Something felt off about his light, unbothered speech, but I was too focused on getting orders out to him. I was sure they’d all agree immediately if I told them to come back. I’d transport them to my side within five minutes, then they’d spread out and fight.
“Bring your entire troop back immediately! I’ll pay you as much as you want!”
“Sorry, but I refuse.”
“...What? I thought you were working for me for the money?” What was wrong with him? All of the reward money he’d worked for up until now would perish if he kept this up.
“That’s right. I believe in nothing but the American dollar.”
I nodded. I knew that part. “Of course, your reward is in dollars! I’ll pay you as much as you want!”
“As long as I get dollars, I’m satisfied.”
“Yes, exactly! You always said money was the only thing that would never betray you. There’s never been truer words, which is why you need to believe me right now—”
“But you know what, Imabayashi? There’s one exception to my dollar rule.”
“...Exception?”
Kagura took a breath, sighed softly, then continued. “You know I was thrown away along with my entire unit a long time ago, right? And you know that I beat the shit out of my commander the next day and was kicked out. Ever since then, I haven’t been able to trust the dollars of men who leave their own comrades to die.”
Wh...? What the hell is he saying?
“I’d intended for this to be your last chance. Even after you had the cap released, you still didn’t go and level. But the rest of us? You kept throwing me and my comrades out into wastelands of death, every single day. And some of them died.”
“Wait, Kagura... What...are you trying to tell me?”
“If you want to know what’s going on, then go ahead and ask the devil near you.”
“The devil? Wait—Kagura, wait! I’ll pay you however much you want! I’ll give you half of everything I own! It’s not just two or three billion yen, you know!”
“You know I only believe in American dollars.”
“Oh, fuck you! I can give you a hundred million of those! Please, I’m begging you, just come save me!”
“As I said, I don’t believe in your dollars.”
“Wait, wait, wait wait wait! Let’s just talk... You’ll understand if we talk, Kagura!”
“Bye, Imabayashi. I’ll take what we’ve gained from Agartha, including my unit.”
The Communication Crystal then shut off.
My soul had half left my body at that point, and my brain wasn’t working. I finally arrived at my destination, the security office with all the level 99s in it. I opened the door and wobbled in. I knew I’d made it, but I couldn’t think straight.
There were about thirty of them. Would they be enough to deal with Shinobu? Not only had he defeated twenty on his own, but he also now had all the other guildmasters on his side.
“Mr. Imabayashi! Why are you here?” asked my subordinate Murakami.
“I’ll explain later... Prepare for a counterattack!”
Whatever was happening, I had to buy time. Was it possible for me to use these guys as shields and escape?
That was when I noticed the gazes of those around me feeling off. They were all looking at me, every single one of them. Wait a second, they’re not looking at me. They’re looking...behind me? And why do they look so surprised?
I turned around with a bad feeling in my stomach.
“Skill: Coat of the Moon Shadow.”
A girl in gothic lolita clothes was standing behind me, with skin so porcelain that it could have been blue. Her eyes were so chilling that the temperature of the room felt like it was going down.
“...Who are you?”
“The goddess of the moon.”
So this was Shinobu’s summon, Tsukuyomi. How long had she been in my shadow? It can’t be... This was why Shinobu hadn’t chased after me? Because he didn’t have to?
“And Amachan is the big sister of the moon goddess!”
Out of nowhere, a small child dressed in shrine clothing stood next to Tsukuyomi. Who the hell is this? That was when I realized that the situation had taken a turn for the worse.
People gathered together.
All of the castle’s manpower was gathered here.
And a summon of a small girl.
There was only one thing that this situation was pointing to. By the time reality struck, a scream had already come out of my lungs.
“Urgh— Amaterasu?!”
Another name for a nightmare.
Beyond that of nuclear fission.
Beyond that of nuclear fusion.
A direct conversion of mass by magic.
“Grade 6: Mass Conversion Bomb: E=mc².”
As soon as Amaterasu announced this, the pure white light of destruction blocked out my entire line of sight. They’d also put a barrier around this space so it wouldn’t hit the surrounding areas. How oh so polite of them.
†
“Why...am I alive?” That was the first thing that came out of my mouth when I opened my eyes.
Where am I? It must be the imperial castle based on the interior. I surveyed my surroundings and looked out the window. This seems to be a passage on the first floor?
“Hey.”
The voice came from behind me. I turned around on reflex, then screamed.
“Get away! Get away! Get awaaaaaaaaay!”
About ten meters away stood Tsukuyomi and a giant black dog. It had three heads, so it must have been Cerberus, another of Shinobu’s summons.
I have no way of winning against them. I decided that instantly, then darted off in the opposite direction.
“What a pathetic man you are. If you really are level 99, you could at least put a scratch on me if you bet your life on it.”
I had no intention of doing so—I’d never actually fought in my entire life. I’d used wooden swords in practice battles, with super thick armor so I wouldn’t get hurt. The only times I’d fought against anyone with actual weapons was when I was torturing the natives under level 30. And yet this girl was asking me to fight her with my life on the line? Don’t be so stupid!
...No. This was why. It was because I lived like this that I...could only run at the moment. But that was my right! I became a guildmaster through political influence and money! That was how I was able to make my lackeys do all the dangerous stuff! I did my best too! Did my best to obtain that right! And I was perfectly valid for using it!
A feeling in my gut told me to turn around.
“Boo!” Tsukuyomi shouted playfully as she rose from my shadow, her scythe glinting as a dry sound rang out.