Jobless Rising! ~I’ve Become a NEET. I Acquired Lewd Skills and Lived a Life of Sex in the Other World and in Japan. Before I Knew it, I Was Impregnating A Harem of Ladies?!~

Chapter 37: Minato vs. Harakara: The One Who Appears in a Crisis

“How… Why…? It’s not even night yet…”

“Huh…? Oh, right. Normally, those affected by demonic energy get active at night, don’t they?”

Demons grow more active at night. Minato Kokuryouin and her clan also sense demonic energy more keenly then, so demon-slaying typically happens after dark.

“Well, that applies to me too. I’m in top form at night. But… for someone like me, that’s just a minor detail!”

“…!”

“I knew you’ve been waiting for me here every night after school. Coming now, with no one around, is my way of showing you some courtesy.”

Harakara slowly stepped forward. Minato had known a confrontation with the demon was coming, but the timing was terrible.

(This is bad…! I haven’t gotten the stones from Ebikani Mocchii yet…! And now, they’ll show up right in the middle of this with Harakara here…!)

Fortunately, Harakara was a demon who only cared about strong opponents. Minato had never heard of him cruelly killing defenseless civilians.

Still, there was a real risk of him affecting others with his demonic energy.

“Draw your sword, Minato Kokuryouin. I’ll give you that much time.”

“…You’re such a pain.”

“Bwahaha! You should feel honored! I’ve only challenged a handful of warriors like this!”

Harakara’s demonic energy surged powerfully. There was no choice but to fight. Minato grabbed her sword and slowly unsheathed it.

“Heh…! Let’s get started. Entertain me to your fullest!”

“!!”

Harakara lunged forward with a loud stomp.

But Minato lowered her sword stance and pulled a red stone from her pocket, channeling Kyo-shin energy.

“Ha!”

As Harakara closed the distance to zero, Minato activated her Kyo-shin technique.

“Shinpa: Suigetsuha!” (Ripple Break: Water Moon Leaf)

A secret technique that unleashed a ripple-like shockwave in midair. Amplified by the stone’s power, it could blow away a car. Harakara took it head-on.

“Guh!?”

His upper body reeled back. Yet his feet stayed planted on the ground.

(He took it at point-blank and only staggered…!? But!)

She didn’t knock him back, but she disrupted his stance. Now was her chance. Minato swung her sword horizontally.

“…!”

But Harakara, still leaning back, raised his right leg.

Somehow, his leg was clad in samurai-like armor, completely blocking Minato’s blade. And then—

“Uraa!”

As he straightened, he swung his right arm toward Minato with a wide, powerful strike.

“Ugh!”

She blocked with her sword, but his immense strength sent her flying.

“Haha! Impressive, Minato Kokuryouin! Not many can wield a technique like that! I wasn’t wrong about you last time! My turn now!”

Harakara, armor gone from his leg, charged at Minato as she tumbled on the ground. She quickly stood, throwing the red stone at him.

“Pathetic!”

Harakara swatted the stone aside with his arm and kept charging.

(Damn…! I’m out of stones…! From here, it’s just me…! No, it’s always been just me!)

Dodging his incoming fist by crouching low, she thrust her sword. But Harakara sidestepped with agile footwork, evading the strike. Then—

“Hmph!”

He spun his body, swinging his right arm with momentum. Minato dodged by creating distance, but Harakara instantly closed the gap.

“What’s wrong!? No more techniques? Then you’re done!”

“Damn…!”

She swung her sword to counter, but the gap in skill and physical ability was clear.

They clashed fist against blade at the edge, but Harakara suddenly leaped back, creating distance.

“Haa, haa… …?”

He glared at Minato, his eyes filled with disappointment.

“…What’s with those moves? Where’s the technique from before…!? Are you mocking me!?”

“Haa, haa…”

“…Looks like I overestimated you. If that technique was your trump card, you’re out of moves. My bad for getting my hopes up. I’ll send you to the afterlife… painlessly!”

“…!”

In the blink of an eye, Harakara appeared right in front of Minato.

His movement was on a different level now. In that stretched moment, Minato realized he’d been holding back until now.

“Uooooraaaa!”

“Gah…!?”

Harakara’s fist slammed into Minato’s abdomen. She instinctively shielded herself with Kyo-shin energy, but it wasn’t enough to escape unharmed. She was sent flying, crashing back-first into a wall.

“Gah!?”

Minato collapsed to the floor, unable to breathe properly.

“Impressive… You blocked in time. But… this is it!”

She felt a lethal intent from Harakara. She couldn’t stand, let alone fight.

Her sword lay dropped, her breathing ragged. In a moment, she’d be killed defenselessly.

The overwhelming sense of death loomed half a step away. Regret, lingering attachments, an unacceptable reality—all about to be forced upon her. At that moment—

“Uh… Which one’s Schwarz-san?”

A new male voice sounded right beside Minato.

(What the hell’s going on!?)

I arrived at the designated time and place, but I was completely thrown off.

On the floor was a burly, rough-looking guy and a girl in a school uniform, writhing in pain.

(She’s totally getting beat up! Domestic violence!? Is this some super abusive boyfriend!?)

And that uniform…! It’s from Seijou Kinoou Academy, one of Tokyo’s top elite girls’ schools!

An elite girl like her is dating a thug like that!?

My brain struggled to process the information overload, nearly freezing. But then, the girl on the ground spoke to me.

“Ah…! Y-You…! Ebi…!”

“Oh, yeah. I’m Ebikani Mocchii…”

“Ngh…! Run…! Gah!”

“Whoa!? H-Hey! You okay!?”

She knows the name Ebikani Mocchii, so she’s Schwarz-san! Totally not what I pictured! Thank god it’s not that big guy!

The thug locked eyes with me.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Look, I’m here to meet her for something…”

I noticed a sword on the ground. Wait, a real one…!? Did I stumble into some insanely violent scene…!?

‘Touya.’

“Hm?”

Cui, perched on my head as usual, spoke up.

‘I sense an unknown power, similar to magic, from both of them.’

“Huh?”

‘Their energy waves are wild… They were probably fighting.’

Cui mentioned before that Earth has some magic-like power. Is this related…?

But that’s not my priority right now. Well, weird powers are intriguing, but—

“Uh, look, I’ve got business with her. Mind coming back later?”

“Oh…? I’ve got business with her first… You trying to get in my way…?”

“No, it’s not like that…”

“…!”

He’s glaring at me so obviously…! The girl’s trembling in fear!

“We’re here on time for business. If you’re gonna keep up the violence, I’m calling the cops.”

The moment I said that, the big guy charged at me. Oh, come on, he’s actually doing this! Damn it!

His right arm swung at me. I instinctively slipped my left arm inside his, pushing sideways to deflect the punch’s trajectory, then raised my right leg and kicked his torso.

“Gaha!?”

Crap…! Did I kick too hard…!? Cui’s seal degree is lower now, so I might’ve hit him with more force than I meant…!

The guy was huge, but the kick sent him crashing to the ground and rolling to the wall. I didn’t hold back, but this was way more than I expected. I started to panic.

“H-Hey, he’s not… dead, right…?”

For a second, I considered escaping to the other world. But the guy stood up, laughing.

“Oh, good… I thought I might’ve killed him.”

“Pfft… Hahaha! Taking my energy head-on and still acting so casual…! That wasn’t an act, was it…!?”

“…Huh?”

“Couldn’t sense a hint of strength, so I totally let my guard down…! Don’t worry! That hit’s not enough to kill me! I’m not that weak!”

Phew…! He seems fine…! But I didn’t hold back, and it barely fazed him!?

Even with Cui’s seal lowered, a regular modern guy like me isn’t that strong, huh?

“Didn’t expect a guy this strong to show up…! So, you’re Minato Kokuryouin’s ally, huh!?”

“…Huh?”

“Forget that girl…! You’re my opponent now, man…!”

He took a fighting stance against me.