Cid - Ten-Minute Death: Heartbreak Mob

The all-black blade plummets toward Rose. She can’t possibly defend herself with her magic restrained.

I kick a chair over and run.

“—…nr!”

Stop. Don’t do that. I process the situation at a breakneck speed, and the world around me slows down. I’m both exhausted and furious in this moment.

“…Aaaah!”

If this continues, she’ll be the first person killed by the terrorists.

And that can’t happen. I won’t let it.

“Aaaaaaaah, AAAAAAH!!”

To be the first victim of these terrorists…is my duty…as an extra!

“Stooooooooopppppppppppppppp!!” I let out a soul-wrenching howl as I leap between them.

***

The boy opens his mouth. “Gack, kaff!”

He vomits a stream of blood.

“Cid!”

His hacked-up blood splatters across her porcelain cheeks, and he smiles at her…before drawing his last breath. He wears the dying expression of a man who completed his mission.

***

And then, the arm of the alleged corpse begins twitching.


When I confirm the classroom is clear, I pound on my chest.

Beat! Beat, dammit!

I hit myself over and over, forcing myself to suck in air.

Up and at ’em!!

Until…

“Koff, hack, gak!”

It stirs, and my once-stopped heart starts pumping again.

This is another esoteric technique, Ten-Minute Death: Heartbreak Mob.

With this technique, I let tiny magic particles trickle into my brain from my stopped heart, preserving blood flow and allowing me to stay in cardiac arrest for a long time without any consequences. It’s a risky technique: One slipup, and I go to the other side. But sometimes, I have to endanger my life for the art of performance. And that’s what happened today. Nothing more, nothing less.

***

Volume 1, Chapter 6