Antagonist Protection Service-Chapter 211 - Just Like Last Time

211: Just Like Last Time

211: Just Like Last Time

The capital city was in an uproar.

Over the past few days, it was like the tension in the air refused to dip below a certain level.

The anxiety of the citizens was palpable, and though I knew part of it had to be because of how I had made my appearance in the Sunlit Temple, I also found it completely inconceivable that all this unrest was solely due to me.

‘Something happened since the last time I came here…’

“―Don’t ignore me, you fuckin’ b–”

Fthsh– Thud.

No matter how many violent outlaws I questioned, they always refused to give me the answers I seeked.

It seemed they only had eyes on the bounty for my capture, not realising what would happen if they attacked me.

‘Oh well.

I’ve recovered enough, so I guess it’s about time I stop hiding like a rat.’

Or rather, my wanted posters were still stuck up for display all around the city, both with and without the Villain’s Vizard, so I would still need to be careful.

Just, there was one person I had been postponing my visit from for a while thanks to the weakening aftereffects of the buff.

‘Seriously, I didn’t expect to be practically crippled for three full days…’

Although, the potion did make me a hell of a lot stronger while it was active, so I guess it made sense.

“Anyway, I guess we should get going…

The residence was this way, right…?”

Travelling through the capital city of Drakon-Rasa without being detected was easy enough under the cover of darkness, but with the additional protection of the Draconic Shadow and Sneak, there was no way any of the ordinary city guards would be able to detect me.

Although it wasn’t as good as its Presence Concealment, the Draconic Shadow also came with an in-built Magic Concealment property, so I should be safe enough even now that I have mana.

However, I did notice over the past days that the city’s level of security in general seemed to be exceedingly high, and heightened even further during both the night and periods of high activity.

‘It can’t just be because of me.

There’s no way…

right?’

I had been heavily curious about what the reason was ever since my arrival, and at first, I thought the security was only increased on the day I appeared because there were so many people about, but that wasn’t it.

In fact, even though the only times I had ever seen so many people out to pray was on a Sunday, one of the criminals I questioned was actually kind enough to tell me that it wasn’t a Sunday, but a Tuesday on the day I appeared.

So then, why were there so many going to pray?

And what was Lucretia praying on a Tuesday, when the only times she had ever done so before was on a Sunday or Monday?

Well, all the criminals I interacted with always tried to catch me off guard and attack me by that time, so I never got my answer.

In any case, as I arrived at my target location, I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind.

Here was the building I had been waiting to visit since the start of my hiding…

The Christina-Rasa residence.

Circling around the outside, I quickly located the balcony I recognised to be the one outside Lucretia’s room and swiftly scaled the building to climb up top.

“Fuu…

It’s higher than I thought…”

Soon arriving on top of the balcony without much trouble, I cast a glance behind me to look over the night-time cityscape, seeing the twin moons looming in the sky right above for the first time in a long while.

It was almost identical to the scene that initially greeted me the first time.

‘It feels like such a long time ago now…’

Although, I guess it would have been a longer wait for some, particularly due to the time distortion of the previous Contract.

“…”

Taking off the Villain’s Vizard and dismissing it to Storage, I let the cool breeze of the air brush against the skin of my face for a few moments, taking the refreshing moment in.

I was only like that for a short while when I heard a voice.

“You came…”

I didn’t need to turn around to know who it belonged to.

It was exceptionally familiar to me, after all.

But, I did.

“…It’s been a while.”

Turning around, I faced her with a nostalgic smile, meeting her carmine eyes with my own.

“I hope you’ve been well, My Lady.”

I felt regretful I couldn’t do it the other day, but if it was like this, it really felt just like last time, huh?

“…Enki…”

And then, in similar fashion, I saw a single, glistening tear roll down her cheek.

❖─────★★☆☆☆─────❖

Silently moving our conversation to across a table within the bed chamber connected to the balcony, I recognised it to also be the same circumstances as when I first visited this world.

It was all very nostalgic, but I also realised that Lucretia’s life had probably only gotten even busier since I left.

I wouldn’t be surprised if she was already putting herself in a bad spot by staying up and waiting this late in her nightgown just for the chance of meeting me again after realising I had returned the other day, so to save her from the consequences come next morning, I took it upon myself to cut right to the chase.

“I heard you needed my help again.

Is My Lady really so troubled?”

Saying that in a teasing tone, I couldn’t help but smirk.

Even though the situation was serious, it felt inexplicable to return to a place I thought I would never see again, and the wait of the past three days only made it worse.

However, although I said that, I also knew that no matter how strongly I felt about the matter, the girl in front of me was probably feeling it a hundred times more.

I knew she must have been more than just a little upset when I left, so that was expected.

Either way, regardless of her feelings–

“You have no right addressing me with such a title, now do you.”

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, with crossed arms and the stone-cold expression I remembered her often wearing, she admonished me like so.

“You left my side as my attendant long ago…

No, I removed you.

Do you still wish to use such subservient language?”

‘What…

Ahh, the ‘My Lady’…?

It’s just because that’s the disguise I used to have…’

Scratching the back of my head, I retorted.

“Should I call you ‘Your Highness’ then, like everyone else?

It seems I’ve been replaced.”

“…Multiplied, and yet they didn’t appear to stand a chance.

The Captain of the Imperial Knights was rather furious because of that incident, I’ll have you know…

Those are not my attendants anyhow.”

Picturing that group of knights from before being reprimanded, I can’t deny I felt a little guilty if I really got them in trouble, but at the same time, it’s their fault for lacking.

I’d probably be seething if I was their boss and I found out they fumbled to take out one guy with the four of them too.

“Is that because I’m irreplaceable?

Thank you very much.”

“…”

Noticing her pale cheeks flush just slightly under the dim candlelight, I tried hard to hold back a smile.

Belatedly realising I was stalling too much, I dismissed the unnecessary thoughts and opened my mouth.

“Anyway, you’re in trouble again, right?

Her brother.”

At that, her eyes subtly widened.

“You’ve uncovered his identity already…?”

I nodded.

“Of course.

It’s my job, so I’ll take care of him…

But, are things really so bad that you needed to pray for my help?”

Abruptly averting her gaze, I watched her cheeks flush an even brighter pink.

“Th-that’s not what I was praying for…”

Despite the dim lighting, her skin was so white that it was easy to tell, especially with Heightened Senses, and for a moment, I even caught a mutter of denial.

“I’m joking, don’t worry about it.

I’m only asking because that kid didn’t seem like much of a threat during my…

research.

At least, not enough for you to need my help again.

There’s something else going on, right?”

For a short while, Lucretia maintained her silence.

“…Correct.”

Then, after a quiet few seconds, she slowly opened her mouth, meeting my eyes again.

“It is not the Tichá family I am to be concerned with…

And not particularly the attempts of the parasite’s kin to take out his own grievances on myself.

Rather, something far greater.”

Leaning slightly closer at her words, I was already engrossed.

The fact that the Sunday prayers were being held on a Tuesday, the concerning amount of security posted around the city…

Like I thought, there was something big going on behind the scenes.

Something big that wasn’t related to the Protagonist?

I wasn’t sure how that was possible, but perhaps that was because the Protagonist had already been taken care of.

…In that case, could it be something she was supposed to deal with?

A threat belonging to the plot of the original story…

“Enki.

I never took the time to educate you on various things back then.

I knew your stay was only temporary, so bogging you down with superfluous and irrelevant matters during that vital time was not something I ever seeked…

However, there was one time I intended to inquire about one thing.”

‘Oh?’

“Do you still want to?

Ask away.”

Giving her the go-ahead without any hesitation, I was curious what she wanted to know.

I was also aware that there were many things about Drakon-Rasa, and even just the world in general that I didn’t know about.

They were either never relevant to the task of killing the Protagonist, something that never piqued my curiosity, or simply something I had never even known to ask or dig deeper into.

One such matter would probably be the Mage’s Tower, or more lore surrounding the religion of the Holy Sun and Twin Moons.

However, this time, I thought I really should learn everything I can.

And so, as Lucretia continued, I listened intently.

“I believe it was whenever you had educated me on the truth of magic.

How it varied among the countless worlds was something I was unfamiliar with.

Flowing from that, it made me wonder if there were other things that existed in our world that differed in others.”

Realising where she was going, I nodded.

“Right.

I think that’s a natural thing to wonder about.

What did you have in mind?”

“Certainly…”

At that moment, there was a brief pause.

“…Enki.

How familiar might you be with the existence of Demons?”

And, very quickly, I realised the problem was bigger than I thought.