freenovelworld Chapter 117 The Great Attack: Facing the Final Battle
Chapter 117 The Great Attack: Facing the Final Battle
June 3, 6:30 AM
In the dimly lit, confined room, the girl lay alone on the bed, "Is it dawn yet..." Miki murmured silently.
"No, I've been thinking about the future non-stop, and I haven't slept a wink all night..."
Mikie's thoughts were in a state of extreme confusion, and she probably didn't even know why.
"We agreed that the meeting would only last ten minutes, but we're making an exception for you today." The conversation outside drifted into the dimly lit, confined room.
With a cold, emotionless "Understood," the door to the solitary confinement cell where Mikie was being held was slammed open.
At that moment, a white-haired high school student wearing the Raizen school uniform walked in step by step.
"Ah... Origami-senpai!!"
Miki looked at the newcomer, her expression seemingly filled with joy.
But... when Origami spoke, the atmosphere in the entire confinement room became heavy. "The secret of Ashcroft, is that... true?" Her voice remained emotionless, like a machine, simply asking the question.
“Yes, I saw the whole story at their hiding place…” Mikie paused for a moment before continuing, “Ashcroft’s top-secret files… It recorded Ashcroft’s secrets… and the magician who attempted to steal Ashcroft and then kill the three of them.”
"Most importantly... that scenery too..."
"...The scene?" Origami asked, somewhat puzzled.
Mikie looked at the origami with excitement, a complex emotion in her eyes, and then called out:
"I also need to ask Origami-senpai!! Please, you absolutely must persuade the captain!! The real enemy is DEM!!"
Then Mikie jumped off the bed and stared directly into Origami's eyes, "Defeat DEM, return Ashcroft to the three of them... Save Artemisia!"
Origami did not answer. The surrounding air seemed to freeze, and the entire space was shrouded in a heavy and oppressive atmosphere.
After more than ten seconds, Origami finally spoke up and firmly objected: "We can't agree to that. Ashcroft is a powerful weapon that can repel the elves, and we can't give it to anyone else."
"Origami-senpai...!" Mikie exclaimed, utterly bewildered. "Why!! Now that we know Ashcroft's secret, why would someone like Origami-senpai...?"
Origami silently stopped Mikie from continuing with a look.
"For revenge..."
“I have been searching for great power, and my parents were burned to death by the flames of the elves right before my eyes.”
Origami's thoughts drifted back to that heartbreaking time five years ago. On that day, she stared wide-eyed, witnessing in horror what was happening before her eyes.
My parents were right in front of me, ravaged by a merciless force, leaving not even bones behind. At that moment, time seemed to freeze, and only the sound of my own heart pounding echoed in my ears.
At that moment, my legs gave way, and I collapsed to my knees, powerless, amidst the flames. Her hands gripped the ground tightly, her nails digging deep into the soil. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she could not change this cruel reality.
From that moment on, I vowed to personally destroy the elves who killed my parents and avenge them. It was also at that time that I began to pursue power.
"And now I finally have a weapon that can defeat the elves... Even if Ashcroft was a weapon made at someone's expense, I don't want to..."
Origami didn't continue speaking, and Mikie seemed to understand what she was about to say.
"That's really what you truly felt...?"
"……What's the meaning?"
Seeing Origami's puzzled expression, Mikie lowered her head and took a deep breath. "When Origami-senpai talks about the spirit of hatred, her eyes become very gloomy. Full of hatred and sorrow... a very gloomy look... but, just now..."
Mikie tilted her head slightly, her gaze slowly falling on Origami's face. What a face it was!
A melancholy aura, like a wisp of smoke, enveloped the room, yet within this subtle sadness lay an indescribable beauty. Origami's eyes, like deep lake water, unconsciously averted their gaze.
"Origami-senpai, you look a little hesitant..."
Upon hearing these words, Origami's previously confused and bewildered gaze became less lost.
"Yes, if the secret of Ashcroft is true... and I have inherited Ashcroft, I don't want to inflict the suffering I've endured on others!"
Mikie finally relented, "Origami-senpai is indeed a considerate and gentle person... So please use that gentleness to let go of your obsession with revenge and try to find a way to save more people."
"Saving...others?"
Origami muttered these words, while Mikie seemed lost in thought.
Just then, Origami's Alice, which she always carried with her, suddenly made a sound.
'?!'
Without hesitation, Origami stuck it to her forehead, establishing a connection with it.
"Can you hear me...? You plunderers of Ashcroft." As soon as Origami successfully connected, she heard Minerva's extremely arrogant voice in her mind.
"I'm speaking to you through the limited line of [Ashcroft] right now. Some of the people I'm talking to might not know me, so let me introduce myself first..."
In a forest outpost in the distance, the three members of SSS were also listening.
“I am Minerva Liddell, and the [Ashcroft] you have landed on is all my property. Therefore, I ask that you return it to its rightful owner.”
Minerva, standing atop a tall building, said excitedly.
"However, I'm tired of chasing four people by myself. So, let's have a duel for Ashcroft in the ruins amusement park on the outskirts of Tengu City! What do you say?"
After speaking, Minerva cut off the communication connection with everyone without hesitation.
Nibekl, who had been secretly watching all this from afar behind her, had his beastly eyes flash before turning back into paper.
Itsuki family
In the early morning, the sun had just risen, and the whole world was still immersed in tranquility.
Meanwhile, Ming had already arrived at the kitchen early and started his first task of the day—frying eggs.
A faint smell of cooking oil and the aroma of eggs filled the kitchen. Ming skillfully turned on the stove, and the blue flames danced merrily. He gently picked up an egg, tapped it lightly against the edge of a bowl, and the shell cracked instantly, the yolk and white flowing smoothly into the bowl. Then, Ming quickly stirred the egg mixture with chopsticks, ensuring it was fully combined.
Ming placed the frying pan on the stove and poured in a little oil. When the oil heated up, he skillfully poured the egg mixture into the pan.
With a sizzle, the egg quickly solidified, forming a golden-brown crisp around the edge. Ming, holding a spatula, gently flipped the egg, ensuring each side was heated evenly. Soon, a fragrant, golden-brown fried egg was ready.
Although it was only a little past 7 o'clock, and most people were probably still dreaming in their warm beds, Ming was not slacking off at all, as if someone had already reserved it.
"Huh?! Mr. Ming, what brings you here so early?!" Shido, dressed in formal attire, carefully descended the stairs while Tohka and Kotori were still asleep, and whispered.
Ming glanced at Shido and smiled slightly. "I'm used to waking up early, so I just made breakfast. What, are you dressed like that for going out?"
When asked the question, Shido nodded thoughtfully.
"Then I'll give you this fried dish first. Are you meeting a friend? It's okay if you go a few minutes later, he should understand."
"Uh, ah..."
"You can't refuse. You're acting all sneaky. Are you trying to secretly meet someone behind Kotori and Tohka's back? You obviously don't want them to know. If you don't eat... I'll go upstairs and tell them."
Seeing Ming's "kind" smile for the first time, Shido hesitated. He had wanted to accept the invitation from the Flame Beast alone, but little did he know that Ming was already making breakfast downstairs.
"Okay, okay... I'll eat it, but please don't tell Tohka and Kotori!"
Seeing Shido's flustered and pleading appearance, Mei simply responded with his usual smile and placed the fried eggs on the table.
"Eat."
"Okay! Ok!"
Just after Shido hurriedly finished eating the egg, he stepped out of the room.
An unexpected thing happened: Ming's body suddenly burst into flames without warning! The raging flames instantly enveloped him, but strangely, these flames did not cause any damage or impact on the surrounding environment.
At the same time, a set of jet-black, reversed spirit armor appeared silently on Ming's body like a ghost. This set of spirit armor exuded an eerie and mysterious aura.
After the spirit dress appeared on his body, Ming stood quietly in place, his deep eyes fixed on Shido's receding figure.
At this moment, Ming exuded an elusive aura, as if he were completely isolated from the world around him.
"Then let me see what surprises you'll give me in the war to come, Itsuka Shido."
As he finished speaking the last word, a reddish, skeletal sheep's head-like structure appeared on his face.
Slowly pushing open that familiar door, I stepped out of the Itsuka family's house. I couldn't help but turn back, my gaze lingering on this place that was once filled with warmth and memories.
Standing at the door, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up inside me.
"These sincere people can indeed be considered my friends besides Sawa and Kurumi, but... dreams always end, and I only want her in the world."
I don't know how much time I'll have left to spend here... but I will never regret it if I want to see [her]!