Chapter 2
Chapter 2 His whereabouts
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– What does that mean!?
Satsuki’s shriek resounded on the rooftop of the building.
A strong wind blew, drowning it out in the distance. What remained was a heavy silence.
Chloe carefully supervised the treatment of the unconscious Charles as she strained her ears.
Moroha also stared fixedly at Zhixin, saying nothing.
Then,
– It will take a long time if I explain it… would you listen to me?
The Chinese Division Deputy brazenly said with that same smile of his.
– That’s obvious, isn’t it!?
Satsuki shouted in anger, being indignant.
She ran up to Moroha’s side by circumventing Zhixin and Moroha caught her in his arms.
Zhixin, who stood in Moroha’s way not long ago, didn’t stop Satsuki’s action.
Moroha confronted him with Satsuki and said with no so much enthusiasm.
– Tell us.
– I understand.
Zhixin bent at the waist with a hypocritical-courtesy attitude and hit his right fist against the left palm in front of his chest.
This was a Chinese-style salute called Kyoushu.
He started explaining, his way of speaking was polite at least.
– No one knows the truth about the metaphysicals that suddenly began to appear on Earth six years ago――or how they are born, where they come from or what their purpose is. But I have built up a hypothesis.
– The truth is that metaphysicals are monsters created by someone’s《Ancestral Arts》, meaning there’s a mastermind that controls them――right?
– You understand very fast, I am greatly obliged.
As Moroha took over the explanation, Zhixin deeply bent at the waist with a hypocritical-courtesy attitude again.
– Your foundation is?
– Haimursama, have you ever felt… that it’s strange? In this vast earth, the metaphysicals have only appeared in six countries: China, Japan, United States, United Kingdom, France and Russia. They do not appear in immediate neighboring countries like Germany or Ukraine. National borders are just tiny knots established by humans, aren’t they? The metaphysicals obey them faithfully. Don’t you feel… the strong arbitrariness of humans?
– It’s not like I don’t get you, but as your foundation, isn’t it weak?
– Maybe. It can’t be helped if it is ridiculed as absurd or a conspiracy theory. I usually keep that to myself too. Well… “White Knight” Sir Edward may have come to think the same.
– Him?
– Yes. That person is surprisingly a crafty one, he does not show his true colors.
That was quite an interesting story, aside from whether he would really believe Zhixin’s words or not.
– And… what if we assume that the appearance area of the metaphysicals is determined by someone’s calculations? Why these six countries? I will continue my deduction. Since they started to appear, we the White Knight Organization have been established as a UN-directed organization at a terrifying speed, moreover, we have been able to show our duties under the veil of secrecy despite receiving assistance from each country… but why has it gone so smoothly like this?
– As a country, you’ll be desperate if you were attacked by a metaphysical, no?
– If anything, it means nothing for a country that is not attacked…. And in the first place, the “UN” is an organization that rarely is not a monolith and its decision-making is horribly slow. If The United States says『Let’s settle the Middle East conflict』, Russia will be in a state in which they will immediately interrupt.
He heard the somewhat roundabout long talk of Zhixin.
However, without his interest coming to an end, Moroha continued replying.
– In short, because all the standing member-nations of the UN Security Council are the ones affected, your short story was brought together by it? Is that what you want to say?
– What a discernment you have, I am greatly obliged.
Zhixin bowed his light head and performed a Kyoushu.
The United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France and China――all of them were the so-called standing member-nations of the UN Security Council.
The five superpowers with the greatest influential voices in the world.
– Wait, wait. So what? Are you saying that the mastermind wanted to launch the White Knight Organization without trouble and only the same six nations to be attacked by the metaphysicals?
Satsuki butted into the conversation, raising her hands like she couldn’t control herself anymore.
– We can say a hypothesis like that is still valid, young lady. Metaphysicals only attack cities and people, they do not particularly steal money or goods. Then, when a metaphysical rages, who――is the one to be said to make the most profits out of it…? We the White Knight Organization have been given a spot with an active role and expand our political power every day, haven’t we?
– I don’t totally agree with that. Are you branding us as “heroes of our own play?
Chloe frowned as if it were unpardonable.
But,
– A hypothesis like that is still valid.
Zhixin just fended it off lightly.
Chloe raised the corner of her eyes even more, but Moroha paid no heed to him anymore.
He indeed minded each and every attitude and manner of speaking of the man he was irritated with because he considerably became aware of him.
– If your hypothesis is right, there’s something I cannot understand though.
– What would that be, Haimursama?
Zhixin accepted the question as he grinned.
– Japan isn’t a standing member-nation of the UN Security Council.
– That is correct. Rather, its influential voice in the international community is small. If so, then why the mastermind specially dragged Japan into their plot? … If we assume that there was an incentive for the mastermind to want to establish the Japanese Division of the White Knight Organization at all cost, then that would make sense, yes?
– … That’s why you aimed at a Japanese?
– Yes. I have been using subordinates in which I can trust to do secrete investigation and monitor the prominent Saviors of the Japanese Division for years. But I have no conclusive evidence. Everyone looks suspicious, yet nobody seems to be the mastermind…. When nothing could be done and thought about doing it patiently, the name of Haimursama reverberated between us.
Zhixin closed his eyes and bent his back (well, he looked like he had them closed from the beginning though) and created a presence like he thought over something.
– This year was a strange one. A Dreadnought appearing is already rare, and yet, a nine-headed-kind appeared, another one that was absolutely necessary to create a new category for it called Fortress appeared and in less than a month ago another Dreadnought appeared in Russia, and so we arrive today, the day in which a human-type metaphysical ended up appearing. Abnormal, isn’t it? This is really an unprecedented situation. This is nothing but a calamity for the White Knight Organiza――
Zhixin paused briefly.
He turned around and looked at each person’s face in this place as if putting on airs.
He gathered everyone’s attention and declared with satisfaction.
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– But Haimursama has made profits every time.
Moroha suddenly couldn’t refute.
He didn’t think about it because he wasn’t aware he was making profits out of this, but now that he said so, this seemed to be very true.
– That’s a false accusation!
On the other hand, Satsuki shouted in anger like she was unable to bear it.
Moreover, Zhixin pointed out calmly.
– Young lady, please think about it open-mindedly.
Without knowing why, an unprecedented multi-headed-kind appear right near Akane Academy――
Moroha, who killed it, was able to easily gain fame.
Without knowing why, a Fortress appeared on Moroha’s destination during the Six Heads Conference that discussed Moroha’s rank――
Moroha, who killed it, got acknowledged as an S-Rank.
Without knowing why, when Moroha went to Russia, a Dreadnought appeared during his dispute with Lightning Empress――
Moroha, who killed it, could earn the trust of the moderate faction to oppose Lightning Empress.
– Isn’t this too convenient for Haimursama? You are not thinking that my words are too good to be true and that they are going too far, are you? If straightforward things happen in rapid succession, saying “I don’t doubt them” it’s rather close to a false accusation, wouldn’t you agree?
– T-that’s…. But what about the human type just now!? Did Moroha make a profit out of it!?
– The fight with Charles-sama ended up being an awfully hard fight, am I wrong? And you called it as a reinforcement? However, right before the human-type arrived, the chances to win were suddenly reversed so he needed a pose in which he tried to fight with the development.
– Guh…. anyway, there’s no way Moroha is the mastermind! I know that. You may not know, but I was Moroha’s younger sister in our previous life. I guarantee that.
– Setting aside how useful that guarantee is, let’s deliberately give merit and consideration to the young lady’s point, shall we? Now, why does Haimursama have two previous lives? Was the young lady Haimursama’s younger sister in both of them? Does the young lady really know everything about Haimursama?
– ……!
Satsuki opened her eyes wide, being lost for words.
Her slender shoulders trembled.
Because she felt she was made fun of by Zhixin with「There’s no way someone like you can understand Moroha」, that was quite the shock for her, and vexing as well. Satsuki hung her head and made her body quiver to endure it.
Moroha put his hand on her head.
Then told Zhixin in a subdued voice.
– You say you have suspicions, so I’ll hear your point. I’m not shady or anything like that, so I’m not going to run away or hide. I’m not going to do anything unsightly. But――I’m not adult enough to be silent while you’re being cruel to Satsuki, you know?
He set his right foot forward and entered in a stance similar to when he held a sword.
– I have been very impolite. My words went too far, I apologize for that.
Zhixin jumped backwards, completely gave up and ran away until he was outside of Moroha’s sword range, then did a Kyoushu.
At first glance, he was a shrewd guy with a seemingly weak attitude.
Moroha watched him with glaring and keen eyes as he stroked Satsuki’s head who was clinging to him.
Zhixin continued speaking, his head still bowed.
– I only want you to take into consideration that I am also desperate. I have no intention of pinning false charges on Haimursama as I have thoroughly investigated you. After the Six Heads Conference in August, I let my subordinates watch you all the time, and after your triumphal return from Russia, my suspicions deepened, so I decided to watch you myself in this way. Haimursama not only is the first Dual Reincarnator in history, he also has truly displayed《The Origin》 one after another. It would never be strange even if you created metaphysicals on top of that and kept to yourself the secret method to control them.
– That’s a false accusation, isn’t it!?
The clinging Satsuki turned only her neck to Zhixin and threatened him like a growling dog as she amassed tears in the corner of her eyes.
– You absolutely and thoroughly investigated Moroha? You watched him all this time? Enough with the jokes. If that’s true, what were you watching? Moroha is an incredibly unselfish person, you would get that if you saw him for a minute! If he truly were an ambitious person, he would have taken part in the Six Heads Conference a long time ago and thrust demands like building a Haimura Division or Akane Division with his true strength!
– W-why are you going that far, Satsuki…? Why don’t you cool your head a bit?
He was glad that she eagerly defended him and saw well how he was on a routine basis――but if he was flattered too much, his body would feel itchy.
– I won’t! I have much more things to say, I’m still not satisfied!
However, Satsuki didn’t compose herself at all, Moroha had cold sweat suspending from his forehead.
Why was she that much worried about――
– There is a reason for that――Ranjou-san.
An unknown voice was suddenly heard.
– Zhixin-dono’s talk has arbitrarily and excessively decided Haimurkun as the mastermind.
They seemed to be hiding in the shadow of the stairs leading to the bottom.
When looking at them, a woman in her late twenties appeared on the rooftop.
A beautiful woman with a calm aura, but her inner unyielding spirit that couldn’t be hidden seemed to materialize on her eyebrows.
She wore a combat uniform supplied by the Japanese Division, so she didn’t seem to be a subordinate of Zhixin, but who was she?
The woman presented her ID Tag to the suspicious Moroha and company.
– I’m Takanashi Kyouko, the first secretary and assistant of the Japanese Division Head. Nice to meet you.
She gave her name with a voice mostly full of self-confidence.
Moroha asked Satsuki in his arms in a low voice.
– Do you know her?
– She’s quite famous. She seems to be capable as a secretary, but I’ve heard she’s an Rank Shirogane, serves as the bodyguard of the Japanese Division Head and also a talented woman who is accomplished in both literary and military arts…
– Really? What’s the deal of such a famous person in a place like this?
This time he asked Kyouko, and as she put the ID Tag back,
– In response to Zhixin-don’s prosecution, we have decided that the Japanese Division needs to investigate Haimurkun properly once. This is why I took Zhixin-dono along for a moment as a representative.
She put a hand on her waist and declared, puffing up with pride.
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– Haimurkun. You will come with me to the Japanese Division Main Office in Tokyo. We will carry an investigation under the presence of Zhixin-dono. Of course, all conversations will be recorded, and this legal hearing will be officially announced within the White Knight Organization. Will you come?
– You can’t! This is so nonsensical and yet you’re making Moroha go!?
Satsuki replied before Moroha.
The girl in his chest let a golden prana slowly rose up from her whole body.
Moroha read and understood a calm resolution from the color of the prana swinging in front of him.
Namely, if he were taken along, she would absolutely be prepared to fight.
– Collect yourself, Ranjou-san. Regardless of what Zhixin-dono wants, this is what we the Japanese Division think: we don’t really doubt Haimurkun and we don’t have the intention of doing anything bad to him. Rather, the investigation is to clear his innocence as soon as possible――
– You listen to me!
Kyouko tried to persuade her like she dealt with a child that didn’t listen, but Satsuki turned a deaf ear to her.
On the other hand, Zhixin squinted, looking fascinated,
– Young lady? Are you conscious about who you are turning hostile to? I move under the command of the Chinese Division Head. And Takanashi-sama under the command of the Japanese Division. Going against our words is the same as rebelling against the White Knight Organization. With that in mind, are you still saying we should not take Haimursama?
He issued a terrifying threat with a polite tone of voice.
– Moroha’s enemies are my enemies!
But Satsuki didn’t falter at all.
– It’s useless. Calm down――
Moroha hugged her slender body from behind and stopped her.
– B-but――
– I’m glad you’re worried about me. However…
Moroha held his tongue for a moment.
An unpleasant memory slowly oozed out from the bottom of his mind.
The dream he had the other day.
A crazy and disconsolate dream in which Flaga and Sarasha were alone and became enemies of the world.
His head hurt. Something like a spark kept flicking.
After that, Moroha said, close to Satsuki’s ear.
– Being only by ourselves… having the rest of the world as our enemies… let’s stop doing that. We have to learn from the bad experiences. If not, nothing will change…
The words felt like arbitrarily overflowing from the core of his soul.
Despite this, those words certainly felt like a flood of emotions was filling them. Moroha told her as if squeezing them out.
– Why do we feel like we want to be with someone? For what? Just being together is okay? No matter how unhappy we are? That’s not it, right?
There’s no way that’s how it is.
We have to be happy.
That may be something too ordinary, but that was the biggest wish for Moroha.
– …… Got it.
The prana of Satsuki who was in his arms disappeared.
He gently stroke the head of such「younger sister」.
Moroha raised his eyes and turned to Zhixin and Kyouko.
– So, will you come, Haimurkun?
– … If I were to be riotous here, it will be annoying because it’ll be like admitting I’m guilty.
– I-I want to go with you.
– You are also a Savior, so be reasonable, okay, Ranjou-san? Don’t you think that your mission is to diligently study at Akane Academy?
– But, but.
– I ask of you the same. Go back to Shizuno and the others.
He made Satsuki calm down who wanted to shake her neck from left to right.
This didn’t mean Moroha completely trust them.
In this situation, he would just accompany them because there was no other choice.
First and foremost, he couldn’t afford to make Satsuki go with him to such shady place.
Moroha fixedly stared at Satsuki as she deeply nodded despite grumbling with a「Uuuu」
He stroked her head again.
Meanwhile, Chloe, who had been quietly watching, interjected for the first time.
– Can you inform us of the results of the investigation? I imagine you will not exclude France, will you?
– As for you, we considered to make you take responsibility for acting violently in our country at a later date. Putting that aside, I promise that we will report to you as well.
Kyouko promised firmly and Chloe agreed.
Then, when Zhixin was about to do a kyoushu towards all present,
– Let’s go immediately to the place where the story will be finished.
He grinned and took out something from the cuffs.
A thin ring-shaped gold device――probably a bracelet.
While there was a difference between a gakukan and a bracelet, this had a close resemblance to the kinkoji that Sun Wu-Kong wore.*
*TN: 額冠 (Gakukan). 孫悟空 (Sun Wu-Kong) and 緊箍児 (Kinkoji).
It wasn’t just an accessory. It was clad in a mysterious and extraordinary aura.
– No way… That’s?
Chloe gazed at it in wonderment.
– What’s that…?
Satsuki glared at it with eyes full of suspicion like Leshya does.
As Zhixin held it up high as if putting on airs,
– This is a unique treasure in the world lent by Xuhu. When it’s put on an arm, all the prana and mana are sealed, and cannot be removed by its wearer.
– … Are you going to put that on me?
– I am a coward. I feel uneasy that I will be attacked by you while taking you there.
Zhixin spoke frankly without feeling ashamed.
A joking tone that came with seriousness and not with joke.
When Moroha grieved and received the bracelet,
– I said I’m not going to be riotous, didn’t I?
Without fear, he put it on his right arm.
He tried to wear mana and prana as a test, but they really didn’t emerge.
It felt a bit nostalgic, he recalled the time when he didn’t know anything yet, before enrolling in the Academy.
– Well then, see you later.
He said a few words to Satsuki.
Satsuki couldn’t reply like she was absentminded.
He turned to such face of the helpless girl as if she were the one going through it.
– Here. Thanks.
Moroha took the hand of the girl and entrusted his partner――Saratiga that he let manifest from Satsuki’s ID Tag with her.
Finally, the focus of Satsuki’s eyes became settled.
– Y-yup. Absolutely come back, and fast, alright?
She repeatedly nodded as she wiped the outer corner of the eyes.
– Obviously. I promised, didn’t I? I’ll return to you, no matter what may happen.
Moroha placed his forehead on hers and whispered in a low voice so that nobody else could hear him.
– Y-you’re right. Nii-sama has never broken a promise.
Satsuki forcibly tried to show a somewhat relieved face.
Her bluffing was evident, but cute as well.
– Well… I have to be here by the school festival. I’m the only one who’s being left out.
– I don’t want a school festival without Moroha…
– Good grief, how did we come to have a conversation like this?
If it were true, then from this day, Strikers would be preparing a coffee shop.
Charles and the others attacked, a human-type metaphysical attacked and even Zhixin came along――
– Really! Where can I even complain?
Satsuki inflated her cheeks in anger.
– Yeah, I feel uplifted by your voice.
Moroha smiled more and more and separated his forehead.
– I kept you waiting.
He turned around and told Zhixin who had a harsh look.
He was taken with them, being put between Zhixin to his left and Kyouko to his right.
As he felt the eyes of Satsuki who uneasily shook on his back.
――Two hours had passed since Satsuki told the sequence of events.
During all this time, she had been weeping her eyes out.
– Don’t cry anymore, Ranjou-san.
Shizuno also hugged her close all this time, comforting her.
It was understandable that Satsuki was like this.
Now, the situation of Moroha was the worst.
When they got Principal Mari to ask the Japanese Division Main Office,
– Haimura Moroha was taken by First Secretary Takanashi and the Chinese Division Deputy.
After she reluctantly admitted that,
– I’m unable to erase the doubts that Haimura Moroha is manipulating metaphysicals, therefore, he will be on indefinite imprisonment and observation.
Such a boundless and violent reply came.
Moreover, they didn’t get the answer to where he was confined.
The worst of the worst.
– I knew it, I should have accompanied him…. I wasn’t going to leave Moroha alone…
– Can you stop blaming yourself already?
Shizuno nodded slowly as she brought her cheeks near Satsuki’s cheeks who became soggy with tears.
– But, but… but. Hey, tell me, Urushibara…. What should I do? What should I do, to recover… to recover… uuuuuuuuu.
– You’ve done nothing wrong. If I would have been there, I’m sure I could have only see him off.
– You’re lying…. You’re doing this to comfort me…
– I would never lie about this.
Just listening to the results, it would be ridiculous to discuss「I’m glad I did this」「I’m glad I did that」afterwards. Rather, only a coward would be pleased to point out such a thing.
– A clue was left by the actions of the Japanese Division and the Chinese Division, and that is because you saw the whole story with your own eyes and told us about it, isn’t it?
If Satsuki’s ID Tag had been delivered too late.
Or if she had ran home, seeing the human-type metaphysical.
They would have fallen into a nightmarish situation in which Moroha would have disappeared without knowing who did it.
– So, be puffed up with pride, alright?
– Uuu… uuuu…
Satsuki clung to her with all her strength as if there were nothing better to rely on.
The principal office of Akane Academy.
Shizuno continued to comfort her on a slightly firm sofa for visitors.
A heavy silence.
She could hear Satsuki’s sobbing and the faint sound of the second hand of the clock on the table advancing.
And「Ring ♪」a cute electronic sound that didn’t suit the atmosphere of the room sounded.
Mari, who looked serious working at the desk, immediately turned her eyes to the computer.
Maya, who did the same seconds later, looked into it.
– I got a reply.
An email from a reliable partner, who was a graduate of Akane Academy, the same year Mari graduated, and who worked at the main office in Tokyo, was at the forefront of the scene.
Shizuno and Satsuki held their breaths and stared at Mari who scanned the contents.
– Yes, there seems to be no evidence that Haimurkun was taken to the main office. It is not being hidden.
– If he were confined in the main office, then we would have known his whereabouts at least… desu.
Maya muttered with a terrible disheartened face.
She saw the apparition of the headless metaphysical and when she was about to tell everyone via phone call in a hurry, someone――probably Takanashi Kyouko due to the timing ―― put her to sleep by means of Saturn and woke up after Moroha was apparently taken.
Like Satsuki, she couldn’t be useful and had a feeling of indebtedness, the angelic smile she was proud of completely vanished.
(Moroha… where, are you…?)
Shizuno bit her lips.
– He’s going through a bad experience right now… uuuuu.
Tears overflowed from Satsuki’s eyes.
Shizuno suddenly couldn’t reply.
She rubbed Satsuki’s back and meditated as she brought her cheeks near to hers.
The Chinese Division was an especially different organization among the White Knight Organization.
Were they the most neutral one? Or the one that did things their own way?
The eccentric person, the Division Head called「Old Man」, preferred to live secluded from the world like a hermit deep in the mountains without advocating or participating in the Six Heads Conference, wanting to move as little as possible, though, on the other hand, words said he was known for his just and upright personality.
Within the Division, his character reached everyone, from top to bottom, he silently went to exterminate the metaphysicals of his own country, without showing interest in power struggle, always sticking to his attitude which said「We don’t interfere with you, you don’t interfere with us」
They were a difficult party to have a means with like contacting and negotiating, but unlike the former Russia, they weren’t cold-hearted and unlike France, they weren’t radical either.
However――the only exception was the man called Lu Zhixin.
She had heard from her older brother that he was the right-hand man of the Old Man and a skilled person who operated the Chinese Division instead of the Head who wanted to do nothing, but unlike the old man who didn’t have two faces, he was a man one didn’t know what he was thinking about.
A man who used any means if the purpose was justifiable.
It would be fortunate to see him give up at the last moment to not be showered with reprimands from the Old Man. The more she thought about it, the more her spine seemed to begin to tremble.
But she was earnestly shaking off her worries.
(Moroha is by no means a weak man…. Yes… I know)
Shuu Saura had been imprisoned in the dungeon for many years, his heart never broke even when placed in such a poor environment.
He didn’t lose his circumstances.
With a strong force of will, he kept living as him.
(I believe in him even if no one can believe in him)
With a strong desire similar to a prayer, to not lose to Moroha’s heart.
And above all.
(Keep waiting, Moroha…. I’ll certainly help you out)
She strongly carved that determination and resolution into her heart.
The opponent was probably the Chinese Division Deputy. And the Japanese Division.
No matter what speculations or schemes were wriggling behind the scenes.
She swore to herself she wouldn’t lose to all that.
She was unable to grasp Moroha’s whereabouts, and this was riddled with unknown things.
It was like going through absolute darkness, relying on a single candle.
(I can do it…. I can do it, once again…)
Even if she had to stand the pain.
Even if she had to crawl.
Even if she had to do anything.
To where Moroha was, waiting in the depths of darkness――
(First I need some sort of clue. Given the internal conditions of the Japanese Division, it should be impossible to look up)
Maybe she should ask her older brother Tadanori for help.
Even that person was good at politics.
It was annoying to rely on him, but Shizuno decided to endure the depression first.