Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 15 Chapter 2 (section)

== 2.01 The Others ==

As far as Haji Keigo knew, the beings called Mushi and Mushitsuki were discovered ten-odd years ago.

The government captured Mushitsuki in secret, suppressed information about them and managed them. Behind the creation of this smooth process was probably the plan created by Miguruma Yaeko. There were also traces of her being backed by the Round Table, those influential people who controlled the business world.

In fact, in earlier days it was thought that the concealment, isolation and managing of Mushi was a success.

Because the organization called the SEPB operated and managed to quickly create the system to capture Mushitsuki. The abilities of the captured Mushitsuki were varied, and by training them as soldiers, they could manage other Mushitsuki more efficiently.

Although even society at large heard rumors about Mushi and Mushitsuki, it was only on the level of an urban myth. They were simply plausible rumors that caused them to become targets of vague hatred and fear. The monitor units embedded into the populace picked up these rumors and circulated them in ways that would assist capturing.

Mushi and Mushitsuki were handled perfectly.

So he thought—but then five years ago happened.

“It’s fine, just focus on attacking!”

On the fishing harbor of Aoharima Island, Terasu’s orders that were close to shouting echoed.

“If we don’t, we’ll get annihilated in the blink of an eye!”

A lone small boat was approaching the island.

Seeing the figure standing on the bow, Haji Keigo felt nostalgic.

It really was the first time in five years for him.

“Director Haji! Please give orders for retreat…!”

Terasu turned to him, asking instructions.

“Even if she’s being controlled by C, that thing—we can’t do anything against her!”

That day five years ago.

Until that time, everything went according to the government’s—no, Miguruma Yaeko’s plans.

Although it looked like they only just barely concealed them, in fact the existence called Mushi was being perfectly controlled.

Keigo had gotten into the SEPB for his goal of eradicating Mushi, but there was nothing he could have done at the time.

What finally formed cracks into this situation—was the event from five years ago.

It was a sight much like this one now.

In fact, it had been done by the girl who appeared in front of Haji and others now.

“—We can’t beat Fuyuhotaru!”

At the time, Anmoto Shiika had been an elementary schooler.

Later designated as Fuyuhotaru, a Secret Class Rank 1, she wasn’t someone with an especially important background. She wasn’t a tempered soldier and obviously not some kind of ESPer. She was somewhat alienated from the people around her, but otherwise a normal elementary schooler.

However—she cornered the SEPB to the brink of destruction.

One day, she suddenly became a Mushitsuki and just walked around town.

The SEPB tried capturing her like usual, but were all defeated in turn. Next they tried not to capture but to subdue her, and were defeated in turn. They already brought combined forces to try and keep the victims of the town in check as they challenged her—but were defeated in turn.

They simply couldn’t measure up to Anmoto Shiika. They were unable to stop a single Mushitsuki.

The SEPB that they spent years building up was half-destroyed in the blink of an eye.

With this incident as an impetus, the SEPB was forced to go through reform.

Estimating the second arrival of another Fuyuhotaru, they gave actual authority to each branch to be able to respond to all situations. They poured energy into the training of Mushitsuki, and rather than restraining them, they encouraged each to grow in their own way, and had no other choice to increase their fighting forces.

The lone Mushitsuki called Fuyuhotaru changed the Mushitsuki’s way of being that until then was being seized by Miguruma Yaeko.

By wedging himself into those reforms, Haji Keigo was able to increase his power on the inside of the SEPB—

“—Director Haji? Give us orders, quickly!”

While Keigo remained unmoving, Terasu wore a flustered expression.

On the verge of indulging in an uncharacteristic sentimentality, Keigo spoke while fixing the position of his glasses with an index finger.

“Don’t retreat.”

“Eh…? B-but—”

“Do you think there’s anywhere to escape to on this empty island?”

Hearing his words, not just Terasu but the other branch heads also fell into silence.

“Prepare someone with mental control abilities, Terasu. This time use them exactly as planned.”

Terasu startled.

“We’re doing ''that''…? B-but, against Fuyuhotaru?”

“It doesn’t matter against whom. We’re all exhausted and don’t even know where C is. To be frank, we currently have no chances of victory.”

“…”

“However, Miguruma Yaeko said that the Dove was unleashed.”

While speaking, Keigo looked toward the approaching small boat.

“Meaning—Fuyuhotaru herself is the Dove. There’s no more doubt.”

“B-but the snow? How will we get the mental control ability user past it…?”

As Terasu spoke in a hoarse voice, her body was slightly shivering.

He knew he was asking the impossible. After all, five years ago Keigo himself had keenly felt just how terrible the disaster called Fuyuhotaru was right in front of him.

At the time, Fuyuhotaru destroyed everything.

Wherever she passed became a wasteland, and even the SEPB was broken down. By the same token, even the state of Mushi and Mushitsuki in the country until then.

At the same time, Keigo also saw hope.

It wasn’t just the person who destroyed everything, Fuyuhotaru—

It was the potential shown to him by another Mushitsuki, who stopped her.

“Five years ago, we managed to stop her.”

“…!”

Terasu shut up. Keigo continued.

“This time we have Lady and Harukiyo. To survive this, we have to win.”

It went without saying that Lady Bird rode on her seven-spotted ladybug and rose into the air. She obviously couldn’t sit still while her friend came there.

Harukiyo also covered himself in flames and became a fireball. He flew fiercely toward the small boat.

“…Understood.”

Breathing deeply, Terasu nodded. In her pale face there was the shadow of death—although that was always the case for Mushitsuki.

“Our attack target is Fuyuhotaru!”

As Terasu rushed toward the battlefield, her voice echoed from the earphones.

“We have determined that she is being controlled by C! Don’t hold back!”

“Keigo-kun… what are you talking about, what mental control ability?”

Branch Head Takemi and Goroumaru Touko approached him.

“Haji-senpai. Have you possibly anticipated that Fuyuhotaru would be sent to us…?”

“Anticipated? Well, sure, yeah.”

If he told them he hadn’t, that would be a lie.

Since years back, he’s been thinking about how to create the path for erasing all Mushi and Mushitsuki from this world. In the end he estimated there would be a great battle and thought of various ways this battle might unfold.

Naturally, he even considered the possibility of Fuyuhotaru being involved in it.

The strongest ace that could overturn everything. There was no way this card wouldn’t appear at the most important stage of the game. Even if not as an enemy but a card that he possessed, it was a bomb that could blow up the entire board and ruin everything.

Therefore, Keigo feared Fuyuhotaru—no, any and all “violators” that could end up flipping the board.

And he raised a single card that could stop such cowardly methods.

“I did anticipate it, but…”

It wasn’t a beautiful card that everyone would admire.

It wasn’t a card that could move more easily than anyone.

It also wasn’t a card that no one could tell what happened until it got flipped over.

And it obviously wasn’t a card that could destroy everything, either.

“I also intended on being prepared, but—”

It was a card who’d stand in the way of those who ignored the rules and violators, aiming a gun at them.

Five years ago, the Mushitsuki had proven their powers.

However, unlike back then—that most important card of his was no longer at hand.

Just a single person.

If only that Mushitsuki had been there—

Keigo wasn’t the kind of fool to speak aloud about what-ifs.

He was simply the fool who’d anticipated this situation yet had been unable to keep that card with him.

“—Anyway, this is the critical juncture.”

As Keigo spoke in a low voice, Branch Head Takemi asked a question.

“Are you saying that we can beat Fuyuhotaru if we defend against her here?”

“Defend? That’s wrong.”

While Keigo and the others were looking, Fuyuhotaru finally started fighting with their allies.

“We have just—started our counterattack.”

“…Eh?”

While hearing Goroumaru Touko’s stupid-sounding exclamation, Keigo slightly winced.

That scene repeated in front of his eyes was much harsher than he imagined.

Fuyuhotaru’s curtain of snow managed to cancel not only the Mushitsuki’s attacks, but even that of Harukiyo.

Seeing this scene, Keigo—

“However, the fact we have to first stop the Dove… is true.”

Started the countdown to their annihilation.