"Wake up boy. It's morning now." a gentle voice whispered next to his ears.
Hodaka Horishima instinctively laid his arm on his eyes and said.
"5 more minutes, Mom." He unconsciously said like a machine.
However, he woke up immediately after realizing something was wrong. He had run away from his boring home to seek the beauty of the big city. How could his mother be here?
He looked around and found that he was in someone's house. His gaze stopped at the woman standing in the corner with a cross-hand.
"Who are you"
"Me. My name is Sakura Matou and I am the person who has saved you from the reckless decision that you picked up from the garbage dump. No need to thank me" I answered.
Seeing his unbelieving look, I took out his picked-up gun from my clothes and played it.
"You see, boy. Gun is a tool that is created to kill. It is not a toy you can carry around as you want." I played the gun in my palm professionally.
"When you pull the trigger, it means you put your cheap life on the line. So this toy will be confiscated for a time being," I put the gun back into my clothes and stood up.
"By the way, boy. I am a good person so I will give you two choices. One. You stay here and clean my house daily. In return, you can live here for free. Two. You can leave my house. Don't worry. I won't ask you to repay anything. Whatever your choice, I respect it."
"Thank you for letting me have a place to sleep past night. I will leave your house." Hodaka Horishima stood up from the bed and adjusted his clothes.
"I see. Good for you." I opened the door and left.
Hodaka Horishima looked at the door and thought. He picked up his bag and approached the door.
When he was about to leave, he took one last look at the room again.
Finding the room messy and dirty, he decided to clean the room as a thank before leaving.
On the road, I came back to the restaurant that I left last night. I could feel the dark aura looming around the restaurant.
I looked left and right. I could see many ghosts floating around the restaurant.
"It seems like those guys are attracted by the dead aura here," I mumbled.
A ghost nearby me heard it and approached me with a disgusting face.
"Tell me, human. Can you see me?"
"Of course, I can see you clearly," I answered.
It pulled its seaweed-like hair aside to reveal its face.
"Now tell me. What do I look like?" It revealed its even more disgusting face.
However, I thought its action was amusing and cute.
"You are more beautiful than I thought. Just looking at your face, I have an urge to punch you."
Smiling at it, I grabbed its beautiful mouth and interrogated it.
"Now. It's my turn. Tell me how that poor guy in the restaurant was killed or else, I will kill you instead."
"You can touch me, human."
"Look like you don't know. Anyway, good to know you ." I purified it with magic.
"No. I don't want to disappear." Its scream alerted ghosts around it. All of them looked at me with threatening gaze. After a round of inspection, they decided to run away since they detected a trace of a higher being on me.
Seeing their escape, I was surprised. I thought they would attack me like a brain-dead beast. After all, they were just ghosts and they hated living beings.
Looking at the ghost who turned into ash, I expressed slight disappointment.
Ghosts can't touch living beings except in some special cases. As long as the boundary between life and death still existed, those ghosts couldn't do anything.
In addition to that, the existence called Shinigami made the boundary even stronger.
So. I thought this situation shouldn't be done by a ghost but by a demon.
"So headache. I will let nature take the course." When I turned, I spotted a student who looked at me with shocked eyes.
"Those ghosts nowadays are so impudent. Do you agree with me, Yotsuya Miko-chan?" I said.
In response, she just looked at me with a wide open mouth.
"Just pretend that you didn't see anything. It will be a trouble for you if they know you can see them. Bye-bye." I bid farewell since I couldn't find any clues leading to who killed Hina's manager.
Despite being a high-level AI, something still slips away under my detection. This showed that my effort and ability weren't enough to watch every corner of this big world.
"Looks like I have to create a temporary organization to detain anomaly," I mumbled.
Suddenly, I felt a disturbance in the space. I could sense it getting bigger and bigger.
I turned my head toward the source of the disturbance.
My gaze penetrated the sea of people and stopped at the dark alley.
"Someone is pulled into this world. Let's see who is this unlucky guy."
In the virtual world.
Caster was fighting Medusa from the mountain down to the street.
Many spells were cast and launched towards Medusa. However, she deflected, dodged, and hacked the spells easily.
"I think we should stop. If we fight anymore, we will attract some bad guys." Caster said with an awkward smile.
"Even better. The more heroic spirit comes, the merry the battle is. My hand itches for blood." Medusa replied with a maniac smile.
She didn't care who won or lost here. She just wanted to kill this unlucky bastard to relieve anger.
Caster looked at Lancer with an indescribable expression. Are you Lancer or Avenger in disguise?
"I know we, heroic spirits, like to fight other legends but we should look at this matter with a wider view. You know how bad BB is and more important. How can we be here? I mean we should have disappeared after Chaldea retrieved the Holy Grail. Also. Top of that. I think this is not our world anymore."
"Of course, I also wonder like you but so what? That doesn't stop me from killing you." Medusa swung her spear down with all mighty.
Caster reluctantly raised his staff to block it. Upon contact, his body sank to the ground half a meter.
"I see the exchange between you and BB. She is not your old master. She just looks like your old master."
"I know it long ago." Medusa stabbed into Caster's chest.
However, there was no blood running out.
Medusa stared at the place where she stabbed. Caster's body slowly turned into a tree.
"I know our time is short but I will take my leave from here." Caster said before giving a friendly reminder.
"Also, thanks to our noise that you successfully attract that guy."
From the sky, an unknown figure fell to the ground creating a dust scene.
Without waiting for the dust to disperse, she knew who was this newcomer.
*ROAR*
A black figure rose from the hole. He roared as soon as he saw her.
"Hercules" she muttered. Gritting her teeth and holding her weapon tightly, she knew this battle would be extremely difficult.
He swung the club mercilessly. Medusa immediately turned into a cannonball and flew a straight line in the air.
Caster who controlled his clone from afar exhaled heavily. He didn't expect that Hercules would be the first one to attack. In his impression, Archer usually will take this opportunity to snipe from afar.
"Is it okay to let her there and fight that guy alone?" Conan asked.
"Before leaving, I give some buffs to her. It should be fine." Caster gave a weak smile and gazed at a certain building afar with scrutinizing eyes. He could spot a familiar shadow.
"But. My master should have a plan for this case."
"Aren't I right, my master?"
"Yes. I admit it's a risky move to lure another heroic spirit to come here but I also believe this is the quickest approach to gain her trust." Noah's Ark stepped out from the shadow.
"She may look vicious but I believe she still has a good side in her. The chance to gain her trust is one in a thousand. But we just need to concentrate on that one."
Noah's Ark approached Kirito and said. "According to the rule, one master is only allowed to have one servant. So you are the most suitable candidate to become her new master."
"Me. Are you sure?"
"I'm sure that she will listen to you. Maybe not right now but you are the most suitable person to become her master." Noah's Ark said.
"With Conan's kid-like personality, it only makes her feel annoyed. As the only adult, I think you should take this responsibility."
"I totally agree with his opinion." Conan nodded in response.
"I am only a child after all. I can't understand what she is thinking all the time. Only a man with a pure heart can reach her heart. Aren't I right, brother?"
"Who tell you that?" Kirito asked with a frozen expression on his face.
"I learn it from fairy tales."
"Okay. Time is very short so let's perform a ritual right now. Give me your hand." Noah's Ark said.
"Here" Kirito's hand was laid in front of Noah's Ark. Touching it, Noah's Ark opened terminal and typed like a pro hacker.
A red tattoo gradually appeared on his left hand.
"Okay. With this, you can save by using one command to teleport her. So what do you think, Kirito?" Noah's Ark said.
"I think I will teleport her right now since that guy looks very strong. Under my command, I" Kirito immediately used one command spell but was stopped by Conan.
"Before you use the command spell, I must remind you. You only have 3 command spells. When you use all 3 command spells, she will automatically disappear. So remember to leave 1 command spell"
"I understand" Kirito raised his left hand and said out loud.
"Under my command, come to my side, Medusa."
A particle of light appeared beside Kirito. Medusa appeared with a messy and bloody appearance.
Looking at the command spells on Kirito's left hand, she remembered her cheap master whom she turned into a stone.
As if sensing something bad, Conan and Noah's Ark stepped backward in advance to avoid the next moment.
Medusa raised her spear and stabbed Kirito.
However, she was still merciful. She only stabbed his shoulder.
Kirito fought the urge to frown his face.
To make it worse, she twisted her spear into his shoulder.
"Why do you waste command spells like that? It wouldn't be good if I was killed there by that guy." Medusa asked with a domineering tone.
"I don't know." Coughing blood, Kirito said with sincerity and concern. "I simply think you need help."
He endured the pain and raised his left hand.
"With the command spell"
Hearing this, Medusa immediately took action. Her spear lifts his whole body and ready to slam down.
"Completely heal her wounds."
A holy light appeared on Medusa's head and healed all her wounds.
Kirito lost consciousness while being lifted in the air by Medusa.
Medusa just glared at the unconscious Kirito without doing anything. This was the first time she saw someone stupid like this. But this stupid was charming and her stone heart was touched by it.
She could feel his kind intention so she gradually laid him on the ground with gentle hands.
"I don't know you kids at this age are so calculating. However, I won't ask you for this scheme. So. What's your next step, genius?" Medusa asked 2 boys who stepped backward to avoid her.
"The situation is very dire right now so I recommend we should retreat." Noah's Ark said.
"Retreat at this moment is a good choice. And, coincidentally, I know a very safe place." Medusa replied.
"Can you lead us to that place?"
"Sure. But you must be very fast. Other guys are coming."
Just as Medusa said, 3 heroic spirits class Assassin appeared from the forest.
"I and this E luck Caster can handle them so don't worry about them too much. Take care my master well. Do you understand, Caster?"
"Don't worry. I am very good at this field."
Manifesting a spear, Medusa grabbed it and slammed down creating a dust scene to block the sight.
Assassins immediately drew their weapon for the incoming combat.
From the dust scene, Medusa leaped up and lunged at the nearest one.
And then, the third round began.