Part 331: Things That Must Be Killed

——So why didn't you settle this properly before it got to this point!?

Kouon's shrill voice echoed inside her helmet, making her ears ring.

"It's just... I was busy with all sorts of things... But don't you remember? Something like, 'Can I keep holding on? I don't know if I can. Fifty-fifty chance, but whatever'? You know, stuff like that."

——I don't remember anything like that!

I do have it, you know. I've just been swamped lately, and I keep putting myself last...

Seriously, don't talk about poop to a beautiful girl.

No, you're the one who broke things off, right?

While the two were arguing, six "zombies" that had become separated from the group blocked their path.

Without any particular mention of their aftermath, the "zombie's" head is destroyed with the ease of cutting paper with a new pair of scissors.

— Phew... I just hope no corpses show up because I had to go to the bathroom...

"Relax. I counted myself—our lost time was only about thirty seconds."

— Thirty seconds could be fatal... Wait, you did clean up properly, right?

"It's priceless."

— Ugh, that's the worst... Disgusting!

"Too late now. We haven't taken a proper bath since we got here, anyway."

Racing along the third floor while chatting idly, they arrived at the spot where the loud noise had echoed moments earlier.

"Huh? What's this..."

An odd sight unfolded before them.

The familiar mall corridor was blocked off by something resembling a single-family house.

The half-collapsed structure stood there proudly, as if it were a joke from a mad architect.

"Portable mini-home," huh. She thought of that. Used it as a barricade.

It's some kind of mysterious gadget from Doraemon, I guess, though I can't quite figure it out.

Two girls lay sprawled in front of the single-family house, covered in blood—testament to the ferocity of the battle that had taken place here.

And as usual, when moments like this arise, Inu Goureni always honestly explains why she was late.

"Sorry! I got held up going to the bathroom!"

She didn't mean it as a joke to lighten the mood, but the girl who was already suffering more severe damage burst into a "hehehe" laugh.

"Please! Kill him...!"

Yes, the girl who shouted such a violent phrase—she was, if she recalled correctly, called Seven-Split Orchid.

Of course, she had every intention of doing so, even without being asked.

There is no salvation for a player who has fallen to demonhood—only death remains.

Erasing them entirely is one of the Hero's primary objectives, an absolute necessity for maintaining the world's proper functioning.

The front door of the "portable home" treated as a barricade was struck several times with a loud thud—finally, it was kicked open.

From within emerged a man named Hamada Kensuke.

Just before using the "Escape Switch," this man had slid in at the last moment, raising an eyebrow as he exclaimed,

"Ah—wait! The 'Hero'! You've already come?"

Apparently, this man was overly eager to achieve glory.

Hastening to deliver the final blow was proof of his lack of confidence in his own abilities.

That was precisely why he couldn't respond when an unexpected accident occurred.

Without hesitation, Dogbite slashed him across the face with the tip of his "Shikanda."

Like a flower blooming instantly, Kenzo's cheek split open, dark blood spraying everywhere.

"Gyaaah, that hurts...!"

Too shallow.

He would have preferred to slash through his throat, if possible.

"Kouon, 'Falcon's Sword'!"

—Got it!

On the monitor before him, the message appeared: 'Equipment Change'.

Then,

Weapon: "Hero's Sword" → "Falcon's Sword"

The blade in Dogbite's hand began to transform.

A hilt shaped like a wind-cutting feather, with a slender blade.

Holding this sword allows one to strike twice in a single instant—normally, only a single swing would be possible.

'——gah'

Hamaida Kensuke's eyes widened. He had finally realized he was the main character in the brutal spectacle about to unfold.

From that point on, it was like a child swinging a stick at someone.

Dogbite slashed in all directions without thought for defense, using "Shikanda."

Kenji hardly fought back.

No, it'd be more accurate to say he was uncertain about how to counterattack.

It's understandable. His original purpose was to protect the "Hero."

"Die! Drop dead! You bastard!"

Malice seeped into his grip on the sword.

There were times when he nearly lost his mind.

Thanks to that, he'd missed chances to get close to those cute girls...

But now, he feels no fear at all.

Kill the evil, and the good shall survive.

The world should always be this simple.

After slashing the helpless man a dozen times or so,

"Haha... hee!"

Kenji flashed a twisted smile that unsettled others,

"Such a shame... The injuries of the 'Hunger Man' can't be healed...!"

"Shut up!"

What's so funny.

Why is this guy laughing.

Everything about it was unbearable.

――Renji! That guy won't die unless his head is severed!

"Ah..."

Raising his blade once more, aiming for the man's neck, drenched in mud-like blood from head to toe.

Yet, Kenji wasn't without means, not by any stretch.

『………………』

As he glared, the dog's entire body suddenly flared with intense heat.

In an instant, the blade of "Hayabusa no Ken" melted into a viscous mess, rendered useless.

"……Hmph."

This guy seems capable of passing electric current through conductive materials like metal.

Still, I've already discussed a countermeasure with Kagami.

"Kagami, about that... "

——I know!

On the monitor before him, the words 'Sōbi Henkō' reappeared.

And then,

Weapon: "Hayabusa no Ken" → "Ishi no Ken"

Head: "Silver Helm" → "Leather Helm"

Body: "Silver Armor" → "Leather Armor"

Arms: "Silver Gauntlets" → "Leather Gauntlets"

Legs: "Silver Boots" → "Leather Boots"

At the same time, the gleaming silver armor transformed into a well-ventilated leather outfit.

'...Hmm?'

With a snarl, Inuia drove the obsidian blade deep into the gaping mouth of the stunned Kenji.

In his mind's eye, the faces of the three refugees he had failed to protect floated before him.

"Take this! Savor it! You... rotten outcast!"