Chapter 21.2
Episode 21 — Bloodstained Nucleus～ Part 2 ～
“However, the ident.i.ty of the previously seen black knight is Kyousuke group…”
“It seems to be called Black Knight Trinity Full Cross.”
“That name is quite long, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it’s long…”
While summarizing the materials after the meeting in the strategy room, Ryuzaki made a bitter smile.
With the flow after the meeting, in the strategy room at the time, 2nd exploration team’s leader Uozumi older brother (Gillman), 3rd exploration team’s leader Kensaki (Dullahan), 4th exploration team’s leader Nekomiya (Cait Sith), such people were gathered. The leaders of the exploration teams were all nominated by Ryuzaki himself, and had also distinguished themselves in the cla.s.s.
Boasting a s.h.i.+ny black coat, Nekomiya Miya (Cait Sith) sat on Ryuzaki’s office desk and talked a little pretentiously.
“Then, cla.s.s rep and Kensaki already knew about it. You’re quite the bad humans.”
“We’re not humans.”
Returning the cla.s.sic joke in the cla.s.s as well, Kensaki shrugged her shoulders.
“It seems they wanted to hide their ident.i.ty as much as possible at Hino’s request.”
“Ah, Hino was an otaku.”
Uozumi made a bitter smile on the face specific to Gillman.
“I also watched (anime?) occasionally up until middle school. But since there were Sunday training and morning practices once I entered high-school.”
“Well, I think it wasn’t only because of Hino’s hobbies that they hid their ident.i.ty. They didn’t want to confuse the cla.s.s too much. Whether or not their judgment was right is unknown.”
Ryuzaki kept their follow up properly.
At least during the team leaders meeting, there was no negative opinion on Kyousuke group’s Full Cross. Because of the fact that they hid their ident.i.ty, it was expected that feelings of distrust would arise within the cla.s.s, as for that it would be left to the team leaders to give a gentle chiding.
If there was one good thing about the attack of the red winged devil, it was that the cla.s.s had been united as a result, especially among these team leaders. They seemed to have a sense of solidarity between those who had the same hards.h.i.+ps at last, even among students who did not talk much in the cla.s.sroom, such as Uozumi of the swimming club and Nekomiya of the drama club, the discussion was getting more lively.
“Well then, cla.s.s rep. This way we can proceed with the repair of the heavy cruiser in a rapid pace, it’s fine to just leave the previously discussed matters to Utsurogi group.”
Nekomiya asked while playing with her whiskers.
“Well, it’s reasonable. But whether Utsurogi himself agrees or not, we will talk about it after this.”
There was a knocking sound on the door just around there. When they gave a response, the door opened briskly and the person himself, Utsurogi showed up.
“Ah, well then I’ll be excusing myself.”
However, with bowtie on her chest, Nekomiya immediately jumped off the office desk. Cait Sith was a cat fairy which was said to be the motif for 『Puss in Boots』, but such a theatrical playful behavior really gave off the feeling of belonging to the drama club indeed. Following after Nekomiya, Kensaki, Uozumi left the strategy room.
“Thanks for coming. Utsurogi, come in.”
“Ah, right…”
Seeing off Nekomiya with her prided key tail swaying horizontally, Kyousuke group entered the strategy room. Rin also high-fived with Kensaki and Uozumi as greetings. It was a solidarity feeling u
nique to the sport clubs. She seemed to also have the ability to communicate naturally.
“Utsurogi, is your physical condition doing well?”
“It got better. Thanks to Akai’s blood.”
Akai’s blood? Hearing that word, Ryuzaki frowned a little.
Kyousuke’s body, which was crushed into pieces, could not be repaired by recovery magic. According to Selena’s words, his body, which had already been in a half-dead state, could not repair the defective parts by something on the level of recovery magic. This is the same for humans and other monsters, and it seems that recovery magic wouldn’t work in a state where serious organs such as the heart and lungs are destroyed.
However, when Akai who heard Selena’s story dropped her blood into Kyousuke, the shattered bones were restored in a moment. Because of games and manga, Ryuzaki knew about such a powerful regeneration ability of vampires somewhat, he was wondering how much hidden abilities Akai still had.
And Akai made it clear that this was an emergency measure and she basically wouldn’t use it in the future. Pursuing further, it seemed that because there were side effects that was difficult for Akai to tell.
“So, Ryuzaki. What are you talking about?”
“Ah, nn, that’s right. Sorry.”
Ryuzaki looked around at the group of Kyousuke, Rin, Akira and Selena who entered the room.
“Utsurogi, how much do you know about our current situation?”
“Mostly, I asked Himemizu and Akira. Are we going to repair the heavy cruiser at a rapid pace?”
“Ah. Also, we will try to finish exploring the dungeon at the same time. Perhaps, the lowest level is the 15th underground floor. If you think that there is something like a boss monster, it doesn’t seem so.”
Although the words labyrinth and dungeon were completely misleading, originally the underground labyrinth seemed to be only a common abandoned cemetery that monsters had taken root in. When it was said that there was also Selena’s a.n.a.lysis in this matter, she was standing next to Kyousuke and Akira proudly sticking out her chest.
“As for the renovation of the heavy cruiser, Kuremori is going to work on reparation in a hurry from now on, well 10 days at the earliest or it will take around 2 weeks.”
“T–to finish it so fast like that instead…? Are you okay?”
“The materials are almost enough, it doesn’t seem impossible if we work the exploration teams a little. Still, it is said to be quite a crude rushed work, cutting corners and all, well it will be able to move.”
Kyousuke was shaking his head at the incredible feat. Well, I understand your feelings. It was also unbelievable for Ryuzaki as well. However, if Kuremori said he would be able to do it, he would have no choice but to leave it alone.
“It’s only for 10 days to 2 weeks, that red winged devil may not necessarily show up again before then.”
Kyousuke nodded as well when the greatest concern at the moment was pointed out.
“We told Selena-san everything and consulted. Because of that. It became the flow of how to request reinforcements from Selena-san’s hometown.”
“To humans … reinforcements…?”
Kyousuke turned his gaze toward Selena. Selena clenched her fists and nodded.
“Even we were originally humans. In case we are attacked by such an incomprehensible monster, it will be better to ask humans for help.”
Of course, there was also a bit of hesitation to make that decision.
Perhaps the ones with the most accurate grasp on the situation of Jindai high-school 2nd year cla.s.s 4 were the red winged devil and the person connected to it. If they were to confront him, there was a possibility that the information on means to return to human beings and go back to the former world would go out of their grasp. Still, Ryuzaki and all the team leaders chose the way to cooperate with humans.
From the words of that devil, he had absolutely no intention of changing them back to their original forms.
Speaking of the red winged devil, there was also the concern about the existence that the devil last called out to. Talking about ideas, it seemed likely to be the «Wight King», but there was no confirmation for it.
Given one thing, the situation now was that mysteries emerged in a chain. Ryuzaki changed his focus and continued talking.
“So while advancing the renovation from now on, we will request cooperation by communicating our circ.u.mstance to Selena-san’s hometown.”
“While advancing, that … how are we going to do that?”
“To that end, of course, we have to get her back home.”
Kyousuke probably already guessed it up to there. Those talks had already pa.s.sed through Rin and Akira, so the two of them were remaining silent. They meant to entrust the decision to Kyousuke.
“We are going to be Selena-san’s escorts?”
“I won’t say the impossible. If Utsurogi refuses, I will call out to another student.”
Ryuzaki said, organizing the doc.u.ments ∗ton ton∗. [Notes]
“I don’t feel like refusing, but I want to know the reason why we were chosen.”
“It’s difficult to say, because the combination of Utsurogi group seem to be the weakest. There is little worry of alerting the other party.”
There was no mincing words, Ryuzaki said it straight. As one would expected, even Kyousuke fell silent at this as well.
Selena looked up at Utsurogi and said.
“It is my s.h.i.+shou who guards the defensive walls in the west of the kingdom. My s.h.i.+shou is a woman, but still as strong as my mother in her heyday…”
“Ah, to mow down an entire army with one swing of a sword…”
“She is one of the strongest in the kingdom. Although she can’t use magic, she would still be one of the ten strongest people across the continent … ah, no, saying that is probably too much.”
Kyousuke seemed to be worrying about how much he could trust her story while scratching his head. No wonder.Even Ryuzaki couldn’t believe Selena’s story as well. However, we have to make guesses based on the information coming from her.
“Well, I got it, Ryuzaki. In order to not unskillfully alarm Selena-san’s s.h.i.+shou-san, we are going to escort Selena-san with a personnel selection that seems as weak as possible.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
“However, if said that we’re putting a group of weaklings as Selena-san’s escorts, isn’t there no sincerity in that?”
It was Rin who responded to Kyousuke’s doubtful words.
“At that time, we should combine.”
Akira also nodded.
“Kyousuke, our strength is «wait-and-see strength» by combining. It is fine for us to look weak at first glance. 『Although weak, they properly escorted her』, it’s fine if they think that, 『Leaving the escort to such weaklings is making light of her treatment』, if they seem like saying something like that, we need to combine.”
Kyousuke looked up at the ceiling and scratched his chin.
“Well, I don’t really know but…. Even if we do take Selena-san there, I wonder if they’re going to listen to our story.”
“It will go well.”
∗Guu∗, clenching her fist, Selena said.
“I cannot say anything detailed, but I should also have value as a diplomatic material.”
“Really…. Having the strongest one of the kingdom as your s.h.i.+shou, is that not enough…”
Kyousuke thought for a while, but he nodded in due time.
“All right. In case the preparation is done properly, if you say that we are suitable then I don’t particularly mind.”
“I will check it, but Utsurogi, I think this is pretty tough.”
“Well then, I want to take Hakuba.”
He gave out a surprising name, and Ryuzaki’s eyes turned round. Hakuba. Hakuba was a unicorn. Previously, he was one of the cla.s.smates who bullied Kyousuke. It was a little surprising when he made the proposal to take him peacefully.
“If we’re on a trip that will take days, I would like some means of transportation. Besides, Hakuba can also use recovery magic.”
“Ahh. That’s right~. But I wonder if it’s okay~. I hope Selena-chan will be able to get on his back…”
“It’s enough if Selena-san can get on. Hakuba will be pleased.”
“That, somehow, are you talking with the premise that I am a virgin? It is just as I imagined, isn’t it?”
Rin didn’t seem to be much concerned, but Akira was a bit unhappy ∗fuyo fuyo∗ floating around.
Hakuba was the recovery staff of the 1st exploration team. Although it was close to the strongest team at the time incorporating Ace members such as Sak.u.ma and Akai, but considering the work of the entire cla.s.s in the future, some groups would be reorganized, so taking him wouldn’t hurt so much. And if it was a unicorn, the other party’s vigilance would be thin.
It became a very unusual story, but it would also prove that they didn’t violate Selena.
After that, the talk about Kyousuke and Selena repatriation advanced for a while. As for Selena, she didn’t show too much joy at the fact that 『I can go home after this』. 『Something like that, it’s not immediately, is it?』she was saying, well, those words might just be understandable.
Eventually, the talk was over, and it was the flow where they all left the room. After going out of the strategy room in turn with Selena, Rin and Akira, only Kyousuke suddenly stopped and looked back at Ryuzaki.
“Hey, Ryuzaki…”
Then, Ryuzaki understood what he was going to say.
“As a result of the team leaders meeting, the rescue of Kogane will not take precedence.”
“Really…”
When he told as cool-headed as possible, Kyousuke returned short words.
There wasn’t a single student who said that it was good that Kogane was taken away at the time. But even during the team leaders meeting, such an atmosphere was seeping out silently. Ryuzaki, while he wanted to say that Kogane was also one of the important friends in his cla.s.s, decided to swallow it after all.
It was good that the one taken was Kogane. That was the truth.
If it was any other student, the problem would have been more serious. It was because Kogane was disliked in the cla.s.s, so there was no reason to actively rescue him. Going to rescue meant to get on to the main circle of enemies with that fighting ability.
It was because the kidnapped one was Kogane that students who said to do such a dangerous thing did not come out.
Kogane once helped Kyousuke at that time. Though as a result, it didn’t make any difference.
He shot a fire magic that didn’t have to be shot at the devil’s back. Ryuzaki was watching it.
I want to believe that it was a sign of reform.
“Ryuzaki, the data left by Kogane, is it likely to be useful?”
“Ah, thanks to that, the work of Kuremori is also going smoothly.”
“Really…”
Saying so, Kyousuke left the strategy room. Ryuzaki narrowed his eyes.
He was worried about Kogane, and he was also worried about Kyousuke. To tell the truth, in Ryuzaki’s mind, it was better if Kyousuke had refused the matter of Selena’s repatriation, that way he would have some peace of mind. Honestly, it was hard to think that the body of Utsurogi Kyousuke was stable.
Akai gave Kyousuke her blood, and that was said to have side effects. Even if he asked how much of a side effect it was, Akai didn’t say any details. But still, as he persistently asked questions, she only left the words 『for better or worse』.
For better or worse, there were side effects.
He wondered if something was going to happen to Kyousuke’s body.