"What is the meaning of this?"
These were the words Yuichi aka the Death Eye asked me right after I've reached the rooftop of the abandoned building.
By the way, I am currently being pinned by Yuichi on the floor with the barrel of his pistol placed inside my mouth.
"KOTARO-KUN!!!"
On the other hand, Yunihara-san yelled my name in a terrified tone with her body trembling in fear.
To be honest, just having a gun inside of my mouth is simply enough to scare the crap out of me. I don’t even have to include whether the wielder of the said gun will pull the trigger or not. But I know the most that he can both kill me and Yunihara-san if he wants to.
However, I also know that he can't do it because right now--he is in the same trouble with us.
Anyway, let me tell what exactly happened before we caught up in this situation.
. . . . . .
When I and Yunihara-san began to run towards the abandoned building, we started to hear loud gunshots along the way, similar to a roaring thunderstorm.
"It looks like he finally started it."
"Eh?"
"Nothing. Let's go as fast as we could."
"Okay."
Of course, when Yunihara-san heard the gunshots for the first time, her face became worried and asked me, "What are with those gunshots?" to the running me. I just replied that those came from someone I knew just to calm her down.
Going back to the topic, it looks like Yuichi kept his words and maybe covering Johann the same time we are running towards him.
After a few moments, we already reached the abandoned building.
All we need to do is climb to the rooftop the same way Johann and I went there for the first time.
However, just as I am about to reach the last handle bar of the ladder, something unexpected happened.
A minotaur, maybe an eight footer one flew off the rooftop before turning into dust.
"What the--"
While being flabbergasted to what just happened...
"Get off that ladder. Hurry!"
A man with an eyepatch on his right eye appeared at the end of the ladder as he spat out those words with a tinge of both seriousness and anger in it.
That was Yuichi looking down on me.
"Ah...yes..."
Getting surprised from the falling minotaur, my limbs are acting slow to the point that...
"Get out of that ladder."
…he grabbed my left arm with his right hand--and tossed me into the rooftop, towards a minotaur whose element of surprise is also written on its bull-like face.
"DAMN YOU!!!"
With my whole body airborne following the law of inertia, I can only do nothing but to swear at Yuichi.
CRAAAASH!
I crashed into the minotaur's mid-section causing for it to writhe in pain. But it didn't stop us from flying away until I and the minotaur crashed into a concrete wall of the staircase.
. . . . . .
"Ow...ow...ow..."
Damn Yuichi...
I didn't expect him to be that strong.
He wasn't that muscular at all--in fact, his body is just like mine; only a little bit thinner than me.
To think that he managed to throw me out of that ladder towards that minotaur in front of me, I--Yusuke Kotaro tasted again the strength of the Death Eye.
Right now, I'm on top of the unconscious minotaur whose body is now stuck on the wall.
But despite of the fact that the minotaur received the maximum amount of damage from the wall, it still gave me some damage in which from my head down to toe, they are now screaming in pain.
Meanwhile, Yuichi who is still at the end of the ladder silently reached for Yunihara-san who is still on the ladder as he slowly assisted her until she got out of the ladder.
Afterwards, he shifted his gaze to me as he slowly walks towards my place.
On his way, he picked up a pistol somewhere on the concrete floor and locks it before slowly aiming it at the minotaur's head.
With a sound of a BANG!--Yuichi shot the minotaur at the head causing it to turn into dust.
The next I knew is--he gagged me with the barrel of his gun.
. . . . . .
"What is the meaning of this?"
Going back to the reality, I'm still on the floor with Yuichi's on top of me with his gun placed in my mouth.
"Mgghh...mmmm...nnnghh!!"
Because my mouth is filled with the barrel of Yuichi's pistol, obviously I won't be able to speak.
Seemingly to realized that, he slowly removed his gun from my mouth.
"MORON! How do you think I am going to answer with your gun's in my mouth?!"
Also, don't point a dangerous weapon into someone while asking. You can already kill someone by cardiac arrest!
BANG!
Suddenly, he fired his gun in the air which created an echo that reverberated throughout the place.
And then Yuichi retorted:
"I didn't remove my gun from your mouth just to hear your retorts."
"Then don't point your gun into someone's mouth while asking a question!"
"You want to end your life, don't you?"
Yuichi again pointed his gun on me but this time, he placed it on my forehead.
"Do you really want to kill me that bad?"
"What do you think?"
He made a smirk on me as he replied those words on me.
Aaaarghh... He's hard to talk with, damn it!
"I get it. I get it. I only need to answer right?"
Thinking that it would end nowhere if it this continues, I ended all of this stuff with a submissive response to Yuichi.
Hearing that from me, he helped me to get back on my both feet. Yunihara-san, on the other hand, who just saw everything in her eyes and did nothing was snapped back to her senses and help me as well.
. . . . . .
"Say, what are you looking for me? What do you want me to see?"
Just as I got up, I immediately asked Yuichi who has his back facing us.
"They’re already gone."
"Gone?"
"Yeah. Just about they are going to die, they would only turn into dust and disappear."
Away from the killing intent he always showing, Yuichi made a calm reply.
"Did you see that thing earlier?" he asked.
He's referring about that minotaur, right?
"You mean, the minotaur?"
"Yeah. It is impossible for them to exist in the real world since they only appeared in myths, but still they started to appear all over the place. They even breached through my series of traps I installed on the lower floors, damn it."
"Breached? There are traps below here?"
"Yes. In fact, if you guys forced yourself to open that door to the fifth floor; you are already dead before you knew it."
So that's why the door on the fourth floor is locked tightly.
Hey, I just realized something...
"You already knew that?"
With a surprised tone, I asked that to Yuichi.
And then with a face that shows disinterest, he answered:
"Of course, my name Death Eye would come to a waste if I did not realize that you were coming that day."
Suddenly, Yunihara-san who is just listening to our conversation raised her hand.
"So that means...you are...Death Eye, right?"
Yuichi made a sigh.
"Haaa... I guess there is no sense denying it further."
Yuichi turned around, showing his face to the two of us.
"Yes. My name is Death Eye. I am the mysterious killer who is being reported on the news recently for killing several b*stards days ago. Since you guys are standing on my ground, please take care of your words since that will depend whether you guys will leave this place alive or not."
Yunihara-san became speechless at Yuichi's introduction as she slowly walked backward with her trembling feet.
Seeing her scared, I opened my mouth to Yuichi.
"Hey, can you be at least not rude to her? She is not related to our issue, right?"
"I cannot promise that. You guys already knew my face. I cannot afford my identity to be at a greater risk."
"..."
"I guess you won't say anything further. Now, depending on your answer, I might spare your lives."
After saying his answer, Yuichi grabs a pistol from a holster from his waist and pointed it again at me.
"Now. What is the meaning of this?"
Yuichi asked the same question for the third time.
He's also pointing a gun at me while asking a question for the third time.
Haaa... I guess I'm going to deal with it this time.
"What do you mean?" I said.
"Everything. The sudden disappearance of all people here, the appearance of those creatures, also...this."
He picked a glowing blue ball from his pocket and showed in front.
"Is that..."
Hey, that is the Water Orb right? Why is it glowing?
"This is the object Yusuke Kaito gave to me. Ever since, I've been experiencing weird situations that seemed to be unexplainable." he said.
Damn, he's also experiencing some weird events just like Ryuji and I.
Does that mean that one sign that I am appointed as a Servant is that I must experience weird things beforehand?
"I've been thinking if it has something to do with you twins. Are you even a human?"
"OF COURSE I AM!"
Right after I retorted, we just heard a loud banging sound coming from the steel door of the rooftop.
"Tch... They're here again." Yuichi clicked his tongue.
"Again?"
Suddenly, the door blasted out from its position before falling off the building.
What was in front of us is a life sized minotaur with a wooden staff on its hand.
As it waved its staff, the concrete floor started to tremble as cracks starts to form from there and groups of dust, pebble and concrete started to float in the air.
I am sensing a great danger on that creature in front of us.
"(I must do something right away!)"
But just as I formed that resolution on my mind...
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
…Yuichi's shooting at the minotaur with his handgun while wearing his usual killing intent face.
"Yuichi..."
Damn, he reacts too fast.
But still, I must take action as well.
However, the minotaur in front of us did not sustain any damage or to be exact, the bullets coming from Yuichi's gun did not reached him.
Why?
It is because all of them suspend in the air before reaching the minotaur's body, just like the dust and rubble floating in front of it.
Seeing that happening, Yuichi gritted his teeth.
"GET DOWN!"
I looked at Yuichi who is already on the floor with Yunihara-san being covered with his uniform.
"KOTARO-KUN! BEHIND YOU!"
"Eh?"
I looked back at the minotaur in front of us, but it already happened.
The minotaur who just mysteriously blocked the incoming bullets swung his staff downwards launching rubble, dust and even the bullets back at us.
And I was too late to realize that.
I was too late to notice it and respond just like everyone else. Even so, I need to deal with it.
"Sword of Icarus!"
Surprisingly, just as I called for a certain object I need, it is already on my right hand as well as the red gloves with the Fire Orb in the middle.
The Sword of Icarus.
A mysterious magical sword which was given to me by Johann which happened to have the Fire God, Icarus of the Blessed Flame inside of it. It has a reputation for having flames that surrounds itself every time I needed it.
And for the third time around, I will place my life on the line by using this weapon.
The Fire Orb released a bright red light as flames started to cover the blade of my sword. My arms started to move on its own as they hold the sword with two hands before entering a forward stance.
"Flame Safeguard!"
The incoming debris in which the minotaur threw against us at high speed is now about to reach us.
But before they managed to reach all of us, a red magic circle appeared in front of me and when the debris started to hit the circle, it became a sphere of flames large enough to swallow the three of us.
That same sphere of flames burnt all the debris into dust leaving us totally unscathed.
Eventually, the sphere slowly expands in which after a few moments, it collapsed violently burning everything it reaches, including the minotaur who had attacked us.
. . . . . .
"It's gone." I muttered.
The minotaur is gone for good.
It is still surprising that I'm still alive after all of that ruckus; although from the bottom of my heart, I really wanted to wish that this is the last time I'll cheat death.
Anyway, I should check Yuichi and Yunihara-san if they are okay.
"Is everyone okay?"
Leaving the sword on the floor, I slowly walked towards them.
But the shock from the incident made a huge impact on them--especially on Yuichi.
He is already got back on his feet but his face is showing an expression as if it was saying; "It's impossible," or "Unbelievable," or something similar to that.
He did not utter a single word as he just glared at me hostility.
Well, he is already hostile to me to begin with so there is no point considering it further.
I just ignored his piercing gaze and slowly approaches Yunihara-san who is having a hard time standing up.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
"Yes."
I slowly pulled Yunihara-san with my both hands until she is back on her feet.
Right after I helped her stand up...
"Yusuke Kotaro."
Yuichi called me by my full name which caught my attention and looked back at him.
"What is it?"
"What are you?"
On those three words, my facial expression became frozen as that question came to me like an ambush strike.
"Um...well... It's kinda hard to explain..."
"..."
Shit.
He's just glaring me at the eye with extreme suspicion.
Am I that suspicious in that sniper's eye?
I'm already lost from my words not knowing what to say let alone where to start explaining.
However, just as our very hot one on one manly talk is about to begun, something is happening to the artificial sky above us, enough for the two of us to both look there.
There were ten circles with unknown characters around it slowly forming in air in a yellow outline.
"..."
"..."
"Woah..."
Yuichi and Yunihara-san were just staring the circles forming in the artificial sky although Yunihara-san is slowly taking her steps downwards. As for myself, I leaked out a surprised tone while my eyes still stuck on those circles.
When the circles completely formed, they duplicate a copy of that circle in which slowly moved downwards until they've reached the concrete floor.
Then from the sky, a bright yellowish light beamed from the circle above; to the circle on the floor followed by familiar roars that shook the entire building.
What follows that are loud footsteps that you can also consider as stomps.
After a few moments, the first minotaur showed up.
"UGOOOOOHHHH!!!"
It made a mighty roar proclaiming his grand entrance.
But just like earlier...
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Yuichi is now shooting the minotaur in the head with a large pistol.
"Tch..."
However, the minotaur did not bear any damage or even flinch and the bullets just falling on the ground right after hitting its head, causing Yuichi to clicked his tongue and reloads his gun with an another magazine.
Despite being hit by a bullet in the head, the minotaur simply ignored it and with a scimitar, it started to charge at us.
I picked up the Sword of Icarus from the floor with my right hand and shove Yunihara-san back to the ladder with the other one.
"Stay away. Just get out of the building if things get worse."
"Yes!"
I really acted like a hero this time.
But that is the least of my care for now...
Because Yuichi and I will defeat it before the horde comes!
"Leave this one to me!"
I said that to Yuichi before sprinting towards the minotaur.
(Soul Link!)
Just as I heard that sound coming from the Fire Orb, my body feels lighter than usual. Also, I feel that my body already knows what to do.
The only thing I need to do is to just follow it.
As I get closer and closer to the minotaur, it made a downward swing towards me using its scimitar but the Sword of Icarus catches the enemy's weapon, parrying the attack.
"Okay. Here I go!"
With the scimitar only inches away from my sword (and my head) seemingly to continuous trying to take me down, I started to run again by slipping under the scimitar just like in a zipline.
"HAAAAAAA~~"
When I reached the end of the blade, I push it up with all of my strength pushing back the minotaur by a few feet.
"(You're wide open now!)"
Using my two hands, I thrust the Sword of Icarus into the minotaur's mid-section.
"Go away!"
At my yell, the Sword of Icarus begins to cover itself in flames, along with the minotaur.
"UOOOOOH!!! OOOOHHHH!!! HOOOOOOHHH!!!"
The minotaur had nothing to do but to cry in pain as it continued to be swallowed by flames until its crying stopped and disappeared completely from my sight.
Seeing that the first minotaur gone made my heart fall into relief.
But it was too late for that...
Because more minotaurs with different weapons continue to show up from the light coming from the spell circles in front of us.
"What the..."
"..."
"Kotaro-kun..."
We are all frozen at our place as we can't do nothing to stop the minotaurs from swarming the rooftop.
(This will be a lot harder.)
"I know that!"
I retorted to Icarus-sama who had just spoken to me all of a sudden.
Suddenly, Yuichi spoke to me.
"Give me a minute."
"Ha? Why all of a sudden?"
"Just give me a minute. I'll be fighting after that."
Fight huh?
I looked at the scene in front of us.
"Isn't it better if we run away? And besides; gunshots seem to be ineffective against them."
"Just do it!"
From Yuichi's sudden demand, I suddenly have a desire to look what is on his mind--only if I could.
His gun won't work at the minotaurs. I already realized that just the time Yuichi first shot the minotaur with staff. Yuichi should have known that more than anyone else here, right?
Then why does he demands me a minute?
AAARRRGGGHHH!!! I DON'T ANYMORE!
I just need to give him a minute, right?
......
"OOOOOOOHHHH!!"
About ten minotaurs who just made a mighty roar is now running towards our direction--with their weapons fully brandished, of course.
"HAAAAAAA!!!"
As for myself, I started to run towards them with the intention of buying time, no matter what.
......
With the Fire Orb glowing, I moved toward the entire horde with an endless chain of parrying and slashing towards them.
It's a 1 vs 10 disadvantage with me on the losing side, but I can't afford to lose.
"(I need to buy more time for Yuichi but I can't afford to die as well!)"
That is what I thought to myself as I continue to fend the minotaurs off.
And then I looked again at both Yuichi and Yunihara-san behind me.
"Damn, they are taking too long!"
They are now detaching a mounted sniper rifle on top of the roof fence.
By the way, when I begin to run like hell towards the minotaurs, I think I heard Yuichi saying something like "You there, help me with this" to Yunihara-san. I lately realized that he was referring to a mounted sniper rifle.
"What's taking them too long?"
I really wanted to ask him "Why?" of all things. He already knew that bullet won't stop them from attacking and still he wants to use a gun to fight.
He should have his reasons for this, I guess.
By the mean time, I wouldn't mind what the Death Eye wants to do.
After all, my job is not done yet!
All of a sudden...
BOOOOM!
A loud explosive yet roaring sound shook the entire place as both the horde of minotaurs and I are startled by the sound.
What follows that is a minotaur with a large hole on its forehead falling on its feet before turning into dust.
The sound itself is very familiar to me--in fact, I once heard it before. And there is only one person I knew right now who could make that same sound.
"Hey!"
I looked back at them while yelling Yuichi's pseudo-name only to know that...
BOOOOM!
He's already holding that gun, the gun that started our entire search for him--the Arctic Warfare Magnum.
A large rifle painted in army green which has a long barrel and a thick butt. It also has a magnified scope for aiming enemies from a distance. It is well known to the soldiers and FPS players around the world for its excellent stopping power.
A dangerous weapon only military should handle but for some reasons, a high school student has his hands on it--and he is now firing that at the minotaur's in front of me.
There is also Yunihara-san breathing heavily behind me.
He did give her a hard job, didn't he?
Miraculously, that gun does damage--no...death to its targets ignoring the fact that the same projectile did not penetrated the same target for the first time.
With every load of a bullet and a pull of its trigger, Yuichi managed to kill the minotaurs one by one. I can't help myself but to watch in amusement.
"So this is Death Eye, huh?"
I made a wry smile to myself as I said those words.
"Watch out!"
Yunihara-san suddenly shouted at me with fear shown on her face.
When I turned around, one of them is now getting closer to me--so close that I can finally see the minotaurs detailed characteristics. In fact, by the time I saw the incoming minotaur, it was about to throw a punch on me.
And I did not manage to notice that incoming attack--no... I was so amazed at Yuichi that I forgot that I should be fighting too.
"!"
Too late to either dodge or fight back, I crossed my arms in front of my face bracing for the incoming impact.
"GUUOOOOOHHH!!!"
Being accompanied by a mighty roar, the minotaur finally threw the punch at the defending me.
BAM!
"Khhh..."
I gritted my teeth as sudden pain jolted out from the nerves of my both arms.
It's so painful that I wanted to cry.
Even so I can't do it yet, because the minotaur's fist continues to drive towards me while slowly changing its course.
And before I knew it--I am already knocked out from the floor and now flying towards Yuichi at great speed.
"(SHIT!)"
I lately realized, the minotaur just performed a strong left hook in order to knock me to the right where Yuichi and Yunihara-san are there. But just like what I told earlier, I lately realized it--meaning, it is too late for me to do something about it.
Yuichi also saw me coming but he was surprised about it that he did not manage to react for the time being.
The result is...
I slammed into Yuichi and Yuichi slammed against the concrete part of the roof fence. Yunihara-san managed to move away at the last second avoiding the major hit.
Because of that, Yuichi's gun was knocked away from him as well as the Sword of Icarus from me.
Damn it! Becoming a projectile after receiving a punch and then slamming into other people sucks!
My arms are painful; my body is screaming in pain; I can't even move my fingers.
I'm totally in an awful position and as for Yuichi...
"..."
...he's out cold, putting it simply.
"Everyone!"
Yunihara-san immediately came to help us up.
She helped me get up first and when I am already standing on a knee with my newly picked sword as a support, I shove her arm away.
"I'm fine. Just wake that guy up."
I looked back at Yuichi who is still not moving.
With a nod, she now went to Yuichi to assist him.
"(F*ck... This is so bad...)"
My body is still recovering from that blow and now, I need to protect the two of them until Yuichi wakes up.
With my trembling legs and shaking arms, I still brandished the Sword of Icarus in front of the minotaurs with the intention of not defeating my enemies but to protect my allies.
"(Even so, I won't give everything up!)"
"UWOOOOOOHHH!!!"
(Soul Link!)
I let out a cry as I started to run towards my enemies with letting God make the way for me.
Meanwhile, Yuichi slowly opened his eyes as he was being shaken by Yunihara-san.
"Thank goodness, you finally woke up!" she cried.
Seeing her relieved face, Yuichi tried to stand up; only for his weakened arms to collapse and fall to the ground for the second time.
"Shit! That idiot... He even dragged me in this!"
"W-wait. Please take a rest for--"
"Don't touch me!"
At his words, Yunihara-san took a few steps backwards while watching Yuichi.
Afterwards, he started to crawl for his gun that is now several inches away from him.
"Move, you stupid body!"
He just kept on swearing as he continues to crawl for his gun.
However, one of the minotaurs who happens to be I'm fighting now has a war hammer on its hand slammed it on the ground creating a large shockwave from there.
That shockwave made me fall on a knee for a moment but I quickly recovered from that, but for Yuichi who's crawling for the gun.
"What?"
The shockwave blasted him back at the steel fence knocking the Water Orb from his pocket of his uniform.
"AAAAAAAH!!!"
"Yuichi-san!"
Screaming in pain, Yunihara-san went into him for aid.
To make the matters worse, there is a minotaur walking towards them. It has a long rusty spear and a buckler attached on its hand.
"Yunihara-san!" I yelled.
Shit! I can't do anything to help them.
Right now, I'm dealing with three minotaurs including the one with a war hammer and there is no way that I can slip away from my enemies just to help them.
"Yuichi!"
On my yell, he lifted up his head and looked at me.
Suddenly, his face became grimaced and now looking at me with hostility in his eyes.
"F*ck you." he spat before slowly moving to his dropped gun.
There, between him and the gun something is slowly blinking in bluish-white light. A small glass ball with the size of a baseball is slowly blinking.
"That thing..."
He looked at the Water Orb.
After giving it a hard look, he gritted his teeth and continued to make his way to pick his gun up.
However, the minotaur continues to walk towards them with his gun about few inches from it. Eventually, the minotaur stepped on the sniper rifle breaking it into pieces. It made Yuichi angry that he started to bit his own lips.
On the other hand, the Water Orb is only inches away from him. Only a little effort is needed to pick it up.
"It all started with that thing. Damn those twins!"
He is really mad at us. I really thought he's mad at the minotaur who broke his gun.
Even so, Yuichi might believe that this stuff happened just because Johann gave him the Water Orb.
I wouldn't be surprised if after this, he suddenly snipe me one day. Of course, I don't want for that thought to become a reality.
Regarding that, Yuichi closed his eyes for a moment maybe for a little meditation.
Then after a few seconds, he yelled loud enough to create an echo and reverberate around...
"Yusuke Kotaro! Yusuke Kaito! Someday, I'm going to kill both of you!"
...before grabbing the Water Orb with all of his strength.
"Yuichi..."
Even though there are still enemies in front of me, I can't help myself but to look back at him who just had the guts to threaten me in his unbelievable situation.
As the Water Orb became in contact with Yuichi's hand, it shone a very bright bluish-white light where all of us here can't do anything but to cover our eyes.
Then, I heard series of high-pitched ear piercing sounds in which I don't have an idea where it came from.
A few moments later after the Water Orb glowed, I opened my eyes once more.
Although my sight is still in a fuzzy state, I must bear with it in order to fight these minotaurs in front of me.
However as my sight slowly became clearer, there is a brand new scene in this very place.
There were minotaurs froze at their place as if they were statues.
These same creatures have large holes on their body. Some of them are on the stomach; some of them are in the chest; and some of them are on the head.
There were also minotaurs whose body parts are missing and now crying in pain.
Those who can move are now standing back at us, seemingly to be intimidated but still ready to fight. Even the ones I'm fighting before are now taking distance from the rest of us.
Speaking of us, obviously I'm fine since I can describe everything I'm seeing right now.
As for Yunihara-san...
"Uuuu... My eyes are still hazy..."
She is sitting on the floor while rubbing her eyes.
There is a high chance that she was totally blinded by the light coming from the Water Orb.
Then I checked on Yuichi...
"..."
His gaze is blank as if he is looking into nothingness.
His face, compare to the killing intent he always show; his face now is giving a serious expression that it gives its target the creeps. Also his body is now on a prone, a basic position for a sniper where a gun is placed along with him, resting its butt on his right shoulder.
The gun itself looks like an AWM he earlier used but if you looked at it closely, there were bluish white outlines around the gun and a small blue glass ball on the middle of a gun. The Water Orb is also nowhere to be found.
Having a sense of familiarity on the gun, I tried to call on Yuichi.
But before I manage to say a single word...
"Begone..."
...Yuichi mumbled in a cold tone in which the minotaurs that were froze at their positions instantly became dust.
"Whoa... (Awesome!)"
So this is what Yuichi the Death Eye can do.
Wait, I just realized: I saw Yuichi's gun being stepped by a minotaur causing it to crush into pieces.
Right now, he is now holding a gun which characteristics being similar to the one that was crushed before. There is also a blue glass ball being placed in the middle of that gun which is similar to the Water Orb.
"H-hey...does that mean Yuichi's a Servant now?"
I asked Icarus-sama for an answer but I only got nothing.
I really want to hear an answer regarding that as soon as possible. But right now, I must help them while the enemy is still like this.
"Are you guys alright?"
"Yeah, my sight is getting clearer right now."
Yunihara-san answered me while still rubbing her eyes.
"You'll be fine, don't worry."
I said that to her as I pat her on the head before moving on to Yuichi.
"Hey, are you alright?"
"Don't talk to me..."
He answered me with his usual tone of hostility towards me.
"Then at least let me help you get up."
"Don't bother doing it. I'm fine with this."
"Fine. Have it your way."
Ah...Yuichi's fine as well.
Despite of his words, he should be fine at this moment.
Since we are all still in one piece, there is no reason not to fight them, isn't it? We don't have a choice but to fight anyway.
I slowly brandished the Sword of Icarus in front of the minotaurs while looking at them with seriousness.
"Don't fail me." I said.
(It's up to your will whether you fail or not. I'm just here to give you strength.)
"Yeah yeah. I got it."
The sword slowly covers itself in flames as I mutter the words: "I can do this," for numerous times. And when the sword is completely covered in flames and well as having enough courage to go again for a fight, I started to run towards them while uttering a loud "I CAN DO THIS!!!" followed by a bright glow coming from the Fire Orb.
Just as I started to run towards the minotaurs, Yuichi behind me started to pull the trigger of his gun as high-pitched sounds I earlier heard echoed throughout the building.
And when the time I enter my sword's attacking range, the minotaurs in front me started to have large holes which in an instant, killing its targets one by one before disappearing.
Those large holes were made by his high caliber bullets and a squirt of water jet ejecting from the barrel of his rifle which happens to be travelling as fast as the speeding bullet.
The bullet pierces through the flesh of the target followed by the high speed water jet which enlarges the bullet hole bringing a sure kill to the target--that is what Yuichi told me a few minutes later; or at least, that is what he noticed while using the gun.
Anyway, he is already attacking them so I guess; I should the same to those scumbags.
. . . . . .
. . .
And the battle is finally over...
Although the word "finally" seemed to be hyperbolic despite that it all happened a while ago, it still gives me the feeling that I'm already fighting for an eternity.
The minotaurs kept on appearing and we kept on attacking them without any hesitation.
I already felt that time that we are just equalizing the numbers, resulting in an endless stalemate where if ever one of us groups makes a mistake, they will lose or to be exact; will die.
But we don't have to worry about that since we already won the fight and now resting against the concrete part of the fence as a prize. The Sword of Icarus I earlier wielded is nowhere to be found now.
"Haaa, this thing is over..."
I said to Yuichi while surrendering my back against the wall, trying to make myself relaxed. However, he did not said a word and instead, he kept on staring on the gun in front of him.
The AWM-like gun that shoots bullets and water to its targets.
I already realized during the earlier battle that the gun in front of us might be the former Water Orb. Maybe he is thinking the same thing, as he opens his mouth after a long time of staring.
"Tell me..."
"Tell me what?"
I shifted my gaze at Yuichi who is sitting at the left side (by the way, we are now sitting at the pavement with our backs resting against the concrete; Yunihara-san's on my right and Yuichi's on my left making me the middle man).
"What are you? Why are we in this place? Are you even a human?"
"Hey, throw those fastballs at me one at a time--"
I really want to yell, "I AM A HUMAN!!!" at him for those sudden questions. But it looks like Yuichi doesn't have time with jokes since he's already glaring at me.
So with a calm expression I rarely wear, I gave my answer to Yuichi.
"I mean, things here are harder to explain than it looks."
"I don't care. Just give me your answer."
Haaa... I guess I have to explain this complicated situation we are now facing.
I gulped in some air before answering Yuichi's fastballs.
"First of all, I am a human. You, me, Yunihara-san and even Johann are still human."
"Johann..."
"Kaito's real name. Also, we are not blood-related although he always said that he and I are the same person."
"It doesn't have any sense."
"Deal with that, I know it better than you. Secondly, we are now Servants of some certain gods, appointed by Johann using that thing in the middle of that rifle."
"There's no way that thing will ever be this lethal. That's ridiculous!"
He looked down at his rifle or more exactly, at the bluish-white glass ball in the middle of it.
When he realized what it really was, Yuichi shouted as he stood up and now pointing a pistol he picked somewhere in front of my face. Seeing me being pointed by a gun made Yunihara-san who is listening at me grabbed at my sleeve tightly.
Even I trembled a little on that, but I did not let Yuichi see though my trembling and instead continued on explaining.
"I know it's ridiculous. Even I, who just become a Servant some days ago can't believe what I am doing right now."
"You?"
"Yeah. It's too embarrassing to admit this but I still think that everything here is far too ridiculous. I think I don't have the right to say this to you but right now, we are now in the same shoes."
I blurted out those words out of the blue but for some reasons, what I just said to him reflects to what am I actually feeling.
Being unable to enjoy your normal days since some extraordinary event ended it followed by numerous weird things--that is me to be exact.
Being attacked by a wanted criminal then revived by person who proclaimed to be me in some faraway place, those ended my normal with numerous fights and ridiculous things as a replacement.
That is might be the same case with Yuichi.
"So that guy really has something to do with everything here." he muttered.
"Let Johann explain that to you more. As for why are we here--"
Just to where I exactly paused my statement, a loud jolting sound echoed through the swirly sky followed by a thunderclap.
A lightning strike followed by a thunderclap...
That could be Johann's doing, couldn't he?
After all, he's the only person I knew who could create electricity from his fingertips.
Hearing that loud sound from the sky, Yuichi moved his gaze from me into nowhere. His eyes suddenly narrowed as if he was looking at something very far from here.
"What are you looking there?"
Maybe because I don't have the will to get up again, I simply asked Yuichi only to be ignored.
He walked away from the fence as he approaches a green chest similar to an ammo stash nearby. There, he picked a pair of binoculars before walking back at us. He puts the binoculars at his eyes as he tries to look for something with that thing on him.
After a few moments of looking, while still using his binoculars he said this to me:
"Get out from my building."
"Hey, what's the big idea here?"
"You don't know how to listen, do you?"
"Why do I have to listen to you? Why are you even saying these things?"
I can't help myself but to raise my voice due to Yuichi's lack of explanation.
"What do you mean by that? I can't understand you."
"Yusuke Kotaro, I'm going to say this once: trouble."
"Trouble?"
"Do I have to say that again?"
"N-no. It's not like that."
I quickly waved my hands to Yuichi who had just pointed me (again) with a gun.
"I mean, what kind of trouble are you saying?"
"Just get out of here. Yusuke Kaito needs you."
"If you had just said that to me ear--wait...WHAT?!"
I gave a wonderful retort in answer to Yuichi's "wonderful" statement.
"Johann's in trouble?"
"Do I even need to repeat that?"
He said that with a tinge of annoyance in his face. Also, Yuichi did not point his gun at my face.
"N-no. I already understand everything."
"..."
He did not say anything beyond that. Perhaps, that is my cue to leave.
Oh yeah, I'll should go down through the ladder again since Yuichi said earlier that there were traps installed on the lower floors.
I slowly approached the rusty old ladder when Yunihara-san hesitantly called at me.
"Um..."
"What?"
Based on her worried expression, I instantly found out what she is about to say next. So before she managed to say that, I have to say no to her.
But as I am about to give her an answer...
"Leave that to him. It is much safer if you are here."
...Yuichi beat me to it.
"I'm in need for people anyway." he added.
"(I knew it!)"
He's insisting on making Yunihara-san stay just to make her work. I really don't know what to say.
"O-okay."
Surprisingly, Yunihara-san nodded at him although she still looked at me with worry at her face.
"Nothing will happen if you just worry. Yuichi's right anyway. You can't come with me."
Yunihara-san did not say anything and only stared at me.
......
...
Now, I'm bothered by her gaze.
But like what I just said earlier, nothing will happen if I worry too much. I must see what Johann is doing with my own eyes. I continued to walk to the ladder when Yuichi called me.
"You."
"What?"
"Use the stairs."
He answered while pointing his index finger at the staircase not too far from us.
"Why would I do that? There still might be traps in there."
"Nothing will happen if you just worry."
He threw me the same answer I said to Yunihara-san causing to me to get pissed.
"Wha--"
"Outside this building are the same creatures. I can provide you cover along the way. His location is on--"
In his continuous spitting out of directions, I can't help but to listen especially to the part he's going to tell Johann's location.
As he suddenly paused on his latter staement, I can feel that my senses are more active than before. Maybe this is the true meaning of being attentive.
"--the school grounds."
Finally, Yuichi said the words I'm waiting for.
Johann's latest location.
Come to think of it; after the call, Johann didn't call me back although his line was forcibly cut off.
Who knows what already happened to him down there.
Wait...
I almost forgot something important.
During the call, Yuichi said that he will cover Johann. The question is--did he do it?
Although I heard several gunshots as we run towards this building, I still don't know if those shots are meant for Johann's protection.
Because of that, I should ask Yuichi about that matter before I leave.
"Hey. Before I leave you here, I would like to ask something."
"What is it?"
"Did you really help Johann?"
"Yes."
"I see."
I am about to go now when suddenly, Yuichi called me again.
"Wait."
"What is it this time?"
Looking back at Yuichi once more while slowly walking to me, he took out something from the pocket of his pants.
"Here. Take this."
In his right hand is a piece of headphone with a clip intended for the ears. Also, there is a small microphone extending from the headphone itself.
"What is this?" I asked.
"Communication device. Just in case your girlfriend worries about you."
"She is not my girlfriend!"
Why is he thinking that Yunihara-san is my girlfriend?
"Anyway, I'll talk to you through that thing later on." he added.
"I understand. And thanks."
After saying my honest thanks to Yuichi, I finally left the rooftop.
"(So Johann's should be alive by this moment.)"
It is the first thing that entered my mind while taking downstairs. Yuichi did really keep his word and covered him with gunshots. The rest of it...well, I can imagine what happens next.
"I should get going too."
Bit by bit, my feet continues on gaining speed as I continue to go down and before I know it, I am already running through the stairs while skipping some steps.
We already had a bad time with the minotaurs up there. Johann might be having a bad time as well, or even worse.
The only difference between us is that I, Yunihara-san and Yuichi managed to win against the wave of minotaurs.
And as for Johann, whose situation is still unknown; seeing him personally is the best thing I can only do for now.
)
