Chapter 438. The Second Viewing Begins (Part 2)
A flash of realization crossed Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes.
If the merger of Emilia's world and Earth could be attributed to the Witch of Envy, Satella, or the arrangements of the sage Flugel from four hundred years ago, then the broadcast of this second otherworldly future proved that those two reasons were impossible.
There were now two primary hypotheses: one was that someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes; the other was that a new type of natural disaster, dubbed "Future Broadcast & World Merger," had begun occurring between different universes. Just as Earth has landslides and tsunamis, and the cosmos has occasional black holes or supernova explosions, this was a global disaster belonging to a category mankind was observing for the first time.
Regardless of which theory was correct, it didn't stop everyone from focusing on the future of this second world. Although Hachiman had gathered Emilia and the others to discuss matters of the heart, such an emergency naturally took precedence, and the meeting was temporarily shelved.
It wasn't that he wanted to pry into other people's business; it was mainly because after the broadcast concluded, this second world would likely merge with Earth and Emilia's world. Therefore, observing that world through the video was of paramount importance.
Emilia's world allowed for peaceful exchange because most people there possessed morals and standard values, and their strongest individual, Reinhard, was a man of integrity.
However, there was no guarantee the next world would be the same. Observation and defense were mandatory.
When it came to official business of this magnitude, the girls present were very reasonable. They directed half their focus toward the video, refraining from selfishly demanding that the romantic meeting continue.
Having experience from the first time, everyone on Earth and in Emilia's world stopped what they were doing and watched the video with curiosity. This time, in addition to electronic devices, the same sky-sized light curtains that had appeared in Emilia's world manifested globally.
Those indoors could watch via TV or computer, while those outdoors simply had to look up.
Gathered on the school's athletic field, the students of Advanced Nurturing High School didn't even bother taking out their phones; they simply gazed at the sky.
As the expressionless Ayanokouji Kiyotaka approached, a tall, burly third-year student sneered, "Heh, kid, I'll let you off the hook this time. I don't have time to beat you up right now; I've got a future to watch. You better be grateful and crawl away while you're still in one piece, hahaha!"
"Still, I wonder which lucky bastard is getting picked this time? Man, if only I could cross over... sigh... actually, Return by Death is too painful, forget that. But if I got the Authority of the Archbishop of Greed or the Witch of Vainglory, that would be—Wait, what!?"
He was grumbling discontentedly while looking up, but in the next second, he was left slack-jawed and speechless. Not just him, but every student on the field fell silent, eyes wide with shock as they stared at the sky.
Because...
The location appearing in the opening shots of this "Future Broadcast" was none other than where they were standing—right here, right now!
-
-
-
「On the vast school athletic field, a young man with an indifferent expression stood opposite hundreds of students. From the dense crowd of students, an angry, hulking third-year stepped out.」
「"Ignorant kuohai, let me teach you how to respect your seniors!" he chuckled. "Ayanokouji Kiyotaka—a nice enough name, but today I'm going to beat you into a toilet so you can never be 'pure' (Kiyo) again!"」
「He reached out to grab Ayanokouji's collar, intending to slam the provocative freshman to the ground. However, in the blink of an eye, the third-year was flipped upside down and crashed head-first into the dirt.」
「He didn't even have time to realize he had been flipped before he was decisively neutralized, knocked unconscious and bleeding.」
「The expressionless Ayanokouji Kiyotaka didn't spare a single glance at this insignificant opponent. He stepped over the body, moving forward instead of retreating, actively approaching the hundreds of stunned students.」
「Student Council President Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses and gave a wave. A dozen or so boys from the Student Council rushed forward like a violent storm, crashing toward Ayanokouji with fierce momentum. They threw punches and kicks with absolutely no sign of holding back.」
「However... despite their aggressive assault, even as the pressure from their attacks whipped up the surrounding wind, Ayanokouji remained stoic.」
「He shifted his body, and at the exact moment an enemy raised a leg, he kicked the Student Council member's knee. The boy instantly broke into a cold sweat and collapsed screaming.
Ayanokouji used the moment efficiently, grabbing the boy with one hand and hurling him outward, creating a physical barrier to block the advance of the others.
「By the time the others caught their injured colleague and set him down, intending to continue the order, they found their other comrades already lying on the ground in various states of injury.」
「Using only those few seconds of opening, Ayanokouji had defeated the remaining five. His martial arts were fluid and seamless, far beyond the reach of any amateur.」
「"H-how is this possible... he's a monster! A monster!"」
「The isolated Student Council members stiffened. In their eyes, Ayanokouji had leapt from an "able-bodied kid" to a terrifying beast, reminding them of Elsa the Bowel Hunter.」
「Having speed-run the entire Student Council without taking a scratch in less than a minute, Ayanokouji continued his steady pace.」
「Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses and marveled, "I knew you were a formidable individual, but I didn't expect you to be this strong. It seems during our encounter that night, you weren't using your full strength."」
「Ayanokouji glanced at him, then at the eager Ryuen, Koenji, and Sakayanagi Arisu. He said flatly, "Come at me all at once. I don't want to waste time."」
「"You've got a big mouth—but you're right. A strong person should act like one. At least that part of you is to my liking," Ryuen said.」
「Koenji seemed to agree with Ryuen's sentiment, but Sakayanagi Arisu sneered, "We can hardly be called 'strong' right now."」
「"With your talents, if you were to study swordsmanship and magic, even if you can't become Blue Lightning or Emilia, you could likely reach the level of Julius or Crusch. Reclaiming strength is merely a matter of time; do not belittle yourselves."」
「Manabu's use of "you all" clearly referred only to Ryuen, Koenji, Arisu, and himself. To this, the four offered no objection, while the others could only seethe in silence.」
「Only Horikita Suzune refused to endure the insult. She glared at her brother, but Manabu ignored her completely, his eyes fixed solely on Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.」
」
Read ahead (160 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting