Chapter Text
The Eden Treaty Signing Approaches
With the signing of the Eden Treaty just around the corner, Sensei was swamped with an overwhelming workload.
"Eimi."
"Welcome, Sensei. The department head was actually looking for you."
Despite being busy, Sensei had taken the time to visit Millennium’s Supernatural Affairs Department—for one reason: to request an analysis of an item obtained during the previous incident.
"Yes, about the analysis results of 'that item' you requested last time..."
Himari held up a sealed petri dish. Inside was a small black particle, seemingly intact.
"I say this with full confidence, as someone with an 'Omniscient' degree: This was definitely not created using Kivotos's technology."
That "item" was a bullet capable of disabling Halos.
During the previous infiltration mission into Arius District, one of the Rabbit Platoon members had been hit, leaving one of them in critical condition.
"But more than its origin... we couldn’t determine how it was made, what materials it consists of, or even how it functions."
"That’s enough. Thanks for your help, Himari."
"Hehehe… Oh, this was nothing. Feel free to drop by anytime."
Just as Sensei turned to leave, Himari grabbed their sleeve.
"Sensei. You didn’t say it outright, but... this thing is related to 'Gematria,' isn’t it?"
"No. I don’t know that yet."
"Hmph, is that so?"
With those final words, Sensei left.
"...Rio. You can come out now. Sensei’s gone."
"......"
"Honestly, Rio, you’re so stubborn… You could’ve just faced Sensei properly."
"No... I’ve already caused Sensei enough trouble."
"Hiding like this is even more troublesome, don’t you think? Sensei’s still looking for you."
"...Yeah, but still..."
"Well, that’s not my concern."
"......"
"More importantly, first a 'bomb that destroys Halos' now a 'bullet that disables Halos'... Gematria really is making some annoying things."
"Yeah. And they’ll definitely bring ruin to Kivotos."
"Still on that doomsday talk, Rio? Doomsayers tend to get laughed at, you know?"
But this time…
I agree with you, Rio.
Click.
"......"
Thick smoke filled the air.
The ground wouldn’t stop shaking.
"Hah…"
A steel monstrosity crawled across the earth.
A steel bird tore through the sky.
"Haa… ha…"
The face of a rookie soldier was filled with terror.
Overlapping with it was the final expression of the child soldier I had killed.
"Haa, haa, haa, haa, haa..."
A soldier with his lower half blown off still crawled toward me, dragging his entrails.
A soldier engulfed in flames screamed in agony as he rolled on the ground.
A soldier who stepped on a mine had his legs shredded and was carried away on a stretcher, crying for his mother.
A soldier who tried to shoot himself in the head was restrained, screaming like a monster as he cursed me.
She pointed her gun at me—
"Nanna-chan…?"
Click.
"Hah…!"
My dazed mind snapped back to reality at Miyu’s voice.
I unclenched my fist—it was drenched in cold sweat.
"Are you… okay? You look really pale…"
This is… Schale.
Right.
This is Schale.
"Mm… I’ve just been tired lately, so I zoned out for a bit."
"You’re… sure…?"
"I’m fine. We have to go pick up Saki soon, so I’ll just… put on a bright face."
"...Okay."
......
My left leg.
I ran my hand over my thigh, about a hand’s width above the knee.
Not a single scar remained, as if that day had never happened.
Then… let’s pretend it never did.
"Everyone. Let’s get ready to head out."
Sensei, having finished their work, called for us.
"Sensei! Did everything go well?"
"...Yeah. Nanna, how are you feeling?"
What does that mean? What’s he asking?
I tilted my head, not understanding the intent behind the question.
"I mean… how’s your leg?"
"My leg? What about it?"
Both my legs are perfectly fine.
Hm… Oh, wait.
"Y-you p-pervert! What kind of question is that?!"
"...? Ow! S-sorry! Don’t hit me!"
So that’s why he kept glancing over here—he was staring at my legs?!
This shameless creep needs to be taught a lesson!
"Sensei. The helicopter’s ready for takeoff. …But why are you getting beaten up by Nanna again?"
"M-Miyako! Help me out here!"
"Grrrr!"
Let go, Miyako!
It’s my duty to discipline this perverted Sensei!
I struggled in Miyako’s arms, but my resistance was futile.
"I don’t know what happened, but calm down a little… We have to go pick up Saki now, right, Nanna?"
"Ugh… Fine…"
Grumbling, I followed Miyako and boarded the helicopter.
Once seated and buckled in, the familiar floating sensation signaled our departure.
"......"
The now-familiar sound of the helicopter’s rotors filled my ears.
As I watched the clouds pass by outside the window,
I went over the mission details one last time with the squad.
"This time… the operation… base…"
"Nanna? What did you just say?"
"Huh? Didn’t you hear me? Let me repeat— Wait, what did I just say?"
Seeing Miyako’s confused expression, I mirrored it.
I think I muttered something just now…
"It’s… probably nothing."
Lately, my mind’s been so scattered that things just slip out unconsciously.
I should be more careful…
Ah, my palms were sweating again.
Weird. Do I have hyperhidrosis* or something?
*hyperhidrosis: excessive sweating.
Lost in thought, time passed quickly, and before I knew it, we had arrived at Trinity’s Remedial Knights headquarters.
Following the guidance of a Remedial Knight student, we proceeded inside.
"Saki! I’m so glad you’re okay!"
"Don’t make a fuss, Miyako. I’m already fully recovered. See? Not even a scar."
As she spoke, Saki pulled her collar aside to reveal her collarbone.
A scar…?
Now that I think about it, why was Saki receiving treatment from the Remedial Knights?
Huh? Wait…?
"I’m… so glad… Really…"
"H-hey! Don’t cry all of a sudden, geez…"
"If the senpais hadn’t come to save us back then, you would’ve died, Saki."
Senpais? Came to save us?
Saki almost died?
Ah, I remember now.
Right.
We went to the Arius District to find Azusa and ran into the Squad.
And then, the gun, the gun—
The pain—
"...Nanna?"
"S-Sensei."
No.
No.
"L-Let’s… Let’s go back now."
That day never happened.
So now, we’ll just go back to our normal lives.
Yeah.
A normal life.
A life in Kivotos where no one has to die.
"...Yeah. Let’s go back."
"Haha, hahaha… D-don’t hug me out of nowhere… How many times…"
Let’s go back.
To where I belong.
Let’s go back.
Let’s go back.
Let’s go back.
Arius Basilica
At the heart of the Arius District stood the abandoned chapel known as the Arius Basilica.
Saori swallowed hard, maintaining her composure before stepping inside.
'Reporting a failed mission always makes me nervous… I wonder what punishment awaits me this time…'
"Come in."
Permitted by the woman’s voice, Saori slowly made her way to the innermost part of the cathedral.
Kneeling before the altar, she paid her respects to the one who had summoned her and waited for a response.
"Report."
"...The Longinus Operation was a failure. Shirasu Azusa betrayed us and deserted the Squad. We’re currently tracking her movements, but..."
"No, that’s fine now. Did you use those bullets?"
"...Yes."
"Did you hit anyone? If you did, did you kill them?"
"I used them on two members of SRT who were accompanying Sensei. One was hit in the leg and incapacitated, the other took a direct hit to the chest. Severe injuries were confirmed."
"So you didn’t kill them."
"...My apologies, Madam. Next time, I’ll make sure—"
"It’s fine. In fact, it’s better that you didn’t kill them."
"Huh…?"
"If you encounter the Prince’s companion again, don’t kill her. Capture her alive and bring her to me."
"Why would you—"
Realizing her mistake, Saori immediately shut her mouth.
She could feel the woman’s palpable anger.
"Joumae Saori. Since when were you permitted to question me?"
"F-forgive me…!"
"...Sigh. Whatever. I’m in a very good mood right now, so I’ll let it slide with a warning. You may leave."
"...Understood."
As Saori left, Beatrice—a woman in a white dress with crimson, otherworldly features—gazed at the altar she had painstakingly crafted and smiled in satisfaction.
"Fufufu… To think the Black Suit’s words were actually true…"
Nana Nephtydottir—no, Youka Nanna.
Recalling the girl who had boldly invaded her domain, Beatrice adjusted her plans slightly.
"Two different divine essences in one body… Fufufufu, this will be interesting indeed."
Now then, shall we proceed to the next phase of the plan?
Dreaming of the day when Kivotos would be dyed in beautiful colors,
Beatrice smiled quietly.