The Unknown of Humanity (2)
Maya stared blankly at Kaden's strange behavior.
Kaden slowly lifted his head and, seeing his right hand misbehave again, hastily jerked his arm back.
"Damn it! This is maddening."
"Kaden, are you all right?"
"Ah, well…."
There was nothing to say.
"What's going on?"
Other acolytes using the same corridor came out into the hall, and Reina, head of the acolyte group, stepped into the room.
"What's with you? Why—?"
The hushed gazes of the crowd fixed on Kaden, who was hidden beneath the blanket.
Maya had no idea how to explain, and Kaden's face flushed as if it would burst.
"Hmm."
Having grown up with brothers, Reina roughly guessed what had happened.
"I thought something serious had happened. Maya, don't worry about it. It's a health thing. Still, Kaden, try to be quieter at dawn, will you?"
'Ah, no.'
He tried to recover somehow, but with so many people watching his tongue wouldn't move.
Reina pulled on Maya's shoulder and headed for the door.
"Come on, Maya."
Then she leaned in and whispered.
"I know you're classmates, but be careful. I've been watching him—his behavior's kinda creepy. Bit of a pervert, I think."
"Ah, yes."
Maya wanted to say he wasn't like that, but she couldn't be sure.
"All right, everyone! Back to your rooms. We'll do roll call in the morning, so get some sleep."
After Reina dismissed the acolytes and the corridor emptied, Maya turned to look at Kaden's door.
Kaden, who had hastily pulled up his trousers, was on the verge of tears.
'Damn. What a stupid idiot.'
He thought he'd be better off running naked through Jive's streets.
If only Maya weren't here.
'Let's go back to Tormia. What right do I have to be a knight? Staying here will only be a nuisance to people.'
He was nothing more than the sort of man who should brood alone in a gloomy room, drawing the face of the woman he loved all day.
There was a knock, and then Maya's voice.
"Can I come in for a moment?"
Kaden's heart dropped.
'Not now. I can't show my face.'
Just as he was about to refuse, Maya continued.
"There's something I really want to say. It's important." When Kaden opened the door, Maya stepped in with a gentle smile.
She slowly scanned the room and turned to him.
"Is your hand okay?"
"Huh? Ah…." Kaden looked resentfully at his right hand and finally sighed, speaking honestly.
"Sorry. You were right. My stupid hand made me look like an idiot. I don't even know how to apologize…."
"It's okay. It's not the first time." Kaden's lack of control over his right hand was known.
What she didn't know was….
"Which of you is sincere?"
"Huh?"
"You always treat me kindly, but your right hand's always trying to be lecherous. I can't tell what you really want."
"Absolutely not! Lecherous thoughts? I would never dream of that!"
Kaden waved both hands.
But only his left moved—the right hand curled thumb and forefinger into an OK sign.
Maya went blank, and the right hand switched to a thumbs-up.
"Ah, stop that!"
Kaden snapped and smacked his right arm.
Once again a slapstick duel between left and right hands broke out while Maya spoke.
"Kaden, I've thought a lot since you confessed. But I still… I don't think I can forget Shirone yet."
The right arm slowly lowered.
Whenever Shirone's name was mentioned, Kaden's right arm always went limp.
"T-true. I wasn't exactly expecting anything special either…."
"But."
Maya continued.
"I've been trying to forget. Shirone has Amy. I can't keep clinging to Shirone forever."
Kaden's heart raced.
"I can't promise anything. But… could you give me a little time? Would it be rude to ask that?"
"No, no. I can wait. My whole life—no, forever."
It was an extravagant answer, but Maya smiled.
"Thanks for always worrying about me. Sleep well."
"Oh, right. You too…."
Kaden sat frozen for a long while after Maya left, then collapsed onto the bed.
"She must be pitying me."
How pathetic, how pitiable he must seem.
His eyes stung.
"She didn't say no." What he desperately wanted was the impossible fate of the Red Cross Star.
Under that massive Law that had crushed him his whole life, this was the first spark of hope to come to Kaden.
"She said I could wait."
He was stepping out of the mold God had made.
'Maybe I can do it.' The right hand crept toward his damp eyes and gently covered them.
What had happened in the acolyte quarters was a minor incident, but Captain Rai of the guards tensed.
'Not her day today.'
He hadn't been thinking straight anyway.
As he passed from the acolyte area to the teachers' wing, someone approached in the distance.
Even by the limping gait he could tell.
'Parka Kuan.'
Rai brought his legs together in salute, and Kuan nodded briefly in reply.
"Where are you headed?"
Kuan didn't stop walking as he answered.
"Just walking to clear my head."
Kuan's formal tone made Rai uneasy.
"You can speak plainly. It makes me uncomfortable."
In rank, Rai was above him, but Kuan was the great-sword hero the world watched.
He didn't answer yes or no; Kuan passed by and Rai asked,
"Why did you refuse the captaincy of the guard?"
Kuan's steps stopped.
"I don't mean to be presumptuous, but I heard you have outstanding resolve. Even without that reason, I think you're more fit for it than I am."
'Siina.'
He hadn't met her even once since arriving at the sanctuary.
One eye, one arm, and a limp.
'Heh heh heh.'
What could the whole-limbed expect from him, to dream that he should be like them?
"Do your best."
Kuan moved on and said briskly.
"One-armed people can't both fight and protect someone."
By the time Rai turned, Kuan had already left his sight.
"Heresy!"
When Banisa, caught in the Miracle Stream, cried out, his jaw hung loose.
Shirone swung the light-haze in a full arc, and with a thud Banisa smashed into the wall.
'Oops!'
If he'd been a normal human, every bone in his body would have shattered.
"Uuuugh—"
Banisa rose despite his ruined state.
'He won't die.'
Trapped in the prison of the flesh, he had transcended death.
Unlike Rian, his data didn't regenerate.
"Stop it."
Shirone said sincerely.
"Not dying doesn't mean you're alive. If you keep wrecking yourself here you'll just be a chunk of meat."
Like a living corpse from the otherworld.
"Stupid fool."
Madness burned in Banisa's eyes.
"Nothing will change."
He charged again, no longer even human, and Shirone wrapped him in the haze of light.
"Kraaaah!"
Where the light touched, black ash scattered.
'Purification won't work after all.'
It simply burned away.
If they kept pouring the light of Agape like this… what would be left of him?
"Give it up. You've become a demon in a human body. For demons, purification means only annihilation."
"Kraaaah!"
Banisa's ribs burst out beyond his flesh, splaying like spider legs except for one broken piece.
Flesh, mind, heart, emotions—bone sharp as spears flew toward Shirone's nape.
"For the glory of God, that is all we exist for!"
"Damn it!"
Agape's light exploded, and Banisa was hurled into the corridor's darkness.
"Phew."
Wiping the sweat from under his chin, Shirone saw a body charred like coal.
From the parted lips came a groan.
"Ah…?"
It seemed something remained after all.
"Where is this…?"
"Prison."
Banisa, savoring Shirone's words, stared at the ceiling with unfocused eyes.
"Then can I leave now?" Shirone didn't answer.
"It seems I can't. God has not forgiven me."
He was the third undying person Shirone had met.
'Why can't they die?' Rian, Gaulder, Banisa.
"I can see it, Yahweh."
A hoarse voice leaked out.
"God has set your fate. You can never win. You will cry tears of blood… hahahah."
The face, now turned to charcoal, tore.
"Grrk. Grrk."
Shirone slowly turned, staring at the flesh that could no longer transmit any information.
Wuuuuu!
A scream echoed.
From 4:30 a.m., lights began to come on one by one in the windows of Delta headquarters.
By five, people hustled about and the delegations from each department of the sanctuary arrived at Delta.
"Ugh, this is uncomfortable."
Seriel from the World Health Organization stretched and saw a familiar face in the distance.
"Huh?"
It was Amira, a classmate from the School of Magic and now working at the World Climate Organization.
"Wow! Amira!"
"Oh, Seriel! It's been ages. I heard about you."
While exchanging updates, Dorothy and Liz, who had arrived early, approached.
"Hello, nice to see you."
Dorothy was attending as Iruki's representative, and Liz was there as a director of the Nade Group.
"By the way, is Iruki really not coming? He was supposed to speak at the public address."
Dorothy shook her head.
"No idea. There's been no word. I guess Shirone hasn't said anything, so he must be fine, but…."
Liz patted her shoulder.
"Don't worry. He's probably off somewhere causing a ruckus. That's the kind of kid he is."
As they chatted, Seriel scanned the area.
'Amy isn't here, is she?'
She frowned.
"Well, what a welcome sight." Fermi approached, sipping coffee.
No woman had pleasant memories of him from school, so the women's expressions were predictably sour.
But Seriel's feelings toward him were separate.
'I didn't want to run into him.'
Liz said, "Long time no see. Your aura's so bright. You were always scheming at school, and now you've landed in politics."
Fermi shrugged.
"Haha! If it helps the world, I'll gladly burn myself away."
He winked at Seriel like it was old times.
"I read your paper. Your analysis of Emotion Sickness was excellent."
"…What are you doing?"
"What?"
"Why are you talking to me? Don't you know what you did? You turned so many people into addicts."
"So I'm talking to you. How do you like that? I have a great idea for you…"
The moment Fermi put a hand on her shoulder, Seriel lashed out and struck his arm.
"Don't touch me."
As Fermi licked his lips, an agent from Jive approached.
"The sanctuary's official ceremony will begin shortly. Conference attendees, please gather in the main hall."
One by one the women returned to their departments, and Seriel passed Fermi, teeth clenched.
"You and I are meeting later."
Watching her small back recede, Fermi offered a smile with his eyes.
"You haven't changed—still icy."