Vol 8 Chapter 4 (1/2)
Chapter 4 - Highway Battle
After leaving the hostel, Sain
The snow continued to fall without any change If anything, it's been worse then a day before Of all tihest a over the last ten years
The wall of snow built up on both sides of the road was nearly three-metres tall
After stopping the car at the branching, Ouka glared at the er's seat
On the route they have planned to use, there was a traffic sign warning it was blockaded by snow
”This is bad the route we had in reserve is closed to traffic too”
”With this er but”
Ouka looked towards Nagare as devouring sweets on the seat in the back
”What do we do? It's far, but shall we take a detour?”
At Ouka's proposal, Nagare went a deep ”h of it
”No, let's give up on detouring〜 As expected the scary pursuers should be on us soon, we don't have time for such leisure”
”so we shouldn't have stayed in the hostel after all?”
”Boo〜, everyone recovered their strength and ere able to relax so it's fine〜”
Nagare shook her body and puffed up her cheeks as she stared at Ouka
”Then, the highway after all there erous”
”You're right But even for Inquisition it's impossible to place checkpoints on all the roads, there should be hway”
”that does sound unlikely”
”Ah, Suginami-chan, I have a small request for you, is it fine?”
Unexpectedly, Nagare called Ikaruga
Ikaruga as i's boobs has looked towards Nagare with a blank look
30Shway
They could proceed smoothly on a maintained road, where only a thin layer of snow lied The difference between that and an ordinary road was obvious
”I haven't found any checkpoints so far It's all right for the next 10 kilometres”
Ikaruga exchanged her seat with Takeru's, and froer seat she reported to Ouka
On her head was installed a helmet-type interface
Inside, on the interface's screen, the road has been projected up to 10 kilo the sentry bot that was previously supporting Usagi on the battlefield, Ikaruga carried out reconnaissance on the road
Ouka as driving was relieved, and put a hand on her chest
”As expected of you, Suginaation or President”
”Fuee〜, I' treated like an idiot〜”
Ignoring Nagare ason the sweets in the seat behind, Ouka followed Ikaruga's instructions
”At this rate we'll arrive at the destination in an hour Everyone, prepare protection against cold and cli equipment”
”Wait soe”
At Ikaruga's disturbing words, Ouka raised her eyebrows and asked
”What is it?”
”It ht be because of snow, but I can't see any car on the road other than ours Even though we have entered highway five e that there isn't even a single sno either”
When Ikaruga anxiously placed ah and on her chin, Ouka narrowed her eyes sharply
Nagare as in the back seat has rose up as well and unexpectedly leaned towards the driver's seat
”Sorry, can you lend me a map for a moment?”
Ouka took out the are
After spreading the ic pen from her breast pocket and opened it with her mouth, then hurriedly drew the route on the map towards their destination
Mari as sitting next to her was ahter, and she stared both at thebetween theare fully focused on the work
”what are you doing?”
”M the route we have taken up until now”
Hee〜, Marinumber of points on the map
Although at first she was dazed, after starting to understand what Nagare is worried about, her expression has stretched out
”t-this is!”
”So that's it〜”
Nagare put away the pen and spread out the map as to let everyone see
Ouka and Ikaruga glanced at the map
The points on the map were clearly
”——We were led into the highway Probably, the enemy has anticipated us It's a trap”
”I-if they anticipated us, does that mean our destination has been found out?!”
Usaig raised her hand to her mouth and paled
”That's hard to believe I don't think enemy knohere our home base is, and they shouldn't be able to pin point us to the level of closing the roads we take, most likely ere followed”
”Followed so that we lead them to dissidents base?”
Mari guessed, and Nagare nodded in agreement
”W-e found? We didn't contact anyone a single time and didn't use any electronic equipment”
”I don't kno did they do it I can think of several possibilities, but we can no longer head for our destination For the tiet off the highway at once and——”
”——No, it seems too late for that”
Ouka said interrupting Nagare as she looked into the rearview mirror
Everyone looked towards the back at once
It was a straight road without any curves
Far in the distance, there were three small points
”——Inquisition's military vehicles!”
Takeru opened theand leaned outside
It's been only a few seconds since they noticed they are being chased, but the vehicles have already closed onto them to the point where they can be seen
”everyone prepare to fight! Ouka, can you shake them off somehow?!”
”I'll try!”
As instructed to by Takeru, Ouka stepped on the accelerator
The engine growled and they have rapidly accelerated Because there were chains wrapped around the tires, the car started violently vibrating
”Takeru, can you see enemy vehicle's models?”
”Eh-umm b-blue Jeep? I-I can tell it's a four-wheeler!”
”Be more specific!”
”S-sorry, I'm not familiar with cars”
”——TeRX-2000,on curves, so it's better to escape straight
Ikaruga who has been h the sentry bot on the sky has mentioned the vehicle model instead of Takeru
”As for horsepoe're evenly matched This car too is an iuised, it's quick despite the fralasses too”
For soare puffed her chest up proudly
Ikaruga quietly assessed the situation and instructed Ouka
”We're better in the snow For now, go at full speed, I'll tell you when to curve”
Following Ikaruga's instructions, Ouka further pressed on the accelerator ly
Because of the G's froi screamed
”Gyaa! The car chase on the snow should stay in aa!”
”I-I-I'm eak to roller coasteerss!”
As the two hugged each other while looking like they are about to cry, Ouka gradually raised speed
When she checked thethe distance, ain
”There's a curve 300 e”
”At this rate we'll pull out, then get out of the highway all at once We'll have to hide the car and consideron footnn?!”
It was about the iht of a plan, but the vehicle visible in the rearview le moment
A ical circle and blue particles seemed to have come out from the vehicle
Moment after——the car has demonstrated an abnormal acceleration
Ouka was faical circle and acceleration
”——《DashHighway Fairy》?!”
She raised a voice in shock
《Highway Fairy》 A charm that Small Fry Platoon has previously confiscated froht Inquisition would use them like this
”Ngh, Inquisitors shouldn't eessssssssss!”
A moment before they reached the curve, Ouka pressed on the brakes and turned to the right while screarily
It was the worst case, the road was covered with ice
” ” ”Gyaaaaaaaaa!” ” ”
While Takeru's, Mari's and Usagi's screarandly
It see, but it continued to drew an arc right onto the guardrail
However, Ouka changed gear and stepped on the break, and through ingenious steering wheel's operation, she finished the curve on the brink of collision
I balance, the car ran at full throttle once again
Ikaruga instinctively raised the helmet's visor and whistled
”Wheeehat's up with that driving technique! Right now, I feel like einity!”
”Even if you say that twice, it's iinami, concentrate on the Sentry Bot!”
”J-just now the car's movement were like that of a skaters”
”Upgh I feel like barfing”
”M- to me”
Falling from the seats with the seatbelts still on, almost everyone's face cramped in pain
The road was going straight again However, the enehway Fairy》 and it entered the curve at perfect angle
”At this rate!”
Ouka started showing impatience as she stepped on the accelerator
That's when, Nagare started laughing in the rear seat
”Fu fu fu, no worries I have a secret plan as well”
Acting arrogantly, Nagare pulled out a piece of paper from her breast pocket
”——I have this! Three 《Highway Fairy》 instant charms I have snatched from Inquisition!”
”That's nothing to be proud of!!”
Ouka has inored it and raised her ar
”Hi-Yo, Silver!”
And, she swung doith all her strength onto the floor with the charm
Mohway Fairy》 ic was deployed
Or not
””
”?”
”??”
”???”
Everyone fell silent
Nagare blinked repeatedly and pulled off the char it up, she fluttered with it in the air and ser
”Sorry〜, this car is ical ic〜”
While they had a short coe, the cars have closed onto them from both sides
Ouka tried to shake thehway Fairy》's effect it was iuns and prepared for combat
”Lapis, you ready?”
” ” ”You're useless!” ” ”
Preparing for the fight as well, Takeru asked Lapis who sat on top of his knees
”You and me can jump into enemy's car and stall them We should be able to do that much in Witch Hunter form”
””
”Lapis?”
He once again called out to Lapis as staying silent Lapis slightly shook her head in response
”I don't recommend it”
”?! Why? It's an eency you know?!”
”I am unable to disclose a detailed explanation It's an error”
Takeru didn't think that she would say 'error' even at a time like this
It seeain,
”I'm really sorry”
But since she apologized, Takeru started thinking there must have been a different reason
However, right now they didn't have time to think about that Their car was already sandwiched between Inquisition's, and there was a car behind the off their escape route
Ouka glared at theof the vehicle on their right side Although it was slass slowly has been lowered and——a handgun has peeked out
A gunshot rang out The bullet bit into the glass ai directly for her forehead
”It's overpressure alass won't hold out for long!”
After Ouka shouted, Kanaria as silent up until now opened the skylight on the top
”Kana will go”
Holding guns with strangely long a tried to stop her, but Takeru placed a hand on his shoulder Relaying to Ikaruga strongly that only Kanaria is capable of doing it now, Takeru hit her shoulder lightly
”Kanaria, I leave it to you”
”Nn”
”Also, try not to kill them as much as possible”
Kanaria graiht
Takeru returned her glare straight, Kanaria iue
”You're too soft Takeru——《Wings of World BirdVíðópnir》
Lævateinn she was carrying on her back has sparkled for a s have appeared behind Kanaria
Immediately after, Kanaria kicked off the roof with abandon
The car S has dented in
At the sas on her back and plunged forward
——bvuunn
Along with a buzz like that of an insect, Kanaria moved in front of the cars
However, after 20 metres, she has inverted her body towards the cars
And then she juht of the one Takeru and the others were
She outstretched the sub-ers
A rapid-fire with overpressure bullets hit the enemy's car head-on Enemy vehicle's windshi+eld has been filled hite cracks
In addition to that, Kanaria ra-kick manner
Kanaria's body passed through the glass and she entered the car
The car on their right has shook strongly Surely, Kanaria has been ra inside
After a few seconds, the car started spinning On the verge of it hitting the wall, Kanaria opened the door and juain
She looked like a fairy holding a gun
Using similar modus operandi, Kanaria overturned the car in the back
However, when she tried to juht of the vehicle on their left has opened and an Inquisitor with a rocket launcher has appeared
She'll be late If the rocket hits the car as it is, Kanaria will get caught up in the explosion The ht so,
”——《Aurora Field》!”
Mari exposed her upper body through the skylight and triggered ic
The car running right beside them on the left has decelerated as if it entered water and after losing balance it fell over and started to roll
The space inside of the light has weight applied on it which further increased the iic was activated to match the position and speed of the car, the people inside wouldn't have realized disturbance if not for tracking Kanaria's actions
Mari stretched herself out of the , grabbed Kanaria's hands who flew over and dragged her inside of the car
”You're too reckless, are you that durable?”
”it's nothing”
”A-as expected that was dangerous was it not, right Kusanagi?”
”yeah”
Takeru dully responded to Usagi, and anxiously stared at Lapis on top of his knees
Even as he wondered whatHis bond with Lapis should have deepened in Magic Acadee if he were to be rejected by his partner now
Is it jealousy towards the platoon members? that's probably not it
Despite all, Takeru and Lapis were together for a long tiether
She wouldn't reject going into Witch Hunter for like jealousy
There's some other reason
”Everyone, sorry for not reading the mood but——it seems like it isn't over yet”
Ouka, the driver, spoke in a heavy tone
When everyone stared towards the back once again, they could see a new vehicle approach at high speed
”Oh come on! Inquisition's really persistent! Fine, even at this range I can use ic——”
”Give up on that That's different from the bunch from before”
After her proposal was rejected by Ouka, Mari squinted as she stared at approaching car The car's model was same as the ones from before
However, there was a hu on the roof without any resistance to the wind
Seeing a black uniform under the coat, Mari was horrified
Sweat ran down Ouka's cheek
”It's EXE Moreover, it's not the rookies using mass-produced models She's”
She squinted, focusing herself
”EXE's vice captain”
Clutching the handle strongly, Ouka stepped on the accelerator
”——Bingo I'enius after all〜”
Making a daunting pose on top of the car, Magnolia laughed in front of the target
Gou sat in the driver's seat and Kagerou was sitting in the passenger seat beside
”Mag-sanwhydid you think the children would go to old Aomori?”
”It's just many years of experience and intuition Their destination——is probably old Hokkaido”
Ruins of old Hokkaido During the late Witch Hunt War, Hokkaido has alic
Even so, not entirety of its land was lost
The entire area ed by the Sanctuary, but a several islands still existed
”That bunch is a hybrid organization that has gathered dissidents of various organizations Magic and AntiMagic have teaic and barrier equipment Fantasy CultValhalla can use Their activities have intensified after Hojishi+ro has appeared, but it's an organization that exist for a long time already”
”thenthey've been hiding in Hokkaido's Sanctuaryhave they”
”Well, we can hear the truth fro the bunch in this damn cold my body has dulled, I'll take them on for a lil'”
When Magnolia extended her hands, bright red ical power have overflowed
And, the particles have concentrated in the vicinity of Magnolia's hands, shaping two handguns
Two small, scarlet-coloured revolvers
On the surface of the guns 《The Malleus Maleficarum III “bloody Mary”》 was carved in
Magnolia perforunspin and poised with the Relic Eater 『bloody Mary』
She licked her lips with her tongue and aiht hand at the sky
And she squeezed the trigger five times in total
Although five gunshots have sounded, nothing was fired fro has appeared from the cylinder
Snolia slowly lowered it and this tiun in front
And then——
”Now, the ga has barely started”
——Magnolia pulled the trigger, firing six rounds of live ammunition
”!!——It's co! Everyone hold onnnn!”
Ouka shouted and turned the handle with abandon
At the sa of reddish-brown colour was unleashed
——UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
A spine-chilling roar It was as if an enoron opened its mouth
The Dragon plunged straight, ai at their car
Ouka avoided the dragon without wings, shaped like a snake with her brilliant driving skills
”W-what's that!”
”A dragon?!”
Seeing the dragon built with ical power pass beside, Takeru and Kanaria were amazed
If that thing were to hit theical materials would have been erased
Even Ikaruga, as the only one keeping her co the helmet's visor
”That thing can't be fired so rapidly can it After we pass through the hairpin curve ahead, there's an exit frohway 500 metres further We should——”
”——No, avoiding that is impossible, it's not over yet!”
Ha? Everyone made the same expression
I over, front the front——once again, a roar has resounded
The dragon was co an U-turn