The emcee spoke.
"She once lived a happy life. In a village blooming with flowers, alongside residents who loved flowers. Of course, there were a few minor problems, but let us ignore those for now."
"But her happiness did not last long. A very big and bad wolf came."
The stage changed—to a village in full bloom with flowers. No, with blood flowers.
"While she was away running an errand to her grandmother’s house, the wolf attacked the small, peaceful village and brutally slaughtered all its residents, including her precious family."
The emcee laughed as though it were delighted.
"And so, she makes a decision. She will learn from the very brave and strong hunter who lives in the forest, and kill the wolf."
"Perhaps for revenge. To take revenge."
A great curtain rose.
There was a dark forest filled with thick fog and trees so enormous they blotted out the sky. And perched atop one of those trees was a hunter who looked exactly like Team Leader Mir.
"Well then, shall we begin the story?"
The emcee spread both arms wide.
"Act Two: The Hunter. The story begins."
"Hah... My superior is done talking, so I suppose I should do my job too."
Team Leader Mir—no, the hunter—looked down.
More precisely, at Nova and me.
"The one you’re looking for is in my cabin."
"But unfortunately for you..."
The hunter’s lips curled up.
"Getting there will be difficult."
Click. A loading sound rang out.
"Because..."
The long gun’s muzzle turned toward the sky.
"In this black and dark forest..."
"There lives a big, terrifying monster."
Bang—!!
The gunshot split the forest.
After a moment of silence—
Cawwwww—!!
The entire forest howled.
An enormous shadow covered the sky.
Nova looked up.
"...Wow~"
I unconsciously looked skyward too.
And my breath caught.
It was the Apocalypse Bird.
A monster of the black and dark forest, with black wings lit by numerous yellow eyes, bandaged arms and eyes, and a sharp beak and maw.
No way...
Was this the Black and Dark Forest?
Then that hunter was an entity active here...
So just how strong was the Team Leader Mir it had copied?
With one flap of the Apocalypse Bird’s wings, the entire forest shook.
Its gaze turned this way. Countless eyes stared.
Toward the direction the gunshot had come from—and toward us standing there.
"Oh... just as expected."
The hunter smiled.
"It came right out."
"Hey... Right. Can’t be late."
"Hey."
She called out with a smile.
"If you don’t hurry, you’ll be too late, you know?"
"...What do you mean?"
"That girl doesn’t know anything yet."
"What revenge is. How sweet hatred can be. Or how easily a person can lose themselves in the face of revenge."
She stepped on a branch and sprang upward.
"But you know, I’m pretty good at teaching things like that. I have a talent for it."
"..."
"So you’d better hurry."
The hunter spun her long gun around.
"Because if I get there first, she won’t be the person you’re looking for anymore."
"...Damn it."
I gripped Repentance.
I had to chase after her right now.
But the Apocalypse Bird was here.
Cawwwww—!!
Its enormous wings spread, and a storm swept through.
The Apocalypse Bird turned toward us.
"...Nova."
Nova turned her head.
"Yeah~?"
"...I’ll stay behind."
"..."
"You go."
I couldn’t lose another person precious to me.
No matter how much of a complete mess Nova was, she had saved my life, and we had grown close over all this time. I couldn’t just abandon her.
So it was right for me to stay.
When we measured it last time, Repentance’s damage type had come out as Pale. I’d been thrilled then, thinking it was absurdly overpowered, but unfortunately, the Apocalypse Bird’s long arms were immune to Pale damage. Even if it would be less effective, it made sense for me, the close-range fighter, to stay behind.
That senior was always whining about being a ranged damage dealer, wasn’t she?
Nova sighed.
Then—
Smack.
My head snapped to the side.
That hurt... Did she just slap me?
"Junior~"
"..."
"Get a grip."
Click.
Abraxas was loaded.
"You know who needs to go and who needs to stay, don’t you~?"
"That’s an Abnormality from headquarters, and my Abraxas, which can at least deal White damage, will be more effective~"
I knew too. Objectively, there was already a clear answer as to who had to stay.
That was why I hated it even more.
Nova saw the look on my face and smiled.
"The team leader told me~"
"Said you’re unbelievably stubborn~"
"She was right~ She really was~"
Nova raised Abraxas.
"Don’t worry. This senior is tougher than she looks~ I’m a Level 5 employee, after all~!"
Bang—!!
A golden bullet tore through the sky.
It exploded right before the Apocalypse Bird’s eyes.
Cawwwww—!!
The Apocalypse Bird’s gaze fixed completely on Nova.
"Oh~"
Nova smiled. It was not her usual drugged-up grin. She looked like she was sincerely smiling.
"Got you~"
She gave my shoulder a light tap.
"Go~ To the cabin, and bring that girl back~"
Before she had even finished speaking, Nova charged forward.
To buy time in the opposite direction from where the hunter had gone.
"Abraxas, deploy~"
Abraxas spewed fire in rapid succession.
The Apocalypse Bird roared.
An enormous shadow blanketed the forest.
"You ugly bird~ Come over here~!"
The Apocalypse Bird turned completely around.
Toward Nova.
Kraaaash—!!
Massive talons tore into the ground.
But Nova had already climbed onto another tree.
"Too slow~"
Bang!!
Another shot struck the Apocalypse Bird in the head.
The Apocalypse Bird let out an enraged cry.
Every time its massive body advanced, trees shattered and the ground split apart.
It was like a disaster walking on two legs.
The Apocalypse Bird headed toward the other side of the forest, pursuing Nova.
I watched that sight for a moment.
Then I immediately turned around.
There was only one thing I needed to do now.
Find the Mercenary, before she was consumed by revenge.
Get her out quickly before she was tainted by the hunter’s story, destroy the play like before, and save Nova. That was all.
I tightened my grip on Repentance and ran at full speed.
Through the black forest, through the fog, following the footprints the hunter had left behind.
Far away, I saw a faint light.
A cabin.
And just ahead of it, I saw the hunter’s back as she ran across the branches.
She looked back and smiled.
"You’re late."
I did not answer.
Instead, I ran faster.
The cabin was almost in sight now.
I can do this. It’s just a time attack, right? Save the Mercenary quickly, gang up on that fucking hunter and take her down, then destroy the play and save Nova. Just a simple time attack. So I have to do it. No—I have to.
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