Hunter and Agartha Hold Their Breath
Hunter and Agartha could only hold their breath and watch the scene unfolding before their eyes.
"Wh-what the hell."
Ever since Tantun had drawn the Surveillance Outer God's attention to lure it toward him, they'd been locked in a razor-thin deathmatch. The bizarre object Tantun had thrown hurtled straight toward the Surveillance Outer God. If things continued as they were, it would have struck home—but the Surveillance Outer God spotted it with leisure to spare and snapped it up in its jaws.
As if enraged, it growled and turned its gaze on Tantun before charging. Even as Tantun resisted, it toyed with him, flinging the object this way and that. Watching him, Hunter knew instinctively: the plan had failed. We're dying here.
No one to blame but myself. My judgment was lacking. His fate ended here. He'd overstepped his place, and that was regrettable. The only regret that would haunt him was failing to avenge his family.
With her thoughts neatly sorted, Hunter simply closed her eyes. Agartha could only resign herself as well—we held out this long; not bad.
But for some reason, instead of the sound of Tantun being torn apart, there came only a dull thud and the noise of something hitting the floor.
When Hunter looked again, Tantun and the Surveillance Outer God had pulled apart. And the Surveillance Outer God was still holding the object in its mouth, staring quietly at Tantun.
Hunter couldn't hide her shock.
...Did he just land a hit on that Outer God?! There was no other explanation for Tantun emerging unscathed.
Furious perhaps, the Surveillance Outer God bared a savage air and lunged at Tantun again. What followed was a breathless exchange of blows. The Surveillance Outer God parried Tantun's swipe with a forepaw. When Tantun swung his hand blade next, it spun in place to dodge. But in the end, Tantun placed his hand atop the Surveillance Outer God's head—and as if suffering some affliction, it began making strange noises.
Unable to endure any longer, the Surveillance Outer God broke away from Tantun's grasp and began spinning rapidly around the area. Tension etched Tantun's face. At last, the Surveillance Outer God charged, trying to chomp his face. Overpowered by its sheer size, he toppled—but Tantun resisted again with both hands, locked in a contest of strength.
...What the hell are you, you lunatic? Before reevaluating him, Hunter began questioning whether the thing was even human.
# Finally, the Surveillance Outer God's tongue assault ended, and it retreated with light steps, seemingly satisfied. It had been a bit shorter than me to begin with, but sitting like a puppy made it look even smaller.
"Hah... hah."
Even after falling away, it panted with excitement, grinning ear to ear.
...Good thing it didn't hurt, but my body was already slick with thick drool-like saliva.
"...Ptui! You can't do that. My clothes are soaked."
I unwittingly uttered the same scolding I'd give my dog back home, and the Surveillance Outer God—ears folding back, body shrinking—whimpered.
"Wh-whoa... boo hoo...."
...No, don't make that face looking like that! My head spun. Then it approached and gently licked my hand.
"...Sorry?"
With those pitiful eyes, it almost made me feel guilty. I let out a deep sigh and patted its head.
"No, it's fine. Just lick skin from now on. Wet clothes mean changing again."
"...As expected of a human!"
Whether it understood or not, it slung an arm over my shoulder and targeted only my face, licking away.
...What an oddly satisfying feeling.
The Surveillance Outer God, departing from me, picked up the dog bone I'd thrown with its mouth and waved a paw.
"Thanks, human! Found it thanks to you! Was stuck here searching for this!"
...Ah, so that's what it was? That's why it was just hanging around doing nothing.
"Bad guy stole this! Without you, might not have found it yet!"
"I see...."
Did someone steal it again and stash it behind that fake wall? Whoever jammed it in there enough to snag the Surveillance Outer God wasn't ordinary, that was sure.... But a dog bone? Wasn't that replaceable? Couldn't find food elsewhere?
The Surveillance Outer God suddenly looked thoughtful, then pointed at me.
"But why can you talk to me, human?"
"Huh, good question?"
"Doesn't hurt when I look at you."
Um, how to explain? I installed Super Coward Mode? Yeah, no way it'd get that.
"Maybe 'cause I like you that much?"
"...!"
Just some lip service, but it looked shocked, then flashed the prettiest smile.
"I like you too, human!"
Hmm. A cute girl saying that to me? What's not to like.
It picked up the bone, turned, and walked off waving.
"Thanks, human! See you later!"
"Uh, yeah."
Cheeky thing, even saying thanks.... Wait, did it just say "see you later"? Was that right? As I reviewed my memory, Agartha and Hunter approached.
Eh, probably just a farewell pleasantry. Decided to forget it.
Agartha, sweating bullets, said,
"T-Tantun. Were you hiding your power all this time?"
"Huh?"
What power? As I blinked in confusion, Hunter let out a grunt.
"...Never dreamed you could pull off a fight like that."
Hunter nodded, impressed.
"Couldn't kill the Outer God, but repelling it? Possible. You've proven your words yourself. I acknowledge it."
...How do you interpret petting its head as "fighting"? Was it just cute to my eyes again? Nah, even I thought misreading head-pats as combat was a stretch.
Whatever. It worked out.
I'd taken down the Surveillance Outer God, dubbed the Tutorial's Wailing Wall. Then a voice echoed in my head.
You survived a cute Outer God!
"What're you doing? Let's get outta here already."
"Right, Tantun. Staying long in this dingy, filthy prison's bad for the lungs."
"Thief who's picky about prisons now?"
"You think thieves like places like this? That's prejudice! Most turn thief for a better life!"
Hunter and Agartha bickered but beckoned me over, so I smiled at them. Without them, I wouldn't have made it this far. Joyful at our successful breakout, I basked in the moment.
"Yeah, let's g—"
But my words cut short, mood shattered. Crash! The ceiling exploded, boulders raining down.
"Wh-what?!"
I shielded my face from the scattering debris. Thud thud. The brick chunks could've bruised badly if they hit wrong—but the Surveillance Outer God's saliva dripping down protected me, strengthening my body. Watching globs slide off the sticky spots, I marveled. It sucked getting slobbered on, but damn, useful! Thanks, Surveillance buddy!
The noise faded, debris settled. As I lowered my arm, someone grabbed it. Startled, I looked up—a woman in a white mask stared down.
Dust choked the collapsed prison interior. Her chilling voice rang out.
"Don't move. Move and I'll cut you."
My body froze. Hunter and Agartha halted too.
"Ah, ahh!"
Something else dropped through the hole in the ceiling. Boom! A massive explosion-like roar, and out tumbled a hooded pink-haired girl. She glanced around terrified, then spotted the masked woman and looked relieved.
"Wh-White Mask senpai! Y-you're too hasty! What if Outer Gods were still inside?!"
The pink-haired girl stiffly approached and stood by White Mask.
What the hell was this? As I reeled from the sudden turn, Hunter spoke flatly, as if expecting it.
"Outer God's gone, so they came."
"This ain't the time for calm talk! Damn, should've known since the Outer God showed."
Hunter stayed cool, but Agartha freaked.
"That's Rondan's knights! Outer God hunters!"
"Told you not to move?"
White Mask growled at Agartha's fussing.
"No moving! I always respect the knights and have zero intent to hinder official duty!"
Agartha threw her hands up high, broadcasting surrender like she'd met something scarier than Outer Gods.
Rondan's knights? Sounded familiar.... As I pondered, heavy footsteps approached from afar.
"Distortion collapse due to Outer God. Identifying personnel in contact. Matches prisoners in custody. Executing official duty."
Wh-what? Executing duty? The white-masked woman drew plastic replica swords from her sheath. The hooded pink-haired girl unslung her strap and raised a toy axe. And the one declaring duty wore a bear doll mask.
"Eek!"
"Rondan knights for sure. Armed with Outer God-forged weapons."
"Uh... huh?"
...Those?