Isekai Mahou wa Okureteru! (LN) - Volume 6 - Chapter SS5

The Most Evil of Indoor Monsters! Reiji Edition 

Upon stumbling across a certain scene in their rented room in the self-governed state, Reiji had but one thought... 

What on earth is everyone doing? 

But rather than a question of urgency, it was primarily one of exasperation. For, you see, Titania and her knights were spread out across the room with their weapons drawn and at the ready. They were slowly closing in on a target they had encircled. And it was said target that was truly the cause of Reiji’s exasperation. 

“Ugh, to think you allowed such a foe to trespass here... Gregory, Roffrey, Luka! The enemy’s movements are irregular! Stay vigilant and do not lose it!” 

Titania’s gallant and commanding voice rallied the others. It would have been a rather impressive thing to see in the middle of battle, or rather, to hear. Despite the bravery in her voice, she was shrinking back. It wasn’t exactly an inspiring sight. Even her three knights were wavering. And with all of them standing there glued to the spot like they were, it looked like they were playing some sort of children’s game. 

But then the target went on the move. It drew nearer to Roffrey, who pitifully yelped in response. 

“E-Eek!” 

“Roffrey, keep it together! How can we call ourselves Her Royal Highness’s escorts in such a state?” 

Seeing the young knight panic, Luka scolded him. She was taking this dead seriously, which only amplified Reiji’s exasperation. It was then that the senior knight, Gregory, took control of things. 

“E-Everyone, protect the princess with your lives! We cannot allow that monster to reach Her Highness!” 

Perhaps because of Gregory’s shouting, the target began moving once more. When it did... 

“Waaah!” 

“It moved!” 

The knights fell into a frantic uproar. With the situation quickly deteriorating, Titania made a bitter expression like she’d been driven into a corner. 

“I-If it has come to this, then I will use my magic to...” 

Before Titania could enact such violence in the inn, Reiji called out to her. 

“Um, sorry to butt in while you’re in the middle of something, Tia, but...” 

“R-Reiji-sama?! I didn’t know you were there... But please be careful! There is a monster in here!” 

“...” 

By “monster,” she was referring to the target they’d encircled. As Reiji looked down, he set his gaze upon the primary cause of all this commotion—a cockroach. And a particularly small one at that. While it was still creepily moving its feelers, it was just sitting there on the floor for now. 

Were these people genuinely afraid of it? Or perhaps they were trying to play a prank on Reiji? That was all he could think. 

“Reiji-sama!” 

“Mm, yeah, I can hear you. So, what’s up?” 

“Did you not hear me?! I am saying that there is a monster—” 

“Um, about that... How is that a monster? It just looks like a bug to me.” 

“Do not be fooled! It is a monster that has threatened households since time immemorial! An abomination that strikes fear into the heart of man!” 

“I mean, I know it looks gross, but I don’t think it’s actually hurting anyone...” 

“Oh, but it will! It’s even said that a terrible disease can be contracted just from touching it!” 

“A terrible disease, huh? Is that what they say...?” 

There was no way that was true. As Reiji’s exasperation continued to mount, he heard Mizuki’s voice coming from behind him. 

“Oh, Reiji-kuuun! I heard shouting over here. What’s going on?” 

“Ah, Mizuki...” 

Mizuki slipped past Reiji standing at the door while humming, and immediately whipped around to stick her tongue out at him. She was being cute, but the situation being what it was, it didn’t improve Reiji’s mood any. Mizuki, however, was clueless as to what she’d just walked into, and Titania called out to warn her. 

“M-Mizuki! Be careful!” 

“Huh? About what?” 

“Fall back! It’s dangerous here!” 

Hearing the urgency in Titania’s voice, Mizuki took a look at her surroundings. Not seeing anything out of the ordinary, however, she only grew more puzzled. 

“Ummm... What’s dangerous, exactly? I don’t see anything...” 

“There’s no time to waste! Make haste and flee this place!” 

“You want me to run away— Aaah!” 

Mizuki spotted the cockroach midsentence. Her initial reaction was simply surprise, but then her shoulders began exaggeratedly trembling. 

“...Hmph! You sure got some nerve to invade my territory...” 

Mizuki began exuding a dangerous aura and a low, creepy laugh. Titania was bewildered by her sudden change in attitude. Seeing it, Reiji called out to her. 

“H-Hey, Mizuki...” 

“Leave this to me, Reiji-kun. It’s alright. I’m quite used to it.” 

“Mizuki...?” 

With no further response, Mizuki slowly left the room. When she eventually returned, she was carrying a large number of coins that she’d folded up into a cloth. She then used a string to seal the top of the makeshift bag so that none of the coins could come out. Seeing this, Reiji was reminded of a particular scene from a certain detective manga. The one where coins were stuffed into a sock to make an improvised blackjack of sorts. 

Since they were short the staple arsenal of tools for dealing with such a threat—spray pesticide, flyswatters, rolled up newspapers, and the like—she’d likely chosen this as a substitute. It looked like she was planning on crushing the cockroach with it. Indeed, Mizuki wasn’t afraid of cockroaches. To the contrary, she was the type of girl to get rid of them herself upon discovering them. And once she’d finished fashioning her weapon, she sidled right over to it. 

“R-Reiji-sama! If we do not stop Mizuki, then...!” 

“Yeah, I wouldn’t worry about her. Not Mizuki.” 

“No, we mustn’t allow her to get close to it! Please stop Mizuki immediately! She will contract a terrible disease!” 

Or so Titania pleaded, but Reiji didn’t move. Meanwhile, Mizuki took in a deep breath, and... 

“Get the hell out of my territory! EEEEEEAAAAAAAAT THIIIIISSS!” 

The moment she locked eyes on the cockroach, she let out a valiant roar. She was telling it to get out, but she was fully intent on crushing it. Swinging her improvised weapon, she struck the floor repeatedly with a series of bangs. Witnessing the bloodcurdling sight of a mad warrior at work, Titania and the others were overcome with an indescribable sense of fear. 

Needless to say, the cockroach didn’t stand a chance against her. 

“Hmph... It’s over.” 

After obliterating the cockroach, Mizuki turned an astoundingly triumphant smile on her companions. Seeing her like this, the three knights in the room began muttering. 

“A-Amazing...” 

“My god, to have defeated that monster so easily...” 

“Does Mizuki-dono fear nothing...?” 

It didn’t take long for their fear to evolve into deep admiration. They looked up at her with ardent zeal like they would a true hero. 

“I don’t really get what’s going on, but that was okay, right?” 

“It was magnificent, Mizuki. I never knew you were so heroic... I am seeing you in a new light.” 

Titania clasped Mizuki’s hand firmly in both of hers. Her eyes too were sparkling with admiration. 

“What? Naw... I’ve still got a long ways to go.” 

“No, the dauntless courage you just demonstrated as you defeated that monster with your own hands was truly commendable. I shall follow in your example.” 

“Monster? That cockroach?” 

“Yes. It’s especially praiseworthy that you could challenge one so large.” 

“I dunno. It was kinda tiny.” 

“Pardon?” 

Titania sounded like she’d misheard Mizuki, but Mizuki simply replied... 

“I mean, I’ve taken on groups ’em that size all at once before, you know? Compared to that, this was nothing. Nothing at all.” 

Hearing those words, Titania and the others beheld Mizuki as if she were a god.