Mushi Uta:Volume 12 Chapter 1

1.00 Monma Makoto Part 1

Carrying her large sports bag on her back, Monma Makoto ran through Akamaki City.

“Haa, so busy.”

The city center was a mere shadow of its former self, but in other areas there was barely any damage. Buildings here and there were unscathed, and upon entering residential districts, she could see the figures of soldiers directing those citizens who hadn’t evacuated yet.

“Hey, you there! This area is already off limits, you have to—”

“Oh, right! I was just about to meet up with my family. I’ll leave soon!”

Waving her hand at an approaching soldier, Makoto left the scene.

He made a stringent face, but didn’t try to stop her by force.

As it should be.

After all, Monma Makoto was a middle schooler about to become a high schooler next year, so she was wearing a completely normal sailor uniform. She tied her long hair from behind with a rubber band in accordance with school regulations and also used a hairpin with beads that just slightly broke school regulations to hold her bangs. Her height was average, neither too tall nor short, and her cat-eyed face was covered in the sweat of fatigue.

Not matter how one looked, she was a middle schooler going home from club. —Well, due to the fact that evacuation had been recommended long ago this was an impossible scenario, though.

Almost no person noticed the average-looking Makoto. Of course, Makoto herself had no memory of ever trying to become anything other than a normal girl.

The cellphone in her pocket rang. She pressed the button while running.

“Yeees, hello?”

“Oh, we’re finally connected. Mako, you alright? I saw it on TV. Akamaki City’s having it rough.”

“Yeah, for real. Being told out of the blue that I gotta evacuate and having my phone not connect to anywhere because of all the disorder and stoppage of service… and there was this show I wanted to see tonight.”

“Aha, a show? More importantly, are you fine? You went there for your relative’s memorial service or something, right? Horrible timing.”

“I’m fine. Thanks though. —What’re they saying about Akamaki City on TV?”

While putting the phone against her ear, Makoto stopped in place. Glancing around her, she turned toward a certain hill in the high-class residential district.

“I can’t tell what’s happening at all. They were very loud at first on the news. ‘A sudden evacuation order from the government! What is the reason?!’ and the like. It was an uproar. They interviewed the people evacuating for TV, and apparently they’ve been taken by the military.”

“Eeep. That’s freaky. What else?”

“All transmissions from Akamaki City also stopped completely all of a sudden. They say there’s been a huge blackout. And that’s why some radio towers or communication facilities broke down… anyway, they’ve been unable to tell what was going on in Akamaki City, but this morning they finally started getting in contact with those who escaped outside—wait? How did I manage to reach you, Mako? Are you no longer in Akamaki City?”

“Right. It’s too scary so I got out first thing. I’m at the neighboring Higano City now.”

She spoke casually while running through Akamaki.

“Oh, good to hear that. Come back quickly now. Well, even if you come back, you’ll only study for entrance exams, though.”

“Haa, I only just quit but I already miss my golden age in basketball club. Even though I was always benched.”

“Ahaha.”

“Oh, sorry, I’ve got another call. Since my phone’s finally working, looks like a lotta people are worried.”

Saying goodbye to her friend, she took the second call—

“Hmm? Wait, you there! You need to evacuate—”

“Sorry! I’m going to ride a bus going out from that shelter over there!”

She slipped away with a vague excuse from yet another soldier who tried stopping her.

“Hello?”

“Oh, Makorisu, you’re alive.”

“I can’t die until I sell all those rare weapon drops.”

“Shit, I thought I’ll get better profits.”

“How dare you, old man.”

“I’m kidding. You told me you were going to Akamaki City on some errand, right? And you haven’t logged in since then. Are you seriously there right now?”

“No, I evacuated already. —Wait, is it fine for a 28-year-old salaryman to call a middle schooler at this hour?”

“My company’s on break. Or more like business is suspended here and there. Since Akamaki City’s getting evacuated and the army’s deployed many people would rather stay at home than go to school or work.”

“Hmm. How’s the net, by the way? The government’s definitely hiding something! Are people saying stuff like that? I can’t come online right now. Send my regards to the other hunters.”

“Yes, it’s more or less like that. Many network service providers suffered these communication failures, so it’s a real issue. I somehow managed to connect to an overseas server… but it’s bad even outside Japan.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Apparently even overseas there are communication issues… not only that, but several generators around the world mysterious stopped. They’re starting to wonder whether it’s somehow related to something going on in Japan, so it feels like we’re in real trouble.”

“Overseas too… huh.”

Makoto just narrowed her eyes. The tone of her conversation partner changed.

“Ha…? W-what’s that—”

“What’s wrong, Lindburg-san, quotation mark 28-years-old salaryman quotation mark?”

“N-no, I just wanted to know what’s going on in Akamaki City, so I got with my hacker buddy and thought about peeking into satellite images, but—the screen’s shining—s-something’s coming out—”

“Haa? There’s no way…!”

Makoto quickly brushed her throat with a finger. And she mumbled.

“—”

In a small enough voice so that the other party wouldn’t hear her.

But the moment after Makoto said that—

“Uwaaah! —Haa! Haa! What was that just now…? The hell…”

“Are you alright? What’s going on?”

“Y-yeah… something came out and was about to grab me… but it suddenly vanished…?”

“C’mon now, Lindburg. It’s a serious mental illness to dream about going into the 2D world. —Wait, never mind that, are you stupid? Don’t use your useless skills for crime! If you ever do that again I’ll block you and never talk to you again!”

“I got it. …But I’m worried.”

“Yeah, yeah, thank you. —I’ll call you again. Try to gather information within the realm of common knowledge. I don’t have much to tell you.”

Saying her goodbye, she cut the phone.

“Looks like they managed to hide more than I thought. …Even in this situation, I could say that’s expected of them.”

As she mumbled to herself, her cellphone rang again.

“Makoto-san, are you fine? You said you were going to Akamaki City, right?”

“Thank you very much for worrying about me. I am completely safe right now, but I am still at Akamaki City. I really have no idea what’s going on…”

“Really? Both the neighborhood association and the women’s association are worried. We’re always indebted to your volunteer work, is there anything we can do for you?”

“Thank you very much. I’m fine—oh, right. Doesn’t your hubby work for the city council? I’d like to know a bit about what the council hears about current events… yeah, since I’m still at Akamaki City I want to know a bit more about the situation—”

Even while running through Akamaki City, voices from the outside gathered around Makoto.

Normal households within the country who were just watching TV, people from her middle school, students, public servants, and even the rumors spreading abroad and news coverage. She heard any and all available information and shuddered.

“There’s too little information about Mushi and Mushitsuki…”

She couldn’t help but wear a bitter smile.

“It will get exposed before long, but to be able to control information to this extent in this day and age… she really is more of a monster than Mushitsuki, that Miguruma Yaeko.”

Her patrol around the high-class residential area would soon end as well. Since this was the final place she was going to check in the vicinity of Akamaki City, she was going to head back to the place agreed upon in advance.

“—Hmm?”

Makoto noticed a slight movement in her vision.

It was a three-story building, larger than the surroundings houses. She found a figure on the second floor.

A girl was lying on a couch resembling a hammock situated on a balcony. While vacantly looking up at the sky, she drank from a glass placed on the table.

“Excuse me!”

Jumping high and grabbing the tall fence, Makoto called toward the girl on the balcony.

“This area’s already been evacuated. Are you not going to get in trouble if you stay there?”

“Oh, yeah. I was just about to head out!”

Speaking in a casual tone, the girl raised her body. She looked to be about two or three years older than Makoto. She was tall, slim and had short-cut hair. A beauty who seemed like she’d gather the attention of girls more than men.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Yeah, completely fine, thanks!”

“Then let me show you to the nearest shelter!”

They spoke from afar, both cupping their mouths with their hands.

“No, it’s fine! I just ended up remembering one of my friends and got all melancholic!”

“You can just do that after you get to safety!”

“True! I just ended up remembering for some reason! She was a Mushitsuki!”

“Eh, a Mushitsuki!”

While answering with a smile, Makoto put her index finger ran against her throat.

A Mushitsuki. She was going to come to know of the risk of mouthing that keyword in this situation. From firsthand experience.

“Nah, I’m kidding! There’s no way Mushitsuki exist, after all!”

“Ahaha, I know right! I knew you weren’t serious!”

Makoto’s finger on her throat stopped in place.

So she was just a weirdo. Not someone who should be bothering Makoto at present state. She had no time for this, so Makoto climbed down the fence.

The family name “Saionji” was written on the house’s plate.

“I’ll be getting away first! You should evacuate soon, too!”

“Okey dokey!”

That frank response did not sound like it belonged to the kind of posh young lady living in this sort of place.

For now, having finished her stroll through all important districts, Makoto returned to the town center.

An area of office builds lying in mountains of rubble.

Among them was a large dome with a broken roof.

Cutting through the spacious parking lot that had cracked asphalt she was able to experience that size clearly. Even just the shop selling all sorts of merchandise before one entered the dome was several times as large as Makoto’s middle school.

As she finally approached the dome itself, heavily armed soldiers were guarding the entrance.

Makoto approached them casually and they naturally came to block her way.

“Hey, you. No entry allowed. You have to evacuate—”

The soldiers blocking her startled.

Reason being, Makoto brought out a coat from her bag and wore it. In addition to this multi-belted grey coat, she also equipped a large visor that covered half of her face.

They opened the path for her. —Makoto felt indignant about them acting as though they met some monster. She was as normal as normal can be; the real monsters were elsewhere.

Slipping between the stiff-faced soldiers, she entered the dome.

She rushed through the gloomy corridor lit only by emergency lights. Soldiers posted at standard intervals had heavy firearms hanging from their shoulders.

Finally exiting the corridor, she reached the dome’s center.

Spectator stands arranged in a staircase pattern 360 degrees all around them and a spacious sports ground with artificial grass.

It was packed full of boys and girls wearing different coats. Makoto rushed through the very center, heading toward a certain woman.

“So you are finally back.”

Turning to face her was a woman wearing a kind smile.

“You cut even your own break time in order to get information. You really are as diligent as always—”

That woman, Miguruma Yaeko, spoke as she looked at Makoto.

“Terasu.”

1.01 Monma Makoto Part 2

Monma Makoto had seen the place on TV before.

It was a national sports ground that could be used for baseball, soccer, tennis and the like by switching out the artificial grass and other equipment. Makoto was pretty sure she’d watched the soccer nationals.

This all-weather sports ground dome was packed with Mushitsuki to the brim.

It was the following day after the fight against Shinpu in Akamaki City and his subsequent defeat.

Other than those elites from the Central Headquarters and other branches who participated in the fight, there were probably combatants from all over the country gathered there. Here and there she could see familiar people from her district.

There was also a place for the wounded to lie down in, and a distribution center filled with equipment and food. Where Mushitsuki of the intelligence department gathered, electronic equipment was clustered together. Perhaps the underground generators were not enough, so carriable generators hummed in the sports ground’s corners.

The lighting was gloomy.

Blackouts in the city should have been dealt with for now. Even so they received no power from the outside, probably because they relied on the generators alone.

Immediately after entering the dome, she also saw Mushitsuki guarding the circumference. An ability of a kind like some barrier was used to shut out the entire dome from the outside, probably under Miguruma’s orders.

They were cautious of “outside enemies” to an abnormal degree—

That was Makoto’s impression.

Why would they so cowardly isolate themselves from the outside even when the entire country’s Mushitsuki gathered there?

The reason for that was probably had to do with the abilities of the enemy they were about to face.

“You realize that even without you going through the trouble of walking around, the intelligence department had already grasped the situation outside?”

Miguruma Yaeko grinned at Makoto.

Vice-Deputy of the SEPB, Miguruma Yaeko. —In essence, she was the woman who had control of the organization. She was a narrow-eyed woman who smiled constantly. Although she looked like a saint, all members feared her merciless capabilities and sly personality.

“This is my habit. I thought there’d be no issues if I used my own break time for this.”

Standing straight and upright, Makoto replied briskly like a soldier.

“It is not that I want to punish you or anything of the sort. Rather, I am glad. Because my love for you is being rewarded with your diligence. I have great expectations from you.”

“It is my honor, ma’am.”

Makoto was currently inside a tent installed at a corner of the dome.

It had a few hastily-installed monitors and the branch heads of every branch were gathered there. Other than the intelligence department members controlling the monitors and broadcasting equipment, there were only few Mushitsuki.

There was Terasu, aka Monma Makoto.

As well as Fuyuhotaru, and a girl who seemed to be her aide.

“…”

Makoto glanced at Fuyuhotaru.

Her middle-schooler-like baby face was tense and she sneaked peeks at Makoto’s face as well. Since her actual behavior didn’t seem tense, it made Makoto mad.

The surviving Rank 1… she should just die already—

She cussed in her heart, yet showed nothing on her face.

“So, what are your impressions, Terasu? How are things outside?”

“We have managed to conceal the present situation better than I expected. It was such a large-scale battle so I thought the country would be much more hectic… but never mind all the gag orders, opting to eliminate satellite monitoring at an early stage seemed to be effective. The electronic traps laid by the intelligence division also seem to have born fruits. —For now, anyway.”

Fuyuhotaru’s aide yawned upon hearing Makoto’s report. Not only did she have a bad taste in fashion, what with her wearing striped thighs, she constantly fiddled with her phone despite having a sleepy face. “Ah, I’m sooo sleepy, I hate waking up early, the reception’s bad…,” she muttered to herself.

“Indeed. Once they figure out we have tampered with each country’s satellites, we are sure to come under fire. Once our traps are exhausted, we will not be able to avoid information leaking out.”

Miguruma spoke calmly. With a tone as if she was about to pat Makoto’s head.

Meanwhile, those who never smiled at all were the adults standing near Miguruma. There was a white-haired suited man dressed richly and suited men who dressed a little less richly surrounding him.

“Hey! I heard nothing about that! Intervening with other militaries’ weapon systems is—”

“It has been approved, vice minister, sir.”

Miguruma smiled again. —Makoto knew the identity of this white-haired man because she saw him on television. She forgot what ministry he belonged to, but did remember he served as the vice minister.

“All missions related to concealing the existence of Mushi received the approvement of the relevant authorities. There are simply too many missions, so this particular case must have simply slipped from your mind.”

The vice minister was speechless.

“You can relax; everything is fine. Since Mushitsuki abilities barely leave any evidence, it will buy us some time.”

“B-buy us some time? And what about after that! If the international community starts blaming us—”

“Oh, that’s what you worry about. We will somehow handle that, too. We have a proper pipeline with intelligence agencies abroad, so if we give them some information about the untouchable Mushi, our noninterference agreement—which will expire a few months later—will probably be respected.”

The sleepy-looking cellphone girl opened her mouth.

“In that sense, it’s huge that you cut off satellite surveillance so quickly. If they can get information about Mushi that can do even that, the country’s top brass would rather monopolize the usage of it rather than reveal it to society at large.”

Hmm? But I heard there was no one in charge of brains in Mushibane…

Makoto now estimated the need for caution against this girl who was much calmer than her looks would indicate.

“Come to think of it, there were some people who negotiated with us Mushibane in an attempt to monopolize Mushi. It seems like all people who are good in calculating profits and losses always end up thinking the same.”

“Hehe, what a smart girl you are. I think I can love you as well.”

Miguruma narrowed her eyes, looking at the cellphone girl. Being faced with the “Smile of Shackles” that bound any person gazing on it with inescapable self-love, the girl shuddered. She hid behind Fuyuhotaru.

“A-as long as it poses no danger to our citizens, though.”

She was apparently smart, but not brave. Makoto lowered her risk assessment by one rank.

“That is how it is, vice minister. I will take all responsibility, so you can relax.”

Unable to say anything in reply, the vice minister kept silent.

Taking responsibility? So stupid—

Normally Mushi and Mushitsuki could never be managed by a single country. And yet there was a person who could perfectly manage them, shrug off any sort of interference be it domestic or foreign, and able to fully hide their existence even in the current situation.

Was she implying there was someone else able to do this other than Miguruma Yaeko herself?

The answer was no.

No matter the danger.

No matter what she schemed.

They couldn’t lose the person called Miguruma Yaeko. Because they knew that, the country would never eliminate her.

“How about we get down to business, Vice-Deputy.”

A mustached and bearded gentleman in his forties spoke while grinning.

He was North Central Branch Head, Takemi Takemasa. —He was also Makoto’s direct superior.

“Right, Branch Head Takemi.”

Miguruma returned his grin. Any discussion between the two always seemed like a farce.

A sudden image was suddenly shown on the monitor installed directly in front of them.

“…!”

She should have at least warned them beforehand.

Not only Makoto, but probably everyone other than Miguruma Yaeko thought the same.

It was only a short video with rough quality.

However, what she saw from that split instant—

“—”

All humans felt their blood drain and instinctively took a step back.

Makoto was no exception. She felt a shudder rise from the depths of her body.

Shown in the footage was an incomprehensible electronic device and a sea of control cables and power cables thicker than adult humans—

And in the center of that ocean lay a naked girl.

She was thin and her body was pale. She had loose, long hair. The only thing that could count as clothes was a tiara shaped like a crown on her forehead. She was lying down on a transparent, rectangular pedestal.

That girl, who seemed to be in her early teens—

Glared at them.

Pitch-black, wide eyes turned to the camera.

And—at the moment that the eyes grew larger and seemed to close in on the camera with a fish lens effect—the footage reversed back to the same girl lying inside the sea again.

It was just footage of a few seconds filled with static.

Even so, it was clearly abnormal.

The girl’s presence, the way her pitch-dark eyes moved as she stared from the other of the screen, could not be explained with any common sense. It was as if the girl’s very existence transcended time and space, appeared only as warped.

“—ah.”

Perhaps assaulted by nausea, several of the vice-minister’s aides held their mouths and looked down.

“This is the only footage we managed to salvage from the HQ occupied by Shinpu. This was taken at the deepest layer of the Underground Fort.”

So spoke the lone person who remained calm, Miguruma Yaeko.

No, it wasn’t just that she was calm. As she looked at the girl shown in the footage, Miguruma’s eyes were as kind as those of a mother watching her beloved child.

“Ultra Class Rank 1, C. —She is currently our greatest enemy, and a target for annihilation.”

All were speechless.

Only one person showed a different reaction there. It was Fuyuhotaru.

“This is—Erii…?”

Her grim expression seemed full not of fear, but terrible sadness.

Seeing Fuyuhotaru like that, Miguruma grinned.

“Ah, right, when you escaped the HQ once, C had been sent to you as an assassin. —And to think that you have returned to me and will participate in the strategy to defeat C as she is nestling deep within the Headquarters… ah, how fate twists in amusing ways.”

“Nothing about this is amusing…!”

With a pale face, the vice-minister hounded Miguruma.

“What is up with her…! Is she really—human?”

He spoke out what nearly all people there felt.

Makoto thought the same.

By seeing that abnormal figure even for just an instant—she felt a chill and was about to vomit.

In that footage she’d seen now—that girl was—no, that creature was—

“She is obviously not human.”

Miguruma grinned.

“She is but a normal—Mushitsuki.”

This time, everyone became speechless.

“C had belonged to the Central Headquarters experiment division. And the experiment she took part in was—using the fragments of one of the Original Three, Shinpu, to revive Fallen.”

Makoto, who’d watched the video, turned to Miguruma with such vigor that it was almost audible.

What did you just say…?

She heard an outrageous confession right now.

But since Miguruma was too calm about that, it took her a while to properly understand that.

“Unfortunately, though, C had then—”

“W-wait a mi—Vice-Deputy…?”

Branch Head of the South Central Branch was barely able to speak.

“S-Shinpu’s fragments…? Reviving Fallen…? I-I heard nothing about either of that, but what does that—”

“Leaving the experiment aside, I thought that it had already become known that we have had custody of Shinpu’s main body?”

Miguruma Yaeko looked puzzled.

T-this woman…!

Makoto nearly forgot herself and was almost about to yell.

So they hid one of the Original Three—

Who had learned of this fact until this moment? If this really was the truth, then all those people who were afraid of Shinpu until then—

She suddenly turned toward Fuyuhotaru.

Had Mushibane known of this?

Wearing a truly shocked face, the baby-faced girl exchanged glances with the cellphone girl at her side.

“Eh? The SEPB captured Shinpu? Wow, when did that happen!”

“I-I’ll explain later, Snow-san. This isn’t them capturing him, it’s something before that. I know this is you we’re talking about, but even you might flip out once you understand this…”

Their conversation didn’t appear to be staged. Apparently even Mushibane heard this for the first time.

“How unexpected. So does that mean—that only the East Central Branch knew about this?”

Miguruma blurted out yet another surprising fact.

Everyone’s gazes focused on the Acting East Central Branch Head.

Until then standing there wordlessly, Goroumaru Touko glanced at Miguruma Yaeko with insecure eyes.

“H-how many Mushitsuki do you think became victims until we found that out—”

Makoto felt shocked.

The East Central Branch knew the secrets of Central Headquarters. The only ones to have broken through Miguruma Yaeko’s plans of concealment were, of all people, the East Central Branch—

So that demon—Kakkou—knew about this too?

“T-that piece of shit—”

She unconsciously leaked this in a voice lower than a whisper.

“So he stayed silent about something so important…? H-how far had he—”

Makoto tried holding back her swelling rage.

“All of you, this is not good. You can be as many steps behind me as you’d like, but without the bare minimum of competence you will never win this upcoming battle, you realize?”

How many people there felt like killing Miguruma as she spoke so carefreely? Most, like the vice-minister or the branch heads, just stood there in shock.

“I will convey the details of the experiment conducted by C later to Terasu alone.”

Makoto shuddered at this unexpected designation.

The branch heads immediately lashed out.

“W-what! You tell nothing to us branch heads but to a combatant?”

“I have no choice but to do so. Although this is top-secret of the Central Headquarters alone, she must know this. Blaze Class Rank 2 member, Terasu—”

Miguruma looked at Makoto and spoke.

“I will put you in charge of the operation to annihilate C.”

Leaving aside the fact of her feeling weak-kneed due to the shock of Kakkou’s sudden dropping out, she had indeed imagined that she was going to be entrusted with an important mission. However, what she found unexpected about this was—

“I’m a Rank 2…?”

“Indeed, I will adjust the ranks of members in accordance to our strategy from now on. With you promoted to Rank 2, you are to take members such as fellow Rank 2 Kaguya or the newly-designated Rank 2 Kasuou and form a suicide corps with you in the lead.”

Suicide corps.

Seeing that footage just before, she realized that defeating that monster would be difficult. Facing that sort of thing would naturally mean risking one’s life.

“—Yes ma’am.”

Her mouth moved on its own, faster than she could think.

For some reason Fuyuhotaru interjected at that moment.

“W-wait a moment! Why do we have to beat that girl—Erii?”

With how flustered she was, it almost seemed like she was trying to defend C.

Makoto grimaced.

So annoying. Even though she’s a Rank 1, she’s really—

“She didn’t seem like a bad kid to me.”

“Currently, C is not herself. No—”

Miguruma smiled, turning to the monitor.

“That Mushitsuki is no longer even C.”

“What… do you mean?”

North Central Branch’s Branch Head Takemi asked. As expected, his usual amiable smile was gone.

“I cannot give you any further details about the experiments conducted on C—but the goal was to save Fallen Mushitsuki. I wanted to revive those who were defeated midway to their dream… when I thought of this, a large hint appeared.”

Miguruma turned away from the footage, looking at Fuyuhotaru.

“Due to Oogui’s interference, Fuyuhotaru had been able to revive from the Fallen state.”

Fuyuhotaru lightly bit her lips.

The fact she didn’t look surprised was surprising for Makoto. Almost as if the girl knew she was related to that experiment.

“Based on that, I had a certain hypothesis. —Perhaps the Original Three can call back those who have Fallen…”

“…!”

All branch heads looked shocked at this.

“However, it is nearly impossible to capture and restrain Oogui when we can’t tell when and where she would appear. Therefore, I thought of an experiment using one of the Original Three. The Original Three that had been kept by Central Headquarters due to certain circumstances… we used Shinpu to conduct clinical experiments.”

Makoto grimaced.

In summary, they conducted human experiments using the Original Three. Miguruma’s earlier pretext of “saving the Fallen” was shameless.

“Despite being in our custody, Shinpu was still dangerous. We were unable to restrain him. However, we were able to use fragments of his power.”

It was crystal clear.

Miguruma Yaeko spoke of these experiments with a kind and cheerful disposition.

She was undoubtedly having so much fun playing with Mushitsuki—like some great demon lord.

“C’s ability is the control of electricity. It is the optimal ability to connect people’s brains—that are controlled by electrical signals—with Shinpu’s supernatural ability to control corpses.”

Miguruma boldly recited how she went far past the human domain in her deeds.

“C’s duties were the following. To make the Fallen recall their memory and thus recall their dreams as Mushitsuki—meaning, revive them. To restrain the power of one of the Original Three, Shinpu. Finally, to persist in her own activities.”

“So why did this happen?”

Goroumaru Touko stared at Miguruma, full of hatred.

Thinking about it, Makoto heard that C had used to belong to the East Central Branch. She could have been Touko’s past comrade.

“C’s abilities were powerful beyond our wildest imagination. And I am not talking about just my own hypothesis; probably even C herself never thought this far. Her extremely powerful ability—attempted to swallow even Shinpu’s main body through the Fragments.”

“Th…this is entirely your blunder!”

Miguruma smiled and nodded at the agitated vice-minister.

“You are absolutely correct. I do apologize.”

“—!”

“Unable to fully escape from her, Shinpu was absorbed by C. Right now, she holds something like the crystallization of herself and Shinpu’s power, creating vast amounts of energy.”

“Absorbed Shinpu…? B-but we defeated Shinpu yesterday!”

Makoto raised her voice without thinking.

They paid dearly for that; even she herself nearly died, and—Kakkou also became Fallen. The end of this mortal combat was supposed to be the defeat of one of the Original Three, Shinpu.

And yet—

“That is both Shinpu and not Shinpu.”

Miguruma sneered. Completely ignoring Makoto’s grief.

“C had been driven out right after taking in this power. What remains is no more than the remnants of an unneeded personality.”

“—”

“After that, C’s own personality was destroyed. I believe this was definitely not self-destruction, but simply the process evolved from the need to hold back such immense power.”

This time she really—no, but she thought this many times before.

Anyway, she could hear the sounds of something breaking within the hearts of everyone there other than Miguruma.

“Due to the above, you can certainly say that the being called Shinpu has been annihilated. However, after absorbing Shinpu’s powers C continues operating. Seeing how her electrical signals started spreading to the entire country—she continues her mission even now.”

No one could utter a sound.

“Restraining the Original Three. —Meaning, she will kill Oogui and Sanbikime to take in their powers.”

Saying this and falling silent was perhaps Miguruma’s first actually kind action. If they were presented with any further new troubles, Makoto was unsure if she could keep her sanity.

In actuality, it took everyone in the tent a while to return to their senses.

“That kind of monster… is below us even now…?”

The vice-minister looked at his own feet.

The Central Headquarters’ Fortress existed in the vast depths of Akamaki City—

“W-we need to bomb it—”

“The deepest layer where C resides is too deep for bombs to reach. Also, her tentacles keep on reaching all over. By encroaching from paths normally impossible, it is possible for her to reach even defense installations. If she figures out weapons are directed at her, she might control them after being launched… and who knows what happens then. Even if you dispatched regular military forces, their weapons will be rendered ineffective by abnormal electrical signals.”

Miguruma quickly shut it off.

The branch heads also started making suggestions.

“If she is out of control, will she not just self-destruct with time?”

“There is no loss of control. She is completely normal. Because she has erased her personality to achieve this stability.”

“We can also just wait and see what happens without unnecessarily provoking her…”

“If we leave it like this, it will reach the point of no return. The more time passes, the stronger she shall become. After all, she controls the medium of electricity.”

Miguruma spoke in the tone of a mother boasting about her child.

“As long as electricity exists in this world, her power will continue to grow.”

Every time Miguruma joined words into a sentence, despair only increased—

“There is another factor related to her becoming more dangerous with time—but just like I said before, I will talk about this to Terasu alone.”

She needed no more information.

Makoto already reached a certain conclusion in her heart.

“O-once this is all over, be prepared. —The death penalty is always an option.”

Miguruma repelled the vice-minister’s full-blown threat with a grin.

“Is that a joke? All SEPB members are constantly in that danger.”

Exactly so. It was the members of the SEPB who couldn’t even tell if they were going to live by tomorrow or not. An outsider only watching them simply knew too little about Mushi and Mushitsuki.

“Now, Terasu. I would like to hear your opinion. Do you think we can beat C?”

“It’s impossible—”

How should she say that?

Although she supposedly hesitated, her mouth moved on its own. Since she went ahead and said it, she held her mouth.

I mean, it’s obvious, isn’t it—

She had too many things she wanted to say and didn’t know where to start.

Not only were they exhausted after the fight against Shinpu, they even lost Kakkou—unfortunately, that Rank 1 was gone. They simply lacked fighting power.

“Ah, no, I-I mean…”

“I really am glad I chose you. Looks like you are still rational.”

Miguruma grinned.

“Eh?”

“Other than the suicide corps led by you for the mission of annihilating C, I have prepared something else.”

Miguruma spoke toward Makoto and all those who were hit by despair.

“We will create two plans for C’s annihilation. —And I have already mobilized the second one.”

“A second plan…?”

Miguruma softly stroked Makoto’s chin as the latter furrowed her brows.

“I love you so much, so I will definitely not let you rush to your deaths helplessly, right? I have prepared a new fighting force to assist you—right, a new leader instead of Kakkou.”

A new leader instead of Kakkou—

Miguruma looked happy at seeing them all widen their eyes.

“It is time for Sleeping Beauty to wake from her slumber.”

1.02 Monma Makoto Part 3

…Sleeping Beauty?

This title was unfamiliar to Makoto.

However, the only ones who looked puzzled were Makoto and Fuyuhotaru. The branch heads—and for some reason the cellphone girl who was Fuyuhotaru’s aide—all gasped.

Goroumaru Touko especially had her expression change.

“I oppose! We mustn’t do that!”

“And why is that? Acting Branch Head Goroumaru.”

“You ask why…?! You are surely also aware of the reason, Vice-Deputy! Waking her up means—”

Touko tried speaking but then bit her lips. She looked hesitate to keep speaking as if the mere act of continuing her words was going to cast a curse.

“Excuse me, who’s Sleeping Beauty?”

Makoto asked her superior, Branch Head Takemi.

The man looked at Miguruma. Confirming from her narrow eyes that she wasn’t going to stop him, he spoke with a complex expression.

“If I use the name Spear-Type or Spear User, surely you’ll understand? —She’s the final Rank 1.”

“The final Rank 1…?”

While caught in surprise, her voice overlapped with Fuyuhotaru’s. As she glared at Fuyuhotaru, the girl averted her eyes apologetically.

Practically every Mushitsuki heard the rumors that there were five Rank 1s.

Kakkou, Fuyuhotaru, Lady Bird, Harukiyo—and Spear User.

If so, then she definitely heard about her. However, as far as Makoto knew, Spear User had died in some unknown fight. It was also said that Kakkou killed her, and it was impossible to know the truth about the matter.

The Rank 1 called Spear User was gone. —At the very least this was the common knowledge.

“Is Spear User still alive?”

“I heard that she’s in a coma and will never wake up. But judging from the Vice-Deputy’s words, that’s apparently wrong.”

“Terasu and Branch Head Takemi, the answer to both your doubts is a definite ‘yes’. The Rank 1 called Spear User still lives, and waking her up is not impossible. It is simply that a small problem will present itself upon her waking.”

“A-a small problem? This isn’t at the level of—”

Touko refused to back down, but Miguruma looked at her calmly.

“There should only be few people aware of that problem, including me and Kakkou… but you seem to be aware of it, Acting Branch Head Goroumaru.”

“Ugh,” Touko groaned.

Kakkou again…!

Makoto was angry. Still, this was the East Central Branch Head. There was no longer any doubt that they were in possession of a few secrets not even the other branch heads were aware of.

Did Kakkou—that man look down on mediocre Mushitsuki like Makoto because he knew what normal Mushitsuki didn’t?

If that was so—it wasn’t enough for him to end just as a Fallen. She felt like she wanted to rip him apart with her bare hands.

“Sleeping Beauty was a Fusion-Type Mushitsuki as well as a Minion-Type Mushitsuki.”

Miguruma spoke suddenly as if telling them a riddle.

“Nowadays not many know of it—or rather don’t need to, but she has lost a certain battle and fell asleep. And although she lost, during that fight she managed to join forces with the other Rank 1s and fought alongside them.”

“The Rank 1s… combined forces?”

This was something she couldn’t quite imagine. Makoto almost snorted without thinking.

“Indeed. Leaving the Fallen Fuyuhotaru aside—Kakkou, Harukiyo, Lady Bird and Spear User. —Under Spear User’s command, although for an instant, she made it come true.”

“…Eh?”

Made it come true?

That was what Miguruma just said?

“Oh, I slightly misspoke, actually. Lady Bird alone did not attend the fight, going her separate way a little before it. Apparently at the time she went to save some innocent Mushitsuki who were being attacked by the SEPB.”

“I-incredible… there was a person like that?”

Fuyuhotaru looked innocuously amazed.

However, next to her, the cellphone girl widened her eyes.

“—How do you know that…?”

Everyone’s gazes focused on the girl.

“Lady Bird was about to participate in that battle until the very last moment—even in Mushibane barely anyone knows that. Kakkou would never tell someone like you…”

“You have a point. Why do I know, I wonder?”

Miguruma narrowed her eyes and tilted her head.

“—”

The cellphone girl froze for a moment—then took an intake of breath and raised her brows.

“Y-you—”

Wearing a face full of anger, the girl was about to leap at Miguruma.

“Why you…!”

Makoto reflexively held at her throat and reached her other hand toward the girl.

“Sense Isolation!”

“—Gyah!”

Repelled to the side, the girl trembled as if something hit her.

“Lucifera-san!”

The flustered Fuyuhotaru rushed to her side, but the cellphone girl’s rage did not subside. Although affected by Makoto’s ability, she was trying to crawl to Miguruma, her face a mask of fury.

“Y-you biiitch! So you’re the one who invited Lady Bird?! Do you have any idea how many Mushibane members died there?! How many became Fallen…?!”

“Lucifera-san! What on earth are you talking about…! What are you saying—ah, you stop this too, please!”

Fuyuhotaru tried breaking between Makoto and Lucifera or whatever her name was, but Makoto couldn’t stop. She didn’t know what was going on, but Lucifera was clearly trying to attack the Vice-Deputy.

“If she only…! If only Lady was there, we wouldn’t have been wiped out like that…! And after so many were lost in the battle, Mushibane ended up like this…! Otherwise, Lady wouldn’t have had to shoulder everything by herself…!”

This didn’t look like a normal loss of control. As Lucifera shed tears, Miguruma directed her smile of shackles at her.

“Why do you know that? That is my question.”

“…!”

“Only very few people know of that fight, and almost all of Lady’s comrades, that could be called the ancestors of Mushibane, should have died or turned Fallen. —And yet how are speaking of it as if you were related or close to this? Or have you intentionally investigated Spear User?”

Lucifera’s face twitched and froze.

“It seems like not even the current leader, Fuyuhotaru, knows anything about this. For you to know so much about the importance of that battle—I doubt someone of your caliber had been able to decipher so much about it.”

“I-I…”

“Vice-Deputy Miguruma.”

As Miguruma approached the collapsed Lucifera, Goroumaru Touko called to stop her.

“Is what you said true?”

A lone streak of tears fell from Touko’s right eye. Her shoulders were shaking.

“You have—obviously heard about this from Kakkou, Acting Branch Head Goroumaru.”

“T-this is unbelievable… what have you done…”

“Has he been telling you something so cowardly as well? That you would have won, had only Lady been there?”

“Obviously not…! Kakkou would never say something like this even if you ripped his mouth open! But it’s actually—”

“Can you please explain it so we’d understand too?”

Hearing such an incomprehensible conversation—and it unfolding with some relation to Kakkou—she couldn’t hold back anymore. Makoto put strength into her hand directed to Lucifera.

“Also, give me an order what to do with this woman. —If I act any further, there’s the risk of turning Fuyuhotaru into an enemy as well.”

Makoto glared at Fuyuhotaru and was glared back. Completely changed from before, the baby-faced girl’s expression was transforming. She had no idea how Fuyuhotaru was going to act if she didn’t release Lucifera.

“Please do release her. I believe it is alright now. Right, Fuyuhotaru?”

“Lucifera-san, stay put…”

Seeing the girl drooping her head, Makoto released the restraining caused by her ability. Lucifera still looked like she couldn’t hold back her anger, but she gritted her teeth and endured it.

“There is no meaning in discussing that battle right now. To summarize, Sleeping Beauty took part in a certain fight and lost. After this, she had fallen asleep along with a very powerful Mushitsuki in order to seal him.”

The branch heads frowned. Branch Head Takemi then inquired for all of them.

“And that powerful Mushitsuki is?”

“—The Undying Mushitsuki.”

Miguruma said.

The tent full of clamor became as silent as death again.

Branch Head Takemi’s expression stiffened.

“Undying…? What does that mean?”

“Just like the name implies, an immortal Mushitsuki.”

Miguruma smiled.

Touko wiped her tears and glared at Miguruma.

“If Sleeping Beauty wakes up, the Undying Mushitsuki will, too.”

“There’s no issue there. After all, he—the Undying—is not our enemy.”

“But it means that Oogui will regain the ability of Undying again.”

Touko said in a plain tone.

What on earth is going on…?

The Acting Branch Head called Goroumaru Touko was incompetent. —So Makoto heard. She heard that she was installed as a mere figurehead instead of the previous competent Branch Head.

However, this woman actually knew the Central Headquarters’ secrets that no one else knew, and she was now glaring at the Vice-Deputy with a face full of new determination.

“Please watch your mouth, Acting Branch Head Goroumaru. If you were to reveal any more secrets—”

“Oogui can use the abilities of all Mushitsuki she created.”

Just like that.

Goroumaru Touko spat out something unbelievable again.

Makoto’s vision shook.

Oogui—could use the abilities of all Minion Types?

If that was true, then the current Oogui—

“—”

Looking at Fuyuhotaru, she too was speechless.

If Oogui could use the abilities of Minion Types, then naturally—it meant that she could also use Fuyuhotaru’s ability.

Even just that was bad enough.

Adding the ability of the Undying or whatever to that—

“Thanks to Sleeping Beauty the possibility to defeat Oogui was born. She had sacrificed herself to give us that chance. —But if the Undying wakes up, Oogui will once again become an immortal being.”

Touko’s words reverberated inside Makoto’s mind.

What did I even know until now…?

Nothing at all.

Although gathering intel was supposedly her specialty, she only knew very little of the truth of Mushi.

On the other hand, Touko—no, the East Central Branch—knew many truths.

And they were definitely not easy to obtain. Just like Goroumaru Touko said before, many Mushitsuki had fought and sacrificed themselves to finally gain these truths.

What on earth have we been fighting against this far…?

An indescribable sense of defeat overwhelmed Makoto.

“Acting Branch Head Goroumaru Touko. —After this operation, I will have you demoted.”

Miguruma’s smile of shackles turned to Touko.

“Understood.”

Touko just accepted it as it was.

Nodding in satisfaction, Miguruma turned back to the other branch heads.

“From what Acting Branch Head Goroumaru Touko said, we can kill two birds with one stone.”

“…?”

“We will regain Sleeping Beauty as a fighter instead of Kakkou, and Oogui will regain the ability of the Undying. Meaning, it will become impossible for C to absorb Oogui.”

The branch heads gasped.

Miguruma certainly had a point.

They had no idea who that Sleeping Beauty was, but if they were to gain someone on the same level as Kakkou, they might have a chance against C. On top of that, the nightmarish situation of C absorbing Oogui and becoming even more powerful would be gone.

Also, Miguruma said that the Undying Mushitsuki wasn’t their enemy.

If all went well, perhaps even he would become their ally.

That would be enough—

“Isn’t that messed up?!”

The one to raise an objection was unexpectedly Fuyuhotaru herself.

“Saving an Original Three to defeat a Mushitsuki… that’s obviously messed up!”

Makoto had certainly seen it.

When Miguruma Yaeko heard Fuyuhotaru’s words, her brows twitched ever so slightly.

“I am opposed. If Rina—if Lady was here, she would definitely oppose this as well. Even Kakkou-kun! Also… I’m sure that Sleeping Beauty as well!”

Helping the Original Three to defeat a Mushitsuki was putting the cart before the horse.

That was a fair argument. An argument that none of them noticed due to how Miguruma explained the whole thing. Just like Fuyuhotaru said, if the past Rank 1s were there, they would probably oppose to this.

However, Makoto couldn’t help but grow angry upon hearing Fuyuhotaru’s lines.

“And what’s wrong with that?”

Makoto spat as she glared at Fuyuhotaru.

“The ones here right now are us. The voices of those who aren’t present hold no meaning.”

“…!”

As Fuyuhotaru was silenced, Miguruma Yaeko grinned at her.

“Since you are so insistent on that, have you any better suggestions, Fuyuhotaru?”

“We’ll defeat Oogui!”

Huuuh?

Makoto unconsciously raised a stupid-sounding voice.

Everyone but Miguruma—even Fuyuhotaru’s own ally Lucifera—made a similar face.

“If we beat Oogui, C shouldn’t be able to absorb her.”

“That is right. Are you able to beat Oogui right away, then?”

Miguruma asked the natural question arising from this.

“W-well…”

Fuyuhotaru hesitated.

“You cannot, right? Also—it is too late.”

“Eh?”

“The die is cast. I have already dispatched a team to wake Sleeping Beauty.”

“Wha—”

Fuyuhotaru became speechless.

The branch heads and Makoto were also shocked.

It would be no exaggeration to say that the entire forces of the SEPB were gathered in this dome right now. Never mind any leftovers, there shouldn’t have been any combatants able to handle such an important mission.

“Sleeping Beauty is a Rank 1. Therefore, the one sent to greet her should be at least of that level.”

Seeing Miguruma smile, the dazed Touko opened her mouth.

“S-surely you don’t mean…”

Miguruma giggled and spoke.

“Harukiyo.”

Makoto and the rest gulped.

The flame devil, Harukiyo. Especially elusive among the Rank 1s, he was a Mushitsuki rumored to be as senseless as a natural disaster. It was said that wherever he appeared, nothing would remain but ashes—

If that was true, Makoto couldn’t stay silent.

“You sent Harukiyo to Sleeping Beauty…? I-if that’s a possibility, I believe it would’ve been better to add him to the forces fighting against C in the first place.”

“A reasonable suggestion, Terasu.”

Miguruma looked at Makoto, nodding gently.

“However, he holds no interest in C. Therefore, he will never be able to work with you. On the other hand, if it is about Sleeping Beauty—he would wake her up no matter what. Because he had been looking for her for a long time now.”

Judging from Miguruma’s tone, she apparently had some sort of connection with Harukiyo.

So the rumor of Harukiyo operating under the Vice-Deputy was true, then—

Makoto’s information network—she’d already lost confidence in it these last few minutes, but anyway—picked up the rumor that Harukiyo belonged to the Annihilators. The Annihilators were a unit of assassins serving directly under Vice-Deputy Miguruma.

Adding to Kakkou, even Harukiyo was under her control.

And now, even Fuyuhotaru…

As Makoto looked at the baby-faced girl, the latter bit her lips with a hard expression.

“If that’s right… then I really do have to defeat Oogui.”

She always looked weak, but held enough strength to be able to look back at Miguruma.

“Before this person called Harukiyo wakes up Sleeping Beauty-san. And—”

She felt as if she saw those eyes somewhere—

Her eyes tickled Makoto’s memories. Right, the person who made her awfully angry—

“Before the Undying Mushitsuki is revived and turns Oogui immortal.”

“Hehe, you sound so reliable, Fuyuhotaru. Harukiyo would surely wake Sleeping Beauty soon. In my estimation, within a few days… no, perhaps in two more days.”

“…”

“Do you have the means with which to defeat Oogui within that timeframe?”

Fuyuhotaru was at a loss for words.

She obviously didn’t.

It was impossible to tell when and where Oogui was going to appear. On top of that, it was now clear that she was an absolute monster, being able to wield the abilities of all Minion Types. Until now she had remained undefeated and ate people’s dreams as she pleased. Although there was now a need to beat that monster, there couldn’t be any way to do so immediately.

“You do not, right? Therefore, I will have you and Mushibane also be part of the suicide corps—”

“You can’t, Snow-san. This might be a trap, too.”

Cutting in this was the cellphone girl called Lucifera.

“Kakkou’s a Fallen and Harukiyo’s also conveniently sent to that Sleeping Beauty’s place—it’s too dangerous for you to act according to this woman’s wishes. At worst, there’s the possibility that all Rank 1s will be gone.”

Lucifera glared at Miguruma with naked hostility.

All of the Rank 1s would die.

With the situation being what it was, there was nothing more exhilarating for Makoto.

After all, all of them were definitely proud bastards just like Kakkou—

“It is unfortunate that you don’t understand my love, but this is not the time to move based on emotions. Fuyuhotaru—you actually do understand, right?”

“There is a way.”

Lucifera blurted.

While everyone raised their brows, Miguruma asked her without erasing her smile.

“What do you mean by that?”

“We know of a way to draw Oogui to us—that’s what I’m saying!”

Miguruma remained silent.

—She’s bluffing.

Including Makoto, everyone there thought the same.

As proof of that, Lucifera’s face stiffened and she began sweating abnormally. Her hand holding the cellphone was slightly shaking.

“Is that true, Fuyuhotaru? What method do you have?”

“Asking her won’t help you. Ah, but I’m not going to tell people like you.”

Fuyuhotaru returned her glance with an imploring gaze.

Seeing the girl who was clearly putting on a brave front, Fuyuhotaru turned back to Miguruma.

“If she says so, then it’s true.”

She spoke in a clear tone without any doubts.

“Is that so?”

Miguruma covered her mouth with her hand, giggling.

What a stupid façade. They needed to ignore that nonsense, add them to the suicide corps formed against C and give them orders already—

“Understood. Then Mushibane will work alone.”

“Eh?”

The voices of surprise coming from Makoto and the branch head were beautifully coordinated.

And Makoto was especially flustered. It was her life on the line here.

“W-wait a minute, Vice-Deputy! They’re definitely lying about them having a way to defeat Oogui! At this rate, we’re going to be challenging C with even less forces than what we had while fighting Shinpu…! And she’s a monster who absorbed even Shinpu!”

“Calm down, Terasu. Everything is fine, your role is to clear up the way to C’s defeat. By removing all the obstacles on the way there, you see.”

What the…?

I heard nothing about that, though?

Obstacles on the way to C? What’s standing in our way other than C?

“By the time you reach C, Sleeping Beauty and Harukiyo will probably be joining you. Also, whether she’s beaten Oogui or given up, Fuyuhotaru and Mushibane will likely join, too. —Isn’t that right, Fuyuhotaru?”

Miguruma looked to the side.

As Makoto also looked at Fuyuhotaru, the baby-faced girl nodded strongly at Makoto.

The heck—

Then that’s almost as if—

“N-no way… we’re—”

Nothing more than a stepping stone for these Ranks 1s, then—

Makoto barely managed to swallow the words about to come out of her throat.

It was far too ridiculous and she felt dizzy. They weren’t even suicide corps.

She could only think of it as a stupid plan, to divide their forces in front of a powerful enemy. There was no way a tactician as brilliant as Miguruma Yaeko wouldn’t realize that—

“With these three operations, let us head to annihilate C who’s slumbering in the Underground Fort’s deepest layer.”

Miguruma Yaeko looked up at the footage of C swimming in static.

“Operation 1, led by Terasu, will consist of an assault of C’s main body, namely an annihilation operation.”

Next, she pointed to her feet.

“Operation 2. The awakening of Sleeping Beauty by Harukiyo.”

Finally came Fuyuhotaru.

“Operation 3. Fuyuhotaru and Mushibane will annihilate Oogui.”

Among all those in the pavilion, Makoto alone was completely dazed as she listened to Miguruma’s voice.

This’s messed up. It’s so messed up—

Why had no one other than Makoto noticed how unnatural this operation was?

“After completing these aforementioned operations to block C from any further evolution, Sleeping Beauty, Fuyuhotaru, Harukiyo and the combined forces of the SEPB will strike C’s main body at the same time. —The time limit is until Harukiyo manages to wake up Sleeping Beauty… in 48 hours.”

In the end, it meant that they could only rely on Rank 1s.

The hatred within Makoto simmered and swelled, making it hard for her to hold it back.

Everyone’s looking down on me—

Although they were all Mushitsuki, there were Rank 1s and unranked.

No, did it perhaps mean that the outrageous strength of Rank 1s drove the SEPB—or rather the entirety of the Mushitsuki population—utterly crazy?

“All branch heads are to organize their forces in one hour while leaving Mushitsuki assigned to Operation 1 to Terasu. As for Operation 2, Harukiyo has already mobilized. Operation 3 is to move at the earliest convenience. Let us constantly report the situation to each other through the intelligence division. —Terasu, there is a matter that I need to discuss with you, so you are to remain here.”

The final battle that might affect not just their country but possibly the entire world was starting.

And the signal for this start—

Was announced by Miguruma Yaeko’s kind smile.

“Start operation.”

The branch Heads, Fuyuhotaru and the other girl, as well as the vice-minister and his aides all left the tent.

Not even ten seconds later, Makoto remained alone in the tent with Miguruma. Even the intelligence division members that operated the communication equipment vanished at some point.

“Now, Terasu. I think it is time I explain the mission’s details to you, including C’s abilities and the reason we can spare no time.”

Miguruma approached Makoto, who stood there as stiff as a doll.

What mission?

We’re nothing more than vanguards clearing the way for the Rank 1s, just a stepping stone.

Why’re everyone constantly yapping about Rank 1 this, Rank 1 that—

“One thing I need to say before that. Terasu… I really have great expectations from you, you know? Your mission completion rate is at the top, around the same as Kakkou, and your ability is also exceedingly powerful. Therefore—”

Since Makoto completely lost her motivation, Miguruma’s words didn’t enter her ears.

However…

Hearing her next sentence, Makoto felt as if her body was struck by lightning.

“In the event you succeed on this operation to annihilate C—I will acknowledge you as a Rank 1.”

“—”

These words really were shocking.

For a second, she didn’t understand what she was told.

“Eh…?”

As Makoto raised a befuddled face, Miguruma Yaeko’s slender fingers stroked her chin.

With a smile like that of a mother cherishing her own child, Miguruma spoke.

“This will be an unprecedented large battle. Isn’t it obvious for someone who succeeds in it to become Rank 1?”

“…”

She shuddered, feeling a sudden tension as though she was freefalling.

As the meaning of the words permeated her, she was then conversely assaulted by a sensation of floating, losing all feeling in her legs.

“I’m—I’m not really interested in—”

Makoto hated the Rank 1s.

More than anything else, she hated the Mushitsuki called Kakkou. Loathed him, even.

Therefore, she had no interest in becoming like him—

“You are being modest. However, regardless of your own will, it will be this way. After all, you will be one of the Mushitsuki to close the curtain on this battle, when even Kakkou himself couldn’t help but retire midway through.”

Not even once had she considered—that this was within reach for her.

Her heartrate leapt.

“If Operation 2 and 3 have no progress after these 48 hours, I will send only you and your team to face C. Let us think together of a way for you to win if that happens.”

Kakkou, Fuyuhotaru, Lady Bird, Harukiyo, Sleeping Beauty.

Although she hated them, their names were widespread among Mushitsuki. Their legends were simply that terrific, and while everyone was scared of them, it was also a kind of admiration.

Was it really possible for Makoto—for Terasu—to be added to that list of names?

“I love how loyal you are. Will you live up to my love as well?”

With her sleek and yet unfathomably cold fingers, Miguruma Yaeko stroked Makoto.

And Makoto—

“Y-yes ma’am…”

She grabbed back that hand and put in on her own cheek.

1.03 Monma Makoto Part 4

Makoto left the tent no more than ten minutes after she remained there alone with Miguruma.

There were still many Mushitsuki packed inside the dome. However, as the final battle was soon to commence, everyone ran around in a hurry.

“…”

After walking a few seconds away from the tent, Makoto stopped.

She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t even sigh.

The truths Miguruma spoke in front of the branch heads.

The experiments that took C as a medium and the truth of the Central Headquarters having hidden Shinpu. The final Rank 1, Sleeping Beauty. —As well as Oogui’s true ability and so forth. These were all things Makoto never knew.

Also, the fact that the East Central Branch alone managed to dig out these secrets on their own was an additional shock. No, rather than the branch, it was more like Kakkou’s achievement. What had they been thinking of and what had they been fighting against? Makoto was overwhelmed by the mere thought of this and the realization of how miniscule she was. This stage was completely different than the one she had been fighting on this far.

And this pathetic Makoto—

“I’m probably… gonna die in this fight.”

She mumbled.

Makoto had remained in the tent and had been given even more despair by Miguruma Yaeko.

A few secrets regarding C.

Various truths that, were she to speak of them in front of the branch heads, would create a panic for sure. Even they might lose their will to fight and realize they were helpless. Because she knew that, Miguruma had conveyed those facts to Makoto alone.

“Despite me working so hard to survive until now…”

She never thought she was someone special. Not even once.

The stronger a Mushitsuki was, the stranger they were. Their way of living and even speaking held the reason for their strength.

On the other hand, Monma Makoto had nothing that made her stand out.

If she took off her equipment, she was just a middle schooler. She was definitely no beauty, and not really skilled either. It wasn’t as if she was terribly athletic as well. She wasn’t so smart, either. She had no unwavering beliefs, and she didn’t hate matching herself to others.

This kind of normal Mushitsuki had somehow made it up to Rank 2—

Tempted by the bait called Rank 1, she became the commander of the century’s largest battle.

“Won’t someone praise me right now… Telling me I’ve done a good work this far…”

As Makoto smiled self-derisively, she heard a voice from the side.

“Terasu!”

It was her boss, North Central Branch Head Takemi. He rushed to Makoto and ruffled her hair roughly.

“Good job!”

He was a middle-aged man with a curved beard and an amiable smile.

“You being in charge of a battle of this scale is huge! It means that you’ve been acknowledged as one of the most superior Mushitsuki in the SEPB!”

While being completely at his mercy, Makoto wore a bitter smile.

Her unpleasant boss acted like everyone’s friend, was mean, didn’t know his limits, was ambitious, was a coward, was smooth-tongued, was deeply envious, and never cared about anyone—but she didn’t hate the fact that he gave honest praises when there were results.

Even if it was different from what she wanted, even if those were empty praises.

“Hah, thanks. It only means that Kakkou and those East Central Branch guys aren’t there, though.”

“That’s exactly why. When this fight ends, our branch’s influence should grow accordingly.”

Takemi smiled wide, looking to be in a good mood.

Usually he’d annoy her, but in this situation, he was actually conversely so funny that she lost all tension. Apparently, he was convinced that all of his branch’s Mushitsuki including Terasu were going to return from this battle safe and sound.

“Oh, branch head. The vice minister and all those other people are coming here. Should we leave?”

She saw the same vice minister who was at the tent before walking to them.

“No, they seem to have something to talk about with you. I’ll be the one excusing myself.”

Saying this, Takemi put a hand on Makoto’s shoulder. —She’d been thinking this for a while, but in a normal workplace this amount of physical contact would count as sexual harassment.

“Tell me later what they said. You don’t have to follow their orders.”

He whispered in her ears with shrewd eyes. His face was close.

“You’ll do great. I’m expecting a lot of you.”

“Sure, like always.”

She’d been thinking she was lucky to not be a beauty like Lady Bird. If she was that beautiful, she couldn’t tell what this man would’ve done to her.

Takemi left and in exchange she was surrounded by the vice minister and his followers.

One of the aides started speaking without any prelude.

“Special Environmental Preservation Bureau North Central Branch member, Terasu. Real name, Monma Makoto. You were born in… and became a Mushitsuki while 12 years old. After you’ve repelled 35 of the SEPB’s assassins, you were finally captured by the cooperation of Kakkou as well as Asagi. After receiving training, you were admitted as a SEPB member and attached to the North Central Branch. Following this, your mission completion rate was 94%. You were always loyal and caused no problems—”

They were apparently saying that they thoroughly investigated her already. They were probably going to start something unpleasant.

The aide who was reading from some document spoke to the vice minister.

“There are no issues with her achievements. She stands out among members.”

“Hmm, she doesn’t look like that…”

“I’m simply desperate.”

Makoto raised her visors up to her forehead, showing a bitter smile.

As the vice minister glared at Makoto’s face as if to appraise her, he spoke in an exaggerated tone.

“Since your achievements look promising, I will give you a secret mission from the Cabinet Office.”

“Eh?”

“First, you are to carefully observe Miguruma Yaeko’s behavior during this operation down the minutest detail. If there are any errors or points of failure to the operation, please report them in detail later. Secondly, while you are on the way to C, you are to bring back anything that could serve as evidence of Miguruma’s blunders.”

“B-but that is…”

“It’s for the sake of this country. This is much more important than you can imagine. You obviously can’t tell anyone, and if you go against orders, you will be heavily punished.”

“For the country… a-alright, I understand.”

“I expect a lot from you. I count on you.”

The vice minister gave several more orders and several times more threats and left.

While seeing his back, Makoto sighed. She scratched her neck with her fingertips.

“Heavy punishments mean nothing to us.”

If she made him relaxed by responding normally it was no problem at all. And she had no intention of disobeying these secret orders or whatever. —If they really thought that revealing one or two mistakes made by Miguruma Yaeko would keep her quiet, the country’s bigwigs had really misjudged her.

“Really, all of them are such…”

A person approached Makoto yet again. Her expression appeared fierce.

“Terasu-san… right?”

It was Fuyuhotaru.

She appeared before Makoto alone with no one to accompany her.

“Err, well—”

She looked like she wanted to say something, and after hesitating a bit, she clenched her fist as though determined.

“Let’s both do our best!”

She made a small fist pump and said this.

Fuyuhotaru was supposed to be the most horrible Mushitsuki, one that everyone in the SEPB was scared of. When this great enemy that could even be called mythological appeared in front of Makoto, it did cause her some tension, so she unconsciously put herself on guard.

“I-I’m obviously going to do that, though…?”

Fuyuhotaru nodded strongly.

And—she turned around and tried leaving.

“Eeeeeeh?!”

“Hmm?”

Fuyuhotaru turned back, looking puzzled.

“T-that’s it? You came here just to say this?”

“W-well, yeah…?”

Makoto was confused and Fuyuhotaru looked equally confused.

“You’re Fuyuhotaru, right? That… that Fuyuhotaru from the stories, right?”

“P-probably. Ah, in Mushibane they call me Snow Fly, though.”

“I-I see. Then… you’ve got nothing else to say? We’re going to go fight C with a much smaller force due to your selfishness… you can, like, apologize, or—”

Rank 1s really did piss her off. She could only think that Fuyuhotaru came there to make fun of her.

“Or say that you’re expecting a lot from me.”

Fuyuhotaru looked amazed.

Perhaps feeling flustered that she had to say something, she started thinking with a panicked face—

And what came out at last—

“—”

Was wordless.

All she did was look at Makoto with a gaze free from any hesitation.

Now she remembered—

This strength that Fuyuhotaru had shown from time to time.

It was the same that Makoto once saw—in Kakkou.

A gaze that held within it determination that never thought of losing and knew nothing of retreat.

“…”

Just from seeing Fuyuhotaru’s face, she understood.

She had no intention of abandoning Makoto and the rest at all. She really was intending to defeat Oogui and then come rushing to help them.

And on top of her showing that determination—

She was compelling Makoto as well.

She was being forced to win and survive.

Without realizing how it would affect a normal person like her—what kind of pressure it put on her.

“Goodbye.”

Bowing, Fuyuhotaru turned her head again.

“—Say something.”

Makoto unconsciously stopped Fuyuhotaru again.

The girl turned back for the second time.

“What was… Kakkou for you?”

The one who turned Kakkou into a Fallen was without a doubt the girl in front of her eyes. Thinking of her strength, it was natural. There was also the fact that she took revenge on him for turning her into a Fallen before.

However, the moment before she turned him into a Fallen—it looked to her as if he’d accepted Fuyuhotaru attack out of his own will.

She didn’t know why.

However, Makoto felt that she must know the reason for that.

After thinking for a while, Fuyuhotaru smiled.

“A friend.”

Although they turned each other into Fallen, she called him a friend.

What reason she had for not calling him an enemy? To Makoto it looked as if it was hidden not in her words, but in her smile.

“What kind of a person was Kakkou-kun to you, Terasu-san?”

It was an unexpected counterattack.

Being asked this by an innocent smile, Makoto’s mind recalled scenes from the past.

—I wooon!

Her own form, howling with Kakkou in front of her.

She already thought of it as ancient past.

“I… once defeated Kakkou…”

She mumbled this unconsciously.

No one believed her. No one would praise her.

And even she herself tried forgetting this.

Just like everyone else, Fuyuhotaru also seemed shocked to hear it.

And she opened her mouth.

She was definitely going to tell her a “liar” just like everyone else—

“Wow!”

As Fuyuhotaru said this, for some reason she wore a genuinely happy smile from ear to ear.

Makoto could hear Fuyuhotaru’s comrades calling for her from afar.

Noticing that, Fuyuhotaru bowed again and left.

A voice called to Makoto as well.

High-ranked Mushitsuki and the branch heads all gathered nearby. Her boss Takemi called Makoto’s name, gesturing to her. Apparently, they finished forming the suicide corps.

“I don’t get it… all of those Rank 1s really piss me off.”

Shaking her head, she came back to her senses.

Although the two were enemies, they showed no signs of hating each other. Even so, she believed Makoto’s words of having defeated Kakkou and even looked happy.

—Wow!

Fuyuhotaru’s carefree smile was burned into her eyes.

Who could believe that at such a time one of her hated Rank 1s would praise her.

She hated Kakkou still. Never mind him not acknowledging Makoto, but every time they met, he treated her and the North Central Branch members like tools.

Therefore, all Rank 1s thought of Mushitsuki other than themselves as weaklings—not only that, but even as trash.

However, Fuyuhotaru—

Was an incomprehensible Rank 1.

If Makoto returned alive from this fight, then perhaps even she herself could become one of them.

Right, she could stand shoulder to shoulder with Kakkou—be equal in position to him.

“…!”

While heading to Takemi, Makoto struck her cheeks with both hands.

Get a hold of yourself—

She told herself.

“I’m gonna die anyway…”

She mumbled.

As she reconvened with the branch heads, many Mushitsuki looked at Makoto.

“This is the suicide corps for C annihilation operation. What composition are we going with?”

Takemi asked, all smiles.

Not even knowing they were mere stepping stones for the Rank 1s—

By the moment she went out of the tent, Makoto made a certain resolution.

Thinking of the worst-case-scenario, meaning that the operation failed, she couldn’t take the really strong Mushitsuki along with her. She thought to exclude the high-ranked Mushitsuki with reasons such as injury or fatigue and take lower ranked combatants with her as the best course of action.

They were sacrificial pawns anyway.

Even as insurance, she couldn’t allow the high-ranking Mushitsuki to die.

High-ranked Mushitsuki able to go on a journey to the land of death—just herself was enough.

“We’ll obviously—”

However, Fuyuhotaru’s smile from before got stuck in her mind.

Her powerful gaze that resembled Kakkou’s, too.

This resolution was the exact opposite of a normal person like her who lived by safe play after safe play.

Her anger toward the hated Rank 1s already went way past the limit.

Therefore—she found herself speaking words she’d never have imagined.

“Go with our strongest.”

Saying this, commander Terasu lowered the visor on her eyes.

1.04 The Others

Fuyuhotaru—Anmoto Shiika—left the dome with her comrades.

Around the dome was a perimeter of soldiers. Were they there to protect the SEPB from outside enemies, or perhaps—to seal the danger known as Mushitsuki there? Shiika, for one, thought it was the latter, judging from the complexion of the soldiers looking at them.

Among the ten-odd Mushibane members, Shiika, Lucifera, Aijisupa, Namie and Halensis alone entered the limousine. The remaining members entered a van.

“You are all so pale. Caught a cold? Yahaha.”

Inside the car was a girl with a wineglass in her right hand and a cane in the shape of an upside-down letter J in her left hand. She was the same age as Shiika and wore a luxurious dress.

“First of all, congrats for defeating Shinpu, I guess? You’ve cleared one of our goals, the defeat of the Original Three, right?”

Akasegawa Nanana. Despite being a teenager, she served as the chairman of one of the country’s most prominent conglomerates, the Akasegawa Group. She was also Mushibane’s sponsor.

“Chairman, it is still morning. You really should abstain from drinking alcohol.”

Nanana’s secretary was also present. She was as expressionless as always, and was hugging a teddy bear atop her knees as always.

“Thanks, Nanana.”

Shiika did not return a full smile to Nanana’s congratulatory remarks. Inside the limousine there were two long seats and a table in the middle. Shiika sat next to Nanana.

“My, what an awkward smile you have. So there was trouble?”

Nanana had seen through her. Shiika silently exchanged glances with Lucifera.

“Explain it to us as well. What were you talking about with the SEPB?”

“Right. They seem busy, but what’s going on from now?”

Aijisupa, the boy with a headband, and Halensis, the girl with her characteristic black, long hair that looked like the idealized Japanese woman asked. —On the other hand, the adult-looking woman, Namie, said nothing. She spoke little ever since seeing Kakkou become a Fallen right in front of her eyes.

“—I will start explaining!”

With a sorrowful expression, Lucifera began talking about the events inside the tent.

The limousine drove on the road while avoiding debris.

The remains of the battle between the unleashed Shinpu and SEPB who tried stopping him became more gruesome the more one approached the city’s center. All power poles were broken and the office buildings emptied of people were wrapped in creepy silence.

From time to time, a crunching sound accompanied by vibration shook the limousine as it drove over some asphalt fragment.

Lucifera explained the truths that came to light one by one.

About their new enemy, C, who’d absorbed the powers of Shinpu, and the threat she posed.

About Harukiyo working to wake up Sleeping Beauty, who would become their new leader.

And—about Mushibane having to defeat Oogui as soon as possible.

“—Oh, so we need to wake up that girl.”

Nanana mumbled. Putting her glass on the table, she looked out of the window, narrowing her eyes.

Surprised, Shiika looked at the girl next to her.

“Nanana. Do you know this Sleeping Beauty person?”

“Oh, do I. Too much. Certainly if it’s her, she’d be able to lead everyone at the front. It was the same back then…”

As she said that her profile looked full of nostalgy, but there was also a bit of anger mixed in it. Since Nanana was always drunk and foolish, this was Shiika’s first time to see her face like that.

“Back then?”

“The fight that made her fall asleep. She invited Kakkou and Harukiyo, as well as Lady Bird… she united the three Rank 1s and more than a hundred Mushitsuki to try beating Oogui. —It ended up as a big failure with only a handful of survivors, though.”

Nanana furrowed her brows. She made no attempt to hide her disappointment.

“I thought this was all over, though. Trying to rely on her again so late into the game… it’s so convenient that I’m going to hurl.”

“Being able to unite the Rank 1s… she really was an outrageous Mushitsuki.”

Hearing Halensis’ leaked mumble, Nanana snorted.

“Mushitsuki? That’s the outrageous part. She was a normal person.”

“Eh?”

Shiika and the rest were all shocked.

“She became a Mushitsuki only at the last moment. —She was nothing but a chain of irregularities.”

For a moment she looked displeased, but then burst into laughter.

“Also… are you telling me the reason for that girl to be dragged to a fight again is C? Yaha, there’s no end to irony here. This is a bad joke. They were so friendly and yet they’re enemies?”

Shiika was once again surprised. Unexpected facts came out of Nanana’s mouth one after another.

“Eh? Sleeping Beauty knew Erii—C?”

“They didn’t just know each other. The ones who captured C and brought her to the SEPB were none other than that girl and Kakkou. And they were as close as sisters.”

“Sleeping Beauty and… Kakkou, huh.”

Shiika had once fought against C.

That young girl was apparently extremely emotionally attached to Kakkou.

But in reality—it wasn’t just Kakkou.

Perhaps she held the same feelings toward Sleeping Beauty as well.

“We really do have to beat Oogui…”

For the sake of Sleeping Beauty, who also once attempted that.

And for the sake of C, who was friends with Sleeping Beauty.

If they managed to block any further evolution, maybe they didn’t need to beat C. Perhaps they could find another way to save her—

“Akasegawa. Don’t you know anything else?”

Until now silent, Aijisupa looked at Nanana.

“I realize that you haven’t told us about Sleeping Beauty until now because it was irrelevant. But that’s no longer the case. If you know something, anything at all, tell us.”

“Right… to be frank, I can’t agree with them waking up Sleeping Beauty. After all, if she wakes up it’ll cause a huge problem. The problem she’d been sealing.”

“As Oogui can use the abilities of Minion Types—if Sleeping Beauty wakes up, the sealed Undying will revive as well, making it impossible to defeat Oogui.”

Lucifera’s words caused everyone but Shiika to become speechless.

“All Minion Types…? Meaning, it can also use my ability—or even Snow’s?”

“Undying, you said?”

The surprised people commented on either the Undying that Lucifera spoke of or about Oogui’s ability.

Nanana also looked like she found this unexpected. She furrowed, puzzled.

“I’m shocked. Oogui’s ability is supposed to be top secret. That Miguruma Yaeko, how could she just go out and reveal that to Mushibane?”

Nanana, who had watched the fight of the past, apparently long knew this ability.

Shiika spoke next.

“Well, some person from the SEPB called Goroumaru just went and said it. Miguruma-san was angry at her…”

“Yaha, Kakkou’s boss. Nice, I wish I could’ve seen Miguruma’s face.”

“—Miguruma…!”

Hearing that name, Lucifera groaned. Namie then inquired her.

“What’s wrong, Lucifera?”

“Ah… n-no, it’s nothing.”

“By the way, Lucifera-san. You said Miguruma-san did something in that fight…”

“S-Snow-san!”

Lucifera hurriedly shut Shiika’s mouth.

Nanana and the others did not miss that clear reaction.

“What is it, you tell people to speak up and yet you hide things? Are you at a position to make me do something like that?”

“Lucifera?”

Halensis also added to the attack. Lucifera bit her lips.

“Looks like this is huge. What are you saying Miguruma did? The past fight… she shouldn’t have any relation to the fight on the night of the meteor shower. She just casually showed up after.”

Being pressed by Nanana, Lucifera apparently resigned. Holding her head, she spoke as if groaning.

“It’s that woman’s—Miguruma’s fault…”

“What is her fault?”

“That Lady retired from the fight just before it started—she was lured away by Miguruma’s scheme…”

Nanana and Halensis froze.

“—”

Having leaned ahead, Nanana now fell heavily back to her seat.

It was Halensis who emitted a voice first.

“No—way—”

Holding her head with trembling arms, Halensis shook all over.

“Since I’d only just become a member, I couldn’t be there—but some of my friends—I really have almost no idea what happened—if only we had Lady here—”

The sound of breaking glass reverberated.

Nanana violently swung her cane. The wine glass shattered and red liquid flew inside the car.

“The one who arranged this fight was me, you know…? So that means the one who made it all go to waste was that woman…? —Of course! Since the Undying noticed the fight at that timing it’s obviously odd for Miguruma alone to arrive there so late…! Damn it, I’ve been completely had…! T-that woman…! She really was picking up a fight with me. I haven’t noticed this until now…!”

Nanana bit her nails, her face twisted with fury. Shiika had never seen her so angry.

Lucifera also suffered.

“Please keep this a secret. To be honest, if this became wide-known among Mushibane, especially with the old members, they wouldn’t want to cooperate with the SEPB anymore…”

“T-that’s obvious! Who’d want to cooperate with that woman…!”

Shiika hurriedly tried calming Halensis.

“P-please calm down, Halensis-san! You too, Nanana…!”

“It’s fine, I’m an adult. I’m veeery good at choosing the right time and place for things. I’ll cooperate for now. However—”

Not even looking at Shiika’s face, she mumbled while glaring ahead with dangerous eyes.

“When everything’s over with, I’ll settle the score with the one who made a fool of Akasegawa Nanana… for sure.”

The car was instantly filled with murderous intent.

Only one calm voice rose in the midst of that.

“By the way, should we enter the main topic already?”

It was Aijisupa. Since this wasn’t from the time he’d entered Mushibane, it apparently didn’t interest him. While Nanana and Halensis glared at him, his face was cool.

“Saying that we have some plan to defeat Oogui isn’t a lie; right, Lucifera?”

“W-well—”

Lucifera stumbled. Grimacing, she averted her eyes from Aijisupa.

“I-I can’t tell you yet…”

“If you know of a way, I’d like to know about it as soon as possible.”

Nanana pressed Lucifera again.

However, this time Lucifera didn’t seem like she was going to spill it so easily. Rounding her body with a weak face, she was silent.

“What do you mean, you can’t tell us yet?”

Even Namie asking this was met with silence.

At that time, the limousine stopped. Nanana raised her hips.

“We’re here. —I’ll have you spit it all out when we formulate our strategy. From what you’ve said, it’s going to be hard for the suicide corps to beat C. So the key will be whether you can or cannot beat Oogui quickly.”

Shiika and the rest got off the limousine.

They arrived at a shopping district empty of people. There was as large building in front of a crossroads strewn with debris.

It was a large movie theater under the control of Akasegawa Group. All members of Mushibane were gathered inside.

“No, I do think the people of the suicide corps will do their best.”

While looking up at the theater, Shiika spoke clearly. Nanana furrowed her brows.

“How can you tell that?”

“Because that person called Terasu—is definitely strong.”

Shiika showed a smile, but Nanana appeared uninterested.

“I see. Well, I don’t really care. —But we can’t have it. If there’s a way to beat Oogui, I need you to talk, so be prepared.”

Nanana used her cane to strike Lucifera’s butt.

“Uuh…”

“—I’ll be to one to explain that…”

This small voice suddenly appeared from above Mushibane’s heads.

“…!”

Shiika’s group turned around, startled.

A girl clad in a white, long coat was standing on top of the parked van.

This was the Central Headquarters getup. She’d been apparently hiding on the van’s roof all this way without anyone noticing her.

The girl spoke while Mushibane remained cautious of her.

“I’m Konoha… I’m a member of the Central Headquarters, but I currently serve as an emissary of a certain someone and came here to negotiate with you…”

“Negotiate?”

Seeing Shiika tilt her head, the Mushitsuki called Konoha nodded.

“We might be able to offer you a person who’s being targeted by Oogui…”

Including Shiika, all Mushibane members looked shocked.

“In exchange—we want you to show us to a certain individual. To the one hidden by you, Alpha…”

“…!”

The primal Mushitsuki, Alpha.

A being who held the origin of Mushi. Shiika and others saved this Mushitsuki after risking their lives.

She knew that Mushibane were hiding Alpha—

Shiika didn’t know who the girl was, but this meant they needed to be cautious of her.

“Don’t know who you are, but looks like you have good timing.”

Nanana smiled boldly. Any negotiations were her forte.

“You shouldn’t be able to so easily tell who Oogui is targeting. Doesn’t that sound too convenient for you to find someone like that right now? It’s nothing short of a miracle. To be frank, I find it hard to believe you.”

“We didn’t just find her… she’d been targeted by Oogui before and resisted that temptation before…”

“…!”

“According to her, Oogui’s power looked like it weakened at the time… perhaps Oogui’s weakness is chasing after a dream and getting rejected… how about it? In your current state, is this not the best ‘bait’ possible?”

Oogui’s weakness.

This was the first time Shiika heard about anything like that.

Among the surprised Mushibane members, only Nanana wore a provocative smile.

“How interesting. That’s if that ‘bait’ really exists, though.”

“You are sure to accept this once you hear who that is. Her name is—”

And the one Konoha mentioned—

“Ebina Yuu.”

Was the name of Shiika’s friend.

Notes

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