May 16th — 6:55 PM.
I shifted my gaze from the calendar with May and June combined to the two otherworldly individuals sitting across the desk.
Strategy meeting for dealing with Livia Betagard.
In the four-tatami mat living room, Aira, Rain, and I are gathered around a small table.
"—I see. Livia Betagard... Dominion Bow: Moshunaru... a truly formidable enemy."
Having shared with Aira the information on Livia and details of the artifact received from Rain at the end of lunch, we move on to the main topic.
But then I realized something.
If the dream I had this morning is truly about Aira Verfane Quatronix past — then Livia is highly likely the one who turned Aira into a Super Criminal.
Black bow. Black arrows. Ability to corrupt the mind.
And most importantly, the appearance of Livia from last night and the repulsive beautiful girl I saw in the dream are almost identical.
Livia is undoubtedly responsible for pushing Aira into a rampage that led to the deaths of numerous civilians. I don’t know what the purpose was, though...
However, Aira still doesn’t seem to realize that Livia is the culprit who drove her into her current state.
(...It might not be the right time to talk about it yet...)
As I sip warm tea, I come to that conclusion.
The contents of the dream are not necessarily true.
We must devise a plan before sharing any ambiguous information that could lead to confusion.
"According to the future vision Rain saw with the Moira's Choker, tonight a large man will attack us, right?"
"Yes. The location appears to be outside. However, the precise spot is unknown..."
"That man, like the children, is also a person from the Defiled Land, right? Therefore, we must not let him get injured."
Aira murmurs while touching the pendant around her neck.
That means Aira cannot fight.
Two nights ago—on May 14th—in the parking lot, Aira employed Dragon's Might, consuming a great deal of magical power, to fend off a child armed with a knife.
I found out later that Dragon's Might is an ability within Ashkelon that, while consuming vast amounts of magical and life force, can show intense fear to the opponent unconditionally.
And last night—on the night of May 15th—Aira sustained severe injuries after enduring a relentless attack with knives from a group of six children.
I can't bear to think about what might have happened if Rain hadn't shown up.
Considering the events of the last two days, it’s clear that Aira Verfane Quatronix is a poor match-up against Livia Betagard attacks.
We'd be at a significant advantage if Livia attacked us personally, but it’s unlikely that she will do so at this point.
"So, for this operation... I’d like to center the strategy around you, Rain Margarett."
I look down apologetically.
It's only natural since we've been saved by her and am now asking her to take the lead in a dangerous battlefield.
Nonetheless, Rain looked at Aira, smiled softly, and then nodded, saying 'Yes.'
"I may not have the power of Aira-san, but I can free the minds of those who are being controlled."
She must be referring to that magic circle. Last night, she applied it to each of the six corrupted children, calming them down.
"If Yuki-san and Aira-san can somehow stop the enemy man for a few seconds... I can handle it."
Rain clenched her fist tightly.
Stopping the enemy's movements for a few seconds is something I can do. If I fully utilize my telekinesis—.
Yet it seems that this strategy still doesn’t solve the fundamental issue.
Even if we repel the false enemies that Livia sends, it will only be repeated endlessly. We will just keep getting worn out.
"Don’t worry. This time, I have a special spell prepared."
"Wow, that sounds very witch-like."
Aira has sparkling eyes, which is unusual for her.
"A special spell, you say…?"
"There should be a temporary circuit between Livia Betagard and the controlled individuals to transmit the magical power."
"Hmm—?"
"I’ll channel toxic magic into it to inflict damage on Livia Betagard’s body through the circuit."
Rain clarifies that this isn’t just an ordinary attack; it’s a special attack that will leave the whole body numb and immobile for about an hour.
As expected from Rain Margarett, who, even though her witch's blood has diluted, still holds that lineage.
"It makes Aira look like a brainless musclehead."
"――……Yuki?"
"I’m sorry, I was just joking."
Even though I was just joking, Aira is glaring at me seriously, which is kind of scary. Also, did she understand the term muscle brain?
Though it may be a bit rough around the edges, the strategy has been devised.
If everything goes according to plan, we’ll be able to capture Livia.
While there are likely other participants, we need to address the current problem first.
"Shall we go then?"
When I stood up, both of them rose quickly as well, their ample chests swaying together.
Aira, dressed in her usual tight blouse and culottes skirt. I wonder if she brought several blouses with her...
In contrast, Rain draped a dark robe over her causal clothes, creating her own version of formal attire.
The first battle of the Battle of the Defiled Land has unexpectedly lasted for three days.
Whether we succeed or fail, there is no doubt that this battle will come to an end tonight.
※ ※ ※
Walking through the night streets of Arajo City.
Street lamps lined up at even distances. The clear, cloudless night sky features a white, delicate moon floating gently.
It's unusually warm for a mid-May night. Rain's robe even seems a bit too hot for the temperature.
"――I see, so that's how it was. …You were the diviner from that time, weren't you?"
"Yes………… I know an apology isn't enough, but I'm truly… sorry."
I walked behind the two girls. At this point, I didn’t feel any more embarrassment.
The two were talking about the situation. Rain honestly confessed to Aira that she had placed a cursed seal related to the forced deportation.
However, it seems that Aira was quite mentally exhausted right after committing her crime, and didn’t remember Rain well. She does recall being half-forced into the fortune-telling, though.
"But Rain, you were also following orders from them, right?"
"――"
"It's likely that they were intent on getting me involved in the Battle of the Defiled Land. Even if Rain hadn’t put the curse mark on me, someone else would have. …Given that, I’m actually thankful that it was the kind Rain who did it."
These were not mere words of encouragement for Rain Margarett, but the sincere sentiments of Aira Verfane Quatronix.
As Aira whispered, 'So, thank you,' Rain looked down and nodded with a quivering voice, 'Yes…'.
The world is more straightforward than I had imagined.
The troubles of one person are insignificant compared to the vastness of the universe.
However, not everyone can understand this. Some people only come to understand by mustering the courage to reveal themselves to others.
Rain was able to come to terms with the one sin she had been carrying in her heart.
A transparent drop, holding one sin, fell to the ground and burst.
"You have nothing to worry about, Rain."
"Yes… yes… Thank you very much, Aira-san."
One was a mighty swordswoman known as the goddess of absolute victory, and the other was a diviner of witch’s blood who brought happiness to those troubled in prison.
In the world I live in, two individuals who were never meant to cross paths are now connecting and forming a bond.
I felt a strange happiness.
I truly felt that with this, we might be able to overcome the approaching fear and the overwhelming fate.
Two shadows.
Two girls from another world.
As a new bond formed and hope settled in my chest, the enemy appeared.
"They're here. Aira, Rain—!"
In front of us appeared a formidable, robust man. His appearance suggested he was involved in civil engineering or construction.
First, I calmly informed Aira and Rain about it.
Knowing the future in advance due to Rain’s artifact, the Moira’s Choker, I was able to stay calm because I was prepared.
"I’m on it. Ashkelon—!"
A brilliant crimson light burst forth, and the Dragon Slayer Sword: Ashkelon appeared in Aira’s right hand.
The burly man with knives in both hands took a slight step back in response to the crimson sword radiating pure madness.
Aira and Rain exchanged glances, with Rain retreating to stand next to me.
The battlefield’s focus was Aira and the burly man, but the core of our strategy was Rain Margarett.
"I will be your opponent."
"Aira... Aira... ♪ Hehehe—... ♪"
"It’s quite unsettling, being called by name by a stranger."
"Gigi... Hee—... ♪"
Crimson eyes turned back towards us. Rain and I nodded silently, readying ourselves for what was to come.
I circulated mental energy throughout my body, ready to activate my telekinesis at any moment.
Rain prepared the magic circle to channel the poison into the temporary circuit connecting the burly man and the real body: Livia.
Following a rapid chant of unintelligible words, a purple magic circle materialized with a whoosh in Rain’s right hand.
"So, this will reach Livia, right?"
"Yes. Provided Yuki-san handles it well— of course."
"Please don’t bring that up."
"Fufu."
Arrogance is not good. Let’s stay focused.
Aiming for the perfect moment, Aira leaps with a thud and rushes toward the burly man.
"Haa—!!"
A straightforward charge from the front.
However, with Aira Verfane Quatronix's speed, simplicity itself is the greatest strength.
The moment the burly man swung his knives overhead, Aira had already closed in with her sword ready.
Instead of stabbing the burly man, Aira’s figure vanishes with a swish. The two knives only slice through the air.
So where did Aira go? The answer is behind the burly man. From my perspective, she seems to have disappeared, but for Aira, it was merely a movement.
Now it’s finally my turn.
"Take this…!"
I thrust both hands forward and release my telekinesis. My mental energy interferes with the burly man's limbs, immobilizing him.
With the man rigidly frozen in the act of bringing his knives down, Rain rushes towards him.
"Do it now, Rain――!"
"Don’t fail!"
"—Yes!"
And then――a swoosh...
Rain’s magic circle strikes the side of the strong man, who is hunched over, and the essence of the magic circle spreads through him instantly.
First, the contract between the burly man and Livia Betagard is stopped and annulled.
Next, the temporary circuit connecting them is instantly activated, delivering a paralyzing poison to the main body.
"Gigga, gah…!? Aira… Verfane… Quatronix…!?"
"Huff… huff…! More… keep going――!"
"Gigaaargh! Aaaaaargh!"
Although controlled, the scream was far from what one would expect from a human. It resembled the cry of a rutting beast.
After emitting a scream so intense it made me worry that his throat might be damaged, the burly man wobbled as if his soul had left him and collapsed to the ground――…
"Did we… do it…?"
Streetlights, a cloudless sky, a white moon.
The tranquility of Arajo City. A mundane residential area.
From the battlefield to the everyday scene.
The only ones left standing are me, Aira, and Rain.
The burly man had fallen face down in a remarkably well-executed collapse. The two knives, which had fallen far from his hands, were picked up by Rain.
"…Aira?"
However, Aira alone held her crimson sword and wore a puzzled expression.
No, Rain too. She was nervously scanning the area near the fallen man.
"W-What’s wrong? Both of you?"
"We might have… believed too much."
"Huh?"
Believed too much――? What do you mean?
"This is definitely not Rain’s fault; it’s rather mine and Yuki’s mistake."
Although she spoke in a composed manner, her distress was apparent.
Aira and Rain are still engaged in some kind of battle, I’m the only one who hasn’t grasped the situation.
"The future I could see with this choker… wasn’t everything?"
A voice like cracked glass echoed through the ordinary residential area.
Rain collapsed onto the asphalt with a heavy thud, crumpling to her knees and clutching her head with both hands.
Her body language suggested she had made an irreparable mistake, and I couldn’t help but shout.
"I don’t get it, what’s going on?!"
"Don’t you understand yet? You should be able to see it by now…"
"Huh…? What? Oh…"
We had defeated the strong man and administered the poison to Livia Betagard, the true target.
All that was left was to find and capture Livia.
—But.
We were surrounded on both sides.
We were surrounded by roughly ten or more children, each holding a knife.
Countless purple eyes.
The blades of the knives, bathed in white moonlight, gleam ominously.
The term murderous puppets fit them exactly.
The children, acting solely to eliminate me—and also to eliminate Aira and Rain.
Surrounded from both sides on the road, we have nowhere to escape.
We had no choice but to fight.
"Hehe, this is your fault, Aira Verfane Quatronix—"
It’s her. …It’s Livia Betagard.
Realizing this, I quickly scanned the surroundings, but I couldn’t see her.
The very next instant, I felt my body being yanked from an invisible source.
"What!?"
I was being pulled by Livia.
"I'll be taking Yuki-kun as a hostage now."
"Hey, you bastard!"
"Now, now, don't struggle-"
"Ugh...!?"
A muffled thud and a throbbing pain radiating from the back of my neck to my head.
My consciousness was fading rapidly.
"Wait!!"
"Yuki-san!!"
The voices of Aira and Rain calling me became distant. I couldn’t determine if it was due to the increasing distance or my mind slipping into darkness.
Why... can she still move?
The poison should have flowed through the temporary circuit from the man to Livia, the main body.
"――Ah"
We seemed to be moving by leaping from roof to roof.
Just as I slightly opened my eyes, I saw one of the children with knives convulsing and falling below.
"Oh, are you curious? Yes, the man you took down and I are not directly connected. I used a randomly chosen child as a relay point to channel power to both the man and the children."
Relay -- point --?
So, the poison that was supposed to flow through the temporary circuit from the strong man was stopped at the relay point of that child?
This means the plan has completely failed.
Livia Betagard. This is――terrifying――.
"Well then, while Quatronix is being stabbed, why don’t you and I—Livia—enjoy ourselves? Sound good? ♪"
I felt a sensation as if my cheek was licked, and shortly after, my consciousness completely faded.
Chapter length 6753 characters.
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