Chapter 19: Surprise Attack
“Hmm?”
I felt an odd sensation and turned to glance back at the house. Maintaining Gravity Magic was second nature to me now, so it posed no issue. For just a fleeting moment, I sensed a presence… or was it just my imagination? It had been four months since I last encountered anyone other than my master in the Forest of Enchantment.
“Wait, if it’s my master, she might say something like, ‘If you pull off a surprise attack, you might gain a Skill…'”
I cautiously approached the front door. The key was in place, but I usually left it unlocked for short absences. It made sense that she would suggest solo hunting as a means to practice surprise attacks.
“…Other than that strange feeling, everything seems normal.”
Just a brief hint of presence; my master certainly had a knack for subtlety… Peering into the entrance, I found no one there. The dining area was empty too… That left only my master’s room and my own. I decided to check my room first…
As I peered inside, my gaze fell upon a leather pouch that had been emptied out on the table.
“That’s… the money that the damn princess forced upon me and—”
A brooch? Just as I was about to voice my thoughts, a surge of Magic Power erupted from within the room, and a shadow cloaked in black robes lunged at me from my blind spot, radiating a murderous intent.
“Ugh!”
I instinctively jerked my head back to evade the attack, but a sharp pain shot through my neck. From the figure in black, a basketball-sized Fireball materialized and hurtled toward me. Off-balance, I allowed myself to fall backward, using the momentum to strike the Fireball with a magically charged fist, redirecting it toward the ceiling.
Planting my hands on the ground in a bridge position, I kicked off with my magically empowered legs, launching myself into a backflip and delivering a powerful kick to the jaw of the black-cloaked figure that was closing in after the Fireball.
“Ugh!”
With a thunderous explosion, the roof of the house was blown away. The second figure in black, who had attempted to slash at me, retreated, but it seemed they hadn’t coordinated their attack to come at me simultaneously. I caught a glimpse of the first figure staggering to regain their footing while I turned my attention to the other.
“Who the hell are you?”
My legs felt unsteady, and I was starting to sway. This could be bad. A sense of dread washed over me.
“Shuu!”
Just then, I heard Rio’s voice calling for me from the entrance. It seemed she had returned.
“Tch! Another Hero, huh…!”
“Retreat!”
As the command was given, I gathered my Magic Power, but the cloaked figure shot another Fireball at me. I couldn’t deflect it and clumsily dodged, but in that moment, the wall behind the black figure was shattered by magic.
“W-Wait!”
Ignoring my call, both figures in black fled through the hole in the wall. I reached out, but it was futile. I was feeling slightly short of breath. My vision was starting to blur… What was happening? It felt like I was looking up at the ground from a very low angle… had I collapsed?
“Shuu! Stay with me! Shuu!”
Rio’s voice echoed from a distance.
“Hey, kid, what happened?!”
My master had arrived as well. …Ha, what was this about my master’s surprise attack? I didn’t quite understand, but it was clearly an ambush by enemies. But still, the thought of someone trying to kill me was terrifying. My body began to tremble.
“Here, drink this! …Damn it, it’s not working! Girl, make him drink this! I’ll just…!”
My hearing was fading, and I struggled to catch what was being said. As I strained to listen, something soft touched my lips, and liquid was poured into my mouth. I nearly choked but fought to swallow it down.
I felt a sensation of someone gently slapping my cheeks, but that too began to fade. My vision started to spin, and as I lost the ability to move even a muscle, my consciousness slipped away.
“…Huh?”
“Shuu! You’re awake!”
When I opened my eyes, Rio’s face filled my vision. She looked at me with tears in her eyes, and her figure had transformed from the chubby shape I remembered to a much slimmer one. Perhaps the increased physical activity in this Otherworld had contributed to her change.
“I’m so glad…”
As I pondered this, Rio wrapped her arms around my neck. It was a bit tight, but I decided to let it slide. I gently patted her back. It was then that I realized I could move my arms.
There were supposed to be two beds, but I found myself lying in Rio’s bed instead of my own, which was now reduced to rubble along with the destroyed wall. It seemed the sun had set, and the outside was shrouded in darkness. I wouldn’t be able to sleep in my bed anymore… Damn those guys…
“Ugh, what on earth was that all about…”
I tried to sit up, but Rio wouldn’t let go.
“Um, Rio? I’d like to get up, but could you please let go?”
“…No.”
She shook her head and weakly replied, which I found oddly endearing.
“I’m fine now.”
After some coaxing, she finally relented, albeit reluctantly.
“It feels like it’s the middle of the night, but how long have I been out?”
“One and a half days.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep.”
“Oh, finally awake, huh, kid?”
As we chatted, my master entered the room.