CH 156

“Well, then…”



Ichinose-san and I who have entered a random civilian’s house decide to hear the full story from Rikka-chan and Shibata-kun.



As per usual, Shibata-kun is being hostile to me for some reason, but I ignore it.



The summary of their stories goes like this:



While they were exploring, they found the mutated Glasses-kun fighting against some Goblins.



They tried to ask Glasses-kun about the situation, but he fled as soon as he saw them.



Rikka-chan chased after Glasses-kun in pursuit after annihilating the remaining Goblins in two seconds.



Around the time they reached the border of the City Hall’s “Safety Zone”, they entered my detection range.



The rest of the story involves us rushing in with a motorcycle and subduing him.



That’s about it.



“To put it another way, neither of you know anything in detail?”



“Yeah…”



“That’s right…”



Rikka-chan and Shibata-kun answer in the affirmative.



Their expressions are dark, and the same goes for the other students.



Glasses-kun’s new appearance must have shocked them quite a bit.



I inspect Glasses-kun who is still knocked out.



His hair has turned gray while his skin has become as coarse as the earth.



I doubt that there’s blood flowing underneath it.



His eyes are closed shut right now, but I remember his eyes being red where it should be black and black where it should be white.



He really does resemble the Zombies that I’ve encountered in town.



To put it bluntly, I doubt he’s human anymore.



What happened to him?



(The most likely possibility…. is “Evolution”…?)



After all, there are Evolutionary Paths such as “Cyborg” and “Lizardman” that would lead to non-human-like appearances.



Glasses-kun’s figure can be explained if he had managed to reach LV30 and decided on the Zombie race listed in his Evolutionary Paths.



(But is that really the case here…?)



Then why was he so frightened when he saw us?



Why did he run away from Rikka-chan?



Nishino-kun and the others trust Glasses-kun to a significant extent.



Not only that, I’ve been told that he is knowledgeable about classic settings in light novels and anime.



If he had really “evolved”, he could have explained it to them upon their reunion.



It’s not like Nishino-kun is the type of person that would reject him by saying, “As if we can trust your words!”



He wouldn’t have run away without any explanation… unless he’s guilty of something.



(He isn’t an imposter, is he?)



I check his name on the “Mail List”.



The name “Ono Keita” is displayed on there, so he is definitely not a fake.



What else is a feasible explanation?



“…”



“Hm? Where are you going, Onii-san?”



“I’ll be leaving my seat for a moment. He might panic again if I’m here when he wakes up.”



“Eh, but…”



“Don’t worry. I’ll be in the adjacent room, so call for me if anything happens.”



“Oh, then I’ll also…”



Ichinose-san attempts to grab onto the hem of my clothes and follow me, but I persuade her otherwise.



“Ichinose-san, please stay here.”



“Eh…?”



“Aisaka-san needs you right now, Ichinose-san. Please stay by her side.”



“Ah… yes, I understand.”



Ichinose-san nods.



Rikka-chan is bowing apologetically.



Don’t sweat it. Also, stop looking like you’re about to cry.



(…Momo, Aka, Kiki. I’ll be leaving them in your hands.)



(Wan!)



(Furu furu)



(Kyu!)



It should be fine if I leave Momo and the others around Ichinose-san.



Momo is hiding in Ichinose-san’s shadow, Aka is mimicking as a part of her clothing, and Kiki is curled up on Ichinose-san’s lap.



They’ll be able to respond immediately in the event of an emergency.



****



I enter the adjacent room and open my status plate.



I’ll be collecting information with “The Right to Question”.



Although I could have done it in front of them, I can concentrate better this way.



Also, it would be better to tell them the information after I’ve studied it in some depth.



(If it wasn’t due to an “Evolution”, there’s only one other answer…)



It’s probably what everyone thought of when they first saw Glasses-kun.



However, no one had the courage to say it.



They all looked the other way because they didn’t want to accept it.



—“Humans can turn into monsters.”



There’s a chance that it’s true.



(So let’s confirm it…)



“The Right to Question” should answer it for me.



It’s not like an answer appears for every question, but I have a strong feeling that it will for this one.



I type in the question to “The Right to Question”.



—“Can a person turn into a monster?”



I close my eyes and press on the “Enter” key.



The answer should be out already.



“Huu…”



I take in a deep breath and slowly open my eyes.



The “answer” is displayed on the screen.



—“Yes.”



“—”



The silent voice of the system shakes my brain.



Ah, this system truly has a nasty personality.



It answers questions of these natures very clearly.



Next, I’ll be asking follow-up questions.



—“What are the conditions for humans to turn into monsters?”



“The Right to Question” replies immediately to this as well.



___________



The conditions are as follows:



– Mutation due to over-ingestion of magic stones.



– Side effects of certain skills or occupations.



– Effects of certain offensive skills.



– Parasitism by certain monsters.



– Entry into certain areas.



– Evolving into certain races.



___________



Various conditions are listed.



To think there are so many ways for humans to turn into monsters…



There are many things to take note of, but the first condition is especially concerning.



“…Over-ingestion of magic stones.”



In short, people can transform into monsters by swallowing magic stone?



But who’d want to eat that?



Previously, I tried one out while handing Momo a magic stone, but it wasn’t something someone would be able to eat.



“Should I try it again?”



I’ll just spit it out before swallowing it.



I take out a “Goblin’s Magic Stone (Minimal)” from the Item Box and toss it into my mouth.



It’s a stone through and through.



“Ueee~”



It’s hard and tastes disgusting.



It isn’t something a person would want to eat.



It’s literally just a stone.



“…No, but if you think about it, Momo, Kiki, and Aka eat them deliciously, don’t they?”



I thought it was just the difference between humans and animals, but is there something else to it?



I continue asking questions.



—“How can humans ingest magic stones?”



The answer appears in an instant.



—“Negative emotions under specific conditions that exceed a certain threshold.”



“…What does that mean?”



Negative emotions under specific conditions…?



Negative emotions as is sadness and despair?



I ask for more details, but no reply is given.



I also inquire about the other conditions of turning into a monster.



What kind of skills and occupations? Which areas? Which races?



No answer is provided.



Every time I ask for clarification after a certain question is answered, it refuses to answer me further.



“…I’ll consider it a harvest just for the fact that I learned about what conditions have to be fulfilled to become a monster.”



We’ll have to be mindful not to meet these conditions.



“Newtype” is… essentially still a human being, not a monster.



“The Right to Question” confirms this.



I type in my next question.



It’s something I absolutely must know.



—“Is it possible for a human who has turned into a monster to revert back?”



What’s the answer?



“—”



There isn’t any response.



“Damn it!”



Don!



I pound on the ground without thinking.



It’s just like before.



It feels like someone is intentionally blocking information from us.



No, that might actually be the case.



“You’re looking down on us…!”



I rephrase the question several times, but nothing changes.



Either an “Answer” does not exist, or I don’t have the access to it yet…



Regardless, it’s unlikely that I’ll get anything more out of this.



Lastly, I ask whether “it’s fine for animals to ingest magic stones”.



The answer is “No problem”.



Rather, for animals, it seems like they tend to actively eat magic stones based on their survival instincts.



For a second, I wonder whether the system thinks humans don’t have survival instinct, but I conclude that it’s probably because the system groups humans and animals in different categories.



Although animals and monsters have their own “Race”, they don’t have “Occupations” to speak of.



Despite having access to the same system, there seems to be clear differences between humans and other organisms.



(That’s about everything…)



I turn my attention to the next room.



It appears the Glasses-kun has regained his consciousness.



(If I enter the room, he’ll be scared again…)



Since that’s the case, I’ll eavesdrop on their conversation with “Listening Ears”.



I know it’s slightly rude to do so, but there’s no helping it.



“—N? This…!! Where am I!?”



“Oh, Onon. You’re awake.”



“R-Rikka…? Shibata-kun and everyone else as well…?”



After waking up, Glasses-kun notices the petrified clone of Aka that is binding him.



Also, Glasses-kun, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you just straight up called her “Rikka” instead of Rikka-chan or Rikka-san.



“Sorry about the restraint, but it’s to prevent you from running away again.”



“…”



“Let’s have a serious talk, Ono. What’s up with yer figure? And why did ya run away from us?”



“Y-you’re too c…close, Shibata-kun…!”



“AHN? What does that have to do with — Ow! What’s wrong with you, Rikka?”



“I’m. Telling. You. Shibacchi’s face is scary, so distance yourself from him. Otherwise, he might not be able to tell us what he knows.”



“O-okay… Eh? I’m that scary? For real?”



“I told you, haven’t I? Even Natsun is still scared of you.”



“Guh….”



I can imagine what’s happening just from their words and presence .



Shibata-kun probably stuck his face close to Glasses-kun’s so that he can ask questions, but Rikka-chan chastised him, so he’s depressed now.



(That said, Shibata-kun’s face is indeed scary…)



His glare, his countenance, and the way he speaks are all rough.



At the same time, however, he’s caring towards his friends and is a “Doctor”, which makes him sound smart.



What are you, really?



“So… can you tell us, Onon? What happened before we met each other?”



“That’s…”



Glasses-kun falls into a deep thought.



Eventually, he opens his mouth.



“I’m… not qualified to be with everyone.”



“What’s that?”



“Whaccha even saying, huh? Do ya even know how desperately we searched for ya?”



“Well, the same can be said for me!”



Glasses-kun shouts back at Shibata-kun’s words.



“I wanted to see you guys! I really did! Although I’ve become like this… I still wanted to meet everyone. It’s just… when we eventually met, I was convinced that I was no longer the same as the rest of you, and my body started to move by itself…That’s why I ran away… Also, I used these hands to do them in…”



“Them…?”



Glasses-kun’s voice begins to tremble and his presence starts to change.



“That’s right. I did nothing wrong. It was all their fault… Yet why do I have to go through something like this! Don’t mess with me…Don’t mess with me, don’t mess with me, don’t mess with me!”



“H-hey, Ono? What’s wrong?”



“Onon!?”



I immediately stop eavesdropping and charge towards the next room.



This is bad.



Glasses-kun’s ambiguous presence is turning more and more into a “Monster’s presence”.



Just as I am about to enter the next room-



“—That’s right. You are not in the wrong.”



I suddenly hear someone speak.



A shiver runs down my spine.



Who is it? That sounded like an outsider.



What could this mean?



“Enemy Detection” isn’t picking up anything — wait.



There isn’t any reaction…?



“Shit!”



I realize that I’ve forgotten about a certain possibility.



I’m exasperated of my own stupidity.



I’m an idiot! How could I have forgotten about that already!



I activate a skill as soon as I am inside the room.



“‘Shadow Cage’!”



My shadow spreads out from my feet and covers the entire room.



“Onii-san?”



“What’s this?”



“My body is sinking…”



The students are horrified, but there isn’t any time for me to explain right now.



“It’s one of my skills! It won’t harm you! Please stay still!”



“Shadow Cage”.



As its name suggests, it’s a skill that locks its targets inside a “Shadow Cage”.



It’s similar to diving into Momo’s shadow. The only difference is that the targets won’t be able to move about freely inside “Shadow Cage”.



Originally, this skill is meant for restraining monsters and making them immobile.



I’ll be taking advantage of that property this time around.



Zubuzubu.



My shadow swallows up the students and Glasses-kun.



With that out of the way, I activate my next skill.



“—‘Earth Style Ninjutsu’.”



Just as Ichinose-san and the students finish sinking into my shadow, I dive into the ground.



Almost simultaneously, a huge “something” flattens the house.



ZUDONNN!!



The sound of destruction sends a shock wave through the air.



Even as I am hiding in the ground, the vibration is transmitted to me.



“What… was that…?”



I emerge from the ground a short distance away.



Smoke is rising from the scene of the destruction, and from a slight gap, I see that the house and the surrounding buildings have been crushed.



A huge silhouette is standing in the center of the debris.



“You’re joking…”



The existence that has flattened the house —- is a Golem.



Titan?



No, it can’t be.



It’s only half as huge, and some parts of it clearly differ from Titan.



(A different one…)



There wasn’t any reaction from “Enemy Detection”.



That means there weren’t any foreign presences in the vicinity.



Unfortunately, this doesn’t always hold true.



For example, the skill can’t detect monsters like Mimics, Slimes, and Golems.



Golems in particular don’t give off any signs until they are just about to appear.



There are Golems other than Titan — Such a thought never occurred to me.



I mean, it’s not even fair for more of them to exist…



“Impressive reflex. You also have some interesting skills.”



It’s that voice again.



It’s coming from the top of the Golem’s head.



“Who are you…?”



…A human?



No, its presence is the exact opposite of a human’s — there’s no doubt that it’s a monster.



Standing there is a young man with a mediocre appearance. Its hair is black and its clothes are plain.



On its waist is a terrifying longsword that is disproportionately big.



“I believe this is our first time meeting each other. It’s my pleasure to make your acquaintance, owner of ‘Precocious’.”



Having said that, he — no, “It” cackles.