6

Now before anyone complains about some stuff later on in the chapter because some may want a power wank and a possible rebellion, that's not going to happen. There are just something's you can't fight and if the MC tried he risks more than just his own life, and he doesn't want to make things hard for at least two people he has come to know personally. So he'll handle it and do his thing unabated by complications that'd cause.

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After getting everyone relaxed and on the same page, we left for Mirso Village once more, with the new additions not currently making themselves known. We did eventually reach Mirso Village's outskirts, touching down about sixty to seventy feet away from it to not startle some idiot. I go over who else besides Bitch I can kill for my contract here. As frankly I want my gun permanently, I like it, it's neat, it's got some sense of humor for descriptions, and likes murdering shit, so I want to finish this contract to keep it.

Plus, I honestly worry that if I DON'T have it I'd lose my new pals and I don't want them to go back to the hells that are their worlds endlessly tormenting them in each cycle. Either after it's destroyed then reborn or something like timeline resting. They deserved some rest from that, maybe not Carnage as they are a mass murdering psychopath of alien goo, but even then, I want this Carnage version to have something else besides murder, even a little bit. Although we will murder numerous things, giving the murderous alien slime a hobby is something I want to try because it may be hilarious.

I know I can kill Takt, just have to find him, then with extreme prejudice NUKE THE FUCKER with a HMWP to not give him a chance to run. Then there is the Book Hero, that one soul parasite in Rapthalia's homeland, the Instrument Hero, and a few others I believe that could be bought to work with the Goddess causing all of this. If I can just kill two of them, then damage the bitch by killing Bitch, it'd leave an opening for an enemy of hers or the God Killer to finish her off. My plots for murder seemed to amuse Carnage and my weapon, as the two gave a chuckling feeling.

However, if I want to kill the main bitch myself, I NEED a Zero Item to feed my gun to unlock the Zero Series. A series meant to specifically kill and maim deity-like entities, possibly even actual deities, permanently. Just, I don't know…. Wait, yes I do… but it'd require going back to an already destroyed world. As while the world was destroyed, the bitch leaves the actual integral part that houses life alone, so it can repair itself, repopulate, and become an EXP farm once more. Getting the item though would mean permanently returning that world to essentially code, a zero in a sea of ones and zeroes.

As I'd be stealing the last of its life, it's EXP, as the deity-entities see it as a farm to harvest once it's fixed. And I honestly don't think I could do that to the world I once protected, however, I could do it in an invading forces world. Yet, that would be going too far for my job, as that's trillions of useless deaths.

"Hero System, how possible would it be to use Ethereal to hurt the Wave Source? If you can't give me a straight answer, be creative."

[You would have a chance to cause serious harm if you surprised their vessel. Otherwise, your death would be certain, although you possess a way to fix that.]

Reading that message I grimace, that method means I'd leave myself open for enslavement. As the big bad bitch is known to turn dead heroes or anyone useful, like the Queen of Schemes, into a revived puppet under her control. So I can't go through with that method, so I ask seemingly the air for some assistance.

"I know you can hear me! Is there any way you could help in acquiring the Zero Series to permanently kill the main target?!"

[The EMAS greets one of the few fifteen Executioners left alive. To answer your inquiry for your contracted first world, it is possible to help you acquire such a weapon form for your Cardinal Weapon. To do so would require a subcontract to be tacked onto your main contract for this world that would require you to do tasks of equal value to the world's survival.]

"EMAS? And what kind of contract could I expect to be added onto my main objective?"

[Executioner Management and Assistant System, I was put in place to control and monitor the Executioners sent out across the multiverse. If an Executioner goes rogue, I force them to complete suicidal contracts until their death, if an Executioner stays on tasks, I am to reward them and send them onto their next contract destination. In response to your inquiry about what kind of contracts you can expect, there are Bodyguard, Genocide, Elimination, Search and Rescue, and Speed Run.]

"Why the fuck is there a speed running contract?"

[Certain worlds react violently to an Executioners presence and will send its local deities, heroes, and villains to kill the Executioner. If a world like that is detected upon entry into it, a Speed Run contract is automatically generated, and you must be on the move without rest, or you shall die unless you complete the contract. The most consistent worlds with that so far have been Pokémon and SCP, they account for 80% of the Executioner deaths.]

"What world are you sending me to next… just curious."

[Pokémon, there are six main targets there, needing to die for the world's continued survival.]

"So you want to see if I survive a manhunt? I'll probably fucking die if I were to lose my partner and buds then because that place would be able to fucking kill me like an ant."

[No, you have a 40% chance of having a peaceful entry into the Pokémon world.]

Glaring at the message overriding the Hero System box, I felt a weight appear on my right shoulder without delay, orange fur and snarling muzzle in the corner of my vision.

"I don't understand how this all works, or if this all just an elaborate Genjutsu meant to torment me in the afterlife. However, I know when someone lies… you're purposely sending us to this "Pokémon" to see if the kid will survive or be a failure and wash your hands of him without a care."

The system was silent for a few seconds before it reacted to Kuruma and being up front with the Chakra Beast.

[I neglected to account for Guardian Beast Kuruma seeing through one of my directives as dictated by Admin Father Keltson. Executioners are given a world to first become one of four types that are employed by the Multiverse Law and Execution Department, Executioner Lockheart falls under Executioner Type: Demonic. While all Executioners must get a guaranteed Speed Run subcontract world, Demonic type Executioners must get a 99% chance of death Speed Run world to see if they can survive and be of use for high-risk and apocalyptic worlds due to them being adaptive and sociopathic enough to not care if they kill a bystander or hundreds of bystanders just to kill their target. With your presence and those of Diety Bahamut from a high risk world, and Apocoltpyic Carnage from an extreme risk world consumed by both the undead and Poisons, an appropriate second main contract world is needed.]

Sighing at the fucking politics going on behind the scenes, I shake my head and process that all. What was said honestly sounded like half-truths and lies, but the system which probably first granted me my initial contract had a clear point. I was sent to this world which should be high risk of death to be groomed for more dangerous worlds than this one currently. Just because I made those three my familiars, my mandatory manhunt world will be one filled with gods and plot armor to see if I can survive.

"Before we get to my way to get the Zero Series, can I see my ACTUAL contract?"

[Certainly.]

『Contract From Multi-Admin Father Keltson, head of the Multiverse Law and Execution Department

You have been unluckily selected for a role Father Keltson has deemed rather dangerous, as your actions may very well turn the very world on you. Thus, he has prepared some suitable gifts, although with some limitations for your future use. To explain this part, you must first understand that you've been selected to be a "Hero Executioner" and "Villain Executioner" by Father Keltson. While accepting isn't mandatory when you're summoned, you will lose this chance. What this means is that you shall face risks of dying permanently or temporarily, but ejected from your contracted world, which shall be marked as failed for the contract. Executioners are separated into four task forces, even though each Executioner shall never meet another Executioner. The task force you are assigned to out of Holy, Demonic, Neutral, and Misfit is Demonic due to your emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of not feeling much of anything pertaining to death or other emotions besides spite and anger.

Contract Stipulations for Task Force Demonic:

You cannot deny any execution assignments when a target is marked, they must die.

You will always be inserted into High Risk, Extreme Risk, and Apocalyptic worlds where your chances of death are guaranteed.

Your death is not anyone's fault but your own if you fail to complete the contracted world's main task.

You cannot sue the Multiverse Law and Execution Department or retire from your post, you are bound to work until your soul breaks and fades.

You get every third world as a breather with no contract before being plunged back into mortal danger. 

Furthermore, you are entitled to more than one Familiar compared to other Executioners due to working for Task Force Demonic, as your mental health and emotional health cannot fall below optimal standards.

You are entitled to a selection of three skills per new contracted world, as opposed to two.

You are entitled to free health care should you become afflicted with diseases not limited to Zombification, Vampirism, Lycanthropy, AIDS, Cancer, Nurgle, Shards, Demonification.

Your first two contracted worlds are pre-designated, with the rest being up to luck and your skill set. Upon world insertion you are typically given a backstory and memories already, however, should you encounter a world hostile to your presence, that shall be forgone, and you must move fast or risk permanent death. Each contracted world has a pre-assigned main task and varying sub-tasks that are hidden or assigned based on needs to guide you in the right direction.』

"Wait… you fucks gave me the summary deliberately the first time?! I could've left then, right?! With no fear of dying?!"

[Admin Father Keltson had to secure a new Executioner at all costs after one died to Cthulhu, so your contract was summarized, and your thought process manipulated into thinking denial means death. It has been beneficial though for you, no? You are doing something you've always wanted to do, you're continuing your life goal, and helping the multiverse as a whole out. What more could a Human ask for?]

My mind blanked reading that last box, slowly I reached for my gun before stopping as that wouldn't do anything. I can't hurt this thing there are bound to protections to prevent that given what kind of people it deals with, I can't hurt Keltson either as I'd die before I could blink or do anything. I had been effectively duped and forced into this role by a being who didn't think like a Human, who didn't have qualms about messing with my mind or soul to get me into accepting. Because I should've questioned everything more on the first meeting, yet I didn't as if I only saw it all as it was presented.

"Just give me the fucking subcontract then leave me the fuck alone unless I need you. I can't do shit to you, but I can certainly do without seeing or hearing from you and Keltson unless it mandatory. I'll do my job as once I start something I begrudgingly do see it through, but I won't deal with your shit more than needed."

[Subcontract: Blood Trail

Objective(s): Search for and rescue the Hunting Hero Kizuna Kazayama from the Infinite Labyrinth when the Vassal Fan user Glass first invades this world. Upon entering the Wave Rift you shall be sent directly to the Infinite Labyrinth.

Eliminate reincarnated individual Takt who is hunting for you in Melromarc Kingdom after hearing about your Cardinal Weapon. 

Eliminate the Book Vassal Kyo Ethnina before he comes to this world when you invade the world of the Hunting Hero. (No permission needed to invade this world)

Eliminate the Instrument Vassal Hidemasa Miyaji in the world of the Hunting Hero before he can fulfill his role as a Vanguard of The Waves. (No permission needed to invade this world)

Reward(s): Zero Series, Cardinal Blacksmith Skill, Pain Nullification Skill, Skill Evolution: Extreme Regeneration -> Demi-God Regeneration]

Hearing Kuruma scoff at the box of text I agree with the fox before heading towards Mirso Village with Nilla and Gwain following me. Kuruma's tails wrapping around my torso and neck as if stretching for the most part in a gesture not lost on me given the murderous glare the fox gave the air in my stead. Bad memories being dug up as the fox didn't bother to disappear he just stayed on my shoulder and held me in his tails. In way because I'm being used for certain death worlds he is as well and that honestly sucks, I have in a way dragged him into a world hopping mess of murder.