CH 31

Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter

(Akira POV)

“Ngh…?”

“A-Akira onee-sama.”

“You’re awake.”

When I first open my eyes, a ceiling I have seen someplace dominates my vision, and my ears pick up the words of Toki-san and Sora-san.

I can recognize the same sight through a window when I turn to look in the direction of the two voices, indicating that I am in the Japoterasu Divine Sanatorium room where I was previously hospitalized.

“What time is it now?”

“Time? Then it’s been a whole day since the end of the examination.”

“Everyone was concerned when Akira onee-sama fell asleep just as the ‘Maze’ was disappearing.”

“Everyone… huh.”

Between their words, I am reminded that I passed out shortly after defeating the “Maze” master, and I speculate that I was sent to the Divine Sanatorium because it was determined that I had suffered damage in the combat with the matter due to my unconsciousness.

Nevertheless, she said that everyone has been worried about me but… I still remember what their eyes that were directed at me back then contained. Isn’t it a relief, in fact, to know that a monster like me has collapsed for them?

Well, forget it, I have more crucial matters to ask.

“Do you know if we passed or failed the entrance exam?”

“All candidates who were there when the “Maze” collapsed and who suffered no lasting injuries will be deemed successful.”

“I see. Do those criteria also apply to the three of us?”

“Right.”

It seems that I have succeeded in passing the test to join the eradication squad.

I suppose it’s a relief if that’s the case.

So, the fact that the deaths are not so drastic, but the aftereffects that make it impossible to fight are… likely Rizou Makoto and the others. The body of Akatara Jiro was in a fairly dire state… so the impact of witnessing that in front of their eyes must have been quite a blow.

“And speaking of which, what happened to Kakitori Kio?”

“Wow, Akira onee-sama, you’re already starting to rise up.”

“I’m fine, so tell me about it.”

“Well…”

I raise my body and ask them about Kakitori Kio, the person who was responsible for killing Akakara Jiro.

Kakitori Kio, who apparently had blue crystals growing out of his forehead and went on the rampage, wasn’t someone I ultimately encountered in the “Maze.” I would like to make sure about the confirmation of his status.

“Regarding Kakitori Kio, he is missing. However, it was established that there was no question that he had turned into a monster based on the remarks of Rizou Makoto and the corpse of Akakara Jiro that we discovered.”

“The worst-case scenario would be that Kakitori Kio appeared and went on a rampage at the same time as the ‘Maze’ collapsed.”

“I see…”

Apparently, Kakitori Kio has ended up missing after all.

On further questioning, it is claimed that no group has ever encountered Kakitori Kio personally and that only Akakara Jiro’s corpse has been found to be the work of Kakitori Kio.

Therefore, there is no doubt that Kakitori Kio transformed into a monster; yet, it is believed that he vanished mysteriously into a space other than the world we are in now.

Another space… yeah, I guess that would be a special space like Takamagahara.

“Anything else you want to ask?”

“Not particularly… Ah yes, please share all of your information with me on my discharge date and what happens next.”

“Um, as far as I’m aware, the discharge will take place following the completion of the tests, if there are no irregularities. As for what happens next…”

The group that was employed for the entrance exam will be reformed in accordance with each member’s skills and equipment, and they will be allocated to their respective missions, as in past years.

“Right. That’s what Instructor Suzunari said.”

“Hmm.”

If it is the same as usual…

Since you go to such lengths to say that, the converse would imply that this year is exceptional.

The reason must be… me. The master of the “Maze” was too formidable to be handled by the candidate level; instead, a specialist squad should have been assembled to take on this foe.

It was forcibly defeated by me with the power of Ys.

“In any event, I advise you to get plenty of rest today since I think the tests will be over after tomorrow.”

“Well then, Akira onee-sama. For the rest of the day, Toki nee-chan and I are returning home.”

“I get it. Be careful on your way home, both of you.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

The two then get up from their seats with a slightly fake smile on their faces and leave the hospital room with the words, “In the meantime, I’ll let the nurses know that Akira onee-sama is awake.”

Both of them remained silent, but this is likely the first time they had seen an actual monster and a human corpse up close.

So, even if they are okay now, the repercussions may manifest themselves in the near future. When that happens… well, the only course of action is to ask them to retreat.

People who can’t face it in any way shouldn’t operate in the eradication squad in my view.

“So, Ys, are you awake?”

[Just a few minutes ago.]

I call out to Ys. Then Ys emerges from around my chest.

Even though I am intrigued as to where you think you’re coming from when you reveal yourself, I suppose it doesn’t matter since Ys is a girl and she does it frequently.

Besides, I have a question.

“Is it possible to intensify the level of the contract with Ys? If it is possible to do so, it would have been possible to directly turn the master of the ‘Maze’ into ice from a distance, so I would like to know.”

[That’s conceivable. The contract between me and Akira is, even at this stage, rather overwhelming. The proper rituals and conditions must be in place if you want to increase the depth of the contract while minimizing danger. At present time, that is impossible.]

“I understand. If that’s the case, let me know more about it when I get out of the hospital and return to the dormitory.”

[I will.]

The moment Dr. Sakurai, who was in charge of me the previous time, and a nurse with a sense of urgency about my chastity enter the hospital room, the dialogue between Ys and I is abruptly terminated, and I feel more worn out from this reaction than from my struggle with the master of the “Maze”.

So why are you trying to squeeze my breasts!?

■■■■■

(Third person POV)

At the same time, a room in Takamagahara.

“Oh hello! Photon-chan. I’ve been summoned, so I’ve come to visit you.”

“Hey there! Fermio-chan, welcome!”

There, a woman with orange hair, red and blue eyes, and a peculiar outfit wearing a white robe over a Chinese dress makes her entrance. Amaterasu, the supreme deity of Takamagahara, is dressed in a T-shirt and jeans for ease of movement, with tea sweets, green tea, and a teapot on top.

“And, since we’re not offline today, I prefer to be called by my real name. Ebrilla-chan.”

“Oh, that reminds me. Did you say something about your brother wanting to meet me?”

“Yes, that’s right. He says he has something he wants to ask you.”

“It seems somewhat dangerous when a married man asks to meet his sister’s acquaintance in the sense of a love triangle.”

“I know, right?”

The two… are the two Gods, the “Sun God” Amaterasu and the “God Devourer” Ebrilla=Eclipse, and they are still sipping their tea while engaging in a delicate and perilous dialogue.

However, they must have been preoccupied with the conversation.

The person in question may have been out of sight, but at any rate, neither of the two notice him open the sliding door or enter the room.

“But it’s all right. Susanoo-chan is a heta… reufu!?”

“Amaterasu-chan! Oof!?”

Then, when the subject of the chat comes up… Susanoo rushes up to the two individuals who have been talking disparagingly about him right away and decides to deliver a devastating uppercut, precisely like a fighter in a certain fighting game.

“Well… I have a lot of questions I wanted to ask you, but first…”

As they attempt to flee the scene, Susanoo glares at them and declares, “I’m going to give you a sermon, you goddesses!”

“Nyaaaaaa…!?”

“Hiiii…!?”

For some time after that, the room at Takamagahara is said to have been filled with incessant moaning and groaning.

——————

T/N:

The “God Devourer” made her appearance in the second series. She is from the “Tower” and is the second most powerful after Licorice. Oh, Licorice is from the “Tower” as well, I think I have forgotten to mention this. Everyone in the “Tower” serves Licorice as she is their “Mother” including Izumi in one way or another. By the way, Izumi (she belonged to “Tower” too)  is already a God (revealed in the third series). Her status went from human ➜ kin of Kurokiri ➜ Demon King ➜ God. Also, there might be some confusion why the Gods of this world are communicating with the allies of their enemies (Actually, I don’t really understand well myself since I haven’t done much research on the past series.) And not everyone in the “Tower” is exactly “loyal” to Licorice (not really betray but I don’t really know how to explain)