"This movement, are you planning to use Steal? Unfortunately, after I lost to a certain man, I now carry a lot of redundant items on my person to guard against this skill. Just give up now and…"
"Freeze."
I cut off Mitsurugi's words and used freezing magic.
It was just beginner magic, so Mitsurugi thought it was just a move to keep him in check. He continued to move cautiously against me.
I walked toward him openly…
"What are you scheming? Take this…?"
He went to perform a sword drawing strike, but was surprised when the magic sword wouldn't budge because the sheath had been frozen.
I used this chance to cover Mitsurugi's mouth and nose with my hand…!
"Create Water!"
"Guuguu?!"
Water filled Mitsurugi's mouth, and he grabbed my hand in a panic as he drowned.
"Can you admit your loss and back down?"
When he heard what I said, he shut his mouth to resist and clenched his fists…!
"Freeze!"
"Kah!"
The water in his nose and mouth froze into ice. He shivered violently.
But I wasn't quick enough. His fist struck me on the side of my head.
"Mitsurugi-dono!"
Claire screamed. I let go of Mitsurugi while rubbing my head, and he knelt to the ground with both hands on his throat.
"He probably won't suffocate if you help him defrost. Is there anyone else who thinks he's stronger than this fellow? Come at me if you have the... guts... ah."
Then I noticed. On the ground, near my feet, was the Vanir mask I had been wearing. Mitsurugi's punch had knocked it clean off.
"You... you're... Kazuma-sama?"
Rain stared at my exposed face, her mouth agape. Upon hearing her voice, the others also looked at me and took notice.
This can't be happening, right? If I'm exposed in an act like this, then my entire life is...
"Assistant-kun, now's our chance! Charge in!"
Chris's urging jolted me back to my senses.
That's right, I can worry about the consequences after. Right now, I have a mission to complete!
I scooped my mask off the ground and followed after Chris as she broke through the encirclement of knights.
We pushed forward to Iris's room...
Assistant-kun, head for the balcony! It's a swimming pool down there, so if we jump in there…!
After climbing out of the pool, we dashed towards the inn room where Chris was staying, making sure no one saw us as we went.
Once safely inside the room, we both collapsed from exhaustion.
"... you really screwed up, didn't you, Assistant-kun?"
"... yeah, I did."
Chris and I had just pulled off the heist of the century... and I was caught red-handed.
"I don't suppose Big Boss knows any way to erase memories?"
"That kind of dark art is something only a devil is capable of. Sorry, Assistant-kun, but I think your public life is over."
"You didn't have to put it so bluntly."
But Chris was right. I'm now a wanted fugitive. I can't return home to my mansion, or to Axel for that matter. My party members will be questioned, but as long as I avoid them then they shouldn't be incriminated.
But without my home or my friends, what do I even have in this world?
"Say, Big Boss... if I turned myself in, do you think Eris-sama would take pity on me and grant me a blessed next life?"
"Hey, don't be giving up so soon! You're still young, you know!"
"Easy for you to say. You can still walk around in public."
Chris scratched her cheek.
"I'm not so sure about that. It won't take much investigating to find out that Kazuma is only friends with one silver-haired thief. Chances are I'm just as screwed as you are, so don't worry, we're in this together!"
"Ah, so I've ruined two lives tonight. That's definitely much better than one."
"Jeez, you're really insufferable when you get pessimistic, you know that!?"
Chris stomped away to her bed, then sat on it and faced me.
"Look, Kazuma. We made a big accomplishment tonight. We retrieved a dangerous divine relic from the most heavily guarded place in the kingdom. And we did it to save someone you cared about. Regardless of the consequences, you should be proud of yourself."
Well, when she puts it like that, it does sound pretty cool...
"And you know what else? I think we make a pretty good team! If our lives in the light are over, then we should just fully commit to carrying out justice in the shadows!"
"... Big Boss, you wouldn't happen to have Crimson Demon blood, would you?"
"H-Hey, I'm being serious here! There's still plenty we can do to help the people you care about from behind the scenes, so don't just think about what you've lost and throw in the towel!"
Saving the world from the shadows... if it were the middle school me, I would've jumped at it immediately.
I thought again about the last faces I saw in the castle. Aqua, Darkness, Megumin... even without me, I'm sure they'll be getting into plenty of ridiculous situations. If I just give up now, who'll make sure those idiots stay alive?
And Iris... she'd probably be traumatized if I was executed. I can't let her suffer like that just so I can selfishly be reborn.
I looked Chris in the eye.
"Alright, I'll do it."
She grinned.
"I knew you had it in you, Assistant-kun. Now then, let's get out of this city! We've got a lot of work to do!"