What the hell.
It had definitely been a peaceful day with Hugmon. No, it should have been.
If not for the sirens blaring throughout the facility.
“Argh, what is it this time!!”
How long had it even been since we caught that stupid bear, and something had already happened again?
Judging by the situation outside, this wasn’t something they could just gloss over.
At the very least, it might be on par with the Unknowns I’d met so far, or even stronger.
For now, let’s wait.
In the first place, I couldn’t check what was happening outside from inside the isolation room.
If some truly powerful bastard had shown up, they’d come rushing to let me out
and try to make me solve the problem.
No, wait. Since when did I become their troubleshooter?
The original owner of this body was clearly a monster that bit people’s heads off.
Tsk, should I emphasize the concept of being more of a threat to humans?
My head felt like it was going to split.
For now, I decided to get through today first and think about it later.
+++
“Looks like they’ve found something.”
Someone was passing the guard post and silently walking toward the facility.
It was only information he had heard, so he believed there was a chance it might not be true. No, he wanted to believe that.
If what he knew was correct, that thing was definitely the Wandering Swordsman.
“Just what kind of guy is he for you to make such a fuss?”
“The Wandering Swordsman. You could call him the swordsman who does not die.”
“Does not… die? Then how are we supposed to—”
“To be precise, he’s one who cannot be killed by long-range attacks. Unless it’s a close-range weapon like a sword,
you can never kill him.”
“Are you saying guns and missiles don’t work on him?”
“He takes damage, but regenerates almost immediately. It only gets on his nerves.”
“What, did he get ganged up on by gunslingers in a past life or something?”
“First, let’s try to resolve this peacefully. We should at least hear what he wants.”
There was little to gain from attacking an opponent they couldn’t kill.
If, by any chance, he decided to make this place his target, they had no means of stopping him.
Helicopters, tanks, whatever—they would all become meaningless.
The fact that he was not unconditionally aggressive toward humans.
They had to trust in that one point and negotiate with him.
+++
“Do you intend to fight?”
He had merely looked at the armed personnel standing there.
But that gaze alone was enough to disarm them.
A black fedora.
A thin vest and a long coat draped over him.
A greatsword slung across his back.
An oddly large number of dragon designs engraved on his clothes.
He must have fought humans before and understood that guns were troublesome weapons, yet he walked forward this defenselessly.
There was no one who could ignore such a sight.
“How dull.”
The personnel simply hoped this situation would end.
Then, footsteps rang out, breaking the silence.
“Looks like conversation will go more smoothly with that side.”
Seeing the two men striding toward him, he crossed his arms and began observing them closely.
A small number emerging from a larger group.
Clearly, they were the leaders here.
“Good to meet you. I’m Chester, director of Area 469.”
“I’m his adjutant. Don’t mind me.”
“The Wandering Swordsman. As for a name, I don’t really have one.”
“Well then, I’m sure we’re both busy. Let’s get to the point. You must have a reason for coming all the way here,
right?”
“I like that you’re quick to talk. That’s right. I sensed the aura of a strong one here, and I found myself wanting
to cross blades with him.”
The director found himself in a difficult position.
It was true that a powerful Unknown was isolated here.
However, some swordsman had shown up demanding they release that entity because he wanted to fight someone strong.
It was an exceedingly troublesome problem.
“The ones locked up here are mostly those that have shown aggression toward humans.
We’re not in a position to release guys like that so easily.”
“I’ve lost interest in cutting down dolls. I was never particularly fond of it from the start.”
The Wandering Swordsman’s gaze turned toward the personnel.
They had guessed he wasn’t the type to cut people down for fun, but if they left him like this,
there was still more than enough chance he might touch the personnel. It was an awkward situation.
“Director, let’s just release the scrap-metal doll.”
“You want to let that thing loose?”
“You saw him compare people to dolls. If we drag this out any longer,
it’s only a matter of time before he turns this place into a wasteland.”
“Are you worried I won’t be able to subdue it?”
Had he heard the conversation between the director and the adjutant?
The Wandering Swordsman drew his sword and raised it high.
A greatsword as tall as a person.
The image of a dragon etched in black lines.
Its appearance seemed to radiate tremendous pressure.
It was a greatsword that looked capable of cleaving any enemy in two in a single stroke.
“There was only one strong aura I sensed here. In other words, if it isn’t that one, then all the rest are things
I can handle myself.”
“Hah… Would you wait a moment? We need time to collect our thoughts as well.”
“Do as you like. I’ll wait at the center of the island.”
The Wandering Swordsman turned his back and began heading toward the center of the island.
Someone was burning up inside, but he had no way of knowing that, nor did he care.
“This is seriously driving me insane. Is this really right?”
“Let’s just give him what he wants. It’s not like we have any better options.”
“Yeah, well. I guess that would be best.”
He felt something like déjà vu, but decided not to pay it any mind.
They had to deal with the urgent problem right in front of them.
+++
What the hell.
I started getting an incredibly ominous feeling.
If I had to explain what kind of feeling it was, it was like I was about to be taken out of this isolation room
and forced to face and fight some absurdly strong bastard.
Nah, no way.
There was no way something like that would happen to me. Yeah, of course not.
At least, that was what I thought.
Until countless personnel came pouring in before me.
“Eh.”
“Let’s take him.”
No, fuck.
You’re suddenly coming in without saying a word, and where the hell are you taking me?
Right? I’m misunderstanding this, right? This is a hidden camera prank or something, right??
Please, don’t do this to me!!
My near-scream was buried before long, and with the personnel pushing me from behind,
I was forced to breathe the outside air.
+++
I’m going to curse them.
I can’t live while being treated this cruelly.
I can’t live like this anymore! As if suppressing my freedom weren’t enough, they dared to mess with me
when I was sitting still, and I’ll make sure they pay for it.
That was what I thought, but I had no real intention of taking revenge on them. Still, while I had handled the Iron Insect and the Gate
fairly smoothly, there was no guarantee another entity would be just as easy.
By human standards, both of them were probably on the tough side, yet I’d caught them without much effort.
If anything, it was more likely that stronger guys were scattered everywhere, not weaker ones.
Considering they had personally come to fetch me like this, it had to be either an entity even they found difficult to capture
or one that couldn’t be isolated due to certain conditions.
It can communicate, at least, right?
If possible, I’d like it to be humanoid. Dealing with beings that looked like monsters
didn’t particularly appeal to me.
Well, to be honest, just looking in the mirror showed me a blatantly hideous figure, so what did it matter?
‘Wow, he looks dangerous no matter how you look at him.’
Armed personnel with firearms were afraid of a guy holding a sword?
That was no ordinary sign. No matter how slow a gunman was, I’d never once seen a scene
where he got sliced up by a swordsman.
If those personnel had meekly complied with that guy’s demands, then the picture was clear.
He must have some ridiculous ability.
As if sensing my approach, the swordsman turned around and began looking this way.
Then, as though he had been waiting, he started walking toward me.
“I wasn’t certain, but seeing you in person makes it clear. You are strong.”
“So, why exactly did you want to see me?”
“When two strong individuals face each other, surely you know what must be done.”
“I’m not sure I do?”
“You look like you know, but you’re trying to avoid it.”
Bastard.
This is why I hate sharp bastards.
It didn’t seem like this was a situation I could just gloss over. That guy was dead set
on trying to fight me.
“I am the Wandering Swordsman. The name itself says everything.”
“Scrap-Metal Doll. I don’t really have a name either.”
“We’re in similar circumstances, then.”
It seemed he didn’t have the ability to discern what was inside this body.
I should call that fortunate, right?
“Are you ready?”
“How gentlemanly.”
The Wandering Swordsman drew his sword and pointed its tip at me, and as if responding, the cocoon pulled tentacles from my back
and began threatening him.
“It’s been a long time since my heart raced like this, from a battle with a strong one.”
When the swordsman swung his blade, sword energy of tremendous force came rushing toward me,
as if a white dragon were charging in.
Of course, there was distance between us, so I had enough time to dodge, but the ground split open
along the direction the sword energy had flown, allowing me to gauge its power.
‘Holy shit, if this were a game, that would be an ultimate, right? Fuck, if that’s his basic attack, the developers need to be rounded up and hanged as a group right now! The balance is completely fucked!’
If I hadn’t dodged, I might have been split in half like that ground and died.
Even if not in half, I would have taken a pretty big shock.
In this situation, the cocoon wasn’t in a position to use its power. It couldn’t block the sword energy,
and to deal any meaningful damage to the swordsman, too many conditions had to be met.
If I were to assume there was any situation where I could win, it would be by placing my hopes
on our scythe friend who had helped me during the Gate.
“What’s wrong? Are you hesitating?”
Ha.
As if a monster with a whole body made of metal and a bear that dragged me into another dimension weren’t enough,
now there was a swordsman who spewed dragon-shaped sword energy every time he swung his blade.
Looking at the enemy lineup, my heart swelled with awe.
First, I had to win.
But I couldn’t think of any suitable method.
“You got any good ideas?”
Rustle.
“Hey, hey, if you don’t know, then who does, you bastard!”
Rustle, rustle.
“Yeah, sure, aren’t you impressive. Living off someone else and all.”
Rustle.
“You’ll at least try to look? Now we’re finally communicating.”
For now, let’s leave it to the cocoon.
Its own life was on the line, so it wasn’t the kind of guy who would only spout nonsense.