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I now have a view of the direction to take.

I would like to head there at once, but there’s a number of things I have to prepare. 

The Mage Guild’s guild event was forcefully stopped in the middle.

The compulsory power of game events is strong. 

If I go to the magic circle of the Sorcery Tower and use the Nekuranomikon, I think I can do the ritual even without the other conditions in place. 

But I would like to fill up the conditions as much as possible to increase the success rate. 

There’s 3 things necessary for the ritual. 

Mithril, the Nekuranomikon, and the magic circle. 

“If I remember correctly, the mithril that Iaski gathered for the ritual should have been destroyed. What do you plan to do about that?” (Mitsuki)

Thinking about it normally, it would be impossible to gather a massive amount of mithril right now.

If it were in the game, that certainly would be the case.

But…

“I have an idea about that. 

Can I borrow the facilities here?” (Souma)

This world has even more freedom than in Nekomimi Neko. 

And Nekomimi Neko players shine the most at those times.

 

“…I am in disbelief. You really can do anything you decide to do.” (Mitsuki)

“Anything is too much of an exaggeration though.” (Souma)

But it is true that my plan went well this time around. 

“Muuh, I can’t really accept that a lump of mithril can be made from that carving chisel though.” (Maki)

Just as Maki said while pouting as if she wasn’t convinced, I used a carving chisel this time around.

This carved chisel that I found exploring the mansion has a skill called Set that can create material that is of the same properties. 

That said, there was no mithril carving chisel in the game, so it wasn’t possible to create mithril with this skill.

But it seems like you can synthesize any weapon items in the weapon synthesizer. 

Then the rest is simple. 

I can just mix the single mithril sword I got from the Mage Guild incident and the carving chisel.

The mithril that’s created from the Set skill costs a lot of money most likely because the material I was calling is rare, but that isn’t too big of an issue for me.

“Next would be the Nekuranomikon… Leila.” (Souma)

I directed my gaze at Leila who has the Nekuranomikon, and she shook her head with a stiff face.

“I-I want to go together with you, Souma!” (Leila)

Leila stated this strongly with a trembling voice.

I am happy with the sentiment. 

But no.

“I am sorry, but I can’t bring you with me, Leila. 

In the worst case scenario, I might have to fight the Evil God Fragment or run away.

That’s why only me and Mitsuki will be going this time around.” (Souma)

“N-No way!” (Leila)

Leila raised a bitter voice at my verdict. 

“I actually wanted to go alone. 

But I don’t know how to open the secret door of the tower.” (Souma)

The only ones who know how to are Ringo and Mitsuki who came to save me. 

And if I am going to be bringing someone with me, there’s no one aside from Mitsuki in terms of ability. 

I think that’s the logical decision.

But Leila wasn’t the only one who couldn’t accept it. 

“Souma, me too—!” (Maki)

“No!” (Souma)

Maki spoke out as if following Leila, but I immediately shot it down.

“Why?! I may not be on the level of Mitsuki-san, but I am strong! 

I won’t be deadweight, I definitely won’t—” (Maki)

“Even if so… Please, Maki.

I must not lose you.” (Souma)

“That’s not fair. Such a reason…” (Maki)

I lowered my head, and Maki bit her lips vexed and faced away. 

“…Leila, I am counting on you with Maki.” (Souma)

“Souma… Okay.” (Leila)

She is probably having mixed feelings here. 

Leila had an unconvinced face, but even with that, she still nodded.

“Also…” (Souma)

After confirming that Maki was not looking over here, I stealthily pass a notebook page. 

“It is a page that has the way of returning to my world. 

If I don’t return here, please give it to Maki.” (Souma)

“Souma!” (Leila)

I am aware that I am asking her for something harsh here.

But considering the possibility, this is something that must be done.

“…Please.” (Souma)

I once again said this, and Leila looked up at me with tears in her eyes. 

“I am just going to be holding onto it.” (Leila)

She took the paper reluctantly. 

And then, she pushed the Nekuranomikon on me.

“Souma, you definitely must survive and come back to me. 

…No, you don’t have to come back. Just…you definitely must not die.” (Leila)

“I will do my best to return…” (Souma)

I said at least that much and received the Nekuranomikon.

Thinking about how I was going to be betraying Leila and was really going to run away as she said, my chest hurt. 

Seriously, my comrades are way too soft.

“Well then…” (Souma)

Anyways, preparations should be done now.

I glanced at Mitsuki, and just as we were about to depart…

“…I will go too.” 

The one who stopped me was an unexpected person.

“Sazan? But you…” (Souma)

Honestly speaking, Sazan is even weaker than Leila.

Also, the Evil God Fragment’s core should have an element nullifier trait. 

There’s no reason for us to bring Sazan for the battle against the Evil God.

“I have knowledge in magic circles. Can you people remake the magic circle on your own?” (Sazan)

“That’s…” (Souma)

The magic circle’s mana should be gathering in the Grand Church now that King Rihito fixed it. 

That’s why there’s the need to rearrange the mithril roofs in the same way as the Mage Guild event after we go into the city. 

It should be fine to just take out the mithril of the house breaking event, but it is true that having Sazan give us instructions about the magic circle’s positioning is tempting. 

“But you might die. There’s no reason for you to—” (Souma)

“I heard from Mitsuki just now. The reaction of Alex and the others from the Explorer Ring is gone too.” (Sazan)

When I asked this with my eyes, Mitsuki nodded lightly. 

“I don’t know if they are in the Sorcery Tower or not.

But even if I have left the party, they are my…comrades.

I want to do everything I can for them.” (Sazan)

“Sazan…” (Souma)

I think those feelings are wonderful.

His usual behavior is questionable, but I do want to respect his will when it comes to the times when he is worried about his comrades.

I was hesitating here and…

“Got it.” (Mitsuki)

Mitsuki answered positively at my side.

“Mitsuki?!” (Souma)

“We need someone to adjust the magic circle. Our maneuverability won’t drop much if I carry him, right? 

In exchange, if bringing him along becomes a burden, we will abandon him. 

Do you have that resolve?” (Mitsuki)

“…I do! Please bring me along!” (Sazan)

Mitsuki and Sazan’s eyes were directed at me.

I can’t even refuse if they say that much.

“…Got it. I am counting on you two.” (Souma)

“Okay.” (Mitsuki)

“Yeah!” (Sazan)

The members that will be charging in have been decided.

Mitsuki, Sazan, and me. 

It is quite the ragtag group, but there’s no choice but to believe and tread on. 

“U-Uhm, please take this. Be careful!” 

At the end, the clumsy maid of the dojo gave me mitarashi dango. 

“U-Uhm, I don’t really get it, but do your best!” 

After getting the aimless cheer of the clumsy maid-san, we departed from the dojo.

 

With the situation being unclear, we can’t just take our time. 

After exchanging farewells with Maki and Leila, we ran at high speed to the entrance of the city. 

“…Waa, is there really anyone alive in here?” (Sazan)

Sazan spit out such weak hearted words before stepping into the mist city. 

It is true that Ringo tried to contact us with the Magical Pocket 1 hour ago. 

There’s nothing assuring us that Ringo and the others are okay. 

The one who responded to Sazan when I couldn’t answer immediately was Mitsuki.

“…This may be optimistic, but Alex, Raiden, and Baccarat are outstanding adventurers.

There’s also Spark Hawk who is called the Holy Knight, Silvia who is the only one who matches me in strength in the capital, and there’s also my father who entered faster than anyone else.

I don’t think they would be defeated just like that. A fitting number of people must have taken refuge in the Sorcery Tower.” (Mitsuki)

“Right…” (Sazan)

Sazan sounded relieved by this. 

I was also saved by the words of Mitsuki a bit. 

“…Let’s go.” (Souma)

I can only move forward while believing this. 

I was the first one to step into the mist city.

“—!” 

A hard to describe sensation as if going through a boundary. 

I noticed that I have stepped into a place where I can’t go back to. 

I looked around, but there’s no sight of the Evil God Fragment.

I was also worried about the mist, but the mist is simply shrouding the border of the field, and there doesn’t seem to be any effect once you enter. 

I take a breath for now. 

“…There’s no one.” (Souma)

I calm down and observe my surroundings, but there’s really a severe lack of liveliness.

The city is less destroyed than I thought. 

I am happy that the roofs serving as the magic circle are okay, but thinking about the reason why that hole was opened, I couldn’t feel relieved.

“Let’s go.” (Mitsuki)

Mitsuki, who had at some point gotten to my back, quietly urged me on.

Right, we are already in enemy territory. 

There’s no time for idle talk. 

I nodded silently and began to run to our target location.

We moved at full speed through the city and tore off the first mithril roof without any issues. 

It went as planned until then.

We entered through the gate that was the closest to our objective to make it easier to reach. 

I did think it would be pretty rare to encounter the fragment unless we were really unlucky.

“There!” (Souma)

We safely arrive at the second point. 

It is an empty city anyways. 

We can use my stupidly high strength to forcefully tear it off. 

“Toryaaaaaaaaaaaah!!” (Souma)

I tear off the mithril while raising a hearty shout. 

“Sazan, how is it?!” (Souma)

“…No issues with the location! Moreover, from what I can see, there’s much less of an effect on the magic circle than I thought. 

I don’t know about the places we haven’t seen, but this should be fine!” (Sazan)

We got the stamp of approval from the specialist. 

It is not like we went through the whole city, so there might be destroyed locations we haven’t noticed yet, but the compulsory effect of events is strong. 

Let’s believe that it will work out the small imperfections. 

Now, if only we could run all the way to the Sorcery Tower just like this…

“…It is here.” (Mitsuki)

Just when I was thinking something so naive, Mitsuki said this with a stern voice while carrying Sazan.

I reflexively look at the direction of her voice.

…And then, I regret seeing it. 

“Oi oi, I heard nothing about this.” (Souma)

What wriggled its way out from the shadow of a building was the same as the one I saw in the game’s hidden dungeon, the sacrifice altar, and maybe even the one in the recording of the stone slate. 

But there’s one drastic difference.

“How come it is bigger than even the main body of the Evil God in the recording…?” (Souma)

It had grown gigantic to the point that all other fragments couldn’t even compare. 

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