On the Other Side, at the Same Time......
The Fifth Region Gevurah
Overwhelming heat and trees that kept violently burning, it was truly a region worth being called hell.
That was the Fifth Region of the Neighboring World, Gevurah.
And right now, there was war there of greater magnitude than the one in the Eighth Region Hod.
No, this couldn’t be even called a war.
No matter how cruel, in war both sides at least share the same understanding. Both sides either have irreconcilable ideological differences, or try to kill each other in the name of justice.
But this was different.
In the first place, they weren’t even the same kind of race anymore. These women (Empty) attacking could already no longer be called human.
Yes, they weren’t human anymore. A huge monster, a bizarre creature similar to an insect with human body parts wiggling around just like a nightmare.
I don’t want to die. I don’t want to become that. This was the common view shared by Quasi-Spirits fighting at the forefront.
These women (although they longer had any traits that could be distinguished by gender) had built a nest near the gate forcibly opened to the Third Region Binah as they began their region invasion.
It should be mentioned that they had struck misfortune by sheer luck. In the first place, the Fifth Region Gevurah was an impregnable area where it was difficult to normally live. The edge of the region was filled with magma with even an eruption occasionally occurring once in a while.
Originally, the enemies of this region were the raging volcanos.
But right now these volcanos were what they could rely on. It was precisely the volcanic magma hurled at the Empty that curbed the region invasion.
Of course, that wasn’t all.
In order to protect the Fifth Region Gevurah, the region was flooded by combat-type Quasi-Spirits. The only region connected to the Third Region Binah was this Fifth Region Gevurah.
The Second Region Chokmah and the Sixth Region Tiphereth had achieved a complete blockade by destroying <Shamayim Kavees>.
Only the Fifth Region Gevurah hasn’t destroyed or sealed the pathway to the Third Region Binah. This decision was made from the judgement of the Dominion Haraka.
If all routes were blocked, there would be method of counterattacking??although this was an extremely belligerent choice.
Incidentally, Kagarike Haraka was currently absent. She was on a business trip to the Tenth Region Malkuth and actively trying to find a Dominion for there.
Kagarike Haraka, who had already predicted this, had gathered her disciples to lead the fight.
Stand at the apex was the one wielding the Unsigned Angel <Lailaps> and the Astral Dress
<Brinicle>, the one who was called Biscuit Smasher.
It was Tsuan.
“Humph.”
The sounds of light breathing. While spinning, the giant monster in front of her eyes was smashed opened. Not only that, seeing one of them be blown away threw the surrounding monsters into a whirlpool of confusion.
“Swish.”
Split vertically, split horizontally, and crushed from above.
Everything was shattered just like a biscuit. She didn’t even bother looking back at the Quasi-Spirits behind her.
She just kept rushing forward while muttering that “it’s not enough, it’s not enough”, rampaging on the ashen rugged earth.
“Amazing, even us sempai can’t catch up at all.”
One of the Quasi-Spirits who frantically chased behind her let out a despondent sigh. Then, there was another person running side-by-side with her nodding in agreement.
“Finally, I understand why Haraka-sama said she is a genius seen once in a century.”
“Hey, you know what? It’s like Lu Bu from the Three Kingdoms. I think there a feeling of being just like that.”
“Ah, so it’s a Chinese feeling.”
The two of them mercilessly destroyed the small fry left by Tsuan.
A headless insect monster with countless human feet squirming. A floating monster composed of countless heads combined together. They were horrifying monsters that could be made from a God with malicious intent.
But.
Monsters manufactured from malicious intent were completely destroyed by monsters born from chance.
“Humph.”
Another monster was mowed down by a light voice that couldn’t be heard without raising one’s ears.
Finally, she noticed the two people behind her.
“Hey, that humph is just fine……but are you going to ever try a war cry showing your fighting spirit?”
“……I suppose my voice was too low……it was originally meant to be a war cry……”
After a brief moment of silence, both of them muttered together.
“……Too cute.” “……Too cute.”
For some reason, rather than being defeated as a warrior, they had been defeated in cuteness.
Both of the sempai lowered their shoulders in frustration.
Incidentally, Tsuan had imagined herself like a screaming ape roaring on the battlefield.
“Dieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!”
With that sort of feeling, she wanted to let out a voice which would make enemies terrified just from hearing it.
“Humph.”
But in reality it had sounded like that. Moreover, the monsters that had lost all capacity to think kept attacking without feeling any sense of horror at all.
At the end of the battle, Tsuan’s face was bright red from hearing comments about her voice from her sempais. She then shattered the surrounding ground with her Unsigned Angel
<Lailaps>.
“That should be enough for today. Good work out there, Tsuan.”
“Thank you……”
While still a little disappointed by the failure in the sound of her voice, Tsuan was still full of vitality.
This was the region where Tsuan had grown up. Regardless of whether or not she was born here, this was the place where Haraka had instructed her on combat skills.
Despite having said that, it was an extremely desolate hometown. One step away from the town would give people the impression of hell. It was an extreme wasteland where greenery couldn’t grow. In addition, hot magma was continuously ejected from the cracked ground.
It occasionally erupted to startle the surrounding Quasi-Spirits. Regardless of day or night, the rumbling of the earth let out a gigantic roar.
Even though it was a region that looked like the end of the world, Tsuan was unexpectedly angry to find out it was being invaded.
It seems the feelings for her hometown were still kept in her heart.
……But only. There was one thing she cared about.
“I’m angry there’s no Tokisaki Kurumi here.”
Tokisaki Kurumi, who had completely defeated her, was nowhere to be found here. They seemed to have been defeated by that White Queen and she was unknowingly teleported away. That was the only feeling bothering her, even if there wasn’t any particular physical damage.
It was the impatient desire of wanting to hack away at something??such was this impression. In other words, she hasn’t lost yet. Surely, absolutely.
Strictly speaking, it may have been called defeat. But in the final analysis, the one who had defeated her was Tokisaki Kurumi.
If it weren’t for that, she would be feeling this embarrassment.
Clinging on to the hem of her Astral Dress, she felt lightly lost.
“What’s wrong?”
Not wanting to be tightly hugged, Tsuan moved her arms away in a hurry.
“Nothing.”
Regardless of seniority, Tsuan would basically continue to use this informal tone.
There was no such thing as sempais or kouhais in battle, so there wasn’t any issue since there were no Quasi-Spirits that could defeat her here.
“No, but that expression just now was great. It looked just like a girl in love!”
She was shocked to hear those words.
But at the same time she was convinced. Every time she thought about Tokisaki Kurumi, there was an itchy feeling in her chest. A fluffy feeling that made her felt like not being herself. A sense of numbness that reached even her fingertips. This must be from her desire to kill Tokisaki Kurumi.
This was love?
“I see, so this is love.”
Alright, then she should confess the next time they meet. At the same time, she would smash
<Lailaps> against her face.
“Ah, but then she wouldn’t be able to hear that confession.”
In other words, she should confess and then strike?
“Thank you, that was helpful.”
“? I don’t quite understand, but it’s nice to be thanked by Tsuan!”
Although this Quasi-Spirit had no idea, Tsuan’s goal had completely shifted from an ordinary person at that moment.
Love like murder, or murderous intent with love, Tsuan didn’t separate those notions and accepted both.
Although it was a bit dated and out of sync with the current status quo, that’s how it was.
Tsuan had become a yandere for Tokisaki Kurumi.
The Ninth Region Yesod.
Kirari Rinemu was lying on a soft cushion, being a “no-good Quasi-Spirit”. She was squeezing her entire body, refusing to move even a single finger.
Around the same time, the staff members around her were busy working on this or that.
Kirari Rinemu was the deputy Dominion of the Ninth Region Yesod.
Since the original Dominion Banouin Mizuha had headed to the Eighth Region Hod, she was entrusted with the government affairs (idol work).
But that didn’t matter. She was unrivaled in irresponsibility.
She was a heavenly-gifted optimist that also habitually practiced truancy. So she was lazily spending her time on a cushion being a no-good Quasi-Spirit.
“Ah~, so busy~”
Kirari Rinemu flapped around moving both her feet. Seeing this, Mizuha’s secretary took in a deep breath.
“Suuuuuuuuu~”
She exhaled just like a karate master.
“Haaaaaaaaaa!”
“Hey, was that first deep breath a preliminary movement for sighing?”
“Yes. I wanted to express my disappointment.”
The secretary replied indifferently to Rinemu’s accusation.
“How awful, lifting up my fingers after eating potato chips will leave stains on my glasses.”
“Where did you come up with such a fiendish idea you rotten heretic?”
“Isn’t that statement a little too much to say to the Dominion!?”
“In our minds, you are just something that has attached onto Mizuha-sama, someone appropriate on the level of cheap sweets.”
As soon as Rinemu said something, the secretary would refute without any misgivings. Usually, Mizuha would be the one trying to stop her secretary, but unfortunately she was on a business trip right now. Thus, the secretary didn’t hesitate at all to lash out at Rinemu with a volley of insults.
“……And then there’s also the matter about Momozono Mayuka.”
“Hmm? What’s wrong with that child?”
“Not what’s wrong, but we need to decide on her sentence……. Mizuha-sama was too kind and only sent someone to monitor and observe her movements.”
“That child hasn’t committed any crime. The bad guy is one called Rook, that Empty right?”
“No, before that Kirari Rinemu……there’s the crime of trying to deceive you.”
In the first place, the origin of the commotion that shook the Ninth Region Yesod started when Momozono Mayuka tried to incite Kirari Rinemu. She planned on deceiving Kirari Rinemu to obtain the “Voice of the Moon’ and also expected Rinemu to die in order to disrupt Mizuha’s mental state.
It was a scandal that led to even more grave scandal.
“That sort of thing isn’t a crime. Ah, wait a minute. Can you please call Momonantoka-san here?”
“……You want to meet with her?”
“Of course we need to meet.”
The secretary sighed as she gave the instructions to the nearby staff.
Rinemu was clutching onto the cushions in a regretful manner, but then soon got up for the first time in a while in order to encourage herself.
“……What is it?”
Momozono Mayuka turned her face to the side in a rotten mood. Her idol activities had already gone out of business. Unsurprisingly, the fans were gone and the dedicated staff had moved elsewhere. She had been brutally rejected in this region.
She was the person who probably understood it best.
She faced Rinemu in a semi-selfish manner.
Rinemu suddenly approached her and casually grabbed her hair.
“Ah, as expected. You’re turning into an Empty.”
“That has to a be a lie……!?”
Shocked by this, Mayuka took out a small powder compact to confirm her own appearance.
……No greying had occurred. There was no change in skin tone. Mayuka understood that she had been deceived while glaring at Rinemu.
“Sorry, sorry. That was a lie just now……but are you aware?”
“That’s……”
Mayuka looked away while holding onto her wrists anxiously. Forget being Dominion, she wasn’t even an idol anymore.
It was the result from trying to struggle surviving alone. But that was all. Now there was nothing she could do or pursue.
“……I know, but what can I do?”
“Is that so?”
“Well, what do you want me to do!? For me who am no longer an idol, there’s no value or merit!”
Rinemu slanted her head while speaking.
“For one, isn’t being difficult to endure your charm point?
“??Huh?”
Mayuka stared at Rinemu with a dull look. What in the end was left within herself?
“You, yooooour??black-heartedness, of course!”
Hearing that remark, Mayuka, who had been stiff for a while, started trembling and screaming with tears in her eyes.
“What kind of idiot considers that a good quality??????!”
“What’s wrong! With only you in the Ninth Region Yesod, you could manipulate everyone as chess pieces without hesitation! So of course that’d be amazing! Just like a fortune teller scam, right?”
“Are you praising me!? Hey, does this person really think that she’s praising me!?”
“Momozono-san, I’m sorry but Kirari-san really believes she is praising you.”
Mayuka was speechless at what the secretary had said.
“You’re a complete idiot.”
“Even though I’m a fool, you are indeed black-hearted. But ah, that’s also a part of your personality, right? In that case, if being an idol won’t work, then make full use of being black-hearted in order to survive. That way I think you wouldn’t have to worry about turning into an Empty!”
“How can being black-hearted work for anything?!”
“Use it to protect the Ninth Region Yesod.”
“……But my Unsigned Angel isn’t suitable for fighting.”
“But can’t you also use your brains?”
“Kirari-san. In other words, you want to place Momozono Mayuka as a gatekeeper?”
“That’s exactly it. Right now shouldn’t we have more regular patrols? I was so angry at what was talked about during the region conference!”
“Uh. That’s certainly true??”
The secretary mumbled out those words while standing up.
“……Hey, has it really been random so far? There are no divisions or even regular patrols?”
Mayuka held her mouth in disbelief. The secretary gave an embarrassed nod.
“I went there yesterday and I’m planning on going again today……but the gatekeepers said……”
“So there aren’t any regular patrols! Aren’t you guys supposed to defend the Ninth Region Yesod!?”
“It’s too peaceful here.”
“The adjacent region is the Tenth Region Malkuth. Until a while ago, it was in a state of isolation due to Doll Master. But with that person dead, it looks like the fight of a successor has rekindled.”
“……Is that right?”
The secretary tilted her head with a dull expression.
Mayuka glared at the secretary before turning her eyes over to Rinemu.
“You guys are just focused on idol activities and not working on guarding the key areas, right?”
“Well. No one seemed to report it to Mizuha. I was really shocked to find out during that turmoil.”
“……I’m sorry about that……”
As Mayuka watched the secretary lower her head, she could tell that it was from not wanting the idol Dominion to know??how cursed. That was the disadvantage of having an idol be the Dominion.
In order to shine as an idol, the whispers of the dark side of the region disappeared before they could reach her ears.
“So in other words even information hasn’t been gathered? Not that I care, but have you always been this careless? In that case, before you know it……”
“It’s clear that information means life. But I was dying at the time, so I could manage this.”
The secretary felt increasingly guilty of Rinemu’s compliant.
Seeing this scene, Mayuka sneered. Compared to when she was brought in here, even she didn’t know when she started straightening her back and speaking with confidence.
“Okay, okay. I’ll take command. For the time being, gather those mindless guards. So it’s fine that I will be the best at this?”
“No problem. Report to me, Mizuha, or secretary-san.”
As soon as Mizuha’s name was uttered out, Mayuka’s eyes were filled with anger again.
“I don’t like Mizuha. I’ll go report to Rinemu sempai.”
She turned her head away while proclaiming that. Rinemu slanted her head while looking at her.
“Do you hate Mizuha?”
“I greatly hate her! Because I don’t have anything, she has it all!”
This wasn’t a lie. Momozono Mayuka hated Banouin Mizuha. Yes, it was possible to describe this emotion as hate.
She has everything that she didn’t have??being loved by others, being kind, working hard, an endless kindness that allowed her to believe in the future, herself, and her companions.
So of course she greatly hated this.
“Hoho.”
“I also hate Rinemu sempai too, so don’t get me wrong.”
She also disliked Kirari Rinemu.
She was the opposite of Mizuha. Even if not loved by anyone, she would keep walking forward in the path that she set out. Even though Mizuha wanted her dead, she didn’t take any issue with that at all.
Jealousy. Just like a fool that constantly had these thoughts comparing herself to others.
“Then you can report either way!”
“……Even though I hate sempai, I don’t want to be with Mizuha more.”
“? I don’t understand.”
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand, because it’s just my mood. Even though I hate Rinemu sempai, just talking is fine.”
“What a strange kohai!”
“Yes, then please take care then, strange sempai ? ”
Mayuka smiled slightly. It was a contemptuous smile, but somehow it seemed like a smile that came from the very depths of her heart.
“……You seem quite happy coming from that smile.”
As Rinemu nodded with satisfaction, Mayuka immediately stopped smiling and turned away.
The Eighth Region Hod.
Banouin Mizuha didn’t fulfill her goal of coming to this region. That was to talk to her older sister Banouin Kareha.
……Mizuha had almost no memories of the past. Before she could notice, she was already living in the Neighboring World. Only the knowledge and common sense of the other world was instilled in her mind. Almost all Quasi-Spirits were born this way??no, the fell down like this.
Some don’t have any memories of the past, while others retain only a little.
In Mizuha’s past memories, the only unique fact was??Kareha being her older sister.
Only this truth has been engraved on her body since waking up in the Neighboring World.
It always felt like Kareha had more memories than herself, but Kareha never tried to tell Mizuha anything about the other world.
What sort of family they had, what sort of people their parents were, and how did they live as sisters.
Kareha didn’t say anything at all about that.
Mizuha somehow read the mood and didn’t try to ask any questions. In the first place, the difficulty of survival in the Neighboring World made it inappropriate to think about those sorts of things.
But now should be the time.
Somehow Mizuha felt this way. In other words, she had a premonition about this.
So, despite this busy period, she entrusted the Ninth Region to Rinemu and her staff and left to visit the Eighth Region by herself.
However, Kareha refused to see her for some reason. Although she could tell from a glance that she didn’t want to meet up, this was the first time she had been clearly refused.
Be that as it may, she also needed to head back to the Ninth Region Yesod soon. She had already spent over 10 days here.
Mizuha decided to leave the gate of Banouin Castle to take a walk for a change of pace. While a brief walk would take her to the fortress, she could reach the beach by going through the fortress and barbed wire.
However, Mizuha didn’t intend to go that far. Just walking from the path to the fortress was enough.
“Summer……”
It was always summer in the Eighth Region Hod.
Spring, autumn, winter, and summer.
……There was the feeling of having been four seasons in the past. However, since Kareha became Dominion, there has only been summer.
“Because I like summer.”
She once said that while laughing.
Mizuha considered her to be an outstanding sister and excellent Dominion. Just by talking to her, she was crushed by the feelings of her own inferiority.
……Even though she liked her, even though she trusted her.
But it felt like there was always something dividing them. No, perhaps she was the one who drew the line. Being irritated by her own inferiority, was she the one who avoided Kareha……?
She shook her head.
Regardless, she was now the Dominion of the Ninth Region Yesod. She had to talk to Kareha face to face.
Not as a sister??but as a Quasi-Spirit.
However, Kareha didn’t want to meet her. Obviously there must be a very important reason for this.
“I wonder what I should do.”
The sounds of the cicadas were particularly noisy. The sharp noisy sounds of life. It was obviously artificial, but the constant sounds made an effort of proving to be summer.
“Ara, could this be a coincidence?”
An exquisite voice, having the signs of an icy chill freezing the surroundings even in this summer heat.
“Tokisaki……Kurumi-san?”
Tokisaki Kurumi, who had been defeated by the White Queen in the Ninth Region Yesod, was standing right in front of her.
“Eh? How are you, why??”
Kurumi reached out to stop Mizuha’s words.
“This is a good opportunity. If possible, why don’t we chat for a bit?”
“……Ah, okay……”
“Thank you very much.”
Not paying much attention, she moved her jaw to give thanks. Mizuha’s eyes were drawn to elegant and gentle gesture.
“Having just arrived here, I’m not familiar with the surroundings??is there a teahouse nearby?”
“Ah, yes. There are shops where my acquaintances are quietly working.”
“Let’s go over there then.”
Mizuha led her to a teahouse that was small enough to be considered full if four people had entered here.
The beautiful sea and sandy beach could be seen clearly thanks to shop being on a slope (with the barbed wire and fortress even looking embarrassed for inconveniencing the view).
“Welcome……oh, my.”
The clerk was surprised to see Mizuha’s face, but then immediately handed served them refreshing barley tea,
“Mizuha-sama has actually come to our store.”
“Yes, I’ve been here for a while. I wanted to see my sister Kareha-sama……but I haven’t been able to meet her yet.”
“Kareha-sama, I’m sorry, but she hasn’t been here recently…..”
“If I can meet with her, I’ll tell her to come by this store.”
“Thank you. So what will you want to order?”
“I’ll have animitsu……Kurumi-san?”
“I’ll have some ujikintoki please……”
“Alright, please just wait a moment.”
The clerk disappeared into the store.
Then, as Kurumi tried to open her mouth, she was interrupted by a ringing sound coming from a bell.
“Ah, a wind chime.”
The bells on the wind chime were ringing from the ocean breeze.
The round shape of the glass wind chime made them as adorable as a jellyfish.
“There are also wind chimes made of iron.”
“Huh. I thought all wind chimes were like that.”
“There is a difference in sound. The iron version is a bit……like a musical instrument. Since a glass bell is simpler to make, it also has a simpler sound.”
“Which one do you prefer?”
“The iron version, with a little stronger wind, it would sound just right.”
“Thank you for waiting, here is your animitsu and ujikintoki. Please enjoy and relax ~”
Animitsu, a summer tradition mainly composed of beans, agar, red bean paste with black honey, and usually accompanied by fruit.”
“If you think about it, animitsu is a desert that I don’t understand.”
Mizuha agreed with Kurumi’s words.
Both red bean paste and honey were ingredients sweet enough to compete on their own. So adding honey to red bean paste was only just an overkill of excess sugar. Moreover, if you add unsweetened beans and dice shaped agar, you’ll also get animitsu.”
In this shop, oranges and pineapples were also included to add extra color to the beans and agar.
Mizuha first ate the red bean paste for a while before challenging the agar with bites of fruit and honey in-between. This way the sourness of the fruit added a more balanced flavor.
“I’ve seen it on my smartphone before, but animitsu is a derivate made from assorted sweetened jelly. While eating beans and agar covered with black honey, stuff like red bean paste was included as extra filling.”
“I like having the red bean paste as a guaranteed filling to help adjust the volume.”
As Mizuha was idly chatting, she looked over at Kurumi’s appearance. Rather than her usual elegant dress, she was wearing a thin pareo over a bikini-styled swimsuit.
“Oh? Are you wondering about this swimsuit?”
“Y-Yes. I was a little surprised by how you changed clothes.”
“Isn’t there a saying of when in Rome? You look the same as usual.”
“Yes um, a swimsuit……because there needs to be permission to let others look……”
“……Looks like being an idol is hard.”
The sound of the chime bell repeatedly interrupted the conversation.
After a brief silence, Mizuha finally cut to the main subject matter.
“Kurumi-san……why are you here?”
“I fought against the White Queen in the Third Region Binah.”
“Eh……?”
Kurumi indifferently stated how she successfully escaped the Third Region Binah after taking her revenge on the White Queen.
Nevertheless, the heat of the battle seemed to be felt by Mizuha, who repeatedly nodded at times with a mysterious expression.
“……So coming all the way to the Eighth Region Hod……that must have been tough.”
“Yes. ……I plan to leave here soon to head for the First Region Keter. Although right now I’m stuck here because of being held down by your sister.”
Mizuha paused at the word sister.
“Kurumi-san, about my sister Kareha-sama……was there something that looked strange to you?”
Kurumi tilted her head as if a little troubled by this question.
“Because I haven’t known her for long, I……”
“I see……sorry, I asked something strange.”
“You are Kareha-san’s real little sister……is that correct?”
“……Yes. Although I have almost no memory of the other world, I still remember that point clearly. That person is my older sister connected to me by blood.”
There was no confusion in those words.
“You don’t have any memories of your sister?”
“Yes. ……Only, my sister may still remember. But she’s never talked to me about this.”
Mizuha lowered her face.
S-rank idols, even with a sad expression they still look beautiful??Kurumi thought about this blankly. But then she noticed a contradiction.
“According to Sagakure-san, Kareha-san doesn’t remember anything about the other world??”
“……No. As a younger sister, I can understand. It’s not that my older sister doesn’t remember.
She’s keeping it secret.”
Mizuha concluded that.
“I……am very dissatisfied and uneasy about that.”
The memories of the other world (reality).
Generally speaking, it could be said that Kurumi possesses memories. She remembered her cause and knew what needed to be done.
……Yet, she couldn’t remember the name of that important person but could recall the name of her enemy.
However, she never told Hibiki about this. It was useless to say and would only make the mood feel heavier. But more than anything else??it was because it was important.
“……Even I have some things kept secret from Hibiki-san.”
“To Higoromo-san……?”
“Yes, yes. I have a great deal of trust in Hibiki-san from going through so many life or death scenarios together. But there are still some things I wish not to talk about. Isn’t it also the same for Kareha-san?”
No matter how important the friend……no it’s because it is an important friend. They are things you absolutely don’t want to tread into.
“I’m not denying the idea that everything should be shared. However, I can agree with that notion simply because of the extremely complicated results of my own lifestyle.”
To have killed people.
To have piled up enough corpses to form a mountain, to crush them like a bug. Killing, killing, and keep killing. A vengeful will to keep killing in the future, a desire to remove all obstacles. It has nothing to do with the amount of sins. No, it was likely that Tokisaki Kurumi being Tokisaki Kurumi was already a sin.
But she still didn’t regret it.
……Just, she didn’t want to say it out loud to Hibiki
“So isn’t it the same for your sister? Because you are her little sister, she doesn’t want to tell you the truth.”
“So??it’s like that?”
“I have a question to ask. May I?”
“Ah, yes. Please go ahead.”
“This is coming from Sagakure-san. Immediately after becoming Dominion, Kareha-san acted as if abandoning you. Do you hold a grudge?”
Mizuha widened her eyes in surprise as she shook her head.
“No, not at all.”
“Why? Normally……wouldn’t that feel resentful? As soon as power was acquired, wasn’t there the feeling of having fulfilled your purpose?”
“……No, not at all. Rather it can be said to be the opposite. Immediately after my sister became Dominion of the Eighth Region Hod, it became filled with savage conflicts. So I needed to quickly leave here. Because I am not suitable for fighting like my sister.”
“Then what are you hoping by coming here?”
“Yes, hope. ……Thanks to that, I became an idol. I met Rinemu-san and everyone else. I became the Dominion of the Ninth Region Yesod. I came here to talk as a Dominion, not as Mizuha.”
Mizuha’s gaze held a powerful conviction.
“……Hmm. In that case……”
She didn’t come here as a younger sister, but rather to talk as a Quasi-Spirit.
“I will deliver that message for you. Probably Kareha-san doesn’t know the reason Mizuha-san has come here. If she still refuses to meet you, then it’ll be nothing more than Kareha-san’s neglect.”
“……Thank you, Kurumi-san.”
“Speaking of which, do you know about Jugasaki Retsumi-san?”
“Eh? Y-Yes. They weren’t completely hostile back then……”
“Did Kareha-san say anything about Jugasaki-san?”
Mizuha had a strange expression upon hearing those words??she looked sad.
“Yes. Jugasaki-san often came to the castle to play. Although, I imagine it must be difficult now.
Even if my older sister is fed up with it now, I was jealous.”
“Jealous?”
“It’s because it was only Jugasaki-san whom my sister had no complaints about. She happily said,
“That child is really tiring.” To be honest, I was a little jealous.”
“Ara, ara.”
Kurumi charmingly twisted her neck while thinking about the reason why she looked sad.
“So it’s sad right now. ……Because it isn’t possible for those two to be like that anymore.”
Both of them were already in an absolute position.
The Quasi-Spirits gathered in the Eighth Region Hod could no longer allow them to have a good relationship. No, it wasn’t so much as allowing, but rather it was like viewing it as intolerable.
Fighting seriously while not reaching the point of killing each other had become their reason for living.
It had to be taken seriously in order to prevent people for turning into Empties.
If it was revealed that this battle had been a sham……the entire Eighth Region Hod would be shaken to the core.
Everything would become untrustworthy. There would be the possibility of the fights escalating into actual killing and accelerating the transformation into Empties.
And the person rejoicing over this the most??would be the White Queen.
“……I want to solve this, but……”
Kurumi sighed. Acting in the benefit of strangers wasn’t part of her personal creed. It certainly wasn’t.
But allowing things to become for the benefit of the White Queen was intolerable.
“But for a solution……what could be done?”
“About that point. How to solve this……no, could it be done……?”
“Tokisaki-sama!”
Sagakure Yui rushed into the teahouse.
“Sagakure-san?”
“……Higoromo-dono has arrived at the beach. She wants, um…..she’s calling out for Tokisaki-sama to come out.”
“??Ugh.”
Because the atmosphere had suddenly changed, the teahouse clerk dropped her tray in a panic.
Sagakure and Mizuha both felt cold sweat traveling down their backs.
“Hibiki-san told me to come out……is that right?”
“Y-Yes. That’s probably the case.”
Sagakure felt a strange panic as she finished speaking.
“Ufu, ufufu. Ufufufufu. Calling me out. For Hibiki-san, isn’t this prank a little too much?”
As Kurumi prepared <Zafkiel>, the teahouse clerk fled deep into the store.
“Now then, Sagakure-san, Mizuha-san, I’ll be heading out for a bit. Please excuse me.”
“Ah, alright. Um……please keep it within moderation……”
“Yes, yes, of course. I’ll be sure to slap her silly in moderation. Now then, farewell.”
Standing up from her seat, Kurumi adjusted her pareo a little and then left.
“……Is she going to be alright, Higoromo-san……?”
“I don’t know. ……Only, it’s true that the other side seems strangely excited.”
“Hmm……but, Higoromo-san does seem unexpectedly energetic……”
Even if there were 100 Higoromo Hibiki, she wouldn’t be able to beat Kurumi.
“But probably she’s thinking about avenging her previous defeat.”
As Sagakure said this, she realized that the nature of this problem was different. Avenging her previous defeat……what means would Higoromo Hibiki use to achieve that?
In a sense, that was terrifying.
Higoromo Hibiki was standing alone on the sandy beach. There was no shooting coming from the fortress. Apparently, following her declaration of war, they were remaining on standby until Kurumi arrives.
“Fuffuffu, fufufunofu. My knees are shaking.”
“Ooh, trembling with excitement.”
“No, I’m really scared. But breaking the poi paper means losing. Even Kurumi-san wouldn’t unreasonably break the rules of this region! Probably!”
“Well, what will happen now? Because there is also the chance of us scattering like cherry blossoms in the Eighth Region Hod.”
“That sort of pessimistic thinking is forbidden!”
Hibiki took a deep breath while waiting for her lovely (?) Tokisaki Kurumi. If comparing it to the Three Kingdoms, it would be like a mob solider waiting for Guan Yu. Generally speaking, that would be synonymous with an instantaneous death.
“N-No. I’m not an infantry soldier; I will use strategy to suppress Kurumi-san……generally speaking, it ought to be the same role as Zhuge Liang.”
Un, un, Hibiki was convinced of that while by herself.
“Hi??bi??ki??san???”
Guan Yu had arrived.
On the sandy beach, Tokisaki Kurumi confronted Higoromo Hibiki. Both them had the poi paper somewhere on their bodies.
Their fighting spirit was transparent. All that was left over was for the fight to begin.
But……Hibiki naturally understood. It was impossible to win in a head-on battle. Kurumi also understood this, but her evil smile showcased that she was confident at victory no matter what Hibiki threw at her.
“Hello Kurumi-san. Fufufu, I can’t believe you are on Banouin’s side. A considerable gap has happened since we’ve moved from the same place.”
Hibiki tried to talk while mentally wiping away her cold sweat. Kurumi was brimming with motivation. However, if it went on like this, she wouldn’t fall into the trap.
“……I suppose so.”
Therefore, Hibiki decided to use a conversation for the time being. If she talked, Kurumi will respond. Because even if she was prepared to vigorously shoot, it won’t begin until they finish talking and she’s completely terrified.
“But why are you on Banouin-san’s side?”
“It’s a coincidence, a coincidence. I just happened to arrive at Banouin-san’s place by chance.
Also, the athletic department atmosphere over there was no good for me.”
“S-So it’s like that. Then you have to fight.”
“That’s right. Now then, without holding back??”
“But!”
Too dangerous, Kurumi was about open fire just now.
“But Kurumi-san, for us to be like this??don’t you think it’s just like Romeo and Juliet!?”
“……So you’re still saying that.”
Confronted by this overly leisurely speech, Kurumi promptly tore a hole through that idea.
“Two people who are in love are being torn apart, see just like this!”
“Who are the two in love with each other, I say who.”
Kurumi’s shoulders shrugged as if she was stunned. Alright, she took the bait……Hibiki mentally laughed.
“Speaking of which, Kurumi-san is Romeo.”
“I would be Juliet, on this matter I won’t concede.”
Kurumi stood up and insisted. It seemed that even if it was absurd, there was no way for Kurumi to concede.
Hibiki, while smiling, continued the topic. In order to slowly induce Kurumi to her destination, she kept moving delicately.
“Oops, as one would expect Kurumi-san is in maiden mode. But what if I say, Kurumi-san’s behavior is eye-catching for Quasi-Spirits!”
“……W-What is eye-catching.”
“Ah, it’s because Kurumi-san is so handsome just like the Romeo that those children have aspirations for!”
Hibiki spoke from the heart. The trick was to add repeated small truths to a huge lie. Kurumi also began to slowly move in line with Hibiki’s pace.
“Well, well, I feel honored. But I’m Juliet. But, unlike them, I have no feuding families of the sort. So once you capture Romeo, shouldn’t I plan on not letting go?”
“??Now then. What are you planning on doing, Hibiki-san?”
“Gue.”
Kurumi stopped and shot with her gun at the desired spot. Suddenly, part of the beach sank with a bang.
“So it’s a pitfall. What a classic.”
Kurumi whispered as if stunned. Under her feet, there was a trap dug by Hibiki and her side during night time. Naturally, they had applied a masquerade on top, but Kurumi’s eyes didn’t let go of the slight unnaturalness.
“E-Exposed. But how did you seen through the plan?”
“On the contrary, it looked unnatural. There’s a spot where it doesn’t have a causal look to it and the appeal of something being hidden there.”
As Kurumi proudly pointed that out, she hadn’t noticed yet.
“But this battle is our victory, Kurumi-san!”
Hibiki’s plan had two stages. The first stage was the pitfall. Even with the most upmost care, Kurumi will notice this trap.
So this situation had already been factored in.
And the second stage. The real trump card, Ace of Spades.
She was now buried under the pit. Hiding herself within the soil at the bottom of the pit, she listened for Kurumi’s voice at the edge of the hole to confirm her location.
Standing up, she ran up the wall all at once.
“Wha……!!”
Ace of Spades jumped out in front of Kurumi, completely surprising her. Even <Zafkiel> couldn’t aim at Ace of Spades at this angle and barely missed.
She skillful used a sword to try to aim and pierce at Kurumi’s poi paper right in front of her eyes.
Extremely narrow, but this was a familiar distance for Ace of Spades.
But.
The next moment, Tokisaki Kurumi, Higoromo Hibiki, and Ace of Spades were all taken aback by a shock.
Fate sometimes gave rise to an unexpected sight.
As Kurumi saw Ace of Spades come flying out, she immediately grasped the situation and concluded that interception was impossible. However, it was barely possible to avoid this.
At the same time, she leaned back as if falling down.
Ace of Spades of course was still hot in pursuit. But the tip of the blade was barely unable to reach the poi paper. Inevitably, the blade reached her chest as it was shifting backwards.
……And, to repeat it once again.
Tokisaki Kurumi’s swimsuit was a black and red style bikini with a pareo.
Seeing that she couldn’t cut the poi paper anymore, Ace of Spades reflexively stopped.
Coming to a halt, even though the point of her blade didn’t injure Kurumi??
Snap.
“Ha?”
“Eh?”
“Mu?”
The tip of the blade reached the string of the swimsuit, with it popping open from not being able to withstand the impact. Afterwards, the summer breeze completely left Kurumi’s bare chest exposed.
Exposed.
Time felt frozen.
Ace of Spades, Higoromo Hibiki, and Tokisaki Kurumi, none of them had moved.
A chest that was exposed. Unable to recognize this situation, no the brain refused to understand it.
“Porori!!”
Hibiki shouted.
Because of this loud yell, Kurumi could finally move.
Her face flushed red as she crouched down while clutching her chest. Ace of Spades didn’t miss this opportunity to pierce the poi paper without hesitation.
“It worked! Degozaru!”
“W-What have you done……Hibiki-san! ……Hibiki-san……?”
Enraged, Kurumi stopped mere seconds from exposing her fangs to Hibiki. Ace of Spades also turned around to see what happened.
Higoromo Hibiki was spraying out blood from every orifice in her face.
All while having the most satisfied expression.
The two of them looked at each other awkwardly. Kurumi muttered while holding her bikini in her hand.
“……So this is how I lost?”
“It should be.”
“I’m unable to accept this……”
Hibiki had the most serene look as blood was flowing out from her noses, ears, eyes, and mouth.
“From a first glance, it looks like a patient struck with a terrible virus.”
“Ah……”
Upon waking up, Kurumi was waiting with an expression just like a bodhisattva. Moreover, because of this situation, no matter what she thought, it would have been better for Kurumi to be angry. Hibiki was immediately prepared for death.
“So you’re awake.”
Kurumi’s voice was calm. Hibiki asked while fearfully trembling.
“Um, my memory is jumping around a bit……did I win?”
“I feel like I lost.”
“Ooh……but why am I……huh? My hand is red?”
“No, it’s not just your hand, but your entire body.”
Kurumi gave Hibiki a small hand mirror. Hibiki’s entire body was dyed red. It looked as if somebody had drowned in blood.
“Kurumi-san……I think this may be too cruel……”
“It’s convenient to pass the responsibility to me, but this is your own self-destruction.”
“Huh, are you serious?”
“Really serious.”
Ace of Spades also joined in.
“Eh. So that means I was continuously bleeding. Have I been infected with a deadly virus?”
……Kurumi carefully observed Hibiki.
“Do you have any memories?”
“Ah, um, the pitfall trap had been exposed. Ace of Spades-san, who was lurking down below, launched a surprise attack…...”
“That’s right.”
“I don’t remember anything else from that point on!”
Kurumi suspiciously looked at Hibiki’s chest. She was hurriedly covering her Astral Dress’s exposed midriff.
“Don’t act suspicious……”
“……Well, it is fine if you don’t remember. But I am still very angry.”
Kurumi glanced over at Ace of Spades.
“Now, what are your circumstances then?”
“Even if you ask me for the situation……”
“What happened to Carte-san?”
“My master Carte-dono took the opportunity to escape while only I was left captured behind.
And for some reason Commander Higoromo-dono rose through the ranks while I am still a sergeant.”
“Ha, I see……commander!?”
“Yes, I am a commander, a commander!”
“Just like in the Ninth Region Yesod, Hibiki-san can leave her mark no matter where she goes……”
Kurumi sighed while in shock.
“Um, then……Kurumi-san, do you admit defeat?”
Hibiki nervously asked. Ace of Spades watched on while wondering if this was okay. After all, that was an incomparably despicable surprise attack. Furious and finding it unacceptable. That would be taken as given unless said otherwise.
On the other hand, Hibiki was convinced that she would admit losing.
“??It can’t be helped. Regardless, it’s true that my poi paper has been broken. It’s my defeat. In the future, I won’t be participating in the Eighth Region Hod’s mock war.”
Although Kurumi was ruthless, she wasn’t so cowardly that she would not acknowledge defeat and act in anger and shame.
If it meant killing each other, she would use any means to defeat her opponent. But that wasn’t a line she would be willing to cross in this war game.
“T-Thank goodness……I’m saved……”
“Oh, why are you saved? Does Hibiki-san think I am a narrow minded person that would rebuke her after losing?”
“N-No……”
Hibiki’s face twitched.
The girl called Higoromo Hibiki could in fact??actually remember! From one to ten, although fainting from losing blood in excitement wasn’t predicted, all that had transpired had been recorded into her memories.
But, but……
If this matter was revealed, Tokisaki Kurumi will undoubtedly punish her with a smile.
She needed to feign losing her memories from that physical blow earlier if possible.
But the problem was that Kurumi was likely still holding her doubts. Her suspicious glance just now was proof of that. However, it hadn’t reached a certain level yet. In other words, Kurumi would clearly intend to inquire more information from her soon.
(If that happens……I’ll die……!)
Cold sweat oozed out from Hibiki’s entire body.
“……Why are you sweating, Hibiki-san?”
“Because it’s summertime and it was really difficult fighting Kurumi-san just now.”
Hibiki quietly lied.
The game had shifted to the second stage. In other words??how to escape from Kurumi’s inquiry and analysis.
She must never be caught staring at Kurumi’s chest……absolutely, absolutely never.
“Hey, Hibiki-san. Does Hibiki-san really not remember anything?”
Kurumi asked with a gentle smile.
“Yes, of course……by the way why are you holding your hand like that?”
Hibiki was convinced that she was still suspicious. The reason Kurumi was holding her hand against her chest was because her swimsuit’s string had snapped. It would be naturally strange if Hibiki, who needed to pretend not knowing anything, didn’t point this out.
“……You completely took the bait.”
“No, I don’t remember anything!”
Kurumi stood up.
“I’ll inform Kareha-san about my defeat. Will you be returning to the rebel base?”
“Eh, are you leaving already?”
Hibiki instinctively asked that question. Although Kurumi looked puzzled for a moment, a fearless smile emerged as she lightly pinched Hibiki’s face.
“Aren’t we still enemies? And especially Hibiki-san, aren’t you forgetting one thing?”
“Eh?”
“Come out, Cistus!”
At that moment, Tokisaki Kurumi’s clone, Cistus emerged yawning from the shadows.
“Hello everyone. Good-bye everyone.”
She smiled while holding a water gun.
“Gya????????????!”
“This is too sudden, gozaru????????????!”
The two of them were frothing while trying to make their escape. Kurumi shouted from behind their backs.
“There’s no plan to admit defeat here. Also, after this battle, Hibiki-san needs to be carefully interrogated. Let’s have a nice chat!”
“Uwa, I really don’t remember anything!”
A complete lie.
While feeling a strange pleasure and guilt for lying to Kurumi in this situation, Hibiki jumped to her boat.
“??Successfully landed. Are all members present here?”
The soldiers all nodded in response to Second Lieutenant Todou’s words. It seemed that Higoromo Hibiki and the mysterious playing card had landed earlier and stirred a commotion.
But fortunately, there weren’t too many people on lookout.
“Verifying Unsigned Angels, confirm with each other if Astral Dresses are intact.”
Their Unsigned Angels were subjected to a typical battle transformation. They also had stealth type Astral Dresses that made infiltration easier.
Their captain Todou announced with sad but determined eyes.
“The Eighth Region Hod must not turn into the Tenth Region Malkuth. Moreover, it cannot be handed over to the White Queen. In order to preserve peace and order in this region, we will become oni. As oni, we must kill Banouin Kareha.”
The girls nodded while squeezing their weapons with their small slender hands.
“We will probably die.”
From the very beginning, they held no consideration from themselves after killing.
“But let’s make it a meaningful death.”
Despite only death being certain.
“This region is actually more serene than anywhere else. The Ninth Region Yesod is too peaceful to adapt and the Tenth Region Malkuth is too merciless. Even so it was impossible to go to the Seventh Region Netzach or the Sixth Region Tiphereth, so a group of people gathered here??to live freely though competition.”
The desire to compete with others without killing each other.
Sure enough, they were still scared of disappearing. But it being too peaceful was too boring.
The Eighth Region Hod was an unmistakable paradise for such odd Quasi-Spirits.
Banouin Kareha is trying to destroy this??
According to the report, tomorrow is the final decisive battle. They had infiltrated the rebel army.
Having pledged to each other.
Their hearts were beating violently, their thoughts in disorder from the fear and exhilaration.
“I will kill you. Banouin Kareha, the woman who fell into becoming the White Queen’s minion.”
The determination of Ensign Todou and her subordinates was firm yet strong.
And also, they weren’t mistaken.
“……You said that you beat Tokisaki Kurumi?”
“Yes, although it was quite risky!”
“Good job! Then you are now Colonel, a Colonel! Just below me!”
Jugasaki Retsumi patted Hibiki on the shoulders.
“Ah, alright. Thank you very much. Are there any other Colonels?”
“None!”
Jugasaki raised her chest.
“More importantly, tomorrow is the final battle! Once more we will challenge that fortress and castle again! This time victory will be awaiting us!”
The morale of the rebels had reached its peak due to the early elimination of Tokisaki Kurumi.
After finishing her speech, Jugasaki whispered to Hibiki and Ace of Spades.
“……I have something to say.”
The two of them stayed in the strategy room with Jugasaki.
“What’s the matter?”
“Yup. ……I think we will be able to reach Banouin Kareha this time.”
“Yes, for sure……I also think we can probably do it.”
“Same, even though my humble self will do nothing more than follow.”
“So, then. ……What should I do?”
Like a girl forced to leave a school behind due to tuition, Jugasaki spoke while looking disoriented.
“What do……what do you mean?”
“To be honest, I just wanted to beat Kareha-chan, so I don’t know what to do afterwards!”
Jugasaki stood tall and loudly spoke.
Silence.
This was bad, both Hibiki and Ace of Spades’ intuition caught on to that.
“……Jugasaki-san, maybe.”
“You didn’t think about anything after defeating Banouin Kareha?”
“Speaking of which, you just said Kareha-chan, right? ……You guys are friends!?”
“That’s right? Oh, yes……I haven’t had the chance to say that yet.”
“That’s right!? If the last boss is a former friend, the morale of the troops will plummet!”
“Ah, she’s not a former friend. I still think of her as a friend now.”
“Is that so! Listen well, Jugasaki-san! Generally speaking, this now looks like a fixed match!”
That was the biggest problem. The Quasi-Spirits in the rebel army thought that this was a battle fought for control over the Eighth Region Hod. They were seriously fighting even if they weren’t killing each other.
The story would be completely different with the revelation that Jugasaki and Banouin are friends.
Additionally, the rebels have been constantly losing. Regardless of defeat or victory, they had never won once.
In other words??whether defeat or victory had been already predetermined; it was a situation where it would be impossible not to have these thoughts.
“What did you say!? The rebels and I have always fought seriously!”
“The problem is what it looks like……”
“A feeling of it being impossible to win anyway……”
Hibiki and Ace of Spades nodded together. Assuming the worst, if awareness of this false match spreads, it would have a severe negative effect on the mental states of these Quasi-Spirits.
Specifically, it would accelerate the transformation into becoming an Empty.
If both sides collapse to the point where they could no longer compete, then it would be all over for this region.
“……Don’t get along with Kareha-chan yet……right?”
Jugasaki quietly asked her. Hibiki let out a groan. The usually frank and confident leader was gone. Here was a girl suffering from heartache over not being able to talk with a friend for a long time.
“Sister……w-what should be done?”
“……R-Right now, we can only keep it a secret……”
“Kareha-chan……”
The three of them all quietly sighed.
“So you lost?”
“I lost.”
Banouin Kareha chuckled and smiled. Kurumi turned away as if her mood had spoiled.
“That was surprisingly easy. What secret weapon did they employ?”
“It was because I was too overconfident in my own strength. Yes, yes. I won’t say anything more than that, so please feel free to keep questioning to your hearts content.”
With that said, Kurumi rolled around in that tatami mat.
However, Kareha didn’t particularly blame her. Instead, she kept trying to ask how Kurumi was defeated.
Although Kurumi was reluctant, Kareha’s questioning was quite persistent. At last, she confessed that she had lost because her bikini’s string had been cut and she had reflexively crouched down.
Kareha’s response was quite dramatic.
A burst of laughter, a great roar of laughter, and thunderous applause.
“Ahahahahahahahaahaha!”
“You’re laughing too much, you’re laughing too much.”
Kareha covered her stomach with her hands as she rolled around on the ground.
“I thought my abdominal muscles were going to cramp……ku……”
Kurumi rebuked Kareha with a quiet gaze. Kareha, then just like Kurumi, stretched out her limbs while looking up at the ceiling.
“But that’s too weak. It looks like I really am going to lose this time.”
“Wouldn’t it be fine to lose?”
“……That wouldn’t work. In any case, I am??the Dominion of the Eighth Region Hod. So I have to win.”
She stared up faintly at the grains of wood on the ceiling.
For some reason, Kurumi thought that one of those marks resembled a human face.
“Doesn’t that grain of wood resemble a human face?”
“Which one?”
Kareha looked to where Kurumi’s hand was pointing.
“Ah, I thought it was a black cat.”
“I refuse. I can’t stand having a cat look so terrible.”
Kurumi answered immediately. Perhaps finding strange, Kareha giggled.
“You like cats.”
“Yes, yes. ……Well, it’s just like that.”
Kurumi looked a little embarrassed as she turned to the other side. Surely, Kareha thought that this must mean it wasn’t ordinary for her to admit fondness,
“I like puppies. Isn’t Mizuha just like a puppy?”
Kareha said in a leisurely tone. Kurumi thought about Mizuha.
“Hmm……isn’t that girl more like a cat?”
“No, a puppy. Just like a puppy.”
“……Do you like puppies?”
“Yes.”
If that’s the case, she must also like Mizuha.
“Then it would be good to see her, Mizuha-san.”
“At this late hour.”
“……Wouldn’t you regret it now if you didn’t see each other?”
“I still have time.”
Kareha laughed. Indeed, she had heard from Hibiki that there was still some time after hair started greying. Just like thin layers peeling one by one, everything turned white.
“Doesn’t time go by so quickly? No matter how much I have, it is always still not enough.”
“Ah……but for Kurumi-han, time is a weapon.”
“What is Kareha-san’s weapon?”
“My wind and cherry blossoms.”
“Ara, that doesn’t seem to match this season.”
Kareha laughed in agreement before suddenly asking.
“……Kurumi-han. Will you bear witness to my affairs until the very end?”
“You said end……you mean until the end?”
“Yes. So how about it?”
“I will bear witness to your victory or defeat, but??”
After that, it would not be possible to achieve the time that Kareha desired.
“I hope you can see the moment when I die.”
Kareha said that while laughing again.
“You must not disappear. It’s people like you who can live long.”
“To come and encourage me, how kind.”
“Impossible.”
Kurumi sneered.
“Because I will live long, I will rush to the Seventh Region Netzach. Although it will be after this farce is over.”
“Like this huh.”
Kareha didn’t particularly blame her or make a special plea.
“It always feels like this, if we go on like this……it’s like a female high school student fully immersed in summer vacation.”
“Ah, so that’s what it is.”
“We are like classmates, so that’s why I’m being lazy like this.”
“If you feel like classmates, do you think there will be no interactions?”
“I don’t think so. I am also a proper lady. So there’s a feeling of being opposed to a class’
cliques.”
“Ah……looks like it.”
As if convinced, Kurumi nodded. Kareha then whispered in a dreamy state.
“Mizuha will be part of the next generation. Retsu-chan and Higoromo Hibiki-san will probably be included as well.”
“Hibiki-san is part of my entourage. I expected Kurumi-san to say something like that.”
“That person? No wonder you’re about to lose.”
“……How nosy.”
Kareha and Kurumi stared at the ceiling while talking about various things.
“Retsu-chan, I’m the one who gave her that name.”
“I’ve heard about that. And I forgot to say this then, but……your naming sense is really unique.”
“This isn’t self-praise. ……But I was joking when I received her unexpected joy……”
“There must be a degree of excess.”
“That’s right, I am an excessive person.”
The sound of cicadas slowly changed to their evening version.
“Ah, so it’s dusk now.”
“Those cicadas don’t actually exist, right?”
“Yes. Summertime in Japan wouldn’t be the same without cicadas. So I had it made by Quasi-Spirits from the Ninth Region Yesod.”
“How fastidious……”
However, Kurumi didn’t think that the sound of cicadas was particularly bothersome.
“Summer.”
“It is summer.”
Time passed by calmly and quietly.
The days seemed to go on forever, with this entire day seemingly having gone by in a split second.
Strangely, Kurumi didn’t feel it was all too bad.
She considered quite unusual. To think she would actually pursue rest in a place like this.
“Summertime……it must be because of that.”
Kurumi’s whispers were buried under the eager chirps coming from the evening cicadas.
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