Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 2nd Episode 08 (section)

===Part 5===

“''Ugh—''”

The crimson hell fire that propagated throughout his vision.

And the opening door.

Before Daisuke’s mind even comprehended what was happening, his body moved on its own.

The body of the checkered beetle morphed into a mass of feelers which fused with his body as if imprinting onto him. He grasped the elevator doors with his hands which were covered in a green pattern, digging deeply into the door made of a metal alloy.

“…''Ooooh!''”

The shrill noise of metal creaking echoed inside the elevator. With his superhuman strength, Daisuke forcefully pulled close the opening doors. He then immediately turned around from the door left with his handprint and pushed Miguruma Yaeko against the back wall.

[[File:Mushi Uta Bug 2nd p233.jpg|thumb]]

“…!”

An overwhelming shockwave hit the back of Daisuke who covered Yaeko with his body. If he wasn’t supporting his body against the wall, he would not have been able to remain standing. The doors of the elevator deformed, but it wasn’t enough to withstand the shockwave and he was hit by an impact.

The blast travelled through the outside of the elevator and reverberated down the elevator shaft. The devastating volume paralysed his eardrums, causing him temporary deafness.

“''Gu… uu…!''”

An alarm sounded in the remnants of the explosion. The synthesised voice making the announcement was probably calling for an alert, but Daisuke could only barely make it out with his numbed eardrums. However, even that soon trailed off into noise.

“…I see. So that is what happened.”

When his eyes met with that of the woman in his arms, a chill ran down his back.

There was a smile of enjoyment on the face of Miguruma Yaeko.

Her narrow eyes looked straight ahead, seeing past Daisuke into the interior of the unobservable passageway. With fluid movements like that of a puppet, she retrieved her mobile phone from the pocket of her suit and placed it to her ear.

“I cannot seem to get through. Either the relay is destroyed, or perhaps the communication system is charred. There is a need for us to go check it. We need to confirm the extent of damage as well.”

“…”

“What is the matter? I am saying that we need to move from here.”

Yaeko coolheadedly passed down an order to the dumbfounded Daisuke.

“''Guh…!''”

Bearing the intense pain shooting from his back, Daisuke distanced himself from his superior. The lights had cracked, scattering glass fragments all over the floor. With a lurch, he fell onto the glass-littered ground, cutting his forehead sending blood flowing.

“What the hell… just happened?”

The elevator doors were bent towards the insides as if it was hit by a wrecking ball. That plainly showed just how powerful the explosion was.

“There is a need for us to determine that is exactly what I have said. I hope that you have not lost your rationality over a trifle matter like that, Kakkou.”

Yaeko placed her hand over the misshapen door and said in a tone like that of a mother admonishing her child.

“To think that you used to be Blaze Class Rank 1, I see that you still a child after all… Fret not. I shall issue the commands, you need only to follow them.”

“…!”

Daisuke unconsciously clenched his fists, but his bit down his teeth to suppress his anger. Yaeko’s calmness was abnormal, but they were currently not in a situation for an argument.

He placed his ear to the door, listening for the state of affairs on the opposite side.

There was still the sound of explosions, but they seem to be getting further. He also did not feel the severe heat anymore. He placed his hands on the now crushed together doors.

“Stand down.”

When he exerted some strength, one side of the door easily fell inwards. The shaft seemed to have been weakened from the explosion and broke under his strength.

“Wha-—”

Looking at the scene ahead, he instinctively took a gulp.

The flames that he saw right before he shut the doors must have been scattered by the shockwave. The vestiges of destruction spoke of the power of the explosion. The walls appeared to be relatively undamaged owing to their strengthened construction for bearing the pressure of being underground, but all the doors along the passageway were reduced to rubble beyond recognition. The lightings installed into the ceiling were turned into molten glass and coating by the blaze which rained down. Nothing could be heard apart from the warning alarm and the sound of explosions in the distance.

Right beside them was someone in a white coat and goggles collapsed. He was probably here to escort Yaeko. He managed to escape losing his life thanks to the heat-resistant coat and had just lost consciousness.

“!”

Another explosion occurred.

A ball of flame shot out from a room which had lost its door and disappeared beyond the crossway. That was not all. Just then, fireballs which seemed to have a live of their own flew past all around their view.

“…! Oi, wait!”

Daisuke grasped the arm of Yaeko who walked ahead unperturbed.

“What is it? If we do not act post-haste, the damage will only worsen further, Kakkou. Also, I do not have any hopes of that incompetent Vice-director being able to issue the appropriate commands.”

“What are you, an idiot! No matter how you look at it, it’s far too dangerous! Do not move from here!”

“Indeed, this is an emergency. As such, I shall overlook your affront towards a superior for this time only. Do take note to mind your words in the future.”

Even after witnessing such a hellish carnage, she still spoke in a mild tone. Her chain-like smile wrapped itself around Daisuke.

“Come now, let us move. I have an idea of what is cause behind this. In addition, there is a need for us to hurry. We absolutely cannot leave this to that inept oaf.”

Leaving behind the frozen Daisuke, Yaeko stepped into the passageway. Bathed in the rain of fire, a portion of her suit was scorched. Even so, her smile never crumbled.

“Let’s look for a functioning electronic device. After that, we will head to a certain location.”

“…Damn it!”

Clicking his tongue, Daisuke got into motion. He removed the coat from the collapsed bureau member and placed him in the relatively safer interior of the elevator.

He then chased after Yaeko who had proceed without him and roughly put the white coat over her.

“I guess it is dangerous no matter where you go… Where’s the first place we’re going.”

“To the Monitor Room about two hundred metres away. If we manage to secure a means of communicating with the upper levels, I can get to the Navigator Room to pass down orders.”

Yaeko, with the white coat draped around her shoulders, only ever looked to the front. —In the end, she did not even bat an eyelid at the member that was collapsed on the ground. Daisuke couldn’t even begin to imagine what was she looking at.

“…!”

An explosion blasted out from the front. The potent shockwave sent the remains of a door flying towards them.

He instantly shoved Yaeko into a room on the side and jumped in himself.

“''Guah!''”

Failing to dodge it completely, a sharp metal fragment sliced his shoulder.

“Looks like I was right to order most of the personnel to evacuate from this level.”

Ignoring Daisuke who fell to the ground on his knees, Yaeko returned to the passageway.

“Evacuate, you say…? Just what is on this floor?”

She remained silent to Daisuke’s query as he picked himself off the floor holding his shoulder. Daisuke clicked his tongue.

“…You damned woman…!”

“I did mention that I would overlook your affront only once. Consider if your addressee is not me.”

The two advanced down the passageway peppered by spitting flames. Daisuke acted as a substitute for the debris raining from the ceiling and as a shield for the proximate explosions for Yaeko.

“The Monitor Room is beyond this wall. We should see the entrance before long.”

Yaeko pushed on a breakneck speed, while Daisuke chased from behind with heavy breathing.

“Oi…”

“What is it?”

“What kind of fellow… is Sanbikime?”

Her expression did not even change at the abrupt question.

—Daisuke did not know anything about the entity that turned him into a Mushitsuki. Just who was it that caused him to live the life of a Mushitsuki; he wanted to know what was it that made him such that he could only lead a life of fighting. But, what he wanted to know above all else was—.

Just what feelings did it had when it conversed with Hanashiro Mari.

What did it speak about to the girl which it had cursed to an unfortunate fate. And also, why did Hanashiro Mari not resent that which had turned her into a Mushitsuki.

Daisuke wanted to know that.

“That is unknown.”

Yaeko replied in an unchanging tone.

“We did not manage to get in direct contact with the target. —Because we laid waste to the entire island where it concealed itself.”

—''Screech.''

The sound of something creaking came from above their head.

Daisuke stopped in his tracks.

“What… did you say?”

“Apart from the few survivors, there were no other living residents confirmed. In other words, they were exterminated along with Sanbikime.”

—''Creak.''

The ceiling distorted right before their eyes.

“Looks like the heat has weakened the structural integrity. Let us hurry, I can see the entrance.”

A crimson conflagration filled the vision of Daisuke as he stood rooted to the ground.

The entrance to the Monitor Room was swallowed by explosive fumes which spurted out from the room opposite. The inferno spewed out with great ferocity that showed no signs of stopping.

“…It will be more roundabout, but let us make a detour.”

Yaeko turned around from where Daisuke is. The ground quaked, and a large fire appeared before her eyes.

—An explosion blasted from behind them, filling the passage with flames.

As a result, the two of them were trapped in the straight pathway from both sides.

“You… killed them? Those unrelated people… who have nothing to do with us Mushitsuki—”

—''Squeak.''

The metal making up the ceiling deformed. A tremor like an earthquake caused them to lose their balance.

“That is unkind of you, Kakkou. It is not as if I have killed human beings.”

Facing each other, the darkness at the back of Yaeko’s eyes seemed to sneer.

“As long as one of the Original Three is around, there is no knowing if one has been turned into a Mushitsuki or not. For all we know, all of the island’s populace could have been Mushitsuki.”

Yaeko spoke in a kind tone that seemed to embrace the immobilised Daisuke.

“If they were Mushitsuki, then they would not be human, is that not so?”

—Before he even realized, he was grasping the smiling Yaeko’s neck with his hand.

He did not know since when he even closed the distance between them, or why didn’t he just snap her neck there and then.

“Could it be that, Kakkou. You still think of yourself as a human?”

Looking down at Daisuke who was filled with killing intent, Yaeko still had a smile on her face.

“Do you still remember Fuyuhotaru? Holding supernatural power, she was a monster that drove the past SEPB to near annihilation. The ones who controls Mushi, something that should not exist in this world, are the Mushitsuki. Yet, Fuyuhotaru crushed all of them like they were insects. —What about you, who is even capable of suppressing such a monster? Who was the one who went on to turn even more Mushitsuki into Fallen one after another? Do you still yearn to be labelled as a human after accomplishing all that?”

If it was about himself, he had already given up. He was also used to being called a monster.

However, if this woman in front of him dares to.

The girl who entrusted her dream to Daisuke two years ago—.

And Hanashiro Mari who had a close friend who would get mad just from having her being slightly made fun of—.

And also, all the other Mushitsuki… who live desperately for the sake of themselves and their dreams—.

If she dares to say that they not human.

Most likely, he would.

“But, do not worry.”

Yaeko smiled compassionately like that of a saint.

“I would still love all of you even though you are monsters.”

Without hesitation.

Daisuke slowly exerted strength into the hand grasping her neck—.

''—Stop it!''

When he heard a voice.

“…!”

Just like the time when he was about to turn the Mushitsuki called Yomori Neiko into a Fallen.

Like that time when he was tormenting a Mushitsuki young man before the eyes of Rina.

As if she was trying to stop Daisuke from crossing the line into becoming a true monster.

''—Daisuke!''

It felt as though he could see the figure of the petite girl standing before him in obstruction.

“''Uu… uuu…!''”

He released his trembling arm from Yaeko. Having lost the target of his rage, he could do nothing but raise a groan.

''In the case, what should I do then…? What is the right thing I should do?''

“Are you suffering, Kakkou? I shall save you then.”

Yaeko cupped Daisuke’s cheeks with her hands.

“You do not have to think about anything. You do not have to do anything, just accept my love for you.”

And whispered sweetly.

Just that felt terribly soothing to him.

—''Creak.''

A shrill noise came from the ceiling again. The grating sound got louder, and the ceiling gradually buckled down.

“Let us escape from here. I am certain that you are able to do this, Kakkou.”

“…”

Daisuke swatted away her hands and dragged his battered body up.

“Kakkou?”

They were assaulted by tremors without end and surrounded back and front by fire spouts. To make matters worse, the ceiling was ready to collapse on them anytime.

Daisuke raised his arm up—and smashed it into the sidewall.

Yaeko’s feet left the ground for a moment. Such unimaginable impact shook the entire floor they were in. The single blow without holding back at all left a bloody imprint of his fist in the wall.

He then continued with his left fist. Once again, his skin tore and scattered blood all over.

Without pausing, he brought down his right fist onto the wall.

Right, followed by left, followed by right and repeat. The sound of fists punching the wall reverberated noisily in the enclosed passageway.

The patterns covering his cheeks and fists released a green glow.

Daisuke felt something important within himself being eroded steadily.

What Mushitsuki utilised was the power of the Mushi. And what the Mushi feed on, is the dream of its host—.

“It seems that you have reached the last of your strength. Even if it is you, Kakkou, you are far too feeble.”

He could hear Yaeko heave a sigh. However, he ignored it and continued to punch the wall.

The ceiling sank further.

''—Perhaps, it may be fine to just die at a place like this.''

That too, felt like an exceedingly attractive temptation.

However, he did not stop his fists.

Rather than his bloodied fists, he felt his cheek hurting.

It was the pain from being hit by somebody.

The pain disallowed him to come to a standstill, to sink into nothingness.

The imaginary pain moved Daisuke to action.

There was probably an explosion somewhere else. Along with a vertical shake, the ceiling at the front of the passageway collapsed.

“It appears that time is up.”

Gazing at the nearby destruction, Yaeko muttered as if it was someone else’s problem.

“''—Aaaaah!''”

With all his might, Daisuke drove his fist into the wall.

“''Oooh!''”

He gripped the wall with his blood-stained hands and pulled with his full strength.

The wall of the passageway—several tens of metres long, with thickness broader than his body, was teared off.

“…”

The smile disappeared from Yaeko’s face for the first time. Her narrows eyes were slightly widened.

Just as she mentioned, it was a wide room with monitors lining the walls. Daisuke roughly grabbed her wrist and entered the room.

At the same time as when they entered, the passageway behind them collapsed.

''Why did I—.''

He felt his mind to be in a daze and could not think of anything despite the feeling that he was here for some reason.

The green pattern on his skin became astir.

''Why am I here—.''

“Well done, Kakkou. There is still one job left for you to do.”

With a smile of satisfaction, Yaeko put on the headphone placed atop one of the panels. After pressing a few more buttons, several monitors came to life.

“Can you hear me, Navigator Room. —Yes, please transmit the extent of damages to me. And also, please activate the bulwarks on the deepest floor to the highest level. That is of utmost importance.”

She relayed order down one after another into the microphone.

“Kakkou. Please leave from that exit and head to the Interrogation Room at the end of the passage. Your equipment has already been prepared for you. The cause of our current crisis is located right there.”

At the back of the room, opposite the door locked down by fire was another exit.

“I have judged that it is unnecessary to interrogate him. —Exterminate him.”

Daisuke obeyed the command and ran towards the exit.

“Depending on the result, you may be re-acknowledged to be Blaze Class Rank 1.”

''Blaze Class Rank 1—.''

What meaning did that title hold.

And what did it bring himself.

Something disappeared from inside himself such that he could not even remember what it was.

However, just this he knew.

That no matter what he must do—he had to reclaim it at all costs.

“…”

He opened the door and dashed down the corridor.

There too, was invaded by flames.

Daisuke ran across amidst the rain of fire.

Eventually, he stood before a door.

There was a slot at the side of the wall. Inside was a jet-black coat and goggles, along with his familiar handgun.

He reached out for them mechanistically.

He put on the black long coat adorned with belts over his suit. He then retrieved a pair of thick gloves from the pocket of the coat and put them over his lacerated hands.

He placed the large goggles that covered over half of his face over his head and extended his hand towards the large automatic handgun.

Green feelers stretched out from his arm and coiled around the handgun. In the barrel of the gun morphed into the shape of the checkered beetle’s jaws, a bullet spun at high revolution.

Finally, he slowly opened the door.

What welcomed the fully-equipped Daisuke was a hell filled with inferno.

Heat air swept past him down the corridor, scorching the surface of the heat-resistant coat.

What was reflected in his eyes was a pure-white space.

And also, the large number of people in white coats lying on the ground.

At the centre of it all was—.

“Every single one of you tom, dick and harry are nothing but half-hearted.”

The crimson blaze which spread throughout the room.

They all originated from the person which was wrapped in a heat haze that resembled a Great Yama tiger beetle with fangs of unequal lengths.

“I’ll have to pay you back dearly for this debt. Don't you agree, SEPB!”

The youth with a tattoo on his cheek—Sehateno Harukiyo smiled like a demon.