Chapter 44

Moaning in pain, a person ends up wincing despite sleeping. Finally, as the victim of a nightmare, she straightened up suddenly, and opened her eyes. Once done, she expired quickly, while a film of sweat formed on her forehead.

Then inspecting the place where she was, she noticed that she was in a room, similar to a large hospital room.

" Where… where am I? "

" Wendy! "

Immediately, turning her gaze, the young child saw Wave, sat next to her on a chair. Having first jumped when the girl jumped up, the boy had finally smiled at him, before asking her.

" Are you OK ? "

" W… Wave? But ... where am I? "

" At the Palace ! " Taught him the boy! " We brought you back to the capital! "

" The capital ? But how … ? How long have I been here? "

" We found you, five days ago! " The boy explained to him! " To be more precise, it was Seryu who brought you back to us! "

" Se ... Seryu? But where is she ? And what happened? And ... and ...? "

Suddenly wincing from a severe headache, the girl put her hand on her forehead before Wave exclaimed.

" Lay down! You were in bad shape when we found you! Not only did you take severe blows to the face but, in addition, the doctors noticed that you were undernourished! Since when haven't you had a real meal? "

Seeing him worry about his health, without showing the slightest hostility, Wendy could only be surprised when he noticed that he still didn't seem to know that she was a Night Raid spy.

"Seryu hasn't told him anything yet?" "

" Wendy… why did you leave like that? " Asked Wave! " Why did you decide to resign so sovereignly? I thought you liked being with us! The proof, you followed us of your own free will and you protected Seryu from Night Raid! "

" Protected? "

" Yes ! " Seryu explained everything to us! " She had been attacked by Night Raid and was about to be killed, until you came to help her! It is thanks to you that she was able to get out! "

"What ... what is this lie?" Seryu really told them that to ... protect me? "

" Where is she ? " Wanted to know Wendy.

" Seryu? Well, when she came back carrying you on her back, she ended up losing consciousness! She too was injured! And she woke up yesterday, when we came back to the palace! This is how she explained everything to us! Unfortunately, Koro was not so lucky! "

" Koro? "

Pointing at a piece of furniture, Wave showed him a huge jar filled with a scarlet red liquid in which a strange disc was bathed.

" This is its vital core! It has been damaged here and there! Normally, this bottle contains a regenerating liquid but, for five days, the state of the nucleus has not improved at all! According to the general, he is lost forever! "

" And Seryu? Where is she ? "

" Uh ... she left town this morning and ...! "

Then jumped up, Wendy walked past the boy, before leaving the room.

" Hey, Wendy! Hold on … ! "

" Later ! I come back, I promise! "

Running thus, she went to her room which, to her great happiness had remained intact. Rummaging through her wardrobe, she grabbed some clothes and some shoes, which she hurriedly put on before leaving the room. Then running to go outside, the girl had to stop short, while a person was leaning against a wall and seemed to be waiting for him. However, compared to her memories, she had a part of her face covered with bandages in order to hide her recent burns.

" Good to see you on your feet, Wendy! "

Not knowing how to react, the child finally found the reflex to maintain the gaze of his worst nightmare.

" General Esdeath! "

" Happy that you remember your superior! Superior who was not at all happy to hear your resignation! "

" I … ! "

Then being grabbed by the neck, the girl found herself raised while Esdeath watched her gesture to free herself.

" Wendy… I admit I love your character! However, I don't like deserters at all! You decided to resign of your own free will and that, I can't stand! I remind you all the same that you promised me a fight worthy of me! Is it because of this that you decided to flee? Would you be more coward than I thought? "

Feeling her nails sink into the skin of her neck, Wendy found it increasingly difficult to breathe. Having no other choice, she ends up blowing a stream of air from the palm of her hand. Anticipating this, Esdeath had no trouble avoiding it, but had to let go of Wendy nonetheless. Falling on the buttocks, the latter immediately put her hand to her neck, while her attacker noticed:

" I see that you always know how to fight, Wendy! It's good news ! "

At that moment, her foot lodged in Wendy's belly, causing her to moan in pain.

" So ? Are you a coward ? "

Avoiding a second kick in time, Wendy backed away from her before clenching her fists. However, instead of attacking him in his turn, the child regained his calm before finally saying.

" No, I'm not a coward! It is true that I wanted to leave the Jaegers, but it is only for a reason! I could never consider you my boss! However, be sure of one thing! "

Letting the wind surround her fists, she cried out.

" I am not afraid to fight you! "

Listening to him, Esdeath remained stagnant. Then suddenly she turned and started to go.

" Resume your service! "

" Hein? " Wendy wondered.

" Normally, if I had found you myself, I would have fought you before taking you to the torture room to teach you how to desert your position! However, it seems to me that I understood that you saved Seryu of your own free will by fighting Night Raid! As a result,… I am willing to pass the sponge for this time! "

" But then ? "

Suddenly pulling out Wendy's resignation envelope, Esdeath presented the latter to the child, before tearing it apart.

" You are a Jaeger, Wendy! And it's me, and me alone, who decides who leaves the team or not! Never forget it! However, don't think you're forgiven! Regarding our fight, I told you that I would wait until the time came to beat you! However, from now on, I would make sure that you train much harder than usual! I would personally make sure to make you a great fighter! And I swear you will suffer, my little one! "

Going away again, she added.

" Will resume your work immediately! You have a few weeks to catch up! "

Still, she stopped again, hearing Wendy cry out.

" Thank you very much, general! "

Glancing over her shoulder, Esdeath made Wendy bow behind her. Currently, Wendy was not overjoyed to have to meet the general again. However, the latter gave him the opportunity to continue his spy mission. And then, for Wendy, there was no question of abandoning her goal of changing the empire.

If Seryu had finally understood the evil that was eating away at him, she wanted to do the same with the other Jaegers, and show them who is the real evil of the empire.

Then straightening up, she ran at full speed towards the exit and left the palace.

However, seeing her go, Esdeath displayed an unhealthy smile, while murmuring.

" Night Raid…! Interesting! "

Running at full speed through the city streets, Wendy had the greatest difficulty in continuing at this pace, while she still felt a little weak.

"But where did she go? "

Wendy had run to the church; then in the rich and working-class districts before taking a tour of the imperial army barracks… in short, she had toured all the places where Seryu could have gone but no one seemed to have seen him.

" Where did she go? After what just happened and the loss of Koro, it is not difficult to know that she must have morale at zero! Usually, she always goes to her father's grave, at that time! Where is she then? "

Thinking again and again, the child ends up having an enlightenment.

" Yes, it remains! "

Finally stopping, Wendy found herself in poor neighborhoods, in front of Niks HQ. Still smoking a pipe, the latter, as soon as he saw him, gave him a bow. Looking around, the child saw many other people bustling around, without finding the one she was looking for.

" Uh, Niks-san…! " She said, advancing towards him.

" Over there ! " Assured the latter, pointing a direction with his finger! " There is an old restaurant halfway in ruins there! This is where she decided to live! "

" Thank you so much ! " Tried Wendy, resuming her course.

Then, a few minutes later, finding the restaurant in question, Wendy ended up being let fly in the air, with a draft, before landing on the roof of the building. In no time, she could see Caruma, in front of her, turning her back and sitting by the edge. She was busy comforting someone with her head on her lap.

Immediately recognizing the second person, Wendy advanced towards them before opening her mouth to signal her presence. Yet hardly did she take a step that Caruma assured.

" Glad to see you in great shape, Wendy!

" Uh ... I ... hello Caruma! And ... Hello, Seryu! "

Leaving her head on Caruma's lap, Caruma simply gazed at the city in front of her, without showing the fact of having heard the child speak to her. Knowing nothing about whether she was angry or rather happy to see her, Wendy approached carefully before asking her.

" I ... Can I sit down? "

Not glancing at him, Seryu remained stagnant. However, in the end, she nods to give her approval. Distinguishing her gesture, Wendy immediately took her place not far from Caruma.

However, for a few minutes, he made no noise. Seryu lay there; Caruma only stroked her hair and Wendy sat there and moved her fingers without really knowing what to say.

Then, finally, she took her courage in both hands, before asking.

" Seryu, do you hate me? "

Caruma stopped immediately, while Seryu did not move an inch. But, this time she answered immediately.

" I have no idea! In fact, I don't even know who to love or hate! "

There was another silence, before Seryu asked.

" Wendy, is it true that Captain Ogre and Stylish were bad people? "

" Seryu, I swear to you on my life! After what you just discovered about me, I can understand that you refuse to trust me but ... I assure you to tell you the truth! These people did not love you as friends! They were with you because you were a perfect tool for them! Nothing more ! And many other people have done the same! "

" What about you ? Why did you stay with me? Did you want to use me too? "

Preparing to answer him immediately with a "no", Wendy hesitated, before finally admitting.

" Yes ! To be honest with you, when I asked you to take me as an assistant, I used you to enter the army more easily! And then, I stayed for another reason! "

" Which ? "

" I discovered that I was not the one who needed help! Seryu, it was you who suffered! "

" I ... suffered? "

" Yes ! You were hurting people, while thinking of doing good! Because of this, I knew very well that you did not understand the behavior of frightened people, towards you! That's why I decided to help you, in exchange for what you did for me! "

" And do you regret having done it? "

" Why would I regret it? Seryu, you may not have noticed it yourself but, you have changed! "

" You speak ! If it is, deep inside, I just like to kill people! "

" It's not true, Seryu! If that were the case, you would never have made so much effort to help the poor, after realizing that they would starve! And by helping them, I have always seen you display a broad smile when you saw that you were doing good! Seryu, you are made to uphold justice! However, you ran into bad people who influenced you on the path of evil! "

" And the others, then? Are the Jaegers mean or kind? "

" These are different! Bols may have killed hundreds of people, the fact remains that he did it to protect his family! Despite his crimes, he had a heart of gold! For Run and Wave, I don't always know why they joined our team but, I know that they are not for the wrong reasons! Just like you, they think they are doing good by staying with us! She is a little obsessed with her sister, because of her past, the fact remains that Kurome has a good background! If Bols were alive, I would have done anything to guide the five of you to the ranks of Night Raid! We share the same goal! "

" And for the general, then? "

" Esdeath? Well…, she knows what's going on and is partly responsible for the evil that is eating away at the empire! "

" She also uses me? "

"Uh ... I ... in truth, even if it is bad, I think she really likes us! "

Nodding, Seryu then giggled grimly, before noticing.

" I really have the gift of attracting all the wrong people! "

Then clutching her against his chest, Caruma retorted.

" If that reassures you, I am not a bad person! I love you as you are ! "

Hearing him, Seryu began to fix his gaze to see sincerity, while Wendy blushed a little, understanding the meaning of Caruma's words. Then looking at her neck, she noticed Seryu's scarf that Caruma was now permanently wearing, going nowhere without having it around her neck.

"This girl ... could it be ... and she and Seryu are ...?"

Footsteps suddenly made themselves heard below. Running at full speed, a young woman wearing only a semblance of a white tunic seemed to be fleeing from danger. Multiple cuts could be seen on her body, while she was bleeding profusely.

" But that … ? " Seryu wondered, finally raising her head.

" Lindy? " Cried Caruma, seeming to recognize her.

Dead of fatigue, the stranger ends up collapsing on the ground. Seeing this, Wendy dropped from the roof and rushed to her rescue. Beginning to heal her, she heard the person whisper.

" All bad guys ... they want to kill us ... bad food! "

" Calm yourself ! Let me take care of you! "

Arriving in turn, Seryu and Caruma left the restaurant to find themselves next to the two girls. Crouching, Caruma cried out.

" Lindy! Where have you been ? What happened to you ? You've been missing for almost a week! "

Seeming to recognize her, the woman named Lindy reached out to her and could grab her shoulder before pulling her towards her, in order to tell her.

" They… they killed them all, all of them! They don't like us ... they eat us! "

" What? What are you talking about ? "

" Quarter of storage! " Lindy mumbled, suddenly closing her eyes! " Warehouse 32! "

Letting her head fall to the ground, she lost consciousness. Trying to heal her as best she could, Wendy ends up saying.

" My magic will not be enough! You have to stitch up all of your wounds to prevent more blood from coming out! "

Then taking her in his arms, Seryu cried out.

" We are going to entrust it to Niks and the others! I'll give them a little agent so they can take him to the doctor! We go to the place she just said! The storage district is where a large part of the city's provisions are stored! It is distributed in different warehouses except that number 32 has been abandoned for a few years! "

" What is this girl doing with this? " Wanted to know Wendy.

" The disappearances! " Caruma said.

" The disappearances? "

" Yes ! Do you remember what Niks told you when you came to find Kalgon? Hundreds of poor people suddenly disappeared during these last deaths! For many, they just left the capital to find a better life elsewhere! But, for others, they were kidnapped for a certain reason! It's been over a week since Lindy disappeared and today, she appears here, injured! For me, it is no coincidence! "

" Someone kidnaps these people; take them to this abandoned warehouse and kill them! " Understood Wendy.

Then turning to Seryu, she cried out.

" Seryu, I don't know if you still trust me but, once again, we have to fight together and ...! "

Tapping her on the back, Seryu silenced her, before affirming.

" If it's about helping people, I'll give up on who you really are! And then, I already told you, right? I do not hate you ! "

" Thank you, Seryu! "

" Ready to enforce true justice? " Asked Seryu, raising his arm in the air.

" When you want ! "

Passing his head over a small wall, Seryu stared at a large building in front of her.

" It's here ! It's warehouse 32! "

Staring at him in turn, Wendy immediately made a face.

" I confirm ! It smells like blood! "

" Maybe armed people are inside! Beware! Ah, and one last thing! "

Then turning, she looked at the third person who made up their trio.

" What are you doing here, Caruma? "

" I came to help you, of course! " Assured the young woman! " You no longer have Koro with you! I'm here to replace him! "

Suddenly shaking her arms, she pulled two daggers out of her sleeves, before turning them with her fingers.

" Let me assist you! "

" I thought you told me you didn't know how to fight! "

" I said I never hurt people during my flights! Nuance! And then, I know a passage which will allow us to enter it without being spotted! "

And without waiting for the advice of the other two girls, she began to go around the whole warehouse. Finding herself at the back of the latter, she then climbed a gutter to find herself at the height of an air vent. Opening the latter without problem, she slipped then, before beckoning the duo to follow.

" She would make a perfect ninja! " Said Wendy.

" Me, I wonder especially what she could have done before to know this passage! " Sighed Seryu! " How many flights did she make in total, damn it? "

Helped by a wind from Wendy, she was propelled towards the air vent, before Wendy opposite. Thus crawling in the conduits, the three girls continued their progress, while remaining discreet. However, after a while, Seryu bumped into Caruma who had suddenly stopped.

" Hey, what are you doing? "

" It's strange ! There is no noise! If someone really kidnapped people here, we would at least hear something! "

Plating her, her hands in front of her nose, Wendy retorted.

" No, something is really going on here! It smells more and more blood! It's disgusting ! "

Resuming their way, the three girls finally arrived at the end of the conduit. Removing the latter's plate without making the slightest noise, Caruma was the first to inspect the dark room in front of her.

" Nothing on the horizon! " She assured, jumping out of the pipe.

" We stay focused! " Cried Seryu, imitating him! " Koro, number…! "

Suddenly shaking her head, she wondered.

" No, but what am I talking about? Koro is not even there! "

Landing near the two girls with more difficulty, Wendy winced in disgust as the smell had grown even stronger.

" We are near ! "

Feeling a little icy wind, Seryu wanted to know.

" Is this cold normal? "

" We may be in a cold room! "

" In a building like this, it would have been a long time since air conditioning should have been stopped! "

Groping the wall, Caruma walked along the wall until his fingers touched a switch. Immediately praying to god that electricity would always be present, she pressed it, and immediately began to cry out with joy, while the room lit up.

However, in barely a second, her smile disappeared, while her gaze showed only astonishment and disgust, like that of Wendy's. As for walking towards the center of the room, Seryu inspected the room before asking.

" No, but what is this joke? What has happened here? "

Human corpses. Per hundred. Lying on tables or hanging on hooks, all had their limbs and heads cut off, while only their abdomens were suspended, like cattle at the slaughterhouse.

" That … ? That … ? " Wendy wondered, having the impression of seeing what she had experienced in Aria's manor! " What is all this? "

Silent, Caruma then advanced towards a barrel filled with decapitated heads. Despite the disgust that this scene could offer, she ended up grabbing one of her, before feeling a tear trickle down her cheek.

" Yoku! Sazuko! Amiry! "

Caruma knew it now. All the poor who had disappeared in recent months have not left the capital to find a better life elsewhere. They were all killed here.

Understanding this, the girl eventually fell on her knees to the ground, and began to sob the death of several people she had known for years.

" Caruma…! " Said Wendy, taking a step towards her.

Suddenly overtaking her, Seryu passed her before standing in front of Caruma. Grabbing her arms, she forced the latter to get up, before telling him:

" We don't have time to cry, Caruma! We must help others! "

" The… The others? "

" Yes ! There may be survivors, locked up somewhere, in this warehouse! You have to find them at all costs! "

Grinding his teeth then, Caruma shook his head to say "no", before affirming.

" I don't want to go any further! I can't continue! I ... I don't want to see the corpses of my other friends! "

Immediately, Seryu's two hands pressed against his cheeks, and forced his gaze to move towards Seryu.

" What is this story of "I can no longer continue"? Are you a fighter, yes or no? You survived our assault on this fortress and you even had the nerve to help me! You came to see us to ask us for help, at your own risk, and then help us fight Kalgon! You have been committing many thefts for years while risking ending up in prison, making the army your worst enemy! And there, you want to give up? Caruma, don't be ridiculous! If some of your friends are alive, you must help us find them! "

Continuing to sob, Caruma ends up nodding. But hardly Seryu had time to release her when a voice said.

" Unhappily, a purge was carried out this morning! Too bad for you, but you're late! "

The three girls immediately turned to a figure advancing towards them, accompanied by a good number of bodyguards and other soldiers, armed to the teeth. Continuing to advance, he easily revealed his identity, which had no other result than to surprise the three girls.

" You? "

" Seryu and Wendy des Jaegers, it's been a long time! " Sneered the newcomer! " And the third has a familiar face! Ah yes, surely one of those poor little people without a penny that I was kind enough to feed! Ha ha, the good joke! "

" Dodoria (chapter 32)! " Roared Wendy.

" Yes, it's me! " Sneered the nobleman! " The good "Samaritan", always ready to spend his money to give food to the poor! Or, at least, to coax them and bring them here! "

" It's… it's a joke, isn't it? " Asked Seryu, showing a silly smile on his face! " Mr Dodoria! If I asked you for help, it is only to feed the poor! So why ? "

" In fact, it is very simple ! " Said the nobleman, keeping his smile! " You see, we nobles are disgusted by a race of humans: the poor! We, the rich, represent the perfect man, while all that vermin that lives in the gruesome streets of life only represents the inferior race! The set of humans who shouldn't even exist! Therefore, some of the great nobles are ready to do anything to live in a city where this vermin is exterminated! You see what I mean ? "

Seeing the three girls kept silent, he exploded with laughter.

" Are you stupid or what? It's easy to understand ! The great nobles of the city offer me a lot of money to kill all these people! And to make them come so far, I only have to make them swallow small quantities of drugs, put in their food, which hypnotizes them little by little! When they enter here, none of them suspect that they are entering my slaughterhouse! "

" But why here? " Asked Wendy! " Why store all these bodies here? Killing them outside the capital would be more discreet, right? "

" Yes, maybe ! But you know, I hate one thing: spending my money on the poor! There was no question that I would buy food for them! "

" What? " Wondered Seryu! " And all this meat in your pots, where did it come from? "

Eyes wide, she looked around, to see the corpses surrounding her.

" The meat… it was the corpses of these people? "

Hearing this, Caruma immediately clapped his hands in front of his mouth, before freezing in horror. Seeing his gesture, Dodoria asked him.

" What's the problem ? Until proven otherwise, you seemed to enjoy yourself every time you were given a meal! At least, it proved that you loved your friends very much ... to the point of devouring them! "

Trembling with dread, Caruma stuttered.

" I have ... I ate ... my friends? "

" Yes ! That's quite right ! "

Remembering her reaction when she tasted one of the dishes, Wendy could only clench her fist, realizing that he was telling the truth. Human meat was the reason she spit out her bowl. What's more, the disappearances started right after Seryu asked her for help, which made it all work together.

"This man ... he's a monster!" "

" See at least the bright side of it! Thanks to their "sacrifice", all these people were able to at least bring you a moment of comfort by filling your stomachs! Their pitiful life will at least have had a minimum of meaning! "

Passing from terror to anger, Caruma's face was transformed by rage. Taking her two daggers, she sprinted towards Dododria with only the desire to kill him.

" You will pay it! I'm going to kill you! "

" Ridicule! " Said Dodoria, snapping her fingers.

Immediately, two men took a step forward before pointing Caruma with their guns. Blinded by anger, the latter saw them only the moment they fired.

" Hein? "

" Caruma! " Cried Wendy.

Hitting their targets, the bullets sank into a body. However, instead of touching the flesh. They only ricocheted against metal.

Backing away in fear, Caruma caught sight of Seryu right in front of her, arms crossed, using them as shields to protect themselves from the bullets.

" Seryu? "

Gritting her teeth to the point of cracking them, Seryu could only remember the few bowls of food that Dodoria had offered her and that she had eaten with the greatest pleasure. Unintentionally, she herself had eaten human meat. And that, she would never have been able to forgive Dodoria. Truth be told, she was furious with him because of his betrayal. Yet what came out of his mouth was the following sentence.

" The one who touches Caruma, I massacre him! "

" Haha! And what do you think you are doing against us? You may be part of the Jaegers, the fact remains that you lost your teigu while your girlfriend does not even have one! You will not make the weight in front of my men! "

" To have or not a teigu makes no difference! "

Everyone looked at Wendy who walked over to Dodoria, while her hair turned pink.

" The feelings, the emotions, the will, the courage, the friends ... this is what really wins a fight! "

Immediately, a terrible gale was felt in all the room, swinging the hooks and back the men of Dodoria.

" Justice or not justice, I will make you pay for your crimes! Are you ready, Seryu? "

Then taking out two guns, the latter said.

" That's when you want ! "