Leviathan:Volume 2 Chapter 4
Chapter 4 - Awakening
Part 1
Pavel Galad had issued a deadline of five days.
Akuro-Ou and Rushalka's defeat had happened on the afternoon of the third day. Despite the battle, the dragon did not break his promise. He apparently curled up and went back to sleep, continuing to stay at Nagatachō...
Not simply hot-blooded, but perhaps he was very rigid and principled in personality too.
Was the silver dragon a hybrid or pure-blooded? In his hazy mind due to a high fever, Hal pondered such utterly inane questions.
After the miraculous survival, Hal was rescued personally by Kenjou who had sneaked into Old Tokyo.
Sitting in the escape vehicle was Asya who had been rescued first. Reportedly, the childhood friend had exhibited her prowess as a Level 5 witch by performing Descent Control, magic for countering Isaac Newton's law of gravity to slow down an object's rate of fall.
"I don't think I'd stay in one piece if I had cast my magic thirty seconds later..."
In the car on the trip back to Tokyo New Town, Asya remarked in exhaustion.
Even so, she had apparently crashed into the roof of a multi-tenant building at a rate comparable to a speeding bicycle. It was only thanks to her defensive magic and guarding skills acquired from close quarters combat training that she got out with only minor scratches and bruises.
Back to New Town, Hal was dropped off at his own house. Soon after his crash landing, Hal started suffering from a thirty-eight-degree fever. As a result, he was forced to recuperate—
Then came the morning of the fourth day after the declaration. Hal opened his eyes while in his own room's bed.
"Well, you officially invoked the rune's power without using a wand after all. Of course there will be a backlash."
Hinokagutsuchi was whispering by his pillow. As usual, she was acting like she knew everything.
"Wand... Don't tell me you're referring to the 'magic wand' that last time's elite also used?"
"Yes. Whether you have one or not makes a huge difference in strain."
Hinokagutsuchi explained while leaning against the edge of the bed.
With her back facing Hal, who was still lying in bed, she started playing with a handheld game console. Whether hardware or software, all were Hal's possessions. She was currently killing time in a popular game, hunting monsters as a resident in a fantasy world.
"So what kind of monsters do I need to defeat in order to get the materials for that wand thing?"
"Find out on your own. That was what I did. Whether in games or in war, those who cannot look after themselves will never follow the road to completion."
Hinokagutsuchi was controlling a stalwart and brawny swordsman as her player character, "Hinokagutsuchi" spelled in hiragana.
He was clad in shiny black armor. The massive sword he was swinging with both hands was also a black magic sword with an ominous design. Both the weapon and the defensive gear were clearly rare items.
The self-styled devil's finger movements for controlling the character were also exceptionally experienced...
"Doing what you are taught, taking action when you are told, do you not find this kind of disposition extremely pathetic? If no one has blazed a trail beforehand, just make one yourself. It is that simple."
How unbelievable. Hinokagutsuchi was clearly just playing a video game—
Yet from the image of her back, Hal could see haughtiness and sternness forbidding all grumbling and complaints.
"Is that how you ascended to that throne of the whatever queen?"
"Hmm? This is how I conduct myself no matter what the task. I am my own lord across heaven and earth, fighting whoever offends my eyes, going wherever I please. Whenever I was worshiped, I would temporarily take on the responsibilities of a goddess. In the past, that was essentially how I spent my life of greatness."
"In the past huh..."
Hal repeated softly. Indeed, she was using past tense on purpose?
Then Hal felt it amidst his fever.
Helplessness. Emptiness. A sense of loss that he had lost count of how many dozens of times he had experienced it. Indeed. In various ways, this was an era where turmoil was everywhere, but due to his family background and occupation, this type of experience was particularly abundant for Hal.
"Was returning to Tokyo the wrong choice, just as I thought...?"
He thought about Juujouji Orihime's covenant ritual. As he thought, he should not have accepted the job in the first place, right?
The same thoughts would cross Hal's mind whenever witches, whose ritual he had taken part in, died in battle.
Although they had to be present on the frontlines, witches actually had a fairly high survival rate. Presumably, this was because the "serpents" were in charge of the actual fighting. Even so, deaths still occurred and were reported to staff who were acquainted with the deceased during the covenant rituals.
Had that ritual not taken place, would Orihime have lived longer?
In that case, she would not be "missing in action, chances of survival: slim" as currently categorized—
Regret and guilt surged endlessly. Hal could not even muster the strength to sigh. What surprised himself was this intense sense of loss.
Clearly, he had only known her for a month. How unbelievable.
Hal clicked his tongue at his body, listless due to the fever, while rising from the bed.
"What is the matter, brat? Are you tired of the world and wish to commit suicide?"
"Of course not. I just remembered a promise that I had made uncharacteristically."
Currently, there was no definite proof of Akuro-Ou and Orihime's deaths. Furthermore, Hal had promised to try his hardest to handle things appropriately, to use his unfamiliar power to save her.
However, Haruga Haruomi had not done anything.
Pushing Hinokagutsuchi away, Hal got off the bed with unsteady footsteps.
First, he had to infiltrate Old Tokyo and locate Orihime and Akuro-Ou's whereabouts. Should the enemy show up, then he needed to try his hardest to find clues and see if he could seize a chance to trigger his power's awakening just like how he acquired protection. In any case, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Taking action was his only recourse...
At this moment, Haruga Haruomi cocked his head and went "Hmm?" ...Because he seemed to be hearing something.
The instant he thought of Akuro-Ou, a faint cry for help reached his ears—
"Well, you and the priestess did preside over the birth ritual together. It would come as no surprise if a bond of fate were to arise between it and the officiating priests—akin to parents, hmm."
Hinokagutsuchi suddenly murmured such words, causing Hal to widen his eyes.
In that case, could it be that—
"You are planning to go the Old Tokyo wasteland!?"
"Yeah. I feel there's still a shred of hope, so I'm going," Hal told the surprised Asya.
Their location was the Metropolitan Police Department's headquarters in the Sumi East area. An area rich in the trappings of Shitamachi, the low-lying and traditional area of Tokyo, prior to the establishment of New Town, the north side of the Sumida Ward had been redeveloped into a modern office district.
Located at Kanegafuchi, the MPD headquarters was a twenty-story building constructed from steel-reinforced concrete.
"Haruomi, if a 'magical bond' really exists between you and Akuro-Ou, then it's indeed possible..."
"Doesn't matter either way. Let me know immediately if the situation changes. I will have you guys meet up before Galad launches a fierce attack."
The two of them were talking in the lounge on the seventh floor.
Asya was currently on standby for a rematch against Pavel Galad.
She was here because the Old Tokyo Concession, now turned into a battlefield, was under the MPD's jurisdiction. Ever since the return of the dragons, the trend of arming police forces had risen in many countries. Japan was no exception. The drone helicopters sent to monitor Old Tokyo also belonged to the MPD.
"If only we could fight side by side."
"I don't think there are any witches nearby who can nonchalantly ignore the wishes of their sponsors."
"Perhaps national characteristics play a role in why Japan has so few witches as strong as I am."
Speaking in a relaxed manner, the two of them were each drinking a coffee-flavored milk carton.
Whether the sudden disappearance of a well-acquainted comrade or getting stuck in a battlefield due to dragon-related incidents, all of this was commonplace. At most, what differed from the past was a noncombatant, Hal, entering the predetermined battle zone for reasons apart from investigation—
"Haruomi, I'm not going to give advice like don't overdo it. If you get caught in danger, find a way to escape from death. Only by moving forward with resolve in the face of certain death will you actually have a chance of surviving."
"Isn't this the time when you should be saying 'a real pro doesn't take risks' for the sake of mood?"
"If military experience alone was enough to overcome the situation, I could accommodate... But when magic and dragons are involved, the enemy often transcends the realm of such experiences..."
"Enemies that don't follow the manual are so annoying..."
Hal grumbled poignantly after hearing Asya's advice.
"To add to that, make sure you get the timing right when running away."
"Doesn't that contradict your advice about 'moving forward with resolve in the face of certain death' just now?"
"That's something you need to be flexible with based on feeling. Knowing the difference naturally is what makes you a full-fledged adult."
"That's why you're described as someone with instincts like a wild beast..."
While Hal held back the final statement in his mind, the childhood friend suddenly said:
"In that case, I think it's better if you took a helper along."
"A helper?"
"Yes. Go to the lobby and wait a while. I'll introduce you presently."
Hal could already guess the identity of Asya's aforementioned helper.
In any case, he went to the lobby first. Before he left, Asya said:
"If you really manage to find Orihime-san and Akuro-Ou, I will give you a hug, Haruomi. I'm serious. So no matter how much hardship lies ahead, you must find them!"
Asya, too, hoped for the survival of the Japanese girl who had suddenly become her junior. Finding a supporter, Hal could not help but smile. Then he exited the lounge.
It was currently after 8am. His fever yesterday had completely subsided.
The fever's cause was probably not some kind of flu but what Hinokagutsuchi had said.
"A magic wand huh?"
Muttering to himself, Hal took the elevator to the ground floor. As expected, there were many people in uniform. But in addition to police, there were also a few who looked like civilians.
A young girl approaching him was clearly in that category.
Just as he thought. Hal nodded. The girl in school uniform was Shirasaka Hazumi.
"I have already heard Asya-san explain the situation."
Hazumi looked haggard and her eyes were very red. She must have slept poorly.
"Why are you here, Shirasaka?"
"After hearing that Nee-sama went missing, I have been thinking all along about what I could possibly do. Although Yukari-san said I didn't need to do anything before the dragon battle, it really didn't sit well with me to stay at home... So I contacted Asya-san—"
Naturally, Orhime's family was informed of her missing in action. This included her younger cousin, Hazumi.
Feeling restless, she had come to the MPD. Hazumi had been a witch fighting on behalf of New Town for a long time now, so entering this place was probably nothing difficult.
Just as Hal figured things out, the witch in control of an injured 'serpent' said to him:
"I beg of you, please take me along! I wish to help in any manner possible!"
She expressed her will clearly, contrary to her usual air of reserved politeness.
Part 2
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Part 3
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Part 4
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