Chapter 192

“Why are you…?” She never could’ve imagined her showing up. A girl stood in front of Vill, as though defending her. And most shockingly of all, she stopped Tremolo’s knife with the tip of her index finger. “Who…?” muttered Colette. “Ahhh…,” Tremolo whimpered. “For God’s sake!” the girl roared. “How dare you mess up my miniature garden?! Lumiere Village was one of the cornerstones of the Netherworld! And you…you botched it like this! You’re gonna PAY!” The vampire’s blond pigtails shone like the sun. She was wearing the outfit of her alias, Pope Julius VI, a vestment adorned with many upside-down moon icons. Spica La Gemini. Inverse Moon’s boss stood with her back to Vill. “You… Yusei mentioned you…” “It’s Spica La Gemina! And what’s your name?” The knife broke. Tremolo shivered and took a couple steps back. Spica threw the broken half of the dagger and stepped forward with a sigh. “C’mon, don’t be scared. Tell me your name. I did. Were you not taught to do the same in return? How are we supposed to be friends, then?!” “R-right. My name is Tremolo Parcos—” Spica plowed her fist into Tremolo’s face. The biwa bard was helplessly blown away. She spun around in the air a few times before she smashed back first into the rubble. Smoke. Vill couldn’t keep up. Colette also seemed baffled. “Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! You fell for it! No way I would want to be friends with you.” Spica took a lollipop out of her pocket and put it in her mouth. She walked leisurely, as if in the middle of a flower field, over to Tremolo. She then grabbed her by the collar, yanking her up from the dust cloud. With the coldness of the surface of the moon, Spica made her demand. “Tell me where Yusei is.” “I… There’s no… I can’t tell you that…” “Do you have a death wish?” “I don’t know. Coffin Bearer Nefty Strawberry is Yusei’s bodyguard.” “Then where is she?” “G-give me some time. I’ll remember…” Anyone could have seen that Tremolo had no hope of defeating her. Spica pressed her to speak, nearly strangling her to death. What was she after? Had she come to save them? Even though she had been their enemy up to now? Why was she there in the first place? The vortex of questions paralyzed Vill. “I remember. There’s a note with the address in my pocket.” “Really? Show me.” “Yes. It’s here.” Tremolo took her hand out of her pocket, but it didn’t have a note in it—instead, there was a black orb the size of a baseball. “! You…” “Good-bye. It’s a draw for today.” Tremolo smashed the orb on the ground. Puff! Purple smoke appeared. Cloing. Cloing. The sound of a string echoed. Spica got into a coughing fit while Tremolo cut through the smoke and flew beyond the sky. She’d had an escape thread left, and she’d disappeared into the mountains before anyone could process it. The wind soon cleared the smoke. All that remained were a few drops of blood that had leaked from the biwa bard’s mouth. Spica swayed her crimson candy and sighed. “That’s not fair! Don’t you agree, Villhaze?” “Uh…” Vill was confused as to why she was talking to her. Spica La Gemini, the Wicked God Slayer, turned around and walked up to them with a smile on her face. Vill’s limbs trembled with fear, but she had to stand up. She had to protect Komari. So she grabbed her kunai. “What? Do I look like your enemy?” “…” “Bingo! You’re wrong if you think I’m here to save your life. Down we go,” she said as she crouched down. Before Vill could ask what she would do, Spica lifted Komari’s body from the ground and carried her on her back. Vill’s vision turned red with anger the moment she saw the blood dripping from her side. “She’s light. Still a kid, huh?” “Wha… What are you doing?! Let her go!” Vill tried to grab her, but the pain in her foot made her stumble. She slipped face-first onto the ground, getting covered in mud. No matter how hard she tried to stand back up, she was too tired and hurt to do so. “Don’t worry! I won’t kill her yet. I can use the Blood Curse to kill Star Citadel.” “Spica La Gemini… You…” “You should stay here with your childhood friend. My colleagues are rescuing the villagers. Nelia Cunningham and that reddish-brown Goody Two-shoes are okay, too. Also, the Mulnite Imperial Army should arrive any moment now. Just stay put, and you’ll live.” “I won’t let you… Put Lady Komari…down…” “She’ll die if I do. That okay with you?” Vill gulped. She had no way of saving her. “You keep your head down like that, lamenting your impotence! I‘ll make good use of Terakomari.” “W-wait…!” Spica did not listen. She walked past by the paralyzed Vill and Colette and hummed on her way to the village’s exit. Vill mustered all her strength in an attempt to prevent Spica from escaping, but her feet caught, and she stumbled again. She had no energy left. “Lady Komari…” She had vowed to always be by her side as her maid. She had resolved herself to support Komari’s goal of conquering the world. And yet, it had all come to a close so soon. And so unfathomably. Why was Spica here? Why was she taking Komari? None of it made sense. Then Colette’s voice trembled in shock. “The Scholar…?” “Huh?” Maybe she had misheard. But before Vill could ask her to repeat herself, Colette shook her head. “No. It’s useless… You can’t beat her…” “…” Lumiere Village was in shambles. However, the flood had receded, and the ground had stopped caving in. The wicked aura was gone, and gentle light filtered through the clouds. The sound of a marching army came from the distance. Perhaps Mulnite’s soldiers were arriving. But none of that gave her solace. Vill watched on in confusion as her lady was taken away, gritting her teeth at her powerlessness.