novelraw Chapter 233 – How else would the Bond Skill Work?
Chapter 233 – How else would the Bond Skill Work?
“Whew…” We escaped through the underground lot, broke some stuff on our way out, and drove off in a car they had parked nearby. I finally get a second to catch my breath.
“Ahhh… I missed being free…” I said. “I can’t wait to get outside and just jump around like a child.”
“You can’t, Iroha.” Narumi grabbed my headrest from behind. The van had exactly eight seats, so we were packed pretty tightly. Carol and I were in the middle line with Katja between us. Ririna was up front, and others were in the back. “We have to hide now… We’re not being chased, but they’re definitely keeping track of our location through cameras… It won’t be that easy from now on.”
“*Sigh…* I figured… What are we gonna do from now on? Live while on the run?”
“Do you really think we’d be able to handle that?” Carol asked. “That’s a recipe for disaster. We’d get caught eventually. We got a hideout instead. We’re going to stay there until… Forever, maybe… I don’t know.”
“Hmm… A hideout… Sounds kinda cool…” What kind of place is it? I can’t wait… “Seriously, though, thank you all so much… I can’t believe you went as far as to attack the PSF for me. Uhmm… You did it for me, right?”
“Nah. We did it for the love of the game. What do you think, genius?” Carol’s as cute as always… I lunge in and kiss her if my legs weren’t jelly.
“Nyahahahaha! No wonder she always calls you an idiot. Of course we did it for you!” Sarasa leaned forward and tried to hug me around the seat. “There’s no way we would abandon our lovely girlfriend.”
“You’re too much… I’m gonna hug you all so much when we’re safe!” It’s been so long… I was able to withstand the psychological pain of being separated, but being reunited makes me so happy… I wanna hug them! I wanna hug them all so badly! Just a little longer… Let’s get everyone to safety first…
Hecate was the one behind the wheel, which wasn’t how the House usually worked. The one who usually drove was the girl between me and Carol with bloody bandages around her abdomen.
“Do we have time?” I asked. “What happened to Katja? How did she get so injured?”
Hecate glanced at the rearview mirror with a somber look. “Her injuries were self-inflicted… We were ambushed by a group of soldiers, and she stabbed herself to defeat them. I wish I could tell you why…”
“She started moving faster and got stronger afterwards. I actually thought she knew what she was doing… Apparently not.” Sarasa said.
“Hmm…” She got faster and stronger from hurting herself? “Doesn’t that sound like magic? Did Katja learn a skill from the other world?”
Reia nodded. “There were skills that cost HP in the game.”
She thinks so too…? Those skills usually do an attack in exchange, but we can assume that there may be a way to exchange one’s life for attack power.
“Did any of you notice any changes with her? Did she do anything unusual before today?”
“Uhmm… Miyuki had her training in the other world the other day. She seemed kinda crazy when she came back.” Carol said.
“Miyuki?” Miyuki trained Katja? What is she even doing talking with them? Let’s not get sidetracked though. “What kind of training?” Carol looked over her shoulder to Sarasa in response.
“You don’t wanna know… It was… Ughh… I don’t really know how to explain… It was disgusting?” Sarasa pondered. “She asked me to take her where some monsters were, then taught her how to be… cruel… or something? I didn’t really get it.”
“Huh… Sounds like… a very unusual type of training…” Guess Miyuki helped them. I’d rather she not teach them weird things, though… Why would she teach Katja how to be cruel? What’s the point…? Somehow, that let her unlock a skill that strengthens her in exchange for hurting herself… It’s kinda similar to Carol’s crown then… Carol’s crown is related to a bond skill, isn’t it…? Does that mean…
[??? ?? ??????]
“Oh no…” I thought the VISS Driver could clarify what happened to her, but it’s too broken… I can’t navigate any menus…
But I still remember the notification I got… I got a skill saying I could heal the self-inflicted wounds of the Sword of Violence. That’s probably the skill that Katja got… The only question is how.
“Hmm…” Carol, Hecate, Sarasa, Ririna… What’s the best way to say this…? “Hey, can I kiss Katja?”
“…” They blinked at me. The car almost swerved off the road. “Huh?!”
“Damn you, Iroha… Damn you damn you damn you damn you damn you…” Carol ground her teeth. “You meant everything you said in the dojo, didn’t you? You damn cheater!”
“Wh-!? No! I mean… Yeah, I did mean it… Sorry… I mean… That’s not why!” She reached for my collar, but I grabbed her wrists in self-defense. “I may be able to heal her with a kiss!”
“Don’t make stuff up!” Sarasa shook my seat. “Since when are you able to do that, hmm? You just wanna smooch another girl, don’t you? Smooch me instead!”
“Stay in your own lane, you dang cat!” Whether intentionally or not, Sarasa pulled Carol’s aggro off me. Applauses for the rogue.
“It probably only works with Katja. I imagine it has something to do with the training Miyuki gave her.”
“What? Kicking puppies gets you more kisses? I’ll be right back!” Sarasa started tugging on her seat belt to reach for the door. Now Narumi had to hold her in place.
“Damn, Miyuki… What kind of training did you give her…” I muttered to myself. “I’m serious though… She’s not in good condition, is she? I got a skill that should let me heal one of you. Has anyone else gotten any strange abilities recently? Raise your hand if that’s you.” That shut them up. If there’s really a skill like that, Katja’s obviously the lucky one. They bit their lips and stayed quiet.
“It’s worth a shot. I’m gonna do it.” I grabbed Katja’s shoulder and brought my face closer to hers. There’s no proof that my skill activates via a kiss. But they didn’t need to know that…
“Katja…”
I pressed my lips against hers and closed my eyes. Even in her state, her lips were warm. A faint glow made it through the bandages in her abdomen. Katja’s shoulders relaxed, and the painful expression I saw before I closed my eyes was gone.
“How’s that…?” I asked.
“Wo- wow… I think that did it… She’s looking much better!” Ririna said.
“Tsk… How convenient… For both you and her. What now? Are you going to start dating her too? Am we going to have to share you with yet another girl?”
“Well…” Personally, I wouldn’t mind, but… “Probably not… I doubt Katja would be interested in that.”
“Right… You didn’t see her acting like a maiden head over heels.” Carol rolled her eyes.
“She what? Are you being serious?” I leaned over to grab Katja’s cheek. “Hey! Katja! Can you hear me? Wake up! This is very important!”
“You’re so shameless… You’re not even trying to hide it.” Sarasa grinned.
“Too shameless… You’re so going to have to make it up to us…” Carol said.
“Ahh…” I pulled back my hand. Katja didn’t wake up. And they caught me in the act… “In my defense, I’ve been stuck in a cell alone for over two weeks… It’s only natural that I’d be a bit lonely.”
“Oh… You’re lonely… Is that it?” Carol brought her face right up to me. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? Since I’m your GIRLFRIEND, I should be the first person you’d come to with that problem, right? I’m the one who’s supposed to help with that.”
“Don’t try to get ahead! You’re not her only option!” Sarasa reached over the seat for a hug. “I’m here too! I can take care of all that pent up loneliness you’re feeling and make you feel really good… With my fingers.”
“Fingers?!” Ririna asked.
“*Sigh…* Sarasa, I don’t think anyone was implying anything quite that far…” Hecate said.
“Huh? We’re still not doing that? Even after such a close call?”
“Of course not, you perverted cat!” Carol grabbed her wrists to pry her off me. “Don’t assume we’re all as depraved as you are. Stay in your own lane!” There they go, starting another fight. Salute to the cat for drawing aggro once more.
However…
In my state, I may be as depraved as Sarasa… I was too embarrassed before, but right now… If they were serious… I don’t know if I could say no…
We have gotten really close, haven’t we?
Being away is only making me more aware of them now. If I’m going to be trapped in a tiny box, I’d rather be inside this chaotic car than in a cell. In fact, I’d love to spend the rest of my life surrounded by them…
While we messed around in the back, Hacete had taken us to the southern part of Three Records. We were now very far from what people considered the heart of the city, but we were still in a very dense area. Denser than where the House was. Three Records was huge and felt like it had different cities inside the city.
She left one of the big roads and stopped at a alley without turning off the car.
“We’re here…” She said. “The six of you head out and go to the hideout. Ririna and I will act like we’re leaving Three Records before getting rid of the car.”
Carol, Sarasa, and Narumi took off their seatbelts and got out. They worked together to help Reia out and to carry out Katja.
“What about you two?”
“We’ll come back on foot.” Ririna said.
That’s a lot of walking… “Is that safe? What if you get caught? They gotta have people out in the streets by now…”
“In cars, right? We’ll actually be harder to find on foot.” Hecate shrugged. “Don’t worry, Iroha. You go to the hideout and rest. We talked it over with the others, and this is our safest option. Especially if Miyuki’s predictions are to be believed.” Miyuki again…
“Alright then…” I stepped out of the car. “I’ll see you soon.”