Tilea's Worries

The Santuario, a restricted area designated by the Allied Nations, has been sealed off since ancient times, containing various calamities. Among the most dangerous of these is the Calamity Crab. Resembling a crab in appearance, its temperament is the very definition of "savage." Its pincers are said to literally slice through steel, and according to legend, even the orichalcum armor worn by the hero of the time was pierced. Its shell is an impregnable fortress, harder than steel, and it was said that even the great holy sword of the era chipped upon striking it. Furthermore, it possesses resistance to all elements—fire, water, wood, earth, wind, lightning, light—and it nullified the greatest fire spell of the era’s top pyromancer, Malte.

It’s truly a monster.

The world teetered on the brink of destruction due to the rampage of the Calamity Crab. But it was finally sealed away by the revered High Priest Marcus, a hero like no other. After the Allied Nations' forces weakened the creature with everything they had, High Priest Marcus sacrificed his life to cast the ultimate sealing spell. These two crabs nearly brought about the end of the world.

The Calamity Crab...

Some say it wandered in from the demon realm, while others believe it was a regular crab transformed by the accumulation of curses from countless battles. The exact origin remains unclear. But even so, these two crabs, no more than forty centimeters in size, wreaked havoc on the world. It's truly a black mark in history.

Since then, elite forces from various nations have been stationed at Santuario, keeping a vigilant watch to prevent these calamities from ever being unleashed again.

However... hehe, no matter how noble an institution may be, it will eventually succumb to corruption over time. Even here, in the most critical area of Santuario, it’s no exception.

I have one of the World Calamity Guard captains under my control. I’ve turned this fool into a dog who can arrange various conveniences for me.

As usual, I summon the dog.

"Hehehe, I’m always grateful for the business, Mr. Yana."

His voice is disgusting.

This foolish man has fallen into massive debt due to his gambling habits. I’ve used money to manipulate him into doing my bidding.

This time, I requested that he temporarily lend me the box containing the Calamity Crab for a collector who wishes to see it. Even if it’s just the box, it would suffice.

The Calamity Crab is a legendary creature that once terrified the world. Normally, such an item is strictly forbidden to be taken out. Just talking about it would result in immediate capture and execution without trial.

But this guy only thinks about money. The importance of his duties or the significance of his position have long since vanished from his mind. Unfortunately, there are several men like him, even in a place as crucial as Santuario.

It’s truly over.

But whatever. As long as I can kill that irritating blonde girl, I don’t care if the nation falls or the world ends. My pride as an assassin has been shredded to pieces. I can’t rest until I’ve avenged myself.

I receive the box containing the Calamity Crab from the dog. The box is inscribed with ancient characters and is tightly bound by complex spells. Even after all this time, the skill of the sorcerer who created it is evident. High Priest Marcus, the greatest mage of his era, truly left his mark.

However, if I listen carefully, I can hear the sound of creaking and groaning coming from the box.

It’s alive!

Despite the thick barrier, the Calamity Crab’s deadly aura is seeping out.

So that’s what’s happening!

This barrier looks solid from the outside, but inside, it’s been heavily eroded. The dense killing intent of the Calamity Crab is leaking through the cracks. It seems that over the years, the crabs have been applying pressure from within, gradually and steadily breaking down the seal.

"Is something wrong, Mr. Yana?" the dog asks.

"...Nothing of concern," I reply.

"Heh, can you believe it? This cursed Calamity Crab is sealed inside such a dirty old box. But I assure you, it’s the real deal."

"I can tell."

"Is that so? These collectors sure are strange, spending a fortune just to see something like this. I can’t understand it."

The dog is clueless.

Indeed, from the outside, the seal seems to be functioning normally. Even I was almost fooled at first.

But those who know, know. If you inspect it closely, it’s clear that this barrier is severely deteriorated.

How could no one have noticed? This organization is truly hopeless.

"By the way, you’ve set up a replacement box, haven’t you?" I ask.

"Of course. If anyone found out it was stolen, my head would be on the chopping block. Rest assured, I’ve prepared a perfect replica. No one will ever know the difference."

"It better be," I warn.

"Yes, sir. And, Mr. Yana, once the collector is done with the box, please return it, okay?"

"...Do I really have to?"

"P-Please, Mr. Yana, don’t do this to me. As you know, this is an SS-class dangerous species. We can’t keep using a fake box indefinitely. If the seal were to break..."

Heh, now he’s worried about the wrong thing. I’m the kind of villain who’s about to break that very seal just to satisfy my own pride.

But fine, I’ll let him have this false sense of security, if only for a little while longer.

"Alright, I’ll return it once we’re done."

When I say this, the dog sighs in relief.

And then, with the gold coins I gave him happily tucked away, he scurries off, probably headed for booze and gambling. What a small-time crook. Enjoy your brief moment of peace while you can.

A few days later...

"I sincerely apologize for the other day!" 

Having made all the necessary preparations, I appear before the blonde girl once again, bowing low to the ground.

"Mr. Yana, please lift your head. I honestly have no idea why you’re apologizing..."

"It’s about that cave incident. Because of my carelessness, I ended up injuring you, Tilea-san."

"Huh? Mr. Yana, I wasn’t injured at all. I’ve told you several times already, it was just a little static shock that startled me. Besides, it wasn’t your fault. I was the one being careless. Actually, I’m grateful that you showed me such a rare plant growing area."

She insists on calling my carefully crafted lightning trap "static electricity."

It’s infuriating beyond words, but I must hold my tongue.

I’ve brought this calamity creature as an apology gift. It would be a problem if she didn’t accept it.

I’ll play along with her idiotic narrative for now.

"No, that cave is known for building up static electricity. I should have warned you. It was my fault for not explaining that. So please, I hope you’ll accept this as a small token of my apology."

I bow my head and present the box containing the Calamity Crab to her.

"Oh no, no, no, you don’t have to go that far. I wasn’t hurt or anything. This is too much, really. I’d feel bad accepting it."

"No, no, no, I insist. I’ve been losing sleep over this. I would feel terrible if you didn’t accept it."

I push the box towards her.

I really have been losing sleep—over the rage of failing to kill her! But now, finally, I’ll have my revenge. As the world’s top assassin, Ryuko, I swear I’ll kill you this time!

"Well, if not accepting it is going to keep you up at night... okay, I’ll take it. Thank you."

With a troubled expression, she reluctantly accepts the box.

Yes, victory is mine!

No matter how much of a monster this blonde girl may be, she won’t stand a chance against a real monster. And it’s not just two crabs anymore. From the aura, I can tell the Calamity Crabs have multiplied significantly.

If two of these creatures could bring a country to its knees, there’s no way anyone could survive against dozens.

The blonde girl, still completely unsuspecting, begins to open the box.

Even though the box is cracked, it’s still a container sealed by High Priest Marcus. It’s not something to be opened casually...

But then again, this blonde girl just might be able to do it.

"Mr. Yana, this box seems really old. What’s in it? The lid won’t open..."

"Sorry about that. It’s a vintage piece, so the latch might be a bit bent and stuck."

"Oh, I see. What should I do? It’s not opening."

"Don’t worry, it’s just a box, no matter how valuable. Please, feel free to force it open."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."

"Okay then, here goes!"

Perhaps because she was being polite before, she wasn’t using her full strength. But now, with just a bit of effort, she easily pops the lid off.

At this point, I’m no longer surprised by anything she does. But to think she could break open a box sealed with the life force of High Priest Marcus so easily...

As soon as the box was opened, a dense aura of killing intent surged out. It was overwhelming. What had seeped out before was just a remnant of the true chaos contained within. The real deal.

I could barely breathe, my chest tightening as if I might pass out at any moment. I've faced death countless times as an assassin, but this was different—this was terrifying.

Such an intense aura! I could feel the resentment against humanity. It was as if hundreds of years of sealed hatred were now pouring out in a miasma that filled the air.

I fought to stay conscious, refusing to give in. I had worked too hard to hear the blonde girl's final screams to pass out now. I wouldn't lose consciousness, no matter what!

"Hmm? Something's moving inside the box. What could it be?" the blonde girl wondered aloud.

"That, Tilea-san, is something I think you'll enjoy as a cook," I replied.

"Really? Oh, that makes me so happy! If it's moving, that means it's fresh, right?" she said, her voice bubbling with excitement as she peered into Pandora's box.

And then...

"Oh, it's a crab! Is this a king crab? No, the claws are different. Maybe it's a Shanghai crab? But it's too big for that. I've never seen a crab like this before. Hey, Yana-san, what kind of crab is this?"

"Heh, it's no wonder you don't recognize it, Tilea-san. This is a new species of crab. One that will astonish humanity," I said with a smirk.

"Wow, that's amazing! Thank you so much for giving me something so rare," she replied, genuinely grateful.

"Not at all," I said.

"Well then, let's get cooking right away," she said, reaching into the box to grab the calamity crab.

The crab didn’t hesitate to lash out with its vicious claws, aiming for her fingers. I could almost hear the sound of her fingers being sliced to ribbons.

Heh heh heh heh... Ahaha... Wait, seriously?

The blonde girl was perfectly fine. The crab had her finger in its pincers, but she remained unfazed. Instead, she cheerfully remarked, "Wow, it's really lively!"

How is this possible? This is the calamity crab! 

This creature had terrorized humanity for centuries, passed down in legends. Its claws were said to cut through steel armor, making countless victims. It was said to have destroyed entire castles with ease. How could she be unaffected?

Could it be a fake? Were the legends exaggerated?

No, the intense killing intent still lingering in the air was proof enough. This was the real deal—a creature that could bring down nations. Even an S-ranked adventurer in S-ranked armor would be shredded to pieces. Yet...

"Really, thank you so much. I've never seen a crab this lively before. Look, it's clamping down on my finger so hard. This crab is definitely going to be juicy. I can't wait to cook it," she said, smiling warmly.

"...Doesn't that hurt?" I asked, incredulous.

"Huh?"

"I mean, doesn't it hurt?"

"Well, it's definitely pinching hard enough to hurt. Just wait a bit, Yana-san. I'll cook you some crab dishes today."

The blonde girl casually lifted the crab out of the box. Meanwhile, I was on the verge of passing out from the sheer killing intent emanating from the other crabs.

And then...

"With your bare hands!?"

Could this be real?

The blonde girl was cracking open the crab’s shell with her bare hands—the same shell that no legendary weapon could penetrate.

"There's no need to be so surprised. Sure, using my bare hands might seem a bit improper, but this is all part of the cooking process. After all, I am a professional chef. Just leave it to me," she said, as if her feat was nothing extraordinary.

This conversation was completely absurd.

At this point, how much more can this blonde girl's inhuman strength surprise me? 

As I stood there, dumbfounded, a man entered the shop. Upon seeing the blonde girl, he bowed respectfully. He seemed to be one of the shop’s employees or perhaps one of her subordinates.

I forced myself to calm down.

Taking a deep breath, I made a decision.

I’m giving up on killing this girl.

Yes, that is no ordinary human being. This blonde girl is the true calamity.

This is my first defeat as a professional assassin. It's humiliating. At the very least, I’ll stay to witness the havoc these calamity crabs will wreak on those around her.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of unpeeled calamity crabs left.

As the blonde girl continued to prepare the crabs, she chatted with the man who had just arrived. They talked casually about receiving gifts, including the crab she was currently cooking.

There wasn't a hint of caution between them.

The man was apparently named Ortissio. He, too, seemed to lack any sense of caution. Despite the overwhelming aura of killing intent in the air, they continued their conversation without a care.

And then...

"Hey, Oru! Here’s a crab!"

The blonde girl lifted one of the calamity crabs and held it up in front of Ortissio.

"Huh? This aura... it’s bringing back memories—Gwahhh!"

"Oh no! Oru, are you okay?" the blonde girl cried out in alarm.

That's right. That's how it should be!

I'd almost forgotten due to the blonde girl’s inhuman abilities.

This is the reaction I wanted to see.

It’s a calamity creature, after all. This is the normal response.

Now, let’s see some real chaos!

...

...

...

"That’s... not good. You’re bleeding! Crab, let go of Oru right now!" the blonde girl yelled.

"Ugh, my nose, my nose!!" Ortissio shouted in pain.

I could hear their conversation.

...What is this?

The calamity crab had clamped down on Ortissio’s nose.

There was some blood.

He was screaming.

The calamity crab had attacked.

But that was it.

"Oh, come on! What a baby face you have. We need healing magic—wait, Timu isn’t here. Someone bring a band-aid, quickly!" the blonde girl ordered.

She forcibly pried the calamity crab off, and Ortissio had his nose covered with something called a "band-aid"—a simple makeshift bandage—and that was the end of it.

This... this is a monster that could bring down nations.

Who the hell are these people...?

I stood there, completely dumbfounded, when something caught my eye.

What’s this!? The box is on its side!?

This is bad. Did they all escape?

It seems the box was knocked over during the commotion.

The lid was open, and all the calamity crabs had escaped.

The room was now filled with the murderous intent of dozens of these creatures.

"Ahhh! They’re all out!!" I screamed involuntarily.

All of the calamity crabs had been released...

Even though I had planned for this and braced myself, I couldn’t suppress my fear. My whole body was trembling in front of the overwhelming murderous intent of these dozens of calamity crabs.

"It’s true! This is bad. They’re all getting away. Everyone, catch the crabs! Catch them!" the blonde girl shouted.

"Yes, ma'am!"

At her command, several men who had been hiding somewhere appeared and began to chase after the crabs.

"What the—these crabs are strong!"

"And they’re so quick!"

"Ow, ow, ow! These things are aggressive. Damn it! This damn crab won’t let go!"

"Damn it! I’ll just use a magic bullet—"

"Stop! Tilea-sama ordered us to catch them alive. No magic bullets!"

"Damn it, catching them alive is tough! Ow! Stop pinching me, you damn crab!"

The men’s angry shouts echoed through the room as the chaos spread. They were clearly struggling to deal with the calamity crabs.

Shouts, confusion, the scene I had wanted to witness.

But it’s all wrong. Completely wrong.

This isn’t what I wanted at all!

How many times do I have to say it? These are creatures that can bring down nations!

As I felt my very identity as an assassin crumbling, suddenly...

"Super Magic Explosive Flame Fist!"

An incredible surge of fighting spirit filled the room.

I quickly looked toward the source of the energy and saw an elderly gentleman calmly smashing one of the calamity crabs with his fist.

What!? It's shattered to pieces!?

The calamity crab, a legendary creature that not even an orichalcum sword could destroy, was reduced to nothing by this old man.

Wh-What...

I knew just by looking at it that destroying that creature should have been impossible. After all my years as an assassin, I knew it for certain.

And yet, what the hell is this!?

This isn’t even the blonde girl’s doing—this is someone else entirely.

I stared in horror at the man named Nielsen as he calmly walked over to me.

"You dare unleash such creatures here. What do you think you’re doing?" he said, his voice cold and deadly.

The shattered remains of the cataclysmic crab lay scattered across the ground, a testament to its defeat. Nielsen, with an intense gaze, demanded answers from me. This was bad. Unlike the blonde girl and Ortissio, this man understood the significance of the cataclysmic crab. I had no choice but to feign ignorance; fighting him now would be suicide. My only chance was to talk my way out of this.

“Wh-what do you mean?” I stammered.

“Do not play dumb. Your act is unconvincing. Do not underestimate me, Nielsen!” His voice was sharp, and he was not one to be fooled.

“I’m sorry, but I truly don’t understand what you’re implying.”

“This is your last warning. Speak the truth, or I will sever your head from your body. I do not show mercy to those who betray my master.”

Nielsen’s fist came crashing down on another cataclysmic crab, pulverizing it effortlessly. It wasn’t a fluke—this was the second time he had obliterated one. His sheer power was terrifying, and the overwhelming bloodlust emanating from him made my whole body tremble.

How could I get out of this? There was no way I could keep lying. It was clear that he alone had figured out my true identity. Should I make a break for it? No, I wouldn’t stand a chance. The thought of fighting him head-on was laughable—I could already see myself being overpowered in a direct confrontation. I simulated every possible attack in my mind, but all scenarios ended in failure.

I was doomed.

As I teetered on the edge of despair, a sudden shout broke the tension.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?! You’re wasting food!” 

“Gwah!” Nielsen, the unshakeable warrior, was sent flying by a kick from the blonde girl. The same Nielsen who moments ago seemed invincible now lay on the ground, defeated.

“I’m so sorry, Yan-san. They’re really noisy, aren’t they? I swear, dealing with these childish men is such a hassle.” The blonde girl apologized with a bright smile, completely unaware of the chaos she had just caused.

I could only laugh weakly. What the hell is this place? What am I even witnessing?

“Ah, you must think this is ridiculous, right? I don’t blame you at all. But really, they’re not bad guys. I’m so sorry about what happened to your gift. I’ll have it caught in no time.”

With that, the blonde girl started effortlessly capturing the cataclysmic crabs one by one, as if they were nothing more than stray insects.

“Ah, Tilea-sama, if you’ll allow us to—” Ortissio began.

“No, no. You guys just focus on putting on some band-aids. You’re all covered in scratches from those crabs.”

“This is nothing! We’ll crush these insolent crabs in no time!”

“I said no crushing!” Tilea scolded, her patience clearly wearing thin.

The blonde girl was now systematically hunting down the crabs. The once-feared creatures were now cowering in fear at the sight of her. It was as if they could sense the overwhelming danger she posed.

“Ah, wait!” She called out as the crabs suddenly stopped in their tracks and began floating in mid-air.

“I’ve caught them, sister,” said a new voice. A silver-haired girl had arrived, seemingly having just returned from the academy. Using some form of telekinesis, she effortlessly lifted the crabs off the ground, one after the other.

Magic shouldn’t work on these crabs… but I wasn’t going to question it anymore.

“Oh, magic! As expected of Timu, the genius of the Magic Academy,” the blonde girl praised, clearly pleased with her sister’s abilities.

The silver-haired girl, Timu, smiled warmly at her sister as she continued to handle the crabs like mere ingredients for their next meal. These sisters were clearly something else—both terrifyingly powerful. And to think, I agreed to take on this assassination for a mere one billion gold. What a joke! This wasn’t worth it at all.

While I was wallowing in regret, Timu suddenly noticed me.

“Oh? You’re the one from before… I see, so you’re the one who brought these crabs. You’ve made my sister very happy. You have my gratitude.”

Wait, she knows me? Could she have noticed me earlier? When I was sneaking around, I felt like someone might have been watching, but I didn’t think anyone saw my face.

“You seem surprised. I don’t know why you thought you wouldn’t be noticed with such sloppy stealth skills.”

“S-sloppy?”

“Yes, sloppy. But your efforts were amusing, so I decided to let it slide. My instincts were correct—after all, you’ve brought joy to my sister. You should be proud.”

Such arrogance! As an assassin who has made a name for himself, Ryukou the Genius Assassin, I was being treated like a joke. Ordinarily, I would be seething with rage, but all I could do was accept it. My pride was in tatters, but it felt justified.

What’s happening to me? Ryukou, the unbeatable assassin, the one who could take down anyone… Is this really happening, or am I dreaming?

As I stood there in a daze, the crabs were swiftly being cooked by the blonde girl. She cracked their shells open with her bare hands, not unlike a skilled chef preparing a dish. The sight of her casually cooking these legendary monsters as if they were ordinary food ingredients was surreal.

“Hmm, why isn’t it cooking properly?” she mused. She had placed the crabs in a pot, boiling them over a fire. Given that these crabs had resistance to all forms of magic, there was no way a simple flame would cook them. But then I noticed the fire she was using—it wasn’t a normal one.

What kind of fire is that? She’s using some sort of high-level magical flame! A technique akin to what you’d find in the magic capital of Xenoa, yet even more advanced. The power needed to sustain such a fire must be enormous. No wonder she was struggling earlier.

But this fire… it’s not enough. 

“Hmm, something’s not right… Maybe I need to turn up the heat. Hey, Oru, tell the staff to increase the flame’s power.”

“Yes, my lady,” Ortissio replied, hurrying out of the room.

Then I heard his booming voice from the next room, “You worthless slaves! Increase the magic output! Pour every last drop of your energy into this! Push yourselves until you’re spent!”

So they do have slaves here, just as I thought. They’re using magical slaves to channel fire magic into the kitchen. And they’re using them up just to cook? This isn’t just a restaurant—this is a fortress, no, a kingdom with unrivaled power. I’ve been an absolute fool to think otherwise. My employer will pay for this—big time.

A short while later, the flames grew stronger. Ortissio’s forceful encouragement must have done the trick. The fire magic was more potent than before.

“Oh, the heat’s stronger now! This should—oh no, it went out. Oru, the fire’s gone!”

“I’m terribly sorry. I’ll reignite it at once,” Ortissio responded, hurrying back out.

“You lazy scum! What’s taking so long? Do you want me to come over there and beat some energy into you myself?!” His voice echoed through the building.

That was it—the limit of what they could do.

“Oru, you need to stop that,” the blonde girl chided.

“But… but…”

“Just let the workers rest. I’ll take care of it myself.”

With that, she generated flames with her own hands and began roasting the crabs once again.

What… what is this power?! She’s roasting them! And the smell… it’s heavenly!

She hummed a little tune as she cooked, wielding a fire so powerful it defied comprehension.

Was it a giga-level spell? No, more like tera-level… or beyond? Whatever it was, it was something humanity should not be able to achieve. And yet, she handled it with such ease.

The other men in the room watched casually, as if this level of magic was completely normal. These people… they’re monsters. I’ve walked into a den of monsters. I should’ve realized sooner, but my pride got in the way, and now I was nearly doomed because of it.

Assassinate these people? I must be out of my mind!

All I want now is to run. Forget pride—survival is what matters.

“Uh, well, I think it’s time for me to… take my leave…”

“Wait, Yan-san! It’s almost ready. Stay and have a taste. You can’t leave without trying it,” she called after me.

“Well, I’d love to, but…”

“Are you defying Lady Tilea’s orders? You’ve got guts!” Ortissio barked, while the others shot me menacing glares.

Even the less powerful members of this group weren’t normal by any means. The fact that they had all these cataclysmic crabs was proof enough of that.

So much for my pride… “I would be honored to stay, thank you.”

I bowed, resigned to my fate, and let things take their course.

Afterwards, I enjoyed a meal of cataclysmic crab, cooked to perfection by the blonde girl, and then I quietly left the scene.

 She was right—the crab was indeed tender and delicious.

I think it’s time I retire from the assassination business. 

Besides, the world is already doomed. There’s a force more powerful than any cataclysmic crab that’s already been unleashed upon it. I might as well enjoy what’s left of my life. 

But first, I’ll make sure my employer pays for this. After all, I’m flat broke now, thanks to the traps I set and all the expenses I’ve incurred. I’ll bill them for every bit of my mental anguish and all the damages. 

I’ll even be generous—let’s say they only pay half. They’ll still go bankrupt, but that’s not my problem.