Volume 8 Chapter 16 What Everyone Knows
“Ugh, I'm so bored.”
“Well, then why did you come here?”
On November 27th, at 10:12 AM.
Udoo Shinri, a member of the Anti-Demon Special Forces, was lying on the bed in one of their branches.
He had been attacked by a magician while guarding Hinata Yukari and was brought here.
It seems that the other members of the security team were not killed, as they were also receiving treatment like Udoo.
Sitting next to Shinri was his childhood friend, Kishijou Saki, who was yawning.
“What a rude guy. Even though your cute childhood friend came to visit you.”
“Well, then at least do something that looks like a visit.”
Saki took out jelly that Shinri's family had left for him from the refrigerator without permission and started eating it.
Countless cuts, three deep gashes - despite sustaining significant injuries, Saki remained unfazed. She came to the hospital every day and complained as much as she wanted before leaving.
Whether she had nothing to do or lacked friends, Shinri felt a pang of sadness regarding his childhood friend's social circle.
"I'm tired of being your conversation partner like this."
"When did you ever become my conversation partner?"
"Normally, this would be a paid service. Well, I wonder if something interesting will happen..."
"...It happened, and that's why we're in this mess."
Shinri said bitterly. In addition to the mass fainting incident caused by a magician and the abduction of Hinata Yukari, crucial information didn't reach the lower ranks, making it hard to see the whole picture. But undoubtedly, a significant conspiracy was swirling.
(However, if enemies of that level keep popping up, I won't be able to handle it...)
What comes to mind is the white-haired man who kidnapped Hinata.
Couldn't even move a finger. Shinri lost without being able to use magic. Facing enemies at that level, diving in would only get Shinri crushed.
And it's the same for Saki. Despite having powerful magic, she's a novice in interpersonal combat.
It's better not to get involved if she can help it.
Getting injured was a stroke of luck. With this, she won't be dragged into action, and she can likely ride out the commotion.
Thinking that, when he saw Saki, something clearly strange appeared.
"...Huh? ...Ah?"
"What? Suddenly acting all bewildered—"
Saying that much, Saki also froze.
"...What's that?"
"No, what about you too?"
They point at each other's heads. Above them, an unfamiliar green bar is floating.
No, it's not like he has never seen it before.
If a young person living in the present, with some differences, everyone has seen it at least once.
Yes, it's exactly...
"Huh, an HP bar...?"
The HP bar, a gauge commonly seen in games, was floating above the heads of the two. Shinri immediately considered a possibility.
"Is it an attack by magic?!"
Taking a combat stance on the bed, he surveyed the surroundings. However, there were no significant changes in the hospital room apart from the HP bar.
"What's going on?"
"What is this? It looks like a hologram, but it has no substance."
Saki said, trying to touch the bar above her head, but her hand just passed through it. Shinri also looked up and saw his own bar.
"What on earth is this?"
Just as he was thinking that, a broadcast echoed through the room.
"This is the Spiritual Disaster Countermeasures Department. Artificial spiritual disasters are occurring in various locations in Tokyo. Anti-Demon Officials on standby, gather in the first-floor lobby immediately."
The voice in the broadcast was filled with a sense of urgency.
"It seems like it's not just us."
"Yes, I'm going."
"Wait, I'm going too."
"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about? You're just going to get in the way if you can't move properly."
"That's...
Certainly, Shinri is in a state where pain is running through his whole body, just from his recent movement. Although his wounds have closed, they are far from fully healed.
"Don't do anything stupid and just go to sleep."
"Wait, Saki!"
Ignoring Shinri's words, Saki leaves the room.
Left behind, Shinri lowers his outstretched hand weakly.
Saki, who had gone downstairs, immediately noticed something strange.
The anti-demon officials who were supposed to gather were leaving the building with HP bars floating above their heads.
"What's going on?"
A man who seems to be an anti-demon official immediately calls out to Saki as she stops.
"You, are you a student?!... Well, it can't be helped. What's your rank?"
"I'm Rank 5... But..."
"I see, normally you shouldn't act alone, but this is an emergency. Here's a communication device. Go to the scene according to the operator's instructions."
"Got it, understood."
Saki attaches the magic communication device to her ear and exits the building, just like the other Anti-Demon Officials.
Following the given instructions, she strengthens her body and swiftly moves by running.
"What on earth is happening here?"
She mutters as she approachs the scene, where an astonishing sight spread out.
"What... is that?"
People are fleeing in panic, and screams echo through the air.
It was supposed to be an ordinary shopping city. People who were supposed to be enjoying their holiday are now running in terror, their faces contorted in fear.
Some are crouching on the spot, others are excitedly shouting, and there are even those holding cameras with their smartphones. It's truly chaotic.
And all these people have HP bars floating above their heads.
Forcing her way through the crowd, Saki heads towards the center of the commotion.
There, she encounters something that shouldn't be in the normal shopping city.
Whether it's stolen from a butcher or not, someone with a repulsive, old-man-like appearance, with dirty greenish skin, walks down the middle of the road, gnawing on raw meat.
In Japan, they are called Gaki. However, there was a more suitable name for their appearance.
"...Goblin?"
It was exactly like the weak enemy that appears in manga and games, a goblin itself. A malicious youkai spirit from Western legends. There were about ten of them, walking in a group.
Although it frequently appears in creative works, it was the first time Saki, who is an anti-demon official, had actually seen one.
Or rather, even when listening to the stories of other magicians, she had never heard of encountering a goblin.
"Gegyagya, gya."
The goblins were laughing out loud, making indecipherable sounds.
"Disgusting‼"
Saki grimaced in disgust. Their appearance seemed to emit such a disgusting smell.
"It's icky, seriously disgusting."
Reluctantly, as she looked closely at the goblins, she noticed that there was an HP bar floating above their heads.
"So, this anomaly must be related to these guys. Disgusting."
If that's the case, then the task at hand is simple.
Saki walked towards the goblins, gripping small speakers in both hands.
"What, hey who are you?"
"Hey, if you get too close, it's dangerous!"
Some college students hiding in the shadow of the shopping city called out in small voices. If they really cared about the girl, they should just run away. It's annoying how these peace-lovers have become so oblivious.
But it's Saki's job to help even people like them.
Saki turned towards the men and opened her mouth.
"Get lost."
The words imbued with magic power exert a compelling force on ordinary people.
The men stiffened and silently ran away.
"Heh, this is why men are idiots."
Saki sighed and turned back to the goblins. There, the goblins stood eerily still, facing her direction.
Seems like they sensed the presence of magic power.
But it doesn't matter. Since the moment she saw these guys, there's only one thing she needs to do.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)