[Sender. Marin. Receiver. Nox. Fifth District Imperial Library B-134].
A light vibration in my robes awaited my return.
The Lunatics had contacted me first. They must have something to tell me before the operation is finalized.
"Zitri, stay here for a moment."
"Where are you going?"
"Okay. It should take a while. … maybe."
Zitri narrowed her eyes.
She put both hands on her hips and glared at me.
"You mean to tell me that the 'maybe' at the end of that means you're going to be late?"
"As expected of my maid. You're quick-witted."
"Hah... you're just going to leave now that you have a backer? Even if the Princess is behind you, this is a place where cadets come to learn, and if you go out without a pass, there will surely be trouble later...."
I fluttered a piece of paper in front of a worried-looking Zitri.
It was an outing card. I had torn it out of Lars' hands not long ago.
When I'd told him I needed a pass to visit the library to research magic, he'd laughed in vain and said:
-Here you go. You can sell my name if you need to.
-I won't say no, but… selling your name....
-You were planning to anyway. Don't say anything you don't mean.
-....
I couldn't lie to myself like that.
For the record, Lars's excuse slip reads.
[Cadet Excuse Pass
Issued by: Lars von Celestia
Period: Until I say it's enough.
Reason: My pupil].
....
Well, it's a good thing, anyway.
I didn't expect Lars to give in so easily.
At any rate, now that I have my pass, I can move around a bit more freely at night.
In many ways, it gives me an advantage over others and optimizes my chances of getting the Hidden Piece.
Being able to move around in the evenings, even for lunatic activities, was a huge advantage.
Still, it was important to remain as inconspicuous as possible, so I stepped quietly and made my way to the Imperial Library in District 5.
Although it belongs to Eldain, it is, after all, one of the Imperials' direct agencies..., so I have to keep a low profile here.
There I found the B-134 mentioned in the cipher.
There was a girl with blue hair sticking out, wearing the same robes as me, waiting for me.
Sensing recognition, Marin carefully removed her hood, revealing a pair of piercing, jewel-encrusted eyes.
They were the color of the abyss, darker than my hair.
Beautiful was not the only word to describe them, but there was something ethereal and mysterious about them. Maybe I should say decadent.
She seemed to have become even more beautiful than when I first met her. Perhaps she's made herself more ugly to hide her identity from the outside world.
I greeted her anyway.
"Marin Gunner. It's nice to see you again."
Marin's face crumpled for a moment.
Probably the effects of the [Young Brat] trait.
In fact, her expression was like that of a young, rejuvenated thug....
.
In many ways, she's a character with a definite personality.
"Nox von Reinhafer. I've been expecting you. I called you here to see how much you can help me with this first mission."
"Check?"
"Yes."
Marin nodded.
"No matter how much you've earned Luna-sama's approval, you're still not as good as I am. Besides, you and I might have to fight together, right?"
"Of course. A mission can always take a turn for the worse."
I was quickly convinced. She was probably making the offer to gauge my skills, but it was just as much about me. I had my own insecurities about Marin's skills.
If we take this opportunity to see what each other's abilities are, we'll be able to handle any surprises later on.
Marin pauses for a moment, as if she didn't expect me to say yes so easily, but then she regains her composure and offers me another scroll.
This time, it was the same makeshift shelter, this time inscribed with a formula for sending it to a damp place where the iron pipes rolled.
"Can't we fight somewhere other than this crap?"
A sigh escaped me.
"Don't complain. It's the end of the line, and the very bottom of the line doesn't have a choice."
Bu-wook.
(buug.)
With that, Marin scowled, ripped up a scroll, and disappeared.
I copied her.
After a brief blur of vision, we arrived at a familiar place.
Marin, who was the first to arrive, quickly begins to unlock her powers. It's clear that she's preparing to use her magic first.
Ziying-!
(jiiing-!)
I asked in disbelief.
"You're preparing for an attack by arriving first. You're a bit of an asshole."
"I know, but you know what?"
Marin suddenly remembered the artifact she was carrying on her back. She fired up her bow and let loose a magical arrow with a water element.
Piing!
She quickly released the bow. A steady and quick movement. Perhaps she is a member of Lunatic after all? Everything is as natural as water.
Then she shouts.
"He who strikes first usually wins, and... in a criminal organization like ours, that's a virtue!"
She shoots me an arrow with a cheerful tone.
But I simply put my hand on the scabbard, looking dumbfounded.
Then I take a breath and focus. My next move was very light but sure. They flowed together like a picture.
'Good, I feel much stronger than before.'
I smile faintly.
As is the nature of genius, the sword was quick to my feet. The bow reaches my eyes, and I cut through it with all the energy it contains.
Boom!
(kwaaaang!)
The arrow splits in two, leaving a long gash in the floor below.
My recent fight with Gluttony has helped me reach intermediate proficiency with the Shadowblade. I owe a lot to that puppy.
Maybe I should buy him some chewing gum later?
As I thought this, I looked at Marin's surprised face and gave her an innocent look. As if it was a given that this would happen.
Then, as if in declaration, she says
"So, is it my turn now?"
Zeeeeeee!
(jiiiing!)
Dozens of strands of dark magic [Dark Sphere] appeared out of thin air.
They follow the movement of my hand and aim at the enemy in unison. Marin stretched her hand forward with a puzzled expression.
It's a look of disbelief.
"Now, wait…! Junior? Wait, wait, wait…!"
But alas, I couldn't hear her.
I'm screwed.
So, if you hit me first.
Kwagwagwagwang…!
That means I have to pay her back twice.
"Crazy… bastard... how could you...."
I almost feel sorry for her, seeing her being such an asshole.
I comforted the distraught Marin.
"Don't worry. We're only two years apart, so you'll catch up in about three more years. You're talented enough."
"Ugh…!!"
But Marin was resentful.
I nonchalantly put my sword back into its sheath and looked around. Soon, she collapsed, unconscious in the aftermath of the battle.
Then, that was it.
An indescribable amount of magic began to flow from the fallen marine.
"What is it?"
My brow creased.
The power was thick with life. And the scent was young.
I reacted immediately.
'This is… dangerous.'
The source of the magic was none other than my gunner, Marin.
I knew I shouldn't do this, but only one thought ran through my head. If I don't kill her, ... I'll die.
The thought was instantaneous, like a spinal reflex. The thought snapped like a rubber band and my hand was already on the sack.
'Kill.'
I thought as I immediately turned around and swung my Stormbringer to cut down Marin.
Crack!
(kaaang-!)
Sparks flew from my sword and a woman suddenly appeared in front of me.
Goosebumps rose all over my body. In the blink of an eye, she was in close range and blocked my sword with one hand.
How many people can do that?
My mind raced for a few short moments. Then I realized.
It was no one else but....
The head of the Lunatics. Luna.
"I thought this was getting a little too heated for a duel between juniors and seniors, so I interrupted, and I apologize if I was rude."
"I… don't think so."
Luna had no intention of reprimanding me; from her point of view, I was no better than an ant, and besides, I'm no better than an ant.
What if she hadn't intervened?
I would have killed the marksman for sure.
I'm sure I overreacted in this situation.
I'm sure I should be...….
'That energy I felt from Marin earlier. It must be....'
It was then that I heard Luna's voice.
"You're lucky, because if you hadn't drawn your sword a moment ago, you would have been killed by Marin's bow."
"…What?"
"It's a good night to talk, the full moon is nearing."
With that, Luna sheathed her sword.
"Shall we walk for a while?"
It's an offer I can't refuse. Apparently, Marin had a hidden story in store for her.
A story that hadn't been revealed in 27 games.
And now it was beginning.
As a gamer, it was an offer I couldn't refuse.
* * *
A few moments later.
On a night when the moon was full and nearing full, just as Luna had said.
I'm walking side by side with the head of Lunatic, chatting with her.
Luna hesitates for a moment, then speaks up.
"Fierce newcomer. As you may have noticed, Marin sometimes loses her temper like that. She has great talent, but she doesn't know how to use it properly yet, which is why she's still on the fringes of her abilities."
"It would seem so, because the flesh on her back was such that she couldn't help but draw her sword."
"It was only one arrow."
"What do you mean?"
I asked, and Luna replied in a low voice.
"A single arrow was all it took for her to join Lunatic. She's not very strong, but one shot. The destructive power of a single arrow, prepared and fired over a long period of time, is something that even I cannot easily stop."
"You mean even you can't defend against it?"
I was puzzled.
Luna, a swordswoman of three, could barely block an Extra's attack?
Moreover, didn't Marin only have a [Water Shot]?
When I expressed my confusion, Luna continued calmly.
"Listen, Marin. She's the last descendant of the Sea People who once existed, and she has a special constitution that allows her to manipulate the water element to an extreme degree."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the setup.
"If you're a mermaid, then...."
"Yes. Like dragons, they were already practiced humans, but Marin is not. She is a child of human lust, forcibly conceived, and she inherits the blood and power of a mermaid. Because of this, her powers are incomplete, and she often goes on rampages like this one."
It all makes sense now.
Why she's never appeared in the main story.
I had read about her in the game's setting.
There has been a long history of research on the part of the Imperial Household into the unusually specialized reactions and amplification of the water properties of the Sea People....
Human experimentation was frequently used in this process.
The results were apparently Marin.
"So, for a marksman, Marin might give you a hard time, but there's a reason I assigned her to you."
"And that reason is...."
"You're cold. To the point of being sour… but the other members of Lunatic aren't. That's why I put her in your care, if at the worst possible moment she goes on a rampage like she's doing now."
Luna's golden eyes glowed formidably.
"You kill her. You have the power."
I understood immediately.
The power to kill Marin....
In fact, it's something that every member of Lunatic has.
Luna, Duff, and the other characters we'll meet later.
But can they really kill Marin?
'I don't think so.'
The Lunatics are a uniquely realistic group in the game.
For a criminal organization, they were easily swayed by emotions.
That's why their destruction culminated in the murder of the Empress.
I know the future. I can read the characters' thoughts better than anyone else. Right now, Luna is asking for a favor.
The worst.
I, a man she'd only seen for a day or two at most, me, the bastard of Reinhafer, and no one else. She was asking me to kill her.
I smirked.
Now I knew. Who killed Marin in the original.
'Luna. She was the one who finally killed the runaway Marine.'
Because it was her favorite unit, and she couldn't let anyone else feel guilty. Luna had chosen to get her hands dirty.
I thought about it for a moment. But I don't change my mind.
I had no choice but to come up with an answer that would not please Luna.
"I'm not going to kill the... marksman. Of course, I'm going to fulfill the mission you mentioned. However, how I handle that mission is a matter for me to decide."
Me, not anyone else.
I added. Luna's face cracked at my words, and she said in a slightly exasperated voice.
"Have you fallen in love with Marin in the meantime? I've seen more than a few people try to save both of them and fail, and that's just...."
"I only do what I can afford to do, you don't have to believe me. If the mission is compromised or fails, kill me with your own hands. Marin… it would be easier for you than killing the marksman."
I replied, and that was the end of my conversation with Luna.
We seemed to be running parallel lines, but in the end, we were both saying the same thing. I don't want to kill innocent people.
That's what she must have been thinking, and that's what she had to say.
Which only made me more confused.
Luna.
Why in the world would you kill a princess. No, I mean the Empress, Penelope?
* * *
"Eh… As you may know, the Demons are known for being eh… very clever. E… When you first enter a dungeon, or encounter a demon on the field for the first time, you should never attempt to take them on alone."
It's obvious advice, but I take it to heart.
This is not a joke, this is reality.
In a fire drill, if you're laughing and not thinking about what happens when the fire breaks out, you'll develop a sense of insecurity that will eventually kill you when it does.
That's why I have to focus on these theories.
…Of course, I wasn't in a position to give it my full attention.
First and foremost, I had Penelope and Talia on either side of me.
Talia, in particular, was the most dangerous.
She was secretly pleased to see me today and immediately checked my tie to make sure it was straight, and even though it wasn't, she said something like this.
-Your tie is a little crooked…?
With that, she dared to untie and re-tie my tie in the middle of a crowded hallway.
People looked at the two of us and parted as if a Mosaic miracle had occurred, and we walked closely together to the end of the hallway.
It was like they were looking at something they weren't supposed to touch.
...It's kind of weird to talk about this, but it was kind of horrifying.
Anyway. While I was suffering like that.
Penelope snuck up on me and said.
"It's okay that I don't love you and it's okay that you don't love me... but please don't be so publicly affectionate. I have my dignity."
Penelope's blunt words left me speechless.
Haha, it's true that no matter how much the empress may have misbehaved, there's nothing she can do about it. After all, I am now a candidate for the Princess's favor.
In other words, I can't play with other women.
...But have I ever been with another woman?
I'm not even close to people in the first place....
Shit.
(jenjang.)
I'm done with this story.
'I've been trying to survive and this is what I get back.'
I feel sorry for myself all over again.
"Damn."
("jaegal.")
I say out loud in a nurturing tone, and two sets of eyes turn to me at once.
"What's wrong?"
The princess asks. I shake my head.
"Nothing."
"Nox, what's wrong?"
"...It's nothing."
I felt like I was going to lose my mind. Meanwhile, Professor Flitchell's bewildering explanation continued.
"Eh… I mean… demons are basically limited in intelligence. However, there are beings that are not demons. E… like demons, for example, are different. They're dangerous. They're dangerous because they burrow into the minds of humans and slowly break them down… I mean… ...."
An explanation of demons.
It was lighthearted, but I was reminded of their horrors. And I realized how dangerous this mission with Marin was.
I don't know much about Marin as a character, but she's going to die in this episode anyway.
By the hand of Luna, the person she respects the most.
'By now, Marin's plan must be all set. The ceremony should be complete.'
I followed Marin's instructions and for a while I only spoke to Professor Lars in the library, which was a professor's paradise, so to speak.
He chattered excitedly.
-I'm not 'really' curious about the book you've chosen, but depending on which one it is, I might be able to help you learn it....
-I'm not going to tell you, so don't strain yourself, Professor.
-Okay… Anyway, there are certainly some great books available in the library here. I suggest you devour all 412 of them. Only then will you begin to see your way as a wizard, and your understanding of elemental magic and special elemental magic will come into focus….
I don't even remember the last part.
Even as an Inner Lunatic nerd, understanding everything Professor Lars had to say was a whole other realm.
What a monster....
Before I knew it, the day's classes were over.
I noticed Talia and Penelope exchanging strange glances.
I saw Eleanor shake her head in disdain at the front of the class.
I watched as Leon gave me a look of disbelief, and then returned to the Sidious Hall, heartbroken.
But Zitri was just as cold.
"It's your karma."
My maid was excessively cold.
So, while it's nice...
Sometimes I wish she'd take her master's side a little.
* * *
Finally, the day of reckoning.
The first full-fledged main episode preceded it.
After class, when the nightly self-study was going on as usual.
Suddenly, the floor vibrated and shouting echoed around the room. This is followed by a loud explosion that drowns out the noise.
Of course, it was the last day, so no instructors, no professors.
No one was there to help.
Leon was the first to realize the disconnect.
"It looks like we're trapped ...someone's made sure we can't get out. It's like… when we first encountered the demon."
Of course.
That whole Miny Ludwig episode had been building up to this one.
I gritted my teeth and blurted out.
"I guess we can't count on outside support. For now, we'll wait for the professor's support here."
I dutifully stalled the guys and decided to bide my time.
Of course, within seconds, my plan was shattered.
Damn.
(jegilal.)