Antagonist Protection Service

Hit with a heavy impact from behind, the Protagonist's body leaned forward, carrying the momentum from his sprint and falling a few feet more before hitting the ground.

Almost immediately, those same words appeared before me.

[You Died]

However, his body did not turn to mist as it had done before.

'...Is he really dead?'

Watching his corpse for a few seconds longer with nothing happening, I still couldn't be sure everything was truly over.

At least, not until the Librarian spoke.

[The Protagonist, 'Him, the Chosen One', has been dispatched!]

[Contract complete! Congratulations, Enki~!]

"..."

"You've done it."

At the same time as the Librarian's confirmation, the Gravetender also emerged from the Memorial Room behind me.

'She didn't see it.'

Like the Librarian, could she also sense that the Protagonist was really gone? Considering her role, I guess it would make sense.

She stepped forward until standing adjacent to myself; glancing at her, she seemed to be gazing upon the Streets of Young with a hint of something wistful in her one visible eye.

"I pray our Veil be mended, else the Scourge shall be ceaseless in bringing but all to ruin."

"...If this didn't happen, everything would've come to a similar end sooner or later anyway."

Didn't Leinth say that she was only able to escape the collapse of her world thanks to the power of World Stability? Considering that, it was objectively better for the Protagonist to die and the world to end by the hands of the Antagonist, if you had to choose.

At least then there would be some people who could escape to other dimensions or worlds through magic... Just like those two.

'Speaking of which... I think it's about time to finally deal with that problem.'

I had just now cleared a Contract of 5-star Difficulty. It felt... undeniably wrong, somehow, but regardless, the fact it had happened was true.

"Then, I'll be going. Good luck."

Facing her fully, I wasn't sure what to say, so I thought to leave as soon as possible. There probably wasn't going to be anything else for me here either way.

"To you as well, Outsider."

Nodding back to her, I told the Librarian.

'You can take me back now.'

[Certainly, yessir~!]

Closing my eyes briefly for the transportation, I opened them after a few seconds to find myself back in the Library.

'That worked too.'

Some part of me expected it not to work for some reason, and then I'd be stuck having to figure out another way to return, but fortunately, that didn't appear to be the case.

I was only there for a few days.

'Well, whatever. It's over now.'

"Librarian, can you find what we were talking about before? The thing that will enhance my base physical ability."

"Certainly! Give me twooo seconds!"

"Thanks."

That was that sorted. In the meantime, I decided to check out the usual changes.

Item - [Villainous Blade]

Unleash the power of a true villain with this malevolent blade.

*Possesses Evil properties

*Possesses Anti-Protagonist properties

*Possesses Anti-Holy properties

(This weapon grows with each Protagonist Dispatched)

Protagonists Dispatched Since Acquisition : 10

*Form Change

*Self-Cleansing

*Soulbound

*Indestructible

*Vampirism

*Magic Conductivity

Ego Item - Vacant Spirit Slot

Grade : Unique

"...Hm? Are there two?"

Rather than the usual singular addition, I noticed two things. Firstly, for some reason, the Blade appears to have gained properties of Anti-Holy nature; even though it certainly fit thematically, I didn't understand why it wasn't there from the beginning, and instead only acquired belatedly.

"Librarian?"

Looking up from the window, I spotted her behind the desk rummaging through something.

"Ah?! Certainly! Some items have hidden 'potential' that is unlocked upon meeting certain requirements! Um, that's not a Library Shop-specific thing, and in fact is the same reason why your Holy Sword has changed so much!"

Hearing that explanation, it suddenly made a bit more sense.

"I see. Then, could it be because it's finally reached ten 'Protagonist's Dispatched'...?"

"Probably! The Holy property is antithetical to Evil, after all!"

"Really now..."

Looking back to the Item window, I moved to the second noted change, which was also the thing I judged must have been the standard upgrade―that is, the Villainous Blade had obtained a Vacant Spirit Slot.

My initial reaction was disappointment.

"That one feels kinda useless. I never even talk to the Divine Sword's spirit..."

In fact, I forgot his name, but I didn't even know if that one was still there or not. The sword had evolved so many times I wouldn't be surprised if it was erased or something.

In the first place, do weapons having a spirit inside them actually do anything?

'Oh, that reminds me.'

I did need to check it out anyway, didn't I?

Item - [Divine Sword of the Winter Moon's Demon]

A paradoxical Holy Sword possessed by the Demon of the Winter Moon.

Infused with both the divine energy of the Winter Moon and the demonic energy of the juvenile Demon King, amalgamated into one through his magically-infused demonic ichor, this blade has somehow metamorphosed into the impossible.

Two opposing forces in one vessel is a truly heretical act, and one only a true demon could perform, albeit a not-villainous one. As such, the Divine Sword is yet Holy, enforcing good, and yet Corrupted, rejecting magic.

Thus shall its message be spread far and wide.

That the Demon King has corrupted our callous, all-embracing Winter.

*Possesses Divine properties

*Possesses Holy properties

*Possesses Demonic properties

*Possesses Anti-Demon properties

*Possesses Anti-Evil properties

*Possesses Anti-Divine properties

*Anti-magic

*Indestructible

*Soulbound

*Magic Conductivity

*Divine Conductivity

*Fractured Thule

*Fallen Moonlight

*Veil of the Demonic Winter Moon

Ego Item - Vacant Spirit Slot

(This weapon allows dual enhancement by both Demonic and Divine forces)

Grade : Unique Legendary

"...Oh wow."

Suddenly, there was a lot to take in. I had ignored everything when I used it in the cathedral a while ago, but now that I'm looking at it again... It really was a lot, wasn't it?

Divine, Holy, and Demonic properties all in one, something even the item description says shouldn't be possible. And then, everything they had a bonus against in those 'Anti-' properties.

And that was hardly the start of it.

Anti-magic, Magic Conductivity, Divine Conductivity, one evolved Item Skill, two entirely new Item Skills... I wasn't sure how those first two meshed together, but well, it wasn't the only contradiction present, so I guess it was reasonable?

'Maybe because my magic energy is corrupted, so it counts differently...?'

In that case, was this evolution only made possible because my magic energy was corrupted before mixing with the divine energy?

I don't know, but I most definitely would not complain.

Finally, like I thought, the Spirit Slot had been opened up once again. At least I could rest easy seeing that once the sword had been awakened once, it didn't need to keep the same spirit within it to stay awakened; perhaps because it had already evolved prior to that.

Well, having two vacant slots and not a single spirit to put in either of them felt incredibly dissatisfying―Even if there was nothing evidently useful to get out of it.

"So much for Spiritual Synergism... Wait."

Rather, wasn't there one very obvious spirit I knew?

'Would that work...?'

Glancing at the Librarian, still apparently searching for something, I walked over to the Library's singular door.

'I have more than enough Authority now, right...? Shouldn't be a problem.'

Opening it up, I entered the Illusory Spirit's Chamber.

Leinth's body was still floating in that giant crystal, the Heart of the Library, but compared to the last time I was here, the pressure I felt emanating from it was barely noticeable. It reminded me again how much I had grown since then.

However, it was also because of that growth that I could now tell just how incredible that magic crystal was... Sort of. To be precise, the magic energy emanating from it was undoubtedly more tremendous than anything I've personally seen, but even then, it felt like there was something far greater underlying it―Something profound I couldn't fully grasp.

'I guess... That's probably World Stability.'

"..."

A brief time passed before I felt ready to approach the Heart. When I eventually did, just as the last time, I reached out to place my hand on it.

Expecting a transformation similar to back then, I waited, but――

[―Enki.]

Instead, a voice penetrated my mind.

"Hello? Why are you speaking to me like this now? Can you not transform--"

[There isn't much time.]

Leinth Eupraxia's firm voice.

[A tremendous force is congregating on Earth. Countless Awakened are rallying to storm and clear the Augury Tower in the name of avenging a supposed "Fallen Hero", purposefully defying the warning of the recently emerged "Demon King". Simultaneously, Awakened troops by the order of your draconic huntsman have been stationed to encircle the area in which your magic energy signals were last located.]

"...What?"

Before I realised it, there was a whole lot of nonsense being spouted.