The World Is Overflowing with Monster, I’m Taking a Liking to This Life

Chapter 135: Battle of the City Hall Part 3

It was Rikka-chans question that served as the trigger.

Why are you hesitating, onii-san?

Eh?

Running parallel to me, Rikka-chan asked with a voice which only I could hear.

Hesitating? You mean me?

Yeah, you were completely zoned out during the previous fight, and youve been antsy for some time, so I was wondering whats up.

No, thats

I couldnt say anything when I tried to refute her words.

As Rikka-chan noted, I wasnt concentrating on the fights at all.

I knew the reason why. It was because of the unpleasant feeling that I was getting from the direction of Chief Shimizus team.

I couldnt help but wonder where it was from, so I was unable to pay attention to what was in front of me.

Is it your former colleagues?

Is that so. Youre really easy to read, just like Natsun.

Kusukusu. Rikka-chan giggled before suddenly turning serious.

If you feel bothered, why not head over to take a look?

Eh? Arent we currently in the middle of an operation? I cant just leave without permission

Youre right but onii-san, did you know? If you hesitate and not take action when you could, you will feel immense regret later on. Youll think if only I had done this after everything has ended.

Her words which sounded terribly real probably came from her own experience.

Her experience of neglecting Ichinose-san when she was getting bullied.

Thats why its better to regret doing something rather than to regret not doing it. Not only for yourself, but for others as Oryaaa!

Rikka-chan swung the hatchet in her hand and cut down the Soldier Ant that was nearing us.

Geee!?

It was still alive, so I pulled the trigger to put an end to it.

Ill always be waiting for you.

That was what that person had said. It wasnt like I was particularly close to her though

.

The Soldier Ants head blew away.

The announcement about the acquisition of experience echoed in my head.

Shes right. Rather than regretting it later on, I should just go for it.

Aisaka-san.

Hmm?

Thank you.

Dont sweat it. So a change of plans it is. Nisshi!

Rikka-chan called out to Nishino who was running behind her.

What is it?

Nishino-kun, theres something thats been getting on my mind

And now

I have blown Inoue-san away.

This what kind of situation is this?

Well, I can tell just by looking.

Inoue-san and his friends were trying to kill Chief Shimizu and Nijou by setting up a trap.

That should be the gist of it.

Inoue-san stands back up and glares at me with an expression akin to a devil.

Youare Kudou? Youre alive?

Well, yes. Its been a while, Inoue-san.

Shit to interrupt like this.

He spits out blood. Apparently, he has no intention to cover it up.

But really, Inoue-san, what in the world are you doing in this state of emergency

Kudou-kun. Are you really Kudou-kun?

Chief Shimizu and my ex-colleagues are staring at me in surprise.

Uh, did you all just assume that I was dead?

No, well, I guess thats fine.

Um, Chief Shimizu, long time no see.

Long time no see indeedB-behind!!

Eh?

When I turn around, I see the figure of Inoue-san rushing at me while swinging his knife.

DIEEEEEEEEE, KUDOUUUUUUUU!

I knew about it beforehand.

Crisis Detection and Hostility Detection have been reacting since a while back.

Even so

(Inoue-san, youre actually have the intent to kill me)

I dont have make much of a good impression of him, but the fact that my acquaintance is displaying murderous intentions is hard to bear.

Proficiency has reached a certain threshold.

Mental Distress Tolerance has increased from LV4 to LV5.

Proficiency has reached a certain threshold.

Acting has increased from LV3 to LV4.

I feel my heart cooling down. I move to the side and lightly dodge Inoue-sans attack.

Next, I counterattack by activating Shadow Manipulation, thereby capturing both Inoue-san and his companions.

Tsu! W-whats this!?

Something black is restricting me!

I-I cant move!?

So they cant shake off Shadow Manipulation.

I can roughly guess what their levels are at.

Its amazing to think they had to guts to pull off this kind of plan with their measly abilities.

In fact, they were so easily suppressed that it feels weird.

No, I should still be careful.

When I put some more strength into restraining them, Chief Shimizu and Nijou who were captured by them are released.

They fall down on the spot.

They cant move?

Are you both okay?

K-Kudou-kun, is this your skill?

Thats right. Rather, can you stand?

Chief Shimizu shakes her head.

Im sorry. My body is still numb, so I cant move.

Numb?

I glance at a plastic bottle near her feet which is oozing out something that feels unpleasant.

Did they put poison into this?

Paralysis poison maybe its from a skill that is similar to Shibata-kuns Drug Generation?

(Storage.)

For confirmation, I store the bottle of water into the Item Box without alerting anybody.

The list now has a line that says 250 mL of Water Containing Paralytic Poison * 1.

So its poisoned after all.

Nijou, how are you feeling?

Senpai.Gazudo Jenbaiii

O-Ohfor the time being, wipe your face with this. Its currently in an amazing state.

Nijous face is littered with tears, snot, bruises, and blood.

She must have been beaten terribly before I arrived.

If only I came here earlier no, theres no point in lamenting at this point.

Sorry

?

Nijou hangs her head low.

Chief Shimizu begins talking in her stead.

Thank you, Kudou-kun. I cant thank you enough for your assistance.

If you wish to thank someone, please thank Aisaka-san and Nishino-kun they were the ones that pushed my back.

?

Also

The bodies of two of my former colleagues are lying in blood.

Ikeda-san and Kauchi-san.

When I worked at the company, they were people that took good care of me.

(Im sorry.)

I know that apologizing wont change anything.

I know that Im apologizing simply to satisfy myself.

Even so, I cant help but apologize.

Hey! Kudou! Until us now! Hey! Are you deaf!

I hear noise in the background. How irritating.

When I turn around, I hear the screams of Inoue-san who is on the ground like a caterpillar because of my Shadow Manipulation.

Inoue-san

YOU.HOW DARE YOU LOOK AT ME WITH THOSE BELITTING EYES! YOURE JUST A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE! RELEASE ME! FROM THE TIME YOU WERE WORKING AT THE COMPANY

His eyes are blood red and bubbles are forming on his mouth.

Although he acted arrogantly even inside the office, he shouldnt have been this stupid.

(Now that I think about it, she also had a similar expression)

That Monster Tamer girl I met at school. She had the same eyes as him.

Eyes that belong only to those who released themselves from the shackles of their desires.

(I might have ended up like them.)

If I hadnt met Momo. If I hadnt met Ichinose-san.

I might have led my life to destruction by allowing my desires take over me.

I become horrified at the thought.

Chief Shimizu.

Yes?

What does Chief Shimizu want to do with them?

Thats

Chief Shimizu considers her words before replying

I want to try and change their minds.

Werent you about to be killed by them?

For a moment, I wonder what this person is saying, but upon closer inspection, I see that her slender body is shuddering.

Y-yes, I know but its also a fact that theyve been helping us by killing a lot of monsters up until now. In addition

In addition?

If I kill them here based on my emotions how will I be any different from them I I!

Various emotions pass through Chief Shimizus eyes as she says so.

Conflict. Fear. Anger.

She isnt as calm as she sounds.

Two of her team members were murdered. The same fate would have awaited them if something had gone wrong.

She is holding herself back because she has to consider the future as well.

(She really hasnt changed from back then)

I wonder why she always tries to put herself in difficult positions.

In my case uh!!

Nijous expression changes just as she was hesitating on what to do with the traitors.

K-Kazuto-san we should first move away from

Its fine, I know. Its about time both of you are free from the paralysis.

Youre right

Although they are still a bit stiff, they should be fine with regular movements.

Both of you must run as soon as I give you the signal.

Huh?

I walk towards Inoue-san and the others.

( Storage.)

I try to store some things away without anyone realizing No one notices me doing so.

Now, Ill be leaving the decision up to them.

Inoue-san, have you been listening? If you reflect on your actions and repent, they are willing to forgive you.

Got it. Ill never do this kind of thing againI apologize.

Inoue-san apologizes.

Then I will release the restraint. Please dont do anything weird that will garner our suspicion.

The moment I say so and release their restraints

IDIOT!!

Inoue-san and his friends try to attack us with their weapons. I dont sense any remorse from them.

My heart completely cools when I see their eyes that are distorted with madness.

(As I thought)

Since I expected nothing less, I step back to dodge their attacks and take that out of the Item Box, dumping it all on Inoue-san and his friends without hesitation.

Buhaa!?

Oh what!?

The thing enters their mouths, and they reflexively swallow it down.

Its the water containing paralytic poison.

Inoue-san is trying to spit it out, but its too late.

At that moment, a huge number of Ants appear out of the ground.

Wha!?

Both of you, run!

!

Nijou and Chief Shimizu immediately begin to sprint. I also follow behind them.

Only Inoue-san and his companions are left immobile where the Ants have converged.

Kyiii!

Kikikiki!

Kishikishi!

From a glimpse, I can tell that there are more than 40 of them. Some superior species are mixed present too.

Shit, I cant move because of the paralysis Hey, take out the pesticides! Quick! You have a resistance skill, right!?

!! What!? Theres nothing in the bag!

Huh!? Dont fuck with me! We prepared so many of them!

But its true! Hey, what are we going to do!? Without the pesticides, we cant fight against so many Eh? Where are our weapons? Where are our weapons!? We had them just a minute ago! Theyre gone!

Whats going on!? H-HEY! SAVE US! PLEASE! SOMEONE!

No, I dont want to die! I dont want to die! DONT COME! DONT COME!!!

Nobody responds to their pleas.

To live as they please in a world where the strong consumes the weak.

Thats the kind of world they wished for.

And thats why

KUDOUU! PLEASE HELP US! DAMN IT! LET GO! NOOOOOoooo.

We run away with our backs turned against them.

Although Nijou and Chief Shimizu have sad expressions on their faces, they do not stop running.

No one looks back.

After a while Inoue-sans presence vanishes.

Now, time to return to Nishino-kuns group.