Kämpfer:Volume 12 Chapter 1

Volume 12, Chapter 1  

    Fluorescent light streamed down from the ceiling, dimly illuminating the room. The light

wasn't strong because this was a research facility, perhaps because it was old. The lights

flickered a bit, perhaps because they were old. I'm proud of my good eye sight. What if my

eyesight deteriorated?  

    Shizuku kept staring at the huge sink. I stared at her profile, and saw a deep sadness in her

eyes.  

    She was like a statue now. Because that pose was so nice, I hadn't noticed. By the way,

Shizuku refers to Student Council President Sangou Shizuku, and "I" refers to Natsuru Senou.

There's no need to explain at this point.  

    Shizuku and I weren't the only ones in the room; Nishino Akane and Kondou Mikoto were

also there. They'd both transformed into Kämpfer. Akane was in Bulldog mode, but she was

looking at some documents, so her usual roar was gone. She'd yell at everyone  she saw:

"Fool!" "Go to hell." ", for someone like her, whose insults had drowned out even the

flowers along the roadside, this was truly bizarre. Nothing could be more unsuitable for

Akane right now than "Read the text."

    Let's put the matter of the bulldog girl aside for now. I was watching Shizuku.  

    "Senpai."

    Shizuku pressed her face close to the surface of the sink, staring at the woman floating

inside, curled up in a fetal position, repeating the same phrase softly.  

    "Senpai, you're here."

    I finally caught what she was saying.  

    "You're, here."

    Her voice was hoarse, but she wasn't crying. I've never seen this woman cry.  

    "Shizuku."

    "What's wrong?"

    She turned towards me.  

    "Over there." "  

    Is it about Akane?"

    Shizuku turned back to the sink.  

    "I've heard it."

    "What are you doing?"

    She pressed her finger against the sink. I, along with Shizuku, stared at the woman floating

in the sink.  

    "Who is this person?"

    "She's my senior." "

    For a moment, the woman's expression turned sad.  

    "Do you know someone named Shinomiya Tamiko? "

    I shook my head.  

    "No."

    "That's right. She wasn't a very conspicuous person. But she was the one who taught me

everything. From high school life, student council affairs, to Kämpfer, she taught me

everything. I told you about her before. "

    "Really?"

    I don't remember. No, I think I've heard of her. It seemed like Shizuku was joking at the

time. I don't really remember.  

    "Is this the senior you mentioned? "

    "Yes. I used to think that Kämpfer would disappear completely if he lost, but it seems

that's not the case. "

    Shizuku started staring at the sink again.  

    "But, few people remember seniors. Only Kämpfers who fought can survive. Of course, I

remember her. "

    "Does that mean that many people were eliminated? " "

    That's right. This is Kämpfer's fate. The loser will lose everything. There 's  

    a woman floating in a tank. She looks both dead and alive.  

    What will become of her? There's no way she'll be resurrected, but will she remain like this

for the rest of her life? No, she might already be dead, so the idea of a lifetime seems a bit

strange.  

    Is she being preserved?  

    Shizuku -senpai, is she just left there like this?  

    I don't know. There were several Kämpfers who lost, I think more than there are people in

this room. Was she abandoned somewhere, or taken away?  

    What does "taken away" mean? Did they deliver it to your door?  

    Maybe it's similar to what you said. Maybe they first obtained the data like this, then took

it to some distant place.  

    Where? The North Pole or the South Pole?  

    It doesn't necessarily have to be Earth.  

    Shizuku said something creepy again. She probably said something like that when she was

reading the message on the wall. Aliens or something.  

    Could aliens from space have built this place? That's a possibility. Since the equipment and

instruments here appear to be found in some research institutes, perhaps the equipment

was deployed domestically. Did someone else build this place?  

    Indeed, I heard from Fire Lion earlier that in another world, red and blue creatures were

fighting. It seems we've become their proxies. It seems like I'm the key to this, and it's said

that my choice of whether to play as a man or a woman will determine the outcome for the

red and blue.  

    But I haven't heard of losing and being thrown into a tank. If we were to lose, we'd end up

like Shizuku -senpai. I guess. Not just me, but also Akane, Shizuku, and Mikoto. And the white

Kämpfers, too. Drifting in the water like this or being carried away, I don't think this is a good

outcome.  

    I suddenly had this thought: "I don't want to lose."  

    While I'm a bit concerned about being stuffed like a specimen if I lose, more importantly, I

don't want to be forgotten. I don't want my life so far to be wasted.  

    I'm just a sophomore in high school. And there are plenty of people in the world who have

lived longer than me. To them, I'm just a little brat. But the footprints engraved on the

calendar truly belong to me.  

    I don't want to lose these things just because I lose. I now fully understand what Akane

meant when she called me out and told me, "Remember me." The fact that she lived here is

undeniable. No matter how small the matter, it is a part of life. How can I re gard it as an

obstacle?  

    I unconsciously whispered,  

    "You don't want to lose."  

    "Yes."  

    Shizuku answered me.  

    "You still want to go back to Seitetsu, right?"  

    She understood what I said. Your intuition is still as sharp as ever, President.  

    "Hey, Natsuru. I..."  

    "Hmm?"  

    "Do you remember I said before that if you keep fighting, you might understand the reason

for fighting?"  

    "Hmm, but it seems like that was a long time ago."  

    "Yes, I think that because of Tamiko -senpai. She lost to the enemy and disappeared. I've

been wondering why she disappeared. That's why I kept fighting, looking for reasons to fight.

Now I finally understand. It's not right to say I can't lose, it's becaus e I want to win. I can't let

Tamiko -senpai's sacrifice go to waste."  

    She said this, as if trying to remind herself.  

    "The words 'We are here' written there."  

    She pointed at the message with a slender finger.  

    "Maybe it represents the thoughts of the defeated Kämpfers."  

    Perhaps. No, that's it.  

    I took a deep breath. I can't lose. Not only that, I must win. While my consciousness may

not be as strong as Shizuku's, now is not the time to hesitate.  

    I slapped my face a few times to cheer myself up. Okay, let's do it. "  

    Shizuku blinked a few times and placed her hand on the sink.  

    "Senpai."  

    "What should we do?"  

    "Hmm?"  

    She turned to face me. I said it again.  

    "Are we just going to leave this person here? She's very important to you, President

Shizuku."

    "You mean to move her away?"

    "Yes."

    "Do you want to carry your senior on your back to fight?"

    She gave a wry smile.  

    "Thank you for your concern. But that's all."

    She stopped talking mid -sentence. How rare.  

    "Forget it now. Although it's painful to leave your senior like this, I can't decide what's best

right now. At least I can't fight with her on my back. So I can only leave her for now. I still

have feelings for her, and I haven't forgotten her, but I have to live."

    There was a rare hesitation in her words. After all, that person must be very important to

Shizuku. That's why she wouldn't do anything stupid.  

    Shizuku left the sink. I wonder if she felt reluctant to leave. She was now walking

somewhere else.  

    "Shinomiya."

    Shizuku touched the surface of the sink with her hand.  

    "I'm sorry. I don't mean to ask for your forgiveness. Shizuku and I moved a step away from

the water tanks .  

    It was truly magnificent from this perspective. No one knows how many Kämpfer battles

have been fought there.  

    Mikoto was also approaching us.  

    "Hey, there's a door over there."  

    Mikoto pointed diagonally upward. There was also a staircase leading up there, with a

tightly closed iron door on top.  

    "That's probably the exit."  

    "If you're the one, you must have checked beforehand."  

    I asked. Mikoto is the type of person who, if there's a button, she'll definitely press it, if

there's a lever, she'll definitely pull it, if there's a door, she'll definitely open it. When she was

in kindergarten, she always wanted to press the emergency bell, and everyone around her

kept trying to stop her. Only once, during a small fire, did she, with such blissful joy, press the

button faster than anyone else.  

    Mikoto nodded.  

    "Yeah. But it's locked."  

    "Can't open it?"  

    This was Shizuku speaking. The president found it quite amusing, so he recognized

Mikoto's talent.  

    "Hmm—sure, it's possible, but it might take a while. It's a password lock. It's quite

troublesome."  

    "Is it locked inside too?"  

    "Probably both inside and outside. These facilities look very important." "  

    That's probably it. Not only are there animal entrails here, but even the defeated Kämpfer

is stored here.  

    " "Is that really the exit?"  

    Mikoto answered my question confidently.  

    "It's definitely the exit."  

    "I don't think you can trust what you say."  

    "I'm only telling the truth." "  

    Is that so? You said that when you encountered the underground people in Peru, everyone

who heard you looked at you like, 'You're an idiot!' How can you convince people of the story

about four -armed underground people attacking you with rods that emit elec tromagnetic

waves? "  

    If you don't believe it, don't ask me."  

    That's right. Retracting my preface. That's the exit.  

    I was about to walk over when I tripped. I hadn't noticed there was a thick pipe on the

ground.  

    The end of the pipe extended into the wall." There's a sturdy -looking iron door nearby.  

    "Oh, there seems to be something over there too."

    "Yeah, could it be another room?"

    Shizuku said.  

    "That might be the exit."

    "That's impossible. This is underground, so all exits face upwards. The place Mikoto

investigated should be the exit."

    "So what about the other side?"

    I pointed at the door. Shizuku nodded slightly.  

    "Is it a power generation facility? Or maybe some other research facility?"

    "Want to check it out?"

    "Yeah, no, right now, we should prioritize getting out."

    Indeed. I also want to change out of these half -dried clothes quickly.  

    "Hey, Akane!"

    I shouted over my shoulder.  

    The Bulldog Girl is still reading documents. I've already told you that it was fine before your

transformation, but you're not the type to read books now. Why don't you just burn all those

documents? That's perfect for you."

    Akane raised her head slightly.  

    "What?"

    "We're leaving." Come out with us quickly. "

    "I understand."

    Oh, that's straightforward. If she were a normal bulldog, she'd be lashing out, no matter

how right the issue was.  

    She sorted the documents back and walked over to us.  

    "Have you finished reading the documents?"

    "Are you trying to tell me I haven't even read Will Lennox's poetry?!"

    That's rude. But it's fine as usual.  

    "Is there anything written on it?"

    "Of course there is. It's about the internal organs of animals. It talks about their history."

    "I'm asking what it says."

    "."

    Oh my, she's gone silent. Originally, this should have led to her yelling, "Shut up! Go to

hell!" and putting the gun to my head.  

    Akane narrowed one eye, then smacked her lips with an expression as if she was troubled.  

    "Come with me."

    "What?"

    "Forget about that. Come here."

    Akane grabbed my hand and pulled me over. Because she's a Kämpfer, she's very strong.

Hey, it hurts.  

    She took me to a secluded place. Shizuku and Mikoto couldn't see me from here. I was a

little confused.  

    "What are you trying to do? Attack me?"

    "Watch out, you horny bastard. I want to talk about those documents I was looking at."

    The mastiff girl stared at me and started talking.  

    "What's written there is about me."  

    "Will there be a profile for you?"  

    "It's not about me now. It's about me before my transformation. Didn't I say before that

the story Sakura Kaede had in mind is written down in the document? There are other

things, too."  

    "What's that?" "  

    We'll talk about that later. Now's not the time. No, maybe it's time, but it's better for her

to explain it herself."  

    I was stunned. Akane's explanation left me baffled. Being so mysterious isn't like her.  

    "Uh, so you want me to let your pre -transformation self explain it?"  

    "It's a little different, is that okay?"  

    Akane whispered something in my ear.  

    I blinked a few times.  

    "It's okay, but isn't it okay to tell them this?"  

    "Don't tell them unless necessary. The most important thing is to keep this a secret until

the end. But if necessary, you can take the lead."  

    "Is that so?" "  

    That's right."  

    Akane patted my back mysteriously. This was unusual for a woman who preferred

simplicity, or rather, ease, over everything.  

    But never mind. I also wanted to get out of this underground place quickly. I didn't think

anything good would happen if I stayed here any longer.  

    We returned from our hiding spot to where they were. Shizuku and Mikoto glanced at us

but said nothing.  

    "Let's get out,"  

    I said to everyone.  

    "Unlocking is Mikoto's job."  

    "No problem."  

    My childhood friend casually agreed and headed for the door.  

    "So, what should we, uh, do?"  

    I couldn't think of anything, so I gave Shizuku a look for help.  

    The black -haired president shrugged.  

    "Why not just stay here?"  

    "What are you doing here? Are you free?"  

    "If you're bored, I'll keep you company."  

    "I didn't bring any playing cards or anything like that."  

    "A man and a woman playing cards? There are better things to do."  

    "What?"  

    Shizuku smiled softly. I've become incredibly sensitive to this woman's facial expressions,

so I know what she's thinking.  

    Unconsciously, my heartbeat quickened.  

    "Hey, what are you talking about?"

    "What?"

    "You're in a place like this!"

    "I didn't say anything."

    You might not have said anything, but it's the same as saying it. Isn't that the only thing a

man and a woman can do together?  

    "You should have considered the timing and the occasion!"

    "I said, I didn't say anything."

    "Akane's here too!"

    "Oh, Akane. That makes sense. It's about your relationship with Akane."

    You're being mysterious again. I told you not to say anything shocking.  

    Of course, Akane heard everything we said.  

    Her already grim expression darkened even further, as if fire were about to burst from her

mouth. If she were eating a pockily, she'd probably be crunching it.  

    Naturally, her eyes, like those of a ferocious beast, were now fixed on me.  

    "What did you say, you bastard? Aren't you ashamed to say that here?"

    "I didn't say that! Shizuku brought it up!"

    "I didn't say that! Did you tell Shizuku about that?!"

    "How could you possibly say something like that?"

    I stopped there. I hadn't told her, but I'd let myself get away with it. More accurately, she'd

seen through it.  

    Seeing my silence, Akane seemed to take it as a yes. I felt a surge of murderous intent

wash over me.  

    "You shameless bastard! You kept it secret from me!"

    "Why should I ask for your permission?"

    "It's a courtesy, right?"

    It was hard to argue with her logically.  

    Akane pulled out her gun. Oh no, this guy's going to shoot.  

    "You want to embarrass me?"

    "Don't be ridiculous. I'm a gentleman."

    "I'd better kill you." You'll never be a gentleman again.  

    Stop it! Gentlemanly or not, forget it. I just swore I didn't want to die.  

    Shizuku glanced at us and did nothing. It looked like she had no intention of stopping us. If

this situation demanded more time, I might have yelled at her, but right now, except for

Mikoto, we were all free.  

    That's why we're talking about all this.  

    Now's not the time to explain things slowly. The bulldog girl is now baring her teeth at me.  

    "Natsuru. Are you interested in telling anyone about what you and I did?"

    "I didn't!"

    "Then why did Shizuku know?"

    "I don't know  

    either." I can only say her intuition is too sharp. No matter what she does, she can't hide it

from our perfect student council president.  

    "Are you two laughing at us for not making it to the end?"

    "You're being too self -centered. I wasn't that specific."

    "That's about right. Damn it. I should have made it to the end with you, Natsuru."

    I think her anger is misplaced, but compared to this, my life is in danger now. In front of an

enraged Akane, common sense and calmness are of no use.  

    She's pointing an automatic pistol at me. This gun and I are old acquaintances.  

    "Your back is facing me! You're losing your virginity in front of me!"

    "What are you saying so loudly!"

    "Two bullets in your mouth and you'll definitely awaken. "

    I don't understand what you're trying to do. Does this guy want me to use some special

stick? (Translator: I can only think of the Christmas gift that President Shizuku gave to

Natsuru -kun.)  

    At this time, Shizuku spoke.  

    "That's it."

    The Student Council President's eyes were fixed on the door.  

    "It looks like the break is over. "

    No one was at the door. Mikoto was rushing over. She looked very nervous.  

    "Is it open? "

    Shizuku asked. Mikoto shook her head.  

    "Not yet. Just a little bit. And someone is coming. "

    "Enemy?"

    Mikoto didn't answer. Our eyes were all focused on the door.  

    We had to be careful. We didn't know what was on the other side of the door.  

    We held our breath. To be precise, I was the only one who was nervous. Shizuku was as

calm as ever. Mikoto's interest remained the same, while Akane was the type who was most

happy when there was a fight. She thought I was a fool for worrying endlessly.  

    "It's the enemy, right? "

    I whispered. She was basically just mumbling to herself.  

    "We don't have any other allies."

    Shizuku replied. Even so, it's not bad to hold onto a little hope.  

    "They're enemies after all."

    "There's still the white Kämpfer, right?"

    "Shizuku, didn't you guys defeat them?"

    "I tied them up and left them there. There are two more, right?"

    "Ueda Rika and Yamakawa Ryoka, right?"

    "If it's two against four, it's more advantageous for us."

    Shizuku didn't look away, continuing to stare at the door. It seemed as if her ears perked

up.

    "There's no footsteps anymore. But the presence seems to be there."

    After she whispered this, Mikoto spoke.  

    "Let's ambush her. Can I take charge of the deepest security? I don't think there'll be any

problems, but just in case."

    "Yes, okay."

    Mikoto took a few steps back. Turning her attention to the back.  

    Shizuku turned back to face the front and didn't look back again. This woman seemed to

trust Mikoto very much. Otherwise, he wouldn't have trusted her with his back. When did

their relationship become like this?  

    It's quiet at the door. Although Mikoto said someone was coming, there wasn't any special

movement.  

    "I'm feeling restless."

    Akane said with a groan. It hasn't been a few minutes yet. Don't be so impatient.  

    "This isn't my style. Let's start a killing spree."

    "Can't you just be more quiet?"

    "Who can stay calm and stay in this dark cave forever? We should fight our way out."

    "That's a good idea." What  

    's surprising is that Shizuku actually agreed.  

    "We have to find a way out, so we can only wander around here. And we've already seen

everything we wanted to see. And there's something else."

    "What else?"

    "I have to see Kaede."

    Sakura -san. Indeed, although we fought the white Kämpfer after falling into the pool,

Sakura -san was the only one I didn't see.  

    I thought she might be here, but she should still be at home. Shizuku wanted to see her.

She wasn't trying to renew our friendship, but probably wanted to know the truth.  

    What was she going to tell her? Actually, what should I do? Anyway, I'm not mentally

prepared yet. Too many things have happened. Although if this happened at school, I

wouldn't be so nervous.  

    "Cheer up."

    Akane hit me. It hurt.  

    "Don't just stand there. We're going to kill that bitch soon. Be happy."

    The bitch is Sakura Kaede. How can you expect me to be happy?  

    "I still need to prepare myself mentally."

    "It's so annoying. I'm here. Not only me, but also Shizuku and Mikoto. It's time you figured

it out!"

    Of course. I shook my head. No, no. I've already decided to do a good job.  

    "I get it, let's go."

    "Very good. That's you, Natsuru. Let you deal her the final blow."

    This seems to be another matter.  

    "Mikoto, shift change. You go unlock it. I'll cover the rear." "

    Shizuku turned around and said. Akane seemed surprised.  

    "Hey, let you do the rear defense, Shizuku? "

    "It's better than you doing it. "

    Indeed, a guy who only rushes forward like a dog can only let her stay in the front. If Akane

is placed in the back, she will definitely run to the front immediately.  

    Mikoto continued to fiddle with the door. Then something like a machine appeared on the

door handle.  

    "Does this unlock it?"

    "I learned this from the mafia in Serbia."

    Where have your connections spread?  

    Mikoto pressed a few buttons on the machine. All with her index finger. This guy also uses

only his index finger when he uses the keyboard. And with blinding speed. That's a talent, I

guess.  

    After the machine flashed a few times, Mikoto whispered, "Open."  

    Everyone stopped moving. They were all checking for signs of movement on the other side

of the door. If anyone on the other side noticed the door was unlocked, they'd probably

ambush or something.  

    "I'm going to open it."

    Mikoto placed her hand on the doorknob, and Akane leaned down. Like a beast about to

leap. The Mastiff Girl had overreached.  

    A crisp "click" sounded. Almost at the same time, a roar drowned out the sound of the

door opening from overhead. Fluorescent lights and debris fell from above.  

    The ceiling had collapsed. For a moment, I wondered if this was shoddy construction, but it

wasn't, because a woman had fallen with the rubble.  

    "Hurry!"

    It was Yamakawa Ryōka. I'd thought she was alone, but I didn't expect her to show up.  

    "Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!" A burst of gunfire rang out. Ryōka's weapon was a small submachine gun.

Bullets were flying everywhere. Wow,  

    this is dangerous. Of course, but she wouldn't listen to me; she was coming at us with clear

murderous intent.  

    "Calm down!"

    I heard Shizuku's voice.  

    "She's alone. We can win."

    That's true. We have the advantage in numbers. There's nothing to worry about.  

    Shizuku was already manipulating her dagger. The chained dagger flew around, ready to

strike Ryōka. And Akane joined in, firing a series of exaggerated shots from her pistol.  

    "Kill you!"

    The Bulldog Girl looked genuinely pleased.  

    "You want to make me your enemy?" Stupid woman, like a moth to a flame. Wake up! "

    "We can't kill her."

    This is what Shizuku said.  

    "We're sure to win anyway. Let's capture her."

    "No, kill her. That's more fun. Just punch a hole in the top of her head and finish her off.

Then shoot her a few more times after she's dead."

    Regardless of how mean this girl is, she's a good bait to lure us in. Why would she attack us

when she's alone? Anyway, it's only Shizuku and Akane fighting her, so there's no need for

Mikoto and me to join the fight.  

    Ryōka's eyes seemed filled with sadness. How should I put it, it's like she's determined to

die. Has she been indoctrinated with some obsessive ideas?  

    "Yamakawa -san."

    Shizuku said, knocking down a bullet with her dagger.  

    "Surrender."

    "I'd be surprised if I did that!"

    Oh, her voice has risen an octave. It seems there's no room for negotiation.  

    "I'm going to knock you all down!"

    "It's no use." You can't defeat us.  

    "I don't care!"

    A hail of bullets rained down on Shizuku.  

    "Are you being coerced by someone?"

    Ryōka paused abruptly.  

    "What will happen to you if you don't fight us? Did she tell you that if you don't fight, you'll

end up like the Kämpfers here in the sink?"

    "Is that annoying!"

    She fired, but the bullets scattered so widely that Shizuku didn't even need to dodge.  

    "It was Kaede, right?"

    Hearing this, Ryōka wavered. I almost wondered if she'd drop the gun.  

    "She's putting pressure on you, isn't she? How pitiful. That kid's become unscrupulous."

    "Don't speak ill of Kaede -sama!"

    Ryōka lunged forward. But her linear movements were predictable even to an elementary

school student.  

    "Stop."

    Shizuku twirled her index finger. The chain flew along the ground and wrapped around

Ryōka's ankle. She fell.  

    Then Akane ran over immediately.  

    "Look at you! Go to hell!"

    She said this while pointing her gun at Ryōka. Shizuku stopped her with disgust.  

    "Stop it. Akane, you're always like this."

    "I'm not the one who obeys."

    "You were so obedient before you transformed."

    Shizuku moved Akane's gun away and squatted in front of Ryōka.  

    "I'm sorry. It must hurt."

    "."

    Ryōka said nothing.  

    "I have something to ask you. Help us."

    "."

    "Where is that child?"

    Everyone present understood who this was referring to.  

    Shizuku continued.  

    "We want to know where that child is. Is she up here? Are you threatened by her? If you

tell us where she is, we'll protect you."

    Ryōka looked down. Was she still struggling with something? I'm a little confused.  

    "Don't say what you don't want to say. But I have other questions I'd like you to answer. Is

this really the end of this facility? "

    ". "

    Although Ryōka said nothing, her eyelids were trembling.  

    "It won't do you any good to say nothing. "

    ". "

    "Or do you want to be left here like this? "

    "Kaede. "

    "What? "

    "Kaede -sama. "

    I thought she was just whispering her name. That's called talking to yourself. But it wasn't.

The first one to notice something was wrong was Mikoto.  

    "Get out of the way! "

    A figure leaped down from the hole in the ceiling and stood before us. It wasn't just any

shadow; it was incredibly fast.  

    A slender figure, long hair. She was Sakura Kaede, whom I considered the most beautiful

girl at Seitetsu Academy.  

    But she didn't exude the beauty and gentleness she usually did at school. Instead, she

exuded a whirlwind of energy.  

    A knife materialized in Sakura Kaede's right hand, and a gun in her left. How should I put

it? Pretty handsome.  

    "Waste!"  

    she muttered to Ryōka. Ryōka, lying beside her, shuddered.  

    "I thought you could still be of some use. Just how far do you want to hold me back?"  

    "Kaede -sama."  

    "Useless at all."  

    For some reason, Sakura Kaede shot Ryōka. What? Ryōka  

    's body was hit directly by the bullet, and she flung herself up.  

    "Ah."  

    "I'll let you suffer a little first."  

    Ryōka, though not dead, rolled on the ground. Her stomach was bleeding, and she looked

in agony.  

    Sakura Kaede was so cold just now. No, she was so cool just now, it almost made my heart

flutter, but she's still scary.  

    "Kaede!"

    "Don't be angry, Shizuku -chan."

    As expected, Shizuku was angry, but Sakura Kaede didn't take her seriously at all.  

    "You'd expel useless student council members, too, right?"

    "But I won't shoot him."

    "That's because our policies are different. Useless people will only make the situation

worse."

    Sakura Kaede's attitude was very calm. She stood still, weapon in hand. But that didn't

mean she was careless. We'd fought her once before, so we know it all.  

    "You're amazing that you managed to get here. You deserve a commendation."

    "But I think you deliberately lured us here."

    Shizuku said, shedding her dagger.  

    "Didn't you show up here on purpose?"

    "You're half right. I didn't intend to show up in front of all of you. But the incompetence of

my subordinates led to this situation. Sakura Kaede licked her lips. "  

    Wow, she looks alluring, but also terrifying.  

    " "Two people at most are enough. And we have to start over."  

    "Start over?"  

    "Yes, as long as we have Shizuku -chan and Natsuru, we'll be enough."  

    Sakura Kaede turned to me and gave me a soft smile. "I'm glad you're smiling at me, but it

sends a chill down my spine.  

    " "No one else is needed, right?"  

    "Hey! Stop kidding!"  

    Akane jumped out. Steam was practically coming out of her head. This woman hates being

treated like an idiot.  

    "Who are you calling unnecessary? Do you think I'm an unwanted lesbian? Don't look

down on me!"  

    "It's because you have this kind of personality that you're unnecessary. You should just be

more honest. You're even worse than those girls in white."  

    "Come and see if I'm really incompetent if you dare!"  

    Akane fired.  

    The shot was aimed at the heart. The bullet flew straight to the target.  

    Sakura Kaede started to move. For a moment, I had no idea what was happening." Only a

shadow remained in her eyes.  

    The next moment, the distance between Sakura Kaede and Akane closed.  

    "Would you be quiet for a moment?"

    Sakura Kaede thrust out her knife. But Akane wasn't the kind of girl to be quieted down.  

    "You're the one who shuts up! You bitch!"

    Akane jumped to the side, aimed her gun at Sakura Kaede again, and fired.  

    Sakura Kaede dodged the bullet. She swung her knife, knocking the bullet away. Then, with

her free hand, she fired.  

    "Wow!?"

    The shot was incredibly accurate. The reason she missed was probably because the Mastiff

Girl was too eager to attack.  

    She was about to charge, so she wasn't in the bullet's path. Her wild boar -like, reckless

nature has its advantages, though.  

    "Mikoto, cover me."

    That's what Shizuku said. She had already made her dagger float in the air. In that case, I

can't just stand by and watch. After all, Sakura Kaede possesses the power to take on four of

us.

    I discarded the idea that my opponent was the girl I liked and cast a spell. Flames flashed

from my hand, then transformed into a fireball that flew forward.  

    Sakura Kaede leaped up, flying toward us along the ceiling. She braced herself against the

edge of the cave, and the recoil landed behind us.  

    "There!"  

    Mikoto anticipated her move and charged forward, Japanese sword in hand. Unlike Akane,

this guy was also a fighter.  

    "It worked!"  

    Sakura Kaede swiftly spun around, blocking Mikoto's blade with her own and lowering

herself.  

    "Ah!"  

    Sakura Kaede's elbow struck Mikoto in the heart. My childhood friend's face contorted. It

must have been a powerful blow. Mikoto began to collapse. Sakura Kaede quickly slid out

from under the falling Mikoto.  

    "Mikoto, just get down!"  

    I conjured several fireballs. They expanded and flew forward like summer fireworks.  

    "Ah. Natsuru, you're so rough!"  

    Sakura Kaede remained calm. She didn't even break a sweat.  

    Shizuku's dagger and Akane's bullets —it was impossible to dodge them all, but she

remained unscathed. She glanced at Mikoto.  

    "Next up is Mikoto -san."  

    Sakura Kaede opened fire. Her gun sprayed bullets like a machine gun.  

    "How could these bullets hit me with all that flying around?!"  

    "Because they're just a distraction."  

    She kicked the ground and slid between the sinks, approaching Akane. The knife in her

hand gleamed.  

    "Watch your throat!"  

    "Shut up!"

    Akane not only yelled, but even in this situation, she tried to shoot at Sakura Kaede. Who

was faster?  

    The answer was the Mastiff Girl. To be more precise, it was because Sakura Kaede fell

forward. It was Shizuku's chained dagger that entangled her foot.  

    Sakura Kaede lost her balance and was about to fall, but she still managed to keep her

balance.  

    "Not bad, Shizuku." "It  

    was Kaede who was careless."

    Shizuku attacked mercilessly with her remaining dagger.  

    "Aren't we good friends since childhood?"

    "Let's not worry about that for now."

    What a terrifying woman. Her look was serious.  

    "I have a lot of things to ask you."

    "Oh, really  

    ?" Sakura Kaede stomped the floorboards, making a loud sound as if she were stepping on

grass. What was that?  

    She pulled her chained foot free. Was it a magic trick?  

    "That's perfect. I have something for you, Shizuku -chan."

    "Please prioritize my request."

    "No. With a swish ,  

    the knife slashed towards Shizuku. This is what they mean by "dazzling."  

    This is my home. I have the final say here.  

    The underground isn't your home.  

    It's mine now.  

    "Swish," "Swish." The knife and the dagger clashed relentlessly. Shizuku wasn't particularly

aggressive, concentrating on defense. That was how fierce Sakura Kaede's attacks were.  

    The two of them continued to battle, gradually moving towards where Mikoto had fallen.  

    You didn't build this underground research facility, did you?  

    Shizuku asked.  

    That's right. I'm just using it. Or am I being used?  

    So, you mean this isn't your own idea, right?  

    Does it have anything to do with you?  

    Understanding students' thoughts is also a president's job.  

    Don't act like an adult at a time like this.  

    I need to intervene in your personal life. Real estate is a heavy burden for a high school

student.  

    Are you excited because we're underground? Shizuku  

    and Sakura Kaede are putting some distance between them. But Sakura Kaede has a long -

range weapon. What should we do?  

    Natsuru, move one step to the left. Akane, don't move.  

    We do as she says. Sakura Kaede seems amused.  

    What are you trying to do?  

    As you can see, we're going to surround you.  

    I didn't realize that either. The three of us have Sakura Kaede trapped.  

    Even so, Shizuku isn't letting her guard down.  

    Even if you're so powerful, Kaede, what can you do if you're surrounded?  

    Do you think you can defeat me by doing this?  

    Even you don't have three hands.  

    That's right. She has weapons in both hands, but that only means two. But there are three

of us, and if Mikoto stands up, that's four. Sakura Kaede can handle us with her agility, but

this way we can defend ourselves by surrounding her.  

    The Student Council President is really quick -witted.  

    Thank you for the compliment. Vote for me in the next election. "

    "Who knows. "

    "Listen carefully to what your senior says. "

    Shizuku sent a dagger flying towards Sakura Kaede's face.  

    This woman is so cruel, and just as I was thinking that, I realized I was wrong. The chain

entangled Sakura Kaede's knife.  

    "No use of dangerous weapons allowed. "

    Shizuku pulled hard. Sakura Kaede's knife slipped out of her hand and fell at the feet of the

student council president. Now Sakura Kaede only had one weapon left.  

    "Ah."

    Although it was only a little, Sakura Kaede showed regret. It seemed that she was

surprised.  

    Her murderous aura began to decline. Oh, she doesn't want to fight anymore.  

    "Natsuru, go get her gun. "

    Shizuku ordered me.  

    "Huh?"

    "She won't resist anymore. "

    Exactly. I approached Sakura Kaede with trepidation, but Sakura Kaede didn't do anything. I

easily took the pistol from her hand.  

    Then I returned to my original position. Sakura Kaede didn't even look in my direction.  

    "Mikoto, you can get up now."  

    Hearing Shizuku's voice, Mikoto uttered a "Hmm." She was about to stand. Our eyes were

fixed on her.  

    At that moment, Sakura Kaede suddenly lifted Mikoto's katana with her toes, grasped the

handle with her slender fingers, aimed the tip at the president's face, and flung it out.  

    "Shizuku!"  

    I cried out immediately. I wondered if my shout had any effect. The black -haired president

tilted her head slightly.  

    It caught up. The katana sliced off a few strands of the president's hair and flew behind

her.

    "You scared me. Kaede, you're a magician, right? Or are you an acrobat?"  

    "I hate being watched."  

    "Then at least listen to what we have to say."  

    "No."  

    Sakura Kaede smiled. Even then  

    , she remained calm. "Isn't it hard to accept Shizuku's words?"  

    "Learning patience will be helpful when you enter society."  

    "It doesn't help me right now." "  

    Please be patient. Consider your current position."  

    A voice came from another direction.  

    "Is it ready? Let me shoot her."  

    It was Akane who said this. This woman was still so impatient. She looked bloodthirsty.  

    Shizuku moved a little closer to Sakura Kaede. Sakura Kaede was already out of weapons.  

    "There's nothing you can do. Just do as I say."

    "I told you I hate it."

    "You're so willful. But it's no use just disobeying me."

    "No."

    "What do you want to do?" She's absolutely right  

    . Sakura Kaede is unarmed now, can't use magic like me, and doesn't have a weapon.  

    I don't think she can defeat Shizuku like this. Plus, there's Akane next to her, eager to shoot

her dead.  

    But Sakura Kaede remains calm and composed. How could she be so calm?  

    "Maybe you should listen to me, Shizuku -san."

    "Impossible."

    "Really? What will you do if I do this?"

    Sakura Kaede bent her knees. I knew she was gathering strength. Then she suddenly

jumped towards the door behind her that Mikoto had unlocked.  

    "Hey!"

    "It's no use. "

    Shizuku's dagger flew out, and the chain wrapped around Sakura Kaede's ankle.  

    She lost her balance in the air and fell behind Shizuku.  

    "Don't do anything stupid. "

    "Ah, it hurts so much "

    Sakura Kaede stood up.  

    "It turned out well. "

    She held the hilt of the knife in her right hand. Huh? Where did she get it from?  

    No. She didn't get it from anywhere, the knife was already there. The knife that Sakura

Kaede had left stuck there before, and now she was holding the hilt of the knife.  

    The knife was stuck in a sink, and inside was,  

    "Senpai!"

    Shizuku cried out. The knife stabbed the sink where Tamiko -senpai was.  

    "Okay, what should I do, Shizuku -san"

    Sakura Kaede said in a tone as if to say that if you don't decide quickly, it will be difficult for

me.

    "If she does this, she will become skewered meat. "

    The tip of the knife stopped right in front of Tamiko -senpai. If Sakura Kaede moves her

hand even slightly, the senior will be like a skewered chicken.  

    Shizuku's teeth are grinding.  

    "Kaede, you aimed and threw it, didn't you?"

    "No—I wouldn't have thought that through."

    Although she said that, she was definitely lying. She must have aimed and thrown it, so she

was so calm.  

    "But, what should we do? This person is very important to you, Shizuku -chan."

    "."

    Shizuku remained motionless. We didn't know whether the senior in the tank was alive or

dead; we had no idea about her condition. She was probably dead. But she looked alive, and

it seemed like she would bleed if stabbed.  

    Sakura Kaede moved the knife handle with amusement.  

    "Should I stab you?"

    "What do you want to do?"

    Shizuku whispered.  

    "Kaede, tell me your conditions."

    "You're saying that, as if you're threatening me."

    "Hurry up."

    Sakura Kaede smiled softly again.  

    "I want you, Shizuku -chan, and Natsuru -san to obey my orders."  

    What does this mean?  

    Simply put, I want you to swear allegiance to me. Shizuku -chan, you've completely messed

up the Red and Blue showdown so far. So I want to start all over again."  

    So, Natsuru -san and I are supposed to represent Red and Blue, respectively?  

    That's not quite right. Natsuru -san is the only one who needs to make the decision.  

    I wasn't surprised. I'd heard enough before that I was the key to the outcome.  

    Shizuku -chan needs you because he wants you to be his subordinate.  

    Even after hearing this, I still don't understand.  

    Shizuku's tone didn't change at all; she was stalling for time. She was still so bold. A

negotiator like her should be a diplomat.  

    But Sakura Kaede has the negotiation materials in her hands.  

    Her hand on the hilt of the knife kept shifting.  

    Okay, what should we do, Shizuku -chan?  

    If

    you don't decide quickly, I'll...  

    Wait. Shizuku  

    responded.  

    Let me think about it.  

    I don't like it. Give me an answer in ten seconds. Otherwise, I'll make a skewer of this

person.  

    Ten seconds was too short. Sakura Kaede didn't intend to give Shizuku time to think. She

knew that giving an opponent like Shizuku time would be disadvantageous to her.  

    Some liquid began to leak out of the acrylic tank pierced by the knife.  

    Okay, what should we do?  

    Shizuku  

    knew she couldn't remain silent any longer and spoke up. Not only Sakura Kaede, but also

our eyes were focused on her.  

    Just as she was about to say something, Sakura Kaede suddenly collapsed.  

    It was really sudden. She seemed to have lost her strength from the knees up and fell to

the ground. Of course, her hand also left the hilt of the knife, and she just lay face up on the

ground.  

    None of us was surprised. But what happened? None of us touched her.  

    Great, here's our chance.  

    Akane shouted, raising her pistol and approaching Sakura Kaede.  

    The situation has reversed, let's shoot her.  

    Wait. It  

    wasn't Shizuku or Mikoto who said this, but me.  

    I knew that Sakura Kaede, lying on the ground, was still moving. She hadn't fainted, she

was still conscious.  

    "Is she awake? If so, it would be best to kill her right now."

    "I told you to wait."

    I waited there, unprepared, for Sakura Kaede to stand up. For some reason, I didn't think it

was dangerous.  

    Sakura Kaede stood up. She looked sleepy, and the defiant, murderous aura she'd held

until a moment before was gone. She  

    blinked a few times, turned her head, and then met our gazes.  

    "Natsuru -san? And Shizuku -chan. That one."

    She seemed perplexed.  

    "What's wrong with me?"

    The voice was clearly Sakura Kaede from the daytime.  

    Let's rewind a little.  

    The gathered visceral animals, propelled by their short limbs, emerged into the hallway.

Each of them had its entrails exposed, a disgusting sight to behold, but there were no

spectators around, so there was nothing to worry about.  

    "Hey, where are we going?"

    It was the Seppuku Black Rabbit who spoke. It was the Seppuku Tiger who was asking.  

    "Hmm—what should we do?"

    "What? You haven't thought about it?"

    "I think I should go meet up with Natsuru and the others." "  

    You really think so."  

    "Because we weren't created for combat either."  

    The viscera animals are basically "explaining their predetermined position to Kämpfer." As

for the battle, Kämpfer will conduct it himself. The viscera animals themselves are well aware

of this.  

    "Will Akane be happy if we join them? Won't she chase us around with a gun?"  

    "She'll probably do that."  

    Seppuku Tiger nodded slightly in agreement with what Seppuku Black Rabbit said. Since

they're stuffed animals, they can't move too much.  

    "If she weren't so irritable, she'd be a good woman."  

    "It's hard to imagine Akane not being irritable."  

    "That's true. She's usually irritable.  

    " "What are Natsuru and her doing?"  

    Seppuku Black Rabbit turned his head slightly away.  

    "What do you think?"  

    "Natsuru is very dull, so..."  

    Seppuku Tiger chuckled.  

    "If you have any expectations, you're definitely wrong."  

    "Akane is quite tragic." She had no choice but to draw her gun. And even if she did, she

wasn't sure if things would go smoothly.  

    Perhaps it would have been easier to let her do it before she transformed.  

    Glasses -wearing Akane is quite shy. Late bloomer and slow -wittedness are the worst

combination.  

   "Ahahaha." Seppuku Tiger laughed unceremoniously.

Its voice, resembling a girl's, sounded a bit off at first, but that was its true voice.

Suffocating Wild Dog asked hoarsely, "Is Natsuru Senou that slow?"

"He's probably a bit clueless. It's like falling in love with iron ore—it's useless."

Seppuku Black Rabbit said something quite pertinent.

"Kondou-san seems to like Natsuru, too."

"That's really strange."

"Before bed, she always tells me how handsome Senou-san is."

"Hey, has Mikoto ever done anything like that?"

"That was before I could talk. I think she was just talking to herself.

I felt a bit sorry for her the whole time I'd been listening, but what she said surprised me."

"You're really going too far. Weren't you silenced?"

"She told me not to say anything. But I guess it's okay now."

"You might be unremarkable, but you have a really bad personality, eh?"

Suffocating Wild Dog continued, wagging its long tongue.

"I understand how Ms. Kondou feels. She loves curry, yet she acts like a girl."

"Even if it has nothing to do with curry, Mr. Natsuru should make his position clear."

"You're right." Seppuku Tiger joined the conversation from the side.

"While I can't expect much from Natsuru, I think he'll definitely make a decision after all this is over."

"Did you ask about that?" Smothering Black Rabbit said.

"Yes, he did mumble something. He said he needed an answer."

"Although he's admirable, what's it like to be a man talking to a puppet?"

"Although this isn't our place to get involved, I hope he does a good job."

"That's right. Our minds are becoming increasingly foggy. I want to settle this while we're still conscious."

The puppets continued to walk briskly down the corridor.

After all, their speed was always slower than that of humans.

"Akane." The Seppuku Black Rabbit began to speak again.

It was the Seppuku Tiger who responded. "What?"

"She seems to be holding back on something. This Akane."

"Something about this and that. She was just a human being."

"No, I'm talking about the transformed Akane."

"What? That's really strange."

"I guess it's not surprising that she would act this way.

She might think that if there's no need to continue fighting, she might just disappear.

She should have figured it out before, but it seems that because of Natsuru, the thought resurfaced.

It was a bit too much, so she easily succumbed to it and ended up like this."

The Seppuku Tiger blinked. This was a very rare move for a puppet.

"No one would plan to lose from the beginning, right?"

"That's right. But for her, this is what she calls happiness. I feel sorry for her." 

    If the Seppuku Black Rabbit were a human, it would probably be sighing right now.

The puppet's tone was overflowing with sadness.  

    She knew that whether her personality changed or she became a violent maniac, it

wouldn't last forever. So, it's understandable that she'd still be reluctant to do something.  

    Has there ever been such an example? No.  

    Seriously, even mediators are so erratic. She's not really a mediator at all.  

    The two puppets exchanged glances, and then Seppuku Tiger said to Smothering Dog:  

    It's good that Mikoto's personality hasn't changed, right?  

    Yeah. She doesn't seem to care much. Is  

    she only concerned about Natsuru's problems?  

    Yeah. But I don't think that's unrelated to us.  

    We're not humans, we're puppets.  

    Smothering Dog ignored Seppuku Tiger's joking words.  

    "After all, we're supposed to explain the battles to the Kämpfers and supervise their work."  

    "That's right."  

    Seppuku Black Rabbit replied.  

    "Otherwise, people like Akane might just indiscriminately attack passersby."  

    "Would it be good for us to become Sakura Kaede's enemies like this?" "  

    I've said this before. We've never met the Mediator. So, we don't know what he's

thinking."

"Ahahaha." Seppuku Tiger laughed unceremoniously.

Its voice, resembling a girl's, sounded a bit off at first, but that was its true voice.

Suffocating Wild Dog asked hoarsely, "Is Natsuru Senou that slow?"

"He's probably a bit clueless. It's like falling in love with iron ore—it's useless."

Seppuku Black Rabbit said something quite pertinent. "Kondou-san seems to like Natsuru, too."

"That's really strange."

"Before bed, she always tells me how handsome Senou-san is."

"Hey, has Mikoto ever done anything like that?"

"That was before I could talk. I think she was just talking to herself.

I felt a bit sorry for her the whole time I'd been listening, but what she said surprised me."

"You're really going too far. Weren't you silenced?"

"She told me not to say anything. But I guess it's okay now."

"You might be unremarkable, but you have a really bad personality, eh?"

Suffocating Wild Dog continued, wagging its long tongue.

"I understand how Ms. Kondou feels. She loves curry, yet she acts like a girl."

"Even if it has nothing to do with curry, Mr. Natsuru should make his position clear."

"You're right." Seppuku Tiger joined the conversation from the side.

"While I can't expect much from Natsuru, I think he'll definitely make a decision after all this is over."

"Did you ask about that?" Smothering Black Rabbit said.

"Yes, he did mumble something. He said he needed an answer."

"Although he's admirable, what's it like to be a man talking to a puppet?"

"Although this isn't our place to get involved, I hope he does a good job."

"That's right. Our minds are becoming increasingly foggy.

I want to settle this while we're still conscious."

The puppets continued to walk briskly down the corridor.

After all, their speed was always slower than that of humans.

"Akane." The Seppuku Black Rabbit began to speak again.

It was the Seppuku Tiger who responded. "What?"

"She seems to be holding back on something. This Akane."

"Something about this and that. She was just a human being."

"No, I'm talking about the transformed Akane."

"What? That's really strange."

"I guess it's not surprising that she would act this way.

She might think that if there's no need to continue fighting, she might just disappear.

She should have figured it out before, but it seems that because of Natsuru, the thought resurfaced.

It was a bit too much, so she easily succumbed to it and ended up like this."

The Seppuku Tiger blinked. This was a very rare move for a puppet.

"No one would plan to lose from the beginning, right?"

"That's right. But for her, this is what she calls happiness. I feel sorry for her."

    " "Who knows?"  

    "Will we die too?"  

    "We'll be no different from being dead. Our internal organs will be exposed."  

    "Miss Mikoto's rude personality might disappear, right? We might end up like that, too."  

    This silence fell upon the puppets.  

    It was Seppuku Tiger who broke the silence.  

    "Does that mean we'll disappear too?"  

    "Yes, that's right."  

    "That's possible. But there's no point worrying about it. I have nothing to fear, because

even if I disappear, Natsuru will definitely remember me." "  

    But if things continue like this, we might just be considered visceral animals with bad

mouths."  

    said the Seppuku Black Rabbit.  

    "So I thought if I don't help him, I might be forgotten by the Natsuru. I want to leave some

proof of our existence."  

    "Oh, I see. That's cool."  

    "A messenger isn't just someone who can talk, right?"  

    said the Seppuku Tiger. Seppuku Black Rabbit: "Papa Pa" patted its shoulder (something

like a shoulder).  

    "Even though Natsuru looks silly and might forget you, I still think he will remember you."

    "You're really contradictory. What about Akane?"

    "I'm glad she remembered me."

    "Excuse me."

    Electrocuted Wildcat said. Seppuku Black Rabbit was startled.  

    "Wow, you're here."

    "Impolite. I've been here the whole time."

    "Don't be silent all the time."

    "Mind my business. I'm thinking about something."

    "Shizuku should remember you. She seems to have a good memory."

    "Miss Shizuku never forgets anything, that's not right. I  

    didn't mean that. I remembered something." "You're saying something confusing again."

    "Please don't interrupt. Miss Shizuku brought our friends here too."

    "What are you talking about? We're all here, right?"

    "No, she brought some other visceral animals."

    All the stuffed animals paid attention to this.  

    Seppuku Tiger got excited.  

    "Is it an visceral animal other than us!?"

    "Miss Shizuku put it in my travel bag with me, and it's been shaking on the train."  

    "You should have thought of it sooner."  

    "That's why I said I was thinking."  

    The puppets decided to temporarily postpone their meeting with Natsuru and the others

and instead head to Shizuku's room.  

    The door was ajar. They'd left it open to allow the viscera animals in and out. The puppets

entered, and  

    the Electrocuted Wildcat jumped up, grabbed the restroom doorknob, and used the force

of the force to swing it open.  

    A large travel bag lay there.  

    "I'll open it. This is for women, so please don't touch it."  

    "I've been wondering, do we have gender differences?"  

    "A stuffed animal that's always bothered by trivial matters won't sell."  

    The Electrocuted Wildcat said to Seppuku Black Rabbit, unzipping the travel bag.  

    It rummaged around inside for a while before pulling out a stuffed animal. It was a charred

lion.  

    Seppuku Black Rabbit stared at it intently.  

    "What is this?"  

    "I think it's called the Burning Lion."  

    Seppuku Tiger replied.  

    "I've seen it. The president once brought it to Natsuru's house."  

    "Hmm—can it talk?"  

    "I don't know."  

    Seppuku Tiger poked the Burning Lion a few times. Its burnt, curled mane trembled with

Seppuku Tiger's movements, but it still didn't react.  

    "It seems to be the first visceral animal to arrive."  

    "It has a face that looks old -fashioned no matter how you look at it."  

    "What should we do next?"  

    Seppuku Black Rabbit looked at the Electrocuted Wildcat. The stuffed animal with its fur

standing upside down seemed to shrug.  

    "You ask me what to do? This is something Miss Shizuku brought."  

    "It's no use if he can't talk."  

    Miss Shizuku wouldn't have brought it here for no reason. It must be useful somewhere.  

    Is that so? Didn't she just bring it here first?  

    Even if that's the case, it's fine. The wisdom of the visceral animals gathered together is

comparable to  

    that of Manjushri Bodhisattva .  

    You've come up with a new proverb. Let's put it in the dictionary.  

    Suddenly, a groaning "Ouch!" was heard. The puppets jumped in fright.  

    Hey, what's that sound!?  

    It's this person, right?  

    The suffocating dog said in a flat voice. The sound came from the Burning Lion.  

    It looked like it could speak.  

    But the Burning Lion mumbled a few words and then closed its mouth.  

    Is it dead?  

    It seems to be asleep. Should  

    we wake it up?  

    The suffocating dog shook the Burning Lion, but it didn't respond.  

    It's no use. "

    "Tsk. Can't you just finish talking before going to sleep?"

    "What should I do?"

    The Seppuku Black Rabbit, questioned by the Electrocuted Wildcat, twitched its ears a few

times.  

    "No choice, just carry it on your back."

    "Take it with you?"

    "You said you might need it, didn't you?"

    "That's true, but what should I do?"

    "Of course, it's up to you."

    The Seppuku Black Rabbit looked around. But the puppets' eyes were all focused on the

black rabbit.  

    "Isn't this what you should do, Seppuku Black Rabbit?"

    "Just support it with your ears."

    "A man's job is to do hard labor."

    "I told you that animals with internal organs have genders!"

    Although the Seppuku Black Rabbit complained, of course, no one listened. With no other

choice, the black rabbit had to carry the Burning Lion on its back.  

    "It's just a pile of chemical fibers, how can it be so heavy?"

    "Is it because of the metal joints?"

    "I want my wages. "

    The puppets took swift steps again and walked out of Shizuku's room.  

Translator's Notes

This chapter was translated from the Chinese translation of the original Japanese text.

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