[Task 5 has started. Due to the emergency scenario, humanity will be given an advantage]

[Task details: Stop the boss monster before it can retrieve its egg and hatch it.]

[Time limit: 3 days]

[Human advantage: the location of the boss and its swarm will be revealed."]

"Young master, this is-"

"Not good news. Tell everyone to gather together. If the system is revealing its location and telling us to stop the monster instead of killing it, then it means we have no chance against it."

There were a few monsters like this in the original work which were impossible to handle for humans. All they could do against them was hold out for as long as possible.

Unfortunately, this one seemed to be the same.

[Rookie, I have good news and bad news. Which one would you like to hear first?]

So there was good news in this mess? Then Rin wanted to hear it.

[The good news is- it’s not directly your fault things went wrong. So this won’t affect your performance evaluation.]

Great, if this was good news, then what was bad news? The good news had done nothing to assure Rin, so maybe the bad news would balance his feelings out?

[Well, this incident is not entirely unrelated to you. One of our operatives decided to use taboo technology after coming in contact with you and caused this entire situation.]

So that was why this was Rin’s fault? He did not even recall any such incident! The only thing he recalled was that encounter after the last task-

"Is it that person?"

[The system does not have the authority to either confirm or deny your question. All it can do is tell you that you might be on the right track.]

That was confirmation in everything but name.

"So, do we have any more information about this creature? Or is this all we are going to get?"

Rin asked the system, trying to pressure it into helping.

He did not know whatever higher power heard him, because the system actually hesitated before deciding to help him out.

[The system is not allowed to give out hints. But because the Rookie is in danger this time, the system will make an exception. The item this creature seeks is in Rookie’s inventory. The egg refers to the core left behind by the previous calamity.]

Wait! So what would have happened if The Calamity of Rose did not take place? There would have been no core for it to chase after.

Would things have changed?

[Some events are bound to take place, no matter how much you try to stop them, Rookie. There is nothing you or anyone else can do about it. There’s no point dwelling on it now.]

The system quickly emphasized that there was nothing Rin could have done to change the situation. Maybe it was the system’s way to make him feel better?

That did little to comfort Rin, but there was no time to dwell on what had already happened.

Since Rin had the core, he would become the prime target in the next task. Whether it was a blessing or a curse depended on perspective.

Since the system was so tight-lipped and did not give Rin a clear answer, he would have to get it from someone else. And the only one who could provide those answers was the boss itself.

...

"The plan is simple this time. I am going to lure the boss towards the temporary warehouse and then make it crash into the potion traps we’ve prepared. It should paralyze it enough to keep it down for a day. Once it’s down, we can work on making sure it stays down for as long as we can keep it."

Rin had used everything he had to make these potions and if he needed more, then he was ready to buy as many as he safely could through the system store.

Of course, this was after taking into account the safety of his people and the money it would take in the future.

Rin still had a solid amount he could spend.

However, he doubted that this was the reason he was getting these questionable looks from the people around him.

"Reina, Rin has gone insane. Not only is Rin telling us he’ll overwork, but he’s also volunteering to take the risk. What can we do to keep him down?"

"I recently got a skill I wanted to try out, but I did not have a volunteer. Maybe Rin can be the volunteer and Reina can keep an eye on him?"

"I don’t mind. We can use Albus to keep an eye out. As for the monster, we can make someone else the ’bait’ and carry out the plan."

That day, Rin reconfirmed something about his party he already knew- no one in it was willing to listen to him. He could tell them that he was alright and they would still ignore him.

Even Ablus gave him a suspicious glance before he felt happy to help plan his demise.

"Maybe we should hear Rin out this time? I’m sure he’s saying this because there is a reason."

Amelia! The sweet voice of reason Amelia was the person Rin wanted to reward at this moment. Not only was she taking his side, but also saying what he wanted to say.

Unfortunately, just like Rin, no one listened to her either.

"Amelia, don’t fall for Rin’s words. He might look like he’s making sense, but his plans are always the most reckless."

"Firstly, I am not that bad. And secondly, even if you try to keep me out, it’ll be impossible. After all, I have the ’egg’ the boss is searching for."

What? You punks have nothing to say now?

Reina was the one who broke this silence and as expected, she was not happy about it.

"I don’t know where you got your luck from, but I want it gone. Your ability to end up in dangerous situations will make all my hair turn white before I grow old."

Reina gave in first, which was expected of someone as reasonable as her. Rin was rather surprised that it had taken her so long to come around.

Once Reina gave in, it was only a matter of time before Teressa and Albus gave in as well.

Shelly, on the other hand, looked deeply upset and refused to let Rin even stand up.

"I don’t know why you all give in to Rin so easily. But I am not going to let him do this alone. If he wants to be the bait, then I will carry him along as one. My stats are higher than his anyway."