This is bad!
This is really bad!
If I move even a little now, I'm sure the monsters will start attacking us. Meanwhile, among the three of us, there was not a single one who could fight against that monster.
Unlike before, where the monsters didn't even notice us. Now he really sees us as prey, thus making it hard for me to make a move. If I make a wrong decision, then we will all die.
Shit, is everything going to end here?!
Is there no other way to get through this situation?!
Shit shit shit shit shit!
Think fast, Shinomiya Riku! Everyone's lives are now in your hands!!
What should I do?!
What should I do?!
What should I do?!
What should I do?!
What should I do?!
What should I do?!
What should I do?!
What should I do?!
What should I do?!
What should I do?!
What should I do?!
This is bad, this is really very bad!
My brain is too hot to think, and maybe because I've inhaled too much smoke, I'm starting to feel dizzy too.
"Hah! Hah! Hah!" I'm out of breath, maybe it's because I've been running all this time, so my body has reached its limit.
I really don't know what to do now.
Every idea I can think of always ends badly when I simulate it in my mind.
I need more cards I can play, but all my card stock is gone.
There's nothing more to be done.
Dammit, even though I just met an Elf girl, am I going to die here?
At least before I die, I still want to meet a girl with cat ears, and also a cute witch.
I don't want to end here.
I still want to live.
However, my every plan didn't have an outcome that would keep all of us safe.
—Should I sacrifice one of them?
No! What was I really thinking, am I stupid?!
—But, there was no other way for us to survive.
So I have to be able to judge who deserves me to save between the two of them.
Right, I have to do a comparison between the lives of the two of them. This is all for the sake of saving more people.
This is probably the worst idea, but there's no better idea than this. If this was in a game, there should be reinforcements helping us. But, unfortunately this is reality, nothing is that easy.
So I guess I have no other choice.
"Please forgive me, Kami-sama," I said in a low voice, without turning my head from the monster.
Hearing that, the goddess opened her eyes wide. "Riku?" She looks confused.
But, I just ignored her, and smiled widely with a bitter mouth.
After all, it can't be helped, it's the only way I can think of.
It's the only way to survive this situation, so it can't be helped, right?
I took a deep breath, and started getting ready to escape leaving the goddess who was still stunned. But, before I left, I said a few words to the goddess as a goodbye.
"Kami-sama… Take care of yourselves."
"Wait, Riku! What do you want to do?!"
The goddess called out to me, but I ignored her. I started running away from the two of them, and then—
"You damn monster!! Your prey is me! Instead of those two thin, malnourished girls over there, don't I look better!! I have more fat and protein than them!! Come here, and get me if you can!!" I shouted with all my might, trying to lure the monster into targeting only me.
Hearing that, maybe thinking that I was provoking him, the monster started running towards me with the fury of a beast. It made me panic, so I hurriedly ran away from there, away from the goddess and the Elf girl.
As I continued running, from behind, I could hear the screams of the goddess calling out to me desperately, but I ignored her and continued running.
Of course, my speed with that of the monster was incomparable, if not for the goddess' remaining support magic, I might have become him food by now.
But, for now, let's forget about that.
So far everything has been going smoothly according to my plan. However, that is the question now.
—What must I do to stay alive?
Even though I originally intended to sacrifice myself so that the two of them would be safe, I also didn't intend to give up my life so easily without any resistance.
Thus, as I continued running through this burning forest, I also looked around me, looking for anything I could use to kill the monster.
I also looked through the contents of my status.
But, of course, there was nothing I could do, because I chose the Alchemist's power which was only devoted to making versatile items. I have absolutely nothing that I can use there to be able to kill that monster.
I might have a power-boosting [Buff Potion] that looks like it might come in handy.
But, even if I use that, I'm not sure I can win against that monster head-on alone. There is still too much of a difference in strength between us.
"Alright, I guess I have no other choice but to try them all!" I said with a big smile
At that moment, I made a [Buff Potion] speed boost, and started running at a faster speed than that monster. However, it seemed that the monster wasn't about to be outdone either, it increased its speed even more in a mad rage.
I didn't even have time to breathe.
But—
"You stupid."
I stopped my footsteps abruptly in front of the monster. Meanwhile the monster, surprised by my sudden stop, couldn't stop its still running momentum.
But, of course, he wasn't that stupid either. Thinking that I had given up, the monster opened its sharp teeth and intended to pounce on me while taking advantage of its still maintained momentum.
At the same time, I drank a strength-boosting [Buff Potion], and as soon as I thought he had gotten within a suitable range, I immediately punched the tree behind me as hard as I could.
The monster didn't know what I was trying to do and just kept running.
Well, indeed, the current me doesn't have enough strength to take down this one big tree, because the effects of the goddess' support magic have worn off. But, at least it was enough to break one branch of the tree above. I intend to use that branch as a weapon to kill him.
However, to carry out this plan perfectly, I need absolutely perfect timing.
So-
"Feel this!"
Taking out the [Debuff Powder] that can grant paralysis status in my [Inventory], I threw it right at the bridge of the monster's nose.
The reason why I was able to have it, was because before when I was looking for food in this forest, I accidentally touched a fruit that had a paralysis effect.
In order to make a powder with a certain effect, I also need ingredients that have the same effect as I want, and depending on the ingredient, will determine how strong the effect is.
Luckily, I got an effect strong enough to paralyze me for a few days. But, still, I don't know how strong the effect will affect the monster, because everyone has a different resistance to bad statuses.
Well, it should be able to hold it for a few seconds. I just need to make the monster stop moving for a bit.
"Groooaaarrrrhh!!!" the monster screamed.
After receiving the [Debuff Powder] I threw, the monster started groaning in pain. However, it was too late, the effects of the powder had already penetrated into his body and made his entire body fall paralyzed all of a sudden.
Using this opportunity, I started giving hard punches to the tree behind me. Until finally, after I hit it with all my might for several times, the branch above the tree broke and fell.
Seeing that, I immediately moved away from the place.
Then-
'Boom!!'
With a loud thud, the tree branch that was above me fell and viciously crashed into the body of the monster.
Previously, while on the run, I had noticed tree branches around me that looked like they were about to break, to use as weapons.
But, to be honest, this is a gamble.
I don't know if with this he will die or not. The problem is that the fallen branch is still unable to destroy the monster's body like before.
Seeing that the monster was crushed by the tree branch and didn't move at all, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is everything over?" I asked, moving closer to the monster that wasn't moving at all, to make sure it was really dead.
However-
Unfortunately, it was a reckless act.
I once again underestimated this world.
While I was caught off guard in relief, realizing this, the monster suddenly opened its eyes, and used this opportunity to pounce on me.
As soon as he got up, he immediately jumped to attack me. Didn't even give me time to react.
"ROOOARRHH!!"
"Ah?!"
I quickly turned around, but it was obviously too late.
Its terrible teeth and claws were ready to rip and tear my body mercilessly. There was no more time to run away or make plans, because there wasn't enough distance for me to do anything.
This is the end.
Everything has been wasted.
I can only surrender this time.
However, strangely I don't feel the least bit regretful. I was even quite surprised with myself, I turned out to be calmer than I thought.
At this time, I smiled faintly with satisfaction.
My goodness, I'm really unlucky.
I thought I could live better in this world, I can't believe things would end up like this.
What a disappointment.
Nearing the end of my life, it made me remember everything that happened so far.
All the memories I had in this world suddenly flashed through my mind in an instant, like a long fast forwarded film.
What are these so-called flashbacks before death?
Even though many chaotic things happened, but—
"-That is fun."
Seriously, compared to my past life. It was really a lot of fun.
If possible, I want to be with her a little longer.
Oh yeah, I also forgot that I still don't know hers name.
Holy shit, this is a really bad ending.
If after this I reincarnated into a different fantasy world. At that instant, I would definitely choose a strong cheat power, and this time...
... I will definitely protect everyone.
….
….
….
….
....
....
....
....
....
....
"[Wind Blade]!!"
However, once I had closed my eyes in despair. A strong wind blew away the body of the monster that was trying to pounce on me, and tore it to death.
It made my eyes open wide with surprise.
"—?!!"
Then, from a distance I heard a very familiar scream.
"Riku, I'll never forgive you if you die here you know?! Didn't you swear you'd bring me back!! So don't even think about trying to die here!! It's still 1000 years too soon for you to act cool in front of me!!"
"Kami-sama?!"
There, along with a few other Elf as well as the Elf girl we previously rescued, the goddess' figure could be seen with such grace as her beautiful golden hair fluttered in the sea of flaming flames.
Seeing that, a thin smile painted on my lips.
"Oh my, she really is a very troublesome goddess."