The Crisis World XX

Chap. 35: Duty To Ishikawa-san

Ishikawa Kyujiro PoV's

"Huh?!"

I opened my eyes. Suddenly I was in a place I didn't know. I was supposed to be in bed and sleeping in my room, but now I'm in a place I can't even see clearly.

"Where am I?"

The wind is pretty strong here. Even I could hear it clearly, but strangely it didn't make me cold or shiver. Other than the strong wind, another strange thing here is that there is a fog blocking my view.

It's a thick fog if I could tell. As I recall, I never visited places with this kind of thick fog. Every time I stepped, there was only mist along the eye of the beholder.

So all I can do right now is hope that these uncertain footsteps of mine can get me out of here. But free, this fog seems endless. I even gave up and stopped because I was exhausted.

"Actually .. Where am I?"

When I wanted to give up, suddenly a voice sounded to me that was gradually getting closer, as if as footsteps were walking closer.

I also looked back to check. And my eyes widened when the voice I heard came from something I didn't expect— even I couldn't believe it when I saw it.

"Ka-Karai ...?"

Is correct. My eyes couldn't possibly be wrong with the person in front of me right now. That guy was really Karai who was my friend. But there was something strange about it.

"Huh?!"

I haven't had time to digest the figure of Karai in front of me, the sound of footsteps behind me again attracted my attention. And back, when he turned around, someone who should have been absent was now in front of me unharmed.

"Why ... are you here, Hisui?!"

He didn't answer my question. His gurgling was also as strange as that shown by Karai. His eyes were blank, like those of a dead person and they seemed to be unfocused on me.

"Oi! Answer me! What exactly happened?!"

Again they did not answer me and just kept quiet. Instead, they put their feet closer. Their strange behavior made me a little wary, so I tried not to get too close to them, but couldn't. My feet are embedded in the ground at this moment.

"You're the worst, Kyujiro." Hisui spoke in a flat tone like a robot.

"W-what?"

"You let us die and do nothing."

"No! I didn't mean to just shut up. But I'm ...."

At that time I didn't know what I was going to do. In a way, I want to help them and beat that person with them. But on the other hand, there's something inside me that says, I can't move a bit if I want to stay alive.

"Hisui, forgive a—"

Craash...

My eyes widened because something happened to Hisui even when I hadn't finished my words. Blood gushed profusely out from his neck, a sharp object pierced from the back of the neck piercing forward.

"Ti-no .. not anymore, Hisui!"

My legs that had felt stiff suddenly could be felt and made me directly approach Hisui who was seriously injured.

"Kyu .. jiro ...."

Before I had time to reach Hisui's body lying on the ground, again the shouting voice of someone I knew did not give me any rest at all to think clearly.

"Armhhh ...!"

The one who was attacked was Karai. The attack of unknown origin hollowed out Karai's back head, smashing his skull through his mouth. Then he also collapsed to the ground, two of my friends are now dead in front of me.

I was fed up of being useless and ended up screaming loudly at someone who attacked Karai and Hisui. He's pretty good. His unusual speed made me think of someone.

Moreover, he could hide his existence very well. The fog that was too thick also made it more difficult for me to predict his arrival.

"Damn it! Come out if you dare! Don't be a coward!"

I screamed to provoke him. Although not sure if this will work or not, but I'm fed up with being played. I'm sure that he's around here, because the air of his existence can be felt even if only for an instant.

"Hurry out and fight me, you coward!"

"Hehehe ... coward?"

A little laugh filled the place. His voice sounded like it was surrounding me which made me worry about being attacked from all sides. Damnit. Is this fog also the enemy? It really disturbs my visibility.

Looking or turning over was also useless, because the result is nil every source of the sound is heard. As if there was no being and only sound.

Zwuush...

Someone quickly darted behind me and escaped my observation. He was now behind me and managed to lock my neck with his arms, making me unable to turn back or even look.

"Who are you?!"

"Sakmat, you lowly piece of trash."

This sound. I've heard this voice before. No doubt, this is his voice.

"You ...."

**

I reopened my eyes. This time all I saw was the ceiling of my room, not a place full of fog like before.

Sunlight can enter my room through the sidelines of the window curtain that is not closed perfectly, in addition to the chirping of birds that are interconnected to indicate that the sun is high.

I then sat on my bed, daydreaming. Thinking about what happened before. I looked at a photo of three men embracing each other with the big smiles they produced. The three men in the photo are me, Hisui, and Karai.

"Dreams, huh?"

It seemed like the most appropriate answer to explain the previous incident. God fucking. The dream felt too real.

But suddenly my HP trembled, breaking my daydream. Usually the ones who call me are either Karai or Hisui, but now they are gone. So I took it and saw who called me.

It was from Murasaki Oita. Oh yeah, I gave him my number last night. My mind was too messed up last night for free. I can buy time and get out of town.

"Huh ... Forgive your stupid friend, Karai, Hisui." I realized my own stupidity.

After that I picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Yo, are you awake? I won't be much of a stale base, so can you come over here soon?"

"No rest at all, huh?"

"Ahahaha ..I can't wait to test your skills. By the way, the location will be sent via Messenger."

"alright. I'll be there soon."

I put my HP on the table. The dream was still in my head. I believe the person who killed me, Karai, and Hisui in the dream was Murasaki Oita, because I heard her voice so clearly.

Then I looked towards my palm. It vibrates. Just talking on the phone makes me tremble like this. What makes me just smile.

"This coward is scared, as it turns out," I said to myself.

But for now, it seems like I can calm down a bit, perhaps? He promised he wouldn't kill me if I followed him. Yes ... That's also if he's right on promise, anyway.

After boarding the bus and walking for a while, I finally arrived at the location that had been sent by him. A Cafe. The plaque shows that the cafe is called Haiiro Cafe. So without hesitation, I went straight inside.

"Welcome home."

A female servant greeted me kindly, but I did not pay much attention to her because I was busy looking for where Murasaki Oita was.

"Anci ... Is there anything I can help you with?" The female servant with a confused face asked me.

"W-uh! Sorry, sorry, is there a guy with purple hair drizzling here? He always put on a horrible smile and looked like he wanted to eat someone." I gave the easiest description imaginable.

"A horrible smile and like wanting to eat people?" The lady-servant thought for a moment. "I don't think there's anyone like that, but the guy with the purple hair drizzle here is just Murasaki Oita" he continued.

"Really! He's the one I'm looking for. If I may know, is he here?"

"He was in his room. Just come in, it's okay." He pointed to one of the doors in the corner of this room.

"I understand, thank you very much."

I immediately walked towards the room that the female servant had told me about and went straight inside. But inside, there was no one there.

"Have you come?"

A voice suddenly sounded here. Even though there are no people. Uh! Could he also communicate remotely?! I admit he was quite wary even though his opponent was only someone like me.

"Yes, it's me. By the way, where are you now?"

But it turns out I was wrong. He turned his swivel chair around and was now sitting there. "I'm here." Oh, I rate it too high.

"So, what did you call me for? Are you gonna have me go on dangerous missions that you don't want to do yourself?"

"Your brain is sharp too, huh? But take it easy, I also think about your abilities. So the mission you're about to take now won't be too, well .. even if it takes time."

"Eating time?"

"You're going to be a spy, your job is to disguise yourself as the enemy and steal information about them."

"Sooking? Who do you want me to spy on? Your rival cafe?"

"Awha ... If it were just that, I wouldn't need you. First of all, do you remember about the person who attacked the child, Iraya-kun?"

"I didn't see it so clearly because he left when I approached you. But the feeling I felt when I passed them I still remember, the feeling of goosebumps due to the difference in strength."

I knew that I was still weak, after all I could do nothing to save Karai and Hisui. So maybe, if I join here, I might be able to grow stronger.

"They're good, but there's a lot stronger than them."

"There are others?"

"Yes, if not wrong, their group numbered seven people. And they work under a company called Ayakashi Corp., which is our current opponent."

"Ayakashi Corp. that, if not wrong ...."

Murasaki Oita then pulled out a newspaper article from under the desk drawer and showed it to me. The article about Ayakashi Corp. which is a suspicious company, but no one can do anything about it because there is not enough evidence.

"Ayakashi Corp. is a company that 'he said' is engaged in the field of human and animal health. But it's all just a trick they use to cover up what they're actually doing" he continued

"And that 'true thing' is?"

"You've seen it, haven't you? The boy— Iraya-kun, was one of the victims of Ayakashi Corp. There is a creature that lives inside the body of Iraya-kun which is a creation of Ayakashi Corp. Well ... although Iraya-kun said that it just happened to meet the creature, but still he was a victim."

"The child ...."

I recalled the face of the kid I met while shopping the other day. He looks like an innocent good boy, although I was scolded by him for being too relaxed, but that is still a reasonable limit. And hearing it was a victim and there was a strange creature living in it, made me feel sorry for him.

"I have one question" I asked.

"What's that?"

"Why me? There are still a lot of people stronger than me, right?"

Murasaki Oita smiled at my question. "The first is because you owe me your life, so I'll do whatever I want to you. Then for the next question ...."

Murasaki-san, who had been sitting with her face on her back by the back of her hand, leaned her body against the chair behind her. His smile also disappeared.

"... Black Rain was originally a small organization and I was only a member myself. Then we have a central organization in Tokyo called Kuni no Hashira. And they overshadowed four major organizations in important areas. Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyoto.

At first it was only three, but they recognized my strength and presence in Kyoto, so Kyoto became an important area with the three cities. In Kyoto too, there were actually many hidden Exceptions and I managed to recruit some of them. But ...."

Suddenly Murasaki Oita's gaze became even sadder. No, I could also feel a grudge mixed in that look of sadness. Looks like something happened a few years ago.

"What's going on?" my many.

Murasaki Oita continued her story. The point is that seven years ago, an event occurred in his memory. Kuni no Hashira wanted to attack the Ayakashi Corp., which was still a grain of corn.

Both sides lost many lives and it became one of the bloodiest battles. And at first they had managed to excel, but from the Ayakashi Corp. there was one person who came like a disaster.

That person had a terrifying strength. It could slaughter almost the entire members of Kuni no Hashira alone, which made the state of the battle instantly change drastically. And Murasaki Oita was one of the survivors of that battle.

"What person do you mean is still here?"

"Looks like. The power of his regeneration is so deceitful that it even disgusts me."

I think I know some things here. It turned out that this mission was more difficult than I imagined after hearing that story.

"What's wrong? Did you get scared and your confidence dropped after hearing that story?" He mocked.

Sure oes. If I'm wrong just a little bit, my life could be in danger. Or worse, be his experimental rat. But now that I don't have much choice, even running away can't.

A bitter smile came out of my mouth. I think my choice is two. Die here without trying, or most likely die there after being useful to him. What a sad life.

"Fearful? Are you mocking me, damn it?"

But if there was a choice to live longer, I would choose it. For Karai and Hisui! And my answer made Murasaki Oita smile.

"I'm counting on you, Ishikawa-san."

After a long negotiation was finally completed, we went out and met two school children who were still wearing uniforms. They are Iraya-kun and his female friend, otherwise his name is Ririsaka-san.

"Ohikawa-san? What are you doing here?" ask Iraya-kun.

"Hehe ... An important person like me would of course have come over having some business with Murasaki-san. But unfortunately I've wanted to leave now."

"Go? We just arrived, you know."

"As he said, Ishikawa-san is a busy person. So he still has business elsewhere. Isn't that right, Ishikawa-san?"

"That's right! Then I go first everything! Adios!"

They drove me away with a flat face and seemed to think of me as a freak. But I don't care. Murasaki Oita said that I should behave normally in front of them.

And now, I have a mission to do.

Seriate