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
V5 C2: https://files.catbox.moe/g0y0yc.txt

JP > CN > EN by Gamma's Hooknose Financing

My oh my, something incredible happened last night.

To think the culprit behind the serial disappearances was actually the school's Head Librarian.

I personally saw him kidnap Nee-sand Alexia and drag them off into that mysterious fog. Pretty twisted, if you ask me.

He was a pervert-- 

Still, while he was conflicted about being a pervert, he couldn't stop himself from committing crimes in the end.

Everyone has different goals in life, but when such a goal is rejected by society, a man has to make a choice.

Either you live true to yourself, or you kill off that part of yourself.

I chose the former, and so did he.

The culprit behind those disappearances was a pervert. While that was nowhere near enough for a Shadow Eminence, it was the truth, so it couldn't be helped.

People from the knight orders were moving through the campus in the morning. They were probably investigating the situation.

"Hm? That's..."

A black-haired female student walked past the knights.

"It's Nee-san."

Normally, I would have hidden because her finding me would have been very annoying, but right now there was probably no need for that.

Given the state she was in now, she probably wouldn't notice me.

"Hmhmhm~"

I hummed as I bathed in the comfortable morning sunlight.

All around me were mobbish faces.

How would they react after learning the Head Librarian was the culprit? Would they have exaggerated looks of shock on their faces like proper background characters, or would they be trembling in fear...

I walked past Nee-san as such thoughts went through my mind.

"Hold it."

Just then, someone seized me around my neck.

"Y-yo, Nee-san, you noticed me?"

I looked back and saw Nee-san staring at me.

"Of course. Isn't there something else you ought to be saying?"

"Uh, good morning?"

"Good morning, Cid. What else?"

"What else... I think that's it."

I said that after a brief period of thought. I had no idea what else I ought to be telling Nee-san.

"I'm very depressed."

"Huh."

"I'm totally lifeless and my shoulders are drooping."

"Ah."

"Since you're my little brother, what you ought to say next should be obvious, right?"

"Mhm."


I paused for three seconds to think.

"You look down. Did something happen?"

"...That's a pass, if only barely."

"Just barely, hm?"

"You need to be more worried, and then you also need to figure out what happened too."

"That's a bit much, don't you think?"

"Well, I guess I could tell you since you want to know THAT much."

"It's not like I said anything about..."

"--You DO want to know, right?"

"Yes! Very much indeed!"

I replied from where Nee-san had her hands around my neck.

"It's too noisy here, so let's go elsewhere."

"What about classes?"

"They've been canceled for today."

Nee-san looked back at the dorm as she said this.

"--The Head Librarian is dead."

She muttered to herself in a meaningful way, while I put on a mobbish expression of shock.

===============================================

I elegantly sipped a cup of milk tea in a luxurious receiving room.

This looked like a special lounge that was only for big movers and shakers. It was a mystery why a country noble like Nee-san could come in here. 

"I"m sorry, but I can't give you any of the details. I don't want to get you involved..."

Nee-san said this with a serious look on her face.

"But the knight order wants to bury the truth of the Head Librarians' death in the darkness... And I can't do anything about it. I deeply regret that fact..."

"The truth about the Head Librarian, hm..."

I bet they were trying to hide the fact that the Head Librarian was a pervert. I approved of what the knights had done to preserve his reputation.

"I guess in this world, you don't have to always stay on the straight and narrow..."

I muttered to myself."

"Are you saying I'm wrong, then!?"

Nee-san glared at me with a very scary look in her eyes.

"That's not what I said. It's just that..."

"Just what?"

This wasn't something I could settle with a half-assed explanation. I could sense something like  that coming from Nee-san.

"The darkness of the world runs very deep. Not everyone can bear the depths of that darkness."

"...Are you saying that discussing it in public would cause a panic?"

"I'm afraid so."

The female students using the library would probably be shocked and dismayed..

"Even so, burying the truth in the darkness isn't a good thing!"

"Of course. That's why you need someone who takes care of matters in the darkness."

"Taking care of things in the darkness..."

"That's right. Even if the truth is hidden in the darkness, it won't be the end of the matter."

"I see... So you're saying that it'll be okay as long as I take care of it."

"No, you don't have to do that, Neesan."

"As someone who knows the truth but who can still act freely... I guess I really am the chosen one after all."

Nee-san tightens her grip around the bandages on her right hand."

"No, you weren't chosen, Nee-san."

"Cid, I'm the only one who can protect you now."

"No, I can protect myself."

"I understand. You don't want me to worry about you, right?"

Nee-san hugged me tightly. There were cracking noises.

"Whether it's Midgar Academy, this country, or even you, Cid... I'll protect them all."

"...Meh, that's alright, I guess."

"I won't let things end like this. I promise."

As Nee-san embraced me, I sipped another mouthful of milk tea.

It really was very good.

===============================================

Due to classes being canceled today, Hyoro and Jaga swarmed me after I returned to the dorm.

"Aw man, I can't believe something so dangerous happened. The Head Librarian was murdered!"

"I know, right? Maybe it was that group from before that did it."

"It feels like this isn't something we can laugh and joke about any more."

"You guys all look so serious."

Hyoro and Jaga were relaxing here while drinking Mitsugoshi's most expensive coffee.

"Here" was my room.

"Shouldn't you guys be doing your special assignments?"

I tried to say that in a "get out of here" way.

"We'll do it later. We've got loads of free time now that classes are canceled."

"Yeah, exactly. It's over for you when you're so hounded by homework that you can't enjoy the little things in life."

Sluuuuurp, went the pair as they continued sipping the coffee.

"Even so, why did you have to go to my room?

"That's because you've got Mitsugoshi's high-end coffee here, of course."

"And Mitsugoshi's high-end desserts."

Jaga pulled open my drawer to reveal the chocolate wrappers within.

"Those are mine, you know."

"Aw, what's the difference? We're friends, aren't we?"

"And besides, I don't think you could afford them with your pocket money."

"I've been wondering about that for a while myself."

Hyoro and Jaga suddenly looked at me with serious expressions on their faces.

"That, that's..."

They were right.

A single cup of Mitsugoshi's high-grade coffee cost over 2000 zenny. It would be strange for a poor noble like me to have something like that on hand in my room at all times.

Of course, it was only because Gamma kept sending me loads of it.

"Cid, tell me something. Have you been borrowing money?"

"Huh?"

"You should tell us if you have."

"Huh? Nonono, what do you mean by borrowing money?"

"I'm talking about this. I found this flier in your room."

He held up a brochure to show me as he said that."

"This is a new service that Mitsugoshi's bank is offering, the "Mitsugoshi Revolving Credit Service". You should have told us earlier if you had an amazing channel for borrowing money like this."

"Mitsugoshi's Revolving Credit...?"

A split second after a bad feeling bloomed in my heart, I realized that it was describing a financial product identical to the installment payment system from my previous world.

Come to think of it, I think I told Gamma about installment payments before.

"Did you guys take out loans too?"

"Of course. I borrowed 2 million zennies right off the bat."

"I borrowed 1 million. That way I only need to pay a fixed amount of 20'000 zennies a month. It's fantastic!"

"Ah..."

They're screwed, I thought.

"What's wrong, Cid? Why do you look like you've just realized something?"

"What's the interest on the Mitsugoshi plan?"

"I think it's 2% per month."

"So it's 24% a year. Pretty cheap for loans in the capital."

I reflexively looked into the distance.

"So if you borrow 1 million zennies and pay back 20 '000 zennies a month, the interest is 24% per annum, then."

"That's right."

"Yeah, is there a problem?"

"Did you guys think about when you'd be able to finish repaying it?"

The principal was 1 million, while the yearly interest was 24%. That would mean having to pay 240'000 zennies of interest a year.

If you paid back 20'000 zennies a month, you'd have to pay back 240'000 zennies a year.

A year's interest was 240'000 zennies, and a year's payment was also 240'000 zennies.

In other words, they'd only be paying off the interest and they'd never actually repay the loans for the rest of their lives.

"Who knows? Five years, maybe?"

"You don't need to go out of your way to think so much about it. You just need to pay back 20'000 zennies a month."

"Mitsugoshi is a pretty decent place, seeing as they're saving you the trouble of doing all that calculation."

"...I think it would be better if you paid off more with each installment."

"What are you talking about? Mitsugoshi already said 20 '000 zennies is fine, so we don't need to go out of our way to pay them back extra."

"Yeah, I heard there were students who borrowed 10 million zennies. As long as you're a noble, even students can get loans without problems. It's okay as long as you have assets at home."

I looked up to the sky.

"Now then, it's about time things got started."

"Since we've already got money, you should understand what happens next, right?"

After saying this, they took out their poker cards.

"...Poker, is it?"

"What's the matter, you scared?"

"We won't let you run away after winning just like that. We've got lots of funds now, you know."

"No."

I exhaled a long breath.

"--I'll see you and raise."
  
And so, the stacks of cash on the table grew higher.

===============================================

"Dammit, I'll remember this!"

"No, it can't be... You, you were cheating! You HAVE to be cheating!"

Hyoro and Jaga took turns whining at me.

"Alright, alright, it's late at night so quiet down."

I grabbed them by the collars and threw them out onto the hallway.

"Wait! Let's have one last showdown!"

"I refuse to accept this! How could we be beaten so badly?"

"Sorry, but I have nothing to say to the penniless. Good luck with paying back your loans."

With a click, I slammed the door shut and locked it.

"But how... Even after we practiced all those ways of cheating."

"It's impossible. Did he see through all of them?"

"How could that possibly happen?"

"But that's the only explanation, though..."

"We'll need to take out another loan from Mitsugoshi again.

I could hear their commotion from the other side of the door.

Of course I'd see through all their cheating. And since they were cheating, I had the right to cheat right back.

I smiled happily at the bundles of cash on the table.

"Hyoro and Jaga are my new piggy banks now. Thank you, Mitsugoshi Revolving Credit."

Mitsugoshi Bank's money would flow into Hyoro and Jaga's pockets, and then I would take it back from them.

Vae victis, as the saying went.

"Hmhmhm~"

I hummed to myself as I placed the money into my war chest.

Then, I turned to the person outside the window and said hello.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Zeta. You can come in now."

And so, the blonde beastwoman appeared without a sound or trace of her presence.

"Happy birthday, Master."

"Hm? Ah, that's true. So I'm already 16."

I had only just noticed, but the date had indeed changed. Today was my birthday.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Still, it wasn't anything to be happy about.

It simply meant one less year remaining on my projected 600-year life.

Considering I hadn't even reached the peak of being a Shadow Eminence yet, it was a truly brief span of life.

"Do you hate birthdays, Master?"

"I don't particularly like them. After all, it means I've got less time to live."

"I understand how you feel."

Zeta smiled faintly. It was an uncommon expression for her.

"A lifetime is too short to achieve my aim."

"Mm. I understand."

Once again, she expressed her agreement.

And then, she looked at me with an earnest expression on her face.

"I have something important to tell you tonight, Master."

"Hmm."

Was it about money?

Zeta HAD taken good care of me. I could consider lending her 1000 zennies or so.

"You want "eternal life", do you not, Master?"

"Of course."

I replied without hesitation.

With eternal life, I could allow myself to be forgotten and then reappear after a hundred years, and then I could do scenes like "Could he actually be the legendary..." over and over again. I could do my Shadow Eminence act over as often as I wanted to long as I was still alive.

While I had plans to live for 600 years with the power of mana, it was nowhere near enough to live a truly fulfilling life.

I wanted to live on forever as an individual. Oh gods, please come up with a system where I can buy extra life from people who don't want to live too long.

"I understand your desire, Master."

"Mhm."

"And that is why I have taken action."

"Mhm?"

"Do you remember what happened on the day we met for the first time?"

"Mmm."

If I wasn't wrong, it should have been a rainy day.

"It was a cold, snowy day."

So it was a snowy day.

"After falling victim to demonic possession, I came to know the ugliness of humanity."

"Hmm."

"After that, I began thinking about those people who had pushed us to our wits' end and this foolish world."

Her eyes grew cold and hard as she said this.

Ever since we met, Zeta's eyes occasionally would occasionally go this way every now and then. It was super cool, so I secretly imitated her from time to time.

"Humans always repeat their mistakes. They do it over and over again, countless times, as though they never get sick of it. And the world remains as foolish as ever and never changes."

"Hmm."

"Once, I thought that it wouldn't matter even if I died. The world wouldn't change whether I was living or dead. But after meeting you, Master, I realized what I ought to do--"

Saying so, Zeta began recalling the past.

===============================================

She was born in a tribe that was prestigious even among the beastkin.

The Golden Leopard Tribe. 
   
Even the king of the beastkin would have to show deference to someone who named themselves as such. 

Many settlements followed the Golden Leopard Tribe, and she was the eldest daughter of the chieftain who had ruled the tribe for time immemorial. There, she was given the name "Lilim".
(TL Note: リリム)

Lilim had been outstanding from a young age. She had been painstakingly nurtured and raised, because it was considered better to keep her in the family than to marry her off.

The chieftain had imported books for her in order to further her education. That was a rarity even among the comparatively more intelligent Golden Leopard Tribe.

She loved reading books too, and she looked forward to using her knowledge for the sake of the tribe in the future.

And so, Lilim grew rapidly as she basked in the love of her tribe.

The first change began when she was 12.

Something like a black splotch appeared on her belly. It was very small at first and went unnoticed. However, it began to spread, and a worried Lilim went to consult her mother about it.

Her mother's face turned pale.

After that, she said nothing but called her father over.

When her father came, his face was pale too.

At this point, Lilim finally realized that this was not a small matter.

After checking Lilim's tummy again, he had to force himself to say his next few words.

"...It's demonic possession."

Demonic possession. Those words echoed in Lilim's mind.

She knew about the subject from a technical point of view. She had read many books and even among her tribe, she prided herself on her knowledge.

However, she simply could not connect that knowledge to the splotches on her tummy.

Demonic possession.

She didn't know how many times those words had repeated themselves in her head.

And then, Lilim's tears flowed, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

She was very smart.

After she accepted this fact, she realized what would happen to her.

Those possessed by the demon were unclean, and the unclean had to be removed. That was the tribe's law.

This was especially true for the high-status Golden Leopard Tribe, and for a case of taint that had appeared in the tribal chief's family. This was no longer a personal issue, but one that could shake the entire tribe.

"Otou-sama, please burn me with fire."

Lilim said this as she wiped her tears away.

"But..."

"The marks on my belly isn't very big and the taint has not spread far. If you burn me now, it will save our family. I'm sure the tribe will be able to accept that."

"But..."

"Please, Otou-sama. This is for our family, and also for my little brother."

Lilim looked at the infant in her mother's arms. He had been born less than half a year ago and would be the one to carry on the family name.

"Please... You have to, no matter what."

Lilim lowered her head and begged him.

"...I cannot."

"Otou-sama!"

"I won't allow it! There are elven books here. They describe how to cure demonic possession."

"You can't believe these things!"

"They also talk about medicines that can cure possession."

Saying so, her father hurriedly began flipping through the books.

He seemed to have shrunken a little in Lilim's eyes.

"What's wrong with you, Otou-sama? Please, pull yourself together. Don't rely on such things. You say something too, Okaa-sama."

However, her mother remained silent.

"Here. It's written here."

"Otou-sama! Please--"

At this point, Lilim's voice trailed off. 

There were droplets of moisture on the book her father had handed to her. This was the first time Lilim had seen her father weep.

"Otou-sama..."

"I, I'll find it. So please, have faith in your father and wait a little longer."

"Otou-sama..."

Her father wrapped his warm arms around her.

Her mother joined in too.

"Otou-sama... Okaa-sama..."

The tears which Lilim could not hold back overflowed from her eyes.

The next day, her father set off on a journey.

Her mother bandaged Lilim's tummy and then spoke to her.

"He said he would be back within a month. Until then, you must pretend you were hurt and not step outside for any reason."

"Yes, okaa-sama."

"It's alright. Don't worry. I'll think of something for our home."

Her mother smiled kindly at her. 

Lilim touched the bandages her mother had tied on and smiled too. She was certain that everything would go well.

===============================================

And then, a month passed.

A loud knocking woke Lilim up in the middle of the night.

It was noisy outside, so perhaps her father had returned. Her mother brought Lilin outside.

Her father was there.

He was tied up and kneeling on the ground.

"Otou...sama?"

Her father was surrounded by many people holding torches. His clothes were stained with blood.

"You lot, what is the meaning of this?"

Her mother addressed them boldly.

"We have found taint in the tribe."

A man stepped forward from among the torch-wielding mob. He was the head of a branch family of the Golden Leopard Tribe.

"The taint must be cleansed. This is our law, isn't it?"

"..."

Lilim's mother stood in front of her without a word.

"Where is the taint? Answer me."

The branch head pressed his sword to her father's shoulders.

"...I don't know."

Her father replied in a hoarse voice.

"Really now?"

The branch head stabbed his sword into her father's shoulder.

Fresh blood spurted forth, accompanied by the sound of bones cracking.

Her father did not cry out. He lowered his head and did not move.

"This is boring."

With that, the branch head stabbed again with his sword..

"Halt! It is forbidden to strike your chief--"

"Of course it is permitted. I am the new chief of the Golden Leopard Tribe. He betrayed us all."

"How could that be, you have no proof..."

"A priest of the Church told me that he could smell a victim of demonic possession. The Church from the east apparently gathers them and cleanses them of their impurity."

Another man walked out of the group. He was dressed like a priest, and he had a faint smile on his face.

"The taint must be cleansed immediately. If it is left alone, it will spread until the entire village is doomed--"

"...You're lying."

Her father's voice interrupted the priest's words.

"What did you say, beastman?"

"I said you were a liar, human."

Her father met the priest's mocking gaze and stared at him.

"What part of my words is a lie?"

"All of it. This so-called demonic possession is just rubbish the Church is spouting."

"That's enough nonsense out of you. It seems you've finally gone mad."

The branch head mocked her father.

The people around him broke out in laughter as well. Neither Lilim nor her mother could understand what her father was talking about.

However, the priest and her father never looked away from each other throughout it all.

"Do you have any proof of this, beastman?"

"The Golden Leopard Tribe is one with a long tradition. Its chieftain passes down the heroic saga of one of the Three Heroes who fought the Demon Diablos, the Saga of the Beastkin Hero."

"So a fairytale, then?"

"Indeed, that's the one. But it's not the same as the one that's been passed down in the world. The Three Heroes were not men, but women, and demonic possession is not a curse, but a blessing."

"You blaspheme against the Church."

The priest's eyes turned keen and sharp.

"I've always wondered why the version of the fairytale circulating in the world was different from the one passed down by the Golden Leopard Tribe."

"How utterly boring. Fairytales change as the years go by."

"Really now? But this is the heroic saga that chieftain after chieftain has passed down through the generations. How could it have simply changed? Most importantly, we are the Golden Leopard Tribe. We are the descendants of one of the three people who slew the Demon Diablos, the Hero Lily of the Golden Leopard Tribe. That is my answer."

"...In other words?"

"The saga of the Golden Leopard Tribe is the truth. The Church has distorted this truth."

Her father delivered that statement with determined eyes.

The surroundings went quiet for a moment.

And then, quiet laughter began to spread, until the village rang with it.

"Kuhahahaha! Well, this is interesting! I haven't laughed this hard in a while!!"

The branch head held his belly as he laughed.

"Yes, most interesting."

The priest laughed too, but his eyes did not share that sentiment.

"I see, I see, so that's what you're talking about. So demonic possession is just a joke by the church and those who have it are the descendants of the Heroes. In other words, it doesn't need to be cleansed. Is that it?"

The branch head smiled as he said this.

"...Exactly."

"BULLSHIT!"

Angry shouts filled the air.

"Are you trying to endanger the entire tribe with your pointless delusions!?"

"You might not be able to believe it, but that's the truth...!"

"That's enough nonsense out of you--!"

The branch head balled up his fists and smashed them into her father's face. He beat him, over and over again.

Lilim could not move. Her knees trembled and all she could do was cower where she stood.

"Alright, the sideshow's over."

The branch head wiped off his reddened knuckles.

"Where is the taint?"

"..."

Her father cracked a smile.

"If you don't speak, we'll burn everyone here."

"Even if I tell you, it'll end the same way. You just wanted to toy with me."

The branch head fell silent. Her father was right.

"In that case, I'll grant your wish."

The branch head drew his sword.

"No... Stop!"

Everyone's eyes fell on Lilim.

"I... I... I... I..."

Lilim's knees knocked together.

"I, I am the de, demonic ..."

Lilim forced herself to speak those miserable words.

Tears filled her eyes.

And then, she met her father's gaze as he looked straight at her.

"--Listen to me."

Her father's voice was kinder than it had ever been.

"The Golden Leopard Tribe are the descendants of a hero that saved the world. We are a tribe whose bloodline is one of pride. Why did Lily teach us the saga? Why has only the chieftain inherited this saga? It all makes sense. We have a purpose." 

"Otou-sama..."

"The hero's blood runs thicker in your veins than anyone else's. My dear daughter, you are strong and wise, my pride and joy. Run to the east, Lilim. There is someone who can heal demonic possession in the Kingdom of Midgar. Our purpose awaits you there."

"F-Father... I..."

"I know you can do it, Lilim."

Saying so, her father looked at her mother.

"I'll leave the two of them to you."

Her mother gently nodded, then scooped up Lilim.

"Do you think you can run?"

By this time, they had been surrounded by beastmen.

"They will, even if I have to pay with my life for it."

There was a sound of tension, as though something was rubbing against something else.

It was coming from her father. There seemed to be something pulsing inside him.

In the next moment, her father broke free of his restraints and powerful mana flooded out.

"What, what kind of power is this!?"

The branch head cried out loud.

"This is the beast blood that remains within the Golden Leopard Tribe. All this was released merely by controlling the blood."

Her father's blond hair began to grow.

It looked like a mane, as though he had gone from a human to a beast.

"How, how is this possible? Something like this..."

"This skill was only passed down from chieftain to chieftain -- a forbidden art that consumes one's lifespan."

Her father wept tears of blood. 

His muscles writhed.
  
His arteries and veins burst, spraying his blood.

"GUWAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!"

And then, he turned into a frenzied animal that sent the beastmen around him flying.

Her father stood in front of Lilim and her mother, sheltering them.

"Go! Run!"

"Come with us, Otou-sama!!"

"I can't!"

Her father looked back to her, and Lilim could not help being frightened.

"..."

Her father's face was already half-beast.

"Your father is going to become a beast soon. Before that..."

"No... Don't! Otou-sama!"

Lilim tried to touch her father's back, but she could not reach him.

"What an interesting power you have. I didn't think I would find its descendants here."

The priest swung a set of red and black chains which chopped down on them.

"GAAAAAAHHHHH!!"

Her father's right arm batted the chain away.

The spiked weight on its head flew into the distance.

"Well, this is most interesting... I was only planning to recover a possessee, but it seems I'll be making an unexpected gain here."

"Go, Lilim!! Run!!"

Her father clashed with the priest.

Her mother used this opportunity to grab Lilim and run.

"Otou-sama... No, NOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

Lilim's last glimpse of her father from behind showed that he had grown to incredible size.

===============================================

Lilim's mother ran through the dense jungle, holding her in her arms.

Her footsteps made no sound, because her mother was a master of stealth.

However, their pursuers continued pressing closer.

Certain members of the Golden Leopard Tribe had especially keen noses. They were probably part of the pursuers. 

"Let's split up."

Her mother stopped in front of a river and put Lilim down. The forest at night was icy cold, and the snow flew thick and fast.

"I'll move southeast along the river. You cross the river and head east, Lilim."

Saying so, her mother handed Lilim's little brother to her from his place on her back.

"Take care of your little brother. Lilim."

"No...! I want to be with you, Okaa-sama!"

"Don't be so selfish. Bear with this for a bit. We'll meet again in the Kingdom of Midgar."

Lilim's mother hugged her tightly.

"In that case... Why did you hand my little brother over to me?"

"Lilim..."

"I can't fight, and I can't run away like you, okaa-sama."

"Lilim, listen to me."

"He should be with you, Okaa-sama!"

"Listen to me, Lilim!!"

"I don't want this..."

Lilim buried her face in her mother's chest and shook it vigorously.

"Lilim..."

"If I hadn't been possessed by the demon, if I had been burned beforehand... Then Otou-sama... It's all my fault...!!"

"He changed after you were born. He was always swinging a sword around, but when he saw you reading to others, he got the shock of his life. He always used to say "that girl is a genius."

"Otou-sama..."

"Nothing delighted us more than watching you grow up. Lilim... it's true that you can't fight. But you're a very bright girl. You're smart enough to overcome this difficulty. So don't worry."

"Okaa-sama..."

"Lilim. I'll leave this child to you."

Her mother handed her tiny little brother over to her. The innocent little infant opened his eyes and looked up at Lilim.

Lilim's tears fell like rain as she took the baby.

"Thank you, Lilim. We were both very happy ever since you were born."

"Okaa-sama... You have to come to Midgar..."

"Go, Lilim. Once you cross the river, it'll hide your scent."

Lilim washed away her scent in the shallow parts of the river, and after looking back several times, she entered the depths of the eastern forest.

After her mother watched her go, she began running southeast along the river.

Her ponderous footsteps echoed through the nighttime forest.

===============================================

Eastward.

All she did was run eastward with all her might.

Lilim ran through the dark forest. The winter nights were very cold and her limbs felt like they were frozen.

And then, just as night was about to give way to day, she exited the forest.

"This is..."

It was her first time seeing a beach, as well as the water that stretched on without limit. However, Lilim knew of this place.

"...It's the ocean."

She tasted the water to make sure.

"So salty."

It would seem she was right.

"Otou-sama... There's nothing here."

She exhaled a plume of white breath into the air. Snowflakes fell from the sky.

She sat on the icy-cold beach and lowered her head.

"There's nothing... to the east. Where is our purpose... and where is the Kingdom of Midgar... Okaa-sama."

Her feet were like logs. She could not move another step.

The splotches had spread to her chest. That part of her hurt very much.

Her little brother was still in the crook of her arm. Lilim had to protect the little life that had been entrusted to her.

"Let's go then... across the ocean."

There must be countries on the other side of the sea. She was sure of that. Although she didn't know if there was a Kingdom of Midgar out there, judging by the way he had spoken of it, Father must have been right.

Her mother would be waiting for her there. Perhaps her father might be there too.

There ought to be a fishing village if she followed the coast. She had to board a boat there, no matter what.

Lilim set forth again.

--Just then.

"My oh my, so that's where you were."

The priest stood in front of Lilim, his bloodstained chains clinking.

"Stay... Stay away..."

She backed away on her trembling legs.

"Now then, a question. Where is the demonic possessee?"

The priest held up a severed head.

"It wasn't him."

"O...-OTOU-SAMAAAAAAAAA!!"

It was her father's head. 

One could imagine his glorious last stand from the blood soaking it.

"It wasn't this woman either."

After saying that, the priest raised another head.

"OKAA-SAMAAAAAAAAAA!"

It was her mother's head.

Her mother's eyes were wide open, as though she had died while looking at something.

"Why... why."

"And now there are two."

The priest threw the heads away and walked toward her."

"No... otou-sama... okaa-sama..."

"Male victims of possession are extremely rare, but they do exist."

"...Don't, don't lay a hand on my brother."

Lilim's face was a mess of tears as she hugged her little brother.

"So, which of you was possessed?"

"It... It's me. So please, spare my..."

"Good girl. Your honesty is to be commended."

Saying so, the priest bent down and patted Lilim's head.

"Aiiiee..."

"We might end up getting to know each other for a good long time, so allow me to introduce myself. I am High Priest Petos, and you will be a valuable test subject."
(TL Note: ペトス)

"My... my brother..."

"Don't worry. Non-possessed children are useless to us."

Right after that, Petos looped the chain around her brother's neck.

"Which is why I will kill him without any pain."

Blood splattered all around.

Lilim's brother's head fell from her arms.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!"

"Kuku, kukukuku. Alright, let us rejoice."

As he looked down on Lilim while she screamed, Petos laughed like he was having a fit.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH! Why, why!"

"What a wonderful day this is. Thanks to you, my path toward the Round Table has begun."

Lilim picked up the three heads on the ground.

Her father's, her mother's and her little brother's.

"Ahhhhhh... I'll kill you... I swear I'll kill you!!"

Lilim yelled at him, her eyes stained with hatred.

However, Petos ignored Lilim and turned around.

"--Is it over?"
  
He called out to the forest. In response, a group of strange, robed men appeared.

"Yes. We left no-one."

"Show me."

Countless heads rolled onto the beach. All of them belonged to the Golden Leopard Tribe.

"The Golden Leopard Tribe has been wiped out. Now nobody will leak the news."

"Really now? How wonderful."

He was speaking to Lilim.

"Your father's murderers are dead."

Petos tossed a head over. It belonged to the branch head.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!"

Lilim pounced at Petos.

However, Petos swatted her away with his chain.

"Koff... Kill... you... kill you..."

Her body lost its strength and her mind began to blur.

"Bind her and send her to Variola's lab. I'm going to lay the groundwork for the faction--"
(TL Note: ヴァリオラ - possible chicken pox connection? )

And then, Lilim lost consciousness.

===============================================

When Lilim came to, she was in a wagon.

Her hands and feet were tied. There was a taste of blood in her mouth.

"I'll kill you... all of you, I swear."

The men watching her merely snorted as they heard her mumble to herself.

"Kill you..."

Her tears were long since dry.

The only thing keeping her going was hate.

She needed more power.

Knowledge was useless. It couldn't protect anything. Only pure power could open the way for her.

"I want power..."

Lilim made a wish.

She wished for power to break her bonds, to kill that priest, and--

"--So, you want power?"

It was a voice that came from nowhere.

"Huh...?"

She looked around. There was nobody else around but the man who was watching her.

"Do you want power--?"

This time, she heard it loud and clear. It was a low, bass voice that sounded like it was echoing in the abyss.

"Yes...! If I had power... If only I had power!!"

"Haha, the brat's gone crazy."

Her guard didn't seem to have heard it, but that voice was definitely speaking into Lilim's ears.

Even if it was an auditory hallucination or the whispers of a demon, it didn't matter.

All she wanted was more power.

"Since you want power -- I shall give it to you."

And then, bluish-purple mana filled the wagon.

"What, what the hell is this light...!?"

The wagon stopped and the men from outside rushed in.

"What's happening? What's this mana?"

The bluish-purple mana transformed into a tiny spiral.

At its heart was a figure, a young man in a jet-black coat.

"You, how did you get inside the wagon?"

"Grab him! Drag him out of the wagon!"

"I AM..."

The boy raised an ebon sword at the heart of the mana vortex.

The air around him trembled from the massive amounts of mana that had been unleashed.

It all condensed onto the jet-black sword, and Lilim beheld overwhelming power.

This was what she wanted.

A power that could destroy everything.

"--ATOMIC - Imitation."

The mana erupted. 

All sound vanished and the world was dyed a brilliant bluish-purple.

===============================================

"...I'd give that 60 points. It's still incomplete."

Lilim awoke to the sound of the boy's voice. It would seem she had passed out.

"This much isn't enough. My aim is..."

He muttered to himself from inside a large crater.

The wagon had been blown away and that scary group had vanished.

Lilim trembled.

However, she was not shaking from fear.

"Ah, er..."

"Hm? You're awake? Well, let's start by curing your demonic possession."

Saying so, he bathed her in bluish-purple mana.

The mana enveloped the black patches on Lilim's body with warm radiance.

It seemed to be turning back time as it regenerated her skin.

"No way... this is impossible."

By the time the radiance was gone, the black splotches had vanished with it.

The demonic possession which had tormented Lilim so had been easily cured.

"Now I'd give this 95 points. The control is almost perfect. It's tiring as hell, though."

"He was right..."


She wept from the bottom of her heart.

"He was right... Otou-sama was right..."

"Hm?"

He was right about the demonic possessees being children of the heroes... and the person in the east who could heal possession... He was right about it all."

"Did that story make it all the way here already..."

"But why... Why did otou-sama, okaa-sama... Why... Even though they did nothing wrong...!"

The boy scratched his head.

"...It's because of the DIablos Cult. It's all because of the Diablos Cult."

"The Diablos Cult...?"

"That's right. Those men weren't from the Church. They were actually members of the Diablos Cult. They hid the truth and buried the heroes' descendants in the darkness so they could resurrect the demon Diablos. To them, the children of the heroes are a bothersome lot--"

Saying so, he flourished his black coat.

"We are Shadow Garden. We are those who lurk in the shadows and hunt the shadows--"

"Lurking in the shadows, and hunting the shadows..."

Lilim's heart trembled.

It felt as though everything had linked up.

"As I thought, otou-sama was right."

"Indeed."

"There was someone who could cure demonic possession in the Kingdom of Midgar, and a purpose waiting for me. That was what otou-sama said."

"Hm? Really now?"

"You are my purpose."

Indeed, this was her purpose.

Her father had died, her mother had died, and her little brother had died.

They had sacrificed themselves so Lilim could live.

"I want power... Please give me the power to hunt them!"

"Alright then. She should be here soon."

"She...?"

And then, the darkness of the night rippled.

She was a lovely elf with blonde hair, wearing a skin-tight black bodysuit.

"I told you to wait, didn't I? We can't keep up with your speed."

She seemed a little unhappy.

"However, the mission is over."

"That much was obvious. Looks like it was the cult after all, although everything's in pieces now. I told you to leave some evidence."

The girl looked at the boy with mild resentment.

The boy scratched his head.

Then, the elf girl sighed, as though giving up.

"So, she's the one this time..."

She looked at Lilim.

"Yup. I'll leave the rest to you."

"Huh? Wait!"

"You can ask Alpha about the rest."

After saying that, he suddenly vanished.

"Honestly, he disappeared right away."

"Ah... You are...?"

After Lilim asked her that question, she smiled gently to her.

"Sorry, it seems we scared you. I am Alpha, the first seat of Shadow Garden. Nice to meet you."

"Alpha... I'm..."

Alpha stopped Lilim before she could state her name.

"Hang on. From now on, you must live under a different name."

"Huh?"

"We lurk in the shadows and hunt the shadows. For us, our surface appearances are only temporary. The shadows are our true form, and we might never be able to return to the light side of the world..."

Saying so, Alpha took out a mask.

She fixed Lilim with her clear blue eyes.

"Take it, if you are prepared to do so. You will be the sixth seat of Shadow Garden, Zeta."

"Zeta... I am Zeta..."

She muttered the name to herself, as though she was tasting it.

"It seems you've made up your mind. You have strength in your eyes, but..."

"...I need more power."

"You have excellent talent. Someday, you will become very powerful. However, that hatred will ultimately...:

Alpha looked like she was going to say something, but then she stopped herself.

She studied Lilim with her blue eyes, and then--

"No, it's nothing."

There was a sadness in her voice. The snow continued falling quietly from the night sky.

===============================================

"Hm, that was pretty bad."

Ater Zeta finished her story, he muttered to himself while staring out the window.

It was quite a cold statement to make.

However, Zeta felt that the statement encompassed everything. She did not seek something as shallow as sympathy. 

"Yes, it was."

And so, Zeta replied with an equally cold answer.

Her hatred from that day had long since been buried in the depths of her heart. Unnecessary emotions would only interfere with her plans.

In order to keep from accidentally revealing her emotions, she had gotten into the habit of speaking little.

Zeta felt that this was a good change for her. That was because as her emotions and body changed, she began to feel like she was getting closer to her aim.

"I am just a stray cat, an insignificant kitten that you picked up, Master. So all this while, I have been thinking about the kind of world you want. You have not told me too much, so it has been a little difficult for me."

"Really now."

"Mm. Yes."

He swirled his wine in his glass.

Zeta immediately prepared the bottle and filled his glass. After that, she rubbed up against him.

"You wish for eternal life. Even I can understand what you mean by that, Master."

"Well done."

"What you see is the distant future, and so do I."

"Indeed..."

He looked out at the darkness beyond the window. Zeta also gazed into its fathomless depths.

"I will resurrect the Demon Diablos."

"...Will you now?"

"As I thought, you didn't stop me."

"I do not wish to deny that choice you have made."

"You are too kind, Master. Which is why I said you would not have chosen this."

"Really now?""

"The world does not run on kindness. This kindness has become a shackle for you, Master."

"...Has it now?"

"Yes. I, on the other hand, am not kind, so I will resurrect it even if it plunges the world into danger."

"...People will hate you, you know."

"I don't mind. It is necessary for this world--"

Zeta carefully leaned against his shoulder.

"--I will take all the hatred of this world onto myself for your sake, Master. That is my purpose."

"I see..."

Zeta slipped away from his body and left, but then she turned around.

"When the time comes, please discard me..."

And with that, she vanished into the darkness of the night.

===============================================

Zeta stood on the night-time roof, looking down on the campus. Her gold-furred tail swished in the wind.

"--It is time."

Zeta muttered to herself.

"At long last, hm?"

"It seems you've made up your mind."

There were two shadows behind Zeta.

One was Victoria, and the other was the hooded girl.

"We shall resurrect Diablos."

Zeta spoke thus.

"What did Shadow-sama say?"

Victoria asked.

"We discussed it. That was all."

"Did he not approve?"

"I never intended to seek his approval. But if he stopped me, then I would have given up on it."

"Which is to say he didn't stop you."

Victoria smiled.

"Yes. From now on, I will be acting entirely on my own initiative."

"That would imply betraying Shadow Garden."

"That's alright. Alpha is too kind. She has not thought of what she will do after defeating the Cult. But I am different.

She narrowed her cold, violet eyes.

"I will resurrect the Demon Diablos and obtain eternal life. And then I will manage the world forever."

"And at that time, Shadow-sama will become a god."

Victoria's face flushed pink, as though she were spellbound.

"...People will hate you for it."

The silent, hooded girl spoke up.

"The Master seeks eternal life. I will bear all the blame."

"Let us go then, for the glory of Shadow-sama."

"...I will continue advancing the plan."

Victoria and the hooded girl vanished without a trace.

Zeta was the only one left on the roof.

She looked down on the academy's lights without moving.

"I'll seize everything, whether it's eternal life or taking over the world. And then... the perfect world where there are no mistakes will come about."

The lights of the academy flickered in the darkness of the night. They awakened Zeta's memories, like the torches from that day.

"This is my purpose..."

She hugged herself, as though to confirm that point.

It was fine. Her knees were not shaking.

Her heart was calm.

She looked to the night sky and exhaled a plume of white breath.

"Father... Master... I've grown stronger."

She muttered to herself, all alone.