saiki

ch 12

"What's there to hide? Absolutely! I am the Director of <Protect the Empire>, Aider~"

"..."

My mind went blank.

The director? This kid?

So, the one who dragged me into this was this son of a...?

My mind whirled with a hurricane of thoughts. Just at that moment...

-Thud!

Aider collapsed, spreadeagle, onto the floor. Like a starfish. His limbs and forehead were glued to the bathroom tiles.

"...?"

To me, rooted in place, unable to comprehend the situation,

"I'm deeply sorry for abruptly whisking you away to this place!"

Aider apologized with fervor.

"But I, no! This world needs you, Mr. RetroAddict!"

"..."

"Could you maybe lend us a hand, just once, just once?!"

"..."

After a pause, I voiced quietly.

"Firstly, rise, Mr. Aider."

I gripped Aider's arm and helped him up. Aider welled up, apparently touched.

"Mr. RetroAddict...! How could you be so kind... Are you really going to assist us?!"

With a gentle smile, I clearly addressed Aider's plea.

"No, for this."

I snatched this jerk by his collar and smashed his head onto the bathroom floor. Bam!

"Kuaack?!"

"Die! Die! Dammit, Die!"

Straddling Aider, I slammed my fists into him relentlessly. I'm going to end this guy!

***

A bit later.

"I'm sorry..."

Aider knelt, hands raised, his face bloated from the thrashing.

"Now, let's sort this out."

I sighed, sitting across from him. The beating had cleared my head somewhat.

"So you're that... 'Director' who chatted during the broadcast when I conquered the game."

"Yes..."

"And you're the actual director of this game, or rather this world."

"Indeed."

Why does this guy talk in such a way? Now that I ponder it, his dialogue in the game was exactly like this.

Suppressing the impulse to strike him again, I continued my inquiries.

"Why did you summon me here?"

"There's a 'True Ending' in this world."

Aider blew his nose with a tissue and met my gaze.

"An end that no one has ever achieved."

His eyes, visible behind his round glasses, were a vacant gray mirroring his hair.

"I've reset this world innumerable times to reach that finale. But, I could never attain the ending I yearned for..."

"So, you sought assistance from an outsider?"