Arifureta 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.

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