Volume 2 Chapter 6 + Epilogue (2/2)
Kuroe denied what appeared in Tooya's mind.
“Did you forget? I did said that what I know is different from what you know based on the information given by Tanaka.”
“Didn't you say that it was a sword with special ability?”
“Did I say that?”
No. What Kuroe said that time had a different meaning.
“Then, what the h.e.l.l is this thing?”
“A demon sword.”
Kuroe answered.
“To be precise, it should be sword of the demon.”
“Sword of……the demon?”
Bang
A loud voice sounded. Tooya looked to where the voice came from to know what happened—-the table beside Akane was disintegrated in one strike.
“That is……”
“Nothing……..continue.”
Akane glared at Kuroe. Yet Kuroe was still looking at Tooya…….with a happy expression.
“Continue Kuroe, this is an order.”
Tooya forced to said so.
“Understood.”
Kuroe nodded.
“That means, it was a monster which has a form that was the same as a sword ne. It's not man-made, but an existence which was called monster just like me.”
“Just like, Kuroe?”
“Yeah, it's just a different kind. Monsters exist in many different kinds ne. My true appearance is a giant wolf monster. And that monster exist in the form of a sword……..if you want to ask what's the same between us, then it will be the existence that brings harm to mankind. I am through eating humans, and that thing through cutting humans.”
“But, it's a sword right?”
“That's not its true body.”
Kuroe looked at Mas.h.i.+ro.
“Sword of the demon possess on human body ne. Its true body will a.s.similate into the host body and cut people using its doppelgangers. There's no effect to the true body at all even if we s.n.a.t.c.hed the doppelgangers.”
Tooya got closed with Mas.h.i.+ro with no precaution without knowing all of this, then got stabbed by her new made doppelganger.
“You know this right from the beginning?”
Things about what Mas.h.i.+ro owned is the sword of the demon.
“I wasn't sure, right? Since it was a sword that has special ability and able to bewitch people, that kind of sword existed in my era too ne……..I am sure that it was a monster is when I was holding its doppelganger ne.”
“………”
“You don't believe me?”
Kuroe sneered.
“Then you just give me the order—-speak out the truth.”
“………It's not necessary.”
Tooya shook his head.
“To me, you are necessary.”
Therefore he didn't need to listen something that made him waver.
“I know you are this kind of person, since long time ago.”
“So strict ne.”
Kuroe shrugged her shoulders.
“Then, how could we remove the sword of the demon from Mas.h.i.+ro's body?”
This was the problem at the moment. If s.n.a.t.c.hing the doppelgangers didn't work, then we had to do something on the true body that possessed in her body.
“There's no way oh?”
Kuroe answered with another question.
“Eh.”
“That monster had a.s.similated with Mas.h.i.+ro at the moment she got possessed. I can't do things like remove it from her body. The magicians from my era remove them by killing the people that got possessed by the sword of the demon.”
“How come……..”
Tooya looked at Mas.h.i.+ro. She was just sleeping normally right now, sjhe had no different from a normal person.
“You can't do it, even with your power?”
“No.”
Kuroe answered clearly.
“Although I am a powerful monster,but I am not all-powerful ne. Furthermore, my power is something specialized to kill people………those spells I used was through imitation from the magicians in that era.”
She slightly peeked at Akane.
“I can't do it.”
“……..Really?”
Tooya asked again.
“Really ne. Just give me an order if you don't believe.”
“…….Is that so.”
Tooya sighed, he could only give up.
“Inabsan.”
Tooya looked at her.
“Like what you heard,do you have any idea?”
“……..I got to make a confirmation first.”
Then Akane took out her phone and called to somebody. Since she said confirmation, she might be calling to the Order of Black Magic. After she explained everything, replying voices can be heard repeatedly.
After so long, the call had ended. After she kept her phone, Akane looked at Tooya with a bitter face.
“Just eat her, they said so.”
“Eh?”
Tooya couldn't understand what she's trying to say.
“It's like what you heard. The price for the contract with that monster………you haven't paid for this month right?”
Tooya understood what she was saying. But he couldn't understand the meaning of it. Then Akane looked at someone that stood behind Tooya with a confused expression.
“Very reasonable ne.”
Kuroe's happy voice could be heard.
“Since we can't separate the demon sword from her, then Mas.h.i.+ro would be a threat to mankind ne……..since she has to be killed anyway, we shouldn't waste her life meaninglessly.”
“…….”
Akane didn't answer. She bit her lips, but didn't deny. This was not something unbelievable. Tanaka aimed at Tooya's life without hesitation just to kill Kuroe. Yet he couldn't do it, then he recruited the two of them as external collaborators………and tolerated the sacrifice of sacrifice.
The Order of Black Magic was an organisation that seek rightfulness. Its objective was to protect the nation. They didn't mind having sacrifice just to achieve it. Of course, the most ideal situation would be no sacrifice at all………but they would abandon the minority without hesitation if the situation did not allow them to reach the ideal one.
Mas.h.i.+ro was the minority in this situation. An existence that can be abandoned easily. Since she was possessed by the demon sword, then she was the victim without doubt. Yet the current her would continue causing harm to mankind, so they abandon her without hesitation. So that no more victims would be produced.
Lastly, since it was a life that had to be abandoned,why didn't sacrifice her as the payment to Kuroe.
“What is this, that kind of calculation.”
He lost his strength. His legs were losing strength. Tooya was kneeling on the ground already when he realised. Which side was the correct one, Tooya knew this very clearly. Which side was the wrong one, Tooya knew that well too.And yet, his head was shaking and not wanting to stop.
“So, what should we do?”
Akane's voice, along with her question conveyed clearly into Tooya's ears.
“Master?”
As for the another voice, sounds very pleasant and happy.
“I……..”
Wasn't the answer was decided since long time ago. No matter how he thought, there was no another answer. What can he do so he could get a different answer…….if someone could think of it, then that must be a crazy person.
Let Kuroe eat Mas.h.i.+ro?
How could I do something that only a b.a.s.t.a.r.d would.
“Of course, I can't kill Mas.h.i.+ro.”
“I see.”
Akane answered, then she closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes again, a handgun was in her hand and pointed at Mas.h.i.+ro.
“What are you doing……”
“As you can see. I will kill her………since you don't allow that monster to eat her then I have to do it.”
Tooya stopped breathing. He couldn't understand.
“Why……..you have to.”
“There's no need to ask why. If you can't separate the demon sword from Kuromine Mas.h.i.+ro then she must die. If we let her alive then she will kill more people. If sacrificing a girl that a.s.similated with the demon sword can solve the problem, then the Order of Black Magic will do so, that's all.”
“Very reasonable ne.”
Yeah. Very reasonable……….maybe the Order of Black Magic thought this would be the best. But Tooya couldn't agree with them.
“This is wrong!”
“No.”
Akane shook her head.
“This is the right way.”
She pulled down the trigger.
A gunfire sounded,bullet was shot……….but Mas.h.i.+ro was fine.
“……….you brat, what do you want?”
Akane asked.Smoke appeared from the muzzle.
“I won't let you, kill Mas.h.i.+ro.”
Even if his right shoulder was bleeding, Tooya answered that way……..behind him was Mas.h.i.+ro who was still sleeping soundly.
“Don't speak nonsense, brat.”
She adjusted the direction of the muzzle.Now it was pointing between Tooya's eyebrows.
“Do you think that you won't get killed? If you tried to hinder us, then its my duty to get rid of you too. It's better to say that I will be more happy for able to find an excuse to kill you.”
“Can you kill him?”
Kuroe interrupted.
“Master's life is connected with mine ne……..if you want to kill master, then you must have enough power to kill me first oh?”
“I know.”
Akane answered and moved towards Tooya at the same time. The distance between them disappeared instantly, then Tooya's belly crumbled. His body got hit and flew up.
[Urgh.]
Gastric juice flowed upwards.
“But this brat is too weak.”
Akane pointed her gun to Tooya that curled up on the ground once again.
“Compared to you, this brat is much more easier to kill.”
“True ne.”
Kuroe was very strong. She was a monster.Even if Tooya's physical ability got enhanced by her, he was just a human. He got no experience regarding a fight or what. That means, it was possible to whittle down Kuroe's vitality easily by aiming Tooya.
“But there were conditions for it right?”
“That's right.”
Kuroe couldn't take action, this was the necessary condition. It was idiotic to not use Kuroe when she was a strong killer.
“Don't……..take, action.”
Although he looked painful, but Tooya said so in struggle.
“Kuroe, don't take action……….this, is an order.”
“Got it ne.”
Kuroe nodded with a pleasant smile.
“…….Huhh.”
Akane exhaled.
Bang
She shot.
“Ku!”
His right leg got shot, Tooya looked very bad right now.
“What do you want brat, want to be protagonist?”
Akane looked at Tooya with very cold eyes.
“Want to be a protagonist that save the tragic heroines? It's obvious that you are just a murderer that allows that monster to eat human as you like…….do you think you will be forgiven after you save them?”
Akane said so,then she pulled the trigger again.This time his left shoulder got a hole.
“Tragic…….”
Tooya didn't mind the wounds on his body and continue saying.
“Tragic heroines. If you said so…….then they should be saved. Mas.h.i.+ro knows nothing at all. Since she's just a victim that got possessed,wasn't she's supposed to be saved!”
“If there's any way to save her, I will do it. But now there's none…….and she's responsible for this too. Although the first person was just unlucky, but the other were dead because of the effect from Mas.h.i.+ro for sure.”
“That kind of thing!”
Tooya shouted.
“It's impossible for her to not hate them! Of course she wants to kill them! No matter who would also thought that way……..but just because of the thoughts she's related to their dead, no one would think that way!”
There wouldn't be a lot of people thought that Mas.h.i.+ro were responsible for this if they knew what happened.
“Mas.h.i.+ro knows nothing………then she should be saved.”
“Therefore, just kill her over here is also a mercy.”
“That's not right!”
Tooya shouted, Akane clicked her tongue.
“You annoying brat, please realize this reality. If not then tell me how to settle this.”
“No.”
Tooya said so.
“The person to find the solution……….was not me.”
“Ah?”
Akane look surprised.
“As you said,I am just a murderer.”
It was a truth that couldn't be changed, Tooya himself admitted it too.
“Therefore, I can't become the protagonist that saves the heroines. A worst person will only be the worst no matter what he did………that's why, you should be the one to save her.”
“What?”
“You said it right from beginning……….wasn't you are the ally of justice?”
Tooya got close to her and shouted.
“That's why, don't say things like abandon the minority for the sake of the majority! You know that this girl was innocent wasn't it! If you are the ally of justice then show me how you save all of them! If you can't do it then you were just like me, a murderer!”
“Ku!”
Akane clicked her tongue.
“Can't do it means can't do it! That girl must die!”
Akane shouted with confidence. No basis, it was just an abominable confidence that couldn't be wavered. Tooya felt it from what Kuroe said before……..that was why, he determined that based on the suspicious words said by that monster who he do not believe at all.
“Don't give up!”
Tooya said it like he was crus.h.i.+ng everything.
“Inaba Akane! Wasn't you the ally of justice? If you are then break that confidence! Show me how you call out miracles!”
“Ku…….shut up!”
Akane hit Tooya's head with the gun grip to release her frustration. Tooya fell on the ground due to his vital got hit severely……..and didn't move at all.
“……..d.a.m.n.”
The person that should reply got no response at all, seems like he was at somewhere words couldn't reach. He deserved it as he was the one caused all of these, yet irritation came out from her chest.
“So, what will you do ne?”
Kuroe asked Akane who was in agony.
“My master that was stopping was no longer here oh? If you want to kill, then now's the time ne.”
“……..”
Akane looked at Mas.h.i.+ro. Now Mas.h.i.+ro was just an innocent girl that was sleeping soundly……..yet it was a disaster that would brings scourge to mankind. Then she looked at Tooya. He was Akane's taboo, a nasty murderer. The worst kind of person.
“d.a.m.n it.”
A word leaked out from her mouth. It leaked out naturally. Can't be helped that she was feeling irritated. What Akane thought should be the correct one, there should be no other way…………..but she felt that she got an idea. Yet the person changed this was none other than him.
“d.a.m.n it, d.a.m.n it, d.a.m.n it……….to say such arrogant words for a mere murderer. I will do it okay, I will do it! I will show you how I save her! I am the ally of justice, d.a.m.n brat—-!”
Akane kept shouting to release her anger, and she took out her phone. Then she called someone by pressing the phone numbers like she was going to dismantle it.
“It's me…….take that sword over here right now. Ah? That sword means that sword! Ah? How I use it? That is my thing right from the start! How I use it is my freedom! If you understand then take it to me right now!”
After finis.h.i.+ng the forceful command like she was going to crush the counterpart, Akane hung up her phone.
After 20 minutes, an extra sword appeared in Akane's hand. It was an old sword, but it had a different aura compared to the demon sword over there. It was the sword that Akane brought during her first encounter with Tooya and Kuroe.
“Such a nostalgic sword ne.”
Kuroe muttered while looking at it.
“I had fought countless rounds with the magician that owned this sword ne.”
“You still survived until now huh.”
“Unfortunately I am very strong.”
“Tsk.”
Akane clicked her tongue.
“That sword was called monster-eater ne. That kind of thing can remain until this era ne.”
“Because it was preserved carefully back in my home.”
“It's unfortunate to your parents as you took it away ne.”
“Items are meant to use. Better than putting it aside and covered with dust.”
Akane unsheathed the sword from its scabbard. The blade sparkleed under the s.h.i.+ne of moonlight. There was no rust on that blade at all, it was just the tip of the blade turned black.
“It's a sword that used on human and able to absorb the evil things into the blade.If it's this, then it's possible to remove the monster that possessed in that girl.”
Yet, Kuroe continued her words.
“Although most likely she will die ne.”
“……..”
Silent means it was certain.
“In the end, it's an item that made to fight against monsters like me. It does able to weaken the target's power, until the target was eliminated as the final objective……..it's not something used to save people. In order to exert the effect, you have to cut the target……….but if you do so the target will die. You can just cut slightly to remove something that was on the surface, but it's deep inside for Mas.h.i.+ro's situation ne……..if you want to remove it then you have to cut to the extent where you will kill her no matter how you think.”
“That's right.”
Then Mas.h.i.+ro would die without doubt. It was meaningless even they were able to remove the monster. In the end, Mas.h.i.+ro would still be killed.
“And that sword has limit on the number of times it use ne. The number of evil things that the blade was able to absorb was fixed. If wasted it to help someone, the blade will be damaged when you use it again after the effect weakened.”
That was why, Akane intended to kill Mas.h.i.+ro. It was not worth to waste the trump card on a bet that most likely would lose.
“You want to do it even if you know that?”
“Shut up.”
Akane answered.
“I intend to do it because I felt that I can do it.”
“Wasn't better if you do this right from the beginning?”
“Tsk.”
Akane clicked her tongue.
“…….I will start now.”
Akane stood between Mas.h.i.+ro who was lying on the ground and held the sword with hands in reverse position.
“You better don't die……….keep your breath even if you die.”
Although Akane said it rudely,but it sounds more like a prayer.
“No, she will die anyway.”
As for Kuroe, she was sitting quietly at a side.
“You want to be a hindrance?”
“It's the opposite.”
Kuroe sneered.
“Although I can't remove the demon sword that possessed in Mas.h.i.+ro……..but I still can support her vitality so that she won't get killed from a stab.”
“What are you thinking?”
“Nothing, it's just since master worked so hard until here.I just want to give a little help as his servant.”
Her expression was still the same as always, couldn't be trusted at all.
Yet, what she did was real. Akane knew that.
“I won't say thanks.”
“No problem. I will get a lot of that from master after this ne.”
Then, the two of them completed it.
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