Vol. 1 - Ch. 14

After about an hour of walking through the mountains, following the trail of an "Illegal" we arrived at a residential area at the foot of the mountain.For me, it was easy to follow the trail in the forest, but tracking in urban areas is a different story.

Asphalt and concrete don't leave footprints.

"Are you sure they came out here?"

"Yes, you can trust me on that. But it's a bit harder to track from here. Maybe we should ask around?"

"No, many of the houses around here have surveillance cameras. Let's get the footage and follow them."

Shinra had already deactivated her silver armor, which she called an "armed suit." Now, she was just wearing her uniform blazer, but if I wasn't careful, I might get stopped and questioned.

Feeling a bit uneasy, I watched as Shinra operated something like a wristwatch, displaying an image in the air.

The image seemed to be footage from a camera installed at the entrance of a house. She's hacking into each camera and analyzing the images. The Galactic Federation really is amazing.

As I looked at the footage, a familiar figure appeared in several of the images: a large hunched man with his face obscured by a hat pulled low over his eyes.

However, something about the figure seemed off. It looked exactly like the shapeshifter monster from "That World" when it transformed into a human being.

"This is it. It looks like it's headed that way. Let's go."

This time, Shinra took the lead on foot.

After a short pursuit, we left the residential area and entered a shopping district. It was a typical local shopping district with rows of two- and three-story buildings.

"What kind of behavior do 'illegals' tend to exhibit when they arrive on other planets?"

"It depends on the level of civilization on the planet. On Earth, the social system is already in place, so normally they would try to integrate into society."

"But they wouldn't suddenly go on a rampage, would they?"

"It's possible if they're hasty. They are criminals, so the likelihood of them being rash is naturally higher."

"Yeah, of course."

As we were talking, we heard the deafening honking of several cars in the distance.

Then came the sound of cars crashing into each other. It sounded like the sound effects from a movie car chase... so you can guess what happened.

"That was a bit shortsighted, don't you think?"

"Yes, it could be dangerous if we don't secure it quickly."

Shinra took off.

I'd be a bit nervous if the criminal aliens I was chasing went on a rampage and killed people. Let's hurry.

I picked up Shinra from behind in a princess carry, activated my "Optical Camouflage" skill, and used "Wind Magic" to jump into the air.

"Sensei, what are you doing?!"

"Just bear with me, or you'll bite your tongue."

I invoked "Wind Magic" repeatedly, flying as if stepping on the air.

Soon, we spotted an SUV zipping through the shopping streets.

The sight of the car speeding along, horns blaring, and even slightly colliding with oncoming vehicles was like something out of a movie.

I flew up to the top of the SUV and cast a "Restraint" spell on the engine.

Freezing the engine suddenly would be unpredictable, so I gradually increased the restraints until the SUV came to a halt after about 200 meters.

The driver's side door burst open, and a large hunched man climbed out. It was definitely the same man from the security camera footage.

The problem was, he was holding a suspicious-looking tool. At first glance, it resembled a slightly longer version of the machine gun the soldiers from"Crimson Twilight" were holding. So, I guess it must be a weapon after all.

"A portable plasma cannon...?! Why would a criminal have an anti-base weapon?"

Shinra uttered some very ominous words.

The hunchbacked man didn't seem to hear her. He held up his gun - portable plasma cannon. What is this guy thinking? Is he just a random killer?

"He's dangerous if we don't stop him!"

"I know."

I used "Restraint" magic on the hunchbacked man, but it didn't work.

"Restraint" is resisted if the life force or magical power is too strong... but even so, it should require the strength of a dragon to repel a hero's "Restraint." Sᴇaʀᴄh the N0vᴇlFirᴇ.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Anyway, I switched the target of the "Restraint" to the weapon.

The hunchbacked man tried to pull the trigger but realized it was locked and began examining his gun.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, I landed on the street next to him. Most of the people around had fled when he held up the gun.

"What do we do? If we fight here, we'll stand out."

"No problem. Fortuna Lambda space blockade."

Shinra brought her watch close to her mouth and ordered something.

A momentary feeling of floating.

Then, I realized the scenery around me had changed completely.

"Huh? What is this place?"

I let out a dumbfounded voice, but it couldn't be helped. I had suddenly been transported to a strange space—or judging from what Shinra said, trapped there. Anyway, I was in a strange place.

The ground I stood on was the same asphalt road, but all the buildings were gone, replaced by a bizarre marbled sky, like paint splashed onto water and lightly mixed.

In that strange world, only I, Shinra, and the hunchbacked man were standing.

"I'll explain later. First, we have to deal with this 'illegal.'"

Before I knew it, Shinra had transformed into her silver armor. But the parts I destroyed were still there... Will that be okay?

She stepped forward and performed the same action she had done to me on the mountain.

The hunchbacked man listened intently but suddenly burst into shrill laughter.

"I was surprised to hear that an independent judge had traveled to a remote area like this. If that’s the case, if I dagger you in this isolated space, even if I kill you, I won’t get caught. I will not hold back. Don't get in my way, or I'll make you disappear!"

"I have confirmed your intent. I will commence enforcement in accordance with Article 5 of the Independent Judges Act."

"Keh! That's so stupid—uuf smack—I'll kill you myself!"

Oh well, I guess that's what happens.

As I watched, the hunchbacked man threw away his gun, coat, and hat, revealing his true identity.

I guess you could call it a lizard man... with unusually developed muscles in all four limbs. There was a muscular bipedal creature with a lizard-like head and tail.

But then again, there were plenty of lizardmen in that world, so it's not surprising to me.

As I watched, a fight broke out between the two. Before Shinra could draw her gun, the lizardman closed the distance in an instant.

Shinra was fighting using her usual "True Ginga Style"… "True Galaxy Style" techniques.

The lizardman absorbed her punches and kicks with his bare body, even though the power was amplified by her "Armored Suit."

Being macho alone doesn't make it possible to take that on head-on.

Now that I think about it, Shinra said he was an "illegal" who had undergone illegal enhancement treatment. If so, is that lizardman one of those enhanced humans that often appear in manga?

"Keeeee!"

"Damn it!"

Shinra blocked the lizardman's spinning kick but lost her balance because the suit wasn't fully operational.

Her movements weren't as sharp as when she fought me. Her physical condition should be in good shape thanks to my healing magic, so it must be the suit.

"Is this an independent judge? How weak!"

Shinra was forced on the defensive by the lizardman's relentless attacks.

It looked like some of the shots were getting through her guard and hitting her. This isn't good.

Shinra tried to distance herself by firing jets from her arms and legs, presumably to attack with her gun…

"Die!!"

The lizardman approached Shinra with a movement that resembled a "High-Speed Movement" skill. I could see the tremendous destructive power in his right arm, pulled back behind his back.

"Gbeeeeeeeee!?"

In an instant, my right fist made a clean hit on the lizardman's cheek.

The macho lizard spun and was blown away, bouncing two or three times before slamming into the asphalt.

Sorry for the surprise attack, but Shinra is my student after all.

"Shinra, now!"

"Eh? ...Ah, yes."

Shinra quickly readied her gun and fired a series of rays at the lizardman as he stumbled to his feet.

"Gyaaaaahhh...!"

Holy smokes, no mercy. I thought, but it seemed only his limbs were shot off.

Shinra approached the lizardman, who was barely breathing, and put something like a restraint on him.

"Fortuna Lambda, transfer the suspect. Suit deactivated. Lifting spatial containment."

Shinra gave another command, and the lizardman disappeared with a swoosh, and the surrounding scenery returned to the shopping district streets.

The area was still the scene of a traffic accident. The sound of emergency vehicle sirens was approaching.

I quickly went to Shinra's side and activated my "optical camouflage" skill. Then, we quietly left the scene.

"If you want me to release it, just say the word."

"I'm sorry. And thank you. You've been a great help."

"You're welcome. But was it okay for me to intervene? You know, with galactic federation rules and all."

"Independent judges are authorized to request cooperation from the locals. There’s no problem."

"That’s all right then. So what about that guy from before?"

"The repatriation pod will eject him to the recovery point. A federal judge will then interrogate him."

I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, but it sounded like they were sending the criminals back to be tried.

Well, there’s no point in asking for more details. Besides, it might raise Shinra's suspicions again.

For now, this case seems settled, but it only adds to the growing list of problems I have to deal with.

A student who fights mysterious monsters, a student who battles international crime organizations, and a student who confronts space criminals… Is it just me, or is it odd that Meiran Academy has students like that?

Or maybe it’s this world that’s strange. Honestly, I’d rather remain ignorant of the battles happening behind the scenes that ordinary people know nothing about.

But then again, maybe knowing all this will help me assist them better. When I think about it, I feel like I’m gradually becoming more of a teacher.

Still, a normal teacher doesn’t have to fight monsters or punch aliens.