The Signal to Counterattack There was a board game called tabby top. It was a game of strategy where each player had six types of pieces—lion, tiger, leopard, caracal, ocelot, and house cat—and was won by taking the opponent’s lion. The game predated the Holy Kingdom of Dineez’s founding and was played all throughout the continent. The annual worldwide tournament was very popular, to the extent that there was an illegal gambling scene for betting on the winners. Some, called tabby masters, even made a living playing the game for money. “His best strategies were winter kotatsu and persimmon thief,” Tiana said. She was sitting in a fancy chair in the Starmine Hall conference room looking down at a tabby top board. She wasn’t playing, simply using the game as an abstraction of the current conflict. Ancient generals and tacticians had loved tabby top above all other games, just as Tiana and Bellocchio did. “Those names aren’t exactly self-explanatory,” June said. She had no interest in tabby top herself, but she had come to realize during her short time with Tiana that the sharp young woman often received inspiration from her offhand murmurings. “Winter kotatsu is a formation where you protect your lion with the tiger and house cats. It’s an orthodox defensive strategy meant for a prolonged battle. Persimmon thief is a strategy where you approach an enemy formation with an agile cat to lure out an enemy piece, then take it with a different cat that was lying in wait… It’s also more suited for a long battle,” Tiana explained. “So he knows how to be patient,” June said, implying by her tone that Tiana didn’t. The mage glared at her, and June shrugged with a faint smile. “…Anyway, my point is that we should avoid taking his bait,” Tiana said. She continued to think in her hastily made conference room as the tight conflict dragged on outside Starmine Hall. What kind of person was Bellocchio? What would he be thinking right now? “Tiana. No matter the state of the game, your opponent’s goal is always to take the lion. Don’t be misled by what is in front of you.” A comment from her tabby top instructor surfaced in Tiana’s mind. No matter how much she focused on defense, her instructor would always find a weak spot and take her lion. They would see right through her thought processes and turn the match around in one move. “I agree with your opinion,” June started. “But—” “Lady Tiana! They’re on their last legs! We need to take the fight to them!” A group of ten rough-looking adventurers barged into the conference room. They were all injured in some way, but their eyes were ablaze. They were probably drunk on victory after repelling another force of dolls. It was then that Tiana realized what Bellocchio was doing. The man was clever. “The dolls’ numbers are shrinking, and they’re worsening in quality. We’re also getting used to group tactics. That’s why you think now is the time to strike,” she said. “H-huh? Did someone already give you the report?” one man asked. “I can surmise that much. The enemy is sending us lower-quality dolls on purpose. They’re trying to lift our morale excessively high,” Tiana explained politely. The adventurers stepped back, but they didn’t leave. “B-but…we’re running low on provisions. If we’re gonna strike, it has to be now.” “I’ve dispatched a different squad to procure food,” Tiana said. “But they haven’t come back yet.” “The enemy is watching us closely.” “That’s why now is our chance! We adventurers are fine. But if this drags on much longer, we won’t be able to keep treating the wounded. We could all die if the situation doesn’t improve!” This was the difference between tabby top and real combat. Unlike the cat pieces, people had minds of their own. They grew hungry, they became overconfident after victory, they despaired after defeat, they risked themselves to save comrades, and they grumbled about stubborn leaders. Tiana had been doing her best to stay conscious of that. She played the fool to make people laugh, put on a brave face, fought with the adventurers on occasion, and nursed the injured to health to gain the trust of those holding the fort. It seemed like that wasn’t going to work for much longer. The adventurers were approaching their limit, and Tiana was mentally exhausted as well. “…Not yet. We continue to hold fast,” Tiana said. “Why?!” the adventurer asked. Tiana was gradually coming to realize that victory or defeat here wouldn’t have an impact on the larger picture. Shaking off the threat before them would do nothing to prevent the true crises threatening Labyrinth City: the large-scale Stampede and the Sword of Tasuki’s schemes. But she couldn’t give voice to that thought. Telling people who were risking their lives that they weren’t the main characters would be terrible for morale. “She’s coming. We have to protect this place until she does,” Tiana told them. “Who’re you talkin’ about?” the adventurer asked. “Karan, obviously,” a different man replied. “No, actually…,” Tiana said before trailing off. She had intended to tell them she actually meant Diamond, but the adventurers were growing too excited to pay attention to her. They began to celebrate, and word spread to the staff members and idols who’d stayed behind to help defend the fortress. “Oh yeah, I ain’t seen her around lately. I heard she was here, though.” “So Karan’s carryin’ out some top secret mission, is she?” “That was mean of you to keep it from us for so long, Lady Tiana.” Tiana wanted to scream, No! She’s been disabled! She’ll never fight again! but she restrained herself. Their belief in this falsehood would buy her a little more time. “That girl’s had it hard. Didn’t she drag herself out of Pot Snake Cave and make it back to the city all alone?” an adventurer asked. “…Yeah. She’s tough,” Tiana said, more to herself than the adventurers. Karan was actually up to something. Tiana had been too busy to see what it was, but she’d always been doubtful that Karan would listen to Nick and the rest of them and resign herself to bed. She couldn’t imagine her giving up, or doing as Diamond said and prioritizing her own safety. Hell would freeze over first. Tiana felt relief at the thought. That perseverance was what made Karan an adventurer. She’d listened to their warnings but didn’t stop. It was why Tiana had said her piece and listened to Karan’s argument. She trusted her. “Yeah. I know she’s out there fighting,” Tiana said. Someone clapped at those words. The sound was muffled by gloves, and although Tiana reacted instinctively with joy, it was quickly replaced with fear. She recognized the sound and rhythm of that clapping. It was something she had so often heard as a student after a good performance on a test or a report. “You’re enduring without moving your lion, trusting that backup will arrive. That is the correct move.” “Grab him! That’s Bellocchio!” Tiana shouted. The cheering adventurers went pale and grabbed their weapons. The man had walked right up to them in plain sight. “Magnetism,” Bellocchio chanted. The moment the adventurers slashed their swords at his neck, a magnetic force too strong to resist pulled the blades downward. Anyone wearing armor or a belt was slammed to the ground, and the room echoed with the awful sounds of bones breaking. Experience from her time as a student and instinct drove Tiana to action. She backed out of his range and fired an ice spell to restrain him. “Icicle Dance!” she shouted. “Dolls, protect me,” said Bellocchio. A number of dolls had been hiding behind Bellocchio, and they threw their bodies in front of him to take the icicles in his stead. His footsteps clicked pleasantly as he continued to walk calmly toward her. “Those dolls moved smoother than usual… That must mean Havok is here,” Tiana said. “Yes, and she’s not alone. We’re all here, hiding in this fortress,” Bellocchio told her. “Digging that underground tunnel was hard work, but it finally paid off. The planning and construction were so rushed, I was afraid we were going to get buried alive.” Tiana wasn’t sure if her former instructor was bluffing or not, but then she heard the sounds of swords clashing and spells being fired from the floor below. Dead Man’s Balloon had struck first. They’d passed right beneath them without anyone noticing. “Ready for this, Tiana? Overload,” Bellocchio chanted, putting his hand on a doll. An ominous light began to overflow from the doll’s joints and eyes. Bellocchio used a special ability of his that filled a magic item with electricity and mana to dramatically increase its performance for a time. The doll would eventually explode because it couldn’t contain the mana, but that apparent drawback was lethal to any caught up in it. “Freeze! Ice Shield!” Tiana shouted. “Your thinking and reaction speed have gotten faster. I’m pleased to see that you have continued your studies,” Bellocchio said. Tiana froze the quickly charging doll to slow its movement and delay the explosion, but she was only buying time. Right now, she wasn’t strong enough to defeat him. “I have plenty more dolls,” Bellocchio said. “Then go ahead and use them. I didn’t think you were the type to toy with his prey,” Tiana said. “Oh, Tiana. You’re better off not assuming your opponent is a good person. Especially if you are fighting the Sword of Tasuki. His forces will not operate like adventurers.” “I’m past that. It’s your intellect I fear. You must have a proposal or deal to offer me now that you have me backed into a corner.” Bellocchio cut off the mana he had been supplying to the doll. “…What do you think I want?” he asked. “If I had to guess… Bodies. Lives. Or souls.” Bellocchio’s mouth twisted into a grin, and his eyes shone. The mood in the room seemed to shift. “I’ve heard that the Sword of Tasuki uses his power to imbue suits of holy armor with souls and turn them into his soldiers. I don’t know how many souls he stores in one suit, but he must’ve burned through a lot of them. That’s why he’s activated longtime sleeper agents like you.” “Go on.” “Bellocchio. Are you in charge of replenishing his stock of souls? He’s going to use you all, too. Everyone here is a White Mask candidate.” “You’re slightly off. You shouldn’t underestimate yourself.” “Huh?” “You are right that he is always collecting souls. But whether or not the souls please him is another matter. Fortunately, I knew someone I could recommend with confidence.” Bellocchio pointed at Tiana. “Me…?” “Life as one of his underlings isn’t so bad. He is certainly cruel in the way those in positions of power can be, but he gives you commensurate strength. He expects your all once you begin working for him, but he rewards you handsomely. He even allows you to work side jobs.” “Looking at you now, that might not be so bad.” “Regardless, there is no way out for you. You don’t have a choice in the matter. Do you disagree, Tiana?” “…I did have a choice, actually,” Tiana said, smiling and shaking her head. “A part of me realized you would come to take the tiger. I should have made the decision to strike or run. But I pretended not to notice.” “Oh?” Tiana had chosen to let herself be deceived. It was a dangerous decision that could have meant not only total destruction for Starmine Hall but also defeat for Labyrinth City, and she had kept it to herself so her plan could succeed. Until right now. “If you’re here, that means our reinforcements have arrived. It’s good to know the rats I’ve been hearing above us weren’t you,” Tiana said. There was something both sides of this conflict had forgotten: Starmine Hall was an idol concert venue. Its structure and audio equipment were designed to carry sound efficiently. This wasn’t an adventurers’ fortress—it was a musical paradise designed to welcome and entertain guests. “Harmonize.” A beautiful woman in a white suit jumped down from the ceiling, and she was holding a strange staff-like object that was emitting music. The sound encroached calmly yet certainly on the hearts of all who heard it, conveying bravery, security, and hope. After love, those were the themes that idols sang about most. The sound felt so natural here that Tiana barely acknowledged it. She felt like she was watching a stage show, and nobody questioned music during such a performance. “Hello, everyone! Sorry for the wait! Thank you for coming to my concert!” The voice wasn’t coming from the beautiful woman, but from some kind of instrument that was floating around her. Tiana strained her eyes and saw a figure steadily materializing. “Diamond!” one adventurer yelled. “Huh? I can move?” another said. The collapsed adventurers slowly got up. They had been freed from Bellocchio’s Magnetism. “Hmm-hmm. This place is my fortress. Disabling crude spells within its walls is a cinch for me. Ladies and gentlemen, sit back and enjoy the show.” “Samurialie and I put up the barrier, though,” the woman protested. “Oh, come on, I’m trying to sound cool here!” Tiana knew the woman in the white suit well. They hadn’t known each other for long, but she had become an irreplaceable friend. “Karan!” “Sorry for taking so long,” Karan said. “About time you showed up!” Tiana yelled angrily, tears in her eyes. Few things felt better than a companion arriving to save you in a time of need. That, however, was not the source of the joy filling Tiana’s heart. That came from seeing the curse-ravaged Karan back on her feet and looking strong. Karan happily accepted both Tiana’s anger and joy. “Well… It’s been a while, Bellocchio. I haven’t seen you since you founded the Thunderbolt Corporation. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by your success in life,” Diamond said. “Thank you very much for your support at that time,” Bellocchio replied. “Attacking my fortress is some way to thank me.” “Ha-ha. Do you need an explanation?” “No, I’m good. This is a sound barrier. It will allow no interference from outside. It also prohibits recording, so no conversations or thoughts inside will make it out. The one hundred and thirty-five people down below are also within the barrier. Have them throw down their weapons, now.” Someone gulped. The tension of the situation was palpable. “Can you please project my voice to everyone?” Bellocchio asked. “Of course.” “Thank you… Attention, members of Dead Man’s Balloon. Please give up your weapons and surrender. I am disbanding our secret society effective immediately. Thank you for all your hard work.” Bellocchio threw his staff aside and raised his hands, surrendering with surprising speed. The adventurers stared despondently at Bellocchio, who had his hands tied behind his back. You wouldn’t have known from their expressions that they had won this conflict, nor would you have known from Bellocchio’s that he had lost. There was even relief on his face—a strange sight from a hated foe who’d been staging a fierce assault against them until just moments ago. The other Dead Man’s Balloon members looked resigned, but they seemed to bear no ill will toward their captors. “You mean to tell me that was all a performance?” Tiana asked. Bellocchio nodded. “Everyone in Dead Man’s Balloon was trapped under the Sword of Tasuki’s spell. Most of us were forced into a contract.” “‘You were forced?’” “The Sword of Tasuki has been pursuing the holy sword mission of exploring humanity’s potential for centuries now. His main plan is to Awaken an adventurer named Argus and use him as a mold for the next generation of humans.” Awakening was a term used to describe when a person’s soul level rose to a state equivalent to the Survivors’ Union transformation and stabilized there, transforming them into a superhuman being. Achieving that was the mission given to all holy swords, including the Sword of Tasuki. “I hate it when people only think of humans in terms of their fighting capabilities. The Sword of Tasuki needs to relax,” Diamond interrupted, now back in her human form. But Bellocchio shook his head. “His goals actually have nothing to do with combat strength. It would be more accurate to say he wants to return humanity to its original state.” “Original state… You mean like the Originators?” Diamond asked. Bellocchio nodded. “Precisely. As a matter of fact, Argus is quite similar to the original mages.” “Umm, Instructor. What do you mean by that?” Tiana asked with a scowl. It was confusing to think about; the original mages were being described as burly martial artists like Argus. “First of all, it is important to note the Originators did not have mana. They gained it after losing their homeland to their enemy and being forced to wander the vast sea of stars. Do you know what that mana was?” Bellocchio asked. Tiana needed no time to think. “The power to survive in the sea of stars.” “More specifically?” Bellocchio pressed. The sea of stars lacked air. It was a world with literally no end. Nothing could survive it, including air and heat, which would dissipate unless they were on a special body of land. “…It’s a power that strengthens the body’s homeostasis,” Tiana went on. “It also gives communication abilities that overcome physical distance and penetrate obstacles. It creates heat, momentum, and physical matter.” “A gold star for you!” Bellocchio said. He laughed heartily, unsettling everyone in the room. He was acting like a teacher who’d started giving a class and was delighted by his student’s answer. His behavior was remarkably casual, given the circumstances. “That is right,” Bellocchio continued. “The Originators’ bodies were not strong enough to survive the sea of stars. They produced the power of a sun and built a steel ark that could travel it, but they were too fragile to survive exposure to the unimaginably vast world or their enemy’s power. After enduring those cruel circumstances, humans produced the power to survive in space and eventually created this world—the Land of Sacred Flame. Oh, you should know this is just my hypothesis. It differs slightly from established theory, but you needn’t concern yourself with that.” “The homeostasis is the important part, right?” Tiana said. “Yes. There is a possibility the Originators used the art of Stepping.” Tiana grimaced, and her instructor laughed. “Ha-ha-ha, I am not suggesting they were all expert martial artists. The original purpose of that magic was to center oneself in a place without land or weight,” he said. “What does that mean?” Tiana asked. “The world of stars lacks land, gravity, and air. Bones and muscles weaken without the burden of gravity, and once force is applied to an object, its momentum will last forever. If you spin a board game piece, it will continue revolving until an outside force interrupts it. Stepping is a magic created to resist that and regain the feeling of being on land while in the sea of stars.” Tiana understood the theory behind a place with no gravity or land, but it was still difficult to wrap her head around. It was undeniable, however, that Nick and Olivia’s movements couldn’t be explained unless they had an impossible sense of balance. “…So they avoided losing themselves in the dark expanse, found land, and achieved total freedom. I guess that’s the bare minimum of what an Awakened person can do… But if the Originators were so powerful, why did they disappear?” Tiana asked. “They did not disappear. They just became unobservable to us,” Bellocchio explained. The Originators and their enemy shifted to a higher dimension at the end of their fight. Whether they are still fighting or have been defeated, we in the normal space-time continuum cannot know. You could say that we are the people from before the ancient civilization who failed to become the Originators… The descendants of those who were left behind.” “W-we were left behind…?” Tiana shuddered, as did many others. Someone gulped. “Precisely. We are truly fragile in this world of stars. If the enemy of the Originators reappears, or if a catastrophe robs us of this Land of Sacred Flame, we will lack the power to survive as our ancestors did. The lack of Awakened people is a pressing concern for the gods and this world. That is why the gods grant authority to any who have a chance of nurturing or discovering Awakened. The better chance a person has, the more authority they receive.” “Then…the Sword of Tasuki is trying to save humanity?” Tiana asked. Bellocchio didn’t refute her. “Hmm… It is true that if his plan succeeds, the Land of Sacred Flame will avoid destruction and the demon god will cease to be a threat. Only the Sword of Tasuki and the person he Awakened will survive, however. Everyone else will be sacrificed for the Awakening or killed by the demon god. The world will be saved, but… Do you consider that a desirable outcome, Tiana?” “Not in a million years,” Tiana said, shaking her head in irritation, and Bellocchio looked pleased. “I couldn’t care less about what humanity would achieve upon an Awakening or what the gods desire. Our lives and deaths may seem insignificant to the gods, and our joys and pains even more so, but the world is good enough for me as it is. To be perfectly honest, I’m more concerned with this all getting in the way of the prize race during the Estivation Festival.” “It sounds like my beloved apprentice has picked up a rather unsavory hobby,” Bellocchio remarked. “It’s not as immoral as what I learned from you. More importantly… Instructor, I know you did more than just follow orders. You made it look like you agreed with his ideals and were cooperating willingly.” Bellocchio smiled. There was no malice in his expression, but everyone could tell he was dangerous. “I was not involved with his main plan in the least,” he told her. “However, the Sword of Tasuki was always searching for backup plans in case Argus failed or betrayed him. I was in charge of one of those efforts.” “You were?” Tiana asked. This was exactly what she found frightening about her instructor. He wouldn’t take part in any truly cruel projects, but he was absolutely willing to cross lines many others would not. “I was something of a scout. I was supposed to search for a person other than Argus who could wield the Sword of Tasuki. Following his orders exactly would have been dull, however, and I find it hard to believe the world is teeming with people as gifted as Argus. So I decided to try to make one,” Bellocchio explained. “Huh? You tried to make a person?” “I was only pretending to fulfill the Sword of Tasuki’s request, of course. My plan is to have Havok make an artificial body for me to pack with synthesized souls so I can create a temporarily Awakened person.” The fear at his words was palpable. No one in the room understood his plan, but one thing they all knew was that it was wrong. “I-is that even possible…?” Tiana said. “What do you find dubious about it?” asked Bellocchio. “Well, um…” Tiana was at a loss for words. Karan was confused, too, and even Diamond couldn’t keep up with the absurdity of what he was saying. Only one person in the room understood what he was talking about. “It is possible to create a fake physical body. I am sure that Animator Havok could graft skin over an elaborate doll to perfectly reproduce the texture. As for whether you can synthesize a soul and fool even a holy sword, though, I do not know.” Alice the holy knight had just walked into the room. It wasn’t she who spoke, however; the voice came from a mirror she was holding reverently. The glass displayed Marde, the president of the Dineez Adventurers Credit Union. “Is that a magic item? Or a phantasm…?” Tiana asked. “Nice eye, friend of Nick,” Marde said. “You clearly know who I am,” Tiana responded warily. Marde smiled with no sign of offense. “So you are Ms. Marde. I have heard many rumors about you… It is an honor to meet you,” Bellocchio said politely. “Same to you. Well? Is it possible?” “Synthesizing a soul is technologically possible,” Bellocchio replied. “We have reached a partial understanding of how the spell ‘Union’ works.” “Do you mean performing Union without a holy sword…?” asked Tiana. “Oh, I suppose that makes sense. It’s a known ritual spell, so if you had the skill and the resources…” Bellocchio nodded. “Then yes, we would be able to perform it. The Sword of Bonds’ cooperation would grant us greater effects and safety, of course. Next is the issue of finding a benefactor willing to grant us sufficient funds and mana resources. We would need a vast amount of both, I am afraid.” “You believe it is feasible. But it is not,” Marde said, looking somewhat discontented. “Friend of Nick and apprentice of Bellocchio, do you see the problem here?” Tiana answered without hesitation. “…We have to choose the subjects for this Union.” “That would be me, of course, as this was my suggestion,” Bellocchio said, playfully pointing at himself. “Who are you going to combine with?” Tiana asked. “Me? Havok?” “Only a piece of you. All I need is an arm. That will give me a tiny part of your soul.” “…You want to perform Union with an arm?!” Tiana was astounded. Bellocchio, however, shook his head. “Not just an arm. I will have Havok create a figure consisting of parts from people living and dead, and perform Union with that. I will then use Overload on myself, and…” Bellocchio made an explosion sound with his mouth. Tiana—and even Marde—gasped at his plan. “The Sword of Tasuki desires a soul blessed with potential and base strength without relying on special abilities or magic,” he continued. “Argus is exceedingly close to the Sword of Tasuki’s ideal; however, I doubt he has much potential left… That is why a being that has been smoothed over artificially and appears as if it has potential remaining could please the Sword of Tasuki. That is Dead Man Balloon’s true mission. We’re going to create a balloon bomb made of corpses that can annihilate the person holding it without a trace.” “You’re planning on dying?” Tiana asked. “That is certainly a possibility. The issue here is not my life or the morality of this experiment. My only concern is finding and convincing a backer with enough funds and mana resources.” “…I’m impressed,” Marde said. “Can I take that to mean you will support my plan?” asked Bellocchio. “I don’t want to fund a plan that requires a human death.” “You do not appear to have any other choice.” Marde grimaced and fell silent. She knew he was right. Just when it seemed like that matter was settled, Karan spoke up. “Wait. What about our plan?” “We can do both,” said Marde. “Oh, do you have an idea, too?” interjected Bellocchio. “Our plan is for Karan to use my ability to wake up the souls trapped inside the Sword of Tasuki and persuade them to rebel,” explained Diamond. “…Is that possible?” Bellocchio asked. “Yes. I’ll explain the complicated magical logic later, but my voice can pass through any barrier—magical or physical—and appeal to human souls. You all just experienced this yourselves,” Diamond said. “Incredible. That greatly increases our chance of success. Now then, everyone. We have a new goal to work tow—” “Wait,” Tiana said, interrupting her instructor. “…I should have known asking for an arm would be too much,” conceded Bellocchio. “I won’t force you, Tiana.” “That’s not what I was going to say. I see right through you, Instructor,” Tiana said with a knowing expression. “What do you mean?” Bellocchio asked, confused. Tiana could tell he was only feigning ignorance. “…I think you’re being truthful that you formed Dead Man’s Balloon to save the people trapped by the Sword of Tasuki and that you intended to let me live after taking an arm. That explains why you gave up so easily after spending so long sieging this fortress. You probably baffled some with the lack of hesitation of your decision.” Bellocchio smiled, unbothered by her cynical tone. “Thank you, Tiana.” “However.” She glared at Bellocchio. “You’re only in this for the experiment. It’s written all over your face.” The room fell silent. Reactions were varied; some people didn’t understand what she meant, some understood but weren’t convinced, while others understood and agreed. “…Pfft. Ah-ha-ha! You’re exactly right! I very much want to try this! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I don’t want to pass it up! You truly understand me, Tiana!” Bellocchio laughed. “I’m your pupil. I know how selfish and vulgar you are, and also how noble.” “I find that quite reassuring.” “That means I can also tell when you’re lying. You’ve thought of a plan with a higher chance of success, but you’re pretending not to see it.” Bellocchio’s laughter cut off. “That is enough, Tiana. Do you know what saying that here will do?” “You wanted my arm because you know I’m a much better fit for this job than you,” Tiana said. She meant those words for Marde as much as for Bellocchio. “I’ve performed Union many times now. I never imagined I would perform it without a holy sword, but I have far more experience than you, Instructor. I cannot speak for my potential, but…your fixation on me is proof that it is sufficient.” “Do not torment him,” Marde responded. “I should not have to explain to you why he did not present this option.” “Yeah, Tiana. I think you should drop it, too,” Karan agreed. “Think about your instructor’s feelings,” Diamond said. They all urged her to back down. Sensing that Tiana was saying she should be the guinea pig for the experiment, the adventurers who’d been fighting to defend the fortress also spoke up to persuade her otherwise. “I ain’t gonna lie, I don’t got much of an idea of what’s goin’ on here, but a young’un like you shouldn’t have to risk your life for this. That’s the job for your seniors.” “Yeah, that’s right! I’m totally lost, though.” But they only incurred Tiana’s wrath. “Oh, shut up! You all don’t have any idea what you’re talking about!” “If we did, we’d be tryin’ even harder to stop you!” one adventurer said. “Don’t admit that you’re clueless!” Tiana scolded him. The man backed down reluctantly. Tiana’s anger dominated the room, and everyone waited for her next words. “Diamond! How can you criticize me for this when you’re letting Karan put herself at risk?! We entrusted her to you!” she shouted. “Uhh… I was afraid you’d ask that…,” Diamond said. “Of course I was going to! And Karan! What the hell have you been doing?! You didn’t contact me once!” “S-sorry. There was just so much going on…,” Karan said. “That doesn’t mean you had to sneak off without explaining anything! That goes for you all, too, Sun Knight, Instructor, and mirror woman! You all conspired together, didn’t you?!” Not even the Sun Knight and the strange woman in the mirror escaped Tiana’s wrath. “I get that you acted in secret because you wanted to avoid detection by the enemy! But there must have been something you could do to prevent us from spending weeks fighting an ally until we were almost completely out of resources! Do you have any idea how hard it was cleaning up your mess?!” Tiana slammed her fist on the table in front of her. She had everyone’s attention. Some listened with amusement and some felt guilty as she raged at them. Meanwhile, the adventurers standing guard on the other side of the door guffawed. Tiana’s anger wasn’t just a result of bottled-up frustration. She was angry on behalf of all the adventurers who’d been forced to hole up and fight, and she felt bad for the members of Dead Man’s Balloon forced to take part in this plot. She felt they had been wronged, and she directed her anger at four people who stood much higher than her: a Sun Knight, the most popular idol in the city, the leader of the group of ruffians called Dead Man’s Balloon, and a mysterious figure inside a mirror. The audacity of her behavior impressed many. “…Yeah. That’s a logical response,” Diamond said. “You all never should have had to involve yourselves in this. This entire disturbance was caused by mistakes from when the holy swords were developed. Modern people shouldn’t have to suffer for them.” She gave Marde a jaded look that said Tiana was right, despite her forwardness. “…I will admit that I have been outmaneuvered. I also bear some responsibility for this situation. That is why I am promising to help with Bellocchio’s plan,” Marde said. “Thank you very much. As for the remaining piece… Tiana, I hate to ask this of you, but…” Bellocchio looked at Tiana. She had never seen him look so pained. “What? You want my arm?” she asked. “I will concede the arm. Would you mind giving me some of your hair instead?” “Huh? My…hair?” “Hair is a very effective magical catalyst. However, it pains me to ask a woman to cut her hair for my personal use…” “And asking for an arm doesn’t?” Tiana was dumbfounded. Her instructor’s eccentricity never ceased to amaze her. “You can regrow an arm,” Bellocchio said. “You know hair regrows naturally, right?” Tiana chided. “Ah, yes. That is a good point. Your hair, then, please.” Anger and exhaustion washed over Tiana. He was completely missing the point. “No, listen to me! I don’t want to give you a single strand of hair if you’re gonna use it to perform this Dead Man’s Balloon spell and kill yourself! Why do you all seem to think I’m okay with this?!” “Tiana. You should let him do it,” Diamond said, trying to calm Tiana down. “Do you actually agree with this buffoon?” Tiana asked. “Tiana, that is hardly an appropriate thing to call your instructor,” Bellocchio protested. Diamond ignored him. “…If we can be serious for a moment, Bellocchio is the only person who has formed a plan to oppose the Sword of Tasuki while under his grasp. You may have an aptitude for Union, but we have no time to rework Bellocchio’s plan.” “But he intends to blow himself up! That’s suicide!” Tiana shouted. “I have a lot of experience with Union, so maybe I won’t have to go that far!” “You think too highly of me if you believe I am the kind of person willing to sacrifice myself for justice,” Bellocchio chided her. “I will do everything I can to ensure my own survival.” “…Hear that?” Diamond said. Tiana closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. She understood they didn’t have much in the way of choice. She also knew a genius like Bellocchio being willing to risk his life for this plan meant that it had at least a chance of success. Tiana couldn’t do anything to oppose the great evil threatening Labyrinth City without her party members and the Sword of Bonds. Their absence meant all she could do now was trust and support her allies. She clenched her fists tightly to avoid being overcome by a feeling of helplessness. There were a few faces she wanted to punch. One belonged to the evil Sword of Tasuki. The others belonged to the insensitive jerks who’d left her behind to fight that evil sword. “…Okay. Someone give me a blade,” Tiana said. “Sure,” responded Karan. She morphed part of the Sword of Resonance into the shape of a dagger and gave it to Tiana. “I’m just loaning this to you, okay?” Tiana said as she grabbed her hair and cut it without hesitation. The others stared at her, surprised by her graciousness. “…Thank you. I’ll use it well,” Bellocchio said, respectfully accepting the hair. “Hmm… I have a strong desire to recruit you right now,” Diamond told her. “Don’t even try,” Tiana snapped, glaring so intensely that Diamond hid behind Karan’s back. Handing back the dagger, she said, “Thanks, Karan. I…have something to say to you, too.” “O-okay…,” Karan said, timidly waiting for Tiana to continue. “…You’ve done great on your own. Thank you.” Karan stiffened. She tried to say something but couldn’t, and a tear streaked down her face. “Huh? It’s not something to cry about!” Tiana said. “But…” A second tear leaked from her eyes, then another, and then the dam broke. “She just went on an adventure without the help of her fellow Survivors. Your praise has to mean a lot to her,” Diamond said. “Don’t talk about her like she’s not here! Show some tact!” Tiana scolded her. “Anyway, are there any other problems or concerns? If so, share them now.” “We probably should’ve discussed this earlier, but…there is one more problem,” Diamond said, weakly raising her hand. “Really? What is it now…?” Tiana asked with an exasperated look. “Karan and Bellocchio’s plans are both for defeating the Sword of Tasuki, not for conquering the Colosseum of Carnage. I’m not sure we can reach the depths of that labyrinth without physical fighters we can trust.” “Urgh…” “The best frontline fighters were already sent in to investigate or dispatched to contain the Stampedes coming from the other labyrinths. The best fighters here mainly fight from the rear with magic. We have a personnel shortage… Karan and I could make it, but direct combat would take a lot out of us. If only we had a handsome, burly bodyguard…” Despite her ditzy tone, Diamond was earnest about their need for a physical fighter. They couldn’t put either plan into action until they got through the Colosseum of Carnage. The Survivors’ frontline members who didn’t rely on magic had left Tiana and Karan behind. Tiana lamented the poor timing, but just then, Marde spoke up and gave them reason for hope. “We know someone who can help. Don’t we, Alice?” “Yes, we do,” Alice said. “Are you sure we’ll be able to count on them?” Diamond asked. “I’ll get you the best person I can,” Marde assured them. “They’ll be more than sufficient to escort an idol such as yourself.” Neither Marde nor Alice seemed to have a shred of doubt about that. Diamond and Bellocchio appeared to know who they had in mind. “All right, then… Let’s get to work! There’s no time to waste!” Tiana said, finding her resolve. Upon her order, the operation to defeat the Sword of Tasuki began. An angel descended from above. She looked a lot like Karan. Nick thought sluggishly that the sight was oddly gaudy for a pre-death hallucination, but he quickly returned to his senses. A dazzling spotlight shone around the angel, and her arrival was accompanied by a distinct, upbeat pop rhythm. Descending through a hole in the Colosseum of Carnage deep underground, did she really need to put on a performance to capture any idol fan’s heart? Of course not. “Listen up, everyone! The show’s just getting started! Teran is the city that never sleeps, not even when there’s a Stampede!” The angel held up a strange sword that had no blade and emitted sound. She had a sunny, haughty disposition that suggested she thought anywhere she graced with her presence could be a concert venue, even if she was deep underground with no audience. “Diamond? Now you show yourself? What could you possibly hope to do here?” the Sword of Tasuki said.
Chapter 94
34 min read