Antagonist Protection Service

Before I even realised it, my entire purpose here had been exposed.

Targeting the Veiled Lamb's life...

"...Would that be a problem for you?"

"..."

This strange woman, who called herself the 'Veil's Gravetender', remained silent for a moment, appearing to take that time to consider something carefully.

Currently, I couldn't even move my body, let alone attack. If she said 'yes' and killed me right here, there wasn't anything I would be able to do to resist.

She didn't carry herself in a hostile manner, and all of my senses told me she was safe, but I only felt relief when she answered.

"―I suppose not. Under the condition that the Lamb's body still be used to repair the veil's rift"

'That... should be doable?'

If the Antagonist was also "From Beyond the Veil", that didn't necessarily mean repairing the veil itself would kill them, of course. It simply meant they wouldn't be able to cross over to this world... Which in fact might be an even better outcome.

Then, could the Protagonist be killed and his body still be used for that purpose?

"I can work with that. I only need him to stay dead. What happens after that isn't any of my concern."

"Then we come to an accord."

Nodding once, the Gravetender reached her left hand, prompting a handshake. Whether it was because the right was painful, or simply because she was being polite, it seemed she didn't want me making contact with her infected side for whatever reason.

However, I only stared awkwardly at her outstretched appendage.

"Uh. I still can't move my body well, so..."

"...Right you are."

Blinking once, she slowly retracted her hand and glanced away as though embarrassed.

'Haha.'

At first, I was filled with dread about challenging a 5-Star Contract for the first time, but wasn't it actually kind of easy?

If I thought about the criteria that determined it, I suppose it was a result of the Protagonist possessing a literal infinite amount of lives, primarily, in addition to his immense combat skill, though he was so weak that it didn't even matter; particularly in terms of speed and defence.

'It's just taking a while, but that's it.'

And even that shouldn't be as much of a problem now that I have an ally.

If this woman was the NPC that had the role of supporting the Protagonist from the beginning like I thought, then she should know where all of his respawn points are, right?

It's only a matter of time.

❖─────★★★★★─────❖

With the help of the Gravetender as a lookout, I was able to recover energy safely.

She didn't utter a word for the rest of the time I spent resting, but it wasn't too awkward.

It didn't take nearly as long as I predicted anyway, primarily thanks to my heart producing both energies at once. Even if the quantities weren't tremendous, continuous and completely automatic recovery was incredibly efficient.

Once enough of each was recovered to strengthen my whole body again, I was able to move, albeit stiffly, but that would improve with time.

The more I recovered, the greater the body strengthening, the easier it was to move.

The moment I reached that minimum requirement, we wasted no time―The Gravetender grasped my hand and closed her eyes, invoking a black fog to surround and swallow us. By the time it dissipated just a few seconds later, a wildly different environment was revealed.

"―As you requested; The Road of Times Buried."

Rather than an evaporated cathedral ground taken over by snow, a single, straight path stretched out, seemingly infinitely.

Like the sky before I used the Divine Sword's Skill, everything was pitch black except that path which, due to its transparency, felt strangely akin to glass; below it, the snowfield I created was visible, surrounded by the remaining black sludge and ruined parish.

"Thanks for the ride."

"It is merely to fulfil my duty... However, I do not sense the Veiled Lamb nearby? Are you certain this place is correct?"

Turning my head both ways, and then forwards and backwards, I finally faced her and nodded.

"He must have already moved on whilst I was recovering. It doesn't look like there are any enemies here, so he could have just ran right through."

"The Veiled Lamb has already purified this place."

"Right. Well, it doesn't matter if he's not here or not."

SMASH--!!

"――The first order of business is eradicating all of these things."

Slamming the Divine Sword roughly onto the Grave Cross sitting before us, it crumpled like paper even with my current lacking strength.

"Are there any more around here?"

"...There is one. At the beginning of the road."

"Can you take me there?"

Saying nothing, the Gravetender simply offered her hand again; taking it, we were swallowed again by dark fog.

As we waited the short time for us to be transported, she did not turn her head, but I heard her small voice from beside me.

"...I did not expect an outsider from beyond the Veil to stand by as the Veil is restored."

'She even knows that much? I guess, could you technically call me that...'

"It's not like I'm trying to trick you or anything. This world will end if that guy stays alive, so I'll kill him, and then I'll go home. Whether there's a Veil or not, it doesn't change anything."

'It's not like I even really know what that is anyway.'

By the time I finished saying all that, the fog dissipated.

SMASH--!!

'One more down.'

Turning around to see her already waiting with her hand out when I destroyed the Grave Cross, I opened my mouth again.

"As I said. When all of these are gone, I'll kill him, and you can keep whatever's left."

Taking her hand, I met her gaze, black fog beginning to surround us once more.

"...Those who remain shall be grateful."

With that being her only reply, we were again swallowed by the fog, transporting us.