PHASE 52 - THE ARROGANT BOY WITH A VAGUE NICKNAME

“Auuuu…”

I cried in the hallway as I walked away from the classroom. I covered my face in order to hide my embarrassed expression from the students and teachers as I got past them.

That’s so embarrassing, Tiara! I repeated those words inside my head over and over again.

This is my first day in Dradecim National High, and here I am, making a scene. To make it worse, I did it with my target. I punched the nose of the man whom I was tasked to protect. I’m quite confident that Asumi-nee will not scold me, but Miss Jeannette is a different story. I might end up having sermoned for the rest of the night.

That blonde man named Alaric Eisenhower… He’s considerably handsome. Just a simple glance from him makes my heart jump for joy for unknown reasons. Sure, his looks are able to charm the girls in the school, but he's arrogant attitude offsets his physical advantages.

It was about three minutes until I finally stopped crying. I looked around and saw the students noisily getting out of their classes. Endless chatter filled up the corridors and it made me anxious to have so many people in such a spot so I decided to stop and make a U-turn. I need to go back to the classroom and get my things. I forgot that it’s the end of the classes already, and I left my bag on my desk.

I just hope Mister Alaric Eisenhower has already left…

<>

I started walking back until I realized a grim thing. A chill crawled on my spine as I saw a group of students having their eyes on full darkness and they were crying black blood. That sign only means one thing… An Eidolon is nearby!

I remembered what Asumi-nee and Miss Jeannette told me yesterday, about the mission. I am tasked to enroll in this high school to defend a certain someone named Alaric Eisenhower from Eidolon attacks. Apparently, that arrogant blonde bastard has manifested the signs of being a Gate Guardian like me, so she will be a hotspot of Eidolons. He will be hunted non-stop for the rest of his life!

My eyes opened wide in shock. I’ve been so careless. I’m so stupid. Why did I leave him in the first place!? I shouldn’t have taken my eyes off him!

This is bad! This is bad!

I rushed with the full force of my legs. Unfortunately, I can’t use my spells here in school as there are people around. I have to rely purely on my physical agility to reach him!

I slammed the door from my classroom as I inhaled air out loud. I looked in the left, and the right part of the classroom. Unfortunately, all I can see are tiny flocks of students, and there’s only about seven or eight of them. Most have already gone home. Mister Alaric Eisenhower is nowhere to be found.

Fortunately for me, the guy who sits in front of him during classes that appeared to be his close friend is still there. He has short black hair and brown eyes, with the slightly scrawny build. I think this is Mister Casterdyne, as Mister Kent shouted earlier.

“M-Mister Casterdyne!” I slammed my palms in front of my classmate.

“W-Woah!!!” My classmate seemed scared of me as I surprised him.

“W-Where is Mister Alaric Eisenhower!?” I asked out loud.

“Oh, Ric?” My classmate had his careless glare at me. “He already went home. He said that he’ll be treating his wounds later. Hey, about that punch in his nose, it was awesome-”

“Thank you!” I bowed with an excessive effort which accidentally slammed my forehead on his desk. Without any time to lament my actions or hold my aching forehead, I immediately dashed away from the classroom.

<>

I just realized that I forgot which way Mister Alaric is going. I don’t know where he lives, or what his destination is.

I was finally out of the gate of the school. The Eidolon signs are getting weaker and weaker, which means that the Eidolon is leaving this place. That should also mean that the Eidolon is on the trail of Mister Alaric too. I have to stop that monster!

The students are already splitting into two waves, the left, and the right. There are no Eidolon signs on the left as the students are free from it. However, there’s a faint sign on the wave of students going on the right. These students have some black drops running on their cheeks, albeit faintly. That should be my cue as the trail of the Eidolon.

I bolted in the sidewalks, trying to outrun the cars that are on the highway. I drifted left and right to avoid colliding with the students I ran unto. The Eidolon signs are getting thicker and thicker, which means I’m going in the right way.

There are a stoplight and a pedestrian in my path. The stoplight is still on the red, which means that I shouldn’t cross the road.

I’ve read from the “City Guide for Country Bumpkins and Absolute Idiots” book that I shouldn’t be a jaywalker or else the police would shoot me dead, so I decided to make a detour. I hid in a nearby dark alley and swiped my fingers, opening a Gate.

<>

Here in Yami, the downtown district of Dradecim City is the same. There are still large buildings, stoplights, and highways which are identical to the Earth Realm. The only thing that’s different is that there are no functional electronics here. The stoplight is not working, and not even the electronic billboards and smartphones.

There’s not even any trace of cars here, nor any other signs of police so I can finally jaywalk for my convenience. I’m such a bad girl.

As soon as I crossed the street with my breakneck speed, I finally heard something that gave the exact location of the Eidolon.

“GYAAAAOOOOOOHHH!!!” It was a monstrous shout which came from that bus station. I can hear a loud chainsaw noise followed by chunks of metal exploding.

“Please be safe until I get there!” I cried out loud as I channel prana on my body. “!!!”

As electricity surrounds my skin, my speed in running became four times faster. I finally saw the bus station and some ruined parts of vehicles in the area. I traced the source of the noisy chainsaw machine until I finally saw him.

Fully cornered, Mister Alaric sat on his back and shielded his face with his eyes closed. In front of him is a tall tin robot with a bucket on its head. It has two giant chainsaws attached on its hand, and it is prepared to deal with the finishing blow towards the helpless arrogant prince.

“Haaaaah!”

I jumped forward like a furious racing horse. With my speed and weight, I focused my strength on my right arm as I swing a powerful right hook that is aimed towards the enemy’s bucket-cheek!

The crumpling metal sound echoes in the area, followed by a powerful shockwave. The force of the punch made the chainsaw Eidolon fly in a spiral manner like a defective paper airplane. It flew over the highway and crashed on the building which is situated on the other side of the road.

“Are you okay?” I asked. The moment the blonde prince heard my voice, his eyes opened. It sparkled and was filled with amazement. His stare at me made me a little flustered.

Suddenly, I heard a metallic clank. The chainsaw robot Eidolon seemed to be getting on its feet and is not defeated yet, so I have to finish this right here and right now!

“Stand back, I’ll finish this quickly!” I said. Then I charged pure golden prana on my right fist. With the right posture, timing, and prana volume, I unleashed my energy in one punch! “!!!”

A golden energy dragon emerged from my fist and rushed towards the enemy. The glowing Shenlong mercilessly chomped down the Level 1 Eidolon as if it’s just fish food. The golden dragon then rose upwards in the sky and exploded, making a good fireworks display.

In such a few seconds, I finished the enemy. I made a quick but deep sigh as I held my chest, praising myself for a close call but a job well done.

I turned around and tried to be cheerful as much as I could. I lent out my hand to the astounded teenage boy, wanting him to accept it.

“Are you okay... Mister... Alaric?”

“Y-Yes…” Mister Alaric finally stopped being stunned. He finally took my hand.

However, when our fingers touched…

My mind went blank and my vision became static.

Somehow, an imaginary scene went to my mind. It was vague, but all I can see is a world full of darkness. It’s like a horrible nightmare where everything does not exist, and the only thing that exists in this void is my voice calling out for a familiar nickname.

(“Rikkkuuuun!!!”)