The Multiverse: Starting by Creating the Delta of Fate, My Friends Are Going Wild Chapter 6

"Hah, interesting!"

Kazuma Satou also got excited, circling around him once:

"Hahaha! Not bad! Command Spell magic, really not bad!"

With these two clowns as a cautionary example, Kurisu Makise came down carefully, barely managing to maintain her elegance and composure.

"Ah, what a shame,"

Kazuma Satou said to Hachiman Hikigaya: "Wasting that Command Spell right at the start—it's probably a pretty important resource. No idea if we can get it back."

Hachiman Hikigaya nodded in agreement:

"Yeah, it's a shame."

These were all consumable resources—use one, lose one.

Wait, you just broke your leg and that's all you have to say?

Are you really treating this like a game?

Kurisu Makise was about to throw out a retort, but then turned her head.

"Who are you people?!"

The Police Agency officers charged toward them.

The three exchanged quick glances and immediately bolted.

Kurisu Makise was no exception—she couldn't exactly gamble on this world still recognizing her as a famous beautiful girl scientist who could waltz out of a police station.

Better not dream that.

They ran along the street, putting some distance between themselves and the pursuers.

"Oh?"

In Kazuma Satou's field of view, a trash can by the roadside was surrounded by a white glow.

No way?

He strode over to the trash can, tentatively lifting the green lid. It was spacious inside, nothing much.

But gradually, light gathered in the darkness, forming a circle, and within that circle, an object coalesced.

A plate covered in plastic wrap appeared, holding crimson chili sauce and tofu.

[Craft Essence: Mapo Tofu x1]

[Type: Food]

[Rank: F (White)]

[Effect: Restores 10 Stamina upon full consumption, slowly recovers 3 HP.]

[Consuming three times in a row deducts 1 max HP.]

"Jackpot! Wahahahaha!"

Kazuma Satou raised the plate of Mapo Tofu with both hands, laughing up at the sky.

The passing Fuyuki City NPCs stared in utter bewilderment.

[Marcille: "Ate a walking mushroom?"]

[Conan: "Legend."]

[Tony: Legend]

[Shiro Toyokawa: "Legend."]

Kurisu Makise made it clear she didn't know this person—not at all.

Hachiman Hikigaya, in the past, would have pretended not to know him too, but having gamed with Kazuma Satou before, he could already grasp the guy's thinking.

His fingers itched a little as he leaned in:

"So these trash cans can be looted too?"

"The glowing ones can, just like Delta Force we played before."

"Then let me try my luck too."

Kazuma Satou stashed the white-rank Mapo Tofu directly into the Replica Rivers and Mountains Map.

"We'll talk on the way—cops are coming, let's bounce first! Keep running and searching!"

"OJBK!"

Hachiman Hikigaya searched for a while, finally spotting a glowing trash can inside a Chinese restaurant.

He walked straight up, pushed open the glass door, grabbed the big green trash can, and popped it open.

"Wait!"

Kazuma Satou called out from behind.

Hachiman Hikigaya's mouth twisted into a smirk as he stared at the white light before him.

"Whoa, I found this one first!"

"No, I'm not gonna steal your loot—maybe just a few kills. Forget that for now! Look at what's in front of you?!"

Kazuma Satou's warning was urgent, not like a joke.

Hachiman Hikigaya sensed something was off. He looked up, holding the Mapo Tofu he'd just drawn.

He saw a middle-aged man in a priest's robe before him, and alarm bells rang in his head.

The other's panel appeared before his eyes.

[Character: Kirei Kotomine]

[Identity: Fuyuki Church Priest · ??? · ???]

[Introduction: The priest of Fuyuki Church. This Chinese restaurant is a place he frequents, and he greatly enjoys their extra-spicy Mapo Tofu. But beyond his surface identity as a priest, he seems to harbor many secrets.]

Hachiman Hikigaya slowly backed away, on high alert.

Kazuma Satou hid his hand in his cloak, ready to pull out his bow at any moment.

It wasn't that they were overly tense.

It was because of this priest's name—

Those four characters, "Kirei Kotomine," stood out in their vision. Unlike the white names of ordinary citizens, Only his name

—was blood-red.

Chapter 0006: Kirei Kotomine, Are You an NPC? (3k5)

"A magus?"

Kirei Kotomine wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief and asked Kazuma Satou and the others:

"Which organization do you magi belong to, flaunting yourselves so openly in broad daylight?"

The pressure emanating from the other party was immense.

Kazuma Satou and the others exchanged glances, choosing to communicate in the group chat first.

[Not a NEET: "Red name means hostile relationship."]

[Not a NEET: "I feel like we shouldn't say we're from Dao Tian Palace."]

[Genius Beautiful Girl: "Agreed."]

[Hachiman Hikigaya: "Yo, so we keep running?"]

[Not a NEET: "Not a good idea. If we run directly, we'll definitely be chased."]

[Genius Beautiful Girl: "So... we fight?"]

[Not a NEET: "Honestly, I don't think we can win. This priest in front of us is at least a mini-boss. We're still in beginner gear, haven't even picked up any junk. My gut says if we fight, it'll be bad news."]

[Hachiman Hikigaya: "How about asking the group leader?"]

[Not a NEET: "@Dao Qitian, big shot, how about some beta perks?"]

[Dao Qitian: "Alright. Say you're people sent by Balek. Don't explain the specifics, just say you're here to attend the Grand Ceremony."]

Kazuma Satou and the others exchanged glances. After a standoff among the three, he sighed inwardly and stepped forward.

"We're just here to attend a Grand Ceremony, on Lord Balek's orders."

"Oh?"

Kirei Kotomine nodded woodenly.

"I see. I thought you were rogue magi with no manners at all."

"So you're her people. That explains it."

Kurisu Makise frowned slightly at being called ill-mannered, but she didn't show it.

"You may withdraw."

Kirei Kotomine waved slightly toward some presence on the ceiling.

Kazuma Satou looked up.

Withdraw?

Was someone up there?

His vision blurred for a moment, as if he saw pale blue "particles."

The other let out a surprised sound, Then vanished completely in the next instant.

Kirei Kotomine stood up with his hands behind his back, walked to the door, then suddenly stopped.

"Since you're guests from afar, I won't say much. But next time, don't cause such a commotion in the city."

The tone was very calm, with no hint of threat, but the meaning it conveyed was unmistakable.

"?"

An NPC this arrogant?

Kazuma Satou looked at the expression on "Kirei Kotomine" and felt something was off. He quickly opened the small group chat.

[Kazuma Satou: "Don't you guys think this NPC seems off?"]

[Sachiko Toyokawa: "Isn't everything off?"]

[Conan: "Yeah, really."]

[Kurisu Makise: "Isn't it normal for things to be off?"]

[Hachiman Hikigaya: "You... noticed something?"]

[Kazuma Satou: "I have a theory I want to test, but it's a bit risky."]

[Hachiman Hikigaya: "Want to give it a shot?"]

[Kurisu Makise: "Watch your force."]

[Kazuma Satou: "OK."]

Kazuma Satou stepped forward and spoke again:

"We're just here to attend a Grand Ceremony, on Lord Balek's orders."

"Oh?"

"Kirei Kotomine" nodded, mechanically repeating his earlier answer:

"I see. I thought you were rogue magicians with no manners at all."

"Since you're her people, that explains it."