The Demon Saint is Missing, so I Ran to Another World

Battle of the School Hallways (Part 1)

**Maddie**

Well, Kuro did say to teleport us 'somewhere safe', so the first thing I thought of was the school's faculty room. I mean, it's a chaotic situation we're in, so I couldn't think that well...

"..."

But in any case, I guess this would do.

"!!!"

Once he's back to his senses, Kuro quickly covered the windows with anything his hands laid on. Then, he took some furniture, and barred every door with it. I was lost as to what he was doing, so I just watched him. But then, I remembered what I had to say...

"Kuro, there's something...I wanted tell you."

"Me too, Maddie. However, it'll have to wait until this is over," he kept on piling the covers and barricades on every entry point of the faculty room. I think the only place he left 'partially open' were the main doors.

"A-Alright..."

"I already instructed the paladins to keep the students and the teachers inside the classrooms, and cover the windows as well," he explained to me. "Lily and Lady Henristone will be searching the entire campus for that sniper, so I need to be with them once Lady Hawthorne and Dame Atkins comes here."

"Sniper?" I asked, a bit confused.

"Someone who can kill you from afar with a gun—I mean, a demon weapon," he pointed to the windows. "That's why don't remove those covers I set there, so they won't be able to shoot at you."

"Kuro...this is the work of that cult, right?"

"Well, I guess? I mean, we're dealing with a person who's armed with a weapon from my world, so yes, they might belong to that cult. And whoever that person is...he's deadly."

"This is what I fear..."

"Maddie, calm down. You're their target, and they're using me to lure you. I won't let that happen, so Lily and I would have to do something."

"What?" I was panicking.

"Listen, while we search for that guy, can you evacuate the students and the teachers by teleporting them from a safe distance? The paladins will escort them by class; stay in this room and let them approach you instead. Don't you ever leave your guards' side, okay?"

"B-But, what are you and Lily going to do?"

Kuro gently held my face and kissed my forehead, "Trust me in this, okay? We'll keep everyone safe."

I tried to control the torrent of emotions in my chest. The waves of fear and anxiety were overwhelming, but Kuro's calmness was reassuring, "Y-Yes, I'll trust you. Please be safe."

"Yep. I'll make those fuckers realize that this is a Chersean school, not an American one."

"H-Ha?"

"I'll tell you about it once I return," Kuro winked, before removing some of the makeshift barriers and opened the door for Lady Hawthorne and Dame Atkins' contingent. Then he gave instructions to them to frisk everyone entering this place, and let no one come near me, as soon as he leaves.

"Okay...I love you!"

"!!!" Kuro was surprised by what I just said. Nevertheless, he smiled, though I could tell it was full of sadness, and waved goodbye. In his mind, I saw his emotions were conflicted; he was happy, yet he felt like he still had to apologize for everything he said to me before.

Please don't, Kuro! I'm the one at fault here.

I remembered looking at his back until he disappeared to a corner. I remembered asking myself that moment, when did I come to rely on that back so much, even though I was a knight and a famous general of the armies of Nerfes?