Chapter Index





    Ch.95NPC Who Got NTR’d. (1)

    [-Occupation Striker- : Level 65 Name: Miho. Age 19.]

    [Strength: 94]

    [Agility: 182]

    [Intelligence: 16]

    [Luck: 126]

    [HP: 1,960]

    [MP: 101]

    [Skills: Preemptive Strike. Back Attack. Sharp Claws. Flawless Combo. Master’s Will. Complete Presence Concealment.]

    [Preemptive Strike Effect: Adds fixed damage equal to base Agility stat to your first attack.]

    [Back Attack Effect: Attacks from behind deal 150% additional damage.]

    [Sharp Claws Effect: Activates in beast transformation state. This character is currently unavailable.]

    [Flawless Combo Effect: Successful combo attacks generate additional damage of Agility × 0.2 per hit. (Maximum 3 stacks.)]

    [Master’s Will Effect: When receiving and executing orders from your lord, all stats increase by +20.]

    [Complete Presence Concealment Effect: Blocks all aura emanating from your body, specializing in ambush. (Does not activate when attacking an opponent.) (Will not activate if discovered by an opponent unless you maintain a certain distance.)]

    Pure dealer. Despite being called a Striker, this seems specialized for PVP assassination. And “Master’s Will”? Is that because she’s a playable character? There’s even a new skill I don’t know about.

    I know about the Sharp Claws skill from my past life’s game—it increases critical hit chance. With her already high luck stat plus a critical hit boost skill, she’s an extreme damage dealer. That’s Miho, the white tiger beastkin.

    She said she wants to join our group, or more precisely, she wants to serve Ira, whom she considers her benefactor. As I casually look at the status window that appeared before me, Miho, who had been sitting with a sour expression, finally speaks.

    “…What are you looking at?”

    “The future of the continent.”

    “Y-you’re looking quite far ahead.”

    “Yeah. So, what will you do? Will you do it or not?”

    “I… I should at least know why you want to kill…”

    Despite my obvious display of dislike, she’s asking for a lot. I honestly find it annoying to explain and frown as I look at Miho.

    “If you don’t want to do it, then don’t. As I’ve been saying, I’d much prefer if you left.”

    “……”

    In response to my answer, Miho’s golden eyes showed a small but definite hint of dissatisfaction as her eyebrows twitched.

    Good. Either she’ll just say she doesn’t want to and leave, or she’ll get angry enough to attack me, which would make it easier to explain to Ira why she should go.

    “We’re talking about killing someone. And the Academy’s Vice Principal—I don’t know much about this city, but isn’t that like a tribal chief? Someone important?”

    “Yeah. Probably the second most important person here.”

    “If they’re that important, you should at least tell me why you want to kill them…”

    Looking at Miho speaking with bewilderment, I feel nothing special. Since I don’t want to talk to her at length, I decided to summarize in one sentence.

    “For Ira’s sake.”

    “What? For the young lady?”

    “Yes. So. Will you do it or not?”

    I deliberately mention only the reasons that would make Miho hesitate, without explaining that he’s a child kidnapper and abuser of spirits. I plan to eliminate anyone who stands in my way—in Ira’s way—as we flee across this continent. I’ll kill them all.

    If I can’t, I’ll avoid them, but I’ll clear away anyone who forces us to take a long detour. And surely in that process, there will be those who haven’t yet committed evil acts or are just preparing and hesitating.

    People who are hesitating about making deals with demons due to sad circumstances, or those who have kidnapped someone in a moment of anger but haven’t yet committed murder.

    There might even be people planning terrorist acts as justified revenge for what they’ve suffered.

    ‘But why should I care? No one ever considered our position, so why should I care about their circumstances?’

    There’s no reason to. I’ve suffered enough and am running away to survive.

    As a result, I have no intention of considering the circumstances of those who stand in the way of me, Ira, and our companions before swinging my blade.

    Even if my actions are considered evil, even if other main NPCs or protagonists on the side of “good” label me as “evil,” I intend to survive and show them. And besides.

    ‘Besides, Gorr, Rey, and Ragni are already the type who would swing fists, swords, and guns for me and Ira without caring about the other party’s circumstances.’

    But what about you? Can you do that? Would a playable character with Intelligence 16 understand my intentions?

    Miho closed her eyes, seemingly organizing her thoughts for a moment, then stood up.

    “What do you need me to do?”

    And in those golden eyes, I saw a determination I couldn’t understand.

    *

    “Ro Jack hasn’t returned?”

    “No. And Director Gibson has also been out of contact for three days.”

    “…Did Gibson say where he was going before he left?”

    “Yes. He said he sensed magical energy from a good material.”

    “Have you sent a search party in that direction?”

    “Yes. I’ve sent one, and I believe they should return by early morning today.”

    “Just to be safe, send search parties to the laboratories as well. Ro Jack definitely said he would go through the confirmation process for contracting with an intermediate spirit yesterday.”

    “Yes, sir. I understand.”

    As the white-bearded old man waved his hand, the middle-aged man who had been reporting bowed his head and left the office. Alone in the room, the old man began to mutter to himself.

    “…Could it be? Did the Principal notice? If it were just Gibson, I wouldn’t worry, but if Ro Jack, who was inside Neity, has disappeared, it’s not impossible.”

    He had proceeded very slowly, secretly, and surely, building trust. But if someone were to ask if it was perfect, Rotolks, the Vice Principal of the Academy, would definitely say no.

    It’s obvious. He’s been expelling slightly underperforming lower-grade students from each department, using them as resources for the laboratory.

    Of course, he’s been careful not to exceed the average annual expulsion rate, but there’s a possibility that the Principal noticed something unusual and took action…

    ‘No. That’s impossible.’

    She surely wouldn’t care. A spirit mage who doesn’t consider anyone handling spirits below superior rank to be a real spirit mage.

    Such a person wouldn’t be interested in my “Universal Spirit Mage” research.

    Besides, I properly reported this research to her, and she approved it after several verification procedures.

    Of course, I modified the report to say we were using monster mana stones instead of mentioning that underperforming children were being used as batteries.

    “Then who else in this city besides me and the Principal could capture those two without leaving a trace?”

    Though he’s committing illegal acts, Gibson is a mage-kin. And Ro Jack is a spirit mage with exceptional talent even among humans. Someone who could eliminate such individuals without leaving any trace of resistance.

    The Vice Principal thought of other Combat Department directors and famous gold-rank adventurers in the city, but knowing their abilities, he soon shook his head.

    ‘Ro Jack might be possible, but not Gibson. Gibson recently succeeded in processing a fragment of the Spirit King into a magical tool. He gained access to offensive spirit magic at the level of a superior spirit mage. It’s impossible that he could be helplessly captured by anyone other than me or the Principal.’

    While he’s quite lacking in spirit affinity for a mage-kin, that’s only when compared to his race. By human standards, he’s a genius that appears once every 50 years. That’s Gibson.

    After thinking that far, the Vice Principal began to consider the possibility that things were going badly and whether he should close and conceal the laboratory, and also dispose of the research assistants to cover his tracks.

    -Knock knock.

    “Who is it?”

    “It’s Manie, the Principal’s secretary.”

    “Oh, Manie. Come in.”

    When the door was knocked, Rotolks’ thoughts were momentarily interrupted, and he frowned in annoyance. But upon hearing it was the Principal’s secretary, he completely changed his expression as if nothing had happened, returning to the appearance of a kind old man to greet the secretary.

    Seeing his transformation, the bespectacled female secretary, Manie, who had guided Ira and Ragni earlier, smiled, bowed in greeting, and handed over the documents she had brought.

    “Here’s the list of recommended admission candidates. They all seem quite talented.”

    “Hmm? All of them? I guess no one came from Aigram this year?”

    For several years, Aigram had been notorious within the Academy for selling Neity recommendation letters for money and sending only worthless individuals. Every year after the recommended admission interviews, professors and directors would spend time complaining. But judging by Manie’s reaction, it seems no one came from Aigram this year…

    “…What’s this?”

    “Hehe. Actually, a child named Ira from Aigram is the most talented among this year’s examinees.”

    The Vice Principal’s expression hardened as he quickly flipped through the documents, and Manie smiled and answered. The Vice Principal’s eyes widened in disbelief.

    Could it be? A 12-year-old elementary division applicant made the [Superior Spirit Core] shine even momentarily? And the Principal personally directed and interviewed her?

    “Ho ho. What incredible talent. At this level, she must be a once-in-a-century genius, right?”

    “Hehe. Actually, this report is somewhat understated.”

    “…Hmm?”

    The Vice Principal’s eyebrows twitched slightly at Manie’s continued words. This already seemed excessive to call a 12-year-old’s talent, but this was understated? What could that mean?

    “She filled 40% of the spirit core. And in just a few seconds.”

    “…You must be joking?”

    “She even walked away cheerfully on her own legs afterward. The Principal seems to think she’s found a genius worthy of becoming her successor.”

    He was speechless. Successor? While he, the Vice Principal of this Academy, was right here, the Principal was saying she would pass on the Academy’s succession to someone else without any consultation with him?

    The Vice Principal perfectly controlled his eyes that threatened to widen and his mouth that threatened to twist as he listened to Manie’s story and responded. After hearing that the conversation between the Principal and the girl was true, he smiled kindly.

    “…That’s wonderful news! Ah, Manie. Would you like to have some tea before you go?”

    “Oh! I’m sorry. I still have a lot of work to do. I should have just delivered the documents and left, but I got carried away talking about the children!”

    “Ho ho. I know well how much you love children, so why apologize? Even this old man in the back room enjoyed hearing about the children from your young lips. Next time, come by leisurely for a cup of tea.”

    “Yes. Take care, Vice Principal.”

    “You too.”

    After Manie politely bowed and left the Vice Principal’s office, Rotolks’ eyes and mouth twitched and twisted as if convulsing.

    ‘…Damn that Principal woman. She’s finally gone senile. How dare, HOW DARE she!! When I’ve devoted my entire life to the Academy and spirit research, she wants to accept another woman as her successor?!!’

    Reading the document on his desk describing a 12-year-old commoner girl with red hair and purple eyes, the Vice Principal began to think with a coldly enraged mind.

    ‘If she’s a once-in-a-thousand-years material, she could help me contract with a superior spirit.’

    “…I’ll have to postpone closing the laboratory for now.”

    -BANG!!

    The old man slammed down the document containing Ira’s personal information, not hiding his twisted expression, and disappeared from that spot.

    *

    “…Indeed. His words and actions are not meant to hurt others.”

    In the now empty room, black and white beast ears appeared from thin air, twitched, then opened a desk drawer to take something out before disappearing.


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