"Mind telling me where we're going?"
Shouya begins to ask him as they are passing through the narrow alley, with Gin in the lead. This was a decision that was made by Gin; he suggested that they'll use this route so that not only it's a shortcut to their destination, but also not to be seen by a gang of Blue Sharks members.
This was a simple yet wise decision. The streets have been raided and bombarded with members of the Blue Sharks, causing mayhem and destruction. If they had taken the open streets instead, they'll encounter them and they have to fight through them by force.
Gin had no problem facing them in combat, but Shouya, however, couldn't as he was defenseless.
This isn't just about a test of strength, but numbers as well. If they were to encounter a group of Blue Sharks members, they would likely attack both of them all at once. Gin will likely survive the fight, but Shouya would easily get killed before he could get a chance to save Jakki.
In response to his question, Gin gave him an answer.
"I need to get to my workplace!"
"Your workplace?"
"Yeah! I need to get my weapon before we head out. I can't fight anyone without being armed and ready."
"Oh!"
Now that I think about it, I've never seen where he works.
Ever since he came to another world, it had never crossed his mind to where Gin worked. He wasn't around with Enna and their children in the flower store, so it must've meant that he had worked somewhere other than the flower store.
Wait a minute. That doesn't make any sense.
He realized something was off from that statement. He asked Gin, wanting an answer that something wasn't right to what he just said.
"Wait, Gin, aren't you good at hand-to-hand combat? Why do you need a weapon?"
"Fighting up close with just my fist isn't my only specialty. Besides, in a situation like this, this calls for desperate measures."
"But you have that ability that can overpower everything! Can't you use that against them?"
"That may be true, but I can't use it every time."
"What do you mean?"
"Guyun Tatorra is an overpowered ability, but there's one drawback to that ability: it'll sap my energy when I use it. That's why I'll only use it for emergencies only. Think of it as a 'last resort'."
"W-Wha?!"
Shouya couldn't understand what he had just heard up until now. Even though Gin is skilled in hand-to-hand combat, he is more proficient in wielding a weapon. But what he didn't understand was that his ability, Guyun Tatorra, was hindering him from using it as much as he wanted. If he uses it too much, then it would leave him wide open.
If that were the case, then that would leave him a huge disadvantage in the long run.
Shouya and Gin exited the alley and reached the other side of the street. They checked if there was anyone on the street, but luckily, there was no one, they were in the clear. They walked a couple of feet until they reached their destination.
"Ah, here! Welcome to my workshop!"
Wait, he's a blacksmith?!
Shouya couldn't read the sign, but he can see a familiar picture of an anvil and hammer that are on the sign above them. He couldn't believe that Gin works in blacksmithing, but at the same time, it also makes sense. His store was a half block away from Enna's flower shop, using the alley was the means that they can travel back and forth from the living place to the store in a short distance without separating each other.
They entered the store and he sees a wide virality of weapons: swords, spears, warhammers, chakrams, sais, you name it. There's also armors stored here so people can wear them for protection and blunt weapons such as staffs and nunchakus. He usually sees them in anime and video games, but not in person.
Seeing how much weapons Gin had made, Shouya was amazed as this was his first time seeing actual real like weapons from another world.
"You made all of them?"
"That's right! Made from the finest materials there is. Been working here for years after I retired from the military. Anyways, my blade is in the back, so take whatever you need."
Gin jumps over the counter and heads to the back of the store. While he's getting his weapon, Shouya roams around the store to find a weapon for himself to fight against the Blue Sharks.
Hmm… There's so many to choose from. This one, I guess? And this, too…
He picked up a long two-handed broadsword that was stocked with a pile of swords hanging on the wall. There was a bit of weight that was put on the sword, but Shouya can pick it up with ease. He also picked up and wore bits of metal armor on his chest and arms to defend himself.
That should be it...I think.
Shouya doubts himself about his preparation of his equipment, but he believes that it should be enough. After preparing himself for the battle, Gin returns from the back of the store.
"Are you ready?"
"K-Kind of… But man that thing is huge!"
When he saw Gin's weapon above his shoulder, he couldn't believe his eyes. Then Gin begins to show off the sword in front of Shouya.
He carries a large metallic yet oddly designed greatsword that is bigger than Shouya's height. He imagined that it may look very heavy to lift it, but to Gin, it was nothing. It was as if he was holding a feather.
"Impressed? This thing's a beauty. I had used this baby for years during the war. It does what no other weapons could do. Once you see it in the battlefield first hand, you're in it for a little surprise."
Shouya was astonished by the sword's appearance, but his expression quickly disappeared as he felt a sense of drought on his mind, beginning to doubt himself.
"What's wrong?"
"Are you sure you want me to have this?"
"Hey, if it's about the price, you don't have to worry about it."
"N-No, it's not that! It's just that I don't know how to fight, even with a sword."
"It's easy, you just have to hack and slash your way."
"That's easy for you to say!"
Flustered by Gin's nonchalant response, Gin laughs at Shouya's exclamation. The interaction between them brightened the mood a bit. Even though of the current situation they're in, Gin just simply laughs it off as if it was a joke.
"…But if you say so, then alright."
"That's the spirit!"
With the help of Gin's encouragement, Shouya felt a little bit determined with his choice of weapons. Not only does Shouya have no experience in fist fighting, but he has no experience in sword fighting either.
Back in his world, he had little experience in sword fighting by attending kendo, but he was not very good at it. He often watched other students partake in kendo tournaments. He did participate once before, but he ended up last place and never bothered trying it again. It was the only time that he had experience in swordsmanship.
"Hmm?"
"What is it?"
"Don't you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
Strange, I don���t hear anything.
Gin's ears start twitching and heads outside. Shouya followed. A canine's ears have a strong sense of hearing compared to a human's ears. It can pick up sounds from yards away and knows what it sounds like.
Shouya tries to pick the sound, but he doesn't hear anything. It was probably that his body didn't develop any canine traits in him. Gin aimed his face at the direction of what his ears picked up.
"Huh?"
"Wait, is that…"
They see a familiar man from a distance. It's Clugil. He is running at the two of them, limping, and mortally wounded.
"…Hah…hah…"
"Well well, look what the rat dragged in. Are you happy now that your members are destroying this city?"
"Wait, Gin, something's not right."
"…Please…"
He continued to dash towards them until Clugil's knees gave out and collapsed in the middle of the street. He was just six feet away from the two of them, but he doesn't have the energy to keep running anymore.
"You gotta help me!"
"Help you? You're the ones that caused all of this!"
"We didn't want this to happen! I didn't want this to happen! Not even he would want this."
Huh?
"Pah! Say what you will, we ain't gonna help you! You kinda deserve it for what you did to me and my wife. So why should we help you? If you want help, it's better to help yourself! We're going to stop your leader."
"…! You're…going to stop Vikov?"
"That's what we're gonna do. But don't think you're going to stop us. But if you do…"
"W-Wait! Hold on a minute!"
Before Gin got closer to Clugil, Shouya stepped in, intervening the two. This puts him in a questionable position, even Gin couldn't understand.
"I think we should hear him out."
"Why? Are you defending this scum, kid?"
"It's not that! It's just that something felt off to what he said. So let's just hear him out."
Even though Gin didn't quite get it, Shouya had a reason why to stop him from spouting at Clugil any further. Before going along with his plan, Gin took a deep sigh and gave a muttered "Fine", calming himself. Shouya turns to Clugil and asks him a question.
"Who's 'he'?"
"Dakolo, the real boss of the Blue Sharks."
"The real boss? I thought Vikov was the boss, isn't he?"
"Vikov was his right-hand man, but he doesn't view the same way as Dakolo had. We only wanted to do small crimes, like he ordered. Not destroy the city, what that bastard Vikov is doing!"
"Then where is this Dakolo guy?"
"He's long gone. He disappeared from this city a long time ago and never came back. That's why Vikov is now ruling over us as the new leader."
"So he took initiative after the leader left, huh?"
Even though it's a mere speculation, Shouya could see the possibility of that would be the case. If the real leader of the Blue Sharks never returned, then his subordinate would take his place as the new leader.
However, something doesn't add up.
"But why would the leader leave his men behind?"
"He said that he was heading to Theacala, but that's about it."
"…!"
The moment that he mentions that place caught Gin's attention. It seemed like he knew something about the place.
"What's wrong Gin?"
"If I remember correctly, Theacala is one of the six hierarchical cities in the world."
Hierarchical cities?
"But for him to go to that place alone, he must have a death wish or something."
"What do you mean?"
"If I remembered correctly, Theacala is heavily guarded and they have the strongest military in the country. Not to mention that it's the home of where the Inquisitor is. I'd say I would stay away from fighting against that country, but if your leader really headed there alone, then it's easy to say that he's already good as dead."
Based on the tone and the stern expression that Gin makes, it seemed like he was serious. If what Gin had said was true, that Theacala was the most powerful country, then the true leader of the Blue Sharks couldn't have survived it, let alone by himself.
But even if he had brought some forces with him, the possibility of him surviving the fight is close to zero; not only because of strength or numbers or how they plan out of the attack, but because.
Shouya, even after learning about that country's resources and power they have, was left speechless. However, Gin had now realized something.
"Shit! Now that I think about it, we don't have enough time. We must get to him quickly before the Inquisitor arrives!"
"W-W-W-Wait, the Inquisitor is coming? Here?!"
Out of anyone that is here currently, Clugil didn't know—or even aware—that the Inquisitor is arriving in Vincilos to destroy the city. With an affirming nod from the giant wolfman in front of him, Clugil starts to panic, adopting all of the fears that are inside of him.
"Aaahhhh!!! Shit! Shit! Shit! The Inquisitor is coming! This is the end of the world! I don't want to die here!"
"Huh? Gin, what do you mean 'don't have enough time'? How long does it take for the Inquisitor to get here?"
"…"
Shouya wants to hear the answer that Gin has to say. He took a deep breath and snorted out a sigh, answering his question.
"The time to get to Vincilos from Theacala is roughly about six days."
"Well that's not too bad. We still got enough time—"
"But that's only on an average regular soldier would arrive. For the Inquisitor, that's different."
"…Huh?"
"The time for the Inquisitor to get to Vincilos from Theacala is two hours."
"—!"
Shouya's hopes dropped immensely when he heard how much time they had left. This is barely enough time for him to train on how to use a sword. All he could rely on now is what he had learned from kendo.
They have to defeat the Blue Shark's leader as quickly as possible.
"Now tell me…"
Gin rushes to Clugil, who is cowering in fear about the end is about to come, and grabs him by the collar. He pulls him close to his dog-like frame and asks him in a stiff expression.
"Where's my son?"
"I…"
"Where is your boss?!"
"Eek!"
"Bah! You're no help!"
Getting no information from the frightened Clugil, he drops him, landing bum first. He was impatient; he's in a rush to find Jakki that he doesn't have the time to calm his anger. He was fixated on saving his son than anything else.
But at the game time, Clugil was too afraid to give out an answer to him. The mind of the Inquisitor coming to destroy Vincilos is still running rampant in his mind. He lacked the courage to pull himself up from his own despair.
"Please… You have to help us. If you don't, the people will die here."
Clugil looks at Shouya who was pleading for his life. He was desperately asking him to tell them where his leader, Vikov, is located. If they could beat Vikov, then Gin, Enna, and everyone in Vincilos, including the city itself, can be saved.
He slowly loosens himself from his fears and begins to point at a warehouse that is on the docks close to the sea.
"He's at the warehouse, that's where he gives commands to everyone. But…"
"—We have to pass through that?"
Shouya and Gin looked down at the chaos that are ravaging on the street. Fires spreading, buildings vandalized, and Blue Sharks are wreaking havoc on the streets.
The only way to get to the warehouse is to pass through the dangerous path.
"Hah! That shouldn't be a problem."
While Shouya was hesitant by the sight of the path they see, Gin, however, scoffs off as he doesn't see it as a problem. There wasn't a single hint of fear on him; he didn't care if he put himself in danger. All he wanted to save his son, that is all that matters.
"Alright then, let's get going!"
"R-Right!"
With no time to spare, they made a mad dash towards the dangers to rescue Jakki. As they're heading towards the battlefield, Clugil watches them go off to take on the leader, Vikov.
"…Can they really beat him? Bah! Why do I care? It's not my problem. But…I do hope they kill that son of a bitch. Hate to say this, but you guys are our last hope."
Time is in the essence. They have to defeat the leader of the Blue Sharks as quickly as possible before the Inquisitor arrives and destroys Vincilos. They have to save Vincilos no matter the cost.
Two hours remaining before the destruction of Vincilos.