โAh, ojisan.โ
When I looked back, the only one waiting there was Thanatos-chan, alone for some reason.
โWhereโs Livia-chan?โ
โShe went home ahead because she hadnโt reserved the TV. Something about a special feature on endangered species?โ
โHmm?โ
โAnd who is that person?โ
She glanced briefly at Lambda. In response, Lambda tilted his head and then asked me in return.
โSheโs not your daughter, given the age. So, is she your lover or something?โ
โNo, thatโs not it.โ
โThatโs about right.โ
โNo, thatโs not it.โ
โBut ojisan, wouldnโt you say that our relationship is already at the level of lovers, to the point where it canโt be described in just a few words?โ
Thanatos-chan persisted for some reason.
โNo, you,โ I thought about admonishing her, but then I remembered that there was a potentially dangerous person next to me.
โโฆLetโs change the location for now.โ
So, we entered a restaurant near โMarine Sky,โ our original destination, and took our seats.
Thanatos-chan immediately ordered a cola, and then Lambda told the waiter, โThis is part of my job,โ and declined.
There were no other customers in the restaurant, which felt odd, but then I remembered that there had been no one around during the incident in the restroom either, so the theme park management must have done something.
โWell, that being said.โ
I immediately asked Lambda.
โWhy did you attack me?โ
โItโs my job as staff to deal with any dangerous individuals that come in.โ
He answered confidently.
โPeople from the organization known as โThe Thirteen stepsโ are well aware of you. Youโre some kind of enigmatic danger.โ
โI wonโt ask if itโs okay for you to tell me that.โ
After thinking for a bit, I asked something that was on my mind.
โIs it because I come from a knightโs family?โ
โWhatโs a knight?โ
From there, is it?
โIโm just a lowly underling, so I donโt know about that stuff. But I do know the name Lux Light, and that eliminating you would definitely yield a suitable reward.โ
That might even get me promoted to an executive position, or perhaps even earn me a rank.
Lambda said.
I see, so Iโm somewhat known among โThe Thirteen steps,โ almost like Iโm on a wanted list?
But at the same time, Iโm probably not a high priority.
After all, โThe Thirteen stepsโ already controls most of Neon City, and if they wanted to deal with me, they could easily do so.
The reason they donโt isโ
โBecause โThe Light Kingโ hasnโt given the order?โ
Lambda reacted to my words.
โDo you know about โThe Light Kingโ?โ
โโฆโ
โWell, even I know about โThe Light King,โ and anyone involved with โThe Thirteen stepsโ would. Even a lowly guy like me has received emails from him.โ
โHeโs light on his feet and friendly.โ
โLike an ideal boss. Even if itโs just through email, he listens to my concerns and quickly provides accurate answersโright, Lux Light?โ
Lambda showed a moment of hesitation before speaking.
โFrom what Iโve seen, you donโt seem like such a bad guy, right? So why not join โThe Thirteen stepsโ instead?โ
It was an unexpected scout offer.
I was naturally silent.
โThe pay is good, and the benefits are solid. Well, if youโre in the dark side like me, youโll end up doing some shady work, but you seem pretty accustomed to that sort of thing, donโt you?โ
โSorry, but Iโm not used to people dying.โ
โI seeโฆ Then, Iโll ask for you to be placed in a more peaceful job. Itโs better to have you as an ally than an enemy, and I think the higher-ups will make that judgment. Most requests go through, you know?โ
โโฆโ
After all.
This is something Iโve come to realize after living in this world for a while.
The evil organization โThe Thirteen steps.โ
They operate in the shadows, committing evil deeds, aiming to dominate this world.
Most of Neon City is already in their grasp.
But that also means that if you live in Neon City, youโre likely benefiting from the organization in some way.
This theme park is one of those benefits.
โฆFamilies, couples, young people who seem to have come alone.
Everyone was smiling.
The money spent here all goes into the organizationโs coffers, but most people donโt know that.
Itโs a cold truth, but even if inhumane acts like human experimentation are being conducted, most people are unaffected.
In fact, more people are living happily because of the organization.
A country cannot stand without its people.
โฆThe organization may impose tyranny, but even if they keep people on a tight leash, they donโt squeeze them to death.
Considering the true identity of โThe Light King,โ itโs certain that theyโre running the city more decently than most people.
The protagonist of this world.
He is oppressed, a victim, and undoubtedly a casualty of โThe Thirteen steps.โ
Those who have been oppressed gather together, form a group, and take up the sword so that no more such people will be born.
Itโs wrong for someone to be consumed for someone elseโs ambition.
โฆHowever, itโs also true that in this city, there are more people benefiting from the organization than there are victims.
The original story where the protagonist fights โThe Thirteen steps.โ
In that story, โThe Light Kingโ goes mad and causes many casualties.
Therefore, it makes sense for the protagonist to defeat โThe Light King.โ
The original story definitely ended on a happy note.
Many people were saved, wrongs were righted, and corruption was washed away and purified.
Evil disappeared, and good triumphed.
But thatโs convenient storytelling, something that only works because itโs a story.
โฆI donโt know.
I canโt easily come up with an answer because the current โThe Light King,โ while bearing the title of โevil,โ is generating benefits and supporting the lives of many people.
While continuously creating victims, he keeps people alive.
More victims will continue to emerge, and what will happen after โThe Light Kingโ completely dominates the world is unknown.
And I canโt make decisions that affect the lives of many people like โThe Light Kingโ can.
Just as I canโt simply say โyes, cut off the bossโ because Iโm suffering or because I dislike it.
Iโm stuck in the middle, just a mob.
A character who doesnโt belong to any of the forces that appear in the story, just a slightly stronger human being.
Without the motivation to absolutely defeat evil, nor the ambition to join it.
Iโm somewhat satisfied with the status quo.
Thatโs right.
A transmigrator who has nothing to do with the story.
โojisanโฆ?โ
Thanatos-chan voiced her concern, and I replied โIโm fineโ before turning back to Lambda.
โSorry, but for now, I donโt intend to join any major organization, nor do I have any intention of being hostile. Thatโs all I can say.โ
โโฆIโll pass that on to the higher-ups. But even so, someone from above might still send an assassin after you.โ
โIโll deal with it when the time comes.โ
โAlright.โ
Lambda then reached into his pocket and handed something over to me.
It was a discount ticket.
โItโs a discount coupon. If you want to talk, just ask for staff member Lambda, and I think theyโll get the message.โ