I also fired a grenade with my air launcher, Rem-Dark Knight pulled her black horn bow with a grenade tied on its arrow tip and fired at the same time.
These lineups should be able to deal massive amounts of damage.
With nothing to protect the core, our attack hit the core, but――
After the barrage of powerful skills, the core remained unscathed.
「What shall we do about this, Momokawa?」
I couldn't say anything immediately to Randou-san.
This was completely beyond my expectations. I mean, I had no idea that the core would be such a tough nut.
The one we used just now was the strongest firepower of my party lineup, not the strongest firepower in the class.
「The gargoyles have retreated, and the eight heads of Orochi have also vanished for some reason. Let's wait until Souma-kun and Tendou-kun arrive!」
「You're a genius, Momokawa! Time to make a call!」
「Wait a second, I'm doing it now――」
Then I took out the thing in my pocket in a hurry.
Never expected that I'm the one getting the call instead.
When I was wondering who was calling me at this time…
「Souma-kun? Nice timing, we a――」
「I'm heading towards your position right now.」
The moment I heard Souma-kun's harsh voice, I got a really nasty premonition.
「Tell me the detailed situation. Everybody on my side is safe and sound.」
I skipped the details, telling Souma-kun that everyone on my side was safe and sound, and asked for a detailed explanation about his situation.
「We received a report from Takanashi-san that the core is about to explode.」
The heck, that sounds like the hideout of an evil secret society.
「THAT'S WHY GET AWAY FROM THAT PLACE NOW!」
「… Wait a second. If that core explodes,does that mean we have defeated Yamata no Orochi?」
If its final ace in the hole was suicide bombing, then sure, let's get out of here.
But if this was just another Yamata no Orochi attack…
「――The core's explosion was something like an offensive spell. It wouldn't hurt the core itself.」
「In short, the core is just a substitute for magic wand.」
The core exploded to kill everyone nearby.
So the reason the gargoyles fled was that they knew about this method.
「Get away from that place, Momokawa. Both the gargoyles and the eight heads are already gone.」
「It can't be helped, this situation is truly beyond our expectation. Let's retreat now and refine our plan.」
Surely, retreating was the most viable solution.
No one would blame me even if we retreated right now.
We just needed to challenge it again after seeing the effect of its final attack.
Yeah, that was the right judgment. The safest option which allowed us to make another attempt.
「――No, we have to defeat Yamata No Orochi right now. I won't escape. I will destroy the core.」
「What in the world are you talking about, Momokawa?! This isn't the time to be so obstinate!」
「Calm down. I don't have such an upright character, you know? I'm different from you, Souma-kun.」
「I have a plan to destroy the core.」
This silence might express just how much faith Souma-kun had in me.
I had never expected him to trust me so easily though.
「Rest assured. Everyone shall retreat immediately.」
「That's not the problem here. It means that you'll be left alone here by yourself, Momokawa… I won't allow a such sacrifice!」
Even if it was only lip service, it was Souma-kun's virtue to be able to say those words immediately regardless of our conflict.
I mean, this was the most convenient situation in which Reina's killer died on his own. Not to mention that he took Yamata no Orochi along with him.
You're supposed to be overjoyed since this was a one-in-a-million chance.
「Don't worry, I'll be fine. Sorry, but I'll take the last attack.」
I cut off the call immediately.
「Ko-Kotaro-kun… That talk just now…」
Woopsie, Mei-chan had already come back to my side before I realized it.
Her gaze on me was really overwhelming.
「It's just as you heard. I'll stay behind to finish off the core.」
「How are you going to finish it off?」
「We're running out of time since the core is about to explode but――」
I cast a glance at the core on the bottom of the alley, it kept blinking ominously as if it were charging its magical power.
Maybe when it blinked even faster, it meant that it was on the verge of exploding.
「I'll stay with you.」 Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by Nove1Fire.net
「This plan is a plan with my own survival in mind. Mei-chan, lend me the 『Droplet of Life』.」
That was the key item to destroy the core.
「Kotaro-kun, don't tell me…」
「This is insurance. Just in case the bomb goes wrong.」
I read the atmosphere and took out the bomb that I had prepared beforehand from the cargo carried by Arachne.
This bomb was made in the same way as the grenade. The core and the firelight stone were fused together with alchemy.
But the core I used to make this was a huge core.
I had the exploration team provide me with a big core to make a sealing lance, but I snitched one of them to create this bomb.
Eh, why did I have something ?
I had prepared this to destroy the core just in case Sakura betrayed us at the last moment.
In reality, Sakura-chan really did her job and fired her 『Lux Fortis Sagita』, my worries ended up as nothing more than a worry… But I hadn't expected that it would be used for this kind of situation.
「Trust me, I have no intention to die in this place.」
Mei-chan nodded, albeit looking really reluctant to do so.
That showed just how much trust was between us after we had overcome all kinds of obstacles to arrive at this point.
Not everything went according to my plan. But we somehow managed to overcome the obstacle by using my wits and luck.
And the same went for this time. There was no guarantee that this plan would succeed, but I had to try until the bitter end.
「We're running out of time! Everyone leaves this place, NOW!」
Everyone seemed to have guessed that the core was about to explode anytime soon.
「Oi Momokawa, are you really going to stay behind on your own!?」
「Don't worry about me, I've got a plan. Alfa, take care of Randou-san.」
Randou-san was used to riding on Alfa's back from the school tower to the rocky mountain over and over again.
She was unexpectedly dull-witted when it came to escape-type events , she hadn't even ridden on Alfa's back yet.
She had this "The heck you're talking about?" face, but I had Alfa forcefully throw her on their back and run as fast as they could. The moment they ran, they descended the rocky mountain at breakneck speed.
The others followed in a similar fashion.
「I'll be waiting, Kotaro-kun.」
「Yeah, I'll be back once I'm done.」
I told Mei-chan, who seemed to be about to cry anytime soon, with a reassuring smile.
Then, after patting her cheeks, Mei-chan also descended the rocky mountain following everyone… Or so I thought before she looked back, and ran toward me.
Eh? Does she want to send me flying or something?
But contrary to my fear, something touched my lips.
「――I'll be waiting, that's why you have to return, you're mine after all, Kotaro.」
Then she descended the mountain at breakneck speed before I could give her a reply.
「Haah… I have no intention of sacrificing my life though.」
The accumulating death flags suddenly turned into survival flags.
Rather, my chest wouldn't stop pounding loudly unless I was thinking about something stupid like that.
We had such a moment, but this was the first time we kissed.
And it was my first kiss.
When we did it, my emotions were a mess… I wish I hadn't banned romantic relationships.
I made Mei-chan worry enough for her to kiss me.
Since that was the case, let's finish this quickly and go back to everyone.
「Time to give this stubborn raid boss a coup de grace.」
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