“Nooooooooooooormaaaaaannnnn!!”
As the black sky gradually whitened to welcome the morning, a scream rang out.
Who the five turned their gazes toward was Jim, in an appearance too gruesome to call merely covered in wounds.
His entire body was drenched in blood, with broken bones piercing through the flesh everywhere. His arms and legs pointed in strange directions, and his gait was unsteady.
“I saw it! What happened just now! That’s what I’ve been seeking! Hahaha! As I thought! You were the key all along, Norman! It’s amazing!”
Still, his eyes shone brilliantly, dyed with a joyful color.
“…………Ugh. He showed up. Was he always like this?”
“He’s changed quite a bit from the biologically repulsive man I remember……”
“He was pretty gross from way back, but this is even worse.”
“Given the situation, is this creep the mastermind? Geez…what do you think, Sensei?”
The four who had rarely agreed were all wincing at Jim, who was just as suspicious in his gait as Norman stood up and took a step forward.
“…………Jim, you really are persistent.”
“Sorry Norman! I was looking forward to a double suicide with you, but that’s no longer possible! Right now! The figures of those four who saved you! What were those!?”
Jim’s body had begun to heal at a slower pace than before.
“That glow from their bodies! It was of a completely different nature from their abilities! Tell me, what was that?!”
“…………………………Haah.”
The sigh he let out was long, filled with resignation.
“…………[Critical Case]. That’s what I call it.”
“[Critical Case]! What does that mean!? What kind of enhancement is it!?”
“It’s not about getting stronger Jim. Quite the opposite, really.”
It’s,
“To put it bluntly, it’s just a safety valve. Visualizing the degree of ability activation through the body. It’s not expanding what they can do. Even if the ability has stabilized, there’s still much unknown, and the danger of it running out of control is not zero.”
“………………Then, that glow was”
“What you saw earlier is the [Stable State]……meaning, that level of burden is not an issue. When it reaches the [Deep State] right before going out of control, it gets flashier and more brilliant. It’s really just an indicator.”
The reason Norman just stands by or behind them when they fight is so that,
he can assess their burden during battle, and stop them immediately if there’s a problem.
He’s always watching over them.
“The Unlaws ability is directly linked to emotion, so even without using it, if their feelings surge their bodies will glow a bit. But it’s not really a side effect worth mentioning.”
“………………No, what are you saying Norman. Not an enhancement? No, that’s not it! Ability stabilization and visualization of the activation rate! It makes it easier to manage!”
His excitement reached its peak. Having finally grasped this realm, Jim howled as his emotions exploded.
“Just how did you manage to do that!?”
“Well, it’s not that complicated really. It’s just an application of the ability.”
In contrast, Norman steadied his breathing while staggering.
“I don’t feel like talking much, but if I’m considerate and stay close to my partner, that’s enough.
In Shizuku’s case, she had to change her hairstyle due to her outfit. Her beautiful, slender, and smooth hair. At first, the two of us would grasp one lock at a time and focus our awareness there. It was quite rewarding, wasn’t it? Since I could constantly touch Shizuku’s hands and hair. Facing each other or having her sit on my lap or leaning against my back, it was adorable how embarrassed she was at first, and I was happy that we gradually became more comfortable around each other. Like a cat. That’s part of Shizuku’s adorableness. She keeps a bit of distance when we’re out, but when we’re alone, she really clings to me. Nowadays, we can even stay attached while doing our own things. I was really touched when I realized that. Well, you’ll never get to see it though. Or rather, I don’t intend to let any other man see it, and if they do, I’ll have no choice but to kill them.
For El, her eye color changed due to the side effects of her transformation, so it was easy for her to make them glow. The issue was when she was in dog form. To make her fur flare up like flames in an obvious way, we started by brushing her entire body. El’s fur when she was a dog was so soft and fluffy that I dozed off petting it several times. Then El would fall asleep too, and when I woke up, her transformation had worn off, leaving me embracing her naked body – that was really something. To open my eyes and be greeted by that magnificent sight.
But you know, El’s real charm lies in her kindness and devotion. She dedicates herself to me in every way. To be honest, it pains me a little to treat her carelessly sometimes. But I’m also a bit pleased with myself over it, which is troubling. Part of me wants to live an indolent life being doted on by El forever.
As for Lonzder san, instead of tattoos, at first we made her blood vessels glow. But that was a bit gory, and I wanted something beautiful and stylish for Lonzder san. So we drew lines on her skin with ink and made those glow instead. The tricky part was that since I drew directly on Lonzder san’s body with my fingers, it was toxic for both our eyes and fingers. She would tease and distract me while I was drawing too. I had to muster all my rationality since it was a necessary task. But I find her teasing quite charming. Or rather, Lonzder san is charming no matter what she does. She’s said something similar herself – that even if you gathered all the jewels in the world, their value wouldn’t come close to hers. Wait, didn’t I just say that? Well, it’s worth repeating any number of times. I can’t help but gaze at her in wonder constantly.
For Cklares, getting her manifestation itself was extremely easy since it just happened without me doing anything special. I guess that’s to be expected from a genius. The fun part was designing her wings together. Since Cklares is so fashionable, she couldn’t settle for anything less than something befitting her, right? Something fairy-like that suited her personality. During that process, Cklares would tease me, and I’ll admit it was a bit enjoyable being played with when I confessed my reactions. Well, it can’t be helped when Cklares is at her most adorable while smiling and enjoying my responses, you know? You probably can’t understand, but while Cklares’s smile may look the same, it’s actually completely different depending on the tone of her voice, the angle of her smile, and so on. Just being able to read that makes time fly by – she’s truly a bewitching girl.
“See? It’s a simple thing. Anyone can do it if they truly care about the other person.”
“…………………………………………”
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All four of them were speechless.
Shizuku nearly dropped her sniper rifle, a strange sound escaped from Elteel’s throat, Lonzder san’s cigarette fell from his lips, and even Cklares’ usual smile vanished as his mouth hung open.
The four of them knew that Norman cared about them.
Even so, it wasn’t like him to express his emotions so blatantly. And the content—saying words drenched in such raw desire—was completely out of character for him.
“Is it… my Lingering Echo Flowering Tears…?”
The one who had an inkling of what was happening was Shizuku.
She had used her Echoing Tears earlier to save Norman, but there had been something irregular about it.
To begin with, her ability hadn’t worked on him before, and she had never used it to pass a resonance through another person and direct it at someone else. It was the first time she had used it in that way.
As a result, was this why Norman’s words were spilling out uncontrollably?
She didn’t know.
She didn’t understand anything, but—
His words.
What he truly felt.
“…So, what you’re saying, Norman,”
Jim chose his words carefully before he spoke, reacting to the torrent of emotions Norman had just unleashed.
“You’re saying that understanding and coexistence with Unlaws is what’s needed for this [Critical Case]?”
“Yes, exactly. I’ve been saying that all along. Just treat them as people, not as monsters. Even if you don’t understand, it’s okay to love them without understanding.”
“…Is that so.”
Jim nodded, his body shaking.
“—Haha, hahaha! I see! So that’s it! Now I finally understand! I can finally grasp who you are, Norman! It seems I’ve been mistaken all this time!”
Jim Adamworth had been seeking something. A path that went beyond the current rank, to reach a higher level.
From beyond the distant walls, the sun peeked out, casting light upon him.
“Love! Love, of all things! That such a vague concept would be the key! Thank you, Norman, for showing me! But this is problematic—it’s not easy to replicate! I can’t possibly bring myself to love Unlaws like some kind of pervert—no, wait, I’ve got it!”
The blood-stained young man broke into a wide smile.
“—You, love me! If it’s you, I can love you! Guide me to the heights!”
And with the rising sun behind him, four lights exploded
Shizuku Teardrop’s long hair shone a deep blue.
Elteel Siriusflame’s reversed eyes burned with yellow flames.
Crimson lines of vivid light ran across LonzderEnhancedia’s entire body.
And Cklares Airy Step’s back was adorned with glowing green geometric wings.
[Critical Case]—[Deepening State].
In their state, just a step away from a full-blown power surge, it was a form that Norman would have usually been able to stop.
However, before Norman’s words and Jim’s absurd rants, no one could intervene.
A Tearflower bullet blew off one of Jim’s legs, and the flaming hellhound, wrapped in yellow flames, crunched his torso and flung him into the air. A leaping gem kicked him down, and, in the instant he hit the ground, a fairy’s blade severed his head from his neck.
Thud—Jim’s severed head rolled to Norman’s feet.
“Did you see that, Norman!?”
Even reduced to just a head, his eyes were wide with exhilaration.
“You were right! What we just saw is precisely what I’ve been searching for—the realm beyond Tier Category III…!”
“Yes, yes, congratulations. But sorry to say,”
Norman pulled something from his coat—it was a handgun.
“Now that you know about the [Critical Case], I have to make sure you’re dead.”
The morning sun stretched from behind Norman’s back, casting his shadow over Jim’s severed head.
“I have one confession to make. Do you remember how you complained that intelligence agents kept disappearing or dying during your interrogations?”
“—You, don’t tell me…”
“That’s right. I was the one who eliminated them.”
With brutal candor, Norman Hamish declared his betrayal of [Cartesius].
“You called me a safety valve, but I knew that someone like you would target the [Critical Case]. So I’m sorry, but—”
“So you plan to kill me too? Fine! Do it! I’m curious what it’s like to die while reduced to just a head! But listen, Norman! If, somehow, I survive this! Then it’s destiny! I’ll return, and we’ll reach the heights together!”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
For a moment, Norman’s gaze turned to the four.
“The things I want to protect are right here.”
He cocked the hammer.
“—My heart has already decided that.”
And he pulled the trigger.
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