8 - Joining the Battle

“H-hachisuka?” Once again I found myself in Hachisuka’s arms. 

“Master! Why can you come here with us?” Hachisuka’s voice filled with concern. 

“M-master? Are you fighting too?” Gokotai also flustered.

“Uhh, this never happened before… Why am I here too?” 

Hachisuka lowered me down and I stood on the ground. 

“Master, it's probably because you're awakened twice, or maybe because you already traveled with this machine before. We never knew it was a possibility, so I guess this is the side effect.” 

Hachisuka frowned and then unsheathed his sword. 

“For now, you can hold to this, Master, at least you need something to protect yourself,” 

Hachisuka put his sword scabbard on my hands.

I gripped the fancy gold scabbard in my hand. 

“Alright. Thank you, Hachisuka.” I held them close to myself. 

“Let's finish this battle quickly. Midare, can you scout the enemies?” Hachisuka turned to Midare.

“Sure thing! Since it's scary, why don't we take cover and move ahead stealthily?” 

Midare quickly moves to a higher place to locate the enemies. 

He came back soon enough. 

“Report, Master, I've located the enemies on that side!” 

Midare pointed to the North East. 

“Okay, let's go. Gokotai, you stay close to our Master. Protect her.” 

Gokotai was told to stay behind with me.

“Ye-yes! I'll protect our Master!” He nodded and grabbed my skirt. 

The tiger cubs are following him. 

“Thanks Gokotai, let's go.” I nodded and Midare led us to the enemies. 

“Well then! I'm going to wreak havoc!” 

Midare and Hachisuka entered the battle.

There are only 2 enemies that use short swords. 

Hopefully Midare and Hachisuka can take them on without getting injured. 

But, just before the battle started, suddenly a blue lightning struck down on the enemies. 

“What!? Why are they here?!” 

Hachisuka frowned and then he looked back at me, there was fear in his eyes. I instantly knew it was my presence that brought them here.Six big enemies are marching towards us. 

“Kebiishi–Justicar! They're not supposed to appear yet!” Midare trembled. 

Now we must defeat six big enemies. Once the battle has started, we can't pull back, then again, I'm here, so no one can stop the battle. The enemy with Oodachi swung his sword down to both Hachisuka and Midare. 

“Nooo!” I screamed, and then the enemies looked at me, there was a strange glint in their eyes. 

“So cruel... Messing me up like this…” 

Midare was immediately severely injured and knocked back. While somehow Hachisuka managed to dodge a critical hit and was just lightly injured. 

“Master! Go back now!” Hachisuka ran back to me. 

He sensed the enemies’ attention turned to me. 

“Hurry up, Master!” Hachisuka’s scream sounds so far away, my whole body is trembling and my feet are glued to the ground. 

Somehow, Hachisuka was able to reach me first before the enemies. 

“Get out from here, Master!” 

He reached inside my blazer's pocket where I put the Honmaru switch. He took out the switch and put it inside my hand. At that time, one enemy is raising his sword towards both of us. 

“No, Hachisuka! Dodge!” My voice cracked as I shouted so hard.

But instead of moving away, Hachisuka used his sword to block the attack. In the split second, his sword is shattered to pieces. One of the shards is flying towards my left cheek and blood is dripping down my cheek. 

“Ha-HACHISUKA!!!” I felt despair surged through my whole body.

Hachisuka turned to me again and used my finger to press down on the green button on the switch. 

“It's my loss... I wonder if with this... more and more counterfeits will become rampant... in the world… Master, let's meet again.” 

I felt light enveloped my body and the scene before me faded away. 

“No! Hachisuka!” I weeped when I saw his body was cracked and turned into dust. 

Everything happened so fast that I can't wrap my head around it. Tears streamed down my face and I sobbed hard. 

I found myself back in the small room in the Government of the Time’s building. 

“Hachisuka… Hachisuka…” I couldn't stop sobbing. 

I still clutched Hachisuka's sword scabbard in my hand. 

“No… Hachisuka…” I still can't accept that I lost my first sword. 

I kneeled and hunched my back down. I touched my cheek, there’s no trace of the wound I got in the previous battle. My body is totally fine, no scratch at all. Nothing could remind me of what happened today.For quite some time, I kept crying, until I composed myself. 

I understand crying won't fix the situation. I guess I'll go home first before checking my Honmaru again. I put Hachisuka's scabbard back into my sword bag. I spent some more time in the room until I completely stopped sobbing before quitting the room.

“Miss Shiromi, how was it?” 

The staff asked when I finally exited the room. 

“Uh yeah, I completed the tutorial just fine. 

I guess more or less I understand how to do the mission.” 

I nodded, not quite looking her in the eyes. 

“Oh, that's great to hear that. Please keep doing the mission. We advise you to go to Honmaru when you're alone.” The staff instructed. 

“I understand. Is that all? I just need to keep doing this from now on?” I asked for confirmation once more.

“Yes. If there is anything new, Konnosuke will guide you about it in the honmaru.” The staff guided me back to the front. 

“Okay, then. Thank you very much.” I bowed and went home. 

Actually I don't remember how I got home, but somehow I arrived at home just fine. 

“Maa-chan, are you not going to eat again?” My mom asked when I got home. 

“I already ate!” I answered and rushed back to my room.

That wasn't a lie, I did eat in Honmaru… with Hachisuka. 

I took out his scabbard from the bag, and I started sobbing again. I kept trying to summon him, but of course I failed. Konnosuke definitely said that I can get double swords, so there's still a chance to meet Hachisuka again. 

I also haven't come back to Honmaru after the battle, so I guess I'll go there again for now. I made sure to lock my door before going to Honmaru again. This time, I’m bringing Yagen to my current Honmaru. Hoping I can summon him there.