As I requested, the Librarian pushed her worries aside and transported to Earth.
However, the first thing I thought was that maybe I should have given it a little more prior consideration. Or rather, so simple planning.
’...Is there no one here?’
Finding myself abruptly transported to a place of enclosed darkness, it took a few seconds to realise it was actually a bathroom stall with all the lights turned off.
I already knew that the last ti I was on Earth was when I visited that popular café place with Iva, of course, but I forgot for a mont that ti passed differently in other worlds.
Fortunately, although ti flowed quite a lot faster in the Gravetender’s world than on Earth, I managed to clear the Contract quickly enough that it very quickly began to feel irrelevant.
’I guess it’s night then.’
My curiosity taking over, I decided to quickly check and summoned my smartphone.
Imdiately after, the ends of my lips curled downwards.
"...It’s not working."
Was it out of battery? That reminds , I never did get the opportunity to charge it ever since disappearing, did I... I suppose I could consider it fortunate enough that the battery life seed to pause when it was in Storage. I believed that’s what happened for it to last so long, anyway. Or maybe it just drained slower. In any case, I would need a charger before――
’Ugh. Forget about it. Not like it really matters anyway.’
Dismissing it, I instead summoned the Villain’s Vizard.
Unlike the issue with the phone or the ti, there was one important thing I had made sure to never forget in relation to my return to Earth.
That was, quite simply―to keep my true identity under wraps.
Frankly, it was a mistake for to have co to this café on that day. It alerted her to my location for one, and secondly, it forced to use this mask to disguise myself.
Really, I could only be thankful that the Vizard worked to obfuscate my identity even to those who watched my face as I put the thing on in front of them, and also that my past self tested it beforehand.
’If I didn’t have this, they could just tell everyone that they’re looking for "Enki", and since they ca to this specific location to look for , everyone who knows would know imdiately who they’re talking about.’
Of course, that by itself was true even with the mask, and was another problem altogether.
However, at the very least, I could maintain a firm distinction between the identities of ’Awakened Enki Valentine’ and ’the Demon King who murdered John Pierce’ in the eyes of the world.
Assuming, as Leinth had warned , that they were camped outside this building right now, waiting to ambush anyone who erged, the Vizard would not allow them to recognise as Enki.
Even if the opponent was a dragon, that should always remain true.
’By the way... They haven’t attacked yet?’
Sothing was off about that. I thought they might detect imdiately and go for it, but on the contrary, it was dead silent all around.
’She couldn’t have been mistaken.’
Was it Sneak? I doubted it. Then...
’...They’re waiting.’
Most likely, they wanted to catch off guard.
’Well, unfortunately for them, it won’t work if I’m expecting it.’
I could even sense nurous presences outside―Actually, all over the place outside, aning they had probably sanctioned off this building specifically.
After brief deliberation, I decided to summon the Divine Sword; aside from the dual enhancent, primarily, I thought the Anti-magic property would be ideal if the dragon were to appear, and it would also be a good opportunity to test out those other Weapon Skills.
Also, as far as I was aware, there were no Protagonists currently existing on Earth.
’Maybe I should get Weapon Master after all. Would that let use both at the sa ti?’
Regardless, I was getting distracted again. Discarding all irrelevant thoughts, I exited the stall.
But, as I pushed open the door to enter the ’front of house’―
’Huh?’
―I felt my eyes instinctively widen.
It was bright.
Wasn’t it supposed to be night ti? Then, the lights were on? No, that’s not the case. None of the lights in the bathroom were on, and in the first place, didn’t they shut down temporarily in order to wait out? There wouldn’t have been anyone in the store all this ti. So then, there was no reason to keep the lights on, right? Then, how――
Of course, it was because none of the window blinds were down, and the sun shone radiantly just outside, right above the paved streets bustling with ordinary residents.
In other words, it was the middle of the day.
’Are they crazy? Why would they risk--’
Suddenly―
"Wai--...!"
BOOM---!!
―Magic energy surged, and one blink of an eye later, everything around exploded.
As if intentionally tid to occur right at that mont, the café erupted like a volcano, leaving just a heap of smoking, flaming rubble in its wake.
Once the main cloud of smog floated up to clear the area, I found myself buried in that rubble, saved in a small bubble-shaped pocket ford by the Illusory Aegis.
Of course, the explosion was one of magic, and seeing how it wasn’t so powerful as to completely vaporise the café where it stood, I probably would have been unhard anyway thanks to the Draconic Shadow’s Superior Magic Resistance.
Still...
’Bastards trapped it...’
It was obvious what they had done, and why. But to do it when unrelated, innocent citizens are nearby? Compromising their safety and lives?
It was a new low, the likes of which even I hadn’t ever stooped as a "professional assassin".
I could already hear the muffled panic beyond the walls of debris. Knowing that dozens of people, or perhaps even more would be spectating and getting in the way―How was I supposed to fight like this?
From the very beginning, it was never my intention to have innocent people be involved...
"...Haa."
At this point, all I can do is be cautious so that there are no casualties.
’If you want to be the good guy here, why do sothing like that?’
Seriously.
"Dragons must only be animals like anything else at the end of the day, huh?"
Muttering that as if spitting out sothing disgusting, I slashed through the rubble before .
Reviews
All reviews (0)