Chapter 16 (Epilogue)
Hollow in the Rocks [A Contract, or Something More?]
Suddenly, the feeling of consciousness, like emerging from the deep sea, enveloped my body.
Go up, go up. Towards the beautiful shining light of the sun. Continue, continue. At that moment I thought I had come to the surface of the water.
My eyes opened.
Where on earth am I?
The ceiling was made of rough rocks. The gathered sunset was a bit dazzling. However, I didn’t hate it and instead I wondered at the orange sunlight.
“…Here is?” (Shuten)
When I tried to raise my body I felt an awful pain. However, I feel that my body is much lighter than before.
What had I been doing until now?
…Oh yeah. During the battle with Grendel, the pearl piece was pushed into my chest, so that dangerous pain…did I rashly fight Grendel while in a haze?
I am relieved that I didn’t kill Grendel, but more than that, I had come to realize the full horror of the Divine Phenomenon Phase skills through first-hand experience.
What is it?
It’s supposed to be the cheat only the Empire manages. And he is supposedly the weakest or the fool of the magical librarians.
No, it is thanks to the second pearl piece that I managed to defeat him. However, I do not want to absorb any more if possible. I’m scared of the pieces. It’s probably become a slight trauma.
“…After that, I collapsed…” (Shuten)
So why am I in this rocky place?
As I thought about it, I noticed that among the rocks I was surrounded by fluffy bedding.
With a glance I looked to the side, and there was the Nine-tails, who saw me looking and her face turned red. The fox demon was even more tattered than I am. So then, was I asleep? Is this her tail?
Uwa I’m very sorry. What a good shampoo you are using?
“…Please get up if you are awake.” (Nine-tails)
“I’m still asleep.” (Shuten)
“Go.” (Nine-tails)
“Uissu.” (Shuten) (sfx for soft compalaint)
Since it still hurt to move my body, I got off her tail slowly. Lightly touching my right shoulder to check the condition of my wound, it seemed like it had been wrapped in cloth.
“Ah, I bothered you for this.” (Shuten) (あ、わざわざ手当なんてしてくれたの)
“W, what? Is it a nuisance?” (Nine-tails)
“No, thank you. I didn’t think you would take me here.” (Shuten)
“It’s a natural response from someone who has been helped.” (Nine-tails)
Has been helped, hey. I happened to pa.s.s by and saw Grendel, so I simply faced him to add tension to the story of the game, though that cannot be said out loud. (たまたま通りかかって、物見遊山テンションでグリンドルと相対しただけ、なんていえない空気だわなこりゃ)
I guess on the surface it seemed like I helped her…No, even if it wasn’t coincidence, would you please accept my grat.i.tude? There certainly would be no harm.
“…Hm?” (Shuten)
“!!?” (Nine-tails)
Somehow, my body felt strange.
However, what is even stranger is the Nine-tails.
She reacted loudly to a little of my voice, and when I tried to make eye contact a little while ago she kept averting her gaze.
What. Ah, when I fainted…Did I do something bad? I was on her huge tail a moment ago. But even thinking about I don’t think that’s the reason.
“Hey, Nine-tails.” (Shuten)
“What?” (Nine-tails)
“Look me in the eye.” (Shuten)
“……Well, there is no reason to look anywhere else.” (Nine-tails)
“What are you
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hiding?” (Shuten)
Falter, falter, her gaze faltered.
That kind of response is too obvious.
Well, I’m just looking for ident.i.ty of the mysterious thing I felt earlier.
……
……
…Something like, that’s it. A magical power. But what is wrong with this magical power?
…Hm, what is this.
……Hm? Hmmm?
“It’s not my magic, but mixed with someone else!!” (Shuten)
*Biku~!* (Nine-tails) (sfx for a flinch, or frightened surprise)
“Hey, what do you mean by flinching! I thought I had felt this magic somewhere before, but this is the magical power I felt from the fox-fire!”
I don’t understand, there are other strange sensations from outside my body, and apparently there is a path connecting to something else. I wonder where it is connected to, no…
“Oi, is it yours?”
“No.” (Nine-tails)
“No, that doesn’t explain anything you useless tails.” (Shuten)
“Useless tails?!” (Nine-tails)
I turned around vigorously at the outburst and drew near to her face.
I thought I had some pretty strong intimidation, as she blushed and averted her eyes.
Hey, what did you do?!
“…K, Kindred” (Nine-tails)
“Huh?” (Shuten)
The Nine-tails murmured as she looked away.
Kindred?
“So that’s why I signed a contract with you! Because your magical power seemed exhausted like you were going to die, so I decided to supply magic from myself!” (Nine-tails)
“Ah, what? You were trying to help? You should have said so from the beginning…Hm? I think?” (Shuten)
I am now satisfied with what the path is that connects to the outside of my body. But then, once my magical power returns, you should just cut the line.
Looking at her with such a thought, something made my face turn red. This isn’t the big brother I know. I feel shameful.
“So…you…are too strong.” (Nine-tails)
“Huh?” (Shuten)
“Gya, instead I was turned into kindred!! I was!!” (Nine-tails)
……That’s.
Pfft.
“Hahahahaha I can only laugh at this stupid demon!!” (Shuten)
“Who’s stupid. You may call me Master.” (Nine-tails)
“Who would call you that stupid fool!!” (Shuten)
“Ho–, I made a kindred pact to save you yet you show this att.i.tude towards me?” (Nine-tails)
“You become bossy so quickly!? Y, you want a really quiet man!!” (Shuten)
I’m sorry, it’s just really funny.
In other words, she created the contract with good intentions to help me, but due to my strength from acquiring two pearl pieces I could not “obey” and it was reversed.
Hahahaha.
No, it’s super funny.
“Laughing from your stomach!? Rolling and laughing!?” (Nine-tails)
“Hahahaha!” (Shuten)
“How~An~noy~ing! B, because I have lived longer than you!! Pay your respect! Pay your respect!” (Nine-tails)
“Well, it is a bit disappointing for someone your age to become my kindred.” (Shuten)
“How stupidly energetic! It’s true I wanted to cut it off before you woke up! Really please cut off the contract quickly!” (Nine-tails)
“HaHaHaHaHa. No way.” (Shuten)
“Whaaaaaaaaaaaat!?” (Nine-tails)
No way. Why should I cut off the contract?
Is it so surprising that you would jump like that?
“You are going to the Empire soon?” (Shuten)
“That’s right, but!? But, so what!?” (Nine-tails)
“Because I am also going to the Empire. You know, they say good company makes the road shorter, and I have been lonely while traveling.” (Shuten)
“I don’t know your circ.u.mstances!! Why are you going to follow me!?!” (Nine-tails)
“No well, the fact that it is also because of your mistake, after all, it is a matter of being kindred. When you die, I die, right? Aren’t you worried?” (Shuten)
“First that now this, you are terrible trulyyyyy!!” (Nine-tails) (いっちいちムカつくわねあんた本当にいいいいいいい！！)
The Nine-tails cried out *Mukya* in complaint.
It seems like it will be fun and more than that, I am disliked separately (楽しそうで何よりだし、別に嫌がってるようにも)…Hm? It seems she hates me in earnest?
“Hey Nine-tails, Hey Nine-tails.” (Shuten)
“What!?” (Nine-tails)
“Do you really hate being with me so much?” (Shuten)
“Well…well, I do not mean that kind of thing separately!?” (Nine-tails) (なっ……べ、別にそんなことを言ってるわけじゃないでしょ！？)
“Oh, yes, then it’s okay.” (Shuten)
“What!?” (Nine-tails)
“I will cut off the contract if you stop yelling.” (Shuten)
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!! Mo~! Annoying guy! This guy really makes me angry!!” (Nine-tails)
‘Cause you know.
To have such a fun traveling companion is satisfying, I think it is very nice.
Oh, that’s right.
There is one thing that I haven’t heard from her until now.
“Hey you, what’s your name. Mine is Shuten.” (Shuten)
“You changed the topic at an unbelievable speed!?” (Nine-tails)
“…So?” (Shuten)
“…Hiragi. It’s Hiragi.” (Hiragi) (TL: a name and a new companion, yay!)
“It sounds like the name of my natural enemy.” (Shuten) (また俺の天敵みたいな名前しやがって)
“I was born earlier than you!?” (Hiragi)
*Mukya-!* The anger of the Nine-tails – now known as Hiragi – is revealed.
I wonder what kind of feelings she has towards the Empire, and I wonder what lies ahead of us now. Because we are going to where the magic librarians swarm, if we’re not careful we could easily perish. Still, the collecting of pearl pieces…12 more.
Rather than traveling alone, somehow I think this will be more fun.
“Hey little Shuten, how many people will smile at the sky alone?” (Hiragi)
“No, the sunset is beautiful.” (Shuten)
“So you were that kind of crazy person?” (Hiragi)
“Why are looking at me with such judging eyes!?” (Shuten)
Since I barely managed to move my body, today I will stay here, and tomorrow we will go to the Empire.
Well anyway.
“I’ll be counting on you, Hiragi.” (Shuten)
“It’s something pretty suspicious though…forget it.” (Hiragi) (なんか凄く釈然としないけどね……もういいわ)
The female Nine-tails, Hiragi, has become a comrade! ▼
AN: Hi! For people who have read to this point, thank you for your time! Thanks so much!!
The concept itself is from over six months ago, but I never thought it would take shape like this. But, I wanted to try and write such a story at least once after all, as a person who also likes RPGs. No, it’s been a fun week. (TL: yeah, he wrote all these chapters in about a week, from January 18th to the 24th in 2015. Pretty impressive.)
Oh, that’s right. I got the top spot of the day. It’s amazing when I think about it, but it’s solely thanks to every one of you guys. Ah, that is not my reason for writing this story, but it was still really nice to think about.
Well, tomorrow I will start posting the next chapters. As always there will be a post every day, but I won’t be updating three chapters a day like before – I’m sorry.
In order to reach the interesting parts I quickly wrote these chapters, but I have run out of stock and in order to not drop from exhaustion I won’t be putting out two chapters at a time though I wish I could. That’s why it won’t be two chapters every day…I wonder what time I should update. Maybe at 19:00. Thank you everyone.
Once I post the first chapter of the second volume [The Silverwhite Road], at the same time I will put up character introductions from the first volume. I would be happy if you looked at them, if you feel like it.
Now, although this was a long afterword, this concludes the first volume. Thank you everyone. Thanks for your feedback and impressions.
Now then, if you’ll excuse me.
Gotta go!