Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 2nd Episode 06 (section)

===Part 4===

Standing enshrouded by the fog, the only thing they could see was a track running into the fog.

Taking a deep gulp of breath, Daisuke plunged his head under water. He placed his ear by the track.

“''Puhaa''… The rail car seems to still be moving. The track is still vibrating.”

He emerged from the water and spoke as he turned around.

There, he saw Kouta shivering with a pale look. The green fog entwining around his legs almost looked like millipedes.

Clicking his tongue, Daisuke unhesitatingly slapped the boy.

“…! That hurts!”

“Are you awake now?”

With those cold words, Daisuke glared at the boy who was holding his cheek. The millipede wrapped around his legs reverted into fog.

“When did you realized.”

Kouta knotted his eyebrows at Daisuke’s question.

“You said that that Himeko girl is a Mushitsuki. When did you realized?”

“…It was just recently. I only saw the Mushi when I was with her, I never would have thought…”

Kouta spoke, not bothering to use honorific language any longer.

“So, knowing that she was a Mushitsuki made you scared? No, you were definitely afraid. The fact that you didn’t chase her just now was also because you couldn’t get over that.”

It seems that Daisuke hit the mark. Kouta struggled for words and glared at Daisuke.

“That has nothing to do with you, right.”

“No, it does. If you had just reported her to the police out of fear, the information would have automatically been passed down to us as orders. In that case, we could have secured her at an earlier stage.”

“Secured…?”

Kouta’s expression changed.

“Who the hell are you…? What are you intending to do with her!”

Daisuke stretched his hand out into the fog. The hard sensation he felt must have been the wall. He was practically blind in this fog.

''This is bad, the Mushi is going berserk… Will I make it in time if I chase them now?''

As he deliberated over what to do, Daisuke looked into the tunnel.

Arisu is next to Himeko’s side. The morpho butterfly entrusted to her by Hanashiro Mari is powerful, but there are many unknowns to it. It would probably be best to expect that she cannot handle this situation.

Right at this moment, Daisuke’s heartbeat continued to rise. A chill that felt as if the scythe of the grim reaper was held at his throat riddled him.

“A mental manipulation, no, a mental erosion type, is it. Is this emotion ‘fear’? An ability that gives rise to terror in humans… How troublesome.”

Daisuke followed the rail tracks.

“Oi! I’m asking you what are you intending to do to Himeko—”

The hand that Kouta placed on Daisuke’s shoulder was violently swatted off by him.

“Special Type Mushitsuki—especially those with this kind of abilities are extremely dangerous. Not only to other, but also to themselves.”

“Wha-…”

“Shinpu… The bastard that gives rise to Special Type Mushitsuki enjoys instigating people to be possessed by Mushi. Also, most of them are unable to fully control those powers, especially those with abilities which can manipulate the mind. These host are often shown what they fear they the most. If their power continues to get stronger without training, it is only a matter of time before they self-destruct.”

Before Kouta who stared at him in surprise, Daisuke opened his waist pouch. From there, he retrieved a mechanical goggle and equipped it.

“I am going to secure that girl you call Himeko. Don’t get in my way.”

The sight of the grinning Daisuke must have scared him and Kouta bit his lips.

“You… Are you really the same person as just now…”

Daisuke perked up his head.

The movement of the fog was weird. It was being accumulating inside the tunnel as if being absorbed.

“Does it still have some other ability?”

Perking his ears, Daisuke could hear the sound of something running in the water.

A shadowy figure appeared from within the dense fog.

Daisuke’s face twisted slightly.

The one that emerged from the fog was a person completely decked out in black. The coat with belts all over was awfully familiar to Daisuke. Their legs, arms and finally a pair of red spots came into view.

The red spots came from the goggles that covered the majority of his face. It was the exact same model as the one Daisuke wore currently. On one hand of the figure with a devil-like smile was a large handgun.

That person was someone who should not have been around—someone that could never have come face-to-face with Daisuke.

“What’s with you, keeping quiet all of a sudden…”

As if he couldn’t see the person in front, Kouta looked at Daisuke suspiciously.

Daisuke closed his eyes tranquilly.

He had practiced intensively in keeping his mind calm and clear. He maintained a void in his mind that swallowed all anxiety, fear, anger and any other emotions.

“So, this is another effect that comes from amplifying the fear in people’s heart. This would probably have a great effect on normal people. But—”

Daisuke opened his eyes and glared at the person in front with a strong gaze.

“It’s useless. I won’t be affected by this kind of attacks.”

The person in black coat burst and reverted into fog.

The surroundings returned into silence.

Daisuke breathed out and glanced at Kouta who stood there in a stupor.

“Since something tried to attack me, there’s a high chance that they will target you as well. It may be dangerous to just chase them like this… Kakkou!”

A green insect landed on the arm that Daisuke held out. It was a checkered beetle with antennas several times the length of its body.

The checkered beetle transformed. It expanded into countless feelers that fused with Daisuke’s body.

“Wha-…!”

Before the dumbfounded Kouta, Daisuke’s body was covered by a green pattern.

“The exit should be at the other side of the building. We’re going to circle around there first!”

Daisuke raised his fist towards the wall.

However, right then, Kouta seemed to have noticed something and raised his face. What he was looking at was beyond the fog in the tunnel.

Daisuke could not see anything, but he seemed to have. His eyes widened to the size of marbles.

“Himeko…?”

''Is it too late—.''

Daisuke clenched his teeth.