Chapter 18 18: Fear of Missing Out

Words : 1277 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 13 of "Antagonist Protection Service" starts with dramatic events: The final section to review under Items was Tools. "There are a lot of weapons that... Discover what happens!

The final section to review under Items was Tools. "There are a lot of weapons that seem useful, but why are their names all strange...?" Asking this question to no one in particular, I reflexively laughed at some of the bizarre weapons available. Though, out of all the various types displayed before me, I only wanted to buy a gun―I suppose, for reasons that needn't be stated. And, out of all the guns available, I only wanted one with a suppressor attachment―I suppose also, for reasons that needn't be stated. Needless to say, I now had the Hero's sword I could use, but a gun was a gun. It's not like I knew how to use a sword properly anyway. Narrowing the scope down to that degree, with the additional stipulation that it must be something my wallet can currently afford, I was left with but a single option. Item - [APS Black Wisp (S1-Stealth Series)] Tactical pistol with a high-quality suppressor attachment, coated black. Accepts various ammunition types. *Possesses Anti-Protagonist properties *Magic Bullet Enhancement Grade : Standard Price : 800 U The picture beside the name presented a pistol the make of which I did not know. It was definitely one I recognised from an FPS game, and with the eye-pleasing suppressor attached to it, was without a doubt something a stealth game enthusiast would look at with great ardour. If I were to purchase it at 800 World Stability Units, I would naturally be left with 200―far too little to buy anything of practical use for me right now―meaning this would be my sole purchase. Of course, I don't think I would regret it in the slightest. If I had a gun in the previous world, I could've just shot the Hero dead in the alleyway on the first night rather than having to waste an entire second day waiting for him to get plastered drunk. I could've even just shot him in the middle of the training arena, though I don't think that would end in anything good. In any case, since pretty much every single weapon available in the Shop seemed to possess Anti-Protagonist properties, that part wasn't very special, but it was still quite useful. As for Magic Bullet Enhancement... Frankly, I had no clue, but since I couldn't use magic, I figured it didn't matter much. I was concerned about ammunition costs, but apparently, all guns or other weapons purchased from the shop that require ammunition are supplied with the energy of the Library. To be more specific, they were supposedly powered through the use of mana rather than physical ammunition. Of course, since I didn't possess any mana, I could borrow the mana of the Library instead through the Mark on my hand. In other words, so long as the Library could sustain its link with the Mark, I had limitless ammunition. It would, without a doubt, be a worthy purchase. As my hand hovered over the "Purchase" button, all of a sudden, the Librarian called my name. "Oh! Enki, if I may make a recommendation...?" "What's up? Is there something else I should be buying? I don't think I saw anything better..." Assuredly, I had already gone and looked through everything available to me and hadn't found anything I thought would be better than a gun. What could she be talking about? Tilting her head, she continued. "Mmmh~ Please, take a look at the Villainous Blade item..." I scrolled back through the Items list. "'Villainous Blade'...? Oh, I saw this one. Yeah, it seems to have good scaling potential, but what about it? It costs 1,000 Units, which would leave me with nothing. It also starts out terribly. You sure it's not too greedy to go for this now?" Scratching my head awkwardly, I poured a doubtful gaze over the item description. Item - [Villainous Blade] Unleash the power of a true villain with this malevolent blade. *Possesses Evil properties *Possesses Anti-Protagonist properties (This weapon grows with each Protagonist Dispatched) Grade : Abysmal Price : 1,000 World Stability Units "I-It may seem like a poor choice now, but you will surely not regret buying it! Erm! Its value will only appreciate to even greater heights the earlier you purchase it, see! S-so, fret not!" "Mm..." Technically, what the Librarian said was not wrong. I just wondered if it was the correct decision to make at this moment. The image displayed of the Villainous Blade was a thin, flimsy-looking thing that barely appeared any more lethal than a standard kitchen knife. Yes, it had a cool, black sheen that glistened on its fragile surface, but... it must've been less than what, 30 centimetres long? I'd be satisfied if it could cut a steak, let alone a Protagonist. "W-wait! Um! If you think about it, it would be a waste not to get it now! What if missing one entire dispatched Protagonist is what separates your victory from a defeat in the distant future...?!" Curling the ends my lips down, I raised an eyebrow at the Librarian, who waved her arms frantically, swaying side-to-side on that stool of hers. "Did you invest in it or something? Why are you so adamant? Is it FOMO?" "I don't know what that means but it just looks like a really good deal, Enki! Please buy it! Plus one! Plus one!" "..." Well. I couldn't deny that the prospect of growth was gnawing at the edges of my heart, too, whispering to my core and convincing me to commit to the purchase, you could say... It's just... even if it does get better over time, how am I supposed to do anything with this before then? "Erm erm... Ah! That's right! Bear it in mind! You need not eliminate Protagonists with the Villainous Blade itself to evolve it! So, fret not! Even if it's not in an ideal state at the present moment, you can save it for a later date! Furthermore, we can reduce the short-term disadvantage by selecting only Contracts with easy targets...! Yes, of course!" Those Contracts she mentioned must have been how the Librarian decided which Illusory World to send me to before. I did faintly recall her saying something about it while I was there, but I also didn't remember much other than the agony of the training and the Hero. Either way, if we somehow had a way of choosing how easy of a target the Protagonist would be, then wasn't that cheating in and of itself? "Hmm... Really...?" She repeatedly bounced her head up and down, nodding enthusiastically. "Yes yes! Certainly! And then, perhaps, just maybe, that singular additional growth upgrade would be enough to save us in a future Contract! Mm, indeed, it would only be prudent to purchase it right away!" Putting a hand to my chin, I contemplated the decision. Sure, we could just pick and choose the next couple of Contracts to ensure easy growth of the Villainous Blade, but that would mean I have to kill even more Protagonists with a knife again, and that was something I really wanted to avoid if I could. Or maybe, since the gun is so cheap, would I only have to complete one more Contract before I can afford it? And, additionally, wouldn't the Anti-Protagonist property be enough to stop something like that Hero's divine power from interfering again in the future? "..." "..." "..." 'Ah, fine. I'll do it.' In the end, I succumbed to that same FOMO as the Librarian.

Chapter 18 18: Fear of Missing Out

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