Ranting — Some time ago, I woke up in the middle of the night to find myself crying. Look like my depression is worse than I thought. That being the case, I will be taking it easy with translating and there won’t be any extra releases for the foreseeable future. Sorry about this everyone.
Episode 32 — Countdown
～ Part 1 ～
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That day, Kogane was finally allowed free movement in the old castle. I’ve been locked up in jail all this time, and everyday I felt like my mind is going crazy, but perhaps I should think that it was good enough I wasn’t killed. Kogane aimlessly wandered in the old castle alone.
This castle stood in a densely grown forest. Looking outside through the broken windows, he could see a ruined townscape among the trees. The town was destroyed a long time ago, the trees grew there and a forest was made. It appeared to be such a place.
As far as Kogane knew, the area around this castle had never seen the blue sky. Heavy and dark clouds covered the sky like a dome and it often rained. Like this the tree will grow well, Kogane thought.
I wonder how everyone in my class is doing? That red winged devil ——— no, he called himself Pawn, didn’t he? That Pawn said that he would attack the base again. Was everyone at the base safe when he attacked?
In the end, I missed the chance to apologize to everyone in the class.
While we’re still alive, I want to say a word of apology at least.
While walking in the old castle with a depressed feeling, he felt nostalgic for some reason. But then, he heard something in the direction of the reception hall in this castle where no sound could ever be heard.
“……?”
Kogane felt suspicious and opened the door. In the center of the reception hall, a single man was sitting on a torn up sofa.
Rather than a man, he was a boy. Body build was slight good, although there were many aggressive parts in his facial features, his looks itself seemed innocent. Most of all, he was wearing a .
Gakuran. Why are you wearing such a thing? And, Kogane stopped thinking. Rather than that, the thing that the boy held in his hand was more shocking.
A video game controller. Is that a PlayStation?
That wasn’t everything. The controller was properly connected to the game console, and the game console was connected to an LCD TV. And then the game console and the LCD TV’s power cords were extended to a big machine that he had never seen before.
He is playing video game.
Kogane’s understanding couldn’t keep up. Wasn’t this a different world?
Nevertheless, he entered the hall and went around the back of the boy to check the screen. The boy was playing an old game released more than 15 years ago. Looking at the floor, lots of game softwares of the same era were piled up.
“Yo, high elf.”
The boy said so without looking away from the TV screen.
“Ah, umm…. Suou-san, was it…?”
“Ou. Knight Suou. Suou Takashi is also fine.”
A curt manner of speaking as if spitting. He’s the type that I’m weak against, thought Kogane.
He was the same type as the hateful bad students who extorted money from Kogane when he was in 1st grade. Namely, a yankee.
He wanted to quickly get away, but the presence of the TV and the game console in front of him wouldn’t allow it.
Kogane’s eyes couldn’t break away from the items reminiscent of his homeland.
Staring, he kept watching Suou played.
What Suou was playing was a portable version of a gothic horror action game released by Konami in 1993. He had seen Kyousuke played an older version of this game sometime.
Indeed, it was a game full of appropriate ambiance to play in this castle with its devil castle-like appearance.
However,
“Oh shit…! I died again!”
Suou was bad.
There was also the fact the difficult of this game was originally high. But more than just that, his play was fatally lacking. He couldn’t master even the most basic movements such as jumping.
Kogane unintentionally muttered.
“Completely shitty…”
“Aaan!?”
Suou bared his fangs just like count Dracula, threatening Kogane. Startled, his body reflexively trembled.
“What the hell, you. Well then, let’s see how you fare.”
“Eh, y–yeah…. It’s fine but…”
Kogane took up the controller which was bluntly thrust toward him.
Although I said it’s fine but will I be able to do well? Kogane’s specialty was full-fledged 3D action games, starting with FPS. A game like this was more or less Kyousuke’s specialty instead.
No, well, I can do better than Suou. With a carefree feeling, he started the game.
It’s been a long time since I last touch a controller. Although he hadn’t touched a game controller for quite sometime even when he was human, the feeling of plastic fitting in his hands were nostalgic. The feeling of the start and select buttons made of rubber was also like that.
For a while, Suou sat on the sofa while watching the TV screen with a sour look, but when Kogane successfully defeated the boss of stage 1, he leaned forward.
“You’re good.”
“Re–really.”
It felt like it had been a long time he was last praised. Kogane, even while being surprised at himself, smoothly cleared the stage. Could it be that my dynamic vision and reflexes have been enhanced by becoming a high elf? If that’s the case, I want to play FPS in this form all the more. Kogane who once experienced a complete defeat against a friend, now wanted to challenge that guy again.
In the meantime, he had already rushed into the last block of the stage 8. Before they noticed, a few hours had already passed. Suou was completely absorbed in Kogane’s play, he sometimes uttered words of admiration such as 『incredible』 and 『not bad』.
Now, before the Player Character was the last boss, Count Dracula stood in his way. Suou’s eyes were shining.
“Is this guy the boss?”
“Yeah.”
Kogane answered briefly and handled the controller without any slight shaking. Suou also swallowed his saliva and said no more. In the reception room of the old castle, only the sound of the game coming from the TV and Kogane hitting the buttons ∗clack clack∗ could be heard.
“Ahh…”
Because of tension, his fingers slipped and he made a regrettable mistake. A little impatience, he continued committing several blunders and his Life Point kept decreasing.
In the end, Kogane failed to defeat Count Dracula at the very last moment and he got a game over.
“Ah…. Sorry…”
“It’s fine it’s fine. Don’t mind it. You’re quite good. What’s your name again?”
“Kogane. Kogane Yoshiki.”
“Kogane? I will welcome you again. I’m Suou. Suou the Knight.”
Since Suou suddenly presented his hand, Kogane tried to grasp it in return, but he was confused as that was a clenched fist.
Thereupon, Suou finally laughed and made Kogane’s hand into a fist, he bumped his own fist against Kogane’s like that, after that he bumped it from above and finally from below.
“What’s this?”
“A friend greeting. Nice to meet you.”
Suou smiled grinningly with his white teeth. As expected, his sharp fangs looked awfully conspicuous.
Looking at that Suou, Kogane was reminded of Utsurogi Kyousuke for some reason.
When Kogane said 『Sorry』, Suou answer 『it’s fine it’s fine』 without minding it at all. I don’t think that I will be forgiven even if I apologize for the things that I’ve done to the class. But if it was Kyousuke, I feel that he would give the same response as Suou.
The 4th class meeting in a different world ended safely. With Ryuzaki and Rin skillfully laying the groundwork, all 37 people decided to leave the kingdom. When he went to inform Her Majesty the Queen of that, she smiled sweetly and responded 『Let us respect your courageous decision』.
Kaminari and Hanazono had also firmly decided to follow along as a result of talking it out with their close friends. From Hanazono, while I’m still troubled whether or not to return to being human, at least, my thought and feelings are the same as Sugiura’s in that I want us to stay together until the very last minute, that was her honest answer. They were going to act together until they arrived at the eastern forest where Master Majina lived.
By the way, at the 2nd class meeting, Kuremori had said 『Going back to our world is on hold』 but the day after the 3rd class meeting was over, he said 『Whether or not to return is on hold, but I will take care of the heavy cruiser』 and went back to the fortress line in the West. For a week since then, it seemed that he had been maintaining the heavy cruiser while helping out the reconstruction of the fortress line at the same time. The knights of the fortress line also helped out quite a lot, and the reinforcement seemed to be going well.
Well, it appeared that the crisis of breaking up the class was avoided for the time being. In the royal palace’s great dining room, Kyousuke group were having their last royal capital meals while patting their chest in relieve.
“Geez, making the record of proceedings is really tiring…”
While Sakuma was nibbling on a bread, she summarized the contents of the 4th class meeting.
She had gathered a complete set of easy-to-move clothing in this kingdom. As a result, there were many voice of grief about her greatly diminished level of exposure outfit.
“Is that so? it’s a secretary thing…”
Kyousuke nodded seriously. Kyousuke and Rin were currently eating in the combined state. As the meals themselves were served for 37 people, Rin was delighted to be able to eat the share of 2 people.
“Saa-chan may also be busy, but please come hugging Utsurogi-kun once in a while.”
“Eeeh!? Wh–what are you saying Himemizu-san!”
“But it’s impossible for me alone, if Saa-chan clings to Utsurogi-kun while naked, he may be able to regain his desire.”
“…!?”
“What was that about regaining my desire…”
Kyousuke also got confused by the crazy words that Rin had suggested. Sakuma too, her face also turned bright red, she was fidgeting bashfully and murmured 『Utsurogi-kun’s desire…』. This trend doesn’t seem to be any good.
However, Rin didn’t say a word about the true intention behind her words and he couldn’t understand their meanings in the end. She just silently digested the chicken paste. While Kyousuke was tilting his head, he reached out for the remaining parsleys but his arm stopped as if it was paralyzed.
“Hmm…?”
“Utsurogi-kun, I hate parsley!”
“To think that there is something that you cannot eat, this is pretty shocking, but.”
Even though she’s a girl who eats even shrimp shell and potato skin.
“I quite like it though.”
“Parsley!? This is the first time I see someone who say that they like parsley as a side dish!”
“Well, if Himemizu hate it, then it’s fine.”
“DO NOT GIVE UUUUPPPP!!”
Rin raised a big voice all of a sudden and the gazes of the class were all directed over here.
“Hi–Himemizu!?”
“Why did you give up!? Don’t you like it, parsley! Do not say 『I like it so I’m going to eat it separately』 or something like that! What about it! What of the others! If you like it, show a bit more guts!”
“What, what’s wrong Himemizu! You are a little funny today!”
“It’s not only me that’s funny today! Is it not the case that you’ve been funny since forever!”
Saying so, Rin’s body stretched out like a tentacle from around Kyousuke’s shoulders. The extended arm grabbed the parsleys and tossed them into Kyousuke’s mouth as is. A refreshing bitter taste passed through his throat, then they immediately flopped down onto Rin’s body.
For a moment, thorn-like things stood up on Rin’s entire body, shortly after that, sweat started flowing like waterfall. No, this is not sweat. It’s tears.
“Uuuu … Utsurogi-kun~, pa–parsley … is deliciouss…!”
“Himemizu…?”
Although her eccentric behavior didn’t start just now, he was still a little worried watching her.
“Eh, umm. But, umm, well, it’s good that everyone in the class has united together!”
Looking at this situation, Sakuma was confused, so she changed the subject a little forcibly.
“Yeah, it’s good. It’s very good.”
Rin murmured with a voice that was still somewhat tearful.
“We have united, or should I say, everyone’s ill will is slowly disappearing.”
“Everyone’s ill will?”
“Seem so. Since Utsurogi-kun and Hino-kun are lovey-dovey, you didn’t know. But I feel that the cracks are slowly, slowly being mended compared to the beginning of the trip.”
Sakuma was also nodding ∗un un∗. Certainly, she might be an easy-to-understand example. Before the trip, there didn’t seem many students in the class whom she was on good term with (actually, she had a surprising friend called Akai), but after coming here, her circle of friends had been spreading well, from the class rep Ryuzaki, Kagoi who was on the same team, the team leaders Kensaki and Uozumi, to Akai’s followers Harui and Hebitsuka, in addition to the lone wolf Inugami.
The girl who reigned at the top of the class caste for the first time said something like 『Since the class is such a small group of people after all—』.
Well, in fact, the mood of the class was getting better than before.
At least, the strained atmosphere like the first week after the trip was no longer. There was also the fact that everyone got some leeway now.
“He–hey … oi. We’re going at this timing…?”
“What are you saying this late in the game. It was Washio who said to go.”
“Don’t be hesitant. That’s not manly.”
“Yea. Hang in there you three. Have some guts. I’m rooting for you.”
Suddenly, Kyousuke heard such a conversation from behind. Kyousuke turned around, and Sakuma who was sitting opposite of him, shifted her posture in order to peek behind his back.
What there were three people, Washio, Shokuzura and Hakuba. Behind them stood the public morals committee member Kensaki with her arms crossed.
Washio who was leading ahead looked awkward and hesitant for some reason. Noticing the gazes of Kyousuke group, he breathed a sigh and stepped forward after making up his resolution.
“Y–yo, Utsurogi…”
“Ah, right…. What’s the matter? Washio. You’re being formal.”
“No that…, it’s just. Umm…”
In the background of Washio group, Kensaki was making a guts pose. Is there any meaning in that? Kyousuke didn’t know.
Behind Washio who was speaking hesitantly as if embarrassed, Hakuba floated a bitter smile.
“We came to apologize to Utsurogi.”
“To me? For what?”
“The thing in the corridor of the base, and the thing in the dining room.”
Ahh, and Kyousuke recalled. Speaking of which, their mood was considerably dangerous at the start. Especially Washio, he aggressively tried to pick quarrels. At the time of the disturbance in the dining room also, they broke me apart.
After that, Washio and the others were treated coldly by the class since they were formerly parts of Kogane’s clique. Nevertheless, Ryuzaki’s team formation had been successful and they gradually made friends with everyone as before.
“The atmosphere of the class is getting better. Having traveled together, I understand that Kyousuke is a good guy after all. Because you will forgive us if we apologize, I proposed to do it properly.”
“As Washio’s team leader, I also wholeheartedly agree.”
Said Kensaki while proudly crossing her arms.
“But Hakuba has already apologized.”
“Washio and Shokuzura are not being honest.”
Saying so and Hakuba went forward and carefully lowered his head to Kyousuke.
“Sorry. Utsurogi.”
“I, I’m also sorry. That is, I don’t have a head to lower, but anyway, sorry.”
Following Hakuba, Shokuzura dropped down all his tentacles on the floor in place of lowering his head.
“Ah—, nn—. Uh, that is…”
Lastly, Washio looked away awkwardly as if trying to be shy, then he finally breathed a sigh and lower his head.
“I was wrong, Utsurogi. Sorry, forgive me.”
“Ahh, yeah.”
Kyousuke nodded.
“I don’t really mind. Please raise your head.”
With those words, they had reconciled for the time being. From around Kyousuke’s shoulders, Rin suddenly stretched out her hands and started clapping ∗pachi pachi∗. Following that, Kensaki and Sakuma also applauded.
Washio made a relieved expression and looked at Hakuba and Shokuzura. Since Shokuzura had no face it was difficult to understand, but he probably was feeling relieved like Washio.
“Well—, to be able to forgive anything is one of Utsurogi-kun’s good points…”
Rin while applauding faintly muttered.
“What is it Himemizu. That way of speaking that contains some hidden meanings.”
“Nn—n. It’s nothing. I also think that the matter this time is fine like this.”
“But Akira would get angry saying that I’m too good-natured.”
“Softhearted is also fine. Maybe.”
If examined carefully, he could see that there was some nuances in Rin’s words. Softhearted, there is a fine line between softhearted and something not so. Although it would be a lie to say that the continuation of Rin’s words didn’t bother him, Kyousuke didn’t ask her about it in the end.
To be continued…
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