Chapter 62: The Cannibal Hungers (1)

Wai-, what are y-, Kotori!?

Guess she reached her limit. This was the frank impression I had seeing Takanashi-san cry out in fear and latch onto Class Rep who happened to be near by.

This is bad. This might as well mean that negotiations have broken down... No, I cant let it. These girls may hate it from their very core, but starting with Takanashi-san, I have to get all the girls here to bear with th

Run! We have to run now! Hell eat Kotori, hell eat everyone!

... Eh?

It didnt click for a moment But then I got it, I understood what Takanashi-san was trying to say. I understood it, all too well.

Yokomichi Hajime had Skill Eater. From the way he spat out the Rook Spiders webbing, to the fact that he himself declared to have feasted on its meat. From just these 2 observations, I could naturally deduce that this Skill Eater of his allows him to plunder the powers of the monsters he eats.

Its a common trope. Ive seen many a story where the absolute weakest of protagonists grow stronger and stronger by eating. Starting off with stuff like a slime, or goblin or horned rabbit, you see them gaining their powers and grow (cheat) their way to peerlessness.

But theres another thought. The terrifying thought that, does this voracious form of skill stealing target only monsters?

Kotori, his calling! What is his, what is Yokomichi Hajimes calling!

Shouted Souma Sakura. Before I could even react, she was urging Takanashi-san for an answer.

Hes a Cannibalizer! And he already, ate, Nagae-san!

Hearing the answer, I was shocked, jolted with much greater trepidation than when I witnessed that nameless girl being eaten by goma.

Goma were monsters, hideous as the sky is blue. Not humans, monsters. Thats why them trying to eat humans could be considered reasonable behavior.

But a fellow human doing the same, that

Lux Sagitta!!

And before I noticed, a light arrow had pierced itself right at Yokomichis feet.

Yokomichi-kun, that was a warning. We dont want to have to kill you. So please quietly, go back. And do not, come near us, ever again

... Haa?

Yokomichi reacted as if flabbergasted. Its vexing, but for once, Im in complete agreement with the younger Souma.

Theres no way Im so dense as to not see the meaning behind Souma Sakuras warning.

Im suspecting that Kotori-san just took a peek at Yokomichis Status info by some skill or calling ability of hers that theyd kept hidden from me. And although theres the matter of my shock upon learning of this hidden Sage skill, lets not get sidetracked.

She mentioned Nagae-san, in other words, the girl belonging to the same literature club as me, Nagae Yukiko. And we just learned that he ate her, in other words, he killed and feasted on her.

Theres accepting ones shortcomings, and then theres trying to team up with a literal crazed cannibal, the latter of which, Ill have to decline. Personally speaking, after becoming aware of this fact... No, even if its some kind of misunderstanding, as long as theres the smallest chance of it being true, I will firmly oppose joining hands with Yokomichi.

But seriously, Souma Sakura, its like youre looking to start something.

What, the, Fuck is with that Attitude? And just when I said Id Protect your Sorry asses

I have nothing more to say, to a murderer like you. Turn back and leave, right now. Or else

Bitch was off her kilter, I thought, despite not being her target. How the hell did she go from 0 to 100% intensity so quick. She was completely underestimating, no, she was misjudging Yokomichis strength.

Meaning that, shed categorized him as someone that we must drive away, no questions asked.

Ah, goddammit, this stupid bitch. All my oiling up on Yokomichi from just now, its like that ** went completely over her head.

Im certain of it. That, if we fight Yokomichi Hajime, if we engage with this Cannibalizer, theres a huge risk of us losing someone. So if we were going to fight anyway, rather than something half-assed like a warning shot, she should have shot him dead with him never realizing.

Thanks to Souma Sakuras unneeded warning, wed now lost our important chance at a surprise attack.

Shut Your trAp, **ing wHore! If youd oNly been Quiet like YuKiko, Idve given yoU SO much LOVing yknOW!

As expected, Yokomichi was riled. Hed blown his top. Negotiations were already in smithereens.

Id better get ready. Theres no going back from this.

DO IT! MEI-CHAN!

Along with my yell, blew a fierce gale.

No, this wasn't mere wind. It was the figure of Mei-chan swinging up her Halberd as she passed me in an instant.

Blackhair Bind!!

I sic all the blackhair tentacles I could muster towards Yokomichi, almost as if getting him back for the webs.

He didn't know about my powers at all. That went double for Mei-chans strength. Tentacle binds plus a Berserkers full swing combo, not something you can handle so easily.

I did feel a hint of guilt. Killing him, Yokomichi, a classmate, and a human being. It was definitely an attempt of murder. I felt the guilt of making Mei-chan do that.

No I dont think Mei-chan, despite herself, could actually commit murder without feeling a thing. Shes got to be aiming to lop off an arm or something.

She is, right? But she was clearly swinging down right on top of his head... Crap, is he dead?

Whatthe!? You tryna KiLL me, OI! MomokaWAA, **ing bEtrayed me, didja, baStard!?

Yokomichi moved at speeds imperceptible to my eyes, drew out the greatsword on his back, and successfully received the headsplitter from above. Tch, hes changed gears to fighting mode already, Yokomichis reaction speed was fierce.

But the weird ** didnt end there... What, is with his arms? He had blades coming out of his elbows. I recognized those, theyre definitely Knight Mantis scythes. After quickly shredding my blackhair, he used his, now free, hands to defend against Mei-chans attack.

So this, is the power of Skill Eater. What growth cheat, what skill master, hes just a damn monster.

Momokawa-kun, Futaba-san! How could you! Are you planning to commit murder!

Bitch, just shut up! Its all cause of you that were in this mess Contra-beat Butterfly!!

This is unbelievable. Here we are taking on the grave responsibility of literal manslaughter and Souma Sakuras still acting all holier than thou. So I argued back almost by reflex while letting fly my new curse magic of poison butterflies whose effectiveness was still vague.

Mei-chan and Yokomichi had already entered combat status. But it looks like the Mantis Blades were in the way, so they were gone from his elbows at some point.

Still, this bastards actually able to hold his own against Mei-chan in a match of blades, hes got to be pretty good with swords. This Porky was being a real pain in the ass.

But while hes busy with that, I call up Rem to cut away my web bindings with her knife. I can finally move.

Ghh, Va, Facking azzholes, you bitches wanNa Go! Then Ill sHow you go, damN stinkin whoRes

Still locking blades, Yokomichi made the most indecent grin hed made yet. A smile so ugly, even as a guy, I felt violated.

We had to kill him. I was convinced.

All hands, attack Yokomichi! Class Rep, come on!

Ryouko! We mustnt resort to murder, you hear me!

We dont kill him right now, and hell rape, kill and then eat you, all of you!!

Buhyahahaha! Chill Momokawa, Im a nIce guy, so even if theyre fiLthy sLuts, Ill eat them rEal tenDer! Here, Ice BrEath!!

After making a quip at our idiotic discord, Yokomichi released a large volume of chalk white breath.

Kh!?

Mei-chan reacted instantly. She dodged the Ice Breath that was both in name and appearance similar to the ice magic of Eis Blast, and barely avoided direct contact. But sadly, my butterflies werent so lucky. Every one of them were instantly blown away.

Yokomichi just kept spewing out his Ice Breath and What the, were in a fog now!?

Mei-chan, take some distance! Everyone else, keep close!

The cold white mist thickened as it surrounded us. And in no time at all, Yokomichis figure, as he was generating this blinding curtain, had disappeared on the other side.

Damn, we cant see ** in here.

He should be in the same condition. But, what if he has a skill to see past the fog?

L-listen girls, we have to fight now that its come to this! Hold your weapons ready!

Ryouko, we cant!

This isnt about whether we kill him. Lets just focus on defending ourselves

... I guess it cant be helped then

I, I got it, Ryouko-chan!

No problem

Fueeehh, scaared, Kotoris scaaared...

Thanks to Class Reps convincing, the rest of them were finally getting prepped for battle.

Class Rep, were changing formation. He could attack from anywhere, so lets circle out

Eh, ah, got it... Kotori, you go in the middle. Me, Sakura and Momokawa-kun are surrounding her. Minami, stay in front of me, Asuna to Sakura, and Futaba-san please go over to Momokawa-kun. We dont know where the next attack will come from, so stay alert everyone

Our formation was more a triangle than circle. With Takanashi-san at the center, we had the 3 rear liners, including me, with our backs to her. And in front of us we stationed the vanguard team members. Considering our numbers and everyones powers, this was the best defensive position we could manage.

But still, Yokomichi never attacked us while we were practically dragging our legs to make this sudden formation change. Is he underestimating us?

Momokawa-kun, what are our chances of escaping?

The entrance wasnt too far off... But trying to find it in this fog will be too dangerous. Plus, he couldve already blocked it off with those webs

Thats probably why Yokomichi didnt attack us right away. When I said it, it suddenly felt very possible.Finnd ew chapters on nve/lbi(.)com

More importantly, Takanashi-san!

Hiiik!?

Anything else you know about Yokomichis powers?

I really cant see a thing, but I kept my gaze fixed to the front, with me and Rem holding our spears ready. From behind me, I could hear Takanashi-sans uhhs and umms of deliberation on my question. Seriously, just tell me already.

W-well you see, Kotori cant see it if she doesnt look at it so... there was a whole lot and, Kotori doesnt remember

So she means like, if she doesnt directly look at the guy, she cant see his Status stuff like calling or skills.

Anything you can remember?

Uhh, that icy magic was... it was from Nagae-san, if Kotori recalls

CorRRrect! Damn, Kotori-cHan, she can totAlly see my Status

We could hear Yokomichi from beyond the mist. The direction of his voice was unclear, but it was apparent that he was at a distance close enough to hear us talk.

So yeah, Yukiko was a CryomaNcer you know. Always sCared and faint-heArted and totally Yukiko-like. Not like she Didnt have aTTack magic like Eis SagiTta, cause she ToTally did, but then, she was alWays too scared to fight mOnsters. So gueSs what sHe did. She used This very same Eiz Mist and hId away insIde, letting everything Hostile pass by uNaware. So girly-like isnt she? She was adorable

Got you!!

With a heated yell, Kenzaki-san took a large stride forward, and swung at him.

It looked as if something shaped like Yokomichi was split in two... wait no, a mirage? The figure instantly lost its color and blended into the fog.

Bufufu, that ones Eis Mirage. ThoughT it was Me, didnchA?

Tch, clicked Kenzaki-san in annoyance, as she stepped back into position.

Looks like he can make illusions in the fog

Unff, every tiMe I use this Skill, I feel One with YukikO prEcious

Hearing a phrasing that feels somehow familiar, I started to see one, two, many Yokomichi-like chubby shadows. They all looked blurred under the cover of mist and... Shit, I cant tell which ones real at all.

Hey, heey guys, wheres the real one, guyyys

Dont panic Minami. Hell have to move to attack us, so its that one

You reAlly sure aBout thAt

I felt a whistle of wind in my ear. The sound somehow seemed familiar.

Ouch!?

Yelped Natsukawa-san. I looked back in a panic, and saw her holding her cheek while still grasping her knife.

Minami, what happened!?

Im a-alright, no biggie, its just a scrat!?

A beam of blood trailed along her cheek. It was most definitely just a scratch. It was at the level where Souma Sakuras healing magic could take care of it in a jiffy. But just as she spoke, Natsukawa-san went ghastly pale in the face.

Eww, what is this... its slimy and, and, stinks...

On closer inspection, I could see a clear mucous-y substance mixed with the blood along her cheek.

Oooff, so goOod, youre so taSty Minami-cHan! Its A whoLe difFerent Flavor from YuKiko-chan... no Wonder youre our trAck and fiEld super ace. Its fuLL of Your livelinEss and Energy, wild yet feMinine, your bloOds got this dEliCiously milD flavoR.

... Its, his tongue

I witnessed Yokomichi licking his lips, on the other side of the fog.

Chapter end