chapter 154a

This one is long:
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Maou's Invitation

Perhaps several hundred demons and Nointos covered their view along with Freed and Eri.

Though Kouki and the others are astonished, Hajime narrows his eyes dangerously.  His murderous intent is already leaking out, waiting to be released.

Although Hajime's abnormal pressure is felt, Freed and the others don't lose their composure because they are surrounded by Nointos.

Hajime thinks to himself that he dislikes them after all since they resemble cockroaches, causing the Nointos to twitch as their intuition picks up on the thought while he contemplates annihilating them.

Even though his last fight with Nointo was desperate, because the specs of his body and arms can be raised by Sublime magic he is confident he can win even without Limit Break now in a one on one fight.  Even against several of them at once he doesn't think he would lose.

Hajime winks at Yue and prepares to take the preemptive strike, but before he can do so Freed opens his mouth.

Freed comments that though Hajime is in high spirits, he isn't there to kill them.  They should grovel on the dirt, but he wants to invite them to go to the mountains.  Hajime responds that he thought they had come to commit suicide out of despair of the worthless god's whining.

Freed's eyebrow twitches due to the ridicule.

Hajime's comment is directed at Ehito.  According to his guess, Nointo's presence indicates Ehito toys with every race without distinction.  The god the Majin tribe worships is likely a deception of Ehito.

In fact, how much does Freed understand?

Freed says he won't rise to Hajime's provocation.  Everything in his life is something his master gave him(command).  He is only going to accomplish that.

Hajime responds, asking what command the loyal dog was given.

Freed's generous master is overlooking their shameless speech and behavior and is inviting them to have an audience at his castle.

Hajime unconsciously retorts, and asks what Ehito/Alv is doing in a castle.

Freed calmly replies that while Alv is certainly a god--Ehito's family, he is at the same time the Maou.  He has manifested from the god's realm to the dirty earth for a long time to lead the Majin tribe for a great purpose.  (Why do I get the feeling that Freed just raised a used and betrayed by my leader, aka the Gendou Ikari, flag here?)

Apparently the true colors of Alv is the Maou calling himself a god.  The fact that the Maou is Alv is a secret that only a few people seem to know.  Freed is showing delight that he is one of those people, though judging from his tone it seems he learned it only recently.

Hajime:  "Great purpose, right.  Then, how far is the Majin tribe made to dance, I wonder."
Freed:  "Did you say something?"
Hajime:  "No?  Just admiring the splendid, splendid Maou-sama."
Freed:  ...

Freed's temple is quivering at Hajime's joke.

Eri finally interjects, tired of all the talk as she wants to spend a sweet time with Kouki.

Freed smooths his features and tries to move the talk along, but is interrupted by Suzu this time as she tries to talk to Eri.  Eri just dismisses her like one would shoo away a dog.  However, when Kouki asks her about her appearance her whole face lights up.  She tells him she received a new power from the Maou to sweep away all the garbage preventing her sweet life with just the two of them.

On her back are dirty gray wings whose feathers have the same disintegration ability as Nointo's.  Shizuku wonders whether unlike Kaori whose body was changed, Eri only received the ability, but before the conversation gets any further Hajime, Yue, Shia, Kaori, and Tio have prepared themselves to wipe them all out.

Hajime's murderous intent also extends to Eri, but because Suzu's wish is still in his mind he determines to only shoot her limbs with Donner.  Schlag is enough for Freed.

However, before the trigger is pulled, a mirror appears in front of Freed and Eri and begins showing an image from another place.  It shows a large hall with a red carpet laid out on the floor, and a place like an altar where a throne is put.

The image moves next to the throne.  Inside a large cage is Aiko, Lily, and the rest of the classmates who had stayed behind.  Hajime curses on seeing them.  Kaori and Shizuku shout.

Hajime takes out the compass and confirms the validity of the image.

Kouki spouts his usual nonsense about it being unfair to take hostages and to return them.  Eri responds with her typical craziness and stops hearing his words altogether.  Kouki switches to try to talk to Freed again, but before he can...

Bang. Bang.

Hajime has shot at both Freed's and Eri's head, however the shots are deflected by the Nointos' swords.  The swords crack and seem to be able to be broken, but Hajime frowns that the shots still missed.  Suzu desperately tries to stop Hajime and hangs off his arm.  Seeing this, Hajime pauses.

Freed, while having a cold sweat calls Hajime a madman and asks his his companion's lives are meaningless.  Hajime reminds Freed of their last encounter, and says with a smile that causes him to step back, "Is there no problem even if I am invited after you are exterminated?"

Freed regains his composure and sneers, revealing his next card.  The image in the mirror shifts, showing Myuu and Remia.

A murderous intent so great that sound completely vanished washes over them.  Most of the demonic beasts under Freeds control lose consciousness and fall to the ground.  Suzu also falls, but bites her lip to stay conscious.

Freed, whose breath seems like it might stop, tries to threaten Hajime.  Hajime, who had left behind artifacts that should have concealed Myuu and Remia and warn Hajime and let him teleport to their home if an enemy showed up, guesses that Eri had betrayed their existence to Freed.  He directs his killing intent at her, causing her to shake and have trouble breathing.

Eventually he moves his gaze away and she staggers in mid air.  His eyes are strangely calm, and he quietly tells Freed he will accept the invitation.

Freed, getting a little room to breath, puts on a jeer again and starts chanting the incantation for the gate.

Yue asks Hajime if this is fine.  Hajime responds that the time lag for using the crystal key is too great, so he wouldn't be able to save everyone if he used it.

Freed's gate doesn't open directly into the room with Aiko and the others, but instead into a terrace on an upper floor of the castle with a view of a town.  Hajime thinks there might naturally be defences against teleporting directly into the castle since it is the Maou's castle after all.

Hajime starts to walk toward the gate, but Freed stops him, jeeringly telling him to disarm and put on magic sealing shackles.  Hajime wonders if suffering so many defeats or something happening  after the kingdom invasion has deepened his fanaticism or caused something in his personality to break off.

Still, he naturally refuses to disarm.  Freed is astonished and tries to threaten him by harming Myuu and Remia again.  Hajime responds by telling him that the card he played is a double edged sword.

Not an ounce of magic or murderous intent is leaking out of Hajime, however the dragon Freed is riding on starts trembling for some reason.  Hajime soon explains in a quiet, mechanical voice that drives a shiver up everyone's spine regardless of friend or foe.  If those two people are hurt, Hajime will exterminate the Majin race regardless of man, woman, child, or elderly person.  Freed's breath catches.  Event though Hajime is surrounded by Apostles of god and his own master is a living god, still, for an instant he thinks that Hajime could possibly do it.

Freed asks him if he is deserting Myuu and Remia.  Hajime replies that giving up his weapons would equate to deserting them.  As long as they live they can be healed, thus he will choose to kill the perpetrators.  Freed calls him insane again.  Unbeknownst to him, most of what Hajime was saying was a bluff.  If possible he wants to take them back completely uninjured, so as much as possible he would refuse to disarm himself.

Hajime again tries to move forward.  Freed is conflicted since disarming Hajime had not been Alv's instruction, but his own arbitrary decision.  Then one of the Nointo's steps forward and tells Freed not to worry about it, since it will be good entertainment and the apostles can always restrain Hajime if needed.  This Nointo introduces herself as Ahato, saying the combat data of the previous fight had been analyzed and she didn't think Hajime could win a second time.  Hajime ignores her, looking over at Freed to quickly guide them.  Freed frowns, shakes his head, and goes through the gate.  Hajime follows after.  Only Yue at his side notices Hajime's hand shine momentarily before he goes through.

Out on the terrace, most of the dragons and Nointo's are seen flying in the sky.  Most of them fly off somewhere, leaving about 10 Nointos.  While they follow Freed into the castle, Eri is glomping onto Kouki, but ignores Shizuku and Suzu who try to talk to her.  For his part Kouki doesn't do anything to agitate her since there's the issue with the hostages.

Finally they get to the throne room.  Aiko, Lily, and the rest perk up when they see Hajime.  Myuu on seeing him calls out "Papa!"  Remia on the other hand is sending him a darker look and calls out "You!"(omae in the source text.  A bit derogatory for those unfamiliar with the expression.)

Hajime apologizes to Myuu and Remia for getting them involved and tells them he'll get them out immediately.  Myuu tells him she is ok and that she waited believing in him.  Therefore, don't be defeated by the bad people.  Remia says that they are alright, so to please be careful.  Remia seems to have calmed down and been relieved from the bottom of her heart seeing Myuu's smile and worried for Hajime.

Freed is about to tell them to be quiet, but a voice coming from the back of the throne interrupts him, commenting on the wonderful bonds between parent and child in this era.  He understands because he also has that experience, though as an uncle and niece.

A wall behind the throne opens and out walks an attractive middle aged man with fair hair.  His clothes and mantle are high quality with gold embroidery on black.  A strange feeling of youthful power and amorousness drifts out.  Alv introduces himself.

Hajime narrows his eyes and starts to say something, but is interrupted by Yue at his side.

Yue:  "....Impossible....why...."
Hajime:  "Yue?"

Yue doesn't seem to hear even Hajime's voice.  Her eyes were opened wide and her voice was hoarse.  Hajime looking at the abnormal Yue is struck by a feeling a deja vu seeing her hair.

Maou: "Yaa, Aletia....It's been a long time.  You are as cutely tiny as always."

Hearing the Maou's words to her that carry an affection impossible for a first meeting, Hajime begins to to suspect... and his guess is soon confirmed by the single phrase uttered next by Yue

Yue:  "Uncle."(Oji-sama)