Apocalypse Dark Elf Style -Magical Tribes Reincarnated in the Modern World

Is There An Answer To This Case? (Part 4)

Translator: Xean
Editor: Cubic

(Part 4)

Her tone of voice, attitude, and gaze, remained the same. But there was definitely something different, I thought.

It was as if she was watching me burn at the stake through a black and white film.

What had been nothing but tasteless, odorless writing and colorless backgrounds arranged in the world took on the meaning of an individual existence. Rather than 『someone who was there』, it acquired the appearance of Biwatani Yuika instead.

For me, that was something to be afraid of.

“Yes. I’ve always found it funny and annoying. You have this look on your face like you’re the only one who’s out of alignment. You give the world a loving smile and look down on it with the selfishness of a chosen one. You just don’t realize it, but everyone else may also be desperately lying. Even I─”

Then she shut her mouth unnaturally.

I didn’t think my brain was functioning properly, and I didn’t want it to. So my mouth moved on its own as I tried to confirm the meaning of her words.

“… Classrep too?”

After a while, her expression changed for the first time.

It was as if she was abandoning herself, ridiculing her worth.

She laughed forcefully.

“─Of course. I don’t know about other people, but at least I know that about myself. I’m the same as you. All this time, I’ve been living a lie, like a false substitute for the act of living, and it’s the only way I know how to live. That’s why, after all is said and done, it’s all I can do, as if it’s the only way. It’s really pathetic and shameful…”

The next words from her came out very naturally.

“That’s why I hate you.”

Her malice was pure and transparent.

Her smile was like a void.

I was puzzled. I know she wasn’t exactly a good friend of mine, but we were classmates for a long time. This was the first time she had directly expressed her malice to me. I couldn’t make sense of it.

Why was she expressing it now, here, and with such a face?

Hiding my confusion and turmoil under my mask, I simply met her gaze.

That stagnant time was easily broken by one important thing that I had forgotten.

“*Whoosh*”

It was Sheena. Sheena easily leaped down from the tree, exposing herself in front of Yuika Biwatani.

Yuika jolted at the sudden appearance of the tanned girl. Apparently, she hadn’t realized that Sheena was hiding in the trees.

“Oh no, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. However, if you’re right underneath me, I’m bound to hear it. You’re pretty fearless to tell someone you don’t like them to their face. I’m used to it because I’ve been told off in many places, but a harmless guy like Rensuke might cry, you know?”

“No, I’m not that much of a crybaby.”

Why did she come down here? If she had listened to the conversation, she should have known that Yuika had come to complain about something related to her. I had a feeling that things would only get more complicated now that she’d shown up.

I wasn’t sure if she noticed what I was trying to say with my gaze, but she closed one eye lightly and said.

“I had something I wanted to make sure of. I figured this was a good time.”

“Something you want to make sure of…?”

“It was the reason why I came to this school in the first place. I told you I didn’t just come to pick you up, I had some business to attend to. That business was what I needed to verify.”

Sheena stared at Yuika as she said this. She stared at her from top to bottom with an amused expression. Yuika crouched down as if to protect herself. Her eyes seemed to be directed towards the ground, but she also seemed to be subtly looking back at Sheena.

I felt that she was losing her nerves─ no─

“Yeah, I guessed right. Hey, can you answer a question for me? It’s just one simple thing.”

“…What is it?”

Sheena nodded lightly and said a few words, to which Yuika responded to in a small voice.

Then Sheena smiled and said.

“Why are you looking at me like you’re scared of me?”

“Kuh─!”

Yuika’s eyes went wide open.

And then Sheena’s canine teeth were bared.

The next thing I knew, I saw a brown shadow rushing towards her.

And then an echo sounded. It was a sound that shouldn’t be heard in the back of a school building.

“I told you back in the classroom, I know it when I see it. Just as I can tell when a teacher is looking at me in an erotic way, I can also tell when someone is looking at me in a frightened way. And also, those eyes that say she’s a little freaked out. Aah, that’s not what I’m here to talk about today.”

Her words continued, explaining why she was acting the way she was.

“I’m talking about the day before yesterday, you came down from the sky at that construction site, right?”

Sheena’s beastly eyes glimmered as she swung her fists in an unrestrained manner.

“The reason why you were so surprised was because you saw someone you knew. And of course, it wasn’t me who came from another world. It was Rensuke, a person from this world who was there. Then, I thought maybe it was someone at this school, and wondered how it would react if I went to school─and that’s what my 『business』 was all about.”

Yuika gritted her teeth, never looking away, her eyes filled with mixed emotions as she stared at Sheena. Even though the dark elf swung her fists with all her might, she still stood there with only a slight sway despite her small figure.

She raised her slender arms, and what came out was a huge black shell that protected her like a shield.

The clash between Sheena’s all-out blow and her natural shield was the exact source of the strange noise that had just been heard.

That in itself was the answer.

Sheena concluded, looking as if she had just hit the jackpot she was looking for.

“I found you. You’re the 《slime’s partner》, aren’t you?”

It was the class rep. Biwatani Yuika. She was the small shadow I saw that helped Aguyanuba at the construction site─?

The physique matched. Though I couldn’t see her face through the hood. And also, a body that was showing the same impossible phenomenon as the slime. There was nothing to contradict. But. Seriously?

“… I guess you fished it out of me. You’re more cunning than I thought.”

Her hateful reply was the best affirmation.

“Didn’t you know? That is what a Dark Elf is.”

Sheena took a step forward while Yuika quickly backed away, putting the shells back on her arms.

“Hey, come on. Are we going to do this or not?”

”Of course not. I didn’t expect to be able to fight a magical species by myself.”

“Hmm? So that means that bastard slime is nowhere near us. That’s good to know.”

Yuika silently narrowed her eyes and took another step back. Sheena made a challenging gesture with one hand in an ostentatious manner.

“It seems to me that you have the same characteristics as the slime. Well, there are a lot of different types of things that can happen among the partners of the different races. So─ will you grow wings and fly away like you did last time?”

“It’s enough to just step back a little. Somebody will see us if I step out from here. A girl screaming for help, don’t you think that’ll attract attention?”

“If I can stop you before you turn that corner and hold your mouth for a second, it might just work out. Especially since it’s one against two. Let’s see if it works out the way you expect.”

It was as if I had forgotten. With Sheena’s words, Yuika seemed to become aware of the other person in this place once again. Her eyes were filled with hostility as she looked at me.

Of course, she was in my field of vision as well. Exuding a different presence than before.

For me, I feel that this was indeed the 『true face』of my classmate named Yuika Biwatani. In a world that used to be written in black and white, she was now facing Sheena with the same expression as well. The scene seemed to stand out quite strikingly.

“Rensuke, get a hold of yourself. Why do you think she came here? It’s obvious that it was to get rid of you while I was away.”

Then, Yuika snorted a little.

“That’s a very simplistic thinking.”

“Is it not?”

“I wonder if I should answer that.”

I swallowed my saliva to moisten my throat, then opened my mouth.

“Class rep. Just why. Why does this have to happen…?”

“I’ll ask you the same question. Why did you?”

Her gaze was cold. Or rather, it was laced with contempt. I’m not sure how to answer after hearing such a question.

I only could swallow my breath. How did this happen? Applying the words to myself, that is. Was there… any reason that can be put into words?

As if to say, ‘You yourself don’t even know the answer?’, Yuika curled up her lips faintly.

“I think we’re probably the same. It just happened that way, you know?”

There was nothing to smile about. There was nothing to be proud of.

In there, there was just resignation filled with self-mockery.

It was clear to me that she had no intention of changing her position. But still.

“What is the purpose of the class rep?”

“I’m sure it’s the same as yours. I do not know what exactly Asakura-kun wishes to do, but at least I know your orientation. You’re helping the magical species, the dark elves, as a partner. I’m helping the slime as their partner. Isn’t that enough of a reason?”

I couldn’t deny that. It was the truth.

I’d already made up my mind, and that’s the path I chose.

“You’re right. We are the same. I’ve also decided that my life from here on out will be for Sheena.”

“Life? That’s a funny word to use. … No, by any chance you don’t know?”

Yuika raised a small eyebrow and squinted her eyes.

“…?”

“You don’t seem to know huh. You’re more vicious than I thought, Dark Elf.”

Then she gave Sheena a spiteful look.

Sheena – with her stern eyes – just twitched her ears. She seemed to be calculating when to make her bow and when to move her feet.

“Rensuke, that’s enough chit chat. She’s trying to escape. Hold her down.”

Surely that was the limit. Yuika, who was retreating naturally while talking, was in a position to leave the back of the school building with only one more leap. If we wanted to stop her from moving, we had to move right now.

In fact, I still wanted to exchange words with her. I didn’t want to let her go, I thought. The moment I was about to step forward with all my strength in my legs─

“If you don’t know, I’ll tell you, Asakura-kun.”

So that was her plan. Was it a strategy to exploit the gap created by ignorance?

Was it out of a good intention or a bad intention?

I did not know.

“We are already dead.”

────

──────── Eh?

“Only dead people can become their partners. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to change their physical structure so easily.”

Her voice was compassionate and comforting.

It was full of kindness.

And that was her parting words.

The moment I understood the meaning of the words my brain stopped. She quickly turned on her heel and ran out of the back of the school building.

Probably by reflex, Sheena had her bow and arrow at the ready. However, the arrow did not reach Yuika, who ran out into the sunlight. She clicked her tongue and put away her bow.

“Sheena. Just now, about what the class rep had said…”

“A-ah”, she shrugged her shoulders. Whether this was due to the fact that she had missed Yuika, or because of my question, I couldn’t ascertain.

She moved her head from there and looked up at the leaves above us as if reminiscing about a world filled with nature.

Then after a few seconds.

After thinking for a long time, she looked at me determinedly─as if she decided to give up.

“Rensuke.”

Sheena turned to look at me. Directly, without lie or deceit.

Her gaze was very gentle, but her eyebrows were slightly raised.

She smiled bitterly as if she couldn’t help it.

And the words she said were not an answer, but a question.

“The first time we met in the park… why are you dead?”