Rising Life Volume 1, Chapter 46

Episode 46 Quest: Obsidian to Rose I

　The rain is pouring down in the labyrinth's dueling spaces.

「............」

「Huff ......, huff ......!」

「Come on, you son of a bitch! I'm going to crush your brains and stuff it full of shit!」

　Funnelwing was breathing roughly beside Roses smashing his shield with his mace.

　Cold rain-soaked Funnelwing cat fur and pure white breath repeatedly leaked from his neat mouth.

　He held his greatsword in his right eye, staring at Kian in front of him.

「............」

　Kian holds his longsword up next to his right ear.

　Funnelwing doesn't jump in, probably because he knows he doesn't have a chance.

　In the past ― if it was the 『Garbage Scavenger』 Kian, even if he cut Funnelwing's head off, he couldn't get the blade to reach him until he severed an artery.

　But with the amount of magic power Kian has now, a blow aimed at Funnelwing's neck would be a killing blow.

　That's why he can't step in.

「............」

　Kian unexpectedly released his stance, turned his wrist, held the sword in his opposite hand, and hid the blade behind his back.

　This is to break the stalemate.

　The one not holding the sword ― his left hand ― is held out in front of him, daring him to show an opening.

　He takes an inviting stance, saying, "Go ahead and kill me".

「......! Deyaaaaah!」

　Funnelwing seems to have lost his patience after being taken that far.

　He lunges straight at Kian.

　The cat-haired swordsman stepped forward with spirit and swung his great sword at Kian's head.

　Boom.

　With a strange sound.

　A powerful slash approaches Kian, who is half exposed against the Funnelwing.

「―――」

「Ah ......」

　Instantly, Kian's body blurred.

　The vertical slash of the great sword was easily avoided by the young warrior monk who had his body slightly thrown back.

　The heavy iron sword cut the air vainly and the blade pierced deep into the muddy ground.

「―――」

「............」

　The sound of the rain was quiet, and a high-pitched sound like iron being shriveled finely echoed through the air.

　The tip of a longsword.

　It swung behind the cat-haired swordsman's neck.

　Kian was standing still behind Funnelwing with the longsword in his opposite hand slashing up from the bottom.

　A beat later, bright red blood spurted from Funnelwing's neck.

「...... Arghh ......, ghee ......」

　Funnelwing collapsed to his knees on the spot, perhaps unable to breathe.

　He let go of his weapon and cowered, holding his own neck as blood poured out.

　It was a dead end.

　A momentary attack and defense without a shred of flair.

　A situation where Funnelwing thought he had swung his great sword, but somehow his neck had been cut open.

　Perhaps the person who was slashed has the least idea of the situation.

「Huff――!」

　Kian carelessly thrust his longsword at the back of Funnelwing head, which was gushing blood and just waiting to die.

「―――」

　The sound of bones shattering.

　The handsome swordsman was sewn to the ground, his head pierced through.

　His body jerked and twitched as his physical enhancements were released and his body shrink back to its original volume.

　The delinquent monk, who hadn't even been able to move yet, let out a muffled voice.

「F ...... Funnel, wing ......?」

「N-NOOOOOOO!」

「―――」

　Amidst Francisca's screams, Kian quietly pulled out the wooden sword on his back and held it up to Roses.

「Stop it!」

　Francisca screamed in a tearful voice.

「Pleaseeee! Why are you doing such a terrible thing!? Please stooopppp!」

「Fuck......Fuck, damn youuuuu! Damn, damn, damn, damn!」

「You're not going at me?」

　Kian asked shortly.

　Francisca screams as she crumples to the ground.

「Don't! Roses-senpai, don't go! You're going to be killeeeed!」

「......! D-Damn it ......!」

　Seeing Funnelwing slaughtered helplessly, the delinquent monk looked so pale that he could no longer even threaten.

　The mace he held out rattled and trembled.

「If you won't come to me, I'll come to you again. Well, ......, let's kill the magician (Francisca) first, who might be able to do some damage to me.」

「―――!? Stooooooppppppp!」

　Roses screeches and lunges at Kian.

　No skill, no nothing.

　Like a village thug, he rushes at Kian with his mace raised.

　Kian took the mace squarely in the face with his wooden sword and put his magic power into it.

「Guahh!?」

　The delinquent monk's mace bursts off halfway through.

　This is the application of 『Impulse』.

　It is a powerful technique of Azrair that destroys the weapon it strikes.

　Losing his weapon, Roses reflexively shielded his upper body with his left shield.

　Kian, however, did not care and struck him with a wooden sword covered with magic power.

　The moment the wooden sword's blade made contact with the shield's surface, he struck it with magic power, shattering the shield with Roses's left arm.

　Roses let out a short scream and fell to his stance.

　Kian took another step forward and stabbed him in the armpit with the dismantling knife in his left hand.

「......!? Ah ......iii......?」

　Blood flooded from his mouth.

　Roses staggers back ― his knees are broken.

　He touches his armpit and notices that it is stained bright red.

「......! *cough* ......!」

　Kian picks up the broken mace and rolls it in front of him as he kneels.

「............!」

　Roses stared at the mace with wide eyes.

　Then he looked up at Kian with sunken eyes.

「......! ......, uuuuugghnnnn!」

　He slams the ground with his fist, grabs the mace, and gets to his feet.

　Roses tries to confront Kian in a half-dead state.

　Then, Francisca interrupts from behind.

「Stop! Please, help me! Help me!」

　Pulling Roses back, she stepped forward to protect him.

「Why are you doing this!? Please stop it!」

「Hm......」

　Kian looked down at the blonde female magician.

　She was small compared to Arueno and Serena, but she had a good amount of magic power for a human.

　It's worth a shot as an emergency ration.

「Help me ......, please, don't kill me ......」

　Francisca hugs the bloodied Roses and pleads in a feeble voice.

　Kian stared at the girls for a moment, then nodded once.

「Does that mean you want to make a deal with me here as a magician?」

「*sob*......, ...... make, a....deal......?」

「Yeah」

　Kian nodded and spread his hands.

　He continued to speak.

「I will save your lives. But there is a price. Francisca, if you use magic, you know the principle of equivalent exchange.」

「......I don't know about that.......」

「Give me a price that is worth your lives. Then I will spare your lives.」

「Do ...... Do I have to pay with money?」

「Not just money. Everything.」

　Kian looked into Francisca's eyes.

「Give me everything you have. Then I will help you.」

「I'll give it to you! I'll give you anything you want. ......! I'll do anything, just don't kill Roses-senpai!」

「Fine, here's the deal.」

　Kian nodded and pushed Francisca away.

「Kyaaa!」

　He then slashes away at the Roses' limbs, which are wobbling without support, with his wooden sword.

「―――!? Ugyaaaaaah!?」

「Roses-senpai!? Noooooooo!」

　The delinquent monk falls to the ground in pieces.

　Kian's eyes snapped open and he placed his hand on Roses' chest, hammering magic power into it and healing him with brute force.

「Ogeghh ......!?」

　The section of severed flesh rises round and the wound closes.

　Kian gets up from the fainting Roses and walks over to Francisca, whose eyes are wide open.

「EEkkk!?」

　Kian grabs Francisca by the throat with his right arm.

　Francisca scratches Kian's hand and flaps her legs.

　Kian raises the angle of his arm and puts more pressure on the hand that is choking her.

「Ah ......, ......, ......!」

　Francisca spills tears and scratches Kian's arm.

　She was leaking urine from between her legs.

　As if in a last stand, she clutches Kian's arm tightly as if the tag has been removed.

　Her thick lips opened with a crack as she gasped for air.

　And then ― with a flop ― her arms fell off.

　Kian lowered her to the ground and cast magic of subordination.

「Francisca, Franciscaaaaaaaa!」

　Roses shouted behind her.

　Kian whispered to the empty-eyed Francisca.

「I'll save you guys, as I promised. You know who he is, don't you?」

「...... Roses-senpai」

「That's right. He was in such a bad state from his fight with the monster. But it's okay. You can take care of him from now on.」

「Okay. ......」

「Good girl. I know it's hard, but I'm on your side.」

「I'll kill you! 『Garbage Scavenger』, you son of a bitch! I'll kill you!」

　Roses spits and rants.

　Kian approaches him with a blank look on his face and slams his fist into his throat.

「Gehh. ......」

「―――」

　Heals his mouth and throat, which were messed up by the healing process.

　However, it does not restore.

　It is a distorted regeneration.

　His voice will be something he does not need.

「......, ......!」

「Sleep in peace. There is nothing to worry about. I will keep my promise. The next time you wake up, you will be dreaming happy dreams with her.」

　Kian whispered and cast magic of subordination on Roses as well.

「――――, ............」

「Roses-senpai. Roses-senpai......」

　Francisca bent down over Roses, who had stopped moving, and held his shoulders as if she were nursing a baby.

「It's all right, Roses-senpai. It's okay. ......」

　The signs of battle disappear from the 『Rose Labyrinth』

　Only the sound of the pouring rain was dominating the place with its coldness.

　　×　　×　　×

　It was then that the atmosphere of the 『Rose Labyrinth』 changed.

「......Hou ......」

　Kian stood up from Roses and looked at the wall of roses in the back.

　A strong wind blew into the rainy labyrinth and the petals of the black roses scattered in the sky.

　Thump, thump――.

　The earth, the rose garden, shook as if pulsating.

　Kian looks at the wall of roses at the back of the room with a natural look on his face as he swings his wooden sword in blood.

『Kufufu......』

　Suddenly, a bewitching woman's laughter echoed.

　It's glasses.

　Kian narrowed his eyes.

(What's funny?)

『Kian, give me your magic power.』

「...... What did you say?」

『Give it to me.』

「Are you going on a treasure hunt?」

『No, it is not. It is to enchant the things that will appear and make them servants. Just pour your magic power into me. As much as you can.』

「All I have? Don't fuck with me. There's no way I would do that.」

　Kian found Glasses' words disturbing and dismissed them.

　Glasses clicked her tongue.

『Why? Don't you want power?』

「I want power, but I don't trust you. I think you're rather suspicious. What on earth are you going to do with my magic power? Really――」

　Kian looked around at the ground around him.

　Stems of roses grew and curled around the corpse of the adventurer he had killed, entwines into the wall.

　The blood flowed out into the ground as if the labyrinth was soaking.

　Thump――

　The rose wall pulsed again.

　The back wall distorts into a whirlpool.

　Something with long hair slowly crawls out from there.

　There is no doubt.

　That thing is the master of this labyrinth.

　It must be the evil spirit in question.

　Kian felt the raindrops on his brow run down his cheeks.

「......Are you really going to use it just to subordinate that thing?」

『Hmph, can't you believe me? How sad, isn't it? I have been on your side all this time. ......』

「That's the reason why I don't trust you.」

『I can't help it. Then you may confront that thing as you wish. And if you are in trouble, offer your magic power to me. Then things will be easy.』

「............. I'll follow up later. Glasses, when you calm down, answer my questions. For now, I'll concentrate on that thing.」

　Kian said and walked to the center of the square surrounded by roses.

　The bodies of the adventurers, already scattered, are gone.

　The body of Funnelwing had just disappeared into the wall of roses.

(Has it taken the form of a feeding?)

　Kian thought as he listened to the sound of the cat's hairy body being chewed up by the labyrinth.

(However, it would be troublesome to stay cooped up in the depth of the labyrinth for so long. It would be a godsend if I can come out with this, though)

　Unexpectedly, Funnelwing and the others became bait.

　At least now Kian could catch a glimpse of the unidentified evil spirit of the labyrinth.

　Kian looks to the left and right without letting his guard down.

「......a......, ah......, ah......」

　A muffled voice.

　Even in the rain, it reached his ears strangely clearly.

　A white limb dangles from the distortion of space ahead and then falls down.

　Long brown hair.

　A thin shoulders.

　It's a woman.

　Her body is very fleshy, and she is horrifyingly beautiful.

　If Kian hadn't seen Arueno's body, he might have gotten an erection.

「Who are you? Can you speak?」

　Kian asked shortly, holding his wooden sword in the lower position.

「――――, ――――」

　The woman does not answer.

　Her long brown hair hangs to the ground and she stands up, swaying.

　When her brown eyes peeked out from between her hair, Kian felt a shiver bubble up his spine.

(What is this distorted presence ......)

　The woman herself was cloaked in strong magic power, but more than that, a black blur like a poisonous mist was hovering around her.

　The blur gave off an air of biological loathing for Kian.

「............」

　Kian walks slowly to the side, keeping his eyes on her.

　That thing is dangerous――

　A warrior's intuition told him so.

　Not pure strength like a Griffin, but something horrifying ― she possesses an evil power in her body.

(Crow)

　Kian sends a command, but all the messenger birds have already been pulled into the rose wall, along with the dead adventurers. The only ones alive and safe in this place were Roses, Francisca, and Kian.

(If I break the wall behind, can I get out? But if I can't get out, it would be a critical gap....... I need to somehow send a message to Serena and Arueno-san.)

『Kian, give me your magic power. I will not make it worse. You will have great status and power.』

「You keep your mouth shut for a minute.」

　Kian then addressed the brown-haired woman again,

「You are the master of this labyrinth, aren't you?」

「――――」

　The woman does not answer.

　She just stares at Kian with her brown eyes.

　But eventually, she gently opens her peach-colored lips.

「...... you're, wrong......」

「I'm wrong ......? You mean you're not the master of the labyrinth?」

「You,...... are, wrong....... give it, back ....... that, child ......, ......,give it back」 [TLN: お……マえ、ちガ、う……。かエ、シて……。あノ、こ……、を……、かエ、シ]

「――――」

　Kian clicked his tongue.

　The woman's voice is so rattled and hoarse that he can't pick up the meaning very well.

「If you confront me, I have no choice. I will subdue you.」

「Ah, Aahh, ahh, ah, AaA, A, AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!」

　The woman held out her hands, stared up at the heavens, and raised her voice.

　A vindictive cry.

　It was as if she was cursing all living creatures in this world.

　It was husky, but it certainly sounded like a song.

「―――Tsk!」

　Kian narrowed his eyes.

　As if in response to the woman's voice, the surrounding rose walls lit up with green phosphorescence.

(Rain Wraith, huh?) (レイン・レイス)

　Kian kept the point of his wooden sword pointed at the woman and looked around at the white rag-clad ghosts crawling out of the darkness behind him on either side.

「KISYAAAAAAA!!!!」

　The green phosphorescent monsters opened their jaws and wiggled their rotting tongue flesh.

　They flapped their rags and soared into the rainy weather as if dancing.

(One, two, three, four...... there are more than fifty of them? And they are still coming up. It's dangerous to fight them alone.)

　The ghosts are now crammed into the dueling spaces of the Rose Garden.

　Kian tried to find a way to retreat while measuring the distance between him and the ghosts.

(It will expose a gap, but I will use 『Shoot』, to break the rose wall. If it doesn't break, I will detonate the explosives to close the gap.)

　It is dangerous, but there is no time to be lost.

　Kian quickly bent down and jumped behind him, reaching for the pouch at his waist.

　The front.

　A female brown-haired evil spirit howls.

　It's an out-of-this-world scream.

　She pulls out an object identical to the rusty sword the ghosts are holding and glides closer toward Kian.

(Tsk, I can't believe this is a 7th-rank quest. The guild's judgment is full of holes ......!)

　Kian held up the wooden sword while swearing inside his heart.

　The rusty sword has substance, so it should be able to defend against it.

　If the boss comes charging at me from the other side, I have the option of using the 『Art of Spirit Absorption』 at the drop of a hat―

(If they touch me, they suck my life force. It is a fatal attack for me, who has few tachyonian cells. My magic power.......I don't know if they are enough to deal with this number. But――)

　I can get through this...!

　Kian already had oil in his mouth.

　He took out a lump of mushrooms from the pouch on his waist, which contained a spark, and blew on it.

　Boom, the flame flared up.

　Kian felt his skin burn, but he scatters the mushroom mass from side to side, unafraid.

　The ghosts moved away from around Kian as if frightened.

　The brown-haired woman's movement did not stop, so Kian put magic power into his wooden sword and struck the rusty blade away.

　As he was about to jump behind her one more time, the space to his right was distorted once again.

(Newcomers ......!?)

　But this time, there was no horrifying sign as when the evil spirit woman appeared.

　A limpid life force.

　Kian knew who the master of this magic power was.

「Is it Arueno-san......!?」

「Kian!」

　As it turned out, it was the silver-haired girl swordsman ― Serena ― who jumped out from the spatial distortion.

　Her leather-gloved hand creaked as she leaped out of the spatial distortion and simultaneously slashed at the ghosts that were swarming around Kian.

「Iyaaah!」

　The large dagger borrowed from Arueno sliced through the dark night.

　With a single swing, she blasted away the green phosphorescent ghosts as if they were pieces of paper.

　The ghosts, their bodies punctured like burning paper, screamed and scattered into the void.

　Serena landed in front of Kian and waved a white branch, shooting a blinding flash of light at the brown-haired woman.

「――――!」

　The woman distorts space and disappears.

　She has transferred.

　The evil woman reappeared at the end of the square ― near the rose wall.

　In front of Kian's eyes, Serena's feet, wrapped in thigh-high boots, made a creaking sound.

「Phew.」

　As Kian narrowed his eyes, Serena's faded away, leaving deep footprints in the mud.

　She appeared instantly over the head of the innermost evil spirit as if she had transferred, even though she hadn't used any kind of transfer.

(Fast ......! As I thought, it was not human work).

　A strange voice rose, "Kieeh――".

　The evil spirit woman's brown hair stood up against the rainy sky.

　Serena, who had slashed at her from overhead, split her forehead open.

　The woman backed away, spurting black blood.

　Serena thrust out her white staff so that it was crossed with the hand holding the knife, and it flashed.

「――――」

　Both shoulders, chest, waist, right thigh, and left ankle.

　The woman's body is shot out by the flash of light with blinding speed.

　Her hair is disheveled as she falls backward.

　Then she disappears as if melting into the darkness.

　Kian shouted.

「Serena, behind you!」

「――――!」

　They are not the evil spirits of women.

　They are the countless ghosts she has called.

　The ghosts floating in the sky rushed to Serena, who had obliterated the evil spirit as if to avenge her death.

　Serena, who had just landed in the air, was unable to avoid them and was buried among dozens of ghosts.

「Tsk!」

　Kian ran out belatedly.

　He takes out the explosives from his pouch.

　If I didn't do something, Serena's life force would be sucked out of her――.

「――――, haaaaaahhhhhh!」

　But.

　Before Kian can run up to her.

　A crack appeared in the wall of ghosts that covered Serena.

　The ghosts flared up violently with green phosphorescence.

　And in the next instant, their bodies disintegrate as if popping from the inside.

　Kian gasped as the ghosts disappeared into dust one after another.

(This woman ......, does that mean I was wrong about her strength as well?)

『Hmph, the ghosts can't absorb the girl's life force, I guess. Like a fish that doesn't know when to eat or drink, they ate too much and broke down from the inside out.』

　Serena blew away countless ghosts like garbage.

　Serena steps out leisurely in front of Kian, whose eyes are stern behind his glasses. Her body was on fire, perhaps activating the tachyonian cells in her body, and white steam was rising from her shoulders and head.

　She turned her bright light blue eyes toward Kian.

「Kian, are you okay?」

「......Yeah.」

「Right. Thank goodness.」

　Serena said and moved her eyes to Francisca and Roses, who were hugging each other at the back of the square.

「What have you done? Both of them have completely lost their will to resist. Or rather, that was ......」

「Reconciliation.」

「――. Is that so.」

　Serena said shortly and put the knife back in the holder at her waist.

　Then she pointed to the distortion in the space from which she herself had emerged.

「The Transfer Gate is maintained by Arueno-san. ...... That evil spirit is still alive. I have a feeling she's going to come back to life in a few minutes, so let's get the hell out of here before she is revived.」

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