Chapter 38: The "peaceful" forest
The morning sun bled through the blinds of the room as Riya groaned awake.
His body ached from last night — not from battle, but from the wild, heated night he shared with a certain captain.
He rubbed his lower back with a wince.
"Note to self… don't challenge a pirate to anything physical ever again."
Still, soreness or not, hygiene came first.
He shuffled off to the bathroom, one hand lazily scratching his head as he walked.
Water echoed from the other side of the bathroom door — the soft sound of droplets against tile, like a rhythm only a peaceful morning could compose.
Rin was in the shower.
She ran her fingers through her dark hair, down her shoulders, and across her smooth skin.
Her hands paused as they reached her thick curves — specifically, the part that had gotten her into trouble yesterday.
Her mind wandered.
That moment when she'd bent over for clothes and caught Riya staring…
She was angry.
But now, instead of anger, a soft blush crept onto her cheeks.
"Baka…" she whispered to herself.
Lost in her thoughts, her hand faltered — the bottle of shampoo slipped from her grip, falling with a soft thud near her smooth, shapely legs.
She bent over to pick it up — again unintentionally presenting herself in the most compromising position imaginable.
At that exact moment, Riya opened the door.
He froze.
Her thick backside filled the scene in front of him, glistening under the hot water, swaying ever so slightly as she moved.
His brain went blank.
He tried to look away.
Failed.
Dirty thoughts flooded in.
She's really… that thick?
But then Rin began to straighten up — and panic hit him like a truck.
"Oh no— not again—!"
Riya immediately channeled Jack's powers and used her — Presence Concealment and Agility — disappearing from the doorway like a ninja caught red-handed.
He was gone before Rin could even glance behind her.
Last time, she'd used a paperweight.
He wasn't about to risk what else she might throw next.
Not long after, the tension of the morning gave way to something more urgent.
Richard crossed his arms, his coat fluttering lightly as the capsule began to slow. "We're almost there," he said, glancing toward the glowing panel at the edge of the room.
"Second floor's coming into view."
Cú Chulainn stretched his arms, letting out a sharp breath. "Finally," he said with a grin.
"Hope you two got enough rest — things are gonna get rough fast."
Fuma Kotarou nodded silently in agreement, already checking the edges of his weapons.
Riya met Rin's eyes for a second — whatever tension still lingered from earlier vanished under the weight of what was coming next.
They both turned toward the capsule door.
Time to move.
Richard, Leonidas, and Fuma Kotarou stood at Riya's side.
Rin approached with Cú Chulainn, Fergus, and Darius.
The capsule doors opened to reveal the second floor.
What they saw was nothing like before.
A massive, vibrant forest stretched in every direction — a sea of green trees, vines, and tall grass under an emerald sky.
The air was fresh, the sun shined gently through the canopy, and birds chirped in the distance.
It looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Riya's eyes narrowed.
He knelt slightly and channeled Atalanta's powers.
His awareness sharpened, every sound became clearer — and then, his body moved on instinct.
"GET DOWN!"
He tackled Rin to the side, just in time for a bullet to fly past where her head had been.
The forest's peace shattered.
Cú and Leonidas immediately stepped forward, shields and spears at the ready.
Richard and Fergus drew their blades, slashing incoming projectiles with precision.
Bullets and arrows began to rain from hidden angles.
Meanwhile, Riya was still on top of Rin — his left hand resting firmly on her thigh, the right braced beside her head.
One of her hands clutched his back… and her other hand?
It was pressed on top of his head.
Their faces were dangerously close.
Their lips were a breath apart.
And, to his surprise… she didn't seem to be pulling him away.
If anything, she was pushing him closer.
Just as their lips were about to touch—
A thick green fog burst around them.
Both of them jolted back, cheeks flaming.
The mist clouded their vision — slightly toxic, just enough to mess with their senses.
Not good for most.
But ideal for an Archer.
From the treeline, a voice rang out:
"Yew Bow!"
A glowing red arrow sliced through the fog.
Riya turned just in time to see Fuma leap in front of him — and take the hit.
The arrow pierced his chest.
His body spasmed… then stilled.
Yew Bow — a cursed arrow crafted from Sherwood Forest's deadliest tree.
It didn't just pierce.
It amplified any poison already in a target's body — exploding it from within.
Fuma's body hit the ground hard.
He was gone.
There was no time to mourn.
"Retreat!" Riya ordered.
The group began to fall back into the deeper woods.
But as they moved, another shot rang out.
Darius was hit — right between the eyes.
Another Servant gone in a blink.
The group ran for what felt like hours, never stopping.
Bullets and arrows chased them, only kept at bay by Leonidas' shield and Cú's spear, both Servants using every ounce of strength to protect their Masters.
Eventually, a voice called out from the mist.
"Over here! Quickly!"
A girl stepped from the fog, her white cloak fluttering, gold-lined edges shining faintly.
They had no other choice.
They followed.
Through tangled roots and broken paths, she led them to a village hidden at the edge of the forest — quiet, small, forgotten by war and time.
They caught their breath.
Finally, Riya turned to the girl. "Who… are you?"
She lowered her hood.
"I am Rani VIII," she said calmly, eyes gleaming with mystery. "And if you want to survive this floor — you'll need my help."