My youth story cannot be a knight war

Yukinoshita looked directly into her eyes and asked.

"Why would you, an enemy, help us save Zaimokuza-san? Even if you once had a relationship with humans, I really don't understand why you would do this. After all, the person you were related to has long since..."

[…Don’t get me wrong, I never intended to help you, Rindo. Saving Kuuga was just a matter of convenience.]

Baruba glanced coldly at Yukinoshita, then focused his gaze on Akiyama Mio, who was accompanying Zaimokuza. A faint, complex color flashed in the depths of his deep eyes.

It is longing and hope.

"I just want to verify a guess in my mind and find an answer...that's all."

"And the power to do so is up to you."

[…What should I do?]

After Baruba finished speaking, Akiyama Mio, who had been keeping her head down and silent, spoke softly.

"Akiyama-san..."

Yukinoshita turned to look at Akiyama Mio in surprise, and facing her gaze, Akiyama Mio turned her head and revealed a pair of slightly red eyes.

"You said... I can save Zaimokuza-san, so how should I do that?"

"Hey! Little sister, you don't really believe what this guy said, do you?!"

Makishima now feels that something must be wrong with the world. Otherwise, why would everyone except himself choose to believe the words of a Gurongi? Even if there really is no other choice, this option was not on the list of options from the beginning!

"To try to get the skin of a tiger is an understatement. It's like a diver slashing himself a few times before diving into the sea, hoping a bloodthirsty shark will spare his meal out of mercy. The shark's response is usually to spit out a few bloody bones."

[“I know that the other party is actually untrustworthy… I know this, I know it very well.”]

Akiyama Mio lowered her head, her pale hands gripping the operating table. She stared at Zaimokuza, who looked little more than a corpse, and bit her lower lip hard.

"My friends also died at their hands. I certainly don't want to have anything to do with unidentified life forms, but... but..."

「──I want to save Zaimokuza-san!」

Clear tears fell from her eyes. Akiyama Mio grasped Zaimokuza's right hand, feeling the cool warmth of his palm and the cracks on his body that continuously shed light dust. She simply couldn't connect the present him with the ever-smiling big boy she remembered.

Is this what it feels like when death is about to come? Cold, cruel, sad. Even the ray of sunshine that saved me in my memory is obscured by shadows.

"Zaimokuza-san, he's always been there to save me, always helping me. He's always been there to protect me and bring a smile to my face... so I just can't stand by and watch him die!"

"No matter what happens next, right now, I just want to save Zaimokuza-san! I know what it's like to lose someone you care about, and I don't want to experience it again!"

【“…”】

[Faced with Akiyama Mio's tearful response, Makishima opened his mouth, but ultimately could only choose to lower his head dejectedly.]

"Just this once, please trust B1, Makishima."

Yukinoshita shook her head and glanced at Baruba, who was standing there, with a complicated look.

"It sounds weak, but if they really wanted to do something, we wouldn't be able to resist... But she still told us, which is a sign of 'goodwill' to some extent."

[“…I don’t care anymore. Do as you please!”]

He turned off the phone screen, leaving only the dial button unpressed, and stuffed the phone back into his pocket. Makishima gritted his teeth and turned his head away, not wanting to see what was happening next.

"Then please tell us, what should we do next?"

Seeing that even the most reluctant person had agreed, Yukinoshita sighed, turned to look at Baruba, and said, while Akiyama Mio also cast a pleading gaze at him.

"First, hold onto Kuuga's hand and don't let go."

Baruba showed no reaction to the previous conversation. Seeing that they had finally reached a consensus, she gave instructions to Akiyama Mio.

[“Is that so?”]

“Yes, that’s it.”

Akiyama Mio holds Zaimokuza's hand with both of hers, and Baruba walks past Yukinoshita and Makishima and arrives in front of her.

【“!”】

Baruba then did something that made the other two's hearts skip a beat. She stretched out her right hand, slowly raised it, and placed the tip of her index finger right in the center of Akiyama Mio's forehead.

Akiyama Mio's body stiffened for a moment at the close contact, and Makishima subconsciously tried to rush out, but Yukinoshita waved her hand to stop her. Her expression was also filled with solemnity.

[Looking at the girl's eyes that were filled with fear, Baruba spoke softly, uncharacteristically lowering his tone.]

"Let go of your fear and focus all your attention on Kuuga."

"If you really want to save him, let your guard down."

[“Huh… Yeah!”]

Listening to Baruba's words and recalling Zaimokuza's events, Akiyama Mio took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and nodded firmly.

She tried to dispel the fear and gloom in her heart, focusing all her attention on saving Zaimokuza, and gradually opened up her heart. Baruba also sensed this, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

【Om—】

A faint golden light, like stardust, suddenly bloomed from the tips of her fingers as she touched Akiyama Mio's forehead. The golden halo spread throughout Akiyama Mio's body through the contact of their skin.

The next moment, the lights in the operating room flickered, and a powerful energy wave spread out from Akiyama Mio. This circular energy wave, imperceptible to the human eye, quickly spread beyond the hospital's confines, then converged into a line, rapidly surging in one direction.

[That direction is——Nagano Prefecture. 】

……

【Nagano Prefecture, Nagano City, Kurodake. 】

After the incident in Gaiba Village, the Metropolitan Police Department has heavily guarded this area and the surrounding area. The security is so tight that not even a bird can fly out.

[This cannot be helped. The reason is that even at midday, when the light is at its strongest, the pyramid in the mountain still radiates a dazzling golden light.]

This pyramid is formed entirely of pure light, enveloping the entire mountain. It appears so thin it could be easily torn apart, but the Metropolitan Police Department has tested it and found that even rifle bullets can't crack the film. Scientists estimate that even diamond, the hardest substance on Earth, can't even match it even one-tenth of its hardness.

This pyramid is truly eye-catching, a completely supernatural sight that appears to the public. Even though the authorities have tried their best to suppress relevant information and reports, anyone with eyesight can see the existence of this tower of light even in Nagano City.

This situation naturally attracted all sorts of scoundrels to investigate. To prevent a similar tragedy from happening again, a vast, heavily fortified camp, comparable to a military base, was established there. Officials patrolled and guarded the area 24/7. Under the cold, armed firearms, even journalists, who valued information above all else, dared not approach.

[And at this moment, a new change occurred in this camp.]

The Alpha Obelisk, made of unknown material, was once believed by the police to be a super-ancient stone tablet used to transmit messages. However, after its remarkable power during the original incident, creating this pyramid of light, it is now completely off-limits to anyone. Explosion-proof glass forms a shield around the entire obelisk, completely isolating it. The police have also deployed at least four guards to monitor the area to prevent any further incidents.

However, this stone tablet has truly remained unchanged since then. The once pristine white body is now covered in cracks, and its color has become dull and aged, as if it has been weathered for thousands of years. One can even see some yellowing at the base of the tablet.

The guards' initial nervousness and anxiety have now waned to indifference. They stare at the stone tablet, sealed by explosion-proof glass, yawning with boredom. They chat about what dinner will be and complain about when they can finally leave.

But as the golden light, illuminating the entire face, gradually brightened before their eyes, all the guards' voices abruptly stopped. They stared at the luminous "Alpha Obelisk" before them, their expressions gaping in astonishment.

Then, a loud alarm rang out throughout the camp, startling everyone awake. A group of leading figures began to rush over in droves.

But before they could even get close, a golden light shot up into the sky. The light from the Alpha Obelisk pierced through the explosion-proof glass surrounding it and flew far into the sky, its trajectory like a shooting star streaking across the night sky.

“…This is terrible.”

Watching the light disappear at the end of his vision after leaving a dazzling streak on his retina, a leader among the deadly silenced senior executives muttered, his voice filled with the same despair as his eyes.

……

"Yukinoshita, is this really okay?"

Looking at Akiyama Mio, whose entire body was bathed in the golden ripples that blossomed from Baruba's fingertips, Makishima clenched his fists and turned his head to the silent Yukinoshita, whispering a question.

[“…I don’t know either, but I can only take a gamble.”]

[At this moment, her breathing rhythm could not be stopped, but Yukinoshita still suppressed the anxiety and panic in her heart. After all, this might be her only chance to save her friend.]

But what happened in front of them the next moment was far beyond their expectations. Not only Makishima, but even Yukinoshita was completely shocked.

From the Tokyo sky, a golden ray of light pierced through the clouds and plummeted towards the hospital. In less than two seconds, it crossed the ten thousand meter mark, and the golden light blossomed.

The light penetrated the walls and floors of the hospital, eventually reaching the operating room and striking Akiyama Mio as the other two watched.

【"What!?"】

【"this--"】

【boom--】

Yukinoshita, who had been waiting calmly, finally erupted in anger, but before she could utter a single cry of surprise, the burst of light engulfed everything in sight of her and Makishima.

A bright light, powerful even in daylight, shone throughout the entire hospital building, instantly drawing everyone's attention. Those still within the hospital watched in shock, completely unsure how to react.

……

Zaimokuza felt like he was falling, his entire body as if he were gradually sinking into the deep sea. The light before his eyes shimmered and flickered, just like the sunlight shining through the sea.

He could even hear a sound like foam rising from his open mouth. As time passed, the feeling of falling grew deeper. All remaining light around him was gradually swallowed by darkness, leaving only the cold that spread throughout his body after driving away the warmth.

[At this moment, his drowsy brain began to flood with images and shadows, and the final scene was fixed on the blazing red light that filled his entire field of vision, and the unimaginable pain... Even though his consciousness was hazy, Zaimokuza still vaguely remembered what had happened before.]

[…By the way, I lost to number 37. I was defeated.]

The light reflected in his eyes gradually faded, leaving only the dead blackness and gloom. Zaimokuza closed his eyes in the darkness.

[So... am I dead? ]

[What a disgusting feeling, not warm at all. Did you feel the same way back then?]

【"...wooden seat."】

A voice echoed in the darkness, calm and familiar, and it brought Zaimokuza's consciousness, which was on the verge of collapse, back together at this moment.

Suddenly, a golden light pierced through the darkness and coldness, striking Zaimokuza's consciousness. A dazzling radiance blossomed in the darkness, driving away all death and darkness.

"This voice, Mr. Kousaka, no..."

【...Hachiman? 】

【“——Wake up.”】

Another voice overlapped. The two voices overlapped for a moment, but in the next moment, only the latter remained. This voice was soft and peaceful, like a flower swaying in the sun. It was immediately clear that it was a female voice.

"Wake up, Zaimokuza-san."

"The world still needs you. You can't fall here."

[“Hmm…”]

[A warm golden light filled his eyes, and a distressed voice rang out from his mouth. Zaimokuza slowly opened his eyes, his gaze slightly hazy.]

He felt a familiar softness at the back of his head. In his blurry vision, a face looked down from above, filling his entire field of vision. The background was the light from before.

The black hair fell on his face, making it itchy. But as his eyes fully opened, the blurry face gradually became clearer. After seeing the other person's delicate and beautiful face clearly, he muttered doubtfully before fully turning his head.

【"...Mio?"】

【“~”】

[Hearing Zaimokuza's name, the girl's eyes curved into crescents and she smiled happily.]

“Yes, I’m Mio.”

"Finally, I'm meeting you, Mr. Zaimokuza."

30. You in my memory

Kyoto Prefecture, Shiga Prefecture, Akiyama family.

"……well???"

When she saw the girl who looked exactly like her future self appear on the screen, Akiyama Mio was completely stunned. Her mouth dropped open, her eyes frozen.

The performance of Tianzhong Ritsu next to her was even more exaggerated. The little girl's eyes almost popped out of their sockets, and her jaw was almost dislocated. If someone shone a flashlight from under her, even Toilet Hanako would be impressed by her appearance.

"Mio-chan, this big onee-san—is that you?"

Ritsu Tainaka tugged at Mio Akiyama's skirt and asked stutteringly.

"……no."

Akiyama Mio responded blankly.

"So, do your parents have another child at home besides you? Or is it like in that horror movie a few years ago, where there was actually another child missing when you were born—Guwaa!"

Subconsciously, he threw a punch, knocking his childhood sweetheart, who was already showing signs of future chatter, into a painting hanging on the wall. However, Akiyama Mio retracted his fist as if unaware, still staring blankly at the girl in the light curtain.

"That's me, but... not..."