In the night sky above Fourteenth Street, a silver figure streaked swiftly through the air.
It was Sam, returning after wiping out the Red Fang Gang.
However, instead of heading straight back to the bookstore on Tenth Street, Sam was circling over an uninhabited industrial area on Fourteenth.
Because—on the way back—they had noticed two figures tailing them. Quick and stealthy, the pair moved across rooftops and muddy ground, tracking Sam with precision.
Interesting.
While Sam's presence in New Eridu had made them something of a legend, it hadn't reached the level of attracting stalkers—or fans willing to chase a combat mech through the night.
So instead of confronting them immediately, Sam decided to take a detour. They adjusted their flight path, looping around the district to see how their pursuers would respond.
It didn't take long for the answer to come.
From a low building below, a shadow suddenly burst forth. The figure vaulted up a tall structure, using ledges and shaky air-conditioning units as footholds, before leaping straight toward Sam.
Bathed in moonlight—more clearly visible through the mech's enhanced optics—Sam identified the attacker's distinctive fox ears and the gleaming sword in her hand.
The Kitsune had already drawn her blade, slashing toward Sam in a flash of steel.
But to her shock, Sam didn't even move to dodge. Instead, they calmly raised one hand and caught the blade mid-swing. The Kitsune hung suspended in the air, unable to break free, as Sam's synthetic voice spoke evenly.
"I recognize you. Hollow Special Operations—Section 6. Void Hunter, Hoshimi Miyabi."
"Save your breath!"
Indeed—it was Hoshimi Miyabi.
Gritting her teeth, she tried to pull her sword free, but no matter how much strength she exerted, it refused to budge. In a last-ditch attempt, she aimed a kick at Sam's head—only for Sam to flick their wrist lightly, sending both Miyabi and her weapon crashing back to the ground.
She twisted mid-air, trying to soften the impact, but still hit the concrete hard enough to leave a crater.
Even so, the injury was nothing for someone like Miyabi. Trained in martial arts since childhood, she rose quickly, brushed the dust from her clothes, and exhaled sharply as she assumed a fighting stance.
"Hah—!"
A sharp battle cry cut through the air—this time from behind Sam.
A blue-skinned girl with horns, wielding a massive greatsword, swung down from above, her blade slamming against Sam's shoulder with a metallic clang.
"Soukaku, get back!" Miyabi shouted.
But Sam didn't even flinch. Without turning, they simply reached out, grabbed Soukaku by the ankle, and tossed her effortlessly across several blocks.
"Waaah—!"
Soukaku's scream echoed as she disappeared into the distance, leaving only a faint trail of dust.
Now, only Miyabi and Sam remained.
Sam descended slowly, landing amidst the debris, their voice steady and cold.
"Still investigating Acheron?"
"Hah… Correct," Miyabi admitted without hesitation. "I caught sight of you while watching the crowd—and it was an unexpected gift, like finding a seedless watermelon."
Her words were frank.
Sam wasn't surprised and quickly understood her intent.
"You think by following me, you can find Acheron."
"Correct, Sam. I must see her."
"I fail to understand your obsession. Acheron won't acknowledge you. To her, you have no meaning."
"That's for her to decide," Miyabi said firmly, resting her hand on her sword's hilt. "Tell me where she is."
Sam didn't respond immediately, but through the mech's sensors, they noticed her trembling hand.
She was afraid—she knew what she was up against. Having encountered other agents of Good enough, she understood that Sam was a level beyond anything she could hope to defeat.
But she had no choice. To find Acheron, she would risk everything.
Sam's mechanical voice broke the silence:
"Attack. Execute."
Miyabi's pupils shrank. She drew her sword just in time to block Sam's punch. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, forcing her several meters back. Her arms screamed in pain from the sheer force.
Sam hadn't gone all out—Miyabi could tell. The blow was restrained.
"Abandon your pointless obsession, Hoshimi Miyabi," Sam said.
"…And if I refuse?" she shot back through gritted teeth.
"That was not a question. It was advice. Behave yourself—for now."
"Hah… Acheron—"
"Detonate."
Before she could finish, flames erupted around Sam's frame. A deafening explosion followed, blasting Miyabi through three consecutive walls before she finally came to a stop.
Smoke billowed. Sam hovered amid the embers, analyzing the damage.
They knew the blast wouldn't kill her. It would only delay her pursuit. Sooner or later, she would be chasing shadows again, searching for Yomi and Acheron alike.
Sam's sensors picked up movement—Soukaku had returned, wide-eyed and trembling.
She hadn't even retrieved her weapon. Watching Sam's towering figure stride toward her, she froze completely.
But Sam didn't attack.
They simply looked down at her and spoke in that same calm, mechanical tone:
"Leave now, and no one else gets hurt."
Then, without another word, Sam ignited their thrusters and disappeared into the sky, leaving only a gust of hot wind in their wake.
Soukaku stood frozen for several seconds before finally snapping back to her senses.
"Miyabi!" she cried, rushing to the rubble where her commander lay half-buried.
Miyabi's eyes fluttered open, her voice weak. "Acheron…"
Soukaku—panting and frantic—leaned closer. "What? What did you say?"
Miyabi murmured faintly, barely audible through the static of her communicator.
"I… I really want… to see… her sword again…"
Meanwhile, from a dark alley nearby, a figure in a red jacket—who had quietly witnessed the entire exchange—grinned and whispered under his breath:
"Sam… you're incredible."
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A/n: While I am a new translator, I have a Patreon! While it may be a bit empty right now both this and the other book on my page has advanced chapters posted on patreon.
patreon.com/deadlygoober