BlazBlue:Calamity Trigger Part 2 Chapter 1

BBCT2 Chapter 1: Orient Town

Part 1

2196 - Night

The meter clicks down by hundreds, announcing the depth.

A high-pitched electronic sound continued to ring out in the same perfectly unchanging rhythm, enough to drive someone insane.

It was a room like a square box surrounded by gray walls. There was no hint of human life in the cold room. There were a tremendous amount of books, various devices and equipment of all sizes packed in so tightly that it was doubtful whether they were intended for people to pass through, and colorful cords filled the floor.

Despite the air being kept normal and dust and dirt being thoroughly removed, a somewhat gloomy atmosphere drifted through the room.

In the midst of such a room, a small figure rose from a chair with a creaking sound.

The figure, illuminated by the light of monitors installed here and there, appeared to be a girl at first glance. However, the atmosphere and the dark circles under her eyes gave her a sharpness that could hardly be called girlish.

Some who felt her presence would sense intelligence, while others would feel a sense of intimidation. Both words were fitting for her.

She hadn't had a proper sleep for several nights. Her back swayed as she walked, dragging her unrecognized fatigue, and two "tails" swayed on her back. One was a ponytail tied high and tightly, flowing down her back. On her pink-haired head, small triangular cat ears, so small that they could be missed if not looked at closely, were peeking out slightly forward, folded slightly forward. The other was a pink tail, the same color as her hair, which had been passed through a hole in the white coat she was wearing. The tip of the forked tail was white, and it swayed to the left and right in a thoughtful manner, as if to prove that it was not a fake.

Her figure, with its beastly characteristics, looked like a beastkin, a beast-man who was human yet not human. But she was not a beast-person. The cat ears and tail were inherited from her father. Her human body was inherited from her mother. She was a hybrid of beast-man and human.

With bare feet and sandals, she skillfully avoided the cords as she walked, stopping in front of a huge device that sat at the back of the room. On the monitor next to it, countless data were recorded.

The electronic sound, which almost became one with the silence of the room, suddenly changed its rhythm and tone.

The girl, whose forked tail had been slow until then, was drawn to the monitor as if by a spring.

"...Found it."

Glaring at the monitor, and then at the device that had stopped in front of her, with tired, clouded eyes, she muttered in a low voice.

"I've found it... finally."

While moving her lips as if in a delirium, she quickly typed in more than ten numerical values and turned on several switches. The device began to start up sluggishly. But this was not the end. The work of capturing him was yet to come.

"...Six Heroes, Hakumen."

It was the name of a hero who was active during the past war, the Dark War, which began about a hundred years ago and ended about ninety years ago. The war between the "Black Beast," a monster that drove the world to despair, and humanity, which desperately tried to crawl out of despair. History books say that he was the one who fought at the forefront of humanity at that time.

Without even looking, her fingers reflexively turned on the communication switch. When the voice of a calm man responded from the speaker, she spoke indifferently, her eyes fixed on the device in the back of the room as if she were aiming at something.

"Tager. I've captured the target. I'll start the salvage operation immediately, help me with the preparations."

"Understood. I'll head over immediately, Kokonoe."

Part 2

December 30, 2199 - 13:12

The 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi.

This city, built with many layers of streets piled on top of each other, is like other Hierarchical Cities scattered around the world, with the upper layers being more well-maintained and supplied with normal air.

Conversely, the lower you go, the more chaotic the town becomes, with some areas even having a desolate atmosphere. This area, which seemed to have been abandoned despite being under construction, looked like a corner of the lower layers that had been put off.

Looking back at the scaffolding that he had been walking on for several hours, he stretched his cramped body greatly.

"It was easier to infiltrate than I expected."

The one who said this while turning his neck was a tall, well-built young man. He wore a long, bright red jacket over his black clothes, and a thick, wide, large silver sword hung at his waist.

Even more eye-catching than his clothes was the color of his roughly grown white hair. Behind his bangs that reached his eyes, his left eye was green and his right eye was red, creating a somewhat rough look.

His name is Ragna the Bloodedge.

The same name can be seen on street corners all over the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi. The name is on the wanted posters that have been plastered everywhere.

An outlaw who has wandered in from somewhere. With such an appearance, he was actually an SS-class wanted criminal, a serious criminal with the highest bounty in history.

However, Ragna doesn't travel through dark alleys to avoid people or hide in the shadows to let passersby pass. Rather, with a natural gait that makes it hard to believe that he is really a wanted criminal, he heads for the center of the city that should be ahead of him.

This was probably a low-level area judging from the concentration of seithr in the air he inhaled - a substance that polluted the world's air along with the Black Beast that appeared a hundred years ago.

The eyes of the Novus Orbis Librarium- the organization that governs the world and manages public order, and also the organization that put a bounty on Ragna- do not reach to such lower levels. This is even more true in Kagutsuchi, which has a large and complexly intertwined structure compared to other cities.

They prioritize only the upper layers where people of status live, and a satisfactory security system does not reach the lower layers. The residents of the lower layers do not have good feelings towards the Novus Orbis Librarium- commonly known as the "NOL". If you pass through such people, being sneaky will only incite distrust.

"But, I thought I'd be able to get outside a little earlier..." Looking around at the surroundings where there wasn't a single person, Ragna muttered to himself as he moved forward.

From here, which is deep in the lower city, you can't even see the sun, let alone the sky, satisfactorily, but according to his internal sense of time, it's probably past noon now.

Ragna, being a wanted criminal, couldn't enter the Hierarchical City by regular means.

Therefore, he used a method that no one would normally use for fear of the dense seithr: approaching Kagutsuchi on foot, infiltrating the inside of the Hierarchical City from a place under construction, and climbing up to this point.

He arrived in Kagutsuchi late last night. He hadn't eaten since then.

In other words, he was hungry.

(Ugh... I have to eat something soon. At this rate, I'll die of starvation before I reach the top layer...)

Just as he was about to hurry his steps, clutching his stomach, he was suddenly called out to from behind.

"Oh my, what a terrible figure. It's just like a stray dog seeking nothing but control. I don't even want to admit I know you. Ragna?" The one who spoke, with excessive pity and blatant contempt, was a girl's voice.

Ragna reflexively stopped his feet, distorting his expression with a feeling other than emptiness.

"You... who are you calling a stray dog, rabbit?"

The place where he turned around was deserted and empty, and further back was a dead end that was closed for construction. Even so, a small table and a black single-seater sofa were placed there, and a girl was sitting there.

Rachel Alucard.

She was a girl with long, glossy golden hair tied in two bunches on either side, wearing a black, luxurious dress. Her skin color was transparently white, the ribbons that tied her hair stood up straight, and her large eyes were bright red. Because of this appearance, Ragna called her "rabbit".

She looks about twelve or thirteen years old, but she has lived for a time that cannot be compared to her appearance. She is not a human girl. She is a vampire who lives in the long night.

She gracefully pulled a cup towards her, gently touching it with her fingertips as if testing the temperature of the red liquid inside, then took a sip. She looked up at the elderly gentleman standing behind her and smiled elegantly.

"Delicious, Valkenhayn. Your tea is exceptional even when drunk in air clouded with seithr."

"I am honored, Madam Rachel." The old gentleman responded in a calm tone of voice, bending his waist politely. The white hair that was tied behind his back slid down from his broad shoulders to the front of his high-quality butler suit.

The old gentleman, who has an old appearance but suggests a somewhat robust physique, was Rachel's butler, the werewolf Valkenhayn.

On the table, a small red, rubber ball-like creature with busy wings was frantically moving about, stuffing financier pastries with the aroma of butter into its cheeks. This was Gii, Rachel's familiar. The shape-shifting black cat that had transformed into the sofa Rachel was sitting on was another of her familiars, Nago.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Oh, can't you tell? I'm having tea."

"That's not what I'm asking! ...Haa, well, whatever."

Ragna reflexively raised his voice at Rachel's nonchalant reply, and his shoulders dropped dejectedly. He was very hungry. And yet, there were baked goods on the table, as if to show them off, and it was hateful to see them being swallowed into the familiar's mouth.

"So? What do you want? Coming all the way out here... are you bored?" With a hint of resentment, Ragna asked sarcastically, glaring at Rachel. His glaring eyes, with a face that can never be called good-natured, somehow reminded one of a ferocious beast.

If the one here was really a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl, he might have made her cry with his extraordinary appearance. But Rachel, uninterested in Ragna's gaze, glanced up at him and sipped her tea coolly.

"My, aren't you being self-conscious? Just because I appear before you, you assume that I have business with you? Your arrogance is truly outrageous."

"The hell did you say? Tch, if you don't have any business, don't bother me. I'm in a hurry!"

"Oh my. Where are you hurrying off to, you stray dog? You look hungry, perhaps you're going to beg for some food?" Rachel asked, tilting her head and placing a childlike fingertip to her white cheek, giggling.

"How pitiful, how miserable! Maybe I'm eating better than you? Pu pu."

"Now, now, stop it Gii. It's mean to say the truth like that."

Following their master's lead, Gii and Nago burst into laughter. Towards the heads on the second floor, Ragna mercilessly swung his fist down.

"Shut up, you familiars!"

"Gyah!"

"Eeeeek!"

"Tch, they're all so talkative..." It's always like this. Ragna muttered in exasperation.

This wasn't the first time Ragna had met Rachel, the butler Valkenhayn, Gii, and Nago. For years, ever since Ragna began wandering the world, he had frequently encountered Rachel.

Each time, her appearance was sudden, her words were harsh, the reasons were unclear, and her departure was equally abrupt. So, he was used to having his plans thwarted and being caught up in nonsensical farces when he was in a hurry. But being used to it doesn't mean he didn't care.

"Hey, rabbit. If you don't have any business, I'm leaving. I'm not as free as you guys." With a frown of irritation, Ragna turned his back and quickly left. He couldn't waste any more time with them. But Rachel, ignoring Ragna's bitter irritation, calmly put down her cup and continued.

"I do have business."

"Huh?!"

"I don't recall saying I didn't. Besides, the very idea that I would come before you without business is inconceivable. I doubt your sanity." Still maintaining her cool demeanor, Rachel directed a subtle barb at Ragna as she gracefully slid off Nago's sofa. Then, with a squirm, Nago contorted its body and transformed into a parasol, fitting into Rachel's hand.

Ragna, who had inadvertently turned around, watched the scene with a twitching eyebrow, feeling a vein throbbing near his temple.

"You... If you have something to say, then hurry up and say it! I told you I don't have time!"

Valkenhayn, who had been holding back until then, stepped forward as Ragna shouted in irritation. As he approached, he glared at Ragna with a vigor that belied his age. But Ragna was used to the intimidating aura of this wolf-man, like a ferocious beast. Without hesitation, Ragna snapped back.

"Shut up! It has nothing to do with you, old man! Don't butt in!"

"You... What do you..."

"Stop it, Valkenhayn. It's pointless to try to teach manners to a stray dog." It was Rachel who restrained him, in a gentle, chiding tone. However, she didn't forget to use words that belittled Ragna.

Valkenhayn, ignoring Ragna's twitching face, turned his gaze away from him as if nothing had happened, and bowed his head to his master once more.

"My apologies, Madam Rachel."

"And Ragna, you keep going on about business, business, but I already asked you earlier, didn't I? 'Where are you hurrying off to?'"

As if piercing his heart, Rachel looked intently at Ragna with her large, red eyes. They were eyes that seemed to see through to the depths of a person's soul.

This was no longer idle chatter. It seemed that way... Ragna swallowed his harsh tone and returned a strong gaze to Rachel.

"'Where'? What are you talking about? I'm going to the NOL's Kagutsuchi branch." He tightly clenched his fist at his side.

On the top floor of the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi, a massive building, boasting a divine exterior like the sword held aloft by a saint, towered high into the sky. At the very center and summit of the city, overlooking everything, was the Kagutsuchi branch of the Novus Orbis Librarium.

The reason Ragna had come to Kagutsuchi was to destroy that branch.

He had been traveling around the world, destroying NOL branches in various Hierarchical Cities, as well as facilities under their control. He had no idea how many he had destroyed so far, as he hadn't been counting from the beginning.

However, the crimes he had accumulated in doing so had earned him the label of SS-class criminal, a rare and unparalleled title.

But destroying the branch and defeating the guards was not Ragna's only goal. Ragna's real purpose lay elsewhere.

It was…

"I'm going to infiltrate the branch and destroy the 'cauldron'. Just like always."

The "cauldron."

Hidden beneath the branches and research facilities of the NOL was something called the "cauldron."

Its existence was not made public, and most residents of the Hierarchical Cities, even the NOL's soldiers, were completely unaware of it.

Deep, deep within the underground, in a space accessible only by the innermost elevator of the branch, was a massive object that could not be described as either a facility or a device... The destruction of the "cauldron" was the reason Ragna attacked the branches in various locations, and the purpose for which he had come to Kagutsuchi.

Releasing his clenched fist, Ragna frowned suspiciously.

"There's no need to ask something like that. Besides, weren't you the one that told me the next cauldron I should destroy was in Kagutsuchi?"

This was after he had attacked the branch and destroyed the cauldron in the 9th Hierarchical City of Akitsu, the city before Kagutsuchi. Before dawn, as Ragna was about to leave the Hierarchical City, Rachel appeared before him and indicated that he should head to Kagutsuchi.

Rachel, still gazing at Ragna, lightly shook her head as if trying to make him understand.

"I said that Kagutsuchi was the next place you should go. I don't recall ever instructing you to destroy the cauldron." It was a lecturing tone that didn't suit her childlike appearance. Feeling as if he was being reprimanded, Ragna scratched his head, a little embarrassed.

"Well... yeah, you're right about that. So what? You're saying I shouldn't destroy the cauldron?"

"No, that's not it. It's your freedom whether you destroy something or not. If you wish to destroy it, then destroy it." As if reminiscing about the past, Rachel said in a distant, murmuring tone. After a moment of closing her eyes and gazing at some scene that appeared in her mind, Rachel looked up at Ragna again and asked: "But, Ragna... What are you thinking when you destroy the cauldron?"

It was a strange question. At least for Ragna.

It was like asking what he thinks when he breathes, or what he feels when he drinks water. That's how natural, how much a part of his daily routine, attacking NOL branches and destroying their cauldrons had become for Ragna.

What, indeed. Now that he thought about it, he had never really considered it deeply.

"That... Well, it's because I don't like it. Building a city on top of a cauldron, hiding its existence, and then using it for their own selfish research... Who do they think they are?" Ragna replied with a bitter tone.

The cauldron is a gate that connects to the Boundary. The Boundary is... an otherworldly realm.

It's the outside of the world as we know it, which humanity discovered and touched long ago, changing the world. However, it's an unknowable realm that humans can never fully reach, no matter how much they try.

A hundred years ago, a monster called the Black Beast emerged from that cauldron. The Black Beast scattered seithr throughout the world, destroying everything in its path according to its instincts... driving humanity, the world, to the brink of destruction. Humanity fought against the Black Beast. The ten-year war was known in this era as the "Dark War," and its content, as the name suggests, was like traversing a lightless, despairing darkness.

How could humans think they could control the place where such a monster, which caused so much damage and continues to leave deep scars in the form of seithr, was born? If the Boundary is useful, why do they hide it from the residents who live above it? If they really can control it, why don't they make its existence public?

The questions themselves became the answers. They weren't researching for the sake of helping people, and there was no guarantee that they could really control it.

That's why he would destroy it. He wouldn't allow the existence of such a thing.

Jubei, a beastkin who was Ragna's sword master, taught Ragna about the cauldron and the Boundary, and Ragna came to that conclusion.

(And the cauldron has... "that"...)

Rachel, who listened to Ragna's answer and looked into his heart, was silent for a while as if waiting for what was to come, and then opened her mouth slightly.

"That's all?" The words that spilled out softly mixed into the dusty air of Kagutsuchi, sounding somewhat lonely.

The wrinkles between Ragna's eyebrows deepened.

"What are you disappointed with?"

"I'm not saying I'm disappointed. It's just..." Rachel slid her fingertips and changed the angle of her umbrella, the parasol casting a shadow over her eyes. Her large eyes quietly averted their gaze from Ragna and blinked in the shadow. "Ragna... don't you remember anything 'this time' either?" The questioning voice passes quietly from Ragna's ears to his inside like a cold night wind. But Rachel's wind did not stay inside Ragna, and it escaped without color or shape.

"Huh? What do you mean by not remembering?" Ragna tilted his head, peering at Rachel, not understanding what she is talking about or what she is being asked. He was getting impatient with the riddle-like questions.

Rachel put the handle of her umbrella on her shoulder and looked up at Ragna again. The color that floated in her eyes was a pale disappointment.

"It's nothing. If you don't remember, then that's fine. That's what always happens." She let her small shoulders fall with a sigh, and again spoke mysterious words. It was as if only Ragna didn't understand. Ragna frowned even more.

He was about to ask for an explanation of what she meant, but Rachel interrupted him, waving her hand as if to shoo away even a stray dog.

"My business is already finished. Now, you're in a hurry, aren't you? Go and scavenge for food or something."

After being treated like that, and then being turned away as if she had no more interest in him, where was the motivation to continue the conversation?

Ragna promptly threw away the words he was about to ask in his heart, and clicked his tongue loudly in anger.

"What the hell was that all about? Damn it, I'm going! I won't turn around even if you stop me next time!" He spat out the words as if throwing them away, and started walking with large strides, determined not to waste any more time here.

After being yelled at so much, he suddenly remembered that he was terribly hungry. His feet were unsteady. He hadn't even had a proper drink of water. And yet, he had been forced to waste time on a nonsensical riddle and an unreasonable scolding, which was unbearable.

"Damn it!" He spat out his frustration once more, and hurried towards the city that should be ahead.

Rachel, who was supposed to have turned her back, saw off the retreating figure of the red jacket over her ornate shoulder. In her crimson eyes, there was a flat, pale resignation... and a drop of concern mixed in. As if to contain the flickering small emotions, Rachel lowered her eyelids, and turned her face away from the direction Ragna had left.

"He doesn't change. He's always the same. Again... always the same."

It was a matter of course for Rachel. It was always like this. There was never a time when it wasn't, but she always held a faint hope of "what if it wasn't," and then sighed at the fragility of that thought.

How many times had she had the same thought? It was already foolish to even count. How many times had she guided him to the same land, how many times had she asked the same question... how many times had she heard the same answer? How many times had she failed to hear the answer she had hoped for, and been disappointed?

Even so, the reason she comes to this city again, thinking "maybe," is probably due to the persistence of her mind, which she hasn't been able to give up on even though she thought she had long since given up.

"Will the world repeat itself again? And will I send him to this land again?"

And beyond this, the world will end, and the world will repeat itself again from the beginning.

To the beginning of the "Dark War" a hundred years ago, when the Black Beast was born.

"Madam Rachel. Shall we return now?" Valkenhayn inquired from beside a table set that is unsuitable for the lower levels of Kagutsuchi.

Rachel smiled wryly.

"Yes, I would like to, but..."

But there was something else she wanted to see.

This time, Rachel looked upwards. At the far upper level of Kagutsuchi, beyond the clouds.

It was not clearly visible from here, but above was the city directly managed by the NOL for their own use.

Soon, a ship will arrive there.

"Valkenhayn, please return to the castle first. I will take a walk around Kagutsuchi a little longer before returning."

"Understood. Then I will prepare tea and await your return." Giving a respectful bow, Valkenhayn disappeared from the spot, along with the table set. He returned to Rachel's castle, which exists in a different place, a dimension that is nowhere.

Rachel, who remained, readjusted the handle of her umbrella. Waiting for Gii to bounce and come to her side, she created a rose-colored magic circle around her.

High above, in the distance, the sound of an Ars Magus ship could be heard cutting through the sky towards Kagutsuchi. She probably wanted to see what was on the ship.

"Even I find it comical."

Muttering to no one in particular, Rachel stirred up a wind scented with roses and teleported from the spot.

Part 3

In the lower levels of the Hierarchical City, places where you can see the sky are precious.

The city is built like a pile of flat plates, and in the lower levels, even if you look up at the sky, the layer above becomes a thick, wide roof that blocks the light. Even if they built the city protruding from the upper layer, above it, countless layers still overlap as countless roofs. It is difficult to get light through them, and in the lower levels of the city, there is no choice but to rely on the light of the lights, whether it is day or night.

The lower city, Orient Town, where Ragna entered, suppressing his hunger, was no exception. Even though it was a clear afternoon, the alleys were dimly lit, and the main streets were brightly lit.

It was a very complex and miscellaneous city.

The buildings were built close as if huddled together, and narrow alleys ran between them. Some of the alleys were so narrow that it would be more accurate to say they were gaps between houses, and sometimes they were suffocatingly blocked by shelves and wooden boxes that seemed to have overflowed from the houses.

Even if you gave up on the maze-like alleys and went out to the main street, it was overflowing with people.

Most of the people coming and going were residents of this city. Everyone had an atmosphere that was not so much starving from poverty, but certainly not wealthy, along with their clothes, and blended in with the flashy colors of the cityscapes that stood out with their primary colors.

Occasionally, among them, unusual people who did not match the scenery of the city were lost in the unfamiliar alleys, spat out onto the main street, and then jostled by the unfamiliar crowd.

Ragna, following a common example, was one of the unusual people who was spat out from a back alley.

Even though it was called a main street, it was narrower than the upper levels. Still, it was worthy of being the main street of this city, with several stores competing to attract customers with flashing neon lights.

While looking for a name that looked like a restaurant among the neon signs, Ragna rubbed his completely weakened stomach and moved his legs.

"Damn it, that Rachel... she keeps saying things I don't understand. If you have something to say, just say it clearly... damn it." Complaints leaked from his mouth as if breathing. That kind of thing is always the case. It's always the case, but he can't help but say it. "What do you mean by 'it's nothing'?"

It didn't feel like that. It just hinted that Ragna was overlooking something important.

"Damn it!" He felt inexplicably irritated. That's probably because of this unbearable hunger. He thought so, and shifted his consciousness back to finding a restaurant.

But the moment Ragna found a name that looked like one among the neon signs, a disturbing presence jumped out from the alley he had just passed.

"What's that!?"

"Meow!"

Something that looked like a human figure swung its fist down, gouging out the spot where he had jumped back. Their eyes met. Red... but not human eyes. Round, just round red eyes.

He was pounced on in quick succession, and after they switched positions as if crossing each other, Ragna put his hand on the sword at his waist and braced himself.

"What? A beastkin? No..."

The human figure, bracing herself on the opposite side of the road and performing a light footwork shadow punch, had a strange appearance.

Although she wore clothes that completely covered her upper body, she was probably a girl judging from the figure that could be glimpsed from them. She was shorter than Ragna, with a height appropriate for a lively woman. Her legs, which stretched out from the hem of her short clothes, were a healthy tan and toned with muscle.

But no matter how you look at it, she was not a normal girl.

She had triangular cat-like ears on her large hood, and a dark brown tail with a white tip extending from her back. Furthermore, the inside of the hood did not have the usual face or organs, but a round red eyeball and a crescent-shaped mouth with bared white fangs floated in the blackness as if a shadow had been pushed in.

Ragna had seen this strange figure once before.

"A Kaka?" Ragna frowned suspiciously. He was sure he had met them once before with his sword master, Jubei. But why would he encounter one in a place like this?

"Meow! Tao is a Kaka warrior, Taokaka, meow!" Replying energetically with a bouncy voice that matched her nimble movements, the girl who called herself Taokaka pointed at Ragna with a large hand like a cat's paw. "You there! Fight with Tao, meow!"

"Fight? Don't joke around, I'm not in the mood for that right now."

He was about to die of hunger, and it was outrageous to waste any more time. But whether Taokaka heard him or not, she grinned with her crescent-shaped mouth, wagged her tail, and launched a hook into the air with a belligerent shuffle.

"If Tao wins~, you'll treat Tao to a full meal meow! And if Tao loses~, you'll still treat Tao to a full meal, meow!"

"Don't screw with me! That means I'll be treating you either way!"

"Don't worry about the details, meow. Well then, here I go, meow!!"

"Hey, wait..."

As if not caring about his words, the strange cat girl jumped up with the swiftness of a cat, kicked off a nearby wall, and leapt above Ragna's head. Silver claws popped out from the round tip of her robe-covered hand, sharply cutting through the air.

"Whoa!" Ragna reflexively pulled out his sword and blocked the claws that grazed his face. The sound of metal clashing echoed loudly, and the surrounding passersby turned around to see what was happening. But rough brawls like this are by no means uncommon around here. Everyone passed by indifferently or tried not to get close, looking annoyed.

Of course, Taokaka didn't care about the eyes of those around her, and this time, she jumped on Ragna's sword that had blocked her attack as a foothold, spun around in the air, and quickly unleashed a kick as if stomping on him. Claws popped out from her toes as well.

If he took such a thing head-on, he would have his flesh torn off. It felt as if he was being attacked by a carnivore in the middle of the city.

Moreover, his opponent seemed to be only half serious. In response to Ragna blocking the claw attack with his sword again and forcefully shaking it off, Taokaka kept a grin on her face and landed with a graceful movement.

"Oh, you're good, White Guy. But the food is... Tao's!!!"

"That's why I didn't say anything about treating you..." Naturally, Ragna's rebuttal didn't reach those triangular ears.

Taokaka ran out with the momentum of a whirlwind, jumped in front of Ragna, and spun behind him.

"Fast!"

She was incredibly fast. It was all he could do to keep track of her movements with his eyes.

At the same time Ragna turned around in a hurry, Taokaka's claws swung from above and below as if biting down. He bitterly choked back a breath, and pulled his sword closer, bracing himself to at least avoid being hit directly.

But…

"Meow... got you."

Taokaka's movements suddenly slowed down. At the same time, a grrgrgr like she'd just heard from Ragna's stomach echoed without a sense of urgency. ​​He was not so naive to miss the gap when Taokaka lost her strength. Ragna stretched out his arm, grabbed her collar, and slammed her into the ground with the momentum of pulling her in.

"Ugh!" Taokaka let out a muffled cry, struggling as Ragna's hand held her down. But when her stomach rumbled faintly once more, she threw both her hands and feet to the ground, and even her tail fell limply, becoming docile.

"Ugh~, I lost, meow~~"

"Haa, haa... you damn brat! You're attacking people without a word... "

Just as he was about to yell at her in anger, Ragna's stomach interrupted his words. The pathetic sound and the unbearable feeling of weakness made his words trail off, unable to continue. It must have been the smell of steamed food or something wafting from somewhere that made him feel this way.

In contrast to Ragna, who was so exhausted that he wanted to sit down on the spot, Taokaka, who had heard the sound of his stomach, cleverly raised her head while still being held down.

"Meow! White Guy is also hungry. Then let's eat together, meow! Tao will take you to a delicious restaurant, meow!"

"You... you could at least feel a little remorse..." He felt foolish for being in a hurry and getting angry. Ragna let go of Taokaka and held his head in his hands.

He didn't care about the details anymore. He just wanted to eat. But why did he have to get involved with Rachel and Taokaka one after another like this?

"Ah, damn it, I got it, I got it. Food, food! Take me to that so-called delicious restaurant. I'll feed you too!"

"Ooooh, really, White Guy!"

When Ragna said it in exasperation, Taokaka jumped up with such force that she completely forgot about being crushed just a moment ago. The corners of her eyes and mouth, which had drooped powerlessly, were already regained their liveliness.

"If that's decided, then let's go right away, meow! Yahoo, all-you-can-eat feast~!"

"It's not all-you-can-eat! Hey, are you listening to meeeeeee!"

Ragna's grumbling was of no concern to her. Taokaka grabbed Ragna's arm tightly, pushed and blew away the people on the main street, and ran through with the force of a raging wave.

A variety of dishes were lined up on a round table covered with a white cloth.

A stir-fry of green vegetables with the aroma of spices and garlic, a large plate of fried shrimp with roe, a large plate of pork and vegetables stewed with miso, a noodle dish with plenty of soup and a key placed on it, a chewy steamed rice cake wrapped in tree bark with wild vegetables, and a plate of fried noodles with a lot of seafood in the sauce.

On top of that, a large plate of freshly steamed meat buns piled high, steaming hot, was piled high, and Ragna was stunned by the sight spreading out in front of him.

For a moment, he thought it would disappear, but the freshly made steam that mercilessly stimulated his stomach and the spreading aroma told him the reality that if he reached out and put it in his mouth, he would immediately be promised a delicacy. Unable to bear it, his stomach cried out for work.

"Let's eat meeeeooooow!!" With a spirited declaration, Taokaka took the steamed rice in her right hand and the meat bun in her left, and began to eat with unimaginable speeds.

"Munchmunchmunchmunch~! Munchmunchmunchmunch~!" Taokaka busily moved her mouth and hands, making strange noises, whether it was the sound of biting, chewing, or a cry of joy at having reached the food. The number of meat buns decreased rapidly, and Ragna hurriedly grabbed one for himself.

"How hungry were you... is it good?"

Ragna gave a wry smile and, giving up, bit into the meat bun in his hand. Although it was about the size of his face, the skin was delicately and fluffily steamed, and the filling was juicy with the flavor oozing out, making it more delicious than he had imagined. It was as good as he had recommended. While he was inwardly impressed, Taokaka's hand snatched six or so shrimp dumplings from right in front of Ragna's eyes all at once.

"It's delicious, meow! This, this, that, all of them are super delicious!"

"Is that so? I'm glad to hear that… oh dear."

Even if she ate so innocently and impolitely, the excessive number of items ordered and the way she stuffed herself seemed like a joke to her.

This would probably leave his wallet empty, but Ragna pushed that to the back of his mind and reached out for the food before Taokaka could take it all.

The crispy fried noodles were fragrant, the salty sauce was piping hot, and the plump ingredients bounced with a soft elasticity in his mouth.

It was too gentle and high-quality for Ragna's stomach, which was accustomed to crude meals like grilled meat or grilled mushrooms.

"Damn, it's delicious."

"That's right, meow! It's delicious! White Guy is a good guy for treating me to such delicious food!!"

"You attacked me and tried to force me to treat you, what's 'good person' supposed to mean, geez. Hey, hey, don't eat that all by yourself!"

"Ahhhhn~"

"Ahhh! Damn it, I haven't even had a bite of that shrimp dumpling!" Ragna's hand tried to stop Taokaka's outrageous act of pouring the food over the plate and into her mouth, but it was too late, and the white large plate was easily emptied.

Ragna's hand, having missed its target, trembled in the air, and he clenched it tightly to suppress his frustration.

"You..."

"Phew! Hm, what's wrong, Good Guy? Aren't you eating, meow? You can't chase after bounties on an empty stomach!"

"Shut up, you're eating my money without hesitation! ...Wait, chase after bounties?"

Unexpected words popped out from the cat girl, whose mind only seemed focused on eating, and Ragna unclenched his fist.

Chasing after bounties, or as it's also called: bounty hunting. Criminals beyond the control of the NOL are given a bounty, and the bounty hunters chase after the wanted criminals for the bounty.

To have a bounty placed on one's head means they have committed a crime worthy of such a reward. The profit is great, but it comes with a corresponding danger.

Taokaka's physical ability would certainly allow her to work as a bounty hunter, but that doesn't mean that a woman, child, or cat would like to choose such a job.

But Taokaka, somewhat proudly, took out something like a wanted poster from her chest, spread it out on the table, and wagged her tail in a good mood.

"Meow. Tao has become a bounty hunter from today. And then~, I'm going to blow this 'Rawgnya' guy away and get a lot of money, meow!"

"Rawgnya?"

What's that ridiculous name, Ragna wondered, peering at the wanted poster out of curiosity.

The moment he did…

"Bwah!"

The moment he saw the portrait and the name, he choked and almost spat out the meat bun in his mouth.

While hurriedly covering his mouth and swallowing the contents, he took the wanted poster in his hand and looked at it closely. Along with a very ugly portrait of a man, it contained a generous amount of reward money and the name of the wanted criminal. The name written was…

"Wh-what... 'Ragna the Bloodedge'... is that me!?" As if slamming down his surging anger and inexplicable feelings, Ragna roughly returned the wanted poster to the table. "Besides, what's with this picture, it's not even close! If you don't know what I look like, don't make a caricature! It's a bit hurtful!"

"Meow? Good Guy?" Taokaka's round eyes widened in surprise as she lifted her face from the large bowl she was holding. She had been noisily slurping the soup and noodles with tremendous speed, and a piece of roasted pork was sticking out of her busy mouth.

Noticing her expression, Ragna tried to suppress his discomposure and forced a smile.

"No, it's nothing..."

He couldn't continue after "it's nothing." As if erupting, a dangerous presence welled up behind Ragna. Hostility, malice, and then murderous intent. A low, rumbling murmur gradually approached them from the back of the store.

"Didn't that guy just say 'Ragna the Bloodedge'?"

Someone's whisper, contrary to its hushed volume, resounded around them for some reason. As if chasing after it, voices could be heard from all over the place.

"Hey, look. That white hair, red clothes..."

"'Grim Reaper'... Ragna the Bloodedge..."

"The most wanted criminal with the highest bounty in history..."

"Even if we split it, it'll be a considerable amount..."

At the sound of a chair being pulled, Ragna awkwardly turned his neck and checked behind him.

There were men and women filling the store's tables, with appearances that couldn't be described as harmless residents.

Someone began drawing their weapon.

"Hey, Taokaka." As soon as he called out, Ragna strongly grabbed Taokaka's arm, who had finished drinking the last drop of soup.

"Meow?"

Without asking any questions, he dragged the cat girl's body and started running at full speed.

Seeing that, the customers in the store slammed the tables and stood up.

"He's getting away!"

"As I thought, that guy was 'Grim Reaper'!"

"Chase him! Capture him- no, kill him!!!"

With their respective weapons in hand, they overturned tables, kicked away chairs, and the bounty hunters who were eating chased after them all at once. Even if Ragna tried to jump out of the store, tried to weave through the crowd and stumble, the persistent voices followed him without caring about anything.

"Damn it, what's with that store? The customers are all bounty hunters!!!"

"Meeeoooow, there's still a lot of my food left!!!"

"Shut up! Can't you see this isn't the time for that?" Carrying Taokaka's body on his shoulder as she tried to go back at this point, Ragna fled through the main street of the Orient Town. "Besides, if we go back now, we won't just lose our meal, we'll get beaten to a pulp! Since they saw me eating with you, they'll think you're my accomplice!"

"Meow? Accomplice? Tao and Good Guy are accomplices, meow?"

"Huh? No, that's what they'll think. Even if we say we're not, they won't listen... anyway, more importantly, isn't there somewhere we can escape to?"

The roaring voices and footsteps chasing after them, while not closing the distance, showed no signs of giving up on pursuing Ragna. As long as they were running through the main street, their figures were visible, so there was no reason to give up. If they killed Ragna, they'd be able to live without worries for the rest of their lives, and even build a mansion in the upper layers.

"I can't get caught by those guys no matter what!" While shouting, Ragna ran straight ahead. If he recklessly entered a back alley, he'd get lost in the intricate alleyways, and at worst, he'd run into a dead end and be cornered.

He was confident that he could defeat them if he fought them, but he wasn't confident that he could fight without involving these ordinary people in a place like this.

"I understand, meow!"

"Dowah!"

Suddenly, Taokaka jumped up on Ragna's shoulder, turned around in the air, and landed in front of him. She then used her hands like paws and ran alongside him.

"Good Guy is my benefactor who treated me to a meal, meow! And since he's Tao's friend, I'll give you a special guide, meow!"

"No, an accomplice is..."

"Kaka Village is safe, meow! Follow me!" As soon as she said that, Taokaka kicked the ground and jumped low, then increased her speed. She quickly distanced herself, and Ragna hurriedly quickened his pace.

He remembered what happened when he was attacked earlier. Come to think of it, this cat girl was incredibly fast. If he wasn't careful, he'd lose sight of her.

"Hey, wait! Don't leave me behind!!"

More desperately than when he was escaping, Ragna gritted his teeth and chased after Taokaka, who was running with the leg strength of a wild animal.

Part 4

December 30, 2199 - 13:25

A dull, low driving sound droned on.

It was a small sound that normally wouldn't be noticed. However, after more than an hour of silence, it was impossible not to notice it, and as she didn't want to return her consciousness to the silence, she strained her ears to the driving sound.

How much longer would she have to listen to this sound?

Sinking her slender body into the unadorned seat, Noel Vermillion, a warrant officer of the Novus Orbis Librarium's 4th Thaumaturgist Squadron, quietly sighed.

Wearing a blue and white soldier uniform, she spread a blue poncho for cold weather over her lap like a blanket and leaned her head against the wall. Despite having completed the officer school course properly, she looked somewhat younger than her actual age due to her girlish features.

Her long, straight, golden hair reached down to her waist, but now it was gathered into the blue beret she wore on her head for duty. Her distant eyes were a soft green. She looked a little sleepy, gazing out the small window beside her. White skin, slender shoulders, slender arms. If she were wearing different clothes, she would not look like a soldier working for the NOL.

This was a ship owned by the NOL, traversing the sky - an Ars Magus ship.

Outside the small window that Noel was looking at, a white sea of clouds spread out, and the ship continued its smooth voyage to the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi, its destination.

There were only two people sitting in the passenger cabin with rows of seats. Noel, who was sitting in the front seat looking listless, and one other person.

Although it was a relatively small Ars Magus ship, a considerable number of seats were available. Even so, there were only two people in the passenger cabin, which couldn't be considered narrow. And since they were not particularly close, there had been no conversation for a long time, and an awkward amount of silence continued between them.

She wondered what that person was doing now. Driven by such a slight interest, Noel fidgeted slightly on the seat and gently peered behind the shadow of the backrest.

The man sitting there was not wearing the uniform of a soldier like Noel, but a black suit. He was slender but tall, with a black hat on his green hair. Unlike Noel, he didn't seem to feel any awkwardness at all, and he crossed his long, thin legs and leaned back in his seat in a relaxed manner.

He was Captain Hazama of the Novus Orbis Librarium's Intelligence Department.

Right as the year was about to end, Noel and Hazama, who belonged to a different department, were heading to Kagutsuchi for a mission.

As long as you work as a soldier, you should basically follow orders from above. Of course, Noel had no intention of going against orders. However, that did not mean that such loyalty and sense of duty could dispel her anxiety about this mission.

(Haa... why is it just me and Hazama-san?)

Noel averted her eyes from Hazama, who was wearing a hat over his eyes and not moving as if he were asleep, and returned to the seat, grumbling in her heart while looking out the window again.

Noel belonged to the 4th Thaumaturgist Squadron, and Hazama belonged to the Intelligence Department. It was not very common for people from different departments to take on the same mission. And yet they were each sent to a land far away from headquarters.

The reason for this lay in the details of the "mission" given to Noel. This was a top-secret mission that could not leak information to unnecessary personnel.

The objective was to search for a certain person. Jin Kisaragi, Noel's direct superior, Major of the 4th Squadron, and the one she served under as his secretary. He had suddenly disappeared from the NOL headquarters a few days earlier and was missing.

If it were discovered that the commander of a division was missing due to unauthorized actions, it would have a negative impact on many guards and expose the internal affairs of the NOL. Therefore, information about Jin's disappearance was conveyed to only a very small number of people.

A few days later, information came in that Jin seemed to be heading to Kagutsuchi.

Although the reason for this was unknown, there was no way Jin would be allowed to continue acting alone.

Jin was immediately ordered to return to base, and Hazama, who had obtained information about his whereabouts, and Noel, Jin's secretary, were chosen for the role of conveying this order.

...And now, Noel and Hazama were sitting alone in the seats of the Ars Magus ship.

(But even so, there should be more manpower. Even if we're looking for Major Kisaragi, we don't have any information beyond that he seems to have gone to Kagutsuchi...)

Could they really find a single guard in the vast Kagutsuchi?

Even if they were able to find him, would Jin Kisaragi listen to Noel's order to return to base and obediently comply?

(No way, he would never listen.)

Noel shook her head slightly. Although she worked as a secretary, she was always met with Jin's cold and harsh gaze. It could not be said that they had a smooth superior-subordinate relationship. Rather, it was safe to say that it was the worst.

It was clearly a misjudgment in personnel selection. Even if they arrived in Kagutsuchi, what should they do and how should they start?

The more she thought about it, the more her anxiety grew and weighed heavily on her chest.

And there was one more major anxiety. The man named Hazama, who was sitting silently in the back seat. This was the first time she had met him on this mission, and he had a strange atmosphere, and she couldn't understand what he was thinking at all... somehow, he was scary.

(If only everyone was here at a time like this...)

Sighing once again, Noel hunched over as if trying to shrink her body.

She remembered the time she spent with her friends at the officer school before becoming a guard for the Control Organization. Those were fun times. A lot of things happened, and there were difficult times, but those were happy days that more than made up for them.

In those nostalgic days, her best friends were always by Noel's side.

Noel wasn't a very social person and didn't have many friends. But even so, the small number of friends she had at school were precious to her.

Her two closest friends were Tsubaki Yayoi and Makoto Nanaya, who were in the same room in the dormitory. Tsubaki called out to Noel, who was unable to fit in with school life, and took care of her in various ways. Makoto pulled on Noel's withdrawn arm and taught her many fun things. The three of them talked about many things.

Tsubaki was smart and had top grades, so before exams, she always studied with Makoto and taught them.

They also went out together after school. They often went to a cafe with a comfortable open terrace, located a short walk from the school. It had many types of parfaits, which were Noel and her friends' favorites.

Makoto was particularly fond of them. Whenever they stopped by, a chestnut parfait in a tall glass was always placed in front of her.

Even after they were about to graduate and their future paths were decided... when the three of them went to that cafe, there was a chestnut parfait in front of Makoto.

"So, it's decided? Noel will become Kisaragi-senpai's secretary?"

It was a little early to call it evening, and the area overlooked by the clear sky was enveloped in a gentle and warm atmosphere. Even though it was the graduation season, there were no extreme temperature fluctuations in the hierarchical city where the climate and temperature were controlled by Ars Magus. Therefore, they could fully enjoy the parfait with cold ice cream and the coat without wearing it, in their officer school uniforms, on the open terrace.

Makoto, who was carrying the chestnut cream to her mouth, asked the question, and Noel, who was sitting across the round table, nodded slightly with a frown.

"Yeah... it's been decided."

"I see... Noel as a secretary..."

What kind of reaction should she give? With such a troubled face, Makoto put the long-handled parfait spoon in her mouth and rested her cheek on her hand.

Makoto was not human, but a beastkin. Her face and figure were not much different from an ordinary girl, but her small ears that popped out from her head and her tail, which was larger than her torso, were unmistakably squirrel-shaped.

It seemed that she had been looked at strangely in the past because of her special appearance, but the Makoto that Noel knew was an active and straightforward girl with lovely deep brown hair and big, sparkling brown eyes.

Seeing the complicated look on the normally cheerful Makoto, Noel inadvertently looked down at her strawberry parfait in front of her.

"I don't think I'm capable of doing it myself. If it's Kisaragi-senpai's secretary, someone like me..."

"Oh, that's not it, Noel! It's not that you're bad or anything like that. It's just that if you're Kisaragi-senpai's secretary..." Makoto hurriedly tried to follow up, but in the end, even those words became blurred.

Noel and Makoto were thinking the same thing.

The beginning of the story was a little before their future paths after graduation were decided. Noel, who was simply intending to apply to become a soldier for the NOL, was suddenly called in and ordered to become the secretary of Jin Kisaragi, who was the commander of the 4th Thaumaturgist Squadron after graduation.

Noel couldn't refuse it. But she had been thinking about it ever since she heard the story.

Jin Kisaragi. A senior at the officer school who graduated two years earlier, a member of the Duodecim's prestigious Kisaragi family, and a childhood friend of Tsubaki, the daughter of the Duodecim's Yayoi family.

They must have thought the same thing at the same time. When Noel raised her eyes as if peeking, Makoto was also peeking, looking at the red-haired girl sitting between them.

"You two shouldn't talk like that. There's a good reason why Noel was chosen."

With a knowing look on her face, the red-haired girl in front of them, Tsubaki, chided.

Her strikingly colored hair was glossy, long, and reached her waist, and her blue eyes resembled the color of the sky. Her posture was upright and elegant, and although she had no intention of doing so, she inevitably gave off an air of being brought up well.

Excellent grades, impeccable behavior. Such words suited Tsubaki very well. Kind to everyone and loved by everyone, she was a proud and boastful best friend to Noel. However, only a very small number of friends, including Noel and Makoto, knew that she liked bitter sweets such as matcha and adzuki beans.

With a dignified demeanor that did not shame her birth, Tsubaki took a spoonful of bracken rice cake and matcha ice cream sprinkled with matcha powder, and then continued in a gentle tone.

"Noel is good at both studying and sports, and above all, she has excellent Ars Magus aptitude, the best since the founding of the officer school. Qualities that are inherent cannot be improved later. As the secretary of the division commander, she has the perfect qualities."

"Well, I think Noel's Ars Magus aptitude is amazing. But…"

Despite agreeing, Makoto still had an unsettled look on her face. There was no objection to what Tsubaki said. But still, there was something that stuck in her mind. Noel had the same feeling, and she dropped her shoulders with a sigh.

"I... I don't have any confidence. I'm disliked by Kisaragi-senpai, and besides..."

Above all, she knew that Tsubaki really wanted to become Jin's secretary.

Tsubaki liked Jin. Not as a childhood friend or a senior at school, but as a man.

She had no memory of wanting to work by the side of someone she liked, wanting to be useful to that person. But she would understand, because she had seen Tsubaki, who had been studying hard every day to work next to Jin someday. She knew how pure and straightforward that feeling was.

However, she couldn't put that into words and throw it at Tsubaki.

It was not something to be treated so roughly.

So Noel swallowed the thoughts that came to her mind, along with the sweet and sour strawberry ice cream, before they reached her throat.

"Even if you don't have confidence, you have to work hard. You agreed to become Jin-sama's secretary for your parents, didn't you?"

"Eh?" When Tsubaki gently said that to her, Noel raised her face in surprise. At the end of her raised gaze, Tsubaki's blue eyes were looking at her with a gentle look.

"I heard. If you take on the secretary's position, your family, the Vermillion family's noble privileges will be restored. The Vermillion family will also be supported while you're in office."

At Tsubaki's words, Noel's heart skipped a beat. Driven by that momentum, her fingertips hit the spoon against the parfait glass.

She wondered for a moment how she knew about that, but Tsubaki was the daughter of the Duodecim. The internal affairs of the NOL would also reach her ears to some extent.

On the other hand, Makoto, who knew nothing, raised her body with a start in surprise and leaned forward.

"Eh, is that true, Noel!?"

"...Yeah. Actually..." Noel nodded, not wanting to lie to Makoto or Tsubaki.

Putting her raised belly back on the chair, Makoto slumped over the round table as if clinging to it. Her voluminous, fluffy tail also fell down powerlessly.

"Haa, I see. Then you can't refuse, can you? Your parents are... how should I say it, 'special' to you." Makoto's words, spoken with a deep sigh, were by no means sarcastic, compassionate, or anything that could hurt someone's heart. There was only simple understanding.

Makoto and Tsubaki knew, only in a rough outline, how Noel's family was "special," after hearing it from her.

Noel was adopted.

"About four years ago, wasn't it?" Makoto slowly raised her slumped body and asked nostalgically.

Noel nodded slightly.

"Yeah. During the explosion in Ibukido. I don't remember it well, but a person from the Librarium rescued me, and my current foster father adopted me when he'd heard about me."

Her foster parents, the Vermillions, were kind people. Noel felt a great debt to them for taking her in and treating her with love. At the same time, she felt a great pain in her heart for not being able to do anything for her foster father, who was struggling with his health in a life that could not be described as wealthy.

Therefore, the conditions presented by the NOL, "restoration of noble privileges" and "economic support," were too attractive for Noel, who wanted to repay her kindness in any way possible.

"I'm sorry, Tsubaki."

Unable to bear it, Noel apologized weakly. If she became Jin Kisaragi's secretary at this time, it would be impossible for Tsubaki to become his secretary in the future unless something extraordinary happened.

It hurt Noel to think that she had crushed Tsubaki's feelings with the heavy weight of her family's situation.

Perhaps Noel's mental state was evident on her face. Tsubaki gave a wry smile at Noel's apologetic expression and shrugged her shoulders.

"Why are you apologizing? Just because you became Jin-sama's secretary doesn't mean I can't be his secretary. Besides, with this chaotic situation where the civil war still isn't over, I'm relieved that a reliable friend is by Jin-sama's side."

​​Tsubaki's gentle words somehow sounded lonely and painful. It wasn't Noel's career path that was the reason. There was a more direct and immediate reason.

"The Ikaruga Civil War... Kisaragi-senpai hasn't returned from the battlefield yet, has he?" Makoto muttered as if dropping the words, while poking the remaining parfait with her spoon and scooping up the melting ice cream.

Jin was currently on the front line of the Ikaruga Civil War, having been appointed commander of the 4th Thaumaturgist Squadron immediately after graduating. That was why Tsubaki was constantly gloomy.

"Yes. My father's also gone to the battlefield and hasn't returned."

Tsubaki put a slightly bitter matcha ice cream on a silver spoon and brought it to her mouth. Then, as if spilling out her true feelings, she murmured, "...I wish the war would end soon."

"Tsubaki..." Noel called her name, but she didn't know what else to say.

The Ikaruga Civil War was a long-lasting war. Not only her father and Jin, but many people around Tsubaki were probably talking about who went to which battlefield.

Despite their subdued tone, the murmured words carried deep emotions that resonated heavily in Noel and Makoto's hearts.

"Oh, stop it! Stop this talk! Just because we're feeling gloomy doesn't mean the war will end, and even the parfait won't taste good!" With a vigorous movement as if shaking off the heavy atmosphere that had begun to drift, Makoto stood up and gripped her spoon tightly.

When gave them a cheerful smile, the heavy burden that had been weighing on Noel and Tsubaki's shoulders was dispelled and went elsewhere. Makoto's smile always lifted their spirits, no matter what.

"That's right, Tsubaki, what about your plans after graduation? You have to decide soon, right?"

Changing her mood, she sat back down and asked in a bright voice, while hooking her finger on the teacup she had completely forgotten about in her preoccupation with the parfait.

At the bouncy voice, Tsubaki relaxed her cheeks as if releasing tension.

"Well. I've been thinking about it a lot, but I haven't decided yet. But..." After closing her lips once, Tsubaki put down her spoon and opened her mouth again. "But, I hope I can go to a department where I can follow my own beliefs. I want to become stronger in such a place. So that I can protect what is important to me."

Contrary to her dreamy tone, there was a strong determination in the depths of Tsubaki's eyes. However, no one was able to find it in this place.

"What about you, Makoto?" As if trying to deceive something, Tsubaki turned her gaze away.

"Me?"

Noel also nodded, tilting her teacup towards Makoto, who was pointing at herself.

"Come to think of it, I haven't heard much about your plans. Have you submitted your application?"

"Well… sort of."

Though she'd brought up the topic herself, she was a little uncomfortable with this kind of talk, and Makoto scratched her cheek and laughed while taking a sip of tea.

"Um, for now, the Intelligence Department. I don't know what will actually happen, though."

"Intelligence Department? That's a bit unexpected."

While bringing her lips to the cup, Noel widened her eyes. Makoto was the most skilled in combat among the three. She had assumed that she would be applying for a department that would make use of this.

Putting down her cup, Makoto now scratched her head as if messing up her hair.

"How should I put it? I want to know more about this world. If it's the Intelligence Department or something like that, I feel like I can learn a lot of things I didn't know before."

"That's true, but..."

Even so, the Intelligence Department, which avoids people's eyes and hides in the shadows to act without being known, was far from Makoto's image, and Tsubaki looked puzzled.

Little by little, everyone would be moving in different directions from their student days. Such a thought suddenly passed through Noel's mind, and she secretly hugged the teacup in her hand tightly with both hands.

"Um, you know... it's almost graduation. Even after graduation, we'll still be friends, right?"

Noel had no memories before being rescued in Ibukido. So for her, Tsubaki and Makoto were her first friends in her life. There were other people she could call friends, but Tsubaki and Makoto were special. The time the three of them spent together was truly irreplaceable.

Noel watched her two best friends as if asking for confirmation, waiting for an answer, and Makoto and Tsubaki stared back at her before breaking into smiles as if bursting out.

"Of course, Noel! Right, Tsubaki?"

"Yes, of course."

Makoto's smile, which was like a clear sky, and Tsubaki's smile, which was like a blooming flower. Their kindness warmly enveloped her, and it was so, so happy.

Noel almost cried a little while drinking her tea.

The remaining few days of student life were coming to an end, and they would no longer be attending the same classroom, and they would no longer be able to wear the uniforms of this military academy. But even then, she thought that they could always get together like this and spend a peaceful time like this afternoon, surrounding a single table.

However, after that day, they never had the chance to visit this cafe together.

Part 5

She wondered how long she had been immersed in nostalgic memories.

"...Lieutenant? Hello? Lieutenant Noel Vermillion?"

Suddenly, she heard a man's voice from right beside her.

"Huh, ah, y-yes!"

A beat late, Noel came to her senses and hurriedly straightened her head and body from the wall she had been leaning against.

​​In the passenger cabin where there were only two people, only one man could call out to her. Pressing down on her slipping hat, she turned around and saw the figure she had expected.

Black suit, white shirt, black tie, black hat. His green hair was so long in the front that it hid his eyes, and from the depths of those eyes, which were difficult to tell whether they were open or not, he looked down at Noel from a high position with an exasperated look.

"Are you finally awake? Honestly, we're still on duty, you know? Even if we're in transit, a nap is quite carefree, isn't it?"

"I-I'm sorry, Captain Hazama. But, um, I certainly wasn't sleeping...!"

While she thought being dazed was not much different, Noel straightened her posture and made excuses to Hazama, who was looking down at her. At that moment, she felt something terribly cold down her spine.

(Eh... what...?)

The air conditioning in the Ars Magus ship was comfortably adjusted, and she wasn't feeling unwell. And it was too... horrifying to be a chill from an unexpected cold.

Why was she being attacked by such a sensation? The unreasonable chills, no, rather, the fear, grabbed Noel and wouldn't let go.

Meanwhile, Hazama began to talk on his own, as if he didn't care about Noel being unable to speak.

"It's nice that you got plenty of rest, but we've already arrived in Kagutsuchi. If you stay on board like this, your work won't start at all, so could you please get off?"

"Eh, ah..."

Come to think of it, the driving sound during the voyage had stopped sometime. When she turned her gaze to the small window, the scenery outside was not the sky but a port for Ars Magus ships.

The fear that had been clogging her chest until just now was gone, and a feeling of shame rose like a rush.

Noel grabbed the seatbelt buckle as if jumping at it, and started to try to undo it. Her fingertips fumbled due to her agitation, and she couldn't undo the seatbelt, which should have been easy.

"I-I'm sorry! I'll get off right away, right now!"

"Oh, is that so? Then I'll get off first, so please don't break the seatbelt." With a light chuckle, Hazama waved his leather gloved hand and left the passenger cabin. Watching his back as he left, Noel's expression crumpled wretchedly as soon as she turned her face back to the seatbelt. She didn't even notice the descent, let alone the announcement of it. What a blunder.

As Hazama said, she was too carefree even though she was on duty.

After a bit of delay, Noel finally escaped from the unfastened seatbelt, and while putting on her blue poncho, she hurriedly rushed outside.

The 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi, Port 5.

Located at the edge of the upper layer, one of the smaller and quietly established ports among many, it was a port used for matters and missions that could not be made public even within the NOL.

Due to its intended use, there were fewer personnel working there compared to other ports. The number of Ars Magus ships that come in and out of the port was not very large, and it was a quiet port with few people around, but even so, it had a glamorous air that suggested that it was directly managed by the NOL.

The face of the port, so to speak, was the large clock hung in the management building. The gold hands indicating the time were finely decorated to the tips, giving it the appearance of a work of art.

With the large clock watching over the port with elegance and dignity, a small Ars Magus ship, which had entered the port under the name of the Intelligence Department of the NOL Headquarters, quietly rested its body.

Metal stairs extending from the abdomen of the ship urged passengers to go to the floor of the port.

While holding the handrail of the stairs, Noel looked around at the scenery from there. The sky was a pleasant clear day. The air, controlled by Ars Magus, was refreshing, and there was almost no magic element.

From this location, it was difficult to see clearly because it was blocked by the management building and the entrance to the port, but she could see some NOL facilities lined up beyond the relatively new Port 5. Beyond that, in the distance, the well-organized cityscape, typical of the upper layer, spread out. The green of the trees planted everywhere was deep and glistened in the sunlight. The buildings lined up were based on white and blue, giving a somewhat clear impression.

It was a beautiful city. And it was very large.

"This is Kagutsuchi..."

It was Noel's first visit to the city.

If it weren't for the information from her superior and senior at the military academy, Jin Kisaragi, she might not have visited it.

Sliding her fingertips covered with white gloves on the handrail, Noel ran down the short stairs and descended from the Ars Magus ship to the port. Beyond the protruding passageway, Hazama was leaning against the pillar of a one-legged clock, which pointed to the same time as the large clock, looking bored.

The sight startled Noel for a moment, and she ran towards him.

Noel was a little uncomfortable with the man from the Intelligence Department. The first time she had properly met him and talked to him was when she was summoned for this mission, but when she was in front of him, she felt somehow overwhelmed and swallowed up. However, she couldn't avoid him. He was the only collaborator in this top-secret mission.

Standing at attention in front of Hazama and straightening her back, Noel gave a small salute to the superior officer from a different department.

"I-I kept you waiting, Captain Hazama. I was very rude earlier."

"No, no, I'm used to waiting, so please don't worry about it." Hazama etched a deep smile on his lips, raised his body, and gave a light bow while speaking in a soft tone.

If you only listened to the words, it was normal and sounded considerate. But Noel felt a vague suspicion about his strangely suggestive way of speaking and exaggerated gestures, and she inadvertently looked down. At the same time, she felt somewhat depressed at her own narrow-mindedness, even though nothing had been done to her.

(He's not a bad person... I think.)

Even so, she felt sorry for the feeling of discomfort that welled up in her chest as if seeping out.

As Noel looked down with her salute still in place, Hazama suddenly clapped his hands as if he had come up with something.

"Ah, that's right, that's right. And about the 'Captain' and that salute, let's get rid of those formalities. I'm not your direct superior, and you're not my direct subordinate."

"Eh... but, but..."

"Those things are so troublesome. I don't want to put on a superior's face to you either. There's no one watching us, so please, okay?"

With a deep smile at the corners of his mouth, Hazama tilted his head slightly and looked down at Noel. His bangs were long, and the brim of his hat cast a shadow, making it difficult to see the eyes behind them. Even so, the gaze that was staring at her was clearly felt.

"Understood. Hazama… san."

Feeling that it would be rude to refuse outright, Noel nodded hesitantly. But she couldn't suddenly change her attitude as if turning her hand over, so she tried to start by at least changing how she called him.

Satisfied, Hazama's smile deepened and he spoke again.

"Now then. Let's get down to business right away. Our objective this time is to search for Major Jin Kisaragi, who is currently missing. If we find him, we'll tell him that a return order has been issued from headquarters, and if he obeys quietly, that's fine, but if he doesn't, we will have to restrain him and forcibly take him away."

At Hazama's words, Noel's expression became tense and stiff.

This was no longer the NOL headquarters where she had spent her days. It was Kagutsuchi, an unfamiliar city, although it was under the control of the NOL. Hazama continued in a tone as if he were explaining to a student.

"Currently, Major Kisaragi seems to be hiding in Kagutsuchi. His objective is most likely Ragna the Bloodedge, the wanted criminal known as the 'Grim Reaper.' He went missing immediately after we received information that he was headed to Kagutsuchi, right?"

"Yes. The name Ragna the Bloodedge seemed to ring a bell with him. ...Although I didn't confirm it..." Noel replied with a serious face.

The last time Noel met Jin was when she delivered a report on the wanted criminal, "Grim Reaper."

At that time, Jin, as always, seemed reluctant to even deal with Noel. He snatched the report and changed his expression as soon as he heard from the Intelligence Department that the "Grim Reaper's" name was Ragna the Bloodedge.

Jin was laughing. Calm and ruthless. Noel clearly remembered that Jin, who always had an icy expression, laughed aloud only at that time. Noel had never seen him like this, not even during his student days or after becoming his secretary.

"Um, may I ask a question?"

"Yes, please?" Hazama gestured the the innocent Noel to prompt her.

Feeling as if she was being tested by his stiff smile, Noel couldn't look up at Hazama's face.

"If the information is correct, then Kisaragi-sama and Ragna the Bloodedge are hiding in Kagutsuchi, right?"

"That's what it seems."

"Um, if we come into contact with Ragna the Bloodedge before we find Kisaragi-sama... which one should we prioritize...?"

Arresting criminals was one of the duties of soldiers. If she encountered the "Grim Reaper" Ragna, Noel would normally have to move to arrest him.

Hazama put his hand on his black hat as if grabbing it, and replied with an indifferent, "Ah. Well, deal with it appropriately. I'll leave it up to you."

"Eh, is that... appropriate?"

Could there be such a, well, appropriate instruction? Noel's eyes widened in surprise at such an uncharacteristic response from a superior officer. Hazama, in a relaxed tone without any sense of urgency, opened his hands at shoulder height.

"You see, my mission is to secure Kisaragi-sama. As long as you complete that task, I don't intend to give you detailed instructions about the rest."

Saying that, he shrugged his slender shoulders and smiled lightly.

Not knowing how to react to that smile, Noel ended up only stammering with her lips and couldn't say anything. She wondered if she should say something back, or if she should keep her mouth shut. Such thoughts kept popping up in her head, and she kept thinking about them.

Meanwhile, Hazama put his hat back on and moved on with the conversation.

"Well then, I have some business at the branch office, so could you start the search from the lower levels first?"

"Branch office? What kind of...?"

"Oh, have you forgotten? I'm in the Intelligence Department, after all. I have a lot of business that I can't share with other people... could you be considerate?"

Hazama's smile shifted to a wry grin. His manner was gentle, but there was something somewhat mocking in his tone. It was as if he was exasperated with a child who didn't understand, and that made Noel feel impatient.

She must not forget. This was an important top-secret mission. She couldn't afford to fail, and she couldn't cause trouble for the Intelligence Department.

Noel straightened her back again, and with her hands tightly attached to her sides, she looked up at Hazama. Noel couldn't tell what kind of eyes were looking at her from beyond the shadow of the black hat and the long bangs.

"Understood. Then, um... I'll start the search from the lower levels."

Surely there was a structural drawing and map of Kagutsuchi in the materials. Relying on that, she should be able to reach the lower levels without getting lost. She was a little scared to go all the way to the lower levels... but she couldn't say such a thing.

(I'll find Kisaragi-sama quickly and return to headquarters.)

If Jin's disappearance went public, Tsubaki would surely worry. More than anyone else.

It's not that Noel wasn't worried about Jin. More than that, she was worried about the heartache that her best friend from high school would suffer.

Letting the cool port wind wrap around the ample hem of her donned poncho, Noel walked past Hazama as if slipping through. Before her feet had taken many steps, Hazama's voice stopped her from under the clock.

"Oh, right, I forgot. Lieutenant Noel Vermillion."

At the leisurely and drawn-out call, Noel turned around wondering what it was.

Hazama was leaning against the slender leg of the clock and looking at her.

"Currently, a D-alert has been issued in Kagutsuchi. It's the one that prohibits intervention from other organizations due to a state of emergency. Apparently, information that Ragna the Bloodedge is hiding has leaked to the outside from somewhere, and because of that, it seems some dangerous individuals have gotten involved. Please be careful when going to the lower levels."

For a warning from a member of the Intelligence Department to a soldier of the NOL, it lacked much urgency.

Hazama waved his hand lightly and saw Noel off.

He was not so much an irresponsible person as he was a person without any pretenses. She didn't know him well, but surely this was how he always was. With this impression in mind, Noel once again straightened her heels and lowered her head in a bow.

"Yes. Then, excuse me." This time, she turned her back and exited from the gate of Port 5 to the main city.

The sky looked close when looking up from the upper layer. The sun shone in the slightly cloudy sky color due to the magic elements drifting outside the city, pouring overflowing sunlight onto the ground. Receiving that light, the white-dominated upper city shone dazzlingly.

If she went straight on the large road, she could reach the center of the city. But where Noel should head was not the city center but the lower levels. She would turn left from here and head for the magic lift for NOL soldiers.

While letting the gold-colored hair spilling out from her hat shine in the sunlight, Noel took out a map of Kagutsuchi from the materials and spread it out. Seeing the overall view like this, she realized the size of this city once again.

(Well then... for now, I'll go down as far as I can and then come up from there.)

If possible, it would be best if she could find Jin immediately and he would obediently follow the order to return to base, but it was unlikely things would go so smoothly.

Her feet were likely to become heavy with worries about the future, but Noel lightly shook her head to refresh herself. There was no point in thinking only negatively. Now, she just needed to focus on what she should do, and take action as much as she could.

"...Be strong. I have to do my best."

After encouraging herself in a small voice, Noel raised her face and began to walk quickly through the upper city of Kagutsuchi.

There were red eyes watching every single part of that scene.

On the top of the management building, which was part of the 5th Port and had a large clock hanging, a small figure was gazing down at the bottom, on the roof decorated with delicate designs.

Wearing a black dress, a black bag on her shoulder, and her ribbon-like golden hair dancing wildly in the strong wind that traveled through the high sky, was Rachel Alucard. Her red eyes were fixed on the figure of the guard girl talking at the port.

"As I thought... that child is..."

The words muttered from her innocent lips were carried away by the sharp whistling wind. It was a mutter that should not have reached anyone's ears. And yet... the man from the NOL who remained at the 5th Port suddenly turned back to Rachel.

It was a man in a black suit. His name was... Hazama.

He looked up at Rachel nonchalantly and lifted his hat.

A grin, like a thin, deep slit, was carved on his lips.

It was a sneer. Or rather, a mocking laugh.

It wasn't accidental. He was looking up at her accurately, and he knew who Rachel was... that's why he laughed.

It wasn't surprising. Rachel also knew. She knew who that man in the black suit was... and why he was laughing.

Because she understood, it was even more irritating.

"...I wonder what kind of stage you will show us this time?" Rachel whispered to the sneering man on the ground. Her voice wouldn't reach him. The wind would cut it apart and blow it away somewhere.

But the man turned on his heel at the perfect moment, as if he had been waiting for Rachel's words to finish, and left the 5th Port as if nothing had happened.

What remained was Rachel. She turned her gaze to the top of the high mountain where Kagutsuchi was located, while holding her umbrella on the roof. As if holding a sacred sword on the top of the mountain, a white and pure building towered there. The Kagutsuchi branch of the Novus Orbis Librarium. That was... the stage for the performance that was about to begin.

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Forward to Chapter 2: Cross fate — The Thing That Is There