Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 1st Episode 02 (section)

===Part 4===

There stood a figure covered in a jet-black coat and a huge goggle masking half of his face, his hair standing on end. One of his hand held a large automatic handgun which had fused with ‘something’ glowering with red eyes.

From the handgun, numerous feeler-like appendages stretched out. They instantaneously wrapped around devil’s body, forming a green pattern that extended up to his cheek.

“Neiko!”

The four injured Mushi positioned themselves between the demon and the gondola.

The black devil pointed his handgun at the Mushi.

“St-… op—”

Neiko’s face twisted as she reached her hands out.

“Stop it!”

Arisu shouted.

The morpho butterfly entered the gondola through the open door.

It landed on the handlebar Arisu held, its body releasing silver-coloured feelers which fused with the bar instantly.

It spreaded open its four wings, giving off silver light. One pair merged into a blade, while the another vented silver scales.

Fire spew from the handgun held by the person in the jet-black coat.

“…!”

Arisu jumped in front of the Mushi, barely cutting off the bullet with her spear.

The shockwave rocked the gondola.

Somebody’s scream could be heard. But, that was immediately drown out by the sound of the shockwave. The opened door was blasted away, leaving only the seats in a miserable condition.

“''Tch…!''”

Clicking his tongue, the devil in black—Daisuke, re-trained his handgun at the Mushi.

“Stop it!”

Yelling angrily, Arisu swung down the spear from above.

“''Kh…!''”

Daisuke scarcely managed to block the shaft of the spear with the grip of the handgun.

Spinning the spear around, Arisu swung the spear again at Daisuke’s feet. An explosion of silver scales blasted into the surroundings. Bits of asphalt were sent scattering in all directions and a deep gash was carved into the ground.

When the explosion died down, the surroundings became still.

The plaza was completely deserted. In the time it took for the Ferris wheel to make one revolution, all the members of the public had already evacuated.

As if replacing them, Arisu and the rest were surrounded by people with the same appearance as Daisuke. They were probably from the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau as well.

“Neiko!”

Four people ran towards the partially destroyed gondola. They all looked to be about Neiko’s age. In the lead was a young man with blond hair, followed by a bespectacled lad, then a youth with a muscular body, and finally a girl with a short hairstyle. They surrounded Neiko as if trying to cover her.

“Every-… one…”

Neiko raised her head to look at her friends with her clouded eyes. Opposite her, Ena and Takako had already fainted. They seem to have just collapsed from the ordeal they just faced instead of any external injuries.

“Sorry… it should have gone more smoothly…! If only that monster wasn’t here…!”

“Pretending to sell out Yomori Neiko then setting up a surprise attack from behind… Was that your intention to set a trap for us since the beginning?”

Glaring back at Arisu, Daisuke spoke, his voice much colder than usual. His current appearance as that of a member of the SEPB was his genuine character.

Neiko’s friends faced Daisuke with their Mushi.

“Escape from here, Neiko! We’ll deal with these people somehow! At the very least, we’ll take them down with us…!”

“Neiko, at least you alone…!”

Her friends who were acting as her shield looked at Neiko in anguish.

“Do you think that you can escape?”

However, Arisu thrusted the spear at Daisuke who pointed his gun at them.

“…What do you think you are doing.”

“Why are you targeting them?”

“That’s because they are Mushitsuki. Either way, I don’t have the intention of letting a single one of them escape. I will kill all of their Mushi and take them away as Fallen.”

“Do you think I will let you do that.”

[[File:Mushi Uta Bug 1st p103.jpg|thumb]]

“Why are you covering for those people?”

Arisu scowled at Daisuke.

“‘Because they are Mushitsuki’…?”

Arisu turned away from Daisuke and looked at Neiko. Neiko raised her pale face to look back at her.

“Fighting and giving up just because of that… All that is just an excuse to me. I can’t accept that.”

“You say that because you’re not a Mushitsuki.”

Saying so, Daisuke raised his other hand not holding the handgun. The people in black coat behind him entered a fighting posture. In response, Neiko’s friends also readied themselves to fight.

Arisu too, exerted strength into her hands holding the spear. She had already hardened her resolve to fight.

Right before Daisuke swung his hand.

“…To fight…”

Neiko’s voice disrupted the silence.

“Indeed… Isn’t it possible for us to continue to fight…?”

Her eyes were focused on Arisu.

“No matter how hard it gets… even if our freedom is taken away… As long as we are alive, surely someday we can sing again… Isn’t that right… Even if we have to literally sell our souls to the devil, as long as we can live…”

Everybody’s gaze gathered onto Neiko.

Even in the tense atmosphere that seemed like it would shatter any moment, Neiko sighed deeply. Although she had sighed repeatedly in the gondola previously, Arisu could feel that this one felt different.

Neiko's expression as she looked at Daisuke was one filled with determination.

“Hey, you… is there really no other alternatives apart from turning us into Fallen? Or could we… yes, perhaps, be like you guys—”