kscans

Chapter 145 - The Automated Management AI [MIRA] Initiates its Correction Process

The Hobgoblin Forest cave. Its deepest part, the throne room.

In the quiet that felt like the aftermath of a festival, Mamoru sat on his log throne, enveloped in the savory aroma of meat and the laughter of his friends.

"Alright, alright, thank you for waiting! Tonight's main course is roasted demon world venison with herbs! Slowly roasted over charcoal for three hours, skin and all!"

Defray lifted a huge platter and shouted proudly.

"Cooking is love. You must prepare it neatly, carefully, and eat it deliciously!"

Those words filled Mamoru with a sense of nostalgia and warmth.

"You really never change, do you..."

"Of course not, Captain Mamoru!"

Meanwhile, on the log next to him, Amy silently opened her insect cage and slurped up a green caterpillar.

"...The taste of morning dew. It's a little different from this morning."

Mamoru laughed and couldn't help but ask.

"You don't have to give me a food report for that, you know."

Koni-chan watched this and laughed heartily.

"Amy's slurping bugs again today~! Seeing that gives Koni-chan energy~!"

"Be quiet... be, quiet."

"Eek, she got mad! But I'm still energetic~!"

Tiris watched this exchange and her eyes softened slightly. Each time the bonfire's light flickered, her silver hair sparkled.

"...Everyone's so lively. It's like a 'reunion'."

Mamoru heard those words and quietly murmured to himself.

(A reunion, huh. That's right... it's been a long time since I met everyone. But to gather like this again...)

(For some reason, I feel like I'm the only one getting strangely sentimental... is that a privilege of being a reincarnator?)

Mamoru's eyes narrowed, and he smiled.

"Really... this is a luxurious, slow NPC life."

At that moment.

Dotabatabatatta!

"Ch, Chief, this is terrible!!"

A small goblin came flying out from the back of the cave. His face was pale white, he was out of breath, and his legs looked like they were about to give out.

"What's wrong, why are you in such a hurry..."

"I, it's huge!! A huge monster with a steel body is...!!"

"A monster?"

"Y, yes, and it's killing all the goblins here! And it's shouting!!"

"What is it shouting?"

The goblin's voice trembled.

"It's saying... 'Where is Mamoru...?'!"

At that moment.

Pishi...!

The ceiling of the throne room trembled faintly. It was as if something like heavy machinery was approaching, shaking the ground.

Mamoru's eyes narrowed sharply.

"...You developer bastards... so you've come."

Tiris's eyes glinted coldly, and she stood up, bow in hand. Amy closed her insect cage, slowly retracting her tongue, and readied her spear. Defray pulled out a meat cleaver from under the charcoal grill and took a stance. Koni-chan, still with dried meat in his mouth, snorted loudly.

"Mamoru-sensei... are we fighting?"

"Yeah."

Mamoru slowly stood up and looked around at his friends in the light of the bonfire.

"The developers have laid a hand on our 'world'. So we have no choice but to meet them head-on."

"Understood."

"I'll help if you can keep the bugs away."

"Leave it to me, let's roast it over the charcoal."

"Dosukoi, dosukooooi!"

Mamoru took a step forward.

"Alright, let's go. It's time to leave the throne. Next up is a direct confrontation with the developers."

And so, from the throne room, Mamoru and his friends departed. At the end of the long, dark cave. Waiting there was the giant shadow of destruction, unleashed by the automated management AI, MIRA.

Super-large boss-class monster. Crystal Devastator. An unprecedented battle was about to begin.