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The Lanpeach Complex has become a hellscape with the cute and vicious rabbits. But within all of that, there was one person from the enemies who had escaped.

It was Jakots who had been hired by Tsuyoshi.

He moved inside the shadows and was breaking in cold sweat.

“Run away! We can’t win.”

“The guns… The guns are not working.”

“They are monsters.”

People who were trying to run away in a hurry inside the ruins, people who directed their weapons at them wondering if they could kill them since they look weak; the subordinates of Tsuyoshi are taking varied methods, but they were all met with the same result: a storm of bullets.

The rabbits don’t know the word mercy. They would literally mince the people with their bullets that have way too much firepower, punching big holes onto the walls and floor of the building, and destroying them.

It was to a point where it was hard to tell which side was the one defending.

Within this madness where there’s corpses that have lost their shape and pools of blood are spreading on the corridor, the rabbits poked their heads out and twitched their nose.

“Weaklings-usa. Was there a need for us to fight-usa?”

“It is not possible for the commander alone to protect it all, so it can’t be helped-usa yo. Numbers are strength-usa.”

Moreover, the rabbits looked at each other and were having a casual talk as they walked. Artificial Spirits that are cute but fiendish.

Jakots understood that this is impossible for an Artificial Spirit.

The rabbits didn’t notice Jakots who was hiding in the shadows, confirmed that the enemies had been wiped out, and left.

He saw this and was relieved while he thought that the sight he saw just now was a dangerous one.

(They are physically dangerous Artificial Spirits to an extreme degree, but the problem is the very action of having a casual chat. Artificial Spirits are the same as machines. They just work under the orders of their master. It seems like the high efficiency Artificial Spirits can be a bit more flexible, but they wouldn’t act like they have their own will.) (Jakots)

He would understand if the rabbits were ordered to act in such a manner. They would act as if they have their own will which would appeal to the customers that they are advanced Artificial Spirits. Even if it is an action that has been ordered, the customers will pay big money if they think they have will.

It is a scam you can find often.

But there’s no one around right now, so there’s no need to act. In other words, that was a conversation that happened naturally.

Even if it is a military-use Artificial Spirit that has been officially allowed to use in the Surface Districtt, he has never heard or seen something like this.

Jakots works as a mercenary and an assassin, so he has a grasp of most of the capabilities of an Artificial Spirit. If he didn’t, he would be killed by powerful Artificial Spirits after all.

But he has never heard of the rabbits.

What this means is…

(It is probably something from the underground district. It is a demonstration or a test to see its capabilities… I should have realized when the generator and stuff like that was replaced with new ones. It would be impossible to get such support from a mere criminal organization. Wouldn’t be possible for the bunch in the surface district too. It is definitely the underground district.) (Jakots)

He thought the backbone of Lanpeach was a lame criminal organization in the surface district, but it was a backbone of the highest level.

(How much are those rabbit Artificial Spirits? 100 million? 200 million? No, maybe more than a billion Ele? To think I would accept a request with such a stingy reward against someone with such a backbone… I really have gotten desperate.) (Jakots)

He regretted it, but it was already too late.

Jakots has entered a swamp by his own volition. Moreover, it is a bottomless swamp that threatens to drag him to his death.

(Can’t be helped. I can apologize…or kill Lanpeach to restrict the movements of the Artificial Spirits, and then escape…) (Jakots)

Artificial Spirits obey their masters. Lanpeach has probably been registered as their master, so whether he kills him or makes peace, he would need to meet the person himself.

Jakots changed his own mana into magic, and chanted in a low voice so that no one noticed.

[Shadow Snake Detection].

Jakots, who was keeping his breathing subdued and was hiding in the shadows of the corridor, confirmed that the rabbits disappeared, and released several shadow snakes from those shadows.

They are so small someone could mistake the snakes for just waving shadows depending on the light source.

Jakots released them in all directions and shared their vision with him. From room to room of the complex, hall, going up the stairs; he searched everywhere.

The gunshots steadily grew less noisy, and the amount of people screaming decreased. Unrest crept out.

But one of the snakes finally found his target.

The vision he was shared was from a place that must have been  used by the former residents for parties, it was pretty spacious. And Lanpeach was there.

Lanpeach most likely is already sure of his victory. He was sitting on the only chair in this hall with a carefree expression while showing a grin on his face, most likely to act like a bigshot, with his legs crossed and his back leaning on the chair.

(Even if it is a borrowed power, the small fry act like bigshots. But it is good that he is a small fry. I feel like there will be a lot of openings I can take advantage of after all.) (Jakots)

Jakots showed a relieved and belittling expression after seeing the state of Lanpeach, and headed to the destination.

◇◇

Lanpeach left a single chair for visitors in this worn down spacious concrete hall, and was taking it easy.

Most of the dots in the map have disappeared. Lanpeach showed a confident smile as he relaxed on the chair he went out of his way to bring.

(The last enemy is approaching.) (Lanpeach)

[Right. It is over once you defeat him. They lacked bite.] (Libra)

(The fight hasn’t even started, so can you stop cornering me with words alone at all times?) (Lanpeach)

[I will treat you to a whole lot of drinks after this battle is over, Soldier.] (Libra)

Libra showed an impish smile and tried to raise twice the flags here.

He wanted to ask if she hates him that much, but he wouldn’t be able to take it if she were to answer with a straight face that she does hate him.

He doesn’t want to be told he is hated by a cute girl. In that case, it would be better for it to be indifference.

Lanpeach has always been living on the negative side, so he confirmed that the dot had entered the room and changed gears.

He faced back at the room and he saw a shadow coming in from below the door.

(Ooh, seeing something like that really makes me realize once again that I am in a world with fantasy magic. Being inside the shadows ignores the laws of physics more than creating fire or ice, so it is interesting to look at.) (Lanpeach)

[Uhm, Soldier, is that something someone who can stop time should be saying?] (Libra)

(Instant feels like a pawn jumping one more space after all. The shadow one is more vivid.) (Lanpeach)

[Aah, I kind of understand you. It is true that it does look like a nonsensical power to others. Moreover, I feel like illusions can pull off that same trick. It is just purely similar though.] (Libra)

Libra looked straight at him with eyes that said ‘what is the man who can control time saying?’, but she was a bit convinced by the argument of Lanpeach.

The impact of the visuals really are important.

(Well, fine. Let’s give him a welcome.) (Lanpeach)

‘This is a game world, this is a game world…’ -Lanpeach took a deep breath and resolved himself.

You could say he was literally distancing himself from reality.

“I can see you, Jakots-san. You use a peculiar movement method.” (Lanpeach)

It is acting but not acting.

He truly believed himself to be Lanpeach. He overlapped himself with the game character.

Lanpeach showed a dark smile.

“…Hello, Lanpeach-san. So you discovered a long time ago that I was hiding, huh.” (Jakots)

A man with a medium build and average height came out from the shadows.

He is wearing a suit, but he has a bone-chilling cold face that would make you think he is from that line of work.

He is currently equipped with partial armor, making him look like a cosplaying old man, but Lanpeach knows that’s not the case.

“Yeah, I could tell easily. You should have just escaped immediately. You would have had a 30% chance of actually escaping.” (Lanpeach)

This is truly how Lanpeach felt.

He thought he would have a chance to escape with Shadow Traversal.

This base can nullify stealth skills under intermediate level, so there’s no point in moving while hiding, but it would have been useful for escaping.

“Can’t do that. If it were known that I went against the people from the Underground District, my future would be pitch dark. And so, I have squeezed out my courage to come here as an apology. It is all my fault for being caught in the lie of Tsuyoshi.” (Jakots)

Jakots made a fake smile and lowered his head.

Lanpeach found those words strange, but he didn’t show it in his face and kept it with just a faint smile.

[What’s the Underground District?] (Libra)

(Who knows. No idea.) (Lanpeach)

Libra tilted her head in wonder while floating in the air, but Lanpeach didn’t know either.

Why did the name of the celestial beings come up here?

“How is it? I will pay 5…no, 10 million Ele as proof of my apology. I will also slaughter Tsuyoshi and the others.” (Jakots)

“No.” (Lanpeach)

But Lanpeach didn’t think about it and refused.

Jakots frowned at the unexpected response. He thought he was offering an extraordinary deal here.

He thought the words of Lanpeach were a gamble.

“Then, 20 million. 10 million Ele for Lanpeach-san, and 10 million Ele for the one behind you. How about that? Also, I think I will be of use. My face is pretty well known, and I have Spirit Armor.” (Jakots)

He placed a hand on his chest and conceded further.

20 million Ele is close to Jakots’ whole fortune. If he can get a connection to the people of the Underground District, 20 million Ele would be chump change.

He thought this was his chance to rise up in the world.

He would be of more use than someone like Lanpeach.

He would be able to prove that immediately and he would be able to steal the position of Lanpeach.

But…

“No.” (Lanpeach)

But Lanpeach refused without hesitation.

Jakots was understandably dubious about this attitude.

10 million is a massive sum that a crook in the slums shouldn’t have seen in their lives. He would have shown hesitation even if he were to refuse.

“…Can I ask the reason?” (Jakots)

“I have been told not to. I was ordered to kill.” (Lanpeach)

[Yup yup, a boss must be defeated! The so-called EXP.] (Libra)

A beautiful girl with silver hair and twin tails wearing a shrine maiden outfit suddenly appeared on top of Lanpeach’s shoulder…and smiled like an imp.

“Spirit… No, that outfit…an Artificial Spirit? An Artificial Spirit that can talk… I see, so the one behind you is angered.” (Jakots)

Jakots came to a conclusion of his own and made a bitter expression.

A crook like Lanpeach cannot be trusted. And so, they have stationed an Artificial Spirit so that he is always under their watch.

Jakots concluded that betrayals are not forgiven and to kill all attackers. That’s why he refused without hesitation.

“Right. That personage won’t forgive you. That’s why I should have run away.” (Jakots)

Who is that ‘personage’? -Is what Lanpeach wondered as he thought that maybe he was referring to the Space Library, and went along with it.

He is good at feigning even if he doesn’t know the meaning.

Also, he has been given the order to kill.

[Boss Battle: Defeat Jakots!]

A displeasing hologram showed up in front of Lanpeach’s eyes. There was a notification like this before a boss battle even in the game.

That’s why he had no choice but to defeat him now that he has come.

The EXP of a boss battle is just that tasty.

—Also, he is clearly the type that would stab you while you are asleep. Lanpeach is a coward.

If he were a protagonist, they would make him their comrade, deepen their friendship, and it might have been possible to make him a friend that won’t betray them.

But there’s no reason for him to form a comradery with a person that works as an assassin, would easily betray an employer just because it was a pretense, and would wag his tail instead of escaping.

“So…an example, huh. Then, I will kill you and buy time!” (Jakots)

“That’s right. Let’s start with a preemptive strike.” (Lanpeach)

[Quick Draw].

The negotiation failed and both sides entered battle.

Lanpeach readied his weapon swiftly like magic, showed a scornful smile, and pulled the trigger.

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