BlazBlue:Calamity Trigger Part 2 Chapter 4

BBCT2 Chapter 4: Memorable church — Siblings

Part 1

December 31, 2199 - 20:57

Night.

The sun was setting, the moon was waxing, the sky was completely repainted, and Kagutsuchi was preparing for a special night that would mark the end of another year in just a few hours.

The moon hanging in the deep-colored night sky was a full moon. Like a hole poked in the sky, the perfectly round light looked down on the ground.

Looking up at that moon, Ragna was very close to the Novus Orbis Librarium's Kagutsuchi branch.

Beneath his white bangs, he narrowed his green and red eyes, glaring at the moon. He glared at the NOL's branch, which floated fantastically in the moonlight.

The branch stood there with a magnificent presence, befitting its role in ruling over the upper city streets. Illuminated by lights from below, it resembled three swords raised towards the heavens, with the central one towering particularly high, its tip pointing towards the moonlit night.

This was the place. That NOL branch, with its clean face looking down on the city with a composed expression. In its deepest part, hidden deep underground, was the "'cauldron" that Ragna should aim for, that he should destroy.

As it had been until now, Ragna didn't devise strategies to infiltrate the branch. He always entered from the front entrance. He went in proudly, as if it was natural, was inevitably stopped, and then began beating down its reckless soldiers.

Unlike when entering the city, only NOL personnel were in the branch at night. He could rampage to his heart's content, without any reservations.

The NOL. A hateful, unbearably hateful name. The one that stole everything from him. This time he would steal everything from them.

Ragna, who had unknowingly clenched his fist, unclenched it and started walking.

The cool night air touched his cheeks. The upper levels were quite far from the ground, so the wind that occasionally blew was strong and unceremonious.

While his hair was sometimes roughly ruffled by the wind, Ragna frowned at the growing sensation as he advanced. It was sticky, like it was clinging to the inside of his head or chest. He felt like it had been gradually getting worse since last night.

Haven't I done the same thing before?

If this was what they called déjà vu, then the déjà vu that Ragna had felt until now was truly insignificant. It was as if unknown memories were stored somewhere in his brain, and only fragments of them were being shown to him.

Of course, the act of aiming for the branch and destroying the cauldron itself was something that Ragna had repeated many times already. So perhaps it was just his tired mind making a mistake.

But even if he tried to dismiss it like that, there was still a feeling that he couldn't easily wipe away.

"Tch… annoying." Even though he was just walking, he wanted to silence his head, which immediately said, "This happened before," and so on.

He had never come to Kagutsuchi, and walking through the upper levels aiming for the branch was something he always did. What was strange about that?

Standing amidst the hazy feeling, Ragna scratched his hair in a frenzy. He hated things that were unclear like this. It irritated him.

Suddenly, another wind blew. But that wind was different from the ones he had felt so far in the upper levels. It smelled like roses.

"Rabbit?"

Along with the wind that blew from behind him to the front and danced around Ragna's destination, a girl in a black dress appeared. Despite her usual sudden appearance, Ragna was strangely not surprised at all. Somehow, he had a feeling that she would appear soon.

"Good evening." As always, holding her Nago umbrella and accompanied by her red rubber ball, Gii, Rachel gave Ragna a graceful smile that was uncharacteristic of a girl.

"What is it? Got some business with me?" Ragna stopped walking and spoke curtly, putting his hand behind his neck.

Somehow, Rachel's appearance seemed as if it had been planned in advance. If that was the case, then him going to the branch like this, even his coming to Kagutsuchi itself, seemed to be according to plan, and he felt inexplicably dissatisfied.

Perhaps surprised by Ragna's reaction, Rachel blinked her large, doll-like eyes several times.

"Oh, you're quite cold despite the big job ahead of you. You were more aggressive before."

When was "before"? Ragna couldn't immediately grasp it. Was it before Kagutsuchi, when he destroyed the branch? Or was it when they met near Orient Town yesterday afternoon?

Or was it a different "before" altogether?

"It's none of your business. I've got my own problems." Ragna wondered if Rachel had seen through everything about this strange, inexplicable feeling he had been harboring. He ignored his own thoughts and spat the words towards the ground.

The black umbrella left Rachel's hand and wriggled, and Nago transformed into its original form, a large cat, and grinned.

"Being all delicate. It doesn't suit you at all." As Nago laughed, Gii, hiding behind Rachel, also chuckled mockingly.

"He's probably just hungry again. He hasn't eaten anything decent since then, has he~?"

Normally, he would get irritated by the familiars' lighthearted remarks and either yell at them or hit them. But right now, the sticky feeling of déjà vu was more concerning, and he wasn't really in the mood.

"Tch. Still as annoying as ever." Even his curses didn't have much bite.

Nago laid down on the ground in a cat-like posture, looking at Ragna with his huge eyes.

"Oh my, you're really not energetic. No fun at all~"

"It's not like that. It's just… what do you call it?" He couldn't find the right words to connect and convey what he was feeling.

Rachel often belittled him, calling him dull, but Ragna, as if scolding himself for his truly dull thought process, ruffled his hair messily.

"Ah, damn it, never mind me! More importantly, what do you want? If you don't have any business, go home already!" He didn't want to be any more irritated than this when he was about to infiltrate enemy territory.

But there was no way that Rachel would listen to such a request from Ragna. While twirling her long hair with her fingertips, her intelligent and arrogant crimson eyes made a look of exasperation.

"I thought you were unusually calm, but it seems you're just distracted. If you're like that, you'll get stabbed again by that child you're about to meet."

"That child I'm about to meet?"

Rachel once again spoke in a meaningful way. Disliking that, Ragna frowned and asked, but immediately sensed something.

"Could it be… Jin?"

He had heard that Jin fought in the Ikaruga Civil War as a soldier of the NOL and became a hero. The Hero of Ikaruga, and the wielder of the Nox Nyctores, Mucro Algesco: Yukianesa.

As if amused that Ragna had guessed correctly, Rachel, with a hint of something lingering in her large eyes, neither nodded nor shook her head, but opened her mouth.

"What I want is… I have something I want to ask you."

"...Why are you being so formal?"

"Ragna." As if silencing the howling wind, Rachel's wind scattered the scent of roses, swallowing the surrounding wind sounds. Rachel's flowing golden hair danced like ribbons, eventually falling onto her shoulders. "Why do you aim for the Cauldron?"

The question had a strange resonance. Ragna grimaced suspiciously. He had just been asked a similar question yesterday.

While directing a searching gaze towards Rachel's eyes, which were much lower than his own, Ragna repeated the same answer.

"Because I don't like it. That's why I'll destroy it... What else do you want me to answer?"

Rachel's way of asking questions seemed like a mean-spirited trick, as if she wouldn't stop asking until she got a specific answer.

Rachel put her index finger to her red lips, like rose petals, and let out a chuckle.

"That's a secret." She didn't deny that she had such an intention.

Ragna was surprised, which was rare. Usually, at this point, he'd receive a barrage of insults that would make him think he shouldn't have pried any further, and in the end, it would be glossed over without him really understanding.

Rachel waved her white fingers in the air, as if brushing something away.

"My business is finished. You can go, Ragna."

Saying that, she beckoned to Nago, turning the cat back into an umbrella and holding it. In the shadow of the umbrella that blocked the dazzling moonlight, Rachel seemed to show a fleetingly lonely expression... or so it seemed. At least, that's how it appeared to Ragna's eyes, if only for an instant.

"Rachel." Thinking such a thing, her name involuntarily spilled from his mouth.

"What is it?" Raising the angle of the umbrella just a little, Rachel responded with her usual leisurely smile.

Ragna hesitated for a few seconds, wondering what to ask. But he quickly gave up on finding the right words and asked as he thought.

"That question you just asked, have you asked me before?"

"Are you stupid? I asked you yesterday afternoon."

"I know that. I'm not talking about then... what I'm trying to say is, before that."

"Are you talking about when you were little?"

"No."

That's not it. What he wanted to say was too abstract.

Rachel, with a capricious air, waited for him on the spot while Ragna restlessly scratched his head, busily moving his hands up and down, and struggled with his lips.

"I can't put it into words well, but... I feel like something similar happened before. When I was on my way to the Kagutsuchi branch, you asked me that question... Did something like that happen?"

Ragna was aware that he was asking something strange. He was certain that this was the first time he had come to Kagutsuchi, and therefore, even stepping into the upper levels of Kagutsuchi was a first for him last night. Even so, he was asking if she had asked him the same question here before.

He wondered if she would tease him, saying he had a dream or something. Or perhaps he would get her usual insults.

But to Ragna, who was prepared to be thoroughly told off, Rachel showed an expression as if her eyes had widened in surprise. Then, with a gentle smile, as if releasing the strength from her shoulders, she softly smiled.

"Well, I wonder. If you think it happened, then it happened... and if you don't think it happened, then it didn't happen, right?"

Although her attitude was softer than usual, the words that came back were like a riddle, typical of Rachel.

"Huh? What do you mean? Did it happen? Or didn't it?" He had asked the question himself without really understanding it, and with Rachel's answer, he understood even less. As the heat between Ragna's eyebrows deepened, Rachel chuckled as if amused by it.

"That's something you can decide, Ragna."

"I don't understand..."

At the very least, he wanted her to say yes or no. Since Rachel had never shown such kindness before, perhaps it was wrong to expect it.

Ragna let out an impatient sigh and bared his fangs. Looking at that, Rachel lightly kicked the ground. Carrying an overwhelmingly dense scent of roses, Rachel's body floated into the air.

Rachel, standing in a composed pose with her umbrella held high above Ragna, moved her gaze as if urging him to the bridge-like passage leading to the branch.

"Come on, go now. If you dawdle around here like this, you'll accidentally miss the change of day."

In this situation, even if he persisted, Rachel probably wouldn't answer his question. Sensing this from his past experiences, Ragna let out a sigh of resignation, dropped his shoulders, and started walking listlessly.

"I know that without you telling me. See ya."

"Yes, goodbye, Ragna. And... don't forget."

"Forget what? ...Ah, no." Ragna, who had already started walking, looked up at Rachel over his shoulder, stuck his finger in his ear as if annoyed, and said,"That thing, right? 'Never think that the Azure Grimoire is your own power'..."

At Ragna's words, Rachel smiled. Like a red rose blooming from a bud.

Realizing there would be no further reply, Ragna crossed the bridge, adjusting the sword hanging at his waist so that it would be easy to draw.

If he went through the bridge-shaped passage, the front entrance of the NOL's Kagutsuchi branch would be ahead. During the day, many soldiers and residents with business at the branch come and go.

But at this hour, there was no one there. Or rather, there were too few people.

It was strange that not a single soldier could be seen. There was no sign of the barrier magic that should have been stretched out across the road for crime prevention. It was different from the branch he knew. Ragna quickened his pace, feeling a tingling unease and abnormality.

Rachel, high above in the sky, watched him with the moon behind her.

What lit up in her chest was not despair this time. Nor was it resignation. It was... a small…

"...To think you'd make me have even a sliver of expectation. You've come up with an interesting scheme, Ragna."

Narrowing her crimson eyes, raising her red rose lips in a good mood, Rachel saw off the red jacket figure hurrying along the passage far below.

"God keeps repeating endless dreams... hundreds, thousands of times the same dream," Rachel said, as if singing.

Yes, she had repeated it over and over again. She had spent countless nights. The end of the year with the full moon in Kagutsuchi.

Now, the final chapter was about to begin.

This time, the curtain might fall with a slightly different production than usual. Even if it had the same ending, if there was even one thing that caught her eye, she couldn't miss it.

Rachel deployed a teleportation magic in the sky, scattered the fragrance of roses, and disappeared from the spot.

Part 2

December 31, 2199 - 21:00

The Novus Orbis Librarium's Kagutsuchi branch is entered by crossing a bridge-shaped passage illuminated by pale lights, and passing through the front entrance located beyond.

In front of the front entrance, barrier magic was set up to keep out outsiders, and its power was such that it would turn anyone unrelated to ashes in an instant. Therefore, in order to enter, even a soldier had to state their identity in front of it.

But for some reason, there were no guards on watch at the branch tonight, and the barrier magic had also disappeared. Even if one entered, there wasn't a single soldier to be found.

There was no damage to the front entrance door, and there was no sign that someone had forced it open and broken through. It wasn't attacked by anyone.

What showed this more than the disappeared barrier and the undamaged door was the inside of the branch. There were no scratches on the floor or walls. The furniture was in its usual position, and not a single tear was on the carpet or curtains. Even so, the inside of the branch was completely deserted.

No one was there. There wasn't even a faint murmur or a slight trace of human presence. Not even a single corpse.

If this abnormal situation was caused by an attack, how meticulous and obsessively persistent would the attacker be? It would be comically thorough to eliminate people from the branch and then disappear themselves.

But so what? Such a thing was trivial.

For Jin Kisaragi, who had infiltrated the branch with the intent to kill anyone who got in his way, the unexplained disappearance of the soldiers was of no concern. It was rather fortunate that troublesome things were taken care of without him knowing.

Now he could wait without worrying about anything.

He could fight without being disturbed by anything.

He could kill.

That man.

Going further into the entrance, the view opened up dazzlingly, and he came to a place called the sanctuary, a high ceilinged atrium. Circular passages stacked several floors high uniformly surrounded and faced a huge and solemn statue of a goddess.

The white, immaculate figure was radiant and beautiful, attracting the worship of many soldiers.

The entire area, including the sanctuary, never sank into darkness like the city at night. This was because countless magic circles deployed above the goddess statue constantly cast light in a white, divine color on the goddess statue and on each floor of the branch overlooked by the goddess.

The soft, veil-like light alone made the place look extremely divine... it must have dazzled many eyes.

Jin looked down at the space provided straight ahead from the entrance, where such light poured down from directly in front, from the top of a staircase one step up.

The top of the stairs was in the shadow of a thick pillar, and the light-filled space viewed from there looked even more brilliant.

He was waiting for someone to appear in that light.

Red jacket, white hair, wielding a sword and carrying a grimoire around his neck, his eyes red on the right and green on the left. The one Jin waited an eternity for, who he could imagine in much finer detail than the NOL's ridiculous information network.

Ragna the Bloodedge.

It would be soon. A little later than him, he would appear here... yes, he should appear in that stage of light.

He was so impatient, so impatient for that moment.

Ah, look. Conveniently, there was no one in the branch, so there was no unnecessary noise. That's why he could hear it well.

The sound of a man's footsteps echoing from the entrance down the corridor, making the deserted branch feel eerie, walking towards here with large strides.

How many more steps? Shall we count? Look, a little more, just a little more. He's getting closer. Six more steps and his toes will be visible. Four more steps and his whole body will be visible.

Two steps. One step.

There, he found him.

The eye-catching red jacket and pure white hair.

"Brother..." The moment he caught sight of that figure, a large tremor shook the depths of his body. Only the impulse from within his stomach seemed to leap out and slash. But no, that's not right. Because the one who would kill him...

"It's me!" He swayed forward, his heel clicking on the cold floor. The hard sound echoed, and Ragna turned around at that sound.

At the same time, Jin kicked the floor and leapt down from the top of the stairs, drawing Yukianesa in his hand—

The memories of the dazzling sunlight are like a deeply thrust knife.

Jin doesn't remember much about his childhood.

He only remembered fragments of it, like an album with only parts of scenes cut out and arranged. Happy memories, kind memories... sad memories, scary memories. Painful memories, agonizing memories, bitter memories. None of which he really wanted to see, so he kept them securely in a box deep within his brain and locked it.

Even so, the memories insist from inside the box. They whisper not to his consciousness but to his unconsciousness, distorting his emotions as if running extra horizontal threads.

Because they are lonely memories. Every single one of them, they were always lonely memories.

The high-pitched sound of a kaan was the sound of the wooden branches they clashed with, repelled by the force.

The branch he gripped in his hand was of a moderate length and moderate weight. It was something he found and picked up in the forest, and while it was in the hands of the still young boys, it was not just a branch but a famous sword.

On a fine noon, the sun warmly watched over the fruitful forest and the meadow that spread next to it, and the 'Church of the Ark' that stood there.

The space between the church and the forest was the perfect match field for the two boys living in the church. Once they finished their daily task of picking up firewood, they would take the special sword they found along the way and have a mock sword fight. They had never learned swordsmanship, so they imagined the many brave warriors and heroes that appeared in the many stories they heard from the sister, and acted like them.

Sometimes they were a hero who defeated a giant dragon with a magic sword, sometimes they were a knight who galloped through the battlefield fighting against a large army, sometimes they were a warrior who saved a country with his bravery, sometimes they were six heroes who fought through a giant monster to save the world.

But always, it was the older brother who ultimately won.

"Ugh!"

The vibration of the strongly repelled branch... or rather, his beloved sword, traveled through his arm, and Jin, who was still only ten years old or so at this time, staggered backward as if tripping. Before he could take even a few steps back, his feet got tangled, and he fell over.

The ground was a soft carpet of grass, so it didn't hurt much. Even so, while he rubbed his bottom that had hit the ground and pretended to be in pain, his brother hurriedly threw away his sword and rushed over, calling out "Brother."

Even though it was Jin who got carried away and forgot to control his strength, his brother would give a wry smile, saying "What are you falling down for?" and then reach out his hand to Jin, who was still flipped over.

"My foot got stuck." Happy at the hand and gaze directed straight at him, Jin tried to grab his brother's hand with a shy smile.

But at that moment...

"Cough... "

A little distance away, a girl who had been sitting near the church, watching the match between his brother and Jin, suddenly hunched over and started coughing.

"Cough, cough... haa, haa..." Shaking her chest and shrinking her small body, the girl hunched over as if holding down her chest.

His brother, who had turned back at the sound of the first cough, hurriedly ran towards the girl, noticing her abnormality.

"Saya! Are you okay?!"

His brother rushed to the girl, supporting her slender shoulders and rubbing her thin back. Not with the roughness he had when he repelled the wooden sword, but with a gentle touch, as if handling something very precious.

"Cough... it hurts... brother... cough cough..."

"It's okay, breathe slowly. Here... breathe in... breathe out. That's right. I'll carry you to bed right away." Saying that, his brother easily picked up the girl's small body and went back into the church. Soon, the hurried voice of the sister could be heard from inside.

"Oh my, that's terrible. I was careless because her fever had gone down. Let her sleep in her room, Ragna. I'll get a towel and water right away."

"Yeah, I understand... Here, don't cry, Saya. It'll be okay. Me and the sister are here." The sound of the sister's footsteps rushing around busily. The sound of his brother's footsteps walking carefully to the children's room, being careful not to drop her.

Jin had been watching that scene all along. Jin had been listening to that sound all along. On the soft grassland, he had been sitting flipped over, listening all along.

After staying like that silently for a while, and eventually getting up without anyone's help, Jin returned to the church alone.

When he entered from the back door, the kitchen was right there. In the kitchen, the sister was making something warm. While he was peeking secretly from the shadows, the sister noticed Jin, perhaps hearing some sound, turned around and smiled at him, saying:

"Welcome back, Jin. Lunch will be ready soon, so can you call Ragna? I think he's with Saya."

"...Yeah." He didn't really want to go. But since the sister asked him, he couldn't refuse, so Jin nodded meekly and headed to the children's room.

The children's room was close by. So Jin quickly reached his destination, and secretly peeked inside through the gap in the half-open door.

Warm light from outside was shining through the window with white curtains, and the room was bright. On the bed by the window, his sister was lying down with a blanket and comforter up to her shoulders. Beside her, his brother was sitting on a chair, watching over her.

"Don't worry, you'll get better soon. I'm here, so rest assured and get some sleep, okay?"

"Yeah... brother."

A gentle voice and a spoiled voice.

His brother was stroking his sister's head. His sister narrowed her eyes happily at that hand, and smiled blissfully.

Jin looked at his own hand beyond the door. The hand that was reached out and was supposed to be held back and helped up… was cold.

It was cold.

The high-pitched kiin was the sound of clashing swords, repelled by the weak force.

In Jin's hand was the ice sword, Yukianesa. Facing him was the man with the red jacket and white hair, Ragna, holding his beloved sword with its wide, thick blade. Orange sparks scattered between them as they clashed, mixing with the light pouring down from the high ceiling and disappearing.

Jin's slashing attacks, unleashed in quick succession, were one, two, three. Diagonally, diagonally, horizontally. Ragna's sword blocked and parried each of them, repelling them with a seemingly waning strength.

How long had they been repeating this exchange? From the very first blow, Jin, wielding his sword, shouted gleefully as he pressed towards Ragna, evaded the counterattacks, retreated again, and then rushed in again.

"Hahaha! What's wrong, brother? Come at me more seriously. Otherwise... it won't be fun!"

Ragna used his sword as a shield to withstand Jin's continuous slashes, which intended to cut him to pieces. Matching the last strike, he parried the sword and repelled it strongly, then retreated to create distance. He couldn't keep taking those attacks endlessly.

"Jin... you'd better stop messing around!" Ragna roared, his body trembling with anger. Closing the distance with a growl and a light leap, Ragna swung his sword high and brought it down towards Jin with all his might.

Even the sound of it cutting through the air was violent. If he took it head-on, his arm would be numbed.

Jin evaded the heavy slash with minimal movement. But he was too close. The wind pressure shook his golden hair along with his head, causing a slight dizziness. Despite this, he kicked high towards Ragna's head.

Ragna's head was also shaken greatly by the tip of the colliding boot, and Ragna and Jin both staggered back a few steps, holding their heads.

"Tch... kuku... it hurts. I'm dizzy even though it didn't hit... You really are amazing, brother." While shaking his head to clear his blurred vision, Jin moved his shoulder as if shaking it off, letting out a twisted laugh. Ragna, also shaking his head to regain his senses, glared at him.

"Don't laugh, you bastard." The voice he spat out was hot, as if it was about to burn from inside his stomach. He thought that if it did burn, he would just burn him to death as he was. While tightly gripping his sword, he left it to his instincts.

The root of Ragna's loss was his younger brother in front of him, wearing blue and white clothes and laughing. The madness that befell this man had distorted everything.

But Ragna's anger didn't reach him at all, and Jin laughed as innocently as ever.

The root of Jin's establishment was his older brother in front of him, wearing red and black clothes and raging. Only this man's existence gave everything to Jin.

"Ah, it's fun, brother... let's play more... let's kill each other more! Here, no one can disturb us... no one is here! Brother is my only brother! Only mine...!" Jin's scream, tearing his throat, had a terrible sound of madness. "Haha... that's right, my only brother... That's why I'll kill you, kill you, kill you... I'm the only one who can kill you, brother!!"

The disturbingly chaotic voice, no matter how many times it was repeated, only sounded to Ragna's ears like the sad ramblings of his crazed younger brother. He only became more and more angry, thinking that this madness had destroyed everything.

"Quit acting like a childish brat! Stop spouting nonsense and just drop dead already!"

Jin jumped in, kicked with his knee, and then desperately swung his sword at Ragna. Glaring down at Jin from a slightly higher position, Ragna angrily swung his sword.

"Tch!" The shock that ran through his body made Jin's arm numb. At that moment, Jin's face twisted into an insane grimace... yet, for some reason, it also seemed to hold a hint of a joyful smile.

In an instant, the scenery of the past flashed through Ragna's mind. He thought he heard his brother's voice, calling him sweetly.

"This..."

Hateful. Hateful. Hatred ran through Ragna's body. He hadn't forgotten the pain and despair when he was stabbed by his brother's sword, lying next to the burning church.

It was foul play to make such a brotherly face.

"You idiot!!"

Instead of swinging the sword he'd pulled back with all his might, Ragna dropped it. In its place, Ragna slammed his fist into Jin's stomach. A large amount of air escaped from Jin's throat with a dull impact. The force probably reached his bones. Ragna felt something hard break along with the flesh in his fist. He then struck Jin's face with the same arm, sending him flying.

"Gah!" Jin let out a crushed scream, his body flying away. He was violently slammed against the mirror-like polished corridor of the NOL's branch, bouncing twice before collapsing onto the floor. The impact caused Yukianesa to leave Jin's hand and roll to Ragna's feet.

"Gu... hah... geh..." The fallen Jin coughed distortedly. He was trying to get up, supporting himself with his arms. Beyond his disheveled golden hair, his green eyes were wide open with manic glee, staring at Ragna.

"S-still... not... not going to kill... me... I... have to... kill... you, brother..." He said breathlessly, putting his hand on the wall and dragging himself up. Leaning his back against the wall, Jin somehow managed to stand, and he wore a smile on his face, which was cut and covered in blood.

"Brother... I've always wanted to see you... I've been searching all this time."

If these words weren't heard in this place... with this expression, with this tone of voice, Ragna might have felt different emotions. But even at this point, the deranged aura from Jin's face didn't disappear, and his voice trembled with a small, cackling laugh.

"All this time... I've wanted... to kill you. Again, again and again, I'll kill you, kill you... Only I can liberate you, brother..." Jin spoke somewhat ecstatically and somewhat in agony. Even though he hadn't received any slashes, there was no doubt that he couldn't even breathe properly. The breath he inhaled trying to laugh didn't circulate well, and Jin coughed violently, spitting blood from his mouth.

Even so, Jin took a step forward, trying to approach him. As if to stop him, Ragna quickly walked towards Jin.

"Liberate me from what?" Ragna's voice was sharp with irritation. He felt like they'd had this kind of exchange before. In the same place, in the same way. What was this feeling? What was this emotion that remained somewhere in his head?

It was irritating. Perhaps he didn't understand anything. Perhaps he was just venting his anger on what was in front of him without understanding anything.

Following his instincts, Ragna grabbed Jin's swaying collar. Roughly pulling him closer, he forcefully slammed his forehead against his brother's forehead.

"Don't get cocky, you damn brat!"

"Ugh..." The sound of bones colliding shook Jin's consciousness greatly and made him dizzy.

Jin's green eyes, which had been fixed on Ragna until then, even while contorting in pain, became dark and clouded. His body lost its strength as if collapsing, and he fell to the ground when Ragna released him.

Ragna stared down at Jin, who was like a puppet with its strings cut, for a while. He could kill him now. He could stop his breath. Just like Jin had done to him once in the church, he could just stab him once in the back. He could even cut off his head.

Even if his head and body were connected, this brother would not experience the same hatred and sense of loss that Ragna had experienced. He wouldn't yearn for those days and lament that he wanted to protect them. He might not even regain his sanity and feel the slightest regret.

But... for some reason he hesitated.

(...Hey, Sister.)

Ragna kicked the Yukianesa that was rolling around, sending it far away. The forceful gesture was clearly an act of anger.

(What should I do? What would you do...)

Remembering the Sister who always strictly told him to always get along with his brothers, he picked up his own sword this time.

(What would you do...)

Ragna looked at Jin once more.

If he killed Jin here, the Sister would be angry. That person had a strange fixation on what a brother should be.

"...How ridiculous." It was ridiculous to think about it. "If you want to play, come again."

If he wasn't in such a hurry, he might have been able to give him a proper fight. With that thought in mind, Ragna returned his sword to his waist and left Jin there, heading for the stairs further back. Deep into the underground of the branch, to head to the cauldron.

Jin heard the sound of Ragna's footsteps moving away, his consciousness already fading and disappearing.

(No... Brother, don't go.)

Something instinctive whispered to him that he had to stop him. He must not go. Otherwise, everything would be the same as before.

(Before? Before what... when...?)

His thoughts sank. He couldn't understand anything anymore.

In the darkness of his falling consciousness, Jin muttered.

(Your hands are cold... brother.)

Just like that, Jin lost all his strength on the cold floor.

Part 3

Noel ran through the corridors of the Kagutsuchi branch, her head filled with bewilderment and confusion.

Something was wrong. This was absolutely wrong.

The barrier magic had disappeared without a trace, and there wasn't a single soldier on watch, even though someone should have been on duty all night. On top of that, the door at the front entrance was roughly split in two, as if it had been slashed.

Someone had broken in. It was probably either Jin or Ragna the Bloodedge.

What in the world happened to the barrier and the missing soldiers? Could it be the work of the Azure Grimoire, which she'd heard Ragna the Bloodedge possessed?

Thinking about it like that, Ragna the Bloodedge seemed more and more like an uncontrollable monster, and it scared her.

But what was truly the scariest of all... was the silence ringing painfully in her ears.

The sound of her running shoes echoed surprisingly. An empty branch. Was this place always so vast and desolate?

She had the illusion that even the sound of her pounding heartbeat was leaking out.

Running through the corridor, which felt many times longer than it actually was, her vision suddenly opened up.

What jumped into her sight was the sanctuary, a brightly-lit, high-ceilinged cathedral with a deep, open space. The white goddess statue was illuminated by the light from a magic circle that shone brighter than sunlight, greeting Noel with a breathtakingly beautiful sight that made her gasp.

As expected, there wasn't a single soldier to be seen here either.

"Is... anyone there!?"

Even one person would do. She wanted to meet someone, anyone wearing the same uniform. Because how on earth could something like this happen? The more she felt the absence of people, the more her confusion grew.

She would have been much calmer if there had been even a trace of blood.

The branch was empty, as if no one had been there from the start. There was no sign of a struggle, nor any indication that someone had been forcibly taken away.

An indescribable unease felt as if it was scraping away at Noel from the inside.

As Noel staggered towards the goddess statue, as if drawn to it, she suddenly felt a raw smell stimulating her nostrils.

It was the smell of blood. To be more precise, it was a foul and violent smell, like blood mixed with sweat, saliva, and vomit.

Someone was there. Noel looked around desperately, and... there he was. Near the stairs leading further inside. At the border between the faint shadow cast by the thick pillar and the light-filled space where Noel stood, there was a man lying face down on the cold floor.

He was wearing a blue and white uniform. A soldier of the NOL.

Noel rushed over in a hurry.

"Are you okay!? Please get a hold of yourself!" When she got to his side, she finally realized who it was.

A slender body with smooth, golden hair. His lightly tilted face was fair-skinned, with familiar features.

"M-Major Kisaragi!?"

It was an unbelievable sight.

Jin Kisaragi, who had shown unparalleled success in the Ikaruga Civil War and risen to the rank of Major in just a few years after graduating from the military academy... the man who was even hailed as the "Hero of Ikaruga," was collapsed powerlessly on the floor like a discarded doll.

There was almost nothing frozen in the surrounding area. If Jin had rampaged, the area would have been cold and frozen. The absence of that meant that there was someone who had restrained and defeated Jin without allowing him to use his full power.

An average soldier wouldn't be a match for him even if they came in numbers. Even the above average soldiers wouldn't be a match. If that was the case...

"Could it be, Ragna the Bloodedge..." Noel muttered the name of the "Grim Reaper" as if whispering. He was here. And... strangely, she was drawn to him.

(Huh...?)

Noel was puzzled by what the name she had spoken aloud had evoked in her heart.

Ragna the Bloodedge. When she first heard the name "Grim Reaper," he sounded much more terrifying. An unreasonable destroyer who went around destroying Librarium branches one after another. She had thought that if she saw him, he would be a vicious and terrifying man who would make her legs tremble if she faced him.

But, when was it? She no longer felt the same fear towards this name as before. Even though she hadn't met him in person, and there hadn't been any events that changed her impression.

Yes, now she even thought that he might be a surprisingly normal person, a surprisingly kind person...

(That can't be right...)

He was the most wanted criminal in history, a villain that the entire Librarium was chasing.

Had she become accustomed to the situation that he might be nearby while she was in Kagutsuchi?

She had often been warned since her student days that she was short-sighted and simplistic, but she didn't think she was that bad. But... it was true that she felt something warm about the name Ragna.

(...No. If I think about unnecessary things... I won't understand.)

The act of thinking would only confuse her, and she wouldn't be able to think anything.

"Right, I have to contact them and get Major Kisaragi treated..."

"Oh my, you've been thoroughly beaten up, haven't you?"

"Eek!"

Suddenly, a shadow fell over her from behind, and she was called out to, making Noel jump and turn around. In that instant, she flipped over and landed on her butt right next to the fallen Jin. Looking up with a face pale from surprise, she saw the familiar black suit standing there.

"Come on, come on, there's no need to scream like that. It hurts my feelings!"

It was Hazama. He looked down at Noel, who had embarrassingly lost her composure, with an exasperated expression, and shook his head as usual, as if saying "Oh dear."

Even though she was looking up at him from quite a low position, it was strange that she couldn't see his eyes behind his hat.

"I-I'm sorry, I was just surprised..."

"Well, it can't be helped. The branch is in this state... it's like a haunted house."

Hazama twisted his mouth, which was shaped like the kanji "へ," into a wry smile, and looked around. The wide and bright sanctuary was devoid of any human presence, so much so that Jin's fallen figure stood out from the scenery.

While supporting the holster hanging at her waist, Noel stood up and asked timidly.

"Um, Hazama-san... where is everyone else from the branch?"

"Well. I don't know. I've been looking around the branch, but I couldn't find a single person. Well, I'm glad I was able to contact you safely."

Noel didn't know what kind of face to make at Hazama, who said such things lightly and nonchalantly, so she looked down and simply replied, "I see."

She shuddered at the thought that everywhere, even the executive offices and sleeping quarters that couldn't be seen from here, was deserted.

"For now, let's contact the crew of the Ars Magus ship and have Major Kisaragi transported. We can't do anything about investigating this branch by ourselves."

"Y-yes... but..." Noel looked up at Hazama, who was starting to manipulate his communicator, and then let her gaze wander around the area. Seeing that, Hazama turned his gaze towards Noel while putting the communicator to his ear.

"Is there anything you're concerned about, Lieutenant Vermilion?"

"...Um, I think it was Ragna the Bloodedge who did this to Major Kisaragi..."

If she kept silent, she would surely feel uncomfortable later, as if something was stuck in her chest. So Noel resolutely raised her face and appealed to Hazama.

Hazama tilted his head somewhat quizzically, as if what he'd been told was unexpected.

"Oh, probably. There's no one else."

"Then, we have to chase after him too. This situation may be the fault of the 'Grim Reaper,' and we might still be able to catch him now!" Noel's voice had an unusual strength in it. It wasn't that she was so passionate about arresting the "Grim Reaper," nor that she wanted to avenge Jin Kisaragi. It was just that she felt inexplicably impatient.

But Hazama looked unenthusiastic, and scratched his cheek with his slender index finger, then smiled vaguely.

"You know… I think I told you this before, but I'm not really a combat specialist. My mission is solely to secure Major Kisaragi, and the 'Grim Reaper' is a separate matter, so to speak..."

"That's fine. I'll pursue Rag... the 'Grim Reaper' by myself. Captain Hazama, please take care of Major Kisaragi."

"By yourself? That's a bit too reckless, isn't it?"

"I'll be fine... probably." She wasn't confident, but she felt terribly guilty about turning a blind eye and leaving Ragna the Bloodedge alone here.

And more than anything else, if she chased after him here... she might be able to meet Ragna the Bloodedge. She wasn't clearly aware of that feeling, but there was certainly that thought in Noel's heart.

Hazama put his hand on his hat and shrugged.

"Well, I suppose I have no choice. I'll take care of Major Kisaragi. And as for Ragna the Bloodedge, he's probably heading underground."

"Underground? You mean the underground research facility?" She had heard that there were various research facilities deep underground in the NOL's branches. Soldiers rarely set foot there, but Noel had witnessed people who looked like researchers boarding the elevator to the underground.

"Yes. The destruction of that underground lab is Ragna the Bloodedge's real purpose. To get to the underground, you can go up these stairs and use the very back of the hall at the end." Hazama said, pointing his sharp chin to the back of the stairs with magnificent decorations.

The elevator to the underground. Noel had never used it before.

"Thank you very much. Then, excuse me!"

Was it really okay to go by herself? Noel swallowed the anxiety that was gradually swelling in her heart, then gave a stiff salute and turned on her heel. She ran up the stairs leading to the back with light steps.

She aimed for the elevator in the back. She had to move quickly, quickly. For some reason, such impatience hastened Noel's steps.

She didn't notice that Hazama was shaking his shoulders and laughing behind her back as she left.

Back to Chapter 3: False hero — The Man Called Hero

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