Vol 7 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Chapter 8: Streets Engulfed in Fire and Shadow

Part 1

”Aaah, ! How is a mere human able to take me for a fooooooool!”

Within the restaurant of a high-class hotel near the Tenguu Square, Miku pounded her table impatiently

After the attack on Tenguu Square by shi+dou and the ested to head out for some food to calm her down, as they orried about the restless Miku

Needless to say, the hotel's staff and guests, were all chased out of the hotel after coht out by Miku, as she sat at the table, with a luxurious spread of food in front of her

But, no irls acco her were, they were unable to ease Miku's temperament

”O, onee-sama… please calm down”

[Yeah-- Wouldn't it be a waste of such a cute face if you keep on being angry?]

Yoshi+no and [Yoshi+non] standing behind Miku said so, as she re her table

”Indeed Aneue-sama is the one absolute existence approved by the Gods There's no need to get so riled up because of the words of one such as shi+dou”

”Affiret about such people There will not be an end to things if you continue to mind them”

Kaguya and Yuzuru placed their hands on Miku's shoulders

”Eh, ehhh… that's right That's right I don't need to bother about such an insignificant person like him”

Miku said so as though to assure herself, as she nodded her head repeatedly

But, in the next moment—

(--because Tohka, is extremely important to me)

shi+dou's voice sounded again in her lassware began to sound, and the beverage froan to spill onto the tablecloth

”Important…? What does he rossed in his own feelings! Ahh,of it just s such as men, how can they view someone else as more important than their own life! This is impossible…!”

Miku placed her cutlery back on the table, and began to ruffle her hair

--indeed, the praises of man, were mostly for show It was impossible to havetheir own existence It had to be so There was no other way

”If it's not for them, I—”

”Onee-sama…?”

Hearing Yoshi+no's worried voice, Miku returned to her senses She pretended that everything was fine, as she waved her hand and turned around to the girls in maid outfits behind her

”…ne, you girls, you are in the saht?”

Then, Ai, Mai, Mii, and the Yamai sisters nodded Yoshi+no looked at [Yoshi+non] on her left hand, and then spoke

”Um, um… I'm, not I'm sorry”

”But, you know about the two of theht?”

”Ye, yes…! Of, of course!”

”There isn't a problem then”

Miku turned her chair backwards, straightened her legs, and then looked at the girls in the maid outfits in order

”I hope you will answer me truthfully… what is Tohka-san's relationshi+p with that man called shi+dou? Is it true that he feels that Tohka is important to him?”

”……”

Against Miku's question, the girls looked at each other thoughtfully

Then, they nodded to each other, and turned to Miku

”Ah--, he's such a frivolous s like I like you, you're i and breathing He even regularly flirts with me”

”That's right His ht as well say that his mind is his lower body”

”Yeah, he's not es about Tohka-chan You don't need to mind about it, onee-sama”

”……”

Miku listened to the obvious bluffs of Ai, Mai and Mii, before sighing and continuing

”…I believe I said that I wanted you to answer truthfully? I's, but I don't like children who lie”

Miku held her head upwards as Ai Mai Mii's shoulders began to shi+ver in an obvious manner

Then, they sighed resignedly

”Itsuka-kun and Tohka-chan's relationshi+p… hm Um, to be honest, we don't know They don't seem like lovers, but they don't seem like ordinary friends either…”

”That's right Ah, but it is true that they are always together Tohka-chan looks extremely happy and often smiles when she is with Itsuka-kun”

”Mm Itsuka-kun is also extremely fond of Tohka-chan He always places Tohka-chan's interest in everything he does They have such a close relationshi+p”

”Hmmm… is that so?”

She half opened her eyes, and looked towards the Spirits

”Then, if one had to risk their own life to save Tohka-san… what do you think shi+dou-san would do?”

Miku asked specifically Yoshi+no looked as if she was trying to hide so

”Thi, this… onee-sa?”

”Sure As long as you tell me what you know about shi+dou-san's circumstances”

”I feel… yes I feel that if it's shi+dou-san… he will definitely not hesitate to rescue Tohka-san Even… even, if he were to… die as a result”

”……”

Miku bit her lips as she heard Yoshi+no's answer Noticing this, Yoshi+no let out a pained ”hii” cry

”…Are the rest of you of similar opinion?”

As she said so, she looked at the Yaan to think as they placed their hands below their chins

”Hht, it would definitely be the case if it was shi+dou I could even make a bet with you That idiot won't think twice about risking his life Because of that, I was able to survive with Yuzuru”

”Affirnore everything if it was to rescue Tohka”

”…”

Miku's expression worsened

(--of course)

shi+dou's words ringed in her mind

(--that would be because, Tohka is extremely important to me)

”Ku…”

Miku restlessly clenched her fists, as she roughly stood up froh

”…I' back for a shower Please help to prepare my room”

”Ye, yes!”

”Onee-sama's orders…”

”…will be carried out!”

Ai Mai Mii iht, and walked in front of Miku to open the doors for her

Miku slowly began walking, and turned back just as she was about to walk out of the door

”…let the residents continue searching for shi+dou-san's location If they find him, it doesn't matter if I'm asleep, inform me immediately”

”Eh…? This is…?”

Ai Mai Mii widened their eyes Miku's vision instantly sharpened

”Of course we have to punish him! Don't question, just do as I say!”

Miku called as she crossed over the corridor

Part 2

The hands of the clock had just crossed the peak, and had begundoards for 2 hours

Under the faint glow of the moon and the stars, shi+dou and Kurumi looked at the tower in front of their eyes

”Tohka is… right here”

He said in a low voice as he looked at his surroundings

The current location of shi+dou's group was a corner within the office street of Kagauu City Because few people were out at that ti out aaura

Looking up At the end of the road shi+dou's group was on, was an extre

”Have you noticed it?”

Noticing shi+dou focusing on the building, Kuru beside him, asked

”Fro to DEM All those buildings that you see, are offices and research facilities”

”All of them…”

shi+dou looked to the side, and sed his saliva Yet he did not feel afraid Tohka was right there, somewhere

”then, where is the first office?”

”Mantic structure in the s But unfortunately, I do not know specifically her location within the building”

”So that's the case”

”There is nothing to talk about if we can't get there Let us advance without being noticed – then”

Kuru shi+dou as she spoke

”Fro DEM territory with shi+dou-san – before that, let's discuss about our plan”

”How?”

”Eh The plan by itself is simple Firstly, shi+dou-san and I will head to the first office building of DEM's japan branch Are there any issues prior to this?”

”Ah”

”Even so, this is the main focus of DEM in japan It is impossible that there are no precautions”

”true”

shi+dou aardly nodded his head Their eneh it was currently night, and hence near ie scale to happen on an empty street, it was also ihtly

”So, after arriving at the target block, I will suin attack on the other facilities”

”I see to infiltrate ao overboard, and then accidentally fortify their defences, what do we do next? DEM will definitely have preventions against people trying to retrieve Tohka”

Listening to shi+dou's words, Kuruhtly nodded her head

”Indeed, Tohka-san is the most valuable sample that they have within their premises If their premises were to be attacked, they would iht?”

”Yes Hence—”

”Indeed so It is virtually i that Tohka-san is contained in without being noticed Hence, it is not a bad idea to divert their attention No matter how important Tohka-san is, there is no way that they would sit and watch their own facilities get destroyed”

”Umu…”

shi+dou placed his hand below his chin and nodded While it was simplistic, it was also an extremely effectivethousands instantly appear at the scene, and finish this unlikely plan

”I understand, then, let's do it as planned”

”It's a pleasure to be trusted by others – then, let us move”

”Oh…”

shi+dou clenched his fists and encouraged hiether with Kuru

But – the instant they entered DEM's premises

shi+dou and Kurumi frowned simultaneously and looked at each other

It was a faht, it felt like an invisible brush was brushi+ng over their body

”Oi, as”

shi+dou was about to speak to Kurumi—before he stopped

No, to be precise, it was covered by a louder sound

—WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—

At the saroup entered DEM's pres

Instantly, shi+dou thought it was an alar He had heard this sound before

”A spacequake warning…!?”

shi+dou scowled Indeed This was an alar the imminent disaster that occured when a Spirit appeared – the area alert for a spacequake

”A Spirit has appeared!? In this area!?”

It was an unbelievable moment shi+dou hurriedly looked around The workers and convenience shop ean to evacuate The entrances of the underground shelter were opened, and the city was iainst a spacequake

”No, it does not seem so”

Kurumi said with her eyes slit

”I don't feel the spatial movement from when a spacequake occurs At least, I don't think it's a Spirit crossing over to this world from the other one”

”Then, this alarm is…”

”…This is merely my hypothesis I believe it is DEM who has sounded the alar of when you are being touched by a Wizard's Territory”

”Eh…? But, this is a spacequake alarm… isn't it?”

shi+dou did not understand DEM's intentions At least, this alarm wasn't activated from within the DEM facilities Even if they could activate the spacequake alar to activate it because of trespassers

”That is correct There are a few possibilities, such as—”

Kuruan to consider as she placed her hand below her chin, and then she suddenly grabbed shi+dou's collar, and began to leap backwards towards the right

”Kuu…eh…!? You, what are—”

shi+dou, whose collar had been suddenly pulled by Kuru

The reason was si earlier was hit by a piercing torrent of light, inducing an explosion, creating a large crater within the ground

”Wh, ha…”

”—it see to raise a co witnesses”

Saying so, Kurumi looked up towards the sky

Following her line of sight, shi+dou's face began to perspire

In the sky, against the s, were a few silverin the air

Heads covered in a hel a s that were the reverse of human anatomy shi+dou remembered that shape

”That is – <bandersnatch>…!?”

Just as shi+dou said so, the <bandersnatch> had aimed the barrel of their laser cannons at hier without delay

”Uwah!”

”Tsk—”

Kururabbed shi+dou underneath her arht ray fro a save a look of a the shelter

”[Us]!”

Kurumi called as she landed with shi+dou in her arms The shadow beneath her feet instantly widened Fro towards the <bandersnatch>

[Kehe, hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe!]

It was a ht

Against the <bandersnatch> in the sky, a large a their hands to decapitate their wings, guns, hands, legs, and brains If the <bandersnatch> possessed huht now

Of course the <bandersnatch> would not go doithout a fight, and they fired their laser cannons and h they hit the Kurumis' brains and chests, they were simply outnumbered

The safety lights on their heads flashed red, and alar out as they perished – the last <bandersnatch> located in the middle became a pile of scrap metal as it fell to the floor

”In, incredible…”

”This is not the ti”

Kuru

It seemed the earlier <bandersnatch> were defensive s ahead, more <bandersnatch> and Wizards appeared There was nothing tocould be an to reveal entrances as the Wizards within revealed themselves While exact numbers were unknown, at the very least it exceeded five hundred

”Wha…!?”

shi+dou let out a dish it was expected that there would be reinforceree

”Muu, we do not have a choice shi+dou-san, it is tiy”

”Eh?”

shi+dou had just reacted to Kururound which had been stained black unknowingly, began to spawn Kuruainst the incoht of Wizards

”—Leave the marionettes to [us] Let us use this opportunity to blow through the defences!”

”Al, alright…!”

There wasn't another option shi+dou nodded his head forcefully

”Then—I ahtly to me and don't fall! Zafkielmperor of=”” time=””> – Aleph[The First Bullet]…!”

Kuruun, held it to her temple, and fired

At the saan their fierce battle with Kurumi's clones The laser cannons and missiles fired from the Wizards, crossed fire with the bullets fired froe explosion

”—!”

shi+dou was being held by Kuruh speed

The intense gravitational pull, and the various explosives igniting within the vicinity The resulting sonic booh to nearly induce a state of unconsciousness

”Ku…!”

shi+dou clenched his teeth as though he was about to bleed, as he forced himself to stay awake

In a while, they had passed what could be the centre of the battlefield, and Kuruh speed escape At the saan to fade as Kurumi's speed returned to normal

”Are you alright, shi+dou-san”

”Ah, uht”

As he said so, he began to h he was still dizzy, there wasn't time to bother about it shi+dou slapped his cheeks, and clenched his fists to vitalise himself

”Our tio, Kurumi”

”Eh The first offices should be—”

—at the er to denote the direction shi+dou thought that her entire body had turned black

”Ah—”

Faint, it was a faint sound The Kuru with shi+dou, had her brain thrown into the sky

”Eh…?”

It was sudden, and shi+dou didn't understand what had happened in that moment, aside from a low sound

Then, the place where Kuruan to spray out blood like a fountain, staining shi+dou red At that istered what had happened

”Uu—uwaaaaaa!?”

shi+dou screaround At the saround like a lifeless puppet

”Ku, Kurumi! Kurumi!”

It was clear that there was no hope, yet shi+dou continued to run towards Kurumi The brainless body continued to convulse as it created a red puddle on the floor

At thatbehind Kuru that rapped in a metallic material

”Ah—”

It ithout question a Wizard's CR-Unit It was… a Wizard from DEM

—he had to run Even if his heart knew that, his legs would not budge shi+dou held his breath and looked ahead

It was an unknown unit with a green-black colouring A weapon with a large barrel on the left hand, with a sharpness that reminded people of a wolf

”This is it—at last I've found you”

But, the instant he heard the Wizard's voice, shi+dou's eyebroitched as he looked upwards at the face of the individual

With hair coetic eyes, as well as a mole beneath the left eye And a face that resembled shi+dou

”Ma, na…?”

Yes, it was the girl who claimed to be shi+dou's blood-related sister – Takamiya Mana

A few ainst Kurumi, and she should have been in a state of complete recovery From the looks of it, she had recovered while shi+dou was unaware

But, shi+dou didn't have the time to be surprised by an unexpected reunion, as he tensed up again Mana was originally a Wizard deployed to AST by DEM Hence she should have co DEM – shi+dou

But, at the instant Mana and shi+dou met face-to-face, a stern face i shi+dou

”Nii-saht!”

”Wa, wah!?”

shi+dou felt the feeling of Mana's uneven CR-unit in shock as he confirs Then, he calhtly

”Ma, Mana… it is you right? Are you injured?”

”Yes! Mana is feeling alright now!”

Mana bent her arms as if to show off her muscles Her cheery tone was a direct contrast to the current conditions as shi+dou teot about his nervous emotions

”Th, then, Mana? You are a Wizard of DEM right? So you are here to eliminate me…”

”No, I'll explain the details later But for now, I' for DEM”

”Eh…? But, your equipment…”

”Ah, this is from [Fraxinus] I'm now under the care of [Ratatoskr]

”Eh… eeeeeeh?”

Repeatedly listening to the new information, his mind was now in a whirl Why was Mana in [Ratatoskr]…? Wasn't [Ratatoskr] an organisation with different values than AST and the DEM?

”But, why did you attack Kurumi…”

”Ah, it looked like Nii-sahtmare], so I had to help”

Listening to Mana's words, shi+dou twitched That said, Kuru shi+dou noas indeed a ainst Mana That meant if the tere to meet, Kurumi would have simply been mistaken as an enemy

”N, no! Kuru me out!”

”Help…?”

Mana had a face of surprise Then, the shadow on the walls of the building began to widen, revealing Kurumi's crooked smile At the same time, the fallen Kurumi's body was absorbed by the shadows

”Kehehe, your greeting style is as unrefined as ever”

”Kuruht!?”

”Eh It cannot be, do you think that soh to kill me?”

It seeed places with her clone Kuruer Mana let out a ”tch” in spite

”It is indeed unfortunate I was so close to getting rid of such an unpleasant face”

”Did I not mention this before? You cannot do it”

”Hah, would you like to try? If your bullets could even hit me”

”Kehe, hehehehehehe! For someone to speak such words, especially when they survived because of my carelessness Or had you lost your memories because you were too scared?”

”Ah, so our battle-hungry and y to fight er?”

”Ufufu, no one can help you this ti every limb off your body?”

Mana and Kurulared at each other with eyes full of hostility and killing intent, speaking such dangerous words shi+dou, as between the of cold sweat on his back

”Wait, wait a bit, the two of you…”

Even as shi+dou said so, Mana continued to glare daggers at Kuruhed

”Alright, how about this – I still have other business at DEM, so I'll separate froht?”

”Oi, oi, Kurumi…?”

”Please relax [Our] accoht will still continue –Then, let us retreat”

Kurumi closed her eyes and then retreated into the shadows Then, her shadow immediately disappeared from the wall

”Kurumi! Kurumi!?”

There was no response no matter how he called It seems she had indeed left shi+dou scratched his hair

”Hree such a monster, I wonder what kind of condition she would hold you to”

”Mana, you…”

”Compared to that –excuse me, nii-sama”

Mana didn't seem to bother where Kurumi went as she looked at shi+dou's face And then felt his chest for a while Then, she sighed as though she was in relief

”Oi! What, what are you doing!”

shi+dou couldn't help but shout loudly Mana spoke in a conflicted voice

”That, when I watched Nii-sa in [Fraxinus], Nii-saht in the short period of tie interest”

”No way!”

”Eh, I'm relieved then It seems you weren't operated on… what happened down there, I suppose it wasn't removed?”

”Of course not… what do you think I am…”

”That's alright, Mana is very forgiving It's fine if you just like wo the next time”

”But…”

shi+dou sighed heavily Mana pressed her ear as she frowned It see

”Ah… that's right – nii-sama, this is for you”

Mana took out a small electronic device from a pocket-like extension at her waist, and handed it to shi+dou

”This is… an earphone?”

”Yes, please handle it carefully There is a circuit inside”

He took the earphone froht ear He connected it for a while, before hearing an aard voice from the earphone

[…shi+dou, can you hear me?]

”Kotori!? Have you returned to normal!?”

There was no need to question as the other voice The owner of the voice is shi+dou's little sister, the commander of [Ratatoskr], Kotori

Kotori should have heard Miku's performance over the speaker, and like Yoshi+no and the Yamai sisters, become one of Miku's loyal fans

[Eh, yeah, I suppose so]

Kotori said so as she continued while see aard

[That, I'm sorry That… wasn't my intention]

”Eh? What?”

[Well, uh… I don't ree, um, so I said…]

As she said so, shi+dou nodded as though he understood Kotori did indeed s about shi+dou while under Miku's control

It seemed that she was h

”I understand about things like that”

[Um…]

Kotori lowered her voice in embarrassment

”That said, how did you free yourselves from Miku's control?”

As shi+dou questioned, Reine replied over the speaker

[…we had the the area using Mana's Territory While everybody was controlled, Fraxinus's communications were thrown into chaos It took us some time to recover, so we couldn't contact you until then My apologies I'ht]

”No, it's alright…”

[…but, please relax The earphone that was passed to you, has an automatic filter that filters out sound out of a selected area Miku's performance won't be able to spread to this side anymore]

”I see…”

[Now, on to the main point]

Listening to shi+dou's words, Kotori coughed as she resu

[shi+dou, why are you in this area? And with Kurumi too]

”Ah, that was because…”

shi+dou briefly explained the events that happened after Kotori's group was controlled Ellen having abducted Tohka, as well as Kuru in the facility

Kotori, having heard this, kept quiet for a while before—

[…no, this is too dangerous I will not approve of this]

A heavy voice came from the earphone shi+dou was dissatisfied with the unexpected response

”Wha, what are you saying!? Tohka was taken away! Aren't DEM a dangerous organisation that wants to kill Spirits! Who knohat they would do to Tohka!?”

[Do you think I won't know of so like that…!]

”Then, why!?”

[How a such a dangerous organisation!? Have some self-awareness! You never consider about your own safety!]

”Bu… bu, but, we can't just abandon Tohka!”

[I didn't say so like that! But, we need to prepare first—]

”This is not the ti us to delay the Wizards! We won't get a second chance like this!”

[This…]

”I beg you, Kotori! I… I will definitely bring Tohka back! So…”

[…ah, you're annoying!]

Listening to shi+dou's pleas, Kotori ied her table

[Besides, there's no point inyou…]

”…you know me very well”

[I have been your sister for over ten years, after all]

Sighing in a relenting tone, Kotori continued

[We won't be able to co due to Territorial interference We also can't provide reconnaissance All Fraxinus can do is to provide external support]

”Mh… I'm sorry, Kotori”

[Ugh, to have such a disobedient brother, we sure have it hard, Mana]

Mana shrugged at Kotori's words

”Yes, but, if nii-sama were to be a useless fool who flees with his tail tucked between his legs, I won't ad such a brother”

Kotori sighed a few times at Mana's response

[…alright Since we are going to do it, there will be no giving up halfway Rescuing Tohka, as well as ensuring shi+dou and Mana's safety We won't have it any other way]

shi+dou nodded in response to Kotori

Kotori then energised herself, and began