Chapter 18,
Another Danger
Third Person's POV
Koshiro fell unconscious and Gin came running towards him quickly evading incoming attacks from the monster who pierced Koshiro and sent out multiple magical attacks to remove the tentacles that pierced Koshiro. Now, no tentacle-like things are present anymore, all that's left was it's barely keeping up armor and it's turtle head.
As Gin came closer to Koshiro, before he could utter a single word, he felt an unbelievable presence from behind. It's so strong that nobody inside can move because if it, even Gin whose known as the great wizard and even the monster.
It was no other than Hiruki. Although those who are from the Neutral Land are strong, they are par with Gin, Goro or Koshiro in many sense, but this one, it was unbelievable. The presence alone indicates that this power was that of a God. No wonder Koshiro puts his trust in him.
Reaching out his palm, many spear-shaped weapons that glows was formed everywhere showing that Hiruki ks furious right now. It's not because of the plan, but because he saw that happen in front of him. Seeing someone dear to you got hurt was a bad trigger to those who are from the Neutral Land.
Hiruki slowly clenched his hand and the spear-shaped weapons came attacking all together and tearing every part of the Boss Monster's flesh and shell into bits of pieces. After a second, the system's message came flashing in front of Hiruki who calmed down, filled with exhaustion.
*Killed the Fourth Demon: Kivirsk
Contributors
Hiruki(Main)
Goro
Gin*
*Every contributors obtained [Proof of Killing]
Hiruki didn't gave a single care about the Contributions, but what made him furious is that the system didn't even gave anything to Koshiro who devised their whole plan alone in just a single moment. After that sacrifice, he would just end but that badly?
"Is he gonna be okay?" Hiruki was overflowing with worry and helped Gin as he heals Koshiro.
Koshiro's POV
As I opened my eyes, every part of my body hurts that I can't even barely move an inch. I was in a room that seemed like an inn. It has two beds with it and in the other, Hiruki was there, also asleep like I was a few moments ago.
Remembering what happened, I was surprised myself that I survived. It was probably because either one of the three healed me with their Skill.
I stood up from the bed trying to endure the slight pain I'm feeling and realized that we're in the city. Many people was there having fun and all, but Hiruki and I was just asleep the whole time.
"Us being here means. . ." Realizing, I immediately grabbed my hair in confusion.
It took about a week to reach this place and the place had some decorations already which means a festival is coming up. We were taken here after traveling a week and what was more surprising is that when we left to go to this place, a festival is about to be held in two weeks after our arrival, meaning, I fell asleep for three weeks?!
"Koshiro!" I heard a familiar voice from the back. It was Hiruki who was surprised that I looked fine.
"Good thing you survived there," he said worriedly while he scratches the back of hair.
"So it seems. I do not know what happened, but I'm thankful," I smiled making him reply a smile back at me. Not long, the door opened and made a creaking sound.
"You're awake?" Gin came in with a serious look, "Koshiro, we have to talk." After continuing, Hiruki and I gave a baffled expression and I side me was a feeling of worry. Maybe he's about to scold me.
We reached the outside of the inn, and I also saw Goro there also wearing the same look as Gin. They were both seriously looking at me that makes me want to cry like a little kid now. I was really hoping that they wouldn't scold me, but seeing the situation, it seems like my hope is gone.
"This is no emergency, but this is something more of a serious matter than you'll think," Gin never had his serious look in his face washed away.
"Hiruki is. . ." They told me the whole story about what happened there and it's a relief for me to hear no scolding, but it disappeared right away when Goro started scolding me like a parent who's worried about their son.
"It's not a major problem to begin with. Shouldn't we just accept Hiruki being the strongest and support his life decisions?" My eyebrows furrowed, confused.
"That may be true, but we can't let it out at all cost. Even to Hiruki who don't have memory of what happened there. When he tried healing you, you recovered with just a flick of an eye, but he fainted and rested as long as your body did. You two won't be able sleep for a while." I nodded at Goro who explain some other things.
"While you were out, we collected this," Gin handed out a few magical beast gem. They can be used to repair damaged armor, swords or magical items or enhance their powers and lever or even add attributes to them.
"And?" I asked uninterested.
"This is?" Goro pointed at the unusual gem that was in the center of the other normal ones.
"Those are used to enhance and enhance only. They are best to be used in magical potions to make their duration effect longer or in wands or staffs to increase magical powers and get free random attribute," I explained, still filled with no interest.
"Since we're complete, we might as well form a party to subjugate a dungeon since we have some power in our hands," Goro faintly grinned and Gin did the same. They're probably gonna use their authority to let us four subjugate a dungeon. Just the four of us.
"But before that, let's have a meal," Gin awkwardly said, his voice was also filled with awkwardness.
***
After eating, we went straight to the Adventurer's Guild. If Knights want to earn some more, they need to take request from the Adventurer's Guild.
Hiruki and I just said in a table as the place was surrounded with a few knights and mostly adventurers. In a counter, a girl with a cute uniform stand who seemed to be a receptionist or maybe she is. I'm the type to skip conversations and scenes from the game and just continue with the fights when I play games that's why I don't know much about these things about the game. I would sometimes, just know the characters and scenes but not the trivial matters.
"So, here is how it goes. Before we came here, we are still young, but when we entered the game, we are already in our 18s or 21s," I said awkwardly.
"Maybe that has something to do with the games system that makes us look like an adult not a minor," Hiruki replied.
"What are you two talking about?" Goro asked after arriving where we are.
"Nothing much. How did it go?" I answered.
"Great!" Gin said, excited. Even if Gin and Goro was enough to eliminate one whole dungeon and we need more rest, we need to move to finish subjugating the dungeon as quickly as possible to earn and lever up faster than ever.
"Rank?" I questioned
"We had permissions. It was ranks S!"Gin replied shocking me and Hiruki.
"Do you value our lives? We aren't that strong to begin with," Hiruki said making us look in disbelief.
"What? He asked once again.
"No. It's nothing." I ignore his question.
Along the way, the forest as vast like the seas in the world. Even I could not see any animals despite the place being a forest and for one, it want quiet. Sounds from crickets are heard everywhere.
"This is it," Goro stopped at the entrance waiting for us.
"Here goes nothing," Gin sounded nervous as he's the one who finished first before anybody else.
As we entered, there were no signs of welcome from any monsters nor beast. Maybe it's because the place was only for S-Rank Beast and Monsters, it'll be impossible other ranks lower than S to live inside, since rank and power are the proof of strength and the strong are those fitting for the role.
"Everyone, be cautious, some of them are intelligent. They might try to ambush us," warned Goro.
"What is this?" I looked at a pile of bodies that was in front and a man was also present there and he seemed to be the one to kill those.
Standing from the shock, it's gazes at us were as brisk as a rocket. After analyzing, he asked,
"Who is the strongest among you?" his words shocked us not because of his question, but because it's about Hiruki's hidden power. We don't want him to devastate this dungeon in a any time.
"What now?" I asked the two in front of me not letting Hiruki hear from behind.
"Let's just admit. One of us should take the burden. He's sure to fight among us," Goro said furrowing as he seems to felt uneasy.
I held out my hand to the two and they did the same. We're gonna settle this with Rock, Papers, Scissors.
"Jaken Po!" I sighed in relief. It was Gin who was the unlucky one.
"Tch! Why does it have to be me?" he said while scratching the back of he's head. He clearly wants to fight the monsters instead, but he has no choice, their kind was already wiped out.
"Lie," the guy said. I know what he meant by that, Gin is no strongest among us.
"If you can't find it, look for it!" Gin shouted at him overflowing with anger as he turns red.
"Sense of power," he chanted and we I felt something looking at me. I feel it enveloping me slowly with some sort of hands and they seemed to have noticed my reaction.
"Now, who's the strongest among you?" he asked to himself who was sensing us.
After a while, he had his eyes widen from shock, but it disappeared right away. Many thoughts was in my mind, but it seems like one bothers not just me, but also Goro and Gin. If felt like we are currently thinking of that same words, 'Could he possibly saw Hiruki?'.
"You shall fight me," he sad pointing at my exact direct and no one was behind me who he would mistake for. It was actually me.
"How can that be possible?" Gin was shocked as the others.
"Well then. . ." he moved his face very fast that it's almost not caught by the eyes and suddenly, he was in my front.
***