Chapter 24

It’s 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.

“Hey. It’s a short-term job, but are you in need of money?”

“Well, I am in need of money.”

“It’s 100,000 yen per day. Are you up for it?”

“I’ll do it.”

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.

“Wait, why am I helping you with your job?”

“It’s just a part-time job.”

“Even so, I won’t assist in wrongdoing. If anything, I’ll take you to the proper authorities.”

With a low voice that sounded like a threat, the man who had emailed me the job information—Lambda—looked flustered as he waved his hands.

“N-No, wait! Indeed, the client for this job is ‘Thirteen Stairs,’ but it’s strictly about retrieving lost items, you know?”

“But retrieving lost items doesn’t guarantee they won’t be used for wrongdoing.”

“Listen, I’ve said it before, but ‘Thirteen Stairs’ isn’t a corrupt organization. Well, I’m just a low-ranking member, so I can’t deny the possibility that the higher-ups are involved in shady business.”

“…So, it’s really just about retrieving lost items?”

“Yeah, just stick with me. It’s an easy job, right?”

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 couldn’t help but want to complain.

“Are we here to retrieve pickles or something?”

“N-No, it’s definitely not pickles! …But, I actually don’t know what we’re supposed to retrieve.”

“What are we here to retrieve then?”

“It’s a trade secret… Well, I’ll tell you. We’re supposed to retrieve whatever is reacting on this radar.”

“I see…”

“Well, anyway, I’ll go and check if there’s anything suspicious. You just wait outside, okay? If anything happens, I’ll call for you.”

With that, Lambda confidently walked into the store.

And since just waiting around was pointless, I decided to ‘cut off’ my presence to ensure that nobody could recognize me as “Lux Wright.”

It would be a disaster if someone who knew I was up to something shady saw me doing this.

Well, that’s unlikely to happen, but—

Zuun…

“Hm?”

There.

I could see Lambda being thrown out of the entrance of the store.

Huh?

“There’s nothing I’d ever give to scum like you!!!”

With that angry shout, a white-haired girl appeared, gripping in her hand— a pure white sword.

Kinda cool.

I feel like my soul is seeking something, or there’s 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.

“I may not know what this man has done to you. But, is that sword meant for harming people?”

“Wh-Who are you…!”

“I’m nobody important. Just someone who came with this man, who’s here to retrieve something from this store.”

With that, I tried to defuse the situation and attempted to leave the scene with Lambda, but then—

Bash, Bash!

“…”

“Y-You!”

“That was close.”

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 places…?

Even I, being me, am now seriously worried that I’ve gotten myself into a dangerous situation. But Lambda might not know the full story since he’s just a low-ranking member.

Anyway, it’s time for the persuasion phase.

“Whether you believe words that I won’t harm you or not doesn’t 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.”

“…”

“But still. I have no intention of harming you or anyone else. However, I do want what this man desires from this store.”

“Guh…”

The white-haired girl, sweating profusely, yelled back at me.

“I won’t yield to the likes of you anymore!”

“…”

“I already… have someone I love!”

“But what does that have to do with anything right now?”

I’m only here to retrieve the “lost item,” 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, “Please, just let it go.”

“Nein, I need your help.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll lend you my power, just for now. Let’s defeat this guy together.”

“Okay!”

And so, the two boys and girls joined hands, and a brilliant light erupted.

And—what was left was the figure of a final boss, holding a pure white greatsword.

“Let’s do this, monster… I’ll defeat you here!”

Seriously, am I going to die here?

“Block with a ‘wall’.”

It was too terrifying to face the monster head-on, so I used magic to indefinitely ‘sever’ 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 there’s something familiar about him… Ah, right, he looks like the protagonist.

But there’s no way he’d be hanging out with the final boss Nein, and he’s just someone who looks similar.

Even so, I couldn’t help but mutter, “You look… a lot like him.”

Just as I said that, Lambda tugged at my sleeve, saying, “Hey, let’s get out of here for now.”

I didn’t 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.