Editing Hyouketsu Kyoukai no Eden:Volume 5 Interlude (section)

===Part 3===

Governmental Sector Central Area, Third Sector aircraft hanger.

 

“Say, Maha-san, do you believe in astrology?”

The jet black night road looked like paint was smeared over it.

A clear tenor male voice unsuited to the night echoed through the giant container filled with mountains of documents.

“……”

“Fumu, are you not interested? Then please listen so that you become interested.”

A tall, lean shadow stood up within the darkness.

A jet black suit with golden buttons, jet black shoes and a jet black rimmed hat. That was an outfit meant to blend into black.

Within the silence of night, only his voice penetrated endlessly.

“The people of old viewed the stars as mysterious. The custom of “star gazing” in the middle of the night was born and from there, various constellations and asterisms were drawn. Furthermore, meaning was added to those actions and it became ritualistic in “star chants”, and this was the origin of astrology.”

Pale blonde hair waving in the night wind and a shapely nose and mouth.

The brimmed hat worn low over her eyes hid them from view but her silhouette was more than enough to convey her beauty.

“Many people are charmed by this. Sometimes it might be prominent with women. But I think I’d like to deny any ties to this astrology. ……I can’t permit it.”

With a hand upon the hat’s brim, that person turned towards the sky and spread both hands.

“Why must people look about this beautiful sky with such precepts? Even though it would be fine if they just innocently appreciate that moment and brilliance without corrupting it with the human construct of fortune telling. ……Because the stars are this beautiful just by being there.”

Thinking about it with a heart as pure as a child’s……

Even though only looking, praising, stringing together words and singing would be good enough.

“We, the adults, are forgetting something important. Don’t you think so?”

“……Igun-I.”

For the first time, the other man that had been standing there spoke.

A man of large build wrapped in a faded ocher robe.

The hooded robe covered all the way from his head to his feet and above that in various places ── the parts associated with the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist and knees were bound with a ring apparatus.

“Yes, what is it, Maha-san?”

“……It’s time.”

Not particularly addressing the pitch black young man’s question, Maha simply conveyed that one sentence.

“The ritual’s……preparations will take some time.”

“Ahh, that’s right. It has to be prepared now.”

Without a hint of being upset, Igun-I ruffled his suit.

“……Really.”

“Does it really exist? Yes, the shinryoku crystal, ‘''Mikuva’s Crimson Eye''‘, which records all events in this world. '''It is incomplete in the end''' but it is troublesome to allow the Governmental Sector to continue using it. If a qualified individual is found, my and even Maha-san’s private life will be completely bared, you know?”

Heh. He instead smiled deeper with happiness.

“And see, the problem right now is the conference that’s being held. {{furigana|Tenketsu Palace|Sophia}} and the Governmental Sector are not idiots so they should notice that something’s out of place pretty soon. If they use the ‘''Crimson Eye''‘ to investigate the truth, a great deal about us will come to light too……it’s too early, it is not yet that time.”

“…………”

“Eh? Of course, as always. Maha-san will break through the front. Please draw out the Holy Hall’s guardians. I will secretly change the ‘Crimson Eye’s‘ system using that opening. It’ll be more convenient later if we change it to benefit us instead of destroying it.”

Igun-I walked straight north along the public road.

Maha who was trailing behind by a few steps leisurely walked up beside him.

“…………”

“You wish to know if it’s possible to change it? Ahh, I told you it was inviolable before but that’s just what the Governmental Sector’s researchers think. They have no suitable individuals so they have no way of confirming it. Of course, it’s impossible to change it but it is possible to change the circumstances under which events are recorded. ……In other words, we’ll just make it so only our information isn’t recorded.”

Finally, a large shadow came into view.

In the hushed world of the stars and night, a structure cast a shadow even darker than the night.

“Well, even that is something only a perfectly suitable person is able to accomplish.”

Looking up at the Governmental Sector from far in the distance, Igun-I softly smiled.