The Heroic Tale of the Weakest Ability User ~The F-Ranker with the Dual Pistols~ - Chapter 1: Episode 6.2

I woke up inside a medical capsule.

A sharp pain shot through both of my hands. My left hand was back, but my right hand was completely gone.

Dozens of bandages, an overwhelming number of IV drips.

Only now did I realize how intense the ranking match had been.

“Yuuuuuuu-brotheeeeeeer!”

I saw Yuu to my left. She was banging on the capsule with such force that all the medical equipment around me shook.

Since the capsule was completely sealed, the noise inside was unbearably loud.

“Hey! Shut the hell up, idiot!”

“I’m so glaaaaaaad! You’re aliiiiiveeeeeeeee!”

Ugh, gross. I’m leaving this chat. Yuu’s crying face was awfully ugly.

“Yuu! You’re alive? You could just die now, you know?”

Ken-sensei said this as she forcefully opened the capsule and hugged me tightly.

Urgh, I can’t breathe! M-my face! Her chest was pressing against my nose and mouth, completely cutting off my air supply.

I’m seriously gonna die here.

“Sensei! Giving Yuu-brother special treatment like this—it’s totally unfair as a teacher!”

Not wanting to lose, Yuu grabbed my leg and started pulling. What kind of torture is this?

It’s gonna rip! I’m literally about to be torn apart! My freshly stitched wounds are gonna get even worse!

“Shut up, you brats! I’ll knock you out!!!”

The school nurse, looking like an enraged demon, roared at us. I swear, I did nothing wrong here!

Since there were other injured people around, we had to cut the fooling around short.

Clearing her throat, Ken-sensei looked at me with warm eyes.

“Ahem! Anyway, congratulations on your first victory. You’ve officially reached D-rank.”

“Brother, congrats!”

“W-wait, I’m D-rank?! What do you mean? That’s skipping ranks, isn’t it?!”

I was so shocked that my wounded arm ached. Normally, ranks increase one at a time, right? What’s going on?

“Considering your performance against an A-rank opponent, I think it’s a fair assessment.”

She had a point. I had defeated Banjo Oya, even if he wasn’t the strongest in this academy.

Thinking back to just three months ago, it felt surreal—but it was real. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“S-speaking of which! When’s my next match?!”

This isn’t the time to be lazing around—I need to start preparing for the next fight…

“What are you talking about, Tasku-brother?! The next match is in a week!”

“And with your body in that state, you won’t be able to do much.”

That’s right. My left hand was barely functional, and my right hand was missing from the elbow down.

I wouldn’t even be able to fight properly.

Not wanting anyone to see me like this, I lowered my gaze and covered my face with my hand.

“Listen up. You don’t have an Ability Seal, the proof of being an ability user. That means you could choose to live as an ordinary person. For ability users, losing their right hand is equivalent to retirement. So, Yuu—will you continue living as an ability user, or will you carry that title while living as an ordinary person?”

She asked me in a concerned tone.

“What are you saying? Ken-sensei trained me so hard, and I’ve come this far. There’s no way I’m stopping now!”

I declared my decision.

“Actually, there’s an offer for you from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces. You’re no longer an ability user, so you don’t have to cling to that identity. How about starting fresh in a new environment?”

She tapped her cigarette against her palm as she tried to push the idea on me.

Japan’s Self-Defense Forces had transformed into a full-fledged military.

In a time when ability users ruled the battlefield, they had the latest anti-ability weapons and specialists like Ken-sensei.

“I think that’s a good idea too. You won’t even need to use abilities there. Though… that means I won’t get to see you anymore.”

Both of them looked downcast.

They knew me well, and they only wanted what was best for me…

It’s true that I didn’t have to obsess over my abilities anymore.

“Can you give me… some time to think?”

There was no need to rush this decision. I needed to think carefully.

“I understand. It was inconsiderate of me to ask right after that match. You don’t have to rush your answer. Take your time.”

Ken-sensei gently reassured me.

“Alright, I need to prepare for the next match. See you later, Yuu!”

“My boyfriend’s fighting, so I’ll be going too. See you later, Yuu-brother!”

Ken-sensei and Yuu both left.

How long would these wounds take to heal?

Lying down, I thought about that.

I stared at the ceiling and reflected on today’s battle.

That absurd sword technique, my own limitations as a powerless fighter, and the victory that cost me my right hand.

I stopped thinking.

What should I do for my next match? I couldn’t afford a prosthetic arm.

For some reason, I tried recalling my past before coming to this facility.

But I had no such memories.

Most likely, all the other kids here were the same as me.

As a child, I used to think it was sad to forget.

What kind of parents I had, what kind of life I lived, what kind of daily routines I followed—I remembered none of it.

As ability users, we were born to fight.

Our purpose was to protect Japan and defeat invaders.

If we were born as ability users, we had no future other than a life of battle.

I fell asleep while thinking.

Six hours later, I woke up.

Thanks to the facility’s top-tier medical capsule, all my minor wounds had completely healed.

But my right hand was still wrapped in bandages.

For the first time, I experienced what it was like to lose a hand.

If I were to keep fighting ability users as a powerless person, how would that turn out?

Things wouldn’t go as well as they did last time.

Maybe it really would be better to join the Self-Defense Forces, where I wouldn’t have to rely on abilities.

That actually seemed to suit me more.

I once read in a book that taking a walk helps when you’re struggling with decisions.

“Sensei, may I go for a walk?”

I asked the school nurse, who was tending to another student.

“I’d rather you rest, but… You look fine. If anything happens, come back immediately, alright?”

Her tone was much gentler compared to before.

She was quite old now, but her features showed that she must have been incredibly beautiful in her youth.

“Thank you.”

I stood up. I felt a bit dizzy at first, but I could walk without any problems.

By the time I reached the beach, the sun was beginning to set.

The soft orange clouds carried the coming darkness.

I watched the sunset, thinking it was beautiful.

Suddenly, I remembered Ken-sensei’s words.

“You don’t have to rush your decision.”

She was right.

I had seven months until graduation and one week until my next match.

There was no need to hurry.

I could take my time.

What was I even rushing for?

As if a fog had lifted from my mind, I felt a little more at ease.

I continued gazing at the sunset.

I had never looked at it so closely before, and I was amazed by its beauty.

Then, I noticed a black figure floating in the ocean.

Was that a person?

I focused my eyes—it was a person!

I had to save them!

I immediately pulled out my IV drip and swam toward the floating body.

Even though my body was still damaged from the battle, I pushed forward.

I felt exhausted, my entire body sluggish.

Somehow, I managed to pull the drowning person back to shore.

It was a small girl.

Her face was pale, and she was unconscious.

I pressed my ear against her chest to check for a heartbeat.

There was none.

She was beautiful—even in her lifeless state, I couldn’t help but admire her features.

But I pushed those thoughts away and immediately started performing CPR.

Damn it—why did I have to lose my right hand now of all times?

I kept going for ten minutes, pushing past my own physical limits.

My body was screaming.

Just as I was about to give up, she suddenly coughed, spewing seawater from her mouth.

Thank god—she was alive.

Relief washed over me, and I collapsed onto her chest.

“Cough cough… I can’t die yet… not until I finish Blade Fist Rumble…”

She muttered weakly.

Wait… Blade Fist Rumble? Wasn’t that some PC game?

Her face was finally regaining some color.

The absurdity of her words and my desperate struggle to save her made me laugh.

Well… at least she was alive.

“Just now, Adam and Eve have met. It seems the plan is progressing smoothly.”

Something was relaying the situation to another entity.

As soon as the words were spoken, holographic stone tablets began to appear one after another, surrounding the speaker.

“The preparations to guide them to the Golden Fruit are complete. We can proceed at any time, as planned.”

A voice belonging to an elderly woman, marked with the number 03, conveyed this message.

“Due to last month’s changes in the plan, the summoning ritual of the Great Serpent will require another month.”

Following suit, 02 reported.

“Well, there’s no need to rush. There’s still time before Judgment Day.”

04 spoke in a calming tone.

“Our plan is almost at its final stage. Adam, Eve—what kind of story will you show us…?”