Chapter 183

Episode 179: The Supreme Appreciation of the Star Reader’s Staff

That day was an unlucky one.

For the evildoers, it was nothing short of the worst such hellish day.

Forty percent of the underground organizations nesting within Academy City were wiped out in this short period, with all their members meeting a gruesome death to the extent that they would never be able to rise again.

It showed no regard for research results or sales and responded to no negotiation—it was like a disaster without intent.

Its name: Solciera.

A monster newly dubbed the Grim Reaper within just a few hours.

However, the person herself was completely unaware of this.

In fact, strictly speaking, she wasn’t even Solciera, but that mattered little.

She was currently in the middle of directly interfering with the minds of the organization’s personnel to gather information.

“I could really use meeting someone who knows the main base of the angels.”

The handle of a scythe pierced through the torso of a man.

There was no chance for retaliation.

One of the members died before he could even draw his gun, and Zero casually tossed him aside with disinterest.

Inside a certain organization’s underground facility, after killing everyone who had confronted her in the long, dimly lit corridor, Zero opened a door.

The room was enclosed on all sides by gray walls, creating a closed-in space.

At the center of the room were countless members.

Among them, a man sitting in a chair at the forefront stood out due to his flashy suit.

Seeing Zero, the man applauded.

“Remarkable, you’ve come this far. Should I commend you as befitting Solciera?”

“…I have no intention of engaging in pointless banter.”

Zero readied her large scythe.

In response, the members stepped forward to shield the man.

The man alone remained expressionless, continuing his conversation with a faint smile plastered on his face.

“Accept the praise graciously. You’ve done good work. You’ve eliminated several organizations that were thorns in our side.”

“You’ll soon follow them.”

“Hahaha! Is your bravado due to youth? It seems you don’t understand the fear of adults yet. Indeed, adults who stop being explorers often lose strength, but they also gain something else.”

He said this while standing up and equipping something resembling Dive Gear onto his arm.

“That is cunningness and power—something pure strength can do nothing against. This is the power that governs the world.”

“…Whatever. Do you know where the angels are?”

Hearing Zero’s words, the man momentarily looked surprised but then threw his head back and laughed loudly.

“Ahhahahahaha! So, you’re chasing the angels?! Then it was inevitable that you’d reach here!”

The man nodded as if understanding and continued.

“I know where the angels are.”

“So be it. I pray those words aren’t lies.”

Upon hearing this, the man raised the Dive Gear-equipped arm toward the sky.

A cold air began to spread around him.

“Do you know why I know where the angels are? Because I’m a man chosen by the angels. One of the three heroes selected by them—that’s me!”

Before anyone realized it, the entire room was covered in ice.

Zero recognized this ability.

“…Is this Reiko Hyououdou’s power?”

“Exactly. A certain woman successfully managed to replicate it but died midway. Afterward, we continued her work and mass-produced S-Rank powers under the guidance of the angels. Isn’t it awesome?”

“The analysis of abilities like these has already been completed. I think resistance will be futile.”

“Haha! Hey, did you hear that, everyone? He says he can take all of us on!”

As the man said this, all the members equipped the same armbands.

The chilling cold grew even more intense.

“I told you, it’s mass production. Nowadays, S-Rank is just a kid’s play!”

“…I see. Just some low-level individuals with borrowed power, huh?”

At Zero’s words, the man twitched his eyebrows.

Then, pointing at Zero, he shouted.

“Go, you bastards! Teach that naive kid what it means to fear adults!”

On hearing the man’s command, all the members moved at once.

Numerous ice projectiles, crawling cold air, and blizzards surrounding Zero—all were equivalent to S-Rank.

But Zero didn’t move despite facing them.

Even though the opponents possessed borrowed powers, they were in vast quantities of S-Rank.

Still…

(Hmm, so this is all there is?)

Zero stood still and continued taking the attacks.

Just before reaching her, all the ice was interfered with and neutralized.

But the members didn’t notice this and kept attacking relentlessly.

(What about proxy calculations? With so many people using their abilities, maybe the angel is shouldering the load?)

While idly pondering this, Zero decided to kill everyone first.

And just as she started moving…

“…!?”

Her body suddenly went limp.

When Zero, who instinctively dropped to one knee, was seen by the man, he exclaimed.

“Look! In the end, you’re just a kid! Thinking you can do everything alone leads to this!”

“It’s not that your abilities are affecting me.”

Saying this, Zero stood up.

However, her expression seemed perplexed.

(…Suddenly, the supply of magical power has decreased. What’s going on? Where did the absurd amount of magical power sent until now go?)

Zero exists in this world based on magical power.

Thus, any abnormality in its source would immediately cause changes.

But even this was within Zero’s expectations.

(This is why we have surveillance cameras, isn’t it? ^)

Casually deflecting the ice attacks, Zero accessed the video feed from the five cameras installed in the room.

What appeared in the footage shocked Zero.

“…Huh?”

As expected, the troublesome fans who came to nurse her were in the footage.

The presence of Nameless was unexpected but still within acceptable limits.

What truly shook Zero’s mind was the sight of her master transformed into a young girl.

(…What is this… What?)

Seeing herself being carried piggyback by Rinka and laughing innocently, Zero quickly rewound the footage.

She understood that the transformation originated from Nameless’s Trans Anchor.

Simultaneously, she grasped the reason for the discomfort in her own body.

(A massive consumption of magical power caused by Trans Anchor, I see. That’s quite an ingenious use.)

Zero sincerely praised Nameless’ actions.

Afterward, what she began to do was…

(Let’s watch the footage for a bit longer, shall we? ^)

Even with enemies in front of her, there was no reason not to watch her master as a young girl.

However, Zero would soon regret this decision.

(…Wh-what is this—too damn cute! Eh, is she this adorable?! I want to hug her already!?)

An existence outside the concept of the beautiful girls that formed Zero’s framework until now.

It was far too criminal and yet incredibly alluring to call it a mere fetish.

Most importantly, what gripped her heart was the contrast with the usual mysterious Solciera.

(Mysterious beautiful girls are innocent when young… Is that how it works? And my slightly sweaty partner… Too sexy. In cases like this, technically, since it’s not exactly loli, is touching allowed?)

Using the computational power of Demons Gear, Zero constructed the form of a lolicon.

The monster reached a higher level of monstrosity that day.

(I can’t stay here. I need to kill these people quickly and continue watching.)

For the first time that day, Zero decided to get serious.

Though, one swing was enough to settle everything.

“…Eh?”

The heads of all the people except the man fell off.

Blood sprayed out, staining the surroundings red.

“What have you done, you fiend!”

“I merely specified coordinates and fired converging artillery attacks from inside everyone’s necks. This is a technique beyond her capabilities for now, so I’ll have to teach her later, won’t I? ^”

With wide, bloodshot eyes, Zero slowly approached the man.

The man prepared his Dive Gear, but the freezing ability had already lost its effect.

“Why! Why can’t I use my abilities!”

“Such toys can be broken without even touching them. Fragile, aren’t they, the tools made by adults?”

Taking a step closer to the man, Zero said dreamily,

“Children are good too. Because of their innocence, they can reach certain realms. …Don’t you agree?”

Behind her, another voice of Zero was heard.

The man lost sight of Zero, and only feathers were floating in the air.

Attempting to turn around hastily, the man felt an excruciating pain in his neck and froze.

“G-guh… w-wait. I’ll provide any information…”

“I’ll extract it directly, so your death doesn’t matter.”

Saying this, Zero began to interfere with the man’s brain.

Unlike previous instances, she delved deeper into the brain this time.

The man’s breathing stopped during the process, but it was of no consequence.

“If someone shoulders such immense power, it must be the angels.”

Zero was searching for the destination of the load from the man’s use of abilities.

Tracing the invisible circuits, eventually, an image of a certain building appeared in Zero’s mind.

And the sight of a turtle swimming inside a giant monitor.

“I’ve found it.”

Zero smiled.

Then, pulling her hand out of the man’s neck, she threw the corpse to the ground.

“Hmm, my partner’s condition has improved, and the enemy isn’t much either.”

Thinking this, Zero sat in the chair where the man had been sitting.

Using the dead man’s body as a footrest, she expanded a virtual window.

The image of her youthful partner appeared on it.

“I’ll watch for a bit longer, shall I? ^”

Clearly a waste of time and a low-priority choice.

Yet, succumbing to desire, her actions were unmistakably human, though Zero hadn’t noticed it yet.