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Around the time May ended and I was getting used to being in high school, I decided to come to the neighboring prefecture’s capital. I wasn’t here to explore some dungeon in the area. Rather, it was so that I could avoid running into my classmates.

I had put on the most fashionable clothes I had, rode the train, and walked a while. Along the way, many people were casting glances my way. More accurately, they were looking at the person beside me.

“I’m standing out, aren’t I? Is there something weird with the way I look?”

“Nope, it’s just because you’re beautiful, Layla.”

“I hope that’s it…”

Switching up from her usual hairstyle, she currently had some of her hair in a side ponytail while the rest of her silky hair was flowing freely. The golden hair ornament she had also looked great on her, in my opinion.

She was wearing a white one-piece dress, a blue blazer over the dress, and sandals with low heels.

She looked like she jumped out from a magazine. Which makes sense, since I pretty much copied the style from a foreign magazine and bought the items online. Still though, it suited her.

She had materialized so that she was visible to everybody, and everybody definitely saw, looked, and even stared at her. Every passerby was fascinated by the transcendent beauty beside me.

Yes, this beauty was beside me!!

Normally, I would have been afraid to be on the receiving end of looks of envy, but there was no one I knew in this place! Of course, it was possible for us to be exposed by being a hot topic in social media, but worrying that much wasn’t healthy.

So for now…

Fuhahaha! Be jealous! Be envious! Be amazed by Layla’s beauty!!!

Feeling a sense of superiority at being like a normie…it was sweeter than I expected!

…but, well, that being said…

“Why is a guy with mob-face like that with a beauty like her?”

“…ah! There’s someone beside her! I only just noticed…”

“You think it’s some scam? I mean, there’s just no way they can be a couple.”

“Damn it, even though he’s got a face like that! I won’t forget that face…I won’t…damn it, he’s got such a forgettable face!”

Mob-face this, mob-face that, aren’t you going too far? I’m an adventurer, you know? Like, I would rather you say I have the face of a warrior, even if not a battle-hardened one! Why do you have to call me a mob-face over and over! And that last guy! Remember my face, damn it! I don’t have a superpower that has that effect! I think!

I didn’t expect to receive emotional damage from such a thing. Is this how the big city baptized newcomers?

Since it was a day off, the train station plus the department store and underground shopping center along the way were very crowded. Yet, Layla was turning the heads of almost everybody. That much was expected. What wasn’t was all the comments about my face.

“Are you alright, master? You look to be in pain. How about we rest somewhere with no people…?”

“No, don’t worry, I’m fine…! Let’s not let this ruin our first date…!”

“You consider walking with a Guardian Spirit to be a date…but no, if my master’s fine with me, I have no complaints.”

By the way, the clothes Layla was wearing arrived a day later than I expected, so my mom was the one to receive it. At that time, my mom fixed me a totally indescribable look. That dealt some real damage to me. So, in hopes that she wouldn’t think of me as a cross-dresser or a collector of women’s clothing or maybe something worse, I made sure that she saw Layla wearing the clothes. However, for some reason, my mom looked so troubled as she muttered “I’m really never going to see my grandchild’s face…”

Anyway, this was where my fool-proof, perfect date plan begins!

First, we would go to a theater and watch a romantic movie that apparently won an award. We would then go get lunch at a real fancy cafe! Afterwards, we would visit an aquarium. Lastly, we would walk toward the station while enjoying the decorative lighting along the way.

Phew…I couldn’t help but smile at how incredible my plan was, if I may say so myself. And not to brag, but this was the very first one I thought of. Maybe I had a knack for this.

Oh wait, before going to the theater, we can get some crepe from that food truck that has been popular online…hmm, hold up again. Wouldn’t it be better for us to share one crepe? Wow, am I a genius or what? I scare myself sometimes with how smart I am. If I recall correctly, it was right before the underground shopping center near the station. Since it was along the way, we could move toward our destination and enjoy crepe at the same time. Just perfect. Alright, let’s do this! Time to put my perfect date plan to the test!

“Excuse me, won’t you please sign this petition?”

“Let’s protect the future of Japan together!”

As we made our way through the underground shopping center, I heard people doing a signature-collecting campaign in the open space by a water fountain. I was looking over their way while wondering what it was for when some old man read aloud what was written on a Japanese manuscript paper.

<<Help us revise the Adventurer System by providing your signature!>>

A voice amplified by a mic resounded through the underground shopping center.

<<The free trading of Item Drops is an extremely dangerous policy! These items that have unknown powers we call magic can easily wind up in the hands of criminals!>>

…ah, so it was about that. For a moment there, I thought it will be about increasing the remuneration for each monster killed.

<<Just imagine a regular mugger wearing some magic armor! Or a regular conman using hypnotism! How can anyone raise a child with any peace of mind in a society like this!? We must protect the future of the youth, and the future of Japan itself! To that end, we must have strict regulations on the trade of these Item Drops! We must change the Adventurer System back to the way it was before!>>

Ehh…they’re so focused on the crimes committed by humans while completely ignoring the harm caused by monsters. Or maybe they think that things will somehow workout as long as the JSDF and the police have complete control of the Item Drops? Even though the lack of manpower within those agencies is why adventurers became a thing? At least give some viable alternative, man. And what the heck, go back to the way the Adventurer System was before? How should I put it? Exploring dungeons in the first place is volunteer effort, you know…no, I shouldn’t think about this any further. I’ve come here for a date and I won’t let the mood be ruined by this.

“Layla, let’s take a different path.”

“Yes, master.”

“Wait a moment, miss!”

Just when we were about to move, an old lady with a strange sash rushed toward us. Written in the sash was “Protect! The future of the youth!”

“Young lady, you’re an Awakened One, are you not? Are you maybe an adventurer too?”

“No, I am not.”

She answered so with a smile. What she said was technically the truth.

“Is that so? But you’re an Awakened One, right? Your aura tells me as much. Anyway, since you’re here and all, why don’t you come with on top of the stage and denounce this bad policy they call the Adventurer System!?”

What do you mean “since you’re here and all”!?

“Sorry, but I’m in the middle of a date right now.”

Layla answered so. The old lady seemed confused and only tilted her head. After a while, she looked at my face and became startled.

“Woah!? W-where did you come from!?”

“Where? I’ve been here since the start.”

“Lies! You don’t expect me to believe that you’re too much of a mob-face that her beauty just erased your presence, do you!?”

“Huh? That can happen?”

I mean, how can having too much of a mob-face delete my presence?

“Wait, are you an Awakened One? You must have a superpower that makes you vanish, don’t you?”

“…sorry, but we’re in a hurry.”

“No, hold on! What we’re doing here is important for the future of Japan! Hey! Listen to me!”

The old lady continued to yap but we ignored it and tried to distance ourselves from that place. I just had enough of this. However, before we could get anywhere, I heard a rather familiar sound.

“Huh?”

“Oh, you stopped. See, it’s because of that bad policy that Japan’s public order is—”

On the other side of the yapping old lady, the old man from earlier was still reading the manuscript on top of a simple stage.

<<Therefore! The Adventurer System itself must be revised! Instead of overpaying for these remunerations, the government should use that money toward the rebuilding of areas affected by the dungeon overflows>>

What the heck, there’s a monster there.

From the neck down, it looked nothing more than an a regular Skeleton. The bones that reminded me an anatomical model had a breastplate and bracers that glowed with dark luster. It also had a tower shield and a sword. Its equipment aside, it looked, again, just like a Skeleton. However, its head said otherwise.

There were two horns that twisted and stretched backward its head. The shape of its skull wasn’t that of a human’s and rather reminiscent of a dinosaur’s. It didn’t have any eyeballs, but I could feel intense hostility coming from its dark, black eye sockets.

<<By distributing resources throughout Japan, dungeon countermeasures will surely be formed—>>

The speech was interrupted. The mic fell and produced a crashing sound. People turned to see why such a sound was made. And they saw the head of a person who was alive just moments ago rolling on the ground.

“K-kyaaaaa!?”

“W-what is this? Are they filming!?”

“This is too awful. What poor taste”

I was dumbfounded by what I saw when I heard people talking.

There were people who were screaming and running, but there were also people who nonchalantly pointed their smartphones at the scene. There were also people who continued to pass by as though none of this concerned them.

At that moment, i felt a strong tug on my body.

“Master! Let’s evacuate!”

“Eh, ah, yeah…”

While I just stood there dumbfounded, Layla was tugging on me and trying to make me move. One might not think based on her slim body, but she had enough strength to pull me along.

“It’s a monster! A monster has appeared!!”

Someone shouted so. There were probably Awakened Ones here other than us.

Even with such a warning, the mysterious skeletal monster continued to slash at people with its sword. Seemingly, it attacked people who were being loud first.

And then, as though the shout from earlier and the ensuing tragedy finally made them realize what was really happening, the surrounding people screamed and tried to get away.

“Move! Move aside, brat!”

“Mom! Mommy!!”

“Oi, don’t come this way! There are people coming from the other…wah!?”

However, as this was an underground shopping center, the pathways here weren’t all that wide to begin with. Add in people running in panic and you would get jams bad enough that no one could move.

We too were surrounded. I immediately gave a protective embrace to Layla, but the fact remained that we were unable to move forward. And while this was happening, the monster continued to slash at people who were too late in getting away.

What do I do!? Why is a thing like that even here!?

A young man who pushed an old lady earlier now had something sticking out his chest. At the sight of that, fear coursed through me.

People, people are dying. Ahh! I want to get away. I have to get away. But there are so many people…then!

“Layla, let’s take down that thing!”

“Master, no. That sense of justice will only lower your odds of survival. That is no ordinary monster.”

“But it’s better to fight while we can than be stuck here unable to move! I refuse to be killed without a fight!”

“Very well.”

And so, I materialized my Magical Attire and made my way through the wall of people. Naturally, the closer I got to the monster, the fewer people there were. I could probably even swing my sword without worry. Moving toward the monster might sound insane, but it was better to do so than wait for the monster at a place where I can’t do anything. It ought to be!

As soon as I parted from the crowd of people, I drew out my sword. However, since I was in so much of a hurry, I didn’t bother to undo the clasps that held it in my back and simply tore those clasps. I then held my sword over my head and swung it down at the lizard-headed skeleton monster.

With the sound of two huge chunks of metal colliding, my sword was caught by the enemy’s tower shield.

“Ghh!”

That’s no ordinary Skeleton alright.

I managed to sink my sword into the shield, but that was about all I did. The blade was stopped, unable to push further.

“KaKa”

Bones struck another and produced a sound that was very much like a laugh. While it made those sounds with its mouth, its right hand swung the sword in there sideways. It was fast. In terms of raw speed, it was probably as fast as I was.

 

“O, ohh!”

My Magic Eye gave me a vision that the side of my helm would get greatly bent if nothing was done, so I immediately drew back my sword and met the enemy’s blade with my own. However, the impact made me unable to keep my stance and I staggered several steps to the side.

The mysterious skeletal monster went after me. When it raised its sword and the light showed how bloodied it was, a cold sweat ran down my spine.

“[Flame Chain]!”

Layla, who had also put on her Magical Attire, had her wand pointed at the monster. 7 magic arrays surrounded the skeletal monster and then produced red-hot chains. The chains, which could melt even iron, coiled around the monster. But before it could, the chains touched an invisible layer of something and then just vanished.

Is that because of its Resistance stat…!?

“KaKa”

At that, the monster turned its head toward Layla.

No, it’s gonna target her! But it’s an opening!

“OOOOHH!”

I screamed to overpower my fear for Layla and at the same time launched an attack. It started off as a rehash of our first clash. The monster seemed to have thought so and raised its shield without looking bothered.

This time though, things would be different! I activated Magic Power Discharge and had magic power in the form of raging winds gathered around my sword. And when I hit the tower shield, I was able to smash it as though I was not striking against iron but rather styrofoam. Half a moment later, a loud, gut-rumbling noise erupted. Along with its shield, the left half of its body was blown away. The bones that used to be covered by the now-shattered breastplate could be found all over the surroundings.

However, even though it was unsteady, it did not fall and instead kept swinging its sword.

“O, oh!”

Of course, I could see it coming. Plus, as long as I took it on properly, I should emerge on top from this clash!

I deflected its sword and gave a slash of my own toward the monster’s head. Maybe because of the damage it received prior, dislodging its head felt rather easy. It then collapsed like a puppet whose strings have been cut, and its bones clattered to the ground.

I kept watch and a few moments later, it turned into particles of magic power. After confirming that it has completely vanished, I let out a breath.

“Haa…haa…!”

“Master, are you injured!?”

“Fine, I’m…fine…but what, is this…”

I lightly placed the tip of my sword on the ground and breathed heavily. There was no problem with my body, but still, my heart was beating wildly.

I looked at where the monster had been and noticed the red liquid scattered about. I followed that liquid…and saw the tragedy that happened earlier.

“a…”

I saw a person that had fallen over. Large amounts of blood had flowed from their chest and head…and they were completely still.

“Ah, h, let’s help them. The blood, we gotta stop their bleeding! Layla, call for help!”

“They’re already dead.”

“Huh?”

She caught my hand just as I was about to throw my sword.

“The flow magic power has stopped. Our previous enemy has already consumed that person’s soul.”

“What, what…”

“Please calm down, master.”

“I mean, I mean, just earlier, things were all normal, so, so, how did this”

Maybe it was because the fighting was over, because the threat from before was now gone, but regardless of the why, I was finally hit with the fact that people have died.

I felt sick. Like I was about to throw up. But I can’t tear my eyes away from the people who have fallen.

“Master, look at me”

Layla grabbed me by the collar and made me look at her.

“Look into my eyes and slowly count to ten.”

“B-but”

“It’s fine, it’s alright.”

“O-okay. One, two…”

I did as I was asked. I stared into her blue and golden eyes, and counted out loud. Little by little, my narrowed field of vision expanded and the ringing in my ears subsided.

“Nine, ten……sorry about that. I lost my cool.”

“It’s no problem. Or rather, I would say that is the normal reaction. That said, please, try your best not to look at the corpses anymore.”

“Alright…”

I forced myself to look away from the people who had fallen and directed it toward the train station. It was crowded with people just a while ago, but all that hustle and bustle now seemed so far away.

…no, people were probably just hiding within the shops. Better yet, they probably escaped using the escalator that led upstairs.

Ah, the escalators!

I focused my sight on a store a little bit away. If memory serves, that store had an escalator that led to a department store above ground. I wasn’t familiar with this area, so but I did do my research beforehand. This was unexpected boon of it, but I was glad nonetheless.

“Layla, let’s get away from—”

But then, there was a noise.

Thinking it might be another enemy, I grabbed my weapon and looked around. As soon as I did, I noticed a darkness quickly approaching us. The lights in the ceiling and in the stores exploded, and replacing the lights was a strange sensation.

“Wh, shit!”

I grabbed Layla by the hand and ran toward the aforementioned store. I smashed through the supposedly automatic doors and went inside.

Damn it, where are those escalators!?

I couldn’t find the escalators from the store’s entrance right away, so I turned my head every which way.

“Master, let’s go further in!”

“Y-yeah!”

Prompted by her voice, I broke into a run. Suddenly though, a figure behind a mannequin jumped out and activated my Magic eye. I swung my sword and made contact with a thrust from spear.

“KaKa”

“It’s,”

It was a monster that was exactly like the skeletal monster I fought earlier. I took a few steps back due to the impact, and the monster swung its spear with both hands, resulting in a shelf full of goods to be destroyed.

In perhaps an effort to distract me, it scattered clothing everywhere. It then crouched down almost to a crawl, and thrust its spear. Unfortunately for it, my Magic Eye caught everything. Before it could direct its spear upward, I stepped down on the spear’s tip.

“Take this!”

With Magic Power Discharge, I smashed the spear and stabbed my sword at the monster’s temporal region. The enemy caught the blade with its horn, so I blasted its head as is. With its head missing, the monster vanished soon enough. However, just at the same time, our “route of escape” vanished as well.

“Ahh…”

Without meaning to, I let out such a voice. The darkness from before had caught up to us. In place of the fluorescent lights, torches were lined up around us at regular intervals.

The mannequins and scattered clothes remained where they were, but the ceiling, the floor, the walls, all became of ancient stone blocks. More importantly, the path beyond the escalator in the edge of my vision was now blocked by the stone ceiling.

“No way…I’m really sorry, Layla, I—”

“There’s no need for apologies, master. For now, let us determine our next course of action.”

“…right.”

This was all because I took so long to recover earlier. The guilt of that was about to consume me, but I was able to endure thanks to Layla’s soft touch on my shoulders.

That’s right. We have no time for my whining. We have to do everything we can to get out of this place.

By the looks of things, a nearby dungeon had just transitioned from the second stage into the third stage of what we called a dungeon overflow. The dungeon in question shouldn’t have expanded too much just yet.

Nevertheless, argh, what the heck. Is it such a sin to go around the city to boast about Layla!?

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Taroppe-sensei(author)’s Q&A corner

Thank you for reading!

Also, please consider leaving some of your thoughts, a review, and bookmark the title over at the narou site (https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7336ie/)

Your support is appreciated and I hope you continue doing so.

Q: Why did the petitioner didn’t immediately sense Kyotaro? Is it really a superpower of his?

A: No one would notice a small light bulb when it’s next to the sun.

※ In this work, even though Kyotaro witnesses people dying right in front of him, there is no plan for him to suffer trauma. Yes, please don’t expect SAN checks like those found in the Cthulhu mythos and with the protagonist of [Preregistration] (Another work by Taroppe-sensei. Link: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2080hy/)

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