Episode 102: Nonstop Sacrifice
Miuye awoke as the sun was setting.
Looking at the sky, which was gradually changing from reddish-purple to deep violet, Miuye realized she had been asleep until now.
“Ah, you’re awake?”
“Hmm… Toa, did I fall asleep?”
In response to Miuye’s question, Toa smiled and nodded.
It seemed that Miuye had fallen asleep leaning on Toa’s shoulder.
“I guess I fell asleep because there wasn’t much going on.”
Miuye remembered sitting on a bench, talking while holding a crepe. However, the calm and uneventful time had relaxed her guard, causing her to drift off.
“Maybe it was because you were helping Hikari too? You don’t seem like someone with such a frail body. But well, if you wanted me to wake you up, it was fine, you know?”
To this, Toa simply replied, “It’s fine,” and quietly shook her head.
“I thought having some downtime like this once in a while wouldn’t be bad. Peaceful times where we do nothing… We’ve always been so busy until now.”
There had been various matters like debts and infiltrating Kisou Academy. They hadn’t been able to waste time like this before.
This moment, right here, is precious.
“Miuye… would you listen to my request?”
It seems things might get a little more chaotic from here.
■
Apparently, Toa mentioned there was a place she wanted Miuye to come to late at night.
Faced with Toa’s serious expression, Miuye had no reason to refuse. One of the reasons was that she didn’t have any negative feelings towards Toa, but the biggest reason was…
(Luka, where did she go?)
Luka had disappeared. She wasn’t in the infirmary or the Student Council room, and the only reason Miuye could have used to decline—an upcoming checkup—had vanished as well.
Though they had to wait for a while due to it being late at night, this time the passage of time felt surprisingly quick.
Before they knew it, it was past midnight, and Miuye had arrived at a certain location with Toa.
“Um, is this the place…?”
With an uncertain look, Toa stopped in front of one of the labs. There were no signs of people around, and the scattered lights faintly illuminated the dim corridor.
“Is this it?”
“Yeah, it should be…but…”
Toa looked around anxiously, her face showing unease as she tilted her head repeatedly.
Seeing Toa like this, Miuye spoke up.
“…Did Konie-senpai call you?”
“Eh!? How did you know!?”
“Because this lab belongs to Konie-senpai, doesn’t it?”
As Miuye pointed to the door in front of them, Toa let out a sound of realization.
“That’s… right. I didn’t know.”
“Why did you bring me here?”
“Uh…”
Toa hesitated. It was because neither Konie, who started all this, nor Kei was present.
(Kei went to gather information and hasn’t returned yet… What should I do?)
Kei had instructed them to consult Konie if he didn’t return. However, Konie never showed up either.
(Did the plan go awry?)
As Toa pondered what to do, Miuye spoke up beside her.
“Ah, Luka!”
“Wha-?”
From the dimly lit corridor ahead, a disheveled blonde girl appeared. By her side, Ruruika swam along the corridor like a shadow following its master.
“…What are you doing here, Miuye?”
Approaching step by step like a ghost, Luka watched as Miuye unconsciously took a step back. Instead, Toa stepped forward, deploying her armament.
“What are you doing here, Luka-san?”
“My question first, Miuye. Why are you here at Konie’s lab? This seems like an odd time for reconciliation with Konie.”
Luka glared at Toa.
“Were you incited by that student over there?”
“Luka-san, I was just—”
“Be silent.”
An unusually cold voice. Miuye noticed something different about Luka today and hid behind Toa, peeking out only with her face.
“Luka-san? What’s wrong? You’re scary…”
“Miuye, let’s go. That student with you is our enemy.”
Luka pointed at Toa.
“She must have tried to take you away together with Konie. But their plan has already failed.”
“…What?”
Toa let out a voice filled with despair. The plan supposedly devised by Konie. However, without the girl who initiated it or even her own allies, Toa’s options were limited.
“—”
“Ho, gathering artillery attack?”
The heavy cannon roared, collecting light. However, the distance was no longer within Toa’s preferred range for long-range attacks.
“A gunner without a vanguard is no match for us, isn’t it? Ruruika.”
Responding with a high-pitched voice, Ruruika dived into the floor of the corridor. The moment silence enveloped the area again, a tail shot out from behind Toa.
“Behind you!?”
Attempting to turn her gun towards it was futile. Her heavy cannon was knocked out of her hand, and Toa was slammed against the wall.
“Toa-chan! …Luka-san, stop it already! Toa-chan did nothing wrong!”
“That’s correct. I agree.”
“If so—”
“But still, I cannot forgive it. This is also for both of your sakes.”
Saying this, Luka approached Toa. With Ruruika swimming around her, preventing any resistance, picking up the heavy cannon seemed impossible.
Luka looked at Toa and smiled as if relieved.
“You don’t seem injured. Toa, you were asked by Konie to come here, weren’t you?”
“…I…was…?”
“Don’t worry. You were merely asked. …So, leave this place quickly. Try to forget today’s events as soon as possible.”
“Huh?”
Surprisingly, Luka was letting Toa escape. Her exhausted eyes lacked any light, but the sense of urgency was clear.
“Why…?”
“Hurry. If she finds out, you might end up like Konie.”
“—Who is ‘she’? I’m curious…”
A bright, cheerful voice echoed. Simultaneously, a single butterfly entered Toa’s field of vision. A familiar black butterfly.
Realizing this, Luka abruptly raised her head and turned toward the source of the voice.
“Kanon, please wait. She—”
“I know. She helped Konie try to take Miuye away, right?”
The butterflies gathered, gradually forming a human shape. There was no mistaking her; the plain brown hair and white coat belonged to none other than Kanon of the Empty Void herself.
“Hey, Toa-chan. Thanks for helping with the Ghost Hunt back then. It was fun, wasn’t it? So, it’s disappointing.”
“Kanon!”
“It’s alright, Luka. Relax. I don’t intend to do anything yet.”
Smiling brightly, Kanon continued. Meanwhile, the surrounding area was covered with butterflies.
Facing this scene, Miuye could only feel confused.
(What exactly is happening here?)
Her usually kind sister and Luka behaving differently, and Toa being attacked.
The environment surrounding her was shedding its false facade, revealing its true nature. Watching the people around her fight, Miuye felt an odd foreboding.
However, more pressing was…
(What’s going on? Why… why… am I suddenly so hungry?)
Most abnormal was her own body. Despite the situation, an overwhelming hunger was overtaking Miuye. It was as if she was made to feel this way at this specific time—a hunger akin to starvation.
While aware that she shouldn’t be thinking about this, Miuye’s mind was consumed by thoughts of food.
“Ugh… uuuu…?”
“Miuye-chan?”
“Miuye…! Too late. Toa-san, move away. Ruruika!”
Confused, Toa was pulled away as Luka used Ruruika to strike the walls and floor with its tail. Waves surged, covering and enclosing Miuye.
Among Toa’s bewildered reactions, Kanon laughed lightly at the sight.
“Ha ha, it’s useless. Miuye-chan won’t stop because of something like that.”
Cracks ran through the walls encircling them. In the next moment, the containment barrier created by Ruruika crumbled instantly.
“—”
A shadow emerged from within. It was not human.
Its streamlined head, uneven scales covering reptilian skin, whip-like tail striking the ground, and sharp-clawed hands and feet resembled a small dragon. Barely maintaining a humanoid silhouette through bipedal locomotion, it exuded no trace of intelligence.
“Miuye-chan…?”
Unbelieving, Toa called out her name blankly. The creature turned its gaze towards Toa.
Drooling viscous saliva from its mouth and revealing sharp fangs, it observed her like prey.
“Miuye, stop it!”
Understanding from its gaze, Luka operated Ruruika again. Ruruika swam around the creature, creating waves with its tail. Seizing the moment when the creature lost balance, Ruruika struck directly at it with its tail.
“—”
But impossibly, the creature twisted its neck at an unnatural angle, catching the movement and blocking it with both arms. Taking advantage of the opportunity when Ruruika attempted to dive back into the floor, the creature grabbed its dorsal fin, opened its large mouth, and bit down on Ruruika.
“Ruruika!”
Watching Ruruika thrash about, Luka hurriedly made it disappear. With its prey vanishing, the creature’s teeth snapped shut with a clicking sound.
“Eh, ah, is that Miuye-chan…?”
“That’s right~ Precisely, it’s the Eye of Reason. Originally, it was a relic possessed by a certain Dungeon Master alongside the Petrifying Eye.”
Kanon smiled cheerfully, showing no sign of anxiety.
“Kanon, Miuye is in a state of extreme hunger! Quickly, feed her a Dataroid—!”
The moment attention shifted to Kanon, Miuye lunged at Luka with her mouth wide open. The incredible physical abilities far exceeded those of a human, making distance meaningless.
As Miuye came hurtling towards her, the scene felt like slow motion. Realizing death was imminent, Luka accepted her fate.
But then, butterflies danced between them.
“Divided Death.”
The butterflies formed a wall protecting Toa and Luka. Then, they intertwined like ropes, binding Miuye tightly.
“Sorry, Luka. You always need to be vigilant with Miuye in that state. She eats humans too, unlike usual.”
“…Kanon, thank you.”
“We’re friends, aren’t we? I’ll help.”
Smiling and giving a peace sign, Kanon approached the bound Miuye.
“Ah, since I was out of the academy even for just a day, hunger set in quickly, huh? And you skipped today’s check-up, didn’t you?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Though, probably not someone like me, a genius~”
Kanon affectionately patted the head of the restrained Miuye. Unable to speak due to the butterfly ropes sealing her mouth, Miuye struggled violently but couldn’t break free.
“Both of you, step back. I’ll prepare food now.”
When Kanon said this, Luka hastily retreated with Toa. Confirming this, Kanon also distanced herself from Miuye.
Then, pointing at Miuye, she asked,
“Toa-chan, seeing that, do you still want to be involved with her?”
“…Eh?”
“It’s incomplete, so it’s not human. Watch.”
“Divided Death” formed a grid in front of the three of them, seemingly creating a safe zone.
On the other side of the safe zone, the restraints on Miuye dissolved, and she shuddered. Suddenly, a student appeared in front of her.
Wearing the uniform of Jilnias Academy, the student attacked Miuye upon confirming her presence. However, the human punch was blocked by her scales, appearing to cause no damage whatsoever.
“—”
Letting out an animalistic cry, Miuye bit into the student’s head, twisted its arm unnaturally, and began devouring it. Every action was identical to that of a wild animal.
“Kyaaa…! Eating… eating people…!”
“It’s okay. Those are Dataroids, bait resembling humans but without any will or consciousness. They just look human.”
Kanon explained casually while enjoying Toa’s reaction. Meanwhile, Miuye continued eating and swiftly devoured the entire person.
Still unsatisfied, she turned her gaze towards the trio and charged at them. Her swinging arm was blocked by the grid of “Divided Death,” failing to reach them.
At the sight, Toa involuntarily sat down on her bottom.
“Umm, at this stage, regular Dataroids aren’t enough. Good sign though.”
“Kanon, please bring out the next Dataroid quickly.”
“No need to rush. I’ve prepared an exceptional Dataroid specifically for Miuye in this state, so let’s feed it to her right away.”
With that, Kanon snapped her fingers. Another student appeared behind the grid-biting Miuye.
It had a small frame and cute twin tails—an unmistakable figure.
Recognizing it immediately, Luka gasped.
“Konie…!?”
“Correct.”
Kanon smiled brightly.
“Surely, you haven’t turned a person into a Dataroid, have you!?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Seeing Kanon answer calmly, Luka realized something and clung to her desperately.
“Stop it! Get Konie out of there immediately! Otherwise, she’ll be eaten!”
“Haha, what are you saying, Luka?”
Kanon tilted her head innocently.
“Isn’t it obvious? Since it’s bait, getting eaten is expected.”
“…Ah, no. That’s unacceptable. I can’t allow it!”
Muttering these words like a delirious ramble, Luka clung to the grid of “Divided Death” and shouted.
“Miuye! No! That’s the real Konie! Please, snap out of it!”
“It’s futile. In that state, she won’t recognize it. Moreover, Konie probably appears as the ultimate prey to Miuye right now.”
“Kanon…! Have you truly gone mad…!?”
“Eh? What are you talking about, Luka? What’s wrong?”
Confused, Kanon tilted her head, furrowing her brows as if genuinely not understanding, continuing her speech.
“Did I do something bad?”
“…!”
The innocent childlike question resonated in Luka’s mind, bringing back Konie’s previous words.
‘We’re finished.’
Luka finally understood the meaning of those words.
(It’s because I didn’t stop Kanon. Because I always wanted Kanon to keep smiling.)
The beginning was a pure wish, clear like crystal and untainted, leading Luka to lend a hand.
When did it start?
When did that wish begin to twist?
(I knew. I noticed. But if I denied it, Kanon would disappear, perhaps even choose to end her life.)
Luka’s desire for her friend to live led to a cruel reality. Konie was dead, and Miuye was about to eat someone she admired.
All because of actions taken to preserve one smile, the worst scenario unfolded.
“Ruruika!”
“Divided Death!”
Ruruika, summoned, was suppressed by “Divided Death.” As Luka looked at Kanon, she saw Kanon gazing back at her cheerfully.
The eyes once thought to be pure were merely empty.
“No! Miuye!”
“It’s fine. Only two people can be eaten by her anyway.”
Luka stopped trying to understand Kanon’s words. The only emotion driving her now was the urgent need to stop this battle.
(If Convergence Artillery works perhaps—)
Thinking this, Luka glanced at Toa. But as if anticipating her thoughts, “Divided Death” danced around Toa, warning her that even the slightest movement would cost her life. Seeing the butterflies, Luka realized their powerlessness.
Everything was too late.
“Miuye, stop! Run, Konie!”
Her anguished cries reached no one.
Miuye growled like a beast and faced her prey. Salivating profusely, she opened her massive mouth and charged forward.
Sharp claws swung down towards Konie.
“—How utterly pointless.”
The advancing arm splitting the air suddenly halted mid-motion. The girl stood there as if she had appeared out of nowhere.
“This is absolutely ridiculous.”
A tone of disappointment mixed with boredom.
At this voice, Kanon’s smile vanished for the first time, her face contorting.
“…Solciera.”
“We meet again, Doctor.”
Casting a cold glance at Kanon, Solciera grabbed Miuye’s arm and threw her away. Then, she erected a barrier to protect Konie and positioned herself to face Miuye.
“Can’t you stay out of this?”
Smiling faintly, Solciera responded to Kanon’s words.
“Fufu, I owe you something. It’s time to pay it back.”
A magic circle unfolded before the smiling Solciera. Luka immediately recognized it—a completely new magical formula she had never seen before.
(What exactly is this…!?)
Emerald green scythe materialized from the magic circle. Taking hold of it, Solciera elegantly assumed a stance.
“Well then, Miuye—shall we dance?”
Solciera’s emerald eyes locked onto Miuye.
