Episode 103: Jade Shooter
Dangerous!
Whoaaaa!
It’s really close, ya know!
“Hmm, it’s safe, alright.”
With Konie on my back, I take a stance with the great scythe.
Our opponent is Miuye, who has reached a state of starvation.
But, I no longer fear anything.
That’s because I’ve stolen… no, hacked… well, after doing various things, I obtained all the information.
The Mysterious Beautiful Girl with acquired information is invincible.
“None of the aliases worked either. Solciera has truly fallen to thievery in broad daylight.”
For the sake of the beautiful girl, I am willing to soil myself.
It is because of the love for the beautiful girl that the Mysterious Beautiful Girl comes into being.
In other words, as long as there are beautiful girls, the Mysterious Beautiful Girl cannot lose.
Everyone’s (beautiful girls’) support gives strength to Solciera! Cheer her on by waving glowing Demons Gear at the movie theater!
“You can do it!”
And this time, we have a guest appearance by Nana!
Her cyber-specialized abilities make her a godlike presence at Jilnias Academy, which mainly uses data-heavy stuff, and she’s very reliable.
I found out during the investigation that while Nana was in the Professor’s hands, the Doctor was quietly active.
After trying it out, I realized that if someone like her exists, the Doctor wouldn’t be able to move.
Having her under the Professor’s control is simply the worst.
“Thanks to Ciel, all the information is complete. As a sister, I’m proud.”
“In front of me, all securities are meaningless. Um, Sister, I have one request.”
Inside my head, the two started talking on their own.
Hey, could you not make too much noise?
“Go ahead and say it.”
“Please allow the synchronization of awareness with Kei. Without this, I cannot fully utilize my abilities.”
“That’s impossible.”
Eh? So Nana and I aren’t connected in awareness?
Is it just one-sided where I can hear her?
“No matter how much you’re a Star Reader, synchronizing with you might turn you into a shut-in. It’s enough that I can use you as a weapon like this.”
“No, my calculations show that particularly such a thing won’t—”
“Shut up! The contract Demon Gear of Solciera is mine! There’s no place for a late-coming little girl like you!”
Ehh… Star Reader’s Staff, that’s going too far.
What will you do if she cries?
“No, I merely don’t want your so-called ‘beautiful girl brain’ to get contaminated?”
Quietly, only to me, the Star Reader’s Staff said that.
Ah, I see! Wait, what?
“Anyway, orders from the Master are given either verbally or through me. Rest assured. Even without synchronization, there won’t be any problems.”
“I see… Hmm…”
She looks super dissatisfied.
“And, I have another request: please return the scythe to its original form instead of using it. I am not a scythe like Sister.”
“Solciera uses a scythe. Any other weapon would be misinterpretation! Look here, the sight of Solciera holding an emerald-green scythe—isn’t it beautiful?”
“…Using a scythe in such a confined room doesn’t offer advantages—”
“Tsk… That’s why the True Restraint Type is annoying. Let’s go already!”
Sorry, Nana…
Star Reader’s Staff has an incredible obsession with Solciera.
How did it come to this…
“Whose mouth is saying that?”
■
The atmosphere clearly shifted with Solciera’s arrival.
Miuye seemed to instinctively understand her strength, as she didn’t rush in but instead moved around Solciera, measuring the distance.
During this time, Solciera remained completely still, gazing at Kanon.
“Has the Doctor’s installation been completed? Without it, you won’t be able to handle me, right?”
“That’s rude. Even without that, dealing with you is possible—Divided Death.”
New black butterflies were created around Solciera.
Divided Death, known for absorbing magical power, should theoretically be Solciera’s nemesis.
“This is what they call the stubbornness of fools, isn’t it?”
“…Haha. You’re still interesting. Yeah, it bothers me though.”
As the butterflies approached Solciera, Miuye lunged.
A simultaneous attack—magical power absorption and physical assault—was launched at Solciera.
An attack that normally would be impossible to handle.
However, Solciera stepped forward with a cold smile.
Then, she lightly swung the emerald-green scythe.
The scythe, used like a staff, emitted a faint light and sent lightning coursing around the area.
The next moment…
“Huh? What’s that? Never heard of it before.”
The lightning surged through the entire area, causing the butterflies to fall one by one.
Kanon immediately understood that the connection with Divided Death had been severed.
But, that was all he could comprehend.
Even the Doctor couldn’t figure out the process by which Divided Death had been neutralized.
“Liar, Divided Death lost one-sidedly…?”
“Ah, you’re making a good face.”
Seeing Kanon frozen in shock, Solciera smiled.
Just then, Miuye, who had approached closely, swung her arm down forcefully.
A sharp claw capable of easily tearing through iron delivered a powerful strike.
However, Solciera avoided it effortlessly by stepping forward half a step without even looking.
Then, catching Miuye’s arm mid-motion, she struck with the scythe’s handle.
“―!”
Miuye, stunned by the impact, took a few steps back. Solciera calmly approached and delivered precise blow after blow.
Switching entirely from artillery-style attacks to pure physical combat, she steadily pushed Miuye into a corner.
Kanon hastily summoned more butterflies.
“Divided Death!”
“Don’t you realize it’s futile? Butterfly wings can never reach the stars.”
The butterflies approaching Solciera fell one by one.
Their inability to even touch her made it seem as though she were truly facing the stars themselves.
“―”
Facing Miuye’s roaring attack, Solciera thrust the scythe’s handle into the floor and used it like a pole to deliver a kick.
Still holding the scythe firmly, she closed the distance with Miuye further.
But, she didn’t throw a punch.
Instead, another powerful kick was unleashed.
“Let’s play a little, shall we?”
Her skirt danced gracefully as each powerful kick was delivered.
Each movement seamlessly connected, resembling a perfectly choreographed dance.
Miuye could do nothing but endure the relentless barrage without resistance.
“Don’t bully Miyme-chan!”
With fury, Divided Death came rushing in, but the lightning emanating from the scythe embedded in the ground hit every single butterfly without fail.
Witnessing this, Kanon frantically scratched his head.
“What the hell is that?! Cheating! That’s unfair!”
“Crying like a baby is pitiful. Aren’t you supposed to be the older sister? Then, smile even in moments like this.”
Saying that, Solciera performed a spinning kick toward Miyme with a light step.
The unbelievably powerful kick delivered from Solciera’s slender white leg caught Miyme’s jaw, shaking her brain.
This single devastating blow caused Miyme to collapse to her knees, unable to stand if she were biologically alive.
“Ah, it seems I’ve run out of dance partners. Was I too wild?”
Teasingly saying that, Solciera picked up the scythe again.
Treading over the crushed butterflies, she approached Kanon.
“Solciera…!”
“What a scary face. What would Yuume think seeing you like that?”
That comment unmistakably crossed the line in Kanon’s mind.
“I’ll kill you.”
“Try it, Older Sister.”
Provocatively, Solciera smiled.
Responding to Kanon’s anger, an incomparable number of butterflies were summoned.
All of them possessed the deadly ability to absorb magical power, designed specifically to kill explorers.
“Die! I don’t care about professors or doctors anymore! I’ll kill you here!”
“You’re acting like a child.”
Faced with countless incoming “Divided Deaths” flying like bullets, Solciera pointed the emerald-green great scythe’s handle.
A grip extended from the side, which Solciera grabbed.
This was her preferred style of artillery attack.
Simultaneously, a magic circle formed beneath her feet.
“That is…”
Luka exclaimed upon recognizing the familiar magic formation, which was Solciera’s signature Convergent Artillery Attack.
Upon seeing this, Kanon grinned.
“Haha! Are you stupid? A Convergent Artillery Attack won’t work against Divided Death, obviously!”
“Is that so?”
(No, part of the magic formation is different… This is a new type of artillery attack derived from the Convergent Artillery Attack!)
Only Luka, who had observed Solciera’s magic formations continuously, noticed this.
Though mostly the same structure, parts had been newly added.
Emerald-green magic formations complemented it beautifully.
“One bullet is plenty.”
Magic converged in Solciera’s hand.
The condensed magic transformed into a single bullet—a beautiful bullet that looked carved from jade.
At the same time, part of the great scythe opened, and Solciera loaded the single bullet inside.
Taking her usual stance,
“I’ll pierce through it for you.”
The trigger was pulled.
In that instant, a flash pierced through.
A streak of emerald lightning surged forth, piercing through Divided Death straight ahead—all the way to Kanon’s head.
An event that occurred faster than perception itself.
“Next time, bring the main body. Coward.”
“Y-you, S-solciela!”
The Divided Death composing Kanon’s body stopped functioning and fell to the ground at the point of impact.
Following that, all the Divided Death present ceased functioning one by one.
Amidst the falling butterflies, Solciera stood alone, exhaling quietly.
She turned around.
Ahead lay Konie, standing silently within a barrier.
“Fufu, it’s foolish to challenge such a tragedy alone. Foolish, yet endearing.”
Dismissing the barrier, Solciera gently stroked Konie’s head.
She then unfolded a magic circle for her.
The geometric magic circle dyed emerald green made Luka widen his eyes.
“Again…!? I’ve never seen this… It’s a completely new magic formation…!”
Solciera’s magic formations had always shared a unified foundation.
They were spells built under the premise of interference, but the one before him now was entirely different.
“For a while, rest now.”
Her voice was gentle.
Konie collapsed like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
Gently embracing her, Solciera laid her softly on the floor with care.
It seemed everything had ended.
“—”
Suddenly, behind Solciera stood Miyu, already recovered and risen.
Miyu opened her mouth wide and raised her arms for a surprise attack from behind.
“!? Behind!”
“Hmm…”
Solciera stood up but didn’t evade.
Rather, she turned her back to the surprise attack and spoke.
“The rest is up to you—Na Takikai.”
Miye’s arm struck Solciera directly.
At the same time, black feathers fluttered around, and Solciera disappeared.
This was Solciera’s second transfer magic.
“—!?”
Confused by the feeling of cutting through empty air, Miye hesitated.
Above her, emerging from the transfer magic, was Na Takikai with a dagger ready—.
“!”
A gravity-laden strike pierced Miye’s shoulder.
Pain forced Miye to attempt retaliation, but numbness spread from her extremities, gradually paralyzing her body.
“It’s useless. This paralysis poison is special; no one can escape it.”
Kei coolly spat those words and pulled out the dagger.
Then, catching Miye as she collapsed due to paralysis.
Miye managed to force out a sound despite her paralyzed throat.
“Kei…?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Sleep now.”
Seeming to find relief in Kei’s voice, Miye closed her eyes.
Perhaps due to losing consciousness, steam overflowed from her monstrous body.
By the time the vision cleared, Miye had returned to her human form.
To cover her nudity after her clothes tore during transformation, Kei draped her spare school uniform over her.
Then, releasing tension upon seeing Toa, she exhaled and said,
“Sorry, did you wait long?”
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