Vol 7 Chapter 3 (2/2)
Fro that had collapsed, was approximately 100 metres
《”Be cautious! This guy's skill is certainly high, and its weapon's range is wider than can be seen”》
Moreover, there's that sharpness It cut the building as if it was made from tofu If she eats that, it won't end well
《”It has a forun, but it her perforht with before It means it can both cut and shoot just as well”》
Ikaruga said such a thing with a light tone of voice
”Gh, despite having that reach it can shoot too, what kind of joke is this!”
Once again she realized just how big a threat Einherjar was
The enean, Ouka decided to attack and avoid at the same time
She rong to think the ene a mechanical body it attacked Ouka with considerable speed Moreover, the ene her attacks and wouldn't receive any impact
However, Ouka calmly analysed her opponent's movements and characteristics
《”Shooting is just a ical power concentrates on one point, and it doesn't have the range nor destructive power of Excalibur The slashes reach and sharpness is its strongest characteristic”》
And this absolute defence
Ouka organized infor Einherjar
Her sense of sical power emitted from the Einherjar
It's faint, but there's the smell of blood
《”It's not a huon”》
After hearing Vlad's analysis, Ouka finally saw through the enemy
Sharpness Absolute defence The scent of a dragon There was only one Einherjar appropriate
”Siegfried!”
The weapon was an S-class Magical Heritage 『Bal』, there was no mistake
There is no record that would say it exerts slashes of that reach, but if the ene this Einherjar is easy
”Saionji, can you hear me?”
《”Yes, I have seen everything Your instructions”》
She could hear a voice asking for orders
At the sas at the enemy, she spoke briefly
”——Aim at its back”
《”Roger”》
The i's calht flashed off thein the shade of debris
The fired bullets crushed the air and approached the enemy from behind
Probably perceiving Usagi's killing intent, Einherjar inverted just its upper body The body froi's bullets
Its reaction time when it protected its back was abnormal That was a proof that its back was the Einherjar's weak point
The Einherjar Siegfried had subjugated the wicked dragon Fafnir and obtained ion blood hadn't reached his back, and the legend said that he fell after his back was pierced
It protected its back Being able to confirreat
The Einherjar changed its target to Usagi, and at the same time as it tried to cut her apart as an obstacle, Ouka expanded cri for Einherjar's back
”——HAAaaa!!”
Ouka i blood flow inside of her body Because it burdened the heart a great deal it was nowhere close to Takeru's Magic-Sweeping SwordSouh for just a moment
Left foot in front, right foot backwards She fixed her ai with half of her body
The shooting mechanism attached to her both arht arm
A huge pile bunker eht arm
Magical power focused and generated one huge pile on her elbow
And the next ical property fro mechanism
The pile directly hit the Einherjar's back
The roughly 50pile pierced the Einherjar's body all at once
Ouka rose up above it as it struggled with the pile that had penetrated it
”《Reverse CrucifixionNosferatu》!”
The ic name, a number of stakes has transferred and jumped out of Einherjar's body
It was raised up heaven-high and its body has exploded, blown up not leaving a trace
Ouka stood a remnants of Einherjar and released the Witch Hunter for her arms sideways
”khh”
Unable to bear it she fell on her knees and shook her head to clear the dizziness
《”Splendid however, after coical poill be hard on you Fortunately, this is a battlefield, it's overfloith blood is it not?”》
As Ouka was exhausted, Vlad reco very nasty She shook her head in response
”I refuse my pride won't allow that”
《””》
Seeing Ouka's adamant attitude, Vlad fell silent
Vlad who usually spat out things like ”stubborn” or ”what a defiant attitude” today fully well-behaved Was he still feeling bad after being done in by Mistilteinn? As Ouka worried about Vlad quite a bit, Usagi ran up to Ouka from behind and lent her a shoulder
”sorry, I' helped by Saionji the entire time”
”What are you saying I had no idea whatsoever as to how defeat the Einherjar”
Laughing weakly, Ouka left her body weight to Usagi
They saw a large Spriggan forces coans ere saved by Usagi It must have been the company's entire force
Usagi described what happened to them and conveyed the fact that they defeated the Einherjar, which resulted in cheers rising up Ouka climbed up in the first aid vehicle and looked at the i
We should be accepted with this
While thinking so, Ouka quietly closed her eyes
Three days after the subjugation of Siegfried
The position of Sood direction By subjugating the Einherjar alone, they proved that it wasn't just preferential treatment by Inquisition's Chairman
”Usagi-chan, you're still small, you should eat more”
The food distribution clerk handed a full bowl of a soup that didn't seem too tasty
”I cannot eat thistasteless like this!”
Usagi threw a fit in front of the the distribution point, resulting with the Spriggans around laughing
”As expected of a nice young lady Her speech sure is refined”
”Usagi-chan doesn't fit in the battlefield, but is her shooting skill aood stuff? What do you need to eat to handle such a un?”
”It won't do unless you eat〜 It's nutrition, not a luxury”
As the bunch behind her in the distribution line i snorted and went around the kitchenette to the back
Then she slowly grasped an apron from the distribution point
”Even if there's nutrition, if it's not delicious strength will not appear Very well I'll show you what I can cook with the ingredients that are in here!”
Laughter and cheers have erupted around Usagi Good grief! She inti motivated
Ouka si from the distance
Continuing, she glanced at the maintenance team's tent
Ikaruga standing in front of a ins about her de
”——This PDW is defective Because the azine is made sloppily, a bullet feed failure is likely to occur It comes in handy because it can shoot specially processed bullets, although the penetrating power is greater than the older ones, you can't use it unless you use both hands”
While waving a gun in one hand by the work desk, Ikaruga explained the shortcos of it
The Regins chia with a meek look
”It's because this is the first time we're in real co They should discard stupid pride and obediently outsource it fro”
”It's impossible to resolve the poor bullet feed, it would require a full n We've had 200 of the, but I guess it's useless after all The recoil is sn is sexy too”
As the two Regins said so, Ikaruga raised her index finger
”The replaceuns at the Border has been perfore quantities of the old version As long as they have those it'll somehoork out”
”Does that mean, we should use the old version?”
”The old version's barrel's is too soft, and not durable enough to fire the specially processed bullets The old bullets cannot cope with the enemy's latest protection That's e'll order the old azines only from the checkpoints The only part that cannot be adapted to the new processed bullets is the gun's azine Also, the old un's model after a part is shaved off”
”S-seriously? Isn't such ierous?”
”Even fro theotten Try reloading and shooting with the new model”
The Regin took the oldit to a new PDW perfor trial
The azine was able to allow all the bullets to fire without problems
”it shoots nor, it's even better”
”Just get the old models sent and shave the level is fine as long as you can hook on it with a finger, it would be good to shave off a third of it When it's too long it's clunky and loud when you shoot”
”Ua-chan, what are you really? You're a student and yet you know the defects of the newly adopted PDW as well as the method to solve them, why is that?”
”It's a trade secret”
Ikaruga contributed to solving the weapon proble the insufficient supplies and weapons around, Ikaruga's ideas were quite beneficial
Ouka sat on top of kerosene cans beside the tent, drank the warm coffee from aluminium cup and warmed her hands that were numb with cold
”it seems like you saved my subordinates”
When she was taking rest, the company captain has come up to Ouka
She tried to stand up and salute, but she was stopped by company's commander
”I don'tI just want to say my thanks”
”I wasn't the one who saved thei who's over there”
”is that so, pass her ht off the Einherjar Thank you for saving us”
As the company commander said his thanks, Ouka made a an aard expression
”I just used a Relic Eater also, it's because of my comrades help I could exhibit its power”
Without any humility in particular, Ouka said the truth
”You are the one chosen by the Relic Eater, and you use its power correctly I think it's all right to boast of it”
The commander silently stared at Ouka's face
”Your Relic Eater Vlad, wasn't it”
”You know of it?”
”yeah In the past, I've been taken care of by it before”
In the past in other words, its previous contractor was the commander's acquaintance? The coh and quietly closed his eyes
”If possible, I didn't want children like you to participate in co to rely on children is proof that we are worthless”
He etic
The reason he had instructed the 35th Test Platoon to the front and to act as a hit&run troop was probably because he didn't want to involve a platoon full of children in a bloody battle
Most likely, he was sceptical of the idea of test platoons itself existing The commander closed his eyes and spat a deep breath
”However, the circumstances don't allow me to say that any more in the future battles, I want you to participate officially”
Ouka stood up and saluted
”The CovertBanshee troop has reported discovering enemy's base Apparently they made a subway their headquarters Tomorroe have scheduled an attack”
”Underground that's tricky”
”Toes the elite troops will invade the underground, place C4's on the pillars and withdraw”
”You want to crush the the subway?”
She tensed her face hearing the strategy content The Grey City's underground was made before war and was very brittle It would collapse with ease if the pillars were to be bombed
However, this strategy was extreerous and inhuman
”it can't be helped There is inforerous Ancient Property HoldersAncient Wizards and a warehouse with Magical Dragoons being there it's not time to choose the means”
Hearing about dangerous Ancient Wizards, Ouka has recalled the existence of Laugh Maker
Her blood forcefully started boiling and she tried to remain calm somehow
”The briefing will happen tonight at 10 Rest early today”
While saluting to the back of the leaving cohtthe tomorrow's assault clouded her heart
She pushed down those eht
Ia, as well as Takeru's and Mari's, then spat out a sigh
”it's all right”
Muttering to herself, Ouka looked up at the sky while sipping coffee froain
And unexpectedly,
《”my previous contractor often looked up at the sky and ht' in order to endure Although he was a weak hureat”》
Vlad's voice resounded in her head Norantly and did not speak without perht now the mood was completely different
Although his voice was heavy, there was a charm in it that soothed her mind
Listening to his had awoken in her
In the first place, Ouka hasn't understood the existences called Magical Heritage Based on the voice Vlad was a male, then Takeru's Lapis and Kyouya's Nero had feane Hayato's Caligula had a female personality, she couldn't tell since it never spoke
To begin with, she didn't understand the principles under which personalities of a Magical Heritage work
Not harbouring disgust towards Vlad like she used to, she asked him casually
”Vlad, tell me about yourself”
《”Hoh, what kind of turn of events is this?”》
”I'”
《”thou want to use me as a tranquillizer for your spirit huh Very well, what do you want to know?”》
His perspective on her mental stateangry
”Let's see I'm curious about your previous contractor”
As Ouka said that, she could hear Vlad's sigh in her head
《”about him, huh”》
”Is there a problem?”
《”No I don't h”》
Slightly reluctant, Vlad quietly consented on its master's request
《”He was let's see Inflexible, bad with hu and susceptible to being misunderstood by others”》
Although it was probably about the previous contractor, Ouka couldn't shake off the feeling it was about her
《”and yet he had firm beliefs And swayed by those beliefs of his he acted like a huge suicidal idiot To speak frankly, that man was very similar to you”》
”I' malice There's a lot ofabout being inflexible or a poor talker, and you aren't fit to be an Inquisitor without a firm belief”
《”Thou should know that his belief wasn't that of revenge Unlike thee, the former contractor has known at least that much”》
She was unable to refute to Vlad's words
What's this Is it his revenge forit hard for him every day?
《”Hmph in other words, that's the ic What are enemies He was a hts like that”》
”he was a splendid person wasn't he”
《”And therefore, he was unsuited to be part of the organization”》
Realizing Vlad's tone of voice changed, Ouka fell silent
《”He was the Zeroth Extermination Riot Police's, EXE's previous captain”》
”?! You, you were EXE captain's Relic Eater?!”
《”What's with thy surprise Other guns and Relic Eaters are like babies compared to me”》
What is this guy saying despite having a bad fuel efficiency and being hard to handle
But Ouka didn't dare to say that, and closed her eyes in response to Vlad's self-praise
《”『Red Glare”, that was his nickna his comrades As with thy Criraceful implications”》
”Red GlareAbhorrent Red Light, huh”
Ouka iuns standing with his back towards her in ine However, it was strange that the story of so the Inquisition hasn't reached her ears
《”He had a strong discoic, but after a certain incident as the turning point he has revised his recognition of it and started having doubts about the current Inquisition Thou know of 『Red butterfly's Insect Cage』 dost thou not”》
”? Yeah, of course”
It was an organisation that was trafficking humans with phanto, they produced the scarce witch children and sold them expensively
It was an organization destroyed by EXE a few years ago
《”He infiltrated Insect Cage's organization in order to destroy it and iven birth to the cage's children, there was noinside them and didn't work as commodity She was destined to be killed”》
””
《”He promised to save that witch no matter what However, he was ordered by the Inquisition 『Destroy Insect Cage, eliminate all the products』”》
”no as he ordered to kill all the witches that were used?”
《”Indeed The products in particular the children born fro education It has been judged that it will be troublesoainst that order and chose to save them”》
Ouka paid tribute to Vlad's previous contractor
Not just because he opposed the orders, but because he chose to save them
《”However, it was already too late and when he rushed there, Insect Cage oods in order to destroy the evidence The witch he wanted to save was already dead”》
””
《”He devastated the organization all alone He was also forced to kill several of the children products Of course, since Insect Cage was huge, he was able only to destroy a single branch but if there was one salvation for him, it was that the child of the witch he wanted to save had survived”》
The fight between 『Red butterfly's Insect Cage』and Inquisition continued for a long time It spanned over 20 years, and finally reached its conclusion during Kurogane Hayato's era
Ouka had participated in this conflict as well, and knew of the outrageous conduct Insect Cage has been doing
《”It was since then He tried weighting down Inquisition's feet from the inside”》
The Inquisition so the Einherjar incident or during mock battle tournament It didn't care about sacrifices and was readily ic
Surely, there was darkness inside of Inquisition
《”He wanted to do s, but as he continued to defy orders froher-ups felt uneasy and forced hi in the darkness of Inquisition”》
”what happened after that?”
《”He died I Inquisitor, he was killed by soe it was a ainst him”》
Vlad's voice as he said that was incredibly flat, and it was impossible to determine if there was any sadness in there
《”It was regrettable, but I can assure thou that he hiret it in the least After all, that person was the one I hath chosen as my contractor”》
If he was fired from the position of an Inquisitor, the contract must have been released
She suspected that Vlad felt soone independent It's probably true that Magical Heritages have hearts too, Ouka thought
《”Master of mine, Ouka”》
Unexpectedly, he called Ouka's name
《”The criteria I use for choosing my contractors——is their nobility What I demand is noble blood Whether virtuous or evil is not the proble able to sacrifice oneself for their belief, and carry it through That is the nobility I request, although imperfect, he hath that intention Can thou do that yourself?”》
””
《”Can thou e, and carry through with thy belief? Is the conviction thee pay in exchange for enuine?”》
””
《”Thy 『It's all right』 can I believe in it?”》
Being asked that, Ouka stood up while facing down
”Is the daughter of that witch who survived still alive?”
《”yeah, she's alive I don't knohether she's happy or not, but she probably has grown up healthy”》
”I see then it wasn't for naught That person's wish, must have been fulfilled”
Ouka looked up at the sky and closed her lips tightly
On the cloudless sky shone the lonely full moon
”I think that while the for Inquisition, and fighting all alone I respect that person”
《””》
”Vlad”
She overlapped her hand with the full rasp it
”I'ht”
With a smile full of confidence, Ouka told Vlad
”Because of his half-heartedness the lives were lost, he ret, that conviction that will of crimson, I shall inherit it all”
《””》
”That's why, just like you did in your previous contractor I want you to believe in me”
In response to Ouka's request, Vlad fell silent Possibly hesitating, or maybe because of Ouka's deep emotions he could not decide
In the end, Vlad responded to his master's wish
《”With my pride on the line I shall believe in your nobility, my Master”》
Hearing his answer, Ouka nodded content and shtly
Although she wouldn't have even thought of it in the past, after being bound by contract it was a fact that Vlad and her beca i, Ouka learned that from Takeru and Mari
Even if he was a product of ic, Vlad was the partner she entrusted her life to it was then, Ouka accepted Vlad's existence for the first time
Snuggling up to Ouka's soul, Vlad admonished himself
There were no lies in the words he said to Ouka It was true that he believed in her nobility
There were no lies in there
However, Vlad hasn't necessarily confided everything to her
Forgive 's puppet It is impossible for me to confide all the truth to thee
As Ouka walked with no hesitation, Vlad overlapped the previous contractor's figure with hers
This is fate Of all people there art, for thou to inherit his will
While watching his young master, Vlad smiled wryly
And as not to have to betray this girl, he prayed to no one in particular