EFB Chapter 403: Surely, These Were Gifts from my Father and Mother
Chapter 403: Surely, These Were Gifts from my Father and Mother
Ars seeks battle.
This Divine Servant does not forgive those who turn their backs on battle.
Ars deemed them a worthy opponent.
In a way, perhaps that was their misfortune.
▽
I was running through the labyrinth's corridors with Gio.
Right now, Ars was about 30 reters behind, chasing us.
We had tried to get ahead a few times, but after a brief defense, we changed direction and somehow managed to escape.
[Are you alright, Gio!?]
[Hahh...... hahh...... Looks like you'd be faster than me in a race......]
[You've taken a serious wound...... In situations like this, I should buy us some time.]
I focused on listening carefully. I could faintly hear Ars' footsteps.
Still, footsteps are generally absorbed by the walls.
Therefore, I had to keep checking Ars’ position by sight.
I turned my face back to the front.
Little by little.
The gap between us and Ars was closing.
(That Divine Servant's strength...... Is it proportional to "the strength of us two"......? If that’s the case...... If I let Gio escape first and face him alone————- will he drop back to the strength he had when he was just facing me? The strength he had when I first encountered him......)
If that’s the case......
(If I stay behind to buy time, maybe I can get the injured Gio away first......)
Gio, still catching his breath......
[I don't know how exactly you're feeling responsible, but don't even think about staying behind and buying time, got it?]
[But...... if my guess is right, that would be the best way to buy time.]
[Even with one arm, I'm stronger than you.]
[This isn't about that.]
[Hahh...... hahh...... Your face right now...... it looks like you're about to face death.]
[There's someone waiting for you to come back alive...... right!?]
From behind, I heard Ars’ voice.
[ " Don’t run away———–! If you escape now, you'll probably run for the rest of your life! If you don’t stand your ground now, when will you?! You ran from the Golden Eyes before...... you lost someone important, right?! Are you going to lose someone again by running away?! Leaving behind the child, the memento of the person you lost?! I mean...... What about that monster with the human face and Golden Eyes...... What’s the big deal? If I kill it, I can! That Golden Eyes with human face is going down! I’ll kill it! I swear I will...... So, I leave my comrades and the other Golden Eyes to you! I’ll kill that one! I’ll kill it———– kill it, kill it, kill it! I’ll kill it! " ]
His words sounded full of desperate resolve.
Perhaps those were words Ars had said when he fought a Human-Faced back when he was human.
Gio glanced behind to gauge the distance between us and Ars.
[We're still fine......]
[ ? ]
[When it comes to this kind of thing, the ones waiting are the ones who suffer more.]
[
[So, don't say anything stupid for the sake of the ones waiting for you!]
[......Sorry.]
[Well———- having a strong sense of responsibility isn’t a bad thing.]
I smiled softly.
[What’s with that?]
[Well...... I think I heard something similar from Touka before.]
[Yeah, he'd say that.]
[......?]
[I can totally see him saying that.]
I see.
I could see why Touka had a favorable impression of this black Leopardkin warrior.
(......That said, what should we do?)
[————-Tch, fine! I told you! I trust your judgment! I won’t go back on the words I said earlier!]
[You have my gratitude!]
We passed through the corridor and emerged into a wider space.
There was another passage ahead in this room.
Just as I remembered, it split ahead.
Gio and I, having entered the room, aimed for the path directly across from us.
A bit delayed, Ars also leaped into the room and started following us.
[ " WAAAAAAAAIT————! WAIT A D*MN MINUUUUUUUTE——
I turned back.
Perhaps because we had been running so hard.
Thud!
Unable to slow down in time, I crashed into the white wall of the room with my back.
[Ugh......!]
□
My ears...... my hearing.
This is my strong point that perhaps surpass Gio's.
Back when I fought alongside Ashinto and Duke Zuan's personal soldiers———
It was my hearing that allowed me to accurately assess their numbers.
Even in this labyrinth, which muffles sounds, if I concentrate, I can pick up on sounds and presences ahead of me.
That man also relied on this ear of mine.
Other than that———— there's also my ability to sense presence.
When I fought against Ars earlier, I quickly detected Gio's approach.
Because I was able to notice "that" ahead of time.
The ability to grasp such a thing.
Surely, these were gifts from my father and mother.
Thanks to them, I could "get ahead" and notice things.
Additionally————- my voice, when I gave it my all, was within reach.
I could perceive that too.
Thus, I should have been able to convey it.
This time, unlike with Gio earlier, it wasn’t a loud voice to drown things out———— but rather, a loud voice to convey something.
I included a "trick" in my words so that Ars wouldn’t notice, but———-
If it's that man......
I’m sure he’ll pick up on it.
I’m sure he’ll make use of it.
I’m
He’ll take the best possible action.
That is something I can trust he'll do.
▽
My eyes captured it.
The silver-haired woman opening her mouth......
[ Binding Curse, Unleash.
The shining blade of the Princess Knight, stepping forward, deflecting the approaching whip blades.
And seeing the black-clad man with scorching eyes......
His outstretched arm directed towards
[———— I called out the man's name. [Touka.]