「But, this is too much.」
The men once again surrounded Reina. That scene was blurred due to Airi's tears.
She was despaired and lonely. She had no ally in this place.
But, that sorrow was only the beginning.
「Oi Airi, apologize to Reina-chan!」
「Apologize for suddenly slapping her like that!」
「No matter how you look at it, you're in the wrong Himeno.」
Those words pierced deep into Airi's heart, it was as if they were delivering judgement to a sinner. Those cold judgement sent a shiver down her spine and continued to her entire body as if she got electrocuted by lightning.
Airi had no idea why they blamed her. Yes, she really had no idea of their logic leap.
She almost died in the previous battle. Even now, she could still see the shadow of gore with its jaw wide open, trying to bite her. She thought that she really was going to die back then.
That's why she asked for help.
And yet, Reina single-mindedly rejected her plea. She abandoned her even though she had the power to protect her. No, seeing the situation at that time, it was more like indirect murder rather than rejection.
I'm wrong? Screw that, Reina was in the wrong since she didn't save me!
But, I couldn't say so. My chest hurt, breathing became so painful for me that I couldn't even speak properly.
「YOU'RE AT FAULT FOR SLAPPING REINA-CHAN!」
「JUST APOLOGIZE AND GET OVER WITH IT ALREADY!」
Every single one of their judgement pierced Airi's heart like a sharp blade.
WHYWHYWHYWHYWHY―― I WASN'T IN THE WRONG!!
「Please wait a minute, everyone, calm down! Himeno-san’s mind is still unstable after the battle from befo――」
Airi didn't want to hear anything anymore.
Reina kept weeping since a while ago without even reflecting on her action. Even Yamada and the Totem Pole Trio were only blaming Airi for what she did to Reina instead of asking for the reason. Airi turned a deaf ear to Yamajun's attempt to calm everyone. His attempt was only the most rational choice he chose in this kind of situation, yet none of them, be it Reina, Yamada, the trio, or even Airi herself wanted to hear what he said.
This was the limit of Airi's patience. Moreover, you are the one in wrong, so why should I apologizing to y――
「OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!」
Thus, Airi raised a mad cry as she ran from that place. No, she escaped from them. She escaped from the cruel reality that had been haunting her.
She escaped from the bad situation.
「Eh, wait, stop, Himeno-san!」
Yamajun was extremely surprised upon seeing Airi run off since everything happened way too fast. By the time he was trying to go after her, her shadow had already vanished in the dark forest.
「Wait, please come back, Himeno-san!」
It went without saying what would happen to her if she wandered alone by herself in the dungeon. But the current Airi had completely forgotten about that, the only thing she wanted to do right now was get away from Reina as far as possible.
That's why she couldn't help but run as if she was in desperation. She didn't even care about looking back, she just escaped in despair and rage―― and yet, her survival instinct still wriggled, she refused to die.
Airi finally regained her composure once she heard the cries of raptor approaching her.
But it was already too late.
「Hii… no… someone… someone.」
When she was looking around, she realized that she was alone in this jungle. No one could hear her voice, no one would save her.
It was the monsters who came for her instead. She heard the cries of raptors from her surrounding.
「A, aaaaah… noooooooooooo, impossible, this is impossible!」
Once she reached this stage, Airi finally saw the reality.
She could only blame herself for running away due to the unbearable mental anguish, which resulted in her placing herself in this dangerous situation.
The combat skill that Airi retained after she changed job from 『Healer』 to 『Succubus』 was only 『Lux Sagitta』 which she rarely used. Therefore, she simply couldn't survive by herself. That's why she was currying favor with powerful men by using her body.
And yet, even those said men ended up abandoning her. Official source is ɴovelfire.net
Maybe the monster already knew that Airi was easy prey. These could be the survivors of the crowd of monsters that attacked Airi's party a while ago.
The raptors were starting to appear in front of Airi from the green thickets.
「H-HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!?」
She was being surrounded from all sides. Well even if she wasn't, she had no way to win against the monster.
Facing the true crisis of absolute death right in front of her, Airi's mind went blank. She felt as if she was deprived of her everything to the point that she didn't even have the willpower left to curse Reina.
Ah, so this is the end. Surprisingly, she had calmed down as soon as she realized that she would die.
That moment, a raging crimson flame spread out in front of her. The vivid, red flame swallowed the raptors seemingly about to jump at Airi at any moment.
「KYOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
「HAAAAAAAAAAAH――『Blazer』!」
In the blink of the eye, consecutive sword strikes sounded from the other side of the blazing flame. The raptors raised loud cries upon seeing the arrival of a new opponent. The blade danced slaughtering one raptor after another, swift and precise as if the user was dancing in the middle of rain of blood.
「KIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
The raptors who felt that the intruder was far too dangerous for them wasted no time and escape at once. After all of the monsters fled, the flame that was burning the thickets weakened, and died out.
And then, Airi saw a lone figure standing on the other side of the flame wall, like a mirage.
「Ah, uhm… are you okay, Airi?」
The one who gave that slightly awkward, and idiotic greeting was a certain glasses boy.
Thus, the 『Succubus』 Himeno Airi returned to her original party with the 『Magic Swordsman』 Nakajima Haruma.
TN : Cursed by Karma and Back to Original party… there's no more soap drama next week!