Chapter 358: Chapter 200，Part2: 2 - Living Calamity ③

Chapter 200 Living Calamity ③

Part 2

When I looked up, what I saw was――The same old Yowaningen who didn’t move from earlier and the appearance of the fox-mask on the ground.

“!?” (Kruz)

Impossible. The last thing that Kruz saw was the fox-mask’s attack. It would be one thing if the attack didn’t work, but it is impossible for the fox-mask to fall on the ground.

A streak of blood flows from the gap on her lips that wasn’t covered by the mask. Vermilion-colored stains spread across her clean white kimono. Her body, which is made up of a vast amount of Mana Material, convulsed a little. An outstretched arm. Her fingertips were trembling without force.

“!? What did you do, desu!?” (Kruz)

“No, I didn’t do anything though……” (Cry)

Yowaningen said this as if he was confused. There wasn’t a single drop of blood on his hand.

It is said that 《Infinite Variety’s (Senpen Banka)》 techniques are shrouded in mystery. However, the scene in front of me wasn’t something as simple as that.

It must have happened right in front of my eyes, but I couldn’t understand it.

“D-Don’t conceal it, desu.” (Kruz)

“Eh??? No, I am not concealing anything though……” (Cry)

Yowaningen was serious. I couldn’t see any lies in his expression.

At that moment, Kruz Argen understood.

Yowaningen isn’t hiding anything. Even if he isn’t hiding anything, no one can understand it. Just like how the skills of an excellent Magi would be completely incomprehensible for a novice Magi.

I don’t know how serious he was. But he is strong. So strong that I can’t tell the difference.

“Yoaningen, I have a lot of questions for you, but I just want to make sure of one thing, desu! Can you defeat the boss of this Treasure Shrine, desu?” (Kruz)

“………… No, that’s impossible, you know.” (Cry)

Yowaningen knelt down and touched the twitching face of the fox-mask Phantom. And then, as usual, he said that with a *yowayowa* weak expression on his face.

§　§　§

I don’t know what was going on at all. Kruz said a lot of things, but as I have no idea what was going on, I couldn’t answer her.

The Phantom collapsed on its own and started to cough up blood. If you ask me to explain what happened, that is what I would say. My Barrier Rings didn’t go down either.

The Phantoms in this Treasure Shrine are strong and wise. If you ask me how strong they are, the last time I encountered them, they were so strong that my childhood friends couldn’t even raise a finger against them.

Even if I were to give a blow on an unprotected area, I wouldn’t even be able to make a scratch. The level of our existence is that different.

For the time being, I crouched down near the convulsing Phantom.

Apparently, it seemed that she was completely incapacitated. It seems she isn’t dead yet, but she couldn’t lift even one of her fingers.

The face of the fox-mask girl tilted slightly and looked up at me.

And that is when I noticed that the Phantom in front of me looked familiar.

This Phantom――Is the one I met last time I was here.

She was a little smaller at that time and her demands were 『Give me something delicious or I’ll attack you』, but that hair color and that hairstyle… Yeah, there’s no doubt about it.

At that time, I gave her some Aburaage (Or rather, my Inari Sushi Bento) that I happened to have with me. I had bought it in the town where I had stayed just before, but apparently…… She liked it a lot.

I had expected it since she asked for two, then three of it――Aaah I see.

“Did you maybe forget your promise?” (Cry)

.

Right. That’s right. I certainly said that. We made a promise.

I said “In exchange for giving you more, you will never attack me or my friends again”.

And, this Phantom went with it. The Phantoms of the 【Lost Inn】 『Don’t lie』, they certainly said that.

Her fingertips, which had been limply on the ground, twitched as if to answer what I said.

“……………… Is this thanks to my everyday behavior?” (Cry)

Will you be defeated if you lie? What a difficult Phantom life.

However, I should give them a favor.

At any rate, she won’t die from this. Even if I did have a way to defeat it, I would rather not kill it because if I do, the others might resent me for it.

Arrogance and irreverence against a god. This will lead to an exchange equivalent with violence.

This Treasure Shrine is a mirror, said a phantom I once met in this Treasure Shrine.

What you ask for will be given, but you must give something in return for what you ask.

Thus, I was able to survive.

“It can’t be helped, I’ll show you my power.” (Cry)

I have grown too, you know. My Dogeza skill isn’t the same as what it was at that time.

There is no one better than me at apologizing and asking for forgiveness.

Kruz shouted in a hysteric voice at me, who was smiling comfortably.

“Yo-Yowaningennn!!” (Kruz)

“Eh……?” (Cry)

I returned to myself. Before I knew it, we were surrounded by countless fox-mask as far as the eye could see.

I stood up. Not to mention the hallway, there were countless fox-masks stuck to the walls and ceiling. Their number――Wasn’t just around a hundred or so.

Can we say that it is fortunate that we can’t make any eye contact as they didn’t have any eye holes?

The door we came out from was gone. There was no way out.

A very pale Kruz wobbled over and pushed her back against mine as if she was saying that she entrusted me with her back.

I let out a small sigh and smiled bitterly in comfort.

………… We are checkmates. I didn’t know there were so many of them……

The wave of Phantoms split in two. The person at the end of the wave was a tall Phantom wearing a fox mask with a blue mark on it.

He must probably be their representative. He seems to be superior to the other Phantoms, but I can’t tell the difference, as everyone is better than me when it comes to reading power level.

The fox-mask came closer while not making any footsteps sound as if he was sliding over.

Kruz, who was supposed to have her back to me, is clinging to my back. It called us with a calm voice. Its words were fluent.

“Welcome, to our inn, it has been a long time since we had guests. What, there is no need to be afraid. They are just curious about the humans they have not seen in a while. I guarantee your safety.” (Fox Mask Representative)

And then his mouth broke into a sarcastic smile.

“In exchange, I will have what is most precious to you.” (Fox Mask Representative)

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

Kruz thinking that Cry just moved too fast or used an incredible technique against the Phantom is so funny!

And just after Cry said that he will show his “true” power a multitude of Phantom just pop up!

Will his ultimate technique (Dogeza) be enough to defeat them all!?

Tchao à plus!

Footnotes

Inari Sushi Bento: Or Fox Sushi Lunchbox is a Lunchbox with Fried Tofu in it.