Chapter 39 - Frontliners
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I immediately went in front of Lily and Seia who was sweating heavily behind me. I can't blame them as the group who is omitting a lot of danger right now are a group of people called the 『Frontliners』.
『Frontliners』 are the group of people who fight the current strongest boss monsters in this world. Since they're already clad with a set of 『Hell Armor』 which is currently the strongest armor, they're probably on their way to fight the last boss of 『pre-chaos mode』 called 『Cerberus』.
The five of them we're all human male who had a look of a bandits. All of them have a sword whose blade is like a molten iron called 『Hellsing blade』. I'm assuming they're probably a vanguard of the 『Frontlines』.
"Hm? Nice sword you got there, buddy. The 『Kusanagi』 was it? Your rank is probably close to a 『Royal Guard』, am I right?" the man in the front said.
"Who knows, I might be more than that" I quipped.
"Big words buddy. Unfortunately, I have other business with that girl, so I'd suggest you step away if you don't want to get caught in our problems. Same with that fox friend of yours" the man said.
"I can't do that pal. I— !!"
The guy who was beside the acting leader instantly close himself into me and attack me with a downright slash. It made me very surprise, but I was able to defend at the last second which we locked our swords into each other.
"Didn't even made me finish my words. You people sure were aggressive"
"Don't meddle on our affairs" the guy I'm locking swords with said.
"Too late for that buddy. You started attacking us all of a sudden and expect us to back out like that?" I said with a bit of groan.
On Lily's side, compared to me who has experience in fighting thanks to my knowledge of the game, Lily on the other hand who didn't react too fast got kicked in her abdomen. Lily dropped on the ground in pain and the acting leader of the 『Frontliners』 pinned her on the ground by putting his knee on Lily's back and groping her nape.
Lily tried to get out, but it was to no avail. The guy was too strong even with her high stats.
"Let me go!! You bastard!"
"Kuhh!! You're persistent huh. Strong also. As expected of that man's daughter. you're both stubborn even in this situation"
Lily twitched when she heard her father from the man's mouth.
"You...!! What did you do to my father?!" Lily screamed in anger.
"Hm? Ah! Your father huh. It was hilarious you know. Even when he is being tortured, he keeps fighting until he gave up" the man said in provocative tone.
Veins popped on Lily's forehead. The anger she is feeling overflowed on her emotions and exploded. Adrenaline started to emerge in Lily's body and quickly release herself to the man's pin.
"Wha—!! Basta— Guhh!!"
The guy was punched in the face after Lily quickly get out of the pin.
Lily quickly took her bow and start to shoots a round of arrows. The guy tried to parry and deflect the rain of arrows, but it was too many that he got hit plenty in the body and worse, in the cheeks.
"Khh!! I was supposed to have fun with you, but playtimes over. I'll kill you right here right now, you bitch!" the guy declared in anger.
Before Lily was about to back-step and distance herself, the guy instantly got close to Lily.
"Dieee!!"
"Kuhh!!"
At the last millisecond before the sword hit Lily's neck and got beheaded, a bang echoes the surroundings and the guy's hand explode.
"Gahhhh!!! M-my arm!!" the guy screamed in pain.
When Lily turned her look on the location of then gunfire, it was Seia who fired the gun.
"Seia..." Lily said worriedly.
"Guhh... Bitch! you should have kept quiet and run away!! Now die!!"
The acting leader changed his attention to Seia and attacks her. Though, it was halted when he heard his teammate cried in agony.
"ARRGHHH!! MY ARM!!"
"What the?!" the guy said in bewilderment.
When he saw his teammate, his teammate was lying on the ground crying with his cut-off arm. The rest of his teammate who was watching carelessly looks at the scene dumbfoundedly.
"Y-you...!! Who are you?!" the acting leader said, agitated. "Do you have any idea of the consequences of butting yourself on us higher-ups?!"
"Like I care about that. Why did you think the higher-ups can do anything about me?" I said provocatively. "Lily!! get back and took Seia with you. I'll deal with this five while you run"
"I-Idiot! It's very dangerous. Don't you know them?!" Lily said worriedly.
"Th-that's right...! You should also run..." Seia said.
"I know them very well. That's why I told you two to run away. I'm sorry but you two will just get in my way..." I hesitantly said.
The two who was shocked to my answer displayed a depress and frustrated expression. They also know that they don't have anything they can contribute so after realizing, they started to run away.
"Please be safe Sai..." Lily said before they sprint out.
"You think I'll let you get away—"
"Not so fast, buddy. If you want to get them, you'll have to face me first" I said after I intercept the acting leader's dash attack.
"You've been acting cocky since earlier. I guess I'll have to take care of you first"
"Try me"
I released a strong ⟨⟨Bloodlust⟩⟩ and started to go on the offensive. The ⟨⟨Bloodlust⟩⟩ was to make them to move awkwardly due to the sheer pressure. Then, aggressively attack them so that they will get agitated and increase the chance for them to make an awkward movement.
Although they've fought a number of bosses before, they probably never experience a ⟨⟨Bloodlust⟩⟩ this strong since this pressure is on par on the later boss monsters.
"W-what's with this pressure I'm feeling... Are you a monster?!" the guy said while clashing swords with me.
The three also started to engage me by dashing in a quick momentum. I took this opportunity and took my 『Spore Staff』 and used it to the direction they're heading. The three guy who can't stop their movements bumped into the green spores that is hovering in place directly and took a certain amount of damage.
"Khh!! Crafty bastard!!" the acting leader groaned in frustration.
Oh! I've been waiting for this. Losing control of yourself in the middle of fighting is the worst thing you can do. Thanks to his frustration, he didn't realize his body is forcefully pushing me while our swords clash. Without him reacting sooner, I gave him an uppercut through his jaw which made him staggered for a moment.
"Ugghh...!!"
Not giving him any chance to take a breath, I kicked him in the face which made him flew on a short distance and dropped his sword on the way. I used the remaining [Bomb] I have in my inventory and throw it to the acting leader and his mates who is lying on the ground.
Before the [Bomb] explode, I took something on the ground then sprint as fast as I could.
"Adios guys"
"W-wait you bast—"
Before he completes his sentence, the [6 Bomb] I threw on them started to explode. They are wearing a "Hell Armor" and their HP is probably on maximum, so they won't die on just that. But at least I manage to escape successfully.
* * *
I sprinted until I reached Rina-san's villa. Before I went inside, I first took my breath and rest for a second and went inside after.
Lily, Luna, Seia, and Rina-san who was present in the living room gathered their attention to me and called me worriedly.
"Master!! Are you okay?!"
"Sai...! I'm glad you're okay..." Lily sighted in relief.
"I'm so glad..." Seia said in relief.
"Yeah, I'm back. I'm glad I manage to escape them, Haha" I said and laugh it off.
"Master! this is no time to be laughing. I was scared something happened to you that I..." Luna displayed a painful expression.
"Yes, Yes, I'm here now. I didn't get hurt, you see" I said as to reassure Luna.
Seeing Luna making such cute expression, I hug then patted her head in adoration. The worried Luna who was about to cry also hugged me back and let herself be covered on my chest.
"Jokes aside. Rina-san, I would like to ask you if you could make Seia stay here for a while" I asked.
"You don't have to worry about that. Lily already filled me with the details" Rina-san said in a reassuring tone. "Things aside, I was surprised you manage to escape them. I heard from Luna that they're the 『Frontliners』. They're not just your typical people you can see every day, you know. how did you escape them?"
"I just took advantage of their weakness by assessing their fighting style. I was glad I found many, so I didn't really get a hard time" I said wryly.
"You say it like it was easy... Anyways, you must be tired so please rest for now" Rina-san said.
"I'll take you up on your offer then..." I said and went into the shower then get straight to bed.
I'm currently lying in bed pondering about my next plan in this situation. This never happened in the game so I'm having a hard time processing everything and thinking of a countermeasure. If I had to say, the 『Main Story』 is progressing normally, but the sidelines aren't.
"This is bad... I don't want to ruin the girl's life in the academy with this..."
Maybe I'm giving them too much even for me but I got to have a very close relationship with them so I can't help it. As a guy who knows how to handle this situation, it's my responsibility to protect my close ones. I mean—
"—They're the only kind family I have here..." I muttered.
"What are you doing, Master?"
Suddenly, Luna whom I didn't realize already went inside my room made me twitch in surprise.
"Whoa?! Luna? Since when did you came here? And also..."
Looks like Luna isn't the only one who came here. Seia and Lily were standing behind Luna looking at me also.
"Didn't I said to knock first before entering?" I told.
"I did Master. But you didn't respond so we went inside since there are no response"
"But still..." I Sighed. "So? what did you three came here for?" I asked.
"W-well... we just kind of want to hangout... Um... Can we...?" Luna worriedly asked.
The two behind Luna we're silent— waiting for my response. They're probably worried because of what happened earlier.
"Of course. You three probably have your reasons but I don't mind"
Their eyes lit up and started smiling. Lily and Luna went into the bed while Seia took an armchair in the corner of the room and placed it in front of the bed.
Hm? Seia aside, aren't these two a little too clingy? They really went on me left and right... I guess they're worried that much huh. Not that I hate it, Hehe. Well, jokes aside, you can't just expect someone to win on a 1v5 situation with the 1 guy fighting with a handicap, so their worry is normal.
I got a lot on my plate, but I'll just spoil myself with this... Plus, considering the "jackpot" I took from those 『Frontliners』, how can I not be happy right now?