Chapter 4: Betrayal
"-Life is great"
I escaped the crisis of a lifetime.
No idea how long I was out. However, seeing as the Armor Bear's corpse was still lying there, and as wild animals or other monsters haven’t appeared sniffing out the blood, I think it's safe to say it hasn't been that long since I lost consciousness.
The wound on my belly, for now the bleeding has stopped. My abdomen was black from all of the dried blood I had shed, but I could feel scabs from 4 large strokes. Seeing such big scabs on my own flesh really makes me shudder.
I remember hearing that bear nails are pretty bacteria infested, and rather than the flesh wound, the diseases they cause makes it especially nasty. It can't possibly be that my own saliva, that I'd used when doing the mouth mashing, actually worked as a perfect disinfectant and anti-bacterial... No, no use worrying now. I'll be ok, let's just pray.
"Uu...a bit unsteady..."
Now then, I can't bask in the joy of achievement forever. It's too dangerous to stop here. Forget Armor Bears, even if it's just some carnivorous animal, right now, I'm completely helpless.
But which way to go. No, I know the direction with the compass function, rather, how long till I get to that dungeon-
"O-oh yeah, the dungeon!"
There's the body of a classmate, i.e. Takashima-kun, here, implying, isn't this the dungeon's starting point? If it is, my hypothesis would be correct.
Though, every direction looks like the same forest scenery-
"-there!"
Looking around a bit better, I notice a stone shrine just over there. The mossy surface covered in vines mixed well with the green of the forest and, though it was hard to notice, but once you do, it's impossible not to.
Standing at 4 meters13ft tall, the oblong structure strongly asserted itself as something artificially built in the deep forest. This has to be the entrance to the dungeon.
Even so, not noticing something like this, I must've been extremely preoccupied till just now. But I feel like I showed quite the quick-wittedness and swift action somehow defeating the Armor Bear.
Ooh, maybe I'm the type who's a straight up genius if I just make an effort?
I happily praised myself while heading to the dungeon shrine when-
"-Oh man, The outside's really a friggin' forest."
A familiar voice, I heard it. That was undoubtedly emitted from inside the shrine... Meaning, one of my classmates was about to appear.
"Heey! Anyone there!"
I don't care who. Having been here where there's that kind of monster lurking around, being able to meet an actual human being, there's no greater relief.
For now, let's be glad I can join up with a classmate.
"Ah? Momokawa? What, so you're still alive."
From the other side of the dimmed shrine appeared, with brown hair and piercings, the class punk. Higuchi Kyouya.
"Eh, Momokawa-kun's there? wow, he is!"
Appearing next, the blond twintail loli, Reina A. Ayase.
"R-really! Kotarou!?
And finally, appeared my chubby friend.
"Masaru!?"
"Oohh! Kotarou, you're safe!"
Saitou Masaru. The joy and relief from meeting this familiar chubbster, now tears really felt like gushing out.
Isn't that natural? This is more than just relief from meeting other people, they're reliable comrades who've been given powers of a vocation. If it's 3 people, chances are that there's a warrior or fire mage among them. It can't possibly be that there's more shamans in there.
Also, wit
h some support my shamanic powers can also be made useful-
"Oi, hold up, Momokawa."
But then, my legs, that were rushing over in the overwhelming excitement, stopped. No, they were stopped.
By a knife that struck right in front of my feet. In barely another 3 cm1 inch, these indoor shoes along with my toes would have been lopped off.
"Wh..."
"Oi, what the fuck are you doing, Higuchi!?"
Masaru shouts out in place of me.
"Shut it, and add a -san ya fat fuck. Just shut ye’r trap and go pick up the core from that big one o’er there."
"Kotarou's been alive! We gotta help!-"
"Then you wanna die in his place, fagget?"[1]
From a pocket in this trousers- I couldn’t really tell, Higuchi instantly took out a butterfly knife and stuck its sharp blade at Masaru's throat.
"We got 3 people already, don't ya fucking forget it."
"H-hey guys hold on! Why are we fighting amongst each other! We need to work together and-"
"Ha! Momokawa, you l'il shit, ye’r head okay?"
He scoffed at my very reasonably shouted complaint.
"Didn'cha read the text message? Ya must be an absolute retard not ta notice."
Yeah, don't need this, he sneered, as Higuchi withdrew the knife from Masaru.
"Saitou, stop yer wankin' and get that core r'now. I'll take good care of Momokawa for ya. Ah, Reina-chan, you can wait inside, it's gonna get a bit bloody."
I have no idea what's happening, but it's painfully obvious how it's not good. Then, the situation takes a turn for the worse.
Masaru turned dead pale, and following Higuchi's order, began going towards the Armor Bear.
And, as for Reina, she listened to his annoying nice-guy voice saying "wait inside", and as if completely nonchalant about this clearly bizarre turn of events, retreated back into the shrine.
"So yea, Momokawa, sorry but die for me will ya. I'll thank ya for takin' out that big guy o'er there. Thanks for the loot."
And with real murderous intent and a sinister grin, Higuchi came at me with his butterfly knife.
"Eh, no wait! WAIT, why're you-"
"Oi, stay still. I'm trynna get yer vitals in the first shot, why're you not lettin' me show my kindness and put y'at peace?"
He said it as if messing around, but this was completely serious. I can just tell. Higuchi is really coming with the intention of stabbing me. No hesitance, no regrets, as if it's natural.
In fact, his knife was already raised.
"Now, make it rain-"
"When you stab me, my shaman powers will kill you too!"
Higuchi's hand, stops.
"Don't be a smartass, pipsqueak"
Well, then why'd you stop. Higuchi is clearly wary now. Right, this guy must know too, how absolutely bizarre the powers of a vocation can be.
"I can return any and all damage back to my attacker. That's my power."
"Shing, he folded in the butterfly knife with a high-pitched sound. With the blade inside, the fist holding the handle-"
"Buha!?"
Exploded on my face. It hurt, no rather, I'm more shocked at what happened.
"-Hk! Fuck. god fuck!"
I see Higuchi with the same knuckle marks on his face as me. Wonderful, with 'Pain Return', even a weak beta like me won't lose out when I'm hit.
Fortunately, my nose or front teeth didn't break. Instead, I did feel blood flowing out of my nose. No problem, I don't even need any Non-delionsfalse dandelions for this.
"H-hey, Higuchi-san, Kotarou's"
"Shut it lard! Just get the damn core!"
Perhaps because I hadn't been killed, Masaru made a relieved face.
But, my friend who, not only made no attempt to stop Higuchi's attempted murder, but was still listening to him, earned quite a bit of my displeasure and distrust. Higuchi-san, the fuck man. Masaru's out, can't depend on him.
"Higuchi, what's this core, explain."
"Momokawa, don't fucking test me-"
"You get what my power is right? You stab, and you die!"
Higuchi was so mad, seemed like his veins would pop. But, looks like he wasn't stupid enough to use his knife in a fit of rage. I'm glad I don't have to face the worst bad end of dying along with this asshole.
"Tch, fine, I'll tell you."
After a few seconds of silence, Higuchi spoke up. His words seemed like those of a loser, but for some reason, as if his sourness abated, he sneered at me again.
I have the worst feeling, but I'll listen to what he has to say.
"It's the item needed to activate the 'Transfer Gate', the core. You grab it from monsters like that dead one over there. it's in their corpse."
Looking to my side, Masaru's been poking around the Armor Bears body with a knife in hand. That knife was different from Higuchi's butterfly knife, a strangely old-fashioned design. Oh right, the knife Higuchi threw was also like that... I wonder if they got it inside the dungeon.
Nevertheless, there's no way you can break the Armor Bear's hard shell with a simple knife like that. Masaru probably figured that too. Giving up on breaking the shell, he resolved himself to get smeared in blood and fats, and shoved his hand into the wound.
Can you really retrieve the core like that- I was thinking when,
"Nice! Found it!"
Apparently he did retrieve it. On his right hand soaked in blood, was a dazzling red jewel.
"So that's, the core..."
"Not bad, it's got a big body, and a big core to boot!"
From Higuchi's broad grinned statement, I learn that there's a size distinction in the cores you can get from monsters. This core think is probably crystallized energy like mana or something. If there's magic, there's bound to be some form of energy or mana that enables its usage.
Therefore, these transfer gates that warp you to other places must need an adequate amount of mana to run. If not, it's like a car with no gas in the tank.
"I beat the Armor Bear, so that core's mine."
A reasonable claim. The core's an indispensable key item to escaping this place, I have not a bit of intention to hand it to Higuchi.
"Oi Saitou, pack up, we're heading back into the dungeon."
Forget listening, Higuchi's straight out ignoring me.
Masaru follows his orders, and comes up beside Higuchi, core in hand. He met my glance for an instant, and awkwardly looked away.
Silently, he hands Higuchi the red core.
"D-don't mess with me!"
"What, Momokawa, ye sayin' y'can take this core from me, li'l shit?
With a devilish grin, Higuchi replies. Flaunting the bloody core at me.
Shit... this bastard found out I don't have offense skills.
"Yer'a shaman? It's the one that kills people right? Ey Momokawa, ye'r mad right? ye'r a geekotaku who thinks I'm some shitty DQNpunk right? right, then do it. Use ye'r shaman magic 'n curse me to death!"
His eyes are assured that I can't. In fact, I can't. I don't have a comeback.
"Hyahahaha! See? ya can't do it, fagget! The fuck's a shaman, some shitty vocation that's what. Y'prolly killed that big'un just by chance right?"
You're half right, and half wrong you fucking DQN.
"I'll take this core, 'n y'll watch. Don't pull nothin, we got three people- Ah, right, riiight, wow, why din't I notice something this easy before."
So stupid, with a forced sigh, the highly-waxed-up-brown-haired Higuchi says. He must've thought up something awful no doubt.
"Saitou, beat Momokawa's shit in for a bit."
The worst option. 'Pain Return' reflects back damage to the attacker only. Higuchi won't even feel a scratch if Masaru's the one hitting me.
"Eh, I, uh..."
"Do it. And don't fuckin' stop till he cries. Where's that line from? Whate'r, you like that shit right?"
Masaru's frozen. But not forever. He was just hesitating, if Higuchi says it he'll do it. He'll beat me up. Without fail.
"Masaru... you being threatened by Higuchi?"
"I'm sorry... Kotarou."
I knew without him saying. Masaru's weaker than Higuchi. Even in a normal fight, though not as tall as Tendou-kun, he can't win against Higuchi who's pretty tall himself. Not even with his dual wielding sword style.
And, even now, after receiving his vocation, he can't.
Higuchi had come stabbing at me without an ounce of hesitation. He's probably killed someone already. He's used to it. He's completely ready to murder.
With their life on the line, people will do anything. No questions asked. It's obvious, I'd likely be the same.
I do get it- but,
"Dammit... even a friend..."
Accepting it? no way. No way I won't resent him when I'm betrayed.
"Kotarooou, sorry!"
It hurt. His fist hurt more than the Armor Bear's strike, more than Higuchi's, much more. It caved in my cheek, along with my heart.
Straddling the fallen-down me, Masaru strikes me many, many times.
"Sorry...sorry..."
Tears come out. Mine and his too. Obviously, both of us are equally getting our faces punched in. His mounting me is of no relation.
The right cheek swells. The left one too. Nose also bleed. Both of us are a pulp.
"Ah right, I kinda forgot to say, the transfer gate here won't take more than 3 people it seems."
In the middle of the pain and humiliation, the last question is answered.
Ah, I see, only three people can be saved. So the 4th person, me, they can't. And they won't.
"If you weren't some shitty shaman, but something like a healer, I'd've already left this useless lard and made you a pal."
haha, Masaru, you're a sacrificial pawn see. Why are you still hitting me? Get mad. C'mon, show even a bit of manly pride, and attack that Higuchi like you're gonna die!
With the irreparable crack forming in our friendship, my heart doesn't yell anything but curses.
"Hey, aren't you glad Saitou, your good pal got a shitty vocation. Thanks to Kotarou-kun being a shaman, I wasn't discarded by Higuchi-samaa, aren't you thinking that while hittin’ away. Man, you really got a great friend there. Might be jealous."
Shit, shit, shiiiit!
I'll curse you, curse you, I'll definitely curse you to death! Higuchi, you, I absolutely WILL fucking CURSE you to HELL?!
"Huff....haf...h-Higuchi-san... I can't..."
"Gyahahaha! Man, y’ve sure become handsome, Saitou!"
Higuchi points and laughs at his swollen face. Goddamit, my face must be like that too right now...
"P-pl,ease..."
"Yea yeah, I get it. Can't really kill him now, whatever then."
Even Masaru wouldn't sacrifice his life to kill me. Haha, if he was that obedient a slave, it'd really be super convenient.
I leered at Masaru with disdain, as he dismounted me. You're heavy, fatass. I'll be cursing you right after Higuchi.
"Seeya Momokawa, till we meet again, I'll think up something to kill ya. Not that I'd mind if y'get eaten by some monster- ptui."
Finally, after spitting on my face, Higuchi went back into the dungeon.
Shit, dammit... Pain Return won't return simple discomfort.
"Definitely... curse, you..."
I could talk all I want. But right now, I can only shed tears of bitterness while seeing the two of them leave.
The worst kind of bastard, and the traitorous friend.
I'll never forgive them-