(Tell me if there are some mistakes.)
"What do you mean you can get out of this place?" I said as my uneasiness started to pool beneath my spine, I cracked my neck, producing an audible pop. I don't know if this guy is lying or making a fool out of us.
Reinhard van Astrea instead beamed a regretful smile at me, as if he were some sort of victim.
Tsk. My eyes are opening to what Reinhard actually is beneath all those tricks of his. He's not a liar. He's a wannabe hero.
His face became somber as I thought that. Not a mind reader, he says, yeah right. "If you can get out of here, why haven't you left yet?" I barked.
"I don't want to abandon you guys. A knight doesn't leave an ally or a person in need. That would stain my honor and shatter our shared experiences."
"...?"
I have no words for this man who thinks we are all friends stuck in a forced field trip.
"Why are you telling us exactly? What do you hope to achieve by telling us?" That unassuming student, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, questioned.
He was right. What was he hoping to achieve? I doubt he's here to rub it all in our faces.
Reinhard flicked his hair and delivered a speech. "The thing is, I can ask for help from Od Laguna. They're my patron, but their connection in this ether is restricted.
"In the past few days, I've been begging and praying. Hoping for a better gift, the power that would allow me to help you. Alas, my patron can only do so much."
"However, there is one semblance of hope." He pointed his right index finger upwards. "My improved protection can bring you to my world, and in that world, my connection is more coherent."
"I can request Od Laguna for something better and then hopefully be granted something better to return you to your respective worlds."
The logic is sound. I can vouch for his abilities. However, I can't vouch for his kindness; he has to be after something. Maybe he wants us to defeat some evil in his world as payment?
It's difficult to imagine that someone out there might be acting purely out of the goodness of their heart. A good hearted soul.
"Achoo!" Midoriya Izuku sneezed and then apologized.
I placed my hand on my chin. There has to be something in play here. An angle.
"Sorry, but I find it hard to trust you. We're all strangers from other worlds; we barely all have something in common. I don't know how all of your worlds work. It is a risk." Megumi Fushiguro added, his voice showing restrained impatience.
"I have my trump card, and I believe he's our best bet."
Kakeru Ryuen hummed, rubbing his chin. "You question his abilities and shift focus to highlight your own abilities. That seems hypocritical."
"Call it however you want. I have the ultimate shikigami that can adapt to anything and everything; it can adapt to this place and get us out of here." Megumi scoffed.
"Adaptation works mainly by damage, right? What are you going to do exactly? Ram Mahoraga's head against these walls?" Ryuen continued.
Megumi was silent for a moment. "I'll think of something, but he's our best and stable bet."
"Megumi, can you summon Mahoraga?" Reinhard said, eyes gleaming with confidence as he rose from the arranged fake food products neatly shaped into a chair.
"What's your angle? Ayanokoji spoke up.
"If you believe he's our best bet in escaping from this place, then it's in my best interest to help you achieve that." Reinhard smiled, no, he was smirking.
"Trust me."
Megumi remained cautious but decided to trust Reinhard. The knight worked hard to look for food and supplies after all. My shadows didn't even have to do anything.
I am quite curious as to see what Reinhard will pull out this time. I thought as I leaned back against the white plastic chair.
"Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General Mahoraga."
Megumi summoned the trump card. We all felt a chill as soon as he finished that long name.
The shadows clinging to the ceiling above rippled, then parted as something massive plummeted to the ground several meters away from us.
The ground rattled as it shattered, revealing a large, white, hulking figure that had a faint ghostly glow. A cabinet full of fake products collapsed as the faint lights above flickered.
The whole infinite mall shuddered.
It had a floating wheel above its head and a glowing sword embedded on its right forearm, wrapped with a rag. It had no eyes and instead had these little wings on its eyes. It had a huge, unnerving smile.
It was ready for combat but currently docile.
I fought this thing before. I wonder if I can make it my shadow. It would be an ultimate weapon in my arsenal, the ability to adapt to anything and everything.
It surprised me that its owner was just a fifteen-year-old kid. Megumi Fushiguro, he clearly shows signs of ability and potential.
Reinhard stepped forward, then slowly approached Mahoraga.
Mahoraga remained impassive, staring directly at Megumi instead. Reinhard then placed his hand on its chest; they both glowed for several seconds as Reinhard closed his eyes and muttered something.
Reinhard's face soured as if he was not given exactly what he wanted, but then his expression shortly transformed into a joyous grin, releasing a soft chuckle.
"The thing is that I can't wish for protections that don't exist, but there are some creative exceptions depending on Od Laguna's mood."
"I wanted to give Mahoraga a blessing, but it seemed that wasn't possible." Reinhard then walked away from Mahoraga.
"You wanted to make it more powerful?" Ryuen said, his tone is rather disrespectful or dismissive. What a rude kid.
"If Megumi's shikigami really is our best blessing, then why not?" Reinhard smiled, answering with a beam.
"However, I accidentally confirmed one thing. I gained the blessing to transfer a protection, and what I will transfer is a protection to bring you all back to your worlds."
"[ Divine Protection of Shared Instant Exit. ]"
"I can grant this to all of you, and it vanishes the moment you use it. We can all leave this place and go back to our worlds."
I remained skeptical. This all seems rather easy. Can he really do that?
A malevolent force briefly appeared, lasting for only less than a second, drawing the notice of Megumi, Reinhard, Midoriya, and me.
"Someone's here." Reinhard said putting himself in front of us.
"It's not that woman, it's something else." Megumi said.