"Why isn't she... fighting back?"
A somewhat puzzled voice rang out. It was from one of the two girls on the high platform who weren't pursuing.
The two standing there were Kusakabe Ryouko, the commander of the AST in Tengu City, and Origami Tobiichi, the ace fighter.
Right now, the two girls, covered in incredible mechanical clothing, were standing on the high platform, supervising the operation against the Spirit.
The one who spoke was Kusakabe Ryouko. After the Tohka incident, the girl had also become confused about her actions. She often wondered whether the act of hunting Spirits was right or wrong.
"It's always been like this, because the data shows that 'Hermit' is an extremely gentle type among the Spirits." The silver-haired beauty standing next to Kusakabe Ryouko answered coldly, it was Origami Tobiichi.
"Is that so... There are Spirits like that, huh?" Kusakabe Ryouko said this softly.
"Ryouko, please don't be deceived by the appearance of the Spirits. Although she looks like such a cute girl, she still caused immeasurable destruction when she appeared in the human world." Origami Tobiichi advised.
"I'm just feeling a bit sentimental..." Ryouko said softly.
What Origami Tobiichi said was completely correct. You couldn't show any mercy when dealing with the Spirits. They were all existences that brought calamity to the world.
As a member of the AST, and also the commander-level existence who commanded the AST in Tengu City, Kusakabe Ryouko naturally knew how great the harm of the Spirits was.
There was no room for any carelessness in the operation against the Spirits. She had seen enough tragedies, Origami Tobiichi and other companions who had the same hatred.
Even for their sake... She must never be confused!
"Let's go, let's eliminate that calamity." Her expression becoming cold and ruthless, Ryouko said coldly.
"Yes, Captain!" Origami Tobiichi responded.
At the same time, Arthas, who had arrived on the ground through the transfer device located below 'Fraxinus', gently tapped the small earpiece attached to his right ear with his right hand.
"Yes, the Spirit has entered the building. For the time being, the AST members shouldn't launch an attack. After all, their equipment isn't suitable for indoor combat, so you should have a relatively ample amount of time to persuade the Spirit." Kotori's voice rang out from the earpiece.
"I know you might be a little angry, but I still hope you can calm down and not mess around. With your strength, it wouldn't be difficult to wipe out all the AST members, but doing so would be completely contrary to your purpose, right? What you want to expect is understanding and equality, so I hope you don't use violence."
"I understand... I won't mess around. At least for now, they haven't touched my bottom line." Arthas answered with a light smile, comforting Kotori, who seemed a little uneasy, and then continued forward.
Raising his head and looking forward, Arthas was currently inside a large department store standing on the street corner of the shopping district.
And on the other side, Kotori, who was observing the situation around Arthas through a miniature camera, watched him step by step into the interior of the market.
"Will something really not happen?" The vice-commander, Kannazuki, expressed his concern.
"Well, it's the AST members who should be worried about something happening. I hope they don't go too far. That guy is a little angry."
Kotori said this, continuing to bite the lollipop in her mouth. Although her words were somewhat worried, you couldn't see a trace of worry from her appearance.
Relying on the mysterious connection with the Spirits, Arthas quickly found Yoshino's location. It was a bit dark, it seemed to be a place where the mall stored goods.
"Are you also... here to bully Yoshino?" Then, from above Arthas, a childish voice rang out, a voice that made people feel pity just by hearing it.
Arthas raised his head and looked up to see the girl 'Hermit' who had been mentioned, floating upside down as if she was ignoring gravity.
"Eh..." Then, seeming to have seen Arthas's appearance clearly, Yoshino let out a soft cry.
"Yo-You're...?" Saying this somewhat flusteredly, the small girl shrank back her body somewhat fearfully.
At that time, Arthas had called out her identity as a Spirit in one breath, so the girl naturally regarded him as a member of the AST as well.
"As... As I thought, you're also someone who wants to bully me, right?"
"That's not true. I'm different from them. I'm here to protect you."
Looking at the girl's timid appearance, Arthas tried his best to make his tone sound gentle, saying this softly. The latter tilted her head somewhat distrustfully, clearly not choosing to believe him because of Arthas's words.
"Really? But everyone else hates Yoshino. As soon as I appear in this world, there will be attacks that hurt so, so much."
The girl said this in a sad tone, while the doll on her right hand let out a chuckling laugh.
It was only now that Arthas understood that this rabbit doll wasn't used for fun ventriloquism, but a false existence that the girl used to disguise herself.
The timid girl, who was afraid and fearful of this world, hoped that she could become strong, that she could fearlessly face everything in this world, so she created this virtual personality of Yoshinon.
"Does it hurt?" Although the doll Yoshinon was laughing, Arthas couldn't laugh. Looking down at the timid girl hiding behind the doll, he couldn't help but ask softly.
"It doesn't... hurt anymore." Hearing Arthas's caring words, a cute blush rose on Yoshino's face, lowering her head cutely like a small animal.
What a cute child... Gently stroking the girl's head, Arthas thought this.
"There's no need to be afraid, Yoshino. Not everyone hates you. I don't hate you, you know. I like Yoshino very much."
"Re-Really, big brother?"
"Mm, come with me, Yoshino. Rest assured, I'll protect you."
At the same time, Kotori was taking in everything before her eyes through the screen before her.
"What relationship does this guy have with the Spirits? He captured her with just these two simple sentences? Then what were all our research and special training for?"
"Eh, weren't those special training specifically set up to tease Itsuka Shiori-san?"
The vice-commander, Kannazuki, said this in surprise, and then was stepped on hard by Kotori, falling down with a painful cry.
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