Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 12 Chapter 1 (section)

== 1.02 Monma Makoto Part 3 ==

…Sleeping Beauty?

This title was unfamiliar to Makoto.

However, the only ones who looked puzzled were Makoto and Fuyuhotaru. The branch heads—and for some reason the cellphone girl who was Fuyuhotaru’s aide—all gasped.

Goroumaru Touko especially had her expression change.

“I oppose! We mustn’t do that!”

“And why is that? Acting Branch Head Goroumaru.”

“You ask why…?! You are surely also aware of the reason, Vice-Deputy! Waking her up means—”

Touko tried speaking but then bit her lips. She looked hesitate to keep speaking as if the mere act of continuing her words was going to cast a curse.

“Excuse me, who’s Sleeping Beauty?”

Makoto asked her superior, Branch Head Takemi.

The man looked at Miguruma. Confirming from her narrow eyes that she wasn’t going to stop him, he spoke with a complex expression.

“If I use the name Spear-Type or Spear User, surely you’ll understand? —She’s the final Rank 1.”

“The final Rank 1…?”

While caught in surprise, her voice overlapped with Fuyuhotaru’s. As she glared at Fuyuhotaru, the girl averted her eyes apologetically.

Practically every Mushitsuki heard the rumors that there were five Rank 1s.

Kakkou, Fuyuhotaru, Lady Bird, Harukiyo—and Spear User.

If so, then she definitely heard about her. However, as far as Makoto knew, Spear User had died in some unknown fight. It was also said that Kakkou killed her, and it was impossible to know the truth about the matter.

The Rank 1 called Spear User was gone. —At the very least this was the common knowledge.

“Is Spear User still alive?”

“I heard that she’s in a coma and will never wake up. But judging from the Vice-Deputy’s words, that’s apparently wrong.”

“Terasu and Branch Head Takemi, the answer to both your doubts is a definite ‘yes’. The Rank 1 called Spear User still lives, and waking her up is not impossible. It is simply that a small problem will present itself upon her waking.”

“A-a small problem? This isn’t at the level of—”

Touko refused to back down, but Miguruma looked at her calmly.

“There should only be few people aware of that problem, including me and Kakkou… but you seem to be aware of it, Acting Branch Head Goroumaru.”

“Ugh,” Touko groaned.

''Kakkou again…!

Makoto was angry. Still, this was the East Central Branch Head. There was no longer any doubt that they were in possession of a few secrets not even the other branch heads were aware of.

Did Kakkou—that man look down on mediocre Mushitsuki like Makoto because he knew what normal Mushitsuki didn’t?

If that was so—it wasn’t enough for him to end just as a Fallen. She felt like she wanted to rip him apart with her bare hands.

“Sleeping Beauty was a Fusion-Type Mushitsuki as well as a Minion-Type Mushitsuki.”

Miguruma spoke suddenly as if telling them a riddle.

“Nowadays not many know of it—or rather don’t need to, but she has lost a certain battle and fell asleep. And although she lost, during that fight she managed to join forces with the other Rank 1s and fought alongside them.” 

“The Rank 1s… combined forces?”

This was something she couldn’t quite imagine. Makoto almost snorted without thinking.

“Indeed. Leaving the Fallen Fuyuhotaru aside—Kakkou, Harukiyo, Lady Bird and Spear User. —Under Spear User’s command, although for an instant, she made it come true.”

“…Eh?”

Made it come true?

That was what Miguruma just said?

“Oh, I slightly misspoke, actually. Lady Bird alone did not attend the fight, going her separate way a little before it. Apparently at the time she went to save some innocent Mushitsuki who were being attacked by the SEPB.”

“I-incredible… there was a person like that?”

Fuyuhotaru looked innocuously amazed.

However, next to her, the cellphone girl widened her eyes.

“—How do you know that…?”

Everyone’s gazes focused on the girl.

“Lady Bird was about to participate in that battle until the very last moment—even in Mushibane barely anyone knows that. Kakkou would never tell someone like you…”

“You have a point. Why do I know, I wonder?”

Miguruma narrowed her eyes and tilted her head.

“—”

The cellphone girl froze for a moment—then took an intake of breath and raised her brows.

“Y-you—”

Wearing a face full of anger, the girl was about to leap at Miguruma.

“Why you…!”

Makoto reflexively held at her throat and reached her other hand toward the girl.

“Sense Isolation!”

“—Gyah!”

Repelled to the side, the girl trembled as if something hit her.

“Lucifera-san!”

The flustered Fuyuhotaru rushed to her side, but the cellphone girl’s rage did not subside. Although affected by Makoto’s ability, she was trying to crawl to Miguruma, her face a mask of fury.

“Y-you biiitch! So you’re the one who invited Lady Bird?! Do you have any idea how many Mushibane members died there?! How many became Fallen…?!”

“Lucifera-san! What on earth are you talking about…! What are you saying—ah, you stop this too, please!”

Fuyuhotaru tried breaking between Makoto and Lucifera or whatever her name was, but Makoto couldn’t stop. She didn’t know what was going on, but Lucifera was clearly trying to attack the Vice-Deputy.

“If she only…! If only Lady was there, we wouldn’t have been wiped out like that…! And after so many were lost in the battle, Mushibane ended up like this…! Otherwise, Lady wouldn’t have had to shoulder everything by herself…!”

This didn’t look like a normal loss of control. As Lucifera shed tears, Miguruma directed her smile of shackles at her.

“Why do you know that? That is ''my'' question.”

“…!”

“Only very few people know of that fight, and almost all of Lady’s comrades, that could be called the ancestors of Mushibane, should have died or turned Fallen. —And yet how are speaking of it as if you were related or close to this? Or have you intentionally investigated Spear User?”

Lucifera’s face twitched and froze.

“It seems like not even the current leader, Fuyuhotaru, knows anything about this. For you to know so much about the importance of that battle—I doubt someone of your caliber had been able to decipher so much about it.”

“I-I…”

“Vice-Deputy Miguruma.”

As Miguruma approached the collapsed Lucifera, Goroumaru Touko called to stop her.

“Is what you said true?”

A lone streak of tears fell from Touko’s right eye. Her shoulders were shaking.

“You have—obviously heard about this from Kakkou, Acting Branch Head Goroumaru.”

“T-this is unbelievable… what have you done…”

“Has he been telling you something so cowardly as well? That you would have won, had only Lady been there?”

“Obviously not…! Kakkou would never say something like this even if you ripped his mouth open! But it’s actually—”

“Can you please explain it so we’d understand too?”

Hearing such an incomprehensible conversation—and it unfolding with some relation to Kakkou—she couldn’t hold back anymore. Makoto put strength into her hand directed to Lucifera.

“Also, give me an order what to do with this woman. —If I act any further, there’s the risk of turning Fuyuhotaru into an enemy as well.”

Makoto glared at Fuyuhotaru and was glared back. Completely changed from before, the baby-faced girl’s expression was transforming. She had no idea how Fuyuhotaru was going to act if she didn’t release Lucifera.

“Please do release her. I believe it is alright now. Right, Fuyuhotaru?”

“Lucifera-san, stay put…”

Seeing the girl drooping her head, Makoto released the restraining caused by her ability. Lucifera still looked like she couldn’t hold back her anger, but she gritted her teeth and endured it.

“There is no meaning in discussing that battle right now. To summarize, Sleeping Beauty took part in a certain fight and lost. After this, she had fallen asleep along with a very powerful Mushitsuki in order to seal him.”

The branch heads frowned. Branch Head Takemi then inquired for all of them.

“And that powerful Mushitsuki is?”

“—The Undying Mushitsuki.”

Miguruma said.

The tent full of clamor became as silent as death again.

Branch Head Takemi’s expression stiffened.

“Undying…? What does that mean?”

“Just like the name implies, an immortal Mushitsuki.”

Miguruma smiled.

Touko wiped her tears and glared at Miguruma.

“If Sleeping Beauty wakes up, the Undying Mushitsuki will, too.”

“There’s no issue there. After all, he—the Undying—is not our enemy.”

“But it means that Oogui will regain the ability of Undying again.”

Touko said in a plain tone.

''What on earth is going on…?

The Acting Branch Head called Goroumaru Touko was incompetent. —So Makoto heard. She heard that she was installed as a mere figurehead instead of the previous competent Branch Head.

However, this woman actually knew the Central Headquarters’ secrets that no one else knew, and she was now glaring at the Vice-Deputy with a face full of new determination.

“Please watch your mouth, Acting Branch Head Goroumaru. If you were to reveal any more secrets—”

“Oogui can use the abilities of all Mushitsuki she created.”

Just like that.

Goroumaru Touko spat out something unbelievable again.

Makoto’s vision shook.

Oogui—could use the abilities of all Minion Types?

If that was true, then the current Oogui—

“—”

Looking at Fuyuhotaru, she too was speechless.

If Oogui could use the abilities of Minion Types, then naturally—it meant that she could also use Fuyuhotaru’s ability.

Even just that was bad enough.

Adding the ability of the Undying or whatever to that—

“Thanks to Sleeping Beauty the possibility to defeat Oogui was born. She had sacrificed herself to give us that chance. —But if the Undying wakes up, Oogui will once again become an immortal being.”

Touko’s words reverberated inside Makoto’s mind.

''What did I even know until now…?

Nothing at all.

Although gathering intel was supposedly her specialty, she only knew very little of the truth of Mushi.

On the other hand, Touko—no, the East Central Branch—knew many truths.

And they were definitely not easy to obtain. Just like Goroumaru Touko said before, many Mushitsuki had fought and sacrificed themselves to finally gain these truths.

''What on earth have we been fighting against this far…?

An indescribable sense of defeat overwhelmed Makoto.

“Acting Branch Head Goroumaru Touko. —After this operation, I will have you demoted.”

Miguruma’s smile of shackles turned to Touko.

“Understood.”

Touko just accepted it as it was.

Nodding in satisfaction, Miguruma turned back to the other branch heads.

“From what Acting Branch Head Goroumaru Touko said, we can kill two birds with one stone.”

“…?”

“We will regain Sleeping Beauty as a fighter instead of Kakkou, and Oogui will regain the ability of the Undying. Meaning, it will become impossible for C to absorb Oogui.”

The branch heads gasped.

Miguruma certainly had a point.

They had no idea who that Sleeping Beauty was, but if they were to gain someone on the same level as Kakkou, they might have a chance against C. On top of that, the nightmarish situation of C absorbing Oogui and becoming even more powerful would be gone.

Also, Miguruma said that the Undying Mushitsuki wasn’t their enemy.

If all went well, perhaps even he would become their ally.

That would be enough—

“Isn’t that messed up?!”

The one to raise an objection was unexpectedly Fuyuhotaru herself.

“Saving an Original Three to defeat a Mushitsuki… that’s obviously messed up!”

Makoto had certainly seen it.

When Miguruma Yaeko heard Fuyuhotaru’s words, her brows twitched ever so slightly.

“I am opposed. If Rina—if Lady was here, she would definitely oppose this as well. Even Kakkou-kun! Also… I’m sure that Sleeping Beauty as well!”

Helping the Original Three to defeat a Mushitsuki was putting the cart before the horse.

That was a fair argument. An argument that none of them noticed due to how Miguruma explained the whole thing. Just like Fuyuhotaru said, if the past Rank 1s were there, they would probably oppose to this.

However, Makoto couldn’t help but grow angry upon hearing Fuyuhotaru’s lines.

“And what’s wrong with that?”

Makoto spat as she glared at Fuyuhotaru.

“The ones here right now are us. The voices of those who aren’t present hold no meaning.”

“…!”

As Fuyuhotaru was silenced, Miguruma Yaeko grinned at her.

“Since you are so insistent on that, have you any better suggestions, Fuyuhotaru?”

“We’ll defeat Oogui!”

Huuuh?

Makoto unconsciously raised a stupid-sounding voice.

Everyone but Miguruma—even Fuyuhotaru’s own ally Lucifera—made a similar face.

“If we beat Oogui, C shouldn’t be able to absorb her.”

“That is right. Are you able to beat Oogui right away, then?”

Miguruma asked the natural question arising from this.

“W-well…”

Fuyuhotaru hesitated.

“You cannot, right? Also—it is too late.”

“Eh?”

“The die is cast. I have already dispatched a team to wake Sleeping Beauty.”

“Wha—”

Fuyuhotaru became speechless.

The branch heads and Makoto were also shocked.

It would be no exaggeration to say that the entire forces of the SEPB were gathered in this dome right now. Never mind any leftovers, there shouldn’t have been any combatants able to handle such an important mission.

“Sleeping Beauty is a Rank 1. Therefore, the one sent to greet her should be at least of that level.”

Seeing Miguruma smile, the dazed Touko opened her mouth.

“S-surely you don’t mean…”

Miguruma giggled and spoke.

“Harukiyo.”

Makoto and the rest gulped.

The flame devil, Harukiyo. Especially elusive among the Rank 1s, he was a Mushitsuki rumored to be as senseless as a natural disaster. It was said that wherever he appeared, nothing would remain but ashes—

If that was true, Makoto couldn’t stay silent.

“You sent Harukiyo to Sleeping Beauty…? I-if that’s a possibility, I believe it would’ve been better to add him to the forces fighting against C in the first place.”

“A reasonable suggestion, Terasu.”

Miguruma looked at Makoto, nodding gently.

“However, he holds no interest in C. Therefore, he will never be able to work with you. On the other hand, if it is about Sleeping Beauty—he would wake her up no matter what. Because he had been looking for her for a long time now.”

Judging from Miguruma’s tone, she apparently had some sort of connection with Harukiyo.

So the rumor of Harukiyo operating under the Vice-Deputy was true, then—

Makoto’s information network—she’d already lost confidence in it these last few minutes, but anyway—picked up the rumor that Harukiyo belonged to the Annihilators. The Annihilators were a unit of assassins serving directly under Vice-Deputy Miguruma.

Adding to Kakkou, even Harukiyo was under her control.

And now, even Fuyuhotaru…

As Makoto looked at the baby-faced girl, the latter bit her lips with a hard expression.

“If that’s right… then I really do have to defeat Oogui.”

She always looked weak, but held enough strength to be able to look back at Miguruma.

“Before this person called Harukiyo wakes up Sleeping Beauty-san. And—”

She felt as if she saw those eyes somewhere—

Her eyes tickled Makoto’s memories. Right, the person who made her awfully angry—

“Before the Undying Mushitsuki is revived and turns Oogui immortal.”

“Hehe, you sound so reliable, Fuyuhotaru. Harukiyo would surely wake Sleeping Beauty soon. In my estimation, within a few days… no, perhaps in two more days.”

“…”

“Do you have the means with which to defeat Oogui within that timeframe?”

Fuyuhotaru was at a loss for words.

She obviously didn’t.

It was impossible to tell when and where Oogui was going to appear. On top of that, it was now clear that she was an absolute monster, being able to wield the abilities of all Minion Types. Until now she had remained undefeated and ate people’s dreams as she pleased. Although there was now a need to beat that monster, there couldn’t be any way to do so immediately.

“You do not, right? Therefore, I will have you and Mushibane also be part of the suicide corps—”

“You can’t, Snow-san. This might be a trap, too.”

Cutting in this was the cellphone girl called Lucifera.

“Kakkou’s a Fallen and Harukiyo’s also conveniently sent to that Sleeping Beauty’s place—it’s too dangerous for you to act according to this woman’s wishes. At worst, there’s the possibility that all Rank 1s will be gone.”

Lucifera glared at Miguruma with naked hostility.

All of the Rank 1s would die.

With the situation being what it was, there was nothing more exhilarating for Makoto.

After all, all of them were definitely proud bastards just like Kakkou—

“It is unfortunate that you don’t understand my love, but this is not the time to move based on emotions. Fuyuhotaru—you actually do understand, right?”

“There is a way.”

Lucifera blurted.

While everyone raised their brows, Miguruma asked her without erasing her smile.

“What do you mean by that?”

“We know of a way to draw Oogui to us—that’s what I’m saying!”

Miguruma remained silent.

''—She’s bluffing.

Including Makoto, everyone there thought the same.

As proof of that, Lucifera’s face stiffened and she began sweating abnormally. Her hand holding the cellphone was slightly shaking.

“Is that true, Fuyuhotaru? What method do you have?”

“Asking her won’t help you. Ah, but I’m not going to tell people like you.”

Fuyuhotaru returned her glance with an imploring gaze.

Seeing the girl who was clearly putting on a brave front, Fuyuhotaru turned back to Miguruma.

“If she says so, then it’s true.”

She spoke in a clear tone without any doubts.

“Is that so?”

Miguruma covered her mouth with her hand, giggling.

What a stupid façade. They needed to ignore that nonsense, add them to the suicide corps formed against C and give them orders already—

“Understood. Then Mushibane will work alone.”

“Eh?”

The voices of surprise coming from Makoto and the branch head were beautifully coordinated.

And Makoto was especially flustered. It was her life on the line here.

“W-wait a minute, Vice-Deputy! They’re definitely lying about them having a way to defeat Oogui! At this rate, we’re going to be challenging C with even less forces than what we had while fighting Shinpu…! And she’s a monster who absorbed even Shinpu!”

“Calm down, Terasu. Everything is fine, your role is to clear up the way to C’s defeat. By removing all the obstacles on the way there, you see.”

''What the…?

''I heard nothing about that, though?

''Obstacles on the way to C? What’s standing in our way other than C?

“By the time you reach C, Sleeping Beauty and Harukiyo will probably be joining you. Also, whether she’s beaten Oogui or given up, Fuyuhotaru and Mushibane will likely join, too. —Isn’t that right, Fuyuhotaru?”

Miguruma looked to the side.

As Makoto also looked at Fuyuhotaru, the baby-faced girl nodded strongly at Makoto.

''The heck—

''Then that’s almost as if—

“N-no way… we’re—”

''Nothing more than a stepping stone for these Ranks 1s, then—

Makoto barely managed to swallow the words about to come out of her throat.

It was far too ridiculous and she felt dizzy. They weren’t even suicide corps.

She could only think of it as a stupid plan, to divide their forces in front of a powerful enemy. There was no way a tactician as brilliant as Miguruma Yaeko wouldn’t realize that—

“With these three operations, let us head to annihilate C who’s slumbering in the Underground Fort’s deepest layer.”

Miguruma Yaeko looked up at the footage of C swimming in static.

“Operation 1, led by Terasu, will consist of an assault of C’s main body, namely an annihilation operation.”

Next, she pointed to her feet.

“Operation 2. The awakening of Sleeping Beauty by Harukiyo.”

Finally came Fuyuhotaru.

“Operation 3. Fuyuhotaru and Mushibane will annihilate Oogui.”

Among all those in the pavilion, Makoto alone was completely dazed as she listened to Miguruma’s voice.

''This’s messed up. It’s so messed up—

Why had no one other than Makoto noticed how unnatural this operation was?

“After completing these aforementioned operations to block C from any further evolution, Sleeping Beauty, Fuyuhotaru, Harukiyo and the combined forces of the SEPB will strike C’s main body at the same time. —The time limit is until Harukiyo manages to wake up Sleeping Beauty… in 48 hours.”

In the end, it meant that they could only rely on Rank 1s.

The hatred within Makoto simmered and swelled, making it hard for her to hold it back.

''Everyone’s looking down on me—

Although they were all Mushitsuki, there were Rank 1s and unranked.

No, did it perhaps mean that the outrageous strength of Rank 1s drove the SEPB—or rather the entirety of the Mushitsuki population—utterly crazy?

“All branch heads are to organize their forces in one hour while leaving Mushitsuki assigned to Operation 1 to Terasu. As for Operation 2, Harukiyo has already mobilized. Operation 3 is to move at the earliest convenience. Let us constantly report the situation to each other through the intelligence division. —Terasu, there is a matter that I need to discuss with you, so you are to remain here.”

The final battle that might affect not just their country but possibly the entire world was starting.

And the signal for this start—

Was announced by Miguruma Yaeko’s kind smile.

“Start operation.”

The branch Heads, Fuyuhotaru and the other girl, as well as the vice-minister and his aides all left the tent.

Not even ten seconds later, Makoto remained alone in the tent with Miguruma. Even the intelligence division members that operated the communication equipment vanished at some point.

“Now, Terasu. I think it is time I explain the mission’s details to you, including C’s abilities and the reason we can spare no time.”

Miguruma approached Makoto, who stood there as stiff as a doll.

''What mission?

''We’re nothing more than vanguards clearing the way for the Rank 1s, just a stepping stone.

''Why’re everyone constantly yapping about Rank 1 this, Rank 1 that—

“One thing I need to say before that. Terasu… I really have great expectations from you, you know? Your mission completion rate is at the top, around the same as Kakkou, and your ability is also exceedingly powerful. Therefore—”

Since Makoto completely lost her motivation, Miguruma’s words didn’t enter her ears.

However…

Hearing her next sentence, Makoto felt as if her body was struck by lightning.

“In the event you succeed on this operation to annihilate C—I will acknowledge you as a Rank 1.”

“—”

These words really were shocking.

For a second, she didn’t understand what she was told.

“Eh…?”

As Makoto raised a befuddled face, Miguruma Yaeko’s slender fingers stroked her chin.

With a smile like that of a mother cherishing her own child, Miguruma spoke.

“This will be an unprecedented large battle. Isn’t it obvious for someone who succeeds in it to become Rank 1?”

“…”

She shuddered, feeling a sudden tension as though she was freefalling.

As the meaning of the words permeated her, she was then conversely assaulted by a sensation of floating, losing all feeling in her legs.

“I’m—I’m not really interested in—”

Makoto hated the Rank 1s.

More than anything else, she hated the Mushitsuki called Kakkou. Loathed him, even.

Therefore, she had no interest in becoming like him—

“You are being modest. However, regardless of your own will, it will be this way. After all, you will be one of the Mushitsuki to close the curtain on this battle, when even Kakkou himself couldn’t help but retire midway through.”

Not even once had she considered—that this was within reach for her.

Her heartrate leapt.

“If Operation 2 and 3 have no progress after these 48 hours, I will send only you and your team to face C. Let us think together of a way for you to win if that happens.”

Kakkou, Fuyuhotaru, Lady Bird, Harukiyo, Sleeping Beauty.

Although she hated them, their names were widespread among Mushitsuki. Their legends were simply that terrific, and while everyone was scared of them, it was also a kind of admiration.

Was it really possible for Makoto—for Terasu—to be added to that list of names?

“I love how loyal you are. Will you live up to my love as well?”

With her sleek and yet unfathomably cold fingers, Miguruma Yaeko stroked Makoto.

And Makoto—

“Y-yes ma’am…”

She grabbed back that hand and put in on her own cheek.