I have kept myself in the background. I hardly said anything, nor have I given anything substantial; I let the ones capable handle it. I am but a minnow compared to them.
Kakeru Ryuen never relented his stares and hostile gazes. The injuries on his face have healed, and I have mostly forgotten his nonsensical ramblings before we were whisked away.
The White Room taught me everything that I needed to know to survive and excel. However, the White Rooms never considered the supernatural. Out here, I am a lost, whimpering puppy forced to team up with experienced street dogs.
I thank my luck for being chanced upon by benevolently powerful humans beyond my comprehension. I have long accepted that I am not the apex in this reality, just a mere background spectator.
I took a bite out of the candy bar that I picked up from the cabinet. It was sweet and not really nutritious, but it'll have to do for now. As I closed the cabinet door, I instantly recognized Ryuen's sitting figure in my peripheral vision, still keeping that glare.
"Could you not look at me like that?" I pleaded half-heartedly, a person like Ryuen wouldn't listen, much less consider your opinion.
He kept quiet, still focusing a glare. I walked out of the employee's room, our makeshift base. My powerful supernaturally inclined allies are currently busy debating whether to spare or end the lives of these non-human maids.
These maids wouldn't provide any information other than slurs and the fact that we're merely lowly humans, fit to be trampled beneath their feet. Our red-headed knight merely closed his eyes, then poked all of the maid's foreheads.
"Solution Epsilon, Lupusregina Beta, Entoma Vasilissa Zeta." The wish-for-everything knight then provided us with the names of the captured maids. The maids were seething yet also in shock. I can tell from their expressions that they're not used to facing powerful foes.
They're used to slaughters, not battles.
Sir Knight Reinhard van Astrea and Mr. Jin Woo Sung easily defeated them earlier, especially the maid who came to provide support. A maid made out of insects and creepy crawlies tried her best to combat the two, but to no avail.
A single kick to the abdomen from Reinhard and a punch from Jinwoo's ant shadow were enough to send it reeling on the floor. It's made from fully collapsed, the maid was essentially a bunch of insects forming a humanoid form.
I remember Mr. Sung commenting on Reinhard's attacks that they have a lot of debuffs when they connect. Reinhard just said they're merely tricks compared to his comprehensive system.
Anyway, the maid mentioned the incoming storm we've apparently inflicted on ourselves. That their supreme being wouldn't sit idly by, knowing that a peaceful forward scouting party was harmed.
Peaceful? They demanded surrender and our cooperation. Reinhard also assured us that these three women were evil and had crooked hearts. However, since they're already incapacitated, their executions are unnecessary.
Reinhard's sentiment was supported by Midoriya, albeit reluctantly. Midoriya is clearly out of his league here, but he argues for mercy even if the enemy might not give the same. Midoriya is the comic-book stereotype of a friendly neighborhood superhero, and I don't find it palatable in this situation.
Jin Woo argued for their execution, with Megumi supporting him. Mahoraga was staring down that ant shadow, Beru. Are they going to fight? Please no.
Ryuen and I kept our mouths shut; we don't really have any say in the matter at hand, we're non-combatants.
...
...
...
The verdict was made.
Mr. Sung swiftly executed the three maids with that red dagger of his. I didn't even see him stab their heads; all I saw was that the three maids immediately dropped their heads, their left temples bleeding.
The argument died down. Mr. Sung won in the end. Reinhard was the honest, all-loving hero, and he couldn't take back his earlier words: that these three non-human maids were evil and would've happily slaughtered them if the situation were reversed.
Can Reinhard really wish for everything? He just closed his eyes, and then he suddenly knew the maids' identities by touching their foreheads.
Maybe I can steer him to grant me a protection blessing. It's hardly difficult to convince him.
Anyways, I solemnly assured Reinhard and Midoriya that these three weren't humans. I've also emphasized the exact words of the blonde and insect maid that they would've tortured and eaten us if given the opportunity.
The maids were quite honest about their intentions, at least.
"Arise."
The floor pooled with liquid shadowy darkness; a tendril shot up, along with blue streaks of light, then three shadowy figures formed, their appearances reminiscent of the three recently slain maids.
They then dropped to the floor and kneeled before Mr. Sung. What a terrifying power, the ability to summon the dead and turn them into mindless thralls. I wish I had that. The white room conditioning vanished for a second, replaced with an envious want.
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji: A System Leveler and S- Rank Hunter.
I like the ring to it. My world suddenly seemed small compared to the world that Mr. Sung and Reinhard inhabited.
"We need to vacate as soon as possible; that one ripple entrance nearby isn't the only one. There are surely a lot scattered around." Megumi said. "It's only a matter of time until their allies come and investigate."
Reinhard exhaled, and an unexplainable anxiety and uneasiness were plastered on his face. He's honestly quite easy to read, and I don't think he's that mentally endowed either. Reinhard then raised a brow, quickly stealing a glance at me.
He smiled shortly after, donning that perpetual smile on his face again.
I think I offended him.
Mr. Sung did mention in passing that Reinhard was quite the mind reader. I should practice restraining my thoughts around him from now on.
"My offer still stands. I can all transport you all to my world, then we can look for a way to return you all to your respective worlds from my world." Reinhard said, extending his right hand, waiting for us to take him.
Reinhard is rather uneasy. I think he knows something big is coming, and I trust his intuition. Those maids mentioned their master, a powerful skeleton sorcerer king.
I don't want to stick around here any longer.
"Your offer is our last resort. I'll focus on looking for a proper exit for now." Mr. Sung declared, walking forward, and Megumi then followed.
Midoriya closed his eyes, and his internal conflict was easy to read. I should at least comfort him; I need him in top shape. I don't want a sulking hero stuck with his moral conundrums.
Ryuen was behind me, chewing on a gum. I ignored him for now. Mr. Sung told us to pack and start preparing to move away. Ryuen and I were basically errand boys, but we both accepted the unspoken role because we're entirely in their mercy.
Mr. Sung left several undead shadows behind, near the ripple, to intercept new incoming threats and serve as some early warning system.
I like Mr. Sung, quite the decisive and ruthless figure. He's a better hero than Midoriya and a more effective protector than Reinhard. I should remain in his good grace, and maybe I can be a player too.