Chapter 203: Side Story Chapter 3

At the moment I collapsed, the Assassin family vanished from my sight.

Just in case, I pulled up the safety net to check the situation.... No signs of them returning. No need to worry about the Mafia.

Is it over... judging it as such seems fine.

I didn't want to be pointlessly monitored by the Mafia, so I left the battlefield where the Zoldycks had departed.

I had intended to head straight to my destination, but the pain and fatigue were becoming increasingly severe, so I diverted to a Pharmacy that caught my eye. I jumped in without hesitation.

"Welcome—"

Seeing me walk into the shop with such vigor, the clerk's greeting was cut short.... Hmm, I think I know what happened. It's dirty, covered in blood. This coat...

I pretended not to care about that gaze, dodged it, and quickly threw chemicals and cloth into a basket.

After finding what I wanted, I went straight to the checkout counter.

"... Um, customer, you seem to be injured, are you alright?"

"Oh, yes. I just fell down.

But it would be helpful if you could be quick."

I gave the standard excuse to the clerk and had him ring it up. Presumably, everyone knows this town is in an uproar, so I pretended not to care, and the clerk went to settle the bill without a word.

I paid for the products and quickly left the shop. Ah, I'm embarrassed...

Jumped out of sight. Jumped onto the roof of a suitable building and began simple treatment.

I should gently wipe the dirt and blood off my skin, hair, and clothes with a damp cloth. This is bad. Especially the hair, it's severe. If you don't take good care of it... kuuu.

For the areas with hairline fractures, I started treatment with Divine. It won't heal quickly, but it's not a major injury; as long as I rest, the swelling and pain will subside. Hmm, this is an emergency measure. After a night's sleep and recovering my Qi, let's heal properly.

I opened the various nutritional supplements I bought.... It wasn't enough at all, but it felt a bit better. Finally, I let out a sigh of relief.

Ah... I'm tired.

And don't get distracted. I have to go check over there.

They began jumping from one rooftop to another, heading toward the planned meeting point.

I spotted a familiar figure in a black suit on the roof of a multi-tenant building on the edge of the city, and I jumped over without hesitation.

Thump, landing.

"Hey, Novu. Where's the convoy?"

Novu pointed silently with his thumb.

A Hunter Association airship was hovering over the outskirts of Yorkshin.... It looks like I can board safely.

Ha, I breathed a sigh of relief. For now, the operation is a success.

"I was waiting for your arrival."

"Okay. Please."

When told, it descended into the water with a splash.

Immediately landed on the floor of the white room. Novu also came down from the ceiling.

Accompanied by a comfortable click, Novu walked toward the door attached to the Wall. As I followed behind, I looked around this desolate space with interest.

"... Will come again and again.

Is there something interesting?"

"Hmm?

If it's the same as before, I'm not interested.

But are you often messing around?"

Novu stopped and turned toward me, and I stopped walking at the same time.

"Why do you think so?"

Are you testing me or just out of curiosity? Cool outfit. At the same time, I playfully waved my index finger at this surprisingly timid man.

"If you don't respect the witch, you'll be in trouble, Novu.

To lower costs, the ceiling, walls, and floor all use the same building Material, right?

If you walk, you can roughly see how strong it is. So, it's different from when I walked before.

Even if I step on the floor, I don't know if I can withstand about 20,000 Potential Aura without taking any damage.

This is the weakness of the almost invincible 【4D Mansion/Hide and Seek】. A direct attack on the outer wall of the room is dangerous."

After listening to my story, Novu gently raised his glasses and sighed.

"If you've thought about what to say...

Even if you destroy a part of the room, you can't Escape.

There is only unstable space around. If you jump in, you will be thrown to a strange place."

He answered with the words I expected, so I shrugged.

"But that's a problem for Novu, isn't it? It's something you can't control.

That's right. After all, this room is just a high-speed movement of another space, with the entrance and exit matching the coordinates of the real space. So, even Novu doesn't know where he will be thrown if he goes out the door. Especially when moving quickly inside the room.

Passing through another space without an Obstacle at high speed is the basis of warp theory."

"..."

"I'm tired just hearing your story."

Novu shook his head and walked toward the door.... Did I say something strange?

Novu opened the door. On the other side, there was a wavering air. Colors mixed and reflected an indescribable landscape.

I followed Novu, who was moving forward naturally, and the front of my body was hit by the feeling of topun and water.

My field of vision opened up, and I stepped onto the floor of a small bedroom. Novu is looking at you.

"Here?"

"This is the lounge assigned to you. It is, of course, on that airship.

If you wish to rest, please rest. I will report your return."

I was certain that I was already exhausted...

"No, I'm fine.

It's a bit late, so I will report. I only ask that you take me to where Netero is."

"Really?"

Novu led me as we walked across the slightly swaying floor.

A large space in the center of the airship.

A transport vehicle was parked in the center, and Netero, having changed into his usual kimono, was looking at me.... Seeing Netero wearing that outfit calmed me down, but somehow it also annoyed me. Great. I want to tease you.

As I walked with Novu, he shouted at me with a serious expression.

"I am glad you returned safely.

You have worked hard, Tianwangxing."

This sounded like someone else's problem, and it was offensive.

"......

What do you mean 'worked hard'?

I almost died! You're finished!

I'm telling you, the one who took the most damage was your Hundred-Type."

"I was watching that too, it made me shudder..."

Novu rarely provided support Fire.

"No, no, wait.

My lord, for the first attack, you must have already prepared your defenses."

"Oh!?

You think this is the result! Only attacking the opponent, not attacking!"

"Don't be unreasonable!

I was driving all around, circling, at that speed!

You can't just hit a moving enemy."

"I know what you mean!

So you should be careful!

Even so, don't hesitate, hit me from behind!"

"...... Although I say that, I am still going to take all three of them down together.

I can do that in moderation."

"Am I your enemy!?

Don't count three people!"

"...... Calm down."

Hearing Novu's half-angry voice, his hand resting on his shoulder, I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

Netero rubbed his beard with a troubled look on his face.

"...... And you, my lord, might completely give up on the second shot.

Even if someone told me I was hurt because of that, there is nothing I could do."

"No, you should be a bit gentler......

I am quite certain it was I who shot and killed him.

I was terrified that the corpse of that old man who fed me sounded so loud."

"Zeno would die at such a speed.

Even the master knows that."

"I don't know.

It's not like that, but I was also present, and you were still firing with force, it's strange."

"...... I think attacking with full force in that situation was a bad idea."

"Later, I will make rice balls with seaweed, is that okay?

As I said, I will use 'departure' to do it."

"Stop.

Fine, I will give you some compensation. Please forgive me."

"... You.

I hit two Hundred-Types, I hit three Zoldycks.

Forgive me, that's all.

When I was about to be killed, I was truly terrified."

"Yes?

Is alimony a negotiation?"

"I don't like your attitude!!"

While I muttered to myself, I shouted at him:

"Hmm......

No, I am sorry. I am sorry for putting you through such a terrible experience."

"I'm sorry for dragging you along because of my hobby."

"Jajanken... Jajanken... Jajanken..."

"... Tezuka. Never use it the way I did before..."

"You said I was already in bad shape. Even now, I don't have the energy. There is a limit to the extent you can design and fight..."

"This is a tough story for you, too..."

"Did you find a way out?"

November asked. As I exhaled,

"There is a way to solve it.

... But it takes time. So don't get involved in strange things.

Even this time, I forced myself to accept it because I'd be in trouble if I suddenly needed money."

Looking down, I could feel Netero and Novu looking at each other.

"Hmm... there really isn't one.

This time, I prepared 36 billion as a reward for destroying the Phantom Troupe."

... What a bounty that makes one's heart ache just to hear.

"When I thought I had arrested 13 people, one was missing.

The bonus to be paid is 2 billion floating."

"... Hm?

What the hell is this? Even if I annihilated it, there's only one person left."

"One leg of the Spider is pretending to be a friend.

Zonggu's betrayal of the Spider must have led to this arrest drama."

"Hmm...

But even if it's a pretense, they are still active like a Spider, right?

I can betray him, but can I leave him alone?"

"It's fine.

... Zongye is indeed a felon, but he is also a Professional Hunter.

I don't want to capture them, but they seem to be under the same Constraint as the Spider, so I don't think there's a problem."

"Really...

I don't mind.

So what's with this 2 billion floating?"

"Because once it's put together as a budget, it's a hassle to put it back.

The difficulty of the escort mission far exceeded expectations, so I think I'll use this as my reward this time."

"... It seems Beans is going to complain again.

Why not go through the procedures?"

"I'll get you to agree after the fact."

"Then, I'll be the one hearing that complaint.

... Yes. So what is the breakdown?"

Netero and Novu looked at each other again. Novu nodded.... Hm?

"Vahila can't help much this time.

Commending your achievements in planning strategy and repelling the Zoldyck—"

"I refuse."

Anticipating the future, I interrupted Netero.

"... Wait a minute. Do I have to tell you until the end?"

"I refused because I could guess without you telling me.

What's the point? That kind of thing.

Hey, don't interrupt my strategic plan! Shit."

Hearing this, Novu adjusted his glasses,

"I have already received the message from the Chairman.

... I'm worried that this is uncharacteristically cautious.

You don't need to worry about me."

…………

So hurry up and say it. It seems I'm a Hidden idiot...

"You're a troublesome guy, too...

Fine. November and I each get 100 million. You will get 1.8 billion."

"Don't go.

... I originally intended to hand over everything, but I just adjusted it slightly.

My divine item requires a market price of around 10 million, so why is this value over 100 million? Don't give me such a high price for the current work."

"That's why it's danger pay and a consolation prize.

Lord, you should tell yourself that you were the one who was killed."

Thinking for a while, I denied my own words.

"... Wrong."

I am not the target, so I did not actually come to kill him.

If it weren't for that, I would have run away too."

"……Are you the same way?

After that, I received calls from Zeno and Maha.

Zeno muttered that the Lord had relaxed.

Maha was in a good mood because he could worship something interesting after a long time."

……Maha is that monster old man. I haven't used a High-Speed Divine Talisman in battle for a long time. Being lightly nudged by Aura is too dangerous.... It depends on the project.

"Hmm, it doesn't matter.

The owner is 1.6 billion. Eagle and Nov are 200 million each. How about that?"

"……Isn't that still a lot?"

"Really?

I used Aura in 'Zhou', but I've already finished the 100-Type Guanyin. Driving the transport vehicle is quite pleasant, so it's no big deal. ……How about November?"

"……I am much more comfortable than the Chairman.

Just as a reward for waiting, 100 million is enough."

"If I say that, this guy will complain.

……Besides formulating strategies and countering the Zoldyck family, he also participated in the embedding of protective characters in the transport vehicle, and even the emergency operation of the protective characters.

If you consider the danger allowance and compensation, I don't think 1.6 billion is unreasonable."

……Is my concept of money strange? I feel it's too much...

Looking down, the sound of machinery running.

"……Hey?"

"I have already deposited 1.6 billion into your License. That is the end of the story. No refunds."

"No, don't force me.

I'm a little angry."

"You must have money.

Why not accept it and not have to worry in the future?"

"It seems like it's for him, he's uncomfortable."

"You are very loud.

Do you know how you feel? Listen to what your elders have to say."

"Wow, old man...

If you say so, everyone has no choice but to listen to you. Don't act old."

"Chairman Vasha?

He is the worst in the Hunter Association.

……Even if you run into trouble later, I won't help you. Won't you accept me, an adult?"

I put my hands together and sighed. Ha...

"Understood…… Thank you very much.

Even if you try to return it, you won't receive it...

In return, I will stay as a Companion to them until they are put in prison.

If we end it here, and then hear that he was able to Escape, that wouldn't be a waste either."

"Master, isn't this different from being busy?

……Even if it isn't, it hurts, and it will leave behind Aura, right?"

In fact, it has nearly 20,000 potential Aura. I don't want to be so broken that I can't even make an emergency departure from the battle. Not that reckless. Perhaps……

"As long as you don't fight, you'll be fine.

……It won't take many days to get him into prison, right?"

"A few hours from now, we will arrange for imprisonment.

Of course, there will be a trial after that, and you will be sent to a formal concentration camp."

"Alright, as long as you are Together with us until you are imprisoned, there is no problem.

The reward is of course as much as before.

The negotiation is over, hmm?"

"……Fine. Don't go too far, okay?"

"Hehe.

Good job, you two."

I waved my hand and turned to walk toward the lounge.

"Chairman……

Can it stay as it is?"

Nov asked worriedly. A difficult expression also appeared on Netero's face.

"……

Seeking help is his bad habit. It's best to do something about most things.

Even if an adult tries to help him from above, he naturally refuses.

You are in trouble..."

Uranus, Divine Rune expert, rare ability, for the Hunter Association, is an indispensable and precious existence.

However, he seemed not to realize it, naturally brushing away the hands extended by those around him. Therefore, Uranus was isolated even within society.

"At least if it were someone of a similar age, ah, stubborn, stubborn, I might refuse to do so..." Netero thought, rubbing his beard.