Tatakau Shisho

July 7, 2016Tgurneu

What about the fight? Is it still going on or did it end? If it did, what is the result?

There was no way for Mirepoc and Mattalast to know the answer for any of these questions. The two of them were standing with their back to the closed gate. Mattalast seemed to have already run out of leaves for his pipe.

“…The Director probably won, right?”

Mirepoc muttered. She did so for the umpteenth time. Without answering her, Mattalast blew out the lasts of his smoke.

After a while of silence, Mattalast suddenly spoke.

“In my opinion, Mokkania is too virtuous.”

“Huh?”

Mirepoc replied.

Mattalast put the pipe back in its case. His expression seemed to be resigned.

“He should have been more evil, like the Director, Ireia-san and me.”

Mirepoc couldn’t understand him.

“What do you mean?”

“Eventually you will understand. We have to be evil.”

Thinking about it, it was often discussed – who is stronger, Mokkania or Hamyuts? Hamyuts on ground level and Mokkania in the Labyrinth. Mokkania in Magic and Hamyuts in martial arts. Mokkania in total strength and Hamyuts in tactics.

That was a good conversation topic. Were both of them the world’s strongest?

But it no longer had any meaning. Strength was meaningless. The only important thing was who won and stayed alive. Using every possible means, using everything around them, simply killing and thus simply winning. That was all.

Mokkania was thinking to himself.

I threw everything away. My position as an Armed Librarian, my life, my future – everything. I have no regrets. Because I’ve been dead as a person from long ago. Was it since the day he ma.s.sacred Guinbex’s soldiers? Or since the day he became an Armed Librarian? Or since the day his mother died? He was already stopped in time.

He had no regrets of throwing everything away.

In exchange for that he got a little time to spend with his fake mother. This would seem laughable for any person. If they want to laugh, let them laugh.

It was important for him. Even spending one second with his mother was far more important than everything else combined.

“…”

Suddenly he thought of Feekiee. He did something bad only to that man. He actually didn’t want to kill anyone. But it was pointless thinking about him. Right now he only had to fight.

“…”

When the fight is over, he will return to his room. And he will live there with his mother.

How much time will he be able to spend with her? A few days? A single day? He wouldn’t mind even an hour. As long as he was with his mother, it didn’t matter how short that time would be.

After that’s done, he will die. Together with her.

“Come, Hamyuts Meseta.”

He called for Hamyuts, thinking she probably heard him through her Sensory Threads.

“Looking good there, Mokkania.”

Hamyuts muttered. Despite being stronger than anyone, he was a man who still hated oppression of the weak.  He was now coming towards Hamyuts with all of his power.

Shlam.u.f.fen was on her left hand. And her sling was on her right hand. After having run away all this time, Hamyuts set foot in the ocean of ants for the first time.

Hamyuts casually swung Shlam.u.f.fen. Without waiting for its owner’s instructions, it began defensive actions. The ants swarming around were torn to shreds till none were left.

The ever-going laughter of the magical blade resounded in a range of ten meters around Hamyuts. All that were cut were killed without exception. Not even a single ant remained.

Having received its ideal owner, the brutal blade demonstrated more precision in its ability than before. Its killing power became completely different from how it was when wielded by the virtuous Shiron or the inexperienced Cigal. The ants, who dominated the Labyrinth, had their throne taken away by the spider of the Magic Blade.

Mokkania stopped in his tracks. Sensing that his ants were all being killed simultaneously, he started preparing for an ambush. Hamyuts was at about the middle of the Fourth Labyrinth. She was still at quite some distance from Mokkania.

He gritted his teeth. He clasped his mother’s hand.

Mustering the greatest power he could until now, Mokkania began releasing his ants.

The ants scattered around the Labyrinth began a large movement in accordance to Mokkania’s orders. Their target was a single person – Hamyuts Meseta. Willful ants that were busy devouring the corpses of Guardian Beasts now pa.s.sed the Fifth Labyrinth and gathered in the Fourth.

The Magic Blade cut through the endless supply of ants.

The floor became stacked with corpses of ants, turning into a black pool. In a minute or so, the amount of corpses almost made it up to Hamyuts’s knees.

The ants were crawling on the walls, flying in the air, or falling from the ceiling as they attacked Hamyuts. They tried defeating Shlam.u.f.fen’s slashing attacks by using numbers.

One ants bit Hamyuts’s foot even as its torso was torn apart. She shot it down with a pebble held in her right hand.

“…So it can’t completely defend me huh?”

Hamyuts muttered. It was natural. She won’t beat Mokkania with just Shlam.u.f.fen.

Within the rain of sh.e.l.ls and body fluids of ants, Hamyuts started swinging her sling around.

Hamyuts should still be far enough. He will have to face her while he wasn’t in range.

Thinking this, Mokkania kept releasing his ants. Their echoing march sounded like the noise of a broken radio. He could also hear the dry sound of stones knocking them down.

Mokkania reflexively twisted his body. A gravel bullet grazed his face. His mother clung to his back and raised a shriek.

The second shot came flying. The gravel bullet rebounded on the walls and floor. As he couldn’t dodge that attack, Mokkania protected against it with his arms. It gouged down to his bones, making him scream in pain.

“Mokkania!”

“Don’t speak, you’ll bite your tongue!”

Mokkania said while retreating. It was then that one more gravel bullet hit him.

He realized that he couldn’t afford to show his back. If he turned around, he would up using his mother as a shield. He would do the opposite – become a shield himself.

The fourth shot struck. He heard it rebound more than ten times. Most probably Hamyuts was at an area five corners around. She should be about five hundred meters away. Nevertheless, she was far too close.

The fifth ricocheting sniper shot came. Mokkania evaded it relying on sound. The moment he thought he successfully escaped, he heard a shriek from his back.

“Mom!!!”

Mokkania looked back.

“My, shoulder…”

He transferred his mom from his back to his arms. She frowned in pain as she held her right shoulder.

It seemed the evaded bullet rebounded and hit his back. He didn’t know if this was intended or happened by chance.

There was no blood. Her bones probably didn’t break either. It lost its power after rebounding, so it didn’t cause any bloodshed. However, if it didn’t hit the shoulder but her spine or back of her head it would’ve still been dangerous.

She wasn’t like Mokkania, who wouldn’t die from wounds like these. His mom couldn’t use any bodily reinforcement Magic.

“…s.h.i.t!”

Protecting his mother, Mokkania went past the sixth sniper shot. It was a mistake. He put his mother within Hamyuts’s range.

Should he retreat? No, Hamyuts was faster. He wouldn’t be able to protect his mom by running away.

“Wait! Hamyuts!”

Mokkania called for her. She undoubtedly could hear him. At the same time he commanded the ants to cease their attack on her.

He heard no reply. However, Hamyuts’s attacks stopped.

“I want to face you with my full power. Give mom time to escape.”

No shots came.

The silent reply was agreement.

Mokkania recalled his fight with Ireia. By leaving his mother behind he risked her. He didn’t want a repeat of that. But, if this went on…

“…Mom, I’ll let the ants guide you. Go back to my room in the Fifth Labyrinth.”

She looked at Mokkania with her unseeing eyes.

“Mokkania…”

Feeling as if he was being torn apart from the inside, Mokkania lowered his mom. No, he was literally being torn apart. His mother already became something more important than his bowels.

“Mom, stay safe.”

“…Mokkania. If you can’t win, it’s fine to surrender. Forget about me. Live on. Please. Don’t die before your mom.”

“…”

He gently let go of her. Holding her aching shoulder, she used her cane to start walking.

Mokkania clenched his fist so hard it started bleeding. If only he were stronger he wouldn’t expose his mother to danger.

This man, who used to abhor his own power, lamented his powerlessness for the first time.

Hamyuts had seen this all with her Sensory Threads. She realized that she could take a detour towards the place Renas was heading to. Mokkania was slow. If she were to use all of her strength, it wouldn’t be difficult to catch up to Renas.

Now then, I wonder what I should do. Should I just defeat him or should I first kill Renas?

“Which one’s better…?”

At that moment, she noticed a pool of petroleum approaching her. She knew it was the man called Winkeny.

“Can I help you?”

Hamyuts asked.

“Hamyuts. If you wish for a battle, you shouldn’t kill Renas. If Mokkania would lose his reason to fight, the fight will end.”

Hamyuts smiled.

“Thanks for the advice. I like you.”

Winkeny left without saying anything.

Mokkania’s mom should have been far enough by now. Hamyuts’s thirst for blood came from further still, changing the atmosphere.

Thinking about it, Hamyuts was the one who probably wanted this situation more than anyone. She was a woman who wished to fight with strong people and people who had a chance of killing her.

She might have been waiting for the day she could battle Mokkania from long ago.

“In the end everything goes as you wanted, Hamyuts.”

‘That’s right’, was what he felt as if she answered.

“I won’t allow everything to go as you please.”

Mokkania activated his Magic Right. At the same time, he could hear the sounds of the seventh shot rebounding on the walls.

“Ugh!”

Mokkania repelled the gravel bullet using his own arm. He counted it as the fourteenth shot. Mokkania only had the leeway to block that much.

Since they hit the walls many times, the shots truly lost some of their killing power.

He could protect against it. At the very least, a single shot wouldn’t become a fatal wound.

The fifteenth shot approached. Mokkania created a large number of ants in midair to block it. The gravel bullet scattered the ants about, but they were able to slightly change its trajectory.

Mokkania now understood the timing for avoiding it.

The sixteenth shot hit the floor at Mokkania’s feet. It flew backwards in vain. He didn’t take any evasive action.

“Did you miss, Hamyuts?!”

Mokkania shouted.

“I missed!”

Although she followed the trajectory aimed by her Sensory Threads, Hamyuts cried in surprise. When was the last time she ever missed?

The walls, ceiling, and air that were all teeming with ants subtly distorted the trajectories. If she will try focusing on aim, the bullets will lose power and won’t be able to be rapid-fired.

Should I get closer? Thought Hamyuts. But it was hard walking around in the Labyrinth now filled with a pool of ants’ corpses.

The ants attacked Hamyuts from the front, from the rear, from left and right. She then realized Mokkania’s aim.

His goal wasn’t to let her be devoured. He wanted to bury her alive in ant corpses.

The ma.s.s of ants filling the Labyrinth was already close to that of a castle. Even Hamyuts didn’t know what would happen if she got hit by that kind of ma.s.s.

Mokkania fully invoked his Magic Right. The quant.i.ty created by him was enough for the ants he produced to be crushed by their own ma.s.s. It was no longer an attack. It was a huge disaster aiming to destroy the Labyrinth.

“Drown to death, Hamyuts!!!”

At the exact same time, Hamyuts loaded a bullet into her sling and rotated it. She wasn’t aiming for Mokkania. She shot the walls and ceiling.

Simultaneously she ordered Shlam.u.f.fen’s attack. She changed aim from the ants to the wall.

Mokkania and Hamyuts both destroyed the Labyrinth at the same time.

The ants’ ma.s.s, the stone-slinging, and Shlam.u.f.fen’s slashes running amok, all made the walls of the Labyrinth collapse.

Renas was walking in the Labyrinth. Tracing the walls with her right hand and leaving the tip of her cane to the ants crawling on the ground, she kept walking.

A little while ago they pa.s.sed a location that wasn’t inside the Labyrinth. She didn’t check the surroundings, but it was probably an Archive. Judging from what Mokkania said, it was probably the place called the Fifth Archive.

Her cane touched a step. Putting her hand to the floor, Renas climbed the stairs as if crawling. Considering the location, she thought those were the stairs they pa.s.sed earlier.

Why was she here? Why did she have to enter this Labyrinth that allowed no intruders?

Winkeny said it was to protect her. But was that really true? Her shoulder hit by the bullet ached. She couldn’t think of this as the safest place.

The vibrations and sounds coming from behind were probably from the fight between Mokkania and Hamyuts. Is Mokkania safe? She was worried and wanted him to come back. Perhaps he would return if she could see.

“…Mokkania.”

Renas muttered. What is my child hiding from me? No, it’s also Winkeny-san and the person who turned out to be really our enemy, Locolo-san. And Feekiee, the person who presented himself as an Armed Librarian. What are they hiding from me?

She didn’t inquire about this. If Mokkania hid things from her, she believed that they were things that must be hidden. He will definitely tell her when the time comes. If Mokkania hid it from her, she will not probe into it.

However, if Mokkania is doing bad things…  Renas’s heart ached and quivered thinking about that. Even though she believed him to be a good boy.

I want to believe in Mokkania, Renas thought. No, I have to believe in him. After all, in her memories there was nothing other than Mokkania.

Then, the ground shook.

July 16, 2016Tgurneu

The floor and walls have collapsed. The central part of the Fourth Labyrinth collapsed in a radius of 200 meters. A huge cavity opened up inside the complex maze. Below it was a swamp made of ant corpses. Rubble could be seen poking around here and there on it. Mokkania’s created ants were almost wiped out by Shlam.u.f.fen’s attack and the Labyrinth’s collapse.

However, the clash of the duo who were the world’s strongest didn’t end.

At the center of the cavity, Hamyuts was standing atop a mountain of rubble. At the start of the cavity, Mokkania was standing on the edge of a crumbling corridor.

For the first time since they started fighting, they could see each other.

“….Ufufufu.”

Hamyuts laughed. They both looked at each other.

Both of them had injuries in spots that would kill any normal person. Mokkania’s entire body was dyed in blood after getting hit by gravel bullets. Caught up in the collapse, Hamyuts wasn’t able to keep the device on her left hand. Shlam.u.f.fen was mounted on it but flew around somewhere during the collapse.

Mokkania released his ants. Hamyuts started rotating the sling held in her right hand.

This next round will be the last – thus Mokkania felt. No matter who of them wins, it will be settled with this next attack.

Mokkania lost his greatest shield, which was the Labyrinth itself. Hamyuts could now hit him with a direct attack instead of rebounded shots. He will not be able to defend against a full-powered attack.

And as for Hamyuts, she no longer had Shlam.u.f.fen on her hand. She had no way to prevent Mokkania’s attack.

“…”

Mokkania gasped. Hamyuts was aiming for an opening when he would attack next. The moment he produces his ants, he won’t be able to evade.

If they were to attack simultaneously, he will lose. Mokkania will lag behind for just one moment.

He had to find something. Something that would divert Hamyuts’s attention, even if for a second.

Will something so convenient appear? If it will, it would be a miracle.

Mokkania wished for it.

Stop Hamyuts’s attack. Mom is waiting for me. My mom, who replied “welcome back” to my “I’m home”, is waiting for me.

I just need another miracle like the one that let me reunite with her.

Just one more miracle.

The shaking subsided. However, small vibrations could be felt with one’s feet. Renas endured her urge to return to Mokkania’s side. What could she do? She couldn’t fight. She could only go back as Mokkania told her to.

Renas thought to herself – that boy changed. Though, it was natural he would change, seeing as he was twenty years removed from the Mokkania in my memories.

But she suddenly thought…

Is that boy really my Mokkania?

“…!”

Renas shook her head. She was deeply ashamed at herself for thinking such a thing. Mokkania certainly changed. He became a stronger and scarier person. But he was also lonely and pampered, so nothing really changed. Besides, Mokkania’s feelings for her were transmitted through his words, actions and skin. He could be no-one other than Mokkania.

“…”

Then why did she feel uncomfortable? What was the hollowness in her heart? She felt there was some gap between her and Mokkania that couldn’t be filled.

There’s no way that… a single flash of insight was born inside Renas’s mind.

Then, her cane hit something with a clank.

“…What?”

She moved the cane towards the stairs. Even raising the cane up to her waist, the obstacle was still there. She timidly touched it with her hand and felt a cold metal texture.

“…A wall?”

Was there such a thing before? No, more importantly, she couldn’t move forward like that.

“…Mokkania. What am I supposed to do?”

The two people’s standoff lasted not even ten seconds. The sling’s trajectory changed. Since Hamyuts was convinced he wouldn’t attack, she shot at Mokkania without waiting for any counter.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by a single intruder. Both of their gazes were directed there.

“Oops!”

Mokkania heard Hamyuts’s cry. Something came rushing, sweeping away rubble and ant corpses. Both Mokkania and Hamyuts looked at it at the same time.

Mokkania felt it was the return of a miracle. What appeared was a single Guardian Beast. It wasn’t fully killed by his ants. The Guardian Beast that appeared was the one that, based on its large body and appearance, was known as Elephant Soldier. Shaking the Labyrinth with its violent footsteps, Elephant Soldier rushed at Hamyuts.

Hamyuts’s sling crushed its head. It was a natural action to take. Even Hamyuts would be killed if hit by that large body.

But it was enough. It gave Mokkania time to invoke his Magic Right.

A large amount of ants was created inside the cavity. They poured down on Hamyuts. At the same time Mokkania turned his body to avoid the sling attack.

However, the simultaneous attack he thought would occur didn’t. Hamyuts’s body sank in the sea of ants.

“Did I… win?”

He was suddenly covered in cold sweat. His feet couldn’t move. Sitting on the floor, Mokkania exhaled. He didn’t even have enough power left to raise a cry of victory.

“…I won.”

Mokkania weakly muttered. The tension that felt like it would stop his heart melted down, even made him smile, and Mokkania sank down to the floor.

Renas put the cane at her feet. Then, she used both hands to explore the wall. There were no gaps in the metal barrier. There were no hinges on the edges. When she tried banging on it she heard a dull noise. It was a pretty thick wall.

“…We’re blocked, but why…”

Renas muttered while checking the wall.

She got on her knees and checked the floor. There might be something there. She felt ants with the tips of her hands.

“What am I supposed to do…”

She explored further still. Her hand then touched something.

At that moment, a scene that she shouldn’t be able to see was opened in front of her. Memories flowed into her head like surging waves. Renas thought – what I touched was a Book.

But why is there a Book here?

And whose Book is this?

If he were to think calmly, he should have confirmed Hamyuts’s death. However, Mokkania no longer had the energy to do even that. Winkeny will take care of Hamyuts’s death and Haiza’s Book one way or the other. It had nothing to do with him.

He rose up and started walking towards his mother.

He felt strange. Even though he got his hands on everything he lost, he felt a tinge of loneliness.

Mokkania’s mom should have returned to his room. If he’ll go back there, she will be waiting for him.

That room was no longer a replica of that joyous time period. It would now be that time period itself.

It would become a room that would reply “welcome back” to his “I’m home”. Mokkania dragged along his aching body. Just a bit more, just a bit more, he muttered.

He pa.s.sed through the Fifth Sealed Archive and walked to route 51. On the way, he found something unfamiliar. Part of the Labyrinth was blocked by a copper-colored barrier.

“What’s that…”

He has heard about it. The Labyrinth could be closed by the Acting Director or anyone receiving the authority from her. He thought it was a rumor, though.

“What about mom?”

His happy feeling was suddenly blown away by anxiety. Encouraging his aching body, he rushed through the part of route 51 that hasn’t been sealed.

Mokkania found yet another barrier. Route 51 was also blocked. Also, his mom was in front of the wall. Her cane was thrown aside and she was lying on the ground.

“What’s wrong, mom?”

He rushed to her and helped her sit up.

She was acting strange. She seemed stunned. Also, she flinched away from Mokkania’s touch.

“Mom, what’s wrong? It’s me…”

“You’re… Mokkania…”

His mother raised her pale face towards him. Did something happen? Mokkania looked at her and then surveyed the surroundings.

Then, he found it.

It was a herd of small ants, different from his carnivorous ones. They were the working ants that should have taken the Book away and were now in front of the wall.

“Why are they still here…”

Then, he also noticed the item lying on his mother’s lap.

It was the Book fragment that was carried away because he couldn’t allow his mother to see it.

“…W…hy…”

Mokkania muttered. Why is this still here? All the people who might have uncovered the secret – the Armed Librarians, Locolo and Hamyuts have been eliminated.

Why was the most crucial item still here?

“You call me your mom?”

Still pale, his mother questioned him.

“Wasn’t she your mother?”

She pointed to the Book on her lap.

“Isn’t this your mother’s Book? It’s not mine.”

Even though he came so far, this…

“Hey, who am I supposed to be?”

Mokkania’s body lost all power. His knees buckled and he fell to the floor. His mother’s hands clung to him, shaking him violently.

“Who am I, Mokkania? Where am I, who are you, who am I, Mokkania!!!”

Mokkania fought so he could regain the days he lost.

He sided with his enemies, killed his allies, and kept fighting while throwing everything away.

And now, what he sought to obtain was going to slip away from him: Mokkania’s fictional relationship that he built up and the far-past days that should have returned. All were gone in the blink of an eye.

“…This can’t, be.”

Mokkania looked up above.

However, those were long-past days that became a Book and were included in the Library.

No matter how strongly he would wish for it, no matter what he would offer as sacrifice, and even if a miracle occurred…

Days gone by will not return. Whatever happens, they will not return.

“Why, why is this…”

He asked, and received no answer. Mokkania stared above at empty s.p.a.ce while Renas cast down her eyes and cried.

A little while before that…

It was in the sea of ant corpses after Mokkania left the scene. Hamyuts Meseta’s corpse was supposed to be buried inside, but suddenly, Shlam.u.f.fen started laughing loudly. Ants that crawled around were killed all at once, and rubble burst away.

And then Hamyuts appeared from within the sea of corpses.

She smiled, her face covered with blood and remains. The conclusion hadn’t been reached yet.

One minute earlier than that, Hamyuts confronted Mokkania. Just when she was going to shoot the gravel bullet and stop any counterattack…

Her attention was suddenly obstructed by an intruder.

She looked away from Mokkania at Elephant Soldier. Hamyuts realized her fatal mistake at that moment. She missed her greatest chance of attacking Mokkania.

“Oops!”

She didn’t even need to confirm it by sight. The swarm of ants started covering her head.

Now, it would be a mutual kill if she could shoot Mokkania. But Hamyuts did not choose to do that.

She swung around two gravel bullets in her sling. She hit Elephant Soldier with one of them.

Ants came showering down on her. Amid that, Hamyuts shot again. Using rotation, she lifted Elephant Soldier from the side.

Its body floated, and then started falling.

Hamyuts ran. Just before Elephant Soldier fell, she slipped under its giant body.

She could hear the bones in her body creaking. Crushed by Elephant Soldier, Hamyuts sunk her own body down the sea of ants.

Running away was part of Hamyuts’s tactics for certain victory. She once again applied that here.

That was also Mokkania’s mistake. He had prepared Hamyuts’s last refuge – the sea of ants – by himself.

Hamyuts’s shot used Elephant Soldier’s bulk in order to take refuge.

“…”

She was suffocating.

The ants were eating Elephant Soldier’s body to arrive to Hamyuts. At this rate, she would be killed in a minute.

Inside the sea of ants, Hamyuts extended her uninjured right hand. It didn’t hold the sling anymore. Prior to her sinking down, she removed it with her mouth and threw it away. She had never done something like throwing her weapon away in the midst of battle before.

Around her were ant corpses and the weight of Elephant Soldier’s bulk. Even moving a finger wasn’t easy. Hamyuts desperately extended her right hand. She breathed in pain. Her whole body creaked.

Thirty seconds have pa.s.sed. Elephant Soldier’s body was being devoured overhead.

At that time, her fingertips touched the thing buried within the rubble.

The second shot that hit Elephant Soldier was also a strategic move for her counterattack. Directly below the place she blew it to, the Ever-Laughing Magic Blade Shlam.u.f.fen was buried.

Shlam.u.f.fen bit into Hamyuts’s fingers. The sea of ants burst apart with loud laughter.

Hamyuts crawled out of it.

“…gh…a…ha…”

Climbing on top of the rubble protruding from the sea, she threw up vomit and blood.

Upon finishing that, she laid down her limp body on top of the rubble.

“This isn’t, over, Mokkania. Our fight to the death will, keep going.”

Hamyuts rested there for a while, and then rose up. Her eyes looked more disarrayed than usual. She already wouldn’t make any distinction between friend and foe. She would probably attack even unrelated persons without hesitating.

“Mokkania. Who am I?”

Renas asked. No, should she even be called Renas? But because no one knew her real name any longer, there was no choice but calling her Renas even now.

There were no longer any mother and child there. They were merely a reckless traitor and an empty doll who didn’t know her own name.

“You’re…”

He didn’t want to speak. Even now, Mokkania wanted to keep clinging to his mother’s illusion. However, he couldn’t do anything but speak of it all.

His mother’s death, the Indulging G.o.d Cult’s plan, and his battle and wish. Without sparing any detail, Mokkania told her of the foolish, foolish plan.

He thought back on Winkeny’s words. She probably hated him now. He wanted to die. He couldn’t bear the agony of being hated by the person he wanted to be loved by the most.

“So that’s how it went…”

Saying only this, Renas went silent. Mokkania couldn’t even guess her feelings. How much has she suffered from the pain of having found out she wasn’t herself and the pain of having so much blood shed for her sake?

Mokkania had to face her properly. Everything was his fault.

“I’m sorry, mom.”

Mokkania apologized. However, it was meaningless.

Hearing his reply, Renas started laughing.

Clenching her fist, she hit Mokkania’s head.

Just as Mokkania’s real mother did long ago.

“Don’t keep secrets from your mother.”

Renas smiled a little, but then spoke with a crying face.

“…But I’m not even your mother.”

July 22, 2016Tgurneu

Hamyuts picked up her sling. Holding Shlam.u.f.fen in her mouth, she stood up. She looked up the path Mokkania used to leave and leaped ahead – but didn’t jump high enough. Hamyuts fell down and hit the floor. The wounds in her thinking process were deep.

Yet she didn’t stop. She rose and jumped again. She gripped the ceiling using her right arm and both legs to climb up. She understood her opponents’ location using her Sensory Threads.

I’ll punch out Mokkania’s skull with one blow. That would probably satisfy him.

“Wait for me, Mokkania. I’m coming.”

Hamyuts started walking, blood dripping from her entire body.

“Don’t you hate me?”

Mokkania asked.

“What is there to hate about you?”

Renas stroked Mokkania’s body.

“How horrible, you’re so tattered. You fought for my sake and became like this, and yet you say I hate you?”

Renas started smiling. But Mokkania thought to himself – did I really fight for her sake?

No. If he truly was acting for her, he would have told her the truth without betraying the Armed Librarians. Since he didn’t, it was for his own sake. It was to retrieve his lost days, for his own desire.

“You’re wrong, mom.”

“About what?”

“…I didn’t do it for you, mom. In the end everything is for me. I fought for my own selfishness.”

Renas gently extended her hand to Mokkania’s cheek that was wet from blood and tears and stroked it.

“Even so, I don’t mind. You love me, don’t you? If you do, it’s fine.”

Renas kept smiling while shedding tears.

“But, Mokkania. What do you think we should do? I can’t be anyone other than Renas Fleur. Even now when I know it’s a lie, I have nothing else.”

“…Mom.”

Renas leaned on Mokkania.

“Say it, Mokkania. Call me your mother. I have nothing else.”

Winkeny once said that if Renas knew the truth, she would come to hate Mokkania. His prediction was wrong. The despair she was thrown into was far deeper than either Mokkania or Winkeny imagined.

Even if she knew it was a lie, her despair was deep to the extent she could do nothing else but cling to him.

While walking and holding Shlam.u.f.fen in her mouth, Hamyuts ordered it to attack.

The invisible blade cut through the nearby wall. It wasn’t an attack – but a declaration of war. It was a single blow letting Mokkania know the battle wasn’t over.

Thinking calmly about it, she was at a disadvantage. This wasn’t her usual tactic of a surprise attack. But right now, she was anything but calm.

She trembled in joy thinking about their struggle to kill each other which will now resume.

Mokkania felt a vibration while holding Renas’s body.

“So you’re alive… Hamyuts.”

Rather than fear, he somehow felt relieved. For some reason, he felt relief at finding out his superior – the one he could never cooperate with, the one he grew to hate, the one he battled to death with – was still alive.

Hamyuts came to kill him. She would probably also kill Renas who was in his arms.

He will die along with his mother. Thinking about it, this was the exact conclusion he hoped for.

“…”

Mokkania suddenly recalled the past.

Why did he want to flee from the present and return to that day?

His father who abused his mother, the old friend who bullied him, the fight against Guinbex… And finally, his escape to the past.

Right. Mokkania both hated and feared the fact that the strong could trample upon the weak at their mercy.  It was an important thing his mother taught him.

He felt his mother’s body within his arms. She was cold and trembling.

“What…”

What a stupid thing I’ve been doing. Once again I only did as I pleased. I was going to repeat my mistakes.

I shouldn’t have thought about having us both die.

“Mom.”

Mokkania said.

“I’m sorry.”

And he strongly embraced her.

Hamyuts stopped in her tracks. She felt with her Sensory Threads that Mokkania rose up and started heading in her direction.

He wasn’t producing ants from his body. Hamyuts’s excitement completely chilled down at seeing Mokkania walking defenselessly. She could see that he longer had any intention of fighting.

“What.”

Hamyuts sighed. Mokkania approached the spot where he became visible.

“Are we already done?”

Mokkania nodded.

“I see.”

Hamyuts replied in a terribly pained voice.

The conversation was over with that. For a while, the two merely locked gazes.

“Hey, didn’t you want to die along with her?”

Hamyuts said.

“I’m going to kill you, but I’ll allow you to choose how I do that.”

“…”

“Return to that room and die with her. I don’t mind granting you that much. Since you’re not going to fight anymore, I don’t mind allowing you your desires.”

Mokkania shook his head.

“No, I will die here.”

“…Is that your wish?”

“Yes.”

“Liar.”

Hamyuts said. There was no reply.

“Please, Hamyuts. Let her live.”

Hamyuts instinctively sighed.

“What a foolish man. You can’t even die together with the person you love?”

Mokkania cast down his gaze.

“If you wish so, go ahead. You can do that. You want that, right, Mokkania?”

Mokkania answered her words without hesitating.

“I can’t do such a thing. I can’t just kill people as I please.”

“A fool to the very end.”

Hamyuts sighed. Then, Mokkania created his ants.

“I was attempting a foolish thing. I’m really glad I was able to give it up.”

The ants climbed on Mokkania’s body. And they started gnawing at him.

“Hamyuts. Don’t let her die. She is a person who should not be killed.”

“…Are those your final words?”

Mokkania’s body was blanketed by ants.

“That, and tell everyone I’m sorry.”

Leaving behind his final words, he collapsed. After a moment, the ants disappeared. Not even a droplet of blood was left behind.

If he was just a bit more evil, he would have died together with Renas inside their happy times. Mokkania wanted that but was unable to fulfill it – it couldn’t be helped, because he was virtuous after all.

It was the foolish death of the person who couldn’t kill a single woman even though he possessed the power of the world’s strongest.

“Mokkania. You shouldn’t have become an Armed Librarian.”

Hamyuts left these words and went away.

“A telegram from the Director!”

Mirepoc cried.

“I won. Open the seal and all barriers at once. Hamyuts”

Mattalast went to open the barrier. And he made a small sigh.

“So you lived through again, Hammy.”

He muttered.

Having sent the telegram, Hamyuts sat down on the floor. She was bleeding too much. Her pain, that was numbed by excitement, now returned to her.

She leaned on the wall and breathed. She could sense the actions Mattalast took outside the Labyrinth.

At that moment, she noticed that Winkeny came into the room and transformed into petroleum.

“Oh, you’re still here?”

Hamyuts called to him.

“…Before I die, I have one question for you.”

Winkeny said, still in the form of petroleum.

“How was Mokkania?”

“He looked happy.”

“I see.”

The pool of petroleum shook. While he was in that form, his feelings couldn’t be guessed.

“Is that all you came to ask me?”

“Yes.”

Winkeny tried leaving the telegraph room. He would probably be killed by a Guardian Beast or some Armed Librarian. He had no way to survive.

“Hey, I also have something to ask you.”

“What?”

The petroleum stopped.

“Why did you prepare a real imposter? Couldn’t you think of a better idea even with such a dangerous method?”

“…”

“For example, you could have caused Renas to join the Cult and let her persuade him to betray us.”

Winkeny stayed silent. It was impossible to know what he was thinking about.

“…I wonder why. Now that I think about it, I don’t know.”

That might be because… Hamyuts thought.

“It’s just that, when I brought Renas to visit Mokkania’s room… when he saw her, he looked so happy…”

Winkeny couldn’t continue talking there. After a while of silence, he kept talking with some difficulty.

“I felt very good. Perhaps it’s because of that.”

“…I see.”

Hamyuts took a matchstick from next to the heater.

“I lived so I could manipulate Mokkania. In a sense, I was living for Mokkania.”

Hamyuts rubbed the match, and threw it when she saw it lit up.

“I might have simply wanted to make Mokkania happy.”

Winkeny was ignited by the match. Without leaving any ashes behind, he turned into smoke and disappeared.

“Well then.”

Hamyuts rose up and left the telegraph room.

Hamyuts found Renas standing still in the Labyrinth. There was no longer any one to protect her. Hamyuts walked closer.

“h.e.l.lo, I’m the Acting Director, Hamyuts. I will ask you to promptly accompany me as it is very dangerous around here.”

“Hamyuts-san… so you were a woman.”

Renas quietly muttered. Hamyuts judged from her facial expression that she might burst in tears if told careless words.

She couldn’t guess Renas’s feelings. How will she, who lost Mokkania and had no-one else to rely on, keep living from now?

Letting her die with Mokkania would be bad, but letting her live would also be.

“…”

It would possibly be an act of kindness to let her die here.

“Why are you silent? Let us go outside.”

Her hand that was about to reach a gravel bullet had stopped. Hamyuts smiled bitterly at her foolish thoughts.

“That’s right…”

She reached out for Renas.

“Do you need a hand?”

Renas shook her head to the side. Searching on the floor, she picked up her cane.

“No. I’ll walk alone.”

She rose up, squeezing the cane with her thin fingers. She then started walking.

There was a Book fragment in Renas’s breast pocket. It was the Book of the real Renas Fleur that Mokkania tried keeping away from her. Renas probed her pocket and touched that Book once more.

Engraved inside were the Renas and young Mokkania of days past.

It was a sunny day in a road lined with poplar trees. Mokkania was in a good mood, and Renas was a bit tired.

“Wait!”

She pulled at Mokkania’s hand. The boy was surprised and looked at his mother’s face.

“Look here.”

She pointed at the ground. There was a line of small ants there.

“You mustn’t step on them.”

“…Okay.”

Mokkania nodded, and then used his small legs to leap over the line of ants.

“Hey, Mokkania. When you’re grown up, remember what I’ve told you.”

“?”

“Never oppress those weaker than yourself. Make a promise with me.”

The young Mokkania didn’t really understand what his mother was saying. Yet Renas continued. Even if he couldn’t understand her now, she believed that he would recall this day when he was older.

“Small things and weak things are all the same. These ants, you, and me, are all the same.”

Renas turned around and gazed down at the line of ants.

“Because we’re alive, we’re all the same. Never forget this.”

At that time she was already sick. It was a short while before the real Renas had died.

The fake Renas was thinking as she walked through the Labyrinth. Mokkania protected these words until the very end.

‘Never oppress those who are weaker than yourself’.

Perhaps I was happy… after all, despite being an empty doll, I was able to obtain a son who thought of his mother.