Ta-ya!
'Oh! That's a nice touch. I think we're done with the knife technique now.

　First day of my part-time job. In the training ground in the basement of the office building, I was learning the use of the 'enhanced' different abilities and various combat techniques from Diess, the head of the guards.

The speed of improvement is monstrous, though. I'm sure at this rate, I'll be able to master all my skills in about two weeks. More importantly........

　With Kuro, Shiro and Rin, who were unleashing quiet hostility in the corner of the training grounds, Diess continued to speak.

''Can't you do something about them? There's so much hostility, it's hard for me to concentrate.
I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do about it.

　The reason why Kuro and the others are here is because they found out that I was going to be working with the xenophiles I fought before at my part-time job, and they followed me because they were worried about me.
　I asked Beni, "My parents are far away and it will be just my sister and her pets at home while I'm working part-time, can I bring them with me? When I asked him if he was interested, he gladly agreed. On the contrary, he said that the staff members who are available will take care of Lynn and the others while they are working part-time.

Yah, that's super cute! Your name is Lynne? Do you want ice cream?
"Oh, Kuro-chan, I'll get you some cat food later.
"White callouses are rare, super cool! He's so quiet and his feathers are so smooth.

　Such is the case with Lynne and her friends, who radiate hostility towards Diess while being adored all they want by the female staff members who are waiting in the office building.
　What is this situation?
　By the way, Uru has been wandering around me in a spirit state, drifting around me. He's a bit quiet today, isn't he?

It's time to go. Do you want to get ready?
All right. Lynn, Black, and White, you stay here and wait quietly until the bite is over.
Yes, sir.
Meow.
Car....
Awesome! Black and White are responding! Super cute!
You're a smart girl, Linn. Do you want some chocolate?

　I asked them to wait quietly in the building, since I had convinced them that Black and the others would only follow me as long as they didn't interfere with my part-time work.
　Or rather, the female staff members are sticking around with an unusual amount of heat, so they won't be able to follow us.

''Well, let's change into our suits and then go to the site. I'll explain the job description to you on the way there.
Yes, sir.

　I take a quick shower and change into the suit that was prepared in advance. It seems to be a custom-made suit, the same as the one provided to the guards, made of easy to move and blade resistant material. The price of this suit alone seems far more expensive than a month's worth of part-time work for me, let's take care of it so it doesn't get dirty.

I'll take good care of it so it won't get dirty. I have two main jobs: escorting staff to work and on their way home, and dealing with disputes in the store.
Did I have to deal with a store dispute today?
You're right. I have to patrol each store, so please learn more from the staff on the ground.
Okay.

　I suppose I should use the term of respect for Diess as a junior colleague at work, but I don't want to show her respect for one of the Shizuku-san's cases, so I continue the conversation in a casual manner. It's a delicate relationship.
　I guess I'll only speak respectfully when there are other staff members around.

I'm the store's head of security. Let me explain the business procedures right away.
Nice to meet you.

　On the first day, I'm escorted to a high-class cabaret club in the prime location of Susukino. A veteran-looking, elderly black-clad man seems to be teaching me a lot of things.
　The shop is decorated in gold and shiny, and there are a number of huge chandeliers on the ceiling. What is this place? Another world?

'Basically, we check the store's security camera footage in the waiting room and mark any customers who look troublesome in advance. If there's an actual problem, we'll rush in immediately and respond accordingly.
Table 3, we have a problem!
It's early. Please follow me. I'll show you how to deal with it in person.
Yes, sir.

　When I went to the table in question, three men in their late twenties were rioting, shouting about poor customer service and bad booze.

"Sir, can I help you?

　The elderly black-clad man grabbed the man who was about to throw a bottle of liquor and called out to the rampaging men. In the meantime, the waiter evacuates the cabaret lady who was serving him. It's a brilliant combination.

''Is there anything I can't do for you in our service? If so, may I ask you to come to the common room over there so we can talk about it?
'Oh? Shut the f*ck up, old man! I was talking to a woman. I'm going to serve bad liquor and bring the woman from earlier!

　The men don't seem to be listening and are grabbing onto the elderly black-clothed man, one on three seems to be a tough sell. Should I add to the group?

"Hey, hey, is this shop a bodyguard for kids? Can't even drink, so don't get too excited about it!

　As I was thinking about this, I was suddenly splashed with alcohol over my head by one of the men.

'That's on me!
"Gahhhhhh!
....

　I can wash my hair, but my suit is a mess. It's a loaner suit.

Sir you seem to be quite drunk, don't you?
What did you say, boy?
Hey, what did you...
Guggenheim.
'It looks like she's fallen asleep. I wonder if you're sober?

　"Gender Equality Fist (Uppercut) - 3 strikes!
　The men fell unconscious without realizing what had happened, and fell as they sat down on the couch. Great job, the angle of the fall was just as calculated.
　Grudge on the suit, I've made you pay for it!

It's not that ... no, take the guest to the back.

　The situation was quickly brought to an end when the first-year black-clad man gave instructions to the waiters who didn't understand what had happened.
　The gender equal fist was released so fast that even the slow replay of the security camera couldn't tell if it was showing up on the security camera, so no one should have noticed it.
　A terrifyingly fast uppercut, you'd have to be very skilled to miss it.

'Yuki-san. Do you have some time to talk to me later?
Oh, yes.

　The first old black-clothed man said that to me with a serious expression.
　Huh? Do they know?


◇


　Kosuke's house is empty. In the living room, a sword is surrounded by a ward.

.........

　The blade of the Japanese sword, which has not been touched by anyone, begins to quietly pull out of its scabbard.

''.........''

　The sword transformed into a thin rapier and slipped through the wards that surrounded him without any resistance and fell to the floor.

''.........''

　The rapier returns to its sword again and begins to project the objects in the room onto its blade as if it were looking around.

''.........''

　The sword that reflected the key of the house on the wall onto its blade changed in an instant into the shape of a key that was much smaller in volume and mass than itself.

''.........''

　Kosuke's house was empty.
　In the living room, there was a sheath surrounded by a ward and a single key that had fallen underneath it.