Chapter 7 - How Extravagant

[Trigger warning: This chapter contains graphic descriptions of gore and violence. If you are sensitive to these topics, please proceed with caution.]

[Narrator: Author]

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With relentless force, he slammed the creature's face onto the stone beneath them, the impact echoing through the silent forest.

"HRAAAAAAAAA-!"

Again and again, he delivered blow after blow, each strike fueled by his pent-up frustration and anger.

The horn tried glowing, but Reiji started breaking it with simply beating it with the stone nonstop.

"THIS!"

THUD!

"F*CKING!"

THUD-D!!

"HORN!"

THUD-SCRAPE!

"SHOULD ALSO BE DEALTH WITH!

CRACK-THOOMP!

SHRIEK-CLATTER!

As the creature's resistance faltered, Reiji locked its eyes at the creature with disturbing gaze.

"...Thanks to you, I'll never be able to sleepwell today."

With a final, resounding thud, he brought the onslaught to an end.

"Try eating carrots only in the afterlife."

SPLAT!

With the remains of the creature splattered all over, Reiji attempted to walk away from the area because of the disgusting sight and smell.

'And it looks like I won't be able to eat well…'

Breathing heavily, Reiji surveyed the surrounding before him, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins.

"Ha..."

"Haha..."

"Hahaha..."

He plopped to the ground, his back leaning on the tree trunk.

'It's dead... but, I'll die too... I've lost too much blood already.'

'I guess I'll be seeing that creature somewhere in hell then...'

That's what Reiji thought, however…

A sound, a faint chime that seemed vaguely familiar, pierced the receding noise of battle. He forced his heavy gaze upwards. What he saw froze the laugh in his throat.

There, hovering above his outstretched hand, shimmered a translucent floating window panel, reminiscent of the kind he used to see in the MMORPG he played before.

In bold, white lettering, a single line blazed:

「 NOTICE | Leveled up! 」

Disbelief warred with a flicker of desperate hope in Reiji's eyes.

"Ha... damn..." he wheezed, voice barely a whisper. "Am I seeing things now? Really? The same as those mangas I've read so far?"

The world tilted on its axis. The blue window blurred, then vanished. His vision swam, darkness encroaching at the edges. A weak smile played on his lips.

"But damn, I'll die for real…" he murmured, eyes fluttering closed.

The rest of his words and thoughts were swallowed by the encroaching darkness.

 What will become of Reiji now?

Will he really die?

No one could tell, but only me, the author.

—

Humming.

Beneath the dappled shade of the forest trees, a woman with cascading black hair, woven into a practical braid to keep it out of her face, bustled about, humming in a lively manner. Her floral dress, a vibrant tapestry of wildflowers in hues of blue and purple, danced around her ankles as she arranged a colorful array of picnic essentials on a checkered blanket.

An aura of gentle care emanated from her, the soft clinking of picnicware punctuated by the occasional hum, a melody that spoke of love and the quiet joy of creating a special moment.

The warm sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a gentle glow on the scene. Nearby, a young girl with a lively spirit stood, showed eagerness to lend a hand.

"Oh my…" the woman that seemed to be the mother said to her daughter, "Sweetie, could you do me a favor?"

"What is it, mom?", replied the young girl with a bright smile on her face.

"Please grab some beverages from the back of the car,". She added with a light chuckle, "-and please wake up your brother, too. He must be still snoozing in there."

The daughter lively nodded, her eyes shining with enthusiasm, and face flashed with a cheerful grin. "Of course, Mom! I'll take care of it!"

With a sense of responsibility, the girl made her way to the car.

'Oh! I'll see him first before getting the drinks', the young girl hummed joyfully.

As she opened the backseat door, a gentle smile spread across her face. There, sleeping silently, was her younger brother.

She carefully climbed into the car, settling down beside her sleeping sibling. The sunlight filtering through the windows added a warm glow to the moment. With affectionate tenderness, she reached out and gently placed her hand on her brother's head, softly guiding it to rest on her lap. The peaceful expression on his face melted her heart.

In this tranquil moment, the girl thought about how she cherished these rare opportunities to tease her brother. The young man had a reputation for wearing a neutral and aloof expression, but in these serene moments, he looked so vulnerable and endearing.

With a playful spirit, she pinched his cheeks, murmuring, "Rei-kun, Rei-kun, wake up."

Groggily, the young man opened his eyes, and upon seeing his sister's smiling face, a small smile formed on his lips. He couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and safety lying on her lap. Slowly, he reached out to rub his eyes as he addressed her,

"Oh... older sister."

Her smile was contagious, and the older sister's heart warmed at the sight of her brother's response. She gently ruffled his hair, playfully teasing him, "Finally awake, sleepyhead?"

The young man slowly nodded, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "Yes, just a little tired," he admitted with a hint of sheepishness.

Curious, the young man asked as his eyes wandered outside the window, "Have we arrived yet?"

"Mmn," the older sister hummed affirmatively. "We're here. Mom and Dad are setting up the food, and Little Sis is already enjoying the surroundings. Let's join them!"

The two siblings stepped out of the car, greeted by the refreshing forest air and the peaceful ambiance of nature. The young man stretched his arms above his head with a satisfied groan, enjoying the moment, while his sister made her way to the trunk. He followed his sister's lead who's carrying a cooler as they made their way toward the picnic spot.

As they approached the family gathering, the young man felt a wave of joy wash over him. His parents were busy arranging the food, and his little sister sat contentedly humming to herself while swaying her body along with the vibe. He was grateful for these moments, cherishing the bond they shared as a family.

With a happy smile, the young man joined the picnic, feeling a sense of belonging and love. The family's laughter and conversations blended harmoniously with the serene sounds of nature, creating a cherished memory that would forever be etched in his heart.

The young man was enjoying a day out with his family when he noticed a figure standing at a distance. The figure was tall and had a striking resemblance to the young man himself.

But this was no ordinary stranger.

It was the young man's future self.

The future self of him was watching the scene with tear-filled eyes. His emotions were raw and heartfelt. The young man was confused and didn't know what to make of it.

'Ah... I remember this one,' the future version of the young man said to himself. This was one of his most cherished memories, when his family was still alive. He was just eight years old at the time.

'Presenting a cherished moment… means I'm going to die, huh. How extravagant of my brain.'

Yes, that figure was Reiji himself.

Reiji could sense the happiness and love shared among the family as he observed, the warmth of their togetherness leaving a lasting impression on his heart. After all, he experienced it.

However, before he could delve deeper into this inexplicable connection, a distant voice called out, pulling him back to his present reality.

"Shiroyami-kun," the voice echoed, seemingly calling him by his surname. "Shiroyami-kun, are you okay?"

Confused, Reiji slowly opened his eyes, blinking away the remnants of the dream. As his vision cleared, he found himself face to face with Sayuri, her concerned expression hovering above him.

However, the unexpected proximity gave him quite a view – a rather surprising one, to say the least. His eyes widened comically as he inadvertently found himself at a vantage point to witness Sayuri's magnificent...cleavage.

"Nakamura-san?" he mumbled; his voice still tinged with the remnants of the dream.

…

[POV: Nakamura Sayuri] – [Earlier]

As the chaos of the invisible assailant's attack unfolded in the clearing, Sayuri's heart pounded in her chest, and her instincts screamed at her to run. With Reiji's urgent voice ringing in her ears, she turned and darted away from the danger, her footsteps pounding on the forest floor. Fear surged through her veins, but amidst the panic, there was a nagging sense of guilt.

'How could I just run away like that?' she thought, her mind torn between self-preservation and concern for Reiji. Reiji had instructed her to escape, to protect herself, but the image of him standing tall to shield her from the threat haunted her thoughts.

Tears blurred her vision, and her breaths came in ragged gasps as she ran further and further away from the clearing. Her legs felt heavy, as if carrying the weight of her conscience along with her. It wasn't like her to leave someone behind, especially not someone who had put himself in harm's way for her sake.

'But Shiroyami-kun said to go... He knew the danger, and he wanted me to be safe. It's what he decided… right?'

Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Reiji's selfless act of sacrifice had left her torn between gratitude for his protection and guilt for abandoning him in his time of need.

As she slowed her pace, she came to a halt, her breath hitching in her throat. The sounds of the forest seemed to fade into the background as she huddled on the ground, contemplating what to do next.

Her hands trembled, and her heart ached with uncertainty. Should she go back and face the danger head-on to help Reiji? Or was it truly the right choice to listen to his instructions and run?

A surge of determination coursed through her veins as she wiped away her tears.

'I can't leave him like this. I won't abandon him…!'

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|TO BE CONTINUED|