Classmate wa Isekai de Yuusha ni Natta kedo, Ore dake Gendai Nihon ni Okizari ni Narimashita - Chapter 77

Chapter 77 – A Formal Invitation to the Mansion (Part 5)

‘Gyah gyah!’

The grotesque creature cackled, its murky yellow goat-like eyes leering down at us with twisted delight before vanishing back into the darkness.

Damn it. With the puppet in this damaged state, not only can I not fight back, I can’t even use Appraise to figure out what the hell that thing is.

So then... what can we do?

“Let me confirm—if we go through one of those doors, we’ll be back in the mansion, right?”

“Ah… um, yes, that’s right. But the doors around here… they’ll lead you straight to the people who attacked you earlier…”

Koharu’s voice trembled as she answered. She was terrified—clearly aware of what danger lay on the other side of those exits.

I see. So if we try to leave, we might walk right into another ambush.

If this puppet were in peak condition, that might not be a problem—but with the Sensory Link flickering like this...

“Kyaa!”
“Tch—!”

Another dagger came flying out of the shadows, aimed straight for Koharu. I managed to deflect it—barely—with the puppet’s arm.

It figured us out. The monster realized Koharu was the weak link, and that we couldn’t retaliate.

(...And now this arm’s shot too.)

I glanced at the limp right arm of the puppet. Useless now.

Escape? Risky. Fight? Even riskier.

Which meant only one thing.

Time to commit.

“Koharu, can you use any kind of defensive technique? Something to block attacks?”

“I can... but only once. If it hits me again after that, I don’t know if I can…”

“Once is enough. Listen carefully—when I give the signal, use it to shield yourself with everything you’ve got. I’ll hold that thing off. While I’m buying time, you run. Get out of here, as fast and far as you can.”

“What… but what about you?”

“Forget about me. Just focus on surviving. That’s all that matters.”

I gently placed the puppet’s still-working left hand on her trembling head, trying to comfort her even a little.

Then I turned my gaze back into the dark.

Waiting.

‘Gyagyagya…!’

That grotesque laugh came again, echoing from all directions. The shadow dashed around us, circling like a predator closing in.

This was it. My one shot.

I clenched down on the waning connection to the puppet, forcing Sensory Link to its highest setting.

‘Gyagya…’

The monster clung to the ceiling, its goat-eyes twitching, honing in on us. It drew another dagger—slowly, deliberately.

And then—

‘Gya!’

It launched the blade, a perfect arc aimed at Koharu’s head.

“Now!”
“R-Right!”

At my shout, Koharu pulled a talisman from her pocket and activated it. A circular magic formation unfurled around her like a glowing shield.

(Good, she’s safe. Which means—)

While she focused on defense, I triggered the failsafe I’d implanted in the puppet’s core—a desperate contingency I’d hoped not to use.

‘GYAGYAGYA!’

The monster, assuming I was helpless, charged straight in, swinging a hatchet now instead of a dagger, eager to finish me off.

(...Got you.)

As it closed the gap—

—I detonated the spell.

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◇◇◇

‘GYAGYAGYA—?!’

The creature froze, caught mid-lunge.

He had been there. I saw him. Right in front of me.

And then—

He burst apart.

Not blood. Not flesh.

Ice.

Countless shards of razor-sharp ice erupted from the space where he had stood, tearing into the monster from every direction.

‘Gya… gyagyaggh!’

The thing writhed in agony, shrieking as the ice tore through its body.

What… what just happened?

Where did he go? Was he still alive?

A thousand questions flooded my mind. But none of them mattered right now.

(He said not to worry. That I should run. That was his plan—his “opening.” If I stand here crying, I’d be insulting his resolve… and Kyori-oneesama’s trust in him.)

I forced my legs to move.

Each step was heavy, like dragging stone, but I turned to run—only to—

“Ah—!”
‘Gya… gyahi…’

Its misshapen arm—mangled and falling apart—still reached out and grabbed my ankle.

The strength in its grip didn’t match its crumbling form. My leg throbbed with pain, turning a sickly shade of blue.

“Let… go… of me!”

I kicked at its face again and again, desperate to break free. It didn’t care. It refused to let go.

And then—it yanked.

I fell hard to the ground, the air knocked out of me.

‘GYAAAAAH!’

It crawled forward with an obscene grin, its jagged claws trailing along the floor. With one slimy hand, it began groping at my body.

I screamed. I thrashed. But nothing worked.

Fear clouded everything. My injured leg throbbed, and my strength was slipping fast.

‘Gyihihihi…’
“N-No… stop… someone—please help me!”

Tears blurred my vision. My voice cracked.

But I knew.

No one was coming.

I had failed. I couldn’t keep the promise to bring him to Kyori-oneesama. I’d die here, humiliated and broken, and no one would ever know.

‘GYAGYA!’

The monster's claws tore at my clothing—and I shut my eyes.

This was it.

But—

“ORAAAA!!”
‘GYA—GYAGYAAAAH!?’

Suddenly—the weight was gone.

Something struck the creature hard, sending it tumbling backward, screeching.

I blinked. Slowly, cautiously, I opened my eyes.

And saw him.

“Sorry. Took me a bit to get back.”

There he stood—Iori Osamu.

Calm, composed—and completely unharmed.

He brushed off the axe the monster had thrown at him like it was nothing. No magic. No tricks. Just strength.

And in his eyes burned quiet fury.

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