As I hesitated, she continued.
“Wouldn’t you like to set off fireworks? On the grandest stage—something that’ll overshadow even [Nega Messiah].”
“…………Outdo them?”
“Exactly.”
The recent incident where rampaged through the shopping mall remains fresh in memory.
To my irritation, their influence as the largest antisocial faction is substantial.
I had considered staging another performance soon, but accounting for their notoriety, I decided against it.
And at that very moment—an invitation from one of the world’s foremost merchants of death.
“……Your objective. And the specifics.”
“My, what a pleasant surprise. Such swift judgment—most impressive.”
Of course.
Otherwise, one couldn’t possibly commit murder so many times.
If they can be killed—kill them.
If they can’t—don’t.
——And that applies just as well to the wealthy merchant before me.
“I’ll pass.”
“…………”
Her cold, expressionless beauty feels like a nail being driven into me.
As I withdraw the faint killing intent I’d let slip, the Noh mask-like face regains its smile.
“Splendid. Quick judgment is akin to business acumen. The objective can wait—”
She extends a hand forward.
The realization that she expects a handshake surprises me.
To think there exists someone willing to clasp this filthy hand.
“The task is simple. Accompany me to the 10th Branch of as my escort. And then—”
“Set off fireworks to your heart’s content.”
The corners of my mouth lift unbidden.
By the time I realize it, I’ve already taken her hand in mine.
——Watching the setting sun always makes my chest feel light.
There’s something profoundly moving about the most conspicuous thing in the world disappearing.
Savoring that thought, the petite woman spreads her arms atop the rooftop of this city’s symbol—the 10th Branch of .
“Dusk approaches… Come, now… keeheehee!”
The woman in the suit who had been acting as Roselia’s escort until moments ago laughs eerily.
Her alias in the underworld is .
A woman who has left behind thirteen mutilated corpses, slipping through the grasp of the Exousia Winged Guardians as if mocking their investigations.
Her Talent Lux is .
A talent that has allowed her to hunt unnoticed and evade justice time and again.
The hour of the twilight.
The sun falls, and the shadows stretch their domain.
No light will be lit within the castle of justice tonight.
“Now then—let the performance begin.”
With an echoing chuckle, melts into the darkness.
◇◇◇◇◇
“Alright, everyone! Time to head back to the [Star Tower]~!”
“Okay~!” comes the cheerful reply.
Dragged back to reality by the voices, I turn to see the leading sister placing a hand on the door, tilting her head in puzzlement.
“Huh…? That’s weird… This door’s supposed to have biometric locks that open when one of the Excia—places their hand on it, but…”
As the sister pushed against the door with all her might, the surrounding angels began to move closer—
just as a shadow flickered in my peripheral vision from the very back of the group.
“────”
The Excia stood protectively around the children, her gaze fixed on the door.
From the long shadow stretching at her feet, a slippery arm emerged—
Like a leaping dolphin.
In an instant, a petite woman in a suit lunged forward.
Before the Excia could even turn to sense her presence, the blade was already at her back—
—《Separation》.
Activating my talent Lux, I shouted:
“Enemy attack!!”
An unfamiliar man’s voice, yet a familiar line.
The startled angels whirled around—
only to see their wounded comrade, a shallow cut across her back, and the shadow behind her.
That small stature, and above all, the unique signature of her Lux.
There was no way Excia wouldn’t know her.
And I knew her just as well.
The final boss of Chapter 1 of Watayume The Dream I Saw—
“[Izayoi]!?”
The woman herself tilted her head, puzzled by the lack of resistance from her knife. But once she realized she had drawn the attention of everyone present—
“……Heh.”
She let out a short, chilling laugh—and melted back into the shadows.
Instantly, the atmosphere shifted.
“Kyaaaaaaaah!!!!”
“W-What!? What’s happening!?”
The sight of their heroic Excia bleeding sent the children into a panic.
“Everyone! Stay calm! It’s okay!!”
The surrounding angels tried to reassure them, but their voices were drowned out.
The angels near the front rushed to the door—
“It still won’t open!? Why…!?”
“The power’s… out…?”
“No way…”
From their frantic exchange, it seemed the electrical systems had failed.
Was it just here—or the entire branch?
Either way, their panic was a fatal mistake.
The children, sensing the growing tension, screamed even louder.
I was just about to think of a solution when—
The shadow of Tsukumo, standing beside me, twitched.
Normally, I’d have used my Lux to deal with it.
But the fact that those I needed to protect were within arm’s reach worked against me.
“……Tsukumo!!”
I yanked her into a protective embrace—
And in that instant, the price of my reckless action began to take effect.
[Contact].
I realized too late that 《Separation》 would now be unusable.
Regret flashed through my mind like a dying light.
—Please… just let it not hit anything vital…!
That desperate, almost prayer-like wish—
Was answered by an angel.
“────”
A fierce gust of wind roared past my ears, followed by the sound of something crashing in the distance.
And then—
“Hey.”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
—Hey.
—
A bone-chilling whisper.
I turned—
To see [Izayoi] slammed against the [Moon] door.
And right in front of me, the fluttering white coat of an angelic uniform.
“You… just now, whose back were you trying to stab?”
The fastest angel. And my Oshi.
Even though her words weren’t directed at me, the sheer fury in her voice sent a primal shiver down my spine.
Her rage was unmistakable.
The protagonist of the original story—Hinata Soehi is now saying
“Hey, look, don’t sleep, answer me. ……?
”Without a doubt, she was now absolutely livid.
♢♢♢♢♢
Hinata-chan was furious.
I’d never seen her this angry, not even in [Watayume].
As I stared in shock, she suddenly turned back to me.
“Onii-san! Are you hurt!?”
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
I smiled, touched by her concern—but then snapped back to reality.
“More importantly—look ahead!”
“……!”
By the time Hinata-chan turned—
“Heh… hehehe…”
[Izayoi] was already sinking back into the shadows.
……Yeah, no way this ends here.
I quickly scanned the area—the other angels had already switched from their sister outfits to combat uniforms.
The children stared in awe at Hinata-chan, who had just sent the enemy flying with a single blow.
—As expected of the protagonist.
In one move, she’d calmed both the Exias and the children.
The angels swiftly formed a defensive perimeter around the kids.
Silence.
No one dared move—everyone was braced for the next attack.
“…………”
While the angels kept their eyes trained on every shadowed corner, I looked outside.
Beyond the overpass, on the opposite [Sky Corridor]—
There was Isana-san and her patron group.
How would they handle the locked door…? Wait—
“Whoa… She just smashed it open…”
One of the angels had swung a massive hammer, obliterating the door to the [Star Tower] and charging inside.
Isana-san and the others followed.
……So that’s an option.
“────”
But while everyone else was looking at the ground—
I was the only one who noticed.
The ceiling of the corridor.
It was covered in shadows.
“Agh—”
Before I could even yell “Above!”—
“—Boo.”
Right above the huddled children—
The murderer dropped from the ceiling.
The exact opposite of where the angels were watching.
Completely outmaneuvered, they couldn’t react in time.
“Heheh.”
[Izayoi] raised both daggers high—only to jerk her head up at the last second.
Reflected in her hollow, crazed eyes—
A longsword, inches from her face.
Utsurugi Rui.
Only her Silver Flash unit had broken formation, positioning themselves above the children to intercept the ambush.
—Got her!
Midair, with no way to dodge—
Or so I thought.
Visit the request page If there’s a Japanese Light Novel (LN) or Web Novel (WN) you’d like me to translate
When the donation goal progress bar above hit 100% one novel will be chosen for translation
| Table of Contents | Next* |
Support the Author by Buying the Original Books!
