CH 28

“You want me to cooperate with you. Is that right?”

“Yes, indeed, Hisano Ichiko-kun.”

After the wounds were healed, I returned to the “Demon’s Fortress”. For what purpose? Isn’t that obvious? It is to grow stronger even if only a little. I will become stronger and defeat that crappy Kurokiri.

And then, for some reason, six soldiers have shown up in front of me. Why are they here?

“Without knowing the identity of the client or the nature of the request, I can’t say yes. I don’t even know what kind of skills you possess.”

“Hey! Do you know what you’re up against!”

One of the soldiers is acting like a fool, isn’t he? It is you who has no grasp of your position. Shall I threaten you a little?

“We will… aah!”

“You’re the one who fails to understand. If I wanted to, I could obliterate a platoon of military sh*theads like you, you know?”

I move with ≪Short-range Teleportation≫ and place the blade in my hand against his neck.

“Please forgive him, and let him go.”

The person who seems to be the captain bows his head to me. Mmm.

“I understand. Let’s start with your names and affiliations. Also, please inform me of how you learned of my name and identity.”

“Alright.”

“Captain!?”

“You shut the hell up.”

“But!”

“‘Shut up’.”

“Ggh…”

Hmm. I guess your skill may be command-oriented (“command” is also command-oriented if one broadly considers it as such). I had the impression that his words carried a certain authority.

“First of all, about me, my name is Otachi Mamoru, captain of the X-J1 barrier monitoring unit. Shall I introduce my skill?”

“No, that’s fine since it’s a lifeline for you.”

“Thank you. As to how I discovered your name and identity, I can only say that it was through analytical skills. Excuse me.”

“No problem. I recognize the significance of analytical skills as well.”

Analytical skills, I see. When considering the future, I should examine the possibility of somehow concealing my race from analytical skills.

“So, why are you seeking my cooperation? If my memory serves me right, I have inflicted damage on your troops as well, haven’t I?”

“I know that. And if I may be frank, I’d like to avenge my men’s deaths right now.”

“But even if that feeling is suppressed, there is something you must request of me.”

“Yes. Would you mind at least listening to the circumstances?”

Then the captain gives me a bow once more.

Well, how could I possibly refuse to listen to him after he has gone to such lengths?

“I understand. But whether or not I will cooperate depends on the details.”

“Thank you. Let me express my gratitude once and for all. Now, let’s start with how it all began.”

Well, to summarize the captain’s story, this is what transpired.

・After the existence of the skill was made public, the morons who discovered they possess a powerful skill went on a rampage.

・Although most of the morons were restrained by the military, some of them went into underground hiding.

・One of these morons has abducted many young children and forced them to awaken their skills with drugs.

・When the military became aware of this fact, they thought of apprehending this moron, but the children they were supposed to protect might attack them.

・If so, that moron should be exterminated. Therefore, the top echelon of the military secretly planned to assassinate him.

・And I was selected to be the one to carry out the assassination.

What can I say…? If that moron is a piece of crap, then the top echelon of the military is a piece of crap too. Isn’t the military top brass just determined to exploit me?

But, well, Otachi Mamoru, was that your name? This captain seems to be relatively trustworthy. While he was explaining the situation, he wore a bit of a bitter expression on his face.

In all likelihood, this person not only loathes that moron but the upper echelons of the military as well. Oh well, the barrier monitoring unit has been silent until now, and now has become the most endangered unit. How can someone in such a position be on good terms with those at the top?

“I understand your circumstances. If that’s the case, I will discuss it with my master and consider it favorably.”

“Your master… To speak the truth, there is one more thing I would like to ask of you.”

“?”

“If possible, I would like the children you rescue to be empowered with the same skill you employ to make yourself disappear. I assume you learned that skill in some other way than by leveling up?”

You want the children you saved to have them awaken the ≪Fog Cloak≫? I wonder what that means.

“Can you share with me your reasons?”

“The children are probably being forced to awaken skills that are beyond their capacity. Therefore, I want to equip them with skills that are ostensibly beneficial to their future.”

“I see… that’s the mindset of a major blockhead.”

“You…!” “‘Shut up’! May I know your reasons for not doing so?”

Reason? Ha! That is…!

“That skill is the evidence of me ceasing to be a human being. In other words, your words now are akin to telling children to transform themselves into monsters.”

“…But still, isn’t this preferable to being subjected to unreasonable bullying from those around them because they ‘don’t have the skills,’ ‘can’t use them,’ or ‘can’t control them,’? With this, we can show the world that your race, the ‘Kirijin’, is a friendly race, and the race distinction won’t be a concern.”

I see… so that’s the conclusion you came up with. But that is impossible.

“It’s of no concern of mine. If the number of ‘Kirijin’ increases, that guy might be thrilled, but for me, it’s nothing more than a nuisance. Or perhaps he won’t be pleased either.”

“…”

It truly is a nuisance.

As the number of Kirijin increases, it will only serve as an incentive that will make it that much tougher to reach Kurokiri’s strength. For some reason, Kurokiri seems to view it as an impediment for his own forces to grow too formidable.

“Anyway, let’s step out of the dungeon for now. I have to consult with my master about whether or not I can accept this request. We will discuss the reward at that time as well.”

“Ah… I understand.”

The soldiers and I leave the “Demon’s Fortress”.