Around the time I finished what I had to do in the daily dungeon and came out.
“Huh.”
“no… … .”
The one who appeared in front of me was Professor Aira. She was pulling at the hem of my clothes and was shedding tears as if it was unfair… … .
“Heh, heh, sniff! you are too… … .”
“… … What on earth have you been up to? Professor Ira.”
too much is you
If I suddenly act like this in the middle of the main street, wouldn’t I be the only bad guy for no reason?
No, honestly, I’m used to being treated as a bad guy one-sidedly.
Still, shouldn’t you tell me why you’re doing this to me?
“I believed… … Whoa… … .”
“For now, calm down. Please explain to me.”
“You trampled on my innocence.”
“no.”
Are you doing this on purpose?
It’s vacation, but around lunchtime, there are some people.
This is because ＜Skientia＞ is a comfortable place to live even for people from far away places because it is a wide and diverse culture.
In addition, freshmen who started to put down their luggage at the dormitory a little early, and current students who want to take seasonal semesters, it is so crowded that there is a crowd.
“… … .”
Still, most of them confirm that I am involved and go their own way again.
Why is it possible for me to be in the same condition?
It is unfair. And it’s humiliating.
Of course, some people don’t. Most of the people who pay close attention to this side are freshmen or returning students.
And among them… … .
“Oh, how could that… … .”
There was Prina Lumen, who was indignant and trembling all over as if she had witnessed a shocking sight.
The nickname [The Witch of the Ice Castle] is so clear on her face that she can’t even think of it anymore.
what is this child Was there even a connection with Professor Aira?
Why are you so angry?
“To trample on Lucia-san’s innocence! How could you?!”
“Huh… … Half the salary… … . It’s all because of Oz… … .”
“I’ll be thrilled.”
Why are you fussing on both sides?
What the hell did I do wrong? I’m really sorry I’m going to die
First of all, whoever is fine, can’t you tell me so that I can understand?
* * *
Once I got both of them hooked up.
Prina was a junior, so there was nothing to hold back, but she was a bit hesitant about beating Professor Aira.
still hit
Isn’t that a transfer of responsibility?
This human had just quit ＜Skientia＞ because of his own misunderstanding.
He must have had a spleen mind, but nothing was decided until I said it.
“I thought I would be able to go on time if I quit early… … .”
“Did I look like someone who couldn’t wait that long?”
“Nope… … .”
When I said it firmly, Professor Aira shrank. under! Anyone who sees it will know that I am bullying them.
“And Prina Lumen. Don’t you have any excuses?”
“… … Isn’t it bad that you played with Lucia’s heart?”
“First of all, I want you to know that the premise of your thoughts is wrong. Otherwise, die.”
“This, keep your mouth shut… … !”
“No, I am dying.”
Even now, countless knives are passing me by, but from here to Lucia?
I promise you, I’m going to die.
Even now, I am walking a tightrope. It is a tightrope walker full of knives under your feet.
If you lose your balance, you die.
“it… … . After all, isn’t trash right?”
“… … that’s right.”
When I explained my circumstances. Prina asked with a puzzled expression.
That’s right. For some reason, I started to feel sorry for hitting one.
If you think about it, there is nothing wrong with the exception of the fact that the subject is Lucia.
“Still, I won’t apologize.”
“Ah yes… … . For now, there are some misunderstandings, so I won’t care about that.”
“Yeah, yes.”
Don’t you think I’ve become a small person if I admit it so easily?
No, it’s done. Now that this has happened, I think it would be better to push forward the perception that I am a victim.
“Sorry, help me for a moment.”
“… … I don’t think of men.”
“It’s not like that.”
I must have asked for help, but seeing the direction going that way, I can see how big my karma is.
yeah i’m trash
“Professor Ira. Could you please help me too?”
“Should I quit my job first?”
“No, don’t make hasty decisions… … .”
Why are you so extreme?
Above all, if I went to Tia to say that I would quit my job, I would retire from this world, not from my current job.
It’s not like I’m joking, and given Tia’s personality, there’s no way they’d look at her confused like that.
She often forgets, but she is a dragon with a different set of values from humans.
Furthermore, human laws and morals cannot hold her back, so you must be careful not to make mistakes.
“I will go out now. I would like to ask for an escort.”
“Do you need something like that?”
“I need.”
“Are you that strong?”
Of course, as she said, I am strong enough to protect myself.
But isn’t the reason for attaching an escort just to protect yourself from strong enemies?
I had accompanied many escorts, including ＜Tenebris＞, from before.
Would they have stood as an escort because they were stronger than me? no. The reason they stood up as an escort for me was so that I could move comfortably.
“Just because you have power, you can’t respond to all surprise attacks. Do you think an assassin is an assassin for nothing? Even if it is possible, if you pay attention to it, you won’t be able to do what you normally do.”
“okay. But I hate it.”
“Do you know who is paying the paperwork for your support money?”
“I hate the world, but there are things I have to do.”
Also, capitalism is the best.
Can’t even such a strong person easily take the reins?
“By the way, that’s fine, but why all of us?”
Well, that’s a fair question.
I have many acquaintances. There are many who have some level of skill.
These are the people I can entrust my back to.
but… … .
[SSR Ice Castle Witch]
prina lumens
[SSR Reverse Wizard]
Ira Merlin
Will it be just these two?
Unfortunately, Justitia has long since left for my favor.
Arrieta has returned to the Vatican, and Alexios is not moving because of Ulla’s case.
In such a situation, is there any other reliable person like this?
And above all.
This job must be a person with great insight.
“I… … Mr. Oz. By the way, may I ask what you are doing?”
It’s many times better to show it directly than to honestly explain it.
However, it is also true that explaining the case lessens the embarrassment when faced with the incident.
“We will find the existence of a monster covered in human skin.”
Prelude to all-out war.
It’s time to find out the operatives that ‘outside beings’ have infiltrated the human realm one by one from long ago.
So far, I haven’t done it because the efficiency is low.
Wouldn’t it be difficult to inflict a meaningful blow just by finding and catching some of them spread all over the world?
Whereas now it is different.
If it’s not long before the war begins, they have no choice but to gather here.
The Empire and Tia are sure to become their biggest stumbling block, so it’s only natural that they plan ahead.
Yes, their purpose.
“Professor Ira. What do you think is the best way to deal with the two mighty beings?”
“Hey, this guy? Is this epilepsy? Oh, or a question with a special hidden meaning… … .”
alienation.
“… … That’s right, so don’t worry too much.”
I don’t know why this person is behaving like a puppy in danger of being abandoned.
What makes her so anxious? I would have only shown her comparatively goodwill up until now?
Anyway, her answer is correct.
“To put a wedge between the two. There is no other way that is as basic and efficient as that. And what makes it difficult to respond knowingly is… … .”
“Are you instigating the people around you?”
“Yes, that is correct. Prina.”
The monster’s goal is distrust between the Empire and Tia.
To be precise, it was intended to create a rift between the people of the Empire and the students of ＜Skientia＞.
In order to shake the top floor, it is natural to attack from the bottom.
“Our job is to identify monsters with such a purpose.”
It will probably be difficult to completely block it. However, it can be disruptive.
By delaying their agitation, they delay the timing of full-scale war itself.
If so, it would be possible to lighten Justitia’s burden.
“By the way, alienating monsters. It’s a combination that doesn’t match.”
“Is that so? You’ll know when you see it. How are the two combined?”
And you will know how terrible that combination is when you experience it yourself.
* * *
In ＜Skientia＞, I walk through the imperial city with me and Prina.
Professor Aira hid it near ＜Skientia＞.
The monster’s destination will eventually be ＜Skientia＞.
Since only one escort is needed here, Professor Aira is an insurance policy in case the monster is not found.
And since Prina hasn’t had the experience of traveling around the empire yet, I’ll have to give her a tour of the city as well.
“there… … . Some people have been following us since earlier.”
“It always happens.”
“Is this always the case? this empire… … . It is terrifying.”
I think I’ve misunderstood something, but I don’t think you need to worry.
Anyway, why the hell wouldn’t the things that follow me decrease?
Didn’t it rather increase? More than 20 people were captured in [Contemplation]. Now I can’t even tell where they belong.
I understand ＜Tenebris＞, but what the hell are the rest of them doing?
“I don’t know.”
“Yeah?”
“No, would you like taiyaki?”
“Uh… … Yeah.”
Prina, who was looking at the street curiously, bites the taiyaki in her mouth and turns her attention again.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the middle of a long time, can’t I enjoy it until something breaks.
This side of work is this side of work, so I don’t want to make you care too much.
When asked to choose who to begin with, there are many candidates.
Yes, too much is a problem.
The seat I am sitting in is a place where I have many enemies just because of that.
When you become a king, of course there are people who look out for you.
Moreover, since it is in a foreign country, if you take advantage of the opportunity and kill it, it may cause alienation between the empire and the spell.
It sounds obvious, but people are better at alienating people.
“Hmm… … .”
I open my eyes and look around.
It has long been proven that [Contemplation] can see through the true face of a monster. So, you just have to see it… … .
Also not easy to find.
Just as I know you, you know me too, so it’s not too much. I would like to avoid contact as much as possible.
But you won’t be able to hide.
Because they have no choice but to reveal themselves in the end for the sake of their goals.
Scary to think so.
“Kyaaah!”
An irregular monster appeared.
It looks like something tentacle and also looks like a weapon he is holding.
Are you standing on four feet, two feet, or floating in the air?
Not sure about anything, not sure about anything.
the only one what doesn’t change
In my eyes, the child’s look overlapped there.
“indeed… … . He’s the guy who makes me feel bad just by looking at him.”
The monster from ‘outside’ of this world screamed.
The sound was so terrible that I wanted to cover my ears inadvertently. When I saw her true self, I heard it as the cry of a child looking for her parents.
“Hey, over there! Is this a normal thing in the Empire?!”
“… … What nonsense are you talking about? Prina Lumen. There is a certain degree of ignorance of the world.”
“Huh?! But earlier, it was only natural for someone to follow me… … .”
I was able to come to my senses thanks to Prina, who looked somewhat bewildered.
My job is not to pity the monster. they are already over
The death throes of a life that has come to an end continue to resound like an echo. Don’t be seduced.
“I guess that person found us first?”
The monster that swallowed the child was supposed to be a child. Well thought of this terrible combination.
If this was a countermeasure against me and Eleanor, who can see the essence of the soul, the guy who planned this plan must be quite trash.
“Do you know each other? What the hell is that?”
“What is it? it’s a monster Are you out of your mind? Are you going to keep talking nonsense?”
Were you watching this? Encounters are faster than expected.
Whatever it is, there is something to be done.
You can’t turn a blind eye to monsters attacking people in real time.
They say that the monster has devoured the child and held its soul hostage.
Even the monster must have been an innocent child once.
Now you need to take down the rampaging monster and minimize the damage.
Just think about it.
intermediate magic
[Gust Piercing]
Immediately triggers magic at the monster that appears.
Since people are gathered, wide-area magic cannot be used.
The opponent is a throwaway card to block this side.
It may not have that strong power, but its agility is annoying.
“Tie your legs, Prina.”
“Ah, yes!”
One of the reasons for bringing Prina is that she specializes in ice magic.
Binding effect from freezing.
And ice accompanied by physical force is especially advantageous in defensive battles.
“That’s Okay!”
“Yeah, hold on to it.”
Due to Prina’s freezing magic, the magic is deployed again toward the monster whose legs are frozen.
intermediate magic
[Water Fall]
Quadduk!
Intermediate magic that crushes the opponent with a large amount of water.
Its power is not as good as that of a real waterfall, but when it is linked with ice-attribute magic like now, there is nothing like it.
“Kick, Kiik… … .”
The freezing magic that was binding the monster’s feet meets the stream and quickly freezes the monster itself.
This stopped movement.
“… … Prina, the regenerative power of monsters is annoying. So, be sure to crush it until you die.”
“Now, wait a minute! Where are you going to leave me alone?”
Prina caught me as I tried to run away as if I was embarrassed.
Compared to the skills she has, she seems to be in a state of panic.
“I have something to look for.”
Being agitated is not an easy task. Even if only one or two people insist on it, it is incitement to be treated as a madman.
Those who advocate and those who agree.
A person who talks bullshit as if analyzing it, a person who shouts nonsense but deliberately appeals only with emotion, and even a person who persuades him.
There is a series of processes and shared roles.
If you go into details, there may be more roles.
So, this work has no choice but to be properly organized.
“Prina, after you deal with that monster, go straight to Skientia and find the monster. There’s no way a single monster could have appeared.”
“Well, isn’t it safe because there is a barrier with Professor Aira in Skientia? Will these monsters still head for Skientia?”
Prina must have noticed.
The magic she and I used was only intermediate level magic.
It is a monster that can be easily subdued even by such magic. Aiming at ＜Skientia＞ with that much power would be suicidal.
But Prina still doesn’t know what the intelligence of the monster I was talking about is.
“Yes, as you said, Skientia is an impregnable fortress. Neither from the inside nor from the outside can a monster like that break through.”
“then… … !”
“Then what if their goal is to head towards an impregnable fortress?”
“… … Yeah?”
The purpose of the monsters is to alienate.
There was no need to break through the barrier in the first place.
“What if just banging your head in there and breaking it to pieces was enough?”
When the monsters become terrifying corpses in front of people’s eyes, the message is conveyed.
“The purpose of the monster is to solidify the fact that it is ＜Skientia＞.”
I told Prina
Their purpose is to alienate.
And when she heard that, she said as if the combination of the two words didn’t make sense.
And that’s the result.
“You are a monster because you are willing to give up your life for such alienation.”
The monster I was talking about is not simply an explanation of the appearance.
That it was a word that explained that incomprehensible way of acting itself.