Chapter 10

In the observation room, the gallery egged us on.

From the other side of the reinforced glass, I could hear the cheers of Kuroinu and Shakketsu.

It seemed that Getsuri, standing about 5 meters in front of me, was already prepared for battle.

The boss's voice echoed in the training room.

"Shiin, Getsuri.

I will explain the rules of the duel with stakes.

You win by rendering your opponent unable to fight. No weapons are allowed. No killing.

As a handicap, Getsuri is prohibited from using attacks with a power level of C or higher. No unlocking of restrictions."

Getsuri nodded.

There's a handicap?

Well, it doesn't matter. I have to end this in one hit or I'll definitely lose.

"The signal will be given by Roll."

"Huh? Me? ...Fine, whatever."

The microphone was passed from the boss to Roll.

Seeing this, I swallowed hard and fixed my gaze on Getsuri.

"Begin!"

Roll's voice.

—I turned that voice into a deafening sound.

But, in that instant, Getsuri had already covered her ears.

"What...!"

With a thud, Getsuri kicked off the ground and came right in front of me, catching my cheek.

My vision distorted, and I fell backward.

At that moment, the sounds I had been hearing disappeared.

The cheers of Kuroinu and the sounds outside the training room.

Now, the only sound I could hear was my own breathing.

"Ability lock.

I've locked your ability.

Now you have no chance of winning."

No way.

So easily...

"If it weren't for Roll's voice, my eardrums would have burst by now.

You were too focused on a quick win."

"Such... a..."

I stood up and took a step back.

When will my ability return...? I don't know.

I have to run around...

"Unfortunately, I won't let you escape."

My vision turned black.

I had simply closed my eyes. No, I was forced to close them.

And I couldn't open them.

My eyes were locked...

Thud, a strong step.

Immediately after, a shock to the back of my head.

When I realized it, I was crawling on the ground. Something was dripping. It was nosebleed.

I must have hit my nose on the floor.

I have no choice but to surrender...

"Why is someone like this Roll's partner!"

"Ugh!"

I was kicked in the stomach. I couldn't breathe for a moment, but I managed to stand up, swaying.

It's easy to stand up with my eyes closed.

But for some reason, it felt very difficult now.

Is standing up this hard?

I received another punch and fell on my butt.

The attacks didn't stop.

Blind, I grunted and continued to receive Getsuri's attacks.

I was kicked down and trampled as I crawled around.

"Hahahaha! Disappoint Roll!"

"Huff... Huff..."

I couldn't open my eyes, but I could feel they were swollen.

I was punched in the solar plexus, couldn't breathe, and rolled around.

"...What a boring man. Why... why...

It's no good. I'll kill you after all."

"Wh-what...?!"

Kill...? But you said no killing...!

Isn't that a foul!?

"Then die."

The moment I heard those words, something like an electric shock ran through my body.

I dodged Getsuri's attack with a backflip and stood up.

I immediately removed the suppression ring.

Thump, thump.

I heard that sound.

...This is the sound of my heart.

I can hear it. My ability has returned...

My eyes are still closed.

I can hear it.

I can hear everything. Even without sight. I understand.

Calm down... Calm down, me...

—Calm down and kill.

"You dodged well."

"...I can hear... your sound. Your heartbeat... your breathing."

I don't want to die...

If I don't, I have to kill the other person.

"It's a bluff.

There's no way my ability lock would be broken so quickly."

I dodged the uppercut kick by crouching and entered Getsuri's guard.

I couldn't see, but I imagined Getsuri's surprised face.

I brought my left hand in front of Getsuri's face and snapped my fingers.

"Ugh!"

I must have burst her eardrums... and knocked her out?

I grabbed Getsuri's hair and pushed her down.

There was no resistance, so I knew she was unconscious.

But I could still hear her heartbeat.

...I can't let her live.

Isn't she dangerous like this?

My vision was still dark, but it felt like I could see.

I took out a knife from the holder on my waist and grabbed Getsuri's hair again.

I heard the door to the training room open.

Then several people rushed in and headed toward us.

Not good, I have to kill her quickly...

Just as I was about to slash her throat with the knife, my right hand was firmly grabbed.

I dropped the knife.

I tried to pick it up with my left hand, but my left hand was also immobilized.

"That's enough, Shiin. You win."

It was the boss's voice.

When I opened my eyes, I was restrained by several people, including Roll.

They were all in combat stances, ready to subdue me instantly if I moved.

"...Why did you stop me? You didn't stop Getsuri when she tried to kill me."

"That's because I thought you could handle it.

I believed from the start that you would win."

It doesn't matter.

"If she tried to kill me, it's only fair that I can kill her, right?"

"No killing."

"I don't understand."

My body ached. I was beaten up so badly.

"Shiin, you won, so it's fine. Be patient. Getsuri will be sent back to the branch."

Roll said. I didn't take my eyes off Getsuri.

"Calm down, Shiin. Why are you so worked up?"

"...I'm calm. I'm not worked up."

"...I understand how you feel, but you'll face many situations where you might be killed. You'll also have to kill many people."

Roll said in a gentle voice.

But that's not it.

"I joined to avoid dying!"

I snapped my fingers with my thumb and middle finger.

A loud sound. I held back a bit.

Taking advantage of the hesitation of those restraining me, I picked up the knife and swung it at Getsuri's throat.

But before the blade could reach her, I felt a shock to my body.

Then, as I was slammed into the wall, my consciousness faded.

---

When I woke up, I was in Roll's bed. The scent of Roll tickled my nose.

My body didn't hurt. Kisen must have healed me.

I remembered what had just happened.

Is this trauma?

I'm too attached to life. I can't forgive someone who tries to kill me.

No, I get confused.

When I was attacked yesterday, I didn't feel anything. Maybe it was because Roll was there.

"Are you calm now?"

"I was confused, sorry."

I sat up and turned my gaze to Roll, who was sitting in a chair.

That's when I noticed the suppression ring on my finger.

"It can't be helped."

The sheets of the futon were slightly damp with my sweat. The pillow too.

"Sorry, I made the sheets wet with sweat. Should I wash them?"

"It's fine. Do you want some water?"

"Yeah, thanks."

I drank the water on the table and sat in the chair, thanking her.

I took out my phone from my bag.

It was past 8 o'clock.

Already this late.

"Here."

I finished the water and sat in the chair.

I took out a textbook from my bag.

"Hey, can you teach me now?"

Roll looked happy and brought a chair over.

---

My partner seems to be a pretty good person.

Sometimes she's rough and scary, but she's kind in her own way.

Honestly, I'm starting to fall for her.

Joking aside, it's been four days since the duel with Getsuri, and it's now Saturday.

Today, I came to the hideout for the first time in four days.

During those four days, I focused on studying and training.

Thanks to that, I'm already confident about the test.

And because I said so, Roll is taking me on a mission today.

This will be my first mission with a partner.

The mission is to "slay a Funeral Dragon."

Although it's a dragon, the Funeral Dragon is smaller and weaker compared to other dragons.

The development department issued the request because a Funeral Dragon's bone, which doesn't burn, had broken. Roll took on the request.

Most monster slaying requests come from the development department.

Sometimes the boss brings them through unofficial channels.

"Where are we going?"

"To Tsuhara Plateau."

Tsuhara Plateau. It's quite far.

The elevator dinged, and we arrived at the cafe.

Roll went to the master, and I headed to the entrance.

"Master, number 8. Mad Arrow."

"C-47. The third truck from the left."

"Thanks."

After her conversation with the master, Roll walked to the entrance.

The cafe was busy today. Most of the people were from the hideout, but it seemed to be a popular place.

"Let's go."

We left the hideout.

---

When we arrived at C-47, it was a restaurant parking lot.

Roll got into the third truck from the left as instructed and started the engine.

I got into the passenger seat of the truck.

"Can you drive this thing?"

"Sure."

The truck started and left the city.

---

Rotating Kitten.

That's the name of Roll's ability.

Roll was a chosen one.

There are few people in the world who possess "it."

Yes, ability duplication.

Roll has two abilities combined.

Together, they are called Rotating Kitten.

The first ability is the manipulation type "Limited Rotation."

Roll can rotate anything "once."

The rotation speed is at Roll's discretion, but there is an upper limit. There is no lower limit.

The range is "anything Roll touches."

Roll can choose which part of the touched object to rotate. However, touching the ground doesn't allow her to rotate people beyond it.

While there are limitations, there are many applications, which is why Roll is ranked sixth.

The second ability.

The enhancement type "Stray Cat."

It's an enhancement type like Kuroinu's, but it also has a special ability to psychologically attract people within range to Roll.

The ability's duration and stamina consumption are not very good, so Roll doesn't use it often.

And according to rumors, ... cat ears grow, and she becomes quite adorable.

I haven't seen it yet, but I really want to.

---

So, I was reminded of Roll's greatness.

Because the mission was completed before I even got there.

"Piece of cake."

Roll, driving the truck, said.

The dead body of the Funeral Dragon with its neck twisted was in the truck bed.

"Was there any point in me coming?"

"No. Study when we get back."

The truck sped through the plateau.

Roll drives quite dangerously.

At that moment, I thought I heard something from behind.

I listened carefully.

...What is that sound?

"Is something wrong?"

I lowered the window and looked back.

"!? What's that!"

Seeing "it," I quickly pulled my head back in.

"Roll! Something's coming!"

"Huh?"

"it" appeared in the rearview mirror.

It was a dragon much larger than the Funeral Dragon in the truck bed.

"Blade Dragon...! Bad luck!

I'll use the rocket engine! Shiin, brace for impact!"

"Wait! Are you serious?!"

Just as I braced for impact, there was a thud.

The scenery rushed by with a loud noise.

"Shiin! Check if it's still following us!"

The Blade Dragon had escaped the rearview mirror.

Its roar was drowned out by the noise.

I looked back out the window.

It's gone.

Roar!

The roar.

Looking up, I saw the Blade Dragon in the sky.

"Trouble! It's still following us!"

"Damn! I'll go out! Shiin! Drive!"

"Wait! What!?"

Roll opened the window and got out.

Panicking, I moved to the driver's seat and grabbed the steering wheel.

"Floor it!"

Hearing that from above, I slammed on the accelerator.