Jobless Reincarnation X Tensura: 《THE ANOMALY》

Chapter 3: What's a Speed Limit?

Hostility was nothing new to me, a fact that wasn't thrilling or reassuring in the least.

Sometimes, it's just natural. Some creatures are just born with the instinct to attack anything they come across.

It was a maniacal inclination towards violence that was oddly less troublesome to deal with.

When a monster attacks you, either you kill it, you escape, or you die.

Rather straightforward, if you ask me.

But when a being with intelligence does the same, it all becomes a mystery.

Why are they attacking me? Is it of their own free will? Is there anything deeper beneath the surface? What do they hope to gain?

At some point in the not too distant past, all these questions would have naturally appeared in my mind.

I've come to realize I might not be normal. What sane person tries to reason with someone attacking with the intent to kill?

Naivete only goes so far. Or maybe my respect for Shizu was just that intense.

“And what do you want with us?” I asked the being who had rudely crashed into our path.

Safe to say, I was now free of such reservations.

He had blonde hair, shoddily tied into a ponytail behind his right ear. His face was obscured by a yellow fox mask.

His posture was rigid, his right hand hidden behind him.

Orsted didn't seem too bothered by his presence, he just stood and watched in silence.

“That is to be determined.” He replied. I couldn't see his face but I could tell he was focusing on me specifically.

We stood in silence for what felt like eternity — courtesy of Thought Acceleration — before Almanfi’s concealed hand — revealed by Magic Sense to be holding the hilt of a short sword —- clenched.

“What are you?” He suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

The atmosphere had grown tense, and I could feel Nanahoshi stiffen at the new animosity in Almanfi's tone.

“You were analyzing me, weren't you? Didn't get anything?” I taunted, indirectly informing him that I felt his will trying to discern what kind of existence I was.

I nudged Nanahoshi, gesturing towards Orsted, who had moved farther away from me.

She looked unsure, probably scared that Almanfi would attack her the moment she left my side. I could understand her reservations, she couldn't even make sense of what the other guy was saying.

I couldn't help but sigh and gave a slightly forceful push, which did the job.

With Nanahoshi away from me, I didn't have to worry about either of us accidentally killing her.

“When I look at you, I see nothing..no, that's not right. It's more like a wall.” He said, slowly sliding his sword out of its sheath.

“It's normal to act to protect my own privacy, isn't it, spirit?” Unlike how he failed to analyze me, i didn't face any particularly difficult hindrances.

“Is that how it is?” Almanfi fully unsheathed his short sword, bringing it in front of him in a smooth motion.

It looked more like a knife than a sword, and it had a comically square handguard. He held it in a backhand grip as he glared at me.

The spirit glanced at Orsted for a bit, as if searching for a reaction.

He got none.

That's strange..does he know him?