Chapter 74: Mahiro-san, are you a lolicon?
The Gastrea's levels range from Stage I to Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV. With each stage of growth, their size increases, and their defense gradually improves, becoming strong enough to withstand even missiles.
Furthermore.
Because they absorb genetic factors from various organisms during that process, all individuals evolve into peculiar forms as they grow, meaning it's not uncommon for them to grow into all sorts of strange things. Therefore, many Gastrea have some strange abilities.
Stage V, on the other hand, is an exceptional existence among Gastrea. Normal Gastrea that reach Stage IV are generally considered complete, unable to grow further.
Stage V is roughly equivalent to the ultimate form, and only a few people know where these Stage V Gastrea came from.
Moreover, they all share a common characteristic: they are incredibly large, like monsters from special effects shows.
Even the size of a Stage IV Gastrea is insignificant compared to a Stage V.
To avoid being crushed by their own weight, Stage V Gastrea's muscles, skin, bones, and even internal organs have been strengthened, making them immune to almost 100% of current weapons.
Stage V Gastrea are codenamed after the zodiac signs. There have been eleven global sightings, and they displayed terrifying combat power in the great war ten years ago. The twelve zodiac Gastrea were the Gastrea Kings that once brought humanity to the brink of extinction.
Without exception, they all possess hard exoskeletons that are completely immune to ordinary weapons, the most powerful regenerative abilities, and are unaffected by the Monolith's magnetic field. In addition, each one has unique abilities.
To date, there have only been two successful Subjugation records for Stage V Gastrea—
Taurus and Virgo, which were eliminated by IP No. 1 and IP No. 2 respectively.
This is already enough to be called a miracle for humanity.
Therefore, once such a thing appears in the Tokyo Area, the entire Tokyo Area will face a devastating disaster, with virtually no one able to survive.
"…Things just got complicated."
After arriving at the unexplored area outside the Monolith via the transport plane Kisara prepared for him, Yotsuba Mahiro impatiently scratched his hair shortly after getting off the plane.
The reason was simple: the place he was in was like a primeval forest.
Towering trees grew lush and dense, and with it being night, visibility was poor. Due to the heavy rain a few days prior, the entire forest was soaked, and his nostrils were filled with the strong, damp smell of earth.
But unlike a primeval forest, here he could faintly see traces of human existence—
Buildings long abandoned, entangled with vines, covered in climbing ivy or moss, or rusty car frames with missing glass and tires.
However, the most crucial point was that as soon as he landed, he felt countless gazes probing him from the deep darkness of the forest.
Pairs of crimson eyes, like searchlights, radiated intense hostility.
Filled with the desire to tear him apart and crush him.
"It feels like the welcoming ceremony is a bit grand…"
As soon as he finished speaking, Mahiro threw a Varanium dagger towards the crimson eyes.
This throw seemed to awaken the sleeping forest. Strange roars immediately erupted from the darkness, followed by a chorus of similar sounds.
And with the activation of "Multiple Observation" and "Elf Eyes," Yotsuba Mahiro finally saw the true forms of the monstrous things surrounding him—
A large army of Gastrea ranging from Stage I to Stage III, lurking in the trees, encircling him in layers like a siege.
"Oh, how scary, a forest at night and all that."
With a sigh, intense psychokinetic light instantly flickered in the darkness of the forest.
Along with the churning dust, a flurry of ice mist also appeared. White frost hung on the tree branches, glistening with the moonlight, as if the entire world was dyed in a silvery white.
Walking amidst the ice crystal dust that danced like stars.
Dust to dust, ashes to ashes.
His figure was like a silent ice and snow reaper, equally freezing and harvesting all life.
Even if this level of ice mist couldn't freeze Stage III Gastrea, the flickering psychokinetic light would still bring them release.
...
.....
....
"Don't move!"
After taking care of another Stage III Gastrea, a gun was suddenly pressed against his back.
"Girl, do you think your finger will pull the trigger faster, or will I turn around and cut off your head faster?"
From the shape and feel of the gun barrel, it seemed to be a shotgun.
Judging by its position at his waist, the opponent must be a Cursed Child.
Although he pitied these Cursed Children, it didn't mean he would endlessly tolerate them being his enemies.
Normally, children who were Initiators wouldn't harm other IFAs, but nothing is absolute. There are always rogues like Hiruko Kagetane who would train these children into killing machines.
Therefore, not an enemy, this was his top priority.
"…Under normal circumstances, a finger pulling the trigger is faster than turning around and swinging a knife."
"Is that so? Then let's give it a try~"
Whoosh—
In the next instant, he first activated an acceleration spell, then pulled a new dagger from his waist and swung it back, without any hesitation, almost in an instant.
But then both he and the girl pointing the gun at his back froze.
"Why is it you?"
Mahiro abruptly stopped his knife, just resting it against the girl's neck. The sharp air current from the blade ruffled her light golden short hair, cutting off a thin strand.
Under the moonlight, he clearly saw the girl's full appearance.
She wore a plain long-sleeved dress and tight pants, an outfit completely unsuited for an unexplored area.
In her hands, she held a large-caliber, fully automatic shotgun with an under-barrel grenade launcher, produced by Sima Heavy Industries.
Most importantly, that blank, almost expressionless face.
Who else could it be but Chisato Fuse!
"Ah… it's that strange big brother who can read minds."
Chisato Fuse also seemed to have forgotten to pull the trigger, staring blankly at him.
"Strange big brother who can read minds," what kind of ridiculous title is that…
Mahiro was about to retort when he noticed that Chisato Fuse's arm, holding the gun, was trembling slightly.
Although it was an almost imperceptible tremor, he clearly detected it.
Especially at her wrist, it looked as if she had been bitten by a large beast, and blood was continuously flowing from the jagged wound like a trickling stream.
"If you don't intend to shoot, then you might as well put the gun down."
This was not a suggestion, and Chisato Fuse's finger had already left the trigger.
"Hmm…"
After much thought, Chisato Fuse chose to put down her gun.
"Good, a wise move."
"..."
Facing his praise, the girl did not speak, merely staring at him with eyes devoid of much emotion.
"How about we talk somewhere else? You look like you need to rest, don't you? And you probably have a lot you want to say."
"Hmm."
This was the second word the girl uttered tonight.
However, just as she was about to leave, Chisato Fuse suddenly tugged at his sleeve.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm injured."
"I know, and?"
"So, please let me go ahead, I will clear the way for you. This is the best strategy I can think of right now."
Chisato Fuse said this to him with an unusually calm demeanor, as if her tone of voice had discarded all emotion into the air, with no significant emotional fluctuation.
It was as if she wasn't the one who was going to walk in front as a shield.
The composure and calmness she displayed, unsuited to her age, felt like Asaka Mibu, but she was even calmer than Asaka.
But the only difference was that Asaka would not view herself as a tool; even her selfless sacrifice for him was done as a person.
And after Chisato Fuse finished speaking, she walked ahead on her own, holding her automatic shotgun.
Looking at the petite figure in front of him, Mahiro said nothing, merely followed silently behind, once again activating his "Multi-Observation"surgical procedure, with his "Night Demon" ready at any moment.
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The journey was smooth; they encountered hardly any formidable Gastrea. Even the occasional Stage One and Stage Two Gastrea they met were mostly dealt with by Chisato Fuse.
However, it must be said that the Cursed Children's mobility was indeed astonishingly high.
Even when injured, and even if they weren't types skilled in combat, they could leap onto the heads of those Gastrea and directly blow their brains out.
Their destination was a fortress-like place.
It was a very small stone-built bungalow, with a long, narrow rectangular opening facing downwind. The exit was barricaded with sandbags, and there were many abandoned large weapons and trenches around it. It was clear that this was a defensive position left over from the Gastrea Great War era.
The two lit a fire inside, and the girl asked him if he wanted coffee. After receiving an affirmative answer, she pulled out a water heater and instant coffee from her luggage and began boiling water.
Mahiro, illuminated by the firelight, took out bandages. After disinfecting the girl, he slowly helped her wrap the injured area.
Though they came from different IFA pairings and were on a mission, it felt as if they were on a picnic.
"Alright, although your Gastrea erosion rate hasn't increased this time, if you get injured again, you might not be so lucky."
"Mr. Mahiro is truly a strange person…"
After learning his name, Sasha handed him the brewed coffee and then said, "Not only do you help me, who should be an enemy, but you also help a dirty Cursed Child like me bandage her wounds, even though I had a gun pointed at you just a while ago."
"But you didn't intend to shoot, did you? Otherwise, we wouldn't be sitting here so peacefully now."
Mahiro said nonchalantly as he sipped the warm coffee and poked the fire with a branch.
It was just a gun; he didn't really take it to heart.
"That's why you're so strange… Normally, if a Cursed Child points a gun at someone, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to kill them, after all, we are tools that can be consumed at will…
Could it be that Mr. Mahiro is the legendary loli-con?"
"…That's going too far." Mahiro complained speechlessly, raising his head. When his gaze met Chisato Fuse's, he noticed for the first time a flicker of emotion, like a smile, in her otherwise utterly calm eyes.
"It seems you're doing quite well if you can make fun of me."
"My apologies."
Sasha promptly lowered her head to apologize, but then immediately added, "However, you don't seem to dislike us."
"Why would I dislike you? In my eyes, you're no different from any other ordinary children. What's more, you didn't choose to be a Cursed Child. Who can choose their birth? Those people, under the guise of avenging the Gastrea, are actually just trying to bully beings weaker than themselves.
Honestly, that kind of behavior is truly disgusting."
Hearing him say this, an expression of disbelief appeared in Sasha's eyes. Ripples subtly formed in her vacant gaze, and a smile slowly graced her lips as she said:
"Indeed, Mr. Mahiro, you are different from everyone else… You really are a loli-con."
Yotsuba Mahiro: "..."
The first half was fine, but when he heard the second half, he was utterly speechless.
Looking at her pretty face, outlined by the firelight, he couldn't help but retort, "You, you're just taking advantage of being a Dolphin Factor with an IQ of 210, aren't you? Be careful, or I'll throw you out to feed those wild Gastrea."
"My apologies, please do not do that. I am reflecting."
Although Sasha was curious how he knew about her, she first chose to bow to the dark force. However, with her emotionless expression, it was difficult to discern whether she was truly reflecting.
"But speaking of which, where's your muscle-headed idiot partner?"
"Are you referring to Mr. Igaruma Shoukan? I got separated from him."
Chisato Fuse did not hide anything, candidly recounting what had happened.
Just like in the original story, this time Chisato Fuse and Igaruma Shoukan were still caught in a Gastrea trap and forced to separate.
While it was unclear if this was bad luck for Chisato Fuse, it was a stroke of fortune for him.
At least he could save the life of this adorable, high-IQ loli.
"Then what about your Initiator, Mr. Mahiro? The child I saw at the Ministry of Defense last time, she must be your Initiator, right? Did you get separated from her too?"
Chisato Fuse was somewhat puzzled.
Her memory was excellent; she clearly remembered the girl with the katana at the Ministry of Defense, and how that girl defeated Hiruko Kohina, who was ranked IP134.
Logically, with such strong abilities, plus Yotsuba Mahiro's strength, the two shouldn't have gotten separated even if they encountered a Stage Four Gastrea…
"You mean little Asaka? I didn't bring her. You should know, right? I'm a solo operator; I never bring a partner when I go on missions."
"Even for a dangerous mission like this one?"
"That's right."
"..."
For some reason, Chisato Fuse suddenly fell silent, hugging her knees and curling her body up, making her already petite frame seem even smaller.
Staring blankly at the fire, it was unclear what she was thinking.
"Indeed, rumors are unreliable."
"Rumors? About me?"
"Hmm…"
Sasha nodded gently, "There are many rumors about Mr. Mahiro outside. Even Mr. Igaruma Shoukan, whose brain is made of muscles, has a strong prejudice against you, often saying that fighting without an Initiator is fake.
They say you are a fraud."
"And you? Do you think so too?"
"No…"
Sasha shook her head, denying, "I think you must be a very gentle person."
The girl closed her eyes and placed her hand on her chest.
"You, unlike others, do not bear animosity towards us Cursed Children.
If I'm not mistaken, the child you call little Asaka is likely a first-generation 'Cursed Child' like me. But from her, I didn't see any sense of being a tool, like us. Even when she stepped forward to shield you, it was an act from her heart…
Honestly, I'm a little envious of Miss Asaka."
"Is that so? What I do is merely what a normal person should do."
Mahiro supported himself with his hands on the ground, casually saying this while gazing at the night sky through a crack in the fortress.
"Moreover, having a little maid at home who can help with laundry, cooking, housework, and even warm the bed, and who only needs food to be happy—that's the ultimate cheap type. That's my ideal dream."
Although this ideal had already been achieved, twice.
"Even though it's with good intentions, you say it like a loli-con pervert. Truly, you are something else, Mr. Mahiro."
"This time, I'll take that as a compliment."
"I am complimenting you."
Seeing his candid demeanor, Chisato Fuse's lips curved into a slight smile, then she softly murmured:
"So, Mr. Mahiro… you are a strange person."
Through the cracks in the crumbling, drafty bunker, one could glimpse the night sky. The perfectly round moon, hanging in the cloudless night sky, still radiated its unique light, even though the world had collapsed.
The moonlight was pure, but this world was defiled.
When a person does something that goes against others, even if what they do is correct, they will be seen as an anomaly.
Although this principle could be called twisted, in reality, that's how it is.
They, who were seen as tools, monsters in human skin, and even killing machines by other Promoters, were cherished by Yotsuba Mahiro. Honestly, even Chisato Fuse herself wanted to experience that feeling…
Like using a shotgun to kill her own kind, or shattering the head of a little girl her own age with a shotgun…
Although she could get used to it, she truly didn't want to experience it a second time.
Just then, from a black, receiver-like object placed beside Chisato Fuse's remaining few belongings, a rough male voice came through amidst static.
It was Igaruma Shoukan's voice, the man he had once ordered to get lost.
It seemed Sasha sensed that something was amiss, especially since Igaruma Shoukan had a strong prejudice against Yotsuba Mahiro, having constantly clamored about wanting to kill Yotsuba Mahiro since last time. So she thought it best not to let Mr. Igaruma Shoukan know he was here.
Thus, she gestured for him to be silent, then picked up the radio and adjusted the knob, and the noisy voice gradually became clearer.
"Alive… Hey! Hey… If you're alive, answer!"
"It's good that you're alright, Mr. Igaruma Shoukan."
Picking up the telephone-like communication device on the radio, Chisato Fuse responded with a serious and earnest attitude.
"Of course! How could anything happen to me! Besides that! I have good news!"
Igaruma Shoukan feigned suspense, but both of them could imagine him smirking under his skull mask on the other end of the radio.
And they could guess what kind of news it was.
After all, in a place like this, there was only one thing that could be called good news—
"We found the kid who stole the box!"