Horizon:Volume 9B Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Greeter Before the Stage

Um

Excuse me

I really am

Sorry

Point Allocation (Whose Fault Is This?)

●

Horizon asked a question of Hashiba who had stopped moving altogether.

“Are you alright, Hashiba-sama? But we do have further questions. Yes, there is more.”

“Wh-what now?”

“Why do you look so much like me? If my awful father is to blame, raise your right hand. If he is not, raise your left hand.”

Hashiba hung her head and raised her right hand.

…Ah, I understand.

Horizey: “Creating a Loli Horizey means my awful father was an even greater pervert than I had thought. As if creating the ‘pleasure parts’ for Toori-sama wasn’t bad enough already.”

Me: “Hey! Hey! There’s nothing perverted about doing that stuff! It’s a holy process!”

Since everyone averted their eyes, Horizon concluded she had won.

Worshiper: “But what was he thinking? If you’re going in that direction, you need to make her younger than that.”

Vice President: “The age might actually be important. Hashiba has a set of Logismoi Oplo, right? Those require emotions, so a child might be too immature to control them.”

Silver Wolf: “That still leaves another question.”

Mitotsudaira looked to Hashiba who had straightened her posture.

Silver Wolf: “Whose emotions are her Logismoi Oplo made from?”

●

That is a good question, thought Masazumi. Horizon’s emotions had become Horizon’s Logismoi Oplo.

…But then what about hers?

Just as Masazumi concluded she didn’t know, Futayo suddenly shook the shoulder supporting Masazumi.

That signaled a movement by Hashiba. And…

“Um, excuse me.” Hashiba threw the words their way. “Could you leave this place for today?”

●

Hashiba spoke in the hopes these people would listen.

“I-if you leave, we are willing to immediately give up the name of Oda Nobunaga. And possibly mine as well.”

“Hold on, wait,” said the Musashi Vice President from their Vice Chancellor’s shoulder. “What’s all this about? We’re only here to check on the history recreation.”

“Testament. I am aware. Which is why I am asking this of you.”

“In that case,” said the Musashi Vice President. “What happens if we refuse?”

“Testament.” Hashiba nodded, raised her right hand and pointed at someone. “Your Chancellor and Horizon Ariadust…will both die.”

●

Huh? thought Mitotsudaira turning to look back.

Her king and Horizon frowned and followed the line of Hashiba’s pointing finger. It was currently directed at Horizon, but her king followed the imaginary line with his finger until he touched Horizon’s chest.

“Oops. Not my fault, not my fault! Looks like Hashiba was pointing at this boob right-”

Without a word, Horizon sent a kick into his crotch, launching him straight up. He landed on his knees and collapsed limply to the side while Horizon sidestepped Hashiba’s pointing line and looked behind her.

The 1st Special Duty Officer stood there. Horizon tapped him on the shoulder.

“Tag! You’re it, Tenzou-sama! No tag backs!”

“Wh-what just happened!?”

Mitotsudaira made sure to step away from him and she saw the Technohexen do it too. But she had a feeling Noriki was the first one to move away. Meanwhile, Asama opened a sign frame.

“Let’s see. Tenzou-kun, that may have counted as passing her bad luck onto you. I’ll apply an emergency exorcism for now, but you should really visit the Asama Shrine with Mary later.”

“Wh-why is this such a big deal?”

“Because this is such an important location.”

Asama had a point there. Mitotsudaira’s nonhuman side was reacting strongly to all the ether rising overhead. The Technohexen’s wings were bristled, making them look twice their usual size, and Mitotsudaira could tell her senses were sharper than usual.

Then her king spoke to Hashiba.

“Don’t worry. I won’t die.”

“Why not?”

“Cause if I started to die, none of the others would let it happen.”

Mitotsudaira nodded. Asama nodded too and Kimi reacted with a slight smile. The others likely must have reacted similarly. Even Horizon.

So Hashiba released a breath.

A laugh.

“I do hope you are right. But…I cannot accompany you that far.”

She swung her arms out and down.

As if in response, the air split behind her and nine shapes were ejected there.

…Spears!?

They first looked like a closed fan, but this was something different.

It was a group of wings.

One long, arrow-shaped wing made of white metal stood straight up in the center and eight more fanned out to the sides with all of them pointing a bit upwards.

“Each of them is shaped like a coffin.”

“My awful father must have finally begun his obsession with cool, powerful-looking designs.”

“Except these must have been created a long time ago. And…”

“Yes.” Horizon nodded. “They must be storage boxes for the Logismoi Oplo. Some father he is not giving me anything and then giving Lolizon all this.”

It sounded like her glaring complaints were going to continue for a while, so Mitotsudaira and Asama worked to calm her down. Meanwhile, Masazumi asked Hashiba a question.

“Do you intend to fight us?”

“I intend to stop you.”

“Why?”

“I already explained that.”

“Judge.” Masazumi accepted Hashiba’s explanation. But she wasn’t done speaking. “I appreciate your concern for this idiot and Horizon. But whether or not they die is our concern, not yours. Don’t you understand that?”

“That is incorrect,” insisted Hashiba without a moment’s hesitation.

How is it incorrect? wondered Mitotsudaira.

“Can you explain why it is incorrect?”

“By the time you understood, the Honnouji Incident would have begun.”

“Eh?”

That question came from several people in their group, not just Mitotsudaira.

And Hashiba shook her head. While spreading her arms toward the sky.

“Please leave. If you do, then this can end with you unharmed and unenlightened.”

“One question.” Horizon suddenly raised her head. “Will any lives be lost here?”

●

Hashiba considered that question.

She could just lie. But if she did, it would make him sad. As incomplete as she was, she knew that much.

…Yes.

This was a problematic question. If he learned the answer and then left, he would feel sorrow. So she knew what she had to say.

“I cannot answer that question.”

“Judge. I see.” Horizon Ariadust punched her palm hard. And she cracked her shoulders. “Bring it on, Hashiba-sama.”

“Why…” Hashiba knew her protests were meaningless even as she made them. “Why would you say that!? Do you have any idea the pain that awaits you if you continue down this path!?”

“Then do you know the happiness that awaits me if I continue down this path?”

“–––––”

“I know this is all talk. I am aware I am setting myself up for a ‘told you so’. But…”

But…

“I recently learned that all situations and environments include happiness that you yourself fail to notice until looking back on it in the future. Have you experienced this, Hashiba-sama?”

“I…”

Had she? She kind of understood what Horizon meant, but she also felt like it wasn’t quite what she was thinking of. So…

“…We must fight.”

“Judge. It seems so. We have differing beliefs in what will bring happiness in the future. Which puts us on different paths from which we refuse to budge. I have determined this is a conflict worth settling. So…” Horizon Ariadust clenched her right fist. “Yes, I will settle this with violence!”

Some of the others tapped Horizon on the shoulder, moved in front of her, and said things like “c’mon” or “there’s a thing called subtlety” or “you can leave some things unsaid”. A few seconds after that, the Vice President tapped her shoulder and she decided to give it another try.

“Let us have a conversation of a physical nature.”

Several thoughts raced through Hashiba’s mind in that moment, but she decided to voice none of them after seeing the pleading looks in the rest of the Musashi group’s eyes. Instead, she said “testament” and took a breath.

“Very well!”

She began by activating her weapons.

●

“So it’s begun,” said Ishikawa looking back toward the white wall of the stealth barrier in the southeastern sky.

She was at a restaurant in the cargo wharf on the border of Lake Biwa Azuchi.

At lunchtime customers ate at the counter there and it served bentos and rations, but at night they dragged out chairs and tables to make it into a simple cafe.

…Not many people know about this place, but it’s really good.

Ishikawa was drinking sake while munching on a fish paste made with the fish caught in Lake Biwa.

Around her, the preparations for Honnouji were shifting into preparing supplies for the Azuchi.

Of course, the Azuchi would only be flying by overhead with their gravitational cruising. The supplies couldn’t be loaded onto transport ships, so the Azuchi would be releasing some towing belts behind it to secure as many of the supplies as possible.

The speed difference would affect the Azuchi too, so…

“Hurry up and load the cargo onto high-speed ships that will then accelerate along the Azuchi’s course! The Azuchi’ll catch up in no time, so we need to send the ships out as soon as they’re rea- oh, having a drink, Ishikawa-sensei!?”

“Yes, I am, Kuki-kun. Is this fish paste a relative of yours?”

“I don’t know any unauthorized black bass. So they certainly aren’t related to me.”

“Is that so?” said Ishikawa, staring down at the half-eaten fish paste on her plate. “Maybe I should get it cooked.”

“Sensei, have you been drinking a lot today?”

“You ask the same thing every time I come here.”

She smiled and the chef beyond the counter nodded at her.

“Because if I don’t, you’d end up overdrinking like you did the first time. I know what you’re like.”

“Damn, so you’ve figured out I’ll do what people ask of me as long as I don’t have a reason not to.”

She licked the sake cup to get the fish paste’s damp saltiness out of her mouth.

…That’s why I ended up leaving the Musashi.

It’s shameful I made them worry so much, but if I let them insist it wasn’t a big deal, I had a feeling I would never get back on my feet again. I know they were just telling me not to worry and to get some rest, but that isn’t how it works for me.

Others are like amateurs to me. I can take comfort in their words, but I must not obey them. That’s why I came here because I thought I should. I learned a lot as a result, but…

“Now, will I have a chance to settle things with Oriotri or not? And will our students give us a proxy battle?”

“Sensei, you’re always so dangerous and intense. That can’t be fun for them.”

“And for you?”

“At my age, I’m usually lost in thought at this time of day. But since you’ve started showing up, I keep getting strange orders and demands to remake things, which has kept my mind off the heavier stuff. I’ll get in some new ingredient and just know you’ll grab it and demand I cook it. And then it turns out I’m right.”

“Ha ha. I find coming here helps me think.”

“What are you thinking about today?”

“Well.” She licked the sake glass, burning her tongue, and looked to the southeastern sky. “All I can think about is what must be happening out there.”

●

Hashiba first drew a sword from the left wing. It seemed to be made of bone.

“Phos Kenodoxia!”

As long as the user kept their vainglory, their defense would be boosted to the max.

It was generally meant for use by an individual, but because it was applied to anything protecting them, it would provide the greatest defenses to their defenders and those defenders’ power. Here, it would apply to the defense barriers protecting the stage from the rear and the wide-range barrier protecting Honnouji as a whole. It allowed her to possess large-scale defensive power.

…So I need to start by raising my guard!

She looked forward to see her opponent’s decision.

Horizon Ariadust was groping the chest of the Mito Lord. Then she tapped the girl’s shoulder.

“This will work! Phos Hyperephania!”

What?

●

Horizon was glad she had put in so much mental training.

…I practiced extracting pride from Mitotsudaira-sama!

At showtime, you only had to do it like in practice. And in practice…well, that just had to be practice. But the pride received via Mitotsudaira was definitely at work. When Horizon drew the bone-like hammer from behind her…

“As long as their pride lasts, the user’s attack power will be unbeatable!”

So she ejected the next Logismoi Oplo.

“Muneshige Cannon!”

She fired it as soon as it appeared. That was the usual way with that one. The power was set to 80% by default, but she cranked it up to the max.

Immediately, the virtual cannon formed and the tearing attack launched from the end.

Hashiba immediately responded by ejecting another weapon.

“Akedia Katathlipse!”

●

The tearing and binding powers collided.

As both attacks continued for ten or so seconds, Asama heard Toori’s voice.

“Asama! Is there anything I can do!?”

She considered that.

…Is there anything? He can’t use his ether supply spell this far from the Musashi.

“Well, I think she might like it if you sat down and behaved yourself for once.”

“What!? You expect me to be that passive!? I want to do something! Do! What if I cheered her on!?”

“My king? That would only rub Horizon the wrong way.”

“Nate! Please give me some useful advice!”

“I have some,” said Horizon, still firing. “Toori-sama, if you sit here and place your hands out in front of you, you will be in the perfect position to provide a relaxing seat with your shoulders. Yes, just like that. That will provide the perfect amount of support…for Persona-kun-sama.”

“Heyyyyyyyyyy! Pe-yan, you’re super heavy! And solid too!”

With him pinned down, Asama focused on Horizon.

“Horizon! You need to hurry up and hit her with that!”

“Have you forgotten, Asama-sama? This is the Muneshige Cannon! Which means…”

Just as Horizon said that, the ether light exploded between her and Hashiba.

Their powers had pushed really close to Hashiba, but they had run out of fuel. The attack forced out by the last dregs was quite powerful, but it happened for them both, canceling each other out. In conclusion…

“It missed!”

●

Hashiba stored Akedia Katathlipse while watching the Musashi group get all worked up over something.

She heard comments of “I knew it!” and “not again!”, but…

…That must be nice.

Would she have been surrounded by that kind of excitement if the Ten Spears were here?

But it was time to turn this around. While they were carrying on, she swiftly grabbed…

“Maska Orge!”

●

Horizon sensed danger from Hashiba’s attack.

Maska Orge’s attack range could be altered to an extent. It could be launched in a straight line, or it could be spread out in a fan shape. It appeared to automatically decide what to do based on the arrangement of the enemies within range, but Horizon had another question.

Unlike Hashiba, Horizon’s defenses had not been boosted.

She figured only Aspida Phylargia was guaranteed to deflect Maska Orge.

But Aspida Phylargia was a shield and thus defensive in nature. Since her defenses were not being boosted, Aspida Phylargia could only protect her and those directly behind her.

She could see who wouldn’t be covered.

“Let’s see, Ohiroshiki-sama, the warriors, and, oh, I guess Toori-sama too.”

“Whaaaat!? Why do you sound like you don’t care!?”

A solution called out to her.

“Horizon!”

That was Mitotsudaira. Horizon understood what she was getting it.

“You want us to all follow your lead and use the Flat Chest Evasion!?”

“Give Aspida Phylargia to me!”

●

The timing would be down to the wire. But…

…I will make it work!

“Mitotsudaira-sama! I fail to understand, but I trust you!”

Trust is important, thought Mitotsudaira as she caught Aspida Phylargia with her silver chains.

Immediately afterwards, she needed to block Maska Orge with Aspida Phylargia.

Currently, Horizon was using the offense-focused Phos Hyperephania. So…

“Shield bash!”

She used a burst of speed to send the shield along the same line as the Maska Orge blast.

●

Hashiba realized Maska Orge’s power had been deflected mid-flight.

The other side’s attacks were being boosted. Horizon Ariadust had made a prideful action against the Mito Lord, so it made sense her attack here would be boosted.

Meanwhile, Hashiba’s Maska Orge attack had no such protection. Because it was her defenses which were boosted. But…

“Eh?”

Aspida Phylargia did not slow down after deflecting Maska Orge.

“Kyahhhhh!”

Hashiba frantically dodged to the side just before Aspida Phylargia plowed through the spot she had been standing in and slammed into the nearby defense protections.

●

After hearing a loud impact, Mitotsudaira saw defensive ether light spray several meters high.

That had been a splendid attack. But…

…Oh, I forgot.

It was only yesterday when she had first given her silver chains a burst of speed like that, so she still wasn’t used to it. She was still accustomed to the old speed, so she had been slow to pull back.

She quickly pulled it back and returned Aspida Phylargia to Horizon, but Horizon held onto the shield and sent Mitotsudaira an expectant look.

“Well done, Mitotsudaira-sama! I grant you 5 points! Now, let’s do it again!”

“No, um, I’m not sure about that.”

“Nate! Keep that up and we’ve got this in the bag! We can win this! Hell yeah!”

“Oh, my king, you flatter me.”

Almost Everyone: “So you like it when he says it!?”

…He is my king, after all.

But Hashiba silently fired Pheugos Gastrimargia at the Aspida Phylargia Horizon was holding up, so they couldn’t use it for a bit.

“Eh?” Everyone stared in shock at the casual turn of events and her king turned around in sudden realization.

“Hey, Monkey Girl! That wasn’t fair! You have to shout the attack name or weapon name when you use it!”

“Th-that was perfectly fair! It’s your fault for not taking this seriously!”

“I’m deadly serious! Are you saying you can see my thoughts!?”

“I-it’s so obvious I don’t have to! All you ever think about is goofing off and girls!”

Uqui: “She’s got you there.”

Horizey: “Ouch, Toori-sama. A harsh judgment from one of our own. Now, what call will Referee Kimi-sama make…oh, a blue flag. We are clear to continue!”

Why am I not surprised? thought Mitotsudaira as Hashiba silently began activating Stithos Porneia.

“Horizon! Use the one that can stop Hashiba’s one!”

●

Hashiba didn’t like Stithos Porneia very much.

The name was awkward and it was really long. She couldn’t help that she was short, but the Logismoi Oplo hadn’t been adjusted for her size and she had a hard time swinging this one around.

But if she managed to activate it, it would more or less end this.

She had already prevented them from using Aspida Phylargia, which acted as the foundation of their defense. If she could also use Stithos Porneia to defang their weapons, it wouldn’t be enough to dismantle their Logismoi Oplo, but those weapons would need to be reinitialized and readjusted to escape her control.

That would remove their offensive boost and leave them with only Pheugos Gastrimargia and Phos Kenodoxia to work with. Hashiba would still have Phos Hyperephania, so if she managed to stop Pheugos Gastrimargia with Aspida Phylargia, she could carry vainglory and pride at the same time.

Then her offense and defense would both be boosted.

From there, she wouldn’t even need the Logismoi Oplo. She could end this just by calling in the automata who had been temporarily evacuated. And before that happened, she could probably convince them to leave on their own just like she had wanted in the first place.

That was why Stithos Porneia was so important.

…Okay!

Just as she swung the weapon, Horizon Ariadust drew her own Stithos Porneia from behind her.

“Too slow!”

Horizon Ariadust couldn’t activate hers before the field produced by Hashiba’s engulfed it.

“Nothing you can do will be fast enough!”

The Mito Lord immediately threw their Stithos Porneia at Hashiba with all her might.

●

“Kyahhhhhh!”

Hashiba frantically held up Aspida Phylargia, but she must have still sensed danger from the spinning hammer. Asama watched as Hashiba rolled to the right for some emergency evasive action.

Then Horizon’s Stithos Porneia crashed into Hashiba’s Aspida Phylargia. A metallic clang sent Hashiba’s Aspida Phylargia skidding along the floor. And the Stithos Porneia she had thrown away produced a spray of ruptured ether light to show its activation had failed now that it was no longer being held.

The light shattered and Hashiba scurried over to collect Aspida Phylargia.

Asama glared over at Mitotsudaira who was busy pulling back Stithos Porneia with her silver chains, but the wolf raised her right arm toward Horizon in a pose of triumph.

“So close!”

“You nearly had her, Mitotsudaira-sama! Have another 7 points! Hashiba-sama really panicked there. And all we did was throw a Logismoi Oplo at her! The coward!”

Worshiper: “Who are the villains here again?”

Gold Mar: “I know the winners get to make that call, but this still seems silly.”

Was that really a good idea? wondered Asama, but the tides had turned in their favor.

“Now that she can’t defang all our weapons, we can all attack her at once!”

“Indeed, Asama-sama. And since your attacks are the gold standard for unstoppable, all our attacks will be boosted to your warship-sinking levels! So feel free to launch as many arrows as you like!”

…Um, I think you misunderstand.

But Horizon was already raising the Stithos Porneia she had received from Mitotsudaira.

The previous attack had been purely physical. It hadn’t been activated. So…

“Time to disarm her!”

Just as she swung the weapon down, Hashiba launched an attack.

…Huh?

This came as such a surprise that Asama wasn’t able to react right away.

Hashiba fired her Pheugos Gastrimargia at Horizon’s Stithos Porneia even though she had supposedly fired it earlier.

●

Mitotsudaira saw the weapon’s second attack.

The greater a Logismoi Oplo’s power level, the longer it took to recharge. And neither side was in position to hold back during that previous exchange, so Hashiba would have fired it at max power. And yet she had just fired it a second time.

“––––!”

The field of effect had already spread out from Horizon’s Stithos Porneia, but Pheugos Gastrimargia shattered that field, stopping its spread.

…What was that?

Mitotsudaira looked to Hashiba and then realized what had happened.

“You used Aspida Phylargia, didn’t you!?”

That shield provided more than just an excellent defense. The ether fuel stored within it could be supplied to other Logismoi Oplo.

When Mitotsudaira had made her physical hammer attack earlier, Hashiba had fled with Aspida Phylargia at the ready, but…

…What if that was an act to keep us from targeting her Aspida Phylargia with our Pheugos Gastrimargia?

Then she had pretended to go back to collect it while actually supplying fuel to the already-used Logismoi Oplo. Which had set the stage for this counterattack.

Meanwhile, Horizon’s Aspida Phylargia had already been hit by Pheugos Gastrimargia, so it couldn’t be used right away.

Of course, they had a way to stop Hashiba’s Aspida Phylargia.

Horizon still hadn’t fired her Pheugos Gastrimargia. That could be used to stop Hashiba’s Aspida Phylargia. But…

Vice President: “There is one surefire way of stopping the Honnouji Incident.”

That was…

Vice President: “That stage is likely a key part of tonight’s process, so we can fire Pheugos Gastrimargia there to overload and destroy it. Then they can’t continue.”

●

Horizey: “I should have known Masazumi-sama would have the exact same idea as me!”

Me: “Then why’d you just jot down Seijun’s idea in your notes real quick?”

Scarred: “But what other options do we have left?”

10ZO: “Phos Kenodoxia, which boosts defense, and Akedia Katathlipse. And she has Phos Hyperephania, which boosts attack, and Lype Katathlipse.”

Art-Ga: “I’d honestly prefer if we saved Phos Kenodoxia for when we’re leaving. Having some way of defending ourselves when Honnouji goes boom could make all the difference.”

Gold Mar: “As hard as it is to believe, I get the feeling her Muneshige Cannon might actually hit us. What do you think Gin-chan?”

Tachibana Wife: “Master Muneshige! Master Muneshige! You don’t need to create a site on the Hashiba page!”

●

Hashiba was concerned about the enemy’s Pheugos Gastrimargia.

That destroyed its target by overloading it. That meant it could stop a Musashi-class enemy, but it was a very dangerous thing given what they were trying to accomplish here tonight.

Nari Nari Nari: “I have decoupled the stage system from the defense system just in case they do fire it. The defense system will still overload, but the main stage system will remain intact. …I hope anyway.”

Mitsunari didn’t sound confident, but that was probably due to how loosely-defined the Logismoi Oplo abilities were. Even with the weapon OS controlling them, they were based on emotions and it wasn’t always clear how far their effects would go.

It was hard to judge, but that would probably still be better than letting Lype Katathlipse hit the stage.

Hashiba had been right to start with Akedia Katathlipse. It delivered a wide-range binding power, but Lype Katathlipse had the greater direct attack power.

Still, she couldn’t let her guard down. Even Akedia Katathlipse had a basic cannon blast that carried the binding power.

…And their attack power is being boosted.

It was so hard to deal with them when even a weak power was boosted to the max.

So she made her next move. She only had one weapon capable of firing.

“Lype Katathlipse!”

●

Tenzou thought, This is the opposite of before.

Before, Horizon had been using Lype Katathlipse. But now Horizon was using Akedia Katathlipse.

Horizon drew the giant single-blade sword from behind her. It had already activated.

“Go!”

The binding blast crashed into the tearing power of Hashiba’s Lype Katathlipse.

●

They fired on each other, thought Asama.

“Horizon! Let me help!” he said, supporting Horizon from the left.

This would probably be their last exchange of cannon fire.

After this, they had to find some way of using Pheugos Gastrimargia on that stage.

…If our boosted attack power is still intact, we can all fight.

Of course, Hashiba’s defenses would still be boosted too. The system activating the defense barriers around the stage had to be city-class. When considering how to break through something like that, the word “war” came to mind. So this had to be the last exchange. And Asama knew what to say.

“Don’t let her win!”

Even though their attacks were boosted, Akedia Katathlipse’s attack was weaker than Lype Katathlipse. In the previous exchange, Horizon’s attack had pushed in toward Hashiba. So the reverse would happen here. Except…

…You can do it!

These weapons were based on emotion and Asama trusted that Horizon was the superior there. So she prayed. She prayed since that was her job as a shrine maiden. But…

“Eh?”

A moment later, a different result presented itself. The wide-range barrier defense system surrounding this central hall suddenly activated. A net of ether light spread out all at once.

●

…What is this!?

The wide-range barrier that activated across the ceiling was meant to support the ether pillar rising far overhead. The barrier did not descend into the hall, so activating it to this degree would require sending power all the way up there.

But what had caused this?

“Did the Musashi fire on it from outside!?”

“No, that isn’t it!”

Mitotsudaira pointed out ahead.

Toward Hashiba. Where Horizon was currently firing Akedia Katathlipse.

A black bundle of power was racing straight up from there.

That was Lype Katathlipse’s tearing. For some reason, instead of aiming it at Horizon, it was aimed…

“Up!?”

Novice: “Oh, no! Listen! What she’s doing is-”

“Mitoooo!”

Horizon was busy firing and Toori was supporting her. Mitotsudaira must have understood that because she readied Excalibur and shouted.

“Hashiba used Lype Katathlipse as bait to get us to fire Akedia Katathlipse! That way she can stop it with Aspida Phylargia and store its power as fuel!”

●

Tenzou saw it.

…Is that…?

As Akedia Katathlipse’s attack began to fade, he saw Hashiba directing Aspida Phylargia their way, just like Mitotsudaira had predicted.

And with her other arm, she was aiming Lype Katathlipse toward the ceiling.

She hadn’t tried to negate Akedia Katathlipse’s attack.

Instead, Lype Katathlipse’s attack faded away along with Horizon’s.

But something else produced light in its place: Aspida Phylargia.

The big shield had stopped Akedia Katathlipse’s attack and stored the ether fuel inside itself. But…

“Look at her…”

Aspida Phylargia was not large enough to cover an entire person. So the parts sticking out took damage and were bound.

The binding pressure had damaged Hashiba.

The worst damage was to the right arm that had held up Lype Katathlipse. Her M.H.R.R. uniform’s sleeve and the automaton arm below it were crushed as if in a massive fist.

Her right leg was damaged in the same way. She had been holding Aspida Phylargia low, so that leg must have been sticking diagonally back to keep her balance when the attack hit the shield.

Her skirt and tights were torn and everything below her ankle was crushed.

But the rest of her had survived. She stared straight at them from behind the shield.

And she took action. Just as Horizon’s Akedia Katathlipse faded away, Hashiba ejected something into her hand again.

…Stithos Porneia!

She was going to disarm them. Which meant…

“Please leave!”

Hashiba begged them as she tossed aside Aspida Phylargia and raised Stithos Porneia in her left hand.

She intended to end this.

●

Horizon pulled Pheugos Gastrimargia toward her with her right hand.

But it was too late. The sign frame that would tell her it was ready to fire instead told her it was still preparing.

Asama: “That’s because of Akedia Katathlipse! Hashiba was prepared for this, but Horizon still can’t switch so quickly after firing one! Someone support her!”

Two people stepped forward in response: Mitotsudaira and Futayo. The wolf’s very first step sent her leaping forward with a burst of speed and the blue warrior raced after her. The two of them went straight toward Hashiba.

“…!”

Mitotsudaira made a close-range attack with Excalibur and Futayo made a cutting attack with Tonbo Spare.

As soon as the two attacks rushed in from the sides, light burst from their hands.

Thanks to a pair of defense barriers. A maid-like figure composed of light had appeared in front of Hashiba.

10ZO: “Is that Ishida Mitsunari!?”

…Who?

Probably some VIP on the other side. She was glowing. And she had activated multiple defense barriers to deflect Futayo and Mitotsudaira’s attacks.

●

Hashiba realized the situation had just simplified. All she had to do was use Stithos Porneia. If she struck the floor with it, Musashi would be disarmed. Then she could have them leave.

It had all come down to that. So…

“Thank you, Mi-chan.”

“Please call me that from now on.”

Mitsunari looked back as she said that, so Hashiba nodded her acknowledgment. Then Hashiba raised Stithos Porneia in her left arm and used her full body to swing it.

Musashi couldn’t do anything in time. They shouldn’t have any options left.

Just as she felt certain this would work, Mitsunari’s eyes widened while looking back this way.

Widened in surprise. It was Hashiba who had taught her that expression. But…

…What did she see?

Hashiba was mid-swing. Since she had swung with her full body, she was bending over, which swept her view around back behind her.

The object causing Mitsunari’s surprise was behind Hashiba and a bit to the right.

It was a black left arm.

●

“Eh!?”

Hashiba expressed her surprise while recalling what she had seen earlier.

…What was Horizon Ariadust doing?

Yes. The Musashi Chancellor had been propping her up.

Hashiba had assumed that was so she could make her final attack, but apparently not.

…Was it to hide that her left arm had detached!?

Mitsunari couldn’t get her defense barrier up quickly enough. Hashiba was in between Mitsunari and the arm and Mitsunari had missed the timing needed to eject the barrier.

Plus, Hashiba was in no state to deal with an opponent behind her. So…

“Kh…”

She saw the left arm holding a stone. That was a physical weapon it had found somewhere. And Horizon Ariadust shouted the name of the attack using that stone.

“Horizon Memorial Attack!”

The boosted attack power struck Hashiba from diagonally behind her.

●

“Hashiba-sama!”

Mitsunari vanished into a divine transmission right as Hashiba flew over the front of the stage and crashed into the eastern audio equipment.

Hashiba’s automaton body knocked over several speakers and supports, producing snapping and tearing sounds.

“–––––”

Her left hand rose just once and then froze.

She came to a stop past the destroyed equipment and buried in a large speaker.

She was no longer moving. She must have been in a paused state because her hand was still raised toward the pillar of light and the moons.

The Musashi side had won.

●

…We did it.

Naito accepted this fact half in appreciation and half in shock.

The left arm had returned and the warriors were tossing it into the air to celebrate. This ended after three tosses, but according to its owner…

“Please return to me. We need to fire Pheugos Gastrimargia and end this.”

That reminded everyone that this wasn’t over yet. But Naito was curious about one thing.

“What happens when this thing overloads and destroys itself?”

“I’d rather not say it…but it could cause a bigger boom than Mikawa. It could result in a crater twice the size of Lake Biwa.”

“Yeah…” they all said, their enthusiasm gradually fading. The celebrating warriors were now silent, but they did exchange a glance and some words.

“So what do we do?”

“We should probably secure an escape route first just to be safe.”

“Shouldn’t we inspect the stage to make sure we know where to shoot it?”

Horizon turned them and their worried comments.

“You are quite right. Firing right away would be a bad idea given the circumstances.”

She nodded to them all. And…

“So let’s see what happens if I do it anyway.”

Horizon fired Pheugos Gastrimargia toward the stage.

●

She really never changes, does she? thought Naito as she watched the course of the flying arrow and prepared herself for what was to come.

Pheugos Gastrimargia was an arbalest. She had seen M.H.R.R. Emperor Matthias fire it at Magdeburg and Nördlingen, but range aside, its speed wasn’t all that great.

…Hopefully nothing intercepts it.

The flight would only last a few seconds, but she still activated a motion sensor and an auto-fire spell.

It immediately detected motion.

“That’s so fast.”

It happened so suddenly Naito spoke out loud as she looked to the detected motion.

It came from Hashiba.

…She’s recovered already!?

Naito viewed Hashiba through the Magie Figur that had locked onto her. But…

“Huh?”

Hashiba wasn’t moving. She was still collapsed on a giant speaker like it was a bed. Her hand was still raised toward the center of the night sky.

She wasn’t the source of the motion.

Some sign frames were.

●

Naito had a bad feeling about this. So she stepped forward to let Asama, Mitotsudaira (who had returned to the group), Masazumi, and the rest see her Magie Figur.

She had zoomed in on the area around Hashiba to capture the details. Enough sign frames had appeared to hide Hashiba from view.

“Hey.”

The warriors behind them had noticed too. More and more sign frames appeared around them all and on the stage.

“–––––”

An alarm began sounding. But it was played by trumpets and sounded more like a fanfare.

What was this? The answer was displayed on the extra-large sign frames coming from Hashiba.

<Entering OS preservation mode: Hashiba Toukichirou → Oda Nobunaga: transferring to P-01m: confirmed.>

<Project Number 13-03: Genesis Project: starting: confirmed.>

<Oda Nobunaga: OS transfer complete: preservation mode canceled: releasing: confirmed.>

Some familiar terms were lined up alongside confusing ones, but it was all in motion.

Something was beginning. So…

…This is not good!

Naito looked up just in time to see Horizon’s arrow strike the stage.

●

To Asama’s eyes, it appeared to be erased.

…No, that isn’t it.

The fighters with good eyes would have been able to tell. Countless sign frames had popped up and surrounded the arrow while even more reports, both large and small, appeared in the air at the center of the hall.

The Logismoi Oplo attack burst and shattered at the center of the stage.

And the alarm was drowned out by an even louder sound. It sounded like a blast on a large horn. The deep rumble shook the air from the center of the stage.

Asama could see the center of the white stage opening. A rectangular hole formed there.

The area below was not dark. It contained a white chill and bluish-white ether light.

She could tell something was rising from below.

The alarm and the horn grew louder and the ringing of a bell joined them from above. Red warning spotlights shined from the upper edges of the hall’s inner walls, the bell ringing as each one activated.

The atrium hall built above the stage was now a gathering of several different sounds.

But a command had been sent.

Something was coming. Sensing that, the warriors’ gunners fired preemptive shots. They aimed for the stage, more to get an accurate range than anything.

“Fire!”

As soon as the lieutenant shouted and the gunshots rang out, two things happened.

First, new sign frames appeared.

<Automatically retrieval of M-type Logismoi Oplo: authorization confirmed: executing: confirmed>

They appeared where Hashiba’s Logismoi Oplo were, showing off their scattered locations. At the same time, ether light scattered from the edge of the Logismoi Oplo and they vanished.

…Were they stored in another space?

Why? wondered Asama, but there had to be several reasons. Regardless, this meant everything that had happened here had been erased.

The gunners’ bullets were stopped just before reaching the stage.

By defense barriers. One appeared for each bullet, loudly deflecting the metal. Asama could tell how powerful they were by the fact that they remained intact. But…

“Hey, look.”

Naruze pointed out ahead for everyone gathered around Naito’s Magie Figur.

But she didn’t really need to point. For a while now, a giant sign frame had been hovering past the defense barriers that had deflected all the bullets.

“What is that huge logo?”

It had a rainbow gradient moving from top to bottom. And the surrounding writing was given a golden metallic shine.

“What a lame design…”

●

“M-maybe it is! But this kind of thing is common for local businesses! So let’s see what this is about!”

Why am I defending it? wondered Asama as she read what the logo said.

<Genesis Project: judgment weapon modifications confirmed: activation available: …Welcome to our Apocalypse stopping show>

That wasn’t all. Someone rose up from below the text.

An elevator carried her up onto the stage.

She wore a white cloak over her clothes and her black hair was worn up in a high ponytail.

“Excuse me. Or should I say long time, no see. …I am Oda Nobunaga.”

Everyone gasped when they heard the voice and saw the face.

Nobunaga gave the reason why as her clothing and decorative chains swayed in the billowing smoke.

“Or should I call myself the original Horizon Ariadust?”

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