[The Collapse That Remained]
I don’t know how many times I’ve got confused today.
What the hell is going on…?
I repeatedly move my eyes alternately from Boss in front of me, to Tsurugi on the left, and to the white-haired girl on the right.
Boss called the white-haired girl Yumesaki Aika and Observer.
If I remember correctly, Yumesaki Aika should be the girl that Boss has been looking for all this time. Does that mean that the girl and Observer are the same person?
No, there are a lot of strange points if that is the case. But, I don’t know.
And what did Observer come to hinder Boss mean?
“You are… Aika…? What happened to your hair…?
This is… what’s going on…?” Tsurugi looks at the girl and says so.
Tsurugi, who has been releasing his killing intent toward Boss, is now turning his attention to the girl.
My frown deepens.
Tsurugi doesn’t understand this situation either…?
Yumesaki Aika… or perhaps Obersever said that she was the one who called Tsurugi here. However, looking at the situation, the two doesn’t seem to be on the same page.
Guessing from what he said, Tsurugi knows Yumesaki Aika.
That’s not strange. It’s because I also know that Yumesaki Aika was the girl who was escorted by Midou Ryuusui.
Therefore, it’s understandable she is acquainted with Tsurugi.
However, why did she call Tsurugi to this place in this kind of situation?
“Hyde, you must have a lot of things to say to me.
You do understand the meaning of what I said, right?” Observer says, breaking the few seconds of silence. Then she traces her neck with her two fingers.
“What did you see, Observer?”
“I saw your ambition crumbles apart, you know.”
Smiling grinningly, she raises her index finger pointing up.
“Hou, that’s interesting. Was it the usual faulty observation?”
Observer yells, “Yeah”, at Hyde who said so. Her expression is extremely joyful.
“It was just a small resistance. I always think about how to get in your way with the little ego I have left, you know.”
“Thanks to that, the plan has been delayed until now. Your plan was a success.
Even so, you did well to boot up on your own.”
“I’d like to thank Shion and Utsusemi for that. They did well.”
Boss turns his gaze toward me for a moment.
I can’t say I’m surprised. I’ve guessed that mine and Utsusemi-san’s names would be brought up.
The boot up must be the series of events that happened in Observer’s room.
Even so, the conversation between the two is ambiguous.
“Well anyway, I’d appreciate it if you be quiet. For you, Yumesaki Aika and I should be pieces that you don’t want to lose yet.”
Does that mean she took herself hostage?
However, against Boss, that wouldn’t amount to anything.
I don’t know what kind of ability Yumesaki Aika- Observer has. But it should be easy for Boss to incapacitate her without killing her.
“That’s just your imagination… but, yeah.
To play along with your plan for now is not a bad idea. It’s just right as I wanted to take a little break.”
Boss in front of me walks away, leaving me, and sits down on a nearby rubble.
The heated air is unwrapped, including the killing intent that has been released.
I’m not sure what’s going on, but it seems that I’m alive for now…
It was miraculous that I wasn’t finished. It’s not strange if I were dead by now.
It might have been the deadliest situation I have ever experienced.
No, my situation won’t change as long as I haven’t escaped this place yet, huh.
I pull out the knife stabbing my hand and throw it on the spot.
Then I hold my hand, enduring the pain.
The amount of blood I lost is also dangerous. I want to get out of here somehow.
“Now, Midou Tsurugi, it’s been delayed, but let me answer your questions.”
“……Ah.”
“First of all, I’m not Yumesaki Aika. I’m another person… no, referring myself as a person might not be correct, but anyway, I’m the one who is moving Yumesaki Aika’s body by possessing her. You can call me Observer, I guess.
Please understand the situation. For the time being, you can think of me as an ally.
This mind is… that’s right. Isn’t it faster to hear it from the man there?”
While talking, she twirls her long white hair with her finger.
When Observer point to Boss, Tsurugi’s gaze is drawn there.
At that time, my eyes meet with Tsurugi’s for the first time. His eyes widen a little, but they only stopped for a moment, as he moves his gaze to stare at Boss.
It is clear that Tsurugi’s thinking process hasn’t caught up on the things yet.
Boss and I, or rather, Anonymous itself, is an enemy that Tsurugi hate. To be thrown into such an incomprehensible situation so suddenly, he must be confused.
It seems that he decided to start processing from Yumesaki Aika.
“…Answer me. What did you do to Aika. Why does she look like that. And… why are you wearing the military uniform.”
Tsurugi glares at Boss who sits on the rubble with killing intent.
“It’s just a cessation of pigment-forming cells due to overuse of ability. Her life is not in danger.
As for why I’m wearing this outfit, I can only answer it’s because I’m a Self-Defense Forces Lieutenant General.”
In other words, she overused her abilities to the extent that the pigment in her hair was lost. I heard that will happen if you continue to use your abilities to the limit every day.
“Nonsense…!”
Tsurugi’s killing intent swells.
As for Boss, he is sitting with a smile on his as if to provoke Tsurugi.
Observer opens her mouth after seeing Tsurugi taking a step forward.
“‘Her life is not in danger’, huh. Well said, Hyde.
Certainly, it seems you weren’t to intending to kill Yumesaki Aika nor I, the Observer, but even so, the treatment I received made me feel I’d rather be dead.
As for Yumesaki Aika, she was still treated with great care.”
Tsurugi stops his feet and looks toward Observer who spoke to make him stop.
“……”
“I’ve been separated from my body and brain, and was used willfully with most of my ego suppressed. My body is now a narrow capsule filled with cerebrospinal fluid, connected to a cold machine. I wonder why can you do such a terrible thing.
Oh, right. You’re the incarnation of evil, Hyde. For the sake of your purpose, you cut off people’s path, and made them tread on the path of evil.”
Was that the case? But what was certain was that the brain is truly the real body of Observer.
And Observer was originally forcibly controlled. If that’s case, then that explains various things.
Observer walked slowly while talking and eventually stood next to Tsurugi.
Her whitish blue loose patient gown is stained here and there, and she is barefooted as she was a few hours ago.
“You sure are talking happily aren’t you, Observer,” Boss looks at such Observer and laughs.
That laugh can’t be said to be from joy. What kind of laugh was that?
“That’s obvious, right? This is the first time I can speak human language like this in several years.
Human’s body temperature, sensation of their hands and feet, the air passing through their lungs, and the information of scenery that visually enters their brain.
Ahh, I feel like talking for the rest of my life.”
Spreading both of her hands open, Observer says so with a joyful tone and expression as though she is enjoying a dancing festival.
“Was it because possessed Yumesaki Aika, who has poor psychological resistance? By linking with her, you were able to temporarily release the suppression on your ego.”
“You’re right, Hyde. At that time, I synchronized a small part of my knowledge and memory with her.
You can’t move Yumesaki Aika as you please anymore.”
However, I’m doubtful about the possession part. Observer should be a sensing ability user. Possession ability can’t be said to be included in the category of sensing ability, right?
But Observer’s ability is not limited to one, as she could accurately determine the position of something or someone and roughly predict the future.
Although it is out of the frame of sensing, she is practically succeeded in possession, so I have no choice but to consent to it.
However, I feel that even synchronization itself is out of the region of possession. Ordinary possession ability can’t synchronize. If possible, that might be a takeover.
“Now that’s troublesome. Since I don’t know you had a means of possession, various miscalculation occurred. But,”
“But?”
Observer parrots and Boss continues,
“I’m relieved to hear that only a part of you were synchronized. That means only a part of you possessing her. That part of you, was that your childhood?”
“Correct. Certainly, if I possess her with my original thinking ability and ego, I would have done other things.
I didn’t do that because I considered the human rights of Yumesaki Aika and I wanted to experience human’s senses only for one more time.”
Boss stirs a little, and I step back along the wall.
Observer continues and say,
“Let’s negotiate, Hyde.”
“Do you have cards that you can use?”
Observer nods and raises three fingers.
“Now then, let’s talk about three reasons why you have to negotiate.”
She folds her raised fingers, except the index finger.
Then she speaks,
“The first reason. Yumesaki Aika and my lives.
Right now, right here, you can only rob Yumesaki Aika’s time. If you want to rob my time who use the possession ability, you have to go to the 5th basement floor of the hideout and get in touch directly with my real body.
If the me there take back my ego here through the link, depending on your actions, she can stop the brain activities of Yumesaki Aika and I at any time.”
“That so. Continue.”
Boss says as though he knew it.
Is that the reason why Boss didn’t deal with her?
Observer raises her second finger.
“The second reason. Midou Tsurugi and Shion. These two are the only ones who have the possibility kill you within the radius of 200km.”
What the heck is she saying? That’s impossible. It was proved earlier.
I move my gaze to Tsurugi. When I did, Tsurugi also turns his gaze to me, and our eyes meet.
Cold gazes collide.
“Hou.”
“The reason you didn’t kill Midou Tsurugi that day was probably because it would be more convenient to sanction him after you got a position in the Self-Defense Forces, but now that has gone up in smoke.”
“It’s not late even starting now.”
Seeing Boss finally stand up, I thought about running away then and there.
Even though I know it’s reckless, I think it’s better than leaving myself to the flow as is.
Observer raises her third finger and continues talking a little faster.
“The third reason is my foresight. My observation of the present time is shaking. Everyone in this place might die, or everyone might live.”
A few seconds of silence descends.
Boss laughs a little and says,
“Don’t make me laugh.
Before the execution of the plan, you listed the people who wouldn’t die, but they all died. You have no basis nor persuasive power, you know.
Well fine. Do you mean to stop me with those cards?”
“You understand, right? I’m telling you to withdraw, Hyde. If you do, I’ll obey you.”
Ridiculous. In that case, why did she come here? What did she want to do?
If she just hides herself without calling for Tsurugi, Boss would only kill me and the surviving members of Anonymous.
It’s as if it was just a meaningless negotiation.
No… don’t tell me, it was to save… me?
She went as far as to take herself hostage to restraint Boss, and with resolve to die at the worst-case scenario, she called Tsurugi.
If that’s the case, that would make sense of things, but I don’t understand her aim.
There should be no merit in saving me.
“…What is your purpose?” Boss also shows suspicion in response to the incoherent request of Obsserver.
“What are you talking about? Then why did you call me here!” Tsurugi raises his voice.
“Midou Tsurugi. I want you to know of this situation and the future you have to pursue.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying…! As long as I can kill that man, I don’t mind even if I die here!”
“Yumesaki Aika will also die. Are you okay with that?”
“That’s……” Tsurugi is silenced.
It is a convenient development for me, but what about Boss?
Thinking so, I return my gaze to him.
I’m horrified at Boss’ insane smile I saw then.
“Well then, Observer. Allow me to tell you three reasons why I’m going to kill you all.”
Ahh, as expected.
Boss won’t stop with just that. He is the Boss who took more than 20 years to make such a grand plan and put it into practice.
Observer looks at him.
“One, taking yourself as a hostage was a mistake. I think nothing of you more than ‘I want to keep you alive if possible’. Rather, killing you right now would be the wise decision.”
A plain tone. But loud and clear.
The life of the only one I thought I could rely on, Observer, or rather Yumesaki Aika was not something that Boss will persistently cling to.
In response to that, Observer is silent.
I’m sure that what Boss first claimed wasn’t a bluff.
Then, why doesn’t he start the battle even at this point?
I glance at Tsurugi.
Boss has been wary of him since earlier.
Don’t tell me what is effective in restraining him wasn’t Observer taking herself hostage, but Tsurugi’s presence.
That’s ridiculous.
……No, I don’t know.
Tsurugi has succeeded in escaping from Boss twice.
Even the ability of Time Thief doesn’t work on Tsurugi.
“……”
“Two. If there are two people here who could possibly kill me, there’s no way I’m not going to get rid of them here.”
That’s right. The second card won’t make Boss withdraw.
Rather, as he said, there’s no way he’d let us escape.
Observer probably said it to strengthen the third reason, but it was counterproductive.
“And three. Your ability is not a future prediction, but a future prediction based on calculating the result you’re your sophisticated sensing. Even if you predicted such an ambiguous future, it will not stop me. What decides the future is a strong will.”
Observer remained silent, perhaps because she had no words to return.
Tsurugi readies for battle.
As for me, I plan to escape by pushing Boss onto Tsurugi. Naturally, I have no more strength left to join in the battle.
“It is clearly the end, Observer.”
“It is not, Hyde.”
“You don’t get it, do you? You have been pushing yourself too far.
Although you behave as though you have a leeway, coming up with such forced plan shows that you’re cornered.
If you were able to completely synchronized with Yumesaki Aika, you might’ve done it. You didn’t do that because interfering with things outside of your observation range caused anomalies in your real body. It’s not that you didn’t, but you couldn’t.
Yes, your name is Observer. You just have to observe.”
Observer is silent the whole time Boss argued without a pause.
“It’s that easy to silence you. But what I don’t know is whether your main body allowed this outrage. That’s the only baffling part. What the hell are you thinking? Observer.”
I get the feeling that the light in Observer’s eyes have dimmed.
It’s obvious that her eyes changed. The queer air she releases cools the surrounding.
It’s different from killing intent. It’s like a cold feeling.
At that time. I sense a ‘sound’ that echoes in the distance and open my eyes wide.
“Hyde. What you said is right. Everything is true. But, with this my purpose has been achieved.”
My eyes meet with Observer’s. At the same time, sceneries, emotions, and thoughts flows into my head.
Observer also shifts her gaze to Tsurugi.
Don’t tell me, this is really her purpose?
“What?”
“I will leave a part of me to Yumesaki Aika, and finish my role as an observer. I can finally be released from life and die.”
“If your purpose was to dismantle your main body, I can’t understand the reason why you appeared here.”
“My purpose is to destroy your ambitions.
The sin that drove me to the edge of despair is heavy, Hyde.”
Boss didn’t seem to be convinced yet, but I could understand the meaning.
Observer will die here. But…
“……”
“It’s a shame about Tameiki, but… it’s enough. With this, you will need to make a major revision to your plan, right?”
“Gyaaaaoooooooooooo!!!”
Entrusting the future.
That’s right. Foolishly, Observer really came with the purpose of keeping me alive.
At this moment, she made the necessary factors to prepare the force to defeat Boss.
“Renga! Here!” I shout at Renga who came.
I’ll make use of it. I appreciate she went out of her way to save me, but I’m not going to move as she wished.
“So it’s alive, how persistent.”
At the same time as Boss starts to move, Tsurugi moves, then both of them stops moving.
Renga’s body is tattered. As I thought, Boss put his hands on him. But was he holding back? Or was he hard pressed against a growing mythical class demon beast?
Either way, Renga came to help me.
I grab my grappling gun and fire the wire toward the sky.
As Renga passes there, the wire entwines around his wing, and I climb. Then, Renga turns around and accelerates.
“Shion… no, Kamiya Kazato. My prediction of your manifestation has twisted your life in the wrong direction. Even though actually there was a path you should have walked on. I am sorry.”
I look back while holding on to the grappling gun.
Their figures have become small. I can see Tsurugi holding Observer’s body and running in the opposite direction of Boss.
“Renga, over there!” I instruct Renga to a direction, heading for Utsusemi-san.
On top of a lake of blood, I find Utsusemi-san and Chiyaku-san lying down.
Utsusemi-san is… still breathing.
“Land, now!”
After Renga landed on the ground, I run toward Utsusemi-san’s side.
Chiyaku-san, who is lying beside him, is dead.
“…Oh, Shion, huh… Seriously. You don’t need to…”
I silently carry Utsusemi-san and somehow climb on the back of the bloody Renga.
I sense Boss’ sound is coming toward us in a tremendous speed.
“Renga! Fly! Quickly!”
At my command, Renga roars and flies up laboriously again.
It seems that his injuries are severe.
Dammit, can we escape…?
Renga speeds up, steadily accelerating. Our distance with Derrida is instantly widens.
However, feeling a tremendous killing intent from far behind, I look back.
The killing intent that is released from Derrida village is clearly Boss’.
Boss is aiming at us.
Although there should be an enormous distance, an alert is going off in my head.
I don’t know what it is, but it’s dangerous.
*Zun* Renga’s movement suddenly stop, and Utsusemi-san and I are thrown into the air.
“Uuhh… ah!!”
Being thrown vigorously due to the inertia, my breath gets stuck in my throat. The figure of Renga who is stopped in the sky enters my sight.
No way… he could use Time Thief at this distance…!?
I reach for the grappling gun.
Not good. It won’t reach Renga.
*Whooosh* Hearing such a sound, I move my gaze in Boss’ direction.
Then, there is a huge fireball there. It looks just like Renga’s full-powered fireball.
The diameter is 10m. No, bigger. The size is big enough to incinerate Renga or us respectively.
The heat is approaching. It’s already hot enough to burn my skin, and it’s so bright that I have to close my eyes.
Then, BOOM.
My body is safe. There is a feeling of falling.
I open my eyes.
Before me, the burnt Renga is raising up smoke and falling together with us.
“It’s a joke, right… Renga, you…!”
Protected me.
“Shion…! Reach out your hand…!” Utsusemi-san screams.
I turn there with shock. The ground is already pretty close.
When I extend my hand, Utsusemi-san grabs my wrist and pulls my body.
Then, he stabs a knife into his belly, and blood flows out from that belly and his mouth.
The blood wraps us as though it has a will.
This is… Chiyaku-san’s Blood Slave… I see, so that’s why his personality reversed again.
Convinced that it doesn’t matter, I close my eyes. Directly below is a road that pass through the forest.
With a crash, we fall to the hard ground.
“Gaaagh!!”
Thanks to Utsusemi-san’s blood, the impact was considerably softened, but even so, my bones are cracked all over the place.
Blood fills my fading vision.
Is Boss still chasing us?
In any case, I can’t lose consciousness here.
Utsusemi-san, who fell beside me, has fainted and is in a graver situation than I am.
Well, at least we fell on the road.
If we are lucky, someone might pass through here and help us.
Not good… my consciousness…
*Screeech*
Hearing such a brake sound, I lift my eyelids.
“Shion! Ahh, how terrible…!”
It’s Roll’s voice.
A car stopping nearby enters my vision.
I see. She stole a car and came here…
“Sen, give me a hand—”
My consciousness is cut off there.
[The Collapse That Remained]
I don’t know how many times I’ve got confused today.
What the hell is going on…?
I repeatedly move my eyes alternately from Boss in front of me, to Tsurugi on the left, and to the white-haired girl on the right.
Boss called the white-haired girl Yumesaki Aika and Observer.
If I remember correctly, Yumesaki Aika should be the girl that Boss has been looking for all this time. Does that mean that the girl and Observer are the same person?
No, there are a lot of strange points if that is the case. But, I don’t know.
And what did Observer come to hinder Boss mean?
“You are… Aika…? What happened to your hair…?
This is… what’s going on…?” Tsurugi looks at the girl and says so.
Tsurugi, who has been releasing his killing intent toward Boss, is now turning his attention to the girl.
My frown deepens.
Tsurugi doesn’t understand this situation either…?
Yumesaki Aika… or perhaps Obersever said that she was the one who called Tsurugi here. However, looking at the situation, the two doesn’t seem to be on the same page.
Guessing from what he said, Tsurugi knows Yumesaki Aika.
That’s not strange. It’s because I also know that Yumesaki Aika was the girl who was escorted by Midou Ryuusui.
Therefore, it’s understandable she is acquainted with Tsurugi.
However, why did she call Tsurugi to this place in this kind of situation?
“Hyde, you must have a lot of things to say to me.
You do understand the meaning of what I said, right?” Observer says, breaking the few seconds of silence. Then she traces her neck with her two fingers.
“What did you see, Observer?”
“I saw your ambition crumbles apart, you know.”
Smiling grinningly, she raises her index finger pointing up.
“Hou, that’s interesting. Was it the usual faulty observation?”
Observer yells, “Yeah”, at Hyde who said so. Her expression is extremely joyful.
“It was just a small resistance. I always think about how to get in your way with the little ego I have left, you know.”
“Thanks to that, the plan has been delayed until now. Your plan was a success.
Even so, you did well to boot up on your own.”
“I’d like to thank Shion and Utsusemi for that. They did well.”
Boss turns his gaze toward me for a moment.
I can’t say I’m surprised. I’ve guessed that mine and Utsusemi-san’s names would be brought up.
The boot up must be the series of events that happened in Observer’s room.
Even so, the conversation between the two is ambiguous.
“Well anyway, I’d appreciate it if you be quiet. For you, Yumesaki Aika and I should be pieces that you don’t want to lose yet.”
Does that mean she took herself hostage?
However, against Boss, that wouldn’t amount to anything.
I don’t know what kind of ability Yumesaki Aika- Observer has. But it should be easy for Boss to incapacitate her without killing her.
“That’s just your imagination… but, yeah.
To play along with your plan for now is not a bad idea. It’s just right as I wanted to take a little break.”
Boss in front of me walks away, leaving me, and sits down on a nearby rubble.
The heated air is unwrapped, including the killing intent that has been released.
I’m not sure what’s going on, but it seems that I’m alive for now…
It was miraculous that I wasn’t finished. It’s not strange if I were dead by now.
It might have been the deadliest situation I have ever experienced.
No, my situation won’t change as long as I haven’t escaped this place yet, huh.
I pull out the knife stabbing my hand and throw it on the spot.
Then I hold my hand, enduring the pain.
The amount of blood I lost is also dangerous. I want to get out of here somehow.
“Now, Midou Tsurugi, it’s been delayed, but let me answer your questions.”
“……Ah.”
“First of all, I’m not Yumesaki Aika. I’m another person… no, referring myself as a person might not be correct, but anyway, I’m the one who is moving Yumesaki Aika’s body by possessing her. You can call me Observer, I guess.
Please understand the situation. For the time being, you can think of me as an ally.
This mind is… that’s right. Isn’t it faster to hear it from the man there?”
While talking, she twirls her long white hair with her finger.
When Observer point to Boss, Tsurugi’s gaze is drawn there.
At that time, my eyes meet with Tsurugi’s for the first time. His eyes widen a little, but they only stopped for a moment, as he moves his gaze to stare at Boss.
It is clear that Tsurugi’s thinking process hasn’t caught up on the things yet.
Boss and I, or rather, Anonymous itself, is an enemy that Tsurugi hate. To be thrown into such an incomprehensible situation so suddenly, he must be confused.
It seems that he decided to start processing from Yumesaki Aika.
“…Answer me. What did you do to Aika. Why does she look like that. And… why are you wearing the military uniform.”
Tsurugi glares at Boss who sits on the rubble with killing intent.
“It’s just a cessation of pigment-forming cells due to overuse of ability. Her life is not in danger.
As for why I’m wearing this outfit, I can only answer it’s because I’m a Self-Defense Forces Lieutenant General.”
In other words, she overused her abilities to the extent that the pigment in her hair was lost. I heard that will happen if you continue to use your abilities to the limit every day.
“Nonsense…!”
Tsurugi’s killing intent swells.
As for Boss, he is sitting with a smile on his as if to provoke Tsurugi.
Observer opens her mouth after seeing Tsurugi taking a step forward.
“‘Her life is not in danger’, huh. Well said, Hyde.
Certainly, it seems you weren’t to intending to kill Yumesaki Aika nor I, the Observer, but even so, the treatment I received made me feel I’d rather be dead.
As for Yumesaki Aika, she was still treated with great care.”
Tsurugi stops his feet and looks toward Observer who spoke to make him stop.
“……”
“I’ve been separated from my body and brain, and was used willfully with most of my ego suppressed. My body is now a narrow capsule filled with cerebrospinal fluid, connected to a cold machine. I wonder why can you do such a terrible thing.
Oh, right. You’re the incarnation of evil, Hyde. For the sake of your purpose, you cut off people’s path, and made them tread on the path of evil.”
Was that the case? But what was certain was that the brain is truly the real body of Observer.
And Observer was originally forcibly controlled. If that’s case, then that explains various things.
Observer walked slowly while talking and eventually stood next to Tsurugi.
Her whitish blue loose patient gown is stained here and there, and she is barefooted as she was a few hours ago.
“You sure are talking happily aren’t you, Observer,” Boss looks at such Observer and laughs.
That laugh can’t be said to be from joy. What kind of laugh was that?
“That’s obvious, right? This is the first time I can speak human language like this in several years.
Human’s body temperature, sensation of their hands and feet, the air passing through their lungs, and the information of scenery that visually enters their brain.
Ahh, I feel like talking for the rest of my life.”
Spreading both of her hands open, Observer says so with a joyful tone and expression as though she is enjoying a dancing festival.
“Was it because possessed Yumesaki Aika, who has poor psychological resistance? By linking with her, you were able to temporarily release the suppression on your ego.”
“You’re right, Hyde. At that time, I synchronized a small part of my knowledge and memory with her.
You can’t move Yumesaki Aika as you please anymore.”
However, I’m doubtful about the possession part. Observer should be a sensing ability user. Possession ability can’t be said to be included in the category of sensing ability, right?
But Observer’s ability is not limited to one, as she could accurately determine the position of something or someone and roughly predict the future.
Although it is out of the frame of sensing, she is practically succeeded in possession, so I have no choice but to consent to it.
However, I feel that even synchronization itself is out of the region of possession. Ordinary possession ability can’t synchronize. If possible, that might be a takeover.
“Now that’s troublesome. Since I don’t know you had a means of possession, various miscalculation occurred. But,”
“But?”
Observer parrots and Boss continues,
“I’m relieved to hear that only a part of you were synchronized. That means only a part of you possessing her. That part of you, was that your childhood?”
“Correct. Certainly, if I possess her with my original thinking ability and ego, I would have done other things.
I didn’t do that because I considered the human rights of Yumesaki Aika and I wanted to experience human’s senses only for one more time.”
Boss stirs a little, and I step back along the wall.
Observer continues and say,
“Let’s negotiate, Hyde.”
“Do you have cards that you can use?”
Observer nods and raises three fingers.
“Now then, let’s talk about three reasons why you have to negotiate.”
She folds her raised fingers, except the index finger.
Then she speaks,
“The first reason. Yumesaki Aika and my lives.
Right now, right here, you can only rob Yumesaki Aika’s time. If you want to rob my time who use the possession ability, you have to go to the 5th basement floor of the hideout and get in touch directly with my real body.
If the me there take back my ego here through the link, depending on your actions, she can stop the brain activities of Yumesaki Aika and I at any time.”
“That so. Continue.”
Boss says as though he knew it.
Is that the reason why Boss didn’t deal with her?
Observer raises her second finger.
“The second reason. Midou Tsurugi and Shion. These two are the only ones who have the possibility kill you within the radius of 200km.”
What the heck is she saying? That’s impossible. It was proved earlier.
I move my gaze to Tsurugi. When I did, Tsurugi also turns his gaze to me, and our eyes meet.
Cold gazes collide.
“Hou.”
“The reason you didn’t kill Midou Tsurugi that day was probably because it would be more convenient to sanction him after you got a position in the Self-Defense Forces, but now that has gone up in smoke.”
“It’s not late even starting now.”
Seeing Boss finally stand up, I thought about running away then and there.
Even though I know it’s reckless, I think it’s better than leaving myself to the flow as is.
Observer raises her third finger and continues talking a little faster.
“The third reason is my foresight. My observation of the present time is shaking. Everyone in this place might die, or everyone might live.”
A few seconds of silence descends.
Boss laughs a little and says,
“Don’t make me laugh.
Before the execution of the plan, you listed the people who wouldn’t die, but they all died. You have no basis nor persuasive power, you know.
Well fine. Do you mean to stop me with those cards?”
“You understand, right? I’m telling you to withdraw, Hyde. If you do, I’ll obey you.”
Ridiculous. In that case, why did she come here? What did she want to do?
If she just hides herself without calling for Tsurugi, Boss would only kill me and the surviving members of Anonymous.
It’s as if it was just a meaningless negotiation.
No… don’t tell me, it was to save… me?
She went as far as to take herself hostage to restraint Boss, and with resolve to die at the worst-case scenario, she called Tsurugi.
If that’s the case, that would make sense of things, but I don’t understand her aim.
There should be no merit in saving me.
“…What is your purpose?” Boss also shows suspicion in response to the incoherent request of Obsserver.
“What are you talking about? Then why did you call me here!” Tsurugi raises his voice.
“Midou Tsurugi. I want you to know of this situation and the future you have to pursue.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying…! As long as I can kill that man, I don’t mind even if I die here!”
“Yumesaki Aika will also die. Are you okay with that?”
“That’s……” Tsurugi is silenced.
It is a convenient development for me, but what about Boss?
Thinking so, I return my gaze to him.
I’m horrified at Boss’ insane smile I saw then.
“Well then, Observer. Allow me to tell you three reasons why I’m going to kill you all.”
Ahh, as expected.
Boss won’t stop with just that. He is the Boss who took more than 20 years to make such a grand plan and put it into practice.
Observer looks at him.
“One, taking yourself as a hostage was a mistake. I think nothing of you more than ‘I want to keep you alive if possible’. Rather, killing you right now would be the wise decision.”
A plain tone. But loud and clear.
The life of the only one I thought I could rely on, Observer, or rather Yumesaki Aika was not something that Boss will persistently cling to.
In response to that, Observer is silent.
I’m sure that what Boss first claimed wasn’t a bluff.
Then, why doesn’t he start the battle even at this point?
I glance at Tsurugi.
Boss has been wary of him since earlier.
Don’t tell me what is effective in restraining him wasn’t Observer taking herself hostage, but Tsurugi’s presence.
That’s ridiculous.
……No, I don’t know.
Tsurugi has succeeded in escaping from Boss twice.
Even the ability of Time Thief doesn’t work on Tsurugi.
“……”
“Two. If there are two people here who could possibly kill me, there’s no way I’m not going to get rid of them here.”
That’s right. The second card won’t make Boss withdraw.
Rather, as he said, there’s no way he’d let us escape.
Observer probably said it to strengthen the third reason, but it was counterproductive.
“And three. Your ability is not a future prediction, but a future prediction based on calculating the result you’re your sophisticated sensing. Even if you predicted such an ambiguous future, it will not stop me. What decides the future is a strong will.”
Observer remained silent, perhaps because she had no words to return.
Tsurugi readies for battle.
As for me, I plan to escape by pushing Boss onto Tsurugi. Naturally, I have no more strength left to join in the battle.
“It is clearly the end, Observer.”
“It is not, Hyde.”
“You don’t get it, do you? You have been pushing yourself too far.
Although you behave as though you have a leeway, coming up with such forced plan shows that you’re cornered.
If you were able to completely synchronized with Yumesaki Aika, you might’ve done it. You didn’t do that because interfering with things outside of your observation range caused anomalies in your real body. It’s not that you didn’t, but you couldn’t.
Yes, your name is Observer. You just have to observe.”
Observer is silent the whole time Boss argued without a pause.
“It’s that easy to silence you. But what I don’t know is whether your main body allowed this outrage. That’s the only baffling part. What the hell are you thinking? Observer.”
I get the feeling that the light in Observer’s eyes have dimmed.
It’s obvious that her eyes changed. The queer air she releases cools the surrounding.
It’s different from killing intent. It’s like a cold feeling.
At that time. I sense a ‘sound’ that echoes in the distance and open my eyes wide.
“Hyde. What you said is right. Everything is true. But, with this my purpose has been achieved.”
My eyes meet with Observer’s. At the same time, sceneries, emotions, and thoughts flows into my head.
Observer also shifts her gaze to Tsurugi.
Don’t tell me, this is really her purpose?
“What?”
“I will leave a part of me to Yumesaki Aika, and finish my role as an observer. I can finally be released from life and die.”
“If your purpose was to dismantle your main body, I can’t understand the reason why you appeared here.”
“My purpose is to destroy your ambitions.
The sin that drove me to the edge of despair is heavy, Hyde.”
Boss didn’t seem to be convinced yet, but I could understand the meaning.
Observer will die here. But…
“……”
“It’s a shame about Tameiki, but… it’s enough. With this, you will need to make a major revision to your plan, right?”
“Gyaaaaoooooooooooo!!!”
Entrusting the future.
That’s right. Foolishly, Observer really came with the purpose of keeping me alive.
At this moment, she made the necessary factors to prepare the force to defeat Boss.
“Renga! Here!” I shout at Renga who came.
I’ll make use of it. I appreciate she went out of her way to save me, but I’m not going to move as she wished.
“So it’s alive, how persistent.”
At the same time as Boss starts to move, Tsurugi moves, then both of them stops moving.
Renga’s body is tattered. As I thought, Boss put his hands on him. But was he holding back? Or was he hard pressed against a growing mythical class demon beast?
Either way, Renga came to help me.
I grab my grappling gun and fire the wire toward the sky.
As Renga passes there, the wire entwines around his wing, and I climb. Then, Renga turns around and accelerates.
“Shion… no, Kamiya Kazato. My prediction of your manifestation has twisted your life in the wrong direction. Even though actually there was a path you should have walked on. I am sorry.”
I look back while holding on to the grappling gun.
Their figures have become small. I can see Tsurugi holding Observer’s body and running in the opposite direction of Boss.
“Renga, over there!” I instruct Renga to a direction, heading for Utsusemi-san.
On top of a lake of blood, I find Utsusemi-san and Chiyaku-san lying down.
Utsusemi-san is… still breathing.
“Land, now!”
After Renga landed on the ground, I run toward Utsusemi-san’s side.
Chiyaku-san, who is lying beside him, is dead.
“…Oh, Shion, huh… Seriously. You don’t need to…”
I silently carry Utsusemi-san and somehow climb on the back of the bloody Renga.
I sense Boss’ sound is coming toward us in a tremendous speed.
“Renga! Fly! Quickly!”
At my command, Renga roars and flies up laboriously again.
It seems that his injuries are severe.
Dammit, can we escape…?
Renga speeds up, steadily accelerating. Our distance with Derrida is instantly widens.
However, feeling a tremendous killing intent from far behind, I look back.
The killing intent that is released from Derrida village is clearly Boss’.
Boss is aiming at us.
Although there should be an enormous distance, an alert is going off in my head.
I don’t know what it is, but it’s dangerous.
*Zun* Renga’s movement suddenly stop, and Utsusemi-san and I are thrown into the air.
“Uuhh… ah!!”
Being thrown vigorously due to the inertia, my breath gets stuck in my throat. The figure of Renga who is stopped in the sky enters my sight.
No way… he could use Time Thief at this distance…!?
I reach for the grappling gun.
Not good. It won’t reach Renga.
*Whooosh* Hearing such a sound, I move my gaze in Boss’ direction.
Then, there is a huge fireball there. It looks just like Renga’s full-powered fireball.
The diameter is 10m. No, bigger. The size is big enough to incinerate Renga or us respectively.
The heat is approaching. It’s already hot enough to burn my skin, and it’s so bright that I have to close my eyes.
Then, BOOM.
My body is safe. There is a feeling of falling.
I open my eyes.
Before me, the burnt Renga is raising up smoke and falling together with us.
“It’s a joke, right… Renga, you…!”
Protected me.
“Shion…! Reach out your hand…!” Utsusemi-san screams.
I turn there with shock. The ground is already pretty close.
When I extend my hand, Utsusemi-san grabs my wrist and pulls my body.
Then, he stabs a knife into his belly, and blood flows out from that belly and his mouth.
The blood wraps us as though it has a will.
This is… Chiyaku-san’s Blood Slave… I see, so that’s why his personality reversed again.
Convinced that it doesn’t matter, I close my eyes. Directly below is a road that pass through the forest.
With a crash, we fall to the hard ground.
“Gaaagh!!”
Thanks to Utsusemi-san’s blood, the impact was considerably softened, but even so, my bones are cracked all over the place.
Blood fills my fading vision.
Is Boss still chasing us?
In any case, I can’t lose consciousness here.
Utsusemi-san, who fell beside me, has fainted and is in a graver situation than I am.
Well, at least we fell on the road.
If we are lucky, someone might pass through here and help us.
Not good… my consciousness…
*Screeech*
Hearing such a brake sound, I lift my eyelids.
“Shion! Ahh, how terrible…!”
It’s Roll’s voice.
A car stopping nearby enters my vision.
I see. She stole a car and came here…
“Sen, give me a hand—”
My consciousness is cut off there.
