Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou (WN) Chapter 510

Chapter 510

Machine World Arc I-IT’S A PERVERTTTTTT!!

「……H-hey, Hajime. If I remember right, didn’t Endou get summoned when he was in the middle of fighting holy precinct’s monster at Tortus?」

「You’re right.」

Yue asked with a completely speechless expression. Hajime nodded with the expression of a monk whose mind was opened to enlightenment.

What about it? This is the abyss lord y’know? Isn’t this the way he normally operate? Now, empty your head and watch like you’re enjoying a B-cla.s.s movie. Got that?

It even looked like he wanted to say that.

Ah, yes……Yue said as she pulled herself together.

Mother also looked like she was pulling herself together. Or rather, she forcefully rationalized the sight of the otherworlder’s bizarre antic as 「He must be from that kind of world」, no, looked like she was ignoring it.

「What intense reputation damage toward earthling.」

「Dealing mental DOT to teammate too just from existing……just as expected from this Abyssgate-san yeahh-」

Atsus.h.i.+ and n.o.boru who sensitively guessed what Mother was thinking represented the hearts of everyone. They were fiercely in agreement completely and totally. They wanted to firmly objected how truly deplorable this was. The person in question was already dead though.

Mother started telling her fake story to the lord who was still continuing his bizarre posing. s.h.i.+zuku and others were watching that while checking with Liliana.

「The monster that Aby──Endou-kun went to dispatch, it should be one that Lily requested to Kouki to take care wasn’t it?」

「That’s right. After all holy precinct’s monster is powerful.」

「There was the conversation in the recording wasn’t it? Didn’t they mention something about, real King Kon*?」

「I don’t know what is this King Kon* but, perhaps, it’s not that. Because from the report that I received about the monster, it’s something that looked like a giant fly.」

The remnants of holy precinct’s monsters were all equally powerful. But, at the very least even the knight order could possibly subjugate those monsters with a platoon of elite knights or if not with a company of knights.

Subjugation of holy precinct monsters also served as Kouki’s penance so such request was prioritized for him. That Kouki was gone, and in exchange Hajime and co came visiting in a good timing.

「While Hajime-san and others were away to pick up Kouki-san, everyone else were pa.s.sing the time as they pleases but……」

「We didn’t think that things would turn bad after all. We were worried but, just staying still also might turn the mood for the worse, so we followed our plan at first and enjoyed sightseeing the capital and reuniting with friends and acquaintances there.」

「Yes, Aiko-san and everyone else did so. And perhaps as to be expected, Kousuke-san seemed to get left behind while he was away to wash his hands……」

「「「「「Aa……」」」」」

His teacher and friends who were gathering in the cafeteria for a brief time were gone. Apparently then Liliana accidentally found Kousuke who was staring at such sight from behind the door gloomily.

And, she reflexively talked to him because he looked just too pitiful. As the result, the monster talk got brought up and Kousuke accepted the subjugation request.

After being left behind by his friends like usual, he bluffed 「I-I’ve something to do anywayyy」 and went out for subjugation, where he found the destination to be swarmed by monsters that weren’t in the report. In addition a wild real King Kon* appeared!

Like that, Kousuke was forced into abyss lord mode and as the result of the fierce battle, that was the cause he got pulled by Mother. Really, he was a “blessed man” that was like the inverse proportion of his “presence that was just like a drop in the bucket”.

「In a sense, Lily-san is our benefactor then.」

Remia smiled wryly even while looking at Liliana with grat.i.tude in her eyes.

If Liliana didn’t talk to Kousuke, he wouldn’t head out for a subjugation request. In that case he also wouldn’t use a lot of artifacts.

As the result, Mother who was searching for summoning target using “Hajime’s magic power” as the identification factor might possibly summon Myuu or Shuu or Sumire.

「Lily-oneechan, fine play nano! Thank you nano!」

「Ahaha……」

Yue and others were also looking at her with grat.i.tude. Liliana who had no such intention at all put on a faint smile while looking like she didn’t know what to say at all.

Well, putting that aside. What they were most curious about was as expected……

「What kinda monster need raging hawk pose to fight against huh?」

「Ryuu-kun, we promised not to say that right?」

That. The reason why s.h.i.+zuku asked about the monster’s ident.i.ty. Even after hearing the true ident.i.ty of the monster that Kousuke was fighting right before he got summoned, everyone completely couldn’t comprehend why he was making such pose.

The truth of that was, because Kon* (temp) that the abyss lord had deemed as a powerful enemy, was making the pose of beating its chest manlily & double biceps.

Perhaps, Kon*-san performed those poses to show its own determination in its own way. It was like the last introduction before putting an end to the battle.

Then, there was no way the lord could just ignore it even if the opponent was a monster. That was the reason for the raging hawk pose!!

By the way, actually at the meantime his clone circled around to the back, and just when Kon*-san went Now let’s fight! and was about to leap forward, he got hit by a lethal attack from behind.

──WHOOT!?

──FUH, you aren’t going to call it cowardly right?

──Regret……

The gaze they exchanged at the end was filled with such exchange──that was what the abyss lord believed on his own. That was the testimony of the boss and a certain hero after they did their investigation.

Perhaps, it was simply resenting him……the opinion of the boss and a certain hero was unusually in accord at this case.

While Hajime was telling the others that short story, Liliana glanced briefly at s.h.i.+a.

「T-that’s truly the Hauria style isn’t it……」

「I can’t deny that……it’s a tactic that Tou-sama and others will truly like desu……」

s.h.i.+a half-laughed as she averted her gaze.

As expected from the abyss lord who was tentatively decided as the next clan head. His tactic was dirty, truly dirty. If Hauria was here then they would surely applause thunderously. Everyone could easily imagine such scene.

Even while such exchange was going on, Mother’s situation explanation and abyss lord’s lone posing continued. And now it ended.

The explanation was basically the same with Coltran’s match fixing. But, irregularity called Hajime and Kouki got mixed in there, and at this rate mankind would peris.h.!.+ Mother only made the flow of event to be like that.

It was unknown whether the lord was listening to the story or not. Mother’s voice that was filled to the brim with grief felt like there was irritating starting to seep out bit by bit, but in any case.

The lord pushed up his sungla.s.ses coolly.

『I see I see. That must be really troubling, young lady.』

『Can I ask you to stop calling me young lady?』

『Removal of invader is indispensable in order to protect people. I can also understand greatly your feeling to summon this me in order to oppose the emergence of the irregulars.』

『Then you’ll cooperate──』

『Anyone who possess the good sense and heart of justice, yeah, they should answer the call for help! They ought to remove the innumerable difficulties, sweep aside all obstacles, and make efforts together with everything they have!』

『In other words you accept──』

『For you to draw out thiiiiiiiis warrior of darkness who come forth from the abyss, we can only see it as the world itself wis.h.i.+ng for our encounter and joint effort to happennnnnn!! It’s essential for us to join hand together!!』

『……』

「Mother-san, is completely silent nano……」

Myuu unconsciously added “-san” when referring to Mother. Apparently she felt sympathy.

The others could understand her feeling. Even them would reflexively deal violence if they were in her place. Everyone there thought that.

And, after prolonging prolonging prolonging so long until that long, the lord also performed an adroit turn, he also properly pushed up *kui-* his sungla.s.ses again, then like a certain pirate empress who liked to look down on others too much, no, his arching pose already surpa.s.sed that and now he only looked like a shrimp from how much he arched back, the lord declared.

『Buuatt I refuseeeee!!』

Uwaa……such atmosphere spread out.

Because, they could hear. Look, even the children were saying 「Hey, just now, Mother……didn’t she mutter “Yosh, let’s kill this guy”?」「I heard it too. Or rather, it felt like I also heard the sound of something snapping」 so it wasn’t just their imagination.

The past fell dead silent. Mother didn’t say anything to abyss lord who was pointing to a random directing while arching back like a bridge until the ground.

That was perhaps, no absolutely, not her not saying anything but her unable to say anything. After all she had snapped too much that she was about to spew all kinds of curses!

Not yet! I, can still endure! It should be possible still for me to trick this otherworlder and make him my p.a.w.n-.

It felt like such voice of the heart was audible. Everyone unconsciously wanted to cheer for her, Do your best mother!

『C-can I, listen to, your, reason?』

「Holding back holding back. Mother-chi, is super holding back.」

「If she’s a human, she’ll absolutely has vein pulsing on her forehead with her lips twitching uncontrollably.」

Nana and Taeko’s words could be vividly imagined in everyone’s head. Surely Mother would be trembling all over if she was in her humanoid body like in the final battle.

Mother was desperately fighting back herself in order to be calm like that. The abyss lord’s pose returned back to normal with a slimy movement. The children 「Uwaah disgusting-」 let out a heartfelt verbal abuse unconsciously tumbling out from their mouths. Everyone else was completely in agreement.

But, even that completely s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around att.i.tude,

『You, are lying aren’t you?』

That single sentence was as sharp as a blade. It was like a bucket of cold water was splashed on Mother’s atmosphere. That was how sharp the words were.

『On what basis you──』

『Basis or whatever isn’t needed! Because I know, what “sincerity” is, and what “earnestness” mean!』

The experience he had obtained from the people he had gotten involved with until now, was helping his instinct. That instinct was pleading to him.

Mother doesn’t worth your trust, it said.

『I’ll ask you instead.』

A short sword was unsheathed. The tip was pointed straight forward.

『You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, what are you doing to the people of this world?』

Her figure couldn’t be seen, only her voice. Even so, that sword’s tip felt like it was pointed right onto Mother’s throat.

That sharpness, pressure.

It turned Mother speechless in a different sense this time.

「S-so coool」

「Strange……even though I thought he’s a strange guy this whole time」

「Oh no, the gap is amazing isn’t it……」

「This person, was he actually this cool?」

The children’s noisiness didn’t stop. Every single one of them had the expression like, someone who realized that the person who they thought as an amusing comedian until now turned out to be the strongest hitman. It also caused them perplexment.

But, even more than that.

「In the end, this guy is acting the most heroic huh.」

「My my, dear. Are you jealous?」

「Can’t help but feel it as a man.」

Hajime and Remia chuckled together. At the same time their gazes fell toward their waist level.

Their beloved daughter was gritting her teeth 「Kuh, it’s frustrating but the serious mode abyss lord is real hero nano」 even while her eyes were sparkling like the other children.

Regardless of what se said, it could easily be guessed from how she sometimes acted in a way that was similar to the abyss lord. Just like how she looked up to the Onee-chans, the abyss lord was also one of the people who Myuu considered as her goal.

Thought they wished she stopped with copying his action. For Myuu’s own future. After all, that absolutely would become her dark history after ten years pa.s.sed.

Mini Hajime wearing chuuni T-s.h.i.+rt who should have been sealed at the depth of his heart popped out saying 「You call?」 so he got resealed. Then Myuu turned toward him.

「The number one hero is papa though?」

It seemed she heard. Those eyes clearly said it. That she was speaking from her heart and not just consoling him. At the same time, her eyes also conveyed her will of steel that wouldn’t accept any objection or argument, absolutely not!

Hajime papa blinked. Then right after that his finger scratched his cheek and he unconsciously averted his gaze. His eyes met Remia mama who was doing her my my, ufufu routine. It was excessively embarra.s.sing……

He messed up Myuu’s head to dodge the gazes.

「Being hero isn’t in my character, and even if that’s true I’m not the type who’s universally liked by the people you see?」

「Dark hero is just like that nano.」

「O-ou, I see. Then, what about Endou?」

「He’s American comic type hero.」

Yue and others who were nonchalantly listening to the talk also nodded 「I see」 altogether to Myuu’s categorization.

「Myuu-chan, you mustn’t mention that to the people of the security bureau okay?」

「Is that so nano?」

「Aa, that’s right. Yep. Since signing the pact with US behind closed door, the people of security bureau are apparently acting on edge. Magdanese-san is at her wits’ end because of that.」

Apparently s.h.i.+a heard that from Vanessa and Taeko heard it from Director Magdanese. That was to say,

──Abyssgate is Britain’s hero-. We absolutely won’t hand over our Abyyy!!

Like that. Especially the members of the a.s.sault section, it seemed they were las.h.i.+ng out to US agents. At every opportunity, they were apparently saying things like 「Don’t get a misunderstanding just cause Aby is like American comic hero you got that? Aa?」「We ain’t gonna be forgiving y’knowww? Best regards for thattt-」「Oi someone, go check if we can register trademark for Abyssgate!」 to America agents who visited the security bureau.

「H-he’s certainly loved as a hero huh.」

「The people of security bureau, they really like Endou-kun a lot.」

Kaori and Aiko could only smile wryly hearing that.

Inside the past replay, the lord who wasn’t budging even an inch while keeping his gaze fixed to empty air and, Mother who kept her silence. Perhaps it was a kind of face-off.

The one who broke the silence first was, the lord.

『Fuh, can’t answer the question of the abyss is it. But, that is unmistakably the answer that sounds louder than anything. My abyssal eyes see through everything! To try to make use of this abyss that is darker than darkness, ridiculous! If you don’t know the depth of the bottomless abyss than I shall teach you. When peeking into the abyss, the abyss is also peeking back at thee! Yes, this n.o.ble of the abyss the abyss lord──』

『Abyss abyss shut up』

Finally Mother’s words cracked. It could somehow be sensed from her tone. She sounded plainly angry.

From the start Mother looked down on human as inferior creature. Despite having politely interacting with one such creature in a way that stocked his pride although it was only acting, her ulterior motive got easily seen through, and in the end he kept spewing out words that were hard to a.n.a.lyze.

She was at frustration max. During her silence, she was simulating how she could recover and win him over, but she didn’t give a d.a.m.n anymore now……

There was no doubt that she was thinking like that.

The serious and comedy are switching back and forth too fast, you gonna catch cold like that! Hajime and others also thought so.

『Fuh, it seems the two of us cannot understand each other.』

It’s fine, after all n.o.bdy understand you. No, Hauria can I guess?

Hajime and others were making such tsukkomi inside their heart. Meanwhile, the machine soldiers took a step forward, shrinking the encirclement. They were completely in combat mode.

『There isn’t any need for understanding. You just need to obey me.』

『Unfortunately, I have decided the one I have to obey. There is only one person who is my master in the three thousand worlds.』

Yue and co, and also the children looked toward Hajime all at once. Hajime-san awkwardly averted his gaze.

「Papa, you feel shyyy~?」

Myuu was smirking while speaking with a trill. What a blunder to be embarra.s.sed by my daughter and right hand man at the same time! Hajime looked like that while messing up Myuu’s hair once more.

Ryuutarou was poking Hajime’s back while also grinning as expected. He looked back over his shoulder with a glare, but Nana and Taeko, along with Atsus.h.i.+ and others were also grinning at him so he immediately returned his gaze to the front.

『Ah, sorry. As I thought there might be two. I have a fiancée you see, and I can’t go against her, or rather if she’s saying something then I’ll follow completely.』

“The only one” was instantly retracted. Hajime stayed still with an awkward expression.

『I’m not asking.』

Certainly. The children were nodding yep yep. Of course, the lord didn’t stop. He was always going on his own pace.

『Mu, wait? In that sense then there’re others too……in that case, wait for a second! I’ll count the number of people I’m obeying now!』

『That’s why I’m not asking──』

『Muu? Thinking very carefully, I also cannot go against first wife-dono. I also basically can’t go against Grant family……』

『……』

It looked like the abyss lord was relatively an obedient person to many people. He was counting with his fingers but, soon he would run out of fingers on his hands.

Yue and others all looked toward Hajime. Hajime-san’s mood went down heavily. Somehow it felt like he wanted to complain 「Not only it was a waste of embarra.s.sment I also got teased for it」.

And then Mother fell silent once more.

She must have never experienced being ignored and treated lightly to this degree until now. Even though her figure and voice couldn’t be seen, they could feel the chilly killing intent radiating from her.

Enough already. The farce was over. Such atmosphere was conveyed, and right after that.

『──』

The command was given without any word. The mono eyes of the machine soldiers flickered red. Right after that, one machine soldier pulled the trigger mercilessly.

It was laser. The bluish white flash instantly pieced the lord’s leg. The past laser pa.s.sed through beside the children. They screamed even knowing it was just an illusion.

Naturally, scream would rise from the lord too. Or at the very least that was what the children expected. But

『Fuh., that’s afterimage.』

Even though he looked like he was just s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around in a glance, averting your focus from gun barrel was foolish. There was no way the lord would commit such foolishness.

It wasn’t like there was any afterimage produced but, he simply s.h.i.+fted his body aside and dodged right before he got shot.

He didn’t stop there. He slightly bent backward while one hand brushed up his hair, while his other hand pointed at the machine soldier that just fired. He still had the leeway to act like that.

「Uuwa, so annoying-」

It was the children who said that. n.o.body could object at all. Even Hajime and others were irritated.

「Fumu. Although, as expected from one who art recognized wide and far as Goshujin-sama’s right hand man.」

「Yes. Endou-kun, he has been checking this whole time. The cause of why magic power can’t work well here.」

「Eh, he wasn’t simply s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around?」

Mindy looked at Tio and s.h.i.+zuku in surprise. Apparently she was thinking that this person was simply s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around.

「No, it’s amazing how he didst not show it at the slightest but, inside he must be feeling very anxious.」

This too was also something that they heard later on from the person himself.

Well of course. No matter that he was in his abyss lord mode, he had gotten summoned suddenly, and on top of that the summoner was an unfriendly existence who wouldn’t even show herself. In addition his magic power was also getting dispersed.

The truth was he had been feeling discomfort right after the summoning. Apparently his series of posing while listening to the fake story too was actually him trying to emit magic power as background effect so that the other side wouldn’t get wary. Half of it at least.

But, Mother who seemed to have snapped wasn’t aware of that. The otherworlder looked like he was simply making fool of her. She decided that she didn’t need strategy anymore and showed her natural cruelty.

『Calm down, Mother. The degree of your caliber is showing. Come, tell the truth to me here──』

『Be quiet, inferior creature.』

Mechanical sound could be heard. The room’s ceiling and a part of the wall slid, and from there atrocious looking firearms jutted out.

There was nowhere to escape. A complete encirclement. Even any attempt of evasion wasn’t permitted anymore.

『Fuh, so I should cater to you even if only at the outside huh. To fail in suppressing my inner abyss, I too am still immature it seems.』

He brushed up his hair *Fuasaa-*. The lord sported a cynical smile. In respond Mother merely commanded with a robotic voice.

『Resistance is pointless. If you treasure your life, kneel and bow your head. Swear your obedience to me.』

『Fuh, just like I’ve been telling you, young lady.』

Even if just at the outside, even if it would be just acting, his heart didn’t permit him to bend his knees before this radiating malice.

If it was Kousuke of the past a long time ago then he surely wouldn’t mind it. But now……

It flashed at the back of his mind so it couldn’t be helped.

Yes, the faces of the important people who felt proud of him as their hero.

『I shall never lower my head before those who demand my obedience. ──Know your place okay?』

The last sentence came not from the lord but from Kousuke. The wide grin after that signaled the beginning of the battle.

Lasers were fired once more without any word. Perhaps it was just to be expected from AI. The countlessly intersecting light rays formed a beautiful geometric pattern.

Anything like friendly fire was impossible despite the complete encirclement. However, a cage of countless laser that left nowhere to escape was formed within an instant.

The lord didn’t move. Four beams ran toward him in an instant. Those beams that targeted the lord’s limbs mercilessly pierced their target.

The children raised their voice 「Ah」. But, their worry was needless.

『FUH, that’s afterimage.』

This time it was true. The shot lord vanished with a puff. The voice came from a completely different direction.

『Wha-!?』

At the edge of the room, in front of the door was the lord. He was grinning even while he was breathing hard with heaving shoulders. In addition he was using a sword that was emitting super high temperature stabbed into the door’s gap to melt it.

To this even Mother let out a shocked voice without any leeway to fake her composure.

It was like magic. He determined the instant just before he got shot, then he used invisibility while switching place with a clone that could last only for several seconds. Apparently his lack of presence had deceived even the robot eyes.

As expected from the man who couldn’t be detected by automatic door even without using something like invisibility, and even when he was giving his all to show off his presence! And which happened not just once or twice in the past!

『Good grief, this place is like Raisen huh.』

Although he had understood that magic and skill weren’t completely unusable if he brute forced it, as expected he couldn’t help but smile bitterly from how his magic power was flowing out like waterfall.

『But the path is opened.』

『Curse-──capture him!』

Mother reflexively gave an order with a loud voice even though it wasn’t needed. That was just how shaken up she was that it was clear to see.

It was understandable. The lord’s movement, the melting of the metal door, and also the lord’s completely undetectable presence until he himself talked to her, they were all completely unexpected.

It wasn’t a matter of a.n.a.lysis. She couldn’t even detect the target to be a.n.a.lyzed.

『Then excuse me, young lady.』

『Stop!!』

Of course he didn’t stop. The lord dived head first into the hole on the door that could only barely pa.s.sed by one person if they leaped into it.

『Otherworlder……how much all of you want to pile irreverence unto me before you’re satisfied-』

Mother wasn’t even hiding her irritation anymore. With her order the machine soldiers also hurriedly started moving. The children were watching that while letting out 「Ooo~~」 voices of admiration.

「No wait, we could predict the flow of event so we paid attention but still……when he moved, was his figure not projected even though this is a past replay?」

「Nooo, that feat of Endou-chi doesn’t erase his presence itself right? I think we just missed him though……」

「Tio-sa~an! Can you rewind it a bit to check?」

「That art no problem, Taeko. Actually I too was unable to follow him. It’s a bit frustrating.」

Wai wai, murmur murmur, Atsus.h.i.+ and others also got high tensioned and exchanged impression with each other.

On the other hand,

「Hm~……in the end, Endou-san didn’t negotiate even once didn’t he? ……Asking to be returned back to his former world」

Liliana said so while tilting her head in confusion. Hajime shrugged.

「Because it looks like he had seen through Mother’s true nature to some degree there. He must have judged that as pointless.」

「I see. Certainly that’s so.」

「Other than that, let’s see desuu. In the end, it’s because Abyssgate is a hundred percent a hero?」

「Aa, something like that……certainly a part of it was because he didn’t want to bow his head but, perhaps he wanted to ascertain the truth of this world with his own eyes, I think?」

「Infiltration and investigation are Endou-kun’s specialty after all.」

Hiding until Hajime came to pick him up. That was certainly the optimal solution. Because finding Endou Kousuke who was seriously hiding, something like that was like a hardcore game with unknown difficulty unless they had age of G.o.d magic or the compa.s.s.

But, that pressure when he pointed his sword toward Mother……

Considering that, it was unthinkable that he would simply hide until rescue came. In reality they didn’t know what kind of judgment he would make, but the conjecture that he would surely look for the truth in order to make that judgment was surely not off the mark.

Though he wouldn’t be as cool-headed as Hajime in coming to a clean decision, or as eager and self-suffering as Kouki in saving people.

Even so, the man who was “nonchalantly in the cla.s.s of mankind’s strongest” and stood side by side with the demon G.o.d and the hero, was most likely most honest to his own heart, so

「Myu! He would search for something that he can do nano!」

He would surely do that.

Before anyone realized the children had looked back and listened to the conversation of Hajime and co. Their expressions were telling what they were thinking.

I see. So that person is also an amazing hero huh, they thought.

Sorry for forgetting you every time we talked with each other about the past, they thought.

We don’t even remember your face, or rather we even feel like we didn’t catch sight of your face even during that whole time but, anyway, after noticing that our memory was inconsistent and pondered 「Eh? Wasn’t there one more person at that time?」 a lot, only then we finally remembered 「Felt like there was, wasn’t it? One more person at that time」. We’re really sorry for that, they thought.

「We won’t ever forget it again, including that person too.」

「Yeah, to be able to see the past like this, what awesome experience. There’s no way we’ll ever forge……eh? S-sorry! That person, what kind of face he has again!?」

「Haa? Didn’t you see? That person’s face……eeh?」

「You guys are a bit rude! Calling him that person that person, use his name proper──」

The eldest girl looked around at his older and younger brothers and sisters with an aghast look. Everyone knew what she wanted to say.

Not a single one of them was uttering the name of that aforementioned person. E~~veryone was confused.

Mindy huffed angrily.

「Geez, everyone is so impolite! Hajime-san and everyone else has been saying it many times this whole time! He is En Dou-san!」

So close-! But that’s incorrect-!!

「What in the world is this. Endou-kun, I can’t believe that he’s losing presence that even his name said by other people can’t be remembered!」

Ai-chan-sensei who often forgot to call his name during attendance check was astounded.

「Endou-, you’re really, just how-」

「Your lack of presence, is powering up?」

「Don’t tell me, the harmful effect of him reaching edginess depth VI is infecting other world……?」

Ryuutarou was normally lamenting 「I can’t bear to listen anymore!」, but Atsus.h.i.+ and n.o.boru were completely getting carried away.

「Rather than that, Goshujin-sama, what now?」

Tio momentarily paused the past replay and asked.

As expected, there was no way they could follow the escape drama too for the past replay. Although Jasper and the others were acting as bait in a sense, there were still a lot of staffs in this place.

「If mine memory art correct, he shouldered the role of destroying the summoning device didn’t he? We watched the video recording from Etemp’s point of view but, shouldst I project it too seeing that we art already here?」

「Yeah, I guess. Etemp’s POV was a lot shaky after all.」

Hajime nodded, then Tio also nodded back in acknowledgment.

This time she didn’t perform the search of the time axis inside her head. She actually fast-forwarded the projection. The room after the lord escaped was quiet and there wasn’t much change happening. But, Tio’s choice of actually fast-forwarding the past replay bore fruit. A certain scene came into view before they actually reached the destination time axis.

「Oh? He got brought here for a bit after he got caught?」

Astonis.h.i.+ngly the lord returned with starfish shaped machine soldiers──the sky machine soldiers surrounding him.

『……What manner of creature are you? Are you really human……is other world overflowing with something like this?』

It wasn’t. This being was one and only. Don’t group us with him, everyone thought.

『Fuh, to be able to corner this me, not bad. Looks like my plan was a bit naïve.』

Even though he was practically giftwrapped by liquid metal, the lord was still cracking jokes. There didn’t seem to be any conspicuous wound on him.

「He already got a bomb planted inside his stomach at this time huh.」

「My my, what astonis.h.i.+ng courage.」

「He intentionally got captured after judging that any further than this will only worsen his situation bit by bit didn’t he?」

Hajime nodded at Aiko’s question. The worried faces of the children entered his eyes.

『Physical ability unbecoming of human, and also unusual weapon of other world, but the most incomprehensible factor here is “the very difficult to detect” ability. I cannot overlook that no matter what. Now, spit it out! What is the source of that power!!』

『If you don’t mind me spitting it out together with the bomb than, with pleasure! Young ladyyyyyyyyyearrrrrrgh!!』

A very filthy 「Yeargh」 came out. The lord who tried to crack jokes was punished by making the liquid metal inside his stomach moved violently.

The lord arched backward before he also got slammed on the ground. Although he was released from his giftwrapped state, the merciless violence made the children screamed.

『You don’t have any right to refuse. However, yes, very well. Feel free to choose silence as much as you like. You will beg for death soo──』

『I don’t have any presence from birth. I don’t know the cause of that. If I actually know, then surely my family wouldn’t leave me behind when leaving for vacation……』

Kousuke-kun showed up for a bit.

Mother fell silent instead because of how easily he confessed just when she was about to cruelly and s.a.d.i.s.tically threaten him.

「Myuu thinks, she might be thinking “T-this guyyy” at that moment nano.」

I get you, everyone nodded in sympathy.

『……Do you think I will believe that kind of nonsense?』

Mother said that while a small voice slipped out. 『The parameters of his heartbeat, perspiration, and everything else are normal? He isn’t lying?』 The voice sounded bewildered.

『Whether you believe me or not, it depends on youuuuuu gack gack gack!?』

The lord immediately cracked jokes when the opponent let her guard down. Mother decided that she wouldn’t take him seriously anymore. Though it was a different matter whether she actually could or couldn’t.

『I shall have you subjugate the target using that power. After that I will strip bare that otherworldly power. If you cooperate, then perhaps I will take a consideration about returning you to your original world you know?』

Mother regained her calm and spoke mockingly.

The lord who listened to that,

『What? You said, you’ll strip me bare? Fumu, that is certainly only natural! Now, examine me to your heart’s content! Of this abyssal flesh of mine!!』

For some reason, he suddenly started stripping.

The children, especially the girls let out their scream 「Kyaaaaah」!

『Don’t strip.』

Mother gave a direct order.

『But I refuse!!』

A direct defiance from the lord. The stripping continued!!

『You will immediately enter battle! What are you doing taking off your equipment!!』

Logical. Perhaps, that was why he was trying to buy time by stripping──

『I’ve surrendered! In that case I’m taking it off! How can I call it a surrender without strippingg!!』

『Other world is really troublesome isn’t it!!』

You’re wrong Mother. It’s just him who’s annoying……the abyss lord is simply simply, troublesome……the only correct answer is ignoring him……

The hearts of Hajime and others were as one when they thought that.

And then one more thing.

『I’m telling you this is an order!』

『Nuguuuuu, eccentric stomachacheeeee!! But I shan’t lose! Witness this, the abyssal flesh body of mineeeeeee!!』

The liquid metal inside the stomach jutted out as though it was trying to tear open the stomach, but the abyss lord didn’t submit.

He accomplished it just as expected. He would do what he decided till the end.

*Swoosh* The upper clothes was flung off. The trouser was half-stripped. The two arms were splayed out like a stage actor. His body faced up to the sky dramatically.

Perhaps it was just their imagination, but it looked like there was sparkling background effect coming out from him. Though perhaps, it was just his sweat scattering from his body and reflecting light.

Yue swiftly acted considerately to the girls of Jasper family. Mozaic was applied from the abyss lord’s chest until the area around his crotch! Like when female wrapped bath towel around their body in the bathroom! But in mosaic! It made the picture felt even more awful!

Yes, this scene was unmistakably──

「It, it’s a pervertttttttttt!!!」

The shriek came from the entrance. There Listy-chan was breathing hard with heaving shoulders.

She was pointing with trembling finger and eyes opened wide as though she had seen something that was hard to believe.

It seemed that she had managed to get away early and came here.

Even though she returned here with her heart filled only by the thought of wanting to be together with Hajime and others, the first thing that leaped into her eyes was “the abyss lord (mosaic version) smiling in satisfaction from stripping”.

We understand your feeling! We feel completely the same with you! Such gazes were sent to her from Yue and others.

The boys of Jasper family were heavily shaken up 「As expected he might not be amazing……」「He, ro?」, and the girls including Mindy were reddening while averting their gazes far away.

It was chaos. It was truly a chaoticness that was brought about by abyss.

But, well, putting that aside.

*Click* & *Click*.

「N-Nagumo? Myuu-chan? What’re you two doing?」

Ryuutarou asked the question with twitching face. The father-daughter who took picture with synchronized movement answered together.

「Nothing much? I’m not thinking anything like this might be useful when asking him to do something he might refuse, not at all.」

「Nothing much, nano. Myuu isn’t thinking of sending this to Hina-chan or something nano.」

「Y-you two, like father like daughter huh!」

You guys are always like that huh! Just what do you think Endou is! Ryuutarou’s tsukkomi echoed.

The lord who made a pose that showed off his half-naked & mosaic physical beauty, and the bewildered voice 「This guy-, even though I should be giving him intense pain that can possibly drive ordinary human crazy!!」 of Mother, and the machine soldiers that were picking up the discarded clothes and being hard pressed to put on the clothes on the lord who kept moving.

It was an outrageous Serious Break. Even though it should be an absolutely despairing situation, why was it looking comical like this instead?

Finally Nana and others started bursting into laughter. Seeing Mother who was thought to be equal to G.o.d being continuously toyed with like this, the children also gradually started smiling……

「……s.h.i.+a, is this kind of next chief alright?」

「It’s, not alright desu. Feels like there’s nothing but problem.」

Although, this was the hero called Abyssgate. Yue and s.h.i.+a and the others too were smiling wryly as they watched.

「Myuu, I’ll adjust a gate to directly send the photo now. Send it right away.」

「Order acknowledged nano! As expected the stimulation will be too strong without mosaic so this is just right! Hina-chan hesitate even with just holding hand so, she’ll surely be happy nano!」

Everyone purposefully ignored the relatively horrible father-daughter.

Also, when these photos were sent, Hinata-chan was coincidentally being together with Kousuke but……

For the first time, Hinata-chan hid something from Kousuke.

While desperately forming words to deceive Kousuke who was looking really worried for her who suddenly turned bright red and starting to act fl.u.s.tered.

AN: Thank you very much for reading this every time.

Thank you very much too for the thoughts, opinions, and reports about misspelling and omitted words.

About the next update, I’m sorry but please allow me to take a break next week.

Things that I have to do no matter what has piled a little bit high (sweat)

And so the schedule of the next chapter is 12 October. That’s right before anime third season. Best regards for that one too!

Also, apparently there’ll be special program before broadcast at 7 October. The voice actors will talk about various things there. Arifureta also showed at Anime Expo 2024 Los Angeles, so perhaps talk about that will also come up? Please take a look no matter what!

※Material introduction

– WHOOT!?

From Vegeta-san of Dragon Ball. In fact it was mishearing of 「Whaat!?」

– You aren’t going to call it cowardly right?

From As.h.i.+na Genichiro of Sekiro. Gen-chan……even so s.h.i.+rakome like Gen-chan yeah.

– You shy~?

From Happy of Fairy Tail.

– But I refuse

From Kis.h.i.+be Rohan of Jojo.

– You guys are always like that! Just what do you think Endou is!

From the line 「Men are always like that! Just what do you think we are!?」 said by the heroine of [I’m the only one not attacked in a world overflowing with zombie] .

Btw, the movement of the machine soldiers going this way and that way trying to put clothes on the lord, imagine the [Candy Taking Game] of Nakayama Kinni-kun. I like that very much.