[I got the scales!]
Well done.
{Let me praise you} 〈Well, passing grade, I suppose〉 [Why do you guys act so superior?]
The body-part finally finished peeling off the scales.
We can finally eat the Fire Dragon properly.
So then, what does Fire Dragon taste like?
Spatial Perception detected a response.
A spatial distortion?
It's my first time experiencing this, but I somehow understand.
This is a teleportation.
Something is trying to teleport here.
Interference — impossible.
At my current Level of spatial magic, there's no way I could block the teleportation of someone capable of such advanced spatial manipulation.
Judging by the spatial distortion I detected, whoever is trying to teleport here is extremely skilled with spatial magic.
In terms of spatial magic alone, they're far above my class.
And the biggest problem is that the opponent is using magic.
Which means, in other words, they possess enough intelligence to use magic.
Up until now, not a single Monster has used magic on me.
The Fire Dragon I just defeated was the first one to even have a Skill.
And even that Fire Dragon never actually activated any magic.
That's to be expected, really.
Magic requires the tedious process of constructing a spell.
You need enough intelligence to pull that off.
In the Fire Dragon's case, it was far more effective and simpler to create a Fireball using its own Skill than to construct a spell.
Some species among Monsters might be capable of using magic, but there are Skills out there that are more powerful and easier to use than magic.
However, the guy trying to teleport here right now is pulling off the construction of complex magic.
That means he's coming here with a firm, unwavering will.
For what purpose?
There's nothing here but me.
So his objective can only be me.
The idea that he just happened to teleport to this location by coincidence — I can't entertain such a carefree notion.
Thought Acceleration lets me reach that conclusion in a split second.
I brace myself.
The space splits open, and a single man appears.
He's a black man.
I can't describe him any other way — just black.
A slender suit of armor that looks like it's fused with his body.
The only visible skin — his face — is tanned dark.
His hair is black too.
Only his eyes are an unusual, vivid red.
The instant I see the man's figure, I understand.
I can't win this.
We're on different dimensions entirely.
And to confirm that — 『Appraisal: Unable to Appraise』
Those words.
And yet, somehow, I don't feel any sense of crisis.
If anything, I feel a strange sense of familiarity toward the man.
At the same time, there's this oddly frustrating, ambiguous feeling.
Why?
This should be my first time meeting this black-clad man.
If such an otherworldly being suddenly appeared in front of me, I shouldn't be having these kinds of emotions.
What are these feelings?
"******************?"
The man says something.
But the language is one I don't understand.
I can't help but tilt my head.
"++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++?"
The man speaks again.
No, please speak Japanese.
Otherwise I can't understand you.
I can't speak Isekai.
The man furrows his brow.
Hmm.
Well, for now it seems like the man has no intention of being hostile toward me.
But what do I do?
Honestly, I can't understand what he's saying, and even if I could, I can't speak.
Maybe I could communicate through writing, but I can only write in Japanese.
Either way, I can't establish communication.
This is a problem.
The man seems somewhat confused too.
As an indescribable silence hangs in the air, something drops between the man and me with a soft plop.
It was a smartphone.
Huh?
No, no, no.
I have no idea why a smartphone is here, but more importantly, how did it appear in front of me?
It showed up without triggering my Detection at all?
『Hello. This is Administrator D.』
A voice suddenly comes from the smartphone.
And in two voices at that.
One is in Japanese, and the other is in a language I've never heard.
Oh wait — could it be the same language the man was speaking?
"**********!?"
Oh, the man said something in a surprised tone.
So the other voice is in the man's language — which means it's the language of this world.
『Yes. I'm D. Spider-san, please wait a moment.』
Oh, sure.
I was told to wait, so I wait.
The smartphone's voice is having a conversation with the man in the otherworldly language.
The voice from the smartphone — it's a woman's voice.
It's an incredibly beautiful voice, but listening to it makes me feel profoundly anxious.
That kind of voice.
The completely flat tone with no hint of emotion whatsoever is terrifying too.
What is this?
The man's expression keeps changing as the conversation progresses.
Not dramatically, but the furrows between his brows deepen, his eyes widen slightly.
Then, as the conversation reaches some kind of conclusion, the man lets out a deep sigh, turns on his heel — And teleports away using spatial magic.
What remains is me, and the mysterious smartphone.
『Thank you for waiting. I've spoken with him, so he shouldn't be getting involved with you directly from now on.』
Oh, okay.
Also, who exactly are you?
『I'm D.』
Oh, right.
Wait!?
Did you just read my mind!?
『Yes. I read it.』
That's a violation of privacy!
『Since you can't speak, this is a temporary measure. I don't normally read your thoughts.』
Don't normally — so does that mean you've been watching my actions?
'Watching' isn't quite the right word. 'Spectating' feels more fitting.
Either way.
You're basically a stalker.
『Indeed. You're never boring to watch.』
D — I remember now.
That's the name I heard when I obtained the Wisdom Skill.
『Yes. That was a reward for your hard work. I'm glad to see you're putting it to good use.』
What's your goal here?
『Simple entertainment.』
Huh?
『Just entertainment. There's no deeper meaning or purpose than that.』
Seriously?
『Yes. After all, I am the world's most terrible evil god.』
...This person is hopeless.
Legitimately dangerous.
Just listening to her talk has been making my body tremble this whole time, and I know that's not just my imagination.
She is, in the truest sense, an evil god.
She views my life as nothing more than something to use up for amusement.
『That's a harsh way to put it, but it's not inaccurate.』
Was this world created for your amusement?
『No. From that world's perspective, I'm an outsider.』
What do you mean?
『I can't tell you anything beyond this. If I did, it would become boring.』
Treating people like toys.
『Exactly. So please, continue struggling with all your might and entertaining me. The answer you seek might just be waiting beyond that?』
Just saying whatever she wants.
『Well then, see you 』
The smartphone vanishes.
Without any perceptible disturbance in space whatsoever.
And that was how I met Administrator D — and the Administrator known as "Black."