I Became a Raid Boss-Chapter 163: Homecoming (3)

‘An item to cover your face?’

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‘Yeah. A robe, a hooded cloak... something like that.’

After hearing my question, Daeun hesitated for a moment.

‘But... do you really need something like that?’

She said.

‘What do you mean? Are you saying not to hide it?’

I’m absolutely against hiding Kana’s cute face!

As I made a silent vow to kick her if she said such a thing, I listened carefully to Daeun’s response.

‘No, that’s not what I meant. What I was trying to say is, if you move around too much, your face will likely be exposed, right? So it’s probably better to wear something like a mask instead... I just thought it might be better.’

‘...Ah.’

That’s true.

It’s certainly more suffocating, but if the purpose is to hide my face, then that might be better.

If an attack is strong enough to remove or break the mask, then I’ll be in danger anyway.

Appreciating that Daeun finally said something useful, I gave her a thumbs-up. Daeun laughed, saying “Ehehe!”

‘Actually, I have something good. Want to see?’

‘You have something good?’

‘Wait. I’m sure I put it here somewhere... Ah, found it!’

While rummaging through a box, Daeun held something up triumphantly.

‘It’s a fox mask. I actually think a cat mask would suit you better, Kana... but sadly, I don’t have one. Should I order one now? Hmm, though, given your mischievous nature, the fox one seems more fitting...’

‘Why do you have something like this at home?’

‘Well, I ended up buying all sorts of things because of the streaming work. I bought them out of curiosity, or as event props, you know.’

‘...You use something like this as event props?’

‘Aah...! Wh-Where did you find this?!’

‘It was in the box.’

‘I bought this for a penalty...’

Daeun quickly hid the bizarre item behind her back and tried to explain herself.

‘I swear I didn’t buy it because I wanted it, okay?’

‘Yeah, I’ll believe you.’

‘I’m not just saying that! It’s the truth! Anyway, do you want to use this?’

‘Is it okay?’

‘It’s just been lying around unused. It’s a prop from an old anime I used to like, but I’ve never used it because it feels a bit too much to wear around...’

‘Why not?’

‘Well, it’s not something you typically wear. It’s more of a thing you wear if you’re really quiet, but in reality, people don’t wear masks unless something special is going on. Also, it’s not really something you’d wear in our country, so I just kept it as a decorative piece.’

Decorative? In a box?

I had a small thought, but then I accepted the fox mask.

Clink.

That was the source of the suffocating feeling currently on my face.

I absentmindedly placed my hand on my face, only to feel a hard, uncomfortable texture instead of my soft cheeks. I quickly took my hand away.

It wasn’t the worst fit for a decorative item, but it was still stifling.

Still, I didn’t have to worry about it being blown off by the wind, unlike when I wore a hooded cape.

Back then, I had to push the hood down hard to keep it from flying off.

As I passed through the swiftly passing scenery, lost in thought, it didn’t take long for my destination to come into view.

A desolate ruin.

I stopped running and gently descended onto the ruins where the remains of buildings lay scattered. The faint image of the past seemed to overlap with the present.

‘This looks like where the stable used to be.’

And this seems to be where the bakery was.

I can’t know for sure, but I wandered through the past with nostalgic feelings.

“....”

At that moment.

I suddenly stopped, as though something had caught my foot.

Amidst the ordinary debris, something familiar caught my eye.

“This is...”

I picked it up and let out a short sigh that sounded like a murmur.

Here it is.

This is the place where I lived with my father.

Looking at the familiar object, a piece of the sturdy door that once protected the house, I dropped it to the ground.

Even so, it felt a bit unnecessary to have any lingering feelings over such things.

There are plenty of other memories to recall, after all.

“Still, it’s strange. It’s been years, but it’s amazing that something like this is still here.”

Maybe because it was made of iron?

Even though it must have been left out to endure the elements, it still retained some of its original shape.

Though it was rusted red.

Perhaps the piece of the door, which had been far away, came here through some means.

But my gut told me that this place was indeed my old home.

The surrounding landscape is roughly similar.

But that was all.

There was no place to enter, and even if I did go in, there would be nothing inside, so what would be the point?

I’ve already confirmed a long time ago that nothing was left.

“...Thinking about it like this, it kind of makes me angry.”

I don’t mind that Grasis was destroyed, but I can’t forgive him for destroying my house.

...That’s how I feel.

Boom!

“Hmmm.”

As I was stoking the flames of revenge against the unforgivable act, a loud sound hit my ears.

But it wasn’t all that sudden.

I had already seen people walking around the area while I was on my way here.

It wouldn’t be a problem if I ran into them, but it’s better to avoid them if possible.

I adjusted the crooked mask and pulled the hood low over my head.

The goal was the castle.

...The place where it once stood.

It’s still amazing that such a huge castle fell so quickly, but at the same time, I couldn’t help thinking, “Well, if it’s them, I guess it’s not surprising.”

They were the type to think only of their own safety, so they probably ran off as soon as trouble arose.

Still, it would be a waste to die for the royals.

Finding the place where the castle once stood wasn’t difficult.

It’s a road I’ve traveled countless times before.

I could probably find it with my eyes closed, if I’m being honest.

Back then, I couldn’t help but feel irritated every time I walked this road.

“Hmm.”

Walking on the ruined road, I couldn’t help but feel a bit cheerful and hummed a little tune.

My steps became lighter, and I found myself hopping over the debris with a lively gait.

Thud!

When my foot hit the ground, a dull thud echoed.

“Grrrk...”

“Hmm, it wasn’t the ground.”

Of all places, why was it there?

The monster lying in a pool of foam.

A tiny footprint was stamped on its head.

“Dying like that, it makes it look like I’m heavy.”

So get up quickly.

“Oooh.”

The monster that had been lying there struggled to get up.

Its eyes were still cloudy, and it seemed to have no idea what had just happened to it.

“You can go back to sleep now.”

Crunch.

The monster’s head flew to the sky.

Now that I’ve proven that I’m not heavy, I have no need to deal with you.

It’s truly admirable, sacrificing your life to prove my innocence.

“....”

“....”

After a brief moment of silence, when I looked up, I met the gaze of someone staring at me.

Though they were quite a distance away, I knew who it was.

“...Big Sword Chick?”

Her original name was Yuki, wasn’t it?

Though I’m sure that’s not her real name either...

‘What are the chances of running into her here?’

Talk about a coincidence.

But even though I saw Yuki, there was no reason for me to have a dramatic reaction.

If it were Daeun, maybe I would have, but...

I did teach her a little, but it was really just a little.

Also, it would be weird to greet someone I thought was dead, right?

So, let’s just pretend I didn’t see her.

Fwap!

But contrary to my thoughts, Yuki didn’t look away from me.

In fact, her gaze grew even more intense.

‘...Did she figure it out?’

I thought that, but...

‘That can’t be it.’

I shrugged it off as just a feeling.

Daeun told me that, in Silia Online, I was a notorious raid boss.

Anyway, didn’t I make a pretty impressive exit as an NPC in the end?

Step, step.

While I was sorting out my thoughts, Yuki slowly approached me, step by step.

‘She probably won’t recognize me.’

I thought that as I ignored Yuki and tried to hurry on my way.

But by the time she was right in front of me, Yuki spoke.

“Master.”

“...!”

At the unexpected words, I flinched.

‘...Oh no.’

I immediately realized my mistake and made a dejected expression.

Thank goodness I wore the mask. If I hadn’t, my surprised expression would have been obvious.

“Of course, it’s you, Master.”

Bang!

Yuki’s voice, full of certainty, dealt the final blow.

Shaking head.

She seemed pretty sure already, but I kept my mouth shut and shook my head.

“Aren’t you my master?”

Shaking head, shaking head, shaking head!

“Hmmm.”

At her relentless shaking, Yuki finally stopped interrogating me.

She seemed to be pondering something for a moment, then suddenly placed her hand on her great sword.

Whoosh!

She swung the enormous sword without hesitation.

The great sword swept through the air.

Had I not moved back, it would have sliced my face, not the air.

“...Hah.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

Who swings a great sword at someone without warning?

And given how precisely she aimed for my head, it was clear she wasn’t swinging it carelessly.

If a normal person had taken that hit, the fight would have been decided immediately.

If I couldn’t block it, I’d be dead, and if I did, my arm would be crushed from the pressure, not to mention it was too fast to dodge.

An unreasonable attack.

“...You really do have talent.”

She’s grown this much in such a short time.

Even with the system’s blessing, this must have been no easy feat.

But that’s that, and—

“I can’t just let this go.”

She attacked me, so she has to pay for it, right?

Zing.

I dragged my right foot back, then spun around.

At the same time, I lightly kicked the ground and my body floated into the air.

And then came the following kick.

Since my legs were too short to reach Yuki, the kick, though graceful in its curve, sliced through the air, just like her sword had earlier.

But the result wasn’t the same.

“What are you—?!”

Wham!

After a few steps of watching me, Yuki’s body was sent flying, crashing into the debris like a car hitting it.

The loud sound made me think there’d be significant damage, but...

“Not my problem.”

She attacked first, after all.

I shrugged and tapped the ground with my foot.