Chapter 12: Journey to the way out.
I looked at Luna.
"Come with me Luna, lets get out and clear this tower together." I said as she was still shocked.
"Wait!" She was suddenly blushing now.
"You want me to go out with y-y-you?!" She still seemed shocked from how she was stuttering... and also the way she says this... It sounds very wrong.
"Yes I want you to go out with me to the tower We can clear the tower together." I said as she began thinking about it.
"I mean the possibility of me getting out is an option... but if that were the case that means I'd need to find a replacement and then I'd also need to have someone t-" I interrupted her blabbering.
"Alright i got it then, You want someone to replace your role right?" I asked as she pouted because i interrupted her.
"Y-Yes we need to find a replacement." She said as i then pointed at the cell in front of me.
"That man there was a King he knows what to do." I said pointing at the cell that housed William.
"You're saying that Bum is a king?" She asked wondering if I'm joking or not.
I nodded as I added "I was also the one who killed him." Her eyes widened and then said
"So he's a weakling, then rejected." It didn't take her even a second to think about it.
"Luna just hear me out, He's strong it was just too bad that his opponent was me." I explained the entire thing and then she sighed.
"Fine I trust you Haruki, I will make him the replacement." She said as i then asked her "Say... Could i get connected back to the higher beings and stuff?" I asked as she nodded and flicked my forehead.
"Ow! What was that for?!" I asked as she then replied "I gave you your powers back."
I realized I got access to my inventory again and everything else.
"Thank you so much Luna! You're a life saver!" I said as I then began making a connection with a Higher being.
[ The Higher Being Berserker is watching you wondering where you were. ]
"Great not the one i wanted to call..." I said as he replied.
[ The Higher Being Berserker thinks you're dumb. ]
"Okay Okay whatever now Shut it i wanna call someone else." I cut my connection with Berserker and then made a call to Finana.
"Hm? What do you want Haruki?" She asked as i then replied
"I'm kinda stuck in the land of the dead." I said as she seemed shocked.
"Huh?!" She definitely was shocked. "Are you okay?!" She was worried now.
"Yeah I'm fine i met this girl called Luna and she'll help me get out of this place." I explained as she seemed relieved now.
"Thank god... Anyways Haruki you need to get out quickly, Something bad is going to happen to your companions." She said as My eyes widened with shock I cut the connection and then went to Luna.
"We need to move. Now." I said as she was curious.
"Why?"
"My friends might die if we don't hurry." I said as she then stopped me from moving.
"Wait Haruki. Getting out is difficult it will take us time." She said as i then replied.
"I don't care we need to move quickly." I said as we began walking through the journey
While walking we chatted more.
"Luna, How did you end up here?" I asked wondering how such a person could end up here.
"I've been here since i was born, I was meant to rule this place for all eternity." She said.
"But you're freeing me..." She seemed in disbelief yet happy that she will get to go out of this place.
while i was going to reply Aros appeared.
"Haruki, I know you can hear me, that girl... don't trust her. She will end up betraying you." He said as I brushed him off and replied "Well I trust her more than I trust you to be honest." I explained
"Someone with me on this journey is better than someone who watches for his amusement." I said as he then laughed.
"You got me there, But anyways you should listen to me this tim-" Before he continued i ignored him and talked with Luna.
"I'll show you the world Luna. I promise." I smiled looking at her as she then looked shocked but the expression of shock turned to joy.
"I really appreciate you saying that. I want to see the outside world too." She said Blushing a bit as she then slightly tugged my shirt.
"Huh? what are you doing?" I asked as she then points at her stomach.
I usually don't understand much of what a Woman wants but i could easily tell, she was hungry.
"Okay I'll find us something to eat for now stay here okay?" I say as she nodded.
I went around looking around for food and there i saw it.
What seemed to be a giant three headed dog was in front of me.
"Is that a Cerberus...?" I questioned it's appearance as it looked at me and quickly came rushing at me.
"Guess that's dinner." I said as i pulled out my daggers.
With both daggers I rushed at the dog and dodged it's first attack.
When i was going to dodge the second attack, I got hit and thrown to a rock.
"Ughh.. That hurts.." I said as i then stood up and the moment i tried to use my leg i fell and the last thing i saw was a glimpse of Luna.
"Fine I'll help you now." She said as i then blacked out.
when i Awoke i found myself in front of a campfire assuming that Luna made it. "What happened?" I asked
"Well I saved you." She said as she munched on cooked meat.
"Is that the dogs... meat?" I asked as she nodded and then handed me a skewer that had meat.
"Thanks but i think i prefer to not eat dogs." I said as she looked disappointed while eating.
"Well... It isn't necessarily a dog, It's a monster if anything." She said as she once again offered the skewer.
"No thanks. seriously i don't need it." I said as I then pulled out from my inventory some meat i had nabbed from the palaces kitchen.
"I'll cook this and season it, you want some?" I asked as her mouth seemed to water at the thought she then nodded quickly.
I began seasoning the meat and then cooked it on the fire.
Then i cut it in half and gave half to Luna.
"Here ya go, Eat it while it's hot." I said as she ate the cooked meat she felt in bliss after eating it.
"The meat melts when i eat it... And the seasoning is good and perfectly on the spot!" She said
I pulled out a bottle of Honey.
"Here try eating it with some Honey It'll taste even better." I handed her the honey and when she tried it she began crying.
"I never knew food could be so good..." She said as if she hasn't eaten food for almost a thousand years.
"You can eat more when we get out." I said as i ate my own half of the meat.
"Then let's get out now!" She said as i sighed "Didn't you say it was a long journey?" I asked as she replied.
"Well yeah but i can get us out quickly."
". . ." I was in silence after what happened.
"S-So... you're saying we could've left earlier...?" I asked as she nodded while still eating the food.
This brat... I grabbed the rest of her food.
"This is your punishment." I said as i took the rest of her food and ate it.
Seeing this she began crying.
"M-My food...." She said as her cries did not make me feel any remorse.
"Lets go, come on." I said as she stood up and we continued walking.
"If you wanna eat actual food just let us get out easily." I said as a smile shined on her face. "Really?!" She said as i nodded.
She then stopped moving and began doing a citation of some kind and when she finished a portal appeared.
"Is that our way to the tower?" I asked as she nodded. Grabbing her hand I looked at Luna and then we went inside the portal and there we were, In the wilderness where I met Henry.
"It feels good to be ba-" Before i could continue i get multiple messages from Higher beings. It was annoying.
[ A higher being would like to talk with you. ] huh?
I answered the call and it opened a broadcast. in which my eyes widened from it.
"Ai...? Akari...?" I was seeing those two in an Arena and are fighting.
and there I heard it. I heard the higher being say that Ai killed Hebi.
"What... Hebi died..?" Memories began flowing of how me and Hebi chatted nights when we were alone.
"Ai..." And then Ai... My sister is in the tower? How did she get here? Why did she get here? Is akari going to die?
Luna watched me wondering what was wrong with me.
"Are you okay Haruki?" She asked as without realizing Tears were flowing from my eyes.
"We need to get to the palace now." I said as I grabbed Luna and began running to the Palace.
Whilst watching the broadcast given to me by Berserker, I felt shocked by how Ai was fighting.
"Luna i need your help." I said as she nodded.
"Yes what is it Haruki? I'll do my best!" She said as we continued rushing.
We eventually made it to the Palace and there he was. Kaito was standing in front of me.
"Finally I found you... Haruki Suou." He said smiling as I looked at Luna.
"Luna take care of him for me okay?" I said as she nodded I ran to the stairs and went up only to see now, Akari's dead body and Ai standing there.
"What have you... done?" I said looking at Ai and then at Akari.
"H-Haruki I...." Ai was speechless as she saw me.
"Zip it." I said as I then walked to Akari's body.
"Akari...?" I held her body which was now cold.
Tears falling down from my face, I checked for a heartbeat. There was no heartbeat.
Akari was dead.
Ai slowly approached me and said "Brother... I... I'm sorry..." She said as I looked her in the eyes.
"You're not my sister." I said as her eyes widened.
"My sister is no killer." I continued as I then pushed her hand away as she tried to put her hand on my shoulder.
"Haruki It's me... Ai... please..." She said as i then looked at her.
"Why did you kill them? Why...?" I asked as tears fell down her cheeks.
"I had to do it..." She said as I let go of Akari and then Slapped her.
"I didn't raise you to kill people Ai." I said as she began crying and apologizing over and over.
"Your apology isn't enough to bring back the dead Ai." I said as i grabbed her.
"I'm sorry but I refuse to accept you as my sister anymore." I continued as she then cried more and replied.
"I did this for you! I only did it so i could see you! I wanted to see you Brother please!" She said as i then looked at her dead in the eye.
"Should have considered it before killing my friends Ai." I said as I pulled out a dagger.
"Close your eyes Ai." I said as I was about to stab her, Aros appeared.
"You sure you want to do this?" He asked as I pushed him away.
"She killed my friends Aros! This isn't my sister!" I said with tears falling down my face.
"Haruki, she is your family. are you sure?" He asked as i shouted.
"And so what?! She killed the people i considered family too!" I said as Ai fell down on her knees and cried. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry.. I'm sorry..." Is all that she could muster to say.
"Then you seem to have made your choice." He said as he disappeared.
"It's time to kill you." I said looking angrily at my own sister, as I then stabbed her.
"Haruki..." She said as i laid her on the ground. realizing what I had done i began crying.
Did i seriously just kill my own sister...?
"What have i done...? I killed her..." I muttered to myself as i looked around me.
Aros appeared and began talking.
"I Warned you." He said
"I told you to not do it, You killed your only reason you're here." He said as he did have a point.
My sister was the only reason i entered this tower, I wanted to prevent her from entering such place.
"I keep warning you every time Haruki, You just don't listen to me." He continued.
"Do you have any idea how much it costs me to come here so i can help you Haruki? And yet you always ignore me." He began lashing out on me while I'm there on the ground.
I killed Ai because she killed Hebi and Akari...
was what i did valid?
was killing my own blood and flesh for people i met here worth it? I wondered.
"Are you listening to me?! Haruki Suou!" He shouted as i then replied.
"Shut Up Aros!" I snapped, this was the final crack in the ice, I lost my friends, my sister and now this guy has the audacity to scold me?
Aros disappears after what i said
As i sat there looking at what happened. I found myself thrown back to the past.
When i first met Hebi I trusted him yet he didn't. and when we met Akari we took her with us.
But i never expected this... to happen.
why did Ai kill Hebi and Akari...? Why did this happen?
If only i didn't go to the dungeon that night.
After a while Luna made it to the upper floor and Sat next to me.
"Are you okay Haruki?" She asked as i began crying more now.
"I'm sorry Luna..." I said as she patted my head.
"You killed her right?" She asked as I nodded.
"I can bring them back." She said as i looked at her with hopefulness.
"What...?"
"You really can bring them back...?" I said as she nodded.
"Yes but there are certain restrictions." She said as i asked.
"What's the cost?" I asked as she replied.
"My life is the cost for theirs so choose." She said as I was about to make the choice of choosing them.
But in the end I replied with
"Don't do it then." I said as I looked at them.
"They already died, It's no use to bring the dead back." I continued as I stood up.
I grabbed the bodies of the three people and then Buried them in the yard of the Palace.
"I wish you all to find peace and move on from this life." I said as Luna looked at me and said. "They met their fate, so now you must live for them to show them that their lives did not go in vain."
She had a point, I must live and fight for survival in a way to make their deaths not a waste.
[ A higher being would like to talk to you. ]
I accepted and it was Berserker again.
"Did you like the show?" He asked as I got angry, this guy is making my blood pump.
I decided not to continue the conversation and cut the connection.
"Let's go Luna, We need to clear the next floors." I said as i held her hand I looked at the graves of those close to me and then looked at the Palace.
"This is goodbye." I said and then I took the portal from the 99th floor to the 90th floor, there i met with Vanessa.
"It's time we part ways lady Hikes." I said as i shook her hand.
"Take care Haruki, And also I see you brought her." She pointed at Luna.
"Massacrer of The Crimson Moon it's with great pleasure we meet." She said as she shook hands with Luna as Luna then replied.
"It's great to finally meet the Hikes Kingdom's ruler, who would've thought she's an adorable girl?" She said smugly as Vanessa seemed to flush a bit due to the compliment.
"P-Please I'm not adorable at all Miss Luna." She said feeling a bit flustered.
"Anyways we're going to leave now, Goodbye Lady Hikes." I said as we headed to the 89th floor.
once we made it there, we found ourselves in... a modern looking city?