**Episode 039: Overlapping Bad Events**

“Tch!!”

I immediately rushed towards Arisugawa Academy. However, a larger vortex than before appeared right in front of me. I had a bad feeling about this, as it was a vortex of a size I had never seen before.

“You guys, move back!!”

I shouted at the squad members as loudly as I could, and I also quickly positioned myself to be ready for anything, putting some distance between me and the vortex.

*Zuzuzuzuzu*

What emerged from there was something different from the Shadows I had encountered so far. Shadows of various shapes appeared one after another: humanoid figures about two meters tall, quadrupedal walkers, serpentine creatures slithering around, and more. The variety was extensive.

“Darn it. Why now!”

I wanted to go help immediately, but new adversaries appeared just when I needed it the least. It was something I had anticipated, but the timing couldn’t be worse.

“Haaaah!! Get out of the way!!”

I swung at the Shadows.

*Zubaaan!*

I rushed towards the shadows, swinging my steel sword. Fortunately, with my attack power, there was nothing I couldn’t defeat. I cut down the Shadows that kept appearing.

However, the shadows seemed endless.

“Darn it. This is no time to be standing around…”

Even though I wanted to go help immediately, new enemies emerged. It was expected, but the timing was just terrible.

“Haaaah!!”

Then, the familiar voice I had heard over the past week reached my ears.

*Zashuu*

While the man’s slash didn’t bring down the enemies in one hit, it was clear that he was inflicting damage.

“Haa!”

*Zubaaan!*

“Kotaro!! Leave this to us!”

Masayoshi appeared in front of me, slashing through the Shadows. Other members also stood in front of me, facing the Shadows.

“What are you saying…”

“Fool. I know you looked at your phone and got all serious. You have a place you want to go, right?”

Stunned, I realized that this guy understood my situation.

“That is…”

It was true, but I was worried about these guys. They were already involved because of me. I didn’t want them to die.

“We’ll be fine.”

“But…”

Understanding my thoughts, Masayoshi told me to go.

“But, you guys…”

“We believe in you, the one who trained us. Can’t you trust the ones who survived that training?”

“Of course, I believe in you.”

Having been told that, I had no choice but to answer this way.

“Then leave it to us. At least until you come back, we’ll hold on.”

Being told that, it would be rude not to go.

*Zubababababaan!*

“Haa… I see, that’s right. I understand. I trust you guys. And thank you. I’m grateful.”

I stepped forward in front of the Post-Apocalyptic Fresh Vigilante Squad Squad, slashing through the Shadows. I sincerely bowed my head to them.

It was nothing but gratitude.

“Hahaha. Considering what you’ve given us, this is nothing. Well, don’t waste time here. Depart soon.”

“Yeah. Let’s have a celebration once this is over.”

“That sounds good.”

“Then, we’ll leave it to you.”

“Yeah!!”

Urged on by Masayoshi and having exchanged promises, I entrusted this situation to them.

“You guys too!!”

“Yeah!!”

After leaving it to the other members, the fifteen members I trained jumped at the new type of Shadows.

After finishing the greetings, I ran towards Arisugawa Academy while they restrained the new types of Shadows.

“Speed up!!”

I cast a speed-boosting spell on myself, increasing my speed even more. With no time to waste, I traversed the rooftops freely, aiming for the destination in the shortest distance.

*Vooooo*

Along the way, I encountered new types of Shadows that had emerged from other vortices.

*Zubaaan!*

I swiftly cut them down and resumed running.

It seemed like battles were happening all over the town; explosions and people’s voices could be heard everywhere.

The Shadows, which had previously avoided causing damage to buildings, seemed to have started destroying the city. Come to think of it, I should inform Sato and the others about my movements.

“Tch. Went out of range!!”

I decided to contact Sato and the others using my smartphone, but the network that was connected just a moment ago was now unavailable.

I couldn’t contact them like this.

Still, there was no time to stop. I continued towards Arisugawa Academy.

I reached my destination in about ten minutes. The school was already infiltrated by the new type of Shadows, and battles were happening everywhere.

“Darn it!!”
*Vooooo*

The level seemed to be not that high, and the people inside were struggling. No, their equipment wasn’t that great either. Forgetting that they used us as a standard, equipment was indeed hard to come by. This level of gear might be considered normal.

“Swift Wind Sword!!”
*Zshaaaaah!*

My technique sliced through the enemies.

“Oh, thank goodness. Um, who are you?”

Ignoring the man who thanked me, I asked about the whereabouts of Yuna and Kana, who should be here.

“Huh?”
“Come on, Yuna and Kana, where are they?”

“Who the heck are you!?”

Whether he couldn’t understand the meaning of my words or didn’t hear them, I didn’t know, but I asked again. The other person just looked puzzled.

“They’re twin sisters evacuating here. They look great in bodysuits!!”

“Oh, uh, those girls should be inside the school building.”

Having mentioned their remarkable features, he seemed to understand, and he explained their location.

“Where?”

“They said something about the health room?”

“Why would they be there?”

“Apparently, they went outside, got sick, and fainted. But those guys, their reputation isn’t good. Maybe…”

As he answered my questions, his face gradually turned pale.

“Darn it. Is that what’s happening!!”

A guy with a bad reputation carrying a fainting girl to the health room. There was only one thing that could be inferred from that situation.

I hurriedly started running.

“Hey, you!”

Ignoring the voice trying to stop me, I cut down the Shadows that had entered the schoolyard and entered the school building. Among them, there was a battle unfolding.

*Zuban!*

“Huh? Ah?”

I rescued a woman fighting at the entrance.

“Hey, where’s the health room?”

“Uh, it’s over there.”

“I see. Thanks.”

I ran in the direction she pointed.

Run. Run. Run.

Just run single-mindedly.

Sometimes, while kicking the walls without slowing down, I asked people along the way about the location of the health room. When I turned the corner, I finally saw the words “Health Room.” However, in front of it stood a man with a truly villainous face.

Was he standing guard?

And at a time like this, when things were so chaotic outside.

“Hey, you! From here—”

“Make it in time!!”

I half-prayed and kicked down the door along with the man.

“Guboooooo”

The man bounced down the corridor. I immediately tried to open the door, but it seemed to be locked from the inside.

“What the heck!!”

Without thinking about what was inside, I kicked it down.

Inside, nearly ten men with distinctly villainous faces were present. They were holding down Yuna and Kana, attempting to strip their clothes.

“You guys!!!”

Something inside me snapped.