A day had passed since the encounter with Otuko.
"...huh?"
Casually strolling around the mansion, I glimpsed Odium through the window. She sat alone by the fountain, engrossed in a book.
"I should go talk to her and apologize," I thought, exhaling a sigh.
Checking that no one was around, I opted for a quick descent through the window, utilizing my limited knowledge of Wind Magic to soften the fall and glide through the air. She noticed the shadow growing beneath her and glanced up.
Our eyes met, and she quickly averted hers, clearly still embarrassed about the events of the previous night.
"Good evening~"
Touching down, I adjusted my clothes and brushed off some dust from my shoulder. She deliberately ignored my greeting, hiding her face in the book.
Sighing, I approached her and feigned interest, "You read books?"
Recalling that Solis had mentioned Odium's fondness for romance novels, I took a glance at the book she held. "What is it about?" I inquired, curious about the genre of the novel.
"I—It's... It's romance!" Stuttering, she lifted the book, shielding her face and revealing the cover.
...I think I've seen that book before, I mused, recollecting the time I entered the city.
The plot is interesting, but the writer made it really shitty, to be frank.
It's a cheap knock-off version of romeo and juliet, but with a twist of their future selves travelling back to time to stop them from getting married.... It's just messed up with full of plot holes.
"...Do you like that story much?" Returning to reality, I refocused on Odium.
"Yeah... It was good." Her voice dropped as she spoke.
...I have an idea.
Just then, I sensed something click inside my mind, like a lightbulb illuminating.
"Odium, do you want to read a story with an interesting plot? It's not romance, but I'm sure you'll like it."
"Hmm...?" She lifted her head, gazing into my eyes, then nodded cutely.
This story is not originally mine... Maybe? It just appeared in my dream one day. In my dream, I met a guy in black with a weird creature floating around his side. He narrated the story to me, and it was quite captivating. I started jotting down everything I could recall as soon as I woke up.
However, I never got around to sharing it online.
Well... I got transmigrated here before I could do so.
With a playful grin, I said to her, "Well, I've always wanted to try writing a certain story. It's about a guy who avidly reads a specific novel for ten years as a hobby, and then that novel unexpectedly becomes true in real life. There, he encounters the protagonist who throws him off a bridge."
When I opened my eyes to gauge her reaction, she was gleaming with interest, listening attentively.
"...Do you want to read it?"
For the first time, I witnessed her radiant smile. I involuntarily rolled my eyes to the side before clearing my throat.
"Hmm! Yes, Contractor!" She declared, nodding enthusiastically.
"Well then, it's called... Omni... Omniscience, or something? I forgot what the title is, sorry." I scratched my cheeks and lowered my head apologetically, "Anyway, I'll begin writing down Chapter 1 later after I'm done with my tasks... I'll let you read it tomorrow."
Her expression remained bright as she clutched my hem, looking at me with a cute smile. "Thank you, Contractor!"
"No problem..."
I resisted the urge to pat her head, and began scratching my cheeks. Now that I think about it, it's time for me to increase her favorability level to me.
...She's going to be useful in the near future.
"Nonetheless, I'm going to the city to find our main source of income... Perhaps, do you want to come?" I smiled gently.
Odium thought for a bit before shaking her head apologetically, saying, "I'm sorry... Reaper and I will be heading out for a mission later."
"Oh ho? If it's fine, can you tell me what the mission is about?"
"... Apologies, but I can't disclose any confidential information, even if you are our Contractor, Sponsor, or Patron." She answered, lowering her head slightly... They're really serious when it comes to work, huh.
"Haha... That's my bad. I should be the one to apologize for asking such a question with an obvious answer."
"...huh?"
"It must be related to protection, isn't it? Your mission request is about protecting someone important."
"...How did you know? It was supposed to be disclosed information... I know that Reaper won't tell you anything, but... Are you also working with—"
As she spoke, I could see her face becoming paler and paler. Sweat began to form on her forehead as she clutched the book she was holding tightly.
Although I noticed this, I remained impassive and answered, "As to how I managed to figure out something about your mission, considering how Reaper works mainly on tanking, and you work mainly on assassinating or lookout. And with both of you combined, Reaper would be the bodyguard, while you look for the spy."
"...Is that not right?"
She was probably thinking that I was somehow related to the Demoness who put a curse on their Leader using a contract. If someone were to find out that I know about it, she would have her head fall off, which would become a huge problem.
Since telling her that I do know something about it won't bring many benefits, I better hide it before she finds out... Plus, if she were to find out now, I won't be able to execute my plan that I had been doing for the past month.
"I see... That's right, there's no way you would be related to her..." Seeing how much she looked worried, my guess is probably correct.
"What do you mean related to 'her'...? Who's her, anyway?"
She flinched upon hearing my question. She waved her hands in a gesture, "I—It's nothing...! I'm just... Speaking... Yeah! I'm just speaking to myself!"
While I observed her flustered expression, I suddenly remembered something and took out a mirror. "Take this," I said, handing the mirror to her.
Confused, she cocked her head to the side and hesitantly took the mirror. "...What is this?"
"It's an artifact. You'll understand its use someday... I'm just giving it to you since it can save you from the worst-case scenario."
"...huh? Why...?"
She looked at me, her eyes shaking as if asking, "Why would you give something this important to me?"
I didn't answer her question and merely shrugged. "It will only work if something were to happen to you. If you see the crystal designed above the mirror shattered, then it's already broken. You can't use it anymore."
No matter how useful the artifact I was giving her, if she were to die someday by accident, it would be really problematic on my side.
As I turned around, I stretched my arms up and cracked my knuckles in the air.
Creak—!
"...Contractor."
Alright, I wonder what she wants now?
As I slowly turned around, I noticed a pistol pointing towards my face... Oh, so she did have another weapon except for a rifle. Convenient.
"...What are you pointing at me for?"
She took in some air before responding.
"Who are you?"
***
(Odium POV)
"Who are you?"
...What am I doing?
I wasn't sure myself.
A surge of uncertainty filled my thoughts as I confronted the man before me.
My body instinctively moved in that moment. I'm not entirely sure why, but I couldn't help but question the man in front of me.
Contractor... He's nothing but a weird person. I don't know how to describe it much in words, it's as if he viewed us as characters in some grand narrative... like how readers observing figures in a story.
What is he...?
No... What does he know about us?
His observational skills were disconcerting, delving into details about our group within a short time. He possessed information about the boss, adding another layer of mystery.
Honestly speaking, despite being introverted when it comes to other people, that doesn't change the fact that I'm the oldest.
...As the eldest in the group, it was my duty to protect everyone.
"If you shoot me, won't your Leader die?"
His words struck a nerve. Although he's not entirely wrong, how can he even be confident that I won't shoot his other body parts?
...It doesn't have to be his head, isn't it?
Without betraying my cold exterior, I countered with another question, "How can you be sure about that?"
His calm demeanor remained unchanged even in the face of potential harm. How can he look so calm even in front of his death door?
...It was as if none of this ever bothers him.
Suddenly, I heard him chuckle before shaking his head lightly.
"Do you want to die?"
At that moment, the world around us seemed to slow down. Heart pounding, I faced Contractor, feeling a sudden chill in the air. A sharp invisible slash went through my arm.
It was so fast that I could barely register it.
Splurt—!
"Gah—!!?"
The realization hit me; my right arm had been cut, the pain searing through me, causing me to take a few step back.
It hurts.
This was the first time I got cut. In all my missions, no one had managed to land a scratch until now.
Battling the pain, I attempted to staunch the bleeding, but the blood flowed relentlessly.
As I glanced back at Contractor, a strange smile adorned his face. Yet, that wasn't what drawn my attention.
...What in the world is that monster?
Behind him, adorned with a white crown and silver eyes, the creature looked at me, seemingly disinterested.
[There won't be next time.]
Click-!
...
..
.
Click—!
"If you shoot me, won't your Leader die?"
"...Huh?"
My focus returned to him, and a shiver ran down my spine. Words escaped me, a strange sense of déjà vu enveloping me.
Reality snapped back, and I involuntarily dropped the gun, taking a step back.
My arm... It was unharmed, as if the injury never occurred.
Returning my gaze to him, he wore the same unsettling smile.
...What was that? That creature... Ugh, what creature?
Why can't I remember it?
Why am I scared?
Why...? Just why?
"I'm sorry!"
Driven by an inexplicable force, I retrieved the gun, stowing it away in a hidden pocket inside my coat. Turning away, I sprinted, ignoring Contractor's confused calls. "What did I even do...?" His voice faded as I distanced myself.
On my way back to the mansion, I realized I left my book behind... I could always retrieve it later.
Crack—!
A sudden noise halted me, drawing my attention to the artifact in my hand.
The mirror he gave me...
Although the crystal remained untouched, the mirror had split perfectly in half, my reflection divided into two.