kscans

Chapter 21 - A Trail of Blood

"Alright, you two be careful now."

"We will. You watch out for fires and robbers, too."

"We're off."

"Okay. Have a good trip."

And with that, I saw my parents off on their trip. They were taking the train to the big station near the prefectural office, then the bullet train to Nara. It was a two-day, one-night plan. My dad had even used up his accumulated paid leave for it.

After seeing them off, I immediately started watching the anime I had recorded on the living room TV.

Just as I finished binge-watching two episodes of my favorite show this season, my phone rang. It was Aira-san.

"Hello, Yagawa speaking."

'Hey there, it's Aira-san! Are you free right now? You are, aren't you? How about you hang out with us older sisters for a bit?'

"Uh, no, I'm not free."

'Whaat?! Impossible… Kyo-chan-kun has plans? What kind of plans, I wonder?'

"I'm planning on lazing around while watching the anime I recorded."

'So my invitation ranks even lower than that?! This is an invitation from a beautiful college student, you know! What happened to the usual you, the one who's like an incarnation of lust?!'

"Who are you calling an incarnation of lust?"

Sure, I'm a healthy high school boy. My libido is at least average, if not more.

But that's beside the point.

"Because hanging out with you and Erina-san is incredibly draining…"

'That's just proof of how much fun you're having.'

I could tell she had a smug look on her face without even seeing her. Not that I'd deny it.

It really is fun hanging out with them. More than just the fact that they're beautiful women, there's something great about just messing around and playing games with people.

Ah, it makes me nostalgic for middle school. It's heartless, but I barely get any replies when I message my old friends on social media anymore. It seems they've already made new friends over there.

This is how human relationships fade, how friends become acquaintances, and then strangers…

I let out a small sigh and put down the remote.

"Alright, fine. So, what are we doing today?"

'Mhm, mhm. Your body is honest, no matter what your mouth says, Kyo-chan-kun.'

"I'm hanging up."

'I was just kidding!?'

"No, I'm switching over to Telepathy."

I ended the call and went to my room. I took the earring out of my drawer and put it on.

From the way she was talking, Erina-san was probably participating too. Telepathy would be more efficient.

With that thought, I clipped it to my earlobe. I'd gotten quite used to this.

'Kyo-chan-kun! Kyo-chan-kun, can you hear me!!'

Sighing at the obnoxiously loud earring, I picked up my game console.

When it came down to it, I had no objections to playing. I might as well just relax and enjoy it.

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry to keep you waiting. I'm turning on the console n—"

'Kyo-chan-kun. Turn on the TV right now.'

"Huh?"

Her unusually serious tone cut me off. Confused, I returned to the living room, console in hand.

Then, I used the remote to turn on the television.

"What is it? I've never even connected the TV and the game console before."

'Calm down, be rational. Watch the news.'

"What are you talking about? What's so—"

'We repeat our earlier report. A dungeon stampede is currently occurring in three locations.'

"…Huh?"

A news anchor was reading from a script with a grim expression.

At the top of the screen, 'EMERGENCY DUNGEON ALERT' was displayed, along with the names of the areas affected by the stampede.

And among them…

'Kyo-chan-kun. One of them is about one train station away from your house. The chances of the damage reaching you are low, but be prepared to evacuate with your family at a moment's notice.'

I didn't have time to answer Aira-san.

I immediately tried to call my parents on my phone, but the lines were congested and I couldn't get through.

Wait, calm down. Right, there was a number for disasters…

"Aira-san! In a disaster, what number am I supposed to call?!"

'…For the message dial service, it's 171.'

"Not a message service… isn't there one that connects right away?!"

'There isn't. Social media is relatively easier to connect through, but even that is unstable right now. I'll say it again, calm down.'

"How can I be calm?!"

I clutched my head, tangling my fingers in my bangs, and desperately tried to remember the train schedule.

It takes twenty to twenty-five minutes by car from home to the station, and I think the train was scheduled to arrive soon after they got there, which means my parents are in the affected area right now…!!

It could just be my imagination. But to make things worse, my Spirit Eye was throbbing.

As if it were on the verge of showing me the worst possible 'future.'

"…My parents might be at the location of the stampede. I'm heading to the scene now."

'Understood. Leave the navigation to me. Erina-kun just left as well. Meet up with her on the way.'

"Wha…?"

I thought she would try to stop me, but her response was the complete opposite.

On top of that, Erina-san left? Why?

'Do you have time to hesitate? We can talk while you run.'

"R-Right!"

'And even if you're in a hurry, lock your door. Things have been dangerous lately.'

"Uh, ah, right."

I stumbled over to get my keys, shoved only my phone into my pocket, and burst out the front door.

I locked the door with a clack and put the keys in my pocket. I immediately summoned my Arcane Gear.

As long as I made my sword and knife partially disappear, I shouldn't be stopped by the police on the way. They'd probably get mad at me for jumping into a disaster area, but I didn't give a damn.

After confirming there were no cars, I started running. Aided by the wind, I unleashed the maximum output I could currently manage.

One step, two, and by the third, I hit top speed.

The speed I'd clocked at the training ground in the next city over was around 70 km/h on a straightaway. If I take shortcuts, I should be faster than a car…!

'You'll run into trouble on the main street. I'll guide you through a route with less foot traffic that still leads to your destination. Open your ears and listen up.'

"Got it. But, why…"

'I've already researched the geography around your house with Erina-kun when we were planning to prank you.'

"That's not what I mean, why are you helping me…!"

'Turn right at that traffic light.'

"Right!"

I shouted back, almost in a frenzy, and changed direction.

My soles scraped against the asphalt as I released wind diagonally. I touched a telephone pole for a split second with my left hand, using my arm strength to re-accelerate. I made the turn with almost no loss of speed.

The road was barely wide enough for a single car to pass. But that didn't matter to me.

I dodged an oncoming bicycle, leaped over a car, and avoided pedestrians.

Spirit Eye and 'Mana Release.' Using both to their fullest, this was easy.

So, I just had to go faster…!

'As for the reason I'm helping… hmm. A few things come to mind, but there are two main ones. Ah, run straight to the elementary school. You should be able to see it soon.'

"Okay."

'The first is calculation. Both my lab and I want you to continue helping with our research. Other universities or companies might offer you better compensation and environments, you see. I want to put you in my debt.'

A red light glowed on the road ahead.

But there was a pedestrian bridge next to it. I sprinted up the rusty stairs in three steps and leaped to the other side in one go. I jumped down the stairs in front of me in a single bound, using my hands and feet to land.

"Ngh…!"

The impact sent a jolt of pain through my joints, but I didn't care. It would heal soon enough.

'When you see the elementary school gate, turn right at the crossroads in front of the main entrance.'

"Roger!"

'Now, as for the second reason… what can I say? It's just personal sentiment.'

I heard the creak of her chair as she leaned back.

'Families… are better off together. That's a sentiment both I and Erina-kun share.'

"Kyo-chan! Over here, over here!"

A little ways after turning right, Erina-san was waving at me, dressed in her ninja gear.

'She's placed a marker in front of the aquarium in the next town. You should be able to take a major shortcut. I've prepared another map on my computer just now. I'll handle the navigation from here on out.'

"Thank you… so much…!"

I was so focused on running that I'd only half-heard what Aira-san had said, aside from the navigation parts.

But—her voice, a mix of kindness and sadness, lingered strangely in my ears.

*

I jumped to the next town with Erina-san's teleportation and then ran some more.

"Kyo-chan! I'll be fine, you go on ahead!"

"Right!"

'Splitting up is… no, it's fine. Erina-kun will manage somehow.'

I ran, and ran, and just kept running.

'—Tch… Kyo-chan-kun. I have good news and bad news.'

I could hear Aira-san's click of the tongue.

But I didn't slow down. Abandoned cars gradually became more noticeable on the road, and I started hearing all sorts of sounds, of voices.

'The good news is that no matter what you do from now on, the police won't stop you.'

And then, the devastation, the…

'The bad news is, dealing with this area has been postponed. It'll be a while before help arrives.'

…hell, spread out before my eyes.

───I thought I knew what a battle was.

For all my victories born from overwhelming specs, I thought I had experienced a life-or-death struggle.

I had deluded myself into thinking I understood how easily life could be snuffed out.

And I had come here without any preparation, without any conviction.

This smell, like iron mixed with smoke.

The screams I could hear, the sticky wind clinging to my skin.

The blood-soaked ground that filled my vision, and the corpses of the people lying there.

I was seeing, feeling it all for the first time.

"Ah, ahh…!"

I realized my feet had stopped.

I had to hurry. I had to search. But the moment the tip of my boot touched a red puddle, I found myself rooted to the spot.

I couldn't look away. A young couple, both with their heads missing, lying together. An old man, missing everything below the waist, staring at the sky with vacant eyes. Next to an empty baby carriage, a woman, her intestines spilled out on the ground.

"Hk…"

My throat constricted, and no words came out.

But what was I even trying to say? A shout of anger? A scream? A meaningless shriek?

No. It was 'denial.' I was about to say that this situation, this reality, was just a dream.

But that's impossible. This is really happening.

Every one of my five senses was screaming it at me.

'Suuuu… WAH!!'

"Hk!"

A loud shout in my ear made my shoulders jump, and I snapped back to reality.

I must have been holding my breath, as I coughed a little.

'Can you hear me, Kyo-chan-kun? Don't ignore me like that. It makes me want to cry.'

"Sorry…"

'If you want to turn back, I won't stop you. In fact, as an adult, I should be telling you to go home right now. If Grandma finds out about this, I'll get more than just a rap on the knuckles.'

"…I'm sorry. I can't go back."

'Is that so? Then I'll continue navigating. For now, head toward the station. I'll give Erina-kun the same instructions.'

"Right! …Thank you."

'No need for thanks. I told you. This is calculation, and simple sentiment.'

"Even so, thank you."

I planted my feet on the blood-soaked ground and ran.

…Please, let this all be for nothing.

Let my parents not be in this town, but somewhere safe. I feel bad for them, but I desperately want my actions to be a complete overreaction.

The houses I could see had their doors and windows smashed in, with bloodstains everywhere. Human corpses were strewn about carelessly, and a car that had crashed into a telephone pole was smoking.

I didn't want to believe my parents were in a place like this.

"H-Aaaaaaaah?!"

A scream echoed from not too far away.

The high-pitched voice was male, but I couldn't identify the person.

I immediately ran toward the sound and leaped. I cleared a concrete block wall, used a house's roof as a stepping stone, and jumped again.

Where I landed, a monster stood with a blood-soaked weapon before a man who had collapsed to the ground.

───That's not my dad. It's a stranger.

The monster, noticing me observing the man, turned its gaze toward me.

'Bugoo…!'

An ugly pig's face, a belly thick with fat. In contrast, its limbs were powerfully built, and its thick-looking skin was gray.

Clad only in a loincloth, it held a crude axe. The blade was chipped all over, but it was more than enough to kill a person. Especially in the hands of a monster.

A body over two meters tall, weighing well over 100 kilograms. A grotesque man-pig hybrid, armored in muscle and fat.

Orc.

A D-Rank monster was standing in the middle of the street.

'Buoooooooh!!'

With a war cry, the Orc directed its killing intent at me.

But…

"Huuuuuh…!"

So what?

As I exhaled, I kicked off the asphalt with all my strength and charged the 'enemy.'

My Spirit Eye predicted the trajectory of the axe as it swung down in a one-handed blow. Adding a twist of my waist, I swung my two-handed sword in an upward diagonal slash and met its blade.

Even if I was losing in raw strength, the power of the wind allowed me to forcefully parry it. I pressed forward with the momentum, and as the Orc's axe was pushed upward along with its arm, I swung my blade through its neck.

One clean cut. Beheaded, the monster collapsed to the ground behind me.

Without looking back, I spoke to the man.

"Are you okay?"

"H-huh, y-yeah, ah…"

"Then run."

With only those words, I started running again. I didn't have the luxury of escorting strangers to safety right now.

As I moved my legs, my eyes scanned the area for any landmarks.

"Aira-san. There's a school diagonally to my right."

'…Probably a middle school. Alright. Head there for now, then turn left onto the main street and go straight.'

"Got it."

A droplet of water hit my helmet with a soft pat.

Rain. Small raindrops were falling sporadically from the overcast sky.

With each drop that hit me, I felt the blood in my veins run cold.

What I had to do settled into my chest with a thud. My limbs, which had needed a conscious effort to move, now moved naturally.

But… even so.

'Bugo, bugo…'

'Buaaaah!'

On a road stained dark red, flanked by stopped vehicles, monsters were cheerfully feasting on 'meat.'

My blood should have been running cold. And yet, seeing this sight…

"Get out of"

My voice, my throat, trembled.

Feeling a strange heat simmering deep in my brain, I acted on an emotion I couldn't fully comprehend myself.

"the waaaaaaaaaaay!!"

Whether it was out of rage, or to mask my fear, I didn't know.

I just relentlessly swung my sword at every 'enemy' that blocked the path I was given.