Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 5 Chapter 2 (section)

==2.01 The Others==

Parting from Chiharu and Aya, Chami came to Akamaki City.

She changed trains to come there with just a low-worn cap as her disguise, but the Environmental Preservation Bureau probably didn't even care about a small member like her.

"Joining up with Fuyuhotaru? You sure like shitty ideas."

While mumbling to herself, she walked through the city aiming for her destination.

Akamaki City was the center of the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau, the city where the stronghold of the Central Headquarters was located. High-rise buildings were lined up in the town center. Coming to Akamaki City for the first time, Chami inhaled the big city's air shrouded by the smell of exhaust gas and grimaced.

"And over there is, right… the princess who started the fight to save Mushitsuki. She made a reliable knight her ally and went to battle."

She set foot inside one of the buildings lined up along the main street. It was an especially tall office building even among those in the town center.

"For now, I'm just—"

The guard in the building's entrance tried to stop Chami.

Without even looking at his face, she lightly waved her arm.

Immediately after, a scarlet shadow rising from her arm converged at the guard's back. The crimson glowing queen bee stabbed its sharp stinger into the man's medulla oblongata.

"A cowardly, dirty witch who only has enough brains to put poison in an apple—"

The queen bee that only Chami could see was absorbed inside the guard. "Uh, ah…" he groaned and stopped moving.

Konomura Chami's Mushi ability was mental pollution. It amplified the affected person's strongest emotion, robbing them of their rational thinking. Depending on the density of the pollution she could easily dull one's thinking ability to make them easier to be manipulated like she did to Sugitsu Aya, or make one not know between back and front like she did to the guard in front of her. 

"Nothing more than a supporting role that aims for the main character dancing at the center of the stage out of jealousy." 

Passing next to the guard who was standing in place like a puppet, Chami headed for the elevator.

Pressing the button, the door opened immediately.

She boarded the empty elevator.

In front of Chami's eyes leaning against the wall, the button indicating the highest floor was lighted up on its own. The elevator's door closed slowly.

"You haven't been tailed by anyone, right Konoha?"

Chami's voice reverberated inside.

Immediately after she thought her vision was warped, an atypically-shaped monster appeared in front of her.

It was a large Mushi with a body that looked like two overlapping leaves with large eyes attached. Next to the leaf beetle that possessed the ability to erase its form by controlling the refractive index of light, a girl was standing in front of the floor buttons.

"…"

She was Blaze Class Rank 4 member of the fighting squad of Central Headquarters, Konoha. She wore the Central Headquarters' white coat and was equipped with goggles. This silent girl who showed Chami her back was another pawn that had her ability transplanted into her and listened to her orders.

"At least answer."

"S-sorry… It's fine, nobody saw me…"

When Chami lightly kicked her back Konoha mumbled a response.

"C'mon, don't dawdle in your report. Do it already."

"I-I'll report properly… s-so don't kick me that much…"

The emotion controlling Konoha was 'anger'. Since Chami had also planted the minimal amount of her ability inside her, it was necessary to periodically stimulate her feelings like this.

"It seems like neither Central Headquarters nor the East Central Branch were able to find Kakkou yet…"

Even while the white coat girl bit her lips in humiliation she started her report just like she was told to. 

"But I know something's going on in Central Headquarters. I can't extract any information as a Rank 4 member just like it was in Nishito City…"

"Meaning they're the Annihilators under the direct control of Miguruma Yaeko–Kanata's comrades."

Chami had already grasped the existence of the special team composed of the high-ranked members known as the Annihilators. They didn't officially exist but she confirmed their existence through Konoha with the happenings in Housawa Town and Nishito City's 'URBAN'.

"Just like it was in Housawa Town. Central Headquarters wants to erase Kakkou. Since the East Central Branch lost contact with him and he has no support right now it's truly the golden opportunity to assassinate him. The Central Headquarters' information collecting abilities are impressive. They'll definitely find him."

"I've been probing into the Central Headquarters' movements for a few days… but just now I was able to confirm that several teams were dispatched. They're all members I've never seen before, but most likely – they're all very strong."

Chami clicked her tongue.

"Having a different team of Annihilators search for Kakkou at this timing – shit, so Chiharu's whereabouts were exposed. As I thought, their speed of gathering information is abnormal."

"Is Chiharu fine…?"

"I can only put my hopes on the East Central Branch and Aya."

As she asserted this bitterly, an electronic sound echoed near Chami's ear.

The elevator reached the highest floor. The two climbed out, going up the stairs in front of them.

Exiting to the rooftop, the townscape of Akamaki City spread out beneath.

A sudden gust made Chami's cap fly in the air. Aiming toward the Ferris wheel visible from afar, the hat flew in the skies of Akamaki City.

"We'll only do what we can from here, Konoha."

"Right…"

Next to Konoha who proceeded to the center of the rooftop, the atypically-shaped leaf beetle swelled its body further. In the center of its body that was three times larger than Konoha glaring eyes started observing the scenery in front of them. The leaf beetle's legs stretched, connecting with a certain terminal on Konoha's goggles.

"Being unable to mobilize you for the assassination mission of an SEPB member is really unfortunate. Well, it would probably take some time, but if it's your ability it should be within the day—"

"Condition designation, completed. Distant viewing, magnification designation, completed. —Unlimited mode, released…"

The moment Konoha's voice echoed, the leaf beetle's body swelled at once like a balloon.

"Wha-"

As Chami stared in shock the leaf beetle's eyes protruded out of its body like telescope lenses. 

"Starting search…"

"Konoha… W-what on earth is this…?"

"It can view not just in a straight line from observation points… It can even trace along reflective objects such as mirrors, glasses and human pupils, reflecting even blind spots. Even if something's hidden, it's sure to be reflected by something. —I've been feeling great lately. I've greatly expanded my probing range so I can view anything other than hidden rooms…"

Chami became speechless.

Not only Aya but even Konoha apparently had her abilities grow rapidly. It was no longer at the level of simply 'feeling great' they both said.

"Konoha… don't tell Central Headquarters about this ability. You should remain a Rank 4 for the present moment."

"Why…? O-ouch, I get it, I'll do what you said, don't kick me…"

Until now she was just one person with searching abilities, but if her abilities became too powerful she wouldn't be a Blaze Class but a Secret Class – and there was the possibility of Central Headquarters treating her as a secret weapon against their enemies who were building up their strength. If that happened then it would be difficult for Chami to get in contact with her like she did until now.

While she was thinking this, Konoha raised her voice.

"—Found him. Concluded to be the actual Kakkou."

A chill ran up Chami's nape at this much too quick of a discovery announcement. 

''If she ends up being controlled by Central Headquarters… I'll be found out instantly—''

"So slow. Stop slacking off."

"S-sorry… O-ouch…"

"C'mon, report already."

"He's barely in the range of my ability… Quite far away… also—"

While grimacing due to Chami's kicks, Konoha spoke.

"He's fighting."

Chami clicked her tongue. She could imagine who his opponents were even without asking. She was apparently one step behind.

"…I'll ask just in case, who?"

"A group of Mushitsuki with white masks…"

"Mushibane – there's no way those idiots could find Kakkou independently. So that means they're once again dancing in the palm of someone's hands."

Spitting this out, Chami turned her body.

"Let's go. We'll swipe a car or bike or something. If you use your ability to hide us we'll probably be able to escape the Central Headquarters' search network."

"What'll we do…?"

"Evil schemes are my specialty. I'll send them a poisoned apple to teach them that."

If Kakkou was heading somewhere by his own volition he apparently had a goal.

Intending to find out the truth with her own eyes, Chami left the place.