Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest Vol. 5

by Ryo Shirakome

  In order to change the topic, she muttered something about needing to recharge her mana, and Hajime handed her a magic stone pendant. Kaori couldn’t control mana directly, so Hajime had engraved it with a magic circle she could use to drain it.

  Hajime opened his mouth to say something, but he shut it again when he saw another wave of enemies approaching. They could talk about it later.

  Normally, fighting an army of illusions who could only be hurt by mana and had no fear would have been extremely difficult, doubly so on the swaying deck of a ship. However, Hajime and Kaori were anything but normal.

  The combined armies of two countries were decimated in just one hour by the two of them.

  “Ugh... Sorry.”

  “It’s fine, don’t worry about it.”

  Once they destroyed the last of the illusions, Hajime and Kaori had found themselves back in their original location.

  Hajime had breathed a sigh of relief, glad that killing them all had been the solution to the puzzle. A second later, though, Kaori had doubled over and started retching. It had been some time since she last ate, so she didn’t throw anything up, but it still didn’t look pleasant.

  Tears in her eyes, Kaori held up a hand to Hajime, begging him not to get any closer, but Hajime walked over anyway and gently rubbed Kaori’s back. She hadn’t wanted him to see this side of her, but she was still reassured by the warm hand on her back. Before she knew it, she’d fallen into his arms. It didn’t take long for her to calm down and stop retching.

  Hajime pulled out a pack of apple juice from his Treasure Trove and passed it to her. She gulped it down greedily, and the color began returning to her face. The sweetness of the juice washed away the taste of bile in her mouth.

  “I’m really sorry...” Hajime narrowed his eyes as she apologized.

  “It’s totally understandable. I found them pretty disgusting myself. I can’t believe people would let blind faith turn them into something like that. Let’s take a short break. I used up a lot of my mana too, so I need to rest.”

  “Okay... Hey, Hajime-kun. What was that? Did it have something to do with all of these rotting ships here?” Kaori sat down on a nearby boulder. Hajime thought about it for a few seconds.

  “My guess is that was a war that actually happened in the past, and whoever made this labyrinth recreated it with magic. I imagine the part where all the sailors attacked whoever enters was their own addition... It could be that this is part of this labyrinth’s theme.”

  “Its... theme?”

  “Yeah. Tio mentioned it in the Grand Gruen Volcano. She thought each of the liberators designed their labyrinth around a certain theme. If she’s right, then...”

  “The theme of this one is to show us the tragedy the gods brought upon Tortus?”

  “Yeah, looks like it.”

  Chills ran down Kaori’s spine as she thought back to what they’d seen. She shivered, her face pale. Their madness had disturbed Kaori enough that she’d thrown up. She’d never seen such religious fanaticism before. Their fervor, their actions, and the fact that their faith had led them to slaughter each other disgusted her.

  Worst of all though, they’d been laughing as they fought. Some of them who’d known they were dying had even ripped out their own hearts to offer up to their heartless gods. Others had stabbed right through their comrades to get a better chance at hitting Hajime and Kaori.

  It had been an unbelievably gruesome sight, especially because it had all been done in the name of god. Hajime sat down next to Kaori and took her hand in his. He couldn’t just sit and watch when she was grappling with atrocities like that.

  Kaori looked up at him in surprise, but after a moment she smiled and tightened her grip on his hand.

  “Hajime-kun, thank you...”

  “Don’t worry about it. I know how painful it feels... to think you’re going crazy. I nearly lost myself when I fell into the abyss.”

  “How did you manage to stay sane? Actually, I don’t even need to ask. It was Yue, wasn’t it?”

  “Yeah. If I hadn’t met her back then... who knows what I would have become.” Hajime looked off into the distance, reminiscing about those days.

  Kaori felt as if a vice was squeezing down on her heart.

  “It’s so frustrating. I wanted to be the one to protect you, Hajime-kun... the one to save you. Though I don’t know if I could have done it if it had been me down there. I couldn’t even keep my first promise to you. Haha, I guess it’s going to be tough to beat Yue.” Hajime narrowed his eyes at Kaori again. Normally Kaori’s smiles were full of warmth, but right now they were bitter, full of self-deprecation.

  “You’ve been apologizing a lot since we came here. You’ve been smiling like that a lot, too.”

  “Huh? Umm...” Kaori tilted her head in confusion, and Hajime’s next words made her forced smile crumble.

  “Hey, Kaori. Why’d you come with us?”

  “So I really am just in your way?”

  Hajime sighed, and changed topics. This was going nowhere.

  “I still remember what you told me that night, when you came to my room and we drank my shitty tea. That’s why I don’t understand why you still like me so much, after how I’ve changed.”

  “Hajime-kun, I...” Kaori opened her mouth, but Hajime cut her off. He wasn’t done yet.

  “But I have no intention of denying your feelings, or saying they’re a lie. I’m sure you have your own reasons for still loving me. No one else has the right to deny you that, or your determination. I already gave you my answer, and if you still say you love me despite that, then that’s fine. It’s not like Shea’s any different, after all. In fact, she’s so persistent that I’m worried she’ll just attack me one night.”

  Her physical abilities had only continued to grow in the time they’d traveled together. It had gotten to the point where Hajime was worried he wouldn’t be able to fend her off if she seriously tried to overpower him. Kaori smiled wryly and nodded.

  “Yeah, even I’m amazed at how outgoing and positive Shea is.”

  “Even I have to admit I was pretty mean to her in the beginning. Yue was the only person special to me, so I just wanted her to give up.”

  “.......”

  “But no matter how roughly I treated her, no matter how much I told her she had no chance, she still looked like she was enjoying herself. Sure she cried and got mad and yelled at me, but she never looked unhappy. Even though she had no aptitude for magic and wasn’t nearly as strong as Yue, she never stopped looking forward. She never let herself wallow in her own inferiority.”

  “I-I’m not wallowing...” Kaori trailed off weakly. She wanted to protest, but even she knew he was right.

  “Did you know? All you’ve done since we came here is apologize. Even the way you smile’s changed.”

  “What?”

  “Hey, Kaori. Quit looking down. Look me in the eye.”

  It was only after he said it that Kaori realized she’d been avoiding making eye contact with him, even though she’d always met his gaze before... She looked up with a start.

  “I’ll say this one more time. I love Yue. Even if other people end up important to me, they’ll never be special like she is. If it really hurts that much, if comparing yourself to me and Yue brings you nothing but pain... then you should leave.”

  “Ah...” Kaori looked down again. Hajime wasn’t done yet, though.

  “Back then, I agreed to let you come with me because I thought you were like Shea. I figured that was what you really wanted. That it was something you thought was best for yourself. Even though I’d told you I loved Yue, you insisted on coming anyway. So I thought sure, you’d be happier that way too. But that’s not how it seems to me right now.”

  Hajime let go of Kaori’s hand.

  “I want you to think about this seriously. Decide for yourself what it is that has you so down, and whether you really want to keep traveling with me or not. You’re not like Shea. Shea loves Yue just
as much as she loves me. If you think it’s better to leave, I’ll make sure to bring you back to Yaegashi safely, don’t worry.”

  “I-I...” Kaori looked down at her hand. She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out. Things had grown awkward between them now, but they still needed to move forward. This was a labyrinth after all. The pair continued onward, until they reached a massive passenger ship in the back. It was even longer than 300 meters, and at least ten stories tall. Taller, probably, as part of it was buried underground. It was ornately decorated, so much so that even after rotting partly it still looked magnificent.

  The two stopped for a moment to admire its majesty. Even on earth, few ships were this big. Those that were didn’t look quite this elegant, either.

  Kaori just stared in awe, while Hajime admired its craftsmanship.

  “I’m amazed they managed to make something this big out of wood.” He was still a Synergist at heart. Whoever managed to make that deserves respect.

  Hajime grabbed Kaori and used Aerodynamic to jump all the way up to the terrace on the top deck. As he’d expected, the air around them began to warp.

  “Looks like we’ve got another vision to go through... Prepare yourself, Kaori. We’re probably not going to like this one either.”

  “...It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

  Kaori took a second to reply. Hajime mentally berated himself. He should have saved that conversation for when they were out of the labyrinth.

  All he’d succeeded in doing was spoiling Kaori’s mood. It was something he’d needed to say eventually, but he could have picked a better time for it.

  He just hadn’t been able to bear seeing Kaori smile sadly like that any longer. Still, I could have waited until we cleared The Sunken Ruins of Melusine first. Hajime awkwardly scratched his cheek.

  The vision this time put them in the middle of a luxurious passenger ship.

  It was night, and the moon was full. Lights glimmered all along the ship’s deck. Decorations hung from every railing and mast, and tables of food were laid out buffet-style. A large crowd of people milled about, sampling the rich food and chatting with each other.

  “Is this... a party?”

  “Looks like it. A fancy one too... Did I get Melusine’s theme wrong?”

  Hajime was caught off-guard by the distinctly not gruesome sight in front of him. He and Kaori were standing atop a raised terrace that overlooked the deck.

  As Hajime swept his gaze over the partygoers, the door behind him opened and a few sailors stepped onto the terrace. They lounged around, chatting with each other. I guess they’re here for their break.

  Hajime listened in on their conversation. From what he could gather, this party was to celebrate the end of a war. It seemed the war that had been going on for years between these two countries had ended not with one country annihilating and invading the other, but with a peace treaty. The sailors seemed happy about that fact. Upon closer inspection, Hajime noticed that humans, demons, and beastmen were all in attendance at this party. They were all mingling together, with no regards to race.

  “I guess a time like this existed too.”

  “They must have worked really hard to make this peace happen. I don’t know how long it’s been since the war ended, but I can’t imagine everyone’s grudges have gone away. And yet, they’re all smiling and laughing together...”

  “I’m sure the people here are the ones who fought for peace. There’s no way everyone else would be able to laugh like that with the people they’d been fighting a while ago.”

  “Yeah...”

  Hajime and Kaori smiled as they watched the party. After some time, a middle-aged man climbed up onto the podium at the end of the deck and waved to everyone. The talking gradually quieted down and people turned their attention to him. They were all looking up at him respectfully.

  Behind him was someone Hajime guessed was his aide, along with a person wearing a hood. He thought it was rather rude to get up onstage in a hood, but none of the partygoers seemed to mind.

  Once the ship was completely quiet, the man began his speech.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, all of you who gathered here today are heroes. Brave heroes who fought not to make war, but to make peace. I am honored and humbled that you all agreed to come to this event. I cannot tell you how happy I am that this war has ended with my generation... Seeing peace come between our two nations has been always been my dream.” Everyone listened with rapt attention. The man continued, talking about the missteps they had along the way, the trials they had to face to overcome suspicion, and the lasting cornerstones of peace that they’d finally built. He spoke of the friends they lost along the way, and tears sprung to many of the guests’ eyes. Some looked off into the distance, while others recalled nostalgic memories.

  It seemed this man was the king of the human kingdom. He’d spent his entire life working toward this peace. Hajime could see why everyone respected him.

  Finally, his speech wound to a close. He roused everyone at the end with a spirited closer. The audience burst out in cheers. However, Hajime was struck by a sudden premonition. He felt as though he recognized the king’s face from somewhere.

  “Now, after a year of peace, I’ve come to realize something... How worthless it truly is.” Everyone glanced about in confusion. They looked to each other, wondering if they’d misheard the king. The speech everyone had thought finished continued.

  “Indeed, utterly worthless. Raising toasts with beasts and consorting with heretics... What is it, if not folly? Do you understand, ladies and gentlemen? You are all a pack of fools.”

  “Wh-What are you saying, Aleister!? What’s gotten in to— Gah!?” The demon who’d stepped forward to protest coughed up blood. A sword was sticking out of his chest.

  The demon’s eyes widened in surprise. He turned around to see a human behind him holding the weapon. From the demon’s expression, Hajime could tell the two must have been close. He fell to the ground, an expression of disbelief frozen on his face.

  Everyone started talking at once. Cries of “Your Majesty, please!” rang out. Many of the guests were unable to comprehend what was happening.

  “Now then, ladies and gentlemen. Like I said in the beginning, I am honored you all agreed to come. You have made my job that much easier. It grated me day after day to watch as you ungodly heretics attempted to create your own nation. As if monsters who’ve turned their backs on Ehit, the sole creator of the world, could ever be equal to humans. But that all ends today. You barbarians who worship a heretical god do not deserve to exist on Ehit’s holy Tortus. We will only have true peace when vermin like you are eradicated! If only you knew how much joy it brings me that all the leaders of all the nations willingly gathered here today. Believers of Ehit, bring down the iron hammer of retribution on these nonbelievers! Lord Ehit, are you watching!?”

  King Aleister sunk to his knees and gazed up at the heavens in prayer. The sailors took off their uniforms, revealing gleaming soldier’s armor underneath. They surrounded the guests.

  There was a massive mast right in the center of the ship’s deck. The terrace was built atop that mast, and so the soldiers positioned there had an unobstructed view of the entire deck. Unless the guests could somehow escape into the sea, the soldiers had an overwhelming advantage.

  The various lords and ladies of every country realized that as well. Despair colored their faces.

  A second later, the soldiers loosed magic at the undefended guests. They tried to fight back, but outnumbered and outmaneuvered as they were, their desperate struggle amounted to little.

  A few managed to escape, but after a few seconds the majority of the guests were lying in puddles of their own blood.

  Just a short while ago they’d been happily eating and drinking. Some of the guests had tried leaping into the ocean, but Aleister had prepared for that. Small boats packed to the brim with soldiers had been lying in wait, and killed anyone who jumped over. The water aroun
d the ship had turned crimson.

  “Ugh...”

  “Kaori...”

  Kaori leaned against the railing, one hand against her mouth all the while. She tried very hard not to throw up. This vision was even more horrific than the last. Hajime gently patted her back.

  Once the slaughter was over, King Aleister went below the deck with his soldiers. He was probably going to hunt down the few who’d escaped into the bowels of the ship.

  His aide and the hooded figure trailed behind him.

  However, before heading downstairs, the hooded figure turned to look at the terrace. Hajime caught a glimpse of silver hair in the moonlight, or at least he thought he did.

  Their surroundings began to warp again. It seemed there was no test in this vision. Melusine had just wanted to show it to them.

  “Kaori, rest for a bit.”

  “It’s okay, I’m fine. That was a bit graphic but... was that it? It ended without us doing anything.”

  “This is the end of the ship graveyard. We could craft a barrier and explore the ocean, but judging from what we saw, I assume we’re supposed to go inside now. At the very least, the vision seems to be leading us there. Melusine wanted us to burn the atrocities the gods committed into our memory before letting us continue, I guess... Can’t say it’s a very pleasant experience. It’d probably be even worse if we were from this world.”

  Almost all the humans in Tortus were believers of Ehit. It’d likely be quite a shock to see visions of what kind of monsters their faith could turn them into.

  In order to conquer this labyrinth, powerful magic was a necessity. The ability to use magic depended greatly on the user’s mental state. In many ways, it was the complete opposite of the Reisen Gorge. Fortunately, Hajime and Kaori weren’t from this world, so it wasn’t like their entire worldview was being shaken.

  Still, the massacre had been horrific. They looked down at the deck, which had soaked up so many people’s blood, and thought back to what they’d seen. Hajime was just annoyed that Melusine was making them go through all this crap.