chapter04 · 117-ep117

Episode 114: The Karin Yamada Assassination Plan

My name is Mikel Kamasen.

I'm an assassin with one of the finest records in the underworld.

I've taken down countless formidable targets, and without exception, every one fell in a single blow. The result earned me my title: <Euthanasia>.

With work so clean that my targets feel no pain—never even realize they've died—I've completed every manner of high-difficulty request. Without boasting, I'm an assassin of exceptional skill.

And my current target is... Karin Yamada, the dungeon streamer presently causing an uproar across the world.

Even I hesitate a little to target a woman or child... but well, all lives are equal. With an enormous bounty on offer, it's a trivial concern.

I'm a first-rate explorer myself, one who had to delve to considerable depths to gain my current strength. Because I specialize in assassinating humans, my ability against monsters is merely adequate, but I can still earn plenty from dungeons. Yet the advance payment and success bonus were large enough to be impossible to ignore even after accounting for all of that.

Most importantly, bringing down that ridiculous monster would make my position in the underworld absolute. In this business, where grudges are plentiful, the prestige of slaying Karin Yamada would bring not just unquestioned standing but a degree of safety. This job offered benefits on many fronts.

Yeah, I know.

Ask a hundred thousand people whether anyone could defeat a monster who rampages through the abyssal layers, and all hundred thousand would answer instantly that it was impossible. Her abnormal combat power was obvious even through video. I too had been dumbfounded the first time I watched one of the clips making waves online. If some ignorant fool announced an intention to kill that monster, even I would mock them with all my strength. I'd point and laugh, asking what delusion had gotten into their head.

But I'm different.

I alone am different.

Naturally I could never match her in head-on combat... but as a first-rate assassin, I had solid grounds for believing I could kill her nonetheless.

※

"There. Target sighted. Just as the intel said."

An ordinary public high school in Tokyo.

Mikel Kamasen broke off his thoughts and smoothly narrowed his eyes when he spotted the girl emerging from its gate—Karin Yamada.

Her hair color differed from what she wore on-stream, and like any famous streamer, she covered her face with a mask, so the impression was quite different. But there was no mistake.

Today she was apparently neither going straight home nor heading to the dojo she'd recently begun attending, but instead going out for fun. Karin Yamada walked alongside a girl who appeared to be a friend toward a nearby shopping district... and for Kamasen, that only made things more convenient.

For a monster of her caliber the difference was probably negligible, but having her surrounded by people and absorbed in conversation with a friend increased his assassination odds.

(Besides, with my ability, I could complete the mission even if she were surrounded by bodyguards in the worst case.)

Following Karin and her companion, Kamasen increased the output of the skill he had kept permanently active.

His unique skill <Smallest Assassin> completely severed all traces of mana, bloodlust, and attack until the instant before a hit landed. It was literally a sure-kill skill, one that had slipped past the vigilance of numerous detection-specialist bodyguards and targets to bring countless assassinations to success.

Naturally, even this skill was not omnipotent.

Its effect weakened at the moment of attack.

But only for the briefest instant.

A faint trace leaked out only when he was on the very verge of touching their skin. No matter how monstrous the opponent, completely evading an attack that appeared from point-blank range while they were off guard was impossible.

(And Karin Yamada should be no exception. If anything, people who excel at detection react even more slowly to attacks appearing from entirely outside their awareness.)

He did not rely solely on his powerful unique skill. Kamasen layered ordinary presence-erasure skills atop it, and used pure technique to blend his gaze and body language perfectly among the common people as he drew steadily closer to the target. Tokyo attracted more races than almost anywhere else in Japan, and a foreigner mingling in a busy shopping district attracted little attention, making this almost too easy.

Once directly behind Karin Yamada, Kamasen reached for the object inside his coat.

<Mercy Strike>, a top-class magical weapon whose one-hit penetration grew the more mana was stored within it. Together with <Smallest Assassin>, this stiletto-shaped one-hit-kill weapon had made Kamasen into <Euthanasia>.

(An attack-presence-erasing skill combined with a focused-penetration weapon that produces unrivaled destructive power after storing mana for dozens of days. No one's ever survived this.)

Controlling even his own heartbeat, Kamasen licked his lips, silently and coldly.

(Hah. Maybe they trust Karin Yamada's strength, but she doesn't even have a proper guard. I thought this would be the hardest job of my life, but Japan being peace-addled sure helps...!)

After firmly checking once more for any suspicious presences, he brought Karin Yamada within striking range.

(Sorry, monster girl, but your legend ends here! Starting today, it'll be nothing more than a past accomplishment decorating MY legend!)

Concentrating every nerve, Kamasen launched the fastest possible attack with zero presence from behind Karin, straight at a vital point.

(Got her!)

Kamasen was certain the mission had succeeded as the fatal strike drove toward her utterly defenseless back.

The next instant—POP! CRACK-CRUNCH-SMASSSSSSH!

"...............Hah?"

He registered a bursting noise and the sound of something hard being pulverized—and immediately afterward, Kamasen's eyes bulged.

The arm he had attacked with was shattered in multiple places, and he'd dropped <Mercy Strike>.

"!? GUOOOOOOOOOOOOH!?"

What!? What happened!? Did she counterattack!?

No, impossible. The effect of <Smallest Assassin> had still been fully active at that timing, so she couldn't possibly have sensed the attack. Then had Karin Yamada attacked him by some random coincidence just as he approached!? No, wait, stay calm. He was trained to withstand pain, and the mana stored inside <Mercy Strike> hadn't been released yet, so if he picked it up immediately and caught her off guard—wait—

(IT HUUUUUUUUUUURTS!? What the hell!? It isn't just broken, the bone is pulverized!? I'm almost level 3000 and THIS happened—an ordinary person's entire upper body would be gone!? She shouldn't have sensed the attack... which means she threw that blow at a random passerby for nothing but coming close to her!? I mean, I'm the guy trying to assassinate her, so I can't really talk!?)

"E... HOGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?"

While Kamasen descended into the depths of total confusion, an even more confused scream rang out.

It came from Karin, who had noticed Kamasen lying there covered in cold sweat.

"Eh, eh, what is this, desu no!? I-I'm sorry! To fight surprise-attack-specialist monster-samas in the abyss that have zero presence, I acquired a habit of reflexively countering attacks that suddenly appear nearby after slipping through my detection with corresponding force...! Wh-why did it suddenly activate, desu no!?"

(Hah...?)

At Karin's words as she frantically apologized in complete confusion, Kamasen—who understood Japanese to a degree—was struck speechless too.

N-no, wait. "The presence of an attack suddenly appearing"? The effect of <Smallest Assassin> shouldn't even have weakened at that point...?

"Wh-what is going on, desu no...!? Could you possibly have attacked me? N-no, but even if you can erase your presence nicely, surely no fool would attack in broad daylight with such a difference in strength... Ah! Could this weapon have been about to misfire, desu no!?"

In front of the bewildered Kamasen, the panicking Karin picked up <Mercy Strike>.

"You mustn't walk through the city carrying an exposed weapon like this, desu wa! It violates the rules, and it is dangerous! I shall drain the remaining mana, all right!?"

GAKIN!

Having seen through the magic equipment's operation with one glance, Karin struck <Mercy Strike> against her own fist to release the mana before it could harm the surroundings. All its stored power discharged at once... yet Karin had apparently used some defensive or fist-hardening skill, because her hand didn't bear so much as a scratch.

"Hah...? Hah...?"

The pulverized fracture's pain no longer mattered.

People who saw Kamasen suddenly crouch and groan in front of the two high-school girls passed by to avoid trouble, while Karin stared down at him with eyes no less confused, "????" practically floating over her head.

"H-huh? This is unexpectedly well made, so it does not seem to have misfired... Eh, then could it truly have been my fist malfunctioning, desu no!? Th-that is strange, desu wa...!? I have perfect control over that even when sleeping, so I can share Mafuyu's futon safely, and I can even crush a flying mosquito with just the right amount of force...! Eh, th-then did this person truly launch a surprise attack despite the vast difference in strength... Could he be one of those suspicious people Mafuyu said would appear once I became a famous streamer...? N-no, regardless, it is true I gravely injured him, so a hospital—I must call a hospital first, desu wa! 117! 117! ...Hah!? What do you mean, what time is it? I know what time it is, desu wa!? What shall I do, Mafuyu? The hospital is broken, desu wa!"

"Calm down, Karin. I'll call an ambulance and handle everything else."

"Ah, ah...!"

(Th-this thing is bad...! Way too dangerous...! I mean, I knew that, but she's even worse than I imagined...! In every possible way...!)

Delayed fear now rose inside Kamasen, blotting out even the agony. Despair at realizing he had touched a monster he should never have laid a hand on.

Faced with her overwhelming ability and behavior suggesting she didn't even recognize him as an assassin—as a threat worth entering combat mode over—his body began moving on its own.

Leaving behind the panicking Karin, who was flailing in circles crying, "I have done it now, desu wa...! I have truly done it now, desu wa...!" Kamasen tried to flee with no concern for appearances, using his uninjured legs. But before he could actually move—

"Ah! You mustn't move with such an injury, desu wa! I happen to be out of first-aid potions and such at the moment... You will only make it worse, desu no!"

GRAB!

As if she'd predicted his movement, she caught his uninjured shoulder, and Kamasen froze perfectly still.

(Wh-what is this monstrous strength...!? No, this control!? It doesn't hurt at all, but my body won't budge an inch...!? )

It felt as if his life was literally in her grasp.

Kamasen's entire body grew drenched in sweat from fear rather than pain, and as he breathed, "Hhyoo, hhyoo," an ambulance arrived unexpectedly quickly.

Karin appeared genuinely not to believe he was an assassin and seemed purely determined to get him medical care as soon as possible. Terrifying. Kamasen also panicked for an instant at the thought of being so conspicuously carried off to a public institution despite having entered the country illegally, but—

(N-no, this actually works for me! My arm's badly injured, but I'm still a professional! Even if they carry me to a hospital full of cops, I can escape—and hell, I can get off the ambulance along the way! Right now, anything is fine as long as it gets me away from this monster as quickly as possible—)

"Oh, thank goodness they arrived so quickly! U-um, you are a foreigner, correct, desu wa!? It appears you do not understand much Japanese either, so I shall take responsibility for all the forms and such, desu wa! I shall thoroughly cover your treatment costs as well!"

She's coming with me...!?

Kamasen's face went pale at the sight of Karin trying to climb into the ambulance.

But at that moment—

"No, I'll take care of that stuff for you later. I called the police along with the ambulance, so go explain what happened to them first. You don't understand detailed paperwork anyway, do you?"

"Eh? W-well, that certainly is true, but..."

"It's fine. Okay? Look, the police are already over there, so come with me."

"V-very well, desu wa! Sorry, but I would feel more at ease leaving the paperwork to you, Mafuyu... Foreigner-sama! If anything comes up, please contact me through the police, desu no! I will absolutely take responsibility!"

(Eh...?)

Karin Yamada, still apparently confused, was pulled away by the friend who'd been beside her—SLAM!

The ambulance's rear doors shut with Kamasen inside, and as the siren wailed, the vehicle began moving, making the monster ojou-sama vanish from view.

Kamasen stared blankly at the turn of events for a while.

(I-I don't know what happened, but did I... get away...?)

Perhaps the lunatic Karin Yamada aside, the people around her must have judged that someone with an injury this severe and no weapon posed no flight risk. A patrol car was following the ambulance, but its occupants did not seem particularly impressive.

(H-hahaha. Japan really is peaceful.)

True, while Kamasen was almost level 3000, he specialized in presence manipulation. Losing his weapon and suffering such a severe injury had caused his combat power to plummet. But even so, for one who had lived in the underworld for many years, escaping this situation—including the patrol car in pursuit—would be easy.

(For now, I'll stay quiet until we get as far as possible from that monster, and then I'll escape. After that, I'm never comin' near this country again...! Talk about a job not being worth it...!)

Kamasen sighed in relief and went to shift his body inside the ambulance, which, perhaps only in his imagination, seemed to be driving unusually slowly—and then it happened.

"...Huh?"

At some point.

Without him noticing when, impossibly thin threads had wrapped around his body and bound him to the stretcher.

(Hah...!? What the hell is this!? Wait, my body's barely moving either!? )

Startled, Kamasen tried to tear the threads away, only to realize another abnormality and widen his eyes.

Far from snapping the thread, everything below his neck had gone numb without him noticing, leaving him completely unable to move.

(Wh!? Paralysis status!? I-impossible... I have resistance skills against that kind of thing!? So how did it work normally...!? More importantly, even if my guard dropped after escaping that monster, how the hell did I get restrained without noticing ANYTHING...!? )

"Haaah. He was pointlessly skilled enough that Karin panicked more than expected. I'll have to make it up to her subtly later."

"Hah...?"

There beside the increasingly confused Kamasen.

When had she gotten inside?

Friend A, who should have led Karin Yamada toward the police, sat beside the stretcher with the most natural expression in the world.

(Hah...!? Wh-what IS she!? When did she!? How!? From where!? )

Countless questions raced through Kamasen's stunned mind.

Naturally, Friend A—Mafuyu Sasaki—had no intention of explaining that after bringing Karin to the police, she had immediately left using a suitable excuse and boarded the ambulance, which was traveling slowly along a prearranged route, without anyone noticing.

"Now then. Being too overprotective would have the opposite effect, so—much as I truly hated it—I deliberately allowed one harmless piece of garbage through, while remaining ready to intervene at any time, just so that girl would develop some proper caution toward attackers..."

Quietly, dispassionately, Mafuyu looked down at the completely immobilized Kamasen as though regarding garbage.

"But a surprisingly big catch came right away. To think some idiotic faction really did place an enormous bounty just to set personnel of this caliber on Karin... Is there a country that panicked that badly over Karin joining forces with the age-fraud woman, or is something else moving, just as that age-fraud woman warned...?"

"Ah... ah...!? Don't tell me... you people knew every move I made from the very start...!?"

Mafuyu scattered killing intent, completely unlike when she had been in the city with Karin, and the ambulance crew in front removed their helmets to reveal themselves as Public Security police. Kamasen's hoarse voice escaped him. But it was far too late for him to understand.

Before Kamasen's gaze, Mafuyu shook her head. "No point thinking about it now. He probably doesn't have much useful information either."

Then, narrowing eyes at absolute zero as though pronouncing a death sentence, she said—

"Modern Japan won't let us interrogate you thoroughly and put your head on display afterward, so this is the scenario we'll use to make an example of you: 'Every last assassin who entered Japan vanished without a trace.' You will spend the rest of your life regretting that you tried to lay a hand on my best friend."

"Ah, ah... UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?"

The paralysis completely sealed even that scream the next instant.

After that day, <Euthanasia> vanished without a trace.

As for Karin, the police later explained: "He was a troublesome viewer seeking to test his strength after watching your videos. The authorities will handle his treatment costs and everything that follows, so you needn't worry, and your counterattack in public fell within legitimate self-defense. That said, similar people may challenge you in the future, so please remain thoroughly cautious."

―――――――――――――――――――――――――

As for a foreigner having readings assigned to ability names and so forth, please treat it like HUNTER × HUNTER.

And as you may already have guessed, the assassin group is neither an opponent for showing Karin ojou-sama's training results nor practice fodder. It's positioned as "this sort of thing also happened during her training period," desu wa. (We did see a glimpse of her results in how she held his shoulder.)

Also, the previous afterword was just a joke, so please don't worry, desu wa~!

※Furthermore, tomorrow, Thursday the 29th, in the evening, I'll announce the Melonbooks bonuses for Ojou-sama Buzz volume two! This time there is a paid bonus too, desu wa!