Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Terrorist Attack
The derailment accident on the dungeon railway that we got involved in.
It wasn't us who did it, but apparently, without that, the dungeon's operations would be hindered.
A direct request for cooperation came from the Prime Minister.
Well, I have no objection to cooperating.
After all, I just need to put supplies into my Item Box and transport them, and I get paid.
However, only items up to 10 meters can fit in the Item Box.
Railway-related materials seem to be mostly around 20 meters long, so something must be done about that, or it will be a problem.
In order to carry out the railway restoration work, a responsible government official was scheduled to come for a pre-meeting.
What arrived was a serious-looking woman in a suit.
We sat on the sofa and began the meeting, but――.
She took advantage of my opening and launched an attack clearly filled with killing intent.
Apparently, she was an assassin targeting me.
Or perhaps she intended to half-kill me and capture me?
I turned the tables on the one who targeted me and threw them onto the floor.
The enemy was a woman, but it would have been fun if it weren't for the Princesses.
No, if they were recovered by the Special Forces, that kind of thing would get exposed, haha.
When I contacted the Prime Minister, he said he was unrelated.
Well, I am helping with various businesses at the Prime Minister's direct request, so there is no reason for him to target my life.
His own Special Forces were going to recover the assassin, but…
It is hard to believe this woman came alone.
I also informed the hotel that "a battle might occur" and asked them to be on guard.
"Phew... want to eat something?"
You can't fight on an empty stomach.
I took a calorie bar out of my Item Box and took a bite.
"Darling, give me some too."
"Sure."
I handed the same thing to the Princess as well.
"Well, let's see what happens..."
"I hope nothing happens..."
As Kaorulko said, but that is the way of the world; the merchant won't just hand it over.
I don't have a firm conviction that something will happen.
Still, the atmosphere floating between the three of us was clearly tinged with tension.
The Princess, sitting on the edge of the sofa, crossed her legs.
Even that slight movement felt like it made a loud noise.
While looking at the empty cup placed on the table in front of me, I exhaled deeply.
This is frustrating... The moment I muttered that in my heart, intermittent explosion sounds were heard from outside.
"Seriously, they came!"
Terrorists in the hotel!
If this were a school, it would be a boy's delusion becoming reality―― no, this is no time for jokes.
"It's the sound of guns!"
I think they are probably assault rifles or submachine guns, but to the Princess, they all seem like guns.
"Alright, shall I lend a hand to the Special Forces?"
"Darling!"
"The Princesses, stay here."
"We want to help too."
I cut off Kaorulko's words.
"Anyway, their target is me. Prepare for an attack from the windows."
"Yes."
"Then, I'll go."
"..."
I thought the Princess would throw a tantrum if she followed me, but she is obediently following along.
Well, she might think I'll be fine.
I quietly stepped out into the hallway.
The gunfire seems to be coming from the floor below.
Do the enemies know our exact location in the hotel?
I usually use the elevator, but if we run into each other right away when going down, it could be a problem.
This time, I'll use the stairs.
Every time I went down the stairs, the gunfire got louder.
"Ahhh, isn't the inside of the hotel full of holes?"
If the enemy's target is me, wouldn't just staying at the hotel cause trouble for others?
Should I find a place to stay somewhere else?
If any guests were to become casualties because of this, it would be too shameful.
I approached the gunfire slowly, step by step.
I had arrived right at the scene.
I should take a picture just in case.
It might become evidence of something.
Deafening gunfire and unfamiliar languages.
No matter how you listen, it doesn't sound like Japanese――.
I stopped at the corner of the hallway.
I summoned a sword and a small mirror from my Item Box and held them out into the hallway.
If I suddenly stick my head out, I might get shot.
"Hmm."
Everyone is focused forward.
There are three people―― they don't seem to be guarding the rear.
Their equipment―― no matter how you look at it, it's not the Self-Defense Forces.
They are wearing normal clothes equipped with bulletproof jackets, etc.
Well, the Special Forces members also wear casual clothes like that when they are in the Special District.
I stuck my face out and spoke to them.
"Hey! Are you Japanese?!"
"!!!"
They seemed quite surprised by the sudden call from behind.
When I suddenly turned around, a white line flew towards me.
It was clearly killing intent.
"Oh my."
When I instinctively pulled my head back, the hallway's building material exploded outward.
Pieces of mortar scattered across the floor.
This settles it.
If it were the Self-Defense Forces, they wouldn't suddenly fire at civilians.
I gripped the sword with both hands and held it out into the hallway.
From this hotel's location, magic can still be used, though it will be significantly attenuated.
Kaorulko is also researching new magic.
Even if the power is reduced, the opponent isn't a monster.
Just stunning them with an electric shock would be fine.
"Here I go! Namu Thunder!"
A flash of light illuminated the world for an instant, cutting through it.
Immediately after, the entire hallway was enveloped in dazzling light, brightly dyeing it as if pushing back the darkness.
Following that, the fluorescent lights on the ceiling burst one after another, and the surroundings were enveloped in dimness.
Through that, lightning ran wildly in all directions, winding like a living creature, but its first destination was the metal weapons and equipment the enemies were carrying.
"Gaaah! Oooooh! Gyaaah!"
I heard the enemies' screams as they were electrocuted.
I used lightning because the opponents were armed with firearms, but do guns conduct electricity?
Well, since the opponents got electrocuted, it's a case of "the result is right."
A smell of burning filled the dim hallway.
It was surprisingly powerful; even I was surprised.
Well, it has the power to burn a large monster, so even with attenuation, it must have dealt considerable damage.
Since smoke rose, the fire alarm seems to have activated.
A shrill sound echoed throughout the building.
What about the sprinklers?―― They didn't activate.
Is it because the temperature hasn't risen?
I took a mace out of my Item Box and switched from the sword.
A large sword would be hard to use in a narrow hallway.
With my weapon ready, I jumped out into the hallway, blending into the smoke.
I ran up the hallway wall at that speed, kicked off the footing, and flew to the opposite wall.
Upon landing on the vertical surface, I immediately flew to the opposite wall again.
"Here I go!"
I delivered a flying kick to one of the enemies.
An object weighing nearly 70 kg collided at considerable speed.
The enemy was blown away as is.
"&*^!"
One person was already incapacitated by my electric shock, but the remaining one tried to counterattack.
The buttstock of a rifle, exposing hostility, was aimed at me.
I deflected that attack outward using the mace, spun the weapon clockwise, and struck the enemy's jaw from below.
Since there was no situation to hold back, they might have suffered a fatal wound.
The other one was on the floor, emitting white smoke with pokes and stabs.
The smell of burning filled the surroundings.
Even seeing that scene, no emotion rose up in my heart at all.
No fear, no sadness, no regret, nothing.
If it were me from a few years ago, just seeing such a scene would have made me tremble uncontrollably.
I would have been troubled by insomnia too, but to me now, it only appears as a mere "result."
A cold indifference as if I had just kicked a stone.
Countless battles and days of slaughter in the dungeon.
Killing monsters to survive, even sacrificing my companion Ren.
Even seeing a burnt human body, not a single ripple spreads in my heart anymore.
Rather, even the surprise at myself becoming like this is fading.
What am I becoming?
"Phew."
Worrying is pointless.
I called out to the other side of the smoke.
"Is anyone from the Special Forces there?!"
"What about you?!"
"I am Niwa, an adventurer! We have secured the area."
"Understood! Guard the surroundings." "Understood!"
Voices came from beyond the mist.
A black rod protruded from the white smoke, and then the muzzle of a gun popped out.
It was a bit startling, but there was no killing intent.
Next, Special Forces members in civilian clothes wearing bulletproof jackets showed their faces.
I saw some faces I had seen before, so there is no mistake.
"There are some people from the previous battle too."
"Yes." "Wow! They're burnt!"
A young soldier was surprised by the sight of the enemy lying on the floor.
"Could that be magic?"
"That's right. After the previous battle, I went diving into the dungeon and became able to use it."
"So that's how it is."
"If I could have used magic at that time, I could have handled it much more easily..."
"Haha..."
The Special Forces captain was smiling bitterly.
"Captain!"
Another man who seemed to be a different soldier ran over from another direction.
"What is it?"
"We confirmed that explosives have been set up!"
"What?!"
"We might need to call for reinforcements."
"Yes."
The captain started making contact via radio.
"How is it?"
"I have requested cooperation from the police as well."
"Manpower tactics. If these guys talk, it would be good..."
"Well, that's impossible."
"That's true..."
For now, I'll have them guide me to the found explosives.
"Over there!"
Something wrapped tightly in black vinyl tape was placed in the hallway.
"For now, I'll store it in my Item Box. Then it won't explode, and I'll throw it into the dungeon later."
Explosives don't explode in the dungeon.
"Understood!"
"Store."
I put the explosive into the Item Box.
"Ooh!"
Surprised voices rose from the soldiers seeing my ability for the first time.
"So, if you put it in the Item Box, it won't explode?"
"Yeah, inside time either stops or flows slowly. Even if you put something warm in, it stays warm forever."
"Wow~"
No, this isn't the time for that.
I have to look for other explosives.
"Oh?"
The sound of the fire alarm, which had been ringing continuously, stopped.
As if replacing it, the building's public address system came on.
『Notice to all guests. A suspicious person armed with a weapon has been secured, but explosives may have been planted in the building. Please follow the staff's instructions and evacuate』
It has become quite a commotion.
Because I was here, I am truly sorry.
Shouldn't I leave the hotel after all?
Once the commotion settles, I'll consult with the Princess.
Speaking of which, I took out my smartphone from my Item Box and contacted the Princess.
"Princess, there are explosives planted in the hotel. I don't know when they will explode. Evacuate with Kaorulko."
『Denied!』
"Wait, wait."
『Darling is here, so I cannot escape alone. It is the duty of a wife to protect our home』
Isn't that not the trend nowadays?
"Hmm..."
I tried to say something to persuade her, but once she decides, she won't move.
If the Princess won't move, Kaorulko won't move either.
Well, even if one or two explosives explode, I don't think the hotel will collapse.
Probably, it was a diversion or a parting gift for when they retreat.
Since the evacuation order was issued, the building suddenly became noisy.
I couldn't have imagined it from the special floor where we lived, but there seemed to be quite a lot of guests.
Well, it is a very large hotel, so it's natural, but…
I had been using the special passage and special elevator to come and go, so I had become somewhat insensitive.
Contrary to the flow of guests, many police officers entered.
Divided into teams, they searched every floor thoroughly.
Since it is auto-lock, there shouldn't be anything planted inside the rooms.
Probably in the hallways and stairs.
I told the on-site police commander my address and asked them to contact me if they find explosives.
Are the police being dragged into this reluctantly?
――I thought so, but apparently not.
The Special Forces are moving under the Prime Minister's orders, and I am on a first-name basis with the Prime Minister.
They must have been told that the daughter of the Yaegashi Group is here too, so they have no choice but to follow orders from above.
Well, counter-terrorism is a proper job too.
I received a call on my smartphone, so I headed there immediately.
Next to the potted plant placed by the side of the hallway, there was the same thing wrapped in black tape.
As expected, it was just placed there.
"Store."
"Oooooh~" "So this is the Item Box?" "If we had this, we could smuggle freely..."
Such voices leaked from the police watching my ability.
Everyone thinks that, I suppose.
"I am under government management and always monitored by the Self-Defense Forces."
"..."
The police who heard my words made difficult faces.
Are they trying to say "That kind of work is our job"?
Even giving them the benefit of the doubt, that would be the work of Public Security, etc.
"If the group involved is an armed gang, it would be beyond the police's reach? If the opponent is the military, their equipment is inferior."
"Gnnn..."
Sorry, but personally, I don't think this is a problem the police can handle.
The search continued as is.
About an hour later, a pitch-black dog led by someone in camouflage came.
Apparently, a helicopter arrived at the roof, and they came down from there.
In exchange, the captured prisoners were transported away.
"If the Self-Defense Forces are leading it, is it a military dog?"
"Yes, it is trained to detect the scent of explosives."
When I think of military dogs, I imagine Shepherds, but this dog is a Retriever.
"Wow~"
If they can detect explosives by scent, maybe I could bring a Harpy from the dungeon.
Those guys might have better noses than dogs.
Do the Harpies have some kind of magical buff?
Their noses are that sensitive.
Thanks to the military dog and everyone's search, two more were found―― a total of four explosives.
A search was conducted by the military dog from top to bottom, so there shouldn't be any remaining explosives―― it should be.
There is no absolute with these things.
How will the hotel respond?
For now, will they close for about a week?
The damaged places need to be repaired too...
It would be nice if the captured guys vomited out that they set X number of explosives.
First of all, there is the problem of whether that testimony is true.
In manga and anime, there are things like truth serums, but do those really exist?
There might be magic like that... but I haven't heard of it.
No, maybe they exist, but I should say their usage hasn't been clarified yet.
"Haa, what a pain..."
"Thank you for your hard work."
At the lobby, I was saluted by the Self-Defense Forces.
"Really, because of me, I caused trouble for everyone..."
"That is not the case. The terrorists are the ones at fault."
"It is grateful that you say that... haha."
The floor is burnt, the walls are full of holes, and all the ceiling lights burst.
Does this mean the other electrical equipment is dead too?
Should I compensate?
That part will be a discussion with the hotel in the future.
The work is finished, so I contacted the Princess.
"It's over for now, but I don't know if the explosives were completely removed."
『The woman you eliminated said she set four explosives』
"Did you interrogate her?"
『Yes』
I hurriedly called the Self-Defense Forces captain.
"The assassin I eliminated in my room talked, and said there were four explosives."
"Is that true?"
"How much can we trust the assassin's words..."
"But the numbers match."
"That's true."
For now, it seems they will continue to be on guard.
As I thought that, the guests began to return.
The explosives haven't become 100% zero yet, but...
――I spoke to the staff.
Since there are no other hotels in the Special District, they said they would like to return to their rooms even if there is a little danger.
Indeed, if you leave the hotel, the only other options are like cheap inns.
No, no, there are hotels if you go to Haneda.
Originally, they came here knowing the Special District is dangerous, so is this just enough as a story?
The target of this terrorist attack being me has not been told to the guests.
They are being treated as just terrorists and disposed of.
――For now, let's return to the room.
"I'm back. Are you okay?"
"Darling!"
The Princess ran over and hugged me.
"Good, good. Thank you for protecting our room."
I looked around the room, but the curtains were still closed, and the windows didn't seem to be broken.
Did they not grasp this location?
The female assassin who attacked me was also recovered.
"Darling, are you injured?"
She was checking my body.
"I'm fine. What about you two?"
"There was absolutely no problem."
Kaorulko answered with a smile.
"I see, that's good."
"What happened to the explosives?"
"A military dog came and searched for them, so they should all be removed... but as the Princess said, there were four."
"Then what that woman said was true."
"How did you make her talk?"
"I pampered her a little, then repeated healing with potions and Heal."
Even an assassin's heart might break from that.
The Princess calmly narrating the aftermath is scary.
Kaorulko is also smiling brightly―― this is bad.
Men might hold back because the opponent is a woman, but maybe because they are the same sex?
"Hmm~"
The Princess hugged me and wouldn't let go.
"If we stay in this hotel, we will be targeted. Shouldn't I leave the hotel?"
『If Darling leaves, I will leave too!』
"No, no. If you leave the hotel, you can't have such comfortable living."
『We can buy a building and renovate it』
"Is there such a building? They are mostly makeshift buildings like barracks..."
After all, there are no building laws or anything like that.
This is a place where such laws don't apply.
『Then, setting up a base at Haneda is also an option』
"That would cause trouble for ordinary people... the people here are okay because they gathered understanding the danger."
『Then, it's best to look for real estate within the Special District! I have a lead』
Kaorulko seemed to have already prepared several plans in case such a situation arose.
As expected, capable women are different.
I immediately called the front desk and tried to tell them I was leaving the room――.
The manager in a suit and tie flew over.
He was a chubby middle-aged man with a small mustache.
"W-what, did an employee do something rude?!"
"No, no, that's not it. We have been well taken care of by this hotel."
"T-then, what is it..."
"Eh? No, no, it's about today. If I stay here, I might be targeted again. Then, the hotel and guests would be troubled again."
『If Darling leaves, we will leave too』
"T-that would be troubling! If we drive the young lady out of the hotel, we will be hung from the group!"
The manager put his hand on the carpet on the floor.
"Eh? That's not right, is it? We are the ones saying we are leaving."
"That is why, please forgive us with all your heart!"
"Ehhh? But, it causes trouble for the hotel and guests..."
"No! We do not think it is troublesome at all."
It seems that having the top-ranker Cherry Princess live in the hotel gives this Special District prestige and turns it into a land of adventureers' dreams.
Well, I can understand that kind of thing...
They say that because Cherry Princess is here, it is safe even in an emergency.
"But, if guests are harmed..."
"Today's trouble received absolutely no complaints from the guests."
Rather, it seems the guests were in a good mood because it was "Special District-like."
Originally, the people who came to the Special District seeking dangerous excitement and stayed at the hotel probably thought it was good that they got that excitement.
There were foreign guests too, but I thought they would be sensitive to terrorism...
"So, there is no problem with us staying at the hotel?"
"On the contrary, we are asking you to stay here for a long time."
He was covered in sweat.
"Well, that's fine... but at least compensation for damages..."
"No, no! That is unthinkable! The terrorists did it! All the blame is on the terrorists!"
According to him, the repairs will be covered by insurance, so there is no problem.
"I see, if that's the case... Princess, is that okay?"
『Of course, if Darling is fine, there is no problem』
"Then, please continue as before."
"Haha~! We, in turn, ask for your long-term patronage."
His head was almost touching the carpet.
For me too, this place is convenient.
If the hotel says it's fine, there is no problem.
I can use electricity as much as I want.
There is room service and a cafe too.
Well, it became a big commotion, but we were supposed to have a work meeting from the Prime Minister――.
How did it come to this.
More importantly, is the government official who was replaced by the assassin okay?
What a disaster.