Lanpeach and Libra advanced through another hidden passage with Krishna screaming as background noise. It seemed Krishna didn’t know, but there was a way to avoid fighting Chimeranpeach. 

It usually wasn’t used since you couldn’t get the Key Hacker, but if Chimeranpeach wasn’t there, this route worked fine.

“Hey, is it okay to just leave that kid behind? Won’t he die?” (Libra)

Libra asked while walking through the dim passageway, watching Krishna fight the sweltering chimeras, but it didn’t really matter.

“They seem like some weird enemies. It was supposed to be a one-on-one with Chimeranpeach, but those look like weak flesh golems, so he should be fine.” (Lanpeach)

Why were they copies of Masakatsu? Their faces were identical, but the bodies were plump. Maybe it was some sort of jab at Masakatsu needing to lose weight.

The booms and battle sounds echoed intensely, but it wasn’t important. 

(Both Guy and Krishna used me. So it is only fair that I used them in return. Besides, Krishna seemed skilled since he is a transmigrator.) (Lanpeach) 

[The vault’s open. I picked up this thing called a Key Hacker earlier. It’s quite handy.] 

Then, a mysterious transmission came in.

[Can you not take the biggest reward of this event? Do you want to make me lose my motivation?] (Lanpeach)

It was so cryptic that the meaning was unclear.

[Don’t worry. I’ll break the Key Hacker. Also, if you let that girl shaking her pudding flesh show off, she’ll gladly reward you by pushing her pudding flesh onto you. You prefer pudding over Key Hackers, don’t you? Especially the big ones.] 

[This message cannot be sent because the device is off or the recipient is in an unreachable location. Beep.] (Lanpeach)

The strange conversation ended. 

Now then, was the mad scientist here? If Masakatsu was part of the beta world, that was also possible. And the Key Hacker…is taboo, huh. What a waste that it was destroyed.

“In a world where reality and games mix, it’s true. A Key Hacker that could unlock anything shouldn’t exist.” (Lanpeach)

“No, I think it was probably destroyed while trying to force it into a special door. I could hear a thought mumbling about how she broke it.” (Libra)

“Just pretend you didn’t hear that. It’d make more sense if it were taboo.” (Lanpeach)

(I had a faint feeling… With Psycho Cracking, we didn’t even need the Key Hacker anyways! Libra-kun, please keep that mouth shut.) (Lanpeach)

“Well, whatever. Looks like we’ve arrived.” (Lanpeach)

The hidden passage was complex.. They could see inside when they opened the door a bit.

“What? Interference from another family?”

“Yes. He is quite skilled. I mean, he stormed into the casino alone and cut down my men without effort.”

Two men were talking in the room. One was Masakatsu, and the other was a man in a lab coat.

The room was dimly lit, with large capsules glowing blue, lined up along the walls. Inside were monsters and what appeared to be humans floating. It was a classic laboratory scene, filled with evidence of inhumane experiments.

“I guess this is the part where I’m supposed to get mad at the awful sight…but all I can think is ‘This looks just like the game’. I must be a terrible person.” (Lanpeach)

A man, reduced to just a head, still appeared to be alive, his eyes rolling around. A thing consisting only of internal organs had its heart beating. The words leaving Lanpeach’s mouth despite the scene full of horrors would make others frown.

This was the effect of his gamer brain. It’s like those people who play realistic war games and, when faced with actual war, they think it’s just like the game. There was no real sense of the situation. EventThough part of him was frustrated, his heart was cold deep inside.

“I think the fact that you can sigh is still good. You know, you’re a human, but you’re also an extraterrestrial after all.” (Libra)

“I’ve always thought it was weird to call someone an extraterrestrial. Earthlings are also creatures that live in space. Still… I’ll consider myself a bit of a decent human being. Thanks, Libra.” (Lanpeach)

“W-Well, I’m your support after all. Sometimes I need to be serious.” (Libra)

Lanpeach thanked her with a gentle smile, causing Libra to blush slightly and turn away. Seeing this, Lanpeach patted her head, then returned to a serious expression.

“Now then! It seems their conversation is reaching a climax, so let’s crash the party. I also managed to confirm that Masakatsu isn’t the mad scientist here.” (Lanpeach)

(I managed to confirm whether this world was the beta version or the game world I knew. Masakatsu and the other man were arguing and didn’t seem to get along at all.)  (Lanpeach)

“Your research is almost finished, isn’t it? You’re so close! I’ve been donating my cells in pain for this! Use that power to kill that sunglasses-wearing man!” (Masakatsu)

“Oh? You think the copies won’t be enough? Even though they’re quite powerful?”

“I’m from the Yarita family. I can tell how strong an enemy is! Those cheap copies are only good for stalling!” (Masakatsuki)

Masakatsu snapped, taking out his frustration on the man in the lab coat. Lanpeach knew what the lab coat guy would say next.

(“The Chimera experiment is almost complete. Yes, by making you the test subject.”)

After saying that, he would pull out a syringe, inject it into Masakatsu, turn him into a monster, and the boss battle would begin.

——That’s how it was supposed to go. That’s what Lanpeach remembered. Lanpeach bent his knees, ready to spring out as soon as the lab coat guy reached for the syringe.

“It’s almost time to complete the experiment to grind humans into ‘Element Powder’. However, we already have a new prototype. If you use this, you will gain the power humanity once possessed.” 

But what the lab coat man said was unexpected. He pulled out a small capsule filled with powder.

“What? Element Powder? He is trying to create synthetic Element Powder?” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach gasped, taken aback by the fact that it wasn’t Chimera Masakatsu. This was supposed to be the boss battle against Chimera Masakatsu. This could be fought with a party unlike the fight with Chimeranpeach. If they could defeat Chimeranpeach, this battle should’ve been easy.

But the story had changed. A new quest appeared before Lanpeach.

[Stop the creation of the fake Element Powder made from humans! Kill Masakatsu and the man in the lab coat, and erase all evidence of the experiment: Level 7.]

Unlike before, this wasn’t just “defeat” but “kill”. A clear command to ensure the enemy’s death.

“The Space Library seems to be taking this very seriously, Soldier.” (Libra)

“Seems like it. Then, let’s go all out.” (Lanpeach)

Element Powder; the cursed element that had brought the world to its knees. Moreover, this is a fake version. 

Lanpeach’s presence turned fierce, his aura filled with murderous intent.

“Well then, shall we? The game begins!” (Lanpeach)

“Okay! Let’s blow it up!” (Libra)

Lanpeach kicked down the door with killing intent surging through him and charged into the room. 

The loud crash echoed as dust filled the air, and pieces of the shattered door broke the capsules, sending fleshy chunks falling to the floor.

Lanpeach closed in on the man in the lab coat in just a few steps. If he is going to target anyone, it really should be the one with the knowledge.

“One-hit kill!” (Lanpeach)

“What?! Where did you come from?!” 

Lanpeach clenched his fist tightly and circulated energy through his body like blood, strengthening himself. He gathered ki in his palms and thrust both hands forward.

[Double Palm Strike]

The attack hit the lab coat man’s stomach, folding him in half. The force was transmitted perfectly, leaving no room for the man to be blown away; his body was destroyed from the inside instead. Blood flowed from his eyes, nose, and ears as the man collapsed. In one swift move, Lanpeach stomped on the experimental prototype, crushing it and rendering it unusable.

“This… This guy…” (Masakatsu)

Masakatsu stared in shock and fear as his body instinctively braced itself. As expected from the second son of the Yarita family, his body moved on its own to recover even after being caught off guard.

“D-Dragonfly Slash!”

Of course he had an item box since he is rich. He pulled out a red-lacquered spear and thrust it at Lanpeach. Masakatsu moved nimbly despite his size, and his weight seemed to add power to his attacks.

However, he was too slow for Lanpeach. He could have yawned if he wanted to. 

Lanpeach tilted his body with a spin on his toes, dodging the thrust, and sent a high kick crashing into Masakatsu’s head.

The spirit barrier shattered like paper, and with a sickening crack of breaking bones, Masakatsu’s body staggered. Lanpeach retracted his leg without missing a beat and delivered another high kick from the opposite side, followed by an uppercut to the jaw. His fluid, artful kicks left no room for retaliation.

Just three strikes with a display of superhuman martial arts left Masakatsu powerless, collapsing to the ground.

Lanpeach exhaled lightly, released his stance, and turned back toward the supposedly dead lab coat man, his face expressionless.

“So, you and Masakatsu had already used Element Powder, huh?” (Lanpeach)

“Attacking without introducing yourself… This is why savages are such a problem.”

“Oh, damn. That hurts, you bastard. You really did a number on me.”

The man in the lab coat, who should have been dead and was spewing blood from his body, and Masakatsu, whose neck was broken in an instant-kill strike, slowly began to stand up. It seemed the easy victory had been too good to be true. They must have taken it before this encounter.

“Hmph. My name is Michibiki. You who dabble in taboo experiments, I will erase you completely, leaving not a single cell behind.” (Lanpeach)

The logic that using the word “taboo” would make it a sound argument. Lanpeach’s sunglasses glinted as he struck a proud and defiant pose.

“Kukuku, ‘taboo’, ‘taboo’, is it? And who might you be to call it such?”

“This guy’s no joke. What family is he from? With skills like this, his name should be well-known, but I’ve never heard of anyone called Michibiki.” (Masakatsu)

“Masakatsu-sama, this one must be from the Underground District. No one in the Surface District would call such an experiment ‘taboo’.” 

The man in the lab coat laughed in amusement and looked at Lanpeach with interest.

“My name is Kogari. Some call me inhuman, but they will praise me when my work is realized. Saying that it is thanks to me that this world will be saved.” 

Kogari, with his sunken, unhealthy eyes filled with madness, stood there with a thin, withered body like a dead tree.. His back swelled up as a sign of his confidence, and pink, fleshy tendrils shot out, attaching to the remains of fallen chimeras, and absorbing them.

Behind him, Masakatsu also sprouted tendrils from his back, attaching them to the surrounding flesh and merging with it.

“The source of Artificial Spirits, Element Powder. Using this newly manufactured Element Powder made from crushed humans, our bodies consume mana and assimilate with other organisms to grow stronger.” (Kogari)

“We keep our human shape, while gaining an invincible form, you fool. I don’t care if you’re from some other family or the Underground District, I’ll kill you!” (Masakatsu)

“Ah, so this is where the chimera comes in. Well then, let’s see what your so-called power you are so proud of can do.” (Lanpeach)

Facing Kogari and Masakatsu, Lanpeach grinned, clearly enjoying himself as he took his stance.

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