Luku (Rook)
“Sempai, sempai, sempai!”
Mizuha cried out to the struck down Rinemu??
“Eh? Strange? Why? Wasn’t I cut down just now?”
“Sempai……huh?”
Mizuha started blankly at Rinemu as Tokisaki Kurumi instantly moved onto the stage while revealing her pistol.
The passion, zeal, and dreams from just a moment ago, this white girl had trampled on it all. The Empty that was standing next to Momozono Mayuka??that girl’s servant.
Or that’s what she is supposed to be, but??
“Who are you?”
The girl smiled coldly while looking on at Kurumi.
Kurumi returned the glare.
“I’m not interested in knowing your name or Spirit type. What exactly are you?”
Kurumi’s gaze clung onto that girl with a cold stare. Hibiki recognized that under these circumstances it was very possible for them to transition to killing each other right away.
……No, before that.
This Empty in front of them didn’t feel like a Quasi-Spirit, there was an extreme abnormality surrounding her that made Hibiki scared.
This fear was different than what one would experience during battle. If she were to put in into words, it was similar to the impression Doll Master gave. In other words, it was the impression of not knowing her true identity. It was still completely unclear how that attack had transpired just now.
“Memory??”
“……?”
Unexpectedly, the girl opened her mouth. While her eyes were delusively kept on Kurumi, she looked like she was muttering to herself.
“Memory is poisonous to me. Malice and hatred are irrelevant. Only memory can pollute me, so we must first let others read the memory. This way it reaches the goal of being simply pure reiryoku.”
“So, that’s why you incited Kirari Rinemu to take it first.”
“Yes.”
“Eh? I……Mayuka…..told me…...”
“What are you doing!?”
Momozono Mayuka was yelling at the second floor of the concert hall??shouting at an inconspicuous corner. No, this was more similar to a shriek.
“I, I didn’t ask for this……!”
“Yes. You mentioned earlier about the timing. It should have been considered at the end of the concert as they were returning home. However, my head is empty so I wanted it to be in my hands as soon as possible.”
The girl let out a kusu kusu laugh.
Some accusations were thrown blaming Momozono Mayuka??but this girl was undoubtedly getting more attention. An Empty girl below even a Quasi-Spirit, presumably she had a lack of reiryoku that meant being easily killed even by the Quasi-Spirits that have gathered here without any fighting experience.
“Don’t screw around, don’t screw around……! Acting on your own, running about wild on your own, I should cut you off from my reiryoku! You’ve become worthless rubbish!”
Snap, there was the sound of a line being broken apart. An Empty was a living body that would slowly die if it was not continuously replenishing its reiryoku.
So there must be a fear of death??yet.
“……Ah. You’ve actually stopped providing reiryoku. It was brief, but thank you. Well, that level of reiryoku only amounted to the level of a speck.”
Kusu, kusu.
Kusu, kusu
Kusu, kusu, kusu.
While watching her laugh, Kurumi pulled the trigger.
However, the girl dodged by twisting her body in a strange manner.
Kurumi let out a sharp sigh as she immediately jumped backwards.
“Extend.”
The huge sickle that served as that girl’s Unsigned Angel stretched out from its handle. Kurumi immediately used ’s rifle to protect her flank??the ensuing shockwaves reached the audience seats who were helpless to guard from this.
“Kurumi-san!”
“…..Fall back for now!”
A traffic light flicker in Kurumi’s mind as an absurd substitute for a warning signal.
If Doll Master in the Tenth Region Malkuth was a Quasi-Spirit that fought to suppress this warning signal, then she was the exact opposite.
She was a mass of poison that was oozing a danger signal.
“What……what the hell is going on……why?”
Mayuka looked stunned at how the Empty, which should have followed her orders, had transformed into something so creepy.
“Hah, let’s do it……”
Kurumi, who had crashed into the audience seats, stood up. A group of Quasi-Spirits there had fainted from the shock, but right now Kurumi had no time to pay attention to them.
“Ara.”
The girl looked overjoyed while glaring at Kurumi. Kurumi also smiled in response to this sight.
Mizuha, Rinemu, even Hibiki couldn’t move another step.
Tsuan was the only one with the physical and mental ability to keep up with those two. But she didn’t act because of the courtesy as a warrior. This girl was marked as Kurumi’s prey.
The two girls confronted each other at the center of the stage.
Kurumi opened her mouth to speak.
“I would like to withdraw my pervious question. What is your name?”
“My name is Luku.”
“What is your goal?”
“This, ‘The Voice of the Moon’.”
“That’s merely just one of the stages. What is you ultimate goal?”
“Unable to disclose.”
“So, you can’t disclose it?”
“Yes.”
“Is that true? If so??”
“I’ll kill you.”
“We’ll each try to kill the other.”
As Tokisaki Kurumi summoned her Angel , a huge clock appeared.
The sound of gunfire echoed against the glistening sickle. Kurumi approached Luku while continuously firing her shadowy bullets.
Yes, approaching.
Despite wielding a gun, she chose close-range combat. That was judgment of a skilled warrior with a repertoire of battle experience.
As long as she didn’t know the extents in which that sickle can stretch, it was better to choose close range.
Luku jumped, leaning back to avoid the bullets.
As Kurumi immediately reloaded?? ‘Bend.’ ??The handle of her huge sickle she already avoided curved around.
Kurumi was amazed by this extraordinary power. Just a while ago, she had uttered the ‘Capture’
command. Even though she slashed Rinemu, the blow didn’t take away her life, only taking away what was necessary.
“This……!!”
The blade of the sickle grazed Kurumi’s cheek. The Quasi-Spirits in the audience were screaming as they began to flee. The Quasi-Spirits serving as Mizuha’s bodyguards pulled her, Rinemu and Hibiki to the side of the stage.
Kurumi fired a bullet at herself from a poignant position. Her opponent continued her attack.
“The First Bullet ??!”
A bullet shot for the purpose of acceleration, but Luku was still able to keep up with her speed.
Unbelievable.
This person was incredibly strong.
“Ku, then……The Seventh Bullet !”
The moment she heard that, Luku let go of her huge sickle and shifted her coordinates a little.
The Seventh Bullet struck the huge sickle and stopped the time of the Unsigned Angel.
But that was only the weapon, not Luku herself.
Luku immediately grabbed the sickle after letting go, shaking it as if shredding away the sealed time.
The handle struck Kurumi’s stomach, forcing her into a now unmanned audience seat.
“Kurumi-san!”
Kurumi stood up in response to Hibiki’s cry. She still had that much energy left over.
However??
The reiryoku gained from that exquisite concert was being rapidly consumed.
Moreover, shooting the various bullets from required the consumption of reiryoku and time??that is to say the life of the user. It was an indispensable fact that this needed to quickly end.
Of course, this cost was worth the ability of her Angel. The ability to exert tremendous power through a combination of bullets was ’s hallmark.
In extreme cases, she could shot the First Bullet at herself and the Second Bullet
at the opponent to attack at a speed several times faster than the opponent.
However, this couldn’t be done now. As long as she shot the First Bullet at herself, the opponent would retreat to the rear. If she tried firing the Second Bullet , the other party would evade her attack.
It was difficult to predict fighting against something so fluid-like. No matter how she shot, she would escape. Even if she landed a hit, it wasn’t enough as the damage was being controlled to make it as minimal as possible.
“It’s a waste of time.”
Those indifferent words agitated Kurumi to the upmost extent??but she also understood that these words rang true. The identity, purpose, and reason for being able to predict her actions were all a mystery.
Kurumi looked around for something to use.
Almost all of the prospective Quasi-Spirits in the audience had fled, only Momozono Mayuka was standing at the same spot. Those bodyguards??they couldn’t be used, since they were needed to protect Banouin Mizuha.
Kirari Rinemu and Banouin Mizuha, they couldn’t be used because they virtually had no fighting ability. It was good that Rinemu was being protected alongside Mizuha.
Higoromo Hibiki??couldn’t be used ‘now’.
A strange revelation occurred where she realized she might need to rely on her later.
In that case, what should she do?
A flash of inspiration struck Kurumi. This method was foolish and devious, but it was because of this that she believed it would have an effect. However, this method could only be used once, if it failed there would be no afterwards.
In other words, it wasn’t quite different from her current situation.
“!”
The hands of the clock begun to spin. Luku was alert as she stopped.
Important point number 1……Luku knows, although it wasn’t clear if it was all of them, her abilities.
Important point number 2……she was especially vigilant towards the Second Bullet and Seventh Bullet , but also towards the First Bullet which strengthened Kurumi’s physical abilities.
Important point number 3……there was absolutely nothing known about the other party. Even her personality was a mystery, while colorless like an Empty she was far from innocuous.
The ability of her Unsigned Angel??a huge sickle that could change shape through vocal instructions. However, Kurumi was convinced that wasn’t only thing it could do.
First of all, she would use the First Bullet to accelerate her own speed.
“I’ll reach the very depths of your core??the Tenth Bullet !”
Kurumi shot a bullet originally only used for interrogation rather than combat. Sure enough, Luku swung her sickle to deflect the bullet??this evasive movement was the same as between the 13th and 27th bullets she had fired earlier. Kurumi breathed out a sigh of relief.
The sound of impact, the non-lethal Tenth Bullet has the ability to read the memories of those struck.
Kurumi felt the rebound from the Tenth Bullet in her chest.
In that instant, the memories of that scythe crumbled like snow.
“????!”
Again, another unbelievable event.
Much of the message was undecipherable, but that was within Kurumi’s estimations. However, there was some information that was leaked.
Yes, I offer everything I have to you my dear Queen.
White Queen, you are everything to me.
Yes, yes, please let me know. I am your piece, existing to protect you.
I must use this Unsigned Angel to remove all obstacles for you.
“Just now……”
Luku gave a confused look to Kurumi. Then, Kurumi immediately decided to begin the pursuit.
“Ara, ara, ara. So you’re a believer.”
“……What did you just say?”
The atmosphere condensed.
“Is she called the White Queen? And you are her chess piece, so it’s not Luku but Rook. Such a handsome name. But in the end, a piece is still a piece. Just a puppet that serves a foolish miserable queen. Ah, so I have nothing to worry about. A person serving someone with such a gaudy title would probably die from being betrayed. Alright, alright, do you want to say that cliché line now? But I’ve done so much to serve you!”
She took the bait.
Rook’s entire body trembled. The anger coming out from her could be felt by everyone present.
“That name……”
Despite this situation, Hibiki couldn’t help but laugh. As expected of Kurumi, the tactic chose in the very end was to make this calm girl mad.
“How dare you say the Queen’s naaaaaaaaaaaame!”
Rook’s temperament exploded as she let out an earth-shaking howl. It was as if Kurumi had stuffed the hollow hole in her heart with salt, pepper, and hot sauce.
The huge scythe was swung down in anger.
Kurumi repeatedly retreated backwards; away from the range of the huge scythe??but such behavior was meaningless.
“Extend!!”
Naturally, Luku made that command.
But if she had considered calmly, the instruction she should have yelled was??
“If you had let go of that scythe, you would have already cut me down.”
Kurumi used both her rifle and pistol to block the huge scythe containing her anger.
“Ku, ugh…!!”
Only girls that have escaped from the verge of death could repel such a huge scythe at this critical moment.
“Re??Recovery!”
“Too late!”
Kurumi fired consecutive bullets from both her rifle and pistol.
If shot once, her posture would be out of balance. If shot twice, she could shoot again before her opponent could get up.
Kihihihihi, Kurumi laughed like a Grim Reaper peeping through the gates of hell.
Luku, or rather Rook, was shot by a subsequent round of 18 bullets.
“Gaaaaaaaaaah! Fly……Fly!!”
Surprisingly??it wasn’t too shocking??but Rook fled into the air.
Rather than consuming reiryoku to gently float into the air, the huge sickle spew out flames to propelled itself up like a jet.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
And in the process of flying into the air, she also snatched away Momozono Mayuka.
Furthermore, they broke through the roof of the live venue and flew away.
“……Tsuan-san!”
“??Understood. I’ll catch up, contact me at that time.”
Tsuan, with her expression unchanged, informed her as she chased after them.
“Now……Rinemu-san, are you alright?”
Kurumi walked towards Rinemu. The bodyguards had already disarmed themselves upon Mizuha’s commands.
Rinemu slowly nodded.
“S-Somehow, I’m fine.”
“Fortunately, her goal was stealing not hacking a person away.”
“It was still frightening…..say, Kurumi-chan, what will happen to Mayuka?”
“That’s up to Luku or rather Rook, but……she most likely will be killed. Likely in order to take in her Sephira fragment to replenish her reiryoku.”
After all, 18 shots had been landed, the treatment for that must require a great deal of reiryoku. If she’s not pursued, she wouldn’t hesitate to kill other Quasi-Spirits to ensure her survival.
Rinemu listened to what Kurumi had said and gave a heavy sigh.
“Like I said, Momozono Mayuka is an idiot, vicious, and cowardly, but I still think that part of her is incurably cute.”
“Yes, yes, you’re right.”
“I’ve never seen someone so willing to live like her. I think she’s already reflected on this, so can you save her?”
“Um, I would also ask that of you. Her singing ability is still quite good.”
Banouin Mizuha also made the same request.
“I also want to save her, but as for the condition……I’m going to need to take your time.”
Kihihihihi, it looked as if Kurumi was smiling like a Grim Reaper once again.
“……But before that, Hibiki-san.”
“Y-Yes……”
Hibiki came rushing over.
“……I’m going to settle things with Rook. It doesn’t matter if you show up late, but you must be there.”
“……”
“That girl is a concept that cannot exist in this region.”
Kurumi’s eyes, whether if it was the clock version or the normal one, revealed her serious intent.
“……I understand!”
Kurumi turned around, looking at both Mizuha and Rinemu who both had pale looks on their faces.
“Umm, what do you mean by time?”
“W-Will we have to become grandmas!? What should I do? I’ll have to change my route as an idol!”
It seemed that Rinemu was planning continuing being an idol well into old age. Well, no matter how old she was, she would continue singing cheerfully.
“……I’m not that cruel.”
Kurumi replied while somewhat angry. But it was no wonder that they were scared.
“For you Quasi-Spirits, it’s not something worthy of being afraid of. You’ll only feel sleepy and tired. You won’t be aging instantly.”
Despite having said that, Kurumi also presented another plan.
“If you’re still anxious, then let me take it little by little from everyone. As a result, everyone’s burden will be reduced in a single breath. Even if you feel tired, call upon the audience to sing.
Won’t you instantly recover if you do that?”
Kurumi said while looking to all of the seats that were now completely abandoned.
“Mu.”
Rinemu began to seriously think.
“Fortunately, the Quasi-Spirits that had escaped know that Luku has fled from here. If it is the Dominion, isn’t it possible to reconvene the audience immediately?”
“……That’s the only way. Mizuha, can you sing?”
“Eh! Y-Yes! I can sing.”
“The appointment I promised you is about to arrive. Can you sing a duet?”
As Rinemu winked towards her, Mizuha’s stoic features instantly crumbled.
“Yes, I want to! I would love to sing along with you!”
The manager immediately tried to stop this idea but soon gave up since Mizuha’s expressions were filled with an unprecedented joy. For the manager that had only seen Mizuha’s calm demeanor in the past, this image was fresh and splendid.
“Manager, what do you think we should sing?”
Hearing that question, the manager smiled.
“This originally should have been the last piece……but Enjoy My Life which expresses joy should be a good fit.”
“Understood!”
The two responded in unison as they both walked to the center of the stage. Mizuha conveyed her voice through the wind, telling everyone that the danger had subsided, they were all safe, and that she would sing in a live performance alongside Kirari Rinemu.
In less than five minutes, Quasi-Spirits rushed onto the concert hall at once. During that moment, Kurumi and Hibiki retreated to the side of the stage.
“Wow, a combination between past and present Dominions filled the audience in an instant.
Gugugu, it’s a bit vexing. Originally, these customers should have all been ours”
Hibiki made a complicated expression while muttering.
“I don’t plan to be a serious idol here.”
“I know ? ”
“Additionally, Hibiki-san, stay away from the concert hall at the beginning. The will indiscriminately absorb everyone’s time. Although it’s only feeling a little fatigue, the person performing the next task better not stay here.”
“Ah……I understand!”
After Kurumi had confirmed that Hibiki had left the concert hall, her entire body sank into the shadows at the same time Rinemu and Mizuha appeared on stage.
“Sorry for just now!”
“As you can see, the seeds of trouble are already gone. Please take a good look??”
“Listen to our singing! Enjoy the songs we bring!”
The music flowed out??the audience began to jubilantly cheer. The song had begun, exuding an overwhelming impression. In that whirlpool of enthusiasm, Kurumi whispered something in the shadows.
“For our goal, itadakimasu.”
Instantly??the Quasi-Spirits in this concert hall felt a strange sense of fatigue.
The , taking away the time of Quasi-Spirits within its range, was a skill that could not be misused in the peaceful Ninth Region Yesod.
In Kurumi’s left eye, the clock hand begun turning in reverse, gradually absorbing the meager
“time” from the Quasi-Spirits at the concert venue.
……But for them, they will feel just a little bit tired. And this degree of burnout would soon be erased by the emotions brought by Mizuha and Rinemu’s song.
Kurumi laughed, the so-called ‘forgotten time’ referred to this situation.
She was ready.
Kurumi, who had replenished her time to such an extent, didn’t want to burden the Quasi-Spirits in the concert hall too much by exercising ’s power.
“??the First Bullet !”
The secret sound of gunfire mixed within their singing voices.
Kurumi, who leaped out of the concert hall, tore through the skies of the Neighboring World at great speed.
Glancing back, there was a pure white girl desperately trailing on in her direction.
Kurumi felt at ease as long as she was chasing after her.
“I’m going on ahead, Hibiki-san.”
Such words would likely not be able to reach her ears as Kurumi increased her speed.
She had a vague hunch on the place where the final battle will be.
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