Chapter 60

This is a translation of the provided Japanese text into English:

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Ryūji Endō was, in every way, an ordinary person. Throughout elementary and middle school, he achieved average grades, always scoring around the class average. In sports meets, he never placed higher than third. He grew tired of his mundane self and worked hard to enter a slightly better high school. There, he met a girl named Yūhi Hanabashi...

She was like the sun. Even to the likes of him, just one of the many ordinary students, she treated everyone with a bright and consistent attitude, like the sun in the sky. He fell in love with her at first sight. He tried to talk to her and make a move, but Yūhi was surrounded by a different kind of "flowers." The most popular boy in the grade, Masahiro, the petite and cute girl with high popularity among boys, Mitzuki, and the charismatic and reliable Jirō...

There were also other students, such as the smart student council president who looked good in glasses, a handsome model who joined as a junior, a boy with extensive experience with girls in the same grade, and even boys from other schools who had fallen in love with her. Endō almost gave up... He couldn't compete with them, being just an ordinary person.

A few days after giving up, he accidentally saw Yūhi talking to a male student. It wasn't Masahiro or any of the other "flowers," but Yuki Sasaki, who, in terms of status, was at the "bottom," a withered weed among weeds. Seeing this, Endō felt anger. The boy, who was described as gloomy, creepy, and disgusting, was casually dismissing the words of the girl who was like the sun to them. Endō realized the first emotion he had ever felt... the desire to kill.

From then on, he started to target Yuki Sasaki. He taunted him as "Necla Yuki" and kicked him around, even punching him in the stomach and stepping on his head.

And now, the one who had laughed at him... was being stepped on by that very man.

"Ha... ha..."

"Remember, you used to do this to me a lot, didn't you?"

One blow. As he emerged from the steam, Endō was struck in the stomach and fell to the ground. The intense pressure and pain made him unable to move, and he was forced to crouch. His face was pressed into the ground, and he tasted mud in his mouth.

"I don't hate you. Nothing you did ever hurt me."

Setsu's foot wasn't heavy, but Endō couldn't stand up.

"I'm stepping on you to understand how you felt when you stepped on me. Endō, it's not so bad, is it? The best part is being able to look down on you. Did you feel like this too?"

"Gr... gi..."

Endō, in pain and confusion, turned red with anger. He tried to stand up, but was pushed further into the ground.

"You're amazing... Even with your magic and strength drained, and your body in pain, you still hate me so much."

Setsu toyed with Endō, grinding his foot into him. Even as mud filled his mouth, Endō didn't stop glaring at him.

"I get it, I hate you too. That's why I'm stepping on your head. So, what now? Should I cut off your arm? Your leg? Maybe just one eye? I've been through worse, you know."

Setsu pressed the black sphere against Endō's face. At this moment, Endō felt fear for the first time. He realized what he had provoked. This man was a monster, someone he shouldn't have touched. The regret that welled up inside him... he now truly felt that he had been incredibly foolish.

"Where should I start?"

In the next instant, Endō lost consciousness.

"..."

He fainted just from a smile. I could have done more, but it's enough that he regrets it.

"U... ah..."

"Alright, what will you do?"

I called out to Masahiro, who was still holding the holy sword and hadn't moved. While I was stepping on Endō, I was completely defenseless, but he didn't move an inch. He looked like he had given up. It's natural to be scared when your strongest attack is completely nullified. His situation doesn't matter to me; I have questions for him.

"Fine, if you don't attack, I'll ask. Answer my questions honestly."

"Why... why should I do that?"

"If you don't, I'll kill him."

I pressed the black sphere against Endō's neck to threaten him. Masahiro doesn't know that I don't kill, so this should be enough to scare him.

"Stop it!"

"Then answer, be honest."

"...Alright."

Good, that's fine.

"First question, those black-robed people. You said you were a leader, right? Tell me the names and abilities of all of them."

"Why... why do you need to know that?"

"Because I need to. Answer quickly."

"Alright."

Before he could hesitate, I pressed the black sphere harder against Endō and urged him to continue. According to Masahiro, there were eight black-robed people. Their names were Kagerō, Luna, Buildus, Kuroinu, Saiga, Merā, Room, and Gaia. Each had unique magic, but the details were unknown. Probably, Kagerō used some kind of shadow magic. I've met Saiga and Kuroinu in front of the white cat's house. I haven't confirmed their unique magic. As for Merā... if my guess is correct, it's probably him...

"Next question, where are the black-robed people?"

"I don't know... Even though they are leaders, they don't command. They have authority, but they move freely on the battlefield. One is protecting the king on the human continent. Another is infiltrating Evilbarrow alone."

"Alone... Evilbarrow? He'll be killed before he reaches the Demon King's castle."

"He has the ability to avoid that... I don't know the details."

Useless. The goal is Desastor, but it's reckless to provoke him. If that's the case, taking down the six black-robed people here should clear the battlefield. But if he's here...

"Also, do you know a guy who looks like a small woman?"

"What... who is he?"

"Let me rephrase. Have you seen any other black-robed people?"

"There are only eight leaders! I don't know anyone else!"

He's not lying... He's not here?

No, he must be here. He'll show up... probably when the battle ends.

"Fine..."

"Is that it? Can you release Endō?"

"Sure, one last question."

The most important question is still left. To me, it's more important than enemy information.

"Did you really ask Yūhi out?"

"Huh?"

"Answer."

"A... aah... yes—"

Before he could finish, my fist caught Masahiro's cheek. I didn't mean to punch him... whoops. He's unconscious.

"Fine."

I grabbed the necks of the unconscious Endō and Masahiro and carried them. I also carried Mitzuki and Jirō, laying all of them under a large tree in the forest. It looks bad to leave them out in the rain. It doesn't matter if they stay here... they can't do anything anyway.

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Setsu is an S (sudden).