Medusa absolutely did not possess the speed to keep up with Cu Chulainn with the weak Shinji as her master. The last thing I saw before I rounded the corner to chase after Shinji proved that. Moments from the beginning of their clash, Cu had unleashed a flurry of thrusts that put the legendary monster of Greek Myth on the backfoot.
I felt some pity for her, seeing as she was just doing as she was told... but, this was a war. A war I meant to win, however possible.
Shinji Matou was... unbelievably easy to find. He'd clearly intended to hide nearby until I was tied up by Medusa before coming out to gloat. He was standing there right around the corner, a smug look on his face.
Somehow, seeing me run around made him think I was running from his servant.
He let out a boisterous laugh, hands at his waist.
"Where's all that bravado from before gone, huh?! Why are you running?! Stand and fight like a real man-"
He was abruptly cut off when Bazett lunged at him and kneed him in the face. Before he could fall backwards, she grabbed his hand, whipping around to toss him over shoulder. His back hit the ground with a loud thud. The youth wheezed miserably as all the wind left his lungs for the second time that same day.
I chuckled, rubbing the black mark on my chin.
"I'd suggest telling her what she wants if you wanna get out of here alive."
"B...But..." He squeaked out with teary eyes, "Rider..."
I jabbed my thumb backwards.
Medusa crashed against a wall just as I did. Cement and brick exploded under her weight and momentum, mostly the latter. A sword came shooting out of the dust kicked up by the collapsing wall but Cu calmly struck it aside with the tip of his spear. The sword buried itself in a nearby house instead. When Medusa pulled, a chunk of debris was torn out of the home, aimed right at Cu's back.
Shuwen intercepted the chunk of cement. A mere punch, and the chunk shattered into a million pieces that impotently rained all around them.
"Was it you?" Bazett inquired calmly, standing over him.
"W-Wha?"
She stomped the ground next to his head. The earth trembled and cracked. Weirdly, I found myself aroused by the display of power.
"The murders. Was it you?"
"N-N..."
She raised her foot again.
"Yes! Yes! But so what?! T-They're just normal people! They should be happy-"
I stuffed my hands in my pockets, breathing out a plume of hot air.
"I needed the mana-"
"Then, I charge you with breaching the First Principle of the Clock Tower."
Apparently, even he was familiar with that term. His eyes widened and he sucked in a sharp breath. His entire body began shaking and trembling in fear.
"Needlessly targeting those not of our world, with no care for keeping magecraft secret, is a crime punishable by death."
"My grandfather-"
"Your assets will be seized. Where is the patriarch of the Matou?"
"No-... no! Don't tell him. Please."
Behind us, I heard the loud boom and clang of steel on steel. Medusa had not let even the slightest of sounds escape her lips, no matter how much pain she was forced to endure.
"Your heart! I'll be taking it!"
Cu Chulainn crouched down, more animal than man, and held his crimson spear behind him, using his other hand to prop himself up. His ponytail fell over his shoulder.
An excited grin appeared on his lips.
Medusa turned around, and tried to flee. It was a futile attempt. She knew this too. At the final moment, she changed directions and shot through the air towards me and Bazett. I pulled the Enforcer my way, out of the servant's trajectory. It wasn't fast enough. The air bent and warped under sheer momentum.
Dozens of rabbits suddenly began piling out of my shadows in an attempt to break her speed. Pulling Bazett had brought me in Rider's direct path. Suddenly, my back was scalding hot, like that time one of the new interns had poured hot coffee down my back, except much hotter and worse.
I groaned loudly through gritted teeth.
Still, that was much less than I'd been expecting. After all, a servant's direct hit should've been able to make me into minced meat.
"How..."
The words were Medusa's. It was the first time I had heard the tall woman speak. It would also be the last. Shuwen had crossed the distance by then. His fist was already ripping through her chest in a disgusting explosion of blood and flesh. He pulled his arm free, and opened his palm to let crushed bits of her heart slush to the dirty ground below.
"Why did you... do that?"
Bazett spoke those words slowly, confusion written across her face. I focused on the tiny beauty spot under her eye.
Honestly...
The reason was a stupid and selfish one, not at all heroic or wise like I sometimes pretended I was. No, the reason was the same one she'd gleaned during breakfast.
"'cause you're charming." I smiled sheepishly. "Besides, it doesn't hurt that bad."
I was honestly expecting some kind of ungrateful comment or chastisement, but, the older woman flushed instead. Her pale skin just made the furious blush stand out that much more.
"I-I... W-Wha-"
Shuwen chuckled and shook his head.
Cu shook his spear as he walked over, then placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Nice one, lad. Cu Chulainn. Nice to meet ya. Oh? The little shit's gone."
Amidst the confusion, Shinji had scampered to his feet like the little cockroach he was. Atop that, the typical mist had rolled in as well, making it difficult to see just where he'd gone.
That didn't mean he was getting out of here alive.
I never even got the opportunity to give chase, or make him the target of all the frustration I had with my situation. No, the steps suddenly came to a strange halt, followed by a choked scream, and then the disgusting squelch of torn flesh and broken bones.
A few moments later, something straight out of a nightmare stepped out of the mist.
A little girl in a thick purple coat with beady red eyes and long hair white as snow. She barely reached my waist, but her innocent smile was greatly unnerving. Her pale cheek was marred with a few drops of blood.
"Why does everyone look so on guard?" She touched her cheek, feeling the blood, "Oh this? Some onii-san tried to attack me so I had to defend myself. Sorry~ All of you were so loud, I couldn't help but get curious."
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Hope you enjoyed.
I don't recommend going to the patreon. It's a couple chapters short cause I was busy with my uncle's wedding these past few days.