Only I know that this world will end – 094 | Sousaku – 創作

Interlude – Beyond the Gaze

It was when the man was walking through the monster-infested city, humming a tune to himself as he called it a 'walk', that he heard the battle sounds of the werewolf.

(…………Huh? )

The man's eyes widened slightly at the sound of the fierce battle that seemed to echo through the city.
A few days have passed since the monster appeared in this world. The werewolf that ruled this town had killed most of the people living here. There were still a few survivors, but no one wanted to venture outside anymore. Thus, it is now just me and my girl who wander around this monster-infested city.
Because he had been thinking that, the man was unable to control his excitement at the presence of another person, something he had not felt in a long time.

"Olivia, Olivia! It's people. There's someone here!!"

The man gently whispered to no one in particular.
There was no reply.
Even so, the man continued to enjoy the conversation.

"Oh, that's right. I bet they're just like us. I presume they are raising their level by fighting monsters. Come, let's take a peek at how they fight."

The man muttered to himself and made his way carefully, taking the utmost caution as he moved in the direction of the sound.
However, after walking for a while, his legs stopped moving.
It was because he realized the crushing weight of the pressure that seemed to be bearing down on the entire area.

"……It can’t be."

The man muttered.

The battle sounds continued. And all of this while under such pressure.
There was only one monster in the city that emitted such a strong aura of killing intent that even made the monsters in the surrounding area run away.
And even under this pressure, the only answer that the sound of the ongoing battle could indicate was one.

"Are they fighting the werewolf……? Who on earth would……"

The man muttered, his expression changing.
His stern gaze faltered, and deep furrows appeared between his eyebrows as if he were deep in thought.
Then a while later...
The man slowly exhaled and then muttered to himself again.

"……Hmm. This is perfect. I don't know who is fighting, but this is a great chance to learn about the werewolf's attack style. At the moment, there is no one else in this town who can defeat a werewolf except for us. Let's make the most of this opportunity and use it to help us get rid of the werewolf. …………Eh? Hahaha, Olivia. You're always so kind. But this time, it's just not possible. If I go to help without any hope of success, I'm sure I'll end up getting killed too."

The man said this, and then smiled, slowly letting out a sigh.

"Well then, shall we go? ――――Stealth."

At the moment the man uttered those words, the man's presence disappeared, as if he had melted into the darkness of the night.
After confirming that his Stealth skill had been activated, the man slowly made his way towards the battlefield.

Then, after hiding in the shadows from where he could see the battlefield, he finally witnessed the battle.

The scene depicted was of a man who would not back down and fought fiercely against the ultimate monster that ruled over this city, the werewolf.
The woman, with a pistol in her left hand, aimed it straight at the werewolf to support the man.
Then, a single mighty blow from the giant axe in the man's hand cleaved the werewolf in two.

(――――What!?)

The man who had been watching them from a distance opened his eyes wide in surprise at the outcome.
The woman raised her left hand high towards the werewolf's body, which was soaring high into the sky.
The eyes that burned with a certain fighting spirit locked onto the werewolf, who was now only a half-body, and a light that seemed to be magic ran through it.

――Bang!

As the light clashed, the impact burst out, and the werewolf's upper body flew high again.
Perhaps that was the final blow.
He slowly let out the breath he had been holding, and smiled slightly as he saw the screen in front of him indicating that a boss monster had just been defeated.

"……Olivia. It seems that we have finally…… have found what you called "hope".

There were no words in response to that remark.
However, it certainly seemed that the man could hear the reply.
The man nodded, although it was a tiny nod, and then turned his gaze back to these people.

"…………Yeah. I'm sure they can help us get our daughter back."