• yuki yuna6

    Chapter 6 - A lotus blossoming through dirt

     

    Chapter 6 - A lotus blossoming through dirt

    Today, again, the thirty-two girls were standing atop the wall.

    "It really is the middle of winter... The air is cold. And that's despite the scorching hellscape outside of the barrier... Well, not that the seasons change our duty in any way".

    Starting with Mebuki, the girls started putting on their combat suits and headed outside the wall.

    This story is not of flowers blooming in splendour, but that of nameless weeds.

    And a record of how a girl who yearned for the title of a "Hero" aimed to become a true one...

    |=================|

    Divine Era year 300, late autumn. Having successfully planted a seed outside the barrier and established a bridgehead, the Sentinels were waiting for their next assignment. But none could have predicted the news that came.

    "Fire Offering Festival?.."

    Puzzled expressions started appearing on the faces of the Sentinels gathered at the Gold Tower's viewing platform after the priestess uttered those unfamiliar words.

    A festival of offering to the fire. This duty would not be shouldered by the Sentinels, but by the Mikos.

    They had no idea what kind of festival it would be, but for the Sentinels the word "fire" was deeply associated with the world outside. Unease started swirling in Mebuki's heart.

    Aya was standing next to the priestess. Her head was pointed down, and her expression wasn't visible.

    "W-When you say festival you mean like, the one with stalls and fireworks, right?"

    Suzume forced a cheerful voice out of herself, but her words were immediately sunk by the heavy atmosphere around.

    "Of course you don't, sorry..."

    Suzume apologised and went silent.

    The priestess continued, her voice as devoid of emotion as ever.

    "The Fire Offering Festival was a ritual carried out around 300 years ago. Out of all the ceremonies conducted by the Taisha, it is one of the most grandiose ones in history - a ritual of begging the heavenly gods for forgiveness".

    Mebuki never expected to hear anything of the sort. Beg the heavenly gods for forgiveness? Was humanity not putting up a desperate struggle against them and fighting for that sake? Was that not the reason the Sentinels endured pain and danger, time and time again? But then why? How could this turn into them begging for forgiveness?

    The priestess carried on.

    "The effectiveness of this ceremony in appeasing the heavenly gods has been confirmed in the past. At the end of the Christian Era, after many of the Heroes had lost their lives and the attacks grew in intensity, mankind stood at the brink of extinction. But then the Festival was conducted, and humanity prayed for forgiveness. Humanity, Shinju-sama and the heavenly gods achieved reconciliation, and on the condition mankind was not to leave Shikoku, peace was granted to it".

    "Reconciliation?.. Are you saying humanity negotiated with the gods? But how?"

    Mebuki's question was met with an answer, devoid of any feeling.

    "Mikos were burned in the flames outside the barrier as sacrifices. That way, the pleads of humanity reached the heavenly gods".

    "Wha-!?"

    "Through their oracles, the Mikos possess an ability to understand Shinju-sama. But those oracles are, in the end, a one-way transmission. Conveying human will to Shinju-sama is no easy task. Let alone to the heavenly gods, much further away than it. And so the only way to convey human words to them... was sacrificing one's own life".

    "So they were just slaughtered!?"

    "That's right. And Kokudo-san has been selected to be one of the sacrifices in the Fire Offering Festival".

    Other Sentinels began to get riled up by the argument. But amidst the tension filling the room, Aya alone stayed silent, simply pointing her face down.

    (Sacrifice? Aya-chan? Into that fire?)

    What was that?

    What was that absurdity? That nonsense?

    The priestess' speech continued.

    "Through the Fire Offering Festival at the end of the Christian Era, forgiveness was granted to mankind, the Vertexes perished and humanity was permitted to survive inside the barrier surrounding Shikoku. However... After year 270 of the Divine Era, the Vertexes have again became visible outside the world. And at the end of year 298 they... began attacking again".

    The history of the world from the Christian Era until the present day. She continued telling it to the girls.

    Perhaps, had they held a Fire Offering Festival in DE 270, the current invasion of the Vertexes might have never occured. But there was no certainty in that. And there is no "if" in history.

    But the war of mankind against the heavenly gods was not an unexpected occurrence. Quite the opposite, the Taisha has sworn to someday take the world that was stolen from humanity back. And for that purpose, they continued updating the Hero System in secret.

    It took around 300 years.

    An immense amount of time and the efforts and blood of countless people have culminated in the Heroes finally possessing power equal to the Vertexes, or possibly even higher. And with that power, they intercepted the vanguard forces sent by the heavenly gods towards Shikoku.

    The previous Heroes: Washio Sumi, Nogi Sonoko, Minowa Gin.

    The current Heroes: Yuuki Yuuna, Tougou Mimori, Inubouzaki Fuu, Inubouzaki Itsuki, Miyoshi Karin.

    Their bonds and struggles have proved to the Taisha and Shinju-sama the capabilities human beings possess, and allowed a further upgrade of the Hero System.

    And then, they reached the present.

    The Taisha's goal has advanced past interception to the next stage. The new plan was... to reclaim Shikoku with everyone's strength.

    But how was that to be done?

    The plan the Taisha devised was a ritual of Kuni-zukuri. (Transfer of the land) The Shinju-sama was an agglomeration of the heavenly gods. And that ritual was linked to one of the gods who worshipped another at the sacred mountain in the former Kinki region.

    During the age of the gods, the ruler of the land gods did the same.

    "Go yonder, towards the mountain east of Yamato's Aogaki, and make a place of worship there". Thus the land became that of plentiful reeds and bountiful rice grains - Toyoashihara-no-mizuho-no-kuni.

    And so man has chosen to imitate the legends, and recreate what happened back then. Which is, to turn the land outside the barrier into "a land of plentiful reeds and bountiful rice grains". A form of sympathetic magic - this was the nature of the Kuni-zukuri ritual. The world outside Shikoku had its very logic rewritten by the heavenly gods and has become a sea of fire. In that case, rewriting it again through the Kuni-zukuri was a possibility.

    The voice of the priestess carried no feelings. Or perhaps, just like mixing of many colours results in a dirty grey, the emotions mixing inside her resulted in them all getting extinguished.

    "You Sentinels, as well, took part in preparations for the Kuni-zukuri and helped it proceed. One could even say they were proceeding smoothly. There was nothing to impede its progress apart from Stardust and incomplete Vertexes and the goal was already in sight... Or so it seemed". Their investigations of the soil and fires outside of the barrier were to establish the properties of the altered world and determine whether it was possible to revert them through the Kuni-zukuri.

    Their planting of the seed and establishment of a bridgehead was to create a path through which the deity could be transferred to the sacred mountain.

    All of that was for the sake of Kuni-zukuri.

    A part of the great plan to take back the world.

    "So something must've happened to interrupt it".

    The priestess nodded in response to Mebuki's question.

    "We miscalculated. The flames outside the barrier have grown stronger than ever before".

    Shock appeared on Mebuki's face.

    "Kusunoki-san and those who accompanied her, you should be able to understand. During your last mission, the heat of the flames exceeded the protective capabilities of the combat suits and resulted in you getting burns. If the fire keeps growing stronger, there is a possibility that it will engulf all of Shikoku, barrier notwithstanding".

    "Why... Did something like that happen?"

    "According to the oracles received by the Mikos, due to the fury of the heavenly gods. Because humanity continued to press forward with its plans of opposing them and because one of the current Heroes has breached Shinju-sama's wall. The wall surrounding Shikoku is not only a barrier protecting mankind - it is also a cage binding it to the pledge of "not leaving Shikoku" made during the Christian Era. And on top of breaking through that, mankind has continued to develop plans of opposing the heavenly gods in secrecy... And thus, incurred their wrath. And now, there are signs that heavenly gods themselves are about to manifest".

    In the Christian Era, the eradication of mankind was conducted by the vanguard force - the Vertexes. The heavenly gods themselves had never appeared.

    "What fools you are!"

    Miroku Yumiko shouted, her patience finally reaching its limits. She yelled directly at the priestess, clearly older than herself. That was the least she could do to express her anger at the Taisha's thoughtlessness.

    "Forget the ritual of Kuni-zukuri, you had not informed us of anything! One cannot help but be angered by that... But your most inexcusable doing is your sloppiness with your plans! The Heroes are fighting the Vertexes, the Sentinels are gloriously marching outside the barrier and you progress the ritual in haste... How could the enemy not be infuriated by that? Did it not strike you that plans are to be carried out meticulously!?"

    "Miroku Yumiko-san".

    Even under the verbal assault of the girl, the priestess' voice did not tremble.

    "From your standpoint, I'm certain it must look that way. But your way of thinking is one-sided. But from where we stand, the things look different. There was no way for us but to make haste... Shinju-sama's lifespan is much closer to its end than you can imagine".

    While prone to being foolhardy, Yumiko was a girl of wisdom. Saying nothing more, she went silent.

    "But even so, it is a fact that we Taisha went conceited and careless. Three hundred years have passed since humanity and the heavenly gods reconciled... And the long peace in our garden had us grow dull. The days of the horrible slaughter are a thing of days long past, the Hero system became powerful enough to allow destruction of the Vertexes... The true dread of opposing the heavens must have faded from our minds. We underestimated the gods. It is said that the Hero and Miko from the beginning of our era expected and feared that the Taisha would deteriorate... And I'm afraid that all is as they predicted".

    The viewing platform fell into deep silence.

    The Heroes could stand up against the Vertexes. But what was appearing this time were not Vertexes - it was heavenly gods themselves. The possibility of fighting them and being victorious... was unthinkably low.

    "The flames outside the barrier will keep growing in their intensity. At this rate, Shikoku will be engulfed in fire, together with the barrier... Right now, all we are capable of is begging the heavenly gods for their forgiveness and preserving this world".

    "And that's why you're going to sacrifice them?.."

    Mebuki stared at the priestess and asked.

    "That's right".

    Some of the Sentinels' heads fell, their shoulders trembling. Some glared at the priestess with animosity.

    It was unreasonable.

    It was far too unjust.

    Not a single of the girls making up the Sentinels could accept this.

    And so Mebuki, as their representative, raised her voice.

    "What is with this conclusion?.. We didn't go through so much pain just so it all could end like this!"

    "...This isn't the end".

    "Eh?"

    "The amount of data you have accumulated through your missions is enormous. It has allowed us to search for various ways out".

    "And one of those ways out is sacrificing people?"

    "Our thinking lies past the Fire Offering Festival".

    "Past... Past the Festival?.."

    Mebuki felt it clearly. The woman in front of her understood nothing. Nothing at all!

    "There's nothing past it! After you sacrifice someone, there's nothing left! It's not as if you're going to tell anyone what's going to happen after that, but hear this: no matter how your view of the future looks, there's no point in it! The moment you sacrifice even a single life, even if you have the most brilliant plan ever, it's a failure!"

    "...It's fine already, Mebuki-senpai. Thank you."

    The one to {stop} Mebuki was the Miko selected to be sacrificed.

    "I'm not against the Fire Offering Ceremony. I'm fine with it. I'm happy that I can be of use to Shinju-sama, to everyone. All the time until now, the Heroes and the Sentinels did their best. So now... it's our time to".

    Said Kokudo Aya with a smile.

    And after being told that the Fire Offering Festival will take place in a week, they were dispersed. After that, Aya left the Tower, accompanied by Taisha personnel.

    She was to become a sacrifice.

    They would not meet her again.

    Mebuki returned to her room, dumbfounded, and thrown her body onto her bed. Normally, she would begin training right after a meeting. But she had no will to do anything.

    She felt completely powerless.

    That feeling ceased her body so strongly she thought she would never be able to move again.

    (Was it for nothing... Again?..)

    Just like back then... When all of her earnestness and efforts to become a Hero were denied by a single word. All of her efforts were made pointless.

    As a Sentinel, she did everything she could to not let a single one of them die. And now, at the end of their missions, Aya was chosen to be sacrificed in the Fire Offering Ceremony. Everything she did was made pointless once again.

    (All of it... For nothing?)

    ...

    ......

    "Bullshit!.. I'm not done for yet!.."

    Mebuki clenched her teeth and moved, as is whipping her body that's grown heavy.

    She wouldn't let this end.

    The Festival was not yet held. Aya was not yet sacrificed.

    "It's not over yet! I won't let it be over!"

    Mebuki sprung up and left her room.

    "Suzume!"

    Mebuki flung open the door to Suzume's room and stormed in.

    "W-What?"

    "Come to the viewing platform, right now!"

    "Eh? O-Okay!"

    While startled by Mebuki's menacing look, Suzume immediately sprung to her feet.

    "Miroku-san!"

    Miroku was drinking black tea in her room.

    "What is it?"

    "Please come to the viewing platform!"

    "Certainly. I was already expecting you to make a move soon".

    "Shizuku!"

    "?.."

    Shizuku turned her head to Mebuki, who entered the room with a loud bang.

    "Come to the viewing platform".

    "..."

    Shizuku silently nodded.

    Calling on all of the Sentinels, she gathered all of them at the viewing platform.

    Standing before thirty-one other girls, Mebuki began her speech.

    "I cannot accept the Taisha's decision! What about you!?"

    The Sentinels started exchanging glances and murmuring. They weren't sure what answer to give.

    Then, Suzume raised her voice.

    "...Of c "...Of course I don't... Accept Ayaya being a sacrifice..."

    Suzume spoke with her head down, her voice soaked with frustration.

    "You know, when I just started being a Sentinel, Ayaya never made fun of me no matter how much I got scared or how pathetic I was. She told me how amazing I am just for taking up the duty of a Sentinel. She's a great girl! They can't sacrifice her! I won't allow it! ...But the Taisha already made the decision..."

    Yumiko started speaking.

    "I am the daughter of the formerly distinguished Miroku family. Few know the name of it now. And those that do speak of it in tones steeped in ridicule: "Aah, those Mirokus, huh". Especially those from noble families and affliated with the Taisha. But... Kokudo-san was different. She accepted the pride of the Miroku family... My pride... It is not acceptable for such a girl to be sacrificed".

    "...Kokudo is a good girl... Shouldn't die..."

    Mumbled out Shizuku.

    The rest of the girls began to speak up. They couldn't accept it. They pitied Aya. Why does that girl have to be sacrificed?

    The girl named Kokudo Aya was universally beloved by the Sentinels.

    Those who couldn't become Heroes. Those who were treated as disposable pieces by the Taisha. The girls whose worth was not recognised - the Sentinels.

    But Aya always treated them with sincerity. She recognised every single one of them and tried to share even the least bit of their burden. She cried, grieved and laughed with them. Her existence was a lifesaver for the Sentinels.

    And not a single one of them could accept her sacrifice.

    "In that case..."

    Mebuki glanced over the Sentinels and raised her voice further.

    "In that case, we have to come up with a plan to save Aya-chan! There's still a week until the Fire Offering Festival is conducted! There has to be a way! I won't stand for it! And neither will any of you, am I wrong!? I won't allow anyone in my squad to become a sacrifice!"

    Mebuki was stubborn.

    She didn't give up on becoming a Hero even after being rejected and transferred to being a Sentinel. And in her stubbornness, she could bring forth infinite resolve.

    And so, this time - she wouldn't give up either.

    The anger with the injustice of the world and the fury with the Taisha's heartlessness burned hot, moving Mebuki forward.

    And the girls in front of her responded to the word of their commander, as true to her nature as ever, with loud shouts of agreement.

    And so, the Sentinels talked through the night.

    "Maybe we should hide Aya-chan somewhere?"

    "Right, someone should kidnap her and run away with her or something".

    "That's out. In that case the Taisha will simply find a replacement for her. No one must be sacrificed, at all. Not Aya-chan, not anyone else".

    "Then we have to stop the Fire Offering Ceremony itself, right?"

    "And how d'ya think the heavenly gods are going to be calmed down then?"

    "We must simply take the heavenly gods down ourselves!"

    "Nopenopenope, no way, we'll totally die".

    "Can't there be some sort of ritual that has the same effect as the Fire Offering Ceremony, but without the sacrifices?"

    "If the Taisha, specialists on the divine, didn't find anything, how are we going to?"

    "The chances are low, but there's no other way, right?"

    "Are there any books? How are we going to look for info anyway?"

    "I reckon the only ones who'd know 'bout that stuff would be the priests and Mikos".

    "The priests are all Taisha's pawns, they're not gonna help us".

    "What about Mikos? Other than Aya-chan?"

    "Can we even get in contact with them?"

    No matter how much they talked about it, they couldn't find a working solution. And in the first place, if there was an easy way out, the Taisha would've probably used it already. But the girls couldn't give up. And so they kept groping in the dark for possibilities.

    As the fruitless discussion went on, the dawn broke. Mebuki got called to the priestess' room. She assumed that she'd be told to stop the Sentinels' pointless struggle, but the reason was entirely different.

    "We want you to retrieve the seed that you have planted outside the barrier last time".

    "Retrieve? But why?"

    If they took it back, wouldn't the sprouted greenery be engulfed in flame again?

    "That seed is a crystallisation of Shinju-sama's blessings. If it's retrieved and returned, a portion of Shinju-sama's power will return. With the Kuni-zukuri project suspended, there is no reason for it to remain outside the barrier. Shinju-sama's power is what allows humans to live and supports the barrier that protects against the flames. Not even the least bit of it can be wasted.

    ...Wasted. So that mission was for nothing, too.

    And so, the Sentinels headed outside the barrier.

    "In the days long past, there used to be a prison in a certain country where the people were made to dig holes in the morning and fill them back in in the afternoon".

    "Dig holes and them fill them in? What's the point in that?"

    Suzume made a confused face.

    "Precisely, there is none. It was forced labour simply for the purpose of wearing out one's mind and body. And the situation we find ourselves in now is not far off".

    Pointless.

    Meaningless.

    Futile.

    Mebuki let out a sigh.

    (Maybe it all... Really is...)

    Their search for a way to rescue Aya will probably end in nothing, after all.

    There's no way they could find a method the Taisha somehow overlooked in just a week. Thinking rationally, the outcome was clear as day. Their struggles were in vain.

    But even so, Mebuki wouldn't give up.

    Even knowing the futility of it, she would keep putting up a struggle.

    (It's hot...)

    Mebuki wiped the sweat pouring down her forehead.

    The heat was even stronger than on their last mission.

    Mebuki could feel the ire of the heavenly gods burn, quite literally, hotter with her own body.

    The Stardust increased in number as well. A group of them headed towards the Sentinels and was drawing closer.

    "Gunner squad, take aim! Fire!"

    The approaching Stardust were greeted by a fusillade from the Sentinels.

    This might have been a pointless mission of digging a hole and filling it up for them, but that changed nothing for the enemy. To return without a single casualty, they had to proceed with caution.

    Since the spot the seed was planted was not too far away, the growing heat didn't pose a significant issue.

    In the midst of the blazing wasteland stood an oasis of greenery. The flames near its edges gradually scorched the plants in the green patch, and, let alone, would likely eventually consume it entirely. Mebuki headed towards the center, dug out the buried seed and placed it inside her kagami. Immediately afterwards, the plants went ablaze and the land quickly returned to being scorched and barren.

    "Well, we're done here, so let's turn ba-"

    "T-T-T-They’re hereee~!! Save me, Mebuu~~~~!!"

    Suzume's shriek interrupted Mebuki's words.

    She turned around. Her eyes widened.

    They weren't careless. With their frail equipment, the Sentinels were always prepared for danger. They had to be.

    But this situation was not something anyone could have expected. Not an appearance of three Vertexes at once.

    Bearing an organ shaped like a white sash and with a swollen lower part - the Virgo Vertex.

    The figure possessing four leg-shaped attachments - the Capricorn Vertex.

    With three blue fins on its bottom and a semicircular rod around it- the Pisces Vertex.

    Strictly speaking, they were not true Vertexes, but incomplete versions lacking a core. But even so, they were an enemy that could wipe out the Sentinel squad on their own. And there was 3 of them.

    "What do we do!? What do we do!?"

    "What do you think!? Run, of course!"

    The seed was already retrieved. All they had to do was return.

    "Everyone, retreat! Don't even think about attacking them, just run with all your strength!"

    The Sentinels rushed towards the wall.

    Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces. A small mercy in this misfortune was the fact neither of them possessed a destructive swift long-ranged attack like Sagittarius or a guaranteed kill attack like Scorpio.

    They weren't that far from the wall.

    They could make it.

    They must make it

    They had to end this with no casualties.

    Mebuki, in the squad's rear guard, repeated those words in her mind as if a prayer.

    The next moment, the earth started shaking with overwhelming power.

    "Me-Me-Me-Me-Mebu~!? W-W-W-W-What's going o-o-on!?"

    Screamed Suzume, her voice shaking as fiercely as the ground.

    Mebuki turned around.

    The Capricorn Vertex has thrust its four leg-like appendages into the ground. That was one of its methods of attacking - an earthquake.

    (This is bad! Forget running, with this shaking we won't even be able to leap back!)

    The ground's tremors reduced the Sentinels' speed to a crawl.

    It became distant. The barrier that felt close by suddenly seemed out of reach.

    "Gunner squad, take aim at Capricorn! Fire!"

    The Sentinels bearing rifles stopped still and pointed their muzzles at Capricorn. Without inflicting damage on it and stopping the ground from shaking, they wouldn't be able to run away.

    The twenty four Sentinels, Mebuki included, released a volley of gunshots. But only one or two reached their mark, with the rest veering off into the distance. It was impossible to accurately aim with the ground in such frenzied tremoring. And just one or two shots were not enough to damage Capricorn in to any degree. The earth kept shaking.

    "The guns aren't going to cut it! I'll carve him up directly!"

    "SHIZUKU!? You won't even get to Capricorn with this shaking! It's too dangerous!"

    "No, I can do it!"

    A confident smile appeared on SHIZUKU's face.

    "You beat me. And I promised to obey you. So your goals are my goals. We've gotta make it out of this with zero casualties, right?"

    "SHIZUKU..."

    "Uuuuoooooohhh!"

    SHIZUKU kicked away. Just as she said, she rushed towards it with impressive speed even amidst the ground quaking. To Mebuki, the sight felt deeply admirable.

    If Mebuki's powers were fruits of her diligent training, then SHIZUKU was a prodigy, born with excellent instincts. She could adapt to all sorts of situations and find the right way to deal with them.

    Accommodating her body to the shaking of the ground due to her well-developed sense of balance, she kept proceeding forward step by step. That way, SHIZUKU was able to reduce the influence of the shaking on her speed to minimum. But even so, running full force in an earthquake was pretty much impossible, just like running on the water surface without sinking. But she did it.

    SHIZUKU, dashing through the quaking earth, finally reached Capricorn.

    "Got your legs!"

    She slashed at a thin part of one of its leg-like appendages with her bayonet. One slash didn't work, and so she continued slashing away at it until it finally cut off.

    Having lost one of its legs, Capricorn lost its balance and fell. At the same time the ground finally stopped.

    "How do you like that, hu-"

    SHIZUKU's words were stopped by a white sash that sent her flying.

    Capricorn wasn't the only Vertex around. Virgo made it clear that it was also here with that attack.

    To follow up, Virgo shot out egg-shaped bombs at SHIZUKU who was falling through the air.

    "Kuh!"

    SHIZUKU readied her gun in midair and made a shot at the bomb flying towards her. The bomb detonated, sparing her the direct hit, but the explosion threw her onto the ground. Not being able to get into a proper position, she crashed onto the wasteland.

    Not even giving her a moment of time, Virgo mercilessly shot out more bombs at her. Not a single one, but a dozen of them. The Sentinels' battle suit defense could not withstand those explosions. If they made it, SHIZUKU would die.

    (Guess that's it... But that's not bad.)

    The thought raced through SHIZUKU's mind as she stared at the approaching bombs.

    She managed to stop Capricorn's earthquake. That should let the rest of the Sentinels to get away safely. If she died, then Mebuki's principle of no casualties would break, but the damage was still reduced to minimum.

    (Counting on you, Kusunoki. Get the rest of the squad inside the barrier. You oughtta be able to.)

    With death staring her closely in the face, memories of the past started appearing in her head. SHIZUKU and Shizuku were one and whole, so their memories were shared between the two. And most of those memories were those after she came to the Tower.

    Her family circumstances were bad, so there were no happy memories of it to appear. She had no friends at school, so there were barely any memories of it either. But after she came to the Gold Tower...

    She got Suzume and Yumiko, her noisy friends. Even though Shizuku wasn't particularly talkative, just being around them was enjoyable and pleasant.

    She got Aya, her kind friend. Without making fun of her for her quiet personality, she was always considerate to her.

    And she also got Mebuki, who accepted the violent and free-willed SHIZUKU right on, becoming the first equal friend to her. When they fought, SHIZUKU didn't consider Mebuki appropriate to be a Hero, but it wasn't as if she disliked Mebuki herself.

    For Shizuku and SHIZUKU, they were important people. She felt fine with dying herself if it allowed them to live.

    But there was one regret still lingering within her.

    (My bad, Shizuku. I was born to protect you, and in the end you're gonna die because of me...)

    But it was not to be. B

    "Shizuku-san!"

    With a shout, Miroku Yumiko thrust herself between SHIZUKU and the bombs. She cut down several of them, but there was too many.

    "Miroku!"

    SHIZUKU let out a scream as several of those bombs hit Yumiko. Since she became a shield, not a single one of the attacks got to SHIZUKU. But in return, Yumiko bore the full brunt of them. Sent flying by the explosions, she collapsed onto the ground like a tattered rag. An immense amount of blood was flowing out of the cracks in her battle suit.

    Perhaps because of how heavy her injuries were, Yumiko didn't even feel pain. She just couldn't move, paralysed. Not even she herself could understand how heavy her injuries under the suit were. Her skin must have been torn, her flesh rent and her internal organs broken.

    "Miroku!"

    "Miroku-san!"

    SHIZUKU and Mebuki rushed to Yumiko's side.

    Virgo swung its sash, aiming to sweep the three of them down. The girls raised Yumiko and leapt back, evading the attack.

    "What are you even doing!?"

    Mebuki yelled at Yumiko.

    Yumiko was barely holding to her consciousness. Even speaking was painful for her, so she had to make pauses.

    "We have to... Accomplish this with no casualties... Don't we?.. So Shizuku-san... Cannot die either..."

    Yumiko coughed up blood. She couldn't even speak anymore. Mebuki and SHIZUKU supported her as they ran towards the wall.

    With the earthquake gone, nothing impeded their retreat anymore. But Yumiko's injuries were too heavy. It wasn't clear whether or not she could be saved even if they made it back.

    But even so, Yumiko had no regrets. If she were to die here, her goal of raising her family's prestige by accomplishing the Taisha's ordeals would be left unfulfilled. They would gain some praise for having their daughter nobly sacrifice her life to save her comrades, but that would still be a far cry from the level of the Akamine family.

    But even so, Yumiko had no regrets. Certainly, for her returning the Miroku family to its former glory was an important goal. One she would consider giving her life up for. But there was something more important. More important than her family's glory. More important than her own life. It was her way of life as the heiress of the Miroku family. Her sense of duty as a descendant of the legends who saved countless people in the past. And so, Yumiko would protect others. No matter what.

    And so, she had no regrets.

    (I suppose that... is where me and Mebuki-san were similar...)

    Mebuki, who resolved not to let anyone die.

    Yumiko, who resolved to protect other people.

    Yumiko might have pecked at Mebuki often, but the direction they were heading was the same. And that's why, despite not getting along that well, the two were close to each other.

    "Mebuki...san... Become a Hero... That way... The Miroku family... That was nearby... Will remain, too..."

    Yumiko lost her consciousness. She wasn't certain if she could say what she wanted properly.

    With the ground's tremors stopped, the squad returned to its normal speed. With the officer-type Sentinels at lead, they advanced sufficiently towards the wall. Around 300 meters behind the main force, Mebuki and SHIZUKU were carrying Yumiko back.

    "Don't just entrust me with things on your own!.."

    What does she mean, become a Hero? What does she mean, remain?

    "Who said I'm going to bother carrying your dream too? Fulfill your dream on your own, Miroku-san! I won't allow you to just die like that!"

    Mebuki screamed, but Yumiko gave no answer. She has completely fainted.

    With the quaking stopped, the obstacles that remained on their way back were the groups of Stardust, Virgo's bombs and its sash. The first two could be countered by gunshots. The attack of the sash was rough and imprecise, and thus evadable. And so, returning wasn't a huge problem anymore...

    That way of thinking was too rash.

    The ground swelled up under the legs of the retreating girls, and the head of a giant blue monstrosity appeared from it.

    "Pisces!.."

    Just like fish can swim through water, Pisces was able to freely swim through the ground. Appearing from below, it blocked their way of retreat with its massive body.

    In front of them, Pisces. Behind them, Virgo and Capricorn. They reached a dead end. Virgo spared no time sending bombs towards the three girls who had lost their path of retreat.

    "Mebuuuuuu~!"

    With a scream, Suzume leapt in. Expanding her shield, she guarded the three from the explosions.

    "What are you doing, Mebu!? You can't die here!"

    Suzume's face was a wet mess. There was no need for her to return. It would be safer to keep retreating with the rest. But she came back to where the Vertexes were, mustering all of her bravery.

    "Suzume, you're just in time!"

    Mebuki had Suzume take support of Yumiko.

    "Suzume, SHIZUKU, take Miroku-san with you".

    "Eh?"

    "Oi, Kusunoki. What are you planning to do?"

    "You two, just focus on taking Miroku-san to safety as fast as you can! Her injuries are grave".

    "I asked what you were planning to do, damn it!"

    "I'm going to carve open a path of retreat. I'll protect everyone. So I'm leaving her to you two!"

    Mebuki took her own rifle in the right hand, and Yumiko's rifle in the left.

    Dual wielding.

    Back then, Mebuki practiced the dual wielding style along with Miyoshi Karin. And her scores were also at the top. The way of fighting with two weapons in one hand was carved into her mind.

    "The agglomeration of the gods, Shinju... The messengers of the gods, the Vertexes... The world changed by the gods, the world protected by the gods... I've had enough already".

    Mebuki readied the two rifles.

    "What makes you damn gods think you can hurt people? What makes you think you can kill us!?"

    Leaping from the blazing ground, Mebuki flew towards Pisces. What moved Mebuki was anger. At the gods that stole away the humans' world. At the Vertexes that kept attempting to kill them. At herself, who was unable to protect her friends from getting hurt. At the Taisha, who were willing to sacrifice other people to beg the gods for forgiveness. At the wretched world where a girl heading towards her death smiled and said she was happy to be a sacrifice.

    Her anger was directed at many things.

    Brandishing the two rifles, Mebuki cut off one of Pisces' fins. Through her combat experience, she understood that the Vertexes were not impervious to attacks. Grotesque as they might have been, they still had weak spots. If struck there, they would receive damage even from the Sentinels' weaker weapons.

    "Don't underestimate mankind! Don't get in our way, you damn messengers of the gods!"

    Having cut its fin off, she thrust the bayonets into the eye-like organs on its head. And then unleashed a barrage so intense it felt like her shoulders would dislocate. Having been pumped of bullets inside, Pisces had its movements grow dull. It must have been regenerating from the amount of damage it took.

    That created gap let SHIZUKU, carrying Yumiko and Suzume, her shield at the ready slip by Pisces and run towards the wall.

    "Uuuuuuuh, it's scary, it's scary, we're gonna die!"

    Suzume ran, tears streaming down her face. The Vertexes behind were terrifying. They might have appeared in their previous missons, but this time there were three of them. The danger was incomparable.

    I'll get killed. This time, I'll definitely die. Suzume couldn't stop those thoughts and kept crying. I' SHIZUKU, who was carrying Yumiko, was annoyed.

    "If you're that scared, why'd you even come back? Should've ran away with the rest of the squad-"

    "Of course I can't do that! I'd hate it if Mebu died! I don't want Miroku-san or you to die either, SHIZUKU-sama! So I have to protect you even if it's scary, waaaaah!"

    "I said stop crying... Cut it out with the "-sama", seriously".

    One of Virgo's bombs headed towards the two. Suzume blocked it with her shield.

    "Mebu has always protected me! The weak me, always! But I can't do anything for Mebu! So I will at least help her reach her goal! Not let anyone die! Zero casualties! I won't let anyone die!"

    In reality, it's not as if Mebuki constantly protected Suzume. In fact, the amount of times Suzume was the one to save Mebuki wasn't small. But in her mind, Suzume was always the one being protected by Mebuki. As long as Mebuki was there, Suzume could live. She felt that she was alive thanks to Mebuki. But Suzume couldn't do anything for her in return. She was worthless. Mebuki could do anything. Suzume was weak, Mebuki was strong. So Suzume always took something from Mebuki. Always received. And never paid her back.

    And so, at least now Suzume had to be of use. She had to protect Mebuki's ideal of zero casualties.

    "I thought this kind of chance would never come... For me to be useful to Mebu! So I have to do my best!"

    Even if it was scary, she would do it.

    She was scared enough to wet herself, but she would still do it.

    Suzume blocked an approaching Virgo bomb with her shield. And then, no more attacks came...

    Mebuki stopped almost all of them.

    When Capricorn started moving again, she would cut off one of its appendages with the rifle in her right hand again. When Virgo started shooting, she would shoot the bombs down with the rifle in her left. While firing at them, she would leap towards Pisces. She sliced off the fins that have finished regenerating.

    When a group of Stardust assaulted the retreating three, she would gun them down with both of her rifles.

    The equipment of the Sentinels couldn't destroy the Vertexes. But it was still capable of destroying Stardust, intercepting the bombs and whittling the Vertexes down and dull their movements. That way, she was able to prevent any harm from befalling the three.

    (It was all For this)

    During elementary school...

    With admiration for her father, she continued trying her best. And thus, was called out to be a Hero candidate.

    During her time as a Hero candidate...

    She put all of her mind into training in dual wielding. And thus, was able to fight with the two rifles as dexterously as now.

    She built up her strength through rigorous exercise. And thus, was able to stand up to the Vertexes with fierce movements now.

    She trained her grip strength. And thus, would not release her rifles even when striking at the Vertexes' hard exterior now.

    She sharpened her reflexes. And thus, was able to react immediately to the attacks of the enemy now.

    She trained her concentration. And thus, was able to combat three enemies at once now.

    And after she became a Sentinel...

    She trained herself in sharpshooting. And thus was able to shoot down the Stardust and Virgo's bombs now.

    She trained herself in use of the bayonet. And thus, had the skills to carve up even these strong enemies now.

    She became the commander of the squad and had to direct her gaze at the people surrounding her. And thus, made comrades who she had to protect now.

    (It was all for this moment... Nothing I've done was in vain!.. Not a single thing was pointless!)

    Even the days Mebuki spent as a Hero candidate that she deemed pointless. The days she treated the Sentinels as a stepping stone for becoming a Hero, too.

    All of the life she lived until now has been building up to this moment. Everything was connected to "now", when Mebuki had comrades to protect and the ability to do so.

    The Mebuki of the past passed the baton to the Mebuki of the present.

    Mebuki continued her fight to protect her retreating comrades, not letting a single one of those three Vertexes past.

    But even she had her limits. There was no way for her to continue this absurd battle forever.

    The moment there was a lapse in her concentration from the fatigue, Pisces rammed her from beneath the surface and sent her flying. At the same time, Virgo launched bombs at her.

    She can't avoid them.

    Mebuki resolved for death.

    The Sentinels were weak. Weak enough for a momentary mistake to lead to one's death after a struggle on equal terms.

    That's why...

    "Gunner squad, take aim! Fire!"

    That was not Mebuki's voice. It was the voice of another officer-type, the girl bearing the number of two. The Sentinels that were supposed to have left towards the wall returned for some reason.

    The girls standing in formation shot down every single bomb heading towards Mebuki.

    The injured Yumiko and SHIZUKU, who was supporting her, were being protected by Suzume and the rest of the protector squad.

    "Kusunoki-san, please don't die on your own!"

    "Don't we have to do it with zero casualties!?"

    "Get on your feet! We'll cover for you!"

    That's why...

    That's why they fought in a group. They joined their forces as one, and fought together.

    Thanks to Mebuki's fight that almost made one think she was possessed by a demon and the efforts of the rest of the girls, all thirty two of them survived agains the three Vertexes. All of them returned back. They retrieved the seed and fulfilled their mission.

    But Yumiko's injuries were grave.

    She was immediately taken away to a Taisha-governed hospital and underwent urgent surgery

    "The doctors did all they can, but it's still not certain whether or not she will survive".

    So they were told by the hospital staff.

    Yumiko was sleeping in an ICU room, connected to various machinery.

    Mebuki sat, staring at the bed where Yumiko slept from outside the glass. The rest of the Sentinels were all wounded to an extent, and so they were all resting after undergoing medical care.

    Mebuki sat alone, waiting for Yumiko to wake up.

    "Kusunoki-san, you are quite injured as well. You should get treated and get some rest too".

    Said the priestess.

    But Mebuki shook her head.

    "I will remain here. Until Miroku-san opens her eyes".

    "Right now, there is nothing you can do. All we can do now is to pray to Shinju-sama. And that can be done from atop your bed".

    The priestess was right. Mebuki wasn't a doctor. She accomplished nothing by this.

    And Mebuki would not pray. Yumiko's wounds were inflicted by the gods. How could she pray to them?

    "I can't do anything. I won't praty to the gods. All I can do... Is to stay by her side and keep calling out for her in my heart. I know there is no point in it, but still..."

    "...If that's what you want to do, it's fine".

    The priestess' voice was expressionless as always.

    "I thought I was a more rational person".

    "What are you saying?"

    In that moment, something resembling emotion has unexpectedly appeared in the priestess' voice. It felt like a mixture of sarcasm and a wry smile.

    "You aren't a rational person at all. Stoic to the point of obstinancy and strong-willed. Those are not the qualities of a rational person. They're those of an idealist".

    The priestess turned away and left.

    Mebuki continued gazing at the sleeping Yumiko and calling out to her.

    (Please open your eyes, Miroku-san. You're supposed to restore the Miroku family to its former glory, aren't you? You don't have the leisure to be sleeping like this. I'm not going to carry your dream in your stead...)

    That day, Mebuki had not a wink of sleep and kept watching over Yumiko. Yumiko didn't open her eyes.

    The next day, after finishing their medical treatments, Suzume, Shizuku and the rest of the Sentinels came to the ICU. And just like Mebuki, they simply stood in silence, watching over Yumiko.

    Second day. Yumiko still hasn't woken up. Unease and worry started growing amongst the Sentinels. Mebuki hasn't slept for almost 60 hours, still waiting for Yumiko to return.

    Third day. The sun started sinking. The late autumn skies began to be dyed in red.

    And Miroku Yumiko opened her eyes. Doctors and nurses started streaming into the ICU, ascertaining Yumiko's condition. After that, the girls were allowed into the room.

    Yumiko was still out of it, but when she saw Mebuki enter, the glimmer of life returned to her eyes.

    "Oh my... If it is anyone but my rival, Mebuki-san. My apologies for having you worried. But it appears that my time to be taken away has not yet co-*cough, cough*"

    Yumiko held her stomach with tears in her eyes.

    "Miroku-san, are you stupid? You just regained consciousness, you wounds haven't healed. Of course this is going to happen if you force yourelf to talk".

    She was talking to Yumiko just like always. But something was different from the usual... Drops of water were falling down Mebuki's cheeks, dropping on Yumiko's bed.

    "Huh... why?.. Am I... crying?.."

    Bewildered, Mebuki continued shedding tears.

    "It's because you devoted yourself, mind and body, to your comrades".

    The priestess entered the ICU.

    "The time you spent with the Sentinels. The bonds all of you built up. Because you met them with all of your being, the girls became an irreplaceable being to you. Your friends. Right now, you're shedding tears for your friends".

    "...Friends..."

    The concept Mebuki discarded as useless when she began to aim for be a Hero.

    It took an awfully long time. It has been such a roundabout path. But Mebuki has finally obtained them.

    And then, a reserved voice was heard from outside the room.

    "Mebuki-senpai".

    The voice belonged to none other but Kokudo Aya.

    The girl that was taken away to be a sacrifice stood there. She was making a somewhat embarassed smile.

    "...I'm "...I'm back".

    It occured roughly half a day before Aya returned to Daisoku. The Taisha priests visited the residence of a certain girl in Sanshuu. With beautiful jet-black hair, well-groomed looks and ample femininity... She was still in her early teens, but she carried a mature look. It was not only her looks - her expression was equally as mature. Perhaps it was due to the heaviness of the experiences life has given her.

    The priests paid that girl exorbitant amounts of respect. As if even looking her in the face was insolence, they were prostrated on the floor. But in contrast to the respect they were outwardly showing, their words were cruel. The girl's very life was on the line.

    "The Taisha has selected the Mikos to be sacrificed several days ago. In the same way the Fire Offering Festival was conducted in the Christian Era, we will offer six of them to the heavenly gods. The preparations are already underway".

    "So if that happens, six people will be sacrificed..."

    "..."

    "But if I am sacrificed, that alone will be enough..."

    So whispered the girl.

    The priests lay prostrate without saying a word. Either to not be disrespectful or to not say anything unneeded. But it was certain that their silence carried a meaning. In a way, it signified that they would proceed with the ceremony regardless of the answer.

    They didn't come to the girl with such cruel words for nothing. In fact, this was something the girl expected.

    In the past, they haven't told her and those near her anything, which lead to a tragedy. And so the Taisha decided to tell them as much as they possibly can.

    The girl picked up on the priests' intentions and answered. She told them that she would sacrifice herself.

    "I ask that you release the Mikos selected from their duty. I will be the sacrifice. When I broke the wall, I said that it would be fine if I was the only one. Yes... If it's me alone..."

    While Aya was surrounded by the rest of the Sentinels, Mebuki was talking with the priestess on the rooftop of the hospital.

    "Kokudo-san has been released from her duty"

    So said the masked preiestess.

    "So that means the Fire Offering Festival... Has been cancelled?"

    "No. But one of the Heroes volunteered herself to take the place of those Mikos".

    "You don't mean... Miyoshi-san?"

    "It isn't her".

    For the slightest moment, hesitation could be heard in her voice.

    "The sacrifice will be Tougou Mimori. She expressed her desire to take responsibility for having broken the wall..."

    "...Aya-chan wasn't sacrificed... But somebody still will?"

    The priestess nodded.

    Mebuki clenched her fist in frustration. If anyone was to become a sacrifice at all, it would not be the outcome Mebuki desired.

    "Your duties as the Sentinels are finished for now. There is a possibility of another mission arising in the future, but surveys of the outside world and Kuni-zukuri are over".

    "..."

    "The Taisha expected numerous casualties in the line of the Sentinel duty... But even though there were many injured, not a single one died. You did well. And you've changed a lot since back then. If you were to compete with Miyoshi-san now, I'm certain we could not possibly decide who would inherit Gin's terminal".

    "Gin? The previous generation Hero?'

    "That's right... She retired from her duty... No, was killed by the Vertexes. If you received her terminal now, I'm sure she wouldn't be angry".

    Those words sounded strange for a simple relationship between a Hero and a priest. The priests usually showed respect and formality with the Heroes, who carried the most important of duties. But her voice was almost if she knew her for a long time...

    "Did you know Minowa Gin personally?"

    "I wouldn't say personally. I was looking after the Heroes of the previous generation.... Not just in their duties, but as their regular school teacher. That is all".

    Her relationship with those Heroes must've been similar to the one between Aya and the Sentinels.

    In that case, what must she have felt when Minowa Gin lost her life? But one could only guess the emotions behind that mask.

    "Kusunoki-san. Right now, you could very well fulfill the duties of a Hero. I will inform the Taisha of that as well. If additional Heroes are ever needed, you will take on that role".

    "There's no need. I'm not going to become a Hero".

    Mebuki's answer left the priestess speechless.

    "But were you not strongly obsessed with becoming one?"

    "That's right. And I'm still aiming to become one. But your Taisha understanding of it is far from mine. A Hero being someone who lives on the condition of sacrifice... I won't accept that".

    "..."

    The priestess went silent for a while and then asked Mebuki a question.

    "You said that you wouldn't let a single Sentinel be a casualty, and that it's your vow as Kusunoki Mebuki - a single human. And you stayed true to your words. But the history of mankind is one built on sacrifices. Science, culture, and the very human life itself stands on countless corpses.

    "I understand. That's absolutely true".

    Their current Shikoku itself stood on top of the sacrifices made by the Heroes of the past, the Mikos and countless other, unrecorded people.

    "If you understand that, why do you reject sacrifices so strongly? If a lot can be saved by sacrificing a few, is that truly something bad?"

    "You... No, the Taisha, only view the humanity as a single whole. You view everything from away, as if pieces on a go or a shogi board. That's why you don't understand".

    Mebuki glared at the priestess.

    "But in that great whole, every single person has a family, friends, people they love. Even a single sacrificed person will make the people who loved them feel like the world has ended! From your elevated viewpoint, you're not noticing something so simple! Something a middle schooler like me can understand! There's nothing good about the choice of saving many by killing a few!"

    At first, Mebuki's resolve to not a single casualty occur was a way of proving her strength to the Taisha. Then, it was her display of antagonism to the unjust gods.

    But now everything was different.

    The anger and sorrow she felt when they were informed of Aya's impending sacrifice.

    The joy and relief she felt when Yumiko escaped death's grasp.

    Every single of the Sentinels and Mikos whose names would not even remain in the records was one human in the great humanity - a precious, irreplaceable life.

    And none had the right to sacrifice it. Not a single life. Mebuki shouted, her very anger manifesting into words.

    "Claw and struggle for your life until the very end! People who don't know what it is to struggle to the death don't have the right to calmly decide whose lives are to be sacrificed!"

    The priestess listened to Mebuki silently, without saying a word.

    "The title of the "Hero" you Taisha give out is worthless! I will strive to be a hero according to my ideals, and I will become one!"

    "...And what is the ideal hero you have in mind?"

    "Someone who won't allow a single sacrifice to happen. Someone who will open a path where no sacrifices have to be made. That is a true hero".

    "..."

    "I will continue my duties as a Sentinel. I will continue searching for a way different from the Taisha's, that takes sacrifices as a given. If possibility arises, I will enter Taisha itself, and change your rotten ways from the inside. And I'll find a way that requires no sacrifices, no matter what it takes".

    Mebuki thought...

    If she could do that, then she would finally accept herself as a hero, too.

    There was no inherent value in the name and status of a "Hero" ordained by the Taisha. Being recognised as one by your comrades and yourself was infinitely more important.

    Right now, Mebuki had comrades who would recognise her as a hero. All that's left was for Mebuki to recognise herself as one, too. And for that, she would aim towards her ideal vision of a hero: "Someone who will open a path where no sacrifices have to be made".

    "A path where no sacrifices have to be made... If it's you, perhaps you'll be able to accomplish that someday".

    "Not perhaps. I will. Absolutely".

    Saying that, Mebuki turned around and left the rooftop.

    What moved Kusunoki Mebuki was anger.

    At the Taisha, so quick to choose ways that take sacrifices as a given.

    At the gods, who forced sacrifices upon mankind.

    At the humans, who accepted the need for sacrifices with an "It can't be helped".

    It was anger at the entire unjust world.

    And one more thing moved her...

    Mebuki returned to the ICU room. The Sentinel girls were overjoyed at Yumiko's recovery and Aya's return.

    Kagajou Suzume. Miroku Yumiko. Yamabushi Shizuku. Yamabushi SHIZUKU. Kokudo Aya. All of the Sentinels. Each and every single one of them was a precious friend.

    And she wouldn't ever let anyone of them die.

    She wouldn't let the Heroes die either.

    She would let absolutely nobody die.

    So she vowed.

    The seasons changed to winter.

    Today, again, the Sentinels, led by Kusunoki Mebuki, stood atop the wall in their battle suits.

    "It really is the middle of winter... The air is cold. And that's despite the scorching hellscape outside of the barrier... Well, not that the seasons change our duty in any way".

    Starting with Mebuki, the girls donned their combat suits again.

    "Well, everyone, let's start our mission! As always, we're achieving our goal without a single casualty!"

    The Sentinels responded in unison.

    And so, with Mebuki at their lead, the girls once again trod on the scorching wasteland...

    (End)