Chapter 22 : As a mortal (4)

Sethar P.O.V

The night journey is peaceful. We don't even need air conditioning when driving through the desert at night. But as expected of the desert, and get into the car as soon as we open the window that we have to close it immediately.

Except for that small incident, the journey is so smooth and peaceful that it is getting a little sleepy. Lady Keinnayi fights the sleepiness to accompany me in the journey but, well because of the mortal body, she falls asleep at around 2:00 a.m. I close the window that separates the back seat with front seats after confirming that she is sleeping comfortably.

In my ear is a small communication device that is connected to whoever is driving the back car. I contacted the driver of the car following behind us and get to know that it is Sachiko is driving. It seems others are sleeping before their turn and there is still an hour left before they change places. She also informs me that one of them can change places with me any time but, I am alright because my body is the immortal body and I do not get tired easily.

But, there is one thing I am curious about. Before we depart, I invite one of the three servants to come and ride with us in this car but, all of them refuse us. I notice their eyes when we check this car at the factory. As someone with similar likes, I know that they want to drive this car. So, while all of the others are sleeping, I ask her.

At first, Sachiko answers that she wants us to give our time and make us comfortable but, I persist and ask her again and again, to get the truth out of her. After a few minutes of denial with her, she answers me finally that they are following Embra's orders. She told me that Embra ordered them to make the two of us as comfortable as possible. It seems he is worried about us being uncomfortable in the long journey.

But, I understand his meaning. He is keeping them at a distance so that we can use our power at any convenient time in this long journey. That is what I like about him sometimes. He is reliable and considerate of others. Well, it has been more than one year that we use our power, so it is understandable for him to worry about us. But, he does not need to because it is no problem for us, especially me. I sometimes unseal my power to learn about technology and programming. That is the reason why I am proficient in technology, driving and other things in a short time of one year.

Do they really think, we haven't unsealed our power even once? Lady Keinnayi sometimes unseals her power too. For an angel, it is torture for her not having to unfurl her wings and fly around. So, she sometimes flies around his islands or the country. Of course, anytime we unseal our power, we make sure there is no one looking us or we make sure to erase our traces too. There was even one time we fly around his private jet when he is on a trip without letting him know. *smile*

I do not pursue the matter anymore and instead, ask her how she is staying awake. We talk about various things to stay awake during the journey. VArious topic about fashion, cars and other random things are discussed for an hour till it is time for Hanako to take the wheel. We have been travelling for five hours at the average speed of 250, so, it is the time to let the car rest for a bit too.

We get off the road and stops around the little sand hill. As expected, heatwave assaulted me as soon as I open the front hood. We rest for a bit while drinking and talking. Sachiko has already gone to sleep after opening their car's front hood. So, right now, I and Hanako are talking at the back of 'Escalade' while drinking light booze.

After resting for half an hour, we start driving again. As usual, we talk over the communicator while driving and soon, morning come and the sun started to rise. Lady Keinnayi wakes up and it seems she wants me to rest. I am alright because of the immortal body but, she is persistent, so in the end, I let her take the wheel while I retire to the backside.

An hour later, we reach a city. This time the back car take the front and settle things with the border police. I wake up around that time too and we have a light breakfast with the rest of the group while Hanako and Chie are settling things. I am glad this car is hybrid because we can now change it into energy mode. So, instead of fuel, solar power will be consumed from now on.

The matters are now settled with the police and we get access to the city. This time, everyone is awake and we talk over the speaker that connects the two cars. We also get to know new things from the guide woman. She tells us about the place we can visit and places to sightsee. It would take another ten-hour of driving to reach Embra's place. So, we take a break in the city for about three hours.

At 11:00 p.m,

I and Lady Keinnayi who are lying down at the back are awake from our sleep by Chie's call. It seems we are going to arrive soon and that the road is a little rough around here. Before we know it, we are in another country called Iraq and now we are driving through a little rough mountain road. Whatever it is, it has been one of my desire to drive a rough mountain road. So, I change places with Chie and drive through the mountain road while advised by her.

About half an hour later, we arrived at a little stream and stops our cars near the stream. Whoo... This is not bad. This thrill that we don't know when we are going to fall. Not a bad feeling. Anyway, why does that guy make us come here, if it is for the simple reason of wanting to meet us, I am so going to punch him and return to the island.

We were stretching ourselves near the stream because of the rough journey. Our guards were down for moments and we were taking a breather near the stream. Suddenly, I turn my head aside out of instinct and dodge a rubber bullet. My eyes follow the bullet until it goes into the stream and looks back at the direction it comes from. I confirm the safety of Lady Keinnayi with a glance and let out killing intent towards the direction where the bullet comes from.

All of those processes take just a second but, as expected of trained soldiers, the three servants, especially Hanako push Lady Keinnayi down to take cover behind the car. The other people also quickly take cover behind trees or cars, but, before we can speak, a bullet shot at me again and this time I know exactly where it was shot because I have been keeping my guard up.

I catch the rubber bullet and search the surrounding to confirm the attacker. Founding no one, I move towards the place the second bullet is shot at while glancing at the place from which the first bullet is shot. Not half a second later, I arrived at the place the second bullet is shot at and see no one but, a hidden gun. I was prepared to throw the rubber bullet in my hand at the direction first bullet was shot from, in case it shoots again but, there was no shot.

Instead, I got chill suddenly and sit down to dodge a headshot. My eyes widen for a moment looking at the part of the tree the bullet hit. It penetrates it. So, that's the real bullet. I glance at the direction where Lady Keinnayi is and see that no one is shooting at her or anyone besides her. So, I am the only target? I can only think of one person who will target me and can pull this off.

It is definitely Em-

Oh crap. The ground where I was standing on, collapsed. The hole is big enough that I cannot reach the side even if I stretch my legs. Che. I want to try this 'game' without unsealing my power but. Can't be helped. I unseal my power and take put a rope to throw it into a nearby tree and pull myself up. The process didn't even take a second but, I am assaulted with bullets from every direction. Now that I have unsealed my power, I can see each bullet like they are standing still in the air. I catch all the 16 bullets assaulted me and focus my senses to the surrounding.

There. In the direction where a headshot was aimed at me. Che. I hate to admit it but, he is good. Too good at this. He is shooting at me from a distance is about, from this world's standard, 1.4 kilometers. He is the only living person in the ten kilometre radius around us. So, I get to him after confirming the safety of Lady Keinnayi.

I was about to put my hand on his shoulder but, wow, surprised. He reacted to me. Good instinct. From my point of view, he was moving at a snail pace but, it is an undeniable fact that he reacted to me. *smile* Hm.... You are good at sniping. So, how is your close-quarter combat? I seal my power back and dodge a knife aimed at my stomach.

Embra assaulted me as soon as I dodge his knife. He abandons his gun and slash at me from below with his knife which has 25 cm in length. It seems he put that knife just beside his gun. For three minutes straight, I play around with him who use every small and hidden weapon. He is good. He has versatile of weapons; knife, small daggers, flying knife and a small gun. Every time I deflected his weapon or try to disarm him, he would abandon his weapon and take out a new one which always do unexpectedly.

For example, a knife that was shot out from the hilt and a dagger that can change the length and a small gun that shoots rubber bullets with a loud sound, probably to distract me from another dagger coming from a different direction. Good combat senses. He knows that he cannot win against me but, nonetheless, he tries to attack me using tricks. Adorable. But, you are slow.

After all of his trick run out, it was not hard to pin him down. I hold both of his hand at the wrists behind his back with one hand while pointing his small knife at his head with another hand. I also ready my legs in case he attacks me from below and prepares myself in case there is another gun aim at me. But, it seems, he really has run out of tricks.

"So, what is the big idea of attacking me? Want me to break your hands right now?" (Sethar)

"*Ouch* *Ouch* Please be gentle with me, miss. I was just testing. Yep, testing." (Embra)

"Test me? You are still weak to test me. Instead, let me tell you. Your close-quarter combat skill suck. Your footwork was sloppy. Your did big swings that it was so easy to dodge. Your weapon choices also sucks. Seriously. Except for your sniping skills and calculations, other skills do not get a passing grade." (Sethar)

"..I am.. suck. do.. not pass... Ug-ugh." (Embra)

"*smirk*" (Sethar)

After I point out his weakness, his strength leaves his body and he is immediately down under my words. Che.Che. I did not say anything wrong though. Calculations need to do to shoot those bullets at perfect timing, calculation needed to trigger traps, the calculation for his accuracy and calculation to guess our positions... Astonishing calculation ability and frightening accuracy, especially under the dark of night but, everything else... He sucks.

But, he earns my acknowledgement. This is the first time in my whole life to unseal my power against a mortal. He is good. 80 out of 100 points.