Jujutsushi Wa Yuusha Ni Narenai

「THE SEAL HAS BEEN BROKEN!」

Yuuto looked at the three pillars of lights rising to the sky from the other side of the mountain. That sign alone had convinced him that the three sealed heads had already been set free.

「Are Class Rep and Co going to be all right?」

Though he was worrying about the safety of his classmates for a moment, his focus instantly returned to the continuation of the plan right away.

「Man, ain't that like a bad news!?」

「If all the eight heads are present, we're toast!」

「Ueda, Nakai, calm down! Don't let your guard down before your enemy.」

Everyone knew from the moment they saw the pillar of lights on the west side that Orochi's sealed head had already broken free.

Though both Ueda and Nakai couldn't hide their agitation during the battle, they realized that Yuuto was right, this wasn't the time to worry about that side.

Not when their side just barely managed to hold back the five heads. A little bit of carelessness was all Orochi needed to tip the balance.

「What shall we do now, Souma? The breaking of the seal means that guy's plan has failed you know.」

Said Asuna who landed by Yuuto's side right after she unleashed mid-air combo on the head of Orochi.

Surely, Momokawa Kotaro's subjugation plan was composed of three phases: sealing the three heads, keeping the five heads at bay, and destroying Orochi's core. Lacking any of the three meant the plan was a failure.

Everyone knew very well just how difficult it was. But they agreed since this plan was the plan that had the greatest chance of success.

「Yuuto, we should withdraw.」

「Like hell we can do that. What's gonna happen to Sakura and Co over there.」

「We can retreat with everyone as long as we assist them.」

Properly speaking, there's no retreat plan for the squad that infiltrates into the mountain.

In fact, with all eight heads present, they might have a hard time in retreating safely.

But, if they decided to abandon the plan and use their full force to save the raid team…

「No, we have to hold our ground here.」

「It'll be too late if there's a victim! We can still make it in time, Yuuto!」

Should they continue with the original plan even after the seal got destroyed?

Or bet everything so that everyone can return alive?

This was an important choice that might affect the life or death of his classmates. There was no time to hesitate.

「No need to do as Momokawa said in this situation. We can still do this again. As expected, Souma, you should have led everyone.」

「I-I――」

He didn't doubt Kotaro's plan. Yuuto himself knew very well that Kotaro's plan was the best plan for them.

But he couldn't help but hesitate upon hearing Asuna's remark.

He unconsciously thought that his duty to keep his classmate safe was pushed on Kotaro. Properly speaking, he should be the one who bears that weight.

「I, can't protect everyone…」

He might even forget such simple things.

Otherwise, he might even forget the reason he got the 『Hero』 vocation or its power.

「That's right,  Souma. Please protect me, and everyone.」

「I-I…」

He had to do something, choosing the best option to save everyone under this condition.

At that moment, he gained a flash of inspiration.

「EVERYONE RE――」

「――Continue with the plan.」

An order came down that interrupted Yuuto's train of thought.

「I repeat, continue with the plan. The seal of the three heads has been destroyed, but we're just one step away from breaking the shell.」

Kotaro's offshoot walked out from the trench and gave such an order.

「Please hold on for a while longer!」

「Momokawa, you.」

「Please, Souma-kun.」

It goes without saying that Kotaro's offshoot then exploded into black mist as he finished those words.

He canceled his own skill. That's just how much he focused on drilling the shell with his curse.

「SOUMA, ARE YOU STILL GOING TO DO AS HE SAYS!」

「… Asuna, I,  by no means, trust him. But, we can't ignore the possibility of success.」

Because he knew that Kotaro was the kind of man who wouldn't hestitate to shout 「Save me!」 if the situation was truly hopeless.

He didn't have the pride of the strong, nor was the kind of person who would fuss over a victory. He was a coward, timid, and the worst shaman but―― Even that coward had yet to give up.

Knowing that how could he allow himself, a hero, to give up?

「Snap it out Yuuto. This one is getting all fired up. It's about to do something.」

Ryuuichi fired a destructive blast with fire magic towards Orochi's head and bared its fangs while shouting at his buddy.

「Ah, coming right up, Ryuuichi. Hold on everyone, just a bit more until the core is destroyed! We might've to face eight heads in the end, but we have to stand our ground here!」

He made his choice.

「ROGER THAT, DAMN IT, BRING IT ON!」

「OU, I'LL SHOW THEM THE GUTS OF THE WARRIOR!」

「Like hell we will back down when Tendou-kun is still fighting.」

「Yeah, I'll do night crawling once we have won this fight.」

「E-Everyone, do your best!」

And his classmates seemed to be fully prepared for a more difficult battle of attrition.

Though both Ueda and Naki were pretty beaten up, they still raised their weapons, JuryMary didn't stop despite their erratic breathing, And even Himeno Airi was firing her 『Lux Sagita』.

Continue with the plan.

「Souma…」

「Asuna, I won't tell you to trust Momokawa. But, please trust me.」

Yuuto rushed toward the enemies after saying those words.

He had no hesitation in continuing the fight.

「There's no time to hesitate. Let's go all out――『Cross Calibur』.」

The hero's sword glowing brightly, it grew larger, and brighter.

Yuuto's duty in this plan was to keep the five heads at bay, not to defeat the enemy quickly.

If it were just to beat the enemy that keeps regenerating non-stop, he just needed to minimize his output enough to do the job for a long time. Now that he didn't have to hold back any longer, he could finally go all out. Thus, he never used 『Nero Lightning』 he used to speedily defeat the 1st and 2nd heads before sealing them.

But if they were so close to defeating them, there was no need to hold back anymore.

Not to mention that Yamata no Orochi could unleash its full power when all eight heads were together. Definitely not the kind of opponent that he could beat while holding back.

「Beat them up before the three heads head to this place!」

「Ou, time to go all out, eh.」

Just like Yuuto, Ryuuichi had also prepared to go all out.

The two aces wielded their sword, then decapitated one Orochi's head after another starting from the closest.

「HELL YEAH, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE AGAINST THEM!」

「Just a bit more.」

Ueda and Nakai mustered the last of their stamina.

On the other hand, JuryMary had already been rushing toward another head.

「Momokawa is seriously saying tha~t!」

「Just a while longer!」

They thrust their weapon in desperation while shouting at the top of their lungs.

The morale was high. No one was giving up.

「Yuuto, newcomers are joining the fray.」

「Ah, I can see from here but… There are only two heads.」

Two heads of Orochi came from both sides of the rocky mountain.

The heads were smaller in size and had pale color.

Though they had no idea how the three heads were destroying the seal, they knew that the seal might have weakened.

「The other head might be heading toward Momokawa's place.」

「Yup, that's what happened.」

「We can't do anything about that.」

「Kuh, Sakura…」

「Don't worry. They have Futaba over there, one head won't be a big deal for her.」

It could be said that Kotaro's side was lucky that not all heads were heading toward their party.

The 『Berserker』 Futaba Meiko could handle one head with ease. The situation wasn't as hopeless as they expected.

「I'll take care of the right head, Ryuuichi will take care of the left one.」

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