The Babysitter Wants to Stop Dying

Chapter 21: Build Up (1)

The morning dawned after I decided to become bait once more.

The world, not yet fully lit by dawn, was engulfed in a bluish light.

“I guess I should go to the bakery first.”

As I leaned against the window, my gaze naturally turned upward.

A sky that was just blue, as if paint had been meticulously applied. It was the complete opposite of my never-quiet days, so for some reason, I didn't feel great.

“Suddenly running into those guys……”

It was tiring enough just chasing after one protagonist, but to think an unexpected ill-fated connection would pop up too.

It wasn't a huge problem, but I had planned to camp out at Philemon's bakery all day today, and now my schedule was messed up.

‘Should I stop by the bakery first, and if it seems like I won't meet the box's owner, go see Moris and then come back?’

For now, that was the only way.

If I had my way, I'd want to reject it all, saying, is there really a need to cause a commotion, and I don't want to meet Moris.

But what Camila said when we parted last night weighed on my mind.

“Those people will arrive soon. When they do, the terrorist organization won't show themselves for a while.”

Camila's expression as she said that was peculiar. It was hard to tell if she was relieved or regretful. It was an emotion that was difficult to define.

“You must know that they're targeting Lottie. For Lottie and Mr. Neroro's sake, we have to catch the organization.”

“I'm well aware of that. But who exactly are ‘those people’ you're waiting for? I've been curious for a while.”

It was a question asked with the firm belief that the protagonist would be included. Camila, after a moment of contemplation, began to speak.

“Um……. It's the union I belong to. You'll find out soon. Perhaps…… they might have already arrived.”

Camila said that and left the room.

Because of that, I couldn't back out now, and the plan was set.

‘The union Camila belongs to. If it has the protagonist and a genius researcher, how amazing must it be?’

Then the possibility of me belonging there too…….

“Ah! The premonition!”

In the premonition Lottie showed me, didn't Camila say something about a ‘separate union of Rankers’?

It seems like the turmoil that's about to blow in won't be insignificant.

But I'd already steeled myself since I was possessed into Astava. Nothing to be scared of. After all, I can't even die.

‘I have to think positively.’

I scratched my head vigorously and turned around.

Lottie, who had played with her new vroom-vroom all night, was asleep, and there was still time before the hour Moris mentioned.

If I were to sort out my priorities, the most important thing to me right now was that black box at Philemon's bakery.

“Shall I get going.”

The warning that blared loudly, calling it an invalid contact.

One person who stood out. A suspicious item left behind.

Everything signaled the protagonist's appearance.

Of course, even if I stayed still, according to the flow of the story, the protagonist's appearance was a predetermined outcome as long as I was near Camila and Lottie.

But I couldn't just wait around forever. What meaning would the given Quest have if I didn't make a move? To put it bluntly, if I only waited, I wouldn't know when they'd show up.

‘Black hair. A tall woman.’

Still, I never expected the protagonist to be a woman. Looking at the clues related to Lottie and Camila, it seemed so obvious they were a married man, how would I have known?

“Is it a little past 6 o'clock……”

Looking at the time, it felt a bit much to take Lottie out.

She cried so much when I went out alone yesterday, but it was practically dawn now, and the child had only fallen asleep a short while ago.

‘It can't be helped.’

I brushed off the shirt I bought yesterday and left the room.

The lodging had a long corridor-style layout. My room was next to Mago's, and next to his was Camila's. As for Renie, I had no idea where she'd been since coming to the lodging, so I didn't know.

“Mr. Mago.”

I knocked on the door cautiously, and soon after, I heard signs of someone inside.

“What is it.”

A slightly irritated reply came back as if he knew it was me just by my voice. Then again, the hour was a bit early.

“I have to step out for a moment, could you please watch Lottie?”

“Hey, why does the sitter keep leaving the child behind?”

Beyond the abruptly opened door stood Mago, perfectly dressed. It wasn't even the pitch-black suit that suited him somewhat, but a stuffy, navy-blue one.

I had no idea why he was in such full gear when it was only 6 o'clock, but at any rate, he was all ready to watch the child.

I was relieved.

“Then I'll leave her in your care for a moment. As long as you're quiet, the child won't wake up.”

“Hey, wai-, look here!”

“I'm counting on you!”

Mago wasn't friendly to me anyway, so I figured it was fine to just say what I needed to.

***

“Huh.”

The moment I left the lodging and entered the street. Something flashed through my mind.

‘No way, they didn't go looking for the box last evening, right?’

A sudden wave of anxiety washed over me. Yesterday, I was so shocked at myself for leaving Lottie behind that my thoughts hadn't reached that far.

I had made the complacent judgment that since it was a lost item, they would naturally come looking for it the next day.

‘What if they already came and got it yesterday?’

There's no point in me going now, is there? Am I on my way to become old man Philemon's bread slave?

The sense of crisis that my chance to find the protagonist might be ruined made my steps quicken on their own.

It was just as I was turning onto the block where the bakery was located.

“Hey!”

A booming call rang out as if striking the back of my head.

An early hour. There was no one on the street, and it was clearly directed at me.

The thought that it might be another person from Remble lasted only a moment, then an unknown sense of déjà vu washed over my entire body. I slowly turned around.

A strange thrill, similar to goosebumps running over my skin.

“Do you happen to know where Philemon's bakery is?”

Jet-black hair. A perfectly fitting black suit.

The destination I had endlessly pursued was abruptly thrown before my eyes.

***

The Demon King of Astava.

A world where I had to achieve the main scenario of helping the protagonist and preventing the apocalypse.

After accepting reality, I contemplated for a very long time. And that was still the case now.

‘After I find the protagonist? What then?’

The conclusion was always the same. Following the protagonist was a given, according to the plot.

So, let's just suitably help the protagonist save the world, and then enjoy a suitably comfortable rest of my life to my heart's content.

But how abstract was even that.

In truth, while I yearned for the protagonist in order to turn away from this crazy world, I was also avoiding the protagonist I would one day meet.

Of course, I did try, but I think on the inside, I might have been persuading myself that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't so bad to live on like this without meeting the protagonist.

Since ruin was coming, I couldn't pretend not to know my given mission, but a fate that was all but confirmed to be an adventure with the protagonist was harder to accept than I thought.

So I thought a lot.

When I meet the protagonist, will the world resonate as if a new era is dawning?

Will the notification windows and system windows go crazy?

Will some grand emotion rage inside me?

Will a special change occur, enough to make me eagerly crawl into a grand journey on my own?

“I came because I have an appointment, but people were saying that bakery is a really good place. Phew, the line was so long, it took me forever to buy bread, you know?”

The woman stretched and let out a long yawn.

She, who had naturally started walking with me, walked with heavy steps, as if a single horse was walking.

Especially since she was dressed head to toe in a pitch-black suit, it was as if a large black horse was following me. She also didn't forget to let out energetic yawns from time to time.

For someone who looked to be in her mid-to-late twenties, her actions were quite unrestrained. At the very least, it wasn't the kind of attitude one would take while walking with a stranger.

“It wasn't like that before, but I guess it is these days. He was always a skilled baker, so it's a relief that he's finally getting recognized.”

“Oh? You know the place?”

At the unexpected answer, the woman's eyes widened as she looked at me. My heart was still beating a little fast, but I calmly nodded my head.

Since I still didn't know how to connect with the protagonist, I needed to lead the conversation calmly.

“I used to work part-time there. When I was a student.”

“Wait a minute, huh! Aren't you the clerk from yesterday? It is you! The one who suddenly staggered! Are you feeling okay?”

“Haha, yes. I was a bit tired yesterday. I'm fine.”

“That's a relief. So are you still working part-time there?”

“No. I was just helping out a little yesterday. I have a separate job now.”

“Wow, congratulations! Getting a job is a good thing!”

Just a moment ago she was worried about my health, and now she was clapping her hands and congratulating me on getting a job.

As I continued the conversation with the woman, I observed her from time to time.

Her slightly splay-footed gait. The way she strode, yet the pressure felt with every step. Her smiling face, but a presence that made it clear what you see isn't everything.

But, how should I put it.

She seemed a bit... light?

No, this went beyond being light, it was more like a feather.

“Work is tough, isn't it? I get tired sometimes, too. How about you?”

“It's hard. I just do it to make a living.”

“Hahaha! You're an honest one, aren't you?”

“But it's rewarding. And it suits my aptitude.”

“Then you've succeeded!”

I raised the corners of my mouth to match her hearty laugh. The woman continued on, rambling about how she's been feeling particularly tired lately.

Taking advantage of the moment she was lost in her lament, I sped up my sidelong glances.

‘Nothing. Nothing's showing up at all.’

There was no notification window popping up before my eyes, no system alert sound. What's more, even looking at the woman didn't make anything extra appear.

Contextually, intuitively, there was no doubt this woman was the protagonist.

I found the protagonist.

But why isn't the something I expected appearing?

Congrats! Protagonist found!

Not even a simple message like that?

‘Is the most likely reason the phrase that appeared under invalid contact?’

[You must collect the clues!]

[Use the correct route!]

[Warning: Non-standard encounters will be nullified!]

The number of clues I currently have is 3 out of 5.

In short, because I haven't collected all the clues, the meeting with the protagonist hasn't been unlocked by the system yet. Thinking of it that way made sense.

Nullified.

No, if I found the protagonist, that's good enough, what's all this nonsense about a correct route?

It seemed the event I was expecting to happen upon meeting the protagonist was scheduled to occur only after I collected all the clues.

‘Well, since the second and third ones appeared back-to-back, I guess it won't be that difficult.’

“By the way, I hope it didn't disappear……”

The voice that had maintained its cheerfulness beside me lowered slightly. It had to be about that box.

“If you're talking about the black box, it's been kept safe, so you don't need to worry.”

“Wow! Really?”

As soon as she heard that, the woman leaped a step forward and abruptly thrust her face in front of mine. Then, she maintained her speed by walking backward.

I walked facing her and gave a nod.

“You're really kind, you know? Really nice.”

A clear and refreshing voice that broke as if moved.

While laughing awkwardly at the rather excessive praise, I continued my observation. Seen head-on like this, every one of her features was deep and distinct, making for an uncommon impression.

‘Something feels familiar, yet unfamiliar.’

Various puzzle pieces floated in my mind. The problem was, they wouldn't combine into one.

I gazed steadily at her eyes.

Strangely vivid red eyes. This too felt like something I had seen before. No, was it something I had heard of?

“Hm? Why are you looking at me like that?

I snapped back to my senses at the cheerful question.

“Um, if it's not too rude, could I perhaps ask for your na—”

“Oh! There it is! Ahaha! I was just here yesterday, but I couldn't find it at all, you know!”

It was the hearty laugh of a hero, like a sergeant in his last year of service, something you could never imagine coming from a woman. We had reached the vicinity of Philemon's bakery before we knew it.

As if she hadn't even heard my question, she strode into the bakery.

“……me.”

All that remained in her place was the unfinished question.