For the Fourth Legion and the Inquisition, everything was going smoothly.
But for Shizuka, things were far from ideal.
"…Not here either?"
Walking out of the remote village, a trace of disappointment appeared on Shizuka's face. One of the reasons she had followed Duanmu Huai to Herman was to search for her half-sister from the same mother, Nagi. After Sais was reestablished, Shizuka had traveled all across Sais, yet she had found no trace of Nagi.
After arriving in Herman, Shizuka heard rumors of a woman who resembled Nagi. Although she wasn't certain whether it was truly her, she still decided to investigate.
"Still haven't found her?"
Seeing Shizuka's dejected expression, Duanmu Huai greeted her. She nodded helplessly.
"Yes. They all said they haven't seen her…"
"But I still don't understand. Why are you looking for her?"
Sitting on Duanmu Huai's shoulder, Olgis stared at Shizuka and asked in confusion.
"Doesn't she hate you deeply? And you killed her father. Honestly, I can't understand your thoughts or motives."
"Actually, I don't really know why either."
Faced with Olgis' question, Shizuka gave a bitter smile.
"No matter what, my father is dead, my mother is dead, my enemy is dead. And now, the only person in this world who shares my blood is her… I don't expect her to forgive me, but… I don't know how to say it. Maybe I just want to…"
Halfway through, Shizuka shook her head. Beside her, Maria didn't know what to say and could only pat her friend's shoulder in comfort.
"Every family has its own problems. Even the most upright official can't judge family matters."
Duanmu Huai shrugged helplessly. Shizuka's situation was truly a mess. Nagi's father had taken Shizuka's mother and killed her father. It was only natural for Shizuka to seek revenge for her parents. But Nagi was also her father's daughter. Shizuka had killed her father, so of course she wanted revenge as well.
If one had to judge right and wrong, then Nagi was clearly in the wrong. After all, it was her father who had committed the wrongdoing first. Logically speaking, Nagi should have let go of her hatred and reconciled with Shizuka—
But when did this world ever operate purely on logic?
Just like those mediation shows, it's easy for spectators to judge who is right and who is wrong from a third-party perspective. But would the wronged party simply give up because of that? Of course not. To them, a third party's viewpoint and stance mean nothing. What you think is your business. What I choose to do is mine.
If reasoning doesn't work, then what?
You just fight.
Right and wrong can't solve problems. Violence can.
Just like now.
"If you truly want to make amends, then let me kill you."
With those words, a figure appeared before them, blocking the path of the four.
A golden ponytail, wearing a red bikini-like outfit—without question, it was Nagi. However…
"People say you should look at someone anew after three days apart, but isn't your change a bit too drastic?"
Duanmu Huai sized up Nagi, looking completely baffled. She was nothing like when she had been in Sais. Her left arm had turned into a furry limb like that of a magical beast. She even had a long tail, and her ears had become furry as well. Her right hand wore a metal gauntlet…
What, is this the "humans have limits, so I'm done being human" route?
"Nagi? What happened to you…?"
Shizuka couldn't hide her shock. Nagi, however, smiled coldly and stared at her.
"Ah, Sister. I've finally found you… Good. It seems you're all here."
As she spoke, Nagi raised her massive beast-like arm and clenched her fist tightly.
"That's perfect. Watch carefully, Sister. I'll kill your most important friend and lover right in front of you, then make you taste the pain I endured!"
"…Who are you talking about?"
Duanmu Huai looked utterly confused and exchanged a glance with Maria. She raised a hand.
"Friend probably means me. But lover…"
"Me?"
Duanmu Huai pointed at himself in confusion. Hearing this, Shizuka immediately jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Don't talk nonsense! He's not my lover!"
"I'm not in a relationship with Shizuka either…"
Duanmu Huai raised his hand in protest. Nagi simply stared at him, then looked at Shizuka.
"Trying to deceive me? It's useless, Sister. I can see it. The way you look at him is exactly the same as the way I looked at Father… Don't you love him deeply?"
"T-That's not true at all!!"
Shizuka's face flushed red as she shouted back.
"Stop talking nonsense, Nagi! If you want revenge, come at me! Don't drag others into this!"
"Hahahahahaha!!!"
Hearing Shizuka's roar, Nagi burst into laughter.
"That day, I lost everything. Nothing remained! Only this burning rage that scorches my body and soul! I'll make you feel the same despair of losing everything! As long as it makes you suffer, I'll do anything! Until I take everything from you!"
"Looks like talking won't work."
Duanmu Huai clenched his fists and stepped forward.
"You want to kill me? Then let me show you how hard my fists are—"
"Wait, wait, wait!!"
Seeing Duanmu Huai about to move, Shizuka hurriedly grabbed him. If he attacked, Nagi would definitely die.
"This is my problem. Let me handle it."
As she spoke, Shizuka stepped in front of Nagi and faced her.
"Come on, Nagi!"
"...…"
"I advise you not to target him."
Seeing Nagi still staring at Duanmu Huai unwillingly, Shizuka tried to warn her. She knew exactly how terrifying Duanmu Huai was. Provoking him was the same as courting death. At least she was her sister. Let her handle it.
"…Fine. I'll beat you half to death first, then make you watch how I kill your lover and friend!"
"He really isn't my lover!!!"
"Shut up and die!!!"
With a furious roar, Nagi lunged at Shizuka.
Duanmu Huai directly pulled Maria and Olgis aside, switching into spectator mode.
"Can Shizuka win against Nagi?"
Watching the fight anxiously, Maria asked softly. Duanmu Huai shrugged.
"Who knows? Nagi's strength… is decent. But Shizuka isn't weak either. Though from the way she's fighting, it seems she doesn't intend to take it seriously."
As a veteran fighter, Duanmu Huai could tell at a glance. Although Shizuka claimed she would handle it, in reality she was holding back. Just like when she dueled Nagi at the Mage Tower. She had held back then too… This girl might be strong-willed, but she truly had a gentle side.
Which was only natural. After all, Nagi was her sister.
Compared to back at the Tower of the Bullet Chamber, Shizuka was much stronger now. Even while holding back, she could still fight Nagi evenly.
"Can Shizuka and Nagi reconcile?"
"Not a chance."
Duanmu Huai curled his lip.
"Nagi hates Shizuka to the core. The one who actually killed her father was me. If she really wanted revenge, she should come after me. The fact that she's targeting Shizuka instead says everything. Reconciliation is impossible. If it comes to it… well…"
If it came to it, he'd just kill Nagi. Better short pain than long pain.
While the spectators chatted, the battle grew more intense.
"Damn it! Why? Why is it like this!!"
Repeatedly failing to break through Shizuka's defenses enraged Nagi.
"Why is it always you?! You have everything! Friends, a lover, Father's affection! But I've lost everything! You took everything from me! Why?! Why did it turn out like this?!"
"...…"
As she blocked Nagi's attacks, Shizuka bit her lip tightly.
Is this what revenge is?
Seeing Nagi now reminded her of herself. Back then, she had been just as mad, chasing her father's killer relentlessly. Was Nagi the same?
A bitter irony rose in her heart.
In that case, we truly are sisters. Even our stubbornness is identical.
Would Nagi only let go of her hatred if she killed her?
If that's the case…
At that thought, Shizuka slowly lowered her guard.
At that very moment, Nagi's magic reached her.
"Dieeeeeee!!! Sister—!!!!"
"...…"
Watching the magical light flash before her, Shizuka closed her eyes.
Was that how that man had felt before he died?
"Boom!!!!"
A violent impact struck, and a scorching blast of air blew Shizuka backward. Yet the pain and death she expected never came. She opened her eyes in surprise and saw Duanmu Huai's tall back standing before her.
"You…"
"Once or twice is enough. Don't you ever learn?"
Blocking Nagi's magic, Duanmu Huai glanced back at Shizuka helplessly.
"I—I didn't ask you to save me!"
"Oh really? You think we'd just stand there and watch you throw your life away? What do you think I am, Bronze Five?"
"Ahhhhhhh!!!"
While Duanmu Huai and Shizuka spoke, Nagi roared again, leaping forward. She raised her beast-transformed left arm high and smashed it down at Duanmu Huai!
"Die!!!"
"Hmph!!"
Duanmu Huai's face darkened. He clenched his right fist and threw a punch!
"You're far from qualified to kill me! Fall!!!"
With his roar, his fist collided violently with Nagi's. A scream rang out as Nagi was sent flying backward, crashing through several trees before collapsing in the distance.
"Nagi!!!"
Seeing her sister blasted away, Shizuka turned pale and rushed to her side.
Nagi's body was battered and torn, covered in wounds. Shizuka knelt before her and held her tightly.
"Ah… ahh…"
As if hearing Shizuka's voice, Nagi opened her mouth. Her vacant eyes stared at the sky, unfocused.
"So this… is as far as I go…"
"...…"
"I'm so unwilling… My life only ever had Father, magic, and that unbeatable sister I'd never met… I never had the happiness I should have had. And even if I did, Father took it all away… It was never something I needed…"
Shizuka listened silently, not knowing what to say.
"The only thing I had left was Father… Only when he praised me was I truly happy… From childhood onward… that was my only treasure."
Nagi clenched her fist.
"It's so unfair… I gave up everything to study magic, yet I still couldn't beat someone who had friends, even a lover… And I lost my only father… I could never forgive that… never forgive…!! After Father died, all that remained for me was anger and sorrow… Even though you weren't the one who killed him, I still directed my hatred at you…"
Maria quietly glanced at Duanmu Huai. He shrugged.
My fault?
"But… why are you crying?"
Nagi looked at Shizuka in confusion. Tears were streaming down Shizuka's cheeks, dripping onto Nagi's face.
"Because… you're my little sister…"
"I see…"
A complicated expression crossed Nagi's face.
"So… there really is someone who would cry for my death? If I died before Father… would he have cried for me? Mother… no. Her heart was broken long ago. Even when she died, she didn't recognize me… All I ever wanted… was a home. It didn't have to be special. Just something ordinary… warm… somewhere I could be with someone…"
Duanmu Huai shook his head. People often speak kindly when death approaches. Nagi's fate was tragic. If she hadn't been the child of the man who stole another's wife—if she had truly been Shizuka's sister in a different way—perhaps things would have been better.
Whose fault was it?
Obviously that scumbag who couldn't keep his hands off another man's wife.
This would make quite the family melodrama.
"Nagi…"
Shizuka seemed to make up her mind. She held Nagi tightly.
"Let's… be ordinary sisters. Start everything over. I'll save you—even if it costs me my life…!"
"Wait, Shizuka? What are you doing?"
"Hey?!"
Maria and Duanmu Huai were shocked. Before they could react, a brilliant magical light burst forth, forming a massive magic circle that enveloped the two sisters.
From within, only Shizuka's voice could be heard.
"Nagi… don't die. Come into my body… I'll give you half… of mine!"
(End of Chapter)