★
Results of the Eighth Crimson Match
★ Since the Ruby was destroyed, the winner will be determined through points only.
Winner Terakomari Gandesblood.....
Total Points: 511
Second Place Sakuna Memoir.....
Total Points: 68
Third Place Helldeus Heaven...
Total Points: 32
Fourth Place Flöte Mascarail...
Total Points: 12
Fifth Place Delphyne.......
Total Points: 0
Odilon Metal –
Disqualified
Six Nations News, July 2nd
"CHAOS AT THE CRIMSON MATCH"
IMPERIAL CAPITAL – BY MELKA TIANO
On June 1st, the latest contest of strength between the Mulnite Empire's Crimson Lords, the Crimson Match, was held in the Metrio region of the Dark Core Zone. The results were as shown (see the accompanying table). The explosion spell Supreme Commander Terakomari Gandesblood unleashed near the opening of the match had the audience on the edge of their seats.
…
Near the end of the competition, Supreme Commander Odilon Metal admitted to being a member of Inverse Moon. Supreme Commander Gandesblood fought tooth and nail to arrest him.
…
Supreme Commander Metal realized his impending defeat and fled, but Supreme Commander Gandesblood followed at the speed of light, and found the Inverse Moon hideout in the Deristol region in the Gerra-Aruka Republic. She immediately used the Effulgent freezing spell, Eternal Glacier, to ice over the land in a half-mile radius. In response, Prime Minister Madhart of the Gerra-Aruka Republic stated:
"Even if she did so to exterminate a terrorist group, we cannot overlook the fact she froze over part of our territory. We demand the Mulnite Empire take responsibility for her actions." Tensions have been rising between both nations in recent years, and the people are worried this event may cause irreparable damage to their relationship.
★
"I'll be going, Sis… I mean, Ms. Terakomari."
July 3.
Sakuna Memoir bade good-bye to her life-size Komari dolls and left home carrying a backpack. No, she wasn't heading on a journey. She was only going to visit Komari at the infirmary.
It was sunny outside. The river was gleaming in the sunlight. But Sakuna's heart was still cloudy.
During the fierce battle that day, Sakuna had been fated to die. And yet she'd awoken to find all her wounds healed, the side effects of the elixir gone, and even the contract spell with Inverse Moon removed.
At first, she'd thought a miracle had occurred, but soon she understood that wasn't the case. It had all been thanks to Terakomari Gandesblood. Sakuna heard about how she possessed the greatest Core Implosion power in history (while being ignorant of it herself), which Komari had used to break her curse.
Sakuna had vague memories of it. She remembered the white mana. A kind aura enveloping her. It had felt as though her sister was beside her then—but now she knew it was Ms. Terakomari.
She saved me again…
Sakuna sighed as she walked the streets of the capital.
She needed to dedicate the rest of her life to atonement. Not only for every bad thing she'd done as a member of Inverse Moon, but also for selfishly turning strangers into her own family. She had to do penance.
But would they forgive her? Probably not, she thought.
Her Majesty the Empress had no intention of denouncing Sakuna since she had "extenuating circumstances," but that didn't sit well with her. She'd hurt so many people. Particularly the Sixth Unit, who she had no way of apologizing to. Just the day before, she'd taken it upon herself to kill them all once again (a terrible and excruciating task) in order to give them their memories back. Shockingly, they'd told her not to beat herself up about brainwashing them; it was enough for them to know she'd been strong all along. But how could she not criticize herself? How was she supposed to face them now? She didn't even want to be a Crimson Lord anymore…
Sakuna kept trudging along, all gloom and doom, until she saw that black uniform.
It was Helldeus Heaven. He was holding a bag of fruit as he approached her.
Then she remembered. She still hadn't fixed his memories.
"Oh, Sakuna! Going somewhere?"
Helldeus smiled broadly at her. But she knew that was a mask, a façade she'd forced him to wear.
She felt all the weight of her actions bear down on her, so she wasn't able to reply right away.
"What a fine day it is. It would be a waste not to take advantage."
"…Yeah. What are you doing, Dad?"
It took all her emotional strength to call him that.
Helldeus's grin grew wider as he answered.
"I went grocery shopping. It is the sabbath today. What do you say, shall we go on a walk together?"
I should turn him back right now. Get him somewhere devoid of people and…pierce his heart like I did everyone's. Then I have to apologize. I don't know whether he'll forgive me, but I won't be able to move forward if I don't.
"Yeah. But first, could we go over to the other side of that shop, Dad?"
Sakuna grabbed his hand and started walking, but strangely, Helldeus refused to budge.
"There's no need for that!"
She turned around in surprise. The black-clad priest had removed his fatherly mask. He stared at her with the characteristic gaze of that crazy Crimson Lord.
"There'd be no point in killing me, Lady Memoir! I'm already Helldeus Heaven. I may be a Father, but I am not your father."
"Wha…?" Sakuna stiffened up in shock. Only her lips were trembling.
"Since when…?"
"From the very beginning."
"My Core Implosion didn't work…?"
"Ha-ha-ha! I thought for sure I was done for when you killed me back at the church's storage room all those years ago, but don't forget that I am a Crimson Lord. Your imperfect Core Implosion wasn't enough to take control of my mind."
Sakuna was astonished. So he was pretending all this time…?
A vortex of question marks whirled around her head. Helldeus made an awkward smile in apology.
"When I realized the truth behind why you murdered me, I decided to be what you wanted, to be your father. But I don't have the right. Not after all the pain I've caused you… This moronic priest couldn't be your father."
"Why…?"
"I thought about hiding this from you, but, well, I had been close friends with your real dad."
Sakuna's jaw dropped as she looked up at him.
"He was an odd fellow. We studied together at the Holy Church's institute. Oddballs such as myself are always ostracized, but he was stupid enough to deal with me. He taught me what it meant to love thy neighbor as
yourself."
Yes. My dad was always so kind.
"You seem to have chosen members of your family based on their mental characteristics, but I surmise you selected me because I followed in God's teachings together with your real father."
Helldeus resembles my dad because of that kindness, like his night sky…
"…That's why, when I heard the Memoir family was massacred, I was ready to take revenge at any cost."
"Wait…!" Sakuna drew nearer, desperate. What was he thinking all this time whenever they'd talked? "I don't understand it. I really don't get it… You knew I was in Inverse Moon? You knew I murdered all those people? Why did you take me in?"
"I knew you were breaking the law under Odilon Metal's orders, yes. But I was also aware you suffered immensely while doing so."
"Then… Why did you let me go free? Why didn't you punish me?"
"Perhaps I shouldn't have let you off, you're correct. I should've gone after Odilon Metal straight away to save you… But I couldn't. After all, you were always planning on taking revenge against Inverse Moon yourself."
Sakuna was shocked. She didn't think that was true… Or was it?
She'd always hated Inverse Moon, yes. And she did think they should pay for their crimes one day.
"God resides in the hearts of those opposing adversity. Since you wished to overcome your suffering of your own volition, it would have been pointless for me to butt in and kill Odilon Metal. Your revenge was yours to take. So I thought I should at least support you emotionally as your father… But I suppose that was conceited of me."
Sakuna clenched her fist.
From a certain angle, you could say he had been deceiving her all this time. And yet… She felt warm inside at the knowledge. Yet simultaneously, she felt a crushing sense of guilt.
I'd been making him worry that much for me, all this time?
"Why…?"
"Hmm?"
"Why are you smiling? I killed you… I was a terrorist… It doesn't make sense!"
"Probably not. They always told me nothing I did or said made sense."
"Punch me. I can't rest easy until you take it out on me," Sakuna pleaded, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"No way!" Helldeus smiled kindly. "The world is full of tragedies, and most people give in to them… But not you, Sakuna. You had the will to overcome them. How could I ever condemn someone as strong as you? And I won't let anyone else do it, either. No one has the right to cut off your future."
"Hah!"
"Truth be told, I'm the one who deserves a good fist to the face. I knew all you were going through and did nothing. Even if it was so that you could eventually overcome it yourself, that was an inhumane thing to do. So you should punch me. Do it! Now! Right here!"
Passersby turned around at us. "Yikes, those two are kinky." "Right here? In public?" "It's too early to be seeing this kind of thing…" Sakuna blushed.
"F-forget it! No punches!"
"I see. What a shame." Helldeus truly looked disappointed. "Anyhow, you shouldn't be wasting more time here with me. There's somewhere you've got to be, right?"
"Huh?"
"You had the spirit to accomplish your revenge. But no matter how strong your will of steel is, if you continue living in suffering, it will shrivel again. And I, your fake father, can't heal that… But you have that scarlet vampire
princess to thank."
"What do you mean…?"
"You cannot imagine the effort it took to have you accidentally blow up that Crimson Lord."
Sakuna's jaw was on the floor.
Thinking back to it, it was Helldeus who'd strongly advocated to promote Sakuna, and it was thanks to her new title that she gotten to meet that vampire princess.
Helldeus made a slightly lonely expression.
"You've made yourself a good friend. Now go on by yourself. You are no longer alone. And you've got more allies besides her, too. But if it ever gets hard again, tell me. I'll become your dad once more whenever you want."
"No, there won't be a need for it. Thank you so much… Mr. Helldeus."
She bowed to him.
Sakuna hurried to the infirmary, feeling the priest's soft gaze on her back.
A strange warmth had built up inside her. She had thought this world was full of evil demons, but surprisingly, there had been someone who cared for her right here all along.
And she couldn't be happier about it.
***
"Lady Komari, say ah."
"N-no, I can eat by myself."
"No. You are gravely injured. It is my duty as your maid to take care of you."
"You're also injured! I can't have a wounded person nursing me!"
"Okay, then we'll both say ah. We feed each other mouth-to-mouth."
"You eat using your own hands! I'll eat with mine!"
I snatched the fork from out of the sicko maid's hand and ate the apple myself.
Two days had passed since the Crimson Match. We were in the infirmary.
Having been beaten to a pulp by Odilon, I was resting here until my wounds healed. One would usually spend only a day or two max in the infirmary to recover (from death, as the place was most commonly used as a morgue), but for whatever reason, I had lost all mana from my body, so I needed to be hospitalized for longer. The magic experts had said it would take me a week to be back in full form. Not that I had any problem with that!
I was finally shut in again, and for legitimate reasons. I couldn't be happier about it… Or actually, I could. If only the sicko maid wasn't here with me all damn day. I had books to read and thoughts to ponder, as intellectual scholars do. But she just wouldn't let me be!
"By the way, Lady Komari, how are you feeling?"
"All right. I think I could get discharged any moment to rest in my own room."
"That won't do. You used Core Implosion, so we must have you recover here, where we can watch you for a while."
"That again?"
According to Vill's delusions, I'd used this so-called Blood Curse Core Implosion during the Crimson Match. She claimed that I was the one who made Odilon retreat from the battlefield, and that I leveled the Inverse Moon hideout in the Gerra-Aruka Republic and turned it into a wasteland.
Pfft. Yeah, right. I'd seen the photos in the paper, and there was absolutely no way I'd created that barren field. It had to be a meteorite or something. Yeah. Those things are crazy, y'know.
I swallowed the last of my apple, and Vill glanced at me apologetically.
"It's my fault that you had to go that far, Lady Komari. I will never forgive myself for letting that masked lunatic do a number on me."
"Don't worry about it. Masked Psycho would've killed me if it wasn't for you, after all."
"I should've slain Odilon Metal myself, too."
Odilon Metal. Turned out that scary old guy was a member of Inverse Moon. I wasn't sure of the details, but apparently, he'd disappeared after that meteorite fell on the Gerra-Aruka Republic. It was all such a mystery. But well, at least nothing was holding Sakuna down now, so I figured I should be happy about it.
Right, Sakuna… I haven't seen her since. Wonder how she's doing.
"Hey, Vill, what happened to Sakuna?"
"Sakuna Memoir?" Vill's expression turned bitter. "I don't know. But considering she broke the law as a terrorist and misused her Core Implosion to manipulate the memories of all those people, I doubt she'll be let off without punishment."
"I see… Yeah, I guess."
"However, there are many points of sympathy in Lady Memoir's history, so I also doubt they'll just send her to the guillotine. In fact, many people have expressed their desire to protect her. Even Her Majesty wishes for a
lenient measure."
"Where is she now?"
"Who knows. They didn't arrest her, so she's probably home." Then, she smiled. "Speaking of Her Majesty, Lady Komari, the Empress will be giving you a reward for winning the Crimson Match."
That also reminded me—why in the world was I the winner of the Crimson Match? For some reason, they gave me a bunch of points for everyone who died in the explosion. I think the wristband was broken.
"What will I get? A year's supply of candy?"
"Two weeks off."
"…What?"
I couldn't believe my ears. Was I hearing things?
"You got one week for catching the terrorist, and another week on top of it for your victory at the Crimson Match. You'll be resting for a while."
"Wh-WHAAAAATTT?!"
I stood up on the bed.
Two weeks… Two whole weeks off?! Am I really allowed such a precious treasure?! That's a hundred times better than getting a hundred million mells! Which means this prize is worth ten billion mells!
"Congratulations. You got your summer vacation."
"Hell yeah! I'll spend the entire time in my room!"
"Let's not waste our summer like that. How about we go to the beach? To tell the truth, I already have over fifteen swimsuits ready for you. I tried them out on you while you were asleep, so no need to worry about the size."
"I'll think about it, but I'm definitely spending at least thirteen of those days home! And that's final!"
I was jumping on the bed. What the hell? It felt like I was dreaming. So this was what happiness felt like…
Just then, I heard the door to the room open.
A silver-haired girl showed herself in.
Our gazes met. She looked ashamed.
"I-I'm sorry. There was no answer when I knocked, so… Am I interrupting?"
"Not at all! Welcome!"
I immediately sat on my heels, red in the face. What a blunder! I was supposed to look like the cool, wise senior in front of her. But it wasn't too late yet! I just had to act the part now.
She… Sakuna Memoir entered the room slowly, creeping up to me as if wading through a minefield.
Her expression lacked confidence. She looked nothing like she did back in the Crimson Match, when she'd been bursting with all sorts of emotions.
"Sakuna, are you okay?"
"Yes. All thanks to you, Ms. Terakomari."
She then took something out of her backpack. It was a plushie resembling me. She handed it over to me. Why?
"A get-well gift, if you don't mind…"
"O-okay."
Yeah, she was weird. Vill stared at us with jealousy burning across her face. Now she was strange. No, wait… Wouldn't majority rule say that I was the odd one out? I mean, sure, the way the doll managed to replicate my total knockout beauty, the likes of which are seen only once in a billion years, in a cartoony style was certainly exquisite.
I wasn't sure how to respond.
"Ms. Terakomari," Sakuna said, nervousness in her voice. "I've caused you so much trouble… And for that, I am sorry. I won't try to make you my sister anymore. I won't make any new family. I won't kill anybody. I won't do anything bad anymore… I'm really sorry."
"I see. I don't mind it, though."
Sakuna broke down. All the emotions she'd been holding back turned into tears.
"They all… Say that. You're all so kind… But it bothers me. Please punish me, Ms. Terakomari."
Oh, I see.
It always felt weird whenever you felt extremely guilty about something bad you did, but everyone went, "It's fine." "Don't worry about it." "Everyone makes mistakes." I still thought the Empress would probably give her an appropriate penalty, but… Well, if she wanted me to punish her so badly, then punishment I would give her.
"Okay. Then go out with me."
Wait. Oh, no, no, no. I didn't mean it like that.
You could feel the tension in the air. Sakuna's face was beet red, and she was flapping her mouth like a fish. Vill's face looked like an ancient clay doll's.
"What do you mean by that, Lady Komari? You don't mean you—?"
"Hold on. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that… Sakuna, I'll have two weeks off work. I plan on cooping myself up in my room, but maybe I'll want to go out to hang with someone. So if I do end up inviting you, then come see me. Even if you have to skip work to do so, got that?"
Was that too haughty? I thought, but Sakuna was smiling, tears still welling out her eyes.
"Got it." She nodded. "But that's no punishment. You don't have to tell me that; I will always come running if you call me."
"O-oh, really? Ah, right! Then help me out with my novels! I still have lots of topics I want to write stories around… And it will be painful! Prepare yourself!"
"Yes. I will, Ms. Terakomari."
Still, there was one little thing that was bothering me a bit. Her form of address was too stiff.
"Stop calling me that. You and I, we're… You know, friends."
"Huh? Then what should I call you?"
"Just Komari. Everyone close to me calls me that."
I mustered up my courage and reached out my right hand. People shook hands as proof of reconciliation after a clash of emotions. At least, that's what books had taught me.
Sakuna hesitated a little, but then she reached out, too, and gripped my hand tight, with extreme care and a bit of fear. Then, she beamed brightly, and with a hoarse voice, she said:
"Thank you, Komari."
And so, I made a new friend.
There was little doubt that mountains of problems awaited us in the future, but rather than worry about it all alone, we could join hands and face them all together. And that was a hundred times better.
Now I had to think about what to do with Sakuna on my time off.
Going outside still didn't sound very pleasant, but perhaps we should go to the beach like Vill had suggested. Suddenly, I was starting to look forward to it. My heart raced thinking of what could come next as I gazed at Sakuna's
smile.
Summer was approaching in Mulnite.
"The Blood Curse is no regular Core Implosion. The Crimson Match made that very clear," Lonne Cornelius asserted as she sipped on black tea.
The Warblade woman wore a crumpled white coat. She was one of the Lunae, the top brass of Inverse Moon, and served as the head of the tech division of the organization, which furnished it with all sorts of weapons and
tools.
She was sitting on a fluffy sofa at the official residence of the prime minister of the Gerra-Aruka Republic.
Normally, she wouldn't go outside. She spent all day cooped up in her room, endlessly investigating all sorts of shady things. Her mindset wasn't so different from a certain vampire princess.
But this day was special. The second most important of the Lunae, Kakumei Amatsu, had forced her out, saying, "Come with me or I'll publish all your erotic novels under your real name."
How wicked he was. She had no choice.
Cornelius glanced beside her.
Amatsu was silent, his expression as blank as ever. She could never get a read on his true intentions. For example, Cornelius didn't want to do anything other than investigate whatever had piqued her interest, and that was the basis for all her actions. But him? He was only spreading misfortune throughout the world. She didn't see what the ideology behind all that was.
"What do you mean by that, Lady Cornelius?"
She returned her gaze to the front upon hearing her name.
Facing her was the prime minister of the Gerra-Aruka Republic, Madhart. He looked like any regular middle-aged man, but the ambition in his heart far exceeded any other ruler's.
He cared more about "war" and "supremacy" more than anyone else in the world.
"I mean what I said. You see… she sucked blood, right? Then she activated it, okay? But then she has different varieties of it. It's quite unusual."
"I'm asking what exactly is special about it."
"…Ugh. Well, more concretely, when she drinks a vampire's blood, she turns out like she did against Millicent, and when she doesn't, it's like we saw now…"
"Can't you make it easier to understand?"
Madhart sighed in disappointment.
Cornelius wanted to cry. Why did she have to talk to him? She wanted to go home. She just wanted to resume her experiments. She on the verge of completing an invention that allowed shiitake to be cultivated at twice the regular speed… As she kept her gaze on the floor, lost in thought, she received a helping hand from the man at her side.
"Basically, Lady Cornelius means that Gandesblood obtains a different power depending on the species she drinks her blood from."
"I see. More specifically?"
"She gains explosive mana and physical abilities when she drinks a vampire's blood. When she drinks a Sapphire's, she obtains powerful healing and freezing magic, plus a body hard as steel. In other words, she appears to obtain features that are characteristic to each species… Though this is still only conjecture. For further consideration, Sakuna Memoir is half-vampire half-Sapphire, which means her Core Implosion gave her traits of both species this time."
"Y-yes, that! That's what I meant! Good job, Amatsu!" Cornelius said.
"Try explaining yourself better next time."
Aww…
"I see, now I understand. So we shouldn't underestimate her. She did easily take out Odilon Metal, one Inverse Moon's strongest warriors, after all."
"No, actually, he still lives," Amatsu said, unamused.
"…He lives? I thought Inverse Moon tolerates no mistakes."
"I don't. But Her Highness found out about it this time. She's way too soft, so she forgave him. But anyway… He's nothing more than a toothless tiger now."
"Hmm… I understand. Yes, figureheads sure are annoying."
The man in the kimono frowned. Madhart didn't notice, however, and changed the topic.
"Now I understand Terakomari Gandesblood's ability. A Core Implosion that changes depending on the blood she drinks does sound like a troublesome power to go up against… What do you think would happen if she drank the blood of a Warblade?"
"No idea. Why do you ask?"
"Huh? I dunno…" Cornelius answered.
"You heard her. I'm sorry about how useless she is."
That hurt. Why did he have to be so aggressive?
Cornelius wiped her tears away and turned to look at Madhart again.
"A-anyhow, now you know. You should be careful if you plan on going against Mulnite. She's much more trouble than that Petrose Calamaria."
"Yeah… But it's not an issue. We have you on our side, after all."
No you don't? She thought, but…
"Leave it to us. We will deliver your country a hundred Divine Instruments."
…Amatsu eagerly responded.
"A hundred…? Do we have that many?"
"Not yet."
"So we'll have to make them?"
"You'll have to make them."
"What?"
Madhart smiled ear to ear.
"Excellent! I'm sure they'll be great, coming directly from the Lonne Cornelius! Our army will easily defeat those pesky vampires!"
"Wait, hold on. I just want to… Do my experiments…"
"Heh-heh. Inverse Moon will give you its full support. Halfway through, at least."
"I understand. Let's stay on good terms until Gerra-Aruka gathers and destroys all other Dark Cores. As for what happens next… We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
"Um… Could you please listen to what I…"
"Incidentally, do you have any idea where the Mulnite Dark Core might be?"
"We don't. That's why we'll go to war. And not the entertaining kind, but real, life-or-death conflict."
"I can't even make a hundred whole Divine Instruments…"
"Good. We'll pick up the bones after you, so go squander all that life."
"We will. Gerra-Aruka will change the history of the Six Nations. That's what the populace wants."
"My shiitake…"
Cornelius's cries fell on deaf ears.
The world was moving in a bloodier direction.