Chapter 28: Extermination Record: "Shadow Artist" & "Canvas Breaker"
Chapter 28: Extermination Record: "Shadow Artist" & "Canvas Breaker"
A small room, the kind you could find anywhere.
The room, illuminated by an pointlessly bright bulb, didn't have a single dark corner. Yet, the actions taking place within were the very shadows of the Management Bureau—sin itself.
These were people who belonged to no official department, ensuring their existence remained unconfirmed.
Two photos were pinned to a whiteboard, and documents were handed out to each Squad Member.
"A-Rank Monster Shadow Artist and A-Rank Hero Canvas Breaker. They are today's targets."
The moment the targets were named, a stir broke out among the members.
"An SSS-Rank Hero is an assassination target? What did they do to warrant an assassination?"
These bastards don't even look at the materials I give them.
"They filed a false retirement report and fled with a monster who was the final boss of a Story. That was two years ago."
I pinned a map and periodic check-up results to the whiteboard.
"A periodic inspection confirmed that power still remains within them. Thanks to that, the Bureau began an investigation."
More photos were added to the pile of data.
Photos of a man and a woman shopping, chatting affectionately.
"They were spotted living together in a civilian residential area."
"The targets' appearances are significantly different from the photos, though?"
Is that the first actual question worth answering?
"Shadow Artist possesses camouflage abilities and the power to hide Otherworldly Power. This was already confirmed in the combat reports submitted by Canvas Breaker."
Read the damn data, you lot.
"We have the Bureau’s test results for Otherworldly Power in that area. Look at page four."
For the first time, I heard the sound of pages turning. Their eyes fixed on the graphs.
The concentration of Otherworldly Power had skyrocketed since they moved in.
The slope had become strangely gradual about six months ago, but the values themselves had already surpassed the saturation point.
"The Bureau expects Otherworld Erosion to occur within a month. Even if the curve has flattened, it's already on the verge of saturation."
The murmuring grew louder.
Otherworld Erosion in the middle of a city. They murmured because they knew exactly how dangerous that was.
"Accordingly, the Bureau has confirmed the deployment of three S-Ranks. It's an exceptional measure."
"Three of them?"
"Then why are we needed?"
Because you're needed, you blockheads.
"I am the only one who will engage in actual combat. The other two will isolate the entire area to prevent their escape and then impose power restrictions to keep them from moving."
Even if the other two weren't directly involved in the fight, the fact that three S-Ranks were participating meant the Bureau viewed this incident with extreme gravity.
The roster was illustrious.
Crimson★Hammer.
Lord of Infinite Castles.
Librarian.
Every S-Rank currently available was being deployed.
"What is the authorized weaponry?"
"Everything. The Lord of Infinite Castles will isolate the area personally, and the Librarian will handle the restoration. You can assume that no matter what kind of mess we make, nothing will leak outside."
"How do we handle the final cleanup?"
"We'll disguise it as an explosion caused by a gas leak. In other words, all the explosives you love so much are authorized for use."
After finishing the brief briefing, I looked around at the members' faces.
"Does anyone oppose today's operation or have any questions?"
While everyone else remained silent as usual, one person raised their hand. A mixed-race man with blonde hair.
"Henry. Speak."
"Technically, this isn't a question about this specific operation, but is that alright?"
"It doesn't matter."
"I know incidents like this have happened a few times now. Does the Bureau intend to settle it with assassination every time?"
"As you know, the higher-ups recommend repatriation to the Otherworld through persuasion whenever possible."
"Even so, how many actually agree to repatriation? We need a fundamental solution..."
He was poking at a sore spot.
"Henry. I know. But for now, this is the best course of action."
"Monsters are beings with personalities too. If they could just suppress their Otherworldly Power..."
"That technology is still in the development stage. If you have a complaint, take it up with the researchers."
It's not like I enjoy doing this. I had seen many people agree to repatriation in tears, and I had seen those who chose death.
Repatriation meant they wouldn't die, but there was no guarantee they would ever return to this world. They were attacking countless worlds, and the probability of finding Earth in the infinitely vast Otherworld was...
"Then who will do the persuading?"
"I will."
At those words, the expressions of the entire team darkened.
"If they do not respond to persuasion, the Librarian and the Lord of Infinite Castles will be deployed immediately to cut off their mobility, and we will commence combat."
'It's over.'
'We'd better pray they listen to reason.'
Such whispers broke out, and Henry sat back down as if his questions were finished.
"Then, if there are no further questions, we will move on to the detailed plan."
The photos on the whiteboard were stripped away, replaced by a large map. All so that if persuasion failed, they could be eliminated with certainty.
* * *
"Commencing entry. I expect you to start the moment the signal is given."
"You're noisy, brat. Just focus on the persuasion."
"Acknowledged."
Noisy geezer.
Just say 'acknowledged' and be quiet.
Whew.
I calmed my tense body with a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.
Ding-dong.
—Who is it?
It was starting.
"I'm from the Management Bureau. Canvas Breaker-nim."
—What business does the Bureau have?
The voice sounded normal, as if nothing was wrong, but I could hear the tremor in it.
"You already know, don't you? It's regarding Shadow Artist."
"..."
I spoke into the silence.
"I suggest you give up on the idea of running. A task force has already surrounded the perimeter."
"..."
The breathing heard through the intercom became ragged. Heavy breaths mixed with the electronic noise of the doorbell.
"We can end this peacefully right now. Please open the door."
—Yes...
After the answer came in a resigned voice, the door opened along with the sound of footsteps.
Two living beings—a Hero and a monster—clutching each other's hands tightly.
"I'll get straight to the point."
I cut off their attempt to protest and immediately delivered the notice.
"The Bureau predicts that Otherworld Erosion may soon occur in this area. You know the cause, don't you?"
The woman's gaze turned toward the man.
"The Bureau can perform Repatriation Magic for Shadow Artist. If you accept this condition, no disadvantage will remain for Canvas Breaker."
Because we also wanted to end this as quietly as possible.
As if they had foreseen this situation, the two appeared more peaceful than expected.
Though their expressions were resigned, as if what was meant to come had finally arrived, they didn't lose their reason to emotion.
At this rate, things would go well.
Perhaps craving a final bit of warmth, the two shared a moment of connection, their hands touching, before the male monster spoke.
"May I ask one thing?"
"Yes. As much as you like."
"Can Repatriation Magic be used on a being of Earth as well?"
A common question. He was asking if they could both be sent away if they were to be cast into the Otherworld.
"No. It cannot be used on a being of this world. The possibility has been confirmed, but with the Bureau’s current technology..."
Killing intent.
I pressed the signal button immediately.
At that same moment, black spears and paint magic surged toward me.
I deflected the black spears with my hammer and spun it while dodging the magic.
I felt a slight sensation of contact, but...
Did I graze him?
The Hammer had only dug into the tip of the monster's leg.
I had attacked reflexively, but I couldn't understand the current situation.
Why?
Everything had been fine just a moment ago. No, the atmosphere had actually been promising. The kind of atmosphere I had felt many times before.
But the negotiation had shattered.
"Negotiation failed!"
The movements of the two slowed down, and a bizarre sensation welled up.
The Lord of Infinite Castles' Space Control.
The Librarian’s Reality Manipulation.
The battlefield was set, and I saw numerous grenades flying in from afar.
Fire support from the team members.
"Do not kill the monster! It must end with Canvas Breaker's attack!"
The Otherworldly Power had already reached its critical point. If the monster fell to someone else now, there was a high probability a Hole would be torn open.
"Acknowledged!"
Numerous black spears shot out from inside the house, intercepting the grenades.
A few grenades made it through, but blue paint manifested around the house, blocking the explosions.
Not a flight, but a desperate stand?
"It's a cramped house, so watch out for friendly fire! Move in!"
"Acknowledged!"
The battle began.
* * *
I looked upon their end.
Skin festered with burns, numerous gunshot wounds. In short, a pair of mangled corpses.
Bit by bit, their strength had been whittled away, and the man and woman had met their end after struggling with everything they had.
Just before his body reached its limit, Canvas Breaker's mind had been manipulated, forcing him to stab his lover.
Normally, such a thing would be impossible, but a body and mind pushed to extreme exhaustion could not resist the magic.
The command given through mental manipulation:
Ignore your own body and kill the one closest to you.
The magic sword, melting away now that it had lost its master, and the paint blade embedded in the monster's heart were proof of that.
Her last memory must have been the sight of her lover stabbing her with his own hand. Because the moment the monster's death was confirmed, numerous bullets had riddled her body.
I knew it was a terrible thing.
Staging such a play just to ensure the lovers died by each other's power. But without doing this, humanity could not survive.
Since there was a possibility of a Hole opening due to the monster's death, I had ordered all the squad members to retreat and remained alone to look down at the corpses.
Had their two years been happy?
Even if those two years were happy, what value did that happiness hold if their final end was this cruel?
As I looked down at the bodies with those thoughts, a sense of dissonance welled up.
Even in death, they had fallen in the same direction.
They had closed their eyes while reaching out toward somewhere. A direction that was the exact opposite of the entrance, making it hard to believe they were trying to escape.
Had they wanted to protect something?
Was the reason they defended this house until the very end because something remained there?
It was a mere coincidence. There was no way such a thing existed. Something more important than their own lives...
Despite thinking that, I moved toward the direction they were pointing.
If it wasn't a coincidence, I wanted to know what they had given their lives to protect.
A closet stood in the direction their hands pointed. At a glance, it looked no different from any other piece of furniture, but once it caught my eye, it definitely had a different aura. Despite the numerous explosions and the endless hail of bullets, the closet didn't have a single bullet hole, only soot.
Indeed, it seemed they had truly struggled to protect something.
I took a step.
A small step.
It was only that much movement, but everything changed.
A massive power that even I, insensitive to Otherworldly Power, could feel.
An absurd level of Otherworldly Power. It was a level of power where it wouldn't be strange if Otherworld Erosion occurred right this second.
An O-Rank... Otherworldly Being?
And contrasting information was also transmitted through my five senses.
A faint sound of breathing.
A small life sign.
Why didn't I find it?
Why hadn't I felt it until now?
Stepping over the remains of the monster and the Hero, I opened the closet where the life sign originated.
A small creature was there.
Black hair that was just beginning to sprout.
Small black horns. Pale skin.
A small child, sleeping while clutching an Otherworld Seed like a toy.
I felt like I understood why they had refused the Repatriation Magic. They must have expected the Bureau to kill this child.
A being of this world that Repatriation Magic wouldn't work on.
I had to kill it.
I couldn't leave behind a seed of great calamity.
A massive power felt even at such a young age.
A camouflage ability so perfect that I hadn't sensed it until I was right next to it.
I slowly raised my hammer.
I couldn't make the squad members shoulder the burden of infanticide.
They were already suffering enough.
I had to carry all the sins myself.
I, who was already broken.
We, the primordial Heroes.
The Awakened of the Filth who shouldered every sin to create the Management Bureau.
"Auu?"
The Child opened its eyes.
Violet eyes looked up at me. As if to show it wasn't human, The Child's eyes had countless starlights twinkling instead of pupils.
An expression filled with pure curiosity, devoid of the emotion called fear.
Do it. Lee Ha-ram. End it.
"Kyaha."
The Child smiled and reached out its hand.
I brought The Hammer down.
* * *
I slowly walked out of the house.
Carrying a small bundle of flesh in my arms.
So that no one would catch me, so that no one would know.
"Detonate it."
I turned on the radio and gave the command.
—Acknowledged.
A massive pillar of fire rose behind my back.
All evidence vanished into the flames.
"Dismissed."
After throwing the final command of the day to them, I switched off the radio without waiting for a response.
The darkness was briefly pushed back by the flames, and I slowly hid myself within the shadows.
Not alone, but as two.