<h1>Compelled to Act (2)</h1>
Regrets fill my mind, as I realized the gap of fighting an opponent 3 Levels above me, for the first time. Even though my desire to acquire a special item was high, it would have been better had I avoided this monster.
The monster had paralyzed me and I was utterly helpless now. Not being able to move my knife or defend myself was a death sentence. Hopefully, I was wishing for the defense mechanism of the dungeon to activate.
Did it realize my spirit’s been broken?
The Jack-O-Lantern raised its laugh to ridicule me further.
“Total Defeat…. That’s what I get for underestimating my enemy… I guess.”
The words resounded in my mind as I dazedly looked up. Towards my unsteady gaze, the Jack-O-Lantern posed its mouth to fire once again.
But before it could shoot its seed, it was interrupted by something else entirely.
The Giant Jack-O-Lantern’s body shook in surprise, not caring about me further it tried to turn around.
Wait! What, what’s going on….?
Bewildered by the Giant Jack-O-Lantern abrupt intelligible actions, all of a sudden I heard a familiar voice.
“Saino, don’t worry I’m here to save you! Hey Ugly face! Look at me you dumb pumpkin!”
My eyes grew wide the moment I heard Harumachi-Sensei’s voice from behind the Laughing Jack-O-Lantern. Listening closely, I heard something burning. Out of my view, Sensei was searing the back of the Jack-O-Lantern with a flaming torch.
Mustering all the strength I had left; I grasped my knife with both hands and thrust it deep into the orange monster’s body. Might be the heat helped me awaken back to my senses and break the paralysis.
Distracted by Sensei’s relentless fiery attack and my deep strike, the Laughing Jack-O-Lantern cried out in surprise.
Pouring my whole body and soul into my blade, I carve it into my enemy. Burrowing my blade deep into the Jack-O-Lantern’s forehead, and that’s when ―
The Laughing Jack-O-Lantern cries out its’ death throes while bursting into particles of light. And almost immediately these particles of light are absorbed back into the labyrinth’s surroundings, disappearing without a trace.
All that was left, was the treasure chest, Sensei, and myself.
Sensei still held the torch in hand, but her body was trembling.
"Sensei…… Thank you for your help."
Sitting on the ground, I stir myself to bow towards Sensei as I massaged the pain around my chest. I definitely couldn’t defeat it on my own. Our victory just now was all due to Sensei’s assistance.
But Sensei wasn’t too thrilled with my response, rather she ran towards me with a hug, tears streaming down her eyes.
“Saino, you……… YOU IDIOT!…”
Something bounced against my chest…
It’s so soft and it feels warm.
I didn’t consciously realize it, but I could feel Sensei hugging me tightly as I could finally relax. Cradling me so strongly, with a tearful voice Sensei calls me an idiot. It was just so cute that something within me awakened, literally.
“WHY, why did you do something so dangerous?”
“I don’t know what to say, this is how things go inside a labyrinth.”
“That’s not a good reason, you idiot……..”
After hearing my reply, Sensei calls me that again all the way tightening her hold over me. Going with the flow of things I sighed while reflecting. I seemed to have worried her quite a lot. Having seen what struggles I went through, and the life-threatening situation I was in just now had it not been for sensei’s help, it’s obvious.
Sensei continues to harp on me and scold me for my actions, unrelenting while also picking at my faults. But her embrace on me never loosened during her tirade. Listening to her reprimand me, I was lulled into thinking various strange thoughts.
Could Sensei really be…… I wonder if she has feelings for me?
Being held tightly and scolded seemed to last forever. I don’t think this would be something a teacher would do just for a student. Sensei was deeply worried as she really cared about me.
That was how it felt to me at least.
“Are you listening to me, Saino? I’m really angry with you!”
“Yeah yeah, I’m listening…” I jerked.
Did she realize I wasn’t paying attention? Because she put a little more strength into her hold.
I replied back to her, but in a way, I was truly happy to be held tightly by Sensei. Even after that exchange, Sensei continued to lecture me. And when 30 minutes had passed she finally allowed me to rest.
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