Instant Death

Chapter 12 - I’m challenged horizontally

Translator: Thy Unsus

Edit: Thy Unsus

It was an existence similar to killing intent personified.

The blades that could grow on its entire body were probably installed just for slaughter.

Hanakawa couldn’t take his eyes off from it, which was ominously beautiful. He couldn’t do anything but continue to stare at it, but if he looked away, he’d be decapitated instantly. He was being spurred on by such an unreasonable but compulsive idea.

“Won’t it murdeerr anything and everything it sees! What will I do to that! But! There is sage-sama here! The likes of fellows of this degree aren’t……where are you, Aoi-sama!?” (Hanakawa)

Hanakawa, who had been fixated on the strange-looking thing, noticed that Aoi’s figure couldn’t be seen.

“Why did it aim for the dragon, I wonder? It was bringing about an atmosphere like it is really killing at random, but then, the target should be either me or pig-kun.” (Aoi)

“Why are you behind me! Or rather, now it’s natural to call me pig-kun!?” (Hanakawa)

“I thought ‘it is just right for hiding because his surface area is large’.” (Aoi)

“It’s that? Putting it another way politically, I am truly fat, right? Like I’m challenged horizontally!” (Hanakawa)

Aoi was hiding behind Hanakawa.

But, if she intended to make him into a shield, it would be futile. It was because that monster would slash through Hanakawa as if he were a piece of paper.

“Huh? For the time being, there’s something that seems to be an eye, right? I think that there might be some meaning in being out of its field of vision.” (Aoi)

“There’s absoluuutely no meaning! It’s something like a sensor, so it grasps everything in the surroundings!” (Hanakawa)

It was warped, but it was the base shape of a person. Two luminous spots were lit on its head, so those were probably its eyes. It may be something decorative, but ear and nose-like things were also attached.

The existence of its mouth wasn’t clear, but something like a thin line could be seen. It wouldn’t be strange even if it opened that wide unexpectedly.

“Even if it is grasping it, it seems it has no intent to kill us at present. It would be easy for it to annihilate us if it feels inclined to.” (Aoi)

If you looked at its underfoot, there was traces like it dragged against the ground a little. It probably jumped over the cliff and landed while killing the dragon. That movement certainly didn’t even remain in the eyes, and neither Hanakawa nor Aoi could perceive its movement.

“Can’t you do it somehow!? Um, it will reach it either way if it’s Aoi-sama’s ability, won’t it? Look, you should say ‘that robot isn’t there’, like you did to the dragon!” (Hanakawa)

“Even if you say so, I can’t. If it’s that guy, it can’t be helped if I think ‘I will be able to do that\'” (Aoi)

“It can’t be used unexpectedly!? That ability!” (Hanakawa)

“Yeah, it’s reasonably hard to use it freely.” (Aoi)

“A-anyway, it’s fine that were being motionless?” (Hanakawa)

The likelihood of being noticed increased if they moved. Hanakawa considered it best to maintain the current state, as if excusing it.

“That’s right. It’s for some reason or another, but it seems like it is perplexed.” (Aoi)

“Is……that so? Well, even if you say so, I can’t see it……” (Hanakawa)

It was in a forward-bent-posture, and was standing stock still while bloodstained.

Its appearance seemed like it was lost in deep thought, like it didn’t understand fully why it killed the dragon.

“But, how long should we be motionless?” (Hanakawa)

“That guy, until it goes somewhere, I guess?” (Aoi)

In any case, there was no choice but to look at the situation as is.

‘Yeah’, Hanakawa resolved himself, but it showed movements before long.

They were quiet, no-hesitation movements, to the extent of being dreadful.

It just walked several steps, and Hanakawa should have been actually watching that figure, but still he didn’t fully understand when it moved.

It seemed its aim was the dragon still. Before he realized it, it was standing near the head that was cut off and flew.

And, it stabbed its hand through the top of the head. The blade-shaped hand smoothly penetrated deeply without any resistance.

“That guy, what is it doing!” (Hanakawa)

“The dragon is dead, and it isn’t that he’s dealing the finishing blow. From what is see, it’s trying to acquire information from its brain?” (Aoi)

“It is if we assume it is! There are approximately two people who have brains here as well!” (Hanakawa)

What meaning that act actually had, Hanakawa and others didn’t know.

However, when the suspicious-looking thing pulled its hand from the dragon’s head and turned its red eyes, Hanakawa was convinced he was dead.

“Breasts! If I’ll die after all, can I touch your breasts! I’m not too interested in ‘boku~ girls’! If it’s like this, anything is fine now!” (Hanakawa)

“Not a chance.” (Aoi)

“A, aaaaah, is it dogeza for the time being? Is the sincerity of the Japanese people understood globally!?” (Hanakawa)

The confused Hanakawa immediately fell to his knees, and rubbed his head on the ground.

However, there was a limit in continuing to avert his eyes from the horror there.

Hanakawa couldn’t bear it before long, raised his face, and *glance* looked at the surroundings.

It had disappeared.

“Eh?” (Hanakawa)

“It went somewhere.” (Aoi)

“Why? Perhaps it is the arranged pattern of ‘from behind when we are negligent’!” (Hanakawa)

Hanakawa checked the back, looked up at the sky, and peered into below the cliff. The figure of the strange-looking thing wasn’t anywhere.

“Are……are we saved?” (Hanakawa)

“At present. Well, in the fate value, I couldn’t imagine that we’d die easily here.” (Aoi)

“Rather, wasn’t Aoi-sama also extremely nervous!?” (Hanakawa)

He didn’t know whether she just didn’t want to admit it or she truly maintained her normal mind, but Aoi ignored Hanakawa’s point, and pointed at the distant sky.

“Some time ago, though for just an instant, a huge tower could be seen there.” (Aoi)

“There looks to be nothing there?” (Hanakawa)

Only thin clouds came to view in the daybreak sky.

“It was really for an instant. Although, it seemed that monster headed there for the moment. For now, let’s also try to go there.” (Aoi)

“Are you sane! Despite being saved at great pains!” (Hanakawa)

“Although some kind of flag seemed to have raised with the dragon as the cue, because that guy smashed it, the next clue is nothing else but that.” (Aoi)

“NOOOOO! Send meee, homeee!” (Hanakawa)

Aoi grabbed the nape of Hanakawa’s neck while he squatted.

‘She’s stronger than I thought’, Hanakawa was *drag* dragged while being unable to resist.

“This……it is playing perfectly, huh?” (Yogiri)

“It’s a little irritating.” (Tomochika)

A dead-end passage.

There was a box made of metal in front of Tomochika and Yogiri. GG.

It was as big as an armful, and the lid was in semi-circular cylindrical shape: the so-called treasure chest. Both of them were gamers, so their expectations would rise, whether willing or not, if this box was before their eyes, but there was only one gold coin inside the box.

“This, is the setting for every trial I guess……” (Tomochika)

“If that’s true, there are probably such things as locks in this……” (Yogiri)

This place, was the 50th floor of the tower.

The rooftop was on the 100th floor, and the 99th floor was the place they fought Teresa. The 89th floor, which was down one floor from there, was the place that they lodged in in the safe area, and from there were levels that they descended continuously again.

There wasn’t a safe zone since the 98th floor, so naturally there was a possibility that they’d be attacked by someone, but the two were easygoing.

“……I really don’t intend to side with the Sword Saint, and we’re caught up in a trial we didn’t want to accept. But, is it just a little, really just a little that I feel sorry in my mind?” (Tomochika)

If originally, there probably was no need to go down the floors until here to see a treasure chest.

On the way, there were locked rooms, passages with traps, and doors with a device attached to it like a mountain.

To come until here, it was supposed to be necessary for you to hunt around for necessary items and search for clues to solve the puzzles inside the tower.

However, Yogiri went forward while killing every one of those.

Fortunately, the correct route itself was simple. Thanks to that, they were able to come until here by just pushing on almost straight.

“Do you want to search?” (Yogiri)

“No, I don’t really want to, but I feel that this’d be regrettable if we assume it is a game……ahh, forget it! Let’s go with this manner!” (Tomochika)

“Areeen’t you guys in surprisingly good shape?” (???)

The voice was heard from the exit of the dead-end, and Tomochika turned around.

The man walked slowly in the narrow passage.

The man was wearing the skin of a beast, which seemed to be a beastman’s.

In accordance with that appearance, it was probably a battle style that imitated a beast. A very long claw was attached to his hand, and was turning it towards Yogiri and others to show off.

“You even have the master key, right? Hand it over. In that case, the woman——” (???->Man)

“Die.” (Yogiri)

The man fell pitched forward, and stopped moving.

“Even this guy absolutely didn’t have the ‘Sword Saint’ atmosphere!” (Tomochika)

“To have sold a fight, he’s a surprising person in general.” (Yogiri)

Yogiri was more unforgiving than usual, but it seemed that he was also taking Tomochika’s comment of ‘do it in moderation’ into account. For the time being, it appeared that he was dealing with them after looking at the situation.

“I wonder what the heck the ‘Saint’ part of the Sword Saint is. These people don’t feel holy at all.” (Tomochika)

Tomochika’s eyes were like they were looking into the distance.

What had attacked them so far were nothing but people like hooligans that had strange appearances. The professional duties of the Sword Saint weren’t known, but even if it was 10000 to 1, such guys thought ‘I can become the Sword Saint’.

“I heard that, in the past, some insane guys were treated as saints. And, this guy has a map. Perhaps it was very dirtied with blood, so he stole it from someone.” (Yogiri)

Yogiri was sitting down near the fallen man and fishing in his pocket.

There probably wasn’t anything important besides the bundle of paper. Yogiri, who stole it, got up and went back the way they came. Tomochika followed behind.

They came out of the narrow passage and went out into a crossroad. As he thought, the thin, inconspicuous way seemed to not be the correct route. Basically, it seemed like they should go forward along the wide passage.

On the side of the road before their eyes that they came to first, a wide road continued on the left side. So, Tomochika tried to go towards there, but something *thud* fell down.

It was a man wearing a deep blue costume.

“It’s a ninja, right? This! Why is everyone aiming for Sword Saint!?” (Tomochika)

『Such a typical ninja appearance is possibly a fashion.』(Mokomoko)

“His appearance couldn’t be seen, but it seems he was clinging to the ceiling.” (Yogiri)

Around the man, small, pointed sticks were scattered. They were rod shurikens, weapons that Tomochika recognized.

“Or rather, why are you attacking! Just go down the tower, will you? Where is there a need to fight?” (Tomochika)

Yogiri wouldn’t have recognized the ninja’s existence if he just was hiding. He was killed because he had killing intent.

“Maybe the ‘scrambling for the key-like item’ is a premise? From what I saw on the map, the range of which we can move seems to be getting smaller the further you go down. There will be fewer treasure boxes, and the probability that you’ll meet fellow candidates also increases. I guess it was designed like that.” (Yogiri)

“Heyyy. It’s ‘those who go down quick have a better evaluation’? Didn’t he say such a thing?” (Tomochika)

“If I’m not mistaken, he didn’t say anything but ‘I’ll be waiting on the first floor, so go down’.” (Yogiri)

However, seeing that the evaluation method wasn’t known, their objective for now would be to go down quickly.

The two walked through the large passage.

When they went for a while, there was a large door. It seemed to be locked, but Yogiri opened the door easily. There was a largish room inside, and there was another door on the opposite side. If they thought about it from their experiences so far, there should be a staircase connecting to the next floor there.

“With this, we’ve cleared halfff. Aren’t we advancing quite quickly?” (Tomochika)

“Haven’t you progressed too much? I think that being crafty isn’t good.” (???)

“Heh?” (Tomochika)

They were about to head to the next door, and Tomochika was confused by the voice that was heard abruptly.

“Where did you spring out from!?” (Tomochika)

A man was standing in the center of the room.

It was a man of delicate features, who wore a gold circlet and a gold robe.

His neck was covered in necklaces stringed together by jewels, and there were gaudy rings equipped on every one of his fingers.

At a glance, it was a man with an appearance that made you think ‘it seems like he’s covered in gold’.

“I am the creator of this tower. So, it is possible for me to appear anywhere.” (???-Igleshia)

“Aren’t you more crafty!?” (Tomochika)

Tomochika retorted at his excess excuse.

“Well, I am participating as a Sword Saint candidate, and if I say you are crafty, then you are. But, still, I can’t overlook your deeds. Jeez……do you understand the feelings of the creator who passed through the many brain-wracking riddles?” (Igleshia)

The man sighed with an exaggerated gesture. It seemed to be an excessive response, but it was an appearance that surprisingly fit him to a tee if you joined it together with that appearance.

“We don’t intend to become the Sword Saint. We just want to leave the tower for the time being, but is it no good still?” (Yogiri)

“If you get up for the first time in a thousand years, your at-great-pains parting gift is like this. There is no way you can permit it, right? I don’t know what kind of trick it is, but here I have direct——” (Igleshia)

“Die.” (Yogiri)

The man crumpled down on the spot very easily.

“No no no, wait a minute!? He was like an important figure or something!?” (Tomochika)

“I didn’t know. I just did it before he killed me.” (Yogiri)

Whether or not he didn’t care at all about the man’s true colors and the like, Yogiri quickly went towards the door that seemed to be the exit.

She hadn’t been fully satisfied with it, but she couldn’t *guzuguzu* complain too much as she had said ‘I have resolved myself’ before. Tomochika soon switched her feelings and rushed over to Yogiri.