EIS V5 C2 -- A Shocking Morning And The Campus Murder Case!!

Translated from the CN here: https://www.wenku8.net/novel/2/2542/139400.htm
Checked against the JP here: https://files.catbox.moe/s1owqo.epub

V5 C0: https://files.catbox.moe/vj6luo.txt
V5 C1: https://files.catbox.moe/0didm4.txt

JP > CN > EN by the Seven Chads

I felt very refreshed when I woke up.

All that was thanks to the free robe of dark spidersilk I obtained last night. I admired it in the light of the morning sun, then headed over to the Academy slightly earlier than usual.

I hadn't gone to school by myself for a while.

Hyoro and Jaga were always on the verge of coming late to school.

Going a little early every now and then wasn't a bad thing.

The faces of the students along the way were also quite novel, and the sensation of bathing in the morning sun as I entered the gates was simply wonderful...

"...This is terrible."

"What are you doing here, Poochie?"

"What are YOU doing here, Alexia?"

I entered the school gates and found Alexia standing there.

"You ought to be happy to see me bright and early in the morning."

"Wow, I'm sooooo happy."

"You should be."

"Guess I am. Bye then."

"Hold it, get back here."

Just as I was about to make a hasty exit, Alexia immediately moved up next to me.

"Why are you following me?"

"That way I can catch up with you immediately if you try to flee."

"Are you some kind of beast or something?"

"You should feel honored to be able to go to school with me, right?"

"..."

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

"...I was thinking that you must be feeling overjoyed by now."

"It's a far cry from you."

As we talked while we walked, the area in front of the school dorms had mysteriously filled up with people.

I could hear the murmurs of the students from here.

"Someone... Someone died!

"Who could have been so cruel..."

"Hey, don't get so close! The knights will be coming soon, and until then..."

Alexia and I couldn't help but exchange looks.

"There's a corpse!"

"Let's go take a look."

This was a long-awaited surprise in our unchanging school life.

The pounding in my heart was thus only to be expected.

In order to see what kind of corpse it was, I peered through the crowd.

And then — it hit me. 

"Ah, so that's what they were talking about."

Now that I thought about it, I had left that stylish thief's body there after kicking him off the roof last night.

I had completely forgotten about it.

"How terrible... I can't believe he was impaled on the statue's sword. Was it an execution?"

"I think it was just a coincidence."

"That can't be. There must have been some reason to kill someone in such a distinctive way."

"Really now."

Alexia stared at the body with a serious expression on her face.

"Who is he? He doesn't look like someone from the Academy."

"He's probably a thief."

"He doesn't look like he's from the knights either. He was probably an intruder..."

"I think he was just a thief."

"Could he be from the cult? Or perhaps..."

"Like I've been saying, I think he's just a thief."

"You've been really noisy since just now. How could he be a mere thief?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Meh, whatever.

The students around us also looked very happy. When thinking about this, I could say that this was just as I had planned back then.

"How scary... Could it be that group from before who did it?"

"They haven't found those students from before who went missing, have they?"

"And then there was that mana incident from a few days ago. There must be something going on behind the scenes."

Everyone was happy, so happy.

Granted the truth was just a cat and a dog fighting and a thief falling to his death. But the fact that they had managed to stir things up like this pleased me, the one who had set everything in motion.

Now what should I do... Perhaps I should dress up again as Shadow tonight to add to the excitement.

"Why are you laughing to yourself with such a disgusting expression on your face?"

"Hm? Ah, no, it's nothing."

Alexia looked at me in a strange way with those red eyes of hers.

"Excuse me, you two."

Just then, a male student approached us.

He was a handsome guy with dark green hair... In other words, Isaac-kun.

"Yo, Isaac-kun. How dare you take yesterday off."

"Ah, I believe you should be Cid-kun, right? I had something to do yesterday. Did something happen?"

"We had a class quiz yesterday."

"Indeed, we did. What happened?"

"No, it's nothing."

"Never mind, then. More importantly, classes today are canceled."

"I see."

"After all, a very serious incident took place. The school's staff and the knights will begin an investigation, so we've received instructions to clear the scene. Since the culprit might still be lurking here, you must be extra careful. You must not leave the dorms."

"Mhm."

"Since it's dangerous, you'd better be careful too, Poochie."

"Yes, ma'am—"

Just then, I felt something close around my neck with a clack.

Is that a collar?

"Got you at last."

Looking back, I saw Nee-san standing there with a smile on her face.

"H-hey, it's been a while, Nee-san."

"It really has. The last time I saw you was before winter break."

"S-so it was."

Crap, I was careless.

I had gone off on my own instead of meeting Nee-san because I thought it would be a pain."

"Uh, Claire, this collar..."

"What's the matter with this collar?"

"Is this YOUR collar, Claire?"

"Yup. It should have been in my room, but for some reason the knights were holding on to it. I had to put in a lot of effort to get it back."

"I, I see. And what is it for?"

"What it's for... Isn't that obvious?"

There was a rattling noise as Nee-san smiled while lifting a chain.

"Ah, er, yeah, that makes sense... I see, dogs do need leashes after all."

"Yup yup, this collar is essential~"

"Ah, but I'm not a dog."

"What are you talking about, Poochie?"

"You say the strangest things, Cid. Come on, Poochie, let's go. No wait, that should be Cid."

Nee-san tugged on the chain and dragged me away in full view of all the spectators.

Since when were these two such good friends?

[SCENEBREAK]

"You have a lot of nerve standing me up."

"Ah, ahahaha."

Nee-san brought me to her room where she got on top of me in a mounted position.

"And you lied to me on top of that."

"I lied? Which one are you referring to?"

"DId you just say which one?"

She fastened her hands around my neck.

Crap, I screwed myself.

I had lied to Nee-san so many times that I had completely forgotten which lie she was talking about.

"It, it hurts..."

It didn't hurt at all, though."

"You didn't lie to me about other things, did you?"

"Not at all, not at all."

I sure as hell had.

"Really?"

"Yes, really!"

Nee-san brought her face close, until our noses were almost touching, and looked me in the eye.

"...Your eyes are so clear. That's the sign of a pure soul. Looks like you weren't lying."

Talk about looking but not seeing.

"You know I'd find out soon enough even if you lied to me. Why did you lie?"

"I know now, it was that lie, right? The one from earlier."

"Yes, it was the one about Nina."

"About Nina-senpai?"

Huh?

I never lied to her about Nina-senpai.

"You didn't forget, did you?"

"Of course not. It's about Nina-senpai, right? If it's about her, then the situation is very complex and hard to explain..."

"(Sigh) I guess you just lied about it so I'd think you were great."

"Yeah, something like that."

"I've already anticipated everything you could be thinking."

"Yes. and I'm reflecting on my actions now."

"Alright then, I'll forgive you. But just this once, okay?"

At last, this conversation was over.

Or at least, it should have been, but Nee-san kept staring at me.

"Nee-san, you're heavy. Shouldn't you be getting up now... gack."

My, my neck...

"Cid, did you say something just now?"

"Nee, Nee-san, you're very light, you have an amazing body, you're the fairest of them all."

"That's true. It's only to be expected."

"Yeah, it makes perfect sense." 

"Ufufu. You're still the same Cid no matter how big you get. I hope you'll stay like this forever. I..."

For some reason, Nee-san had a severe mood around her.

"Nee-san?"

"As long as you can stay like this, I'll face any enemy, no matter how strong they are."

"Ah..."

Was her illness from before still acting up?

"Cid, listen to me. A powerful organization is closing its talons around the school right now."

"Ah, so you're going with this pattern."

"No, listen. I can't tell you all the details for the sake of your safety... Not even if you look at me with those eyes."

"I see."

"I'm going to solve the mystery behind this school. It will be dangerous... But if it's for your sake, then I'll do my best."

"All the best."

"Please be careful, Cid. You're my brother, so they might have their eye on you too. But your Nee-san will try had too. I'll defeat all the bad guys..."

"Yes, defeat them."

"I'm sorry to worry you, and I'm sorry I can't tell you about all these important things. However, this is to protect you. I know it sounds like I'm just talking nonsense, but I hope you can understand me."

"I understand.


"Also... If I don't make it back... If I die..."

Just as Nee-san was telling me all this with tears streaming down her face, she suddenly looked up and glared into thin air.

"Excuse me, Aurora, but we're having a moment here, so would you mind piping down a little? Eh, what? You want me to stop because it's embarrassing? What's embarrassing about this--"

Then, her eyes met mine as I looked up at her with the utmost sincerity.

"Nee-san..."

"Ah, this, this is, it it it it's nothing, nothing at all, I was just talking to myself!"

"Nee-san, I understand."

"Cid... You understand me? But there are very deep reasons for this."

"Of course I do."

These were symptoms of chuunibyou, after all.

"Thank you, Cid. You're wasted on me as my little brother. If... If I die..."

Huge teardrops oozed down Nee-san's cheeks.

"You'll be fine, Nee-san. You won't die."

"Cid--! I promise, I promise I'll come back!!"

"There there."

She hugged me so hard that I thought my spine would snap.

When will this farce end?

[SCENEBREAK]

At long last, it was nightfall. 

I snuck out of the dorm and stood on the campus roof, as usual.

The academy was on high alert and all movement in and out of the dorms was carefully scrutinized. The students all seemed uneasy too.

Who would have thought that thief from last night would have drawn so much attention? That extraordinary feeling was definitely an exciting one.

In my previous life, I was the kind who got excited when a typhoon hit.

A classroom that was gloomy and dark despite being in the middle of the day, the intense wind and rain -- it was all just amazing.

For some reason, it felt like something was about to happen, although the truth was that nothing had happened.

Still, wasn't it my mission to make something happen by using the experience from my past life?

The students were tired of their ordinary school lives, and they craved something that would destroy it.

"Now what should I do?"

First, we had the four missing students. Then the cat and dog fight. Then that thief who fell to his death... What kind of grand event could there be that would link all of them up?

"A gigantic magic circle or something, chanting spells or something... But they all seem pointless too. Hm?"

Just as I was thinking about this, I found that my surroundings were filled with white mist.

"Huh? I saw this yesterday too... Is this some weird weather thing?"

After that, my vision turned white and I was brought to a boundless, white-colored realm."

"Hm? What is it?"

It was the feeling of an imaginary wind.

I think I'd experienced being suddenly teleported to another dimension before. If I'm not wrong, it was called the Sanctuary or something...

"Who, who's that?"

There was a little girl in this white-colored domain."

She was a little younger than me and wore a one-piece dress that was all white. Her eyes were as purple as violets.

"Yo, it's been a while."

Although her age was a little different, I could tell at a glance. She was Violet-san.

"Who are you? Are you a new researcher?"

"You mean, you don't remember?"

"I, I don't know."

"Now that you mention it, I think you said something about something happening to your memory."

"Stay away..."

The young Violet-san seemed to be wary of me. 

"You don't need to be afraid. I might not be a friend of justice, but I'm not a villain who brings despair either."

"W-why are you here..."

"I wonder. I was already here by the time I realized it. How about you?"

"I... I... ahhhhhhh..."

She grabbed her head.

"Are you alright?"

"I... why... AHHHHHHHHH!"

She grabbed her head and screamed.

It would seem she was in pain.

"Oh, you don't need to force yourself to recall your memories. I'm a pretty forgetful person myself. I quickly forget irrelevant things so I can focus on what's important. It's also to reduce the amount of memory they take up in my brain."

"I, I am... no... stop, stop... NOOOOOOO!"

As she screamed, she unleashed a fearsome wave of mana.

"Goodness. Like I said, it's okay if you can't remember."

I turned aside the mana coming from Violet-san.

And then I approached her, step by step.

"Stay back aaaaahhhhhhhhhh!"

"What's with his mana, anyway?"

It startled me.

Although adult Violet-san was amazing too, this was far beyond her.

Still, deflecting a stream of mana that was pouring out in a straight line was simple enough.

I shifted the vector of the oncoming mana as I approached, and then I grabbed her.

"No, no, no, no, doooooooooon't!"

"There there."

I grabbed Miss Violet and infused my mana into her.

It followed the same guidelines as healing demonic possession, and full-body contact would improve the efficiency of doing so.

"Leggo... let go... of me..."

"If you can't remember it, it's okay to forget."

After I infused my mana into her, she slowly began to calm down from her berserk state.

Her power began to fade, and the tension dissolved.

"Then... Then what if I can't forget?"

She said this in a still, small voice.

"Who knows. But if you don't think about it, you'll eventually forget about it someday."

"...I can't do that."

"Really now. Are you feeling calmer now?"

"Um... yeah."

After I let go of Violet-san, she looked down in embarrassment.

"Now then, how should I get out of here?"

"...Are you leaving?"

As she watched me step forward, she padded after me.

"It's going to happen eventually. Right now, I'm investigating how to leave this place.

This place was nothing but white as far as the eye could see. I couldn't tell if there was an exit around.

"Everybody's gone."

"That might not be the case."

"Everyone's dead."

"Well, that's definitely possible."

"Will you die too?"

"I won't die."

I could live for at least 600 years, though I was still studying how to go past that.

"You're lying."

"Perhaps."

"Don't go."

"...But you can leave too if I find the exit, right? It would be simple enough if I just blew this place to bits."

After all, that was how the adult Violet-san had vanished too.

"I can't leave."

"I see."

"Don't go."

"...We'll meet again."

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"Then... give that to me."

Violet-san pointed at my pocket.

I took out the red gem from my pocket.

"Yup. That's mine."

"It feels warm for some reason. It calms me down."

"But it's just a gemstone, isn't it?"

"No. It's more important than that."

"I know."

"Mhm."

Just then, I heard the sound of a door closing.

Violet-san's body twitched.

There were no doors anywhere in this pure white space, but I definitely heard that sound just now.

"Hey, where did you go!?"

I also heard a voice.

"Are you hiding, No. --!?"

"I, I have to go."

"Ah, wait."

A fissure appeared in the white realm.

"You'd better behave, or do you want to suffer–"

"Wait, I'll give you–"

I reached for her hand, and then this white ream suddenly broke open.

"--this."

The crimson gem I offered fell to the ground with a clatter.

I was once again on the roof from before.

The white mist, that white-colored realm and that girl in the white dress were all gone.

I picked up the fallen gemstone and put it back in my pocket.

"So you're nearby, hm, Violet-san."

I tried dispersing mana particles to sense her presence.

However, I could not find her.

Instead, I found--

"Isn't this Nee-san and Alexia?"

What were they doing over there?

[SCENEBREAK]

"It's open. Over here."

The moonlight shone on the two figures attempting to break into the library.

They were Alexia and Claire.

Alexia snuck in first,, then attempted to watch her surroundings in a stiff, clumsy manner.

Just then--

"You know, you really are getting in my way."

"Ouch."

Claire fell down from above.

What the heck are you doing? I told you I'd make sure everything was safe first, right?

Alexia quashed her anger at being stepped on as she said this.

"You'll be spotted if you're slow, you know. Speed is of the essence."

"Okay, fine. Just get off me already."

Claire shifted aside and Alexia managed to stand up.

"Let's move, Alexia. We have to succeed, no matter what."

"Well, someone's pretty motivated."

"That's because I've got a reason why I can't fail. I've got a place to go back to--"

Claire clenched her fist, her eyes filled with determination.

"...Although I don't know why you're like this, motivation is good."

Alexia led the way and opened the lock on a door deep within the library.

"How did you get that key?"

"Royal authority."

"I see. Is this the restricted archive?"

There were neat rows of towering bookshelves inside the room.

"No, this is just the book vault. The restricted archive should be deeper within--"

Alexia stopped in front of a massive bookcase.

"Well, this is a big one. Are these ancient runes..."

"This bookshelf is an artifact in itself. There was a little incantation in one of the fairy tales Otou-sama told me when I was young."

"An incantation?"

Alexia took a deep breath.

"Chichin Pui Pui, Open Sesame!"

The silence lasted for a long, long time.

"Is this some kind of joke?"

"No, I'm not joking! I'm serious! That incantation should have worked!"

"What an idiot."

"Did I get the incantation wrong... Chinchin Pui Pui, was that it--"

Just them.

THe massive bookcase opened with a low grinding sound.

"Looks like Chinchin was the answer!"
(TL Note: yes, the author was trying to make a dick joke)

Alexia said so with a smug look on her face.

"It probably took a while to open because it was so old."

Alexia and Claire continued forward.

"This is amazing..."

After entering the restricted archive, all they could do was gasp in awe.

The bright and colorful chandeliers illuminated gigantic bookshelves. The volumes on those shelves were a little faded, but all had a unique style of their own.

"So, which of these books contains the history of the school?

Claire asked as she carefully studied the rows of book spines that extended into parts unknown.

If they had to go book by book, they might still be searching by the time the sun came up.

"We'll just have to pray."

"Quit messing around."

"I told you, I'm not messing around! You do it like this--"

Alexia waggled her arms by the side of her head in a strange way.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Building the mood. School history, school history, school history... Chinchin Pui Pui!"

"You are such a dork."

However, in the next moment...

There was a flash of light and a book flew over.

The book came to a halt, and hovered in front of Alexia, then opened to its first page.

"No way..."


"See? I told you, right?"

"What a ridiculous artifact. I want to smash it."

"Aw, don't be like that. It's a pretty obedient and cute artifact, don't you think?"

"So anyway, what does that book say?"

Claire said that with a look of annoyance on her face.

"Er. I can't read it."

"These... These are ancient runes."

"I can still understand the simpler runes, but these are too difficult. What about you, Claire?"

"I only know the basics of ancient runes. It isn't a very popular topic, so I guess only the more academic types would learn them."

"That's true."

"So what do we do now?"

"At times like these... Chinchin Pui Pui~ Translate it for me!"

Alexia spoke in a cutesy voice and made a heart shape with her hands.

"That's disgusting, and there's no way that'd work, right?"

"Well, how do we know if we don't try? For all we know, it might actually have such a handy function."

"You, you, you want it translated, right? Dyuhuhuhu..."

A revolting voice echoed through the restricted archive.

"Eh, it spoke!?"


"Is someone there?"

The two of them looked around, but there was no sign of anyone else.

"I, I I, I'm the spirit of the archive. You want me to translate it for you, right?"

"I expected nothing less of an artifact that is this academy's pride and joy."

"That's just gross... It must be the voice of some fatty."

"Look Claire, you don't have to go that far."

"Uh... So, so you don't need it translated, then..."

"See, now it's throwing a tantrum."

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry."

"Archive-san, we'll leave the translation to you."

"Mufufufu... I, I'll do my best! Which which which which part do you want translated?"

"Ahm, we'd like to know where the Right Arm of Diablos is sealed."

"That, that, that would be underneath the Academy. There's a relic site down there."

"Ah... I see. Well, that was easy..."

"...You're surprisingly capable."

The restricted volume floating in mid-air turned its page and the translated section glowed faintly.

"Long, long ago, the heroes and Diablos fought here. After that, Diablos lost its right arm and it was sealed away. Then all kinds of things happened and it became a relic site."

"All kinds of things?"

"It seems there was a dispute over the right arm of Diablos. They weren't recorded in detail, but it ended up being hidden in the underground ruins for various reasons."

"Is there a way to enter the underground ruins?"

"Yes. There appears to be a chapel of some sort somewhere in school. You can enter it from there."

"And where is this "somewhere", then?"

"Dyuhuhu... I can't tell you what wasn't written down."

"Tch. How useless... In any case, we know what the Diablos Cult is up to now. They're trying to break the seal on the Right Arm."

"Then why did they kidnap those students?"

"Probably to break the seal, I think. You could easily open the seal by using mana that's similar to that of the seal."

"So they went after the students with compatible mana, then. Want to try looking for that sealed chapel?"

"...I should inform onee-sama first."

Alexia seemed to have made up her mind as she said this.

"Now that you mention it, you ARE a royal, aren't you? Couldn't you have done that from the start?"

"Do you think I haven't been doing anything?

"Huh?"

"I've told her many times, about the Academy incident, the Sanctuary incident, and so on..."

"Alexia..."

"But... It should work this time. I have proof this time, and onee-sama will definitely believe me."

"Do, do your best, Alexia-chan~"

"Shut the fuck up, you disgusting fat pig."

Alexia glared at it like she was going to kill someone."

"Aiiieeeee...."

"Alexia... we ought to leave the archive. Someone will find us if we spend too long here."

"You have a point, But before that, is there a book which contains detailed information about the Diablos Cult?

A short silence followed.

"...It does not exist here."

"Really now... It can't be helped, then."

"See you."

"Buh, buh-bye... be careful..."

Alexia and Claire were enfolded by mana and by the time they came to, they had returned to the original book vault.

"With this book, I'm sure onee-sama will..."

Alexia clutched the book to her chest and left the vault.

Just then--

"Where are you going with that restricted volume?"

"--!?"

Alexia and Claire simultaneously looked back.

A tall old man was standing in the shadows of the bookshelves.

His face was elongated and his eyes were sunken in. Those round eyes were staring at them.

"You, you're the Head Librarian..."

Alexia hid the book behind her back, but it was too late.

"Princess Alexia, even for you, taking away a restricted volume without permission is a severe crime, and it is even more so for that ordinary student beside you."

He shifted his gaze to Claire and narrowed his eyes.

Either she would be disciplined or expelled. That might affect her brother too.

"Should we kill him?"

Claire said so very quietly. Her eyes were fixed on the librarian.

Alexia hurriedly shoved Claire aside.

"Head, Head Librarian! There's a very good reason for this! Can you please hear me out?"

"Since there is something you wish to say, Princess Alexia, then I must listen to you."

"Thank you very much."

"Let's go somewhere else. Please follow me."

The Head Librarian left the library as he spoke.

Alexia followed after him while quietly addressing Claire behind her.

"What the hell was that all about just now!?"

"People will look down on Cid if I become a criminal! They'll say your sis committed a crime and bully him! And he's so fragile that he might kill himself..."

"He won't. Trust me on that."

Alexia couldn't help but sigh."

"Please hurry, Princess Alexia."

"Ah, coming."

Alexia grabbed Claire's hand and jogged after the Head Librarian.

[SCENEBREAK]

"Ah, where are we going?"

Alexia called out to the Head Librarian who was walking in front of her.

They had been following this tall man through a darkened corridor.

"We're almost there."

"We could talk in a classroom, right?"

"...In that case, let's do it here."

After that, the Head Librarian stopped.

Right there, in the middle of the corridor.

"Here?"

"Ah, yes. The preparations are complete."

He turned back and smiled.

It was an unlikable smile, and Alexia frowned.

"...Alexia."

Behind her, Claire patted her shoulder.

"There's mist..."

"Mist?"

She looked around and discovered that a white mist had sprung up in the corridor at some point.

"Why is there mist here..."

The mist quickly grew thicker.

She heard the sound of splintering from somewhere.

"This was just like when I was attacked..."

"The same?"

And right after that, the world shattered.

The scenery around them fragmented like pieces of a broken mirror.

"What, what is this!?"

They should have been in a campus corridor, but her surroundings were nothing like that now.

This was a world wreathed in white.

She could smell a sweet odor from somewhere.

"Alexia, draw your sword."

At Claire's urging, Alexia drew her sword.

"We've been surrounded."

"Hm?"

After sensing for the presence of others, she realized that there were many people in the mist.

They were looking at them and slowly drawing closer. They did not seem friendly.

"Well done on noticing them, Claire."

"Well, Ghost-san is pretty good herself."

"I see. So tell me, Head Librarian."

Alexia turned her sword toward the Head Librarian.

He was standing in the mist, a faint smile on his face.

"What is the matter, Princess Alexia?"

"What on earth is going on?"

Now that things had gotten this far, Alexia wasn't dumb enough to still be trusting him.

"Good grief, you're more perceptive than I expected."

The Head Librarian drew a pair of massive natas.

There was one in each hand.

"My, what dangerous weapons though are. I thought that since you were a librarian, you might fight your bottles with the pen and paper.

"The pen and paper are used to describe one's ideals. But reality is built with swords."

And with that, he raised the natas in his hands.

"I'll handle the Head Librarian. You take care of the enemies around us, Claire."

"Got it."

Back to back, the pair took their fighting stances, and then the battle began.

A two-hit nata combo swept out of the white mist. 

Alexia stepped back to avoid the first hit, and then swatted the second one aside with her sword.

"Hm."

As the Head Librarian watched in surprise, Alexia launched a counterattack.

Her strike, which flowed naturally and without hesitation, left a shallow cut on the Head Librarian's face.

"Well now."

He immediately pulled back to re-adjust his stance, and then he wiped the blood off his cheek.

"I'm surprised. This is nothing like the Princess Alexia that I know."

There was sincere praise in the Librarian's voice.

"I'm still growing, after all."

"Even so, that was well done. A person's sword contains the accumulated essence of their being. Before, you were simply imitating Princess Iris. But now, you have been elevated. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that something else was mixed in, and that is what you are expressing."

"You certainly seem idle enough to analyze me."

"Ah, but of course."

"--Even when I do this?"

Claire said this from behind him.

She was surrounded by several fallen foes, who shattered and faded away.

The Head Librarian's brow twitched in surprise.

"So all seven of the Seconds were wiped out. It seems you were the winner of this year's Bushin Festival, Claire Kagenou. You should not have become this strong yet. It seems you have employed some kind of strange power."

"...You can see it?"

"You were using a red tentacle. How interesting."

He had not missed Claire's battle while fighting Alexia.

And so, Alexia and Claire faced the Head Librarian together.

"It's two on one now."

"Now the tables have turned."

"Is that how it looks to you?"

Yet, for some reason, he remained as composed as ever.

"You're strong, but the two of us can beat you."

"Ah, youth."

"You seem pretty calm."

"Because I've already given up."

"You've given up?"

"I've already given up the sword. This world is broad, and there is always someone better out there. Therefore, I'm not particularly resentful about the fact that the two of you are so talented. I'm sure the two of you will soon surpass someone like me."

"Since you've given up, then hurry up and surrender so I can make you tell me everything you know."

In response to Alexia's statement, the Head Librarian laughed.

"You really are too young. Just because I'm not bothering with swords doesn't mean I can't fight by other means."

"Huh?"

A sweet scent washed over them.

After that, a pair of clattering noises filled the air.

They were the sounds of Alexia and Claire's swords hitting the ground.

"What..."

"My, my strength..."

"This scent belongs to a drug that relaxes the muscles and beguiles one's mana."

The Head Librarian looked down at the girls, who were unable to prevent themselves from collapsing to their knees.

"Why you... Didn't you say you were going to fight with swords?"

"Both of you are very talented and you have bright futures. That is why someone like me could trip you up."

The Head Librarian took out a rope and tied their arms up.

"Tell me... Why..."

"...Are you doing this?"

"You're clearly very strong, so why do you still need to do this..."

"...Because there is always someone better. And my sword has already been broken."

"Broken...? What do you mean?"

His gaze seemed to be staring at a place far into the distance.

"Once, there was a magic swordsman called Fenrir. Have you heard of him?"

"...No."

"You should have. Anyone who lives in this country should know about him."

Alexia thought back to the contestants of the Bushin Festival and all the other famous spellswords in other nations, but she had no clue.

"A magic swordsman called Fenrir... Wait, could it be the one from the fairytales!?"

"Yes, that Fenrir. He was once called the mightiest spellsword and was famous throughout the world."

"Wait a minute! The magic swordsman Fenrir lived several hundred years ago! We don't even know if he even existed."

"Oh, he does exist. And he is still alive."
 
"You say he's still alive, but how... Could it be the Drops of Diablos!?"

Alexia recalled the story she heard in the sanctuary.

She also remembered the beings called the Knights of the Round Table, who had gained eternal life through the Drops of Diablos.

"So you even know about the Drops of Diablos. It would seem I can't let you live after all."

"What do you plan to do with us..."

"You will be sacrificed, of course. At first. I had no intention of doing anything to you, but recently we've had no luck at all recovering subjects of demonic possession."

He took a bottle containing liquid from his pocket and brought it to Alexia's mouth.

A strong, sweet scent filled the air.

"Have a nap, then. Enter an eternal slumber from which you will never wake..."

"Kuh..."

Alexia's face contorted as she struggled to hold her breath. Even so, she felt her consciousness slowly drifting away.

"Alexia!"

"Cl...aire..."

At this moment.

The cracking sound of something being broken by force filled the air.

It was as though the world was being torn open by some tremendous pressure.

And then, the ceiling split open.

"Where... is this place?"

The Head Librarian put down the bottle and looked up.

A black figure descended through the shattered ceiling.

Tap.

With a quiet sound that seemed almost incongruous with this place, the black figure stood up.

"You..."

"You're..."

A man in black stood tall amidst the white mist.

"Shadow!"

His coat flapped in the wind as he slowly drew his sword.

The Head Librarian's face was grim as he drew his natas and took his stance.

"I didn't think Shadow would appear in person... at least, I received no reports of it."

"--How disgusting."

Shadow spoke thus after glancing at the Head Librarian.

"Oh? And what exactly do you mean by that?"

"Your very existence."

"...Indeed."

The Head Librarian's face twisted slightly. After that, he smiled, as though he was sick of himself too.

"Many things do not go your way in life. I have wandered for a long time and even had my sword broken. In the end, I was forced to expose myself in this wretched state. Calling that disgusting is, in fact, quite apt."

The Head Librarian delivered this calmly.

"Still, even there was a point to this miserable life of mine."

"...Oh?"

"Shadow, my journey's destination is you. Perhaps that is an appropriate end for a fool whose sword is broken and who betrayed his country."

"...So you have prepared yourself, then."

"Ever since Zenon died, I had an inkling that things might end up like this. Therefore, at the very least, permit me, as a swordsman -- to have at you."

The massive natas cleaved through the mist toward Shadow.

--A person's sword contains the accumulated essence of their being.
 
The Head Librarian's words echoed in Alexia's mind once again.

Indeed, his slash shone beautifully.

"--Well done."

Shadow and that gleaming slash overlapped.

Just that overlapping was enough.

The hollow, fragile shards of the massive natas fell to the ground.

"So they broke?"

Their hilts, which were all that remained, made lonely-sounding clatters.

Shadow swung his sword.

A moment later, the air pressure of the strike scattered all the white mist.

The world began to break. The surroundings were covered in cracks and fissures as a creaking sound filled the air.

And then, the entire world shattered.

They were back in the real world, as though everything before had been a dream.

No, the Head Librarian, who lay a pool in his own blood, indicated that what happened before had not been an illusion.

"Shadow... So it wasn't even a contest..."

The Head Librarian coughed and spat out a wad of blood.

"--The pinnacle is not yet in sight."
  
Shadow's black coat fluttered, and then he was gone.

"...So that was Shadow's sword."

Claire muttered to herself all of a sudden. The fact that the Head Librarian, whom she knew to be very strong, was so easily defeated without being able to so much as do anything to him made her shudder involuntarily.

"He's gotten stronger..."

There was some resentment in Alexia's mumblings.

Claire and Alexia undid their restraints together, and then stood up. Then, they looked down on the Head Librarian.

"Head Librarian..."

"I am... beyond saving."

His chest had been very badly wounded.

"Were you a famous spellsword once?"

Alexia could not help but ask. That last strike of his was aesthetically pleasing in a way that only a top-grade exponent could perform.

"No... Just a nameless magic swordsman."

He shook his head and answered.

He was lying. Even Alexia could tell that. After looking at his arms, she realized that there were very old scars there.

"Your arms...?"

"They were cut off... Although the Cult reattached them with their techniques, they could never move like they could before. Perhaps, in the past, I might have been able to use a slimmer blade."

"Who cut them off?"

"...It was Fenrir. On that day, my sword was broken."

"May I ask what happened?"

"Very well... I will tell you everything, until my life comes to an end."

He looked down on the wound on his chest as he spoke.

Alexia and Claire sat down beside him.

"It happened roughly 50 years ago, when I was still among this country's knights..."

The Head Librarian seemed to have awakened a distant memory as he looked out the window, at the clear night sky which had been revealed once the mist cleared.

"I joined the knight orders after winning the Bushin Festival. There, I exposed injustice and captured the wicked, and it seemed that my future was secure." 

"So you were an excellent spellsword after all." 

"I was simply coasting along. That was why I discovered there was evidence of evil which I could not touch. That there were pests infesting the Kingdom of Midgar... No, the entire world. You should have noticed too, haven't you, Princess Alexia?"

"...You mean the Diablos Cult, right?"

"Indeed. Back then, I did not know about the existence of the cult, and so I thought they were simply priests who were up to no good. Thus, I entered the church."

"The church?"

"I was still young then. So I believed that everything was permitted in the name of justice. I planned to smite the corrupt church with the hammer of righteousness."

My underlings and I searched it, intending to find some decisive evidence that would prove their wicked ways.

However... Those ordinary clerics had nothing to do with their evil. They simply believed in their faith and spread the good word.

It was the same with the believers. No matter how I looked at them, they were simply believers of the church.

The only ones who had performed wrongdoings were a small fraction of the top echelons of the clergy.

I patiently observed those priests, and then found a secret room under the church. After descending a long set of stairs, I found a bone-chilling sight.

Countless rotting victims of demonic possession had been locked up in cells, moaning in misery. All of them were hurt and some of them had unknown things implanted in them.

As we were stunned, the door behind us closed.

It was a trap.

I sensed killing intent and defended myself.

After that, a dreadful impact sent me flying to the ground.

When I stood back up, I saw my severed left arm, as well as the corpses of my decapitated subordinates -- and in their midst was that magic swordsman Fenrir.

I picked up my sword with my remaining arm and my anger drove me to swing at him. And in the end, I lost my right arm as well.

The Diablos Cult had become very used to eliminating "friends of justice" like me.

His gaze fell upon the old scars of his arms.

"His strength was overwhelming. Fenrir walked up to my fallen form and brought forward an unconscious woman. She was my wife. As a champion of the Bushin Festival who had risen swiftly through the ranks of the knights, I was probably a useful asset for the Cult. And so, I sold my soul to the Diablos Cult in order to ensure my wife's safety..."

"...Where's your wife? If she is safe, I can protect her."

"Fortunately, she died of old age in her sleep without knowing anything."

"Didn't you think of fighting back?"

The Head Librarian shook his head with a deeply sorrowful expression on his face.

"The notion of resistance was cut away along with my arms. Please be careful, Princess Alexia, because you are going to walk upon the same road that I did. What awaits you there is despair and infinite darkness."

In response to the stern gaze of the Head Librarian, Alexia replies without any hesitation.

"...Even so, I must do this, as a Princess of this country."

The Head Librarian's eyes narrowed, as though she were exceedingly bright.

"Magnificent. In that case, let me give you one last suggestion..."

A small trail of fresh blood escaped the Head Librarian's lips along with a faint breath.

"Princess Alexia... do you know the aim of the Diablos Cult?"

"They want to resurrect the Demon Diablos, right?"

"And why does the Cult want to do that?"

"Ah, that's..."

Alexia was briefly at a loss for words.

While she knew the Cult's aim, she had not considered their motives at all.

"There are two reasons for this. One is to obtain greater power. All three heroes were female. All victims of demonic possession are also female. Only females are suitable hosts for Diablos' cells. Therefore, the Cult can only gain their power through imperfect drugs."

Saying so, the Head Librarian took several red pills from his pockets.

"Zenon used that medicine before."

"He was a bad disciple."

"But you didn't."

"That is because it is a disgrace for a magic swordsman... But still, the Cult discovered the possibilities of this drug. THey wanted to develop a perfected version of it, with stronger potency and no side effects. That was why they have been researching the heroes' blood all this time. If the Demon Diablos was resurrected, they would probably be able to complete it. They would be able to gain an overwhelming power beyond that of the heroes."

"That would be terrible."

"However, the second reason is more important to the Cult. You know of the Drops of Diablos, don't you?"

"They are droplets which can give eternal life, right?"

"Only 12 can be harvested each year, and anyone who drinks the Drops of Diablos will not age for a year. However, the amount of these drops is decreasing."

"They're decreasing? Why is that?"

"I do not know the reason why, but if the amount that is produced continues to decrease, they will soon lose their eternal lives. To the highest echelons of the Cult, that is absolutely intolerable. They want the Demon Diablos to be resurrected so the Drops of Diablos can be once again harvested en masse, and thus assure their eternal life. They, who rule the entire world from the shadows, operate unassailably under the leadership of their supreme executives, who enjoy eternal life. But without the Drops of Diablos, all this will be shaken... koff."

The Head Librarian adjusts his breathing, and then he looks up at the moon floating in the night sky.

"Perhaps the appearance of Shadow Garden in this era was not an accident. This is the beginning of the end of their long rule. Therefore, you must... be careful. Are they truly... allies of justice who wish to protect the peace of the world?"

Alexia could not answer that question.

All she knew about Shadow Garden was that they were opposed to the Diablos Cult. Everything else was shrouded in mystery.

"Or perhaps... they simply wish to take it from the Cult..."

"Take what? What do you mean?"

"Eternal life... and this world... koff, koffkoff!!"

"Head Librarian..."

"Af-after the Cult is defeated... the rulers of the world... will be... Shadow... Garden... koff."

The Head Librarian coughs up a huge wad of blood.

"Head Librarian--!"

"Pr-Princess Alexia..."

He breathed in painful gasps as he spoke.

"I leave this country's future... in your hands..."

And then, the Head Librarian's breathing ceased.

[SCENEBREAK]

A beautiful girl with hair as red as fire looked down on the Head Librarian's corpse.

She was the elder sister of Princess Alexia of the Kingdom of Midgar, Iris Midgar. After sending Claire back, Alexia told the knights about the incident.

"Onee-sama, the Head Librarian told me about the Diablos Cult's plan before he died. They kidnapped students in order to break the seal on the right arm of the demon Diablos that was sealed--"

"Enough."

Iris crudely interrupted Alexia's words.

"Huh?"

"I'm tired of hearing this nonsense."

"Non-nonsense?"

Alexia's reply came in the form of a stunned question.

"Listen to me, Alexia. The Cult of Diablos does not exist."

Iris looked Alexia in the eye with a serious expression.

"You say it doesn't exist... What's wrong, Onee-sama? Weren't we going to investigate the Diablos Cult together?"

"The results of the investigation indicate that the Diablos Cult does not exist. That much is clear."

It was not Iris who said those words.

They came from the tall man beside her. He had serpentine eyes and pale white skin, and they sent a chill down Alexia's spine.

"And you are?"

"Greetings, Princess Alexia. I am the vice captain of the Crimson Knights, Hab."

"He is Glen's successor. He is a very capable man."

"...It is an honor."

Hab smiled thinly after being praised by Iris.

"Now then, why do you say that the Diablos Cult doesn't exist? The evidence we collected should be quite ample."

"It was all fabricated by Shadow Garden."

"F-Fabricated, you say?"


"Shadow Garden has done many bad things, from the kidnapping of Princess Alexia to attacking the school and destroying the Sanctuary, as well as the massacre in the Oriana Kingdom. Reports of their crimes are coming in from all around the world."

"But those are all the world of the Diablos--!"

"--Shadow Garden fabricated an organization called the Cult of Diablos and pinned everything onto them. They created a nonexistent criminal organization to cover up their own crimes."

"And you think that ridiculous explanation solves everything!?"

"This is the proof."

"Hm?"

Hab handed a thick dossier to Alexia.

It had "Shadow Garden's Fabrications About The Cult of Diablos" written on it.

"A 34-year old man confessed to pretending to be a Cultist of Diablos at the orders of Shadow Garden, under duress of having his family taken hostage. A 28-year old woman was kidnapped by Shadow Garden and forced to manufacture evidence of the Cult of Diablos. A 57-year old man--"

"Are you kidding me--!!"

Alexia flung the files away.

How can you believe these scraps of paper!? Isn't it more likely that THEY'RE the fabrications instead!?"

"Princess Alexia, it would not be good if word got out. Do you mean to say they were perjuring their testimony?"

"Surely you can fake as much of that as you want, right!?"

"Naturally, we have physical evidence. This is Shadow Garden's..."

"Enough!"

Alexia swatted Hab's hand away as he was about to hand her something.

Hab's eyes briefly narrowed.

"Onee-sama, please come to your senses. Why do you believe in a man like him? Please look at me!"

Iris turned to face Alexia, as though in response to her words.

"You are the one who should come to your senses, Alexia."

"Please, onee-sama, Diablos' right hand is about to be released!"

"You have been deceived by Shadow Garden. Everyone you thought belonged to the Cult of Diablos was merely a false flag of Shadow Garden."

"That's not true, onee-sama! Please, listen to me!!"

Alexia reached a hand out to her Iris. 

There was a smack.

That hand had been rejected.

"But how..."

"My enemy is Shadow. You might be my sister, but I will not allow you to get in my way."

"Saying so, she left."

"The Crimson Knights are busy dealing with Shadow Garden. I will be off."

Hab said this with a triumphant look on his face.

Alexia watched in stunned silence as her sister left.

"Princess Alexia."

Upon hearing the voice, she turned to see a familiar face.

"Marco..."

He had been one of the founding members of the Crimson Knights. Although he was young, Glen had placed a great deal of faith in him, and she had once thought that he would succeed Glen's position. 

"My apologies, Princess Alexia."

Marco did not look her in the eye as he said this and left quickly.

"You too... Marco?"

He did not answer her question. And so, the knights moved the Head Librarian's corpse away.

The restricted tome fell from Alexia's hands.

[SCENEBREAK]

A golden tail swished in the white mist.

"Doodoodoo~"

One could even hear humming.

Her light, easy steps were like a dance. A pool of bright red blood spread around her with an oozing sound.

"You seem to be in a good mood, Zeta-sama."

After being addressed thusly, Zeta stopped humming.

"I was just at the good part."

"My sincerest apologies."

"Meh."

Zeta spun a bloodstained chakram around her fingertips.

"Please don't throw it."

A hooded girl appeared from the white mist.

"I won't. Where's Victoria?"

"She is progressing the plan."

"Mhm."

"I have a report from Victoria-sama."

"Mhm."

Zeta, who was twirling her chakram around, suddenly threw it into the air.

There was a splitting sound.

A man's decapitated head fell from above, a stunned expression on his face.

"Truly marvelous."

"Mhm."

"I have a report from Victoria-sama."

"Mm."

"It seems Shadow-sama has intervened in the matter of Princess Alexia and Claire."

"That's Claire-sama to you."

The chakram sliced through the air again and the girl's hood swayed slightly."

"My sincerest apologies."

"See that you are. How about the Master?"

"He eliminated the Head Librarian and brought the two of them out of the Sanctuary."

"As expected of him. Now Fenrir will be forced into a corner."

"Yes. His next moves may be restricted. How are things proceeding on your end, Zeta-sama?"

"Hm?"

"I mean, about analyzing the Sanctuary."

"Ah, it's done."

"Already? But it's only been a few days..."

"Eta's artifact is an excellent piece of work.

Saying so, Zeta produced a mysterious palm-sized device.

After infusing her mana into it, it glowed faintly.

"It visualizes mana circuits. Where they flow and what they do becomes immediately obvious."

Rays of light spread out like fine blood vessels. They pulsed in time with the red radiance of the pillars.

THose four pillars of light contained students linked to the fine tubules.

"They are planning to open the seal using their mana."

"But there does not seem to be enough mana."

"Indeed. Therefore, high-quality mana belonging to a descendant of the heroes is required. I have a rough idea of how the Cult sealed Diablos away and built this Sanctuary."

"That would mean our mission has been accomplished."

"Mhm."

"What should we do? If we break these pillars, the seal will be protected.

Zeta briefly considered the hooded girl's words.

However, there was no need to consider them. The answer had already been decided. She was simply ascertaining the strength of her own convictions.

"There's no need to break them."

"Is that alright?"

"It has already been decided."

After saying that, Zera emerged from the mist.

She walked past the crimson lights and placed a hand on the massive door in front of her.

"This is where the right arm of the Demon Diablos is sealed."

"What do you intend to do?"

"I want to see it as a memento."

Will you sign it?"

"That would be a good idea too. Zeta was here."

Saying so, Zeta channeled her mana into the door.

It was covered in countless ancient runes and swathed in heavy chains.

"Can you open it?"

"Who knows? However, she was the one who sealed the Demon's right arm here."

"Her?"

"Therefore, she will respond to me."

Zeta channeled more mana into it.

After doing so, the door radiated a crimson light. The mana circuits spread throughout this space. The chains began to creak and it was obvious that the door was shaking.

However, the door did not open.

The mana circuits converged in front of the door, and the delicate radiances, as fine as blood vessels, took the form of a human being.

"Step back."

"Yes."

At Zeta's command, the hooded girl backed off.

Soon, the faint light vanished, leaving only a beastwoman standing in its place.

She had blonde hair and golden cat ears, as well as a golden tail and deline eyes. She looked very much like Zeta.

"This is..."

The hooded girl could not help but hold her breath.

"Greetings, Hero of the Beastmen."

"Zeta-sama, who is..."

"That should be obvious."

Zeta replied calmly.

In that moment, the Hero of the Beastmen swung her claws at Zeta's neck.

Zeta's head flew into the air and evaporated into black mist, which vanished. At the same time, Zeta's body vanished as well.

Amidst the white mist, black vapor gathered, and Zeta appeared out of it, perfectly unharmed.

She floated in mid-air, looking down on the beastman hero with cold eyes.

"However, I just wanted to confirm one thing."

Zeta spoke.

The hero of the beastmen did not respond. She simply looked up at Zeta with those empty eyes of hers.

"Do you still remember the day you met the Master?"

Zeta asked the hooded girl, still floating in mid-air.

"Of course. I could never forget."

The hooded girl grabbed her chest as she replied.

"Me neither. I have never forgotten that day."

Zeta stared at the hero of the beastmen, completely motionless. She looked beyond her, as though remembering the distant past.

"I was nothing but a pitiful little kitten that the Master rescued."

That was Zeta's resolve.

"Farewell, hero. I will be taking a different path from you."

Zeta turned away.

The petite, hooded girl hurried after her.

"Is that enough? You didn't even sign it."

"Yeah. The autograph can wait. The objective for the current phase has been achieved. Now all we have to do is hide in the shadows until the time comes."

"Let us hide in the shadows, then."

Saying so, the two girls vanished into the depths of the mist.

Meanwhile, the hero of the beastmen watched them leave with unblinking eyes.