into such a deep sleep.
Chapter 1: Try
Part 1
“Waaaaaahhhhhh!!”
- The capital of the Elchean Federation, Elchea
The last fortress of the Imanity - The lowest-ranked among the
「Sixteen Races」
Until a mere few months earlier, it was a country on the brink
of extinction, being forced down to its last city.
However now it had annexed the large maritime country, the
「Eastern Union」, and was expanding its territory at a speed
never-before-seen.
A sharp, loud scream of agony came from the capital of a
nation that was slowly turning from a 「Nation」 to a
「Federation」.
- In an instant.
The workers within the city that were extremely busy froze for
a moment as though time had stopped completely, but it was
only for an instant, and they soon resumed their work,
seemingly as if nothing had ever happened.
Yep – it was a normal occurrence, and everyone there was used
to it.
Everyone knew that 「That person」 was probably yelling
again.
And the reason why that person was causing a commotion was
probably due to a reason as normal as it could get.
Sometimes a sympathetic atmosphere would billow over the
entire city, although everyone still had to return to their own
workstations afterward.
“Argh!! Are you an idiot? You’re an idiot! You are an idiot,
right!?”
The red-haired girl skilfully reconstructed her sentence thrice,
and yelled again.
- Stephanie Dora, commonly known as Steph.
She was the head of the Dora family, possessing the title of a
duchess, and she was the granddaughter of the late king as
well, being a blue blood princess.
She would definitely be a ladylike woman with incredible
potential in the future – however those features weren’t present
at all at that moment, and she had absolutely no way to explain
away the situation she was in.
She sat on a chair, scratching her head furiously, looked up and
roared loudly.
“…Who’s an idiot, des?”
This query was raised by the Werebeast that was sitting crosslegged
on the floor beside Steph – Hatsuse Izuna.
Her age appeared to be in the single-digit range, being a young
yukata-wearing girl with huge fox-like ears and a bushy tail.
The book in her hand was upside-down, however Steph didn’t
bother correcting her.
“I mean Sora and Shiro, no, it’s me!! What did I say – leave it
to me – argh!! Am I an idiot? I’m an idiot!!”
She continued yelling with her arms spread wide.
“Find the real reason why the Seirens Empress is hibernating
from the library of the late king!! Leave it to me!! Isn’t this
what an idiot would say!? How many books do you think there
are here!? And, what I want to say is!”
She stopped for a count, and surveyed the bookshelves that
covered all the surrounding walls.
“Why and how would I accept a task like searching for a book
which existence is unclear so easily!!”
They were in the secret room of the late king – his secret
library.
The late king had played the role of a foolish king in order to
research and find out the contents of the games of other nations
which involve magic or supernatural abilities, as well as how
the Imanity themselves could triumph over them.
The records that he had spent his life on – the inheritance of
this great man, was all displayed in this room, covering the
walls around them.
His great work was compiled in over a thousand books,
completely filling up the library.
Even though they were already arranged according to the date
written – there was yet to be any hint of when the late king had
approached the Seirens, so they could only inspect them one by
one. Steph let out an anguished cry upon realizing that was the
task they had to undergo, which was – what had happened
earlier.
And the worst part was –
Steph pointed towards Izuna with a pained expression on her
face but no tears to fully express it – the Werebeast who was
holding a book upside-down.
“What the heck does Sora think Izuna can do? She can’t even
understand Imanity!!”
“Steph-kou, you’re really loud, des. Doesn’t it look like I’m
learning now, des.” [1] - What?
“C-could you please wait? What did you call me just now?”
“…? Grandpa said that Steph is a duchess before, des.”
“Why did you have to shorten it!? It makes me feel extremely
insulted!” [2]
“…Why, des? Steph-kou.”
Izuna looked over at Steph with her head tilted.
“Ah, aaaaahhhhh, don’t insult me with your round, ignorant
eyes!? If I open the door to a new world by accident while
sleep deprived, how are you going to make it up to me!?”
Steph banged her head against the corner of a table in
frustration, however Izuna replied coldly:
“Steph-kou, stop it, let’s get to work, des. Grandpa is still
waiting for us, des.”
“…Guh…y-you’re right, there’s no use lamenting like this.”
Yes, her grandfather – Hatsuse Ino was being held hostage by
the Seirens.
Izuna was tired as well, but even she was trying her best to
learn the Imanity language, so Steph had no right to complain –
Steph took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself down.
After which she corrected Izuna.
“Speaking of which, Izuna…that book’s upside down.”
“…! I-I knew that, des. I-it was on purpose, of course. Des!?”
Izuna hurriedly flipped her book right side up, while Steph
continued to correct her.
“Also, even if you really didn’t mess up it’s fine, but the
Imanity language is different from the Werebeast language, it’s
read horizontally!”
“-? There’s a difference between reading horizontally and
vertically, des?”
Izuna widened her eyes with a curious expression on her face.
“…Izuna, I’ve never asked you before, but how old are you?”
Izuna began counting off numbers from her fingers slowly after
hearing the question.
She replied with an unconfident question:
“I…I’m supposed to start counting from zero, right?”
- Steph instantly understood.
It was completely reasonable that Izuna would be so close to
Sora and Shiro, because they were essentially the same kind of
people.
They were geniuses at video games, however they knew
nothing else other than that.
Steph sighed and passed her another book.
“…Izuna, you should start from this one.”
“What kind of book is this, des?”
“It’s a book that I used while I was still studying to learn the
Werebeast language, it’s in a game format between the two
countries –“
“Oh, I understand, des.”
Upon hearing the word game, Izuna immediately snatched the
book from her and began flipping through it at a furious pace.
Steph approved of her newfound motivation, and knew she was
actually trying her best.
But if she read that fast she probably wouldn’t understand
anything – Steph looked up at the ceiling and let out a long
sigh.
“A…anyway I need to search one by one –“
Just as Steph was undergoing her solemn revelation…
Grumble~~~~
She heard a noise and voice that made her revelation instantly
dissipate.
“-Steph-kou, I’m hungry, des. Bring food, des.”
As though a switch within her had been flicked, Izuna spoke
suddenly to Steph and closed her book with a loud smack.
She was motivated, energetic, and wanted to save her grandpa.
But despite that, she actually said – bring food.
Izuna requested that with her huge round eyes that didn’t carry
any malicious intent.
The young female Werebeast scratched her large ears with her
feet while continuously waving her bushy tail from left to right.
Steph was forced to make a decision upon seeing her
unbelievably cute appearance.
One, forget everything and just collapse.
Two, make food for this inexplicably cute creature.
After struggling with herself for some time – her sleepiness
finally succumbed to Izuna’s cuteness.
“A-alright… you can’t do anything with an empty stomach
anyway… I’ll just make something simple to eat with the
ingredients I have at hand.”
“Mm, I really want to eat fish, but I’ll restrain myself, you are
forgiven, des.”
Just like that, Steph dragged herself slowly out of the library.
…Coming back to the main topic, you all still remember that
this is Elchea, right?
At that time Steph could have just collapsed without a care in
the world and leave Izuna’s meals to the chefs in the kitchen,
however she had completely forgot about this selection. Steph
lifelessly trudged out of the library, while Izuna followed her
with her tail still waggling, and no-one bothered to remind
them about it.
Part 2
Let’s switch the scene – to twenty thousand meters in the air.
Sora began thinking at an altitude almost three times as high up
as the Himalayas.
How should he describe the scenery in front of him?
- First, please imagine a Rubik’s cube.
Then hand this Rubik’s cube that requires a certain level of
intelligence over to someone that is pretty far off from that
certain level of intelligence.
After being forcibly taken apart by a pair of pliers, the splinters
of the Rubik’s cube would then be splattered all about the
floor.
Now resist the urge to complain, and repeat those previous
actions about a thousand more times.
So? Do you get it now?
The scenery was arranged in such a fashion – which was the
scenery around Sora.
“Welcome to my hometown located on the back of the
Phantasmas, the floating city – Avant Heim.”
With her back facing the small mountain of splinters of
Rubik’s cubes.
Jibril introduced her 「City」 with a sweet smile on her face,
while Sora responded dumbly:
“Um, I’m pretty sure that all the cities I know of at least have
roads in them.”
The scenery around them was knitted and woven with
countless gigantic cubes stacked upon each other.
In the eyes of a renowned artist, there would probably be some
meaningful theme to it.
However, regretfully, the eighteen-year-old mortal virgin Sora
could only describe it with one word.
Which was – chaotic.
“Anyway, Jibril – let me say this about the Flügel.”
“…「Unobstructed spaces」…are important…”
- Sora and others began working at the same time as Steph and
Izuna.
To discover the true conditions to awaken the Empress of the
Seirens – so, in order to carry out comparison and evaluation
with people that had underwent the same game, they had went
to the one place in the world that stored the most information.
Which meant – the city of the Flügel, Avant Heim.
“Ah, Master, don’t stray too far away from me, as the air here
is somewhat thin.”
Sora and Shiro nodded complacently after hearing Jibril’s
words.
Also Sora had absolutely no idea of how they should proceed
from there.
“…Right, if only the Flügel stay here, there isn’t a need for
public transport services at all…”
In the 「City」 below them, there weren’t any doors,
windows, nor roads. To be honest, beings that could move
about without any form of restriction didn’t need those
things. Although they could understand that, the fact that the
entire place was constructed with huge, countless cubes denied
people any sense of perspective, and since they had nothing to
compare the place to they couldn’t gauge how exactly big it
was.
“…It’s not like a city…it’s more like a jigsaw puzzle…”
Shiro expressed her easily understandable thoughts, after which
she mumbled while looking up:
“…The sky is…blue?”
At twenty thousand meters up the place should be at the doors
of outer space, so they shouldn’t be able to see blue skies at
all…
“Avant Heim is a Phantasma ranked second among the
「Sixteen Races」. This race is ranked even higher than the
race that is the source of the Elemental Galleries in this world –
the Elementals, and they are organisms completely independent
from all normal forms of reproduction. To put it simply…
Avant Heim is another world entirely, that’s all you need to
know.”
Even though the air in the atmosphere didn’t seem to be
enough for her Masters – Jibril still continued to explain.
“”Hmm…I see – I don’t get it.””
Sora and Shiro nodded as one with the same focused
expression.
“No matter the Flügel or the Phantasma, you lot completely
refuse to work along terms comprehensible by others, and that
for some reason makes us feel relaxed.”
After a line of sarcasm, Sora looked towards the horizon, and
saw something under a particularly tall tree – could it be that
his eyes were deceiving him… probably not, there was
something underneath that appeared to be a dragon skull, and it
was decorated lavishly and carefully as well, then left there in
the open just like that –
“…Jibril, I don’t understand the art direction of this city at
all.”
“What!? This place will eventually be the throne of the
Masters, to think that you’d actually dislike it, it really makes
me disappointed…”
Hearing Sora’s grumbling, Jibril replied somewhat dispiritedly.
“Speaking of which, you should probably save this girl
right?”
Sora spoke while pointing towards –
“Aaaaahhhh, the sun! The sun! I’m going to melt! I’m going
to melt, burn and evaporate!”
Plum was crouching down with her body scrunched up into a
ball and her hood covering her face while crying continuously.
“Ah, I’m sorry… I completely forgot about you, are you still
alive?”
“I’ll be dead in a few seconds! My power is decreasing
drastically!!”
For a Dhampir like Plum the sunlight was fatal to them; and
she appeared to be barely fending off the sunlight with her
magic, but that magic itself seemed to be siphoning off even
more of her energy.
“That’s it, Jibril, it’s not good to keep Izuna and Steph
waiting, so just fly us over to the place where all the
information is concentrated. Also, for Plum, it would be best if
it’s indoors –“
“OK, so please grasp my arms, and then –“
She appeared somewhat nervous – but yet her expression was
simultaneously unreadable as well, and she grasped onto Sora
and Shiro’s arms and spoke:
“…Masters, I understand that it’s extremely rude for me to
raise such requests – but could you please agree to two requests
of mine?”
“…What is it, it’s rare that you’re this serious.”
“- Please don’t be disappointed, and please believe.”
…Sora didn’t understand her at all.
And Jibril merely spoke this one sentence, then shouted: “That
thing over there.”
“Y-yes!?”
Plum who was referred to as “That thing over there”, replied
with only her eyes showing themselves from beneath her hood.
“I don’t mind leaving you behind here – so could you please
hurry up?”
“Ah, I’ll be there right this instant, don’t leave me –“
Plum hurriedly stood up and dashed over, and in the instant she
grabbed onto Jibril – the scenery changed as well.
Part 3
There – it was probably within one of the cubes they had saw
from a distance earlier.
The place they were in was even more solemn and immense
than the Elchean National Library Jibril had hogged for herself
– it was a humongous library.
The high-perched ceilings appeared to stretch up to ten stories
high, and the interior was designed like an ancient ruin, with
stone-made pillars and stairs, intersecting corridors and curved
walkways with intertwining vines growing all over them.
And – those things that looked like 「Pillars」 were actually
bookshelves.
On the other hand, there was random memorabilia scattered
around the entire place as well, and stairs and walkways
arranged in impossible fashions like a surrealist M. C. Escher
painting were all over the place – and what lit them up was,
gigantic fixtures of painted glass that were definitely not on
any walls, as well as infinite amounts of floating lanterns.
It was a dream-like yet elegant place – but it was a
blasphemous library completely incomprehensible to the likes
of the Imanity.
But leaving that aside for now, Sora spoke while pointing up at
something:
“…Jibril, that was probably your doing, right?”
It was probably the effect of the large amount of air that Jibril
had transported for the sake of Sora and the others.
The library (of sorts) appeared to be ravaged by strong winds,
and large amounts of books were dancing about in mid-air in
spiral patterns.
However Jibril looked over at that with a smile on her face and
spoke:
“Don’t worry about it, Masters, the owner of this place is
the creator of the 《Book Equality Law》.”
Sora looked up at the dancing books, and remembered why
Jibril had took over the Elchean National Library – or rather,
the reason why she had left Avant Heim.
Due to the fact that they had collected too many books, the
books were overwhelming Avant Heim – and they chose to
deal with it by passing the 《Book Equality Law》 in the name
of eliminating unnecessary books.
“Her books are the Flügel’s books, I am a Flügel, so her
books are my books.”
Her triple conjugations proved her Takeshi idealism, and she
continued with a smile on her face: [3]
“Even if this small accident here was caused by me – or was
it on purpose? I believe that she has to consider all these factors
before she can 「Decide」, but of course she is extremely kind
and tolerant, being able to forgive my mistakes, of course.
Even if there are books within the stash there that cannot be
copied, reproduced and are the only remaining copies in this
world, that’s how it is ♥”
So she could only damage those books because she owned
them as well.
- Speaking of which, regarding the 《Book Equality Law》
from earlier, Jibril really couldn’t forgive its existence.
After which –
“Aaaaaahhh~! The books! All the books I haven’t
finished~~~~!!”
Everyone looked towards the source of this outcry.
While the one standing there was –
“…Whoa…”
Even Shiro couldn’t help but cry out in awe, and the person
standing there was – an extraordinarily beautiful young girl.
The halo spinning around on her head, and the wings stretching
out from her waist suggested that she was a Flügel just like
Jibril.
However the pattern drawn in the air by her spinning halo was
even more complicated than Jibril’s.
The largest difference between them was that she had a single
horn protruding from her jade-green hair.
Her wings that appeared to be woven from streaks of light
flapped in the air, and her appearance as she did so appeared
unbelievably sacred.
But her appearance as she was flying about and struggling to
collect all the books that were flapping about in the air, as well
as her expression that hinted she was about to cry, was
completely different from Jibril’s icy cold demeanour when
they had first met – instead she was extremely cute.
- Phew, phew…
She panted intentionally, then landed beside Jibril and spoke:
“Ugh~ Jii-chan you’re mean-nyan~”
A saddened expression appeared on her face which
immediately shifted to an angelic smile.
“Is this what I think it is-nyan? Is it those pranks that people
play on their loved ones-nyan? Aww~ Jii-chan I haven’t seen
you in so long~~ nyaaaaa!?”
Jibril brilliantly teleported away in order to dodge her flying
lunge towards her.
Upon seeing her crash into a pile of books, Jibril spoke blandly
from behind Sora:
“- Masters, I’ll introduce her to you, she’s the one that
approved the dastardly 《Book Equality Law》, the head of
the 「Council of the Eighteen Wings」 of Avant Heim, the
「Full Representative of the Winged」 that has the right to
make the final decisions regarding the country’s affairs –“
She sighed and continued –
“Azrael-senpai.”
- She introduced the motionless girl with half her body buried
in books to Sora.
…
“…How should I put this.”
“The Flügel…are interesting…”
That girl was the full representative of the race that was ranked
in sixth place, brought death with them wherever they went in
the past, and used to be god-killing weapons?
Sora and Shiro mumbled to themselves, having had their
expectations completely crushed.
- At this time, the young girl that was buried in the pile of
books earlier, maybe because she had teleported, she had
already hugged Jibril tightly while rubbing her violently with
her cheeks over a span of time so short that no-one present had
noticed.
“Nyan~ Jii-chan is so mean~ I haven’t seen you for so long,
but you’re still as cold as ever~~~~ but! That’s fine too!!”
“Azrael-senpai is as annoying as ever as well.”
Jibril spoke with a smile on her face despite having her cheeks
violently jerked about.
- Although Jibril would usually reply sarcastically, this time
she outright insulted her, which was rare.
“Nyan~ I’ve said I’m not your senpai, call me nee-san,
neeeeee-saaaaaannnn~~!!”
Azrael flew about in the air, drawing a figure-eight around
Jibril.
“Jibril isn’t a particularly good case but is it really ok for the
full representative of the Flügel to be someone like this?”
“…Nii…you have the right…to say that?”
Shiro looked coldly at Sora, however everyone present ignored
that line.
On the other hand, Jibril spoke coldly while being pestered,
harassed, and having her cheeks rubbed:
“Azrael-senpai, I gave a request for today, please allow the
Masters to browse the library –“
“I refuse-nyan~ unless you call me Nee-san, I’ll deny all
your requests~ ♪”
Jibril replied in frustration:
“If you explain why you’re rubbing my cheeks, and allow the
Masters to browse the library, I’ll consider it.”
“Because Jii-chan is cute! Explanation over, and I’ve allowed
them-nyan!! Alright, now call me Nee-san ♥ -“
She spoke while lunging towards her, while Jibril teleported
away from her outstretched hand.
“So Masters, I’ve already acquired her permission, please
browse this place freely. This is the personal library of the
「Representative of the Winged」, among which countless
books have been acquired through the cursed law by taking the
books of others, so there’s not a single place with more
information than here.”
“Y-you’re mean!! Jii-chan went back on Nee-san’s promise
with you-nyan~!?”
Azrael appeared devastated, and her voice was layered with
immense shock.
Jibril replied with a flawless smile once again.
“I said that I’d consider it, and after some consideration, I’
m not going to ♪”
“Waaaah~ Jii-chan never used to cheat others like this-nyan~
- and whose fault is this-nyan?”
- Glare~~~~
Her tear-filled eyes shot over to Sora.
The power in those eyes appeared as if that gaze alone could
kill.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Sora, this is my sister Shiro, please
take care of us.”
“…Take care…”
Those two completely ignored her gaze as they were used to it
from Jibril.
Upon seeing their reaction, Azrael let out an interested “Oh?”,
while Sora pointed at Azrael.
“What does she mean by Nee-san? Jibril, you’re the sister of
the full representative of the Flügel?”
“Yes-nyan ♥”
“Nope ♪”
Both of them replied without hesitation – and with truly sisterslike
smiles – they replied with completely opposite answers.
Jibril sighed and continued:
“The Flügel cannot reproduce, we have no sisters, no brothers
and no parents, there is only the order in which we were
created.”
“…Ah, so that’s why you call her Senpai.”
Which means, she was a being created even earlier than Jibril.
“Also, Azrael is the 「Representative of the Winged」, not
the 「Representative of the Flügel」.”
“…Is there a difference?”
“She’s merely the 「Senator」 of the 「Council of
Eighteen Wings」 with nine members, herself included.”
At this mention, Sora recalled what she had said earlier.
He remembered that before Jibril belonged to Sora’s posse,
she was a member of the 「Council of Eighteen Wings」.
“Basically she has the first say only when emergencies occur,
and another 「Right」 -“
Which meant – Jibril shook her head and smiled bitterly.
“She’s not great nor brilliant, so you don’t need to respect her
in any way.”
“…You’re really mean even to your own kind, huh, you
really haven’t changed at all…”
Probably because she was unhappy with her response, Azrael
puffed up her cheeks in rebuttal.
“That’s not how it is-nyan!! All of us were created by Artosh,
so our father is Artosh, and the earliest to be created was me,
Nee-san! The last one to be created, Jii-chan, is my imouto!
Isn’t this an unspoken fact-nyan!?” [4]
Upon hearing her words, Jibril’s bitter smile turned into one of
mockery, and she continued:
“- She raised a suggestion like that during one of the
meetings, which was completely rejected by all of the members
of the council, that’s how pitiful her intelligence is.”
“Be~cause~ if I don’t do that, Jii-chan won’t ever call me
Nee-san~ nyan~!”
“Everyone knows that, which was why they turned it down,
unless you’re telling me this is the first time you’re hearing of
this?”
Jibril’s tone was as cold as ever, while Azrael hugged her once
again and began showing off her little sister with a smile on her
face.
“Jii-chan she is~ among the children created in the Great War
she is the 「Final Unit」-nyan ♪”
She laughed cheerily, while Jibril on the other hand sighed
deeply in frustration.
“The children created in the later stages, since they were
created when Artosh-sama was at full power, have a power that
is completely indescribable by children like me created during
the middle stages of the war-nyan~!! However~ the strong
children were all fighting on the front lines – so everyone died
in the 「Final battle」…”
Azrael’s spirits momentarily dipped, and if the person she was
hugging happened to be an Imanity, that person would
definitely burst like a balloon. She continued while hugging her
only surviving sister.
“Jii-chan is the only final-stage unit that survived after the
「Battle」, and she’s the 「Final Unit」 as well-nyan!
She’s everybody’s imouto, and what a cute imouto she isnyan!
It should be made a law to call her that, so why doesn’t
everyone understand?”
She once again began flying about in figure-eight shapes
cheerily.
Jibril squinting her eyes in disgust was a rare sight as well, but
–
“…Jibril…to deal with her…disturbing…precious
recordings…”
Shiro spoke while lifting up her smartphone, and began taking
a video of the angels.
On the other hand, Sora was pondering another question.
He closely observed Azrael’s innocent and cheerful smile –
“…This is a pain, at this rate I’ll need to change the plan…”
He mumbled to himself disappointedly.
- Glare.
Hearing his softly spoken words, Azrael kept smiling – but
then looked towards Sora with a powerful gaze.
“- So, are you the one that snatched my beloved Jii-chan away
from us-nyan?”
“Huh, to say a virgin snatched a lover from someone, your
question is pretty hard to answer.”
Sora replied indignantly, with his head lifted and chest
protruding, at the same time appearing dignified, tragic and
powerful.
Azrael stepped closer.
“Oh -….”
“…Huh?”
It was impossible to react to that, as it was a step that ignored
all boundaries of distance.
The step itself took multiple instants before Sora and Shiro
realized what was happening, and they cried out in surprise.
- In that instant.
A silent shock emanated from Jibril’s body that caused the
library to quake.
Sora had initially suspected that she had used magic, however
after hearing what the two said after that –
“…Senpai, if you even so much as touch a hair on my
Masters’ heads – I’ll just say you might want to reconsider it.”
“Really now~ Jii-chan you don’t need to be so tense~ there
are the 「Ten Pledges」 anyway-nyan.”
- Sora realized, she had merely unleased a slight bit of
「Malicious intent」.
Just how much did Jibril restrain her power under normal
circumstances –
As they got an extremely small glimpse of Jibril’s 「True
power」, Sora and Shiro felt cold sweat running down their
cheeks.
And Azrael didn’t seem to mind that 「Slight malicious
intent」, instead she turned around to face Sora.
With those jade-green eyes – eyes that were impossibly
different from Jibril’s – she spoke while glancing at Sora:
“I wish to make something clear.”
“- Yeah, what is it?”
- Her gaze this time, was completely incomparable to her gaze
from earlier.
A sudden crushing sense of malice filled the room, causing the
air in the library to freeze, giving them the impression that the
very universe itself was being affected.
If they were to answer incorrectly – they would die
immediately.
This world has the 「Ten Pledges」.
Jibril was awaiting their orders by the sidelines.
- Despite this, they were unable to relax.
Azrael’s gaze gave them that impression, after which she
spoke:
“As long as you command it, Jii-chan will call me 「Neechan
♥」 right-nyan?”
…
…?
False alarm – no, Sora felt a sinking feeling that gave him the
impression that as long as he were to relax, his very soul would
escape him.
The very reason why he was barely standing was because Shiro
was clutching his hand in fear.
However, Azrael ignored him and continued emotionally.
“E-even like she licked the feet of the E-Elves, she could like
mine – or shower with me or something! N-no, I won’t force
her to do something like that!! For example you could allow
me to watch or something –“
- How could she have known that? Sora felt suspicious,
however he took out his smartphone from his pocket and
replied:
“…If you want videos of Jibril showering, I have videos –“
“I’ll bet the Flügel’s race piece for that! Give it to me-nyan!!”
- An impossibly loud sound could be heard in that twentythousand-foot
high altitude.
“Azrael-san, please calm down, you don’t have the right to do
that. To bet the race piece, you need to consult the decision of
the「Council of Eighteen Wings」 right? I think your request
will be unanimously denied once again ♥”
“U-ugh~~…! – Nyan?”
Jibril’s tone of voice didn’t carry any sense of apprehension
despite her adding a small (giggle) at the end of the sentence,
however Azrael –
“Wait a second-nyan… noises of gears rumbling are coming
from my head! My brain is currently working at light-speeds,
it’s the most active it’s been in my, Azrael’s twenty-sixthousand
years-nyan!”
- Azrael let slip her incredibly long lifespan just like that while
appearing as though considering something.
Finally she raised her head up all of a sudden, seemingly
having got an idea.
“- Right-nyan!! You…your name is Sora right!?”
“Ah, yes.”
“I’ll be your possession as well-nyan! My judgement dictates
that if that happens I can shower with Jii-chan!!”
“The worst idea you’ve had in twenty-six-thousand years,
great job on that hard work, Azrael-san.”
Jibril smiled a smile that couldn’t even be described with the
adjective cold, as it carried hints of disappointment as well, and
she mocked Azrael.
However – Shiro glanced silently over at her brother.
Azrael had nonchalantly raised her personal freedom as a
condition – just as Jibril had said, she wasn’t the representative
of the Flügel, and so even if they were to acquire her, they
wouldn’t acquire the Flügel race.
Although it would be no easy feat to play against the Flügel.
Azrael even hinted that she would 「Intentionally lose」, also
it would be a rather beneficial decision to have her as an asset.
Also her brother’s intention included absorbing the Flügel as
well.
On this train of thought, Shiro looked over at her brother as
though to confirm her suspicions –
“…?”
She found that Sora had completely lost interest and had
calmed down, after which she looked over curiously at Azrael.
Her face still had that enchanting smile on it – an overly perfect
smile.
“…Ah…” – understanding what her brother’s expression
meant, Shiro nodded slightly.
Sora sighed unexpectedly, turned around and walked away.
“…It’s rare of you to say such things, but this sort of thing
should wait until next time…”
“Eh~~… Jii-chan’s naked body –“
Azrael refused to give up, and Sora grasped Shiro’s hand and
spat.
“…I bragged to Steph earlier that I would acquire three races,
but now I’ll have to apologize to her.”
Looking over at Azrael, Sora – glanced at her with a truly
disappointed gaze and said:
“- This one’s useless, Jibril alone is fine.”
Ignoring Azrael’s squinted gaze, Sora and Shiro proceeded to
the mountains of bookshelves.
“So Jibril, we can browse the books here right?”
“…Yes, Azrael-senpai has approved of it.”
Sora nodded and surveyed his surroundings.
Books, books, books… it was a giant city made up of nothing
but books.
And within his line of sight, he could see that on the back of
countless books, there was – writing of multiple languages he
didn’t know.
“Since my original expectations were crushed, it looks like
we’ll have to tough it out… forget it, let’s try our best, Shiro.”
“…Mm.”
The two agreed and disappeared in the piles of books, while the
two Flügel watched them go in silence.
Part 4
Azrael sat cross-legged on one of the piles of books and put her
head in her hands.
“Mm~ I wanted to use myself as bait to get Jii-chan, could it
be that the bait was too big-nyan?”
She coldly revealed the reason why Sora’s expectations were
crushed.
No doubt, Azrael’s thoughts were completely different from
her demeanour, as she didn’t believe nor trust Sora.
To get Jibril back, all she wanted them was to fall into her trap.
- As for why Jibril called them her Masters, she had no interest.
“…You really haven’t changed, Azrael.”
Azrael’s expression twitched slightly upon having her name
called directly like that, and she replied calmly:
“Jii-chan can even talk back to people such as me and Artoshsama,
so it’s impossible that you would serve under mere
Imanity-nyan. As long as it’s by the pledges, sealing one’s
intentions or making one a puppet should be easy-nyan.
Anyway those two must have won by pure luck, so you’re
being forced to follow them, right-nyan? To be honest –“
She looked directly into Jibril’s eyes.
“- Jii-chan has changed.”
Jibril replied Azrael’s words with a cold smile.
“Yes, I have changed…whereas you can’t.”
“…”
“As for how I was defeated in that challenge, you have
nothing to say – my expectations were all for nothing.”
Jibril smiled faintly in betrayal, and continued coldly:
“…The reason why I defied my late Master (Artosh) and you,
is because – I just can’t take your personalities anymore – too
stubborn, so…”
She hesitated slightly, should she say it? Or –
Jibril decided to go with it.
She knew Azrael would take offense more than anyone.
Despite this – she decided that she would tell her, so she did.
“Which is why we lost, and until now – you still won’t
change.”
Hearing these words, Azrael’s smile completely vanished.
To be honest – Azrael’s expression was like a cold puppet.
No, it was a completely different existence with Azrael’s
appearance – and it spoke:
“- 「Final Unit」, hast thou discovered the 「Answer」?”
Jibril looked at that existence with a gaze of pure hate, and she
spoke to it, almost spitting her words:
“- Yes, or more correctly, I found it long ago, it’s just that I
didn’t have concrete evidence.”
“…”
“So now I must help the Masters find what they need, so –
that’s it.”
Jibril turned away, leaving behind the silent existence.
- …
“…What do you think-nyan?”
- You had to ask.
“…Yes-nyan, but what if you’re wrong?”
- You don’t have to ask, you know already.
“…That’s right-nyan…”
- 「First Unit」, I completely trust in your decision, not just
me, but everyone else.
“I know, nyan…”
I know… she told herself that repeatedly.
Azrael was speaking in reply to – the will of the Phantasma
(Avant Heim) residing within her.
Azrael merely looked at the people who were searching
through the books –
She could only ask again when they made a move.
Part 5
“…No, we won’t make it at this rate.”
Standing before a gigantic pile of books, Sora realized that
their efforts were futile after a mere half-hour.
“Shiro, how many languages of this world have you learnt?”
“…Only…the Imanity, Werebeast and Elven languages…”
Shiro mumbled nonchalantly, and Sora caressed her head
lovingly.
For Sora who could barely learn the Imanity language, that
stunning learning pace just simply couldn’t be described with
「Only」.
But, despite that –
“Jibril, which languages are these?”
“It’s the Dwarven and Demon languages, I can vaguely
understand them…”
…Right, the only one that could understand all the books there
would be Jibril.
Even though Shiro could learn foreign languages at
incomprehensible speeds, the books here alone were in the
millions, so relying on this few people to search for
information here would be impossible, which was obvious
from the very start.
“…Jibril.”
“Yes.”
“There’s no time, if we take too long, Ino’s life will be in
danger. Even if we have a lifeline, if the Seirens think we’re
genuinely running away, we’ll be in big trouble – can’t you get
some help?”
They had no time to sit here and slowly gather information, as
they needed to challenge the Empress once more as soon as
possible.
Because of that – Sora had originally intended to rely on
Azrael to gather help –
However his hopes were crushed as soon as he realized Azrael
didn’t have any intention of the sort.
The expression Sora saw on Azrael’s face, wasn’t that of a
knowledgeable Flügel – nor was it something like Jibril’s who
was a collective of both curiosity and intelligence, nor was she
a trigger-happy person.
It – was only –
“…I can get help, but I fear it may not be what you’re
expecting.”
Yes, that would be Azrael’s intentions, but –
“There’s no other way, so let’s do what she wants since we
don’t have the time to just sit here – Shiro.”
“…Mm.”
- Sora made a once-in-a-blue-moon fidgety gesture – he
nibbled on his fingernails, and Shiro replied as well.
“- Since your original expectations were crushed, we can only
adapt to the situation at hand, so we’ll need you to cooperate.”
“…OK…”
Part 6
“Hey, Azra…el?”
Sora decided to call upon Azrael, but froze momentarily
instead.
- Probably because she had turned the scenery in the Eastern
Union or the things within her knowledge into reality.
She was just like the Japanese hikikomoris Sora knew – which
included Sora and Shiro themselves – exactly like that, she was
buried in a kotatsu-like thing, with her head covered within a
blanket, staring at a projector (television) that had only static
on it –
“…What is it-nyan…? What is it so important that you have
to bother someone useless like me-nyan?”
What a waste of energy – Azrael made the surroundings on her
appear dark and gloomy in an attempt to accentuate her
sadness.
Faced with her overly exaggerated acting skills, Sora instead
felt admiration, after which he spoke with a deadpan
expression:
“- Ah~ um, you know about the hibernating Empress of the
Seirens right?”
“Nyaaaaa…that idiot that was influenced by fairy tales and
pushed two races including herself to the brink of extinction in
the span of a single generation, leaving even the shellfish
speechless? Everyone knows-nyan~…”
Azrael replied under her blanket.
- While looking at her halo that was spinning about above her
blanket, Sora continued while experiencing indescribable
feelings:
“Y-yes, that’s her, we’re looking for the records of the
conditions she set before starting her game.”
“…If that’s you want, Jii-chan knows as well-nyan! It’s
「She will continue hibernating as long as she hasn’t fallen in
love」-nyan.”
“Yes, but – that’s fake.”
Hearing her words, Azrael’s eyes lit up with a sharp glint as
though forgetting her previous depressed act.
“Oh! Is that why everyone lost-nyan? So what’s the actual
conditions-nyan?”
- That fellow was a Flügel after all.
“That’s what I want to know, so I’m looking for all available
records of people that have carried out games with her, and the
exact words the players were told for comparison.”
“Oh~….”
Azrael stared into space for a moment, after which she replied
coldly:
“About that, if you’re looking for records, they’re placed in a
certain somewhere, look for it yourself, and I’ll inform you
again if you have a definitive goal.”
But – no doubt, she was different from Jibril.
“Yes, but there’s too many books, we don’t have time, so
where are all the related records –“
“I don’t know at all-nyan! Ahahahahaha~”
…
“Because of the 《Equality Law》-nyan~ After lending those
books out countless times, even I don’t know where they arenyan~♪”
“Do you understand now? Master, this is exactly why I left
my hometown.”
Probably because she had forgotten she was supposed to be
acting depressed, Azrael laughed cheerily while Jibril was
completely solemn.
“…Since you all live to collect books, you should at least
keep them properly…”
“Hmm? That’s wrong-nyan, our aim is to collect
「Knowledge」, 「Books」 are actually nothing to us-nyan. I
even think that as long as we can memorise the contents of the
books, throwing them away is fine as well; but since the people
who haven’t read them would be angry, we didn’t do thatnyan~”
“Do you understand now? Master, this is exactly it! The
reason why I left my hometown.”
Jibril smiled a smile that indicated she would strike at any
moment as she explained to Sora once again.
- Sora now understood, all she was focused on was
「Knowledge」-
「As for what that meant」…Sora couldn’t restrain his
laughter, however he didn’t bother explaining it, and instead
asked Azrael:
“So, what should I do?”
“Hmm~ just let the people that are in charge of the books’
locations to search for them! There are some others that are just
as close-minded as Jii-chan, so as long as they’re willing to,
you should be able to get all of them-nyan~”
“Mm, so I’ll leave it to –“
“I’m not in the mood-nyan~”
Seemingly wishing to appear sad once again, Azrael spoke
while burying herself under the blanket once more:
“I can allow my cute imouto’s toys to wander about
everywhere, but I have no obligation to take care of you all. I
have no value in being your companion, and even Jii-chan
called me an idiot, so I’m very depressed now-nyan~ I’m very
hurt-nyan~ So I don’t want to do anything-nyan~”
Sora slowly passed her his phone.
“Even if I show you videos of Jibril in the shower?”
“----------No.”
“If you agree now, I’ll throw in the offer of her calling you
「Nee-san」 then?”
“---------------------------N…no deal.”
Azrael replied while sweating furiously, as though she was
engaging in mortal combat with something.
She squeezed out her words while breathing heavily, seemingly
undergoing some brutal training.
“I-I’m very~~ hurt now-nyan – something like that… ah, no,
I’m not dismissing Jii-chan as something beneath me-nyan! It’s
just that I’m too hurt, so I need something more than that – um,
you should know…what I mean right?”
Cheh – Sora grumbled silently.
He saw that amongst Azrael’s deception and lies – only her
devotion to Jibril was real, which was the reason why he
played his trump card but to no avail.
At this rate, his actions would be limited.
Facing an opponent such as the Flügel? Having the opponent
have the upper hand in a game still yet unknown to them? –
What a joke.
“- To be honest, I don’t care what happens to you, so if those
stupid fish, mangy mutts and bald monkeys want to go extinct
just let them, at the most we’ll just get a few more books
describing their downfall-nyan. For me, it’s advantageousnyan.”
Her gaze fell upon Sora.
“To someone immortal like me…people like you who die in
the blink of an eye don’t even deserve the value of a 「Fairy
tale」. You want me to help? Why do I have to-nyan?”
- But he couldn’t let her have the upper hand, as if she did it
would be all over.
If Azrael insisted on playing mind games – bring it on.
“So that’s how you really are, which is why I said you’re
useless, can’t you even detect my mockery? 「Dead
man」.”
Sora replied with determination but at the same time in pride –
and hearing his words, Azrael’s expression changed.
“A tool used by no one, a puppet with no value, I’ll assume
that’s a pretty enjoyable life you’re living there.”
“-…”
“It’s fine, since when we’ve taken over the world, people
like you would definitely say something like 「Please allow
me to join」 right? Because you all only know how to follow
along with where the wind blows. Jibril, we’ll think of a way
ourselves, so let’s go find your friends one by one –“
Sora stood up and turned to leave.
“…You dare to pick an argument with me, don’t tell me
you’re running away now?”
- She took the bait, Sora smiled to himself.
“Argument? Hah! Only equals can argue with each other.”
“Oh… I didn’t think that you’d be so self-conscious about it,
you’re worthy of some commendation after all.”
“- The one that’s on the lower rank is you of course, did you
get up on the wrong side of the bed today? Airhead.”
“….Very good-nyan, who’s afraid of who-nyan.”
After which she raised her hand and announced.
“「Kill and plunder for the things that you desire, for that is
tantamount to the decree of heaven」-nyan!”
…
-…Hearing her extremely crass words, Sora and Shiro halfclosed
their eyes.
“…What kind of words are those…?”
“Ah, Masters, that’s a Flügel idiom so it’s fine if you don’t
know it.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Not an argument – but we’ll play a game-nyan, it’s just that
–“
Ignoring Sora and Jibril’s conversation, Azrael snapped her
fingers.
“「All of us」 will play a game together with Jii-chan’s
friends that you’re looking for, then you can ask for their
help.”
- In an instant.
Everyone present was teleported with a force that even Jibril
couldn’t resist.
And what they saw after the scenery had changed was –
- A long banner with the words ‘Kuuhaku「」 Autograph
and Handshake Fan Meeting’ written on it.
Countless Flügel were setting up the place –
“…We were tricked -!!”
As almost a hundred gazes fell upon them simultaneously, Sora
understood instantly.
- She merely pretended to be provoked – which means, he lost
in the mind games department.
But, as compared to this, the gazes that were upon him nearly
made Sora and Shiro black out.
However – the questions that were festering in his mind caused
him to stay conscious.
It was a card that none of them had expected.
Although since Sora had already shut his ears and was prepared
to faint, he didn’t hear any of it.
It was probably the sound of a girl yelling for help, and the
sound covered the entire area like an explosion.
Under the countless approaching gazes, Sora asked in a
trembling voice:
“Hey, Jibril, what…is this? What is this-aaaaahhhhh!”
Sora yelled while frantically hugging Shiro whose eyes were
already rolling up into the whites, while Jibril clapped her
hands once and replied:
“Ah, I forgot, in order for them to deal with the Eastern
Union, I took the Masters’ 「Bible (Observation Diary)」and
passed it to them, in order for faster transmission of
information –“
Jibril giggled and continued:
“I even gave them complimentary autograph vouchers,
handshake vouchers, date vouchers and sleepover vouchers,
don’t forget all the various and dream-like special items –“
“Don’t use that sort of dirty methods!! Like that even if
repeated buyers increase, the buyer penetration rate wouldn’t
increase, right!?”
“…I see, I wanted to say that we would sell a large amount of
copies but there seems to be an eerily small amount of people
here, so that’s the reason. Next time I’ll think of an even more
profitable method – or rather, a more effective way of passing
information.
Jibril’s face was full of determination, and she began furiously
writing down stuff on a notebook, however Sora continued:
“Wait a minute Jibril! You have to report to me when you’re
doing things like this!!”
- No wonder Azrael knew a suspiciously large amount of
information regarding them.
But since the reason for that was due to their own comrade,
how were they supposed to win at their mind games?
To make it clear, the hundred Flügel present there were all Sora
and Shiro’s 「Fans」.
Looking over at them once more, Sora almost fainted again,
however Jibril smiled –
“No problem, Masters, you’ve won this time.”
“Huh? What?”
- Jibril spoke while looking sharply over at Azrael.
“~~~~~~~~~~~~~~”
“~~~~~~~~~~~”
“~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~”
“~~~~~~~~”
- That was probably the Flügel language.
The two of them were conversing in a language that Sora and
Shiro couldn’t understand.
But for some reason –
The hall that was filled with a woman’s screams of help since
earlier…
The atmosphere suddenly changed, and what replaced it was a
suffocating silence.
“- Um~ Jibril-san? I have a bad feeling about this, what are
you guys talking about?”
“Ah, sorry Master, we’re done talking so I’ll tell you now.”
Jibril turned around.
“Just as Azrael-senpai said, we’ll recruit these people’s help
to find our information.”
Jibril spoke with a smile on her face to the trembling Sora and
Shiro.
“Essentially speaking, we just have to defeat all of them in a
game ♪”
“Jibril, do you know how much effort we put into just
defeating you alone – who can beat such a large amount of
Flügel?”
“…Shiver.”
The two were demophobic and anthropophobic in the first
place…
Not to mention that they had to face off almost a hundred
Flügel in Materialization Shiritori, so they would definitely not
be able to survive.
Just imagining it – made Sora and Shiro’s faces pale in fear.
“No, that means 「Defeating all of them at once」, luckily
the opponent’s demands aren’t that huge.”
“Yep, you just need to play against everyone here-nyan.”
“If you win, everyone will help you collect the books that
you’re looking for. If you lose, I’ll let the Masters choose
whether you want the autograph or handshake events. These
are the conditions we set down earlier.”
Damn –
The hall was filled with women’s voices crying for help once
more, and Sora and Shiro were at the verge of fainting.
“Jibril…do you want us to die…?”
“…Jibril…we…trusted you…”
The siblings were trembling non-stop like newborn deer.
“Please relax – the Masters won’t lose, and –“
Jibril looked over at Azrael.
Azrael clapped her hands once.
“We can’t possibly play Shiritori with this many people, so
let’s play - 「Red light, Green light」.”
“- Jibril, let me ask you again – do you want us to die?”
“…Tremble.”
Playing red light, green light against the Flügel?
They could fly and teleport freely, so if there was a place
beyond their grasps…
That was basically hinting at 「The afterworld」.
While Azrael cut off his train of thought.
“But the normal version of red light, green light is too boringnyan,
so –“
“In conjunction with the nature of the Flügel – we’ll use a
「Word Game」 to play it.”
Jibril raised up her palm as she said this.
On her raised palm, just like a vortex –
Forty-six characters woven from light appeared on it.
Sora knew those characters – those were the forty-six –
katakana.
Jibril threw those characters over to Azrael.
“Hmm~? Are these the letters of your world? Are there
consonants?”
Azrael closely pondered the characters, then began moving her
hand about in a complex fashion.
- Although Sora couldn’t detect magic, the ground began to
shake about as if something was hoisting it up from
underneath, so they guessed that there was a gigantic spell
being activated.
“Alright, I’m done-nyan, so let’s get started-nyan?”
As she said this, the katakana – the forty-six characters from ア
(a) to ン (n), on Azrael’s hand – converted to light…
And they dissolved simultaneously, automatically distributing
themselves individually amongst the hundred Flügel females.
After ensuring that all the characters were assigned, Azrael
then said:
“The rules are simple, I have just transported the characters to
a certain location on each of the women present.”
- Forty-six characters, and with the participants almost entering
the hundreds, there was no way to tell who had which
characters.
“The game is Red light, Green light, so for your convenience
I’ve specially banned teleportation from being used within the
game.”
- After that…
“If you both get caught by these children you lose, and if you
manage to evade them for an hour it will be considered a
victory.”
“As long as you touch the shifting characters – that is if you
manage to do it while not getting caught, the characters will be
transferred to the Masters.”
Jibril spoke with a smile on her face as if to continue Azrael’s
explanation.
As she finished, she threw two characters over to Azrael.
“When characters combine they become 「Word Spirits」.”
Azrael raised her hand as an example, and the two letters -
「コ (ko) 」 and「タ (ta) 」, began spinning around on her
wrist, and she said:
“After you touch the 「Word Spirits」, their meanings will
become reality – no matter whether it’s a concept or an
object, you can even shift their states at will.”
“”Oh.””
In the instant that she said that, Sora and Shiro – saw the
future.
Azrael combined the two characters in her hand – and then –
“- Nyaaaaaahhhhhh what is this, it’s disgusting aaaahhhhhh!!
Nyaaaaahhhhh!!”
A gigantic - 「OctopusTa•ko」[5]materialized and its
tentacles wrapped around –
The future Sora and Shiro saw became reality, meanwhile
Azrael rolled around on the floor while yelling.
“Ah, Senpai you really are something, what with combining
characters of a language you don’t know to entertain us.”
Jibril laughed coldly beside her, while Azrael probably
genuinely felt disgusted.
In an instant – with a huge boom, the space about them
exploded and the squid disappeared along with the characters.
“J-just like that, nyan?”
Sora and Shiro looked at her speechlessly with their eyes half
open, while Azrael pretended as if nothing had happened.
“You can turn the meanings of the words into reality-nyan, no
matter whether it’s a thing, a phenomenon or a concept, it will
appear just the same-nyan.”
“Also, since Senpai didn’t know what the words I passed
her meant, what materialized was my impression of the words
that I passed to her. In the actual game, the ones that can use
the 「Word Spirits」 are the Masters alone ♪”
“…”
She replied cheerily and nonchalantly, confessing that she had
played a prank on Azrael.
However Azrael didn’t seem to mind either, and she coughed
and continued:
“But – once the words are used once they will disappear, so I
suggest that you use them carefully-nyan!”
-…
“The explanation’s over, do the Masters have any questions?”
“A lot – such as how we run away, if you don’t know this by
now I’ll tell you. Humans can’t fly.”
“Tremble.”
“…I apologize, Masters, I was originally going to help out –
but I cannot participate in this time’s game.”
Her two Masters appeared surprised, while Azrael laughed and
said to them:
“If you wish to borrow Jii-chan’s strength it won’t be
considered as a competition-nyan, since no one will be able to
catch you. It was already very generous on our part to allow
you to use the 「Word Spirits」, so –“
Azrael giggled and…
“The Dhampir hiding over there, please lend them your
wings.”
…She looked over to the side.
- Just like that.
Plum was dragged out into plain sight as her invisibility spell
was crushed like glass.
“…Eh? E-eh~~~~~~!? W-why was I noticed!?”
“…You really are something – your presence was erased to a
notable degree.”
- Even Sora and Shiro had forgotten her existence, and Jibril
spoke respectfully.
Azrael stood beside Jibril and asked Plum:
“Hey, even if you’re a useless species that can’t even be
compared to a mosquito, if you put your back into it, there
shouldn’t be a problem in creating a spell that gives the user
wings right-nyan?”
- Azrael asked her question in a disrespectful tone even more
prideful than a god’s.
On the other hand, Plum replied boldly despite trembling in
fear of death.
“E-eh~~ i-if you want me to let them fly at a speed of a
Flügel that would be impossible… The force of the shock
would disintegrate not just them, but me as well, also my
power is running out –“
Azrael continued to smile.
“If you’re tired you can just extract body fluids from those
two-nyan!”
“I will dedicate myself to create wings for you two!”
Plum’s attitude changed faster than the speed of sound, and she
bowed respectfully at the both of them, however –
“No, wait a minute, why do we have to agree to this –“
…As Sora was about to say that, he stopped at Jibril’s gaze.
- Please don’t be disappointed, and please believe –
He saw the girl that had told him that sincerely with an
expectant yet disappointed gaze.
And, as he shifted his gaze, he saw the empty girl who was like
an uninhabited shell, who was smiling but looked like a dead
person.
“Kill and plunder for the things that you desire, for that is
tantamount to the decree of heaven – that’s the kind of
「Game」 it is-nyan?”
“…”
The uneasy gaze with a soul residing within it, and an empty
puppet-like smile.
What Sora saw there was – a scene exactly the same as earlier
– but…
- Game, this word made Sora and Shiro’s eyes light up, and
their brains cooled down at extreme speeds.
Rules, victory conditions, and Azrael’s intentions, all those
things swirled about and combined themselves at furious
speeds within their heads.
“…Nii.”
Shiro who was doing the exact same thing appeared noticeably
uneasy, however Sora nodded his head at her, and told her – I
know.
It was a noticeably different 「Game」 than they had taken
part in previously.
The game would have to end before it began.
Kuuhaku「」 followed this golden rule, however this game
was –
It was a game challenged by the opposition, a game that they
had not taken into account for, which meant that it was a game
where the opponent had the upper hand.
It was also a game with undisclosed conditions that were
hidden in the Flügel language.
It was also a game with rules intentionally prepared to be
disadvantageous towards them.
This game was too dangerous, too suspicious, they didn’t have
enough information, so they shouldn’t be agreeing to it at all.
“…Masters…please, please believe me.”
Within her wavering gaze there lay a preparation to even
receive punishment.
But – it was also a gaze that completely believed that Sora and
Shiro would win, and it was with that in mind that Jibril had
prepared the game.
“- Let me confirm the conditions.”
Sora glanced over at Jibril, and asked with his mind completely
calm.
And Shiro who was looking up at him uneasily since earlier,
upon seeing Sora so decisive, decided to follow along with his
decision.
The uneasiness in her eyes vanished, and she merely
concentrated in order to sharpen her thinking.
Just like that, Sora and Shiro ignored Jibril who closed her eyes
in a gesture of gratitude beside them.
The two began deducing all the things they needed to take into
consideration – their brains spun about violently, pondering
this game which they had not anticipated earlier, even
anticipating things that they wouldn’t be able to anticipate
beforehand.
“- First, Shiro and I will have to hold hands throughout the
entire game, and this is a definitive condition.”
“…Let Plum make…wings.”
“Yes, Shiro and I will each have one side of a pair of wings
that will move according to our thoughts, this is a definitive
condition.”
“…Plum…you can do it…you have to do it.”
Shiro’s sentence turned from a question to an order, and Plum
replied with her head drooped low in sadness.
“Eh, that…? T-that will be an extremely complex spell, if
possible I don’t –“
“I don’t care what the shape is like, but over the course of that
period I will permit you to lick off my sweat.”
“Leave it to me!! I will show you the true power of the
Dhampirs – hah!!”
She replied with a completely unnecessary burst of energy.
In an instant Plum’s wings turned blood-red, and complex
patterns appeared within her eyes.
Plum began conjuring a particularly complicated spell, and
changed her appearance into –
…A scarf.
The scarf billowed in the wind gently, and landed on Sora and
Shiro’s necks.
Sora and Shiro were connected to each other like two people
under a single long scarf.
“P-phew…I-I disguised my existence on the physical
plane…!! A-at this rate…t-the two ends of the scarf…should
have the capabilities of a pair of wings -!!”
Just as the first time she had met Sora, she did the same thing
to their luggage as well, and Plum transformed herself into a
flying scarf.
In that atmosphere where even the Flügel expressed their
admiration, Sora could almost see Plum puffing out her flat
chest in pride.
- Although she was panting heavily.
The scarf connecting Sora and Shiro’s necks spread out at its
two sides…
It drew a pattern in the air of blood trickling, and wove itself
into wings. Sora nodded…
And asked the remaining question:
“- After which… transform Avant Heim into a place where
Shiro, Plum and I can move about freely without restriction.
Also, even though we have wings, we don’t know how to use
them, so I request that after we leave – the game will only start
five minutes after…do you have any problems with that?
Shiro.”
“…Mm, no problem.”
- At this time all of them took a deep breath, and it wasn’t
because the two of them had experienced such a drastic change
in character…
Instead it was because he had only requested five minutes of
extra time.
“There’s no problem right?”
Jibril turned around and asked Azrael and the Flügel crowds
behind her.
Using a never before used power, with a measly forty-four
characters as weapons, the Imanity would have to avoid the
onslaught of a hundred Flügel.
If they could do it – all of them swallowed their saliva at once.
“…Mm, there’s no problem-nyan, although I feel it’s a bit too
lenient-nyan…”
Azrael spoke, appearing to be the only one that hadn’t grasped
the situation.
Her fingertips shifted gently – after which a giant explosion
occurred.
“- I’ve already turned Avant-kun (Avant Heim) into a place
befitting of your conditions – so now we can begin right?”
Azrael dismissed rewriting the appearance of another world
entirely as though it were as easy as drawing a sketch.
She snapped her fingers once more, and the walls began
shifting silently – and a gigantic hole appeared.
…From the hole in the wall, the entire city of Avant Heim
could be seen.
Maybe because Azrael had shifted the position of the sun, or
simply because some time had passed, it was night-time
outside.
There was no sunlight, which made it an optimal environment
for Plum.
They stuck their heads out of the gap to examine the conditions
outside – Sora and Shiro grasped each other’s hands tightly.
The scarf on their necks that was being blown about in the
wind – they could sense that Plum was resisting the urge to say
something.
They couldn’t see anything done below.
However they felt a sensation as if their bodies were going to
be swept away in the wind, which meant that it was at
extremely high altitudes.
“So – now let’s begin the game with the two Master against
all the Flügel present.”
Behind Sora and Shiro, Jibril announced respectfully.
And behind her there were the gazes of almost a hundred
Flügel.
Despite this – once they were to enter the game, those gazes
wouldn’t be able to affect Sora and Shiro’s thoughts any
longer.
“This is the map of this version of Avant Heim.”
Shiro took one look at the map that was flapping about in the
wind and nodded.
While Jibril took a step back and bowed deeply.
“…Masters, thank you.”
“To be honest I’m not confident at all, but… we believe in
you, so you better not let us down!”
“…It’s natural…to care about family.”
Jibril and Sora and Shiro were engaged in a conversation only
the three of them could understand –
“”-「Aschente」-!!””
As Jibril and everyone else raised their hands and yelled this
single word:
Sora and Shiro leaped out of the hole in the wall.
In an instant, gravity took hold of the both of them, which was
a force no human body could resist.
Along with the strong winds outside, the two slowly –
descended at an increasing speed.
They couldn’t see what was beneath them, but whatever it was
there could only be one outcome – death.
When faced with this they were impossibly not uneasy nor
scared – why? Sora couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
“…Nii…”
Hearing his sister calling out for him, Sora looked to the side,
only to see that the other side of the scarf – had a single wing
growing out of it.
Sora confirmed that there was another similar wing on his back
through Shiro’s gaze.
“…Let’s go…”
- Yes – Sora smiled, they couldn’t possibly feel uneasiness nor
fear.
They grasped each other’s hands, and flapped their wings
together as one.
With a force even more powerful than an eagle’s – they broke
the shackles of gravity.
into such a deep sleep.
Chapter 1: Try
Part 1
“Waaaaaahhhhhh!!”
- The capital of the Elchean Federation, Elchea
The last fortress of the Imanity - The lowest-ranked among the
「Sixteen Races」
Until a mere few months earlier, it was a country on the brink
of extinction, being forced down to its last city.
However now it had annexed the large maritime country, the
「Eastern Union」, and was expanding its territory at a speed
never-before-seen.
A sharp, loud scream of agony came from the capital of a
nation that was slowly turning from a 「Nation」 to a
「Federation」.
- In an instant.
The workers within the city that were extremely busy froze for
a moment as though time had stopped completely, but it was
only for an instant, and they soon resumed their work,
seemingly as if nothing had ever happened.
Yep – it was a normal occurrence, and everyone there was used
to it.
Everyone knew that 「That person」 was probably yelling
again.
And the reason why that person was causing a commotion was
probably due to a reason as normal as it could get.
Sometimes a sympathetic atmosphere would billow over the
entire city, although everyone still had to return to their own
workstations afterward.
“Argh!! Are you an idiot? You’re an idiot! You are an idiot,
right!?”
The red-haired girl skilfully reconstructed her sentence thrice,
and yelled again.
- Stephanie Dora, commonly known as Steph.
She was the head of the Dora family, possessing the title of a
duchess, and she was the granddaughter of the late king as
well, being a blue blood princess.
She would definitely be a ladylike woman with incredible
potential in the future – however those features weren’t present
at all at that moment, and she had absolutely no way to explain
away the situation she was in.
She sat on a chair, scratching her head furiously, looked up and
roared loudly.
“…Who’s an idiot, des?”
This query was raised by the Werebeast that was sitting crosslegged
on the floor beside Steph – Hatsuse Izuna.
Her age appeared to be in the single-digit range, being a young
yukata-wearing girl with huge fox-like ears and a bushy tail.
The book in her hand was upside-down, however Steph didn’t
bother correcting her.
“I mean Sora and Shiro, no, it’s me!! What did I say – leave it
to me – argh!! Am I an idiot? I’m an idiot!!”
She continued yelling with her arms spread wide.
“Find the real reason why the Seirens Empress is hibernating
from the library of the late king!! Leave it to me!! Isn’t this
what an idiot would say!? How many books do you think there
are here!? And, what I want to say is!”
She stopped for a count, and surveyed the bookshelves that
covered all the surrounding walls.
“Why and how would I accept a task like searching for a book
which existence is unclear so easily!!”
They were in the secret room of the late king – his secret
library.
The late king had played the role of a foolish king in order to
research and find out the contents of the games of other nations
which involve magic or supernatural abilities, as well as how
the Imanity themselves could triumph over them.
The records that he had spent his life on – the inheritance of
this great man, was all displayed in this room, covering the
walls around them.
His great work was compiled in over a thousand books,
completely filling up the library.
Even though they were already arranged according to the date
written – there was yet to be any hint of when the late king had
approached the Seirens, so they could only inspect them one by
one. Steph let out an anguished cry upon realizing that was the
task they had to undergo, which was – what had happened
earlier.
And the worst part was –
Steph pointed towards Izuna with a pained expression on her
face but no tears to fully express it – the Werebeast who was
holding a book upside-down.
“What the heck does Sora think Izuna can do? She can’t even
understand Imanity!!”
“Steph-kou, you’re really loud, des. Doesn’t it look like I’m
learning now, des.” [1] - What?
“C-could you please wait? What did you call me just now?”
“…? Grandpa said that Steph is a duchess before, des.”
“Why did you have to shorten it!? It makes me feel extremely
insulted!” [2]
“…Why, des? Steph-kou.”
Izuna looked over at Steph with her head tilted.
“Ah, aaaaahhhhh, don’t insult me with your round, ignorant
eyes!? If I open the door to a new world by accident while
sleep deprived, how are you going to make it up to me!?”
Steph banged her head against the corner of a table in
frustration, however Izuna replied coldly:
“Steph-kou, stop it, let’s get to work, des. Grandpa is still
waiting for us, des.”
“…Guh…y-you’re right, there’s no use lamenting like this.”
Yes, her grandfather – Hatsuse Ino was being held hostage by
the Seirens.
Izuna was tired as well, but even she was trying her best to
learn the Imanity language, so Steph had no right to complain –
Steph took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself down.
After which she corrected Izuna.
“Speaking of which, Izuna…that book’s upside down.”
“…! I-I knew that, des. I-it was on purpose, of course. Des!?”
Izuna hurriedly flipped her book right side up, while Steph
continued to correct her.
“Also, even if you really didn’t mess up it’s fine, but the
Imanity language is different from the Werebeast language, it’s
read horizontally!”
“-? There’s a difference between reading horizontally and
vertically, des?”
Izuna widened her eyes with a curious expression on her face.
“…Izuna, I’ve never asked you before, but how old are you?”
Izuna began counting off numbers from her fingers slowly after
hearing the question.
She replied with an unconfident question:
“I…I’m supposed to start counting from zero, right?”
- Steph instantly understood.
It was completely reasonable that Izuna would be so close to
Sora and Shiro, because they were essentially the same kind of
people.
They were geniuses at video games, however they knew
nothing else other than that.
Steph sighed and passed her another book.
“…Izuna, you should start from this one.”
“What kind of book is this, des?”
“It’s a book that I used while I was still studying to learn the
Werebeast language, it’s in a game format between the two
countries –“
“Oh, I understand, des.”
Upon hearing the word game, Izuna immediately snatched the
book from her and began flipping through it at a furious pace.
Steph approved of her newfound motivation, and knew she was
actually trying her best.
But if she read that fast she probably wouldn’t understand
anything – Steph looked up at the ceiling and let out a long
sigh.
“A…anyway I need to search one by one –“
Just as Steph was undergoing her solemn revelation…
Grumble~~~~
She heard a noise and voice that made her revelation instantly
dissipate.
“-Steph-kou, I’m hungry, des. Bring food, des.”
As though a switch within her had been flicked, Izuna spoke
suddenly to Steph and closed her book with a loud smack.
She was motivated, energetic, and wanted to save her grandpa.
But despite that, she actually said – bring food.
Izuna requested that with her huge round eyes that didn’t carry
any malicious intent.
The young female Werebeast scratched her large ears with her
feet while continuously waving her bushy tail from left to right.
Steph was forced to make a decision upon seeing her
unbelievably cute appearance.
One, forget everything and just collapse.
Two, make food for this inexplicably cute creature.
After struggling with herself for some time – her sleepiness
finally succumbed to Izuna’s cuteness.
“A-alright… you can’t do anything with an empty stomach
anyway… I’ll just make something simple to eat with the
ingredients I have at hand.”
“Mm, I really want to eat fish, but I’ll restrain myself, you are
forgiven, des.”
Just like that, Steph dragged herself slowly out of the library.
…Coming back to the main topic, you all still remember that
this is Elchea, right?
At that time Steph could have just collapsed without a care in
the world and leave Izuna’s meals to the chefs in the kitchen,
however she had completely forgot about this selection. Steph
lifelessly trudged out of the library, while Izuna followed her
with her tail still waggling, and no-one bothered to remind
them about it.
Part 2
Let’s switch the scene – to twenty thousand meters in the air.
Sora began thinking at an altitude almost three times as high up
as the Himalayas.
How should he describe the scenery in front of him?
- First, please imagine a Rubik’s cube.
Then hand this Rubik’s cube that requires a certain level of
intelligence over to someone that is pretty far off from that
certain level of intelligence.
After being forcibly taken apart by a pair of pliers, the splinters
of the Rubik’s cube would then be splattered all about the
floor.
Now resist the urge to complain, and repeat those previous
actions about a thousand more times.
So? Do you get it now?
The scenery was arranged in such a fashion – which was the
scenery around Sora.
“Welcome to my hometown located on the back of the
Phantasmas, the floating city – Avant Heim.”
With her back facing the small mountain of splinters of
Rubik’s cubes.
Jibril introduced her 「City」 with a sweet smile on her face,
while Sora responded dumbly:
“Um, I’m pretty sure that all the cities I know of at least have
roads in them.”
The scenery around them was knitted and woven with
countless gigantic cubes stacked upon each other.
In the eyes of a renowned artist, there would probably be some
meaningful theme to it.
However, regretfully, the eighteen-year-old mortal virgin Sora
could only describe it with one word.
Which was – chaotic.
“Anyway, Jibril – let me say this about the Flügel.”
“…「Unobstructed spaces」…are important…”
- Sora and others began working at the same time as Steph and
Izuna.
To discover the true conditions to awaken the Empress of the
Seirens – so, in order to carry out comparison and evaluation
with people that had underwent the same game, they had went
to the one place in the world that stored the most information.
Which meant – the city of the Flügel, Avant Heim.
“Ah, Master, don’t stray too far away from me, as the air here
is somewhat thin.”
Sora and Shiro nodded complacently after hearing Jibril’s
words.
Also Sora had absolutely no idea of how they should proceed
from there.
“…Right, if only the Flügel stay here, there isn’t a need for
public transport services at all…”
In the 「City」 below them, there weren’t any doors,
windows, nor roads. To be honest, beings that could move
about without any form of restriction didn’t need those
things. Although they could understand that, the fact that the
entire place was constructed with huge, countless cubes denied
people any sense of perspective, and since they had nothing to
compare the place to they couldn’t gauge how exactly big it
was.
“…It’s not like a city…it’s more like a jigsaw puzzle…”
Shiro expressed her easily understandable thoughts, after which
she mumbled while looking up:
“…The sky is…blue?”
At twenty thousand meters up the place should be at the doors
of outer space, so they shouldn’t be able to see blue skies at
all…
“Avant Heim is a Phantasma ranked second among the
「Sixteen Races」. This race is ranked even higher than the
race that is the source of the Elemental Galleries in this world –
the Elementals, and they are organisms completely independent
from all normal forms of reproduction. To put it simply…
Avant Heim is another world entirely, that’s all you need to
know.”
Even though the air in the atmosphere didn’t seem to be
enough for her Masters – Jibril still continued to explain.
“”Hmm…I see – I don’t get it.””
Sora and Shiro nodded as one with the same focused
expression.
“No matter the Flügel or the Phantasma, you lot completely
refuse to work along terms comprehensible by others, and that
for some reason makes us feel relaxed.”
After a line of sarcasm, Sora looked towards the horizon, and
saw something under a particularly tall tree – could it be that
his eyes were deceiving him… probably not, there was
something underneath that appeared to be a dragon skull, and it
was decorated lavishly and carefully as well, then left there in
the open just like that –
“…Jibril, I don’t understand the art direction of this city at
all.”
“What!? This place will eventually be the throne of the
Masters, to think that you’d actually dislike it, it really makes
me disappointed…”
Hearing Sora’s grumbling, Jibril replied somewhat dispiritedly.
“Speaking of which, you should probably save this girl
right?”
Sora spoke while pointing towards –
“Aaaaahhhh, the sun! The sun! I’m going to melt! I’m going
to melt, burn and evaporate!”
Plum was crouching down with her body scrunched up into a
ball and her hood covering her face while crying continuously.
“Ah, I’m sorry… I completely forgot about you, are you still
alive?”
“I’ll be dead in a few seconds! My power is decreasing
drastically!!”
For a Dhampir like Plum the sunlight was fatal to them; and
she appeared to be barely fending off the sunlight with her
magic, but that magic itself seemed to be siphoning off even
more of her energy.
“That’s it, Jibril, it’s not good to keep Izuna and Steph
waiting, so just fly us over to the place where all the
information is concentrated. Also, for Plum, it would be best if
it’s indoors –“
“OK, so please grasp my arms, and then –“
She appeared somewhat nervous – but yet her expression was
simultaneously unreadable as well, and she grasped onto Sora
and Shiro’s arms and spoke:
“…Masters, I understand that it’s extremely rude for me to
raise such requests – but could you please agree to two requests
of mine?”
“…What is it, it’s rare that you’re this serious.”
“- Please don’t be disappointed, and please believe.”
…Sora didn’t understand her at all.
And Jibril merely spoke this one sentence, then shouted: “That
thing over there.”
“Y-yes!?”
Plum who was referred to as “That thing over there”, replied
with only her eyes showing themselves from beneath her hood.
“I don’t mind leaving you behind here – so could you please
hurry up?”
“Ah, I’ll be there right this instant, don’t leave me –“
Plum hurriedly stood up and dashed over, and in the instant she
grabbed onto Jibril – the scenery changed as well.
Part 3
There – it was probably within one of the cubes they had saw
from a distance earlier.
The place they were in was even more solemn and immense
than the Elchean National Library Jibril had hogged for herself
– it was a humongous library.
The high-perched ceilings appeared to stretch up to ten stories
high, and the interior was designed like an ancient ruin, with
stone-made pillars and stairs, intersecting corridors and curved
walkways with intertwining vines growing all over them.
And – those things that looked like 「Pillars」 were actually
bookshelves.
On the other hand, there was random memorabilia scattered
around the entire place as well, and stairs and walkways
arranged in impossible fashions like a surrealist M. C. Escher
painting were all over the place – and what lit them up was,
gigantic fixtures of painted glass that were definitely not on
any walls, as well as infinite amounts of floating lanterns.
It was a dream-like yet elegant place – but it was a
blasphemous library completely incomprehensible to the likes
of the Imanity.
But leaving that aside for now, Sora spoke while pointing up at
something:
“…Jibril, that was probably your doing, right?”
It was probably the effect of the large amount of air that Jibril
had transported for the sake of Sora and the others.
The library (of sorts) appeared to be ravaged by strong winds,
and large amounts of books were dancing about in mid-air in
spiral patterns.
However Jibril looked over at that with a smile on her face and
spoke:
“Don’t worry about it, Masters, the owner of this place is
the creator of the 《Book Equality Law》.”
Sora looked up at the dancing books, and remembered why
Jibril had took over the Elchean National Library – or rather,
the reason why she had left Avant Heim.
Due to the fact that they had collected too many books, the
books were overwhelming Avant Heim – and they chose to
deal with it by passing the 《Book Equality Law》 in the name
of eliminating unnecessary books.
“Her books are the Flügel’s books, I am a Flügel, so her
books are my books.”
Her triple conjugations proved her Takeshi idealism, and she
continued with a smile on her face: [3]
“Even if this small accident here was caused by me – or was
it on purpose? I believe that she has to consider all these factors
before she can 「Decide」, but of course she is extremely kind
and tolerant, being able to forgive my mistakes, of course.
Even if there are books within the stash there that cannot be
copied, reproduced and are the only remaining copies in this
world, that’s how it is ♥”
So she could only damage those books because she owned
them as well.
- Speaking of which, regarding the 《Book Equality Law》
from earlier, Jibril really couldn’t forgive its existence.
After which –
“Aaaaaahhh~! The books! All the books I haven’t
finished~~~~!!”
Everyone looked towards the source of this outcry.
While the one standing there was –
“…Whoa…”
Even Shiro couldn’t help but cry out in awe, and the person
standing there was – an extraordinarily beautiful young girl.
The halo spinning around on her head, and the wings stretching
out from her waist suggested that she was a Flügel just like
Jibril.
However the pattern drawn in the air by her spinning halo was
even more complicated than Jibril’s.
The largest difference between them was that she had a single
horn protruding from her jade-green hair.
Her wings that appeared to be woven from streaks of light
flapped in the air, and her appearance as she did so appeared
unbelievably sacred.
But her appearance as she was flying about and struggling to
collect all the books that were flapping about in the air, as well
as her expression that hinted she was about to cry, was
completely different from Jibril’s icy cold demeanour when
they had first met – instead she was extremely cute.
- Phew, phew…
She panted intentionally, then landed beside Jibril and spoke:
“Ugh~ Jii-chan you’re mean-nyan~”
A saddened expression appeared on her face which
immediately shifted to an angelic smile.
“Is this what I think it is-nyan? Is it those pranks that people
play on their loved ones-nyan? Aww~ Jii-chan I haven’t seen
you in so long~~ nyaaaaa!?”
Jibril brilliantly teleported away in order to dodge her flying
lunge towards her.
Upon seeing her crash into a pile of books, Jibril spoke blandly
from behind Sora:
“- Masters, I’ll introduce her to you, she’s the one that
approved the dastardly 《Book Equality Law》, the head of
the 「Council of the Eighteen Wings」 of Avant Heim, the
「Full Representative of the Winged」 that has the right to
make the final decisions regarding the country’s affairs –“
She sighed and continued –
“Azrael-senpai.”
- She introduced the motionless girl with half her body buried
in books to Sora.
…
“…How should I put this.”
“The Flügel…are interesting…”
That girl was the full representative of the race that was ranked
in sixth place, brought death with them wherever they went in
the past, and used to be god-killing weapons?
Sora and Shiro mumbled to themselves, having had their
expectations completely crushed.
- At this time, the young girl that was buried in the pile of
books earlier, maybe because she had teleported, she had
already hugged Jibril tightly while rubbing her violently with
her cheeks over a span of time so short that no-one present had
noticed.
“Nyan~ Jii-chan is so mean~ I haven’t seen you for so long,
but you’re still as cold as ever~~~~ but! That’s fine too!!”
“Azrael-senpai is as annoying as ever as well.”
Jibril spoke with a smile on her face despite having her cheeks
violently jerked about.
- Although Jibril would usually reply sarcastically, this time
she outright insulted her, which was rare.
“Nyan~ I’ve said I’m not your senpai, call me nee-san,
neeeeee-saaaaaannnn~~!!”
Azrael flew about in the air, drawing a figure-eight around
Jibril.
“Jibril isn’t a particularly good case but is it really ok for the
full representative of the Flügel to be someone like this?”
“…Nii…you have the right…to say that?”
Shiro looked coldly at Sora, however everyone present ignored
that line.
On the other hand, Jibril spoke coldly while being pestered,
harassed, and having her cheeks rubbed:
“Azrael-senpai, I gave a request for today, please allow the
Masters to browse the library –“
“I refuse-nyan~ unless you call me Nee-san, I’ll deny all
your requests~ ♪”
Jibril replied in frustration:
“If you explain why you’re rubbing my cheeks, and allow the
Masters to browse the library, I’ll consider it.”
“Because Jii-chan is cute! Explanation over, and I’ve allowed
them-nyan!! Alright, now call me Nee-san ♥ -“
She spoke while lunging towards her, while Jibril teleported
away from her outstretched hand.
“So Masters, I’ve already acquired her permission, please
browse this place freely. This is the personal library of the
「Representative of the Winged」, among which countless
books have been acquired through the cursed law by taking the
books of others, so there’s not a single place with more
information than here.”
“Y-you’re mean!! Jii-chan went back on Nee-san’s promise
with you-nyan~!?”
Azrael appeared devastated, and her voice was layered with
immense shock.
Jibril replied with a flawless smile once again.
“I said that I’d consider it, and after some consideration, I’
m not going to ♪”
“Waaaah~ Jii-chan never used to cheat others like this-nyan~
- and whose fault is this-nyan?”
- Glare~~~~
Her tear-filled eyes shot over to Sora.
The power in those eyes appeared as if that gaze alone could
kill.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Sora, this is my sister Shiro, please
take care of us.”
“…Take care…”
Those two completely ignored her gaze as they were used to it
from Jibril.
Upon seeing their reaction, Azrael let out an interested “Oh?”,
while Sora pointed at Azrael.
“What does she mean by Nee-san? Jibril, you’re the sister of
the full representative of the Flügel?”
“Yes-nyan ♥”
“Nope ♪”
Both of them replied without hesitation – and with truly sisterslike
smiles – they replied with completely opposite answers.
Jibril sighed and continued:
“The Flügel cannot reproduce, we have no sisters, no brothers
and no parents, there is only the order in which we were
created.”
“…Ah, so that’s why you call her Senpai.”
Which means, she was a being created even earlier than Jibril.
“Also, Azrael is the 「Representative of the Winged」, not
the 「Representative of the Flügel」.”
“…Is there a difference?”
“She’s merely the 「Senator」 of the 「Council of
Eighteen Wings」 with nine members, herself included.”
At this mention, Sora recalled what she had said earlier.
He remembered that before Jibril belonged to Sora’s posse,
she was a member of the 「Council of Eighteen Wings」.
“Basically she has the first say only when emergencies occur,
and another 「Right」 -“
Which meant – Jibril shook her head and smiled bitterly.
“She’s not great nor brilliant, so you don’t need to respect her
in any way.”
“…You’re really mean even to your own kind, huh, you
really haven’t changed at all…”
Probably because she was unhappy with her response, Azrael
puffed up her cheeks in rebuttal.
“That’s not how it is-nyan!! All of us were created by Artosh,
so our father is Artosh, and the earliest to be created was me,
Nee-san! The last one to be created, Jii-chan, is my imouto!
Isn’t this an unspoken fact-nyan!?” [4]
Upon hearing her words, Jibril’s bitter smile turned into one of
mockery, and she continued:
“- She raised a suggestion like that during one of the
meetings, which was completely rejected by all of the members
of the council, that’s how pitiful her intelligence is.”
“Be~cause~ if I don’t do that, Jii-chan won’t ever call me
Nee-san~ nyan~!”
“Everyone knows that, which was why they turned it down,
unless you’re telling me this is the first time you’re hearing of
this?”
Jibril’s tone was as cold as ever, while Azrael hugged her once
again and began showing off her little sister with a smile on her
face.
“Jii-chan she is~ among the children created in the Great War
she is the 「Final Unit」-nyan ♪”
She laughed cheerily, while Jibril on the other hand sighed
deeply in frustration.
“The children created in the later stages, since they were
created when Artosh-sama was at full power, have a power that
is completely indescribable by children like me created during
the middle stages of the war-nyan~!! However~ the strong
children were all fighting on the front lines – so everyone died
in the 「Final battle」…”
Azrael’s spirits momentarily dipped, and if the person she was
hugging happened to be an Imanity, that person would
definitely burst like a balloon. She continued while hugging her
only surviving sister.
“Jii-chan is the only final-stage unit that survived after the
「Battle」, and she’s the 「Final Unit」 as well-nyan!
She’s everybody’s imouto, and what a cute imouto she isnyan!
It should be made a law to call her that, so why doesn’t
everyone understand?”
She once again began flying about in figure-eight shapes
cheerily.
Jibril squinting her eyes in disgust was a rare sight as well, but
–
“…Jibril…to deal with her…disturbing…precious
recordings…”
Shiro spoke while lifting up her smartphone, and began taking
a video of the angels.
On the other hand, Sora was pondering another question.
He closely observed Azrael’s innocent and cheerful smile –
“…This is a pain, at this rate I’ll need to change the plan…”
He mumbled to himself disappointedly.
- Glare.
Hearing his softly spoken words, Azrael kept smiling – but
then looked towards Sora with a powerful gaze.
“- So, are you the one that snatched my beloved Jii-chan away
from us-nyan?”
“Huh, to say a virgin snatched a lover from someone, your
question is pretty hard to answer.”
Sora replied indignantly, with his head lifted and chest
protruding, at the same time appearing dignified, tragic and
powerful.
Azrael stepped closer.
“Oh -….”
“…Huh?”
It was impossible to react to that, as it was a step that ignored
all boundaries of distance.
The step itself took multiple instants before Sora and Shiro
realized what was happening, and they cried out in surprise.
- In that instant.
A silent shock emanated from Jibril’s body that caused the
library to quake.
Sora had initially suspected that she had used magic, however
after hearing what the two said after that –
“…Senpai, if you even so much as touch a hair on my
Masters’ heads – I’ll just say you might want to reconsider it.”
“Really now~ Jii-chan you don’t need to be so tense~ there
are the 「Ten Pledges」 anyway-nyan.”
- Sora realized, she had merely unleased a slight bit of
「Malicious intent」.
Just how much did Jibril restrain her power under normal
circumstances –
As they got an extremely small glimpse of Jibril’s 「True
power」, Sora and Shiro felt cold sweat running down their
cheeks.
And Azrael didn’t seem to mind that 「Slight malicious
intent」, instead she turned around to face Sora.
With those jade-green eyes – eyes that were impossibly
different from Jibril’s – she spoke while glancing at Sora:
“I wish to make something clear.”
“- Yeah, what is it?”
- Her gaze this time, was completely incomparable to her gaze
from earlier.
A sudden crushing sense of malice filled the room, causing the
air in the library to freeze, giving them the impression that the
very universe itself was being affected.
If they were to answer incorrectly – they would die
immediately.
This world has the 「Ten Pledges」.
Jibril was awaiting their orders by the sidelines.
- Despite this, they were unable to relax.
Azrael’s gaze gave them that impression, after which she
spoke:
“As long as you command it, Jii-chan will call me 「Neechan
♥」 right-nyan?”
…
…?
False alarm – no, Sora felt a sinking feeling that gave him the
impression that as long as he were to relax, his very soul would
escape him.
The very reason why he was barely standing was because Shiro
was clutching his hand in fear.
However, Azrael ignored him and continued emotionally.
“E-even like she licked the feet of the E-Elves, she could like
mine – or shower with me or something! N-no, I won’t force
her to do something like that!! For example you could allow
me to watch or something –“
- How could she have known that? Sora felt suspicious,
however he took out his smartphone from his pocket and
replied:
“…If you want videos of Jibril showering, I have videos –“
“I’ll bet the Flügel’s race piece for that! Give it to me-nyan!!”
- An impossibly loud sound could be heard in that twentythousand-foot
high altitude.
“Azrael-san, please calm down, you don’t have the right to do
that. To bet the race piece, you need to consult the decision of
the「Council of Eighteen Wings」 right? I think your request
will be unanimously denied once again ♥”
“U-ugh~~…! – Nyan?”
Jibril’s tone of voice didn’t carry any sense of apprehension
despite her adding a small (giggle) at the end of the sentence,
however Azrael –
“Wait a second-nyan… noises of gears rumbling are coming
from my head! My brain is currently working at light-speeds,
it’s the most active it’s been in my, Azrael’s twenty-sixthousand
years-nyan!”
- Azrael let slip her incredibly long lifespan just like that while
appearing as though considering something.
Finally she raised her head up all of a sudden, seemingly
having got an idea.
“- Right-nyan!! You…your name is Sora right!?”
“Ah, yes.”
“I’ll be your possession as well-nyan! My judgement dictates
that if that happens I can shower with Jii-chan!!”
“The worst idea you’ve had in twenty-six-thousand years,
great job on that hard work, Azrael-san.”
Jibril smiled a smile that couldn’t even be described with the
adjective cold, as it carried hints of disappointment as well, and
she mocked Azrael.
However – Shiro glanced silently over at her brother.
Azrael had nonchalantly raised her personal freedom as a
condition – just as Jibril had said, she wasn’t the representative
of the Flügel, and so even if they were to acquire her, they
wouldn’t acquire the Flügel race.
Although it would be no easy feat to play against the Flügel.
Azrael even hinted that she would 「Intentionally lose」, also
it would be a rather beneficial decision to have her as an asset.
Also her brother’s intention included absorbing the Flügel as
well.
On this train of thought, Shiro looked over at her brother as
though to confirm her suspicions –
“…?”
She found that Sora had completely lost interest and had
calmed down, after which she looked over curiously at Azrael.
Her face still had that enchanting smile on it – an overly perfect
smile.
“…Ah…” – understanding what her brother’s expression
meant, Shiro nodded slightly.
Sora sighed unexpectedly, turned around and walked away.
“…It’s rare of you to say such things, but this sort of thing
should wait until next time…”
“Eh~~… Jii-chan’s naked body –“
Azrael refused to give up, and Sora grasped Shiro’s hand and
spat.
“…I bragged to Steph earlier that I would acquire three races,
but now I’ll have to apologize to her.”
Looking over at Azrael, Sora – glanced at her with a truly
disappointed gaze and said:
“- This one’s useless, Jibril alone is fine.”
Ignoring Azrael’s squinted gaze, Sora and Shiro proceeded to
the mountains of bookshelves.
“So Jibril, we can browse the books here right?”
“…Yes, Azrael-senpai has approved of it.”
Sora nodded and surveyed his surroundings.
Books, books, books… it was a giant city made up of nothing
but books.
And within his line of sight, he could see that on the back of
countless books, there was – writing of multiple languages he
didn’t know.
“Since my original expectations were crushed, it looks like
we’ll have to tough it out… forget it, let’s try our best, Shiro.”
“…Mm.”
The two agreed and disappeared in the piles of books, while the
two Flügel watched them go in silence.
Part 4
Azrael sat cross-legged on one of the piles of books and put her
head in her hands.
“Mm~ I wanted to use myself as bait to get Jii-chan, could it
be that the bait was too big-nyan?”
She coldly revealed the reason why Sora’s expectations were
crushed.
No doubt, Azrael’s thoughts were completely different from
her demeanour, as she didn’t believe nor trust Sora.
To get Jibril back, all she wanted them was to fall into her trap.
- As for why Jibril called them her Masters, she had no interest.
“…You really haven’t changed, Azrael.”
Azrael’s expression twitched slightly upon having her name
called directly like that, and she replied calmly:
“Jii-chan can even talk back to people such as me and Artoshsama,
so it’s impossible that you would serve under mere
Imanity-nyan. As long as it’s by the pledges, sealing one’s
intentions or making one a puppet should be easy-nyan.
Anyway those two must have won by pure luck, so you’re
being forced to follow them, right-nyan? To be honest –“
She looked directly into Jibril’s eyes.
“- Jii-chan has changed.”
Jibril replied Azrael’s words with a cold smile.
“Yes, I have changed…whereas you can’t.”
“…”
“As for how I was defeated in that challenge, you have
nothing to say – my expectations were all for nothing.”
Jibril smiled faintly in betrayal, and continued coldly:
“…The reason why I defied my late Master (Artosh) and you,
is because – I just can’t take your personalities anymore – too
stubborn, so…”
She hesitated slightly, should she say it? Or –
Jibril decided to go with it.
She knew Azrael would take offense more than anyone.
Despite this – she decided that she would tell her, so she did.
“Which is why we lost, and until now – you still won’t
change.”
Hearing these words, Azrael’s smile completely vanished.
To be honest – Azrael’s expression was like a cold puppet.
No, it was a completely different existence with Azrael’s
appearance – and it spoke:
“- 「Final Unit」, hast thou discovered the 「Answer」?”
Jibril looked at that existence with a gaze of pure hate, and she
spoke to it, almost spitting her words:
“- Yes, or more correctly, I found it long ago, it’s just that I
didn’t have concrete evidence.”
“…”
“So now I must help the Masters find what they need, so –
that’s it.”
Jibril turned away, leaving behind the silent existence.
- …
“…What do you think-nyan?”
- You had to ask.
“…Yes-nyan, but what if you’re wrong?”
- You don’t have to ask, you know already.
“…That’s right-nyan…”
- 「First Unit」, I completely trust in your decision, not just
me, but everyone else.
“I know, nyan…”
I know… she told herself that repeatedly.
Azrael was speaking in reply to – the will of the Phantasma
(Avant Heim) residing within her.
Azrael merely looked at the people who were searching
through the books –
She could only ask again when they made a move.
Part 5
“…No, we won’t make it at this rate.”
Standing before a gigantic pile of books, Sora realized that
their efforts were futile after a mere half-hour.
“Shiro, how many languages of this world have you learnt?”
“…Only…the Imanity, Werebeast and Elven languages…”
Shiro mumbled nonchalantly, and Sora caressed her head
lovingly.
For Sora who could barely learn the Imanity language, that
stunning learning pace just simply couldn’t be described with
「Only」.
But, despite that –
“Jibril, which languages are these?”
“It’s the Dwarven and Demon languages, I can vaguely
understand them…”
…Right, the only one that could understand all the books there
would be Jibril.
Even though Shiro could learn foreign languages at
incomprehensible speeds, the books here alone were in the
millions, so relying on this few people to search for
information here would be impossible, which was obvious
from the very start.
“…Jibril.”
“Yes.”
“There’s no time, if we take too long, Ino’s life will be in
danger. Even if we have a lifeline, if the Seirens think we’re
genuinely running away, we’ll be in big trouble – can’t you get
some help?”
They had no time to sit here and slowly gather information, as
they needed to challenge the Empress once more as soon as
possible.
Because of that – Sora had originally intended to rely on
Azrael to gather help –
However his hopes were crushed as soon as he realized Azrael
didn’t have any intention of the sort.
The expression Sora saw on Azrael’s face, wasn’t that of a
knowledgeable Flügel – nor was it something like Jibril’s who
was a collective of both curiosity and intelligence, nor was she
a trigger-happy person.
It – was only –
“…I can get help, but I fear it may not be what you’re
expecting.”
Yes, that would be Azrael’s intentions, but –
“There’s no other way, so let’s do what she wants since we
don’t have the time to just sit here – Shiro.”
“…Mm.”
- Sora made a once-in-a-blue-moon fidgety gesture – he
nibbled on his fingernails, and Shiro replied as well.
“- Since your original expectations were crushed, we can only
adapt to the situation at hand, so we’ll need you to cooperate.”
“…OK…”
Part 6
“Hey, Azra…el?”
Sora decided to call upon Azrael, but froze momentarily
instead.
- Probably because she had turned the scenery in the Eastern
Union or the things within her knowledge into reality.
She was just like the Japanese hikikomoris Sora knew – which
included Sora and Shiro themselves – exactly like that, she was
buried in a kotatsu-like thing, with her head covered within a
blanket, staring at a projector (television) that had only static
on it –
“…What is it-nyan…? What is it so important that you have
to bother someone useless like me-nyan?”
What a waste of energy – Azrael made the surroundings on her
appear dark and gloomy in an attempt to accentuate her
sadness.
Faced with her overly exaggerated acting skills, Sora instead
felt admiration, after which he spoke with a deadpan
expression:
“- Ah~ um, you know about the hibernating Empress of the
Seirens right?”
“Nyaaaaa…that idiot that was influenced by fairy tales and
pushed two races including herself to the brink of extinction in
the span of a single generation, leaving even the shellfish
speechless? Everyone knows-nyan~…”
Azrael replied under her blanket.
- While looking at her halo that was spinning about above her
blanket, Sora continued while experiencing indescribable
feelings:
“Y-yes, that’s her, we’re looking for the records of the
conditions she set before starting her game.”
“…If that’s you want, Jii-chan knows as well-nyan! It’s
「She will continue hibernating as long as she hasn’t fallen in
love」-nyan.”
“Yes, but – that’s fake.”
Hearing her words, Azrael’s eyes lit up with a sharp glint as
though forgetting her previous depressed act.
“Oh! Is that why everyone lost-nyan? So what’s the actual
conditions-nyan?”
- That fellow was a Flügel after all.
“That’s what I want to know, so I’m looking for all available
records of people that have carried out games with her, and the
exact words the players were told for comparison.”
“Oh~….”
Azrael stared into space for a moment, after which she replied
coldly:
“About that, if you’re looking for records, they’re placed in a
certain somewhere, look for it yourself, and I’ll inform you
again if you have a definitive goal.”
But – no doubt, she was different from Jibril.
“Yes, but there’s too many books, we don’t have time, so
where are all the related records –“
“I don’t know at all-nyan! Ahahahahaha~”
…
“Because of the 《Equality Law》-nyan~ After lending those
books out countless times, even I don’t know where they arenyan~♪”
“Do you understand now? Master, this is exactly why I left
my hometown.”
Probably because she had forgotten she was supposed to be
acting depressed, Azrael laughed cheerily while Jibril was
completely solemn.
“…Since you all live to collect books, you should at least
keep them properly…”
“Hmm? That’s wrong-nyan, our aim is to collect
「Knowledge」, 「Books」 are actually nothing to us-nyan. I
even think that as long as we can memorise the contents of the
books, throwing them away is fine as well; but since the people
who haven’t read them would be angry, we didn’t do thatnyan~”
“Do you understand now? Master, this is exactly it! The
reason why I left my hometown.”
Jibril smiled a smile that indicated she would strike at any
moment as she explained to Sora once again.
- Sora now understood, all she was focused on was
「Knowledge」-
「As for what that meant」…Sora couldn’t restrain his
laughter, however he didn’t bother explaining it, and instead
asked Azrael:
“So, what should I do?”
“Hmm~ just let the people that are in charge of the books’
locations to search for them! There are some others that are just
as close-minded as Jii-chan, so as long as they’re willing to,
you should be able to get all of them-nyan~”
“Mm, so I’ll leave it to –“
“I’m not in the mood-nyan~”
Seemingly wishing to appear sad once again, Azrael spoke
while burying herself under the blanket once more:
“I can allow my cute imouto’s toys to wander about
everywhere, but I have no obligation to take care of you all. I
have no value in being your companion, and even Jii-chan
called me an idiot, so I’m very depressed now-nyan~ I’m very
hurt-nyan~ So I don’t want to do anything-nyan~”
Sora slowly passed her his phone.
“Even if I show you videos of Jibril in the shower?”
“----------No.”
“If you agree now, I’ll throw in the offer of her calling you
「Nee-san」 then?”
“---------------------------N…no deal.”
Azrael replied while sweating furiously, as though she was
engaging in mortal combat with something.
She squeezed out her words while breathing heavily, seemingly
undergoing some brutal training.
“I-I’m very~~ hurt now-nyan – something like that… ah, no,
I’m not dismissing Jii-chan as something beneath me-nyan! It’s
just that I’m too hurt, so I need something more than that – um,
you should know…what I mean right?”
Cheh – Sora grumbled silently.
He saw that amongst Azrael’s deception and lies – only her
devotion to Jibril was real, which was the reason why he
played his trump card but to no avail.
At this rate, his actions would be limited.
Facing an opponent such as the Flügel? Having the opponent
have the upper hand in a game still yet unknown to them? –
What a joke.
“- To be honest, I don’t care what happens to you, so if those
stupid fish, mangy mutts and bald monkeys want to go extinct
just let them, at the most we’ll just get a few more books
describing their downfall-nyan. For me, it’s advantageousnyan.”
Her gaze fell upon Sora.
“To someone immortal like me…people like you who die in
the blink of an eye don’t even deserve the value of a 「Fairy
tale」. You want me to help? Why do I have to-nyan?”
- But he couldn’t let her have the upper hand, as if she did it
would be all over.
If Azrael insisted on playing mind games – bring it on.
“So that’s how you really are, which is why I said you’re
useless, can’t you even detect my mockery? 「Dead
man」.”
Sora replied with determination but at the same time in pride –
and hearing his words, Azrael’s expression changed.
“A tool used by no one, a puppet with no value, I’ll assume
that’s a pretty enjoyable life you’re living there.”
“-…”
“It’s fine, since when we’ve taken over the world, people
like you would definitely say something like 「Please allow
me to join」 right? Because you all only know how to follow
along with where the wind blows. Jibril, we’ll think of a way
ourselves, so let’s go find your friends one by one –“
Sora stood up and turned to leave.
“…You dare to pick an argument with me, don’t tell me
you’re running away now?”
- She took the bait, Sora smiled to himself.
“Argument? Hah! Only equals can argue with each other.”
“Oh… I didn’t think that you’d be so self-conscious about it,
you’re worthy of some commendation after all.”
“- The one that’s on the lower rank is you of course, did you
get up on the wrong side of the bed today? Airhead.”
“….Very good-nyan, who’s afraid of who-nyan.”
After which she raised her hand and announced.
“「Kill and plunder for the things that you desire, for that is
tantamount to the decree of heaven」-nyan!”
…
-…Hearing her extremely crass words, Sora and Shiro halfclosed
their eyes.
“…What kind of words are those…?”
“Ah, Masters, that’s a Flügel idiom so it’s fine if you don’t
know it.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Not an argument – but we’ll play a game-nyan, it’s just that
–“
Ignoring Sora and Jibril’s conversation, Azrael snapped her
fingers.
“「All of us」 will play a game together with Jii-chan’s
friends that you’re looking for, then you can ask for their
help.”
- In an instant.
Everyone present was teleported with a force that even Jibril
couldn’t resist.
And what they saw after the scenery had changed was –
- A long banner with the words ‘Kuuhaku「」 Autograph
and Handshake Fan Meeting’ written on it.
Countless Flügel were setting up the place –
“…We were tricked -!!”
As almost a hundred gazes fell upon them simultaneously, Sora
understood instantly.
- She merely pretended to be provoked – which means, he lost
in the mind games department.
But, as compared to this, the gazes that were upon him nearly
made Sora and Shiro black out.
However – the questions that were festering in his mind caused
him to stay conscious.
It was a card that none of them had expected.
Although since Sora had already shut his ears and was prepared
to faint, he didn’t hear any of it.
It was probably the sound of a girl yelling for help, and the
sound covered the entire area like an explosion.
Under the countless approaching gazes, Sora asked in a
trembling voice:
“Hey, Jibril, what…is this? What is this-aaaaahhhhh!”
Sora yelled while frantically hugging Shiro whose eyes were
already rolling up into the whites, while Jibril clapped her
hands once and replied:
“Ah, I forgot, in order for them to deal with the Eastern
Union, I took the Masters’ 「Bible (Observation Diary)」and
passed it to them, in order for faster transmission of
information –“
Jibril giggled and continued:
“I even gave them complimentary autograph vouchers,
handshake vouchers, date vouchers and sleepover vouchers,
don’t forget all the various and dream-like special items –“
“Don’t use that sort of dirty methods!! Like that even if
repeated buyers increase, the buyer penetration rate wouldn’t
increase, right!?”
“…I see, I wanted to say that we would sell a large amount of
copies but there seems to be an eerily small amount of people
here, so that’s the reason. Next time I’ll think of an even more
profitable method – or rather, a more effective way of passing
information.
Jibril’s face was full of determination, and she began furiously
writing down stuff on a notebook, however Sora continued:
“Wait a minute Jibril! You have to report to me when you’re
doing things like this!!”
- No wonder Azrael knew a suspiciously large amount of
information regarding them.
But since the reason for that was due to their own comrade,
how were they supposed to win at their mind games?
To make it clear, the hundred Flügel present there were all Sora
and Shiro’s 「Fans」.
Looking over at them once more, Sora almost fainted again,
however Jibril smiled –
“No problem, Masters, you’ve won this time.”
“Huh? What?”
- Jibril spoke while looking sharply over at Azrael.
“~~~~~~~~~~~~~~”
“~~~~~~~~~~~”
“~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~”
“~~~~~~~~”
- That was probably the Flügel language.
The two of them were conversing in a language that Sora and
Shiro couldn’t understand.
But for some reason –
The hall that was filled with a woman’s screams of help since
earlier…
The atmosphere suddenly changed, and what replaced it was a
suffocating silence.
“- Um~ Jibril-san? I have a bad feeling about this, what are
you guys talking about?”
“Ah, sorry Master, we’re done talking so I’ll tell you now.”
Jibril turned around.
“Just as Azrael-senpai said, we’ll recruit these people’s help
to find our information.”
Jibril spoke with a smile on her face to the trembling Sora and
Shiro.
“Essentially speaking, we just have to defeat all of them in a
game ♪”
“Jibril, do you know how much effort we put into just
defeating you alone – who can beat such a large amount of
Flügel?”
“…Shiver.”
The two were demophobic and anthropophobic in the first
place…
Not to mention that they had to face off almost a hundred
Flügel in Materialization Shiritori, so they would definitely not
be able to survive.
Just imagining it – made Sora and Shiro’s faces pale in fear.
“No, that means 「Defeating all of them at once」, luckily
the opponent’s demands aren’t that huge.”
“Yep, you just need to play against everyone here-nyan.”
“If you win, everyone will help you collect the books that
you’re looking for. If you lose, I’ll let the Masters choose
whether you want the autograph or handshake events. These
are the conditions we set down earlier.”
Damn –
The hall was filled with women’s voices crying for help once
more, and Sora and Shiro were at the verge of fainting.
“Jibril…do you want us to die…?”
“…Jibril…we…trusted you…”
The siblings were trembling non-stop like newborn deer.
“Please relax – the Masters won’t lose, and –“
Jibril looked over at Azrael.
Azrael clapped her hands once.
“We can’t possibly play Shiritori with this many people, so
let’s play - 「Red light, Green light」.”
“- Jibril, let me ask you again – do you want us to die?”
“…Tremble.”
Playing red light, green light against the Flügel?
They could fly and teleport freely, so if there was a place
beyond their grasps…
That was basically hinting at 「The afterworld」.
While Azrael cut off his train of thought.
“But the normal version of red light, green light is too boringnyan,
so –“
“In conjunction with the nature of the Flügel – we’ll use a
「Word Game」 to play it.”
Jibril raised up her palm as she said this.
On her raised palm, just like a vortex –
Forty-six characters woven from light appeared on it.
Sora knew those characters – those were the forty-six –
katakana.
Jibril threw those characters over to Azrael.
“Hmm~? Are these the letters of your world? Are there
consonants?”
Azrael closely pondered the characters, then began moving her
hand about in a complex fashion.
- Although Sora couldn’t detect magic, the ground began to
shake about as if something was hoisting it up from
underneath, so they guessed that there was a gigantic spell
being activated.
“Alright, I’m done-nyan, so let’s get started-nyan?”
As she said this, the katakana – the forty-six characters from ア
(a) to ン (n), on Azrael’s hand – converted to light…
And they dissolved simultaneously, automatically distributing
themselves individually amongst the hundred Flügel females.
After ensuring that all the characters were assigned, Azrael
then said:
“The rules are simple, I have just transported the characters to
a certain location on each of the women present.”
- Forty-six characters, and with the participants almost entering
the hundreds, there was no way to tell who had which
characters.
“The game is Red light, Green light, so for your convenience
I’ve specially banned teleportation from being used within the
game.”
- After that…
“If you both get caught by these children you lose, and if you
manage to evade them for an hour it will be considered a
victory.”
“As long as you touch the shifting characters – that is if you
manage to do it while not getting caught, the characters will be
transferred to the Masters.”
Jibril spoke with a smile on her face as if to continue Azrael’s
explanation.
As she finished, she threw two characters over to Azrael.
“When characters combine they become 「Word Spirits」.”
Azrael raised her hand as an example, and the two letters -
「コ (ko) 」 and「タ (ta) 」, began spinning around on her
wrist, and she said:
“After you touch the 「Word Spirits」, their meanings will
become reality – no matter whether it’s a concept or an
object, you can even shift their states at will.”
“”Oh.””
In the instant that she said that, Sora and Shiro – saw the
future.
Azrael combined the two characters in her hand – and then –
“- Nyaaaaaahhhhhh what is this, it’s disgusting aaaahhhhhh!!
Nyaaaaahhhhh!!”
A gigantic - 「OctopusTa•ko」[5]materialized and its
tentacles wrapped around –
The future Sora and Shiro saw became reality, meanwhile
Azrael rolled around on the floor while yelling.
“Ah, Senpai you really are something, what with combining
characters of a language you don’t know to entertain us.”
Jibril laughed coldly beside her, while Azrael probably
genuinely felt disgusted.
In an instant – with a huge boom, the space about them
exploded and the squid disappeared along with the characters.
“J-just like that, nyan?”
Sora and Shiro looked at her speechlessly with their eyes half
open, while Azrael pretended as if nothing had happened.
“You can turn the meanings of the words into reality-nyan, no
matter whether it’s a thing, a phenomenon or a concept, it will
appear just the same-nyan.”
“Also, since Senpai didn’t know what the words I passed
her meant, what materialized was my impression of the words
that I passed to her. In the actual game, the ones that can use
the 「Word Spirits」 are the Masters alone ♪”
“…”
She replied cheerily and nonchalantly, confessing that she had
played a prank on Azrael.
However Azrael didn’t seem to mind either, and she coughed
and continued:
“But – once the words are used once they will disappear, so I
suggest that you use them carefully-nyan!”
-…
“The explanation’s over, do the Masters have any questions?”
“A lot – such as how we run away, if you don’t know this by
now I’ll tell you. Humans can’t fly.”
“Tremble.”
“…I apologize, Masters, I was originally going to help out –
but I cannot participate in this time’s game.”
Her two Masters appeared surprised, while Azrael laughed and
said to them:
“If you wish to borrow Jii-chan’s strength it won’t be
considered as a competition-nyan, since no one will be able to
catch you. It was already very generous on our part to allow
you to use the 「Word Spirits」, so –“
Azrael giggled and…
“The Dhampir hiding over there, please lend them your
wings.”
…She looked over to the side.
- Just like that.
Plum was dragged out into plain sight as her invisibility spell
was crushed like glass.
“…Eh? E-eh~~~~~~!? W-why was I noticed!?”
“…You really are something – your presence was erased to a
notable degree.”
- Even Sora and Shiro had forgotten her existence, and Jibril
spoke respectfully.
Azrael stood beside Jibril and asked Plum:
“Hey, even if you’re a useless species that can’t even be
compared to a mosquito, if you put your back into it, there
shouldn’t be a problem in creating a spell that gives the user
wings right-nyan?”
- Azrael asked her question in a disrespectful tone even more
prideful than a god’s.
On the other hand, Plum replied boldly despite trembling in
fear of death.
“E-eh~~ i-if you want me to let them fly at a speed of a
Flügel that would be impossible… The force of the shock
would disintegrate not just them, but me as well, also my
power is running out –“
Azrael continued to smile.
“If you’re tired you can just extract body fluids from those
two-nyan!”
“I will dedicate myself to create wings for you two!”
Plum’s attitude changed faster than the speed of sound, and she
bowed respectfully at the both of them, however –
“No, wait a minute, why do we have to agree to this –“
…As Sora was about to say that, he stopped at Jibril’s gaze.
- Please don’t be disappointed, and please believe –
He saw the girl that had told him that sincerely with an
expectant yet disappointed gaze.
And, as he shifted his gaze, he saw the empty girl who was like
an uninhabited shell, who was smiling but looked like a dead
person.
“Kill and plunder for the things that you desire, for that is
tantamount to the decree of heaven – that’s the kind of
「Game」 it is-nyan?”
“…”
The uneasy gaze with a soul residing within it, and an empty
puppet-like smile.
What Sora saw there was – a scene exactly the same as earlier
– but…
- Game, this word made Sora and Shiro’s eyes light up, and
their brains cooled down at extreme speeds.
Rules, victory conditions, and Azrael’s intentions, all those
things swirled about and combined themselves at furious
speeds within their heads.
“…Nii.”
Shiro who was doing the exact same thing appeared noticeably
uneasy, however Sora nodded his head at her, and told her – I
know.
It was a noticeably different 「Game」 than they had taken
part in previously.
The game would have to end before it began.
Kuuhaku「」 followed this golden rule, however this game
was –
It was a game challenged by the opposition, a game that they
had not taken into account for, which meant that it was a game
where the opponent had the upper hand.
It was also a game with undisclosed conditions that were
hidden in the Flügel language.
It was also a game with rules intentionally prepared to be
disadvantageous towards them.
This game was too dangerous, too suspicious, they didn’t have
enough information, so they shouldn’t be agreeing to it at all.
“…Masters…please, please believe me.”
Within her wavering gaze there lay a preparation to even
receive punishment.
But – it was also a gaze that completely believed that Sora and
Shiro would win, and it was with that in mind that Jibril had
prepared the game.
“- Let me confirm the conditions.”
Sora glanced over at Jibril, and asked with his mind completely
calm.
And Shiro who was looking up at him uneasily since earlier,
upon seeing Sora so decisive, decided to follow along with his
decision.
The uneasiness in her eyes vanished, and she merely
concentrated in order to sharpen her thinking.
Just like that, Sora and Shiro ignored Jibril who closed her eyes
in a gesture of gratitude beside them.
The two began deducing all the things they needed to take into
consideration – their brains spun about violently, pondering
this game which they had not anticipated earlier, even
anticipating things that they wouldn’t be able to anticipate
beforehand.
“- First, Shiro and I will have to hold hands throughout the
entire game, and this is a definitive condition.”
“…Let Plum make…wings.”
“Yes, Shiro and I will each have one side of a pair of wings
that will move according to our thoughts, this is a definitive
condition.”
“…Plum…you can do it…you have to do it.”
Shiro’s sentence turned from a question to an order, and Plum
replied with her head drooped low in sadness.
“Eh, that…? T-that will be an extremely complex spell, if
possible I don’t –“
“I don’t care what the shape is like, but over the course of that
period I will permit you to lick off my sweat.”
“Leave it to me!! I will show you the true power of the
Dhampirs – hah!!”
She replied with a completely unnecessary burst of energy.
In an instant Plum’s wings turned blood-red, and complex
patterns appeared within her eyes.
Plum began conjuring a particularly complicated spell, and
changed her appearance into –
…A scarf.
The scarf billowed in the wind gently, and landed on Sora and
Shiro’s necks.
Sora and Shiro were connected to each other like two people
under a single long scarf.
“P-phew…I-I disguised my existence on the physical
plane…!! A-at this rate…t-the two ends of the scarf…should
have the capabilities of a pair of wings -!!”
Just as the first time she had met Sora, she did the same thing
to their luggage as well, and Plum transformed herself into a
flying scarf.
In that atmosphere where even the Flügel expressed their
admiration, Sora could almost see Plum puffing out her flat
chest in pride.
- Although she was panting heavily.
The scarf connecting Sora and Shiro’s necks spread out at its
two sides…
It drew a pattern in the air of blood trickling, and wove itself
into wings. Sora nodded…
And asked the remaining question:
“- After which… transform Avant Heim into a place where
Shiro, Plum and I can move about freely without restriction.
Also, even though we have wings, we don’t know how to use
them, so I request that after we leave – the game will only start
five minutes after…do you have any problems with that?
Shiro.”
“…Mm, no problem.”
- At this time all of them took a deep breath, and it wasn’t
because the two of them had experienced such a drastic change
in character…
Instead it was because he had only requested five minutes of
extra time.
“There’s no problem right?”
Jibril turned around and asked Azrael and the Flügel crowds
behind her.
Using a never before used power, with a measly forty-four
characters as weapons, the Imanity would have to avoid the
onslaught of a hundred Flügel.
If they could do it – all of them swallowed their saliva at once.
“…Mm, there’s no problem-nyan, although I feel it’s a bit too
lenient-nyan…”
Azrael spoke, appearing to be the only one that hadn’t grasped
the situation.
Her fingertips shifted gently – after which a giant explosion
occurred.
“- I’ve already turned Avant-kun (Avant Heim) into a place
befitting of your conditions – so now we can begin right?”
Azrael dismissed rewriting the appearance of another world
entirely as though it were as easy as drawing a sketch.
She snapped her fingers once more, and the walls began
shifting silently – and a gigantic hole appeared.
…From the hole in the wall, the entire city of Avant Heim
could be seen.
Maybe because Azrael had shifted the position of the sun, or
simply because some time had passed, it was night-time
outside.
There was no sunlight, which made it an optimal environment
for Plum.
They stuck their heads out of the gap to examine the conditions
outside – Sora and Shiro grasped each other’s hands tightly.
The scarf on their necks that was being blown about in the
wind – they could sense that Plum was resisting the urge to say
something.
They couldn’t see anything done below.
However they felt a sensation as if their bodies were going to
be swept away in the wind, which meant that it was at
extremely high altitudes.
“So – now let’s begin the game with the two Master against
all the Flügel present.”
Behind Sora and Shiro, Jibril announced respectfully.
And behind her there were the gazes of almost a hundred
Flügel.
Despite this – once they were to enter the game, those gazes
wouldn’t be able to affect Sora and Shiro’s thoughts any
longer.
“This is the map of this version of Avant Heim.”
Shiro took one look at the map that was flapping about in the
wind and nodded.
While Jibril took a step back and bowed deeply.
“…Masters, thank you.”
“To be honest I’m not confident at all, but… we believe in
you, so you better not let us down!”
“…It’s natural…to care about family.”
Jibril and Sora and Shiro were engaged in a conversation only
the three of them could understand –
“”-「Aschente」-!!””
As Jibril and everyone else raised their hands and yelled this
single word:
Sora and Shiro leaped out of the hole in the wall.
In an instant, gravity took hold of the both of them, which was
a force no human body could resist.
Along with the strong winds outside, the two slowly –
descended at an increasing speed.
They couldn’t see what was beneath them, but whatever it was
there could only be one outcome – death.
When faced with this they were impossibly not uneasy nor
scared – why? Sora couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
“…Nii…”
Hearing his sister calling out for him, Sora looked to the side,
only to see that the other side of the scarf – had a single wing
growing out of it.
Sora confirmed that there was another similar wing on his back
through Shiro’s gaze.
“…Let’s go…”
- Yes – Sora smiled, they couldn’t possibly feel uneasiness nor
fear.
They grasped each other’s hands, and flapped their wings
together as one.
With a force even more powerful than an eagle’s – they broke
the shackles of gravity.
