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Antagonist Protection Service-Chapter 146: Fear
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Shivers enshrouded my skin as my mind, heart and body all stopped, halted by an inordinate sense of fear that abruptly struck me.
For just a moment, I glimpsed it―the resplendent, golden iris of a dragon directing its pupil's jagged slit towards me.
At the same time, in that fraction of a second, an almost prophetic vision flashed before me.
―――Imminent death.
"...!"
Immediately I jumped back, falling flat on my ass and completely releasing the sniper rifle from my grasp, letting it fall to the ground with a clatter as I clutched desperately at my chest, the repeated thumping from within being all I could hear in a moment of sheer panic.
As if my heart was physically gripped, I felt an intense pressure hidden beneath that too-heavy breathing, but only after I slowly managed to calm myself did I realise I was safe, that sensation a mirage.
Even still, my body trembled.
I was covered head-to-toe in sweat out of nowhere, and while my rough panting gradually waned, I leaned back on the floor, my hand sweeping through my hair as I stared blankly up at the blue sky.
"Haa... fuu... haa..."
I couldn't even tell if the reason for it taking longer to gather my breath and calm down was a result of the mountain's elevation having a lower amount of available oxygen... or whatever the hell just happened.
My stomach, my arms, my legs, my hands, my fingers, my feet, my neck, my face, my eyes, my ears―all of me was quivering, trembling with what could have only been a primal sense of dread, even after the fact.
For a while, all I could do was lie there...
"Fuck..."
...Not understanding how I was still alive.
❖─────★★☆☆☆─────❖
In the end, it took a whole day for the tremors to fully subside.
That, and thanks to the soothing words of the Librarian who continued to send her motivating speeches with a helping hand, I was able to regain my previous composure.
This was still rated a 2-star Contract.
Even if there were things that existed here which did not belong, if the Difficulty was stated as such, then I must believe it to be so, and act accordingly.
Deciding to take full advantage of the time I had while the Protagonist and his harem were on their way back to the town, I knew I should start to act with more purpose.
It would take at least a few more days for them to do everything from returning to the city, to reporting back to the mayor, to doing whatever else they wanted to do their to then returning here, which I was certain the Protagonist would do as he had left some of his supplies behind in the rushed departure.
Even though it didn't work out this time, I was confident that my plan on sniping the Protagonist from the top of this mountain was the key to success.
It only failed because of "that" obstacle, so as long as I can secure a way to remove it from the equation, the mission should then succeed without issue.
To that end, I approached a particular one of the Dragon Tribe's Elders.
"Oh...? Indeed, the life without mana, whatever could you require?"
Thankfully, he also appeared to have calmed down since the day before, albeit with a tiny hint of something sad in his eyes.
"Excuse me if I'm being blunt, but is the relationship with your daughter a bit strained?"
"...Regrettably, it appears I might have come across as too strict. Haa, even though I only did it out of concern, in the end, she ran from home, just like her brother..."
"You mentioned that yesterday. Did he go to fight the Demon King?"
"Aye. Are you curious, impossible one? Come with me."
Giving me a glance, he led me to sit down comfortably in one of the smaller caverns before beginning his story.
In short, the previous Hero of this world, who was coincidentally a woman, once visited this Dragon Tribe in order to recruit their help for defeating the Demon King. For one reason or another, which the Elder curiously didn't seem eager to delve into, they refused, but his son, who became enamoured with the Hero, went off to join her anyway.
"―I hear the Hero's party is all dead now. Inevitable, considering the opponent."
"That's..."
It sounded terrible, honestly, but seeing how frankly he said it, maybe it happened too long ago for it to cause a rise out of him. Even though his son was one of the victims.
"Is the Demon King that strong?"
'Surely not, right? If that were the case, and he is the Antagonist, then how would someone so weak like the Protagonist kill him? Even if he tames a bunch of beast girls, that doesn't seem enough to do something like that...'
"Aye. Well, with magic. The Demon King is not so much a threat, anyway. He was never an evil existence from the beginning, maybe to humans, but not to the greater world."
"..."
'Not evil...?'
"Anyway, that doesn't matter. Is there something in particular you came to me for? I'm sure it wasn't just to hear some sad old story about the long-ago past, was it?"
Changing the topic to enquire why I approached him, the Elder gave me a knowing look.
It seems he wanted to get straight to the point, which was something I could appreciate.
"Right. I wanted to see if I could suggest something to help you twos' relationship... I also ran away from home before, and so, although I understand where Ryoko's desire to see the world is coming from, I think you can come to an agreement where you both are happy, one where she gets to go out and do what she wants, and where you get to guarantee her safety."
"Mmm... And how, pray tell, would you suggest going about that? I am dearly curious, impossible one."
Leaning forward with his hands interlocked, I knew immediately that I had gathered all the attention of the Elder.
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