Shakugan no Shana:Volume22 Intermission 2

Intermission 2-Oracle

Under the sunset, in Zurich, Switzerland.

At the lakeside theatre while the wind breeze came, two ladies were sitting at the front row seats.

There weren’t any crowds in the theatre, but the lights in the hall were all lit, the screen and the communicator on the orchestra pit was ready, and everything was cleared up. Even as the commotion that happened here was nearing the final scene like remaining residue disappearing, only silence floated through the dim area.

Inside here was the ‘Braider of Trembling Might’, Sophie Sawallisch—

“Fuun.”

A long meeting was dismissed because of an emergency report, and her first response was to sigh.

The ‘Thunder Blade of Banishment’ Takemikazuchi, who made a contractor with her, said with a clear voice through the embroidery on her forehead, the blue star-shaped treasure tool ‘Dona’,

“Are you feeling tired because everything’s useless, Sophie Sawallisch-kun?”

“Now, this is a meaningful meeting that’s worth the fatigue, isn’t it, Takemikazuchi-shi? In terms of delaying time, right?”

Giving off a childish vibe, the Flame Haze called ‘Mother Courage’ chuckled.

Sitting several seats away was the ‘Handler of Dark Ravens’ Hildegard giggled from under the veil.

“Fufu, you too, ex-supreme commander. Are you good or bad…at that moment, wasn’t it too much things to accept during that hearing?”

“The god of judgement ‘Flames of Heavens’ contractor ‘Flame-haired Burning-eyed Hunter’ wanted to take the opponent on by using the restrictions of the creating the new world. That’s some reckless plan—”

From the left side of her chest, the brooch-shaped treasure tool with the bright red ruby shown outside, ‘Hliðskjálf’, the ‘Charging Chief of Demon’s Road’ Wodan sighed with some shock in his almighty voice.

Sophie suddenly thought of that ‘God’ and the girl she was familiar with, and her smile was a little more gentle.

“That was the first time I knew about it too.”

As the current headquarters of Outlaw, an organization that exchanges information and supports Flame Hazes, the theatre they were in had numerous foolish debates. A few hours ago, report that the ‘Flame-haired Burning-eyed Hunter’ and company, who were in Misaki City, Japan, finally launched a battle against ‘Bal Masque’ came here, and also announced all sorts of emergencies.

That treasure tool that was taken out stealthily from Wuhan for fear of provoking. And in fact, it was snatched away by dangerous elements a long time ago, breaking off all sorts of news (but they knew where it went).

The Flame Haze who should be in charge of supervising the ‘Crimson Denizens’ who swarmed into Japan, but unknowingly, the situation had become such that they were searching for specific ‘Denizens’.

These actions were all confidential within the headquarters of Zurich, from the moment the battle started—until the other side reported back. And the people who did this have the unity to do so.

More importantly, the real reason why the group led by the god of punishment ‘Flames of Heaven’ Alastor and the ‘Flame-haired Burning-eyed Hunter’ Shana was recorded down, and there was a detailed recording of the battle situation.

As all these were reported, the headquarters at Zurich realized that they were excluded outside the storm, and both humans and Flame Hazes were all caught in a commotion. Basically, it was all cursing and sadness. Several minutes ago, the supreme commander Sophie was just like everyone else.

They declared that even though Dorel Kubelik revolutionized the organization, the scouting branch had never rebelled against the command core. However, as the supreme commander Sophie gave permission to take action secretly, causing the command group to be overly isolated in terms of intel and action, which caused some troubles for the command group.

Anyway, she was immediately dismissed as the supreme commander. Everyone present retreated to the supreme commander that was built in the underground of the villa, which was built beside the theatre.

However, Sophie, who was sacked, didn’t show any shame or guilt. She even showed a relaxed smile.

“Basically, I’m merely the supreme commander for this battle. If it’s just to clean things or to expand things further, I guess it’s nothing if I brought my resignation forward.

Takemikazuchi also said brazenly.

“Or rather, it’s because we made a decision at the critical moment that we ended up getting power and restructuring the organization. Of course, it’s to be expected that we would exercise our power. Even if we were sacked because we acted on our own, we’re just returning back to our hideout.”

Sophie did not take part in the last battle, but returned back to the Zurich headquarters and did not take action take any action. She was merely assisting through the central command according to the current situation…she could be said to have thoroughly revealed her personality as Mother Courage. Hildegaard was really impressed by it. Then, she again asked to clarify another thing she was wondering about.

“So basically, how much do you know about all these?”

Sophie’s answer showed complete indifference.

“It’s likely that I would be eavesdropped on if I used the phone. I only heard of rough description of the plan before hand, so my actions and silence were all at that moment. However…”

She added on with something worrying.

“The people who decided to stay and the people who decided to leave. Both sides were so desperate that it far exceeded my imaginations…they weren’t extremely vengeful nor extremely relaxed like a can being crushed, but extremely natural…well, how should I put it?”

Unexpectedly, the one who muttered the correct answer was Wodan.

“Being like us, being motivated after being crushed, a soul that’s ready to be that of a Flame Haze—”

“Unable to bet our lives and unable to ensure that there’s insurance on our lives. I suppose those who decide to stay in this world are the same?”

Takemikazuchi responded to Hildegaard’s somewhat self-mocking question.

“Based on the current situation, it’s unknown what would be the overall structure of the new world. Whether if it’s targeted at the resistance against the ‘Denizens’ or the suppressing power, we have to have a certain number of people stay here. Thus, retreating is also a sense of realization…even though it feels like we’re trying to justify our actions.”

Covering her mouth gently with her her, Hildergaard chuckled.

“For both of you to show weakness and run away in this world—”

At this moment, suddenly—

“Supreme commander!”

“It’s ex-supreme commander.”

Sophie’s original sub-commander (who was also sacked), ‘Conveyor of Shaped Silhouettes’ Francois Auric shouted as he walked in, and from the jar-shaped vessel Splet that was hanging behind him, the ‘Miraculous Springs of Arrangement’ Grogach calmly corrected.

Francois handed the message he seemed to have gotten from headquarters and showed it to Sophie.

“So they finally got Rofocale?”

“Yes, Misaki City’s still under battle, so according to the terms of negotiation, we may be able to catch up with the oracle.”

From behind him, Grogach added.

“According to the current predictions of the battle, the most likely moment when the tide changes will be when the treasure tool ‘Reiji Maigo’ activates at midnight. In terms of Japan’s time…it’s about an hour later. There should be something happening over there, right?”

Sophie nodded her head.

“That’s right. Before that, once they discover the oracle and the huge change in power, whether those kids succeed or not, it would affect the ‘Crimson Denizens’ wills somewhat…”

Speaking halfway through, Sophie suddenly sighed as if she was deflated.

“Excuse me, but is there something wrong?”

Unlike before, Hildegaard sensed a heaviness in those words and turned the face that was hidden under the veil over.

“No, it’s just that I want to use this moment to imagine. It will be useless at that moment if we can’t exterminate them. The one who killed hundreds of their friends and should be hated the most must be me.”

“At that moment, the ‘revolution’ will have to end.”

Takemikazuchi’s words had no delusion as he said things clearly without holding back. Even though the people who were killed were friends of him, that’s that.

“Let alone that, we even managed to achieve silent mutual understanding with that ‘Arbiter of Reverse Reasoning’.”

“Either way, the new world’s created. What I can do is all done.”

Hildegaard said calmly. Wodan then sternly continued.

“It’s now time for things to return to full circle—”

“Please, ex-supreme commander.”

Francois handed the terminal over, and Grogach chuckled,

“Show me the best of your abilities then.”

Sophie gathered her concentration as she received the terminal that had only a world of words on it.

“Are we hoping of some sort of victory…or are we aiming for something everyone can accept…”

The flash and overwhelming power that gushed out from inside reverberated throughout the empty paradise of illusion.

“What kind…such honor…!”

At a corner of the park, the ‘Inviter of Satire’ Rofocale’s steady and loud voice echoed throughout the corners. He was delighted with the glow and power that surged within him, and his gracious voice was trembling.

“To me, as a subordinate of the ‘Roar of Enlightenment’ Shaher, I was worried for thousands of years whether I would get to see him…however, the mission to fulfill my god’s kind wish fell on me!! Ahh, I have now found and understood my new mission…this ‘Inviter of Satire’ Rofocale now has the honor to chant the ‘song of first contact’!”

Hearing these words in close range, the ‘Transposer of Corpses and Bodies’ Ernest Flieder used his hand to cover his forehead and narrowed his eyes, trying to guess the significance behind the strange thing that was happening to this Denizen right in front of him.

“You’re now proceeding with a god’s summon? What exactly did you see!?”

“A ritual can’t proceed without a livvveee sacrifice, you know!? Don’t tell me, we’re the sacrifice!?”

In contrast, the ‘Arts and Crafts of Application’ Brigid panicked.

Balan. The sound of the lute that didn’t match the occasion at all rang.

“As for live sacrifices, please don’t worry. Up till now, thy god’s summon had happened countless times…if so, how would I know of the existence, but not the details?”

“What did you say?”

As if he was deliberately trying to show off to the surprised Flieder, the subordinate of the god of guidance placed his hand in front of his chest.

“Amongst them, the reason was that the person who went through with it couldn’t pass it to others. In other words, a live sacrifice for a god summon’s like mine would happen only to the one subordinate who receives the prophecy—‘the one who needs to know’.”

He proudly declared his own death.

“Allow me to express my sincere thanks, both of you. My god’s own summoning can never happen naturally. My god’s senses can only open wide in this world through the subordinate. And thus, thus I, I wandered through the world, continuing to train myself…at this moment, please… —descend—”

Looking like he was inviting someone in, Rofocale opened his arms wide in an exaggerated manner and faced the sky.

He sang in a manner that people would mistake for an ending to a concert that was full of appluase.

“—‘Let the Voice Roar—”

These words,

Caused something to strike down like lightning from heaven as it entered his body.

The spell ‘Palacios Trail’ was immediately blown.

Opening in front of the pursuers who linked up with Flieder.

That was evidence that the guidance god ‘Roar of Enlightenment’ Shaher appeared, a color that would erase everything—pure white.

Rofocale’s existence dissolved into the sky and scattered everywhere.

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