Clear your mind and dive in—this one's a wild ride!
I'm skipping the messy middle parts since they're a bit much. Just enjoy the story with a blank slate!
Mash Burnedead and the Madame's Motive
"…Alright, I'm starting to get the picture. So, how about we take down that old hag? ⭐︎" veins popping on her arms
(Oh no, I stepped on a massive landmine…)
As they infiltrated the Arius Autonomous District, Mika listened to Saori recount Arius' history, their harsh circumstances, and the reasons behind targeting Mash. The revelations ignited a fury in Mika unlike anything she'd ever felt.
Mash, leading the group, remained silent, processing everything he heard.
—Skipped Section Summary—
Mika's anger boiled over as Saori, Misaki, and Hiyori described the brutal treatment under Beatrice's regime—beatings to break halos, torturous training, and confinement in suffocating cells. Arius' history revealed a district ravaged by civil war, its children driven to slums, starving and freezing. Beatrice ended the conflict with external forces but turned Arius into her personal tool, exploiting its students. Atsuko, called "Hime" and a descendant of Arius' former student council president, was revered as a "royal blood" but raised as a sacrificial pawn. Mash, enraged, punched a wall, his rare killing intent surfacing. The group decided to storm the Basilica where Beatrice and Atsuko were, opting for a frontal assault despite Saori's initial reservations. Their brainless strategy was backed by Mash and Mika's overwhelming strength. At the central district, they obliterated an elite Arius squad in seconds, but discovered a suspicious weapons cache—newer, unfamiliar armaments that hinted at deeper changes in Arius. The appearance of the supposedly eradicated Justina Saints, linked to the Eden Treaty, raised questions about Beatrice's true goals, which seemed tied to a mysterious replication ability.
—Resuming Translation—
"That's right, Mash Burnedead."
As if agreeing with Mash's words, a figure materialized before him—a hologram-like illusion. Simultaneously, Justina Saints surrounded them, at least twenty strong, with a larger company looming in the distance.
"This is truly my domain. I know your location, your destination, your every route. Even that you'd come straight at me… Oh, what foolish children. Nothing can be hidden from me."
"Madame…!"
Clad in a red aura, Beatrice's projection appeared—not quite a hologram, but a vivid magical image with an almost tangible presence. Mash and Mika sensed an indescribable eeriness and malice in her alien form.
"As a reward for evading my pursuers and setting foot here again, I'll answer your earlier question, Saori. Your mission was always to bring the royal blood to the ancient Basilica to manifest the Justina Saints… and to secure Mash Burnedead's body. That's all it ever was.
Once the path is connected, I can control it fully. Maestro disliked his work being stolen, but that's irrelevant. The occupation of Trinity and Gehenna? Mere trivialities to me."
To her, the Eden Treaty assault was a secondary goal, insignificant compared to securing the replication ability. Arius' thirst for revenge, their hopes—all were just tools she manipulated. The students of Arius meant nothing to her.
"…The missile was destroyed, and failing to obtain Mash Burnedead's body was quite regrettable… but rejoice. You fulfilled your mission splendidly. You provided me with the replication ability, and the royal blood was obediently offered as a sacrifice. You even took it upon yourselves to hurl insults at Sensei and let yourselves be brainwashed—
Oh, you've always been such an obedient, convenient child for an adult like me, Saori."
"From the start… occupying Trinity and Gehenna, saving our family, Atsuko… you never intended to keep that promise, did you, Madame?!"
"Don't mess around… Don't you dare mess around!! Because of you!!"
"Heh, that's enough discipline for children. More importantly, I should address you, Schale's Sensei…"
"…"
Beatrice appeared in a magical form unlike any hologram, her eyes fixed not on Mash's face but his heart.
Mika nearly lunged, but Mash held her back, stepping forward alone.
"…-da."
"Da? …Well, let's start with introductions. My name is—"
Mash, facing Beatrice for the first time, trembled slightly.
"That creepy shotacon hag who's after my body… Scary."
"Who're you calling a creepy shotacon hag?!"
He'd just blurted out exactly what he was thinking.
Next Time: Assemble!
Let's be honest—the complicated stuff ends here. From now on, it's all about Mash-kun's unstoppable rampage!
Madame's goals were securing the replication ability, killing Mash, and taking his body. That's why she orchestrated the Eden Treaty assault. Ugh, what a creep.
She definitely needs a full-on beatdown.
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Hey everyone, thanks a ton for following my story till now. If you wanna read ahead, I've already uploaded about 30–40 extra chapters on Patreon. Your support really keeps me going and helps me bring you more cool stories!
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]