He who Protects the Transforming Heroines from The Shadows - Chapter 2 - Power

“Spriggan?”

Reizeroll stared at the man who had introduced himself as Spriggan, deep in thought.

The power and physical strength to kick away the massive monster she had created, that’s beyond normal. Ordinarily, such strength would point to him being a Guardian, one of those assigned to protect the Lightguide Princesses.

Lightguide Princesses were granted special powers by the Goddess, whereas Guardians were men chosen by the male deity who stands as the counterpart to the Goddess, and given strength to protect the Princesses.

However, while Guardians possess physical abilities beyond those of normal humans, they do not wield the kind of special powers Lightguide Princesses do. Yet the man before her had clearly used some kind of power just moments ago.

Enhanced physical prowess combined with supernatural abilities—this made him resemble a Lightguide Princess far too closely.

(No. But Lightguide Princesses must be female. That is an absolute rule.)

For several reasons, that truth was immutable. Then what exactly was this man standing before her?

(…He’s an irregular. The paralysis from the monster’s roar will soon wear off. In that case…)

After glancing briefly at the now-recovered monster, Reizeroll made her decision immediately.

♦

“…Huh?”

The boy who called himself Spriggan furrowed his brow without thinking. Because the enemy leader, Reizeroll, had suddenly sunk into the ground—or rather, into her own shadow.

However, Spriggan had seen this sight a few times before. That was Reizeroll’s retreat maneuver. In other words, she had immediately fled to prioritize her own safety.

“…Tch. Damn good judgment.”

Holding down his hat for no real reason, Spriggan muttered to himself. Normally, someone would panic a little when a mysterious figure appeared out of nowhere. And yet, Reizeroll had instantly chosen to retreat. She’s a sharp one.

“Now then…”

Spriggan turned his golden eyes toward the monster that had gotten back on its feet after his kick. All that was left was to deal with it.

“Hey, you two. Still can’t move?”

Spriggan half-turned to glance at Youka and Miya, who were still staring at him in a daze.

“Eh? Uh, no—I can move! I can move now, Youka!”

Miya reflexively tried to answer Spriggan’s question, only to realize mid-sentence that she could finally move her body. Wiping away her tears with the back of her hand, she took the still-stunned Youka’s hand. Good. It seemed the paralysis had worn off.

“Youka?”

But Miya found it strange that Youka wasn’t reacting to her at all. The paralysis should’ve ended, yet Youka hadn’t even blinked, and just stared straight at the boy who called himself Spriggan. For some reason, her gaze looked feverish. On closer look, her cheeks were slightly flushed. As Miya wondered what was going on, Spriggan bluntly called out to Youka.

“You, red one. Can you move or not?”

Finally snapping back to reality, “H-hweh!? M-me!? I can move! I can move! I could do a backflip if you want!?” so Youka stammered.

“B-but! Who are you, really…?”

Youka naturally asked the question on everyone’s mind. Beside her, Miya was now looking at Spriggan with a suspicious gaze as well.

“Doesn’t matter. More important right now is dealing with that thing.”

Spriggan dismissed her question outright and turned back to face the front.

“I’ll draw its attention. You two get that finisher ready.”
“Huh? But—”

Before Youka could say anything, Spriggan was already running toward the monster. “Ah! Wait just a second!?” Miya shouted complaints from behind, but he ignored her completely.

“GUUUOOOOHHHH!”

The monster let out a threatening roar as it pulled back and launched a massive right straight punch. It was easy to imagine that taking a direct hit from it would shatter every bone in one’s body.

(Too slow.)

Spriggan dodged the right straight, then suddenly accelerated, slipping behind the monster. To an average person, it would have looked like he had simply vanished.

(I see… impressive physical strength. In that case—)

As if conducting an experiment, Spriggan moved on to his next action.

“Guoh!?”

Apparently, to the monster, Spriggan really had seemed to disappear. While holding an image in his mind, Spriggan thrust his right hand forward.

“O’ Darkness, become the chains to bind the one before me—”

From around Spriggan’s right hand, countless dark-colored chains emerged and shot toward the monster. They coiled around it, completely robbing it of movement.

(Alright… I had an idea how to use it, but so that’s how it works.)

The process of using this power involved first visualizing the desired effect in one’s mind, then giving it form by speaking it aloud. That’s how it worked.

(I still have more things I want to test… but it’s almost time.)

““We shall guide your darkness into our light—””

Seeing the monster immobilized, the two girls took it as their chance and began their finishing incantation.

“Let the raging flame be turned into light—”

Youka held out her right hand in a gesture of prayer.

“Let the mystic water be turned into light—”

Following Youka, Miya extended her left hand forward.

Youka’s gauntlets and Miya’s staff suddenly glowed with a brilliant light. Their right and left hands overlapped—and the light was drawn into their joined hands, as if being absorbed.

“Purifying Light! Goooooooooooooooooooooo!!”

The light that had gathered in their hands shone even brighter, and then shot straight forward, piercing the monster bound by chains.

“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?”

The beam of light pierced through the monster and kept going, rushing toward Spriggan who stood behind it. But Spriggan didn’t so much as flinch—he simply stared straight ahead, unfazed.

However, just before the light reached Spriggan, it split into two streams and returned to Youka and Miya. The light then returned to its original forms—the gauntlets and the staff.

“Hmph…”

Spriggan snorted in apparent disinterest. The monster, pierced by the light, began to dissolve into particles of light.

Its massive body gradually shrank, returning to the size of a normal human. And eventually, the creature that had been a monster turned back into an ordinary person.

Yes—these monsters were originally human. But under Reizeroll’s influence, the darkness in their hearts had been driven into a frenzy, transforming them into such monstrous forms. The goddess referred to humans who had been transformed this way as Dark Thralls.

Well, when Spriggan first heard that explanation, he couldn’t help but think it was all a bit cliché.

Glancing at the man who had just reverted from being a Dark Thrall, Spriggan saw what appeared to be a man in his 40s wearing a suit—likely an office worker. Whatever darkness he had been carrying was unknown, but now he was sleeping with a peaceful expression. He’d likely regain consciousness soon.

As the monster was purified, Youka and Miya—still at a distance—locked eyes with Spriggan.

“U-Um!”

Youka finally called out to him with resolve.

“Thank you for saving us earlier! And, um, also—well…!”

But her words started to falter as she nervously fidgeted with her fingers, blushing. Seeing this, Miya stepped in to speak in her place.

“Thank you from me as well. But… I have a question. That power just now, and your superhuman physical abilities—just what are you?”

After expressing her gratitude, Miya posed the obvious question.

“In terms of power and physical ability, you two aren’t so different from me.”
“T-That’s not what I meant!”

Apparently taking it as teasing, Miya blushed slightly in frustration. Spriggan looked at her, confused as to why she was upset.

“…You want to know what I am? I already told you. I’m Spriggan.”
“That’s not what I meant either!!”
“M-Miya! Please calm down a little!”

As Miya got heated for some reason, Youka tried to soothe her in a panic. Ignoring the two of them, Spriggan turned his back on them.

“Ah, wait!”
“Are you trying to run away!? Stop right there!”

Paying no mind to their calls, Spriggan took off like the wind and vanished from the scene.

♦

“Phew…”

After escaping from the two girls, Spriggan caught his breath in a back alley of a residential neighborhood.

Given how things had gone, he’d thought they might chase after him, but perhaps they were more concerned about the person who had been turned into a Dark Thrall as they showed no signs of following him.

After confirming that no one was around, Spriggan muttered a single word;

“Cancel.”

In an instant, Spriggan began to change.

The long-brimmed hat dissolved into dark particles, followed by the black cloak, navy pants, deep red tie, and lace-up boots—all disintegrated into the air. In their place, the boy who had called himself Spriggan was now wearing the uniform of a certain school.

His eyes, once a glowing gold, returned to their natural black irises. His slightly long bangs shifted back into their usual, overly long state, partially covering his face.

“…That felt weird. First time transforming.”

Spriggan—no, Kijou Eito—muttered to himself out of habit. He had known how to transform and use the powers in theory, but today was the first time he had actually done it.

『—First of all, thank you, Eito.』

A woman’s voice echoed in his head. It seemed she had refrained from speaking during the fight out of consideration, but now that everything was over, she was addressing him again.

“Tch. It’s just part of the job. A job you forced onto me.”
『Yes… that’s true. I have nothing to say in return. I have disregarded your will and forced this role upon you.』

The voice, belonging to a woman, sounded sincerely apologetic. Eito leaned against the wall behind him and replied.

“You forced it on me, huh? More like an order than a request, wasn’t it? …Anyway, forget that for now, Soleil.”

He directed his words toward the voice in his head—the goddess Soleil.

“It’s good and all since I got there in time, but they could have died back there. You better tell them; Next time, be more on guard.”

This time, he had arrived just in time. But if he hadn’t, Youka would’ve died, and Miya probably right after. He’d noticed for a while now that those two were far too carefree, even though their lives were constantly on the line.

『You’re right. I’ll make sure to tell them that. Though I think this incident may have been enough to make them more cautious.』
“Even so. It means more coming from you. Saying something out loud makes a difference.”

Eito fidgeted with the pendulum in his hand, now returned to its original form, and looked up at the sky. It was nearly sunset.

『…You really are kind, Eito. Alright, I’ll be sure to tell them. But on a different note—Eito.』
“What?”

He listened to Soleil’s voice while slipping the pendulum back into his uniform pocket. Though “listening” to a voice in his head was a strange concept in itself.

『Why did you choose the name Spriggan?』

Her voice carried a teasing tone, like she already knew the answer. He couldn’t see her face right now, but he was sure she was grinning.

“……No reason. It just popped into my head, that’s all.”
『Hehe, I see, I see. You’re so cute, Eito.』
“You—are you mocking me!? I told you, it just popped into my head—!”
『Yes, yes.』
“Hey! You damn goddess! Listen to me!!”

Spriggan.
The name of a fairy said to guard hidden treasures. What that treasure truly is… depends on the one imagining it.