AKM Act 11-16

Act 11-16: Katakake and Chijirege

TL : Cnine

ED/PF :

Part 1

　The Council of Sages proceeds in dull silence.

　Chiyuki was already drowsy after hearing the report that was akin to a lullaby.

　There are many topics and reports in the Council of Sages, but few of them catch Chiyuki’s interest.

　Upon looking around, she saw that Sabina had also seemed to be bored to death.

　Most likely, the only ones listening seriously were Magius and Kepler.

　At that moment.

　A commotion suddenly broke in front of the door of the meeting room.

「PLEASE WAIT A MINUTE!!」

「I cannot afford to wait! Let me through!」

　At the same moment the voice rang out, the door was opened.

　Chiyuki and the others’ attention focused on the intruder.

　The one who barged in was Kyouka.

「What are you doing, Kyouka-san!?」

「We got an emergency, Chiyuki-san!」

　Kyouka spoke as she looked at the sages.

　The guard who followed behind Kyouka seemed to be troubled.

　She obviously had forced her way through with brute force.

「It seems something has happened. We should probably hear Kyouka-dono out. If it’s an emergency, then it really can’t be helped. It’s no one’s fault. You all may stand down.」

　Only after Magius said that did the guards look relieved.

「It’s certainly not a good sign, but I wonder what happened?」

　Starseer Sage, Yarga asked while heaving a sigh.

「Let’s see, that Forbidden Library or something. Someone seems to be intruding into that place.」

　The sages were visibly shocked upon hearing Kyouka's remark.

「Oh my!? Entering the Forbidden Archive without permission?! Who’s the naughty child who would do such a thing? The Forbidden Archive holds many valuable documents entrusted to us by the goddess Totona, it’s an important place, even here in Saria. This truly is an emergency! We must hurry over and apprehend them immediately!」

　The Enchanting Sage, Sabina cried out in surprise.

　However, Chiyuki somehow felt that Sabina was acting like a drama queen.

「My thought exactly! We have to do something quickly!」

　Kyouka nodded hearing Sabina’s words.

「By the way, what kind of person is the intruder? Could you tell us what you know, my lovely young lady?」

　Gadfes asked Kyouka.

「They are... Uhm... Oh yeah, they’re Chijirege and his friends!」

「As I thought...」

「Eh?」

　When Kyouka, momentarily forgetting Chijirege’s name, finally said it, Chiyuki and Sabina both spoke up in unison.

　Chiyuki and Sabina looked at each other.

（Why are you so surprised? Who did you think had broken in?）

　Chiyuki pondered about that.

　Sabina muttered, "How strange... What could this mean?" as she fell deep into thought.

「I see... The ones accompanying him are likely members of that so-called Cult of Death… Now then, what should we do…」

　Magius was pondering deeply over this matter.

「It’s not “what should we do” about it. Kuroki-san has gone alone, you know. We have to go help him!」

　Kyouka spoke as she looked over the sages.

「Kuroki-dono went in by himself... To be honest, aside from Chiyuki-dono, the rest of us would likely only get in his way.」

　When Kepler said that, Magius and Gadfes nodded in agreement. The Sage of Deep Green, Lastos, and the Sage of Martial Technique, Gimlin, remained silent.

　They were unable to understand the underlying meaning behind Magius' remark.

「There’s no time to hesitate!」

「Hmmm… it can’t be helped. Chiyuki-dono, would you go to the Forbidden Archive with Kyouka-dono? The guardian of the Archive shouldn’t attack you as long as you bring this pendant.」

　Magius approached Chiyuki as he spoke, removed his pendant, and handed it to her.

「It can’t be helped, I suppose. Well then, shall we go, Kyouka-san? Though if it’s someone even he can’t handle… Then there’s probably nothing I can do either.」

　Chiyuki heaved a sigh as she received the pendant.

　The "He" she was referring to was Kuroki.

　If someone far stronger than herself, like Kuroki, couldn’t handle it, then there was nothing that Chiyuki, who was far weaker than him, could do either.

　Thus, Chiyuki left the meeting place along with Kyouka.

　But there was one more person following them from behind.

「Why are you coming with us, Sabina-dono?」

「Oh, I don’t see the problem. The more helping hands, the better, right?」

　Sabina smiled brightly as she replied.

　Maybe she didn’t get Magius’ permission.

　However, Magius didn’t stop her either.

　Considering Sabina’s personality, Magius probably figured it was pointless to try and stop her.

「Let’s go. Kuroki-san is waiting for us.」

　Kyouka urged Chiyuki to hurry along, seemingly unbothered by the fact that Sabina was tagging along.

「Ha~h, I know already, Kyouka-san.」

　Chiyuki heaved a sigh as she followed after Kyouka.

　In this way, Chiyuki, Kyouka, along with Sabina headed toward the Forbidden Archive.

◆

　Katakake stood in front of Chijirege inside the Forbidden Archive.

　Standing by Chijirege’s side were people wearing white clothes.

　It’s common for magicians to wear black clothing, so in Saria, the city of magicians, anyone dressed in white clearly stood out as a suspicious individual.

　There were five of them.

　As someone who hated trouble, Katakake didn’t want to deal with even a single one of them.

「Why are you awake, Katakake!? I put you to sleep, didn’t I!?」

　Chijirege looked at Katakake with a surprised expression.

　Katakake may not know it, but the magic Chijirege used was a fairly powerful sleep magic.

　Unless someone possessed an exceptional amount of magical power, they shouldn’t be able to wake up.

　The fact that he was awake made it only natural for him to be surprised.

「Comrade, why is that man awake? Didn’t we put him to sleep for sure?」

「W-Well, that’s actually...」

　When the person behind Chijirege asked that, Chijirege was at a loss for words.

「My thought exactly. You said not to kill him, that you’d just put him to sleep, so I let him go. Yet look at him, he’s awake, isn’t he? What’s the meaning of this?」

「Well...」

　Chijirege was bombarded with questions from his comrades.

　He was trying to divert their attention from Katakake.

　Naturally, Katakake wouldn’t let go of such a precious opening.

「...Mitsuami-san. Mitsuami-san. Please, wake up, Mitsuami-san...」

　Katakake shook Mitsuami, trying to wake her up.

　There was no way to escape while carrying Mitsuami in her sleep. He had to wake her up no matter what.

「Uhm... This place is...」

　Thanks to Katakake shaking her firmly, Mitsuami finally woke up.

「Thank goodness you’ve finally woken up...」

「Huh!? Wait, what!? Oh right, I was in the Forbidden Archive... Wait, why did I go in there again? Huh!? Hold on, why am I being carried!? Who are those people over there!?」

　Mitsuami, now awake, was confused and overwhelmed, unable to grasp the situation.

「Please be quiet for a moment, Mitsuami-san... We have to make sure they don’t notice us...」

　Katakake spoke while propping up Mitsuami.

　Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to be possible.

「What are you trying to do? That woman seems to have woken up.」

　One of the people who had been behind Chijirege stepped forward.

　The other party’s face was hidden under a white hood, but judging from the voice, it seemed to be a woman.

「My deepest apologies! Mizuku-sama!」

　When the woman raised her voice, the other four dropped to their knees immediately.

　She was clearly a superior figure compared to the four others, including Chijirege.

　The woman then took off her hood.

　At first glance, she looked like an ordinary woman. However, her eyes were golden like an owl’s, and long fangs extended from her mouth.

「No way... Who is she? She’s not even a human...」

　Upon seeing the woman’s true face, Mitsuami started to tremble.

「Fufufufufu, she’s such an adorable girl. My throat happens to be rather parched right now.」

　The woman called Mizuku stuck out her tongue and looked at Mitsuami with a gaze that seemed to lick over the latter’s body.

「HYIIIII!!」

　Mitsuami stumbled backward behind Katakake.

「Mitsuami-san, I’ll hold them off somehow, please, get away from this place.」

　Katakake spoke while raising his staff.

　The opponent looks strong, and to be honest, he don’t think he could be any help in this situation.

　However, if he didn't do anything, both of them would be killed.

　Thus, he decided to at least let Mitsuami to escape.

「What are you going to do?」

「I don't know... However, I don't think there's any other way. I'll try to buy some time, you have to go and call for reinforcement, Mitsuami-san.」

　Katakake stepped forward as he spoke, albeit with trembled voice.

「I-I understand...」

　Mitsuami, trembling, tries to go in the opposite direction from the Chijirege and the other.

「Trying to escape, eh!」

「Guh!」

「Ah!?」

　At that moment, Mizuku's eyes flashed.

　Katakake and Mitsuami's leg suddenly stopped on the spot.

「Too bad, you’re not getting away. Fufufu I’ll make sure to suck both of your blood nice and thoroughly.」

　After Mizuku said so, she walk closer to Katakake and Mitsuami.

「P-Please wait a second, Mizuku-sama! Please spare Katakake! He’s, um… He’s one of our comrades…」

　Chijirege stepped in front of Mizuku and pleaded to her.

「You lowly servant. Since when did you earn the right to speak to me like that? I granted your request the first time and merely put them to sleep, nothing more. Are you looking to die?」

　Mizuku's expression turned sour as she glared at Chijirege.

「My deepest apologize.」

　Chijirege bowed deeply before Mizuku, rubbing his head on the floor.

「...Fine, then! Consider it a small mercy. You kill that man over there. Do that, and I’ll forgive your insolence.」

　Mizuku gave an order with a wicked, mocking smile.

　Hearing that, Chijirege raised his face, and looking at Katakake.

　He look like he just ate bitter pills.

「My bad, Katakake... I know that you just worrying about me. However, I'm no good, this is what I've became.」

　Chijirege spoke as he took out a dagged from his bosom pocket.

「S-Stop it... Chijirege...」

　Katakake looked at Chijirege, eyes brimming with tears.

　--- We will become splendid magicians.

　They used to laugh together as they said those words.

　However, off all thing, Chijirege chosen heretic path.

　That’s what made it so painful. And judging from Mizuku’s behavior, Katakake knew that it was only a matter of time before Chijirege was used and discarded.

　That future had already been decided.

　Even with his own death drawing near, Katakake couldn’t help but worrying about Chijirege's future.

「What are you waiting for for? KIll hi--- Uhm.」

　Just when Mizuku was about to order Chijirege to finish his job quickly.

　The bookshelves around them suddenly started to move around.

「W-What's going on?」

　One of Chijirege's comrade shouted in shock.

　The bookshelves shifted, creating a passageway beside Katakake and Chijirege.

「Sigh... So, you can instantly see anywhere inside the archive, but you can’t actually move around in it, huh... Dantalyas.」

「That's a misconception, Kuroki-sama, if it’s just me, I can teleport anywhere instantly inside the Forbidden Archive. But I can't do so if I have to bring you along, Kuroki-sama.」

　A familiar voice could be heard coming from the passageway.

　And then, a figure stepped out from the passageway.

「K-Kuroki-dono...」

　Katakake was shocked to see who had emerged from the passageway.

　The one who emerged from the passageway was Kuroki.

　Beside him stood a woman he had never seen before, with pair of horns on her head.

「Well, whatever. For now, looks like I made it in time. Are you alright, Katakake-dono?」

　Kuroki was smiling as he greeted Katakake.