Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 4 Chapter 1 (section)

==1.01 Chami Part 1==

Stepping onto the rooftop of Urban Tower, an acrid odour assailed her nose.

“This place stinks of gasoline.”

Konomura Chami surveyed the surroundings and said so expressionlessly.

In fact, the odour was least of the matters. It could be said that the site that spread in front of her was in ruins. There were no doubts that a battle had occurred here.

Chami’s short hair fluttered in the wind. The smell of gasoline was blown away for only a moment before assaulting her nose once again.

Chami was currently in her plain clothes as she had not returned to her home to change. She was currently dressed in tights along with knickerbockers and a long t-shirt on top. The small-statured Chami was often mistaken for a middle school student, except for her gaze, which hid a sharpness that did not befit her age of sixteen years-old.

“Looks like it’s right here… where the white cat received its fatal wound…”

Konoha muttered in hushed voice from behind. She was a Rank 4 Blaze Class member of the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau’s Central Headquarters combat group, customarily positioned in Higano City. She was now in Nishito City after being called by Chami to ‘report’ to her. She was dressed in a simple jacket and culottes.

“I can see that for myself. We followed the traces of battle all the way up from the first floor. And here is the end of the line, ''The End''. Or are you saying that they continued the battle in the air? Cats obviously can’t fly, so shut up if you’re not saying anything useful.”

“…”

Throwing a look at Konoha telling her to be quiet, Chami ran over her thoughts.

[[File:Mushi Uta 4 p067.jpg|thumb]]

''…Notwithstanding the effects of my ability, Owlet was quite smart. She understood my orders and pressed on with the monitoring of Ayukawa Chiharu for over five years like an idiot. There’s no reason that she would abandon her mission at this point of time… In other words, that means that Ayukawa Chiharu came here, to ‘URBAN’. Why would Chiharu come here—.''

As she speculated in her mind, she traced the path of destruction starting from the entrance.

''There, she fought against someone… Seeing as how all the destruction came from one direction, the number of enemy was probably only one. In addition, the enemy must have been quite a powerful Mushitsuki. And also, the enemy was not attacking one-sidedly. If the cat had the intention to escape, all she had to do was to head towards a narrow location.''

That Owlet wanted to defeat that guy… there can only be one reason. Chiharu was in danger… that’s to say, the enemy was targeting Chiharu and was about to take action that would harm Chiharu.

The earliest blood traces were found nearby the drum cans that held the gasoline. It must have been fuel for the crane.

Chami grinned.

…''Kukuu''. She really thought well with that small brain of hers. Was she trying to burn up the enemy along with herself? But she failed and got hit by an attack. The place where she received the final attack was…

Chami walked towards the hut with the water tank. The water tank and pumps had been destroyed, flooding the area with water. The gasoline and water mixture flowed down the drain which was installed onto the ground.

“…”

Chami put on a serious look.

''This is… Did she purposely guided the enemy to attack here? Nah, she couldn’t possibly think that far… but, if I think about it… what’s the point of her doing that to an enemy she couldn’t defeat?''

Chami turned around and faced her back. She looked beyond the surprised Konoha’s shoulders, down at Urban Tower and Dome.

—How about we trudge onwards together along this shitty life!

Chami laughed scornfully with a ''Hmm''.

Looking at the scars of battle, Chami understood Owlet’s dying wish, as well as the height of her loyalty towards her and felt irritated. Turning around, she glared towards Konoha.

“How dare you defy my order at your own convenience.”

“…?”

''How dare you go and die all by yourself without telling even informing your master—.''

She averted her gaze away from the hut, between which Konoha was standing with her eyebrows frowning in puzzlement.

''I now understand the gist of the situation.''

''Ayukawa Chiharu came to this place yesterday.''

''And then, she encountered a potential enemy there. —No, it is more correct to say that they almost met. Since I saw Chiharu attending school as per usual today, and she did not display any signs of encountering any life-threatening danger.''

''From the traces of human blood (or so, Konoha determined) on the first floor that continued till here, it seems that the attacker had already sustained heavy injuries. After defeating Owlet, the enemy temporarily retreated.''

“…What a truly shitty mission from head to toe. Even though nothing happened all this time for five years.”

She cursed while descending the escalator.

Konomura Chami. Alternatively, that was who the Rank 10 Irregular Class member of the Southwest Branch of the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau, codename Owl, was. Being Rank 10 indicated that amongst the Mushitsuki, her power belonged to the next lowest rank above the unranked.

Five years ago, the mission that was given to her was one that was fit for the lowest ranking members.

That was to monitor the person known as Ayukawa Chiharu.

But, that was all. Without even telling her any reasons, she did not even know what kind of dangers would arise specifically. At that time, having only recently been turned into a Mushitsuki and yet to even finish her training, it was clearly a daunting mission.

In the documents submitted by Chami periodically, the last sentence in the report about Chiharu’s behaviour was always, ‘No abnormalities’. The next report was also, ‘No abnormalities’, followed by, ‘No abnormalities’… and this continued on for five years.

The returning orders were always, ‘Continue monitoring’.

‘Continue monitoring’—She might as well have fabricated a report for submission, and they would not have made any effort to confirm the validity of the report and just continued sending the same orders mechanistically.

Had she not delegated the task to Owlet, one of the person, or rather, one of which she converted into her servant, she would have gone crazy from the monotony of the task. It was truly a shitty mission given by a shitty organisation.

That foolish organisation, the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau. Being so incompetent, surely, they would not have known of it.

How that in these five years, Chami’s ability, which could only influence a cat at the start, had matured. And how that this lone Mushitsuki, which they have evaluated as the lowest rank, would eventually turn around to bite them, bringing to them certain destruction—.

“I’ll continue on with this shitty mission using the minimum effort. More importantly, isn’t it about time you tell me what has been happening in the central area.”

While descending the escalator, Chami ordered that of Konoha. As Konoha had just arrived in Nishito City yesterday, Chami had yet to hear of the crucial details from her.

“I’ve only heard until the part where Kakkou defeated one of the Original Three, Shinpu, prior to which, Ladybird as well.”

Konoha, who was walking behind Chami without making any sound of footsteps, replied in a whispery voice.

“Fuyuhotaru had escaped from the Central Headquarters…”

“!”

“At that time, three special teams had been organised at the order of vice-director Miguruma…”

“Three teams? Why did she purposely split the command structure? Seems like Miguruma Yaeko is an idiot as well.”

“…I was part of the pursuit team chasing after Fuyuhotaru but… at the same time, there were two other orders of the same risk level… One was the retrieval of the ''disk''… its contents were not revealed, but the one who stole the ''disk'' was said to be Centipede…”

Chami stopped her legs which were going down the escalator, causing the trailing Konoha stopped as well.

“Don’t you say some nonsensical stuff. Isn’t Centipede one of the Mushibane’s executives who had been turned into a Fallen? Where did you even get that from?”

''Mushibane'' referred to the resistance group that had been created to oppose SEPB’s actions of capturing Mushitsuki. After their leader, a girl known as Ladybird, died in a battle against a bureau member, Kakkou, their remnants were currently dispersed.

“Centipede was recaptured promptly after, but… I saw the conversation between the girl who escaped with the disk and leader of the retrieval team, Kasuou… For some reason, the girl was moving together with Fuyuhotaru and were escaping in the direction of Ouka City… Also during the chase, from the contents of the dialogue between C and Fuyuhotaru…”

“Even the battle-crazed Kasuou and the databank of the headquarters, C? If the mission involved such high-ranked personnel, there must be some credibility to your story. That ''disk'' must have been an extremely important item. And then, that disk landed into the hands of none other than Kakkou. In other words, the ‘heart’ of the battles had landed into the hands of the protagonist… The person who delivered the disk may not have realised it themselves, but they had completed a great task. —So, you must have seen the contents of the disk?”

“…”

Konoha bit her lips. Chami clicked her tongue and grabbed her by her collars.

“Are you an idiot? If you weren’t looking at the crucial contents, just what the hell have you been doing!”

“…”

“You said three teams were assembled. Apart from the Fuyuhotaru pursuit team and the ''disk'' retrieval team, what’s the last one.”

“That is… the Rank 4 me was not informed…”

“''Tch'', you’re thoroughly useless! Why do you think I taught you how to manoeuvre and contrive, rising you to Rank 4! I’m not even asking you to reach Rank 1. Rank 2… no, at least get yourself up to Rank 3!”

Facing Chami’s words of blame, Konoha only bit her lips and put up with it. Chami deepened her frown and slammed Konoha against the wall.

“Say something, you gloomy woman! You disgust me!”

“…When are you going to… find it for me…”

Konoha murmured, her shoulders trembling. Unable to endure further, she glared back at Chami from within her forelocks.

“I… am not your servant… I only promised to cooperate with you… if you helped me find the fifth Rank 1… the one who killed that person…”

She said in a trembling, whispery voice.

Faint red smoke emanated from Konoha’s body. Only being visible to Chami, the smoke consolidated into the figure of a queen bee.

It was a part of Chami’s Mushi, which she had embedded into Konoha previously.

There were three types of Mushi, the Minion Type, the Special Type, as well as the Fusion Type. People were turned into Mushitsuki when they encounter the Original Three, but which type of Mushi they would have depends on which one of the three they came into contact with.

Mushi like that of Konoha’s, which are capable of independent movement are known as Minion Types. They were a result of the existence known as Oogui.

Mushi like that of Chami’s, which on the other hand, does not have a physical body are known as Special Types. Compared to the other two types which possesses comparatively stronger physical power, there are wide varieties of supernatural abilities which Special Types could wield. Mushitsuki borne of the existence known as Shinpu were always of the Special Type.

Mushi of the Fusion Type merge with their host to give them superhuman strength. This type of Mushi was the least populous of the three, and the existence which gives rise to the Fusion Type was known as Sanbikime, the most mysterious of the Original Three.

“…”

Chami swung her right hand. The palm of her hand struck Konoha’s cheek, causing a ''pachin'' sound to echo down the tower.

“…!”

“Don’t you dare talk back to me. I wouldn’t mind throwing you away right here.”

Konoha held her palm to her cheek, glaring at Chami with killing intent. The red queen bee that surrounded Konoha expanded in size.

Chami’s ability—it manifests in a person whose heart held some insecurities when a chink in their heart is encroached in by her Mushi. Her Mushi, the queen bee, is able to intensify the strongest emotion hidden deep in the target’s heart. It causes that emotion to exceed its reasonable limit, robbing away the target’s sense of reason. Manipulating the people who had lost their ability to make sensible judgement then is a very easy task for Chami.

It was an ability that contaminated the spirit, one that merely stimulated the target’s emotions. Even amongst the abilities capable of controlling the psyche, it had only been evaluated as trivial. It could not be used to forcefully dominate someone else. That was why it was determined to be the lowest rank of Rank 10.

However, Chami’s true ''strength'' laid in the proficiency of the ability user herself. By converting those whose ability to think had declined into her allies, Chami brainwashed them without them even realising it into believing that they were useless unless she was by their side.

The organisation known as the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau only placed importance in the ability of the Mushi itself, thus overlooking Chami’s hidden potential. To Chami, that was unbearably humiliating.

“What can you possibly do by yourself? Go on, say it! Other than being able see somewhere given the 3D coordinates or in certain conditions, there’s nothing else you can do!”

At Chami’s words, Konoha’s shoulders quivered. The emotion that the girl was currently holding on to was ''rage''. Underneath her downcast face, a constantly seething anger brewed.

—Any more provocation than this is dangerous. If one’s emotions were over-amplified, their mind and body would be broken. If not properly handled, it is possible that they may turn into an enemy. This ability that isn’t capable of mental domination, but only mental pollution was designated to Rank 10 for this reason.

It would not do to have Konoha broken right now. This girl still has some uses.

“You will definitely meet the fifth Rank 1 that deprived you of your lover. I will ultimately arrive at the ‘heart’ of the mystery behind Mushitsuki, and then, it’s a matter of time before I take over the SEPB.”

Controlling all of the Mushitsuki and reigning above them—that was Chami’s true ambition.

Although the existence known as the Mushi were surrounded in mysteries, their power were overwhelmingly huge. Once she has the SEPB under her control, with the power of Mushitsuki troops, she would be able to obtain anything. Indeed, even if it was this country.

For that purpose, there was a need for her to know exactly what are the Mushi. Rather, Chami felt that knowing the secret behind the Mushi is the key to controlling the Mushitsuki.

“Didn’t you swear your loyalty to me? There’s already no turning back for you now. If you stop now, you would be left with nothing. Isn’t that right?”

“…”

Konoha was biting her lips so hard that they had turned pale white. The figure of the queen bee that enveloped the girl faded away from Chami’s view.

However, that certainly did not mean that Chami’s Mushi had disappeared from within Konoha. As usual, the Mushi’s fine needle was always stimulating the girl’s anger as always.

Konoha was still sprawled on the floor without moving, her shoulder’s shaking.

“…Fine. Suits yourself. My connection with you ends here. You can go wherever you want.”

“…!”

Konoha grabbed Chami’s clothes from behind as she faced her back.

“There’s nowhere… that I can go… I’ll listen to you… so…”

Chami stared coldly at Konoha who was muttering with tears forming in her eyes.

“Don’t ever talk back to me, you understand.”

“…”

“Go and investigate the contents of the disk. Right now.”

“H-how do I…”

“Why don’t you use your rotting brains for once. Surely, there’s some guy who watched the contents. Do whatever it takes to get them to spill it out.”

Leaving those words, Chami left ‘URBAN’.

Walking down the street, she headed for the residential area.

It was already evening by the time she reached her destination. The Ayukawa house which was lit by the evening glow was completely silent.

“…”

She turned her heels, entering the apartment opposite that. On the second floor, she placed her hand on one of the doors lining the corridor.

There were no locks on the door. Cool air welcomed Chami as she entered the apartment.

There was a refrigerator. Together with a television and a chair by the window, that was all she saw. She took off her shoes and entered, finding a bed further inside. On top of the sheets, strands of pure white fur glistened under the evening rays.

“…''Ugh''.”

She saw the figure of Chiharu though the window of the Ayukawa house and hid herself. Looks like her arrival had coincided with Chiharu’s return.

Chami sat on the bed, gazing mindlessly at the scenery outside of the window. Just how many years had it been since she returned to this apartment. She hasn’t visited this apartment since she left the support of Owlet to one of her female classmate known as Sugitsu Aya whom she turned into one of her pawns.

“The ''disk''… and Centipede who was supposed to have been turned into a Fallen.”

Chami muttered to herself.

When the Mushi of a Mushitsuki is killed, the Mushitsuki turns into a Fallen, which is a soulless shell of their former self. Once they turn into a Fallen, there should have no chance for their humanity to return.

There had only been a single exception, that was Fuyuhotaru.

If Konoha’s words were to be trusted, that would mean the appearance of Mushitsuki that can awaken from the Fallen status other than Fuyuhotaru. That would also mean that Fuyuhotaru was not actually special. Thus, the secret… no matter how Chami thought about it, must lie within that ''disk''.

But, it would’ve been impossible for Chami to view the actual disk itself. Due to the technology of the disk used by the SEPB, any information in the disk would be automatically erased by itself after a few days.

“…?”

Chami’s gaze fell onto a piece of paper lying by the side of the bed.

It was a search order circulated by the Central Headquarters. The instructions have most likely reached the whole country by now. Chami had written it off as unimportant and passed it onwards to Owlet through Aya. As this room was one granted by the SEPB after all, it was a suitable place to store this kind of documents.

The name, Horisaki Azusa, was noted under the facial photograph of a girl. The photograph showed a beauty with long hair, but it was only now that Chami realised the shockingly high risk level associated with her. The reason for her capture was not listed down, as per the usual search orders issued by Headquarters.

The order had nothing to do with Chami as she expected. To her currently, figuring out the secrets of the Mushitsuki was foremost, as well as working out a plan to get Central Headquarters under her control. She did not have any spare attention to pay to things other than those.

In fact, Chami’s mission to keep an eye on Ayukawa Chiharu did not mean a thing to her. She had neglected that mission for five years. The organisation which passed down this order to her has probably forgotten about it too.

“…”

Chami shifted her attention to the chair by the side of the window.

The reason she did not visited this room for years. That being the attitude of Owlet who she turned into her servant on a whim.

The typically silent white cat would purr out in happiness upon seeing her. With a creepy-sounding laughter, it would cuddle up to Chami. To Chami—that was uncomfortable.

At this time, the number of servants Chami commanded numbered many. Owlet was merely one of the many.

When she saw the dying expression of the cat which shared the same name as her, she did not feel much of a tremor in her heart.

The time to come had arrived—that was all she felt.

Deep in her heart, Chami knew better than anyone else how she was but a small accessory that no one even bothered to turn their heads around to look at. At most, all she knew were the intricacies of her ability, which she sneakily used to devise sinister designs. If she was in the casting of a movie, the only roles she would play would be Villain A or Pedestrian A.

On the other hand, the people at the ‘heart’ of the Mushitsuki are endlessly strong. The Central Headquarters, Kakkou, Fuyuhotaru, Harukiyo—in the eyes of those people who were in the lead roles, someone like Chami probably didn’t even cross their eyes.

But, on that day, an ambition sprouted from within Chami.

—How about we trudge onwards together along this shitty life!

Chami would die one day.

She might die any day without anybody even realising, not having even secured the footholds for her ambition. To the protagonists of the story, even her short act was just a sideshow to add towards their performance in the ‘heart’ of the stage.

Her story was one such that she never knew when it would end, an uncouth and subdued story of cowardice. As she never knows when it might end, she would continue onwards no matter how many of her pawns are lost. However, that white cat was the one at the very start of her story.

“Damn it, this is so irritating. This sentimentality…”

It was now that Chami realised for the first time, that the white cat would no longer be by her side as she walks along this story which no one ever takes notice of.

“Loyalty, huh… what rights do I even have to speak of it. How could Konoha possibly have any of it, after all, I was just forcibly getting her to help me.”

Chami laughed to herself, staring at the strands of white fur left on the chair.

“Now that I thought about it, you may have been the only one to swear loyalty to me…”