The Great■■■■■
"...We survived, huh."
Those were my first words the moment I stepped into Zero's clinic.
My legs were trembling from the release of tension, and my upper body—covered in emergency treatment artifacts—throbbed with a heavy ache. But even so, I managed a faint smile. After all, what we'd gained far outweighed what we'd lost.
Zero tossed aside his bulletproof vest and grinned back at me.
"Damn right we did. And we made it count."
He held out his rough, scarred palm to me.
I stared blankly at that hand, covered in old wounds, then slapped mine against it.
Clap!
The satisfying sound of a high-five echoed through the exam room.
"You did good, mage. Hell, you exceeded expectations. I figured a slum rat from the residential area could barely handle low-rank supply spells... You're too good to waste rotting in a place like this."
"Heh... I am pretty amazing, aren't I?"
"Save the self-praise. Still, that ending was a letdown. Points off, points off! Why push yourself alone and get stupidly hurt? You got teammates for decoration?"
"Honestly, if it weren't for that weirdo's freaky power, I could've one-shot him..."
"No excuses. You should've factored in variables like that. Your stubborn ass cost us those hard-earned artifacts."
He grumbled, but his voice was thick with relief. We shared a short laugh, eyeing each other's battered states.
"Alright. Clean up and meet later. We nailed the raid today—let's eat something good and crash hard."
"Sure."
"I'll ping you the address on the comms. Head there."
Zero was right; I desperately needed a break. Piles of crap to handle, sure, but that could wait.
I swung by the inn, washed off the blood stench, sorted my gear. Renewed my stay, exchanged quick greetings with Walter... handled the miscellaneous crap.
> [You can make it here on your own, right? I trust you're not some idiot who can't even find the place.]
I followed Zero's address to a famous restaurant in the 17th District Residential Area.
Until now, the flashiest building I'd seen wandering the 17th was the Mosaz Cartel Tower.
And this place. The classy restaurant Zero invited me to outshone even that tower with its gaudy exterior.
Like it was screaming it wasn't ordinary, holographic lights in every color blasted from all sides, making my eyes spin.
And get this—the 'real flower beds' around the entrance. Growing live plants meant this was a hub of capital and power.
"Go wild tonight."
The server guided us to the open terrace on the 13th floor.
This was Arnovo, a high-end spot where top solvers or corporate execs celebrated wins.
From here, the filthy back alleys of the 17th looked dizzyingly far below. The air was unnaturally pure, nothing like the smog choking the streets.
Sizzle!
Steam rose from the steak served on our table.
No cultured meat or synth protein blocks like the cheap stuff. Real beef, top-grade with vivid marbling pumping out rich aroma.
"Dig in. You earned it after all that."
Zero had already downed a whiskey and was slicing his steak.
I didn't hesitate, popping a juicy piece into my mouth.
Savoring the sweet, tender flavor, I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at the irony.
This is just...
Back on Earth, I'd survived on convenience store bentos. Dropped into this hellhole isekai, and now my meals were leveling up big time. What a joke.
"Planning to register the chip data you brought tomorrow morning. Processed like the sample you sent last time, right?"
Zero asked casually, chewing steak.
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Once ID's set, you'll access district services normally. No more street checks slitting your throat on a whim."
I set down my knife, sincere.
"...Thank you. Really."
"Psh. You fetched most the materials. I just added tech."
Zero turned away sheepishly, gazing at the night view beyond the terrace.
Silence filled the meal.
Zero checked his terminal, stood abruptly.
"Gotta bounce. Clinic supplies to sort—mountain of 'em. Oh, bill's paid. Take your time."
"Okay. Be safe."
He lit a quick smoke, waved, and left.
Alone, I admired the nightscape from the terrace.
Tonight's sky was mesmerizing.
Beyond the skewed horizon, countless stars sprawled. A new moon hid the lunar glow.
Star clusters piercing city light pollution and smog felt dreamlike, ethereal.
I breathed the cool night air, lost in thought.
Flat world, Outer Sea, magic, Management Bureau, church, dimensional gates...
Keywords flashed in my mind.
This vast land I stood on... sunk at the bottom of an immense sea. Underground dungeons full of freaks, tall mage towers where wizards chased truth.
Nothing like the common sense I knew.
And what's this church?
That name in the log. The creepy déjà vu.
Where to even start? Isolation hit like being adrift in the ocean.
Soon, investigate Ether Bio Pharma's lab where I was made. Got that hazmat guy's phone from the sewer.
"...Long road ahead."
My footing was still thin ice.
Management Bureau obsessed with system upkeep, corps grinding humans as disposable parts for profit. Amid those gears, I'd barely grabbed a citizen ID curtain.
This world overflowed with monsters—literal or not—and I was just surviving the cracks.
...Heading back to the inn.
Then remembered: stuff stashed in Zero's clinic corner.
Yesterday's black chick nest loot, potions from Zero. Too lazy to carry, dumped 'em.
I turned back.
Zero'd bitch.
'Where's your damn eyes?! Use your head! Grab it all at once, moron!'
His gravelly nag echoed; I snorted.
Zero's clinic sat in a quiet G Block alley.
Suited his low-profile vibe—tucked in a dim, shady spot.
Usually dead quiet, no foot traffic.
But tonight felt off.
"...Huh?"
Entering the alley, chills crawled up my spine.
Unnatural darkness. Tar-thick black blanketed everything, grotesque density.
Stars blurred by night-fog gloom. Streetlights, neon signs—all dead.
Like it devoured surrounding light... eerie shadow.
This ominous dark. Seen it before.
No...?
Foul stench wafted from the gloom.
"This is..."
Blood. Fishy, acrid slaughter reek. No clue the massacre details... but violence swept through.
My heart pounded wildly.
No way.
"Zero...!"
I bolted to the clinic, ignoring his "don't overdo it" warnings. No time.
Thud-thud!
Bandaged shoulder, ribs screamed.
Gripping throbbing wounds, I reached the dark core.
"...!"
Familiar, despairing silhouette.
"...You, you...!"
I gasped, wailing. She replied indifferently.
「Spared your life, and this is it? Hiding like a rat in some dingy alley? Disappointing.」
The Executor turned slowly.
Suit-gosori hybrid uniform. Sleek black gloves baring hand lines. Twin-tails swaying to calves.
Vertical slit golden eyes oozed heavy pressure, glaring down.
"...Why, how...!"
Panting, I gripped holstered Opus instinctively.
Miya, Miya, Miya...!
Her name flashed warning in my head. Why here?
I knew we'd cross again.
But now? Never dreamed.
Worst timing.
How? What method tracked me?
"How'd you find me...! Surely...!"
「Ahaha... Call it the Trojan Horse.」
"...!"
Trojan Horse.
Trojan Horse—disguised ordinary, infiltrates, strikes from within at lax moment.
Flash: loot I'd grabbed. Sewer phone, new ID chip, dinner TV head's card...
Management Bureau's tracking algo already nested in my "normal" stuff.
Then Miya mocked, flicking her hand.
Crack!
Mirror-shatter burst; my Illusion veil scattered.
"..."
Black hair cascading to waist. Purple eyes gleaming fiercely.
Illusion gone, true witch form exposed.
Busted. Exposed. Already known.
That I was a witch...
「...Fun playing dress-up? 」
Powerless defeat crashed. Soul stripped bare.
Predator over prey. On world's stage... my life hinged on a strongman's whim. Brutal truth.
"Zero... what'd you do to the people here...!"
Looked around: blood pooling sticky streams to my feet.
Dark piles: nameless solvers' corpses.
Miya's victims.
「Zero...? Oh, that loser's kid.」
Smirking, she continued.
「Dunno? Hate noisy humans. Probably resting peacefully now? 」
"You psycho...!"
Rage boiled over.
Gruff baldy jerk or not, Zero saved me—first back I trusted in this dogshit world.
Him, dying pointlessly here? For one thrill...?
Really...?
Reason evaporated.
Grinding teeth, I clutched Grimoire fiercely.
Chanted the most destructive spell I could muster.
[Outer Sea Rampage]
[Form 1]
⟨ Azure Sea ⟩
I knew deploying Outer Sea Rampage in real world—not dungeon—meant screaming "I'm here!" to trackers.
But.
So what?
Without thrashing, only horror awaited.
Zero down, mask blown, base exposed.
Game over. Might as well bite the enemy's throat dying.
Roooar!
Anger-fueled tentacles surged at Miya.
She didn't flinch.
「This all? 」
Yeah. Just this. Before Miya gap, I was mana-drained.
Ragged body squeeze: flashy show, zero power.
She stepped lightly; surging tentacles froze midair.
Cracked, dust-scattered.
「Disappointing. Where's that wise spark from before? 」
Miya closed in instantly.
Superhuman speed.
Thud!
Mana-accelerated nerves lagged; frame-drops.
Her casual kick launched me cannon-like into opposite wall.
"Guhk...!"
Crushed ribs screamed anew. Blood sprayed; vision red.
Gap too vast.
"..."
「Now... it's over. Witch, you'll revert to Management Bureau asset. Won't kill—just 'better form.' 」
Rumble...
Space warped insanely, contracting to a point endlessly. Amorphous dark gathered at her fingertip, forming black spear.
No dodging. No blocking.
I just lay, chewing pain as end neared.
Miya raised the long shadow lance, whispered.
「Bye. 」
Black trajectory shot at me.
And.
"That's far enough."
With someone's voice.
BOOM!!
Miya's incoming spear exploded harmlessly.
"...!"
Too instant; causality blurred.
Clear: someone stood before fallen me.
Click.
Familiar sound. Lighter flick. Bitter, acrid smoke wafted.
...Unforgettable cigarette scent.
"Fuu..."
「...What...? You, why here...! 」
Miya's yellow eyes contracted.
Even she shocked, rare panic.
I gawked stupidly at [my savior]'s back.
Worn sweater, familiar rugged build.
Monocle gleaming intensely, he glanced back, nodded.
"You alright?"
"...Walter...? Why are you..."
"Time to flex a bit here."
Casual, like neighborhood stroll.
Then Walter's chant crushed my body electrically.
"Self-Nature Demonic Path, Bloom"
⟨ Gellasenheight ⟩
Overwhelming authority erupted.