Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? - Volume 19 - Chapter 2

Prisoner Life

Wednesday, September 15th

The children who had been kidnapped by Darkness Rainbow to be used as sacrifices in their summoning ritual were fortunately able to walk away from the encounter unharmed. The ritual had been activated at only 20 percent completion, meaning the children had only been drained of about 20 percent of their spiritual energy to power it. And that was collective. Some of them had only lost as little as 10 percent. Moreover, since Darkness Rainbow had only collected children with exceptional amounts of spiritual energy in the first place, losing just 10 to 20 percent of their spiritual energy only reduced them to the level of normal humans. It might keep them from becoming magicians in the future, but it wouldn’t have much of an effect on them other than that.

Knowing the children were well physically was a relief to Koutarou and the others, but their mental states were still a point of concern. That was why, with the children’s best interests in mind, a certain precaution was taken before they were returned home to their parents. It wasn’t hard to imagine that the trauma of being kidnapped to be used as sacrifices would scar any child that age, so wiping their memories of the event would be essential in helping them return to their normal lives. However, simply erasing their memories would confuse the children, so they were overwritten instead. They were essentially fed the plot of a hero show—they were kidnapped by relatively innocuous “bad guys” and swiftly rescued. In fact, the children were probably at home telling their parents about how they were rescued by Harukazeman right about now.

But even with the children safely returned, Darkness Rainbow’s attempted attack on the city was a serious ordeal. In order to cover it up completely, the Sun Rangers had to pull some strings. Neither they nor the government they worked for wanted any friction with the Magical Kingdom of Folsaria, so they were willing to do what they could to smooth things over and leave the rest to Rainbow Heart.

And so, after a couple of harrowing days, the serial kidnapping incident was ultimately resolved. The last remaining loose thread was Dark Crimson, who had been captured at the very end of the fighting.

One of the first steps for a member of Rainbow Heart working in Japan was securing a place to stay. Most of the time, this was facilitated with help from local cooperators. The lodgings obtained in such a fashion often ended up becoming safehouses. Rainbow Heart safehouses were stocked with a supply of various magical items for communication and transportation for any agents that might need them. They were also warded with a number of spells to keep them off of Darkness Rainbow’s radar, which made them the perfect place to keep the captive Crimson.

Crimson was presently confined in the storehouse of one such safehouse. The storehouse was outfitted to be used as a prison in the event it was absolutely necessary, and had various defensive and suppressive spells cast on it. Between those, once her staff had been confiscated, it would be next to impossible even for a leader of Darkness Rainbow to escape. Knowing that, Crimson obediently sat in her chair, facing the people that had come to interrogate her—Koutarou, Yurika, and Kiriha.

“Crimson-san, please tell us... Where is Darkness Rainbow’s base?” Yurika asked with a solemn expression.

In order to put a stop to everything, Yurika had decided that she needed to attack Darkness Rainbow’s base directly. But the only one who knew where it was... was Dark Crimson. That was why Yurika was pleading with her with uncharacteristic seriousness.

“Gee, where was it again...? Who knows?”

However, Crimson had no intention of simply telling her the location. She had been offered immunity if she gave up magic and the information Rainbow Heart needed, but Crimson was unmoved on the matter. The only thing that mattered to her was getting stronger, and she wasn’t about to give that up. She wasn’t about to willingly walk away from the life that let her fight freely as she pleased, even against her own friends.

“Then when is Darkness Rainbow going to attack Rainbow Heart?”

“Gee, when was that again...? Who knows?”

“Crimson-san, at this rate, all of Folsaria will become a battlefield! No good will come of it, no matter who wins!”

Both Rainbow Heart and Darkness Rainbow were small military forces by Japan’s standards, but Folsaria wasn’t a big country. If the two factions fought in an all-out war there, innocent civilians would be embroiled in the conflict. With the new technology and magics Darkness Rainbow had access to, the entire country might even go up in flames. Yurika wanted to avoid that no matter what, which was why she’d made the bold and desperate choice to go on the offensive.

“I don’t care.”

Yet even so, Crimson remained unmoved. Life, love, innocence, safety... Those things weren’t even on her radar. All she cared about was fighting and getting stronger. She couldn’t care less about what happened to her country.

“Crimson-san!”

“I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”

“But you do know!”

“Even if I do, there’s no way I’m just gonna tell you. That’s all top secret, you know.”

“Th-That’s...”

“If it’s really that important to you, why don’t you try torturing me? That might make me talk.”

“Ugh...”

Yurika was at a loss for words. Even though she’d steeled herself for it, she simply wasn’t cut out for this kind of hardline negotiating. Seeing her struggle, Koutarou lent her a helping hand.

“Once Rainbow Heart and Darkness Rainbow’s battle comes to an end, there won’t be anyone left for you to fight. Wouldn’t that be the worst kind of torture of all for you?” he said, putting a hand on Yurika’s shoulder.

She looked up at him in slight relief. Crimson, on the other hand, flashed a defiant smile.

“That’s an interesting thought. I hadn’t considered that, but... Who knows? Maybe I’ll strike out on my own and create another anti-government organization. Fighting against Darkness Rainbow to see who’s stronger sounds like fun too.”

Crimson was unfazed by Koutarou’s threat. She didn’t really care who she fought, even if that meant making an enemy out of Darkness Rainbow. She simply wanted to fight—that was her sole purpose in life.

“What do you think, Kiriha-san?”

“At this rate, we aren’t going to learn anything without resorting to torture. That said, I’m not sure she’d talk even then.”

Kiriha could tell Crimson was made of stubborn stuff. Torture wasn’t exactly something Koutarou and the girls wanted to use in the first place. Moreover, they didn’t have time for it—and Crimson knew that. She was quite sure she could endure whatever Koutarou and his comrades threw at her because it wouldn’t last for long. Darkness Rainbow’s battle with Rainbow Heart was on the horizon and drawing nearer with every passing minute. Once they made their move, it wouldn’t even matter if the location of their base was revealed.

“Yurika, can’t you use magic to read her mind?”

Even if violence wasn’t a viable option, they might be able to force the truth out of Crimson magically. Or so Koutarou was hoping as he looked to Yurika, their last hope.

“It would be easy enough if she were willing, but it will take a great deal of preparation to ready a spell strong enough to work against someone as hostile and resistant as she is.”

Alas, Yurika shook her head. Forcibly reading the mind of a magician would be no simple task.

“So we’re stuck...” Koutarou said with a sigh, his shoulders drooping.

Crimson wasn’t willing to cooperate with them, and they didn’t have time to try and force anything out of her, magically or otherwise. In short, this had turned into a dead end.

“Koutarou, there’s something I would personally like to ask her. Do you mind?”

After waiting for the ongoing conversation to reach a lull, Kiriha interjected. There was actually something that she’d been wanting to ask Darkness Rainbow for quite some time.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. Go right ahead.”

Koutarou agreed to her request without hesitation. He didn’t think for a minute that Kiriha would ask anything frivolous at a time like this, so he knew she must have something important in mind. He stepped to the side, and Kiriha approached Crimson.

“Crimson, there’s something I want you to tell me.”

Kiriha looked straight at Crimson, who looked right back at her dauntlessly.

“That depends on what it is.”

“This isn’t related to the upcoming battle.”

“...Then spit it out. If it’s something I can answer, I will.”

Crimson had no intention of giving away anything about Darkness Rainbow’s fight with Rainbow Heart, but she wasn’t necessarily opposed to talking about something else. Kiriha was a powerful enemy, but Crimson didn’t dislike her. She was actually quite interested in hearing whatever Kiriha had to ask her, and judged it would be as good an opportunity as any to gather information on Koutarou and the others.

“As I’m sure you know, Darkness Rainbow has been working with the People of the Earth’s radical faction.”

“Yeah, for a while now.”

Crimson had heard about it in brief from Maya, and knew that the relationship between Darkness Rainbow and the radical faction went back eleven years. But she couldn’t just blurt that out. She had to choose her words carefully since she didn’t want to inadvertently give Kiriha any unnecessary information.

“I find that rather strange.”

Indeed, the very fact that Darkness Rainbow and the radical faction had worked together at all was what puzzled Kiriha.

“Strange? How so?”

Crimson wasn’t following, and furrowed her brow accordingly.

“The radical faction was primarily composed of some rather prideful individuals. I find it strange that they would consent to working with outsiders, magicians or otherwise. I was hoping you could tell me the reason for that, should you happen to know.”

The radical faction believed that the People of the Earth were supreme beings meant to rule the earth. As such, they believed in dominion rather than cooperation, especially when it came to normal humans. They were particularly hateful of the surface dwellers, but Kiriha had no reason to think that they would treat people from other worlds any differently. They were so stubborn and set in their ways that Kiriha found it hard to believe they’d make an alliance with anyone at all, even if magic was involved.

“Ah, so that’s what you’re talking about... Yeah, I remember Maya saying they were kinda slimy.”

Crimson laughed to herself a little when she recalled the face Maya had made when she said it. It was extremely rare for the cool and composed Maya to look so bitter, so it had left a rather profound impression on Crimson.

“So, do you know? Can you explain it to me?”

“Yeah, sure. It’s no skin off my nose.”

Crimson nodded and agreed. After thinking back on it for a moment, she began explaining things in a somewhat jocular tone. It seemed recalling Maya’s sour face was just that amusing.

“It’s simple, really. According to Maya, we Folsarians and you underground people were all from the same place long ago.”

“Is that true?!”

Upon hearing those words, Kiriha’s ordinarily calm face went totally blank. She put all decorum aside and vehemently pressed Crimson for more information. That seemed to surprise the somewhat smug Crimson, who stared at her wide-eyed.

“Y-Yeah... Maya showed me some old slab or something. It had some kind of crest carved into it, and she said that was the proof. We’re... What did she call it? The seventh lost race or something?”

“The lost seventh tribe?”

“Yeah, that.”

“So that’s what it was... That’s why the radical faction...”

Kiriha was aghast and convinced at the same time. She believed that Crimson was telling the truth. She had no reason to lie, after all, and what she was saying made perfect sense. If the People of the Earth and the Folsarians were really indeed long-lost kinsman, the radical faction wouldn’t have considered them outsiders. That would explain why they were willing to work together.

If the Folsarians are the lost seventh tribe, I’ll have to talk with my father about this...

Kiriha had heard tale of the lost seventh tribe many times. They were said to be a remarkable bunch known for their strange and mystical powers, but heir story was passed down through the People of the Earth now as nothing more than a legend, so Kiriha didn’t know all the details. What Crimson had just told her would need to be confirmed later, but that would have to wait until the current commotion had settled down.

“The Folsarians and the People of the Earth are related?! Yurika, did you know that?!”

“No! This is the first I’ve heard of it! I would have told you sooner if I knew!”

Koutarou and Yurika, who had heard every word of Kiriha and Crimson’s exchange, were unable to hide their surprise. After seeing the elitists Tayuma and Maguz working with Maya, it sounded all too plausible.

“To think the underground and the world of magic had a real connection on top of their mutual interests...” Koutarou muttered.

And there, a hush fell over the room. Koutarou, Yurika, and Kiriha were all lost in thought over this most unexpected development. Crimson was the one to break the silence.

“You... Koutarou, was it?”

“Hmm? Yeah...”

Crimson’s voice brought Koutarou back to his senses. Putting on a serious expression again, he turned to face her.

“Can I ask you something now?”

“That depends on what it is.”

“It’s a personal question.”

“Still depends on what it is. Let’s hear it.”

“Heh, okay.”

When Koutarou agreed to hear her out, Crimson smiled.

“I want to ask about Maki.”

“What about Aika-san— I mean, what about Dark Navy?”

Koutarou felt a chill run down his spine to hear this topic come up. Darkness Rainbow should still be under the impression that Maki was being held captive and controlled against her will. If he let the wrong thing slip, it would put Maki at risk, so he needed to tread carefully here.

“Please call her Aika-san now. You see, Maki... She’s chosen to live as Aika Maki rather than Dark Navy.”

“You...”

If Crimson knew that much, then she must know that Maki had betrayed Darkness Rainbow. Koutarou realized that, but he couldn’t accept it. If Maki’s betrayal was exposed, her life would be in danger. That was the last thing he wanted.

“I have no intention of getting along with an enemy.”

“Heh, don’t worry. I’m not gonna report Maki to Darkness Rainbow.”

“What...?”

Koutarou’s eyes shot wide open. He was surprised enough as it was to learn that Crimson had found Maki out, but genuinely shocked to hear her say she wasn’t going to tell Darkness Rainbow about it. Crimson smirked, seemingly enjoying his reaction.

“We were pals before,” she explained. “Besides... we’re gonna end up fighting to the death eventually anyway, so what do I care whose side she’s on?”

“...So you’re Aika-san’s friend?”

Koutarou gave up on trying to hide it. It seemed Crimson knew everything, so there was no point in lying to her.

“I don’t know if you can call us friends anymore... But yeah, we definitely used to be,” Crimson said, her shoulders slumping dejectedly.

The time Crimson and Maki had spent as friends in the truest sense of the word was short and sweet. But Crimson would never forget it. That’s why she wouldn’t turn Maki over to Darkness Rainbow, and why she wanted to ask Koutarou more about her now.

“So here’s what I want to ask you, Koutarou. Why did Maki choose you?”

Based on what Maki had said and the way she’d acted, Crimson already had a rough idea. They were close enough that she could connect most of the dots on her own. However, she wanted to hear it directly from Koutarou.

“Aika-san didn’t choose me.”

“Huh?”

“Aika-san chose us and her classmates. And we chose Aika-san. It’s not something so one-sided. We’re in this together.”

Maki couldn’t bear the solitude and distrust; she sought love and the bonds of friendship. And Koutarou, the invaders, and her friends at school had given her that. They had all welcomed Maki and given her lonely, weary soul a comfortable place to belong.

“Hmm...”

“Though I don’t really expect you to understand that.”

“Oh, come on. Our priorities are different, but it’s not like I don’t get it.”

Crimson slowly shook her head and flashed a faint smile that was equal parts happy and sad. Koutarou’s answer... He had given Maki something she couldn’t.

“I’m glad.”

“Thank you, Koutarou.”

With their discussion over, Crimson thanked Koutarou. The sadness had now faded from her smile.

“You don’t have to thank me for that.”

“I know. But it’s not for me; it’s for Maki.”

Crimson, who lived to fight, couldn’t save Maki. But that didn’t mean she didn’t care about her. Crimson was happy Maki had found her own path.

“Say, Crimson...”

“What?”

There was something about Crimson’s smile that gave Koutarou a glimmer of hope. He already knew what the answer was, but he decided to try asking her anyway.

“Is there... really no way that you’d stop fighting?”

“Could you throw away Maki?”

It was an apt analogy. Crimson treasured battle the same way Koutarou did Maki. He would never give her up no matter what. She’d become a part of his daily life. She felt like an intrinsic part of his existence.

“...I’m sorry to hear that, Crimson.”

He’d known what he was walking into, but he was still sorry for it. They were so close, yet their wishes kept them worlds apart. In his eyes, it was truly regrettable.

“Koutarou, you really are a lot like Maki. I think that’s why she chose you.”

“But I think that Aika-san wanted to choose you.”

That was the conclusion Koutarou had reached after talking to Crimson. Her first love was battle, but she had a lot of heart. Koutarou could easily see why Maki wanted to be her friend.

“I can’t accept that. This was fate.”

Crimson had chosen battle over friendship, meaning the road had forked for her and Maki.

“This might be strange for me to say, but... please don’t let go of Maki, Koutarou.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

“Then I won’t have to worry about Maki anymore.”

“So all that’s left is fighting?”

“Yeah, you nailed it. Man, you really are just like Maki.”

Crimson was entrusting Koutarou with her feelings for Maki. She felt like she was passing a torch, and that Koutarou would take care of her now. Maybe even better than Crimson could herself.

“Well, this might be strange for me to say, but... don’t die, Crimson.”

“I can’t promise anything. Especially when I’m going up against you.”

“...I’m glad we could talk, Crimson.”

“Me too.”

And there, their discussion came to an end. From here on out, Crimson would be solely and exclusively focused on battle. She was like a demon born for war. There would be no dissuading her.

Not long after Koutarou and the others left the room, Maki entered. She’d come to bring Crimson some food. While Crimson had been a little uncomfortable dealing with Koutarou and the others, she felt right at home when it was just Maki. Seeing her, she lazily leaned back in her chair and yawned.

“Haaahhhhh...”

Maki smiled wryly as she placed Crimson’s dinner on the table in front of her.

“You seem bored, Crimson.”

She would no longer call Crimson by her real name. They both knew that they were walking different paths in life now. And they both knew that Maki was only here now because things were likely to go over more smoothly if a former friend of Crimson’s was the one taking care of her.

“Who wouldn’t be, forced to sit in a chair and talk all day?”

“I suppose that is new and unusual for you.”

“Say, Maki, mind removing handcuffs? I won’t start any trouble.”

It would be difficult to eat this way, so Crimson held her shackled hands up in a pleading gesture.

“You might not, but if Darkness Rainbow shows up, then there will definitely be trouble.”

Maki knew that Crimson wouldn’t do anything even if she uncuffed her. Crimson was a simple and earnest girl. She knew that Maki despised deception, so she’d never bothered lying to her before. It seemed highly unlikely she’d start now. Maki knew that, but she also knew that there was still the potential risk of Darkness Rainbow showing up.

“Man, organizations sure are a pain.”

“Says you who’s part of one.”

“Hmph... Whatever. At least help me eat.”

“Okay, grandma.”

“Who are you calling grandma?!”

Maki pulled up a nearby chair and sat down next to Crimson to help her eat.

“Hom...!”

“Don’t just scarf it down. Here, have some water.”

“Gulp, gulp... Thanks, Maki.”

“You’re welcome.”

Maki had a cheerful expression on her face as fed Crimson dinner. It was likely because she knew good and well she wasn’t in danger right now, but Crimson thought there was more to it than that.

“Maki, you really are a bit strange.”

Crimson stopped eating and took a good look Maki’s face.

“You think so?”

Maki quizzically tilted her head. She didn’t know what Crimson was talking about.

“You never used to joke around before.”

“Mm, you’re right. I think that’s thanks to Satomi-kun and the others.”

She’d just joked about Crimson being a grandma because she needed help eating. When she stopped to think about it, she realized Crimson was right. It was something she never would have done in the past, but things like that were a daily occurrence in room 106. It was unquestionably the influence of Koutarou and the other girls.

“Then, really, you’ve finally gotten what you were looking for, huh?”

“I have. That’s why I’m going to protect it until the end.”

“Good. Make sure you keep it safe.”

Crimson and Maki had gone their separate ways in life, but they still understood each other. It wasn’t like they would suddenly turn hostile for no reason. Crimson was honestly happy for Maki, and vice versa.

“So, Crimson, how about you?”

“What, another interrogation?”

“No, not that. I’m asking if you got what you were looking for too. Did you have a satisfying fight?”

“Ah, well, I’d love to throw down now... But I did get to fight you, and the decisive battle with Rainbow Heart is near. I’ll have nothing to complain about if I get to go up against Satomi Koutarou or Kasagi Shizuka.”

“That would be troublesome for us, although I do personally hope you get what you want...”

“Tough spot to be in, isn’t it?”

“It most certainly is. Having such a troublesome friend sure is a lot of work.”

Just as Crimson wished for Maki’s happiness, Maki wished for Crimson’s. If fighting and getting stronger was her true desire, Maki wanted her to achieve it. It was simply unfortunate that, at the moment, that would mean Crimson and Maki butting heads.

“Actually, Crimson, on a related note... You’re going to be moved soon.”

“Moved? To where?”

“Folsaria. Keeping you here is just asking for Darkness Rainbow to attack. Besides, we’d be in a bit of trouble if you actually decided to put up a fight. That said, we can’t ask for extra support here when Folsaria needs it more.”

Even a fully prepared safehouse would be in trouble if Darkness Rainbow made a serious move on it. It would be much safer to move her to an actual Rainbow Heart base.

“That’s fair,” Crimson admitted with a wry smile and a shrug.

Moving, huh? Heh...

Despite the casual and joking gesture, there wasn’t the slightest hint of a smile in her eyes.

“Just take it easy until then. You’ve been quite busy lately, haven’t you, Crimson?”

“Yeah, that sounds good. I think I’ll do just that. Once I’m done eating, anyway.”

“Okay, okay. Now, say, ‘aah!’”

“Aah!”

However, Crimson’s eyes only remained sharp for a moment. She was quickly back to her usual self and started eating again. With Maki’s help, of course. Fighting wouldn’t come up again over dinner. The two girls spent the rest of the meal carefreely chatting away. It would have been impossible to tell they were actually enemies preparing for battle.