Chapter 204

“Damn it… Why me…?” The government office underground. Neoplus’s governor and Star Citadel member Nefty “Coffin Bearer” Strawberry ground her teeth as she lay flat on her belly on the filthy floor. She had lost her title. Nobody seemed to be coming to save her. Her precious bunny plushie was nowhere to be found. All because she’d made light of them. “Nefty, you’re strong. But your conceit will be the end of you.” She was reminded of Tremolo’s aggravating remark. Nefty had dismissed everything the bard said, but now that she was in real trouble, she began to see the truth in her words. “I’m hungry…” It had been five days since she was thrown into the cell. The stingy Sapphire calling himself Tryphon Cross had already tortured her a few times. He’d stabbed her with needles while asking “You are with Star Citadel, aren’t you?” “Where is Yusei?” “What is Star Citadel’s goal?” “How many of you are there?” and so on. However, pain did not work on her. Sandfades had the ability to convert part of their body—one ninth of it, to be precise—into gravel. She could nullify any physical attack she knew was coming by gravelizing. Point is, I’m starving. It should be dinnertime already… “Good evening. I brought you dinner.” “!” Nefty’s head shot up. Tryphon Cross arrived with a plate of pizza. Her belly rumbled. How could it not? That was pizza! How could one resist the scent of cheese and meat? Still, she didn’t want him to know she was happy about it. She put on airs and crossed her arms. “O-oh. Pizza tonight? Where’s the usual stale bread?” “I thought I should spice things up a little. Do you not like pizza?” “I don’t hate it. Not to say that I love it or anything.” “Is that so.” Nefty’s eyes were glued to the pizza. She was drooling. She gulped. I need it. It looks so good. I need it. I need it. I need it. Tryphon stabbed a slice of pizza with a fork and brought it to his mouth. “Bon appétit.” He bit into it. “You’re eating it?!?!” Nefty clutched the bars of her cell and screamed. “Yes?” Tryphon cocked his head. “This is my dinner.” “Wh-wh-wha…?” Oh. I see how it is. You twisted freak! Nefty glared at Tryphon with bloodshot eyes as he savored the pizza. “Oh, the marriage between the tomato sauce and the cheese create an exquisitely dynamic delice.” He even gave his review. “Uh-huh… It does look good. You’re eating all that? Isn’t it too much? You’ll get fat.” “Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ll only eat half of it and throw away the rest.” “Don’t waste food!!” “I bought this with Neoplus taxes. I have money to spare. Oh, isn’t pizza bought by the money of the populace especially scrumptious?” “………” Nefty trembled from sheer anger and humiliation. How dare he. How dare he toy with Nefty Strawberry. “You want some?” He drew close. He waved the plate right before her eyes and nose with a shit-eating grin on his face. “I could give you some. In exchange for intel on Star Citadel.” “………” Pizza. Star Citadel. Pizza. Star Citadel. Pizza. Star Citadel. Pizza. Star Citadel. Pizza. Star Citadel. Pizza. The hunger and loathing were making her lose her mind. The pizza danced in front of her. Steamy, cheesy, finger-licking pizza. Her rational mind cracked audibly. Yusei, what am I supposed to do? Her instincts drove her to reach out from between the bars… A few minutes later… Nefty wept while nibbling on stale bread. “Uuuuuh…uuuuuh… That BASTAAARD…!!” Her tummy rumbled. The flames of hatred for Inverse Moon burned within her. She hadn’t expected them to resort to such dastardly tactics. She had been able to keep her dignity, but just by a hair—she was sure she would lose if they tried it again. Tryphon had said he had a banquet to attend and left. They really were doing as they pleased with the money of Neoplus. They must pay. I’ll crack open their heads once I escape this place. But…she had no way to escape. Without her coffins, Nefty was like any other girl. Inverse Moon would consume Neoplus at this rate. Forget about that—they could snatch the treasure hiding in Star Cave. “How much more can they humiliate me before they’re satisfied…? Hmm?” Nefty noticed an exposed patch of dirt in the wall at the back of the cell. How? Right. Terakomari’s magic. It made sense that part of the underground jail would be crumbling. She cursed her foolishness for not noticing earlier. “I’ll show you what I’m made of…!” Nefty grabbed the spoon for spreading butter on the bread. Uncouth? Who cared? She was fine covering for others, but she had to make up for her mistakes on her own. According to Lingzi, I’d headbutted the Varmint’s core. The hit cracked the Mandala mineral, and the giant shadow crumbled into sand. It was too ridiculous to believe, but ridiculousness was power when my Blood Curse was activated through Immortal blood. One could say the success of my kamikaze attack had been inevitable. On top of that… Once the Varmint crumbled away, the kidnapped child and a few lost people from Neoplus appeared from within it. None of them seemed to be fatally wounded, and they woke up soon after being taken to the hospital. Spica said the Varmint had taken only their willpower. I didn’t get it, but I was relieved they were okay. The kid’s mother ran up to me as soon as I woke up and thanked me again and again with tears in her eyes. “I don’t know how to thank you enough… You’re the only one who listened to my plea. And you actually saved my child…” “I-it was sheer luck! My headbutt just so happened to work.” “You took down the Varmint with a headbutt…?! You must have unbelievable strength…” She wasn’t the only one coming up to me. The relatives of the lost people who had emerged from the Varmint’s belly rushed at me like a tsunami. They cried their hearts out in gratitude, and some of them even screamed “Master Gandesblood!” as though praying to God. This is getting weird… I mean, all I did was barf and fall. I was (unfortunately) used to being deified by now, but this time it was especially awkward. “Look at that, Terakomari! Everyone in Neoplus is talking about you!” Spica said. “Much to my chagrin. How did things end up like this…?” “They even came up with a nickname for you! Stonehead Komari! I’m sooo jealous. It sounds sooo cool! I wish I had an alias like thaaat!” “Stop lying!” What the heck is up with that name? There’s nobody out there with a more flexible mind than mine. I turned my back on teasing Spica and let out a long sigh. We were in a room of the Neoplus hospital. Since I fainted after crashing into the Varmint, they had transported me here along with everyone else who was rescued. Fortunately, I wasn’t gravely injured. I had a huge lump on my head, but I woke up within an hour. That must have been because of the rainbow magic. “Thank you, Lingzi. Your blood saved me.” “Tell me if you ever want to suck some more…” She fidgeted, her cheeks red. By the way, she was wearing a T-shirt she’d bought at the market. Obviously, she couldn’t keep wearing the dress I’d barfed tomato juice on. I looked away, embarrassed. “A-anyway, good to hear nobody else got harmed. Everyone the Varmint ate was just unconscious, right?” “Yup! It wasn’t looking to eat them, after all.” Spica produced a new lollipop and smiled. “It must’ve been sucking up their willpower to use as energy. Willpower is produced infinitely so long as you have a soul, so it probably only attacked them to keep them in its belly. Think of it like keeping a hen for its eggs.” “Why does a monster like that exist…?” “The people who came out of it had a stellagmata—a mark of a star—on them. It’s the sign of etiolation; that they were entranced by Yusei. Which means the Varmints are Star Citadel’s minions.” How could one be so wicked? Star Citadel really was not your regular sort of terrorist. “Also, we didn’t find Tremolo or Yusei during our search. They’re deeper inside, like insects waiting for spring… At least that’s what the Nightsky Ring says. We’ll have to pour water into their burrow and drown them. Right, Lingzi Ailan?” “Huh? Uh…” Lingzi faltered. “I don’t know about drowning them… We haven’t found Meihua…” Right. We hadn’t achieved our goal yet. I couldn’t keep resting on my laurels. Then I realized. “…Hey, by the way, is Cornelius okay? The Varmint gobbled her up, too.” “She was arrested.” “What?” “That’s what she gets for mining without permission! Overlook too many crimes, and you’ll lose the trust of the people! So I reported her to the police!” “Wha…?” Lingzi was baffled, too. Spica must have been doing it just to amuse herself. “Anyway!” She ignored our reactions and stood up with joy. “Now we know what’s up with Star Cave and the Varmints. We don’t need to wait for Tryphon to get results anymore. That is Star Citadel’s hideout, no doubt about it. Now we just gotta find and smash them.” “We’re going into Star Cave again?” I asked. “And not just that! I’m gonna abuse my power as governor to hold an event. I’m calling it the Great Spelunking.” “What the—?” “The official statement should be coming soon.” I had a terrible feeling about this. Any event she’d want to hold had to involve violence. Smiling, Spica grabbed my arm tightly. “There you have it! The day of our climactic battle is at hand! Let’s have a kickoff party before the Great Spelunking! C’mon, out of the hospital you go, Terakomari!” “What? I’m not done resting.” “The fees are insane here! If you wanna stay here longer, then cough up ten thousand nuko!” No way I could pay that. I felt badly about using the city’s tax money, so I gave up and left the hospital. Night had fallen over the mining city, but it was as busy as ever. Drunkards were packed into the many establishments lining the downtown area. Laughter, yelling, and even some sobs drifted out from every corner, along with the smell of food and alcohol. Every single person here looks so scary. I knew I would wail so hard I’d deafen myself if someone held me up at the restroom again, so I took special precaution to lay low this time. Unfortunately, Spica ruined my efforts by yelling, “Wow, check out all those guys! They look like they’re itching to kill someone!!” Stop. I’m begging you. I kept my distance from her, hoping no one would think we knew each other. “Hey! Stay close to me, or I’ll poke your eyes!” “Ow— Aaah?! I’m here, I’m here! Put those fingers away!” Spica pulled me by the arm and dragged me into a crowded bar built smack-dab in the middle of the road. I wasn’t the only victim. In addition to Lingzi, who was equally frightened, other members of Inverse Moon such as Fuyao and Tryphon were with us, too. Cornelius was currently in jail, so she was spared. “One draft beer!” Spica shouted her order the moment she sat down. “…Wait, you can drink? How old are you?” “I forget the exact number, but I’m pretty sure I’m over six hundred, at least.” “Bullcrap. No one can live that long,” I objected while flipping through the menu. Hey, they got omelet rice! And the menu says it’s “golden flavored”? I gotta find out what that means. “Don’t be silly.” Spica cackled. “Immortals have long lifespans, too! By the way, I’m half vampire, half Immortal.” “Spica… Not even Immortals can live for six hundred years,” Lingzi said. “Yes, they can! You just need some guts! People only die because they start thinking, ‘Oh no, my time is up.’ The laws of this world can be overwritten through sheer force of will, so if you just keep wishing you wanna live, then you can keep it up forever!” “Don’t be ridiculous.” Fuyao sat down across from Spica. “Plenty of people die wishing to survive. You’re insulting the weak.” “So you think! But I feel the opposite! And we’re both right! Because there’s as many truths in the world as there are wills!” “…That’s absurd.” “Fuyao! Stop opposing Her Highness,” cut in Tryphon, panicked. “I apologize. The fox lacks a Luna’s sense of duty.” “It’s fine! We’re here to have some drinks and kick back! Recharge for the battle against Star Citadel! Get something for yourself, Tryphon.” “I am very grateful for your generosity… But every item on sale here sounds bad. It would be a waste of money. I’m fine with just water and beans.” “Whaaat?! You got a bone to pick with my choice of bar?!” “My utmost apologies. Should I cut my stomach in repentance?” “Don’t give more work to the staff! Do you not realize how much that would inconvenience them?! Your punishment will be to pay the whole tab!” “………Very well.” Amazing how that seemed to vex him more than seppuku. “Heh.” Amatsu chuckled. “I’ll take you up on that offer, then. For starters, I’ll have every item on the back of the menu.” “Amatsu…!” “What, Tryphon? This much shouldn’t amount to a dent in your funds, should it? You’ve got an excess of private property for a former member of the Polar Union’s communist party, you cheapskate.” “Ha! You’re just talking out of jealousy, pauper. What’s wrong with saving up for retirement? I cannot stand to see my valuable assets disappear into your stomach.” “Your assets should be fuming with indignation at the thought of rotting away in your wallet.” “Sophistry… Just take a look at the items on this low-class menu. If I must part with my money, I would rather do so somewhere better. Not to offend Your Highness’s tastes.” “The food here looks a lot better than what you make.” “Wha…? That is what I call undignifying! You have no right to talk when you only sit back and eat it!” “I’ve had my turn in the kitchen, and I remember my work being well received.” “Only Cornelius liked it! Agh, fine, I won’t make you stew ever again. Instead, I’ll give you a special dish topped with poison.” “Shut up already…” Fuyao clicked her tongue. The moment Spica’s drink reached the table, she grabbed it and drank it without a single word of cheers. “Pfaah! Okay, okay, stop fighting! Order some food already, or we’ll be here until morning! No time to lose!” “I agree. Let’s get one of each. The…” “You leave anything uneaten, and it’s off with your head!” “…I’ll have one bowl of udon.” Amatsu switched course with a straight face. Tryphon smirked in victory. I’m getting that omelet rice… Then Spica pinched my side. “Back on topic! That means I’m your elder!” “D-don’t touch me! And what topic?!” “We were talking about my age! Now that you know it, you have to address me with respect!” Her voice was 30 percent louder than usual. Going off the redness of her face, I figured she must’ve gotten drunk on that single drink. Everyone in Inverse Moon seemed to be quite considerate of Spica’s whims. Probably because she was the leader of their organization and could kill everyone here in the blink of an eye. But there was something odd about this little terrorist. She felt like a child, really. Or maybe she just had a hard time relating to people? I was sure a girl like her would be the outcast of the class. Setting aside her real intentions, I had noticed a few things about her: She spoke in a deliberately overbearing manner; she always kept a smile on her face, to an eerie degree; she frequently tried startling people out of nowhere; she ignored the real closeness of her relationships with others to jump past a few steps and get weirdly physical. From a third-party perspective, you could say she was what they would call “cringe.” Wait, why am I psychoanalyzing this kooky terrorist? That’s just the kind of girl she is. End of story. “Everyone know what they want to order already? All right, waiteeer! Please take our ordeeer!” Spica waved, smiling. Right now, what I was truly worried about was whether my flank would survive her pinch. I had to get out of the toilet alive this time. Lingzi offered to go with me out of concern, but I was too embarrassed to say yes. I put on a scary face (by my estimation) to make sure no villains would make light of me. “Ahhh… Why is Spica so loud…?” I sighed as I washed my hands. It was a get-together from hell. One wrong move, and the terrorists would kill us. Lingzi and I were like hamsters in a cage. By this point, the me from just a short while ago would have run away with her tail between her legs. Why hadn’t I done so yet? Because we had a common goal? Or was it…because I was starting to understand them? “…Whatever, time to go back to the table.” Leaving Lingzi alone was not a good idea. What if Spica was making her cry? I dried my hands with my handkerchief and hurried out of the restroom. “Wait.” I leaped like a rabbit. Another rogue?! I turned toward the voice, trembling in my boots. A man in Eastern garb was standing by the entrance to the women’s restroom with his arms crossed. “A-Amatsu…? What’s up?” “Ms. Gandesblood—no, Terakomari. I have to tell you something.” His eyes were far sharper than Karla’s. Come to think of it, I had many questions about this man. Why was he with Inverse Moon? Why hadn’t he gone back to Karla? And most importantly…why did he have a letter from my mom? “Sorry, this is our only chance. Let’s go out before Her Highness notices.” “Go out…where?” “Right outside.” —Core Implosion: Anachronic Moonbridge. Amatsu unsheathed his katana. I barely had time to be surprised before he slid his sword upward. The blade cut the air and opened a black “wound.” Confused, I watched as the gap in space grew at lunatic speed. The view before my eyes was blurry, like the reflection of the moon on water. “Hmm??” The refreshing night wind of spring. The clear cries of bugs. …Huh? Where am I? I looked around fearfully. I seemed to be on top of a hill. Below me was a rural village made up of thatch-roofed houses. Bright stars and thin clouds adorned the sky. Something was off. The moon was full just before now, but it had vanished. “We made the switch safely.” I heard a sword being sheathed. Amatsu stood there, unsurprised. “Switch? What do you mean…?” “The moon phase here is the exact opposite of that of the Netherworld. We’re in our original world. What they call the first world, or the Foreworld.” “Wha—?!?!?!” Our original world… What? Are you serious? We’re not in the Netherworld anymore? We got back that easily? What the hell did this guy do? I was about to break into dance from sheer confusion when Amatsu asked me to calm down. “My Core Implosion has the power to connect a bridge between the worlds on nights when there’s a full moon or a new moon. It was thanks to it that I could deliver Yulinne Gandesblood’s letter to you. Just so you know, this is the flip side of Neoplus. Just a regular old village in this world.” “How?! And why?! What?!” “Listen—what I’m about to tell you is a secret to Her Highness. You must not tell anyone. If you do, that mysterious power will kill you.” “…” I vaguely remembered Karla’s grandma saying something similar… Okay, okay. Keep calm. It’s my turn to get some info out of him. I took a deep breath and looked directly at him. “…Fine. I won’t tell anyone. Just explain to me what in the world is going on.” “That’s what we’re here for.”