The Babysitter Wants to Stop Dying

Cgapter 11: The End of the Tutorial (1)

What is this.

I closed and opened my eyes for a long time.

But the notification window was still there, unfazed.

It's real. The third clue has appeared.

My head spun. The world started running on its own, leaving me behind.

So suddenly? It's only been a day since I got the second one, and now the third clue. Do these clue fragments, which were so hard to get, really appear in succession like this?

Wait. Wait. Wait.

Let's get this straight.

The clue appeared along with Camila's proposal. That means Camila is the ‘protagonist's second most precious person’.

What is Camila's relationship with Lottie? And with the protagonist?

According to the second clue, Lottie is the most important person to the protagonist. Then if Camila is the second....

‘Don't tell me!’

A powerful hypothesis struck my head.

‘The three of them are a family!’

It was the moment the outline of the protagonist, which had been so elusive, was finally within my grasp.

A tingling sensation shot through one side of my chest.

It's not just a feeling; it really felt like something was being unlocked.

Thanks to that sensation, I'm even more confident in my guess.

‘This is it, this is right!’

Since coming to Astava, it's been half a year of wandering through a fog, unable to get a grasp on the protagonist, let alone the world's curse.

Finally, I feel confident that I can meet the protagonist.

"So the protagonist was a married man...."

"What did you say?"

"...Did I say something?"

I firmly shut my mouth at the words that had escaped against my will. I remembered the person in front of me, whom I had momentarily forgotten.

Camila Ingram.

She's not an easy person to deal with, so I have to be on my guard. I didn't know anything particularly special about Camila, but I knew very well that she was a seasoned veteran, a tough nut to crack in this field.

And that she's no ordinary smart.

"What on earth are you looking at?"

"Oh, there's a flying insect in this high-class yacht."

Camila's gaze towards me is not very kind.

First, let's get rid of the notification window.

I took my eyes off the densely written words and waved my hand as if chasing away a bug.

"Actually, Mr. Neroro's opinion is not important. I've made my decision, so you have no choice but to follow."

Her gaze was incomparably cold and overbearing, but it wasn't unpleasant.

Before I received the clue, I had no reason to accept a proposal with an unknown intention, but now the story is different. It was clear that I had to follow Camila Ingram, given the flow of things.

"In that case, I'll do as you say. Of course, Lottie is coming with us, right?"

"...Your attitude has changed suddenly."

"Hmm, shall we say I'm good at knowing my place. Thinking about it, who am I to defy someone as high-ranking as you, Professor."

The moment I readily agreed out of sheer joy, Camila's expression changed as if she were looking at a suspicious criminal.

I thought, 'oops', but what could she possibly be thinking? It's not like she can see my notification window.

"When is the departure? I've been here for a few months, so I need to get my things in order."

Though they're all gone now....

It was a question I threw out to change the subject, but my mouth felt bitter. The wide yacht window starkly showed the Center, which was no different from a disaster zone.

To think that a place that was all green had become a hazy ruin.

Camila, who had narrowed her eyes, passed by me and said.

"The departure is the morning after tomorrow. Prepare Lottie's luggage lightly."

Before I knew it, she had opened the door. The hot sun shone a long path into the cabin.

Camila stepped outside just like that.

Wait. Are you just leaving?

"Excuse me, just a moment!"

"Is there anything more you'd like to say?"

"Aren't you taking Lottie?"

When I pointed my finger towards the bed, Camila's brow twitched subtly.

"Aren't you Lottie's sitter?"

A face that said I was talking nonsense. Camila's cold silver hair, as she turned abruptly, quickly disappeared from my sight.

It was so true that I could only stare blankly as the door closed. Silence fell all around.

‘Is this, right?’

Standing there dumbfounded, I turned my head. Lottie had been playing by herself even amidst the not-so-gentle conversation that had been going on.

The puppy doll in her hand wasn't in my memory, so it must have been from this yacht.

"Come here."

She's quite cold to her own child whom she's met after a long time. Don't people usually want to stick together?

Lottie also didn't seem to pay much mind to Camila who had left so callously. A moment ago, she readily switched to that woman, so what is it.

"An incomprehensible mother-and-child pair."

I extended my hand, which was unsightly like it had been struck by lightning. Lottie clung to me.

As if Lottie didn't mind my hand that had turned pitch black as a backlash from using Cobe's ability, she was the same as usual.

‘Maybe she's not very attached to a mother like that.’

Thinking that, my heart ached for some reason.

"Well, it's okay, Lottie. Hyung is more fun, right?"

"Uu?"

I ruffled the hair of the little one who was smiling sheepishly.

"Ah! This is really good news, but I think we can stay together. That's a relief, right?"

"Uwa-!"

Within the small, wide-open mouth, tiny, rice-grain-like white teeth sparkled. I wonder if she's smiling because she understands or just because I'm smiling.

"Let's just stay here for a little while and then go out."

Anyway, things turned out well, but facing Camila was quite uncomfortable. As the tension subsided, my legs gave out.

I leaned against the soft sofa as if collapsing. At the blue eyes that were staring at me so intently, I gently closed my eyes.

She didn't tell me to follow her out, so a little rest should be fine, right? I haven't slept a wink all this time.

And so, for a while, I slowly repeated inhaling and exhaling. It was the first time it had been this quiet since yesterday.

With the nice scent in the cabin, my head felt clearer too.

‘When I meet the protagonist, what do I do now?’

As I calmly thought about what's next, my head felt distant, yet my heart pounded so fast I could feel it in my fingertips.

‘The protagonist....’

A being that had been so vague might be right in front of me.

My slowly opening vision was somehow a little brighter than usual. My legs had no strength, but my neck felt heavy and it felt like blood was circulating vigorously in all my veins.

The Demon King of Astava.

Perhaps the tutorial was over.

Though it was bitter that it came after a truly terrible disaster.

***

"We have also recovered the body of Ranker Rowena."

My gaze automatically turned at the emotionless voice.

The person who reported to Camila was a man named Mago. Camila was frantically writing something, perhaps about this incident. He, in a black suit with a sulky face, stood with his hands behind his back as if waiting for an answer.

‘There are no stretchers, no bags, no carts here, but the recovery is complete.’

As I stared at Mago, the thought I had been having was confirmed.

‘A subspace owner. This is the first time I'm seeing one in person.’

Before coming to the Center, I was in a place teeming with superhumans, but I had only heard about them; this was the first time I had seen a subspace owner.

Since coming here this morning, Mago had been picking things up and touching various things. And not long after, the object would disappear with a whoosh.

The biggest characteristic of those who handle subspace. Spatial transfer after contact.

‘That also has a large individual difference, so the size of the subspace is different for everyone, hmm....’

I was lost in thought as I watched Mago intently.

‘I wonder if I can copy that kind of ability too.’

How far can ability copying go?

Uh...?

Wait.

‘My third ability!’

Come to think of it, I hadn't given much thought to my unlocked ability until now.

I was in a state of confusion, but how could I have forgotten that?

I hadn't checked my ability window once since the chaotic dawn. It was understandable since Camila appeared in succession and messed with my head, but still!

Nat*** Wea.

It clearly synchronized with another's ability. In other words, copying.

It wasn't easy to use, but anyway, if this is really ability copying, and if I can use it properly, isn't that a total cheat?

‘If I'm not careful, I might become the strongest in the world?’

...Nah, no way.

It's basic common sense in Astava that every ability has its limits.

Being humble in self-reflection is the way to get through any situation safely. After getting my hopes up for a moment, I calmly composed my mind.

Anyway, it would look strange if I just stared into the air blankly in this situation, so I'll have to open it in a corner later. There should be some clues in the ability window.

"Then please transport her with all due respect. It was a magnificent death."

At Camila's words that came a long while later, my excited mood sank.

‘What's so magnificent about death.’

I was reminded of yesterday's events again. My mouth felt dry.

"She seemed like a good person."

After a moment of silence for Rowena, I put down the box of documents I was moving and straightened my back.

It was already evening. The sun was setting beyond the horizon.

The island was now all broken, with no lighting or small lights. Nevertheless, everyone around was moving urgently.

Since Camila Ingram came to the Center, everyone who could move was incredibly busy.

The full-scale terror investigation that began under her command had to be carried out, surprisingly, by Mago, Bernard, and Renie, whom she had brought, and the few remaining Center staff.

I, too, was ceaselessly carrying the documents that were still in decent shape to the yacht.

"Ah. And although they were almost burned, we found thirteen bodies presumed to be wearing rabbit masks. There were over twenty other bodies in addition, but they were almost like ash. Shall I pack them as they are?"

"There's probably nothing to salvage, but do so for now."

"Yes. Understood."

The man named Mago, whom Camila had brought, left immediately upon her command.

Packing, he says. I, who had been inadvertently listening to their conversation from one side, instinctively furrowed my brow.

It didn't seem like a very pleasant thing to see.

Camila, who took her eyes off the direction Mago had gone without any lingering attachment, this time gestured to Bernard, who was clearing the rubble of a collapsed building with telekinesis on one side.

"You called?"

"Where is Masimo? I told him to check the destroyed Gate one more time, but I don't see him."

"Sir Masimo is torturing the Administrator with Cobe Alecman. He said he'd make him come to his senses...."

"What? A guy who's unconscious? Go and stop that idiot right now."

"But...."

"No, no, it's fine. I'll go myself."

Camila, roughly running a hand through her hair, strode forward. Bernard, who had been hesitating for a moment at her sharp gaze, followed her with a troubled face.

It seemed he was scared of stopping Masimo like that, but seeing him follow in the end, I wondered if Camila was higher in rank than Masimo.

Well, her looks and the way she talks are a bit scary.

‘But Camila is not even a superhuman.’

Is a Ranker lower in status than a researcher from the Association?

"Hmm.... That's definitely not it."

In Astava, Rankers were practically nobles, doted on by everyone. It was a natural treatment since most of them were responsible for people's lives and safety on the front lines.

Then what about S-ranks among those Rankers? The privileges given to them were beyond imagination, as one person alone was at a level where they could face a huge city.

Naturally, followers would inevitably gather. That's why S-rank Rankers were above the highest-level executives of the Association.

‘Camila Ingram. For now, what's certain is that she is one of the important keys.’

I have a mountain of questions, but I am calm. If I rashly ask this and that, it could backfire.

If I had my way, I'd ask who her husband is right away, but for now, it was better to gather a little more information on my own. And when I've made my judgment, I'll approach her.

"Arsen, come over here!"

Just as I was satisfied with my own plan, the Center Director waved his hand from afar.

"...Yes! I'm coming!"

To think I'm in a position where I have to run without fail at my superior's call even in this chaotic situation.

For some reason, my eyes felt moist.