c41-c60 · 041-ch41

Chapter 41: Front Row Seat | POV: Negomin

I looked around, but no one was looking my way. Yet someone invisible stood right beside me.

"You probably shouldn't look around so much~. You're the one who'll get in trouble for standing out, Negomin~"

"...!"

"It's okay~, I won't do anything weird as long as you don't make a fuss or raise your voice~"

An unstable, elusive voice echoed softly, softly through my mind. My throat felt tight with tension—I wasn't even sure if I was breathing.

What should I do? Run to the Management Bureau? Or shout for help right here...? No, that won't work. Even if I tried in this situation where I can't see them, I'd just be laughed at.

If only I had even a little information...

"...Who are you?"

At my desperate, squeezed-out question, the unidentified threatener let out a soft laugh.

"That's no good, Negomin. Asking something like that tells them you don't know anything~. In times like this, you need to act more resolute~"

I really should have asked for help the moment this happened. But I'm not so composed that I can just stay silent when provoked like this.

"...It's not that I don't know anything."

"Oh? What do you know~?"

"You're... in my shadow, aren't you?"

I can tell. This person is in my shadow right now. Actually, that's all I can tell, but...

Skill or magic—I don't know which. But given the current situation, this should be enough to keep them in check.

"Heh, you noticed. Negomin, you're more capable than I thought~"

But my meager deterrent seemed to have no effect on her. Then, to my anticlimactic surprise, she appeared before me with ease.

"Hello~, I'm Mirara from Diacele. If you'd like, call me Mirara-chan~"

What emerged from the shadow was a slender silver-haired girl. Though her refined appearance sent chills down my spine, I couldn't sense a shred of malice from her. But I knew all about this person.

'Mirror Mimic' Mirara. The phantom demon who comes and goes like a ghost, a walking storm, Diacele's one and only troublemaker despite their upright reputation. Her ill fame is all I'd ever heard. Above all, she delights in being dungeon streamers' natural enemy—interfering with explorers during their streams, stirring up trouble, and wrecking their broadcasts.

And now that person was looking at me with a refreshing smile, as if toying with me.

"At first I came for that uncle... Shibasaki-san, was it? But the situation's gotten way more interesting than I expected~"

"...If you're looking for Shibasaki-san, there's no point in doing anything to me. He and I have no connection whatsoever."

When Shibasaki-san's name came up, I more or less understood why she'd approached me. Like the explorers who came to Shinjuku Dungeon today, she must be here to recruit Shibasaki-san.

Once I understood that much, I felt somewhat relieved. No matter what she does to me now, it won't cause Shibasaki-san any trouble.

"Good~, Negomin has the right misunderstanding~"

"...Huh?"

"You really think I don't know anything about you in this situation? You're from that facility's survivors, aren't you~?"

So when Mirara said that, I felt like my heart had been grabbed directly.

No way, how does she know...

"It's written all over your face, Negomin~"

"...!"

"Well, I don't plan to do anything about your past~. This time I really just have a small favor to ask. I showed myself like this because I want you to trust me~"

"...What kind of favor?"

"Oh? You'll hear me out?"

Mirara wore a beaming smile as she said that, her expression unwavering. Even I could tell there'd never been an option to refuse.

"It's nothing difficult. Just let me stay in Negomin's shadow for tomorrow~"

"...?"

The favor she proposed with those words was this nonsensical request about staying in my shadow.

"Why would you..."

"You see~, when I watch movies, I'm the type to buy up all the front row seats~"

"Huh?"

"Don't get it? I enjoy interesting things the most. And I don't want anyone interfering with that enjoyment. That's all."

Only then did I finally realize. That pure curiosity without malice can be the very madness that destroys people.

A disgusting amount of joy from the bottom of her heart clung unnaturally to the face of that girl laughing so carefreely.