Suspects
The Sixth Region Tiphereth was incessantly noisy. After all, the White Queen had invaded the region conference, the most important event in the Neighboring World. Moreover, without anyone noticing, she had appeared in front of the Dominions.
“Expel all of the Empties. You all are responsible for cleaning and repairing the mansion. Let me interview everyone that is hired. Don’t let me taste the humiliation of the White Queen invading this mansion ever again!”
“Yes!”
The Knights of the Chivalric Order??a group of Quasi-Spirits with high combat ability personally selected by her, replied back all at the same time. Although they were rich in variation from different types of Unsigned Angels, they were unified through their shared silver white Astral Dresses.
“Follow me! Search and thoroughly investigate every corner of this region!”
Miyafuji Oka personally led the search in the mansion in anger. The other Dominions, who were driven out of the meeting hall, could only helplessly watch on at the scene.
After all, the White Queen disappeared with a faint laughed and never appeared again. But since this occurred, she would be bound to increase her security for the future.
She suddenly appeared at the center of the Sixth Region Tiphereth, the Dominion mansion where the most important issues of the Neighboring World were being discussed and then promptly vanished just like a nightmare.
Oka couldn’t conceal her frustration. It seemed that she was going to explore not only the mansion but also every location in the Sixth Region Tiphereth.
“So, this is already dissolved.”
Ariadne said while rubbing her eyes. Like she said, there was no longer any time to continue the conference. Each of them should return to their own respective regions and begin planning countermeasures.
“……Well, I told you want I wanted to say. After all, it would have been fine to hold this conference through remote communication. However, I wanted to talk about dispatching a new Dominion for the Tenth Region Malkuth……”
In the Tenth Region Malkuth, after the death of Doll Master, Quasi-Spirits were constantly fighting to determine who would become the next Dominion. However, if a boorish Quasi-Spirit took up to the role, the surrounding regions would surely suffer.
In that case, it would have been better just to cultivate a Quasi-Spirit for that position from the very beginning. Yukishiro Maya wanted to discuss this strategy and ask who would be appropriate to become the next Dominion.
“That region cannot be left without a leader. There’s a good chance of the White Queen invading the Tenth Region Malkuth and trying to take over from within.”
Hearing what Maya had said, Kagarike Haraka raised her hand.
“Ah, it can’t be helped. Then let me go.”
Yukishiro Maya frowned upon hearing that.
Although the Fifth Region Gevurah is not as serious as the Tenth Region Malkuth, it requires a considerably powerful Quasi-Spirit to maintain law and order. Moreover, the Fifth Region Gevurah is one of the regions adjacent to the Third Region Binah. Even if the gate is completely sealed, if Haraka stays in the Tenth Region Malkuth, it would be difficult to cope in the case of an emergency.
“I’ll leave the Fifth Region Gevurah to Tsuan and the other disciples. They should be competent enough??if not, I won’t care if Ariadne takes over.”
The implication was that it would be fine for Ariadne take over the Fifth Region Gevurah, but for Ariadne this would be just annoying. Being a Dominion managing two regions would mean her burdens would be doubled.
“Ehh……too much of a pain……”
Ariadne wobbled her head as she began to doze off. Haraka smiled as she grabbed her by the shoulder.
“Don’t say that. I’m asking you. Please. Pl?ea?se. Pl?ea?se. Pl??ea??se.”
“……Um……alright……I’ll think of something……”
Ariadne reluctantly agreed as she fell asleep.
“So the Fifth Region Gevurah will be handled by her. Is there no management system in the Tenth Region Malkuth? Then, I’ll solve this problem in three days. When the region comes settles down, then send a civilian Quasi-Spirit from the Second Region Chokmah to rectify a political system.”
“Well, if it’s the battle manic Haraka, she should be able to do it! Good luck!”
As Rinemu rudely spoke out, Mizuha looked at her with a worried gaze. Haraka only smiled, placing her hand on Rinemu’s head to ruffle her hair.
“Gya! What are you doing!?”
“Just showing my affection for my rude kohai.”
“Really, my hair is a complete mess. Mizuha, do you have a comb?”
“Ah, yes. Please crouch down a little.”
“By the way, I wanted to ask you. Is Tokisaki Kurumi a bad person? Or a good person?”
After being confronted by Haraka’s question, Rinemu and Mizuha looked towards each other before replying.
“A bad person.” “Yes.”
“Is that right, is that right? That’s much better. In my opinion, that White Queen is also far from good. An eye for an eye, poison against poison, evil fighting against evil.”
Haraka laughed as she left. It seemed that she departed immediately for the Tenth Region Malkuth.
“……I have to go to sleep……good night……”
Ariadne went back to sleep as she departed for her own territory, the Fourth Region Chesed.
Although she was staggering back and forth, everyone knew that Ariadne could fight even in that state. And once she woke up, no one could compete against her. It would take two Dominions around the level of Kagarike Haraka to force her to fight in earnest.
“Now then, I’m going back to the Seventh Region Netzach. I have to make a new Yui-chan.”
The Dominion of Seventh Region Netzach, Sagakure Yuri also departed for home.
“It’s almost time for me to go back as well. Recently, there’s been a lot of noise in my Eighth Region Hod.”
And so, Banouin Kareha also returned to her region. On the way back, she didn’t even once look at her younger sister Banouin Mizuha.
And so the only ones left were Kirari Rinemu, Banouin Mizuha, and the Dominion of the Second Region Chokmah, Yukishiro Maya.
“Let’s go back too.”
“I agree. We should immediately discuss about strengthening our defenses……should we also consider hiring mercenaries from the Sixth Region Tiphereth?”
The combat ability of the Ninth Region Yesod was overwhelmingly inferior compared to the other regions. The two of them began to discuss considering hiring mercenaries to increase their strength.”
“??Kirari Rinemu, Banouin Mizuha. Can I have a moment with you two?”
“Oya?” “Yukishiro Maya-san?”
The two of them looked confused at being approached by Maya. The Second Region Chokmah and the Ninth Region Yesod were so far from each other that there was hardly any form of contact.
Or rather, the Second Region Chokmah doesn’t actively engage with any region. They would attend the Dominion conference every time to serve as a facilitator, but they would rarely ever express opinions about their own region.
Always in the position of keeping their own affairs in their own region, a Quasi-Spirit that meticulously recorded everything??that was Rinemu’s opinion towards her. Mizuha’s impression was the same.
“You’re coming to talk to us. Will the sun rise from the west next? Maya, what’s wrong?”
“……I want the three of us to have a talk.”
“Alright, but where?”
“I want to get away from this mansion……is there a place in the Sixth Region Tiphereth where you can relax and chat?”
“Well……there’s the café that I go to, but is that okay?”
Maya nodded back just like a small animal.
When Kirari Rinemu was Dominion, she would occasionally go to other regions to hold concerts. In particular, the Sixth Region Tiphereth was connected to every region between the First Region Keter and the Ninth Region Yesod??serving as the central hub for the Neighboring
World. By holding live concerts here, the goal was to increase awareness of the Ninth Region Yesod and also be able to turn to the Sixth Region Tiphereth in case of an emergency. However, the response was so good that Rinemu was on the road doing several live concerts??to the point where Oka began complaining at her each time.
“So I found this spot during a time where I was looking for delicious restaurants. Ah sorry.
Strawberry parfait please.”
This store didn’t have any Empties, but instead used an automatic computer system to order food. It sent the message of “Guests are ordering food!” to the Quasi-Spirits in the kitchen. The Quasi-Spirits here found meaning in their existence in making sweets like a parfait.
Even if a parfait could be created through reiryoku, it would only give a taste that the customer can imagine. To eat a truly delicious dessert, one must visit a store opened by Quasi-Spirits who dedicated their survival to making delicious desserts for guests.
This store was one of them. The large strawberries that sat on top of the parfait are actually cultivated with seeds, soil, and water. Although it took time and effort to make these strawberries, it definitely made for a tastier dessert.
“……So at this point, I will order a strawberry parfait every time I come here.”
“Hmm. Delicious. It’s interesting how they take the time to cultivate rather than just creating strawberries.”
“It’s delicious……sempai who knows a lot is amazing.”
Maya and Mizuha nodded while agreeing to the delicious taste of the strawberry parfait.
“So, what did you want to talk to us about?”
Maya looked around. Perhaps due to it being just before noon, but the café store was deserted.
Despite this, Maya took the precaution to open a book.
“Opening??Third Book <Cats Rule>.” (TL Note: Kanji reads as Event Concealment Theory) A semi-transparent curtain enveloped the seats of those three.
“Is this your ability?”
“Kind of but slightly different. My Unsigned Angel is a bookshelf. I have booked several abilities and put them on a bookshelf for use. Because it has to go through the process of choosing books on the bookshelf, it’s not suitable for combat??but at such times it’s all-purposeful.”
What she exercised just now was masking. It was the ability to make them invisible from the eyes of others. No matter how loud the noise, the sound won’t be detected from the outside. Not only that, they couldn’t even observe the girls now hidden inside.
“……So, let me ask frankly. Was there a Dominion that looked particularly suspicious at the last meeting?”
After being confronted by that question, both Rinemu and Mizuha tilted their heads.
“Ha? What is that supposed to mean?” “Um……I don’t know quite what you’re trying to say……”
“……I believe there is a Dominion working on the enemy’s side.”
“Geh!? T-T-T-T-There’s a Dominion connected to the White Queen!?”
Maya nodded, her silver-rimmed glasses shined with great significance.
“With how this White Queen appeared, there are various parts that cannot be understood.”
“That’s……because she is a Spirit? Just like Tokisaki-san.”
“No, if it was to reveal some sort of grand goal, I could at least understand. What puzzles me is how she interferes with this world. She’s manipulating the Empties and doing terrorist activities……that I can understand. But why did she come this time?”
“Wasn’t it to make a declaration of war?”
“There was no need to do so. There are limits to even playing around. If Haraka or I quickly noticed the door and destroyed it, the White Queen wouldn’t have been able to escape and her life wouldn’t have been guaranteed.”
“Well, at that time we would have been swallowed up in that incident and been killed!”
Mizuha agreed with Rinemu’s words. What Maya had said was based on the premise of numerous sacrifices. At the very least, the Dominions with poor combat ability would have been killed and even the other strong Dominions would be inevitably sacrificed. If it was done badly, even the entire Sixth Region Tiphereth could be destroyed.
However??
“There was still the possibility of defeat. Why did she still take the risk of coming to that conference room?”
“I don’t know.” “……Could it be a decoy?”
Maya nodded in response to what Mizuha had said. Rinemu slanted her head more and more.
“It may have been a deliberate strong appeal to emphasize that she is the enemy. Her declaration of war forces us to join together. However, if there is a traitor in the mix??”
“……That would be fatal for us.”
Mizuha shook her head with a gloomy expression.
“But why would you go out of the way to tell us this?”
“Because you are low-risk and it’s already well known that you’ve encountered Tokisaki Kurumi. I don’t think the White Queen would arrange for you to be the traitor.”
“……Is there anyone else that you can trust?”
“……I don’t know. After all, we are Dominions not friends. No one knows why we stepped up to the position. I don’t know why Ariadne wants to sleep, why Oka favors unity, and why Haraka wants to fight.”
“Yes, even I don’t know at all!”
“Kirari Rinemu. I think you can intuitively feel the characteristics of the other Dominions. What do you know……about them?”
“Well……I don’t know if I’ve been betrayed! First, there’s Ariadne. That girl is strong, very powerful. I think she’s just as strong as Kagarike Haraka! So that’s why she acts stupid on purpose when she’s really full of self-confidence! And Haraka looks like she’s troubled by the various things tying herself down. It looks absurd when compared to what she’s conveying on the surface. Oka-chan is……hmm, I don’t know. Even I can’t see through the heart of that person. Sagakure Yuri is a huge little sister pervert. Oh, but……somehow you might have already noticed that. And the Eighth Region’s Banouin Kareha……Mizuha’s older sister……was very scared.”
“Afraid……? My older sister……?”
“Mizuha, what is your impression of Kareha?”
Mizuha smiled weakly as Rinemu asked.
“For me, she was like a symbol of absolute power. Always strong and cautious, surviving in the Tenth Region Malkuth. I was always hiding behind my sister. ……I felt that wasn’t good so I went to the Ninth Region Yesod.”
“After separating from her sister, Banouin Kareha has fought against Kagarike Haraka in the Fifth Region Gevurah……she is undoubtedly a combat Quasi-Spirit, but you said that she was scared?”
“Well, the evidence is only my intuition. Sometimes I can't even say it precisely, so I hope you don’t take it too seriously…..”
Rinemu muttered without much confidence. Certainly, as she said, there wasn’t much evidence.
However, Maya wonder if this was actually intuition or was she listening to the sound to make her judgment?
Heartbeats, the sounds of slight physical discomfort, the sound of the blood flow. As the Dominion of the Ninth Region where sound is vital, she might be able to unconsciously detect something that couldn’t be captured by ordinary hearing and then just pass it off as intuition.
Of course, what she said wasn’t of great importance. Maya stood up and removed the protective cover. The sounds of BGM were once again introduced into their ears.
“……Needless to say, this conversation is confidential. Banouin Mizuha, please look out for her.”
“Hey, what do you mean by that! I also know what acceptable behavior is!”
“Alright, no problem.”
“You too Mizuha! Really, what is this!? How much don’t you trust me!?”
“There’s an approximate value of zero.”
Rinemu couldn’t refute this as she fell onto the table. Mizuha stroked her head while smiling bitterly.
Maya left the café and departed for the region under her control through the <Shamayim Kaveesh>. Then, she spat out the question that she didn’t dare ask there.
“In your eyes??what kind of person am I?”
If she had asked that question, Kirari Rinemu would have definitely replied like this.
“Maya, you are holding some sort of secret inside. Moreover, a huge secret that only yourself can bare it. In order to protect that secret, you would even let us all be killed?”
Exactly.
Yukishiro Maya had a huge secret hidden in the Second Region Chokmah. It was a secret that must never be made public even if meant all of the other Dominions being killed by the White Queen.
When considering Tokisaki Kurumi’s clones, they always have two pasts: the past before birth and the past after birth.
The past before birth was the same for every clone, but it is different for the past afterwards. In reality, this rarely comes to the surface because Tokisaki Kurumi is always moving towards a singular goal.
So if a different phenomenon is experienced, there will be subtle differences.
The problem was coming.
Torture. Pollution. Ridicule. Pain. Brainwashing. Robbery.
Constantly being treated under the tyranny of the world and convinced that no one will come to rescue her, what sort of existence would Tokisaki Kurumi become then?
“Um……Carte-san, what did you mean by wanting to talk to me alone?”
Hibiki timidly asked while having a cautious look. She recalled what Cistus had said??
“I don’t trust that Quasi-Spirit.”
The girl in front of her was really suspicious.
Right now, Tokisaki Kurumi and Cistus were running around through the Third Region Binah to destroy Rook before the arrival of the White Queen. No one was able to stop them now that they had regained their time.
“Yeah, let me ask frankly!”
After Carte gave the signal, four playing cards surrounded Hibiki.
“What the heck are you, Higoromo Hibiki!”
With it like this, Hibiki prepared <King Killing>. Carte still doesn’t know this ability. Although it lacked destructive power, the situation could be reversed in a single breath if the plundering was successful. Despite not wanting to use this ability, there was no room for complaints in an emergency situation.
“What are you planning!? Carte À Jouer!”
“Stop playing dumb! I know you are following Tokisaki Kurumi-sama with no good intentions!”
“……What?”
She was suddenly saying something strange.
Taken aback by Hibiki’s response, Carte scratched her hair, looking up to the sky and screaming in a singingly manner.
“Looking at your actions so far, it’s as if……you are a friend! I’m not jealous! But it’s wicked plan to backstab someone from behind!”
The four playing cards suddenly lined up with Carte, raising their weapons and pointing at Hibiki.
“Now hurry up and reveal your intentions while waiting to be captured!”
“Be taken as a prisoner!” “Please be our prisoner!” “Be our prisoner!” “Be taken as a prisoner!”
“Haaaaah! What are you talking about!? What sort scheme led you to that unfathomable conclusion! The one trying that is you! I even have evidence of that in my hands!”
Incidentally, there was no evidence at all. She just wanted to say that line.
“What……to go so far as to say that……hey, what is your evidence then!”
Carte grew flustered at the accusation. But from Hibiki’s perspective, it was natural that she was suspicious. She appeared all too suddenly.
“To suddenly appear before us and seek cooperation in that life and death situation, of course there has to be evil intentions behind that.”
Carte let out a groan.
“……T-That’s not the case! We’ve been pushed on the defensive for so long! If someone arrives with tremendous power and calls herself a Spirit, of course it’s natural to seek cooperation!”
“T-That’s true. But, aren’t you a bit too devoted. When we first met, Kurumi-san had lost her power??”
“What are you talking about? That should have been the other Kurumi-sama.”
“Eh, ah, no, that’s right. Huh? But hasn’t she been imprisoned for a long time?”
“Exactly. That’s why I tried to help.”
Huh?
Something was off; it felt like their stories were being fatally misaligned.
“……Carte-san, the other Kurumi-san……the one now called Cistus, have you ever interacted before?”
“Of course. But that said, I have only at most exchanged information with her in the torture room……but she is a wonderful person.”
Carte’s cheeks blushed as she recalled those memories.
No, something was wrong……this ominous premonition was gradually making Hibiki’s mind even more confused.
“U-Um……Carte-san. In other words, you are an acquaintance of……Cistus-san? But you gave the impression that it was your first encounter……”
“Ah, that’s because Kurumi-sama, or rather Cistus-sama wanted me to do that. She said it would be easier to settle in as a comrade this way.”
“……Perhaps that advice about me also came from Cistus-san?”
“That’s right!”
A fatal contradiction had occurred.
“Carte-san!”
“W-What! So you finally feel like confessing!”
Hibiki called off her Unsigned Angel, grabbing Carte by the cuff of her sleeves and approaching close to her face.
“It’s a trap!”
When did this idea for this trap start? ??Tokisaki Kurumi thought.
Not when they first met. Probably before then. When she was captured, tortured, robbed of her weapons and she had no chance for survival. ??Tokisaki Kurumi thought.
Kurumi and Cistus spent the remaining 15 minutes aiming for Rook. Of course, the White Queen could always immediately revive her through the Scorpio Bullet <Akrab>. However, the power of the White Queen wasn’t inexhaustible. And above all, she wanted to test their current combat strength by fighting Rook.
Although it was difficult to escape, pursuing was simple. Especially since the other side was looking for them as well.
They came in contact with Rook in the flower garden where Cistus had named herself.
“She sure came chasing in a hurry!”
“Yes, yes! Very good, very well done!”
“Th, is??Tokisaki Kurumi! Where did you get that time !?”
The flowers scattered with a single swing from the scythe. Hibiki and Carte had gone to another location to search for Rook. Although it could be said that their strength was halved, this was
still quite unlucky for Rook. Tokisaki Kurumi and Cistus were in great shape after defeating the Snark and regaining their time.
“……No way……did you……defeat the Snark!?”
Rook grew enraged. According to the report, they should have also taken away this new Tokisaki Kurumi’s time. In that case, it was only necessary to force them into a desperate corner. That was her original plan. She didn’t consider that they would be able to defeat the Snark. That unrecognizable invisible monster couldn’t be defeated unless that riddle was solved??
“Did you solve the riddle……in such a short period of time……!”
Kurumi must defeat Rook in this room within the remaining 15 minutes, otherwise the White Queen will have returned. Even with her time regained, this was still difficult for her to do alone.
Therefore, with her time also recovered, Cistus proposed lending her half of <Zafkiel, the long rifle, to her……so that they could fight side by side.
And in doing so, her plan was complete.
“The First Bullet <Aleph>!”
“Scatter!”
The huge scythe dispersed into pieces. During the fight in the Ninth Region Yesod, she had to desperately intercept that scythe. But this time, it was different.
“Yes, this should suffice. The Second Bullet <Bet>.”
She had fought alongside with Higoromo Hibiki and Tsuan, so Cistus should be no different.
However, the united front with Cistus was on a whole nother level. She clutched down and shot with <Zafkiel>’s pistol.
There was no need for eye contact. Kurumi and Cistus’s attacks were naturally flowing and sharpened just like a blade in a single swing.
The crimson scythe manufacture at great pains??originally a terrifying soldier that would move automatically??was no longer an obstacle, merely having been reduced to a slow moving display.
“The Seventh Bullet <Zayin>!”
Cistus tried to stop Rook’s time. Rook threw the scythe out of her hands to block the bullet.
But there was a time to breathe a sigh of relief. A voice came down from the heavens.
“??The Seventh Bullet <Zayin>!”
“Wha……”
A super foul play, two consecutive time stops. There was nothing that could be done to stop this.
Her time was frozen.
Kurumi and Cistus constantly shot indiscriminately.
In the blink of an eye, it was already too late to be mentally prepared. Rook’s body was smashed apart by the deadly barrage of bullets.
The second or third impact, after that she couldn’t recognize anything anymore. She couldn’t distinguish up from down, left from right, as she gradually collapsed. Her Unsigned Angel
<Vermillion> shattered as her consciousness became blurred.
She couldn’t win.
It was like being devoured by a school of piranhas. No, it was worse. This was a shark. It was a ridiculous period of flailing one’s limbs out at the open sea before slowly being attacked underneath by a group of sharks.
She wasn’t afraid of death. Death was gratifying.
However, would this death serve the White Queen? She couldn’t do anything??after all, nothing changed between being an Empty or being Rook.
……Rook fell silent, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Fighting and defeating her took no less than five minutes.
“Alright, now all we have to do is welcome the White Queen.”
The flowers scattered, not only the cistus flowers, but all of the flowers in the garden. Cistus called out to Kurumi, who was about to move on from here.
“Ah, please wait.”
Those words, inexplicably gave??a sense of foreboding. Ominous, a sign of death, a clear voice that contained multiple different emotions.
And so Kurumi looked back.
Then, she faintly opened her eyes, nodding after coming to terms with this.
Slowly raising <Zafkiel>’s pistol??to point towards Cistus.
Since Cistus was holding <Zafkiel>’s rifle.
And pointing it at Kurumi.
The wind blew, the flowers scattered. Still, the flowers were blooming infinitely and would never stop.
“Can I ask why?” ??Kurumi asked.
“No, I can’t answer that.” ??Cistus responded.
In that case??
In that case, there was no need to ask again. A sharp pain struck Kurumi’s chest. But even if she asked why, Cistus wouldn’t answer.
However, there was one thing certain.
She had always been aiming for this. In other words, she had been betrayed by herself. And as long as it wasn’t a Tokisaki Kurumi that had lost herself in an inversion, Cistus’s behavior was like a vagabond stray.
……No, it would be a lie to say that she never anticipated this development.
Another me, a clone. For some reason, she felt that she had to settle things with her.
It was because she was being stared down from behind with murderous intent. If given the strength, she wouldn’t hesitate to kill herself.
Alright??Kurumi thought.
If that was the choice of me , I will pick up my gun as well.
The remaining time was five minutes. The winner would go on to face the White Queen again.
“The First Bullet <Aleph.”
“The First Bullet <Aleph.”
Both knew each other’s first move, so they both decided to pull the trigger to increase their opponent’s speed. It was a bit of a laugh to begin with a fair bout.
Kicking off the ground.
Me, and me , both screamed
“Now??me! Let’s begin our war (date)!”
Five Minutes Remaining
Tokisaki Kurumi and Tokisaki Kurumi and Tokisaki Kurumi The girl named Cistus could only do one thing after being captured alive. <Zafkiel> had been taken away by the White Queen and could no longer be recovered. In other words, she had been deprived of any method of fighting back.
So, she was left to her thoughts. Thinking and devising plans??such thoughts became her only substance.
She loathed her helplessness and refused to flee to her dreams to escape from this despair. Since it as confirmed that she wouldn’t be killed, all her efforts focused on surviving until the next Tokisaki Kurumi arrives.
And so she kept her preserving until that day came to fruition.
There was much time and no one cared about her. What sort of Tokisaki Kurumi will arrive?
What would she need to say in order for the pieces to move as she wishes?
There were two important points.
First, she had to recapture her own time.
Second, if she had a companion, she needed to separate the two.
Both of these points had been successfully completed.
Why did she want to do this?
Why did she have to fight?
If it meant killing each other, wouldn’t it be wise to wait until after the White Queen is taken care of?
Ah, that would be no good. Such a well-behaved and natural method would be useless.
She had obtained a new name. Breaking free from Tokisaki Kurumi to find a new purpose, she wanted to achieve it even if it meant trampling and killing me .
“Yes, that’s why! Give me power and leave!”
Cistus screamed loudly.
Don’t be silly, Kurumi’s anger felt like it was going to set her nerves aflame.
“For something as foolish as that!? What a joke!”
The bullets swept past her eyes, grazed her neck, and tore apart her Astral Dress. Still, she kept charging forward.
Both understood that a long-ranged shootout would be a waste of time to take each other out.
If so, close combat should be selected. Fortunately, the part of <Zafkiel> handed to Cistus was the long rifle and she had the short pistol. The difference was about one meter, but this still boasted a greater advantage at close corners.
On the other hand, Cistus was trying to gain some distance. Her gun of course was better suited for long range.
Cistus who wanted to step back and Kurumi who wanted to march forward.
However??
“What……”
“Ah, this feels too great! Finally! Finally I’m free! I am so satisfied!”
Cistus screamed with joy. At the same time, Kurumi choose an in-fighting boxing attack.
Regardless of Kurumi holding the short gun, such a close range attack ought to be difficult for Cistus to predict.
However, she sneered, forcefully twisting her joints to aim at Kurumi’s eyebrows. Bending her arm in this manner would make it impossible to shoot.
But at that moment, the trigger was pulled.
Overflowing blood being splashed, the impact of the bullets caused the consciousness to be momentarily blurred. The sound of gunfire lingered in her ears, an unavoidable reminder that she was in the center of a battlefield.
“The First Bullet <Aleph>!”
“The Second Bullet <Bet>!”
Kurumi accelerated herself as Cistus de-accelerated her??the positive and minus canceled each other out.
Reloading.
As Kurumi was reloading, Cistus chose not to refrain from taking advantage of this, swinging the blunt side of the long rifle at Kurumi’s head like club.
“Gu……!”
Her posture collapsed and it was impossible to aim with the short pistol. Dizziness struck, the distorted landscape looked just like a mollusk. The scattered petals momentarily obscured Kurumi’s sight??she vanished.
“The First Bullet <Aleph>!”
Cistus accelerated. A heavy kick struck the center of Kurumi’s stomach. Knocked back by the kick, Kurumi recoiled through the surface of the ground.
Just as her consciousness was blurred by the confusion and severe pain, Kurumi pulled the trigger.
Miraculously, the bullets collided with the ones released by Cistus, directly offsetting each other.
“Ka……ha……!”
Kurumi quickly stood up. A burst of pain coming from her abdomen, there was definitely a fracture. She wanted to recover using the Fourth Bullet <Dalet>, but Cistus stopped her by firing a fierce attack from <Zafkiel> with tremendous momentum.
“This……!”
Not only did she prevent her from treating this injury with the Fourth Bullet <Dalet>, the impact from the incoming bullets was causing the pain from her abdomen to grow worse. She could bare it for now, but the slightest mistake and a direct hit on this wound would definitely knock her out.
And like that, all would be lost.
Kurumi desperately thought hard for a means out of this. The bullets struck like a tempest.
Likely, the instincts of me were telling her to not waste this opportunity.
Ah, I really don’t understand.
Why? Why is me baring her fangs and becoming my enemy?
I named myself Cistus.
At that moment, a wonderful response occurred within myself. A strong desire to obtain what I genuinely want.’
Freedom??to do whatever I want to do, seek whatever I want to seek, go wherever I want to go.
Ah, the me in front absolutely wouldn’t understand this, unable to comprehend this. It’s miracle that I can stand here like this!
……We clones are created for the sole purpose of serving the original body.
But here was no such place. She wasn’t here.
Like this. Ah, that means??
I am free. I can go anywhere!
Cistus, who is no longer a Tokisaki Kurumi, has finally gained freedom.
However, there was an obstacle in front of her. Yes, me ??Tokisaki Kurumi. She fights, moves forward, and……wants to depart from this Neighboring World.
I can’t stand this. I can’t understand this.
Unforgivable??besides myself, another me extolling freedom.
Ah, please don’t think of me as an unreasonable person. Please don’t lament me as a rude person that’s gone astray.
Because I don’t have it. I can’t find something that means to be me .
This alone is??enough for the reason behind my struggle.
Thoughts ran through her brain like a flash.
“Aaaaaaa……!!”
First, no??Fifth!
“The Fifth Bullet <Hei>……!!”
With great difficulty, Kurumi saw a small opportunity to shoot the bullet. A few seconds ahead, she read the trajectory of the bullet of fired by Cistus. She chose the best pattern to run through straight past the hail of bullets.
After a few seconds, she launched the Fifth Bullet <Hei> again. Her head made an aching creak.
The more she continued to read the future??the more of a burden it placed on her mind.
After reading five seconds into the future, she decided on a course of action within tenths of a second.
Cistus gave a look of disbelief as she fired randomly from the infantry rifle. Read the future, analyze it, and confirm the action. Because this was being done continuously, a tremendous burden was placed on her brain and nerves.
At the very least, Cistus couldn’t manage this.
To foolishly imitate this would be like scraping her brain away with a knife.
However, Kurumi achieved this as she suddenly approached Cistus.
Another close battle.
There were several options for Cistus to obtain victory.
Take safety measures and shoot the First Bullet <Aleph> at herself. Take the plunge and shoot the Seventh Bullet <Zayin>. Or safety measure 2??use the Second Bullet <Bet> or Third Bullet
<Gimmel> to reduce the consumption of time.
However, Cistus abandoned all of these choices. Because she realized that none of these methods could stop Tokisaki Kurumi who was rushing over here at a frenzied momentum.
So what would be good?
What means could she use to take her out?
Cistus set up a look of giving up as she lowered her raised rifle. Kurumi slightly frowned, but decided she would continue her approach regardless of the trap.
Cistus laughed gracefully as she shouted loudly.
“Hey, me ! You don’t want to know about your past!”
“……!”
Kurumi stopped for a moment but immediately dispelled these thoughts as things that shouldn’t matter. Tokisaki Kurumi’s goal was to leave this Neighboring World and return to the real world.
To go back there and meet him again.
As long as she understood that, she wouldn’t be shaken by these words??it was supposed to be like that.
“Would you like to hear? Me is a fake.”
Stop.
She had forgotten even planning to shoot.
“What……does that mean?”
“I am a clone created by the Eighth Bullet <Het>. But why do you think you are the main body?”
“That’s……that’s……I am……”
There are three types of Tokisaki Kurumi.
Clone, inverted clone, and the original. The Kurumi??here right now, was the original? Or a clone?
“Yes, yes, I understand, I understand. Otherwise, that person will never look back and look at you. Hey, you have seen that memory of him and me ? The two of them cheerfully talking?
However, that’s??”
That’s definitely not your memory, me .
I was surely close to him in that memory. And that person also cared for me.
But??
What if that was all overturned?
I am only a clone produced by the original through the Eighth Bullet <Het>.
A life born to be sacrificed.
What if the person so happy to see that person’s face knew nothing about her own existence?
Wouldn’t that mean she……had nothing at all?
Nothing.
Filled with emptiness……with not even a grain of sand left behind.
Nothing……at all.
Her chest felt so uncomfortable. Her happiness stolen, her hopes plundered. She couldn’t move.
Both her hands and feet felt frozen.
That’s right. She already understood somewhere deep in her heart. I am not the original Tokisaki Kurumi, but a clone of Tokisaki Kurumi. She was unwilling to face this fact all this time.
Since <Zafkiel> can be used, I am the original. She tried so hard to convince herself like this.
“You’re wide open.”
Cistus set up the infantry rifle to pierce through between Kurumi’s eyebrows.
Ah??she exhaled out a sigh. That’s why she felt attacked ever since they first meet. She had deliberately allowed her to be mistaken for the original??all for the sake of stopping her at this moment.
Why go to such extremes to kill each other?
Forget it……it doesn’t matter, Kurumi reconsidered. That sort of question wasn’t important at all.
That person surely doesn’t know about me.
He doesn’t know my appearance. He doesn’t know my story. He doesn’t know my injuries, my thoughts, or anything for that matter.
What he knows is not my me .”
It must surely be the true Spirit who is still fighting in the real world to fulfill her goal.
That person must have been discovered in the middle of those battles.
There must have been conversations, battles, and smiles. And I have none of those experiences.
Perhaps, there is nothing at all??
Just as Kurumi was about give up everything, in her mind Higoromo Hibiki (imagination) suddenly appeared from another space-time and asked with a puzzled look.
Ooh, so it’s like this. What about it? The Kurumi-san I know wouldn’t be discouraged by something so small.
“……! Don’t joke around, Hibiki-san……!”
“Eh……ha……?”
It was no wonder that Cistus was stunned. Regardless of how she got back up, she couldn’t understand why Hibiki’s name would come up here.
Kurumi stood up. She stood up because she was too angry at Hibiki, who wasn’t even here, proclaiming whatever she wanted.
“Yes, yes! That’s right, that’s right! He doesn’t know my existence? Only being able to look at him from afar? There are no ties or connections between us? ……! So what! I really love that person! It doesn’t matter if I have nothing else!”
Kurumi used the Fourth Bullet <Dalet> to repair the injury on her forehead. Because she instinctively bent backwards at that moment, the attack only grazed her skull rather than being a direct hit in the region between her eyebrows.
However, even if she rewinds time, the pain piercing her heart wouldn’t go away.
That person would never turn around to her.
In that case, she would call out to him, tap his shoulders and force him to turn around. I am Tokisaki Kurumi, this is me……that’s just the sort of clone I am!
“Cistus. ??I will continue to fight. I will worry about being a clone after this battle is over.”
As Kurumi smiled invincibly with all her might, Cistus nodded and gave a gentle smile.
“Alright then……I don’t want to waste any more time . I will attack directly. As long as I still draw breath, I will continue to pull the trigger.”
Do not dodge.
Focus only on shooting down the target.
“??I know. I am also the same.”
Kurumi accepted Cistus’s declaration. Pride, dignity, or possibility willpower……she responded the attitude of risking it all in a single move.
Sweat ran past down her neck. The desire of not wanting to die and the zeal of refusing to die both rested in her heart.
“So then??”
Time flowed slowly. Tokisaki Kurumi hoped she could carry out a return from the brink of death.
Besides shooting, she didn’t even give any thoughts to breathing for now.
A strong wind blew. The trigger was pulled the moment the scattered petals obscured each other’s view.
The bullets swept past Kurumi’s shoulder and Cistus’s arm.
Still alive??a step closer to death as she pulled the trigger again. Neither side had struck down their target.
One more step. The next blows were to the side of the abdomen and stomach. One more step.
Blood spilled??these wounds can be recovered later with the Fourth Bullet <Dalet> as she approached another step closer.
She already arrived at aiming distance.
Would either one of them survive or will they both die?
While desperately pulling her consciousness back, Kurumi concentrated on only pulling the trigger. Not thinking of anything else, someone else, something else, or any other indiscernible sad or resentful sentiments.
Her fingertips pulled down the trigger like a smooth machine.
“My bullets landed on the mark.”
“………………Yes, yes. That was wonderful. Truly amazing.”
“Why didn’t you??”
As Kurumi questioned why she didn’t pull the trigger then, Cistus shook her head as if refuse that notion.
“I just couldn’t pull it……for me, that trigger was too heavy.”
Cistus collapsed onto the ground. The impact from falling scattered the surrounding cistus flowers. The blood spurted out from her heart dyed the white flowers a blackish scarlet red.
Kurumi quickly rushed over to Cistus.
Rushing over, she grasped her condition??this was unquestionably a fatal wound. It was impossible to think of this as a trap.
There were so many questions.
The reason for fighting. The reason for giving up this fight.
Cistus quietly whispered as if in a dream-like state.
“It wasn’t me who should survive……because……because……I don’t know that person.”
The confession shocked Kurumi more than anything else.
“But, how come……please wait. Cistus, you were the one that told me.”
Be sure to save the Neighboring World and that person.
Cistus strained out a laugh.
“Everything was taken away, including memories. The White Queen, that inverted clone……took away my memories of that person.”
Aah, so that’s what happened.
Kurumi understood it all as she lowered her head.
“……I don’t know when that inverted clone fell into this Neighboring World. But surely she must be obsessed with that person. That’s right……enough to snatch away memories.”
Cistus’s face distorted from the pain.
“So his face, words, name, everything about that person has become blurred.”
In this changing space, Kurumi firmly grasped Cistus’s hands.
“……Still, there was no need for you to die.”
“No. Because then……it would be impossible to defeat the White Queen. So I had no choice……”
“……?”
“ Me ??Tokisaki Kurumi. Devour me. Use the <City of Devouring Time> to absorb my time and my entire existence.”
“Entire……existence……?”
“Devour my concept, my very existence. Two people stand no chance of winning, so two must become one. In order to use the power of that bullet sealed in <Zafkiel>.”
The White Queen has soldiers, executives, accumulated combat experience, and the terrifying weapon??the Demon King <Lucifugus>.
“But that’s……!”
“I fought to decide this. It ended with the victory of me . So please don’t mourn me. This is……fine.”
There were only a few minutes left before the White Queen returned.
“ Me , the process will certainly not be joyful. Fighting, hurting, parting, crying……all of this repeating. But even so, do you still want to see him? Then please don’t throw it all away here.”
Becoming one, devouring her to become a part of her flesh and blood.
“……I understand.”
Kurumi activated <City of Devouring Time> at the maximum output, intending to completely devour not only Cistus’s time but also her entire existence.
……Slowly, she accepted it all.
The memories of Tokisaki Kurumi before being called Cistus. Of course, most of it was completely miserable. The days where she was deprived of everything and unreasonably reduced to a wretched state.
Time shaved away, a life being cut short, the tears wept from a fear of death.
And finally as her last moments were happening, what was Cistus feeling right now?
“……Cistus, it’s just as you think.”
Cistus nodded back.
Her thoughts as everything was being taken away were not about hatred, envy, or regrets.
“??Aah. Everything is beautiful. Really, it’s so beautiful.”
Of course blooming flowers had this beauty. In the language of flowers, cistus meant “I will die tomorrow”. This girl chose such an ominous meaning for a name and still thought the flowers were beautiful.
Cistus disappeared, entrusting all of her wishes and hopes to Tokisaki Kurumi.
Kurumi picked up a falling petal and slowly adjusted her breathing. And then, a sound resonated.
The sound of loud church bells ringing in every corner of the region. The sound of bells??it felt like a voice extolling blessings.
“……She’s here.”
Likely it was as clear due to her special existence as an inverted clone. She??the White Queen was in this region. Upon receiving the report, she would immediately begin trying to hunt her down.
It would have been ideal to escape this region before she returned. But that would be too idealistic. In any case, she was bound to have another confrontation against her sooner or later.
Escape (game) and war (date) were both not over yet.
“But I don’t want it to be here……fighting against her.”
The flower fields where she had fought against Cistus shouldn’t be disturbed any more.
Nonetheless, it would be wise to fight in an area as spacious as possible considering both the special characteristics of the White Queen and her own Angel.
“Well, since this region is a palace, it should be here if I look for it.”
Kurumi smiled as she quietly whispered.
Then, she said the words appropriate for a new battle and at the same time expressing her new power.
“<Zafkiel>!!”
Cistus had set up a trap??Hibiki and Carte (who was still suspicious but infected by the panic and dragged along) hurried to search for them. However, it was a group of Empties that came to them first.
“Higoromo Hibiki, you are not suitable for fighting, so retreat back to the side.”
“I understand; I also want to run away! But we’re completely surrounded!”
“Damn……! Our previous conversation isn’t over yet……!”
“Like I said! I! Have not betrayed Kurumi-san and it goes without saying that there’s no scheme where I am working for the enemy! I! Will keep following Kurumi-san until she says otherwise!”
“There’s not enough evidence to convince me! Besides, what benefit is there for you! Ah, by the way, I’m personally a super fan of her and have a great motivation of recapturing this region!”
“Quite the extensive scheme!” “No, it’s not huge scheme.” “Let’s fight rather than argue!” “I agree with that!”
“What are the benefits for me, that’s??”
Benefits.
Why was she asking her about benefits? Listening to her say that, it just made the impression she gave feel worse.
However??
“If you put it like that Carte-san, why do you want to return back to the position of being Dominion?”
“Huh……? What’s the point in asking that!? If the White Queen continues to operate the Third Region Binah, everyone will be in trouble! Moreover, I also want to make a comeback!”
“That’s a lie! Being Dominion is super troublesome and you look like the lazy type at first glance!”
“Don’t you know that telling the truth can hurt people, Higoromo Hibiki!?”
“Indeed, she is quite lazy and loose.”
Ace of Spades muttered while cutting down the Empties rushing forward.
“This Neighboring World……is easier to survive here than in the real world. As long as a goal for survival is found, you can live a more relaxed life!”
“Ah, that’s right! I want to live studying magic all day long! ……live……”
“Yes! That’s what I mean Carte-san! I don’t want to live comfortably! It’s because I like Kurumi-san that I want to follow her and be by her side!”
There was no benefit. If she wanted to live happily, there was no need to follow after her.
Just because I like her, I want to follow her. The reason was that simple.
“……That’s too unfair! I also like that person! I am her super fan!”
“??Well, well, it seems that springtime has come for me .”
Hibiki and Carte both turned around to the source of that voice.
The owner of that voice pulled the trigger of her short gun. To the horror of the Empties??the bullets flew out.
Smoke spiraled up from the muzzle. She had a crooked grin that was both lovely and merciless and a golden clock on her left eye. However, her appearance was more adorable than usual, her limbs shorter than usual, and her voice younger than usual.
“Kurumi……chan?”
Seven year old Kurumi turned to Hibiki with a content smile before speaking.
“Alright you two, let’s go to the exit.”
“But……the White Queen is coming back soon.”
“It doesn’t matter; just leave the rest to me .”
Hibiki stared suspiciously at young Kurumi who was showing an invincible smile.
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