Back to Red Rose's Perspective

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My mouth let out an instinctive groan as the pain creeping into my veins whisked inside of me. Grumbles that came from outside resounded beside me, which I could only guess that it came from the weather. Despite the rain continuing to drip from above, no water touched my skin.

I could only guess that I was inside a cavern or a shack. If I was here, somebody must have dragged me inside to safety.

Footsteps came close beside my ears, walking in each direction, fiddling with something I did not know. After some time, metal plates and containers clashed against each other, with a sizzling sound coming afterwards.

"Mmgh"

My mouth let out another sound that I could not control. That person moving elsewhere inside this room must be doing something on my body.

Someone with a pointed object injected my skin, making my legs twitch without my consent. That needle went deep through my skin and hit my bones and my muscles. It felt like thousands of damned needles puncturing me all over my body. I knew nothing about the occurrence, and my body quivered every time an item wounded my skin.

"GAH!"

"....?"

"...."

Silence filled the room as I recognised the sensual feeling covering my body.

Instead of feeling pain, pleasure enveloped my skin. My mind finally became at ease, as if I was drifting with the clouds way up the skies. Every prick of my arm, a tingling sensation of delight, covered my mind. There was no blood, or any violence of some sort. Just needles.

If there were a word that could describe it, I would call it heaven. Heaven meant to massage my inner cells, dying inside of me.

However, it became difficult for me to accept that I did not die from that battle. I remembered everything before sleeping like this and waking up.

I knew a bullet pierced right through my chest. I even saw it with my own eyes, as it would destroy my lungs. The last thing I saw before falling on the ground was Match's presence, conjuring a hellish firewall to block the projectiles.

"Match… Match!" I shouted, but I ended up coughing out blood.

The satisfying needles sticking in my skin turned against my body. All those euphoric madness became dreadful to me. As I peeled my eyes open, the girl that I was calling earlier welcomed me. Match was also sleeping on the right side of our make-shift mattress.

But who in Code did this? Who saved us from the brink of death?

"You came a long way, Red. I admire your bravery to complete your quest. It's giving me some profits, hmm?" The recognisable voice of a merchant greeted my ears.

As I raised my head, the jet-black cloak fluttered in front of me. The man, whom I already met a dozen times, addressed me once again. That dragonewt without a name walked close to me and flashed me with a grin.

"You're really something, Red. You even inspire me to become the best version of myself as a merchant yet!"

Just as the tradesperson told me that, a notification popped up in front of me. The system explained that half of my gold went to the merchant. It also explained that the merchant took it from me for mending both Match and my wounds.

[125 million gold coins will be deducted to your account, 250 million gold coins (platinum bar).]

[Your balance: 125 million gold coins.]

"... There go my 125 million gold coins," I reacted, and let out a laugh.

I did not mind losing all this money to the merchant. And besides, I could use my money to save Match and me. We needed medical attention, especially me, who took a bullet in the chest.

This merchant also took half of my wealth when we conversed in the garden. Taking one-fourth of my money would do nothing to me.

The system told me that a shell from those guns could kill anyone within one shot. After I saw that bullet flying over me, I thought I was dead meat. With all those blood splattering across my clothes, I knew I would never see the light for tomorrow.

But I had thought wrong.

"Thank you for saving us, merchant. You're always here when I need you the most."

"Save me the flattery, Red. You know I smell money everywhere you go. And besides, you're my rich client. I would not let my clients down, would I?" the merchant answered, and went towards the skin.

Judging by the tradesperson's words, he had more patrons than me. It was a good thing that he earned money while that merchant was away from me. However, there was a space in my heart that tingled out of jealousy.

I thought I was a special person, guided by this merchant. Well, I guessed I was not the only one getting all his attention.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"We're inside a shack from the village. During the assault, the players fired their bullets at these houses. The town went into chaos. It was a noble thing that I stopped by to help these innocent NPCs." the merchant replied, and went back to me.

He placed a bowl of steaming porridge and added flasks of health potions inside. After stirring the contents, the trader told me that the medicine and herbs he applied worked on my body.

"You could move your hands and feet, Red. But do nothing stupid just because you can move on your own right now. That body of yours could barely move an inch."

After hearing the merchant's warnings, I sat and turned my head over to the boiling rice. The smell of vegetables and berries mixed in the soup made my abdomen growl for more. My body ordered me to gulp it at once.

But I couldn't, since the plate was too hot for me to eat everything in one scoop. I had to make slow intervals to eat the porridge.

Match was also right on time to join me with my meal. As the little girl moaned, I gingerly placed the bowl at the side and embraced my adorable Match. I did not care if I woke up the girl. As long as I hugged her tight, my heart would rest in peace (but not dead).

"Ouch… Hot, hot! Burning!" Match croaked, as I squeezed her using my arms.

My skin touched the rough surfaces of Match's body, telling me that something must have gone wrong. I checked Match skin and found out that the flames burned most of her body parts. The only thing that the fire did not reach was Match's face. The rest of her body turned into brown, grey, or black.

"... Match."

"Don't look at me… I'm hideous." Match said, and covered her face, using her hands.

Because of the spell that she used, the flames that Match controlled also devoured her body. It crisped everything and left nothing on her skin. The colour of her scar became Match's entire mass, painting her with a different colour.

However, despite her words, I continued hugging her back. I never let go of the weeping Match, whom I considered my sister, unrelated by blood.

"There, there, Match. A little stain won't make me hate you." I said, and let out a smile.

Match thought that her burnt body would make me see her in a different light. But it was the other way around.

"I'm really grateful for saving me back there. Although you burn your body, I'm still thankful that you arrived and finished those players for me. Promise me you will never overuse your ability again, alright?"

"Do I have to keep my powers and protect you? I want to be there for you, Red!"

I gave Match a nod and embraced her tighter than I ever before. I did not want to restrict Match from fighting against the players. If I were up against those players, I would lose. My abilities and experiences cannot keep up with those soldiers we fought from before.

"I am powerless without you, Match. Of course, you can stay by my side. Just always remember my advice…"

"Don't overuse my powers. I got it, I got it, Red~. Sheesh."

After our exchange, a knock on the door alerted everyone inside. A soft voice came afterwards, asking for permission to enter the shack, which Olivia already owned.

"You can enter, Olivia. And nobody is trying to stop you from going inside," I said, and joked around.

With a heavy sigh, she entered the room and met my eyes. She knelt beside me and gave me a warm hug, but not as warm as Match did earlier. A tear fell from her eye as she spoke her refill to me.

"I'm so worried…. about you! Don't you…. ever do that again, okay?"

"I get it, I get it. But thanks to you and your vines, we all made it out safely outside!"

The merchant stepped foot into our conversation and cleared his throat. All of our eyes stared at the cloaked man as he opened his mouth.

"Match and Red, the two of you should leave this place before the players invade this village again."