My Unique Skill [Gacha] Will Save the World - Episode 46: Encounter ⑤

Episode 46: Encounter ⑤ 

“…Hah, hah… Damn it all!”  

Breaking free from the muck, Gakuto gasped for air. He slammed his fist against a nearby tree.  

With a loud *crack*, the tree splintered halfway through and toppled to the ground.  

Standing beside him was the man with the skill [Hearing Enhancement]. He was accompanied by a cage holding a captured monster at his feet.  

“Hey! Yatsugiri!”  

“Y-Yes?”  

The man was addressed as Yatsugiri. He flinched and responded timidly.  

“Why the hell didn’t you help me out?”  

“Well, I had to keep watch over this thing, so—”  

“Don’t give me excuses!”  

“Gah!?”  

Gakuto was consumed by rage. He punched Yatsugiri in the face.  

The blow was fueled by his [Heavy Tank] skill. It was devastating. If Yatsugiri hadn’t been a player, the bones in his face would have shattered completely.  

That didn’t mean he escaped unscathed, though. The metallic taste of bl00d filled his mouth, and it was clear his cheekbone had at least fractured.  

“…Ugh… ngh… why?”  

“Got something else to say? Huh?”  

Yatsugiri groaned in pain. But as Gakuto loomed closer, he was glaring with an intensity that could kill. Yatsugiri flinched again and shook his head desperately.  

“Good. As long as you get it!”  

“Gah!”  

Even so, Gakuto delivered a sharp kick to Yatsugiri’s stomach. It caused him to curl up in pain. He was barely able to endure.  

“Now! Use that precious hearing skill of yours and find Rindou’s location!”  

“…A-Alright…”  

Bleeding from his mouth, Yatsugiri endured the pain and activated his skill.  

“…..They’re heading…… south.”  

“Huh? You trying to set me up or something?”  

South led further into the swamp’s depths. The deeper one ventured, the stronger the monsters became. Hearing that Rindou and the others were moving further in instead of retreating made Gakuto suspicious of Yatsugiri’s motives.  

“I swear it’s true! I don’t know why, but they really are heading deeper in!”  

Yatsugiri could only plead desperately, as he was telling the truth.  

“Tch! What a hassle.”  

Gakuto didn’t trust him entirely. But hearing the panic in Yatsugiri’s voice, he decided to believe him for now. However, a wicked grin spread across Gakuto’s face as he spoke again.  

“…Hey, Yatsugiri.”  

“Y-Yes, Gakuto-san?”  

“Take this monster and head into the swamp’s depths yourself.”  

“…W-What?”  

Yatsugiri’s [Hearing Enhancement] wasn’t suited for combat. His only practical use was scouting. And in a swamp filled with agitated monsters, the idea of venturing deeper alone was essentially a death sentence.  

“Use that thing’s power to rile up the monsters. That’ll bring him back here soon enough.”  

“N-No! I can’t do it! I’ll die out there alone!”  

Yatsugiri’s terror of death overwhelmed his ability to choose his words carefully. And he desperately protested.  

“Then—do you want to die here instead?”  

“Ah!”  

Gakuto’s cold, disdainful glare and the way his hand tightened around his greatsword; It sent a shiver down Yatsugiri’s spine.  

“F-Fine! I’ll do it! I’ll go by myself, so please spare me!”  

Even though pain wracked his body, Yatsugiri forced himself upright, grabbed the cage, and prepared to leave.  

“Kishaaaaahhh!“

The monster in the cage let out a menacing cry. But to Yatsugiri, Gakuto was far scarier.  

“Get moving!”  

“Y-Yes!”  

“Gisha! Gigi-Gishaah!!”

Dragging the cage as it shook violently, Yatsugiri sprinted as fast as his legs could carry him. He avoided monsters and headed deeper into the swamp.  

(…Damn it… Damn it, damn it, damn it! I won’t let it end like this! I’ll get my revenge—on Rindou and on Gakuto!)  

And so, Yatsugiri swore revenge in his heart.