Chapter 18: Feeling of loss (Patreon)

In the town after the disaster, countless people wandered the broken night streets, and Kusanagi Godou roamed aimlessly alone, helping those in distress.

"Hmm, looking all lost like that... anyone would think something terrible happened to him."

Watching Godou mingling with the crowd on the street below, Haru couldn't help but laugh inwardly. However, he couldn't be bothered with the original protagonist any further.

Because Haru was positioned high up and partially obscured by buildings,

the people gathering below, whether from this area or elsewhere, hadn't noticed the two figures on the rooftop.

"So this is the power of a Heretical God? Hailed as an unstoppable catastrophe..."

Gazing down at the ravaged port and town,

Erika, who had at some point nestled into Haru's embrace—whether from weakness, seeking comfort, or perhaps searching for a sense of security—murmured to herself as she looked at the once-peaceful town now reduced to ruins.

The terror of Divine Beasts and Heretical Gods—she had felt it firsthand now!

"To be precise, that was merely one of the Heretical God's avatars. But it certainly lives up to the name 'natural disaster.'"

Just as the girl was reflecting, Haru, still holding her, leaped down to a relatively intact spot.

Setting her down gently, he spoke in his usual calm, composed tone.

Since the girl hadn't recovered yet, Haru let her feet touch the ground but kept an arm around her shoulders, letting her lean against him sideways.

Although the giant boar was immensely powerful and had caused severe destruction,

this Divine Beast was only one of the authorities of a certain Heretical God.

"Well then, it's time to say goodbye. It was a... somewhat pleasant experience, but I have some matters to attend to."

Earlier, Erika's actions had interrupted his focus on being observed by a certain witch.

Knowing that nothing major would happen next, Haru planned to go meet the witch who had used Spirit Vision on him and find a place to stay for the night.

"What!? After all you did to me... and in my current state, you're just going to abandon me here alone?"

In Erika's mind, at a time like this, shouldn't the guy, Haru, act like a gentleman and stay to take care of her?

But now he actually wanted to leave her behind? The girl felt as if she'd been struck by something. This was one of the rare times she had encountered someone who seemed completely unaffected by her stunning beauty.

Of course, under other circumstances, once she was safe, she would have been the first to turn her back on Haru and leave.

But right now, she was deeply intrigued and curious about him, and a part of her resisted the idea of leaving his side.

"Don't make it sound like I did something terrible to you. Besides, isn't this practically our first... well, second time meeting? You don't even know my name."

In response, Haru shrugged slightly. While helping Erika down the stairs, he replied casually.

He wasn't actually going to abandon the girl outright. After all, as she said, she wasn't in great shape.

However, the prouder the girl, the harder she is to win over—tsunderes being the exception.

And he couldn't just follow her lead, or he'd end up passive in the future—unless he was a masochist, that is.

"Besides..."

"Miss Erika! Are you alright?"

"Arianna?"

"Thank goodness you're safe, young mistress! Truly wonderful!"

Just as the two, supporting each other, left the ruined area, a black-haired woman hurried over.

She appeared about three or four years older than Haru, just over 160 cm tall, not too different from an average woman, exuding a delicate and vulnerable aura in both demeanor and appearance.

Her exterior suggested she wouldn't even harm a tiny insect, giving off a completely harmless vibe. Right now, her face was filled with concern.

Arianna Hayama Arialdi, Erika's personal maid. As she anxiously approached the pair,

Haru straightforwardly pushed the girl—who for some reason was clinging to him and refusing to let go—right into her maid's arms.

"So, that's that. Since your ride is here, see you later! Erika."

"Hey! Don't go, you wretched man! Don't think I'll give up just like that! Stop right there! Hey! Are you listening to me?"

The next moment, however, the golden-haired girl snapped back to her senses as Haru turned to leave and grabbed his arm firmly.

The maid, Arianna, was seeing a side of her young mistress she never had before—so... undignified.

At this moment, Erika seemed like a girlfriend being cast aside by Haru. Arianna's eyes sparkled with curiosity and gossip as she watched the scene unfold.

No way?

Could it be that her young mistress had a secret lover she'd been hiding from the family?

This was huge news!

And they were even holding arms so intimately, just like a couple.

"Sigh, what is it now?"

"Hehehe~ I've decided. From now on, I'm sticking with you. Wherever you go, I'm going too."

"Huh?!"

"Arianna."

"Yes, Miss Erika."

"..."

Hearing her mistress's command, the maid, who had been lost in wild speculation, snapped back to reality and hurried off to bring the car around.

Then, without another word, Erika, still holding onto Haru's arm, pulled him into the car. After asking for the address, the car sped off into the distance.

Meanwhile, Kusanagi Godou had returned to his pre-booked small hotel. Suddenly, he jolted as if waking from a daze, feeling as though something important had slipped away from him.

"That's strange! What's going on...? My wallet, luggage, and the stone slab are all here. Nothing's missing."

For some reason, Godou felt that something was off, as if he had lost something.

But when he rushed back to his hotel room and checked his wallet, phone, and the stone slab his grandfather had asked him to return to his friend...

Everything was intact and accounted for. Godou was left puzzled and confused.

That feeling of having lost something important—Godou couldn't be sure it was some kind of premonition. Feeling unsettled, he meticulously checked all his belongings again and found nothing missing.

In the end, he simply dismissed the earlier feeling as his imagination playing tricks on him.

After all, the day's experiences could only be described as bizarre and fantastical to him.

Having wandered around all afternoon and then lived through a disaster, he realized he hadn't even eaten dinner yet. But feeling exhausted, Godou decided to just lie down and rest, not going anywhere.

As for what he had lost?

He figured it must just have been a case of him being overly anxious and imagining things!