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CHAPTER 30.2: DEMONIC DISEASE
“–Abe-san!” (Voice)
I can hear a voice from a distance. There is a shadow running.
Noa—not. Bigger and thicker. His footsteps are echoing.
It’s Obuchi.
“Damn you!” (Obuchi)
Several bottles are thrown from Obuchi’s hand. They draw a steep arc, colliding in mid-air with the red-and-white arms as they swarm and intercept it, then it breaks. A clear liquid splashes down on the boss’ body.
“Yui-sama!” (Obuchi)
“It is I!” (Yui)
There was something that took off from Obuchi’s shoulder runs on the ground and jumped quite high, using the boss’ head as a springboard.
That little shadow dances in the air.
(Woah!) (Shuu)
—It’s a cat.
The cat spits out a red ball from its mouth—a mycelium ball the same color as my Burning Ball.
It lands on the boss’ head, the tiny ball explodes and then bursts into a roaring flame.
“Vodka that’s 95% alcohol! That’s going to burn!” (Obuchi)
The boss began to shake his head. It’s working and it is struggling to put out the fire.
“…Hot… Hot… Murasugi cooked…” (Murasugi)
The arms surround his body, writhing trying to put out the fire.
So, I bend down my knees, then leaped in a straight line.
I thrust forward through the forest of arms, writhing all over his body.
My Light Blade pushed through his brow.
His huge body shakes violently.
“Kiyeeeeee…!” (Murasugi?)
“This won’t feel good!” (Shuu)
A swing of my mycelial arm decapitates the boss.
The severed head whirls around in the air.
It meets my eyes—it looks like it is laughing.
–Abeshuu, see you later.
Is it my imagination that I heard it say that?
“Shut up and eat my ball(s)!” (Shuu)
I released a Burning Ball in a straight trajectory jumping into the open hole of his meaty neck.
Boom! The head explodes, and pieces of meat rain down.
The huge body, which had fallen flat on its side, slowly melts and turns into a black liquid, which spreads on the ground.
Steam filled the air, smelling like rotting flesh. Not a single bone remains, and the black stain on the ground disappears.
I stumbled on my feet and falls flat on my ass.
For a moment, all sound ceased. Silence falls over the clearing.
“…Hah, that was hard…” (Shuu)
It was a really strong enemy. Based on the Boss Slime, it might have exceeded the 60s. I’m not confident that I can win if I try doing it again.
My physical strength is at the limits. If I don’t eat anything right now, I won’t be able to walk anymore. sleepy. I want to lie down and sleep.
“Abeshuu!” (Tamiko)
“Abe-san!” (Noa)
Tamiko and Noa run up to me. I’m glad they’re both okay, but then Noa holds me by the neck and Tamiko presses her head against my nipple (drilling her head).
“I’m glad! I’m so glad you’re safe!” (Noa)
“Pigya! I’m squeaking scared!” (Tamiko)
I don’t know if I can call this having two flowers in both hands, but for this moment, I was in the troubling situation of having voluptuous bosoms smother me while my own nipples were being drilled.
“…Abe-san…” (Obuchi)
Obuchi appeared when I turn around. His battered pig face looks like he’s about to cry.
“Um, Obuchi-san?” (Shuu)
“Yes, my name is Obuchi Routa. As you can see I am a [Pigfolk – Orc]. (Obuchi)
“Orc?” (Chuu)
“Yes, I’m a pig demihuman.” (Obuchi)
“I see, a demihuman.” (Shuu)
There are supernatural powers, monsters, magic beasts, zombies, and even demihumans. I’m impressed by the breadth of New Tokyo.
“Phew… I haven’t caught up with absorbing my current situation yet…” (Shuu)
Obuchi kneels down in front of me and presses his forehead against the ground like he’s about to crack it open. The dogeza, the traditional Japanese art of kneeling on the ground, was still alive in the world a hundred years later.
“I’m sorry! Even though they had taken a hostage, I’ve repeatedly struck you with my fist many times…!” (Obuchi)
“No, well, to tell you the truth, it hurt. As you can see, I’m fine now…” (Shuu)
“Yep, it’s the usual baby’s bottom smooth face, squeak.” (Tamiko)
“Shut it. Well, I have also hit you once, so we’re even.” (Shuu)
“…Is that the Fungal Skill [Self-Regeneration]… How amazing…” (Obuchi)
“Yeah? Yeah… that’s right. Well, how are the hostages…” (Shuu)
A cat looks into my face from behind Obuchi. It could be described as an elegant cat, with white fur and dark spots framing the face, ears, and limbs. The tip of its tail is spread out like a mushroom’s head, which is impressive.
The cat sits down next to Obchi and bows deeply side by side.
“My name is Yui. Forgive us for the inconvenience caused by myself and pig. Please, I apologize and thank you.” (Yui)
“…The hostage… is this cat …?” (Shuu)
“Yes, I was a hostage, or a cat hostage.” (Yui)
“…Cats can also talk…?” (Shuu)
“Yes, I’m from the Cait Sith tribe.” (Yui)
“…Oh, a Magic Beast. I see, of course, sure…”
I nodded knowingly, but a part of me, Shuu Abe, was shocked to have found a cat for the first time in 100 years. There is also a part of me who is shedding blood and tears while praising the heavens.
“When I got separated from this pig in the forest, we were both caught by that [Udeochi]. It was a gargantuan mistake. Thanks to you, this pig was not forced to join the bandits for my sake. …I really can’t thank you enough, Abe-san.” (Yui)
“No, that’s fine.” (Shuu)
“While you were fighting against the [Udeochi] I somehow managed to rescue her. Please forgive me for leaving you alone and not helping.” (Obuchi)
“It was nothing. I managed to do it alone (I wanna rub those toe beans).” (Shuu)
“Abeshuu, you’re staring way too hard, squeak.” (Tamiko)
Tamiko, who had read my mind, gave me a sharp rebuke. As expected of my partner, Tamiko seemed to have detected that I was a secret cat person. In deference to her keen eye, I rubbed the base of her tail, and she said, “Oh, not there, squeak! …that’s wrong… more squeak.”
“Even so… when we came out of that cave, Abe-san is fighting that thing…” (Yui)
They look at the black spots on the ground. If you look closely, a metal rod that seems to be the last part of his claws stands in the center. Like a grave marker.
“I thought I had defeated the “Udeochi”. It suddenly transformed into that monster… What was that?” (Shuu)
There was no such creature in the metro. For the first time, since I woke up, I saw a monster that was neither human nor Metro Beast, but something much more foreign and unidentifiable.
“That’s the first time we’ve seen one.” (Yui)
It was the first time I couldn’t see someone’s level, squeak. It was scary, squeak.” (Tamiko)
“Maybe—” Noa said, “Maybe that’s the Demonic Disease.” (Noa)
“Demonic Disease?” (Shuu)
“Oh… I’ve heard of it too,” Obuchi said. “I’ve heard that veteran hunters who spend a lot of time in the depths of the Metro can, on rare occasions, turn into monsters like that, neither man nor beast, after their death. I thought it was just an urban legend… ” (Obuchi)
“Deep in the Metro? For a long time? Wait a minute… I’ve been on the 50th floor for five years…” (Shuu)
Will I become a monster like that if I die too? I’m terrified. Considering the inconvenience I could cause around me, I can’t live my life that way.
“Fiftieth floor? Five years?” Obuchi said anxiously. “Um, uh… I heard it’s a very rare case. Well, I thought it was just an urban legend actually…” (Obuchi)
“According to what I read–” Noa (probably talking about her great grandfather’s notes) said. “I believe the sufferer was suffering from auditory hallucinations before the onset of the disease or something like that. If you don’t show any signs of that, I think you’re fine.” (Noa)
“Hallucinations…” (Shuu)
I remember the monster’s last words.
–Abeshuu, see you later.
Were those his words? Or just hallucinations–?
At any rate, I hear nothing now. The area is quiet as if nothing has happened before. The wind is rustling the leaves, and I can faintly hear the sound of insects. It is a very comfortable night if one forgets the devastation in the area.
Tamiko climbs on my shoulders and gently touches my cheeks.
“Abeshuu, are you okay, squeak?” (Tamiko)
She looks more concerned than ever, and I smile at her expression.
I shook my head and said nothing.
“…Let’s go. It’s finally my long-awaited town of humans.”