Tactical Embarrassment

I burst through the tavern doors of the Golden Hearth with enough force to make several patrons jump, the wooden frame rattling against the wall. My chest heaved as I scanned the room frantically, spotting Miyako and the others still gathered around their table, expressions shifting from relaxation to alarm at my sudden entrance.

"Andie?" Miyako rose immediately, her chair scraping against the floor. "What's wrong?"

I fought to catch my breath, my Calisthenics ability already working to regulate my breathing and heart rate. "The jocks, they're engaged in battle with the delinquents. And there's a hooded figure with them."

The tavern erupted with shocked gasps and hurried movements as my classmates grabbed their weapons. Miyako's face paled as she seized her shield-equipped assault rifle.

"Let's move!" she commanded, gesturing toward the door. "Everyone armed and ready!"

"No!" I shouted, more forcefully than intended. The room froze, all eyes turning to me in surprise.

I took a steadying breath. "No," I repeated more calmly. "You can't come with me."

"The hell we can't!" Airi objected, her rifle already clutched in her hands. "They're our classmates too!"

"It's too dangerous," I insisted. My mind raced with what we knew about the hooded figure, how they'd systematically eliminated our male classmates. "The delinquents had mind control abilities: Subjugation and Mesmerize. They only work on the opposite gender. Whatever this hooded figure is, whatever their powers are, I can't risk them having similar abilities."

"But those selections were sealed," Miyako countered. "Kazuki and the others made sure of it. We helped lure them into that trap precisely to prevent those abilities from being used."

"We don't know if this hooded figure has found a way to unseal them," I pointed out grimly. "Or if they have other abilities we're not even aware of yet. If they managed to kill so many of our classmates, they must have significant power."

Miyako stepped toward me, her hands trembling slightly. "You're asking us to stay behind while you walk into danger. Again." Tears welled in her eyes, but her voice remained steady. "Last time, you were gone for two days. We thought you were dead."

"But we can't just let you go alone!" Hitomi protested.

"I'm the only one who might be safe," I explained, my voice firm despite the fear gnawing at my insides. "If they have gender-specific control powers, I'm the only one who can face them without immediately becoming a puppet."

Miyuki stepped forward, her analytical Mnemonic gaze studying me carefully. "He has a point about the gender-specific nature of the mind control abilities. Even sealed, if the hooded figure has found a way to unlock them, having us there would only complicate matters."

Mochi nodded beside her sister. "But you shouldn't go entirely without support."

"Listen to me," I said, meeting each pair of eyes in turn. "If the delinquents are involved, then there's a good chance their mind control abilities could come into play. I'm the only one here who can't be controlled by those skills."

"That's a pretty big assumption," Airi countered, stepping forward. "And even if true, that doesn't mean you face them alone."

I shook my head. "It's too risky. If any of you get caught in their control, I'll end up fighting both the delinquents and you. I can't—" My voice faltered for a moment. "I can't risk losing any of you."

Amakata-sensei, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke. "We need to be practical about this. If mind control is involved, Andie is correct that sending more of us could make the situation worse."

"And the nerds," I added, seeing a way forward. "According to what we learned, Kazuki's group should be returning from the dungeon expedition tonight. Sora, Yuto, and Kazuki would be immune to the gender-targeted mind control too."

Hitomi nodded decisively. "I'll lead the search party for them. My Scout abilities can find them quickly if they're entering Crossroads."

"Good," I looked around the room. "Here's the plan: Hitomi leads a team to find the nerds. Everyone else stays here in Crossroads as our fallback position. No one follows me to the sanctuary; it's too dangerous."

Airi stepped forward. "I'll go with Hitomi. We'll bring the guys as backup if we find them in time."

"I'll remain here with the others as backup," Miyako agreed reluctantly, blinking back tears. "But if you're not back in three hours, we're coming after you. All of us."

I shook my head. "That's not possible, Miyako. It took us a full day to reach Crossroads from the sanctuary. Even running at my fastest, it'll take me four hours just to get there." I met her gaze directly. "I can't risk any of you following. Promise me you'll stay here."

Miyako's eyes were filled with a mixture of fear and frustration. "I'll stay," she whispered, "but I need you to promise me you'll come back."

"I'll be back," I promised, looking into her eyes. "I swear it."

She held my gaze, her eyes searching mine for something, certainty perhaps. "Don't make a girl a promise," she whispered, her voice barely audible, "if you know you can't keep it."

The weight of her words hit me like a physical blow. Before I could respond, Miyuki backed me up. "If Andie faces mind-controlled opponents alone, he has a tactical advantage. He won't have to worry about protecting us or watching for friendly fire. In this specific situation, a solo approach is logical."

"Here," Aoi approached, pressing several vials into my hand. "Healing potions. I made them with my alchemy. They should restore about thirty percent of your health each."

"Thanks," I said, carefully tucking them into my inventory. My fingers briefly touched Rurielle's dagger, securely fastened to my belt. The familiar weight of the weapon provided a small measure of comfort.

I looked around the tavern at the faces of my classmates, the women who had somehow become both my responsibility and my strength. Each expression showed a different mixture of worry, fear, and determination. Miyuki and Mochi stood close together, their faces mirroring each other's concern. Hitomi's jaw was set in a hard line, while Kurenai's hands fidgeted nervously with her enchanting tools.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

Miyako reached up, her fingers gently tracing my jaw. "When you promised to come back," she whispered, "did you mean it?"

I looked into her eyes, seeing the fear and determination there. "Yes."

"Then take this." She pressed something small and cold into my palm, a delicate silver chain with a single charm. "For luck," she added with a half-smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Although you don't really need it with your luck attribute."

I slipped the chain around my wrist, touched by the gesture.

She pulled me down into a fierce kiss that tasted of fear and desperation. When she pulled away, her eyes were hard with resolve. "Don't you dare die, Andie. I'll never forgive you if you do."

My Perfect Kiss ability activated automatically, turning what might have been an awkward moment into something that felt right despite the circumstances. Embarrassment flushed my cheeks as I heard a few surprised gasps from our audience.

"I'll be back," I repeated, gently disengaging from her grip. "I promise."

With one last look at the faces I had come to care about more than I'd ever expected, I turned and ran. My Calisthenics ability kicked in immediately, enhancing my speed and endurance as I sprinted through Crossroads toward the forest path that would take me back to our sanctuary.

[Skill Activated: Calisthenics (Passive)]
Enhanced Effect: +45% to running speed activated
Passive Improvement: Cardiovascular capacity increased by 25%

[Skill Level Up: Calisthenics - Level 6 → Level 7]
Enhanced Effect: Running speed bonus increased to +50%
Passive Improvement: Cardiovascular capacity increased to 30%

[Achievement Unlocked: Still Running Away After All These Years]
Description: Some things never change; at least now you're faster at it!
Reward: +5% to all evasion-based abilities

"Great," I muttered under my breath as the notification appeared. "The system's mocking me now. At least make yourself useful and help me get there faster."

The landscape blurred around me as I pushed myself to my limit, golden threads of my Pathfinder's Intuition lighting the optimal route through my Arcane Interface Lenses. Each step felt lighter than it should, my muscles responding with supernatural strength and coordination as I covered ground at an impossible pace.

Even with my enhanced abilities, the journey back to the sanctuary was gruelling. What had taken us a full day's march would require around four hours of continuous running, even with my Calisthenics boost. As the sun began its descent toward the horizon, I pushed harder, knowing every minute could mean life or death for my classmates.

The forest grew darker as evening approached. My Arcane Interface Lenses adjusted automatically, enhancing my night vision and continuing to project the golden path before me. Despite my Endless Stamina ability, I could feel the strain of maintaining such an intense pace for hours. My lungs burned and my muscles screamed in protest, but I didn't slow down.

As twilight deepened into true night, I finally approached the sanctuary. But as I neared the entrance, my Presence Detection pinged multiple signatures, weak but present. Something was wrong.

Breaking through the final stretch of trees, I came upon a horrific sight. Our sanctuary entrance had been damaged; scorch marks scarred the surrounding trees, the ground torn up as if by powerful energy discharges, and the stone entrance partially collapsed. And sprawled before it were the battered bodies of the jocks, all six of them, motionless and bloody in the moonlight.

I rushed to Ryota first, dropping to my knees beside him. My Appraisal skill activated automatically:

[Ryota Tachibana – Critical Condition]
Status: Multiple internal injuries, punctured lung, severe blood loss
Time remaining without intervention: Approximately 15 minutes
Note: Healing required immediately

I fumbled with the bag Aoi had given me, pulling out a small vial of glowing blue liquid. "Hold on," I muttered, though he couldn't hear me. I carefully opened his mouth and tipped the potion between his lips, making sure he swallowed reflexively.

The effect was immediate. Colour returned to his ashen face, and his breathing eased as the magical liquid worked through his system. He wasn't fully healed, the potion wasn't that powerful, but he'd stabilised.

Moving quickly, I checked on Masato next. His leg was twisted at an unnatural angle, clearly broken, and blood soaked through his uniform from a deep gash across his chest.

[Masato Kaneko – Critical Condition]
Status: Compound fracture of femur, significant blood loss, concussion
Time remaining without intervention: Approximately 20 minutes
Note: Healing required immediately

I administered another potion, watching anxiously as the bone began to partially realign beneath his skin. The wound on his chest stopped bleeding, but the skin only partially knit together.

One by one, I moved through all six jocks, using every last healing potion Aoi had given me. Each of them showed signs of recovery; chests rising more steadily, colour returning to pale faces, worst wounds partially closing, but none were anywhere near fighting condition.

As I administered the final potion to Naoki, Ryota stirred, his eyes fluttering open.

"A-Andie?" he wheezed, his voice barely audible.

"Don't try to talk," I cautioned, helping him to a sitting position. "What happened here?"

He fought for breath, each word clearly causing him pain. "Delinquents... in the forest. And Shinji Kato with them."

"Shinji?" I echoed, surprised. "The quiet guy who used to get bullied?"

He nodded weakly. "We thought... he was their victim. But he... turned on them. Killed them all."

The other jocks were beginning to stir now, moaning in pain despite the healing potions.

"We ran," Kenta managed to say, his swimming captain's analytical mind still functioning despite his injuries. "Tried to get away. Led him here on purpose."

"We spent hours trying to lose him in the forest," Masato added, grimacing with pain. "He kept tracking us, toying with us."

"He appeared in front of us," Shohei said, his voice hollow with shock. "Like he could teleport. Said we'd lead him to the nerds."

"Beat us half to death," Masato whispered, touching his partially-healed leg gingerly. "Said he needed something called Mesmerize and Subjugation from the nerds. That they were 'locked' powers he couldn't access."

My mind raced to process this information. Shinji had somehow acquired the delinquents' abilities, including the mind control powers that Kazuki and the others had warned me about during our meeting in the sanctuary. The nerds had explained how they'd managed to seal those two dangerous selections, Mesmerize and Subjugation, to prevent the delinquents from using them on the girls. Now it made sense why Shinji was hunting them so desperately; he'd obtained those powers but couldn't unlock them without killing the nerds who had sealed them.

"He left about an hour ago," Tatsuya said, grimacing as he tried to sit up. "Said he'd be back. That he was going to 'check on some leads.'"

"You all need to get out of here," I said firmly. "Can you walk?"

Ryota nodded, though he looked doubtful. "With help, maybe."

"You need to get to Crossroads," I told them. "Follow the path I came on. The others are waiting at the Golden Hearth."

"We can't just leave you," Tatsuya protested weakly. "If Shinji comes back—"

"That's exactly why you need to go," I interrupted. "Look at yourselves. You can barely stand. In your condition, you'd be a liability in a fight, not an asset."

"We fight together or not at all," Ryota insisted, though his voice lacked conviction as he struggled just to remain sitting upright.

"No," I said firmly. "If Shinji comes back, I need to face him alone. In your condition, I'd be constantly watching your backs instead of focusing on him. You'd be a distraction at best, hostages at worst." I met each of their eyes in turn. "And if he's as adaptive as you describe, having multiple fighters might actually give him more opportunities to develop countermeasures. One-on-one is the only way I'll have a chance."

The logic was sound, and they knew it. Still, I could see the reluctance in their faces, the pride of athletes who hated the thought of retreat.

"Go," I insisted. "If Shinji comes back, I need to face him one-on-one. That's the only way."

After a moment of tense silence, Ryota nodded grudgingly. With help from the others, he struggled to his feet. "Fine. But if you're not back in a reasonable time, we're sending help."

"Make sure Hitomi knows about Shinji," I added as they prepared to leave. "She's leading a team to find Kazuki and the others. They need to be warned."

He nodded once, then began the slow, painful journey toward Crossroads, the other jocks supporting each other as they limped away.

I entered the damaged sanctuary, quickly checking that everything inside was intact. Thankfully, the collapse had only affected the entrance; the interior spaces we'd created remained undisturbed. I gathered what supplies I could find, preparing for what I knew would be an inevitable confrontation.

Then I returned to the entrance and waited, positioned where I could see anyone approaching. My hand rested on Rurielle's dagger as I settled into a vigil that stretched into hours. The forest fell silent as the night deepened, an unnatural quiet that made the back of my neck prickle with unease.