If Uncle Hank had not accompanied me to handle the identification papers, Mikasa would never have ended up here. Either Hank or Yato would have been watching over her. Once I understood the chain of cause and effect, there was no escaping it. This situation existed because of me, and that meant I had to bear the consequences.
I scanned the four youths while maintaining a calm, indifferent expression, all the while searching for an opening. My goal was simple, get to Mikasa. She could not be allowed to suffer even the slightest harm.
The freckled youth glanced back at her and smirked. The moment I saw that look, my instincts screamed danger.
I stomped my foot and lunged forward.
"Let us go together!" the freckled youth shouted as he charged.
The other three rushed toward me, but at the last second, the freckled one abruptly stopped and turned, sprinting straight for Mikasa.
Seeing him coming, Mikasa let out a small whimper and curled into herself, trembling.
"Damn it!"
My heart clenched with panic. I twisted my body to avoid the blond youth's overhead swing, but another club struck my arm hard. Ignoring the pain, I slipped through the gap they left behind and sprinted forward.
The freckled youth's hand was already brushing Mikasa's hair.
He noticed me from the corner of his eye and swung his club sideways. The blow smashed into my right shoulder, sending a sharp jolt through my body. I forced myself forward and thrust my fingers toward his eyes.
He recoiled instantly, releasing Mikasa and throwing up his left hand to block.
That was exactly what I wanted.
I pulled my right hand back, stepped in, and drove my left fist into his stomach. The impact knocked the breath out of him. I tore the club from his grip and kicked him away with everything I had.
In just over ten seconds, one of them was down. I now held a wooden club in my hands, standing firmly between Mikasa and the others.
"Cough, cough… hahaha!"
The freckled youth writhed on the ground, clutching his stomach, yet he still laughed.
"So she really is related to you. I want to see how long you can protect her while fighting us. Do not worry. Once we beat you, we will have our fun with her right in front of you. We will make sure you watch."
The other three burst into laughter, already convinced of their victory.
Behind me, Mikasa clutched tightly at my clothes, her small body shaking. She was not the fearsome warrior she would one day become. Right now, she was just a frightened child.
I reached back with my left hand, shielding her just as Hank once shielded me.
"She is my family," I said coldly. "If you want to hurt her, you will have to step over my corpse first."
"Hmph," the blond youth sneered, raising his club. "Let us see how long you last."
I tightened my grip on the wooden weapon. It was fragile, but it would have to do.
Because I had to protect Mikasa, dodging was not an option. The moment I moved away, she would be exposed. They knew it too.
"Hyah!"
The blond youth brought his club crashing down. I blocked it with a horizontal parry and shoved him back with a forceful counter. Before I could follow up, the other two charged from both sides.
I planted my feet and gripped the club with both hands, using disciplined, practical combat techniques, turning the stick into an extension of my body. My defense was tight and deliberate, leaving no opening.
Against three attackers, I was barely holding my ground.
But I would not fall.#
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