Blood Of Platinum
Chapters 18. Gems in the Night World bag. 3

Kino and Ryou run following the source of the severed roots towards the tall tree in front of them. Starting from the area where they were now to the street in front of them, all that was visible on each side were roots and vines with few leaves, in contrast to the scenery before this area. They didn't pay much attention to it because nothing really mattered. Their main focus is to be quick

headed to the tree in front of them, but somehow they took longer.

“What happened?! I feel like we're not moving from here at all. Every time we ran, the huge tree seemed unchanged from a distance. It's been over ten minutes, right? Why is this so?” Ryou complains while running

“I don't know. Whereas before I could find Ryou easily just by following the source from where this root came from. But now for some reason since this root broke off, I feel like we're not at all getting close to that tree at all”

“Then this continues will not be able to arrive. I really feel a bad feeling about that tree”

They kept running until they were out of breath because they were tired. This was actually worse than they had thought because right after the soft root had been cut off, they were so as if just running to the same place over and over again. Disconnecting the roots is like deciding the only clue for them to get to the big tree.

“Sial!! At a time like this, you can't do anything! Let alone the clues to find a way back to Japan, we ourselves have no possibility of meeting Kaito in a state of fine!! Kino, was there nothing you found while still following this root?”

“I've been looking for it but there's nothing I've found except leaves near bridge”

“Daun?”

“Yes, because I thought it might come in handy so I picked it up some. I brought it with me”

“You found the leaf and brought it? For what use are the leaves at this time, my genius brother? Ah...I don't know what to tell you.” Ryou looks so depressed.

But that expression changed.

“Wait first. Kino, try showing the leaves”

Kino took out a cloth that wrapped the leaves and showed it to Ryou.

“I used a tear from my clothes to wrap it. The reason I picked it up was because some of the leaves looked similar to the leaves of the flowers that we came from. I thought it was weird so..”.

“Sorry Kino, let me think for a minute”

Ryou picked up the cloth containing the leaves while looking around to see the vines surrounding the place.

Some vines in buildings, roads and those wrapped around the roots of plants do have leaves with unique shapes. Things that have not been strange since the appearance of those who managed to turn the city into a forest.But the more they ran, the road where they ran the more damaged with a lot of big roots, the more they run, the vines are also getting more and more but have fewer leaves.

Ryou was not sure of that strange thought. It's just that in conditions that can already be said to be abnormal, as small as anything that happens there could be a clue.

“Do you think this has anything to do with the reason we haven't even gotten there yet, Kino?”

“What do you mean Ryou?”

“Try seeing this place. Isn't it getting weird?”

Kino still does not really understand the words of his sister. He tried to pay attention to the place. At first glance nothing has changed. But looking at Ryou's face, Kino felt he had to make all the strange possibilities make sense. The little thing in that place is a clue, it sounds like the words of the detective in the anime but with their abnormal circumstances, it might just be true.

After a while, he began to realize the meaning of the sentence.

“Plants propagate it..begin to have a little leaf.”

Ryou nodded his head in agreement. Kino started repeating everything that happened. The vines found by him on almost all roads had very many leaves. However, ever since he followed the severed soft roots he saw the number of leaves around him getting fewer and fewer.

“Ryou correct. It's a little weird. But, does that mean we are not on the right path or vice versa?”

“I don't think this is the right way. We can no longer rely on this root. It might take some time and won't be able to easily find the right path, but it's much better than spending power running around in circles like this”

“Then according to Ryou, where should we go?”

They looked there. There was only a straight path with no turns at all. Since they could only choose between going back or advancing forward, they still chose to run forward. According to them, turning around and returning to where it was before was also not helpful. Kino looked at the pocket watch in his hand and the time showed it at 03:15. It's only a few hours until sunrise. Ryou keeps the wrapper with the leaves in his pocket and they decide to run straight ahead.

As long as they ran, they had not found any turns. Not long after, they saw an alley.

“It..”.

“This is the only turn we found here. I have not believed in that straight path since we have not come at all towards that big tree. I feel like we should turn here. How, Kino?”

“I understand. We take this road”

In that narrow alley, the vines around the place started to look different from before. Seen some of them began to show a lot of foliage like places before.

“I've guessed the road that was not normal” Ryou spoke confidently

“But isn't taking this path also not necessarily true? I mean, that tall tree so it's in the direction next to ki–”

“……!!!”

Their steps stopped. They stopped with shocked and pale faces.

“Ryou, how can this..?”.

“That big tree looks right in our front direction now.”.

The forest seemed to have a puzzling magical power. This time, the distance of the tree changed increasingly closer as they dashed closer to him. They weren't wrong this time.

After just a few steps, they were immediately presented with an unusual sight from the one they had seen in the forest before. They see unusual things there.

“Ryou, look at that. Lots of bunga”

“Why can there be so many flowers in this place?”

Ryou crouches down, picking up the cloth package containing the leaves that his brother took. He noticed the shape of that leaf and plucked the leaves from the vines together some flowers from the vines, “[White Vine Flower].

“This one is really [Black-Eyed Susan]. On one of the leaves I found, I had seen the leaves of this plant. What do you think of this road Ryou?”

“Only this place has flowers. I think we're almost there. There is no time to notice the leaves and flowers here. We have to go Kino” immediately

Finished with the ‘th event of picking flowers in the garden’ and throwing away all the things in his hands, they ran again. This time, it was not the sight of the flower garden anymore that he saw. Root everywhere with everything else ahead there as an interesting spectacle.

“Kino, look at that!!” Ryou pointed at something above the roots of the tree

“Kaito-san..It's Kaito-san!!”

“He fought with strange creatures. Whatisit? A tree monster?”

“It's not time to care about it, Ryou. We have to help Kai–”

Unfinished Kino said what she wanted to say, they saw Kaito being stabbed by a long root whip in the right chest and unable to stand up to fight back. The weapon in his hand fell off. Both men

the one who saw it instantly turned frantic and shouted calling out his name, but there was no reaction from him as if their voices did not reach him.

“Kaito!!! Oh...Kaito!! Shit, he really doesn't hear us. If it was like this, that strange flying root would stab him again!”

“Ryou, we have to help him!! However, with the distance so far we can not get on time. What should we do?” Kino turned pale and panicked to see Kaito getting cornered

“This cannot be allowed, Kaito can die if it continues this way. Kino, I'll run there first. Please lend me all those dagger knives, now!!”

“I understand. Make sure Ryou helps Kaito-san and doesn't get hurt. This shield, take this with you too. I'll catch up as soon as I can”

Kino gives Ryou all the weapons he has. Quickly, he ran. He didn't take long to jump over all the roots blocking his path and add speed to get to Kaito's place. After all the running activities he did, Ryou still had that much energy to run. Kino tries to catch up to him but can't be as fast as Ryou, so he believes his sister has a plan for it. While running,

Kino took out two bottles of medicine that were in her cloth bag in preparation to treat Kaito.

Ryou had already tried to run as fast as he could but when the distance with Kaito was only a few steps away, he saw the root was about to attack the helpless Kaito.

“I don't care this knife hit any part of that root, as long as it can inhibit and fend it off...it doesn't matter!!”

With quick reflexes, he made a bet by throwing the knife and his accuracy was not bad. The knife managed to thwart the attack of the root whip and made him turn the direction.

“Kaito!!”

“……!!!”

Ryou yells at Kaito while running in front of him to protect him. Kaito looked at that with a surprised expression that could not be hidden anymore, the look from his eyes widened. Unable to utter any words, Kaito only looked at the figure of the back before him who was already preparing with his sword and shield. From the back, Kino finally arrived and immediately crouched down to give the medicine to Kaito.

“Kaito-san!!.... Kaito-san your wound is so bad. Quickly, drink this” Kino give the medicine

Kaito who was still enduring the pain drank it without saying anything. The blood on his chest continued to flow until it made his robe and clothes become full of bloodstains. Kino glanced to the side and her face turned pale as she looked at the cloth bag with the broken bottle Kaito had there. Kino also saw what was waiting in front of him. There were nine tree monsters preparing to attack them at any moment.

‘All the drugs Kaito-san brought.all were destroyed by the monster attack. Kaito-san fought with the dangerous creature until it was injured this badly. It's not good, we're totally cornered. Besides those roots that can lengthen it is another serious problem’

What Kino had in mind was true. Looking at the injuries Kaito experienced proved that a little mistake could be fatal. If you can not quickly dodge while trying to survive it will be the same fate as Kaito.

“Don't keep being here. It's dangerous for you. You two... should get out of here”.

Ryou who heard that felt extremely irritated by Kaito's cold demeanor.

“Oi! We're trying to help here. If you are a little late, you will get an honorary title in the form of the word ‘deiang’ in front of your name!. At least say thank you to us. You don't know we've been circling around obscurely in that forest, did you!”

Kaito did not say anything, tried to hold back his sword and stood up. He walked slowly until now changing positions with Ryou. Now he stood in front of Ryou again and prepared to attack.

“Oi!! I told you we were trying to get–” Ryou annoyed and talked to Kaito in a high tone

“This has nothing to do with you two!!!”

Before his words were finished, Kaito shouted loudly without seeing the two people behind him.

“……!!!”

Kino and Ryou were very surprised to hear that. It's not like the Kaito they knew a while ago. Ryou who had seen his eyes also thought to himself, ‘who is the person beside me now?’. It's not without reason. Highlight his eyes like a cold-blooded and thirsty hunter would kill everything in front of him. He seemed to be unconcerned with the two people behind him.

Kaito threw his bow and arrow down and ran without looking in any direction. His focus was only on the opponent in front of him.

Kino can only go silent without a word due to the shock and Ryou becomes even more irritated to see Kaito ignore her. Although upset, she runs to help Kaito even though Kaito's words are enough to make him angry this time. The arbre soldat continued to attack using his root sword, but all of that did not worry Kaito. He felt his injured chest begin to improve little by little and that made him even more intensely attack.

Kaito's movements simply cannot be matched by Ryou, as if Kaito is indeed fighting on his own without needing anyone's help. Every now and then, Ryou slashed at the tree monster using his sword and repelled his attacks by throwing a dagger in his hand, but still all the attacks continue to be dominated by Kaito's attacks on the monster until their number decreases and there are three left.

“Set out of there!! This time I won't let it escape, I'll get the jewel!! Don't block me!”

Kaito yelled while fighting against the soldier's arbre endlessly. Before they used their left hand to pull out the root whip, Kaito quickly slashed it and continued by splitting them into two halves. Kino had heard the sentence Kaito shouted and noticed the big tree.

‘There is something glowing there. Could it be the gem that Kaito-san is looking for!’.

Kino shouted towards Ryou, “Ryou!! Please help Kaito-san divert the monsters' attacks. Kaito-san should be able to reach the tree in front there!!”

“What did you say just now?!” Ryou asked because it was difficult to hear all the words of the older brother earlier. It was because he was still in the middle of fighting against that tree monster.

“In the middle of the tree was something shining. It had a purple light. It must be the gem that Kaito-san is looking for. Whatever happens, help him to get there!!”

Ryou looked at the big tree and it turned out to be true, something was in the middle. It resembled a gemstone and had a purple colored light. Without wasting any time, Ryou ran after Kaito. Kaito, who was defending his opponent's sword attack, was startled by a knife stuck in the monster's head. He finally looked back.

“Why...” with a flat face and sharp eyes, Kaito looks back.

He saw Ryou running trying to chase after him.

“That's the last knife I have. Now let me take care of the rest and quickly grab that gem!!”

“……!!”

“Don't shut up, you fool!!. That's the memory you're looking for, isn't it? If it's until sunrise and all gone, you'll take a very long time to get it back!!”

Kaito did not say anything and went ahead towards the tree. Seeing Ryou and Kaito struggling makes Kino feel he must also help. Kino stood up and ran to pick up the bow that Kaito had thrown away some time ago. Because it has no other weapons other than this, inevitably he who has never shot before must be able to work on something. Before running, Kino saw what time it was from the pocket watch

hers.

“There are two more hours until sunrise. If Kaito-san manages to get the gem it will all be fine. I hope we make it, even though either my hunch says something else will happen”

The last monster is defeated by Ryou. He immediately followed Kaito who was already running far in front of him. Only a few more meters left to reach the center of the tree where the jewel is located but still the remaining time is still not satisfied to play with them and want to enjoy it a little longer.

‘World night’ really wants to enjoy other exciting shows. This time, the invited creatures were not few. They were a group of herds of [Scyther Mantis], little green locust monsters with sword-like cutting weapons on both of his arms. In addition, the number that came to appear reached dozens, it could not even be estimated how much the exact number of the creature was.

“Sucks!! This place really cannot let us all breathe a sigh of relief huh?!” Ryou looked up while raising his sword

Kaito is completely overpowered by emotion. Can't control his emotions and just attack blindly without caring about the mantis' attacks. The wounds that had healed due to the medicine were finally recreated. The Mantis group did not provide any gaps and carried out simultaneous attacks such as unilateral braking.

“Kgh!! Don't block me!” Kaito attacked them with a sharp look

Kino tries to help them by shooting arrows from his bow. Using a weapon he had never used before made everything he did look futile. He shot a child

the arrows were three times and no one hit the target. His position that was the rear without defense was the most open to be an easy target for the green grasshopper and it turned out that was exactly what happened.

Kino, who had failed to fire his arrows, was the target of a swarm of mantis with two swords. Those at the top swooped down sharply and attacked him. He tries to avoid

shot his arrow back in a hurry, hoping that his random attack hit one of the many that came. But, that mantis attack was unavoidable.

-TRANS.SLAAASH.

“Aakh!!” Kino shouted loudly

The attack hit his hands and waist and made scratches on his thighs and calves. Blood started to come out from every wound he received and his body fell to the ground as a result of his aching legs and unable to maintain his balance. Not only that, the mantis spun right above his head and swooped once more to finish him off this time.

“Kino!!”

From a distance, Ryou who heard Kino's scream and saw him hit by the insect attack shouted and turned to attack the herd of mantis behind. Kino who was still unable to get up saw the herd of mantis started to swoop sharply at him and with the rest of the strength while enduring the intense pain, she pulled back her arrow. This time, he managed to hit one tail. But the rest still came swooping towards him.

Kino could only resignedly see it until from a distance there were two knives flying about two of them and made the mantis attack stop. They looked back and instantly a long slash split the rest of the mantis group into two halves.

“Kino!! You're all right?! Lukamu....” Ryou looks pale until he talks stammering when he sees all Kino's wounds.

“I. Why did you turn around and come back here?. Didn't..I asked you to help Kaito-san?” Kino also could not speak fluently due to the pain from his wound

Earlier, when Ryou heard the sound of Kino's screams being injured from being attacked by a herd of mantis, he turned around and ran while taking the time to grab two daggers at the tree monster's corpse with

quickly and without waiting directly throw it as a diversion attack. After which, he immediately ran then jumped up and slashed at all of them. He's glad everything worked out. But, he was late in preventing Kino from getting hurt. His face was instantly pale and his body could not stop trembling in fear.

“Kaito can handle it all. But your wound is very serious!! Medication... The cure is still there, right? Let me get it in your pocket” Ryou took the wound medicine in the cloth bag on Kino's belt

When he took it, he could not stop his trembling hands. He could not stop blaming himself inwardly for failing to protect the older brother.

‘It's my fault. Had this shield stayed with Kino and I didn't accept it he wouldn't have been hurt like this. What will protect?. I let him get hurt!!’

Kino took the medicine given by Ryou and patted his trembling hands. Instantly Ryou's eyes were fixed on Kino's eyes looking at him with a serious expression.

“I chose to fight together, not to be unilaterally protected by Ryou. I'm your brother and I'm the one who's supposed to protect my sister. Don't blame yourself just because I hurt”

“……”

“In addition, in front of there Kaito-san has found the thing that she had been looking for all this time. It's not time to stop and worry about me. If Kaito-san manages to get her memories, we might as well find a clue to return to Japan. Don't waste your time here. I'll be fine. Go and help Kaito-san again”

“I won't let you get hurt again!”

“Ryou!!” Kino called him in a high tone

“....Recover this shield to you. Don't you dare refuse me because you also forced me to do your wish, understand!!”

Kino smiled with a face that was still pale. Ryou looks doubtful but he has no choice but to go back to the front helping Kaito face the rest of the mantis herd. While occasionally looking back, his chest hurt. There was something unpleasant and it was getting worse, as if something terrible was going to happen to him.

Kino could already feel the effects of the medicine working and the wound began to close little by little. He looked at his cloth bag and there were only two medicine bottles left in it, the others were only poison and antidote. If it is like this, just wait for the sun to rise for some futility or fight to the death for the jewel.

******

Kaito who fought fiercely with a herd of mantis could not continue to survive. The wounds were numerous and the blood did not stop flowing. The sweat marks he endured the pain also soaked his face and body, but he continued to force himself to attack with the look of his eyes that were still eager to unsheathed his sword did not stop. The mantis attack was indeed difficult to resist because both of their hands formed swords. Even so, retreating was an impossible word Kaito would do, moreover it was only a few meters away until he could retrieve the purple gem.

‘I found it. I finally found it after a long search. It's a piece of my memory, I can feel it. They tried to take it from me. If the sun rises and I can't touch it, I can only wait until this place is recreated and I don't want that to happen. I'm sick of this place, I'm sick of this ‘world tonight’. I'm sick of relying on my luck that hasn't sided with me since coming here. I'll take it this time. What should be mine, I'll call all that!’

His resolve is round. But, how long he can last it will be another story. No normal human could survive the onslaught of insect monsters in large numbers continuously. These three people were not overpowering characters that had healing magic or body strengthening magic. They are ordinary humans who are forced to rely on luck, existing weapons and desperate conditions to bring out the hidden potential within them.

The herd of mantis left in front of Kaito was still very much as if it had never run out. Not finding the best way to instantly annihilate all of them, Kaito only relied on his strong determination. From

behind Ryou managed to catch up to him back and together, they continued to defend while fighting against the group of mantis.

**

Kino, who was able to stand up, walked slowly to pick up the dagger that stuck in the corpses of the two mantises. At least he had two types of weapons and one shield. He realized he was the weakest in the matter of fighting. But if he just threw a knife, he could do well.

The attention of the mantis was fixed on the two people in front of him so that he was not in a dangerous situation. He used this to see his pocket watch back. His pocket clock shows at 04:25. Time feels so long. After putting the clock back in, Kino rushed off to help. This time he tried to adapt to his arrow bow and was determined not to become a hindrance to the two people in front of him.

Until things suddenly started to change.

******