A Truly Killer Plan (End)

The original plan had been simple.

Go to Mad Dog Dexter's hideout and subdue everyone with Vivian's skill.

It didn't matter how strong the Mad Dog was, or how many underlings he had.

If you don't follow, you die.

In this world, there wasn't a single person who could stop Vivian's skill. That was precisely why this was so frustrating.

"Value your life."

"I value it enough that I came here to help."

"What's that supposed to mean? Spare me the jokes and go home. I may have grown old and frail, but I'm not so far gone that I'd need to borrow the strength of a brat like you."

If I'd had even a fraction of Vivian's reputation, I wouldn't have had to waste time like this. Thanks to that little exchange, I was reminded all over again: right now I was nothing more than an F-rank extra, someone who couldn't even set foot on the protagonists' stage.

So there was no other choice.

"Understood. I'll be on my way."

An extra had no option but to make his exit around here.

"Now that I think about it, you're right, old man. I almost threw my life away. Thank you for the advice."

I finished speaking and stood up.

"......Thank you."

The old man reached a hand toward me.

"And I'm sorry."

Through that faintly trembling arm, I could feel Ian Freeman's sincerity. Looking at him, I answered.

"Ghk...... Why...... choking me...... the hell......"

This old geezer. He'd reached out so affectionately — and then choked me.

"Huh?! S-sorry!! Was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that your neck?!!"

"Can't you tell just by looking?! The thickness is different, the thickness!!"

"I thought your arm was just a bit thick!!"

Ian yanked his hand back in a panic.

"That's why you should've dropped the stealth!! How am I supposed to grab a hand if I can't even see it!!"

"Huh? You couldn't see me?"

"See you, my ass! I could sense you were there, that's all. I haven't laid eyes on you even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠once."

What? So the stealth hadn't been completely seen through after all.

"Then why'd you pretend you could see me? That's annoying."

"Wh-what?!"

"Nothing. Anyway, I'm leaving. Next time I'll come with Yuria."

I gave a polite bow — not that he'd be able to see it, so I just waved a hand roughly instead.

"You brat. At least show your face before you go."

"I don't know how to drop the stealth."

"Aigoo. If you're going to lie, at least put some effort into it."

It's the truth, though. It was a meeting that somehow left me feeling more wronged than anything, but it was nice to feel a little warmth for a change.

"Oh, and keep this a secret from Yuria."

"Why? She'd surely be grateful."

"That's exactly why I don't want her to know."

I was trying to save her so I could survive. It'd be awkward if she got all grateful on me.

Ian asked with a warm smile.

"Your heart for your friend is truly admirable."

"No."

I smiled back as I answered.

"We're not that close."

"What?! Wai—"

Creak.

I opened the door and walked right out.

"I'm sure Yuria said you were her closest friend......"

Ian was muttering something, but that wasn't what mattered right now.

Round trip from here to the clothing store: fifteen minutes.

Yuria had been gone for thirty.

Something might have happened.

I wanted to chase after her trail immediately, but I was worried about Ian left alone in the house.

"What a pain in the ass, this old geezer."

"......I can hear every word, you little shit."

"Ah, sorry. Anyway, I'm really leaving now."

Once I was ready to go, I pulled a marble and a dagger from the money pouch.

Kinda wasteful to use it now, but...

It was a disposable Charles-Charles summoner that could call Charles no matter where he was.

His name is Eugene! He's my closest friend!

......Saving Yuria comes first right now.

I could always ask Charles for another one later.

Scratch, scratch-scratch, swipe.

Using the dagger, I left writing on the dirt floor, then placed the marble beside the letters and smashed it.

Crack!

The marble shattered, and the silver aura contained within leaked out in a faint shimmer.

And just in case.

"Old man."

"......Just go already. You keep saying you're leaving and then you don't. It's driving me insane."

"I was just about to leave, you know?"

What a cold old man.

"Anyway, someone will be coming shortly. He's trustworthy, so don't turn him away."

"You're saying you called someone?"

"Yes. While I'm out on a date with Yuria, he'll look after you."

"W-wait!! You little—!!"

Ian shouted in shock, but I'd already started walking.

With that, extra Eugene made his exit.

And now.

Click.

It was time for a mysterious benefactor to make his appearance.

Click.

Once I pulled on the black robes and slid the mask over my face, my identity was perfectly concealed.

Let Eugene live as Eugene. When I help, I'll hide who I am, just like this.

If I created an entirely third persona, moving in secret would become far easier.

Besides......

After Yuria, I was definitely going to get tangled up with the cultists. Villainess Yuria was a formidable opponent in her own right, but the cultists who would surface after her — the so-called Six Apostles — were the ones I needed to be even more careful of.

If things go well, I might even run into them today.

That was all the more reason to hide my identity. Well, the person who'd sold me the black robes and the mask would know who I was, but—

Obviously. People like us live longer if we keep our mouths shut.

—he didn't seem like the type to go around talking.

Anyway, with my identity hidden, I was now in a state where I could freely use both my unique trait and my knowledge of the future.

First, get Yuria out of there. Fast.

After resetting my priorities, I arrived at the clothing store Ian had mentioned — and the moment I did.

"Gheheheh!! Boss!! We got mint chocolate!!"

"Pineapple pizza too, sir!!"

"Can't forget Boss Dexter's favorite! Fish-head curry!!"

"Hey!! How long on the rock stew?!"

Something horrific was already unfolding there.

"Urgh......!"

Fighting back the nausea clawing up my throat, I approached the men I assumed were Dexter's underlings.

"......Skill list."

I carefully reviewed the skills I had on hand, then kept a measured distance as I surveyed the surroundings.

A wrecked store. Clothes scattered across the floor. A massive man beaten to a pulp, lying unconscious. The shops around it were still intact, which meant there were two possible reasons for the attack.

A fight had broken out during a refund.

Or they'd come to kidnap Yuria.

To get a proper read on the situation, I scanned the area and eavesdropped on their conversation.

"By the way, Vice Boss. Looks like that washed-up Ian actually taught his adopted daughter something? Did you see that bitch's eyes earlier? How were those human eyes? Those were ghost eyes."

"You stupid bastard! Ghosts don't exist. And even if they did, our boss is several times scarier."

"That's true for us too. But still. Why do you think the boss ordered us to kidnap that Yuria bitch?"

"Hell if I know, but......."

The vice boss's eyes narrowed to slits.

"He's probably having a good time right about now."

That was as far as I was willing to listen. Just from the conversation I'd overheard, I could guess who they were and what had happened to Yuria.

"Hey. You sons of bitches."

The moment I spat that at them—

The stealth skill ended right on cue, so I revealed myself and walked toward them.

"Where's Yuria."

"......Where the hell did this bastard come from?"

"I said where's Yuria."

"Ha! This guy's a riot."

Among the dozen or so thugs, the one who looked like the youngest stood up from his seat.

"I heard that washed-up Ian was gathering forces. Looks like it was true, Boss."

"Whatever. Just leave him breathing. Boss only eats 'em while they're still alive."

"Yes, Boss!"

The youngest snapped off a sloppy salute, picked up a mace, and swaggered over.

"Tough luck, huh? You just won the lottery as tonight's meal."

"......"

"See, our boss really loves the taste of blood. So sometimes he chews 'em up while they're still alive. Ah! That bitch we snatched earlier too, if she pisses him off—"

"Hey."

"Hey? Heeey? Do you even know who we are right now."

"Remember this. I'm letting you live because you talk too much."

"What did this bastard just......"

The next moment.

Flash.

From the brightest star floating above their heads, a pure white light sparked. It plummeted to the earth in a single ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠breath.

KRAAAAAANG!!!!

The underlings of Dexter who'd been throwing a drinking party in front of the store were vaporized without a trace.

"Uh......?"

A moment later.

"S-spare......"

The one I'd left alive finished processing the situation.

"Please spare my life!!!"

"Why would I."

"Please!! Please just my life...... Pleaseee......"

Squelch, squelch......

As if trying to crawl away somehow, he flailed, pressing his hands ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into the urine-soaked ground. I looked down at the man and asked.

"Yuria. Where did they take her."

"Ah!!"

As if finally remembering why I'd left him alive, the man started cooperating with frantic enthusiasm.

"D-Dexter-nim!! No, that son of a bitch Dexter took her himself!!"

"So. Where did they take her."

He frantically pointed behind him.

"Th-that way!! The Abandoned Paper Factory in the corner of the Backstreets!! I heard if they can't talk her around today, they're going to kill her!!!"

"......Right."

I thought for a moment. The borrowed skills were limited, so I couldn't afford to waste them.

Should I kill him.

But.

......Could I even kill him.

The calculation finished quickly. They say no life weighs more than another — but the lives of villains versus the life of the world were a different matter entirely.

"......Should've brought a sword."

That blade belonged to F-rank Eugene alone, so leaving it behind when I changed clothes had come back to bite me. Just as I thought that and reached out my hand—

Whoosh.

Something flew toward me.

Thud.

I spun and caught it — an elegant black curved blade, a hwando with a graceful silhouette.

"A life...... huff, that's the price of...... a life. And."

Squeeze.

"Ghk, gaaah!"

The massive man who'd somehow come to his senses grabbed the crawling thug by the neck and hoisted him into the air.

"Leave the cleanup to us."

"...Will you be alright on your own?"

"I said us, didn't I."

As the man finished speaking, the closed shop door burst open and people came rushing out.

"Thank you for the help. From here on, those of us who follow Master Ian — myself included — will handle this."

"Yeah, sure."

They'd take care of things here, so I was about to leave to rescue Yuria when—

"P-please wait a moment!!!"

The man called me back.

"I wouldn't have a word to say even if you turned and left right now, but still, if. If you could spare the time......"

He rummaged through his pocket.

"Could you deliver this to Yuria."

What he held out was a honey candy.

"That child Yuria. She'll be putting on a brave face, but she must be terrified. I feel truly sorry asking this of you when I couldn't even protect her, but......"

What looked like a small request was, in essence, no different from asking for help.

"If we go, we might be too late...... But someone as strong as you would surely......"

He couldn't even finish the sentence, crushed by the guilt of failing to protect Yuria. I answered the man.

"Forget it. You eat that and get a grip, mister."

"......Understood."

The man's expression crumbled all at once, but he immediately composed himself again.

"Sorry for the excessive request. Please forget I said anything."

That was the kind of place the underworld was now. A world of clear survival of the fittest. A place where the weak couldn't even comfortably ask for help. A place where if the strong expressed any intent, the weak had no choice but to follow.

But that wasn't what I'd meant.

"No. I didn't mean I wouldn't help...... I meant you don't need to give me more candy."

I patted my pocket as I added,

"This. I bought it for Yuria in the first place."

The man's face lit up in an instant.

"Th-then that means you'll help us......!"

"As long as you can keep your mouth shut, mister."

"Of course!!! I've never seen you before in my life!!"

Just as I'd expected of the man. I smirked and activated a skill.

"I'll go on ahead."

Using the last remaining rental ticket, I sprinted toward where Dexter was.

Yuria. I'll come save you soon...

Don't let yourself be stained by evil.

From behind me as I ran, the man's voice rang out.

"Th-thank you!!! Thank you so much!!! What should I even call you......!! Ah, that's it!!"

The massive man, seemingly genuinely moved, shouted with tears welling in his eyes.

Oh, come on. That's a bit much, isn't it?