"I guessed wrong?"
After ordering his subordinates to dig away the rubble and seeing the wireless communicator buried underneath, Westcott could not help looking slightly surprised.
"I see. You placed communicators around the area beforehand to disrupt my judgnt. No wonder you dared to speak with so fearlessly… Haha, at a ti like this, not using omniscience is unexpectedly inconvenient."
He said that, but there was not the slightest discouragent on Westcott's face. On the contrary, he smiled cheerfully, as though his interest had been piqued.
"Sorry, where was I just now?"
Westcott acted as if nothing had happened and continued chatting toward the surroundings.
However, the only response he received was silent quiet.
"Ah, right—experints!"
Westcott did not mind. He clapped his hands and continued on his own.
"Actually, these Wizards are all Wizards who were defeated by Yutsuki-san."
[…What did you say?]
Sensing the change in "Itsuka Shido's" tone, Westcott revealed a aningful smile.
"Yutsuki-san's thods truly were brilliant. Using information imbalance and psychological contrast, she guided my subordinates's thoughts and emotions step by step, made them face fear unard, and crushed them all at once. In the end, without causing any casualties, she dismantled their confidence and dignity."
As he spoke, Westcott seed to rember sothing amusing and laughed.
"Can you imagine it? Those battle hardened Wizards, who could fight bravely in combat and even sacrifice their lives to eliminate Spirits—when the battle began just now, they could only flee like sparrows frightened by gunfire."
[From the sound of it, you don't seem to feel sorry at all.]
Perhaps dissatisfied with Westcott's detached attitude, "Itsuka Shido's" voice carried a trace of displeasure.
"How could that be? They are warriors I spent great ti and effort finding, people who possessed the sa ideals and goals. Each of their departures is a trendous loss for DEM."
Westcott explained with righteous conviction. However, as always, only a highly realistic but floating emotion remained on the surface of his words. There was not the slightest weight behind them.
[…What thod did you use to drag them back onto the battlefield?]
Seemingly too lazy to waste more words with Westcott on that point, "Itsuka Shido" directly asked the key question.
"Nothing much. I only reversed the way of thinking a little."
Westcott smiled and answered lightly.
"Compared to encouraging soone to crawl out of a setback again, making them choose to give up is obviously far more comfortable."
Westcott was not an orator, nor a politician or missionary. Naturally, it was impossible for him to give an impassioned speech to inspire people. Considering how fragile the Wizards' ntal states had been at the ti, even if he had invited the thickest skinned motivational writer in London, there was no way to make them fanatical again.
Compared to the director of a multinational corporation, Westcott leaned more toward being a technician or researcher… at the very least, that was what he himself believed.
Since that was the case, he should use his own specialty to solve the problem.
"Inspiration… ca from Ryougi Yutsuki and Tobiichi Origami's transformation into Wizards. At the ti, I was thinking: since Spirits can make up for the limitations of their Astral Dresses through Realizers, then could humans use so thod to achieve a similar effect?"
As if giving a lecture from a podium, Westcott explained with great patience.
"Dividing spirit power and giving it to others, causing them to beco Spirits—the Origin Spirit seems to have already done sothing like that. But in reality, as far as I know, due to the special nature of spirit power, humans attempting to absorb a Spirit's power carries great risks."
On one hand, spirit power itself placed an enormous burden on the physical body. Normal Sephira Crystals were one thing, but if soone absorbed an inverted Sephira Crystal, most people would be unable to control the rampaging spirit power and die.
On the other hand, spirit power was easily affected by emotional fluctuations. Therefore, during absorption, rejection would also occur depending on the host's ntal state. To absorb it smoothly, either the depths of the heart had to crave the Sephira Crystal's power, or the host's mind had to have completely given up resisting.
"So I tried separating a little of Beelzebub's spirit power and transplanting it into the Wizards's bodies. As I expected, because inverted spirit power is destructive to the body, compared to accepting it positively, the success rate is instead higher when the mind has collapsed."
Perhaps because she could not believe or understand it, after hearing this, "Itsuka Shido's" voice trembled slightly.
[In other words… you turned those Wizards into Inverse Spirits?]
"Hmph, what an interesting way to put in. Indeed, judging from the result, that explanation is not wrong. Humans turned into Spirits through fragnts of inverted spirit power can indeed be considered Inverse Spirits. Mm, here, then…"
The sound of destruction ca from within the ruins. Another disguised communicator hidden inside was found. Westcott raised his brow, shrugged helplessly, and continued.
"Actually, I don't know whether it is because of Ellen's influence, but most of our company's employees are used to solving problems by relying on their own strength. There was never much room for to interfere, and honestly, it was rather boring. Thanks to the uproar caused by Yutsuki-san, I instead had a chance to verify my hypothesis."
[…]
"Mm? Are you angry? Itsuka Shido."
Seeing the other side fall silent, Westcott showed a curious expression.
"Sorry, I did not intentionally an to insult your companion. Please forgive any inappropriate wording. As an apology, I will tell you so good news you probably want to hear. Actually, from the perspective of its purpose, this experint is a failure."
[…What do you an?]
As if waiting precisely for that question, Westcott answered without hesitation.
"Exactly what it sounds like. Even I did not expect that rely separating a trace amount of spirit power would allow them to erupt with such strength. During battle, aside from spirit power, they are probably also unconsciously consuming other forms of energy in their bodies. Although I have not conducted practical testing, they should stop functioning after two or three hours."
Stop functioning.
What that phrase ant—although Westcott did not explain it clearly, everyone present already had the answer.
————
Ti rewound slightly, to a few minutes before the battle began. Just as everyone was about to leave the ship and take the field, Natsumi and Yutsuki had the following conversation.
"Yutsuki, can I ask why you wanted to attack DEM's base again?"
"Hm? Was there sothing I didn't explain clearly just now?"
Yutsuki asked in confusion.
"Sort of… Earlier, you said that your current Hacker intrusion would beco ineffective after being used once because they'd defend against it. Then why use it right at the start during the declaration of war? Wouldn't it be better to hide it until the battle and catch them off guard?"
"True. That is also one way of thinking."
Yutsuki did not deny Natsumi's idea and instead asked back:
"What's wrong? Why ask this all of a sudden?"
"Um…"
After hesitating for a few seconds, Natsumi awkwardly said,
"I was thinking… was it because we said during the previous eting that we didn't dare kill people that you forced yourself to do that?"
"Pfft—What, so that's what you were worrying about."
Looking at Natsumi's embarrassed little face, Yutsuki could not help laughing and rubbed her head.
"Don't worry. I won't deny that I did consider that aspect. But even if your answers had been different, my choice would not have changed. So there's no need to carry so strange burden in your heart. I said this before too, right? I don't have the resolve to kill either."
"I see…"
Natsumi nodded in understanding. Though honestly, at the ti, she had thought Yutsuki only said that to comfort them.
"Westcott gathered so many Wizards largely to use them as hostage cannon fodder. I do dislike DEM and Wizards, but I don't think they deserve to die. My opposition to them is only because of misunderstandings and differences in position. If I were an ordinary human who didn't know the circumstances behind Spirits, I might even see them as heroes."
Yutsuki sighed, then smiled wryly and explained.
"Of course, worrying about enemies in battle is undoubtedly stupid. But if, before the battle begins, my choice can make so people give up fighting, then that's a good thing for both us and them, isn't it? After all, surviving is more important than anything."
After silently staring at Yutsuki for several seconds, Natsumi said helplessly:
"Yutsuki… I thought nobody was more ddleso than that idiot Shido, but it looks like you're not much better."
—————
"That should do it."
After transmitting the information she had extracted to Maria's side, Natsumi slowly let out a breath.
(The communicators Maria and the others set up have all been destroyed, and the ruins are about to be cleared out too. Now—)
"I know. If this keeps going, I'll be found very soon."
Through the vibrations and sounds, Natsumi could clearly feel the enemy approaching her step by step.
(What are you going to do? If Westcott really doesn't plan to use Beelzebub, then with your ability, escaping should be easy, right?)
"Escape, huh…"
Natsumi lowered her head and murmured. Yet for so reason, she felt an inexplicable resistance toward that choice.
Had she fallen for Westcott's provocation? Natsumi asked herself. She was not acquainted with those Wizards at all. When Westcott described what they had gone through, Natsumi did feel they were a little pitiful, but she did not feel that she had to do sothing for them.
However…
(Huh? Are you serious?)
"Ah… Natsumi is a suspicious, cowardly, and weak piece of trash. Forget fighting, just being able to stand here without causing any trouble is already a miracle."
After laughing self deprecatingly, Natsumi took a deep breath and spoke with serious resolve.
"But right now, I am Itsuka Shido."
As soon as those words fell, the shell of the building hiding Natsumi was violently smashed apart. The Wizards and Nibelcoles raised blades and cannons ford from spirit power, locking onto her completely.
If it were Itsuka Shido, what would he do at a ti like this?
…
"Huh?"
Just as his subordinates discovered "Itsuka Shido", an unbelievable scene unfolded before Westcott's eyes.
A roaring gale surged upward, then exploded like a punctured balloon. The violent airwave not only directly blasted the nearby Nibelcoles back into their original page forms, even the Wizards using Astral Dresses could not withstand the wind pressure and were forced back.
"That Angel's power… Although it has not reached the original's full strength, it is clearly far stronger than that of a Spirit in a sealed state."
Using a barrier ford from spirit power to block the flying stones and dust, Westcott narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
Suddenly, Westcott seed to understand sothing, and a trace of realization appeared in his eyes.
(I see. So this is also your trump card, Ryougi Yutsuki.)
Haniel—Kaleidoscope!
As Natsumi silently chanted that in her heart, the knight's lance in her hand turned into particles of light and reconstructed itself into a mighty greatsword.
"As you wish, Westcott."
Imitating Shido's voice, Natsumi raised Sandalphon and pointed the tip of the blade straight at Westcott's face, declaring in a low voice:
"I'll be the one to put an end to this 'war.'"
(TL:cook him Natsumi, man I love this part, reading it over and over again)
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