Chapter 14

Enemy

Damn, this is not the time to be caught by this baby's trance. I invoked [Soul Seeker] and tried to search for Machi-san and Hana.

They are located quite a distance from here. With [Speed Breaker] I should be able to make it there in a few minutes though.

Although I'm worried if the air resistance will affect the baby, I'll just cover her face with the blanket again.

While holding the basket, I dashed towards the two, ignoring the scenery of blazing red around me.

Although I secretly told Victoria-san to go with them in case anything happens, I'm still worried.

Please be safe, Machi-san, Hana-chan.

-Machi-

After parting with Mina, Hana and I sprinted towards where our house was.

The route there was almost unrecognisable. The roads and alleyways were painted charcoal black and the crackling sound of fire was heard all around us.

With the anxiety building inside me, I ran faster, pulling Hana's hand along.

We reached our house after turning here and there through the complex alleyways of the slums. Our house was only big enough for three to four people to live in, however the fire engulfing the building was larger than the other buildings.

At the entrance, I cast as much [Water Ball] as I could to put out the fire, but it was not enough.

"Ris-sha, uguu..."

Mina started crying. Please stop that Mina, if not I'm going to cry as well...

No. I will never accept this. If there is a very small chance that Risha is alive, even by a hair strand, I will grasp it. I got to save Risha, even at the cost of my life!

I soaked myself in water with [Water Ball].

"Mina, stay here. I will go and find Risha."

"Mama, d-dont go..."

Hana pleaded for me to stay with her.

I knelt down and kissed her forehead.

"I promise that I will be back, so stay here, okay?"

"Un..."

"I love you, Hana."

I separated from Hana and braced myself, entering the building.

Even though the fire was intense, the smoke coming out from the fire was too intoxicating. I covered my mouth with a wet handkerchief.

Advancing to the living room, I saw the furniture burnt to ashes, the kitchen was destroyed and the walls were collapsing one after another.

I hurried up the stairs, invoking [Water Ball] along the way to clear a path. However, I slowly started to feel dizzy. It seems that I used up too much mana.

I rushed towards Risha's room while staggering. Her door was blocked from the inside.

There is no time to lose. Kicking open the door while it smashed to pieces, I shouted,

"Risha! Are you alright!?"

There was no answer, because the answer to that was on the bed.

She was sleeping peacefully, with her usual face. But something was wrong.

She was not breathing.

"This, it can't be..."

I saw a note on the desk beside her. I picked it up to read it.

"N-no, no, aahh..ahhhhhhhh!!!!!"

-Risha-

Machi dropped her knees onto the floor. I felt really bad for her, since I died and all. I really want to kill that bastard now. How dare he made my Machi cry!

But I can't even chase after him, not to mention killing.

When I was living with Machi and Hana, I was always being supported by them. My only use was for earning income. Whenever I am with Hana, I could not take care of her as a proper mother.(1) I am always taken care of by Machi when I came back from work. My only use is to earn income to support my family.

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Of all times to be useless, why now!?

Will Machi forgive me for dying? Hana too, will she miss me when I am not around any more?

*Creak*

What's that?

The ceiling?

It started to crack.

Machi is just under it.

You can't be serious.

The ceiling fell apart, bringing the roof down towards her.

Machi!!!

*CRASH*

Huh? What happened?

There is a bright light at where Machi was.

At a closer glance, I could see Hana holding her hands up, shielding the debris from reaching Machi.

"Wha, Hana!?"

Machi was surprised as well.

"Mama, don't die! Please!"

Hana shouted with all her heart.

It was pleasing to hear that, but her face was getting cramped.

"Sorry Hana, give me a second!"

Machi punched the debris out, reducing the stress on the shield Hana generated.

Soon after, all debris was free from clogging Hana's shield.

"It's fine now, Hana."

"Un."

Hana lost consciousness and fell onto Machi's hands. At the same time, the shield disappeared.

Thank you, Hana, from the bottom of my heart.

But, a sudden knife was thrown at Machi.

However, she was able to react quickly and caught the knife in her hands.

"As expected of the adventurers' guild's famous Risha's wife, you are as strong as they say, but not mentally. Kyahahahah!"

Who is this guy? I sense a sudden irritation within me.

I looked up at the roof to find a man in a lab coat. Isn't that the bastard who killed me!?

"I thought I can finally kill you, the last Cat Sith, with my own hands, but that pesky brat just had to interfere, rather, what was that power?"

"You are the one that treated Risha, right?"

"Yes, it was me. Although I killed her though. Kyahahahah!"

This guy's laugh is annoying. I want to beat him up into pieces, but I can't, since I'm dead.

Machi's face became black. It's the first time I saw her like this.

"Since I can't kill you by the 'letter bait' method, I'll just deal with you right here and now! Kyahahahah! Maybe I'll kill that brat too in the process!"

"Die."

The moment Machi said that, she suddenly grew a few centimetres, her fingernails suddenly became sharp claws, her teeth grew bigger and sharper, like canines.

This was a special trait of the Cat Siths, which make them so dangerous, to the point of driving them into extinction.

When I came home on a particular day, some thieves broke into our house. But, they were all killed and ripped to shreds by Machi, who transformed herself into this figure. After eating them, piece by piece to get rid of the evidence, she lost consciousness at the entrance. It was lucky that I was there.

Whenever she transforms, it seems that she loses control of herself and attacks anyone indiscriminately and eats them after they die.

When she woke up, I discussed with her about her trait, to never use it unless she gained full control over it.

But, it's too late now.

A bloodbath was about to ensue.