My Unique Skill [Gacha] Will Save the World - Episode 41: Kyousuke and Ishida

Episode 41: Kyousuke and Ishida

“Wh-why is Ishida-kun here?” 

“Heh, heh, heh-heh-heh!” 

Kyousuke had voiced the obvious question. But he was met with nothing but Ishida’s eerie laughter. Ishida made no effort to answer. 

“…Ishida-kun, this place is dangerous. Quickly go back to the door and get help—” 

“Heh! P-Please die, Yada-senpai!” 

Ishida interrupted Kyousuke’s words with a shout. He activated his own skill, [Wood Magic]. 

“What are you doing, Ishida-kun!” 

“I-I hated you! So please die!” 

The surrounding trees, even the weeds, began to grow at an alarming rate and attacked Kyousuke. 

Vines and stems stretched out to bind him. While leaves turned into sharp blades and flew toward him. 

Ishida was a current D-rank player. He was skilled at using [Wood Magic]. However, due to extreme social anxiety, his party teams often failed. And even when he entered the door solo, he struggled to deal with monsters that got too close. He was unable to counter them with his magical abilities. This often forced him to retreat. 

Because of this, Ishida had applied for a temporary position as an Association employee when the opportunity arose. And he was accepted. 

“What happened!? Ishida-kun isn’t the kind of person who would do something like this!” 

“Shut up! W-What do you know about me!? I hate you! You always come close even when I don’t want you to, it’s so annoying!” 

When Ishida was hired as a temporary staff member, Kyousuke was already working there. 

It was Kyousuke who first spoke to him. And he had helped Ishida, who was struggling to bond with the other employees. What Kyousuke had thought was kindness had been nothing but an unwanted interference for Ishida. 

“So annoying! Annoying! Annoying, annoying, annoying, annoying, annoying, annoying, annoying!!” 

The plants around them wriggled. They were turned into blades, and continued to attack Kyousuke. 

Kyousuke’s instincts from his time as a former C-rank player were kicking in. He was managing to deflect the attacks. But he hesitated to retaliate against Ishida. 

“Damn it! If it’s like this, then how about this!” 

“What now—!?” 

As Ishida yelled, Kyousuke felt a different murderous intent behind him. 

He jumped and landed on a nearby large tree branch. It was just as two slashes flew toward the spot he had just vacated. 

“Tch!” 

“Not bad!” 

“Why did you miss!?” 

The two followers of Gakuto’s failed their surprise attack. And Ishida showed visible frustration. 

“If you’d kept them occupied, you could’ve avoided it!” 

“Right! You’re a former C-rank, so do it properly!” 

“Shut up! Shut up! Don’t give me orders! It’s three against one, just kill him head-on!” 

Kyousuke had been watching the argument from the branch, looking calm. But inside, he felt a sense of urgency. 

It wasn’t the increasing number of enemies that troubled him, but his own situation. 

(This is bad. My old knee injury is starting to hurt again.) 

Kyousuke was considering how to deal with Ishida and the two who had ambushed him. Adding the old injury to the equation severely limited his options. 

(…Right now, I’m a player who’s teamed up with Rindou-kun. In that case, I only have one option to choose from!) 

If he kept thinking and hesitating, the time Rindou was in danger would only increase. He might already be in a perilous situation. 

The appearance of Ishida and the others had confirmed this feeling for Kyousuke. 

(I’ll admit Ishida-kun hates me, he’s trying to kill me after all. But that doesn’t mean the enemy isn’t going after Rindou-kun!) 

With determination, Kyousuke gripped his sword tightly. 

After steadying his breathing, he jumped down from the branch and landed in front of the three. 

“So, are you going to stop running now, senpai?” 

“Yeah, I’m done running.” 

“Are you just going to let us kill you?” 

“It’d be much appreciated if you did.” 

Kyousuke responded to Ishida’s question, and the two followers grinned arrogantly.

“…..That’s not going to happen.” 

“Huh?” 

“In that case, I’ll kill you slowly!” 

As the two followers raised their voices, only Ishida noticed the change in Kyousuke. 

(…W-What’s with his tone? He didn’t speak like that before, did he?) 

Just as Ishida thought this, white light started to emanate from Kyousuke’s body. It was rising like steam. 

“…It’s been a while since I’ve activated my skill.” 

“Even though he’s a former C-rank, this guy’s broken!” 

“We’ll finish this quickly! Ishida!” 

“Y-Yeah!” 

As the two followers drew their swords and advanced, Ishida also activated his [Wood Magic] to attack Kyousuke. 

The three of them launched a simultaneous attack. They were thinking that there was no way Kyousuke could avoid it. 

“Too slow.” 

But in the instant they thought their attacks would land, Kyousuke vanished from their sight in the blink of an eye. 

“W-Where did he go!” 

“Don’t let him escape, find him—” 

“Do you think I’m running away?” 

“Ugh!?” 

Kyousuke appeared behind one of the followers. And with a swift slash of his sword, he deeply cut the follower’s back. It caused him to collapse. 

“…T-That was too fast!” 

“…Is this…senpai’s full power?” 

The remaining follower and Ishida were stunned by the overwhelming difference in strength. 

“Full power, you say? There’s still more to come. But this should be enough for you guys, right?” 

As Kyousuke spoke, the tip of his sword was undoubtedly aimed at the two of them.