Act Two: Rain of Swords
This is a memory from when I had just met Kushina.
“Ibuki-kun, what do you want to do?”
It was a vague question.
However, those deep purple eyes were incredibly pure, looking straight at me.
So I faced her directly.
“I want to join the [Prim-Libra]!”
I spoke of my dream to Kushina, who was sitting on the sofa with her knees together.
“Well…”
“Um, Ibuki-kun. It’s difficult to say, but…”
“Hm?”
She, who usually rarely speaks on her own and quietly listens, gently but clearly interrupted my voice.
It’s rare, I thought, feeling somewhat strange as I blinked, waiting for her next words—
“[Prim-Libra] only accepts girls…?”
“Huh?”
My eyes went dead.
And so, my childhood wish crumbled.
After various events, I ended up becoming a villain to help my childhood friend—in other words, I stepped into the path of destruction as per the original [Watayume] storyline. However, having escaped the first battle with Hinata-chan, I managed to avoid the identity-revelation and capture ending.
So now, the question is how I, newly freed, will act—well, it’s all about supporting my favorite character!
I don’t intend to take any active action on my own.
I’ll just help her as the sole subordinate of the executive .
Just by doing that, I can naturally continue to watch my favorite heroine, the righteous Hinata Soehi, from the front row.
…Also, I might be able to see other heroines who appeared in [Watayume] besides Hinata-chan.
In fact, since we’re causing trouble in Sakuramura, which is under the jurisdiction of the 10th Branch, that possibility is very high.
I honestly think my motives are questionable, but as long as it’s not an order that threatens someone’s life, I’ll just help my childhood friend.
So, on the day of the prisoner transport attack operation, the morning after the (?) battle with Hinata-chan.
“What? The Exia that Ibuki distracted yesterday was Hinata?”
Beautiful purple eyes like amethysts opened wide in surprise.
A gentle and perfect face with a crisp nose bridge and lightly colored lips.
Smooth black hair cut evenly like some princess’s.
A figure overflowing with feminine charm, yet delicate and ephemeral.
An appearance just like Kushina from the past, only grown up.
However, I think to myself that her inner self has changed quite a bit over the past few years.
If she were still her old self, when surprised, she would have covered her mouth with a “My!” and blinked her eyes.
In the entire district centered on Sakuramura, there are no less than a hundred Exia in charge of patrol duties.
Among them, to have encountered Hinata-chan (seemingly) right on the mark, her surprise must be even greater.
She probably didn’t think Hinata-chan would be carrying out missions from her very first day of assignment either.
Well? my Oshi is a genius, you know?
“Should I say ‘of all people,’ or what…”
Kushina put her hand to her forehead and looked at me sideways.
“You didn’t get found out, right?”
“No, no way… probably.”
“Well, I think it’s okay if you were wearing the robe, but…”
Kushina lowered her eyes to the robes we wear.
The fabric of the robe is black, with vivid red spider lily patterns on the hem and sleeves that leave a strong impression.
The items themselves are the same for both of us, but Kushina’s sleeves are long enough to hide her fingertips.
“I don’t really feel it, but… this robe really has the effect of hindering recognition, right?”
“Yes. Even if your face is visible, as long as you’re wearing the hood, it’s not a problem.”
Apparently, the robes of [Nega-Messiah’s ] allow you to see the features of a face, but you can’t recognize “whose face it was.”
In other words, even if you see ‘s face, your brain can’t connect that it’s my face.
The exception is when you already know that = me.
Kushina and I, who share the knowledge of each other’s identities, can recognize each other even through the robes.
“It’s not interfering with visual information, but with the memory center,” Kushina says, but… yeah, I get the gist of it. Really, really.
By the way, the pattern drawn on the robe is used for members who can’t recognize each other to distinguish themselves.
The executives and other key members of [Nega-Messiah] each have their own symbolic pattern.
For Kushina, it’s the spider lily.
This allows them to recognize, “Oh, that’s so-and-so’s subordinate.”
“Someone’s making these too, right?”
“Yes, one of the executives. That child doesn’t have any subordinates, though.”
“Kushina, you only have me, don’t you…”
“By the way, only three out of six executives have subordinates.”
“Only half of them have any…”
“Among those, myself and one other only have one subordinate each.”
“So only one executive left…”
“That one’s been captured.”
“This organization is finished, isn’t it?”
The remaining members are apparently under especially strong individuals like -kun.
Our executives lack cooperation skills too much…
…Ah, right, we’re an evil organization.
“Well, that’s how it is. Do your best, my right-hand man.”
“Yes, yes—then, shall we start with a status check?”
The current time is 5 AM.
At this time of year, the sun had already begun to show its face.
However, not a single person could be seen on the streets away from the main thoroughfare.
We won’t be attacked under the cover of darkness, and damage to the surroundings can be kept to a minimum.
It’s a suitable time for prisoner transport.
We, who are anticipating this, are standing on top of a building again.
It’s the second consecutive day on a rooftop, following yesterday.
Kushina’s expression showed a hint of exasperation.
“…Fools and smoke, as they say.”
“Due to the nature of my Lux talent, it’s easier for me to start from a high place!”
“I wonder about that.”
My [Separation] excels in vertical mobility, or in other words, lacks mobility in the front, back, left, and right, so it can’t be helped.
It’s definitely not because I’m a fool who likes high places!
Below is an overview of this attack operation.
- Approach the transport vehicle rapidly, taking advantage of my strength in vertical mobility.
- Once down, Kushina will handle it somehow.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
“—That’s all!!”
“Hey, isn’t my burden too big?”
“What a simple two-step plan!!”
“Hey, are you angry because I called you a fool?”
“Who knows!!”
Well, even if step 2 is a joke.
Unlike yesterday, we don’t know who will be deployed, so we can’t make much of a plan beyond how to approach the transport vehicle.
It’s protected by multiple Guardians of Heaven’s Wings Exia.
I didn’t think we could break through with just some half-baked strategy.
However, we can make some more detailed predictions.
For example, the number of guards mobilized.
“I think it’s four, or at most six people.”
“I agree it’s a small number. This transport was only discovered by our intelligence team, it was supposed to be secret originally.”
“To add to that, the general shortage of personnel is another reason. The 10th Branch hasn’t been established for very long.”
“Indeed. That might be why Hinata was sent out on her first day too.”
Well, there’s another reason for that…
But that’s something I only know because I read it in the original story, so I’ll omit it here.
“But couldn’t it be even fewer?”
“Route…”
“Try opening the map on your smartphone?”
I had her operate her electronic device smartphone as she tilted her head slightly.
“…Ah, I see.”
Kushina put her hand to her mouth, looking like she understood.
Imagining the screen she was probably looking at in my mind,
“The path of the transport is from the 10th Branch in the center of the city to the 3rd Branch three districts away. In between, there are places suitable for an attack—”
“—Exactly five locations. You’re saying that Exia suited to each terrain are likely assigned there.”
“That’s right.”
For example, this group of buildings where we are now is one of the places where it’s relatively easy to approach the transport vehicle due to poor visibility.
Without a doubt, someone capable of dealing with height differences will be mobilized.
“Depending on the versatility of their Lux talents, it might be possible to reduce the number, but I think four is the limit.”
“In that case, we can guess what kind of abilities they might have too.”
Kushina nods thoughtfully,
seemingly predicting Natural Talent Lux’s system.
“…This might be a bit troublesome,” she muses.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, the opponent I faced yesterday– Oh, sorry, Ibuki. It’s almost time.”
With that, our previous conversation comes to an end.
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