LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 233.2
Chapter 233.2. Second Half
However, it should have been impossible to nullify the complex wavelengths and dummy wavelengths mixing together… but Sakimori easily saw through them.
As we began walking again, he glanced at Sakimori beside him and thought, This is strange.
Yukihana claims it’s an extraordinary mana manipulation ability, but it’s beyond human capability. Even with a skill, that ability exceeds an individual’s limits. There was someone in the past with the [Analysis] skill, but they couldn’t see through the wavelength of the barrier. Moreover, Sakimori doesn’t even possess an analysis-type skill.
The magic manipulation ability is what’s strange. The origin of that power can be guessed, but if that’s the case, then Sakimori is… He shifts his gaze to Shizuku who drifts through the air. Though nothing is said, Shizuku surely understands. And the fact that she says nothing to Sakimori means… it’s still pushing forward with an unyielding plan.
It’s clear that she’s hiding something from Sakimori… but whether he’s told or not, Sakimori’s actions probably won’t change. Shizuku will eventually talk, and until then, he decides to stay silent. It’s a preposterous plan with almost no chance of success, but he chooses to respect his friend’s unyielding spirit.
Even though his friend has been acting foolishly lately, the fact that he doesn’t want to know a hint of what she’s hiding is impressive. At his core, Yukihana always carries out his goals without fail. He’s a girl who never gives up.
“Well, let’s finish off the remaining enemies. Deploying drones.”
Shaking off the thoughts, he launches the drones from his backpack and starts surveying the surroundings with their cameras. He swiftly shoots down the monsters he spots with the onboard machine guns.
[Hmm. As always, it’s so cool. I want to use that too. Please make me a reinforced armor suit, just for me.]
His friend, who loves all things romantic, pleads with sparkling eyes. A familiar sight. And his answer is already decided.
[No way. Last time, I spent half a year making you a reinforced suit, and you destroyed it in your first battle.]
[That was unavoidable. I thought throwing the suit would create an opening. I didn’t expect it to get gobbled up.]
During a battle with a giant monster, she had tossed it straight into its mouth. She said the plan was to attack while the enemy was busy chewing, but instead, it gulped it down. He remembers being stunned, after spending six months on that suit.
[How many unexpected things like that have happened with you? Besides, you’re stronger without a powered suit, right? Like a fairy guarding treasure, you don’t need one.]
[But I think I’m vulnerable to things like lava and hand-to-hand combat. If I’m hit with blizzards or area-of-effect magic, I think I’d be done for in this world.]
[If it’s you, you’d climb out of a volcano and defeat the demon king. A blizzard? You’d just say, ‘Oh, it’s a bit chilly,’ and carry on.]
He responds coldly, telling her to tough it out on her own. He’s already decided that Shizuku will use disposable equipment made with the assumption it will break. There’s no changing that decision.
As they bicker, another group of monsters appears, so he pulls the trigger on his Gatling gun. The deafening noise roars again as the monsters are torn apart.
“These are attacks enhanced with magic-enchantment. Even B-rank monsters are like small fry against the firepower of a Gatling gun.”
Laughing as he continues to take them down, he feels the need to show off, as it’s his first party with Sakimori.
[I’m out of bullets!]
“I’m not a rice-loving android, so I keep careful track of my remaining ammo.”
He sticks out his tongue at his teasing friend, even though she can’t see it through his helmet. But somehow, she anticipates it and whistles mockingly in return. He finds himself enjoying this exchange on the battlefield. It’s been a while since they’ve had this kind of banter. Yukihana is just so… Yukihana.
“A Gazer is coming.”
“Leave it to me. [Dancing Dagger].”
As Yukihana warned, a Gazer flies down from the sky. He launches the [Dancing Dagger], which is magically controlled. Such things are easy for him to manipulate.
The daggers fly at lightning speed and pierce the Gazer. They immediately slice it vertically, then move to target another Gazer.
The twelve daggers whirl through the air, cutting down the grotesque-eyed monsters. The name [Dancing Dagger] is fitting, as the enemies can’t shoot down the erratically moving blades.
The sound of the Gatling gun and the slicing of the daggers fills the air until the Gazers are all wiped out.
He checks the radar, but there are no enemies in the area. Exhaling, he relaxes his shoulders. It seems he was more tense than he thought, being in combat for the first time in a while.
[As expected of Serika. Serika overwhelms small fry with firepower, but takes a disruption-based approach in boss fights.]
“Well, that helps conserve mana.”
His friend praises him earnestly, and Sakimori nods in approval, arms crossed. He’s pretty happy about it, but it’s good that no one can see how embarrassed he is under his helmet.
“You can keep praising me. Without me, there’s no way we could clear high-level dungeons.”
“I see. But first, we need to destroy that fort.”
He tries to argue that he’s indispensable to the party because he has many items to conserve their resources, but Sakimori points ahead.
Through the trees, they can see a rough stone fortress. It appears to be the castle of some demons. “Looks like we’re in for some demon-slaying,” Serika says as they head toward the fort together.