"Wow, it really seems like another world... Or maybe I'm already dead and this is the lobby," the young man thought, walking through the streets of the medieval city, taking in humans with colorful hair and humans with animal features.
"Damn, the demi-humans look better in person," he thought, watching a girl with fox ears walk past him. He bit his knuckle to suppress the urge to ask if he could touch them. "Control." "You don't want your first interaction here to be a complaint of interdimensional harassment."
Abandoning his impulses, the young man searched his pockets and pulled out his cell phone, examining the screen. It was shattered, a spiderweb of broken glass. "Damn, please let it not be completely broken." Pressing the button on the side, the screen lit up, emitting a distorted glow through the cracks.
"Anyway, this feels more like a dream than anything else," his hands hovering over the exposed skin of his nearly torn clothing. "I mean, I didn't feel any pain when I should have literally broken my bones, not to mention the fact that my body feels lighter... In fact, I feel like I could climb a whole mountain without breaking a sweat in the middle of summer." Too immersed in his own existential crisis, he didn't notice the strange looks passersby were giving his tattered clothes.
"Although," he stopped and held his forehead with one hand. "That pain was..." Real... Too real... Who the hell was that crazy woman in black?" But that thought was interrupted by the sight of a boy in orange and black athletic wear.
"You, are you from—"
"Earth, right?"
"Yeah, 21st century?"
"Century?" "I don't really understand those concepts, just tell me the year."
The teenager in athletic wear stared at the young man with an unreadable expression. "2016?"
"Far away, 2026."
"What?"
"Are you a time traveler or a world traveler?"
"I should be the one saying that!"
"And why exactly?"
"I don't know, maybe because you're from 10 years in the future, not to mention the fact that your clothes look like they were caught in a failed time machine."
"..." The young man looked at his tattered clothes. "Touché."
"But at least I don't smell weird," the young man added, wrinkling his nose.
"What do you mean?"
" "Well, I smell something odd about you, though I can't say it's dirt or anything."
"I guess I should take a shower as soon as I can."
"That would be good," the teenager said, sounding genuinely offended and flustered at the same time. "Are you from Japan too?" he added, trying to change the subject.
"Do I look Asian to you?" the young man asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh, sorry."
"I'm Latin American... More specifically, I'm from South America. I'll just say I'm from one of the countries with the best food," the young man said proudly, puffing out his chest, forgetting his drift into another world.
"Huh? Well, if it's good food, from what I've read online, it must be—"
"If you're wrong and say another country, I'll consider you a mortal enemy. Think about it." The young man's gaze darkened with sudden ferocity.
The teenager swallowed hard, intimidated by the intense, murderous pressure that suddenly emanated from the Latino. He decided not to risk it. "A-anyway, I'm Subaru, Subaru Natsuki," the teenager said, pointing to the sky and striking such an embarrassing and dramatic pose that the young man felt physical pain at the sight.
"Are you always like this... or was I just unlucky enough to run into you at your most schizophrenic?"
"I don't want someone dressed like a homeless person judging me!" Subaru yelled, pointing an accusing finger at him.
The young man could only sigh, resigned, knowing that his only connection to Earth was a noisy otaku. "Aren't you going to tell me your name?" Subaru asked, regaining his composure.
The young man remained silent. "Name, huh? Well, it's an isekai, I guess my official name would be too weird... And I'm not stupid enough to give my name to someone I just met."
"I'm Link, just Link."
Subaru stared at Link, incredulous. "You know, even if we come from different eras, we come from the same world, right? That's the protagonist of a video game!"
"That's right," Link replied, nodding slowly as if speaking to a small child.
"So, that's not your real name, is it?"
"It isn't."
"Then what is your name?!"
"I'm Link."
Subaru clenched his fists and took a deep breath, closing his eyes. "Calm down, Subaru Natsuki, calm down."
Link: "Anyway," he interrupted Subaru's thoughts. "What was I doing? Even though it was brief, I saw you running like you were owed money."
Subaru: "Huh? Oh, I was chasing someone."
Link: "Friend or foe?"
Subaru: "Friend, sort of," he said, looking down. "She has something I need to get."
Link: "Ehh..." he said disinterestedly, before letting out a resigned sigh. "Well, since we're both equally screwed, we should stick together... I guess."
Subaru: "Huh? Really? Then let's go, we don't have time to waste," Subaru exclaimed, instantly perking up and starting to run towards a narrow alley.
Link: "I just hope this isn't a bad idea," he whispered to himself as he started trotting behind Subaru.
...
The scenery changed drastically. The clean, limestone streets gave way to dark alleys, mud, rotting wooden houses, and a smell of misery that Link knew all too well.
Link: "Wow, this place is worse than the hillside invasions in my city..."
Subaru: "Huh? Is your country that bad?"
Link: "It's not that it's bad... It's just... Forget it," he gave up on the idea of explaining Latin American socioeconomic inequality to a Japanese teenager.
Link: "Anyway, what are we doing in this rat's nest?"
Subaru: "This is where the thing I need to get might be," Subaru said, looking at the collapsed roofs.
Link stopped, staring at the boy's back.
Link: "Hey, how long have you been here?"
Subaru: "What do you mean?" he turned around, blinking.
Link: "Let's get this straight. You need to find an item. You have a rough idea that it's in the worst neighborhood in the city. You were already running in this direction before you found me, and I saw you asking the shopkeepers on the avenue about a specific place. None of that adds up for someone who just arrived, even a few hours ago." The suspicion in his voice was razor-sharp.
Subaru remained silent, unable to say anything as he scratched his cheek. "Honestly, I don't really understand it either, I just... I just know."
Link: "And you expect me to trust you with such a lame answer?"
Subaru: "Not that you were trustworthy either, you didn't even tell me your real name!"
Link: "It's personal... But fine, I won't ask any more questions, just answer my last one." He narrowed his eyes and pointed his index finger at him, like the barrel of a gun. "Exactly what are you looking for, and for whom?"
Subaru was silent for the second time. His gaze wavered, but then filled with palpable determination. He placed a hand on his chest. "I'm trying to find a badge for a girl who saved me... I need to return the favor."
Link watched him silently, searching for any trace of lies or deceit on his face. Finding none, he simply sighed and continued walking. "Come on, I don't want to get any older," he said, resuming his walk.
Subaru reacted to his comment, but hurried to catch up. "Old? How old are you exactly?"
Link: "Twenty. Almost twenty-one."
Subaru: "What?! But you look my age!"
Link: "I always get that. People say I have a baby face and look younger. Anyway, how old are you?"
Subaru: "Seventeen. Well, eighteen soon."
At his response, Link's smile widened. "Wow, looks like I'm legally older than you."
Subaru: "Why do you look so happy? You're only three years older than me!"
Link: "Those three years are pure street smarts and work stress." "Don't worry, kid, if anything happens, you can trust your Latin senpai."
Subaru: "For someone older than me, you're not acting very mature..."
Link: "I know," he replied, shrugging in defeat.
...
They stopped in front of a huge structure that looked like a cross between a giant barn and an abandoned warehouse.
Link: "This place looks better than my friend's house."
Subaru: "Your social circle is starting to seriously worry me," he commented, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.
Link shrugged as Subaru walked toward the house, but stopped abruptly, prompting Link to approach, noticing the paleness on the Japanese man's face.
Link: "Hey, are you okay?" "Looks like you just saw the devil in there." His paranoia flared up again.
Subaru: "No, it's nothing," he sighed, and began banging on the door, oblivious to Link's serious expression.
"This guy... He's really hiding something... I just hope he's not your typical isekai villain," he thought, walking until he was a few feet away from the door and Subaru, waiting for someone to come out of the house.
Subaru: "Is anyone here?" he asked, but when he didn't hear a response, he started banging harder. "Someone... I know someone's here! Come on, answer me...! Please."
Sensing his traveling companion's desperation and seeing the door about to collapse under Subaru's relentless pounding, Link tried to get closer before it opened with enough force to knock Subaru off his feet, sending him tumbling a few feet away.
"Stop it! What are you doing, trying to break down the door just because you don't know the password?!"
When the owner of the place emerged, Link's eyes widened in shock. "That's... damn tall," he muttered slowly, his hand sliding down to the back of his pants. The man wore tattered clothes that covered his muscular body, and the red light of the setting sun shone on his bald head.
Link: "Shit," he groaned as he watched the giant old man charge toward Subaru with terrifying agility for his size.
In a fluid, almost mechanical movement, honed by his recent paranoia, Link drew his 9mm pistol. He didn't aim at the giant. He aimed at the ground, right into the small gap of earth between Subaru and the old man.
BANG!
The crack of the gunshot echoed through the slums like the short, sharp roar of a dragon.
The giant stopped dead, skidding across the ground. He stared at the smoking hole in the ground, inches from his boots, and then, with extreme caution, fixed his gaze on the small black metal tube the strange young man held with both hands.
Link: "Relax, old man. If I wanted to kill you… I wouldn't have missed," he said in the firmest voice he could muster.
The old giant assessed him. His years in the underworld told him that the boy's eyes weren't those of a seasoned killer, but the almost imperceptible tremor in his arms and the way he gripped the object confirmed that the weapon was real and lethal.
"Who are you, kid?!" roared the giant, taking a step back for safety, but maintaining his intimidating aura. "I haven't seen you around here before! How did you know where to find this place? How did you get here? Who told you?!"
Link: "Let's calm down. My partner just wants to get an item, so let's talk, shall we?" he said, slowly lowering his 9mm pistol and putting it in his pocket, raising both hands in a gesture of peace.
...
Minutes later, the tension had eased slightly, and they were inside the Loot House. Link remained in spectator mode, leaning against a wooden wall, analyzing the situation.
"There's no doubt about it, the schizophrenic otaku is hiding something huge," Link thought, watching Subaru scan the interior as if he were looking for ghosts and how he had asked the giant (who turned out to be named Rom) if he had "recently died."
Rom: "Hey, quiet boy, don't just stand there in the shadows! Have a drink!" he roared, offering Link a dubious wooden cup.
Link: "I don't drink, thanks."
Rom: "Come on, it's just a courtesy drink to loosen up your throat!"
Sighing, Link finally accepted and received an old glass filled with a dark liquid from the old Rom. "This looks like rat poison."
Subaru: "Rom, have you seen a silver-haired girl around here lately?" Subaru interrupted.
Rom: "Silver hair...? No, I can't say I've seen her. Silver hair is one of those things that stands out in a bad way, so even if my memory fails me, I don't think I'd forget someone like that." Link looked up from his drink, his attention drawn by the new information.
"Does having silver hair stand out as a bad look? Is it like walking under a ladder or a black cat crossing your path in this world?" Link thought as Rom gave Subaru a swig.
Subaru: "Argh! Gah! That's terrible! It's hot! It's so bad! Ugh! Disgusting!"
Rom: "You don't have to say that so many times! Come on! You're going to miss out on half the fun in life if you can't appreciate how good liquor tastes!"
Link: "Is it that strong?" Taking the old liquor glass, he brought it to his nose. "Damn!" The impact was devastating. An alcoholic vapor so concentrated it felt like pure acid entered his nostrils, burning everything in its path, right up to his brain. He dropped the glass with a thud, falling to his knees. He began coughing violently, feeling his lungs collapse as tears streamed from his eyes like waterfalls.
Subaru: "Hey, are you alright?" Subaru and Rom rushed over, alarmed.
Rom: "Sorry, kid, I didn't think you had such a keen sense of smell."
Link: "It's... cough... I'm fine... cough, cough... don't worry, old Rom..." He managed to raise a trembling hand. He crawled to a nearby box and sat down, taking deep breaths, trying to keep his soul from leaving his body (again).
As Link fought for his life against an asthma attack induced by magic alcohol, the conversation between Rom and Subaru continued, but all he heard was a distant beep.
...
Toc, toc, toc
Link: "Hey, who?" Waking from his short nap, after nearly drowning, he watched Rom get up and approach the door.
Link: "So, the negotiations went just as you thought?" he asked, turning to Subaru.
Subaru: "Obviously, if you'd seen me, you'd definitely be asking me for negotiation lessons," he said, puffing out his chest.
Link: "Yeah... That's not going to happen."
Subaru: "Huh?!"
Rom: "To the giant rats...?"
They both stopped their conversation at Rom's question. But before they could give their own answers, a female voice spoke.
"We give poison."
Rom: "To the great white whale...?"
"We lend a fishing hook."
Rom: "To our most honorable great dragon...?"
"We say, 'Burn in hell!'"
Link: "Is this a password or a rebel poetry club?"
The door opened. A young girl entered, confidently ignoring Rom. She had ash-blonde hair, feline red eyes, and a mischievous fang that peeked out when she smiled. Her clothes were light and practical, but incredibly worn.
"Forgive me for being late, old Rom. I had someone really persistent behind me, and it took me a while to lose them," the young woman said, showing off.
Link: "A girl?" That word was like a trigger. The girl turned her head sharply toward him, but before she could verbally attack him, Subaru's clumsy movement in his chair caught her attention. The girl's smile vanished instantly.
"Who is this? Hey, Rom. I told you I was bringing something big, so I don't want anyone here, right?" the girl said, her smile already gone.
Rom: "I understand how you feel, but that uh… kid has some business to discuss with you, Felt, and it has to do with that 'big thing' you said you were bringing."
"Felt? So that's the girl's name," Link thought as he looked at the clothes of the girl named Felt. "Even the children in my country wouldn't wear clothes this ragged and torn... Well, not that I've seen."
Felt: "Hey, what are you thinking?" As if sensing his thoughts, Felt turned her head and focused her attention on Link, frowning. "And who's this guy?" she said, noticing Link's nearly destroyed clothes. "You look like you're from the slums with your bum clothes, but your eyes and skin scream 'city kid.'"
Link: "And you look like a stray cat who doesn't trust anyone."
Felt: "Because I don't."
Link: "Well, anyone would do that around here."
Felt: "What's with these guys? You didn't sell me out, did you, Rom?" he said, changing the subject.
Rom: "How long do you think we've worked together? I would never do something like that. The only reason he's here is because I think he has an offer for you, which isn't bad at all... And the other one—"
Link: "Don't worry about me, I'm just keeping him company. Let's just say we're two people in trouble."
Coughing slightly, Subaru cleared his throat to help dispel his nervousness and, ignoring Rom's steady gaze, turned his face toward Felt.
Subaru: "You don't need to be so nervous. Why don't you just sit down and have a glass of milk first?"
Felt: "Stop making that stupid face. I can't tell what you're up to... Look, I don't know what you're planning, but I'm not interested in anything you have to say unless I'm sure it means more money for me. So go ahead and get to the point."
Felt's reaction was cold. Subaru's shoulders slumped at his first bad impression.
Link: "And what do you need so much money for?" he asked from his corner.
Felt: "Isn't it obvious? To get out of this hole," she replied fiercely. Link lowered his gaze, respecting that ambition. He perfectly understood the desire to escape poverty at any cost.
Subaru: "I begged this old man to give me a little time to talk to you, but... my matter is actually with that jeweled badge you have hidden in your pocket."
The girl raised her eyebrows, her level of caution rising. Subaru not only knew what she had stolen, but he knew exactly what she had stolen. But Subaru held up both hands in front of her, trying to calm her. He didn't notice Link's serious and bewildered expression beside him. "How the hell does Subaru know he has her in his pocket? This guy has way too much information."
Subaru: "I'm not planning on doing anything. I just came here to talk. I mean, to negotiate."
Link: "Negotiate? Do you even have any money? As far as I know, you must be in worse financial shape than her, and that's saying something."
Subaru decided to ignore Link's words, his hands still raised, pointing down at a small table near the counter.
Subaru: "Let's aim for a result where we both come out ahead. In other words, a win-win situation."
Ignoring Link's presence, and after a brief pause, Felt nodded, and they both sat down on either side of the small table.
Rom then poured two glasses of milk and placed them in front of them.
Rom: "I'll give you this seat and this milk, but you're on your own when it comes to negotiations."
Subaru: "Don't worry, I came prepared to lose everything I own. Just watch me lose it all," he said, rapping his fist over his other hand as if showing off, ready to start a fight, though without saying anything to be proud of.
Link: "The only valuable thing you have now is your clothes... and I don't think they're fashionable," he said with a mocking tone.
Rom let out a husky laugh, but Felt, who had already started drinking her milk, grimaced.
Felt: "Hey, Rom. You didn't put water in this milk, did you? It tastes terrible!"
Rom: "Why does everyone have to insult drinks?! I'm showing you some kindness...!" He said that before taking her giant hand and stroking Felt's hair.
"Wow, I guess they're like grandfather and granddaughter... I wonder how my family is doing..." Link thought, noticing that Felt seemed to be used to it by now and feeling a pang of nostalgia that almost showed on her face.
Subaru: "You two seem very close, closer than I thought. I feel lonely," he said, sharing Link's opinion.
Felt: "Don't say something so cheesy when you're making a face as awful as this old man's."
Subaru: "I've been insulted about my face before, but seriously? As bad as this man's?! Come on!" Subaru exclaimed in surprise as he looked again at Rom's bald head, horrified.
Link: "This time I agree with Subaru, he's not that far gone."
Subaru: "That's right... Wait, what do you mean, 'this time'?!"
Felt: "...That's true. I'm sorry about that, I went too far."
Subaru: "This is where I'd like to say this; to make amends with me, I'd like you to call me 'onii-chan' in a cute voice for the rest of this conversation, but I'll continue and forgive you for now. You have to be careful not to say anything too hurtful, or... Rom, what's wrong with you?"
Rom: "I'm seriously starting to think you two teamed up to come here and make me angry..." Rom was smiling, a vein popping out on her forehead. Subaru and Felt exchanged a glance and shrugged, while Link stifled a laugh in the corner. Rom let out a deep sigh.
Rom: "Just when I thought Felt had met someone her own age, they turn out to be just as twisted as everyone else."
Felt: "...Rom, please, I know you think you're helping, but I'd like to ask you to stop saying such embarrassing things."
Subaru: "Besides, 'of his age'...? Although I suppose from your point of view everyone looks about the same age."
Link: "I agree with Subaru, and besides, despite my appearance, I'm almost twenty-one."
Rom: "What do you think will happen if you continue with this 'lone wolf' attitude of yours? Sooner or later, I'll be too old to take care of you. Do you really think you can manage on your own?" he said, completely ignoring the outsiders.
Felt: "How many times have you told me that already? Isn't it a sign of old age to say the same thing over and over? Besides, it'll be a long time before you're too old for anything, and before that happens, I'm going to…"
Subaru: "What are you going to do?" he said, his voice rising, as Felt's sentence faded away. Felt suddenly looked up, irritated.
Considering that he seemed to have asked a question he shouldn't have and was in danger of ruining the mood, Link stood up and clapped his hands sharply, the sound echoing off the wooden beams of the cellar.
Link: "Let's not change the subject of why we're gathered here. We came here to negotiate, right?" he said firmly, his earlier mockery gone, acting as an anchor for Subaru.
Subaru: "Uh, you're right… So, uh… Felt. You have that badge, right?"
Felt: "…Yes, I have it."
"Let's get straight to the point, huh... Now... Let's see what this kid's after."
Reaching into her breast pocket, Felt pulled something out and silently placed it on the table. Link, curious, cautiously approached the table, careful not to startle Felt or Subaru.
What first caught Link's eye was a red jewel that resembled a ruby, set within the mouth of what appeared to be the intricate design of a unique winged dragon.
"...Have I been overly worried? It doesn't look like an ultra-powerful weapon or a dangerous artifact. It's... luxury jewelry." He felt a pang of guilt for having suspected Subaru was after something that could destroy a city.
Felt: "So..."
Felt's voice drew both their attention back to her. She then slid the insignia to the edge of the table, as if to remind him that it wasn't his yet.
Felt: "Now it's your turn to show me what you've got. As you can see, this isn't an ordinary badge, and I went through a lot of trouble to get it. If you can show me something worth as much as the emblem and my efforts, we can both be happy, right?"
Link: "Subaru... I hope you actually have a plan. I don't want to end up looking like a fool following you," he whispered urgently.
Subaru: "Please, have a little more faith in me," he murmured back, coughing slightly, and turned his attention back to Felt. "While I see you're trying to test me with that evil-looking smile of yours, I'm sorry. I only have one card to play. After all, you'd have to look very far to find someone as poor as me!"
Subaru proudly puffed out his chest, but Felt didn't seem so happy, and even Link looked at him with pity.
"The moment I say 'poor thing,' everyone makes that face, right?... And you, stop staring at me like that!" Subaru thought.
Subaru slammed a hand-sized white object on the table. Felt and even Link looked confused, but for different reasons. However, Felt's reaction seemed to be exactly what Subaru was looking for. Then, unfurling the object, he began to unleash several flashes from its top, accompanied by a sound similar to a mechanical shutter being fired repeatedly at a rapid pace.
Subaru: "Take this! Nine frames per second of continuous shooting!"
Felt: "Wah! What?! What are you…?! Hey, what's that noise, and why is it so bright?!"
Felt seemed to have something to say to Subaru about his terrible manners, but before she could open her mouth, Subaru shoved his cell phone screen in front of her face.
Seeing her own reflection on the screen, she opened her eyes.
Felt: "That's…"
Subaru: "Okay! I made a copy of you! This Mitia cuts a piece of a person's time and stores it. I want to trade this Mitia for that badge you have."
Link frowned. "Mitia? Isn't that a cell phone?... A very old one, honestly… And… What's that way of referring to photos?" He was about to correct him, but saw Subaru glance at him sideways, pleading for silence.
Subaru: "It's a bit difficult to explain right now. I'll tell you after the negotiations are over," he said, glancing at Link, and noticing his nod, he turned his attention back to Felt.
Felt: "I see. That's quite surprising. Rom, how much do you think this Mitia is worth?"
Felt glanced at the screen and nodded a few times, but both Link and Subaru thought her reaction was incredibly indifferent. Her eyes didn't light up, and she didn't even pick up the cell phone to look at it more closely.
Subaru: "So this fascination with high-tech stuff is limited to men in this world too?! It kind of makes me feel really sad and lonely!"
Link: "I understand. I honestly thought she'd be all excited and excited... This... It's rather disappointing."
Felt: "Oh, be quiet. What's the point of making such a big deal out of this? If this thing called a Mitia can sell for much more than this badge, then I couldn't be happier. That's why I trust Rom will give me a fair valuation."
Rom: "Well, I can't say exactly how much I think it's worth. To be honest, I don't think the two items can be compared. I think that badge might be worth a lot of money… but not as much as this Mitia. In other words, I think you have a lot to gain by making this trade, Felt. That's what I think."
Felt: "I see, I see. If that's the case, then why not?"
Felt seemed pleased when the trade had Rom's approval.
While Felt's reaction was a little different from what Link or Subaru had expected, it seemed the trade was going to happen as planned, and Subaru couldn't have been happier about it.
Link: "Congratulations, you returned the favor to that girl," however, as soon as he reached across the table for the emblem, Felt interrupted him.
Felt: "Hold on. Our cards have been played, but that doesn't mean I won't try to sweeten the deal."
The negotiation turned tense. Felt revealed that he already had a previous buyer: someone who offered him ten blessed gold coins. Rom explained that this was equivalent to about twenty regular gold coins, enough to buy a small house in the capital. This caused Link to slump in his seat. "Damn, if my phone weren't broken, I could sell it for that amount or even more… This world doesn't want me."
Felt: "If this Mitia actually fetches a higher price, then I have no intention of honoring a deal with anyone else, and I have no problem telling you that."
But then, Link noticed something. Felt didn't just want the money; she wanted to squeeze Subaru dry. She wanted to use Subaru's offer to get his original buyer to raise the bid.
Link: "Hey," Link interjected for the first time, standing next to Subaru. This caused Felt to look at him suspiciously.
Felt: "What?"
Link: "You do know you're selling it too cheaply, even if they bid higher, right?"
Subaru: "WHAT?!" he shouted, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
Felt narrowed her eyes. "...Explain yourself."
Link: "Yes, that's important to him," he pointed at Subaru. "You can get more out of him, not to mention your original buyer raising the bid. But you're taking a risk."
Subaru: "WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?!" At the shout, Link just shrugged.
Link: "The business side," he replied, amused. "Listen, Felt. If you push too hard, you might make both of you back down out of spite. And if Subaru gives up, you're left with a buyer who knows you're out of competition. You'd lose your bargaining power."
Felt assessed him for what felt like an eternity. Her red eyes flashed with a mixture of respect and malice. "...I like you."
Link: "Don't get used to it," he retorted, though he couldn't help but give her a small smile.
Seeing Subaru's betrayed look, Link pulled a small plastic bag from his back pocket. Inside were some lemon drops he'd bought at a gas station before everything went to hell.
Link: "It's not much, but I hope it helps with the negotiations," he said as he placed the small bag on the table and tossed it toward Felt.
Felt: "What's this supposed to be?"
Link: "They're sweets, maybe they'll help you relax a little... Ah, I know you don't trust me, but if you let suspicion get the better of you, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
Felt remained silent and stared at the bag, puzzled. Taking it in her hands, she opened it and tensed at the smell of the candies. Slowly, she pulled one out of the bag and put it in her mouth.
Felt: "They're so delicious!!" she said, beginning to devour the candies one by one.
Link felt a pang of sadness. The way the girl ate, as if it were the first time she'd tasted something refined, reminded him too much of the people he saw on the streets of his city. "She can't have an easy life if her only priority is gold at this age."
Subaru: "So when do you plan to meet with the person who hired you to steal the insignia? I assume you'll let me sit down to negotiate, right?" he said, causing Felt to abandon her assault on the bag of candy.
Felt: "Of course, if I put you at too much of a disadvantage, I might end up losing some of the money I've already made. But don't worry about the location, we'll meet here," she said, tapping the edge of the table with her finger, before leaning back in her chair and looking at Rom.
Felt: "As long as old Rom is around, most people will forget about using violence as an option. Just the thought of having to fight this old man sends shivers down your spine, doesn't it?"
Felt looked at Subaru for his approval, and after a quick glance at Rom, her gaze shifted to Link, remembering the object she had already concealed at her waist, causing Subaru to nod several times.
On the other hand, Rom didn't seem too bothered by that kind of opinion about him. But Link could only frown.
Rom: "You really can't do anything without me, can you, Felt? I care about you. Would you like another glass of milk? I also have some other things that are a little sweeter."
Link: "We're partners, but rest assured I'll put my own skin first," he said, crossing his arms with a serious expression.
Rom had begun to resemble a grandfather, doting on his granddaughter as if she were a cute little kitten. Rom seemed delighted as he poured Felt another glass of milk. Meanwhile, Subaru could only watch his partner with a slightly cold expression.
Subaru: "Seriously, if you already called that person here, were you planning to negotiate the price with them, even if they didn't show up?"
Felt: "Of course! How much do you think I went through to steal this thing? What if my helpless self had to meet them all on my own and discuss the price? Wouldn't that be sad?"
Subaru: "'Poor me,' huh…"
Felt was small and slender, and combined with her strong and stubborn personality, Link thought Felt was just a useless girl who only caused trouble… But… His gaze returned to her clothes and face. "I guess she's someone who has no choice, even if it puts her in danger… Damn, if my brother had grown up like that…" For a moment, he felt a slight pain in his chest, but it was so fleeting that he dismissed it.
Subaru: "Speaking of which, you don't remember me at all?" Subaru's words snapped Link out of his reverie and made him focus on him, his expression serious.
Felt: "Huh? Did we meet somewhere? I mean, unless it was some kind of really shocking encounter, I don't think I'd remember. I'm very busy, and to be honest, you look pretty plain. Only your hair and clothes stand out," she said, laughing loudly.
"Subaru..." The suspicions that had almost faded resurfaced in Link's mind. Before he could interrupt their conversation, a sharp knock on the door drew everyone's attention.
Rom: "Did you tell them about the special attack?"
Felt: "Ah... No, I didn't. It's probably meant for me, so I'm going to check it out." Felt stuck her tongue out at Rom, jumped up from her chair, and went to the door. The way she acted, you'd think she owned the place.
Subaru: "Are you really okay with letting her do that?" he said, turning to look at Rom.
Rom: "Well, it's not like I just met her. We've known each other for a long time... I guess I can let her rely on me once in a while."
Link silently watched as old Rom moved to the back of the warehouse and returned with a massive wooden club. The club was easily over a meter long, and the end was adorned with sharp spikes.
Link: "If that thing hits you, it'll be a miracle you're still alive," he said, slightly frightened by how the club seemed to fit in just one of the huge old man's hands.
When Subaru and Rom started talking, Link went to a secluded corner, drew his 9mm pistol, and removed the magazine. "Only eight bullets... well, seven not counting the empty one," he said, reloading the magazine. He let out a heavy sigh before holstering the 9mm and approaching the pair.
Felt: What are you two doing, whispering to each other? "It's weird, so stop doing that," she said irritably, as she turned back. Behind Felt, who was doing a terrible job of forcing a smile that only made Link laugh, was another person.
After a few short words from Felt, she pushed Subaru aside and turned to look at the person behind her, trying to be polite. Seeing Subaru look up in surprise, Link followed her gaze and ended up looking even more shocked than Subaru.
Subaru's negotiation rival was an incredibly beautiful woman who left Link speechless.
She was of average height for a man and looked slightly older than Link. One thing that stood out about her in the darkness of the warehouse was the almost sickly whiteness of her skin. She wore a black coat, but the front was open, revealing that her clothes underneath were also black and tightly fitted. Although she was quite slender, she definitely had curves in all the right places and a very attractive figure overall.
Not to mention that, like Subaru and Link, she also She had black hair, which seemed quite rare in this world. Her hair was tied in a braid that reached her hips, the end of which she twirled with her fingers.
Link: "She's incredibly beautiful..." he murmured, unable to tear his gaze away.
Subaru: "Yes, yes, focus," he whispered back, seemingly fighting his own instincts.
With so many people waiting for her arrival, the woman didn't seem annoyed, but she did look confused.
"I get the feeling there are a lot of people here who have no connection to any of this."
Felt: "I can't put myself in a position to lower the price, you know? It's the wisdom of the weak." "Anyway, Subaru, go get us some drinks."
Link ignored how Subaru obeyed Felt without question, fighting to resist the urge to glance at the woman's curves, but failing miserably to steal glances at her cleavage.
When Subaru returned and handed her what looked like glasses of milk, the woman thanked him, looking him up and down, while Link couldn't miss the bouncing of her cleavage with every movement.
"I understand the old man is here, but who are they?" The woman must have been able to tell from their demeanor that they weren't very familiar with the place. Instead of being wary of them, she asked a simple question.
In response, Felt smiled her malevolent grin. "This fellow is your rival. He's also come to negotiate," she declared, and her process of "sweetening the deal" began.
...
"I see." "I understand what's happening," said the woman (who introduced herself as Elsa), before taking a sip from her glass and licking the milk that remained on her lips.
Link felt an icy chill run down his spine. "That was weird... extremely weird and disturbing."
As Felt explained the current state of the auction, she kept stealing glances at both Subaru and Link, which made them both so nervous they could barely maintain a neutral expression. Link opted for absolute silence, watching the negotiation unfold. He discovered that Elsa was representing an anonymous buyer and that the price had risen to an absurd twenty blessed gold coins. But even against that odds, Subaru and his cell phone emerged victorious. The Japanese man, unable to read the room, struck an overly dramatic victory pose.
Link: "Sometimes I feel like swapping partners... for someone less schizophrenic," he muttered, rubbing his temple with mild displeasure.
Subaru: "W-what? I'm happy, okay? Let me be! This is the first time I've actually accomplished something! What's wrong with a little celebration?!" he shouted, turning bright red with embarrassment.
At that, both women decided to ignore Subaru's antics, while Link smiled and gave him a thumbs-up.
Subaru: "Well, I'm sorry, Elsa. I imagine your employer is going to be angry with you."
Elsa: "It can't be helped. It would be different if I failed because I was the only one who made a mistake, but in this case, it's my employer's fault for thinking they'd be able to get away with paying so little for the badge."
Rom: "But when you plan to pay up to twenty blessed gold coins and it turns out that's not enough, that has to be tough."
Felt: "Well, I guess it just means my luck is in full swing! Does it mean my time of greatness has finally arrived?"
Link: "Congratulations on finally securing your ticket out of this rat's nest," he commented with a genuine smile, tossing her a small toffee he had left in his pocket.
Felt caught it in mid-air, thrilled by the unexpected gift. "Hmph! I don't need your congratulations," he grumbled, though a small smile flickered across his face as he unwrapped the candy and ate it. "Mmm! It's delicious!"
Elsa: "Well, since the negotiations aren't going in my favor, I think I'll withdraw now."
Elsa stood up and swallowed the last sip of milk. Once again, she used her tongue in an erotic way to lick up the last drops.
Link took a step back, pressing himself against the wall. His survival instinct screamed that something was wrong, very wrong.
Elsa turned to Subaru. As she looked at him, the boy felt as if those amethyst eyes pinned him to the ground.
Elsa: "By the way, what do you plan to do with that badge?" she asked in a somewhat cold and shallow voice.
"Um... I don't like it at all," Link thought, slowly sliding his hand down the back of his pants.
The sweet tone of her voice threatened Subaru's eardrums, making him feel like some illusion that couldn't lie, while Link tensed in his corner.
Subaru: "Oh, I was thinking of returning it to its owner," he replied matter-of-factly.
As soon as the words left his mouth, the temperature in the room plummeted. Even Link stopped moving, incredulous at Subaru's colossal stupidity. "This idiot... He's seriously got a brain defect," Link thought. He had just declared, in front of the thief and the woman who ordered the robbery, that he was going to return the multi-million dollar loot for free.
Elsa: "I see. So you're with them."
Link: "What the hell," he muttered, unable to move. A heavy, dark, and suffocating pressure emanated from Elsa. It was pure murderous instinct, something the Latino had never felt, not even in the worst shootouts in his city.
At that moment, he saw it. It was quick... but he saw it. In a swift movement, Elsa drew what looked like two daggers and moved toward Subaru like a shadow. The blades pointed directly at his insides. Just inches from the fatal impact, Felt launched herself forward at superior speed, managing to save Subaru as they tumbled to the ground.
Link: "Ah... What..." He could barely speak. His body began to tremble involuntarily.
Elsa: "Oh, looks like you managed to dodge it," she said, her head tilted in surprise.
Rom: "Rrrragh!"
Old Rom roared as he charged at Elsa, swinging the club he hadn't touched since the negotiations had begun. The spiked portion of the club was hurtling toward her head. Even though the club weighed at least ten kilograms, Rom twirled it as if he were swinging a branch, slicing through the air before it hit the cellar floor.
As the club erupted from the ground, it felt as if the entire building had shaken. Several stolen items flew through the air from the impact, and the chaos continued as Rom and Elsa exchanged blows in front of Subaru.
Elsa: "This is my first time in a death match with a giant."
Rom: "Keep talking, girl. I'll turn you into mincemeat and feed you to the giant rats!"
As Rom shouted his insults, he swung his club even faster. Against the power of that swing, any inexperienced person who tried to block it would be no more effective than a sheet of paper.
Inside the cellar, there was very little room to move, and allowing the swings of that club to easily corner you could be a fatal mistake.
"No... Old Rom isn't going to win," Link didn't feel it, he saw it. Rom attacked with all his might, exhausting himself, while Elsa dodged effortlessly, not a single bead of sweat on her pale face. She was toying with him.
Subaru: "This is bad," he muttered, barely audible.
Felt: "Don't worry. There's no way old Rom can lose! As far back as I can remember, I've never seen Rom lose a fight!" she shouted, placing her trust in Rom's words, as if dispelling her own doubts.
"No... no, Felt. She... She's a monster," Link gritted his teeth, fighting the terror that paralyzed his muscles.
Rom: "Take that!"
Rom kicked the negotiating table. The wood split in two, flying toward Elsa to block her view. Taking advantage of the blind spot, Rom brought his club down from above with the full weight of his body.
It was a perfect blow. Instant death. If only it had landed.
"Ah... Subaru... that's why you had that terrified look on your face when you knocked on the door earlier... you saw this coming... didn't you?" Link realized in a split second.
Link watched, his stomach churning, as old Rom's right arm severed from his body with a single flash of silver. The gigantic arm spun through the air, showering the wood with blood, and crashed to the ground with a thud, still clutching the club.
Link couldn't even process Felt's bloodcurdling scream. Rom, in a final act of pure adrenaline, tried to strike Elsa with his remaining hand. It was useless. With an elegant, almost languid movement, Elsa slid her blade across the giant's throat.
A crimson geyser erupted from his neck. Blood flooded his mouth, smothering his scream. Rom's knees buckled, and he fell heavily. As the light left his eyes, his gaze met Link's. It was a look of supplication. A plea.
Elsa bowed gracefully toward the body, as if showing him respect.
While Rom's body still trembled, Elsa gently placed the shards of the goblet beneath his feet.
"I'll return this. I don't need it anymore," Elsa said coldly, before twisting her dagger around her hand and pointing its red-stained tip at Subaru and Felt, glancing sideways at Link.
Subaru was paralyzed, unable to utter a sound. Link tore his gaze from the corpse, feeling bile rise in his throat. He saw Felt forcing herself to her feet, hitting her legs to stop them from shaking. Her blonde hair was spattered with her adoptive grandfather's blood.
"How...? How dare you...?" she murmured. Her face was a mixture of absolute fury and unbearable pain. Tears traced clean lines down her blood-soaked cheeks.
"If you keep fighting, you'll only end up hurting yourself more."
Felt: I bet you were still planning to kill us, even if we didn't fight back, you psychopath…!
Elsa: If you move too much, I won't be able to make a clean cut… I'm not that skilled with a blade.
Link: What… what are you doing…? Hey… Go away! he managed to say. But Felt had already leaped. At a speed that defied physics, she propelled herself against the wall and launched herself at Elsa's back, wielding a dagger. It was a suicide attack. Elsa simply spun on her heels, dodging the blade by millimeters.
Felt bounced off the opposite wall, using the wood as a floor to maintain her distance.
Elsa: So you have the protection of the wind. Oh, how wonderful. "The world must adore you… I envy that."
Elsa tensed her legs, ready to slice the girl in two.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The deafening roar of the 9mm filled the basement. Link, having broken his paralysis with pure adrenaline, emptied half a magazine, aiming at the assassin's torso. Elsa moved. She didn't block the bullets, she dodged them. The lead shattered the wall inches from her.
Elsa: "That object you have is unique… isn't it?" she said, looking at it with macabre interest.
Link: "Felt!!!" "RUN!!" he yelled, trying to empty his magazine.
Elsa vanished from sight. Before Link could react, the woman was in front of him. Purely out of instinct, Link dodged to the side, feeling the wind from the kukri brush against his face. He managed to dodge the lethal slash, but not the brutal spinning kick that shattered his ribs.
He was sent flying through the air, crashing painfully into a pile of wooden crates.
Link: "Gah!" he spat blood, feeling his lungs collapse.
Elsa: "Wow, I didn't expect you to dodge that. So, you want to continue?" she asked, looking at Felt, who had stopped dead in her tracks, nearly cut down. "If you won't come, I'll go."
"It hurts... It hurts like hell," Link crawled through the rubble. "No... not her." He looked around desperately, his eyes landing on Rom's severed arm, still clutching the gigantic wooden club.
Elsa: "This time, I won't miss," she said, turning her attention back to Felt, ready for the final blow.
CRACK!
Elsa's body was violently thrown as the heavy club connected squarely with her stomach, sending her flying through the shattered tables.
Link stood panting, gripping the handle of the giant weapon with his right hand. His body trembled with the titanic effort. With his left, he pulled out the leather pouch of coins he had hidden and threw it to Felt.
Link: "Didn't I tell you to escape?!" he yelled, a mixture of fury and despair in his voice.
Felt: "Escape?! No! She's killing Rom! I must—!"
Link: "DIE AVENGING HIM?!" he interrupted with a roar that shook the wood. "Old Rom loved you dearly, so don't tarnish his death by dying too!! If you loved him too, RUN!!!"
Felt gritted her teeth, torn between duty, hatred, and survival.
"Tell me, are you even human... or do you also have a blessing?" Elsa's voice echoed through the rubble. She stood slowly, rubbing her abdomen as if she'd only received a friendly punch. "From the moment I saw you, I noticed your scent was different."
Link: "And I didn't think you were such a lunatic!" he spat, raising his club.
Elsa: "Oh, that's no way to speak to a lady. Especially since you were practically undressing me with your eyes earlier."
Elsa launched her attack. Link barely managed to back away as the blade grazed his stomach, tearing his bloodied shirt. He tried to retaliate with his club. "Your attacks are faster and more lethal than the old man's. And your scent is definitely exotic..." Elsa said, amused.
Link: "Shut up, you damn bitch!" he yelled, frantically swinging his club, trying to land a blow.
Elsa: "You know, even if I am a lady, I can get angry at comments too."
A devastating punch connected squarely with Link's face. The impact sent him seeing stars and broke his nose. Ignoring the blood gushing from his mouth, he threw another blind punch, only to slice through empty air. Elsa appeared from his side and unleashed a flurry of slashes and blows. The kukri blades tore at his skin, leaving superficial but painful cuts as he tried in vain to defend himself.
Elsa: "I've had enough fun," she whispered in his ear.
A devastating kick landed squarely in his stomach. The air left Link's body. He was flung backward, crashing into the cellar wall with an impact that cracked his vertebrae.
Link: "Cough... this... this sucks... cough..." Link's vision blurred with red and black. He struggled to stay conscious. "I must... protect her... she..." He saw Elsa turn back to Felt, who started running. "No... I won't leave you..." With a strangled cry, he broke free from the rubble and fell heavily to the ground.
Crawling like a wounded worm, he watched as Subaru tried to get in the way to buy some time, only to be brutally struck and sent flying into a corner.
Link: "Su... Subaru," worried about his strange companion. "I... I'll protect them."
Forgetting the broken ribs and the blinding pain, he tried to get up. A metallic flash on the floor caught his attention: the 9mm had fallen nearby. "Please... leave one bullet in the chamber..."
He started crawling toward it. His fingers grazed the cold metal.
A silver flash illuminated his vision.
Link: "Huh?" he stared, incredulous, as a trickle of blood stained his face. His gaze dropped to the ground. He saw his own right hand, still clutching the pistol, fall about a foot away with a thud.
The pain took a second to register in his brain. When he opened his mouth to scream, Elsa's boot sank into his mangled chest. He was thrown with twice the force as before. His body crashed through the rotten wooden wall of the cellar, rolled outside, and slammed into a pile of rubble and trash in the dark alley.
Link: "It hurts... It hurts... It hurts, it hurts, it hurts," he sobbed. Tears of pure agony streamed from his eyes. The phantom pain of his severed hand competed with the fire burning in his ribs and broken back.
But then, looking up, he saw a small glimmer of hope in the darkness. The blonde girl, using the distraction he had bought her with his life, was leaping across the rooftops in the moonlight, escaping toward the city.
Link: "Ah... at least... she..."
Elsa: "You're interesting..." Elsa's voice pulled him back into the nightmare.
He emerged from the hole in the wall, walking with lethal grace, his kukris dripping blood. His words were tinged with a sick affection that chilled Link's remaining blood.
Link: "No... no... please... no," he began to plead, weeping openly, his pride shattered by the primal terror of death.
Suddenly, he felt an extreme, sharp cold across his lower abdomen. A perfect line cut by steel.
"Ah... ah..." he gasped, unable to breathe. He lowered his gaze, wavering. His own intestines began to spill from the open wound, falling onto his legs in a steaming pool of blood and viscera.
Elsa: "Ah, how beautiful..." Elsa moaned, kneeling beside him, her cheeks flushed with ecstasy. "They're so beautiful... they have an exquisite color."
Link: "Ah... ah... AHHH-!" Link couldn't even finish his scream. The world tilted abruptly. For a split second, his eyes, torn from their natural position, saw his own decapitated body kneeling on the ground. Then his head rolled, and his vision settled on the cold, indifferent moon of the fantasy world.
Darkness swallowed him whole.
THUNCH!
The impact was brutal. The sound of crunching metal and shattering glass filled his ears.
Link's eyes snapped open, gasping for air as if he were drowning. He blinked frantically.
In front of him was the familiar, cracked windshield of his car. His hands—both of his hands!—were clutching The steering wheel was wrapped in worn leather. Through the glass, the dark landscape of the forest road flashed by at breakneck speed, accelerating faster and faster.
Link: "Huh?" he managed, his voice muffled by the roar of the engine.
The coldness of the dagger in his gut and the specter of his own decapitation collided violently with the reality of the out-of-control vehicle. The contrast was too much for his brain. An uncontrollable wave of nausea rose in his throat, and he vomited violently onto the steering wheel and his own lap.
He fought against the blind panic, the tears of terror, and the urge to scream at the top of his lungs. He raised his blurry eyes and saw it. The enormous tree at the edge of the curve, the very one he was about to crash into.
Link: "Shit," he didn't even have time to wipe his mouth.
Instinct took over. He twisted his body, launched a brutal kick at the door, which flew off under the force. Without a second thought, Link threw himself out of the vehicle. movement.
He tumbled across the earth and branches, scraping only his clothes, which were once again torn to shreds. The world spun dizzily until it came to a sudden stop in a damp ditch.
Just a few feet away, the car crashed into the massive tree trunk with a deafening roar, squeezing like a soda can into a flaming, twisted mass of metal.
Link lay on the cold ground, gasping, staring into the flames. He placed both hands on his stomach. It was unharmed. His throat was unharmed. "What... what the hell is going on...?".
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Por fin acabe este capitulo de mierdaaaaaaaaaa!!!! Noches tras noches. Escribiendo y borrando. Pidiendo ayuda a IA pero lo logre. HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA
Honestly, it's a long chapter, a really long one. Don't get used to it, whether it's good or bad, more for my own good than anything else. Anyway, if you find the chapter too long, I can split it into two, but the content won't change; I'm not going to suffer anymore. With that said, see you in the next chapter.
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( ̳• · • ̳) ~ ♡ Thanks for reading ♡
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