Chapter 14: Is This… the Aftermath!?
....
Kihara fired again, dispersing the incoming wind blades aimed at Rikka Takarada.
But this time, the mantis-wolf monster had already adapted.
Instead of attacking head-on, it began circling them at high speed, launching wind blades from every angle toward Rikka.
If Kihara had been alone, he could've rushed in and forced a close-range fight.
But with Rikka behind him, someone he had to protect at all costs—he was forced to stay on the defensive.
Ten minutes passed.
Kihara's movements started to slow.
Hunger gnawed at his body, growing sharper with every second.
Meanwhile, the monster showed no signs of fatigue.
It seized the moment.
A sharply angled wind blade shot forward.
Too fast.
Kihara couldn't shoot it down in time.
"…Tch!"
Without hesitation, he turned and pulled Rikka into his arms.
Taking the hit himself.
"Kihara!?"
Rikka only saw him suddenly shield her, and sparks burst from his back as if struck by a blade.
"Ghh…!"
The armor held, but the impact still went through, drawing a painful groan from him.
More attacks followed instantly.
Kihara protected the back of her head with one arm and rolled sideways with her, narrowly dodging the barrage.
BOOM—!
The ground where they stood shattered, carved up like it had been sliced dozens of times.
Rikka's heart sank.
She understood now.
She wasn't just being protected.
She was holding him back.
As long as she was here, the monster could keep targeting her, draining Kihara's strength bit by bit…
Until both of them fell.
A quiet sense of helplessness crept into her chest.
"Don't worry."
Kihara's voice cut through her thoughts, firm and unwavering.
"I'll protect you. No matter what."
Then—
He slammed his fist into the ground.
BANG!
Concrete cracked apart, forming large slabs.
Enduring the incoming attacks, Kihara quickly arranged the broken pieces into a rough barricade around Rikka.
A temporary wall.
Based on the monster's attack power, it should hold for about ten seconds.
Ten seconds was all he needed.
The plan was simple:
Close the distance.
Activate Crimson Drill.
Lock the target.
Finish it.
Seeing Kihara charge instead of guarding Rikka, the monster let out a mocking screech.
It fired two feint attacks.
Then leapt into the air, aiming straight for Rikka, now exposed from above.
Got you.
Kihara 's eyes flashed.
A red, spiraling energy field locked the monster midair.
"Crimson Drill!!"
The monster sensed it instantly.
If I don't block this—I'm finished!
With a desperate motion, it crossed its blade-like arms in front of itself.
SCREEEECH—!
Metal shrieked against energy.
For a moment, they clashed.
Then—
The red drill broke through.
The creature's blade arms shattered under the impact.
"GRAAAH—!"
The monster's presence weakened drastically.
Fear flickered in its eyes.
It retreated immediately, leaping away into the distance.
Kihara staggered.
His vision blurred.
His body was reaching its limit.
The hunger. The damage. The exhaustion.
All hitting at once.
"Rikka…"
He forced himself to move, breaking the makeshift wall and pulling her out.
Then—
He canceled his transformation.
And just before losing consciousness.
He adjusted his fall slightly.
Thud.
Rikka, who had tried to catch him, lost balance instead and fell backward.
"W-wait—!"
But at the last second, she instinctively pulled her legs together.
Softening his fall.
"…Kihara?"
No response.
Using all her strength, Rikka managed to drag him back to his house nearby.
By the time she got him onto the sofa, she was completely exhausted.
But then—
She noticed it.
Red stains spreading across his white shirt.
"…No way—!"
Panicking, she rushed over and carefully lifted his shirt.
His back was covered in bruises, some areas still bleeding.
All from protecting her.
"W-what do I do…?"
She looked around frantically.
"First… stop the bleeding… where are the bandages…!?"
After searching the house and calling her mother to say she'd be late, Rikka followed online instructions as best she could.
Time passed.
The room grew quiet.
Moonlight filtered through the window.
Finally, she leaned back, hands trembling.
"…Why do I feel like I just committed a crime…"
Grrrr…
Both their stomachs growled at the same time.
Rikka blinked—then let out a small sigh.
She went to wash her hands, remembering the box of instant noodles she had seen earlier.
Soon, three cups of noodles were prepared on the table.
Just in case he woke up.
She made one for herself too.
After eating, she noticed her clothes were stained.
Glancing at Kihara —still asleep, breathing steadily—she quietly stood up.
"…I'll just clean up a bit…"
She had been running around nonstop since earlier.
There was no way she could ignore how sweaty and messy she felt.
So—
She slipped into the bathroom for a quick shower.
Not long after—
Kihara woke up.
Hunger hit him instantly.
The smell of instant noodles filled his senses.
Five minutes later—
Everything was gone.
Table. Box. All cleared.
Only about sixty percent full.
Click…
The bathroom door opened.
"Kihara… you're awake?"
Rikka stepped out, gently drying her long hair with a towel.
Fresh from the shower, she looked soft and radiant.
like a lotus blooming from water.
Kihara froze.
His brain stopped working.
…Wait.
What is this situation…?
"…Is this… the aftermath!?"
.....
Thank you for reading.