Chapter 43

[???? PoV]

As I finished paying the cashier and started exiting the store, my phone began to ring.

I reached into my pocket and let out a sigh as I saw the caller ID: Glutton.

"What, Itsuki?" I answered in annoyance, already guessing the reason for her call.

"So, did you get it?" Itsuki asked enthusiastically.

"Yes, I got it, don't worry about it."

"Are you sure? Last time, you got me the sour one instead of the sweet one. And you know I hate the sour one."

I couldn't help but groan upon hearing her. "Yes, I got you the sweet one."

"You better. I know you got me the sour one on purpose last time just to annoy me. So please, I'm really craving it," I could practically hear her pouting.

"What, are you pregnant or something, suddenly having cravings?" I scoffed.

Suddenly, I detected mana rush over and sweep right through me with great force, causing me to hold onto my bag and phone tightly.

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!" A woman suddenly screamed and started running away with fear in her face.

A few feet ahead of me, the space started collapsing, and a giant red leg stepped out from the growing blue portal.

"A Gate," I muttered.

"Hey, what's wrong!? What was that screaming? And did you mention a Gate–"

Itsuki's voice started growing distant as my own breathing grew heavier.

It's just like that time, back to when I was little... a dungeon break. My body couldn't help but freeze as memories rushed back, back to when I was a little girl.

After that one dungeon break incident during our family vacation, we all developed a bit of trauma. I just so happened to be the one who had the strongest trauma of us all. After all, I still can't get over the fact... the fact that he sacrificed himself for us.

I watched helplessly as a monster with one eye rushed out with a club in hand and swung it towards a man trying to run away.

I watched as the man exploded into millions of pieces, blood flying everywhere.

My hands grew shaky, and I dropped my phone, Itsuki's cries disappearing.

I started feeling sick as I watched that happen and saw the Cyclops licking his club, wiping away the blood.

The Cyclops set his eyes towards me, sending a shiver down my spine that woke me from my frozen state.

As soon as my body allowed, I turned and started running, using all the power I had. Just before running away, I saw more Cyclopes exiting the gates.

If I had my Katana with me, maybe I would have steeled my nerves and fought, but I don't. Who brings their sword out when they're shopping!

I could feel my eyes growing teary as I felt the ground shaking and heard the heavy steps of the Cyclops chasing after me.

I heard the sound of explosions going off behind me and the cries of people asking for help.

The sound of the giant footsteps grew closer and closer. Just as I heard it behind me, I jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the club that hit where I once stood.

The street cracked apart due to the monster's strength. The Cyclops turned its head and looked at me with its unblinking eye.

I turned around and got back up from the ground, but before I could make any progress, I felt a giant hand grab my legs, picking me up upside-down, causing my headphones to drop from my neck.

"No! No! No! It's got me!"

I tried to move my legs, but it was too strong. The Cyclops lifted me up and spiked me to the ground. I coughed up blood as I felt some of my bones break.

Tears ran down my cheeks. This is the end, this is where I die... but I don't want to die... please... someone... save me.

Just then, I remembered back to when I was little, remembering how valiantly the little boy stood up against the Ogre. I can still remember his words...

"Oi! Why don't you pick on someone your own size!"

Yes, he said that... but he sounded younger... wait.

I quickly realized those words weren't a product of my imagination; they were real.

I saw the Cyclops turn to look at whoever was calling towards him. In the sky, I saw a silhouette appear in the middle of the sun. He twirled a spear around above him before diving down at a supernatural pace, plunging the spear right through the Cyclops' eye.

As the Cyclops was brought down, a smokescreen of dust enveloped the area.

That voice... those words... even though it sounds older, I can still detect a hint of it from when I was younger.

I watched his silhouette in the dust as he pulled out the spear, and I heard the squelching of blood. Slowly, I picked myself up but couldn't stand fully, sitting on the ground was all I could manage.

I observed as he flicked his spear, wiping away the blood, and then flicked it again, causing all the dust to be swept away, allowing me to get a good look at him.

He had black hair styled in a bowl-cut with bangs swept to the right, and his yellow-gold eyes stared down at me, examining me. A black lightning mark ran from the bottom of his right eye down to his chin.

He wore a tight black long-sleeve shirt that displayed his muscles, white shorts, and tight black leggings connected to his shorts.

He leisurely rested his spear on one shoulder, and over the other shoulder was a little girl with a bored expression.

She had white-lavender hair topped with a black ribbon and... horns?

Normally, I would have continued observing his appearance or the little girl with horns, but that wasn't what caught my attention.

It was his yellow-golden eyes. Although his hair used to be blond and spiky... and his voice sounded older... his eyes were the same... he's... he's...

I saw his eyes studying my face, and they widened. I imagine mine did too...

"Miku?"

"Futarou?"

We called out to each other simultaneously…

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A/N: And I'm going to leave it there… 🤣 hehehehehehe. I think that's the perfect place to end it, don't you guys think so as well lmao.

Anyways here's a picture of Miku, THE BEST WIFEY, and my favorite one. The one the OG Futarou fumbled.

[Image]