Jujutsushi 272.1
Chapter 272: Split Opinion 1
TL : Cnine
ED/PF :
R1[1-3], R2[4-6]
Part 1
They didn’t make the foolish mistake of charging straight into the Goma kingdom occupying the Central Tower. Instead, they retraced their steps and temporarily set up a base at the tower where Kotori had gathered information.
First, for one day, they would conduct reconnaissance around the walls, led by the “thief” Natsukawa Minami. Then, over the course of three more days, they would search for any hidden paths to the tower or other entrances.
Thus, on the night of the fourth day, once all the reconnaissance data and exploration results had been gathered, a class meeting was held.
「Alright then, let’s begin the class meeting. The topic, of course, is how we’re going to get into the tower.」
Class Rep announced the start of the class meeting, but the atmosphere in the classroom was far from cheerful.
The information had already been shared with everyone. In other words, everyone already knew.
There wasn’t a single convenient hidden path or entrance. To reach the Central Tower, the only option was to cross that rampart and cut straight through the Goma city.
「The defence of the rampart is formidable. Even at night, lights were kept burning, soldiers manned the watchtowers, and patrols continued along the top of the rampart.」
Yuūto himself had also directly observed the defense of the rampart.
In this lowest level, the Goma Kingdom presumably reigns as the ruling power. Yet there was no sign of complacency; the Goma warriors carried out their duties with utmost diligence.
「And there were a few Gogma by the gates as well. The rampart has four gates, east, west, south, and north, and there’s no doubt that at least one Gogma guards each gate.」
Minami reported that while there was none outside the massive iron gates, fully armed Gogma could be seen just inside.
「Gogma is the boss of the fortress right?」
「Yeah, the one who got defeated by Momokawa.」
「If a boss-class is standing guard at the gate, that means there must be even more terrifying creature inside their main stronghold.」
The Totem Pole trio was grimacing. Having faced Gogma in battle before, they knew all too well just how deadly the other party was.
「There's possibility that there might be several of those four-armed ones as well.」
The Big Boss Gogma of Pyramid Castle that had given Yūuto a run for his money. Though he knew that he was stronger now than back then, it was still a formidable foe he couldn’t hope to defeat easily back then.
「That’s a force we simply can’t face head-on.」
「As expected, we're hopelessly outnumbered…」
Ryōuko and Sakura spoke with grim expressions. No one, in any case, was even considering proposing a frontal assault, it didn't take smart people to know that it was suicidal.
The room was enveloped in silence for a brief moment.
「…Maybe we should just call it quits here.」
The one who broke the silence was Shimokawa.
「You’re saying we should give up after coming all this way?」
「Exactly because we’ve come this far. Even if we reach the Heavenly Gate, that doesn’t mean everyone can get out. What’s the point of overexerting ourselves like?」
It was too late for that. Or rather, it was precisely now that they should make that decision.
The only way out of the dungeon was the Heavenly Gate. Everyone had thought so, which was why they had pushed on toward the dungeon’s deepest reaches.
However, even now, the escape plan Kotarō proposed after the subjugation of Yamata no Orochi feels like the most realistic option, even if it was a lie.
With how much we had grown, we could simply walk out of the dungeon on foot and even make our way through the outside world.
「You have a point.」
「Rather than pushing ourselves here and getting someone killed, aiming for all of us to escape together makes sense, doesn’t it?」
Ueda and Nakai immediately voiced their agreement with Shimokawa’s opinion.
「... I agree with Shimokaya.」
「I–I think I’d rather run away like this than try to take on a place like that.」
Moreover, Yamada, Himeno had also agreed with Shimokawa.
「I’m in favour of giving up too. That place looks seriously dangerous, and even if we did make it to the tower, there’s bound to be some boss waiting, right?」
「The only reason the rescue team even had a chance was because Tendō-kun and Momokawa could go. I think it’s better to run away too.」
JuryMary combi had also agreed with Shimokawa.
The smooth flow of agreement was entirely the result of Shimokawa’s groundwork. With Kotarō gone, it was the best preparation he could muster before facing the class meeting.
「W-Wait a second, don't decide so ea————」
「Yuuto-kun, I agree that choosing to escape is more realistic option at this point.」
I hadn’t said anything to the Class Rep yet, but it seemed she understood that, given the situation, this was the least risky approach.
The plan of sending out a three-person rescue team was really just an option. It wasn’t the main focus.
What mattered was ensuring the safety of the great majority of classmates left behind on their overland escape.
With Tendōu Ryūuichi and Momokawa Kotarō no longer with them, the effectiveness of a rescue team was put in question, and working together with everyone present would likely make the overland escape safer.
「Sending three people out from the class as it is now would split our fighting strength far too much. In this situation, I want Sakura to stay as a healer, and we can’t really afford to be without Shimokawa-kun either, since there’s the issue of water.」
The original members chosen for the escape group were Tendōu, Sakura, and Shimokawa. However, sticking with that lineup now posed problems.
「We haven’t yet decided who should take Ryūuichi’s place as the third member… Yūuto-kun, do you think there’s anyone besides Ryūuichi you could trust to look after Sakura?」
「Kuh....!」
Getting his younger sister Sakura to safety as quickly as possible. That was both Yuūto’s sincere wish as her brother and, at the same time, nothing more than a simple, familial bias.
It was precisely because he was aware of this that Yuūto didn’t voice much about reconsidering the escape team. And Shimokawa, understanding this, didn’t say anything either, assuming Yuūto’s insistence on prioritising the escape was out of affection for his little sister.
If he were to say it, it was obvious things would blow up.
Ryōuko understood both Yūuto’s desire to get Sakura to safety and Shimokawa’s suggestion for the entire class to escape. That was precisely the reason she explained to Yūuto the reasons he could give up on prioritising Sakura’s escape.
「Ah, that’s right… It's just as you say, Class Rep. If Ryūuichi were with us right now, I could have resolved to send Sakura to the kingdom safely. But he’s not here anymore, and given the current situation, that wouldn’t be possible.」
「Big brother...」
「Understood. I’ll give up on escaping through the Heavenly Gate————」
「W-WAIT!」
The one who raised that voice was Takanashi Kotori.
===
「W-WAIT!」
「Is something the matter, Kotori?」
Stopping Yūuto, who seemed eager to say something, Ryōuko, the Class President in charge of the discussion, prompted Kotori to speak.
「Y-You see...」
She started with excuses, saying she had intended to speak later, or that if she said it now, it would make everyone anxious.
Her way of speaking was exactly like that of a clueless woman, but that was just the persona of Takanashi Kotori on the surface, she was merely playing the part.
Right, in times like this, focus on the performance. Kotori, forced by Shimokawa’s actions that had steered the discussion in an unwanted direction, had no choice but to make herself stand out.
「Geez, just tell us what you're trying to say here, Kotori?」
「Uhm, the truth is———— We cannot escape from the lowest area to the upper area.」
It wasn’t exactly a complete lie, either.
When she was transported here, the Fairy Plaza had already been destroyed. Kotori guessed that it was due to the passage of time that the facilities had lost the ability to be maintained.
However, upon confirming the existence of the Goma Kingdom, she realized that it wasn’t merely a case of malfunction.
As for this lowest area, the facilities of the ruins, including the Fairy Plaza, had been destroyed by the Goma kingdom.
They were supposed to be transported to the tower, but ended up at the ruined Fairy Plaza because it was occupied by the gomas. Entering this lowest area was only possible through that Fairy Plaza.
Fortunately, she had managed to teleport even to the ruined Fairy Plaza, but she couldn’t expect anything beyond that. Unlike the School Tower, fully functioning teleportation circles that allowed free travel to other areas probably ceased to function in the lowest area.
「Because of the Goma kingdom, all the teleportation circles have been destroyed… So if any of them can still be used, it’s only the Central Tower.」
「Is the tower’s teleportation really still functioning?」
「There’s no doubt about it. The stone tablet here responded properly to the tower.」
No matter how many they produced or how powerful the individuals became, they were still just Goma. They had no means to seize the central core of ancient ruins created by an advanced magic civilization.
It was true that she confirmed the Central Tower was functioning properly using the stone tablet.
However, she couldn’t detect the presence of the Goma or their own structures, which were outside the management of the ancient ruins. Until she saw it with her own eyes, Kotori had no way of knowing that such a fortress city had been constructed in the lowest area.
「Does that mean... We can't leave this area till we take the control of the tower?」
「Yes... Sorry, Souma-kun.」
「No, it’s not something you need to apologise for, Takanashi-san… But, I’m at a loss here…」
Yuūto groaned as if deeply troubled. Even his sorrowful expression was truly beautiful. After all, those chosen by the gods as special beings must also possess exceptional looks, just like Yūuto, and like herself.
「In the end, the discussion has come full circle. We need to seriously think about how to get to the tower.」