Vol 9 Chapter 1 (2/2)
Saying so, Nagaru hit Ouka's shoulder twice
And together with other members she left the roof
Not following them as the last one, she remained on the roof alone
After looking upwards at the cracked-up sky, Ouka closed her eyes
really, such a shrewd person People standing on top are inevitably of that type, aren't they
Ouka guessed as the reason Nagaru hit her shoulder in the end She had the power required to protect Takeru
but
However, the proble that power didn't lie in her nor in Takeru
It lied in a different person, one she never tried to converse with
After he opened the door, there, was so room
The genuine AntiMagic Acaderounds in the basement, but this seemed like a prison There was one pipe chair in there, and one lass
That's where Lapis was sitting in quietly
””
Noticing that Takeru came in Lapis expressionlessly looked towards him only once, then quickly looked away
Lapis was angry, but not at Takeru She was angry at Nagaru who let Takeru enter this place despite being told she doesn't want to meet him
Currently, Takeru was able to tell even that
”yo”
He raised one hand and greeted her brightly
”What's up, locking yourself in like that Upset again?”
””
Even when he joked as he sat on the chair, Lapis wouldn't look towards him
Although it seeic Academy, the rejection noas different frory
She was probably depressed
”I'm sorry”
Takeru slowly articulated an apology
Lapis' pupils lightly shook
”why is Host apologizing”
”There are parts I can't recall but I heard your voice as you tried to stop me yet I didn't stop, that's why You've been alarningforain”
””
”I knew you were afraid of assi into coma this time was my own fault It's not your fault You just responded to my request after all”
Without looking away, Takeru said it straight out
Nagaru and the 35th platoon members misunderstood Lapis In no as she a e
She was a hu a proper heart
Lapis was just as worried about Takeru's body as his co
This time too, just as he told Lapis, was his own fault
It was a mistake to isolate her like this If someone had to be admonished, it should be him
”Host, did you notice e?”
Takeru was surprised being told that all of a sudden
”I myself was the one who requested to be pulled away from the Host I entered this place out of my oill”
”Why do such”
”It is because I cannot control myself”
Inside of the iron-box like room, her voice sounded very clear
Although there was nothing reflected in her eyes, Takeru could feel guilt fro him with Lapis
”You must be aware of the indecipherable error that had appeared inside of me frequently”
”No, that's not really an error that's, how to say it it's ——”
”——Beco more human is the problem”
Flatly, Lapis cut in half way through his sentence Her voice was louder than usual, like a scream
”what is the problem?”
Lapis has never raised her voice before, not even once
Takeru asked quietly, cautiously
She dropped her line of sight to her knees and clutched the hem of her skirt
”I didn't knohat the error inside oftiwith the Host to outside world I was finally able to find an answer”
””
”The starting point was an error that appeared when Host came in contact with people he refers to as 'comrades' Each time Host time came contact with Ootori Ouka-sa has ached inside of me Every time Host's awareness was directed to soed inside of me like a wave Every tiin my chest”
”umm, that's”
”I've seen that so as just an error”
At the beginning, Takeru very seriously listened to what Lapis had to say
However, he understood when he heard it and his face unwittingly turned red
When he's in contact with anyone else, error occurs When his awareness is turned towards directed towards someone else, error occurs
When he smiles towards someone else other than her, error occurs
Even thick-headed Takeru understood
Surely, Lapis was jealous of other comrades
She suddenly turned restless, she correcter her posture on her chair, brushed her hair with her fingers and covered her mouth with her hand, but when Takeru approached further shethe chair with her
As usual she faced him expressionlessly
”N-no, wait that's uhh I can tell what you feel Heck, that's not so to be afraid of is it That's probably jealousy, right”
””
”I knew a long tiet sulky when I try to do a practice swing or use other swords, calling it cheating You're jealous of the sword I nore, I' such a well- jealous over, makes me happy to say”
Mu embarrassed, Takeru said the truth
It were his true feelings As a swordsman, he was tremendously happy to be loved by a sword Lapis was a first class weapon It was soical organisms
Being accepted and inspiring possessiveness in her made him proud as a swordsman
”As I thought, Host didn't notice”
”I-I said I noticed I told you I'm happy about it D-d-don't make me repeat it so many times”
”You areI was unable to name until now but I noticed just recently that it's possible to express it in hue”
Hearing that, Takeru froze with a loose expression on his face
When he raised his face duht at him
Takeru was firmly reflected in her eyes
In theht that wasn't there before
Lapis placed a hand on her chest and staring directly at Takeru she said
”Most likely——I love you Not as a sword, but as a human”
An error born fro in contact with Takeru as a hu emotions
The conclusion and the description Lapis drew of the error was this
Takeru froze with his mouth half-opened, it took about thirty seconds before he could finally let out the words
”thankyou”
Of all things, these were the words that came out Love Not 'like' but 'love' 'I love you'
That anshich went leaps and bounds must have taken a lot fro human emotions Surely, Lapis didn't understand such abstract word deeply, even Takeru didn't
It was clearly clumsy
But, how heavy the word 'love' was
”Ah, s-sorry! W-what I' for here no no, thank you but, uht? Umm ahh”
Confused Takeru tried to choose the words
It shouldn't end with just thanks, right
However, he caht look like indecision, but it was 'I don't know much about love between a man and woman' That's why he didn't know if he loved Lapis as a person or not
That's why——I don't know if I love you as a person, as a person I like you very much, and I love the sword you and want you beside me
Uwahh what's that, that's super uncool!
That's just being good-for-nothing isn't it I mean, I wasn't confessed to so clearly before, no matter what excuse I make it'll be uncool As Takeru fretted troubled, Lapis broke the ice, beginning to talk
”I do not really desire an answer as to whether Host loves me or not What's important now, isn't Host's answer”
”Ehh?! Is that so?!”
Still having a bright red face, he was slightly taken aback
All I thought was about being confessed to How e
”What does loving someone as a human mean is still unknown tovery dangerous for a Magical Heritage whose ulti with the user”
”? Why liking soerous?”
Takeru could only find goods things in it
”As a sword, I can be an existence that's your one and only But I have no confidence of doing that as a person That is the problem”
Lapis exhaled and squinted
”If I embrace the affection towards the Host as a person——I will end up trying to erase what's important to Host from his memory”
Hearing the word 'erase' Takeru opened his eyes widely
”As rows, the fusion of mine and Host's soul speeds up Even if I try to suppress the fusion, the feelings I am unable to control refuse to stop it Even more so, that Host has a lot of other existences important to him”
””
”Upon waking up you should have noticed e and its user's fusion has reached the first stage Re hindrances in order to have hi”
Hindrances Lapis clearly said so
”I have co all existences important to Host That was immediately dismissed If Host's comrades and Kiseki-sama were to be killed, Host will reject ain I determined that would clearly make Host hate me”
Lapis clenched her fist on top of her knees
”However, the other option, ”Re memories of the people important to you” would satisfy my possessiveness If I removed all that's important to Host from his memory, there would be no reason to reject the fusion”
””
”If I removed memories of the hindrances——Host would be mine alone”
After she finished saying that, Lapis closed her eyes
She knehat kind of things were Magical Heritages Magical Heritages absolutely wouldn't forgive huic Academy required courses that a sense of distance is ies
The desires of Magical Heritage and people are incoe will eat human's soul in forical Heritage
Especially if it's a Sacred Treasure A Sacred Treasure is impossible for a human to handle, that was the reason a soul more powerful than a human's is required
”Host”
Lapis faintly opened her eyes and looked at Takeru
Fro until the end, not even once Takeru did aze away from her
”You toldas I'm by your side as a sword, the fusion will be suppressed But it seeainst the nature of a Sacred Treasure Fro After attaining huer able to restrain myself”
She stood up from the chair
”I can no longer respond to Host's expectations I don't want to steal anything else from Host I am painfully aware that Host doesn't want that That's why”
And, with tears flowing fro voice
”That's why I io of me”
”I refuse”
Takeru stood up fro so
It was an immediate answer There was no hesitation whatsoever
He furrowed his eyebrows
”I've said it right I proain, no matter what happens”
”but if Host continues to useThe one who broke the promise is me What you requested of me, I was unable to restrain myself”
”The reasonis because I didn't adhere to the time limit It's not your fault”
”It's no longer ato the analysis result of the emotions born inside of ain”
”No such thing! If you really intended to fuse with o!”
”that's”
”I want to be your Host forever! Both of you as a sword and as a person!”
In response to what Takeru said, Lapis downcast her face
He relaxed his shoulders and put a hand on the glass between them
”I beg you, partner if you are hurt, then so am I”
”Host”
”I won't let you go in exchange for what's important to me after all, you too are someone important to me”
Seriously, as if spitting blood Takeru said so
Even as she faintly hesitated, Lapis reached with her hand to Takeru's pallass
However, on the verge of overlapping with Takeru's hand, her hand was lowered powerlessly
After Takeru has left the roo in the chair
””
The error swirling inside of her was discharged to Takeru as it was, but she was still bewildered
She came up wit conclusion for the error by herself Until now she continued to deny her feelings, but she had to admit them now
She had a heart with same properties as that of a human She noticed that when she ic Academy Rather than joy, she rather felt it was mysterious
During this God hunting forreed foreven coe hue, a Sacred Treasure
No matter how ic faithfully responds to her desires
It was a very sii Kiseki Until now it didn't worry her in the least and she wasn't interested in it, but now she was able to understand her suffering
For the first ti born a hue
No, that rong She just wasn't aware of it before, this was the second time
”will it repeat again?”
When Lapis questioned herself, the door Takeru went out through has opened again
The one standing on the other side of opened doors was Ootori Ouka
””
Ouka looked at lonely Lapis and then she too sat down in the chair
”it's the first time we speak to each other, just two of us isn't it”
””
”Or rather, isn't this the first ties before”
She gestured as if she was exploring her memory
”what do you want?”
”I was concerned, that's all You told Takeru everything, right? Hoas it?”
Hearing her say so,in so bluntly Lapis felt haze inside of her chest
In the world there are people without tact, people who are said to be unable to read the h transfer ic, she told everyone that she wants to be confined and unable to get in contact with Takeru, as well as explained the reasons for that
Nagaru and Ouka seei looked like she was about to cry, Mari seerasp her by the clothes any tily, the one as a
Lapis ell aware that she wasn't accepted by Takeru's co in that respect
The reason Ouka has come to her too, was probably because she orried about Takeru Just as Lapis thought of Ouka as of existence that's in the way, Ouka shouldn't harbor any feelings towards her as well That's why she didn't mind whether Ouka knew or not
”I told Host to let go of e don't match, if the contract continues as it is, the results will be disastrous”
”Hmm And, what did he say?”
”He thoroughly refused”
”Pft, ahahahahahahahaha!”
Ouka begun to laugh holding her belly, tears pooled in her eyes
What is she laughing about If Takeru's ht cease to be hi so hard at
One question after another, Lapis felt a strange irritation
Ouka looked at Lapis with one eye opened and apologized with ”sorry about that”
”See, I thought Takeru would answer like that I couldn't bear it and burst out laughing Forgive me”
The corners of Lapis mouth moved faintly Ouka saw it clearly
”Ohh seeht you were an expressionless, ees in your expressions Right now you're very irritated aren't you?”
”what is it with you What did you come here for, really”
”I told you I was concerned and came to check on you”
And once again, she tried to suppress her laughter It was truly uncomfortable
”Why are you laughing so cheerfully The fact that Host doesn't want to let go ofwith et you and become mine alone Are you content with it?””
Lapis said it very quickly, restlessly Ouka strongly leaned with her back on the chair
”I'm not Not at all If I were to lose and have him taken away by someone else I could still accept it, but I wouldn't be able to stand an outcoe like you”
Maybe it's because she wasn't a hus without any embarrassment
If it were in front of platoon members, it probably wouldn't happen like this
Maybe Ouka was looking down on Lapis, no, that wasn't it Ouka's eyes indicated she clearly saw her as an enemy
”Then, on't you persuade Host to let go of me? Or maybe isolate me, put in effort to destroy me?”
”I refuse I think Takeru wants to be together with you I have no intention of betraying those feelings of his Since Takeru wishes for it, you should stay by his side”
”I cannot co yourself I anized as an enemy”
Just like she sees Ouka and other members, Ouka should have done so
Lapis thought so
Suddenly, with abandon Ouka hit the glass with the palm of her hand
”——Don't run away”
Ouka said so while glaring at Lapis with her blue eyes
Lapis' shoulders trehtly
”Let go because you can't restrain your emotions? Get away because you can't resist the nature of a Magical Heritage? Are you going to shake off Takeru's hand who reaches out to you despite being well aware of that?”
””
”How ainst? He's shouldering a nus of lousy people like me and yet he proceeds forward”
That was so Lapis kneell She knew and needn't be told that She knew just how desperately he confronted the threats since she was the closest one to him
”I' you to resist, oppose it If you're the one closest to him, that's what you should do Resist nature of a Sacred Treasure, your own feelings, show yourself in a satisfactory state”
Lapis looked doards
Resist, obtain satisfactory results with her own hands
She knew it even without being told that by a woe
”Then I, what should I do how do I oppose it? I don't kno What else can I do?”
《”So thou doest not know, Parasite——then I shall teach thou!”》
A voice has sounded abruptly
Out of nowhere, a voice has come from an empty place
The ical circle
Two huge handguns Ouka's partner
《”Immature, immature, thou're so iical heritage ye are a lut thy host, this disqualifies thou to be a mere parasite ”》
”Vlad”
《”As thy user Kusanagi Takeru is far below thou as thy user It's not his art, it's his existence 'Tis evident that due to lack ofdevour'd by thou O' Sacr'd Treasure who chose thy master incorrectly That is wherefore I say ye are a parasite——”》
clingg
Ouka stopped Vlad who started to preach like an old man
”Stop agitating her, fool You're an irregular-type Magical Heritage as well aren't you Stop trying to act important”
《”He is shallow, it's clear that's she's a parasite Ita sermon ”》
”Shut up, gun hurry up say what you want, and go back”
Ouka sighed in response to Vlad's disrespectful attitude
Since they were transferred to a parallel world, his link with Ootori Sougetsu was probably cut That's why he was able to manifest normally like this
But she couldn't understand
Why would a Magical Heritage like Vlad teach Lapis atheir nature
《”You doubt me? I told thou I shall teach thou The balance between thou and thy master is poor he can handle thou, but thou're not equal Argal thou can no longer avoid fusing ”》
”I know that even without being told that by you That's why I do this”
《”However——with power of mine 'tis possible to stop thy and thy master's fusion ”》
For a moment, she didn't understand what Vlad meant
However, after thinking for a few seconds Lapis opened her eyes widely Seeing that reaction Ouka raised her index finger
”There is oneme and Vlad help You know that Vlad's intrinsic perfor as we know its operative procedure, don't you?”
””
”I was in a state where I was being taken over by Mephistopheles, but I released your Witch Hunter form If you tell me the operative procedure of your God hunter form, you know that I'll definitely be able to penetrate and cancel it, right?”
Just as Ouka said, it was true that she cancelled Lapis' witch hunter form before
Still, that was just the witch hunting for form it was a completely different story
However, God hunting forht” ical power's property and required a soul beyond that of a huic
Although there was a precedent of fusion failing, there was none of it being cancelled
Just, there was no precedent It wasn't attempted before
Lapis knew that Vlad's intrinsic perforic He was able to penetrate and reverse-build an operative procedure ”Night Blood” ical property, judging by the fact it has penetrated its witch-hunter form before
In that case it could be used in case of eency, couldn't it?”
”However, God hunting form's operative procedure is complex It's unknown if human can understand it”
”Have no fear I have ic's operative procedures in this world, you know? It's not impossible”
《”I shall cooperate in deciphering it Nomaster's brain is, I'll show thou I can force it into her”》
In perfect sync, the two spoke in si the two act confidently, Lapis faced doards
Lapis was perplexed It was a strange feeling She didn't understand Ouka's speculation and didn't know Vlad's reason for cooperating
Yet strangely, she didn't feel it was bad
Seeing a clue to resolving the issue, even bewildered, she was still relieved
Ouka put her fist on the glass and knocked on it
And ss to Lapis
”Mistilteinn no, Lapis Lazuli You are not alone, we are with you”
””
”That's why, you too, struggle with all you have”
Lapis stared back in Ouka's eyes that were devoid of hesitation
Her ansas decided upon
She couldn't find a reason to refuse
This was the first time Lapis decided to put her hope and rely on someone else other than herself or Takeru