EPISODE 4: ARZENAL 'DATE'
Summary: The Human Killer's reluctant mission to evaluate Arzenal, alongside the Norma's reactions to meeting the 'humans'.
Disclaimer: I don't own Cross Ange or any of its characters and original plot, excluding the original characters I created for this story. This is a spin-off series of the main 'Cross Ange: Living Hell' story. So please read that before here.
Cross Ange and all its rights belong to King Records (Japan), Sentai Filmworks (USA), and Sunrise/ Bandai Namco Entertainment (Japan). This fanfiction is meant for entertainment only and not for profit. This story contains heavy language, blood and violence, and mild sexual themes not for audiences under 16-18 years old.
[Three days before 'the worst day in history'…]
"Human Killer. Thank you for accepting my invitation." Rush shut himself up after being offered to take a seat in one of the two chairs positioned in front of the Rosenblum King's desk, since the other chair was taken by Senator Bronson nervously trying to look away and hide his fear from the Human Killer, with Rush feeling curious but forcefully hiding his dull aggravation from both the King and the Queen sitting at the chair placed at her husband's left side, glowering with her nose scrunching in irritation as if she smelt something gross from Rush. Just like whenever anyone associates with the big, bad Human Killer. To Rush, he should be either killing someone to entertain himself from dying of boredom, being at home in the Haven or thinking of visiting the Velda Dynasty Queen and Prince Seri Ranka for their occasional home outings from nine to almost ten years ago, willingly accepted by the Queen who is the only one that Rush prefers to socialise out of the world leaders for her kind understanding. "I trust that you are free from your duties both in the mainland or at the Haven?" The King curtly demanded Rush with a stern frown.
"…Yes, Your Majesty." Rush subtly nodded, trying not to piss the three Rosenblum pricks off by being informal, despite giving him the stupid stress like everyone else. "So far, there has been no disturbance from anywhere in the other nations, besides the recent fight caused by some guy in Enderant Union protecting a Manasthmatic kid and a drunkard mistaking them for a Norma."
"Such a disgusting thing." The Rosenblum Queen scoffed. "Norma or Manasthmatic child, anyone who can't even use the Light of Mana is no human!"
"Y-Your Highness?" Senator Bronson meekly raised a hand, with Rush noticing how tensed the other was besides sitting next to a murderer. "W-Wasn't your late sister Manasthmatic?"
"…We don't mention that weak thing who dared become my sister. She was nothing more than bugs needing to be stomped by our feet, like Norma scum." Rush twitched his only eyebrow in annoyance at the queen's remorseless insult to her late sister and Misty's aunt. 'The fuck is wrong with this old bitch. She's just liked those other fuckers.'
"Human Killer." The King alerted Rush back to his attention, not shifting the stern frown. "As you and your land, Haven know; that Rosenblum has been overseeing Arzenal and keeping Norma in line to protect our world from the DRAGONs. And the one in charge of making sure it will stay that way is the Inspector stationed there for years. Recently, the current Inspector is Bronson's daughter who gave her the role. However, despite being told of her duties in keeping an eye on the Norma by her father, I couldn't help but presume some potential risks that could secretly affect Arzenal and outside Inspector Bronson's sight…. which is why I'm giving you a mission to investigate Arzenal and the Inspector for one day, in three days from now."
As soon as he said it, Rush could feel the heavy silence that followed especially when he lowered his head and secretly looked at Senator Bronson's expression to be pure terror and concern for his daughter. "So, it's to check on secret activities that could jeopardise Arzenal?"
"And see if Bronson is indeed a suitable Inspector, as I once received a cruel jest by Galia in a meeting that someone as young as Bronson would create mistakes…" The King then raised an eyebrow at Rush who remains unfazed from showing any emotion. "Human Killer. If the Inspector COULD be proven careless in her duties by chance, how would you deal with her?"
"Depending on how she messes up her job, I don't care. But if it's something that will get her asking for it…" Rush admitted, noticeably reaching his bandaged right hand to his gun from his hip which alarmed the main man beside him.
"Emma's innocent!" Senator Bronson hurriedly raised from his seat, attracting Rush and the Rosenblum couple to look at his slowly angry expression directed at the former before looking at his ruler in worry. "My daughter has always been a smart, hardworking girl with a strong work ethic in her performances. And me and those who know her have praised her for her dedication and duty. Your Majesty, I must beg you to refrain from asking The Human Killer to go to Arzenal. He would even kill not just my daughter, but the Norma soldiers who can combat the DRAGONs."
"Even if that is his so-called duty, someone as dangerously impulsive as the Human Killer will create a ruckus simply for being a nuisance." The Queen scoffed, again unaware of Rush eying her in displeasure. 'Bitch, I'm here, for fucks sake.'
"I understand your concerns. But I want nothing more but the true progress for Arzenal's procedures without any misinformation." The Rosenblum King reassured. "Human Killer. I recall that you have a team of soldiers working under you. Elaborate their roles and a bit of their origin." The sudden mention of his team increased Rush's guard, but he can use this advantage if he can bring his team with him to Arzenal. With a flick of a finger, Rush conjured five Mana profiles floating for the three people's eyes to see, each showing a mugshot and full-body picture of his team members and their falsified records. He almost thought of mentioning his final teammate but decided not to protect the other's privacy.
"I have a Galian right-hand man, a Mamerian brawler and Para-mail rider, an Enderant Union medic and chainsaw user, a Haven technician, and an animal whisperer also from Haven."
"Oh?" The Rosenblum King mused, reading glimpses of each member's information while looking at their faces. The mysteriously giant helmeted man who is oddly named Red Death, the brunette woman Cynical, and the green-haired technician Ammo do seem promising in what he is thinking about regarding the Human Killer, yet he seems to strangely recognize the latter boy but unsure where. What caught his attention the most were the two oddest people: Hyacinth and Moon.
"A medic…and chainsaw user?" Senator Bronson shuddered his apprehension at Hyacinth's profile as her full-body picture showed her in her slightly indecent dress robes, her blank blue eyes glued in sadness, and armed with a terrifying chainsaw that no normal woman should be wielding as a weapon for a delicate lady.
"Hmph." The Rosenblum Queen scrunched her nose, fuming her envy at the two beautiful women in the Human Killer's team before she thought of something to scorn the impudent gunner's pride by pointing at the weak and terrified boy with the two snakes coiling around his thin figure. "A filthy boy as an animal whisperer? Why would you need something as crude as that?"
"Because, if not for Moon, the Haven wouldn't even communicate and keep the wild and exotic animals we protect as family pets and persecutors to humanity's traitors and Haven intruders. Feeding them to our wild pets is part of the punishment options, mostly the crocodiles and alligators." The Human Killer curtly answered without care that he immediately shocked the three people with horror and anger in the Queen's face. He wished he can shoot this bitch dead for demeaning Moon if not for both being his secret Haven supporter's mother and her husband's presence. After a brief silence, The Rosenblum King has his mind set if not for one last question.
"Human Killer. If I order you to bring your team to Arzenal for the mission, will you refrain from attacking the Norma?"
"Yes." Rush immediately nodded his agreement, startling Senator Bronson of the abrupt timing. "Normally, I would do my missions by myself. But since this one does not require me to kill a soul, at least bringing my team will not bore me to death."
"Very well, then." The Rosenblum King relented with a wave of his hand, beckoning Rush to leave. "Then, you and your team shall oversee Arzenal for one day. You will hand me a report of their procedures and investigations once you come back. You are dismissed but I want you to come back here the day after Misurugi's baptism."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Rush raised from his seat and willingly bowed, nearly releasing his stress from the frustrating meeting, but almost left when the Senator hurriedly rose from his seat, about to run after him nearing the door with his face sweating madly in dread.
"Human Killer! Please! Please don't kill my daughter! Emma is all I have, ever since my wife passed away! I beg of you!" Senator Bronson pleaded, shakily clutching his clothed chest in an attempt to convince the Human Killer for his daughter's sake. But to both his increasing terror and the Queen's bafflement, the Human Killer never budged from the plea just by staring a dark dagger at the frightened older man until he gave his final say before leisurely leaving the room with the Rosenblum King and Queen and the Senator watching him go.
"…Make sure she doesn't mess up…" Once he left the room and slowly closed the door, The Rosenblum King took note of both the Senator, who has been their dear friend since childhood, falling on his hands and knees with harsh panting as if he will cry and his wife angrily complain aloud with her arms crossed against each other. "Such an insolent brat! Who brought him up to mistreat his kind like we are worms!?"
'Indeed, love.' The Rosenblum King mentally agreed, staring at only the door where the Human Killer last stood. Like the entire world, he would often think of the mystery of the young but homicidal gunner who terrified their homes with his torture only of the Norma and human traitors. And like the other rulers, he was baffled that a then-sixteen-year-old boy with little information of his Misurugi past lived as a murderer in a semi-classified nation.
However, as much as everyone but mostly his wife and eldest daughter despise him, a part of the King is grateful that the Human Killer saved Misty and her Veldan companion from a terrible ordeal that nearly cost them their lives, those years ago. And speaking of Velda, the King knows that the queen is the one besides Jurai and Sophia who interacts with the Human Killer as a human being and he surprisingly reciprocates her as would a loyal subject following a neighbouring tyrant. Besides Misurugi, Enderant Union and Galia who see him no different as a soldier, the King is not surprised by Marmeria's cruel insensitivity towards the young man for a mysterious reason no one knows.
Nonetheless, the Human Killer is still needed to protect them from Norma and the traitors…but there is something that collected his thoughts to secretly smirk his discontentment.
'If Master Embryo meets the Human Killer…our master will execute the boy for good.'
[Present…]
"Emma, listen to me. Promise me that you can make sure that everything will be alright when the Human Killer's team inspect nothing out of the ordinary in Arzenal. Make sure those Norma will not get out of hand and get you killed by the Human Killer with their irresponsibility! We are depending on you!"
'Keep it together, Emma. You can do this, for Papa and our people…no, our kind.' Inside the hallways of Arzenal, human Inspector Emma Bronson told herself once she and Commander Jill led the Human Killer's team after successfully patching up the blonde woman Hyacinth's wound that her leader boldly and mercilessly dared shoot her, just to silence Ange's insolent desire to leave Arzenal and ridiculous claims that she is not a Norma despite authentic proof. As they walk through the corridors, Emma elucidates her knowledge of Arzenal's progress and training the Norma to combat the DRAGONs as their role in their home with Commander Jill stepping in to give further confirmation, making sure that the Human Killer's team is well informed and hoping to relieve their leader's temper from that terrible ordeal he caused.
But to the Inspector's increasing dread and annoyance, whenever they would resume the tour, there would be a random Norma either walking past them or standing in the middle of the paths and spotting them. At least with the Commander accompanying them, those Norma's attempts to spy or even speak to the men of the group immediately failed and forced them to hurriedly leave before they could make it worse, even alarming the Human Killer to repeat his medic's attempted execution.
Occasionally, while trying to be professional in her life at stake, Emma would secretly peek at the Human Killer's team over her shoulder and note their appearances and personality as the half-bandaged leader converses with the Commander surprisingly like talking with a human. From her father's Mana files given to her regarding the team, and excluding the Human Killer, the giant man Red Death seems to put Emma on edge for his massive size, the brunette woman Cynical gives her a Norma vibe but that sounds absurd, the young green-haired boy Ammo seems laidback or unserious despite his role of serving the Devil of a human, the innocent woman Hyacinth shocks Bronson the most due to her beautiful face showing nothing but melancholy, and Emma shuddered her repulsion at the snake-covering boy Moon holding Hyacinth's left hand in concern for earlier.
'These people work for HIM?' Emma continues to be apprehensive. 'Why would they allow themselves to be hurt by serving a monster!?'
"Inspector Bronson." The sound of Commander Jill's voice calling her managed to alert the Inspector to stop walking and almost got distracted, even hiding the squeak she was about to release when she hastily turned and saw the group almost walking inside the Norma children's classrooms. "We've reached the classroom." Jill curtly pointed out. As much as she wished to argue for her nonchalant behaviour, the sight of the extended group members looking at her stopped her with a cough, trying to reclaim her pride.
"T-thank you, Commander." Emma nodded and scooted aside to step closer to the door with a few soft knocks, seeing who but Ersha consoling the frightened girls closer to the blackboard. "Oh, Ersha. Sorry for intruding, but I want to show the Human Killer's team the classroom." Not seeing Ersha and the girls watching them in concern towards the humans, Emma explained the purpose of the classroom with the Commander answering the Human Killer's question regarding the age for Norma to go into combat. But right when Emma left the room and prepared to take the group through the hallways on their way to the training grounds…
"Sir! If I'm allowed, can I stay here for a bit? I wish to…continue looking around in case of something suspicious with these girls."
Emma, Jill, and The Human Killer's team look at Red Death when he stays behind in the classroom with the former reacting in dismay at his proposition. Even if the classroom is the most vulnerable part of Arzenal, why would one of the Human Killer's members stay put? Did Mary or Ersha put something off guard that prompted the giant man to investigate? Emma was about to go inside when the Human Killer bluntly approved with a nod and already started walking away from the others.
"Sure. Make sure you get the girl to lead you back to us." Not just Emma, but Jill and the Human Killer's team briefly shift their surprised reaction from Red Death to his leader but hurriedly follow after him with the Inspector baffled by how crudely bored he is for everything, even before coming here, according to her father when he told her about the meeting with their King and Queen before Ange's disastrous baptism and revelation.
"H-Human Killer? Aren't you going to call Captain Red Death to join us?" Emma demanded the Human Killer. To her, he should call him back so that he will not be injured by a dangerous Norma, even someone as physically strong as Ersha despite her delicate appearance and personality.
"Red Death's a big boy, so he can handle it. And I'm no stick in the mud Dad." The Human Killer assured but that did little to ease the Inspector's worries, more like shocking her for his heartless feelings.
"B-But, Human Killer. If he isn't careful, he will be killed by a Norma, especially Ersha. They're are nothing but mindless brutes only used to kill the DRAGONs until death." Unaware of the Inspector, Jill and the Human Killer's team look at each other with all but Moon expresses irritation for her heartless words about the Norma but they also find mixed amusement and concern about the human woman's fright by the Human Killer coldly glaring back at him in composed fury.
"…I don't give a fuck on how my soldiers will do their work, as long as they know they can either do or die with it. If you can't trust your workers, then you're no better than dog shit back at the mainland."
"Inspector." Emma heard Commander Jill calling her and saw her silently waving her to move closer which she fearfully did, listening to her whispering while switching their positions for the Commander to now walk beside the Human Killer while Emma walked beside Cynical. "Miss Cynical told me that their leader did not sleep well, due to what happened at Misurugi last night which is why he caused that uproar and his current personality for today. So, for your safety, allow me to speak on your behalf for the tour."
"...Thank you, Commander." Emma immediately relented, wanting nothing more but to get this tour over with and get away from the Human Killer.
"Ah! You are so pretty, Mister Riding Red!" The girls happily commented on their awe as they excitedly played with their tea set placed on the tiny tables with Ersha and Mister Red Death sitting on the floor with the latter's helmet removed to show his, mismatching muscled body, young and handsome face and blue hair which the girls have braided its initial ponytail to the tip tied with his hairband, keeping it in place. As she pretended to pour the imaginative tea into one of the girl's teacups, Ersha would peek and smile with a slowly growing blush at Red Death kindly allowing the girls to sit on his lap or bounce around him, even seeing him smile without disgust of being surrounded by Norma, especially with the tiny, cute stickers they secretly stamped on some parts of his face, but the kind, humane smile made Ersha feel her heart fluttering. What was initially her fear that a human man could hurt the children, since he is serving a murderous gunner who even kills his kind, turned into relief and even gratitude for revealing himself to be kind even to Norma.
"More tea, Mister Riding Red?" Ersha proposed with a chuckle, raising the teapot for Red's teacup which he obliged with a confident grin.
"Of course, Miss Fluttershy." Red Death cheekily accepted with a fake posh accent, making Ersha and the other girls giggle at the former's new nickname he thoughtfully called her while pouring Red's cup.
"I can't thank you enough for showing us how kind you are to us Norma, Red." Ersha appreciated. "I hope your leader will be alright after you told me about his lack of sleep."
"Yeah. At first, he was supposed to go here alone, by the Rosenblum King. But I'm glad that we followed him. If not, I could guess he WOULD plan to kill everyone here to not get bored." Red Death explained, closing her eyes with a worried scowl when mentioning the part of his leader almost killing every one of Arzenal that also made Ersha shiver her fright and the girls grew tensed for the scary, bandaged man. "But don't worry. He used a fake bullet on Hyacinth to convince your friends and the Inspector that my leader is scary. In truth, he's just grouchy but secretly nice if you get to know him and our people at the Haven."
"Ah?" Ersha mused in astonishment. According to Red, he and his people are not from the other nations but from an unfamiliar land, that only each nation's rulers know than the whole world called the Haven. She wanted to ask more about his country when everyone heard, and nearly frightened the little girls, of the sudden noises coming from Red's pocket, startling the giant boy to fish a hand through his pants' left pocket and pull out a small, device resembling a non-Mana phone. "Hello?" Silently ushering the kids to hide behind her for protection, Ersha nervously watches Red answering his call with a press of a button.
"Red Death? Anything okay over your side?" To Red Death, Rush's voice enquired from the other line. First seeing the glimpse of Ersha and the little girl's worry directed at him, Red silently waved his free hand as assurance before grabbing his helmet and putting it back in his head, also hiding his braided ponytail inside and unknowingly his sticker-marked face.
"Yes, sir. I've finished inspecting the classrooms and there is nothing suspicious. I shall head back with you all with Miss Ersha's company, also recording my way for the tour report with my helmet's camera." Red Death's voice reclaimed the deeper baritone from his helmet when he informed his leader, with Ersha secretly breathing a sigh of relief but making sure she and the children kept quiet.
"Good. Get your new girlfriend to take you to where the Commander calls it 'Jasmine's Mall'." Red Death almost screamed his bafflement at what Rush openly calls Ersha who also blinked her green eyes in surprise at hearing the Human Killer's words while the little girls were confused especially when everyone heard a startled scream possibly from Inspector Emma Bronson just when the line died before Red Death almost coughed his words. 'Rush, why the hell you say THAT!?' Red Death mentally growled his embarrassment which made him shudder when he heard Ersha chuckling her cute hesitance.
"I see that we mustn't dilly dally." Ersha singly giggled her amusement once she hurriedly stood on her feet and carefully grabbed Red Death's right arm, prompting him to slowly rise as well and both glanced at the children. "I'm sorry, girls. But I need to take Mister Red around Arzenal for his team's mission. I'll come back once they leave later."
"Aww!" The little girls complained in sadness, running and holding their hands grabbing whatever they could on Red Death's legs and stomach in an attempt to make him stay, making the giant, helmeted man feel his heart shattering in guilt for seeing their wide eyes about to shed tears in sadness. "Will you come back, Mister Red?" One of the girls asked, and Red knew he must give a suitable but truthful answer.
"I…I don't know when, and I don't know how…" Red admitted. "But hopefully, if by chance my team is asked to go on a new mission of coming back here, I promise to see Ersha and you girls again." Ersha felt her face flush red again but shakily smiled her appreciation for Red thinking of her and the little children. Although reluctant, the girls sadly wave both Red Death and Ersha goodbye and watch them leave on the same path that the former's team, Inspector Bronson, and Commander Jill last headed.
Ersha hoped that either Red's leader would not punish him as severely as he almost did to Hyacinth if Red was a little bit late, or any Norma would take advantage of them walking through Arzenal together.
"Hu-Hu-Human Killer!" Rush just pressed the end button on his flip phone when he irritably looked at his side and noticed the annoying Inspector's traumatized face gawking her mouth wide for something he joked, with the woman ignoring Jill and his team staring at them with the former raising an eyebrow at Rush with bemusement and a tint of annoyance in her smile for her fake younger brother's tease and his team expressing curiosity, although Ammo had a mischievous grin whenever he would tease his friends of their future, hopefully, suitable love relationship with Rush being his favourite victim for not having one at the moment. Out of the team, Rush, Ammo, and Hyacinth are the ones who would often playfully tease anyone in the Haven for their relationship goals although everyone is hoping that their leader will find a girlfriend soon or after their real mission will be over.
"D-Did you just refer to Ersha as Red Death's girl-girl-girlfriend!?" The Inspector's outburst, accidentally to her when she realized, attracted the attention of Arzenal's Second Squad currently using the training field's shooting range area with almost all the girls glaring at them in shock and a few envious of mentioning Ersha as Red Death's girlfriend.
"What? It's just a joke to get Red Death joining us as fast as he could." Rush responded, caring less of the Inspector's befuddlement. "Besides, he also has a recording camera inside his helmet's visor, so wherever he goes; he can record his surroundings for me to use as a reference for Rosenblum's report."
Despite being answered, Emma continues to be shocked about the Human Killer's negligence for his mistake of calling a Norma like Ersha an equal as a human in Red Death as a joke without seeing the consequences, as she watches him accompanying Commander Jill who informed him the purpose of the training fields from the race tracks to the shooting range, with the human woman's boggled attention focusing on the Human Killer.
'What is wrong with him? How could he not see that his actions are unfitting for a human!?' Emma mentally screamed once she and the Human Killer's team hurriedly walked after them.
"Human Killer. This is Captain Eleanor of Arzenal's Second Squad." Jill introduced Rush, without revealing his real name, to the team leader of Second Squad kneeling and about to shoot at one of the bullseyes adorning the large image of a Schooner DRAGON as target practice. With long and wavy brown or near black hair past her shoulder with slightly tanned, tawny skin, her silver eyes glaring at Rush and his bored sneer looking back at her darkened in aggravation but silently stood and saluted the Commander. "As you met the First Squad earlier, and informed of the three Squads earlier, each Squad would be deployed on a precise pattern and category of DRAGON incursions to not overwork the other members. The highest category to require two or all three Squads to combat the DRAGONs is 5, with 4 being the occasional number." Jill informed.
"Oh…" Rush mused, looking from the Commander and Eleanor's squad stopping their practice to watch the conversation, not wanting to argue about the captain's sudden disdain of him, to the target boards at the side. His left, gloved hand is inside his shorts' pocket while his right, bandaged hand rests on the trigger of his gun in his hip, alarming Eleanor's guard to grip her hands on the sniper rifle. "I've seen the different kinds of DRAGONs from the Haven's reports, and we were once ambushed by a Schooner two years ago, but we would often think that DRAGONs would only show up in areas where Norma can fly farther to the base." Jill's eyes softly furrowed but said nothing when one dared rebuke.
"So, the humans didn't know about the DRAGONs and go on their boring lives while we Norma die for nothing. Figures."
"Eleanor!" Inspector Bronson gasped, apprehension at Eleanor's remark directed to the Human Killer's team since she and a few other Norma are known for their stubbornness and arrogance that could end up creating roughhouses with the other residents, with Eleanor and Keren from Third Squad being the worst of those Norma. But despite the Commander's appearance and the Inspector's warning, Eleanor does not back down when her main sight is on the Human Killer.
"We heard how you almost killed the spoiled princess from Zola's squad and even shot your comrade." Eleanor hissed, seeing the blonde and blue-haired woman's bandaged shoulder even when she and the two boys stood behind the brunette woman holding her arms to block their path. "But show me if you can shoot the DRAGON board, you mummified bastard."
Inspector felt her blood frozen in both horror and frustration which grew into dread from seeing the Human Killer's team glaring at Second Squad in mixed surprise and anger with Eleanor's teammates watching in fear for the Human Killer's collected sneer looking at their captain's face twitching into a mad fury just by looking at a man or presuming he is not taking her seriously, just like how he doesn't take the Inspector seriously…
"…Ok." With a bored response, taking almost everyone off guard from the timing, everyone was too late to react from the Human Killer speedily kicking his right knee upwards, knocking both Eleanor to send her stumbling backwards with a gasp and her rifle rise and almost fall onto the ground only to be caught by the Human Killer's gloved and bandaged hands and instantly aim and four shots at the DRAGON's target board without stopping. Once he lowered the weapon after taking the final shot, everyone looked at the board and Inspector Emma, Second Squad, and the Human Killer's team gawked their shock that the Human Killer successfully hit all four bullseyes in a second, the fastest that anyone in Arzenal can fire. Even the Commander is impressed when Captain Eleanor peeked at her reaction, to the latter's astonishment.
'Nicely done, Rush.' Jill mentally hummed her amusement. Like always, Rush has proven himself as what he promised to her living comrades and the Haven those years ago, and that makes Jill happy. With both the Haven and their pieces in Arzenal in place, the future for retribution will be set in their favour. From behind Rush's side, Jill snorted a hiddenly pleased smirk at his teammates to see Cynical looking away with a roll of her eyes, Hyacinth hiding her mouth with her wide sleeves, Moon and his two snakes staring at the DRAGON's board in dismay, and Ammo gave Rush a dramatically peeved pout.
"Here you go, Captain." Rush leisurely handed Eleanor's gun back to her, seeing the young Captain shifting her attention from the DRAGON target board to him a few times, her horror-painted face sweated a bit with a strangled noise hissing out of her opened hand. But instead of fear or astonishment at being proven wrong, Eleanor grits her teeth in resentment and angrily grabs the gun from his hand...using that as a distraction to swing a right fist at his half-bandaged face even if he is a human and surrounded by the others including the Commander.
"You bastard!" But instead of a blood-covered face, which is unfazed by his cruel glower that further aggravated the Captain, Eleanor immediately hissed in pain from the harshly painful grip on the same wrist that stunned her from taking a hit while the annoying Inspector released a brief scream but what made Eleanor finally stopped her action, even making her choke a strangled gasp in fear, was Commander Jill's furious look in her eyes when she caught Eleanor's wrist with her prosthetic hand. Not only that, but everyone watched the animal trainer boy's giant phyton reaching and wrapping its long tail towards the Human Killer's body and arms from behind and quickly pulling the gunner back to his team's side.
"Human Killer!" Inspector Emma screamed.
"...I'm disappointed, Eleanor." Jill's words immediately shook Eleanor to release a few more squeaks. "Not only did you dare instigate a stranger to shoot YOUR practice, but even tried to attack him when he wanted to return your gun. Are you trying to have your comrades or every Norma killed if the humans decide to take action for striking the Human Killer?"
"B...But, Commander..." Eleanor wished she could speak back, thinking of a lame excuse that she wanted to impress her leader but the tighter grip stopped her from uttering a word but almost let out a scream when the Commander turned towards both the Inspector and the Human Killer released from his young comrade's restraints. "Inspector, Human Killer. I shall have her punished for this, once the tour will end."
"Y-Y-Y-Yes, of course!" Inspector Emma squeaked, trying to calm herself from the fright when she hastily turned and stood in front of the Human Killer. "Human Killer! Are you alright!?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just a sudden surprise reaction for a squad's captain. Nothing serious." The Human Killer brushed off his worry with a few swipes of his mismatched hands dusting anything off his sleeves. Yet, his nonchalantly bored response shocked not only the Inspector but also the Second Squad with Eleanor hissing her pain and ferocity at the bandaged man, despite being held by her superior for her failed assault. Does he think that her attempted assault is not serious!? Is he mocking her, just because he is a human?
'D...Damn you, you asshole!'
"I-Is that a man with Ersha!?"
"He's huge!"
"Look at those muscles!"
"I saw him with that group earlier!"
"Why does she get to be with him?"
"Lucky..."
"What do I give to get him to be with me?"
Red Death is unsure if he is lucky or embarrassed to hear the Norma girls talking to themselves with awe, shock, and jealousy at seeing him and Ersha walking through the Arzenal halls with the girl kindly telling him everything he and his team need to know based on her knowledge of Arzenal and the Norma's lifestyle from living or being sent here by the humans. Worse, even if he is wearing his voice-filtered helmet that is still recording everything as a reference for Rush's report, Red's face is burning with shame for his weakness in women.
Before starting their tour and after leaving the little girls' classrooms, Ersha and Red Death took a quick stop to where the Norma's sleeping quarters were, with the former checking for Ange in her double-bedded single room, with Red spotting the ex-princess still shaken from Rush almost shooting her for demanding him to get her out of Arzenal, still being delusional and not being a Norma.
Seeing her not noticing her visitors, Ersha sadly left Ange to herself before hurriedly leading Red out of the corridors, making sure no one would spot them and presume the other to be a pervert before Ersha started their private tour or walk together. So far, they've checked the artillery room, the training fields that Red saw that Rush and the others must've left before they arrived, the Para-mail hangars, and the beach. What shocks Red the most is the cemetery for the late Norma who died fighting the DRAGONs by the endless tombstones littering one of the facilities' mountains before Ersha led Red to the mess hall, filled with some of the Norma eating their lunches but also spotting Red and Ersha walking inside for more whispers directed at the former.
And that is when the trouble starts...
"Hey, Ersha!" Ersha and Red heard a girl's voice calling the former with the latter noticing from the harsh tone that the pink-haired girl did NOT like the owner by her soft frown when the two spotted one of the girls walking towards them with a crude scorn grin at them, with long brown hair and matching eyes, and a scar over her left eye. Whoever she is, Red can tell that this one must be problematic. "You think you're so special to have one of the men following you for today, like being on a date?" The girl taunted Ersha with her hands on her hips, with the other Norma watching in apprehension and a few angry towards the speaker.
"Of course not, Keren." Ersha shook her head, trying to be kind when assuring her. "Red Death stayed behind to inspect the children's classrooms and his leader asked me to give him a tour of their mission in reviewing Arzenal. If not, the Human Killer will have us killed."
"Pah. You expect me to believe something stupid as that?" This Keren mockingly laughed her amusement despite noticing how no one joined her teasing, slowly irritating her. As for Red, he already has a major dislike for her picking on Ersha.
"It's the truth." Red Death admitted, startling the entire mess hall that even the chefs stopped their cooking when he spoke. "My leader, the Human Killer, kills both Norma and humans during his career. And he doesn't care who or how he tortures his victims to death when it is necessary for the world. And as his soldiers, we should do the same, but not as much as my superior." First seeing Keren taking a step back in horror for the Human Killer, just like the annoying humans both afraid and hating Rush, Red turns his helmet-adorned head towards Ersha. "Ersha. I think we're supposed to go to 'Jasmine's Mall' to see my teammates."
"Oh...oh, yes. Sorry, Red Death. Please follow me..." Ersha shakily nodded, trying to lower her fright for Red's dangerous leader when she and Red Death hastily walked or skipped their way to one of the entrances also the quickest way to Jasmine's Mall. But they were almost halfway when they heard Keren again calling out to them, forcing them to stop and turn with Red scowling his irritation at the furious girl now pointing a finger at him.
"Hey! I'm Keren from Second Squad! And I rather you pick me to help you around here than Ersha! I'm more useful!"
'Is she that fucking desperate?' Red mentally sighed his annoyance, seeing her no different than a human girl getting what she wanted with the Light of Mana, as he gently raised and rested his left hand on Ersha's back, getting her attention in surprise until he spoke his mind.
"I rather be with Ersha than someone as awful as you."
The second he said it, it felt as if someone dropped a pin with the entire mess hall frozen in aghast even Ersha reacted when she looked at Red with her cheeks flushing a red pink yet unable to say something when Red gently but hastily nudged his hand behind her back, getting her attention and both hurriedly run out through the path leading to Jasmine's Mall, leaving almost everyone stunned. Most of the Norma, who openly hates Keren, look at their bully and a few of them sniggered their amusement at her initial stupefaction easily broken to now madly growl and grit her teeth at her rejection in rage, making her more hideous than what they see her as and also matching her heart and personality.
Once it is safe to stop running through the halls but seeing they are closer to Jasmine's Mall, Red and Ersha stay put to take a minute break with the latter hurriedly grasping her blushing cheeks with her hands, away from Red looking behind to see if anyone spotted them without realising his new friend's mental debate. 'He...he said that...' Ersha couldn't believe it.
They just met, and although she knew Red was defending her from Keren since no one likes her despite being the best in Third Squad, the fact that a human boy her age both said such words and was also gentle to the children somehow made Ersha's heart both flutter lighter and bumping harder that almost broke her chest. Like Norma raised without knowing how a man feels like, Ersha would often imagine meeting and being in love with a boy but openly kind rather than sharing her captain's hedonism. And with someone like Red for his massively kind heart fitting its size with his form, it will be enough for the ENTIRE island to fall head over heels for him.
"Ersha? Are you okay?" Red's concern when he asked alerted Ersha who finished thinking about it earlier, managing to compose herself but smiling her happiness which she showed to Red when she turned around.
"Yeah. Thanks for your help, Red." Ersha thanked. "Keren always picks on us to prove she is better than every one of Arzenal. But I think you broke her with your rejection and mentioning me."
"And I mean it," Red admitted, startling Ersha to look up. "From being with you today, I see that you're kind, motherly, strong, and beautiful. I don't care what anyone says; to me, I think you're amazing." Red's sincere confession immediately made Ersha blush and open her mouth in a silent gasp of amazement and that must've got Red Death's attention when she saw him immediately tensed and wave his body and arms in embarrassment, guessing his face was blushing mad inside his helmet. "Oh wait! I didn't mean it! I mean, I do mean it - but what I'm trying to say is..." But instead of letting Red fumble more of his apology, finding it cute just like his true self, Ersha closed her eyes and giggled her appreciation.
"Thank you, Red. I think you're amazing too." Ersha playfully teased, hearing more of her new friend's stammering even as she turned towards the entrance of Jasmine's Mall, ready to skip away from Red Death. "Come on. We couldn't let our friends wait.~"
"W-W-Wait, Ersha!" Still blushing, Red Death hurriedly chased after Ersha who happily laughed like a girlfriend playing around with her lover. Now both will not care about being spotted by the other Norma residents.
"Phew, what a day." Ammo loudly breathed inside the Haven's Mana Plane couches alongside the others after Rush's conversation with Commander Jill regarding Libertus and Misurugi's current state ever since exiling their princess for its benefits, with everyone also finding themselves exhausted for today being the most annoying or oddest mission even if it is supposed to be just for Rush. At least, despite some attempts, there were no casualties especially since Rush indirectly created a ruckus that caused a Squad Captain to be punished, simply by being himself. At least, to almost everyone, an enjoyable sight they see from today would be the new realization of Red Death's new girlfriend kissing him on the cheek.
And speaking of Red Death...
"Hey, Rush, Ammo? Here's my helmet for the footage..." Red tiredly removed and handed his helmet to Ammo, since he knew where to get the chip stored inside for the data. But when he did, Red noticed in the confusion of seeing everyone staring at him in puzzlement with Rush raising his eyebrow in bemusement, as if he had something on his face. "What?"
"Red? I see...your new friend must've done something to you." Hyacinth noted, pointing a finger underneath her wide right sleeve at Red Death's head.
"Oh? I let the little girls braid my hair to gain their trust. I was angry that they were too young for a place like..." Red sighed, guessing that they noticed his new hairstyle to reach his hands on his pigtail. But when he felt his cheeks, Red's blue eyes blinked in surprise at the weird texture of tiny paper glued on his face, conjuring a Mana window as a mirror and immediately froze with a silent scream. All this time until now... he didn't realise he had the children's stickers on his face. But to Red's surprise and anger, his reaction prompts Ammo to laugh with small tears in his eyes and Moon, Ular, and Hebi watch their friend's reaction in surprise.
"Pftahahahahahahahaha! You look cute, Red Death!"
"S-Shut up, Ammo!" Red shouted in embarrassment, hiding his sticker-glued face with his hands from anyone he presumed could laugh at him, despite no one but Ammo joining the latter...until Cynical kindly gave a weak chop of her hand at Ammo's head, replacing his laugh with a painful scream.
"W-What's that for!?" Ammo argued at Cynical with a flabbergasted pout.
"You mustn't laugh at your friend for something as childish as this. At least Red has something that you don't have right now; a girlfriend." Cynical responded with her words making Ammo immediately freeze dramatically as an anime character finding something out before everyone then sees Ammo now sitting on the floor while facing the wall with his arms wrapping around his legs, sulking in dejection.
"Here let me help get it off you, Red." Rush rose from his seat and stood in front of Red Death with his bandaged fingers grabbing the tiny end of the biggest sticker plastered on the giant boy's left cheek. Red would admit, that he was surprised that Rush was willing to help him over something like this, but a part of him finds it glad to even smile that Rush is slowly feeling better from being hounded by the Inspector for his job and personality that the humans only know him as.
"Thanks, Rush. That's sweet of you..." Was Red Death's final words before he felt Rush swiftly and harshly pull the sticker off his cheek, like getting waxed on the face... filling the air inside and outside the Mana plane flying over the ocean towards their home with an agonizing scream for a big boy.