After the loud sound of a wall being forcefully broken, Deus fell onto the floor, lying on his back.
Despite being slashed so spectacularly by Shes, his steel body was deeply scarred in many places but still retained its original form. It was no wonder, considering he was an automaton made of steel.
Deus moved his arm, attempting to rise, but…
“Gah… damn…!”
His body had fallen into a state of malfunction.
Even without the sense of pain, once the joints—essentially gears—became misaligned, he was unable to move, just like humans or other demon races.
“Well then… looks like this is the end for you.”
I crouched beside Deus, who remained incapacitated, and placed my hand on his head…
“Oops.”
I hastily pulled my hand away.
That was close. I had almost forgotten that I needed to keep my true identity hidden and was about to use Dark Heal out of habit. I suppose this is what they call a professional’s reflex.
“Well, given the extent of the damage, it should heal soon enough. You should have one of your race’s specialists, a Dark Healer, come and treat you.”
Looking around, there were no more sounds of battle.
As Shes’s fight ended, the Zombie Thief had also succeeded in neutralizing (rendering unconscious) the other members of the Matoki squad. Since I had periodically used my magical word spell, it seemed no one had wounds that required immediate treatment.
If that’s the case, they should be able to call for help once they wake up.
“Mask… the Melon…!”
A low, hateful voice echoed from below. Deus, with his glowing red eyes, glared at me as though trying to shoot me down with his gaze.
“Finish me off…!”
“Huh?”
“There is no mercy for the enemy! Kill me now!”
“I’m not going to kill you…”
What on earth is this man talking about? If this were the police, surviving would have been the opportunity to gather useful information. Plus, I had successfully confiscated the New Water Medicine, which should be enough of a result.
“Justice, then. Just take the New Water Medicine as a trophy. Rejoice; this is all your achievement.”
“Ghh…!”
“Moreover, your success today will also include the annihilation of this anti-social organization. From today on, their criminal activities will come to an end.”
“Y-You…!”
“Good for you.”
I gave a practiced smile… wait, I was wearing a mask.
That was useless.
I decided to simply state the facts plainly.
“It’s a good thing, isn’t it? Thanks to the remarkable actions of Dark Knight Deus, the great darkness of the magic city has been dispelled. Everything is resolved now. A happy ending.”
“Cursed… mocking me…”
From Deus’s throat, an intense, pure anger poured out, full of hatred and resentment. He seemed desperate to kill me… it was becoming harder to keep my identity hidden.
In the end, I had seized illegal drugs and destroyed an anti-social organization, even saving the magic city. Wouldn’t it be better to let it go now?
“Well, it’s fine.”
I would never take the name Mask the Melon again to stand in the spotlight. From now on, I would give instructions behind the scenes to the organization’s executives, while securing funds for the laboratory through clean business operations.
“Let’s go, Queen, Thief.”
I helped Shes, whose right arm and leg were damaged after pushing his limits, onto the Zombie Thief’s back, and we began to head toward the building’s main entrance.
At that moment…
“This humiliation, I will never forget, Mask the Melon…!”
A growling voice came from behind us. Deus.
“I will surely expose your true identities and send you to the execution platform!”
“We probably won’t meet again… farewell, Deus.”
I waved lightly at Deus, and we left the scene.
When we stepped outside the building, the sky over the magic city had started to brighten slightly.
…What a dense day.
From the arranged meeting with Otokai to the raid on the black market organization over the New Water Medicine, and then the battle with the Special Police Tactical Unit, all in perfect timing…
Honestly, it felt like an even harder schedule than a day spent in a battlefield.
That said, there was still much to do.
…Shes’s treatment, checking on Mukomuu and Anemone back at the lab, and giving additional instructions to Tiga and the organization’s executives who had fled to the safe house.
Well, one step at a time. If I worked briskly, as I wrote in the note to Milphobia, I should be able to return to the Demon King’s Castle by dinner today.
I suppressed a yawn, leaving the watchful duty to Zombie Thief and began walking cautiously.
【Side: Special Tactical Unit】
“──Captain Deus! I just contacted the standby unit! The reinforcements will be here soon!”
“Yeah, I know…”
An hour had passed since the battle with the mysterious Mask the Melon. The Matoki, the Special Tactical Unit of the Magic City Police, led by Deus, began moving to resolve the situation.
Watching his subordinates work busily in place of the incapacitated Deus, he let out a long breath, expelling the excess heat from his body.
It was fortunate that none of his subordinates had sustained serious injuries.
…No, that’s not it. The outcome had been “held back” intentionally. That man, Mask the Melon, had given the orders.
“Damn it.”
The small mutter was noticed by one of his subordinates, a magic user.
Feeling awkward, Deus looked up at the ceiling.
But the subordinate sat next to him.
“…Who were those men, do you think?”
“I don’t know.”
“Still, they weren’t ordinary. I had considered myself among the upper ranks of the police, or at least the strongest forces in the Magic City, but… it was shocking.”
“…I thought the same.”
“I never imagined such a strong opponent had been hiding in this city.”
“The darkness of the Magic City is even deeper than we thought.”
With a creak, Deus tried to sit up.
“Captain! Don’t overexert yourself!”
“I’m fine. I’ll just get everything repaired later.”
With his body crying in protest, Deus managed to sit up and look at his subordinate.
“This isn’t over. Not like this.”
His red, gleaming eyes locked on the subordinate.
“In the end, justice must prevail. As a member of the Magic City Police, and as an agent under Lord Ganken’s direct command. One day, I will definitely capture him…”
“What will you do?”
“I will train again. Strength is needed, regardless. Meanwhile, I’ll gather information.”
Clenching his fist tightly, Deus continued.
“First, I’ll have Mask the Melon listed as a major criminal and wanted across the entire Demon Kingdom.”
“Does that mean a bounty?”
“Yeah. I’ll have both the public and underground forces after him. Once we get back, we’ll begin preparations immediately.”
