Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Big Sleep
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In the dead of night, at a supermarket in the heart of the city.
Three shadowy figures moved silently through the pitch-black darkness, where not even a sliver of moonlight could penetrate.
"It's too dark to see a damn thing. Can't we turn on some lights?"
"No. And don't take off your mask."
"Why not?"
"CCTV."
"But it's so dark, does it even matter?"
"It matters. Modern cameras use infrared."
"Infrared? So if we slather on sunscreen, they won't pick us up?"
"Oh, really?"
"It's not infrared, it's ultraviolet, isn't it?"
The shadows groped along the walls, engaging in this pointless banter. Their identities? Me, Betty, and Han.
If you're wondering why we'd snuck into a supermarket in the middle of the night, well, yeah. We'd come to raid the place while it was closed.
"What's the difference between ultraviolet and infrared anyway?"
"Beats me. I don't know that much..."
"Either way, they're both rays, right? Why discriminate? Judge them as they are, without prejudice."
"No, but ultraviolet and infrared are objectively different..."
"That's ray discrimination!"
She shrieked, and only then did Han finally shut up.
Ultraviolet, infrared, worldline—whatever. As long as it makes sense. People who nitpick the tiniest errors and insist they're right are always exhausting.
Oh, people mix things up sometimes! Look at this nerd latching onto every little thing.
Sword nuts are so damn inflexible. If they spot even a minor mistake, they can't rest until it's corrected. Total obsessive-compulsive psychos.
"Tch. That's swordsmen for you. Zero flexibility. All raving lunatics!"
"Don't you use a sword too, Anis?"
"That's why I'm crazy too."
"……"
Han fell silent. My eyes hadn't adjusted to the dark yet, so I couldn't see his face, but he was probably staring at me in stunned disbelief.
"Anyway, what should we grab?"
"Let's prioritize essentials like food and water first, then come back later for anything else we think of."
"Anis, can I get drinks instead of just water?"
"Ion drinks are fine."
"Aww, I wanna have soda."
"Shut it."
"While we're at it, let's grab some toiletries too."
We killed some time with this mundane chit-chat, and gradually, our eyes adjusted to the darkness.
"Ah, starting to see now."
"Grab what we need quick and get out."
"Let's snag some cash from the counter too."
With our dark vision sorted, we sprang into action.
First up: food, naturally. We dragged a cart from the corner to the grocery aisle.
"Stick to stuff with long shelf lives—no perishables."
Han said that and dumped a pile of canned goods into the cart.
"Dude, we came here to avoid canned crap, and you're grabbing cans?!"
"Better to have a few for emergencies."
I hated to admit it, but he had a point. Reluctantly, I nodded and piled instant ramen on top of the cans.
"...Mild Jun Ramen? What the hell?"
Han's face twisted in disgust—an overreaction unlike his usual self. I flinched.
Damn. Thought it was too dark to notice.
I didn't want to grab that. The old me would've never touched mild flavors. I used to love spicy, hearty ramen.
"Uh... I can't handle spicy."
But what could I do? This body couldn't take the heat.
Han didn't buy my excuse, though.
"Can't allow this."
He yanked out all the ramen I'd added and replaced it with spicier ones. I swallowed my tears and watched.
"Anis, can we take this?"
Betty shoved something at me. Potato chips.
A bit iffy as "food"—more like snacks. But I nodded without hesitation.
"Yeah. Grab it."
Potato chips? No resistance.
I glanced at Han; he didn't object. This guy gets it too.
"What about this?"
Betty held up frozen dumplings next. I nodded again.
"Sure."
Frozen dumplings? Irresistible.
We shopped with ice cream bars from the freezer tucked in our mouths, one each.
We loaded up on enough food, grabbed a gas burner, some butane canisters, cooking utensils like frying pans and pots, then cooking oil, ketchup, salt, sugar—seasonings too.
"Cola too."
"Do what you want."
Betty insisted, so we took a case. Toiletries and daily necessities rounded it out.
"How much cash?"
"As much as we can."
Finally, we stuffed our pockets with a hefty wad from the register, then Betty teleported us back to X District.
Dumplings sizzled on the frying pan. We huddled around, watching.
"We'll procure food like this from now on. Good work."
Kahathel said, eyes glued to the dumplings.
"Why'd you bring cans?"
"Better safe than sorry."
"We already have plenty... No, wait! Good call!"
Fine for Kahathel, who'd been solo-summoning magic beasts. Even Camila, holed up indulging her hobbies, pitching in? That grated a bit.
Crazy psycho or not, I wasn't gonna quibble over portions. She'd probably been living on cans too—must've craved variety.
"Looks tasty."
"Betty, you're drooling."
Dumplings weren't the only thing cooking. We ripped open every frozen food package we'd brought. No fridge in the slums meant eat it before it spoiled.
Actually, one place had a fridge: that big countryside house where I'd stayed with the kids before.
Back then, I'd dismissed it as an outdated dump—no PC, no internet. Now? Paradise.
Hold up. Then why squeeze into this cramped one-room? The barrier covered all of X District, house included.
We could head there right now.
Oh, my sweet home.
Missed you? Sorry to keep you waiting. Finishing this up, then straight over.
Living rough had taught me: a comfy nest is vital. A sanctuary to forget the world's crap, recharge.
And I'd return soon.
"Oh, that place? It collapsed. Probably from the nearby battles. This area's the least wrecked."
Or so I'd thought. Nope.
What the hell? Sure, it wobbled like it might crumble anytime.
But collapsing just like that? I sighed in dismay.
I turned to the others, scarfing food on the floor.
Demon of all evils. Psycho who guts people alive. Ruthless killer of thousands.
Yet here, in this dingy, cramped room at a rickety table threatening to snap, they all looked equally pathetic. Grand titles meant nothing against poverty.
Was this my future? Appetite vanished.
"Magic beast summons complete. Used all my power; quite a few too."
The demon of all evils mumbled around a mouthful of dumpling.
"So, rest time now, as you said?"
The gut-gutting psycho asked, instant chicken leg in hand.
"How long?"
The thousand-slayer had ketchup smeared on her lips.
"Yes. Short nap to recover. Won't take long."
I munched dumplings, half-listening.
After the midnight feast, drowsiness hit. Han and Camila had left; Betty and I were heading out too.
"Anis Harper, a word."
Kahathel called as I stepped out with Betty.
"Betty, go ahead."
"Okay."
I sent her off and turned to him.
Q - What?
A - Fetch me a glass of water.
This bastard, messing with me?
Grumbling inwardly, I tossed him a bottled water from the supermarket haul.
"Pour it in a glass."
Tempted to smack him, but hey—transcendent demon. Restrained myself, poured it instead.
Q - Happy now? Why'd you call me?
A - ......
Kahathel pondered, then spoke.
"Lift your left arm."
"?"
I raised my left arm.
"Lower left, raise right."
What the...? I complied.
"...Hm. Obedient."
"Asshole."
Thwack!
I smacked the top of his head as he sat cross-legged.
"...Stings. Now, handstand."
"...What?"
This guy's lost it. I clenched my fist for another hit.
"Whoa, wait! I'll talk! I said I'd talk!"
He panicked.
Q - Cut the crap. Why'd you call me?
A - Listen, Anis Harper. Want to make a deal?
"...A deal?"
"Straight talk: I know you don't like me. Full cooperation's iffy like this. So, proposal."
He grinned.
"Kill Yeriel, and I'll void my contract with Betty. She's free."
"...For real?"
"Yeah. Kill Yeriel, and whatever you two do after? Not my problem."
Trustworthy? I eyed him suspiciously.
"No need to doubt. Without Yeriel, the power-granting fades. New humans born powerless. Give it a century—humanity's all duds."
Meaning, post-Yeriel, he wouldn't need us. He'd wait out the century; our survival irrelevant.
"...That's all?"
"Not quite. Killing her's baseline—you cooperate too. Like, off a few humans blocking the way."
"......"
"Not thrilled, huh. Can't be helped."
He extended a hand, smirking.
"To get what you want, pay the price, right?"
"......"
I paused, then slapped his palm instead of shaking.
"...Nothing excessive or ridiculous, or I bail."
"Deal."
Transaction sealed.
Q - Anyway, one question for me.
A - Shoot.
Q - This demonic energy in me. Can you remove it?
A - Dunno. I've infused it, never extracted. Yeriel might know better.
"Or ask Camila. Quirky thinker, but versatile."
Quirky? Full psycho. And Camila's no different. If she's infused it, probably never removed.
Q - Damn hallucinations keep yapping.
A - Tough luck. Grit it out.
"...Tired. Deployed hordes at the barrier. Humans'll take years to breach. As said, brief rest—keep Betty out of trouble till I wake."
I nodded indifferently.
Three days after Kahathel dozed off.
"Kahathel's sleeping a while."
"Han, wake him."
"Good luck."
A week later.
"When's Kahathel waking? Must be beat."
"Betty, eat."
"Okay."
A month.
"Humans probing in. Magic beasts clogging the entrance."
Half a year.
"Heroes thinning the beasts now. Still plenty."
Three years passed.
"Fuck, is this bastard dead? Beasts are almost gone!!"
I kicked the sleeping Kahathel.
He didn't stir.