My Unique Skill [Gacha] Will Save the World - Episode 42: Encounter ①

Episode 42: Encounter ①

“…Kyousuke?” 

Rindou felt Kyousuke moving as he observed his position. 

That’s why he felt an odd sensation when Kyousuke’s voice and presence suddenly vanished. 

After cutting down the monster in front of him, Rindou looked back. But no one was there. 

“…Did something happen?” 

Though a hint of unease lingered, there were still many monsters around. He needed to focus on his own situation. 

“…I trust you, Kyousuke!” 

Rindou had once trusted Kyousuke. So he decided to continue believing in him until the end. He focused on the monster before him. 

——Whoosh! 

“Tch!?” 

However, things didn’t go as Rindou had planned. 

A knife was thrown from the side. And he narrowly dodged it. 

Though his stance was thrown off, there was no immediate follow-up. He managed to avoid danger. 

“…Who did that?” 

Glaring toward the direction the knife had been thrown from, Rindou raised his Gale Sword in defense. 

From the shadow of a large tree, a figure emerged. As it became clear who it was, Rindou clicked his tongue with a bitter expression. 

“Tch… Why the hell are you here, Gakuto?” 

“It’s ‘Gakuto-sama’, Rindou!” 

Both glared at each other, weapons raised. 

The knife that was thrown had clearly been aimed at Rindou’s head. In other words, Gakuto had intended to kill him. 

“Don’t you know it’s a serious crime for players to fight each other to the death!?” 

“I know it! That’s why I’ll just cover it up! By killing you, of course!” 

“What! …This guy’s lost it!” 

Rindou was now on high alert and sweating coldly. He had his reasons for being concerned. 

After abandoning his mission during the stampede, Gakuto had become a D-rank player. But his actual skills were undoubtedly at C-rank. 

Even though his skill was [Basic Swordsmanship], it had evolved into [Intermediate Swordsmanship]. Gakuto wasn’t an opponent Rindou could simply defeat. 

There was no sign of Kyousuke nearby, and Rindou couldn’t rely on the effects of his [Resonance] skill. 

Though Gakuto had abandoned his mission and run away, he’d likely faced more real-world battles than Rindou had. 

(Can I beat him in a direct fight? I’ll have to test it with a sword clash first—!?)

——Clang! 

A sudden jolt of thought interrupted his concentration. His body reacted instinctively to the imminent danger. 

The sound of metal echoed across the swamp. The shockwave blew dry leaves off the ground. 

“Ga-Gakuto!” 

“Not bad! But how far can you go with just [Basic Swordsmanship]!” 

Rindou’s expression darkened as he heard Gakuto’s overly confident voice. 

“How do you know about my skills!?” 

Player information is strictly managed by the Player Association. 

Since Rindou had allowed Ayane to attend his rank assessment, it wasn’t something just anyone could do. 

That’s why he found it odd that Gakuto knew about his skills. 

“Heh heh heh… Why do you think I’m here? It’s because of you! You’re the one who got me suspended for a month!” 

Gakuto was a big guy who wielded a greatsword. He used his size and skill to his advantage. 

Rindou had learned about Gakuto’s skill because Gakuto loved bragging about it. 

(Gakuto’s skill is definitely [Heavy Tank]! In direct combat, it’s an overwhelming skill!) 

The [Heavy Tank] skill increases physical ability as the user equips heavier armor. 

Gakuto’s armor was close to full plate. His greatsword helped him increase his weight even further. 

This only made his [Heavy Tank] skill even stronger. 

With increased physical strength, Gakuto could overpower an opponent, even one wielding a greatsword. 

If he were facing an average player, Gakuto would probably win by sheer force alone. 

“Yah, yah, yah, yahhh!” 

It seemed that Gakuto had mistaking Rindou’s skill for [Basic Swordsmanship]. He underestimated him and attacked with brute force. 

(If I’m going to counterattack, now’s my chance!) 

With precise timing, Rindou dodged Gakuto’s attacks. He was using just enough force to withstand them, waiting for an opening. 

However, he couldn’t keep this up for long. Even though he was deflecting the blows, the damage from each heavy strike was adding up. 

“Tch! You’re tough, aren’t you!?” 

Gakuto had expected to crush Rindou easily. He became frustrated by his resilience but didn’t change his approach. 

If it had been anyone else, Gakuto might have adjusted his strategy. But because he knew Rindou and saw him as an inferior, he stubbornly refused to change his mindset. 

With a tighter grip on his greatsword, Gakuto switched to using both hands. 

(Now!) 

Seeing Gakuto wind up for a heavy strike, Rindou launched at the peak of his [Intermediate Swordsmanship] speed. He unleashed his Gale Sword in a lightning-fast counterattack. 

——Clang!

“…Huh?” 

“…I never thought I’d have to use my trump card on someone like you! I’m going to kill you, Rindou!” 

The blade of Rindou’s Gale Sword had definitely slid into the joints of Gakuto’s full plate armor. 

However, all that could be heard was a high-pitched ringing sound. The attack didn’t give any impact on Gakuto at all. 

Then, with a grin, Gakuto’s greatsword was swung down toward Rindou’s head.