PHASE 40 - NOW HIRING: THE OUTSIDER NEEDS SOMEBODY TO SING

After my reconciliation with Tiara, I went to the Kozukata Shrine to apologize. I do get a lot of sermons from Ayano that I didn’t bother to register on my brain, but hey, at least I regained her trust at the end of the day. The head priestess Asumi didn’t really doubt me that much so forgiving me is really easy for her.

I stayed at the shrine for the weekends, doing them some favors such as cutting some firewood and using my for their fortune-telling business to prove the sincerity of my apology and also to further develop my friendship with the other shrine maidens. These are the things I do just for the sake of my revenge.

I even got extra-nice to Tiara this weekend.

I woke up early thanks to the one pinching me when it was still Sunday dawn. It was Tiara, asking me to go to the cemetery this early in the morning. Normally I would ignore her and continue to be lazy but she said that she’ll buy me a lewd anime figure so I accepted. Besides, I wanted to see what she’s going to do.

We first went to buy a bouquet in an early flower shop in the Heightsburg Market then we rode the train to Dradecim. There, we walked until we reached the cemetery and looked for my deceased friends’ tombs.

This may be her first time seeing it. She was so ashamed of herself this past week, so she didn’t show up at the funeral.

Upon seeing their names, Tiara laid the flowers we bought. She then had her tears flowing as she knelt down and bowed to their tombstones, repeating the words “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I failed to stop my brother, I’m sorry.” The way she weeps on the ground makes me want to shed some tears too.

But then, everything in the surroundings became black and white. Everything stopped moving as the time froze.

“Well well well… What do we have here?”

I heard light footsteps. When I turned around, I saw The Outsider. He was walking casually as if he’s just strolling in this peaceful graveyard.

“Oh, don’t mind me. I just wanted to watch this dramatic scene.” The Outsider laughed.

“You seem that you’re having fun watching us…” I said. “That’s a bad hobby of yours.”

I noticed that his crimson eyes have this different glow from the other silver-haired black-cloaked freaks. It’s giving me chills as if he has supreme authority over us. Like a dark angel, lurking in the pits of the abyss, constantly watching over us just for amusement.

“Those red irises and triangle sigil on your eyes… I’m sure you’re a Cursed Guardian. But why in the hell would you help me, and not Diadem?”

The Outsider smirked. “I don’t care about the plans of the stupid New Order. I’m here to relax, sit back and watch a love seedling grow into a tall and sturdy tree.”

“W-What?” I scratched my head. Seriously, I’m not a literature teacher to interpret those words. But he keeps on answering in Shakespearenese.

“Love is a magnificent thing. The Song of the Frozen Soul is the key to humanity’s salvation, and it can only be sung through a paradoxical love that can even defy destiny.”

“I feel dumb just by listening to you.” I curled my eyebrows.

“Our contract is just plain and simple. I gave you the power of a Fake God, in exchange for a pure maiden with the voice of the goddess, who can sing the Song of the Frozen Soul for me.”

Slowly, The Outsider walked to the time-frozen Tiara, who was still kneeling down on Chrisprel’s tombstone... He was about to reach her forehead with his hands, but then I had an impulse to parry his arm.

“You can’t take Tiara away from me!” I shouted.

It’s true that I still have a grudge on this witch, but she’s still my precious friend. I will do what it takes to defend her. I don’t want to lose any more person dear to me! And besides, whatever that Cursed Guardian is plotting is certainly not good. “I only accepted the contract because I’m pushed to the edge!”

“To make it clear, I will not take Tiara away from you. I wanted the opposite, really. I wanted your bond to be stronger that surpasses the boundaries of friendship.”

“Like super-duper-mega-best friends?” I made a smart-aleck smile.

Suddenly, The Outsider’s heart glowed, and he pulled a white short sword with a golden hilt. Then he made a swift slash, aiming for Tiara’s throat! In the nick of time, I withdrew my katana Weapon Gem and blocked his slash attack!

But that didn’t end there! This nuts tried various desperate blows, thrusts, and hacks, attempting to tear my frozen friend’s flesh or skin, but with the help of my predictions, I was able to read all his moves and block all incoming attacks with little problem. Note that doesn’t really work on this wacko, so I will have to manually use my eyes to forecast his future movements.

After his connecting slashes, I made a counter hack, but then he evaded it by jumping backward, making a temporary ceasefire.

Then the outsider gave an obnoxious laugh.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I know it very well that you are willing to protect that friend of yours, even though you have this strong amount of hatred in your heart!”

“What the heck are you trying to prove, you mental!?” I cried.

“I’m weighing if love can win over wrath.” The Outsider said. His white sword started to evaporate into dust particles, indicating that he’s done harassing us. But he continued to tease me with his words. “You seem to care a lot about her. And she trusts you with all her life and soul. Are you willing to destroy that friendship just for the sake of your own personal vendetta?”

“Mind your own business.” I turned away as I reverted my katana into its gem from inside my watch. “Whatever happens, I will get my revenge. Diadem will die in my hands.”

“So the Prophet would rather become Judas. Good luck with that.” The retarded mysterious guy made a single laugh. Then he turned his back and put his hands on his pocket as he walked away. “I’ll be taking my leave then. Just watch out for those ”

“W-Wait, I don’t understand what our contract means yet! Just what are you guys? What is the Frozen Soul!?” I yelled. But The Outsider just raised his right hand and waved at me, never bothering to look at me back.

As the Outsider’s silhouette disappears from the thick morning fog, time resumed its normal flow.

That guy is too mysterious.

, huh? It’s been a while, but the signs are still off since the last one. First time I had a , the signs appear with an interval of one day. But now, it’s been a week, and nothing happened.

If I remember correctly, Helena will be the next one to die, and that scary cloaked man with a chainsaw sword and wolf-skull mask will be responsible. Helena and I may be in bad terms, but I still have to regain her trust so that capturing/killing Diadem would be easier. Also, I have to consider my friend Heushac. I will save Helena for the sake of her little brother.

“Rikkun…” Tiara stood up and wiped her eyes. Her face is still red, and her eyes are completely swollen and exhausted. She really did cry as hard as she could.

“Let’s go now.”

We were already taking our leave but then this clumsiness of this maiden spooked me once again. She accidentally stepped on a slippery tombstone that was covered with wet mosses!

“K-Kyaaaa!” That’s a Japanese girl’s shout in the middle of a peaceful cemetery.

She managed to grab on my shoulders, but my body didn’t have the balance to support her weight! The result, well, I just had the back of my head slammed hard on the ground, and her bouncy soft thighs were pressed on my face!

How is that even possible?! It seems like the author keeps installing cliched fanservice scenes in this novel!

“Eeeeek!” She screamed as she crawled away from me. Now she looks scared and ashamed. But her face is so flustered that I think she needs to go to the hospital. “Y-You didn’t see anything, r-r-right?”

“I-I didn’t see any orange-striped panty, don’t worry,” I muttered as I held my forehead.

Oh crap!

I just heard her blood pressure rose as steam gushes out from her ears! There are a big cross-veins on her forehead, and that’s the sign, a presage for my doom!

“H-H-H-How dare you!!!”

Just before I was able to activate my , I was knocked out by a lightning-fast jab to my nose.