Vol 2 Chapter 5 (1/2)

Chapter 5: Black Beast, Reappears

Part 1

December 31th, 2107 AD

A night that felt unpleasant; with a strangely ind blowing

Although the sky was rown hazy as they were covered by thick seithr

But the old was oddly close It shone its stagnant light upon the ground that was about to be ruined as if giving a sympathy

The vicinity was a plain wasteland No grass or water existed

If today would be the day of apocalypse for humanity, it would truly be the appropriate place

Nine thought about it while taking a deep breath, having confire's Guild

The day and the year would end very soon When a whole year had passed since that ti about it would give anyone shi+vers

Of course, the preparation had been sufficiently arranged As anything that could be done had been dealt with, there was no anxiety or fear regarding that part

What had been concerning Nine was Celica

”Nine The deployn armies has been completed without problems”

Trinity jogged to Nine She was a the same main units as Nine and had the role to support all of the armies

Every functioning countries were participating in this strategy

They ed armies in the last moment The ar to cooperate with Mage's Guild and also the circles of the Ten Sages other that Nine that had been made to act

Presently, several hundreds of thousands units had been positioned around various cauldrons that had high rate of seithr discharge The units also included volunteers ere ordinary people

It was still unclear which cauldron the Black Beast will ee from But once its arrival had been confirmed, the attack and mobilization would commence immediately

A the armies that had been stationed at the cauldrons there was Celica She was on the central point of the cauldrons' vicinity Her position made her easy to move from anywhere

”Are you worried about Celica-san?”

Trinity asked her in a whisper as she detected a deep sorrow from Nine's expression that was dressed in calmness

Finally noticing that her htly bit her lips to repriet to be wound felt like she was chewing a gum

”Of course I'm worried”

She could have dodged the question, but Nine chose to speak out her mind obediently Her coh Nine's pressure no matter how many words she used to coat it

Plus she couldn't keepwhen it came to that matter

”Don't make a joke like that! Do you even understand what you're saying!?”

The first moment Celica said that she wanted be a decoy, Nine reflexively yelled

Nine's shout wouldBut it wasn't a big deal for Celica Instead she talked back with a louder voice

”I said I do I can't say soly”

”That hts in anticipating for this battle!?”

”Of course I remember But this is different fro And if I can lure the Black Beast, won't it be good for the strategy?”

The round

Even if they kept repeating it, Celica wouldn't back down once she had decided on so up in her

At such a tiht already knoould yield in the end

”Please! I want to do it no erous I'll obey your instruction So please…!”

The sisters continued throwing their deument lasted close to thirty minutes

But then Celica joined her hands and then deeply bowed in her begging The excessively direct request made Nine spontaneously at a loss for words

She understood about it About what kind of a sister Celica was and how earnest her heart was

Nine gave a big sigh and scratched her hair in annoyance

”…Aaah, okay! You have a co I said!”

”…Then… you get it!?”

”I get it, I get it! You're such a stubborn kid You ht tons of excuses to persuade me”

Actually, even if the theories she lined up against Nine ht seem all over the place, they needed a littleBlack Beast's arrival in order to intercept it

There weren't o smoothly even when the certainty wasn't in 100 percent, or even if they had to rely on the vairl's prophecy In fact, there were only a few of them

If the Black Beast would get drawn to Celica, then it would greatly helped the proceeding of the plan

Nine wouldn't have any complain if Celica didn't do it

”…But remember, your duty is just to lure out that monster You absolutely cannot participate in the battle Get to a safe place after that You hear?”

”Yes! Thanks, Onee-chan!”

With her confidence to not lose to Nine went away, Celica put her usual bright, carefree sripped her sister's hands

Nine didn't have the slightest idea about what she should feel when looking at her smile

…The day of the decisive battle approached Although the arrangement had been finished at this point, Nine was in violent reht be better if she had dis whatever means necessary

Nine crushed the deployn araze to the direction where Celica was supposed to be

”Truth to be told, I want to send her to Ishana i Celica to be a bait to lure the Black Beast is ludicrous… If I could, I wanted to at least be right beside and protect her now”

”You have to take cous unit, you know No one but you are able to do it”

The Aranized from the candidates around the world that had been tested for their aptitude Today would be their first combat

Even with their skill, the ar theus better than anyone In other word, Nine

”I know about that”

Trinity was to give support and direct the supportive ic unit from headquarters Jubei, Teru in the units which are located near their respective cauldrons Even with someone else's assistance, there was no other choice for Nine

But it was because she precisely knew about it that the absurd irritation within the helpless situation struck her nerves

The cause of annoyance didn't just coht's movement was still in her mind

Nine thrust her disarranged long hair with her hand Trinity put her hand to Nine's shoulder and gently smiled

”Didn't you create Nirvana and have her beside Celica-san? And that gentleman is also there”

”…Ugh Oh, well I guess I don't have a proble his war potential”

Coled hair in her hand, Nine took a deep breath to shake off the ill feeling in her chest Though the burden in her chest hadn't disappeared, she had to forcibly convince herself for now

”Anyway, let's beat up the monster before it reach Celica”

”Fufu, that's the spirit~ But please don't do anything reckless”

”I know You too, Trinity I can't do anything without you after all”

”Ohme embarrassed”

Trinity covered her girlish ertips that ca smile

But ti Noanxiety hadn't yet to disappear from Nine's chest

Part 2

Theher cheeks lukewarm There was smell of cloud dust around

The night sonant The stars and moon became so much farther away The air which was filled with seithr appeared like a pretty thin silk curtain It gave the is

It had been a while since she felt the air outside the island Celica sat down on top of a rugged hill within the everlasting wasteland while inhaling the dusty air of the night deep into her lungs

Nirvana stood just next to her The slass spheres that were her eyes appeared as if they were gazing at the distant scenery

Following her gaze, Celica also looked at the distance

The scenery she was staring at seemed desolate

Once, this region had suffered dae from Black Beast The des and road into wasteland, and disappeared abruptly as before

But a small town barely survived thanks to that whim It was located on the other side of the rocky mountain west froht, the toould surely disappear and turned into a wasteland like here

It was truly a dreadful thing

Thinking about it made Celica couldn't help but think that she was a co here

It was like being in a dream Sure, she was fully conscious, but some part of her mind couldn't believe the situation that was about to approach before her eyes

Although the asn't chilly, it was ed her knees and placed her chin on top of them

The dusty wind fluttered her tied hair like a sash

Suddenly, she heard heavy footsteps behind

Snapped, Nirvana put her guard on Celica turned around in panic, but seeing the person there slackened her cheeks

”Hakumen-san”

There, a tallsword on his back stood silently

There was no unit near Celica During the strategy , she had eht not be able to find her if she was included in a unit

Of course, Nine opposed to it But she was eventually out spirit once she had decided on soed for Celica to be stationed in the middle of the wasteland Yet she would allow it only if Nirvana and Hakumen were near her It all led to now

After Celica calmly called out to her, Nirvana ceased her cautious attitude

Hakumen stood beside Celica His whiteat the wasteland

”Are you scared?”

A low, muffled voice questioned

Celica looked up and stared at Haku her shoulders, she broke down her expression with a bashful smile

”Aha A little”

While giving a reply, Celica got surprised by so other than Hakumen's re a bit when she heard her own answer

She had never expected to be so terrified But now that she had realized it, she found out that there was a fear laying deep inside Co to the bottom of a lake was accurate

Celica drew her knees close and hugged herself tightly She felt a bit relief fro enveloped by her own body heat

”But I' Because I feel safe as much as I feel scared This one year, Onee-chan and the others has really done their best It should be fine when the Black Beast come”

It weren't just Nine and Hakumen Everyone around the world had done what they could

There were soanization that had to be done to the collapsing econoo forhile burdened by loads of problem, but plenty of people had worked hard from each of their place And it finally came to today

Celica believed that there wasn't any pointless part within there

While staying in shtened her back and raised her face up straight Her big eyes reflected a distant scene

”Onee-chan with everyone will surely win the battle A world where everybody lives in peace without conflict is colad I can lend ht now I don't have any regret nor a single thought to stop But you know, it's just… ”

As she thought, being in theA terribly si

”…A world where everybody lives in peace Without conflict…”

Hakuhtlyof a distant wish that was vanishi+ng Faint and weak, swept away by the rough wind

Hearing his voice which seehts, Celica pulled her head andher words, she became embarrassed Because it felt like her naivety and inexperience were exposed

”A-Ahaha It's weird, isn’t it? I got scared despite thinking about all that It seeht”

”…There is nothing to fear”

Haku like he didn’t even have a slight hesitation Clenching the dangling hands beside his body, his feet which were previously spread shoulder-wide stepped fir

”I will slay the Dark One Your only task is to see it with your eyes from here”

Haku of sword Unwarped, unclouded

His standing figure reht her breath

”Ragna…”

Hearing the name she unintentionally spoke, Hakumen turned his head toward her

When he did, Celica finally noticed that she had beenShe quickly waved both hands in front of her face

”Ah, no, excuse ht now”

While speaking, Celica wondered in her mind about what made her did that

She shouldn't be recalling Ragna when she looked at Hakumen somehow It was okay if it only happened once or twice, but continuing to ree like this was really impolite Even if Celica was a dull in etiquette, she could sympathize in that

She had to be careful While staring at Celica as she was controlling herself, Hakumen leisurely asked a question a moment later

”…Do I have any resemblance to him?”

This tiasped in surprise

She had never considered that she was getting questioned for it He usually would have averted his face without speaking a word She thought he would stay silent while looking at a distance with his white face

Celica nodded twice afterward

”I'm sure I told you about this before That ti for his resemblance with you… but now I found various clear similarities”

”Hm”

His groan urged her to continue Shewith her intuition

”He's blunt and has bad ht with Onee-chan But so care of people And… I didn't knohere he was co about himself at all”

With goodon her fingers But her hands i her eyes in happiness

She pressed her chest with both hands as if a warht had been lit inside

”But I guess it's your air that's sina”

In no way that was a painful feeling Her feeling toward Ragna was ht filtering through trees, back in the academy's courtyard

”…Do you wish to meet him?”

It was a iven a question filled with such e for answer, Celica lifted her eyelids and looked at Hakumen

She didn't knohere was the location of his eyes and ht not have one in the first place It was unclear whether Haku on five senses like a human would

However, Celica followed the feelings froaze and stared back at him

”Yup, I want to”

Her pupils and voice struck directly through and through She never doubted her wish to meet him

”The talk about ht be able toto help Onee-chan, too But… when I thought abouthim, I just couldn't hold myself”

”The Dark One is still the Dark One It appears with oblivion as its purpose …The Ragna you spoke of who is being inside of itfor”

The flowing low tone of voice struck the reality without reservation

However, his words instead lad

”Aha I'd been told the sana in the past”

She was talking about when she found her ret it if she found him

Celica's feeling was close to that time

”But I still wish to meet him”

Releasing the knees she had been hugging, Celica leaped and stood up She stretched her body, puffed out her chest, and took a deep breath

”I want to s like in the past, but… it's fine even if we couldn't I s I want to do it na And if I do, it's enough to make me really happy”

It was strange She should have been tre was co

It ht When Hakuet her harht

She wanted tohad made her push herself to stand here She was made to remember it

”…I see”

Hakuer a hint His voice obviously had sensitivity in it

Astonished, Celica stared hard at Hakuentle yet sad face of a man under the white mask

Between his breaths, Haku to himself

”I, too, recalled a person whenever I looked at you Soet”

”I look like someone?”

Celica asked a question to draw hilasswork that shouldn't be carelessly handled It made her heart throbbed a little

But betraying the faint feeling of expectation Celica held, Hakumen flatly shook his head

”There is no similarity”

”Hey Just now, I get a feeling like you'refun of me”

”I wonder”

Even his counter of feigning ignorance was as sharp as ever

…But Hakuently

”…It is siirl ould charge ahead once she saw her goal”

Haku ahead It was aat the dull wasteland or a dearest face of souessed the latter

”Is that girl someone you love?”

The question was mixed with the wind

Haku that had lasted until his silence was probably not just her i her hair that was blown by the wind, Celica s her ear

”I have a feeling that you'll definitely ain… I just know it”

She didn't knohen, where, and what kind of situation that reunion will occur But the encounter would surely bring happiness Celica hoped from the bottom of her heart that such reunion would truly happen to Hakumen

A long sigh that was clearly different than a si from Hakumen

”It is an odd conversation You see the ie of soettable in you”

Perhaps he was sht now Perhaps his lack of smile was his way to smile

The white ht not only have snatched his expression When she suddenly thought about that, Celica let a small voice out as she chuckled Hakumen couldn't speak it out s with his words

Led by the sound of Celica's laugh, Hakumen took a step forward

His long, silver hair swayed

”Celica A Mercury If it is true that you see the ie itself as many times as it takes He has protected you Then I shall protect you at once”

”ProtectHaku?”

Searching for the hidden thoughts inside those words, Celica tilted her head to the side She tried to take a peek to his face, but she was hindered by the silver hair which was blown by the wind

Though, there was no expression that could be seen even if she saw his face

”…I ae within you, too I wield my sword for that foolish purpose I shall not repeat the same mistake Hence, I must protect you for that very reason”

It was like the voice that went across her back was hardened by a firhtly looked over his shoulder to his back

”Cease your curiosity This is of no concern with you”

It was not a htly by Haku precious to him

Because of that hunch, Celica stopped giving a deep thought like she had been told to

It was enough for her since it was true that the words Hakumen spoke of had ht be

”Hakuht”

”Alrighty,” said Celica as she hopped to Hakuazed at the borderline of the sky in the wasteland while s

Hakumen kept quiet as if his previous talkativeness was a lie He lifted his chin and looked at a distance

The gesturee his face away When she looked at him, Celica made a mischievous face

”H embarrassed?”

Every single part of her upper body peeked at Hakuht movement

It was hard to i eht The childish e ticklish She was thinking to push hiht only lasted for a moment

Soave her uncolanced froht face

”Haku?”

He didn'tat his front while holding his breath

As she thought, the situation was strange It happened when she thought about it

As if enshrouded with thick heat, the air around Hakued

Killing intent

The dangerous sensation even made Celica, as still far inexperienced, instantly frozen and stopped breathing

At the saht What kind of opponent couldintent?

A strong breeze blew from the front Celica turned around to brush off the wind She only did that, yet it felt sluggish and really hard to move

Ieyser in front of Celica's eyes Celica screa to a jump From her side, Nirvana used her ar her

In the round distinctlyat a spot, the eruption drew a dotted line on its own

It was the direction where Celica and Haku at The location of a barren and uncovered wasteland

After the sathered from around there, it was followed by a vast around A tre up

Conspicuously, the large opening of the burst eventually made a crooked neck and created cracks everywhere It ripped the dry wasteland as it pleased

”MOVE!”

Hakumen shouted an order

But Celica couldn't separate her eyes from the scene Rather than the scenery, all of her senses couldn't run from the sensation she felt on her skin

It was the same as that time The atna one year ago

The wind that was polluted with seithr advanced and surrounded Celica's whole body The earthquake was so violent it pushed her feet off the ground

Nirvana supported Celica as she was staggering

Celica raised her face up tohile trying to oppose the devastating wind

Toward soround level

It was as black as a solidified darkness, had ure, and had the shape of serpent head The number of siinable

But Celica immediately realized

The nu head was just one