I Became a Raid Boss

‘An object to cover my face?’

‘Yeah. Like a robe or a hooded cloak… something like that.’

Shin Da-eun pondered for a moment after hearing my question.

‘But is it really necessary to use something like that?’

‘What do you mean? Are you telling me not to hide it?’

Covering Kana’s cute face is absolutely out of the question!

Determined to kick her if she said anything like that, I listened closely to Da-eun’s explanation.

‘No, that’s not entirely wrong, but that’s not what I meant. The things you mentioned could easily reveal your face if you move too vigorously, right? So, I thought it might be better to use something like a mask instead.’

‘…Oh.’

It would definitely be more uncomfortable, but if the goal is to cover my face, that would be better.

If the mask on my face comes off or gets damaged, that likely means I’m in danger anyway.

Feeling proud of her for finally saying something useful, I gave her a thumbs-up, to which Da-eun responded with an “Ehehe” and a laugh.

‘I actually have something good for that. Want to take a look?’

‘Something good?’

‘Wait a sec. I’m pretty sure I left it here… Ah, found it!’

Da-eun rummaged through a box and triumphantly held up something.

‘It’s a fox mask. Honestly, I think a cat mask would suit Kana better, but… unfortunately, I don’t have one. Should I order one now…? Hmm. But considering your slyness, maybe the fox is more fitting…’

‘Why do you even have something like this?’

‘Since I work in broadcasting, I end up buying all sorts of things. Either out of curiosity or as event props.’

‘…You use things like this for events?’

‘Aah…! Wh-where did you find this?!’

‘In the box.’

‘This was something I bought for punishments…’

Da-eun hid the bizarre object behind her back while offering an excuse.

‘I swear, I didn’t buy it because I wanted to. Got it?’

‘Yeah, I’ll believe you.’

‘I’m serious… Anyway, do you want to use this?’

‘Is it okay?’

‘It’s just gathering dust, so why not? It’s a piece of merchandise from an anime I used to like, but I never used it because it’s kind of embarrassing.’

‘Why?’

‘People don’t usually walk around wearing masks. Unless there’s a specific reason, you almost never see it here. Besides, it’s not something that fits well in our culture. So, I kept it as a display item.’

Keeping a display item in a box?

Feeling a small sense of doubt, I took the fox mask.

Clatter.

And now, it’s the source of the discomfort currently covering my face.

When I absentmindedly touched my face, I felt a hard surface instead of soft cheeks and quickly dropped my hand.

For a display item, its fit wasn’t bad, but the sense of confinement was unavoidable.

Still, it was nice not having to worry about it being blown off like when I wore a hooded cape.

Back then, I had to press the hood firmly to keep it from flying off.

As I gazed at the fast-passing scenery and let my idle thoughts wander, my destination soon came into view.

A desolate ruin.

I stopped my swift steps and lightly landed on the ruins where the remnants of buildings were scattered grotesquely, and the scenes of the past faintly overlapped.

‘This looks like where the stables used to be.’

And over there, it seems to be where the bakery once stood.

Whether I’m right or not, there’s no way to know.

Immersed in nostalgia, I wandered through the past.

“…”

And then.

As if caught on something, my steps came to a sudden halt.

Among the common rubble, something familiar caught my eye.

“This is…”

Picking it up, I muttered a short sigh-like phrase.

So this is the place.

This is the house where I lived with Dad.

I stared at the familiar object—a fragment of the gate that once stood firm at the house—and then dropped it to the ground.

Clinging to something like this seems a bit much, even for me.

There are plenty of other things to reminisce about, anyway.

“Still, it’s kind of amazing. Even after so many years, something like this remains.”

Is it because it’s made of iron?

It was clear it had been left unattended, enduring countless storms, yet it still managed to retain much of its original form.

Although it was tinged with red rust.

Perhaps the gate fragment had traveled a great distance to reach here through some unknown means.

But my instincts told me this was my old home.

The surrounding geography was roughly similar.

But that was all.

There was nowhere to enter, and even if I could, there wouldn’t be anything inside. What would I do by going in?

I already knew, long ago, that nothing was left.

“…Thinking about it like that makes me a little angry.”

It doesn’t matter that Grasis was destroyed, but I can’t forgive the fact that my home was ruined.

…That’s how I feel.

Boom!

“Hmm.”

As I burned with the flames of vengeance at this intolerable atrocity, a loud noise pierced my ears.

However, it wasn’t unexpected.

I had already seen people wandering the nearby area as I approached.

While encountering them wouldn’t be an issue, it was better to avoid them.

I adjusted the slightly crooked mask and pulled my hood tightly over my head.

The goal was the royal palace.

…The place where it used to stand.

It still amazed me that such a massive palace had been toppled so quickly, but on the other hand, the thought, “Those guys could do that,” also lingered in my mind.

They were the type to only think of their own safety. As soon as trouble arose, they probably fled.

Well, it’s not like sacrificing one’s life for the royal family is a worthwhile endeavor.

Finding where the palace used to be wasn’t difficult.

I had walked that path countless times before.

I could probably find it with my eyes closed if I exaggerated a bit.

In the past, every step on this road used to fill me with unbearable displeasure.

“Huh-huh.”

But now, as I walked along the wrecked path, I felt oddly cheerful and even hummed a quiet tune.

My mood was light, and my steps became naturally buoyant as I skipped and leapt over the debris.

Thunk!

As my foot hit the ground, a dull sound echoed.

“Grrrr…”

“Hmm, it wasn’t the ground.”

Why were you lying there, of all places?

A monster lay sprawled out, foam frothing at its mouth.

On its head, a small footprint was clearly imprinted.

“If you die from something like that, it makes it look like I’m heavy.”

So hurry up and get up.

“Oooh.”

The fallen monster staggered to its feet.

Its dazed eyes suggested it still had no idea what had happened to it.

“You can go back to sleep now.”

Slash.

The monster’s head flew through the air.

I had no more business with it now that I’d proven I wasn’t heavy.

To think it sacrificed its life to prove my innocence… how admirable.

“…”

“…”

After a brief moment of silence, I lifted my head.

That’s when I locked eyes with someone staring at me from a distance.

Though the face wasn’t visible from so far away, I knew exactly who it was.

“…The Greatsword Chick?”

Her real name was Yuki, if I remembered correctly.

Though, of course, that’s not her real name either…

“To meet here of all places.”

What a coincidence.

Still, seeing Yuki didn’t warrant any dramatic reaction from me.

Maybe if it were Da-eun, it’d be a different story.

Sure, I taught her a thing or two, but only a little.

Besides, it would be absurd to approach someone who thought I was dead and greet them warmly.

So let’s just pretend not to know her and pass by.

Flash—

Yet, contrary to my intentions, Yuki’s gaze remained fixed on me.

In fact, she seemed to be staring even more intently.

‘…Did she notice?’

That thought crossed my mind—

‘No way.’

I dismissed it as a figment of my imagination.

Although I had heard from Da-eun that I had been a notorious Raid Boss in Silia Online.

In the end, I had made a rather memorable exit as an NPC, hadn’t I?

Step, step.

As I organized my thoughts, Yuki slowly walked toward me, one step at a time.

‘She won’t recognize me anyway.’

Thinking so, I prepared to ignore the approaching Yuki and hastened my pace.

But then, when she was suddenly right in front of me, Yuki spoke.

“Master.”

“…!”

Startled by the unexpected address, I flinched.

‘…Ah, crap.’

I quickly realized my mistake and made a grimace.

Thankfully, following Da-eun’s advice and wearing a mask had been the right decision.

Otherwise, my expression would have given everything away.

“It really is you, Master.”

Bang!

Yuki’s voice, filled with certainty, delivered the final blow.

Shake, shake.

Although she seemed convinced, I firmly pressed my lips together and shook my head.

“Not you?”

Nod.

“Then say something.”

Shake, shake.

“You really are Master.”

Shake, shake, shake, shake!

“Hmm.”

After my desperate head-shaking, Yuki stopped her questioning.

As if deep in thought, she rubbed her chin for a moment, then suddenly placed her hand on her greatsword.

Woong—!

She swung her absurdly large greatsword.

The massive blade sliced through the air.

Had I not stepped back, the greatsword would have cleaved through more than just the empty space—it would have struck my face.

“…Ha.”

I let out a hollow laugh, unable to believe it.

Swinging a greatsword at someone out of nowhere?

And judging by how precisely it targeted my head and the strength imbued in the swing, it wasn’t a half-hearted move either.

Had an ordinary person been struck by that blow, the fight would have ended immediately.

If they couldn’t block it, they’d die. If they did block it, their arms would break from the force. Dodging it would be nearly impossible.

Such an unfair strike.

“…She’s genuinely talented.”

She’s grown to this extent in such a short time.

Even with the system’s blessings, it wouldn’t have been easy.

But that’s that—

“And this is infuriating.”

She attacked me, so she has to pay the price.

Creak.

I dragged my right foot back in a long motion and spun my body in place.

At the same time, I lightly pushed off the ground with my left foot, causing my body to rise gracefully into the air.

Then came the kick.

It was far too short to reach Yuki, so while the kick formed an elegant arc, it sliced through nothing but air.

Just like Yuki’s greatsword a moment ago.

However, the results were far from the same.

“What are you—?!”

Wham!

Yuki, who had been observing my movements a few steps away, was suddenly lifted into the air.

Crash!

Thud! Clatter!

And just like that, she was flung to the side as if hit by a car, crashing into the debris.

Judging by the loud noise, the damage seemed considerable.

“Not my problem, though.”

She attacked first, after all.

Shrugging, I tapped the ground lightly with my foot.

—

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