So distance away from the building where the Spirits were holding their banquet, a transport plane was flying through the sky.
"...This is the control room. DF0806, please respond."
The plane's communicator received a ssage from the control room staff.
"This is DF0806. Go ahead."
The captain, Knox, connected the communicator and replied.
"Please change your route and detour toward Area E139."
The other side said.
"Change route?"
Knox and Barton, who was sitting beside him, looked at each other.
"On your planned route, Executive Director Ellen Mathers is currently engaged in combat with Ratatoskr. This is only a precaution. Please respond if you understand."
"Understood. This is DF0806. We will change our planned route and detour toward Area E139."
After Knox answered, he put down the communicator and began changing course.
"As expected of Material A, I guess. Spirits, Ratatoskr… Today's mission sure is heavy."
Barton looked toward the cargo hold and said helplessly.
That was right. What the two of them were transporting was Material A, which had been moved from Izu to another base and was being moved again today. Not long ago, Kojima's base had been attacked by Nightmare. If Adeptus 2, the powerful Wizard second only to Ellen, had not been there, Material A would probably have been stolen.
"Still, it's only a fight between Wizards. Isn't this a little too careful?"
Barton said helplessly.
"No. If it were ordinary Wizards, that would be true."
Knox understood what Barton ant. After all, the altitude they were flying at was far outside the attack range of normal Wizards. However…
"If it's Executive Director Mathers, she might actually be able to stab all the way here from the ground."
He said helplessly. When Ellen was included among the fighters, common sense did not really apply.
Boom—!
At that mont, an alarm rang out, and the transport plane shook violently in the air.
"No way. Was that a stray shot from Director Mathers?"
Barton's eyes widened.
"Don't be stupid. That would be way too crazy."
Knox pointed at the monitor. Displayed on it was a spiritual power wavelength.
"This is… Material A? No way! She should still be in sleep mode!"
Barton said in confusion.
"Not just that. There's another wavelength. The location is…"
Knox's eyes widened in shock. Before his eyes, the spiritual power wavelength on the screen split into two. One ca from inside the transport plane—Material A's wavelength. The other ca from the place where Ellen was fighting.
It was almost as if—Material A was asking so Spirit there for help, and the other side had responded by firing a spiritual power blast toward them…
anwhile…
Hina and Mana moved together, launching endless attacks on Ellen.
Although the two of them did not have the advantage in magical power output or weapon strength, this was not an operation to defeat Ellen Mathers. It was to buy ti for Shido and the Spirits.
If one person fell into danger, the other would co to help. They were not aiming for victory, only to delay Ellen.
This fighting style made Ellen very irritated. Although she understood their goal, she had no way to break free from the situation.
Boom—!
At that mont, the top of the nearby Ratatoskr building was blown apart by a strong flow of spiritual power. The powerful shockwave even reached Mana and Hina, making them lose balance for an instant.
But more than that, Mana was worried about Shido's safety. Ellen did not miss that single mont of carelessness.
"You're full of openings."
Taking advantage of the mont when Hina could not help in ti and Mana's focus was scattered, Ellen struck Mana down to the ground with one slash.
"That was pretty harsh."
Mana stood up and looked toward the sky. Then her eyes widened.
Near her, Shido was floating in the air, his whole body filled with the light of spiritual power.
"Nii-sama?"
Mana said in shock. She had heard that Shido's condition was bad right now, but in Mana's eyes, this was far beyond "bad". If she had to describe it, it was "strange."
"Ahh, Mana. I'm so glad you're safe."
Shido's voice was very gentle, and his eyes were hazy, drifting like he was half asleep and half awake.
"Nii… sama?"
Hearing Shido's words, Mana felt a strange sense that sothing was off. Although he was asking about her injuries, it did not feel like he was worried because she had been hurt while fighting Ellen. Sohow, it felt like he was worried about sothing else.
"After you were taken away by DEM… I was always… so worried about you. But… I'm glad. Really…"
Shido continued speaking in that state.
"...Taken away? Wait, Nii-sama, what are you talking about?"
"Where is Mio…? Wasn't she the one who saved you?"
However, Shido ignored Mana's question and kept talking to himself.
"I'm asking you, what are you saying, Nii-sa—"
Before she could finish, Mana felt a sharp headache. It made her kneel on the ground in pain.
"Ugh… ah…"
Mio.
The instant Shido said that na, all kinds of scenes Mana had never seen before appeared in her mind.
"What… is… this…"
Like a revolving lantern, several scenes kept switching through her mind—a park where she had played with friends, a teacher giving class in a classroom, and her brother celebrating her birthday.
And also—the back of a certain girl.
"Ah…"
The mont the girl appeared in her mind, Mana's vision went dark.
No matter what, she could not rember that girl's face. She knew her. She definitely knew that girl.
At that mont, her thoughts were interrupted.
"To think you would think about sothing else in front of . I am being looked down on."
Ellen's proud voice ca from above.
Crap!
By the ti Mana noticed, Ellen had already landed beside her and raised her laser blade, Caledfwlch.
Because of those strange mories, Mana did not even have ti to activate a defensive Territory.
"!!!"
However, Mana was not cut by the laser blade. Shido used a Spirit's power and blocked the magical blade.
"Itsuka Shido. Although I do not know what happened to you, no wonder Ike ordered to capture you."
Even Ellen could tell that Shido's current state was almost the sa as a Spirit.
"D—E—M!"
Looking at Ellen, Shido roared loudly. The wave of spiritual power he stirred up blew both Ellen and Mana away.
"Nii-sama, what exactly is going on? And who is this Mio you ntioned?!"
Mana called out to Shido, but the current Shido could no longer hear anything.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
He scread like a berserker, completely out of control.
User Comments
0 comments from readers