Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 216



Only Krnovel

The Regressor’s Notepad 216

Setup (3)

Raye and I advanced through the monster infested area. It wasn’t that dangerous, as the sign said “Beginner”.

Rather, like a walking path, the chatter of students coming out of their teammates flows in.

“Zion, have you ever caught a monster?”

Raye asked. The guy had a relaxed look on his face. He was very proud.

“uh.”

“Of course not- What? There is?”

I caught quite a few monsters in my past life. It was different then from now, but I was quick to catch them.

A life where you live hand to mouth, investing 70% of the money you earn from hunting monsters into equipment and consumables, and the remaining 20% ​​on medicine.

“Not in the dungeon. I mean actual monsters.”

“So it exists.”

I drew my sword from my waist. There before me was a red wolf, its teeth gnashing fiercely.

Blood Wolf.

It is a beast possessed by a coin demon, so it is surprisingly difficult to deal with. Just like rabies, it is fatal if bitten even once.

I asked Raye.

“What do you want to do?”

“okay.”

“No, not okay, but what are you going to do?”

“Moga.”

“No. You have to come up with a strategy.”

“… … Oh really?”

Raye thought about it for a moment.

“Zion, you go first. I’ll assist you from behind.”

Since he’s a solo hero, teaming will be awkward.

“How are you going to help? Do you have any skills or magic?”

“… … Wait a minute.”

Raye narrowed her eyes and thought deeply, then snapped her fingers.

“I’ll give you a buff.”

“buff?”

It’s highly likely that my body won’t be affected by buffs or anything like that. My magical immunity is too strong.

“Yeah. Look!”

Raye fired her magic.

Swish swish── It turned into a rough particle and stuck to my body.

“「Magic Armor」! How is it─?”

“… … Good.”

Fortunately, it is an armor that acts outside the body, so it can be used on me as well.

“Go.”

I took a step forward. The moment the Blood Wolf leaped up with its hind legs, I struck it back with my “Eight Swords”.

Chaeng──!

A similar sound rang out from the teeth and the sword. The one that bounced off bent down and put his teeth into my ankle.

Kak-!

Raye’s “magic armor” instead broke my teeth. I thrust my sword into the mouth of the bastard who was retreating with a groan.

──!

“Oh. Is that good?”

I looked back at Raye. Raye laughed out loud, “Hahaha!”

“ha ha ha!”

“… …Why are you laughing?”

“Hahaha! Sion, you don’t know this, but that “magic armor” is still connected to me. I’m supplying it with magic power. That means you’re invincible until my magic power runs out.”

“Oh, really? Then let’s keep going.”

“Hahaha! That’s right.”

We hunted monsters, and the mafia was still on our trail.

However, I won’t rush in rashly. Even if they’re a mafia, they’ll know who Laye Hilton is next to me.

“Oh. We’ve already caught nine of them? Can we go back now?”

Disposing of the corpse in Monster Hunt is easy. Just give the GPS location to the cleaners and they will take care of it.

Yeah, that’s what I used to do before I returned.

“Then let’s go slowly.”

“Okay. Let’s have a bet to see who goes first!”

“… … Ah, no. I’m tired. You just stayed still.”

“Okay! Let’s go!”

The guy ran first.

“ha…….”

I had no choice but to chase after him. At first, I walked on a ground made of grass.

But at some point, it became a dirt road.

The dense bushes disappeared, and the entire area became a wasteland.

“… … .”

It suddenly became like this.

I stood still and looked around.

It is not an illusion. My body will resist illusion.

If so, you are trapped.

Waaa …

A sword flew out of the air. I quickly deflected it, but that was only the beginning.

Wheeeeeeee… … .

Right. Countless soldiers rush toward me like a flock of migratory birds blown by the wind.

──! ─! ─! ─! ─!

I swung my sword and struck them all down. It wasn’t that difficult.

Just move it like you’re playing the piano.

─! ──! ─! ───!

Suddenly, I heard the sound of someone gnashing their teeth. It was probably the mafia.

It seems like I was the only one who was trapped while Raye was away… … .

It’s the worst choice.

────!

I just need to buy time. I just need to swing my sword and stay alive. I don’t need to go out and deal with them myself.

The reason is simple.

Because ‘that guy’ will be here soon.

Quazzz …

Just then, a crack appeared in the air. The trap had been sabotaged from the outside.

I think I lasted about 30 minutes.

Step by step── Step by step──

It’s a bit of a cliché and boring development, but still, a woman in a suit, who was expected to appear, walks into a crack in the trap.

─Are you okay?

She asked me. I answered blankly.

“… … Ah, yes.”

─Here, criminals are attacking people.

It was then that I realized it too late.

This guy knew he was being followed from the beginning.

─Then, I’ll be patrolling here, so be careful.

Milada was there, of all people, in place of Raye.

You may be suspicious, but it’s better not to be.

Kwaaaa …

The guy jumped up with both feet kicking.

Clang──! I destroyed the core of the trap with a headbutt.

The scenery changed back to an ordinary forest, and the mafia’s presence quickly dispersed.

“… … Doesn’t this seem a little obvious?”

A small smile appeared on my lips.

At that very moment, the sound of someone running from behind was heard.

“Hey! Hey, hey, Zion!”

She spoke as if she had come back to me too late.

“Where have you been?! I’ve been looking for you for a long time!”

“I don’t know either.”

“You don’t know?! I was just looking for you!”

“okay?”

I deliberately made a blank expression.

“… … Zion. Why? What happened?”

I shrugged my shoulders at the innocent look on her face as she asked innocently.

“Uh… … Mila just came and went.”

Again, on the way home in the car.

Raye muttered as she turned on the radio.

“… … Zion. Who do you owe anything to these days?”

“no.”

I answered calmly. Raye tilted her head.

“That’s strange.”

“why.”

“… … It’s nothing~”

The guy who noticed me following him probably helped me on purpose. He knew that the mafia would attack me if he wasn’t there, so he stepped aside to invite the attack and then kicked me out as Mila.

─Here’s the news. The convenience store robbers arrested by Mila in Trick City last night…

Just then, a story about Mila came on the radio. I glanced at Raye.

“Hey. Aren’t you Mila too?”

“… … Yeah? Well, I know. But~ I don’t really like that person~”

Raye got lucky for no reason.

“Isn’t this the same Trick City?”

“I don’t know~ What kind of woman is she? She always causes trouble.”

“Oh. Mila was a girl?”

“… … .”

At my words, Raye’s face hardened for a moment. Her fingertips and toes became noticeably stiff. Even her breathing was inaudible.

I said calmly.

“The voice sounds like a woman’s.”

“… … .”

Raye closed her mouth. She ran her tongue across the inside of her lips and glanced at me.

“Then, what do you think of the human named Mila?”

“Of course he’s a good person.”

That’s all I answered.

“……really?”

“Oh. You just helped me out on the field? Why don’t you believe me?”

“No. Not that. He just has a similar personality.”

I was at a loss for what to say, but I just told the truth.

“What are you asking? I can’t even imagine sacrificing myself to help others.”

“… … .”

Then Raye slightly turned her face out the window, trying to hide her expression.

─Regarding Mila’s continued hero activities, the public is now calling for Trick City to change and enact related laws.

“Of course, Mila can call upon the villains’ heavy armor.

“… … What does that mean?”

Raye asked.

“It’s a famous story. When citizens carry knives, criminals carry pistols, and when citizens carry pistols, criminals carry submachine guns.”

“… … .”

A fairly famous hero’s dilemma.

Raye also seemed to be lost in thought for a moment.

“But somehow.”

I looked back at Raye. Raye also glared at me askance.

“I think Mila can overcome anything.”

“… … .”

Raye’s expression wavered slightly, but she said nothing.

I think this guy shouldn’t talk too much.

“So, you’re saying that I think I could become a ‘real’ hero?”

“… … You’re so friendly? Did you really plan on meeting me today?”

“I told you I came and went. I helped him and he left.”

“What happened?”

“That’s a secret.”

“… … You’re a jerk. What are you helping me with? Are you being chased by debt collectors?”

Raye made a blunt expression. She pressed her face against the car window. Her cheeks were already flushed.

I smiled slightly and stepped on the accelerator.

Libra’s information agency.

I met Sonya again right after I broke up with Raye. She looked even more worn out, as if she had already lost hope.

“Come to your senses.”

“… … ”

She looked up at me as I spoke.

“It’s not over yet.”

“……under.”

The corner of her mouth twisted.

“Do you have any suspicions?”

“doubt.”

“Yes. I have a suspicious person, but I’m trying to match him with someone like Sonya.”

“What’s the use? Whether I suspect someone or not, I’ll be the culprit.”

“If Ms. Sonya tells me, I will have a reason to investigate him.”

The hint that it was an intelligence agency had already been given to her.

But Sonya sighed deeply and lowered her head.

“… … The information agency people came. They said that if we ended it here, they would spare our lives.”

There was no strength in that voice. As if someone had already given up. Like a twisted piece of wood.

I frowned.

“Are you thinking of giving up like this?”

“That could be the case.”

“That won’t do.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because you have Libra blood in you.”

“……what?”

A simple and pure praise of kinship.

Sonya’s shoulders trembled at my words. She looked into my eyes quietly.

“You, a blood relative of Libra, are you thinking of giving up your life to be bitten by a mere hound? I cannot tolerate that.”

“… … .”

Sonya gritted her teeth.

“then.”

He looked at me with dry eyes and asked.

“You think someone like you can clear my name? You want me to believe you? You’re the only follower of the youngest who has nothing.”

I met her eyes.

Unfortunately, she cannot be shown the evidence that was manipulated like Belmore—the burnt scrap of paper.

There are surprisingly many eyes looking at me now.

Instead, all I can say is this.

“Trust me. My efforts to believe in you.”

“……under.”

She smiled faintly, then her face became thoughtful for a moment. Then, out of the blue, she scribbled small letters with her finger.

[Bendeck]

Bendek.

Sonya also seems to be suspicious of him… … In fact, among the team leaders of the information agency, only Bendek is under Jedrick’s command.

It’s an inevitable doubt.

“Now do as you wish.”

“yes.”

I got up. I had the answer, so it was time to get moving.

“hey.”

Sonya called me. She looked up at me with her eyes that had suddenly become moist.

“Can I trust you too?”

“… … Yes. I always act in Libra’s best interests.”

That’s all he answered.

Actions that benefit Libra will soon save you.

Sonya smiled quietly, seeming secretly satisfied.

… …

The next morning.

I was given the information by Groul. It was Bendeck’s account and deposit records.

Bendek was extremely precise, but Growl’s tracking skills were even more astonishing.

Did he just stay locked up in the lab and study things like this?

‘It’s for sure! They have connections to the mafia! The money laundering methods are all mafia! In addition to this, there is also evidence of selling Libra’s interests for money!’

Thanks to that, I was able to get a lot of shit to bury on Bendek’s body.

However, I should not submit this.

This is not something an internal investigator should do.

From the beginning, my mission was only to find out whether ‘Sonya’s betrayal’ was true or not. Bendek’s corruption was not relevant.

“okay.”

but……

I have a guy who will move on his own.

Conveniently, there is no need to pass information directly to him.

There is a way to convey it very naturally.

Beep-

I opened the car door with the car key.

A mid-sized SUV. A dirty car full of ‘eavesdropping’ and ‘wiretapping’, a gift from Belmore.

I called Growl’s cell phone.

“That information. Is it true?”

─Yes.

From now on, Growl will pretend to be my personal informant.

─Team Leader Bendek of the Information Agency.

Growl spoke loudly enough that the sound leaked out of the phone.

Now, every conversation we have is leaked to ‘Belle More’.

─He’s selling Libra’s inside information to the mafia.

I pressed my temples together, pretending to be confused.

─Also… … We have also discovered circumstances where Bendek sold the business interests of his eldest son, Lord Jedrick. There are more than a few instances of him receiving bribes for entering the economic zone.

“This is clearly an abuse of authority. But I’ll cover it up.”

─Huh? You’re covering it?

I almost laughed a little at Growl’s realistic acting, but I forced myself to grit my teeth and continued speaking.

“Yes. It’s not about the corruption related to Sonnet Reveal. I’m just doing my job as an internal investigator… … .”

… …

─I am only faithful to my duties as an internal investigator… … .

“What the f*ck!”

Bellmore pounded his fists on the desk. He jumped up and paced around his private office.

“Why are you asking that? Ah.”

Belmore’s blood pressure rose as he listened to Zion’s words.

This kid is so unnecessarily loyal, honest, and principled.

It’s corruption that should never be asked about, but why are you asking about it?

“… … This is definitely that Bendek bastard’s setup.”

This is the whole Bendek setup.

Belmore was already convinced.

As the days went by, I became more and more confident, and that percentage, which started at 70%, just skyrocketed to 200%.

The intelligence team leader, Bendeck, made an operation to exclude Sonya and used him there.

“You piece of trash.”

“……so.”

The faint voice returned. Bendek looked at it.

“What are you going to do now?”

It was Riley.

Belmore shared this inside story with her before anyone else.

“This is definitely Bendek’s unilateral decision. Lord Jedrick doesn’t know about this.”

“……then?”

He ruffled my hair.

“Then what! We should strike first.”

Belmore said while eavesdropping on Zion Ascal.

“Zion Ascal has a personal informant. He seems to be quite capable… … I’ll get the information from him first. You give it to him.”

Riley shrugged, a little sheepishly.

“But it feels a bit weird for me to be involved.”

“You arrested Sonya along with me! You were also tricked by that bastard Bendek. If this goes wrong, we’ll all become accomplices. Do you think that bastard Bendek won’t cut off his tail?”

“… … .”

Riley also has no intention of refuting. Not only is Bendek’s character that insignificant, but as a member of the “Bancheon”, she wants to get rid of Bendek more than anyone else.

“Okay, I’ll help you this time. In return, I owe you something.”

“Yeah. I owe you a debt. Just keep quiet for now. I have to keep wiretapping.”

Belmore focused on the voice of Sion Ascal flowing from his earphones.