Frustratingly, My Students Are Too Good (2.1)

…

Are thunderstorms scary?

As a young Japanese man, I’d say no.

However, while I’ve spent most of my time indoors, I’ve been through a lot of typhoons in my life. They’re strong enough to rip umbrellas out of people’s hands, throw lighter people around, and stop entire cities from functioning, but I lived in modern times in a modern city. A modern city composed of concrete, underground water and electrical systems, and buildings built to withstand typhoons.

A normal, healthy young man in such circumstances just spends the day grinding levels away at shitty RPGs, if the school even decides to close that day.

However, if you ask the question to the average, medieval fantasy peasant?

I’m pretty sure thunderstorms are pretty scary.

Especially when half of your friends are drunk on aerosolized soma, and your half of the arm has just found out your field officers have all been kidnapped.

And, you’ve been living in a tent city whose supplies have been weeks, and all your patrols have been returning beat up and needing tons of medical supplies to get back on their feet.

So, you’re not just some peasant who’s been given the “privilege” of fighting for a god, you’re also one that’s been beat up the last couple weeks, had the most meagre of rations, slept in the cold a few times, and haven’t even managed to touch the city you’re supposed to be besieging.

I’m pretty sure you’d think thunderstorms are pretty scary.

So, needless to say, Rakia wasn’t responding to the efforts of my students very well.

…

Orario’s outer walls are hardly guarded, let alone contained. The days when it needed the fifteen-meter high walls passed a long time ago. When the Familias inside Orario were weak, and barely just holding back the while constructing Babel, they needed to keep protect themselves from other Familias who wanted to disrupt their project. Once the first Level 3s and 4s started popping up, the walls were abandoned, because there was literally no need for them.

Now they’re just used as viewing stands by goddesses who liked to see armies disintegrate into madness.

“An entire army is screaming, fighting each other, and screaming about the air being tasty… I think I’m going to cry from joy, Hikigaya.” Loki sniffled and leaned against me, whilst grasping my shoulder. Not in a flirty way, of course. No, the goddess of Mischief was holding onto me like a comrade overcome by joy and elation, as though she’s been told that she does still have a chance at growing a chest, despite all the millennia she’s lived. “How you could punish the ones who did this? You should be giving them only praise!”

Loki fake-sobbed into my arm, but kept ingraining the sight of Rakia soldiers running from lightning strikes, fighting one another for supplies, and being drunk off their asses in the corner of her vision.

i.e. enjoying the hell out of herself.

Making her the perfect example to show to my four students, as I picked her up by the skintight-half-shirt thing she was wearing, and angled her towards my kneeling students.

As expected, Loki hissed and scratched at me for turning her away from her entertainment, but she couldn’t scratch my clothes, let alone my skin.

“You see this? If you ever do anything that makes this person right here this incredibly happy, you know you’ve done something wrong.” Cranel, Erisuis, Arde, and Nelly were all before me in their full uniforms, as well as backpacks of supplies. We were joining the Loki Familia today to go check out the possibility that another entrance/exit to the Dungeon existed. This was supposed to be Loki confirming the deal was set, that this would repay her for the weeks that went by without me training her Familia’s newest members, but I turned it into a very necessary, important lecture. “Don’t get me wrong. You achieved your mission. You all did a wonderful job, but this… this is beyond what I’d do.”

“Sorry, Sensei/I apologize. /Sorry. /It won’t happen again.”

I’d talk to them more about it, but the four of them were pretty capable of seeing what they did wrong. Cranel and Erisuis looked incredibly disturbed at what was happening, while Nelly and Arde did their best to look stoic, but only managed to look dead inside. If this were a manga, they’d definitely be faded out, transparent caricatures in the corner of the screen. Though the thought was hilarious, and I did kinda find what was happening to be funny, as a teacher I had to tell them what they did wrong, so that they could learn.

And, only do it on purpose if they knew the consequences.

Still, I could have a little fun with the rest of the lecture, knowing that they didn’t like what they did.

“Okay, first, Erisuis and Arde the two of you did a great job. You worked together to create something that the entire world will label illegal and fear, but can’t force either of you to not do again, so you can now threaten entire countries if you both want.”

Arde’s died farther due to my words. Her thousand-mile stare at the chaos lost focus, and her head lolled to the side to rest on her shoulder. Erisuis, meanwhile, desperately held onto her stomach while her right eye and nose began to twitch. Either she was nauseous, or developing a stomach ulcer from the stress, I didn’t know.

“However, that alone wouldn’t have broken the Soma Familia, so the two of you get third place and split the prize for it.” I don’t recall if I made it seem like there was only one first prize or not, but both my students let out sighs of relief when they realized they didn’t do the best in the competition. In fact, the two of them practically scrambled and held onto the tiny bags of money I’d given them both as a joke like lifelines. Honestly, though, I’d do the same. “Thus, naturally, either Cranel or Nelly did the best, so I’ll just go ahead and give first place prize first.”

“Give it to Cranel, that thunderstorm is far more terrifying than what I did!” Nelly, without hesitation, defended herself. I admire the lack of hesitation to throw Cranel under the bus, Nelly, and so does Loki judging by her cackling, but I’m an impartial judge in this case. I really am just going to give the prize money to the person who fucked over Rakia the most, who’s put more fear in the world, and gained the most infamy. “All I did was kidnap a few people, and scatter them all over the world without anyone noticing! That’s way less scary than a lightning storm!”

“Nelly, you destroyed an entire army’s ability to fight, without killing a single person, and sending each of those people all over the continent, in different directions, without being caught.” She spent a lot of Valis and time to get carriages and drivers who do things no questions asked, too. Those people will remember her as their boss, or at least spread tales about her. The field officers she kidnapped? Those guys will DEFINITELY talk about her. “Every ruling power in the world is going to be scared shitless of you. You’re going to be a boogeyman for every influential person in the world, because you infiltrated an army and stole their most important people without being caught. Congratulations, you’re now a horror story that every kid in the world will have nightmares about forever.”

At my words, Nelly’s response was simple and concise, even as her frame adopted a slumped dogeza, as though asking the entire world for forgiveness.

“I want to stop existing.”

“I know the feeling, but please don’t.”

Turning away from Nelly, for a second, I saw hope on Bell’s face, before I actually put Loki down, crossed my arms, and looked at him straight in the eye.

“I’ve done something worse than become a terrifying legend?” Cranel whispered, while whatever hope he had left got NTR’d right before his eyes. “What I did was worse?”

“Yep. Congratulations, you’re number one. You wanna know why?”

“No.”

“But you need to.”

“Please, no.”

“Sorry, brat.”

“PLEASE!”

Taking a deep breath, while throwing the second-place prize towards Nelly, I walked toward the big, bag of Valis that was now Bell Cranel’s. His gaze turned towards the small, fist sized sacks that Arde and Erisuis gained, and at Nelly’s head-sized bag… while I patted the waist-high sack of money that was his.

Yep, that face right there’s about the same as an NTR victims.

“Brat, you’ve created something literally any Level 3 can make, as long as they have the time and resources. Sure, you’d need to talk to at least a Level 5 Mage and pay them off, but you just made a storm in a bottle that can wipe out farmland, destroy harbors, or wreck an entire city.”

This is a medieval fantasy setting, however outside of Orario, most the fantasy is very light. Falnas and Skills are huge out there, while here they’re just rare, even tiny advantages. It goes without saying that mostly only the well-off can afford magic stones, even if plenty of buyers for monster parts exist for potions and such. Armies might have health potions, mind potions, and have a higher quality of soldier, as well as wield magic, but the magic definitely isn’t going to reach the common people, let alone things like infrastructure.

Ergo, Cranel’s created this world’s first WMD.

“This new weapon can destroy wooden buildings, flood basements full of food, and set fire to whatever’s standing. Orario could probably take getting hit by this storm, but there sure ain’t another city in the world that can. At least, I think so. Loki?”

“Nope! That cute student of yours really made something no one can counter!”

“Yeah, that too. There’s no counter for this. You gather up supplies, get a powerful mage, and every city in the world is yours for the taking, because they’re scrap otherwise.” I finished my explanation and took stock of my emotions. There was certainly entertainment there. Surprisingly, though, it was very little compared to my teacher mode. It seems that I’m more about teaching these guys to not make this sort of mistake again. “So, uhhh, congratulations. You’re probably going to be feared by every nation in the world forever, brat. Here’s a lot of money. Spend it however you want.”

I waited for a response, and when I found none, I looked at Cranel.

“Huh, he actually fainted.” A little drool was coming out of the side of his mouth. He was still kneeling, but it was more like a puppet its strings cut, with his arms slack at his sides and his head lolling back. “Arde, check.”

Arde did as I asked and pinched Cranel’s cheek, something that should wake him up.

“He didn’t move, but he has a pulse and he’s breathing.”

“Ah, he didn’t faint then, he’s just really, really dead inside now.” With that bit of information gathered, I picked up Loki again as she hissed at me for interrupting her wonderful show, and gestured to my students. “Just pick him up. The Loki Familia isn’t ready to leave yet, but we should get this Valis spent, unless you want to carry your prizes around the entire trip.”

At my words, my students wordlessly all got up, took their money. and become blurs intent on spending all their Valis as possible.

Except for Arde, who decided to be a good Senpai, and place Bell on his giant bag of money before taking him straight towards Crozzo’s workshop.

Hopefully, they can spend it all before we leave.

…

The Loki Familia expedition was made up only of their A-Team, while the B-Team stayed and grinded under Deimne and Landrock’s care. I’d been tempted to leave them a manual or something to follow for the Loki Familia entrusted to me, but decided against it. Neither of them had the same skills, or mindset, as me. They have their own habits, thoughts, and beliefs that could lead to them doing something wrong, because I didn’t take them completely into account.

And, of course, I can’t replace myself when I’m getting into Loki’s good graces.

As good allies the Loki Familia proved to be, I don’t trust the “god of mischief” in the slightest.

Anyway, the A-Team was composed of Riveria, the Hiryutes, Viridis, Wallenstein, and Loga. They had a few more Level 4s and 5s now, courtesy of delving deeper into the dungeon, but those guys were helping out their new surge of recruits. Loki was abusing the system I’d made, which supplied and trained regular adventurers to a decent level, to up her manpower significantly and reaping the benefits of being an early adopter.

I’m fairly sure, soon, she’ll have her own potion-makers, tinkerers, and smiths to support her Familia, and the rest of Orario will be forced to follow or be left behind. Smaller, lesser Familias will struggle for a while, but when the current Familias hit their capacity in terms of leadership and administration, they’re going to get to pick from the steady stream of new, well-trained Adventurers courtesy of Psycho-Hikigaya.

Who’s apparently the sort of villain who wins before the heroes can do anything. Seriously, what the hell, I thought at least half the systems I’d made would collapse after I quit handling them. However, the people of Orario seem to actually like the corporate, unfeeling edge I’d brought in and are keeping it all strong and steady. In fact, with how few problems there are, I’m sure that some people might be working behind the scenes to keep it all going. ‘

Orario is transforming and changing without me, and creating the army I needed to get to the end of the Dungeon sooner rather than later.

However, that army won’t come into being, if other entrances and exits of the Dungeon appear all over the world. If Orario and its forces get split up all over the world, to deal with monsters suddenly appearing everywhere, then it’ll be beyond my power to reach the end. Every Familia contributes in one shape of form, whether it’s by keeping up a steady stream of parts from the first floors in the market, or by providing an essential, specialized service like forging weapons.

Not only that, but less people will come to Orario, if there’s wealth and power to be had literally everywhere, and that’s not even considering the talent that’ll stay home to protect their own people.

To keep a long story short, I didn’t feel that just taking students along was the right choice, even with the Loki committing her hardest hitters to the fight.

So, the Hestia Familia was coming along, too.

Haruhime, Illion, Belka, and Yamato.

Belka was a heavy hitter, while Illion and Yamato can contribute via their Skills.

However, if things go badly, having someone who can increase Wallenstein or Alf’s Level will be just the ace-in-the-hole that we need.

Hopefully, though, we won’t have to show our hand.

Frustratingly, My Students Are Too Good (2.2)

…

Calling Melen a port city is an understatement.

It’s more appropriate to call it by the name the merchants gave it: “Orario’s entrance to the sea.”

Located just several kilometers away from Orario, half-a-day’s carriage ride at most, Melen is a set next to an immense, calm lake that acts like a massive bay. In the past, the city was how armies from across the world were sent to push back the monsters and seal the Dungeon. More importantly, however, was the massive ports made to supply troops never fell into disrepair despite the dungeon having been closed off of centuries.

Now, Melen’s ports is now how materials, talent, and wealthy from outside the world entered Orario. Infrastructure meant to support armies of men, elves, and dwarves, as well as strings of fortresses, in ancient times have been maintained and upgraded into something that caters to the rest of the world, and much like Orario, beholden to no nation.

Needless to say, if a new entrance to the Dungeon erupts in Melen, it’ll be an event that might cripple Orario and the world. While land-based trade can continue, and even pick up in the event of such a thing happening, losing the port will mean the entire world not receiving massive shipments of monster parts and cores integral to supporting their populations without warring against their neighbors for more farmland.

While I can turn a massive profit from Melen getting fucked over, Orario as a whole will lose with far less food, materials, and bodies coming in. Land caravans, new roads, and maybe even primitive rails can’t compare to fleets of ships traveling on the open seas for free. Therefore, even with the potential to get something out of the possible disaster, I had every intention of making sure it didn’t happen.

Unfortunately, unforeseen consequences are simply unavoidable when tangling with plots and plans of this size and magnitude.

…

We were camped out outside of Melen’s walls at the moment, the carriages that brought us in having offloaded our luggage, and the few Loki Familia members were helping out the Hestia Familia members while they set up the tents I’d thought to bring just in case.

However, what was the case?

Why were we not in Melen, checking into one of the many inns and establishments within that catered to merchants the world over, which would let us rest nicely during the evening?

What could possibily be a problem for a god and a group of ludicrously powerful adventurers?

Naturally, the only possible answer is another group of ludicrously powerful adventurers and their god.

“Yep. That’s Kali’s banner draped over the gate.” Loki had a massive smile on her face, while both Hiryutes and Belka glared at the faraway banner. I took my telescope back and folded into my coat. I’d sighted it first, since I was playing around—performing reconnaissance during our trip. The big, red banner screamed “bad guys” to by sensibilities, so I looked closer, found the walls filled with Amazons wielding very fancy weapons, and stopped the carriages before we got too close. “Man, she really knows how to have fun. While we were distracted with Rakia and you, she must’ve kicked out good, ole Njord and became this city’s patron.”

“Njord-sama and his Familia couldn’t have hoped to have defeated Kali, unless he received aid from Orario.” Belka spoke in the husky, smoky voice of hers, but there wasn’t a hint of seductiveness in it at all. In fact, the woman who normally set Cranel on fire whenever she opened her mouth had a scowl on her lips and her eyes were narrowed. You’d actually look cool and threatening, if you weren’t wearing just a white bikini, jewelry, and see-through pants. “The Amazons of Telskyura, the Land of Blood and Battle, are only rivalled by Orario’s Adventurers… and they are not as truly blooded as they are.”

Telskyura, the Land of Amazons, where men are slaves or tools to create a new generation. An entire country filled with warriors, soldiers, and hunters who are expected to kill Goblins the moment they can walk. A superpower that rivals Orario, because Kali blesses all her citizens, and one only becomes a citizen by surviving fourteen years of weekly battles against monsters… and fellow Amazons.

Surprisingly, at Belka’s words Hiryute Tiona froze in her spot next to her Kami, before glancing towards me from the corner of her vision.

Her reaction and the look in her eyes told me all that I needed to know.

She was from Telskyura like her sister, and she feared what I’d do with that knowledge.

In her eyes was fear, apprehension, and resignation, which I’d never seen before in her gaze.

I didn’t like it in the slightest.

So, I gave her hair a ruffle without any hesitation, and addressed the issue before it could turn into anything that’ll fuck either of us over.

“Tiona.” I felt like I was overstepping calling her by her first name, but I couldn’t exactly call her Hiryute with her sister next to her. It’d just be confusing. That’s all there is to it. She stiffened at my contact, but I persevered and did my best to call upon what I had left of my experience as a big brother. “How you live now, what you want now, and what you do now matters more than what they forced you to do. Fuck Telskyura for what they forced you to do and live for yourself.”

With those words imparted to my bodyguard/trusted ally about to have a panic attack over circumstances she never had any control over, I turned to Loki while leaving the little Amazon to her thoughts.

I needed to take stock of the situation.

“What are we looking at in terms of fighters—gruah!?”

Or, that was what I had planned.

“Hat-kun, YOU’RE THE BEST!” My spine! My pride as a man! My Spine! My ability to breath! MY SPINE! It’s all being taken away from me at once by Hiryute picking me up by the waist and shaking me in her grasp. H-Hiryute you’re a Level 6. For the love of everything sane and sensible, please stop wiggling me around like a pool noodle! With my fragility and your strength, my spine is far, far less durable! “The absolute best!”

I searched for help, as words didn’t leave my mouth due to lack for help.

Belka was already skipping away to harass Cranel and continue to draw the line in the sand against Wallenstein.

Hiryute Tione was making very aggressive throat-cutting motions with one hand, and “snip-snip” gestures with the other.

Loki was on her knees, pounding the dirt with one hand, and holding her stomach with the other.

I closed my eyes and prayed to anyone listening that someone from the group making camp would notice and come to my aid, since no one present was obviously going to stop Hiryute’s joyous embrace and attempt to nuzzle her face into my stomach.

“Being unprofessional as always, I see, Hachiman.”

“Hachiman-kun… we’re on a mission!”

I received the opposite of help and got Viridis and Alf instead.

…

Loki’s information on Kali was less than ideal.

Due to Kali disregarding things like “morality,” “ethics,” and “regard for life,” her Familia has become one of the world’s super powers. Like I said before, the country focuses on creating the finest warriors out of the Amazon race, which is already higher-spec than regular humans already, by forcing children to be raised in groups, fighting monsters and each other, until the graduates from their coliseum at fourteen are Level 2s or even 3s.

Those Level 2s and 3s go on to hunt the few naturally-occurring monsters across the world, perform raids for slaves across the world, and keep fighting until they die to enemies or their own comrades who’ve challenged them to duel.

Thus, Telskyura is a country with a Level average of 3, with large numbers of 4s, dozens of 5s, and a handfuls of 6s through the power of callous regard of any form of life.

Meaning that it’s safe to assume that every guard that comes across me can kill me with ease.

If they come across me that is.

I might be too infamous in Orario to go unnoticed, but that certainly wasn’t the case in a medieval port city that sees a constant stream of people in and out of it every day. In fact, entering the city, and getting into the crowds was almost like second nature, since I was born and raised in a far busier city than Orario.

Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for Cranel, who was apparently raised by a hermit in the wilderness all his life.

“H-hold on, Sensei, I just need to take a breath. No. Wait. That’s bad.” Yeah, it is. This city might have sewers, but its still a packed, massive city in the medieval period. Public sanitation and hygiene aren’t a thing here, so trash, shit, and people just not caring about how they smell coalesce into an utterly terrible, mature stink that invades the nostrils and NEETs it up in your lungs. Welcome to what I always have to deal with in the back of my mind, as a young man raised in one of the cleanest countries of the world. “How are do you ignore it?”

“Practice.” Cranel and I were wearing normal clothes for travelers. Coats, trousers, boots, and rough tunics. A few unsavory types eyed us from the shadows, but the experienced ones turned away when they saw how we walked, and the less experience ones grunted to themselves when they saw the swords at our sides. Unless we walked into an alley where they think their knives would do them better, the idiots won’t bother us, while the better ones will just assume, we’re disguised Adventurers and try nothing. Sometimes, it’s nice to be a superhuman. “Just like the Elves.”

“Indeed, human cities are one and all cloying to the senses.” Alf’s disguise was magical in nature. A trinket that she used to get through the crowds of Orario, that made people ignore her, and it extended towards however she was in contact with. It worked for an hour a day, once every full moon, and I stopped listening to its capabilities and requirements thereafter. Hard pass. No thanks. It’s better to just train to actually be sneaky. “And, they change quite rapidly too. Many of these buildings weren’t here when I was last present.”

“And, when was that?”

“Seven decades or so ago, why?”

“Riveria-sama, that’s almost an entire human generation.” Viridis was holding onto her mentor’s hand, and was actually putting some effort into her disguise, unlike Alf. She was swallowed up in one my extra coats, hiding away most of the lace, pink, and silk that she wore. I offered her my mask, but she’d blushed her way into a stuttered refusal. Apparently, even this opportunistic Elf had her limits. “I-it’s very long.”

“Ah, of course, I forgot that Orario is to be judged by different measures entirely.” Riveria shook her head and sighed, before pointing down the end of the street. “Well, then, unless Njord has moved from the city, his Familia house should be at the end of this corner.”

“A Kami-sama might leave their city, if they’re beaten by another Kami-sama, even after hundreds of years staying there? Shouldn’t they stay, and maybe try to fight back?” Cranel frowned as we made our way towards the Njord Familia home. An Amazon, armed and armored, walked past us straight towards the criminals eyeing us earlier. The older, experienced ones were already gone and the weaklings were wide-eyed and having palpitations. Judging from how the Amazon had a sword at her waist, and how the crowd was afraid of her, I could easily guess that something terrible was going to happen to the hapless criminals who didn’t even have a chance at getting away. “Would any Kami-sama who loved their city leave it behind for this the Kali Familia?”

I was going to give Cranel my take on the matter, when Alf surprisingly spoke up.

“A battle between Divine beings and their children is no trifling matter. In Orario, some Familia may fight against one another, but many who live within Orario are children of the Divine. They do far less harm, and if it escalates, other Familias force a War Game upon the belligerents. Thus, the Divine defer their personal beliefs to protect mortals, and surrender cities to greater powers to prevent loss of lives. ”

As she spoke, Alf shook her head and pulled emerald locks behind her pointed ear. Amidst the crowd, in her archmage’s robes, with her staff, and with her looks, her speech was delivered more like a sermon by an envoy of the gods than a person. Riveria…just how hard is it to say those words in that way with Loki as your Kami-sama?

You don’t have to try so hard, y’know?

“Hachiman, please cease looking at me with such pitiful eyes.”

I waited for Cranel’s comment on the matter to come, as we continued to walk, but as I expected he was no longer by my side.

Instead he was glaring at the armed Amazon who was directing several criminals to hold out their hands further back in the street.

This is the part where I let him do as he wishes, because I believe he’s the protagonist, if I were still trying to pretend that he could do no wrong. If I still believed that Bell Cranel can make no mistake, that every move he makes will have nothing but good results, I would let him loose and see where his actions take us. No matter how impossible the situation, I would use the protagonist of this LN world to carve a path to the final ending, thus achieving my desire to return home.

However, no matter how much a part of me begged for that to occur, I reached out and gripped Cranel’s hand.

“Are we doing this? Right here and right now?” I trusted in him to know the rest of questions I wanted to ask. I wanted him to analyze and take in the situation, consider our allies, our armaments, our supplies, and our tactics holistically in seconds, so that he could decide our actions. As a teacher, what I desired was a swift, decisive answer with as much as possible taken into account, so that he could grow, get stronger, and survive long after I’m gone from his life. “Cranel?”

The Hero, no, Bell Cranel’s hands grit, as he looked upon people he could save right now.

His teeth drew blood from his lip, while a small, sharp breath slipped through his teeth.

They were criminals, some passerby was glaring at them hatefully, and they were forced to put their knives and weapons at their feet.

However, without a doubt, losing both their hands would be a death sentence, and a judgement which my student couldn’t abide.

However, at this moment, his feelings did not matter.

Only his decision and the consequences thereafter.

“Yes.”

Naturally, of course, Bell Cranel’s decision was to live without regret.

“Viridis-san! Alf-san! Go find Fjord-sama while Sensei and I cause… a very, very big distraction!”

Also known as not compromising in the slightest and trying to win at everything.

“Sensei!”

Heh.

“Yeah, yeah, I heard you, brat. I have your back.”

Doubtlessly, no matter what sort of life I try to live, this kid’s gonna be a hero in all of them.

“Then, let’s go!”

What a pain in the ass!

Frustratingly, My Students Are Too Good (2.3)

…

Chase sequences are a waste of time.

Take for example, any American superhero movie, where the protagonists typically fight on top of speedy, moving object number 254 for at least one scene of the movie. If one takes out all the moving parts of the battle, then it’s just the same thing everyone else has seen in the rest of the movie. It’s just more cries of exertion, punching, and overwhelming, awesome CGI. There’s no choreography, no cool moves for the actors to train to do, just moving parts around them while a normally generic fight ensues at a faster rate.

Naturally, such things aren’t typical in anime, because it’d be too expensive to animate. Seriously, I’m sure any animator would rather die than have to draw fifteen moving things in every frame, which will disappear in five pages and exist in milliseconds in the final product. Fast-moving fight scenes with fluid transitions in anime might as well involve human sacrifice in order to exist, because there’s definitely more than a few years of life offered up in equivalent exchange for it to happen.

In the end, it’s better to invest the same amount of time and effort in a clear field with either nothing in the horizon, or high enough stadium walls so that you don’t have to spend any effort whatsoever drawing the audience. Instead of drawing moving leaves, branches, and backgrounds for days of your life in exchange for less than minimum wage, you’re better off coordinating a great fight scene to exchange your life for, because people will remember that better than any other kind of detail.

Alright, fine, I’ll get to the point.

The question I’m getting at is simple.

Why should I bother wasting any effort whatsoever?

If you can achieve better results devoting your time and energy towards one goal, versus another goal that rewards you less but demands the same amount of effort, it’d be illogical to devote time to the latter.

Therefore, that’s why after I was sure that Alf and Viridis got away, I informed Cranel that we were no longer going to run away and continue to cause chaos. Ultimately, it would just be a waste our time and piss off our captors, since there was no way we were going to get away, with our pursuers being replaced by stronger, better-equipped Amazons with higher levels.

So, it’d just be better to be peacefully captured.

Hm?

What am I talking about?

Well, it’s simple really.

Since Alf was already talking to Njord, I figured I should go talk to Kali.

…

The ruckus two Level 3s can cause is pretty immense, especially in a city largely filled with mortals. Strictly speaking, Level 3s who get out of control in Orario will be met by either the Ganesha, Loki, or Freya Familias on the street if they cross the line. In Melen, with only two Familias present, and one with no presence on the streets whatsoever, Cranel and I were able to turn the city into our playground, because we carried far less than usual, and had plenty of Agility to spare against the Amazons that pursued us.

However, as I anticipated, once information started trickling towards the rest of the Kali Familia our advantages were whittled down very quickly.

“Sensei!”

“Yeah, I see them.” Cranel and I were using the city to our benefit without doing any damage. That meant dodging into alleyways, ascending to the rooftops, and dropping when necessary. With our bodies and strength, we could easily punch into the sewers, or even barrel straight through buildings. Cranel was more than happy to accept the limits, because we’d do less harm to the city. I mostly kept to it, because I didn’t want the Kali Familia to get any ideas on how to fight better. “They’re fast… and wearing way less than the normal ones.”

“Sensei, it’s not the time to flirt with older women!”

“They’re Amazons, brat. Wearing less means they’re stronger.” The Kali Familia was taking that pretty seriously. The Level 3s that initially chased after us, and couldn’t catch us let alone take us down, were practically wearing the Amazon uniform of bikini tops, sideless skirts, jewelry, and lots of bladed objects. The Level 4s, meanwhile, did away with the skirts and just ran at us in bikinis and with armor on their limbs, and we could only run from them. The new guys catching up with us, meanwhile, looked like sluts. Therefore, they’re stronger. “It’s about time we give up, so we can get some good information. So, brat, what’s the plan? We go down fighting or just stop and raise our hands in surrender?”

Was I testing Cranel?

Of course, why wouldn’t I, when this situation wasn’t dangerous in the least?

The Amazons coming after us hadn’t tried to use their weapons on us once. They were carrying nets, throwing bolas, and carried menacing looking manacles, probably enchanted to suppress magic, but they didn’t escalate because we hadn’t done anything that warranted it. We knocked out of their own to earn their attention, and knocked out a few of the Level 3s that came to initially respond, and when the Level 4s showed up we focused on running. If either of us used magic, then we’d be able to take down the Level 4s, but that would’ve been escalation from a simple chase to a running battle.

If it was a running battle, I’d have taking the lead without hesitation, and started building up power to counter Level 5s and 6s, but that didn’t happen.

So, Cranel was in charge, and I simply guided him towards the outcome that would benefit us the most.

Which is being captured, so we can talk to Kali, before our reinforcements broke us out, after a very helpful monologue courtesy of Kali herself.

Therefore, there’s no reason at all to put a little pressure on my student to make sure he can decide things properly when in true danger.

“Sensei, stop being so mean!”

“I refuse! Decide now!”

“Grr!” Cranel leap to rooftop of another street, while I followed. As we were in transition, floating over the air, between one block of rooftops to another, the Level 5s caught up to us and leapt after us. Their legs were stronger and they certainly weren’t weighed down in any respect, so instead of leaps they fired off the roofs like bullets and lunged at us with their arms. No bolas, no manacles, nor any form of equipment, just their arms and trust in their Level 5 physique to pull them through the fight. Both Cranel and I had to slide down the tiles of the roof to miss their grasp, and fall towards the streets below… and the two Level 5s hit the ground like rockets just as our feet touched the ground. “We’re fighting! They’re Amazons, so we fight!”

With that decision clear, I immediately took hold of Cranel’s back, just as he brought out the shitty swords, we were using to pretend to be guards.

His eyes widened as I picked him off the ground.

“Sensei… you’re the worst!” The Level 5s were two paces away, their bodies parallel to the ground, more spears than people with their arms out as they lunged. However, again, they were in-flight and incapable of altering their trajectory. Or, in simpler terms, the cost of acceleration, or rather being tricked to believe that they needed to accelerate instead of take their time, was their ability to turn and maneuver enough to catch my student. “The worst—aaaahhhh!”

With my last act of freedom for the foreseeable future, I tossed Cranel towards and over the city walls, courtesy of my enhanced strength, his lack of weight, and my trust in his ability to survive a fall.

A heartbeat later I got tackled by two tan tomboys wearing far too little.

Yeah.

I’m definitely going to get an earful about this later.

But between Cranel and I both being imprisoned, just to get information, or just me… well… it’s an easy choice.

It’s technically not getting myself hurt too, since there’s no way I’ll be killed or hurt.

…

“Hmmm, what a well-defined body. This one’s form is quite appealing to the eyes.”

I was wrong.

“Indeed, sister, this male will lend himself well to our tribe as a goodly servant and father. Such a body does not come without excessive training.”

I accidently did sacrifice myself for people I cared about again.

“Hmmm, it’s too bad that he showcased himself so well. If he were lesser, we could be using him as of this moment.”

Because, without a doubt, this severe sexual harassment is definitely doing some mental damage to me.

“Calm yourself, sister. Men such as he is reserved for our betters. Besides, if we do our job well, he’ll be granted to us anyway.”

No wonder Hiryute didn’t want to be associated with these absolute bitches, and was tearing up when Belka started talking about them. I’d cry too, if I had to think of a way to explain my way out of being related to these pieces of shit. Holy fuck, these bitches are ugly bastards with just a different wrapping.

“True. He won’t break easily, unless one of the Sixth Ranks takes a liking to him. Hopefully, he shall be given to one of the Fifth Rank.”

“Agreed, sister.”

Cranel, I would sincerely apologize for going back on my promise to myself to rely on you more, but it’s just impossible. I wouldn’t put you in my current situation no matter what. Chained up, in only loincloth, while two ugly-bastards hiding in Amazonian bodies leered at you… yeah, I’d go out kicking and screaming before letting you get looked at like a useful piece of furniture to be owned, rented out, and used.

At the very least, they gave me an actual, dingy dungeon to enjoy while listening to them think aloud about me not being a human being. The walls, floor, and ceiling were cobble, save for the points where my chains were anchored to. Those led into the side rooms, where immense lead weights connected to the manacles attached on my arms. Pulling on it did nothing, but if I twisted, and properly braced myself against the floor, there was a little grate right behind me made with iron bars that was letting in the sun that was going to be very useful.

However, even if I could break out, I wasn’t until I spoke to Kali.

I expected that to be in a few hours, and inside the palace they requisitioned above us, but I was surprised that wasn’t the case as the door suddenly opened during my musings to admit the god I was just thinking about.

“Rid him of his chains. It’s obvious that he’s merely allowing them to hold him.” Kali, surprisingly, was pedophile bait. I’d expected a tall, statuesque goddess of war with flaming red hair, muscles, and an impossible combo of tone and deposits of fat. Instead a little girl with a skull mask, wearing inappropriate clothes appeared before me. World, please acknowledge the fact I’m trying to treat you seriously, because throwing characters like this in front of me is making my progress very difficult. Seriously, this girl’s just freaking bait for individuals with problems. “Greetings, Silent Death, I am Kali. Your exploits have reached my lands… and I would like for you to become mine.”

Huh, well, at least there’s no bullshit involved with this goddess, even if she is catering to trash tastes. Points for personality, I suppose.

Still, I could only give one answer to her query.

“Sorry, but I’m not interested in being treated like a piece of meat, so you could get some Amazonian mages.” Surprisingly, despite my words, the guards still unhooked my chains in the adjoining cells and with a gesture from the goddess threw the clothes they stripped off of me. I wasted no time glaring at them, while putting on my clothes. That’s right, morons, you talked about passing me around like a toy when I turned a Level 5 Amazon into part of colosseum. Enjoy that. “I came here because there’s an issue in Melen that I’m interested in fixing, but you’ve beaten Njord and control the city.”

I was tempted to mouth off to the Goddess, but she came to meet me without her Captain and Vice-Captain, and hasn’t insulted me. Giving her straightforward answers also made sure I didn’t make any mistakes that sent Kali off to war against Orario.

Surprisingly, my decision to not be an asshole to a goddess paid off.

“I see, then you are here with the Loki Familia and seek to close the new entrance to the Dungeon.” In the back of my mind, I filed away the fact that Kali was sharper than I thought, because she knew I was with Loki just from the fact I mentioned my intent to meet with Njord. The rest of my minds was doing its best to stay calm and act like I already knew that another entrance to the Dungeon existed beneath Melen. “Your reach is longer than I thought, in both information and allies… you are truly a man worthy of my interest.”

“Well, I’m not interested, but thanks for the compliment. I hope that you find love elsewhere.” Rejecting the pedophile-bait calmed me down somewhat, and let me regather my thoughts. Kali was giving me a lot of credit, and I wasn’t about to tell her that she’s wrong. It’s time to play use one of my 108 Hachiman Skills: pretending I know more than I do, so someone just tells me the right answer. It’s a very strong skill. “Let me guess: you want to keep it open, so your country gets a stable source of Drops and Monster Crystals.”

“Correct.”

Surprise, surprise, being a warmongering nation who enslaved half of the population for their personal pleasure and economy doesn’t make you many friends.

Naturally, Telskyura would be a nation that didn’t receive many benefits from Orario existing, since it’s maintained by the Guild, which is funded and utilized by nations all over the world who don’t like Telskyura. The Familias and Gods of Orario are also interested in keeping them out, so that they don’t disrupt the power balance in Orario. Therefore, of course, Kali would want to keep it open, even at the risk of allowing a wave of monsters to be unleashed upon the world, because it’ll give her access to what she needs to raise up her country into an even worse, more terrifying warmongering, enslaving nation.

Is this a movie, a side-story, or some spin-off or something?

I know, I know, I’m supposed to be taking things more seriously but… the obvious loli, the entire plot, and the basic-as-hell reasoning.

Like, holy shit, it’s mind-numbing as hell.

I’d like a plot twist please.

Interlude: The Mage Aspirant

…

I-if there was anything, I wished Hachiman would change of himself, it would be his desire to give sacrifice himself for the slimmest of gains!

Having begun to study how to lead under Riveria-sama, I understand that his to those who desire results, he is without flaw. What he gives, compared to what he attains, is beyond comparison. In terms of efficacy, Hikigaya Hachiman stands peerless, due to his wiliness to give everything for his allies and the foes he believes in.

Truly, if he were to be considered a singular soldier, his actions would be beyond reproach. In fact, no matter their race, if an individual contributed as much as he does regularly to the Elven Kingdoms, they would be swathed in the greatest of honors and rewards. Selflessness, the willingness to endure all hardships, and to place one’s nation and comrades above themselves are all hallmarks of heroes.

However, without a doubt, he is not a soldier.

He is a teacher, a friend, a companion, and more to all he stands besides, because he does it all not out of duty… but because he cares so much for all of us that he would undertake all possible burdens upon himself, rather grant them to us all.

We have acknowledged this, we know of this, and therefore we are very, very displeased with his actions and wish to chastise him very much!

“Calm yourself, Lefiya. Anger does us no good now.” Riveria-sama’s hand upon my shoulder cleared my mind, allowing me to focus on the rest of our small camp. While we’d expected to stay at an inn, he prepared for the worst, and therefore we had comfortable tents and supplies to spare spread across a clearing. However, once dinner was off the campfires, the rest of the camp was ignored in favor of the meeting we were holding. The meeting where Bell Cranel explained what occurred within the city, which displeased us all greatly. “Save it for Hachiman-kun once he is rescued. Bell Cranel, please, continue to explain.”

“Yes. Sensei planned on getting caught, so that we could get information from the Kali Familia, and when the time came, he asked me whether we should fight or continue to have them chase us.” Bell Cranel no longer wore his disguise, but he looked different without his coat and hat. Instead of an adventurer, he looked like a duelist in more elegant human cities. A thin, blue ribbon bound the hair he grew out for his teacher’s sake into a small ponytail that went between his shoulder blades. He could be mistaken for a noble prince from a faraway land… if not for the steel-toes upon his boots, the metal armor on his shins, and a belt absolutely covered in weapons and trinkets of many uses. “When the time came, I told he we should fight, and be captured together… then, he threw me over the city walls when I let my guard down”

Though I listened to Bell Cranel’s report, which was very diligent and concise, I couldn’t help but grip my staff more and glance towards the city walls. Telskyurians. Why must he have been captured by Telskyurians? Their raiding ships, the basis of their nation’s culture and economy are feared throughout the world, as they storm cities with those with many Steps Towards Divinity. They took from all nation’s men, so that their people could inherit the gifts of their fathers, and used them as slaves until their death. The poor children born from such a union never knows their mothers and fathers, only Kali, who demands they fight and kill from the moment they can crawl.

The weak perish, while the strong grow off their death.

For good reason, I desperately struggled not to turn towards the city and save Hachiman, because even with his strength and power, without weeks and weeks of continuous madness, he can’t compare to those on the Sixth Step.

My concurrent chanting is not yet as masterful as Riveria-sama’s, but she has deemed me adequate. Therefore, I can wage a decisive battle on my own against the city’s walls, and lure away the defenders so a team can mount a rescue. Aiz-chan, with Riveria-sama’s help, can easily defeat any of the Sixth Step they come across, especially with assistance from Hachiman’s students. All I would need to do is find hiding spots, fire, and relocate myself before repeating the process, especially since I have taken to carrying many Potions of the Mind.

As Hachiman said, I am best suited as a “siege weapon” and is what is before me not a target which can be sieged, especially with my rise to the Fifth Step and my newest Skill?

“Lefiya! Pay attention!” Riveria-sama’s steely words brought my attention back to the meeting, then to the fact that I was staring at Melen’s city walls, and to the final, damning truth that I was biting my thumb whilst glaring at the city. Every gaze was upon me, save for my future monarch, as she was busy shaking her head and sighing. “Please, Lefiya, control your anger.”

“Ah… AH!” I did my utmost to hide my face from prying eyes. All of his students were looking at me sweetly. Bell Cranel had a big, dumb grin on his face. Liliruca Arde looked merely satisfied, but that was about as well as she could smile. Nazaa Erisuis typically calm façade had the smallest of smiles, while Nelly had the worst, knowing grin upon her first. Everyone else merely laughed beneath their breath, but those four were the worst. They… they somehow radiated the same energy as their Sensei when they caught anyone doing anything, they can use against them! It’s as though Hachiman’s specter is looming over them ready to tease me in a very provocative—mean manner! I meant mean! “I’m… I’m sorry for not paying attention, please forget about my mistake!”

I apologized and bowed from the waist out of sheer instinct, only for Riveria-sama to pull me up from my bow.

“Lefiya, you are now the second-strongest, Elven Mage in the world. Do not simply bow and apologize.” Riveria-sama smiled at me for a second, but it was not a nice smile at all. It was the same smile she gave me, before telling me to run and chant, whilst summoning magic at the same time. I’ve made a grievous error that will be rectified through incredibly memorable means that I shall surely regret, and thus remember forever. “We shall speak about that later, but for now we must focus on the situation at hand. Tiona-chan, do you believe that Hachiman-kun is in danger?”

Tiona was calm at the news, but that was what worried me. Usually she was smiling all the time and very energetic, but ever since Bell Cranel returned alone, she has been quiet, calm, and contemplative. In fact, her face reminded me more of a veteran Adventurer than it ever did before, as she had her arms crossed and was looking into the distance at nothing. Tione looked at her worriedly very often, and in her current state it was easy for me to remember that I’ve never seen Tiona go berserk as her sister did.

“Kali-sama keeps track of any strong males across the world, so that she can make them husbands for her strongest warriors.” Cold and scary. In fact, Tiona’s voice was so scary that Loki-sama stopped grinning and stared at her with some alarm in her eyes. Hachiman’s student’s almost all stepped back as one from her, probably because they didn’t know her as well, and their survival instincts were finely honed. Tione and Aiz both stepped towards her, but stopped when she didn’t glance at them at all. This person isn’t the Tiona Hiryute that I know, but one of the strongest frontline Adventurers in Orario, who has lost someone she cherishes to Telskyura. This is dangerous. “Cranel-kun said that they were being chased by Level 6s, so that means the Kalif sisters are here. Bache and Argana.”

Tione was ready to speak up, in order to provide knowledge in regards to their former companions, but Tiona give a small hum, tilted her head, and focused on the city.

“They’re weaker than me. I can get Hachiman back right now. There’s no reason I shouldn’t, right?”

Those are two forms of anger.

One is an inferno that consumes all in its path, sacrificing the one who feels it in the process, to achieve great deeds. Warriors who have lost all their comrades in battle has it course through them, so that they can break through the enemy with one, final heroic charge. Tione has this kind of anger, as when she sees those, she cares about hurt, she hurls herself at the enemy to kill them no matter the cost to herself.

The other form of anger more familiar to us Elves, which is not sung about by bards. It is an anger that calms the mind, nourishes cunning thoughts, and is like a building wave that will destroy not only its target, but all that is in its path. That was the anger and rage that Tiona felt, thus everyone presents felt her words in the depths of their souls.

What she truly said with those words was “none of you can stop me from getting Hachiman back right now.”

At this realization, everyone at the camp was taken back, until Loki-sama laughed.

“Well, it sounds like there’s nothing to be worried about, so why not? If we can beat everyone in the city now, why should we wait?” Loki-sama stood up, stretched, and turned away. However, none of us missed the big, ecstatic grin she had on her face. “I mean, the longer we wait, the longer Kali keeps this city all for herself, right? And, it wouldn’t be right for us to just give her Melen, when she hasn’t given up nearly as much as us to earn her place in the Dungeon.”

Somehow, the information Njord-sama provided practically no longer mattered.

His tale had been sobering, telling us of how Kali came to control the city two months ago right as his Familia was about to be overwhelmed, and that we ought to reach out for aid from Orario due to how strong the Kali Familia has become in just that two months. Their sudden access to the thirtieth floor and below, has allowed them to be equipped as well as Orario’s finest Familias, and they are sending back monsters to their homeland for use in their Arenas.

The stakes were simple.

If the Kali Familia defeated our attack, she’ll focus on defending Melen, and have her Amazons cease hiding their presence in the Dungeon. They’ll take all they can, before an attacking force arrives, and grow as strong as possible while Orario’s Familias squabble and argue. If Loki-sama fell here and is forced to go to Heaven, that’ll remove my Familia from those attacking, thus leaving Kali’s Familia to face the Ganesha and Freya Familias solely.

Even with Ottar on our side, the individual with the most Steps, he might have to face more of those of the Sixth Step that anyone could face.

Therefore, logically, we must act with care… and Loki-sama knows that… but she has suggested the exact opposite course of action.

“Loki-sama… at the very least, we should call for reinforcements just in case.” Riveria-sama spoke the words I wished to say, but couldn’t at Tiona’s perfect, frightening composure. I’m sure if not for her experience, wisdom, and ability, Riveria-sama would’ve winced as Tiona’s sharp, expressionless gaze was levelled at her. I couldn’t meet such a gaze at all, let alone match it with willpower and authority that exceeded it. “Tiona. I know that you’re strong, but there’s more than just two opponents there—

“I’ll beat them all.” Tiona interrupted her without hesitation, making my mentor pause and frown, while Loki’s grin widened more. Was it a blessing that my Kami-sama approved so much of my friend’s plan? Or, perhaps, was it a curse as she wished for her to learn from her mistakes. I did not know. “With everyone’s help, I can defeat them all, as long as we have everyone here and don’t send anyone away.”

Her gaze was levelled upon the Kitsune that stood in Bell Cranel’s shadow, and her gaze softened just a little as the young woman whimpered at her gaze.

Some of the Tiona Hiryute I knew returned as she went to the girl’s side and… bowed with incredible sincerity.

“Haruhime-san, please, lend me your power. I need it to save a person I care about a lot from people that will hurt him.” Amazonian pride is known well throughout the world. Even those who operate in the Red Light district are treated like nobility by the common folk. To insult an Amazon is to invite pain upon oneself, as each one is filled with pride in themselves, their skills, and abilities. I’d never heard a single story about an Amazon bowing before, but her I was looking at Tiona Hiryute, an Amazon of the Sixth Step, who shall be remembered for all time… bowing to a Kitsune only on her Second Step. “I’ll repay you. I’ll do anything for you. So, please, help me save Hachiman.”

The whole camp held its breath, awaiting Sanjouno Haruhime’s answer. A young woman who has been hurt by Amazons for as long as she could remember. Surrounded by Amazons, she cried out for help, as her power and body were used to accrue power for the Ishtar Familia, until that Familia was scattered, broken, and Kami-sama sent back to Heaven. From the dozens upon dozens of Amazon involved in the Familia, their business, and the Kitsune, only a handful was allowed to join the Hestia Familia, while the others were exiled for their actions from Orario, bereft of Falnas, and their Steps, until they can find Kami-sama’s willing to take them under their wing.

I expected to hear a refusal, or even an obscene request, yet instead I heard another answer altogether.

“I… I will help save Hikigaya-sama… without any cost.” Sanjouno Haruhime gripped Bell Cranel’s sleeve and couldn’t meet Tiona Hiryute’s earnest, but she gave the best possible answer nonetheless. “He helped save me. He gave me my new Familia. He gave me friends, trained me, and cares for me… I won’t let him be used like me, ever! So… please… allow me to help in saving him, Tiona-san!”

It was the first time I heard her voice, and it was somehow sweet and sad at the same time, but it also held an edge of steel that made all gathered stand taller. If this girl can speak with such strength, and be willing to give as much as she can for Hachiman, who were we to let our fears guide us away from the path that we should take?

With those words uttered, all gazes turned towards Riveria-sama, including my own.

“Fine, then. We mount an attack at sunset.” Though she sighed, shook her head, and tried to scowl as logic was thrown aside for the sake of emotion, a faint smile played across her face, as she looked upon the city of Melen for the first time since we’d escaped it. Her grip on her staff tightened and the slightest creaking of wood reached my ears, while the anger she’d repressed bubbled past her control at the sight of the city she now detested. “Everyone… prepare for battle against the Kali Familia!”

At those words, a weight in my heart lifted.

Hachiman… we’re coming for you!

Just as you always have for us!

Frustratingly, My Students Are Too Good (2.4)

…

Naturally, I started planning on how to escape my predicament the moment the psychological torture began.

Yes, by psychological torture, I mean the locker room talk courtesy of my guards.

My frail ego simply can’t handle being talked about like a piece of meat. I’m sure that quite a few men would be interested in the whole affair of becoming a slave/fucktoy of an Amazon, but that’s not the case for me. Now, I’m not one to look down on any fetish besides NTR, but I will ask you to reconsider your life choices, if you want to join a country where your entire gender is enslaved.

That’s adopting a whole lifestyle to cater to your fetish.

As a fellow man, I understand that we are all pretty much perpetually horny, except during the times of wisdom that come after achieving our goals… but I’m fairly sure that hard labor destroys the libido.

So, uhhh, consider that particular possibility, before you submit to a lifestyle of being whipped, stepped on, and worked hard night and day.

However, I’m digressing from explaining my escape plan.

I’m going to bust through the wall behind me and run into the city.

That’s it.

Between Continuous Haste and Continuous Empower, I can pump up my physical attributes enough to blow through the wall with relative ease, and escape from the Kali Familia with a little luck and whatever rescue attempt was coming for me. While I certainly demand a lot from my students, I’m sure I’ve got enough Sensei Points to warrant being rescued from a bunch of Amazons right away.

Not only that, but Loki’s a jealous bitch, who’ll do her best for her Familia no matter what.

Therefore, Wallenstein, Alf, and both Hiryutes will be along for the aforementioned rescue, because Loki will never pass up the opportunity to put me in her debt by rescuing me AND helping my students out.

So, overall, I just had to sit tight, keep calm, and keep my magic running until I reached the point where I was sure that I could bust through a stone wall.

At the very least, that was what I had planned to do, until the ground started rumbling the moment Kali finished her monologue.

…

A rumbling resounded through the city, dust fell from the walls of my cell, and the stone floor began to vibrate.

Being a Japanese man, I’m rather used to earthquakes, but those who lived in Melen weren’t. The moment everything began to shake, screams started to filter in through the small, barred window in my cell courtesy of the city’s inhabitants. Not only that, but even though Kali simply frowned and crossed her arms as a response, I heard yelps of surprise come from behind the door where her Amazons waited for her, while we spoke.

Telskyura, apparently, wasn’t a place that had earthquakes very often either… and now that I thought about it… Orario hasn’t had an earthquake in a long time, too.

While I considered the situation with the calm, collected nature of an individual who once lived in a place that experienced it routinely, a stray thought occurred to me.

One that I didn’t like at all.

“Oi, Kali, can you tell me what the entrance to the Dungeon looks like? The one you’ve found?” The Amazons who were unclasped my chains from the weights in the adjacent rooms glared at me, but they were struggling to stand straight due to the tremors. Still, the shaking continued and began to slowly intensify, and my stray thought was rapidly gathering steam, until I recollected a moment when I did feel the earth rumble in Orario. It was when monsters attacked the city from below. “How large was it? And… how close is it to Melen?”

Kali’s blank stare at my direction filled me with a little hope. For a second, I thought that a once-in-a-century event was occurring that will teach Melen that they need to build for large earthquakes, but that hope was dashed when the small, red-haired goddess with a skull mask turned to one of her Amazons.

“Recall everyone to the city walls. Evacuate this place and all the buildings you can.” Kali took the keys hanging from the wall and unlocked my cell door without hesitation. The goddess walked up to me without hesitation and met my gaze. No, her gaze wasn’t blank in the slightest. It was filled with calm typically found in commanders before battle. Shit. “The Dungeon area we found is near thirtieth floor, according to published accounts, and we found the Great Fall’s end at the 27th. The area we’ve located is several Dungeon floors in size, jungle-like, and is connected to the rest of the Dungeon through several passages.”

The rumbling intensified in a way that all my senses told me was unnatural for an earthquake, and upon paying attention, I found that my instincts were right. The harder movements, which made the bindings between stone and mortar crack, didn’t feel natural in the least. While the softer, general vibrations coursing through the city and my cell could be considered normal, the stronger waves was like a steady dream beat.

They held a pace, had direction, and a goal to achieve.

And, whatever that goal was, it wasn’t going to be good, so I swiftly put on my clothes and picked the goddess up, and ignored all the Amazons crying out as I started walking outside.

“Did your Amazons fight any monsters that looked like giant flowers? Ones that worked together, and struck with their stems and branches?” The Violas that attacked Orario months ago were never seen again, after I helped defeat that humanoid Monster. While an investigation was being conducted in regards to finding out who helped that thing put eggs all over the city, we never found anything, and it was left in the wayside when I had my episode. “Answer me. Quickly.”

Two Amazons walked up to me with weapons bared, and since they wore less than their counterparts and had white hair, I assumed that they weren’t what Kali considered fodder. However, the goddess I tucked under my arm held up a hand to stop their approach, and gestured to follow while I walked right out of their fortresses’ front door.

Kali’s Familia worked quickly. A lot of the houses in the street were being emptied, even if it meant picking people out from the topmost windows and carrying them off to the city walls. Naturally, a Familia with lots of practice in stealing people from other countries would know how to get them out of buildings fast, but I didn’t consider that for a second.

Instead, I leapt upward onto the nearest roof to take in the city, while Kali’s two Level 6s followed after us.

“There were several at first, but they ceased to be a problem, as soon as my Amazons purged their nests in the Dungeon’s pillars.” Pillars? Nests? I put Kali down beside me and her Amazons were quick to go to her side. I didn’t care, because I was doing something more important. Thinking, instead of reacting. A massive area with the “height” and width of several Dungeon floors? The more I heard, the more it sounded like someone weaponized my idea to make a Monster Farm… by making one beneath an entire city. “After that they ceased to find them, and began fighting solely creatures who entered it through the Dungeon’s passages.”

“What did the walls look like?” Kali frowned at my latest question, probably because none of her Amazons reported such information back to her, because it wouldn’t be something they’d looked for. So, I turned to one of the Level 6s, even though she was glaring at me for being a man with a spine. Fuck off. I’m trying to save all our lives. “Tell me. Now.”

I was sure that the woman was about to say something insulting, but a larger tremor shook the city and a few buildings fell in the distance, creating immense plumes of dust that surged upward before falling towards the city.

To the Level 6 Amazons credit, she didn’t need Kali to tell her to talk after seeing that.

“The ceiling is stone, but the walls are that of the Dungeons. The pillars are also of the Dungeon.” I got the answer I didn’t want most of all. The answer that told me that I was about to watch an entire city die. And, so would an entire country’s worth of Adventurers, if I didn’t act. “ Why do you ask—

I turned to Kali, and ignored the woman entirely.

“This is over. Evacuate your Familia and all the supplies you can. The city is already dead.” How many people are in this city? Ten thousand? Twenty thousand? Maybe, perhaps, even thirty? Kali couldn’t have any more than seventy Adventurers, perhaps a hundred if she didn’t leave any behind in her home country, and for what’s coming each and every single one of them will be needed. The rest of the people in Melen, meanwhile, wouldn’t even be able to fight against a Goblin. So, I made the call. “Every part of the Dungeon is a weapon that Monsters can use. The Pillars your Amazons saw are holding up Melen. What you’re seeing now is them killing this city.”

As if fate had a fetish for dramatic timing, the moment I uttered those words, the sound of earth, stone, and city giving away resounded throughout all of Melen, as its very center began to sink.

It was slow at first, and some of the screaming and hysteria of the city was silenced as it began to go, but soon enough it picked up speed, sinking ever faster, until rooftops disseapeared into the ground.

The sight was enough to give even Kali pause.

A pause that no one could afford.

“Dammit, you can be shocked later, you idiot! We need to go!” I didn’t hesitate to “manhandle” the small goddess in the slightest. While kicking the Kali Familia out was the original plan, that was no longer the case, now that the Dungeon and Evilus played their latest move. Melen’s destruction means Orario potentially being strangled due to lack of supplies. The only reason the port is untouched is because whoever set it up doesn’t want the Dungeon’s new opening being flooded by an entire river. Once monsters started coming out in force, and the port proper is lost, the war is going to be impossible to win. Thus, I had to change my objectives and plans entirely. “Get your people out of here now, you absolute moron!”

One of the Level 6s moved, I didn’t know which, as I shook their goddess and held her up.

I would’ve died, if not for the timely assistance of Tiona Hiryute, who I’d spotted rushing towards us along with everyone else while Kali and her Amazons were transfixed on the sinking city.

Not that I’d blame them for being distracted.

I nearly didn’t notice myself.

“Hachiman?” Tiona’s single query asked a lot of things, even as she pushed her opponent back to the point where the other Level 6 had to grab her fellow to keep her from flying off the rooftop. There was concern in her voice, not for the city sinking around us, but for me. I would’ve been touched, if not for the current situation.

“I’m fine. The city isn’t. Where’s Loki. This goddess is being useless.” At my words, and the mention of Loki, Kali blinked out of her surprised stupor and began struggling in my grip. I let her go once the beginnings of a smile began playing on her lips. It was the manic sort of smile, the sort a child got once they realized just how good of a present, they’ve received is, and that was exactly what I needed. “Or, maybe not.”

“Argana! Bache! To me, now!” The two Level 6s moved to protect their goddess at her command, while Kali directed her gaze at me for a second. Her smile turned into a grin, which only widened when Tiona placed herself between me and the goddess. Tch. I get that the two of you have some sort of history that’s important to the both of you… but how about surviving the fucking city sinking into the Dungeon!? “Gather all of our Familia. Get all of our weapons. We are relocating to the city’s port. The citizens must fend for themselves, as now the world entire is in jeopardy!”

Tch, apparently Kali’s brain still worked even while it was stuck. I’d planned on holding the Port, but it looks like me and mine are going have to hold the walls, and handle the impending crises about to erupt from Melen.

Cranel and the others arrived on the rooftop, but there were no cries of Sensei, any questions, as Kali’s Amazons left to do as they were asked.

Everyone could only watch and stare as Melen began to crumble and fall… while the familiar shapes of monsters began to move in the shadows.

“Kali’s Familia spotted Violas, so Viridis, Alf, and I are necessary. Everyone else needs to protect us and deal with any other monsters. Wallenstein, Cranel, the two of you need to move Loki somewhere safe and begin making stronger camp for us to stay in, before coming back.” I took command of the situation, evaluating all the possibilities, while everyone else present listened. Alf met my gaze, and I didn’t hesitate to give her nod, to tell her to correct me if I’m wrong. At this point, with this much on the line, I’d rather be called out than make a mistake. “Arde, transform, and fly to Orario. Talk to Hestia, tell her start buying everything she can from every market, with our funds… and ask everyone who can fight to come.”

My plan must’ve been good, because instead of making any corrections, Alf began to chant and nudged Viridis to do the same.

Or, so I thought.

Instead, Viridis came up to me with a package she carried on her back.

My weapons and armor, including my Mage Glove.

Yeah, I’d definitely needed that.

“Thanks, Viridis.” The city was crumbling around us. The plot twist I’d asked for and feared was happening, while I couldn’t do jack shit to stop it. All I could do was react, and I hated it, but it didn’t have to stay that way. For Monsters to do this, to attack with such precision and planning, someone must be controlling them. “Now… let’s see what we can do about this, eh?”

Whoever that person is… this time I’ll be taking them alive.

I need answers, because someone I knew definitely betrayed us.