*Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!*
*Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!*
*Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!*
*Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!* *Dong!*
From the interphones scattered across the ship, thirty-six clock chimes rang in unison, announcing that Mother Korinna’s Requiem was about to begin and urging the actors to ready themselves for the final act of this grandiose show.
“The end of an era has come.” Although her metallic face could not betray any emotion, Harmatia’s tone lost its godlike coldness, overflowing with sheer ecstasy. “It has been an honor spending my final hour with such compelling guests. But now, it is time to bid our farewell.” From the three columns of water attached to the Kataphract’s back, golden liquid began to swim against the current of Crude Mana, flowing upward until it vanished inside the pipelines.
“Mishaab, storm the command deck—it’s now or never!” Carmen shouted, prompting the Hegemon to answer with a metallic chuckle.
“My orders were to wait until midnight to light the fireworks. A directive which, admittedly, I found…let’s say naïve to not being accused of Tricknology.” She shrugged. “Nevertheless, Tereus is the big boss, and if a heavily decorated Admiral needed that much time for evacuation, who am I to argue?” As she spoke, Rougeserker feasted on the corpses of hundreds of Betas scattered across the hangar—despite Gauda’s and his minions’ best efforts, the Hegemon still had twenty-two Zweihänders fully charged with Quantic Mana. “You wasted a godsend from the Original Seeker, and now, all you can do is watch as the ship reaches the heart of Miraval City.”
*KRRRRCH!* *GNNNNK!* *WAAAAANG!*
A small earthquake concluded her speech. Mother Korinna had awakened, its spasms swirling the surrounding waters and shattering the fragile equilibrium of the Class-F, forcing them to kiss the ground.
Miraval City was a cluster of islands enclosed within an imaginary circumference, further divided into two semicircles. One, under Korinthian control, comprised Port Island, and the other contained the rest of the archipelago, protected by a mastodontic Mana Dome designed to stop anything hostile from entering. That being said, a Juggernaut was artillery of an entirely different league, and as the ship reached Academy Island—the southernmost one—it aimed straight at the magical barrier. Why? To maximize casualties and ensure that the Miraval Institute of Magic and Technology would never recover, Mother Korinna had to immolate itself at the precise moment the barrier shattered, so that its blue blood would reach the nest of the evil.
“There must be a way—damn it!” The ’Ego Witch’ lowered her head in defeat, crying not for her own life, but for Oshira, Katrina, and all her classmates.
“Carmen, subhuman, can you two hold out for a couple of minutes without me?” Gauda asked his Empress. “If I can’t kill this bastard in time, then I just need to kill whoever is piloting this ship.”
“I take back what I said—your brain really is as small as a pean—” The Kataphract stopped mid-sentence as she felt a violent jet of wind rush past her, followed by the brutal crack of a lock being shattered. She turned around, witnessing with pleasure the astonished expression of the Warlord as he stared at nothing but empty workstations. “My consciousness has spread throughout the entire ship via its pipelines,” Harmatia flatly explained. “Thus, I don’t need stewards or captains to rule the waves because I control every part of Mother Korinna—down to its smallest component.”
The revelation made Carmen and Gauda descend into the deepest depths of despair as they realized their plan had utterly failed. In sharp contrast, Jacques beamed at the words of the Korinna Knight, brighter than he ever had.
“Hey, fucking Demmie!” He shouted after poking his head out of the smoke. “Are you aware that if the ship explodes, you die too?”
“Absolutely,” Harmatia answered before releasing a wave of energy at Gauda’s back, pulverizing half of his body. “I’m not afraid of dying because I am an unforgivable monster who does not deserve the gift of life. But today, I will give meaning to my wretched existence by cleansing myself and the world’s sins in a shower of Quantic Mana.”
*Ding!*
A notification sound was heard only by the ’Javelinist.’
Bingo! Tereus has honored our agreement, and now I just need to keep this whore talking.
Before continuing the conversation, Jacques weighed his words carefully, searching for the right thread to pull, and Harmatia’s last sentence gave him exactly what he needed. “Sin?” He asked, tone puzzled. “What terrible thing could someone as dutiful as you—the Hegemon of the Kataphracts—have possibly done?”
“The worst sin a human may commit.” As Harmatia declared as she dodged hundreds of strikes from the feral snake—Guada was now barely able to restrain himself due to Carmen’s faltering mental health. Rougeserker resonating with a surge of hatred from its master’s heart, so intense its color shifted from vivid scarlet to the dark red of oxygen-starved blood, then it diced the Anima into hundreds of little meat cubes. “To be born in the wrong country.”
“Yeah, I agree. The fact that you were born in Korinth has decisively ruined my holidays.” For a brief moment, the ’Javelinist’ lost himself in thought, smiling. “But please, elaborate on your answer. Why would your government hate a renowned professional like yourself?”
“As you should know, since the moment Heroine Korinna’s Lost Ark reached the Purpura Gulf, it has been illegal for us Western Chaotians to become Essentias.” Gauda’s scattered pieces reunited, and his new body began to glow. His white scales turned crimson, and his body temperature rose until it rivaled that of a volcano. “However, despite the huge gap between the ways of life of our peoples, we are all Chaotians, and a small percentage of us is still cursed with the Gift of the Chaotic Gods—a hole in the soul.” Mishaab’s claws tore into the wall, melting it on contact. “Before the Insurrection, dealing with such people was always a tremendous problem because they spent their entire existence trying to fill that void, but nothing was ever enough, and we had to deal with the consequences.” Rougeserker clashed with the flaming claws, releasing a storm of sparks brighter than a starry night.
“After the liberation of Western Chaotia, the first solution proposed to eliminate the enemy within was euthanasia at birth—clearly, the most efficient option. However, the cultural landscape of my ancestors was not yet mature enough to make it socially acceptable, and it could also have resulted in mass defections to the Mandrakians. Therefore, a more socially and economically viable alternative was chosen.” Harmatia injected the full Mana charge of a Zweihänder into Rougeserker, effortlessly overpowering the flaming claws and melting them away. “Although we are not true Essentias, a hollow soul grants superior control and grasp over magic, making us the best Soulfu…no, that’s incorrect…making us the best Non-Reactionaries at wielding any Mana-powered equipment. And with technology advancing so rapidly, that quality was, and still is, indispensable.”
“Maybe I’m overthinking this,” the ’Javelinist’ whistled. “But toward the end of your story, you started using the pronoun we. You know, I’ve read hundreds of conspiracy theories on the Daily Evernightmare, but you’re not about to tell me the lamest one of all is actually true.”
“You’ve got it right, Mr. Impostor.” Harmatia clapped, the flat sound backgrounded by the screams of the Anima as his body melted and regenerated in an everlasting torment. “At the age of three, all citizens of the Peoplecracy undergo testing to identify those cursed with the Gift. And a year later, these unfortunate ones are taken from their families to join a special reeducation facility to learn how to control their inherent Reactionarism—the Kyanthélla Katharterio, the Blue Bird Purgatory.
"Within the tall walls of that holy temple, where the sun never rises, through brutal training, relentless study, and painful experimentation on our bodies, we are properly educated in an attempt to break the chains of our Original Sin. And after twelve years of Catharsis, the few who survive the
Labors of the Bluegale
are deemed sane enough to rejoin society, provided they accept three conditions.
“Firstly, the armor must never be removed, except within authorized military facilities or by a direct and time-limited authorization signed by the Chairwoman herself.
“Secondly, we must abstain from sexual intercourse, to prevent the further spread of Reactionarysm. Relationships among ourselves are, somehow, tolerated on a case-by-case basis, but relations with Soulfuls are punished with the immediate execution of both lovers.
“And lastly, we must constantly prove our loyalty to the Motherland and its people by joining—and eternally remaining within—a military force composed exclusively of us—the Kataphracts.”
“The Kataphracts, the Champions of the Soulfuls, the Loyal Knights of Heroine Korinna, are all men and women born with hollow souls. And from the moment the Holy Trinity cursed us at birth, we all grew up knowing this would always be our destiny, and it will remain so till our deaths,” Harmatia concluded, leaving a heavy atmosphere.
“Man…I don’t even know where to start…” the ’Javelinist’ muttered, awkwardly rubbing his face as he silently apologized to the Holy Trinity for every time he had cursed them for making him born in the Free City of Maria. “Three years old? That means you grew up with the people you slaughtered ten minutes ago, and with all the kids who died during training. Did you really feel nothing for them?”
If the frontal charge fails, try flanking the enemy.
“I did,” Harmatia replied without a hint of hesitation. “And that is precisely why I’m willing to die here.” Jacques frowned. “Five hundred years of hatred end today, and once all the Essentias are dead, there will be no reason left for the Soulfuls to fear my brothers—from today till the World’s End, all future generations will be freed from their Original Sin!”
*CRASH!*
A violent quake concluded her speech, announcing to everyone that Mother Korinna slammed into the Mana Dome protecting Miraval City.
“The last obstacle to my dream.” For the first time, something changed on her expressionless face—a lone black tear traced a vertical line down Harmatia’s metallic cheek.
“Carmen,” the ’Javelinist’ whispered as he slipped back into the curtain of smoke, gripping the ’Ego Witch’s’ hand. “You need to prepare yourself. In less than five minutes, we’re leaving this shithole once and for all.”
“And run where?” She cried. “I’ve heard what happened when the Antimagic Reactor of Svitnyi Svyatynyu went critical—we’ll never escape in time!” Her tone was completely shattered. “And even if we survive…w-what’s the point if Katrina, Oshira, and all our friends can’t come with us. Do you really want to leave them behind to die?” Her face twisted under the weight of despair, impotence, and rage, struggling to keep itself from collapsing. However, the moment her reddened eyes met the Trinitarian ones of the ’Javelinist,’ another emotion joined the storm—assurance.
“Cammy, relax.” He placed a hand on her shoulders, then extended his little finger. “Haven’t I already told you to trust me? I’m asking you to do it one last time, and I promise you that I’m going to save everyone—Basterserk included.” Like a rainbow breaking through a tempest, Jacques chased away the darkness from her heart, and after a long breath, the ’Ego Witch’ hooked her little finger around his.
*CRAAAAAAAAASH!*
Mother Korinna’s bow pierced the barrier, instantly triggering its defense mechanisms, and repelling force three times stronger than the initial impact slammed into the Juggernaut. However, the Antimagic Reactor held and pushed back with more fury, prompting the Dome to answer in turn, and so on. An unstoppable force versus an immovable object—both powered by an Antimagic Reactor—closed themself into an everlasting struggle.
That being said, one of the two Antimagic Particles was now under the control of the Hegemon’s consciousness, and the magic barrier started to bend a little by little. “It won’t take long,” Harmatia announced, feeling the struggle directly in her heart. “Pray for your sins now, while you still have time.”
“Are you joking?” Jacques’s head popped out from the smoke curtain. “It would take three months just to list all of mine.” He waved dismissively. “Anyway, since I have no other hope left, I’ve come here to barg—ACK!” The Hegemon hurled a wave of energy at him, which the ’Javelinist’ narrowly avoided by diving back into the smoke. ”Calm down, you psycho, and use your brain for a moment. If instead of being born in Demmieland your parents had lived on the other side of the Phoenix Gulf, you’d have entered the Miraval Academy, become a loyal Knight of the Emperor, and enjoyed all the wealth and fame this world has to offer. But instead, here you are—a pitiful lamb willingly throwing herself into the 'Golden Bull' for the sake of her wretched master.” He smirked. “No wonder you got drunk on fanaticism. Otherwise, you’d have killed yourself the moment you realized how pointless and pathetic your life truly is.”
“You are completely wrong,” Harmatia calmly replied, not falling for the bait. “Yes, as an Essentia, I would have lived a comfortable life full of privileges. True, I would have been forced to risk my life in battle for the Emperor, but I am doing the same now, without benefits.” She placed a hand over her heart. “However, I am truly grateful to the Peoplecracy. They taught me to understand and face my Original Sin, and I tremble at the thought of all the evil I would have committed as a citizen of the Holy Rolandish Empire. If I can spare the world from its suffering by bearing it all on my shoulder, then without hesitation I will endure it all for eternity—those are the values I learned as a Loyal Knight of Heroine Korinna.”
“Well, I tried.” Jacques shrugged, hands raised, chin high. “So, I have no other choice but to kill you.”
“And how?” Harmatia countered, tone dipped in sarcasm. “Mr. Gauda is currently busy burning alive, and I doubt the two of you are powerful Essentias. Am I wrong?”
“Perhaps…” Jacques tilted his head. “Oh, one second. Before we start killing each other, can you remind me of something? Can you really control every single piece of this ship?”
“Are you deaf?” She yawned. “Absolutely, till the smallest gear.”
“Then why haven’t you noticed yet?” Although Harmatia had known from the very first moment that the person in front of him was not Valentino Di Mario, the malicious smirk he wore now filled her with a fear she had only felt from that evil man.
“W–what the hell…are you i-implying with that…” Despite her Heart of Iron, a dark seed had begun to spread, its roots cracking the steel.
“Nothing, dudette. Have fun killing yourself to accomplish absolutely nothing.” Those were his last words before he vanished back into the smoke. “Be ready, Carmen—we’re leaving this ship soon.”
As Mother Korinna slowly drilled into the shield of Miraval City, doubt pierced just as deeply into Harmatia’s mind.
What is he hiding?
No matter how much she tried to dismiss it as another example of Tricknology, the Kataphract had invested too much to ignore the possibility. Thus, she released multiple Radiation, scanning the entire ship. ”WHO ARE THEY?!” Harmatia yelled at the hollow space after discovering something concerning—despite the Admiral’s orders, someone was still aboard.
Dozens of signals moved across the vessel, their positions shifting so rapidly they barely seemed human. Yet, the most alarming discovery lay elsewhere—two distinct presences inside the engine room.
Could they stop the Juggernaut from there?
Her previous calculations said no, there was no possible way. However, no one can ever be certain of the outcome once an Essentia enters the equation—their [Skills] are never predictable.
Why were they there? Who were they? How much of a threat did they pose? The questions and more relentlessly spiraled throughout the Korinna’s Knight’s mind.
Should I go down there and eliminate the threat? Or is this a bait, meant to draw me away while his real plan unfolds right here in the command room? I must make a decis—
Gauda answered for her with a punch on her expressionless face. “What happened?” The Kaliph taunted. “Imagine giving up now, when you’re so close to your dream.” Now that Carmen had regained her composure and Harmatia’s focus wavered, the Alpha was able to free himself from Rougeserker, and now he was ready for round thirty-seven.
“Shut up, you leech, I’m trying to thi—” Harmatia barked, but Gauda guffawed at her as a thousand slashes pierced her Exoskeleton, painting the hangar with golden varnish.
Half of my power is occupied sustaining the assault on the Mana Dome, and if I divert my consciousness to the engine room, I will lose control of this duel.
Three objectives now weighed on Harmatia’s mind, and she ranked them in order of importance. Firstly, destroy the Mana Dome. Secondly, eliminate all remaining intruders aboard the ship. Thirdly, keep Gauda at bay till the explosion. To win, she needed to remove at least one variable.
Perhaps…
Her metallic lips could not curve into a smile, they would have formed into a pleasant sneer. “You’re inside the Dawn Zone. I don’t know what your plan was,” she declared coldly. ”But now it’s truly over for you!”
Her Radiation surged throughout the ship’s Pipelines at light speed, ignoring the engine room entirely and, instead, directing toward the vessel’s keel. Once there, it overrode the security system that required Tereus’s DNA, opening that little hatch. Water immediately rushed into Mother Korinna, and once infused with the full discharge of a Zweihänder, it instantly folgorated Syreja, Nicholas, and all the Sphinxes.
Her plan was a complete success, and once Harmatia detected no remaining life-signs below, she aimed Rougeserker directly at the ’Javelinist.’ “All your friends are now drifting underwater, along with your last hop—”
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*
Inside the engine room, Derserk’s bomb activated. A neutron struck the uranium atom suspended within its shell, splitting it apart and unleashing a catastrophic chain reaction. The atom’s split fragments collided at near light speed with the surrounding atoms, which in turn struck their neighbors, and so on—a chaotic choreography that increased the temperature to nearly the one of the sun’s surface.
”W-HAT Y-OU H-AVE D-ONE?!” Harmatia screamed as her body began to inflate like a balloon, golden vapor exhaling from the fissures now tearing through her armor. ”W-HAT I-S H-APPE-E-NIG!”
The Engine’s shell had been designed to withstand sudden malfunctions and extreme thermal spikes. Yet, not even the most paranoid of engineers could have predicted the amount of energy released by that small bomb—an unstoppable reaction that instantly vaporized the amniotic liquid and began melting the egg from the inside out. Still, Harmatia’s willpower belonged to a league tempered to endure the weight of an entire universe, and, hastily, her consciousness triggered the ship’s emergency protocols, liquefying the surrounding structural components and forcing them to flow inward, replacing the evaporated metal and re-thickening the shell—Mother Korinna’s heart was cannibalizing its body.
*SKRREEE-KRAAANG!*
The once-blue armor and metallic skin of the Goddess-statue glimmered white-hot as the golden liquid within turned incandescent. The temperature rose beyond any limit, so high that even Rougeserker screamed as its flesh blistered and charred, its surface wallpapered with third-degree burns. A pain too much to endure even for an Eldritch Abomination, and after mutiple convulsive spasm, the mass of organs and coagulated hemoglobin tore itself free from its master, slamming against the floor in a pool of its own blood—its color now scorched brown, and the air filled with a rich aroma almost pleasant at the smell if one didn’t know the origin.
“Au revoir, Mademoiselle. I’m sure you won’t need the blade anymore in Hell. Hence, I’ll rent it for free for a little while—[ChariotJavelin]!” A wooden javelin struck Rougeserker, levitating and transporting it into the smoke curtain, only to resurface moments later. The javelin and the bloody weapon had fused into a long, thin shield—a wooden pole supporting a crimson board, and standing atop it, feet planted wide, was the ’Javelinist,’ resembling the Champions of the most famous Euralian sport–surfing. “Carmen, take my hand if you want to live.” The ’Ego Witch’ didn’t hesitate, falling into his warm embrace as she climbed onto Rougeserker. Then, Jacques immediately ordered the javelin to move forward, straight at the opening in the hull that Mishaab had torn open.
”S-T-O-P!” Harmatia’s metallic body now boiled like water in a pot, thousands of metallic bubbles swelling and bursting across the surface of the balloon-woman. “I PUT MY ENTIRE LIFE TO BE HERE, IN THIS MOMENT, AND I WON’T LET YOU DESTROY THE LAST CHANCE AT FREEEDOM FOR MY PEOPLE!” Despite everything, the Korinna’s Knight’s willpower was strong enough to move mountains. She injected all the remaining energy stored in the still-glowing Zweihänders into herself, preparing what could only be seen as a kamikaze.
*CRAAAAAAAAASH!*
Before the supernova could enact her petty revenge, the Sultan of Deception performed his final trick, wrapping his massive tail around her legs. “My Empress, compared to my five hundred years of life, our time together may seem less than a fleeting instant. And yet, it holds my most precious memories.” Gauda declared as his white scales scorched under the unbearable heat. ”Don’t think about me. All I want is your happiness. So, forget about me and—SURVIVE!” The Deceptio Squamata and the Ego Witch exchanged a wordless glance—short, yet everlasting—before she left Mother Korinna in the arms of another man.
“Hold tight!” Jacques shouted, and Carmen obeyed, tightening her grip around his waist as much as she could. The couple propelled through the air at an astonishing speed, piercing the Mana Dome—which only repelled credible threats—and slamming onto the roof of the Miraval Educational Center just an instant before the explosion.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*
A blue fungus, as tall as a Starfolk skyscraper, erupted from Mother Korinna, disassembling the Juggernaut into millions of pieces that rained down upon Miraval City. The largest pieces were incinerated on contact with the Dome, while the smallest fell upon the school and the city—some struck Jacques and Carmen, but their [HP] spared their lives.
Meanwhile, the massive energy released by the explosion collided with the Mana Dome, crumpling it as if it were paper. Nevertheless, without Harmatia’s consciousness to direct the fire-power, the Crude Mana lost its momentum and soon stopped focusing on a single point. Instead, from there, it spread across the entire surface of the barrier without breaching it, solidifying into a bluish crystal—a translucent eggshell that encased half of Miraval City.
The ’Ego Witch’ didn’t even notice the notification sound because her mind was consumed by a far more urgent thought. “Jacques…the bomb…If we had stuck to the original plan…we…”
“We’ll all be reduced to ashes,” he muttered. “With nothing left for our families to bury.” Then Jacques’s mind began to race, replaying everything that had led to such an explosion while trying to find out the impossible reasons behind it. And when he finally identified the culprit, his entire body shook with rage.
”BASTARDSERK!!!!”
***
”BASTARDSERK!”
Inside the Class F dormitory–classroom, what was supposed to be a great celebration for their plan’s success had quickly degenerated into a hostile confrontation. Oshira, Sahel, Casimir, Carmen, and Jude felt the air thicken in their lungs as an outraged Jacques screamed at his trembling teammate, who weirdly whistled while keeping his gaze low, trying to avoid that infuriated stare. “What the fuck dude, your bomb could have killed Carmen and—ME! BASTARDSERK, you crazy motherfucker…you are…”
The ’Gravedigger’ adjusted his red round sunglasses, unable to find the courage to face him.
C’mon, kiddo, don’t pussy out now. Just say you were too scared and overused the material out of fear that the bomb would be too weak.
Himself suggested his bodymate, and with no other choice, he went with it. “Jacques, I…ahem…well…I tri—”
Derserk stopped mid-sentence as the ’Javelinist’ rushed forward. The young man closed his eyes, bracing himself for the revenge strike. “What…” However, instead of a punch to the face or a knife in the back, he felt a warm pressure spread across his chest.
“MY GREATEST ALLY!” Derserk reopened his eyes, blinking in sheer confusion as he realized Jacques was hugging him tightly. “I asked you to build a bomb, something you’d never done before—and to be fair, I should have expected that from the deranged mind of your schizo of a father.” Their eyes locked. “The original explosive I asked Jude for would have disabled Mother Korinna, but it wouldn’t have been enough to stop Harmatia. Do you know what that means, Bastardserk? It means that without you, we’d all be dead by now. You saved everyone—I’M ALIVE ONLY THANKS TO YOU.”
Jacques squeezed him like an orange forbidding the young man to read the [Windows] while Himself cursed him in his own thoughts. “Now we can cheer to our victory,” Carmen declared and the Class F students raised the cups they had filled from a large jar of sangria, toasting the end of the Marvelous Siege. Then, all started to enjoy the finger food, personally cooked by the ’Ego Witch,’ on various trays spread across the desks of their classroom. “You know, guys, it almost feels unreal to think that we’re the heroes who saved the Holy Rolandish Empire.” She chuckled. ”It feels like being inside a theater show, and I can’t wait to see everyone’s reaction when they find out that Class F saved their lives.” Carmen was already daydreaming about the interviews she’d be forced to endure in the coming months when she noticed something was wrong. “Everything okay…guys?” No one was laughing, and no one looked serene. A cold silence conquered on the once-joyous atmosphere as hostile stares assaulted her.
“ARE YOU MAD, CAMMY?!” Jacques snapped. “No one must ever know what we did on Mother Korinna, or the consequences will be catastrophic.” Every classmate except her nodded in agreement.
“Carmen,” the ’Scarecrow’ began, his tone abnormally lower than usual. “You probably don’t know this because—from what I heard on the Hydro—Suarez and the Korinthian government sleep in the same bed—whatever this that means.” He swallowed. “But back home—in the Emerald Lands—dozens of my friends’ brothers, cousins, even parents, all veterans of the Fall of Bloodmarch were killed in a horrific terrorist attack.” Casimir had only fragmentary memories of those days, but the emotions felt as sharp as if they had happened yesterday. “If the truth leaves this room, we’ll be the next targets.”
“Kaz is correct,” Sahel chimed in. “Thousands of Blue Partisans hiding all over the HRE love to strike when you least expect it—during a wedding, a countryside holiday, or even while you’re taking a coffee break. Their whole strategy is to make the so-called war criminals live in fear for the rest of their lives.”
“But the police or the army would protect their heroes, right?” Carmen’s rebuttal made the atmosphere grow even darker. Except Oshira, who, taking advantage of the general distraction, quietly emptied the remaining food trays.
“That’s even worse,” Jude told her, placing a firm hand on Carmen’s shoulder. “When the target is untouchable—either a powerful Class S or someone officially protected by the state—the Partisans change strategy—they go after the family.” He leaned in, freezing the Suzerain lady with a single glance. “Do you like your father? Your mother? Your many brothers you brag about all the time? Then shut the fuck up, and take this secret to your grave.”
There was nothing that could rival her fear of never seeing her family again, and just the thought was enough to erase all her dreams of fame. “I understand now…” she mumbled with her eyes fixed on the floor. “But I still think it’s unfair that our good actions will never be rewarded.”
“Why is that?” Jacques asked, lifting her chin gently. “Why do you help people, Carmen? For the reward, or because it’s the right thing to do?”
After a few seconds of hesitation, she answered softly, “Naturally, the latter.”
“Then why are you sad?” Sure, everything is better with money, but you did it—you helped them. Shouldn’t that be enough?” Jacques tilted his head. “If, even after seeing the smiles of the people you protected, you still feel sore, then that was never your true goal in the first place, was it?”
No one would ever believe that someone faking his identity would become a Senator of the HRE and put his face on every newspaper—at least, that’s what I hope. But this whole shitshow sports my old signature everywhere, too risky.
Each day that passed, the ’Javelinist’s’ tighrope thinned down more and more.
His words succeeded in stealing a smile from her beautiful lips. “You’re right, Jacques. A true hero would never take credit for his actions—Heroine Stella’s words.” With that, the joyful atmosphere returned, and the heroes of the Marvelous Siege went back to celebrating—only to discover that a small black cat had nothing left for them to eat.
“Oshira—WHY!?” Jacques confronted the backstabber.
“…Sorry…I was very angry.” Mistaking the phonetic aside, Jacques’s surge of rage mutated into pride for all the progress she had made in mastery of the language, but it was simply impossible for her to yell at that cat-like expression.
“Well, how about celebrating together by eating something?” The ’Ego Witch’ proposed, but once again, her words were met with disapproving looks.
“Sorry, we have to…train…I guess,” Sahel hastily replied, before dragging his sister out of the room.
“Nah, I’m going to sleep for the next week,” Jude declared. “And no one even thinks about waking me up for any reason at all, or I’m selling your livers at Port Island.” He smashed his face onto the desk, instantly falling asleep.
“Sorry, Carmen, but I have to refuse,” Jacques announced. “The city will be rebuilt, and people are going to pay me very well for th—”
*Ding!*
A notification interrupted him mid-sentence. “Oh, an [EMAIL] from Mr. Siege—my first post-siege job. Let’s see…mmmh…I have to…mmmh…go to the zoo because…mhhh…I need to manually extract seeds from male subjects and manually fertilize the fem—Oh, fuck you. I hate my life.” A triggered Jacques stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
“Sorry, but Derserk and I have to work,” Casimir admitted, scratching his head at Carmen’s deluded expression. “However, if you want, we can celebrate there after our shift ends—I’m sure everyone will be free at that hour.” The ’Ego Witch’ nodded as a few of her optimism restored, only to be interrupted by the sound of the door opening.
“WE ARE ALIVE…we are—ALIVE.” A tears and blood soaked Mr. Diaz threw himself at Casimir in a desperate hug before immediately losing consciousness. The ’Scarecrow’ shrugged, hoisting the limp body of the ’Raging Hornet’ over his shoulder, and the four of them headed toward the Blue Bird Experience.
