Editing BlazBlue:Calamity Trigger Part 2 Chapter 1 (section)

=== Part 5 ===
She wondered how long she had been immersed in nostalgic memories.

"...Lieutenant? Hello? Lieutenant Noel Vermillion?" 

Suddenly, she heard a man's voice from right beside her.

"Huh, ah, y-yes!"

A beat late, Noel came to her senses and hurriedly straightened her head and body from the wall she had been leaning against.

In the passenger cabin where there were only two people, only one man could call out to her. Pressing down on her slipping hat, she turned around and saw the figure she had expected.

Black suit, white shirt, black tie, black hat. His green hair was so long in the front that it hid his eyes, and from the depths of those eyes, which were difficult to tell whether they were open or not, he looked down at Noel from a high position with an exasperated look.

"Are you finally awake? Honestly, we're still on duty, you know? Even if we're in transit, a nap is quite carefree, isn't it?"

"I-I'm sorry, Captain Hazama. But, um, I certainly wasn't sleeping...!"

While she thought being dazed was not much different, Noel straightened her posture and made excuses to Hazama, who was looking down at her. At that moment, she felt something terribly cold down her spine.

''(Eh... what...?)''

The air conditioning in the Ars Magus ship was comfortably adjusted, and she wasn't feeling unwell. And it was too... horrifying to be a chill from an unexpected cold.

Why was she being attacked by such a sensation? The unreasonable chills, no, rather, the fear, grabbed Noel and wouldn't let go.

Meanwhile, Hazama began to talk on his own, as if he didn't care about Noel being unable to speak.

"It's nice that you got plenty of rest, but we've already arrived in Kagutsuchi. If you stay on board like this, your work won't start at all, so could you please get off?"

"Eh, ah..."

Come to think of it, the driving sound during the voyage had stopped sometime. When she turned her gaze to the small window, the scenery outside was not the sky but a port for Ars Magus ships.

The fear that had been clogging her chest until just now was gone, and a feeling of shame rose like a rush.

Noel grabbed the seatbelt buckle as if jumping at it, and started to try to undo it. Her fingertips fumbled due to her agitation, and she couldn't undo the seatbelt, which should have been easy.

"I-I'm sorry! I'll get off right away, right now!"

"Oh, is that so? Then I'll get off first, so please don't break the seatbelt." With a light chuckle, Hazama waved his leather gloved hand and left the passenger cabin. Watching his back as he left, Noel's expression crumpled wretchedly as soon as she turned her face back to the seatbelt. She didn't even notice the descent, let alone the announcement of it. What a blunder.

As Hazama said, she was too carefree even though she was on duty.

After a bit of delay, Noel finally escaped from the unfastened seatbelt, and while putting on her blue poncho, she hurriedly rushed outside.




The 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi, Port 5.

Located at the edge of the upper layer, one of the smaller and quietly established ports among many, it was a port used for matters and missions that could not be made public even within the NOL.

Due to its intended use, there were fewer personnel working there compared to other ports. The number of Ars Magus ships that come in and out of the port was not very large, and it was a quiet port with few people around, but even so, it had a glamorous air that suggested that it was directly managed by the NOL.

The face of the port, so to speak, was the large clock hung in the management building. The gold hands indicating the time were finely decorated to the tips, giving it the appearance of a work of art.

With the large clock watching over the port with elegance and dignity, a small Ars Magus ship, which had entered the port under the name of the Intelligence Department of the NOL Headquarters, quietly rested its body. 

Metal stairs extending from the abdomen of the ship urged passengers to go to the floor of the port.

While holding the handrail of the stairs, Noel looked around at the scenery from there. The sky was a pleasant clear day. The air, controlled by Ars Magus, was refreshing, and there was almost no magic element.

From this location, it was difficult to see clearly because it was blocked by the management building and the entrance to the port, but she could see some NOL facilities lined up beyond the relatively new Port 5. Beyond that, in the distance, the well-organized cityscape, typical of the upper layer, spread out. The green of the trees planted everywhere was deep and glistened in the sunlight. The buildings lined up were based on white and blue, giving a somewhat clear impression.

It was a beautiful city. And it was very large.

"This is Kagutsuchi..."

It was Noel's first visit to the city.

If it weren't for the information from her superior and senior at the military academy, Jin Kisaragi, she might not have visited it.

Sliding her fingertips covered with white gloves on the handrail, Noel ran down the short stairs and descended from the Ars Magus ship to the port. Beyond the protruding passageway, Hazama was leaning against the pillar of a one-legged clock, which pointed to the same time as the large clock, looking bored.

The sight startled Noel for a moment, and she ran towards him.

Noel was a little uncomfortable with the man from the Intelligence Department. The first time she had properly met him and talked to him was when she was summoned for this mission, but when she was in front of him, she felt somehow overwhelmed and swallowed up. However, she couldn't avoid him. He was the only collaborator in this top-secret mission.

Standing at attention in front of Hazama and straightening her back, Noel gave a small salute to the superior officer from a different department.

"I-I kept you waiting, Captain Hazama. I was very rude earlier."

"No, no, I'm used to waiting, so please don't worry about it." Hazama etched a deep smile on his lips, raised his body, and gave a light bow while speaking in a soft tone.

If you only listened to the words, it was normal and sounded considerate. But Noel felt a vague suspicion about his strangely suggestive way of speaking and exaggerated gestures, and she inadvertently looked down. At the same time, she felt somewhat depressed at her own narrow-mindedness, even though nothing had been done to her.

''(He's not a bad person... I think.)''

Even so, she felt sorry for the feeling of discomfort that welled up in her chest as if seeping out.

As Noel looked down with her salute still in place, Hazama suddenly clapped his hands as if he had come up with something.

"Ah, that's right, that's right. And about the 'Captain' and that salute, let's get rid of those formalities. I'm not your direct superior, and you're not my direct subordinate."

"Eh... but, but..."

"Those things are so troublesome. I don't want to put on a superior's face to you either. There's no one watching us, so please, okay?" 

With a deep smile at the corners of his mouth, Hazama tilted his head slightly and looked down at Noel. His bangs were long, and the brim of his hat cast a shadow, making it difficult to see the eyes behind them. Even so, the gaze that was staring at her was clearly felt.

"Understood. Hazama… san." 

Feeling that it would be rude to refuse outright, Noel nodded hesitantly. But she couldn't suddenly change her attitude as if turning her hand over, so she tried to start by at least changing how she called him.

Satisfied, Hazama's smile deepened and he spoke again.

"Now then. Let's get down to business right away. Our objective this time is to search for Major Jin Kisaragi, who is currently missing. If we find him, we'll tell him that a return order has been issued from headquarters, and if he obeys quietly, that's fine, but if he doesn't, we will have to restrain him and forcibly take him away."

At Hazama's words, Noel's expression became tense and stiff.

This was no longer the NOL headquarters where she had spent her days. It was Kagutsuchi, an unfamiliar city, although it was under the control of the NOL.
Hazama continued in a tone as if he were explaining to a student.

"Currently, Major Kisaragi seems to be hiding in Kagutsuchi. His objective is most likely Ragna the Bloodedge, the wanted criminal known as the 'Grim Reaper.' He went missing immediately after we received information that he was headed to Kagutsuchi, right?"

"Yes. The name Ragna the Bloodedge seemed to ring a bell with him. ...Although I didn't confirm it..." Noel replied with a serious face.

The last time Noel met Jin was when she delivered a report on the wanted criminal, "Grim Reaper."

At that time, Jin, as always, seemed reluctant to even deal with Noel. He snatched the report and changed his expression as soon as he heard from the Intelligence Department that the "Grim Reaper's" name was Ragna the Bloodedge.

Jin was laughing. Calm and ruthless. Noel clearly remembered that Jin, who always had an icy expression, laughed aloud only at that time. Noel had never seen him like this, not even during his student days or after becoming his secretary.

"Um, may I ask a question?"

"Yes, please?" Hazama gestured the the innocent Noel to prompt her.

Feeling as if she was being tested by his stiff smile, Noel couldn't look up at Hazama's face.

"If the information is correct, then Kisaragi-sama and Ragna the Bloodedge are hiding in Kagutsuchi, right?"

"That's what it seems."

"Um, if we come into contact with Ragna the Bloodedge before we find Kisaragi-sama... which one should we prioritize...?"

Arresting criminals was one of the duties of soldiers. If she encountered the "Grim Reaper" Ragna, Noel would normally have to move to arrest him.

Hazama put his hand on his black hat as if grabbing it, and replied with an indifferent, "Ah. Well, deal with it appropriately. I'll leave it up to you."

"Eh, is that... appropriate?"

Could there be such a, well, appropriate instruction? Noel's eyes widened in surprise at such an uncharacteristic response from a superior officer. Hazama, in a relaxed tone without any sense of urgency, opened his hands at shoulder height.

"You see, my mission is to secure Kisaragi-sama. As long as you complete that task, I don't intend to give you detailed instructions about the rest."

Saying that, he shrugged his slender shoulders and smiled lightly.

Not knowing how to react to that smile, Noel ended up only stammering with her lips and couldn't say anything. She wondered if she should say something back, or if she should keep her mouth shut. Such thoughts kept popping up in her head, and she kept thinking about them.

Meanwhile, Hazama put his hat back on and moved on with the conversation.

"Well then, I have some business at the branch office, so could you start the search from the lower levels first?"

"Branch office? What kind of...?"

"Oh, have you forgotten? I'm in the Intelligence Department, after all. I have a lot of business that I can't share with other people... could you be considerate?"

Hazama's smile shifted to a wry grin. His manner was gentle, but there was something somewhat mocking in his tone. It was as if he was exasperated with a child who didn't understand, and that made Noel feel impatient.

She must not forget. This was an important top-secret mission. She couldn't afford to fail, and she couldn't cause trouble for the Intelligence Department.

Noel straightened her back again, and with her hands tightly attached to her sides, she looked up at Hazama. Noel couldn't tell what kind of eyes were looking at her from beyond the shadow of the black hat and the long bangs.

"Understood. Then, um... I'll start the search from the lower levels."

Surely there was a structural drawing and map of Kagutsuchi in the materials. Relying on that, she should be able to reach the lower levels without getting lost. She was a little scared to go all the way to the lower levels... but she couldn't say such a thing.

''(I'll find Kisaragi-sama quickly and return to headquarters.)''

If Jin's disappearance went public, Tsubaki would surely worry. More than anyone else.

It's not that Noel wasn't worried about Jin. More than that, she was worried about the heartache that her best friend from high school would suffer.

Letting the cool port wind wrap around the ample hem of her donned poncho, Noel walked past Hazama as if slipping through. Before her feet had taken many steps, Hazama's voice stopped her from under the clock.

"Oh, right, I forgot. Lieutenant Noel Vermillion." 

At the leisurely and drawn-out call, Noel turned around wondering what it was. 

Hazama was leaning against the slender leg of the clock and looking at her.

"Currently, a D-alert has been issued in Kagutsuchi. It's the one that prohibits intervention from other organizations due to a state of emergency. Apparently, information that Ragna the Bloodedge is hiding has leaked to the outside from somewhere, and because of that, it seems some dangerous individuals have gotten involved. Please be careful when going to the lower levels."

For a warning from a member of the Intelligence Department to a soldier of the NOL, it lacked much urgency.

Hazama waved his hand lightly and saw Noel off.

He was not so much an irresponsible person as he was a person without any pretenses. She didn't know him well, but surely this was how he always was. With this impression in mind, Noel once again straightened her heels and lowered her head in a bow.

"Yes. Then, excuse me." This time, she turned her back and exited from the gate of Port 5 to the main city.

The sky looked close when looking up from the upper layer. The sun shone in the slightly cloudy sky color due to the magic elements drifting outside the city, pouring overflowing sunlight onto the ground. Receiving that light, the white-dominated upper city shone dazzlingly.

If she went straight on the large road, she could reach the center of the city. But where Noel should head was not the city center but the lower levels. She would turn left from here and head for the magic lift for NOL soldiers.

While letting the gold-colored hair spilling out from her hat shine in the sunlight, Noel took out a map of Kagutsuchi from the materials and spread it out. Seeing the overall view like this, she realized the size of this city once again.

''(Well then... for now, I'll go down as far as I can and then come up from there.)''

If possible, it would be best if she could find Jin immediately and he would obediently follow the order to return to base, but it was unlikely things would go so smoothly.

Her feet were likely to become heavy with worries about the future, but Noel lightly shook her head to refresh herself. There was no point in thinking only negatively. Now, she just needed to focus on what she should do, and take action as much as she could.

"...Be strong. I have to do my best."

After encouraging herself in a small voice, Noel raised her face and began to walk quickly through the upper city of Kagutsuchi.




There were red eyes watching every single part of that scene.

On the top of the management building, which was part of the 5th Port and had a large clock hanging, a small figure was gazing down at the bottom, on the roof decorated with delicate designs.

Wearing a black dress, a black bag on her shoulder, and her ribbon-like golden hair dancing wildly in the strong wind that traveled through the high sky, was Rachel Alucard. Her red eyes were fixed on the figure of the guard girl talking at the port.

"As I thought... that child is..." 

The words muttered from her innocent lips were carried away by the sharp whistling wind. It was a mutter that should not have reached anyone's ears. And yet... the man from the NOL who remained at the 5th Port suddenly turned back to Rachel. 

It was a man in a black suit. His name was... Hazama.

He looked up at Rachel nonchalantly and lifted his hat.

A grin, like a thin, deep slit, was carved on his lips. 

It was a sneer. Or rather, a mocking laugh.

It wasn't accidental. He was looking up at her accurately, and he knew who Rachel was... that's why he laughed.

It wasn't surprising. Rachel also knew. She knew who that man in the black suit was... and why he was laughing.

Because she understood, it was even more irritating.

"...I wonder what kind of stage you will show us this time?" Rachel whispered to the sneering man on the ground. Her voice wouldn't reach him. The wind would cut it apart and blow it away somewhere.

But the man turned on his heel at the perfect moment, as if he had been waiting for Rachel's words to finish, and left the 5th Port as if nothing had happened.

What remained was Rachel. She turned her gaze to the top of the high mountain where Kagutsuchi was located, while holding her umbrella on the roof. As if holding a sacred sword on the top of the mountain, a white and pure building towered there. The Kagutsuchi branch of the Novus Orbis Librarium. That was... the stage for the performance that was about to begin.


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