That protagonist is trash; I could do better!

The woman leaned close to Shinji Matou's ear, her ambiguous tone tinged with a hint of coldness as she asked, "Same here. Aren't you also wearing strange clothes? Who are you, and why are you here?"

"Some trivial matters."

"Really? That's quite a coincidence. You two are people who have no connection with this place, yet you both ended up here at the same time. Don't you think it's a remarkable coincidence?"

"I never believe in coincidences."

"Hehe, what a coincidence, me too." The woman chuckled, arms crossed.

"What kind of lame joke are you telling?"

"I just sincerely hope that we share the same goal, so that I have a reason to go to war with you. I really want to cut open your stomach, taste your blood, and hear the wails coming from your delicate voice. That would be quite wonderful." The woman blew warm air into Matou Shinji's ear, her slender fingers tracing across Matou Shinji's neck. She could feel the thick calluses on his neck. These seemingly delicate and weak hands must have been skilled in using weapons to take many lives.

"If you want to die, I can grant your wish. I've met many battle maniacs like you." Shinji Matou shrugged, giving an indifferent reply.

The woman chuckled charmingly, saying nonchalantly, "Hehe, of course I was just joking. How could I bear to kill such a cute boy? Besides, I don't want to cause trouble right now. It's amazing that you can remain calm in the face of my killing intent, without feeling any fear or hostility towards me. You're a truly peculiar young man."

"Killing intent?" Shinji Matou turned his head and stared into the woman's eyes, smiling slightly.

"you!"

The woman's expression changed drastically, her full body instantly stiffened, and she jumped back to create distance between herself and Shinji Matou. Her right hand was already on the hilt of the dagger on her thigh. Through Shinji Matou's eyes, she saw the cries of countless dead people. Just one glance from him made her feel as if she were in a hell of corpses and blood.

She understood; the young man before her was a true powerhouse who had fought his way out of hell.

The unprecedented sensation made her body tremble uncontrollably, filled with both fear and uncontrollable excitement.

"You... are quite interesting. I look forward to seeing you again, preferably today. I have a feeling that way too." With that, the woman hurriedly turned and left, afraid that if she stayed any longer, she might not be able to resist attacking Shinji Matou.

Before the battle begins, the mission must be completed properly.

Shinji Matou watched her figure disappear, his brows furrowed. This woman was indeed no ordinary person.

"Until we understand the rules of this world, we can only use the most basic alchemy and should not engage in combat."

"If I had to fight her, my chances of winning would be about 80%."

Matou Shinji analyzed the information gathered through his Mystic Eyes, and his chances of winning were not exaggerated at all. Although Matou Shinji could not use most of his abilities, his martial arts skills alone were comparable to those of legendary heroes on Earth.

Continuing to follow the traces of the elements deeper into the slums, they came to a dilapidated house. All that remained of the house were ruins. In the corner against the wall was a small wooden room where a blonde girl was lying, playing with a peculiar badge in her hand.

Upon hearing footsteps, the little girl reflexively stood up and pulled out a broad-bladed dagger from behind her back. The dagger was about the same length as her arm, which looked rather comical.

The little girl eyed Matou Shinji warily and said impatiently, "Are you the one in the alley who followed me? Are you planning to kill me to silence me? Stranger, you don't have to be so serious. I won't say anything."

Shinji Matou hesitated for a moment, then said calmly, "The badge in your hand was stolen from a silver-haired girl, wasn't it?"

The little girl's eyes turned cold: "So you're pursuers. Then I won't be polite."

The moment the voice faded, the little girl had already taken action, putting away her badge, gripping her dagger, and launching a surprise attack with incredible speed.

"Go to hell!"

With a sharp cry, the dagger slashed through the air, its blade aimed at Shinji Matou's stomach.

However, in the face of Shinji Matou's Mystic Eyes, the little girl's movements were still too slow. Apart from the advantage of speed, she had nothing else to offer and was not as threatening as Assassin's clone.

"His movements were too exaggerated, he didn't coordinate his footwork, and he didn't consider how to defend. He's a complete amateur."

Shinji Matou dodged to the side, then tripped her with his right foot, naturally grabbing her right arm that was holding the dagger. He then twisted her arm backward, locking the little girl's right hand behind her back and pinning it to the ground, unable to move.

The process was so smooth and seamless that an unsuspecting person would think it was the result of many rehearsals.

The little girl looked bewildered, completely unprepared for this outcome, and cried out in distress, "It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! You bastard! Let me go! What do you want to do! You pervert!"

This is a common tactic used by mischievous kids. Firstly, it can lower Shinji Matou's guard, and secondly, it can attract the attention of others, who might pity the weak (children) and come to help.

Shinji Matou wasn't buying it. His voice was cold and ruthless: "If you move or shout again, you'll say goodbye to your right hand forever."

Shinji Matou had no intention of being polite to someone who wanted to kill him. With just a little more force, he could tear her entire arm off.

"Waaah..."

The little girl swallowed hard, realizing from Shinji Matou's tone that he wasn't joking. The pain in her right arm intensified, and her eyes reddened, but she forced back her tears, choking out, "Let me go! The things are in the right pocket. Take them and get out of here."

"First of all, getting caught stealing someone else's property isn't something that can be resolved simply by returning it. Secondly, you're lucky; I'm not here to ask for this back."

"Huh?" The little girl was taken aback.

Shinji Matou released her, stood up, and sat on the sofa in the cabin: "I want to know why you stole this badge from that girl, and what is this badge?"

The little girl brushed the dust off her clothes and, after a long pause, pouted and replied, "How should I know? This is a task someone gave me."

"Even theft gets commissioned in this world... Never mind, what does the commissioner look like?"

The little girl thought for a moment, realizing that thieves had no obligation to protect the privacy of their clients, and answered readily, "She's a beautiful woman, looks to be in her twenties, and is wearing very extravagant clothes—the kind that's very conspicuous. If you want to know where this thing came from, Mr. Rom, who's in charge of selling stolen goods, might know a little."

"You mean you're taking me to someone named Rom?" Shinji Matou raised an eyebrow; it looked like a trap to lure him in.

The little girl glared at Shinji Matou with dissatisfaction: "What can I do? Didn't you want to know the value of this badge? Or you could just leave and I wouldn't have any objections."

"Take me there. If you cooperate well, I won't do anything to you. Otherwise, while I won't kill you, I'll probably give you a punishment you'll never forget."

The little girl shivered, her face turning ashen.

This outfit is comparable to Jack's, lol.

There's one thing that wasn't written out: Subaru will inevitably meet Emilia. This is a plot arranged by the Joker, who also arranged for the Bowel Hunter. He knows that Subaru has the power to change the world or something, so he arranged this scenario.

Therefore, it's basically very difficult for the main characters to break out of this mold.

As usual, please recommend! Please add to your favorites! Please vote with monthly tickets! Please recommend!

I'm begging and pleading!

Chapter 102 Reunion

Shinji Matou followed the little girl to find the so-called Lord Rom, pondering deeply as they went.

The extravagantly dressed, beautiful woman the little girl mentioned is undoubtedly the combat maniac she encountered on the way here. Why would she entrust such a young child with a theft mission? And what special value does the badge in the little girl's hand hold?

No, these are not issues we need to consider now. In terms of sequence of events, the woman has already arrived in the slums, and if they meet again, conflict is inevitable.

Having lost his memories of the plot related to this world, Shinji Matou is unclear about the role he plays in this world. However, this does not limit the fact that Shinji Matou is breaking the fourth wall. Shinji Matou places himself in the position of "the audience" to deduce the next plot development.

Shinji Matou is almost 100% certain that Emilia, the silver-haired girl he encountered before, will probably come here as well.

"If the girl named Emilia and that woman are enemies," Shinji Matou pondered, reaching a conclusion in his mind.

On the way, the little girl observed Shinji Matou's expression and cautiously asked, "Who are you? Why are you meddling in other people's business? I didn't bother you in the alley."

Shinji Matou replied nonchalantly, "I'm the type who likes to meddle in other people's business. But you, you're clearly a child, yet you're doing illegal things. Don't you have parents?"

Upon hearing Shinji Matou's question, the little girl was initially disappointed, then glared at Shinji Matou angrily: "My only family is Grandpa Rom, and I'm not a child anymore, I'm already fifteen years old. You don't look much older than me. You're really boring, always meddling and pretending to be an adult."

Wait, she's only fifteen!?

Shinji Matou felt ashamed. Because of his years of physical training, Shinji Matou was a full head taller than the girl. In reality, the age of this body he was in was only a little over fourteen years old.

Shinji Matou subtly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, I don't even know your name."

"What are you doing? Are you trying to tattle on me to the guards?" The little girl distanced herself from Shinji Matou, looking wary.

"Shinji Matou, this is my name." Shinji Matou introduced himself first.

The little girl stared at Shinji Matou for a while before muttering, "Hmph, it's fine to tell you, Felt. My name is Felt."

"Then, Ferut, why did you take on such a dangerous job?"

"What can I do? I don't want to spend my whole life in this dark and dirty place. I have my own dreams, and I need a lot of money for them." There was no discouragement in the little girl's voice, and her clear, ruby-like eyes revealed her longing for her ideal future.

Shinji Matou shook his head: "You misunderstood me. Everyone can choose their own way of life. If you don't regret it, then there's no problem. What I mean is that you don't have a good eye for people. I met your employer on the way here."

"Huh? So what?" Ferut looked completely bewildered.

Shinji Matou suddenly asked solemnly, "Have you ever killed anyone?"

Ferut shrugged, using disdain to mask his unfamiliarity: "Unfortunately, unless necessary, I don't want to do something so thankless."

"No wonder, anyone with experience would know what kind of woman that is."

"What exactly are you trying to say? This is so nonsensical."

“Your employer is probably an assassin, and a pretty high-level one at that. If she wanted to kill you, it would probably only take her three seconds. Why would an assassin of that level hire a petty thief like you to steal other people’s property? Use your brain and think about it.” Shinji Matou reached out and patted Felt on the head.

Snapped!

Felt forcefully slapped away Shinji Matou's right hand, and said with a forced hum, "How would I know such a thing?"

Actually, when Shinji Matou said this, she had a vague premonition in her heart.

Shinji Matou bluntly stated: "Then let me tell you, your employer probably has a reason why it's inconvenient for her to take action. And whatever that reason may be, the fact is that she wants to cover it up. Hiring a petty thief like you is just the right way to solve the problem. The most important thing is that it won't take much effort to deal with someone like you after it's done. And then, no one will care why a thief from the slums died."

Felt stopped in her tracks, her face pale, clearly frightened by Shinji Matou's words, but she still stubbornly said, "I... why should I believe what you say?"

Shinji Matou shrugged, looking indifferent, and said, "Felt, I won't say I want to help you, nor will I forcibly take your spoils. I'm just giving you an equivalent option: you can hand over the badge to me, and I'll bear the risks afterwards."

"Hmph, in the end, you just want this badge, don't you?"

"What's your choice?"

Felt's face was a mix of emotions. After struggling for a while, she finally took out the badge and threw it to Shinji Matou: "Here you go. After stealing this thing, all I've encountered is trouble."

Shinji Matou took the badge and examined it carefully. It had a black metal base with a golden dragon pattern engraved on it, and the dragon's mouth was biting a red gem.

By injecting magical energy into it, one can sense a peculiar and powerful force.

It wasn't that simple after all.

"We're here! This is where Grandpa Rom lives." Felt walked up to an old house. Although it was just as dilapidated, at least it had a roof, which could shelter her from the wind and rain, unlike her little wooden house.

Shinji Matou carefully put away the badge and calmly instructed before going inside: "Felt, if I have a conflict with your employer, you'd better get as far away as possible."

"Ok?"

Even without entering the house, Shinji Matou could smell the blood mixed with a strange and peculiar fragrance.

That woman is inside.

"Grandpa Rom, are you there?" Ferut pushed open the wooden door and greeted him happily.

Shinji Matou followed him inside. It looked like a small tavern with dilapidated walls and some homemade tables and chairs. The smell of cheap alcohol and damp, musty wood filled the air.

At one of the tables, two people were drinking together. One was an incredibly tall, bald old man who was quite drunk, and the other was, of course, the dangerous woman that Shinji Matou had encountered in the slums.

“We have quite a connection,” Shinji Matou said, taking the initiative to greet him.