Burning branches crackled with a crisp sound.
"Are you alright?" Shaka climbed off Black Cat and held out his hand. "Can you get up?"
"No... it's nothing..."
She covered her ears—the explosion had left her eardrums throbbing. Adding to the shock of the Minotaur ambush (like facing a horror game's secret boss), there was something even more flustering: He just pushed me over!
As someone who'd set up fake friends for phone calls, today felt surreal. A picnic with a man who'd seen her naked, a monster attack, a hero's rescue... this was way beyond what she expected from "friends."
"Hmph it's all because this game is too realistic!"
"What?"
Shaka scratched his head, then smiled wryly in understanding. "I keep saying it's the real world, but I never thought you'd have the courage to save me at the end. That was amazing."
Just don't throw grenades first next time I almost thought I was done for. He kept that part to himself.
Black Cat rolled her eyes, smug. "Hmph, hmph it's just a game. A Minotaur's so nobody, it's not even on the commission!" Goblins and minotaurs were fine, but something like Kel'Thuzad would've had her running. Thank goodness for the game's filter.
"Yes, yes." Shaka looked at the "tomato cat" in front of him, pulled a towel and water bottle from his backpack, and handed them over. "Wipe your face you're covered in blood. Must feel sticky."
She didn't take the towel. Instead, her gaze fell on his arm. "Is your hand okay?"
His palm was bright red with a large hematoma, and his wrist armor was dented, making his arm swell with bruising.
Shaka froze for a second, then looked down. "No wonder it hurts. Taking that hit head-on and then fighting for so long I'm lucky it's only this bad."
Does it hurt? "Fine..." But after the adrenaline faded, waves of pain washed over him, and he felt drained. Must be the durability injured badly, but still mobile.
He pressed the towel into her hands, then returned to the battlefield to collect spoils: a white bull horn, a palm-sized magic stone, a stone axe, and over 20 small goblin magic stone fragments (worth almost nothing). These were proof of the commission, so he had to take them back.
"Minotaurs are elite monsters even Level 2 adventurers struggle with them." He packed the loot and handed it to her. "Keep this. After we turn in the quest, we'll sell the drops and split the reward."
"That's strange... why would one be here?"
"Doesn't matter now..." Shaka paused, then smiled gently. "So how was your first battle?"
Black Cat froze, remembering this was "work." She thought for a moment. "Overall, it's exciting. Scary at first, but once you remember it's a game, you adapt quickly. Someone like Thunder Hammer would probably not be scared at all she'd yell 'You mere Minotaur death! Eat my Thunder Whirlwind death!' and charge straight in..."
Shaka's lips twitched. "Wow so lifelike."
Her expression turned gloomy. "The gore was too realistic. I almost threw up, but at least the monsters turn to ashes in the end."
Shaka laughed dryly. Too bloody for a middle schooler who's never hurt anyone. Good thing she adapted quickly maybe from cooking and handling ingredients? He mentally noted the feedback, hoping to improve the experience later maybe find a way to dull the senses, or make a pain-blocking potion. For now, though, it was beyond his ability. Pain was a protective mechanism, tied to touch it was complicated.
Shaka's "game" guise was more than just a lie. He was guarding against "mysterious" entities in other worlds like the unconfirmed evil god D, or Haruhi Suzumiya. According to In/Spectre, Kotoko Iwanaga would one day encounter Haruhi as the immortal Steel Man Nanase, born from rumors. Haruhi's belief in aliens, time travelers, and otherworldly beings had made them real around her. Shaka couldn't risk his actions opening a portal in Akihabara, or bringing monsters to reality. He'd keep operating as a "game" to protect the stable everyday world aligning with the emblem of justice he carried, even if his faith was in "stars."
A while later, Black Cat had cleaned off the blood. "Let's head back first—the test time is almost up." Using magic in battle had left him drowsy, a sign of mental exhaustion.
He took two steps, then realized she wasn't following. "What's wrong?"
She hesitated. "No carriages left... should we just log off?"
Shaka slapped his forehead. He was broke they'd have to run back. He'd hoped to share his first otherworldly income with someone, though. "I'll show you how to—"
"Wait a minute!" She interrupted, stammering. "I want to go back to town first. I fought too, so... I want to get the reward before I leave."
Shaka looked at her, confused. Why not just leave?
"I... I can't walk anymore..." She tugged at her burlap clothes, uneasy. The terror and desperate swing of the 20-pound axe had left her legs weak like a taut string snapping, triggering a stress response.
Shaka thought for a moment, then squatted down with his back to her. "What are you doing?!" she exclaimed.
"Come on I'll carry you."
"What?!" She pulled her hand back.
Shaka's eyes crinkled into a gentle smile. "It's my fault for not bringing enough travel money, and my responsibility for letting you face the Minotaur. So as an apology, this is the least I can do."
She hesitated, blushing, then cautiously climbed onto his back. In the hazy tree shade, she saw him support her thigh with his swollen, red arm and felt guilty.
"Fool..." She murmured, burying her face in his shoulder. The smell of sweat and blood wasn't pleasant, but it was surprisingly comforting. It's just a game... she told herself. But... are we friends now? Whether he can join the Dark Familia and sign a contract depends on if he passes the demon's trial.
Soon, they emerged from the woods onto the main road. Seeing her silent, Shaka said, "Okay we're on the main road now."
"Huh?"
"Time's running out. My magic's almost gone, and the link to the Impenetrable Boundary is breaking! We need to hurry!"
Before she could process the soft moment, she felt her body lurch backward as the scenery blurred past.
"Wh-what?!!"
"Extra experience hurry up! The humanoid transport ship Shaka is accelerating!!!"
"What is that?! Baka! We'll fall!"
"Hahaha."