Everyone, Rest Assured

"Hmm."

Is this the right place? It probably is.

I didn't know the exact address, but based on the rumors I'd heard around, this was the only place that matched the description.

I leaned on my cane and moved closer.

'I'm tired.'

I'm lacking sleep. Even when I did sleep, it wasn't with a peaceful mind.

In other words, it wasn't deep sleep. Even when I wanted to sleep, I would instinctively snap my eyes open halfway through.

'....'

And usually, when I opened my eyes like that, my instincts never betrayed me.

Even thinking about it now, there were many sights that made my skin crawl.

"This place is truly insane."

I muttered to myself.

I've traveled through many dangerous places, but there were truly few that ground down one's sanity like this.

My voice was a bit loud for a monologue, and someone else might have heard me, but I didn't care.

'Let them hear.'

I doubt anyone would take offense at my words. I guarantee it.

...Anyway, that's why this time was truly important.

It was a plan I'd whipped up on the spot.

If it succeeds, I'll definitely be able to get a good night's sleep today.

However, if it fails.

"Well, that'd be a shame."

It's not like it would be a huge problem. I'd just be tired until tomorrow. That's about it.

I move forward. I see the house, and I see the door.

And for a moment, I tidy my appearance.

My clothes... there was a slightly wrinkled part. It was the sleeve. I smoothed it out.

Is there anything on the cane?

Nothing. I always check this, so it's fine.

Then... is everything else besides the cane okay?

...It seems fine. It's clean. This is why I like ambushes.

-Drip

"Ah."

I was wrong. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I suppose things truly can't be perfect.

Something flowed down my cheek. Thinking it was sweat, I wiped it, only to find my finger stained black.

It was a relief. If I hadn't noticed, I would have failed for sure.

I wiped it off completely. It's a shame there's no mirror, but I'll have to be satisfied with this.

"Ahem."

I lightly clear my throat.

"Hello. Nice to meet you."

Not bad. At this level, they won't be on guard.

I relax my expressionless face. This is to make it easier to form expressions.

-Ding-dong

I pressed the doorbell. I took a step back so my face would show up well on the camera.

Maintaining a non-threatening expression is essential. At the same time, I make sure it's not too overbearing.

I take off my hat and hold it in one hand, tucked against my chest.

-...Who is it?

After a moment, a voice comes through the intercom.

The sound quality makes it hard to hear clearly, but it was a girl's voice.

To think I'd hear this in person. I almost got lost in the sentiment for a moment, but I soon returned to reality.

It was time to introduce myself.

"Jin, a traveler from a faraway place."

-Why have you come to my house?

"I'd like to stay here for a while. I will compensate you properly."

-Hmm...

"As you know, the outside... isn't exactly a place one can trust."

I stated my name and the reason for my visit.

Truthfully. There shouldn't be anything strange about it to the listener.

-Why my house of all places?

"Another traveler told me. That this place is safe."

-Which traveler?

"Cloud? It was definitely a name like that."

-Mhm, I see.

This part was a lie. I lied with every ounce of my being.

It would be the end if I were caught, but it couldn't be helped.

'I saw in the game that it was safe here.'

I can't exactly say that, can I?

Still, there is no lie in the information I provided.

Cloud is the name of an NPC who, according to the story, has no choice but to stay here for a day.

It's the tutorial, after all. It would be a disaster if he weren't there.

The claim that I encountered him is a lie, but since it's information one generally wouldn't know without meeting him, it won't seem suspicious.

In fact, the girl on the other side of the intercom didn't seem particularly suspicious either.

-Okay. It doesn't sound like a lie.

"Thank you."

-Instead, I think I need to check a few things. Will you cooperate?

"Of course."

She must have done the tutorial well. I thought she was quite clever.

A very simple inspection began.

-Could you open your eyes?
"I am opening them."
-...!

They're slits, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠though. Is the camera quality just bad?

-...Wider!
"Will this do?"
-Please come closer.
"...."
-Hmm... I think it's okay....

Eye inspection passed.

-Please open your mouth.

"Ahhh."

-It's clean.

"Pardon? Ah, yes, thank you."

Mouth inspection passed.

-Please repeat after me. The giraffe drawing I drew..., ah, not that. The giraf drawin... ah, no....

"The giraffe drawing I drew is a long giraffe drawing."

-Ooh....

"...Shall I continue?"

-No... I think that's enough.

Pronunciation inspection passed.

-Any companions...?

"None."

-Hmm? What about family?

"They're back in my hometown."

-Then do you have a lover?

Haha, I was hoping this question wouldn't come up.

"No, I don't."
-Ah, you had one?
"Yes. She's dead."
-Pardon...?

....

...■■■.

"Is that enough now?"
-....

There is no answer. I wait.

-Clack, clack, clack

A noisy mechanical sound came from the door.

"Hello...."
"Hello. Nice to meet you."

And soon after, the door opens. A girl peeked her head out from inside.

She was a girl with short, light blue hair.

Since she was much shorter than me, I had to look down at her.

Accordingly, the girl looks up at me. I could see blue eyes deeper than her hair color.

For a moment, the two of us stared at each other in silence.

The girl is seeing me in person, whom she had to watch through a screen.

I am seeing the girl in reality, whom I had only heard through the intercom.

What should I call that? Jin thought. After thinking about it, the thing that barely came to mind was,

'Sapphire.'

Is it cliché? Well, who cares.

She was that beautiful. If I had to find another expression, I'd call it the blue sea. Her eyes were like that.

Her face was delicate and cute.

Her attire was a plain white shirt and a skirt.

But over that, she wore a blue robe, as if asserting that she was a mage.

"...."

Oops, was I staring too long in silence? I could feel her becoming uncomfortable.

The girl avoided my gaze and started sweating.

Jin took half a step back and gave a kind smile.

An expression of intent that he wouldn't harm her.

"Uuu...."

...Why does she seem even more nervous?

'No, that can't be.'

It must be my imagination. How many people in the world smile as virtuously as I do?

"Ahem.... My name is Lisa."

"Yes. It's a pretty name."

"...."

Looking at her appearance and hearing her name, it's certain.

I came to the right place. She was the protagonist.

Jin's smile grew deeper than before.

For some reason, Lisa was looking up at him with eyes that were shaking violently, but he didn't notice.

"That thing in your hand...?"

"It's a cane."

"...Are your legs bad?"

"A little."

"Ah...."

A sigh escaped Lisa's mouth.

I didn't tell a lie. I had been seriously injured before.

I'm still under that influence even now.

"You may come in...."

"Thank you."

"I don't know how long you'll stay... but please don't cause a disturbance inside."

"Of course."

I nod my head.

Unless I want to get hit by something like Chain Lightning, I shouldn't do that.

I step inside the door.

From behind my back, I hear the clacking sound again. Locking the door is important.

Stepping inside, I can see that the house is quite spacious, just as I felt from the outside.

A house made entirely of wood.

It looks like a fireplace would suit it perfectly, but unfortunately, they just use regular heating.

And it's a two-story house. It's a large house for a girl to live in alone.

Therefore, the girl was not the only one in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this house.

I look at the living room. The curtains are closed, but the warm light from the lamps gives it a cozy feel.

There's a sofa, blankets, a small table and chairs.

There's a wooden bookshelf, and inside it are filled with books that look very difficult.

And three people were already occupying the space.

One was an Elf. A female Elf with long ears and blonde hair.

One was a Beastman. A large male... no, a man-wolf walking on two legs.

The last one was a human.

It was a man. He was wearing glasses.

Overall, he had a timid appearance.

Still, he seemed to be the most polite among the trio.

He stood up from the sofa and slowly approached me.

'....'

This is really good. It's a good thing.

I personally like having conversations with other people.

It's a very good thing if someone steps forward like this first.

...It would have been truly good if his shadow wasn't unnecessarily faint.

Lisa, you should check these things properly. It's basic.

You made a mistake, didn't you? It happens. If this is the only mistake you've made so far, I can cover for you.

"Ah...."

His mouth opened. I expect a "hello" will come out now.

What a shame. I thought we could have been good friends.

And it's absurd. To think the one approaching me first isn't a person.

Well, anyway, the bastard let his guard down. Since he's attempting to have a conversation.

So, without asking any questions, I decided to cut him down.

I grip the cane and draw.

The cane separates into two.

One is hollow. And the other has a blade attached.

Toward the front, with a disciplined motion.

Swing. Toward the bastard's neck.

Those eyes behind the glasses, which seemed to be pretending to be innocent, didn't hold any surprise yet. That's how quickly I acted.

Rather, the wolf watching me from behind was in shock.

'I'm saving you.'

Otherwise, you would have been eaten at night.

A blue line is drawn in the air.

From the moment the sword was drawn until the strike, a straight path was maintained.

My hand trembled once.

It wasn't out of fear or hesitation; it was just the sensation of meat being sliced being transmitted to me.

The head flew into the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠air. Black Blood splattered into the sky.

And during that time, Jin decided to put the sword back.

Spinning it once to adjust the grip, and aligning it properly. Then it becomes a cane again.

This time, too, it was clean. As expected, Battōjutsu is great.

"What the...!"
"...Kyaak!"

The wolf is surprised. The Elf screamed.

The bastard's head rolled on the ground.

The eyes of the rolling head seemed to be staring at me for some reason.

'Maybe I should have asked for his name.'

Soon after, the corpse began to flicker like Noise, turning completely black. This is why the shadow was strange.

"...."
"...."

The wolf and the Elf stare at it in silence.

"...!"

And Lisa, who had followed behind at some point, stood there frozen.

'One Doppelganger, handled.'

It became a mess. Black Blood soaked the floor, and there was a corpse.

'Should I call this guy Noise?'

Well, whatever, I killed him before he could kill anyone else.

In this chaos, there was only one thing I had to do.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Jin."

I mainly do the work of cutting down Anomalies.

"Let's get along well."

There are still three, no, now two people left who don't know me yet.