Chapter 356 "The Wish of a Friend, The Awakening of the Hero"

Her Majesty Laguna, the Strongest in the Human Realm, appeared on the battlefield. Even though she said that she was going to be “rough”, she spoke to Neun-san in a voice that was extremely gentle.

[…..Hey, Hikari. That’s also the case for me but…… You’ve gotten older too, haven’t you? Not in appearance, but in mind……]

[What do you mean?]

[No, I’m just saying that “it doesn’t feel like you” anymore.]

[Not like me? What do you mean by that……]

In a somewhat warm voice, just like a mother talking to her child, her Majesty Laguna began to admonish Neun-san.

Her Majesty Laguna’s words had probably reached Neun-san’s ears because she had traveled with her before and shared her hardships.

That’s why Neun-san was listening to Her Majesty Laguna’s seriously, though her agitation didn’t seem to have disappeared yet.

I didn’t know if they intend to do so or not, but Sechs-san and the others didn’t interrupt their conversation.

[……The words that the youth just said…… I’ve heard the same words before. Have you forgotten about it?]

[Eh? ……Ahh.]

[Yes, after defeating the Demon Lord…… Despite our efforts to stop her, saying “The gulf between worlds is great, let’s just wait for time to solve it.”, there was only one person who tried to change the world.]

[………………….]

[“The more time that passes, the harder it will be to change. If I don’t move now…… I’m sure that someday will never come. So, I will persist.”…… I even admired her as she walked away. Looking at her as she walked away, I thought I saw hope for the future…… Yes, I’m talking about you, Hikari.]

After saying all that, her Majesty Laguna tightly clasped her hands together and after a brief moment of silence, she looked at Neun with strong eyes.

[……How long…… are you going to beat around the bush? That’s not your style of doing things…… Get your mind straight!]

[……Laguna.]

[No matter how many great people are born in the world, no matter how much the times changed…… For me, there will only be one “Hero”! That’s why, open your eyes, Kujou Hikari!]

[……………..]

Hearing Her Majesty Laguna’s shout, imbued with her wish, Neun-san slowly closed her eyes.

Neun-san closed her eyes in silence for a few seconds, before she slowly opened her eyes and turned her face towards me instead of Laguna-san.

[……Please don’t be deceived! Kaito-san!]

[Eh? D- Deceived? By what?]

[Sechs-san’s wards are indeed powerful. However…… There’s no way that it could stop you who received “Shallow Vernal-sama’s blessing”!]

[Neun-dono!?]

[The fact that Sechs-sama appeared in this place itself is just to mislead you…… The truth is that from the start, if you were to just breakthrough in a single direction and reach the walls, you would be able to destroy this ward!]

……I see. Now that she said it, it certainly made sense.

If this ward could only be broken if Sechs-san is defeated, then it should be much more advantageous for Sech-san to hide and just let the others handle everything. However, Sechs-san appeared in front of Shea-san and I, despite the risk of being defeated.

It’s just as Neun-san said, him showing himself is just to mislead us and make us think that we can’t break through without defeating him…… What Sechs-san was really vigilant about was me aiming straight out of the ward.

As proof of this, Sechs-san sounded unusually flustered at Neun-san’s statement.

I didn’t need to ask why she told me that. Right after her statement, Neun-san rushed to our side and turned around.

Then, as she dispersed the jet-black armor that protected her body, she muttered in a voice filled with strong determination.

[……Thank you, Kaito-san, Laguna…… Thanks to you, I’m finally awake.]

[……Neun-san.]

As the black fog enveloping Neun-san’s body disappeared, she changed into a hakama and kimono…… making her truly look like a woman from the Taisho era.

She then grabbed her long, beautiful black hair, tucking it behind her neck, and without any hesitation, she cut her hair with the Japanese katana in her hand.

[Fufufu, now that really looks nostalgic…… Here.]

[Thank you.]

Seeing Neun-san cut her hair short, Her Majesty Laguna laughed and held out a long, white cloth to her.

Receiving that cloth…… Neun-san wrapped it around her forehead like a headband.

[……Kaito-san, I apologize for my past rudeness. And please, take me with you. I have to confront Vier once again. I want to save her too!]

[Yes. Rather, I should be the one asking you to come with me instead.]

She wants to save Dr. Vier. That was definitely Neun-san’s underlying wish, something that had been burning her heart for a very long time.

Thanks to Her Majesty Laguna, the doubts within Neun-san’s mind were cleared up and she became my ally.

So, all that’s left is to confront Dr. Vier…… or so I’d like to say……

[Umu. I see…… Neun-dono took that side huh. No, I guess it can’t be helped.]

[……Sechs-sama, I’m sorry. However, are you still going to continue?]

[Yes, well…… Let’s see, since things have already become like this…… I might as well struggle a bit more.]

Yes, it seems that Sechs-san still intended to continue to fight, as he quickly walked in front of the 5 Earl-level High-ranking Demons.

He was standing in the rear a while ago, but apparently, he would now try to actively stop us from breaking through in a single direction…… From here on, it looked like Sechs-san would be directly involved in the fight.

With the addition of Neun-san and Her Majesty Laguna, we have an overwhelming advantage. However, he didn’t lose his spirit. Sechs-san’s fighting spirit hadn’t waned at all.

[……Neun-san, here, Fruit Juice of the World Tree……]

[Ahh, it’s fine. Thank you.]

[Eh? But Neun-san, you’re riddled with injuries……]

I took out the same drink that I had given to Lilia-san to help Neun-san recover from her exhaustion from fighting, but Neun-san shook her head and said it was unnecessary.

[……Yes, I certainly am tired. I certainly may have received various injuries…… and my whole body might be riddled with wounds. However…… My mind is now filled with energy! Yes, just like back then……]

[E- Errr…… Wha!?]

As I was feeling puzzled by her statement filled with willpower, Neun-san’s body overflowed with magic power that was several times more than before.

W- What is this!? Somehow, Neun-san…… Rather than being weaker because of her injuries, isn’t she stronger instead!?

[……Hikari has always been some kind of monster of persistence and in fact, she gets stronger when she’s outnumbered instead. There’s no point in worrying about her.]

[That’s a mean way of explaining it…… It’s just that I’m a person who’s “bad at giving up”.]

[What the heck is this monster “who is making her magic power spring up through willpower” saying……]

A- Anyway, it seemed like Neun-san was alright.

Lilia-san and the others quickly stood beside us and glared at Sechs-san’s army.

Our goal was to break through in a single direction…… This would be a clash without any tricks. While I spontaneously imbued strength within my body…… Sechs-san suddenly started looking around.

[……How surprising…… I never expected for her to appear right at this moment? Good gracious…… You really are frightening.]

Not hiding how shaken he is, Sechs-san looked at me in utter astonishment…… Soon after, I could understand why.

As my Sympathy Magic announced their approach, three silhouettes appeared in front of me.

[I’m sorry I’m late! Master!]

[Anima! Eta! Theta!]

It’s not just the three of them, as two more silhouettes came to Lilia-san’s side……

[Please forgive me if I’m a little late, My Lady. Even if I arrived late, I still rushed here as soon as I could……]

[Luna, Sieg…… No, I have no complaints. Thank you for coming.]

Anima, Eta, Theta, Lunamaria-san, and Sieg-san…… With the addition of these 5 reassuring reinforcements who had rushed from the mansion, our preparations for battle were complete.

Shea-san then stepped forward in front of everyone and vigorously announced.

[……I’ll restrain all the Earl-levels! Everyone else, open the path and let Kaito-san reach the ward’s wall! Let’s go!!!]

With those words as a signal, the final battle between us and Sechs-san’s group began.

[……The timing was just perfect. I guess the rest would be up to Kaito-san and Hikari-san huh…… Well, I guess there’s no need for me to move any further. I’ll just relax and watch all that’s going to happen.]

? ? ? : Whoa there, a mysterious person makes her entrance. Well, well~~ It seems like a mysterious person supports Kaito-san from the shadows. I can’t imagine who this person could be, but I’m sure she’s a super cute, pretty, filled with love and popular main heroine-level of a character. I couldn’t be mistaken about that!