with Nagumo-kun and them who acquired Age of G.o.ds magic right?]

Hajime heard s.h.i.+zuku’s words and turned his gaze over to Aiko. Silent pressure hung over Aiko to explain the situation. while clearing out her throat, ~Kohon~, Aiko began to explain Hajime’s purpose for traveling, and, she began to explain about everything from the events when she was held at the head temple and when the Kingdom was invaded.

After she finished explaining everything, the first person to raise their voice was Kouki.

[What’s with that. Then, are you saying that we’re just dancing on the palm of G.o.d’s hand? Then why didn’t you tell us about it sooner! You could have told us when we met up again at Orcus!]

With a criticising look and voice, however, Hajime only glanced at Kouki as if he was troublesome and didn’t say anything. He was ignored. Towards that att.i.tude, Kouki got up from his seat with a ~gata!~ noise and was filled with hostility towards Hajime.

[How about saying something! If you had told me about it sooner then!]

[Wait a bit, Kouki!]

s.h.i.+zuku’s urge wasn’t heard, Hajime frowned annoyingly at Kouki who had lost his temper, after letting out a grand sigh, he looked towards Kouki as if he was bothersome.

[If I had said it, would you have believed me?]

[What was that?]

[At any rate, you’re a person who loves to believe in your convenient interpretations. Would the large majority of people believe that G.o.d has “gone mad” when told so, I knew it would have been meaningless to tell you about it, far from believing in me, rather, you’d criticize me instead? That kind of scene comes to mind]

[Bu, but, if you had explained it clearly repeatedly then...]

[Are you stupid. Why do I have to go through bone breaking stakes for your guys sakes? Surely you’re not expecting that just because I’m your cla.s.smate, that I’ll naturally lend my power right? ....Saying such foolishness is just like....a second Hiyama?]

Towards Hajime’s glare which was like permanently frozen ground, all of the cla.s.smates averted their eyes.

But, It seemed that Kouki wasn’t convinced and continued to stare severely at Hajime. Kouki didn’t notice that Yue who was next to Hajime was looking at him with fed up eyes declaring, you’ve been saved twice so why are you still behaving like this.

[But, If we’re to fight G.o.d together from now on.....]

[Wait, wait, Hero (Laughs). When did I say I was going to fight G.o.d? Don’t just decide it on your own. Naturally I’ll kill them if they come from the other side but, I have no intentions of going around to search for them? Because I just want to go through all great labyrinths and quickly return home to j.a.pan]

Kouki’s eyes opened up widely when those words were said.

[Na~, surely you don’t mean to say that whatever happens to the people of this world is alright are you!? If we don’t do something about G.o.d, people will continue being his plaything from now and onwards! Are you going to abandon them!]

[I’m not willing to use my powers for the sake of someone who’s face I don’t even know....]

[Why....just why! Aren’t you stronger than us! If you have that much power then you should be able to do anything! If you have power then shouldn’t you use it for the right things!]

Kouki was howling. As always, his words were overflowing with justice. However, such “words” were against the person’s will to begin with, they didn’t reach Hajime. Hajime looked at Kouki as if he was a stone on the roadside.

[....if “you have power” huh. That’s exactly why you’ll always be groveling on the ground. ...I believe that power should be used with clearly defined intentions. You don’t do something because you have power. Because you want something you use power. If you’re saying that just because “you have power” you have to do it regardless of your will then, that’s probably nothing more than a “curse”. that will is too feeble. ....Or rather, I have no intentions of arguing about which path you and I take. Anything more about this will be annoying so I’ll seriously send you flying]

After Hajime said that, his eyes returned to normal as if he had no interest in Kouki and them.

From his att.i.tude, Hajime was serious about himself and the world, Kouki realised that it wasn’t out of a grudge nor hatred, he simply had no interest. After the reason why he lost was said out, he kept quiet while shaking violently. I have a strong will!, he wanted to object, but, for some reason those words wouldn’t come out.

The other cla.s.smates as well, somehow understood that Hajime coming back and teaming up with them again was nothing but a dream, and, they trembled violently when they thought that they might seriously end up like Hiyama if they said things poorly.

After all, even though they were just puppets, their opponent was someone who held no hesitation and turned all the knights including Meld into chunks of meat. As for the stay-behind group, they couldn’t even look Hajime in the eye after he fell into h.e.l.l.

[....As expected, you won’t be staying around? I wanted you to at least stay until the defense system for the Kingdom was repaired....]

The person who requested it was Ririana.

As of now, confusion is still within the Kingdom, although the magic formation which allowed large-scale transfer was removed, they were still in a state where it was unknown when the Majinzoku would be attacking once again so Hajime and them were an existence which they didn’t want to part with. Freed who seemed to be the other parties general only withdrew because Hajime was here. With just Hajime and them being here, they were already a kind of repellent.

[Since things were already established with G.o.d’s Apostle, I want to hurry up ahead. Resurrecting Kaori took 5 days as well. I plan on leaving tomorrow]

Though Ririana’s shoulders dropped, after Hajime and them had left, there was no way of stopping Freed and them so as a princess she needed to hold onto them.

[Is there anything....at least, that pillar of light....that’s also one of Nagumo-san’s artifacts right? Can you allow us to use it for the Kingdom’s protection? ....I’ll do everything I can to reward you for it, so]

[....Ah, “Hyuberion” huh. It’s impossible. That thing broke after the first blow...it was a prototype after all. If I don’t improve it, then]

Hajime’s annihilation weapon “Hyuberion” that erased the huge army of demons and Majinzoku was in short, a sunlight convergence laser. Before going down?[Kamiyama]?he flew up to retrieve it.

“Hyuberion” was an enormous airframe lens which converged sunlight, it can also charge itself while inside of the “Treasure Warehouse” which had heat capacity installed in it. Enormous heat which critically overflowed from the “Treasure Warehouse” would be discharged through the launching entrance where gravity magic was added in to make it discharge towards the ground.

And “Hyuberion’s” biggest feature was the fact that it could still converge the sunlight even while it was night. It’s secret was due to Oscar Orcus’s false sun which lightened up his rooms. That thing’s sunlight was created through Reproduction magic along with s.p.a.ce magic, it was through collaboration with the “liberators” who combined their Age of G.o.ds magic as Hajime couldn’t understand at first.

Even the Hajime as of now is still unable to create a fake sun. Plus “Hyuberion” was still in it’s experimental stage as well, it wasn’t able to withstand it’s own heat and broke down, so it can no longer shoot anymore. To begin with, “Hyuberion” wasn’t the only annihilation weapon that Hajime had created but.....

[Is that....so....]

After hearing Hajime’s words, once again Ririana’s shoulders drops down. There, Kaori, s.h.i.+zuku, and Aiko pierced Hajime with glares. The 3 people already know of Hajime’s stance. Although Hajime did say that he’ll consider people in his surroundings to some extent, fundamentally, the fact that he’s indifferent about this world doesn’t change. Reaching out towards the surroundings was so that sadness wouldn’t indirectly reach Yue and them. That’s why the 3 people didn’t actually say anything. They don’t but their persuasiveness were shown in their eyes.

Although Hajime had been ignoring them while drinking his tea, he let out a murmur because they were so persistent.

[....Before we leave, I’ll at least fix the Great Barrier]

[Nagumo-san! Thank you very much!]

Hajime ignored Ririana’s, *not sure how i’m supposed to use this expression, パァ*Pa~a!, expression which was s.h.i.+ning, and with a, is this alright then? he glanced towards Kaori and them. The three people as well as Ririana returned a joyful smile at Hajime.

Somehow or another it’s become really sweat now, he thought, even Yue and s.h.i.+a besides him were smiling at him, [Ma~a, this isn’t bad I guess], Hajime let out a bitter smile as he shrugged his shoulders.

[And where are you guys planning on heading Nagumo-kun? If you’re aiming for Age of G.o.d’s magic then you’ll be going for the great labyrinths right? If you came from the West then....is it the Sea of Trees?]

[Ahh, that’s our intent. I had plan to go via Fuyuren but, heading partly towards the south is bothersome so I think we’ll just go as is towards the East]

After hearing what Hajime had planned, Ririana’s expression was as if she had thought of something.

[Then, will you be pa.s.sing through the Empire’s territory?]

[It’ll probably happen....]

[If so then, would it be alright if I tagged along as well?]

[N? What for?]

[There are mountains of things to talk about with the Empire about the Kingdom being invaded. The messenger and amba.s.sador have already left for the Empire but, it’s best to talk about it at the earliest possible. With Nagumo-san’s transportation artifact, getting to the Empire would be quick right? That’s why, I was wondering if I could board as well and have a direct talk over there]

Hajime was amazed at Ririana’s bold plan and how she worked her way up towards it, if he thought about it, she was the princess who in order to get help, ran away from the Kingdom and traveled through a caravan. Thinking of it he was strangely convinced that it was natural that she would naturally think up of such an idea.

And, since it wasn’t much trouble to just lower her down as they went along their path, his mind consented that it was alright. However, he didn’t forget to give a warning.

[Dropping you off is fine but, we won’t be entering the Empire? We’ll never accompany you to a meeting with the Emperor?]

[Fufu, don’t say such impudent things. Just dropping me off is more than enough]

Ririana unintentionally let out a wry smile after Hajime’s cautious remark, then Kouki who was silenced by Hajime began to talk again.

[If that’s so then, We’ll also tag along. Riri can’t be left alone with someone who thinks nothing of this world. We’ll be the guards along the way. Besides, if Nagumo doesn’t plan on doing anything then, I’ll save this world! For that purpose, power is needed! The power of Age of G.o.d’s magic! If we tag along with you guys, we’ll be able to obtain Age of G.o.d’s magic right!]

[No, I’ll tell you their locations so don’t come without permission. If you tag along it’ll always be troublesome all the time]

What are you suddenly getting so fired up about, Hajime had an amazed expression. I guess the criticism about not relying on others wasn’t understood. There, Aiko timidly points out Hajime’s words from before.

[But, Nagumo-kun, you said that even if we challenged a great labyrinth now, we’d be killed]

[....No, that was, that other thing. Look, even I who was “incapable” managed to do something about it, so you guys should be fine. You can do it, you can do it. In short you need fighting spirit]

[Isn’t that impossible?]

Hajime irresponsibly turned his eyes away from Aiko who completely remembered his remark.

As for Hajime, the dawn when they surpa.s.sed the limits of the world was something that he didn’t mind allow his cla.s.smates to get a free pa.s.s into. But, helping them obtain Age of G.o.d’s magic from the first step was something he wanted absolutely nothing to do with. There was no other reason but the loss of time.

[Nagumo-kun, could I ask you a favor. Just once is fine. Even with just 1 Age of G.o.ds magic, it’ll make a decisive difference in completing the other great labyrinths. Won’t you let us follow along this once?]

[If you plan on leaching then the magic won’t be obtainable? Its required through actions to be accepted by the labyrinth]

[Of course. Putting aside G.o.d’s case for now, we’re also the same in wanting to return home. We’ll desperately challenge it with determined will. That’s why, I ask of you. Being saved several times and only being able to say our thanks of repaying your kindness to you, but right now, we can’t do anything but rely on you. Please lend us your power once more]

[Suzu’s also asking, Nagumo-kun. I want to become stronger and have a talk with Eri once again. So I ask of you! This favor will definitely be repaid if you take along suzu and us]

Up until now Aiko had listen to their unreasonable words, only s.h.i.+zuku earnestly wanted help to obtain the Age of G.o.ds magic. Her expression was stiff and uneasy as she felt sorry that they had to rely on them while not being able to repay their kindness.

Suzu who had kept silent for a long time was also influenced by s.h.i.+zuku and lowered her head. It appears that she had thought of various things about Eri. Her voice and expression carried desperation. Kouki’s eyebrow jumped up a little in reaction to the spectacle he saw but, in the end he didn’t say anything.

Hajime was hesitating. Normally, taking along Kouki and them to finish?[Harutsuina Sea of Trees]?was troublesome and unthinkable. He wanted to quickly refuse them and tell them to go to whichever they wanted out of?[Orcus Great Labyrinth]?or?[Raisen Great Labyrinth].

However, this time, after his battle with Nointo his judgement was hesitating.

That was because, he thought of how to eliminate Nointo as well as the influential men who were seen manipulated back in the past at the?[Merujine Underwater Ruins]?who will likely be a nuisance, she was a doll who was the embodiment of G.o.d’s will and literally the hands and feet of G.o.d that moved around secretly behind the scenes.

Then, if “G.o.d’s Apostle(Nointo)” was clearly created, sure enough, can we be certain that there’s not more than one. It may be overly optimistic in thinking so.

Nointo had said. Hajime was an Irregular and G.o.d’s wish was to have him die while suffering. If so then, sure enough it’s logical to believe that they’ll send in more existences like Nointo. a.s.suming so, for the sake of that time, it may be a good idea to give Kouki and them some power? Hajime thought.

Although it was quite evil to throw others at the enemies which were after him, [Ma~a, the Hero has his mind set on fighting G.o.d so there shouldn’t be any problems right?], he thought lightly, in the end, he finally decided to accept their company and moved towards?[Harutsuina Sea of Trees]. For the time being, he glanced at Yue and them for confirmation and it didn’t appear that they had any particular objections.

s.h.i.+zuku and them had a smile of relief which leaked out, Hajime was thinking about the 2 remaining great labyrinths that would come in the future.

Regardless of what’s there, the ending of these travels were coming into view. No matter the existence which blocked their path, no matter the situation that they fall in, he’ll beat them by all means and return home. Along with the “Importance” that he obtained in this world.

That oath renewed his desire and included his new bonds which piled up and became even stronger. While feeling the flame of determination growing bigger within his heart, Hajime quietly smiled.