Yesterday, after lightly persuading Lilia, I quickly finished thirty drain cleaning jobs, and I was able to fully enjoy the feeling of having worked.
Thanks to that, I slept soundly at night, and I was planning to wake up late this morning and relax... or so I thought.
But, because I saw that as soon as I woke up, such a happy feeling vanished in an instant.
"...Huh? Why...?"
The intruder magic trap I had set up on the ceiling. I set it up just in case, but I never thought it would actually activate.
Yes, Sheena was caught in the trap.
Sheena was hanging from the ceiling by both ankles, her body wrapped in ropes. Her movements were completely restricted, and she was currently hanging upside down. Moreover, she seemed to be in the middle of a deep sleep, mumbling things like, "Darling... not yet..."
Each time she wriggled, the ropes creaked and groaned softly. There's probably no danger of her falling... but it looks dangerous no matter how you look at it.
"............Sigh"
The worst mood from the start of the morning. I was planning to enjoy a slow life today, but I've gotten into a strange mood.
Even so, I can't just leave her hanging upside down forever. Reluctantly, I pulled up a chair, released the trap on the ceiling, and carefully lowered Sheena.
"Hmm... munya... Ah, huh? Darling? ...Kyan!"
Sheena seemed to wake up as soon as she landed and hurriedly looked around. Then she realized she was wrapped up and let out an apologetic voice, blushing slightly.
"Ehehe... Darling likes this kind of play, don't you? It's okay, I'm confident I can love any Darling."
"Hey, don't go turning me into a pervert. This happened because you trespassed."
I let out a deep sigh while untying the ropes. Seriously, why doesn't she ever learn?
Anyway, I don't plan to go to work right now, and I want to relax at home as it is. To do that, I need to get her out of here first.
"I want to take it easy today. So, please go home."
"Ehh, no way! I want to be with Darling! I want to play with Darling!"
It seems she has no intention of leaving.
Well, whatever, I was planning to indulge in my hobbies today, and if she doesn't bother me, I guess I can just leave her alone.
Now, I have some hobbies that I got into because of my previous life, like roasting coffee and making homemade bread, but recently I started a new hobby. That's gardening.
But it's not like I'm making a full-fledged flower garden. I just line up a few small planters in the backyard and grow herbs and cherry tomatoes. It's surprisingly fun.
"Darling, this leaf smells really good. Is it a medicinal herb?"
"That's basil. It's a leaf that can be used in pasta and pizza, from a recipe I learned from a former acquaintance... I mean, someone I used to know. Even if you cut the stem, new buds will grow."
"Wow, it smells good! I always associate herbs with poisonous plants, so this is refreshing."
Sheena peeked into the planter with sparkling eyes. Someone like her who is only interested in fighting might not care much about herbs.
Next, she pointed to a seedling hanging next to the planter.
"What are these red fruits?"
"Cherry tomatoes. They're just starting to ripen, so I was thinking of harvesting them and making a salad. They're sweet and sour and delicious."
"Amazing! Is this what home gardening is like? Darling is surprisingly handy, isn't he? As expected of the person I like."
While saying that, Sheena is wriggling.
Relaxing, basking in the sunlight, occasionally watering, and adding fertilizer by messing with the soil a little. That kind of ordinary time is precious to me now.
I was so focused on efficiency in my previous life, I never knew that a method like waiting for slow growth was also important.
"Hey Darling, are you going to make pasta or pizza with these tomatoes and basil? I'm not good at cooking, but I'll help if I can!"
"Well, maybe for dinner. Until then, I'm planning to relax and drink coffee."
"That sounds great, I've been wanting to drink that coffee again!"
Unusually, Sheena is in a good mood and seems very interested in my hobbies. She's usually pushy and hard to handle, but if she's calm like this, it's not so bad.
Well, thanks to that, it looks like I'll have a quiet day today.
◆
I -- Black Crow -- had rented a room in an old apartment directly across from Setsu's house.
Of course, I didn't rent it to live in. I rented this room solely to monitor Setsu and ensure his assassination.
I can see him well from here.
I was observing Setsu through a scope.
He seems to be gardening with a girl right now, tending to the plants. I don't know what his relationship with that girl is, but there's nothing particularly unusual about it.
In my arms, I firmly held the long-range sniper magic gun, Eclipse.
This magic gun is designed to charge magic power before firing and release compressed magic bullets, allowing for a powerful attack in less time than traditional incantations or magic circles.
The barrel is engraved with precise magic inscriptions, and at the moment of firing, the shooter's magic power is instantly concentrated into the bullet. As a sniping expert, I can surely take down the target with one shot.
However, delicate control is required to master it, and there is a risk of easily detonating if the flow of magic power is disrupted. Even so, I have taken down many targets with this gun.
Yesterday, I posed as a new adventurer at the Adventurers Guild and inquired about Setsu. However, the information I obtained was disappointingly bland, and there were even voices of disapproval.
"That guy's always cleaning drains, I've never seen him fight monsters properly."
"He's not very sociable, and he's kind of plain..."
"He's not causing any trouble, but he's totally unremarkable."
That's it.
He's been an adventurer for over ten years, but he's never ranked up. People around him seem to say things like, "He probably specializes in cleaning drains because he has no other talent." The client was anxious about various things, but... this is completely anticlimactic.
Peering into the garden across the street through the window, Setsu seems to be chatting leisurely with the girl who's playing with the planters. Until recently, they were picking leaves and mixing soil, but now they're sitting side by side on a bench-like place, chatting happily.
It's difficult to snipe now because he's close to the girl.
-- But, when you think about it, it doesn't matter.
Rather, it can be seen as a perfect opportunity now that there are no witnesses other than the girl. It wouldn't be a big deal if that little girl witnessed it.
Looking through the scope, I can see him about to pick a cherry tomato.
I'll shoot him down here for sure.
I put my finger on the trigger of the sniper rifle, Eclipse.
"Magic bullet generation start --"
Then, magic power is sucked into the gun.
Countless inscriptions glow faintly, and the compressed magic power filled the barrel, causing it to creak.
"Complete."
Already, the barrel was vibrating slightly, and the magic power, compressed to the limit, was leaking out like sparks.
One more beat. Release it here.
"Shoot"
With the last word, I pulled the trigger deeply.
A powerful magic bullet is released, instantly obliterating the target -- or so it should have.
But --.
Clang!
An unpleasant metallic sound rang out, and the barrel of Eclipse began to deform as if it were swelling.
"What... why...?"
A flash of light that obscured my vision, and a tremendous impact sound.
Boom!
The force of the explosion blew Black Crow backward, slamming her against the wall.
"Gah...!"
My eardrums ached from the roar, and I had tinnitus. Hot pain ran through my arms, abdomen, and face, and the smell of blood and burning mixed in my nostrils.
I immediately understood that a misfire had occurred.
"Ho-how... is that... possible...?"
But it's impossible.
Because I'm a first-class assassin. I've never made such a silly mistake before.
In my collapsing vision, fragments of the gun that had been broken into pieces were scattered around.
My head was confused by the sight of my beloved magic gun, which had successfully carried out countless assassinations, being destroyed so tragically.
It was my first major failure.
◆
"Darling, is something wrong? You're staring at something in the distance."
Sheena, holding a cherry tomato in the garden, peeked at my face.
As for me, I was looking at the rows of brick-style and wooden apartments and detached houses.
Something a little troublesome may have happened. Still, it's not something to worry about.
"No, it's nothing."
"Hmm...?"
Sheena didn't seem to have any particular doubts, and she stretched out greatly and showed a smile.
I shrugged as if nothing had happened.
"Shall we make some coffee for a break?"
"Yay! Please make one for me too, Darling!"
"Yeah," I replied to Sheena's carefree voice, and as I headed home, I thought.
No, why am I accepting Sheena so naturally?
She's a stalker and a trespasser.
I should kick her out right away.
However, the fact that I don't feel so bad about it is also true. It seems I quite like entertaining someone.
Watching Sheena, who affirms everything I prepare, doesn't feel bad. If her personality was a little more normal, we could get along well as good friends.
I never realized I had this side of me in my previous life.
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