ONLINE GAMERS {ARC 1 CHAOS IN ASTRAL CITY} CHAPTER 5

Tsurugi Kimiko and Satou Rin had met only a couple of hours ago. Rin was on her way to the prestigious all-girls school Mirai high, and Kimiko just happened to be lost.

It was a chance encounter.

Destiny perhaps.

Maybe not destiny but still...

There was no way Rin could have predicted that helping a lost child could lead to all this, trouble.

Rin heaved an exhausted sigh.

How much trouble was she going to be in at the end of all this? Rin's mind was a mess of worries. All the while Kimiko was unperturbed by her actions or any future consequences that might come from them.

And just outside the building Defense, (the city's most powerful protection system) was waiting.

In the colossally huge building known as the world tower, in the otherwise large lobby, the two girls were the only ones left standing. The girls were surrounded on all sides by fallen guards and rabble.

A few seconds ago, they had been a battle here, well, maybe not a 'battle', anyone who had seen the actual thing, would have understood that it was—to one sided to be called a battle.

It was a dreadful sight.

Rin had witnessed as this so called 'battle' took place. Just thinking about how Kimiko had effortlessly disposed of over a hundred guards without even breaking a sweat gave Rin the chills.

The level nine player, Tsurugi Kimiko.

Rin shuddered as she pondered on what kind of existence the child that stood—grinning in front of her was.

“Haaah, I'm truly disappointed are these really the best guards in the city? They can't be, their just so weak.”

Or maybe you're too strong brat!

“…I can already hear her complaining about this.” Rin whispered, to no one in particular.

She was a player, maybe one of the strongest players in the whole world. But to Rin, Kimiko was far more than just that. This was the girl she found lost on the streets; in her eyes Kimiko was someone who needed directions.

But still, regardless of how much Rin wanted to guide her, fear still churned her stomach. Deep down Rin was terrified of Kimiko.

Was she wrong for fearing her?

Then again who wouldn't be afraid? She was arrogant, powerful and operated completely on her own whims.

Unbeknownst to the petite level nine Rin's mental anguish intensified. The only thing on her mind was boredom.

Kimiko was utterly disappointed.

These arrogant fools had the gall to block my path... And with what? Pieces of junk not even capable of drawing the faintest bit of excitement from me. How boring. At least bring something more entertaining if you wish to oppose me.

“Well...someone looks bored.” Rin said.

“Can you blame me none of these fools were even worth the trouble! Not a single one! I was expecting some Moner come of excitement! I wanted to at least have some fun myself! But none of them could challenge me—waaahh! This is the worst!”

Kimiko was flailing her arms in the air throwing a tantrum. The two long twin-tails on her head spun up and down as she violently bobbed her head up and down, her emerald eyes threatened to let out tears of disappointment.

An exasperated looking Rin watched the little meltdown with a sigh.

Kimiko exposed her bare feelings of boredom to the obviously annoyed Rin, without a lick of trepidation or the slightest bit of reservations about her dignity.

“What a child...she's kind of...cute, though.” Rin muttered so silently that Kimiko failed to hear it. All of her earlier haughtiness had disappeared now that it was just the two of them.

“No fools could ever hope to defeat me that would be the height of ignorance! Yes, trying to even lay a scratch on me would be fatal! But—waaah! They could try and keep me entertained damn it!”

She was waving her petite butt back and forth complaining about how boring things had been for her.

For a second Kimiko thought she heard Rin call her, “Cute.”

Realizing she was shaking her butt and flailing her arms around like an idiotic child, the twenty-two-year-old Ayano Kimi took hold of her avatars chubby round cheeks and pinched them so tightly it burned.

Stupid body don't go around making me look like an idiot! What am I thinking!? Stupid Akari this is your fault! Turning me into a stupid child, now this! When I see you, I swear I'll—

“W-what are you doing?” Rin asked the child whom was pinching herself so hard that she was on the verge of tears.

She was glaring at Rin who stepped back after locking eyes with the glowing red eyed child.

<< emotion effect>>

Kimiko drew closer an evil sadistic smile on her face.

“Ehe heh hehe... Rin chaaan,” The red eyed level nine cackled. Her twin tails were standing straight up like horns, “y-you just thought I was cute, now riiiiight?”

“W-who...who would think a brat like you is cute!?” She feigned ignorance before admitting the truth. “Well...maybe, you were, a little--ow! Ow! Hey! Stop pinching my cheeks!”

She reached out with both arms to pinch Rin. She was shorter than Rin so she had to stand on her tippy toes the whole time.

“I'm not cute! I'm powerful and strong!” Kimiko declared, “I'm stroong!”

“Ow! —Yeaah sure juust let go of mee!”

After a little bit, and after getting a chop on the head from Rin, Kimiko steadied her breath and flashed a wide grin.

“Enough of this, it is time to head off and take down this city's supposed ruler.” She said with a wide stance and a bump on her head.

“Mmm...” Rin replied pensively. In all honesty she was still unsure of how to respond.

“Aha! Ha! Haha!” Kimiko laughed.

She raised her hand to the sky. A large distortion in space appeared, out of it came a massive red dragon.

Its body was ten times larger than any human, on each side were massive thick claws that could rend a truck, instead of skin this creature was coated in thick red scales and a jaw that was adapted to breathe fire.

“???!”

Rather than take the elevator at the bottom floor, Kimiko had decided to summon a big red dragon to carry them all the way up to the top floor. Why? This only served as a reminder to Rin how dangerous Kimiko really was.

Kimiko gave the dragon an order to take them up safely, and so the two girls sat on the back of the colossal creature.

The dragon flew straight up crashing through all the walls above blocking its path.

Rin had been thinking of ways to ask the small bratty kid why she wanted to take over the city.

But...

Something stopped her.

Fear.

They crushed straight through the top floor, and were now standing in a large finely decorated hallway. The two girls were ten or so meters away from the door leading to the head/administrator of the city.

“Let's go little girl. Perhaps this person sitting at the very top will provide me with some minor level of excitement. Sigh. Though, honestly, I doubt it.”

“S-sure.”

The dragon summoned by the petite girl vanished leaving only a large hole in the floor.

She began to walk towards the door, Rin accompanied her.

Rin began to think about her situation and her companion, sure she hadn't killed any of the guards at the bottom floor, but she still had the power to--and that was frightening.

Tsurugi Kimiko had power, she was something Rin could never hope to comprehend.

Earlier she thought Kimiko was just a lost child who needed help finding her way, but the situation had become increasingly more complicated.

There was just no telling what the bratty girl was capable of, sure she had enough power to become head of the city, and the current head wasn't particularly great, but what about Kimiko? Was she going to be any better? What were her motives?

At the very least Rin wanted to believe she was just a simple-minded kid, but—

Is that really true?

“Hey, don't stare at me with such distasteful eyes, it upsets me to be looked at that way by you...”

Kimiko looked a little saddened as she spoke.

Rin's heart felt like it had been stabbed by a dozen tiny needle, seeing the small brat sad, for some reason made her feel awful, she never wanted to see that girl sad—a part of her was still scared of Kimiko—but her fear lost way to her other feelings.

“Ah, I'm Sorry—Umm hey... Can you tell me the reason why you wanna be head of the city so bad?”

“I suppose I can, it’s no secret.”

Ayano Kimi throughout the entirety of her twenty-two years of living has always received anything and everything she ever wanted. No one ever seemed to deny her whims.

As far back as she could remember even her own mother and father never once rebuked Kimi.

For a time, when she was little other children would freely interact with her. But even that came to an end, they soon began to distance themselves from her like she was the plague.

No one ever freely talked with her—no one ever told her how they felt.

Why? Why does everyone act so distant towards me? As a child she hadn't been able to understand it. She hadn't been able to find an answer. But as she grew older, it became clearer.

When had Ayano Kimi realized she was different? There was never a point when she realized she was different. The right question would be, when had she realized everyone else was different?

They were all below her.

There was never a point when she'd thought, she too was just like them, the riffraff of everyday society, the truth was...

I'm not like them! Ayano Kimi wasn't like them.

She wasn't like them. She was smarter. She wasn't like them. She worked harder. She wasn't like them. She didn't need anyone. She wasn't like them. She wasn't lonely. She wasn't like them. She wasn't like them. She wasn't like them. She wasn't like them. She wasn't like them. She wasn't like them. She wasn't like them. She wasn't like them. She wasn't like them. She wasn't like them. She wasn't like them. She wasn't like them?

What set everyone else apart from her?

I'm fine on my own! I don't need any of them!

Rin hesitated for a moment, but then openly asked Kimiko, “Uh, I'm Sorry—Umm hey... Can you tell me the reason why you wanna be head of the city.”

“I suppose I can tell you, it’s no secret after all, BUT...”

Kimiko grinned.

“A reason? Do I need one? Hm, well I suppose if there were a reason for me to give, then it is because I am special. I, and I alone am truly worthy of being above all.”

Kimiko laughed as she walked ahead of Rin.

Rin grimaced as the small girls' voice echoed in the wide lavishly decorated hallway.

“There's another reason I intend to become head of the city.” Continued Kimiko as she walked ahead.

“—?”

“All the players in this city—no, the world will permanently be unable to leave the game. And when that happens the majority of them will panic. The ensuing chaos will destroy most of the cities.”

It wasn't just Astral city; every single country was going to experience the terror and chaos of the otherworlders known as players.

“Huh?” Rin looked unsure of what to say. She hadn't understood most of what Kimiko said, but she understood enough. The city would be destroyed. Her friends, her family and life would all be destroyed.

Anxiety.

“....”

“I was planning to takeover this city after all the chaos and other bothers had settled down. Capitalizing on their need for a savior...” She stared intently at Rin.

“However, I have found something precious here, so I'll protect Astral city for now! Aha! Haha! Aha ha ha!”

“I'm honestly relieved to hear that—but, what did you find so precious about my city? Was it that amusement park in district four? Or maybe the ice-cream? It was probably the ice cream.”

Considering her love of sweets it only made sense that ice cream was her motivation! Rin nodded solemnly at her expert deduction skills.

“Heh heh I'm right, aren't I?” Rin smiled.

Kimiko paused and gave thought to her answer, “...Yes, all of those are wonderful treasures of mine, that must not be destroyed! Especially the Hagen daze!”

It was not a lie, but it was not quite the truth either. There was a part of the truth Kimiko decided not to mention.

“You really are just a simple kid in the end.” Rin said as she patted her on the head.

While Kimiko groaned a bit at being called a kid, she was happy--no relived to see Rin looking more comfortable around her.

Why though? It was strange, these unknown emotions in Kimi's heart. They were now walking together at the same pace, Rin no longer traded behind her.

Rin had an idea. If Kimiko's goal was actually to protect the city, then surely the head of the city would understand, no? Of course he would. They could talk things out and protect the city together.

The last door at the end of the hallway.

That was where the head, the administrator of Astral city was. She could talk things out before Kimiko could start another fight. Her hand stretched out to the door, but it opened automatically.

It was a grand looking room, nicely furnished with only finest of decorum. It was more than she extravagant than she could have imagined. However, Rin had no time to appreciate the craftsmanship.

Taking a deep breath, she continued inside, “Sorry for causing so much trouble! But we aren't here to figh—”

Before she could continue, someone had swept her off her feet, and caught her in their petite arms. It was similar to a princess carry. However, one of the small girls' hands, be it accidental or on purpose was clutching Rin's left breast tightly.

“Nggh! —What do you think you're doing brat?!”

“Tear my enemies to shreds! Ultimate skill: <<Invisible Foxes>> dieee!”

An unfamiliar male voice yelled, from within the lavish room.

A piercing sound screeched, and the top half of the door split in half.

Weird?

“Ah?” Rin had been standing upright less than a second ago, right there, in front of the door mere moments before it split apart, but now she was no longer standing?

Her position and visual orientation shifted.

She was cradled in Kimiko's arms? Huh—?

“???”

“You imbecile, to attack property of mine is the same as to beg for death. I had hoped you would be a sensible ruler, but it seems you are a mad-man drunk on power.”

Did she say attacked? Just now I was...attacked? A-and did she call me her property!?

Rin was dumbfounded? She hadn't even registered that she was attacked until seconds after the door split apart.

Had Kimiko not stepped in she would have...

Gently kicking off the floor Kimiko leapt onto the ceiling, the ground where they had been standing moments ago exploded. Another attack?! Rin couldn't understand, what was happening but, Kimiko had narrowly dodged another invisible attack saving her life it seemed.

Once more.

CRAASH!

And another.

CRAASH!

As if bouncing off of every surface Kimiko used the entirety of the room as a stepping stone? Huh? Putting aside Kimiko breaking the rules of physics, Rin had other concerns. This was the worst possible outcome. They were in a bad spot! What were they supposed to do?

Suddenly, Rin shuddered looking at the face of the child, of Tsurugi Kimiko.

Smiling and apparently not in a bored mood any more, the third ranked level nine evaded each invisible blow with Rin still nestled in her arms.

The petite level nine was being assailed by unseen attacks in every which direction, but she was excitedly, avoiding, sidestepping and even dancing away from each strike. She even had enough time to let out a boisterous laugh.

After multiple failed attempts at crushing them, the head of the city—the administrator of Astral city stopped attacking the two girls.

The small girl whose hair was fashioned into twin-tails didn't look the slightest bit exhausted, despite having dodged blow after blow of his ultimate skill for ten minutes no less.

It was incomprehensible.

It was Impossible.

It made no sense.

How!? Why!? Was this not the power the gods had bestowed onto him?!

How could she challenge it?! How could she reject it!?

“W-what do you want from me!? O-ooh! I..I...I see! Y-YES, that's it, you must want my title, but you can't have it! No no no no no no nonononono! I..III..I p-protect this city! It's my city! I'm the admin that's what they promised me!”

She simply grinned at his protest. “A true king needn't announce himself as king, his actions speak louder than any words.”

When he looked at her, she was a simple child, no older than twelve years old. Yet the head of astral city, the man at the top astral city felt that this child was far greater than he, and so he questioned himself. Where was this grandness that he sensed from her coming from?

“Hm? But you call yourself a queen all the time.” The bespectacled girl in her arms retorted.

“That's different! I only inform the ignorant of their position, not once have I declared myself to be a queen! Understandably my argument might come off as mere sophistry but still!”

The two girls continued to argue as if his presence were negligible.

Tension filled within him. That girl was looking down on him, just as those so-called gods had looked down on him. Just as everyone else had denied him years ago. She wasn't even taking him seriously. He wasn't even worth her attention, even with the power those gods had granted him.

“Can you see it?” He asked.

The Twin-tailed girl turned around brusquely as though dealing with an insect, he felt her stare, a stare that looked down on all, a stare that bore into him despite her shorter stature.

“Ah, your foxes, I see them clear as day.”

“C-can you see what…?” The other girl in glasses cradled in the smaller girl’s arms asked, trembling ever so slightly.

“His little foxes!” At this the petite girl proudly threw out her chest, her acquaintance with the glasses didn't look all that impressed or reassured however.

Once again, they were entertaining their own little conversation, treating him as though he simply did not matter.

As upset as he was, he could not bring himself to accept what the smaller girl had said.

This child can “see it,” She can see my blessing?!

No! Impossible!!

Lies, it's a lie!

And what if it she speaks the truth? The thought crossed the administrator of astral city for only a second.

But that would mean...

She is...

That child is, a being of... divine construct!?

“So whaaat!”

The truth aside, even if she was a potential deity, so what? Even if he was rejected and she was favored so what? If he went ahead and played his cards right, he could win.

The sharpness and intensity of his gaze bore into her, but she simply shrugged it off like it was nothing.

She would regret underestimating him, he swore.

Ultimate skill: <<Invisible foxes>>

He would make her regret ever looking down on him, pitying him, despising him, belittling him, shredding his soul, trampling over his dignity, taking his honor, and all other crimes she was simply committing by existing.

Abruptly the rage in the administrator's body fueled him to act.

Now, with all his might even if it killed him, he would kill her.

With the situation approaching its climax Rin's anxiety peaked. In this lavish room two individuals capable of phenomenon beyond reason were facing off, granted one of those was Kimiko, a girl Rin was somewhat connected with.

In truth Rin felt more than a connection to Kimiko—perhaps a strong desire to protect her.

Why? She had no idea.

But was that feeling worth dying for, Rin wondered? It wasn't, right? Her mind was a mess.

By simple logic, her presence in this room was not needed, yet she was here, a simple bystander to their battle.

A loud crashing sound rang out and the ground exploded, it was the same attack he had used earlier, and Kimiko evaded it yet again, with Rin in her arms. But unlike the other attacks before, this time the explosions continued almost non-stop after each other.

Her movements were quick and nauseating for Rin.

Somehow, she got even faster! One moment she was up, the other down, left then right, she alternated between here and there in less than a blink.

Each time these blinking intervals occurred; Rin would find she had just barely escaped death.

That was no exaggeration on her part, each time Rin blinked she would open her eyes to a different position in the room and yet another violent explosion.

The number and frequency of attacks seemed to grow with each step Kimiko took. Rin couldn't help wondering just how much longer she could last?

Kimiko was certain she could win at any point, if she felt like it, but her companion was shaking with fear. Kimiko could feel this through her finger tips, the trembling of Rin's body.

“This is bad…” Rin muttered silently, her body shaking.

“Worry not. I’ve seen through his cheap parlor tricks; this fight is as good as over!” Kimiko grinned as if to dispel all fear.

Somehow that only made Rin more scared, hmmm? Kimi couldn't understand why but decided not to think about it.

The summoning animals the man used were reddish brown creatures, their ghastly appearance while reminiscent of a fox, was much too different. Each had nine tails, emerald eyes and silver claws. Fur that radiated a gentle glow. They had a majestic air about them even as they bore their fangs at Kimiko.

It was pretty. And few things on this earth ever met her qualifications for that word.

They were about the size of an adult male. She could see them. She was the only person in the room who could see them, why? The reason was of no importance to her so she pushed it out of her mind.

Originally there had been only four of them, but...as the fight progressed the number steadily grew, and even now, more came forth.

At this point there were twenty of these blessed beasts.

Each step she took was an evasion of attack, after attack.

While still carrying the extra weight of Rin in both her arms, Kimiko with her overwhelming speed was able to slip through each and every fatal fox attack. But how much longer could she keep this up? Certainly, much longer than her opponent could.

With a glance directed at the administrator, Kimiko sighed.

The man had all but exhausted his MP.

The fact that it was over so soon was underwhelming, to say the least.

This was the first time Kimiko had felt any excitement in this game, a challenge. Now, having reached the climax of her first ever challenge since coming here, she felt mixed feelings of disappointment and boredom welling up inside her.

Unique skill: <<Ultra Mana Pool Detection>>

Using one of her ten unique skills Kimiko could see the amount of MP present in everything around her, and she could see that his MP was already dropping past the 10% line, it was over.

A summoning, a contract, or pact that allowed a summoner the ability to call forth and enslave, an entity that existed outside the realm of common sense. The summon could be from one of three categories:

One: the summoning of a spirit; spirits generally existed as lesser spirits or greater spirits.

Lesser spirits could be subjugated by just about anyone with little or no resistance, greater spirits on the other hand were different, in order to have full control of a greater spirits the summoner had to be of a higher strength than the greater spirit or else the spirit would dominate them.

Two: the summoning of a beast; beasts were either earth, demonic, or heavenly beasts.

The variations in strength between beasts was fairly even, though heavenly beasts and demonic beasts tended to be stronger than the earthly beasts.

Three: the summoning of a mirror servant; A mirror servant unlike the other two was much more complicated and more difficult to control.

They were most similar to greater spirits. But unlike greater spirits mirror servants weren't the souls of powerful beings who passed, they were living breathing powerful beings who form a temporary contract for a single battle.

While these were the three main forms of summoning, the application could vary from user to user.

Kimiko had spent a considerably large amount of her time studying the different skills in this game world and had arrived at the conclusion that summoning was the strongest of all. However, the MP consumption was the one true drawback of being a summoner.

“Just as you were supposed to be entertaining me, this happens. I see my boredom shall persist.” The petite girl flashed a smile that was equal parts amusement and boredom.

His muscles ached, his vision blurred and the contents of his stomach threatened to rise to the tip of his mouth.

He could barely move. His body felt heavy, and unreliable it was as though he were made of lead.

These were all of course, text book symptoms of Mana sickness. He had depleted his mana.

“Take pride in the fact you were able to keep me entertained for a short while!” She sneered.

His mana pool, the source of life in all creatures was nearly depleted, this fight was over. He had lost, and the little girl who had been mocking him, would win. She would take his honor, his pride, his title and everything else he treasured.

She would take everything from him.

She would take from him?

Would she? Was he going to allow it? No.

Mana was the source of all life, in other words mana created life so it stood to reason that the reverse process...life could be used to create mana.

The only thing he had to do... The only way to win! Was to give his life to defeat her! The gods be damned he would win!

As the administrator was getting exhausted all by himself, Kimiko ran her dainty child-like hands lightly over the shoulders of the girl she was carrying.

“Hold on tight.”

Her small body became a ball of light, as she disappeared dodging yet another one of her opponents summoning beast's attack.

Probably his last attack.

The battle had reached its conclusion. The man's mana had hit zero, he could summon no more she concluded.

“Kha ha ha!” She laughed mockingly at the drained and exhausted head of astral city.

Despite Kimiko's unyielding confidence, she noticed Rin was still trembling the worst. But Kimi couldn’t figure out why, could Rin not tell this man was hopeless against her?

Was he ready to give his life to kill the petite girl?

Yes.

Because.

In the end she was no different from all of them, thieves after his power and status.

“Y-you! You're nothing compared to me! You're just another thief! You're just like all of them!” He spat.

His voice dripped with venom, and usually Kimi would have been completely unperturbed by such provocation but unfortunately his word choice had struck a nerve.

He continued to curse her as he fueled his attack with his very own life.

At that moment the most powerful murderous intent the world had ever known filled the room!

However, it did not come from the head of the city.

“—!? Surely you jest.”

Her way of talking changed, taking on a slightly murderous tone. It wasn't that her voice itself had changed, but the air about it did.

The petite girls' elated smile vanished—leaving only pure unadulterated anger in its wake.

Two distortions in space appeared, each in different spots of the massive room.

From the warped space, two otherworldly beings appeared: First was a woman, an archer with; jet black hair, brown wheat colored skin, dressed in exotic clothes with a bow in her arms. She had a distinct canine tooth protruding slightly from the edge of her mouth.

The second was a man; a blonde spearman with light armor and fair skin. His appearance was somewhat like a noble—yet rough like a bandit. He exuded a powerful and majestic presence like that of a wild lion.

She used a summoning? So, she is a summoner as well? All this time—she was holding back!? Holding back against meee!

“Huuh!? Finaaally taaaking meee seriously, huuuh!?”

He unleased all his pent-up power and frustration, summoning five more massive foxes. These were different from the other foxes before now, they had more mana and were more divine, it was his ultimate trump card for which he sacrificed half of his life.

Their fur tougher.

Their claws sharper.

Their fangs deadlier.

“Kill her my divine beasts!”

And almost instantaneously all five foxes’ heads combusted!

They were dead.

His ultimate attack.

Without having moved an inch since their summoning, they perished right there and then on the spot where they stood.

The blonde spearman like a high-speed armored tank had rammed straight through the bodies of three foxes in less than a nanosecond.

Even faster than he was the dark-skinned bow-woman, who fired her arrows in a third of the time it took the spearman to attack.

Still confused, the head of the city screamed, “Kill her my divine beasts!” Pointing his index finger directly at Kimiko and Rin. Like Rin he hadn't noticed his divine beasts had all been slain.

A smile crept onto his face as he waited for the divine beasts to tear the two girls to shreds.

No sooner had he spoken than Kimiko disappeared. In less than the space of a second, she was behind him. With a kick, flinging herself forward at the body of the old man in charge of astral city.

Somehow Rin was no longer in Kimiko's arms? She was standing on her own two feet again, and Kimiko was approaching the fallen man with her hand raised a short sword in her midst.

“Ignorance…really is a terrible thing,” she sneered. The way her hand was raised with the sword in her hand it was as if she were planning to decapitate him?

But that can't be true, Rin thought.

Right?

“Kimiko-chan?”

The young lady with twin-tails and ocean eyes turned coldly.

“What is it?”

“W-what are you doing?”

“I'm going to kill him.” She said brusquely, her gaze was as cold as the ice, she turned her head back to glance towards the fallen young man.

Pitiful. Her eyes said.

Rin understood what was happening.

“Wait! I...?!”

“...What is it... If you have nothing to say then...remain silent.”

Say something!

Rin was silent.

Fear kept her mouth firmly shut, and she refused to meet Kimiko's cold eyes.

Rin remained quiet.

Say something!

Kimiko was going to kill him and no one was going to stop her—-no one was capable of stopping her.

And yet—"

Forcing her quaking legs to move, she summoned what little courage she had to walk over to Kimiko. And stood in front of her blocking her path.

She told herself to stay calm and act natural but the situation was already calling for panic. Why? Why was she panicking?

It was just as she had said, she was the strongest person in Astral city. After everything Rin had seen, she harbored no doubts about that.

So why?

“Don't kill him! It, it isn't right!” Despite herself, Rin was questioning her own thinking. Why would I say that? Am I crazy this has nothing to do with me.

For some reason Kimiko wasn't as harsh on Rin as she was on others. Probably a whim, but it could save her.

There was no telling how Kimiko would react. If she wanted to Rin could be dead in less than a heartbeat. Telling her off was crazy. She was the world's most overpowered child—ah.

Child.

That was the reason, Kimiko was just a child. She needed someone to be there for her, someone to care for her, someone to show her right from wrong.

Me. It had to be Rin. Even though she had decided to play that role for Kimiko now, did she have the resolve to risk her life for it? Any wrong action, or word would spell her end.

“Shut up!” Kimiko let out a harsh shout for the very first time directed at Rin. “Do not mistake my favor for you to be some sort of reason to act so familiar with me!”

“Now get out of my—”

She slapped the Kimiko across the face.

“I will not move.”

By all rights, Rin was wrong for slapping her and it was something to apologize for. It made sense for Kimiko to be mad about that. Resorting to violence wasn't good. And yet Rin could say for certain she did not regret it.

The only regrettable thing was that Rin had resorted to violence, but the violence in and of itself in the current situation was not wrong, after all spare the rod spoil the child, they say.

“....”

Of course, regardless of her ideals she still did not want to die.

“I’m so sorry, I shouldn't have reacted like that...b-but still... you made me mad. You were going to do something wrong!” Rin stammered. “I... You, shouldn't kill him! I don't want to see you become a murderer! Because I care about you!”

Naturally Kimiko was furious, Rin was certain of that much, her expression indicated just how furious she was. The way she hang her head down without looking Rin in the eyes made it clear just how upset she was.

Perhaps she was planning to kill Rin and couldn't bear to look her in the eyes as she did, the thought made Rin shudder in fear. Regardless of the fear Rin wasn't going to move, she wasn't going to let Kimiko become a murderer.

Ah, but then again, if she kills Rin then wouldn't she still be a murderer? So maybe it was better not to stand in her way if the outcome was the same either way? No... that was fear talking!

Rin steeled herself for whatever Kimiko would do to her.

Do your worst...!

I-I won't move... Huh?

For some reason, she pressed her head directly against Rin's warm soft stomach and began sobbing? Not only was Rin dumbfounded, but she was incredibly unsure of what to do.

Even though she looked furious a moment ago tears sprang from her big round blue eyes—maybe even snot on her nose. But before Rin could check she buried her teary-eyed snot filled face deeper in Rin's belly—

“Waaaaahhhh! Waaaaaaaaaahhhh! I…I'm soooorrryy! I'm so sorry! Waaaaaah! So please don't be mad! Don't hate me! Don't leave meeee!” she shouted at Rin, in between crying.

Ignoring her, own confusion Rin quickly comforted the child crying right in front of her, that was the type of good-natured person Rin was.

“I don't hate you, and I won't leave you. So don't cry, all right?”

As she comforted the crying Kimiko, a loud voice echoed throughout the city.

Achievement unlocked: Administrator of Astral!!

effective immediately the player Tsurugi Kimiko is head of astral city!!