sigh while covering one of her eyes. Finally, the nuisance was gone.

.. Was what he thought, but this time Hiyama’s gang made a commotion. As for the reason, the hole left by Kaori was just too great. There was also the previous incident with the demon race woman, and they’d likely to die in the future if Kaori left them. That’s why they repeatedly tried to persuade Kaori to remain with them. Especially Hiyama, he intensely objected. His appearance.. was in a panic, as though the thing he desired for so long which was about to come into his possession was disappearing.

Hiyama’s gang of four realized it was difficult to persuade or change Kaori’s decision, and this time they began to persuade Hajime to remain with them.?We apologize about the past, so let’s get along from now on, such and so forth was said unabashedly.

They didn’t actually mean what they said, but they made friendly smiles as they snuck peeks at Hajime’s mood, but not only Hajime, but s.h.i.+zuku and the others were also disgusted by them. Within that situation, Hajime, for the first time looked at Hiyama’s eyes from a close distance since their reunion. Inside those eyes, maybe due to the effect of Kaori leaving, Hajime could see madness.

s.h.i.+zuku and the others admonished Hiyama’s gang and once again it turned into a commotion, but because there was such an opportunity, Hajime decided to talk to Hiyama to confirm the truth about that day and to resolve the current situation.

“Naa, Hiyama. Has your fire magic skill increased?”

“..Eh?”

The sudden question made Hiyama dumbfounded. However, his complexion gradually turned pale as he noticed the meaning behind it.

“Wh-What are you saying. I am the vanguard.. and my element with the highest apt.i.tude is Wind.”

“Hee, I thought you were surely had a fire element.”

“A-Aren’t you mistaken? Just what are you trying to say all of a sudden..”

“Then, you must have liked fire element magic. Especially something like fireball. I wonder if you would unintentionally use it?”

“..”

Now, the color of Hiyama’s face had changed from blue to white. Seeing that reaction, Hajime was convinced. Next, Hajime guessed his motive from his panicked att.i.tude from Kaori separating from them. Well,as for why Hajime hadn’t attacked Hiyama up till now was because he was sneaking looks at Kaori.

Hajime himself, currently, had not even a shred of feeling burning with revenge. Though he’d be merciless if one was hostile to him, he planned to leave Hiyama as he was. If he retaliated here, it would be troublesome as there was no value in being burdened by a dispute against Kouki’s party just because of Hiyama. For Hajime, the existences of Hiyama and his gang were truly worthless just like the pebbles by the roadside.

Hajime moved away from the silent Hiyama and mercilessly informed Hiyama’s gang, with Kondou and the others included.

“There’s no need for you to apologize as I don’t mind the past. For me, you guys are worthless. Thus I don’t want to know what you are going to say. If you understand, scram now! You’re so irritating!”

Although Kondou and the others were angered by Hajime’s words, “Hiyamaaa. You should understand, right?,” Hajime said so with full smile, and then Hiyama’s body shook and he silently nodded, followed by him telling Kondou and the others to stop. Hiyama once again came to know that Hajime had noticed something about him, including what Hajime didn’t express, and he matched him.

Kondou and the others were dubious due at the sudden change in Hiyama’s att.i.tude, but Hiyama’s abnormal att.i.tude, as if he was killing his emotions, made them reluctantly give up on persuading Hajime.

Finally, truly finally, the nuisances who disturbed the departure of Hajime’s party had gone. Kaori went back to the inn to get her luggage (Hajime used his “Pressure” to stop Hiyama’s gang from following her). Leering at Ryuutarou and the others trying to dig Kouki up, Hajime now was talking with s.h.i.+zuku.

“What can I say.. I am sorry for everything. Also, let me thank you again. Thank you, for saving us, for surviving, and for coming here to meet with Kaori..”

s.h.i.+zuku, who apologized about the trouble and thanked him for rescuing them and returning to Kaori, made Hajime laugh, inadvertently. s.h.i.+zuku showed a dubious expression due to Hajime sudden burst of laughter. Her gaze was asking, “What is it?”

“No, sorry. What can I say, I thought you are worldly-wise as usual, so I inadvertently laughed. Even while we were in j.a.pan, you were the one who quietly did the apologizing and thanking. It’s still the same, even in this different world.. but keep it in moderation or your wrinkle will increase, you know?”

“.. You’ve been a big help. Also, you have considerably changed. To have that many girls to wait upon you, along with a daughter.. I couldn’t imagine this from you while we were still in j.a.pan..”

“I only love one person though..”

“.. I don’t have the obligation to say anything and I also understand that it is not my place to say it.. but at least I want you to take care of Kaori. I implore you.”

“..”

Hajime didn’t answer. More than that he didn’t want to answer Kaori’s feelings, honestly, he never thought of letting her come along. But in the end, he let Yue have her way.. but he wondered why the woman he fell for permitted one woman after another..?Why did it come to this?, Hajime was looking into the far distance as he thought that he was spoiling Yue too much.

Towards Hajime, whose att.i.tude said he didn’t hear anything, s.h.i.+zuku’s spirit as a best friend raised a growl.

“.. If you don’t take care of her.. it’ll become serious matter.”

” ? Serious matter? What do you..”

“Have you heard “White-haired, eye-patched Punisher”?”

“..What?”

“Or maybe, written as “Round of Destruction” and read as “Outbreak,” how about it?”

“Wait a sec, you, just what are you..”

“There are also others such as “Jet-black Tyrant” or “Trans.m.u.tation Master of Red Thunder,” you know?”

“Y-Yo-You, don’t tell me..”

s.h.i.+zuku suddenly began to enumerate unknown names, which made Hajime look dubious at the beginning. But, noticing s.h.i.+zuku joyfully looking at Hajime from head to toe, he turned pale as he understood what she meant.

“Fufufu, right now I am a “G.o.d’s Apostle” and a member of the Hero’s party. What I said will surely spread. It is equal to the network of neighboring housewives. Well then, Nagumo-kun, what kind of nickname do you want.. I will make one that fairly describes your appearance and grandly make it known, okay?”

“Wait, just, wait! Why, how did you know such a damaging thing!?”

“It is because I studied about it with Kaori. That girl wanted to talk with Nagumo-kun, so she studied otaku culture like manga and anime so they could become a topic of conversation. I went along with her every time.. that’s why I’ve gathered quite the knowledge about it. Certainly, people like the current Nagumo-kun are called “chuuni..””

“Stoop-! Please stop that”

“O-Oh my, it is more effective than what I imagined.. looks like you are aware of it yourself.”

“Th-This devil..”

Hajime had already fallen to his knees. The black history that truly happened in his middle school years was revived. The memory that had been sealed deep inside him, “You rang?” said thus as it peeked out its face.

“Fufu, so, take care of Kaori, okay?”

“..”

“Fuu, Requiem of Ruin (Shotgun of Chaos), Revived Disaster (Reverse Calamity)..”

“Okay! I will do it, so please don’t make such painful nicknames.”

“Take care of Kaori, okay?”

“.. At the very least, I promise that I won’t treat her unkindly.”

“Eeh, that’s enough for me. After all, it seems you’ll be mad at me if I go any further than this.. if you break the promise, be prepared for a novel with you as the main character published in this world and j.a.pan too, okay?”

“You, aren’t you actually the last boss here? You are, right?”

Hajime held his head as he was on the verge of going mad from embarra.s.sment. Yue, the girls, and the other cla.s.smates that were looking at Hajime from a slight distance were shuddering at how s.h.i.+zuku used only words to make the overwhelmingly powerful Hajime fall to his knees.

While Hajime was fighting against his dark history due to this and that from his appearance, Kaori came back, running. Next, she became pop-eyed when she saw Hajime hanging his head before s.h.i.+zuku.

Worried about s.h.i.+zuku, Kaori asked the details from Yue and they exchanged information. Finis.h.i.+ng their conversation, Yue, “Muu~,” groaned at s.h.i.+zuku who defeated Hajime with only words. Kaori had also remembered that the two often talked with each other quietly.. and she looked alternately between Hajime and s.h.i.+zuku. Following that, the two reached a conclusion.?Don’t tell me, is she the last boss of this fight as a woman?, something like that.

Yue wore an indescribable expression and Kaori was worrying. Then, it was finally time for Hajime’s party to leave. s.h.i.+zuku, Suzu, the other female students, and Nagayama’s party, along with Meld who finished reporting, were gathered at Hol-ad’s entrance to see them off. Following that, when Hajime took out the magic-driven four-wheeler, all of them were once again surprised.

While s.h.i.+zuku and Kaori mutually struggling to separate their hands in regret, Hajime took out a sword with a black sheath from “Treasure Box” and handed it to s.h.i.+zuku.

“This is?”

“Yaegas.h.i.+, you are losing the one who can spoil you, right? Then, just take it. Even if you are worldly-wise, you can’t be “healed (mentally)” from being separated from s.h.i.+rasaki. Maa, there’s also the various things I am indebted to you for from j.a.pan.”

s.h.i.+zuku accepted the sword from Hajime and slowly drew it from its sheath, and a jet-black sword that seemed to absorb even light appeared. There was no blade crest, it had a slight curve and became double edged around the tip. It resembled the sword called Shoukarasuma. Though Hajime only knew a little about j.a.panese swords, it was created similarly using trans.m.u.tation just like the short swords he handed over to the Haulia.

“I can guarantee its strength because it was made from the compressed, hardest ore in this world, and its sharpness is at the level where even an amateur can cut steel by swinging it. About the maintenance.. there’s no need to say it to Yaegas.h.i.+, but please take care of it.”

“.. Such an amazing thing.. as expected of a Trans.m.u.tation Master. Thank you. I won’t hold back and will accept it.”

After one swing, two swings, the balance as it cut through the wind made s.h.i.+zuku respond with admiration, and she honestly thanked him as she smiled. Truthfully, because s.h.i.+zuku’s swordsmans.h.i.+p was Yaegas.h.i.+-styled, naturally it required a j.a.panese sword, and she felt disoriented every time she used her techniques using her previous sword. That’s why she was truly happy to obtain a Katana which made her float a natural, lovely smile.

“.. Last Boss?”

“.. s.h.i.+zuku-chan.”

“Eh? What? You two, why are you looking at me with such eyes?”

Yue’s gaze, full of caution, and Kaori’s gaze, full of worry, made s.h.i.+zuku fl.u.s.tered as she didn’t know the meaning behind them. Leaving behind that indescribable atmosphere, s.h.i.+zuku and the others saw Hajime’s party out of Hol-ad.

The weather was good. Their destination was one of the Seven Great Dungeons ?Guryuu-en Great Volcano? in ?Guryuu-en Great Desert?. With increasing liveliness from acquiring a new companion, Hajime continued his journey.