It was a dusk where the setting sun looked especially dim.
Over a dozen smoke columns, like wolf smoke, spread from different parts of the city. The streets and buildings were covered in signs of violent destruction. A faint sll of blood seed to linger in the air.
Even now, the mories of that day remained clear.
[Oh, is that really fine, Itsuka Shido? I'm using my Territory field to stop this child's bleeding and prevent infection. If I let go, she'll die of blood loss in less than a minute. Unless, of course, soone can reattach her leg.]
[...You bastard.]
The sniper shot that should have blown off her head had failed.
What sounded in Yutsuki's earpiece was a child's painful crying, Ai Mulian's malicious threat, and Shido's low voice filled with rage.
"Shido! Don't act rashly. I'll be there right——?!"
Sensing that sothing was wrong, Yutsuki hurriedly tried to stop Shido.
But at that mont, a group of unwanted guests appeared before her.
"Found you! Ryougi Yutsuki!"
"Hey! Are you the original? Are you our original?"
"Hehe, co play with us!"
The pseudo-Spirits called Nibelcole, who had the sa faces as the Arusu sisters, surrounded Yutsuki and attacked as they spoke.
(Did that shot just now expose my position?)
Yutsuki had no extra ti to think.
Her body reacted imdiately and dodged the Nibelcole's encirclent.
But in that rush, the communication earpiece slipped from Yutsuki's ear and was destroyed together with her sniper rifle, CCC.
—Ohhh, you dodged our attack even without summoning your Astral Dress or Angel!
—Amazing.
—Looks like this will be fun!
"Move. Don't get in my way."
Unlike the laughing Nibelcole, Yutsuki, who had lost her ans of communication, flashed a sharp, hostile look in her eyes.
She instantly summoned her Astral Dress and Angel. A high-output lightning strike burst from her body and annihilated the Nibelcole around her.
(I have to hurry and support Shido.)
While repelling the Nibelcole that kept trying to stop her, Yutsuki rushed as quickly as she could toward Shido's location.
Rembering the conversation between Ellen and Shido just before the communication cut off, Yutsuki's heart was filled with a bad feeling.
(I'll be there soon... So don't do anything stupid.)
And then, when Yutsuki arrived, what she saw was——the instant Ai Mulian cut off Shido's head.
TL:Yes it's the 'Bad end 2' chapter.
——————————————
"..."
Yutsuki slowly opened her eyes.
Dark curtains. A pure white ceiling. The faint sll of disinfectant in the air.
Supporting herself up from the hospital bed, Yutsuki began checking her own body.
She was wearing a hospital gown. The parts that had been burned were wrapped in bandages, and electrodes were attached all over her body.
"...Looks like I'm in the airship's infirmary."
She had probably been carried back to the airship for treatnt after falling unconscious.
"...No... don't rush... everyone will get an autograph..."
Suddenly, a murmur sounded beside her ear.
Yutsuki lowered her head and saw Nia lying face-down beside her hospital bed, drooling as she mumbled strange words in her sleep.
"What is this woman doing..."
Looking at Nia speechlessly, Yutsuki shook her shoulder.
"Hey, wake up, Nia."
"...Hah? Deadline! Sorry, editor, give three more days... Huh? Biri-chan?"
Nia suddenly sat upright and looked around in a panic. She looked half-asleep. After a short while, she finally began coming back to herself.
"What was that about an editor?"
Yutsuki asked with a wicked smile.
"Ahem, ahem——nothing. Don't mind it."
Nia quickly wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, coughed twice, and fixed her expression before asking.
"How's your body, Biri-chan?"
"Mm, I don't feel anything wrong. How long was I asleep?"
After moving her body a little and confirming there were no major problems, Yutsuki asked.
"Not that long. Only one day."
"How's Kotori-chan?"
"She's no longer in life-threatening danger. But she's still unconscious. Right now, she's in a life-support pod receiving treatnt."
"I see."
After hearing Nia's answer, Yutsuki nodded. She removed the electrodes attached to her body, lifted the hospital sheet, and prepared to get up.
"Hey! Wait! What are you doing, Biri-chan?"
Nia hurriedly grabbed Yutsuki.
"I'm going to check on Kotori-chan. Also, there are preparations I need to make for the plan."
Yutsuki answered as if it were only natural.
"There's no need to rush that much! Weren't you covered in wounds just yesterday? You can rest properly for one more day!"
"Didn't I already rest for a day? Two weeks from now is Miku's manifestation. There are many things we have to do next. Unfortunately, we don't have ti to rest."
"But..."
"Don't worry. That's exactly why I absorbed Kotori-chan's Sephira Crystal. Yesterday's wounds have already healed. Look if you don't believe ."
As if to reassure Nia, Yutsuki began undoing the bandages on her body.
Just as she said, the terrible burns from yesterday had completely vanished. Her skin was smooth, without even a trace of a scar.
"...Fine."
Although she still could not feel at ease, Nia stopped trying to stop Yutsuki after seeing how stubborn she was.
However, to keep Yutsuki from pushing herself too hard, Nia still warned her seriously.
"Biri-chan, please promise . You absolutely cannot force yourself, got it? I don't want to see what happened yesterday ever again."
"Mm... I know. I'll be careful."
Hearing Nia's words, Yutsuki smiled and nodded.
"Really? You're not lying to , right?"
"Really."
Seeing Nia's suspicious face, Yutsuki gave a helpless, amused sigh and said softly.
"...It's not like I'm Shido."
——————————————
"Maria, connect to Woodman Chairman ."
[Understood. Sending video call request to the other side.]
After a short ringing sound, Woodman and Karen appeared on the call screen.
[...What a sudden call, Acting Commander Ryougi. I heard you were heavily injured and unconscious after this operation. I thought it would be a while before I could contact you.]
"Thank you for your concern, Chairman Woodman. My injuries have already healed."
[I see. Itsuka-kun's recovery ability, then... In any case, as a director of Ratatoskr and as Itsuka-kun's superior, allow to congratulate you and thank you for the success of this operation.]
"Yes. Thank you very much."
[Now then... You contacted so soon after recovering. What do you want to help you with?]
Woodman observed Ryougi Yutsuki and slowly asked.
Hearing Woodman's words, Yutsuki smiled in satisfaction.
"As expected of Woodman Chairman . That saves a lot of unnecessary explanation. Then I'll get straight to the point. I want you to issue an announcent, in Ratatoskr's na, to every Wizard unit in the world that uses Realizer devices."
[What kind of announcent?]
"Say that after Ratatoskr acquired DEM, we discovered a fatal flaw in the design of CR-Units. For example, they may negatively affect the user's mind and shorten their physical lifespan. Then announce that Ratatoskr will buy back the sold CR-Units and magical power generation devices at a high price."
[Hmm...]
Hearing Yutsuki's request, Karen frowned in surprise, while Woodman raised his eyebrows and asked calmly.
[Let ask, what is your intention in doing this?]
"To remove unnecessary interference."
Yutsuki answered.
"Right now, the ti and location of Tohka and the others's manifestations have already been predicted and released. I'm afraid many units, instead of evacuating, will choose to ambush the Spirits. There are over seven billion people in this world. I don't know how many of them are Wizards, nor do I know whether there are Wizards at Ellen's level hidden among them. If there are, this can reduce the risk of everyone being killed. If there aren't, it can at least stop those Wizards from throwing their lives away."
[Although I can responsibly tell you that there are not many Wizards at Ellen's level... I see. It is true that we must consider that as well.]
After exchanging a glance with Karen, Woodman sighed. After thinking over the plan's feasibility, he answered.
[Announcing defects in DEM's equipnt will not be difficult. After all, the experints Ike actually carried out were far worse than what you said. If we release that experintal data, it will not be a problem even if we paint safe equipnt as dangerous. But buying back the Realizers will likely be difficult. Spirit spacequakes have caused disasters and casualties on a massive scale. Even if there is so risk, most people will not let go of weapons ant for resistance.]
[Besides, instead of such an inefficient thod, would it not be faster for you to spread a computer virus and lock CR-Unit usage wirelessly? Hacker——Ryougi Yutsuki.]
At that mont, Karen, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
"Well, if I wanted to, I could indeed do sothing like that."
Hearing the faint hostility in Karen's tone, Yutsuki slightly raised her brows and calmly answered her question.
"But that thod would be no different from a terrorist attack. If a cyberattack on such a large scale really happened, the Wizard units would probably imdiately connect it to . At that point, instead of removing interference, it might make humanity's panic and rejection toward Spirits even worse."
Many tis, solving a problem through a clever shortcut just because one feared trouble might easily resolve the imdiate issue.
But it would also plant many hidden dangers.
And most of the ti, those hidden dangers would only co back to hurt oneself.
"So I must place the bla and infamy on DEM. Only then can Ratatoskr, the organization that 'punished' DEM, have a convincing moral reason for its actions. Isn't that right, Karen-san?"
[Ngh——]
Yutsuki's words left Karen speechless for a mont.
"And to answer your concern, Woodman Chairman . If it were only Ratatoskr, the organization that 'punished' DEM, your worry would be valid. But what if it were Ratatoskr, the organization that has the achievent of 'annihilating' Efreet?"
Yutsuki turned her gaze toward Woodman and continued.
"You can tell them this. As long as they cooperate, Ratatoskr will only need half a year—no, only three months—to eliminate all Spirits."
[You have already thought that far... I am glad you are not an enemy of humanity.]
After sighing in admiration, Woodman said to Karen.
[Karen, please make the arrangents according to Acting Commander Ryougi's request. Two weeks is, to be honest, a little short.]
[...Understood.]
Karen bowed slightly, then turned and left.
[I apologize. Karen only said that because she has her own concerns. If it made you uncomfortable, allow to apologize on her behalf.]
"It's fine. I wasn't angry to begin with."
Yutsuki waved her hand, then looked straight at Woodman and said.
"If there's one thing that makes a little dissatisfied, it's that you had your subordinate play the bad guy while you played the good guy to test , Woodman Chairman."
Hearing Yutsuki's words, Woodman froze for a mont. Then he gave a helpless, bitter smile.
[Truly... I have no choice but to admit defeat, Acting Commander Ryougi.]
"From the way you spoke, it seed that even if I had not contacted you, you had sothing you wanted to ask . If I put myself in your position, with such a dangerous Spirit around, I would probably do sothing similar."
Yutsuki shrugged and answered as if it were only natural.
"So, did I pass, Woodman?"
[Yes... I sincerely apologize for my rudeness, Yutsuki-san.]
Woodman nodded, placed one hand on his chest, and bowed slightly to Yutsuki in apology.
[However, please understand. It is not that I do not trust you. I was only worried that Itsuka Shido's death might make you unconsciously act more extre in certain situations.]
Hearing that, Yutsuki showed a slightly complicated expression.
"...I understand. Your concern is very normal, Woodman Chairman. But please rest assured. I know very clearly what should be done and what should not be done."
[Is that so... Hearing you say that puts at ease.]
"Then, what did Woodman Chairman want to ask ?"
Trying to soften the serious atmosphere a little, Yutsuki smiled and asked back.
Woodman understood her intent and smiled as he replied.
[Hehe. With your intelligence, Acting Commander Ryougi, I imagine you have already guessed it without saying anything.]
"About the thod of extracting the Sephira Crystal from an Inverted Spirit and saving the Spirit?"
[Correct. Think of it as a little curiosity from an old man. If you do not wish to say it, that is fine.]
"It's fine... It's not sothing worth hiding."
With a trace of nostalgia, Yutsuki explained.
"About a year ago, I was moved by sothing like frustration and defiance. I wanted to let Yuzuru and Kaguya solve their problem without eting Shido, so I started thinking of a thod to separate spirit power from a Spirit's body without sealing it."
"But at the ti, I gave up quickly."
Yutsuki answered helplessly.
"If it's only a very small amount of spirit power, that's fine. But to separate all of the spirit power, the spirit power inside the Spirit's body must first be condensed into a crystal shape. Then it has to be physically removed. To put it simply, it ans opening the chest and cutting into the body. Setting aside what would happen to a Spirit who lost all their spirit power, the wound itself would be enough to be fatal. Since I couldn't get around that step no matter what, I didn't continue. Until——Nia appeared."
[Honjou Nia-san?]
"Mm. Back then, Nia's Sephira Crystal was taken by DEM. Her heart, lungs, and other organs suffered large-scale damage, and her spirit power was almost completely exhausted. That was extrely close to what my imagined thod would cause. In the end, by using a portion of her Angel's spirit power that I had extracted beforehand, together with Shido's healing flas to repair her body, we successfully saved Nia. Although there's no doubt that battle was our defeat, from another perspective, Nia's spirit power was indeed extracted from her body without going through Shido's sealing."
[I see... So you accidentally found a way around the obstacle from that incident.]
"Well, even so, what truly made certain this thod was possible... was after Shido's death."
[What do you an?]
"Woodman Chairman, you should know this. After Nia was saved, she still accepted Shido's seal and used the spirit power channel to absorb spirit power from inside Shido's body to keep herself alive."
[Yes, that was ntioned in Itsuka-kun's report.]
"Then... Now that Shido is gone... and all the spirit power has returned to the Spirits themselves... why is Nia, who has no Sephira Crystal, still alive?"
[——!?]
Hearing that, Woodman seed to realize sothing. His eyes widened in surprise.
"Nia... is no longer a Spirit... She is an ordinary human with no power."
After letting out a long breath, Yutsuki continued explaining.
"If a fish that lives in water is thrown onto land, naturally, it will die because it cannot adapt to the sudden change in environnt. But if it is given a long enough ti to adapt, fish may have the chance to beco amphibians, or even reptiles that live on land."
[I see. While surviving with only a tiny amount of spirit power, the body's dependence on spirit power gradually decreases, and in the end, it turns back into a human.]
"That's right. So while I was treating Kotori's injuries, I also injected a small amount of spirit power into her body. Does that answer your question, Woodman Chairman?"
[Yes... To be honest, I am quite shocked. Without receiving any traditional magical education, you independently developed a ritual to extract Sephira Crystals. Even Ike would probably be shaken if he heard this.]
"Traditional magic, huh... As one of its inheritors, do you know any other thod to extract Sephira Crystals? To be honest, if possible, I don't want to experience the feeling of opening Kotori-chan's chest a second ti."
[Unfortunately, Acting Commander Ryougi, if I had such a convenient thod, I would not have involved Itsuka Shido in the first place. When it cos to adjusting and modifying magical ritual structures, Ike was much better than I am.]
"That makes sense... I don't think that scumbag would kindly leave behind such a thod either."
[In any case, thank you for providing such valuable information, Acting Commander Ryougi.]
"It's nothing. Being able to say these things openly has also made feel a little lighter. Then, this report ends here, Woodman Chairman."
[Yes. I wish you fortune in battle, Acting Commander Ryougi.]
After ending the call with Woodman, Yutsuki stood from her seat and slowly walked to the life-support pod containing Kotori.
Looking at the sleeping girl inside, Yutsuki's expression beca sowhat sad and helpless.
"I'm sorry, Kotori-chan... Please sleep for a little longer."
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