Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 13 Chapter 5 (section)

== 5.04 Another OPS4 ==

The temporary headquarters were in utter chaos.

Still smiling, Miguruma returned Goroumaru Touko’s glare.

“A reserve plan?”

Branch Head Takemi hounded Goroumaru Touko.

“I’ve heard nothing about it either. What does it mean?”

“Reviving Lady Bird.”

Goroumaru Touko spoke clearly.

The tent immediately became silent.

“Wha—”

Before the confused Takemi managed to complete his question, Touko continued.

“We’ve added Mimic to the suicide corps. She drew out Lady Bird’s memories from the Database and took them over.”

None there seemed to understand the meaning of Touko’s words.

However, Miguruma alone understood.

She knew that this was possible.

“Also, Harukiyo took Kanon along with him. He should definitely be able to seal the Undying instead of Sleeping Beauty.”

Kanon.

Miguruma had received the reports about him, so she knew. She heard he wasn’t a Mushitsuki but just a swindler, but judging from Touko’s expression, that was apparently not the case.

“I see. So it means you’ve estimated the plans would fail in the first place.”

As Miguruma grinned at her, Touko shook her head.

“No, it was nothing more than a reserve plan, really. After all, if we carried out those plans, Mimic-san and Kanon-kun… were not going to end well.”

“If you really think so, you will remain incompetent forever.”

Touko furrowed her brows at Miguruma’s words.

She now understood, based on these circumstances.

Behind Miguruma’s plan, there was a precaution taken to avoid the worst-case scenario.

“What do you mean?”

“Am I wrong? It was like this with Minmin, too. Using pawns without any regret. As long as the goal’s reached, what happens to the pawn doesn’t matter. —That’s ''his'' way of doing things. You could say it’s natural for Mimic and Kanon to end like that.”

Miguruma looked behind the frozen Goroumaru.

She spoke toward the entrance to the tent.

“That was splendid. I had somewhat guessed this, but since you showed no movements, I lost interest. —You’ve fooled me completely.”

In this tent where only related people could enter, a slim youth showed himself.

He had a lanky body and rimless glasses. His face was also as pale as a sick person, but he was properly standing on his two legs.

He had a handsome face, but he looked too high-strung.

And his most conspicuous feature—was his faint smile.

“Welcome back, Branch Head Haji Keigo.”

Miguruma was the only one to greet the return of this tactician with a full smile.

The other branch heads were speechless with shock. With eyes just like they saw a ghost, they glared at the emaciated man.

“B-Branch Head Haji… were you not in a coma?”

Branch Head Takemi barely managed to ask.

“—I have woken up just now.”

Haji Keigo lied immediately upon speaking his first words, wearing his faint smile.

Miguruma also understood Takemi’s feelings.

She’d wondered before whether the man had already been awake. After all, Goroumaru Touko was supposedly incompetent and yet, at times the man’s shadow could be sensed from the movements and decisions she had from time to time.

This was the cautious Haji, after all. Goroumaru Touko was probably the only person who knew about his revival. He hid himself, and behind the scenes—slowly gathered those like Mimic and Kanon, and possibly many other trump cards as well.

“Haji-senpa—Branch Head Haji. About Mimic-san and Kanon-san…”

“Are you trying to ask me whether I intended on sacrificing them all along? —Come on, there’s no way. Please trust your superior a little.”

Haji Keigo spoke brazenly. His frivolous way of speaking also helped, but there was no doubt that even those close to him couldn’t tell the truth.

Why? Because he never trusted anyone other than himself.

The complete opposite of Miguruma who was filled with love, he was cool-headed and cold-hearted as he accomplished his goals—

This was Miguruma’s evaluation of the man called Haji Keigo.

“Superior? I’m glad you seem to be feeling well, but I have no memory of approving your return.”

“Can’t I?”

“I shall allow it now.”

Miguruma grinned and Haji Keigo wore a faint smile.

Their gazes crossed.

“Haji Keigo. I will acknowledge your reinstitution into the position of East Central Branch Head.”

“Thank you very much, Vice-Deputy Miguruma.”

The two tacticians confronted head-on.

It was then that the voices of the intelligence division cut in.

“Incoming report! While being transported to GARDEN, Kakkou has vanished!”

''Twitch.

Miguruma and Haji both frowned at the same time.

“This report has arrived belatedly due to our focus on transmissions from the three operations!”

“…I see.”

Hearing the name Kakkou, she thought this was Haji’s doing as well.

However, judging from his response, that was apparently wrong. The same went for him; he came to know that this wasn’t Miguruma’s scheme after seeing her response.

Haji shrugged.

“It appears that people other than us have made their moves as well.”

“Apparently.”

“Now then—as all actors are now gathered, let us start this again.”

“Start what, exactly?”

Miguruma tilted her head, but she actually knew the answer.

Since this man appeared—this man who could tell much, much nastier lies than the likes of Kanon—there was no doubt he began moving toward putting an end to the fight between Mushitsuki.

He could be said to be the complete opposite to Miguruma, who wanted to be able to love Mushitsuki for eternity.

“You have said this yourself. This is—the fight between the old and new age of Mushitsuki.”

Haji Keigo wore a cynical smile.

Unlike his tone of voice, his gaze—

“I will bet on no more new Mushitsuki being born.”

His sharp eyes declared war on Miguruma Yaeko.


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