A/N
Hello. You'd probably wonder why another A/N again. Reason being two things I want to talk about.
1. Sorry for not updating the story for over a month. I got a writer's block. But the main issue would be because I was in the exam period. The exams came out like a landslide, and that affected me severely. I would like to apologize for going on a short hiatus without any notice.
2. During this hiatus however, I saw that even if this story is being pushed down the list by new stories, I still got people reading this mediocre (badly written) story, and gaining new followers and likes, to my surprise, as I'd expect it to die after such a hiatus. This story also got to 1200 view by the time I'm typing this on my phone. I couldn't say for sure my writing is good enough to go this far, but one thing is for sure, I cannot thank those enough who clicked on this story and read it. Of course, I wouldn't mind a few comments, but I'd rather earn it instead of asking for it.
In any case, enjoy the story.
XI: The one who always comforts, is the one with the most problems
"Are you feeling hungry?" Presto strode into the room, where Ying was still tied up tight, lying on the bed. She rolled her back towards the voice, signalling she didn't want to talk.
"Staunch as ever, huh?" Presto sighed, "Give me a call when you are hungry, I should be home all day if nothing happens." He then walked out of the room and gently closed the door, leaving just a tiny squeak.
The rain has passed, but the sun still has yet to rise, due to all the clouds up above. The air is musty and damp, causing Presto sneeze since he had a very sensitive nose. The normal dirt had turned into mud with all the water from last night.
"Philia, do you have any plans today?" he asked the girl at the dining table, just finished her lunch.
"Yeah, since you are not going on that raid, I have asked a few friends to explore a dungeon on lower levels." Philia stood up and brought the dishes to the sink and start cleaning them.
"Just be careful out there, all right?"
"I will, I will."
Philia was speaking the truth this time. A few of her contacts have asked her to join in an exploration of a dungeon on the 10th floor by afternoon.
After cleaning the dishes, she went straight to her room and came out changed within a minute. "I'll be going now," she told Presto, who was sitting on the couch, examining the Sanyouken.
"Be careful."
"I get it! You are starting to become an old man!" Philia joking replied, and went straight out.
"Ouch." so did Presto in his deadpan voice.
"Are you hungry?" Presto entered the room again. It has already past Four, and Philia was still out there.
*Groowl~*
"You can live without eating, but you still feel the hunger. You haven't eaten since last night." he continued.
"Tell me, even you know that I was eavesdropping, how do you know I was in the Laughing Coffin?" the miserable assassin finally spoke in her velvety voice.
"It's a simple tactic. I told Philia to use the word 'Reaper' if anyone we don't know comes up to our door. Then she just needs to check your body for the tattoo. Then, after confirmation, she just needs to hide in the living room, use pillows as a fake, and let me take you out." Presto sat on the ledge of the bed and explained.
"Crafty." Ying replied coldly.
"Why, it's because you didn't use your hiding skill when you eavesdropped on us."
"Shut-shut up." the black haired beauty wiggled a little.
"You still get nervous when you are countered no?"
"Mean. Just like what Lento said about you."
"Speaking of him, why do you think he is telling the truth?" Presto asked.
"Heh… because I have known him for so long. He never lies." Ying chuckled a little. "Unlike you, known as the troublemaker all over the place. What have you never done? Blue-eyed Troublemaker?"
"That's a long story past. And I believe that I have done nothing wrong, including the incident."
"That doesn't mean people will forget the past. When the people around thought you changed, you just turn back to original over here."
The swordsman sat there speechless. After a while, he sat up and walked out of the room. Moments later, he brought in a dish of spaghetti with a set of utensils and a drink, placed them on top of the bedside cabinet. He then proceeded to lock the door and windows, opened his menu, and changed settings to the room. After all that, he untied the girl. In an instant, Ying took out a blue teleportation crystal, but it didn't work.
"I have set this room to anti-crystal area, stopped your messages from working, and locked every exit in the house." Presto calmly sat down on the bed.
"This is no different from putting me in jail. You might as well send me to Black Iron." Ying scoffed.
"I'm not exactly imprisoning you… I am trying to keep you safe, as well as giving you a chance to avoid being imprisoned forever. Now eat up, or else the spaghetti is going to go cold." After that, he walked out of the room, leaving Ying sitting there, still trying to figure out his words.
*Growl*
Her mind tells her not to eat, but her stomach tells her otherwise.
"Nice work today, Philia." a heavily armoured man said with gratitude.
"No, you took most of the damage yourself," Philia replied with humbleness.
"Well then, I guess we should get going, see you!" the man then led the other people away from the city.
"What a great exploration today!" She stretched and looked at her inventory happily, "I've got some great loots too."
She was totally immersed in how many Col she could make by selling the loots, unaware of two women stalking up behind her, and grabbed her by the arms, and dragged her away from the town area in full speed.
"Hey, wait! What are you doing?" Philia struggled valiantly.
"Sorry, but for the greater good, you have to come with us." one of them replied, putting a dagger at her back, "And stay quiet."
Not long later, the three came up at the back of a large group of warriors, all headed towards a dungeon, and amongst the group, the black swordsman, Kirito, was in there as well.
Could this be, the Laughing Coffin Raid party…? Oh no!
Knowing she was being kidnapped to face the Laughing Coffin, she used all her might to break free of her right hand. As soon as it was free, she typed in four letters in a message box and immediately sent it to Presto. Right after the short window, both of her hands are grabbed once more, tighter than ever.
Presto came into the room, this time to collect the dishes.
"Was it good?" he smiled.
"Meh." Ying hid her true feelings.
"I'll take it as good then." he then picked up the dish, utensils, and the cup started walking towards the door, then a message came in. He held everything in one hand and opened the menu with the another. Scrolling down through, his left hand suddenly gave, and the dish smashed on the ground, exploding into blue crystals, startling Ying. His right shook uncontrollably, then he said out loud, "Philia… I'm coming, wait for me!". He then quickly picked up the remaining items on the floor, and sprinted out of the room, slamming the door, putting it all in the sink, and rushed out of the house.
"He just said Philia… if anything happens, Philia should not have known about the other side of Naoki." Ying wondered. "This should be interesting."
The message contained only four letters: "help".
"Let go of me." Philia struggled once again, attempting to break free of the grasps once more, but the hands wouldn't let go of her wrists.
"I'm sorry sweetie," the woman on her left said, "but none can do."
"You are not going until he has come." the other replied.
Philia looked at their outfits. They wore the shiny silver armour, just as some in the front. Being on the frontlines for so long, she recognized them.
The Divine Dragon Alliance.
"Don't tell me, you are using me as the bait to lure the White Wargod out!?"
"How witty of you, why yes, we have put in so many resources to research about him, you are one of his subordinates." the woman on her right commented.
"But alas," the other continued, "It's too late now."
The group in the front stopped, and one of the players in dark grey armour walked in the front and started a speech. Philia could not hear a single word because of the distance and the diffracted sound due to the large spaces.
Kirito was not listening much, then out of his curiosity, he activated his "Searching" ability.
Entities, all around them.
A hooded man jumped down from upper platforms and swiped his sword straight at Kirito, and the latter blocked it with his Elucidator. The large platform immediately became a warzone as members of the Laughing Coffin jumped down onto the battle and started maniacally attacking the raid party.
"It has started! Alexia, take the bait to the spot!" the woman on her right issued the command, and both of them dragged Philia through the battlefield.
Block, attack, dodge. Kirito's moves were starting to become faster and smoother. "We did know that the info is leaked that our raid starts today, but this welcoming party is a too much." Kirito kept blocking, "I and Asuna thought that we have to eliminate the Laughing Coffin now, any more delays would hurt the morale of the frontlines, so we didn't tell anyone, in case they back out at the last second. It's a terrible move, but it has to be done." with a swipe to the waist of the man under the ragged hood, he was moved out of his way, and in front of him, the auburn haired girl was being held by two other women, walking towards the depths of the dungeon. There was no doubt he has seen that cross symbol on her cape before. Just last night.
"Philia!" Kirito started to run towards the group when suddenly a sword was headed his way, he dodged and parried the scimitar, then backed off.
"Kirito, switch!" Asuna ran past him and performed the Quadruple Pain on the Laughing Coffin member, who then was sent flying feets away.
"What are you doing dashing into the crowd of enemies? That's dangerous!" Asuna moved back towards Kirito and he stood up with her help.
"Philia is captured and brought here for some reason. She is being taken to the depths of the dungeon." Kirito posed defensively against the murderer's guild, "I'll hold them off here, and you will have to chase down a three man group."
"Leave it to me, and you back out if you can't hold on." Asuna ran off to the other direction. As some of the enemies tried to give chase, Kirito's Elucidator blocked their path.
"Not over my dead body." Kirito blocked another attack.
"Philia, where are you?" Presto reached the battlefield in the dungeon. His Sanyouken drawn and blocking the attacks from all directions. His eyes have set on only one thing: Philia.
"Don't block my way." Presto pulled his right hand backwards, and when it swung to the left, the army in front of him crumbled and was pushed back, clearing a path.
"Where…" Presto ran further into the fight when he saw the black outfit and the black sword, his instincts stopped him and dashed towards him.
"Kirito, out of the way!" The Black Swordsman peeked backwards, seeing the White Wargod dashing at him at an incredible speed with the blade facing towards him, he rolled out of the way and the greatsword just brushed his heel, then a swing to the right and the enemies flew into the sky.
"You wanted to kill me?" Kirito asked.
"Sorry. I need to ask you a question, have you seen Philia?"
"She was kidnapped further into the dungeon," Kirito strafed back with his blade facing towards the engaging enemy, "Asuna is heading there to rescue her."
"I'm going too, stay safe."
"It's already not safe anymore." Kirito joked about the situation.
With that, Presto left the battlefield and ran past more people, further down the dungeon.
"Hurry up bait!" The woman on her left, Alexia, became impatient and dragged her limbs, but Philia was using the rest of her might to resist. "Carmen, say something!"
"Resistance is futile, lady." her grab got even tighter, "It's a shame the game doesn't have shackles or something like that. This could have gone much easier."
"Stop there you two!" Asuna appeared around the corner and her rapier facing the abductors, running towards them, ready to attack.
"We've got company." Alexia looked back.
"I'll take care of her, take the bait to our master, go." Carmen had her sword drawn and released the grip on Philia. Both swords clashed as Alexia dragged Philia further down the tunnel.
"Why are you taking away Philia? What is the meaning of that?" Asuna locked her sword and her eyes with Carmen, asking her.
Carmen smiled. Her face looks innocent but her tone exhibits danger, "How do I put this… One of our sisters have been captured, and our master wants to see the abductor, so why don't we take a hostage as well? So that he will come out?"
It's a trap! Presto is the main target! Asuna broke the lock and retreated for a bit, gaining her stance. I have to get Philia back, and fast! Or else…
"Asuna, where is Philia?" Presto's voice came around the corner.
"Presto! Don't come any closer!" Asuna turned her head and shouted.
"Where are you looking at?" Carmen's sword approaches Asuna's neck, and even Asuna notices the danger, she could not react.
Whoosh
"Ow!" Carmen's hand suddenly had a red hit mark, with a needle stuck in her palm. She dropped her sword, but quickly picked it up with her left hand, and backed away.
Asuna looked back again, this time, the hooded Presto with only the glowing blue eyes stood there in the shadow. He left hand was in the air as if he had just thrown a dart.
Did he just shot a Throwing Pick dead centre at a fast moving hand? Asuna looked in front again, and Carmen was pulling the pick out of her right palm.
"Are you alright?" Presto ran up to Asuna, "Where's Philia?"
"Presto, stay here, I'll go and get Philia, you must not go—"
"I know it's a trap."
"Huh?"
"That's why if I don't go, she will suffer instead of me. I cannot allow this." Presto looked at the Lighting Flash, "I ask you as a friend, keep her busy for me." He then dashed right at Carmen, who is now fully prepared to fight again.
"You are just like Kirito. Alright then," Asuna ran behind him with a smile, "Switch!"
Presto shifted to the right as Asuna came running into Carmen's view, striking her in the shoulder. She stumbled and Presto ran past her with ease.
"Go, Presto." Asuna's rapier was ready for more action.
Further down in the dungeon system, a boy, at the age of around 17, with a pair of orange trimmed glasses, waited silently. His black hair short on sides makes for a mushroom cut. Wearing a black metal armour with crimson decals, it looks as if he is engulfed in flames. Alexia walked from the shadows, holding both Philia's hands from the back. With a push, she let go of her hands, and Philia stumbled right in front of the boy.
"Master, the bait is here." Alexia bowed, "She was struggling the whole time, and we were slowed down by that."
"That doesn't matter. As long ad she is here, that's ok." the boy's voice was frivolous, "Now we just need the fish."
Philia immediately pulled out the Sword Breaker and pointed at the boy. "What do you want him for, spill it!"
"Don't wave that toy around, it's dangerous you know?" The boy kept the taunting in his words. "I wonder, who is more important in Presto's eyes? Me, or you?"
"Don't be ridiculous, there is only one who Presto also know about in the real world. I have been with him for over a year now." Philia took a step further.
"Is that so?" the boy's black eyes looked straight at the floor and sat down on the ground. "We will see about that… now."
"Philia!" Presto's voice echoed through the empty halls, "Where are you?"
"Nao?"
"Philia, you are here!" Presto ran into the room, "Are you—"
The first sight of Philia is she pointing the dagger at someone he knows, sitting on the ground, seemingly defeated.
"Yuuto!" Presto ran to the boy, pushing Philia aside, and put his hand on his shoulder, shaking him, "Yuuto, Yuuto!"
"Brother… that girl tried to attack me, I tripped here when I was trying to escape her." Yuuto told Presto in a weak voice.
"Nao… Your brother?" Philia lowered her weapon, asking in a surprised tone.
"W, wait, Yuuto, tell me more, I'm confused. What really happened?" Presto ignored Philia, asking his brother for the "story".
"Nao! Listen to me! That guy is the one who orchestrated my kidnappers!" Philia grabbed Presto by the shoulder and dragged him away from Yuuto, then she seized him by the arms.
"I, I am glad you are alive, but I will have to get my brother out of this dangerous place." his voice was shaky, one that Philia have never heard of before, and with that he shook off Philia, "I can not afford to let Yuuto be in harm again."
"Yes, that's right." Yuuto chuckled for a bit.
"What are you laughing at now? All this dangerous act just to meet your brother?" Philia tightened her grip on her dagger, shouted at the boy with glasses.
"Remember when your beloved brother was under the attacks of the thugs, and you were so useless to do anything." Yuuto continued to speak weird words with a dangerous grin on his face. Much as Philia doesn't understand why Yuuto is saying such words, it has a malice intent, and it appears to work as Presto suddenly stopped in his tracks, and his right hand dropped the Sanyouken, as it hit the floor with a heavy clunk, with his left hand clenching at his forehead.
"What… are you doing… Yuuto?" Presto's breathing also became heavy and slow, moments of coughing mixed in it.
"Remember that how much you had to save him no matter the cost, and as such, you had to sell your soul?"
Presto's eyes became wide opened, and screamed out a sentence, "Philia, don't come any closer to me! Run to Kirito!"
"Now, with more people wanting to hurt your beloved brother… sell your soul again to save him… won't you do that?"
Presto fell to the ground with both his hands on his head, gripping it as his headache grows, and screaming out at intervals, roars of a beast coming from his voice, seemingly ripping his mind apart.
"You demon, stop!" Philia couldn't stand it anymore, and she ran past Presto, lunging at Yuuto, ready to accept the orange cursor. But Presto's screaming stopped, as a blade shot past her, resting on her neck, and stopping her in her tracks. Tracking the blade, she looked back.
There is no mistake, the weapon is Sanyouken. The one who can use it is Presto. And he stood there, his blade just a centimetre away from her neck, extended all the way. A single move can prove fatal to Philia. And aside from his movements, his eyes, instead of the blue she was so used to, glows white, like no soul remains underneath that hood.
"What exactly did you do to Nao?" Philia angrily asked.
"Nothing?" Yuuto laughed at his obviously wrong answer as he stood up, retiring from his act, "Just a little mind controlling, or specifically, breaking Naoki so that he can be my puppet."
"What are you implying?" Philia stared at Yuuto, she took a small step, and the blade narrowed in, reminding her life is on the line.
"Let's just say that we had an unfortunate event, and that triggers his alter ego, one that specifically issued to protect me, because he is such a brother lover." Yuuto laughed at his crude humour again, "And if you are wondering, call me Lento."
"Lento… So you were the one who set all this up." Philia stepped back, "And told Ying lies that changed her perception."
"What can I say? I'm a genius. And both Naoki and Ying are great tools to control."
"But what is in for you to do all such things? You just make no sense at all."
"Maybe, but I have more important things to matter. As an official of the Laughing Coffin, I have to see that my guild doesn't wipe out completely." Lento got back on his two feet, shuddering his shoulder as he walked towards the girl.
"Nao, Naoki!" Philia ran back to the now silent Presto, shaking him forcefully, "Snap out of it! Wake up!" But the swordsman stood there, his body is limb, flailing as he was shaken by Philia. After a few shakes, however, Philia pried his face mask and hood off his face. His eyes are Presto's no more, but a pair of cold eyes with the white iris, seemingly soulless, and expressionless. As if the one Naoki Philia knew is dead, an unexplainable force is controlling his body.
At least, those eyes are not Naoki, or Presto's.
"Who are you?" Philia let go of the swordsman, staring at his blank face in fear, "You're not… you are not Naoki…"
Without Philia noticing, the other girl of the duo, Alexia took her and tied her hands up from behind, and Philia didn't struggle, still recovering from the shock by the occurring events.
"Now, shall we take a small walk, brother?" Lento casually put a hand on Presto's right shoulder with his left hand, the other covering his face as he strides away with Presto, laughing yet again at his terrible humour.
"Naoki!" The shout of Philia echoed throughout the room, but what replies her was only the swaying figure of his body.
"Naoki…" a single tear dropped from her cheek, without her noticing.
