Chapter 9

The Hunter and Agartha could only watch in silence at the scene unfolding before their eyes.

"What... what is this."

Since Tanton had attracted the Observer's attention and made it come to him, a precarious battle had been taking place.

The grotesque object Tanton threw rushed accurately towards the Observer. It would have hit the Observer if it had continued on its path, but the Observer leisurely watched the object and snatched it with its mouth.

As if angered, the Observer turned its gaze towards Tanton with a growling sound and soon pounced on him. Despite Tanton's resistance, it swung the object around as if toying with him.

Watching this, the Hunter sensed it. The plan had failed, and they were going to die here.

There's no one else to blame. It was just my judgement that was lacking.

This is where his fate ends. It's a pity because he didn't know his place. The only regret would be not being able to avenge his family.

As the Hunter, who had sorted out all his thoughts, simply closed his eyes, Agartha could only resign herself as well. With the feeling that they had done well to hold out this far.

But for some reason, instead of the sound of Tanton being torn apart that should have been heard immediately, only a slightly dull sound and the sound of something scraping the floor could be heard.

When the Hunter looked again, Tanton and the Observer were at a distance from each other. And the Observer was quietly looking at Tanton while still holding that object in its mouth.

The Hunter couldn't hide his surprise.

...Did he land a hit on that Outer God?!

Because there was no way Tanton would be unharmed otherwise.

Whether angered or not, the Observer revealed a ferocious demeanor and pounced on Tanton, and after that, a breathtaking exchange of blows took place.

The Observer countered Tanton's touch with its front paw, and when Tanton tried to swing with the edge of his hand, the Observer spun around in place, avoiding that as well.

But in the end, Tanton placed his hand on the Observer's head, and the Observer started making strange sounds as if something was being done to it.

"Ф̶͚̦̪̠͉̝͖͓̤͖̯͍͔̓͑̀͊̐͌̎̾͛̿̇у̸͓̣̪͍͓͉̭͚̳̦̮̩̩̿̍̏̍͋̋͐̓̄͂"

Finally, as if it couldn't endure anymore, the Observer broke free from Tanton's touch and started spinning rapidly around the area. Tanton's face showed signs of tension, and finally, the Observer rushed at Tanton, trying to bite his face.

Although he was knocked down by the overwhelming size, wasn't Tanton resisting it again with both hands and engaging in a test of strength with the Observer?

...What on earth are you, Lunatic.

Before raising his evaluation, the Hunter began to question whether that was really a human.

***

Finally, the Observer's tongue rush ended, and satisfied, it moved away with graceful movements. It was originally a bit shorter than me, but sitting like a dog made it look even smaller.

"Huff huff."

The Observer was still making sounds and laughing as if the excitement hadn't faded yet, even after moving away.

...It's good that it's not hurt, but to say that would be inappropriate as my body was already covered in thick saliva-like substance.

"...Tsk! This won't do. My clothes are all wet now."

Without realizing it, I made the sound I usually make when scolding our house dog, and hearing that, the Observer folded its ears and curled up its body.

"Whine, whine..."

...No, don't do that with that appearance!

As I was starting to feel dizzy, the Observer approached and gently licked my hand while apologizing.

"...I'm sorry?"

Seeing it speak with such pitiful eyes, I even started to feel like I was the one who had done something wrong.

I sighed deeply and patted the Observer's head.

"No, just lick the skin from now on. If all the clothes get wet, I'll have to change again."

"...You really are a kind human!"

As if it understood my words well, this time it put its arm on my shoulder and started licking just my face.

...I felt very conflicted.

The Observer, after moving away from me, picked up the dog bone I had thrown earlier in its mouth and waved its hand.

"Thank you, human! I found it thanks to you! I was here looking for this!"

...Ah, so that's what it was? So that's why it was just standing there doing nothing.

"There's a bad guy who stole this! If it weren't for you, I still wouldn't have found it!"

"I see..."

Is there another being that took this and put it beyond that fake wall? If it's someone who can take the Observer's thing and put it there, it's certainly not an ordinary being...

But if it's just a dog bone, is it really that important? Couldn't food be found elsewhere?

The Observer suddenly made a thinking expression and then pointed at me.

"But, why can you talk to me, human?"

"Uh, yeah, why?"

"You don't get hurt when I look at you."

Umm, what should I say? Even if I say it's because I installed the Super Chicken Mod, it probably wouldn't understand.

"Maybe it means I like you that much?"

"...!"

I just gave a casual compliment, but the Observer made a surprised expression and then said with a very pretty smile:

"I like you too, human!"

Hmm. A pretty girl saying such things to me. Well, isn't it good if it's good?

The Observer held the bone, turned around, and waved its hand as it walked away.

"Thank you, human! Let's meet again later!"

"Uh, yeah."

This kid, even saying thanks and all. ...But, didn't it just say let's meet again?

As I was reviewing my memory to see if I heard correctly, Agartha and the Hunter approached.

Well, it was probably just a casual greeting. I decided to forget about it for now.

Agartha spoke while sweating.

"T-Tanton. Have you been hiding your strength all this time?"

"What?"

Suddenly, what strength am I supposed to have been hiding?

As I responded with confusion, the Hunter clicked his tongue.

"...I never thought you'd be capable of such a fight."

The Hunter nodded as if in admiration.

"You couldn't kill the Outer God, but you were able to repel it. You've proven your own words, so I acknowledge you."

...How on earth can patting its head be seen as fighting? Was it only cute to my eyes again?

No, I thought misunderstanding patting its head wouldn't be that easy.

Well. Anyway, I guess it's fine since it went well. I defeated the Observer, which was called the Wailing Wall of the tutorial.

Then I felt like I heard a voice in my head.

-You have survived a cute Outer God!

Oh.

"What are you doing? Let's get out of here now."

"That's right, Mr. Tanton. Staying too long in this shabby and dirty prison isn't good for your lungs."

"A thief who doesn't like prison, huh?"

"Isn't it too prejudiced to think thieves like places like this?! Usually, people become thieves for a better life."

As the Hunter and Agartha grumbled at each other but gestured for me to come, I smiled at them. One way or another, I couldn't have come this far without them.

I was about to savor the joy of successful prison break with a happy heart.

"Yes, I'm coming..."

But contrary to that feeling, my words didn't finish.

Crash!

Suddenly, with the sound of the ceiling shattering, piles of stones fell down.

"W-what's going on?!"

I covered my face with my arm due to the stone fragments scattering from the sky.

Thud.

The falling stone pieces were made of bricks, and if hit badly, it wouldn't end with just bruises, but what's this?

The saliva that had dripped down where the Observer had licked strengthened my entire body and protected me. I marveled at the stone pieces sliding down the slimy parts.

It was uncomfortable when I was being licked because it was wet, but this is unexpectedly useful?! Thank you, Observer!

As the sound gradually stopped and all the debris seemed to have fallen, I was about to remove my arm when someone grabbed it.

Startled, I looked ahead, and wasn't there a woman wearing a white mask looking at me?

In the collapsed prison interior filled with dust, the woman's eerie voice echoed.

"Don't move. If you move, I'll cut you."

At those words, my body froze.

The Hunter and Agartha seemed to be the same, their movements sealed by the woman's words.

"Ah, aah!"

Something else fell through the hole in the prison above.

Bang!

A huge noise reminiscent of a bomb rang out, and from within it appeared a pink-haired girl wearing a hood. She looked around as if frightened, then seemed to find the masked woman and made a relieved expression.

"S-Senior White Mask. Y-you're too hasty. What if there were Outer Gods left inside?!"

The pink-haired girl approached stiffly and stood next to White Mask.

No, what on earth is this situation?

As I couldn't gather my thoughts due to the sudden development, the Hunter spoke calmly as if he knew.

"They've come now that the Outer God is gone."

"No, is this something to talk about so calmly? Damn it, I should have thought about this from the moment the Outer God barged in."

While the Hunter was indifferent, Agartha's reaction was intense.

"That's the Knights of Rondan, isn't it? The Outer God hunters!"

"Didn't I tell you not to move?"

When Agartha made a fuss, White Mask growled.

"I'm not moving! I've always respected the Knights and have no intention of interfering with your official duties!"

At that, Agartha raised both hands high, widely announcing that she had no intention of resistance, as if she had encountered something as fearsome as an Outer God.

Knights of Rondan? I feel like I've heard that somewhere before?

As I was thinking deeply, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching from afar.

"Distortion phenomenon collapse due to Outer God, identification of personnel in contact with Outer God. Match with prisoners in the taken-over prison. Executing official duties."

W-what? Executing official duties?

The woman in the white mask drew a plastic model sword from her scabbard. The pink-haired girl in the hood unfastened the strap on her shoulder and aimed a toy axe. The one who spoke in a scary voice about executing official duties was wearing a teddy bear mascot head.

"Hee, heek!"

"As expected of the Knights of Rondan. They're armed with weapons made from Outer Gods."

"Uh... huh?"

...Really?