Chapter 32 Ch 30: A Bad Encounter [Pt2]

‘Shit, where did those two go? They are kids. They should not be able to travel this fast.’

In hindsight, Horas realized that it would have been better to inform an adult about what happened and get their help.

Even if there was more than likely a chance that he would be held accountable for what happened, Howard and Emma would have been found out easily by now. But it was too late to go back and ask for help now.

“Just where did the kids go? Did they disappear into the city?”

Horas panted as he came to a stop. His legs were killing him due to all the running he had to do. He was parched so he headed over to the local park to find a water fountain.

Bliss filled his being once the sweet taste of water hit Horas’s mouth. He had not realized how parched he had been until then.

“-don’t trust you. Are you sure it’s safe?”

Horas heard the familiar voice of Howard and immediately took off. It had been a stroke of luck unlike any he had before.

“I am sure it’s safe. Why don’t you trust this big sister? I told you I was not helping you out for free so you can trust me, alright?”

Horas quickly walked out of the bush he had been hiding behind. His sudden presence startled the teenager and she almost yelled out loud.

Ultimately, she held her scream in and turned toward Horas with an angry expression.

“Fuck man, you scared me. Who are you? Another lost kid? Sorry, but I don’t have time to help you out here. I am too busy helping these kids out already. So you should go back and look for someone else to help you out, alright?”

The teenager tried to make Horas go away but Horas did not even pay her any mind.

He looked at Howard and Emma’s small faces and how they refused to look at him. It seemed they were still afraid of him for no reason.

“Howard, Emma, I am here to accompany you both back. And before you make assumptions, I am not angry at you for what happened before.”

Horas made his voice calm and pleasant. Howard and Emma looked uncertain but then they shared a look and took a step toward him.

“Y-You are not mad I painted your face? B-But others usually do not like it when I do that.”

Howard was a little hesitant when he stepped out. He looked and sounded so young that Horas was taken aback.

‘Ah right, Howard is a kid right now. I need to stop confusing him with the future protagonist all the time.’

“Yeah, I am not mad. Now come to me so that we can go back home. I am sorry miss, for all the trouble they caused you this far. I will take over their safety from here.”

Horas bowed in front of the angry teenager. Her face might have been blank but her aura flashed with a burning desire for destruction.

Eurike quickly stepped in front of Howard and Emma, effectively cutting their escape route. But despite that, she seemed to be glaring at Horas this whole time.

“You are still a kid, kid. And since I am a responsible person, I will not leave these two in your care. How can I know that you can protect them?”

Eureka was smart to hold her anger in. She knew she needed these kids and she also had the upper hand right now.

Even if the authorities were to interfere, they would side with her since she was a responsible elder in this case.

However, all her expectations came crashing down when the child in front of her refused to back down and pulled up his wrist. Light shined from it and showed a familiar logo along with an information screen.

“I am flattered by your concern, Miss. But I assure you that I am more than capable of taking care of myself and these kids. Since I am a student of the Esper’s academy, I can-”

“So what? Just because you belong to a fancy school, does that mean I should back down? Go to hell. Well, I only needed one of the kids so she will do.”

Eureka lost it once she realized that she no longer had the upper hand. She even picked up Emma and decided to make a run for it.

It happened too fast for Horas to react in time. By the time he realized what happened, Howard was running after Eureka and Emma.

‘Ah shit. I knew something bad would happen if I get tangled up with the protagonist. Why did Howard have to approach me and then run away?’

Things did not make much sense for Howard but he still decided to keep on following after Howard and Eurike. He did feel a little bit of responsibility for what happened.

They ran past the main city and into the abandoned area. It seemed charred and uninhabited for quite some time. Horas was sure that there had to be a reason Eureka had run out here.

[[[Warning: approaching an unauthorized F-class dungeon.]]]

“Shit, this is bad. Howard Spencer, stop right now.”

Howard either did not listen to him or he did not seem to care. Horas had to take hold of Howard’s hand to forcefully stop him from entering the dungeon. Eureka looked back at them before running into the dungeon, taking Emma inside with her.

‘This run-down place, this kidnapping case. Something is familiar about it all. But what am I not remembering.’

The more stress Horas put on his brain, the more he felt like he could remember writing something like this in the story.

“W-What do we do now? E-Emma was taken away. What will happen to Emma now?”

Howard was panicking as he struggled to get out of Horas’s grasp. Horas was getting tired of carrying the kid as well so he let the kid escape his grasp. But he did not let Howard run away once he was free.

“I know what you are thinking kid, but there is nothing you can do even if you go into that dungeon. The best course of action for us would be to go back and call for help-”

“But what about Emma? What will happen to her? What if Eureka hurts Emma?”

Howard’s fears were legit. Eureka did not feel like a good person and the chances of her being from the villain fraction were high.

‘But I cannot risk Howard’s safety like this. He’s the future protagonist, the hope of this world. He needs to live even if another character get’s sacrificed for him. Otherwise, I will never be able to go back home.’

Horas was a selfish person so he made a decision.

“Alright kid, let’s have a deal. I will go after Emma if you promise to stay here and call for help. I did send a message to explain to the orphanage what is happening so the police will be here soon. Make sure you go back with them.”

Horas stressed his words out but he could see that Howard was still worried.

“B-But I need to help. This is my fault-”

“This is not your fault. This situation is no one’s fault so don’t start. But if you do want to help, then stay out here for the police and tell them what happened.”

Howard looked taken aback by Horas’s sudden flare in temper. He looked hesitant but determined.

“A-Alright, I will stay here. B-But just until the police arrive, alright?”

Howard bargained but Horas was not worried. It was unlike that the police would allow Howard to go anywhere once he was in their custody.

Especially more so since Horas had messaged Jack Hollow as well and informed him what had happened. The elder man cared about Howard a lot and he would make sure Howard was alright.

“Alright Howard, it’s a deal then. Oh, and if anyone asks, my name is Horas. Make sure you give the police my name as well as this card.”

Horas handed over his identity card to Howard. The kid could likely not read it but the police would be able to identify him as an Esper student. It will help verify his claim of an emergency.

Howard looked conflicted but determined at the same time.

“A-Alright, I will do as you asked.”

Horas smiled a small smile before he entered the dungeon. Unlike the previous ones, Horas had no idea what he would be facing there but he was determined to save Emma.

She was an important character in the future and her father’s financial support would matter a lot.

Not to mention, her brother would play a big role in the future as well so Horas needed her to live if he could.

“Time to save the damsel in disaster. Man, I wish I will not have to do this anymore in the future.”

Horas stepped into the dark cave that started the dungeon and instantly felt the atmosphere change. The air was heavy and dry, and there seemed to be no light that penetrated the cave’s surface.

But despite all that, there seemed to be no loss of vision once you stepped in. it truly was a marvel - this dungeon.