By Effugium December 27, 2023
The hard, sharp tip touched the fragile glass container. White cracks covered the entire vial, and hope spilled from his palms.
Rintaro hurriedly reaches out to pick up even a drop.
But a new sword protruding from the floor prevented the poor man from clinging to hope.
「Bah…… You’ve gotta be kidding me, no way……！」
Rintaro fell to the floor covered by the sword in a heap of momentum. A reddish-black secret medicine was noiselessly sucked into the gap between the swords right in front of Rintaro’s eyes.
「Are you serious…… It’s over…… Even though, even though I’ve made it this far……」
There were no more supplies of Zazoma’s elixir. Even if there were, it would be impossible to go back through the layers of swords again.
The situation was literally deadlocked, and the situation was bad.
「Something else, there must still be something else I can do…… Think think think……」
It was all due to his careless mistake. A disappointed Rintaro put his hands on the floor and struggled to get up.
Giving up is not in his nature. Especially if the lives of his precious friends are at stake.
But at the same time, Rintaro felt a weak vibration in both his hands.
It is such a small vibration, so quiet for Swordminagon to have resumed its movement, as if blood were flowing through its veins.
A frightening scenario flashed through Rintaro’s mind.
Kashan……
With a dry metallic sound, a sword fell from the ceiling to the floor. Looking up, countless swords dangled from the ceiling like chandelier.
The tips of all of them were pointed at the intruder, Rintaro.
「Seriously……」
Rintaro had not reached the “worst” yet. If the worst were to start, it would be from this moment.
「Hey, hey Minato. If you’re awake, please answer me. I’m sorry I came in without permission. Let’s call it a tie around here, shall we?」
Rintaro spoke to Minato, who was quietly closing her eyes in the center of the room, but naturally received no response.
And as if to say this is the reply, the swords on the ceiling rained down in unison toward Rintaro.
「Uooooooooooooooooooh!! I don’t have a mask you know(こちとらマスクねえんだぞ)！ Go easy on meeeee!!」
Rintaro avoided the first batch by running just in time, but before he had time to catch his breath, the second batch was already prepared on the ceiling.
this is a space where all the walls and floors are composed of swords. If you stand still even for a moment, swords will come at you from all directions.
Like a knight trying to protect the Queen, the sword mountain mysterious being Swordminas, the swords danced and never slow down. After all, it’s an inorganic substance, but because it’s an inorganic substance, its stamina and inventory are literally inexhaustible.
「Guh! Ugh!? Damn, this can’t go on forever!!」
It wasn’t like Rintaro himself didn’t predict this kind of situation. However, when it was time to face it, Rintaro was struck by an extraordinary fear.
The space that surrounded Minato and Rintaro itself was the enemy.
………………
…………
……
「It’s strange. It’s been a long time since the mountain stopped and nothing is happening. Don’t tell me, brother screwed up…….?」
「Aniki will do it properly, ssu! aniki has never once lied to Samecchi, ssu!」
Outside, the gigantic mysterious beings were looking up at each other anxiously at the pile of swords. They had no way of knowing about the deadly battle raging inside.
Only precious time was ticking away.
「…………」
「The tea is ready.」
A short distance away, in the center of Shiba Park, there was a group of people elegantly enjoying a cup of tea while watching the show. Needless to say, it was the Strange Insect General Zazoma and his men.
They did not take part in Rintaro’s operation, but simply watched it from afar.
「There will be movement soon. Since there is no such thing as “secret medicine” from Zazoma-sama…… hohoho」
Zazoma squinted his eyes as he gazed at the huge silver mountain. Then, after pouring a cup of tea and clearing his throat, he began to speak quietly.
「The fool (the naive one) wields a single sword with only their own body and attempts to slay the dragon. Yet, the hardened scales are like swarming locusts, and the black flames wrap around the unyielding fangs of steel, marking them with scars. The corpse rests beneath the vast moonlit night, and the noble name is engraved upon the tombstone of the withered oak.」
「It is as you say. Even Deathgreen-sama shall be prepared for what lies ahead.」
Mikarikki and the other insect fighters shook their heads in agreement. After a pause, Zazoma choked out a few words as if he were playing a stringed instrument.
「If the shield is stripped away by the burning sand, if the flesh is eaten away by the scorpion, if he becomes a devil’s bone and still holds the sword in his hand, then the sun and the moon will be together, and they will be as one in folly. In the daytime, we shall hold hands together to show guidance to our foolish brothers and sisters. Day turns to night, and night to day; the pride of the foolish is under the grave, and the honor of the brave is in their hearts.」
Zazoma’s words caused a stir among the zako fighters. Even Mikarikki, who has no facial expression due to his exoskeleton, was so upset that he almost dropped the teapot.
「Za- Zazoma-sama, that’s……! It’s our, the Strange Insect Army’s, well-kept secret… As expected that, Moreover, how can we continue to procure it in the future?」
「……………………」
Zazoma offered an empty teacup to the flustered Mikarikki without saying a word. Mikarikki took a cup from Zazoma, took a deep breath, and dropped his head as if in resignation.
「……Understood. As guided by the will of our great Lord, Strange Insect General Zazoma-sama.」
………………
…………
……
Rintaro’s time was running out. The fact that Rintaro was able to continue to fight, dodge, repel, and catch the numerous swords that were coming at him was solely due to his ability and the performance of his death-green suit.
However, the load of the Death Green Suit, which far exceeds the limit, destroyed Rintaro’s human body without mercy.
「Gugi! ……Haa, Haa…… I don’t think just one right arm would be enough.」
First, the dominant arm screamed in agony, finally completing its task. Subsequently, both legs began to defy the commands from the brain.
As Rintaro’s movements slowed, he was hit in the back and legs more frequently, and the damage further deprived him of his physical freedom, creating a vicious cycle.
But Rintaro had no time to protect himself. Now that his mask had been shattered by a blow from the fiery man, if he got a blow to his head, it would be the end at that moment.
The momentum of the sword swarms never waned as they attack Rintaro inorganically, seemingly oblivious to his inconvenience.
However, even still.
Still, Rintaro can keep standing because Minato was right in front of him.
Without even looking at Rintarō, she was quiet like a statue, but still within reach if he stretched out his hand. Because there was a woman he wanted to help, save, reach out to, and make happy.
「Uaaaaaah!! Don’t just be asleep forever, Minatoo!!!」
Rintaro’s cry echoes through the dome of swords. Rintaro, brushing aside the oncoming swords, took another step toward Minato, little by little, but surely.
「Neither you nor I can stand still here! How long are you going to stand by and let fate take you away? You have to know more and more happiness from now on! You have to get back what was taken from you!」
Minato’s eyelids twitched. It was a small movement, but a slight hesitation appeared in the motion of the sword attacking Rintaro. Rintaro did not miss that faint reaction. He was convinced that his words had reached Minato’s ears.
「Fight back! If you can’t fight it alone, I’ll struggle with you! So don’t give up on happiness! I won’t give up on your happiness either, I have a duty to make you happy!」
Rintaro exclaimed with his last ounce of strength.
Even though he had changed his name to the heinous mysterious being, his inextinguishable past had now become a thousand blades. However, Rintaro was not a gentleman who would just accept this as his destiny.
Former hero Victor Green, a man who kills peace for the sake of peace, also known as The Green Convict.
If the man Rintaro Kuriyama was the symbol of those who slaughter mysterious beings and robbed them of their happiness, then the Sword Mountain Mysterious being, Swordminas, Minato, is the symbol of those who were robbed.
The past of being confined in a dark underground, exploited for her unique power, and being forced into becoming the twisted foundation of a skewed justice, cannot be erased no matter how much they try to wipe it off
However, that is exactly why Rintaro would never stop moving forward to face Minato. Stepping on the ground of sharp swords piled up on the ground, he moved forward without regard to the swords raining down on him.
「I will make you, Kenmochi Minato, happy for the rest of your life! So wake up and trust me, Minato!」
It was revenge against the justice that Rintaro once believed in. It was a rebellion against the evil rule that Minato had once been trapped under.
Destiny opens up not in the past, but in the future. He will prove it with his own hands.
「……Ugh…… Nn……」
A large hand wrapped in a green glove touched Minato’s cheek. Her white body, wrapped in her sword dress, jumped a little.
「I finally reached you…… I am sorry, for being late.」
「Rin…… ta- ro……」
Her closed eyes slightly opened, and a single tear streamed down her cheek. Rintaro, who couldn’t even move his legs, let alone his dominant arm, wiped the drop with his remaining left hand.
Countless swords, not only from the ceiling, but also from the floor and walls, were still aiming at Rintaro’s back.
Rintaro let out a small sigh. As expected, the outburst of power would not stop without the secret medicine, and even Minato herself could not control it.
At that time, a communication came into Rintaro’s gear.
『……………………』
「……Are you sure about that? If it’s not true, I’ll tie your antennae into a butterfly knot!」
After the short call, Rintaro stared at Minato’s face. The sword was coming down now, and there was no time for doubt.
Rintaro bit his lower lip with his teeth. Immediately, the taste of blood spread throughout his mouth.
Slowly, Minato lifted her long, black eyelashes.
Cool eyes widened a bit in surprise at the sight of Rintaro’s scarred face.
「Rintaro……、 What happened to your glasses――」
Minato’s words were cut off mid-sentence.
The warm taste of Rintaro’s blood filled Minato’s mouth. Minato quietly closed her eyes again, chewing on the “bitterness” of happiness.
By Effugium December 27, 2023
The hard, sharp tip touched the fragile glass container. White cracks covered the entire vial, and hope spilled from his palms.
Rintaro hurriedly reaches out to pick up even a drop.
But a new sword protruding from the floor prevented the poor man from clinging to hope.
「Bah…… You’ve gotta be kidding me, no way……！」
Rintaro fell to the floor covered by the sword in a heap of momentum. A reddish-black secret medicine was noiselessly sucked into the gap between the swords right in front of Rintaro’s eyes.
「Are you serious…… It’s over…… Even though, even though I’ve made it this far……」
There were no more supplies of Zazoma’s elixir. Even if there were, it would be impossible to go back through the layers of swords again.
The situation was literally deadlocked, and the situation was bad.
「Something else, there must still be something else I can do…… Think think think……」
It was all due to his careless mistake. A disappointed Rintaro put his hands on the floor and struggled to get up.
Giving up is not in his nature. Especially if the lives of his precious friends are at stake.
But at the same time, Rintaro felt a weak vibration in both his hands.
It is such a small vibration, so quiet for Swordminagon to have resumed its movement, as if blood were flowing through its veins.
A frightening scenario flashed through Rintaro’s mind.
Kashan……
With a dry metallic sound, a sword fell from the ceiling to the floor. Looking up, countless swords dangled from the ceiling like chandelier.
The tips of all of them were pointed at the intruder, Rintaro.
「Seriously……」
Rintaro had not reached the “worst” yet. If the worst were to start, it would be from this moment.
「Hey, hey Minato. If you’re awake, please answer me. I’m sorry I came in without permission. Let’s call it a tie around here, shall we?」
Rintaro spoke to Minato, who was quietly closing her eyes in the center of the room, but naturally received no response.
And as if to say this is the reply, the swords on the ceiling rained down in unison toward Rintaro.
「Uooooooooooooooooooh!! I don’t have a mask you know(こちとらマスクねえんだぞ)！ Go easy on meeeee!!」
Rintaro avoided the first batch by running just in time, but before he had time to catch his breath, the second batch was already prepared on the ceiling.
this is a space where all the walls and floors are composed of swords. If you stand still even for a moment, swords will come at you from all directions.
Like a knight trying to protect the Queen, the sword mountain mysterious being Swordminas, the swords danced and never slow down. After all, it’s an inorganic substance, but because it’s an inorganic substance, its stamina and inventory are literally inexhaustible.
「Guh! Ugh!? Damn, this can’t go on forever!!」
It wasn’t like Rintaro himself didn’t predict this kind of situation. However, when it was time to face it, Rintaro was struck by an extraordinary fear.
The space that surrounded Minato and Rintaro itself was the enemy.
………………
…………
……
「It’s strange. It’s been a long time since the mountain stopped and nothing is happening. Don’t tell me, brother screwed up…….?」
「Aniki will do it properly, ssu! aniki has never once lied to Samecchi, ssu!」
Outside, the gigantic mysterious beings were looking up at each other anxiously at the pile of swords. They had no way of knowing about the deadly battle raging inside.
Only precious time was ticking away.
「…………」
「The tea is ready.」
A short distance away, in the center of Shiba Park, there was a group of people elegantly enjoying a cup of tea while watching the show. Needless to say, it was the Strange Insect General Zazoma and his men.
They did not take part in Rintaro’s operation, but simply watched it from afar.
「There will be movement soon. Since there is no such thing as “secret medicine” from Zazoma-sama…… hohoho」
Zazoma squinted his eyes as he gazed at the huge silver mountain. Then, after pouring a cup of tea and clearing his throat, he began to speak quietly.
「The fool (the naive one) wields a single sword with only their own body and attempts to slay the dragon. Yet, the hardened scales are like swarming locusts, and the black flames wrap around the unyielding fangs of steel, marking them with scars. The corpse rests beneath the vast moonlit night, and the noble name is engraved upon the tombstone of the withered oak.」
「It is as you say. Even Deathgreen-sama shall be prepared for what lies ahead.」
Mikarikki and the other insect fighters shook their heads in agreement. After a pause, Zazoma choked out a few words as if he were playing a stringed instrument.
「If the shield is stripped away by the burning sand, if the flesh is eaten away by the scorpion, if he becomes a devil’s bone and still holds the sword in his hand, then the sun and the moon will be together, and they will be as one in folly. In the daytime, we shall hold hands together to show guidance to our foolish brothers and sisters. Day turns to night, and night to day; the pride of the foolish is under the grave, and the honor of the brave is in their hearts.」
Zazoma’s words caused a stir among the zako fighters. Even Mikarikki, who has no facial expression due to his exoskeleton, was so upset that he almost dropped the teapot.
「Za- Zazoma-sama, that’s……! It’s our, the Strange Insect Army’s, well-kept secret… As expected that, Moreover, how can we continue to procure it in the future?」
「……………………」
Zazoma offered an empty teacup to the flustered Mikarikki without saying a word. Mikarikki took a cup from Zazoma, took a deep breath, and dropped his head as if in resignation.
「……Understood. As guided by the will of our great Lord, Strange Insect General Zazoma-sama.」
………………
…………
……
Rintaro’s time was running out. The fact that Rintaro was able to continue to fight, dodge, repel, and catch the numerous swords that were coming at him was solely due to his ability and the performance of his death-green suit.
However, the load of the Death Green Suit, which far exceeds the limit, destroyed Rintaro’s human body without mercy.
「Gugi! ……Haa, Haa…… I don’t think just one right arm would be enough.」
First, the dominant arm screamed in agony, finally completing its task. Subsequently, both legs began to defy the commands from the brain.
As Rintaro’s movements slowed, he was hit in the back and legs more frequently, and the damage further deprived him of his physical freedom, creating a vicious cycle.
But Rintaro had no time to protect himself. Now that his mask had been shattered by a blow from the fiery man, if he got a blow to his head, it would be the end at that moment.
The momentum of the sword swarms never waned as they attack Rintaro inorganically, seemingly oblivious to his inconvenience.
However, even still.
Still, Rintaro can keep standing because Minato was right in front of him.
Without even looking at Rintarō, she was quiet like a statue, but still within reach if he stretched out his hand. Because there was a woman he wanted to help, save, reach out to, and make happy.
「Uaaaaaah!! Don’t just be asleep forever, Minatoo!!!」
Rintaro’s cry echoes through the dome of swords. Rintaro, brushing aside the oncoming swords, took another step toward Minato, little by little, but surely.
「Neither you nor I can stand still here! How long are you going to stand by and let fate take you away? You have to know more and more happiness from now on! You have to get back what was taken from you!」
Minato’s eyelids twitched. It was a small movement, but a slight hesitation appeared in the motion of the sword attacking Rintaro. Rintaro did not miss that faint reaction. He was convinced that his words had reached Minato’s ears.
「Fight back! If you can’t fight it alone, I’ll struggle with you! So don’t give up on happiness! I won’t give up on your happiness either, I have a duty to make you happy!」
Rintaro exclaimed with his last ounce of strength.
Even though he had changed his name to the heinous mysterious being, his inextinguishable past had now become a thousand blades. However, Rintaro was not a gentleman who would just accept this as his destiny.
Former hero Victor Green, a man who kills peace for the sake of peace, also known as The Green Convict.
If the man Rintaro Kuriyama was the symbol of those who slaughter mysterious beings and robbed them of their happiness, then the Sword Mountain Mysterious being, Swordminas, Minato, is the symbol of those who were robbed.
The past of being confined in a dark underground, exploited for her unique power, and being forced into becoming the twisted foundation of a skewed justice, cannot be erased no matter how much they try to wipe it off
However, that is exactly why Rintaro would never stop moving forward to face Minato. Stepping on the ground of sharp swords piled up on the ground, he moved forward without regard to the swords raining down on him.
「I will make you, Kenmochi Minato, happy for the rest of your life! So wake up and trust me, Minato!」
It was revenge against the justice that Rintaro once believed in. It was a rebellion against the evil rule that Minato had once been trapped under.
Destiny opens up not in the past, but in the future. He will prove it with his own hands.
「……Ugh…… Nn……」
A large hand wrapped in a green glove touched Minato’s cheek. Her white body, wrapped in her sword dress, jumped a little.
「I finally reached you…… I am sorry, for being late.」
「Rin…… ta- ro……」
Her closed eyes slightly opened, and a single tear streamed down her cheek. Rintaro, who couldn’t even move his legs, let alone his dominant arm, wiped the drop with his remaining left hand.
Countless swords, not only from the ceiling, but also from the floor and walls, were still aiming at Rintaro’s back.
Rintaro let out a small sigh. As expected, the outburst of power would not stop without the secret medicine, and even Minato herself could not control it.
At that time, a communication came into Rintaro’s gear.
『……………………』
「……Are you sure about that? If it’s not true, I’ll tie your antennae into a butterfly knot!」
After the short call, Rintaro stared at Minato’s face. The sword was coming down now, and there was no time for doubt.
Rintaro bit his lower lip with his teeth. Immediately, the taste of blood spread throughout his mouth.
Slowly, Minato lifted her long, black eyelashes.
Cool eyes widened a bit in surprise at the sight of Rintaro’s scarred face.
「Rintaro……、 What happened to your glasses――」
Minato’s words were cut off mid-sentence.
The warm taste of Rintaro’s blood filled Minato’s mouth. Minato quietly closed her eyes again, chewing on the “bitterness” of happiness.
