My clues about the durability of this Anime Girl body were dubious at best. After all, I only got punched by a bear, who I later learned was one of the world's strongest. I knew about the 'red' instead of blood from that encounter. I knew I could survive a massive crushing boulder.

These weren't on the top of my mind. It's not my fault I've been all over the place. No. It sort of happened. What was it Stehy said? 「If there is to be justice and order in the world, I will bring it。」

I have zero idea if that's what she actually said. My memory hasn't been great lately, and my loli ripped my heart from my chest, so it's tough-going. And Hohemi's here, so I'm worried. I don't remember my last conversation, but since Niji is now equipped in full gothic lolita regalia I am fully expecting monetary extortion.

There is also the matter of the life or death battle between Negi and Yarko behind me. Niji seems to have calmed down after I got angry at her. I can't read her at all, but Anime Girl is giving me an internal thumb-ups signal. I felt comfortable enough to look away, although the fear she'd sic her firebats on me and pull on my heartstrings some more lingered.

As I watched Yarko's bat and Negi's swords spark off each other, I focused on one thought.

"I've really got to train my lolis better."

Stehy isn't responsive. Niji is rebellious. Anime Girl works, until she doesn't. Unreliable, unreliable, unreliable. Of course, my palm massaged the center between my brows, I am the most unreliable one. But, that doesn't mean I can't turn this around.

Because I have more ability than I'd though. This, simply, from the start, might have been a misjudgement on my part. I don't have all the facts, and I doubt I ever will. Maybe I have the incarnations of chaos and evil for a scarf and a shoe. And maybe I've spent the last few days wandering around in a daze due to my own magic, worrying about what I might never know.

The details could be extracted, yeah— I would like clarity. But, watching Yarko punt Negi's face, I felt better about my situation. A spray of blood came from Negi's face.

My hand reached for my chest to explore the damage, but I lowered it. I don't want to know. Do not want to think about chest being open. My eyes scanned above me towards the dark spot on the ceiling hiding my greatest challenge. I'm already blaming Hohemi thinking 'hey aren't you going to butt in and say something about this? To a normal person this is what dead slash dying looks like. Is your dedication to stealth really so great? Do you have trouble opening up around people?'

The last part is a bit much since I apparently stripped her myself. I want to know what part of me thought that was a good idea. Can I blame getting drunk or something? I'm blame getting drunk to save my mental fortitude.

Now, looking over at the lifeless body of the No-Life King, I thought about ending this. Yarko's cackles and Negi's screams of despair were getting louder. It's been an exhausting evening and I currently could use a great deal of medical attention, even if my chest will heal on it's own the desire to have someone look at it and say "you'll be fine!" is becoming greater.

Not that I think anyone would. So, that basically means I'd have to wake up Stehy, because I don't want to hear it from Niji or Yarko. And if Hohemi comforted me like that I could only think of it as a dirty lie. She doesn't know. She'd say anything if it meant smoothing things over before she extorted me to my last penny.

Not that I'm sure of that— it's instinct more than anything. Instinct.

And so- let's destroy all humanity. No, wait, destroying humanity can wait. Kill Negi first. That way, I have one more corpse one less enemy and his harem class will be ripe for the picking.

"Mu ha ha." I said out loud, half mocking my own ridiculous thoughts as I approached the No-Life King's body. Next to him lay what was no doubt his treasured sword. A sword imitating the main character of Gintama's, Gin's tourist wooden sword.

The No-Life King himself who in his dying words admitted failure to becoming an Anime Girl in this life has passed on. And so, I will loot his corpse as is my right. This is a fantasy world, and since my loli ganked him, it's only right and proper that his stuff is now my stuff.

I snatch Gin's wooden sword from the ground, giving it experimental swings in the air. As I did, I got a slight glimpse of the mess below my neck. Stabbing my new sword into a nearby corpse, I pulled my arms out of my blazer and wound it around my body. With my blazer on backwards, at least it will look like I'm fine. I'm fine. Right?

Putting it out of mind, I grabbed the sword, and as I swung it into the air, 'that' came to mind. Oh well. It's 'that', I might as well use it. It's not like I've been in many straight fights since I fought Negi alone. First, let's incap the rebel loafer loli scum.

Niji stood away from me watching Yarko take on Negi with interest, so she didn't see me use [Spectral Strike] on her. Since I don't shout attacks anymore because I decided that power boost or no, it's not cool, and in this case it might have reduced my stealth bonus, I got a free hit on my loli. She's sleeping now. The Dark Souls HP bar hanging in front of my eyes turned entirely yellow from the usual blood red, then drained entirely. Cheat kill. I'll take it.

[Spectral Strike] is perhaps my ultimate ability. One hit, one ragdoll opponent. Great for pacifists. Doesn't need charging or replacement parts like a stun gun does. I failed to use [Spectral Strike] against Negi. I may have forgot. I thought of that 'tee-hee pero' face some Anime Girl's make where they stick out their tongue and close one eye. I'm not going to do it, it looks stupid. Plus there is the question of doing it in real life versus seeing a character do it on screen. But, that's about how I feel right now.

I stepped over my crumpled loli. She's got no mana now thanks to my super-useful spell I have barely used, [Spectral Strike]. I wonder if it's such a consistent spell because it's based on a strong memory? That, or I've altered my loli forever. Let's not think of difficult things.

First of all, thinking of difficult things doesn't help me live much. I've literally had my heart torn out because I was obsessed with difficult things. I think if you cut my IQ in half and directed my attention towards small bits of information at a time, slowly letting me digest each piece before I went to the next, I'd actually have a much better time being alive.

So, let's think simple. Negi on ground, good. I strode over the unfolding fight between my scarf and harem protagonist, both were—

Nope, looks like Negi's losing. I expected, "Yarko was on the ropes!" or "It was an even fight. Glad I'm here to be the unfair element that turns Negi's fight from difficult to a significant life challenge." Yarko's strikes had no elegance in them at all, but her bat looked more like a club.

Each attack of Yarko's would thud down onto parts of Negi, sword's or not, knocking him back. In Negi's defense he was setting up traps of ice and locking Yarko down, but it would all end the same. Yarko would create some unexpected movement at the last second, barely squeeze out of encasing ice or incoming icicles, then counter with another heavy strike.

And, from what I could see, Yarko only did heavy strikes. Negi panted at the edge of the cavern, half holding himself up with an arm wrapped around his stomach, blood caked over half his face. One of his swords was missing and the other was bent. It does look bad.

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I don't like Negi and wishing for him to just die, or really everyone should just die, feels like a phrase that could come out of my mouth at any moment— however, at this point I really am looking at a Negi about to die.

So, I can't have Yarko killing Negi. Because, murder is bad. I figured I might have to kill Hohemi, Ouji, and Negi during when we met the first time, but now that I'm not directly fighting it feels like charity is order.

I attacked Yarko with [Spectral Strike]. The attack has an added bonus of an initial speed boost, so I closed the gap between Yarko and I then stabbed Gin's sword at her. My new wooden blade doesn't need strength. It's only a medium for the spell to dispel my opponents mana. Once I do that, Yarko will be sitting out and I can bully— er, "help" Negi as much as I wish.

Yarko swirled around in place. Her off-hand not wielding her bat slapped me like a sumo wrestler. The sting on my face hurt my pride more that my body. My own hand was already at my cheek, my thoughts tumbling around with 'how dare you!'s before I took I good hit in my stomach from the metal bat.

I tumbled across the sewer cavern, hoping my heart wouldn't fall out. As I screeched to a stop, I barked at Yarko to stand down and let me gank her.

"Yarko! Bad!"

Why am I talking to her like she's a dog? Is that my opinion of her? Really, it'd only take one tiny tap of my new not stolen wooden sword to turn her as limp as the scarf she is so I can feel like I'm not responsible for the murder of a Negi. Is this too much to ask?

Yarko's brilliant I'll-eat-you smile was turned towards me now, and she charged. I blocked an appearing thicket of attacks, her fist and bat seemed interchangable as my mind slipped into zen. Each attack demanded my full attention, and my body readily gave it. I felt as if I was in top form, more focused than I'd ever been. It felt for sure that I didn't want even a single attack to hit my body.

The thought that it was Yarko, my own scarf, that was attacking, didn't seem to factor in until I took I hit. Then, as I rolled across the cavern floor a second time clutching my arm and hoping my heart wouldn't slip out, did I really begin to consider that "my own scarf is beating me up."

Then before I got up, I took a kick to the chest. Bad area, had some recent trauma there. A stomp to my face. It's a very cute face, so I'd rather you not. My hair wasn't pulled or threatened by fire, but it did splash into some mud when I took a suplex. There was the part where my arm got pulled the wrong way. That happened a few times before I found myself panting on the ground, crawling away.

It was like a dog found a new chew toy. The chew toy is me. And, as quickly as I took all the hits and was strewn across the ground in grumbling misery, the dog was off to go strike at it's earlier target.

Needless to say Yarko and I will be having words later. I'm not a violent person, so this is a new phase in my Anime Girl life. I coughed. Some red painted the sewer cavern stone below me. Not a good day, is it. Ha ha.

「hEh。hEh。hEh。」

Yarko's madness reached my ears as I heard strangling Negi sounds. If he dies, it's really not my fault this time. Look, I tried not to be a murderer, my scarf wouldn't let me. This is what I get for leaving Heaven(Pillow Rat Tree). I dreamed vaguely of the comfortably plush fur and fat pillow rats of that sacred week, where I perfected my [Spectral Strike] and worked 30% of the day. That included memorizing Kirei's Tome, which didn't help too much after all anyways beyond giving me some rumination fuel, which I don't think I ever needed anyways.

My hand checked my chest, gingerly searching across my blazer hoping to stuff my heart back inside my body where I want it. I'm starting to think about retiring to the countryside. Maybe being naked was good. Maybe non sentient clothes that can't read my mind. Me and Anime Girl and sleeping. That, that sounds good.

I felt a finger poke into my head. A familiar smell, Hohemi's chest, though still distant, I remember it well. I tilted my head miserably, and saw them. You know. The thing below the waist but above the thighs. 'That.'

"Are you okay?" Hohemi said. She sounded like a good person for a moment there.

I knew she must have seen me get thrashed. So, maybe her pity was evoked. I barely know her, but I do know that when thinking of trusting her I get the sense I'd be pulled down into hell. I already feel like I'm there.

"I'm fine." I gasped out. Is my heart still here? In my chest cavity? I wanted to ask, but I felt like it would be rude to ask a girl. We're not that close.

Another poke from Hohemi. This one felt more like a prod.

"I'll get you out of here. I know someone who can heal you. You'll be fine."

The sweeter the voice of this incarnation of treachery and deceit and femininity sounds the more I am worried for my mental health.

"Nah. I'm good." My death rattling voice is still cute. I give myself plus two brownie points. I'll spend them in Anime Girl Vahalla for cute conversations with slice of life protagonists that go nowhere more serious than an afternoon shopping trip.

"I'll get you out of here. Stay calm. I've got you." Hohemi said, wrapping my arm around her back. I debated fondling her chest out of rage for the gall she had trying to help me, but I chickened out since that violates my morals.

And, she's comforting me now! What are you, a normal person! Just because my vision is fading doesn't mean you get to play hero now! I'm too cute, is it that, is it that anyone would see me dying and instantly turn into my ally?! Is it some area of effect spell that activates when my HP is under 20%?!

"Nah. I'm. Good. Just. Do the spider thing to Yarko."

"You're be fine. Hang in there."

"No, seriously, do that spider thing. I can take her. I can't let Negi die before I kill him."

Hohemi stopped at those words. We held a whispered conference I could barely focus on as I explained in a great deal of words about how I wanted her to use whatever she used on me in that cave to stop Yarko's movements.

"You're in no shape to fight. I thought you were dead."

"Nah, I know this looks bad, but, I'm an Anime Girl, so I've got this."

"I still can't believe what you told me yesterday about you being from this 'Earth' place. Let Negi die. He's just a brat wilder with two swords, no one will miss him."

"His harem-class will!"

"What are you taking about? I'm getting you some help. It's already a long way to the surface, stop struggling."

I stopped. Digging my feet into the ground, Hohemi had to stop too. She wasn't about to win in a contest of strength between an Anime Girl overflowing with Wizardly mana versus her normal assassin girl body.

"Hohemi. I don't trust you. I don't like you."

"We had a great time yesterday!"

"I have memory loss of that conversation so even if we did I don't care. Just do what I ask. I may look half=dead to fully dead, but I'm special. This is just a scratch. And, I'll make it up to you. Within reason. I'm really— good at stuff. I think. Either way, my adventurer rank is SSS+ and I have no problem showering you in Ouji's money, and, I'm okay, so, stop being nice and tie up my scarf."

We had another whispered conversation where I had to clarify I meant Yarko equals scarf. Then, we circled back towards the sound of the battle. Hohemi crouched, gradually freeing herself from my weight as I supported my body. Hohemi peeled off, giving me another few "we really should go" 's and "are you really okay?" 's before she finally went off to launch the snagging spider spell on Yarko.

I call it that now because although Hohemi called it something, my mind was not recalling it properly at the time. I have plenty of mana to attempt a heal or something of the sort on my body, but after mishaps like Uiharu and the Dio spell, I was afraid I might alter myself permanently. I could sleep this off, I'm sure. Right? Okay, maybe not, Anime Girl said it would heal up just fine though so might as well trust her.

Gotta, gotta [Spectral Strike] Yarko. I put out of mind the question of whether Negi would thank me for this or attack me in my sleep— I readied my mana, steadied Gin's sword in front of me, and waited.

Negi was already on the ropes from three-quarters dead to fully dead before another one of his attempts to encase Yarko fired off. Yarko broke free from the top of her body, but as soon as she did some invisible restraints hit her.

Yarko's body froze. Such a squirmy tentacle-esque body shouldn't freeze so unnaturally. It was as if her nerves told her body to stop. The time Hohemi used that 'injection' to feel out my mana came to mind. I called it a 'spider spell', but maybe it's closer to puppet strings?

Either way, I didn't miss the chance to non lethal my scarf and put an amount of mana I was moderately uncomfortable with behind my [Spectral Strike]. As I sailed through the air with the No Life King's discarded sword, I regret putting that much into it. As my sword hit and I heard the sword crack into pieces, I hoped Yarko wouldn't get hurt. As Yarko's body slumped to the ground, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Likewise across from me, a bloody kid flopped to the ground. As the sounds of battle silence, I realized I was going to have a long trek home carrying his body.

"I can't leave him here, right?" I thought, thinking of the homunculi. I didn't get a good look at Negi's wounds but I'm going to assume he's no Anime Girl. And, that is a lot of blood. Hohemi didn't bring it up when I shouldered his sleeping body. Whatever Hohemi, or Hohemi's scrounged up healer charges me, I'm going to have to pay.

I went to Yarko's body and Niji's in turn, giving a direct order by touch to revert them to clothing so they'd be easier to carry. It worked, and finally, I had two loafers instead of one. Now, to climb out of the sewers ignoring this huge gash on my chest for the sake of sanity.