“Well… where was this in the PDCA cycle?” [T/N: PDCA is a management principle. Meaning Plan-Do-Check-Adjust. And you follow the steps.]
Timora’s face melted.
No, not only the face, but the whole body including her clothes melts like wax.
The skin of Timora Reiart, my childhood friend for ten years, melts—
“Because P is plan… right? Then, is it Do next? Is there only Action?” (Timora?)
The contents are revealed with a somewhat blurred tone.
—It was a young girl with a snake for her lower body.
Although the glossy snake body is decorated with gorgeous ornaments, however, her upper body is barely covered.
She looks like a dancer from the south.
But the most eye-catching thing is the halo that floats above her head.
It was, above all, a testament to her origin.
“… No, it’s a C, Check (Evaluate).”
“Well, I knew it without asking Senpai, and then Action… Hmm? However, there is only Action next, right?” (Timora?)
She tilts her head while muttering something nonsensical.
—Long ago the time when I was a Guardian and member of the Keepers. It’s a story about that time.
For a short time, I was once entrusted with educating a poor-performing colleague.
She was lazy and inept, and she doesn’t care for the company hierarchy.
However, she is more cunning and talented than anyone else.
She might be a snake woman but she’s no Lamia.
She is nobody that simple.
She is a descendant of the serpent of original sin, the Serpent of Eden, who is said to have disobeyed God and given wisdom to man.
[Pillar of the World]’s 17th Floor Guardian and a Keeper…
A level 94, known as Luciera the Temptress.
—Undeniable, she’s my junior.
“Anyway, as promised, I’ve been watching you from up close, Senpai 
” (Luciera)
Luciera laughs mischievously.
Even though I’ve adapted, she is still a Keeper.
Even if she was hit by my “hand”, there was barely any damage.
“But I feel quite confident that I will not be noticed by you this quickly.” (Luciera)
“… I knew from a while ago that Timora was the mastermind, I just let you do what you want because I didn’t know what your purpose was, but I was completely aware.”
“You’ve caught up? Senpai is still quite cunning.” (Luciera)
“You have always underestimated your opponents, not only with the mythical chains, but also with the flames of wisdom, a magic sword of unknown origin, and this nonsensical way of doing things…… When you have all these materials, anyone can tell.”
“I don’t know, isn’t it normal to give hints to solve mysteries?” (Luciera)
I really don’t understand Luciera.
The attitude that is foolish and looks down on others is the same.
But there’s something more important than that—
“-Why did you kill me?”
“Ah, do you finally want to know?” (Luciera)
Luciera’s face breaks into a grin.
I glared at her.
“Enough, give me an answer.”
“No, you don’t have to be scary, Senpai, I’m just trying to free Senpai.” (Luciera)
“Free…?”
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“Yes, from your annoying role as a Middle Boss.” (Luciera)
My job as a Mid-Boss is annoying?
I can feel the blood rising in my head.
“When and who asked for such a thing!?”
“I thought I had to do that myself, It’s what I learned from Senpai, to not be a person who waits for instructions.” (Luciera)
“Why do are you saying that…!”
“Why? That’s what you want to know? A Middle Boss is beneath Senpai… You should be the Demon Lord.” (Luciera)
“……what?”
I can’t follow the last sentence due to the remarks being too crazy.
Me, become the Demon King–?
“Sempai is not the kind of person who should work under someone sweating while surrounded by peons.—You’re solitary, unmoving, and you commanding all the soldiers with the wave of a finger. I think that’s how it should be, but…” (Luciera)
Then, Luciera frowns scornfully.
“—The incompetent upper guys won’t allow it. The “Real Deal” like Senpai is an inconvenient existence for them.” (Luciera)
“But the former Demon King entrusted me the Cave of Silence!”
“That’s a smart move.” (Luciera)
“That is……!”
I couldn’t say that it wasn’t.
In fact, the Cave of Silence, at the time I arrived it was at its worst point.
“In those days, Sempai was always used by his superiors, so I did my best. I secretly escaped from the Pillar of the World and sneaked into the Hero Party as a human…” (Luciera)
“Did you defeat the former Demon King… Why?”
“That’s right, as soon I could.” (Luciera)
Luciera said nonchalantly as if it were nothing.
But needless to say, the Demon King is our boss.
This is a clear rebellion against the Demon King’s army.
“And I reincarnated Narugoa Senpai, in order to free you from the shackles of being a Middle Boss… Isn’t it perfect as a scenario?” (Luciera)
“You…! Do you know what you did !?”
“I’m already a proper adult, so I’m fully aware.” (Luciera)
“Ku…!”
This girl is too laid back even now…!
“For that reason, you did all of this…! Are you out of your mind!?”
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“No, my head is clearer than ever, well, there’s one thing I’ve miscalculated…” (Luciera)
Having said that, she took something out of her pocket.
I will never forget “that”.
It’s the dagger that killed me that fateful day.
“–Even after 100 years, that dungeon still survived. Its continued existence wouldn’t help release Senpai, I should have crushed it from before.” (Luciera)
The dagger glitters mysteriously.
The corners of Luceria’s lips rose.
“The Sacred Twilight—the person who is stabbed by this, no matter how high their level, will die and reincarnate immediately.” (Luciera)
“Yo-you’re not…”
“Yes, I will! Again! Another redo… Let’s do it! Cut off all the causes and effects, Senpai will continue his walk towards supremacy!” (Luciera)
“You’re totally out of your mind!”
I quickly use all four “hands” and cast magic at the same time.
I then created four kinds of highest attribute magic from the magic circle I deployed in the air. Before, I released it toward Luciera.
But
“—[Second Wisdom – Tools].” (Luciera)
At the same time as Luciera casts, four shields appear from the void, preventing all magic.
That is in line with my “Thousand Hands” Keeper special ability.
Luciera The Temptress’, [Three Wisdoms].
One of them is the ability to freely summon all Sacred Treasures.
“… Why are fighting against me? I’m hardening my heart for the sake of Senpai.” (Luciera)
“Ku…!?”
For her who manipulates all Sacred Treasures, half-hearted attack magic will never be effective.
Then, I form a single magic circle with my four hands.
“Graviton!”
“Oh?” (Luciera)
Gravitational waves fall from directly above Luciera.
It’s far more powerful than the one that once killed Grantz, a member of the Hero Party.
The ground a few meters around Luciera collapses, and even Luciera sinks into the ground.
But, but still…
“… You’ve gotten weak, Senpai.” (Luciera)
Luciera is completely unaffected.
Despite being under the influence of the gravitational waves, she twists her body and slowly approaches me.
“Your skill from when you’re a Keeper is intricately intertwined with your soul. It seems that Senpai’s [Thousand Hands] are still alive, but… I don’t know, this is probably because the current Senpai who controls it is just human.” (Luciera)
“Ku… That…!”
Luciera is approaching.
Carry a terrifying dagger in her hand.
“Don’t get me wrong, I am not killing you because I hate you. I’m rather grateful of you, you know?” (Luciera)
“If so, stop this stupid plan right now!”
“I can’t do that, because I really think of nothing but Sempai, so I have a duty to free Sempai from your silly shackles.” (Luciera)
“What’s with that crap…!”
“You think it’s crap? A Middle Boss is just a spare piece that is just used up for the sake of convenience, you know? Senpai is worth more than that.” (Luciera)
Luciera is steadily closing the distance.
No, I can’t control it anymore…!
“In the end, no one understands a true genius, Senpai, you are alone no matter how much you succeed or how far you go, only I can understand Senpai…” (Luciera)
I’m alone no matter how far I go.
The words are heavy and echo in my head.
… as she says.
Even if I was a Middle Boss or reborn, I’m alone.
After all those lifetimes, my loneliness and isolation have never been cured by death after living those many years of solitude.
And again, I die quietly without being seen by anyone.
… But that may be a good thing too.
After all, it means dying without bothering anyone.
“Well, goodbye Senpai, see you in a hundred years.” (Luciera)
Luciera, who is now almost face to face, raises her dagger.
I slowly closed my eyes.
In this way, my life as “Narugoa the crybaby” curtain falls–
“—[Chant Shorten] [Flower Chant]! [Bloom]!” (Familiar Voice)
A terribly familiar voice came from the darkness.
And the silence was broken.
One second, two seconds… nothing happens.
I slowly opened my eyes—and saw.
“No… Twilight… ! …?”
—Luciera’s dagger is covered with colorful petals and is no longer usable.
“I’m ready Slime! Go!” (Kicker)
“Got it!” (Slime)
Before I could grasp the situation, I heard the sound of legs kicking something jelly-like from outside my field of vision.
The next moment, something, came at a tremendous speed, swallowing my whole body.
This is—a slime!?
The slime covered me mid-way with the same momentum, separating me from Luciera.
And when we got enough distance, the slime spat me out.
What on earth…! …?
I look at my surroundings in a hurry.
There…
“Narugoa-san is safe!” (Poison Slime)
“Huh, huh… Just in time… It looks like we made it… Yeah, I feel horrible…” (Alraune)
“Oh, Al-chan is okay? Because I can’t do it even though I have a hangover.” (Kyuuketsu)
Alraune, Kyuuketsu, and Poison Slime. [T/N: I’m Gonna revert to Poison Slime since he’s the only Poison Slime in the series and the author is just using that as his name instead of ‘Sergeant’ anyway.]
There they were, my former subordinates.
“Why are you guys here!? I haven’t even summoned you!?”
I decided not to bother them anymore.
So I didn’t make any summoning magic circle.
Yet, they are certainly there.
Why and how.
Questions filled my head.
Alraune, who has a pale face, answers my questions.
“—I thought that would be the case, and we ran overnight from the Cave of Silence… Now we’re here! Business trips costs are high you know! You stubborn idiot!” (Alraune)
“Well… where was this in the PDCA cycle?” [T/N: PDCA is a management principle. Meaning Plan-Do-Check-Adjust. And you follow the steps.]
Timora’s face melted.
No, not only the face, but the whole body including her clothes melts like wax.
The skin of Timora Reiart, my childhood friend for ten years, melts—
“Because P is plan… right? Then, is it Do next? Is there only Action?” (Timora?)
The contents are revealed with a somewhat blurred tone.
—It was a young girl with a snake for her lower body.
Although the glossy snake body is decorated with gorgeous ornaments, however, her upper body is barely covered.
She looks like a dancer from the south.
But the most eye-catching thing is the halo that floats above her head.
It was, above all, a testament to her origin.
“… No, it’s a C, Check (Evaluate).”
“Well, I knew it without asking Senpai, and then Action… Hmm? However, there is only Action next, right?” (Timora?)
She tilts her head while muttering something nonsensical.
—Long ago the time when I was a Guardian and member of the Keepers. It’s a story about that time.
For a short time, I was once entrusted with educating a poor-performing colleague.
She was lazy and inept, and she doesn’t care for the company hierarchy.
However, she is more cunning and talented than anyone else.
She might be a snake woman but she’s no Lamia.
She is nobody that simple.
She is a descendant of the serpent of original sin, the Serpent of Eden, who is said to have disobeyed God and given wisdom to man.
[Pillar of the World]’s 17th Floor Guardian and a Keeper…
A level 94, known as Luciera the Temptress.
—Undeniable, she’s my junior.
“Anyway, as promised, I’ve been watching you from up close, Senpai ” (Luciera)
Luciera laughs mischievously.
Even though I’ve adapted, she is still a Keeper.
Even if she was hit by my “hand”, there was barely any damage.
“But I feel quite confident that I will not be noticed by you this quickly.” (Luciera)
“… I knew from a while ago that Timora was the mastermind, I just let you do what you want because I didn’t know what your purpose was, but I was completely aware.”
“You’ve caught up? Senpai is still quite cunning.” (Luciera)
“You have always underestimated your opponents, not only with the mythical chains, but also with the flames of wisdom, a magic sword of unknown origin, and this nonsensical way of doing things…… When you have all these materials, anyone can tell.”
“I don’t know, isn’t it normal to give hints to solve mysteries?” (Luciera)
I really don’t understand Luciera.
The attitude that is foolish and looks down on others is the same.
But there’s something more important than that—
“-Why did you kill me?”
“Ah, do you finally want to know?” (Luciera)
Luciera’s face breaks into a grin.
I glared at her.
“Enough, give me an answer.”
“No, you don’t have to be scary, Senpai, I’m just trying to free Senpai.” (Luciera)
“Free…?”
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“Yes, from your annoying role as a Middle Boss.” (Luciera)
My job as a Mid-Boss is annoying?
I can feel the blood rising in my head.
“When and who asked for such a thing!?”
“I thought I had to do that myself, It’s what I learned from Senpai, to not be a person who waits for instructions.” (Luciera)
“Why do are you saying that…!”
“Why? That’s what you want to know? A Middle Boss is beneath Senpai… You should be the Demon Lord.” (Luciera)
“……what?”
I can’t follow the last sentence due to the remarks being too crazy.
Me, become the Demon King–?
“Sempai is not the kind of person who should work under someone sweating while surrounded by peons.—You’re solitary, unmoving, and you commanding all the soldiers with the wave of a finger. I think that’s how it should be, but…” (Luciera)
Then, Luciera frowns scornfully.
“—The incompetent upper guys won’t allow it. The “Real Deal” like Senpai is an inconvenient existence for them.” (Luciera)
“But the former Demon King entrusted me the Cave of Silence!”
“That’s a smart move.” (Luciera)
“That is……!”
I couldn’t say that it wasn’t.
In fact, the Cave of Silence, at the time I arrived it was at its worst point.
“In those days, Sempai was always used by his superiors, so I did my best. I secretly escaped from the Pillar of the World and sneaked into the Hero Party as a human…” (Luciera)
“Did you defeat the former Demon King… Why?”
“That’s right, as soon I could.” (Luciera)
Luciera said nonchalantly as if it were nothing.
But needless to say, the Demon King is our boss.
This is a clear rebellion against the Demon King’s army.
“And I reincarnated Narugoa Senpai, in order to free you from the shackles of being a Middle Boss… Isn’t it perfect as a scenario?” (Luciera)
“You…! Do you know what you did !?”
“I’m already a proper adult, so I’m fully aware.” (Luciera)
“Ku…!”
This girl is too laid back even now…!
“For that reason, you did all of this…! Are you out of your mind!?”
Advertisements
“No, my head is clearer than ever, well, there’s one thing I’ve miscalculated…” (Luciera)
Having said that, she took something out of her pocket.
I will never forget “that”.
It’s the dagger that killed me that fateful day.
“–Even after 100 years, that dungeon still survived. Its continued existence wouldn’t help release Senpai, I should have crushed it from before.” (Luciera)
The dagger glitters mysteriously.
The corners of Luceria’s lips rose.
“The Sacred Twilight—the person who is stabbed by this, no matter how high their level, will die and reincarnate immediately.” (Luciera)
“Yo-you’re not…”
“Yes, I will! Again! Another redo… Let’s do it! Cut off all the causes and effects, Senpai will continue his walk towards supremacy!” (Luciera)
“You’re totally out of your mind!”
I quickly use all four “hands” and cast magic at the same time.
I then created four kinds of highest attribute magic from the magic circle I deployed in the air. Before, I released it toward Luciera.
But
“—[Second Wisdom – Tools].” (Luciera)
At the same time as Luciera casts, four shields appear from the void, preventing all magic.
That is in line with my “Thousand Hands” Keeper special ability.
Luciera The Temptress’, [Three Wisdoms].
One of them is the ability to freely summon all Sacred Treasures.
“… Why are fighting against me? I’m hardening my heart for the sake of Senpai.” (Luciera)
“Ku…!?”
For her who manipulates all Sacred Treasures, half-hearted attack magic will never be effective.
Then, I form a single magic circle with my four hands.
“Graviton!”
“Oh?” (Luciera)
Gravitational waves fall from directly above Luciera.
It’s far more powerful than the one that once killed Grantz, a member of the Hero Party.
The ground a few meters around Luciera collapses, and even Luciera sinks into the ground.
But, but still…
“… You’ve gotten weak, Senpai.” (Luciera)
Luciera is completely unaffected.
Despite being under the influence of the gravitational waves, she twists her body and slowly approaches me.
“Your skill from when you’re a Keeper is intricately intertwined with your soul. It seems that Senpai’s [Thousand Hands] are still alive, but… I don’t know, this is probably because the current Senpai who controls it is just human.” (Luciera)
“Ku… That…!”
Luciera is approaching.
Carry a terrifying dagger in her hand.
“Don’t get me wrong, I am not killing you because I hate you. I’m rather grateful of you, you know?” (Luciera)
“If so, stop this stupid plan right now!”
“I can’t do that, because I really think of nothing but Sempai, so I have a duty to free Sempai from your silly shackles.” (Luciera)
“What’s with that crap…!”
“You think it’s crap? A Middle Boss is just a spare piece that is just used up for the sake of convenience, you know? Senpai is worth more than that.” (Luciera)
Luciera is steadily closing the distance.
No, I can’t control it anymore…!
“In the end, no one understands a true genius, Senpai, you are alone no matter how much you succeed or how far you go, only I can understand Senpai…” (Luciera)
I’m alone no matter how far I go.
The words are heavy and echo in my head.
… as she says.
Even if I was a Middle Boss or reborn, I’m alone.
After all those lifetimes, my loneliness and isolation have never been cured by death after living those many years of solitude.
And again, I die quietly without being seen by anyone.
… But that may be a good thing too.
After all, it means dying without bothering anyone.
“Well, goodbye Senpai, see you in a hundred years.” (Luciera)
Luciera, who is now almost face to face, raises her dagger.
I slowly closed my eyes.
In this way, my life as “Narugoa the crybaby” curtain falls–
“—[Chant Shorten] [Flower Chant]! [Bloom]!” (Familiar Voice)
A terribly familiar voice came from the darkness.
And the silence was broken.
One second, two seconds… nothing happens.
I slowly opened my eyes—and saw.
“No… Twilight… ! …?”
—Luciera’s dagger is covered with colorful petals and is no longer usable.
“I’m ready Slime! Go!” (Kicker)
“Got it!” (Slime)
Before I could grasp the situation, I heard the sound of legs kicking something jelly-like from outside my field of vision.
The next moment, something, came at a tremendous speed, swallowing my whole body.
This is—a slime!?
The slime covered me mid-way with the same momentum, separating me from Luciera.
And when we got enough distance, the slime spat me out.
What on earth…! …?
I look at my surroundings in a hurry.
There…
“Narugoa-san is safe!” (Poison Slime)
“Huh, huh… Just in time… It looks like we made it… Yeah, I feel horrible…” (Alraune)
“Oh, Al-chan is okay? Because I can’t do it even though I have a hangover.” (Kyuuketsu)
Alraune, Kyuuketsu, and Poison Slime. [T/N: I’m Gonna revert to Poison Slime since he’s the only Poison Slime in the series and the author is just using that as his name instead of ‘Sergeant’ anyway.]
There they were, my former subordinates.
“Why are you guys here!? I haven’t even summoned you!?”
I decided not to bother them anymore.
So I didn’t make any summoning magic circle.
Yet, they are certainly there.
Why and how.
Questions filled my head.
Alraune, who has a pale face, answers my questions.
“—I thought that would be the case, and we ran overnight from the Cave of Silence… Now we’re here! Business trips costs are high you know! You stubborn idiot!” (Alraune)
