Itโs been several weeks since I was forced to quit my part-time job, so I was thinking it might be time to apply for a new one.
โHey. Itโs a short-term job, but are you in need of money?โ
โWell, I am in need of money.โ
โItโs 100,000 yen per day. Are you up for it?โ
โIโll do it.โ
Well, upon closer consideration, 100,000 yen per day seemed suspicious, but before I knew it, I was wearing a pitch-black coat with a hood, and a pure white mask on my face.
โWait, why am I helping you with your job?โ
โItโs just a part-time job.โ
โEven so, I wonโt assist in wrongdoing. If anything, Iโll take you to the proper authorities.โ
With a low voice that sounded like a threat, the man who had emailed me the job informationโLambdaโlooked flustered as he waved his hands.
โN-No, wait! Indeed, the client for this job is โThirteen Stairs,โ but itโs strictly about retrieving lost items, you know?โ
โBut retrieving lost items doesnโt guarantee they wonโt be used for wrongdoing.โ
โListen, Iโve said it before, but โThirteen Stairsโ isnโt a corrupt organization. Well, Iโm just a low-ranking member, so I canโt deny the possibility that the higher-ups are involved in shady business.โ
โโฆSo, itโs really just about retrieving lost items?โ
โYeah, just stick with me. Itโs an easy job, right?โ
Well, even though it seemed like such a simple job, getting paid 100,000 yen for it was suspicious.
While thinking that, we got into a car and arrived at our destination, and upon seeing the place, I couldnโt help but want to complain.
โAre we here to retrieve pickles or something?โ
โN-No, itโs definitely not pickles! โฆBut, I actually donโt know what weโre supposed to retrieve.โ
โWhat are we here to retrieve then?โ
โItโs a trade secretโฆ Well, Iโll tell you. Weโre supposed to retrieve whatever is reacting on this radar.โ
โI seeโฆโ
โWell, anyway, Iโll go and check if thereโs anything suspicious. You just wait outside, okay? If anything happens, Iโll call for you.โ
With that, Lambda confidently walked into the store.
And since just waiting around was pointless, I decided to โcut offโ my presence to ensure that nobody could recognize me as โLux Wright.โ
It would be a disaster if someone who knew I was up to something shady saw me doing this.
Well, thatโs unlikely to happen, butโ
Zuunโฆ
โHm?โ
There.
I could see Lambda being thrown out of the entrance of the store.
Huh?
โThereโs nothing Iโd ever give to scum like you!!!โ
With that angry shout, a white-haired girl appeared, gripping in her handโ a pure white sword.
Kinda cool.
I feel like my soul is seeking something, or thereโs some kind of fate at play here.
But, she seemed like she was about to finish Lambda off, so I quickly intervened and desperately tried to calm the situation down.
โI may not know what this man has done to you. But, is that sword meant for harming people?โ
โWh-Who are youโฆ!โ
โIโm nobody important. Just someone who came with this man, whoโs here to retrieve something from this store.โ
With that, I tried to defuse the situation and attempted to leave the scene with Lambda, but thenโ
Bash, Bash!
โโฆโ
โY-You!โ
โThat was close.โ
And then, a kick, propelled through space, aimed at us.
We managed to fend it off, but it was seriously scary.
Why is Nein here of all placesโฆ?
Even I, being me, am now seriously worried that Iโve gotten myself into a dangerous situation. But Lambda might not know the full story since heโs just a low-ranking member.
Anyway, itโs time for the persuasion phase.
โWhether you believe words that I wonโt harm you or not doesnโt matter. But this man here has clearly tried to harm you and left you with no choice but to resort to violence. At this point, my words may just be noise to you.โ
โโฆโ
โBut still. I have no intention of harming you or anyone else. However, I do want what this man desires from this store.โ
โGuhโฆโ
The white-haired girl, sweating profusely, yelled back at me.
โI wonโt yield to the likes of you anymore!โ
โโฆโ
โI alreadyโฆ have someone I love!โ
โBut what does that have to do with anything right now?โ
Iโm only here to retrieve the โlost item,โ after all.
And the girl seemed taken aback by my words.
Seems like I touched a nerve.
Despite her gripping a sword, I quickly begged, โPlease, just let it go.โ
โNein, I need your help.โ
โHuh?โ
โIโll lend you my power, just for now. Letโs defeat this guy together.โ
โOkay!โ
And so, the two boys and girls joined hands, and a brilliant light erupted.
Andโwhat was left was the figure of a final boss, holding a pure white greatsword.
โLetโs do this, monsterโฆ Iโll defeat you here!โ
Seriously, am I going to die here?
โBlock with a โwallโ.โ
It was too terrifying to face the monster head-on, so I used magic to indefinitely โseverโ the connection between us, making it impossible for him to physically reach this place.
And just as I was regaining consciousness, I noticed a boy peeking out from the entrance of the store.
Oh no, did he think I attacked my friend?
But thereโs something familiar about himโฆ Ah, right, he looks like the protagonist.
But thereโs no way heโd be hanging out with the final boss Nein, and heโs just someone who looks similar.
Even so, I couldnโt help but mutter, โYou lookโฆ a lot like him.โ
Just as I said that, Lambda tugged at my sleeve, saying, โHey, letโs get out of here for now.โ
I didnโt want to stick around and wait for the boss to come charging at us, so I obediently followed him out of there.
Whew, that was a close one.