item? Especially Fear’s feather. The reason why she gave you the activation substance even though you still can’t communicate with the spirits.”

“……Because I’m inexperienced?”

You can make up for the spellcaster of ancient summoning’s skills by the use of powerful activation substance. That was what Ren was told.

“Half right and half wrong. More than you being inexperienced, it has more to do with the single enemy we are facing this time being powerful.”

“The Five Great Disasters……”

“Our current power is nowhere near our actual powers. On the other hand the strength of the Five Great Disasters surpasses that of current Demon Lord of the Underworld. Then what do you think will happen?”

The Dragon Princess stared at the ceiling while she sat on the bed.

“What do you mean by what will happen……”

“It means that even I will have a really hard time fighting Achendia alone.”

The silver haired girl said it plainly.

“That’s why you need to protect yourself on your own. Think of the divine items that Fear and Elise gave you not as an activation substances for the ancient summoning but as a powerful defence barrier and keep it close to you all the time. You have to protect yourself. When we are fighting, just put your life as the priority.”

“…..Yeah. You are right.”

“Why don’t you sound convinced even though you said you do understand?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Ren shook his head as if he was laughing at himself to Kyelse who was looking up at him.

……I also want to become the manpower of the group.

……But right now, I’m not in a position where I can say that.

“I know I’m being hasty. But I was wondering if I can become a strength to this party one day.”

“Don’t feel so down. I’ve been training you while having such intent from the start.”

Kyelse who had got up from the bed reached out her hand. What she grabbed with her hand was a single sword covered in brown colour sheath which was fading away.

“My sword?”

“In your case, not only your strength but you also need to do something with this sword or you can’t even start yet. I’m guessing you bought this in a minor weapon shop where you chose the cheapest second-hand one.”

“Ugh!?”

He couldn’t argue back. Ren bought the cheapest second hand sword from the town’s weapon shop when his enrolment to Holy Fiora Journey Academy was decided.

“The length of the sword as well as the weight of it doesn’t match your height and strength. The grip is also in bad condition. Instead I’m amazed you were able to use this till now.”

“……Are you praising me?”

“Yeah. Though this will be a joke if you are going to fight a high level Angels, Demons, and Dragons.”

Kyelse who drew out the blade from the sheath smoothly and started staring at the blade.

“The many layers of defence barrier the Archangels have around them. The Dragon’s scale which has stronger hardness than iron and steel. The miasma given out from high level Demons. All of them are a threat to humans. For example the Five Great Disaster we are facing this time. Let’s say you succeed in surprise attacking the Demon General of Blaze Achendia and cut her from behind——”

“And then?”

“The moment your blade touched Achendia’s miasma, the blade will corrode without any resistance and turn into dust.”

“Just how useless can it be!?”

“You would need a spirit armament which would be a sword with power of the spirit possessed in it at worst. The reason we chose the triumphal town as the meeting location with Elise was because I wanted to tell you that.”

——The Spirit-Sword Vierge.

The spirit sword which was said to be wielded by Elline when he went to the Underworld and the Heaven a long time ago. Even though its sheath was destroyed over the three-hundred years, the blade was still filled with a sacred blue light.

“Aren’t weapons like those……”

“Hold on. There’s something wrong outside.”

Kyelse suddenly said that with a strong tone.

“Wrong?”

“……There are several presence……howl and anger…………it’s getting closer……really closer……”

The girl opened the window.

At the jet-black night, what the Dragon Princess stared at was the summit of the giant volcano. And then——

“It’s coming!”

The exploding crimson flames lightened the town of the blazing cliff at night time.

The dancing flames which blew many sparks.

Right after that, a sound of crumbling which signified something huge had been destroyed from somewhere far echoed.

“W-What was that sound?”

“The town wall which was surrounding the town must have been destroyed. And that wasn’t just one location since I heard a sound of multiple locations being destroyed. A charge of an enormous monster or an attack spell by a Demon.”

The sky which turned red.

The Dragon Princess muttered　while she stared at the rooftop of the building which was being stirred up by the sparks.

“A conceited human must have acted rashly by angering the Five Great Disaster.”

“What do you mean!? It was supposed to be tomorrow——”

“One of the parties who became blinded by making achievement must have made an assault to the Great Volcano of Galia at night. As a result, they counterattacked by the Five Great Disaster after angering her.”

The entrance to the room.

The one standing there calmly was a blonde Archangel in white robe.

“So then, what shall we do now, Elise?”

“Hmm……I really can’t imagine for the moody Achendia to become angry by simply receiving a surprise attack by a mere party. To begin with, she doesn’t even consider humans as a threat. I’m guessing her henchmen became angry on their own. So maybe she’s watching it from the summit?”

The previous Demon Lord who answered with her usual easy going tone.

“Oh well, should we be quick? Even though it’s a counterattack by her henchmen, there seems to be many of them. Though taking down Achendia would be the quickest way to stop their counterattack.”

3

The residents’ houses which were burning.

The sky during night was tainted in red by having the sparks rise up by the wind.

“The fire already spread this much!?”

“Of course since they are the henchmen of the Demon General of Blaze. Of course it would be spells they would be proficient at. ——Even so, let’s get rid of them right away.”

Elise who raised her hand.

The spell’s design glowed in blue colour. The moment the glowing ice particles which was created in empty space, the flames which was burning in fast pace gets frozen in no time and disappeared by turning into many fragments.

“......That’s Elise for you”

“Geez. Humans do turn into daredevils. Didn’t your academy tell you not to act so reckless, Ren?”

“Huh? What do you——”

“The ones who stimulated all these Demons and monsters that are rampaging first was most likely the five member party made up of the so-called Ren’s seniors we met at noon.”

“It can’t be!?”

“I’m dead serious.”

The former Demon Lord who easily jumped onto a building’s rooftop to get a full view of the town.

“Hmm, I see. Approximately two hundred enemies. There are less than ten Demons that is acting as the main force. Majority of the remaining one-hundred ninety enemies are monsters tamed by the Demons.”

“Elise, is what you just said true? About the seniors from the academy!”

“More like I was there when it happened. They were heading towards the volcano. You know when I left at night? I bypassed them by a chance.”

“You didn’t stop them?”

“I did. But I’m in this state now. Not only didn’t they hear me out, they just ignored me. Or should I have injured them till they couldn’t move?”

“…………No.”

Ren shook his head while biting his teeth hard at the master of the Underworld’s question.

“You warned them right, Elise? Then the ones at fault are my seniors who ignored your warning and the ones who started this first was the humans.”

“I like the sound of that. So you can make proper judgment without treating them special for being the same human as you huh.”

The former Demon Lord nodded with a smile cheerfully.

“Anyway we need to go and stop them. Even if they joined forces they wouldn’t be able to win against Achendia. Then there will only be casualties if we don’t stop them.”

Ren could guess why they headed towards the mountain in a rush.

The Elmekia Dusk’s participation. Since they didn’t see any chances of winning the competition against a large world-level party heads on, so they must have thought they needed to make the first move.

“Kyelse, Fear, Elise——”

To the volcano’s summit.

The moment Ren was about to shout that out, “something” large jumped out from the resident’s house right behind them.”

“A monster!?”

A crimson coloured large snake broke through the house’s wall and jumped at them.

——The sword flashed.

The snake powerfully and quickly leaped to the rear due to a sharp strike grazing its face. But it wasn’t Ren who swung the sword.

“High-level Demons and their tamed monsters huh.”

The MASTERKnight who was wearing a black steel battle-wear. His brute strength which allowed him not to twitch his eyes even in front of a giant monster. And his behaviour which came from his confidence.

“Elmekia Dusk?”

“If you are a civilian then evacuate to the auditorium. If you belong to a party then head to the mountain.”

“W-What about you guys!?”

“We split into two troops. The first troop has already headed to hunt the Five Great Disaster. And the remaining troop would concentrate on guarding the town.”

“……Can we leave the guarding of this town to you guys? Didn’t you also come to hunt the Five Great Disaster?”

“Protecting the town was also included in the request.”

The one that gave the answer just now was an ARIACaster who was also wearing the same black battle-wear.

“Majority of this assault is caused by the monsters. High-level Demons are a threat but their numbers are low. So we will oppress them.”

“Having the Elmekia Dusk taking the defence sure is reassuring.”

Fear who smashed a strange bird that came to assault them to the ground with just her fist.

“Though it seems like you have other motives, right? Rather than getting uncertain fame where you might let the Five Great Disaster escape after cornering them, taking the certain fame as a priority which is to protect the town may be better. ……Would that be me thinking too much?”

“……I suggest you move your legs than your brain.”

The MASTERKnight responded with a fearless smile to Fear who was putting on a meaningful smile.

“Many of the parties had already headed to the summit of the volcano. You don’t intend to waste time here after coming this far to the town of the blazing cliff, right?”

“Well, we can’t argue about that. We should get going as well.”

The dark skinned girl made her body float in the air without waiting for others response after she said that. She jumped from rooftop to rooftop of the houses and headed directly towards the trailhead of the volcano.

“Hurry, you too, Ren. We can stop the invasion unless we defeat Achendia.”

“I know. But you are going too fast!”

Ren chased after the three girls who were going ahead very fast while he breathed heavily.

The trailhead of the volcano. The moment he was about to go through the door which had been destroyed by the monsters.

“—! Actually, go without me. I need to go somewhere!”

“Ren!?”

Without even responding back to Kyelse’s shout, Ren turned around on the spot.

——The mansion on fire.

He could hear a weak scream from there.

“Dammit, did someone get left behind!? The place is about to burn down any minute!”

Ren forcefully kicked the burning door.

Ren entered the building while he had the sparks that was flying around burn his skin.

“Where are you!? Hey, you are there, aren’t you!?”

His sight was covered in crimson colour. There wasn’t much time left till the building gets completely burnt.

……Calm down.

……Being able to hear the scream means that person isn’t deep inside the building.

The flames that was burning as if it was dancing. Behind those flames.

“H……elp me……some……one……”

The black haired girl who was on the ground.

Ren saw a girl who was surrounded by flames and smokes who barely had any consciousness left who could just emit a low voice.

“Over there! ……Alright, it’s okay now. You are the only one left behind, right?”

Ren carried the small built girl on his back and tried to go back to the exit of the building.

“The mansion!?”

The burning ceiling crashed down. The path Ren was about to go through just now gets blocked by a wall of giant bricks and flames.

“At a time like this……dammit!”

The path which was blocked by the burning flames. From behind him. And from the surrounding walls, Ren was being cornered by the heat.

Flames in all direction. The escape route got blocked just now.

——There’s no way to escape to.

——At this rate we would burn along with the building.

The chilling image which passed through his head for a moment.

But at the same time a passionate heat which would erase his chills ran through his whole body.

“……Like hell I’ll give up!”

He who was despised as a fake Brave Hero.

He was different from the Brave Hero Elline. A III-Grade MASTERKnight who was far from being that legendary swordsman. Even so, all three of Kyelse the Dragon Princess, Fear the Archangel, and Elise the former Demon Lord invited him to their party despite knowing that.

He wanted live up to their expectations with everything he had——

That instant.

Something triggered inside Ren. And then.

“Can you……hear my voice?”

A voice.

Like a sound of a bell that echoed from far away——

It wasn’t his ears. It was then when a faint voice echoed inside Ren.

“I was waiting……all this time. My voice. Now, it should reach you……”

“!? You are——!?”

A voice he heard for the first time.

But this voice sounded which made him feel nostalgic.

……I.

......I know who this voice……belongs to since a long time ago?

“Summon language. My aria……”

“Your words. Now, it can reach me……”

“……Yeah. I can hear you. This time for sure.”

What Ren gripped tightly was the Archangel’s feather as if he was guided by a faint voice.

The white divine tool which glowed brightly.

“That’s why——”

Ancient summoning.

It was said that by hearing the spirit’s voice and responding them, the spirits would also respond back to the spellcaster.

“I can’t end in a place like this.”

—— 『expressRh/s the door of the worldhec ele Selah』——

The sea of flames that was blocking his path gets split in half.

SALAMANDERAncestral spirit of fire.

The spirit which had been besides Ren as a small spirit of fire descended now in its true form as a crimson lizard with wings.

“I get it now…… You’ve been trying to talk to me from a long time ago.”

Now he could hear it.

“Call me, again. I would be, waiting.”

Ren ran through the path of the flames. And it happened at the same time.

The same time as Ren exited the mansion, the mansion collapsed while making a sound.

“Ren!? Good, you are safe.”

Kyelse who found Ren and came running to him.

“Sorry, I took a detour. ——Oh, there he is. Hey, take care of this girl!”

Ren carried the girl he had saved and left her in the care of the MASTERKnight of the Elmekia Dusk.

“Y……You are……?”

“I’m glad you are okay. See you then, I’m also in a rush!”

Ren waved his hand to the girl who had her eyes open a bit as he ran.

“Where are Fear and Elise?”

“They are heading to the summit already. Also, I saw several more parties climbing the mountain while you were acting on your own. We are most likely the last ones. Looks like we are late.”

“I said I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t say you were bad.”

Kyelse’s smile who was running elegantly.

“If you didn’t do that, then there would have been a life no one could have saved. Also, we can climb faster for the lost time. With the two of us. Follow me!”

“Alright.”

Ren gripped on his old sword. Ren ran through the path which was leading to the volcano.

The Five Great Disaster. The “Demon General of Blaze” Achendia. They simply ran towards her——

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