by Chuuni Suki
Even if they were able to avoid it by jumping aside, the shockwave caused by the impact still blew them away. When they stopped rolling, they had wounds all over their bodies. Meld, who finally regained his movement, rushes over. The other knights were still being treated by Kaori. Bracing itself, the Behemoth worked to pull out his stuck head.
"Can you guys move?"
All he got in response were groans. They were probably paralyzed again by the shockwave caused by the falling Behemoth. The damage to the internal organs seemed to be significant.
Meld called out to Kaori. When he was looking for Kaori, Meld's sight caught hold of Hajime.
"Bozu! Take Kaori, Carry Kouki and retreat!"
For Meld who directed such instructions to Hajime, He would only be able to carry Kouki. That instruction indicated that, no one else would be able to escape. Meld clenched his teeth and prepared his shield. He had chosen to risk his life in this dangerous situation to hold back the beast.
At such a desperate moment for Meld, Hajime made a suggestion. This method may be the only way that everyone would be saved. However, the chance of it succeeding was very low. Hajime would also be in the most dangerous position.
Meld hesitated, but the Behemoth was already combat ready. It's helmet started to sizzle red hot. They had no time.
"Are you going to do it?"
"I'll do it!"
Meld could easily see the resolute gaze Hajime had, and he couldn't help himself from smiling.
"I can't believe that I'll entrust it up to you, I'll surely save you. Leave it to you!"
"Hai!"
Meld headed towards the Behemoth at that. He released a simple magic to provoke it. The Behemoth seemed to have a habit of targeting anyone who was attacking him at the moment. Man and Beast gazed at each other.
When the helmet was finally enflamed it charged then leapt. Meld stood there poised, intending to provoke it till the last moment. At that moment, a small incantation could be heard.
"Blow "Wind Wall"!"
He back stepped at the same time as he chanted. Like a comet, the Behemoth landed at the area where Meld was previously stationed at. The "Wind Wall" was able to deflect the shockwave and debris from the impact. Since it was just a simple attack, he was able to avoid it. He would have been totally annihilated if he was protecting Kouki.
Again, the Behemoth's head was stuck after the attack. Hajime advanced at this, but the remnants of the blazing heat burns Hajime. He endured the pain and he started to chant. It couldn't really be considered a chant because he just called out the spell's name.
"Transmute."
The Behemoth's movement to extract it's head from the stone was stopped because the surrounding stone buried its head. No matter how much stone it destroyed to free itself, Hajime just repaired it with his transmuting. Bracing it's legs, the Behemoth was going to forcefully free itself, but Hajime transmuted around the foot this time. He constantly harden and transmuted the stone and finally he sunk the beast 1 m into stone. The Behemoth's power was so terrifying that if he let up for just a moment, cracks would from in the formation and it would try to slip out. In order to prevent this Hajime did not let up on his continuous transmuting. He observed the Behemoth struggling to get free with its head buried underground. For anyone else it would have looked very silly.
In the meantime, Kaori and the recovered knights were gathered and carried Kouki's party back. On the side with the Traum Soldiers, the students had regained some of their composure and started to cooperate with each other. The reason for the recovery was because of the girl Hajime saved earlier. A simple contribution from Hajime.
"Wait! There is still Nagumo-kun."
Kaori protested to Meld who was withdrawing.
"This is his plan! We are going to clear the Soldiers and make a safety zone for ourselves, and then we will bombard the beast with magic! Of course, we will allow him to retreat too! He can retreat when our magic barrage holds that beast in place, then we can retreat to the upper level."
"Then, I'll stay and help him!"
"Not possible! Your healing is needed to back up Kouki as we retreat!"
"But!"
Meld shouted at the protesting Kaori.
"Don't let his effort be in vain!"
"Tsu!?"
Including Meld, the other one with the highest power was without a doubt Kouki. If she did not use her healing magic effectively, they may eventually lack the power to stop the Behemoth. That is why it is necessary for her to join the retreating group. They did not have to time to stop and heal with other slower means, and if they were not fast enough Hajime will run out of mana to trap the Behemoth.
"Breath of Heaven, Fill to the brim, Purify and Heal, "Heaven's Blessing"!"
Even if she had a face like she wanted to cry, she continued with her incantation. A pale light engulfed Kouki. The restorative property of her magic healed his body of injuries at the same time it enveloped him. Meld placed a hand on Kaori's shoulder and nodded, and she nodded back. Again, Kaori turned around to look at the scene of Hajime transmuting against the Behemoth. All of them started to retreat after that.
The numbers of the Traum Soldier was still increasing. Currently, they numbered around 200. They all filled up the stair side of the bridge. But in a sense it might be a good thing. If a gap was present, the students would try to push through, but their lack of experience would lead them into getting surrounded and slaughtered. Actual this was a good number for the students who were having trouble with the 100 earlier.
Lucky, there had not been a single death, it was thanks to the earnest knights who protected them. It was not an exaggeration to say that they were desperately covering the students' lives. The expense came in the form of all the wounds they had acquired.
If they lost the knights' support, for the increasing number of students who were panicking and did not know the magic that caused the increasing monsters, they would fall apart in minutes.
Despair struck the students who realized it. The group that cooperated with the girl that Hajime saved earlier, even though they fought bravely their face conveyed that they were at their limits. When they thought it was finished...
"Soaring Flash!"
A pure-white slash exploded right through the ranks of Traum Soldiers. The Soldiers near the side edges of the bridge was blown into the abyss. After the slash thought, the remaining Soldiers filled in the gap that was created by the skill. They surely saw the stair that led to the upper level though. The wished to see it but it had been covered by the sea of swords.
"Everyone! Don't give up, I'll open up a path!"
He spewed those lines as the "Soaring Flash" tore through the enemies. The students energized at the charisma Kouki displayed.
"What have you guys been doing this whole time? Remember your training, and start cooperating with each other! Fools!"
The leader everyone relied on released a skill that was not inferior to "Soaring Flash" at the enemies. The reliably feeling returned to his voice. His body filled with power and his mind cleared. Kaori's magic was doing their job, the magic to calm the mind. The magic was just a relaxation magic but combined with Kouki's performance it was super effective.
Anyone with an aptitude for healing started to heal everyone. The people with high aptitude for magic made up the rear guard, they started their chants. The vanguard formed a firm rank, they steadily moved but put an emphasis in protecting the rear guard.
The knights who recovered also join them, then the signal for their counterattack came. The cheat class started to perform their martial arts and magic, they descended down on their enemy like a surging wave. Monsters fell so quickly that they had finally passed the spawning rate of the magic circle.
Soon, the path to the stairs were opened.
"Everyone advance! We need to secure the stairs!"
Kouki started to run as soon as he shouted. The recovered Shizuku and Ryutaro accompanied Kouki in the charge. They cut through the encircl
ing Traum Soldier like a hot knife through butter. Finally, they broke through the besiegement. Kouki quickly cast his magic to prevent the gap from the bridge they just created from being filled by the Soldiers.
The classmates looked doubtful. It will be like that. In front of them were the stairs, and naturally they wanted to get to safety quickly.
"Wait everyone! We still have to save Nagumo-kun! Just by himself, he has been suppressing that demon!"
Kaori's class faced her with a very doubtful expression. They all thought it was impossible, because they all thought he was useless. When the perplexed classmates looked over at the bridge, Hajime was really there.
"What is he doing?"
"That demon is buried!"
Meld answered the questions the students had.
"It's true! It was because of him stopping that demon that we could retreat! Vanguard don't let any soldier near us! Rear guard prepare your long range magic! He is about to run out of magic, we will have him retreat while we bombard the Behemoth!"
The students braced themselves when that voice resounded with them. There were people who looked at in the direction of the stairs in regret. No wonder, they just had a near death experience. They naturally wanted to get to safety as fast as possible. However, when Meld angrily shouted out to hurry up, they returned to the battlefield.
In there was Hiyama Daisuke. Although he thought so highly of himself, he was really scared, he wanted to run as fast as possible away.
At that moment, the scene from that day flashed in his mind. It was yesterday when they were staying in Horlad. He was so overcome by anxiety of the next day that he couldn't sleep properly and went out to get some air then headed for the toilet. The cool breeze relaxed him and he was returning to his room when he saw something. Along the way, he had seen Kaori in her negligee. This was the first time he had seen her in such a state and he instinctively hid and held his breath at such a sight. Kaori passed by without noticing him.
Daisuke was interested and followed her, until she stopped in front of a certain room and knocked. The one to answer the door was....Hajime. Hiyama's mind blanked at that. He liked Kaori, however he thought that he was not good enough for her. When comparing himself to Kouki, he felt like he was way out of his league, so he gave up.
Hajime was different, Daisuke thought Hajime was inferior to him. So to find Hajime in the presence of Kaori was weird. He thought that if this was the case, why won't he do? Daisuke heard every word in his head, is his head alright? Hiyama seriously thought that though. His dissatisfaction against Hajime had always been piling up, now this had swelled into hatred. When he saw Kaori get mesmerized by the Grantz Crystal, he was probably driven by these feelings.
Hiyama remembered all that. Looking at Hajime who was suppressing the Behemoth by himself, Kaori staring worried for Hajime and even praying for him....a dark smile bloomed on Daisuke's face.
Hajime felt his mana running out, and he had ran out of any potions. He quickly surveyed his surrounding and noticed that everyone had retreated. Ranks were being formed and magic was being prepared for the last part of the plan.
Behemoth was still struggling, at this rate there were still a few seconds of intermission even if he stopped transmuting. In the meantime he had to get some distance. A drop of sweat entered his eye. Hajime had never been in such a situation that caused his heart to thump so loudly that he could hear it. Timing was going to be important here.
Dozens of cracks formed in the restraints that held the Behemoth, and they were failing to hold it back. At the same moment, Hajime started to sprint.
5 seconds after Hajime started to run away, the Behemoth fully freed itself and roared. The rage present in its eyes could never be misunderstood. Quickly it's vision searched for its sworn enemy and found Hajime. Behemoth roared in anger again , and collected power into its legs to chase after Hajime.
However, a barrage of magic attacks stopped it.
Like shooting stars painting the night sky, magic of countless colors bombarded the Behemoth. There was no damage, but the force prevented it from advancing.
Hajime lowered his head and dashed while taking care not to fall. With all those lethal spells passing over his head, Hajime was not afraid for his life. There was no way those cheats would be able to miss. The distance between the Behemoth and him was also 30 m.
Hajime relaxed at that.
However, something happened that cause him to freeze.
One of the "Fireball" in the endless stream of spells, bent slightly and started to head his way. This was clearly aimed at him.
(Why!?)
Doubt and bewilderment, all of this ran through his brain and it appalled him.
Hajime slid and braced himself as the "Fireball" struck the ground right in front of his eyes. He was blown back the way he came from by the shockwave. No real damage was taken because he was able to avoid a direct hit, but his sense of balance was thrown out of whack. Seems like semicircular canal was damaged.
Standing up was a little hard because he was dizzy. The Behemoth like usual was not going to go down alone. When Hajime got up, the beast roared again. Hajime looked at the Behemoth and was stunned by the piercing eyes it had. For the third time it's horns started to and he lunged towards Hajime.
The unsteady head, hazy vision, looming Behemoth, impatience screams and roars from his classmates in the distance.
Hajime tried desperately to muster the strength to jump away. A furious shock ripped through the entire bridge, it shocked from the strength of the Behemoth's attack. Cracks spread out from the epicenter. The bridge screamed.
Finally, after all that punishment, the bridge collapsed.
The bridge had finally reached the threshold and gave out.
"Guaaa!"
Behemoth clawed desperately to find a place to hold on to. However even the ground that connected the bridge collapsed and fell into the abyss. Death throes could be heard from the Behemoth.
Hajime crawled to escape somehow, however every place he held onto collapsed.
"Ah, it's no good..."
While he thought that, he turned his gaze towards his classmates. He saw Shizuku and Kaori holding Kaori back, like she wanted to jump after him. His other classmates were pale and had their hands over their eyes or mouths. Meld and the Knights had a mortifying expression on their faces.
The scaffolding that held Hajime finally crumbled. He fell backwards into the dark abyss, while he tried to grasp the dimming light.
Chapter 7: Wretched Malice
The death throes that the Behemoth echoed soon ceased. The stone bridge made a huge rattling noise as it crumbled. Hajime disappeared into the abyss along with the rubble. That sight, played for Kaori in slow motion and it filled her with despair.
In her head, last night's event repeatedly played in her mind. In the room illuminated by the moonlight, she sat here chatting with Hajime while they drank the fake black tea. That was the first time they had talked so in depth with each other. Being driven by her nightmares, she paid a sudden visit to Hajime. Even if he was surprised, he had talked to her truthfully. After a bit, she noticed that talking to him had erased her uneasiness.
She returned to her room in a jubilant mood. When she arrived back at her room, she noticed how boldly she was dress and she writhe in shame. Kaori felt depressed because Hajime had not even reacted, in her eyes, to her looks. She felt she had no appeal. When Kaori saw Shizuku caught her making funny facial expression, she wanted to pretend it never happened.
On that night, the most important occurrence was the promise she made to "protect Hajime". The promise that Hajime mentioned to relieve Kaori of her anxiety. Hajime disappeared into the abyss, as she stared at him. She kept recalling that memory over and over again.
Somewhere in the distance, a scream can be heard. When Kaori noticed that the voice belonged to her, she grimaced as she was quickly brought back to reality.
"Let me go! If I don't go to Nagumo-kun! I promised! I w
ill...I said I will protect him! Let me go!"
Shizuku and Kouki had to restrain her, because Kaori looked like she would just jump after him. Kaori displayed such extraordinary power that they wondered where she got such power and how could she display such an amount with her slender body. Unlucky for them, she used that power to break free from them.
If she kept struggling like this, she might damage her body. Nevertheless, they could absolutely couldn't let her go. If they released her, she would jump off the cliff. She did not have her usual calmness, not even a shadow of it, now she had such a frantic expression. No, it might be heartbreaking to say.
"Kaori! You can't! Kaori!"
Because Shizuku could understand Kaori's feelings, she could not find the right words to say. All she could do was call out her name desperately.
"Kaori! Are you also trying to die? It's too late for Nagumo! Calm Down! You'll hurt yourself!"
Kouki tried to best to convey how worried he was of her. To the confused Kaori that was here and now, these were not the words to say to her.
"What do you mean "too late"? Nagumo-kun is not dead yet! If I don't go, he is surely asking for assistance!"
Nagumo Hajime was not savable, at least this is what everyone else thought. He fell from the cliff into that dark abyss. The composure to accept that reality, the present Kaori did not have it. If anyone was to word it though, she would just deny it over and over again. Ryutaro and the other students did not what to do, so they stood there flustered.
At that moment, Meld approached them and struck Kaori in the back of her neck without saying anything. She jerked for a moment, then unconsciousness claimed her. Kouki held the now limp Kaori, and glared at Meld. When he was about to start complaining, Shizuku preemptively bowed her head and said.
"I'm Sorry. Thank you."
"Don't....Don't thank me. I can't let another person die. We will wholeheartedly leave this Dungeon. I'll leave her to you."
"You don't even need to ask."
She watched him leave, she headed for Kouki and got him to hand Kaori to her. Kouki still had a disappointed expression on his face from being interrupted.
