Kämpfer:Volume 12 Chapter 3

Volume 12, Chapter 3  

    Embarrassingly, I only began to move after our path was blocked.  

   "Akane, Akane!"

    I knocked repeatedly on the door. But it made no sound or sway; it only hurt my hand.  

   "Natsuru, get out of the way."

    Kondou Mikoto drew her katana, the blade pointed directly at the door.  

   "Hey, hey!"

    Kondou Mikoto swung the katana over one shoulder. But the blade only slightly dug into

the door.  

   "No, it won't break. Natsuru, try your magic."

    I slowly shook my head. If Kondou Mikoto's katana couldn't break it, my magic certainly

wouldn't.  

   "Ah, damn it!"

    Kondou Mikoto kicked the door in frustration. But the door remained motionless, and she

clutched her foot, crying out in pain.  

    I stared at the iron door in bewilderment. Behind this door was a passage leading

underground. But we couldn't get there yet.  

   "Akane."I  

    unconsciously called out the name of the bulldog girl who had vanished with Sakura

Kaede.  

   "Why?"

    The scene of Akane jumping into the basement vividly flashed through my mind. In that

instant, she gave herself to Sakura Kaede. She had agreed to a deal with the evil spirit.  

    I looked at my right hand. I hadn't moved, hadn't cast any magic.  

    I clenched it tightly.  

   "Why didn't I move?"

   "Natsuru"

    Kondou Mikoto said worriedly. Although her voice reached my ears, it was as if I hadn't

heard it.  

   "I knew Akane was going to leave, and I had to stop her right there. But I couldn't do

anything. Magic, it was useless."

   "Hey, Natsuru."

   "You can't rely on magic. I just had to reach out. I just had to grab Akane's wrist, but!"

   "Natsuru, please, calm down."

   "Why did I just watch Akane leave? What was I doing?"

   "Natsuru!"

    Kondou Mikoto hugged me from behind.  

    Tears welled up in my eyes. For the first time, I understood that this feeling was called

involuntary.  

    Tears kept flowing from the corners of my eyes, and I felt deeply ashamed and

embarrassed that I had done nothing for Akane.  

    Kondou Mikoto whispered:  

   "Natsuru, hey"

   "You beast."

   "Please, calm down. Just a little bit, calm down. It's just the two of us now."

    The words of my childhood playmate finally reached my mind. Although they were vague, I

gradually began to understand their meaning.  

   "Akane and Shizuku are not here anymore. Natsuru, you can't give up here. Okay? Don't

lose yourself, just continue to be yourself."

    Gradually, my breathing became smoother.  

    I felt the weight of Kondou Mikoto on my back. This guy is always like this. She said she

wanted to go on an adventure, but she never left me behind. She was lively and carefree, yet

also very kind. No matter how far she went, she'd always call to ask if I'd eaten well.  

    I heard the beating of a heart. It was Kondou Mikoto's. I was feeling her warmth.  

    She suddenly left my body and moved to my left.  

    My face, held in her fair hands, turned to the side.  

   "Hmm."

    A soft sensation touched my lips. Huh?  

   "Hello, hello!?"

   "Uh, hehe."

    Kondou Mikoto smiled after removing her lips from mine.  

   "Are you feeling better?"

   "Uh, yes, don't scare me."

    The sudden kiss brought back my fading consciousness. My heartbeat quickened, but that

wasn't the intention.  

   "That's great."

    Kondou Mikoto breathed  

    a sigh of relief."I was a little nervous just now."

   "You."

   "But this is the last time. Don't worry. I won't do this again."

    She said. There was something strangely lonely about her as she said that.  

    As long as Natsuru is fine, I'll be fine, huh.  

    She took my hand.  

    Okay, let's go. Let's go get Akane and Shizuku back.  

    Yeah.  

    I looked at my hand again. It was okay this time. Even if it was Sakura Kaede, I could still kill

her. I won't let her go again.  

    But what should I do? The door to the basement was closed, and the swimming pool

entrance was blocked. That basement was so big, one or two more exits wouldn't matter.  

    I casually glanced at the bed and saw a cell phone and a Pockly box dropped on it. I was

surprised to  

    see Akane's?  

    Yes.

    Suddenly, a crackling sound of music started Kondou Mikoto and me.  

    It was Akane's phone ringing. What a strange song. I remember it being the theme song

from an anime.  

    What's wrong?  

    Kondou Mikoto looked at her phone.  

    There's a call coming in.  

    I stared at the LCD screen.  

    Should I hang up?  

    No. At this moment  

    , I remembered what Akane had whispered to me earlier. That's right. We still have a way.  

    I kept staring at the screen of my phone, and the caller's name appeared on it.  

    It said "Dad."  

    Let's rewind time a little.  

    Shizuku slowly opened her eyes.  

    The scene in front of her eyes was still blurry. Was it foggy? Or was it the effect of drugs?

Yes, she was drugged. On the way to the underground, someone tied her hands behind her

back and covered her mouth with a cloth coated with drugs. She didn't r emember anything

after that. When she came to her senses, she was like this.  

    Slowly, Shizuku's eyes finally came into focus. Although her vision was still a little shaky,

she could already see the gray ceiling.  

    Ceiling? Yes, it was indeed a ceiling. Cold cement was exposed from inside. This meant that

Shizuku was now lying on the ground.  

    Shizuku stood up carefully and checked her body for injuries. Her joints could move, and

she was not injured. She didn't feel like vomiting and didn't have a headache.  

    Shizuku looked around. She was not lying on a bed, but on the floor. The room was empty

and there was nothing. There was someone else there besides her.  

   "Ah - she's up -.]

   "You're awake."

    Two footsteps were heard. One of them sounded like a person jumping and walking. The

other one sounded like they were dragging their legs. They were Rika Ueda and Ryōka

Yamakawa.  

    Rika looked healthy, while Ryōka, clutching a submachine gun in one hand, looked in pain.  

   "What are you going to do if I keep sleeping?"

   "If you don't wake up, we're going to force you to wake up."

   "Yamakawa -san."

    Shizuku didn't look at Rika, but at Ryōka and spoke.  

   "You're not doing well.  

    ]

   "Your gunshot wound hasn't healed yet."

   "You're so annoying —!]

    Ryōka roared. Her left hand had been pressing against her abdomen since a while ago.  

    Blood seeped between her fingers. Kempfer was not only stronger than the average

person, but he also recovered faster than the average person. But Ryōka's wound hadn't

healed yet. That blow was just that powerful.  

   "You'd better not move."

   "Shut up! Don't talk!"

    Shizuku did as she was told and shut up.  

    Ryōka's breathing was ragged, her shoulders shaking violently. Anyone who saw her could

tell she was in pain.  

    But her eyes, on the contrary, sparkled. Rather than a desire to live, she looked more like

she was afraid of something.  

    "Even in this state, you still caught me?"  

    "Yes."  

    "Who are you afraid of? Kaede?"  

    "

    Okay—that's enough."  

    Rika walked over, aiming her sickle at Shizuku.  

    "Don't get too caught up in  

    this." "You look healthy."  

    "Rika is healthy to begin with. Because Kaede -sama always praises me." Ryōka  

    's body trembled at the mention of Kaede's name. Shizuku didn't miss the subtle

movement.  

    "Yamakawa -san, you're being held hostage by Kaede, after all."  

    "Are you asking what's going on?"  

    Ryōka gritted her teeth. And she was in a state of confusion.  

    "I don't want to make Kaede -sama angry again." But  

    I don't think that kid is that scary.  

    That's because, President, you don't understand Kaede -sama at all!  

    Ryōka roared, then she began to cough violently.  

    Kaede -sama is truly terrifying when she's upset. Cold and heartless, so different from her

usual self.  

    Rika nodded her head in agreement. Kaede  

    -sama is truly terrifying when she's angry.  

    But I think her usual self at school is her true self.  

    Shizuku said this, and Ryōka began to cough again.  

    Maybe. But it doesn't matter which one it is. I just don't want to upset Kaede -sama

anymore.  

    Ryōka pointed her submachine gun at Shizuku.  

    Okay, President. Please be quiet.  

    You want to kill me?  

    Rika placed the sickle on Shizuku's throat, a gentle pressure enough to rip it open.  

    We don't intend to kill you. If we did,  

    Kaede -sama would be furious with us. Just do as we say. Ryōka  

    took over Rika's words.  

    Shizuku remained calm.  

    "Does international law allow the enslavement of prisoners..."  

    "That doesn't matter. Just do as we say. If you complain, I'll inflict some pain on your hands

and feet."  

    "Just don't kill her, that's all."  

    Rika said excitedly. Shizuku looked away slightly.  

    "That's troublesome."  

    "Then just be quiet."  

    "I refuse that, too!"  

    Shizuku suddenly swung her hand, channeling power into it and transforming into

Kempfer. Then, with a force far superior to that of an ordinary person, she struck Rika's chin.  

    "Ah!"  

    Rika's tiny body flew back. Shizuku, without checking on Rika's condition, immediately

switched her attack to Ryōka.  

    "President!"  

    "Carelessness is a big no -no."  

    "You're still like that."  

    Ryōka suddenly frowned in pain and squatted down, clutching her abdomen. She was

clutching the wound from the gunshot.  

    Shizuku stopped attacking.  

    "You don't have to tell me."  

    She bent down and touched Ryouka's body.  

    "Let me see your wound."  

    "Stop."  

    "Let me see."  

    Shizuku forcibly removed Ryouka's hand and began examining her wound. Her wound was

stained black with blood, and some flesh had been exposed.  

    "It's not good, but as long as you maintain your Kempfer form, you should be fine. Anyway,

you need to rest. Let me stop the bleeding first."  

    Shizuku took out her own handkerchief, folded it, and pressed it against the wound. She

then took the string from Ryōka's clothes and tied it around her waist, using it as a bandage.  

    "It should be better now. I can rest easy for now."  

    Ryōka's face twisted in pain, but she still glanced at Shizuku with one eye.  

    "President, I won't thank you." "  

    It's okay. I'm not planning on treating you for free."  

    Suddenly, Shizuku grabbed Ryōka's shoulders.  

    "I want you to tell me, is this the bottom of this underground space?"  

    "What?"  

    "Look at me."  

    Shizuku lifted Ryōka's face, which was wracked with pain.  

    "Is this the bottom? Is it?  

    You're talking about that."  

    "Although there's a tank containing the seniors and the others, I don't think it ends there.

Is there somewhere else?"  

    Ryōka slowly backed away, attempting to escape. But Shizuku stopped her. Shizuku wasn't

going to let her get away.  

    "I didn't hear you just now. Please answer me." There should be, for example, the place

where Kaede first became like that."

    At that moment, a breeze brushed Shizuku's face.  

    It was a very light breeze. Yes, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was just like the

flapping of a mosquito's wings. But Shizuku recognized this as a dangerous sign.  

    Shizuku turned around and conjured daggers, then used the daggers in both hands to

block the figure rushing towards her from the other side of the room.  

   "Oh, Shizuku -chan, you're really quick to react."

   "Kaede."

    Metal clashed violently and then separated. Kaede was using a black Japanese sword. They

distanced themselves from each other.  

   "Shizuku -chan, you're awake already."

    Kaede's eyes looked strangely happy. Shizuku, on the other hand, had a serious expression

on her face.  

   "You, the one who came too early."

   "Too early? Oh."

    Kaede now admired Shizuku.  

   "So that's how it is, Shizuku -chan, you deliberately let yourself be captured just to

investigate this place. Ryōka and Rika alone can't handle you, after all.  

    That little girl's already fainted. Yamakawa -san's injured and useless.  

    So, it's just me and you, Shizuku -chan?  

    That's right, now's the perfect time.  

    The dagger began to fly across the floor, striking Kaede.  

    Kaede dodged it calmly.  

    Shizuku -chan, what's the real reason you let yourself be caught?  

    Because I like being alone. That 's  

    nonsense. You like Natsuru -san, right?  

    Kaede leaped up, spun in the air, and landed behind Shizuku. Shizuku quickly turned away.  

    I don't want to drag anyone else into this.  

    Including Natsuru -san?  

    Not to mention him. The  

    black -haired student council president leaped back to create distance. The dagger she held

was attached to a chain, allowing her to wield it freely even from a distance. She intended to

maintain, at any rate, an advantage over Kaede, who was armed only  with a sword.  

    "Whether it's Natsuru, Akane, or Kondou Mikoto, they were all dragged into this by me. I

want to, at least in the end, resolve everything on my own."  

   "Hehe."

    Kaede stood there motionless.  

    "I've worked so hard to bring you and Natsuru -kun together, Shizuku -chan. Do you want

my efforts to go to waste?"  

   "I like Natsuru."

   "It sounds like you're talking about a young couple's married life."

   "I like him very much, I love him, even though he disdains me.""

    She swung her chained dagger. Then, she flung out two swords at once. She didn't just

fling them; they flew along the same axis, making it look like there was only one.  

    Kaede dodged the first sword, but the second sword's chain tangled her foot, throwing

her off balance. Shizuku was about to approach Kaede, but she quickly regained her balance.  

   "Phew, that was a close call. As expected of Shizuku -chan."

    Kaede smiled faintly. Not a trace of anxiety could be seen on her face.  

    "Why do you want to fight when Natsuru isn't here now?"  

   "

    Let me guess."

    In this dim place, only Kaede's teeth gleamed white.  

   "It's for your senior, Shinomiya -senpai, Shizuku -chan. You must have been frightened by

her look. Are you thinking Natsuru -san might end up like that? You don't want the two

people you love most to leave you, do you?]"It's not  

    like you  

    to worry about others, Shizuku -chan."

   "Don't let your imagination run wild."

   "You're trying to fight alone, but you're being too cool. Natsuru -san might be worried

about you right now."

   "Akane and Kondou Mikoto are here."

   "You're just being stubborn."

    Kaede's katana flashed a black light, as if syncing with her thoughts. Then, words as sharp

as a blade uttered from her lips.  

   "That's not the case, actually. Although you're a powerful person, Shizuku -chan, you also

want to stay by Natsuru -san's side, right?"Are you thinking that if you lose, Akane and

Kondou Mikoto will lose too, and Natsuru -san will certainly lose too. And  then everyone will

be put into the jar? "

   "Stop it."

   "That's not right. Even if you don't lose, Shizuku -chan, others might end up in the jar like

your predecessors. For example, if I leave here now and go to Natsuru -san and the others —]

   "Shut up!"

   "They might all end up like Shinomiya -senpai."

   "Shut up!"

    Shizuku kicked the ground hard, exerting the maximum force of her well -trained legs and

Kempfer's power to quickly close the distance between them, and almost simultaneously

threw the daggers.  

    Kaede tried to jump to avoid it, but one of the daggers changed its trajectory and stabbed

her in the abdomen.  

    In her free hand, Kaede conjured an automatic pistol and fired two shots, hitting the sword

and the chain. The dagger lost its power and fell, while the other dagger deflected and hit

the ceiling.  

    "You're still so inexperienced!?"  

    Kaede cried out in surprise. The dagger that had struck the ceiling bounced back and flew

towards her.  

    Kaede tried to duck, but it was too late; her left hand was tangled in the chain.  

    Shizuku pulled hard.  

    "Ah!"  

    Kaede screamed and fell. Shizuku kicked Kaede's fallen katana and pistol aside and pointed

the recovered dagger at Kaede.  

    "You were careless, Kaede." "That  

    hurts, Shizuku -chan. You're quite capable."  

    "If it were your usual self, you would have been able to do it effortlessly. You've been

talking too much to me."  

    Shizuku's voice remained calm, but her breathing was a little ragged from the intense

exercise she had just done.  

    "I thought you were wavering, Shizuku -chan."  

    "I was wavering." You're such a mean person. I'm disillusioned with you.  

    Because I love bullying you, Shizuku -chan.  

    Kaede lay faceup on the ground, looking up at Shizuku.  

    The almighty Student Council President didn't even bend down, just stood there looking

down at Kaede.  

    Are you planning to kill me?   

 If you do that, everything will be over.  

Yeah, maybe that's a good idea," Shizuku said coldly.

While the person before her was at least her close friend in body, Shizuku had already figured it out.

"But what if I kill you?"

Shizuku untied the chains around Kaede's feet, then held the sword in both hands, ready to throw at any moment.

"I have something to ask you.

What did you see when you first entered here?

Why are you asking this? You weren't born with this personality, were you?

Judging from what Yamakawa-san said, there seems to be another room here.

Where is it, and what's in it? Please answer."

"What will you do after I answer?"

"That's none of your business."

"I want to know."

"Answer me." Shizuku gripped the dagger tightly.

Kaede's gaze shifted to Shizuku's face.

"Shizuku-chan, I have something to ask you too."

"Now it's my turn to ask you."

"Shizuku-chan, you deliberately got knocked unconscious and came here, didn't you?"

"So what?"

"Fighting alone is powerful, but do you think I'm that capable?"

"Are you trying to trick me into wavering? It's useless."

Shizuku tensed up, watching Kaede, not wanting to miss even the slightest movement.

If she made any untoward move, she would thrust her sword into her without hesitation.

"Minagawa-san and Nakao-san have been tied up and left there.

Yamakawa-san and Ueda-san's sister are no longer useful. You're left without a partner now."

"That's not the case."

Suddenly, gunshots rang out from the room. One shot, two shots.

The bullets accurately knocked the sword from Shizuku's hand.

At that moment, Shizuku glanced toward the doorway.

"Akane-san."

It was Akane, transformed into a Kämpfer.

She was just as high-spirited as ever, only now she was coming for Shizuku.

Kaede, lying on the bed, slowly stood up.

"Shizuku-chan, didn't I tell you they might lose?"

Her smiling face was the same as when she was Shizuku's friend.

Kondou Mikoto and I transformed back to our normal selves.

We then left Sakura Kaede's house.

Strangely, we were planning to run away. We were going to the person who called.

I blamed myself for not thinking of this before.

But since the Mastiff Girl said it was okay if it wasn't necessary, I couldn't do that.

Oh, how could I have blamed everyone else for everything?

After leaving Sakura Kaede's house, we began to jog.

We'd originally planned to walk, but we were in a hurry, so we ended up running.

"Hey, Natsuru, are you really going this way?"

Kondou Mikoto asked from behind.

"Maybe—I don't know."

I'm not very familiar with geography, and this was my first time here.

Kondou Mikoto surged forward.

This girl never gets lost, no matter how unfamiliar the place.

She has a knack for finding her destination with just a few clues.

She knew exactly where we were going.

We caught our breath and knocked on the door.

We'd just told them on the phone that we were coming.

The door opened, and a well-built, middle-aged man appeared before us.

"Oh, you're here. Are you Senou Natsuru-san?"

"Yes. Nice to meet you," I replied and bowed deeply to Mishima Kumeaki, Akane's father.

It was Akane's father who came to greet us.

It seemed her mother had been called to a district meeting.

I apologized for stopping by so late.

"Don't worry. I told you you could come anytime," Kumeaki laughed.

Kondou Mikoto and I sat on the sofa.

"I often hear my daughter mention you."

"I don't deserve it," Kondou Mikoto said, something that didn't sound like her at all.

The middle-aged man in front of me laughed, his plump body shaking.

What kind of job is he doing now? I think I heard Akane say it once.

I said nervously:  Uncle Mishima, uh, are you a carpenter?  

    No, no. I'm selling used cars now.  

    Huh?  

    I was startled. I heard about carpentry during the day, right?  

    Carpentry was my last job. I did that for quite a while. Changing jobs is my hobby.  

    Ah.

    Changing jobs in this economic downturn is surprising, but for some reason, I'm just lucky.

I find a job right away. So, I don't have to worry about the income.  

    He might be bragging, but I don't think he's trying to be annoying.  

    It's strange to consider changing jobs a hobby. He doesn't look like someone who can resist

it, so maybe his hobby is really changing jobs. He keeps changing jobs like a revolving door. A

lot of people must envy him. My classmate Dongtian's dad seems to always say, "One day I'll

quit!" and has been doing it for twenty years.  

    I've worked a lot of jobs before.  

    Behind Meiming hung a row of photos of him in work clothes. There's even a photo of him

standing on a log drifting downstream, adjusting its direction.  

   "I used to be a farmer and a fisherman. I also collected natural pearls and sold them."

    Just like a fisherwoman.  

   "Oh—that's great."

    Kondou Mikoto leaned forward. This woman loves topics like this.  

   "I used to want to farm pearls, too. But I gave up and went diamond mining instead."

   "I see."

   "Digging for diamonds myself is a hassle, so I just buy and sell mining rights in Africa. Later,

officials in Congo demanded bribes, and if we refused, we'd have to fight private armies."

    I covered her mouth. Your life is so wild! What if Akane's dad gets dragged into this?  

   "Wahaha, that's hilarious."

    He seemed to take it as a joke. I breathed a sigh of relief.  

   "Although it's not appropriate to talk about this now, I've had many careers. I used to work

as a civil servant and a bureaucrat. Back then, I always took my work very seriously."Because

Akane was born. Yeah  

    .

    But I still felt bored. I had a job, but I had no motivation. So I secretly took on a part -time

job. After work, I went to help with planning at the company. So, I often got home at

daybreak. Then, there were stricter crackdowns on civil servants takin g on part -time jobs, so I

went to work at the company.  

    I removed my hand from Kondou Mikoto's mouthpiece and straightened my

posture.     Um

    , um, I want to hear about what you were talking about on the phone just now.  

    Oh, so that's how it is. Akane is really slow.  

  Mr. Mishima glanced at the clock. I lied carelessly.

It was better to do this than to tell him the absurd truth and make him worry.

"Oh, yes. Well, I don't know when it started. I did it for a long time.

I made a lot of useless things, like bamboo water bottles that wouldn't move even if they stood there, or five-in-a-row chess games where the winner was already determined."

"You're always making stuff like that, and you still haven't been fired.

It's probably because of the corporate structure.

That's the only company that's open to that kind of thing."

"I remember you said you were planning for a toy company."

"Right, right."

"The most insignificant thing so far, isn't it? What's that strange plan about?"

"Oh, it comes from that. It's called 'THE HARAWATA .'" (the intestines in japanese)

The moment I heard that, I felt a surge of excitement. Kondou Mikoto, sitting next to me, was also listening intently.

"THE HARAWATA " referred to the early series of Visceral Animals (Zoumozu/Visceral Animals).

Akane's father was the one who planned the commercialization of Visceral Animals.

The creator of Visceral Animals—said to be a suicide weapon in the toy world, some of which were even used as torture instruments by the secret police—was right here in front of me.

I didn't know anything about it. Or rather, I had no intention of finding out.

Besides, I felt like if I became interested in who commercialized Visceral Animals, I'd be doomed.

It was Akane, after she transformed into a fierce dog girl, who told me this.

She had told me, "My father seems to be involved in the commercialization of that thing. If you have any questions, ask him."

It seems this was recorded in a document she saw at the research facility. It was probably written down by a technician.

Or perhaps by a Kämpfer at the time, or perhaps by Sakura himself.

Does Akane know about this? I don't think she knows.

If I told her, she'd probably despair or burst into tears.

He seems to know that, as I said, visceral animals only make children cry.

"Why did you come up with such a bizarre design?"

"It's because I've been doing brain exercises since broad daylight,"

I'd like to say so.

Akane's father coughed at this.

"Actually, that wasn't my idea. I heard it from a little girl who lived nearby.

See, didn't I tell you my wife was at the rally?

She was there. Her parents said she seemed lonely, so they brought her along."

"What was the girl's name?"

"Hmm—— I remember this one."

Akane's father looked at the ceiling, opening and closed his mouth two or three times as if he finally remembered, and said, "Her name was something like 'Kura.'

Her name seemed to be 'Kera.'"

No matter what, it couldn't be Kimura Kaela.

"Is her name Sakura Kaede?"

"It seems so. Do you know her?"

"Hmm, I guess so." I answered him vaguely.

"What did you say to that girl?"

"It was all rambling. Children just like to imagine their own world, and that girl was no exception.

She didn't say anything about what was happening around her, but she told me a lot about her imagination."

At this point, Mr. Mishima smiled.

    It was then that she told me the story about the animals with their internal organs

exposed. My wife thought it was disgusting, but I found it quite interesting. So I pitched the

idea to the company.  

    Is it that interesting?  

    Honestly, opinions vary. But the boss at the company loved it, so he sent it to the general

manager for a decision. The general manager liked it and approved it immediately. The next

day, the company asked us to come up with all sorts of possible animals.  

    Anyone who asks for permission is definitely not normal, and anyone who gives permission

is definitely not right. Thus, the stuffed animal that has terrified children across the country

was born.  

    Has Akane ever met that girl?  

    Probably not. It seems like the times never match up. Akane is always away when that girl

comes. That girl doesn't live here all the time, so she doesn't come often.  

    Uh, that.  

    Let's get to the point now. That's all I want to confirm. The key question is what I'll ask

later.  

    Did that girl come up with any other ideas?  

    Yes, she did. I remember her saying the doll was a memory device —and she was the

"storage center" —that just by looking into someone's eyes, she could read their memories

and even control them, something very sci -fi.

   "Was that girl's idea?"

   "It's like a story. No matter how you look at it, there's no way to make this a new feature

for the product. We're just making an ordinary doll."

    With its internal organs exposed, it's hard to call it ordinary. I really didn't expect him to

say that.  

    Akane's father seemed happy for some reason. He seemed to enjoy talking to me. Maybe

no one else would ask him about internal organs.  

   "Did you get anything from that girl?"

   "What do you mean?"

   "Like a notebook or sketchbook?"

   "Hmm."

   Mr Kumeaki Mishima crossed his arms and began to think. He's just the right amount of fat, so he

looks presentable. But Akane probably wouldn't like her father being chubby.  

    The man before me was lost in thought. Handsome uncle, please remember quickly.  

   "I don't remember."

    I was stunned.  

    "No! "

    "I remember she had a notebook with her, but she seemed to have taken it back. Maybe

that notebook was very important to her. "

    That might be the case.  

    I was discouraged. I thought that coming here would lead to some progress. That's why I

came here.  

    I used to think that if there were any records left here, I could learn about Sakura Kaede's

secrets. Like why she is so strong or her weaknesses. It would be great if I could also read

that document, but it is now underground. Wouldn't we be helpless then ?

    Wait. We were originally planning to ask about the history of animal viscera production.  

    No. It was Akane who told me to come after transforming into a fierce dog. That guy

understood something after reading that document. I'm afraid that the information recorded

on it is rather vague. If she can clearly grasp the information inside, she shoul d be able to tell

me. Because she doesn't know, I can only ask her father.  

    Kondou Mikoto asked as if she understood what I was thinking:  

    "Is there anything else?  

    You really like that stuffed animal.  

    It talks.  

   Mr Kumeaki Mishima laughed heartily. He seemed to think it was a joke.  

    Well, that girl has been downstairs in my house a few times.  

    Underground? Yeah  

    . There's a bomb shelter in the yard. I used it as a basement for a while. I told the girl about

it and she seemed interested. I think she thinks more actively in dark places.  

    Please take us there.  

    I said to him enthusiastically.  

   Mr Kumeaki Mishima readily agreed. He told us to wait a moment, so we waited. Soon, he returned

with a flashlight.  

    Right there.  

    Akane's father walked into the yard in his slippers. Kondou Mikoto and I changed into our

shoes.  

    There was a place in the yard covered by an iron lid with a large lock on it.  

    I used this place as a warehouse, but it leaked, so I closed it up.  

    Can we go in and take a look?  

    Of course.  

    Mr Kumeaki Mishima unlocked the large lock for us, and I opened the lid. It  

    creaked open. Inside was a steeply tilted wooden staircase. Part of it was rotten.  

    Let's go in and take a look.  

    It's okay, but it's a little dangerous.  

    It's okay. By the way, if Akane gets here, please tell her we're here.  

    That being said, she probably won't come. Rather, I'm desperately trying to get to her right

now.  

    I borrowed a flashlight from Mr Kumeaki Mishima. As usual, Kondou Mikoto went down first, and I

provided light from behind.  

    It was dark inside. Of course. Since it's unused now, there's no lighting. It probably wasn't

like this when Sakura Kaede was a child.  

    I have no basis for this, but I firmly believe Sakura Kaede saw something here. It was

probably after that that she finally managed to make the viscera talk. What on  

    earth did she see here? I shone the flashlight around. It was completely empty. There were

puddles in the corners. The air was thick with moisture, giving it a musty smell.  

    Kondou Mikoto ran around recklessly even in the dark.  

   "Hey, Natsuru, here."

   "Hmm?"

    There was a spot on the wall that was a different color. It was just big enough for a person

to crouch down and pass through. But it looked like it was coated with something like mortar.  

    I tried pushing it with my hand. It didn't budge. But it started to crackle and peel.  

   "Is there a hole here?"

   "Try it?"

    I tried to push a little harder.  

   "Hey, ah, hey."

    Pushing with my hands alone was too much of a stretch, so Kondou Mikoto and I tried

kicking with our feet. At first, it didn't budge, but after two and three kicks, it finally started

to sway.  

   "Hey, ah!"

    We gave it one last, powerful kick. Finally, we reached the wall, revealing a hole.  

    On the other side was a passage. As expected, the height of the hole meant we couldn't

get through without stooping. Sakura Kaede was a child back then, so it shouldn't be difficult

to get through. Or perhaps we could crawl on all fours?  

   "Does this lead to the basement?"

   "It definitely does."

    Without hesitation, I plunged into the darkness.  

    It was dusty inside. The ground was covered in dirt. And the humidity was so strong that

the dirt had turned to mud underfoot. My pants and knees were stained. Kondou Mikoto

shouted behind me, "Wow —I'll have to wash them properly when I get home."  

    Something, either dirt or concrete, kept falling from above. This place looked fragile. We

could be buried alive if we weren't careful. As  

    I stood on guard, the oppressive feeling around me disappeared without a trace. We were

now in a vast space. I stood up confidently, and Kondou Mikoto followed me out.  

    This place was like a cave. But the walls were vertical, so I knew it was artificially

excavated. It must have been a natural cave, and someone had enlarged it.  

    Kondou Mikoto exclaimed,  

    "It's huge! There are many caves like this in South America."  

    "But this is Japan." "  

    This is really rare."  

    I shone the flashlight from right to left.  

    There are more caves inside. Two, actually. Are they connected somewhere? Which of

these two caves should we take? Which is the correct path?  

    I looked under my feet. I thought there might be footprints of Sakura Kaede here. But it

would be a waste of time. How could footprints from over a decade ago still be there?  

   "Kondou Mikoto, which cave do you think is best to go through to reach that underground

facility?"

   "That one."

    Without thinking, Kondou Mikoto pointed to the cave on the right.  

    I'm not directionally challenged, but I'm not particularly perceptive either. Speaking of

human compasses, this woman is the one who says she can always find her way, whether in

a rainforest at night or on the ocean during a torrential downpour. She's like  a sextant with

arms and legs.  

    If Kondou Mikoto says so, then it must be right. Shizuku and Akane are deep in that cave.

As long as they're both there, we must rescue them both.  

    Just as I was about to go in, something came from inside.  

    A strange "patter" sound, like something hitting the ground. It sounded like footsteps, but

not human. Is there a dog here?  

   "Natsuru is coming."

   "Silence."

    Maybe we should transform now. It would be bad if it were an enemy. I can't die before

rescuing them. It's too early to let this end in vain.  

    I pricked up my ears. I could almost hear voices. They were talking as they came this way.

Were the dogs talking as they came? How could that be?  

    Never mind. I channeled strength into my arms, preparing to transform into Kempfer. As I

did so,  

   "Oops—I'm completely lost."

   "Who said to go this way?"

   "What can we do? We tried to go back, but the door was blocked."

   "You guys."

    I stared speechlessly at the group that appeared before me.  

   "Natsuru!"

    Out of the cave emerged the viscera and their group.  

    I stopped transforming. Actually, it wouldn't have mattered, but we'd missed the

opportunity. Kondou Mikoto remained as she was.  

    We were face to face with the viscera. Why were all of them here ? And not just one or

two.  

   "Natsuru, why are you here?"

    Seppuku Tiger said.  

   "That's what I wanted to ask you. I was wondering if you were staying in your room

properly."

   "We're messengers after all. Just sitting there like idiots can't do that."

    That pile of chemical fiber looked proud for some reason. I  

    was relieved we weren't enemies, after all. But I was also startled to see a bunch of stuffed

dolls with their internal organs exposed.  

    "Why are you here? By the way, can you walk?"  

    "Yes. We can't walk far, but we tried."  

    "But why are you here?"  

    "I must be here to help you."  

    A stuffed doll interjected. It was the Kirara Rabbit. Its eyes were bloodshot, and its face

looked as if it was saying, "I'm a mean -spirited person."  

    "Anyway, I didn't count you guys in, so I'll help you. That one's lost, so you two should

thank me first." "  

    Why should I thank you for a stuffed doll? It's nice that you're willing to help, but what can

you do?  

    " "Look at all the friends we have."  

    Kirara Rabbit pointed with its ear. A white cat with its fur standing on end greeted me.  

    "Long time no see." You're so dirty. "

   "You're the Electric Wildcat, right? Were you ever this mean?"

   "I'm only doing this to you. I can't rest easy unless you become a man worthy of Shizuku."

   "What's your peace of mind?"

    Next to it was a dog with its tongue hanging out. And there was a straw rope wrapped

around its neck. It was really surreal.  

   "Hello, I'm the Suffocating Wild Dog."

   "Ah—, are you the visceral animal that Kondou Mikoto mentioned?"

    This uninflected way of speaking is really unique.  

   "You still look like you're about to die."

   "Please don't mind."

    Death is the theme of this series, so I'm really meddling too much.  

    Kondou Mikoto also looked at her viscera and said, "You always seem listless." Suffocating

Wild Dog replied, "That's just how I am." They should make a good pairing, right?  

    Then there's the one next to it.  

    "Hey, this."  

    "You noticed it,"  

    said the seppuku tiger. I immediately replied,  

    "Of course I noticed. Can this guy leave?!"  

    "Calling me this guy is really rude,"  

    said the brown stuffed animal. Its tone was strangely solemn and majestic.  

    "It's not even our first meeting, is it? I'm the Burning Lion."  

    Although I'm no longer surprised by things related to viscera, I was still surprised. Even this

guy is here.  

    "Wow—this is the first time I've seen such a filthy viscera."  

    Kondou Mikoto didn't think much of it.  

    "This guy is the first viscera to come."  

    "Why is he here?" "

   "That black -haired woman brought them here. She's a total slacker with stuffed animals."

   "Because she's the student council president, she'll even use her parents."

    Speaking of Shizuku, let alone her parents, she'll probably turn everyone she's never met

into her minions.  

   "When did you wake up?"

   "Just a while ago. It's a rare dream where I was being served by a group of lionesses,

building a large harem, but then I felt this strange shaking. When I woke up, I found myself

being carried on the back of a seppuku -savage black rabbit."

   "Just sleep again, and it'll be fine."

   "That won't work. Judging from what I heard, you guys seem to be in trouble right now."

    The Fire Lion uttered a "Hey" and sat down on the floor.  

   "You have a lot of questions,  

    right?]"I guess so."

   "You seem quite troubled by that little girl, right?"

   "Little girl?"

    Kondou Mikoto tilted her head and nudged me with her elbow.  

   "Sakura Kaede."

   "Ahh. She's not little anymore."

    I said she was very young when I first met her.  

    At this, Fire Lion coughed. It felt a bit strange.  

    Let's go through the story in order. First, why I was born —I don't know.  

    I know. Please  

    don't interrupt. Suddenly, I came to my senses and found myself in a cylindrical tank. A

little girl was watching me from outside, then she took me out and brought me home. That

girl was Kaede Sakura.  

    Right. That's not surprising. Considering the tank in the research facility, I can relate.  

    But I always thought you, Fire Lion, got this from an auction or something like that when

she was in junior high or high school.  

    Sakura Kaede often uses this method to collect rare animal entrails. Because unusual items

like these are quickly discontinued, they can't be collected otherwise.  

    She might have said that herself. Perhaps her memory has become a little fuzzy.

Regardless, that girl doesn't have the memories of a mediator.  

    Hey, tell us more about this.  

    I leaned forward.  

    What exactly is a mediator?  

    Before we talk about that, I'd like some tea or something.  

    No, I don't have any.  

    Seppuku Tiger said.  

    Besides, can you drink anything?  

    It's just the atmosphere. It's okay if you don't. Anyway, Mr. Natsuru, do you want to know

about the mediator?  

    I nodded.  

    I want to help those missing girls, and...  

    And...  

    I'm tired of fighting without knowing anything.  

    I said this clearly to all the puppets.  

    Suddenly, I was turned into a woman, and I'm in a lot of trouble. And Sakura Kaede's

personality has changed, and Shizuku and Akane are missing. What the hell is going on? I

can't stand fighting blindly like this anymore. That's right  

    . Ultimately, I still have some doubts about this. In that research facility, I clearly

understood that I didn't want to lose. But, really, why do I have to fight? I want to know the

reason.  

    Shizuku once said, "If you keep fighting, you'll find out." That's true. Wouldn't it be nice if it

were revealed right here?  

    The Fire Lion nodded repeatedly.  

    "You're right."  

    "And the Seppuku Tigers won't tell me anything."  

    "Because we don't know."  

    The Suffocating Dog replied in Shizuka's voice. Ignore it for now.  

    "I heard a little bit about you before. You said there seemed to be two forces at work. Is

that true?"  

    "Yes,"  

    the Fire Lion said.  

    "So you know the whole situation?"  

    "Yes. After all, I'm the original visceral animal."  

    The Fire Lion let out a laugh that sounded like a leak. I think it's emphasizing its first place,

meaning it's the first one in the series to make a child cry. But it seemed proud.  

    "It wasn't just me. She had planned to have all the internal animals record all their

information. But it seems she didn't have the others record all their information. I wonder if

she thought it was unnecessary or just too much trouble."  

    "Then you can tell me everything."  

    I leaned closer to the burning lion.  

    "Rather than asking me to tell you, it's more like asking you, Mr. Natsuru, to read my

memories."  

    "How do I do that?"  

   "It's not that difficult. Please look into my eyes."

    So I looked into the brown puppet's eyes.  

    Is this guy crazy?"Are you doubting me now?"

   "I'm sure."

   "In this world, puppets can even talk, so it wouldn't be surprising if something happened."

    That's true, but hearing your voice, which sounds like some old doctor from the rainforest,

makes me feel like I've been tricked.  

    The burning lion's eyes kept rolling. It's really creepy. Has it acquired this new function?  

   "The information you want to know, Mr. Natsuru, has appeared within my memory."

   "I know, but"

   "If you do it, you'll find out. And if I leave it alone, I'll fall asleep again. I don't know if I'll

ever wake up again."

   "

    Of course, once you know, it's up to you, Mr. Natsuru, to do what you want. After all, if you

don't know anything, there's no way to start over."

   "I guess so."

    I know it well. I've reached a point of no return.  

    I raised the burning lion. By the way, its face is really strange. Whoever came up with the

idea of burning stuffed animals must be a genius or a weirdo. Which means Akane's father is

a weirdo.  

    I'm a little hesitant to look it in the eye.  

   "Please hurry up."

   "I'll do it, I guess."

   "That's why I said I wanted tea. That's not what I want to drink."

   "Is it for induction?"

   "No, it's just calming."

    It was useless asking. If it's just for that, forget it. Let's just get started.  

    I made up my mind and looked into its eyes. In an instant, my vision went dark.  

    This is history. Not the history of humans or Earthlings. But the history of an unidentified

group of beings living in a distant land, even in the same universe. They're divided into two

factions, one covered in hard red skin, the other with blue glowing b odies growing from the

back of their heads along their spines. These two factions are constantly clashing. So far, it's

just the same as what I heard from the burning lion.  

    Biologically, these creatures were all female. This proved that only species capable of

bearing offspring were valuable. Their bodies were even stronger than those of males.  

    They fought endlessly. As the war dragged on, they gradually forgot why they were

fighting. As both sides grew tired, someone proposed a solution.  

    Each side would elect representatives, and the outcome of their battle would determine

the winner. This would allow both sides to end the conflict without any losses.  

    However, some objections arose at this stage. The troubled genius then submitted this

plan along with another one. This one involved using other life forms to fight on our behalf.

The

    problem was that they had the technology to implement it. It was quickly adopted. Thus,

the "Kemp Method," specifically designed for combat, was secretly born.  

    From then on, the Kempfa became their proxies and began fighting relentlessly. They

didn't just target civilized creatures; they also selected predatory beasts, insects, and

sometimes even single -celled organisms to fight on their behalf. Of course, they a lso agreed

to pay the Kempfa handsomely.  

    The battle raged for a long time, with both sides remaining in a state of confrontation. But

they showed no sign of breaking this tension. Making the Kempfa fight had become not a

means to resolve the issue but their goal.  

    They found joy in forcing a third party to fight. Unconsciously, they took on the guise of

mediators, forgetting that they were the ones being mediated. Then, they set their sights on

a planet in a certain galaxy. There, some life forms had reached a certa in level of civilization

and were constantly at odds.  

    It was a perfect candidate for a Kempfa. I'm about to vomit. So many records of the

Kempfa's battles have flooded my mind.  

    Romans and Celts, sword -wielding each other in the forest for a month. Bavarian orphans

setting each other on fire in a deserted village. Jin women dueling on boats on the Yellow

River. French and Russian soldiers clash on the frigid Berezina River. Zulu y ouths fighting with

spears in South Africa. Street children attacking each other from behind in the hills of South

America. And Japanese high school students.  

    They're all unaware of the situation, having been exploited and forced to fight for a long

time. Of course, so are we.  

    My vision faded into darkness again. Then the burning lion appeared before me.  

   "Do you understand?"

   "Yes. Of course."

    I choked, and I almost felt like vomiting. This wasn't my will. Memories of the Kempfers I'd

fought so far flooded back into my mind. This wasn't fake, this was real.  

   "Natsuru."

    Kondou Mikoto hugged my arm.  

   "Are you okay?"

   "Yes, I'm fine."

    Not entirely. I'm a little nauseous. But I can't worry Kondou Mikoto right now.  

   "The word "Kempfer" is from German."

    The Fire Lion coughed. "  

    Of course it didn't come from the language of the Mediators. "Mediator" isn't from their

language either. If I said it here in their language, you wouldn't understand. They probably

stumbled upon these words during battle and thought they fit."  

    The message on the wall was also in German. I don't know who wrote it, but it must have

been someone who was forced to fight and lost.  

    "Bullshit, what a mess!"  

    I cursed.  

    "What happens to the losers? Trapped in a dispute with people they have nothing to do

with, and then stuffed into a tank for no apparent reason?"  

    "That's exactly what happens."  

    The Fire Lion replied seriously.  

    "I don't know why they keep the bodies of the losers. Is it out of sympathy, or to keep

them as specimens?"  

    "It's all the same. They're all so miserable. Are those in the tanks incapable of

resurrection?"  

    "I'm afraid so." "Is  

    that so?" I choked.  

    "Did you come this way?"  

    Kondou Mikoto pointed.  

    "Yes,"  

    Suffocating Dog replied.  

    "If we go back the way we just came, we'll reach a place like a research institute."  

    "Did you meet anyone along the way?"  

    "No, we didn't see anyone."  

    So, they're still somewhere we haven't been yet.  

    "Okay, let's go."  

    "Going back?"  

    Kirara said in surprise.  

    "We've come this far with so much effort. Hey, wouldn't we be able to get out that way?"  

    He pointed his ear in the direction we came from. "Yes, we could get out if we went

towards Akane's hometown, but we can't. "  

    I grabbed Kirara's ear and lifted him up.  

    "Okay, let's go."  

    "Ah, that hurts. What are you doing?"  

    "Go save your master." "  

    That hurts! Stop it! Hey, Kirara Tiger, the Natsuru is being violent. Give me some advice!"  

    "Ahahaha."  

    Don't laugh like Shizuka! And  

    so, we lined up and entered the cave.  

    As expected, the path carved by the visceral animals had a low ceiling. The walls showed it

had a long history. It wasn't me who knew this best, but Kondou Mikoto.  

    This must have been renovated,  

    my childhood friend said.  

    Perhaps the original facilities were converted into bomb shelters or warehouses, or

something? And they even wanted to improve it.  

    What was here originally?  

    Who knows? Perhaps the mediators or someone else came here long ago. If so, it's been

reused over and over again. Why  

    did they come here so many times?  

    We walked for a while until we reached the cleaning room. I've been here before.  

    This is it,  

    I whispered.  

    Didn't you say you were going to turn back?  

    This seppuku black rabbit is just a stuffed animal, yet it complains so much. I pulled up its

ears.  

    Did you really come from this side?  

    Of course. We didn't know there were any other entrances or exits.  

    Indeed. But then, wouldn't that mean we'd just return to Sakura Kaede's room without

discovering anything?  

   "Anyway, let's go in first."

    We followed Kondou Mikoto's instructions and entered the cleaning room.  

    We opened the door, and behind it lay the research facility we'd been discussing. I said to

the visceral animals,  

    "This seems to be where you were born."  

   "Is that so?"

    The seppuku tiger exclaimed. It seemed they'd passed by this room but paid no attention.

And it wasn't as shocking as the room next door where the girl was floating in the water

tank.  

   "This could be considered our womb."

   "Does chemical fiber have a mother?"

   "Although we're not proper life forms, if we were to use humans as an example, that's the

case."

    It was a strange, yet convincing statement. I remembered my mother's face from Kyushu.  

    We climbed the stairs to the center of the water tank array. Going up from here would be

Sakura Kaede's home.  

    The Kempfers, defeated so far, floated in the water tanks. Shizuku -senpai and Kuzuhara

were also inside. To avoid this, we have to move forward.  

    Now's not the time to dwell on our feelings.  

   "Natsuru, what should we do?"

    Kondou Mikoto asked. She was asking me how to find Sakura Kaede.  

   "Well, it doesn't make sense if she's not underground. Did we guess wrong?"

   "Akane also jumped down."

    The two of us were lost in thought. The visceral animals are still the same. They can't help

at all now.  

    I suddenly raised my head.  

   "Oh, right, there."

   "What's wrong?"

   "Kondou Mikoto, behind you."

    She turned around. Behind her was a door. Right next to the wall covered in wires was an

iron door. It was the place where Shizuku said, "That's not the exit."  

    Kondou Mikoto slapped the door a few times.  

   "It's actually here."

   "Can you open it?"

   "It's locked. But the door doesn't look that sturdy. It should be faster to chop it open."

   "I wonder what's next. Let's transform first.  

    I glanced at the pledge bracelet, touched it with my fingers, and infused it with power.  

    A white light enveloped my body, and I transformed into a woman. Kondou Mikoto also

transformed into a Kempfer.  

   "Stay away."She  

    drew her Japanese sword, slowly raised it above her head, and swung it down with all her

might.  

   "Ah!"

    The door split completely in two, and the entrance to the adjacent room appeared before

us.

    Kondou Mikoto and I exchanged a glance and simultaneously entered the room. The

visceral animals followed closely behind us.  

    The room wasn't very large. It was filled with pipes and wires. There was even something

like a switchboard.  

    In the center of the room stood something like a giant cage.  

   "What is this?"

   "It looks like a freight elevator."

    Kondou Mikoto explained. You often see these things at construction sites and mines.  

   "It seems to go underground."

   "Under this?"

    There were some simple buttons on the handrail.  

   "Natsuru, do you want to ride?"

   "Of course."

    I had no intention of turning back. Even if it meant going underground, I was going to go.  

    I boarded the elevator with Kondou Mikoto and the visceral animals. I pressed the button

like a hammer, and  

    the elevator gave a clang, then began its descent with a low, creaking sound. Pitch

blackness surrounded me, a complete absence of light, as if I were being swallowed by the

earth.  

    Finally, we reached the bottom.  

    The elevator landed with a clattering sound, and a section of the handrail opened.  

    A haze enveloped the area, making our vision difficult.  

    We entered without hesitation. Although the haze hindered us slightly, we exited quickly.  

    This place was enormous. Not only wide, but also high. The walls were covered in what

seemed like decorative stone, and bedrock could be seen on the ceiling. The air felt cool, not

damp at all. It felt less like a room and more like a hall. It  

    wasn't dark, as a light illuminated the center. I guess it won't be as dark and poorly visible

as the place just now.  

    In the center of here, there is a strange -looking stone statue. It's a round stone statue, a

little smaller than a human. I don't know what the theme is.  

    There is a person lying next to it as if leaning on the stone statue.  

   "Shizuku!"

    I couldn't help but shout.  

    That's Shizuku. Her hands and feet were tied up with chains. She used her own short

sword with chains.  

   "Shizuku!"

    I shouted again. She still lowered her head and didn't look at me. Is she unconscious now?  

    Or, could it be...  

   "Don't worry. She's still alive."

    Suddenly another voice sounded in my ears. The person who spoke folded his hands and

looked at us from behind the stone statue. "

   "Natsuru -san, Kondou -san, welcome to this place full of my memories."

    Sakura Kaede showed a satisfied smile on her face.  

Translator's Notes

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

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