Chapter Five – The Mystical Meeting

Arifureta – Rising of the Irregular Hero has new chapter!

I'm here to say I'm very sorry for not updating for long time but I have been working on the future chapters for this story and another project for Fanfiction. However, the project will be hidden for now and please accept my deep apologies for not updating for while.

Special thank you goes to Xyaqom for helping me by beta reading the story so far and please check his stories when you get chance too! Check his latest story – Drogons: Rebirth.

Enjoy Chapter Five!

(At Heiligh Kingdom)

Shizuka walks thought the hallway of the kingdom with her right-hand was wiping the tears from her eyes as she was trying her best to get rid of the unnecessary feelings since she does not want to show any feelings in front of Kaori or Eri besides it was not her place to have any feelings for someone who might be gone from the living. She stops inside of her tracks and turns her head to remembering about how Hajime was not himself around the others when his parents were killed.

(Flashback)

At Tokyo High School, Shizuka was sitting down at her light brown wooden desk as she was waiting for her teacher to enter the classroom and she found herself on looking at Kaori is like empty shell of herself since she was missing Hajime Nagumo.

The door slides opens itself to reveals been young man with long deep brown hair went down to his shoulders and his eyes are light brown, but they were emotionless or empty of feelings since he just experienced a great lost inside of his life. His outfit is white button shirt with dark blue jacket down to his waist and black long pants down to his black with midnight blue outline shoes. Everyone were wondering about who this mysterious young man is, yet the question was not going to be answered since the young man went over to his light brown wooden desk then pulls the chair out to sits down at the wooden desk been Hajime Nagumo's seat.

"Who is that guy?" The question begins to surround the classroom and Kaori turns her head to sees the same young man who was sitting down at Hajime's wooden desk.

Kaori felt incredible pain inside of her chest because Hajime felt like he lost someone inside of his life and she was wondering about how she can help someone out of their depression. She was getting up from her wooden desk, yet her best friend been Shizuka took her right-hand with her left-hand as she shakes her head 'no' because Hajime needs to be alone for little bit to manage this pain.

Hajime turns his head towards the window to sees the beautiful light blue skies and white clouds were dancing around with his thoughts, "The funeral was just two days ago, but I feel alone in the world nearly." His expression does not change a bit from loneliness and pain since he was thinking about getting a job to take his mind off things. Teacher opens the door to the classroom and begins walk inside of the classroom which she begins to see everybody was little curious about the new student who inside of their classroom.

"Hey teacher, who is this new student?" Kouki asks the Teacher Aiko with comfortable and respectful voice because he did not know it was Hajime which he was coming back to school. Aiko placed the books down onto the light brown wooden desk as she looks up to sees Hajime was mess, but she knows that he was hurting inside of his heart and mind since he lost parts of himself.

"That's Hajime Nagumo." Aiko tells everyone with honest voice and comfortable expression appears onto her face.

Everyone exception Kaori and Shizuka realize the young man with long hair down to his shoulders is Hajime Nagumo which the news of his parents were killed in their jobs left them with nothing to say or try to do anything with him.

(End of Flashback)

Shizuka looks away from the images of the light blue moon and dark blue skies were surrounded the moon as Shizuka begins her journey back to Kaori's bedroom with her right-hand reaches out to opens the dark blue door to reveals the large bedroom.

Kaori was laying down inside of the crimson bedsheets as Shizuka went over to her best friend to sees the clear tears inside of her sleeping tears as Shizuka's thoughts, "I… No, we should be stronger for the labyrinth." Her voice is comfortable, but she felt herself been defeated by the depths of the labyrinth which she went over to the bed and begins to wonder if Kaori is going to wake up soon since it has been five days since the incident inside of the labyrinth.

Shizuka sees Kaori was beginning to wake up and she raises from the bed of looking around the room then she first sees her best friend. "Shizuka, what happened?" Kaori asks her with comfortable voice, and she got hugged by Shizuka been warm and smooth.

"Thanks goodness that you are alright." Shizuka responds back to Kaori with tender voice, and she was worried about her best friend, but Kaori hugs her back. However, Shizuka did not know how to respond back to the next question since Kaori was going to ask the next question.

"Where is Nagumo?" Kaori asks the question with comfortable voice, and she wanted to see Hajime is all right and she was hoping that Hajime was here and recovering from the labyrinth.

"I hate to tell you this, but Nagumo is gone." Shizuka responds back to her best friend with honest voice and her expression shows great concerned about her best friend since they were going to miss Hajime.

Kaori found the tears of sadness because she could not believe it because she failed at her promise to protect him then Kaori begins to wonder on her next decision on her path. "I have to go and find Nagumo." She was telling Shizuka with tender voice and Kaori was trying to get out of her bed since Kaori is worried about Hajime, which Shizuka wanted nothing more, but she had no choice to stop Kaori from leaving the room. "I want to be stronger to find out the truth." Kaori continues to speak with her tone becomes determination and she was going to get up onto her feet with Shizuka's help.

"Kaori, I will be right there to help you on every step of the way." Shizuka responds back to her best friend with warm smile shows itself onto her lips, yet the bedroom's door opens to reveals it to be Eri and the nun that Hajime was hanging out with since they got to this mystical world.

"You can count us in too." Eri speaks with confidence inside of her voice and the nun only nods her head since she wanted to see her Hajime again. Kaori and Shizuka were surprised about Eri's confession on helping them with their tasks which Kaori brought the idea of how Eri might have feelings for Hajime since she did notice that Hajime and Eri did hang out with one another as couple times.

"Eri, do you happen to have feelings for Hajime?" Shizuka asks the question with tender voice and her expression shows concerned about the answer then Eri becomes intense red since she did not know how to respond back to her question. Eri becomes slightly nervous around the question since she did not think about the question since she was always thinking about how Hajime was her hero, but does she have feelings for him since Hajime is one of her friends who wanted nothing more than her friendship. The truth was going to be released soon since Hajime might be gone from the world of living and Eri did not want to hold anything back from her friends.

"Yes… I am in love with Hajime Nagumo." Eri was telling her friends with honest voice, and she wanted to see Hajime again then she wanted to keep him inside of her arms to keep him safe inside of her arms.

Noint turns her head to sees Eri was telling the truth then she turns her attention towards Kaori and Shizuka were surprised about the news of having feelings for Hajime which she was thinking about confessing her own feelings for Hajime. However, she wanted to see Hajime again and make sure nothing bad has happened to him than Noint felt someone was rushing though the hallway of the Heiligh Kingdom.

"Thanks goodness that you ladies are alright." A soldier within dark silver knight armor as he was worried about everyone's safety since the rest of the soldiers were standing their grounds since someone has detected a strong but devilish aura heading towards them or they were heading towards the Orcus Labyrinth. "We have just received news that a top tier ranking demon is heading towards the Orcus Labyrinth." The soldier continues to speak with concern and serious voice as the girls becomes surprised that the demons were making their first moves on the world.

Noint tilts her head down onto the floor of trying to figure out on why the demon was going to the Orcus Labyrinth for. The question is not going to be answered because everyone felt Heiligh Kingdom was shaking slightly as their attention turns to sees the wall was protecting the kingdom from the outside forces was getting shattered like glass which it was Demon Mage.

(Before Attack on Heiligh Kingdom)

A man who was wearing a long black jacket down to his waist with dark crimson outline with his inner clothes is black button shirt and midnight long blue pants down to his black shoes. His jacket had large hood on covering his face, yet his midnight blue eyes appeared out of the shadows of the hood as he was going to follow the commands of the Demon Lord Lance since the human needs to pay for disturbing the balance of the world. He turns his head to the other low-level Demon Mages who were ready to strike at the outside of the wall and his hands placed themselves in front of them with his spell is called 'Demon Magic – Shattered Dimensions.' The stall falls apart in front of the Demon Mage and low-level Demon mage then the Leader of Mages speaks towards the low-level Mages before they move inside of the small parts of the village.

"Mages, I want you to go and find the resources to find the next labyrinth which ring is hidden inside of the labyrinth." Demon Mage spoke towards them with firm voice and his expression is showing to be serious about the mission since Demon Lord Lance was going to need little time to finding the labyrinth and get its ring for their deeds.

(Present)

Demon Mage continues his way thought the village and he found himself in front of someone unexpecting which it was Heiligh Kingdom's gates which it was been protected by the so-called 'Hero' Kouki.

"I see they have seen the chosen heroes from another world to aid them inside of this battle." Demon Mage begins to speak again to Kouki with smooth voice and his lips forms sinister smile was placed onto his lips because Kouki was not going to be the type to backdown from a fight.

"That's right but I'm the Hero Kouki." Kouki responds back to the Demon Mage with serious voice, yet he could feel the Demon Mage was more powerful than he can ever imagine it. Demon Mage was going to 'play around' with the so-called Hero Kouki which Demon Mage's left hand raises itself with black gauntlet appears with sharp claw for his fingers with blood red crystal appears at center of his arm. Black gauntlet has blood red outline which Kouki did not understand about what that gauntlet is or what it can do.

Kouki was rushing towards the Demon Mage with his golden sword was incoming from the horizontal style, but the Demon Mage dodges the attack with easiness as his left gauntlet hand shows black sphere with dark red lightning surrounded it. Kouki jumps away as the ball of energy was sent towards the wall of the light brown stone house to destroys parts of the wall. Demon Mage shows little impressive inside of his expression since Kouki dodged the attack, yet he was only going to use 15% of his powers against Kouki for he does not want to waste it on this so-called Hero. Kouki tries his best to close the distance to stab the Demon Mage, but he dodges the attack as the Demon Mage punches Kouki's middle section of his chest area and it felt the air was taken out of Kouki's body.

"How is this guy so powerful and what is this magic?" Kouki speaks to himself with concerned voice and his energy was leaving him which the Demon Mage pulls away from him. Demon Mage shows sinister smile underneath his head since he was not going to reveal his ability to take energy from his enemies than use it against them.

Kouki was going to get back up onto his feet to fight this Demon Mage, but the Demon Mage turns his head to sees a nun who happens to be Noint. Her clear blue eyes were looking at the Demon Mage with her emotionless expression shows itself again in front of the Demon Mage. Eri and Shizuka shows up at Noint's side as they turned to sees Kouki was trying his best to get up back onto his feet because this person did something to Kouki.

(At Orcus Labyrinth)

Floor Eighty-Two, Hajime had belt of golden capsules which they were filled of Holy Water which they might come handle during his journey. He kept walking forward though empty and stone ground with his eyes were serious because all the monsters were killed off or someone took them out which the question is who did it?

"I can feel someone's aura but its feels like nothing like I ever felt before." Hajime told himself with a firm voice and he continues the journey forward, but he stops inside of his tracks to sees a man with black down to his neck as his hair had midnight blue highlights inside of his hair, his eyes are deep blue, and his outfit is black long jacket with dark blue outline as his black buttoned shirt and black long pants down to his midnight blue boots.

The man twists the White Demon Bear's head to breaking it into three places as he tosses the bear away from him as he sees that he had audience.

"Well, hello there." He responds back to Hajime with friendly and smooth voice as his expression shows great honor to meeting Hajime. His aura felt intense and terrifying to feel to be around him, but Hajime was not holding any regrets or fear about this person. "So, what do I owe this pleasurable visit?" This mysterious character speaks towards Hajime with his head bows in front of Hajime to be respectful for him than Hajime nods his head towards the man.

"My name is Hajime Nagumo and I'm looking for way out of this labyrinth." Hajime told the mysterious character with firm voice, and he was straight-forward about his goal to leave the Orcus Labyrinth which the mysterious character shows sinister smile because this young man was going to be beat him in time for racing towards the end of labyrinth.

"Well, Hajime… I believe we can make agreement since I am after the Ring of Orcus." Mysterious character says his goal as his presences inside of the Orcus Labyrinth with firm voice and Hajime begins to wonder if this mysterious character is after something else then the Ring of Orcus. His hair covers his eyes for his memories brought back the lessons about how Noint told him that the Rings of Labyrinths were dangerous and powerful rings to have inside of their possessions since anybody who gets all of them then they could open any gates to anywhere or revival anybody from the lands of the dead. "My name is Lance." Lance introduces himself to Hajime with comfortable voice, yet Hajime was thinking about the decision on making the agreement with Lance or not.

"Lance, so why are you after the Ring of Orcus." Hajime responds back with his voice is serious and his right-hand was ready to grab 'Donner' to been ready for the fight with him. His expression becomes more focused at Lance and begins to walk around the stone field with his hand placed onto his chin of trying to think about how Hajime could be smarter than he should believe it.

Hajime was keeping himself on guard around this person and his head turns to sees a large snake been black with dark yellow strips as its eyes are dark golden slit went towards Hajime. He jumps away from the large snake than turns his head to sees Lance was gone like he did not exist and Hajime lands onto his feet with his right-hand takes out 'Donner' with his thoughts, "I have a bad feeling about Lance, but something is telling me that he was not telling me the full truth about collecting the Rings of Labyrinth." His voice is serious about how Lance was hiding something from him, and Hajime aims his gun towards the snake then shoots the snake, but swiftly dodges the bullets with Hajime becomes focused on defeating the snake.

Behind a large rock, Lance is laying against the large rock, and he begins to leave the labyrinth since he could just steal the Ring of Labyrinth from Hajime sometime soon. His lips forms sinister smile since he was going to enjoy on watching Hajime on becoming more powerful person to fight in the future as he walks into the shadows of the labyrinth to make an easy escape from this area.

Lance creates a magical circle with his right-hand than shots an energy blast to signal that to Demon Mages that time is up, and it is time to leave. The snake's tail strikes Hajime, and it sends him though large rock which it makes Hajime lose his breath and small amount of his blood then Lance was thinking about helping Hajime out. He stops inside of his tracks to sees Hajime has light purple aura surrounding him with his eyes extends because Hajime might have the powers to become a Demon Lord here if he chooses to be one. Light blue lightning begins to appear onto the ground as Hajime begins to rush towards the large snake as it releases a large roar at Hajime.

Hajime dodges the snake's tail attack as his 'Donner' then he shoots the large snake's left side of its face and the snake roars in pain. Its head begins to rush towards Hajime of trying to eat him, but Hajime jumps away but his right-hand summoned a large rock for the snake to eat into it. "You are done!" Hajime screams loudly as he uses his 'Aerodynamics' towards the large snake with his right-hand was pointing his 'Donner' to the large snake's head then shots two explosion bullets to destroy the snake's head in large explosion.

(At Heiligh Kingdom)

Demon Mage and other Mages were ready to battle the nun who was Noint, yet Demon Mage's right-hand stands in front of them with his head turns to look at them with his head shakes 'no' because they should not force themselves into a battle with this one. His eye sees the star forms inside of dark blue skies and it was signal from Demon Lord Lance to evacuate the area.

"It's your lucky day since my master is calling for us to leave this area." Demon Mage was telling the so-called Heroes with honest voice and his expression shows serious side towards them. Kouki points his sword at the Demon Mage and the Mages with his expression shows been serious about defeating them someday, but he continues to speak, "You are waste of my time besides, I believe your hero complex mind is fucking useless here." His voice makes the point across for Kouki was just trying to pretend to be something that he is not, which the Demon Mage and the other Mages begins to walk into the shadows to leave the Heiligh Kingdom.

Noint looks at Kouki to sees his expression had his mind was shaking slightly by the words of the Demon Mage and she begins to leave the area since she had no time to get him back from this depression or reality that he thinks he is living in. Kaori, Eri and Shizuka looks at one another than begins to leave Kouki there since he needed to learn that the reality of his was not real.

(At Orcus Labyrinth)

Hajime begins his journey forward with his thoughts were surrounded by what Lance said to him about agreement to get the Rings of Labyrinth which he was trying to put the pieces together. He walks towards the field of stone with his mind could not wrapped it around the ideas about what Lance was telling him with honest voice inside of his thoughts. The journey forward was empty with no monsters in front of him which he was not sensing anything around him, yet he sees a large midnight gray door with three circles at center of it.

"I got nothing." Hajime was telling himself with soft tone and his right-hand of wondering if the skills been 'Transmute' which he continued to speak, "I will use Transmute to see what happens." With his right-hand reaches up to touching the door with dark crimson lightning appears in front of Hajime then he jumps away. His eyes sees the stone falls onto the solid floor and Hajime sees the stone statues are coming to life to sees one of them is midnight blue and red giant roars of cyclones.

Hajime shows straight-forward expression since he will have to think about his directions of attacks with his head turns to sees the midnight crimson giant was ready to strike at Hajime with its right-hand aims went for Hajime. He jumps away from the giant's fierce punch attack and breaks the solid with his right-hand holding his 'Donner' points at the midnight crimson giant to shoots the eye to kill it off.

"Now for the next one and I already know how this works, so let us do this fast." Hajime responds back with his firm tone and his expression shows itself been fierce because there was still one more enemy to deal with. Midnight blue giant uses its only eye to shots photon blast from it and Hajime jumps away from the attack of trying to dodge the photon blast attack. "Son of a bitch!" Hajime was telling the giant with firm voice and his eyes turns to sees another attack from midnight blue giant's right-hand went to strikes Hajime towards the solid wall then he slides down onto the floor with his hair covers his eyes. Midnight blue giant walking over for he was going to leave nothing at his wake; however, Hajime was the one person that was standing his way to protecting the giant door with the secrets were duties that were left to himself and his partner.

Midnight blue giant goes to Hajime to finish the job on killing Hajime, yet it was not ready for small ball been light grenade blinds him for small amount of time. It led to Hajime to grabbing his 'Donner' than shoots two bullets inside of its head to eliminate from the labyrinth which it falls onto the solid grounds of the labyrinth with Hajime was breathing in then out of trying to capture a breath of fresh air since he just went through two intense battles at the same time.

"I should rest for now to get my strength back but first." Hajime went over to examines the giants' cyclones then he takes out mana stones from their bodies to find crimson and light blue stones from their bodies as his thoughts brought more the answers that they were guardians of the giant door. "Now, I should take a look inside of that room that you were protecting with your lives." Hajime continues to speak as he continues to journey forward to places the mana stones in the right sequence to sees dark green vines were disappearing to reveals a large golden with black outline square at the middle of it.

Hajime takes one of the capsules out and breaks the seal then drinks the Holy Water to heal his body, stamina, and mana which he says, "Thanks goodness that I got these capsules." He steps forward to sees the square stops moving around which he begins to think that he was hearing but it might be trick since he took his 'Dinner' out been ready to shoot at any threats.

"Whose there?" A voice speaks with tender voice and Hajime sees a beautiful girl who had blonde hair which her eyes are bright crimson. She looks like her appearance had her seventeen years old.

"Is that a person." Hajime asks about the person was sealed inside of the box which he was thinking about how this girl is came to be sealed but he not think about it. "Well, I should going now." Hajime was telling the girl which he turns around and begins walk out of the room.

"Wait! Do not leave!" The girl speaks with loud voice because she did not want to see her only hope leave as the dark green vines begins to form around the square and room again. "Please help!" She was asking for the stranger with soft voice because she did not want to be left alone again.

"Not doing it." Hajime responds back to the helpless girl with firm voice, and he was not going to help someone besides, he might end up on making a mistake on it. Hajime begins to walk out of the large room, but he stops inside of his tracks when he hears soft tears hitting on the solid ground than his head turns to sees the girl was crying.

"Please I was betrayed by someone that I trusted." The girl tells Hajime with honest voice and his eyes looks down at the solid ground with his hair covers his eyes of remembering about how his classmates betrayed him. Girl begins to look up to sees Hajime in front of her which she was surprised to see someone was going to listen to her story.

"Okay… So, you were locked up in this labyrinth." Hajime told the girl with comfortable voice, and she was staring at him with eyes were filled of confidence that Hajime was not going to leave her since he wanted to hear her story first before he makes the decision to release her or not. "However, I want to hear your story because I rather not release you if you plan to lie to me than kill me." Hajime told her with his comfortable voice becomes serious and determined to end her life if this girl plans to do anything against him when he releases her than he will continue his journey to completing the labyrinth alone.

"Very well, I shall tell you, my story." The girl speaks with tender voice, and she closes her eyes to where she starts her story for the young man to listen it.

To Be Continued!