The Least Common Denominator

III.III Remainder

It happened all too soon.

"DENOMINATOR CRIMSON! YOU ARE HEREBY DESIGNATED TO INTEGER UNIT NUMBER 193!"

Olivia and I were in the middle of eating our daily rations, which is to say, me giving more than half of my portion to the younger girl since she needs it more than I do.

I'm done growing, she's not.

"GATHER YOUR BELONGINGS AND HEAD TO THE INTEGER BARRACKS IMMEDIATELY!"

My one eyebrow twitched as the same tin can from weeks ago bellowed out his orders. The nerve of this guy. Couldn't even keep his voice down despite him being a mere handful of meters away from my face.

I stashed a short blade that I made in my spare time to the back of my thigh. It was the only thing qualified as my 'personal belongings' anyway.

"Big sis..."

Olivia had unofficially become my little sister in the course of our stay in this hell furnace. She never left my side and I, in turn, never left her to fend for herself in this cruel world we live in. The brunette had improved in leaps and bounds in terms of 'Denominating' as I call it. Having taught her myself, it filled me with pride to see her growth.

It would pain me to leave her by her lonesome.

"It'll be okay, kid," I reassured as I slowly stood up from our table. Her hand was still firmly attached to mine as we followed the armored man towards what I assumed to be the exit.

"Good job, Crimson!"

All around me, my fellow Denominators cheered for my apparent promotion.

"Congratulations, kid!"

"I knew you'd be outta here eventually!"

I kept my head down as we silently trailed behind the knight leading me. Deep inside, I was equal parts happy, yet mortified at the thought of leaving everyone else behind.

"Not even another month, Newbie?~"

"Good luck out there, Kid!"

It wasn't fair.

...

"Leave the small Dirt Eater behind and climb up the stairs."

We stopped at an unassuming corner of the Den Furnace. The air was relatively cooler here, a welcome relief after spending almost two months in constant heat. The door was as large as the one we came in with, only this time, cool air emanated from its wooden cracks. The armored man stood at its side, waiting for me to pass through the door.

Let's try something, shall we?

Gripping Olivia's hand tightly, I nonchalantly approached the door. With my right hand, I pushed the gigantic wooden door open. Already, the cooler air seeped through, a refreshing reprieve away from the sweltering heat. I held her tightly as I made an attempt to pass thr-

*CRASH!*

I intermediately leaped back, my body shielding Olivia behind me as a halberd swung towards the ground. Its owner stared at me with disdain, his weapon still barring the exit.

"You do not want to play this game, Dirt Eater." He ground out, hefting his halberd and placing it back on his side. "Leave the child and go to your designated assignment."

"Big sis?"

I ignored Olivia's pleas as I put as much distance between me and the tin can before me. My right hand slowly inched to the blade on my thigh, ready to fight my way out if that's what it took to take Olivia with me.

"We're sisters, sir," I explained in a passive-aggressive tone. "I'm not leaving without her."

"Hah! Do you think this is negotiable, Dirt Eater?" The tin can laughed in equal parts disgust and amusement.

"Wherever I go, she goes."

I instinctively lowered my body to the ground.

"For the last time!-"

*CRASH!*

The tip of his halberd hit the ground with considerable force. "LEAVE THE CHILD AND GO TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT!"

A brief silence enveloped the area as I stood my ground; my stance ready to defend at a moment's notice as I gauged my opponent. I had no doubt that what I'm doing would be tantamount to suicide once we get caught, but I still had to try.

For her sake, at least.

"Don't move."

My charge nodded before letting go of my hand. She'd seen me training with my dagger before, and while I refused to train her since I was barely a master myself, she knew well enough how to avoid basic attacks on her person.

This was a stupid idea.

With a breath, I pulled out my dagger from its makeshift strap, handling it in a reverse-grip before-

*CREAK*

"What's the holdup?~"

I immediately paused my charge as the door opened on its own. That voice...

"I ain't got all day, sir knight~"

My eyes darkened the moment the figure emerged from the gigantic door. Rage and sorrow filled my being as my vision tunneled towards the blue-haired bitch standing at the doorway.

"My apologies, Lady Bloodmoon."

"No worries~ I'm in no hurry~"

That bitch... That bitch...

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

Screw the plan. Maybe I can at least take this bitch with me to the grave!

"Should I-"

"I'll handle this, sir knight~"

*CLANG!*

I gritted my teeth as my dagger hit the annoyingly solid blade of my adversary's rapier. Our weapons sang the song of shredding metal as my glare met the amused smile on the bitch's face.

"Aww~ Is that any way to repay your patron, Cream?~"

Cream?!

*GRIIIIND!*

Our blades slid as I leaped back to disengage.

"Don't you dare call me that, murderer!"

"Hey now~ I'm just doing what I'm told, Crimson~" The woman sang as she held waved her rapier nonsensically. "I didn't even want to do it~"

I growled as I primed my body for another go at the bitch. I knew in my mind that I wasn't thinking straight again, but this-

"Crimson!" Wha-

*WHOOSH!*

I cursed under my breath as a blue blur rushed towards me weapon first in an attempt to stab me. On instinct, I brought my blade up in an effort to parry the blow.

*SHIIIIIIINGG!*

The blades slid at each other in a terrifying screech of metal as my arms struggled to keep the pressure. My eyes strained as I briefly saw a growing smirk showing itself on the woman's face as she passed me after her attack.

"Guhh.." My arms already burned from just a single attack. And she hadn't even done whatever she did that killed me in a single hit.

"Impressive, kid~" I turned towards the bitch. She wasn't even sweating after such a display of speed. "A far cry from when we first met~"

I deigned a response as I stood at the ready, my dagger facing her direction as she simply stared at me in fascination.

"You're supposed to be a Den~ You shouldn't even know how to fight~"

I shifted in my feet as a brief flash of confusion crossed my mind. What was she trying to say?

"What's wrong with knowing how to fight?"

"It's simply wrong~" She sang, twirling on her feet before-

A shiver ran down my spine as I heard her sickeningly sweet voice behind my neck.

"An affront to the natural order of things, cutie~"

I immediately turned my dagger towards my back, but the woman simply jumped backward even before I managed to complete my swing. I breathed heavily as my heart pounded at the unnatural feat of speed.

When the hell did she get behind me?

"But here you are now~" Her rapier spun on its tip as she twirled it in the air. "Proving to me that you know your ways in battle~"

I frowned at her monologue. Where was she going with this?

"Crimson," The blue-haired bitch started, her voice losing its jovial tone. "I command you to fight sir knight."

"Huh?" I couldn't help but huff in surprise and confusion as I eyed the woman for any kind of other catches.

"Lady Bloodmoon?" Heh. At least tin can was also as confused as I am.

The lady holstered her rapier before moving her arms in theatrics; one hand on her chest as the other outstretched towards Olivia. "I can see that you refuse the offer of being partnered up with me," What?! "But if you so choose, I'll allow you to take the little Den along with you should you work with me~"

I kept my guard up as I watched the tin can tense up in his suit of armor.

"But Lady Bloodmoon! Isn't it-"

*SPLASH!*

My eyes widened as a splash of water suddenly erupted from her now brandished rapier; its tip pointed menacingly at tin can's head. The woman sported a dangerous smile, one that I was partially familiar with.

"I'm a Prime, you're not." A Prime? "You do as I say, got it?~"

"Y-Yes, my Lady."

I mentally filed the term away in my head along with the other things that I still need to know about before focusing my sights on the now readying tin can.

"You will fight for the child's right to accompany you, Crimson~" She explained. "Defeat sir knight, and I'll make it so that you get to stay together with your charge~"

I nodded wholeheartedly at the challenge. No use looking at a gift horse in the mouth.

"Lose, however, and only you will leave this Furnace with me~"

A fair trade, considering the power she had over the deal.

"Oh! And I'll kill the child in front of you, okay?~"

My eyes widened as I immediately turned my sights towards Olivia, her small body already shuddering in fear at the prospect of getting killed by this maniac.

"On my mark~"

I steadied my breath as I readied myself for a fight I'm not even sure I could win. But for her sake...

"Go~"

I can't fail again.

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