⌖⨊ Tatsuki Rize ⨞⋅

I know I must be the weirdest character you’ve ever met. But hold on to your horses and don’t panic. Let me tell you a little bit about myself.

I am a reincarnator.

I was formally known as Reese Rine, the daughter of Viscount Lukas. The first world I lived in was that of swords and magic.

In my second life, I was born on Earth, a world of smartphones and social media. My parents were Shiro Tatsuki and Rika Kobayashi. Most of you reading this should be familiar with this universe.

It was early in the morning, the cafe I managed was filled with the aromatic scent of coffee.

Ding.

The college girl who had just walked in, her hair was blonde, and eyes a hazy blue. She studied the chalkboard menu behind me.

Then turning to me, she ordered.

“Can I have the Coffee Latte?”

“Would you like anything else…?”

I don’t remember the price exactly, but I think a latte was 800 yen? She didn’t order any confectionaries.

She took a seat right by the counter. Her eyes observed me as I brewed her drink. Showing from her creased brows, she looked fed up about something.

She was the only customer I had at the moment, so I asked.

“Are you troubled by something?”

“Hm?”

“Are you troubled by something?”

I repeated.

Having lived through what people would consider a ‘fantasy world’, I realised that the biggest difference between modern and mediaeval culture was that modern people were all pretty confined to their heads. The only things that dominated their minds were things like money and influence. Relationships were secondary while material gains reigned despite complete abundance.

Who knew peaceful humanity could be this sickening.

“Yeah. About stuff.”

“Stuff?”

I added milk and then placed the coffee in front of her with the receipt.

“Life sucks when no one understands you.”

“What?”

“Nevermind.”

“Did you get into a fight by any chance?”

“I wouldn’t say I did.”

“Your boyfriend?”

“No. Family.”

Family.

There was a peculiar sense of longing as a child towards their parents. They wished to be understood, recognized and loved.

While I did receive the recognition and love I had always yearned for from a parental figure, I was never really understood.

“I think I can sympathise somewhat. So, what’s up with your family?”

I learnt a lot about modern culture and philosophy from this second world.

Politics and technology vastly differed from what I knew in my first life. People were a lot more wimpy, and the sheer quantity and quality of entertainment you could find here would make you question life itself.

With so much to do and an infinite array of information on demand, I found myself lost in my pursuits. For a period in my existence, I became a cog in this cursed civilization. There were many moments where I questioned life itself, which was funny considering how I’ve already lived a life prior to this one.

It wasn’t the easiest thing to reflect about ‘meaning’ in such a distorted world, but at some point in time I made a vow to stop chasing.

Ever since that first visit, EunHa would stop by the shop to have a drink. Most of the time alone, sometimes in a group.

And from those visits, we became close friends.

Until she just stopped coming one day.

And just like that, she became a memory of someone important buried deep in my mind.

I passed away from a natural death in the second world.

And woke up after death into my third world.

2nd Eden.

Set 138 Origin years after the fourth-dimensional calamity known as the ‘Second Revelation’. A national-scale isekai.

◃⊰⊱. ϕ⊹ ⋈⊶⌖⊹⊰⊱▹

◬ Origin Year 138, 22nd of Hana.

The medical officer passed two filed documents over to me.

“It’s rare seeing you gloomy.”

“Do I look gloomy?”

Maybe it shows on my face? I wouldn’t be surprised if someone said I was a little prickly these past few days.

“You saved many of us, we’re grateful. So I’d appreciate it if you take time to look after yourself. ”

Now that’s embarrassing. People see me as a war hero now.

“Will do! Thank you doctor!”

Anyways.

A fourth of Fortress 13 had become Swiss cheese, much of the interior fell into ruin. Most of the damage we owe to Mr. Giant Kraken fingers that turned reinforced concrete into playdough.

Approximately 40 percent of all soldiers died in battle, which was quite a conservative number for a Category 5 Cloud Hive. The rest were either not injured, in a critical state or bordering death.

Leaving the mortuary office with the files in hand, I trudged all the way to the other side of the Fortress, climbing a few flights of stairs, and then went back in the same direction from a different floor.

…All to reach papa’s office.

I could’ve taken the shorter route if not for the ‘Warning: repair in progress’ sign that blocked the entrance to one of the stairs.

“I’m here papa.”

“Enter.”

I was polite this time and knocked before entering.

Papa was alone, sitting at his desk looking through papers. I laid the two files on the desk.

Contained within are the certified death certificate and report of the deceased.

One was Ms. Lili’s file.

The other one was EunHa’s.

“Are you doing okay these days?”

Instead of the file, he looked at me and asked.

“I’m doing my best to cope with it.”

Ms. Lili’s death was the most recent loss of someone I loved. While I knew emotionally how to manage myself in these trying times, I just couldn’t get used to the feeling of emptiness that accompanied it.

I didn’t have a mother in this life, but Ms. Lili felt like one to me. She was caring, upright, and strict at times, but always warm and cosy. She was the person whom I turned to whenever I wanted to bully papa or chat about girl problems.

Now that she’s gone, I feel like I’ve lost a part of myself.

The world felt lonelier without her around.

By the way, we found out a day after the incident that the bullet wound was inflicted by Sergeant Suzuki. He came to us and confessed his crime.

Since it wasn’t ‘on purpose’, we couldn’t really blame him. Ms. Lili played a part in her own death too.

Anyhow, he was immediately kicked out of our company. He’ll be transferred to some other team in due time.

“How about you papa? Are you alright?”

“I can’t say I am.”

He sighed deeply.

Ms. Lili’s death also meant a loss of important talent. She was the one in charge of documentation affairs, and the management of younger privates. He had to fill in her spot temporarily until someone else joined the squad.

I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“Did you cry?”

“I did not.”

“I did though.”

There was nothing wrong with mourning for someone you love. Much better than putting up a front saying everything is fine when it isn’t.

He touched my head. I shook his hand off and pulled away.

“Papa—no. First Sergeant Hai. I have a request.”

“What is it, Rize-chan?”

He turned to me and looked at me straight in the face. I took a deep breath.

“Let me resign from the squad.”

I’ve made my decision.

◃⊰⊱ϑ⊹ ⨞⋅⫝⫘⌖ ⊹⊹⊰⊱▹

◬ Origin Year 138, 14th of Hana.

Around two weeks ago, our squad received a weird mission from the high court of the Third Stratum.

It was to ensure the death of a ‘cursed girl’ within a stipulated time.

With all things considered, we couldn’t refuse the order because it was endorsed by influential people and stuff. Even the super popular War Saint had her name on it.

Who was this ‘cursed girl’? It got me curious.

So when Ms. Lili brought her to the meeting room in Fortress 13, I received the shock of my life.

Bubbly pearl blonde hair and cerulean blue eyes that looked as if they came straight out of a fairytale.

I actually knew this girl! Vaguely, though, since it had been decades since I last saw her.

She’d probably win Miss Universe for Korea if only she would smile. That’s how great of an impression I have of her. Which was why I couldn’t believe they were sending her to the gallows!

“I have been notified of the order. But I can’t help but be curious about your decision.”

“It should’ve been summarised sufficiently inside the reports.”

Just what kind of situation did she end up in to develop such a depressing mindset?

“The report alone didn’t mention anything about why this is a good decision. Care to explain yourself?”

“No. If I don’t die within this one week. You must kill me.”

Out of curiosity or otherwise…

“Can I become her executioner instead of First Sergeant?”

I decided that I would investigate this girl. Having lived so long, it had been forever since I last saw someone so eager to die.

“It’s up to her to decide.”

“Really? Then EunHa, can I be your executioner?”

I turned to her. She looked doubtful.

“Please, please! I’ll make sure you have a painless death… or maybe a painful death, if that’s what you want. I’m a pro at this, trust me, I have a lot of experience in torturing—geh.”

Scrap that. I’ll completely brainwash her and dig out her deepest, darkest secrets!

◃⊰⊱⊹. ⊹⌖Ω ⩏⊹ϑ ⊰⊱▹

They say to conquer the mind you must first conquer the stomach.

“What do you think Cinnamon?”

Snap. Snap.

Needs more sugar huh?

I added a little more coarse sugar into the sauce.

Cinnamon is my pet sky turtle. I picked him up from the Zeroth Stratum during a data collection mission a few years ago by chance. He thought my hair was jellyfish and clung to me.

True story you know?

Anyways, Cinnamon is cute. We’ve been together for about 4 years now and he’s grown so much since we first became pals. From the size of a golf ball to now my whole palm.

Anyways. Focus on the food.

Salmon with sweet-sour teriyaki sauce.

The grilling salmon was taken off the searing pan and plated.

“Rize-sama, what are you cooking? It smells good.”

Sato LieZi, a chef and friend, peeked over the counter. She’s someone who alway goofs off during work time, especially when I’m around.

“Grilled salmon in teriyaki sauce.”

“Wow. That looks delish.”

Even if saliva drips from your mouth, you ain’t having this.

But I can make another set for you if you’re insistent.

“You’re not making this for yourself, aren’t you?”

“I’m making this for a guest.”

“Guest?”

“Yup.”

“I wonder who that is…”

“She’s a very special guest.”

“I’m jealous, she gets to eat your cooking…”

Yup. You should be.

“Oh yeah, how long is your stay here in the fortress?”

“Well…”

Until EunHa dies? I can’t say that, can I now?

“I’m not sure. We’re here on a mission to take care of that guest I mentioned.”

She nodded contemplatively.

“Oi! Sato-chan! Stop slacking and get your sorry ass over here! We’ve got work to do!”

The head chef yelled.

“Hikh! Roger that s-sir! Sorry Rize-sama, I gotta go!”

“Good luck!”

“Yes thank you!”

Wherever, and however dire humanity’s situation may be, good food was an indispensable essential in one’s life.

◃⊰⊱ϑ⊹ ⨞⋅⫝⫘⌖ ⊹⊹⊰⊱▹

“Here’s your dinner.”

EunHa stared at the dish I made.

Was she stunned by how beautifully I plated the salmon? Or was she moved to tears by the service? It’s got to be either one of them right?

“I can’t believe they even hired a chef to cook for you. Crazy. Who are you exactly?”

That chef is me!

“…Someone who deserves to die.”

She said…what?

I didn’t mean the question literally.

“Do you want me to accompany you?”

Concerned for her well-being I asked.

“No. I can eat it myself.”

She insisted on independence. Hm…

“Be careful alright. I couldn’t find a blunt knife in the kitchen so I can only give you this one.”

She kept staring at the pointy sharp knife.

Should I have given a butter knife instead? That would’ve made the set look weird though?

◤◢

I was pretty certain by this point that this EunHa didn’t have memories of her past life.

This could mean one of two things.

First was that this EunHa wasn’t EunHa. She was a doppelganger. Or, second, she’s the real one but she just doesn’t have her memories.

Since I can never figure out which one is true, I’ll just make up a third assumption.

She’s the EunHa of this dimension. Simple.

After making and serving dinner, I was called to papa’s office.

A big man with a dependable aura to his presence—First Sergeant Hai Aki, or as I would call him: papa. He sat with his spine straight, his fingers interlaced.

“Rize-chan, I don’t know what kind of situation this is, but avoid getting too close to her. We don’t know what kind of trouble we’d get ourselves into if we’re not careful.”

“Uwe, but I’m her executioner, don’t I decide how I look out for my prisoner?”

“I understand that you have the greatest authority over her at the moment, but… no. Let me clarify. I’m concerned about your safety. The information about her is unusual.”

He took something out from underneath the desk. A thick file.

“I think it’s best if you read this.”

“What’s this?”

“Don’t tell anyone I allowed you to.”

He allowed me the privilege to read the confidential document which would have otherwise been illegal.

The first thing on the headlines…

“She stabbed her fiance?”

Only an insane person would do something like that.

Then proceeding, I read reports on the Battle of Horyuji and Jeonju among other missions. Instead of a curse, I’d argue that the people who died were just unlucky.

“…I feel like she’s been super lucky to survive so many near-death experiences.”

Should you even call this a curse?

There was a part where they compared mission data from normal engagements and those she was engaged with. Clearly, the statistics showed some harrowing discrepancies.

Thanks to some unfair survivorship luck, and potential disaster magnetism, she always finds herself in missions that were just a tad too dangerous. Likely, monikers like The One Who Heralded Death and The Devil owed themselves to these unlucky encounters.

“As a disaster magnet myself, it seems I have attracted another disaster magnet in need of babysitting.”

I muttered.

I can’t believe the EunHa of this world experienced so much cruelty.

“The one we need to babysit isn’t her, it’s you.”

“Wha! That’s mean! I’m not a kid that needs your constant complaining you know?”

“Then act like an adult and prove me wrong.”

“Uwa! Papa I hate you!”

He wasn’t wrong. I’m only 12 years old.

◤◢

That night when I snuck into EunHa’s room to secretly retrieve the cart and plate, I saw her still awake.

I smelled something familiar, and there was a striking red colour in the dark which painted her hands.

It took me I think a full two seconds to realise what she was doing. It took her way longer to notice me.

In normal cases, I wouldn’t even bat an eye at someone killing themselves. I’ve witnessed enough to become desensitised of such things.

But this person was… my prisoner. And I decided that it was unacceptable to do something like that.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I grabbed her before she lowered the knife onto her skin. She turned to me like a broken doll. A gloomy glaze shadowed her normally bright eyes.

“How long have you been doing this?”

I’m angry.

◃⊰⊱. ϕ⊹ ⋈⊶⌖⊹⊰⊱▹

◬ Origin Year 138, 15nd of Hana.

“All units prepare for battle. Category 2 Hive, bearing 293 degrees from the bow, engagement in 30 minutes. General composition: lesser demonica and Colossal-class demonica of Short Whales and Bloodfin Orcas. No sentient-class, the possibility of swarm-class demonica is unconfirmed. I repeat. All units prepare for battle. Category 2 Hive bearing 293 degrees…”

Oh, here comes a Cloud Hive.

I was sulking on the veranda overlooking the sky wharf. The soldiers scampered like ants that found honey ever since the loud siren came on.

“Looks like I have to get to work. What are you going to do?”

Mr. Chen stretched from the railing and turned towards me.

I groaned, dropping my head.

“I don’t know. EunHa doesn’t want me.”

She abandoned me for Ms. Lili!

“Come on, she’s probably just sensitive because her life is coming to an end.”

“That’s the problem! Can’t she at least be happy about that! Making that pathetic expression saying that ‘she has to’, ‘she has no choice’, ‘she must’. Why can’t she just cry when she needs to? Why can’t she just admit her pain? Why can’t she just accept that she’s the victim of it all? Like seriously, who does she think she is?”

“Aiy, aiy. I heard ya captain.”

Yup. I came to Mr. Chen to bad mouth EunHa.

She chose Ms. Lili over me.

Even though I was being so nice to her!

Snap. Snap.

Cinnamon the turtle bit my hair.

“Hey!”

“Sorry Rize-chan, I really have to get going. Since you’re so concerned, how about you go find her and maybe talk it out?”

“Good idea!”

Mr. Chen rolled his eyes at my response…

What did I ever do to you to earn that reaction?

Leaving our secret spot, I first went to Ms. Lili’s office.

It was empty. So I made my way to EunHa’s room.

It was also empty.

Huh…

Where could they be?

I made my way to the base floor. The soldiers were busy moving. I asked those that I knew were part of our company if they saw Ms. Lili anywhere.

“Staff Sergeant Chu? I saw her walk right by here a minute ago.”

“She went there.”

“Sorry, I didn’t notice where she went, but maybe to the command centre?”

“Rize-chan, who are you looking for?”

Finding Ms. Lili and EunHa was like a dynamic treasure hunt.

“Oh yeah. I saw her twice. The second time, the girl wasn’t with her anymore.”

What?

The first bombardment ensued, and the sounds of gunfire ruptured through the air. In that instant, I realised where she could be—the battlefield.

Was she really going to commit suicide like that?!

I’ve got to stop her!

◤◢

“Ms. Lili!”

“Rize-chan!”

“Where’s EunHa!?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out too!”

I found Ms. Lili at the western side’s fifth line of defence. She too, like me, was trying to find EunHa. We asked around the soldiers if they had seen a girl wearing a dress and holding a gun.

Like, there’s no way someone like that wouldn’t stand out when everyone else wore a proper uniform.

“I’ve searched the southern and western border. I haven’t seen her.”

“How about northwest?”

“I haven’t gone there.”

“Then I’ll look northwest.”

The Cloud Hive was coming in at bearing 293∘, which means the most battle-dense region would be there.

Short Whales, Bloodfin Orcas, Beak Octopus, Jawfish, Drifter Jellyfish—they covered the sky like soot blocking out the sun.

“There!”

Ms. Lili shouted, pointing at the girl fighting in the air—holy smokes! I thought the report was a lie but she can actually fly?!

Demonica swarmed her like candy, creating something like a tornado where she alone was the eye.

From the gaps in between the busy swarm, I saw her fall painfully onto the deck. Many soldiers were using the opening she created to strike down as many demonica as they could.

“I’ll go bring her in!”

“Be careful!”

Wind Magic, Acceleration!

A light green glow covered my body as my body zipped through the battlefield at a breakneck speed.

The blue spark created at the base of the gun at each fire, bullets that scattered a trail of cold air behind, the splattering of bloody guts everywhere.

I observed as the world’s time slowed in my eyes.

A Bloodfin Orca’s jaws wide open, no more than a few metres away from EunHa.

I didn’t have the time to grab a gun or sword from my shadow storage or anything of that sort.

And even if I did, it could barely do anything to change its forward momentum.

The fastest available move was using magic.

Flame magic? No, I need something that would blow it away.

Wind magic was impossible.

Earth magic would be too slow.

My shadow magic isn’t strong enough to swallow an entire human being.

Well, so be it.

Enchantment, Reinforcement Magic! Wind Magic, Acceleration, Double-time!

Piercing through the horde. I arrived before the monster and—

“EEUUNHHAAAA!!!!”

Literally threw my entire body at it.

I felt something snap.

◤◢

A surgical blade was inserted into my arm, and my flesh was pulled open.

I didn’t realise just how bad my injury was until the battle was over.

“A-A-Ahh… mn. Okay, it’s not as bad. But it really hurts.”

An open reduction procedure to straighten out my right arm which broke.

Yes. In the end, I had to undergo surgery.

Normally, popping the ulna back in place before putting a cast over would’ve been an extremely painful procedure, to the point of requiring general anaesthesia. But for me who had experienced pain worse than this, it was bearable. Somewhat.

“You really are something.”

I convinced the surgeon that it wasn’t necessary to put me to sleep. Local anaesthesia was used of course, but it didn’t completely take the pain away.

I was still having my flesh sliced apart.

The part of the fracture was revealed.

“I’ll hold it in place.”

“Thanks.”

Using something like a scissor-tong to align my bone. I reached over with my left hand and hovered my finger over the site.

“Ugh…”

A sharp pain, worse than the already throbbing sensation, completely blew my mind white.

I took in a few deep breaths, and focused my mind. I can’t mess up here…

Healing magic.

A soft green glow appeared where the fracture line met. I was careful not to regenerate the flesh yet, otherwise, I would lose sight of the part I needed to heal.

If I hadn’t understood healing magic, one, the recovery process would’ve taken months, and two, I would require metal screws and plates embedded inside.

“Okay. It’s healed. You can stitch it back.”

I told the surgeon.

“There’s another fracture further down.”

“Ugh.”

Oh lucky me. I hate this!!

◤◢

The whole operation backed by magic lasted around an hour. When I came out, my right arm was cast in a splint.

Ms. Lili was outside working on some sort of report while waiting for me.

“Eh… you didn’t wait long did you?”

I asked.

“No. It wasn’t long. More importantly, how is your arm?”

“Magic did the trick.”

I winked.

Healing magic was by far one of the hardest magic types to learn. If there was anything I regret from my previous lives, it’s that maybe I should’ve studied this field of magic a little more.

That said, healing magic wasn’t omnipotent. Besides the huge mana costs, the most I could do is accelerate the regeneration of cells or remove contaminants. All magical abilities in this world are suppressed, so a lot of the more complex magic functions like ‘scan and aim’ can’t be performed with my current skill mastery.

Still, it’s fun to know that I can break science here.

“I’m sorry.”

Ms. Lili suddenly apologised.

“Ah? What?”

“I should’ve stopped her from straying too far.”

“You know it’s normal to hurt yourself in battle right? It’s not like you’re one to speak just because I’m injured. Relax.”

Ms. Lili showed a bitter smile.

“Still…”

“How is EunHa?”

“She got treatment, and now she’s asleep in her room.”

“Oh, sounds good.”

“Rize-chan, the issue about her lead executioner, maybe you should take it instead.”

Me? Really?!

“So you’re passing the role back to me?”

“Yes.”

“YES!! Thank you Ms. Lili!”

“Just… don’t try to scare her anymore?”

“Am I a ghost or something?”

“You aren’t a ghost, but you are the Black Siren.”

“Boo—”

Point taken Miss Lili. Point taken.

◃⊰⊱⊹. ⊹⌖Ω ⩏⊹ϑ ⊰⊱▹

◬ Origin Year 138, 17th of Hana.

Two days had passed since.

I was in EunHa’s room. We were playing cards. I continued my interrogation (masked as random questions). I wanted to learn more about the EunHa of this universe.

“Are you and the War Saint friends?”

I asked.

“Friends? Yes. We’re quite close actually.”

So she and the War Saint are besties? It feels kind of odd how a friend would agree to kill her friend. Maybe she has a crush on EunHa’s fiance.

Typical drama development in novels.

“You know, I’ve met the War Saint before.”

I said.

“Really…?”

It was quite a few years ago.

“She’s a weird person. While I can’t really remember much, I remember she has this air of desperation. It’s like the world is going to end or something… ta-da. I got an ace and queen.”

My explanation was interrupted by the progression of the round. I grinned at her.

She wasn’t surprised in the slightest. I only understood why when she revealed her hand.

“Here.”

“Wawawawawawhaa??! What the?!”

A double ace! The chance of getting something like this is uh? What again? I don’t know! It’s just super duper low!

…She sighed heavily.

“This always happens.”

Huh?

“What do you mean?”

“You know the saying that luck never comes when you need it the most…?”

“What?”

…What a bitter smile she’s showing right now. Ugh.

“That’s the kind of person I am.”

“Really…? Then that’s—sad.”

“Isn’t it…”

She looked so depressed saying that. Should I tell her she’s being delusional?

She won the game at the very end you know?

◤◢

EunHa had every intention to die.

Meanwhile, I had every intention for her to live.

I left EunHa’s room to go to the office, Cinnamon stayed behind to keep watch. I needed to check if I had any work assigned to me.

As a freeloader of the company, even I had to do paperwork sometimes.

When I looked out the window, I saw streaks of altostratus clouds below the Fortress. Meanwhile, the twilight sky above was relatively clear with a few cirrocumulus clouds here and there.

I reached the office, failed to knock on the door and entered the dimly lit room.

Tud.

It was a hit.

“Ow…”

Ms. Lili raised her body from behind the table, rubbing her head.

“Hello, Ms. Lili!”

“Rize-chan. Hahh… you scared me there.”

“Are you doing something sneaky?”

“Possibly?”

She’s a thief!

I shut the door behind me and turned on the lights.

“So, what kind of sneaky work are you doing exactly?”

“How about you? What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to check if I have any paperwork I need to do.”

“I don’t think you do.”

“Really? That’s great! Let’s be criminals together. What are you doing exactly?”

“Can you lock the door?”

Definitely.

With the coast clear, she beckoned me over.

I got down on my knee, she pointed at papa’s drawer which had been locked. I noticed silver wires, so she must’ve wanted to crack the safe.

“On it.”

I extended a shadow inside and wiggled it around.

Click.

“We’re in!”

I have no idea what illegal things Ms. Lili was going to do with the secret documents inside. But I’m an accomplice!

“Thank you Rize-chan.”

“Oh! It’s EunHa’s file!”

Ms. Lili nodded.

We opened it on the table and spread it out. I watched her scan the materials one by one.

Papa had let me read it once before. So I was familiar with most of the details inside.

“Have you read it before?”

“I have.”

“When?”

“Papa showed it to me a few days ago.”

“…Did he say anything?”

“He told me to stay away from her if possible.”

“What was his stance?”

“Stance?”

Though questions from Ms. Lili. I had an inkling where she wanted to take this.

“I think it’s neutral.”

Ms. Lili nodded, her eyes sharpened.

She carefully put the documents back in the file. Taking a deep breath, she turned to me.

Her calm, dark blue eyes reflected mine.

Her gaze drifted down to my arm, then back to my face.

With a smile,

“Rize-chan. Can you guess what I’m thinking?”

“You’re going to start a coup and become the next queen of England.”

She burst out laughing.

“Hahaha, no what? What England? Isn’t that ancient civilization? That’s going too far. Come on, a serious answer. I’m sure you already know by now.”

“You want to save EunHa.”

We both stared at each other for a while. Our matching sentiments were transmitted.

“I need your help with this okay, Rize-chan?”

She reached out and patted my head.

“I don’t want her to die either.”

◃⊰⊱⊹. ⊹⌖Ω ⩏⊹ϑ ⊰⊱▹

◬ Origin Year 138, 18th of Hana.

I yelled in the meeting.

“I think it’s unreasonable! We should just fake her death and have her live here.”

“Judging from the reports, it’s likely a political scandal.”

Politics and bad upbringing. The combination of these two was the most likely cause of EunHa’s negative perspective.

She can’t return home either. Not when the people were rooting for her death.

It’s confidential information now, but I’m sure it’ll be all over the radio and papers when it gets out that EunHa, the talented daughter of Lieutenant Commander Hwang JaeHyun was sentenced to death.

Whatever the case may be, to keep her alive, it would require sufficient preparations to save her from destitution.

“It seems unreasonable, yes, but have we considered it from her angle?”

Gunnery Sergeant Shun Kato voiced his thoughts.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I was never one to believe in the supernatural, or superstition.”

Yup. Mr. Shun was a rationalist. Logical, a true-to-earth realist.

“But, a lot of those assumptions were shattered having met you.”

“Geh. Seriously?”

“That’s actually a good point.”

“I’ll have to agree.”

What?

Am I a unicorn or something?

“Rize-chan has a tendency to turn disaster into miracles. If someone like her exists, couldn’t someone be living on the opposite spectrum?”

“I don’t know how to believe in coincidences. But, if I had to judge from that perspective, then what’s described in the documents could be true.”

A cursed child.

A natural disaster in the flesh.

If there were super lucky people in the world, why wouldn’t there be unlucky ones? That kind of logic.

It was superstition layered onto maths. Just look at the normal distribution if you need proof.

“Then all I need to do is stay by her side to counter each other’s energy right?”

So based on maths, 1 plus -1 equals zero. It offsets the bad luck.

“Or maybe, if I try to turn myself into 2, 2 plus -1 makes 1. Then it makes us both lucky.”

“That makes sense and no sense.”

Mr. Shun nodded.

“Are you really sure you want to take the risk to take care of that girl that has been ordered to die?”

Mr. Chen was in protest though.

“If I can help save a life, why not?”

“Rize-chan, if all this is true, you might lose your life in the process.”

“Sounds like a good deal.”

“What?!”

“I’ve lived enough times to know that you need something to die for to truly live. Life would be purposeless without something like that. If I die because of her, so be it.”

“No, but… you just met her… why would you go so far for her?”

“It’s no different from how papa picked me up. He didn’t know me, yet here we are now. Right, papa?”

“It’s embarrassing when you put it that way.”

“Hehe. Love you papa!”

“Shut up, shut up.”

The discussion had been held, the decision was in the air.

EunHa’s life was in her own hands.

That was the conclusion everyone came to except me.

“Thank you Rize-chan.”

“No problems!”

“So you two have been in cahoots huh?”

Ms. Lili and I turned to Mr. Chen.

“Yeah! Ms. Lili and I are criminals.”

Mr. Chen shook his head in resignation.

“So, how do you two intend to deal with the consequences? Even if she survives, we can’t let her stay here.”

“To be honest, I’m considering temporary resignation.”

“Resigning?”

“Ah?!”

Ms. Lili is resigning?!

“I feel guilty for abandoning my three children for the sake of work. I’m thinking of taking a break for a few years to take care of them.”

“I suppose that makes sense.”

“Are you not going to start a family anytime soon? Vice Admiral Chen?”

“A family…”

There was a sense of hesitance in his words.

“I’m still waiting for the right time.”

“Oh. But don’t wait too long sir. You don’t know when your opportunity will fly away.”

Ms. Lili showed a flat, suggestible smile.

“Come on. Don’t say that.”

Mr. Chen was flustered by her remark.

Suspicious!

“So do you have someone you’re looking at Mr. Chen?”

Tell me. Tell me.

“Not telling you.”

“Wow, so you do!”

He rolled his eyes, then continued.

“So how does this retirement relate to helping that girl? You’re going to bring her with you?”

“Yes. That’s what I’m thinking.”

“That’s risky.”

“I’m willing to take it.”

“That’s perfect! Then I want to visit you home too once this is over.”

“Yes, you’re always welcome, Rize-chan. Just don’t corrupt my children with your bad influence.”

“What?”

Ms. Lili simply responded by poking my cheeks.

Unfair!

◃⊰⊱. ϕ⊹ ⋈⊶⌖⊹⊰⊱▹

◬ Origin Year 138, 19th of Hana.

A swarm so big and voluminous that even the sun was blocked out.

Our fleet was maintaining position, expending minimal resources against the Hive.

The plan was to conserve as much firepower as possible for the blitzkrieg when Admiral Lan arrives with the mothership alongside the rest of the fleet.

The battle of attrition between the Category 5 Cloud Hive and Fortress didn’t look too good.

We received many requests for assistance.

The death toll was rising.

Troops were falling further towards the core of the Fortress.

Demonica running rampant within the interior of the Castle.

The Dome which housed the prana crystal core had been captured.

Krakens were digging into the side of the fortress, some tearing apart castle walls.

I couldn’t help but worry about everyone’s safety.

Suddenly changing plans and switching to defence would probably help alleviate some damage.

But following that emotional judgement would result in an ultimate loss.

We had to do what we must, even if those at the Fortress would hate us for it.

Wait for the chance, and strike the heart.

[“Admiral Lan Shina speaking. An updated strategy data has been sent to your decks, all captains follow orders.”]

Yes!

She’s here! We can begin our operation!

Control over the fleet had transferred from Mr. Chen to his boss, Admiral Lan Shina.

[“All guns deploy.”]

[“Adjust for wind, aim bearing -3∘, all ships engage.”]

I watched from the cockpit the battle which unfolded.

From the left to right, the massive airships filled the sky. Their bodies shimmered in the shadowy skies, long hulls stained by the blood of dead sea demons.

Position right at the centre of the formation was the one and only mothership!

Accelerate.

Engage.

The now complete fleet of over 20 ships commanded by Admiral Lan Shina dove into the outer zone of the Cloud Hive.

Conserving nothing, all special ammunition was used to blast through the Cloud Hive.

Grand explosions and shockwaves could be felt even from inside the ship.

The fireworks of dead corpses shower the sky in pools of ash and flesh. Some of them splashed onto the viewing window.

[“Target Found. Phase 2 begins, all ships hold current position—”]

Leaving all but the Colossal-class demonica, we bought time for the mothership to charge the artillery. That was the focus of phase 2.

We were completely surrounded on all sides.

Our airships moved into a new circle formation.

Demonica closed in on us like a thick black fog.

[“Hold—”]

Demonica began eating into the ship’s hull. The windows overflowed with their squishy bodies desperately trying to make their way in.

From between the gaps of the demonica that covered the view, the earlier cloud of explosion began to clear…

[“Fire!”]

An impact of an unknown source rippled through my body. For a moment, my head went completely white. As the world dimmed slightly at the end of recoil, I once again renewed my awe for such an incredible weapon.

The railgun.

[“Again, fire!”]

The same intense sensation was felt again.

And again. And again. And…

The demonica turned frantic sometime between the sixth and seventh rounds. The skies began to clear.

[“Phase 3 to begin. To all captains, you are given free control. Exterminate and assist the Fortress defences against demonica immediately.”]

A sense of accomplishment spread through the team in the cockpit.

[“The queen is dead.”]

The delayed announcement by the Admiral marked our victory.

…Or so I thought.

◃⊰⊱ϑ⊹ ⨞⋅⫝⫘⌖ ⊹⊹⊰⊱▹

“Where is she?”

“This way.”

The medics guided us to a corner of the room. A white cloth covered her body.

“Mr. Chen, Rize-chan.”

Papa, Mr. Shun and Mr. Shang were already there.

Mr. Chen and I were the last to arrive.

We immediately headed to the infirmary, receiving the news of her death a few hours earlier.

“No, why…”

Late.

A sense of emptiness which I had not felt in a long time pervaded me—a sense of loss that I didn’t think would shake my strong will.

“Ms. Lili. How…”

We’ve been through numerous life-and-death situations. Never once in my six years of service had any one of our squad members died.

Ms. Lili was the first among us to have a proper family. She had a husband and two children.

They were waiting for her.

The thought of it completely fried my brain.

Why…

Why did she…

I started noticing all the other white sheets all around.

A small number of the ones that died in battle.

I hadn’t realised it before.

The tragedy of war, and the value of life.

And finally, the girl who sat lifelessly on the ground.

She wasn’t dead.

“You…”

Mr. Chen grabbed her by the hair and pulled her up.

She didn’t resist, not a single sound was made.

He threw her over the nearby table.

“Chen QiangWei!”

Papa yelled.

“Fucking… fucking die already?! Weren’t you the one who said you caused this?! Why are you still alive! Why did it have to be you! Why did she have to die!”

He managed to kick her three times before the medics, papa, and Mr. Shang restrained him.

“Let go…!”

Everyone in the infirmary was on their toes.

Limp on the ground, her body shivered uncontrollably. She looked like a broken rag doll.

“I heard she tried to save you.”

I squatted down before her.

“She saved you, right?”

She refused to raise her head, remaining frozen in that position.

“Right?”

I grabbed her neck and forced her to look at me.

“Answer me.”

I had no idea what kind of expression I was making. My emotions were a mess too. Terror painted her eyes.

“EunHa~ you caused her death right~?”

“Y-Ye…”

“Rize—!”

“Vice Admiral Chen! Stop it!”

“Kill her before she causes another calamity! Rize-chan, get the fuck away from her!”

“Rize, enough!”

I felt the blood moving through my heart, pulsing throughout my veins at every heartbeat. A cold calmness washed over me.

I smiled, touched her swollen cheeks and lifted her chin.

“You feel guilty don’t you?”

Her sweet tears didn’t stop pouring.

“After everything she has done… do you perhaps still feel like dying?”

Her lips trembled.

“You do, don’t you?”

She pushed away my hand. Her hair scattered and fell, veiling her face.

“Don’t you want to atone for your sins? For her death?”

“… Yes.”

“Come on. Tell me. Tell me what you’re going to do. How are you going to repent?”

“… Kill me.”

“Kill you? Isn’t that funny? She sacrificed herself for you to live, and you’re going to throw it away? How ironic!”

I grabbed her by her hair.

“EunHa~ I won’t let you get away with it so easily~”

And whispered into her ear.

“Okay? OKaY? Right, EunHa? You shouldn’t ever forget that she died for you okay? I know you want to die but I won’t let you! You know why? Because dying is easy! I can kill you if I wanted to. But it’s dull! Let me at least play with you first. That way Ms. Lili’s death isn’t wasted. You’ll pay with your guilt. I’ll make sure you suffer. You’ll listen to me, right? I’ll make you regret ever thinking of dying. You’ll—”

◃⊰⊱⊹. ⊹⌖Ω ⩏⊹ϑ ⊰⊱▹

◬ Origin Year 138, 22nd of Hana.

I don’t know about you, but luck is a weird thing.

What is lucky can actually be unlucky, and unlucky be lucky.

For example, I can’t tell if leaving EunHa alone while I hopped onto Mr. Chen’s ship was lucky or unlucky.

Maybe if I hadn’t boarded, Ms. Lili would’ve survived.

Or maybe… the whole Fortress would’ve been wiped out.

After all, nobody would’ve thought about the chemical flames to wipe out the swarm-class Swirl Leeches if not for me. Those bastards could’ve made the already difficult battle hell.

“Let me resign from the squad.”

As I reflected on everything that had happened, I came to a decision to make some changes in my life.

Papa made a sour expression.

Well, you should’ve expected this coming, right?

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes. I’m sure.”

“If that’s your decision… I can’t say much about it.”

“Really?”

“Do you think I have any other choice?”

A bitter yet compassionate expression on his face.

“Uwa! Thank you papa!”

Let me give you my biggest glomp! I kissed his cheeks.

“Motherfucker that’s going too far!”

“Uwaahh!! Can’t I at least act like a proper daughter?

“For fuck sake. You should really hold back on these things.”

He coarsely wiped my kiss from his face.

“Papa’s embarrassed hehe.”

“Shut up.

“Okay, okay. My bad. But really, this might be the last time I see you so cherish that smooch okay? I’m not giving you another one.”

“To hell with that.”

He heaved a sigh before tearing open EunHa’s folder.

He checked the death certificate inside and then turned to me.

“Once I turn this in, she, Hwang EunHa will no longer exist.”

“I know. You taught me how to deal with these kinds of situations, so I’ll manage somehow.”

“Still. Be careful.”

“You too.”

I stood up straight, took in a deep breath and performed a full salute.

“First Sergeant Hai. It was a pleasure working with you.”

“The pleasure was mine, Tatsuki Rize. I’m glad you didn’t die the first time we met.”

We giggled.

I made my way to the door.

And just as I was about to leave…

“…Will you come back?”

He asked. Will I come back?

For six years, this was my home. I lived and grew up here, made family and memories with everyone…

Will I come back, you ask?

I turned to him and showed a wide grin. Isn’t the answer obvious?

“Most definitely!”

I’m forever the Black Siren of First Sergeant Hai’s company.

“…If I don’t die, that is.”

That will never change.

“I believe you won’t Rize-chan.”

He smiled.

“I don’t either. Well, until we meet again, First Sergeant!”

I turned around and took a step.

That instant my feet landed outside the office, I knew.

It was the start of a new chapter in my life.

◤◢

I stood in front of the door of my room.

I took in a few deep breaths and knocked.

“I’m coming in.”

I scanned the room for any signs of change.

The tables were empty as ever, Cinnamon was enjoying his time in the coral tank, and EunHa was still chained up on the bed.

Good, she didn’t escape.

“I’m back.”

Her head was still buried inside her knees. She hadn’t moved nor said anything since I entered. Was she asleep?

“How are your wounds?”

I made my way over to her.

When she raised her head, I saw dried blood on her forehead. She passed out.

“W-What happened?! Hey! Hey!”

Snap. Snap.

Cinnamon, my spy said that she kept pounding her head against her knee while I was away.

“Wow, do you want me to actually fix you up all four limbs? Get up!”

Slowly, she blinked her hazy eyes awake.

When she saw me, she jumped. Her pupils quivered as if she saw her worst nightmare.

I can’t believe that she’s actually treating me like this even though all I’m trying to do is help.

“EunHa, try bashing your head again and I’ll literally chain you to the bed like yesterday and tickle you silly.”

She quickly shook her head.

“Good.”

She hates being tickled. Seeing her laugh and cry with such a bitter expression stimulated my sadistic tendencies a little.

“Anyways, it’s almost 6. What do you want to eat?”

“…”

“Or would you like that unagi don I made yesterday?”

“…Yes.”

“Alright.”

First the stomach. Nothing can be done before solving that.

◤◢

I sought out my chef-cum-friend in the kitchen.

“LieZi-chan, do you have extra rice?”

“Rice? Cooked, uncooked?”

“Cooked.”

“Um. I think we should have some left in the pot.”

Nice! I began digging the cold storage for ingredients.

“What are you making today?”

“Unagi. I’ll make extra for you guys too.”

“Really?!”

“Yes really. Tell the others to come when I’m done.”

I folded up the sleeves of my uniform.

“Is your arm alright?”

“It’s healing.”

The doctor told me not to use my arm for a week. But it’s already healed after applying intermittent healing magic.

I won’t bother with his advice. I know myself better since I worked in the medical field in my past life.

“Um, I know it’s a silly question, but… you’ve been cooking for someone else right?”

The rumour about EunHa being some kind of harbinger has probably spread all over. She’s not wrong for suspecting me of taking care of EunHa who should’ve died. I’ve been coming to the kitchen the past week to make meals.

“I’m cooking for papa.”

“Oh but…”

“The girl is dead.”

“Ah.”

“So don’t worry about it.”

I smiled.

Don’t ask.

I’ll make sure that EunHa stays dead.

◃⊰⊱ϑ⊹ ⨞⋅⫝⫘⌖ ⊹⊹⊰⊱▹

“Here ya go.”

I set the unagi don in front of her.

Packed full of love, it’s got sesame seeds sprinkled on rice, a nice strip of eel meat glazed in sweet sauce, and dried seaweed sheets tucked to the edge of the bowl.

We don’t have miso onboard so I made seaweed soup with cube tofu.

Speaking of which, I don’t know if she likes Japanese cuisine. Maybe she prefers Kimbap or something.

She stared at Cinnamon who was already munching on the fresh seaweed I prepared.

“Rize-chan.”

She spoke in a weak voice.

“Yes?”

“Can I… really not die?”

“No. You must live.”

“I don’t know… what if…”

“We’ll take it one step at a time.”

“…”

“Ms. Lili gave her life to you.”

I don’t know how many times I’ve said this. As someone who lives for others, I thought Ms. Lili’s death was the perfect shackle to bind her to the world of the living.

“That’s why you should continue to live. You would be wasting her life otherwise.”

“More people will die…”

“So be it.”

I’ve killed people intentionally, and almost caused a genocide, so excuses like that won’t work.

“…”

“I don’t know what kind of curse you have, but that’s our first goal. To understand it, and find some way to fix it. If we can’t fix it, we’ll use it to our advantage.”

“It’s impossible.”

“Well. Maybe it is, but I’m not giving up.”

“What if… the world ends because of me…”

“I’ve dealt with someone like that before. Your situation is less severe, don’t sweat it.”

Someone as in… ugh. Forget it. It’s not a pleasant memory.

“Eat. I’ll talk about our plans going forward.”

I shoved the chopstick and spoon in her hand.

She nodded weakly.

Tears fell from her eyes.

It’s been one week now, and she’s still crying. How much pain had she been suppressing inside all this while anyways? It’s quite concerning.

“Listen while you eat.”

Nod. Nod.

“We’ll be leaving tomorrow at midnight. I’ll sneak you out, and you better follow every word I say okay?”

Nod. Nod.

“You, unfortunately, can’t attend Ms. Lili’s funeral directly, but I plan to go visit her family together at some point in time. So, I assume our next stop after Fortress City Fuji would be New Hangul City. Have you been there before?”

Shake. Shake… nod. Nod.

“It’s a relatively peaceful country-style city with a nice view.”

Nod. Nod. She ate the rice in small bites.

“I’m technically retired now that I’ve resigned. So we have maybe a year or two to explore the world. I’m not sure how much you’ve travelled, I haven’t gone to many places personally.”

“…Me neither.”

“Then we’ll go on a long vacation together.”

I think that’s what she needs. Time away from all the problems.

“To learn how to live.”

I suspect that she had only been thinking about military stuff, and ‘saving the world’ ever since she was young. So, what better opportunity to experience what it means to properly live than now?

Her quivering lips parted.

“What if people found me…?”

Good question.

“First of all, you are officially dead in the papers. You’re identified as ‘died in battle, corpse not found’. Papa will deal with the issue of not being able to retrieve your corpse.”

“So off the board, we need to change your appearance. I’ll handle that, you just have to follow me. But besides your appearance, more importantly, we have to overhaul your identity.”

“EunHa is dead.”

She flinched at those words.

“Leave your past behind, we’re starting anew.”

“And by that, I mean everything. Forget about who you thought you were, what you think your purpose is, and most especially those you think you are responsible for.”

It’s probably difficult for her to do so, but I’ll guide her gradually.

Letting go is tough, but I think it’s crucial. She had become too attached to who she was to see a border world.

“All the bad things you’ve done, all the good things you’ve done, just think of them as you from another life.”

Just as I had to take on a new identity every time I entered a new world, she had to do the same, but within the same world.

“From today onwards, you are no longer EunHa.”

“You will be Tatsuki EiYun, or Eun-chan. You will be my adopted daughter.”

Yes, you heard it right.

The real reason why I decided to retire from the squad.

It’s so that I can fulfil my lifelong dream of becoming a mother!

Biological age doesn’t matter. I’m chronologically 100-something years old, she’s only 18-something since she has no memories of her past life.

But you complain: Rize! The length of the year in this world is 5/4 the number of days on earth so shouldn’t you have to convert that before speaking actual numbers? EunHa would be 22 years old on Earth years—

Whatever!

I’m too lazy for maths!

“So call me mama!”

“Mama.”

What?

Did I just hear that right?

You’re killing me. Seriously?

I expected a bigger reaction. Who knew she’d just…

Was she broken to such an extent?

I’m not the perpetrator, right?

By the way, the way she called me sounded worse than white noise.

Sigh.

This daughter of mine will surely be troublesome to take care of. But I love you!

I didn’t marry for the past 100 years, nor did I become pregnant outside of that culture. So becoming a mother was a lifelong dream I never got to experience until now.

I could’ve adopted someone in my past life. But I opted to build a non-profit for children’s welfare instead.

But this time finally, I have an excuse to take EunHa—I mean, Eun-chan as my own.

She needs special care and attention.

I wasn’t sure what kind of curse she was afflicted with, but my maternal instincts were telling me that what she needed was a different outlook on life.

Yeah, let’s go with that line of reasoning.

Eun-chan finished her meal and turned towards Cinnamon with a dazed look.

Her dishevelled hair which hadn’t been combed for perhaps a day left a completely sloven appearance on her.

I wonder how best to change her appearance while keeping her charm intact? As I pondered such a thing, I heard a knock on my door.

Eun-chan completely freaked out. I pointed to the bed.

She nodded and quickly went to hide underneath. Ain’t my daughter quick-witted?

I went to the door and peeked from the gap.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

Mr. Chen and his fancy suit. What is he here for?

“Can you come out for a bit? Let’s talk.”

With your haggard look? Fine.

I went out and shut the door carefully behind me.

“What is it?”

He said nothing, observing me with his dull eyes.

It went on for a full minute. I was tempted to poke his eyeballs out.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

He’s sounding really dramatic here.

“Why are you keeping her?”

“Are you not going to keep it a secret?”

Besides First Sergeant and me, Mr. Chen, Mr. Shang, and Mr. Shun knew that Eun-chan was still alive.

“Tell me why are you protecting her?”

“I just feel like it. There’s no particular reason.”

It’s a cliché answer to dodge a question—but it’s true! All the reasons I’ll come up with will only mask the fact that I just want to make her my daughter.

I could say it’s because I don’t want to waste the life Ms. Lili gave her, or that she was someone I knew from my past life…

But ultimately, those are secondary to my feelings.

“She’s dangerous. Are you not scared of losing your life because of her?”

“Nope.”

“Well, I am!”

Wow. He yelled.

With bloodshot eyes, he continued.

“I’m worried what the hell will happen to you! I don’t want you to end up with the same fate!”

“Oh…”

So he’s worried.

Um… what should I say to console him?

“Do you like me perhaps? That’s why you’re overreacting?”

“Yes.”

Oh shit.

Why is he being so direct today no… I didn’t mean to ask that!

I’m sorry but I can’t fall in love with anyone!

His expression softened, waiting for my answer.

He had finally confessed.

So many times I’ve poked him with this question, this is the first time he was giving it to me straight without being ambiguous.

“Chen QiangWei, I’m honoured to receive your feelings.”

I looked at him with a bitter smile.

“…”

“But I can’t return them. I’m sorry.”

And—I broke yet another person’s heart. How many does that make it now?

◃⊰⊱. ϕ⊹ ⋈⊶⌖⊹⊰⊱▹

◬ Origin Year 138, 23rd of Hana.

Fortress 13 was docked a kilometre away from Fortress City Fuji.

Almost a third of the Castle was rubble. People were moving to and from the stronghold via airships.

Wu XiaoLe, the War Saint who stood beside him couldn’t hide her frown.

“Did you know this would happen?”

Kenji asked, she couldn’t gauge what kind of emotion he was feeling having seen this.

“No. I have no recollection of any Fortress falling into such a ruined state from my past life. This… ”

As she recalled, this scale of damage never happened in her past life. If it did, she would’ve known from reports in the news.

“Since the Fortress is here, we don’t need to take a freight ship. Let’s go.”

‘Please be alive…’

They clung to the miracle that had kept EunHa alive time and time again.

The Fortress itself couldn’t come too close to the floating wharf, so airships were required to link the two destinations. XiaoLe went up to one of the soldiers mooring a small ship on the dock.

“Excuse me, how can we board a ship? We need to get to Fortress 13.”

“Board the ship? My apologies, can I ask for your identity?”

“I’m Colonel Wu XiaoLe. I’m here to meet with First Sergeant Hai Aki.”

XiaoLe flashed her badge underneath her cloak.

The soldier’s mind went blank for a moment. And then he quickly saluted.

“Colonel Wu, it’s an honour! I’ll let my superior know of your request.”

◤◢

“War Saint Wu, it’s an honour.”

“The honour is mine. Thank you for arranging this on such short notice.”

“No need for thanks, it’s my duty. So, what brings you here on this fine day? ”

Sergeant Joon took it upon himself to serve as their escort.

The War Saint herself had come here all the way from the Third Stratum. Rumoured of having glimpsed into the future, he thought there ought to be some reason she came here hiding her identity.

He was curious but didn’t want to be disrespectful.

“Are you here to inspect the cause?”

“We’re here for something similar. Can you tell me everything you know about what happened? I heard the Fortress just arrived yesterday.”

“I don’t know the particular details, but the fact that they engaged with a Category 5 Cloud Hive and made it out of battle still afloat must be some kind of miracle.”

Complex emotions surfaced in her expression when she heard that.

The extent of damage to the Fortress for a battle so large was too small.

“It’s really a blessing that the Fortress is standing.”

It was as if she was missing a piece of the puzzle.

The airship had just reached the harbour.

Kenji and XiaoLe made their way to the connecting platform.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You can use my shoulders as support if you need.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Come on. I don’t want you to fall.”

XiaoLe grabbed his hand.

Kenji never really got any rest after stepping out of the hospital. They rushed all the way here knowing that his body still needed time to recover.

XiaoLe was concerned for his health, but she also knew if she didn’t attend to his selfish wish, he would most likely go MIA. The best she could do was to make his journey easier.

They crossed the gap and finally made it off the narrow platform.

The grandeur image of a ruined castle stood before them. Admiring the scale of such a feat of engineering for a few seconds, Sergeant Joon continued to explain the situation.

As they made their way down the long corridor, XiaoLe asked.

“Is there anything we need to prepare before meeting with First Sergeant Hai?”

“Well, let’s see. First of all, Staff Sergeant Chu passed away during the battle. Try not to touch on the topic, it’s been a sensitive issue for a while.”

“God bless her. What happened?”

“I heard she died because of that cursed girl. She was supposed to be executed, but because of the delay everyone was put into jeopardy.”

“Then… that cursed girl. She’s…?”

“Most likely dead. But I can’t be too sure.”

“What?”

“I wasn’t onboard, so I don’t know what happened. First Sergeant Hai should have the information you need.”

XiaoLe was the one who, alongside the cooperation of everyone else, sent EunHa to her death.

She found it funny, feeling relief at the fact that EunHa’s situation was still in the grey.

It was stupid.

If EunHa was by devil’s luck, still alive, could she face her again, knowing that she was the one who endorsed her death?

People greeted them as they passed. But no one recognized the War Saint, nor Kenji, the God’s Emissary who hid his face under a hood.

◃⊰⊱⊹. ⊹⌖Ω ⩏⊹ϑ ⊰⊱▹

“She’s no more than a child regardless of how old she thinks she is! Letting her go with that dead girl is only going to kill her. Don’t you know what happened to Ms. Chu? Do you not care if she dies?”

Mr. Chen stared down First Sergeant Hai with a sharp glare. Rize had disappeared yesterday night alongside the cursed girl.

He had an inkling as to where she could be, so he wasn’t in much of a rush. However, he couldn’t believe the First Sergeant would agree to such an outrageous decision.

“QiangWei, she made that decision. I have no right to decide otherwise.”

“You’re sending her to her death.”

“Do you not believe in her?”

Sergeant Hai’s expression deepened.

“…”

“Denying her permission to resign is no different from taking advantage of her.”

“That’s not the problem. The problem is that she’s bringing that girl along!”

His feelings with Rize wouldn’t bear fruit, fine.

But he should at least ensure her safety from the side until she finds the someone she’s truly meant to be with.

“Can you convince her otherwise? Chen QiangWei?”

“Shouldn’t you be the one to ask yourself that? You are her guardian for a reason.”

Neither of them could come to a consensus.

If Rize was still here, the conflict would dissolve immediately. She would snap the argument into two using some snarky comment.

“Don’t forget. If you tell anyone that the girl is still alive, you’ll be putting her in even more danger.”

“Why does she always get herself involved in these kinds of things… damn it.”

◤◢

Kenji and Wu XiaoLe studied the internal structure of the castle. Broken pillars, scattered marble—they made their way to First Sergeant’s office.

As they arrived, they saw a soldier wearing an admiral’s navy uniform leave—Vice Admiral Chen.

Sergeant Joon saluted. He walked right by and completely ignored them.

Wu XiaoLe was a little stunned.

“Did something happen…?”

“Better not to pry.”

Sergeant Joon shook his head.

He walked up to the door and knocked.

“This is Sergeant Joon. First Sergeant, you have guests.”

“Enter.”

“Excuse us.”

They saw a sergeant seated just opposite the entrance.

“What is your bussine…”

His words trailed off the moment he saw Wu XiaoLe. He quickly stood up.

“I’ll take my leave first.”

Sergeant Joon saluted.

“Thank you for bringing them here.”

The sergeant left.

“I’m sorry if I missed anything, I hadn’t expected your visit so soon.”

First Sergeant said.

“We came without prior notification, so I apologise if we disturbed anything.”

“No, you came at the perfect time. Please take a seat.”

There was tea in the office. But nobody had the mind to care for it.

“I am First Sergeant Hai Aki. It’s an honour to meet you two in person, War Saint Wu and I suppose you are her God’s Emissary?”

“Matsushita Kenji. Yes, that’s me. it’s a pleasure to meet you, First Sergeant.”

“I thank you for your time, First Sergeant.”

They studied each other’s intentions for a few seconds.

“I believe you’re here to hear about Ms. Hwang’s situation?”

“Yes…”

“Before I get to that. I have a few words.”

He took out a document from underneath the desk.

“When I first read her file, I questioned if it was a mistake that the people of the Third Stratum refer to her by such a cursed name. We were sceptical, so we hesitated in her execution.”

“I can’t decide if she’d be better dead or alive. So concerning that, I can only leave you the result of the order you’ve assigned our squad.”

“I believe it now having experienced it first hand. She’s cursed.”

He rudely threw the file over his desk. It landed on the table before the War Saint and Kenji.

It was a clear expression of disdain.

Wu XiaoLe carefully opened the file, and froze at what she saw.

Her body trembled.

“Her body was never found, her corpse is gone. She survived the Cloud Hive engagement, but perhaps because of it, she jumped.”

“…”

“You can ask around for details. I’m sure a few of us have seen it happen.”

“…Do you not feel anything for it?”

Kenji interrupted. His voice could barely contain his rage.

“I won’t be speaking to you like this if I felt nothing.”

First Sergeant’s calm voice began to crack.

“You were the ones who ordered her death. So why did you give her sympathy during the last days of her life? You should’ve made up your mind to kill her or keep her alive.”

“She’s not dead.”

Kenji interrupted.

“I’m right, aren’t I? She’s alive somewhere.”

“She’s dead.”

“No. She’s not dead, you’re keeping her somewhere.”

Kenji stood up.

“Kenji.”

XiaoLe pulled on his clothes.

“Tell me where you kept her!

“How many times do I have to tell you? She’s dead!”

“Tell me the truth. First Sergeant, she’s not dead. Where is she?”

“What’s with this sudden change of decision? I thought you guys wanted her dead?”

He took a step forward.

“I’m sorry. It was a mistake. We won’t do this again, just, tell me where she is. I promise I won’t let her die, so please just…”

Kenji lowered his head.

First Sergeant Hai could only grit his teeth amid his plea.

“I’m only doing what I was ordered to. I don’t know why you’re so desperate to bring the dead to life, the consequences of it are yours to bear. Leave the file here, I’ll submit it to the office myself. Get out.”

“First Sergeant—”

“I won’t repeat a second time. Get the fuck out!”

Xiao Le stood up and quickly lowered her head.

“…Understood.”

With a weak tug, she pulled the hem of his uniform. Together they left through the door after a bow.

◤◢

“Crazy.”

First Sergeant Hai couldn’t help but find this whole situation maddening.

Was deciding an execution something half-assed? Did they actually come in hopes that the person they executed was still alive? What kind of joke had they been to these people?

He has just lost two of his most important comrades.

Not from the dead-alive missions in the Zeroth Stratum, but because of some political bullshit those dignitaries involved their squad in.

He turned to look out the window. The view of the Fortress City spread out in the distance,

“Maybe I shouldn’t have…”

One loss after another. He was beginning to regret letting her free.

“No.”

As her guardian he should…

“Rize. Please stay safe.”

◤◢

“She’s not dead. If she were, the system would have informed me about it.”

“…”

“XiaoLe. He’s lying so… XiaoLe?”

Kenji was met with silence. He stopped in place, she continued walking, completely oblivious to her surroundings.

“XiaoLe.”

At his second call, she came to a halt.

“Hey, are you listening to me? EunHa is still alive.”

“…I’m sorry I did it without your consent.”

“…”

“She forced me to. But I could’ve done something else right…? I could’ve said no, I could’ve tried to talk to her again…”

“Enough. XiaoLe, this isn’t your fault.”

For a second he saw EunHa’s lingering shadow in her.

The despair and dissolution of her pain and denial.

A beautiful smile painted in sorrow and melancholy.

“I see… so this is how she feels…”

“…”

“It’s really… horrible.”

“XiaoLe. We should ask around and find the…”

“Kenji, she’s dead.”

“She’s not. The system…”

“She’s dead Kenji. She’s dead, give it up. Even if she was alive, do you think she’d want to stay by your side?”

“…”

He understood what she meant.

But he denied the reality.

It was a complicated situation where either all were at fault or none.

Did he have the right to get angry? Yes, absolutely.

But what would that solve?

“XiaoLe. We’ll find her and bring her back. If she’s dead then I can’t say much but… if alive, she’ll bring ruin to everyone else if she isn’t by my side.”

His heartless words elicited a hurt expression on her face. Similarly, it felt like a knife tearing through his chest.

To say something like this to someone who loved him. To a person whose feelings he couldn’t respond to. Her expression softened into a smile as reasoning caught on.

“You’re right. If she was alive, then we better find her quickly.”

◃⊰⊱. ϕ⊹ ⋈⊶⌖⊹⊰⊱▹

The shock she received when she witnessed EunHa sink a knife into Kenji’s stomach brought back so many memories.

It wasn’t that XiaoLe didn’t trust EunHa.

She didn’t know if she should.

Because she betrayed her.

No.

She betrayed the entire human race.

XiaoLe remembered vividly in her first life how the last embers of humanity fell.

Her greatest regret before regression was trusting the EunHa who had become a demon.

From a wandering existence of uncertainty to a mighty commander that led armies to endless waves of victory.

Everyone believed in her.

Everyone admired her.

Everyone was charmed by her.

Not realising that all her actions had been an act to fool everyone.

XiaoLe recalled, accidentally stumbling into the bedroom room and seeing her enjoy Kenji’s flesh.

A hero by day, a ghoul-like existence by night.

Kenji who fell for her serenade became food for his corrupted lover. The scene imprinted itself deep within XiaoLe’s mind.

She was a demon, so it should come naturally that her greatest desire was humanity’s demise.

So during the most crucial of moments, the battle which would make or break the war—she let go.

Humanity fell.

It was a nightmare.

EunHa was unpredictable, unexplainable.

So her actions during the wedding aroused a deep sense of fear.

What if… what if it happened again?

If she continued down this road.

If she became a demon.

What would happen to her?

What would happen to Kenji?

What would happen to the world?

If EunHa became a demon, XiaoLe didn’t have the confidence to protect those she loved.

Her charisma and manipulation were beyond reason.

And to tear people out of her control would incite hostility.

XiaoLe knew from experience.

‘Why the hell did you have to stab him?!’

‘Do you want to die?’

‘EunHa, please reconsider.’

So when EunHa said that for the sake of the world, she would rather end her life.

The dark desire that had long lingered inside her heart seeped out.

Deep down, XiaoLe wished this girl was dead. She was furious that EunHa had ruined the opportunity to marry Kenji.

If she loved him, why couldn’t she just go on with the ceremony? Why did she have to make everything so complicated?

No.

XiaoLe was the one making things complicated.

After all, getting rid of the most dangerous factor to humanity’s downfall now would put a stop to a slew of chain reactions in the future.

Right?

Even though the person dying was her most important friend? The very one who shaped her into the great person she was today?

“XiaoLe.”

Kenji called out to her. She stopped, her mind hazy in confusion.

In the end, did she make the correct decision? Would the future be safe if EunHa were to die?

“XiaoLe, this isn’t your fault.”

He said.

Familiar words. So why did it feel so foreign?

Oh, because it was a phrase normally reserved for EunHa. Now that the girl is gone, she was to become her replacement.

“I see… so this is how she feels…”

Was this how EunHa felt?

Was compassion the correct way to handle things?

This pain, this dilemma?

XiaoLe was the one who agreed to send EunHa to her death, knowing well what kind of consequence it would entail.

Yet, the hate she should’ve received from the person who should’ve been angriest didn’t happen.

No wonder she’d go insane.

“…”

“It’s really… horrible.”

Should she bask in the pain and joy that came with such a luxury? After all, she was now in EunHa’s position of receiving his comfort, something she had always wanted.

“XiaoLe. We should ask around and find the…”

“Kenji, she’s dead.”

“She’s not. The system…”

“She’s dead Kenji. She’s dead, give it up. Even if she was alive, do you think she’d want to stay by your side?”

…Crying in his arms, Kenji carefully stroking EunHa’s blonde hair.

A tightening feeling in her heart.

XiaoLe wanted it.

To be held by him, comforted by him.

To receive infinite compassion, despite having hurt him over and over again—just like she used to.

It was sinful.

A bit.

Just a little bit.

XiaoLe understood why death would be a better option for EunHa.

Stop.

If Kenji was right, and EunHa was still alive, it would be a big issue.

They had to confirm her death. So assuming the former, they had to begin an investigation immediately. They can’t let a calamity wander around openly.

If she became a demon… there is no telling what disaster humanity would have to face.

“Rize-chan resigned?”

“No way! Why would she…”

“Staff Sergeant Chu’s death must’ve taken a toll on her.”

The chattering in the infirmary was boisterous.

Wu XiaoLe stopped.

“The Black Siren…”

“XiaoLe?”

She hastily turned around and made her way towards the group of injured men gossiping.

The reason the impossible was possible, the piece she had been searching for suddenly clicked.

“Tell me why Ms. Rize resigned from her post.”

The Black Siren.

She was the reason XiaoLe put EunHa under First Sergeant Hai’s company to begin with.