Turmoil

tl: deepl & meepilee & diced

Linus stood atop the tallest tower in the West Ward, overlooking the city.

Not because he liked heights - but because it was the easiest way to find people.

From this distance, his eyes could make out the faces of the riffraff in the West Ward, the stuck-up merchants in the East Ward, and the people walking around in the Central Ward, which was crowded like a swarm of insects.

"Now, I wonder where she's gone."

What he was looking for, of course, was Cyrille.

He found out from the guards that she apparently heard about Flamm and ran out of the castle in a state of shock.

Linus also asked Maria's room to see if she knew where she was going, but she was nowhere to be found.

She was probably busy, out at the cathedral or something.

"But ...... there's a nasty wind blowing, what the hell is this?"

The sky was gray, and the air was heavy and damp on his cheeks.

But that was not all.

There was a familiar, unpleasant smell mixed in with the wind.

"Blood, but not from a human. It reeks of beast."

And judging by the "density," there were more than just one or two of them.

But as far as he could see, there seemed to be nothing unusual going on.

In other words, a lot of blood was flowing in the 「shadows」 where there is no sunlight.

A deformed corpse was found, and there was a strange smell around Cardinal Satouki, and the recent events in the Royal Capital have been very suspicious.

Cyrille was worrying for LInus.

Jean, the cause of the problem, had remained in his room and has not come out, so Linus has no choice but to look for her.

He jumped down from there and landed soundlessly on the ground.

"Honesty, I have my hands so full with Maria, I can't afford to get involved in any troublesome matters."

Even as he said this, he stepped into the darkness that separated him from the peace and quiet.

◇◇◇

Meanwhile, Cyrille, who had run away from the castle, was wandering aimlessly around the royal city.

She walked around with the hood of her robe pulled up deeply, hiding her face.

She didn't want to be found, she was a Hero after all. 　If she were to reveal herself, her true identity would be noticed in an instant.

So she had no choice but to cover her face like this, and choose a street with as few people as possible while she walked.

But she did not know where she was going.

”It was my fault Flamm became a slave.”

”How can I call myself a hero?”

”Jean is crazy.”

”Maria is a monster.”

”In other words, there is hardly even a party for me to be with.”

But even if she ran back to her hometown, she would be betraying the people of her village, who were overjoyed that Cyrille had become a hero.

No matter how hard she searched, she would never find a place to go.

Hence, the only place she felt at ease was an empty, dark, murky corner in an alleyway.

It smelled like a ditch, and she still couldn't stop herself from berating herself, but it was a relief to know that she wouldn't see anyone.

She sat down, hugged her knees, and closed her eyes.

Cyrille was so tired that she almost fell asleep.

Halfway out of consciousness, she heard someone's footsteps.

A sharpened sensation halfway awakened her body.

Cyrille reflexively looked up and saw a young girl standing there, wearing a robe that hid her face just like hers.

Her hair and skin, visible through the gaps, were white.

And in her hands, she was holding a dirty, human-shaped stuffed animal.

Her presence floated as if cut off from the landscape.

She was not a normal human being, Cyrille's intuition told her.

He braced himself with alarm and stared at the girl.

Then the girl slowly approached Cyrille, pointed to the ground where she was sitting, and said.

"Here, I sit."

The girl's pronunciation is distinctive, but she was still hard to understand.

"Um, you mean you were using ......?'

The girl nodded.

Cyrille wondered if she could sit somewhere else.

But then the girl's cheeks gradually puffed out and her mood began to deteriorate, so she hurriedly gave up her spot.

The girl immediately sat down, hugged her knees, and looked relieved.

It seems that the "fixed position" is very important to her.

For a pursuer, she was too defenseless and showed no signs of hostility.

Naturally, Cyrille let her guard down.

It was just a negative delusion to think that pursuers were after her when she had run away on her own.

It was possible that someone was looking for her, but it was probably not so serious as a pursuer.

Cyrille would normally be able to tell that much, but the combination of so many shocking events has made her mind unstable.

The ridiculous thoughts were evidence of this.

"......"

After sitting down, the girl didn't utter a word.

She thought about talking to her, but she couldn't find any words, so Cyrille also fell silent.

"...... you."

After a while of silence, the girl spoke.

"What's wrong?"

"Why here, not busy?"

Her question suddenly got to the heart of the matter.

It was true, she didn't have a place.

That's why she was wandering around like this.

"What makes you think that?"

She wasnt sure if she was embarrassed that such a young girl could see it or not, or if she was afraid of confronting herself.

"You me, look like"

"...... you have no place to be either?"

The girl nodded her head.

"That's why you're dressed like that and in such a dirty place. Like me, you're hiding."

Relieved that her friend had been found, she became unintentionally talkative.

But the girl shook her head.

Cyrille regained her composure as if she had been doused with cold water.

“No, that's not it. I'm trying to escape, no.”

“Then ......why?"

The girl's eyes, unlike Cyrille's, were not dead. 　They were filled with the fire of a strong will. 　Staring into her eyes, she felt as if she were being sucked into them, so pure, so beautiful, so powerful.

"Mother, I will repay you. I will not disappear. I'm going to carve my living mark here." (T/N: help what does this mean)

I will return the favor to my mother. 　That is how Cyrille received the girl's words. 　Even if there was no place for her, even if she could not find a future, she will do what she can. 　If a little girl had such positive courage, so why did she, the one who was named a hero, run away and dwell in such a place? 　'Why do I think only of running away without returning the favor or atoning for my sins?' 　'It was a vicious cycle of asking myself, blaming myself, and then hunting myself down again.' 　'Even though I desperately try to shake it off, this time the memory of Maria's horrific vortex of flesh that turned into a monster replayed.'

Sweat beaded on her palms and her breathing quickened. 　All mental escape was blocked, and there was now no choice but to physically leave the capital. But even if she left the Royal Capital, there would be no place to return to. 　The girl's determination is wonderful and admirable, and Cyrille recognized she should be the same. 　But - now she recognizes the existence of an ideal, but does not want to make the effort to reach it. 　'I want to keep running away.' 　'I want to go to some world where there is no pain.' 'I want to disappear.' 　'No, perhaps that would be the right thing to do.' 　'Then I wouldn't cause anyone any trouble and I would be at ease.'

"Don't you?"

Cyrille bit her lip at the girl's frank question. 　When she tilted his head in wonder at her response, the girl followed up by saying, "No, you arent that way"

"It can't be," she said. "I live, but I alone. You dark feeling" "I have. There is, but ...... more than that, I think I'm the worst. So I don't want to do anything about it." "I blame myself, it's exhausting. It's useless. I'm want to do what's right for the people I care about."

She understood this without being told 　But whether or not she can put it into practice is another matter. 　She was trapped, and she didn't have the energy to get up the courage to do so.

"Cyrille Sweicka."

Cyrille's heart skipped a beat when her name was suddenly called. 　She could not recall even hinting at her name, so why? "People might sad you gone." "How do you know my name?" "How could I not know your name?" "....... That's true, I guess." 　 　The first thing to do was to find a way out of the city.

"The goal is to make the son of the previous king more human ......"

The girl mumbled to herself in a voice so small that Cyrille could not hear her. 　Then she let out a light breath.

"Do you want to see?"

Cyrille was about to ask what, but missed the timing as the girl stood up abruptly. 　The girl looked down at her with unwavering eyes.

"We are about to engrave the proof of our life."

She seemed to be asking Cyrille to follow her. 　Why would a girl go to such lengths for someone she just met? 　'I don't know, I don't know, but for now, I just wanted a guide, no matter what it was. 　To put it another way, maybe I wanted to "lean on her.' 　Even though she knew that the other girl was much younger than she was, she still wanted to lean on her, even after admitting how pathetic she was. 　Cyrille gritted her teeth in shame, but nodded her head. 　Then the girl seemed to smile.

"Mute." "What?" "I am." "Oh, your name, ......, nice to meet you, Mute." "Yes, Cyrille"

After saying this, the two shook hands. 　The moment their palms touched, Cyrille felt a chill. 　She felt as if some unusual power was coursing through Mute's body. 　But the girl was less than ten years old. 　Cyrille told herself that she was overthinking things, and left the alley with her. (T/N: mute is such a hard character to translate ufweofw)

◇◇◇

Flamm and Gadio left the 「Children's」 laboratory and headed for Flamm's house.

Eterna and Ink, who had been waiting for them to return, joined them around the table to exchange ideas.

Milkit, unable to join in the conversation, sat next to Flamm, occasionally shuttling between the kitchen and the living room to fetch a cup of tea that had run low.

"I see, Fouwis ...... is dead."

Ink sadly said.

They were not very good friends, but they had spent eight years together.

They may have had feelings but they were enemies. 　Flamm and Gadio, who felt more than a little "happy" at his death, had no words to say to Ink.

“What kind of child was she?”

Eterna asked gently.

"She was a coward. She played all kinds of tricks on me. When the time came, she would cry and say it was my fault. But in front of 「Mother」, she used to spoil me."

If it weren't for the 「core」 - or maybe even if they had a 「core」, they would still be just children when not in combat.

Just as Ink gained a heart and became a normal human being, the other spiral children of the Spiral Children, could have had that possibility.

Flamm's heart ached as she imagined what could have been, a future in which they could have been normal children.

Ink and the rest of the Spiral Children were different; they were not people she could talk to. Even though she understood that, she couldn't help but think about it.

"She once had a run-in with Nect, but she had the same level of power, one would have to be as strong as an S-rank adventurer to be able to take her on."

"If they knew the location of the Children's base and was strong enough to defeat them, the candidates were pretty limited. It could be the Church Knights, the Royal Army, or--"

"Chimera, I suppose."

Gadio said in a voice filled with hatred.

Milkit's throat rose and fell as he was hit by the murderous atmosphere.

"Why did they start this internal strife? Was it because we ruined necromancy?”

"It may have something to do with Satouki's speech. I remember they said that they would not experiment on human subjects. If they were going to continue their research on children, they don't need to say anything about it."

"Are you saying that Chimera was cut off in order to avoid public criticism when it was discovered that they could continue their research without using humans as long as they could use monsters?”

'It's one of the possibilities. But ......"

She interrupted Gadio, who was about to say something, and Ink said regretfully.

"I think it's terrible to kill someone for such a reason, after all we've been through with the church."

"I think so, too. I think Gadio is trying to say the same thing."

Gadio nodded in agreement with Eterna's words.

In other words...

That's too light a reason to dismiss him. There must be another reason.

A reason big enough to kill all of Children.

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"The Church is not monolithic, either, and it is natural to assume that there are several factions at odds, just as Satouki purged the two cardinals."

"By the way, the cardinal who managed the research--I think his name was Firmo or something like that--was also captured, wasn't he?"

"Ah yes, evidence of Satouki's growing power within the Church."

It was said that Satuki Lanagarchi has strong connections with the Royal Army.

Moreover, victory in the Human-Demon War was his father's long-cherished wish.

If he should happen to become pope and seize power - without a doubt, the kingdom would try to start a war.

It is clear that Chimera would be more convenient to use as a weapon at that time.

Then Children who would be unnecessary and still belong to opposing forces would be-- 　 "Does that mean that factional strife was the real reason why Fouwis was killed?"

Ink said in a somber voice.

In any case - even if it was a "big reason" for Satouki, it was none of their business.

"I know what the church has been doing, and I know what it has been doing. I know what the church has done, and I understand that it is a miracle that I am alive. But to be cut off by the church is ...... something different."

She was no longer a member of Spiral Children.

Even though she was aware of this, she still can't help but feel something when she hears such a story.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."

"I don't mind. Your opinion is important to me."

Eterna patted Ink on the head.

That alone softened Ink's expression a little.

"Thanks,...... Ah, I'm all right now, just keep talking."

Even though she said so, Flamm felt uncomfortable talking any further in front of her.

But if she stopped here, Ink would blame herself.

Flamm coughed lightly, and then, with a strain in her stomach, she returned to the subject.

"Of course I'm concerned about Satouki, but I'm also concerned that Fouwis was the only one found in the lab. There didn't seem to be any other blood spatter."

"I hope it doesn't hasten the question of where the other three Children and Mother went."

"...... I don't think they'll all be caught quietly. I think they will try to leave a scar on the church, or the kingdom--somewhere."

"Scars.......?"

For them, it was Satouki, or Chimera, that they hate.

But they knew that they were no match for Chimera in the battle at the institute.

It was hard to believe that Satouki herself would allow the Children to get close to her under such circumstances.

It would be possible to carry out the attack on the research facility and the assassination itself, but it would probably just be a futile death.

If it were a group of the Children only, but with a commander named Mother, she would not do such a foolish thing.

If that was the case, her next move would be - Gadio, with a difficult look on his face, predicted the next move the children will make.

"Oh, by the way, Gadio-san."

At that moment, Flamm remembered that thing and clapped her hands.

"We received a strange letter at our house."

"A letter? Who is it from?"

"The sender is unknown, it just says "four more days." ...... Eterna, may I ask you to bring it to me?"

"Okay, hold on."

Eterna got up from her seat and went upstairs to her room.

"When did it arrive?"

"Just about noon today, when Ink noticed the sound."

Gadio looked at Ink.

She nodded lightly, perhaps feeling his gaze.

"But I'm sure there was a letter in the mailbox, but she said he didn't hear any ...... footsteps."

"Is that true?" 'She said she's sure! She heard them in the mailbox."

"Hearing the sound of the mailbox. That's creepy timing, even for a prank."

"I know. So I was wondering if there might be a connection to this case."

The timing also subtly coincides with the destruction of the Children's facility.

There was no evidence of a relationship, but Flamm also felt uneasy.

Eterna came down and handed Gadio a letter, "Here you go."

He spread the paper out on his desk and stared at the letter.

"I checked it over and there was no special magic in the contents. But the ink, the paper, and the envelope are all of the highest quality."

Ink twitched at the word "ink" when Eterna said it.

But as soon as she realized that it was not about her, she turned her head slightly down, her mouth set in a straight line in embarrassment.

Eterna smiled at her gesture for a moment, then quickly returned to her serious expression and continued.

"An average family wouldn't use something like this to send out a letter with only four words written all the way down."

"Then who sent this out ......?"

"Could be a rich person, could be the kingdom, could be the church. It is most likely one of them."

None of these people had any reason to take the side of Flamm and her friends.

No, if they were rich, it could be Reach or Welcy, but they didn't have to use letters, they could just tell them in person.

Were they cornered and could only communicate by letter?

It was not impossible.

Flamm decided, for the time being, to go to them tomorrow.

However, there was another possibility - one could think that one of the Children sent out the letter, but they were so cornered that they couldn't afford to use a high-quality paper.

Besides, there is no reason to warn their enemies.

No matter how much Flamm thought about it, she didn't have any information that would lead her to identify them. But none of them could rule it out as irrelevant.

She was it's a church-related matter anyway, but they'd have to talk to someone who might have a connection.

She was also curious about the Children's movements. Either way, she would have to walk around the royal capital on her own feet.

"I thought I was on the "offensive" this time with Dafiz's data."

Flamm sighed tiredly at being at the mercy of the situation again.

Then Milkit, who was sitting next to him, took Flamm's hand under the table.

"I can't join in the conversation, I can't help you in the fight."

"Still - I want to be of some help."

Such feelings of hers were painfully felt. Whether it was on the back foot or on the front foot, what Flamm would do would never change.

--No matter what happens, I will definitely protect you.

With such determination, she squeezed her hand back.

◇◇◇

There are countless ruins in the kingdom

Remnants of a time when humans and demons joined hands to fight against「Origin.」

The royal capital was built as an extension of such ruins.

Only during the beginning, the ruins were used as housing.

However now, that the city was built over it, not many people are aware of the existence of the underground ruins.

The royal castle that exists in the northern district of the royal capital.

Of course, the ruins were buried underground as well.

We opened a door locked tightly at the back of the first floor and descended a staircase leading to the end of the door.

There was a space made of a material clearly different from that of the castle, and there were a number of "cages" lined up in the space.

In other words, they were being reused as prisons.

"How long do we have to stay here and watch?"

"Until Echidna comes calling."

It was used as a place to hold people who could not be judged by the law, but were inconvenient for the kingdom and the church.

Standing in front of the prison, two soldiers with spears engage in a peevish conversation.

"I wish they'd get rid of that "ex-saint" at ......."

"You must have some idea, some way to repurpose her."

"How is that possible with the way things are at ......?"

The soldier then glanced behind the bars.

The first thing to look at was Maria, who was lying on the ground, shaking convulsively.

Her face was a complete freak, red flesh spread over the entire surface, writhing and sporadically spurting blood.

"Ueee......"

"You've seen her a few times, right?"

"I have, but it's a big shock to me because she used to have such a beautiful face."

Maria was trapped by Echidna and then put in this prison.

Many would have gotten rid of her right away, but there was no way Echidna would pass up such a perfect material.

She was "stored" here with the intention of being used for some kind of "experiment".

Two soldiers were deployed just in case, but she originally thought that even that was unnecessary.

Maria had already lost her human will and had become a lump of flesh that could only spit out blood.

She was also unable to move her body properly, probably because Echidna used the core made for "Chimera" against a human being.

The rest of her was to be used in an experiment to satisfy Echidna's intellectual curiosity without resistance, and then die.

--I am......still......

But she was not like other human beings.

She was not brainwashed from childhood with omens like the Pope and the King, nor was she implanted with a core and acquired the ability to hear omens.

She is one of the few who were chosen by the Origin as an apostle.

There was no way they would have let her go without a fight.

--They betrayed her to the ...... humans again. ...... Oh, they really don't learn. ......

The seeming loss of human will was just an act.

It took time for the body to adapt to the core modified for monsters, but she had already recovered to the point where it can move.

-Even though they could not die until all life was eradicated.

Maria's hatred was in tune with Origin.

Although their roots were different, their purpose was the same.

There was no need for life in this world.

People, demons, and the mass of malice that continues to betray and play with her, should all perish.

--Origin-sama ...... I see, next time, if that's how ...... you want to do it, I'll.... ....

Maria moved in response to the oracle.

She rose slowly, unnoticed by the soldiers, and then with a swirling light in her palm:

She used her right hand to disperse the particles of light on the spot.

Then the particles were launched at high speed and burst where they touched.

HUBO-BO-BO-BO, creating countless fist-sized holes in the wall and the soldiers standing on the other side of it.

The iron grating was also destroyed, and she got out of the prison without a second thought.

At the same time, the two men, their entire bodies covered in holes, fell to the floor with a thud.

"Let us begin, then, the second act of the heroic tale"

Maria said sadly, and walked out without haste and with a sense of composure.

Her escape from prison was an easy success.

Although it was never made public - dozens of soldiers who tried to stop her lost their lives in the process.

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