Chapter 3: It’s Glocking Time

"With my Glock, I’ll shoot straight to the top." 

—Meisatsu Kanezuka

In the far reaches of the Kingdom of Asturia, a land so vast its borders seemed to vanish beyond the horizon, there lay a humble town called Beetho.

This was the place that Meisatsu Kanezuka called home.

Beetho was a town defined by open fields and wide skies. Rivers flowed through a few of the farmlands like ribbons of glass, their surfaces shimmering under the afternoon sun. 

Neat rows of crops stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with some timber-framed cottages whose walls carried the warm scent of fresh-baked bread and wildflowers. 

Some families tended small private plots at the back of their homes and others owned fields so large they seemed to disappear into the morning haze.

Life here was quiet—somewhat, predictable in its own comforting way. Children ran barefoot between vegetable patches, Merchants haggled over various goods, and every evening the chimneys glowed gold in the dusk.

But for all its peace, Beetho was a place on the edge—quite literally.

The town sat at the farthest border of the kingdom, closer to danger than anyone would think. Just beyond a dense barrier of ancient trees and magical repulsion structure lay a dark, twisted land.

The territory of the Demon King and his kin.

The Demon King’s Domain was a place spoken of in restless voices. A land that birthed creatures from nightmare—monsters with claws like sickles and eyes that burned red in the dark. Their sole purpose to cause destruction and misery.

To keep the kingdom safe, the ancestors of Asturia had erected a colossal magical barrier—a dome of shimmering energy that sealed the entire realm in a protective shell. 

Its origin point was a mighty pole crowned with a golden sphere, embedded into the highest tower of the King’s Castle at the very heart of the kingdom. 

At dawn, it shone as though it were a second sun—its power radiating outward to form the barrier’s perfect arc across the sky.

Yet for all its strength, the barrier was far from perfect. Every few months, when the magic fluctuated or weakened, gaps would appear—just wide enough for something to slip through. 

And when that happened, the people of Beetho would find their quiet fields invaded by things that did not belong.

It was a common fear—one shared by all its residents. One that never truly went away.

✦✦✦

The morning air was still, filled with the scent of fresh crops and river mist. Meisatsu lowered the Glock, his heart still fluttering excitedly from the last volley of shots. Spent casings glinted in the grass around him.

His eyes narrowed at the same patch of brushes that had rustled just moments ago. “It’s still there…”

Meisatsu wanted to ignore it, but something convinced him otherwise. He shifted his grip on the pistol, steadying his breathing. Whatever was hiding hadn’t moved.

And he had the strangest feeling it was waiting for him to attack first. The rustling grew louder.

Something—no. Many somethings, were watching him.

Meisatsu racked the slide of his Glock with a crisp...

CHK-CHK, 

...feeling the ominous weight in the air. He leveled the barrel at the bushes, breath steady, and his mind sharp.

“If you're some kinda stalker, I'm not flattered...”

The leaves gradually parted.

Seven creatures padded into view—foxlike, but nothing like the cute ones he remembered from his previous life.

Each stood nearly four feet tall on slender legs. Their fur was a pale, deathly white, except for a thick band of swirling black aura encircling their eyes like a burglar’s mask...

 Along their backs, patches of the same sinister darkness replaced normal fur, writhing as if it were alive.

Definitely nothing like the ones back home… he thought grimly. ...More like that one fox on that kid’s show that loved to swipe stuff...

He almost chuckled at the memory, but the foxes were already fanning out in an arc around him, growling in low, guttural tones.

Meisatsu’s eyes widened as he glanced at his magazine. He’d already fired ten rounds. Seven left.

For some unknown reason, despite being outnumbered by monsters straight out of some weird nightmare, felt nothing but exhilaration.

A manic grin spread slowly across his face. “Heh…you monsters will make fine moving target practice.”

The fox-like creatures threw confused glances at each other. "Grrr...?!"

Before the creatures could lunge, he squeezed the trigger.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Numerous muzzle flashes lit the field as he shot and with impossible speed, the motion so fluid it seemed instant.

Five of the foxes dropped where they stood. Thick red fluid—most likely blood—spurted from clean holes in their temples.

Meisatsu leapt into the air, fist raised. “WOOHOO! Headshots!”

The two surviving foxes stared up at him, jaws hanging open in an almost cartoonish gape. “Grrrh?!!”

One of them snapped out of it first, dropping into a low crouch. In the blink of an eye, it zigzagged toward him with blinding speed, vanishing and reappearing across the field.

Meisatsu tracked it as best he could, eyes straining. “So your buddies had speed like this? Why didn’t they use it before?”

He chuckled under his breath, just before the creature struck. Then he whispered, “Gotcha.”

The fox was too fast for his eyes alone, but in his mind, he had processed every muscle twitch, and every shift of weight. With an analytical prediction, he pinpointed the exact angle of attack—straight from the left, right into the muzzle of his Glock!

BANG.

The fox tumbled lifelessly across the grass.

Meisatsu exhaled, lowering the Glock. Just one more left...

The final fox was by far the largest of the pack. It let out an enraged howl and leapt high into the air, black aura surging across his back, like black flames.

Meisatsu took aim, finger tightening on the trigger—he froze. “One bullet left… I don’t even know if I could get more…”

He swallowed. “Heck! Just screw it!!!”

Meisatsu then pivoted, rearing back. His arm muscles tensed as he hurled the pistol like a throwing axe toward the airborne monster. "Glock Toss!!!"

THUNK!

The gun had slammed straight into the fox’s temple. The creature’s eyes rolled back, and it collapsed in a heap.

Meisatsu doubled over, gasping. “I… I actually did it…”

But as he reached to pick up his weapon, the creatures body twitched. Its eyes snapped open, glowing red with rage.

It lunged—

BOOM!

A column of red flame engulfed the beast, igniting it in an instant. The explosion sent Meisatsu sprawling onto his back.

He blinked up to see a familiar silhouette, robes fluttering in the breeze.

Ayame stood above him, one hand outstretched, fingertips still glowing with a residual magical energy.

She smiled sweetly—a bit, too sweetly. “Wow… I knew my little brother was strong…but not this strong,” she said as her eyes drifted over the bodies.

Her gaze sharpened as she counted the corpses. “You took care of the Level 1 Swipe Foxes all by yourself, hmm?!”

In Meisatsu’s head, a single thought screamed, I knew it!!!

Ayame’s expression softened…then slowly darkened into something unsettling.

I knew it. He’s amazing… No one other than me deserves to be near my little brother. That’s why…
I’ll keep him… FOREVER!!! Ayame mused.

Her eyes glimmered, and she let out a low, gleeful laugh—an unmistakably yandere cackle. "Kufufufufu!"

Meisatsu broke into a cold sweat. Oh crap… She’s snapped!!!