This Time Only
This time only. Time kept marching on. The terrorists didn't force us to our knees just to do more—they simply kept barking threats with their guns. Thanks to that, I stayed knelt quietly, analyzing the situation.
First off, what was their goal? Detainment? Was keeping our class pinned here the whole point? That seems plausible. My reasoning? They hadn't detained the other civilians. With just one leader and three underlings, they couldn't control the entire museum anyway. But letting the civilians go so easily was suspicious. No matter how I looked at it, our class was the target.
So why us? What made our class so special? We were just ordinary students from a regular high school. Nothing standout about... ...No. There was something special. Someone exceptionally special, even among students with hunter talent.
Lee Sera.
The girl quietly observing beside me. The odds were high she was their target.
I don't know the reason, but...
Whatever they wanted by holding Sera, I couldn't figure it out. But the key takeaway... was probably protecting her. That much was clear.
"Boss. No contact yet?"
"None."
"Damn it. Is this really the right play? If we screw up, the Hunter Association will nab us."
"You think I don't know that? Shit. If the higher-ups say go, we go."
One of the thugs who looked like a subordinate approached the leader with the assault rifle. They muttered in low voices, thinking we couldn't hear, but I'd sprinkled a bit of Ether on my ears to catch every word. All to gather intel and turn the tables.
"They said there was a Gift user, but didn't specify who. This feels like they're using us as disposable pawns..."
"Shut it. Either way, we're past the point of no return. Disobey, and the bosses kill us. Prep for negotiations with the government and keep your mouth shut."
"Got it."
I furrowed my brow slightly.
Rewinder? That villain group preaching a return to the pre-New Era world?
So the backers are Dark Hunters, as expected.
But words like "disposable pawns" and "killed by the higher-ups" confirmed these guys were just ordinary people. Still, one thing nagged at me.
They knew there was a Gift user.
Sera's personal info was public record after her hunter aptitude test. But targeting her so precisely... This could turn into a real incident.
The Rewinder higher-ups might suddenly name her outright and pull some stunt.
Can't let that happen.
Staying like this would drive me crazy with worry. For Sera's sake, I had to do something-
"...Sihoo."
Then Sera, kneeling beside me, spoke up. Her gaze fixed on the floor, but her focus was clearly on them.
"You probably couldn't hear, but... I think I'm their target."
"..."
"Looks like this terrorism's because of me. Sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
I nearly raised my voice without thinking. Why was this idiot apologizing at a time like this? She hadn't done anything wrong.
"Yeah... no, you got dragged into this because of me."
Sera glanced at me, her lips trembling just a bit. Like she genuinely cared more about my situation than her own safety.
"I don't know what your ability is, but you wanted to hide it. Sorry."
"No. Don't say that. I'm not bothered at all."
Please think of yourself first, you idiot.
"Yeah. Thanks... Anyway."
Sera subtly shifted her posture, ready to spring into action at any moment. I could already guess what she was planning.
Sera's Gift, Golden Ratio. The blessing that optimized every physical trait to ideal levels. She'd overheard the terrorists thanks to her enhanced hearing. And what she was about to do now... would rely on her superhuman strength.
"You stay put. I'll handle it."
"..."
"So, don't use your ability."
I clamped my mouth shut at that. I still had no intention of using Ether. The moment its existence came out, I'd get swept into this world's massive currents. My name would circulate among hunters, and a normal life would be impossible. That's why I'd kept Ether hidden from everyone until now.
"...I'm going."
But could I really stick to that mindset-
-even in this situation?
As my head spun, I spotted one subordinate pulling a radio from his pocket in the distance.
"Boss. Contact from the Hunter Association."
"Roger."
As the subordinate headed toward the leader with the radio, the terrorists' attention laxed while prepping negotiations.
Lee Sera seized the moment and bolted.
Whoosh-
"What?"
No time to react. They barely registered her absence.
A sharp whoosh of air, and by the time the thug blinked-
Sera's flying kick smashed straight into his head.
Thud!
"Gahk!"
Out cold. No chance to draw his pistol or anything. The subordinate flew back from one hit and sprawled limp.
"Wh-what?!"
The remaining two reacted.
Click-
One chambered his pistol.
But that was it.
Crack!
"Kek!"
It took mere seconds. The brief window as the thug prepped to fire.
A split-second to anyone else, but to Sera, plenty of time to drop the next one.
Her thrust punch slammed into the thug's gut. No holding back—a straight that pulverized bone and organs. He crumpled.
Two down. Leader and one subordinate left.
"You crazy bitch!"
This one was close. The thug's pistol trained on Sera, fully chambered.
One wrong move, and she'd take a bullet.
But Sera didn't hesitate.
Whoosh!
She lunged at the last subordinate. The pistol fired simultaneously.
Bang!
Sera and the bullet hurtled toward each other at terrifying speeds.
But it wasn't Sera who fell.
Smack!
"Gaaahk!"
A perfect kick to the waist. His spine bent at an inhuman angle as he collapsed.
Flutter...
A few strands of Sera's hair drifted lazily to the floor.
A hair's breadth dodge of the incoming bullet. And the courage to charge anyway.
Actions permitted only to Sera, bearer of Golden Ratio.
"...Heh. Heh heh."
One left: the leader. He chuckled darkly, as if the situation was utterly ridiculous.
"Yeah, figured it'd be something like this. They said there was a Gift user, so I knew it wouldn't be easy."
His mutter carried an ominous vibe. A pressure like something big was about to happen.
Sera didn't move rashly, slowly turning toward him.
"Said to threaten and gauge reactions. That's all we needed to do—no worrying about negotiations or aftermath. Thought I'd just be dealing with scared kids."
After a hollow laugh, the thug glared at Sera with pure hatred.
"Didn't expect a monster like you."
"..."
"Yeah. We were pawns from the start. Just rats poked to stir the cat. Ha, haha. Hilarious..."
"What do you want me to say? Want a hug?"
"Shut up!"
Click!
The thug raised his assault rifle. Ominous metallic clack as the barrel swung our way.
Sera stood in front. Behind her, the kneeling students.
"Monsters like you are the problem! Freak mutants who aren't even human! Hunters like you should all die!"
His finger tightened on the trigger. Slow at first.
The moment firing started, a hail of bullets would rain down.
Not just on Sera. Indiscriminate fire sweeping the students behind her too.
And-
That was exactly what the thug wanted.
If Sera doesn't block them, the kids die.
Ordinary students, no mana control. One bullet could be fatal.
Which meant... Sera had to tank them with her body.
"-."
Sera's face hardened with resolve.
She sprang toward the thug—no, toward the barrel.
She was prepared. To shield the kids, even if it shredded her.
But... what about Sera?
No way she'd be fine.
No matter her Gift and hunter talent, a barrage of bullets would wreck her. Major injuries for sure.
Can't let that happen.
I couldn't stand by while Sera played the self-sacrificing fool and got hurt. Always worrying about others, that good-hearted idiot deserved better.
And-
...a pretty girl like Sera getting scarred would be humanity's loss. I wanted my childhood friend pristine, always.
Yeah. That's why.
This time only.
I still hated showing Ether to others. Hated it. I'd hide it to the end if I could.
But... right now, for Sera.
For my childhood friend.
I could do that much.
And as the trigger pulled tighter, the barrel about to flash.
As Sera hurtled toward the thug.
Ting.
Pure white light particles shot from my fingertips.