NOVEL NEXT Chapter 52
Chapter 52. The Worst-Case Scenario
“Everyone, please follow me.”
I’m worried about Kashiwagi-san, who left earlier, but for now, I must prioritize the young ladies.
Accompanied by the guards, we move to the control room, the most secure location in the facility.
“Whoa, I have no idea what any of this is, but it’s amazing.”
“How much money did they pour into this place?”
“Enough that we’d never see that kind of cash in our lifetimes, that’s for sure.”
As we enter the control room, everyone starts voicing their impressions.
This room is the brain of every machine in the facility. It’s filled with equipment designed to operate them, and most people seeing it for the first time are awestruck by its scale.
While the others take in their surroundings, I begin operating the machinery to activate the facility.
A semi-transparent barrier soon appears, enveloping the facility. This barrier absorbs all forms of enemy attacks, not just physical ones. Even if an S-rank monster were to attack again, it would take time for them to breach it.
“Alright, now we just have to wait for reinforcements.”
According to the plan, we should receive contact soon.
Riiiing!
“Ah, perfect timing.”
It seems the reinforcements are calling. I press the call button on my smartphone and hold it to my ear.
“This is Igai. What’s your ETA—”
[Is this the Takamiya family’s butler? We’ve got a problem! We’re currently unable to reach you due to a barrier someone has set up!]
“Hmm? If it’s the facility’s barrier, I can grant clearance through the system. There shouldn’t be an issue.”
[No, it’s different! Check the outside immediately!]
Curious, I step out of the control room and look out the window.
What I see leaves me speechless.
“…What is this…?”
Four towering pillars of light stretch into the sky, encircling the facility. A thin, purplish membrane connects them, completely cutting us off from the outside world—or rather, making it impossible to escape from within.
[We’ll try to break through the barrier! It might take time, but hold on until then!]
The conversation barely registers. My trembling fingers end the call.
This shaking isn’t from fear. It’s anger—an overwhelming rage surging through my body.
“How far… how far will they go?!”
I slam my clenched fist into the wall.
Why must their freedom be threatened just because of their unique abilities?
The upper echelons targeting them, the researchers—all of them are insane.
WOOOON! WOOOON!
As I tremble with anger, an alarm suddenly blares throughout the facility.
“…They’re here, huh?”
I quickly make my way back to the control room.
“Hey, butler, what’s this alarm about?”
“It seems the enemy has arrived.”
“The enemy?! Is this place secure?!”
Iwatani-san’s concerns are valid, but I have no time to explain.
I immediately operate the panel to display the situation near the facility.
“This… doesn’t look good.”
“Wasn’t that thing defeated?!”
“It must’ve escaped when no one was looking… This really is the worst-case scenario.”
The screen shows three monsters destroying the town as they approach us.
One is the ogre-like creature we encountered on the highway. The other two are unfamiliar. One resembles a human, but half its body is overtaken by machinery. The other is entirely cloaked, making its appearance indiscernible.
The ogre sweeps away buildings with its fists. The half-mechanical creature manipulates steel beams to wreak havoc.
People flee in panic, running toward what is considered the safest place—this facility.
[Help us!]
[Someone call the rescue team!]
[There’s no way the rescue team can handle that! Not even the Special Ability Unit can!]
[Let us in, quickly!]
(This really is… the worst-case scenario.)
We can’t let this many people into the facility.
Forcing the barrier open would create vulnerabilities.
Looking closely, the monsters aren’t directly attacking people.
Their movements clearly indicate they know our weaknesses.
“Damn it!”
…There’s a traitor, no doubt about it.
And not just anyone—they must be someone who knows about this facility and Runa-sama’s abilities.
“…Igai. Are you alright?”
Noticing my unease, Haruka-sama gently wraps her hand around mine.
“…Yes, I’m fine. Please don’t leave this room, Haruka-sama.”
I can’t afford to show weakness now.
Closing the panel’s display, I exit the control room.
I make sure to etch the sight of the young ladies into my memory before I leave.
“You’re going?”
Iwatani-san leans against the wall outside, watching me.
“Yes. Please look after the young ladies.”
“Hey, you’re not planning to die, are you?”
“Of course not.”
I smile as usual.
Iwatani-san frowns slightly at my response and sighs.
“I’ll go with you.”
“What?! Don’t you have something important to protect?! You can’t—”
“You’re not planning to die, right?”
“Th-that’s true, but…”
“Then it’s fine. Two are better than one. Besides, we need to hurry before there are casualties.”
“Ugh. Fine! But if you die, don’t blame me!”
Though reluctant, I prioritize saving lives.
If we survive, I’ll owe Iwatani-san a debt I can never repay. The thought makes me smile, just a little.
◇
When I step out of the facility, I can see a large crowd gathered in front of the barrier.
Just beyond that, monsters are rampaging, and it’s only a matter of time before they get here.
The people who spot me in their field of vision beg desperately to be let in, but I shake my head.
To those who look at me in despair, I continue speaking.
“Don’t worry. I’ll hold those monsters back, so please use this time to get away from here.”
“Y-You…”
“Now, go.”
Before I hear what the man tries to say, I manipulate the sand and head toward Iwatani-san and the monsters.
Dodging falling debris, I move along the side of the building and position myself above the monsters.
“Huh? You’re the one I saw earlier, aren’t you?”
The Oni notices me and twists its face into a menacing grin.
“Don’t get in my way. Those people are my prey. They’ll do nicely to vent some frustration.”
At the Oni’s command, the two monsters step back.
“Raaahhhh!!!”
Iwatani-san bursts out of the sand and swings his fist down toward the Oni.
Iwatani-san’s ability is [Life Amplification], which converts his amplified energy into attacks.
His punch, imbued with his full strength, is anything but ordinary.
However…
“Hah, is that all you’ve got?”
The Oni catches the punch with a single right hand.
Its left leg immediately targets Iwatani-san’s side.
“Not on my watch!”
I barely manage to manipulate the sand to pull Iwatani-san back,
encasing the Oni in a solid wall of sand.
“That should hold it for a bit—”
“Did you really think that’d stop me?”
From behind!
I spin around frantically.
The Oni I thought I’d trapped stands there, already poised to strike with its fist.
“Die.”
I instinctively cover my arms in sand and brace myself for impact.
The next moment, a force akin to a cannon blast slams into my arms, producing a dull crack.
It doesn’t stop there; the impact sends my body flying, collapsing buildings in my path.
“Igai!”
“You can join him.”
“Guhah!”
A single blow from above strikes Iwaya, knocking him unconscious.
“Hah, hah…”
I roll across the ground several times before finally coming to a stop.
Both my arms are shattered, completely useless.
I thought I could hold it off for a while.
During the highway fight, my abilities seemed to have some effect.
But now, this isn’t even a fight. The power gap is too overwhelming.
“Why…?”
“Did you really think you could take me on, even for a moment? Come on, don’t get too full of yourself.”
The Oni lands in front of me, pursuing its target.
“There’s no way your pathetic moves could compete with me now especially after I’ve had two bottles of sake.”
The Oni’s aura swells to an overwhelming level.
It’s nothing like before, driving home the truth. The earlier encounter was just a game for it.
…I see. I never had a chance from the start.
“Igai!”
A voice calls out from behind me.
Startled, I turn toward the familiar sound.
“Haruka-sama!”
It’s not just her. Behind her stands Runa-sama, her face on the verge of tears.
Why are they outside the facility? I want to yell for them to go back inside.
But the pain in my internal organs makes it impossible to speak.
I hadn’t realized it due to the focus but I’ve been thrown close to the facility.
This can’t go on. I must get this Oni away from here as quickly as possible.
“Guh!”
I try to activate my ability but the excruciating pain in my arms hinders me.
Losing balance, I drop to one knee.
“After I kill you, I’ll send those girls right after you. So just die already!”
The Oni raises its left leg, aiming for my face.
“Nooo!!!”
…I’m sorry, my ladies. It seems this is the end for me.
Memories of my days in the Takamiya household flash through my mind.
Haruka-sama and Runa-sama, smiling and running around the garden.
The time they made flower crowns and placed one on my head. I was so happy.
…Dear gods…
I don’t care what happens to me.
But please, please save those girls.
They are such kind souls.
They are so lovely, with smiles that suit them perfectly.
So please… don’t take their smiles away.
“Huh…?”
“What?!”
The Oni’s raised leg suddenly stops mid-motion.
But judging by its startled reaction, this isn’t by its own will.
Looking closer, I notice another leg pinning down the Oni’s.
“Looks like you’re having some fun. Mind if I join in, loser?”
A voice filled with anger echoes from above.
It’s not the Oni’s voice. And I recognize it.
Cautiously, I lift my gaze.
The sunlight streaming through the sky is blinding, and as the clouds drift and the light fades, the figure becomes clear.
“Kashiwagi-sama…?”