Chapter 122: Ember
Tourak stood in stunned silence, staring at the place where Solciera had vanished.
“Ugh, we couldn’t do anything…!” Rinka muttered, filled with regret, and Tourak nodded in agreement.
(At the end, Kei was shaking.)
Having been whispered something by Zero, Kei was showing a slight tremor. Yet, she still acted bravely, leaving the scene without changing her expression, as if that was how it should be.
“Kei…!”
Feeling powerless to do anything but call her name only made him loathe himself even more.
At that moment, the white katana held in Tourak’s hand transformed back into a girl’s form.
“Tourak, are you okay?”
“I’m fine… we are.”
Yes, for Tourak and the others, there were no issues. The only one truly hurt here was the girl fighting as Solciera, Na Takikai.
“She was crying… and told me not to come near her. She said I’d die if I got too close.”
At Rinka’s words, an uncontainable anger swelled within Tourak. The fact that they couldn’t do anything only added to his frustration.
“Even my sister was abnormal. I’ve never seen her take such a liking to a human. She probably could take over that body at any time, but I think she’s deliberately choosing not to.”
“…Is that so?”
This indicated that Kei, who should have been the master, was essentially controlled by Zero.
“I wonder if she’s always been treated like that.”
“…I don’t know.”
It was a sight he didn’t want to imagine. The girl fighting alone in the shadows to save someone wasn’t being saved herself.
Tourak couldn’t allow such a gloomy world.
“…Let’s go, Rinka. Now that we have the information, we have no reason to stay here.”
“Tourak?”
Sensitive to the nuances of human emotions, Rinka quickly noticed Tourak’s change.
He was overflowing with anger, something unimaginable from his usually calm demeanor.
“I have to become stronger. And I have to save that girl.”
“…You’re right.”
Though it was an emotional statement, Rinka agreed because she felt the same way.
“How well can you fight against her in Star Slayer form, Lutra?”
“…I don’t know. But the possibility is not zero.”
“I see. Thanks.”
After saying just that, Tourak turned on his heel and walked away. Right now, the words Kei once declared echoed in his mind.
‘If I asked you to kill me, would you do it?’
Even if that was her way of seeking salvation. Even if it was the only path to rescue.
(I will definitely save her…! With my own hands…!)
He didn’t realize that blood was oozing from his clenched fist.
■
On a certain night, the Professor visited a specific academic district.
It was a dwelling for those who had been expelled from the academy for misconduct and various reasons, commonly referred to as Arachne.
“It’s been a while since I’ve come here, but it’s terrible.”
A prosperous-looking middle-aged man in a suit stood out in this place.
Makeshift living spaces piled up as a result of haphazard solutions, and stalls lined with stolen goods from somewhere. What was once likely a skyscraper now resembled a messy collection of handmade homes, akin to an abstract children’s sculpture.
“Gathering all the misfits in one place… The Director really has a nasty personality.”
While this district was not publicly acknowledged, the Board of Directors turned a blind eye to it. It functioned as a refuge for those who fell through the cracks during the development of Academy City, or as a trash bin for anything inconvenient.
Students who lived decently might not even know of its existence until graduation.
What would happen if someone who looked like a typical adult stepped into such a hidden world?
The answer lay right in front of him.
“—There are indeed those who are overly naive.”
A young man appeared before the Professor.
In an area where no one had been present moments ago, figures of boys and girls emerged, surrounding him. With eyes glinting like hungry beasts, their gazes showed they viewed the Professor as nothing but prey.
“Sorry, but this isn’t a place for old men like you. So, if you leave everything you have, your life won’t be taken,” said the blonde youth, whose eyes were mostly obscured.
The Professor, being an explorer, could effortlessly stab a knife into the asphalt. It was a rather clear threat.
“They’re quite lively.”
The Professor picked up the knife and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe off the dirt. While doing so, he spoke.
“I’d like to meet the leader of this area.”
“…Are you perhaps doing some charitable work? Offering opportunities to the misfits?”
“What if I am?”
Before the question could finish, a knife was embedded in the Professor’s shoulder.
Seeing that, laughter and jeers erupted from the surroundings.
“This is what happens. Several have come before, but they either get killed or stripped and run away. Old man, the outside world’s common sense doesn’t apply here.”
“Seems that way.”
With an unfazed expression, the Professor pulled out the knife and even began to clean it up.
Seeing this, the youth made a sour face as he signaled something behind him.
“For now, let’s take him hostage and demand some money.”
“Haha, sounds good!”
Suddenly, a burly youth appeared from behind the Professor, wielding a great sword made from illegally modified dive gear.
“You can afford to lose a leg or two. You have too much.”
The Professor didn’t turn around. Perhaps interpreting that as fear, the youth twisted his mouth and swung the great sword at the Professor’s legs.
However, a pitch-black scythe materialized there, halting the great sword.
“—I’m sorry, Professor. I got delayed.”
“That’s alright; you too have your youth.”
From the magic circle that appeared beside the Professor, a girl in a black cloak emerged. Effortlessly stopping the great sword, she closed the distance and kicked the youth away before he could swing it again.
The youth flew, crashing through multiple walls, finally seeming to stop in the fourth building.
He showed no sign of getting up, presumably unconscious from the impact.
“Going too far is not good, Nameless.”
“Yeah, I’ve been pent up too. Getting caught up in that farce called the Territorial War and seeing everyone around me so pumped is quite troublesome.”
“You seem to be having fun, though.”
“Does it really look that way?”
Nameless shrugged and casually caught a knife that flew in from off-screen, deploying an artillery formation in return.
“Who do the misfits think they’re picking a fight with?”
“Y-You!”
“Boom.”
A low-powered gunfire attack compared to what was shot at Solciera. Nevertheless, it was something that an average explorer couldn’t defend against.
It was only natural for misfits.
“…Ah.”
“Oh no, I went overboard. Sorry, I didn’t think you’d be this weak. I’ve only fought strong people until now.”
Saying this, Nameless approached the youth, engulfing his scorched body in flames.
Seeing the concept of wounds being incinerated, the comrades who had been aiming for a sneak attack halted.
Even misfits seemed to understand how formidable Nameless was.
“Alright, Professor, you can continue your talk. If you get too cocky again, I’ll crush you.”
“Hmm. I thought I could resolve things peacefully among young folks, which is why I invited you.”
As he spoke, the Professor bent down with a gentle smile before the youth.
Then he presented the now clean knife to the youth and said:
“Don’t you want to take down Mikage Academy and Kisou Academy?”
