Biological Program (2)
"Finally, you've come?"
The one who held the greatest power in the world.
Even the officials who had been protesting fell silent when Shirone arrived.
All eyes in the crowd fixed on him as Shirone walked toward the Alpheas School of Magic.
"Hello?"
Pisho had remained in the graduating class so long that there were faces even Shirone didn't recognize.
Seriel rushed up to Amy.
"Amy!"
At the sight of a long-unseen friend, Amy hugged Seriel tightly.
There was the smell of cigarette smoke.
"Amy! You little rascal! How could you live without so much as a single message? I'm disappointed!"
"Sorry. I had my reasons."
Before being dispatched to the front, she had escaped death several times during training.
But being at ease with Seriel hadn't been kind to her—her face was much thinner than before.
"Tough, huh?"
"Hehe, what could possibly be tough for me? You're the one fighting on the battlefield who has it worse. By the way…"
Seriel glanced between Shirone and Amy, her smile turning sly as she leaned in.
"Coming with Shirone means you two were together last night too? You little minx."
"No! Shirone came to pick me up. I tried to get Maya to come too, but she had already left…"
From behind their classmates, Maya waved.
Shirone.
She met his eyes, but there was no change from before.
Well, of course.
Maya didn't know Shirone had followed her to the hotel. Even though nothing had happened, if Shirone had felt anything he would have shown it in his expression.
It's fine. I love him. This won't hurt more than the pain I need to forget.
Maya forced a smile.
Unlike the foreign officials who kept their distance, their classmates treated Shirone without reserve.
"Shirone, you've gotten really famous, haven't you?" Screamer, the current Creas Coliseum champion, reached out his hand.
"Huh? Screamer! Long time no see!" In school Shirone had been taken aback by his belligerence, but now he felt the restrained strength of a disciplined fighter.
Classmates and even seniors crowded around to greet Shirone, leaving him a little overwhelmed for a while.
"Shirone! Do you remember me? When you were in the advanced class you bumped into me at the lakeside garden. You even helped me carry my books."
"Oh, right…"
He couldn't remember every little thing, but the atmosphere made it impossible to pretend he didn't.
Everyone was glad; it felt reassuring that they shared the same school roots.
"What is that? Some kind of reunion?"
The foreign officials looked baffled.
Wasn't the Ivory Tower's Five Great Stars a rank before which even a nation's king should kneel?
They couldn't understand why people were patting Shirone's head or tugging at his clothes playfully.
"They all like him. I can imagine what his school life must have been like."
Some officials showed respect, but most had come bearing the fate of their nations.
"Hmph! Nonsense! Now is not the time to be leisurely. Isn't that right?"
Officials sent from the southern continent nodded sharply.
There's definitely something going on. We must find out.
The demons had invaded the world, but such crises were not unprecedented in history. Human systems still stood, and the war's outcome wasn't beyond hope.
After the world war the balance of power will be rearranged. This time it's our turn.
While everyone shared the same thought, an official from the Miel Kingdom approached Shirone.
"Star of the Ivory Tower."
The noisy chatter died away.
"As you know, you have the authority to view Pisho's will."
"Yes, I've heard. Where is the will?"
A staff member from the Aberrant Lifeforms Research Institute spoke up.
"It's not a will but a video. Pisho recorded it for you. Until now, no one but Pisho has seen it."
"A video…"
The Miel official interjected again.
"All kingdoms must unite to fight the demons. If Pisho's message is closely related, it's right to share that information."
A representative from the Benivar Kingdom stepped forward.
"If it cannot be made public to everyone, at least appoint a representative. For the record, Benivar supplies the most provisions to the crusade." Officials who sensed a chance to monopolize the information rushed forward and shouted.
"We won't concede to Benivar. Our kingdom has sent the most soldiers to the Valkyrie forces!"
"Nonsense! If we argue like that…!"
As the officials bickered, Shirone watched them with a calm expression.
When voices rose and the atmosphere turned chaotic, Shirone's voice cut through.
"Enough."
His tone was quiet, but the officials felt something chilling and fell silent.
The light, cheerful expression vanished; standing before them was Shirone, radiating the presence of a mage.
"I'll say this."
They leaned in.
"There are people who haven't arrived yet. People who miss Pisho. I'm one of them."
Shirone looked around.
"I want to mourn my departed friend. If you don't share that feeling…"
His cold gaze pierced the officials.
"Just stay where you are."
"Ugh!"
There was no proper response, but Shirone's voice carried an irresistible force.
"F-for now, let's wait."
As the officials slunk back, Shirone turned with a faint, wry smile.
"Now, let's prepare."
Under the name of the world's strongest mage, one could see how officials behaved. But most of those looking at Shirone were thinking something else entirely.
He hasn't changed at all.
Now they knew how much courage and sacrifice it took to get angry purely for someone else.
Why didn't I see it then?
Perhaps Shirone had been the one who suffered most during their school days.
"Oh? Iruki."
A crusade carriage arrived and Iruki stepped down. Powerful knights, loyal to no foreign official, stood at his side.
When Dorothy strode between them and linked arms with Iruki, the students whispered.
"What? Are they dating?"
It was even the first time Shirone had heard the rumor.
"Iruki, you…"
Before he could finish, a grand carriage came racing up and stopped at the entrance.
Nade draped a coat over Shirone's shoulders while Liz stepped down in a smart suit.
"Shirone!"
Tears welled in Shirone's eyes.
"Nade!"
At the reunion of the trio once called the school's troublemakers, classmates fell into bittersweet memories.
As countless remarks were exchanged, when the appointed time came Dante crossed the cemetery entrance.
"It's Dante."
Closer and Sabina, who had been part of the same trio with Shirone, brightened as well.
Working in the Royal Records Department? What nonsense. Every time he visited the capital he'd looked for Dante but never seen him. Judging by his skill in information magic, he was probably an intelligence agent handling highly classified matters.
Can't be upset about that. Too many people had gathered; there was no time to sort emotions. He was simply glad to see them.
"Has everyone gathered? Then we will begin the funeral—"
Just as a staff member from the Aberrant Lifeforms Research Institute prepared to speak, a huge carriage rolled in.
"What is that?"
When people looked at the cargo piled on the wagon, they were stunned.
It was a gigantic wreath made of gold.
"Is this really Pisho's funeral?"
The carrier's clerk held out the delivery papers and asked; the funeral director signed.
"It is, but who sent it?"
"We don't know. If the sender requests anonymity, we have no way of finding out. In any case, it was definitely delivered."
Two mages used air magic to lift the wreath since it was too heavy for people to carry.
As astonished gazes followed it, Shirone looked at the black ribbon tied to the wreath.
A short line was written.
In memory.
"Fermig, huh."
Everyone guessed.
"Who else would do something like that besides him? What's he doing these days? He was infuriating back then, but I miss him now."
"He must be rolling in money somewhere. If that's solid gold, it could be worth over two billion gold."
Nade had heard of Fermig, but it wasn't the right time to bring it up.
"Then we will now begin Pisho's funeral."
With Shirone's classmates seated closest to the grave, the coffinless casket was brought in.
They had not been told why there was no body; perhaps it was better not to know.
"He was an outstanding mage and biologist. His sacrifice will forever live in our hearts…"
The classmates' faces were full of sorrow, and when the casket was lowered some wept.
Even after the funeral the mood lingered, but the officials could not wait any longer.
"Now, make the announcement."
The director of the Aberrant Lifeforms Research Institute appeared, dragging a heavy iron box on a cart.
"This recording device contains about twenty-seven minutes of footage left by Pisho."
A heavy tension settled.
"So far even we haven't been able to view the video. You may not believe us, but…"
The officials nodded.
"Pisho said the proof would be in the video. We believe that once the Star of the Ivory Tower views it, our innocence will be shown."
Now it remained for Shirone to decide with whom he would view the recording.
Seriel approached.
"Shirone, this concerns humanity. I have information I can offer. I'll cooperate as much as possible."
Iruki and Dante offered to help too.
"Let us in with you. You know it's not just curiosity."
Shirone, lost in thought, spoke.
"Let me view it first. There must be a reason the authority was given to me. Can't we decide after that?"
That was the most rational approach.
"Is that acceptable?" The director nodded.
"Full authority is with Shirone. Where shall we view it? A sealed room with magic control—"
"No. I'll do it somewhere nearby. Either way, I'll have to decide again after I see it."
No one there could pierce Shirone's ninth sense and access that information.
"Over there is good."
He pointed to a building two hundred meters from the cemetery where the officials stayed overnight.
When the iron box floated by magic, the director pointed to the building.
"Let's go. We'll open it inside."
Shirone entered with the director, while the remaining hundreds waited anxiously.
Time dragged.
"Damn it! What are they doing? You said it was a twenty-seven minute video! It's already been over fifty minutes."
Someone gestured toward the building.
"He's coming out!"
Shirone walked slowly and reached the waiting crowd; the sound of swallowing echoed.
Seriel asked, "Well? Shirone? Did you confirm Pisho's will?"
"Yes. I watched it all."
The director proceeded with the final formalities.
"Pisho specified that the recording be shown only to those Shirone approves. Now, please make your decision on the transfer of authority."
Shirone pondered carefully.
"I will not disclose the video to anyone."
Not even a breath could be heard.
Finally, Shirone lifted his head and announced to the assembly.
"Pisho was right."