Volume 8 Chapter 19 If The World Became A Game
We noticed that anomaly during our morning training.
"Huh?"
While sparring with Tsukiko, I sensed a subtle discomfort and stopped her thrust with my finger.
"W-what‥‥?"
Tsukiko, gasping for breath, tried to shake off the confusion without understanding the situation.
"Sorry. I felt something off."
"Something off...? Did the magic power manipulation go awry again?"
"No, your thrust was good."
"Even though it was stopped by a finger, it lacks persuasiveness."
Well, I apologize. I was surprised by the sudden change and unintentionally exerted full strength.
But she used to be a decent match even without armor before. Now, without wearing armor, the training isn't sufficient. Tsukiko's growth speed is tremendous.
Truly, there are geniuses in this world.
"Yuusuke-san, is something wrong?"
"What is this discomfort? Noire said something similar."
Lisha and Hinata inquire.
If Noire is thinking the same thing, it's probably not a mistake.
"For now, in case anything happens, let's go up once――"
My words couldn't be spoken to the end.
After all, something is coming.
I rotate my magic power all at once and prepare to respond to any attack.
However, what arrived was different from what I had anticipated.
A strange atmosphere covering the entire room. No, not just the room. Probably the surrounding area, including the house, is being engulfed by magic.
This is a Magic Domain. And not just an ordinary one. At this scale, magic power operations are maintained in a complex fluidity similar to that of a living organism. Beyond the concept of a barrier, it's like magic that has created a different world.
"Spiritual Penetration Art (Shinrei) expanding the Magic Domain."
Probably that's not a mistake.
I don't know who it is, but they're doing something absurd.
"Lisa, Tsukiko, Hinata, are you okay...?"
Yes?
Uh, what's that?
I looked at what was floating above Tsukiko's head and was speechless.
"I'm fine, but what's that above your head?"
"Senpai, what is that? Are you making fun of me?"
Seeing their reactions, I also look up at my head. There, the same thing as Tsukiko is floating.
A green bar.
To put it simply, it's just a simple thing, but many people who see it will probably imagine something.
"'Is it an HP bar...?'"
It was an HP bar that looked like it came out of a game, no matter how you looked at it. There were no unnecessary decorations, a very simple thing. I reached out to touch it, but there was no substance, just passing through.
"'Is this the effect of a magic?'"
It's unlikely that a magic domain would be deployed just for this. Anyway, since the HP bars don't seem harmful, I removed the magic and said,
"Let's just go up once for now. We have to investigate what this is, after all."
"Yeah, you're right."
"What the heck is this, really?"
We went up to the house while watching Hinata jump around and check if the HP bars would move.
In the living room, Kanami, Sharla, and Kougaru, who is usually not there, were gathered.
And above everyone's head, HP bars were floating without exception. It's a surreal scene, to say the least.
"Is everyone okay?"
"No problems here."
"Yeah, no issues at all."
Sharla and Kanami replied. On the other hand, Kou had a complicated expression.
"Kou, what do you think?"
"It's probably the Spiritual Penetration Art (shinrei). I have no idea what these things above our heads mean. Some new kind of hat?"
"No, it's not a hat, it's an HP bar."
"An HP bar, huh?"
Lisha said in hiragana. What's with that way of speaking... I thought, but come to think of it, these people from another world wouldn't know about an HP bar.
But how should I explain it?
"Probably, it's like representing your physical strength... the total amount of life with this gauge. It's often used in games or fictional worlds."
"Oh, I see, this is the total amount of life."
Kou muttered so and struck me with his stick while sitting.
I grabbed the stick to prevent it from hitting around me.
Ouch. Didn't it tear the skin of my palm?
"What the heck are you suddenly doing?"
"No, it's the total amount of life, right? It's better to check if it actually decreases when receiving an attack."
"Then hit your own head to check."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Fine, just sit there. I'll smash your head right now."
As we clashed, Kanami said in a strained voice,
"Yuusuke-sama, is your HP bar actually from that just now? It's slightly decreased."
"Huh, really?"
"Yes, it's ever so slight."
I didn't notice at all. Even looking up again, I'm not sure if it's decreasing.
But if Kanami, who has "Shayka Eyes," says so, it must be true.
Reluctantly, it has been proven that this green gauge is an HP bar.
"If that's the case, I really don't understand. Putting something like this on doesn't change anything."
As I mutter that, Sharla, who was lying on the sofa, casually turned on the TV.
I could only think for a moment, "Why are you watching TV now?"
It seemed to be the news channel, and the announcer in the studio was speaking with a panicked expression.
"We have received reports that monsters have suddenly appeared in the city and are rampaging. Citizens should enter their homes or nearby buildings and lock the doors, awaiting assistance. Currently, various agencies are cooperating to suppress the situation..."
The usually composed announcer is speaking with a trembling voice.
Next, a video is displayed.
It seems to have been filmed by someone's smartphone, as the shaking is severe.
Nevertheless, I could see things clearly there.
"What's going on..."
"What the heck is this... goblins?"
"Seems like monsters. Do they appear in this world too?"
Kou said in a casual tone, but that couldn't be possible. In fact, Tsukiko, the Anti-Demon Official, was wide-eyed and frozen.
"Mysteries" exist on Earth too. However, they're basically invisible to the human eye. Even if they exist, ordinary people can't perceive them.
Yet now, it's visible to everyone and even covered by the media. It was a clear abnormal situation.
"S-Senpai... social media is going crazy..."
Hinata, who was operating the smartphone, said with a trembling voice.
I see. They've activated magic not only on the magicians but on everyone in this area.
What a ridiculous thing to do.
I borrowed Hinata's smartphone and skimmed through the overflowing information.
Now, the essence of this Magic Domain is clear. It seems that not only goblins, but also orcs and other monsters have been sighted. And these creatures are the monsters that appear in games as a matter of course.
Considering the HP bar, the conclusion becomes clear.
"They are trying to reproduce the world of the game within this domain."
That is probably the mechanism.
It's absurd. The fact that they are involving ordinary people without any hesitation shows that they have lost their minds.
As we stood frozen, the communication device in the room rang.
Tsukiko, who was nearby, answered the call.
"Yes, I understand. We have confirmed it here as well. Yes, I will inform them immediately."
Even without hearing the other end of the communication, we knew who it was.
"What's the matter?"
"It seems that monsters like the ones we saw earlier are appearing in large numbers all over Tokyo. The Anti-Demon Officials are dealing with it, but they are completely overwhelmed."
"I see, understood."
"So, I'm sorry, could I ask Yuusuke and the others for help?"
The answer to that is already decided.
When I turned around, everyone in the room was looking at me.
"That's the situation. I don't know what will happen when this HP bar completely disappears, but it shouldn't be anything pleasant. Now, while annihilating the monsters, we'll go look for the culprit."
"Yes, understood."
"I understand."
At this timing, magic of such a scale. There's no mistake that Try Order is involved in this incident.
First, rescue the civilians. Then, take down the culprit. If we don't do that, this anomaly won't be resolved.
"However, Lisha, Kanami, Sharla, and Hinata, please stay in this house."
"Why? We'll go with you too."
"Lisha, this disturbance may be a diversion. In that case, you are the most at risk. If you stay in this house, you can come to our aid immediately if something happens."
"Well, that may be true."
The most important thing this time is mobility. I can't afford to carry Lisha and others with us.
This Magic Domain covers a considerable range. To help everyone there, mobility is indispensable. Unfortunately, Lisha and the others lack that.
"So, Lisha, continue setting up the Sanctuary at home. Kanami, use your eyes to gather information, and if you find out anything, contact me immediately."
"...Understood."
"Understood."
The two nodded.
I looked at Sharla lying on the sofa.
"Sharla, if anything happens, I'm counting on you."
"Mm."
It's an indifferent reply, but Sharla should be fine. Even without using magic, she's much stronger than your average magician.
The issue is,
"Tsukiko, what about you?"
"I'm going for the rescue. Don't worry, I won't be a burden."
Tsukiko answered without hesitation. Well, that's to be expected. Other Anti-Demon Officials are also handling the situation, so Tsukiko wouldn't stay behind.
To be honest, part of me wants her to stay home, but that would be pushing my feelings onto her. Tsukiko is getting stronger. She shouldn't be too far behind.
"Understood. If you encounter an overwhelming opponent, contact me immediately."
"Yes, I understand. Thank you."
"And Kou..."
"What is it?"
Kou seems indifferent, but this time he is the key.
"Please, just come and help, even if it's just one person."
I won't go into the details. There's no need to.
Kou reluctantly stood up and said,
"You bastard, find the culprit. I'll take care of everything else."
"Alright, understood."
Kou is the fastest among all the magicians I've encountered so far. If it's about protecting a wide area, he's much more suitable than me.
After confirming what we need to do, we left the house.
Now, I don't know what the purpose of all this is, but involving innocent people in it will come at a high cost.
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