"It's okay, Kanna."
She turns to me, her eyes filled with concern.
"Whatever happens, remember that I love you," I say sincerely.
"W-what do you mean, Strauss? Is what she says true?" she asks, on the verge of tears.
I don't answer.
I don't know what will happen, and if I'll be able to continue the charade.
But I know this is not the time for explanations.
Looking into her eyes I say: "Professor, they want to kill me, and they won't stop. But I want to live, and I'll fight with everything I have."
"I'll do everything I can to survive."
She doesn't know how to respond.
A little further ahead, the mountain of muscles addresses the woman who wants to kill me.
"I believe you, Deedee. I trust you more than I trust myself. I'll help you." Gulihelmus has made up his mind.
"Thank you, Guli. I knew I could count on you," the green-haired woman responds with a smile.
[CONJURE EQUIP]
The detective, still enveloped in the golden aura, summons her equipment.
Instead of regular clothes, she now wears a complete medium-light armor.
Even from where I am, I can see the splendid finish and the brilliance of the metal.
Then, her magical bow appears.
Guli also conjures his equipment.
Although more minimalistic and essential than his companion's, it is still a well-crafted light armor.
The man wields two spiked clubs.
Judging from the armor and weapons, I hypothesize that he is a barbarian, an offensive class specialized in dealing as much damage as possible, disregarding the damage received.
All of this equipment is magical gear obtained from dungeons.
They are determined to kill me.
I am about to face professionals.
With a quick scan, I ascertain that I am up against two level 3 individuals, respectively an A-rank Ranger and a B-rank Barbarian.
It's like scaling Everest.
"Stop, guys! I beg you!" Kanna pleads.
"Professor, don't get involved," I say to her, maintaining composure.
I am a villain, but I'm not so trashy as to exploit this woman to protect myself.
I have my pride.
This will probably be another cause of my downfall, I bitterly think.
But there's no time to reflect.
I take the enhancing potion from my bag.
I drink it all in one go.
I throw the empty vial on the ground.
Okay, let's do this.
Deedee nocks her bow, ready to shoot.
"Buddy, move, or I'll hit you too," the policewoman's tone is unwavering.
"I won't move!" Kanna Merfal is determined to shield me.
"If you harm the professor, I won't forgive you," I declare sincerely.
"Think about yourself, you son of a bitch!" Deedee insults me.
I can't face them directly, but I also can't let Kanna shield me.
Suddenly...
Deedee jumps really high.
Can a human jump that high?
While in the air, she releases an arrow.
I cast [HASTE] on myself.
*SWISSHH*
I narrowly dodge the first arrow.
I can't confront an archer in open ground.
I flee.
I run.
I cast [SHARE SKILL] to access Luysia's spells.
While running, I cast [BLESS].
Next is [PROTECTION FROM POISON].
*SWISHH*
An arrow whizzes past me.
"Run, coward! I'll kill you mercilessly, just like you killed those men!" Deedee vows.
[BLESSED ARMOR]
[BLESSED WEAPON]
I cast them in succession.
I have to use all my buffs.
I spot a secondary entrance to the school building.
I run towards the entrance.
I enter the building.
Deedee and Guli chase me inside.
*SWIIISHH*
An arrow whizzes past me by inches.
I take cover behind the corner.
"You can't escape me, motherfucker."
[ENHANCE PENETRATION]
The woman casts the spell.
Then she shoots another arrow.
This one pierces through the concrete and hits my left arm, causing an injury.
[BARBARIAN RAGE]
I don't have time to think because Guli is in front of me with his two spiked clubs.
The giant swings them downward, trying to crush my bones.
I narrowly evade them with a quick backward movement.
*SWIISH*
*TWACK!*
Another arrow hits me, embedding itself in my right arm.
"Aaargh!" The pain is intense.
The giant is upon me.
I grab a vial and throw it forcefully on the ground.
*Crash*
The glass shatters into a thousand pieces, releasing the contained substance.
*BOOOOMMM*
"IT BURNS!" shouts the barbarian.
It's an explosive substance.
Flames erupt, engulfing Guli as well.
The giant is slightly ustioned.
I take advantage of the situation to climb the stairs.
Arrows embed themselves in the wall just inches from me.
I'm in the hallway on the upper floor.
I zigzag for my life.
Running in a straight line would be suicide.
Arrows whistle past my ears.
Each one narrowly misses me.
If they hit a vital point, I'd be dead.
I throw another explosive potion behind me.
*BOOOOMMM*
The fire spreads through the structure, feeding on anything flammable.
I keep running.
But...
[ENTANGLED VINES]
A magical vine grabs my left leg.
I lose balance.
I fall to the ground.
Violently.
*THUD*
I don't have time for the pain.
I grab my knife.
I cut the vine.
I get up.
*SWISSH*
An arrow embeds itself in the floor near my feet.
Deedee is in front of me.
She readies her bow again.
"Die, bastard!"
She releases the arrow.
*SWISH*
With a shoulder thrust, I break through the door of a classroom.
I narrowly dodge the arrow. However, the woman quickly catches up.
I struggle to stand up.
But I get up because if not, I'm dead.
Swinging, she delivers a powerful right kick.
I barely manage to block with my left arm.
Pain explodes in the already injured arm.
I step back, but there's no respite.
*CRASH*
The wall on my right is smashed.
Guli is charging like a bull.
He overwhelms me.
Like a freight train.
[MINOR HEAL]
I tend to my wounds.
*TWACK*
Another arrow lodges into my left thigh.
I scream in pain.
Deedee approaches, this time to finish me off.
I cast my demonic spell to get out of trouble.
[DEMONIC HOLD]
But immediately, the system warns me of the worst-case scenario.
[[ ERROR: Target not valid. The target has divine protection. ]]
Is this the end?
Deedee is about to release the arrow.
*Twack*
An unexpected blow throws her off balance.
The arrow is released.
The imperfect aim makes the arrow stray.
It grazes my right cheek.
A kunai struck the detective in the back.
Bicrista! I'm so happy to see her.
The utility of having a stalker.
I grab my knife.
I rush at the distracted ranger.
*STAB*
The blood gushes out.
Only thanks to her quick reflexes did she manage to avoid the blade piercing a vital spot.
*SMACK*
She retaliates with a punch to the face, turning my head.
Blood and saliva spray from my mouth.
It hurts.
[SHADOW STEP]
"Strauss!"
Bicrista intervenes, standing between me on the ground and the woman.
Guli rushes in, attempting to trample the silver-haired girl.
With an acrobatic move, the assassin avoids the assault.
The girl wields the kitchen knife in one hand and a kunai in the other.
"Strauss is mine~ 🤍 Only I can kill him~ 🤍"
The delirium is the usual, but I'm glad she's here.
Deedee would like to strike her, but she notices that something is wrong.
"Guli, paralysis!" the ranger shouts, realizing the substance covering my knife.
The giant takes a potion.
A cure.
I need to stop him.
[SLOW]
I cast my slowing spell on the man.
[MALUS PROTECTION]
Guli responds with a magic that negates negative statuses.
They are professional Ventures.
Not amateurs.
The giant reaches the woman and pours the contents into her mouth.
I take advantage of this to throw my last explosive potion.
*BOOOMMM*
I take Bicrista by the hand. "Let's go!"
We rush out of the classroom.
*CRASH*
Breaking through the wall again, the giant is behind me.
His club comes down on us.
I push Bicrista away.
The club hits my back squarely.
*THUUUD*
I fly for meters before landing on the floor.
Once on the ground, the force of the impact makes me slide a few more meters until I hit the wall.
*SMASH*
"Uaargghh..."
That hurt a lot.
The damage is massive.
I can barely move.
Blood clouds my vision.
I check my HP.
Only 50/457
That's bad.
[AURA OF PAIN]
I activate Luysia's spell.
Deedee approaches me.
Bicrista tries to stop her.
She is swept away by Guli.
With a sweep of his arm, he throws her against the wall.
The detective is in front of me.
"Die once and for all, you motherfucker."
The arrow is nocked.
Aimed at my head.
Not today.
I throw myself at her.
I manage to grab one leg.
"What are you doing, bastard?"
With her free leg, she kicks me.
I cast the spell.
[APOSTATE TOUCH]
Spoiler
By activating this ability, touching the opponent inflicts damage equal to the difference between your MAX HP and your current HP. Cost 80 MP plus a 16 MP tax.
[collapse]
"IAHAHAIAIAARGH!"
Deedee suddenly experiences excruciating pain.
Her HP dangerously drops.
The woman falls to the ground, paralyzed by pain.
[AUTO-HEAL]
Being below 10% of my HP, the healing spell activates automatically.
I also cast [HEAL] to bring myself out of the lethal range.
I grip the knife in my hand.
It's a pity, but I have to kill her.
I have no alternatives in this situation.
"DEEDEE!" Guli shouts a little further away, engaged with Bicrista.
The giant man hurls himself toward me.
His club is about to crush me.
[CONJURE WEAPON]
I summon my weapon.
I block the blow.
*CLAAANGG*
Wielding the cursed mace with both hands, I have blocked the club centrally.
However, the force of the blow pushes me backward.
I struggle to stay on my feet.
The flames are reaching here in the meantime.
The smoke has filled the corridor, making the air unbreathable.
"Bicrista! Let's go up!"
I signal to the assassin who is getting up.
The woman nods.
[SHADOW STEP]
She's behind me.
We run on the roof.
For the moment, they're not chasing us.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the giant healing the woman with a potion.
They will be on my heels again soon.
My buffs are about to run out.
I am in a trap.
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