Out of nowhere, I was now a kidnapper. “Why?!” I shouted. “Is this real life? No, it can’t be. Oh, I just remembered I have some dishes to do back in the Osui Palace. Better go back now before Karin gets mad…,” said Karla. “Karla, no!! That’s the window!! We’re fifteen stories high!!” “Let me go! Everyone will be dead anyway once the army gets here! Koharuuu! Koharu, where are youuu?! Save meee!” An arrow dug into the window frame. “Eek!” Karla fell on her butt. I fearfully looked out of the window at the ground below. The army was lined up. We were quite literally surrounded. “Congratulations, Lady Komari.” Vill clapped. “We are encircled. Checkmate.” “Why’re you celebrating?! How did it end up like this?!” “It’s all thanks to you, Ms. Komari! I forgot… You really deserve the title of Slaughter Champion, even if you aren’t intentionally trying to get other people killed.” “I’m sorry,” I said sincerely. I had nothing to say in my defense. “B-but that’s part of what makes you so delightful!” Karla added. Glad to hear that… Wait, no? “…But what do we do now? We have nowhere to go,” I said. “How about we sleep together, Lady Komari? Maybe we’ll wake up and realize it was all a dream.” “Not even a one percent chance,” I said. “Excellent plan. I’m going to sleep.” “Stay up, Karla!” We were in a tower soaring up on the east side of the square. After Sakuna’s blood activated my Core Implosion, I’d carried Spica, the pope, and my friends who were in danger (Vill, Karla, and Sakuna) up into the air. I was probably just trying to save them. Then Spica yelled “Go to that tower!” in my ear, and I ended up following her instructions, after which the soldiers surrounded us. The tower’s highest floor was like a palace reception room. At the center of it was a sofa. On it, a little girl sat staring at us and shivering in fear—the Pope of the Holy Church, Clenent DIV. “Y-you villains! What will you do to me?! Eat me?! Is that it?! I don’t think I’m tasty!” “We won’t know that until we try it! Let’s slice off a bit of your tender belly and fry it!” “EEEEK! Don’t touch me! Go away!” Spica crawled toward Clenent DIV, chasing after her. I feel ya. She almost ate me, too. “Ah-ha-ha! I love teasing girls like this! Yes, scream more!” said Spica. “She looks serious! She’s really going to eat me!” said Clenent. “Stop bullying the little girl.” Sakuna got in front of Spica. She grabbed Clenent DIV by the shoulders and spoke to her gently. “Don’t worry, we won’t harm you. This crawling lady is scary, but if she tries anything, I’ll kill her.” “EEEK?! I sense obscenity in you! Help!!” “Wha… Obscenity…??” Sakuna froze in shock. “She’s a sharp one!” Spica laughed out loud. Clenent DIV turned around and ran into the corner of the room, from where she hissed at us. Yeah. I mean, to her, we are actual terrorists making a mess in Lehysia. “Geez. Can’t even hold a conversation.” Spica crawled over to me. I’d have trouble holding a conversation with you creeping on the floor, too. “Why won’t she talk to me? Am I that scary?” “Do you have zero self-awareness?” “You’re one to talk! Eh, we don’t need to be friends, anyway. She just has to be our hostage.” According to Spica, there was an international meeting currently taking place in Lehysia—all the bigwigs were here. That was why we had taken Clenent DIV hostage and asked them to give us the Dark Cores if they didn’t want us to harm her. Crazy stuff, but it was all in the name of reaching the God Slayer Tower, supposedly. “…Is there a point in barricading ourselves here?” I asked. “It’s all about trial and error! If there’s not, we just take the Light Orb and run. Nothing to worry about with your Core Implosion, right?” said Spica. “Don’t be ridiculous…” After we had taken over Neoplus’s government office, it dawned on me how sloppy Spica’s plans were. Like, she didn’t even care if they came out right. Yet she did get results, at the very least, and that was enough for her subordinates to put their faith in her. “Anyway,” Karla grabbed her chin. “This ten-year-old is the pope? Do you think she’s a child prodigy or something?” “She’s smaller than Lady Komari and might even be smarter than her,” said Vill. “Please don’t put it like that,” I moaned. “You fools! She’s a puppet! She has no real power! Didn’t you hear the soldiers yelling to kill the pope if necessary?!” said Spica. We glanced at the captive little girl. She seemed to have heard us. She hugged her knees and started sobbing. “I… I… Waaa…” Karla and I hurried to our feet. How could we not feel bad for her? Clenent DIV’s emotions exploded. “I…I’m powerless…! Waa… Waaaaa… Waaaaaaaaaaa!! I curse my weaknessss!!” “P-please don’t cry! We’re on your side!” “L-LIEEES! WAAA! UWAAAAA…!” “Here, I’ll give you a snack! How about sweet bean jelly from the Fuzen?” said Karla. I felt terribly guilty. We tried soothing the crying little girl. “…That was unladylike of me.” Clenent DIV calmed down after a while. Karla’s snack helped. She chewed the jelly with tears in her eyes like a hamster. Kinda cute. “I’ve never eaten something like this…,” said the little pope. “I made it. I hope you like it.” “Wha…?!” Her eyes glowed as she looked at Karla. She swallowed and said, “Y-you made it?! This delicious thing?” “I’m glad you liked it. I have more, if you’d like.” Clenent DIV’s smile bloomed like a sunflower. I couldn’t believe she’d had a look on her face like the world was ending mere moments ago. Karla’s snacks really had the power to bring peace to the world. But then, the little Sapphire girl furrowed her brow. “Mmm… Karla Amatsu, was it? There’s no way a terrorist is capable of making something so sweet and nice. What is the meaning of this?” “I am not a terrorist. We have to talk.” “Talk?” “I’ll tell her!” Spica shouted. Clenent DIV’s shoulders trembled, and she hid behind Karla, gripping the jelly tight in her hand. You ruined it, Actual Terrorist. “I’m scared! You might be fine, Karla, but that lady is evil!” “Cheeky little girl! I’ll steam fry you!” “Eek…!” “Spica, you’re ruining it!” I said. “I’m sorry, Clenent DIV, this terrorist just can’t read the roo—” “Eek…! Stay away! You have the aura of a killer!” “…” I was honestly shocked. Sakuna patted my head and told me not to worry about it. Yeah. Don’t worry. She called Sakuna obscene. That girl’s gotta be delusional. “Ahem.” Karla cleared her throat. “Clenent DIV, could you please do me a favor?” “What favor…?” “We are fighting for world peace. We’re not terrorists. We need the Dark Cores to stop the war.” Clenent DIV tightened her grip on the pendant hanging at her chest. The Dark Core—the Light Orb. “…Are you telling the truth? Do you really seek peace?” “Yes.” “I…I do, too.” She sounded legitimately frustrated. “I haven’t achieved anything since becoming the pope… My job is supposed to be stopping the war and bringing smiles to everyone’s faces, but I’ve just been locked inside the cathedral reading the scriptures. I know I have no real power as the pope, but the Cardinals won’t listen to me at all. I hate how ineffectual I am…” “But you want to bring peace to the world, yes?” “Yes!” Clenent DIV clenched her fists and gave Karla a serious look. “I hear a voice. Voices of people asking for peace…” “Voices?” “I have a power. It’s one of the reasons I was chosen as the pope… I can hear the people’s wishes from my bed.” I recalled how people in the Netherworld simply referred to Core Implosion as “powers.” Clenent DIV’s power must’ve come from her wish to hear people’s voices. “I don’t know who these voices belong to. But unlike the voices of demons I sometimes hear, these ones pray for peace. They say they want an end to conflict, they say they don’t want to die, they plead to God to be saved… I hear them every night. I have to grant their wishes. And on top of that…God also commands me to bring peace to the Netherworld.” “You can hear God? Wow…” “It’s true. God calls Herself Naturia. A divine name, don’t you think?” Tic! Spica’s shoulders twitched as she lay face up on the floor. …? Hmm? Did her expression just turn grim? “I have to do it. But here I am, captured by terrorists. I can’t lead the Holy Lehysian Empire, and the cardinals treat me like I’m unneeded. I’m so, so pathetic…” “Don’t worry. I’m here to bring peace to the Netherworld,” Spica said in a frighteningly serious tone. “…But I heard you were the cause of all the strife in the Netherworld. And the nations joined hands to get rid of you. I think the war would end if they did it.” “Because Liu Luxmio said so?” Spica rolled over. She stared at the little pope’s surprised face for five seconds before sighing. “No, no, Clenny. You’re doing it all wrong.” “C-Clenny…??” “Luxmio doesn’t care about the Netherworld. He’ll kill you sooner or later.” I looked at Spica in disbelief. “Hold on. Luxmio’s leading Lehysia?” “Rather, he’s leading the international leaders who met here! That’s the only explanation that makes sense for why we’re wanted as terrorists!” That Immortal was pulling the strings? “I had that feeling,” Clenent DIV agreed, to my surprise. “Luxmio forsook me during the decoy operation. He cannot achieve the world God wants like that.” “Exactly. But we can.” “Huh…?” Spica propped herself up on her elbows. Her eyes reflected a will of steel. “The Netherworld needs peace. I will pay any price to achieve it—although Terakomari’s methods are a little different.” “R-really? You’re actually trying to bring about peace…? Karla, is she telling the truth?” “Yes. I believe Spica seriously wants to change the Netherworld.” Clenent DIV stared intently at Spica. Then her eyes grew round in realization. It was as though she had removed a crumb that was stuck between her teeth, or as though something that was foreshadowed had been resolved. “‘Spica…’ I remember now…! God mentioned that name…!” “God…? Naturia?” “Yes. Lady Naturia said everything would work out if Spica took care of it. Does that mean I should trust you…?” She shook while clenching the Light Orb. This is weird. Isn’t this Lady Naturia Spica’s friend? Why is she showing up in Clenent DIV’s dreams? “Hey, Clenent DIV.” Then, I realized how awkward her title was; I followed Spica’s lead. “…Clenny, what is Naturia like?” “Lady Naturia is God. She emanates divinity. Her hair is blue, her eyes are beautiful like jade, her bearing is composed and dashing…” “Lady Komari, I’ve finished surveying the tower.” The next thing I knew, Vill was right next to me. “Wait, you were doing that all this time?” “Intel is my forte. While everyone was chattering, I went out to inspect Clement Spire.” “You’re such a hard worker, Villhaze! Won’t you come work for me again?” said Spica. “I don’t recommend it. She’ll sexually harass you to death,” I said. “No need to worry, Lady Komari. I will not leave your side until the end of my days,” said Vill. “At least leave a couple of inches of space! Stop rubbing your cheeks against mine and report what you found!” I said. “How cold.” Vill puffed her cheeks. “According to my investigation, this tower is meant to accommodate guests of honor. It has a kitchen, a bathroom, and a large stock of food. A perfect place for holing up.” “W-wow…” “By the way, I also took a peep at the soldiers outside, but it doesn’t look like they’ll be attacking soon. They seem to be waiting for the right moment, and they shouldn’t have the freedom to act so long as we have the pope and the Dark Core.” Then Villhaze turned to look at Clenent DIV—Clenny. “Uh, huh…?” Clenny’s shoulders twitched. The jelly fell off her hands. “Ms. Clenny?” Karla looked at her with worry. The girl was dumbfounded. After a moment, she pointed at Vill and whispered, “G-God…?” Everyone else cocked their heads. God? This sicko maid? There’s no way… The veil of night fell. Its architecture bedecked with Mandala minerals, the Holy Lehysian Empire glowed a divine purple even in the dark. The devout had already fallen asleep, but the World Peace Council was still in session. The international VIPs and soldiers walked down the streets, drinking and chatting. Meanwhile, friends of the besieged criminal Terakomari gathered at a tourist pub in secret. “Attack! We gotta attack and save Terakomari!” Yohann Helders slammed the table. Death’s favorite Seventh Unit member tapped his foot subconsciously while glaring at Nelia. “We’ve no time to lose eating here! The tower’s surrounded by soldiers!” “We shouldn’t attack head-on. That would be a good idea in the other world, but not here, where the Dark Core isn’t around to resurrect us.” “Guh…” Yohann ground his teeth and crossed his arms. Six comrades sat at the round table: Nelia, Esther, Colette, Yohann, Bellius, and Caostel. Komari’s Core Implosion had thrown everything into disarray around noon, allowing Nelia and Esther to slip away and meet up with the Seventh Unit to plan their next course of action. “Nelia,” Colette said in a low voice. “Are they really Terakomari’s subordinates? Why do they look like criminals?” “Because they are. Don’t get too close to them. Just stay back.” “Okay.” Colette shrank away and nibbled a sausage. “Geez.” Caostel shrugged. “Where are your manners? I have never been to prison, not once. I was placed in the Seventh Unit on false charges.” “You look like the worst one. What did you do?” said Nelia. “I only fought for the future,” said Caostel. “Huh?” “Let’s concentrate on what to do next. The siege must be part of the Commander’s plan, but we can’t twiddle our thumbs in the meantime.” “That’s no plan! She’s surrounded by the enemy!” argued Yohann. “That siege is nothing in the face of her powers,” said Caostel. “…You haven’t realized how weak Terakomari is?” “You’re such a fool.” Bellius the dog-man sighed. “Let me ask you, then? How did the Commander get rid of the soldiers at the square to barricade herself in the tower? That would have been impossible without her colossal might.” “Inverse Moon’s boss did it! Right… The Commander’s with that terrorist! She’s gotta be crying as we speak! I’ll go alone if I have to!” Nelia grew curious and asked, “Yohann, do you like Komari?” “Oof!” Yohann tripped as he stood up and slammed his face on the floor. “A-are you okay?!” Esther hurried to help him up. Yohann, red in the face, glared at Nelia. “I… I…” Caostel finished for him, “Of course! Everyone in the Seventh Unit here is attracted to the Commander’s charm and brutality! We all strive to accompany her in her noble fight, and Yohann is no exception!” “E-exactly! She’s the glue that keeps the Seventh Unit together!” Nelia sighed and twirled her pasta around her fork. Spica La Gemini had said they were taking the pope hostage, which meant she had some sort of plan. Causing a commotion outside without their knowledge would only inconvenience Komari and the others—but they wanted to know they were all right. “This is frustrating. Guess we’ll use the Dark Cores if push comes to shove.” “The Dark Cores…? The ones the Commander’s mother gave you?” “Yeah. They supply mana, so I’ll lend them to someone who’s good at magic in an emergency.” “Give them to me. I’ll burn everything down,” said Yohann. “My Void Magic would be useful, as well,” said Caostel. “I guess I can give you one each… Hmm, wait?” All of a sudden, Nelia noticed something. “…Aren’t we missing someone? The guy in the sunglasses?” “Mellaconcey? He said he was going to the restroom a while ago.” “Who cares about him?! Just give me the Dark Core! I’ll take down the soldiers around the tower!” The exact moment Yohann shot to his feet, an explosion thundered in the distance. Everyone raised their heads in shock. A chain of additional blasts followed. There was a commotion outside the bar in no time. Soldiers yelled and marched. “Umm. Is Mellaconcey’s specialty explosion magic?” “Yes. And he always carries a bunch of Magic Stones with explosive spells on him,” Bellius responded. “How likely do you think those blasts are his?” “Ninety-nine percent. Where there are explosions, there is Mellaconcey.” “…” “Aaahh.” Esther’s eyes spun. Nelia had forgotten the Seventh Unit was packed to the gills with uncontrollable berserkers. These were the same dudes who had (for whatever reason) blown up the Daydream Paradise in Gerra-Aruka, after all. “Ah…! President Cunningham! Wait!” “There’s no time for that! We gotta check it out!” Nelia drew her twin swords as she darted out of the bar. Just then, a strange clergyman stood in her way. “Excuse me. So you’re the peach-haired Warblade.” “Huh? Who are you?” “I have a message from the vampire with the sunglasses. ‘The enemy infiltrated Clement Tower via an underground passage. I’ll buy time while you come over to help.’” “!” Mellaconcey had not attacked irrationally. The fight had already begun. Nelia pushed the messenger aside and ran. Komari was in trouble. She had to help her. (A little earlier) Scrub, scrub. I shampooed her blond hair. As I rubbed her nape with the pads of my fingers, she squealed and went slack. She acted just like a regular girl. I held her up before she fell on her back. The substance Luxmio had injected her with was still preventing her from standing on her own two feet. I had to look after her… “Oh, this is amaaaazing. It feels so nice to use you like a slave, Terakomari.” “Can’t you show an ounce of gratitude? You couldn’t do a thing without me.” “Of course I’m grateful! I can’t ask anybody but you for help! If I went to Sakuna Memoir or Villhaze, they’d peel off my scalp!” “Hey, I could play a prank on you, too.” “Nah, you can’t be mean to anybody. You’re a pushover! You’ll empathize with the evilest villains ever! And I’ll take full advantage of your chick-like optimis—GHBEH!” I emptied the washbowl’s water on her head. “Hey!” Spica cried while rubbing her eyes. “You got shampoo in my eyes! I’ll ground you into a patty!” “S-sorry. Are you okay?” “It wasn’t on purpose?!?! Your kindness is unfathomable! Now I can’t bring myself to kill you! Take it back!” “I’d rather you not kill me.” “Lady Komari, may I help you squeeze this bottle of shampoo right into her eyes? Now’s our chance.” “Uwah?! Stop it, Vill! She’s incapacitated right now!” We were in the bathroom of the tower. Spica, Vill, and I were bathing together. What? Was that too careless when we were in the middle of a siege? I agreed, but my stomach would have imploded had we not gotten a bit of a breather. We were taking turns watching the exterior of the tower; Karla, Sakuna, and Clenny were on the clock right now. “So… How long do you think we’ll have to stay here?” I asked while scrubbing Spica’s body with a sponge. “Hmm.” Spica stared up at the ceiling. “As long as we can, I guess.” “How many Dark Cores are we missing, again?” “Three. Star Citadel’s puppet states must have them.” “Incidentally, we already have two of them,” Vill said, sitting on the rim of the tub. Spica blinked and stared at the naked maid. “…What? Seriously?” “Yes. Lady Cunningham has them.” “How? It took me a ton of work to get just one.” “Well…” She hesitated. “A lot happened. I’ll fill you in later.” “Hmm… That would mean we’re only missing one, then. Let’s stay here for a while and, if the enemy doesn’t do anything, we’ll run away using Terakomari’s Core Implosion.” “I’m not your ride.” I washed the suds off Spica’s body. I didn’t get long to enjoy being done with this before Spica asked me to carry her over to the bathtub. Vill immediately picked her up and threw her into the water. “Pwah!” Spica popped her head out after a huge splash. “What if I drowned?! Attempted murder’s going on your criminal record!” “I threw you at an angle to keep you from drowning. Lady Gemini, please keep your distance from Lady Komari.” “Geez, you’re so overprotective. How’s Terakomari gonna become independent with you clinging to her all the time?” “People’s lives are built on mutual help; maybe you’re unfamiliar with the concept. It certainly doesn’t conflict with being independent… Now then, Lady Komari. I will scrub your body to the last pore.” “I can wash myself, thank you!” The sicko maid wrapped herself around me like an octopus. I noticed a weird look on Spica’s face while Vill and I did our usual wrestling. She stared at us before huffing with dissatisfaction. “You really love each other, don’t you? I just don’t understand.” I flicked Vill’s forehead, and while she was recoiling, I got into the tub and sat down next to Spica. She needed my help to not drown. “W-we don’t love each other. Vill just won’t let go of me.” “But you support each other. Villhaze pulls you outside of your room, and you fight to your last breath for her… You need each other. That’s what weak people do.” “No way, it’s nothing that big.” “I am Lady Komari’s lover, wife, and maid.” “You only got the last one right,” I said to Vill. “But…it’s true we support each other. Do you not have someone like that, Spica?” “I…” She stared vacantly into the void. The last word I was expecting fell from her lips. “Naturia…” According to Clenny, that was the name of God. “…You’re friends with God??” “No. Naturia is the name of my friend who’s sealed in the tower.” “How did your friend become God? Or is it just a coincidence they share names?” “Naturia’s prayers must’ve reached Clenent DIV. She likes pulling people’s legs. Wouldn’t surprise me if she called herself God.” “Huh? So she’s duping Clenny?” “Or maybe she really did become God, and I just didn’t know it.” “Lady Gemini, on that topic, how come Clenny also called me God?” That was another mystery. Clenny had taken a good look at Vill and said the maid was God. We’d cleared up her mistake right away, but if this sicko maid really were God, then this world wouldn’t last for long. “Maybe because you look like Naturia. She has this coolness to her, and her hair is blue…though a slightly different shade.” “I don’t get it. Is that enough for Clenent DIV to mistake me for Naturia?” “It’s more than a passing resemblance. Your willpower is just like hers, too. I thought you were her when I first saw you… I kidnapped you so I could investigate why you looked like her.” Spica stared at Vill with a smirk. “It seems like it’s just a coincidence right now, but you could make a good replacement.” “…! N-no! Y-you’re not taking Vill from me!” I said. “Ah-ha-ha! I was joking! No one can replace Naturia!” “Lady Komari, please say that one more time. I almost ascended to heaven.” “N-no!” “You damn lovebirds! I really wanna kill you now! But I’ll resist! I should be seeing Naturia again soon.” I tried pushing Vill away as I became absorbed in thought. Try putting yourself in Spica’s shoes, Komari. Could I stand being away from Vill for six hundred years? I don’t know. I can’t imagine it. Maybe Spica would only become complete once she reunited with Naturia. This little terrorist was like a one-winged bird. She’d been looking at me with envy recently, and it might be because I got to enjoy spending time with my other wing. We really needed to get the Dark Cores soon. I felt bad for her. “…Hmm?” Things got noisy all of a sudden. Yells and explosions. Someone came running toward the bathroom and kicked the door open. “Ms. Komari! There’s trouble!” Silver-haired Sakuna Memoir burst in with desperation. “Wh-what happened? You here for a bath, too?” “Umm, I would love to… But no! The army’s moving!” “Wha…?” Thunder. An earthquake. “Gaaah!” Spica squealed as the tower’s shaking toppled her over. Freezing up, I watched dust fall from the ceiling. Shoot. The enemy finally ran out of patience. The international forces had a mission: attack the tower in the dead of night and retrieve the pope and the Light Orb. Clement Spire was connected to the cathedral through the underground. They waited for the moment the terrorists’ focus waned to charge in from the subterranean passageway. Luxmio led the troops. Aboveground, the soldiers surrounding the tower would shoot cannons without relent to keep Spica and Terakomari from noticing the soldiers coming from underground until it was too late. It was a simple plan. And yet… “Check it! Your surprise attack sucked! With my magic, you’re fucked! Go home or GO TO HELL!!” “Who is this guy?!” A weirdo in sunglasses was dashing like mad and throwing Magic Stones every which way. Soldiers were blown away with every massive explosion. Luxmio immediately deployed Bondage, but the weirdo in sunglasses jumped in every possible direction, gracefully dodging the Fool’s belts. “Check it! Accurate is my armament! Villains get punishment! I’m in my element!” And that was on top of the vampire’s nonstop barrage of Magic Stones. The explosions gouged holes in the floor and ceiling of the passageway; the soldiers ran around like headless chickens. “Impudent knave…! Wicked demon…!” “Bombs again?! What is this trickery?!” “Luxmio, sir! We should pull out! The enemy is aware of our attack!” The soldiers shouted, pale in the face. They could not retreat. The terrorists had to be dealt with. If Luxmio and his forces gave in here, they would never take back the Netherworld. “Check it! You’re dead.” “?!” The weirdo fell from the ceiling like a spider, raining down Magic Stones. Luxmio protected himself with layers of belts, but he could not stop the blast from blowing him away. “GWAAAH!!” He rolled on the rough cobblestone floor before rising painfully to his feet. Many of his belts were broken. Blood dripped from his head where he had been stabbed by debris. Luxmio panted while glaring at the weirdo. Beyond the smoke, the vampire in sunglasses danced on over to him. He was like one of the demons described in the Holy Church’s Bible. He killed people with a grin and brought ruin to the world as if breaking a toy. “You won’t get away with this. I’ll…” “There you are!! You’re the jerk going after Terakomari!!” Audacious flames followed hot wind. Luxmio guarded himself with Bondage, but leather was a terrible match for fire. The belts were reduced to ashes. “DIEEEEEEEEEE!!” A blond boy broke through the flames and threw a punch at him. Luxmio crossed his arms in defense but was unable to dampen the full impact of the boy’s blow. He spun into the ground. He slowly rose to his feet again, enduring excruciating pain. This boy seemed to be using the Dark Core to launch spells. The soldiers were on their behinds, terrified. What a useless bunch. Luxmio clicked his tongue and reactivated Bondage. He was up against the blond boy and the sunglasses weirdo. And in the distance were a peach-haired Warblade, a dog-faced beast-folk, a reddish-brown-haired vampire, and a man with the appearance of a stripped tree. “Terakomari’s friends? What an army…” “Mellaconcey! We just gotta kill this guy, right?!” “Yeee!” “Say your prayers!!” Engulfed in flames, the boy charged forward. No hope. They were too strong—berserkers raised in a world where resurrection was the norm. They had experience fighting to the literal death. On the other hand, Luxmio was hesitant to die; he was not capable of this. “I’ll let the soldiers outside take care of you. Good-bye.” Luxmio booted up his Extermination Armor. He cut down a pillar on the side of the passageway with his belts. The ceiling came crumbling down immediately. “Huh?! What the…?!” “He’s going to destroy the whole tunnel. He doesn’t care about his allies,” Esther said. “Tch… Let’s retreat! Yohann! Get over here already!” Nelia shouted. The scoundrels retreated. The tunnel was meant for the pope to exit the country in an emergency and was equipped with many twists and turns to confound pursuers. By destroying a certain pillar, Luxmio had disrupted the balance of the passage and caused it to cave in. His foes would be buried alive in the tunnel collapse. The ceiling crumbled. Debris rained down. The ground swelled. He didn’t need to see their dying faces. Luxmio used Bondage to swiftly withdraw. The whole tower shook the moment Sakuna pulled me back into the room. The soldiers were shooting cannons. Explosions burst without pause. Karla held the shivering Clenny by the shoulders and cried, “Th-they’re taking down the tower walls!” “Whaa?! We have a hostage! What are they thinking?!” “Ms. Komari, let’s run! I’ll take the lead!” “Sakuna, no! That’s the berserkers’ job!” More cannon fire. The earth quaked, and the tower leaned sideways. “Gaaah!” Spica squealed as she rolled on the floor and slammed face-first into the wall. That must’ve hurt like crazy, but there was no time to worry about her. “Lady Komari, we have to get out of here. I just found a back door.” “It’s blocked, too! The Blood Curse is our only hope! Just suck someone’s, anyone’s blood already!” said Spica. “Anyone’s?! Do you think I’m promiscuous or something?” “Stop wasting time with your moral panic and suck some damn blood already!” “Mmm…” Spica was right. Damn it all—I grabbed Karla’s shoulder (she was the closest). “Sorry, Karla! Give me a taste!” “Huh? HUH?!” Vill and Sakuna screeched like crazy. “Wait, Lady Komari. Suck mine, not hers.” “Ms. Komari, wouldn’t you say a Sapphire’s Blood Curse would be more convenient than a Peace Spirit’s?” I overruled their objections and locked on to Karla. The Eastern girl went into a flurry, red in the face. Don’t mind me. I drew my mouth close to her neck and… I didn’t suck her blood. “Shut your mouth.” “?!” All of a sudden, I was in a full nelson. Then I was thrown away. I bounced on the floor a couple of times. I didn’t understand anything but the pain. What in the world was going on? As I tried to get up, I felt a bizarre sensation. My mouth was shut with potent duct tape. No pulling could get it off. “Mmm! Mmm?!” “Lady Komari!” “Ms. Komari?! Are you okay?!” Vill and Sakuna hurried to my side. Hold on, girls! Don’t be too forceful! You’re gonna tear my lips off! I tried shoving them away while looking around the room, trying to understand what had happened. Imagine my shock when I saw that man standing by the window. “Y-you…!” Karla exclaimed. “Mr. Luxmio?! When did you get here?!” Clenny shouted. “Haaah… Haaah… I crawled up here…with Bondage… Now you’re done for…” Fool of Observatory, Liu Luxmio. He was covered in wounds and was so fatigued he looked ready to keel over at any moment, but his hostile aura remained intact. Eerie belts floated around him as he looked down at us with a subzero glare. He shifted his gaze to the girl squatting by the wall—Spica La Gemini. “…You’re a pathetic sight. Looks like the drug did its job.” “At least I don’t look as bad as you. Did you fall down the stairs?” “Perhaps. But I have enough strength left to capture you…” “Ah-ha-ha! Talk about obsessive… You hate me that much?!” “I work for the sake of order. Only psychologically immature children like you operate on hatred.” “…” Spica looked furious. She was always unfazed, no matter what you said to her, yet she seemed overly sensitive to Luxmio’s remarks. I wished I could try to calm her down, but the only thing I could say was, “Mmm!” Can nobody else do anything? I looked around, and my eyes fell on Karla. She was yelling, “Whatdowedowhatdowedo?!” and running in circles like a dog. Not you, clearly. Spica stared up at Luxmio with a cold glare. “…It’s always order this, order that with you. What do you take the Netherworld for?” “Nourishment.” A plain answer. “Nutrients to foster the first world. We wish for the order imposed by the Dark Cores to be maintained and for the Foreworld to flourish. For that, we need the Netherworld to be stable. We must reestablish the order Star Citadel destroyed—the order of exploitation befitting the Netherworld.” “Huh? So you want to end the war? Just like us… But I can’t imagine your ideal Netherworld looks the same as ours. You just want to use the Netherworld for your own ends.” “Like I just said. That is our mission.” “And how? These conflicts don’t seem like they’ll end very easily.” “By creating a scapegoat and destroying it. By putting all the blame on you, Spica La Gemini and Terakomari Gandesblood, then executing you in front of the masses.” “Mmmmmmmmmm! Mmmmmmmmmmm!!” “Calm down, Ms. Komari! I’ll take that off you!” said Sakuna. “Lady Memoir, you’ll rip her lips off with that gargantuan strength of yours. Lady Komari, lick the tape from inside to weaken the adhesive. I will lick it from the outside, too,” said Vill. “Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!” I don’t wanna get a public execution! If you die in the Netherworld, you die for real!! Yet Spica, by contrast, looked exceedingly calm. She sneered at Luxmio. “That’s laughable! Such a radical method won’t work! She has to be the one to correct the Netherworld! Sorry to dismiss you just as you woke up from your six hundred-year nap, but the world doesn’t need you anymore!” “Naturia is dead.” All expression vanished from Spica’s face. “Here is your proof.” Luxmio threw two objects to the floor with a metallic clang. They bounced a couple of times. They’re…hair ornaments? Whose? I was immediately astonished by the pale look on Spica’s face. “Those are…Naturia’s…” “Yes. Six hundred years ago, you and Naturia Lumiere were separated. You don’t know what happened in the Netherworld after you were sent to the Foreworld, do you? That Miko died long in the past. Hence, her name no longer being on the Infamy Obelisk.” “That can’t be…” “It can and it is. Your six-hundred-year wait was in vain.” “It can’t and it isn’t! She promised we’d meet again in 622 years! Paradox Oracle can’t be wrong! And how could it happen when she’s sealed in the God Slayer Tow—GAAAH!” One of Luxmio’s belts struck Spica. The Wicked God Slayer lacked the power to resist. “You’ve only been playing games. Kidnapping the pope, barricading yourself in this tower, and all the other nonsense you did before that, too. You’re a pathetic excuse for a vampire who’s still a child even after six hundred years of life.” “…!” Spica froze. Luxmio turned his head to us in silence. We were next. And I could hear soldiers running up the stairs. We were on the path to defeat. If only I could take this tape off—Wait. What if I ingested the blood from my nose? As a revolutionary idea struck my mind, Clenny stopped shaking and shouted, “W-wait, Mr. Luxmio! They’re good people! It would be best for peace if we joined ha—” Her voice was cut off. “Huh?” She looked down at herself. The tip of Luxmio’s belt had plunged into her belly. “C-Clenny!” Karla screamed. The little girl collapsed. Sakuna let go of my tape and dashed. “Die.” She clenched her fist, filled it with strength, and delivered a blow to Luxmio’s face. “Gugah…!” The Fool stumbled. But not his belts. With Sakuna’s guard down from the recoil, the snake-like Divine Instrument crossed the room to bind her. “Piece of… L-Let me go…!” “What a barbaric Sapphire. But you cannot defeat my Extermination Armor… I shall tie all of you down.” “Why…?! Clenny didn’t do anything…!” “After the pope was martyred by the terrorists, the armies of the Netherworld joined hands in indignation against them—a well-rounded script, don’t you think?” “…” What is this guy saying…? Maybe that’s one way to stop the war. And Clenny wants that, too. But you can’t throw her away like that… I could not let this man go free. “MMMMM!!” “Lady Komari?!” I broke into a sprint on instinct. I had to heal Clenny, I had to knock Luxmio down, I had to save Sakuna and Spica from the belts—this sense of purpose pushed me to action. But without power, I could accomplish nothing. “Lady Komari!” A belt whipped out at me, but Vill took the blow in my stead and went flying. “Mmm!” I could barely scream before I was slammed into the floor, too. My back hurt like crazy. Luxmio came over and started stepping on me. I remembered his belts vanished when I’d touched them. If only I could do that now; I held out my hand, but he caught my wrist, and it was all over. “Ms. Komar—eep?!” “Stay put, terrorists!” Reinforcements had arrived. Men in military uniforms pinned down Vill and Karla. Shit. Shit! They caught Spica, Sakuna, and Karla. Clenny was wounded on the floor. I couldn’t use my Core Implosion. Soldiers stormed the place. “Mmm! Mmmmmm!!” “Go to sleep.” Something hit my neck. The screams faded away. My vision sparked and flickered. By the time I realized Luxmio had struck me with his heel, I was already blacking out. AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE HOLY LEHYSIAN EMPIRE’S HOLY SEE The international armies have arrested the terrorists menacing the world—Spica La Gemini and Terakomari Gandesblood. They invaded the Holy Lehysian Empire and went on a rampage, taking Her Holiness Pope Clenent DIV hostage and wounding her in the process. Her Holiness was transported to the Empire’s hospital, where she is currently in a coma. But this is not the only act of savagery the terrorists have committed. They also caused rifts in international relationships and acted behind the scenes to incite war across the Netherworld. They must pay for their misdeeds. The Holy Lehysian Empire’s Holy See, in the Name of God, along with the representatives of all forty-two countries and territories, has decided to publicly execute these villains. May as many people as possible gather to pray and witness the moment evil falls, the war ends, and peace dawns. “What is this?! What a ridiculous farce!” The Powapowa Kingdom’s palace.
Chapter 218
33 min read