Arifureta Shokugyou De Sekai Saikyou: Irregularity

The sound of wind and leafs moving pulls me out of the world of dreams and I open my eyes to see a dark blue sky slowly becoming brighter...

Yuuki [...Oh... Right, I'm still in the forest...]

I bring my left hand to my face and, as I expected, the missing parts are healed without leaving a scar...

Yuuki [How long did I sleep?...]

After losing consciousness I woke up once in the middle of the night, I don't know if it was a day or two after that but I still couldn't move and feelt like I would fall asleep again in no time, so at least I called back Kirin to the "Treasure Trove", she didn't look like she liked the idea, but she was wounded too and I couldn't do something about it at the moment... At least I wanted her to rest.

Yuuki [For now, I have to go back...]

There's nothing more I can do in this forest. I need to go back to Ul and confirm how many days have passed since then...

Yuuki [...Is he... Already here...?]

I know it's a bad idea to get close to him as he is not the most reasonable person in the world but... I really want to meet him... At least once...

Yuuki [Let's just go back and think about that later...]

#####

The sun is already shining in the blue sky when I arrive to the town of Ul. I enter through the front door of the "Water Fairy Inn" and-

Yuuki [I'M BACK!!]

Waitress [GYAAA!!!]

Yuuki [KYAAA!!!]

Waitress [...?! I-it's you!!]

Yuuki [I-I guess?]

Waitress [-!... I mean- It's been a while dear customer, may I ask about your... Improper appearance? Your barely still clothes are full of dirt and... Blood...]

Her business smile is twitching and she appears to have a hard time to choose the proper words. For now let's just say the necessary parts of the truth...

Yuuki [I went into the Northern Mountains, this and that happened then I fell in a river and almost died...]

Waitress [...You what? Wait... When exactly did all that happened?]

Yuuki [Since the first day, actually, after I got out of the water I fell unconscious and woke up just today]

Waitress [...L-let me check if I got this right... You were wounded, unconscious and completely defenseless in a mostly unexplored forest inhabited by monsters, for almost five days straight?]

Yuuki [That's pretty much it-]

Hum? wait a moment...

Yuuki [...Did you say five days?]

Waitress [-!! Y-yes, this is the fifth day since dear customer departed...]

...Are you serious?... "Five days after Gale's party departure and disappearance", isn't that-

Yuuki [(-Is today... It happens today...)]

Hajime's meeting with Tio, the revelation that Shimizu is behind everything and the preparations for the monster invasion... Right now, Hajime is fighting, beating up or already beated up Tio. In other words that means-

Yuuki [(-I passed by them and didn't noticed?)]

...Well, It can't be helped I guess... R-right, it can't be helped, i-it's not like I'm sad or disappointed... Yep, not at all... L-let's just move on...

Waitress [...Dear customer?...]

Yuuki [...S-sorry, it's nothing... I'll be in my room for now, please don't disturb me unless something weird enough to move the whole town happens... like a big announcement or something like that]

Waitress [I-i don't think something like that could just happen... well, what about breakfast? It's still barely on time for it though...]

Yuuki [I don't need it-]

*Gurururururu~*

Yuuki [...]

Waitress [...]

Yuuki [...Four servings will be enough, whatever is fine, just make something that won't trouble the inn and bring it to my room...]

Waitress [understood]

#####

The food came to my room with a *knock**knock* sound in my door after I finished a quick but relaxing bath. I put on a simple set of shirt and pants and started my own preparations.

Yuuki [Kirin, come out...]

First, Kirin's repair is a must. After fighting Tio head on I just hope the damage is not too severe.

Kirin [...]

Kirin comes out still in her "Combat" form and sits on the center of the room. I can clearly see cracks and some melted parts on her body.

Yuuki [Don't worry, we'll fix you right away]

Kirin [...?]

there was a small reaction when I said that but I just let it pass and extend my hand with the treasure trove on my finger-

Yuuki ["Yama-inu(山犬/Mountain dog)"]

With a flash of light, a reddish, rust colored long-

*POW*

Yuuki [Gufg-!!]

Out of nowhere, Kirin punched me in the stomach with the tightly gripped claw from her front leg.

Yuuki [W-why?...]

Kirin [!!!]

Eh? She looks angry, but why?... Was it maybe because of Yama-inu? But again, why?

Kirin [!!!]

Yuuki [G-got it, I'll put her away...]

After Teiko told me about all that, I though I should use them more often as soon as I have the chance but... I guess it will be another time.

Yuuki [Haah... She's not here anymore, see? can I begin now?]

Kirin [*Fuu*]

She seated again with a 'I'll allow it' like feeling, so I kneeled besides her.

Yuuki [First, let's see how bad it is...]

I use "Transmutation" to analyze Kirin's body. Even if she is an "Artifact", her body is actually structured like a living creature, so I guess this would be like healing a wounded person or a beast... Well, I'm not sure about other people, but in my case, I'm better at healing a living-creature-like-artifact than healing an actual flesh and blood one...

Yuuki [(Damage to structure and general durability of skin (External armor)'s, Muscle (Inner armor), osseous structure (let's just call them bones), core (heart) and finally, "soul")]

After five or so minutes, I noticed something that was unexpected to say the least...

Yuuki [The cracks on the body are not too deep, and the damage made from Tio's breath only affected the cracked armor...]

I look directly to Kirin's face as if to confirm.

Yuuki [Aren't you actually still fine?]

Kirin just answered with a *Fuu* as she rise her head like saying "Of course!". I can't see her stats but for what I've seen, her STR, VIT and DEF aren't that great, but her AGI and MAGD may be pretty high... Maybe, even her magic could be quite strong...

Yuuki [If I hadn't been in the way... Maybe...]

If I had properly depended on Kirin from the start, the result could have been better than it was...

Yuuki [...I won't reject my mistakes, I'll learn from them...]

That doesn't mean I will just fail again and again... next time I'll definitely sussed...

I finish repairing in less that twenty minutes even taking my time checking two or three times the result...

Yuuki [And done... With this you are better than new... Now, I'm sorry but wait inside until I call you, alright?]

She just close her eyes so I go on and call her back to the treasure trove.

Yuuki [Now it's my turn]

After I finish eating, I take out clothes and gear for my own use from the treasure trove. The feeling it gives is way different from what I used before, simply because this is better than what I used before...

A white button shirt with long sleeves (rolled because the weather) and dark grey pants many times more durable and comfortable than the fabric commonly used in clothes of this world, a set of light c.h.e.s.t armor, gloves and boots with azanthium plates protecting the c.h.e.s.t, back of the hands and forelegs and a belt with a holster, all made of black leather, finally a blue cloak with a hood that covers most of my upper body, it's not really a "long" cloak, but is not "short" either...

Yuuki [Of course, It's made after what Hajime made]

It's not like it looks the same as what he used, but it is made the same way and in a similar style, But with less black. I guess if what I used before was based on this world, what I have now is based on Hajime's world.

Yuuki [Teiko...]

When I held Teiko lined up with the left side of my h.i.p.s, the small belt tied to the sheathed sword moves and fixes by itself to the holster.

Yuuki [And with that I'm ready to go...]

Now to where the monster invasion (massacre) will take place. A few things will happen so I can't just jump in the middle without a plan-

*knock**knock*

Waitress [Dear customer! I apologise but I'll need to ask you to come out!]

With a slightly raised voice, the waitress reminds me that there is no time to make any master plan...

Yuuki [I'll think about that later, for now let's move...]

#####

Apparently, the town's people were gathered and it was already made public that an army of monster were on their way to this peaceful town. Of course, Hajime gave his wonderful speech so there was no panic or fear on the streets how it would normally be in this situations... that is fine and all but more than that, there's something I'm intrigued about... Why did no one told me about that? I'm sure I told the waitress-san to tell me if something big happens in the town... Well, maybe it just was too sudden and she had no time, maybe she was not even in the inn... I can't just blame her if I don't know her circ.u.mstances...

Waitress [...Sorry, I forgot...]

She said with a straight face.

Yuuki [...]

...

Well, it's not like I wanted to hear Hajime's awesome speech, I remember clearly what he said so there was no reason, right? Yeah, there was not... Not at all...

Waitress [Eh? Dear customer, are you crying!?]

Yuuki [No I'm not-nano...]

I'm just sweeting from the eyes-nano... That happens a lot you know...

#####

I paid for my room in the Water fairy inn, I may totally die today so better not make trouble for them. When I thought about it, I almost died without paying when I went with Gale-san and everyone, let's leave this dealt with before going out this time...

Yuuki [Let's get going...]

I leave the inn and cover myself with the hood of my cloak and move through the town trying to not get noticed (Just in case). I see a wall protecting the town that wasn't there this morning, then unexpectedly I make visual contact with a group of people that I recognize...

Yuuki [...I'm glad...]

Gale-san's party and will-kun, they're safe and for some reason they haven't left the town yet, maybe Hajime will take them with him...

Yuuki [(Well, even if they stay they'll be fine, If Hajime is protecting them, then no one in the world can hurt them)]

Now the wall is right in front of me. I try to be at a distance and a position where Hajime and his party won't notice me.

Yuuki [("Manami")]

I jump using "Manami" to impulse myself until I reach half way of the wall, then shape it like a long arm, grab the edge and pull myself to the top.

*Dokun*

Yuuki [-!!]

"Detect magic" reacted, but before that, even if just a second before that, my heart jumped... I turn my head to the side and even if far, I can clearly see a group of people. Three beautiful girls, each of them with a charm that differed from the other two.

A small stature, with long golden blonde hair, an unexpressive but beautiful face like made of porcelain, and a pair of bright red eyes.

'The Vampire princess, Yue'

With well endowed proportions in a outfit that boldly show her skin, a lively expression, azure colored eyes, long silver blue colored hair, and a pair of fluffy rabbit ears on top of her head.

'The Rabbit from Haulia tribe, Shea Haulia'

With a figure that can only be described as captivating, long straight black hair, slightly pointy ears, and a dignified expression complemented with sharp golden colored eyes.

'The Dragonmen princess, Tio Klarus'

There's probably no man attracted to women that won't describe them as beautiful...

Just a second... Probably even less... After the reaction in my heart that was faster than "Detect magic"-

Yuuki [-!!!]

-Less than a second... That was the length of the time my attention was directed at the three of them...

Yuuki [...Ah-]

A pitch black long coat with dark metal armor on the left arm, white hair like snow, a bright red colored left eye, and an eye patch on his right one... The last time I saw him was just before he entered the great labyrinth for the first time, now I see the appearance that until now was just part of fake memories.

Yuuki [...Nagumo Hajime...]

My heart beats faster than before... This is probably what instinct feels like to animals, not exactly fear, it's like something that was carved inside of me...

My heart beats so fast it feels like it's going to explode... Too many emotions that I don't understand overflow and it's like they want me to do something, but I don't know what. This emotions... Some of them are good, but others are probably not, they contradict each other and I don't know how I should feel now...

This emotions are not mine...

Yuuki [-!!]

No... There is one that is mine, the one Born out of the time I failed to change Hajime's future-

Yuuki [(...Regret...)]

A negative emotion that becomes the first step to loathing myself... Even so, that sole genuine emotion little by little help me to make my mind...

Yuuki [(There is no time...)]

Right now is not about Hajime... Right now, there's something else I should not give up on even if I end up being hated...

Yuuki [(Let's go)]

I jump to the other side of the wall and go forward without turning back. I only have one goal in mind...

Yuuki [(Shimizu Yukitoshi...)]

Even if not now, if I succed in changing Shimizu's future I'll definitely meet him sooner or later... Even if as an "Enemy"... Still, it probably won't matter, this is already something I won't run away from...

Yuuki [...I was careless...]

Of all those fake emotions that came from fake memories, there was a specially strong one aimed at Hajime... Just looking at him once was enough for that emotion to almost take completely over me... It's nothing great, not even something complicated... But even so, I think I understand-

Yuuki [-"I want to meet him"... Is it that?...]

#####

*Twich*

Shea [...?]

Yue [...Shea...]

Shea [Unu? What's wrong Yue-san?]

Yue [Did something happen?...]

Shea [...No, I thought I heard something but... It was nothing-]

*Twich**twich*

Shea [-!? Hajime-san, they're coming-desu~]

Hajime [Okay... Let's do this, Yue!]

Yue [...Un...]

Shea [...]

Tio [...]

Shea [Anoo~, Hajime-san... we are going to fight too-desu~]

Tio [Umu... My lord, some encouragement-]

Hajime [Do it yourselves]

Shea [So mean-desu!]

#####

The monster invasion started...

Yuuki [I have to find Shimizu...]

I'm keeping my distance because-

*Kabooom*

Yuuki [...]

...Yep, because of that...

Yuuki [Tsuki-chan]

Tsukuyomi [...]

Slightly further away from the place the monsters are attacking, I use Tsuki-chan to search for Shimizu's whereabouts... If possible I want to make contact with him before Hajime does...

Tsukuyomi [...-!!]

Yuuki [Eh?-]

*Clank*

I unsheathed Teiko When "Detect magic" boosted by Tsuki-chan detect a presence and parried an attack from my blind spot...

Yuuki [Itt-!]

Three lines appear on my right forearm, I'm not an expert but I'm sure that wasn't supposed to hit me...

??? [Garururu-]

Black colored fur, with a glance it becomes clear that it's a wolf, not only that... I recognize it, specially those distinctive four eyes on its head looking at me.

Yuuki [("Strengthening", "Acceleration", "Vitalization")]

He trows himself at me and I dodge.

Just after I dodge his attack, he landed where I was just a moment ago ready to chase me without even let me hold my breath, I parry his attack and make distance between us...

Yuuki [Ouch... Well of course!!]

A small cut on my check...

Yuuki [To predict the future looks as useful as it sounds...]

I don't want to waste time here, I need to find Shimizu as fast as I can...

Yuuki [Won't you let me pass, I actually want to save your master...]

Black wolf [Gaaah!!!]

*Clank*

Yuuki [Right, that's what I thought...]

Monsters are different from normal beasts and Demi-humans to begin with... If we add Shimizu's magic there is just no room for words...

I stand firmly holding Teiko in front of the black wolf, he prepares to attack but-

Black wolf [...Gurururu...]

He slowly retreats with a menacing expression...

Yuuki [Not falling for that I guess...]

looks like he doesn't need a conscience to have judgement, and to predict the future really is convenient... Sadly I can't do something like that-

Yuuki [("Gusha no Hokori")]

But in a certain way, I can manipulate it...

Black wolf [-!!]

The black wolf disappear, before even he himself noticed, ignoring his instinct, ignoring his judgement, right now his only purpose, the only reason his body is living is to rip me apart like a piece of meat...

His fangs reach me, ready to tear off my stomach, my intestines, it doesn't matter, it wants my flesh and blood...

*Tud* *splat*

the sound of a body falling to the hard ground, the wet sound of blood spilling...

The fangs of the wolf pierced my skin, but they stopped, the jaws are still holding to me but it doesn't move further than that... The four eyes have no focus, blood spills from the head with a neck that have nothing connected to it...

Yuuki [Got you...]

I pull the head bitting on my stomach and trow it to the headless body bleeding on the ground...

Yuuki [Kuh-! It hurts...]

Well, it went better than expected, I mean, I only had to be bitten once...

Yuuki [I'll get going before something else happen... Hum?]

It's quiet... no explosions, no magic, nothing...

Yuuki [No way...!]

*poke*

Izanami [...]

Yuuki [Izana-chan?]

Izana-chan pokes my check and then point at the sky, There is something there, a giant bird like thing mounted by someone... and is about to use magic power for something-

I ran with all my strength...

Yuuki [("Manami"!)]

I trow myself in the air... He is from the demon race, and is about to shoot an attack to Aiko-sensei's head... Through Shimizu's c.h.e.s.t.

Yuuki [("Maigo-Nyotei"!!)]

I transfer magic power to Teiko and while spinning in mid air I deflect the attack.

Demon race [-!!??]

Understandably, the demon race is taken off guard when this happens, meanwhile I pull myself back to the ground with "Manami"... Doing that was probably bad for the wounds on my stomach but I guess it can't be helped...

'Pugya-!'

?

Weird... A funny sound like something being smashed just came from behind me...

I'm probably hearing things...

Demon race [Hoy! You lowly-!]

Yuuki [If I were you, I wouldn't mind me... I would mind him...]

I point behind me while I look a him, when he looks at the front-

Demon race [-!?]

A red flash of light... He tries to dodge it but-

Demon race [Guaaaahhh!!!]

The shoot hit his arm.

He comes back to himself and after looking my way he let out a "Chi-!" sound from his mouth and escaped...

Yuuki [(I have to move...)]

Things were most certainly the same way as in my memories... If I don't hurry, Shimizu will be killed by Hajime.

Yuuki [I have to go... but..]

What will I do when I get there?

What will I say?

What if, again, I'm unable to do anything?

Even if I can do something, what if I fail?

What if from the start, everything was a mistake?

Yuuki [...]

"Shimizu Yukitoshi is trash"

That's what my memories tell me, but what does that even mean?

If you do something wrong with bad intentions, does that mean you're trash?

Then what about Nakamura Eri? She did many things that were definitely wrong for bad reasons... doesn't that mean she is trash too?

But my memories say different... Certainly, she died like Shimizu, but his dead was easily forgotten. The greatest shock was in "Death" by itself, not in Shimizu's dead as an individual... The only one that cried for him was Aiko-sensei... And even so... At the end she too...

The death of Nakamura Eri was different... Not only Taniguchi Suzu, her best friend, but Amanogawa Kouki, the same Aiko-sensei, many lamented her death...

In a certain way is the same with Hajime...

In a certain way is the same with Kouki...

In a certain way it may be the same even with Hiyama Daisuke and his friends (MAY BE)...

It's not for me to choose...

Yuuki [...Even so...]

Izanami [...?]

Yuuki [...no... it's nothing...]

One step... Two steps...

Yuuki [Let's go Izana-chan...]

I move forward... I cover myself with the hood of my cloak and move forward to where Shimizu Yukitoshi and Nagumo Hajime are right now...

This was something that I had decided on since I parted with Miledi-san three years ago... If I stop now, none of this would have meaning... I don't want that..

Yuuki [I am not strong...]

I can't become someone's sword...

I can't become someone's shield...

There are so many things I can't do that I'm not even sure what can I even do...

Yuuki [Even so...]

...I see them... Simizu is lying on the ground in a puddle of his blood, and a few meters away there's Hajime's party with Aiko-sensei's party surrounding a unconscious Aiko-sensei...

*Dokun*

My heart trembles, 'Am I late?'

Yuuki [(He is alive...)]

I confirm it with my eyes from afar...

*Dokun* *Dokun*

My heart beats even faster... Insecurity, fear, it slowly grow inside of me... Even so...

Yuuki [(Here I go...)]

I move forward...

*Rub* *Rub*

Yuuki [?... Izana-chan?]

She rubs herself against my check... I can't hear her voice, Teiko is the only one I've talked to, and a few days ago was the most I've ever had... Even so, I think I understand... At least, that's what I want to believe...

'Do your best'

Yuuki [...I will...]

If I don't know what to do, I'll keep trying until I find the right answer, no matter how many times...

If I don't know what to say, I'll say anything I need to say, Lies are things that will never be... But promises are things that will definitely be fulfilled...

If there's something I can't do, I'll depend on someone else, because I'm not alone... If there's something only I can do, I'll make sure others can depend on me...

If I end up failing, I won't let anything be lost... If there's nothing else but to run away, I won't leave anything behind...

Even if everything is a mistake...

Even if I can't become a Hero...

Even if I'm hated and left alone until I become dust...

I definitely won't regret it...

#####