CH 109

I’m going around the volcanic crater the giant Yamata no Orochi protrudes from.

Peeking below me, I happened to confirm a blackened lake of magma.

There’s nothing anyone can do if I fall here.

Even if I accidentally land in that magma lake, I’d be covered in fire within moments……I don’t want to imagine it.

There’s actually one part of the Yamata no Orochi buried in that volcanic crater.

Even now it continues to burn in the magma.

On top of that, it’s fighting us.

……It has a ridiculous quality of immortality.

「Snakes were poikilotherms weren’t they? But surely magma is going too far for body heat regulation……」

But surely there’s a limit regardless of how it’s just getting up……

I guess its battle with us is somewhere around a warm up at the moment.

If it entirely left the volcanic crater and began moving, the situation would be more and more serious.

It seems that king Enishi has organized a force but, I suppose it’s frankly pointless.

The feeling of wanting to rely on a living sacrifice is……I also don’t not understand it.

「……Mu.」

I arrived at the shrine.

the entryway is a naturally piled up rocky cave.

There’s a red torii built at the entryway, ropes are prepared to mark off the area.

I can kind of sense a shinto aura, un, it really is isn’t it?

It’s about time isn’t it～, It could be said that the ropes fulfill their role as a barrier isolating the sanctified space from the transient world.

It’s the boundary line between the land of the gods and the transient world, and it’s also that which is called a forbidden territory.

This is as expected of a place that the Yamata no Orochi is unable to lay hands on isn’t it?

Now then……I boldly transgress upon the torii, stepping foot within the shrine where darkness spreads forth.

The cave became a gentle incline and continued deeper.

I feel like I’m approaching the volcanic crater but, it’s filled with cool air within the cave.

Like the waterfall’s cave, I don’t feel anything but coolness.

After a while I exited into a strange place.

An emerald green lake showed itself within the cave.

There’s a floating island with a large crystal enshrined on it in the center.

And in addition on that island without running or hiding――Makina’s standing there as if she’s waiting for me.

「I’ve been waiting, Alice-san.」

In her right mind……?

I’m watching her with a dubious glare and, she bitterly smiled.

「It’s okay, I’m in my right mind. I won’t suddenly attack you……Maa, probably.」

The latter half of her line is suspicious……

Makina scratched her cheek as if she was embarrassed.

Maa……it’s fine.

I jump and cross over to the floating island.

I’m standing in front of Makina and, like this, there’s a murky feeling in my chest.

「Is it okay if, I give you a full on punch for Saira’s part?」

I try massively winding up, to liquidate these pent up feelings.

「Ahahaa!! Affirmative, go at it with your full power!」

I’m coming～?

Alice’s attack!

My full body right straight blasts into Makina’s cheek!

「Ii!」

「……Etto.」

The one left bewildered is Makina, as I’m the one who raised a scream!

「Alice-san, just now……didn’t your wrist bend in a strange direction?」

「…………It, it’s your imagination.」

「That so? But you’re releasing a strange sweat for once aren’t you?」

「And I won’t say, something like it hurts!」

「Un, I didn’t particularly ask though okay?」

「……」

「……」

An, and it doesn’t hurt!

「……Ma, I suppose it’s fine. I’ll offer you my forgiveness with this for now.」

I let my wrist hang limply and, Makina came toward my frigid gaze.

Fu……you should be relieved, I struck with the back of my sword!

「……Please apologize to Saira yourself.」

「…………I’ll do as such.」

U～n, should I say this is her normal condition that overly lacks in malice……

Maa that’s welcome as such though.

「So, Rin-chan is……?」