Novel Bin
Chapter 397
Chapter 397. [Karma Comes Around]
《――I’ve come to save you.》
How long had I been waiting to hear those words?
The tension that had been stretched to its limit snapped, and a sound that could have been either a scream or a sob spilled from the depths of my throat.
Tears streamed down uncontrollably.
The female soldier gently patted my back, as if to reassure me.
“I... I... I’ve been... waiting for so long... for help......”
《......Yes, ......yes!》
Even though she probably didn’t understand Japanese, she kept nodding at my words.
There were so many things I wanted to tell someone.So many painful, difficult, and sad things.
Even so, I had fought desperately all alone.
I had wanted to watch VTubers, but I held back and tried my best.
But now... no, wait!
“Excuse me!? 《Was there another woman!? Is she safe!?》”
《Wait a moment...... Yes, I heard she was safely rescued too. She’s receiving treatment now.》
《Th-thank goodness...》
She checked her communicator and relayed the information to me.
The female secret service agent had also been rescued.
《Oh, and the villagers! They fought to help me escape!》
《Don’t worry, there were no casualties. We’re treating the injured as well.》
《And then, and then... Jaguar helped me too...》
《Ja-Jaguar!? That’s...... I’m sorry, I’ll have to check on that.》
《I-I see. And then......》
《Calm down a little!》
《S-sorry.》
《No, I’m not angry. .........You really are as kind as they say.》
《?》
《From the moment you started talking, all you’ve done is worry about others. But at a time like this, you should think about yourself first.》
That wasn’t my intention, but...
Maybe it had just become a habit.
Living here, I had realized that I couldn’t survive alone.
So, all of this was about me. It was part of my story.
Still......... if I could afford to be selfish, there was only one thing I wanted to ask.
I turned to the female soldier.
《Um... what’s the date today? How long were we stranded?》
《Today is February—》
“――GYAAAAAH!?”
I screamed when I heard that.
The soldiers around me stirred, asking what was wrong, but I couldn’t care less.
February? That means I’ve missed countless streams, hasn’t it!?
I knew it, but having it laid out like this was a huge shock.
《Um, do you have a smartphone charger!? I need it right now!?》
《Got it, I’ll arrange it. You want to contact your family, right?》
《Huh?》
《......Isn’t that it?》
《Ah, no!? I mean, of course!?》
It’s not like I forgot about everyone while facing the VTubers.
No way, no way.
But, you know... you get it, right?
It’s unavoidable, it’s instinct!
《Oh, by the way...》
While waiting for the charger, I asked her a question.
Something one of the attackers had said earlier had been bothering me.
《Um, they said they were originally going to kill me, but decided to capture me instead... because “the situation had changed”. Did something happen while I was stranded?》
《I see. You don’t know yet.》
《Huh?》
《Right now, the world is.........》
【――It’s all YOUR fault!】
Just then, a scream rang out.
One of the attackers had started causing a commotion.
Our eyes met.
I felt my vision narrow.
“......tsu.”
I knew him.
I can’t remember most people’s faces, but I recognized him instantly.
The man who had shot me dead in my past life and tried to kidnap Angu Og.
He was part of this attack too.
《It’s okay.》
Perhaps the fear that had been stirred up showed on my face, as the female soldier shielded me.
I thought to myself――maybe this is what they call karma.
【That time... that time, ever since you got in my way, everything started going wrong! I’ll definitely eliminate you! Enemy of my countryyyyy!】
【What!? You, what are you――!?】
Before anyone could react, the man had a gun in his hand.
The barrel was pointed straight at me.
The American soldiers immediately moved to shoot him...
Bang!
But a gunshot rang out a split second earlier.
Blood dripped down...... and he collapsed to the ground.
Not me――but the man who had killed me in my past life.
The area fell silent.
Looking down at him on the ground...... was another one of the attackers, the one who had fired the shot.
【......This is my way of settling things.】
I see, if that guy was here, it’s no surprise that... the other one was here too. He was also there when I was killed in my past life.
【I should have done this sooner. I’m sorry for putting you through so much fear.】
The American soldiers moved in, pinning the man who had shot his comrade to the ground.
He didn’t resist, letting go of the gun.
【How did it come to this? I just wanted to save my country――to save everyone.】
He smiled sadly.
With this, it’s really all over.............
《What!? This guy, he’s still alive......!?》
The man I thought had been shot dead was holding something else.
It wasn’t a gun, but something like a switch...... and someone shouted.
《Evacuate――――――!?》
【――Long live my country.】
《Iroha!》
The female soldier hugged me tightly as――the man exploded.
A loud blast, heat, and air violently struck my body, and a blinding light burned my retinas.
My vision went blank for a moment from the brightness.
My ears rang, and I couldn’t hear properly.
《......I......ha.........!.........Iroha! Iroha!》
The female soldier called out to me with a pale face.
Blood was flowing from her forehead and arms.
She must have shielded me.
“Are you okay!?” I tried to ask...
《Iroha, don’t move!》
No.
The female soldier wasn’t pale from her own injuries.
Her gaze was fixed on me.
More precisely, on my abdomen.
《Ah...》
I looked down at my body and realized it too late.
A piece of metal was embedded there.
There was no pain.
But my strength drained from my body, and I couldn’t stand anymore.
《Iroha! Iroha! Don’t fall asleep! Stay conscious! We need to treat you quickly!》
And just like that, my consciousness faded to black――.
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