The school’s original budget would have only covered two rooms at a local guesthouse.
But who was Alexander?
As the school’s premier young noble, he dipped into his own pocket and thoughtfully upgraded the group to a hotel.
With a “brother, I get it” look, he even went out of his way to book a couples’ room for himself and Mirai Kobayashi.
Mirai Kobayashi didn’t seem to mind.
Dammit, though—the bathroom in this couples’ room was transparent.
Mirai Kobayashi used her long blade to lift the hem of a coat.
There was no expected attack.
Instead, a little girl was shivering there; she looked like a primary school student.
“If she has nothing to hide, then why did she run?”
“Is it that strange?”
Lin Yu said helplessly.
“A bunch of foreigners speaking a language she doesn’t understand corner her in an alley after school. The only one who speaks her language has dyed hair and is holding a sword. If it were you, wouldn’t you run?”
“The school will handle these matters.”
“Is the school asking us to kidnap a high schooler? This kid looks perfectly normal. How does she look like an out-of-control God-Slayer?”
“The data on the device is clear. There is indeed a pulse on her that is the exact polar opposite of a God-Slayer.”
“The Board of Directors says she is extremely dangerous and must be confined for experimentation.”
“She’s only just started high school…”
“Let her go.”
“What do you guys think?”
“Interesting. It seems the three of us are of one mind, aren’t we?”
“We won’t hand a little girl over to the Board for so-called ‘observation.’ But what matters is Mu Chengfeng’s opinion—he’s the leader of this operation.”
“How do we send Hinazuki away without Mu Chengfeng finding out?”
“Are you planning to create a monster that could destroy Hokkaido all for the sake of one child?!”
He flipped the table in one motion, food scattering everywhere.
“Are you planning to create a monster that could destroy Hokkaido all for the sake of one child?!”
Callista looked at the overturned noodles on the floor.
“You know,” he said, turning to look directly at Mu Chengfeng, “there are two things a man must never do… make a girl cry, and waste food.”
“And so?
Are you going to cause a disaster that destroys Hokkaido for one child?”
“Speaking as a Chinese person, I don’t actually mind if Japan gets a few monsters, Kaiju, or Godzillas,”
Lin Yu added suddenly with a shrug the moment Mu Chengfeng looked toward Mirai Kobayashi.
Only Mirai Kobayashi kept her head bowed.
As an exorcist, she knew better than anyone how dangerous it was to release a God-Slayer who might go berserk.
Mu Chengfeng left.
Alexander turned to her.
“Why say those things?
At most, you’d just be guilty of not reporting it.”
“Can I ask a question?”
“Why? You didn’t intend to let her go at first, did you?”
“But everything changed after you captured her. You’ve been trying everything to save her. Did something happen during the capture?”
“No, it went smoothly. She has no parents. When I went to find her, the neighbors were very cooperative… even too cooperative.”
“In that moment, I just didn’t want to do it. To her, she’s just a girl who knows nothing. Her parents abandoned her, and it seems no one in the world ever cared about her.”
“So you pitied her?”
“No, it’s just selfishness. I’ve killed many ghosts and even people who hadn’t lost control yet… I’ve long accepted that I’m going to Hell when I die. But when I saw her shivering, surrounded by those neighbors… I suddenly remembered myself as a child.”
“Relying on a power I didn’t understand yet, I remember a few hundred yen being searched out of my pocket, and then everyone…”
“Because when I look at her, I see my past self. So helpless. I just wanted to live, yet it felt like I’d committed a capital crime. Back then, I wished someone would show up to help me. But no one did. In the end, they beat me and took the only things I had left in my house. Eventually, they seized the house itself and kicked me out.”
“It’s a terrible feeling. The world is so big, yet no one has ever cared about you. Then suddenly, people appear—but their only purpose is to kill you.”
“So I want to help her. Think of it as helping my past self.”
Lin Yu stood up and picked up the portion intended for Sakuraba Night.
Mirai Kobayashi shot him a fierce glare.
“Alexander, Lin Yu… I think you’ve both gone mad!”
“No, I am perfectly sane. My enemies are those who call themselves ‘Gods,’ not a pathetic little girl.”
“If we cannot protect those who should be protected, what is the point of this power?”
“You bastards from Thanatos, this is our family matter. I suggest you get lost.”
“Mu Chengfeng…”
“I’m not worried, because from the very beginning, I was the Chosen One.”
“It’s simple. As long as I wish it, destiny will side with me.”
“I am not afraid. Because even if I must make an enemy of the entire world, I have something I must protect.”