by Chuuni Suki
"I am sorry! I am sorry! Even so I must do it~"
A kodachi which gripped by both hand cut off the neck, while the woman who did it tremble. It's like the result of a mad love, a woman who killed her loved one.
Bakikh!
To the dying demonic beast, it used the last of its power to attack. Kam who who blown off by the body blow was muttering in self-ridicule while falling.
"Huh, is this the punishment for me who brandish the sword... ... it was the natural result after all..."
Having heard those words, the surrounding Haulia tribe were starting to tear up, then they shout to Kam in bitter expression.
"Chief! Please don't say that! The sinful ones are all of us!"
"That's right! Even if the time of judgment will come, but that's not now! Please stand up! Chief!"
"We don't have any road to return any more. That's why Chief, let's advance together until death."
"Y-you guys... ... that's right. I can't fall down in place like this. For the sake of his death (small demonic beast which look like a mouse), we will advance through the death!"
""""""""Chief!""""""""
Good atmosphere surround Kam and his tribe. Hajime who can't endure it anymore cut in.
"Aghhh---! It noisy, stupid! Why the heck are you exaggerating every time you kill one demonic beast! What for? Seriously what was that for? That cheap play! What was that dramatic feeling? Just kill it in silent! Just kill it instantly! Don't call demonic beast "he"! That's gross!"
That's, even though he knew that Haulia tribe members are working hard, but because of their nature, every time they kill a demonic beast they make an unknown drama. This is the second day, having seen those spectacles for many times, Hajime already pointed this out many times, slowly, he run out of patience.
To Hajime who was angered, probably because he tried to contain his voice his body twitch and shake after "Even if you say that..." or "Even if they are demonic beasts, they are pitiful..." heard that mutter from the Haulia tribe members.
In addition a lot of vein appeared on his head.
One boy from Haulia tribe can't stand it anymore then tried to approach and calm Hajime. This boy was the one who Hajime helped by the hair-breadth from the Hyveria in Raisen Grand Canyon, seems to especially attached to him.
However, while the boy who advance while trying to say something to Hajime, suddenly, he jumped back.
Hajime who was dumbfounded by it asked the boy.
"? What happen?"
The boy answered Hajime while quietly crawling using both his hands.
"Ah, yes. I almost step on Flower-san... thank goodness. If I didn't noticed it, it'd be crushed. Because it was so beautiful, it'll be too pitiful to step on it."
Hajime's cheeks were convulsing.
"F-flower-san?"
"Un! Hajime-niichan! I really like Flower-san! Because there are lot of Flower-san around here, it was terrible if we crushed it while training~"
Rabbit-eared boy smiled with a bright smile. The surrounding Haulia tribe members also look at this boy with smile.
Hajime slowly made his face look down. Hajime's gray hair fall down and concealed his expression. Then, suddenly he answer with whisper-like voice.
"... ... sometimes, while moving you jumped in strange timing... Is it because of that Flower-san?"
As Hajime said, during the training, Haulia tribe sometime change their pace according to strange timing, that kind of movement. Although it was in his mind, because it connected with their next action, it looked like they tried to find easier position for them to kill in his eyes.
"No no, that can't be. There is no such a thing."
"Haha, that's right, right?"
Hajime start to loosen his said having heard what Kam said with a wry smile. However...
"Yes, not only just flowers, we also take notice of insects. When we have to move suddenly in hurry, we manage to avoid them somehow."
Having heard Kam's words, Hajime expression start to fall. Hajime began to sway as if he was a ghost, while Haulia tribe members thinking something bad was said looked at each other in uneasiness. Hajime slowly approach the boy, then he suddenly reveal a smile while the boy also keep his smile.
And then Hajime... ... with a smile step and crushed the flower. Politely, after step on it, he grind it with his foot.
The boy who saw it was dumbfounded. Finally Hajime remove his foot, what left is the remains of "Flower-san" that lay tragically after such cruelty.
"F-flower-sa~n!"
The boy's sorrowful voice echoes inside the Sea of Trees. "What are you doing!" is what the Haulia tribe members' surprised expression tell while looking at Hajime, then Hajime turn to look at them with a smile along with veins on his head.
"Aah, I finally understand. I finally fi~nally understand. I was too soft. It was my responsibility. It was my mistake to have hope for your tribe. Haha, I can't believe even in life and death situation you still pay attention to "Flower-san" and "Insects"... ... combat skills or real combat experiences is not your main problem. I should have noticed it faster. I am angry at my inexperience... ... FUFUFU(HUHUHU)"
"Ha-Hajime-dono?"
After Hajime began to ominously laugh, Kam timidly asked him. And his answer is...
DOPANn!
Gunshot from Donner. Kam was blown off to the back face-up, after flailing a little in the air he fall into the ground. Next, the non-lethal rubber bullet that used to attack, dropped to the ground from Kam's forehead.
In their vicinity wind blows "fooosh", while silence rule the place. Hajime then approach Kam who was fainted with his eyes turned white, this time he aimed then shot the rubber bullet at Kam's belly.
"Hauu!"
Kam who wake up with a scream along some fit of cough looked at Hajime with tearful eyes. Despite the surreal spectacle of seeing teary eyed bearded rabbit-eared old man sitting in woman-like, Hajime declared.
"You dirty "piip". From this moment, you "piip" must kill those demonic beasts as if you're going to die! In the future, don't even notice the flowers or insects! Or else I am going to "piip" you up! If you understand, hunt those demonic beasts now! This "piip"!"
Haulia tribe was stiffen by Hajime's vulgar speech. And to them, Hajime fired without mercy.
DOPANn! DOPANn! DOPANn! DOPANn! DOPANn! DOPANn! DOPANn! DOPANn! DOPANn! DOPANn! DOPANn! DOPANn! DOPANn! DOPANn!
Haulia tribe scattered into the Sea of Trees just like spider's childrens while screaming. The boy desperately cling to Hajime while trembling.
"Hajime-niichan! What happened!? Why did you do this!?"
Hajime glared at the boy who stare at him with sparkling eyes, then look at the surrounding and confirmed flowers were blooming here and there. Until finally, he silently fire again.
One after another the flowers were scattered. The boy is screaming.
"Why~, just why~, please stop Hajime-niichan!"
"Shut up, shitty brat. Did you know? Everytime you talk uselessly I will dispersed the surrounding flowers. If you pay attention to the flowers, it'll be dispersed. Even if you not doing anything, I'll dispersed it. If you don't want that, go kill a lot of demonic beasts!"
Having said so, Hajime start to shot the flowers again. The boy's cried then disappeared into the Sea of Trees.
After that, inside the Sea of Trees "piip" can continue be heard in Haulia members' scream and cry(roar).
It was the training method to alter the character of RabbitMan tribe who was not good in combat by nature. Even combat skills and spirit can be altered using this method, it can be said similar to He***man method from earth...
* * *
Thank you for always reading.
Thank you for the impressions, opinions, and typo reports
Author "It come! The one who accompanied by holy beasts while holding 2-edged sharp weapon! Saint of winter world that clad in bright red robe! The dream ruler who walk in night sky! The gospel of holy night! This is the time to wore young innocen
t women mask! I summon! Weak and fickle multi production (read : Santa Klaus, a pun from sound of those kanji)!"
Translation "Santa-san, I want a girlfriend like Yue."
Santa "Even Santa has limit"
Author "... ..."
Well then, I think Fumof**'s rugby episode was godlike.
Even though it is christmas now there is no room to be soft because of real life, it's not like I put my anger on Haulia you know? It's true, see?
Chapter 36: Shia, Grand Battle of One's Lifetime
For everyone who are expecting Gung Ho, I am sorry. It'll be for the next time.
First, please look at Shia's training result.
* * *
ZUGANn! DOGHA! BAKI BAKI BAKI! DOGUSHA!
Tremendous sounds of destruction could be heard inside the Sea of Trees. Some trees could be witnessed, broken in two. There were craters scattered here and there that can be seen on the surface as if meteors fell into it. Furthermore some trees are burning while some are frozen.
The cause of such devastation against nature are two girls. Even now, the destruction is still ongoing.
"Deeyaaaa(Take this)!!"
A tree with a diameter of one meter was shot out along with the ear-splitting yell. It broke in the middle and flew into the target with great speed. With definite mass and speed. A brutal power of destruction was given to the rather mundane tree, carrying devastation across its wake.
"... ... "Scarlet Spear""
It was a spear of flame that burns its target and everything in front of it into ash. Even objects with huge mass will be burned if touched by it. It countered the log that moves like a cannonball and turned it into ashes fluttering in the air.
"Not yet!"
The shockwave created by the collision between the thrown "Scarlet Spear" and log, dispersed the fog, and on the other side of the fog, a running silhouette could be seen. Immediately, a log falls from the sky like a meteor and pierces the ground with a sound of thunder. Backstepping, its target escapes from the range of the shock wave then once again the spear of flame was released.
However, the silhouette rushed out from the fog in high speed and then a strong flying kick attacked the log that pierced the ground. It's unknown where the power came from but the log that received the kick was explosively smashed, and from it came splinters that shot at the target.
"kh! "Fire Castle""
Suddenly a wall of flame that can be called a rampart came out to block the improvised shots that come flying, not even one shot was able to reach its target.
However...
"Got youu!"
"Kh!"
At that time the silhouette already moved behind her. After shooting the improvised shots that acted as a splendid distraction, she once again slips into the fog. Her hand grasped the hammer that could be called ultraweight class, immediately, a powerful wind descended.
""Wind Wall""
A fierce impact from the Sledge Hammer struck the ground and crushed it. From the impact, stones were shot out and scattered in every direction. However, her target was able to block that terrific attack, and scattered it using the blowing wind coming from the wind barrier, because it immediately retreated into the safe area. In addition, after activating this skill, the target fired another magic without mercy at the other party that is a goner, because of post-skill rigidity.
""Frozen Coffin""
"Fue! W-wa-!"
When she noticed her target's magic, she desperately cried out for it to stop, but there is no need to hear that, because the law of no-talking-is-necessary was in place. The attacker tried to get away from her location but the ice magic instantly started to freeze her feet... ... and resulted in her whole body turning into a chunk of ice, except the head.
"Co-cold~, please hurry release it~, Yue-sa~n"
"... ... My victory"
That's right, the two who kept fighting without any discussion were Yue and Shia. Today was the start of their tenth day's training, a mock combat as the final test. The rule was that it'll be Shia's victory if she was able to damage Yue even a little. The result...
"Uu~, that is~, eh, that! Yue-san's cheek! There is a scratch! A scratch! My attack hit! Ahaha~, I did it! It's my win!"
Certainly, there is a small scratch on Yue's cheek. Probably it came from a piece of rocky debris that broke through Yue's defense. Even though it was a really small scratch, a wound is a wound. It was Shia's victory. After pointing that out, Shia's face looked overjoyed by it. She revealed a big smile, although her body was cold and her nose was running. Her rabbit ears twitched happily. No wonder, there is an important promise she made with Yue in this training graduation's battle after all.
Also, for Yue, that promise is not something amusing. Therefore,
"... ... there is no wound"
It was a good thing that the wound disappeared immediately because of "Auto Regen". She sulkily turn her head with a hmpf.
"W-wa-!? It's unfair! Certainly the scratch... ... no, even though there is nothing now! There certainly was! It's cruel to cheat! Now that I said it, please remove the magic already~. It's been cold since a while ago... ... huh, somehow I'm becoming sleepy..."
From the cold and runny nose, Shia begins to doze off. You'll die if you sleep! That's her current situation. Yue, who was peeking at that appearance let out a deep sigh while thinking it must not be continued in her heart, removed her magic.
"Pikchi-! Pikchi! Auu, it's co~ld. I almost became a rabbit that can't return (to life)"
After a lovely sneeze, she covers her nose with a nearby leaf. Shia then looked at Yue with seriousness in her eyes. Yue made an unpleasant expression because of her gaze. Her expressionlessness collapsed because of that unpleasant expression.
"Yue-san. I've won"
"... ... ... ... ... ... Nn"
"It is a promise, right?"
"... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Nn"
"If, I can win at least once in the ten days... ... I'll be taken along on Hajime-san and Yue-san's travels, right?"
"... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Nn"
"At the very least, you'll help to convince Hajime-san, right?"
"... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Today's breakfast, what is it?"
"Waiiit! What's with sudden change of topic! Moreover, it was light! Yue-san, aren't you okay as long as there is Hajime-san's blood! What's with you asking about breakfast! Please be my ally already! If I have Yue-san as an ally, it's already 90% OK"
Shia makes gya- gya- noises, Yue looked at that expression that came from the bottom of her heart.
As Shia said, Yue had promised her. That is, Yue said to Shia, only if she was able to damage her in the mock combat even with a small injury within ten days. If she did it, Yue must acknowledge and allow Shia to travel along with her and Hajime. Also, Yue must help Shia persuade Hajime when she asks him.
Shia seriously wanted to come along with Hajime and Yue. Half of it because she didn't want to become a burden to her family, while the other half simply because she wanted to be together with Hajime and Yue, and to get along with the two.
