Chapter 90: [Side: Sasarabashi Shiho] Dispelling the Brainwashing
–Right after Natsume-kun went down to the 15th floor.
“O, radiance of life! Become a great current and fill this place! Mass Heal (Heal Stream)!!”
I healed the hostages with my 【Healing Magic】.
《She can even use mass heal?》
《The whole party is too good.》
《For now, they’re okay… I guess?》
After that, I used status ailment recovery magic (Dispel) to remove the paralysis from each person one by one.
“Ugh…”
“Waaah, sob, sob…”
“Thank you…”
They had been paralyzed for three hours, so it seemed they still couldn’t move their bodies properly.
“Everyone, it’s alright now. Please rest assured.”
The person bleeding from their head, the person whose leg was pierced by a spear, and Iyada-san, who was forced to attempt suicide by brainwashing—
It might have been luck, but in the end, not a single person died.
With this, Natsume-kun won’t have to carry any strange feelings of self-blame.
I felt a little relieved.
Just then, a woman approached me.
“Um… My name is Yokote Yuuka. You’re Sasarabashi-san, right? Thank you so much for saving us…”
“No, no, don’t worry about it. My 【Healing Magic (Skill)】 is meant for times like these.”
“Natsume-san, will he be alright…?”
“…Actually, I don’t know either.”
“Eh…!? Th-Then…”
“But…”
I looked at the stairs leading to the 15th floor.
Tama-chan was standing there.
She probably intended to intercept if the worst happened.
But her expression—
(She’s smiling a little. As if she’s convinced Natsume-kun will win.)
—I said to Yokote Yuuka-san.
“Natsume-kun will definitely win. His childhood friend, who understands him best, is convinced of his victory.”
While feeling a little frustrated with myself for not being able to feel as reassured as she did.
Just then.
“Ugh, ghh…”
Iyada-san, who had been manipulated by the culprit, stood up.
“Are you alright? Please don’t push yourself.”
Does he have memories of when he was being controlled by the Rope of Subservience?
There shouldn’t be any after-effects from the rope, though.
Then, he…
“Guh… Where… where am I…? I was definitely at the entrance of the Yokohama Dungeon as staff… Guh…”
“Hey, please don’t move. The pain shouldn’t have completely subsided yet…”
“Hm…? You… you weren’t in the lecture group… Guh, I see… That trash A-ranker, he must have caused some accident!! Did I hit my head?! That’s why I have no memory, and the rescue squad is here…!!”
“Please calm down, you’re safe now.”
…This guy is certainly troublesome.
I can understand why Natsume-kun would block him on LINK.
“Guh, guaaaaaaah!! Damn it, damn it all!! Did he screw up?! I got the 500,000 yen fee halved, but I was forced to work as staff!! What A-ranker?! He said he’d set up a one-on-one fight with Natsume after the lecture, didn’t he!!!”
《What’s with this guy?》
《Was he always this unhinged?》
《Something’s wrong with him.》
“Um, please calm down…”
“Natsumeeee!! I’m the real genius!! I’ll prove it!! I can’t be stopped in a place like this!! Trash like Natsume!! Incompetent!! You can’t beat the leveled-up me—”
Just then.
SLAAAAAAP!!!
“Huh…!?”
Yokote Yuuka-san had slapped Iyada-san with all her might.
“Ah…”
It happened so suddenly, I couldn’t stop her.
Her body trembling, she said.
“Don’t you dare… Don’t you dare speak ill of my Ko-chan-sama!!”
“Wh-What… you…!!”
“Ko-chan-sama saved you! I can’t believe you’d insult him!! You’re the worst!!”
《That’s right, that’s right!》
《Yokote-san is crying!》
《You’re the worst!!》
《I’m telling on you!!》
《Apologize while you still can!!》
“Wh-What did you say…!!”
Then, the Explorers we had rescued gathered around Iyada-san.
“H-Hey! Everyone, this guy’s still brainwashed!!”
“He’s acting strange! He’s not in his right mind!!”
“What a cursed magic tool!!”
“Hatred for Ko-chan has been implanted in him!!”
“Huh? Y-You bastards…!?”
《Is that what’s happening!?》
《That’s too messed up.》
《No wonder the country prohibits possessing them.》
《So Iyada is a victim too…》
《Poor guy.》
《What should we do?》
《We have to help him (sense of duty).》
“Snap out of it!! Hyaah!!”
“Gueh!?”
Iyada-san was punched in the face by one of the former hostages, an Explorer.
“Wh-Why…!?”
“Sorry, this is the only way!! We’re doing this to cure your confusion!”
THWACK!!
“My turn!! I don’t want to do this either!! Iyada! Wake up!!”
THUD!
“Gueh!? N-No, I’m…!”
“Return to your former self!”
BAM!!
“Ugh!!”
“We’re comrades who faced hardship together!! We won’t abandon you!!”
WHUMP!!
“The you right now is the worst! Say it, ‘I am the worst’!!”
THWACK!
“Be grateful to those who saved you!! That’s what it means to have a human heart!! Reclaim your love!!!”
CRACK!
“U-Um…”
I’d lost the timing to say anything.
He shouldn’t actually be brainwashed, though…
Then, Yokote-san…
“Sasarabashi-san, please leave this to us! Iyada-san isn’t bad!! The one who’s bad is that culprit!!”
“B-But…”
“It’s alright. Please leave the painful task to us!! The Iyada-san who was punching zombies barehanded was normal!!”
“Isn’t that abnormal in itself…”
“Hey, Iyada! What do you think of Ko-chan?”
“Natsume… that, guy…”
“Abnormality detected!! Fighting spirit injection!!”
THWUMP!!
“Bueh!?”
“Iyada, are you grateful to Ko-chan?”
“Guh, why, should I…”
“Confusion removal!! We’ll save you!!”
THWACK!!
“Iyada, Ko-chan is many times more excellent than you. Do you admit it?”
“N-No…”
“His brain’s still bugged!! One shot of love!!!”
THUD!!
“Iyada, don’t compete with Ko-chan! Admit your defeat, okay?”
THWUMP!!
“U-Uh…”
Then, Iyada-san…
“U-Waaaaaah… Why, why is it like this…? Why am I not acknowledged, and it’s always Natsume…? Waaaaah, it’s so frustratinggggg…”
“That’s it!! Keep fighting off the brainwashing!!”
THWUMP!!
“Waaaaaah…!”
“Iyada, just a little more!! Say it, ‘Ko-chan, thank you’!!”
“K-Ko-chan, thank, thank…”
THWUMP!!
“Iyada-san!! Don’t lose!! Ko-chan, is the best!!”
“K-Ko-cha, the bes…”
“Alright!! The brainwashing is wearing off!!”
THUD!!
“Say it! ‘The current Iyada is scum!! Ko-chan is the best!!!'”
“U-Waaaaaaah!! The current Iyada is scum!! Scum, I ammmm!! Ko-chan is the best!! Ko-chan is the besttttt!!!”
“Well done!!! Time for the finishing blow!!”
THWOOOM!!!
“Wh-Why… I’m hated, and it’s always Natsume… Weh, waaaaah… I… I was scum, scum all alonggggg…”
Thud…
“Why, is there such a difference… ………”
Iyada-san lost consciousness.
“H-Hey, you guys…”
“Yeah, at the end! Iyada, you admitted it!!”
“Iyada-san…! You finally faced reality…”
“All riiiight!!! Iyada, you did great!! You overcame the brainwashing!!”
“Uooooooooh!! This is the best!!!”
“Iyada, you’re the best!!!”
《Such a heartwarming story~》
《8888 (clap clap clap clap)》
《Movie adaptation greenlit!》
《Well done, everyone who was a hostage!!!》
While watching the excited Explorers out of the corner of my eye.
“…Well, it doesn’t look like his life is in danger, but…”
…If he’s just going to cause a ruckus by pestering Natsume-kun, it might be easier to carry him while he’s unconscious.
I ended up thinking such an uncharitable thought.
Well then… all that’s left.
Is to wait for Natsume-kun’s victory, and then for everyone here to go home together.