Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou

SS Kousuke

Who’re You Calling the Crawling Chaos!

Endou Kousuke. A classmate, a man with thin presence.

He had a special constitution that made it hard for other to notice him even without using “Stealth”, a skill of his vocation “Assassin”, or rather he was already like that even before getting summoned.

Even though he wasn’t trying to hide himself or staying quiet, he always got skipped during roll call and even automatic door often didn’t react to his presence.

That thin presence of Kousuke, no, it was already a lack of existence, that attribute of him was getting even more polished by crossing to another world. Even the members of the hero party that was a group of cheat would completely forget about his existence randomly.

Yes, for example, during their exploration of Orcus Great Dungeon, they once asked Kousuke to go ahead to scout the area, but then they completely forgot about it and returned to the city without him.

「I-I’m finally back……it was scary going back on my own like that……hics」

Kousuke got out of the dungeon by himself even while sobbing pathetically.

Also, he was able to return back from the deep floor of a great dungeon because even monster didn’t detect his presence.

Because they wouldn’t notice him.

Kousuke walked back toward the inn that served as the hero party’s base with listless steps.

When he opened the door, he could see the girls of the hero party gathered at the first floor’s dining hall. It seemed they were in the middle of a meal. The other members and the knights including Meld weren’t there. Perhaps they were going out.

What the hell were you guys thinking leaving me behind like that. No, I’m used to be forgotten like that though! Kousuke approached them with the intent of at least air his complain.

「Hey hey, who is your type among the knights?」

Kousuke’s feet reflexively stopped. The voice belonged to Suzu. It seemed the girls were in the middle of girls’ talk. He missed his timing to call out to them. And then as to be expected, Shizuku and Kaori and Eri didn’t notice Kousuke despite him standing right behind them.

「I never looked at them with that kind of lens.」

「Y-yeah. I’m also the same I guess.」

Shizuku and Eri were smiling wryly while Kaori was looking troubled. No, Shizuku’s expression seemed like somewhat reproachful toward Suzu. She was most likely being worried for Kaori’s state of mind.

「Ee, refresher like love story is necessary for these bloody days we are going through you know! There won’t be anything good even if we keep being overly tense all the time. Let’s smile you gals!」

「Fufu, Suzu-chan you jokester.」

Suzu shook her body *pyoko pyoko* like a clown. It made Kaori smiled reflexively. Shizuku and Eri seemed to realize that this was Suzu’s way of being considerate and smiled before they too joined the talk.

Kousuke thought. No good, I gotta retreat from here. I’m right in front of them, but at this rate they will think that I’m eavesdropping to girls’ talk!

And so he turned around quickly to return to his room, but

「Theeen, who do you think is a good man among our party members?」

Kousuke’s movement stopped. Meanwhile Shizuku shook her head with an exasperated expression.

「They are even more out of question.」

「Ahaha……I too, can’t look at them like that I guess.」

「It’s not like it need to be love related thing. There must be something, like he’s good with this! Or, I don’t like this side of him! Come on, speak up!」

「S-Suzu. That will be like we’re badmouthing them behind their back so, let’s stop it okay?」

「Shaddup! You goody two shoes glasses girl!」

「Horrible! ……Eh? It’s not actually horrible?」

「Then, as the starter this Suzu shall take the lead in listing the boys’ good and bad points! Suzu will accept any objection and argument!」

Kousuke sat on a nearby chair. Don’t misunderstand, this is, you know, it’s that. I’m just tired. I’m totally exhausted after escaping from the dungeon on my own, so I need to take a break for a bit, that’s all, he listed many excuses in his mind.

Suzu’s evaluation toward the boys surged out. In addition, despite what Shizuku and the others said, they also gave retorts and their own comments here and there……

Oh? This is strange. My name isn’t coming out……no, well, I understand why though! Kousuke got a faraway look on his face when a miracle occurred.

「……Hey, Suzu, Kaori, Eri. Aren’t we forgetting someone?」

Kaori and others tilted their head. Shizuku started groaning Uu~n uu~n while racking her brain.

Do your best, Yaegashi-san! You can do it! If it’s you then you’ll surely remember!

「It feels like, there’s one more person……」

「Eh, Shizuku-chan, you’re making me scared here.」

Shirasaki-saann, how can you say that! It’s not scary at all! Rather, what’s scary is how all of you are completely forgetting my existence!

「I think there is one. An unknown member who is suddenly there when you realize it, that kind of ghost story.」

Nakamura-saann!? What are you saying? Hey, just what are you saying!? Can you please not treat someone as ghost story as you please like thattt!? That member is existing properly just so you know!

「Wait, Eririn! That sent a chill on Suzu’s back so stop it! Uu, now it feels like there’s really someone nearby after you say that.」

There is! He’s right nearby! Here I am right behind you since some time ago!

「Hm~~mm……ah, that’s right! Endou-kun! We forgot Endou-kun!」

Yaegashi-san, as I thought you’re really a goddess!

「Eh? Endokun?」

Woah there, what’s with that Shirasaki-san? You can’t remember me even after saying my name with forced intonation like a Chinese-American voice actor like that? I’m gonna cry for real.

「That’s not it Kaorin. It’s our scout Endou-kun.」

「Ah, I rememberrr……wait, eh? How does Endou-kun look like again?」

「Kaori-chan, as expected that’s just horrible. Even though he’s our comrade……eh? I can, not remember?」

「Wait a second Eri. It’s unusual for you to also get on that kind of bad joke……wait, Endou-kun’s face? ……My?」

「……Say, everyone. You see, Suzu, don’t know how Endou-kun look. Even though I’m trying to recall it, it feels like his face is hazy in Suzu’s memory……」

……Hey, you guys are lying right? Tell me that it’s just a lie! None of you, remember my face!?

「……Strange, isn’t it. There’s no way we don’t know his face but……even when I try to recall it, I only remember how his face was hidden by his bangs, or there was mysterious light that hid his face when I turned toward him……」

「S-Shizuku-chan. I’m also the same. I tried recalling our battles, but there were always someone’s weapon or magic passing by with superb timing to block Endou-kun’s face from my sight!」

What’s the chance of that happening huh! That’s just impossible! Something like that is impossible!

Kousuke held his head in his hands. Then Eri pushed up her glasses while opening her mouth with a mystified, no, fearful tone.

「Say, everytone. There is this so called “faceless god” in a fictive mythology that was written by a certain novelist.」

Wait a second Nakamura-saaan? What are you saying this time? Hey, what kind of existence you want to make me out to be this time?

「This god you see, he’s called as the crawling chaos. It’s said that he brought about madness and chaos to those maneuvering in the darkness and lead them to self destruct……」

Please stop, no, seriously. Shirasaki-san? Taniguchii? Why are you two turning pale and shaking fiercely like that? Yaegashi-saaan? Why are you making an expression like a warrior going into battle like that!?

「This is another world. It won’t be strange for anything to happen. We need to make sure. Whether a human called Endou Kousuke truly exist or not!」

「Perhaps, there might be brainwashing or memory modification involved too with this, Shizushizu!」

「In other words, even our memory about someone being our classmate itself is suspect? ……Uu, this is scaryyy」

「Kaori-chan, let’s do our best! At this rate there might be a disaster waiting for us in the future!」

……It’s alright, for me to cry right?

After that, Shizuku and others finally noticed Kousuke groaning while holding back his tears sitting right near them. Just to make sure they fearfully peered into his face and then they screamed seeing his bloodshot eyes. It went without saying that it caused river of tears to flood out from Kousuke’s eyes.