The first battle was supposed to be the apex, the apogee. After all, we have trained for aspects of battling such as formations, spells, and swift reactions. A second battle could have had potential for more practice, too, but not if it were a whole overpopulation of ogres (known for being in large groups).
I would’ve said ‘Oh, gods’ or something profound like that, but all I could manage was to shiver, just like before the gun assessment test. My knees, the traitors they were, almost collapsed under what had now felt so heavy and dense but, in reality, was just my body.
“Take your stances!”
Mr. Nakajima shouted, possibly inspired by Okabe as well.
Swords unsheathed. Guns cocked. Mages began chanting to their favorite deities. I didn’t move…no, that’s a lie — I couldn’t move. I couldn’t tell if I was supposed to reload my gun or chant a spell or just…run. I even forgot what a gun was for a second.
“Hey.”
I turned and saw Okabe, who stared determinedly at the overpopulation ahead.
“I can tell you’re not quite alright. I am not known to be sympathetic because I’m not, but you have to do something. Want to get stronger? Then shoot. Every mage, gunman, swordsman, muscleman, wizard, they’re all cogs in a wheel. We need you right now.”
My eyes widened.
I feel like an angel is actively comforting me. Is it her natural voice, her communicator aptitude, or both? Are aptitudes at only Rank 6 this mind-altering? What if I got to Ran—
Bang…bang bang bang
Bullets flew, accompanied by ice, flames, even stone.
Boom boom boom boom
Ogres ran at us. I firmed my grip and lifted my gun. Closing my left eye, I started firing.
“Flamethrower!”
“Aquatic Siphon!”
“Boulder’s Gate!”
The overlapping chants were only nauseating and bothersome; thus, automatically, my legs ran me forward.
Huge…
I was practically right behind the swordsmen and musclemen when I had, instinctively as well this time, stopped. I saw cuts and bruises on some ogres who also had foreign creations of mankind and results of humans’ connection with gods stuck deep in them.
Smasssshhh; swing swing, thump, thump
“AAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!”
I looked to my left and saw a girl’s leg cut off while her arms and leg flailed around.
“Yes, we found the gate, but numerous ogres are guarding it. We’re currently involuntarily battling them. Come now, we're biting off more than we can chew here!”
Mr. Nakajima said as loudly as he could yet quietly enough in hopes that no one would hear and panic into his wristwatch. I had heard him, though.
What…? He’s…admitting we may not win? No…we have to win…what?
I was subconsciously looking at the heads of these tall ogres, thus able to see a huge boulder flying from behind the front ogres, hurling towards somewhere near behind me.
“SSHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTT!”
Cccrrraasssshhhhh
I had followed the boulder in my line of sight and was just at the edge of our group enough to see…another student — a boy this time — lying quietly with an arm under the boulder. I couldn’t tell if he had fainted or legitimately died right there and then.
In anger and desperation, I continued to shoot, moving in no specific direction while doing so.
Four ogres have fallen: great. But six remain: not great at all.
As I pulled the trigger, I heard empty ‘clicks.’ That prompted me to tap my waistband to find bullets to reload with.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Huh…maybe…not here either…?
I never considered considering the amount of magazines I had at all. Then, empty-handed, I was forced to take a good look at my surroundings.
Some of our group’s members still stood, actively battling, like Takahashi, Fujimoto, Haruki, and even Sora, but the rest? They were rendered immobile. They were biting their lips, trembling heavily, stumbling backwards, or simply standing there as if their souls had left their bodies.
At this pace, we are more done than we were at the start…shit! Shit, shit, SHIT!
…BBBOOOOOOOMM
I frantically looked ahead. An ogre lay around 30 meters ahead of me, face-planting. I turned around, seeking answers as to why an ogre had just suddenly fallen.
“WE’RE HERE, GROUP B!”
I saw around 2 groups’ worth of students and 3 staff members right away.
“EVERYONE, WE’RE HERE TO HELP!”
I think…we’re finally saved…!
***
“Here you go! You are now, officially…a partaker from Stranfhash Academy!”
I reached my hand out to receive my identification card back, bearing a new look.
Kurosawa Kuramiti
Date of Birth: January 28th, 6051 — 16 years of age
Aptitudes: Current Occupation: Student Partaker
Mage — Praelusor Expiration Date: January 28th, 6057
Gunman — Discens Paper Cut Experiences: 1
Finally, after around 2 hours, I have properly become a ‘partaker!’
Partakers is the term used to refer to anyone who has been officially recognized as someone who partakes in the exploration of paper cuts. With this, one can legally enter stores where items obtained from paper cuts can be bought and sold. Paper cuts are gateways to different worlds after all, so, although rarely, something of great use can be found within.
So, the more people it can benefit and/or the more beneficial it is to an individual (both normal people and partakers), the higher its value.
This is great, really! But…do I deserve this?
***
I think…we are finally saved…!
I thought, and as I did, some freakishly jacked guy ran to me. I don’t know why he chose me, but if I had to guess, it was probably because I was the only one who looked relatively unharmed and not engrossed in battle.
“Are you guys alright? We received the report from Mr. Nakajima and were nearby.”
Every element and the less elemental bullets flew overhead. Students with swords and insanely strong arms and legs flew by, too.
“How is everyone? How are you? Tell us what you know!”
“Wh…what is…”
“A report!”
That snapped me out of it.
“Oh! Well, we had just…just seen the paper cut and it happened to be guarded by, from what I recall, around 10 ogres. We realized that we couldn’t all run away, especially since some had spotted us already, and so…we were forced to fight.
I’ve seen two severely injured, but there could be more! I may not be in my best state, but I’m much better than they are right now. Help them! The rest are just frozen in fear or fighting in futility.”
I pointed to the now-fainted girl whose leg was cut off and the fainted yet hopefully alive boy whose arm was still under the boulder.
“Alright, I see! I’ll inform the staff members to attend to them whilst we fight. Go rest.”
“But!—”
“NO! Go rest, now! With utmost respect, you’ll hinder us. Plus, you can use some rest.”
I was raising my hand out of instinct to argue back, but…as they came into vision, they were trembling. I looked down at my legs and they, too, were trembling.
“...Al…alright…”
I wandered off, lumbering, and leaned on the cave’s wall of rocks.
“Once I rest, I’ll ask for bullets and…help…once I…”
I fell asleep, and before I knew it, I awoke in a bed, staring at the ceiling of our school’s doctors’ office.
***
Rummage…jingle, grab…drag, jingle…insert…turn turn, click.
Finally, I’m home…I wonder if Mom’s alright.
I turned on the lights, although just one. I walked for a few seconds and opened the door to my mom’s bedroom. She lay there, sleeping.
No wonder she’s home this late. After staying at the nurse’s with my friends for so long as well as going to the mall, I managed to arrive home at around 1 a.m.
I quietly closed her door and headed on into my room. I put my bags down, grabbed my ID, and took a good look at it, specifically to appreciate it once more.
Wow, I’m finally a partaker…NICE!
I set it down on my desk and jumped face down onto my bed.
I smiled thinking about how I had finally become a partaker. However, as I thought a little more into it, my smile faded.
I feel like I have the same title in others’ eyes, just fashionably…I can’t ever just be happy with myself, can I?
I immediately fell asleep.
