Somehow, The Genre Has Changed (3.1)

…

While I am doing my best to avoid treating everyone and everything in the world I’ve found myself in like puppets with preset personalities, I never intended on treating the Dungeon like anything else than a giant mob spawner that goes apeshit when provoked, or when it senses blood. Sure, I’ll agree with anyone who tells me that treating Bell Cranel like a force of nature instead of a person is bad, but if you tell me that I should treat the monsters in the dungeon like they’re anything more than mindless mobs, I’ll laugh in your face.

Each and every monster in the Dungeon has preset movements, unless someone has the stupid idea of training them up and giving them more moves. Goblins always rush in groups of five, and run away if there’s not enough of them. Minotaurs go for wide swings or strong attacks, without making any feints, and never retreat no matter what. Even Violas have their own set patterns of attack. They like to thrash around, cause area damage, and funnel their enemies into the air where they can’t dodge, and they work together to trap their enemies.

If you perfectly categorize the monster, and study them properly, and have the right level of equipment, you can kill any of them.

It’s less of a delusion and more of the right way to actually approach monsters.

Unfortunately, with the current difficulty spike, that right was of approaching them is no longer applicable, because the genre has changed from RPG to RTS, while I’m still stuck on the former.

Whoever created the trap beneath Melen picked and chose which floors, spawn areas, all the monsters came within. They picked plenty of Minotaurs to make up the bulk of the troops, and backed them up with violas, and several monster species that could either attack from range or fly. In short, whoever I was facing not only took my idea of a monster farm, but applied the information I’d gathered on Monsters to create compositions that would be all but impossible for non-Adventurers to face.

And, if Adventurers faced them, they’ll have to contend with immense swarms that can only really be dealt with by Mages, which is in short supply outside of Orario.

To make a long story short, the only response that can answer this current issue is a cohesive, Adventurer-based army with plenty of magic at their disposal.

Unfortunately, my students just kicked Rakia to the curb, and Orario’s Familias are a bunch of idiots who are always competing with one another, so answering this situation by upgrading to RTS is impossible.

Therefore, the only option is to turn this into a Musou game.

If you’re going to throw mobs at me, with mid-bosses sprinkled all around them, then my answer’s definitely going to be sending in Lu Bu, who can somehow make tornadoes around him while swinging around his spear.

Except, Lu Bu in this case, is an expy of a certain blonde knight, with a fetish for white-haired boys instead of redheads and brunettes.

Is it fair to the mobs?

Absolutely not.

Which is why it’s the best.

…

I woke up just as Riveria entered my room.

“I’ll tell you what happened while you slept while you eat, Hachiman.” Judging by how tired the Elven Princess looked, and how she moved her cot without thinking, the situation in Melen hadn’t changed. Which is good, since we stabilized the situation before I had to withdraw from the fight, and knock myself out. “You can ask me questions after.”

She set my breakfast and her dinner on the small, squat table between our cots, and I sat up on my own cot. Most of Melen was gone, and most of the food we packed for the trips went to the refugees before we sent to Orario. However, one of those refugees was an innkeeper who was very happy to sell his inn and its contents to me, before trundling off to Orario.

Therefore, breakfast was a hearty beef stew, with potatoes, carrots, and onions, with a side of buttered bread, and all the meals for the rest of the day was going to be just as filling and nutritious.

By that I mean it’s also going to be beef stew with buttered bread.

It wasn’t a very good inn.

“Lili told me that a wagon of supplies will be arriving tomorrow, so this shall be the last day we have to continue eating this.” Lili? Who’s that? Oh, you mean Arde. Since when did the two of you get so close? Oh, right. The giant battle we’ve been fighting for almost two weeks. Continuously relying on other people to stay alive does make you a little closer to them. Just a little. “Another Monster Parade arrived last night, but as you predicted, the Dungeon is resting once more after seven days of armies battering our door.”

I was tempted to ask questions, but instead just focused on eating my food, and listening. The sooner I ate, the sooner I stepped back into the fight, and let everyone else rest.

“All those at the front are ready to rest, while the reserves are ready for your command. All three chokepoints at our side are holding, and the tower has been reinforced by all the archers we could find.” By the tower, Riveria meant the place where all the Mages were gathered, so that they could rain magic down on monsters while they advanced. It was just a blocky guard tower meant for watchmen, but with the city sunk the walls and towers were now the high ground. Very, very good high ground, now that it has archers lining it and keeping flying monsters from wasting Mind. “Most are humans, but there are a few skilled Elves capable of assisting those in depths, as well.”

I gave her a look and she shook her head.

“The aid I’ve called for is still mustering. My people were celebrating Rakia’s defeat; thus, my people were slow to answer. Festivities dull the mind too much.” The Elven Princess shook her head, probably disappointed in her people, but to her concerns I could only shrug. Her people were doing much better than the rest of the world. “Hmph, just because we are doing more than sending foolish threats, as well empty promises, does not excuse our poor showing. The Dwarves are already here, and it will be a shame that we will hear of for centuries.”

Unsurprisingly, the kingdoms of the world weren’t ready for the situation at hand. Most human kingdoms were enjoying the peace and prosperity given by having gods and magic in their daily life, so there weren’t many standing armies to come marching to Melen’s aid, especially when having an army is a good way to invite Rakia to your country. The various Beast-people were scattered all over the world in tribes, generally living alongside human, so they weren’t much help either.

Naturally, the longer-lived races like the Pallum, Elves, and Dwarves were better prepared. For a human, something terrible happening in hundred years is likely at the end of their lifetime, while the those with longer lives had to think farther ahead… especially when the “defenders of the world” were the Familias in Orario. I mean, if I’m going to live for a few hundred years, and I was relying on the likes of Loki, Hestia, and Ganesha to protect the world, I’ll be sure to have something ready just in case they fuck up.

Especially when larger, stronger Familias, like the Zeus and Hera Familias, fuck themselves over and implode.

Basically, it’d be stupid of them not to be prepared for Monsters possibly returning, so they’re getting here.

“The Pallum will be arrived before my people, but they’re bringing numbers with them, as well as all the Familias amongst them. They promise at least three dozen Children of the Gods, but most are only of the Second Step, but they are trained, capable soldiers and mages.” Which means that the Pallum are committing everything they have, possibly leaving themselves up for invasion by opportunistic idiots at their borders. Jeez, humanity, the race of shotas and lolis are marching off to war for the entire world, committing everything, and all I’m getting from our people is promises of support, well wishes, and blustering threats to hold the line? “The Dwarves are already beginning to look for ruins to break down in the countryside, for materials to use in building seals, as well as artillery.”

Now, with news from the outside finished, I only had to suffer through the news from Orario.

“The gods are still holding their meeting. According to Hestia and Loki-sama’s letters, the strongest Guilds are committed to working together, but they differ in their goals.” Riveria, surprisingly, frowned despite usually having nothing but good things to say about gods. “The Freya Familia and those who follow them say that launching an assault into the Dungeon would be the wisest course of action, as they can stop the flow of monsters into our world. The Ganesha Familia, however, attests that joining us here at Melen would ensure Orario stays strong and will keep the flow of resources flowing throughout the world.”

Both plans were surprisingly reasonable, but what wasn’t was the fact neither plan was currently happening. I’m fine with either thing happening, so just do it! Either open up another front, or send reinforcements that lets Melen work again! Both of those are very good options, since it means the situation gets handled. Stop competing and just decide!

“Loki-sama and Hestia-sama both say that they’ll make a decision by tomorrow, but after that shall require time we must buy.” Either of the ideas will need the commitment and usage of Orario resources. Every expedition needs to be self-sufficient, from potions, spare weapons, and food, and Orario is limited in resources, even if its not going to starve, because Kali is holding the port and surprisingly letting through what she could. Whatever the case, Orario can only make one, solid push to fix the issue, and if they fail Orario is at risk. “And… that is all that I can think of that you need to know, Hachiman. Questions?”

I had a few, but I knew I could get them elsewhere, and Riveria was actually looking at her food hungrily instead of ignoring it or scowling at it.

So, I stood up, stretched, and moved to put my on my coat.

“There’s no need to act tough. Get some rest and relax after you do, Riveria.” I was tempted to call her Ojou-sama for old time’s sake, but I wasn’t going to force her into an argument, when she can finally eat and rest for the first time in 24 hours. “I’ll see you at the end of my shift, and ask my questions if no one else knows the answers.”

Riveria gave me a thankful smile at that, and hesitated for a second, before speaking again with a blush that made me very, very nervous.

“Have a safe journey, and return safely, Hachiman.” For a split second, I interpreted those words as they were. It was just Riveria telling me to stay safe and come back. Not much too it—and then the fact that we were sharing a room, having meals together, and talking about our days together smashed into my brain like a ton of bricks. The blush, the context, and the words combined into a battering ram of an attack on my senses. “I’ll see you soon.”

Woman, don’t just hit me with cohabiting couple-speak at the start of my day! How am I supposed to not think about the entire… day…?

Oh, goddammit.

We’re fighting a war for the sake of the entire world, and you Elves are all still trying to one up each other!?

…

The little place we located to act as our base outside of Melen used to be a stable, where horses would be kept for messengers heading from Melen to Orario and the countries that surrounded it. The horses and messengers led the people of Melen who were rescued towards Orario, and other countries if they had relatives nearby, while we made it our base since it was just a few minutes away on foot from Melen for an Adventurer.

It used to be surrounded by trees, but now it was a small, organized tent city courtesy of the Loki Familia, the Hestia Familia, and Orimoto’s personal group of vagabonds.

And, speaking of Orimoto…

“Guh. I want… to die…

“Kid… if you die and leave me with all this… I’ll kill you myself.”

The people from the Rivira, otherwise known as Under Resort, were an asset that paid off thrice over. Since they were made up of Adventurers who lived in the Dungeon, and were price-gouging jerks who lived their lives off of very little, they not only worked as frontline soldiers, but people who could help out with management of supplies.

And, by that, I mean they helped us gouge the market for the sudden scarcity of both Orario’s goods and outside goods, so we could fund and operate.

I helped by giving them capital.

“Yo. Do the two of you need more money, or are you fine?” Both Orimoto and Bors only fought once every few days, since they were the most financially competent. Therefore, they were relegated to office-work hell most of the time, and were keeping track of the flow of supplies coming towards our base and out of it. While most supplies were technically spoken for in Orario, I didn’t hesitate to be ruthless and use the power of money to buy them for a higher price, and pawn them off to the two professional racketeers to make us what we need. All’s fair in war, as they say. “Or, maybe, a few clerks to help you out?”

“Bah, the last guys you sent could barely read! Don’t waste our time, unless you’ve gota actual scholars or something!” Bors griped and Orimoto nodded along, holding her hand up and stretching it while half-collapsed on the crate that she used for a desk. I felt sorry for her. Not enough to help her, or even offer helping her, but I did. Honest. “And, yes, we need more money! The prices of EVERYTHING is going up!”

“Alright, how much do you need?”

“Six million Valis.”

“I’ll give you twelve.”

“Twelve thousand!?”

“Twelve million, idiot.”

“O-Oh.”

“Hilarious. Heh, Bors, you’re talking to the type of guy who doesn’t spend anything, and doesn’t care about money.” Oi, Orimoto, you’re saying that like it’s a bad thing. You should be saying that like its super cool. Yes. Indeed, Hikigaya Hachiman is the sort of man who just has money and doesn’t use it, unless he needs to. Nevermind. That doesn’t sound cool at all. “Anyway, Hachiman, the order you had me make is through… and that shop said it’ll be here in a week… but what exactly did you buy for three hundred million Valis?”

Bors broke a little at that number, while I answered Orimoto.

“A contingency plan, courtesy of my student, just in case things get too rough.” I looked over the receipt that Orimoto struggled to hand over to me, and found everything was in order. Leona actually gave me a discount. On my next purchase. That sneaky, old bitch. “I’ll either use it on the monsters, or on Orario, if they keep slacking on their response.”

“…Hilarious, H-Hachiman. That’s a good joke, hahah! You’re not going to use that on Orario… right?”

Oh, so she knows about what Cranel made, and what I ordered… and had made from Udaeus instead.

“Yeah, sure. Let’s go with that. It was totally a joke.”

Yes. I am totally not going to threaten to nuke Orario with a Lightning Storm powered by a Monster Rex from the 37th floor, if they don’t get off their asses and help me.

“Totally. A. Joke.”

And, keep me and mine on the frontlines while they sip juice, eat well, and do what they want for their egos.

“Totes a joke.”

Somehow, The Genre Has Changed (3.2)

…

Gareth Landrock and Finn Deimne were surprisingly being giant, freaking nerds about the possibility of the world ending.

“Hmmm, Hikigaya-san, what’d you think about my proposal to make a ramp leading into the Dungeon?” On the surface, the ramp seemed like a good idea. We have plenty of superhuman laborers, and the more money I spent to keep money circulating the better. Not only that, but Landrock’s proposal will benefit the town in the future, too. Being able to recycle an entire city’s worth of material will make rebuilding a new Melen much easier. However, that’s not what the ramp was for. “With some cavalry, we can deploy counter-charges against the Monsters—

“Request denied. Horses are cool, but they’re slow.” Loki’s Dwarf seemed to sink a little at my words, while I took in the command center. It was sparse, because everyone presents usually fought at the front. We’re essentially a bunch of officers who meet up in the morning, give each other our plans, and support one another. Upper management will have to be implemented later to ease up on headaches, once all the other Familias arrived, but until then I was content with just touching base with the Loki Familia and commanding the independent forces that came along. “And, Deimne, your idea of making reinforced outposts is worthless, because anyone manning it and making sure it continues standing is better off just fighting at the front.”

My words made the blonde Pallum with a purple shirt beneath a gold-colored cuirass sigh with disappointment at his proposal being discarded.

Given the severity of the situation, with the stuff of legends occurring right before them, I understood that they wanted to do cool shit. Heck, I wanted to do cool shit too. At this rate, with our current strategies and plans, whoever’s going to be writing about Melen will be talking mostly about frontlines being rotated out, siege weapons being built, and plugs for the Dungeon’s new exits being made. Sure, battle’s being waged, but it’s a boring, cut-and-dry affair that quite frankly lacks any danger or thrill whatsoever.

Because, even if it’s boring as hell, it’s the right way to do things.

The map of Melen at the center of the tent was one I’d scouted with the help of my students. While some would wonder why I’d bothered to search a literal ruin, besides looking for survivors, it was important that we knew our battlefield. While it was easy to focus on the giant tunnels that monsters poured out of, being able to use the ruins to our advantage let us use Level 1s and 2s from Orario who’d usually die, by implementing the age-old strategy of making sure I can tell people what to do so they don’t get themselves killed.

Small, wooden towards in quarter-kilometer intervals formed a grid within the collapsed city. Each one was a numbered landmark that a warrior can use to readily use to determine where they are, and each one had a bell and a horn that could be rung. The bells told the warriors that their shift was ending, and the new troops were going to relieve them, while the horn was only used for emergencies, which called upon Wallenstein, or any of the other heavy hitters. It was a basic communication system, but they worked, and will work even better with the newest addition.

Each one was now going to get a flag that they can raise to attract the attention of people manning the walls, so that a scout could be sent over to them to get vital information. I knew about flag signaling, and using drums to coordinate armies, but that was about as far as my knowledge went. I just knew about them, and I didn’t happen to have a helpful encyclopedia lodged into my brain that’ll let me teach it to a bunch of illiterate hicks who fell for Orario’s promises of glory. In essence, I’m too stupid to teach the stupid people anything more than ring the bell, blow the horn, and wave the flag.

Anyway, back to Melen’s map, which was updated by Riveria and whoever was helping her out, before they went home.

“We’re being pushed back.” The entire, first line of the towers were now unmanned and basically only working as markers of how far the Dungeon has advanced with our current strategy. With everyone fighting at the same time, pushing the monsters back into the tunnels is easy, but with our strength separated into three shifts, the Dungeon was naturally going to be able to push back, especially since I wasn’t going to let any of my few soldiers and allies die. “At this rate, we’ll be pushed through half the city before the Pallum arrive, and the Dwarves will have to move and waste time.”

“No, it’s worse, Hikigaya-san. The more ground we lose the more monsters arrive.” Deimne stopped feigning disappointment and levelled the tip of his spear towards our map. He gestured towards the original frontline and then the new one. The width of the area that monsters could use basically tripled. Well. Shit. “While Gareth’s idea was a joke to lighten the mood, it now how merit. If we cannot push the line back today, we must be ready to perform a quest of sorts to quell the enemy’s territory significantly.”

“Yeah, I see it. Your miniature castles might work now too, if we find a way to supply them.” If our lines collapsed, we’ll need to use people as bait within the ruins of Melen to keep the monsters inside. In essence, we’ll be prodding the Dungeon to keep attacking the volunteers, and making sure the enemy stays inside the city. One look at Deimne’s face, though, told me he’d rather not have his idea used, but I shelved it just in case. I didn’t tell him thought, because I’d rather he be pissed off at me after I did it, rather argue with him before I had to do it. “Tch, this wouldn’t be an issue if we actually had help.”

If two of the three shifts were taken up by another Familia, I could concentrate everyone I knew into a single team. However, as it stands, everyone from the Loki Familia, and my own students, had to be spread out amongst those who came to help. It was necessary in order to make sure our causalities remained light and able to return to battle after being healed. The average Adventurer, even those who learned from the classes I set forth, needs the help of stronger veterans in order to learn, survive, and fight back. Even if they’re skilled at taking enemies on one at a time, and are decently equipped, they don’t have the experience necessary to tackle on whole lines of monsters and live.

“We could create a fourth shift. One that will persist so that the greatest of two shifts can work together for a time.” Landrock stroked his beard and shifted his helmet in his hand. Instead of the map, he looked towards the roster of three shifts behind us, which we used to know who was under our command and who we needed to fetch before going to rest. Sorry, fantasy-land, but I’ve introduced corporate, “flexible” scheduling to your world. “Volunteers only.”

I’m sure that many CEOs would have a hard time containing their throbbing, girthy wallets at those words. In essence, we were going to ask people to “voluntarily” do overtime without pay, in order to “help everyone else out.” We’re going to take advantage of the nature of Adventurers, who wanted to be recognized, get more power, or maybe protect people, in order to get the results that we wanted without using anymore resources than we had.

“No. That put too much risk on everyone. If Wallenstein misses even one of her shifts, because she needs to recover, we’ll lose more ground than we gain.” And, Wallenstein’s not even the strongest in this current situation. While she’s certainly strong, and all the monsters coming through can’t even break her step, she won’t experience Mind Down unless she really overuses her totally-not-Invisible-Air. “And, what if a Mage runs out of Mind, and has a full stomach of potion? What’ll we do with one of our mages out for at least an entire day?”

AoE is basically carrying our fight. While Viridis, Riveria, and I were doing a lot of the work, it’s still a fact that the rest are contributing and helping out immensely against the current threat. Magic is magic, especially when you have plenty of Mind Potions at hand to keep casting. However, again, they’re not veterans of long battles, or have the ability to just not care about the cost of Mind. It’s completely possible that one or two will experience Mind Down and need more than just potions.

If one of them falls, one of the three of us will need to pick up the slack, and while I can persist… Riveria and Viridis can’t.

“I agree with Hikigaya-san, Gareth. It’s too much of a risk, especially with our few assets. However, the idea does have merit that you both may have ignored.” Deimne had a sly smile on his fair face that made my heart skip a beat. No, not like that. My heart only belongs to Totsuka in that way. No, I meant Cranel. Wait, don’t I have a girlfriend? “We need more hands aboard, so that we can reorganize and push against the enemy… so why not turn our attention to our allies in the docks?”

What the hell? That’s a stupid idea. Give me back the heartbeats my heart skipped!

“Rejected. Those Amazons are just as useless as their goddess.” The Kali Familia has made sure trade with the outside world has continued; however, they’ve done little besides that. And, I was fine with them staying that way, so that there’s no issue with Orario’s Familias kicking them to the curb once they arrived, either by their own will or by me dragging them to Melen. Unfortunately, both my fellow leaders for the day looked at me with expectant gazes filled with understanding. Genuine understanding and concern. My only weakness! “No. Its not because they wanted to rape me and treat me like an animal. I want them gone from Melen. They’re already currying up to the traders, so if the word gets around to the rest of the world that they also “fought to close the Dungeon.” We might never get rid of them.”

“Ah, you’re looking to achieve a greater victory. One that ensures that Kali-sama’s Familia is removed from Melem.” Deimne crossed his arms, and I already knew what he was about to say. “One that one might say is too much a risk for such dire circumstances, no?”

Why must my life involve people who are smarter than me, but not shitty enough for me to tell them to fuck off? I really don’t mind smart people existing, as long as they’re not involved in my life, or assholes who I can just tell ignore. Can’t I just live a perfect life where I’m either right, or am morally correct all the time? I don’t think I’m asking for much. Only that I’m the protagonist of my own life, instead of a side character that gets shown up.

Hm? Is that me pretending this world isn’t real again?

No.

It’s just me regretting not being a better person, which is just me.

“Fine. Fine! FINE! Send them messengers and force them to get over here and pull their weight!” I’m sure Deimne and Landrock worked together in order to get this point across to me over the last few days. Denying trying to get reinforcements from a world power on our literal doorstep, with the fate of the world on our shoulders, is the same as trying to make a ramp for a cavalry charge or making fortresses in the middle of a ruin. Couldn’t the two of you have gone behind my back and broken the trust I had in you, instead of telling me I’m wrong in a way I’ll remember forever? I mean, sure, trust is great, but have you ever considered being someone I can tolerate? I hear it’s pretty great. “And, if don’t want to come… yes… I’ll threaten them into getting involved just like I’m threatening everyone else!”

The Dwarf and Pallum shared a look of camaraderie that made me sick to my stomach, while I left to actually do something important.

It’s bad enough that they’re normies who contribute to society and are heroes amongst their people.

They’re smart, too.

Fuck these guys.

They should try being average and having talents society doesn’t like!

That’ll show them!

Wait, did I just say my life is suffering compared to normal people?

Damn you, normies, you’re making me hate my entire life while I’m trying to put you all down!

…

The morning went by pretty quickly.

I get to my post, started blasting lighting down into the sunken city, and popped all the monsters that I came from.

As much as I hated the idea of getting the Kali Familia involved, so that we could reorganize our lines and make something that could push back the flow, I felt the change between yesterday and today very quickly.

The monsters didn’t just get more space to mass up and crash on our lines, but there was also less places for me to hit for maximum damage. As strong as my spells are, especially when given time to ramp up, its area of effect doesn’t change much without large clumps of monsters to be very useful conductors. Therefore, now that they had more space, I was less effective.

And, I’ll remain less effective until we start pushing them back into a smaller area, which we couldn’t afford since I’m one of the three cornerstones of the ranged defenses.

Thankfully, an old idea came to mind, which I could use.

“Oi, Challia, I need you to send a message for me.” Dionysus, thankfully, kept up his bargain of assisting against Evilus, even though that only meant sending only one Adventurer our way. As far as I’m concerned, since he sent his one and only Adventurer, he’s given practically as much as Hestia and Loki towards the fight. His one contribution, after all, is still 100% of his Familia and she was also willing to take on the hardest duty. “I need you to get to Orario and give a message to the Hephaestus Familia.”

Being a cellphone.

I’d have quit getting the job instantly, but she was willing to do it, even if she wasn’t very enthusiastic about it.

Hell, I’d have been more creeped out if she was enthusiastic about it.

The black-haired elf garbed in white sighed, and shook her head before looking my way.

“What do you need? I hope its something useful this time, instead of a message to tell your lover to stay in Orario, until you call for her.” Oi. How lewd are you? How can you say the word “lover” without so much as a blush? Are you a High Elf? An Elf who’s so lewd that they don’t even blush at things that other Elves would be reduced to mute messes? “Well, Hikigaya-san? I’m waiting.”

Nevermind, it’s actually refreshing to talk to an Elf who’s not a pervert and actually gets pissed off.

How this taciturn, normal Elf gets along with the likes of Viridis, I’ll never know.

“Go to Crozzo. Tell him that I need a five dozen of my old swords, but twice as large, immediately.” I’ve stopped using my conductor a while ago, simply because my Mage Glove was finished and it did a fine job letting my condense, amplify, and control my lightning. However, now that I had issues with sending lighting all over the place, they had a use again as receivers that’ll send lightning splashing everywhere. “I’m going to make a lightning field. One that’ll hopefully push these monsters back.”

Flivis blinked at my words for a moment, as if really expecting that I just had another message for Ryuu, but stood up quickly after hearing about magic and killing monsters.

“It’ll be done before the sun sets. You can rely on me, Hikigaya-san.” With a prim and proper bow, completely out of place on a tower looking over the entire battlefield, Filvis accepted her mission. “Good luck in your battles today.”

I turned my back to her and gave her a wave, as she leapt from the tower and hit the ground running.

Once she was gone, I looked to Elven “male” who arrived a week ago to lend his bow to the fight.

“Follow her, Lyon.” I looked at the land we’d lost ever since Filvis arrived and restrained myself from turning my lightning upon the Elf putting her all to get back to Orario. The evidence isn’t conclusive. I won’t do anything, until I’m sure she betrayed us. However, once I’m sure… well… there’s a lot to do once that’s the case. “Keep to the skies. People always forget to look up.”

With a nod, at my commands, Lyon leapt into the sky and vanished once she activated both the Hades Head and Talaria, I’d bought from Asfi Al Andromeda.

The winged sandals and the helmet of invisibility cost me half of my entire fortune, but it was money well spent, if it helped me catch a few traitors.

And, well, I guess… kept Lyon safe too.

Interlude: The Empress

…

After so long, I wished to see him struggle against all odd once more.

When he’d fallen to despair, I’d first rejoiced. I was witnessing another side of my beloved, as he lamented the loss of someone he held so dearly. Who wouldn’t wish to see the entirety of the one they love?

Who did not imagine being truly lamented upon their passing?

When he’d cried out, lashed out, and waged war for the sake of his student, whose love for him he did not even know, I initially watched with bated breath.

For someone who didn’t capture him completely, for someone who he didn’t consider the entirety of his entire world, he became a tyrant that sought to upturn everything.

So, at first, I watched him with bated breath, every day, until my mortal frame could not withstand fatigue any longer.

However, after perhaps only a few days, I found myself no longer looking upon the man who held my heart, but a being who had his face, and carried out the results of equations.

Hikigaya Hachiman became nothing more than an unfeeling robot, which felt nothing, remembered no one, and simply did as logic dictated. The rage, sorrow, and hatred he first showed, which enamored me to him again and again, faded into a placid calm.

The man I loved disappeared, replaced by a puppet, and I lamented.

I lamented until, one day, he returned.

The circumstances of his return irked me. Those who yearned for him came forth in droves, after he was awakened by a kiss. Some were worthy of his affections, while others simply scrambled forward in his moment of weakness.

But it was a small price to pay for his return, especially as he tried to change himself, and began to unveil what lay beyond the surface.

His imperfect perfection shone clearer and clearer with every passing day, and with some effort, I could see his old self with proper instigation.

However, a part of me still wanted to see THAT part of him.

The portion of him that was filled with rage, hurt, and pain, who lashed out against the entire world, and the world could do nothing but wallow in shame at itself. His true anger and spite, before he was overcome by single-minded duty, thrilled me beyond anything else in the entire world.

So, I wondered if it were possible for him to reach such a state without becoming a puppet… and the perfect opportunity arose for me to try.

…

“Ottar, how is their progress today?”

“Steady, Freya-sama.” Ottar loomed behind me, as I watched the assembly of gods through my mirror. The throng of immortals mingled as groups with differing ideologies. Inaction and action. Prudence over overzealousness. Profit vs righteousness. “Loki-sama’s faction is steadily gaining allies, as more news of Melen arrives.”

Loki moved with Hestia, and with them moved Dionysus, Hermes, Hephaestus, Miach, and even Soma. Seven gods backing an immediate response to Melen, alongside Ganesha, ought to have settled matters completely. Lesser gods are impatient, and prefer action over politic. They also intended to enjoy the new Event as much as possible, and enter history alongside their Familia.

The combination of all three factions ought to have had Melen reinforced by Adventurers the very first week of Loki’s return.

However, against that large coalition, I held the line for the sake of my love.

“Increase our number of bribes. Open the second treasury. Offer enchanted weaponry.” Ottar nodded and awaited me. From the small desk by my chair, next to a decanter of wine, I took my journal and wrote my orders. I signed the paper and provided it to my beautiful child, who went to do as I bid. Then, I turned to one of my other children. “How goes our procurement of supplies?”

“The storerooms are filled with dried and preserved goods. We have enough to provide for all of Orario for a single season.” Allen reported calmly and concisely. Though I grew melancholy from looking upon the creature that replaced my beloved, I still paid it much attention. I watched, listened, learned, and applied all it did, as I avoided its singular, unthinking path. Money, influence, and power are to be expended, as without use they are worthless. Action may have its cost, but so does inaction. Sometimes, even, not acting entails a greater cost. “We are purchasing warehouses to store more, but for now we are focusing on purchasing fresh produce and distributing them to keep prices low, as you commanded.”

The unfeeling creature that replaced Hachiman showed me how easy it is to win the hearts of the masses. While others vied for glory, fame, and power, until the common man could no longer oppose them and they could rule Orario, they all fell against those who sought to do the same. However, in the span of a few months, he took hold of Orario to thunderous applause by providing for the common people.

He did away with crime, rivalled and destroyed businesses with monopolies, and broke everything that held down the people, thus they loved him for it.

And, he used that love callously, carelessly, and made an army the world has never seen before, and set it loose upon the Dungeon.

Hmmm, perhaps, I was wrong.

There is something about even his boring mask that is exciting as well, simply as a result of its actions.

However, that mattered not for the moment, and what did was what I could do to forestall Orario’s march.

“Take the rest of the funds in the first treasury room reserved for making farms and growing produce and focus on purchasing more fresh produce.” The alliance between Ganesha and Loki’s allies were working very quickly. I’d initially entertained stalling for several seasons, patiently waiting to see what he would do as Monsters spilled into the rest of the world. However, even if the kingdoms of humanity were easily influenced, the Elves, Dwarves, and Pallum were marching, and hastening Orario’s own, as Adventurers lusted for glory. “Hmmm, with any excess from the treasury room, begin purchasing weaponry to sell as armaments and replacements.”

“As you wish, Kami-sama!”

As Allen vanished to fullfill his duties, only Hogni and Hedin remained with me in my room.

I gestured for Hogni to speak first and he preened at my attention.

“The Ikelos Familia is moving quickly, as you suspected, they are doing something with all the funds they have gained from operating the black market, as well as the manpower they’ve gained from all the criminals left without organizations.” Hogni spoke without his usual flair of pageantry, since I asked him to speak to me formally when giving reports. I enjoyed his flamboyance and fantastical sensibilities, but such things were best left in private. I can enjoy his cuteness when a threat to Orario did not loom in the horizon, but was instead right next to it. “Hedin believes that they are close to finishing Knossos, the Man-Made Dungeon, after all this time.”

I considered their report on the black market at the beginning of Melen’s fall. The prices charged by many vendors increased tenfold, while those in the black market increased a hundredfold. However, the Ikelos Familia needed far more funds than any portion they could’ve gained, as Hachiman’s efforts crippled the market. Perhaps, if it were at the height of its potential and power, the black market in these current times could accrue them all the funds they needed… but such wasn’t the case.

“There’s more to this than meets the eye. Perhaps… they are selling something else during this chaos? Something that is in high demand now that the Casinos are rubble?” I mused and both my Dark Elf and Elf looked upon me with surprise and awe. Once, I would’ve simply accepted their affection without a thought, but now I luxuriated in their unsaid praise. With my own mind, and my own wisdom, I discerned something they both did not consider. It felt very, very good. “I want both of you to search any carriage leaving their territory. No. Take the newest of our Familia and search the outside of Orario for exits that are not supposed to exist.”

If I were using my Divine power, both my children would sing my praises, empty words born of power alone, but due to my actions they instead both bowed and moved quickly as they quarrelled.

“I told you that we should’ve investigated more, you fool!”

“You agreed that it was best to provide quick, accurate information rather than conjecture!”

They griped and groaned at one another all the way to the door, but I could only smile as they took the knowledge and orders I’d given them as a sign that they needed to improve themselves.

My Familia, my children, are growing stronger with Hachiman’s help.

However, I knew that until he stood beside me to question my commands, to provide his own mind, and be mine… my Familia will be incomplete.

Until that day came, I can only hope to grasp a shard of the dream that yearned for.

…

Hermes glared at me from the shadows, as I left Babel to join the other gods for the day’s meeting.

My Familia guarding me I moved to put themselves between him and I, until I held up my hand, and spoke to him.

“Come, Hermes, I would like to hear what you have to say.” The streets surrounding Babel typically teemed with Adventurers, and such was still the case with the Guild promising to continuing to pay the same rates for drops and Magic Stones. Ouranos was well prepared for this disaster, as I’d expected. “Let us walk together to meet everyone.”

The number of eyes upon me, let alone my guard, will ensure that Hermes didn’t do anything drastic, despite his ire. He knew what I was doing, that I was stalling Orario’s march to war, but if he declared them, I would simply state I was putting all I had towards ensuring Orario’s safety. I led the faction which opposed Orario marching recklessly into battle, therefore it is only natural that I would use more than words to oppose the reckless fools who wished for the entire city to rush to Melen, no?

No one will believe the truth.

That I would let the world die, if it meant getting someone I wanted.

My reputation was beyond him, even before her first set foot on mortal lands.

“… I’ll take you up on that offer, Lady Freya.” Any mortal looking upon him would only see a cocky smile and a confident stride, but I knew the masks of my fellows well. To me his smile might as well have been a deep scowl complete with eyes ablaze with fury. However, I knew him to well to be swayed by his emotions. His frustration is born not out of true care and compassion, but out of desire to be entertained. Such is the case for most gods. “So… how’s your little stalling tactic going? Have you run out of money yet?”

My children tensed at his words, but I calmed them, as Hermes would only benefit from their aggressive reactions. Thankfully, my control over my beloved Familia is absolute, and my guards calmed with a single wave of my hand.

Hermes’ frown was quite cute, but I cared little for it.

“I’m afraid so. My coffers are running nearly empty, even with Ottar going forth and gathering Valis.” I lied to Hermes, and enjoyed his scowl, as I smiled at him while telling the truth. He is a capable god, but many others are capable as well. I would not have my place in Orario, if I were stopped by merely capable rivals. It is true that two of my treasuries are emptying, but I have a dozen more. And, of course, this entire affair won’t last as long as I wish it to no matter what. “I’m afraid that it won’t last as long as I wish, and that you’ll soon get your way alongside all your fellows, Hermes.”

Hermes was silent for a moment, before speaking again.

“You’re playing a dangerous game Freya. Even if you want something to happen, you shouldn’t put the entire world at risk.” Hermes looked at my guards with the futile hope that one of them would attempt to attack him, but my children’s discipline did not waver upon his insinuations. His shoulders slumped ever-so-slightly as his hopes for an altercation were destroyed. “Think about it. What will happen to your Orario, if the whole world is lost? Do you think Ouranos will let us stay in Orario, instead of scattering us all over the world to fight?”

Hermes’ implications would’ve given me pause a decade ago, but upon hearing them now, I couldn’t help but smile as I answered him.

“Ouranos won’t move.”

Hermes suddenly stopped upon seeing my smile, and I gave him the courtesy of stopping as well.

“Why not?” Hermes challenged my words with clenched fists. He struggled to keep his silly smile for bystanders to see, even though many of Hachiman’s trained Adventurers passing by could easily see how his shoulder shook. “Why won’t Ouranos do it, Freya?”

His trembling and fear excited me a little, but it quickly faded, so I simply gave him a smile while offering him the truth.

“Because I will move.”

Hermes swallowed dryly at my words, gulping for air for a few moments, as he considered my words. There was astonishment in his gaze, as well as incredulity. However, both emotions faded and were replaced by fear. A deathly pallor overtook his face, as he searched me for lies, and found none at all.

Why?

Because, while he and so many others regarded Hachiman as a passing curiosity, I crawled upon my knees, eschewed my pride, and gave everything I had to take every scrap of knowledge he offered from the moment I found him.

Now, as they all desperately try to adapt, I am ready.

This world that he has made is one that have prepared myself for, so that I could pursue him, so that I could take him, and so that I can make him mine. For the sake of overcoming him, for the sake of opposing him, and for the sake of feeling his hatred once again, I took everything and anything I could.

In doing so, no other could challenge me besides him.

Not the world.

Not my fellow gods.

Not even Ouranos.

And, if they tried, I will face them and overcome them.

Because, since I already have Bell-kun, and half my dream is already realized, why would I even consider losing?

Somehow, The Genre Has Changed (3.3)

…

“Hachiman-kun, this is my father, the Larfal Ljos Alf King of the High Elves, and Protector of the Forest. He has come to heed the ancient pact that the High Elves will march to defend the world entire.”

“Yo. Are you for or against hitting Orario with a typhoon, so that all the gods get off their asses?”

“Hachiman!”

Alf’s natural response to me was to reach out and pinch my cheek. However, I chose to instead to stay steadfast on my path. I met the gaze of Larfal Ljos Alf, who wore actual plate armor complete with a kickass helmet with a crown, and willed for the King of High Elves to give me an answer. His daughter was very intent on getting a response from me, tugging furiously on my cheek, but I stayed my course, and crossed my arms while the Pallum and Dwarven leaders looked upon me.

“…I shall abstain from voting, until I have heard both arguments to and for the endeavor.” Dammit, since the Dwarves said no to the idea, I’d thought the Elves would say yes without even thinking. Hm? What’s that? I shouldn’t base my decisions off of racial stereotypes? You misunderstand. I’m not being racist. I’m just assuming that people are unoriginal and will do what they always do: fuck over people don’t like without thinking. “You are as coarse and unrepentant, as my daughter implied in her letters to me.”

“Yeah, yeah. You can threaten me later, after you make a decision.” The Elves sent ahead a vanguard to assist us ahead of their main force. Part of that force, besides the very helpful mages and archers, were officers I spoke with who now looked upon their King with joy. The same joy any office worker would have for their boss, after days of work, and resisting giving an answer on behalf of their superior to save their own sanity. If I was less of a good person, I’d have pressured the middle-managers more, but I felt too bad to do it when two of them actually started crying. “I’m going to kill shit, until you all make a decision.”

I moved to get out of the command cabin, which replaced the command tent last night, courtesy of me making asking a few Elves very politely to shape some wood into building.

Hm?

Well, of course, they were the two that I brought to tears piling everything little thing I could unto.

They needed a break and some fresh air from all the office work, y’know?

Anyway, unsurprisingly, Alf didn’t let go of my cheek as I made my way out of the cabin and began walking towards the battlements.

“Hachiman… I know that you are intensely disdainful of the current situation, but you should’ve at least introduced yourself properly to my father.” Alf chided me and ignored the stares and looks of her many fellows on the battlements raining fire into the crater below. I didn’t know what was worse. The fact that she was getting more comfortable invading my personal space, or the fact that so many Elves were starting to not care. Hmmm… can both things just be the absolute worst thing ever? “You are frustrated at our lack of progress, but you must act according to your station.”

“Tch. Easy for you to say. You’re good at dealing with politics, leading, and people.” C’mon, you high-spec, literal princess, get a freaking clue! Do I look like the sort of guy who can lead an alliance of races, and hold back the apocalypse? “I’d like for this shitty situation to end, get all these people out of here, and go back to just exploring the Dungeon.”

The current situation is stable.

Hell, I’ll go as far as to say that it’s actually manageable.

Once the Pallum arrived, we’d gone from three shifts to two shifts, courtesy of me politely asking Kali to help us out with her Amazons… with my very large, new weapon at my back. That little negotiating tactic, however, was noticed by both the Dwarves and the Pallum. Naturally, they took offense at the fact that their ally invited the hatred of a god upon them and their people, so they both threatened to pull their troops, if I actually used the Big One on Orario.

You’d think people would be willing to brave being hated gods for the sake of saving the world, but I guess cultural values are difference everywhere else? Eh? What do you mean I’m the only one in this world willing to piss gods off? That can’t be true. They’re literally, usually all assholes. At least, the average god in Orario is. What do mean that doesn’t matter, if your race is mostly made up of squishy mortals that die really easily!

Man, this whole fight would already be over, if people weren’t afraid of pissing off the heavens.

I mean, they’re literally sitting on their asses, munching on food, and doing nothing while you’re literally fighting a war against an infinite monster spawner!

They deserve to get hit with a hurricane, y’know!?

Especially when they’re letting so many people get hurt, so they can enjoy themselves the most.

Anyway, Alf managed to get through whatever was keeping her quiet, and speak again once I reached my place on the battlement. Thankfully, making it obvious that she was better suited for the current fight than I was made her let go of me, so the other Elf present didn’t find it necessary to do something being her mentor’s back.

“Ah, Hachiman!? You’re already back after meeting the King!?” Viridis was a little out of breath, but she looked better than the rest of the normal, Elven mages. Those who weren’t blessed by the gods were being carted down to the base, so that they could rest in a cool, dark cabin. Their Mind Downs weren’t easily dealt with, and they weren’t used to filling up their stomachs with Mind Potions. “I believed you’d be gone for at least an hour to properly speak to him about Riveria-sama!”

I didn’t have an answer to Viridis’s fantasies, but Alf did.

“What a silly suggestion. My father will not decide such things for me. E is free to give me advice, and share his concerns, but my life is my own to decide.” Oi, I’m sure if your father heard that, he’d cry. If my daughter said such things to me, I’d feel like shit, but I’d pat myself on the back for raising such a strong lady. What I’m trying to say is you should be a tad kinder to your dad who came running over here with an army when you asked for help. “My father is currently being advised in regards to Hachiman’s newest weapon. Whether or not it shall be deployed against Orario is up to him.”

“Ah, so it shall be used against Orairo, then?”

Oh, what’s this wonderful piece of information that I’m hearing right now?

“It is very likely.”

Am I getting a near-guarantee on the fact that my now most-favorite King ever is going to vote in favor of hitting Orario with a hurricane?

“Please, Hachiman, stop looking so excited. It is unbecoming of you.” Alf sighed and pinched her temple. Was I that obvious? Did my excitement show that much? Judging by the blush on Viridis’s face, I was indeed radiating bloodlust. I need to reign it in, unless I want to get jumped by the most opportunistic Elf in the world. Given how Elves are, it’s not a title I give out lightly, but it’s certainly a title that Viridis deserves. “My father thinks poorly of the gods. He believes them to be akin to children who are playing with lives like toys… much like you. Therefore, it is likely that he will agree with your plan to strike at the gods, as to force them to move against the Dungeon.”

What?

Are you saying… are you saying there’s a person who can think straight besides me!?

“…With that wretched smile, I’d worry for my father, if he were a woman.” Alf groaned and shook her head, but I ignored her in favor of enjoying the moment. Finally, a man of quality has arrived, who’ll vote with me, and use his political power to do something that I want! What’s that? The Elves are technically isolated, racist supremacists? Well, they’re MY isolated, racist supremacists, so they’re totally fine! Another grand victory for hypocrisy! “Hachiman, I said it is LIKELY that he will vote favor of your plan. Not that he will.”

“Nope. Don’t care. That’s good enough for me, especially since it means if I do it anyway, the Elves will stay and fight.” Now that I know for sure that an entire nation will keep supporting the fight, after I use my neat, new weapon, I can rest easy. All I’d have to do after that is hold on until reinforcements come over from Orario, and that ends in my decisive victory over the Dungeon. “This fight is finished, as long as we have one country supporting us, and Orario arrives. Everyone else can fuck off and be cowards as much as they want, as long as we have one backer.”

Naturally, Viridis and Alf sighed at my words, because of the simple fact that I’m absolutely right.

Therefore, with victory on the horizon, complications came forth.

…

“Filvis Challia is dead.”

The news surprised me, since I thought she was traitor and I wanted her caught, but it surprised everyone else for different reasons entirely.

“W-what!? How? Who did it!?”

“No!”

There was a general clamor in the room, as I’d gathered my students, as well as Viridis, Alf, Wallenstein, and the Hiryute sisters to listen to Ryuu’s report. They were the only ones I could completely trust in the camp, as they were fighting with me from the very beginning.

Their surprise in regards to Challia’s death was, of course, due to the fact that I hadn’t told them my suspicions. Not only was it better for investigations to be carried out with less people, with it less likely to be revealed with less idiots with information running around, but even if my suspicions were reasonable, I wasn’t the type to cast guilt on a person without absolute evidence.

Actual, real evidence, too.

Not fake shit just to keep my Japan’s 100% conviction rate going.

Anyway, I nodded for Lyon to continue speaking, after she glanced at me for permission to tell them why she was following Challia in the first place.

“After her arrival here resulted in offensives against the weaknesses in the defense, Hachiman had me follow her in order to ensure that it was mere coincidence.” No, I had you follow her because I thought that she was a spy, but thanks for putting it in a nicer light. “Upon arriving in Orario, as she met with Dionysus-sama, the two of them were attacked by a woman, accompanied by monsters, and wielding a cursed longsword. I was able to save Dionysus, but she fell in battle protecting him.”

Lyon delivered the information with surprising care, and as Viridis began to cry, she gave her a slow, commiserating nod. I didn’t know what sort of relationship the Challia and Viridis had, but it was more than obvious that the two of them were close.

However, we still had to move forward, so I was ready to tell the rest of those who I could trust what we needed to do.

But before I could do so, Riveria spoke up with a frown on her face.

“A female Tamer who wields a cursed, black longsword… and who I presume fought with Violas?” Riveria questioned Lyon calmly, but her words drew the attention of both Hiryutes and even Viridis. Wallenstein’s reaction was more pronounced. Cranel barely stopped her from getting up in shock. “Our Familia encountered such an individual during our expedition. She fought against Ais and fled before we could defeat her.”

Naturally, the heroine in question’s shoulders slumped at those words.

“I… I should’ve been faster and defeated her then.” Out of nowhere, a planet-sized boulder of regret crashed onto the Sword Princess. Dammit, Cranel, use your power to calm her down, before she derails this entire meeting! “Filvis is dead because of—

“No! Absolutely not! You couldn’t have known, Ais!” Yes, young man, use your power and ability for the sake of saving my time and effort. I need to get back on the front, and check on how the vote’s going, so I’d appreciate you telling everyone the truth. “It’s no one’s fault! She was our friend, and we would’ve protected her if we could’ve! It’s… it’s just that we couldn’t, so we need to beat those who took her from us!”

By all means, the speech wasn’t very good, but Cranel had a certain way with words. He could put his heart and soul behind everything he said, and he could really lead people, while I could only harshly guide them.

I’d be jealous, if not for the fact he was already using his abilities the way he wanted me to.

Less work for me!

“The brat’s right. What we need to do now is fix our information leak, and settle things with the people targeting us.” Anyway, while the fluffy feelings were going around, I decided to take action. I needed to funnel these people towards doing something productive. “We can all grieve later, but for now we need to act.”

It took a moment for my words to take effect, but thankfully all eyes were on me soon enough.

“What is your plan, Hachiman?” Riveria asked, and a frown was already in place on her face, as she most likely suspected what I was about to say, since we only knew one way of drawing out our opponent.

That is to say, whoever we’re fighting has the right idea in regards to how to defeat entire groups of superhumans, so we need to use their strength to our advantage.

“We use one of our gods as bait.”

Somehow, The Genre Has Changed (3.4)

…

“And, that’s why you’re in carriage being carted off to Orario.”

“How quaint.” Kali yawned as the carriage trundled along the dark road, beneath a moonless, cloudy night, and while I sat across from her. “Do you believe this tactic will best your foes, when they have been besting you thus far, Hachiman-san?”

The red-haired, tanned, and masked goddess with a bone mask took up the entire bench opposite of me, forcing me to share my seat with Cranel and Viridis.

Or, rather, just Cranel.

Viridis, being the opportunistic elf, she is, treated my lap like a seat without hesitation.

I did my best to look past the pink-and-white-clad elf and answer Kali with any semblance of grace and dignity I had left.

“If this doesn’t work, the return trip will.” Bringing Kali along, and provoking our hidden enemy into a fight, would result in my desired outcome. Kali is put to risk, we fight against whoever’s sabotaging us from the shadows, and we win. Naturally, I’m more than willing to risk Kali’s life, because she’s empowering several dozen pieces of shit, but that’s beside the point. “We’re going to bring Loki and Hestia along with us.”

Kali’s eyes lit up, as I finally shared with her the full details of my plan.

“Ah, under the guise of increasing the power of your troops, you will return with bait that cannot be ignored.” Oi, bitch, if you’re going to pull of smooth move like transitioning from lying down to sitting and leaning forward on your knees, don’t sit in the middle of the carriage seat. I can’t exactly talk to your seriously with Cranel drooling on my shoulder, and Lefiya drooling on my chest. Only Yukinoshita would be happy with my situation, and only if Lefiya and Cranel were both replaced by cats. “What a wonderful idea. I can see how my beloved children can make use of it in future conquests.”

Kali’s statement insinuated what anyone with two braincells realized a long time ago.

The goddess was doing her best to learn, adapt, and get whatever she can from the current situation, so that she could strengthen her Familia. The reason why she acquiesced readily to help us wasn’t out of the goodness of her heart, but because our measures made sure she wasn’t getting the drops she wanted. Not only that, but fighting with us let her take a good, long look at how the Loki Familia and Hestia Familia were fighting under my tutelage.

The smug shit was pointing out that even if I didn’t join her Familia, she was going to take, study, and use all the ideas I was showing to her.

To that insinuation, I had the proper, tactful response, as per usual.

“I’ll find a way to cripple your Familia, and ruin your country, before this is over.”

“And, I’ll have you breed me a wonderful new generation of Amazons upon my victory over the Dungeon.”

“Eat shit and die.”

“Mhmm, yes, fuck you.”

Kali chuckled and reached for the bag of food prepared for her by her Familia for the journey. While I had to be content with rations, the pedophile bait was munching on fresh fruit meant to spice up the meals of gods over in Orario. The mentality of taking everything that their power allows is certainly worrying, but what’s truly terrifying about Telskyura is right in front of me.

I’m sure that if Kali ceases to be, even if another god decides to take her place, the country is fucked.

So, by all means, she shouldn’t be here.

That is… if she cared for anything besides her own amusement.

“You’re a cruel woman, Kali.” In the end, what matters to most gods is whether or not they get what they want. Kali wants a chance to speak to me, to convince me to join her Familia, thus she’ll risk being attacked and sent back to Heaven. To the red-haired, masked goddess in front of me, the only risk she’s taking is the premature end of her fun times in the mortal world. Even though she rules over all of Telskyura, and the only reason it exists and isn’t being destroyed is because of her Familia, she’s here in this carriage being bait, because it serves her purposes. “Don’t y’know it’s bad to be selfish?”

At my words, Kali chuckled and shook her head.

“Says the man who brought low all of Orario, and crippled all in his way, after his dear student died due to their traditions.” Kali licked the juice of a mango off her forearm, in a way that would’ve had pedophiles everywhere clamoring. Thankfully, I’m a big brother at heart, so my instinctive reaction at her ludicrous actions was to throw her a handkerchief. She caught it and didn’t hesitate at all to stain it and throw it over her shoulder once she was done. Bitch, at least had it over. “I would say my selfishness is far less terrifying than yours. I, after all, am merely permitting Telskyura to retain their place in the world, and in return for all my work and effort, I merely ask to be gratified by their accomplishments.”

“Careful there, Kali-sama, this carriage isn’t big enough for that ego of yours.”

My words only managed to make Kali smirk victoriously, and begin to lay herself down upon the cushioned, carriage chair.

Why wouldn’t she, when I couldn’t tell her otherwise, especially since she knew what was following after us, guarded by the Hiryutes, Riveria, and the rest of my students.

“I may have an immense ego, but this entire world is not large enough for your selfishness, Hikigaya Hachiman.” Kali mused as she lay on her side upon the bed, and traced symbols onto the cushioning, while her bare feet swung in the empty air. Must. Resist. Urge. To. Call. Her. Pedophile. Bait. That can happen later. “My selfishness might have me risk an entire country, but yours would see the world crushed, if the very gods themselves continue to risk those you care about.”

I didn’t intend to use my newest weapon yet, but it was coming along as a threat to be unveiled.

Though I was only going to threaten all of Orario, I couldn’t refute Kali’s words.

Because she was right.

For the sake of those close to me, I was more than willing to risk the rest of this world.

…

“Goodness, your enemies are quite interesting, Hachiman.”

“I wish they weren’t.”

We were on the last leg of our journey to Orario, and we were set to be there in just a few hours, when our enemy decided to show themselves. They stood in the middle of the road, with Orario in the distance behind them, and ancient battleground between mortals and monsters to their left and right.

Of course, menacingly standing in the middle of the street isn’t interesting, and would’ve gotten nothing out of Kali.

The interesting part is the fact that the ancient fields were moving, rumbling, and something was definitely moving beneath the soil.

And, of course, there was also the fact that the Tamer Lyon described was also on a mount straight from Level 30

Bloodsaurus.

The scarlet dinosaur was covered in scales that can break steel weapons with ease, as well as resist the magics of most Level 2 Mages. Not only that but its teeth and claws are capable of tearing apart Level 3s, unless they splurged on armor… and find themselves too slow to catch up with the living weapon.

Man, I know I shouldn’t complain about what Skills I have, since what I’ve got is ridiculously overpowered, but… for fuck’s sake, I want to be able to tame, armor, and ride on a freaking magical, blood-red T-Rex, dammit! Why the hell do the bad guys get to use armies of monsters, and attack from the shadows, and ride literal, magical dinosaurs, while I get to use magic at the cost of having mental breakdowns!?

This is freaking unbalanced as hell on the coolness factor, dammit!

“Oi, get out of here before you get hurt.” The carriage driver was frozen stiff, so I nudged him and told him to run back the way we came, while Cranel unhooked the horses and gave him the reigns. Lefiya primly pushed a pouch of Valis in his hand, as well as a Magic Stone, which was his payment and restitution for losing his carriage. “We’re about to start fighting.”

The man was mid-nod when I had to finish the chant, I had going in the back of my head to blow the throwing spear sent his way into the air.

Huh, my lightning is sticking to the metal, and I can barely call it back.

They’re using weaponized lightning rods against me.

Fuck.

“Sensei!?”

I didn’t have time to explain, as I had to try and take out as many of the Violas as I could, before the battlefield fucked me over.

Kali was more than happy to explain in my stead, while I channeled as much as I could towards the trash mobs.

“Hahaha! With our Sensei’s power and skill known to the world, boy, is it not natural that the world will look for ways to defeat him!? Your enemy has innovated; thus, you must fight innovation with innovation, or perish!”

I focused and charged forward through the teeming mass, leaving Veridis and Cranel behind to operate on their own, since they were going to be far, far more effective that I was going to be in the next few seconds. Given my new Level, and with my ability to increase my physical attributes and heal, I needed to work as a tank until everyone else arrived after noticing my signal. I needed to gather as much attention as possible.

And, to do that, I needed to focus on this fight.

Target is Tamer. Possibly part monster. Monster Crystal weakness is applicable. Enemy has killed Level 3 ally, and is used to using melee. Personal skill with melee weapon is negligible.

Focus enough to ignore pain.

Attacks by enemy must be endured. Vital points in body is spine, joints, and brain. Damage to any of those regions limits movement, thus results in death. All other attacks can be endured. Heart, lungs, and stomach can regenerate. Pain will be endured.

Focus enough to fight without mercy.

Enemy is at least Level 4. Last enemy who fought alongside current monsters was durable. Enemy is using javelins that attract electricity to disperse magical attacks. Grappling is possible. Limbs can be regrown after battle, if necessary. Ranged attacks optimal. Knives will not penetrate skin, but will act as distraction.

Focus enough to do what I need to do, so Bell and Lefiya don’t get hurt.

Javelins are being spread over the field. They are being guarded by Violas. Driving them into the ground will render them ineffective. No. Too much risk for allies. Cannot risk allies. Cannot risk self.

But… not enough to lose to myself.

Cannot endure too much pain. Cannot allow allies to be hurt. Both will result in restraint being overwhelmed.

For fuck’s sake, why can’t anything be easy!?

Both will result in ruining everything.

Cannot run away to change battlefields. or allies will be too late.

I get it already, brain!

…

In order to make sure that they weren’t found, everyone trailing us had to keep half-an-hour away from us. Not on horseback or carriage, but on Adventurer footspeed, so that was a more than enough distance to make it seem like we were trying to be covert, instead of guarded. There’s just no point in making an obvious, easily-avoided trap, therefore I had to carefully calculate the amount of risk I was willing to add into the plan.

Unfortunately, I’ve somehow forgotten that math was my worst subject in school.

Viola. Eight limbs incoming. Dodge 1-6. Endure pain. Grasp. Empower and Strength with two arms is sufficient to lift. Do so.

Throw into enemy Bloodsaurus.

Enemy Bloodsaurus rends ally into pieces. Mounted rider assists and cleaves through Viola in order to continue pursuit.

Enemy roars in anger. Ignore. Create diversion for allied attack. Attract more attention from enemy. Only half of knives left. Paved road will do. Direct impact on enemy. Attack draws blood and attention from enemy. Enemy charges.

Too quick to avoid, claws rend front of chest, but ally attack comes forth. Mend wounds. Remain standing. Dodge. Cough up lungs. Act. Must continue moving.

I wasn’t able to give orders, but Bell and Lefiya were working together to deal with the problem the same way I would: deal with the issue that wasn’t allowing us to solve the problem like we normally would. They were finding the lightning rods, driving them deep into the ground, or simply throwing them far, far away. With each one that they managed to get rid of, a little more oomph returned to my own abilities, and I was able to fight back just a little better.

Two more lightning rods destroyed by allies. Violas destroyed as well. Ground still shaking. More Violas present. Extricate bones and ragged portion of lung. Mend. Cough up. Vision darkening. Breath. Nourish. Breath. Mend. Nourish. Channel lightning towards foe. Current power insufficient. Channel lightning towards Viola. Insufficient.

However, as fast as they were working, I was finding myself having to choose between taking on the entire fight elsewhere, or risking slipping back to my old ways. The pace was as clear as day. There were just too many enemies present, so even though Bell and Lefiya were fighting, and clearing out the issue, they were being bogged down by the sheer amount of monsters present, as well as the fact they had had to avoid the red-haired Tamer whenever I didn’t take up the entirety of her attention.

Tamer has summoned Violas. Three separate creatures. Over twenty-four independent limbs to track and deal. Must evade. Cannot evade. Lefiya and Cranel will be at risk against Tamer and Bloodsaurus. They are being focused. Enemy has realized that allies are attempting to empower me.

I can win this fight, if they leave with Kali, and I manage to escape somewhere where I can fight with all my strength.

Attempt to regain attention. Lunge towards mount. Clamber. Utilize knives as climbing gear. Bloodsaurus roars and turns. Tail lashes out. Violas smashed apart by creature. Clamber. Mend. Nourish. Breathe. Clamber. Hold on.

But with how things were going, could even manage that?

Tamer no longer on Bloodsaurus. Saddle is empty. Enemy has changed tactics to assassination.

Kali? No.

Cranel? No.

Lefiya is target.

No options. I must make options. What can I do to save Lefiya—

“Stay away from my student!”

Unnecessary. Pinpoint magical bombardment. Specialized warriors. Superweapon.

Allies are here.

Enemy will now try to retreat—

Enemy is not retreating?

Why?

Why not!?

Why aren’t you trying to run away!?

There is a loud roar of pain, of agony, and of triumph… from the monster that I am riding. It’s flesh and scales break, as something begins to break out of it… something that shouldn’t exist outside of a Dungeon.

A Monster Rex.

Somehow, The Genre Has Changed (3.5)

…

A man has three faces.

One for public.

One for family.

One for no one else to ever see.

My first two faces have had their time in the limelight.

When I was taking over Orario, crushing everything I didn’t like, my first “face” was at the helm. He’s the man I wanted everyone to know me be. An untouchable, unbeatable being who you’d have to be an idiot to try and fight. A machine that everyone can understand, that everyone can use or benefit from by following its rules, or be broken when they try to break it.

After that, I decided to live up to my second face as much as I could. I reached out for the people who rescued me from being the heart of a machine. I decided that I couldn’t keep treating them like characters, that they’re people, and that I needed to at least be thankful for what they did for me. Even if I plan to leave them, even if our paths will one day separate, I decided that I won’t treat them and the world that they lived on like it’s a joke that I’m doing my best to ignore.

There have been problems, of course.

My first face is easy to fall back to, whenever I find something I hate or dislike, especially since I still hate my circumstances and want them to change. So, even with me trying to reach out, to handle things better, and to be a decent person, I slip and fall towards the easier path. The path where I’m nothing more than a machine, suing everything I have to my advantage, and not caring at all about the consequences of my actions or that of others, as long as I get what I want done.

However, there’s a little caveat for that “face” of mine to take over.

I need to be in power.

I need to be holding back.

I need those I care about to not be at risk.

That’s not the case now.

What’s happening now is that I’m surrounded on all sides. My allies are here, and so is a weapon that I can use to level cities, but a monster that shouldn’t exist is climbing into the air. It’s a winged serpent with a flower’s head, and from the gaps of its scales there were seeds falling. Each one transformed before it hit the ground into dozens upon dozens of Violas… and another type of monster that hid amongst them, launching screeching blasts of sound. Dozens steadily climbed to hundreds, until their numbers blotted out the sun.

And, everyone was fighting against them.

The Hiryutes were carving they way through the massive, newborn army, and all but ignoring all the damage leveraged against them. Riveria and Lefiya were eradicating group after group of monsters, while evading attacks, while Bell, Liliruca, and my students worked towards defeating them. Wallenstein took on the Beast Tamer, and they fought against one another, leaping, charging, and dancing between writhing, immense vines that could crush horses with ease.

However, there’s too few of us, too many opponents, and I don’t have enough power to keep them safe.

I can survive this, but they can’t.

Their magic power is limited, their stamina is limited, and the enemy needs to only make one correct move, while we need to do everything right. While battles are usually in my favor the longer, they go, such isn’t the case now, as an army is spawning all around us, and all our assets are being matched.

I’ll last.

I’ll get enough power.

However, it’s not going to happen before I lose something.

And, after realizing that, every single worry I had left of becoming the man who took Orario faded away.

Because, above all else, in the face of danger I become completely, utterly desperate.

Desperate enough to do anything in my power to win no matter the cost to myself.

Once, while saving Cranel against another Monster Rex, it cost an arm… and as I fell into it once again… I felt at peace.

Anything of mine in exchange for one of them is a price I’m willing to pay anytime.

…

I needed power.

More power than what I had now.

So, I turned took hold of the Crozzo Sword within my jacket, and aimed it at the teeming mass of opponents I had in front of me. The moment I activated it, an orb the of flame the size of a room blossomed in front of me, and extended forward as a pillar of destruction towards the teaming mass of tendrils.

My attack required me to stand still, so the attacks of my foes reached me.

My lungs caved in due to a sonic blast from the bulbous, skittering plants in the shadows. A tendril broke through my entire, left arm, and embedded my limb into my torso, as I held my ground and extending my hand toward didn’t slow it fast enough.

However, what is important is that the path I wanted to make was made, and as the Crozzo sword in my hand broke apart into nothing, my path towards one of the rods meant to absorb my lightning was clear. The rod stuck out of the ground, aglow and white with power, as it continued to consume the lightning that came forth from me.

The path I made began to close, filling itself with monsters, but I ignored my wounds, the pain, and the darkness closing in on my vision and launched myself forward.

My leg broke as I stopped myself in front of rod, my durability nothing meaningless compared to my Speed and Strength now, but the bones will reconnect, the flesh will re-knit, and the skin reform.

Thus, I took hold of the white-hot, aglow rod of lightning with my gloved hand.

It seared my glove into my hand immediately, and its sheer heat was ripping through my flesh, but that didn’t matter as I achieved what I needed to achieve by taking hold of it.

The close I was to one of the rods, the more of my power it took, and with the battlefield littered with them my attacks are taken apart, made piecemeal, and negated for as long as it takes before my Skill manages to strengthen me long enough to overcome it.

However, since the time involved in that was unacceptable, I decided to see how one of the lightning rods would react to me pulling it out of the earth, and having it take all of my power at once.

For a moment, as I held it up, away from the Earth, it simply ate my power… before beginning to crack, splinter, and begin discharging the power stored within.

I counted the seconds.

I watched as it began to break in my hand.

I calculated the power I was pushing into it.

I waited until it exploded in my hand, while my enemies buried me and began to crush me.

There was light, pain, and the scream of monsters, but amidst the falling debris, and the scent of scorched flesh I remained.

And, after a single pulse of my healing magics, my bones re-knit, my organs returned, and my muscle came back. Another pulse, and my right arm returned to me. Therefore, at practically no cost at all, not only was there was one less limiter of my power… but I now had several explosives ready to be primed and used all around me.

I took stock of the situation.

I verified where everyone was.

Then, I decided what the correct course of action would be.

Naturally, it was to destroy the greatest threat to my allies as soon as possible and at any cost.

So, I ran to gather the rest of the rods, and planned on how to defeat a creature practically designed to destroy the entire world.

I think… I’ll go ahead and see if it’s as good as eating as much of my lightning as the ground can.

…

The Monster Rex coursed through the battlefield, staying afar, and merely thrashing with its six arms whenever anyone came close. It’s primary means of attack was to shower the area with more and more of its children. It was creating an army of monsters that required Level 3 magic, or Crozzo Swords, to defeat en masse. Or, a Level 5 or 6 Amazon with the proper equipment.

As it spawned more and more monsters, I considered the fact that it could truly end the world if left alone.

But I discarded that fact, since it didn’t matter.

I was going to kill it here and now.

My Continuous Haste and Empower reached a point where every step I took ripped apart my legs, but I healed even before I had to take the next step. The wounds barely had time to appear, or worse, slow me down. The sole cost was pain, and that didn’t matter at all, as long as I could do what I needed to do.

And, that was to re-deliver the lightning rods they were using to beat me into their monster.

Embedding each rod took both skill and strength. The scales took on Hiryute Tione’s blows, and Tiona was able to shatter them, but not before being swarmed and threatened by the army constantly spawning from the monster. But the creature avoided magic whenever it could, both Riveria and Lefiya’s attacks were being actively dodged by the monster, even though it was “weak” towards magic.

The first four rods cost me.

t thrashed, called on its children, and lashed out.

Between its scales and the ground, I broke, but I pressed the first rod pierced through a scale.

While I was trying to get the second and third in, its children attacked me, and hit me from range, battering me, while I broke my arms with the strength necessary to pierce two more scales.

But as one of its arms crushed me and grinded me against it, tearing through my abdomen, I managed to find the right spot.

The scales opened to shoot out the head-sized seeds that rapidly turned into monsters, and they were sealed shut, and they lapped over another. Piercing straight through was my best option, until I saw the pattern in the scales as it ground me against itself.

In a repeating pattern, every five or so scales, the hinges of one didn’t cover another.

And, so, as its arm was seared off by the rods on my back, I moved forward.

I followed the pattern, driving the collectors into each spot, until I had only one left… and the Tamer stood in front of me.

She noticed what I was doing, despite my speed, and moved to prevent me from planting the last one on the base of the monster’s neck and delivering every ounce of my power straight into its body. She was in front of me, despite having to take a blow from Wallenstein that sheared off half her face, because she knew that I if the creature was already writhing, paralyzed, and incapable of moving with the dozen bolts stuck inside it… what was going to happen when the I embedded the last one and started making them all explode one by one?

So, she lunged at me with her enchanted sword, and a cry of pain on her lips from the wound Wallenstein inflicted on her.

She was sure that she would kill me, and I took advantage of that fact, by using the only weapon I had left.

I’d already used the Elixir inside the syringe Daphne made, but the hollow needle enchanted to pierce Adventurer defenses remained.

And, even though I didn’t know if it could kill her, since her face was already healing from Wallenstein’s cut, I still ducked beneath her swing, and slipped it into her remaining eye.

If it didn’t stop her, her counterattack would connect with me, but even then, she would’ve still lost.

Because, the second that attack brought let me bury the last of the rods in the Monster Rex, take hold of it, and push everything I had into it just like the first.

I waited for an attack, as the trap began to splinter, crack, and burn in my hand, but it never came… so I turned and ran as began to explode.

Then, I did it for the next one, as soon as I reached it.

And, the next.

And, all the rest.

Until I stood at the end of the monster’s tail, while the rest of it was scattered all over the battlefield.

Surrounded by its final army, while all the power I needed was mine.

I can feel the other thoughts coming.

Thoughts about continuing on using my power, on defeating the army quickly, and then moving onto Orario to force it to make sure what’s happened here will never happen again. This threat shouldn’t have existed. Monsters like this should never be able to come to the surface.

However, as those thoughts kept coming, Tiona arrived in front of me with the amulet of sleep that I entrusted to her.

I almost stepped away from her, but stopped as she held it towards me, instead of forcing it on me.

There were still monsters, there were still threats, but… but they were being destroyed and Tiona was telling me to trust her.

My ears were still ringing from what I did, and I couldn’t hear the words she was saying, but I knew what she meant.

She wouldn’t force it on me.

I would have to put it on myself.

I can protect her better the way I am now. This power I have, that I gained and horded while I protected them, can still be used. Why should I let go of it, when it’s obvious that there’s threats everywhere that I need to get rid of? When Orario is an utter shithole that need to be put into it’s place? How could I possibly ignore all that I can do with what I have now—

“—Hachiman, please… come back!” The ringing ended with a pulse of healing, and I heard Tiona’s words. There was grief, anger, and need in them. They brought something back to me that I couldn’t place. Something that made me aware that I was practically wearing nothing but my own blood, that I stood in a field of dead and dying monsters, and looking at Orario. “Don’t… don’t leave us again!”

Maybe, if Tiona tried to force the Amulet on me, the outcome would be different.

But that didn’t happen, so I reached out for it instead.

…