Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 5th Episode 18 (section)

=== Part 2 ===
The sun sank and the curtain of darkness fell over Kurobishi Town's center.

Arisu, Daisuke and Neiko wandered around the town center with tired expressions.

"I wonder which character will it be next…"

Mumbling this, Arisu grasped a handheld terminal. This equipment, about the size of a cellphone, had an LCD display and it showed the current location of her and the rest.

That was the "Item" they had been handed by the mysterious boy they met at the monorail station.

It was a location device that used a satellite, meaning a GPS. After the boy suddenly gave it to Arisu and the rest, he mumbled "Now, head out on your journey" in monotone and left.

"…I'm tired… I want to go back…"

"…"

The sighing Neiko's gait was unsteady. Daisuke looked very stressed and hadn't said anything for a while now.

While walking through the road that went alongside the national highway, Arisu checked the GPS device. Not far from the red arrow indicating their location was a blinking yellow circle.

"Do your best, Neiko-san. The next spot is apparently that crossroads."

"…Hey, taxi…"

"Stop, idiot. How can you even think of using vehicles after that monorail had been taken over?”

Above the trio walking for a few hours now, the city lights were crackling with blue static electricity as they blinked on and off.

"What's wrong, Daisuke?"

Noticing that he was looking up the blinking lights, she called out to him. Yet he only said, "No… it's nothing," and kept walking again.

The lights of cars passed near Arisu the rest dragging their legs.

"How many people will we have to go through? After the one in the station… that Village Chief or whatever was the Villager. He was quite a strong Mushitsuki."

"The one blabbing about not letting us reach the Center of Hearts? And after saying all that, when he realized he was no match for us he told us to meet with that Sage or whatever and ran off."

"And the Sage was surprising for another reason entirely. Not only was he not a Mushitsuki, but he was a perfectly normal salaryman."

"…The Center of Hearts is the holy ground, the land of salvation that no one must enter… was that what he said? His explanation was so long-winded and incoherent…"

"Then we went to the Stone Monument. That person was very determined… but what the hell's up with them, anyway? This can't be just a simple role-playing game—eek."

When they approached the crossroads, suddenly Daisuke wrapped his arm around Arisu's waist. Carrying her body, he rushed ahead.

The Morpho butterfly dancing in the night sky emitted a glow, flying around erratically.

A large car now passed through the spot where Arisu stood a moment ago. It crashed against a power pole with a roar, swerving on the road and spinning.

"W-what the…?"

The car that crashed against the wall and stopped was empty. Neiko dodged just like Daisuke, so there were no victims.

"So our movements are completely visible. It's possible that someone's watching us or that this device you're holding sends them signals."

Daisuke muttered in an annoyed voice, lowering Arisu to the ground.

"This device?"

"…But since we have no further clues, we can't let go of it… as long as we keep getting hints, even if we know it's a trap, we can only head to the next spot… looks like the opponent is pretty smart…"

The surroundings became busy. Arisu and the rest quickly crossed the crossroads.

"By hints, do you mean that Center of Hearts place? Is there something there?"

"Perhaps the goal is to make us think so and walk into their trap. Actually, there've been pretty strong Mushitsuki so far. Probably those combatants sent to Kurobishi Town were defeated the same way."

Daisuke sighed, and suddenly stopped walking.

"I think that the problem is the one who controlled the monorail and that car just now. They're probably also the one who interfered in the Central Quarters database. The others are either controlled by that Mushitsuki or threatened by them… never mind which, they're just followers."

Neiko also stopped in place.

"…But we still don't know what kind of ability that is… they're probably Special Type, but if they're actually exerting their ability to all of Kurobishi Town, they possess something incredible… And since they can see us while we can't see them, they have a constant advantage…"

"W-wait. Daisuke, Neiko-san, why have we stopped?"

As Arisu turned back, the two SEPB agents sighed at the same time.

"Let's go back."

"…Yes."

Turning their bodies around, the two went back the same road. "…Don't you want to carry an older girl on your back?" "You have legs, so use 'em." "They'll be worn out by the time we get back to Akamaki City…" they mumbled as they switched over to go-home mode.

"W-wait a minute!"

Arisu hurriedly came to stop the pair.

"You're giving up after we've come this far? We might meet the Mushitsuki we're looking for next time!"

"This stupid game might not have any ending. I'm not going along with it."

"…Since they have so much power, they'll definitely go wild… I can see why the Central Headquarters decided to just wait for them to destroy themselves…"

"Then isn't it all the more reason to find them? Don't Mushitsuki die when they use their powers too much? We have to save them!"

Daisuke turned around, grimacing.

"Save them? Even though the enemy tried to kill us? Just how stupid are you…"

"Have you forgotten what I said earlier? If we give up here, it won't end up with us hurting each other. But if we approach them, surely we'll be able to cooperate—"

"Stop with this already!"

Daisuke violently shook off Arisu's arm.

"We obviously can't help each other! We Mushitsuki do everything we can just to survive! I don't need anyone's help and have no intention of saving anybody!"

As if spitting his accumulated anger, the boy's voice was wild. Neiko also agreed with him.

"Either way… I can't use my ability to restore their spent mental power…"

But Arisu didn't falter.

"Haven't they said that this town's Mushitsuki is the second coming of Fuyuhotaru?"

Daisuke's expression became agitated.

"I don't know much about that Mushitsuki, but what if… if it was Fuyuhotaru there, what would you have done?"

"…!"

Everyone's dreams are connected somewhere—

The one to have taught Arisu that was a Mushitsuki.

"Living alone despite being a Mushitsuki is quite the misunderstanding."

Yielding himself to anger, Daisuke was about to open the mouth. However, he was unable to say anything in reply and averted his gaze.

"Say, Neiko-san."

Arisu turned to Neiko.

"Is your voice there just to fix things?"

Neiko raised her face with a start. She held her fists in front of her chest.

"You weren't as strong as you are now when we first met, but… back then you were kinder. Back then, although you sang to help your friends, now it's almost like you're singing to fight."

"I-I… am…"

Sounding as if she was trying to excuse herself, Neiko's voice was stiff.

Arisu put the GPS device in her pocket. Grabbing the still indecisive Daisuke and Neiko's hands, she made them grasp one another.

"Please come with me at least until the next location. If that's another dead end let us think of a different way. Is that fine?"

"Tch…"

"…"

Daisuke clicked his tongue and Neiko was speechless.

"Here."

Checking the GPS, Arisu stopped.

They reached a large game arcade. There was a line of crane games, and they could see stairs behind.

Only a few minutes remained until the closing time indicated on the entrance. Arisu and the rest were cautious about their surroundings as they stepped inside the shop.

Perhaps because it was about to close, they could see no one at the reception desk. A lone couple passed near them and left.

"No one's here anymore. The indicator says it's here though."

"The upper floor."

Brushing Arisu aside, Daisuke led the way going up the stairs.

The second floor was a spacious lounge. It was cramped with rows of arcade machines.

There was only a single customer there. With his back turned to the stairs, a small person operated the controller and played a fighting game.

It was a boy that looked probably 2 or 3 years younger than Arisu. "Take this!" At the moment he operated the controller, his frameless glasses reflected the game's light. They had a glance of his handsome profile.

"A kid…?"

Arisu mumbled this just as an electronic tone rang from the boy's pocket.

"Ah, crap, customers. Sorry, I'm just getting to a good place."

The bespectacled boy turned around to glance at Arisu and the rest for just a moment. He soon returned to the screen and skillfully manipulated the controller.

"Oh well. Umm—you have done well to reach this place. I am the King. Art thou the Heroes seeking to challenge the mysteries of the Center of Hearts?"

It was clearly half-assed acting. Yet this behavior also indicated that he wasn't being controlled.

Arisu and the rest exchanged glances.

"Are you part of the weird people we've met so far? If you're the leader, we'd like for you to explain matters. We're not enemies."

"Take this, shit… umm, I was about to hand thee the legendary weapon, but I will not conduct this meaningless conversation. After all, my beloved daughter has been kidnapped by monsters—oh crap!"

Ignoring their words, the boy continued his lines. Unlike the Village Chief and the rest, he didn't appear to want to seriously play his part.

"Never mind, I got distracted so I'll just cut to the chase. —If you save the princess, I will hand thee the legendary weapon."

Next to Arisu, the Morpho butterfly emitted blinding light.

The sound of metal clashing came from the first floor. They heard the employees' screams.

A large tremor from directly below shook the building. Arisu turned back to the stairs.

"Eeek—"

She raised a strained voice without thinking.

A strange-looking giant came climbing up to the second floor. Its body, made of countless crane games folded together, couldn't stand upright due to the low ceiling. Torn cords spread sparks and scorched the walls.

On a closer look, a small human form was dangling from the giant's chest. It was a princess doll, probably one of crane game's prizes.

"Wha…wha…"

The giant reached out toward the overwhelmed Arisu. That hand was large enough to grab her petite body easily.

"So it's a material-controlling type."

Standing in front of Arisu, Daisuke came forward. At some point he'd already fused with his Mushi, raising his arm embedded with a green pattern.

"Shall we have a contest of strength?"

Daisuke's thin arm stopped the giant's arm that must have weighed several hundreds of kilograms.

The giant's movements stopped with a jerk.

The sound of metal being crushed echoed around. Daisuke, wearing a thin smile, slowly started walking. The giant's arm broke, and his wrist, elbow and shoulder were crushed as if they were made of paper.

The giant raised a death throe. After pulverizing the giant's arm, Daisuke grabbed the princess doll directly. Turning around, he threw the doll in his hands.

"Ow—"

The doll hit the bespectacled boy squarely in the back of his head. He turned back, startled.

"Whoa, you're really strong… well, as expected from someone who came this far."

He was surprised only for a moment; mumbling "oops", he went back to the game.

Neiko's singing voice brought Arisu back to herself. The machines scattered in the place returned to their previous positions like a video being played back.

"W-was that a monster now? Well? We beat it."

"Aah, so thou art truly the true Heroes. As promised, I shall give thee the legendary weapon! —It's over there so go and take it."

As if he couldn't be bothered with it, the boy pointed at the wall to the side. There was a metal pipe left lying there.

"I don't really know about it, but it can be used with a Mushi's power, right?"

"…! How did you—"

"Do you seek the Center of Hearts? 

"What, thou ask about the Center Hearts location? I see. The legend says that if you went to 'Kodaka Hill' you will be able to fulfill the prophecy. If thou seek the Center of Hearts, then go there—"

The boy didn't finish speaking. 

Daisuke grabbed his head from behind. Seeing Daisuke's eyes reflected on the screen, the boy's movements stopped in place.

"What is it? We no longer have any business, right? Please just go?"

"…"

"Making that scary face won't help you. We can't speak of anything other than our roles. The ones you've met this far were also like that right?"

Without getting angry at the snorting boy, Daisuke turned back to Arisu.

"Arisu. Use the Morpho butterfly's sensing ability to find where this guy's Mushi is."

[[File:Mushi_Uta_Bug_5th_p117.jpg|thumb]]

"Huh?"

"You said that if we reach another dead end we'll find another method, right? —From now on, we'll turn everyone we find to Fallen. The one remaining would be the leader."

Arisu widened her eyes. The boy lost his composure.

"W-wait a second…! Why would you go that far! All of us are just—"

There was a dull sound. Daisuke pushed the boy's forehead against the screen.

"Daisuke!"

"O-ow…! W-what is it! Stop it, let go!"

"Does it hurt? If you think what you did was just a prank, I'll open your eyes."

"Don't screw with me! We're just playing a game! Right, this is just a game…! Mushi are also just game characters…"

The boy's behavior changed. Unlike before when he was completely calm, he mumbled to himself with his face against the screen. His shoulders shaking, they heard him grinding his teeth.

Now lit by the screen, they noticed the boy's face was dirty. Even his expensive-looking shirt was quite dirty.

Daisuke grimaced.

"So this is escapism…"

"Huh?"

"It's something that happens during capture missions at times. Fearing their own Mushi, and being feared by other people as Mushitsuki, some guys stubbornly refuse to look at reality. …Shit, why haven't I noticed until now? All of the ones we met so far were the same."

The surprised Arisu looked at the bespectacled boy.

"He probably also ran away from somewhere. So that means he'd been picked up by someone."

The young boy became pale. More than being afraid of Daisuke, he looked like he wanted to run away from everything.

Arisu bit her lips hard.

"Say, kid. Where's that Center of Hearts place?"

"No… I won't tell you… If the Center of Hearts is gone, no one would help me… and we'll be caught by you, the SEPB…"

Daisuke grimaced.

"So you're protecting that Center of Hearts place in exchange for being protected. Who's the one protecting you all?"

"The people covering for you might be gone. If they keep using their power like that, they wouldn't last long."

"…! Erii wouldn't last…?"

The boy changed his expression. He held his mouth with a surprise.

"We are not your enemies. We simply want to talk with this Erii. Is Erii in that Center of Hearts place?"

"Uh… Uuugh…"

Perhaps hesitating, the boy groaned.

A short while later, the boy playing the part of a King named a certain elementary school in Kurobishi Town.