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"That's it?" Tatsuki was utterly non-plussed.
Inside Talulah's head he had spotted the Black Snake's death-line; he had planned to study Terra's gods and see whether an immortal's claim brushed up against any cosmic laws. Yet with a single slice the line was cut, and the so-called undying Koshchei was erased from the world's very roots.
Damn. The thing wasn't a god, wasn't the Will of Ursus—just another long-lived human with a special Originium art. What a let-down. He had puffed himself up as Ursus's will, but in truth he was only a duke of Ursus… a loyal hound.
Tatsuki sighed, pulled the dagger free, and handed it back to Ace. No blood coated the blade, and no wound marked Talulah's head.
"Wh-where… am I…?" As the dagger left, brightness returned to Talulah's empty eyes; she could move her lips, speak—physically she was unharmed. Emperor's Blade, seeing Talulah alive, stopped struggling; beating on Tatsuki earlier had achieved nothing.
"Ah—ah—ah!" Dazed only an instant, Talulah clutched her head, dropped to her knees, and howled. She pounded her head as shards of memory flooded in, knitting into whole scenes.
She saw everything after Alina's death—her heart spasmed, her gaze shook, her entire body trembled. What have I done? In her frenzied obstinacy she'd fallen into Koshchei's trap, becoming a pawn in his wicked design.
I… betrayed Alina.
I… betrayed the infected.
I… betrayed Reunion.
I personally shoved the infected into a deeper abyss.
Covering her face with blood-stained hands, she tried to hide. Hands soaked in blood—shouldn't I just die here, in the sinful city I forged? Thus Talulah spiraled into a loop of guilt and death.
Tatsuki had little interest in intervening; his task was done—and wiping out a Catastrophe hadn't even earned a Apocalypse Journey reward.
"I am Patriot. She is Reunion's leader."
Patriot and FrostNova approached, no Shieldguards or Yeti Operative behind them—a gesture of sincerity. Rhodes Island's operators, wary, let them pass.
"I carved the Black Snake, Koshchei, out of her mind," Tatsuki explained. "She's sane now, only terrified of facing what she's done."
"You're saying Talulah was controlled?" FrostNova balked, yet comparing past and present Talulah—the difference defied belief.
"The Deathless Black Snake Koshchei—the evil god of Ursus—yes, I know him," Patriot said with a glance at Talulah. "The Snake is dead; Talulah is restored."
Tatsuki spread his hands. "Your grudges with Rhodes Island? Not my business. I'm here only to keep Exusiai and her pals safe. If you want to fight, go right ahead."
"No. We will not further the Snake's scheme." Patriot looked to Amiya. "Leader of Rhodes Island—what do you judge right?"
Amiya lowered her eyes; pity and reproach colored her tone. "Peace can't be won through riots alone. Will Reunion cease its oppression of Chernobog?"
FrostNova met her gaze. "We never oppressed Chernobog. We fought to win the infected their rights."
"Unforgivable!" An axe whistled toward FrostNova's head—Sonya's axe. She roared, enraged by that claim.
Crack—ice halted the weapon mid-arc. Brow furrowed, FrostNova asked, "And what message is that supposed to send?"
Sonya's knuckles whitened on the haft; her eyes blazed. "One sentence to erase the slaughter in Chernobog? Do you know how many people you killed?!"
FrostNova tried to answer. "We didn't—"
"No." Patriot cut her off.
"Old man?" FrostNova looked up. Patriot's eyes flashed red; he had seen through everything. "It was Mephisto—and Faust."
The cold receded; FrostNova froze. "They…"
Sonya drew his axe, finally unable to bear it. "Damn Reunion locked all the students in the school! For food we had to fight and kill; you burned the granary—do you know how we survived?!"
"Dismissing Chernobog's crimes so lightly—how dare they!" Hot-tempered Sonya swung even if Reunion would kill him for it.
…The Yeti Operative hadn't done it, the Shieldguards hadn't done it. It was Mephisto and Faust. FrostNova understood at last; if the crazed Mephisto was involved, he would indeed do such things.
"Those two wicked brats? I already killed them," Tatsuki reminded.
"Mmph! Mmph!" Crownslayer's eyes went wide as she thrashed again.
FrostNova fell silent. A mad Mephisto and the indulgent Faust were dead—perhaps the justice they deserved.
"I'm sorry," she said at last. "I can only pledge that Yeti Operative will withdraw from Chernobog."
"The Shieldguards will obey," Patriot added.
Nearl frowned. "And the rest of Reunion?"
Tatsuki shrugged. "They're dead too."
"Hmm?"
The crowd's eyes all shifted to Tatsuki.
He shrugged. "When I took out those two brats I judged them on the spot—guilty died, innocent lived. No need to thank me."
With that he dragged Crownslayer over to stand beside Exusiai. The whole infected versus uninfected quarrel didn't interest him right now; Terra's problems ran deeper than that, the infected issue merely being the most visible. Conspirators were as common as stones on this twisted land, and twisted soil bore twisted fruit.
A seven-star apocalypse might be brewing, yet Tatsuki still didn't act rashly—he had no idea what form a seven-star doomsday even took, and without a Apocalypse Journey there was nothing in it for him. Better to stay out.
Amiya and the others, meanwhile, were locked in debate with FrostNova, Sonya, and their group about the fate of Chernobog. During the exchange Sonya's brain-trust—Istina and Rosa—arrived to help their tongue-tied commander; this was no mere argument but a clash of ideals.
Tatsuki remained a spectator with Penguin Logistics. He hauled Talulah over by the collar and dropped her; the dragon girl sat vacant-eyed on the ground.
Exusiai tugged Crownslayer's tail. "Why're you still hugging a… Lupus?"
"Mmph!"
Tatsuki flipped the hood off. "Check those ears—Vulpo."
"A fox-girl?" a hooded Doctor chimed in, pinching the tail thoughtfully. "Looks a bit like a wolf, too."
So the three of them played guess the race, poking, squeezing, and rubbing while Crownslayer simmered in mortified fury—yet under Tatsuki's grip she couldn't lift a finger.
Croissant jabbed Texas and whispered, "Texas, don'tcha think Exusiai's awfully chummy with that guy?"
Satisfied the danger had passed, Texas sheathed her light-blade and fished out a pocky stick. "Mm."
"Huh? Aren't you worried Exusiai'll get duped?"
Texas answered coolly, "Croissant, you could be fooled—Exusiai never will."
"Oh? Sounds like you're underestimatin' me." Croissant flexed her arm to show off the muscle.
…Texas thought. Hopeless bread-head.
After quite a while the debate on Amiya's side wrapped up, and on Tatsuki's side two girls and a doctor had prodded Crownslayer until she lay dazed beside Talulah. Tatsuki had heard every word of the distant debate: Rhodes Island versus Reunion was a collision over infected survival; Reunion versus the Student Self
Government was victims confronting aggressors—though the true culprits lay dead under Tatsuki's judgment, FrostNova still hurt over Reunion's deeds.
In the end, with everything laid bare, they reached terms. The Ursus Student Self-Government agreed to forgive what remained of Reunion and, understanding Rhodes Island's ideals, prepared to join Rhodes Island. FrostNova and the Yeti Operative chose likewise. Patriot and the Shieldguards would decide their road according to Talulah's condition; after all Patriot had endured, betrayal no longer tempted him—Talulah was still his leader.
Everyone gathered before Tatsuki once more.
Sonya spoke first, politely and sincerely. "Great sir, thank you for everything you did for Chernobog."
Tatsuki blinked at her, blurting out, "You're not General Sonya!"
Shouldn't Sonya be shouting 'Shame on you! Leave the battlefield this instant!' with scorn? Was there really such a well-mannered Sonya? His single remark snapped courteous Rin back to type.
"Ha? Act like you know me that well?" she shot back, voice rising.
Tatsuki nodded. "Yeah—hit the spot."
"Pfft!" Rosa, Istina, Gummy, and the others beside Sonya broke into laughter—the thank-you line had been Istina's coaching.
"Tch." Sonya looked away, though curiosity about the man who saved Chernobog tugged at her. Does he really know me?
FrostNova bowed deeply. "Tatsuki-san, on behalf of Reunion as it stands today—thank you. Without you we'd have driven the infected into an even deeper abyss."
"Just something I did in passing," Tatsuki replied.
During the chat Amiya noticed the Doctor crouched, still poking Crownslayer's tail. Her ears twitched; face darkening like a little devil she murmured, "Doctor, this is not playtime."
"Eep!"
The Doctor jolted upright, marched smartly to Amiya's side, and stood at attention. Seeing him behave, Amiya smiled again. "Tatsuki-san, Rhodes Island is deeply grateful as well. I'm sorry we've nothing material to offer—only our friendship."
"Sounds fine," Tatsuki said lightly; he'd expected no reward anyway. "Since you've sorted things out, I should head home—people are waiting to be fed." Three gluttons, to be precise.
"Wait, sir—the leader, Talulah—she…" Patriot's rumbling voice trailed a question.
Tatsuki had almost forgotten the woman on the ground. He looked to Amiya and the rest. "What do you plan to do with her?"
They exchanged uneasy glances. Truthfully none of them knew. Though the Black Snake had controlled her, the atrocities had still been wrought by her hands. Who exactly should stand trial?
Tatsuki eyed Talulah in her frilly lolita dress: horns on her head, a tail behind—definitely a little dragon girl. With nothing better to do, curiosity bloomed. Stroking his chin he mused, "If you punish her, she likely won't see freedom again, right?"
Silence answered. Talulah would almost certainly be imprisoned.
...
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