Chương 77: Chapter 21 Akihabara Incident(Part 2)

When I reached Yodobashi Camera, the Small Bone was fighting against a large number of soldiers. One soldier fired into its shoulder. Another struck its torso with a spinning kick, sending it flying. The Small Bone was buried beneath rubble.

"Oh my, Akamine. Am I interrupting something?"

"No. I was just about to lose my voice." I got off the motorcycle and looked at him. Almost all of his fingers appeared to be broken, twisted in unnatural directions. The brass knuckles he wore were battered beyond repair, and one side had completely shattered. If someone possessed a Job, they could fight even without weapons. However… Those hands would be difficult to recover.

"Here. Take this. So give me the Small Bone, alright?"

"Sure, sure. I'll gladly accept it as payment for my bones." I handed Akamine a recovery potion and the rod I had received at the beginning. He bit open the top of the ampoule with his teeth, swallowed the contents in one gulp, checked his fingers, and then called out to the other soldiers before running off to search for another monster.

"Now then, Small Bone. Unfortunately, I don't have much time. Please disappear quickly." The Small Bone crawled out from beneath the rubble. It was different from the one I had seen before. Both of its arms had transformed into beam cannons. The weapons protruding from its back were also beam cannons. Its face resembled an Observation-type. So it had probably absorbed a Bombardment-type. For a moment, red light illuminated the surroundings. Then— A beam shot toward me.

"My eyes are clouded. I cannot see through. The light fades. It cannot reach. What are you looking at? Ah— There is no one there, is there?" The spell was probably meant to weaken the beam's power and allow me to alter my body to avoid it. But unfortunately… Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. My body did not allow changes to my appearance. The spell woven by the Witch collapsed the moment it activated.

I barely managed to move my body with another spell created at the last second. However… The beam had a homing function. It turned at a right angle and chased after me. 『This body is troublesome. Still, it makes a suitable handicap. 』 『Enough with the excuses. Crush it. 』 『Yes, yes. Of course. I don't want to get dirty before the main course. 』"Here, little demon. Follow the sound of clapping hands. Chasing and being chased. Entangled together. Now then… whose does this belong to?" I took a puff from my kiseru.

While clapping my hands, I dodged the beam. The smoke wrapped around it and stole control. The beam twisted violently, resisting. But I would not allow it. That beam belonged to me. I connected the smoke from my kiseru like a chain. I swung it back. Then slammed it down. The monster was crushed beneath its own attack. Its body distorted. Collapsed. And finally disappeared like smoke.

"Kaori. What's next? If there's nothing else, I'll dance with whoever I find."

"From your current location, one kilometer north. There is a Unique. And also… the scheduled time has arrived."

"Alright. Then let's erase it." I ended the communication. I could only pray there were no soldiers nearby.

"The gentle wind knows. It knows your weakness. You must be tired, aren't you? Your standing figure belongs to the past. Play with the wind." The wind that erupted was gentle. It began to erode the building. Everything with form eventually collapses. Everything eventually becomes dust. And eventually— The wind carries it away. I probably could not hear the screams. When the large building disappeared, both soldiers and monsters became easier to see. Next target. One kilometer north.

I continued riding while weaving spells.

"I move forward. Through a path of thorns. Through a path without shadows. Disappear. Your shadow no longer exists." The monsters began fading away. If they had no shadows… then they could disappear to the same dreamlike place as ghosts. Because this place… was not where they belonged.

"If you want to rest, fall back. I'll take the monsters as my payment."

"Thank you! We'll withdraw!"

"Thanks! We'll come back!"

"We're counting on you, First!"

"I'll take my payment on the way back!"

"Do as you like. I'm only taking my payment on the way there." We exchanged smiles. Exchanged glances. Exchanged voices. And continued forward. Puff. Puff. The smoke I exhaled continued to increase. The motorcycle roared at full throttle. My beloved steed was performing perfectly. The small fry disappeared into the smoke.

"Oh? I missed the party. What a shame."

"First, that was cutting it close."

"As long as you're alive, it's a complete victory."

"... Yes. But I can't go any further." In the center of countless crystals and corpses of soldiers… Kudou stood there. His upper body was bare. Blood poured from countless wounds. His right arm was gone, and he held the empty space where it had been. The wound had been cauterized shut. Between his fingers, I could see scar tissue.

"Medicine? With that much blood loss, you won't last if you retreat."

"Unfortunately… The ring was taken along with my arm. I have no idea where it is now." His eyes struggled to focus. He answered as if reacting only to my voice. The situation was severe. I needed to give him enough to survive. But I couldn't give him everything.

"I see. Then take this. You'll have to settle for two bottles."

"... Could you apply them for me?"

"Yes. Of course." Kudou dropped to one knee. I poured the medicine over his head and made him drink one bottle. His wounds healed. But his arm did not return. Still, his eyes regained focus. He looked much more stable.

"I'm withdrawing. I came here prepared to die… I'm sorry."

"That's fine. I'll take your share. So…" I looked at him.

"If you retreat… then live with the same determination you had when you came here to die."

"... Understood. I wish you luck." Crying, Kudou walked toward the northern medical station. His steps were slow, but he was alive. I hoped we could have a drink together after this was over. The numbers had probably decreased considerably. A Unique didn't necessarily have to be defeated by me. Kudou had proven that. Which meant… There had to be someone else who had risked their life and defeated one.

"Kaori. Where are the areas with the most casualties?"

"Approximately two kilometers northwest from your location. Tsukasa… are you injured?"

"No. Now then, let's go." Forward. Forward. Without looking aside. Without stopping. Through the beautiful yet grotesque field of corpses and crystals. Faster. Faster. Faster. Faster. I raced across the field of death. The monsters along the way were my payment for the journey. I struck them with my kiseru. Killed them with smoke. And offered a prayer to the souls of soldiers who had burned away like bonfires. I continued through the land of death.