Check In With the Backup

We go back a little while. Haruto threw Aki into Lyra, putting them into a tree to save them from the fall. Kael rocketed toward him, kicking him across the horizon, and then followed.

Aki grabbed onto Lyra, who, in turn, grabbed onto a tree limb. They flailed and struggled, groping and climbing over each other until they were both steady.

Lyra spat out a mouthful of leaves. “So who was that?” she grumbled, brushing her hair behind her ears. “We didn't really have a chance for introductions?”

“His name is Haruto.” Aki said, eyes locked on the distant speck of Kael chasing after him. "He was captured and helped me to escape up until you found me."

"I guess we should thank him if he lives." Lyra said this as they both began climbing down to the ground.

"I hope he does. He has a reward to claim." Aki smiled, breathing heavily.

"I hope he knows what he's getting into." Lyra said, worried for the stranger.

"Did you see those eyes?" Aki asked, changing the subject. "He has this naturally cold stare."

"Like an assassin?" Lyra asked sarcastically. Aki looked to the side, laughing nervously. "Wait, he has an assassin job?"

"Anyway, can you believe this weather?" Aki asked.

Aki and Lyra made it down the tree with little trouble. They talked the entire time, just like usual. The two were accustomed to these things. Rescues from the Gob-uh-lins were a normal occurrence in this world, but this one obviously had a few more complications.

As they reached the ground, they were greeted by Bolto, the man that was in the carriage seat during the rescue. He rounded a tree, and Aki waved before single-mindedly running past him to scrape the moss from the tree. Lyra grabbed Aki by the arm, pulling her away from the ingredients she was collecting.

"You have enough," Lyra said, pointing to her bag.

"Haruto's going to need this when we catch up." Aki said, setting to work making a regeneration potion.

"Yeah, if it does what it's supposed to." Lyra said dryly.

"Can we get a move on?" Bolto asked. "I really don't want to be this close to the Gob-uh-ladies on 'Bag Day.'"

Bag Day. That was what they called it. The Gob-uh-lins are considered a single tribe, but they separate the sexes into two different caves. They meet only once a month to party and compare captures. That is Bag Day.

The males are more physically powerful than the females but tend to be lazier. The women browbeat and degrade the men to such a state that they just do what they say. As part of that control, the women don't allow the men to have female slaves. Since it's Bag Day, Haruto would have been shared among both. Bolto's fears were well justified.

He began to gather wood from his surroundings, pulling a hammer and saw from his bag. In a flash, he had begun shaping the wood and assembling it until a full carriage had been built. It was smaller than the last one and wasn't to be steam powered, but the craftsmanship was top-notch. Bolto, the Carriage Engineer, had made them transportation in two minutes flat.

"Let's get out of here." Bolto holds his hand out to Lyra, and she hands him four red rocket fireworks. He looks at them and then at her. She scoffs, taking them back and replacing them with identical blue ones.

Aki and Lyra pile into the carriage as Bolto affixes the rockets to the wheels. Lyra touches the fuses, lighting them, and Bolto jumps into the driver's seat. As the rockets fire, the wheels spin in place before catching and sending them forward at incredible speeds.

They shot through the trees, Bolto steering them to the closest path. As they met the road, their trip got smoother and their speed grew. The carriage began to shake. It looked great, but he had made it so quickly it was meant to be temporary.

Now on steadier ground, Aki began to mix her ingredients with her magic, creating two potions on the way. One was meant to be a regeneration potion, while the other was an explosive. The Unlucky Alchemist held them to her chest to pour her hopes into them. She was sure they would do what she wanted.

The sound of battle came quickly, getting closer as they neared. The carriage broke down here and there on the way, but now it was at its limit. The wheels flew off, and the cabin planted itself into the dirt, bursting apart on impact.

The three passengers flopped like ragdolls along the ground, rolling to a stop near the battlefield. They saw their fellow villagers and town guards fighting against Kael. Homer, the Toothpick Spitter, also known as Two-Bit, and the Sword Master Lorien.

The three watched in surprise as the strange man, known as Kael, took on two of the strongest men in Aldam village on his own. The mayor of Aldam was recently called away, leaving the village's defenses severely hampered, but this was unheard of. If Daddy were here, this would be over in no time, regardless of Kael's job and skills.

"What is he doing?" A voice said, a few feet away. "Just take out the fool with the System."

Aki, Lyra, and Bolto looked to their left to see a woman watching with them. She wore a dark blue, striped business skirt and square-framed glasses. Her hair was put up perfectly with three hair sticks, and she sat on a briefcase, holding two branches with leaves up as a disguise.

She turned slowly to look at the three of them. Her nerves shone plainly on her face. She rustled the branches half-heartedly, as if that would somehow make her more convincing.

“…You didn’t see me,” she said flatly, holding up the branches higher. “I am but a humble shrub on her lunch break.”