Episode 5: Kazuma’s Fury Explodes. He’ll Turn Every Last Thing to Dust and Ashes.
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“Hah… Hah…!”
“Mom…!”
“Grandma…”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m fine, so you two hide behind me.”
Before Honoka’s eyes was a large number of Ibinom, including small and medium-sized ones. And behind her, Honoka’s daughter, Nanami, and Nanami’s daughter, Yakumo, were trembling while being held by Nanami.
Right now, the three of them were cornered in a dead end. Honoka had managed to get Nanami, whom she couldn’t contact, out of the apartment, but they were attacked by Ibinom on their way back to Ivy.
At first, Honoka had been fighting them off, but eventually, their numbers increased, and she could no longer handle them, so she fled with Nanami and Yakumo.
However, the Ibinom that appeared in the city were in unprecedented numbers, and the three were gradually cornered.
And now, they were trapped in a dead end. Honoka held her sword, keeping the Ibinom at bay, but she was already battered and bruised. Honoka, who had repelled Ibinom many times on their way here, was bleeding from her forehead, and her legs were trembling from exhaustion.
“If you’re coming, then come! But I won’t let you lay a single finger on these children! Even if my limbs are torn off, I’ll bite you to pieces!”
Honoka’s resolve was firm. She declared that even if she were to die here, she would never let them touch her girls.
The Ibinom lunged all at once. To devour Honoka and the others, the Ibinom opened their vicious maws wide.
As the Ibinom closed in, Honoka thrust her sword forward, stepping in to take as many down with her as possible, when a pervert fell from the sky in front of her.
With a thud, blowing away the asphalt ground, the one who appeared before Honoka was none other than the pervert, Kazuma. However, his expression was different from his usual nonchalant one; it was stained with fury.
“Get lost, you small fryyy!!!”
Kazuma, no longer intending to hide anything, used magic to obliterate the horde of Ibinom attacking Honoka and the others in a single blow.
Kazuma, having annihilated the surrounding Ibinom, immediately rushed to Honoka.
“Are you okay?!”
“Ka-Kazuma…”
Seeing Honoka, out of breath and looking like she could collapse at any moment, Kazuma gritted his teeth at his own foolishness.
“(What have I been doing…?! Even though I have the power to protect, I kept holding back! I almost lost Mom…! Ah, I’m an idiot! An incorrigible idiot! What ‘peaceful life,’ damn it!!!)”
Kazuma finally realized his own foolishness. He should have revealed it from the start. If he had flaunted his power and overwhelmed others by displaying overwhelming violence, like the King of America, the Overlord of China, or the Sun King of Egypt, this situation could have been prevented.
Even if he were feared, it would be a small price to pay compared to losing something precious. If the world dared to lay a hand on his family, he would just have to retaliate accordingly. He didn’t want to bind people with fear, but still, he couldn’t possibly weigh his family, friends, and acquaintances against others.
Kazuma was a Hero, but he was also a human being. He wasn’t fighting to protect everything. He wielded his power for those close to him, and by extension, for himself.
Then, there was no need to hesitate. No, this wasn’t the time for hesitation. Before losing what was precious, Kazuma made his decision.
“Mom. Stay still for a bit.”
“What are you doing?”
Poof Kazuma’s palm emitted a gentle light, and Honoka’s injuries healed. Nanami, who was watching, was surprised but said nothing and watched what her younger brother was doing.
“I… I won’t hide anything anymore. Even if I’m feared by the world, if it means not losing what’s precious, I’ll even become a Demon Lord.”
Honoka gently embraced Kazuma, who looked like he was about to cry, and lovingly stroked his head.
“…………It’s okay. You are my cute, beloved son. People are creatures who cause trouble for others just by living. So, you too, live as you please. I will accept everything.”
Even if Kazuma truly became a Demon Lord and destroyed the world, Honoka probably wouldn’t get angry. For her too, family was what was precious. As long as he didn’t harm his family, Honoka would undoubtedly forgive everything.
That was surely a great sin, but humans are sinful creatures who think it’s fine as long as they themselves are okay. Who could possibly blame her?
“Thank you, Mom. I… I’ll go finish everything. Wait here for a bit.”
Kazuma, forgiven for everything by Honoka, stood up and looked at the sky. Under this vast sky, he was a tiny creature. He had been worrying about such trivial things like a peaceful life. Kazuma laughed, thinking he should have realized sooner, and released his magical power.
“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
His magical power, rushing like a storm, became a pillar of light and ascended to the heavens. Many people would witness that sight. On this day, the world would witness true violence.
“Magic Circle, deploy! Spell formula, release!”
Kazuma, standing amidst the raging magical power, spread his arms.
“Summon!”
What appeared from the Magic Circle were the golem knights Kazuma had created, including the Crimson Knight. Knights of silver, jet black, azure silver, jade, and gold—a rich variety—appeared from the Magic Circle and took to the sky all at once.
“I don’t know who or what you are, but I’ll show you! What true violence is!”
The knights scattered and flew off. Kazuma first used Teleportation Magic to transport Honoka and the others to Ivy, ensuring their safety, before flying off to end everything.
Kazuma, looking down at the ground from high above, deployed a giant Magic Circle above his head. As he locked onto the Ibinom infesting the ground, Kazuma swung one hand down and delivered judgment.
“Vanish.”
Thousands, tens of thousands of lightning bolts pierced only the Ibinom. People who had been attacked until moments before were surprised by the sudden lightning, but they were even more surprised that only the Ibinom died.
At the same time, National Defense Force soldiers who had been resisting the Ibinom also witnessed lightning rain down on the Ibinom they were fighting, their eyes widening in disbelief at what was happening. However, upon realizing the Ibinom were dead, they raised cheers of joy.
Similar phenomena continued in the Seventh Area. Many people looked up at the sky, wondering what on earth was happening.
There, they found a human figure floating with a giant geometric pattern behind him. They realized that lightning was being unleashed from the geometric pattern behind him.
The people who saw it surely convinced themselves that he was a savior. They cheered, believing he had saved them from this predicament.
Kazuma, watching this from the sky, snorted. Sooner or later, the day would come when they too would turn their backs on him and fear him. He felt like clutching his stomach at how conveniently they thought, but he closed his eyes, figuring that was just human nature.
“Hm… Come to think of it, I forgot about that sugar-baby hag. Guess I’ll go save her.”
Leaving the Magic Circle as it was, Kazuma headed towards his birth mother, Kumiko.
He had received her contact information and address before, so he quickly arrived at Kumiko’s place.
“So this is it…”
Ibinom were swarming around a fine detached house. They hadn’t invaded inside yet, but it was probably only a matter of time.
Kazuma easily dealt with the Ibinom, then sensed people inside, so he entered through the front door.
“Anyone here?”
No reply. They were probably on guard. Even in an emergency like this, there were villains. So-called looters taking advantage of a disaster. They were petty villains who broke into empty houses to steal valuables. They committed their crimes seeing many people leave their doors unlocked and rush to shelters during the Ibinom attack. They were the type of people who made you wonder if money was more important than their lives, leaving you dumbfounded.
“Hey, sugar-baby hag! Are you alive?!”
He could sense people, but there was still no reply, so Kazuma called out to his mother in a loud voice. Then, loud footsteps echoed from the back, and Kumiko and her family emerged.
“Ka-Kazuma!?”
“So you managed to survive, huh…”
“D-don’t say it like that…”
Behind Kumiko, who slumped her shoulders at her son’s heartless remark, were a kind-looking man and a small boy and girl.
“You must be Seiichi-san. It’s a pleasure to meet you, though it’s at a time like this. I am Satsuki Kazuma, son of that hag over there.”
“Ah, yes. I’ve heard about you from Kumiko. Haha, just as I heard, you’re quite the wild one…”
“Well, that…”
Kazuma remembered the children were behind him and desperately tried to choose his words.
However, he couldn’t think of anything, so he switched to glossing it over.
“Anyway, let’s get out of here.”
“Even if you say escape, where to? This whole area is overflowing with Ibinom, you know?”
“That’s not a problem. Since I’m a magician.”
“Um… Are you trying to lighten the mood?”
“Well, it’s fine if you don’t believe me. More importantly, please come closer.”
“Ah, okay.”
It was an unbelievable story, but Kazuma had an air about him that brooked no argument. Seiichi sensed this, and obediently following his words, he brought the children and approached Kazuma’s side.
“Alright then, here we go.”
With those words, their vision switched. Just moments ago, they had been inside the house, but now, they found themselves in the courtyard of a building they had never seen before.
“W-Where on earth is this?!”
“This is my home, the Ivy Children’s Home. I’ve put up a Protective Barrier here, so it’s safe. Please, whatever you do, don’t go outside.”
“Eh, ah, okay…”
“Well then, I still have things I need to do, so I’ll be off.”
As Kazuma said that and started to move away, the two young children toddled over and clung to his trousers.
“Hm?”
“B-Big brother.”
“Big bro…”
“…Heh. Don’t worry. Your big brother is the strongest in the world.”
Although they were only half-siblings by blood, Kazuma, who was indeed their older brother, smiled gently and patted their heads. Then, he gently separated himself from them and flew off into the sky.