Antagonist Protection Service

For a moment, the world had turned into a blank canvas.

Blank and utterly silenced except for one deafening screech, a treacherous sound I could only describe as an exclamation from the world itself.

Once those consequences of the initial impact subsided, and the light that was blown away had returned to reveal the true extent of the damage caused, my eyes also opened.

"..."

Despite my lips subtly parting, no sound exited them.

Only, a reflection of what I felt impulsed to say naturally echoed in my head.

'...Wow.'

Turning my head to the left, what I saw confused me.

'Huh? Snow?'

Turning then to the right, I realised why that was.

'Oh. I'm on the ground...'

Somehow, I ended up on my back, perhaps due to the attack's tremendous recoil.

Well, it didn't matter. Mustering my strength, which felt strangely subdued, I pushed against the floor, which had turned strangely soft―Was that because it had been turned to the snow I saw?

However, even after I waited a few seconds, I still was not standing as I had expected.

'...I can't move.'

It wasn't just a matter of exhausted strength, but in fact a consequence of having pushed my body to its limit, it appeared. Of course, my divine and magic energy reserves were both completely depleted too.

Was that why I could not move even my tongue or vocal cords to make a noise?

In that case, it probably meant I'd be fine after recovering enough energy to strengthen myself sufficiently to endure the lingering recoil.

Fortunately, I could at least tilt my head one way or the other until then, and though I wasn't absolutely confident in the fact I would remain safe in this condition, I could rest easy that my attack would have certainly wiped out any nearby threats, whether I recognised their presence or not.

Looking back to the sky, I belatedly realised it was maintaining its white transformation.

As I laid still and gazed up, briefly wondering how that was, a faint, white particle drifted slowly down.

'Oh, did I make it snow?'

Then, it landed softly on my cheek.

Tzzt-!

"...!"

Though I couldn't exclaim, my mouth opened by itself for a silent scream, the single particle of snow abruptly bursting into miniature black sparks upon contact with my skin, leaving behind a sharp ache and a tingling sensation.

'What the hell was that? Wait, my magic...'

Just as I felt there was something weird about the recovering magic energy in the place the snow had impacted, something appeared before me.

[The Road of Times Buried]

'Ah. I guess I did manage to clear out all of the respawn points in the area...'

That was a relief. Not just for the fact that he shouldn't be able to make it back here before I recover, either.

'Anyway... I guess I need to be careful about using so much energy at once in the future.'

Well, limit testing like that was part of the reason I did it in the first place. The other reason was because I simply thought it would require that much force to take out the entire cathedral at once.

[Enki, you should have warned me first before doing something reckless like that!]

Unsurprisingly, the Librarian voiced her own concern about it.

Although she tried to muster a harsh tone, with her high-pitched voice that was naturally cheerful, it only made it sound cute... I couldn't imagine the same would be true if it were Leinth saying it, though.

'Hey. You saw how strong it was even before it evolved with just divine energy. I didn't think there'd be any real danger.'

That's why, I didn't think there was any need to be so worried about it.

[Nevertheless! You have to remember, your body is still physically weak, Enki! You can't handle that much body strengthening at once! If you do it too much, you could even sustain permanent damage!]

'...What, really?'

――At least, until she said that.

'Permanent damage...?'

Now that I thought about it, she wasn't wrong. I never checked my General Magic Ability or Spiritual Synergism after acquiring Heart of a Witch, but last I recall they were definitely nothing to scoff at.

On the other hand, from the very beginning, my General Physical Ability had only ever increased from Poor to Mediocre, and remained at that level since.

Like the Librarian just said, I only ever used magic strengthening, and more recently divine strengthening, to enhance my physical ability.

In fact, because I was so satisfied with the results of that, I had even neglected to do basic physical training in the past months... Although, I think I had a right to be impressed with myself.

Honestly, I haven't encountered a real 5-star enemy yet even in this Contract, but wasn't a display like this worthy of that title?

'Anyway... So, is that the next thing I need to do?'

[Certainly! You must! It's imperative, in fact!]

'Okay, okay, I get it. Let's do that when I get back.'

[Roger~!]

After that, the Librarian's voice stopped coming through.

Truthfully, I did faintly recall some items in the Shop mentioning something about body strengthening. The Librarian herself also recommended them once, but I was too weak to handle it at the time.

Because of that, it wasn't like I had no idea what to do... But still, it was tiring, the constant worry about my lacking strength all the damn time.

If I could sigh at that moment, I would. There really was no resting for even a second.

'Seriously...'

Tzzt-!

"Gh."

As if waiting to ambush me, another particle of snow fell on my face, erupting into black sparks. Since earlier, it looked like I had already recovered enough to instinctively groan at the shock.

"Tsk."

Attempting to look past it, I closed my eyes and waited to recover.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...Who's there?"

Abruptly asking that, I opened my eyes to see what appeared to be a woman standing beside me looking down.

Actually, I had felt her presence for a while now, but seeing as she didn't seem hostile, I ignored it.

Since she wore a full cloak that disguised her body even down to her toes, as well as a hood that covered half of her face and a glove on only one hand, the only way I could judge that gender was from the feminine visible side of her face and the protruded chest, which seemed specifically emphasized from this angle.

For the first time, I think I may have found someone who was more covered up than myself. I wasn't wearing the Villain's Vizard at this time, after all.

A few seconds after I asked, she spoke.

"You can't move, can you?"

"..."

Not knowing how to answer, she ended up moving before I responded―elegantly lowering to both knees, she reached out and lifted my torso to sit me up.

"Does this help?"

"...It's good enough. Thanks."

The atmosphere still felt a little awkward, particularly because I couldn't move my body at all below my neck, but I couldn't deny that sitting like this felt better.

"Were you the one on the roof earlier?"

Peering at her face, I asked that. She was silent only briefly.

"That is so. It is my duty to watch over the Veiled Lamb."

'"Veiled Lamb"?'

"And you are...?"

"Apologies."

Nodding once, she lowered her head and brought her hands to the hood of her cloak, slowly bringing it down to reveal the top of her head.

'Hm...?'

Strangely, her hair was blonde on one half and dark grey on the other, as if dyed, and I could sense an odd sort of magic presence emanating from it.

Thereafter, she raised her head, revealing her full face.

"..."

"I am the Veil's Gravetender."

The side that was hidden―the same side as the abnormal hair―was still covered with worn bandages, including the eye, but in between the few narrow gaps, severe discoloration of her skin was scarcely visible.

Glimpsing that, visions of the past flashed by.

'It's like the infection of that woman in the apocalypse...'

Needless to say, I knew it couldn't have possibly been the same disease, but the similarity was striking; ashen, rubbery flesh that impacted a considerable portion of the body... In this person's case, it seemed to be that one whole half of her body was infected.

I wasn't sure if she wanted me to address it or not, so in the end I just introduced myself simply.

"...Enki. And by 'Veiled Lamb', do you mean...?"

"The one whose flesh and blood shall sew shut the rift in the veil of this world."

'Right.'

I hadn't the opportunity to play the original game, but it was pretty clear she was referencing the Protagonist.

Considering the name of the boss I possessed at the start was called 'Envoy From Beyond the Veil' during his second phase, it would make sense if the Protagonist's goal was to prevent such beings from crossing that veil.

'In that case, I probably shouldn't tell her that I need that person dead...'

"You are targeting the Veiled Lamb's life, correct?"

"..."

I had only just thought to keep it quiet, but wasn't that too fast?