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A stand. When Chloe heard that word, she broke into a cold sweat. Everyone knew about Sho's ability, and the word Stand was among the concepts taught to them.
An ability with no set rules. Once a Stand user binds to a rule, it's impossible to interfere with them. And then, there was the rule, "Only Stand users can see other Stands."
(This is the worst...)
"Chloe, isn't that man a bodyguard? Is he an ally...?"
"No. Absolutely not."
Chloe's few words were enough to convey her certainty. Tina immediately understood and readied her knife.
"Even so, Chloe von Einzbern. It's too bad for you. To be killed by an assassin at your age," yasuwaki said, spreading his hands in a mocking gesture. "And to think the assassin was just a kid."
He showed no sign of caution towards Tina.
"Before you get to Yozuki Sho, I'll send you both to the afterlife."
"Chloe!"
Tina shoved Chloe out of the way. As Chloe fell, her eyes caught a glimpse of Tina being torn to shreds right in front of her.
"Wha- what's wrong?! Are you okay?!"
"I'm fine."
"Ngh!!!"
Chloe was being held by a completely unharmed Tina.
"That was a clone. Don't panic."
"Don't scare me like that...!"
The two spoke in hushed tones, hidden from yasuwaki by a desk. yasuwaki saw them.
"How pathetic, you crafty little girls."
A voice they couldn't hear. It was Red Hot Chili Pepper.
An electric shock pierced Tina's body. Her muscles convulsed violently with the intense pain. The Class Card was expelled, and the phantasmal install was deactivated.
It was a lethal attack. She would've died without the card.
"Ngh!!"
Even though Chloe couldn't see the Stand, or rather, precisely because she couldn't, she knew a Stand attack had occurred.
She understood, but she was powerless to do anything. In the next moment, she would suffer the same fate as Tina, but a glimmering sword-wielding Sho smashed through the wall Chloe had previously destroyed with an arrow.
--------
"Aaaaah—! What?! You're... you're!!"
"Hello, Your Majesty...!"
I slid into the room after slashing the window with my Super Space Holy Sword, Space Caliber.
I, a true fool, dramatically broke the window. It's a good thing no bodyguards were around.
"Wh- where did you come from?!"
"I didn't have time to use the door!!"
A sharp pain made me wince.
"Wh- what's wrong?"
"My wound... my stomach wound... it's hurting...!"
"You came here even though you haven't recovered?!"
The wound wasn't shallow enough to heal in a day or two. If her majesty hadn't hired a skilled healer, I'd still be lying in bed.
I wish I could've used the Recovery item from Paradox, but it seems to only work on injuries sustained in the game area. I had transformed out of the armor at the time, so it didn't work.
"Why would you come in through the window...? What if you're mistaken for an assassin?!"
"I know... but Saibu hasn't arrived yet, has he?"
"...? How did you know that?"
I investigated, of course. I asked Jeanne to do it.
--------
I secretly snuck out of the hospital and received a report over the phone.
"In conclusion, the assassin was Tina Sprout alone."
"...Are you sure?"
"Yes. As far as I could investigate."
But if that was the case, it wouldn't explain the group that attacked her majesty.
"There's something called a Class Card."
"Cl- Class Card?!"
I was taken aback by Jeanne's words, but at the same time, it made a lot of sense.
If she was using Hassan of the Hundred Faces' Noble Phantasm, Zabaniya, Delusional Illusion, Tina could create a situation where enemies appear as soon as she defeats them.
The problem was,
"Are such things being traded normally...?"
"I don't know what you mean by 'normally.' They're ridiculously expensive, but it's possible to obtain them. They're also quite well-known."
This world is seriously chaotic. Who the heck is making such things?! Don't tell me it's the Ainsworth family.
"They started appearing about ten years ago. I don't know who created them. The Clock Tower is also desperately searching for the creator."
...Ten years ago. That number feels ominous, but it's probably just my imagination.
"Even so, it's quite a coincidence that you ran into Tina Sprout. I also looked into her; she's a girl with deep-seated karmic debt."
Tina was an orphan. That fact was used against her, and she was trained as an assassin from a young age. Even without the Class Card, she can handle a large sniper rifle.
"I see..."
It's slightly different, but it's pretty much the same as the original.
"Can you trust what I say so easily?"
"What's that? Don't jinx it."
I'm already at my limit here.
"Well, what do you think? At the very least, I don't have good feelings towards you for putting me through this."
"...I'll trust the pride of Jeanne d'Arc."
With that, I hung up the phone.
--------
And that's how it went.
Additionally, when I woke up in the hospital, and everyone came to visit, I asked Kurumi and Riko to find out who hired Yami and to monitor yasuwaki's movements.
The results were a complete success. yasuwaki was the one who hired Yami. Besides that, I also learned some truly unpleasant facts, but it was good to know them sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately, they couldn't find out who hired Tina. Well, it's probably Saibu. The proof is that he didn't show up for today's meeting. He's clearly planning to eliminate her completely.
He might be planning to assassinate the pacifist her majesty and use that as an opportunity to expand his influence.
The problem is yasuwaki. The unpleasant information about him.
"I can't believe he's a Stand user..."
I was so surprised when Riko told me.
I guessed his Stand ability was awakened recently. It's highly likely that it happened after I was hired. When I first met him, and he threatened me, he would've used it if he were serious about killing me.
I don't care about the details of how his Stand was awakened or if someone has an Arrow. I can think about that later.
The most important thing is what kind of Stand it is.
In a Stand battle, the one who attacks first has an overwhelming advantage. If you can fulfill your Stand's activation conditions without the opponent noticing, the battle can be over before the opponent even realizes it.
"By the way, where's Chloe?"
"In the building across the street. She ran out a little while ago."
"And yasuwaki?"
"...He said he was going over there, too," Her Majesty said, pointing to the shattered glass.
Sorry we couldn't use the door.
That way, huh... Jumping is probably out of the question. Maybe I can use the energy discharge from the Super Space Holy Sword, Space Caliber, as a booster like I did when I came here.
As I readied my sword,
"Hey, hey, hey, you pathetic little survivor. Did you come here to die?"
I heard yasuwaki's voice from behind me.
That's not right. He should be in the other building right now. Could his Stand be a long-distance type—!!
"Re- Red Hot Chili Pepper!!"
A golden body, a beak-like mouth, a bipedal reptile-like figure stood behind me with its arms crossed.
It wasn't a long-distance Stand after all. I can't believe this was his Stand!!
"Hm? You can see it? I see. So you're a Stand user, too."
I ignored him and swung my Super Space Holy Sword, Space Caliber.
"Too slow! Too slow!!"
But it didn't hit Red Hot Chili Pepper. Even with Time Alter, Inherent Time Control, I can't keep up with a speed that rivals a close-range power type.
Her Majesty's eyes were wide open as I started swinging my sword at nothing.
Red Hot Chili Pepper kicked me in the side. It was a precise hit on my wound. The half-opened wound was now completely opened.
"Sho?! D- don't tell me, someone is attacking you...!"
"To think I was getting angry at some trash like this, I'm disgusted with myself," I said, contrasting the voices I was hearing as I fell onto the carpet.
I could feel blood seeping through my clothes. An unpleasant sweat broke out on my forehead.
"Now, then, I'll just kick you around... no, I should take care of things over there first. Hehe, I'll send your sister to the afterlife with you."
"Ngh!!"
With those words, Red Hot Chili Pepper disappeared into the light fixture. He probably moves through the electrical currents.
"I won't let you...!"
"Wai...!"
Her Majesty looked like she wanted to say something, but there was no time. I immediately flew to the other building.
It's impossible for me to mistake the building. There's a hole in the wall, and more importantly, yasuwaki's Stand, Red Hot Chili Pepper, is illuminating the dark office with his light.
Everyone inside was wide-eyed when I suddenly burst in.
"Inherent Time Control, Time Alter, Double-speed Double Acceleration, Caliber!!"
I drew my sword with enough force to cleave the upper floors of the building.
But,
"Tsk!!"
Before the sword could be swung, Red Hot Chili Pepper kicked me away.
"You're making me impatient, Yozuki Sho!! To think you were hiding a weapon like that!!"
I immediately prepared my next move.
"Tusk!!"
When I summoned Tusk, yasuwaki burst out laughing.
"Hey, what's that? That pathetic-looking Stand? Do you really think you can beat me with a Stand like that? I'll turn you into a rag! Yozuki Sho!!"
"..."
I fired both Tusk's nail bullets and my handgun in a completely random direction.
"Are you an idiot?! Do you really think a handgun can defeat Red Hot Chili Pepper?!"
yasuwaki was pummeled by nail bullets and gunshots flying in various directions. It was a combination of Bullet Billiards and Ricochet Shot, Elle. I intentionally hit the bullets and nail bullets to attack him from unexpected angles.
"Defeating a Stand isn't just about attacking the Stand directly. It's also about defeating the user. Didn't you know that?"
Even if he was wearing bulletproof clothing, getting hit with the force of a baseball bat would cause a significant impact.
Moreover, I grazed his legs with the nail bullets. He shouldn't be able to stand up now.
I couldn't outspeed Red Hot Chili Pepper, so a surprise attack on the arrogant user was the most effective strategy.
"You bastard!! Red Hot Chili Pepper!! Beat him to a pulp!!"
yasuwaki, who was now crawling on the floor, started screaming.
I shot him in the shoulder.
As the user takes damage, so does the Stand.
"Don't struggle anymore. Do I have to put a bullet in each of your arms and legs for you to understand?"
"Don't screw with me! I!! I can't possibly lose to trash like you!!"
"No, you're finished, yasuwaki Takuto."
From yasuwaki's head, a DISC was removed.
"Ngh!!"
"Huh? Ah, what?"
At the same time, yasuwaki's Stand, Red Hot Chili Pepper, vanished. I immediately stepped back. I distanced myself from the hand with the bandages covered in letters.
No way, this can't be real. Tell me it's not real.
Standing in the shadows was Zombie Gamer, Level X10.
"I have retrieved the Stand you created."
"You...!! Red Hot Chili Pepper! Red Hot Chili Pepper! What's wrong! Why won't you come out!!"
Of course, it wouldn't. The Stand next to the Zombie Gamer had 'removed' yasuwaki's Stand with its ability.
"...This Stand is too good for a man like you."
"Wh- what are you talking about!! You gave this to me!! You told me to use this power however I wanted!!"
He didn't seem to have me in his sights anymore. He was desperately clinging to the floor.
As he toyed with the now-DISC-ified Red Hot Chili Pepper, the Zombie Gamer's voice echoed with coldness.
"Do it, White Snake."
"Hmph! St- stop—"
Without hesitation, the Zombie Gamer had White Snake murder yasuwaki. The fist that pierced his stomach was stained crimson.
His face, smeared with tears and snot, was frozen in the same desperate expression he had when he was pierced.
He threw the corpse of yasuwaki aside, and his four eyes fixed on me. It was as if he was sizing up his next prey.
"...You're a Stand user, too. Are you a natural... or are you of my kind...?"
"What did you say?"
My kind? That doesn't make any sense... I guess it does. There's no rule that says I'm the only one. It's not that surprising.
"...Oh well. I'll be taking your Stand as well..."
"Ngh!!"
I picked up the Super Space Holy Sword, Space Caliber, and readied myself, spinning the nail bullets with Tusk. The pain from the core of my body was throbbing, so transforming into Paradox would be dangerous. I might not be able to withstand the strain.
The difference in our fighting power is hopeless. This is what it feels like to face both the Zombie Gamer and White Snake.
Even Tusk's face seems to look pathetic.
"Onii-chan, move!!"
Something flew from behind me. It was an arrow from Chloe. It wouldn't hit the Stand (she can't see it in the first place), but the Zombie Gamer was different.
When the explosion cleared, the tattered Zombie Gamer was lying on the ground.
"I've been interrupted..."
The Zombie Gamer stood up as if a video was being reversed. There was no sign of damage from his light movements.
No, there was no damage. This was thanks to one of the Zombie Gamer's abilities, Immortality.
"...I'll have to take your Stand another time."
With that, the Zombie Gamer disappeared into the darkness.
yasuwaki died, and a new enemy appeared.
The incident ended with a bitter aftertaste.
--------
"Ngh...?"
"Oh, you're awake?"
"...Sho?"
Tina, who was sleeping next to me, woke up. Her eyes took in the pure white hospital bed. Since I had secretly snuck out, I was able to spend the next day as if nothing had happened.
"Everyone else didn't have serious injuries, so they can be discharged after today's checkup. It might take a little longer for me and Yami."
Yami was sleeping in the bed on the opposite side. The electric shock from Red Hot Chili Pepper caused a lot of damage. Well, by some coincidence, that person is the doctor, so maybe I don't have to worry too much.
I only intended to give a simple report, but Tina's eyes looked down. Maybe I was a little too careless.
"Tina, what do you want to ask?"
"...What will happen to me?"
"That's a good place to start," I said, crossing my arms.
"Your crime is a serious one. Assassinating an important person. There will be a tough investigation, and you might even be killed by an extrajudicial organization."
"...Yes."
"So, I negotiated to make things work out."
"...Yes... Yes?"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"Wait a minute. Wasn't there something strange about what you said?"
"Not many people who saw Tina's face are still alive. I told her majesty about your situation, and she said she'd do something about it."
I'm so grateful to Her Majesty. Although, it's also a little annoying that this is thanks to yasuwaki's incident. They're going to use the aftermath of the yasuwaki incident to cover things up.
Good job, Your Majesty. You've gotten a little devious! ...I know. I feel a little bad about it.
"Do something about it...? But how...?"
"As for your food, clothing, and shelter, I'll be your guarantor."
"Huh, ah, eh...?"
Tina's mouth was wide open.
I haven't told everyone yet, but I think it'll be fine. They're not heartless enough to abandon Tina, and besides, my house's population is growing anyway.
"Don't worry about the stomach wound. If I held a grudge over something like that, it would take a toll on me."
I said that in a rush. I decided her future without listening to her opinion, but if I didn't, I didn't know what would happen to her.
"It's all right now. Tina, I won't let you experience 'pain' anymore."
"Sho... thank you...!"
Tina buried her face in the blanket and started to cry.
--------
"That's a nice story."
"How did you hear that, Mikado-sensei?"
After Tina cried herself to sleep, a woman in a lab coat opened the sliding door and entered.
Given the amount of time it took for a recently awakened Tina to fall asleep, I'm sure she was waiting right outside the door the whole time...
Normally, if you see someone in a lab coat at a hospital, you'd think they were a doctor. However, this woman doesn't seem to want to be seen as a mere doctor. With her clothes emphasizing her chest, you can't rest even if you want to.
This person is also a character from To Love-Ru, her full name is Ryouko Mikado. She is one of the top five doctors on this island.
To be honest, she was the excellent doctor Her Majesty recommended, but I wonder why she sent someone so outrageous. Her Majesty is quite irresponsible.
"So, how is Yami doing, really?"
"Yami? Ah, you mean Golden Darkness, right?" Mikado-sensei laughed as if she found it amusing.
"I'm sorry. I know this girl a little. I'm just happy to know that she has someone who calls her that."
"I'm just calling her that on my own. I haven't gotten her permission."
"Please keep calling her that. She might be happy... well, I'm not sure. But if you keep calling her that, she'll get used to it."
Doesn't that just mean she'll get angry at me if she hates it?
Mikado-sensei changed the atmosphere, saying, "Let's get back to the main topic."
"There are many 'unfortunate accidents' on this island... and a lot of assassins."
The fact that she mentioned "assassins" after "unfortunate accidents" says it all.
"The success of an assassin's job doesn't show up on the surface, but a failure spreads quickly... I don't think she can return to this world anymore."
That's true. Trust is the most important thing. No one would want to hire an assassin who has failed and been captured before.
"So, will you let her stay at your place? I think it's better for her to leave the assassin's life behind and go to a normal school."
"Ahahaha, I don't get it. Are you kidding me?"
"You're quite old-fashioned..."
It seems she wasn't joking.
It looks like one more person will be living at my house.
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