| Official Adventurer Ranks |
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1. Palladium: Highest rank for mythical-status heroes of epic and legendary proportions.
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2. Titanium: Second-highest rank for fabled adventurers, respected leaders.
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3. Gold: Prestigious rank for powerful adventurers.
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4. Silver: Highly respected rank for elite adventurers.
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5. Bronze: Well respected rank for skilled adventurers.
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6. Brass: Intermediate rank for dependable and versatile adventurers.
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7. Steel: Low rank for amateur adventurers that have proven themselves capable.
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8. Iron: Lowest rank for new and inexperienced adventurers driven by a sense of adventure.
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Brass, huh? So Leo was only one rank below the Bronze Titan whom Shizu had defeated fairly effortlessly.
Still, I wanted someone like him on our side that was more knowledgeable about the way things worked in this world and could help guide us out of trouble. Especially since Innis was no longer a viable option.
"Hey Leo," I said. "What do you think about joining our party?"
"Ryuji..." Shizu said uncertainly.
~x~
We were heading towards the outskirts of the walled city, where the roads were dusty and cracked, and the houses were built haphazardly in a disordered architectural mess. Despite the impoverished living conditions, the locals still went about their daily lives, showing a resilience that was admirable.
Walking in Leo''s wake, Shizu whispered to me, "Are you sure about this, Ryuji? I don''t trust him..."
"Relax," I reassured her. "Leo is just leading us to the quest we selected back at the guild. If we can prove to him that we''re serious, he said he will consider joining our party."
"But I don''t want him in our party," Shizu pouted. "I just want it to be you and me."
"Listen, Shizu," I replied, exasperated. "We can''t survive in this world alone. We need to form alliances and learn to work with other people if we want to succeed."
Leo stopped in front of us, and we stopped too. "This is the place," he announced.
I nodded. The quest we had taken from the guild board was a thief catching job. Apparently there was a thief hiding out in this part of the city that had been stealing from the marketplace and bringing it back here.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Leo stood there, watching us without doing anything. True to his words, he wanted to assess whether Shizu and I were actually serious about being adventurers or just clowning around.
This was an Iron-ranked job. There was no way we were failing this.
"Shizu, hide your adventurer badge and talk to some of the locals here to see if you can gather any information about the thief," I instructed her. "I will search the area for clues."
"Why do I have to talk to the locals?" Shizu said. "Can''t I just stay with you?"
"Because they will trust a lone girl more than if the two of us were together," I replied. "Just do as I say."
"Okay, Ryuji."
Obediently, Shizu went over to some locals walking past the road, striking conversations with them in a contrastingly natural and friendly demeanour. It was almost as if a different person had taken over Shizu''s body. That was another reason why I had assigned Shizu to talk to the locals; I knew her acting and social manipulation skills were frighteningly good when she wanted it to be.
Satisfied that Shizu was following my orders properly, I pulled out the job notice from my bag and re-read through it:
Job Title: Iron-ranked Adventurers for Thief Huntin''
Job Description:
A wealthy merchant in the city''s got his goods stolen, and we suspect the thief''s hiding in the outer skirts of Lunaris. We need a party of Iron-ranked Adventurers to track down and catch the thief, and get the goods back. You gotta be good at finding and bringing in troublemakers, and you gotta know how to handle yourself out in the slums.
Job Requirements:
Adventurer Rank: Iron
Recommended to have some successful prior job experiences
Good at tracking people down and fighting, should it be needed
Should be good at talking to people and figuring out what''s going on
Pay:
Our client''s willing to cough up 2 silver coins if you can catch the thief and bring back the stolen goods. Report back to the guild once completed.
There was also a very shrewdly sketched portrait on the pamphlet of what the supposed thief looks like. Long black hair, much of it covering his face.
Not really much information to go on. Whatever.
I closed my eyes, tapped into my mana source, and re-opened them again.
"[ Magical sight ]," I muttered, and the mana coursing through my body diverted itself to my eyes. Instantly, a strange, warm sensation fell over my eyes and I stared down at the road, seeing glowing spears of light with varying intensity and colour streaking across my vision. They resembled signs left behind on the road by the movement of passersby and animals.
It was a chaotic stream of information as I expected. There were way too many people and carriages that had gone past this road recently, and I wasn''t used to the [ Magical sight ] ability so that made making sense of things even worse.
Continuing to walk down the path of the road, I looked left and right, searching for signs of anything unusual.
~x~
"Excuse me, sir, are you looking for something?"
I heard a child''s voice calling out to me, and when I turned around, I saw a group of curious children staring at me. They wore tattered clothing similar to those living in the outskirts of Lunaris.
"Did you lose something?" the small boy who had called to me said.
I shook my head and replied, "I''m... looking for someone," then I reached into my cloak and pulled out the job posting. "Have you seen anyone who looks like this?" I asked, showing them the portrait of the supposed thief.
As I showed them the sketch on the pamphlet, the small boy moved closer to get a better look. His two friends, a girl and a boy of the same age, remained cautiously behind him.
"Hey Takeshi, we''re not supposed to talk to strangers," the other boy said nervously. "That''s what our mum told us!"
Takeshi waved off his friend''s concerns. "Mum also said to help others whenever we can. Don''t be such a scaredy-cat."
"I-I''m not a scaredy-cat!" the other boy protested.
After scrutinizing the sketch for a few seconds, Takeshi looked up at me and asked, "That''s a drawing of Kaito, right?"
"Kaito?" I asked. "Who''s that?"
The girl who had been hiding behind Takeshi and the other boy stepped forward, looking at me with apprehension. "Are you going to hurt Kaito? Did he do something bad?"
"I..." I glanced over my shoulder at Leo, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. No use relying on him. "My name is Ryuji, and I''m an adventurer with the Adventurers'' Guild. I just want to have a chat with this ''Kaito'' person, that''s all."
"You''re an adventurer?" Takeshi''s eyes shone with admiration. "That''s so cool!"
"I want to be an adventurer too when I grow up!" the other boy exclaimed.
I chuckled nervously. "It''s a dangerous job, guys. I''m not sure if I can recommend it."
"Promise us you won''t hurt Kaito?" the small girl pleaded.
"I can''t make any promises," I replied truthfully to the girl''s plea. "Who is this ''Kaito'' to you three?"
"Kaito is our big brother," the other boy chimed in. "Well... not really. We''re not actually related to him by blood, but we call him our big brother anyways."
"He''s a really kind person," the girl added with a smile. "Kaito always helps out everyone in our neighborhood. He gives us food, snacks, and even clothes whenever we need them. That''s why we call him big brother!"
Takeshi asked me hesitantly, "You''re an adventurer... so does that mean you''re here to catch Kaito?"
My heart sank as I began to understand the situation. I had taken this job thinking we were tracking down a thief. Instead, it appeared that we were trying to catch the neighborhood''s Robin Hood. "Crap..." I muttered under my breath.
Still, I should speak with Kaito to confirm the truth.
"I''m not here to harm Kaito," I assured the kids. "But I really need to speak with him. It''s for his own safety as well. Can you lead me to Kaito?"
The children exchanged glances with one another, then stepped back to whisper something amongst themselves. After a brief moment, they came back to me, "Okay, we trust you, Ryuji. We''ll take you to big brother Kaito."
"Great," I replied, following them. "Lead the way."
"Wait, one condition," the girl added.
"Huh?"
"We''re only bringing you," she said, looking at me and then at Leo who was standing behind me. "Not the creepy quiet guy with you."
Leo looked surprised and stood away from the wall, "Creepy quiet guy...?" he repeated, a hint of confusion in his voice.
"He''s a friend of mine," I explained to the children. "Trust me, he won''t hurt Kaito either."
Takeshi shook his head, "No, we''re only taking you, Ryuji. That''s final."
"..."
I glanced back at Leo and met his gaze. He shrugged. "Don''t worry about me," Leo said. "I''ll wait outside around the area, just let me know once you''re finished with the job."
"Okay," I nodded, then turned back to the kids. "Just me then, let''s go."
~x~
The children led me through the long winding streets of the neighbourhood, taking me through narrow alleyways and passages that I didn''t even know existed. It was no wonder why I didn''t have any luck trying to track down the thief on my own. The alleys and streets were like a maze, making it easy to get lost, but the children knew their way around like the back of their hand.
Eventually, we arrived at a small house with a vegetable garden in front of it. The house was run-down, and the garden seemed to be the only thing thriving in the area. Takeshi knocked on the door and a moment later, it creaked open to reveal a tall, lean man with shaggy black hair and kind eyes.
"Kaito," the children cried out in unison, running to embrace him.
He smiled down at them and tousled their hair before turning his attention to me. "Can I help you?" he asked.
"I''m Ryuji, an adventurer from the Adventurers'' Guild," I said, holding up the job posting. "Is now a good time to talk about some recent thefts at the Lunaris'' marketplace?"
Kaito''s smile faded slightly as he looked at the job posting. He glanced back at the children, who were still huddled around him, before turning his gaze back to me.
"I see," Kaito said, his voice low and guarded. "And why do you think I know anything about these thefts?"
"Well, this witness sketch," I held up the job posting again, "shows a person who looks quite like you. I know it''s not the best drawing, but it''s enough to raise some suspicions. I just want to ask you a few questions."
Kaito''s eyes narrowed, and he took a step back from the door. "I''m sorry, but I don''t know anything about these thefts. I suggest you leave now before you cause any trouble."
The children looked up at Kaito, then at me, confusion etched on their faces. It was clear they had brought me here under the impression that Kaito was in trouble and needed help.
"I understand why you''re being cautious," I said, trying to diffuse the situation. "But I''m just here to talk. I don''t have any intention of causing any trouble."
Kaito rounded the children behind him inside the house, then tried to close the door, "Goodby--"
I stuck a foot out, blocking it before he could shut the door, "Look, I''ve talked to the kids and from the sound of things, it looks like you''re only stealing to help out the people around here. But I''m telling you, man, for your own good, you need to stop."
Kaito''s face grew dark, "Who are you to tell me what to do? I''m doing what I need to do to survive and help those around me. You have no right to judge me."
"I''m just a messenger. But the next adventurers that come along aren''t going to be so understanding. Think about it. It''s only a matter of time before you''re caught, and then what?"
"You think I have a choice? The people around here are struggling to survive, and the Empire doesn''t care a rat''s ass about us. Up there, all they care about is their ''glorious military power''. Down here in reality, we have to fend for ourselves!"
"How long do you think you can keep this up?" I asked Kaito, my tone incredulous. "Do you think stealing is the only way out for you? What about the people you''re trying to help? What about the kids who look up to you?"
I shoved the door wide open, pushing Kaito back into his house. He stumbled and fell on his rear, his eyes wide with shock. The children huddled around him, and Takeshi cried out, "R-Ryuji! You promised not to hurt him! You said you wouldn''t!"
"I just need to talk some sense into him," I said, holding my open hands up in the air. "See, I got nothing on me."
Kaito slowly rose to his feet, eyeing me warily. "Y-you adventurers, you think you know everything. You have no idea what it''s like down here, what the rest of us have to do to survive."
"I''m trying to save your life here," I said. "If you keep going down this path, it''s only going to lead to your death."
"Tch," Kaito glanced past me, then suddenly shouted, "Juro!"
At that moment, something came flying at me from behind and I ducked swiftly, narrowly avoiding the sabre that had been thrown at my head. I saw a man rushing at me, holding another sabre in his hand and instantly reacted before he could attack.
A small bolt of lightning shot out from my hand towards the man, shocking him with just enough voltage to knock him out.
"Shit," I grimaced, stepping out of the house to glance around and see a group of ten or so men running towards me, each barring a weapon in their hands and their eyes filled with lethal intent.
AI generated image : Leo
Chapter 13
The group of men rushing at the house were not prone to reason or discussion. That left me with no choice but to incapacitate them through force. It was ten against one, so the odds were already stacked against me.
"Listen to me, dammit!"
I was shouting at a brick wall. I swerved out of the way just as a falchion swept wildly for my arm, being wielded by one of the men surrounding me.
"[ Freeze ]," I chanted, directing my hand towards the feet of the man with the falchion, creating blocks of icicles that formed around the man''s feet, disabling his movements.
"Watch out, he''s a mage!" One of the men shouted at the others.
"Rush him, don''t give him a chance to cast!" Another said.
I ducked into the gardens around Kaito''s house, narrowly avoiding arrows that were being shot at me from two archers at the back of their group.
"Chase him down!" The remaining men pursued me into the bushes, refusing to even let me have a few seconds to catch my breath.
"Are these guys for real..." I cursed underneath my breath, scurrying through the garden as the thorns from nearby vines scratched into my skin.
I still had a lot of mana stored inside me to use. The problem was I wasn''t actually wanting to kill or seriously hurt any of them, which severely limited the number of spells I could cast.
But the biggest problem was really that I was starting to run out of breath.
In my life before isekai, I was seriously unfit from a life spent playing strategy games at home. Being born with asthma certainly didn¡¯t help either. It seemed that in this life I was also cursed with the physicality of an old man. And I have asthma here too.
"He''s here!"
I turned around, just in time to feel a sword driving itself straight through my right shoulder.
The pain was unlike anything I''ve ever felt before in both my lives. Flashes of white and red streaked across my vision, melting everything in my sight.
"Get away from me--!" I screamed, and mana exploded out of my body in a reaction to the scorching pain.
~x~
When I could see again, I saw four men lying across the gardens, unconscious and badly wounded from the mana blast that I had reactively unleashed.
The four remaining men stood at a distance from me, watching in gaped horror at the destruction around me. It looked as though a grenade or a small bomb had gone off where I stood.
"How does he still have so much mana?!"
"Isn''t he supposed to be an Iron-ranked adventurer?"
The men were talking to one another in rapid voices, trying to determine their next plan of attack. Meanwhile I was barely staying conscious, gripping tightly onto my right shoulder with the sword still stuck in there.
I was reaching my limit here. I could barely focus my mind amidst the intense pain, making it damn near impossible to cast a spell even if I still had some mana left within me. Physically, I was also completely exhausted.
Glancing at the men before me, I realized that only four of them remained from the original group of ten who had attacked me. It was impressive enough that I had managed to take down six of them all by myself. But ten against one was just too unfair. I wasn''t Shizu.
As I looked to my side, I noticed Kaito and the children emerging from the house, their eyes widening in surprise at the sight of the defeated men before them. Kaito approached me, a grim expression etched onto his face.
"That''s enough," he told the men firmly, his hand reaching for a sword that was hidden under his cloak. "Go and take care of the other adventurer that was with him. He''s a tall big fella with an eyepatch and a mace so he will be hard to miss. I''ll take care of this one."
The men nodded obediently before running off from the area to follow Kaito''s orders. I watched as Kaito walked towards me, ready to finish the job.
I could already tell that this was going to be a difficult fight.
"Sorry, kids," I glanced at the children. "Looks like I''m going to have to hurt Kaito a bit, after all."
"Ryuji..." Takeshi said, staring at me with the other children who all had an uneasy look on their faces.
"Don''t worry though," I told them, returning my focus on Kaito with a grimace. "I promise I won''t kill him."
After a moment of hesitation and understanding that Kaito was heading for me with his sword, the children spoke, "Okay, Ryuji... we trust you. Please bring our big brother Kaito back to his senses!"
~x~
"So this is how you do things, Kaito? You steal from the marketplace, then murder any adventurers that look to capture you?"
Kaito didn''t answer me right away, instead, he stared at me with an unwavering gaze, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke.
"You think I''m proud of what I''ve done?" he said, his voice low and measured. "You think I want to be living like this?"
"Live another way then," I replied. "This isn''t your only option. There''s other ways to make money, Kaito. I promise I will help you, the people here and the children."
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"Hah," Kaito scoffed. "You stand there, acting all self-righteous in front of the children, but in reality, you''re just as naive as the kids."
I remained silent, watching him carefully.
"I have no choice," Kaito continued bitterly. "I grew up in these filthy streets, surrounded by poverty and desperation. I went to bed hungry every night, wondering who I would find dead next in the morning from the starvation and cold. The Empire did nothing but laugh in our faces, and the Lord of Lunaris sits in his castle at the centre of city, enjoying his luxurious life whilst the rest of us died like cattle."
I could feel the weight of his words pressing down on me, making me doubt what I was doing.
"This world is a cold, cruel place, Ryuji," Kaito continued, his eyes fixed on the ground. "People would do anything to survive. I had to learn how to steal and fight at a child, just to make it through each day. And even then, it was never enough."
"Let me help you, Kaito," I said empathetically. "You and your friends can become adventurers with me. You can earn your money legitimately and buy enough food to feed everyone here."
Kaito stopped in front of me, his sword glinting in the dimming light as the sun began to set in the horizon of the city. He paused for a moment, and I thought I had finally gotten through to him, then he sighed, "I knew you wouldn''t understand. For people like us... this is the only way we know how to live--!"
He thrust his sword forward, aiming for my head, and I narrowly evaded, feeling his blade slice at the skin of my cheek. One second later and I would had been dead.
"K-Kaito...!" I grunted my teeth, and slammed my hand onto the ground, causing the floor beneath him to break.
Kaito leaped forward, continuing with a fury of sword strikes that I blocked with physical barriers I cast at the same time as his attacks. He wasn''t giving me a break to cast any offensive spells and my movements were still heavily impeded by the sword stabbed in my shoulder.
One of his swings slipped past my barrier, slashing at my leg, and gave me a decent gash. I winced, trying my best to withstand the pain. It was clear that Kaito was much more skilled than any of the other men I faced previously.
"It''s over, Ryuji--!" He shouted and flung his sword at my waist, preparing to slice me in half.
Left with no choice, I grabbed the handle of the sword in my shoulder and ripped it out of my flesh, throwing the sword at him at full force to change the motion of his swing.
"What the--?!" He gasped, surprised and parried the sword away.
Not letting the opportunity slip away, I materialised a cone of ice and shot it at his abdomen, cutting him and inflicting a wound that would be severe enough to stop the fight but not fatal.
"Stop this, Kaito!" I shouted, materialising several more cones of ice in the air in front of me. "This fight is over, can''t you see that? It''s meaningless to continue!"
"Meaningless?" Kaito scoffed, then jumped at me, slashing at the cones of ice and shattering them into pieces. "Only the victor gets to say something like that."
The children on the sidelines screamed for Kaito to stop.
"You''re going to die if you keep this up!" I shouted, shooting a ball of compressed wind that sent me flying backwards to create distance, whilst the ball of wind slammed into Kaito¡¯s shoulder, dislocating one of his arms. "Is that what you want?!"
Kaito charged forward without hesitation or caring for his wounds, ducking under a second ball of wind that I shot at him, and pursued me relentlessly.
¡°I knew exactly what I was doing when I stole from the marketplace," Kaito said in between throwing sword strikes at me. "I knew it was wrong. But I didn¡¯t care. All I saw were the smiles of the people back here, the elderly and sick that were starved and might not live another day, the children that went to bed with empty stomachs every night. I was ready to throw away my life for all that! What do you live for, Ryuji?!¡±
¡°I... I...¡±
¡°If the point of your existence is simply to survive in this world, then let me end that pointless existence you call life for you!!¡±
Kaito ran forward at me at full speed despite the balls of flame that I was shooting around him, searing at the sides of his flesh and warning him to stop, ¡°Don''t do it, Kaito!!¡±
¡°A man that has nothing he¡¯s willing to die for has no purpose! And that is why you will lose to me, Ryuji! Now prepare to die--!!
Kaito aimed his sword straight for my heart, and I cast a physical barrier around myself and channelled a ball of flame at the same time, having less than a second to think. Then I watched in dismay and shock as the shield broke itself upon Kaito¡¯s sword, leaving nothing between me and the tip of the blade.
This was it. I was dead.
The ball of my flame in my hand was still channelling. I didn''t have enough time to cast it in this position. Maybe if I didn''t promise the children not to kill Kaito, I could had fought at full strength and won this fight.
...
No, the problem was that he was right. Kaito fought with the willpower of someone that was willing to die for what he truly believed in. On the contrary, I had nothing like that. I was just someone that was simply trying to survive in this isekai world that I was thrown in.
In the end, that was the difference between him and me.
¡°Then let me grant your wish.¡±
A soft feminine voice came from above and suddenly Shizu dropped down like a comet, crashing atop Kaito and stabbed her knife straight through the crest of Kaito¡¯s skull, the gleaming blade breaking all the way through and exiting to the bottom of his chin, exploding blood everywhere, gushing out from his eyes, nose, mouth and ears like a squashed watermelon.
~x~
Kaito¡¯s body collapsed into the ground under the impact of Shizu''s drop, going instantly limp as his bones cracked and crumbled into the hard dirt ground.
Nonchalantly, Shizu picked herself up from on top of Kaito''s corpse, sliding her knife out from the top of his skull, and flung aside lumps of his brain that had stuck to her knife.
¡°Are you okay, Ryuji?¡± Shizu turned to ask me, half her travelling cloak covered in blood of varying degrees of dark maroon. She pursed her lips in worry, ¡°Sorry I got here late, I was held up by some of the townsfolk that took me the wrong way on purpose.¡±
¡°S-Shizu...¡± I said, shocked.
Shizu stared at me for a second, then her face fell, ¡°Y-your arm, Ryuji...!¡±
Just as Shizu was about to run up to check on me, the sound of the children''s screams pierced our ears from the side.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh--!!"
"Y-You killed Kaito...!"
The other boy next to Takeshi pushed aside the girl in their group and turned around to throw up all the little contents in his stomach in the garden.
I grabbed Shizu''s wrist, stopping her before she could reach for her knife.
"Don''t, Shizu," I told her. "They''re just children..."
"They''re witnesses, Ryuji," Shizu replied, her eyes flicking at the children panicky. "You told me to be discreet. I have to kill them, or they''ll--"
I pulled Shizu towards me hard, hugging her tightly to restrict her from moving, "P-please, Shizu... no more..." my voice shook, trying to control the unsteady emotions boiling up inside of me.
"Okay, Ryuji..." Shizu said softly.
In front of me, I could see the children glaring at me with looks of contempt, anger and betrayal all intertwined in their eyes that were wet with tears, splashes of blood painting their faces.
"You promised you wouldn''t kill big brother Kaito, Ryuji..." Takeshi told me. "You promised...!"
"I... I didn''t..." I mouthed, but my words were so soft they weren''t even audible.
Was it Shizu''s fault? But she was just trying to save me. I would had died if Shizu didn''t come into the fight like that.
Was it my fault? Maybe if I had only ended the fight earlier, things wouldn''t have had to end this way. Maybe if I didn''t get caught by Kaito at that last moment, Shizu wouldn''t have had to come in and save me. Or maybe I shouldn''t had even taken on this stupid quest in the first place. What was I even trying to do by interfering in Kaito''s affairs and trying to get him to stop? I should had just left him alone. I...
My face paled, the world spun and I felt horribly sick to my stomach.
AI generated art : Shizu
Chapter 14
"Ryuji, are you okay...?"
I was lying on the bed, covering underneath the blankets, at the basement of the old reeky tavern we had first stayed at on arrival to Lunaris. A week had passed since the day Kaito died, but the images of the children''s eyes filled with betrayal and hatred haunted me even in my sleep.
Hearing no response, Shizu walked closer to the bed, her footsteps hesitant and slow. "It wasn''t your fault, Ryuji," Shizu said. "You shouldn''t feel bad for what happened."
Shizu sat down beside me, a sad frown etched on her face. "It... it was all that guy''s fault," she said. "He attacked you even though you were so kind and offered to help him. We had no choice but to kill him. We didn''t do anything wrong."
"..."
"I... um... don''t feel bad, Ryuji... please... you can''t stay in bed forever..."
"..."
"Ryuji... talk to me please..."
Shizu reached over and shifted me gently on the bed, moving my head out of the covers so that I was facing her. I stared blankly at her, and saw a scared, anxious expression on Shizu''s face. "I''m sorry...! It was my fault, Ryuji, s-so please blame me! You can even hit me if you want to! I was the one that killed him, so--"
"Stop it," I said, and Shizu froze at my voice. I gave her a weary look. "Everything... was my fault. I should had just left the job alone. I don''t know what I was doing, trying to persuade Kaito to stop. All it ended up doing was make things worse."
"Ryuji..."
"I... I was just trying to do the right thing," I muttered, avoiding Shizu''s gaze. "Now I don''t even know what''s right or wrong anymore. What use am I as an adventurer?"
"That''s not true! T-that guy was on a suicide mission. If you didn''t try to stop him that time, he would had eventually been caught by other adventurers and died all the same."
"Yeah, but we don''t know that... Maybe if I just minded my own business, Kaito would still be alive."
"Who cares about him! The important thing is that you''re alive, Ryuji. One dead person doesn''t matter in the scheme of things!"
"The people there too..." I droned on to myself. "Without Kaito around, they''re probably all going to die from starvation because no one else is providing for them... and the children..." Flashes of the children''s stares of hatred and betrayal filled my vision, and I swallowed, resisting the urge to throw up again.
"I can''t do it, Shizu," I ventilated, rolling back around on the bed to face the stone walls. "I can''t face the people in this city."
Things were turning out just like my old life before being isekai''d. How ironic.
"Ryuji..." Shizu nestled up closer to me. "You don''t have to worry about what anyone else thinks. Even if the whole world is against you, I will always be here right by your side. I will never leave you. I promise. All you need is me."
"..."
"We don''t need anyone else," Shizu said. "Let''s just pretend we''re the only two people living in this world."
"That honestly sounds a bit frightening, Shizu..."
"I-if you don''t like it here, we can always travel some place else," Shizu said. "We don''t have to stay at Lunaris. Besides, I heard outside that they''re planning to use this city as a military fort anywa--"
"--What?" I flung the blankets off me, staring wide-eyed at Shizu.
"We can travel some place else?"
"No, what you said just before."
"This city is going to be used as a military fort?"
~x~
"Oh, hey."
Emerging from the rundown tavern, we saw Leo leaning against the wall to the side of the door outside, waiting for us. He greeted us with a small nod, keeping his arms crossed.
"Leo?" I said, surprised. "Were you waiting for us? What are you doing out here?"
"We had a deal, remember?" Leo replied coolly. "I said I would join your party if you proved yourself by completing that thief catching job. From what I''ve heard, you managed to handle yourself against ten guys on your own, even taking down six of em."
He leaned away from the wall, facing me. "Even for a Brass-ranked adventurer, that would be a tough challenge on its own. But on top of that, you pulled it off as a Mage class. Impressive."
"Is Mage class supposed to be bad?" I asked.
He shook his head. "No, there''s nothing wrong with Mage class. But they''re not really known as solo adventurers. Typically, mages stay at the back in a party and cast spells."
I laughed feebly, "I was lucky. In the end, Shizu had to save me anyway."
"Ah, I heard about what happened. Sounds like things got pretty rough with the leader of the thieves," Leo walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder with a solemn expression over his rugged face. "You two did what you had to do. Being in our line of business as adventurers, sometimes we have to make difficult decisions. It''s all part of the job, Ryuji."
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"Leo..."
"To be honest, I wasn''t sure if you two were ready to be adventurers at first. But there''s no more doubts in my mind anymore," Leo said, then glanced down at the bandages wrapped around my right shoulder and elsewhere across my body. "So, you feeling better now?"
After being stabbed by a sword in my right shoulder, I was still recovering and could barely raise the arm. The other injuries on my body were minor and were healing fine on their own. Physically, I felt fine. Mentally was a different story.
"Yeah, I''m ok now," I lied to Leo, then changed the topic. "Shizu told me that this city was going to be used as a military fort, that''s why I thought I should come out and see what''s happening for myself. Is it true?"
Leo nodded sombrely. "Apparently the Vasily Empire is making moves much earlier than the Mideron Empire anticipated. I''m not privy to military intel, but word on the street is that this city is going to be the target of an invasion by the Vasily Empire in around 1 month''s time."
"No way..."
"Well, considering Lunaris'' location on the map and being so close to the borders in-between the two empires, it hardly comes as a surprise," Leo said. "I just didn''t expect it to happen so soon."
"What''s going to happen to all the people living here then?" I asked hesitantly.
Leo sighed, "I''m not sure. But my guess is that they''ll probably form a militia out of the people living here to defend the city. Lunaris has a strategic location that''s too good for the Mideron Empire to just give up."
Images of the children''s tear stricken faces, painted in Kaito''s blood flashed in my mind. A horrible pit sat in my stomach.
They''re going to use the people living here as shields...?
"Relax, Ryuji," Leo said, staring at my face. "Good news is that I heard there are currently 3 Imperial Mages stationed in this city, and another one has been spotted in a nearby town. On top of that, they''ve been bolstering up the number of knights here by quite a bit. Even the Vasily Empire will probably have to think twice about attacking this city based on that alone."
"T-three Imperial Mages...?!"
I thought Innis was the only one here at Lunaris. Now he''s telling me there are two more of these guys running around the city?!
"Yeah, that''s right," Leo chuckled. "Personally, I haven''t seen any of them walking around the city with my own eyes, but others have."
Leo stopped when he noticed Shizu hiding behind me anxiously. "Your partner doesn''t talk much, does she?"
I glanced behind me at Shizu, then laughed weakly, "Ahaha, it''s okay, Shizu. You don''t have to hide here. Leo''s our friend."
"Friend...?" Shizu repeated quietly.
"Yeah," I forced a reassuring smile. "He''s our friend and will be part of our party from now on."
"..."
Shizu stared across at Leo with a blank look in her eyes. He shifted uncomfortably underneath her gaze, which surprised me considering how stoic and cool Leo normally was.
"Hey, Ryuji, you don''t need to force her to talk if she doesn''t want to," Leo said. "Being quiet is sometimes not too bad either."
"True," I said. "Anyway, let''s head for the guild. I want to find out more about what''s happening to this city."
Leo nodded, and together, the three of us headed for the adventurers'' guild.
~x~
In the end, I decided to stay at Lunaris and witness what would happen during the Vasily Empire''s planned invasion of the city. Even though people around said there was nothing to worry about and remained optimistic due to the presence of three Imperial Mages at Lunaris, I couldn''t shake off the feeling that I needed to help out if things went wrong.
Over the next few weeks, the three of us continued to take on jobs from the guild, one after another, gradually improving our skill along the way. Shizu and I were even promoted one rank up to being Steel-ranked adventurers during this time.
"[ Explosion ]!" I chanted, directing my palm at the looming blue-skinned ogre running at me.
The spell released a blinding light, and an ear-splitting explosion echoed through the forest. When the smoke cleared, the ogre lay motionless on the ground, its body charred and smoking.
This was the first time I had ever successfully cast the [ Explosion ] spell, which was typically expected of Silver-ranked adventurers and considered a powerful D-tier spell. As a Steel-ranked adventurer, three ranks below Silver, I was amazed by my own achievement. After an entire week of practice, I had finally managed to do it.
Clutching a fist of triumphant to myself, I walked over to the ogre to inspect the fallen foe and make sure it was indeed the one specified by the job contract.
"Watch out--!"
I glanced up, just in time to see another ogre charging out from the trees towards me.
Leo ran forward, jumping up to smash the ogre''s skull with his mace, intercepting its path and causing the ogre to crash into a tree to the side.
"Leo!" I said, surprised.
The ogre pushed itself up from the ground, then roared, slamming both its arms to the ground and causing a mini-earthquake that made me lose my footing. Crap, I had not been expecting for there to be another ogre in the forest. The contract only said there was one!
Leo was jumping from tree to tree, avoiding the ground as he pushed off each tree with his feet to get to the next, making his way towards the ogre before whacking it over the head again with his mace, sending its blue blood flying.
The ogre swatted at Leo in the air, trying to squash him like a fly, but his movements were quick and controlled, avoiding the ogre''s hands. With each strike the ogre missed, Leo would return with a counterstrike, taking advantage of the ogre''s lack of defence and guard.
Eventually, the ogre succumbed to the brutal pummelling Leo gave it, crashing lifelessly into the floor with a loud thud. Leo''s performance was nothing short of masterful. To be frank, I was baffled as to why he was only ranked Brass. Judging by his skills, I would have assumed he was at least Bronze, if not even Silver.
Leo dropped down in front of me, his mace swung over one shoulder.
"You have to be careful, Ryuji," Leo said, offering a hand out to me. "Your fighting style is very aggressive and close-ranged for a Mage. That leaves you quite open to surprise attacks."
"Thanks," I grabbed Leo''s hand and he pulled me up from the ground. Leo was always giving great advice, which was one of the reason I was improving at such a quick rate over the past weeks. I glanced around, "Where''s Shizu?"
Leo scratched his head, looking around the forest as well, "Not too sure. That''s the other problem..." he sighed. "That girl''s always running off on her own or sticking right by your side. Individually, she''s very skilled, no doubt about it, but she has no sense of teamwork at all."
"You''re right," I said, feeling guilty and understanding Leo''s frustration. "Sorry, I''m working with her to improve on that."
"Do you know what she tried to do on our last job?" Leo asked, glancing at me in disbelief. "It was a monster-slaying quest as well, but she tried to use me as bait to lure the monsters out! I almost died, being surrounded by several packs of alpha wolves on my own!"
"I... I will talk to her about it," I tried to reassure Leo. "Definitely."
"I think something is seriously wrong with that girl," Leo continued. "If I didn''t know any better, I would think she was trying to kill m--"
"Ryujiiii~~!"
Shizu ran towards us, an ecstatic look on her face, her cheeks slightly flushed. I glanced at the knife she was holding in her hand that was dribbling a trail of dark red blood all over the forest floor.
"What happened...?" I asked Shizu, almost too scared to ask the question.
"I... I..."
Shizu stopped in front of us, catching her breath for a second, then glanced up at me with a broad smile that sent chills down my spine.
"I... I caught an Imperial Mage...!"
AI generated image : Shizu
Chapter 15
We stood shocked for a moment, staring at Shizu standing there idly with her bloodstained knife, before Leo reacted.
"You what?!" Leo tried to grab Shizu''s arm, but before he could even touch her, she swiftly lifted her knife and pressed it against his throat.
"Get your hands away from me," Shizu warned, her tone and demeanour suddenly serious. "Or I''ll kill you."
"S-Shizu!" I intervened, tugging her away from Leo. "What the hell do you think you''re doing?! Leo''s our friend for god''s sakes!"
"He tried to touch me," Shizu muttered, her eyes softening. "I don''t like being touched."
I almost reactively withdrew my hand from Shizu''s shoulder, but then I realised I was the only exception.
Leo rubbed off the wet blood on his neck from Shizu''s knife, looking impatient. "Forget that, Ryuji. Ask her about the damn Imperial Mage!"
"Shizu," I turned her around to face me and gave her a grave stare. "You... you said you caught an Imperial Mage. What exactly do you mean by that?"
Shizu raised her blood-stained knife, which emitted a strong odour of iron and rust, making me lean away a bit. "I wounded her badly," she said, her excitement returning. "She''s still in the forest, but she won''t be able to get far."
Leo clutched both hands to his head in the first real sign of distress I had ever seen from him, causing me to worry. "Y-you... attacked a-an... Imperial Mage!?" he stammered, before shaking his head and regaining some composure. "Are you fucking insane?!"
Shizu ignored Leo completely, as if he didn''t even exist in her mind.
I could feel the tension in the air, and I knew that I had to do something quick before Leo suffered a heart attack. "Let''s take a deep breath and calm down," I said, trying to diffuse the situation. "First, let''s figure out what to do next. We can''t just leave the Imperial Mage in the forest."
Shizu proposed, "Let''s hunt her down and kill her!"
"Please, Ryuji, tell me you''re not going to listen to this insane girl," Leo implored, covering his face with his hand. "I''ve tolerated all her bizarre behaviour until now for your sake, but this is too much."
"W-we''re not killing her, Shizu!" I said to Shizu. "If the Imperial Mage is as wounded as you say, we have to help her."
"But I left the kill for you, Ryuji," Shizu protested, her brow furrowed in frustration.
Leo stepped forward, his voice stern, but this time he didn''t dare touch Shizu. "Do you even realize the gravity of your actions? Attacking an Imperial Mage is tantamount to treason and a capital offense on this continent. You''ve potentially started a war with the Mideron Empire all by yourself!"
Shizu flicked Leo an annoyed glare, treating him like a pesky mosquito buzzing in her ear. "Stop talking to me," she said. "I''m speaking with Ryuji."
"They''ll send the entire army after us!" Leo roared, raising his voice in anger. "You''ve not only doomed yourself, but sent me and Ryuji on a death sentence alongside you!"
Shizu shrugged, "Ryuji and I will be fine. He''s got me. You can go hide in a hole somewhere and die alone."
"Guys, let''s focus on the task at hand," I interjected. "We need to find the Imperial Mage before she gets away or someone else finds her first."
Leo nodded, taking a deep breath to refocus. "You''re right, Ryuji," he said. "We should go quick."
As we started to move, Leo suddenly stopped, turning around to look at Shizu who was following us.
"You''re not coming with us." Leo stated firmly, stabbing a finger at Shizu''s direction. "We won''t be able to explain ourselves if we''re seen with you, and the Imperial Mage might even attack us on sight."
Shizu glanced at me.
"Yeah, Leo''s got a point," I said. "It wouldn''t look good if we bring you along, Shizu."
"But she never saw my face," Shizu protested. "When I attacked her, I was behind her, so she wouldn''t recognise me. I made sure of it."
"You''re certain?" I asked.
"Yes!"
"Fine," I sighed. "Come along then."
It''s probably a good idea to keep Shizu in my sight rather than leave her alone.
"Yay!" Shizu hopped forward, grabbing onto my arm, and twirling onto her knife with her other hand. "I can find her. I won''t let her escape, Ryuji."
"Remember, we''re not trying to finish her off..." I told Shizu.
"Yes, I know."
~x~
As we followed Shizu through the forest, she led us to a secluded area that was shrouded in mist. The trees were gnarled and twisted, their branches hanging low and creating a sense of foreboding. The air was thick with the smell of decaying leaves, and the only sound was the crunch of our footsteps on the forest floor.
Shizu paused for a moment, scanning the area with her eerie violet eyes. "This is the place," she said finally, pointing to a small clearing in the center of the grove. "The Imperial Mage is somewhere around here."
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I could feel a sense of unease settling over me as we made our way towards the clearing. The mist was so thick that it was difficult to see more than a few feet in front of us, and I couldn''t shake the feeling that we were being watched.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Leo asked, his voice strained.
Shizu didn''t respond, instead pressing on through the mist towards the clearing. Leo followed closely behind her, his hand resting on the handle of his mace strapped on his back.
"We need to be careful," I warned, my voice barely above a whisper. "We don''t know what kind of traps or spells the Imperial Mage might have set up."
Leo nodded. "Agreed. We need to stay alert and be ready for anything."
Shizu giggled, glancing back at me, "Don''t worry, Ryuji. I made sure to hurt her real bad. You should be able to take her down easily."
"Shizu, we''re not here to kill the Imperial Mage," I reminded her. "We''re here to help them, remember?"
"I know," Shizu replied, and smiled. "But just in case."
"How the hell did you even manage to hurt an Imperial Mage anyway?" Leo asked, his tone incredulous.
Again, Shizu ignored Leo''s inquiry, refusing to acknowledge his existence.
"Shizu," I said. "Answer Leo''s questions when he''s talking to you."
Shizu gave me a reluctant look, then glanced ahead into the fog with a pout. "I... I just snuck behind her and stabbed her a few times in the back. She didn''t expect me. It wasn''t too hard."
Leo''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you sure the person you attacked was an Imperial Mage?" he asked.
"Yes, I''m sure," Shizu snapped, eyeing Leo irritatedly. "She had the King''s crest on her lapel underneath her cloak, just like all the others."
Leo''s face went ashen as the possibility of Shizu being mistaken was eliminated. "Oh god..." he muttered, shaking his head to himself.
Shizu suddenly halted in the middle of the clearing, scanning around at the mist. "Hm, that''s strange," she pondered. "She should be here somewhere..."
" [ Light ] ," I casted a spell to create a glowing sigil where we stood, illuminating our surroundings. It wasn''t strong enough to disperse the fog completely, but at least it could be clearly seen from a distance. "Let''s spread out and search for her. We will meet up back here after a couple of minutes."
Shizu and Leo nodded, then the three of us split up to wander through the small clearing looking for the Imperial Mage.
~x~
Scouring the misty clearing, my eyes scanned the ground for any signs of struggle or blood. The ground beneath my feet was damp and slippery, making it difficult to move quickly.
Even though I had my [ Magical Sight ] turned on, I could find no traces of past activity, not even from animals. It was as if the place had been magically cleansed, rendering tracking spells useless.
I kept my eyes peeled, listening to the sound of my heart thumping inside my chest and my shallowed breathing.
"Nothing over here!"
I heard Leo''s voice call from the distance.
"I can''t find anything here either," I shouted back in the direction where his voice came from.
"Shizu, did you find anything?" Leo called out.
Silence followed.
"Dammit, that girl," Leo cursed to himself.
I tuned out his frustration and refocused on scanning the area. Still, nothing.
"Let''s meet back at the sigil, Ryuji," Leo called.
"Okay, I''ll meet you there," I replied.
Not finding anything else, I turned around and began retracing my steps back to the sigil glowing in the distance.
That''s when something from below clasped onto my ankle and yanked me down to the damp earth with a jolt.
"W-what--" I was taken aback. I had set up a complete physical barrier around myself to deflect against an initial surprise attack, but somehow this person had slipped past my barrier without even setting it off.
Crashing to the ground, I scrambled to cast a [ Fireball ] spell with my free hand, but my attacker deftly brushed my hand aside, snuffing out the flames before they could fully manifest. Before I could even try to get away, they cast a spell, chaining my arms and legs to the ground with an ethereal loop.
A hand clamped over my mouth, preventing me from even calling out for help. It was painfully clear that my attacker was far more skilled and experienced than I was, effortlessly anticipating and countering every move I made.
"Shut up," she said. "And listen closely."
I glanced up with wide eyes at the girl straddling me, her ruby eyes glowing vividly amidst the mist and shadow from the hood of her dark, tattered cloak.
Past the hood of her cloak, her blonde hair fell in gentle waves past her shoulders, with what appeared to be a separate short ponytail tied at the back of her head.
As she leaned closer, I noticed slight freckles dotting across her nose and cheeks and angled eyebrows that gave her a fierce look. She seemed to be around the same age as me, about seventeen years old.
"I won''t hurt you," she whispered. I felt hot blood trickling down from her torso onto my stomach. "I need your help. Can I trust you?"
She glared down at me intensely, and I nodded slowly.
"Someone in your group is trying to kill me," the girl said, removing her hand from my mouth and undoing the chain spell around my arms and legs. "I can''t sense their presence right now, but I was ambushed a while ago. Tell me exactly how many people are with you."
"Three..."
"That makes it easy," she said, moving her magically glowing ruby eyes up to glance around the fog. "I can pinpoint one of your friends, but it''s not him. He''s too weak. It must be the other one then."
"Are you talking about Shizu--" I tried to get up, but she pressed down on me hard, keeping me trapped on the floor beneath her.
How the hell was she still so strong?!
Her body was petite, smaller than mine, and to top it off, there were more than 10 different stab wounds riddling her torso. Blood was seeping out from the gashes, staining her clothes and the ground beneath us. I couldn''t believe that she was still able to overpower me, even with such grievous injuries.
"Don''t move," she said. "Not unless I say so. You''re a Mage as well, right?"
"Yes..."
"Heal me."
"Huh?"
"Cast a spell to seal my wounds at least," the girl said, wincing. "I need to stop losing blood. Hurry!"
"I... I don''t know how to do that..."
"What?"
"I said I don''t know any healing spells."
"I heard what you said. I''m just wondering how you can call yourself a Mage if you don''t know how to heal."
"Well, do you?" I retorted.
"..."
She ignored my question and glanced around the fog. It seemed to be a recurring theme that none of the mages I encountered knew how to use healing spells.
"Look, I..." she flinched, her glowing ruby eyes flickered for a second. "I have gold and silver on me. Everything I have on me is yours. Whatever it is you want, I''ll give it to you. But I need you to help me get away from here. I can''t fight them in my current state."
"You don''t need to give me anything. I''ll help you. That''s the reason we cam--"
"We need to move quick," the girl cut me off, her breathing growing haggard and brisk. "Your friend is coming..."
"How do you know?"
"I can sense their presence. They''re close," she exhaled, her face in pain. The glow on her ruby eyes were flickering on and off in intervals. Every time the glow faded, her body felt light and weak, as though I could easily push her off me if I wanted to.
In the distance, I could hear Leo calling for me, "Ryuji! Where are you?" It didn''t sound like he was the one approaching us.
Unable to sustain her strength anymore, the girl collapsed on top of me, then she whispered very quietly into my ear, "M-my name is Amelia... I''m the 11th Imperial Mage granted ordinance by His Majesty of the Mideron Empire... please help me..."
"I--"
"Found you~~"
I glanced to my side, seeing Shizu emerging from the fog with the bloodied knife twirling in her hand.
AI generated art : Shizu
AI generated art : Amelia
Chapter 16
Shizu froze upon seeing the state we were in, the bloodied knife stopped twirling in her hand.
"Shizu," I said, flicking a glance up at her. "I think this is the Imperial Mage, she said her name is Amelia. Let''s bring her back to the city and take her to the doctor Innis took us to when we first arrived at Lunaris."
"..."
"We probably should act quick too, considering how much blood she''s losing," I continued. I tried to push Amelia off from on top of me, but couldn''t. I was stuck underneath her. "Shizu, help me get her off of me. Be careful though, she''s using some physical empowerment magic or something I think. I can''t move her on my own."
"..."
"Shizu?" I said, glancing up at her again. "Did you hear me? I need your help."
A shadow casted over her eyes, making it impossible for me to read her expression.
"Help me get her off," I told Shizu, trying and failing again to push Amelia off on my own. "I can''t¡ª"
"¡ªWhy is she on top of you?"
"Huh?"
"I said, why is she lying on top of you?"
"What do you mean, Shizu? I..."
Crap. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.
Without warning, Shizu began slowly approaching us with the bloody knife dangling by her side, step by step.
"Listen," I tried to explain the situation slowly and clearly. "Amelia caught me by surprise when we split up to look for her. She lost consciousness from blood loss just then. That''s the only reason why she''s lying on top of me."
Shizu continued to approach.
"Shizu, are you listening to me?" I asked, my heart accelerating in pace the closer she got.
Shit. How did I miss something so terribly obvious? A normal person would look at this scenario and immediately come to a realisation it was a dire emergency situation, seeing the ghastly abundance of blood seeping out of Amelia''s torso. But Shizu wasn''t a normal person.
"Leo...!" I started shouting the other way for help. "Help! We''re over here!"
"Ryuji?" Leo rang back to us from the distance in the mist. "Hold on, I''m coming over!"
"Hurry!" I shouted at the direction of Leo''s voice. "I..." I turned back to see Shizu only a few steps away. "Shizu, please!" I pleaded desperately. "This isn''t what you think it is! You have to believe me!"
But Shizu remained unresponsive to my words.
"Listen to me, Shizu!" I urged. "You promised to always listen to me. I''m telling you to stop!"
Nothing seemed to be getting through to her. It was as though something inside her had snapped, and she could no longer hear me.
In the background, I could hear Leo''s footsteps pounding through the damp forest floor towards us, but he was still too far away.
"Shizu!" I screamed at her. "Snap out of it!"
I tried as hard as I could to push up at Amelia''s body to get her off, but she didn''t budge by even an inch.
At this rate, I was going to be skewered alongside Amelia and turned into a human kebab. Shit!
Shizu halted directly above us, her bloodied knife looming like a guillotine blade, gleaming in the faint moonlight that filtered through the dense forest canopy.
There was nothing in Shizu''s violet eyes ¡ª just a blank empty stare, devoid of any semblance of humanity.
"Shizu, noooooooo--!!"
~x~
FLASHBACK TO 11 YEARS AGO
LIFE BEFORE ISEKAI
XXX''s point of view
¡°Do you know how to use a gun?¡±
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¡°Gun? What''s that?"
The man handed me a black steel object with a rough dark-brown handle and it almost fell from my hand, but he grasped onto my hand hard, keeping the strange object inside my grip.
"This is a gun," he told me.
"Sargis, what are you doing?!" another man burst into the war-torn room, his face horrified as he beheld us.
¡°What does it look like I¡¯m doing?¡± the man in front of me scoffed.
¡°T-this one''s way too young!¡± the other man cried, glancing at me. "She barely looks a day over four-years-old! We''ve never trained a child soldier that young!"
"This isn''t just some child, you fool," Sargis retorted. "This little girl''s a prodigy. Her test scores at the orphanage are through the roof."
¡°Where did they even find her?¡±
"The nuns dug her out amidst the rubble of a bombing a few years ago. Apparently, she had been laying next to the charred remains of her parents for two weeks. Her parents were humanitarian workers sent from Japan, doctors, I think. In any case, she has no other future ahead of her in this country now, besides to fight in our war."
"S-still...!"
The man standing by the door gazed at us uneasily, but then an explosion rocked a nearby building, causing the entire place to shake. Frantic, the man at the door ran off to attend to the explosion.
¡°Your hands are too small,¡± Sargis cursed, removing the gun from my hand. ¡°Here, take this instead.¡±
He handed me a knife, but it wasn''t like the ones I''ve seen people eat with. It was bigger, sharper, and the blade looked long enough to cut through something much thicker than a steak.
¡°Still too big for your hands,¡± Sargis muttered. ¡°But at least you can hold this.¡±
"Why are you giving this to me?" I glanced around. "Are we finally eating?"
"Listen, bad people are coming after us."
"Bad people?"
Sargis nodded gravely. "These bad people... they want to kill us."
"K-kill?" I said, feeling frightened by his words. "What should we do then? I don''t want to die...!"
"That''s why we need to fight back," Sargis said, then firmly held my hands that was holding the knife. "And this knife? This is your only chance at survival, understand?"
"...Okay..."
"Always remember. In this world, it''s either kill or be killed. There is no third option, Shizu."
I tightened my grip on the knife, feeling its weight and heft. It felt strangely comforting in my hands. I had seen the horrors of war outside with my own eyes; the shrill of explosions and screams, the nauseating stench of blood and gunpowder, the macabre sight of bodies piled up like leftovers from a slaughterhouse. I didn¡¯t want to end up like them. I didn''t want to die.
With this knife, I had a faint glimmer of hope, and the power to protect myself.
¡°Come,¡± Sargis stood up from the ground and gestured at the door. ¡°It''s time. Let''s go.¡±
~x~
PRESENT TIME
ISEKAI
Ryuji''s point of view
At the last second, I casted a physical shield that covered both Amelia and me. Shizu''s blade collided with the shield, sending her flying several feet backwards and crashing onto the muddy forest floor.
As I felt Amelia''s physical enhancement magic wearing off, I hastily pushed her aside and rushed over to Shizu to check on her. "Shizu, are you okay...?!"
¡°Why¡¡±
¡°What?¡± I stopped in front of her, staring down at her lying form on the ground.
¡°Why would you do that, Ryuji?¡±
¡°You were about to kill us! If I didn¡¯t stop you, who knows what would had happened.¡±
¡°I¡ would never had hurt you. I was only going to hurt that girl.¡±
"Well, that''s still not okay...! If you kill Amelia, we will be finished! How do you think we would escape the army after killing an Imperial Mage?"
¡°¡¡±
Shizu stayed quiet, her gaze remaining fixed at the forest floor with disillusioned eyes. Her cloak was stained by the dirt and mud, and her knife lay a few feet away from her.
¡°Come on, Shizu,¡± I said, forcing an encouraging smile and offering a hand down to her. ¡°Let¡¯s get you out of there first, okay?¡±
Shizu didn¡¯t grab my hand, nor did she try to pick herself up from the ground.
"My life before isekai was so terrible, Ryuji..." Shizu muttered. "War, famine, death... Every day was a constant hell. I don''t even feel a thing anymore..."
"Shizu..."
"So why is it... that when you hurt me... it h-hurts so much...!"
Tears started rolling down Shizu''s eyes, her face scrunching up in pain.
"I... I didn''t mean to hurt you," I said, stunned by Shizu''s reaction. "I''m sorry... I-I thought you''re so much stronger than me, Shizu... I didn''t know the shield I casted would hurt you!"
I didn''t know what to do, standing there watching her crying.
"Hey Shizu..." I said softly, reaching a hand towards her. "It''s okay, alrigh--"
Suddenly, Shizu pushed herself off the ground, darting to the side to grab her knife before running past me.
"Shizu! Stop--"
I tried to catch her before she could run past me, but she moved much faster than me.
By the time I turned the other way, Shizu was already holding Amelia¡¯s unconscious body in front of her, with her knife pressed against Amelia''s throat.
¡°Shizu...!"
"If you like her so much," Shizu said bitterly in-between her tears. "Then I''ll kill her right in front of you!"
Oh god, Shizu was going completely insane. But there was no way I could let her kill Amelia.
"How is that going to solve anything?" I asked, trying desperately to calm her down. "Think logically, Shizu! I''m not trying to save her because I like her. It''s just that she''s an Imperial Mage, and if we kill her, we''ll all be killed in return. Put down the knife first please and let''s talk...!"
"No! You''re just trying to trick me to run away with this girl!"
"Please, Shizu! Let go of the knife!"
"All I ever wanted was somebody to love me," Shizu sulked, rubbing at her eyes using the back of her fist that was holding the knife. "Even just one person would be enough. If I can''t even have that, then what''s the point of living?!"
"I... I--"
At that moment, Leo emerged from the fog at the side and stopped dead in his tracks, glancing between Shizu and I with a bewildered expression.
"W-what the fuck is going on here?" Leo said. "Shizu, why are you..."
He paused when he saw the knife in Shizu''s hand, and cursed to himself.
"Shit Ryuji," Leo said, bracing himself with the mace at his back. "I told you this bitch was crazy!"
"No¡ª!" I shouted at Leo, seeing him reach for his mace but it was too late.
AI generated art : Shizu
Chapter 17
As Leo made a move to grab his mace, Shizu tossed Amelia''s unconscious body aside into the forest floor and ran for Leo at an incredible speed.
I quickly casted a physical shield over Leo, but watched in horror as Shizu shattered the shield on collision with her body. I couldn''t channel enough mana into the shield''s creation because of how fast Shizu had moved. Dammit!
"Leo, watch out!" I screamed.
Shizu stabbed her knife straight for Leo''s heart. At the last second, he moved his left hand in front of the knife, sacrificing it as the blade pierced all the way through his palm.
"You goddam psychopath¡ª!" Leo gritted his teeth, and swung his mace forward with his other hand, aiming to crush Shizu''s skull with one fell strike.
Leo''s tactic was a clever one. He had planned for Shizu''s attack and had intended to trap her within his range by sacrificing his left hand, using his larger size to outpower her. Now, if Shizu tried to move back to evade Leo''s mace, she would have to give up her knife, leaving her at a significant disadvantage in the fight.
For a second, I was impressed. Until Shizu used the knife as an anchor to swing her body sideways, evading Leo''s mace as it smashed into the ground and shattered the earth.
With the motion of her body, Shizu twisted the blade that was still stuck inside Leo''s palm, contorting his entire arm and forcing the rest of his body to follow to the whims of her movements.
"What?!¡ª" Leo gasped, his realization dawning on him that he was now completely at Shizu''s mercy.
Just as Shizu was about to exert her leverage to break Leo''s arm, I quickly channelled a gale of wind that sliced through the air towards her.
"Ryuji...!" Shizu glanced up with a look of surprise. She ripped her knife out of Leo''s palm and leaped backward to evade the gale, which cut through the trees behind her with ease.
"Stop it, Shizu!" I yelled at her. "Are you seriously trying to fight the both of us?!"
"I-I''m not trying to fight you...!" Shizu said.
"Then stop!" I said. A ball of flame channelled in front of my hand that was aimed towards her. "Otherwise I''ll really fight you for real."
To be honest, after that brief skirmish, it was clear that Shizu was more than capable of taking on both Leo and me simultaneously without breaking a sweat. I''m pretty sure Leo was made well aware of that fact as well.
It wasn''t like we were weak either. It was just... Shizu was way faster than us. Her agile and precise movements made it almost impossible for either of us to hit her, even if we had the power to inflict damage.
"I... I..." Shizu glanced at me with a panicked look as I expected. "I-I don''t want to fight you, Ryuji...!"
I stopped channelling the fireball in front of my hand, and the fireball hissed out of existence into the cold night air. "Come here, Shizu," I called to her softly.
Hesitantly, Shizu obeyed and jogged over to me.
When she got close enough, I snatched the bloodied knife out of her hand. "I''m taking this," I said hastily. "For your own good."
"Okay..." Shizu said quietly.
Leo walked over to us, tearing strips of cloth from his cloak to wrap around his injured hand. Despite his wounds, he remained composed, keeping a watchful eye on Shizu. His high pain tolerance was impressive, to say the least.
"Leo..." I said, grimacing as I looked at his injured hand. "I''m so sorry."
"It''s fine," he replied stoically, before turning his attention to where Amelia lay unconscious on the forest floor. "Now that the chaos has settled, let''s just refocus on our mission. Everything else can come later. We need to bring the Imperial Mage back to Lunaris alive and quick."
I nodded in agreement, and we set off to bring Amelia to Lunaris, with Shizu reluctantly following behind us.
~x~
As we approached the gates of Lunaris, my heart began to race as I noticed the increased presence of knights stationed outside the city walls. They were fully armored and looked ready for battle, their weapons at the ready and their expressions grim.
There were more knights there than I had ever seen before, and their mere presence made me feel uneasy. I couldn''t help but wonder if they were waiting for us, and if they would arrest and execute us on the spot for what we had done to their Imperial Mage.
As we walked passed them, I was surprised to see that practically none of them paid us any attention. Instead, I could hear the murmur of their conversations. They spoke in hushed tones, but I caught snippets of words like "war" and "enemy forces."
"Ryuji..." Leo murmured to me tensely.
"Yeah, I know..." I replied, keeping my head down to avoid attention.
I moved over to Shizu, whispering to her, "Remember, don''t say a word while we''re at Lunaris. Just let me do the talking."
Shizu nodded quietly to my instructions.
I had Amelia''s unconscious body slung over my back, and I made sure to keep her hood up to conceal her face. Though it seemed none of the knights even recognised her.
It was what I had expected since I recalled that most people in the Empire had never even seen an Imperial Mage with their own eyes. The only way the Imperial Mages seemed to be recognised was through their royal clothing underneath their cloak and the King''s crest that they carried.
As we continued on our way, I couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief that we hadn''t been caught. But at the same time, the tension in the air was palpable. Something was brewing in the city, and I couldn''t shake the feeling that it might be worse than our current predicament.
Heading to the doctor''s shop, even the streets appeared tenser and quieter than usual. We entered into the doctor''s shop, saw no one inside, and I called out for the doctor.
"Hello, is the doctor here?" I said. "We have an emergency!"
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No response.
"What a great time for the doctor to be on his lunch break," Leo muttered to himself.
Shizu stayed silent as per my instructions, her eyes fixed on Amelia who I was carrying on my back with an envious look.
"Dammit, I don''t have time for this!" I strolled over to the door leading into the doctor''s room, tried to open it, but it opened by itself instead.
Standing at the door was a short blue-haired girl with sparkling azure eyes reminiscent of ocean waves, wearing a dark navy cloak that spiralled around her like blooming flower petals.
That child-like stature and face was unmistakable.
It was Innis.
I froze.
"Is that the doctor?" Leo asked from behind me, giving Innis a glance over. "No, a child...?"
A look of recognition fell over Innis'' face, and she smiled gently up at me, "What a pleasant coincidence, Ryuji," then she glanced over at Shizu, "Shizu. I''m glad to see that you are both well!"
Shizu returned Innis'' greeting with a begrudging glare.
"I-Innis..." I coughed, quickly recomposing myself. "How great to see you too...!"
This was the worst case scenario I could ever imagine. On my back, I was carrying the half-dead, half-comatose body of Amelia, an Imperial Mage, just like Innis. To make matters worse, Leo was completely unaware that we were in the presence of a second Imperial Mage. Although Leo had a good head on him, there was still a very possible risk of him saying something amiss.
"So what are you doing here?" I asked Innis, trying to distract her from wandering around with her gaze.
"Well, this is the doctor that I recommended to you myself," Innis replied. "It is the same doctor that I seek advice from in relation to any medical and herbal knowledge that I require. Unfortunately and as I mentioned before, my level of expertise around those areas are quite lacking so I frequent here often for consults."
"Ahaha, I remember...! Those are areas that I need to work on myself too."
"Were there any complications that arose from the last time you visited the doctor?"
"No, the doctor said Shizu and I were in perfectly healthy shape. Thank you so much again for your help last time, Innis."
"That is good to know," Innis smiled warmly, then her gaze flickered on me for a second. "It seems you''ve also gotten stronger since we last met a few weeks ago, Ryuji. Well done."
"Thanks," I said, feeling a bit awkward to be praised by someone with the appearance of a little girl. But coming from Innis as an Imperial Mage, that praise meant a lot. Now wasn''t the time for this though! I tried to exit the conversation, "Anyways, it has been good chatting to you, Innis, but we..."
"And who is your new companion?" Innis asked politely, looking at Leo.
"Leo," Leo grunted as he tried to peer past Innis into the doctor''s room. Clearly he thought of Innis as nothing more than a lost child.
"Please excuse my manners," Innis said, doing a small curtsy at Leo. "My name is Innis. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Leo ignored Innis, and mumbled to me impatiently, "Ryuji, it doesn''t seem like the doctor''s here."
"It would seem so indeed," I replied with a nod. "Let''s come back another time when the doctor''s back."
"Huh? What do you mean come back another time?" Leo asked, his tone rising in frustration. "We don''t have time for that, Ryuji! We need to find a doctor now!"
Clearly, Leo didn''t catch on to the signal I was trying to give him that we needed to get the hell out of here.
"Well, there''s really nothing we can do if the doctor''s not here," I said, gesticulating with my eyeballs to Leo at the door. "Come on, Leo. Let''s go."
Innis'' gaze shifted from me to the unconscious form of Amelia on my back, her azure eyes unreadable. I tried to shift Amelia''s head on my shoulder, keeping her face hidden from Innis'' view.
"I see... it seems like there''s been some trouble," Innis spoke quietly. "That is why you came to see the doctor, right?"
"I-it''s nothing serious really," I told Innis. "We will just come back when the doctor returns from his lunch break or whatever. No biggie."
"Ryuji, what are you¡ª" Leo started to say.
"¡ªJust listen to me," I spoke over him sternly. "We need to leave. Now."
"That person on your back..." Innis said. "They''re very hurt, aren''t they...?"
"No, they are fine," I turned back to Innis with a smile. "It''s just a bad case of food poisoning. Ah, I told them not to eat that weird purple mushroom in the forest but they wouldn''t listen. It''s a long story, I really don''t want to bore you with the details. Right, Leo?"
Finally Leo started to catch on that there was something wrong about my strange behaviour.
"Yeah..." Leo nodded slowly, vouching for my story. "That''s correct..."
I motioned for Leo and Shizu to follow me towards the door, hoping to end the conversation and leave before any more questions could be asked.
"Ryuji..." Innis said.
"Anyway, I think we will just go home, cook them some porridge and they will be able to sleep it off," I said hastily, leading them to the door out of the doctor''s shop. "It was great seeing you again, Inni¡ª"
Just as I reached out for the door handle, the entire door suddenly froze over and turned into a solid block of ice, causing me to jerk my hand back in horror.
Slowly I turned around from the door.
And I was met with the sight of Innis'' eyes transfixed by an otherworldly glow, accentuating their deep blue azure hue. Her hair and cloak billowed around her, defying the very laws of gravity and revealing glimpses of her royal attire underneath ¡ª a regal skirt made of shimmering blue fabric and the King''s crest embroidered near the shoulder. It was only then that I became aware of the frigid chill that had taken hold of the room, our breaths visible in the air like white mist.
~x~
"Ryuji, my knife!" Shizu shouted at me, finally breaking her silence.
I pulled Shizu''s knife out of my pocket and watched it shatter into a million pieces, falling down to the floor like snowflakes.
We stared down wordlessly at the tiny pieces of ice that used to be Shizu''s knife, before Leo turned to me, his teeth chattering and his face pale as a ghost. It was clear that he had already given up on fighting Innis and was looking to assign blame.
"F-fuck!" Leo cursed, seizing my collar. "Why the hell didn''t you tell me the little girl was an Imperial Mage, Ryuji?! And ''food poisoning''?! Are you kidding me?! Couldn''t you come up with anything more believable?!"
"That''s what I was trying to tell you the entire time!" I retorted, shoving him backwards. "Why the hell do you think I was trying to get us to leave?! The only reason I came up with that dumbass story about food poisoning was because you were missing all my hints! I figured something as dumb as that ought to get through to your head that we were in deep shit!"
"I..." Leo stared at me, exasperated, then took a deep breath. "I''m sorry, Ryuji. I... lost my temper. I know it''s not your fault."
"It''s okay," I exhaled.
"That person on your back, Ryuji," Innis spoke in a voice completely different to before. Haunting, ethereal-like, it sounded as though her voice was reverberating inside my brain, bending my will to her command with each word. "Bring her to me."
As a mage myself, I was acutely aware of the raw power of the mana overflowing from within Innis. The intense flow of mana seemed to engulf me, making me feel as if I was caught in the midst of a raging storm out in the vast expanse of the ocean, helplessly tossed and drowned by the tumultuous waves.
Leo clenched his teeth from the pressure and whispered to me, "What''s the plan, Ryuji? Can you talk to her?"
I tried to remain calm. "Don''t worry. Let me talk to Innis. I''m sure I can make her understan¡ªShizu¡ª!!"
I yelled out Shizu''s name, and in a split-second decision, managed to seize her arm before she could race past me and jump at Innis with her bare hands.
However, in the chaos of the moment, Amelia slipped off my back and fell to the floor of the shop, her cloak unfurling as she landed with a crash.
Everyone in the room stopped to stare down at Amelia''s body, which was punctured with dozens of stab wounds, many of them concentrated at her torso.
The sight was gruesome, made even more so by the bright lighting of the room compared to the darkness of the forest. Amelia''s clothes and skin were smeared in a mixture of wet and dried blood, making it difficult to decipher where any of the gashes started or ended.
Leo and I had attempted to wrap makeshift bandages around Amelia''s wounds to the best of our abilities, but they were poorly done and did little to stem the excessive bleeding. Her breathing was shallow, and her skin was ashen and lifeless, a sign that her condition had rapidly deteriorated.
A deafening silence followed, with no one in the room having any words to say.
Feeling the weight of the silence, I gathered my courage and spoke up. "Listen, Innis. I can explain¡ª"
But before I could finish, a hoarse whisper interrupted me.
"B... b-big..... s-sis...ter....."
The words came from Amelia sprawled down on the floor, her voice barely audible through cracked lips.
All eyes turned to her, and I could see the bleakness in Amelia''s dull scarlet eyes as she stared in Innis''s direction, her hand trembling and weak as she reached out desperately for Innis'' feet.
"...a...venge.....me..."
AI generated art : Innis
Chapter 18
"Amelia..."
Innis ran over, crouching down to inspect Amelia''s wounds with worry written all across her face.
"B... b-big... s-sister..."
"Who did this to you?"
I took a slow step to my side, trying to cover Shizu from view.
"...I..."
Amelia turned her head painfully, looking at where Leo, Shizu and I stood.
Then, gradually she raised her petite hand, her shaky finger pointing to... me.
"Ryuji... you... you did this to Amelia...?!" Innis asked, and for the first time ever, I saw anger streaking across her face.
The flow of mana pouring out from her intensified, like the apex of a tempest, dragging me under the raging currents and tearing me asunder. Her mana reserve felt almost limitless. I couldn''t believe that Innis had been hiding all that mana all the times I had met her before and felt practically nothing.
Visible icicles formed in the chill air and on us as the temperature in the room continued to rapidly freefall, reaching a point where I could no longer even move anything except my mouth.
"N-n-no, it wasn''t me!" I said, unable to control my chattering teeth.
But it was Amelia''s words against mine, and it was obvious who Innis trusted more.
The blazing azure of Innis'' eyes deepened, dimming everything around her, with the entire shop beginning to break apart as the walls and ceiling cracked, frozen pillars of ice appearing from their crevices.
Even Shizu next to me was powerless against the cold that had taken over the room, freezing her entire body from head to toe and preventing her from speaking.
This was it.
I was dead.
I should had just stayed shelled up in my room after Kaito''s death. Instead, I tried to get out and train myself for... what exactly?
A still image of the faces of the children from the outer skirts of the city flashed in my eyes, seeing their smiles, their laughter.
Then the image of their eyes after Kaito''s death appeared before me -- broken, hatred, distrust.
Ah, that''s right.
I wanted to make this world a better place.
And I guess I would die before achieving that.
~x~
Clouds surrounded me. Where was I? It was a place that looked as though a dreamy filter was applied to everything.
"So you''ve given up?"
"Huh?" I spun around, feeling a sense of deja vu.
"Look down."
I glanced downwards and saw someone that I hadn''t seen for what felt like a very long time.
It was the squirrel god -- Gunsey.
"The fact that you''re here, means you''ve given up, right?" Gunsey asked, disappointment in their voice.
"I didn''t exactly get a choice," I sighed, sitting down on the clouds. "Weren''t you watching what happened?"
"Yeah, I was," Gunsey replied. "You gave up."
"What?"
"Yeah, you gave up."
"What do you mean ''gave up''?" I asked, my voice rising in frustration. "You pitted me up against the level 9999 secret final boss when I barely made it to level 10!"
Gunsey shrugged, "I''m just saying it like how it is, Ryuji."
I stared at Gunsey in disbelief and anger. "Anyway, if you''re a god, why the hell didn''t you isekai me with stronger powers?"
"You did get isekai''d with strong powers."
"You''re joking, right? Did you see how strong Shizu was?"
"Hey, I wasn''t the one that isekai''d her," Gunsey said, giving me an annoyed look. "You were strong, Ryuji. I gave you a mana reserve that only one-in-a-million would normally be borned with in that world."
"Then why is Shizu so much stronger than me?"
"Being isekai''d means you normally carry some of your prior life''s skills and hardship along with you. Shizu was a child soldier in her previous life."
Shizu was...?
Damn... I had no idea Shizu had such a hard life in her old life...
It made me feel like crap, thinking that I had a hard time being a shut-in in my previous life.
"You were quite smart in your previous life too," Gunsey continued. "That''s why that translated into your strong mana affinity in your isekai life."
"What use is that though?" I said bitterly. "If I didn''t get a chance to train up to a level where I would be able to properly use it."
"Now you''re just looking for something to blame."
"I..."
"Look, life isn''t perfect. You should know that better than anyone else, seeing how your old life went. Everyone has to make do with what they get borned with. Both strengths and weaknesses."
"..."
"If you want to be born with a perfect life, how about I just isekai you as a barbie doll or something? That way you won''t even have a brain to complain with."
"...I''m tired, Gunsey..."
"Well, you will have a lot of time to rest in the afterlife," Gunsey said, then clicked their tiny fingers, creating a sphere of light behind them, leading up to a staircase.
I glanced up wearily at the translucent staircase.
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"If you''re done, just head up those stairs, Ryuji," Gunsey sighed, crossing their arms. "I won''t stop you."
"...Why did you isekai me in the first place, Gunsey...?"
"You wanted a second chance, right?"
"..."
"I heard you when you died. You were thinking ''I wished I had a second chance''. So, I made it happen."
"..."
"What a mistake that was," Gunsey said, shaking their head. "You did things almost exactly the same as in your old life. Well, I have to admit you had some good moments, like getting out of your bed after what happened with Kaito, but still."
"..."
I gazed up at the staircase.
"Well?" Gunsey asked. "You going or not? I have a lot of other worlds I''m looking after."
All of it could be over if I just walk up that staircase.
I won''t have to worry about trying to survive.
I won''t have to worry about Shizu doing something crazy.
I won''t have to worry about what anyone else thinks of me.
I won''t have to think anything anymore.
...
So why am I hesitating?
Even though I was exhausted and sick of it all, my feet didn''t move. I was tired of trying my best to make the best out of every situation, only to fail over and over again. Sometimes it was my fault, sometimes someone else''s, sometimes things just happened out of my control. What really is the point of all this suffering?
Why?
"...I... I don''t want it to end like this..." I mouthed bitterly.
Gunsey glanced at me, surprise in his beady black eyes. "What?"
"...I said... let''s keep going..."
"Even though you might fail?" Gunsey asked. "Even if you might get hurt? You still want to keep going?"
I smiled painfully at Gunsey. "It can''t hurt... to keep it going for a little longer..."
"..."
Gunsey stared at me silently for a moment, before smiling back at me.
~x~
I was back at the doctor''s shop, freezing to death as I watched Innis'' mana level continue to rise to insurmountable peaks.
I glanced besides me, seeing the frozen statues of Shizu and Leo behind me, looks of horror stuck on their faces.
Then I glanced back at Innis whose eyes shone like a frightening spectre of pure mana energy.
Mustering all my strength, I shouted her name as loud as I could through my hoarse dry throat, "Innis!"
She didn''t hear me.
Come on, Ryuji, think!
Closing my eyes, I turned inwards, searching for traces of my own mana against the boundless sea of mana erupting from within Innis. It was like trying to search for a needle in a hay sack. But I continued, trying my best to ignore the pain and blisters enveloping my entire body.
Fear and doubt filled my mind as I searched fruitlessly for my mana, but I knew that if I didn''t try, then this would be the end.
Dammit! Where was it?!
At that moment, a soft voice suddenly beckoned to my mind.
"Ryuji!"
I didn''t recognise the voice, although it sounded oddly familiar.
Who was trying to call me?
"It''s me, Amelia!" the voice said.
A-Amelia...?!
Shit, was I already dead?!
"No, you idiot!" Amelia''s voice said. "I''m speaking to you through a magical connection using what little mana I still have. Obviously I can''t speak to you through my physical body considering the state I''m in, so this is the only medium for me to talk to you right now."
Talk to me? But didn''t you blame me for what happened to you?
"I..." Amelia hesitated. "I wasn''t trying to blame you...! I was trying to tell Innis that you saved me, but I ran out of energy before I could finish my words!"
What the hell?! So this is all your fault?!
"Anyway, follow me, alright?" Amelia said. "I can take you to your mana."
Hey, but you didn''t answer my previous question!
I followed Amelia''s frail mana state to a place that I had overlooked before.
This is...
"That''s where the core of your mana is stored," Amelia said. "Use it quickly!"
Alright, no time for questions.
I tapped into the mana source, and felt the familiar surge of energy.
Then, I used the strongest spell that I could cast.
"[ EXPLOSION ] ¡ª!!"
~x~
The entire doctor''s shop blew up, releasing us out to the open wind as passerbys screamed around us, their faces shook and alarmed.
"What on earth was that?!"
"An explosion?!"
"The doctor''s shop...!!"
Now out in the open, the freezing chill was significantly lessened to the point that Shizu and Leo next to me were able to move again.
"¡ªRyuji!" Shizu cried, grasping onto me immediately after she was unfrozen. "Are you okay?!"
"¡ªShit, wh-what happened?!" Leo said, staring around in shock and confusion. "We..."
I ignored the two of them for now, and shouted at Innis, "Innis! Stop this! I wasn''t the one that hurt Amelia!"
The deep azure of Innis'' eyes faded slightly, along with the mana flowing out from her. It seemed the shock from the explosion spell I casted had surprised her so much, it also snapped some sense back into her.
"Why should I believe you?" Innis asked.
"Ask her yourself." I replied.
Staring at me for a moment, Innis'' eyes gradually returned to normal as she sealed her mana back inside her, causing the chill in the air to disappear completely.
"Ryuji, now''s our chance!" Shizu whispered to me, getting ready to attack Innis.
I whacked Shizu on the head with a karate chop, stopping her before she could do anything crazy.
"Stop it, Shizu." I said.
"Okay..."
Innis bent down to Amelia, her expression softening as she spoke to her, "Amelia... it''s me..."
"B... b-big... s-sister..."
"Was Ryuji the one that hurt you?"
Amelia used all of her remaining strength to shake her head weakly, "N-no... Ryuji... was... t-the one that saved me..."
"Is that so." Innis said, then smiled gently down at her. "Rest now, Amelia. I will ensure the doctor tends to your wounds."
Amelia nodded feebly, closing her eyes with a pained expression.
Rising up, Innis turned to face me.
"What did I say?" I asked her. "I told you I wasn''t the one that hurt Amelia. We found her in a badly injured state in the forest outside Lunaris, and decided to bring her back to be healed."
At least, that was mostly true.
"I... I''m so sorry, Ryuji..." Innis said, guilt appearing on her face as she bowed her head apologetically. "I understand now. I seem to have made a terrible mistake."
To be honest, the misunderstanding was mostly caused by Amelia, so I felt bad that Innis was apologising instead.
"Don''t worry about it," I said. "At least, no one was killed."
"That''s true, but that doesn''t make up for what I''ve done," Innis said, grimacing as she glanced across at the blisters and wounds on Leo, Shizu and I. "You were the ones that saved Amelia as well..."
"We did what any sensible person would do when finding an injured person," I replied. "No need to¡ª"
"¡ªMy shoppppp¡ª!"
I glanced to the side to see the doctor falling to his knees in front of us, his face pale as ash. We stood at the charred remnants of what used to be the doctor''s shop.
~x~
After the grueling encounter with Innis, we found ourselves recuperating in the infirmary at the Grand Castle of Lunaris at the very centre of the city, where Innis had taken us to be healed. The luxurious room was adorned with the finest silks, tapestries, and ornaments, befitting the Lord and nobility who resided there. Soft cushions and warm blankets were spread over the plush cots where Leo, Shizu, Amelia, and I rested, surrounded by the gentle glow of the elaborate candelabras.
As we lay there, tended to by the skilled castle healers alongside the doctor, I couldn''t help but feel as though I was dreaming. For the past weeks, I had been using the free accommodation provided by the Adventurers'' Guild which although has improved since I moved up from Iron-rank to Steel-rank only meant that we moved from sleeping to the basement to the rooms offered by that same rickety tavern. It was like night and day compared to the grandeur of my current surroundings.
"Ryuji~," Shizu greeted me, as she slipped past the thin white curtains that separated the beds from one another, entering into my area.
"What is it?"
"Why are we still here?" Shizu asked with a confused look on her face, popping herself down at the side of my bed. "Aren''t we already all healed?"
"Shizu, look around you. Do you really want to go back to sleeping at that rundown tavern so soon after experiencing this?"
I picked up the half-eaten plate of steak set on my overbed table that I was still eating. "I can''t even remember the last time I had the chance to eat steak, not even in my pre-Isekai life," I said. "Besides, Innis said we can stay as long as we want to recover."
"That''s true..."
I sunk back down on my bed, enjoying the comfort and warmth of the fresh fabric. "Just tell them your knee still hurts or something, Shizu. I think we deserve to enjoy ourselves a little after everything we''ve been through."
Silence followed for a moment, which I didn''t mind as I was enjoying the peace and quiet.
"Hey..." Shizu''s voice suddenly came up to my ear softly, surprising me out of my relaxation.
I moved back slightly, staring at her face that was now placed very close to mine on the pillow. Without me realising, she had climbed next to me on my bed.
"W... what do you want, Shizu?" I asked, seeing her wide violet eyes staring into me unblinkingly.
If I didn''t already know that Shizu was a psychopath, she would actually look very cute from up this close. Although she always looked pretty from afar as well.
Her long purple hair fanned out on the pillow, framing her delicate features. Dark lashes cast a shadow on her porcelain skin, drawing attention to the mesmerizing violet hue of her eyes. With lips slightly parted, she breathed softly, a light pink flush on her cheeks adding to her alluring appearance.
The gentle flicker of the candelabras illuminated an ethereal glow over her soft creamy skin, highlighting the curves going down her body that was fitted in a black negligee she had been given to wear.
Feeling uncomfortable, I tried to get up from the bed, but before I could move, she reached out and took hold of the back of my head, pulling me closer to her. Our faces were so close, our noses were almost touching each other.
She waited, and I waited too.
"Kiss me," she finally whispered.
"I''m not sure if that''s a good id¡ª"
She moved her lips forward and kissed me.
Chapter 19
From that day onwards after the kiss, Shizu started becoming a lot more forward and direct in her romantic advances towards me.
I couldn''t quite understand it. I never claimed to be an expert on the inner workings of the female psyche, let alone that of a psychotic, knife-stabbing yandere. However, I had far more pressing matters to concern myself with.
"Amelia... do you remember who attacked you?"
"I..." Amelia''s amber eyes shifted downward as she sat upright on her bed in the infirmary. "It was dark... I was attacked from behind... it happened suddenly... and quickly... so..."
"Did you catch a glimpse of the attacker? Any details at all?"
Innis sat by Amelia''s bedside, questioning her about the assault that took place in the forest. Meanwhile, Leo, Shizu, and I stood behind Innis, silently and awkwardly observing the scene.
"...I..."
"Hey Innis, you shouldn''t push Amelia too hard if she says she doesn''t remember," I laughed, acting casual. "After all, Amelia only just started to get better."
"That''s right," Shizu sprang from my side to Amelia''s bed, clasping her hands with an expression filled with warmth and care. "Amelia, your focus should be on getting better. You don''t need to worry about anything else. I''ll be right by your side, okay?"
"Shizu..." Amelia said, a grateful smile spreading across her face.
Over the past few days of staying at the infirmary, I had instructed Shizu to be friendly with Amelia to deter her suspicions that Shizu was the attacker. To my surprise, Shizu had went above and beyond my expectations and managed to not only gain Amelia''s trust completely, but become close friends with her. It was scary how good Shizu was at social manipulation.
"Ryuji, this is important," Innis asserted sharply, her tone serious. "I assume you are well aware of the rumours circulating about an impending invasion of Lunaris?"
"Yes..."
"The rumours are true," Innis said, causing my heart to sink. "The truth is we''ve known for some time now that the Vasily Empire have been amassing a massive army of approximately 150,000 soldiers to the east of Lunaris, just beyond the borders of the Mideron Empire."
"150,000...?!" I said, trying to grasp the size of the number in my head.
"So it''s really true..." Leo grimaced to himself, slumping his back to the wall on the side.
"If the attackers were enemy scouts from the Vasily Empire," Innis continued, "that means the Vasily Empire have already begun making their moves and an invasion of Lunaris could be imminent at any time now."
"Right..." I nodded gravely.
"Although, I highly doubt they were enemy scouts." Innis added.
"What makes you say that?" I asked.
"No enemy scouts, no matter how many, should be able to defeat an Imperial Mage," Innis replied. "It''s implausible."
"I-I just wasn''t expecting to be attacked, that''s all..." Amelia said, blushing in a mix of anger and embarrassment. "If I had managed to activate [ Saintly Prowess ] in time, I would had definitely won...!"
"But you didn''t." Innis stated flatly.
"I..." Amelia hesitated.
"Anyway, I think I already know who the attacker was." Innis said, stunning all of us.
"Y-you do?" I asked.
Innis nodded. "Based on the wounds and fighting style, it''s most likely the same person responsible for the Bloody Massacre near Azalea Village."
I fell silent, astounded by Innis'' astuteness. I was already aware of her intellect, but I didn''t think she would pin it down that quickly.
"Ryuji," Shizu whispered next to me in a concerned tone. "We should leave Lunaris as soon as we can, especially if the invasion is true..."
I contemplated Shizu''s words quietly for a second. From a logical standpoint, she was right. This wasn''t our war. We had no reason to be involved in this.
...
"But, what about all the people living at Lunaris?" I asked Innis. "They''re still here, kept in the dark on this. Why hasn''t there already been an evacuation made of the city if you''re certain about this invasion?"
"That... is not my call to make." Innis said. "We, Imperial Mages, only carry out His Majesty''s orders as our duty."
"Ryuji, even with those numbers, I wouldn''t be too worried about Lunaris," Leo chipped in, then his glance hovered over Innis and Amelia. "After all, we have two Imperial Mages here, right before our eyes, protecting Lunaris. And if the rumors hold true, there may even be a third Imperial Mage lurking somewhere within the city."
"I guess you''re right..." I said, a slight relief washing over me. I still didn''t fully understand the power scale in this world, but I trusted Leo''s judgment since he was a much more seasoned adventurer.
"Actually, that''s where you''re wrong." Innis said.
All three of us turned our eyes to Innis in surprise.
"B-big sister, are you sure about telling them this?" Amelia asked Innis, giving her a look of concern. "His Majesty did not¡ª"
"Amelia, let me concern myself with that," Innis interrupted. "This matter concerns you no longer."
"..."
I had no idea what they were talking about. All I knew was that it was pretty jarring now that I had time to think about it to see Amelia calling Innis ''big sister'' when Innis looked like a child and Amelia appeared near my age, around 17.
"The Imperial Mages were not dispatched to Lunaris for the purpose of defending the city," Innis disclosed. "That is not the reason we have been sent from the capital. We are here on a different mission. Therefore..."
"No way..." I exclaimed in dismay. "Innis, are you just going to let Lunaris fall?"
Innis remained silent, but her lack of response only confirmed my fears.
"So, why are you telling us all of this?" I asked Innis cautiously, aware that she must have a reason for divulging all this information with us.
"Ryuji, I have a request for the three of you."
~x~
"''Assist in the evacuation of the city if things turn dire,'' she says," Leo scoffed as the three of us walked along a hallway within the Grand Castle. "Like she''s handing us a slime slaying quest."
I kept quiet about the time Shizu and I failed our first job as adventurers, which happened to be a quest to slay slimes.
"Well, Innis said she can''t do it herself without the King''s orders," I said. "And, she can''t authorise the knights to act without the King''s approval either. So, I don''t think she really has anyone else to turn to."
Leo halted abruptly, turning to face me with a stern expression and a serious tone. "Ryuji, this isn''t just another quest to slay monsters or rescue someone. This is war. And we are adventurers, not soldiers. Do you understand?"
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"Don''t speak to Ryuji like that!" Shizu stepped in, causing Leo to back away. "I''ll cut your tongue out."
"Shizu," I intervened, gently pushing her aside to address Leo directly. "Look Leo, I know that. But I''m not about to sit back and watch all the people at Lunaris perish like livestock."
"Ryuji..."Leo''s eyes softened.
"Even if we can''t save everyone," I said bitterly. "Maybe we can still save some people. Even if... it''s only one or two people. It''s better than doing nothing at all."
Leo stared at me in silence for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Ryuji, I share your desire to help the people here, but¡ª"
"¡ªMake way for his Lordship!"
Interrupting our conversation, stern voices echoed through the hallway, and we turned to witness a procession of about a dozen knights clad in distinct red armor, marching with synchronized footsteps that reverberated like crashing cymbals.
In the midst of the knights, a short and plump man adorned in an excessively extravagant robe was being escorted by his entourage. His prominent hooked nose and an air of nauseating superiority made it clear that he was none other than Lord Gael of Lunaris, the very person the knights had referred to.
"The Bloodhounds..." Leo whispered by my side.
"What?" I asked.
He pointed at the knights that were all wearing red-painted armour, "See their red armour? They are the Bloodhounds, Lunaris'' most esteemed and elite unit of knights. They serve directly under the command of the Lord."
"I see..."
We stood silently, watching as they approached. Just as they were about to pass us, Lord Gael raised his hand, signalling his knights to halt. He whispered something to one of them, who in turn nodded and motioned to his comrades. Suddenly, five of the knights broke away from the group and made their way toward us.
"You three!" barked the knight whom I assumed to be their leader, his voice seething with anger. "How dare you fail to show the proper respect for His Lordship, Lord Gael of Lunaris!" He gestured grandly towards the plump man behind him.
I blinked, unsure of what the knight leader was referring to.
"Apologies," Leo responded first, his tone lackluster. "As someone who hails from outside the Mideron Empire, the customs of these lands are still unfamiliar to me. If my actions, or rather lack thereof, have offended you, Your Lordship, I sincerely apologize." He offered a small bow that matched the minimal enthusiasm in his words.
The knight leader scoffed and removed his helmet, revealing a young man with wild navy blue hair and a piercing pair of golden eyes. A scar ran across his cheek, possibly from a battle long forgone.
"I am Sir Reynard, leader of the Bloodhounds," he declared with a deep no-nonsense voice that made it clear he was not to be trifled with. "We are the guardians who protect the city of Lunaris and ensure the safety of the Lord."
"Leo," Leo introduced himself.
"Ryuji," I nodded.
Shizu remained silent, refusing to introduce herself.
Fortunately, Reynard let her silence pass, perhaps because she was a girl.
Reynard turned back to Leo. "And what brings an outsider like you inside the walls of the Grand Castle of Lunaris?"
"I am an Adventurer who has been invited here as a guest," Leo explained, gesturing towards us. "These two are in the same position as myself."
"Oh?" Reynard turned his attention to me and Shizu. "Yet, these two appear to be citizens of the Mideron Empire," he pointed at our clothing and cloak. "All made in the Mideron Empire. So, what excuse do you have for not kneeling before His Lordship?"
"Ah, so he is the Lord of this realm," I remarked, glancing towards Lord Gael across the hallway. "Apologies, I didn''t recognize His Lordship because, despite residing in Lunaris for nearly two months now, I have never had the opportunity to see even a glimpse of His Lordship in public throughout my entire stay."
"You...!" the knights tensed up, ready to intervene.
"But, I suppose that''s not entirely surprising," I raised my voice and shrugged. "After all, His Lordship must be occupied with important matters and responsibilities." The knights relaxed slightly upon hearing those words.
I continued, "Matters far more pressing than the well-being of the common people who suffer from poverty and hardship outside these grand walls." I lightly tapped the wall beside me, producing a firm resounding sound that showcased its solid construction. "My, what a splendid wall!"
The knights exchanged uncertain glances, unsure how to interpret the sarcasm embedded within my words. It was a statement that wouldn''t be out of place coming from a haughty noble without jest.
And, as if to illustrate my point, Lord Gael himself gave me an approving nod and declared, "Ah, I see you have an eye for quality. Not to boast, but I was personally involved in overseeing the construction of the Grand Castle from its inception to its completion." He wore a smug smirk on his face, consumed by his own self-importance.
I chuckled. "Naturally, it had to be you. Only a person of His Lordship''s remarkable talents and resourcefulness could have erected such a magnificent edifice in a city like this." I ended with a small bow, acknowledging his authority in appearance.
His smirk widened, clearly delighted with himself and oblivious to my thinly veiled jabs.
"Fine then," Reynard turned his attention to Shizu. "You''re the last one. So, what is your excuse?"
All eyes in the hallway focused on Shizu.
Squinting at Lord Gael with a frown, Shizu let out a perplexed exhale. "...Hah? Why would I kneel before any man other than Ryuji, my beloved? Especially before a short fat troll like him?"
The hallway fell into a stunned silence, struggling to believe what they had just heard.
"H-How insolent!" Reynard was the first to regain his composure. He made a threatening gesture, reaching for his sword, followed by the other knights in the hallway. However, I could see that Shizu had already poised herself for a confrontation.
"Execute her!" Lord Gael''s cry echoed from behind.
But before things could escalate any further, a sharp shrill voice pierced through the tension. "Stop!"
We turned to see two individuals approaching us from the opposite end of the hallway¡ªInnis, with Amelia trailing behind her.
"T-The Imperial Mages..." the knights whispered among themselves, their faces filled with awe as they gazed upon Innis and Amelia.
As Innis and Amelia drew nearer, the knights all dropped to one knee, bowing before the two of them.
"Your Imperial Magehoods," Reynard greeted them, his gaze fixed firmly on the floor.
Meanwhile, Lord Gael wore a scowl on his face as he observed Innis and Amelia''s approach.
"These three are my guests," Innis spoke with unwavering clarity, coming to a stop near us. "They are leaving the castle now and are not to be harmed. I request that you allow them to pass."
"Hmph! While you may have been sent here under His Majesty''s orders, Lunaris still falls under my domain," Lord Gael responded with a snarl. "As the Lord of Lunaris, I possess complete control and authority over this city. No orders supersede mine, except for those of His Majesty himself."
"I understand, Your Lord," Innis replied, bowing her head slightly to acknowledge his authority.
"Your guest has committed a grave insult against me," Lord Gael declared, pointing an accusing finger in Shizu''s direction. "To slander the Lord of Lunaris, right to his face no less. The punishment can only be death. I will accept no alternatives. Do you hear me, knights?!"
The knights, still kneeling in the presence of Innis and Amelia, exchanged uncertain glances with each other.
Amelia made a move to try to say something to aid Shizu, but Innis raised a hand, beckoning for her to be silent.
"B-But, My Lord..." the knights began whispering in protest.
¡°Their Imperial Magehoods said¡¡±
None of them dared to move a muscle in violation of the orders of the Imperial Mages, even with Lord Gael¡¯s explicit command, urging them forth.
Reynard turned his head towards Lord Gael, attempting to offer his advice, ¡°My Lord, if I may, that young girl is Innis the Azure, the 2nd most powerful of the 13 Imperial Mages. Her exploits and legends are¡ª"
"¡ªDamn that little brat!" Lord Gael cursed, waving his arm in a fit of rage. "This is my city! I hold the authority here! Whom do you all serve? Who is your Lord?"
Witnessing the commotion, Innis cast a brief glance at Shizu, then shifted her gaze back to Lord Gael, her eyes retaining their usual deadpan look.
"Your Lord, if my guest has offended you in any way," Innis spoke, diffusing their dissent. "Then it falls upon me, as the one who extended the invitation for them to enter the Grand Castle, to bear the responsibility. Therefore, I sincerely apologize on her behalf and humbly request that Your Lordship assign any punishment meant for the guest to be directed at me instead."
In a display of remorse, Innis knelt down on one knee before Lord Gael, bowing her head apologetically.
"Y-Your Imperial Magehood...!" Reynard exclaimed in shock.
"I-Innis..." I muttered, astonished by the lengths she was willing to go to help Shizu.
However, Innis'' actions did little to quell the burning look in Lord Gael''s eyes as he peered contemptuously down at Innis on the floor. The reason behind his frustration was evident. Even with Innis'' words, Lord Gael couldn''t easily mete out punishment to her without risking the repercussions of the King''s wrath. The Imperial Mages served as the King''s personal vanguard and emissaries. Although they were subject to the same laws as any other citizens, punishing an Imperial Mage would require a far more severe offense than mere slander.
Despite Lord Gael''s lack of grace, he himself knew the limitations of his authority and waved a dismissive hand, signaling the knights to let the matter rest.
"Just this once, and at your request, I shall allow this matter to pass," Lord Gael addressed Innis. "But remember, Innis the Azure, you will owe me for this. Do not forget."
"Thank you, Your Lord," Innis bowed her head once more.
"Let''s go," Lord Gael scoffed to the knights, and they resumed their path down the hallway, disappearing from view.
With just the five of us remaining in the corridor, I attempted to express my gratitude to Innis for intervening on our behalf.
"Innis, thank you..."
My words trailed off as she got up from the floor and walked away with Amelia, disregarding my words.
It was just Leo, Shizu, and me once again.
I immediately turned to Shizu and lightly whacked her on the head, prompting a quiet "ow" from her.
"Jeez, Shizu," I sighed. "Why on earth would you say something like that to the Lord of Lunaris? You made Innis have to step in for us..."
"What?" Shizu pouted. "But you were mocking that idiot too, so I wanted to join in..."
"Yeah, but I did it in a way that he didn''t catch on to," I replied. "Blatantly insulting the Lord was just dumb."
"I know that," Shizu responded, smiling through her tongue playfully. "I wouldn''t do something that dumb if I thought we would get into serious trouble."
"What do you mean...?"
"I knew Innis would step in," Shizu explained. "I saw her behind us. That''s why I knew we could get away with it. Besides, it was funny, right?" She laughed, clinging to my arm. "Anyway, let''s go, Ryuji!"
I regarded her warily, observing her carefree laughter and lighthearted expression. Yet, beneath that facade, it was evident that something sinister and dark lurked within her.
Chapter 20
¡°Look, Ryuji, it¡¯s a ranturko!¡±
¡°Yes, I see haha¡¡±
¡°They¡¯re so cute! I want to pat it!¡±
Walking alongside Shizu through the bustling marketplace of Lunaris, the streets were coming alive once again. Rumours of the impending invasion from the Vasily Empire had started to fade into the background. It had been a week since we left the Grand Castle of Lunaris under the care of Innis. However, I couldn''t fully immerse myself in the festivities surrounding us. The knowledge of the looming invasion lingered in the back of my mind, preventing me from truly relaxing.
Despite my concerns, the people of Lunaris seemed determined to celebrate. The city was adorned with colourful banners and decorations, and the air was filled with a sense of joy and anticipation. It was a special day, a public holiday celebrated across the entire Mideron Empire.
Today was the annual Festival of Ascendancy, a day commemorating the rise of King Alaric, the founder of the Mideron Empire over a millennia ago. It marked the victory of the Mideron people over their adversaries, symbolizing their strength and resilience.
Throughout the city, various activities and events were taking place. Street performers entertained the crowds with music, acrobatics, and magic tricks. Stalls were filled with delectable treats, from sweet pastries to savoury pies, enticing the senses of passerbys. People wore vibrant attire, with feathers and ribbons adorning their hair and garments, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Now, to the question: What the hell was I doing here?
In a bid to build a stronger influence over Shizu, I had committed myself to a ludicrous promise. And that promise was... to accompany her on a date.
I watched the carefree joy on Shizu''s face as she led me from stall to stall, expressing excitement and awe at the array of items on display.
¡°You really like shopping, huh?¡± I asked, ¡°Even though we have no money to buy any of the stuff here.¡±
"It''s not shopping that I like," Shizu replied. "It''s because you''re here with me that I''m so happy. And besides..." She reached for something strapped to her thigh underneath her skirt and pulled it out nonchalantly. Her knife. "Ryuji already bought me the best gift a girl could ever ask for!"
"Hey, hey, don''t just pull something dangerous like that out in the open!" I said, grabbing her hand that held the knife and trying to sheath it back into her strap. I glanced around anxiously at the crowd, but fortunately, there was too much commotion happening all around for anyone to pay us any heed.
Shizu laughed blithely at my reaction.
I was already starting to doubt whether buying Shizu a new knife was a wise decision after Innis had shattered her old one into a snow cone. However, the advantages of having Shizu''s frightening strength at my disposal far outweighed the drawbacks, particularly in light of the looming invasion of Lunaris.
Due to that, I had invested a significant chunk of our money in a high-quality knife for Shizu, one with some anti-magic properties and enhanced durability. It seemed like a good idea at the time considering that Shizu was our strongest party member.
"...Ryuji..." Shizu whispered, breaking me from my thoughts. Her voice carried a hint of pain, which caught me off guard. "...You''re touching me in a weird place..."
"What?" I said, confused, and glanced down at my hand.
To my astonishment, my hand was resting on her upper thigh, unintentionally lifting her skirt slightly. I had fumbled and failed miserably in my attempt to re-sheath the knife. From this angle, I could catch a glimpse of the side of her black lace panties.
¡°¡¡±
I froze and stared for a moment before quickly releasing my hold on Shizu''s hand and turning away.
"Do it yourself," I sighed. "I don''t understand why you would hide your knife in a place like that."
"It''s convenient," Shizu giggled, deftly sheathing the knife back into the strap. I turned back to face her. "Besides, where else would I hide a knife?" she asked, then did a little spin, showcasing the gothic lolita-styled black dress she was wearing. Although fancy, it was purposely light to allow for combat and agile movements.
That was the other thing we had spent our money on, which left us broke. Unfortunately, Shizu insisted it was crucial for her to wear cute clothing. Well, considering the meagre earnings from our Adventurer jobs so far, it wasn''t like there was much to spend anyway.
"I don''t know. The side of your waist on a belt like everyone else?" I suggested, pointing my finger at the short sword on my belt.
"But then everyone would know where my weapon is," Shizu replied, hurrying over to cling to my arm again. "Also, and most importantly, if Ryuji wants to take away my knife, he will have to touch me down there himself."
¡°So, that¡¯s the reason¡¡± I sighed as we continued walking through the marketplace.
Shizu giggled, hugging my arm tightly. ¡°Ryuji, you didn¡¯t get embarrassed when you touched my leg. I thought you would get all flustered and tongue-tied.¡±
That¡¯s because I know you¡¯re a psycho.
"Maybe because I already have experience with other girls in my past life," I said casually. "You don''t know that."
"You don''t," Shizu said firmly. "You''ve never been with any other girls."
"..."
"I''m the only girl you''ve ever been with," Shizu smiled, pulling me closer. "And I will be the only one you will ever be with for all of eternity. Forever and ever. Past, future, and present."
"Hah," I chuckled, pretending not to be intimidated by her words. "I have to admit, Shizu, you have a lot of confidence. That''s all I can say."
¡°I do, because I truly believe Ryuji and I will be together forever,¡± Shizu leaned her head down on my shoulder. I could smell the soap she used on her hair, as well as the different fragrances she used as perfume. She smelled really good. ¡°Also, you were staring at me for a moment when you lifted my skirt, weren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Well, I am a guy¡¡± I said.
¡°That means that you don¡¯t think that I¡¯m completely crazy,¡± Shizu reasoned, her voice soft. ¡°If that is the reason why you¡¯re still wary of me.¡±
¡°Tch,¡± I glanced away.
I was completely beat. It was almost like she could read my mind. I really needed to keep my head steady if I didn¡¯t want to be swept away by her madness. Especially if I intended to use this isekai world as a second chance to live life the way I wanted.
¡°¡Hey¡what would you do if you saw me naked¡?¡± Shizu whispered into my ear. ¡°Would that make you flustered, or¡?¡±
My heart paused for a second before I caught myself.
¡°Shizu, seriously¡ª¡± I started.
"Oh! Look at that, Ryuji!" Shizu ran ahead to a stall selling accessories and gemstones, acting as if nothing had happened. She turned back to me, her face filled with excitement, holding a shiny ring in her hand. "It''s so pretty!"
I walked over, inspecting the ring with a doubtful expression. I already knew we couldn''t afford it. "Haha, yeah, it is..."
"That''s a sapphire ring," the shopkeeper behind the stall said. "A splendid engagement ring, symbolizing honesty, sincerity, and faithfulness. It''s also said to bring good fortune to marriages, keeping them strong and healthy."
¡°Yeah, cool,¡± I said, ignoring his salesman spiel. ¡°It looks quite expensive though.¡±
"We source all our gemstones from the highest quality and most trusted suppliers across the Mideron Empire, so naturally there is a premium for that," the shopkeeper laughed heartily. "But you can''t put a price on love!"
I resisted cursing at the shopkeeper.
¡°Isn¡¯t that great, Ryuji?¡± Shizu said enthusiastically. ¡°Your dad said we are supposed to be engaged, after all.¡±
¡°My ¡®dad¡¯ is just some dude I barely knew for less than a month in this isekai world,¡± I said. "Didn''t I already tell you to ignore what that old fool said?"
¡°But my family approved it too,¡± Shizu pouted with a depressed look.
"Your ''family'' are also strangers we met by chance when we got isekai''d," I sighed. "Enough already, Shizu. Let it go."
Shizu fell silent at my words, her gaze fixed on the ground as a deep sadness settled upon her face. "...S, so what is our relationship then...?" she muttered.
"I..." I hesitated, observing the growing darkness in Shizu''s expression. Left with no other option, I gently took the sapphire ring from her hand and turned to the shopkeeper, speaking in a hushed tone. "So, how much does the ring cost...?"
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"Hmm," the shopkeeper pondered, casting a glance at the two of us. "Seeing as you both seem like a promising young couple, I''ll offer you the best deal from our stall. How about 70 silver coins?"
¡°7-70 silver coins¡?!¡± I almost fell off my feet. ¡°That¡¯s like completing 50 Iron-ranked jobs!¡±
¡°Haah, so you two are Adventurers, huh? And not even high ranked ones at that¡¡± the shopkeeper¡¯s friendly face fell. He snatched the ring from my hand and scowled. ¡°Get lost, I don¡¯t have time for time wasters.¡±
I glanced back at Shizu anxiously, then back to the shopkeeper. ¡°Come on, boss, I¡¯m really in a bind here. Can¡¯t you do anything lower?¡± I insisted, pulling my coin pouch from my belt and peering into the darkness. ¡°Surely that stupid sapphire on the ring can¡¯t really cost that much, right? I mean, you probably found it lying on the sidewalk, right?"
"Just go away if you don''t have any money," the shopkeeper scowled again, inspecting and rubbing at the sapphire ring with a small towel, as if our mere touch had somehow dirtied it. "Goddamn youngsters these days, thinking everything in the world is free..."
Desperation washed over me as I emptied my coin pouch, counting the meagre amount of currency in my hand. The sound of coins caught the shopkeeper''s attention, although there weren''t many.
¡°How much do you have?¡± the shopkeeper asked.
I counted the coins in my hand, treating them carefully as I knew that it was all the money we had left. ¡°5 bronze coins, and 12 iron.¡± I said.
The shopkeeper grabbed a broom from his side and started waving it at me, as if trying to shoo me away. ¡°Get the hell away from my stall, you broke bastard!¡±
¡°Hey, what are you doing to Ryuji?!¡± Shizu stepped forward angrily, seeing the scene. I saw her reaching for her knife and I grabbed her hand, stopping her. It was almost like reflex at this point.
¡°Sorry to inform you, missy, but your boyfriend over here is broke as hell,¡± the shopkeeper said, brushing with his broom at the spot that I was previously standing. ¡°A cute gal like you ought to find a wealthier guy to date. Especially if you intend to buy a ring that¡¯s not made of garbage.¡±
¡°Y-you¡!¡± Shizu bit her lips, trembling all over with rage. ¡°I will rip out your intestines and tie that around my finger as a ring, how about that¡ª"
¡°C-calm down, Shizu,¡± I said, holding her back from doing anything crazy. We were still in the streets of the marketplace and there were crowds everywhere. I turned to the shopkeeper. ¡°Listen, I just want to buy a gift for her, that''s all. Don¡¯t you have anything cheaper in the stall that we could afford?¡±
The shopkeeper huffed and glanced around his store. "Hmph, not much to be honest," he said. ¡°With what you have, the only thing I could offer you is¡¡± his gaze stopped and he grabbed something from his stall and offered it to us. ¡°Eh, how about these two shabby bracelets?¡±
Matching metal bracelets that looked more like chains than anything else if I was being totally honest. I glanced over at Shizu and saw her smiling which meant it had her seal of approval.
"There''s no gemstones on them," the shopkeeper said. "But they''re still made out of metal, so I spose they ain''t too bad."
"Fine, we''ll take them," I said, raising the coins in my hand and counting them carefully. "How much are they?"
The shopkeeper handed the bracelets to Shizu, then swiftly snatched everything in my hand.
"H-hey!" I said. "We didn''t even negotiate a price yet!"
¡°That¡¯s the price,¡± the shopkeeper grumbled, walking back to his stall with all of my money. ¡°Usually I would charge more, but since you¡¯re so broke I will make an exception this time. Consider yourself lucky!¡±
¡°B, but¡¡± I trailed off, staring at his back.
¡°Yay!¡± Shizu jumped and showed me the bracelets cheerfully. ¡°Aren¡¯t they pretty, Ryuji? And there¡¯s one for the both of us as well! It¡¯s much more unique than a ring that every other couple wears.¡±
¡°Yeah¡¡± I forced a smile, trying not to ruin Shizu¡¯s mood. ¡°Nice¡¡±
¡°Put mine on for me,¡± Shizu said, extending her left wrist towards me.
Absent-mindedly and still thinking about the money, I grabbed one of the bracelets from Shizu¡¯s other hand then helped her put the bracelet on her left wrist.
"Now, it''s your turn," she declared.
"Okay..." I nodded, and she reached for my right wrist, gently sliding the bracelet into place.
Stepping back, Shizu waved her bracelet in the air, her face filled with elation and happiness. "Look, Ryuji! Doesn''t it look nice? And they match!"
Caught off guard by the genuine joy radiating from her, I was momentarily taken aback. I hadn''t expected her to be so happy over a simple and cheap bracelet.
She came back to me, wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace. "Thank you, Ryuji... I love you sooo much!"
¡°No problem¡¡± I said, a sense of relief washing over me to see how much Shizu liked the present. Perhaps with this gift and our date, Shizu would be a little less... unpredictable and easier to handle. Or so I hoped.
~x~
"There''s one last place I want to take you, Ryuji.¡±
"And where¡¯s that?¡±
¡°Just follow me, it¡¯s this way!¡±
I trailed behind Shizu as she led the way, her laughter echoing through the narrow alleyways of the city of Lunaris while she darted ahead.
¡°Hold on, Shizu, you¡¯re going too fast,¡± I tried to tell her, but she disappeared around the corner at the end. ¡°Wait up!¡±
¡°It¡¯s just a little further ahead,¡± Shizu¡¯s voice beckoned to me. ¡°Try to catch me!¡±
"Shizu!" I shouted, reaching the end of the corner only to find her gone once again. "Seriously..."
Guided by her laughter and distant calls, I continued my pursuit until finally, I found myself in a small clearing amidst the maze-like alleyways. I scanned the area, searching for any sign of Shizu, but she was nowhere to be seen. The place felt strangely familiar...
¡°Shizu?¡± I called out, walking ahead. ¡°Where are you?¡±
It was like a ghetto of sorts except that it was eerily quiet, I could see laundry hung out, house-like apartments packed together like brick walls, and signs that people lived here. Everything was jam packed together here. This was probably the outskirts of Lunaris, a bit further away from the marketplace. Still, that told me nothing about why Shizu had brought me here.
"Shiz¡ª"
Before I could finish calling out her name, something caught my attention. Movement from a makeshift playground nearby drew my gaze, and I watched with caution.
¡°R-Ryuji¡?¡±
It was a young boy''s voice. A face appeared from within a rabbit-shaped dome structure on the playground. He blinked at me with his black eyes for a few seconds, before crawling out from under the dome.
¡°You¡¡± I managed to utter.
¡°Ryuji, it¡¯s you, isn''t it?¡± the boy queried.
It was Takeshi. The same boy who had led me to Kaito for that thieving capture quest. The horrifying image of Kaito''s brutal demise flashed in my mind, momentarily taking my breath away. The vivid memory of blood splattering from his exploded head still haunted me.
That¡¯s right. His death was all because of me. Because I was too weak at that time, and needed Shizu to save me.
Takeshi gestured towards the dome he had just exited, and soon, two other child emerged as well. It was the other boy and girl who had been with Takeshi on that ill-fated day.
Seeing them only further triggered my trauma from that day.
¡°I¡¡± I breathed out, trying to turn away. ¡°Sorry, I think you¡¯ve got the wrong person¡¡±
¡°Wait, Ryuji!¡± Takeshi cried out and ran over to me.
¡°What is it¡?¡± I said, purposefully averting my face to avoid being recognized.
Takeshi circled around me, ensuring that I couldn''t avoid his gaze. And then I saw it...
Not hatred. Not betrayal. Not anger. None of the emotions I had braced myself for. Instead, I was met with a peculiar expression¡ªa mix of reluctance, understanding, and forgiveness.
"I... I wanted to talk to you, Ryuji," Takeshi began, as his two friends joined him, standing behind him. "...About Kaito and what happened that day..."
"Yeah, we wanted to talk to you too," the other boy chimed in.
¡°What is it¡?¡± I asked hesitantly.
¡°Well, um¡¡± Takeshi scratched the back of his head, casting a sidelong glance.
The other boy shared his hesitation, leaving both of them at a loss for words.
¡°We wanted to apologise to you,¡± the girl finally spoke up, voicing what the two boys couldn''t. ¡°That day, you were only trying to stop Kaito from stealing, right? That¡¯s why you asked for our help to look for him. But he wouldn¡¯t listen, and instead, tried to fight you. Even though you told him to stop.¡±
I fell silent, listening to their words.
¡°W-we blamed you for killing Kaito that time¡¡± the other boy said. ¡°But we know it¡¯s not really your fault.¡±
The girl nodded. ¡°You did the right thing, Ryuji. Even though it didn¡¯t end the way it should had.¡±
¡°So, that¡¯s why we wanted to apologise to you, Ryuji¡¡± Takeshi added, his gaze still fixed sideways. ¡°Sorry for blaming you.¡±
I didn¡¯t know what to say. I was so surprised by their reaction that I was still trying to processing it.
"I-it''s alright..." I finally responded. "There''s no need for any of you to apologise. If anyone failed, it was me."
Takeshi shook his head. "That''s not true. You did everything you could to stop him. We saw what happened.¡±
"Please don''t carry the guilt, Ryuji," the girl said encouragingly.
"Yeah, you were awesome during that fight, Ryuji!" the other boy chimed in.
"I... I''m not sure about that..." I replied with a weak chuckle, faced with their earnest expressions.
¡°You really were!¡± Takeshi affirmed.
¡°Oh, and we didn¡¯t introduce ourselves last time!¡± the girl exclaimed. ¡°My name is Mieko! And this is¡ª¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have to introduce me for me! Anyway, my name is Norio,¡± the other boy interjected, his cheeks flushing. ¡°Geez, Mieko, you¡¯re always like that once you¡¯re not scared of someone. Even though the first time you met Ryuji, you didn¡¯t say a word¡¡±
"T-that''s not true!" Mieko retorted, her face equally flushed. "I did talk! I-I just thought last time I should let Takeshi do all the talking!"
Norio and Mieko started arguing with one another over who was more shy, whilst Takeshi and I laughed light-heartedly from the sidelines. Eventually, Norio and Mieko joined in the laughter too, and for a while, we all laughed together. That''s when another voice suddenly entered into the conversation.
¡°Isn¡¯t it wonderful?¡± Shizu appeared, smiling brightly as she emerged from one of the surrounding alleyways. ¡°You¡¯ve made up with the children again, Ryuji!¡±
¡°S-Shizu¡?¡± I said, glancing at her with a surprised face. ¡°Were you hiding there the entire time?¡±
"Yep!" Shizu skipped over with a cheerful stride. ¡°I brought you here so that you could reconcile with the children. That was what made you really upset last time, wasn''t it?¡±
The children glanced over at Shizu and excited smiles began to spread over their faces. "Ryuji, Shizu was the one that told us the full story and made us understand," Takeshi said.
"Yeah, she''s a really nice and kind person!" Mieko added. "She taught me how to make flowers out of paper!"
"She''s also really pretty!" Norio grinned. "Is she your girlfriend, Ryuji?"
The children laughed together jokingly, whilst I stared at Shizu as she approached, feeling a bit unsettled about something with her. But I decided to push it down, considering how happy everything was working out. ¡°Thanks, Shizu¡¡± I said. ¡°I really apprecia¡ª¡±
Before I could finish my sentence, Shizu ran up to Takeshi and snatched him up from the ground, holding a knife to his throat. I could see the bracelet I gave her, shimmering on her wrist under the waning sunlight.
I froze. Everyone froze. For a few seconds, no one could register what was going on. It was simply beyond comprehension.
"W-what are you doing to Takeshi, big sister Shizu?!" Mieko shrieked, snapping us out of our stunned silence. "You''re hurting him!"
¡°L-let him go, big sister Shizu!¡± Norio demanded.
"Shizu, what the hell..." I muttered, staring in disbelief. I attempted to step forward. "Have you completely lost your¡ª"
¡°If you try to cast a spell, I will slit his throat,¡± Shizu said. ¡°I mean it.¡±
"W-why is big sister Shizu doing something like this, Ryuji...?" Norio asked me in a scared voice.
"R-Ryuji, you have to help Takeshi...!" Mieko pleaded, clinging to my leg. "Please...!"
I tried to remain calm and rationalise the situation. But nothing about the situation was rational. As the evening sky grew darker, the night slowly enveloped us in its embrace. I watched as Takeshi cried in tears as Shizu held him firmly within her grasp, refusing to let him go from her knife.
¡°Why are you doing this, Shizu?¡± I asked.
¡°Why?¡± Shizu blinked, confused. ¡°Because I want to keep you alive, Ryuji.¡±
¡°H-how the hell is slaughtering these kids going to achieve that?¡± I said, frustration seeping into my words.
"Because," Shizu explained, her voice filled with a chilling certainty. "The invasion of Lunaris is happening now."
At that moment, an explosion rocked the distant background of the city behind her, its shockwave pounding through the narrow alleyways and rattling our bones. The cacophony of screams and the acrid scent of smoke filled the air, a haunting symphony of war that sent shivers down our spines.
Chapter 21
¡°What are you saying, Shizu¡?¡±
¡°I¡¯m saying the invasion is happening now,¡± Shizu said. ¡°And we need to leave.¡±
¡°You still haven¡¯t explained the part how brandishing a knife at a child helps you achieve that exactly?¡±
In the midst of the distant chaos that engulfed the city, we stood locked in a tense standoff. Shizu held her knife at Takeshi''s throat with an icy detachment, unaffected by his pleas and terrified sobs. She could''ve been holding a struggling animal for all the emotion she showed. The look on her face was stone-cold, none of the joyous smiles or sparkles in her violet eyes from earlier could be seen.
Was this the real Shizu? Or was the real Shizu the girl that had been so happy that she almost cried when I gave her that bracelet as a gift?
Neither of that mattered at the moment. The only important thing on my mind now was to ensure Takeshi¡¯s safety.
¡°Well, you won¡¯t leave Lunaris, Ryuji,¡± Shizu said, a hint of bitterness underneath her tone. ¡°Even though this city will fall. So the only way I know how to make you leave is this.¡±
I stayed silent, weighing up my options.
¡°You want to stay back and defend this city to save its people?¡± Shizu continued, and shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s impossible, Ryuji. This isn¡¯t a game. I saw their army coming with my own eyes. We can''t win.¡±
¡°When did I say my plan was to die defending this city?¡± I chuckled with a grimace. ¡°You must really think of me as an idiot, Shizu.¡±
¡°Your plan is to stay back to help evacuate as many people possible,¡± Shizu stated. ¡°That¡¯s not a plan. That¡¯s suicide. And I¡¯m not going to let you die.¡±
¡°Hah, so that¡¯s what you¡¯ve been thinking inside your head all along. If so, why not tell me earlier? You decide to wait for right before the invasion to kidnap a child and blackmail me with their life? That''s what you call a plan?¡±
¡°Because I know you,¡± Shizu replied. ¡°And I know you wouldn¡¯t listen to me.¡±
¡°I would had at least considered your opinion, Shizu. But with this, you just destroyed every last shred of credibility I had for you.¡±
¡°Even if you considered my opinion, the result would still be the same. In the end, you wouldn¡¯t listen to me. I¡ I¡¯m only doing this because I love you, Ryuji¡¡± Shizu said with a wince. ¡°I¡¯m trying to protect you¡¡±
¡°I don¡¯t need you to protect me. I¡¯ll only say this once, Shizu ¡ª let go of Takeshi.¡±
¡°Ryuji¡ please¡ just come with me¡¡± Shizu pleaded. ¡°I¡ I won¡¯t hurt the children¡ We can just save these children and leave the rest of the city to die¡ Why do you need to risk your life for strangers you don¡¯t even know¡?¡±
Another explosion rocked the city in the backdrop, causing the ground to rumble and shake. The night air was thick with screams and now beginning to emit flashes of vivid colours from different spells being cast. Time was ticking past.
"Why?" I said. "Because I have the power to help. Because I can. That''s why. And so do you, Shizu."
"That doesn''t make any sense!" Shizu suddenly shouted, her voice tearing with frustration. "We owe these people nothing! I don''t know them! I don''t want to know them! Why should I care if some strangers I know nothing about die? You''re the only one I care about, Ryuji!"
"Shizu..."
"People die every day," Shizu said bitterly. "It will hardly make a difference."
"In my past life, I was a bystander, someone who wilfully turned a blind eye to everything," I said, reminiscing of my life before isekai. Faint memories that I had buried deep down of me sitting in a classroom and watching as a classmate was bullied began to resurface inside my mind.
"I''m sick of living like that, Shizu," I said, clenching my teeth. "I''m sick of pretending I can''t see anything. I''m sick of justifying to myself afterward. That''s why I... I''m never going to live like that again!"
Shizu fell silent, staring at me with a pained expression. She was trying to understand, but she couldn''t. Our upbringing were too different. We were two people living in separate worlds.
¡°Well then,¡± I let out a heavy sigh, then slowly raised my index finger in the air. "I guess in the end, this was always the only way."
¡°R-Ryuji¡!¡± Shizu said, tightening her grip on Takeshi. ¡°Don¡¯t¡¡±
" [ Blue Flame ] ," I muttered.
She watched anxiously as a small ball of blue flame materialised itself into existence on the top of my index finger, releasing a gentle gust of wind. It was a technique that I had recently picked up. By concentrating and compressing my mana into one tiny space, I could increase the power and intensity of my spell by tenfold ¡ª in this instance, creating the hottest fireball spell possible: the blue fireball. But currently, I could only cast one the size of a marble ball.
"I may not be able to beat you, Shizu, but..." I trailed off.
Then gradually, I raised my hand higher, pointing the finger at¡ my own temple.
¡°R-Ryuji?!¡± Mieko gasped from below me.
¡°Have you gone mad, Ryuji?!¡± Norio exclaimed, tugging at my leg.
Shizu stared at me with a horrified expression on her face, her grip on Takeshi loosening without her notice.
¡°W¡ w-what are you doing, Ryuji¡?¡± Shizu asked in a quiet voice that broke out at the ends.
¡°Me?¡± I chuckled, keeping the blue flame steadily pointed at my temple. I could feel its intense heat searing at the sides of my skin, making me start to sweat. ¡°Just doing something that I should had done at the very start of this conversation so we could skip all that pointless babble.¡±
Simply by casting a glance at Shizu¡¯s deathly pale face made me knew that I had won.
¡°You will kill Takeshi if I don¡¯t leave with you from this city, because you think that will save my life,¡± I declared casually. ¡°But if you kill Takeshi or any of the children, I will kill myself. So either ways, for you, this really is a lose-lose situation.¡±
Shizu was speechless, her voice refusing to work.
"D... d-don''t be crazy, Ryuji..." she finally managed to stutter.
"Crazy?" I laughed, throwing my head back. Never did I expect to hear that word coming from Shizu. "Well then I guess that makes two of us."
¡°There is, however, one other path forward for you here,¡± I told Shizu. ¡°Release Takeshi and help me with the evacuation. I¡¯m still not going to forgive you for pulling this stunt, but at the very least with this way, there remains a chance for the both of us to survive.¡±
This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
I paused for a moment to let my works sink in. Then I continued, ¡°Now then, the decision is yo¡ª¡±
Before I could even finish, Shizu dropped her knife down on the ground in a clatter and released her hold of Takeshi, allowing him to drop harmlessly on his feet.
As the children quickly scurried over to comfort the weeping Takeshi, Shizu slowly stepped towards me, staring at me with pleading desperation.
"L-Look, Ryuji..." Shizu stammered, her voice shaking with fear. "I-I let that child go... I-I don''t have my knife on me anymore... I will do anything you want... anything you ask of me... so please..."
"You will listen to me?" I confirmed. "And not pull another stunt like that again?"
"Yes! I promise...! So please... put your hand down...!"
Satisfied with the look on her face, I extinguished the flames and lowered my hand from my temple.
Shizu released her breath, collapsing down to her knees. And then, the tears came, falling from her eyes as she began crying. "I-I just don''t want you to die, Ryuji...! I-If you die, there will be nothing left for me...! T-that''s why I did what I did...!"
"I''m not going to die, idiot," I sighed with a softened look, walking over to collect Shizu. "Hey, listen to me..."
I grabbed her hands gently to pry them away from her face so that I can look at her face directly. She gazed at me through a blubber of tears, her face red from crying.
I spoke to her softly. "We''re only going to rescue anyone that we can save. If things get bad out there, I promise we will leave straight away, okay?"
"Okay..." Shizu nodded.
"Come on then," I said, picking her up from the ground. "Let''s go see what we can do to help out."
~x~
Large carriages as big as buses were transporting people out of the city. Massive ques were lined up with people bickering and fighting over each other to enter one of these buses. These buses were taking the back-exit of the city, transporting the people to the next nearest city to Lunaris, which was Aresta.
"Hey, I''m a noble, let me through!" a noble in the crowd said.
He was pushed back by the crowd, "Get in line! There''s no ranks in a matter of life and death!"
"Hey, you goddam peasants!" one of the knights yelled. "Let the noble through!"
"Over my dead body!" another person in the crowd yelled back.
The bickering continued, with the few knights that were there not being enough to restrain the crowd. Most of the knights in the city had already been sent to defend the city.
"Where the hell were you?" Leo ran over from the crowd, looking at me with a rushed expression. It was clear he had been busy with assisting the evacuation. "I''ve been trying to find you this entire time!"
"Some things came up," I replied. "But it''s settled now. What''s the situation?"
Leo glanced to my side at Shizu, giving her an accusing look, then back at me. "The Vasily Empire''s army is currently engaged with Lunaris'' defence in the east side of the city. But I''m doubtful they will hold out for long."
Several knights ran past us across the street, shouting to each other. "Where the hell are the Imperial Mages?!"
"No idea, sir. Word going around is that they might have left the city already," the other knight replied.
"Left the city?!" the knight choked back. "T-then how the hell are we to defend Lunaris?!"
I watched them hurrying away before disappearing from sight to another street. It was chaos all around us.
"Ryuji, there''s probably some people that are still trapped in other parts of the city," Leo told me. "We can gather as many people as we can, and get them here safely. But I think an hour is all we have before this city falls."
I nodded. "We can do what we can."
"Ryuji," Takeshi tugged at me from below. I looked down to find his face filled with uncertainty and fear.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Promise me that you will leave Lunaris alive," Takeshi said, raising his hand to me. He extended his pinkie. "Promise me that we will see you and big sister Shizu at Aresta!"
I chuckled softly, leaning down towards him. "You''re not scared of Shizu even after what she did?"
"I... I''m scared of her..." Takeshi said, glancing at Shizu then quickly back at me. "But... I heard what she said... and I''m sure she only did that because she thought it would help you, Ryuji..."
"You''re way too trusting, Takeshi," I laughed, ruffling his hair. "That''s going to get you in trouble with girls."
"W-well, anyways!" Takeshi said, staring at me with a renewed seriousness. "Promise me, Ryuji, that you and big sister Shizu will see us at Aresta!"
I extended my own hand, accepting his pinkie promise. "You guys are looking down on us too much. I promise we will see you again at Aresta."
"I-I want to learn how to use a sword like you, Ryuji!" Norio said, staring up at me. "So you have to teach me when you get to Aresta, okay?"
"And you have to teach me magic too!" Takeshi said.
"I want big sister Shizu to teach me how to cook!" Mieko added.
"Hey hey, that''s a lot of promises," I laughed. "I can''t promise we can do them all, but we can talk about that when we see you guys again at Aresta, okay?"
"Okay..." the children nodded their heads.
I rose up, turning back to Leo. He glanced at me with a sombre look.
"If you''re serious about this, then let''s do it," Leo said.
"Leo, you don''t have to come with us if you don''t want to," I said. "You can still join one of the carriages and head to Aresta first. Shizu and I can meet you there when we arrive."
"What the hell are you saying," Leo scowled and planted a fist on the top of my head. "There''s no way I would leave you guys to do this alone. Have you forgotten already? We''re a party."
"Leo..."
"Come on, enough of this sappy shit already," Leo said, turning around. "Let''s go, Ryuji."
I nodded, then glanced next to me at Shizu. "You in, Shizu?"
"I will go wherever you go," Shizu said. "I... I won''t let you die, Ryuji."
"Good," I said, grinning. "That''s what I like to hear."
Together we began to head through the city to help the survivors we come across.
~x~
"Oh boy, you''re truly an unfortunate one, aren''t you?"
".....nghnn....."
"To cross path with me, the great God of War, Gunner Orivine!"
How... How did this happen?
I was lying in a bloodied heap, gazing with a blurred vision at the giant man holding a spear, standing before me atop a mountain of corpses. Amidst the corpses, I could make out a sea of red-painted armours from the Bloodhounds that were supposed to be Lunaris'' most elite knight unit. My right arm was missing from below the elbow, replaced by a heap of blood that didn''t seem to stop flowing.
To my left, Shizu''s battered body was lying face down in a ditch, motionless and still, covered in ghastly scratches and bruises that extended all over. Her shattered knife lay next to her body, broken apart in several pieces.
The man with the spear kicked something down from below the mountain of corpses, and a burly figure riddled with wounds rolled down, his face beaten to a bloody pulp that could hardly be recognised. But even without seeing his face, it was obvious that it was Leo.
"I will admit though, at least one of you here was skilled," the man remarked, yanking a shard of Shizu''s shattered blade from his chestplate. A minor trickle of blood followed. He touched the blood, staring at it with an amused smile. "This is the first time in over a hundred years that I have bled. I''ve almost forgotten what the sensation of pain felt like. Such an extraordinary feeling. It''s a pity, though..."
He raised the blade fragment, then crushed it between his fingertips like it was candy. "When you use a mediocre tool, you yield a mediocre outcome," he said, his expression morphing into cold seriousness. "To try to battle me, Gunner Orivine, the Supreme Commander of the 15th Regiment of the Vasily Empire, with your level of gear is an insult upon my name."
"Master!" A new voice echoed from the side. I shifted my gaze to see a girl in an armoured dress with bat-like wings descending from the sky to land beside the man. "I have eradicated and slayed all the scums that I could find inside the Grand Castle."
She extended her hands, showing a decapitated head inside her grip, blood still dripping from the dismembered spine. A plump face twisted in a horrified expression with a large hooked nose. "I believe this is the one they call Lord Gael, the Lord of Lunaris," she declared enthusiastically.
"Well done, Lilith," Gunner smiled, patting the girl on the head. "We will present that unsightly head to His Majesty as a gift."
"Ah!" the girl called Lilith suddenly uttered a cry. She raised a shaky hand, pointing to his chest. "Y-you''re b-bleeding, Master...! H-how...?!"
"Oh, this?" Gunner chuckled. "Interesting, isn''t it?"
With a quick motion, Lilith raised her hand towards his chest. Her eyes began to glow, followed by an ethereal light emanating from her palm. In a matter of seconds, the wound on Gunner''s chest began to reseal itself, leaving only wet blood in its wake.
"Wh-who...?! Who was it that did that to you, Master...?!" Lilith asked.
"Relax, Lilith," Gunner said. "It is nothing to fret over. Simply a surprisingly sharp pebble that was in the way of my foot."
"B-but...!"
Gunner turned away, casually waving a dismissive hand. "Mere ants that are unworthy of me sparing a single thought for. I will leave them to you to do as you please as your reward."
The girl bowed her head at Gunner as he walked away. "Thank you, Master!"
Then, she turned back and glanced around, her maroon eyes searching for a moment before something piqued her interest. She walked over to the object of her fancy and leaned down with a creepy smile spreading across her cheeks, her eyes lit with a demented malevolence.
It was me.
"My my, are you still alive?" she reached a hand down, gently brushing over my cheek. Her eyes began to glow like before. "That''s a lot of mana you have there. I like what I see. How unfortunate for you."
Leaning in closer, her smile widened, revealing a row of sharp teeth. "Hey... Master has given you to me as my plaything... So how about I show you the most horrible, most painful, most nightmarish experience a human being can ever suffer? Wouldn''t that be fun? Oh, you needn''t worry. I treat my toys very well. I won''t allow you to die so easily, hehehehe."