Difference between revisions of "CubexCursedxCurious:Volume6 Chapter4"
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"For example, torture that would make her wish she were an inanimate object with no sense of pain or humiliation that would make her regret being born female. In addition, there is—Ah yes." |
"For example, torture that would make her wish she were an inanimate object with no sense of pain or humiliation that would make her regret being born female. In addition, there is—Ah yes." |
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− | Fourteen slightly raised her arms as she replied to Kuroe. A glow appeared but different from the momentary flashes of light witnessed earlier. Instead, this was a bigger, persistent phenomenon of light—similar to blue-white |
+ | Fourteen slightly raised her arms as she replied to Kuroe. A glow appeared but different from the momentary flashes of light witnessed earlier. Instead, this was a bigger, persistent phenomenon of light—similar to blue-white ghostlights. There were not one but three. The lights left vague afterimages, hovering as they flew around her arms irregularly past one another. |
Then Fourteen continued speaking with mild hostility: |
Then Fourteen continued speaking with mild hostility: |
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Instantly— |
Instantly— |
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− | The |
+ | The irregularly flying ghostlights suddenly changed directions. The ghostlights rapidly spun around her forward extended arm as though tracing out a circle. Sometimes they moved in a straight line towards the opposite edge of the circle; sometimes they changed directions with acute angles; sometimes they traced out smaller circles inside the outer circle. Visible to Haruaki's group was a lingering afterimage of light that resembled a magic circle composed of complicated patterns— |
"...Mayhem permitted—«Geist»!" |
"...Mayhem permitted—«Geist»!" |
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"Getting angry is your freedom. But please pay attention to what I will be taking out next." |
"Getting angry is your freedom. But please pay attention to what I will be taking out next." |
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− | Fourteen declared and the |
+ | Fourteen declared and the ghostlights rapidly traced out afterimages again. This time, the light was reflected in the glowing circle and give rise to countless beams of bright light. |
"Tsk! Mode: «Cushioning Munemori»!" |
"Tsk! Mode: «Cushioning Munemori»!" |
Revision as of 08:38, 5 August 2013
Chapter 4 - Mayhem Permitted. Additionally, / "Because we are friends"
Part 1
Konoha readied her hand in a karate chop. Kaidou took deep breaths as she raised her shovel with trembling hands. Kuroe moved her dripping wet hair while Kirika reached towards the pareo at her waist. As for Fear—
"...Tsk!"
After touching her school swimsuit, Fear clicked her tongue angrily. Although her attire had made it impossible for her to carry the Rubik's cube, she was not scared at all.
"Shiraho—What did you do to her!? And Sovereignty as well!"
"If one had to state simply, they were eliminated. Cleaned up incidentally."
"You dare say... incidentally...?"
"Let me clarify first, calling for help is futile. Currently on this floor, apart from you guys, there are virtually no other humans—All of them are under my control right now."
Haruaki gritted his teeth in anger. So this woman was responsible for the sudden lack of people? They had all disappeared in the same way as the unconscious Shiraho just now.
"What on earth did you do? Where did everyone go? Are they still safe!?"
Filled with unease, Haruaki yelled loudly. Although the enemy had no obligation to answer, luckily, Fourteen replied readily.
"They are all alive, akin to sleeping—Currently speaking."
"You said 'currently speaking,' didn't you? So that means if we beat you up, you'll release them all?"
Konoha's words were filled with murderous intent.
"...Yes, as long as I will it."
"I see. In that case, we just need to hurt you until you relent... Do you intend to use them as hostages? Truly despicable."
"Before I find out the location of the 'real thing,' I will not allow any interfering elements to disrupt my plans. I would be troubled if you guys fled."
Hearing that word, Satsuko was so scared her entire body trembled. Fear took a look at her then smiled in mockery.
"Hmph, I originally thought you were stupid enough to be deceived completely... How did you find out?"
Fourteen paused for a moment then replied:
"...I saw it on the streets."
Haruaki and the others instantly pondered the meaning of her words and came to a disheartening realization. Satsuko had mentioned that her fake headless doll was made from a teddy bear that came from a claw vending machine. Where exactly did Fourteen witness the mountain of dolls piled up inside a machine? In any case, "unfortunate" was all one could conclude.
"No, umm, you're wrong! Satsuko already said many times, she really did not take the doll—!"
Satsuko squeezed her voice out but Fourteen mercilessly shook her head and said:
"I don't believe you. Since you used a fake doll to trick me, that implies that you possess the 'real thing'... Hence, by any means necessary, I shall question you for its location."
"She already said she didn't take it. Don't you understand human language? But just curious, what means do you intend to use?"
"For example, torture that would make her wish she were an inanimate object with no sense of pain or humiliation that would make her regret being born female. In addition, there is—Ah yes."
Fourteen slightly raised her arms as she replied to Kuroe. A glow appeared but different from the momentary flashes of light witnessed earlier. Instead, this was a bigger, persistent phenomenon of light—similar to blue-white ghostlights. There were not one but three. The lights left vague afterimages, hovering as they flew around her arms irregularly past one another.
Then Fourteen continued speaking with mild hostility:
"—There's also the option of questioning her before her friends' corpses. Surely she will reply obediently then."
"You are free to try, but you'll surely regret it!"
"I don't know what grounds you have to dare say that. If you believe you have tested out my powers through the battle last time, you are sorely mistaken. Because clearly I had not exerted myself at all."
Instantly—
The irregularly flying ghostlights suddenly changed directions. The ghostlights rapidly spun around her forward extended arm as though tracing out a circle. Sometimes they moved in a straight line towards the opposite edge of the circle; sometimes they changed directions with acute angles; sometimes they traced out smaller circles inside the outer circle. Visible to Haruaki's group was a lingering afterimage of light that resembled a magic circle composed of complicated patterns—
"...Mayhem permitted—«Geist»!"
"What...?"
In the center of the glowing circle, something seemed to be sliding out of her outstretched arm but it was not one of those wooden blocks seen the night before exams. It was very similar but not the same. A certain object several times bigger than wooden blocks. As much as it looked like a rectangular block, no matter how similar the timber, if it was several dozen times thicker, it could no longer be called a wooden block. For an analogy, it would be a strange phenomenon akin to the rectangular support pillar of a torii appearing horizontally out of thin air.
Instantly, Konoha's face changed drastically in alarm.
"That kind of object can't possibly be moved by hand. If that's the case—It's going to be shot out! Everyone hurry and dodge!"
Konoha's prediction was completely accurate. Haruaki's group frantically jumped away from their position. Fourteen steadied her arm as though locking onto a target—Accompanied by an acute exhalation, the long and massive wooden beam was shot out at high speed from the air. Immediately, there was a deep and violent sound of concrete breaking. The impact went as far as to cause the floor to shake intensely.
"...What?"
The only surprise was that Fourteen's target was not Haruaki's group but far off to the side. Namely, she had targeted the entrance to this pool area.
Shooting the giant object for a direct hit above the entrance, she had caused the concrete at that location to collapse completely. Just as gray powder scattered everywhere, everyone could see the collapsed concrete wall and the giant wooden beam completely blocking the automatic door that led to the service desk and the changing rooms.
"...Personally, I am quite unwilling to make a mess of this place, but it would be troublesome if you people escaped."
"S-Stop screwing around! Now there's no way for me to get it...!"
Fear clenched her fist and yelled. In order for Fear to use her power—to start the cube emulation—she needed that Rubik's cube as a medium. The first thing she thought of just now was probably going to the changing room to retrieve it. But given the situation, it was no longer possible. Gathering everyone's strength, they should be able to clear away the concrete debris at least, but Fourteen was definitely not going to give them the chance to do so. If the present giant wooden beam was the same as those wooden blocks and taken out from that so-called «Warehouse Cloak», it was not going to disappear after a time limit and go back to empty space. Haruaki knew because after the exams, they had spent a lot of effort cleaning out the wooden blocks from the garden.
"Getting angry is your freedom. But please pay attention to what I will be taking out next."
Fourteen declared and the ghostlights rapidly traced out afterimages again. This time, the light was reflected in the glowing circle and give rise to countless beams of bright light.
"Tsk! Mode: «Cushioning Munemori»!"
In front of everyone, Kuroe's hair rushed forward and spread out explosively. Successfully forming a soft shield, the hair curled up the projectiles in wavy curves and threw them to the floor—transparent shards of glass in varying sizes.
"Woah, that was close... Kuroe, thanks for your help!"
"Hmm—The enemy is throwing projectiles like mad. She didn't use them before... Was she holding back?"
"Maybe she wanted to save it up as an ultimate move and was reluctant to use it? In any case, I will close in and defeat her."
Kuroe and Konoha conversed as they advanced.
"H-Hey? What are you two planning?"
"Anyway, the enemy's target is still Satsuko so she should escape from here first."
"Indeed. Where's the emergency exit? You guys should look for it while the two of us pin her down."
"...Then I'll assist in pinning her down. I have the «Tragic Black River»."
Kirika lifted her pareo lightly. The black leather was being used as a belt in its proper position, probably for securing the pareo that was wrapped around her waist.
"No... Ueno-san, please go along to protect Satsuko-san. After all, we can't be sure if the enemy has any accomplices. Also, Haruaki-kun, Fear-san and Kaidou-sensei should protect her together. Leave it to us two to handle things here!"
Haruaki looked at the other two people's conditions.
Fear was clenching her fists, unarmed. Her eyes were very simple to read for they were filled with dissatisfaction at being unable to fight despite wanting to. She was suffering because she not only wanted to protect Satsuko but was also confronted with the her inability to rescue Shiraho and Sovereignty who were being used as hostages. Haruaki was certain of his assessment.
Kaidou was also gripping her shovel tightly. Her eyes were filled with complex emotions. This had started ever since Fourteen's reappearance. She looked like she was hesitating over something, angry at something, yet afraid of something—Staring at Fourteen, she simply breathed in and out.
Instantly, Haruaki made his decision. Presently, there was no choice but to leave the situation for Konoha and Kuroe to handle. Satsuko's cowering with her shoulders hunched and trembling further convinced him. No matter what, it was imperative to help her escape first.
"Argh, damn it... Don't force yourselves too much! Once Satsuko succeeds in escaping, I will return!"
"Who knows? We might even finish the battle before then!"
"Woah, it's coming again!"
Kuroe spread her hair and blocked the blades of glass again. Konoha went under her hair and started dashing towards Fourteen. Haruaki took one final look at them then he turned around:
"Let's go, Fear!"
"D-Damn it...! I actually could fight her barehanded... But it can't be helped!"
"Ah oooooh, everyone, this is all Satsuko's fault, so sorry..."
"Before you speak, remember to start running, Satsuko-kun!"
The teacher still remained at the scene. Haruaki turned his head back and yelled:
"Kaidou-sensei... Let's go!"
Kaidou shut her eyes lightly—for roughly a few seconds.
When she opened her eyes again, she also started running.
But this action was not for fleeing Fourteen's attacks but to chase after Satsuko.
That seemed to be what she was telling herself as she locked her eyes, filled with complicated thoughts, on the back of the petite girl before her.
Part 2
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Part 3
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