Hyperventilation
This chapter starts from Alma's POV
There are things you only discover when you're apart.
I don't know if that's what my parents intended, but I can see it now.
Just how much his supports mean to us.
And how great the sense of loss I'm feeling because he's not around anymore.
There's this empty feeling in my heart as if a hole has formed on it.
...I did have a hole opened in my heart physically once, but this time it's invisible.
Something was made clear several days after our separation as I nearly reached my breaking point.
No food tasted good even though they all had proper seasoning.
I couldn't muster up the motivation to train. Just like during that time I took Apprentice Paladin Job after coming of age.
I didn't feel anything no matter how hard I went against magic beasts. It all just felt so tiring.
I scolded myself to stop acting so spoiled and focused on training and leveling until I passed out from exhaustion every day.
I can't immediately see through magic beasts' traits and Skills like Hikaru so there were times where I gave wrong commands. Things just wouldn't go as smooth.
Reina and Hiyoko kept telling me not to overdo it, but I'd lost my drive to do anything if I didn't do it.
I'm aware that I was acting like a child throwing a tantrum.
Sulking, irate and complaining inwardly because things don't go my way.
I've been overworking myself every day to avert my eyes from that truth but it does nothing to solve the problem.
...No.
That's my own problem because Hikaru isn't around.
That, doesn't matter. I should work hard to develop my strong points and improve my weaknesses.
There are things you only discover when you're apart.
To us... to us, what does Hikaru mean to us.
Every single day is fun just by being with him.
He would make us meals every day and laugh from the bottom of his heart when we told him, 'It's yummy.'
Fighting alongside him, there's a part of me terrified of being left behind, but it also compels me strive harder and get stronger.
Him saying, 'Thank you for your help' may be him being considerate, but those words mean the world to me, it's my pride and joy.
There are things you only discover when you're apart.
...I don't know what was the impetus.
Was it that time he taught me Magic Swords and took me out of the inferiority complex I had on my failure of a Job.
Was it that time we formed a party after Stampede.
Or maybe it was that time when we first met in the forest and helped each other defeating magic beasts.
Or maybe every little thing in our daily life that kept on piling on... To me, Hikaru is--
Why only now can I put it into words after our separation...
No, it's precisely because we are separated.
If I noticed it when we were still together, I wouldn't be able to see him like I had always been, so perhaps I was unconsciously trying to shut out my feelings.
...Mom probably knew and separated us for this sake. But dad must have thought nothing else besides stuff like our party roles and such.
As my mind was in disarray, we received news about large scale raids by magic beasts on most continents.
It's happening on continent 1, 2 and 4. Large scale magic beast disasters numbering on tens of thousands strong each.
Continent 1 is mom and ours to take on, continent 2 has dad, while the fourth continent rests on other people.
All trainees including Hikaru have gone there.
Hikaru is strong. He's gotten strong enough to keep up with dad.
No ordinary magic beast can be his match, or it should be.
There's something dark and heavy weighting my chest. An uneasy feeling I've never had before in my life.
'I must believe in Hikaru', I tried to erase that uneasy feeling as I faced off against the swarm of beasts.
'I can't look him straight in the eyes if I can't even fulfill my role right', using that pretext to go wild.
Yet, that uneasy feeling wouldn't go away no matter how wild I went and the fight was over.
Just as I was about to ask permission to hear about Hikaru's safety even if I can't meet him... We received news of him missing.
Neora-san told dad that he saw signs of Hikaru fighting Demon King only to find a pool of blood belonging to him and his destroyed great hammer in the aftermath.
I couldn't breathe well right after hearing that news.
It feels stuffy and painful even though I'm inhaling air. I broke out in cold sweat. I can't stop my body from trembling.
The weight in my chest is getting heavier and heavier.
"A-Alma-san!"
Everything went black as I heard Reina's yell.
Where are you, right now, Hikaru
Please, I'm begging you, be, safe--
~~~~~~~
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
......Good morning.
<<Good morning.>>
Where, am I?
<<In front of the entrance to Daijel-adjacent Dungeon's Floor 1. It would have been best to get as deep as possible, however, Fast Travel cannot enter a dungeon.>>
Why are we here? I remember getting killed by Demon King during the war...
<<Immediately after your bodily death, an appropriate measure was taken to revive you with an Elixir and a shock by way of magic boots overload. Afterwards, auto teleportation through Fast Travel was executed to ensure your safety as well as furthering future plans.>>
...Eh? Revival, you did Menu-san?
<<Affirmative.>>
...And I was so sure, 'Ah, I'm dead.' Yet here I am revived.
Thank you. Thank you so much for real, Menu-san. Let's get married.
<<This function exists to support Kajikawa Hikaru and his companions. No thanks necessary. Also, our marriage is inapplicable by nature.>>
Ah, I'm just joking. Please don't reply me so seriously and coldly. My bad, really.
By the way, we managed to run away and all, but how long has it been since then?
<<Kajikawa Hikaru fainted from the electrical shock... Correction, the near death experience by Demon King's hand for three days.>>
Three days!? You telling me I was out for that long!?
Wait, what do you mean by electrical shock!? Those words showed up for an instant before getting erased. No overlooking that!
<<...Let us discuss future plans.>>
Eh, you gonna ignore me? Aren't you acting kinda rougher than usual? Did something unpleasant happen to you while I was out cold, Menu-san? ...Oh, well.
For now, everybody must be worried sick about me going MIA for three days after a run in with Demon King, I should go report to them with Fast Travel.
<<Negative. You will now conquer this dungeon solo.>>
Wha? But why?
<<Demon King's Menu is currently in a dormant state, disallowing Demon King to use any Menu functions. However, it will restart in about 10 days and possibly confirm Kajikawa Hikaru's survival.>>
Geh! That's bad!
Err, can't you stop my info from leaking out with your power, Menu-san?
<<Concealment is difficult once your existence has been confirmed. The possibility of Demon King's Menu finding that fact will remain as long as you stay in this world.>>
...What do then? Honestly, I don't wanna meet that thing ever again.
It's not even about power level anymore. He's simply in a whole different dimension. Nowhere near in the same ballpark.
Don't think I could ever win no matter how many levels I raise. I'm just gonna leave everything to Hero-kun to deal, yep let's.
...Ah, I can't stop trembling just from recalling that time.
My teeth are clattering. I had encountered near death experiences many times before, but never anything that hopeless and real.
...I wanna throw up. My heart is beating fast just from the thought of that thing come attacking in ten days.
<<Warning: you may be hyperventilating due to stress. It is advised you take a deep breath and calm your mind and body.>>
O, ou. Right. *Breathe in, breathe out*.
<<That's Lamaze technique. Not suitable to regulate breathing.>>
Yup, I know... I'm feeling better thanks to Menu-san's quip. Sankusu.
<<Excellent.>>
So, what do I do. You can't be seriously telling me to get stronger than Demon King in ten days, can you?
<<That feat is extremely difficult to achieve. Virtually impossible in reality. Therefore, you should prioritize hiding your survival from Demon King.>>
Oh okay.
So, I gotta ask again why are we in this dungeon.
I only have worries about my future... I mean, that's same old same old. Haa.
Oh yeah, what's going on with Alma and the girls. I'm more worried about them in a way.
<<Reinamiure and Hiyoko are healthy. Almatina has gone into a coma due to hyperventilation. She has gotten slightly weaker thereafter.>>
Alright, I'm heading back straight away! Hurry up, now!
<<Denied. That action risks endangering future plans.>>
What!? No, but, I mean I get that, but can't I go see her just for a bit...
<<Doing so may put Alma and the group in great risk. It is advised to avoid meeting them directly or informing them of your current location in order to avoid detection by Demon King's Menu.>>
Eh... Actually, hyperventilation. What cornered her that much anyway?
...No, there's no two way about it, it's my fault. The guilt, agh.
Then, at least--
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