CapoExecutor: Yeah, it'll definitely be interesting to see how Keisaku's version of the Chanter of Elegies' past will differ from Margery's. And yes, Kazumi will most likely be the Supreme Throne. Going to be funny to see how that plays out.
HeroGuardian: Aye. Kinda funny how I turned Friagne into a footnote though. I sometimes wish I'd given him more lines and actions.
JohnPeacekeeper: Yes, Yuji will have Blutsauger eventually. Fun times will be had.
yumichan808: Still not sure exactly how to fit Bel Peol into the situation yet. Other students? Well... hard to say. Khamsin is one, so are Sorath and Tiriel, but those incesting twins are always... awkward to write about. Yuji's eventually going to do more than just throw fire, but at the moment, yes, he just manipulates flames.
ColinatorGX: Thanks. I'm still not exactly sure how Sabrac's going to fit into the picture. Maybe he'll take the place of the original Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter. Wouldn't be too big of a stretch, seeing as how he has his Rose Madder Flame. Haha. Bal Masque... That's another tricky one. Oh well... There's still quite a few chapters to go before Bal Masque shows up, so maybe I'll figure it out by then.
"Ah, so now that the situation with that doll-loving Denizen and brown-nosing Rinne are out of the way, we're going to be taking a gander with that bloodthirsty Chanter of Elegies, no?"
The Writer of Questionable Stories nodded.
"That's right."
"...I wonder, will this version of the Chanter of Elegies still be a boozer?"
The Writer of Questionable Stories shook his head.
"No. That quality's still stuck with Margery Daw."
"A pity. I would've loved to see Keisaku nursing a raging... hangover."
The Writer of Questionable Stories gave a sidelong glance.
"I swear, you were about to say 'hard-on'."
There was a long moment of silence before the reply came back.
"...Who knows?"
SHAKUGAN NO YUJI?
Chapter 747: The Two And A Half Flame Hazes
So... Everything's back to normal, for the moment. Yuji and I are going to classes as usual. He's stalking me again.. but for some reason, I don't feel like complaining about it as much as I used to. Maybe I'm getting soft.
Only problem left to deal with now is that ridiculous battle-freak. Yuji calls him "The Chanter of Elegies". I'd much rather call him "The Blatherer of Nonsense".
"Well, here's where we part, as usual. See you tomorrow, Shana."
Shana nodded as she began to head towards the stairs leading up to her apartment... but was stopped in her tracks by a voice she hadn't been expecting to hear.
"Truly, this is strange. You brought a boyfriend home with you?"
Shana turned bright red as she quickly spun around. Wilhelmina was standing nearby, hefting a massive backpack which was packed with groceries. Shana quickly gave denial.
"N-no! No! He's not a boyfriend! He's a classmate!!"
Yuji blinked.
"What's a 'boyfriend'?"
Wilhelmina looked over at Yuji.
"Truly, this is an odd boyfriend you have, for him not to know what a boyfriend even is."
Shana's face looked like a halting traffic signal.
"I TOLD you, Wilhelmina, HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND! HE'S JUST A CLASSMATE! CLAAASSMAAATE!"
Wilhelmina just gave Shana a small smile as she nodded.
"Truly, if it makes you more comfortable to think of him simply as a fellow classmate, then I will not press the issue."
She then turned back to Yuji.
"Truly, I suggest that you do nothing inappropriate to her or give her cause to feel hurt... or else..."
From out of nowhere, Wilhelmina produced a razor-sharp kitchen knife and pointedly began to test the edge with a finger. Yuji gulped.
"I... I understand... But I still don't know what a boyfriend is."
"Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP...!!"
The next day, during lunch, Shana popped a question to Yuji through a mouthful of melon bread as they sat together on the school rooftop.
"H-hey, Yuji..."
Yuji blinked at her through a mouthful of riceball before he swallowed it down with a gulp.
"Hmm?"
"Why is this 'Chanter of Elegies' guy so intent upon finding and killing Leanan-sidhe, even though she's not a threat to humans or to the balance between the two worlds?"
Before Yuji could speak, Alastor gave answer.
"The Chanter of Elegies, Keisaku Satou, is well-known throughout the Crimson Realm as the most bloodthirsty of all Flame Haze. His contractor, Marcosius, the Claw and Fangs of Violation, is similarly regarded in kind as the most bloodthirsty of all Crimson Lords. But then again, just about every Flame Haze hates Crimson Denizens."
Shana blinked as she gulped down a mouthful of crisp cookie crust.
"Why?"
This time, Yuji answered.
"Most Flame Hazes are created from human beings who have suffered loss or terrible trauma through the actions of Crimson Denizens. If their hatred and desire for revenge against Denizens is strong enough, a contract with a Crimson Lord usually results."
Alastor continued.
"Indeed, most of them are like this. My Flame Haze, the one whom you call Yuji, however, is a rare exception."
"Meaning...?"
Yuji scratched the back of his head as he answered Shana's question.
"I have no hatred towards Denizens. Our contract wasn't even created through the usual circumstances."
Shana had a contemplative look on her face.
"...What sort of circumstances were they?"
Yuji simply gave her an enigmatic smile before answering.
"One of these days, I'll tell you. I promise."
Shana pouted through another mouthful of melon bread.
"Hmph... idiot."
For what seemed like the umpteenth time, Keisaku made another pass over the city intersection. Once again, he tapped a finger to his ear and spoke.
"Ms. Margery, are you getting anything on that Denizen?"
Half a city away, Margery shook her head as she held the bookmark up to her ear like a cellphone.
"Nothing. It's as if she's completely vanished."
Marcosius sighed.
"Now, now, my raging battle beast, Keisaku Satou, don't fret so much. We did manage to Seal off the entire city while that Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed boy was fighting the Huntress. Eventually, we'll find her again."
Keisaku's voice rose as his temper mounted.
"If you keep talking about things like 'eventually', that damned Corpse Collector's going to get away... AGAIN!"
The English teacher winced as Keisaku's voice loudly came back through the bookmark like a deafening foghorn.
"DAMN IT...!! STUPID DENIZEN!"
Another afternoon. Once again, the two reached the apartment complex where Shana lived. Once again, Yuji nodded as he turned to leave.
"Well, see you tomor-"
"Wait."
Yuji looked back over his shoulder, blinking at Shana as she spoke.
"Hmm? Is something the matter?"
Shana fidgeted and blushed slightly under Yuji's gaze before speaking further.
"I... Would you like to come inside? D-don't misunderstand! It's just... Wilhelmina mentioned last night that she wanted to get to know you better."
Yuji slowly nodded, his face showing obvious bewilderment as he did so.
"Well, erm... sure..."
Keisaku grumbled and muttered under his breath as he stared up at the living room ceiling from the couch he was currently occupying.
"We've been following this damned Denizen bitch for three months already, and she still manages to elude us at every opportunity!"
Margery laughed humorlessly as she poured herself another drink from her bar and downed it in a single gulp.
"What are you getting so worked up about anyways? There's no point in pitching a fit about a woman who's playing hard-to-get..."
Her voice then lowered as she continued under her breath.
"...Or a guy, for that matter..."
Keisaku shot Margery a scowling glare.
"And what would you know about playing 'hard-to-get', anyway? I bet a ton of guys are just throwing themselves at your feet. You have the looks and the personality for it, I'm sure."
Margery said nothing, but simply gave Keisaku a long, long look. The Chanter of Elegies fidgeted under her stare.
"W-what? Was it something I said?"
Margery shook her head as she turned her attention back to her drinking. Marcosius laughed.
"Hohohoho! Maybe, just maybe, that lovely lady is starting to fall for you, eh, my leading ladykiller, Keisaku Satou- Ooof!"
Marcosius howled in pain as a shot glass rebounded off the cover of the Grimoire. Margery had a distinctly annoyed yet utterly smashed look on her face as she gulped down another drink.
"Shut up, stupid Marco!"
Keisaku snorted as he turned his face away from the scene.
"Hmph. I've had enough of this. I'm going to sleep."
"Truly, you must be Yuji Hirai, yes?"
Wilhelmina took a sip of tea as she threw the question. Yuji nodded and smiled brightly as he took a sip from his own cup. Both of them were sitting at the apartment's kitchen table.
"Yes, Wilhelmina-san. You are Shana's guardian, right? Shana talks a lot about you."
Wilhelmina set her cup down as she looked Yuji in the eye.
"Truly, that is interesting. Shana speaks a lot of you here."
Yuji blushed slightly at that remark, but smiled again as he nodded.
"Is that right? I'm... sort of glad."
Wilhelmina was silent for a long moment before she continued.
"Truly, in a way, I must... thank you."
The young Flame Haze blinked as he looked up from his tea.
"Oh? Why's that?"
"Truly, Shana has been much more cheerful and relaxed recently. She smiles a lot more at home, and she seems to be far more motivated than before. Truly, I can't help but suspect that your recent arrival in her life seems to have contributed to that change."
Yuji took a long, contemplative glance out the window of the apartment.
"Is... that so?"
Suddenly, Shana walked out into the kitchen, a towel loosely draped over her hair.
"Wilhelmina, I'm done with my bath."
Wilhelmina nodded as Shana walked over and sat next to Yuji. Suddenly, as if something had just come to mind, she looked up at Yuji and gave him a hard look. Yuji couldn't help but flinch.
"Eh? W-what's the matter...?"
"...You... you haven't taken a bath lately, have you?"
"I don't really think I need to-"
Shana ignored Yuji's stammerings and turned to Wilhelmina.
"Wilhelmina, could you help Yuji and fill up the bath for him? I think he needs one."
Wilhelmina simply nodded and grabbed Yuji by the scruff of his gakuran collar as she began to drag him in the direction of the bathroom. The young Flame Haze had a distinctly panicked look on his face as he attempted to claw at the floor in an effort to slow down Wilhelmina's relentless directive.
He then desperately turned to Shana.
"S-Shana! SAVE ME...!!"
Shana simply responded by sticking her tongue out at him as she then turned her attention back to her tea.
Realizing that no-one would come to his rescue, Yuji screamed like a lost soul as the bathroom door slammed shut behind him.
After what seemed like the fifth glass of industrial-strength bourbon, Margery Daw was on the verge of keeling over and passing out. Marcosius laughed as she unsteadily swerved on her barstool.
"Bwahahahaha! You truly are a paragon of punch-drunkeness! All that booze on your breath, it makes me want to-"
Even in her inebriated state, there was enough force behind Margery's left jab to send Marcosius flying over the sofa where Keisaku continued to sleep, uncaring of what was going on around him.
"Shut up, stupid Marco. Honestly, how that trenchcoated kid puts up with you so calmly is beyond me..."
"Hah! He didn't always, at the beginning. A few hundred years tends to work out all the kinks though."
Margery's eyes widened momentarily.
"F-few hundred...!? Oh, that's right... You Flame Haze types are all immortal. Must be nice, not having to age at all..."
Marcosius suddenly went quiet.
"...Not exactly."
Margery raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
The massive book chuckled as Marcosius floated over to the bar.
"Memories, lady, memories. When you don't age like a human being, everything in your head tends to sit around and never go away. That includes memories. Both the good and the bad."
Margery looked over to Keisaku, still sound asleep and dead to the world. Marcosius chuckled again as he recognized the look in her eyes.
"Heh. You're curious about his past, eh? Hey, want to see a little of what he's got in his head?"
Before Margery could say yes or no, a flash of light sparked into her brain...
Blood was everywhere. Everything that was not drenched in blood was aflame in silver fire. A hand... Keisaku's hand, was ripped from finger to wrist.
Looming over the scene was a woman with long silver hair, dressed in shining silver plate armor that was marred by spatters of blood and gore. A massive two-handed sword, its blade similarly stained with blood, rested in her right hand.
Her eyes glowed red, like two hot coals that had been yanked straight from the heart of Hell itself...
Margery gave a start as the memory abruptly flashed away. Before she could say a word, however, Marcosius spoke quietly.
"Aye, that's enough of a peek for now. Suffice it to say, I think you can understand a little better why my sleeping battle-beast likes to kill Denizens so much."
Margery slowly nodded as her gaze returned to Keisaku's sleeping form. After a long moment, she spoke.
"...That 'Silver' person... was she a Denizen?"
The Claw and Fangs of Violation grunted in affirmation.
"Uh-huh."
Margery looked back over to the floating Grimoire.
"Did he ever get his revenge on her?"
"Nah. We've tracked and chased that Denizen from one corner of this world to the other, but we've so far had no success. What makes it worse is that Denizens like to change their appearances periodically. Denizens are inveterate fashionistas, I guess. Doesn't matter though. We live forever. One of these days, we'll find her and rend her to shreds! Hahahahaw- OOF!"
Marcosius was suddenly silenced as a heavy fist slammed him down onto the counter of the bar. Margery blinked in some surprise as a fully-awake Keisaku glared down at the Grimoire.
"...Hey, Marcosius... don't you think you've been telling her a little too much?"
The tone in the Claw and Fangs of Violation's reply was wheedling.
"Don't be like that, my short-tempered teenage brawler, Keisaku Satou! Besides, I think she's entitled to a little knowledge, seeing as how she's so generously provided for our room and board..."
Keisaku snorted.
"Hmph. Whatever. I'm going back to bed. I don't want you saying anything more tonight, Marcosius."
With a final grumble, the Chanter of Elegies scratched at his hair and yawned. However, instead of heading back to the sofa, he walked in the direction of the guest room. Margery, her inebriation long-gone from the memory Marcosius had thrown into her brain, shook her head as she headed towards the stairs that led up to her own room.
"Time I stopped drinking... Then again, who am I kidding?"
Shana sat in her bedroom, flipping through a book. Nearby, Alastor's Cocytus lay on her desk, glowing faintly.
"H-hey, Alastor?"
"Hmm?"
"I was just wondering about something... Yuji mentioned to me a few days ago that you did not wish to see harm come to Leanan-sidhe. Also, back when I first met Leanan-sidhe at the art exposition, she mentioned that she knew you. Are you two... friends?"
Alastor was quiet for a moment.
"Not so much friends as... acquaintances. And my desire to protect her is due to more than just a mere acquaintance between the two of us. As Leanan-sidhe has probably already explained to you, she collects Power of Existence from Torches that are on the verge of disappearance."
"That's right. She told me that she was doing it to fulfill some sort of wish that she had."
"Indeed. In fact, she has been doing this for centuries."
"...Centuries?"
"Flame Hazes, Crimson Lords, and Denizens age in a very different manner from normal humans. This rule also applies to Torches and Mystes. For all of us, the only requisite for our continued survival and existence is... well, Power of Existence. Thus, as long as there is a constant source of Power of Existence, we can essentially live forever. This includes you as well. As long as you continue to hold the Midnight Lost Child within you, it is possible to live forever."
Shana's eyes widened as she found herself slightly taken aback at the sudden idea of eternal life, after having spent months worrying in the back of her mind in regards to her disappearance. Shaking her head in mild wonderment, Shana returned her attention to the original topic at hand.
"So... if Leanan-sidhe has been collecting Power of Existence for so long... that means that she has accumulated a considerable amount of it."
"Correct. Although Leanan-sidhe has kept all of it contained through her own Unrestricted Method, consider what would happen if she were to be destroyed."
"There... would be no one to keep it in check?"
"Exactly. If Leanan-sidhe were to meet her demise, all of that captured Power of Existence would spill out in a massive surge. The effects from such a huge release of uncontrolled Power of Existence would not be unlike that of a human bomb."
Alastor's voice fell into a grim whisper.
"That is why, in fact, why the Chanter of Elegies should... no, must not be allowed to reach the Corpse Collector."
Shana nodded gravely.
"Understood. I'll do the best I can alongside Yuji."
"Normally, in a situation like this, I'd say something like 'Just try not to get in our way', but you have already proven yourself to be more than capable enough."
Suddenly, a scream came from the bathroom as Yuji scrambled out the bathroom door, naked as the day he was born. Shana and Alastor watched in mute astonishment as he attempted to get clear of the doorway, only to be tripped up by a whipping towel that suddenly wrapped around his leg and sent him sprawling.
Whimpering, Yuji clawed at the floor as Wilhelmina dragged him back inside with the towel that was wrapped around his ankle.
"Truly, resistance is futile. You will be bathed."
Keisaku groaned as the curtains in the guest room were suddenly yanked back without warning, causing direct sunlight to assault his eyes. Margery stepped back from the window as she rubbed at her head.
"Urgh... rise and shine, kid. You're not looking much better, even though you don't drink... Geez, this hangover's the pits..."
The Chanter of Elegies hid his head under the blanket in an attempt to evade the harsh reality of the new day.
"Just a few more minutes, Ms. Margery... And why are you bothering with me? Don't you have classes today?"
"Are you kidding? It's the weekend, buddy. Now get up... I have some shopping to do, and you're going to help me carry stuff."
Marcosius, who was floating above a nearby chair, guffawed.
"Hahahahahaw! It appears that this lovely lady of luxuries can't leave you alone, my charming cargo carrier, Keisaku Satou!"
Keisaku grumbled as he tried to hide deeper within his blanket.
"Forget it. Besides, I still need to go after that Corpse Collector..."
Margery smirked.
"Look, let's cut a deal, then. The shops I'm headed to are located close to where that 'final battle' you mentioned took place. Now, I'm not exactly an expert, but wouldn't someone like her located her base of operations, or lair, at the center of whatever she was trying to pull?"
His drowsiness suddenly gone, Keisaku abruptly stood up.
"That's true... And if that location was truly her lair... She might have left something of use behind. So why are you even telling me this?"
Margery smirked as she metaphorically reeled in the the catch.
"Help me out with bringing in the shopping, and I'll help you in looking for that 'something useful' that might help in catching your Denizen."
Keisaku gave her a doubtful lift of the eyebrow, but simply nodded.
Three hours had passed. Margery walked out of the clothing store, humming contentedly as Keisaku followed afterwards. The hapless Chanter of Elegies staggered out the door, almost crushed under a mountain of boxes, bags, and parcels. Marcosius looked him over from his dangling strap and whistled sympathetically.
"Maaaan... my overworked teenage battle-beast, you've got it rough."
Keisaku grumbled and grunted as he struggled to juggle an armful of shoes and three bags of outfits.
"If... if you have time to be making pithy observations, Marcosius, why don't you help out here? Seriously?"
"Hahaha! And risk damaging my Grimoire's binding? Nothing doing!"
The Chanter of Elegies was about to shoot back a scathing retort when he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks and tongue. Margery, noticing the lack of struggling movements or barbed wisecracks, turned over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, kid, what's the matter..."
Without warning, Keisaku dropped all of his burdens into a jumbled heap and looked up at the office building they were standing in front of. Margery cursed as she attempted to sort out the mess that the Chanter of Elegies had inadvertently created.
"...H-hey, watch it! Those new high heels cost me a bundle! Hey! Are you listening!?"
Looking up from her pile of purchases, Margery blinked as she realized that her Flame Haze packmule had suddenly vanished.
"Well, well, well... isn't this interesting?"
Marcosius chuckled as they looked over the Crystal Altar.
"Hah! Leave it to the Huntress to be such a Treasure-otaku. But this... this is quite something, all right!"
Keisaku nodded.
"With this Treasure, finding that aggravating Corpse Collector won't be so difficult, as long as those Seals around the city still hold."
"H-hey... What the heck are you doing!? Chasing UFOs!?"
Gasping and panting for breath, Margery ascended the final set of stairs. She blinked as she caught sight of the Crystal Altar. She muttered under her breath as she shook her head.
"Well... it definitely beats GPS any day... So what does it do?"
The Chanter of Elegies looked the Crystal Altar over again.
"It's a Treasure of the Crimson Realm... the 'Crystal Altar'. It can track a large target area, such as Misaki City here, and monitor the movements and positions of Torches and humans within. In short, it's the perfect hunting radar for a Denizen."
Margery blinked as a memory from last night came to her unbidden.
"...Can it be used to track Denizens? Say, your 'Silver' character, for instance?"
The Chanter of Elegies scowled.
"Unfortunately, no. Just Torches and humans."
Keisaku's scowl abruptly changed into a grin as he reached into the Grimoire and pulled out another bookmark. Placing it without warning in Margery's hands, he quickly turned and sprang out a nearby window as he leaped onto Marcosius in mid-jump.
Margery yelled after the receding Keisaku in protest.
"H-hey! What gives!?"
"Sorry, Ms. Margery, but I'm going to need your assistance on this one. Keep your eyes on that gigantic display down at your feet please. I'm about to run a search."
Yuji paused in mid-walk and turned, looking up at an indistinct location in the sky. After a brief moment, he spoke.
"Alastor, can you sense it?"
"Mmm. It's the Chanter of Elegies, all right. He's running a wide-area Unrestricted Method. He's looking for the Corpse Collector."
Shana, who had been walking alongside Yuji, spoke up.
"Hey, should we really be standing around here, then? Shouldn't we go and stop him from reaching Leanan-sidhe?"
"That is exactly what we're about to do. But it would be far more efficient to handle the matter in this fashion, instead of just simply going out and offering battle to the Chanter of Elegies."
The female Mystes blinked.
"Why?"
Yuji frowned as the magic circle of the searching Unrestricted Method passed them by.
"...The Corpse Collector doesn't move around like a normal Denizen. In fact, while she is gathering dying Torches, she hardly moves at all."
Shana blinked as the rebounding force of the probing Unrestricted Method passed through her like a shockwave.
"...! I felt it! She's nearby! Leanan-sidhe's around here!"
"Well? Did you see her?"
Margery's voice came back, hesitant and slightly confused.
"That's strange..."
Keisaku frowned.
"What is?"
"I thought I her moving on the grid when you used that Unrestricted Method a moment ago... but then she just... disappeared. Vanished."
The Chanter of Elegies blinked.
"Huh? Never mind, then. I'm going to cast the Unrestricted Method one more time. Keep your eyes peeled!"
"Well, what are we waiting for then! Let's go!"
Before Shana could move, however, Yuji restrained her with a hand on her shoulder. The young Mystes looked up in some surprise.
"Why are you stopping me, Yuji!? Shouldn't we go and protect her!?"
Yuji's eyes narrowed.
"Because that's not the Corpse Collector."
Shana blinked again in mild bewilderment.
"What... what do you mean?"
"Think about it. Is she there right now?"
Shana's eyes widened as realization sprang to her mind.
"She... she disappeared!"
At that moment, another wave of spell-lines hit. Alastor's voice broke in.
"The Chanter of Elegies is casting his Unrestricted Method again."
Shana blinked in astonishment as the bouncing search pattern coursed through her.
"Wait... She's all the way on the opposite side of the city now!? How can she move that fast!?"
Yuji answered.
"Because as I mentioned before... she's not moving at all. If she really could move that fast, there would be no reason for her to simply stick around in Misaki, waiting for the Chanter of Elegies to get to her. Those Corpse Collectors we're finding through the Chanter of Elegies' Unrestricted Method... they're all just decoys."
Alastor murmured in affirmation.
"Indeed. If we're to properly protect the Corpse Collector, we need to find the real one. The question is... where the real one is..."
Something suddenly sprang to Shana's mind.
"Wait... I think I might know where the real one is, then."
Yuji blinked.
"You do?"
Shana nodded.
"Yeah... Remember that time when I was at that art exhibition?"
"What about it?"
"I met Leanan-sidhe there for the first time. We had a long talk."
"About what?"
Shana abruptly turned red as a recollected sentence sprang up in her brain.
"I... don't understand Yuji. I don't understand him at all. It's not a question, really, but... I can't stand him! And yet at the same time, I can't stand it when he's not there..."
Still crimson-faced, Shana shook her head to clear her mind.
"N-nothing! It's nothing!"
"But I-"
"Shut up, shut up, shut UP! Anyways, we have to find her! She's at the art exhibition!"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I can't be completely sure, idiot! But... I just have this feeling..."
Yuji nodded.
"All right. In any case, it's as good a suggestion as any. We'll have to fly to get there in time, though. Hold onto me!"
Shana's face turned even redder.
"W-what!? Don't play games with me, you-"
Her words were abruptly stopped shut as Yuji simply spoke two words, laced with a hint of pleading.
"Shana... please."
Shana, still blushing it up like a ripe tomato, hesitantly approached Yuji from the front and embraced his waist, burying her face in the front of his gakuran.
Yuji responded by embracing her shoulders as he braced his legs for the coming jump. Still crimson-faced, Shana felt rather thankful that the young Flame Haze couldn't see her expression.
Yuji... His... this is his scent... Soap from his bath last night... Wait, why am I even thinking about this!?
Feeling irritated, Shana let it show in her words.
"...Hurry it up, idiot!"
Yuji just smiled.
"Alright, alright..."
And then came the leap. Shana felt her stomach drop as the two of them suddenly flew into the air. Along with the sudden rush of adrenaline came a feeling of absolute euphoria. Shana's head spun as her grip on Yuji tightened.
I... As long as Yuji's with me... I can...!!
Keisaku grumbled as he dropped his hand, letting the Unrestricted Method phase out quietly. He turned his attention back to Margery through the bookmark.
"Ms. Margery, still nothing?"
"I'm not getting anything. It's completely gone. She's vanished. Whoever she is... I wish I could get across the city like that. Beats taking the bullet train any day... Hmm?"
Something on the Crystal Altar suddenly caught Margery's eye. Frowning, the English teacher brought the bookmark back up to her ear.
"Hey, Keisaku... You mentioned before that this 'Crystal Altar' doodad only shows Torches and humans, right?"
"That's right."
"I'm seeing something else here as well, though."
"What is it?"
"...Birds. A lot of them."
Marcosius laughed.
"Hmhmhm... So it looks like the Huntress also had a thing for birds!"
"Don't be stupid, Marco. The birds showing up on this 'Crystal Altar' can't be ALL the birds in Misaki City. There's not enough. Also... they all look the same."
Suddenly, realization came to the Chanter of Elegies.
"Wait, Ms. Margery... the birds... where are they?"
"Well... Huh, this is odd... they're all flying from spots where we'd seen your lady Denizen friend just a few moments ago."
Keisaku grinned a wolfish, hungry grin.
"...And where are they headed to? Are they converging on a specific spot?"
"Huh, yeah, it seems like they are. Looks like that hall where they're currently holding that new art exhibition. Funny. So that means..."
Keisaku suddenly cleared his throat.
"Ms. Margery."
Margery blinked, as if picking up something new in the Chanter of Elegies' voice.
"W-what is it?"
"Since I'm not sure whether I'll have an opportunity to say it later, I'll say it now. Goodbye, Ms. Margery. It's been fun."
Margery's eyes widened.
"H-huh!? Wait a second... You're just up and leaving like that?"
"Of course. I'm a Flame Haze, Ms. Margery. Once we find our prey, we leave and look for more. It's not that we have anything against you... it's just our nature. You've come into indirect contact with a Denizen already. Most humans don't run into more than one Flame Haze during their lives, so you should be fine. Stay out of trouble, all right?"
Marcosius bluntly put in his two cents' worth.
"Don't booze and fornicate too much! Live a life without troubles! Hahahahahaw...!!"
Margery angrily yelled through the bookmark, red-faced.
"Shut up, stupid Marco! And who said you could-"
Without warning, the glow emanating from the bookmark in her hands abruptly faded out, indicating that its connection to the Chanter of Elegies had been cut. The English teacher stared at the bookmark in her hands for one long moment of silence, before angrily yelling out her words into the uncaring, empty air. Her voice of fury was intermingled with a tempestuously irritating frustration that, somehow, she couldn't completely voice or fathom.
"KEISAKU SATOU, YOU STUPID IDIOT! WHO'S GOING TO HELP ME GET MY PURCHASES HOME NOW...!?"
Above the city, the Chanter of Elegies sped onwards at full speed, his eyes locked onto the prospect of finally finding his prey. Marcosius muttered contemplatively as they flew towards their destination.
"Hmph... I'm going to miss that lady. She was a lot of fun to be around... and to tease. Hey, battle-beast, you listening?"
Obviously, Keisaku wasn't.
"Destroy... Destroy... DESTROY! EVERY DAMNED DENIZEN, I'LL DESTROY THEM ALL...!!"
"Well, this is definitely getting interesting. Too bad you left it at a cliffhanger... AGAIN."
The Writer of Questionable Stories shrugged.
"Too bad. They'll just have to wait. Besides, I've got other work to take care of."
"Eh?"
"Spring break's over. Classes again. No more short intervals between updates... I think."
"And what's that supposed to mean exactly?"
"Details, details, details..."
To Be Continued...?
