"-Life is great"
I escaped the crisis of a lifeti.
No idea how long I was out. However, seeing as the Armor Bear's corpse was still lying there, and as wild animals or other monsters haven’t appeared sniffing out the blood, I think it's safe to say it hasn't been that long since I lost consciousness.
The wound on my belly, for now the bleeding has stopped. My abdon was black from all of the dried blood I had shed, but I could feel scabs from 4 large strokes. Seeing such big scabs on my own flesh really makes shudder.
I rember hearing that bear nails are pretty bacteria infested, and rather than the flesh wound, the diseases they cause makes it especially nasty. It can't possibly be that my own saliva, that I'd used when doing the mouth mashing, actually worked as a perfect disinfectant and anti-bacterial… No, no use worrying now. I'll be ok, let's just pray.
"Uu…a bit unsteady…"
Now then, I can't bask in the joy of achievent forever. It's too dangerous to stop here. Forget Armor Bears, even if it's just so carnivorous animal, right now, I'm completely helpless.
But which way to go. No, I know the direction with the compass function, rather, how long till I get to that dungeon-
"O-oh yeah, the dungeon!"
There's the body of a classmate, i.e. Takashima-kun, here, implying, isn't this the dungeon's starting point? If it is, my hypothesis would be correct.
Though, every direction looks like the sa forest scenery-
"-there!"
Looking around a bit better, I notice a stone shrine just over there. The mossy surface covered in vines mixed well with the green of the forest and, though it was hard to notice, but once you do, it's impossible not to.
Standing at 4 ters13ft tall, the oblong structure strongly asserted itself as sothing artificially built in the deep forest. This has to be the entrance to the dungeon.
Even so, not noticing sothing like this, I must've been extrely preoccupied till just now. But I feel like I showed quite the quick-wittedness and swift action sohow defeating the Armor Bear.
Ooh, maybe I'm the type who's a straight up genius if I just make an effort?
I happily praised myself while heading to the dungeon shrine when-
"-Oh man, The outside's really a friggin' forest."
A familiar voice, I heard it. That was undoubtedly emitted from inside the shrine… aning, one of my classmates was about to appear.
"Heey! Anyone there!"
I don't care who. Having been here where there's that kind of monster lurking around, being able to et an actual human being, there's no greater relief.
For now, let's be glad I can join up with a classmate.
"Ah? Momokawa? What, so you're still alive."
From the other side of the dimd shrine appeared, with brown hair and piercings, the class punk. Higuchi Kyouya.
"Eh, Momokawa-kun's there? wow, he is!"
Appearing next, the blond twintail loli, Reina A. Ayase.
"R-really! Kotarou!?
And finally, appeared my chubby friend.
"Masaru!?"
"Oohh! Kotarou, you're safe!"
Saitou Masaru. The joy and relief from eting this familiar chubbster, now tears really felt like gushing out.
Isn't that natural? This is more than just relief from eting other people, they're reliable comrades who've been given powers of a vocation. If it's 3 people, chances are that there's a warrior or fire mage among them. It can't possibly be that there's more shamans in there.
Also, with so support my shamanic powers can also be made useful-
"Oi, hold up, Momokawa."
But then, my legs, that were rushing over in the overwhelming excitent, stopped. No, they were stopped.
By a knife that struck right in front of my feet. In barely another 3 cm1 inch, these indoor shoes along with my toes would have been lopped off.
"Wh…"
"Oi, what the fuck are you doing, Higuchi!?"
Masaru shouts out in place of .
"Shut it, and add a -san ya fat fuck. Just shut ye’r trap and go pick up the core from that big one o’er there."
"Kotarou's been alive! We gotta help!-"
"Then you wanna die in his place, fagget?"[1]
From a pocket in this trousers- I couldn’t really tell, Higuchi instantly took out a butterfly knife and stuck its sharp blade at Masaru's throat.
"We got 3 people already, don't ya fucking forget it."
"H-hey guys hold on! Why are we fighting amongst each other! We need to work together and-"
"Ha! Momokawa, you l'il shit, ye’r head okay?"
He scoffed at my very reasonably shouted complaint.
"Didn'cha read the text ssage? Ya must be an absolute retard not ta notice."
Yeah, don't need this, he sneered, as Higuchi withdrew the knife from Masaru.
"Saitou, stop yer wankin' and get that core r'now. I'll take good care of Momokawa for ya. Ah, Reina-chan, you can wait inside, it's gonna get a bit bloody."
I have no idea what's happening, but it's painfully obvious how it's not good. Then, the situation takes a turn for the worse.
Masaru turned dead pale, and following Higuchi's order, began going towards the Armor Bear.
And, as for Reina, she listened to his annoying nice-guy voice saying "wait inside", and as if completely nonchalant about this clearly bizarre turn of events, retreated back into the shrine.
"So yea, Momokawa, sorry but die for will ya. I'll thank ya for takin' out that big guy o'er there. Thanks for the loot."
And with real murderous intent and a sinister grin, Higuchi ca at with his butterfly knife.
"Eh, no wait! WAIT, why're you-"
"Oi, stay still. I'm trynna get yer vitals in the first shot, why're you not lettin' show my kindness and put y'at peace?"
He said it as if ssing around, but this was completely serious. I can just tell. Higuchi is really coming with the intention of stabbing . No hesitance, no regrets, as if it's natural.
In fact, his knife was already raised.
"Now, make it rain-"
"When you stab , my shaman powers will kill you too!"
Higuchi's hand, stops.
"Don't be a smartass, pipsqueak"
Well, then why'd you stop. Higuchi is clearly wary now. Right, this guy must know too, how absolutely bizarre the powers of a vocation can be.
"I can return any and all damage back to my attacker. That's my power."
"Shing, he folded in the butterfly knife with a high-pitched sound. With the blade inside, the fist holding the handle-"
"Buha!?"
Exploded on my face. It hurt, no rather, I'm more shocked at what happened.
"-Hk! Fuck. god fuck!"
I see Higuchi with the sa knuckle marks on his face as . Wonderful, with ‘Pain Return', even a weak beta like won't lose out when I'm hit.
Fortunately, my nose or front teeth didn't break. Instead, I did feel blood flowing out of my nose. No problem, I don't even need any Non-delionsfalse dandelions for this.
"H-hey, Higuchi-san, Kotarou's"
"Shut it lard! Just get the damn core!"
Perhaps because I hadn't been killed, Masaru made a relieved face.
But, my friend who, not only made no attempt to stop Higuchi's attempted murder, but was still listening to him, earned quite a bit of my displeasure and distrust. Higuchi-san, the fuck man. Masaru's out, can't depend on him.
"Higuchi, what's this core, explain."
"Momokawa, don't fucking test -"
"You get what my power is right? You stab, and you die!"
Higuchi was so mad, seed like his veins would pop. But, looks like he wasn't stupid enough to use his knife in a fit of rage. I'm glad I don't have to face the worst bad end of dying along with this asshole.
"Tch, fine, I'll tell you."
After a few seconds of silence, Higuchi spoke up. His words seed like those of a loser, but for so reason, as if his sourness abated, he sneered at again.
I have the worst feeling, but I'll listen to what he has to say.
"It's the item needed to activate the ‘Transfer Gate', the core. You grab it from monsters like that dead one over there. it's in their corpse."
Looking to my side, Masaru's been poking around the Armor Bears body with a knife in hand. That knife was different from Higuchi's butterfly knife, a strangely old-fashioned design. Oh right, the knife Higuchi threw was also like that… I wonder if they got it inside the dungeon.
Nevertheless, there's no way you can break the Armor Bear's hard shell with a simple knife like that. Masaru probably figured that too. Giving up on breaking the shell, he resolved himself to get sared in blood and fats, and shoved his hand into the wound.
Can you really retrieve the core like that- I was thinking when,
"Nice! Found it!"
Apparently he did retrieve it. On his right hand soaked in blood, was a dazzling red jewel.
"So that's, the core…"
"Not bad, it's got a big body, and a big core to boot!"
From Higuchi's broad grinned statent, I learn that there's a size distinction in the cores you can get from monsters. This core think is probably crystallized energy like mana or sothing. If there's magic, there's bound to be so form of energy or mana that enables its usage.
Therefore, these transfer gates that warp you to other places must need an adequate amount of mana to run. If not, it's like a car with no gas in the tank.
"I beat the Armor Bear, so that core's mine."
A reasonable claim. The core's an indispensable key item to escaping this place, I have not a bit of intention to hand it to Higuchi.
"Oi Saitou, pack up, we're heading back into the dungeon."
Forget listening, Higuchi's straight out ignoring .
Masaru follows his orders, and cos up beside Higuchi, core in hand. He t my glance for an instant, and awkwardly looked away.
Silently, he hands Higuchi the red core.
"D-don't ss with !"
"What, Momokawa, ye sayin' y'can take this core from , li'l shit?
With a devilish grin, Higuchi replies. Flaunting the bloody core at .
Shit… this bastard found out I don't have offense skills.
"Yer'a shaman? It's the one that kills people right? Ey Momokawa, ye'r mad right? ye'r a geekotaku who thinks I'm so shitty DQNpunk right? right, then do it. Use ye'r shaman magic ‘n curse to death!"
His eyes are assured that I can't. In fact, I can't. I don't have a coback.
"Hyahahaha! See? ya can't do it, fagget! The fuck's a shaman, so shitty vocation that's what. Y'prolly killed that big'un just by chance right?"
You're half right, and half wrong you fucking DQN.
"I'll take this core, ‘n y'll watch. Don't pull nothin, we got three people- Ah, right, riiight, wow, why din't I notice sothing this easy before."
So stupid, with a forced sigh, the highly-waxed-up-brown-haired Higuchi says. He must've thought up sothing awful no doubt.
"Saitou, beat Momokawa's shit in for a bit."
The worst option. ‘Pain Return' reflects back damage to the attacker only. Higuchi won't even feel a scratch if Masaru's the one hitting .
"Eh, I, uh…"
"Do it. And don't fuckin' stop till he cries. Where's that line from? Whate'r, you like that shit right?"
Masaru's frozen. But not forever. He was just hesitating, if Higuchi says it he'll do it. He'll beat up. Without fail.
"Masaru… you being threatened by Higuchi?"
"I'm sorry… Kotarou."
I knew without him saying. Masaru's weaker than Higuchi. Even in a normal fight, though not as tall as Tendou-kun, he can't win against Higuchi who's pretty tall himself. Not even with his dual wielding sword style.
And, even now, after receiving his vocation, he can't.
Higuchi had co stabbing at without an ounce of hesitation. He's probably killed soone already. He's used to it. He's completely ready to murder.
With their life on the line, people will do anything. No questions asked. It's obvious, I'd likely be the sa.
I do get it- but,
"Dammit… even a friend…"
Accepting it? no way. No way I won't resent him when I'm betrayed.
"Kotarooou, sorry!"
It hurt. His fist hurt more than the Armor Bear's strike, more than Higuchi's, much more. It caved in my cheek, along with my heart.
Straddling the fallen-down , Masaru strikes many, many tis.
"Sorry…sorry…"
Tears co out. Mine and his too. Obviously, both of us are equally getting our faces punched in. His mounting is of no relation.
The right cheek swells. The left one too. Nose also bleed. Both of us are a pulp.
"Ah right, I kinda forgot to say, the transfer gate here won't take more than 3 people it seems."
In the middle of the pain and humiliation, the last question is answered.
Ah, I see, only three people can be saved. So the 4th person, , they can't. And they won't.
"If you weren't so shitty shaman, but sothing like a healer, I'd've already left this useless lard and made you a pal."
haha, Masaru, you're a sacrificial pawn see. Why are you still hitting ? Get mad. C'mon, show even a bit of manly pride, and attack that Higuchi like you're gonna die!
With the irreparable crack forming in our friendship, my heart doesn't yell anything but curses.
"Hey, aren't you glad Saitou, your good pal got a shitty vocation. Thanks to Kotarou-kun being a shaman, I wasn't discarded by Higuchi-samaa, aren't you thinking that while hittin’ away. Man, you really got a great friend there. Might be jealous."
Shit, shit, shiiiit!
I'll curse you, curse you, I'll definitely curse you to death! Higuchi, you, I absolutely WILL fucking CURSE you to HELL?!
"Huff….haf…h-Higuchi-san… I can't…"
"Gyahahaha! Man, y’ve sure beco handso, Saitou!"
Higuchi points and laughs at his swollen face. Goddamit, my face must be like that too right now…
"P-pl,ease…"
"Yea yeah, I get it. Can't really kill him now, whatever then."
Even Masaru wouldn't sacrifice his life to kill . Haha, if he was that obedient a slave, it'd really be super convenient.
I leered at Masaru with disdain, as he dismounted . You're heavy, fatass. I'll be cursing you right after Higuchi.
"Seeya Momokawa, till we et again, I'll think up sothing to kill ya. Not that I'd mind if y'get eaten by so monster- ptui."
Finally, after spitting on my face, Higuchi went back into the dungeon.
Shit, dammit… Pain Return won't return simple discomfort.
"Definitely… curse, you…"
I could talk all I want. But right now, I can only shed tears of bitterness while seeing the two of them leave.
The worst kind of bastard, and the traitorous friend.
I'll never forgive them-
Reviews
All reviews (0)