"—Master."
"What is it?"
"Someone has just awakened the 'Pleasure Killer' title."
"...Where?"
"Japan. Inside a Monster Room on Floor 4 of the Shinjuku Dungeon. The subject is the individual I previously reported for acquiring the 'Madman' title. He currently holds both the 'Battle Junkie' and 'Pleasure Killer' titles simultaneously."
"The worst possible combination... Did he evolve the Berserk skill?"
"No. As before, he does not appear to have allocated any points into it."
"...Then how did this happen? Once he branched from 'Madman' toward 'Battle Junkie,' I thought the possibility of him becoming a 'Pleasure Killer' had been eliminated."
"It appears a strong push from Collective Cognition was at work. It seems the only remaining requirement was for him to achieve the results."
"But the achievement condition for that should have been gaining pleasure from murder. Was he really that twisted?"
"No, in terms of personality, he is a generally ordinary young man. However, he seems to possess a unique constitution where he experiences intense pleasure from leveling up..."
"What in the world is that?"
"It appears he was attacked by a quasi-gang and was forced into combat. Unfortunately, when he gained experience points from the first person he killed, he leveled up at the worst possible moment, which fulfilled the achievement."
"Hah... I see."
"Master, how shall we proceed?"
"It is a pity, but we cannot allow someone who has awakened the 'Pleasure Killer' title to remain alive. Before he becomes uncontrollable—dispose of him."
"Understood. To whom shall I entrust the execution?"
"Who is currently closest to him?"
"At present, No. 30 and the collaborator are on Floor 25 of the Shinjuku Dungeon. They have already finished recovering the item in question and are about to return."
"No. 30... that means Obito is there. Contact No. 30 and request Obito’s cooperation."
"Understood... A reply from No. 30. She says they will head there immediately."
"I see."
●◯●
Two conflicting emotions regarding Hinata-san battled within me.
My head throbbed from the contradiction. As if to shake off my jumbled, chaotic thoughts, I lunged toward the trembling Hinata-san.
As the distance closed rapidly, Hinata-san failed to react.
I intended to use my momentum to drive the tip of my sword into her, and I tried to accelerate further—
"—!?"
It happened right before I reached her.
Without any context or warning, two figures abruptly appeared between Hinata-san and me.
They were people I had met just yesterday.
It was the man in the suit, Headshot Yakuza, and Mito-san in her maid outfit.
Standing with Hinata-san at their backs, Headshot Yakuza and Mito-san didn't even twitch an eyebrow as I approached.
I, on the other hand, did not stop at the sudden appearance; if anything, I sped up.
Strangely, I felt no effect from the passive Intimidation skill that Headshot Yakuza gave off.
I activated Berserk, Fighting Spirit, and Sword Aura.
Aiming at the unresponsive Headshot Yakuza, I rushed forward with my sword gripped tight, as if throwing my entire weight into the strike.
"Hehe, as expected of Headshot Yakuza!"
"..."
However, my full-powered thrust was stopped with pathetic ease.
He had caught the blade near its tip with his right hand, halting it mid-air.
That hand was shrouded in a pale blue aura. It was likely the Fist Aura skill. He had caught a metal blade with a hand guarded by nothing but an aura.
Moreover, even though I was planting my feet with everything I had to push the sword through, he wouldn't budge an inch, as if I were facing a massive boulder.
What incredible strength. I couldn't even begin to guess how high his stats were. And that was despite Headshot Yakuza not even using the Fighting Spirit skill.
"Fshiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!! Headshot Yakuza!! Please! Let me kill you!!"
"..."
I strained with all my might, trying to drive the sword forward, but Headshot Yakuza's right hand didn't retreat even a fraction of a millimeter.
He merely looked down at me with eyes like those of a man coldly calculating how much money he could recover by selling the internal organs of a hopeless debtor.
"Guh—!!?"
Immediately after, a tremendous shock raced through my side.
From the sheer agony, my vision whited out instantly. My body was lifted into the air and sent flying like a bullet. My hands were ripped from the hilt of the sword I had sworn never to let go, and I experienced a momentary flight.
Before I could process what was happening, I was slammed against the wall of the Monster Room with a force so terrifying it made the entire room shake.
After being plastered against the wall for a moment, my body slid down onto the floor.
As I came to a halt leaning against the wall like a discarded doll, a large amount of blood gushed from my mouth.
It was no longer at a level where I could feel pain or suffering. Beyond the agony, I had lost all sensation in my body.
Even so—my mind had returned to a state of clarity.
Without even needing to check, I knew my HP had hit zero and my Status functions had stopped.
Looking at Headshot Yakuza through my hazy vision, I saw him slowly lowering the leg he had swung upward.
I surmised that a roundhouse kick from Headshot Yakuza to my side had resulted in this.
At this rate, I wouldn't last more than a few minutes. I was certainly going to die.
But even so, I felt relieved.
I didn't know how or why Headshot Yakuza and the others had appeared here. But I was truly glad they had come before I could lay a hand on Hinata-san.
And so, though I didn't know if he could hear me, I squeezed out the last of my strength to offer words of gratitude.
"Thank... you... for stopping... me... Headshot Yakuza..."
And then, I lost consciousness.