"Serial Killer!" "{\cH838C8D}in Akihabara?" "That serial killer showed up again?" "so it's kind of hard to understand." "But that makes it even scarier." "How many victims have there been?" "I wish they wouldn't do it at a time like this." "and ruining our Christmas." "But why doesn't the Royal Guard show up?" "Now that you mention it..." "The Royal Guard is a security system from when this world was a game." "They immediately detect any violent acts committed within no-combat zones and teleport in to neutralize the situation." "They have equipment called "movable armor" that allows them to use external magic to greatly increase their physical abilities." "This gives the Royal Guard power that exceeds that of adventurers allowing them to keep the city safe." "huh?" "And look what we're doing." "It can't be helped." "No sign of anything so far." "Moving to the next block." "they don't show up." "This isn't even a quest." "And it's kind of cold." "That's him!" "Where did he come from?" "Status!" "Identify him first!" "What the hell?" "He's— 1)}Christmas Eve" "Christmas Eve." "It's {\cH47895D}Christmas Eve" "Wiped out?" "Yes." "They were some of my guild's best adventurers." "That puts the death count over ten." "His name is Embert Nelreth." "samurai class level 94." "That's all the information we have." "the bigger problem is that we know this much and still can't do anything." "Yeah." "that wouldn't be the end." "Not for us adventurers." "but that's better than panic." "I don't think that will last." "I think." "Abandon Akihabara?" "Only as an emergency measure." "We could move to Shibuya temporarily." "You're being too dramatic." "that's not something those of us in this room can decide on our own." "maybe we should at least evacuate the lower-leveled kids?" "That's worth discussing." "serial killings in Akihabara?" "We need to think of some way to stop it." "Yes." "what's the villain in glasses doing?" "He keeps missing the conferences that he initiated himself." "um..." "You know... trying to deal with our financial problems." "and the Christmas event is tomorrow." "Zantleaf?" "Yep." "Anyone below level 50 is being asked to help take out the goblins." "Isn't that just an excuse to get us away from the serial killer?" "I'd imagine." "Chief!" "We can also—" "Tohya!" "Do you want to defeat the murderer?" "Of course!" "You might die." "I'm prepared for that." "Because you'll come back to life?" "that's not it..." "Tohya?" "I..." "Is that how a front-line fighter should think?" "O-Oh..." "That's right." "the party won't be able to function." "Not only that." "Just the fact that you revive you're getting special treatment." "thinking of it as normal..." "It seems to me that you lose something in exchange." "Akatsuki didn't come home again today." "It's Christmas Eve." "Want to get something to eat somewhere?" "Where are you" "I-I'll pay!" "Training on Christmas?" "You're kidding me." "murderer?" "Screw that murderer." "Where the hell is the Royal Guard?" "They're interfering." "All these unneeded presences..." "Would my lord be angry that I keep doing this?" "I want you to protect Princess Lenessia." "What did he want me to protect her from?" "It's true that People of the Land are weak." "But I think she has plenty of strength." "Do I have the right to protect her?" "Or the right to say anything?" "I want to be strong..." "The enemy is very skilled." "Keep your guard up at all times." "Assume that his abilities and even mine." "and report in constantly." "Nazuna will coordinate communications at HQ." "Don't try to be heroes." "Even if you end up in combat with the target use formation alpha to delay him." "we've put two healers in every team so you won't have enough attack power." "Your job is to delay him and contact us." "Got it?" "Got it!" "Souji!" "I think you said everything I wanted to say." "then." "The target attacked one of our own." "Murder him." "you know?" "I want revenge on that murderer." "You just died and came back to life." "Rest for a bit." "But Sou's out there fighting for me..." "It isn't for you." "he'd never forgive the murderer." "That's how he is." "I understand that." "He's nice to every girl... at least." "putting Christmas and pork soup together." "too." "It's true that Souji's nice." "But not because he's simply a good person." "It's just the kind of boy he is." "there's no telling what he'll do." "There's a fine line between his kindness and that terrifying side of him." "If those two were here... or affect him at all are Kazuhiko and Shiroe." "I'm sorry." "I'll be back by New Year's" "I think." "Yeah." "I see." "You still can't find the murderer?" "Are you continuing patrols?" "Yes." "Don't worry about that." "right... as well." "that's right." "Shiro." "Souji!" "Sounds like he's appeared." "I'll order the search team to retreat." "will surround and obliterate him!" "Princess Lenessia." "with the Kunie Clan." "and so late?" "at this hour of the night." "A serious matter has come up and I've come to explain and apologize." "What is it?" "yes?" "It seems the adventurers prefer to call them the Royal Guard." "Yes." "I know they're a critical part of the city's security." "A set of movable armor was stolen from one of their guardhouses." "We believe one of the Royal Guard stole it a member of the Kunie Clan." "A Defender's movable armor must receive a supply of magic at all times from a massive magic circle under the city." "Each city's is slightly different." "Doesn't that mean there's no point in taking it outside the town?" "its power is unmatched." "It exceeds that of an adventurer." "Then the murderer..." "Yes." "The Kunie Clan is involved in that crime." "but I can say this with certainty." "That means one of the People of the Land killed an adventurer." "This affair is our fault." "I am truly sorry." "Is there... is there anything the Kunie Clan can do?" "Princess Lenessia." "if we shut off the magic supply the movable armor would cease to function." "it would disable the city's magic defenses allowing monsters to enter the city." "C-Can't you reboot it?" "You can't just turn it back on?" "All I can say is that it would take decades." "I wish I hadn't heard that." "But I did." "But what can I do about it?" "I want you to protect Princess Lenessia." "It's over..." "It's over for sure." "Why now?" "Why me?" "of all times?" "Isn't there anything you can do?" "Can't you get me out of this?" "Can't you go easy on me?" "What should I do?" "Talk to the Round Table." "won't it mean fighting the adventurers?" "But you can't keep it a secret." "don't I?" "I don't know that." "Why isn't that monster here when I need him?" "he was always around." "Crusty went to Seventh Fall." "I'm aware." "But even so..." "That's not it." "That's not it!" "Huh?" "Huh?" "Um..." "I'm sorry for entering without permission." "Did you... hear all that?" "Yes." "Of course you did..." "Red Bean Bun" "How about it?" "It's sweet..." "Sweet things make me feel better." "Yes." "But the rest of the world isn't so easy." "Yeah." "The killer is a Person of the Land?" "that's right." "I'm really sorry..." "Why?" "Why was it stolen?" "Who stole it?" "They don't know what he wants or where he is." "I think he's hiding in the sewers." "If we assume he won't leave the city because he'd lose his combat powers that limits the places he can hide." "The only place that hasn't been searched is the sewers." "Does that mean we can catch him?" "the Royal Guard can teleport." "he could escape." "Oh..." "She bears such a heavy burden on her tiny shoulders." "But she was doing her best with those tiny shoulders." "This is upsetting you?" "It is." "I'll find him." "I'll do my job." "Because I've seen you doing your best." "switch!" "draw aggro!" "Leave it to me!" "big guy!" "Commander!" "Isami!" "hang in there." "Something about him isn't right." "but his HP hasn't gone down at all." "And his status display looks weird." "Lv. 94 but the Royal Guard still isn't coming." "we would've been in danger." "too!" "You can't." "you'll just get in the way." "Leave the rest to Souji." "He's like a beast!" "like Sou?" "Divine Eye..." "Souji's Teaching." "A defensive ability." "Sou said it allows you to see the trails that form in the air." "But he isn't getting a chance to use it." "instead of blocking with his blade." "Master..." "Commander!" "Master!" "Sou!" "The barrier I put on Souji is gone..." "That should have protected twenty percent of his HP." "he won't last long." "He needs to think about retreating." "But... that guy will just turn around and attack everyone else." "There's no guarantee that Souji can stop him alone." "What should we do for business after Christmas?" "You're changing job classes again?" "it's beautiful!" "This is for me?" "right?" "Merry Christmas." "anyway?" "Does it taste good?" "Souji!" "You're..." "From Shiroe's guild..." "Axel Fang!" "right?" "Stealth Blade!" "Quick Assault!" "Amazing..." "She can also..." "Gust Step!" "that would've killed me." "He's strong." "And that katana..." "Run!" "Why?" "Why?" "Why?" "Because defeating him and solving the problem are different things." "Assassinate!" "that's the only skill I can use." "I said run!" "I can't agree to that." "Nazuna!" "Roger!" "I'll be waiting at the guild hall." "He was watching his friends?" "During a battle like this?" "To draw the enemy's attention and wait for the right moment for their retreat..." "He knows he can't win but for his friends..." "It's Christmas Eve." "So I have to give some kind of present to his protégé." "Not that there's much I can say." "Votive Sword Kogarasumaru!" "listen carefully wish strongly and keep thinking about what you have to do." "without giving up." "It's pathetic how little of an explanation that is." "But this is the entirety of the Teachings..." "Not yet..." "I still don't understand anything." "I'm so close!" "This can't be real..." "Shiro!" "I'm told this is what you people say on this day..." "Merry Christmas." "my lord..." "I miss you..." "My lord..." "Akatsuki wanders a town of illusions." "or an old wound in her heart?" "she flees to a moonlit beach." "she finds a warmth she remembers" "Shiroe." "What will they find within themselves when they meet in the land of the dead?" "Next time:" "A Lost Child at Dawn." "A Lost Child at Dawn" "Rise up once more."