Vol 7 Chapter 4 (1/2)
Chapter 4 - Vengeful Demon
Fantasy CultsValhalla's second ical company's vice captain, Mimulus Wallenstein has come to the command post with a sorrowful expression
Although she said that aid will coh they were given HeroesEinherjars by the regimental headquarters, they were all defeated by enemy's EXE members in the first sortie
They haven't been able to contact the inside world yet, Mi completely isolated in the subway
The chain of coins that hinted defeat in this battle
”excuse me”
While spitting a sigh, Mimulus opened the company commander room's door
After she opened the door, she found thein the back under the la with old-fashi+oned brush and ink
”Mimulus, hoas the situation?”
The man who could be called 'old', asked her
”you know even without asking don't you The soldiers' exhaustion has long surpassed the limit It would be correct to say it's hopeless”
As she spoke while sighing, the old man stroked his trimmed beard and continued to write a letter
”In other words, they're useless as a military force?”
”Yes We need to retreat as soon as possible, give them treatment and allow to rest They continued to suppress the several thousand Inquisition's soldiers enclosing on us, we should show thely Is the coet a supply of goods, we cannot”
”The situation has changed There is a conflict on the inside, it seems like Eliza-sama has died”
Even while hearing of Elizabeth's death, Mimulus was unfazed
If anything, she made a relieved expression
”Don't expect any aid from the Chairman that's appointed on her place”
”then, what shall we do?”
”We need to activate the barrier earlier than planned We need to destroy as e, and build our territory on the outside In order to prepare for the next co, we need to defend the Grey City”
Mimulus narrowed her eyes and placed her hand on her
The original plan was to conquer the Border called Grey City, thwart the ene protection barrier as strong as the one used in the shelters, constructing a witch territory in the outside world for the invasion purposes
The resistance of Inquisition was beyond their expectations, and they were fast to take their positions too
While the Pureblood Party was preparing the operative procedure for the barrier's completion, their fortifications were almost overtaken
”The scout troop has reported the ene the eneher-ups have decided its abandonment”
”The subway? Can't we h personnel to carry everyone”
”No I' that the bunch above decided to abandon the company itself”
When she understood theof old man's words, Mimulus unconsciously yelled
”They want to abandon all of them?!”
”Leave it While the enemy's forces are concentrated in here, all Einherjars as well as Mechanical Dragon will be activated and will raze enemy's camp”
”You want us to use subordinates as decoys! Leave theet away to the headquarters just the two of us?! I won't acknowledge such decision!”
”It's the consensus of West Side You can't defy it”
”!! Then you can just run away alone! I will reether with my comrades and die!”
With a rough tone of voice Mimulus flared up at the old lasses on the desk He had deep wrinkles under his eyes which looked like a tired crystal From the condition of his earthen-coloured skin on his cheek, one could see at a glance that he was suffering from a disease
The old man stared at Mimulus sadly
Like a father taking pity on his child
”Instructed by the higher-ups I have been entrusted with you foryears a tirin”
Leaning deeply on the backrest, the oldof what he suddenly said, Mimulus frowned
”what are you talking about?'
”It's about the current you You have grown up without being distorted, turning noble as a righteous pureblood I have raised you to grow beautiful”
Able to understand less and less, she suspected hi some different motives
The relationshi+p between the oldHe picked up Mied witch There was never any conflict between him and her despite the fact she wasn't all that coive vile instructions
”Thanks to you I have beco your back! That's why, please don't betray my ideal!”
As Mimulus desperately tried to persuade hier and covered his face
”Despise e who destroyed your heart and turned you into ayou and me, who didn't defy their orders and obeyed them”
”What happened co for a while now?!”
”In the end, everything I have done was for naught I tried to et and let you live a life of a normal human and acted like a hypocrite”
The old un from inside
He put the muzzle to his own temple
”A sorcerer of er”
Understanding that he was trying to commit suicide, Mimulus shook her head and stretched her hand out in the air
”No way please stop why is it? Is it my fault? Then please tell me the reason! What will happen to us if we lose you?! What should I do?!”
”The higher ups want to release you They have released you several tiirl like that Forgive your weak father, Mimulus this is the last time you will be used”
His finger strongly pulled the trigger
”Stop! Father!”
Mimulus immediately ran up to the old man
The oldlips spun words
”Laugh———Laugh Maker”
Hearing the words of power right before the bullet was fired, Mimulus' feet stopped
The old unshot, and he soundly fell off the chair
Blood splashed onto Mimulus' cheek
Her facial expressions were frozen, and she didn't wipe the blood either
””
With eyes wide open she watched the old man's corpse The bullet penetrated the head, and fro the floor she understood that the parent who brought her up has died
But what Mimulus understood wasn't just that her father has died, but also that her shackles were off
Inside of her head, memories and experiences revived like a muddy stream
She recalled as she She recalled as she
Tears appeared in her eyes
Clear drops ran down her cheeks and eventually round
That was the signal
She recalled everything The fact that the current her was a lie That the corpse in front of her was not that of her father And the fact that the huinning
Made aware that she was living a fiction, recalling everything, Mimulus——
”Ahh that's right I am”
——Laugh Maker made a violent smile
Kurogane Hayato stood on top of a roof's building while looking at the landscape which turned into ruins
Aside from Hayato in his Witch Hunter form there was another EXE member
His Relic Eaters were 『Caligula』 and 『Maximillian』 In the history of EXE, there was no precedent for anyone to be chosen by two Relic Eaters
Jet black and silvery ar their respective ic properties of 『Tyrant』 and 『Revolution』
Hayato released the Witch Hunt foruns at his waist
”no matter how many times I look at it, this ane”
Even as he heard voice from behind, Hayato did not look back Only indifferently responded to the voice
”Oonogi, I should have given you an order to return at once Thanks to you I wasted time for no reason”
”You use people strictly and now this huh I have properly passed the e to Ouka-san”
While pouting, Kanata lined up next to Hayato Below thee of an Einherjar and the corpse of an Ancient Property HolderAncient Wizard, it was clear that the destruction wasn't worth the number defeated The street of the Grey City that were on the verge of decay have changed drastically
”Can I be frank and ask so? Just what is Ootori Ouka to you?”
”What will you do if you know”
”It's just anization Even if she's just adopted, she bears the naht be detrimental to our dissent”
After saying 'dissent', Kanata waited for Hayato's reaction
While looking at the ruins below him, Hayato quietly spoke
”I know nothing of the dissent you're speaking about”
”Despite lending you a hand so many times, isn't this comment too much?”
”The only thing I asked you bunch was to help the 35th Test Platoon escape If you try to win them over, I won't show you mercy”
”I don't know about Hoshi+jiro-san, but the one I want to win over the h?”
”I have no intention of taking part in a terrorism-like dissent”
As he refused bluntly, Kanata spat out a sigh
” why are you so stubborn? Even you are trying to rebel against the Inquisition right now”
”I'll do it inWitch HunterDullahan”
”Even I don't have any intention of leaving it But at this rate, your entire life will end as a puppet of Ootori Sougetsu Because of that ht be destroyed you know?”
””
”What is the reason thatan Inquisitor? Does it have any relation to Ootori Ouka?”
Kanata peeked into Hayato's face
He who hasn't shown any reaction until this
”——Don't play due took too long You probably have investigated Ootori Ouka already, haven't you”
His speech becauidance with a hard fist to his subordinates for their poor performance, his tone of voice and look in the eyes were flat
And right now, that Hayato was full of anger Even the Covert'sBanshee's ace who experienced carnage and hell many times winced in response to his thirst for blood
If she lied any more than this, he would carry out what he said he would If this man said he would crush someone, he would actually do it
”about Ouka-san's parents, I haven't been able to find any clues no h, but Hoshi+jiro-san learned so from a certain person and has an idea”
””
”——Red Glare, the h his tered to climb up to the position of EXE's teainst Inquisition he was forced to resign A while after, he was killed by the ree』”
Un, Hayato stared coldly at Kanata
She didn't mind it and continued
”In the Inquisition's database all the records about hi hi with him Afterwards, they suffered a similar fate as he did That's why there's only a few in the Inquisition who know anything”
””
”It was hard to find sohtly shut”
Kanata took out documents from her bosom and held them out in front of Hayato's chest
Hayato didn't take it and just remained silent
”His real nahter, he kept silent about his work It isn't anything unusual I'm the same too”
””
”After leaving Inquisition he adopted a single child The baby that was born without ic and survived the attack on the 『Red butterfly's Insect Cage』”
She retracted the docuh
”It's been nearly nine years since it was rescued froht?”
In response to Kanata's speculation, Hayato silently closed his eyes
She took it as his affirmation
”Mineshi+ro-san has doubted Ootori Sougetsu and was sniffing around That's why he caught attention of higher-ups he was fired and killed A?”
Hayato didn't answer She couldn't read what is he hiding within
”Probably Mineshi+ro-san has had a grasp on soetsu killed Mineshi+ro-san to hide it, and the only person who survived was Ouka-san asn't connected to him by blood”
””
”From here on it's not Hoshi+jiro-san's butOuka-san as to prevent you fro hi like 'were sohters'?”
In response to Kanata who stared at hilared at her coldly
And he started to leak out a heavy laughter
”Even if that was the case what does it have to do with you”
”I-it does If these are the circumstances, for us dissidents Ouka-san would becoet——”
”——Don't underestii”
What could be seen in Hayato's wide-opened eyes was not irritation not anger It was the sense of mission, the belief itself dwelled inside
”I haven't fallen to a point where I have to be protected by you dissidents, and I don't conforetsu in order to protect Mineshi+ro Kazuhter I'm not as soft as Red Glare as to suffer because of my own conduct”
”c-certainly Mineshi+ro-san wasn't a good talker but still, as a fellow Inquisitor you——”
”It's true that he taught rateful to hietsu adopted Ouka in order not to haveto protect her I cannot defy Ootori Sougetsu because of that Your guess is correct”
Hayato indifferently spoke of his own circumstances
”However,civilians There is no special fondness in it, it has nothing to do with Mineshi+ro As an Inquisitor I just protect those that should be protected and eradicate those who should be eradicated”
Pressured by his strong stare, Kanata gasped
”As an Inquisitor I cannot allow her to die, that's all Do you understand, Oonogi?”
”you h with your duties as an Inquisitor and following the law and none of your actions are dictated by emotions is that what it means?”
”I'al dissident organizations like yours That's the wrong thing to do as an Inquisitor”
Cloudless eyes is soht
Unshakeable conviction It was as if he was the Inquisitor's ideal sculptured in marble, surely, no matter how many people pushed him he wouldn't ever move For him numbers didn't exist For Zeroth Extermination Riot Police's captain, there was only the concept of 『Dullahan』
He was a living Inquisitor's ideal He wasn't just, evil, all there was in hi only as a system a broken one
””
She changed her thinking and her goal It was impossible to draw Hayato in to the dissidents He didn't allow Ootori Sougetsu's existence nor he tolerated the dissidents Were she or Hoshi+jiro Nagare coitimate punishment to them as an Inquisitor
Although she determined that it's not possible to erous to have as an enemy
Somehow, she had to maintain their relationshi+p to an extent of cooperation andinterests
Even without Relic Eaters, this erous existence
With Hoshi+jiro-san being chased after by Inquisition, I can't hide for long either In exchange for helping Ouka-san escape, I should at least request infore——
The moment Kanata decided, Hayato has suddenly opened his eyes wide looking at a distant do When she started to wonder what happened, ground under her feet started to shake
”E-earthquake?”
Certainly, it was shaking The treered
”Oonogi, prepare nobunaga”
”Eh?”
”It's co Cover me”
Hayato pulled out Relic Eaters fro
”Wait a sec——what's that!”
As Kanata tried to restrain Hayato, cracks ran through the do which looked akin to a sports arena was filled with cracks and collapsed like an egg
Theroar has reached her The jarring cry resonated inside her belly and carved humanly instinctual fear into Kanata
There were three threats that appeared The appearance of those things that have appeared raising their heads up to the sky were undeniable
”Dragons?! The things from 5th Laboratory were mass-produced?!”
《”Their armour wasn't manufactured from Blue Crystal so their defence is lower, but their stability should be higher”》
Hearing Hayato's sober analysis, Kanata's face paled
The enemy introduced not only HeroesEinherjars, but also Mechanical Dragons
《”Take as a Ai mechanism in their spine, that's their weakness We'll clean it up just the two of us”》
”!!”
《”Answer me The fact that you're an Inquisitor and ed”》
Kanata clenched her teeth and hesitated for a moment
The feeling of not wanting to die in this place and wanting to protect the KnightsSpriggans balanced each other out The iven by the dissidents led by Hoshi+jiro Nagare was just solicitation of Kurogane Hayato and helping the 35th Test Platoon to escape She would abandon those who can be abandoned Her mission was the priority
However, if she abandoned her ht be aimed at her
Honestly——that was much more scary option
”I get it, I get it dammitt!”
Kanata clad herself in lead-coloured Witch Hunter fora』
The eneons suly disadvantageous situation, Kanata pulled nobunaga's trigger feeling desperate
10 kilometres from the coet
Currently, the 35th Test Platoon was entering the subway through an underground passage By breaking through the grats and barricades, Ouka and the others proceeded through the lightless underground passage By un, Ouka looked into the ticket gate from behind a phone box
Although there was evidence of huures couldn't be seen
”clear”
When Ouka reported through radio, the KnightsSpriggans and Usagi together with the
”It's strange even lookouts are nowhere to be seen”
Usagi stared with anxious expression, Ouka approached the tent that was stretched near the entrance
The coffee that was stood on top of the ic powered heater was still hot
As she looked around, she couldn't see any evidence of ene away in a hurry
It looked as if they'd suddenly disappeared
They were communicated that there's the same situation on other routes other squads took Enemy hasn't fled, but the possibility that they were either evacuated further down or were hiding was high
《”Ain't this a trap? I think it would be better to abort the plan”》
”It's not up to me to decide but, I can consult this a the very least”
Ikaruga's guess was reasonable Nothing good would have come from a plan that risks her comrades' lives
When Ouka tried to contact the corasped her shoulder from behind
”Don't do unnecessary things After we finish this operation our victory is prettynow”
Kirigaya Kyouya shouldered Nero and glared at Ouka
Usually Kyouya acted on his own, but for soether with 35th platoon Ouka returned a glare at him
”Majority of our troops take part in this operation If we're done in here, not only the camp but also the fifth line of defence will be assaulted”
”Ha, if you're worried about comrades then even more the reason to hurry up and finish it The soft ones are at their mental limit if we don't decide it here, there's no later for us”
There was so no supplies or reinforce until the January's half Everyone was exhausted because of sleeping in places where they have to be vigilant, and a number of people passed their mental limits Moreover, the 7th company personnel decreased to 200 people
Since they came all the way here, it's better if they finish quickly and go back
”fine However, the ones ill be proceeding further is just me and you”
”Ah?”
”What, scared?”
As Ouka provoked him, Kyouya's cheek twitched and a blood vessel surfaced on his temple
”Who the hell are you saying this to you want me to beat you up?!”
”Then prove it I'll take the station's home, you take the ay”
”Don't order me around, I——”
”If you're scared then it's fine for you to re the home and the ay myself”
”!!damn you!”
Kyouya took away the bag containing C4 explosives froan to walk towards the ay
”don't ya think he's a surprisingly easy-to-use man?”
As Ouka shrugged her shoulders the bunch behind raised their hands, and Usagi spat out a breath to the side While Ouka too has thought that he's siht there's more than that to Kyouya
He had a violent teht trajectory
”I want others to ensure a retreat route through this place If the two of us co a different route, or your own judgement tells you to, you are to run aithout hesitation”
As she told that to the Spriggans and Usagi
”Ootori!”
Usagi called out to her from behind as if to keep her in place
Ouka turned around only once
”It's all right, Saionji Until Kusanagi comes back, as the temporary captain I won't kick the bucket so easily I'll definitely come back, don't worry”
As she si blushed and looked sideways
”a-as long as you understand it's fine? Since in a way you're our te would be t-troublesome”
”Yeah I know There's no way I'll die and leave you behind”
In response to Ouka who said so confidently, Usagi made a small nod, relieved
Ouka once again turned her back to others, and after passing the ticket gate she went down the stairs
The Spriggans and Usagi ere left behind thought that they should at least do what they can, and started to investigate
They exa they found were ite bags Toothbrush with a paste on it Guitar brought in for entertainazine, and a chess that substituted the pieces with empty medicine pills
A group photo with comrades Family photo A letter to a lover
Everything in there, proved that the ones they were killing are normal humans
”I have seen so unpleasant”
When Usagi's mental state turned into one that made her want to cry as she left the tent, she found the station's staff room
With the possibility of ene to the door's side with a PDW set up
She grabbed the doorknob with one hand, opening the door and immediately aimed the muzzle inside
”wha—!!”
After she entered the staff room, the spectacle inside turned her speechless
There were no enemies inside To be precise, what used to be enemies was there
Lying next to the desk was a corpse of an olda military uniform of Pureblood Party
Usagi went down on one knee and checked the pistol lying beside the corpse
”He's probably the commander-class but it was suicide, wasn't it”
Feeling unable to stand it, she examined the room in detail
Although all the information was disposed off as expected, there was a brush and a pen placed on top of the desk
It could be seen at a glance that it was a suicide note She didn't want to touch things left by soht not reach its destination otherwise
Usagi took the letter in hand It would be too sad if it was thrown into trash by so addressed to his daughter
”Mimulus? That's a flower's name”
In the language of flowers, it meant 『Show me a smile』
Honestly, she thought it was a good name That's why even more, she was unable to understand ould the old hter behind Even if he were to be defeated, he ht survive and meet her one day
Feeling sad, Usagi casually read the letter
To Mihter
Although youof possibility of you surviving as you are, I leave this letter for you
Mimulus, it's been six years since I have been entrusted with you You ht not remember it, but I have met with you when you seemed to be fourteen years old Even now I remember my disree with West Side's on hted to see your quarrels with West Side
Even if we're not related by blood, as your father, your chest full of purity and pride is rew up to be a honest person I'rateful to you
Love for his own daughter has been spelled on the suicide note Even if they were unrelated by blood, he wrote just how hter
”?”
However, after Usagi finished reading the first piece, she noticed that there were following letters There were three crui took another one and turned it over
It's a lie It's all deception
If it wasdirectly
But now, it's ier knohether I love you or not
Why is it? The way you live should have changed, so why?
In the end, was everything I have done for naught? Is the Mih atto raise you pure as my own child?
Laugh, my Mimulus I loved you My love for you was equal to that for my own son
But you I don't know I no longer know you
The lines were drawn over the text, there were traces of hi to erase it in a hurry
Usagi's expression tensed strongly She couldn't tell what kind of content was it fro insanity
I hate thee that has hurt you, broke you, and turned you into a murderer
I hate the West Side that took es and ordered me to release you
Oh, how scared am I of you, Mimulus Your smile is so, so scary I can't help it I don't want to look atso dreadful any more The smile that blooms on your face makes other feel respect, reverence Your smile is like that of a saint and s, they are unable to look away from your face!
Why do you laugh?! After having so s done to you, how can you have such a pure smile on your face?!
Laugh, Mimulus, what on earth are you?!
What on nine hells did I raise?!
The suicide note was like a screahter and fear He himself was split inside, his mental state was out of order, he wrote the letter in such state
The sentences eventually turned into just a list of single words as the blood that has splattered all over it made it almost completely unreadable
Goodstrain██hi██andlau███████ile
███████ I thou███ ███ ████ a child ju██how horrible █████don't █████ any moredon't █████ any███ don't ██ile in my direct██nne██ ██ run ████need to ███ awayI don't ████ to ███ you ████ ████ any longerpl██s█ don't laugh any moreI hate ██I hate ██Just now, ████ the door a soun█foots████co h██ein this underground stationthis sound of █████████this battlefield
——Standing behind me now
”W-what'sthis?”
Feeling i turned over to the last piece
On the bottoe twisted characters there was
A suspicious nai was horrified
Laugh Maker is here
A chill, as if soi
Dropping the letter on the floor, Usagi stepped back and placed a hand on her mouth
”I-I need to tell Ootori!”