Episode 71 — True Face of Ice, Mask of Fire, Contradiction
～ Part 1 ～
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Two students of 2nd year class 4 had been captured.
That information immediately arrived at the King’s castle, at the same time, it was also transmitted to Kogane. In a fluster, Kogane haphazardly questioned the Pawns, but naturally, they didn’t know the details. Finally, he was before Akeno’s room.
Originally, with her Bishop post, Akeno was supposed to act in a two-man cell with another Knight class vampire. But after Suou lost his life, they couldn’t refill the Knight post, so mostly never sortieing, she devoted herself to research in her room.
When he violently opened the door, Akeno glanced at him, then again returned her gaze to the suspicious flasks lined up on the desk.
“Akeno-san, I heard some of my classmates are caught…”
“That’s correct. On the New Continent, two of them, an arachne and a roper. I heard they’re already being transported over here.”
Akeno muttered in a flat tone.
It’s Kumosaki and Shokuzura. Kogane gasped. Finally, a student other than himself had been caught by the blood clan. At the point of the class got scattered, he had to have expected that this kind of damage would appear.
To be frank, Kogane feared meeting them. Nearly 2 months had already passed since he left the class, the situation had changed considerably. There is already no more place for me in that class, is there? He even thought so. It’s a fact that he started to feel hesitant about returning.
But it would be different for Kumosaki and Shokuzura. Should he rather take them and flee this castle?
Awaken to Phase 2, Kogane had already grown strong enough to take on vampires with room to spare, if it’s against Pawn class of course. Currently, the castle’s war potential was shorthanded. It might not be impossible for Kogane to guide Kumosaki group and broke out as soon as they arrived.
However, thought Kogane. The ones captured by the blood clan wouldn’t necessarily end with just those two. Presently, his classmates had gotten all scattered. He had heard that one of the (2) Rooks took along a unit and headed for Pirika Southern Kingdom. Perhaps, someone was going to get captured again.
As Kogane was thinking, before his eyes, Akeno took off her white robe and started some kind of preparation.
“Akeno-san, where are you going…?”
“Zelga Gladiatorial Principality.”
Perhaps, another of his classmate’s whereabouts had been determined and she started mobilizing, even Kogane could understand that.
“While my reason still function properly, I’ll try not to kill them.”
“–…!”
Whether he liked it or not, those words thrusted the truth that Kogane didn’t wanted to accept before him.
Washio has died. And chances are that someone else is going to die again.
What should he do at this point? He could follow Akeno now and fight her in order to protect the other classmates. But in that case, what kind of fate would greet Kumosaki and Shokuzura who were being transported to this castle?
In the first place, would Kumosaki and Shokuzura believe him?
Kogane hadn’t forgotten how he treated them. Thinking about that, it didn’t seem like something he could recover anymore.
While it’s true that there was no place for him in the vampires’ castle.
That doesn’t mean there was a place in the class for him to return to.
He had already long understood that it was no longer a place he could just brazenly, carefreely return anymore.
“…If that’s the case, what I’m going to do is decided, isn’t it?”
A faintly brutal smile appeared on Kogane’s face. In the end, it might be just that he couldn’t make a decision until just now. Still, what Kogane could do here was as good as decided from the start.
With the new information about the capture of 2 of his classmates, Kogane Yoshiki had made up his determination.
Morning. Stuffing their stomach with the grilled clams, nuts and others leftovers from last night, Kyousuke and the others started preparing for exploration. As according to his idea, Kyousuke was going to explore along the coast together with Yukinoshita.
Before the departure, Rin came pestering him so they joke around just a little bit. There’s nothing to worry about, I’m not going to have feelings for Yukinoshita, or some other speeches he thought to tell her, but it would be embarrassing if it was just his misunderstanding, so he decided to stop it.
“Me, alone with group leader? What’s this!? What are you scheming, group leader!?”
When the exploration started, Yukinoshita made a fuss in an absurdly loud voice.
“I thought group leader has Himemizu-san!? Or are you changing your target!?”
“No, that’s not it!”
To come at me this positively from the start, this will be very difficult. While scratching his head, Kyousuke proceeded along the coast.
Kyousuke was carrying the magic sword he stole from the adventurers. It was still unclear what sort of effect the demon bones dangling on his left arm was going to have, but his combat ability should have increased since last time. Nonetheless, he was still anxious if lesser demons or something came out, so they were proceeding as careful as possible.
“But there’s a proper reason why it’s just the 2 of us. As the group leader, I want to properly have a 1-on-1 interview.”
“Hou hou!”
“Since I don’t know much about our classmates.”
“I see! Trying to know is a good thing!”
Arms crossed, Yukinoshita was nodding.
As I thought, this is difficult. How much of this tension is the real deal, how much is it fake? If I suddenly stab at the core of the matter and say something like «Ah, you must be making a character.», she’ll get vigilance in one go and it would be game over isn’t it? No, it’s not like I’m playing love simulation games or anything.
“Now, please ask me anything!”
Yukinoshita hit her chest, ∗ban∗, and said.
Summer beach and a snow woman. A very elegant scene. Only, now wasn’t the to immersed in that elegance. Kyousuke stabbed the magic sword on the beach, thinking. Seeing that Kyousuke started thinking, Yukinoshita walked toward the shore. She kicked the surging wave, turning it into ice pebbles scattering in the air.
Now, what should I say? Kyousuke understood well his case. But what would be the correct way to knock down an opponent who had this kind of distorted mentality? Even when knowing about his own case, Kyousuke still didn’t understand well.
∗Basha basha∗, Yukinoshita kicked the seawater, changing it to ices.
In the end, after much worrying, Kyousuke decided a frontal assault.
“Yukinoshita, anyone of us has a reason for the monster we reincarnated as.”
∗Basha∗. Yukinoshita’s feet stopped.
“Seems so. Was it ‘our complex materializing’?”
“It’s not limited to just complex, but that’s right. I’m a skeleton because I have no substance, Rin’s a slime because she’s flexible. For Ryuzaki and Kogane, I think it’s their high pride being reflected, Akira looks cool but his nature is a hot blooded man.”
Not that he had a complete understanding of the class, but there were several others that came to mind.
Mitarai Azuki for example, is a very easy to understand case. Kuremori as well, his present appearance is one that fully reflected his hobby. Goubayashi is too conscious of the violent being and impulse within himself so he got that appearance. Sakuma is, well. Sakuma is, well, yeah.
“Yukinoshita, why did you become a snow woman?”
“……”
That moment, Yukinoshita sent her gaze over her shoulder. The ice crystal-like blue eyes carried a shivering cold color. Cold chill wrapped the atmosphere, increasing its weight. The waves advancing on her feet froze in its moment.
“I am a pessimist, aren’t I?”
Surprisingly easily, Yukinoshita admitted that fact.
“That’s how it is, is it not? I thought.”
“Yukinoshita…”
“Actually, I understand. No, I want to understand. Dreams and ideals are wonderful, is it not? I want to be passionate, I wish I could, but I can’t be after all.”
Yukinoshita turned her body around, a resigned smile floated on her mouth. She softly sat down on top of the frozen wave.
“Utsurogi-kun, do you think we can return to our world? Do you think we can cross this sea without any accidents? Everyone will safely gather in one place, do you think that kind of miracle will happen?”
“Ah…”
“No way.”
Before Kyousuke could say anything, Yukinoshita flatly said.
“You can’t overcome reality with only dreams and ideals, can you? I have always thought it’s impossible. Even you Utsurogi-kun, you must have thought so in the bottom of your heart, don’t you?”
It felt like she hit the bullseye. Kyousuke didn’t talk back.
I hope we can return hope, he thought, but that didn’t connect to conviction. The possibility was exceedingly low. As much as everyone united and tried to grope for a mean to return, the wall of reality would stand in their way.
Even if he did manage to protect everyone in front of him now, he didn’t know what would happen to the comrades they had already lost sight of. There’s a limit to how much you can cope with dreams and ideals.
“Maybe you’re right.”
Kyousuke nodded.
“Not just me. I think even someone like Ryuzaki would think so. Everyone is anxious. And then, to let that anxiety out on the surface, is probably not a bad thing. If that’s what you’re truly thinking.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Eh, no, there’s no particular double meaning though?”
With Kyousuke’s words, Yukinoshita’s looks sharpened.
If Yukinoshita was a pessimist, there was no need for her to forcibly put on a hot-blooded mask. He felt that a backlash would come someday. Effort and willpower are certainly important, but there’s no need to say things you don’t believe from the bottom of your heart.
So explained Kyousuke.
“……”
Still crossing her arms, Yukinoshita stood up from the frozen wave.
“Ne~. Utsurogi-kun, I guess you also don’t think we can return. Why can you be so calm? Utsurogi-kun, you’re lying, aren’t you? Just like me, you’ve been acting, aren’t you? How can you tell me to stop?”
“I didn’t particularly mean I don’t think we can return though.”
“You don’t? Didn’t you admit it just not?”
She was obviously irritated. Contrary to the hot blooded mask, there was another emotion within her true face encased in ice. In the class, she always had a beaming smile, swung her fist and recited spiritualism, but here stood Yukinoshita with an expression one can’t even imagine from her usual self.
How should I explain it? Kyousuke scratched his head. This is splendidly difficult.
“Certainly, I’m anxious. The possibility is incredibly thin. However, I, err…”
“Sorry.”
While showing a gesture like tearing her own bangs, Yukinoshita said in a cold voice.
“I’m getting irritated. First, let’s just speak your conclusion.”
“I don’t want to give up.”
In the end, all of Kyousuke’s actions could be summarized with that.
If it’s the only choice, then there’s nothing but to do it. What negative words. However, it was because Kyousuke didn’t want to give up that he saved Azuki, saved Karasuma, Yukinoshita and the others. Surely, even Ryuzaki and the others would be the same. Kyousuke was an idealist, but never was he an optimist. He acknowledged the tragic future and the pessimistic guesses and pursued his ideals on top of that.
“Reaching out your hand doesn’t always mean you can get to someone, but still,”
While gazing at the demon right arm bone, Kyousuke muttered.
“Still, I want to reach out my hand within the range I can reach.”
“The arm Utsurogi-kun reached out like that was blown off, didn’t it? Like an idiot.”
“Like I said, If Yukinoshita think so, then that’s fine.”
Finally, he shrugged.
“I also think I’m an idiot, but I’m not going to do anything unreasonable anymore. Giving up, not reaching out my hand, those are much more «unreasonable» for me.”
“I can’t consent…!”
Grinding her teeth, Yukinoshita shouted.
“In the end, what Utsurogi-kun is saying is only idealistic and spiritualistic! It’s no different from what I’m saying on the surface! There’s no way you’re seriously thinking you can save the world with love and courage, is there!?”
“But, isn’t it good if you can save the world with love and courage?”
“That kind of things is only whitewashing! The world is more cruel!”
“But most people in this world are trying hard to fulfill those ideals and whitewashing.”
It’s not like I want to preach or anything, said Kyousuke.
“Yukinoshita, do you want to make me give up? Or do you want to convince yourself? Which is it? I know what I’m saying is whitewashing, I also know that the world is cruel. Otherwise, Washio wouldn’t have died.”
“I…!”
Yukinoshita Suzuka finally clenched her fist tightly and casted down her eyes.
“I can’t understand. People like Utsurogi-kun, Ryuzaki-kun and Himemizu-san…. I thought it would be nice if I can live like that, but I can’t.”
“Then, the one you want to convince is you yourself, Yukinoshita.”
At that time, Kyousuke noticed the contradictory conflict Yukinoshita held.
Yukinoshita Suzuka was never just a pessimist who only put on a hot-blooded mask. As she had said at first, she did feel like trying to believe in dreams and ideals. She wanted to be like that and piled up words that seemed like it, but because her cool nature coldly whispered to her, her words would always became lighter.
For Yukinoshita, the way she had acted until now might have been the ideal form for her. But for Yukinoshita, love and courage are illusions, dreams and ideals would eventually fade into oblivion.
“Yukinoshita, let’s make a bet with me.”
In that case, Kyousuke thought and started talking.
“Bet?”
“Yes. Suppose we can go from this continent till Werneus with all of us, you’ll try believing in what I and Ryuzaki are doing … how about it?”
“……”
She intently stared back at Kyousuke with eyes transparent like ice. Inclining her head, her looks seemed to say that she heard something really strange for the first time. But the snow woman who had just revealed her cold-headed nature, «Fu–» leaked a small laughter and said this:
“Not a chance.”
“Ehh…”
To be continued…
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