Drobada ignored the fellow who acted as though they were already old friends.
Instead, he wasted no time calling Dio:
"No good. Force won't break it."
"Then we'll have to go after the source... kill whoever activated the ability!"
Drobada explained in detail what he had seen outside the building, along with his conjectures about the enemy's ability.
"An ability like this can't possibly come without a price. Sealing off an entire building at once would also require a terrifying amount of aura."
"It has to be [restriction and covenant]..."
Dio calmly analyzed the enemy's ability. The most likely restriction for an ability like this was one that put its user in greater danger in exchange for a powerful effect.
What kind of restriction could that be?
There were too many possibilities. No way to pin it down...
"Hey, mister, are you trying to make a hole in this wall?"
A casual, boisterous voice suddenly came through the phone, interrupting Dio's thoughts.
That voice... sounded a little familiar.
On the other side of the wall, Drobada stared in surprise at the grinning San.
What was this guy up to?
"You have a way?"
"Yeah, I do. My ability can make a hole in this wall."
Drobada hadn't expected him to actually have a solution, and found himself filled with doubt and surprise.
This guy... was revealing his ability to someone he'd only met twice?
Was he an [Enhancement] user? But from his description of "making a hole," it sounded more like [Emission]...
"I get the feeling you're thinking something weird, mister..."
San narrowed his eyes, giving Drobada a suspicious look.
Drobada kept his expression unchanged and cleared his throat twice, wondering whether to let this fellow try. Just then, Dio's calm voice came through the phone:
"Dro, let him try. We don't have any other options anyway."
Dio had recognized the voice. It belonged to that reckless Nen user from the restaurant the other day. Reckless though he was, he probably meant no harm.
True. All they could do was try a last-ditch remedy.
Drobada sighed inwardly, then spoke solemnly:
"My friend, if you have a way, please give it a try and rescue our companions. We'll be sure to repay you afterward!"
San waved it off and grinned:
"No need for all the formalities. Just buy me a drink afterward."
With that, he strode decisively up to the wall, raised his right arm, and held his breath in concentration. The aura around him suddenly settled.
Then he moved, gathering a large amount of aura into his right fist and punching the wall as he roared inwardly!
Hey, open up!
Drobada's eyes suddenly widened. A blue glow enveloped the wall before him, then contracted into the shape of a door!
"Done! Got it on the first try."
San breathed a sigh of relief at the sight, then reached forward with a smile and pushed open the little glowing door.
However.
The moment he opened it, he froze. Staring at Dio and the two women inside, he cried out in astonishment:
"Huh? Why are there three people?!"
Dio immediately stopped himself from stepping through the doorway and asked in confusion:
"What's wrong with three people?"
A bead of cold sweat trickled down San's forehead as he explained:
"My [Hey, open up!] only lets one person go in or out, once per use..."
"What?"
Drobada realized the problem was far from solved. Only one person meant that, right now, just one of them could pass through!
"How many more times can you open this door?"
Dio frowned and hurriedly asked, only for San to give him an awkward smile:
"O-once... I can only open it once a day."
Dio fell silent for a moment. Behind him, the two women stared in shock at the door that had suddenly appeared, while also hearing what the man outside had said.
Although they couldn't understand how the door had appeared, he meant that only one person could get out now...
For an instant, Mumuzawa seemed to sense something. It felt as though the time had come for her to make a choice.
So she spoke, in a voice so calm that even she found it surprising:
"Miss Bokushin, you should go first. Mr. Dio will protect me, but he won't protect you."
It was a very reasonable answer. Since Dio would only protect Mumuzawa, letting Bokushin, who was actually in greater danger, leave first would improve their chances of survival.
But that reasoning only held if the two women had equal standing.
Perhaps Mumuzawa truly believed Dio could protect her under any circumstances, so she thought it was merely a matter of leaving a little sooner or later.
But Bokushin knew that was impossible.
The playful mood from earlier ebbed away like the tide. With the detached perspective of an observer, calm almost to the point of coldness, she analyzed the situation:
The guards' only duty is to protect the prince. My job is to bring back what Cheri wants...
The item has already been won at auction. In other words, my job is done.
Which means I have no value left...
Sure enough, after hearing Mumuzawa's words, Dio paused. He didn't even bother turning his head, merely exchanging a silent look with Drobada.
Then, in a flash, he turned, grabbed the Twelfth Prince, and shoved her through the door!
By the time Mumuzawa came to her senses, she was already standing outside. She hurriedly turned around, only to find that the door behind her had disappeared.
At that ill-timed moment, Drobada spoke:
"Your Highness, please return!"
Mumuzawa stood rooted to the spot, unable to say a word.
Only after a long while did she lower her head, grit her teeth, and say:
"I'm going to wait here..."
Drobada stood quietly upon hearing that, making no attempt to force the Twelfth Prince to return. He could hear the resolve in her voice, and that wasn't something a mere guard like him could change.
Then he turned and spoke softly to San, who stood beside him:
"Your name is San, correct? Her Highness was saved thanks to your ability. Thank you very much."
San waved a hand, indicating there was no need for thanks.
Inside the wall, Bokushin watched coldly, as though none of it had anything to do with her.
Then she turned her head.
And looked at that tall figure's back.
Next, he would go find that enemy alone, wouldn't he? He'd finally gotten rid of his burden, after all.
[What about me?]
She couldn't bring herself to ask. Whether it was some strange pride or a stubborn reluctance to beg someone for help.
What else could I do?!
Was I supposed to get on my knees and beg him to save me?!
Who would ever agree to that? Weren't people who could fly through the sky and burrow through the earth always utterly coldhearted...?
Besides, the person he was protecting was the Twelfth Prince, not me. Why would he make trouble for himself by bringing me along at a time like this?
The figure before Bokushin moved. Without a word, Dio turned and walked toward the passage they had come through, never once looking at her.
Heh. Looks like I really am going to die this time.
Seeing Dio turn away without so much as a glance at her, Bokushin laughed inwardly at herself.
It was normal for ordinary people to die after getting dragged into something like this, wasn't it?
What a shame. All I'd wanted was a peaceful life...
She refused to turn her head to watch Dio's retreating back. That would make her seem like a child, gazing reluctantly after her departing parents.
The footsteps grew more and more distant.
Bokushin suddenly felt a little cold. For some reason, her whole body began trembling. She clenched her fists, and her heartbeat started to quicken involuntarily.
Was I scared? It must be because this mist he released was too cold. That bastard didn't even know how to spare a thought for an ordinary person like me...
So cold.
Bokushin lowered her head. Her bangs cast a shadow over her face, hiding her eyes.
Now that I'd been abandoned, I could at least keep myself from looking too pathetic...
"Hey, what are you standing around for? Do you want to stay here?"
An indifferent voice suddenly broke the silence.
Huh?
Bokushin froze, then hastily looked up. At some point, that fellow had stopped walking and turned to look at her.
His gaze seemed to say he was looking at a complete idiot.
She suddenly registered what he had said. With a couple of flustered stammers, she scrambled after him.
Maybe I didn't have to die?
Bokushin still stared blankly at Dio's back as the feeling of having narrowly escaped death welled up within her.
She suddenly pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart was still beating hard, faster and faster.
Ahead of her.
Dio half closed his eyes and scratched his cheek.
After all, he had taken it upon himself to deprive her of her only chance to escape. And leaving her here alone would mean certain death.
To be fair.
He felt that simply walking away like that would leave him a little uneasy.
Consider it compensation for those two million Jenny.
Before you continue