I Became a Raid Boss

Da-eun raised both arms tightly against her ears and declared,

“It’s a personal safety alarm!”

“…A personal safety alarm?”

“Yes…!”

For the record, I didn’t tell her to do that.

I had merely brought up the item Da-eun had given me yesterday because it crossed my mind. But instead of giving me a proper answer, she started dodging the question and punishing herself.

The phrase “a guilty conscience needs no accuser” must have been made for moments like this.

It was clear she had done something suspicious again, so I crossed my arms. Da-eun shivered as if my stance alone was intimidating.

“What’s a personal safety alarm?”

“Well… it’s something more commonly used in neighboring countries than ours… When you press the button, it makes a loud noise…? It’s meant to alert people in dangerous situations… Yeah, that’s what it’s for….”

“Dangerous situations?”

“…Like when there’s a disaster or an accident. Situations like that.”

On the surface, it didn’t sound like anything strange.

But…

My instincts told me that Da-eun was hiding something.

Honestly, even without instincts, her guilty reaction made it impossible not to be suspicious.

If it were something so simple, she wouldn’t be reacting so dramatically.

Thud!

“Explain. Properly.”

“Eek!”

“…Now.”

“I-I’ll tell you!”

I hit the wall next to Da-eun’s head and growled. Immediately, she straightened up and responded sharply, though only for a moment.

As she cautiously glanced around, her eyes began darting about.

“…Aren’t you going to do it?”

“Do what?”

“Say, ‘I don’t need it!’”

“…What are you talking about?”

Tilting my head in confusion, I narrowed my eyes sharply.

“You’re still in the mood for jokes, huh?”

“It’s… it’s a rule…!”

“….”

“…I’m

Under my unrelenting gaze, Da-eun bowed her head like a remorseful criminal.

“But… this situation is kind of thrilling… Is this what they call a ‘wall slam’?”

Flick!

“Ow!”

Da-eun, who had been spouting nonsense, finally closed her mouth after receiving a sharp flick to the head.

“The original purpose of the device is crime prevention. It’s used to scare away criminals or alert others when someone dangerous approaches….”

“And?”

“…It was made to protect those who can’t defend themselves, like children. It’s seen as something commonly used by kids, for cases like abductions… Yes… that sort of thing….” ꭆ

“And you gave me this as a self-defense tool?”

“….”

Why did she even have something like this?

That didn’t matter.

“What’s your last wish?”

Da-eun’s eyes darted wildly.

They rolled so fast I almost thought I could hear the gears in her brain spinning.

But nothing coherent came out of her mouth.

As if Death’s scythe was grazing her neck, threatening to spill a single drop of blood, Da-eun screamed desperately to save herself.

“Judge! I’m innocent!”

“…Judge?”

“It’s still a self-defense tool, isn’t it? I didn’t lie, so I don’t think I deserve to be interrogated like this!”

“Oh, so because you didn’t lie, you think you’re not at fault?”

“That’s correct! I even told you when I handed it over! I said to press it if you encountered a suspicious person or a dangerous situation!”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“Then…! Ouch!”

Once might seem too cold-hearted, so she got two.

Da-eun teared up after receiving two flicks to the head.

Seeing her so moved made me feel a bit warm inside.

As Da-eun sniffled and asked, “Why…?!” I replied with a smirk.

“That’s not why you gave it to me, though.”

You’re worried I’ll fall victim to a criminal?

Da-eun, who knows better than anyone how strong I am?

No way.

“…No!! I really am worried! I was scared that some weirdo might approach Kana or lure her away with snacks!”

“Alright. Let’s say you were worried. But did you really think I’d fall for that?”

“Of course not! …Ow!”

In the end, Da-eun confessed her “crime” with her own mouth, and a lovely three-layered “ice cream” formed on her head.

To put it simply, she gave it to me as a joke.

Like saying, “You’re just a child, so carry this around.”

No wonder Edel laughed at me yesterday—there was a hidden meaning behind it.

“Wait a minute! It’s still a self-defense tool!”

Da-eun urgently shouted as I stepped closer for judgment.

“You’re planning to repeat what you just said?”

“Just listen to me first! If some weirdo approaches Kana, you’ll definitely teach them a lesson, right?”

“….”

My silence was taken as agreement by Da-eun.

“But here’s the thing—this is Earth. Even if the person is a heinous criminal, once you’re involved in an incident, you’ll have to deal with the police investigation. That means you’ll have to reveal your identity, and there’s a chance the media might expose it too. It’d be a huge hassle, right? You’d hate that, wouldn’t you? That’s why I gave it to you!”

Wow.

How much oil did she pour on her tongue? Her words were flowing like a stream.

“And by doing so, you’d also save the person who approached Kana.”

“…Why do you think I’d kill someone who approaches me?”

“Huh? You wouldn’t?”

“I wouldn’t.”

What does she take me for?

Does she think I’m someone who goes around killing random people?

As I clicked my tongue, Da-eun shrank back, her shoulders hunching.

“I thought you’d say something like, ‘No mercy for criminals!’ and cut them down.”

“When did I ever say something like that?”

I’m not that righteous.

“There’s only one person I’d want to kill.”

“Huh? There’s someone you want to kill? Who is it…?”

“….”

“…It’s not me, right?”

“….”

Of course, it was a joke.

There’s no way I’d kill Da-eun.

Honestly, she annoyed me, but the three flicks to her forehead were enough to let go of all my resentment.

“Eek! A murderer! There’s a pink-haired killer trying to kill me here!”

―And yet.

They say to be cautious even around extinguished flames, but Da-eun didn’t just rekindle the fire; she poured gasoline on it.

Fueled by her zealous support, the dying embers in my heart roared back to life.

Blazing.

As I clenched my fists and watched Da-eun run away screaming, I muttered.

“If I catch you, you’re dead.”

“Ahh! How romantic…!”

I wonder if she’ll say the same thing once I catch her.

With that thought in mind, I leapt toward Da-eun.

***

After a lively game of tag.

Despite all her antics to escape, Da-eun was eventually caught and paid for her crimes.

After cleaning up the mess we made of the house, Da-eun and I gathered in the living room again.

“This is fascinating, no matter how many times I see it.”

Beyond the open space, Edel, peeking beyond the dimensional pathway, spoke. Da-eun, looking equally fascinated, tilted her head curiously.

“Can I go through this too?”

“…I don’t know?”

I hadn’t asked about the specifics.

“Probably not.”

Unlike me, who somehow crossed barriers, navigated whirlpools, and arrived in Silia,

The term “pathway” suggested something more stable, but…

It was uncertain whether an ordinary person like Da-eun could even cross through the pathway.

“Even if it were possible, I wouldn’t let you.”

Crossing over through Silia Online involves using a false body, so it’s safe. But using this method means taking your real body with you.

Every injury, even death—

You’d have to face it fully.

“I was just curious. I don’t actually plan on going.”

“For someone who’s ‘just curious,’ you seem disappointed.”

“Well… honestly, I am a little curious. But safety comes first.”

Then, she flashed a bright smile.

“Besides, even without this, I still get to see Kana.”

“…What a cheesy thing to say.”

It was cheesy, but not annoying enough to react harshly. A mere side-eye sufficed.

“Your face turned red!”

“No, it didn’t.”

“It did. Want me to take a picture and show you?”

“It didn’t!”

I turned away from Da-eun, who had already picked up her phone.

According to Edel, the flow of time had been deliberately synchronized between Earth and Silia during the process of dimensional subjugation. Even if there were discrepancies, they would be minor.

No matter how much time I wasted there, I wouldn’t have to worry about time passing significantly here.

“Still, you can’t get so carried away that you forget your responsibilities.”

Conversely, wasting too much time here could endanger the other world.

Edel mentioned that applying higher-dimensional rules to a lower dimension wasn’t too difficult.

In any case—

Since I had already spent a lot of time playing tag with Da-eun, it was about time to leave if I wanted to return before sunset.

Although there was plenty of time until the sun would set, I didn’t know how long the fight would take.

“So, that’s why.”

“Sure, sure.”

“…I’m not running away because I’m embarrassed.”

“Sure, sure.”

“Da-eun, do you want to get hit?”

“No.”

Honestly…

Shaking my head, I turned toward the dimensional pathway.

“Kana!”

“…?”

“Be careful not to get hurt, and let’s eat something delicious when you’re back, okay?”

Da-eun expressed her regret that she couldn’t join me because of her schedule.

I was used to traveling alone, fighting alone.

However, the reason I didn’t feel lonely now wasn’t because of familiarity.

“…Yeah.”

After all, I had a home to return to.

Knowing that warmth would greet me if I endured a brief moment of solitude,

I stepped into the dimensional pathway without hesitation.

Familiar scenery welcomed me.

“I’m back.”

Dad.

—

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