Chapter 18: Breakdown

“Member of the Theater Troupe Actor?”

In front of the tattered rabbit plush toy, my hand involuntarily stopped.

“…Really?”

I can’t think of a more appropriate state than being in a state of half-belief and half-doubt. After all, it had been only a few moments since I first heard about the monster called Actor of the Theater Troupe.

In a world where monsters were creating chaos all over Japan, where we had just given up a small world to this monster, it was hard to believe that such a monster would be represented by this worn-out plush toy.

However, I couldn’t help but ask quietly.

“It’s true! Of course! I’m the the Theater Troupe actor! Well, this body is like a phone, you know!”

“…?”

“In other words, even if you kill this plush toy, I won’t die! Well, I can’t kill you guys either! Ahaha!”

What was so funny? The Theater Troupe Actor laughed with a high-pitched, shrill voice.

I squinted at the word “phone,” but there was no “Guiding thread silvate” attached to the plush toy. If it were for long-distance communication, it would be common to extend “Guiding thread silvate” and connect it to a doll.

In other words, as far as I could see, Member of the Theater Troupe hadn’t used any magic.

However, there were indeed types of magic that didn’t require “Guiding thread silvate.” There might be magic for long-distance communication that I didn’t know about, and this Theater Troupe actor could be using that.

“Why are you here?”

“The reason why I appeared in front of you? It’s obvious, isn’t it? It’s for the story!”

The rabbit plush toy rotated on one foot while shouting.

Both in the way it spoke and behaved, it seemed to be mocking us.

However, the  Theater Troupe actor stopped its clumsy spinning and extended its soft arm toward me.

“You’re Itsuki Kisaragi, right? Listen, listen! I don’t want you to interfere with our plans.”

“I’m not interfering, though.”

Being called out by name, my body instinctively tensed. Despite that, I responded without taking my eyes off the plush toy.

“Well, it is interference! You ruined our perfectly smirking plan, didn’t you? You killed the one who was here! I just want to see the kids smile, you know!”

“How does kidnapping the children from the amusement park make them smile?”

“You may not understand because you’re a child, but becoming an adult is tough. That’s why we need a place where we can remain children. Then everyone smiles! Nikaa (smile)!”

The rabbit plush toy stood up on two legs, used its front legs skillfully to lift the corners of its mouth, and smiled as if it were making a smile.

Seeing such a bizarre sight, I couldn’t help but stammer.

“Even I will get angry if someone interrupted me. But you, you’re the one who exorcised those guys from the abandoned factory who were distributing the elixir to make old people young again, right? You killed them, didn’t you! So, here’s a favor I’m asking. It’s time to negotiate, and this is going to be quite a challenge. Ahaha!”

“…..”

“Whoa, this explanation isn’t enough for the favor, huh? I absolutely hate adults, but I love children, I could just eat them up. So, you see, I find it sickening to turn adults into children! I wanted to kill them so bad, but you did it for me! I’m very grateful. I’m like seasoned seaweed.”

Speaking in a sing-song manner, the Theater Troupe actor said this while shaking its body back and forth.

Watching the Rabbit plush toy monster, I felt like I was experiencing a hallucination, as if I were having a bad dream.

But Nina-chan was holding my hand next to me the whole time. I relied on that sensation, took a deep breath, and asked.

“Is the disturbance you’re talking about not exorcising the monsters created by the Theater Troupe?”

“Half of it is that. The other half is not interfering with the Smiling Plan.” 

What’s up with that?

But, if I keep nitpicking every little thing, the conversation won’t progress. First, let’s resolve what I want to know.

“So, if I don’t interfere, the Theater Troupe will do something good for me?”

“Of course! Of course! Negotiations always involve pros and cons. What I’ll give you is… a smile!”

“…….”

I waited for more while thinking that he had started saying incomprehensible things again.

“Whatever happens, whatever occurs, I’ll make sure you can wear the biggest smile. A smile anytime, anywhere! It’s happiness, isn’t it? It’s the best, right? Life will be so exciting!”

“Doesn’t seem very good.”

“What?! Why?! Do you hate smiles?”

My unintended honesty seemed to surprise the Member of the Theater Troupe, who flipped over.

No, why is “always wearing a smile” and “not purifying monsters” put together? It clearly doesn’t make sense.

Suppressing such thoughts, I swallowed them and, in turn, presented a benefit to the Member of the Theater Troupe.

“I don’t need a smiley face. Instead, if you promise not to create any more monsters, I might consider it.”

“Hmm… Hmm… With the current number, it won’t be enough for the plan. Yeah, probably impossible. Can’t talk about that. Ahaha!”

“So, it’s impossible.”

“What a shame!”

Even so, the plush toy continued to spin around and laughed.

Twilight. The sinking sun was disappearing beyond the horizon.

Its light extended our shadows endlessly into the distance. The plush toy rabbit’s shadow also stretched far and wide.

The rabbit seemed to resign itself, drooping its shoulders.

While still hanging down, it spun once, twice, and on the third rotation, it stopped and then spoke.

“Well then, I guess I have no choice but to kill you here.”

“What?!”

The moment those words reached my ears, I unleashed “Guiding thread silvate.”

To enhance its power, I had infused “Guiding thread silvate” with water flow created by “Attribute Change: Water” and compressed it using compressed air generated by “Attribute Change: Wind.”

This technique was called “Amaguauchi(Heavenly Armor),” 

Although it was chantless due to the sudden incident.

Paaan!!!

With a sound as if the air had been torn apart, the plush toy’s body burst due to the impact. Cotton flew out, and the rabbit’s head danced in the air.

“Ahaha! It’s futile! Just as I can’t kill you, you can’t kill me either.”

The rabbit’s head landed on the ground and bounced.

“I’m not the one killing you. It’s my friends who have been here from the beginning. Well then, goodbye! Don’t forget to smile! Nipaa!”

And when the rabbit’s head landed on the ground once more, it had turned back into an ordinary plush toy.

“I-Itsuki! He said he’d kill us! Monsters are coming!”

“It’s alright, Nina-chan. Stay calm.”

At that moment, the sun had completely set.

The twilight that had been there a moment ago disappeared, and night arrived.

Nina-chan’s grip on my hand tightened.

Taking advantage of the darkness of the night, two monsters appeared.

We could tell they had leaped out from the shadows.

How did we know?

It was obvious.

Guiding thread silvate threads were extending towards us.

In the darkness, magic threads were easily visible.

“I’ve already exorcised them.”

As if in response to my words, the monsters that had been watching from the shadows turned into black mist with my magic.

It’s what they call “the beginning of the end.”

My Quick Shot was faster than a regular “Guiding thread silvate” spell.

If it’s visible, my magic is faster.

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