Ch.203Madoka Quest (4)

Shoji drove the car, breathing heavily.

“Damn it…!!”

The car reeked of blood, but he had no time to worry about that. After committing murder with Emoto last time, various things had stained the car while disposing of the body.

‘Emoto…’

Every day with that guy had been fun.

Shoji… had been in despair over not being a special person. Each day was tedious and boring.

Then, he awakened to his Psychorobo ability. That changed his life. He had awakened to a special power that ordinary humans couldn’t access. He instantly became a superior human and found like-minded companions.

It was enjoyable to commit perfect crimes under the cover of night that no one would discover.

He had no particular objection to cooperating with Pink Beard or whatever. What did it matter if Earth was consumed by aliens? From the beginning, they had no attachment to this world.

‘But… for things to turn out like this…!!’

Not just Emoto, but Jack was dead too. Pink Beard had now abandoned his expectations for Shoji. He would be discarded soon. That much was crystal clear.

He needed to produce results somehow.

He arrived at the entrance to Kunami Land.

As expected, security was tight. In the end, Shoji had to use his Psychorobo ability.

‘Damn it…!’

Shoji grabbed the pill bottle with trembling hands.

Normally, Psychorobo abilities could only be used at night when the boundary between the hidden world and reality blurred. Using them in broad daylight was virtually impossible.

Pink Beard had given Shoji a drug. It forcibly allowed him to summon his Psychorobo even during the day.

Of course, there were side effects, he’d been told. But Shoji had to produce results even if it meant suffering those side effects.

“Damn it!!!”

Shoji immediately swallowed the pill.

Moments later, his body showed an immediate reaction.

Thump-!!!

“Kuheuuugh!!”

Shoji’s eyes widened. Blood flowed from his mouth.

Shiiiiing-!!

With a brain-splitting pain, his Psychorobo was summoned behind Shoji’s back.

Shoji’s Psychorobo, Man in the Mirror.

“Hehehehe. I’ll do it…..”

Shoji wiped away the blood and stared ahead.

Moreover, he didn’t like that Arigiri Shota guy.

‘What future prediction ability…’

It infuriated him how that guy seemed to predict his every move. It made him furious that someone had lucked into awakening a better Psychorobo ability than his own. So even among Psychorobo users, there existed people more capable than himself.

‘Future prediction? I’ll crush that with raw power…’

Shoji caught his breath.

Just then, someone who appeared to be an employee approached.

“Excuse me… are you okay?”

They had come over concerned because he was coughing blood and screaming.

“Come forth!! Man in the Mirror!!”

Shoji immediately unleashed his Psychorobo and attacked the employee.

———-

Back to Shota’s perspective.

“GUOOOOOOH!!!!!!”

The massive tree began to move as if alive.

KWAAAANG-!!

The tree swung its branch like a heavy arm.

BWEEERK-!!

One employee who couldn’t dodge in time was struck by the fist and sent flying.

“Damn it…..!”

I immediately recognized that ability.

The power to parasitize living things or objects and control them freely… Shoji’s ability.

“But why in broad daylight…!”

That was the question. Psychorobos can’t be used during the day.

“He’s insane!! Don’t tell me… he used Divorce Incense!!”

Kirtan shouted loudly.

“Divorce Incense?”

I asked Kirtan.

“You know that countless worlds with different dimensions exist in the multiverse, right? But there are restrictions at the world level. When moving to another dimension, you can’t freely use abilities from your original dimension. Using them comes with severe mental and physical strain. You can only use abilities with minimal resistance when another world’s invasion occurs.”

Kirtan explained quickly.

Due to the urgency of the situation, he was explaining at 2.5x speed, but I understood the gist of it.

“Divorce Incense is a drug that ignores those restrictions and removes the body’s limiters!! Using it makes you terminally ill… only someone living for today would use it! Plus, it’s a substance banned at the cosmic level…..”

Kirtan said.

I roughly understood the situation. Something different from the original work was happening again. Shoji had started causing trouble in broad daylight, prepared to die.

“Arigiri Shota!!!! You cannot stop me!”

Just then, the giant tree shouted.

“Bring the hero… Aiueo Sashisuseso!! I’ll send him to hell too!!”

The tree shouted loudly. Beyond the tree, Shoji’s face appeared. His previously narrowed eyes were now wide open.

Whoooosh-!!

At that moment, a branch came flying.

KWAAAANG-!!!!

Tina immediately kicked away the branch.

“Shota!! What should we do!”

Tina shouted.

Her words snapped me back to reality.

Umi and Taiga couldn’t use their Psychorobos and had no decent weapons. They weren’t much help in terms of combat power. The only strong one was Tina, who could beat everything with her bare hands anyway.

Mika, being just an ordinary person, was in a state of panic. I’m sorry. I never expected this to happen. Eri was trying to comfort Mika, but I could tell Eri was tense too.

“Umi, Taiga, Tina!! Get everyone outside quickly!!! Mika!”

I immediately ordered.

“Ou!! Got it!!”

Tina shouted loudly, holding everyone’s mental state together.

“Come on, everyone!! Outside!!”

At Tina’s shout, even the panicked people seemed to regain their senses. Under the instinct to survive, they left the artificial garden.

“Kirtan. Sorry, but… can you fight with me?”

I said to Kirtan. In this situation, Kirtan was the only combatant I could count on. Tina had to protect the others.

“Hmph. Don’t be stupid. A wife should be by her husband’s side. Don’t state the obvious.”

Kirtan said with a smile.

But… shit, I had no weapon. Honestly, hand-to-hand combat wasn’t my specialty. My combat power dropped significantly without a weapon.

I was no legendary hero Link from Zel*a. I needed at least a tree branch to fight.

But… I felt like I was forgetting someone… Right!! Madoka!!

“Kyaa!!”

Madoka couldn’t dodge the giant tree’s strike and fell down.

“Madoka!!!”

Mr. Kujo cried out in a sorrowful tone. He immediately tried to run to her.

I blocked his path.

“You…..”

Mr. Kujo looked at me.

“Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, please go outside too.”

I said, looking straight at Mr. Kujo.

“Who’s your father-in…”

Before Mr. Kujo could reflexively get angry, I cut him off.

“If you want to cover up this incident smoothly, you’ll need to manipulate the media and do the behind-the-scenes work, right? You’ll also need to silence those hyena-like relatives of yours.”

“……….!!”

“Do what you can do.”

I said. Everyone has things they can do. That’s what makes a party play.

“Hah… Are you saying you’ll sacrifice yourself to save Madoka? You… die. I don’t know what that thing is, but it’s a monster that humans can’t handle!”

Mr. Kujo stared at me, seemingly trying to read my true intentions.

“Hah. Sacrifice? Stop being so dramatic.”

I looked around. Allocating most of the personnel to evacuation had paid off. Most civilians had now left the area. We could fight freely.

“I have absolutely no intention of sacrificing myself for anyone.”

I said firmly.

“Then…..”

“I’ll save Madoka. And my other girlfriends, and all the precious people around me. That’s my resolve.”

I said.

“That’s not possible….”

“Is it fun to arbitrarily give up, accept, and live in resignation? That doesn’t hide your pathetic way of life.”

I cut him off.

Pretending to give up on dreams, pretending to face reality… that doesn’t make life enjoyable. I’ll pass on such a life.

“I’ll save everyone and return happily. That’s all I’m thinking. I’m greedy, after all.”

I stated firmly.

“For a man, having substantial greed isn’t shameful, is it?”

I smiled and patted my prospective father-in-law’s shoulder.

“Go. Hurry.”

After that, I nodded to my prospective mother-in-law.

She immediately pulled Mr. Kujo away.

After everyone had evacuated, I stood against the giant tree.

“Kekekekek. So you’ll save everyone and nobly sacrifice yourself? How fitting for a hero’s companion! Uwahahahat!!!”

Shoji burst into laughter.

Yeah. Not worth answering. I immediately ran toward Madoka.

“Madoka. Are you okay?”

I stroked Madoka’s head.

“I’m fine…”

Madoka spoke in a calm tone. Yes. She had lived her life being forced to maintain a calm demeanor. Otherwise, her mind would have broken.

Silently, I hugged Madoka and rubbed her back.

I felt hot liquid on my clothes. Yes. Madoka was shedding a few tears. I pretended not to notice.

“Go, Madoka. I’ll take care of this quickly.”

I stroked Madoka’s bun hairstyle.

“Okay… Make sure you win, big brother.”

Madoka looked at me proudly with slightly puffy eyes.

Yes. That’s more like Madoka.

“Now, Shoji!!! Come at me!!!”

I shouted boldly.

“I’ll make you pay for turning a space pirate into your enemy!!”

Kirtan also shouted loudly.

“Uwahahahaha!!! What can you do when you can’t even use Psychorobos!!”

Shoji laughed loudly.

Immediately after, Shoji swung a heavy fist made of tree branches.

“At least it’s a weapon!!”

I shouted, jumping at the exact moment Shoji’s fist came flying.

“KIYOOOOOT!!!!!”

I landed right on the tree giant’s arm.

“Huuuuup!!!”

Then, I strengthened my muscles in a stance of burning intensity.

“URYAAAAAT!!!!”

TUDUDUDUK-!!

I immediately tore off some branches. Two branch pieces of suitable length to use as wooden swords.

“Kirtan!! Catch!!!”

I threw one of the branches.

“Ou!!! It’s a shabby weapon, but better than nothing!”

Kirtan smiled as he caught the branch.

Now we had weapons. First stage cleared.

“Come, Shoji. I needed to eliminate you anyway. I’ll finish you right here.”

I said.

“How impudent!!!!!!”

Shoji moved his body and charged toward me.