Word count: 1486
<—>
Fujino grasped his throat, a surge of adrenaline flooding his system. The intense pain was almost too much to bear, and tears welled up in his eyes. His body quivered, and his hands shook; the near-death experience had shaken him to his core.
He had no idea how long he had been running or where he was headed, but one thing was clear: he had to escape.
Eventually, he slumped against a tree, coughing up blood and bile, struggling to clear his throat so his wheezing lungs could draw in air more easily.
Soon, he felt the gaping wound in his throat gradually closing, easing the pain and making it easier to inhale.
"W-w-what was… t-that? S-she came out of n-no where a-and…" he gasped between bouts of harsh coughing, tears threatening to spill as despair washed over him.
He was in shock over the rapid turn of events; one moment he was concocting an alibi, and the next he found himself on the ground, bleeding and gasping for air due to wisteria poisoning.
[Health: 176/450 (+1/sec)]
[Stamina: 300/450 (+3/sec)]
The only reason he was still alive was that his Demonic Assimilation had worn off just as she was leaving, allowing him to slip away when her back was turned. If it had lasted even a minute longer, he would have been finished.
Fujino couldn't wrap his head around how chaotic the day had become. What was meant to be a straightforward extermination mission—enter, eliminate the demon(s), and leave—had spiraled into a nightmare.
In just a few hours, he had encountered an entire family of spider-themed demons, been ambushed by one, and came across the high-level opponent he had seen, all while nearly losing his life.
He felt like fate was toying with him.
With a sigh of relief, he felt the wound finally seal, the bleeding stopping. He took a moment to regulate his breathing, wipe away his tears, and suppress his emotions to regain his composure.
Once he regained his composure, he strengthened his resolve to see his task through. He had to locate Rui to fulfill the mission and earn the reward, all the while saving spider mother.
"Wow, talk about cutting it close, huh? Just one more minute and you might not have made it," Xeno chimed in.
Usually, Fujino would either brush him off or snap back at his remarks, but after everything he had been through, he simply didn't have the energy for that.
"I know, I'm just relieved I managed to escape," he replied.
"That's great to hear! So, what's your next move?" Xeno asked, genuinely curious about the gamer's plans.
"Well, I'm planning to take down Rui. There's a quest I must finish, so—"
Before he could elaborate, Xeno interrupted, "Whoa, wait a minute. I think I need to clarify a misconception here."
Fujino was taken aback; it was the first time Xeno had interrupted him, and the tone was different. Normally, his voice was lively and playful, often teasing, but now it carried an unusual seriousness.
"You just used the word 'must.' Here's the thing: you're not obligated to complete it if you don't want to. If a quest or mission—even a main one—feels overwhelming, you can simply walk away."
"Sure, you'd miss out on the rewards and fail it, but you're not forced to do something beyond your limits."
Fujino's eyes widened at this insight. Honestly, the thought of just walking away from a mission had never crossed his mind. He had always assumed that since he had it, he should see it through.
"Take the final selection, for instance; you could have easily walked away if things got too intense for you." Fujino nodded in agreement. "My point is, you shouldn't risk your life carelessly over a quest no matter how important it is."
He was genuinely taken aback; he never thought in a million years that Xeno could take anything seriously. Their exchanges had always been a mix of playful teasing—from Xeno's part— and the occasional insults—curtsey of Fujino.
"Before we go any further, I need to ask: why do you want to help her?"
"Hmm?"
"You know who I mean, that spider chick? What's your reason for wanting to help her?" His questioned. Xeno had a sneaking suspicion on the reason and he wanted to confirm it.
"Because she's in danger. Did you see how she was treated? Her…"family" clearly doesn't care about her well-being." His voice grew more intense as he spoke.
"But doesn't she deserve such treatment?"
"HUH?! What are yo—"
"As amusing as it would be to hear you ranting about how I'm wrong and how messed up my words are, I have to remind you that she's a demon."
"…"
"One that I'm sure has killed tens of humans and probably devoured many more. Is that really the person you want to save? What she's experiencing is nothing compared to what she's done."
Fujino found himself at a loss for words, and part of him agreed with the sentiment. But when he thought back to his brief encounter with her, any negative feelings he had began to fade, and his intention to end her life weakened.
"…When she pleaded for me to end her suffering, I didn't see a ruthless killer or a wild beast; I saw someone desperate for relief. In that moment, she wasn't a demon to be eliminated, but a person in dire need of help," he concluded.
That was his motivation for reaching out to save her, to protect her. She was the only demon he had met who seemed so human, and he couldn't bring himself to harm her.
"…And it's because you can relate to her, no?" Fujino felt a lump in his throat at the remark.
Xeno chuckled at his reaction, clearly entertained. "Fufufu~ you know, Fujino, for all your insults and tough talk, you're just a softie at heart."
"I'm not!" He protested.
"Well, if the gallant knight wants to rescue his fair maiden, who am I to intervene? Just make sure to clean up first. We wouldn't want blood and dirt to ruin your image, not that you had one to begin with."
Just like that, Xeno instantly switched back to his unbearable self.
<—>
'This is it, This has to be Rui's home...' After some searching, Fujino finally stumbled upon an old, dilapidated house. The signs of age were unmistakable: rotting wood, a partially collapsed straw roof, and a foundation that leaned precariously.
As he looked up, he saw Rui perched at the top of the house, staring down with a calm yet expressionless face. Fujino felt an unsettling sense of being looked down upon.
"So, you're still alive. Seems like father has failed his duty," Rui remarked, his tone as detached as ever. "Not that it matters; if he can't fulfill his responsibilities, he's of no use."
Fujino's eyebrow twitched in disbelief. "Is that how you see them? Your family? Just disposable meat bags to serve your whims?"
"Naturally, I'm the youngest. A family's duty is to protect the youngest. What other purpose do they have? Love, support, protection—those should be their default offerings."
'W-what kind of a fucked up family dynamic is this?' Fujino thought, struggling to comprehend the narcissism in Rui's words. He almost wished Rui was joking.
"And if they fail their duty, they will be punished." To emphasize his point, Rui tugged on the strings attached to his left hand, eliciting a pained, feminine cry.
Fujino turned to see the source of the sound and his eyes widened in horror. Suspended between two trees was Spider Mother, strings embedded deep in her body, drawing blood. She resembled a marionette at the mercy of a puppeteer.
The strings tightened around her, making her bleed profusely and to cry out in agony.
"You're sick," he spat, rage boiling within him at the sight. "Disgust doesn't even come close to how I feel towards you."
"Hmm? You care about her? Why? She failed in her role as a mother; why would you waste your concern on such a failure?" Rui asked, genuinely intrigued by Fujino's reaction.
"Because I can relate to her. Unlike a heartless monster like you."
Fujino drew his Nichirin Katana, taking a stance with his body bent forward, legs apart, and sword raised high above his head.
'System, add 10 Points to AGI'
[Name: Fujino Yuki
Level: 40 (1,042/16,000)
Race: Human
Health: 450 / 450 (+3/sec)
Stamina: 550 / 550 (+3.6/sec)
STR: 70
DUR: 45
END: 45
AGI: 55
INT: 20
CHA: 30
Attributes Points (AP): 1]
"Let's go, then. It's time for your punishment, brat," he declared
Rui replied with a hint of indifference, "Punishment? I won't stand for any disrespect from a human," yet he was ready for the upcoming clash.
<—>
Taisho-era secrets!
Fujino always carries a fresh set of clothes in his inventory, along with containers of water and soap, just in case he needs to clean up—something that happens quite often!
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Thank you guys so much for 500+ Collections . It warms my heart to know that people are genuinely invested in my story, despite my abhorrent upload schedule.