Chapter 2
Chapter 2 The leaders’ conference
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『You’re late. Don’t keep me waiting』
As soon as Moroha and Edward entered the room, they heard a tongue clicking.
A small council room that was deep in a building and that seemed to have proper security.
Two people came first, one of them was leaning on the chair at one of the heads of the table and gazed at them with his blue eyes.
Today, too, he was black from top to bottom. He wore leather gloves to protect his ten fingers.
He was Charles Saint-Germain.
『Let me to eat food slowly at least』
『Nonsense. My circumstances should be prioritized, I have nothing to do with your circumstances』
『… What a bothersome guy』
Moroha turned half-closed eyes to Charles who spoke out with a straight face.
Then he pulled himself together and looked at the other person who came first.
She was a beautiful black woman with definite looks.
As a woman, she was tall, her point of view was almost the same as Moroha.
Judging from appearances, she had a flashy personal appearance just like a model.
But the back of her eyes were filled with a very calm and intelligent light.
– While it’s not the best moment, I’m glad to meet you, Haimura Morohsan.
In Japanese. Her voice and tone were calm, and despite all that, her core had a smooth luster similar to premium chocolate.
– I am Flavie Sakho. I wished to have the pleasure to make your acquaintance.
– You are Flavie! I’m glad you were saved.
– I am too.
The smile of Flavie was like large flowers blossoming in full glory.
She spread her hands and greeted Moroha.
Then immediately.
She hugged him close and slowly.
She approached her cheek and whispered in his ear.
– I heard from Charles. It is all thanks to you. Thank you… very much.
The words of gratitude felt like they permeated his ear. The tone of voice.
『Hey』
Charles, who kept lying on his back with legs outstretched, changed his facial expression and half-rose to his feet.
Did he get angry because something unnecessary was revealed or because his fiancé was embracing another man?
『Get away! I’m telling you to get away! Get away right now!』
It was the latter.
His desperation was to such a degree it was like the three levels of English usage.
『Don’t be so jealous』
Moroha smiled bitterly.
This hug perfectly transmitted from Flavie’s body told him it wasn’t passion but merely deep appreciation.
『D-don’t misunderstand. Who’s jealous of you?』
Although Charles said with a bright red face, when Flavie stopped hugging him, he blatantly felt relieved. He drank the water that was prepared at the meeting desk seemingly thirsty. His throat got way too dry in an instant.
(To think this guy had such an easy-to-understand side)
Unexpectedly… that didn’t seem to be the case.
The loss of Flavie meant the removal of his restraints for a moment, he grew so wild he went after human domination.
Moroha turned to Flavie,
– Don’t mention it. But I’m not that great, and I think Flavie-san should give her thanks to Charles.
– Is that so…? You are really just as Charles says.
Flavie seemed to be truly happy.
– So, what did he say?
– He said that the seventh S-Rank is a very kind man──unlike other people.
『*Spews out*』
The water that Charles was drinking spewed out.
『Flavie! This idiot! I get Chloe, but why you guuuys!』
He coughed violently while complaining loudly.
Moroha, Flavie and Edward, who dedicated to spectate, burst into laughter all at once!
『I want to diiiiie』
Even though Charles raised the corner of his eyes, he wasn’t scary at all.
It only made it even more interesting.
It took some time until the laughter stopped.
Charles became sulky and faced away with chair and all.
Edward also sat on a seat and recommended Moroha to do so.
– Alright, I should take my leave.
Flavie bowed in a dignified way and left.
It seemed that she was expressly waiting for Moroha to thank him.
He ended up saying something like 『Let me eat food slowly at least』, he couldn’t help but being ashamed.
He waited for her back to completely disappear outside the corridor before sitting down.
『Are we all the members?』
『No, there’s another person』
『If it’s me, then I’m already here』
Suddenly, a hoarse voice was heard.
Moroha opened his eyes wide.
Charles was startled too and Edward made his eyes blink.
In the conference room where Flavie took her leave there should be only three people.
Before they knew, the fourth person was sitting on a seat.
A good-natured old man with an abundant beard smiled with his whole face and stared at Moroha.
Where the hell did he come from?
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There was only one doorway. They watched it the whole time until Flavie left the room.
No──
(How long has he been here…?)
Moroha rubbed his eyes many times.
The old man should certainly be sitting there, but the wall behind could be seen through him.
To the eyes of Moroha.
Was this old man really a human being?
Even such an absurd doubt crossed his mind.
Even Edward and Charles were closer to monsters than humans.
However, the impression of the old man was somewhat different from others.
The sea, the mountains, the wind──in other words, all things in nature seemed to unexpectedly take the form of the old man.
His scale couldn’t be measured.*
*TN: Scale is the furigana reading for presence.
It was extraordinarily big, but it felt absurdly thin.
Like people not being usually aware of the existence of the ground they were standing on now.
Who no earth was he?
Before he thought that, the memory he heard the other day was recalled of its own accord.
──My dear master is a Sennin.
Moroha asked candidly.
『Are you the Chinese Division Head?』
The old man affirmed while laughing.
『I’m an old man called Ma Diegua. Feel free to call me “Tekka” in Japanese reading』
The Chinese Division Head said in a way that resembled a nice grandpa living in the neighborhood.
He didn’t put on airs, as if it were a lie that he had been alive for hundreds of years.
His tone of voice was frank and satisfying.
However, after finishing the self-introduction, Tekka suddenly sat up straight.
The mouth that was laughing like a good-natured old man was closed.
『The young lady of moments ago was waiting here to thank you. I’m the opposite. I’m here to apologize to you』
He turned his sincere and clear eyes like a lake swaying to and fro in an enchanted lake to him.
Exactly like the shape of a polished mirror and still water.
『My disciple──Zhixin seems to have caused a lot of trouble for you. I’m sorry. Eventually, I will make him apologize in any way』
『I’m at a loss…』
Moroha scratched his head.
『Then Tekksan didn’t order him to do it?』
If so, even if he was apologized, it didn’t make sense.
In fact, Moroha, unless he had a grudge against the old man, had no reason to be furious.
Or more precisely, it wasn’t neither about forgiving nor not forgiving him.
『I don’t like to work, so I left everything to him. I’m also responsible for that』
『Hmm』
Even if he was told so.
But in the end, it was a matter of 「feelings」. Were he was told it was 「reason」, it wouldn’t be his style to say “Oh, I see, is that a lie? Then I’ll resent you”.
『What is Zhixin doing?』
If he was going to apologize, he thought it was clearly logic to turn that man in.
『I don’t know. He ended up escaping somewhere』
『He’s not afraid of being punished by Tekksan?』
『That’s not it… no, at least not until now. He wants to become a Sennin, but now that he has escaped from me, it’s an impossible dream』
『I see…』
An unexpected conduct from the man who was fixated on living a long life.
While strangely feeling so, he changed his mind as this wasn’t a problem he shouldn’t think deeply about now.
『If so, well, It’s okay. Even if we care too much about him, there’s hardly anything that we can do』
『Ho. You’re a manly young boy, aren’t you?』
Tekka smiled broadly and had a hearty laugh.
Edward, who was watching them seemingly interested, cut into the conversation.
『The old man may be lying to hide his dear disciple──haven’t you thought so?』
『Oh stop. If Tekksan had such an ulterior motive, he should just feign ignorance, no?』
Like hell he came for something like apologizing in the first place.
『How is that you don’t get such a thing?』
『Well, I just wanted to hear those words. Because I certainly want Jack and the old man to get along!』
『If Tekksan has no problem with it, then please let me do so』
『Nice answer! To celebrate your meeting, have a drink with me later──』
『No, it’s not like I want to get along with you』
『Come on, open your heart, Jaa────ck!』
Moroha stuck out his tongue to Edward who was at his wits’ end.
Seeing that kind of thing, Tekka laughed more and more.
Even the way he laughed was bright, clear and satisfying.
Moroha now noticed.
When he met Edward and Charles for the first time, sparks violently scattered as if raising an alarm in his head.
But, no matter how many times he looked at Tekka, it didn’t seem to be like that.
Moroha and Edward continued having a silly and friendly chat for a while,
『Hey, you blockheads. If you don’t put an end to it, I’ll go home』
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Charles, who became extremely sulky, said while facing away.
『Sorry, sorry. First of all, without an introduction, there’s no discussion, right?』
Edward apologized without a piece of consideration.
Moroha also changed his mind,
『In the end, what was the point of gathering here?』
『I want Jack to know what’s the situation while we can』
『But there’s a briefing tomorrow?』
『Today is okay too』
He was willing to listen to them, but he didn’t feel like doing it twice.
Moroha looked around at everyone surrounding the conference desk.
The Head of the British Division, the Head of the French Division and the Head of the Chinese Division were there.
Three of the White Knight Organization’s VIPs were lined up.
Namely, a leaders’ conference.
Mixed in the middle of all this, he greatly felt out of place──or at least Moroha felt that way.
Without being aware that if he were an ordinary person, his breathing would lose control and would flinch from just seating there.
『Then please』
Since he took too long to do so, Charles was disgusted.
Edward only nodded,
『Where should I start…? Oh, right. There are people who got their souls pulled out, but they’re trapped in a troublesome place. Don’t be surprised to hear it, okay? Who on earth would──』
『They’re in the belly of a《Metaphysical》』
『Spoilers are awful, Charles! Isn’t the production “to surprise Jack” ruined now!?』
『Shut up. I hate the way you talk so high and mighty to each other』
『Charles is too cold! That’s why you have no friends!』
『It’s my first time hearing so. Is your circle of friends that big to be talking about that to others? The next time we meet, introduce me to them』
In less than a minute they started talking, Edward and Charles started a low-level quarrel.
『Hey. Charles. Because of you, the conversation is taking longer than necessary』
Moroha warned in a low voice, but it didn’t reach their ears.
On the other hand, Tekka was in a mental state as if watching a quarrel of his grandchildren. An influential figure.
After cursing each other harshly,
『Look, now that Jack knows the truth of this shock, he’s not surprised at all. Oh, it’s so disappointing! So disappointing!』
Edward lamented exaggeratedly.
『No, no matter how you talked about it, I wasn’t going to be surprised. I expected as much』
Moroha said curtly.
It was none other than Edward who told the escape and adventure of Flavie who wandered through a maze similar to the interior body of a giant creature.
He couldn’t think of many unnatural places like that.
『Are we talking about an undiscovered Fortress?』
『Yeah. It has transformed itself into a rocky mountain, it’s completely still. “I didn’t see it”, said Andou, bitterly regretting it』
Edward spread a large blank paper on the table and dropped a few lines, drawing a mountain with simple design in the middle.
This seemed to represent the Fortress Class.
And named it with a note that said “Labyrinth” above it.
『The inside is a 3D maze』
He drew complicated lines in the mountain.
Although he was a composer, he seemed to have aptitude for painting. A maze that took effect of deformation was drawn.
『And there’s an Evil Spirit Class inside, right?』
As Edward agreed, he drew a tall jet-black monster with ears in the maze.
The name of this one was “Shade”.
『Isn’t there anything else? The fact that more than a hundred people were captured means that there are a hundred 《Metaphysicals》alive, no? And those are nesting inside, right?』
『No, no presence of a quantity of monsters like that is perceived in the vicinity』
Tekka answered instead of him.
『If the sense of the old man says so, then it should be true, right?』
Edward also threw in interjections to show that he was paying attention with full confidence.
『Then around 100 of them are still hiding somewhere in the world…』
Those were words that chilled his spine.
『Nonsense. The conversation has derailed』
『Sorry』
Having pointed that by Charles who was still facing away, Moroha scratched his head.
Tekka returned to the conversation as he stroked his beard.
『Only three of them are there』
Receiving those words, Edward drew three illustrations surrounding the mountain.
A strange-looking beetle with a number of horns. Its name was “Seven Horns”.
A gray giant with only an upper body. Its name was “Statue”.
A lump of tentacles with faces of people at their ends. Its name was “Sea Anemone”.
『The 《Metaphysicals》 are protecting that Fortress class, huh…』
『Good answer. What do you think of the 《Metaphysicals》?』
『Don’t tell me that the three of them are Dreadnoughts?』
『Ahaha, yes, that’s the case!』
Edward laughed Moroha’s reply away.
Then pressed him with “what are they then?” but he didn’t try to reply, putting on airs again.
『Tch──』
Charles lost his temper at his attitude.
Because of that, he ended up spoiling it again.
『They’re Fortress Class. The three of them』
In words that were said plainly.
Moroha was unable to reply right away.
『Geez. Stop spoiling the story』
Seeing him, Edward chuckled to himself as if to say 「I wanted to see Jack having that kind of face!」 while saying so, sound like he protested.
Moroha wasn’t worried about that.
And groaned.
『The three of them…』
At the time of the summer camp, the Fortress Class that appeared in the open sea of Yamaguchi prefecture was cornered until nearly destroyed by Strikers.
Moroha looked at the drawing spread in front of Edward again.
Their impressions were scary.
The drawing that made good use of deformation and that had no ounce of exaggeration looked like a location with an impregnable defense.
『But if we don’t clean up around it first, we won’t be able to storm the labyrinth calmly…』
『It’s impossible. Those guys can’t be killed』
Charles spat out while grinding his teeth out of vexation.
『Did you say a weak-kneed thing?』
『I tried it before. While the old geezer sneaked inside the labyrinth, I needed to get the attention of others』
『Well, aren’t you the right person for it?』
Since Charles threw himself into the wide open sky, he was able to unilaterally attack from a place where the enemy’s attacks couldn’t reach him.
『Since you’re a master to that degree, there’s no way you could have been killed, right?』
『If they’re normal ones, that is. No matter how much those guys burned and boiled, they completely regenerated in an instant』
『That’s so absurd…』
As Moroha was amazed, Edward continued the explanation.
『It seems those guys are quite linked to the labyrinth and the center of it』
On the drawing, as he drew lines between the labyrinth and the other three shapes,
『They’re connected by a satana line like this. The labyrinth doesn’t move and doesn’t appear to have the ability to fight, but if the three bodies are hurt, they’re healed by the satana sent in this line. Since it’s an energy line with no substance, it cannot be cut』
『Is it absolutely necessary to crush those who are protected first…?』
『This may be what a proper Fortress Class should be. I named this condition 《Stronghold》』
Edward labeled the drawing as「Stronghold」at the top of it like a title.
『Isn’t this kind of tiresome…?』
Moroha was stumped while looking at the drawing.
『I said before that the labyrinth can be killed but it’s impossible to attack it from outside, right?』
Those who were trapped inside might be embroiled in.
So they ought to rescue those people first.
『I think there’s no choice but to sneak into the labyrinth like the old man did. We must not be found by Shade. The other problem is how many 《Rentei》experts will be there?』
I don’t have the confidence, said Edward, raising both hands. 《Rentei》was a way of walking that isolated footsteps and presence, and it was one of the derived techniques of 《Godlike Movement》.
It was a technique that wasn’t very effective in anti《Metaphysicals》 battles, and it wasn’t highly regarded by the White Knight Organization. 《Metaphysicals》 generally had keen senses and perception abilities, so it was quite difficult to hide one’s presence thoroughly. It was faster to fight and defeat them from the front. The ones who expressly tempered it were a minority.
『… Moreover, if by any chance we’re caught by Shade, we’ll need a fighting force that can crush the Evil Spirit Class. That’s not really gathered, is it?』
『We have no choice but to gather one. My head hurts though. To make a comparison, because all we have to do is gather a great number of people for the three shapes outside, I still don’t feel at ease』
『Isn’t enough for this guy to divert them alone? In fact, he was able to do it when Flavie-san was rescued』
Moroha pointed at Charles’ back.
『Should I talk about it?』
Tekka, who was watching attentively with a friendly grin, cut into the conversation.
According to him──
The inside of the labyrinth was like a living labyrinth that changed shape every hour.
Well, it was a 《Metaphysical》so it was expected, and since it didn’t change that often, Tekka was able to explore it.
However, and all of a sudden, there was a moment when the structure of the labyrinth changed at a terrifying speed, and at that moment, it seemed that he would get stuck.
Later, when Tekka exchanged information with Charles, the timing when Charles was right out of breath and rested from the attacks coincided with the timing when the labyrinth rapidly changed.
『In other words, what does this mean?』
Moroha organized the stuff in his head and guessed.
『The ability of the labyrinth is to change its internal structure at a high speed and to restore its allies, the Fortress Class. So, resources are used during the recovery and the internal changes becomes slower──』
『That’s very likely. The more damage we give to the three shapes surrounding it the easier it will be to walk through the labyrinth』
I see, that’s why it’s better to have a crowd of people than Charles alone.
A rescue team composed of few people and a distracting team with great fighting power.
He could understand that the strategy this time started with the selection.
『As expected, I’m part of the rescue team. A selected few is great, but what should we do? When we finally reach the people who are being caught, there will be more than a hundred people, right?』
Don’t tell me that we’re going to shuttle between the battlefield and the labyrinth?
No, no.
Moroha asked as if partially complaining.
It had been 10 days since the Countermeasures Headquarters was built, so it seemed that the operation was still possible somehow.
『What will you do, Jack? 』
『Eh? Me? 』
『So sluggish. Listen, seventh person──』
『Take it easy, Charles. Be tolerant. If we can come up with a better strategy, then we should get as many ideas as possible, right?』
『Tch. Hurry up』
Charles backed down, probably because he felt it was a sound argument.
But, and as if pressing for an answer, he gazed at Moroha with scary eyes.
Moroha seriously considered it while dodging his gaze.
And the answer came from an unexpectedly close thing.
『That’s right… we can use the school principal’s 《Transportal》』
It was possible to let 100 people escape at a time if the rescue team arrived at the place where the people were caught, establish a link and the school principal opened the gate from outside.
『You have concluded the same as us. It sounds reliable』
『Flattery is unneeded』
『It’s my honest impression. It’s very important whether or not the strategy comprehension of the captain of the rescue team who has to act secretly and separately is high. Since that will have to be done by you after all』
Edward winked with a smiling face.
『Hold on…. Who will be the captain of the rescue team?』
The fingers of Edward and Charles simultaneously pointed at Moroha.
『I, who have crossed swords with you once, give my seal of approval to the mastery of your 《Godlike Movement》! 』
『Additionally. You have the achievement of defeating an Evil Spirit Class once』
『Please, this is a task that only Jack can do』
Having things pointed out from the left and right, Moroha scratched his head, irritated.
『Fiiine. But stop with the captain. I’m not suitable for it』
『Don’t ask for the impossible. There’s no human being who can order this and that to you, an S-Rank. I’m completely losing my nerve』
『Who on earth attached a weird rank to me without asking?』
Moroha retorted with all his might, but he was repelled by Edward’s smile.*
*TN: Smile is the furigana reading for shamelessness.
He collected himself.
『Shouldn’t the captain be Tekksan? He succeeded in intruding once. That’s not something I can surely be relied on』
Moroha proposed the most extreme thing there was, but.
『No…. I’m sorry, but I don’t intend to participate in the operation itself』
Tekka declined with a bitter look.
Moroha was disappointed.
But when he looked at the sullen face with wrinkles all over his face, it was transmitted to him that he really wasn’t going to do it.
『You better remember. This guy has no fighting power』
Charles interrupted while still facing away.
It sounded like he spoke badly of him, but his usual severe way of speaking had calmed down.
『Are you serious? Isn’t Tekksan really strong? That’s what I heard though』
『He’s half-dead. No matter how strong he is. It was considerably impossible for this old geezer to rescue Flavie』
Even this difficult person was still grateful? Because of that, his sharp tongue became dull.
『Is there… a reason why?』
Moroha changed his focus from Charles to Tekka.
Tekka still had a sullen face.
He appeared to not want to explain it.
However, he immediately started to explain, giving a clear explanation: 「Well, it’s not my real intention to end up having secrets」.
His look of a good-natured old man came back completely.
『I’m a Sennin who abandoned the human body』
He held out his right hand over the table.
『I heard that too, but…』
Moroha shook hands with Tekka while suspecting that. At that moment,
『Wha…』
He was surprised.
It was light. It hardly felt like the hand of a person.
No matter how old he were, or if his hand was thin as a dead tree, the human body was composed of flesh, bones and muscles.
He felt none of it.
『Surprised? My body is made of prana』
Tekka laughed heartily.
Namely──he abandoned his physical body and became a Sennin.
『That’s why I don’t need to eat normal food anymore, I can keep on living by just breathing in the haze and air deep in the mountains. For hundreds of years. I will die when karma has accumulated, this body is corrupted and I can’t move』
『Karma? Corrupted…?』
『Yes. When I’m exposed to human malice, my body accumulates karma like sediment. It becomes corrupted and heavy. Strife and killings make it faster』
For that reason he hid in a remote place?
Because of that he left everything to Zhixin?
He had heard that he didn’t want to work, but he wondered what would happen if it was made public?
『The old man told us that satana seems to be a mass of humans’ negative emotions. He searched in the labyrinth that was filled with it. There’s no way he got away without consequences. That’s nothing but chivalrous spirit』
As if Tekka himself was embarrassed by the praises of Edward,
『Noo, I’m gaining weight. I’ll have to go on a diet』
He told a joke, bursting into laughter.
He thought that even now he was light, but he seemed to be actually much lighter.
So much he could ride a cloud.
『I see… I understand』
Moroha understood while letting go of Tekka’s hand.
『Moroha agrees to be the captain, right?』
And nodded reluctantly.
He felt like it was just selfish to make it any more difficult.
『The next is… we plan to recruit experts for covert activities, but, let me see, how many of them should we gather?』
『One person. The ideal one under my command. I’ll lend them this time』
『As for me, there’s Angela, she does have skill, but she’s too noisy…』
That AJ walking on her tiptoes──
Imagining so, Moroha was about to burst into laughter. No, it wasn’t a funny story.
He thought seriously and suggested.
『I have only one person in mind, but can they join the rescue team?』
『Wow! They got Jack’s approval? They’re gladly welcome!』
Edward clapped, being delighted.
Charles remained silent while facing away.
Tekka just watched attentively like a good-natured old man.
There were no objections from any of the three leaders. It was settled.
『Then we’ll talk tomorrow morning』
Moroha said while looking at the wall clock.
It was already past midnight, so it was impudent to visit them now.
He would try to settle it quickly before the briefing.
The person in question was enthusiastic, and surely they would agree to it……… probably.