– Phew... Yorna-sama...
Her back was burning, the wounds all over her body were responding with increasing pain, fatigue was accumulating. Her expensive horn was broken, and it didn't seem like something pleasant at all, absolutely. However, now is not the time to regret and stop. She runs, jumps, jumps forward endlessly, wanting to get to the place she remembers.
– Guh..!
Moreover, she has not only her own life in her hands, but also the life of a boy who is very indistinguishable from her in appearance. She's afraid for him, worried about him, trying to save him right now. Natsuki Schwartz... no, Natsuki Subaru, at the moment he is in her care, and the option of abandoning him is not even considered for her.
A terrible disaster struck Gladiator Island after the arrival of ambassadors from the capital. She wasn't able to stop it, and even Subaru, who had previously performed so well, couldn't stop it. That's why the shrinking bodies of gladiators, guards, and even animal demons were scattered here and there on the streets. Each of them fought for their lives in a short or long battle to the death. Their demise only indicates defeat in this battle, whatever it may be.
However.
– I'm not going to die.
– Heh... ha...
– And I won't let you die.
She was fast, but very careful not to hurt her companion, who clung to her back, although he did not want to. He no longer saw any meaning in life, but his instincts still screamed at him to continue clinging to his existence by any means necessary. And at that very moment, the doe girl Tanza was very grateful that Subaru was still alive and holding on, albeit with the last of her strength.
Her goal is to get off the island and return to Chaosflame. No, not even that. She needs to find her mistress Yorna-sama. However, she also cannot leave this boy who has done so much for her halfway. Come to think of it, he was the one who acted almost the whole time he was in this place. While her thoughts and few actions were saturated with the desire for a quick thoughtless escape, Subaru explored every thread around, gathered allies and tracked down opponents in order to use all these bonuses for his victory at the moment.
– I was careless..! Tch!
And suddenly she came to the goal. It didn't take long before she managed to run diagonally around the entire island to this point, where the control tower was located, controlling the bridge - the only way out of here. Fortunately, the entrance to this place turned out to be hacked by someone.
She had a premonition that she would find nothing here, that she would not be able to open the massive locked door. Because of this, we would have to move towards the office of the Governor appointed here, Gustav, who has already died. However, as a result, this was not required. A wave of relief washed over Tanza along with this revelation. Although there was also fear.
If someone broke into the entrance, then there may be someone inside. And if the entrance was hacked by a beast demon, then this is even worse, since she is no longer in the prime of her powers to fight with such a creature, especially with her ballast on her back.
– Ballast..? What am I even thinking about?!
In response to her own careless thoughts and doubts, the girl gently shook her head in different directions to bring the flow of her thought processes to the right course. She can't think so carelessly. Subaru has done a lot for her lately, supported her and gave her hope of winning. Even if all these efforts of the boy did not pay off, she could not say that he was bothering her. No, Tanza definitely had to protect him at all costs, even if her own life was in danger.
– I'm sure Weitz-sama, Idra-sama, and Hiain-sama felt the same way.
And it wasn't quiet inside the tower. A guard, just one, unaccompanied by animal demons or companions. His dark armor is smeared with blood, which most likely does not belong to him.
His weapon was ready to strike. But the body is as tense as it can be.
– I'm not going to die here!
He has already launched a mechanism that creates visible and audible changes noticeable to the island. But that's exactly what Tanza needed.
– Excuse me!
Apologizing for the inconvenience caused to her companion, she jumped away from the guard's too strong and careless lunge. He's too worried, too afraid, and too impatient, that's why...
– AAHH!
– I'm sorry!
This time, apologizing a little differently, she used the power granted to her to deliver a strong kick. There was a cracking sound followed by a squelching sound. A guard with reddened eyes full of pain and fear fell forward and did not get up.
– Uh... oh...
– Subaru-sama!
She had been careless, thinking of herself first and not of him. That's why soon the deer-girl took him off her back and, holding him in her arms, sat down, shifting the guy to the cool stone floor. So far there are no threats around, so she can give her back a little rest, but nothing more appears from this relief, because the excitement for the boy only increases. This feeling became especially strong after his warmth disappeared from her back.
– Subaru-sama...
He is wounded, weak and looks at her with pain. But this is not a physical injury, no, Subaru is still trying to come to terms with the loss of almost all of his comrades.
– I'm here, Subaru-sama
Pulling him into her arms, she let the warmth of intimacy wash over her. She felt something similar when Yorna-sama pulled her own small body into her even slightly scorching and embarrassing embrace.
And finally the movement of the gears stopped. The bridge finally rose. So it's time to leave, it's time to run!
– We'll get out, I promise. No, I swear.
This time, she gently took his body in her arms, as if he were royalty, and rushed forward to the bridge as carefully as possible. Her will was passed on to him, which is why he clung to life further.
He didn't want to give up himself, he didn't want to give up, but fate was against him, almost always. And now this deer-girl is sacrificing herself 100% for him, so you can not, in any case, you can not give up.