Isekai Losers!

Vol. 2, Chapter 3: Ghost Busters!

"Show yourself!" Ivan demands, carefully observing the disorienting hot spring steam as it grew thicker and thicker.

The silhouette of a ghostly figure emerges from the steam, levitating right over the pool. Ivan narrows his eyes, trying to make out features of whatever creature that is.

After a brief moment of silence, another aggressive hissing noise fills Ivan's ears. The creature suddenly rushes towards him. Without hesitation, Ivan responds in kind, leaping towards the figure. He misses the creature, jumping through the thick steam, over the pool and slamming his head into the wooden fence.

"Huh?" Maya gets torn out of her state of relaxation by a loud thud. "Did you hear that?" she turns to Lynn.

"I did." the ranger affirms as she looks around suspiciously. "Let's see what's going on."

***

Ivan finds himself laying on the floor next to the wooden fence.

What the hell was I thinking..? I can't hit a ghost..

He groans, scratching his head. Though he quickly gets to his feet as the creature's hostile fizzling fills his head once more.  Completely perplexed and confused, he looks arounf, failing to find the silhouette in the endless fog.

It's hiding, of course it is. It has a massive advantage in this thick steam after all. It is only a matter of time until it strikes. Considering the situation, there's only one logical course of action... Tactical retreat!

His gaze locks on to the door leading out of the bath. He quickly bolts towards it. Immediately after, the hissing resumes, rushing after Ivan. His bare feet clap and splat on the wet floor as he runs. Just before he reaches the door, Ivan feels a warm sensation on his back which quickly turns into burning pressure. Before he can react, he is violently blown through the wooden door leading out of the bath and into the hallway. He slams into yet another wall before dropping to the ground.

"Augh..." Ivan turns on the floor, groaning.

A door near him gets pushed open as 2 girls wrapped in towels exit through it.

"Ivan!" Lynn cries out, discovering her floored comrade.

Soon after, a thick fog creeps out of the broken door Ivan laid next to. The ghostly figure follows, now clearly visible. Lynn and Maya could observe the levitating, puffy, transparent creature in all of it's glory, floating towards Ivan with malicious intent.

"G-ghost!" Maya shouts with fear all over her face.

"No you don't!" Lynn draws an arrow and quickly sends it flying towards the puffy beast. It goes right through, barely affecting the ghosts gaslike body.

"Ghh!" Lynn growls angrily at her failed attempt.

On the other side of the hallway appears Gabriel, holding his booklet. He gasps upon seeing the creature.

"Gabriel!" Lynn shouts. "Ivan! He's—"

Before she can finish, Gabriel runs away without uttering a single word.

"Wha...? Hey! Gabriel!!!" The ranger yells after him.

"Did Gabriel just run away??" Maya asks.

"I have to do something." Lynn states as she drops her bow and quiver. With resolve in her eyes, she dashes towards Ivan.

"W-wait Lynn! It's too dangerous!" Maya cries out.

Ignoring Maya's warning, she reaches Ivan, wrapping her arm around his torso while wrapping Ivan's arm around her shoulders. She takes a quick glance at the creature floating above her. It seemed to be made out of a gas only slightly thicker than the regular hot spring mist. Its face was completely featureless but she could feel it glaring at her. An aggressive hiss escapes its body as Lynn quickly jumps away.