Can Someone from a Tradition-Ridden Village Pull Off a Narou-Style Story in a Modern Dungeon? ～The Higher Being Behind Me Is Way Too Much of a Final Boss～ - Chapter 134: Intervention
-Thank you DCRangeRange, Dean Dexter and Cannedbread
Follow me on Patreon via Linktree https://linktr.ee/Mnotia-
Here, where a high, deep blue sky is visible, is the rooftop of Maison de Hakkai.
The sun beat down brightly, and the blue sky, which seemed as if it could swallow you whole, still presented the aspect of summer.
Could there be such an imposing abnormal weather?
While looking down at the cityscape whitened by the sunlight, Shio unconsciously wiped away sweat.
"It's hot..."
"I'll make you some shade!"
Minako's spread hands became like horns, and a shadow that looked like a strange creature was born beside her.
"Uhyi, thanks, Minako. I was about to collapse again."
"Then I'll give you another rice ball!"
"You think rice balls are a panacea, don't you?"
If one could avoid direct sunlight, the sea breeze blowing against the high place was quite pleasant.
If the sea reflected the sunlight and showed a sparkling, vivid color, there would be nothing more to say, but as always, only that place had a gloomy color.
"Let's stay at the edge like this so we don't get in the way."
"Yeah. From here on, it's Ei-chan's job."
The reason Shio and the others had come to the rooftop was only one: for Ei to exercise the power of Sorayodo no Oohito.
At the center of the wide rooftop was Ei.
And Senano and Nene, each holding her own NARROW in preparation for an emergency, stood about two meters apart.
Both were at a distance from which they could immediately spring into action.
"Now then, since Master and Yako-san have also returned, it's my turn, isn't it!"
Ei clasped both hands in front of her chest and snorted proudly.
Her eager appearance was just like a child trying to show their parents a good side at a sports day.
Unlike Senano and Nene, who watched with warm smiles, Yako seemed somewhat tense and gently gripped the hem of their clothes.
"I saw it with my own eyes and judged it to be an emergency. If the three S-ranks, myself, Happou Fusagari, and Senano, give permission, the higher-ups will have no complaints."
『I'm just watching from here on my smartphone, though. Sorry, I'm a homebody.』
"I don't mind. Since that is the structure of things, there's no need to be ashamed or feel bad about it."
『……Cool.』
The words that leaked from the smartphone naturally touched a nerve in Yako.
"Tch... So, may I be told what you're actually going to do?"
It was a question meant to divert their attention.
And it came back as an answer that was more than effective enough.
"I will now call Osora-sama here."
"...Osora-sama, you mean Sorayodo no Oohito? Eh, really!?"
"Yes. That said, Osora-sama sees everything, so I will simply have them direct their attention here again."
"We have to tell each observation station!"
"It's fine. I just need them to direct their gaze only here."
Ei's gaze had already captured the sky.
Before long, Ei spread both arms and took a posture as if embracing the sky, then softly called out.
"Tata naga hiso kuku kotohara minashi na izu miyo"
The words held no meaning that humans could understand.
It was a norito addressed to the one who exists above all things, the canopy covering the world.
"It's here."
"...It's here."
『Ah, whoa, what is this feeling!』
The first to understand were the S-ranks.
Aberrant Entities do not possess things like the magical power or spiritual power spoken of in fiction.
Therefore, what they felt on their skin was death.
Predicting from experience the cruel future handed over more innocently than by a monster outside human understanding, their own body unconsciously warned them.
Sound vanished from the world, and as if replacing it, what welled up around them was the chorus of cicadas.
Wind, waves, trees, everything was under the dominion of the sky.
"So this is Sorayodo no Oohito..."
What was in everyone's field of vision was blue.
As if mocking human caution, instinct forcibly made them look up at the sky.
They could not shift their gaze; their field of vision was captured.
The clouds were swallowed by the blue vault, and the sky filled everything they saw.
Looking up, it felt as if they themselves were falling into the sky.
The only one who could move within it was the one chosen by this sky.
"Osora-sama, please answer. Is that sea truly the Tide-Weeping Shrine Maiden? We must now determine its authenticity."
The sky has no words.
But there was a change in the world reflected in their eyes.
The filling blue deepened in color.
Should one say the sky solidified?
The space that seemed infinitely vast appeared in that moment to possess an enormous mass.
It was not that the sky existed before their eyes; the sky was present.
It was an Aberrant Entity living with a structure different from that of humans like themselves.
"――Hmm hmm, I see. So that's how it is."
All the more, how abnormal it was to be able to converse with it.
As if conversing with a giant overlooking the world, Ei spoke with the sky with the same innocent smile as ever.
One minute.
The brief time in which the sky manifested above this city felt stretched out to the point of seeming eternal.
"I understand, thank you."
The exchange itself was extremely simple.
Perhaps that was why everyone could endure it.
When Ei clapped her hands, their gazes left the sky and turned toward her as if fleeing.
At the same time, the sky regained its softness, and universal sound once again filled the surroundings.
"That is a different thing imitating the Tide-Weeping Shrine Maiden. Osora-sama is exasperated. They say there is a fool trying to deceive the principles of this world."
"Imitating...? Ei, what do you mean?"
"……It seems Osora-sama does not have that much interest. They merely looked over because the sea moved, and it was different. To them, that is all it amounts to."
Those words deviated from humanity and stood on the side of Sorayodo no Oohito.
Though the voice was the usual Ei, the sight of her stating it with a straight face made one understand whether one wanted to or not that she was a pseudo-medium.
"...Please wait."
The sky finally brought a warning to Ei.
Though it could be called a god's whim, it certainly gave them time to act.
"Osora-sama told me at the end. A messenger of the fool who created that sea is heading here."
That was also news that this situation, stalled by mystery, was about to move.
■
【Sea-Creation Experiment Progress Report】
Document Number: ■■-■■■■■-■■■■
Submitted to: ■■ Section ■■ Team
Prepared by: Enri Agency Special Operations Office (SOU)
Date Prepared: October ■, 20██ CE
■ Experiment Purpose
【Viewing this section requires Special Authorization clearance】
■ Experiment Method
【Viewing this section requires Special Authorization clearance】
■ Interim Progress
【Viewing this section requires Special Authorization clearance- ＾＾ it does not】
As initially planned, S0-1 subjects were placed at eight observation stations. (For the production plan of S0-1 via recognition cleansing, refer to Document Number: ■■-■■■-■■■■.)
By treating it as a sudden Aberrant phenomenon of EN-Ψ-7779-JP and making observation mandatory, pseudo-mediumization was promoted, and connection to vision and self-recognition was sequentially initiated.
In three battles with S-888, the activation of S0-1's self-devotion was confirmed visually and numerically.
As initially planned, the Sea-Creation Experiment shall be repeated until the encounter with EN-Ψ-7779-JP.
■ Special Notes
There is a risk that the joining of the N-000 group will accelerate S0-1's self-devotion.
Request additional S0-1 immediately.
Furthermore, to prevent interference with the experiment by A-E1, we request special permission for temporary custody and surveillance ＾＾
This shall be regarded as a formal application by the Enri Agency, and if the Enri Bearer Mikama resists, on-site disposal shall be permitted ＾＾
(TL Note: there goes Sora working behind the scenes to make more content)
-Thank you DCRangeRange, Dean Dexter and Cannedbread
Follow me on Patreon via Linktree https://linktr.ee/Mnotia-