District 3 has been plunged into chaos following a massive breach at the Detention Center, which was overrun by monstrous entities for several hours. No longer confined to the Detention Center, these creatures have dispersed throughout the district, actively seeking prey.
Panic has gripped the streets as tens of thousands of residents flee their homes, desperately seeking refuge in the designated Green Zones, the only areas within the district that remain secure. These zones are heavily fortified and guarded by military personnel, who are engaged in a relentless struggle to contain the monstrous threat. However, the capacity of the Green Zones is limited, and the demand for shelter far exceeds the available space.
The influx of people seeking safety has resulted in overcrowding and a severe strain on resources within the Green Zones. Consequently, many individuals are being turned away due to these limitations. In response, the military has been compelled to orchestrate perilous transport operations, moving large groups of people across the district to Green Zones that still have the capacity to accommodate them. This has become necessary as the district's tunnel system has been rendered unsafe due to the presence of monsters that have established lairs within them during the nighttime hours.
Tragically, these transport operations have proven to be highly dangerous and often result in fatalities. The Red Zones, where the monsters roam unchecked, pose a significant threat to both civilians and military personnel, with numerous lives being lost during attempts to reach safety.
The arrival of Operation Dark Wave (ODW), a specialized unit formed with the express purpose of eradicating the monster threat, is eagerly anticipated. Until their deployment, however, District 3 remains a war zone characterized by widespread danger and suffering. With monsters continuing to roam freely and people desperately attempting to escape the Red Zones, the situation remains dire and the need for urgent intervention is paramount.
...
The persistent wail of the alarm reverberated in Harlow's ears as he traversed the passageway connecting the cell blocks. This corridor was littered with the bodies of the unfortunate souls who had perished in the attack. Harlow, Yowaya, and Dr. Sunji had witnessed the full extent of the carnage.
Dr. Sunji, hand pressed to his nose, carefully navigated the gruesome scene. Yowaya, exhibiting greater caution, mirrored the doctor's gesture. Harlow, seemingly unfazed, strode forward, his thoughts preoccupied with the heroic tale of Knight Blackburne and his epic battle against the malevolent Azurath. A smirk played on his lips as he contemplated the prospect of acquiring the coveted volumes detailing the knight's exploits.
His attention was abruptly drawn to a door on his left, a potential egress to the outside. "Could we just exit here?" he inquired nonchalantly. Yowaya hesitated, but Dr. Sunji responded, "Yes, that leads to the courtyard. It's surprising that the monsters haven't breached it again."
Harlow nodded and, with a casual kick, sent the door crashing open, revealing the courtyard. However, a sudden realization struck him: How would he return home? Turning to Yowaya, he voiced his desire in a childlike manner, "I want to go home."
Yowaya, sensing Harlow's unease, asked, "Do you at least remember the name of your neighborhood?" Harlow shook his head, admitting his forgetfulness. He then turned to Dr. Sunji, who was engrossed in examining the massive footprints marring the ground.
"It's curious," Dr. Sunji mused, "the beasts were here, yet the courtyard walls remain intact. Did they simply leap over? That's atypical of their behavior."
Harlow, growing impatient, interrupted the doctor's musings. "Hey, doc, or whatever, do you know where I can find my address?" Dr. Sunji looked up, a hint of annoyance in his expression. "I could, given time, but shouldn't you know your own address? If you've been receiving mail, it should be on the envelopes, unless you've discarded them."
Harlow's eyes lit up. "Oh, right! Let me check the card! Great idea!" he exclaimed, rummaging through his backpack and retrieving his manga book. Inside, he found the letter and its envelope, and upon examining the latter, his address came flooding back to him.
Chiding himself for his forgetfulness, Harlow handed the envelope to Dr. Sunji, who stood up to peruse it. Meanwhile, Yowaya, seeking to alleviate his anxiety, attempted to distract himself by bouncing a basketball on the nearby bench.
After confirming the address, Dr. Sunji returned the envelope to Harlow. "Yes, that's definitely west of here," he said, "but Harlow, if I'm being honest, you're probably not going to find anything if you go back."
Confused, Harlow asked, "What do you mean?"
Dr. Sunji explained, "Isn't it obvious? The monsters are on the loose, and your neighborhood is the closest to the detention center. Everyone has likely fled to the Green Zones by now."
Harlow remained unconvinced.
"You're not making any sense. I just want to go home and see my granny," Harlow replied, but Dr. Sunji countered, "Your granny is definitely not there."
Harlow pouted.
"Well, I'll prove you wrong. C'mon, I want to go home," Harlow insisted, sounding increasingly stubborn. Dr. Sunji shrugged, and Yowaya finally rose from the bench. As Harlow returned his manga to his backpack, Yowaya approached Dr. Sunji.
"What should we do if he gets caught?" Yowaya whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "Shouldn't we be heading to the nearest Green Zone? How can we do that if we're tagging along with a monster? He'll be a walking corpse if the ODW finds out about him. What would that mean for us? You have some ideas, don't you?"
Dr. Sunji stroked his beard. "You're right," he admitted, "but our best chance of survival is still sticking with Harlow. We'll do whatever he wants until the ODW arrives..."
Harlow interrupted them. "Huh? What are you guys whispering about?"
Dr. Sunji and Yowaya quickly straightened up. "We were discussing how to scavenge for food. You must be hungry, right?" Dr. Sunji asked.
Harlow placed his hand on his stomach. "No, not really. I usually go for a while before I want to eat something. Wait—what was I going to say? Oh yeah, right, can we take a car there or something?"
Yowaya pulled out his keys and pressed a button, hearing his car beep in the parking lot.
"Thank god they didn't wreck that at least," Yowaya said, feeling a sense of relief. Dr. Sunji rubbed his ears; even out here, the alarm was still grating. Yowaya was about to walk back towards the opening Harlow had created when he heard a loud bang. He halted and quickly turned around: Harlow had already punched another entrance to the parking lot from the courtyard.
"This way is much faster," Harlow said casually, jogging towards the parking lot. Yowaya exchanged a brief glance with Dr. Sunji before following Harlow. When they arrived at the parking lot, they managed to locate Yowaya's car and get in.
Yowaya took the driver's seat, Dr. Sunji rode shotgun, and Harlow settled into the backseat. It took some time for Yowaya to get adjusted, as he was constantly checking his surroundings for any surprise attacks by lurking monsters—or even a monster hiding underneath his car.
"Relax, I have this radar here. There are no monsters within 300 meters of us, except for Harlow," Dr. Sunji said reassuringly, pointing to the red dot on the radar. Yowaya nodded, his anxiety subsiding slightly.
Harlow, getting situated in the back seat, saw a photo on the chair. He picked it up: it was a picture of Yowaya and a blonde woman. Harlow turned the photo around and showed it to Yowaya, who didn't notice Harlow had it until the last second.
"Hey, who's this person? Is it your sister or something?" Harlow asked.
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Yowaya quickly took the photo away from Harlow.
"It's just someone, you—you don't need to know..." Yowaya said, almost regretting his response. Dr. Sunji nodded, completely understanding who the person in the picture was, while Harlow was still confused. Harlow leaned back.
"Oh...ok. So, can we head on the road now?" Harlow asked.
Yowaya started the vehicle. The temperature outside was mild, so he didn't feel the need to turn up the AC. However, when he checked his gas, he was surprised: he barely had any left. Dr. Sunji leaned towards Yowaya, checking the gas himself. He then glanced back at Harlow, who was slumped over, almost half-asleep.
"Harlow...hey...Harlow," Dr. Sunji said, trying to get Harlow's attention. Harlow stirred awake, drooling a little bit.
"Huh? What?"
"If the gas runs out, could you push the car so it will keep going?" Dr. Sunji asked. Harlow nodded, only half-paying attention.
"Sure," Harlow replied, before slumping again. Before Yowaya could reverse out of his parking spot, Doctor Sunji said, "WAIT. Harlow, go punch out an exit for us."
Harlow stirred back awake, got out of the vehicle, and punched the gate into oblivion—pieces flying in all directions. Harlow went back into the car and Yowaya started driving.
...
After Azurath's death, the storm stopped and the sky began to clear. The air felt warmer now. The knight stared at Azurath's corpse as it slowly withered away.
Knight Blackburne wiped the blood from his face and looked at his Sword of Perfection. He smirked. He had done it. He had finally defeated the embodiment of evil and saved the kingdom from eternal darkness.
Knight Blackburne noticed a sudden change in the wind pressure around him and looked up—it was Kokusho and Princess Elysia. It seemed Princess Elysia had awoken during the knight's battle with evil. Knight Blackburne smiled.
"Princess...you're safe...but—" Knight Blackburne started, looking down. Princess Elysia frowned as she hopped off Kokusho and walked towards the knight—very exhausted.
"Where's my father? Where's..." Princess Elysia started, but then she covered her mouth, her face in shock. She winced, kneeled, and started crying. Knight Blackburn kneeled next to her and soothed her back.
"I'm sorry...I couldn't save them. By the time I got here...well, I just saw you...so..." The knight began, but Princess Elysia quickly brushed the knight's hand off and stood up. She wiped her tears. Was this really the knight's fault? No, he shouldn't blame himself. What was done was done—they couldn't go back now.
Knight Blackburne stood up.
"I presume the villagers are all cramped up somewhere underground? Come on, let's go and let them know that it's safe to come out..." Knight Blackburne said.
Princess Elysia was still taking the time to recover. No matter how many days, weeks, months, or years passed, she didn't think that she would ever get over this day. She followed Knight Blackburne onto Kokusho and held onto the knight as the dragon began to lift off. As the dragon ascended, Knight Blackburne and Elysia took in the kingdom below.
I did all that I could—at least the torment is over, for now, at least.
...
Weeks later, Princess Elysia slumped over the master bed, skimming the childish notes she once penned to her parents. When had her imagination last soared so freely? When had she last dared to fantasize and dream without a care for the consequences?
A tear traced a path down her cheek, quickly wiped away. Having sifted through her mother's letters, she turned to her father's. One, sent during a military campaign, transported her back to a time when she yearned to practice swordsmanship in his absence. Her mother, of course, forbade it.
"Mother... you were always so strict," she murmured, a hint of resentment in her voice.
Each letter was a portal to the past. When the last was read and returned to its small box, tucked away in the closet, a knock echoed through the room. A small smile graced Elysia's lips. Knight Blackburne.
She crossed the room with a newfound lightness, opening the door to find the knight bowing deeply.
"Greetings, Princess," he intoned.
"Greetings, holy knight," Elysia replied, her smile widening.
Their eyes met, a silent conversation passing between them.
"May I come in?" the knight inquired.
"Of course," Elysia stepped aside, her gaze lingering on the knight's form as he entered. The door closed with a soft click, and she leaned against it, her appreciation for his physique evident.
"So... did you want to talk about anything in particular or..." the knight began, but Elysia was already closing the distance between them, her hips swaying subtly.
"Not really..." Her voice was low, sultry, a hand reaching out to rest on his chest. Knight Blackburne's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"Um... what are you doing?"
Elysia's eyes met his, a smirk playing on her lips. "This doesn't feel bad, does it? Being this close? I'm sorry, but I'm still recovering from everything, and it would be nice if I had someone to hold onto..." Her voice was barely a whisper, vulnerability seeping into her carefully constructed facade. As if on cue, Knight Blackburne's arms enveloped her in a comforting embrace.
"I understand, it's tough," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm.
Elysia frowned, pulling back slightly. "No, you don't. I have to make all the decisions. The chancellor helps, but the burden is mine. What will the neighboring kingdoms say if I continue to rule without a king? I don't have anyone to be my right hand."
Knight Blackburne nodded slowly. "Who cares what they think? Besides, you'll find someone soon enough, if you're that eager."
A weight seemed to lift from Elysia's shoulders.
"I suppose so..." Her gaze drifted upward, meeting the knight's, and a blush stained her cheeks. "Say... I've known you for a while... I mean... would it be a crazy idea if I asked you—"
"No," Knight Blackburne interrupted, his voice firm.
Elysia recoiled, surprised. "But... why?"
"Because I don't see you that way... I'm sorry."
Her gaze fell—she was disappointed.
"I see... well... what would it take for me to make you?" Her voice was barely audible, her face inches from his.
Knight Blackburne shrugged, a non-committal gesture that only fueled Elysia's determination. With a sudden surge of boldness, she pushed him onto the bed, attempting to position herself above him.
"What? Hey? What are you doing?" The knight's voice was laced with surprise, his hands gently pushing her back.
Elysia's voice was a desperate plea. "Please... just let me show you..."
"No, stop. You're scared and desperate, that's all this is."
Ignoring his protests, Elysia captured his hand, pressing a kiss to his knuckles. "So what if I am?" Her breath hitched in her throat.
Knight Blackburne disentangled himself from her grasp, rising from the bed. "Princess... believe me, I understand you, but I can't accept what you're offering."
Elysia began to shed her clothing, her eyes locked with his. "Is that so?"
With a sigh, Knight Blackburne turned away, opening the door.
"Yes... it is."
He stepped out, closing the door behind him, leaving Elysia standing there, half-dressed and bewildered.
How could he turn me down like that? Well, it didn't hurt to try.
She collapsed onto her bed, thinking about the nights she would've had with Blackburne if he had accepted her offer. She sighed.
Maybe he's right...
It would be nice to have someone there to support her, but she didn't want to force anyone. She needed to find a way to rule on her own; she needed to become strong.
...
Midnight
Out in the open grass field, Knight Blackburne leaned against Kokusho as they stared into the midnight sky. The knight yawned. What a day it had been. Never in his life did he think the princess of all people would try to seduce him. Well, that was over now.
What was she thinking? I mean, I can understand her motives, but that doesn't mean I feel the same...
Knight Blackburne glanced at Kokusho. She was enjoying this downtime just as much as he was. The knight smirked.
"You did well today, I'm proud of you. You'll always be by my side, right?" Knight Blackburne asked.
Kokusho moved a bit, and the knight took that as a "yes." As Knight Blackburne continued to gaze up at the midnight sky, he began to feel sleepy. Slowly, his eyes shut, and he drifted off.
...
The dim light of the sun woke Knight Blackburne from his peaceful slumber. He felt his neck lying on a pile of grass and was confused. He yawned, sat up, and stretched. A moment later, he realized one crucial detail: Kokusho was missing.
What? Where did she go? That's so unlike her. She doesn't just fly off for no reason...
Knight Blackburne stood up and examined his surroundings. He was practically in the middle of nowhere, with fields of grass stretching in all directions. He scratched his head. This didn't make any sense.
Without Kokusho, how was he supposed to get back to the kingdom? The knight glanced at his Sword of Perfection.
Should I call upon the blessing of the sword? No, I shouldn't have to. I could've sworn that Kokusho was right here with me—sleeping like I was.
Knight Blackburne cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted: "KOKUSHO! KOKUSHO! KOKUSHO! KOKUSHO!"
Nothing. That was to be expected. The knight sighed and sat back down on the grass, trying to assess the situation.
She just left. Why? Why would she just leave...I...I don't understand...
...
Back to reality
Yowaya was proud of himself. He hadn't had a panic attack the entire time he was driving down the main road through the woods. They were about seven miles from the detention center, with some more to go before they reached Harlow's neighborhood.
It's honestly crazy. The roads further up that I would take to go to another District are probably blocked off. I suppose District 3 has become a war zone now. Christ...I sure hope Fukui is holding up. I swear, when I get a cell phone, I'll call her immediately...
Yowaya looked at Dr. Sunji, who was wide awake. The time right now was 5:21 PM.
"You're not tired?" Yowaya asked.
Dr. Sunji shook his head.
"There's just a lot on my mind, that's all," Dr. Sunji replied.
Yowaya nodded.
"W-well, you're doing better than me. I don't understand how you can be so calm in a situation like this," Yowaya said.
The doctor raised an eyebrow.
"Who said I was calm? I'm terrified," Dr. Sunji replied, glancing at Harlow, who was sleeping.
While Yowaya was driving, Dr. Sunji heard his radar beep. The doctor quickly sat up and looked at the radar. There were many red dots surrounding them.
"Stop the car!" The doctor commanded. Yowaya slammed on the brakes almost immediately, the car slowing down until it came to a full stop.
Dr. Sunji ducked below the car window and Yowaya did the same.
"You see this? We have company..." Dr. Sunji whispered, pointing to the red dots that surrounded the green dot on the radar. Yowaya nodded.
"Wake—up—Harlow..." Dr. Sunji commanded.