Ads

Classmate wa Isekai de Yuusha ni Natta kedo, Ore dake Gendai Nihon ni Okizari ni Narimashita - Chapter 82

on

Chapter 82 – The Ritual Begins (Part 2)

Within the mysterious space, there was a plaza.

I let out a long sigh as I checked the condition of the drone that had returned to me.

“Yeah… this one’s no good either.”

I had tried everything—mapping with the drone, using Tracking & Detection Magic to locate Kuon and the others—but it had all failed. Feeling defeated, I sat down on a nearby tree stump.

There were three things I had figured out so far.

First, this place wasn’t part of the real world.

Second, all means of communication—smartphones included—were completely useless here.

Third, everyone who got caught up in this incident was probably trapped in separate subspaces, completely isolated from one another.

That’s why I couldn’t track down Kuon or Koharu’s positions.

“No helping it… guess I’ll start walking.”

There was no point in sitting around moping. That wouldn’t change a thing.

And judging from what that guy in the formal kimono said during Genji Kuon’s earlier Selection Ritual, it seemed the flow of time inside this labyrinth and the outside world was fully synchronized this time—unlike that training camp incident.

In that case, the sooner I found them and got out of here, the better.

Just as I stepped away from the plaza—

“GYAHAHAHA! HUMAN! A YOUNG HUMAN!”

A small black-skinned oni with two horns growing from its head came charging at me, wielding a small blade.

“Whoa there.”
“NAHH!?”

I casually clenched my fist and smashed the tiny blade to pieces.

Then, in one smooth motion, I grabbed the little oni’s thin arm and slammed it down hard onto the ground.

“Ggh… gaaah…”
“Good, still breathing.”

I stomped down on the creature’s chest to confirm it was still alive, then activated the Appraisal Skill.

Unnamed – Lesser Oni – Age: 200

Status: A demon captured by the Kuon family for use in the Selection Ritual. Its abilities have been severely weakened due to the environment and prolonged starvation.
Currently has a broken right arm and multiple contusions due to retaliation by Shu Iori.

Note: Previously rampaged as a man-eater. Captured by a former head of the Kuon family. Due to the ritual’s binding technique, it cannot leave the barrier unless the formation is destroyed.

So this was one of the demons the heir candidates were meant to fight during the Selection Ritual.

Judging from the appraisal note, this really was inside the barrier formation.
Which meant, if I wanted to escape, I’d have to reach the true exit—just like the candidates.

“P-Please… don’t kill me…!”

As I pieced things together, the oni beneath my foot began sobbing and begging for its life.

“…Can you swear that you won’t attack any humans you meet from now on?”

“O-Of course! I swear! I won’t hurt a soul! Never again!”

I silently activated Appraisal again in response to its desperate plea.

“…Huh. That’s how it is, huh?”

Seeing the result, I slowly lifted my foot. The little oni, sensing the opportunity, began scrambling away at an incredible speed.

“Th-Thank you! I’ll never forget this for the rest of my life!”

It cried out as it backed away—never once turning its back on me.

“Nah… there’s no need to feel grateful.”
“…Huh?”

That’s when it finally noticed.
Its arms and legs had frozen solid, locking its body in place.

The Appraisal result had revealed its true intent:
It has no intention of keeping its promise. Once Shu Iori is out of sight, it plans to attack another human.

So I had used Ice Magic to freeze its limbs with a time-delay spell.

“Guess I should be thanking you instead… Thanks to you, I now know exactly how I need to act in this place.”

“Hiiiih!?”

I raised my hand toward its face, now wet with tears and snot.

“A…gah…”

In the next instant, its entire body was encased in ice—and a single nudge of my foot shattered it completely.

After confirming that the little oni had been reduced to nothing but scattered shards on the ground, I let out a long breath.

There must be plenty of other monsters in here that would attack humans on sight, just like that one.

Which meant… time was even more limited than I thought.

“I need to find them. Fast. And get the hell out of this place.”

Muttering to myself, I took out some paper and a pen, then began venturing deeper into the labyrinth barrier.

◇◇◇

“Heh heh… What a treat. It’s been years since I last stumbled on such fresh, tender meat.”

In another section of the labyrinth barrier, a massive ape-like youma with matted fur and no visible eyes lifted a young girl—barely ten years old—between its fingers, eyeing her like a prized dish.

“P-Please… please let us go back home…”

The girl begged, but the giant ape had no intention of listening.
It brought her slender body close to its enormous face, grinning cruelly.

“I could just bite off the head first… but maybe I’ll start with the legs and savor it. Or better yet, play around with her before tearing her apart…”

“Eek…”

The creature deliberately spoke loud enough for the girl to hear, tormenting her with every twisted suggestion.

That’s when—

“S-Stop! Let go of my sister!”

Her little brother, held down by monkey-like minions, gathered his courage and shouted.

They were siblings from a family close to the Kuon main branch, participating in the ritual under their grandfather’s care.
But they hadn’t yet been trained in barrier arts, and after getting separated from their grandfather during the incident, they were powerless against such monsters.

Even so, the boy couldn’t stand by and watch his sister be devoured.

That’s why he shouted—

“Pff—GYAHAHAHAHA!”

But the ape monsters only laughed harder at his pitiful, desperate cry.

“The more you cry and scream, the tastier the meat gets! Don’t worry—I’ll keep you alive. At least until I’m done dancing with your sister’s corpse!”

As the giant ape relished the moment, one of the monkey-like creatures clung to its leg.

“Hey boss! Can I have a bit of the girl too? I’m the one who found ‘em and brought ‘em here!”

With an annoyed grunt, the ape lifted the monkey with its other arm—

“GYUP!?”
“Ah!”

And crushed its head without hesitation.

“Don’t worry. When I eat you, I’ll leave your little body whole—makes for a better display.”

With that, the ape flung the corpse aside and opened its massive jaws.

“STOP! STOOOOOP!!!”

The boy screamed, thrashing wildly against his restraints.

And then—

“NGAAAAHHHH!?”

Something massive came flying from the depths of the labyrinth, crashing into the giant ape and sending it toppling to the ground.

As the dust settled, the boy opened his eyes to a surreal scene—
The massive ape lay facedown, his sister freed from its grasp, while a gigantic lizard-like monster, bigger than a mid-sized apartment building, stood on top of what remained of the ape and its monkey minions.

“Hey! I thought I heard someone! Are you guys okay!?”

Just as the siblings stared on in stunned confusion, a voice rang out—tinged with worry.

They turned toward the sound… and saw a young man with a sleepy expression walking toward them.

Translator’s Notes:

  • 小鬼 (Ko-oni) – Literally "small oni" or lesser demons. Often depicted as brutish, low-intelligence aggressors.

  • 鑑定 (Kantei) – “Appraisal.” In this context, it’s used not only to analyze items or creatures but also to detect lies or intentions.

  • 氷結魔法 (Hyouketsu Mahou) – “Ice Magic.” A spell used to freeze enemies, often with delayed or targeted effects.

  • 踊り食い (Odorigui) – A term for eating live seafood in Japan, evoking disturbing imagery here when applied to humans.

  • 本家に近い家 (Honke ni chikai ie) – Families closely affiliated with the main branch of the Kuon lineage.


Comments

Post a Comment