“…What a boring bunch of people. Hajime, shall we go?”
"Ah~ Yeah, that's fine."
It was Yue who uttered a chilling voice, one that could only be described as absolute zero, and dismissed Guanghui's group with a single word: "You're bored!" His voice, barely above a whisper, echoed remarkably clearly, regardless of the clamor of Guanghui and his companions. Silence instantly enveloped the scene, and Guanghui and his companions all turned their gazes to Yue.
Hajime had only come here to fulfill his moral obligation to Kaori after listening to Endō's words, and now his purpose had been achieved. So, Hajime obediently followed Yue, who was holding his hand, and was about to leave the room. Shia, also paying attention to the surroundings, followed after him.
As soon as she saw Hajime and the others preparing to leave, Kouki, as expected, immediately called out to them:
"Wait! I haven't finished what I was saying. If I don't hear Nagumo's true thoughts, I can't consider you my ally! Besides, who are you? I'm grateful for your help, but calling someone you just met boring... isn't that rude? What exactly did we do to make you feel bored?"
"..."
Guanghui once again made a rather unrelated statement. While the content was accurate as always, considering the current situation, one couldn't help but respond, "Consider your conscience!" At this point, it wouldn't be surprising to suggest that he was under some kind of curse.
Yue had already distanced herself from Guanghui and the others, as if she didn't think there was any point in even talking to them, not even glancing at them. Guanghui frowned slightly in irritation at Yue's attitude, but then she put on the gentle smile she usually gave to girls and spoke to Yue again.
Hajime felt that if this continued, not only would it never end, but it might also anger Yue, so he sighed impatiently and decided to answer on Yue's behalf:
"Heaven's River. We have no obligation or responsibility to respond to every single one of you. In every way, your very existence is a joke. But if you continue like this, you'll just keep pestering me. So, I'll just let you make a few accusations."
"Accusation? Are you saying I'm wrong? I'm just stating what's natural from a human perspective!"
Seeing Hajime's deeply annoyed expression, Kouki retorted unhappily, but Hajime ignored him and continued:
"Stop hiding it."
"What are you talking about..."
"You're not angry because I killed that woman; you're just disgusted by the sight of someone dying. But that woman murdered the Knights and nearly killed you, and yet you're blaming me for her. You know you're picking on the wrong person, right? So, you're turning your attention to me killing a defenseless foe, right? Because I showed you what you've been avoiding, because I easily accomplished what you couldn't... It's just venting your anger, and you're feigning righteousness. Worse still, you're completely oblivious to it. As usual, you're just making up your own interpretation, as natural as breathing."
“No, no! Stop your self-righteous nonsense! It’s a fact that you killed defenseless people!”
"What's wrong with killing the enemy?"
"What!? You're asking what's wrong? That's murder! Of course it's wrong!"
"...I'm not going to argue with you. Is that enough? I will show no mercy to my enemies. From the moment we become enemies, unless there's a clear reason, I'll kill them without mercy. This has nothing to do with good or evil, or resistance. I've simply learned firsthand that being soft-hearted is tantamount to seeking death. These are the values I cultivated in the depths of Hell, and I have no intention of forcing them upon others. However, if you try to stop me because you don't agree with my philosophy..."
Hajime instantly closed the distance, placed the muzzle of his gun against Guanghui's forehead, and simultaneously unleashed [Pressure]. The intense killing intent that filled the surroundings poured down like the pressure of a waterfall.
Kouki and his group held their breath. Even though Shizuku was the fastest, Kouki could still catch her movements. However, he was completely unaware of Hajime's actions, and his face was filled with fear.
"Even if we were classmates, I wouldn't hesitate at all."
“You, you…”
"Don't misunderstand me. I'm not returning to join the team, nor am I your companion. I'm simply here to fulfill my moral obligation to Shirosaki. After I leave here, we'll go our separate ways. I'm going my own way."
After Hajime finished speaking, he glanced at Kouki, who looked unconvinced and unwilling, and holstered his Donal. Nagayama and the others simply looked at Hajime with complicated eyes as he released the "pressure" and sighed deeply. However, Kouki still seemed unable to accept it and was about to say something else. But Yue, radiating an air of impatience, interrupted Kouki with a sharp, harsh remark:
“…The one who fought was Hajime. The dog that lost to fear and fled has no right to criticize.”
"What?! You said I ran away..."
It wasn't a coincidence that Hajime and his companions landed at that exact spot. In fact, as they were moving on the upper floor, they sensed a massive surge of magical energy. Hajime realized it was none other than Kouki and his companions, and so he used all his sensory abilities to explore the atmosphere below, then used Refinement and Pile Bunker to penetrate the ceiling.
The torrent of magical power they felt at that moment was precisely Kouki's "Overwhelming Surge." Judging by the magnitude of its power, Hajime and the others understood that Kouki, in that state, should have been powerful enough to kill the female demon. Therefore, after reviewing the situation at the scene, they immediately understood that Kouki's reluctance to kill had led to their impasse.
Just as Guanghui was about to open his mouth to refute, a voice with profound implications suddenly interrupted the conversation:
"Stop it, Kouki."
"Captain Meld!"
Captain Meld seemed to have regained consciousness a short time ago, and had been quietly listening to the conversation. Perhaps still a little dazed, Captain Meld shook his head, trying to clear his mind, and stood up. Then, he looked at his abdomen and other places where injuries should be, and tilted his head in confusion.
Kaori briefly explained to Captain Meld what had just happened. He learned that he had been miraculously saved thanks to precious medicine, and that it was Hajime who had saved him. He was sincerely relieved that Hajime was still alive.
Captain Meld thanked Shi for saving him, and then suddenly knelt on the ground to apologize for not being able to save him. Shi saw this and accepted Captain Meld's apology with an uneasy look.
In fact, Shi didn't take it to heart. Captain Meld's words "I will definitely save you" had long been forgotten in the other side of his memory... But facing Captain Meld's kowtow and apology, Shi also cooperated with the overall situation.
After talking with Hajime, Captain Meld turned to Kouki and apologized to him with the same attitude he had just used towards Hajime.
"Mei, Captain Meld? Why is Captain Meld apologizing?"
"That's only natural. As your teacher, I failed to teach you the most important thing for a warrior—the awareness of killing. I had originally planned to wait for the right moment, feign an accident, deliberately provoke the thieves, and use the opportunity to let you experience killing... because it's an absolutely essential part of participating in the war between humans and demons... However, the longer I spend with you and the more I talk with you, the more I become confused... Is it really okay to let you experience that? If I were to consider it from the perspective of the leader of the Knights, perhaps I should have taught you sooner... But I kept thinking about waiting, and waiting, until we got through the current stage, and I kept putting it off, which led to this incident... It seems I'm a half-baked person, a negligent educator. It's all because of me that you almost lost your lives... I'm sorry."
Captain Meld finished speaking, bowing his head once more. Kouki and the others frantically offered their comfort. It seemed Captain Meld was deeply concerned for them. He must have been torn between his duty as captain and his personal feelings for a long time.
Captain Meld is a citizen of the Kingdom and a believer in the Holy Church. Therefore, it's not surprising that Kouki and his companions, known as "Apostles of God," would fight against demons. Even so, when he expressed doubts about his students' participation in the war, was it kindness or gentleness? As Hajime said, he's a man of noble character.
After hearing Captain Meld's inner thoughts, Guanghui fell silent.
Perhaps it was because he'd heard that he'd be forced to kill someone soon, and he suddenly recalled the fear he'd felt when he'd nearly killed the demon girl. At the same time, even if the opponent was a thief, they were still living people. Captain Meld's words, suggesting that they were being killed just for training, deeply shocked Kouki. He couldn't understand why they'd specifically kill them if they were just thieves, and the combined strength of the group would be enough to overpower them...
On the other hand, Kaori was also silent, but not because she heard Captain Meld's words, but because she was thinking about Hajime's words.
The values cultivated in the abyss of hell, as long as it is an enemy, he will kill without hesitation, even if the target is a classmate... The previous Hajime would never say such a thing. However, this also proves that Hajime's murderous intention just now was serious. The kind-hearted Hajime who stood up for others in the past, now will not hesitate to reveal his murderous intent even when facing Kaori and others. The gap between the Hajime she knew and the Hajime standing in front of her made Kaori confused and shaken. Hajime, who was thinking about Kaori just now, exuded the same feeling as before. Was it just her illusion? Thinking of this, Kaori couldn't help but feel uneasy.
As Kaori pondered these things, she felt a gaze. She looked in the direction it was coming from, and her gaze met that of a beautiful girl with blond hair and red eyes. The girl, a beauty even Kaori couldn't help but gaze at, was observing her with emotionless eyes.
Kaori recalled that the girl and Hajime seemed quite close, and she looked back out of curiosity. The two of them stared at each other for a long time.
"……snort."
"Well……"
However, Yue was the first to look away, ending the staring match with a sneer.
Kaori couldn't help but gasp, because she realized the hidden meaning behind that mocking voice - "If your heart is shaken by such a small matter, you might as well take this opportunity to forget Hajime."
Yue had already deduced Kaori's feelings about Hajime from her attitude. When Yue heard that even after Hajime fell into the abyss, Kaori still believed that Hajime was still alive and continued to work hard, she thought that a powerful rival might appear, and even prepared herself in her heart, ready to fight!
However, upon actually meeting Kaori, she saw that she had become different because of Hajime, and she became confused and uneasy, even taking a step back. Her reaction was natural for a human...but Yue simply considered her an opponent not to be feared.
You're not worthy of being my enemy. From now on, Hajime is mine alone. To Hajime, the most 'special' thing about him is me! Yue's words seemed to imply something like this, causing Kaori to blush. Was this reaction due to shame or anger? Despite this, Kaori couldn't refute him, and she was increasingly confused about Hajime. In their first fight, Yue seemed to have the upper hand.
The atmosphere around Kouki and his group grew tense. Hajime glanced at them from the corner of his eye, then, taking Shia and Yue with him, collected the pile bunker's stakes and a few other items, and prepared to leave through the large vertical hole they had dug.
Kouki and the others noticed this and followed Hajime's group. This was Endo's suggestion. After all, everyone was exhausted, and it would be safer to hitchhike with Hajime and his group until they reached the surface. So, Captain Meld approached Hajime and got his approval.
On the way to the surface, Hajime's face was filled with the expression "Get out of my way!", and he easily and instantly killed every monster he encountered, sparing no one. Kouki and his companions once again witnessed Hajime's astonishing power. Each person's expression was different, and they found it hard to believe that this person had once been called "incompetent".
Hiyama glared at Hajime with a sullen expression, while Kondo and the others cast envious glances at him. Nagayama and the others couldn't help but sigh in admiration, but when they remembered that Hajime had clearly stated that they were not on the same team, their expressions became quite complicated.
After witnessing Hajime's strength up close, Kondo and the others, though daunted, couldn't completely let go of their past feelings about him. Nagayama and the others had always known how Hiyama and the others had treated Hajime in the past, but they had pretended to ignore it, seemingly feeling somewhat guilty about it. Perhaps it was understandable that Hajime didn't consider them his companions...
He noticed that his classmates were looking at him in all sorts of ways from behind, but he ignored them completely and continued walking on his own.
Along the way, Qin's inner uncle was agitated, alternately trying to talk to Yue and then repeatedly demanding to know what was going on. Realizing they were disinterested, Qin turned his attention to Shia's large breasts and bunny ears, only to be physically restrained by Shizuku. Kondo and the others, aware of their ill intentions toward Yue and Shia, desperately tried to engage them, only to be completely ignored. Despite this, they persisted, even attempting to touch Shia's bunny ears without her consent. This resulted in a barrage of rubber bullets from Hajime, leaving them pelted with wounds. Despite these numerous incidents along the way, the group finally reached the surface.
Kaori still bowed her head in distress. Shizuku followed her, her mind lost in thought, anxiously gazing at her. However, a shocking event occurred that completely blew away Kaori's worries. For a girl who liked Hajime, this was something she couldn't just sit back and watch.
The shocking incident occurred the moment the group passed through the entrance gate of the Great Labyrinth of Orcus.
“Ah! Dad! Welcome back—!”
"Hmm! It's Myuu."
A little girl who calls Hajime "Dad" appears.
The surroundings were filled with the clamor of adventurers and merchants, but Myuu's energetic voice was not drowned out and came through clearly. This also made the surrounding combat experts and the merchants busy shouting smiles, and their eyes softened a little.
Myuu ran straight towards Hajime with the sound of cute "snapping!" steps, and with the momentum of running towards Hajime, she suddenly flew into Hajime's arms. She probably never dreamed that there was a possibility that Hajime would miss the call.
If the plot had been conventional, Hajime would have been struck in the abdomen by a rocket-like headbutt from the girl, writhing on the ground in agony. Unfortunately, Hajime's body wasn't that frail. Instead, to prevent Myuu from getting hurt, Hajime deftly deflected the blow while firmly catching her.
"Myuu, you're here to pick me up? Where's Tio?"
“Yeah! Tio-sister said daddy would be back soon, so Myuu came to pick him up. Tio-sister…”
"I'm here."
A young woman with black hair and golden eyes emerged from the crowd. Needless to say, it was Tio. With so many people around, it wouldn't be surprising if someone got separated at any time, but Tio had left Myuu's side. Hajime couldn't help but rebuke her:
"Hey, Tio. You shouldn't leave Myuu in a crowded place like this, right?"
"I've always stayed where I could see Myuu. It's just that there are some people with bad intentions nearby, and I don't want Myuu to see the cruel scene."
It seems some foolish person is trying to abduct Myu. Since Myu is a Sea People child, Hajime always has her wear a hood when in public, to avoid attracting attention. This is why some unscrupulous individuals, unaware that Myu is a Sea People child under the Kingdom's protection, have harbored evil intentions. Her face, though childish, is quite handsome beneath the hood, a truly endearing presence that may have attracted such attention. It's unclear whether the criminals are after the ransom or Myu herself.
"I see. That can't be helped... What happened? Where are those who committed suicide?"
"Aiya, Master, I have already taught them a lesson, please calm down."
“…Tsk, never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
"...Will you really be able to say goodbye to this child then?"
Hajime, with a sinister smile, inquired about the whereabouts of the criminal, but Tio, seeing immediately that he was about to kill him, stopped him with a tone of half-surprise. While Hajime had initially resented being called "Dad," he now found the role quite comfortable. Could Hajime truly say goodbye to her properly after arriving at [Maritime City Enison]? Compared to Myuu, Hajime was even more unsettling.
Kouki and the others listened to Hajime and Tio's conversation, each speechless, thinking, "Hajime hasn't just gotten stronger, he's actually become a father!" The boys, in particular, naturally cast their gazes towards Yue, Shia, and the suddenly appearing black-haired, busty beauty. Their expressions were clearly lost in thought, their minds filled with complaints about Hajime, "What kind of experience has he accumulated?"
The degree of surprise that everyone felt at this moment was perhaps far greater than when they saw Hajime's invincible figure in the maze just now.
A calm reflection would reveal that giving birth to a four-year-old child during a four-month absence was simply impossible. However, the accumulation of shocking facts, coupled with the fact that Guanghui and the others had just survived repeated battles and desperate situations, and had lost their composure, led to such a perfect misunderstanding.
At this moment, a figure staggered out from among the stunned Guanghui group—it was Kaori, with a smile on her face, but her eyes were completely devoid of smiles... Kaori stumbled forward, her eyes suddenly widening, and she grabbed Hajime and shouted:
“Hashi-kun! What’s going on?! Is she really Hajime-kun’s child?! Who did she have it with?! Is it Yue-san?! Shia-san?! Or that black-haired woman over there?! Is there someone else?! How many women did you get pregnant?! Answer me, Hajime-kun!”
Kaori clutched at Hajime's collar, her body trembling and shaking, her mind completely swirling. Despite Hajime's repeated cries of "You misunderstood!" and attempts to break free, Kaori held on tight, her grip so tight it made one wonder where she found such brute force. Shizuku quickly grabbed Kaori's arms from behind, trying to pull her away, shouting, "Kaori, calm down! That can't be his child!", but Kaori ignored him.
In the midst of all the chaos and disorder, whispers could be heard from all around—
"What's going on? Catching an adulterer?"
"It's like he's already got his wife, but he's still getting another woman pregnant."
"There are more than just one or two people."
"I heard he got five women pregnant at the same time!"
"Oh, I heard that the guy had a harem and got dozens of women pregnant?"
"But it seems the queen has been kept in the dark."
"I see... so the truth came out today?"
"A harem... so enviable."
"Man... damn it."
It seemed that Hajime was being treated as a jerk who, despite already having a wife, had a harem, impregnated dozens of women, and kept it a secret from his wife. Hajime glanced at Kaori, who was still shaking and trembling, then looked up at the sky. He reached out and touched Myuu, who tilted her head in confusion, and sighed deeply.
Kaori blushed deeply as she buried her face in Shizuku's arms. If there were a hole in the ground, she'd definitely want to crawl into it. After regaining her composure, she realized she'd been seriously shouting something impossible, and she instantly felt humiliated. "It's okay, baby, baby," Shizuku whispered softly to comfort her, looking like a loving mother...
After exiting the labyrinth gate, Hajime and his companions arrived at a square near the town's entrance. With Hajime's value as a man soaring while his social standing plummeted, Hajime arrived to report the commission to the Loya branch manager. They exchanged a few words, and since gossip about Hajime was spreading like wildfire, he decided to leave the city as soon as possible. Hajime had only come to Loya to deliver Ilva's letter, and he didn't need to buy any travel supplies, so leaving immediately was fine.
As for the fact that Kouki and the others had joined Hajime's group as they prepared to leave, it was because Kaori had been following him. Even though Kaori was still mortified and couldn't lift her head, she was still trying to think of what to do. Should she just part with Hajime, or should she go with him? Kaori felt that she wanted to follow Hajime. After finally reuniting with someone she loved, no one wanted to be separated from them again.
However, she struggled to make a firm decision. Partly due to the guilt she felt for leaving Team Glorious, and partly due to the changed Hajime, her heart wavered. Furthermore, having her anxiety not only seen through but even ridiculed was a devastating blow.
Just as Yue was aware of Kaori's feelings, Kaori could also see the strong love Yue held for Hajime.
However, the fact that hurt Kaori the most, like a sharp thorn, was that Hajime also regarded Yue as a special existence.
When one of the two people who loved each other laughed at her, saying, "Your feelings are just this much anyway," Kaori couldn't help but doubt her own wavering heart and the strength of her feelings for Hajime.
Are my feelings inferior to Yue's? At this point, will continuing to like Shiji only add to his troubles? More importantly, do I dare to face the present Shiji? Is she only interested in the past Shiji?
Coupled with Yue's extraordinary strength and his majestic movements as a partner, Kaori was simply...completely outshined.
Simply put, Kaori had lost all confidence in herself, whether as a woman, a practitioner, or in her feelings for Hajime.
She was still lost in her confusion, and just as Hajime and his group were about to leave, a sudden, unpredictable atmosphere of danger appeared. Noticing this, Kaori looked up and saw about ten men blocking their path.
"Hey, hey, where are you going? You beat our comrades so badly they're unrecognizable, and you didn't even offer an apology? Huh!?"
A filthy-looking, fully armed man spoke, staring intently at Tio with a twisted expression that was repulsive. Could he be the accomplice of the gang that had attempted to abduct Myuu? He was probably seeking revenge, redeeming his comrade's reputation. However, from the man's obscene gaze, it was clear that his motives were not simply revenge; he had other agendas.
Encountering a low-ranking man who was biting like a mad dog, and the usual situation of him deliberately causing trouble, Hajime and his group were speechless and dumbfounded. The man seemed to misinterpret their reaction as being speechless due to fear, and this group of men (presumably mercenaries in the past) became even more rampant.
The men's gazes were fixed on Yue and Shia. Exposed to the gazes that felt like they were licking their skin, they hid behind Hajime, feeling nauseous. As expected, the men misinterpreted this as fear and threatened Hajime, who was surrounded by Yue and the others.
"Kid, you should understand what we mean, right? If you don't want to die, leave the woman behind and get out of here. Don't worry, I'll return her to you once they've apologized."
"But by then, they probably won't be in human form anymore."
The men burst into shrill laughter. What was so funny about it? One of them even treated Miu as an object for his sexual desires. The moment he frightened Miu, their fate was sealed.
As always, an overwhelming pressure washed over the men, so overwhelming that it felt as if the very fabric of space itself was trembling. Enraged by their unbearable words, Kouki stepped forward, only to be swept up in the pressure. This scene caught the corner of Hajime's vision, but he paid it no mind, continuing his own steps toward the men.
At this point, the men realized they had provoked an opponent they absolutely could not afford to offend. Although they hurriedly tried to apologize, the pressure on their bodies caused them to collapse to the ground, making it impossible for them to even speak, let alone apologize.
And Hajime didn't seem to intend to give them another chance to speak. Since they dared to harbor ill intentions towards Myuu and even frightened her, Hajime was determined to make these men suffer from the end of their lives.
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