Chapter 103: 103

Flames danced in the evening sky above us.

The ominous bird Ruten was wrapped in flames, split into two, and fell to the ground.

A heavy sound reverberated twice, and Ruten fell to the ground while silently burning.

“Nn. Now it’s quiet.”

Rouge nodded as if she was satisfied with something.

Then, when she slowly shook her right hand, the flame wall spreading around us disappeared in an instant.

“Ah…”

“O-oh”

My eyes met with Gasaraio.

We looked at each other not knowing what happened.

I get it.

I can’t keep up at all.

“Kunpei, are you okay?”

“M-me?”

Rouge extended her slender arm.

I reflexively grabbed her hand and was helped up.

And then.

“Tell me where to go.”

“Wait, wait, wait, wait!”

I was put in a princess carry.

That was the first time I experienced it in my life.

I have never been treated so importantly!

“Let me down! I’m fine!”

“No way, you’re so tattered just at a single glance. The injured should just be obedient.”

Rouge looked around while carrying me with a resolute attitude.

I noticed Gasaraio looking at this spectacle.

“Fluffy-san from the Lion tribe, are you Kunpei’s friend?”

“Eh, me?”

“Yes, fluffy.”

Rouge pointed at Gasaraio’s mane that was swaying in the wind.

Gasaraio, who was pointed at, became increasingly confused.

“Wait, wait! Who are you! What happened to Ruten! Why did it suddenly slit into two halves?”

Gasaraio approached while crying out natural questions.

I understand your feelings.

“That uncute bird? I dealt with it. Something of that level was easy to deal with.”

Rouge nodded like it was nothing.

We were having a considerably tough time, though.

“You’re kidding…”

Gasaraio had his mouth wide open and looked at the remains of Ruten that had fallen to the ground.

There’s no trace left of that monster bird that tormented us.

“Kunpei-kun! Can you hear me!? Kunpei-kun!”

I heard Mikuma desperately shouting from the smartphone in my chest pocket.

I took out the smartphone in a hurry.

“Oh, yeah. I can hear you.”

“Are you okay!? Are you injured!? What about Ruten!?”

She questioned in rapid succession, and I was a bit troubled to answer.

“Um, I’m okay. I’m a little injured. As for Ruten, I think it’s okay.”

Actually, I tried to hide the injury, but it would be impossible to hide my injury by seeing me now and it’ll be revealed the next time we meet anyways.

The blood flowing from the wound on the back already dyed the inside shirt red.

I didn’t want her to worry too much, so I pretended that it was not a big deal.

“A little bit, aren’t you seriously injured!? There should be some people from the ambulance team at the community center! Hurry up!”

Wow, she saw right through it.

It was impossible to hide something from Mikuma from the start.

“Ah, I got it. The community center, right? I’ll bring him there right away.”

“Rouge!?”

When I was wondering how to respond, Rouge replied arbitrarily.

She was still expressionless as usual.

“… Eh? Who?”

Well, that’s of course.

“Um, Mikuma, the person that the rat was picking up.”

I explained in a hurry so that Gasaraio wouldn’t suspect anything, but Mikuma should be able to understand.

“Ah that person, so you’re strong?”

How quick, as expected of Mikuma!

“N. Leave it to me. I’m Rougerichite. I’m pretty strong.”

Are you pleased with that phrase?

Rouge made a quiet triumphant look towards the smartphone.

“Hmm?”

A window popped up on the smartphone screen showing that the remaining battery level was low.

“Ah, sorry Mikuma. I’m about to run out of battery. Can I hang up?”

“Ah, yeah. If Rougerichite is there, it’ll be okay? Once you have been treated, call me if you can? Because I’m worried.”

I’m really sorry for making you worry.

I still haven’t been able to get in touch with Aoi, the twins, Shouhei and Yuri-san. I also have to charge my smartphone.

“Mikuma, san?”

“Yes?”

Rouge addressed Mikuma.

“I heard that you know a lot, so I’m sure we’ll have more opportunities to meet in the future. Rouge is fine, let’s get along, okay.”

“Ok ya, then I’m fine with Yunno. Mikuma Yunno. Nice to meet you.”

“N. I don’t need formal language.”

“Eh, ah, I see. Best regards, Rouge.”

“N.”

Rouge, apparently satisfied, nodded briefly and shifted her gaze to me.

“I haven’t talked to many other races. Was it alright?”

“Oh, oh. In fact, you’re better at it than I am. It’s amazing.”

“I see. I was praised. I’m happy.”

Rouge snorted, blushed a little and nodded repeatedly.

Her expression never changes, but maybe she’s an emotional person?

Even so, I and the others related to the Kazamachi household, are too bad at socializing.

Aoi still puts herself on guard when she meets humans and beastmen other than us, and Mikuma is not very good at talking with the opposite sex.

What, birds of a feather flock together?

“Okay then, Mikuma. I’ll contact you later.”

“Yup. Please find Aoi and the others soon! See you later?”

“Ah, see you later.”

When I finished replying, I tapped the screen to end the call.

“This is a phone. I’ve heard about it, and I’ve seen some people holding it to their ears, but it’s the first time I’ve actually talked to someone far away. I’m glad.”

“Haha, is that so?”

I pressed the home button while smiling at Rouge who was deeply moved looking at the smartphone.

“Hmm?”

Huh?

There was a number next to the email icon informing me of notifications.

Fourteen? How did this happen?

Oh, right. During a call, it vibrates to notify me of an incoming mail, so I didn’t notice since I was running around so much.

“Kunpei. Where’s the community center?”

“Hmm? Ah, straight down this road… Rouge! Are you going to keep going like this!? I can walk! Put me down!”

“Nope.”

Rouge carried me on her shoulders without minding that I was struggling about.

“Does this hurt your back?”

“Guh… It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt.”

I guess this is better than the princess carry.

“I don’t think you’re aware, but it’s a serious injury.”

Gasario had already retrieved the magic shield that had fallen on the ground into his pocket.

“Eh? Really?”

“Really.”

Huh? Sure, it hurt, but I didn’t think the wound itself was that bad, just a lot of blood.

“… Shouhei’s going to be angry.”

“Haha, why are you worried about him getting angry?”

Gasaraio laughed with a dumbfounded voice.

You don’t know, so you can laugh.

It’s scary when my brother gets mad!

“Let’s go, then.”

“Ah, yeah, please.”

Despite carrying an adult man by himself, Rouge walked with plenty of room to spare.

Somehow, this is kind of depressing.

Dejectedly, I operated my smartphone with a hand I wasn’t accustomed to.

The first one was from my dad.

【Are you at school right now? I finally got in touch with Shouhei. I tried to call you as well, but the line seems to be busy, and I couldn’t get through.

You know the old man at the drugstore, right? That guy seems to be from the fire department. Shouhei, Aoi, the twins and Yuri-san are taking refuge at the community center by his instructions.

Apparently Shouhei lost his phone in this confusion, so he was in trouble because he did not know your number. My number was registered with the homeowners’ association, so he was able to find it at the community center.

I told you to contact Shouhei, so please call the number below.

I’m in a hurry to get back home, but I am in the middle of running after I abandoned my car because of restrictions and congestations.

So I will count on you. If you can pick me up, I want you to pick me up】

Wow, really? I should have read it earlier. There’s a link to the phone number for the community center at the bottom.

Was it a coincidence that I was able to get in touch with Mikuma?

But now I know where Aoi and the others are. Are they all at the community center that we’re heading to?

Then, I can see them soon.

I patted my chest in relief on Rouge’s shoulder and bent my neck slightly to look at Ruten’s remains.

The former strong enemy was still divided into two and burning.

Since it was in the middle of the asphalt, the flames will not spread.

“Hmm?”

“What’s wrong?”

Gasaraio who was walking behind Rouge, responded to my voice.

“No, maybe I was mistaken.”

That’s right.

There’s no way it’d be able to move in that state.