That 80: The Bad Guy

"……Wha— What the hell are you doing, you bastard!"

It wasn't me, nor Aina, who shouted at the strange man.

It was Akai, who had arrived on Hakamichi's orders.

His face twisted with rage, he leveled his rifle at the "Spirit User."

No—!

Before I could stop him, the "Spirit User" raised one hand.

"——《Extremely Hot Fire》"

Grrroooaaah!

A column of fire several meters high erupts from beneath Aoi's feet.

"Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

His entire body turned to ash in an instant.

Healing Magic...!

You realize it's already too late by the time you think that.

A silhouette of Akai-san seen through the flames.

That's because the part resembling a head collapsed like a broken doll, crumbling apart.

A few seconds later, when the flame column vanished.

Akai was completely reduced to ash.

"Uwah... a-ah..."

Even the fearless Ayano was visibly shocked.

"Hey, hey, hey!"

"W-what's going on? What the hell is happening?!"

"Akai! What happened to Akai?!"

"Did that guy do it!?"

People who noticed the anomaly began rushing over one after another.

This is bad. If the panic spreads, there could be even more casualties.

Hoo... fuh...

Take a deep breath.

With all his might, he raised his voice,

"Everyone! Don't interfere!"

Silence fell instantly.

Not because they were obeying a rookie newcomer.

Likely, they too had instinctively understood.

That man, covered in blood, was dangerous.

"Tell me your purpose."

"M-me, purpose...?"

The so-called "spirit user" looked utterly bewildered, as though he had never imagined being asked such a question.

Why are you asking why this community is being attacked?

"Huh?"

The man kept tilting his head.

"Communi...?"

"This group here... well, these are the people we're attacking."

To put it simply,

But aren't the people here all just bad guys, anyway?

You're right. There might be some people like that.

I heard there are lots of kids who act like bullies.

Bully.

That's a clever way of putting it. I can see what you mean.

"If that's the case, then we should just kill everyone, right?"

I grimaced at the sheer extremity of the statement.

"...Just because someone's a villain doesn't mean they can do anything without consequence."

"Huh!?"

The "Spirit User" stamped his foot angrily,

"Why not!?"

He sounded just like a child whose toy had been taken away.

"Bad people should get punished, right!? That's the right thing to do, isn't it!?"

Ah, no, this is wrong. I picked the wrong option.

Let's stop arguing along these lines.

"Did someone ask you to do this?"

"Ah... I can't remember who exactly, but someone, someone else. Someone said there's a bad person around."

"Someone around here?"

"Guess so."

"Someone who heard rumors and was driven by righteous anger, is that it?"

"Righteous...?"

"So, you came here with good intentions, right?"

"Guess so."

"But don't you think it's wrong to attack indiscriminately? In fact, among those you attacked... there was even a little girl, still in elementary school?"

How's that for a response?

I thought this would surely make him understand.

But then, the man known as the Spirit User stared blankly for a moment, before saying,

"Whatever, it's fine."

A surprisingly casual reply.

"Isn't the kid hanging around a bad guy also a bad guy? Shouldn't they just die instead?"

Ugh.

What is this creepy, crawling feeling on my back?

Anyway, I can't let the conversation stop.

I don't fully understand it, but that much is crystal clear.

"There are good people here too."

"——That's a lie!"

I can't take this anymore.

Why does he suddenly blow up like this?

I'm about to cry.

"Seriously! You're one of them too! One of the villains!"

"I've just arrived here."

"Liar! Liar! Liar!"

When confronted with that, … there's simply no way to prove otherwise.

The man, ageless and indistinct, shouted with every fiber of his frustration, his voice rising to a shriek.

"Come here! ——Will o' the Wisp!"

In an instant, a floating, pale blue flame materialized right in front of me.

Our eyes, both filled with hostility, locked onto each other.

"Ani-chan..."

Sawaya quickly turned her gaze toward me.

—What now? Fight?

I shook my head.

Once it starts, it won't end until one of us is dead.

Resolving things through combat should always be a last resort.

"I'm gonna kill lots of bad guys and get lots of praise... so stay out of my way..."

As long as words can be understood.

We'll surely be able to connect... somehow...

"Then, maybe you should channel that feeling into something else..."

That was when it happened.

A sharp click—something heavy landed in my pocket.

Looking down, I saw a doll-like figure with feathers sticking to the fabric near my pants.

"—Whoa!"

Thinking it was a bug, I instinctively brushed it off.

Then, the doll-like creature flailed its arms up in what looked like fury, launching itself into the sky.

"Ah, sorry about that..."

Muttering, I reach into my pocket.

What I pull out is something that looks like a tiny pineapple.

A shape I've only ever seen in movies.

I know exactly what this is.

...A grenade.

"——Yikes!"

In a panic, I threw it just in time—then searing heat engulfed my entire body.

Probably my eardrums ruptured. I could barely hear anything.

Still, the pain from the blast was overwhelming.

Anyone else would have died instantly from such a shock.

Since my hearing's gone, I can't tell what's happening.

All I know is that I'm lying on my back, staring up at the night sky.

...What if I just pretended to be dead? What would happen then?

That's quite an alluring idea, though.

Well, whatever.

For now, I need to do something about the pain at least.

"——《Healing Magic IV》"

Warm green light fills the surroundings.

The stabbing pain fades away as if it were a lie.

At the same time, a voice reaches my ears.

The voice of the "Spirit User."

It was laughing.

"Hehehehehe, hahaha! Look at your face! Hehe! Say '—hyack!'! Such a silly expression! Hehehe! So embarrassing!"

Coughing, I slowly rise to my feet.

"Kyaha! Haha! Best ever!"

Hmm.

This is beyond saving... I'll admit it.

"Aiha-chan"

I whisper weakly, glancing around me.

My grandfather's heirloom Japanese sword had been blown apart and reduced to rubble by the blast.

"What?"

Asaya-chan simply replied, already expecting me to be unharmed.

"Can I have a few minutes to buy time? I'll repair the blade."

"Sure."

A resolute determination had long since settled into Asaya-chan's expression.

"But... there's a chance I might kill you. Is that alright?"