NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17.1
Stage 1-17. Nice Timing
A bar filled with corpses.
The only survivor is… Aliban?
Everyone else froze to death due to Mashiro’s magic.
“Ouga-kun, how was my magic?”
This is crazy!
Why is she so calm and collected? Is this really her first battle?
Was I stupid to expect her cheerful and kind nature would mean she’d find a way to avoid killing?
“It was more than I imagined… but next time, think about the clean-up. We can’t just leave this many bodies lying around, and now the bar is unusable. This won’t do.”
“Clean-up… collateral damage… I’ll make sure to leave nothing behind next time… Got it!”
Good, Mashiro is a smart one.
Hopefully, she’ll try to avoid leaving bodies next time.
One of the objectives was to gauge Mashiro’s strength, and now that’s clear.
I considered her part of my harem, but she can also be counted as real combat power.
“Well done, Ouga-sama.”
Alice, who wasn’t part of the fight, hands me a towel.
“It wasn’t much of a workout.”
“Considering your abilities, Ouga-sama, that’s no surprise. Now, Ouga-sama, shall I behead this one?”
“—Wait.”
“As you wish.”
The sword aimed at the fallen Aliban stops.
She’s terrifying! Why would she act before I gave permission?!
Everyone else is already dead, so don’t ruin my future business opportunities by killing this guy.
“I still have plenty to ask him, and plenty I want him to do.”
“Things you want to ask?”
“This.”
I pick up a small vial from the floor.
“He called it a Doping Elixir. He lost to me because he’s naturally weak, but there’s no doubt his strength was boosted.”
I can attest to its effectiveness, having been on the receiving end.
Alice understands this and stares at the vial intensely.
“From the way he spoke, it seems this is being traded in the underworld. It’s already out there.”
“More people will abuse it soon… or perhaps they already have.”
“Exactly. This guy is a valuable source of information.”
If we can find the source and the manufacturing location, we could make a killing.
A drug that causes such rapid physical changes must be a failed experiment for something else.
But even so, if it works, I might be able to improve it with my genius mind and sell it as a combat drug for battles with the demons.
For that bright future, I have to keep this guy close.
Besides, I’ve been needing another pawn who can move freely outside.
“I’ve always believed in giving people a chance at redemption. That’s what kyu… ‘salvation and judgment’ is all about, right?”
‘Saving and judgment’? So embarrassing!
This is going straight to my cringeworthy moments list, but I know Alice will buy it.
See? Look at that beaming smile.
“As expected of Ouga-sama. It’s an honor to serve you.”
“Yes, you can boast about it for life. I’ll be a master you can be proud of.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Wow…! Both of you are so cool!”
Mashiro’s applause echoes through the battered bar, clearly impressed by our theatrical exchange.
Well, there’s no reason to stay here anymore.
I tie up Aliban so he can’t move and quietly head back to the orphanage.
“Listen, don’t wake her up. Be quiet.”
They both nod at my warning.
The mission to secure the orphanage is complete.
But there’s one more thing… I haven’t come up with an answer to Mio’s question from before I left.
So, I’ll gamble that she’s still asleep and get out of here quickly!
With a silent prayer, I slowly open the front door.
“Welcome back, Vellet-sama.”
Of course, she’s awake…
I clutch my head in despair at this worst-case scenario.
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