Chapter 259 - The Siege of Migul and the Admired Senpai
A single bead of sweat traced a path down Mizuki's cheek. She pursed her lips slightly, then let out a long, slow breath.
"I heard you were running around naked, so I thought I'd find you right away."
Mizuki caught me in the corner of her eye.
"Kuh, you too, Mizuki? I'm a gentleman. Have you forgotten that you tried to ruin my life with a false accusation of groping?"
"Hmph, now that I think about it, I'm starting to believe I was right back then…"
"Hey! I was so happy to see you guys, I was about to cry a little! Give me back that emotional moment!"
At my words, Mizuki's lips curved into a smile.
"I'm glad I found you. And I'm glad it was before you two started fighting."
Mizuki shifted her gaze to Yuuki. I took the opportunity to glance behind me. I checked on Cecily and Aira. They were supposed to be boarding at the magic school. Fam and Mizuki must have gone there, thinking I would head to a place where I knew people were. Cecily gripped her staff, her sharp gaze peering out from under the wide brim of her hat as she observed Clovis and his group. And Aira held her mace, standing as if to protect the two mages, Cecily and Marmie.
"The whole city's in an uproar. Why are you in the middle of it all, fighting, Mash?"
Cecily scowled, her lips pouting as she glanced at me.
"I don't think you'll believe me, but I woke up this morning, got called over to Mo's mother's mansion, and then this happened…"
I wanted to properly explain things to Cecily and Aira, who had rushed to our side, but there was no time. For now, they would have to make do with whatever information they heard from Fam and the others on the way here.
"What are you smirking about?! You're going to explain everything properly later!"
I hadn't meant to, but my cheeks must have relaxed at the sight of them. I tightened my expression. Cecily, too, composed her face and aimed her staff at the members of the Messiah group.
"So, which one is Mizuki's ex-boyfriend?"
"He's not my ex! We were never…"
Mizuki shot back at Cecily's words.
The sun was rising, attempting to burn away the fog that dominated the city. But the fog, in turn, reflected the light, scattering it and seeming to thicken, further obscuring our vision. Hyakka's group seemed to have started fighting. In the whitened world, the silhouettes of the vanguard, Moos and Korne, clashing swords with the enemy warriors, were visible. The Wandering People couldn't use their arrows in this visibility. They had close-combat weapons, but they weren't moving. Perhaps they were leaving the small-scale skirmish to me. The members of Levante now numbered seven with the addition of Fam and the others, while the Messiah group had four. We had the advantage in numbers, but I didn't know their true strength. Just then, someone came tumbling down the stairs of the pedestal. It was the transferee called Oi.
"You forgot something."
The voice of one of the adventurers waiting above echoed. Oi looked up at the pedestal resentfully, then pulled her hood down further. I could see her slender white arms and small hands. She looked like a young child, around Lini's age. She didn't seem to have any intention of joining the fight; she turned her back to us and crouched on the spot. Her back was trembling slightly. She was the one who protected her allies from projectiles and magic with a powerful defensive barrier. The reason Fam's kunai reached Yuuki earlier must have been because he was outside the range of her special skill.
"Mizuki…"
Yuuki called out to Mizuki. His eyes were wide, unblinking, as if trying to draw her in completely. I instinctively reached out to pull Mizuki closer, but she moved away to avoid me.
"Senpai… on my journey here, I heard stories about someone named Yuuki killing other transferees and their companions. Did you really kill Ito, and Hyakka's friends…? I don't want to believe it!"
"It's not like I enjoyed fighting. We have to survive in this world. You understand, don't you?"
"I… I don't understand."
Mizuki shook her head.
"You've taken up a weapon too, Mizuki. You've been living as an adventurer in this world. You must have had to do things like that, right?"
"That's…"
Mizuki's grip on her sword loosened. For a moment, she looked at me, then her gaze returned to Yuuki.
"That's not wrong. It's for survival. The only way is to become stronger. I have to become the strongest in this world."
"I think about the times we were in the club together, the times we walked home together, the times we talked on chat or calls, and I hope for a day when we can go out somewhere again. Senpai, if you go back to our world, are you going to do the same things you're doing here?"
The tip of Mizuki's sword wavered. Her gaze dropped, and her long eyelashes cast a shadow over her eyes. That shadow, too, seemed to tremble slightly. I didn't want to watch her make such a gesture toward another man for even a second. I wanted to call out to her, to stop the conversation immediately. I hated how casually Yuuki said Mizuki's name. I wanted to tear apart whatever was between them. But what could I say to her? If I did something like that, Mizuki might leave me. That fear held me back, pinning me in place.
"Mizuki… I've been in this world for six years. Even if I go back to the original world now, there's nothing I can do. In that case, with the power I've gained in this world…"
Yuuki clenched his fist tightly and stared at it. He let out a sigh, then unclenched his fist and offered his hand to Mizuki.
"Come with me, Mizuki. I want you to be my ally. The two of us can continue where we left off…"
It seemed to me as if Mizuki's body was being drawn toward his hand. But in reality, Mizuki remained rooted to the spot.
"Not just the two of us, but everyone. Let's all go back and continue together."
At Mizuki's words, Yuuki slowly shook his head.
"You can only save those you can scoop up in your own hands."
"That's not right. It's only you. Don't count the people you've subjugated."
I couldn't help but interject, and Mizuki glared at me. I got annoyed and glared back, but she just glared even more intensely. Reluctantly, I took a step back and yielded to her. I glanced at Clovis. It bothered me that they weren't attacking. They were holding their weapons but hadn't taken a stance. They were waiting for Mizuki and Yuuki's conversation to end. What was the point of this lover's quarrel-like conversation? Did they also have a reason to stall for time? Still, I was all for buying as much time as possible. Soon, I'd be able to use Goddess Summon. With Racshell's power, I could subdue everyone here.
"Can't we all work together here? If it's to return to our original world, I'm sure I, Mash, Hyakka, and everyone else can cooperate."
"Of course, we'll have your cooperation. To activate the Ark, we need the lives of all the other transferees."
"But then, wouldn't that include your life too, senpai…"
"If we're short, we can just summon more from the original world. We'll summon a goddess and make her do it."
"What…"
Mizuki was speechless.
"The things needed to activate the Ark are: the 'Holy Oil Jar,' the 'Two Stone Tablets,' and the 'Scepter of Dominion' that the old emperor held. The ones who can wield the special skills of the Three Sacred Treasures, the skills that are created in conjunction with those special skills. And the transferees… the blood of the descendants of the prophet who built the Ark…"
Yuuki's words and my predictions weren't far off. I had just thought they were items needed to defeat the Demon Lord that Racshell mentioned. But Yuuki, or rather, probably Clovis, seemed to think the Ark was a power to rule the world.
"Senpai, do you think I'm one of the people who can wield the special skills of the Three Sacred Treasures? But I'm not."
"I know. A man named Toratsuna was using a special skill called [Yasakani no Magatama]. Unfortunately, Toratsuna will have to die. I can either steal that special skill, or have a newly summoned transferee learn it."
"Then, what am I for…?"
"Mizuki."
Yuuki said her name, then took a deep breath, his chest expanding.
"I'm in love with you."
At Yuuki's words, Mizuki's eyes widened, and Yuuki lowered his gaze slightly.
"Senpai. I have someone I love. I want to be with that person."
It was a small whisper. But she said it clearly. At Mizuki's words, Yuuki's face contorted. Then he glared at me.
"That man? What's so good about a man like that?"
"I know, right…"
A sigh-filled mumble came from behind me. I quickly turned and shot a glare at Aira.
"In the first place, a pair transferred to another world should be bound by a strong causal link. Mizuki was supposed to be summoned with me!"
"Wait, you have a partner too, don't you? Your bond with her must have been stronger, right?"
I couldn't help but cut into Mizuki and Yuuki's conversation.
"Hmph, this one?"
Yuuki turned and kicked the girl crouching with her back to us. A dull thud echoed.
"I didn't even know her name. I just grabbed her hand to stop her when she was about to run out in front of an approaching car."
"…Why is a man who would help a strange girl by grabbing her hand doing something like this?"
My heart was in turmoil. Was the summoning of me and Mizuki together really a mistake? But, the one dating Mizuki now is me, not Yuuki. I told myself that firmly. But the more I tried to etch that thought into my heart, the more my confidence eroded. Between Mizuki and Yuuki, there was a time that I knew nothing about.
"I think, maybe, it wasn't a coincidence that you and I were called by Racshell, Mash."
It was Mizuki who said that.
"Why? Why do you think so?"
At my question, Mizuki's face turned bright red, and she averted her gaze.
"I don't know. I said 'maybe,' didn't I?"
I couldn't really understand Mizuki's reaction. Does she really like me? Or is she just trying to convince herself that she likes me? As I was pondering this, Mizuki cleared her throat and turned back to Yuuki.
"Anyway, I want to find a way to live in this world with Mash and everyone else, or a way to return to our original world. Senpai, instead of such a cruel method, let's think of a way for everyone to be saved, okay?"
At Mizuki's appeal, Yuuki shook his head.
"I've been in this world for six years. I don't have that kind of time left. And besides, that man knows a way to return to the original world. He's hiding it from you, Mizuki."
Mizuki froze. Then, with the stiff movements of a mechanical doll, she looked at me.
"Mash, what does he mean?"
"No, I'm not trying to hide it. I'll tell you everything later, properly."
"…Why didn't you tell me?"
"There's no reason. I just didn't have time to explain after I thought of it."
Mizuki's gaze was fixed on me, and it wouldn't let go. Her greatest wish was to return to her original world. I wasn't trying to deceive her. I really just didn't have the chance. But explaining that now would probably sound like a hollow lie. Yet, the only way to clear up the misunderstanding was to talk. I had to say something. I was about to open my mouth, but it was Yuuki who spoke first.
"Aren't you planning on returning to your original world? What do you think about only being able to live for ten years in this world? Are you planning a lover's suicide with Mizuki?"
"No! We're going to fulfill Racshell's true wish. As a reward, that yoke will be removed. Aren't you in the same boat? You said you would rule both worlds. In the end, you can't be in this world for more than ten years. That means you can't rule this world, at least."
"The Ark possesses an enormous amount of magical power. If we can activate it, anything is possible."
"…Is that what Clovis told you? That man just said, right next to you, 'This world belongs to us, the people who live in it.' That's a different world from the one you say you will rule. He's the one holding the important information. You're being played. You're going to die dreaming that you can rule everything."
Clovis, with his handsome, well-defined elven features, listened to my words without so much as a twitch of his eyebrow. I couldn't read any emotion from him at all. He just gave Yuuki a sidelong glance.
"So he says. What will you do?"
"It's too late now. There's no turning back."
Clovis and Yuuki exchanged a few short words.
"Isn't it about time?"
At Clovis's words, Yuuki nodded.
"Mizuki, this is the last time. I want you to come with me."
Yuuki opened his arms as if to embrace Mizuki. But Mizuki took a step back and shook her head.
"Senpai…"
What streamed down Mizuki's cheeks now were her tears.
Thank you for reading. To those who have liked, bookmarked, or rated this story, your support is a great encouragement. Thank you for the typo reports. They are a real help.