Situations Always Spiral to the Worst
Sidius suddenly flushed beet red and collapsed in a heap. Lerven panicked at her inexplicable change in condition.
Staring blankly at her fallen face, he suddenly remembered what Evan had told him about why she might collapse like this.
"...Come to think of it, she said she had zero immunity to men, right? I thought it was ridiculous when I heard it, but seeing it for real is even more absurd. Fainting from a single touch..."
The kind of gap moe they often talked about in stories—the charm of contrast. In Sidus's case, it was the stark difference between her usual dragon pride and unyielding strength, and this frail weakness where a mere man's touch made her pass out.
Lerven knew all about that trait from his years devouring web novels, but there was a world of difference between imagining it from words and experiencing it firsthand in reality. Witnessing a scene straight out of fiction—and in this dire situation—he didn't feel admiration or感動 first. Just sheer ridiculousness.
"Damn it, passing out here leaves me high and dry...!"
How could anyone find charm in someone—or rather, a dragon—who became dead weight right when you needed help most, with danger staring you in the face? If anyone could feel attracted to Sidus right now, they'd have to be seriously unhinged, Lerven thought as he hoisted the unconscious girl onto his back.
It wasn't like carrying a conscious person; the dead weight of someone out cold was no joke. Still, ditching her pricked at his conscience too much.
"Kyaaak!"
While Lerven spent precious time slinging the fainted Sidus over his shoulders, the chimera shook off its battered body from the ground and staggered to its feet. Its single round eye rolled around as its low intelligence strained to process what had just happened.
Your target is Sidus de Sidereus. She has black hair and golden eyes. Be careful not to confuse her with anyone else.
The chimera first recalled the order it had received. The command was to eliminate the black-haired one, so it had charged to kill the black-haired target. But the blue-haired one had interfered mid-charge, preventing it from finishing the black-haired one off. And worse, the blue-haired one hadn't died even after taking the hit!
Perplexed, another command surfaced in the chimera's muddled mind.
Your enemies are powerful. Do not let your guard down.
Only then did it dawn on the chimera. Enemies to fight = strong. Blue-haired one who blocked the attack = strong. Therefore, enemy to fight = blue-haired one.
The earlier command clearly pointed to the black-haired Sidus, but the chimera—now smugly admiring its own brilliant deduction—had no room left to recall it.
"Kyaryuk!"
Excited beyond measure, the chimera bounded after Lerven, who was fleeing with Sidus slung over his back. Lerven had no idea why it was so hyped up; it just baffled him.
"What the hell? Why's it so excited...? Chasing with that grin is creepier than any horror flick!"
"Kkek!"
Lerven bolted ahead of the chimera, glancing back to see it loping after him tongue lolling—and chills raced down his spine.
The one silver lining in this unexpected chase was the chimera's awkward bipedal gait, which made it slower than it looked. Lerven's position was quite a ways from the forest entrance, but at full sprint, he could escape before it caught up.
Assuming nothing else went wrong first.
"...?"
Ignoring the branches whipping his face as he ran, Lerven suddenly sensed an unnatural tension blanketing the entire forest. The birds' cries had fallen silent. The rustling of beasts in the underbrush had vanished. Not even the chirp of crickets pierced the air.
That ominous hush fueled his dread, spurring his legs to pump even harder. Carrying a full-grown person at top speed was brutal, but the exit drawing nearer motivated him to squeeze out every last ounce of strength.
"Huu, hup..."
Breathing raggedly through a parched mouth, Lerven took one final step toward the forest exit.
Thwack!
At last, the dense trees and foliage blocking his sides vanished, revealing the open, sunlit expanse beyond the forest. Lerven had broken free.
Meanwhile, the pursuing chimera showed no panic as its target fled into the open. Not at all.
You 'all' can surely do it. Your 'masters' said it was possible.
Splat!
"...!"
In that instant, something slammed into Lerven as he exited the forest, sending him tumbling back inside.
The wobbling chimera fixed its single eye on the shadow standing right at the forest mouth. And it let out a booming laugh.
"Kyak!"
"Kkeok!"
Its 'comrade' was there. Which meant this hunt was a victory for 'all' of them.
"Kirik!!!"
"Kieek!!!"
"Kkikyak!!!"
A dozen or so chimeras surrounded Lerven, raising a chorus of triumphant howls.
*
"Huu..."
Lerven propped himself up, exhaling shallowly. He'd taken a direct hit from the chimera, rolled across the ground, and smacked his head on a root—blood trickled down, blurring his vision.
Sidus, still on his back during the tumble, had been flung off and now lay sprawled nearby.
"...I'm done for."
His words carried double meaning. One for his body teetering on the edge of total exhaustion. The other for the grim fate of facing death by ragtag monster horde closing in.
"...Draw."
Teetering literally on death's doorstep, Lerven activated his unique skill. Hoping this localized miracle—which always threw curveballs into every crisis—would somehow deliver a way out.
Fwaah!
A soft blue glow flickered from the hands of the one yearning for miracle. The blinding flash stung the chimeras' eyes, forcing them shut momentarily.
When they reopened, Lerven stood before them clutching a card etched with ornate patterns.
He wiped the blood from his forehead and eyes with his uniform sleeve, then squinted at the freshly drawn card's details.
[XIV – Temperance]
Card Direction: Upright
Card Meaning: Harmony, Steadfastness
⟨ The mystical power infuses harmony and pursues steadfastness. ⟩
Lerven had drawn the upright Temperance. Meaning: harmony and steadfastness.
Harmony meant blending with surroundings; steadfastness meant reliable, steady conduct. In short, upright Temperance was a 'mutual exchange'—bringing what you lack and sharing what your foe lacks, achieving both harmony and steadfastness at once.
"Ha, useless."
"Kyarak?"
"Kisak!"
Lerven let out a hollow chuckle. What could he possibly take from these chimeras, or give them? Was it because he'd wished so desperately for a miracle? Or was this just fate? No one there knew the truth.
Ptoo.
He spat out the sweat and dirt that had filled his mouth from the roll, then checked his condition. Stamina bottomed out, sweat pouring like rain—he'd collapse from dehydration any second. No weapons. The cards he'd drawn so far were all useless here.
His opponents? Over a dozen living weapons of flesh and fury: chimeras. Protecting Sidus against them was impossible. Surviving? Even more so.
"Situation's the worst, body's the worst... How do I always end up in these spots?"
He started to wonder how he'd stumbled into this mess but shook his head. No point analyzing when the chimeras wouldn't suddenly have a change of heart.
Bad luck had piled up endlessly before, and each time he'd wracked his brains, twisted the odds, and pulled through. But now, with his life truly on the line—could he do it again? Turn the impossible into possible?
With a short, deep breath, Lerven answered his own doubt.
"Won't know till I try."
Can't confirm without acting. He split the cards between his hands, relaxing his tense shoulders. Forced his trembling legs to stand. And his eyes flashed with fighting spirit.
"Come at me, you half-baked freaks."