> Slayers" Hunt? But what is that?Those were very disturbing words.
Emilia narrowed her eyes and asked.
[There are some types of people who are looking for Slayer and steal their Hundred. Currently, there are three people from the Liberian troops who have died and yesterday, at least three Little Garden students who went to the streets of Sangria were attacked. Kisaragi Hayato-kun. Your younger sister―Kisaragi Karen]
– …!…
Hayato is very surprised, and his breathing accelerates.
– Karen, is Karen safe?!
[Maa maa, calm down]
Standing and grasping the Tablet PC while Hayato yelled at her when he said that, Charlotte continued.
[She was not hurt, she was able to escape unharmed from the enemy, she also protected her two companions she was with and they returned to Little Garden. As you can expect from your sister]
– What a relief…
Upon hearing those words, Hayato was relieved.
[The Liberian army feels embarra.s.sed to have suffered the loss of Slayers who were killed and stripped of their Hundred, and apparently they have been hiding this from Little Garden. We know about this incident, thanks to the fact that your sister has made it known to us. What’s more, as a bonus we know what the criminal’s objective is]
– Who is that criminal, what the h.e.l.l…
[As a result of consolidating what we have heard from Karen’s story and the information held in Little Garden, there is the possibility that the criminal is an
– … Homunculus?
[It is a human being that has been created by fertilizing an egg with sperm in a tube. However, in this case it is a little different. Only the necessary cells were selected from the fertilized eggs, making them multiply together with Variable Stone and the body fluids of the Savages to create the homunculus. a.s.suming that it is the culprit who has been performing the Slayers" Hunt]
– That’s…
He was about to say that it was equal to Liza. But Liza is a secret that Emilia does not know.
– What’s up Hayato?
– No, it’s nothing. I think what she is saying is really terrible.
He said that to get out of the way. Charlotte who knows about Liza probably understood it.
[Can I continue?]
Asking that, Charlotte continued.
[And maybe, Vitaly created that called Homunculus as her trump card—Joker. This information was spread by the three artificial Variants]
Six months before the a.s.sault on Little Garden, Vitaly was preparing to move to the base located in the mountains of Liberia.
Joker was created more than half a year ago. Vitaly who had managed to create an artificial Variant with a higher power than a normal Slayer was trying to proceed to the next stage. And that is, the creation of a Homunculus from the birth of a Variant.
But, apparently that did not turn out very well. According to what the three individuals of artificial Variant said, there was only one specimen of that generation that managed to obtain a human form by being a Homunculus—.
But, that example of success, the trump card, Joker, had enough energy to generate armaments from Hundred.
Vitaly therefore made full use of her growth drugs and sleep-learning devices, trying to quickly nourish the Joker for use as a battle weapon against Little Garden, but in the middle of a simulated battle against the three artificial Variant, his energy could not be controlled and went crazy. For that reason he ended up running out of energy and his activity went into suspension.
(Again as for that, Liza is quite similar…)
That was Hayato’s impression.
Certainly, Liza went out of control after helping Claire, consumed all her energy and that’s how she is in the present.
– Later, Vitaly could not wake up for a second time to Joker and ended up discarding him. Then again she tried to make another similar Homunculus, only this time she did not succeed.
– Wait a moment, with discarding it, what do you mean…
[In order to keep a Homunculus alive, you need Hundred, Variable Stone and Savage core. In other words, she did not have the necessary elements for it. The soul of a Homunculus is like a ma.s.s of Sense Energy. If it runs out, it’s just a piece of meat. That means that in the end it was just an empty sh.e.l.l]
Undoubtedly it was a container that could not find a single soul in one of Vitaly’s laboratories. As it were, it has been reported that many corpses of people who would be children have been found. Most likely it is the unsuccessful experiments of the Homunculus creation.
– But then, why is the Homunculus now doing the Slayers Hunt―
[That I still do not know. It is possible that someone has taken the materials that were left in Vitaly’s research laboratory and has succeeded in trying to create a Homunculus, or that Joker, who should have been discarded, for some reason has begun to move, is what I think. As for me, I think the second alternative is more viable. It means that Vitaly did not burn Joker’s container and that the appearance that Karen-kun saw is quite similar to Joker’s. It seems that it can deploy weapons without the need for a Hundred. It could be that maybe there was some energy inside the container, and with that he possibly woke up]
– In other words, Charo, do you think the anti-Slayer organization got Joker, they gave him Variable Stone and Savage"s core and with that they managed to wake him up?
[I do not think it was the anti-Slayer organization]
Charlotte then takes a very serious look and changes her speech.
[The story from this point is the most problematic question. Exactly a week ago, in one of Vitaly’s laboratories where the Homunculus research was being conducted, there was a battle between the anti-Slayer organization and the United Nations Integrated Army]
After the battle, the members of the anti-Slayer organization who were investigating the results of the investigation left by Vitaly were annihilated― Immediately after that, members of the United Nations Integrated Army searched the base where Vitaly was studying the Homunculus, but it was completely ruined.
[The Slayer troop that reported that report belonged to the Kingdom of Wenz and its commander―was Douglas]
– Does that finally mean that, Douglas is involved in the Slayers" Hunt?
– … ah…!
At that moment, what pa.s.sed through Hayato’s mind was what Douglas said in the hall when he left the palace.
– Did something happen to you, Kisaragi Hayato?
Asks Claudia, probably noticing the state of Hayato.
Hayato spoke recalling the words that Douglas used at that time.
– In that palace, Douglas was saying that Little Garden was not relevant, at the time you will understand it immediately.
– No, it can"t be…
Emilia’s eyes widened in amazement. Even her body is trembling.
– It is certainly so, Emilia-sama. Douglas ended up discarding his commitment and as a revenge changed the Hundred to avoid falling into shame when facing each other, in order to win in the duel against Kisaragi Hayato; from there employing Joker to find the whereabouts of two people in Little Garden. It is impossible to measure the damage that would be with that difference!
[…Exactly]
Charlotte quickly nodded and continued.
[That Douglas Edward Wenz, if he really did it, we should gather evidence to show that he did. Otherwise it will say that we are defaming him and will take advantage of that moment to escape. As for that, there is a strategy, but it is also necessary that Hayato can fight at a hundred percent. For that, regarding the new exclusive Hundred for Hayato, let me do it at the University of Weimar, of which I am a professor emeritus. There I have a lot of disciples]
It takes an hour and a half by plane between Weimar and Gudenburg―The time of the duel is at afternoon, so there is plenty of time.
[For now, I will send the information and start the creation of the Hundred immediately. Since I do not know how long that process will take even though we have a few hours, I will leave the topic discussed so that it is sent first thing in the morning by plane to Gudenburg]
– Really!? Thank you very much!
Hayato gave a very animated voice.
[Regarding the details of the shipment, let’s decide tomorrow morning. So far, I have compiled a good amount of different strategies. Of course, I have included ways to contain the Joker. Until then, I on my part will immediately begin to work, as for you, take it easy and rest until morning]
***– Hayato, are you awake? Hayato! Something very serious has happened!
*DON DON DON*
Hayato woke up by the voice of Emilia and the blows that received the thick door. There were the figures of Emilia who wore the uniform of the martial arts department of Litte Garden and Claudia in her uniform of the troops of the Slayer army of Gudenburg.
– Uff, you finally woke up!
Emilia shouted. Apparently she was really in trouble.
– Hey hey, what’s the matter? Still is not the time we would get together, right?
– Uhmm, let’s start talking inside.
Emilia who said that entered the room followed by Claudia. As soon as the door closed, she began to speak.
– There was a contact from Charo now. A scientist from Weimar who tried to bring the Hundred to Gudenburg has been arrested at the Heathoria airport by the anti-Slayer organization.
– Huh ..? What, what do you mean…?
– Charo says that, they are making false accusations, but, surely they try to collect by means of a baggage inspection the Hundred of Hayato―or even exchange it.
– Impossible, then since when the Prime Minister has been putting his hands?
– It’s very frustrating, that something like this is happening.
Claudia replied.
– I went to the airport to do some negotiation, but I did not achieve anything.
Claudia said that before becoming Prime Minister, Bratt was the president of the Privy Council.
The current president is a member of the same party as Bratt.
The Privy Council is a unit directed directly by the King, can command directly the police and public safety without having to have the approval of Congress. That’s all about it.
– What do we do, Hayato? Even if we ask Charo to do another Hundred again, it is very likely that the same thing will happen if it is by air. If it is by a land route, and within Europe, there will be no baggage inspection, but it will take about five hours from Weimar and it may not arrive on time before the duel begins.
Hayato suddenly realized the words he heard.
– Hey, Emilia. From the capital city of Louvre, Francois, do you know how long the trip will take by land?
Using the train at high speed, it can take two and a half hours though…
The clock shows that it is now eight in the morning.
The duel will take place just midday.
That means, they still have some time.
– Wait Hayato, don"t tell me…
Apparently Emilia has managed to understand what Hayato thinks.
– What is happening Hayato-sama, Emilia-sama?
Claudia, who tilts her hear in deliberation, Hayato talks about his idea.
– Currently, now Sakura is live in Louvre, capital city of Francois.
Although there is also, of course, her manager Souffle Clearrail. She is an engineer and at the same time one of Charlotte’s apprentices. She can create the Hundred and for that there are the connections that will allow her to use the laboratory for that purpose.
– In other words, what you mean is that the Hundred will be created in Louvre and then sent on a high-speed train?
Hayato nodded.
He does not know if they will really manage to do it, but it will be worth asking.
– For now, I’ll phone Sakura.
Hayato took out his PDA and called her number.
[Hayato-kun! Isn"t this the first time Hayato-kun calls me? Maybe you wanted to hear my voice as soon as you woke up? Or will it be love? Is it love?]
– Uhmm, I was really calling to ask you a favor…
[A favor? What? What?]
– Could I ask Soufle-san to create a Hundred exclusively for me?
– [… Eh?]
At the sudden request, Sakura was speechless.
After many seconds, she answered.
[I think it’s likely that she can do it but, what’s the problem?]
Hayato tells Sakura about the battle against Emilia’s boyfriend, and that her Hundred was exchanged while she was sleeping.
[In the case that Hayato lost, then Emilia would have to marry her fiancé, if so, I thought that they would be for each other, but it seems that this situation will not happen]
I think it’s not the best time to be telling jokes.
After all, it is possible that in this circ.u.mstance Hayato’s life is at stake.
[Okay, anyway, I’ll go wake up Souffle. Also, there’s nothing particularly planned until tonight, so I’ll deliver the Hundred. I will witness Hayato-kun’s duel live]
This is not the case, it is not the time to be saying those things.
Emilia sighed as it was inevitable.
– I get it. Please I beg you.
[Yaaay Alright then, I’ll go and tell Souffle]
After about 10 minutes, there was another communication from Sakura.
[Souffle is OK, she said she can do it. Right now I am receiving the data of Hayato from Dr. Charlotte. Once this is finished she will go to create the Hundred]
– I see…
I’m really grateful.
Continuing, Sakura said.
[As soon as it’s ready, I’ll deliver it ASAP. All right, see you, Hayato-kun ❤]
***– I said it was fine, but it hurts a little….
Karen sighed loudly as she dropped her shoulders at the bus stop next to the school.
My body feels very heavy.
When she got off the bus, her feet wobbled. Today she got up at 06:30, a little earlier than usual, that because due to the circ.u.mstances she heard last night, she went to bed when the sun was changing.
Before attending school, she stayed awake until two in the morning, but since the next day she had to wake up before dawn, the situation was completely different. If she does not sleep for at least eight hours, then Karen’s body cannot bear the burden it carries.
However, today was six hours. For two hours it was not enough, and she used a lot of Sense Energy because of the boy’s attack last night in Sangria. Dr. Charlotte says that if you use a lot of energy, you will feel that your body will suffer. Although she said it was good to be able to go to school but,
– I’m fine, I’m leaving!
Karen answered during the examination in the morning.
She didn"t want Aoi or Rebecca to worry about her if she was absent so she could take a break.
(Will they be fine?)
It was quite terrifying what happened very recently.
Maybe they thought there was a possibility that I would be absent from school because my physical condition deteriorated, but―
– Yoo, Karen!
– Kyaa!?
When she tried to pa.s.s through the front door of the school, she suddenly felt a voice approaching her, and was. .h.i.t in the back. That caused Karen to collapse and fall forward.
– Ah! I am sorry. Did I hit you too hard?
– Are you okay, Karen-san!?
The two ducked completely as Karen was lying face down on the floor.
– Oh, yes, I’m fi… ne―kya!
Karen, who was getting up, her body wobbled as she said that, causing it to collapse again.
– Hey, Karen!? Don"t tell me you’ve been hurt for a while? Or are you injured because what happened yesterday…?
– No, it’s not that, it’s just that I used a lot of energy yesterday, and I feel my body a bit heavy… Beyond that, are you okay?
Karen gets up, and asks both of them.
– We are ok? Why do you ask?
– Well, it’s just that, a lot of things happened yesterday and I wanted to know if you were good…
– Yees, as you can see, I’m fine! I’m not hurt at all. How about you Aoi? You don"t have anything in particular?
– Huh? Emm, yes, I’m fine. Nothing happens.
Saying that, Aoi smiled.
Somehow Karen felt somewhat uncomfortable with that smile.
(Are, did something happen, Aoi-chan?)
While I was hesitant to hear it or not,
– Oook, let’s go to the cla.s.sroom.
And Rebecca started walking.
– Let’s go, Karen-san.
– Oh yeah.
Following Rebecca, Aoi also started walking.
For a while, things have changed as they have always been.
(Yup, It seems that everything has been my imagination…)
Going to Aoi to reach her, Karen also started walking.
When the three arrived at the cla.s.sroom, all their cla.s.smates surrounded them to the point that they could no longer get them out of their way or move around.
– Yesterday, you were attacked by the Slayers" Hunter, right?
– Are you okay?
– Do you have any wounds?
Etc., their companions ask quickly one after the other. That’s when Rebecca with a very confident att.i.tude starts answering.
– We were really in a pinch, Karen deployed her Hundred, and then flew into the skies! She saved us!
Her version had some exaggeration as if it were told by a professional narrator.
Her cla.s.smates said [Wooo], others [Unbelievable].
While they were excited and praised her, they listened to the story of Rebecca who spoke really inspired. Even though she thought it might be a bit of an exaggeration, she felt relieved that it was not she who had to interact at that moment. Finally the counter argument came from the other side.
– Karen-san, you’re just as amazing as your brother.
– Noo, that, ahahah…
She couldn"t do anything but laugh to divert attention, since she is not the incredible, but the girl who emitted the voice in her head.
Last night when they asked her the question of rigor.
Karen told about the voice to Dr. Charlotte.
– About that voice, it’s probably Liza.
What the h.e.l.l was that voice?
– There is a great ma.s.s of powerful energy within you. That characteristic is very similar to that of Liza. That’s why finally now, I’ve been able to understand that even if you used a lot of energy, I could understand why you’re doing well right now.
Dr. Charlotte said.
She has not informed her in full detail of what Liza really is, but you could say that she is like the “G.o.ddess” of Little Garden.
Anyway, thanks to the power she received from Liza, she was able to survive the boy’s attack, not by her own power.
But being unconscious of that, the eyes of the companions shine, and one by one they are throwing questions without stopping.
– Karen-san, it is confirmed that you will become a Slayer and fight against the Savage in the future? Even so, you will still be mainly a singer just like Sakura-san?
– Until now, I have not thought about what to do yet…
Karen responds ambiguously. At that moment, she felt a penetrating gaze. That look was from Nakri, who was the transferred student who was sitting at her desk.
(Is she staring at me?)
But Nakri looked away when Karen’s eyes met hers.
That’s when the bell rings the tutor enters the cla.s.sroom.
– Students, let’s start with the cla.s.s.
That made Karen feel relieved to be released.
It is then when the bell rings that the homeroom teacher enters the cla.s.sroom.
What was mentioned in the tutoring was that a couple of days ago an incident occurred in which Slayers were involved in Sangria’s side and that is why the circulation between Little Garden and Sangria has been restricted. It has even been said that there has been no damage other than Slayer at that time, in addition there are notifications by the Student Council to stop the movement to Sangria as much as possible.
Fortunately, the tutoring ended without the topic of Karen from yesterday, and as usual, the first hours of cla.s.ses began.
As always, the body feels heavy. But, by lunchtime, she felt much better―.
– Now that I think about it, I could…
As soon as the cla.s.s that started the lunch break ended, Karen looked back.
She wanted to talk to Nakri.
Apart from wanting to invite her to lunch, she wanted to ask her why she was watching her during the morning tutoring.
– … What, where…?
Realizing, she was no longer there. Leaving her books and notebooks on her desk, she indicates that apparently went somewhere.
(Has she ate already?)
She can"t find her by looking around, inside the cla.s.sroom.
– Karen, let’s go eat!
– Oh, ok!
Invited by Rebecca as usual, Karen left the cla.s.sroom in the direction of the cafeteria.
At the end of lunch time, afternoon cla.s.ses arrived. By now, Karen’s physical strength had returned to normal. That was also due to Liza’s power.
– Hey, the homework that has been given now and must be brought tomorrow, let’s do it together if you want. I’m not good at math, so will you teach me?
At the end of the last lesson of today, Rebecca said that to Karen and Aoi.
– Oh, right. Karen doesn"t do well in math either… Aoi-chan, could you teach us?
– This, I’m sorry…! Today I have something to do!
Aoi, who had already finished preparing her things to go home, suddenly stood up carrying her bag.
– S- See you!
– Ah! Hey, wait!
Rebecca calls her out trying to make her stop, but Aoi does not stop the march of her legs. She left the cla.s.sroom quickly, just like that.
– What’s wrong with her, today she’s been weird, right? At lunck break too, it was as if she was rambling, she was also like that during the lessons, she didn"t listen to what the teacher was saying.
– Yes, I also think the same…
It is impossible for her to be the usual Aoi.
That’s why Karen and Rebecca stared at the door that led to the exit of the cla.s.sroom where Aoi had left.
***– Haa, haa …
Exercise is not one of her strongest points. She practically doesn"t run, that is why she is out of practice, since she only does it in physical education lessons. Because of that, Aoi stops her feet when she arrived at the entrance after running down the stairs to reach the first floor of the school building.
While she breathed heavily, she quickly changed her shoes, while taking a look at the corridor. Making sure that Rebecca and Karen were not chasing her, and after her breathing normalized, Aoi started running again, to jump on the bus that came in front of the school.
With this, she was finally able to relax and sat with her back on a chair. Then again she stood up when it arrived at the station that was located in front of the checkpoint in the terminal of the sector that connects Little Garden with the district of Sangria.
Due to entry and exit restrictions, there are very few people unlike yesterday.
It can also be seen staff from Warslan and Little Garden, where Slayers and soldiers wear their respective uniforms, where the door leading to the bridge with many ships connected to Sangria is completely closed, like a cage.
(As I thought, it is impossible to go and look for my PDA to Sangria on my own, after all …)
Thinking that maybe she should give up and heed the call made by her teacher, a white man with blond hair, a young man who wore the uniform of Little Garden martial arts department was approaching.
The companion of Kisaragi Hayato, the older brother of Kisaragi Karen.
(If I’m not mistaken, is it Fritz-san?)
Going to Aoi’s position, Fritz approaches with confidence.
– If I remember correctly, you are yesterday’s…
– Umino Aoi.
– Oh, that’s right, that’s right. Forgetting the name of a girl, what kind of person am I. Ahahahaha
– What are you laughing about!
Latia stomps on Fritz’s foot.
– Ouch ouch, as expected, it does not work with middle school girls.
– Of course!
After screaming and exposing her fangs, Latia looked at Aoi.
– Leaving this aside, is something wrong? That we met yesterday with you was one thing, but now, you can"t go to Sangria from Little Garden.
– After all I can"t do it…
Aoi’s facial expression darkened.
– What is your reason for wanting to go?
– Well, it turns out that…
Aoi, when asked by Fritz, informs him that the PDA was lost.
– I know its location. So I will go pick it up.
– Should you ask someone to go do that, don"t you think?
– That is true, but…
– Do you have something you do not want someone else to see?
With her face flushing, Aoi nodded.
Fritz smiled at the sight in front of him.
– In other words, do you have an image of the person you love the most as a wallpaper?
– Uhm, ah! That…
– Apparently hit the mark.
It really hit the mark.
– Very well, very well, if it is for a girl in love, I will support her. I’ll let you pa.s.s.
– Really?
Aoi’s expression flashed quickly.
– Hey, Fritz! What are you saying!
– The enemy is targeting those who are Slayer, that is, those who own Hundred. It has been observed that the damage to civilians so far is zero. Aoi is not a Slayer, and she does not own a Hundred, right?
– True.
Aoi nodded in agreement to what Fritz said.
– If that’s the case, then it’s fine. You should get on the next special bus.
– … Special bus?
– Although basically the access and exit from Sangria is prohibited, some people have their business or their work from the beginning. That is why there is the departure of a special bus per hour for these people.
The departure time from the Little Garden side is at thirty minutes per hour. Fritz explains that from Sangria’s side it is at 0 minutes of each hour *.