CH 82

I run through the town at dusk.

[……D*mn it! What the heck is with this timing!?]

Swearing like that won’t change anything.

While the lingering sound of the bell within my mind urges me on, I stomped on the cobblestone pavement, as if to kick myself forward.

(Calm down, calm down!)

I told myself such.

The old lady’s line is evidence that the “Era Division” has advanced to the Second Era, and that the flag for the Vampire Event has been raised.

However, just because the flag has been raised doesn’t mean the event will start immediately.

Running towards her like this would more likely be just a waste of time.

However, no matter how many times I told myself that, my legs showed no sign of stopping.

—————For flickering within my mind was the smile on Roze’s face when we parted ways.

There was a time when I thought I could just come to a clean decision.

It’s an undeniable fact that I had hoped to accept just sacrificing her, settling all these worries away.

However, seeing such a face, I’m not strong enough, nor am I rotten enough to calmly cut her off.

As the townspeople suspiciously looked at me as I ran through the night, trying to reach that building as quickly as possible, I reached for my sword with my right hand……

[Old man! You’re too fast! Hold back a little!]

A boy’s voice suddenly called from behind me, making me reflexively slow down.

[Radd!?]

Turning around, I saw a red-haired boy frantically chasing after me.

No, it isn’t just him.

I could also see Resilia and Prana, who were rushing a little ahead of Radd, and then a few distance behind them were Nuku and Mana.

[Why the heck are you all……]

[Isn’t that quite obvious!?]

Before I could even finish my sentence, Radd responded.

[If you’re in that much of a hurry, Old man, then something dangerous must have happened, right!? We could already fight as we are now. That’s why…… Let us return the favor, even if it’s just a little bit.]

[Radd……]

At those really unexpected words, I couldn’t immediately find the words to respond with.

Moreover, Resilia, who naturally took her place by my side, threw out her words mixed with a sigh.

[You know, Nii-san. The direction you’re running to, this must mean this matter is related to Roze-san, right? Rather, trying to exclude me with whatever’s going on, what in the world are you planning to do?]

With a look of dismay and a scowl on her face, Resilia condemned me.

[That is…… I guess you’re right. My bad.]

It seems like I had lost my composure.

Looking at them again, including Prana, Nuku and Mana who have caught up, I speak briefly.

[Come with me. ……I need your help.]

[Hehehe…… Ou!]

With Radd’s reliable words on my back, this time, I ran forward without worries.

""

※　※　※

We had caught sight of her just as she was in the front yard of her building.

[————-Roze!!!]

I shouted, and holding the <Fire Rod> in her arms as if it was very important to her, she turned around in surprise.

[R- Rex-sama? Moreover, everyone’s here too……]

Apparently, I had caught up with her just as she was returning home after parting ways with me and Erina.

She was still dressed as she was when we parted ways, and the only thing I could see on her face was pure surprise.

No matter how I look at the situation, it doesn’t look like there was anything unusual going on.

(……I was just…… being needlessly anxious huh.)

The timing of the old woman’s words was just too great that I guess I got ahead of myself.

Letting out a sigh, my shoulders relaxed.

I’m not in a game, but in reality.

""

It was only logical that I, who wasn’t the Hero, wouldn’t come across a crucial scene just because I came rushing to it.

(I must apologize to Radd and the others for being flustered and rushing here.)

With that in mind, I turned to Radd and the others, when that happened……

[Rex!]

Prana’s sharp voice brought my consciousness back to the front.

[Wha!?]

Turning back to the front, as if to weave its way from the opening in Roze’s awareness, with her gaze turned away from the building……

Something black gathers behind her.

[Bats……?]

The same jet-black bats we once encountered under the building……

In the blink of an eye, several of them gathered together to form a singular shape.

All of those events happened so quickly, lasting less than a second.

The black clump, which used to be bats, in the blink of an eye, transformed into a tuxedo and a cape, and when Roze noticed the noise, she turned around to see a man in his forties standing there, dressed in a pitch-black tuxedo.

[Uncle……?]

In response to her surprise, the beautiful yet horrifying monster bowed with a theatrical gesture and smiled gracefully.

[————–The time has come. Now, I’ve come to receive you, Roze.]

※　※　※

[Uncle? What do you mean by receive me……]

Standing alongside the confused Roze, I gently held out my hand and moved her behind my back.

[……I’m sorry, but I won’t give her to you.]

[R- Rex-sama!?]

I said, glaring at the Vampire in front of me, to which he exclaimed in curiosity.

Thereupon, as if he’s finding the situation amusing, he exclaimed.

[You must not know this, but she and I have the strongest bond people can have. We’re “family”. My apologies, but unrelated people should just……]

""

[……I know. All of it.]

I spat out, interrupting the Vampire, and pulled a book out of my inventory.

Thereupon, I held it out in front of me, as if to show it to him.

[That is……]

[It’s a diary I found in the study beneath the building. It carefully describes everything, from your motives to the goals of the incident you’re causing. This is yours, isn’t it? <Vampire Lord> Werther!]

At my words, the man’s composure collapsed for the first time.

At the same time, the expression on Roze’s face, who was listening beside me, was also dyed with astonishment.

[Vampire Lord? Uncle, what is he……]

However, Werther didn’t answer Roze’s question.

[You……!]

He just glared at me with eyes that seemed to promise death.

However, I’m not stupid enough to be intimidated by something like that now.

[For the sake of the revival of a <Demon Lord>, you intend to cast a curse on Roze, don’t you? I’m sorry, but I won’t let you do what you want.]

Werther didn’t reply to my further denunciations.

[Curse? Curse huh. ……Fufufu, aHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!]

He just covered his face with his right hand, seemingly nonplussed, before he lowered his head and started laughing……

[—————-Don’t you dare get conceited, you mere human!]

The next time he looked up, all that could be seen on his face was rage.

[Uncle……]

Perhaps, that ugly, repulsive expression on his face isn’t one he has shown to Roze before.

From his right hand, waved in anger, are claws extended bright red and gleamed in the moonlight like blades.

[Stay back, Roze.]

[H- However……]

Stepping forward, as if to protect the confused girl, I silently held my sword at the ready.

[————–From here on out is a Monster Extermination Quest. This is what us Adventurers do.]