Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest Vol. 6

by Ryo Shirakome

  “The prime minister seems unaffected as well. However, some of the influential nobles haven’t been so lucky.” Jose staggered as Meld rattled off a list of people who’d become Hollow. The nobles who were integral to the government’s continued operation were fortunately still safe, but many other highly powerful people had been laid low.

  “I’ve given His Highness a full report, and he’s guarded by a contingent of knights 24/7. I don’t trust the templar knights or the royal guard. My men have orders to come see me the moment they sense anything even slightly out of the ordinary.”

  “What does His Highness have to say about the Hollowness?” Meld had informed King Eliheid there was a possibility that this was a mental attack orchestrated by some unknown enemy.

  Even if it was just apathy, the numbers spoke for themselves. Meld was certain this required a swift response. However, the king had not met his expectations.

  “The fact that the two of us are meeting in secret here’s answer enough, isn’t it?”

  “He rejected your request to start an investigation, didn’t he?”

  The king had indeed ordered Meld to stop worrying about foolish things like apathetic soldiers and to start building up the country’s army.

  Though he was forbidden from conducting an investigation, Meld couldn’t let it go. His instincts were telling him that this Hollowness was dangerous. That was why he was operating in secret with his vice-captain.

  “The demons have grown more powerful than ever. His Highness has more important concerns than unmotivated soldiers and some vague hints that it might be an epidemic.”

  “Still, the king heeds your words, Captain. Normally he’d never dismiss your concerns out of hand...”

  Meld cut Jose off with a look. Though the Eliheid may have been acting strange recently, Meld didn’t want to hear any insults against the king. He was, at heart, a loyal man.

  “That’s why we need to gather proof. Jose, talk to all of the dark magic experts you know. Figure out what this Hollowness really is, and devise countermeasures. Also, try and convince the guards to open up the royal vault. Surely we have an artifact in there that can deal with mental attacks like this. At the very least, get a catalog of items from the vault manager.”

  “Yes, sir. What about Kouki-kun and his friends?”

  “Let me worry about them. They’re in a delicate state right now. I didn’t want to burden them with more worries than I had to, but... I suppose I have no choice but to tell them now. I’m really not cut out to be a teacher.” Meld sighed, and Jose smiled at him.

  “I’m sure those kids understand how hard you’re trying.”

  “Who cares if they understand me. The problem is that I don’t understand them. It’s honestly my biggest worry still. Fighting’s so much easier than this.”

  “Still, I think it would ease some of their worries if you talked to them.”

  Prospective knights applied knowing what they were getting into, so Meld’s way of cheering up his men usually consisted of training them until they collapsed and then sharing a few drinks. It usually worked. However, he knew that wouldn’t be a good idea for Kouki and the others. They were students who’d been dragged against their will into his world’s war, and they were only fighting to go back home.

  He had no idea how to help those kids come to terms with the fact that they’d have to kill. Jose snickered. Meld was acting just like a father who didn’t know how to teach his kids.

  The two of them talked for a bit longer about less pressing matters. Once they gave each other their respective reports, they melted away into the darkness.

  Meld snuck back to his room while keeping an eye out for patrols. As he was the knight commander, no one would challenge him even if they did spot him, but he didn’t want anyone wondering what it was he’d been doing out this late at night.

  I can’t believe I’m acting like an intruder in the palace I’m supposed to protect. Meld smiled to himself. A second later though, his heart leaped into his throat as someone called out to him.

  “Captain Meld—” He looked around, but saw no one. Despite the fact that he’d been on high alert, someone had managed to sneak up on him. In fact, they’d gotten so close that they were able to tap his shoulder. In other words, they could have killed him had they so chosen to.

  “Zaaah!” His overblown reaction was a symptom of how nervous he was. The moment he felt a hand on his shoulder, he pulled out his sword. It drew a silver arc through the air as he turned it on his assailant.

  “Hiii!?” His sword met only empty air, though. Whoever had snuck up on him had good enough reflexes to dodge out of the way in time.

  Or well, at least trip over himself. He looked down to find his attacker in tears.

  “K-Kousuke!?” The boy Meld had mistaken for his attacker was indeed Kousuke Endou, the scout of the hero party. He was nodding, terrified.

  “C-Captain. D-Did I do something to make you mad?” Realizing his mistake, Meld hurriedly sheathed his sword and helped Kousuke up.

  Everyone knew how difficult it was to notice Kousuke. Even when his friends were talking with him, they’d sometimes forget he was there. Back in Japan, automatic doors often wouldn’t even open for him. Furthermore, he was almost always forgotten during role call in class. He was a natural master of stealth.

  Meld understood now why he hadn’t sensed anyone.

  “N-No, sorry. I was just surprised to find someone behind me and kind of...”

  “You sound like Golgo, Captain.”

  You “kind of” almost chopped my head off! Meld cleared his throat and changed the subject.

  “Anyway, what are you doing out so late, Kousuke?”

  “After practice today, I fell asleep in my room. We went pretty hard, and I was exhausted. But it was still pretty early, and...”

  Meld looked pityingly down at his pupil. He could tell where this was going.

  “And no one thought to wake me up for dinner or anything, so I slept until now.”

  “I-I see.”

  “When I finally woke up, I hurried over to the dining hall, but everyone had already finished eating. They’d noticed there was an extra meal laid out, but they thought the chefs had made more by mistake and ate it. No one even realized I didn’t come to dinner.”

  “I-I see.”

  “Well, I guess it was partly my fault for not arriving on time. I felt guilty about asking the servants to make food just for me and I figured skipping just one meal wouldn’t be a big deal. But then I got so hungry I couldn’t sleep... which is why I figured I’d go to the kitchens to see if they had anything. I found some vegetable scraps leftover and ate those, but...”

  “But?”

  “Whatever they were, they didn’t sit well with my stomach... I spent two hours fighting in the bathroom. You really don’t want to go in there right now.”

  “What a night...”

  “Anyway, once I finished, I realized there was another problem.”

  “Your story’s not over yet!? And what on earth is in that bathroom!?”

  “It’s not what’s in there, but what isn’t. There wasn’t any toilet paper.”

  “.....”

  Kousuke didn’t explain how he eventually did manage to find some toilet paper, but considering how far from the kitchens he was now, Meld guessed he must have spent a long time searching for it.

  “Kousuke... go rest.”

  “Will do. Good night, Captain.”

  He’d been forgotten, had his dinner eaten by someone else, gotten sick off the leftovers he’d found, and then spent the night wandering the halls looking for toilet paper only to nearly be killed by his teacher. Meld felt for the poor boy.

  As he watched Kousuke totter off to his room, Meld gave him a crisp salute.

  Meld made it the rest of the way back to his room without incident. He heaved a heavy sigh and put his sword up on the stand on the wall. After disarming, he flopped himself onto his sofa and massaged his temples. />
  Once he’d rested for a while, he started planning.

  “Magic that only affects troops’ morale... It would make sense that demons are behind it, but I can’t believe they’ve infiltrated the capital already. And if they have, why not try something bolder than just hitting our morale? And why only target our rank and file soldiers? If they can cast spells undetected into the palace, why not come for me? Killing me would remove a powerful enemy and lower their morale anyway. So why? What on earth is going on?” Meld spoke his thoughts aloud. He was still extremely worried about this unknown threat that had wormed its way into the palace. He wasn’t exactly at his limits, but the constant planning and worrying had been taking its toll. Doubly so since his fellow palace officials didn’t seem to share his concerns.

  Worse, the problems kept on piling up. He could feel his impatience permeating every inch of his thoughts, like an ink stain spreading through paper.

  “I wonder what he’s up to right now?” Meld thought back to the boy he’d been reunited with in the Orcus Labyrinth. The boy he’d believed he’d failed to protect. The boy who’d used legendary medicine to save his life.

  After reminiscing for a few minutes, Meld stood up and walked over to his desk. Then, he pulled out two pieces of paper and as many envelopes. Looking conflicted, he began to write.

  He needed to be ready for the worst. The first letter was addressed to the duke of Ankaji. The second, to Hajime. He was hoping Duke Zengen would know how to get in touch with Hajime and pass it on. This way, even if something happened to him, the kingdom would have a fighting chance.

  Glimmering moonlight illuminated his room as he wrote away.

  He finished writing and started going over the letters again. Just then, he heard a knock on the door.

  Meld warily grabbed his sword off the wall and asked who was at the door.

  “Who is it?”

  “Umm, it’s me, Captain Meld. Hiyama.”

  “Daisuke? What are you doing up at this hour?”

  “Well... there’s something I really need your advice on.”

  Wondering what could have made the boy sound so desperate, Meld slowly opened the door. Hiyama stood in the hallway, his head bowed low.

  “You said you needed my advice but... why this late at night?”

  “I’m sorry. I know I’m being a bother... but I don’t want any of my classmates to overhear this.”

  “I see... Well, it’s no trouble for me. Come in.” Meld thought he had a good idea of what Hiyama needed advice on, and invited the boy into his room.

  Hiyama’s standing among his classmates was tenuous. It was his own carelessness that had nearly gotten Hajime killed. He’d apologized profusely for the incident, and the other students had all agreed not to bring it up again too, so no one blamed him for anything. Still, that was only on the surface. Most generally kept their distance from him.

  Especially now that they’d all learned Hajime was alive.

  Meld was a little worried about his relationship with the others too, so he was actually glad Hiyama had come to him for advice. At least, that was what Meld assumed Hiyama had come for.

  Hiyama kept his head bowed low, so Meld couldn’t make out his expression. However, Meld didn’t like what he saw. Hiyama seemed on the verge of doing something drastic.

  Meld ushered the boy over to his sofa. He waited patiently, but Hiyama didn’t say anything. The boy simply sat there, wringing his hands and tapping his foot.

  “Daisuke, I think I know what it is you wanted to talk about. You don’t have to sugarcoat anything. Give it to me straight. Tell me what’s troubling you and we can come up with a solution together.” Meld’s reassuring words did nothing to ease Hiyama’s apparent nerves. He still kept his head bowed, unwilling to meet Meld’s eyes.

  This must have been eating away at him more than I thought. Meld tried to reassure him again.

  However, before he could get more than a few words out, he heard another knock at his door. I sure am getting a lot of visitors today. He called out to ask who it was.

  Surprisingly, it was Jose’s voice that answered him. It appeared he had an emergency report to make.

  His timing couldn’t have been any worse. Hiyama was still in Meld’s room, and it was entirely possible what Jose had to report was something Meld didn’t want the students to hear.

  Hiyama noticed Meld’s hesitation.

  “It’s fine, Captain Meld. I’ll just wait in the hallway until you’re done.”

  “If you’re sure... Sorry, Daisuke.”

  “It’s fine,” Hiyama replied curtly, and stood up.

  Meld walked to the door and turned the knob. The door opened with a soft click. Standing in the hallway was Jose, but he’d gone Hollow.

  Meld felt goosebumps run down his back. His instincts screamed at him to run.

  “Ah!?” he gasped, and leaped backward. A second later, a knight’s sword whistled through the air where he’d been standing.

  “Jose, what’s gotten into you!?” Meld yelled out to his vice-captain. The only response he got was a diagonal slash aimed at him. Meld rolled out of the way, pulled his sword free, and blocked Jose’s follow-up attack. The two swords met with a resounding clang.

  “Shit, so it was a form of brainwashing after all!?” Up close, Meld could tell Jose’s eyes were blank. It was one of the symptoms of Hollowness. However, the other Hollow soldiers hadn’t ever tried to attack him, which meant that Jose was following someone’s orders, and that all other Hollow soldiers could be made to do the same.

  Meld shivered. I knew it wasn’t something as innocent as apathy! In order to cure Jose of his brainwashing, Meld first needed to immobilize him. He yelled loudly and shoved Jose’s sword back.

  “This might hurt a little, old friend!” Meld rushed at Jose. Jose was off-balance after having his sword repelled, and Meld hoped he could pin his vice-captain in place with a tackle.

  However, Jose didn’t move according to the plan. Since he’d been attacking Meld thus far, Meld had assumed he was the target. However, Jose now ignored Meld and turned his gaze to Hiyama, who was staring at the two of them, dumbfounded.

  Jose’s sudden change of target made Meld hesitate for a second. He turned to see Hiyama take a few steps back and trip over himself. Meld couldn’t believe it.

  Hiyama was one of the frontliners of the hero party. Moreover, he had an extremely powerful job. He shouldn’t have lost his courage when faced with a single measly knight. No, wait, maybe this was what he wanted to talk to me about! Meld clicked his tongue and changed directions.

  His legs screamed in pain as he pivoted without losing momentum. The sudden change in direction required him to step with so much force that his floorboards snapped, but he managed to get himself in between Jose and Hiyama.

  “Ngh... Such power.” Their swords met in a flash of sparks. Because of his sudden shift in direction, Meld’s stance was in tatters. Still, even after taking that into account, Jose’s blows were more powerful than they had any right to be. Meld’s arms went numb as they absorbed the impact of the blow.

  Jose was definitely a master of the sword. However, his style favored speed over strength. Technique and agility were his weapons, not raw power. Yet somehow, the blows he was raining down were a match for Meld’s.

  Plus, Meld couldn’t dodge, since he was covering for Hiyama. He couldn’t push Jose back either, since his stance was all wrong. His full strength was utterly out of reach. I’ve got no other choice. I’ll have to use magic.

  “Sorry about this, vice-captain!” There was a risk of him severely injuring his right-hand man, but he put his faith in Jose’s resilience. Meld held out his free hand and prepared to fire a blast of wind at point-blank range.

  “Heed my call, O wind— Blitz—!?” However, he never got a chance to finish his spell. He stopped chanting midway... when a sword stabbed into his side.

  “Daisuke?”

  “Tch... I can’t believe you managed to dodge
that.”

  Meld turned around, his disbelief evident. However, just as he’d thought, the person who’d thrust the sword into his side was none other than Hiyama. Moreover, his eyes weren’t blank. They were bloodshot.

  “Daisuke, you...” Meld didn’t know all the details, but he was certain that Hiyama had something to do with the Hollowness that had been spreading through his men’s ranks. If Meld hadn’t dodged to the side at the last minute, Hiyama’s sword would have pierced his heart. He had his uncanny instincts to thank for his survival. Hiyama had aimed for the kill.

  He ignored Meld’s question, yanked his sword out, and once again tried to drive it into Meld’s heart.

  “Blitz Hammer!” The mana from Meld’s unfinished spell was still primed, so he called out the trigger that would cast it. He aimed not at Hiyama, but at the floor below him. A compressed ball of wind slammed into the floorboards with tremendous force. Fragments of wood struck all three of them. The following gust of wind blew all three of them away in different directions.

  Meld rolled across the floor, a trail of blood leaking out behind him. The pain was so intense that he should have fainted, but Meld stood up as if his wound didn’t even hurt, then charged at Hiyama.

  Jose was just a knight, but Hiyama was a frontliner who’d delved deeper into the Great Orcus Labyrinth than Meld ever had. He was definitely the more dangerous foe.

  Unfortunately for Meld, even more enemies joined the fray. A horde of Hollow soldiers poured into his room.

  “Tch... Looks like they planned this well.” Meld swept aside three soldiers’ blades with one stroke of his sword. He then stepped to the side, avoiding Jose’s overhand slice. Hiyama then rushed forward and launched a furious assault, which Meld parried with the flat of his blade.

  Following up on that attack, Meld blew away the soldiers that had circled to his rear with another blast of wind. He’d shortened the spell’s incantation so much that all he had to say was the spell’s name. Taking advantage of the opening caused by the spell, Jose swung his sword down on Meld’s rear, but Meld kicked a chair into him, tripping him.