The air seemed to crackle with intense tension as Hinata and the young woman stared at each other.
"So what's your name, handsome?" she asked, tapping the gun against her cheeks. "My name is Albedo, by the way. Albedo Von Sterling, daughter of one of the five Archbishops. I'm also a player, or rather, a heretic killer."
'Well, that explains her crazy nature.'
Even after finding out that this world was ruled by seven gods, Hinata didn't expect them to act like the crazy fanatics in fiction back on Earth. Now, looking at the purple-haired girl, it seemed he had been short-sighted.
Hinata's gaze lingered on the girl for a long moment. He didn't know why, but he felt an unexplainable urge to also say his name. Maybe this was his knightly side, drawn to a gallant duel.
"I'm Hinata, Nishikawa Hinata. As for my origins, I would prefer not to state them."
Albedo nodded absentmindedly. She raised her gaze, locking it onto Hinata.
Hinata felt like the air was stolen from his lungs under her intense gaze. He quickly raised his hands, sensing something amiss.
Just like before, his senses came to his aid again. Albedo lunged at him with terrifying speed, her leg raised high to strike his temple.
Hinata sent the slime through his raised arm, immediately creating a mental image of a shield.
Right before Albedo's foot connected, a black shield formed by his side.
The sound of clashing metal rang through the forest. Hinata felt like his arm could rip out from the force of the blow. Despite the pain, he held his ground and blocked the attack without moving a step.
Albedo grinned broadly at him, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink. "You really are my soulmate, aren't you, Hinata?!"
"Psychopath…"
Albedo seemed pleased by the name he had given her. "I swear, darling, you're the only one who can call me that," she said, taking a step back and shooting her foot toward his crotch.
Hinata lowered his hands so the shield could block the blow. The sound of metal rang again. However, when he raised his head, Albedo's fist was already inches from his face.
He immediately turned slightly to reduce the force as he was sent flying deeper into the forest. The tree he crashed into exploded on impact, splinters flying into the air.
Hinata felt his vision go dark for a moment.
Unbearable pain, which he never even knew existed, tore through him. He tried to activate Exemption, but each time he suppressed one pain, another replaced it.
Even with all this, he managed to get on his feet, though barely.
In a hoarse tone, he spoke up. "Aren't you playing a bit dirty?"
Albedo shook her head. "In a real fight, there isn't anything like playing dirty or fair." She then sighed while waving her hand. "Though I guess now that I've confirmed you aren't a spy for the other gods, I can go easy on you."
Hinata's expression darkened. 'So that's why she was there.'
He hadn't thought much of it before, but maybe inheriting the power of an unknown god had its own advantages. If every single continent had people as crazy as this, at least they wouldn't ever suspect him of heresy.
"If you're sure that I'm not a heretic, can you let me go now?"
Albedo tilted her head. "But you're my husband, though. Why should I let you go?"
Hinata twisted his face, his nose raised in an involuntary, sickening sneer. "How am I your husband?"
Albedo laughed loudly, as if the words Hinata had just said were some profound joke. "You're so funny, husband." Her eyes narrowed slowly. "If I say you're my husband, then that is who you are. I don't think you have a choice here."
Hinata clenched his jaw. At this point, he couldn't even argue with her.
The girl in front of him had clearly not used any real abilities and had only used a minimal amount of mana to fight him, yet he was reduced to such a state.
He couldn't help cursing his luck. If the system hadn't led him here, maybe he could have completely avoided Albedo.
Hinata took a slow breath. 'If that's the case…' then he was going to fight.
He activated his Exemption, applying it to every single part of his body.
Gradually, he straightened his back, his sword raised high. "Then I guess you have to marry my corpse, just as you said earlier."
Albedo raised a brow before smiling softly. "You're so interesting, husband." She paused. "Why don't we do this, then? Fight me again. I won't use mana. If you can defeat me, then not only will I not take you with me, but I'll help you complete your goal."
Hinata's eyes glinted with renewed strength. "I guess you do like getting your ass beaten."
She raised her gun toward him. "I guess so."
With a single leap, Hinata closed the distance between them severalfold. Albedo also lunged forward, shooting several bullets toward him.
Steel clashed against steel as Hinata deflected the bullets away with his sword. With no mana, they were just like normal guns back on Earth. It wasn't that they were slow or weak, it was just that he was faster and stronger.
Once the distance between them became nothing, Hinata slashed his sword downward, the wind whistling loudly. Albedo raised her two guns above her head in a cross shape to block the strike, but just like she had done before, he swung his foot toward her gut.
Hinata felt his attack connect, but what he felt didn't resemble human flesh. He lowered his head, only to notice he was striking tree branches.
He quickly whipped his head to the side, but he was a little too late. Albedo's fist landed on his face, and he was once again flung away.
This time, however, he was able to twist his body and hold his ground.
Albedo stared at him, then at her fist. "Do you even feel pain?"
Hinata grinned, blood rolling from his forehead, down his face, and dripping from his chin. "Unlike you, I'm not afraid of a little pain."
He clenched his jaw and lunged at her again.
Even if he had said some cocky words, he could feel it within himself. He was reaching his limit.
But that didn't matter.
The steel of his blade clashed against the edge of her gun again. Before he could attack her, the form he was fighting faded. This time, he was striking nothing but air.
Again, and again, and again, the sequence continued.
Each time he tried to attack her, he realized he was fighting nothing but an illusion.
Now his body was battered and weak. He could barely hold onto his consciousness.
Exemption was truly a powerful ability, but even it couldn't help him maintain consciousness or prevent deep wounds from affecting him.
"Seems like you are on your last leg, husband~."
Hinata still grinned. Not because he was possessed or influenced by the crazed woman, but because he had finally understood how her ability worked.
He relaxed his body, letting his tense muscles loosen, and closed his eyes.
From the very beginning, the thing that had been messing with his head was her eyes.
With his sword raised high like a knight and one hand behind his back, he steeled himself for his final attack.
'It's either this, or my dreams end here.'