"The Spirit's emotional index has been maintaining a very good value. It seems that she has completely accepted Arthas. It's incredible."
While manipulating the instruments before her, Murasame Reine said this to Kotori, looking at the values on the screen.
"Well, it seems that we're not needed after all. Arthas completed this mission all by himself." Twirling the lollipop in her hand, Kotori's tone had some dissatisfied emotions.
"There shouldn't be any major problems. Now there's only one last major variable, and that's the AST members. What kind of actions will they take next?" Saying this, Murasame Reine pushed up her glasses.
"Someone, switch the screen to the outside of the building." Kotori instructed the crew members below.
"Yes, Commander." The crew members answered respectfully, and then the scene before Kotori quickly changed.
"Ah, Reine, you really have a way of jinxing things. It seems that the AST is really planning to destroy the building." Judging the actions of the AST members from the scene before her, Kotori said this somewhat helplessly.
"And why is it her again, Origami Tobiichi... This guy is really persistent."
"Origami Tobiichi, the ace of the AST branch in Tengu City. Her parents died at the hands of the Spirits in the fire five years ago, so the girl has an unusual obsession and hatred for the Spirits."
Murasame Reine said this, showing a somewhat helpless expression. With such a strong obsession with her parents' revenge, it was obviously impossible to make her give up her revenge on the Spirits.
"The fire five years ago, huh?"
Kotori muttered this to herself, the girl seeming to have remembered something unpleasant.
At the same time, Origami and Ryouko, covered in the wearable connection device 'Wiring Suit' and external equipment filled with as much ammunition as possible, were floating in the sky above the department store in a state of combat readiness.
Around them, several AST members wearing the same equipment were floating and remaining vigilant.
On the surface of the Territory that had been deployed around them, raindrops were constantly hitting it.
The Spirit 'Hermit' had entered the building, and about an hour had passed.
However, 'Hermit' had been lurking inside the building, and still hadn't appeared.
A sense of impatience began to spread, and even Origami Tobiichi was feeling a bit anxious.
"This is a very rare situation for 'Hermit'. Staying in one place like this. Our impression of her has always been that she's hopping around and flying everywhere." Origami Tobiichi said.
That's right, 'Hermit's' mode of action was almost only running away.
No matter what kind of attacks and methods Origami and the others used, she would never fight back, only running away.
Or was it that she had gained the wisdom to stay indoors until the time to disappear arrived? This was a situation that wasn't fun at all for Origami.
"Attack permission, huh?"
Origami asked quietly, but Ryouko answered with a sighing voice.
"We've roughly submitted the application. Let's stand by for now."
"Even if we destroy the building, it can be rebuilt."
"Well, although it's reasonable to think that way, it's not that easy to do. It's not like the reconstruction team can be deployed without spending money. First of all, if it was someone like the 'Princess' from last time, you could still say that, but this time the target is the coward 'Hermit', you know?"
Origami Tobiichi couldn't help but fall into silence. The code name 'Princess' made the girl's eyebrows twitch slightly.
She didn't know what kind of experiences she had gone through, but the Spirit with that code name was now attending school in her school as a human girl, Tohka.
Of course, after confirming Tohka's existence, Origami had reported it to Ryouko.
But for some reason, her existence hadn't been confirmed as a Spirit, and an attack permit hadn't been issued.
She had forcibly investigated the family register, but hadn't found anything suspicious there either.
At least at the current stage - although Origami was extremely dissatisfied with this - she was now one of the residents of Tengu City that Origami and the others were protecting.
Some time had passed since he had met Yoshino. Although Arthas had directly stated his intentions and had made Yoshino trust him, things still hadn't ended so quickly.
The reason was simple, it was Yoshinon, the other personality that Yoshino had created, the rabbit doll.
Although Yoshino seemed to want to leave with Arthas, the fear in her heart was manifested in Yoshinon.
Neither rejecting nor accepting, Yoshino, who was expressing her thoughts through Yoshinon, made Arthas feel a bit helpless. As a result, the two of them were just chatting and wandering around the mall, as if they were taking a walk.
"As I thought, it's very... fun to chat with big brother. Why are all those people so unromantic?" The doll in Yoshino's hand twisted its body exaggeratedly, clapping its hands as it spoke.
"So, Yoshino, you should just come with me. I'll protect Yoshino from being hurt." Gently stroking the timid girl's head, Arthas promised.
"Is it really okay? Is it okay to stay in this world?" Tilting her head, Yoshino asked softly.
"It's okay. It's okay to stay here." Arthas said with a smile, responding to the girl's expectations.
"Is that so..." Yoshino answered in a low voice, a trace of grievance and a trace of happiness surging in her eyes.
She had been bullied so badly... Recalling the scene of the girl never fighting back under so many attacks, only running away, Arthas couldn't help but sigh.
She was actually just a playful girl who wanted to play freely in this world. Why did she have to be subjected to such unfair treatment?
Were the Spirits and the AST... Were the conflicts between these two destined to never be resolved?
"Wow! That's amazing! What is that~!"
The doll clapped its hands excitedly, and the sound of surprised questioning interrupted Arthas's thoughts. Following Yoshinon's pointing, his gaze turned to a corner of the area.
What Yoshino was interested in was a small climbing frame set up in a corner of the toy sales area, for children to play on.
Leaving Arthas's side, she ran towards the colorful fiberglass castle, using her feet and right hand to climb up very nimbly, and then reached the top of the slide.
"Wow~ Haha, how is it, Arthas-oniichan? I'm cool, right? Yoshinon is cool, right?"
And then, standing on top of it, she excitedly asked Arthas.
"Hey, hey, it's dangerous to stand there." Arthas said this with some amusement. Although the other party was a Spirit, he still remembered the scene of the girl falling down and crying when they first met.
Although the indoor climbing frame in front of him was only for children to play on, and wasn't very tall, it still wouldn't feel good to fall from the top, so Arthas still approached with some concern.
____________________
For more advance chapters visit my patreon
patreon.com/kane45
Tier: 10$ Casual Reader - +20 Advance Chapter
20$ Intermediate Reader - +40 Advance Chapter
40$ Expert Reader - +80 Advance Chapter
Update: "Monday to Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day"
"Saturday and Sunday - Off"