That 82: "Madness"

Hate Sate.

"Madness," you say.

The downside is that just analyzing it with "Skill Assessment" doesn't reveal what kind of skill it actually is.

But really, what I should focus on is simple.

A short-term battle.

However, he does have "Ghost," a powerful defensive ability.

First, I need to deal with that thing somehow.

"Ugh! Just die already, you bastard!"

The "Spirit User" points one hand at me.

"——'Extremely Hot Fire'"

A wave of heat rises from below. I quickly dodge to the side.

Fortunately, the Spirit User's attacks aren't too difficult to avoid if I'm paying attention.

The real problem, however, is...

'...gurgle...'

A sound like a forsaken puppy comes from my stomach.

It seems the effects of 'Madness' have already begun to take hold.

As a result of continuing to fight under these circumstances, Ayane-chan has run out of magical energy.

Yet she can't just rush into attacking recklessly.

Now, how should this be dealt with?

It seems the opponent has realized that attacking alone wastes magic, and is now positioning all her "spirits" around herself, fortifying her defense.

She's clearly trying to buy time and wait for us to exhaust ourselves.

"——phew"

Sighs.

I'm not completely at a loss for countermeasures... but well.

Just as my thoughts were beginning to spin in circles—

a gunshot rang out from behind me.

A sharp, unpleasant sound echoed repeatedly, the bullet bouncing off the white mist.

"——Got it!"

Turning around, I saw Himura quickly giving orders to his allies.

"Surround him! Watch his movements carefully!"

(Do not interfere recklessly. Someone will die.)

——You idiot.

I'm the one who should be angry.

——This is our territory. Outsiders have no right to lecture us.

(But...)

——We're not children who need protection. Everyone here is prepared to die.

Hmm.

If that's the case, there's no need to forcibly stop them.

"...Hey... Don't look at me like that!"

The man known as the "Spirit User" shouted frantically, stepping back slightly.

"I'm doing this for everyone! Damn it, damn it, damn it! Just die already! —《Will-o'-the-Wisp》! Burn them down quickly!"

The moment he turned to counterattack, I dashed forward — nearly simultaneous.

Clang! A fierce, searing light flashed repeatedly, illuminating the surroundings.

"Watch out for the light beneath your feet! Get away from there immediately!"

The voice shouting at the allies was none other than Oda's.

The Will-o'-the-Wisp seemed visible to ordinary people only for a split second during an attack.

Whatever skill was causing this, I could see it constantly, making evasion incredibly difficult for everyone else.

If we don't end this quickly, the casualties will only keep rising.

Right in front of me, as I dashed toward the "Spirit User," the familiar white mist—Ghost—blocked my path.

I swung my blade downward at it.

Clang!

The sound of metal clashing echoed, and my blade came to a halt.

Now that we were face to face, there was no mistaking it.

Undoubtedly, this white mist possessed physical mass.

The unmistakable presence of a massive shield, felt through the blade.

In other words.

If it's blocking attacks with a shield, there must be weak points somewhere.

"——《Fireball》"

I summon a fireball in the palm of my hand, estimate its position behind the shield,

"Take this!"

And slam it into the shield.

『Gwoh... gaaaaaah...!』

Solid impact.

Whether it felt pain or just happened to be weak against fire, I could sense the shield's resistance weakening.

"——《Fireball》!"

Placing my hand on what appeared to be the ghost's side, I unleashed a series of Fire-type Magic II spells.

Each time, the ghost's body trembled—how, how, how, as if struggling to hold back.

Its grip on the blade had clearly weakened.

I could push it through now!

Perhaps that confidence bred carelessness.

I noticed the "spirit user" approaching right beside me—just a moment too late.

"Stop it! Stop it! You worthless piece of trash, not even worth living!"

Before I could react, my hair was grabbed with tremendous force and my head slammed into the ground.

Even though the damage was severe—enough to shatter a normal person’s skull—I remained calm and analyzed the situation.

From what I saw in the Skill Assessment, he didn’t seem particularly threatening on his own.

But the power he’s currently wielding can only be explained as enhanced by a skill.

Or perhaps there's still power hidden within the "Madness."

In the next instant, I find myself pinned beneath the "Spirit User."

A knife is clutched in their hand—

"Cover him!"

With the shout from Akira, the "Spirit User" is blown backward.

Apparently struck by a bullet from someone.

By the time I regain my footing, the "Spirit User" is being rained upon with gunfire.

Dzudazudazudazuda!

Struck by bullets, the broken puppet-like figure jerks and dances all over.

"Now! Finish it! 'Guriguri Glasses'!"

The voice was Oda's.

"Damn it... what's going on... what's going on..."

A child's expression, pouting because they couldn't get what they wanted.

Unfortunately, though.

That kind of face won't raise your level, and it's completely pointless.

As I thrust my blade toward his throat,

"——! No good! 'Guriguri Megane'! Watch out!"

My vision was blocked by a pale blue flame.

——《Will o' the Wisp》.

Driven by a desperate desire to protect his master, he seemed to have halted his attacks on everyone around him and now stood directly in front of me.

Still, I wonder what would happen if I just cut through him?

Oh well, I'll find out.

私は、それの目玉と思しき箇所を一刀の元に斬りつけます。

ぶおん！

手応え……なし。

なんか、空を切ったような感覚がするだけでした。

が。

『ＧＩＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡ！！』

うわ、メッチャ効いてる。

思いがけず、斬撃は有効みたいですね。

では、ダメ押しの一撃。

Swinging my sword, the figure of the Will-o'-the-Wisp vanished like mist.

"A... aah..."

The one most shaken was none other than the "Spirit User."

"No... no... Will-o'-the-Wisp! Hey! Where'd you go! Don't disappear! Don't disappear!"

A sudden silence fell over the surroundings.

"Why... why..."

Tears welled up in his eyes and spilled down his cheeks.

Why is this happening?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I hesitate for a moment, stunned by the sheer intensity of their determination.

But it seems it didn't go the route of awakening through the power of anger.

His scream vanished into the empty sky, swallowed without a trace.

I point the tip of my blade at him and declare.

Surrender.

Just to clarify, that's what I'm saying.

Well, I suppose I'll end up killing him in the end, given how things are going.

The spirit user himself clearly understands this,

"Shut up, shut up! Evil, evil, evil, evil, evil, evil, evil, evil, evil!"

He displays fierce, defiant resolve.

He stretches out both arms, reaching to grab me.

In an instant,

1. Deliver the final blow

2. Do not deliver the final blow

An oddly game-like choice appears before my eyes.

If I were the protagonist of a shonen manga, I'd choose option two... but...

I'm sorry.

I've somehow become indifferent to killing people over the past month.

Honestly, I'd like to hear his side of the story.

But keeping him alive right now would be far too dangerous.

"Then, goodbye."

I bring the blade down, aiming straight for his forehead.

There's a loud crack, and his forehead splits open.

"……Kuuhooooooo!!!!"

Hmm?

I tried to end it properly, so it wouldn't cause any more suffering.

That moment.

All my strength suddenly drained from my body.

Tastes awful, this.

Could it be that we've already run out of time?

The blade, light as a feather, felt heavy and solid.

It's like it's made of solid iron... well, that's to be expected, really.

Staggering slightly, she plants the tip of the blade onto the ground.

"……gah"

Seeing her posture, the "Spirit User" lets out a shiver-inducing smile.

He must be thinking, "I've won!"

That's exactly what he's thinking, no doubt.

Then again...

He's already been checkmated long ago.

Though her body felt incredibly heavy and sluggish, unlike Ayaka, she hadn't yet lost consciousness.

So then.

The course of action is simple and clear.

I stepped back a few paces from him, bouncing slightly.

That was enough.

Taan— the sharp, satisfying crack of a gunshot echoed through the night air of the school building.

The bullet whizzed past my ear and struck the "Spirit User's" head.

After piercing through his already shattered skull and brutally pulverizing his brain... it comes to a halt.

...Ah... Ah... Please... Please...

For an instant.

And from the cracked forehead, a thick stream of brain matter gushed out.

The "Spirit User" ceased all life functions.

Turning around, I saw the figure of Oda, wrapped in smoke.

I gave him a firm thumbs-up, though I didn't expect any reaction.

To my surprise, he smirked ironically and gave me a thumbs-up in return.

The surroundings were completely dark now, filled with the smell of burned materials.

"Then, move the injured person forward... —《Healing Magic》, —"

...Wait.

Huh?

Suddenly, my consciousness drifted far away, --

and that's when my memory ended.