Episode 60 — Dyeing the Blue Sea Crimson (I)
～ Part 2 ～
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Eating Akai Asuka’s kick, Goubayashi’s giant body was lightly blown off. It was unknown where within that slender body that that kind of power was hiding, but looking at that, Sakuma was convinced. That for sure, was a part of the physical ability that Akai normally concealed. Even the owner of strength that was virtually strongest in the class, was easily blown away.
“GUu…!”
Goubayashi who was slammed against the wall, was somehow able to get up while holding his body. His mantle trailed in the sea wind.
Akai, or to be exact, ‘something’ with her appearance floated a smile so gentle it didn’t seem like Akai at all and said that.
A gentle, kind smile. But when she looked at that, Sakuma felt herself getting goosebumps. She didn’t understand the reason. A chill as if her heart was gripped, attacked her body. Within that much gentle a smile, was a muddy, black swirling something.
“How do you do, I suppose I should say that. Friends of Asuka. I am the ‘King’ of the blood clan.”
‘King’. Sakuma instant understood the meaning of that word.
The ‘King’ of Akai and the vampire clan. The perfect superior who wielded absolute authority due to the constraints of blood. The tyrant who could completely dominate their heart and body. That, was the ‘King’. That, for some kind of reason, was here in the appearance of Akai Asuka.
No, that body was very likely of Akai Asuka herself.The King used her body to talk. To be more exact, the King was making her mouth speak his words. Sakuma felt her heart rapidly chilled. Akai’s body was currently being manipulated by the King’s authority.
“No need to worry. I still haven’t obtained all of Asuka yet.”
Saying so, the ‘King’ raised his fingers and said:
“About 30 minutes at best. My control will hold for about that long. Therefore, I want to talk to you guys during that time.”
“What kind of…”
Sakuma could barely made a voice.
“…thing, is this?”
Immediately after speaking out, Sakuma Sachiko understood that something like simmering anger was welling up from the bottom of her heart. Simultaneously, she also felt ashamed of her own action and feelings so far.
The thing called dominating the heart, was surely being carry out right in front her eyes right now, it was ‘this kind of thing’. That always cool, yet kind, and more noble than anyone, that Akai Asuka’s expression was being distorted. Her soul was being trampled. There was no way it was okay to coolly do this kind of thing. Perhaps, she too had been trying to do this kind of thing? When that thought cross her mind, that even turned into a dreadful feeling.
The more she tried to refresh her thought, the more her anger increased. Presently, except for Sakuma, the only students on the deck were only Goubayashi and Harao. Both of them were wounded, and when it came to Harao, his state was having wounds all over his body. Even if Sakuma got angry here, there was no reason they could win against the ‘King’ who could freely control Akai’s power.
Even so, Sakuma was angry.
“It means exactly what I said. Because I can’t move, you see. So I can’t talk to you unless I do this.”
“Return Asuka-chan’s body.”
“I’ll return it once 30 minutes pass. Of course, it’s temporary though.”
The instant the ‘King’ said so, vampires wearing black armor came out from the cabin. Thereupon, Sakuma again noticeably shuddered. There were also 4 vampires that appeared to be Pawns as well. If including the ‘King’, it’s 5 people. This difference in war potential was all but hopeless.
Ignoring the astonished Sakuma, one Pawn paid respect to the ‘King’.
“‘King’, I’m very sorry, your arms please.”
“No need to be so formal. I’m just manipulating her limbs, it’s not like this body is mine.”
Saying so, Akai who was dominated by the ‘King’ returned her expression to a hollow one and presented her right arm. That expression sometime ago as well, was probably one made intentionally. Perhaps, it was to bluntly thrust the situation called ‘Akai was being dominated’ in front of them. His taste was bad.
“Naturally, I can’t bring myself to look at the lovely Asuka’s arms being wounded. Do it gently.”
“Yes…”
Saying so, the Pawn took out a syringe, and stabbed the arm Akai presented.
What? Sakuma thought, but she immediately understood.
Blood, they meant to take away her blood.
“Stop–!”
Sakuma started running.
Akai was able to escape from the King domination, was because she didn’t present blood to the King, and Sakuma had received that explanation from her. Setting aside the detail mechanism anyway, for the King to manipulate Akai’s body from long distance, her blood was indispensable.
This time, Akai being controlled was not because she had presented blood. Sakuma didn’t know what that was, but there was another different factor. Therefore, it only lasted for 30 minutes.
During that 30 minutes, they would extract her blood, and go present that to the King. That was the enemy’s aim.
“Evil———!”
“Step back–!”
Just before she fired magic, a Pawn who had run to intercept, bashed her in the face.
“UAaa…!”
Sakuma whose attacked was interrupted, rolled on the deck.
She raised her face. Red blood was extracted from Akai’s white arm, it was filling up the syringe. As Sakuma knew, human blood was a bit more dark in color, but Akai’s blood that had been extracted, was vivid as if it was shining.
The Pawns pasted their gaze on the trace where the syringe stabbed. It was a surreal scene, but no body was laughing.
“Now, Pawns. Thank you for your work today.”
The ‘King’, while appreciating the Pawn, said.
“I will talk with them here for a little while. You guys take that blood and return. The ship that the Pawn of Albadanba has arranged should be at the cliff in the south.”
“Yes–…!”
The Pawns respectfully bowed, and spread their wings all together. You can’t, Sakuma thought. If they could escape from this place. If they could bring back that ‘blood’. If they could present Akai Asuka’s blood to the King. Both her body and heart would be dominated. Sakuma tightly clenched her fist, she stood up.
“Wait–!!”
She chase the Pawns as they spread their wings and flew to the sky. But,
“It’s you who’s going to wait.”
Suddenly, she heard that voice close to her ear, a dull impact attacked Sakuma from behind.
“GUu…!”
Again, she was thrown against the deck. The ‘King’‘s, Akai’s face, was right before her eyes.
“I want to talk you guys. I said that, didn’t I?”
Emotions completely disappeared, empty, vacant eyes. However, only her mouth was speaking words in a gentle tone. Akai’s white fish like fingers gently grabbed Sakuma’s chin. The other hand was caressing around her nape. Despite it being the fingers of her best friend Akai, her lovable Akai, only disgust was budding in Sakuma’s heart.
It was at that time.
“UOOOAAAAAAAAAAA–!!”
A shrieking yell. It was Goubayashi’s. Akai clearly raised her face. Sakuma also looked in his direction.
“Hou…”
At that moment, Goubayashi was throwing off his mantle. The abandoned mantle made a dull sound one would never guess from its appearance, it sank into the deck. Immediately after he threw it away, the muscles of Goubayashi’s prided body further swelled up, golden fighting spirit rising from his body gained momentum.
“You won’t escaaaaaaaape–!”
Goubayashi immediately kicked the deck and jumped into the air. The flying kick sending toward heaven was steeply rising just like a rocket. He meant to kick and knock down the Pawns that had escape toward the sky. «Fuu», the King laughed.
Wings grew from Akai’s back. She probably was going to drag Goubayashi down before he reach the Pawns.
But, the instant she flew up, a ball-like thing came flying from out of nowhere and hit the ‘King’‘s cheek.
It seemed like there wasn’t much power. Akai didn’t even staggered. But, it was too plenty as a surprise attack. During that slight delayed interval, Goubayashi’s kick had caught one Pawn from behind. And then, Goubayashi who was supposed to fall down just like that, fixed his body in the air, he then released full powered fists one after another toward the 2nd Pawn.
“Eeeh!?”
Sakuma was surprised, but she immediately understood.
In a place a bit away, Harao who had collapsed face up on the deck, was raising his right arm. In his hand grasped a chipped ankh. Harao himself had wounds all over his body, but the telekinesis he brought forth didn’t look unfavorable at all. Goubayashi was boosted by that power, he knocked down another Pawn, making it 3.
“Quite persistent, aren’t you…!?”
A shivering voice of the ‘King’. That time when Goubayashi was about to bash the 4th Pawn, the ‘King’ released black lightning which flicked off the ankh from Harao’s hand. Losing his support, Goubayashi was going to fall. The 4th Pawn was disappearing straight toward the blue sky.
“Goubayashi-kun!”
Sakuma shouted his name, but he was safe, however, making a thunderous roar, he landed on the deck. The hull of the heavy cruiser branch school greatly shook.
“The Pawn who was escaping with blood, is that Pawn okay?”
“Yes.”
However, it seemed that only the target he was aiming for wasn’t shot down. In front of their eyes, the King and Pawns was having such a conversation.
“Sorry. If I didn’t take a surprise attack, I would have protected you guys as well.”
Saying so, the ‘King’ turned his eyes toward the cabin. A soccer ball … or rather, a was pinned under his foot, his arms crossed, a small build boy wearing Japanese clothes was there.
“Ozashiki? So that guy was here.”
Goubayashi muttered.
Ozashiki Dousuke the Zashiki-warashi (wiki). He was the ace striker of the soccer club, his family seemed to be operating a well-established ryokan, in the class, his shadow was indiscriminately thin, that was this man. The Pawns that were knocked down were 3. There was no sign of them flying up. Rather, it appeared that they were glaring over here with firm belief that they would never allow anyone to chase after the Pawn who had escape with blood.
“Sorry, Sakuma.”
Goubayashi muttered with a bitter face.
“As this rate, Akai…”
He shouldn’t have heard about the mechanism of blood, but still, he would be able to grasp the opponents’ aim to some degree. The Pawn was able to escape with blood, how much a threat would it lead to, it seemed he was able to guess to some extent.
“It’s not Goubayashi-kun’s fault, but…”
Sakuma also looked forward.
The opponents Pawns, two were wounded, one was in perfect state, and then the ‘King’ who was manipulating Akai’s body. On this side, there was a wounded Harao and Goubayashi. Adding to that was Sakuma and Ozashiki, 4 people in total. Not only the difference in war potential was overwhelmingly lopsided. The opponent wining condition was only to detain them and let that Pawn escape.
The battle situation was essentially the worst case possible.
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