I cut away the chains Ooki sent flying at me with Dreamer.

Rea also summoned Aegis and blocked the attacks with it.

But both her arms holding the shield were knocked back, and she lost her balance.

She is clearly being overpowered.

That can't be helped; by returning to the party, Rea has gone back to the level she was at before we separated.

But her level back then was in the high 40s at best.

On the other hand, Ooki, depending on how she allocated her stats, is moving like someone well over level 70.

"Rea, concentrate on protecting yourself!"

"G-Got it."

Knowing Rea, she probably won't do anything too reckless—but she's likely thinking of supporting me with skills when she sees an opening.

Even Ooki wouldn't prioritize targeting the daughter she refused to "kill" no matter how much she rebelled.

It's practically a 1-on-1 situation.

If so, I, who am more used to fighting with this power, have the advantage.

Clicking her tongue, Ooki continued to set her chains on me.

When I tried to cut them away again, the chains suddenly wrapped around Dreamer's blades, sealing my movements.

"I've got you—Intersecting Chain Rope (Kousajou)!"

Furthermore, the chains that entangled my blades extended across my entire arms, binding them.

Ooki sneered at me as I was unable to move.

"Now, be shredded to pieces by this Chain Blade (Sajin)!"

Another chain extended from her other hand, bending backward as if drawing a bow.

And with great momentum, it was swung down from above my head.

I could hear a whoosh as it cut through the wind.

Chain Blade—true to its name, it's probably not just a chain, but also possesses the power to slice the opponent.

But I don't feel much of a threat.

Activating Full Burst, I float countless knives in the air, and launch them—

"Tch, you can still move even with your movements sealed!?"

"Well, you only stopped my arms, right?"

I push through with a number of moves exceeding the opponent's.

Ooki dealt with the flying knives using the Chain Blade she intended to slice me with.

In that opening, I pull my right arm out of the chains.

Some flesh was gouged out, but a wound of this level won't hinder my movements.

Then I jumped up to just below the ceiling and gripped Dreamer tightly with both hands.

"We're dropping down! Be careful, Rea!"

"Eh, eh? Down!?"

"Meteor Dive!"

Ignoring gravity and inertia, my body plummeted rapidly toward Ooki.

Since we're indoors, the falling distance isn't that great.

But defying the laws of physics is what skills do.

Even from this distance, the blades I grip gain the weight and power of a literal meteorite.

"I will catch something of that level!"

Ooki wrapped Chain Binding Prison around both arms in multiple layers, and by crossing them, she blocked my attack once again.

But holding these knives, I can tell.

This weight—if you take it head-on, your body won't hold up.

"Gu, ga, a...!"

Ooki's feet sank into the floor, and unable to withstand a load surpassing human limits, her calves began to hemorrhage internally.

Her trembling arms, filled with tension, tore open on their own, and blood began to flow along with a snap sound like tearing muscles.

"Get crushed! Die! Disappear from this world, Ooki!"

"The one who will die... is you, Kuragane! A worthless life like youuuuuuuu!"

Ooki screamed with bloodshot eyes.

Her face dyed bright red, veins popped on her temples, looking as if they would burst at any moment.

But as expected, she truly has been given the power of a monster.

The hotel floor was about to reach its limit before her body could.

"I can hear creaking from under our feet... Dropping down, you don't mean!"

Right after Rea realized the meaning of my words, the floor, unable to withstand the load, shattered with a krakkoooom!.

"Kyaaaaaaaaah!"

While falling, she hurriedly pointed her shield downward and used a skill to brace for impact.

And along with thick rubble, Ooki and I also plummeted to the second floor.

The effect of Meteor Dive still continued.

Ooki tried to land.

However, unable to withstand the pressure of being crushed by me, both her legs bent in impossible directions, and her posture collapsed with a jerk.

"Don't... screw with me. Something like this, something like thiiiiiis! Ga, guhu!"

Perhaps the impact finally reached her internal organs, as she even vomited frothy blood.

How long I have waited for the moment to see that bloody, ugly face right before my eyes!

Get crushed. Get crushed. Get crushed. Get crushed.

"You, who tormented Yumemi chan, ruined my life, and still weren't satisfied, even hurting Rea! Get crushed more hideously than anyone else and disappear from this world! You should disappear for the sake of this worlddddd!"

"No! After coming all this way! I, I am—"

Just a little more and I can kill Ooki.

And yet—suddenly, the wall right beside us shattered to pieces.

What appeared from there was Suguro, trying to crush his enemy along with the wall with a tackle, and Marin, desperately blocking him with her sword.

"Uwoooooooooooooooh!"

"You monster, just stop alreadyyy!"

Our figures didn't reflect in their eyes.

But if Suguro's charge continues like this, it will definitely catch Ooki and me in it.

Moreover, that's no ordinary tackle.

It's a human bullet, clad in some kind of power across his entire body, multiplying its destructive force many times over.

"I will protect Erika!"

Rea intercepts his path and deploys her defensive wall (Sanctuary Wall).

But with that, Suguro's attack can't be completely blocked.

Besides, if I get caught in it, I won't come out unscathed either—I reluctantly kicked Ooki and took my distance.

Then I immediately hugged Rea from behind and leaped to the side.

Suguro's tackle grazed right past us.

Infuriatingly, Ooki also used her chains to drag her body and escape from his path.

At that moment, Suguro's tackle touched Rea's defensive wall.

Then, the defensive wall was easily torn apart like paper and disappeared.

Suguro wasn't repelled or even veered off course in the slightest.

And the two destroyed even the wall further back, passing through while scattering rubble and dust all over the room.

"Wh-What brute strength... and is Marin san okay!?"

It's only natural for Rea to be frightened.

Honestly, I'm pretty freaked out too.

I heard he was a battle junkie who brawled with Casts whenever he had free time, but to think he was trained to that extent.

Marin must have also been training until today, frustrated by her own inadequacy in failing to notice the sniper.

"Marin is keeping that guy occupied. I want to finish off Ooki in the meantime, but—"

"Huh, she's not here?"

"Looks like she slipped away under the cover of the dust. She shouldn't have gotten too far yet."

I probe the surroundings, but I can't sense her figure or presence.

There are no marks of chains hooked onto the hole in the ceiling, and even if she went out the room's window, there should be nothing but spreading darkness beyond.

No, wait, the window is broken from Suguro's impact just now.

I ran over to the window and looked down at the floor below.

Then I saw that the window of the room directly below was broken.

Did she escape to the first floor using her chains as ropes?

"Rea, Ooki escaped to the first floor, let's chase her."

"The first floor means—"

"Does that ring a bell?"

"The monster that person called Giraiguu... I think it's actually the master of this floor, and there's a room where it resides."

"Inoue Hiiro is on the first floor..."

Moreover, Ooki firmly believes it is Giraiguu.

If so, there certainly is a possibility she fled there seeking help.

We immediately left the room and ran down the hallway.

"The Hiiro you mentioned, Erika, isn't that the name of the friend Ushizawa san wanted to see?"

"There's a high possibility that girl has become the master of the floor. By the way, did Ooki mention any reason why she thought that monster was 'Giraiguu'?"

"No, I don't know. But I also thought it was strange, since it looked completely different from the 'Piece of Giraiguu' that Ooki san uses."

If so, a conceivable possibility is that Inoue Hiiro herself claimed to be Giraiguu—

But for what purpose?

This is something we won't know until we actually meet her.

We went down the stairs, heading to the first floor.

◆◆◆

Going back a few minutes.

Right after Marin ambushed Suguro. Nakami, who fled the room, headed to the third floor.

And kicked open the doors to the hall.

Inside, the hostages huddled together in fear, and Otsuki stood nearby with a troubled face.

Nakami approached Otsuki and announced without changing her expression.

"I shall now massacre them all. Otsuki, will you not help me?"

"...What are you saying."

"They launched an attack ignoring the possibility that the hostages might be killed. There is a possibility they are underestimating us, assuming we wouldn't dare kill the hostages, so I believe we should massacre them here as an example to crush the enemy's morale. Ah, or perhaps you would prefer to execute them one by one? However, in that case, how to convey the state of the executions to them poses a problem."

"Are you... seriously considering such a thing?"

"Of course."

Raised in a Kaisei kyou facility since early childhood, Nakami was taught that she existed solely for Giraiguu.

She feels absolutely no value in human life.

Because the world where humans live is destined to perish eventually.

Because they will become sacrifices for the True World, and everyone other than the chosen humans will die, all other lives are completely worthless.

That is what she believed from the bottom of her heart.

"Otsuki, are you perhaps trying to say you cannot kill them?"

When Nakami said that, three sharp claws sprouted from the back of her hand.

Those gently curving claws had sharply pointed tips, and the rest of the parts were thinned out like blades.

Judging by their length, they could easily decapitate a human.

Otsuki audibly gulped down her saliva.

She couldn't sense that much threatening intent from Nakami's words, but for some reason, she felt a strong sense of pressure, and her body trembled on its own.

She is different from Shiromachi, who kills people for pleasure.

Having neither joy nor sorrow, simply killing if necessary—Nakami possessed that kind of coldness.

"Then I shall put an end to everything. Starting with you, Ushizawa Ai."

"Kh..."

Perhaps because she happened to be in a close position, Ushizawa was targeted first.

Her body twitched and trembled, her expression contorting in fear.

Mitsurugi, who was next to her, stepped forward slightly as if to protect her and glared at Nakami, but there was no way she would stop with just that.

Nakami pressed her claws against Ushizawa's neck, and without putting on airs, immediately tried to slash it off.

Ushizawa squeezed her eyes shut.

But no matter how much time passed, her head did not fly off.

Suddenly, Nakami began to suffer, clutching her head.

"U... ga, aaaaah! My head, hurts... why is this... I am doing this, for you... gugiiiiii, Giraiguu, samaaaaaa...!"

"What does this mean. Giraiguu is stopping her?"

Mitsurugi is surprised.

Furthermore, Otsuki also similarly suffered from an intense headache and became unable to move.

Ushizawa immediately understood its meaning.

(It's Hiiro... Hiiro saved Ai!)

Hiiro, who had become a part of the monster.

Having become the master of the floor, she could be considered a higher-tier existence than Nakami and the others who possessed the same power.

However, even for such a Hiiro, the most she could do was inflict headaches.

It seems she cannot freely use her power as a monster, but her will is certainly there.

"Ai thinks now is the only time to run!"

"Yeah, you're right. Everyone run, we're getting out of here!"

Led by Ushizawa and Mitsurugi, the "slaves," totaling about twenty people, fled the hall all at once.

Those who were protected by Ooki and the others of their own free will.

Those who were kidnapped from Inoue's group midway.

And those who were separated from Erika and her group—the circumstances of their confinement varied, but the desire to escape from here as soon as possible was common among them.

However, Nakami chased after the escapees despite being assaulted by a headache so severe she couldn't even stand properly.

And towards the woman running at the very back, she raised her claws.

"I am deeply sorry, Giraiguu... sama. However, I believe that this is the correct course of action—"

"Sounds like you're making excuses."

A giant iron fist slammed into Nakami's face.

"Gah—Hiya, mi...!?"

Unable to maintain her own face, Nakami was blown away while transforming into a black slime-like state.

Looking at her rolling on the floor, Hiyami snorted with a "Hmph."

"You just want to kill for pleasure, don't you."

Her expression looking at Nakami was different from the usual Hiyami—it looked somewhat ruthless.

Meanwhile, Akabane, who had come up to the 3rd floor with her, shouted to the escapees.

"The stairs are this way! I will guide you to a safe place, please be careful not to trip!"

Then one girl ran up to him, shedding tears.

"Dad!"

"Kanako, you were safe! Thank goodness... If I couldn't get you back, I didn't know what I would do."

"I was so scaaaaared..."

His daughter, Kanako, wiping her tears on Akabane's chest.

But there is no time to be leisurely moved.

"Now, come with me. Let's survive no matter what."

"Yeah!"

Along with Akabane, the escapees left the 3rd floor.

Otsuki, who had no combat ability, could only watch them go.

Perhaps having recovered from the headache caused by Hiiro, Nakami slowly stood up and glared at Hiyami with narrowed eyes.

Then, after regenerating her face, Nakami wiped her nosebleed with the back of her hand and interrogated her.

"Since when have you been betraying us?"

"How unexpected. Weren't you the ones who betrayed us, Nakami kun?"

"What are you talking about."

"You hurt my princess."

"As long as Kuragane Marin remains immature as an executive candidate, I have no choice but to say that killing her on the spot was the optimal solution. In the first place—"

A strong murderous intent emanated from Nakami.

Struck by it, Otsuki shivered violently and hugged her own body.

"Kuragane Marin's education was your role, was it not? Why have you neglected it until today? Heir to the Hiyami Group, and Kaisei kyou executive candidate, Hiyami Ruka!"

"My parents are enthusiastic, but you see, I have no intention of taking over the company, nor do I intend to become an executive of Kaisei kyou."

"Before enrollment, I heard rumors that you were a devoted believer who cared deeply for her parents."

"Doing so makes my parents happy. It's a kind of filial piety."

"Then your current self is unfilial, is it not."

"That might be true. But you should be happy. My dropping out means your and Ooki's status will rise, after all."

"Since Giraiguu sama has already manifested, status holds no meaning. I am simply displeased by your betrayal."

"You call it betrayal, but I properly passed information to you guys on the 2nd floor, didn't I?"

"Incomplete information missing crucial parts, I presume. You did not inform us of the existence known as 'Gii'."

"Haha, that's not all. I left out a lot of other things too, and mixed in some lies."

"I will dare to ask. For what purpose?"

Hiyami brushed her hair up and said with a confident smile.

"For the sake of a future with my beloved Princess."

Nakami made an obviously displeased face that anyone could see, kicked the ground, and leapt forward.

Hiyami advanced at the same time, and their fists and claws clashed.

"Since when did you start worshipping Kuragane Marin instead of Giraiguu sama?"

"From the very moment I met her."

Irritated by her pretentious phrasing, Nakami directed all her undigested murderous intent toward Hiyami.

Hiyami swung Gyges with an aloof attitude, as if to parry it all away.

◆◆◆

When Rea and I came down to the first floor, Nemusia and Inoue's battle was just about to reach its conclusion.

As expected, two party members who aren't leaders are seemingly no match for them now.

Their physical human bodies were quickly destroyed, and even after completely transforming into Skeletons, they were helplessly overwhelmed by the firepower of the powered-up Nemusia and Inoue.

"They are clumped together just right."

"I'll deliver the finishing blow. Buster Shot!"

Inoue san connected the baton parts of the tonfas held in both hands together.

Then the batons merged into one, and furthermore, transformed into a giant cannon.

The grip portions also changed into mechanical shapes, and the tonfas instantly transformed into a near-futuristic weapon.

Energy converged at the muzzle with a Vweeeeeee sound.

The two bone monsters, likely blown away by Nemusia's magic, were trying to slowly stand up while pushing away the rubble on top of their bodies.

But, they wouldn't make it in time.

"Charge complete. Shoot!"

With Inoue san's signal, the accumulated energy was fired as a sphere of light.

And upon hitting the monsters, the condensed energy rapidly expanded all at once, exploding.

With an eardrum-shattering roar, KABOOOM!, the monsters were smashed to pieces along with the hotel's outer wall.

"A-Amazing..."

"The ventilation has gotten much better."

Rea and I smiled wryly while looking at the disastrous scene on the first floor, where the outside scenery was now completely visible.

Then Nemusia spotted my figure and ran over here, waving her hand.

"Heyyy, we took care of things over here!"

"Is that girl Nemusia?"

"Yeah, she looks exactly like Yumemi chan—or rather, it's a state where a girl named Nemusia's soul has entered Yumemi chan's body."

"Eh...?"

It's natural to be bewildered.

I want to explain it properly to Rea, but we don't have time right now.

"It seems you safely rescued Rea over there as well. I see, so you are Oogi Rea... you certainly have a charming appearance."

Nemusia observed Rea as if assessing her.

Being watched, Rea was a little confused.

"But Ooki managed to escape. She should have come down to the first floor, though."

"We didn't see her."

Inoue san, walking closer, made eye contact with Rea and they both bowed lightly to each other.

"It can't be helped, as expected they have a better grasp of the hotel's layout. Right, we're going to the room where Hiiro san is now."

"Hiiro!? Where is she!"

"I was going to ask you to come with us."

"Erika, is this person the girl named Hiiro's..."

"Older sister. A lot has happened, and they haven't seen each other in a long time, but—"

This too is complicated to explain.

"Hmm, so you are going to see the master of the floor. What should I do?"

"I'll be leaving a dangerous role to you, but I'd like you to help with the battles on the second or third floor."

I know Gii and Shiromachi are fighting on the second floor.

But I can hear similar sounds coming from the third floor too.

Hiyami san and Nakami are probably going at it.

"Then I shall head to the closer one."

Using the power of wind, Nemusia leaped up the stairs all at once and headed to the second floor.

Then, as if passing her by, Akabane san came down to the first floor.

Trailing behind him was a procession of the people who had been hostages.

"Haaa... thank goodness, we finally met up..."

He placed a hand on his chest, sighing in relief.

But it's still too early.

"Akabane san, take everyone outside as planned. Once you escape into the sanctuary it'll be safe, but it's dangerous if you're found by a Cast before that, so be careful."

"A-Ah, I know."

Akabane san is in my party, and I had him learn the Sanctuary Deployment skill.

With this, there shouldn't be any worry about the evacuees getting caught up in the battle for now.

"Everyone, just a little further! Let's hold on for just a little bit more!"

Probably accustomed to doing so at the amusement park, Akabane san called out to the people with practiced ease.

And began walking towards the outside.

Then, detaching herself from the crowd following him, Mitsurugi san ran up to me.

"Thanks for coming to save us."

"You're welcome. It was surprising that you stayed here, Mitsurugi san."

"Did you think I would follow Shiromachi and his group?"

"I thought you were closer to them than to me, though."

"We barely interacted at all. Besides, I think you're more trustworthy right now, Kuragane san."

Trustworthy, huh.

Having Mitsurugi san say something like that to me feels incredibly out of place.

But even though I said it was surprising, I also somewhat felt that she would stay on this side—so I silently sent her a party request.

She accepted immediately.

"You're letting me join as a comrade again, huh."

"If anything happens, back up Akabane san."

"Understood. I will work so as not to betray your trust, Kuragane san."

Saying that, Mitsurugi san chased after Akabane san while waving lightly.

But she stopped midway and came back here.

"Forget something?"

"Ushizawa san isn't here. She should have been with us until halfway down the stairs, but—Ah."

Mitsurugi san, looking towards the stairs, froze.

When I looked in the same direction, I saw Ushizawa san standing still right in the middle of those stairs.

Her gaze remained fixed on Inoue san.

"Ah... there are somewhat complicated circumstances, so you go on ahead, Mitsurugi san."

"Is that so? Got it. Take care of Ushizawa san."

This time for sure, Mitsurugi san met up with Akabane san.

Hearing our conversation, Inoue san seemed to have noticed Ushizawa san's presence as well.

Looking toward the stairs, she had quite a troubled expression.

"Um... ahaha, it's been a while, Ai chan."

Spoken to with such awkward words, Ushizawa san slowly shook her head side to side.

"Ai can't believe it. Why are you here, Big Sister... You were supposed to have died six years ago..."

"For some reason, it seems I've come back to life."

"Are you really, really Big Sister? Was Ai able to meet Hiiro's Big Sister again?"

"Yes, we've met. You've grown, Ai chan."

"Big Sister... Big Sisterrrrrr!"

Ushizawa san started running towards Inoue san.

However, she tripped on the stairs midway and lost her balance.

Just as she was about to fall down several steps, Inoue san rushed out and caught her in her arms.

"Th-Thank you, Big Sister."

"You're in too much of a hurry. Were you that happy to see me?"

"Because, because, Ai is... Ai is...!"

Ushizawa san seemed to have been very attached to Inoue san.

Not only was she close friends with Hiiro san, but perhaps she had a close relationship with the entire Inoue family.

Inoue san definitely seems like the type younger people would like, just looking at her.

But Ushizawa san coming was just right.

Because I was thinking we'd have to take her along anyway.

"Ushizawa san, for now, please return to my party."

"Eh? Ah, yeah..."

"Alright, now we're fine even if something happens. I'm... thinking of going to the place where Hiiro san is now. I thought you might want to come along too, Ushizawa san."

"To that room—yeah, Ai wanted to go too. I wanted to know what Hiiro is thinking."

I don't know what happened, but she knows Hiiro san is on the first floor.

If so, that makes things quick.

"I'm sure we'll also find out the reason why you came back to life there, Inoue san."

Inoue san nodded with a grim expression.

If she came back to life without any reason or any side effects, then that's fine.

But in this world, that is absolutely impossible.

If we don't know, we won't even know how long she can live, or if she can remain in human form.

Guided by Rea, I opened the door leading to the "Throne Room".

Proceeding down the eerie hallway illuminated by candles, me, Rea, Inoue san, and Ushizawa san.

And finally, we arrived in front of a large double door.