“···.”
A situation that is definitely not normal.
Am I missing something?
No, there has never been a case that starts earlier than this in all the stories I’ve played.
Kugugugu…
A loud tearing sound echoes from a distance.
[1:22 PM]
Ding ding ding ding ding!!
The students in the surrounding restaurant area reacted differently to the notifications ringing on their mobile phones.
Some looked flustered, others appeared momentarily frightened, and some were trembling.
However, most calmly took out their own weapons, rather than the limited weapons stored within the Academy.
Weapons that each had originally possessed.
They do not run away.
Most of them have defeated monsters at least once, and many are combat specialists, so they can hold their ground.
Surely nothing dangerous will happen.
“First, let’s close the restaurant doors and prepare until the professors arrive.”
“Yeah. With them here, nothing could go wrong, right?”
“I… I’m a bit scared…”
Moreover, unlike before, the plan to gather the professors in one place could not be executed due to my absence.
Clearly a failed terrorist attack.
But the gate does not only appear around here.
Some students are left alone, and there are quite a few who are not combat specialists.
For example, someone like Noah…
“No, let’s stay calm.”
First, I need to get out of the restaurant.
It would have been good if I had Charlotte’s phone number, but I thought there was more time, so I didn’t ask for it earlier.
So, the first place to go is the library.
I needed to kick the door and head towards the library where Charlotte is.
Noah’s words about heading to the outer archive of the Academy lingered in my mind, but I can only hope she hasn’t gone too far.
And if I’m lucky, the giant defensive barrier Charlotte has set up might protect her.
No matter how much I want to go rescue her, this is my priority.
Kwang!
“Wait a minute…! Where are you going…!”
“It’s dangerous outside right now!”
“Is he crazy?”
“Why is he suddenly running out?!”
There is still time.
The time since the gate appeared is not long.
It generally takes some time to detect and alert, but it won’t explode immediately.
In game time, at least 10 minutes.
Though it can take longer, one cannot expect it.
I must always think of the worst, but I focus on the best.
Arriving at the library under the shining sun, I began to grasp the gravity of the situation.
“Are they overdoing it…?”
For some reason, in my judgment, they are clearly overdoing it.
The predetermined timing exists because that day is when they gain most of their power.
A night without the moon rising in the sky, with no light at all.
An atmosphere as if the end of the world is approaching.
The aftermath of a war, often depicted in dark fantasy.
Therefore, that day is also the day they like the most.
However, to suddenly launch an operation when it’s still bright out… is certainly overdoing it.
For reasons unknown.
Around the library where I arrived, monsters were already popping up one by one from who knows where.
“Already…!”
Fortunately, I had just finished physical training and had not stored my weapon, so I had gloves and a gun in my back pocket.
Crunch!
The wolf-like monsters discovered me.
However, there are surely enough people inside the library, so Charlotte will be fine.
The problem is how to get past these monsters.
Tap!
Four monsters. They are almost double the size of a typical dog or wolf.
Normally, I would have avoided them altogether, but now things are different.
“Haah…”
I can fight, too.
I had been taught by a professor to the point that even an ordinary person like me could respond somewhat, so it would actually be strange to just accept this.
Moreover…
Crunch!
The sweet scent of chocolate wafts past the back of my neck.
[Current Intoxication: 3%]
This time, I made the chocolate a bit stronger.
As a result, even eating just one makes my body feel quite light and energized.
Just in case, I ate one more.
“Hehe~.”
[Your intoxication has reached a certain level.]
[Your mental power will not drop below the threshold.]
Although I certainly feel scared, it is not to the point of being afraid enough to run away.
“If you’re not coming, should I go first?”
In my swaying vision, I fire at the practiced stance.
Bang!!
Normally, the first shot would be a blank, but in this monster-ridden world, blanks do not exist.
Grrr!!
As the bullet hits the body of the monster, smoke rises and blood bursts into the air.
The wolf-type monster collapses from a headshot.
The gun might be weak, but it is not completely ineffective.
However, it did not die right away.
Should I really call them monsters… or maybe it’s because my aim wasn’t accurate.
“Hehe…”
But I still have 8 bullets left.
That’s enough to take them all down.
Grrr…
The massive monsters surrounding me made my knees tremble.
But I’m not someone who would die so easily.
Bang!!
The bullets continuously fire, piercing the bodies of the monsters randomly.
Grrr!!
It seems to be effective.
However, when I had about 4 bullets left, I stopped shooting at the beasts.
“···Huh?”
These guys have skin way tougher than I thought.
Even the fact that they’re simply taking my hits feels like a plot to make me waste bullets.
Grrr.
As if to prove the fact, the first monster I shot shakes its head and rises from the ground.
And it looks at me mockingly.
[Current Intoxication: 4%]
But I still haven’t given up.
I put the gun in my back pocket and take out my gloves to put them on.
Swish.
The firm sensation of leather gloves sticking to my hands.
My fists and legs assume their stances.
“I’ve gotten a lot stronger, you know? You mutts?”
Clack clack!!
As I bounce back the monsters’ mocking, the first one charges at me.
[Power Release]
Moving lightly, I dodge the monster’s claw attack and kick its abdomen.
Bam!!
A thud resounds from its belly.
If one hit is not enough, then I can just keep hitting.
Philia Professor’s training was simple-minded, but it certainly helped me refine my skills.
I had somewhat grasped how to use my unique trait, [Drunken Fist].
“Shut it.”
I recover my focus and deliver an uppercut to the jaw trying to bite me.
Thwack!
[Understanding of Drunken Fist improves.]
[Upper limit of basic martial arts utilization increases.]
At that moment, the monster’s mouth opens in shock, unable to regain its senses.
I quickly shove a bullet into its mouth.
Bang!!
The sound of the bullet tearing through its insides resonates from within as it bleeds and collapses.
“···Blood splattered.”
Blood from its insides splashed on my face and clothes.
This white outfit is going to be hard to clean.
Still, it feels like the stress that had built up was being released.
I had been getting beaten by Philia Professor all day, and my body felt stiff.
“Ah~ this feels good.”
I feel like I understand why people are so passionate about fighting.
The monsters seemed somewhat scared, but it was probably just my illusion.
After all, monsters wouldn’t be scared just because one of them died.
“Are you guys not coming fast? Huh?”
I throw myself toward the retreating beasts.
[Current Intoxication: 5%]
[The first step of Power Release is unlocked.]
[The activation of Drunken Fist increases.]
Three mouths come at me in response.
The moment those three massive fangs and throats loom in front of me.
[Assistive Evasion]
My body slips through the empty space below, pressing down on the vulnerable underbelly and launches one monster into the air.
It would have been impossible with typical human strength, but the stats boosted by the mask and the enhancement from Drunken Fist made it possible.
Grrr!
The two remaining monsters turned to devour me, but as living creatures, they also had their physiological needs.
“Hehe.”
I adjust my aim at that spot and shove in a bullet.
Bang!!
Grrr!!
Kraaaa!!!
The bullet passes through its rear and out its mouth.
“Ahaha!!”
It looks quite cruel, but… does it really matter?
Since they are monsters that kill people, what does it matter if I kill them back just as brutally?
Eventually, one monster fell to the ground.
Just one shot left.
Creeek…
I smile at the monster that gazes quietly at me, observing the two brutally slain beasts.
“Ah… I like this~ It wouldn’t be bad to do this occasionally, right?”
Kwaaah!!!
The ferocious intent rising from its face.
The monster charges directly at me.
[Current Intoxication: 6%]
[Physical abilities slightly rise.]
“Still, there’s no time, and my head hurts, so I’ll finish this quickly?”
The massive limbs and mouth flail about, struggling to kill me, or rather, to survive…
I tightly grip its body with both hands, sealing its mouth shut.
“Hey buddy? You’ve got a really big mouth, huh?”
My neck and head go back and forth inside its throat.
“Bang~!”
Bang!!
After jamming a bullet into its insides, I flush out all the blood within.
“Whooah!”
In an instant, I’m left with the four wolf monster corpses.
Leaving them behind, I opened the library door and went inside.
Squeak.
Inside the library, there were people trembling or watching me warily as I entered, but I ignored them and headed to the equipment room where Charlotte was.
“Hiiick!”
“Ah, it’s okay, Charlotte…!”
She trembled for a moment upon seeing the blood on my body, but when she confirmed it was me, she stopped shaking.
“Wh… what is that blood on your body?”
“Oh this? It’s not my blood!”
“Uh… okay…”
“By the way, what happened to what I mentioned last time?”
“Ah, um… I couldn’t finish everything… even if I used it now, it’s incomplete…”
“That’s fine, Charlotte! I appreciate even that much!”
“U…uwaah…”
Seeing her dejected expression, I handed her a few pieces of chocolate from my pocket.
“What’s this…?”
“It’s chocolate that makes you feel good when you eat it!!”
Oh, wait. What am I saying right now?
“Ah… thank you…”
Looking at her as she collects the chocolate, I pause to think.
Now that I think about it, those have alcohol in them.
And they’re quite strong.
“Uh… Sorry, but I don’t think that will work.”
“Y-Yes?”
She looked at me with extremely pitiful eyes, but I felt bad for being caught up in the excitement of intoxication and not considering this, so I apologized again and took the chocolate back.
“I’ll give you something else next time since these are tainted with blood and such…”
“Ah, no…”
She looked sad to anyone’s eyes, making my heart ache, but…!
“Um… but can you open the barrier right now?”
“Ah, yes!!”
Charlotte nodded, sending a positive signal.
“Then, can you do it right now?”
“Uh… but the range is much smaller than I thought…”
“How much so?”
“About 3km centering on the central building…?”
“Does that reach the outer archive?”
“Um… It might just barely… I’m not sure. It probably does…?”
That’s somewhat relieving.
I now have one more positive thing to consider.
“Then, I will open it!!”
A blue light spreads across the ground, brightly illuminating the equipment room.
“This is…?”
I hadn’t noticed it when entering, but the walls, floor, and ceiling of the equipment room were densely covered with magical circles.
And as all those shapes began to glow blue, a massive defensive barrier was constructed centered around this place.
Kugugugu…
The blue light spreading out from the center grows to an immense size.
In awe, I couldn’t help but open my mouth.
“···Charlotte.”
“Yes… yes?”
“That’s amazing.”
“Uh… Aah! Thank you!”
Before I knew it, the barrier began to stretch beyond the library windows, reaching far out.
However, the incident had only just begun, so I thanked Charlotte and started running toward my next destination.
