Nether King’s Side
“Foh-hoh-hoh. Within my domain, a mere Hell Gate shall not open so easily.”
◆◆◆
“Hyeeeehhh!!”
The situation changed so abruptly that screaming was the only response my brain could manage.
The angelic Lune-chan transformed into a grotesque monstrosity, while the dimly lit, seductive tavern atmosphere warped into a nauseating chamber of dark crimson flesh walls. I had no idea what was serving as the light source now, but the place is somehow brighter than before, making the surroundings far easier to see.
Even so, I didn’t have the spare attention to check whether Mina-chan and Shion-san were safe!
“First… let us reclaim Nether King-sama’s liver…”
Lune-chan’s face was hidden beneath long strands of jet-black bangs that had suddenly grown wildly. From the gaps between them, crimson eyes gleamed with a sinister intensity like demonic magic eyes, while her shriveled right arm slowly stretched toward my liver.
“Kuh—!”
I needed to dodge, but my head was spinning so badly my body wouldn’t obey me!
I had to evade or counterattack!
And seriously, I’d already farted, so why wasn’t the Hell Gate activating?! If I was going to end up in a crisis like this, it should’ve triggered!
It worked against Rakshasa before…
Though… if it had appeared, Mina-chan and Shion-san probably would’ve gotten caught up in it too, so that would’ve been a disaster in its own way.
No, this wasn’t the time to be calmly thinking things through!
I had to do something—
Anything!
“So, you won’t even resist? That’s almost disappointing. Is it because you drank too much to move… or perhaps…”
While countless thoughts raced through my mind, my liver had already been completely locked onto by Monster Lune-chan.
A bluish-purple aura poured from her right hand.
“…Are you still seeing the illusion of me? I’m happy!”
Eh?
Lune-chan suddenly returned to her beautiful bunny-girl form!
No, don’t fall for it, Daishi!
She’s one of the Nether King’s subordinates—my enemy!
“But nooo~. Rules are rules. I have to collect proper payment from you—wait… guh?! W-what is this smell?!”
Eh?
Why was she suddenly clutching her nose and writhing in agony…?
Though now that she mentioned it, there was a certain familiar, suspiciously roasted odor lingering in the air… There’d been a delay, but did Hell Gate activate somewhere after all?
I quickly glanced around the room, but no gate had appeared anywhere.
The summoning must’ve failed. But if there was no gate, and the smell was still here, then…
…Eh? Does that mean this is just… the smell of my fart?
No- no way, right?
Seriously…?
SERIOUSLYYYYY?!?!
“Gwoooaaarghhh!! My nose—my nose is rotting awayyyyy!!”
Lune-chan rolled across the floor in agony, her form flickering back and forth between beautiful girl and grotesque monster. She kicked over the tables and chairs that had been set before us, sending bottles of Sogen and shattered glasses crashing across the floor.
The lively private room we’d been enjoying moments ago was completely gone. At this point, calling this place hell wouldn’t even be an exaggeration.
| > This is absolute pandemonium lmao. > What the hell is even happening right now? > The old man just farted, didn’t he? > But Hell Gate didn’t appear. > Wasn’t the old man’s fart supposed to be the activation condition? > Nah, we’re inside the Nether King’s domain. His skill is probably being suppressed. > So basically they’re saying, ‘We’re not letting you use it’? > But that Lune-girl is still suffering. > Did his synchronization rate with the Nether King increase or something? > So now he can fire it with pinpoint accuracy?! > That’s actually insanely useful. > Now’s your chance, Daishi! > Don’t use Cremation, though! > There’s no reason to stay here anymore, right? > Finish her off quick. > No, first make sure Mina-chan and Shion-chan are okay… |
That’s right!
First things first—I needed to make sure Mina-chan and Shion-san were safe!
As for Mina-chan…
“And then, you know what my brother said? ‘Mina, are you an oni or something?!’ Honestly, can you believe how rude that was?”
“……”
“Hey, Sakuya! Are you sleeping again? And what’s with your face and body? You look like a monster now! Did you swell up from drinking too much? Pathetic!”
“……”
“Well, whatever. Wake up already, Sakuya! Hurry up and listen to my story!”
…Uhm, Mina-chan?
I’m pretty sure the monsterized Sakuya-kun has already lost consciousness because your stories are too boring.
And wait—
Had Mina-chan somehow not even noticed the dramatic transformation of the entire room? Was she fearless… or just unbelievably dense? The Great Priestess is terrifying in an entirely different way. Still, it looked like Mina-chan is doing fine.
What about Shion-san?!
“SHAAAARRRGH!!!”
“Hmph. Turning into monsters because you can’t handle your liquor… how disgraceful. But if you insist on attacking me, then I shall show no mercy! Hah!!”
“Gobfshh!!”
The floor was covered in sake bottles and shattered champagne tower glasses, yet Shion-san is mowing down the attacking monster hosts one after another with her bare hands.
Uwaah… That’s getting seriously brutal…
She’s literally tearing some of them apart. Maybe I should just leave that side to her for now. Honestly, even without armor, wasn’t Shion-san basically a Nether Realm knight or something?
By the way, it seemed my fart’s deadly odor hadn’t reached Mina-chan or the others. That alone was a small relief.
“GRAAAAHHHH! I… I can’t lose in such a pathetic way! For Nether King-sama… for the Nether Kiiiing!!”
Writhing and stumbling across the floor in agony, Lune-chan—who no longer even resembled a single identifiable creature—continued to suffer. Even if it had technically been an accident, I still felt a little sorry for her after she became a victim of Hell Gate.
And besides… The fun time we spent together earlier had been real. If possible, I wanted to help her pass on peacefully, without suffering.
| > Old man, hurry up and finish her off! > Before that Lune girl attacks again! > Actually, can you try using Burial Healing? > You might be able to free Lune-chan from the Nether King’s curse! > So ‘heal and lay to rest’ is what it literally means, huh? > Daishi! Now’s the time to save Lune-chan’s soul with the power of Buddha! |
There were always viewers like that every now and then—the ones who suddenly started preaching from a bizarrely superior perspective.
Could one of them actually be a real monk or something?
Still, judging from the description, Burial Healing really did sound like the kind of skill that could offer salvation.
…Alright.
Let’s try it.
“I’m sorry, Lune-chan. I’ll never forget the irreplaceable time we spent together.”
I stretched out my right arm, aiming at the writhing Lune-chan.
And then—
“Burial Healing!”
The moment the words left my mouth, a ring of light spread across the floor around Lune-chan, rising upward like a glowing pillar that enveloped her entire body.
“Ah…”
Lune-chan’s violently mutating form stabilized, settling back into her bunny-girl appearance. Freed from the rotten stench of Hell Gate, even her expression gradually softened. She stood up slowly and looked straight at me with clear eyes. There was kindness in her gaze. And somewhere within it, a trace of sadness too, enough to quietly shake my heart.
“Daishi-san… I…”
“You looked great as a nighttime bunny girl, but I think I probably like the version of you working hard in an office lady outfit more.”
“…Yeah.”
“If you’re reborn someday, try your best at a normal daytime job next time, okay?”
“Yeah!”
The pillar of light grew brighter and brighter.
Within it, Lune-chan’s body gradually dissolved into drifting particles of light.
“Ajiri Daishi-san!”
“W-what?”
“I think you’d look more handsome if you pushed your bangs up!”
Leaving behind words that somehow sounded strangely familiar, Lune-chan’s body and soul faded away completely. I tilted my head upward toward the ceiling and closed my eyes, chasing after the lingering trace of the girl who had vanished into dust.
Ah…
If possible—
I hoped the power of Burial Healing had freed her soul from the shackles of the underworld…
That she could return to the proper sea of reincarnation…And someday be born again, still cheerful and adorable as ever.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com
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