Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 12 Chapter 1 (section)

== 1.04 The Others ==

Fuyuhotaru—Anmoto Shiika—left the dome with her comrades.

Around the dome was a perimeter of soldiers. Were they there to protect the SEPB from outside enemies, or perhaps—to seal the danger known as Mushitsuki there? Shiika, for one, thought it was the latter, judging from the complexion of the soldiers looking at them.

Among the ten-odd Mushibane members, Shiika, Lucifera, Aijisupa, Namie and Halensis alone entered the limousine. The remaining members entered a van.

“You are all so pale. Caught a cold? Yahaha.”

Inside the car was a girl with a wineglass in her right hand and a cane in the shape of an upside-down letter J in her left hand. She was the same age as Shiika and wore a luxurious dress.

“First of all, congrats for defeating Shinpu, I guess? You’ve cleared one of our goals, the defeat of the Original Three, right?”

Akasegawa Nanana. Despite being a teenager, she served as the chairman of one of the country’s most prominent conglomerates, the Akasegawa Group. She was also Mushibane’s sponsor.

“Chairman, it is still morning. You really should abstain from drinking alcohol.”

Nanana’s secretary was also present. She was as expressionless as always, and was hugging a teddy bear atop her knees as always.

“Thanks, Nanana.”

Shiika did not return a full smile to Nanana’s congratulatory remarks. Inside the limousine there were two long seats and a table in the middle. Shiika sat next to Nanana.

“My, what an awkward smile you have. So there was trouble?”

Nanana had seen through her. Shiika silently exchanged glances with Lucifera.

“Explain it to us as well. What were you talking about with the SEPB?”

“Right. They seem busy, but what’s going on from now?”

Aijisupa, the boy with a headband, and Halensis, the girl with her characteristic black, long hair that looked like the idealized Japanese woman asked. —On the other hand, the adult-looking woman, Namie, said nothing. She spoke little ever since seeing Kakkou become a Fallen right in front of her eyes.

“—I will start explaining!”

With a sorrowful expression, Lucifera began talking about the events inside the tent.

The limousine drove on the road while avoiding debris.

The remains of the battle between the unleashed Shinpu and SEPB who tried stopping him became more gruesome the more one approached the city’s center. All power poles were broken and the office buildings emptied of people were wrapped in creepy silence.

From time to time, a crunching sound accompanied by vibration shook the limousine as it drove over some asphalt fragment.

Lucifera explained the truths that came to light one by one.

About their new enemy, C, who’d absorbed the powers of Shinpu, and the threat she posed.

About Harukiyo working to wake up Sleeping Beauty, who would become their new leader.

And—about Mushibane having to defeat Oogui as soon as possible.

“—Oh, so we need to wake up that girl.”

Nanana mumbled. Putting her glass on the table, she looked out of the window, narrowing her eyes.

Surprised, Shiika looked at the girl next to her.

“Nanana. Do you know this Sleeping Beauty person?”

“Oh, do I. Too much. Certainly if it’s her, she’d be able to lead everyone at the front. It was the same back then…”

As she said that her profile looked full of nostalgy, but there was also a bit of anger mixed in it. Since Nanana was always drunk and foolish, this was Shiika’s first time to see her face like that.

“Back then?”

“The fight that made her fall asleep. She invited Kakkou and Harukiyo, as well as Lady Bird… she united the three Rank 1s and more than a hundred Mushitsuki to try beating Oogui. —It ended up as a big failure with only a handful of survivors, though.”

Nanana furrowed her brows. She made no attempt to hide her disappointment.

“I thought this was all over, though. Trying to rely on her again so late into the game… it’s so convenient that I’m going to hurl.”

“Being able to unite the Rank 1s… she really was an outrageous Mushitsuki.”

Hearing Halensis’ leaked mumble, Nanana snorted.

“Mushitsuki? That’s the outrageous part. She was a normal person.”

“Eh?”

Shiika and the rest were all shocked.

“She became a Mushitsuki only at the last moment. —She was nothing but a chain of irregularities.”

For a moment she looked displeased, but then burst into laughter.

“Also… are you telling me the reason for that girl to be dragged to a fight again is C? Yaha, there’s no end to irony here. This is a bad joke. They were so friendly and yet they’re enemies?”

Shiika was once again surprised. Unexpected facts came out of Nanana’s mouth one after another.

“Eh? Sleeping Beauty knew Erii—C?”

“They didn’t just know each other. The ones who captured C and brought her to the SEPB were none other than that girl and Kakkou. And they were as close as sisters.”

“Sleeping Beauty and… Kakkou, huh.”

Shiika had once fought against C.

That young girl was apparently extremely emotionally attached to Kakkou.

But in reality—it wasn’t just Kakkou.

Perhaps she held the same feelings toward Sleeping Beauty as well.

“We really do have to beat Oogui…”

For the sake of Sleeping Beauty, who also once attempted that.

And for the sake of C, who was friends with Sleeping Beauty.

If they managed to block any further evolution, maybe they didn’t need to beat C. Perhaps they could find another way to save her—

“Akasegawa. Don’t you know anything else?”

Until now silent, Aijisupa looked at Nanana.

“I realize that you haven’t told us about Sleeping Beauty until now because it was irrelevant. But that’s no longer the case. If you know something, anything at all, tell us.”

“Right… to be frank, I can’t agree with them waking up Sleeping Beauty. After all, if she wakes up it’ll cause a huge problem. The problem she’d been sealing.”

“As Oogui can use the abilities of Minion Types—if Sleeping Beauty wakes up, the sealed Undying will revive as well, making it impossible to defeat Oogui.”

Lucifera’s words caused everyone but Shiika to become speechless.

“All Minion Types…? Meaning, it can also use my ability—or even Snow’s?”

“Undying, you said?”

The surprised people commented on either the Undying that Lucifera spoke of or about Oogui’s ability.

Nanana also looked like she found this unexpected. She furrowed, puzzled.

“I’m shocked. Oogui’s ability is supposed to be top secret. That Miguruma Yaeko, how could she just go out and reveal that to Mushibane?”

Nanana, who had watched the fight of the past, apparently long knew this ability.

Shiika spoke next.

“Well, some person from the SEPB called Goroumaru just went and said it. Miguruma-san was angry at her…”

“Yaha, Kakkou’s boss. Nice, I wish I could’ve seen Miguruma’s face.”

“—Miguruma…!”

Hearing that name, Lucifera groaned. Namie then inquired her.

“What’s wrong, Lucifera?”

“Ah… n-no, it’s nothing.”

“By the way, Lucifera-san. You said Miguruma-san did something in that fight…”

“S-Snow-san!”

Lucifera hurriedly shut Shiika’s mouth.

Nanana and the others did not miss that clear reaction.

“What is it, you tell people to speak up and yet you hide things? Are you at a position to make me do something like that?”

“Lucifera?”

Halensis also added to the attack. Lucifera bit her lips.

“Looks like this is huge. What are you saying Miguruma did? The past fight… she shouldn’t have any relation to the fight on the night of the meteor shower. She just casually showed up after.”

Being pressed by Nanana, Lucifera apparently resigned. Holding her head, she spoke as if groaning.

“It’s that woman’s—Miguruma’s fault…”

“What is her fault?”

“That Lady retired from the fight just before it started—she was lured away by Miguruma’s scheme…”

Nanana and Halensis froze.

“—”

Having leaned ahead, Nanana now fell heavily back to her seat.

It was Halensis who emitted a voice first.

“No—way—”

Holding her head with trembling arms, Halensis shook all over.

“Since I’d only just become a member, I couldn’t be there—but some of my friends—I really have almost no idea what happened—if only we had Lady here—”

The sound of breaking glass reverberated.

Nanana violently swung her cane. The wine glass shattered and red liquid flew inside the car.

“The one who arranged this fight was me, you know…? So that means the one who made it all go to waste was that woman…? —Of course! Since the Undying noticed the fight at that timing it’s obviously odd for Miguruma alone to arrive there so late…! Damn it, I’ve been completely had…! T-that woman…! She really was picking up a fight with me. I haven’t noticed this until now…!”

Nanana bit her nails, her face twisted with fury. Shiika had never seen her so angry.

Lucifera also suffered.

“Please keep this a secret. To be honest, if this became wide-known among Mushibane, especially with the old members, they wouldn’t want to cooperate with the SEPB anymore…”

“T-that’s obvious! Who’d want to cooperate with that woman…!”

Shiika hurriedly tried calming Halensis.

“P-please calm down, Halensis-san! You too, Nanana…!”

“It’s fine, I’m an adult. I’m veeery good at choosing the right time and place for things. I’ll cooperate for now. However—”

Not even looking at Shiika’s face, she mumbled while glaring ahead with dangerous eyes.

“When everything’s over with, I’ll settle the score with the one who made a fool of Akasegawa Nanana… for sure.”

The car was instantly filled with murderous intent.

Only one calm voice rose in the midst of that.

“By the way, should we enter the main topic already?”

It was Aijisupa. Since this wasn’t from the time he’d entered Mushibane, it apparently didn’t interest him. While Nanana and Halensis glared at him, his face was cool.

“Saying that we have some plan to defeat Oogui isn’t a lie; right, Lucifera?”

“W-well—”

Lucifera stumbled. Grimacing, she averted her eyes from Aijisupa.

“I-I can’t tell you yet…”

“If you know of a way, I’d like to know about it as soon as possible.”

Nanana pressed Lucifera again.

However, this time Lucifera didn’t seem like she was going to spill it so easily. Rounding her body with a weak face, she was silent.

“What do you mean, you can’t tell us yet?”

Even Namie asking this was met with silence.

At that time, the limousine stopped. Nanana raised her hips.

“We’re here. —I’ll have you spit it all out when we formulate our strategy. From what you’ve said, it’s going to be hard for the suicide corps to beat C. So the key will be whether you can or cannot beat Oogui quickly.”

Shiika and the rest got off the limousine.

They arrived at a shopping district empty of people. There was as large building in front of a crossroads strewn with debris.

It was a large movie theater under the control of Akasegawa Group. All members of Mushibane were gathered inside.

“No, I do think the people of the suicide corps will do their best.”

While looking up at the theater, Shiika spoke clearly. Nanana furrowed her brows.

“How can you tell that?”

“Because that person called Terasu—is definitely strong.”

Shiika showed a smile, but Nanana appeared uninterested.

“I see. Well, I don’t really care. —But we can’t have it. If there’s a way to beat Oogui, I need you to talk, so be prepared.”

Nanana used her cane to strike Lucifera’s butt.

“Uuh…”

“—I’ll be to one to explain that…”

This small voice suddenly appeared from above Mushibane’s heads.

“…!”

Shiika’s group turned around, startled.

A girl clad in a white, long coat was standing on top of the parked van.

This was the Central Headquarters getup. She’d been apparently hiding on the van’s roof all this way without anyone noticing her.

The girl spoke while Mushibane remained cautious of her.

“I’m Konoha… I’m a member of the Central Headquarters, but I currently serve as an emissary of a ''certain someone'' and came here to negotiate with you…”

“Negotiate?”

Seeing Shiika tilt her head, the Mushitsuki called Konoha nodded.

“We might be able to offer you a person who’s being targeted by Oogui…”

Including Shiika, all Mushibane members looked shocked.

“In exchange—we want you to show us to a certain individual. To the one hidden by you, Alpha…”

“…!”

The primal Mushitsuki, Alpha.

A being who held the origin of Mushi. Shiika and others saved this Mushitsuki after risking their lives.

She knew that Mushibane were hiding Alpha—

Shiika didn’t know who the girl was, but this meant they needed to be cautious of her.

“Don’t know who you are, but looks like you have good timing.”

Nanana smiled boldly. Any negotiations were her forte.

“You shouldn’t be able to so easily tell who Oogui is targeting. Doesn’t that sound too convenient for you to find someone like that right now? It’s nothing short of a miracle. To be frank, I find it hard to believe you.”

“We didn’t just find her… she’d been targeted by Oogui before and resisted that temptation before…”

“…!”

“According to her, Oogui’s power looked like it weakened at the time… perhaps Oogui’s weakness is chasing after a dream and getting rejected… how about it? In your current state, is this not the best ‘bait’ possible?”

Oogui’s weakness.

This was the first time Shiika heard about anything like that.

Among the surprised Mushibane members, only Nanana wore a provocative smile.

“How interesting. That’s if that ‘bait’ really exists, though.”

“You are sure to accept this once you hear who that is. Her name is—”

And the one Konoha mentioned—

“Ebina Yuu.”

Was the name of Shiika’s friend.

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