Vol 8 Chapter 5 (1/2)

Chapter 5 - Battle on the Snow

Feeling stinging cold on her body, Ouka woke up

Her entire vieas dyed in pure white She barely ed to breathe in, but it sees

She was completely buried under the snow, unable to tell which as up and which was down Ouka did her best as not to panic and first confirmed what of her body could move

Both legs, right ar

Judging by the feel of it, that would be someone else's hand

Ouka put a little bit of snow into her mouth, after it dissolved into water because of her body teain

Water dripped doards from her lips

That resultface down

She turned her body upwards and startedthe space little by little, she crawled up through the snow

A while after that, she has passed through the entirety of snow and saw the sky

Making sure her body doesn't sink in, Ouka carefully moved out of the snow

She breathed in oxygen into her lungs, without any ti in the snow

After digging about twojust a while ago

A hat and a muffler It was Mari

Ouka dragged Mari's body out from under the snow and slapped her awake

”Nikaido, hey! Wake up, Nikaido!”

No matter how many times she hit her, there was no reaction

Ouka ht next to Mari's h Mari's heart was beating, she wasn't breathing

Without any hesitation, Ouka pinched Mari's nose and overlapped her lips with hers

She injected oxygen into Mari's lungs,it three times, Mari has finally came back to life

The hed

Seeing Mari coughing, Ouka stroked her own chest in relief

Mari turned blue and faced down , she puts her hands and knees on the snow

”are you okay? Any injuries?”

”uuehuuu sniff”

”It hurts so much to make you cry?! Is there a fracture——”

While Ouka orried about her body, large tears trickled down from Mari's eyes

”By berstt giss azzz (My first kiss was)〜〜〜〜〜!”

Her first words after revival ay too strange

”damn you, it's not time for that now!!”

”Uehhh〜〜〜〜nn! Why was it Ootori Ouka of all people〜〜〜〜! Even though it was ive it to Takeruu〜〜〜〜〜!”

Mari wept for real

Ouka blushed faintly and pointed at Mari in a hurry

”O-obviously it doesn't count! It's lifesaving! It doesn't count, no way!”

”Uu, uu, sniff doesn't count? Reallyy? Really for reall?”

”O-of course, if not for that even I would be asham——”

As Ouka's and Mari's silly debate on the first kiss continued, there was a fir on the snow in their immediate vicinity

In the ure barely lifting its legs froround has walked towards them

Black hair with hints of blue, armor of the same color The person who exuded an aura which could be called grueso muzzle which made it look similar to a trumpet at them

And her special characteristic, her long, long bangs

Neither her eyes nor s

”ohI'ladyou survivedOuka-san”

Being called by her nausted

”i-if you died with just thatain I'lad you're alive”

Ufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufu The wohed eerily

Although she al at Ouka and the woman's face

”Mom she says m-mom?! Your mother?!!”

”You're wrong! No, that's how it is for the ti but s-she's my adoptive mother”

”Eh so she's Chair?!”

Raising a bewildered cry, Mari pointed at the woman

Still continuing her ”ufufu” laughter, the woe of her skirt

”OotoriKagerou is etsu-sama'swife! And so p-pleased to make your acquaintance”

She accented the word 'wife' very strongly The honorifics she used gave theh eerily host from a horror movie

Although there was tension in the air, Mari whispered to Ouka

”is she seriously that handso's wife? It feels as if she crawled out from a well”

”From what I've heard, at first she was Chairned theit too et it myself”

Seeing an extremely difficult expression on Ouka's face, Mari decided not to pursue it any further

Kagerou froze while still bowing and only tilted her head by 90° and stared at Ouka Her bangs shook, and round eyeballs akin to a black crystal peeked fros

”Ouka-san, Moetsu-sama?”

”Sorry, but I didn't think of you or the Chairle ti——”

”You can'tover troublesoht? If I leave you bethe one ill be scolded by Sougetsu-samaill b-be me you kno?!”

””

”bad girl! I need to punish you firmly as your mother!”

She didn't listen to what they were talking about at all, she roused herself thinking of soe

”I-in the first place I've thought it's strange for a long tietsu-sama a-a-adopt you as his own child see, I t-think! T-t-that person ht be a l-l-loliconn!”

””

”S-surely he has a plan siht! That's definitely it! Great that I realized it! After all, you're ripe for eating now, and I'll be past expiration date and cast away soon! I won't let you, I definitely won't let you Ouka-san, you intend to take Sougetsu-sa cat!”

As she shook her head hard, soerou

She progressed with talking on her own Her delusions were pure madness Ouka made a painful expression and Mari, taken aback, hid behind Ouka

”Yes, after all, Sougetsu-saive him to anyone! The only one dear to and loved by that person is meeEEeeEEeeeEee!”

While doing soerou directed the gun's trumpet-like muzzle at Ouka

Ouka pulled out her favorite guns froh holsters Unfortunately, Vlad couldn't be used Anxious about the safety of the otherseriously here

With escape as her goal she looked for a chance to do it——

”No way, I'ainst that type of people! I won't stand it physiologically, I'll knock her doith ic all at once!”

——Or so she thought of doing, but Mari acted super fast, expanding a ic

Ouka stopped her in a hurry

”Wait, Nikaido! That Relic Eater is——!”

”《Aurora Cannon》!”

Extending her both hands forward, Mari took a stance, accuical power in an instant

That's when

The Relic Eater Kagerou poised roared

”Sing! ——Antoinetteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

What was e with the scream, was a 'sound'

It was a tone that see from the bottom of hell

The sound has come out from the muzzle which spread like a brass instruh it wasn't visible, the impact of the sound was lethal

The moment they have been exposed to the sound waves, an anomaly has occurred in Mari alone

Moic she accuical circle below her feet has distorted as if

Iht in front of her

”KYAaAAaaaaaa!

”Khhh!”

Mari and Ouka were bloay Noric that wasn't built up fully was extreical power's quality and quantity, that wasn't the case

Ouka received less dae because she jumped away just before the explosion, but it wasn't so for Mari

Both of her aric's failure

”wh-atis this”

Unable to stand, she curled up on top of the snow

Ouka rushed over to her in a hurry and covered both of Mari's hands with snow A sound as if water was being splashed on hot plate has sizzled and Mari raised a cry of anguish

”That Relic Eater's ht before eneic While it's sounding, we can't use ic”

”Ngh, tell me that earlier!”

”It's your fault for trying to hit her before I could say anything!!”

Thanks to Ouka stopping her, Mari was able to diffuse ht on the brink of explosion, and yet this ic at full power, at worst, she ht have died

Give realisation of the potency of her own erou

Kagerou abruptly stretched her head towards theonally and fired the Relic Eater 『Antoinette』

Every tiasped in pain

The area was filled aves of anti-ical sounds which could be heard only by witches, inhibited witches ability to build operative procedure and dealt theerou's Antoinette freely manipulated the sounds in the area

”I'etsu-sama's wife! That person's love, hatred, murderous intent, it's all to be aimed at me alone! I-I n-need to kill! If I rip you apart lietsu-sama will look at me aloneeeee! It will definitely be soOOoOOOO!”

While scratching her neck loudly, KagerouAntoinette's muzzle at them They had no choice but to prepare themselves for the worst

Unable to rely on Mari's ic, Ouka was the only one who could do it

She moved in front of Mari as if to protect her and pulled the triggers of her handguns

Cold air wrapped around her body, Ikaruga felt her body slowly die That gentle death was incredibly sweet, like a pleasant slumber

She could no longer think, just focused on sleeping

Ina red lab coat passed through her head In her childhood, a discussion on science in the ht between the two of theh her head

Back when she knew nothing Back when they didn't knohether they were happy or not

In the flat every day life, she was the only existence that could speak with Ikaruga as equals

She realized that person could be called her best friend after she left to the outside world

”Isuka”

Ikaruga sank in the ret that she didn't stay beside her, and the coa's will to resist death

There was sorasped her hand in middle of that

A sa out from under the snow

With the surroundings suddenly turning bright, Ikaruga raised her heavy eyelids

When she opened her eyes, she saw a face of a girl looking down on her

Blue hair and small pointed ears Grumpy expression

”Kanaria?”

As she called out her naa

Ikaruga tried to raised her upper body, but ih her ribs

”How brittle Made unable to move with just this, weak”

”why did you?”

As Ikaruga asked, Kanaria made a sullen expression

”I didn't really choose to save you I just pulled on a hand sticking out of the snow It turned out to be you I drew the short stick I wouldn't have helped you if I knew”

Acting coldly, Kanaria wouldn't look her into eyes

Seeing her like that, Ikaruga made a thin smile

Although she said that only a hand was visible, Ikaruga's hand was coa muttered Isuka's na her out from the snow

”Thanks You saved me”

”Shut upp I told you I didn't intend to save you”

”Even so, thank you”

As straight as she could, Ikaruga relayed her feelings to Kanaria

Possibly weak against words of gratitude like this, Kanaria's face turned bright red

She hurriedly stood up and turned around on her heel

”〜〜〜〜! Fine already!”

Sh the snow, Ikaruga forced her aching body and soed to stand up

And, when she was about to chase after Kanaria's small back,

”O”

Suddenly, Kanaria bu her forehead with a hand, Kanaria looked up overhead

In front of her there was a giant, looking like a mountain

”——!”

At the saht fist Intending to fight back with a sword, she put her fingers on Lævateinn, that moment

Sorabbed Kanaria's collar

Pulled rearwards, she fell on her back With their positions swapped around, Kanaria saw Ikaruga move in front

The giant's fist ung down, and the a's body fold into a く shape

Ikaruga was bloay and bounced on top of the snow then stopped , like a broken doll

”———”

With eyes wide open, she stared at una

Meanwhile, the giant tried to swing his fist once again

Kanaria triggered Sourasped Lævateinn's handle and pulled the sword out all at once

She slashed the giant with a sword draw, blowing him away

Without bothering to check whether she defeated hia was

She got on her knees beside fallen Ikaruga and after a a's body

”hey?”

When she arrived to her side, Ikaruga barely ed to open her eyes to look at Kanaria

”are you okay?”

””

”Were youhurt?”

Ikaruga stretched out her tre to touch Kanaria's cheek

She senuinely relieved

”That'sgreat you're okay”

However, she exhausted her strength right before she could touch Kanaria's skin, Ikaruga's hand fell on the snoerlessly

The white breath disturbing the falling snow has stopped and Ikaruga didn't even twitch

”hey”

Kanaria froze, like a stone statue she wouldn't move at all

Once again, she heard the giant's thundering footsteps

The gray giant she previously bloay has come back intact

He stood behind Kanaria and once again swung his fist

Kanaria didn't a's figure

The fist has cut through the wind right beside her head

——Kanaria's fingers which were about to touch Ikaruga accelerated with Sourabbed Lævateinn's handle in an instant

She pulled it out and turned around at the saiant

The fist and the sword collided and a shockwave blew the powder snow in the air

Moreover, flauishi+ng the snow around them

And then——

”urraaaAAaaAAaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!”

E fury itself, Kanaria roared

Takeru regained consciousness and opened his eyes at the saot up

He reht up in an avalanche, but he couldn't recall what happened afterwards

Looking around in the vicinity covered in snow, he saw an azure-colored girl stand alone in the middle of the white scenery

Staring at Lapis' figure a shtly relieved

”Did you dig ht?”

”I'e I won't be destroyed with just an avalanche”

Her tone of voice was bland and dry as ever, but it was now more spiritless than ever

Really, what on earth has happened

Ever since they escaped from Inquisition, she's been like this the entire time

It wasn't an eic Academy

Was she afraid of so? Connected with Lapis' soul, Takeru could faintly feel so like fear from her

Let's ask for the reason this time

Thinking so, he attempted to stand up, that's when he heard a voice come from the snow behind him

”Kusanagi-kuun? I can't see anything〜it's you right, Kusanagi-kun〜?”

”President is it you?!”

”Yup〜, sorry but I can't breathe so could you dig ive you a kiss or two〜 ehe〜”

Seeing Nagaru acted like she usually did even in a situation like this, Takeru dug her out in a hurry

She was buried deep, but as she appeared from under the snow she sucked in breath loudly and smiled

”Snow is so heavy〜, it was painful but Ipressed on〜”

”please don't make such troublesome confessions I'll pull you out now”

”Ahh, ait! Actually, s are sandwiched between fallen trees〜 If you pull now, s will be torn off”

Torn off? Froh for hi

Takeru gave up on pulling her out and dug in the snow until he uncovered Nagaru's feet

A huge fallen tree was pressing on Nagaru's legs Her thin legs were completely crushed and turned purple

”! I'll save you right away!”

”Ah〜there's no need to rush, It's perfectly fine〜 It's so cold it doesn't hurt〜”

He tried to create space between the fallen tree and her legs but it didn't go well The snoas too brittle and the fallen tree sank in as he dug

”You don't have to make that face〜 Nmm〜 you're so kind〜 aren't you〜♪”

Nagaru laughed, but this situation was no good at all After the snow's pressure disappeared, blood started to flow out The artery wasn't cut, but there was a serious injury

”You ht it seenore me and look for everybody In case this is it for me, if you reach the home base's destination, you'll understand how to access it, all the people in the dissident faction will lend you their strength”

She said so while squinting, but Takeru clenched his teeth and continued to work

”Don't screith me you're our only hope! You promised to help us! I won't let you die in a place like this!”

””

”The one whom I entrusted my hopes with isn't the dissidents——it's you!”

Nagaru stopped laughing and stared at Takeru's face intently

”The one who told me to be spoiled was you, President!”

Feeling half-desperate he blurted out soaru smiled happily

That expression hed lovely towards Takeru

”I can't win against such a spoiled child〜”

He s her usual slovenly expression

Thanks to the snow being squeezed and turning hard, he was able to make space between the fallen tree and her feet

With that, he could recover her froaru's hand in a hurry and tried to pull her out

”——Yes, that's as far as you go”

Takeru gasped hearing a sound of soer

After he slowly stood up and turned around, he saw Magnolia stand there ai the muzzle at him

”Perfect tiood farce there Unconsciously I felt like waitin' there until ya end There' no way I'll be waitin' though”

After letting out a bored yawn, Magnolia spat out a sigh seeing Takeru stand in front of Nagaru to protect her

”Ury if I kill ya It's all fine as long as ya come back to school with us I'll put down that racoon behind ya”

”I refuse”

”Immediate answer eh For real, could ya reconsider? II wanna go back asap”

”If you want to go back, do it on your own I won't let you bunch kill her and I don't have any intention of co with you either”

When he flatly refused, feelings of frustration and annoyance appeared on Magnolia's face and she scratched her head with one hand

Takeru put a hand on Lapis shoulder as beside him, a step behind

”Lapis lend th now!”

””

”If we're beaten here, everything will be ruined! Please, partner!”

””

”I don't knohat are you scared about, but I'll be all right!”

Hearing Takeru plead to her, Lapis faced doards

”I understand”

After seeing Lapis nolia

Magnolia stared coldly at Takeru

”Ahh damn, what a pain Looks like there ain't no choice but to tear off his limbs first”

Takeru triggered Soumatou and pulled out a spare knife from his waist

At the saical bullet

”Summis desiderantes affectibus——!”

Swinging the anti- with the chant, Takeru blocked the bullet

After one, two bullets, the blade broke

As the pieces scattered, Magnolia shot the third bullet

A scarlet-colored ical bullet approached from the front

”——Malleus Maleficarum!”

Just before he was hit, Takeru's body was encased in particles

A high-pitchedout

The ical bullet was hit by azure-colored blade and bloay to the side