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Hidan no Aria - Volume 16 - Chapter 5




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Volume 16: Gévaudan of the Star Fortress

Chapter 5: Kinji Tohyama Will Die Twice

[START]

Myself, Lisa, and a blanket-covered Meiya and the sister soldiers were packed offed into a hanger…

A silver-grey rigid frame Graf Zeppelin NT airship floated in the Dutch sky.

With the exception of Alicebell, all of the members of GRENEDA in Bourtange boarded.

Completely captured, as members of DEEN we were, in yakuza terminology taken to the『office』. GRENEDA’s that is.

Facing the setting sun, toward the west–

–We were heading toward the Atlantic.

In the gondola, Katze’s subordinates were happily singing her praises. As for herself, her expression seemed to say that defeating myself and Meiya was nothing.

It seems that Katze is well-liked among the Nazi girls. It cannot be denied that she is a capable witch, but there is something else that makes her likeable. Even Director Everita likes her.

My Hysteria Mode completely dissipated; I asked the inattentive Katze:

「Oi, Katze, these handcuffs are too tight. Can you adjust them?」

I said, raising the swastika marked handcuffs to the bulkhead window…

「Deal with it, Japanese boy.」

As expected, she saw through it. Even the crow Edgar’s cry seemed to call me an idiot. They must be angry.

「…」

Lisa sat next to me with her knees pulled up, a downcast look in her eyes…

Ever since being captured by GRENEDA, she had been quiet and subdued.

Until now she must have occupied a very low position within GRENEDA.

She must have lost the will to escape, to say nothing of the will to fight.

「Oi, Lisa, don’t make that face. You are an important part of GRENEDA. You’ll join back up with them and everything will be alright.」

She addressed Katze through the door window,

「Ka-Katze-sama! My Master… Tohyama-sama, what will happen to him?」

Lisa asked trembling.

Hm. I’m interested to hear that myself. For my own reference.

「He’ll be executed, of course!」

…Right.

「–At least that is the recommended sentence. I definitely want him to become my familiar. I will vote against it in the GRENEDA tribunal. This time around, I’m an associate judge, and I have 1 vote.」

Katze said with a bright red apple in her hand.

「…A tribunal? That’s awfully modern for GRENEDA. But as for this GRENEDA tribunal… what exactly does an associate judge do?」

I groped for the answer.

「The judge has to power to vote and carry out the sentence, and the associate judges can only vote. In Tohyama’s trial, Director Everita is the only judge, and Patra and I are associate judges. It will be decided by majority vote.」

Katze explained, ticking off the number of people on her fingers.

「Majority rules with 4 votes? What happens if it’s 2 against 2?」

「In that case, the『Irreversible Priority』rule exists to resolve the issue. Irreversible sentences like death cannot be carried out. If I can gain 2 votes, you will avoid death–and become my familiar. I’ve just come from laying the groundwork with Patra.」

「You brought Patra into this?」

「Kinichi is your older brother, isn’t he?」

With a *Crunch!*, I heard Katze take a sudden large bite out of the apple.

「O-oh!」

「Let’s just call it『a good chance to gain a favour from your older brother』.」

「…?」

「The other day I sneaked into Patra’s hotel room in Paris to scout it out. Inside she had made a sand pit, and in the sand, she had written『Kinichi Tooyama』. She was blushing and doing love fortune-telling. For real!」

Patra… must like Nii-san. Even after seeing him as Kana. What an extraordinary woman.

But even so– I don’t know if it would be by shooting or hanging, but I’m grateful that she is against capital punishment. If a beautiful Egyptian woman with exposed skin becomes my sister-in-law because of that… I don’t mind, and I’m prepared to accept that as an unavoidable measure.

***************************************************

Now exiting from the landed Zeppelin–

With Walthers in our backs, we were taken out.

Sand streaming beneath our feet, it was like a cold beach. Tall rock cliffs surrounded the sand and a river ran into the sea. Slightly upstream, there was a waterfall, forming a curtain of water.

It looks like it would be some kind of private beach in the summer, but…

Somehow it felt artificial. Upon closer inspection, the river was artificial too and looked like a canal.

With those thoughts in mind, from inside the waterfall… easing its way through the incessant deluge of the waterfall…

A black miniature submarine appeared on the river.

…So they have something like that. Regiment Hex.

It was a Nazi German U-boat–

But it wasn’t an open water type-7 that sunk English warships. It was a type-23 small ship designed for coastal waters.

At the chimney-shaped sail, amidst the black sailor-suited Regiment Hex witches stood Director Everita in her black uniform. Then after exchanging the customary,「Seig Heil!」greeting with Katze, we were quickly herded below deck.

In the red interior lighting, Director Everita stood holding a horsewhip despite not riding a horse–

「–Welcome to『Dragon Harbour』, Tohyama-shi. This is your final destination.」

A sadistic cast to her narrowed eyes beneath the brim of her military cap, she grinned at me with bright red lipsticked lips.

The U-boat made its way briefly out into the ocean, then made a U-turn and returned to the canal disguised as a river. Then passing through the waterfall, we came to an abrupt halt.

Within the waterfall, we were taken up to the top deck–

「Huh…!?」

Looking around at the surroundings, Lisa let out an exclamation of surprise.

『Dragon Harbour』was a grotto hidden behind the screen of the waterfall and artificially carved out of the rock. As the name would suggest, on the interior wall there was a huge fossil of a carnivorous allosaurus exposed. It was imposing.

The interior of the cavern had electricity, and light bulbs were arranged randomly on the cliff face.

There, on the illuminated water’s surface, GRENEDA’s『office』was anchored–

「… A Nao de la China…」

A large sailing vessel from the Age of Exploration that crossed the open ocean.

Mutou told me about them. They were trading ships, also called Acapulco Galleons. Its crumbling exterior made it look like a ghost ship, but it looked real enough…

It appears to have been refurbished recently with electricity, and the windows were well-lit.

At anchor, one of its sails were lowered, and the Jolly Roger was dyed into it, signifying the meaning『If you resist, you will die』.

It was a realistic depiction of a human skull with 2 crossed femurs below it in the famous crest.

It was the symbol of the pirates that were the common enemy of all humanity.

That ship… perhaps it was captured by some Middle Ages pirate. This harbour must have been an original pirate hideout. Due some twist of fate, did it become one of GRENEDA’s secret bases.

*************************************************

Taking a barge from the U-boat, we crossed over to the ship and rode an elevator up to the deck– in order to prevent fire, it was covered in ceramic tile. It appears that the ship has been fixed in place and is used as a residence.

Entering the ship, the inside was decorated like an extravagant hotel.

But such gaudy style was in poor taste. Rather, with the old armour, wine cases, candelabra style lamps, why do you have a skeleton in full antique dress uniform sitting in an old-fashioned chair? It seemed to scare Lisa. It might be some kind of memorial to a famous pirate.

On our way down a passageway

Ah, a Japanese sword…

I saw a small sword in its sheath hanging on the wall.

I never expected to see a Japanese sword this far West. Due to a lack of care, its hilt was rusty… the accompanying plate read『Bestowed in the twelfth year of the Taishou Era by the great Tamamo』in Japanese script.

That means that Tamamo left it here?

Come to think of it, Tamamo did say that in the last war she did fight for GRENEDA.

So GRENEDA must have had that base since then. Even in the Netherlands where I thought DEEN had them suppressed, GRENEDA had a strong base like this?

****************************************************

From the upper deck a large dining room 2 levels down was visible, and a pleasant scent wafted up.

There were a lot of all kinds of dishes, jumbled together on a large table… and all of us prisoners from DEEN were seated at one corner of it. Apparently, it was time to eat.

Dashing over to the table with her arms spread like an airplane, Katze said:

「Well, I’m hungry! Bourtange was too far!」

Suddenly she stabbed a fish meunière with a fork and began to wolf it down.

「See here, Katze. You didn’t wash your hands before eating.」

Director Everita said, taking her own seat and spooning mashed potatoes into her own mouth.

「That is correct. If you do not begin to act a bit more ladylike with men, they will never come closer. You will never be a bride that way.」

Patra said, taking her own generous helping of fava bean korokke, and digging in.

「…A man. ridiculous!」

Wearing a Hanetsuki hat Sarah was eating a large pile of exclusively steamed broccoli.

There was also one more present, a large woman who appeared to be a guard… I couldn’t see her past the mountain of onigiri, but she took onigiri in her hand and ate them one after another. Every now and then her huge, ogre-like hands were visible.

That is to say… it appeared as if these members of GRENEDA ate only what they liked. A horribly unbalanced diet. Their knowledge of nutrition is lacking.

Besides that, above the table, the crow Edgar pecked at a pretzel, and at Everita’s feet a black panther gnawed on a lamb chop. I’m curious. how is having animals in the dining room by any means sanitary?

But… this scene…

Nazi girls clanged about the kitchen making food, and Anubis soldiers, taking the place of waitstaff, ferried dishes back and forth. It looked like a full-dress banquet with Katze, Everita, Patra, Sarah, and the other large girl eating ravenously.

Were Hilda and Coco here before? With GRENEDA?

In my mind– I saw Hilda putting down a tower a rare steak and red wine, and Coco eating tamago noodles near her at the table.

Yeah… this seems to be a school for bad girls.

By chance, GRENEDA seems to be exclusively made up of girls.

Then I remembered the male Bewitching Blade– He is the only one, including Demon Sword.

But that is fine. It’s like being surrounded by Z-Fighters.

Then…

To say nothing of the taste, there were probably going to be enough leftovers to feed us.

「–Lisa, come here. Here’s a bunch of your favourite Oliebol.」

Katze said, taking Lisa by the shoulder and leading her to the table.

「That’s right, Lisa. You are the strongest girl in GRENEDA. That corner doesn’t suit you.」

Director Everita said, making a gesture of welcome.

While glancing back at me nervously, she moved timidly to join the ranks of GRENEDA.

「Even in I.U., you could have been Sherlock’s successor– Before I withdrew, you were Vlad’s rival, and your fame rose alongside Aria’s. Such a skilled woman must not be allowed to waste away in the countryside.」

Patra and Sarah urged Lisa to eat certain foods, and it felt as if they were forcing her to re-join GRENEDA.

But all that kindness was superficial, and it looked like a scene from an izakaya in Japan.

Timidly, she was forced to join them in their banquet of lies. If she refuses, she will be punished. Seeming to understand that, the half-sobbing Lisa must join the circle.

They definitely want Lisa to use her skills of housekeeping and accounting and resume her old duties.

But what Everita and Patra just said–

About Lisa… the strongest in GRENEDA…. being Vlad’s rival…?

That can’t be. They must be flattering her.

In reality, Lisa… cannot defy them… and she is munching on hole-less oliebol whilst crying. It is her usual blubbering, cowardly self.

Then,

「…This is Brocken. Everyone here is your friend, so please calm down.」

Eating mashed potatoes, Everita looked down at the black panther familiar.

Seemingly named Brocken, the black panther hidden beneath the table seemed to prostrate itself as if bowing to someone.

Even Edgar spread his wings and hunkered down on Katze’s shoulder.

For some reason… I get the feeling that they are scared of someone here.

It’s almost as if there were a lion in the room to make the nervous.

I don’t know what the feeling is. I’m just as scared as everyone else. In terms of fighting power and Hysteria Mode.

–Someone apart from me spoke.

「Hah? Thou are Tohyama, art thou not?」

Speaking ancient Japanese–

I heard a husky voice.

Turning around, I faced the owner of the voice… the huge woman hidden by the onigiri mountain.

She had eaten the mountain down, so now I could see her.

She wore red, green, and yellow African patterned clothes… with Sanskrit characters and something like the Oda Family Camellia crest…? They were frayed for some unknown reason, but it was embroidered on her kimono. Behind her, leaning against the wall, there was a large metal rod of mixed African and Japanese design leaning…

From where she sat cross-legged atop her chair, her golden eyes met mine.

「–……!」

In that instant, my whole body froze stiff.

It was like the feeling I got from Vlad and Hilda, but this was far stronger.

…Wha-what are you…!?

–Strong.

Stronger than anyone here. Including myself, of course. Extraordinarily so…!

The power of a battleship crammed into a girl’s body. That was the impression I got.

「–I am called Yen. The Devil King of the Sixth Heaven and Habi-sama’s envoy. Tohyama. Thou must have come from Japan.」

Danger. Danger. That was all my instincts told me. I wasn’t even in Hysteria Mode.

That girl isn’t human. I understand that much. A horn stood out from her brown-haired head.

She called herself Yen, but I could tell『something』… just by looking at her.

She is a natural enemy of men.

–She’s an『oni』…!

「What sort of country is Japan today? Don’t worry. I’ll let you answer.」

Pouring liquor into a plain vermilion sake cup, the girl who called herself Yen asked huskily.

But, overawed by her power, the words stuck in my throat. Even breathing became difficult.

Like a good gun or blade, as a strong thing, she possessed a particular beauty.

Without omitting anything said above, she was–beautiful.

Large and muscled, even covered in scars, among the other girls from GRENEDA, she had a different sort of beauty. Something that seemed divine.

Yes, this person seemed closer to being a god than human.

At least halfway between god and human.

I wonder… what strength they have hidden? GRENEDA…

No.

That is not right.

In Europe, GRENEDA cannot win. But with this person here. I can’t win.

「No, Yen. There is no need to frighten Tohyama-shi. We are at the end of the campaign, so there is no need to become angry.」

Everita said to Yen, to which she grumbled–

「You can’t end something that never started.」

–*Swish!*

A knife– decorated in African style but shaped like a Japanese dagger– then she set on the table, carving a slice of meat from a leg of deer. Then she carried it to her mouth. Opening her mouth, her canines… weren’t canines at all. They were fangs even more distinct than Hilda’s.

Familiarising herself with GRENDA, Yen glanced around… and it seems that she can control the on/off nature of her overwhelming presence.

Then standing to her feet, she lumbered out of the room.

Her height, if you include her horn, was just under 190 cm. Far taller than me.

Mopping that sweat from my forehead… a hopeless feeling overcame me and as to eating… no, it was impossible.

An oni. Probably a real one.

Seeing that totally dangerous scene, I lost all appetite.

Afterwards, I turned to listen to Everita and Patra’s conversation at the table…

They were discussing GRENDA『post-FEW』.

GRENEDA had overwhelmed DEEN in Europe and expanded its already large sphere of influence–

They had also stolen a large portion of treasure, intelligence, and capable people from the Vatican and Liberty Mason.

And so, having removed the ones standing in their way of moving easily through the criminal underworld… they were considering a way to bring about an end to FEW.

Hilda and Rampan being defeated on the Asian Front was an unexpected development, so things there appeared to be moving toward a truce– or so it appeared from their talk.

And now…

–The apparent winners are preparing a final decisive blow to make sure of their victory.

「Amsterdam is cloudy. But it should clear up tomorrow.」

「Kaiser and Watson are in Amsterdam. Liberty Mason are always one… no, two steps behind. Hohoho!」

「Well, the improved V-2 should be ready tomorrow. That should be fun.」

Sarah, Everita, and Patra spoke together in English….

V-2…!?

Perspiration broke out on my forehead again.

The V-2 was developed by Nazi Germany and was such an advanced rocket that it is hard to believe that it was created more than 70 years ago.

With a maximum speed of 5760 kph, a striking range of 300 km, and a warhead packed with a tonne of explosives… during the war more than 3000 were fired, leaving London in ruins. That is, a ballistic missile.

In addition to Bewitching Blade, Demon Sword, and now Yen, do you have such things, GRENEDA?

From what they are saying, it looks like their plan is to destroy Liberty Mason with their V-2.

The V-2 bombing sends a clear message that『it’s pointless to retreat to London』. With that threat looming in the background, it is even more favourable to negotiating a truce.

If that is the case, then in the future, I.U.’s warhawks, Regiment Hex, and now the strange Yen and her group will hold sway in Europe.

But I don’t say that it isn’t an issue if the Vatican and Liberty Mason are in power…

I have to stop this.

Not only as a member of DEEN, but as a Butei.

DEEN and GRENEDA forces in Europe originally kept each other from acting too rashly, striking just the right power balance.

As I pondered this…

*Step!* *Step!*

With her peacock feather adorned hanetsuki hat–

『Typhoon Sara』who had attacked me in Bourtange walked up to me.

Then staring… she looked into my face.

「What?」

「…」

…She merely stared at me. Staring at a person’s face. That’s rude, you brat.

It’s not like I have a face like a beautiful girl that can be appreciated, you know!

「…Don’t you dare say『If you’ll follow me, I’ll give you half the world』!1」

「Don’t be absurd. Dead people can’t rule the world.」

「?」

「Just now, I was『reading your face』like a palm. It’s a foolish face, but it is patently clear.」

「What is patently clear?」

「The look of death.」

…Look of death…you say?

「I am able to tell if someone will die within the next 7 days. You will die tomorrow. That is certain.」

Sarah stated as flatly as Reki without any inflection–

「Bewitching Blade already said as much. You must be fond of cheap threats.」

I said with a sniff and glared at her.

*************************************************

After the meal, Lisa remained behind with those from GRENEDA…

Separated from Meiya and the rest Katze said:

「I’ll take you to see someone you’ll like.」

And she took me to a lower deck.

Then entering a room with hieroglyph covered carpet–

「…!」

There, wearing on silver amour was Jeanne…!

Turning a bold smile toward me, she stood.

「『I apologize Tohyama』… Haha! You are looking well. Haha! Hoho!」

Unable to stand it, she held her sides and broke into laughter…

No, that’s not it. She looked like she was smiling.

But it was fake. It was perfect, but this was something else…!

「Patra…!?」

「Bingo!」

Patra’s voice replied, and the fake Jeanne–

From the skin on her face with a rustle… small particles of dust-like sand and an almost imperceptible mist of steam fell away.

「This is Cursed Water make-up that I created with Patra. Unlike Riko’s special effects make-up, it is not merely applied to the face. It is able to be applied to the whole body and change the colour of your skin and enable you to alter your features however you like. It’s the make-up of dreams without requiring cosmetic surgery. As you would expect, it can’t make you taller, but thankfully Patra is taller.」

Revealing the secret of the trick, Katze high-fived Patra who still wore Jeanne’s armour.

Then the one who led me the corner where Bewitching Blade that night in Bourtange…

It was Patra!

Thinking back now.– she explained the fact that『l’Opera』meant『opera house』and did not merely refer the Palais Garnier– but she had done so twice.

She explained it before I met Bewitching Blade, and the second time… she spoke as if she didn’t remember explaining it in Paris. I had even gone so far as to praise her memory by saying,『You really are an amazingly intelligent young lady』while in Hysteria Mode.

…I guess I deserve this.

Once before, Jeanne had used Riko’s make-up and used her voice-changing technique… and transformed herself into Shirayuki to infiltrate Butei High. Now Patra had done the same.

But since Patra in wearing Jeanne’s armour–

「…I want to see the real Jeanne.」

I said in a voice trembling with rage as I scowled at them.

「I’ll let you see her if you don’t say anything about it. This ship is falling apart, and the stateroom is one of the few rooms sturdy enough to use as a cell. You and Jeanne will share a room. The two of you won’t do anything weird, right?」

Adding the unnecessary warning, Katze pointed her twin sparkling gold Lugers at me again.

I knew it–she was captured.

*************************************************

「Alright? Someone will come check on you every once and a while.」

Opening a door with a small iron grilled window, Katze kicked me in the butt…

The lower gundeck of the tri-level ship had been partitioned off, and it appeared this room was part of the gun platform.

The floor was made of bare planks and the room seemed to be spacious–

「Tohyama…!」

Jeanne…!

Wh-wh-why are you wearing those clothes that look like a sheer wedding dress!?

*********************************
Aria_16_146
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I-I-I can see through it! Under the dress. Your underwear… it looks like a white bathing suit.

「A-are you okay, Jeanne?」

The first words out of my mouth were serious… but her underwear looked like something someone from one of Riko’s games would wear, and pushed up her breasts making them bounce, and causing me to fluster again.

Looking at her, I could see that her arms were bound behind her back, and a braid of imitation wild roses twined over and under her breasts. Because of that, the sheer cloth was stretched, and her breasts were heavily emphasised. GRENEDA, your skill at tying people up is lacking.

「It was my own fault that I was captured, Tohyama. I thought to save money in Brussels by doing laundry at a coin operated laundry in the evening, and Regiment Hex took advantage of that mistake. There was a witch hidden in each of the laundry machines. There were 6 machines for a total of 6 witches.」

That must have been about the time that Bewitching Blade tried to kill me…

「As soon as I shut the machine on my right, the left opened, and when I closed the one above me, a witch appeared from the one below, and I was unable to deal with them all. I put the washing on my head and used both my arms and legs to hold them closed, but I couldn’t handle them all…!」

The tale of how she fought Katze’s followers with her underwear and nightshirt atop her head unfolded…

But, yeah, this is the real Jeanne.

This airheaded-ness can’t be faked. Just listening to her makes me feel better.

「6 against 1, I was defeated due to my own error. Please punish me, Tohyama. Whip me.」

With tears in her eyes, Jeanne pressed nearer to me in her sheer dress–

「I don’t have such a thing, and even if I did, I can’t with my hands like this.」

I said raising my hands to show her the reverse swastika marked handcuffs I wore.

「I won’t hit you either. The Team that falls out when someone makes a mistake is the worst of the worst. You should try to avoid it, but making mistakes is human. What is most important is how you recover once you’ve recognised a mistake.」

I said, repeating Ranbyou’s words, and Jeanne looked up at me with a heart-rending look of admiration… even in prisoned, all was not settled.

Then, sitting next to Jeanne against the wall, I told her about what had happened until now.

From the suspicion of a traitor, to my time hiding in the back country with Lisa in the Netherlands– I told her everything…

「Lisa? What did you do while you lived together? How did you get food? Did you share a bedroom?」

The excitement of our reunion having been replaced, the former I.U. member sulked. Pouting for some reason, she pressed for details of my time with Lisa.

「I-it was nothing exceptional, just a quiet sort of life.」

If I were open and let the wrong thing slip at this moment, it could ruin the moment–

「…Speaking of which, why are you dressed like that?」

Here I employed my secret technique, Slash III.2

Recently, Aria saw through it and hit me with a Gov-ham (an abbreviation of Government Hammer, where she holds the slide of her gun and hits me with the grip) between the eyes, while shouting,『You can’t try and change the subject so easily!』– but Jeanne is naive. Thanks to the success of my secret technique…

「These are the clothes of a sacrifice.」

「Sacrifice?」

「Have you met『Typhoon Sara』? Did she use her special ability against you?」

「Yeah, she did. It was incredible.」

「Originally, Sarah was I.U.’s forecasting soldier. She has the ability of『Macroscopic Intelligence』 and she is able to predict natural events in a broad manner. She is also able to determine when humans and animals are near death…」

As she said that, I recalled Sarah’s words about a『look of death』.

「–How accurate is it? Is it like Patra’s fake fortune-telling?」

「No, it is absolutely certain. I’ve never seen her be mistaken.」

…Is that right.

「Sara made a prediction. Soon afterwards,『The Beast of Gévaudan』appeared.」

「The Beast of Gévaudan…?」

「Do you know about it…?」


Lisa had told me about it at the festival in Bourtange, but now Jeanne seemed to pout–

「I’ve heard a bit about it. But I don’t have any details. What is it, actually?」

I said, asking for details–

「A monster.」

M-monster… that word instantly gave me a bad feeling that it was something I didn’t want to fight. Definitively so. Absolutely not!

「What… kind of monster? Like Godzilla or King Kong?」

I voiced my initial thoughts, taking a shot in the dark–

「Closer to the latter.」

–Close to King Kong, you say!

「Instead of an ape, it looks like a wolf. When it devastated 18th century Western Europe it was called『The King of Beasts』, and according to traditional folklore, it could be appeased by offering it a French maiden–and that is what they intend to do. I am the intended sacrifice. But don’t worry. The legend is flawed. I know because I heard it from my grandmother: if the beast is male, you offer a woman, and if it is female, you offer a man. Therefore, the probability of me being eaten is 0%.」

With a laugh, Jeanne put on a smug look, but…

Aren’t the odds closer to 50%?

That is to say, if it is female, won’t I be offered up as bait!?

「Well, all that is a matter of luck… but it would seem that the effect of Meiya who shielded us with luck have been blown away by Sarah’s special ability. Bearing the label of traitors, we are both here to serve as monster bait, but the instant that we’ve exhausted our usefulness, they’ll kill us.」

「Form what you’ve told me of the traitor… You must think that I’ve been hiding, don’t you?」

Jeanne always followed my line of thought–and she wanted to say something.

「I have not have anything to do here, so I’ve been thinking about their true identity. And I’ve reached a conclusion.」

「…Actually, I have too. I didn’t have anything to do in Bourtange.」

「Did you? Even with Lisa there?」

「What are you trying to say? We should stop this navel gazing」

I said, making the『leave it』gesture with my still shackled hands.

「Navel? Why are you talking about navels? Are you interested in my navel? Why?」

Saying that, Jeanne looked down at her stomach in her revealing outfit.

「What are you saying!? I’m not talking about anything that complicated! I’m saying that we should move away from this side topic and put the subject of Lisa aside!」

「You should have said so from the beginning. You really are a dunce.」

「Ugh… So… s-setting that aside, let’s consider who the traitor is. It would be bad for us if we suspected different people, so『on three』, we’ll name out prime suspect. If you think we’ll say different names, we’ll keep our mouths closed.」

「You should have said so from the beginning. You really are a dunce.」

Grasping my meaning all at once–

Jeanne moved in order to see my lips more clearly. Moving our faces closers.

Closer, and closer. Why do all Westerners like Aria seem to lack all sense of proper distance?

「One. Two…」

Jeanne’s rosy lips moved…

「「The Vatican」」

Jeanne and I chorused.

Seeing that she did not say a person’s name, I could tell that Jeanne understand the trick as well.

「The Vatican has systematically passed information from DEEN to GRENEDA. The exact reason is unclear, but it’s hard to say that they are complete traitors– I would say that this is 80% of a betrayal.」

I said, to which, Jeanne replied:

「Meiya would definitely not have known about it, so she acted as the Vatican desired. Acting in that manner she dutifully carried out her orders to『fight GRENEDA』. There was no way that she could have doubted anyone.」

Jeanne Continued.

「Therefore–Meiya would have continued to report on the European Front, and the information shared by Tamamo and the Asian allies would also be passed along. That is a 20% betrayal.」

「Put together, this arrangement served the function of a spy. It would also be hard for us here on the front to detect.」

Jeanne arrived at the same conclusion I did in Hysteria Mode.

I would make a small correction, though. I would like to take the『self-styled』part out of Jeanne’s title of『self-styled tactician』. Gradually.

「–Allow me to make a slight correction.」

Into our conversation—

Suddenly, a voice came from outside the door.

Jeanne and I both turned toward the metal grille on the door, but there was no recognition on Jeanne’s face…but I did.

I met them in Brussels, at Liberty Mason’s hidden lodge.

With beautiful, long blonde, a Vatican nun with gold embroidered white robes. Her unseeing eyes turned toward us–

「Loretta-san. Is that you?」

Loretta answered me.

「At the time of Bandire, I entrusted Meiya with a message… The Vatican has no desire for war. Regardless of whether DEEN or GRENEDA prevails, we have no wish to be completely destroyed– Thus, we needed some manner of insurance.」

Does that mean they were『on no side』? From the very start.

They were… thinking about the post-war era before the war began.

Showing a friendly face to both sides, they intend to make it easier for themselves. As expected of a nation that betrayed its allies at the end of the second World War in order to be on the winning side.

An in order to hide it, they– had not choice but to send the fanatic Meiya to the front to enhance their luck.

I really must say, it was well done. Their strategy.

「Thank-you for protecting me when Kaiser wanted to kill me.」

I replied with mingled sarcasm–

「We desire to minimise the amount of casualties. On both sides.」

「You’ve certainly talked yourself up.」

「You do not understand. And so… I will use my one vote…. I will vote for your death.」

「…What?」

「GRENEDA tribunal has 4 members. I have already been granted voting rights, so there are 5 votes. Everita, Yen, and myself– we have a majority and will decide your death.」

So that’s why you came?

「I wished for you to know.」

Leaving me with those words, Loretta… left with her white cane tapping the floor.

I became angry. I was angry… but whether it was『Loretta and Meiya’s fault』was a difficult matter.

A devout person operates on different principles than other humans. That is common sense in this world. If partnering with a religious person, a Butei must consider it.

Even so, I paid it no mind.

I trusted a nun and member of the clergy without reservation–

And that was my own mistake.

*********************************************************

My death sentence was confirmed in tribunal that night and to be carried out the next morning.

Forget an attorney, as the accused, I wasn’t even called in! It was an instantly decided case.

The results were 3 to 2. Katze and Patra opposing. I should thank them.

Jeanne and Lisa’s sentences were also decided,『Sacrifice to the Beast of Gévaudan』which was death, and『Acquittal and re-education』, respectively. That’s pretty sloppy isn’t it? The only choices are death or acquittal!

Jeanne was taken into another room in order to apply make-up, but after that… perhaps thinking I would take the opportunity to escape, the one who came to pronounce my sentence was Yen.

The large woman oni.

「Kinji Tohyama. If you are a soldier, be courageous. If you wish it, I will lend you a small knife.」

Stepping into the room, Yen spoke those words and offered me a knife…

「I’m not a soldier. I’m a Butei. Isn’t that the knife you just used to cut up the deer leg? If I use that to cut my stomach, all kinds of things will get inside.」

Even if I took such an unwieldy blade, there was no way I could fight a true-to-life oni. So I refused the offer.

「Are you fearful of lockjaw before death? As was the case with Ishida Mitsunari. Wahaha!」

Yen laughed a masculine laugh–*Squeeze!*

Whoa!

Without a second thought, she lifted me up in her arms. This is what they call the ‘princess carry’.

I’ve done it several times myself, but this is the first time it’s been done to me.

Why does it feel like I am being dominated? She hasn’t suddenly fallen in love, has she? Looking up at her nearby, Yen looked like a good-looking guy. Even though she is a woman.

In that state, I was taken out onto the deck from the passageway, and from the deck to the Type 23 submarine where Director Everita waited.

Finally, entering the ship… but the one who might be my ally, Katze, was absent.

「–Katze is not here. That child merely served to vote as an associate judge. She does not have the need-to-know of the final disposition, but you may be gladdened to know that she thought that she owed you some debt.」

Everita loosed a sadistic smile– and she seemed to have some diabolical scheme.

「Now then, Tohyama-shi. You must be veeery nervous about your manner of execution. Will you want a blindfold?」

「I do not need one.」

「I thought as much.」

「… Will it be death by shooting?」

「No. You wouldn’t die if shot.」

The submarine passed slowly under the waterfall, then immediately after surfaced…

「If you have a will, you can leave it with me.」

Everita said, wearing the sword Durandal that she had seized from Jeanne on her left hip– I also noticed that she wore my Beretta alongside it.

「I don’t have a will, however… you have my knife and Desert Eagle. They were a present from my brother and a memento of my father. If you have the chance– you’ll give them to Kana, won’t you? I think you know, but Kana is my sibling.」

As soon as I said,『memento of my father』, Everita made a pained expression.

Then,

「Understood, Tohyama-shi. I have seen a photograph of Kana-joshi, Katze met her at Bandire. I swear by the swastika to do so.」

Can you swear by such bad things?

As we carried on this conversation, we went up through the deck hatch, and looking over where we had come from, several Nazi girls were getting something in a round steel frame ready on the launch pad near the water’s edge–

「V-2…」

The Nazi Germany’s prized ballistic rocket glistened with a faint, ghostly light in the moonlight

「To be more precise, it is an updated version of the V-2. It has been modified to be piloted in order to make up for its low accuracy and provide a certain kill. What do you think? Is this a fitting epitaph for your long series of battle?」

The black uniformed Everita pointed out the V-2 with a black leather gloved hand.

「You are『The Cursed Man』who returns strong retribution to the one who tries to kill you. Therefore, I have decided not to kill you by my own hand. Can you see the cell on the launchpad? First, we will drown you in it at high tide.」

「『First』…?」

「Kinji Tohyama will die twice. Beginning with water, and then by fire. Just to be sure, we will kill you once at high tide, and once with the V-2. After drowning in the cage, the combined kerosene, liquid oxygen, and solid rocket fuel jet from under the V-2 will reach 3000 degrees– evaporating the seawater. 」

Everita slapped a riding crop against my chest that she has seemingly taken from Jeanne…

It appears that they don’t think that I’ll die if I’m only killed once.

Well, thinking about it now, it can’t be helped can it? This must be some kind of just desserts.

Heaving a sigh next to me, Everita drew a cigarette case from her breast pocket.

Then,

「These are the last moments of your life. I’m not Japanese, but I’m sorry.」3

She took out a gold ringed Sobranie Black Filter cigarette.

…Moment by moment, things are becoming more real.

I don’t smoke tobacco, but I took it and pretended.

I might gain one or two minutes from it. In the Netherlands, smoking is legal from age 16, and as soon as I’m in that cage, I won’t be able to move hand or foot.

「This is unexpectedly kind.」

My hands handcuffed, I held it in my mouth…

「It’s a custom. From the great war.」

Everita deftly struck a match, as if lighting a cigarette for a friend.

Unskilfully, I slowly breathed in the tobacco smoke–watching the V-2 from atop the waves.

It was 14 metres tall and 3.56 across…? At least that was what it appeared to be.

Its body was covered in a checkerboard painted pattern that made it easy to check its angle and trajectory prior to launch.

Its efficient, retro beech nut shape gave it a sense of aesthetics.

「You said it was piloted. Who is riding it? You?」

「Of course not. Katze is.」

Everita said while smoking her own Sobranie with a small smile.

「When it comes to you, that child’s Anderehaft is in question. That is what sets Regiment Hex apart. I also told her it is a chance to make up for her loss at the Musée de la Guerre École.」

They don’t know what her feelings toward me are, so they are making her participate in killing me, huh?

Such unrivalled cruelty is only to be expected of the descendants of Nazis.

「…What will happen to Katze? Isn’t that dangerous?」

「It is not a suicide weapon, so don’t worry. It will only be manned until it reaches its peak at sub-orbital altitude, and before it enters free fall, it is designed so that the pilot ejects.」

「Where is it going to hit? With a pilot in that size rocket, the amount of combustible fuel is reduced, and it will become a short-range missile. Even with stealth technology, if it flies far it may be shot down by enemy troops.」

「Insightful. The target is domestic within the Netherlands. Liberty Mason’s lodge in Amsterdam. Kaiser and Watson will be there tomorrow morning.」

GRENEDA must have gotten that intelligence from the Vatican…

Are they planning to destroy Liberty Mason and the last bastion of DEEN in Europe with this V-2?

But it is not only the fuel that is reduced by having it piloted. But there’s something else. I have to confirm it.

「–What is the warhead?」

「Well, don’t you know?」

Everita narrowed her slanted eyes.

A small, but deadly warhead…

There are only a few such things.

What’s more I surmise that they had to purchase the ingredients in Paris–

「A chemical warhead?」

「See, you do know! Cyanide concentrate– combined with the moisture in the air, it becomes harmless, it is easy to disperse, and the area of effect can be limited to a square block. The mean lethal dose is 0.4 mg per kilogram– within a radius of 50 metres of impact, the lethality rate is 100%. Even with an autopsy, the effects of this versatile weapon are hard to distinguish from carbon monoxide poisoning. It was originally an American weapon, but the formula was leaked onto the internet and we grabbed it from there. 」

「…!」

It’s not just Jeanne and I that have the shinigami’s sickle at our necks. Watson and the rest of them are in danger as well.

But I don’t have any way to strike back.

The female oni Yen stood behind me with arms folded… In the light of the full moon, the silhouette of a pod of whales swam peacefully of the coast.

But even so–

Butei Charter, Article 10: Never give up. A Butei never, ever gives up.

–I mustered enough of my courage.

The last piece of Sobranie ash fell to the sand of the Dutch beach.

*********************************************************

The ocean soaked the steel cage throughout the night, reaching my waist, stomach, then chest–

Gradually, the winter seawater chilled my body.

The water is already almost at the top of the cage. It is becoming deeper than my height.

By pulling myself up, I am able to breathe.

The night passed with a light rain that made me unable to sleep, and dawn was already approaching–

Yen, Sarah, Regiment Hex members, and Everita brought Lisa to the sandy beach… the Loretta from the Vatican appeared.

Everyone surrounded me. They must have come to see the combined V-2 launch and my execution.

In defiance, I did not shiver in the freezing water that reached up to my neck…

I saw some SdKfz 2’s stopped at the water’s edge.

Alighting from the back seat was Katze in a black pressure suit.

She crossed over to the temporary scaffolding on the launchpad, seemingly paying no heed to the fact that I was directly below.

「Chic, isn’t it? It’s the same design as uniforms from the time of the great war, designed by Chanel.」

Katze said, smiling at and turning the eye without the eye patch toward me while showing off the coat of arm on the back to her followers.

The chequered exterior of the V-2 was covered in a light frost. During the war, the fuel was liquid ethanol, but it appears to be kerosene and liquid oxygen–it looks like they have finished fuelling.

「It’s raining a bit. Isn’t the chemical warhead vulnerable to water? Is it alright?」

「Don’t worry. According to Sarah-sama’s forecast, the skies over Amsterdam are clear.」

Katze raised her eyes to the dark clouded sky, and spoke to her subordinates in German… 『If we lose contact before launch, I’ll kill Jeanne』,Everita threated, while I listened silently.

As the scattered showers intensified, Katze climbed into the hatch at the top of the V-2.

At that point, the tide swelled, and I couldn’t breathe without looking up.

Then the waves began to lap over and cover my face. Now I couldn’t breathe no matter how hard I tried.

Gradually, I began taking in seawater. This is bad.

–Dammit! As it was–

I would drown just like Everita had said. Then after the V-2 cooked me, there wouldn’t even be a body left behind.

An electric megaphone in her hand, Everita said–

「–Observational reports are in. Launch angle is within acceptable limits. Bad weather withstanding, it presents no obstacle to launch. Launch will commence in 7 minutes. Abort is impossible going forward–Sieg Heil!」

She announced to everyone… in Japanese so that I more than anyone else could follow along as well.

「–6 minutes, 50 seconds!」

Counting down in apparent 10 second intervals, white smoke began to pour from the V-2’s jet nozzle.

But before fire erupted from the jet-black nozzle, according to Everita’s plan–

I would be dead. With each breath I took in more seawater.

「6 minutes, 40 seconds! …6 minutes, 30 seconds…!」

Dammit…! I… I have to do something…!

Strength left my body due to. the pain–

Then…

「H-hey, Lisa, stop! What are you doing?」

Her countdown sequence interrupted, Everita shouted.

Laying my head sideways, I looked toward the beach–

Lisa…?

With Everita focused on the V-2, Lisa managed to shake off the hands that held her.

With the sound of ringing steel, she snatched Durandal and my Beretta from where Everita wore them on her hip.

Then, leaving the members of GRENEDA behind her frozen in shock– she ran across the beach with sword and gun in her arms, kicking up sand.

Running… towards me…!

Some of Everita’s followers made as if to follow, but the V-2 was about to launch. If they dallied too long, they’d be engulfed in the wash of the jet flame.

Lisa… had been waiting for that exact moment.

At this time, they can’t reach me.

Splashing through the seawater, she pushed her way towards me–

「…L-Lisa! Stop, don’t come closer! Why…why did you come!?」

I shouted through the gap in the iron bars, interrupted several times by the waves.

Crying, half of her fear for me Lisa said–

「–If I abandon Master, I will have bad dreams afterwards. A good night’s rest is important.」

Lisa repeated what I had said before in Beligium, as she forced a desperate smile.

Lisa…!

But in a situation like this– your death is not certain.

This situation is like the one in the underground storage area in Butei High with Shirayuki. But in order to rescue her that time– I had my trump card, Hysteria Mode.

But Lisa, you… can’t even fight…!

「Master, please take these weapons. Master is『Enable』. I’m sure that’s enough…!」

Lisa pushed Durandal and my Beretta through the bars of the cage.

But in the water, I couldn’t take hold of them. Both of them sank to the bottom of the cage.

No, Lisa.

No matter what you believe, I am not a hero.

The truth is I’m weak and just… just a normal highschool student.

Even if I put on a bold face and recited Butei Charter, Article 10…

The truth was that I had given up. In the deepest core of my being.

Over on the beach, I heard the members of GRENEDA arguing through the megaphone.

Although outraged by Lisa’s actions– they can’t stop the launch now.

The V-2 will launch within 4 minutes. It will take them a while to come and recapture Lisa, and it isn’t certain that they will be able to return to a safe distance.

Therefore, as『Enable』and without a chance to survive, I wanted to tell Lisa a way to escape.

「Run, Lisa! You… don’t need to be burned up too!」

「It is a maid’s duty to lay down her life for her master.」

Frantically clinging to the top of the cage. Lisa hands shaking with fear as she searched for a break that didn’t exist. Her white blouse soaked, above her back– in a few moments, a 3,000-degree flame will spurt out from the jet-black nozzle of the V-2.

That’s fine, but–

Lisa had to leave this place!

「No! You have to live! That… is your duty!」

For the first time, I took the role of master seriously–and as I drowned, I gave Lisa that order. From the bottom of my heart.

Hearing that, Lisa, as a maid, took notice and responded in earnest… Her blue eyes filled with tears that began to spill over.

「Lisa…Lisa was truly happy to serve Tohyama-sama.」

Behind her–

The V-2’s jet nozzle began to glow orange.

–Lisa–

Betrayed GRENEDA a second time.

Mustering her courage, she turned her back on GRENEDA again.

But this time her crying is different than the time she broke down as she ran away into the subterranean tunnels.

She isn’t running away.

Lisa is standing up to them. Her own weak self, against a might organisation. Alone. It wasn’t something she hadn’t done until now. Summoning her courage.

–She had made up her mind, for me, her master.

「… I wish to speak frankly. At first, I relied on you to survive in the tunnels of Brussels. But when we ran away together… Master smiled in Amsterdam. But when you were with me, and praised me, only then did I smile. But– that as then. Then, you were Lisa’s Master…」

–*Ka-thunk!*–

I heard a small noise…

Lisa’s words had come to an unwilling end, and something stuck out from her back.

Immediately I understood what the noise was.

Lisa knew as well.

「…Master. Thanks to you, Lisa will always be happy…」

Then she draped over the almost completely submerged cage–

One arm sticking through the bars as she fell.

–A peacock feathered arrow stuck straight out from her back.

Piercing deep through her heart.

It was– Typhoon Sarah’s arrow.

**************************************

IMG_008

**************************************

「Lisa…!」

I caught a hold of her arm, and something fell out.

I grabbed it from the water, and I knew what it was.

I had given it to her in Bourtange… the origami windmill.

『Thanks to you』…?

Me…

I hadn’t done anything.

I just chased away those kids, didn’t I?

But you showed so much devotion… even coming this far…

I was now in the water.

The cage was totally covered. I couldn’t breathe.

Looking up toward the water’s surface, past Lisa, the jet flames were about to start–A confused Katze watched us.

–I, no, we were here. Underwater.

Is it our destiny to sink here, burn out, and disappear?

In the water, I grasped the unmoving Lisa’s arm and grit my teeth.

I—

Still can’t be a proper master.

I need to do my part and that means『fighting』, but I can’t even do that.

Having a maid, means that I have to live up to my role as a master.

Butei Charter, Article 2. The contract with your client must absolutely be fulfilled–『Absolutely』means『even if you die』.

As far as contracts go, for Butei, agreements are weighty things.

–Can I give up? Is that an option? I don’t want to.

Contrary to my wishes, my vision began to blur.

The oxygen levels in my blood were falling, and strength was leaving my entire body.

I couldn’t even hold on to Lisa’s arm anymore.

I kept my mouth shut desperately, but I gained no more strength. Then, water flowed into my airway as I exhaled. I began to feel hollow.

Heavy. My whole body felt heavy.

My eyelids felt 10 times heavier. I couldn’t help closing my eyes.

…This, Tohyama cherry tree…

My heartbeat grew faint. I understood it. Slowing, weakening, and becoming even slower–

…If it, scatters…

–Then–

My heartbeat stopped.

Just like the Bewitching Blade, Seiji and Typhoon Sarah said….

— I died.

[END]

**************************************************

1. Line from Dragon Quest. You meet the dragon lord who offers you half the world if you don’t fight him. If you accept, he kills you. You have to choose to fight and beat him to win.

2. Kanji say: ‘topic aversion’. Slash means ‘/’, which can mean a logical ‘OR’. Basically, he is switching topics.

3. She says, ‘gomenasai’ here.





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