A festival...
What should I wear? A tuxedo? Or the drab hood that's the formal attire of a magician? Should I dress up as a terrifyingly handsome man to boost Yuri's confidence?
I know nothing about festivals held by the Annihilation Squad. Since it feels awkward to run to Yuri and ask now, I decided to play it by ear.
Why not check what outfit Yuri is wearing? Pairing is important, after all.
Even if it doesn't match the dress code of the entire festival, coordinating with my partner would look better. I opened my third eye to peek into the neighboring house.
"Hmmmm..."
Yuri was making pained noises while intensely examining the few clothes hanging in her closet.
She's been doing that for 30 minutes.
Thanks to her, I've been stuck here for 30 minutes too.
If I were to calculate and statistically represent how long her gaze lingered on each garment, it would be 51.2% on her usual formal attire and 48.7% on a flowing dress. She seems to be still torn between looking sharp and feminine.
A dress...?
Come to think of it, Pink Balez never changed her outfit despite all her teasing. Though she did take it off while claiming to "release her seal."
So I'm quite interested in Yuri's new costume. I think it would suit her, though it might also look unfamiliar. Given who she is, she could probably pull off any outfit.
While I was pondering, Yuna's voice flowed down the lifeline from the sky above.
"Hey, shouldn't you be going to install those information bombs...?"
"You're right. But wait a moment, Yuri seems about to decide. Look, she's finally reaching out."
"I can't see that... And I heard the same thing 10 minutes ago. Wouldn't it be better to do what needs to be done rather than waiting for Yuri...?"
She's right.
I got up and prepared to leave. The Annihilation Squad's festival apparently starts at sunset. It's still midday with the sun high in the sky, so there's plenty of time left.
Since Yuri will likely stay at her house for a while preparing for the festival, now is my chance to move.
I planned to finish installing the information bombs.
The Queen has been quiet lately. If she's given up because she's tired of this war of attrition, that would be perfect... but that's just my wishful thinking. In reality, it's probably not the case.
She must be plotting her moves outside my field of vision. So I need to keep moving without rest. If she's building up her strength, I need to do the same.
If I follow through properly, step by step, I can win. That was my assessment.
Just as the Queen has been watching me, I've been watching her. Since entering this place, I've been collecting and analyzing the patterns of her actions and the echoes of her information.
The Queen was emptier than I expected.
I mean... in terms of information volume. Since succubi are half information-based beings, I had assumed that someone of the Succubus Queen's stature would have an enormous amount of information.
She subdued Yuri Lanster, after all. Just as I feel intimidated by Yuna's magical power, I expected the Queen to possess a terrifying amount of information comparable to a server.
But she was lighter than my estimated figures.
There are several possibilities. Perhaps she's... similar to a queen bee, a commander type.
A type with strong control over the succubus collective, whose core ability is to issue commands to various succubi to handle tasks. This would easily explain any lack of individual prowess.
In this case, she probably overwhelmed Yuri Lanster through sheer numbers. Since the operation she was deployed in was the "Nest Entrance Closure Operation," it would have been like fighting at the main entrance of a beehive.
Capture after consecutive battles against countless pouring succubi—a plausible hypothesis. As far as I know, she doesn't have any area-of-effect skills.
I packed my things and left the mansion. I would plant information bombs in every corner of the world, then return to attend the festival with Yuri in the afternoon.
If the Queen remains quiet today, as she has been so far...
...
Click-click-click!
BOOM—!!
"Why today of all days, you jerk!"
I grumbled while watching a building fold in half. The resistance is particularly fierce today. It's not even a critical moment, and I don't think I've been acting particularly threatening.
This isn't a decisive timing. I was quite bewildered by the Queen suddenly coming at me with full force.
Let's think positively. It's good if she depletes her strength on her own.
...
How long is she planning to keep this up?
The attacks don't stop. I can sense the Queen's fatigue from the dispersing information. She's been folding the world for half a day, so it's understandable.
Pushing herself too hard naturally reveals vulnerabilities. Fragmented information has been scattering in the air for a while now. By carefully gathering it, I could learn more about the Queen who manipulates this world.
Like the fact that she has dark gray hair.
If this reckless offensive continues, I thought that perhaps, maybe... I might be able to pinpoint the Queen's location and launch a counterattack.
Locate the control room and attack it to seize GM authority. I still have information bombs I haven't installed yet. I have enough weapons.
While rejoicing at the opportunity...
I felt anxiety in a corner of my heart. The setting sun grated on my nerves. The festival would start soon. I might be a little late, or perhaps unable to attend at all.
Is the Queen trying to prevent me from participating in the festival? Why... would she do that?
Is there a reason she needs to block my involvement to this extent? Even so, if she gets caught herself, the game is over. There's no reason for her to do this, no matter how I think about it.
I struggled to read the Queen's intentions.
Time flows fiercely. The sun dips its feet into the horizon. After repeated exchanges, I'm presented with two paths.
Should I go to strike at the Queen's neck?
Or should I keep my promise to Yuri?
Either could be a trap, or neither might be. At a point where nothing is certain... I had to choose.
===============================================================
Yuri eventually chose the formal attire.
She had considered wearing a dress, and actually tried it on... but after seeing herself in the mirror, she gave up when she saw how she cringed every time the skirt fluttered.
The man called "MadMa" would surely tease her mercilessly. She couldn't allow that.
Though she wanted to enjoy the festival atmosphere and dress up like a girl, wasn't he someone with questionable intentions below the waist? She thought he might prefer her usual attire.
Also... she didn't want to hear malicious gossip, that was another reason.
What would people say if she showed up in a dress with a man by her side? She could already hear it. They'd say she couldn't adapt to the Annihilation Squad so she seduced an agent to bring along, that she couldn't hide her base nature.
In formal attire, she could at least refute them. She could say he was just a friend. That all their filthy thoughts were lies.
Only by fighting back like that would they snicker and acknowledge her somewhat. They were the kind who thought the weak had no place in the Annihilation Squad.
The Annihilation Squad... is a place where only venomous people gather.
A group of vengeful spirits.
Fists fly before words, they generally don't care about others, and they'd rather laugh at a comrade's pain than sympathize with it.
That's why the phrase "Annihilation Squad Festival" felt strange.
She could vaguely understand the necessity. The reason for holding a festival in such a group. Since they were all wolves fixated on personal revenge, they clearly needed a leash to bind them together.
At least some bonds were necessary for the organization to function.
"..."
Those unkind bonds that she herself was reluctant to accept.
Yuri was an outsider in the Annihilation Squad.
They had various reasons on their lips. Because she was a woman, because succubi were a useless race, because they could clearly see she'd leave crying soon, because her hair was pink.
She didn't know the real reason. But somehow she could tell that... they took half their entertainment from spewing nasty words at her.
It would surely be the same this time. When she appeared at the festival, they would surely spout harsh words. But it's okay. This time it's okay. Because "MadMa" would be by her side.
For some reason, she had an ally... who liked her very much. Perhaps the only ally in this world.
Surely they could have fun together.
Yuri steeled herself and went outside, knocking on the front door of MadMa's mansion. Knock, knock, knock. No response.
Wondering if he was asleep, she knocked a bit harder.
Still no response. Even when she carefully pressed her ear to the door, she couldn't sense any presence. Had he left the mansion? Something must have happened.
Feeling slightly anxious, Yuri clenched her fist.
No. It's okay. He's generally a scatterbrained person, so just like when he forgot to send a letter to the Imperial Family last time... something minor must have slipped his mind. He must have stepped out briefly.
He hadn't forgotten about her.
After all, they had made a promise. He even told her his nickname. He would come.
When they met at the festival, they would walk together and talk. And she would proudly show off to the Annihilation Squad members. That even without them, she had made a friend.
What if she linked arms with him? Then perhaps those who harassed her would back off a bit. Would that be disrespectful to MadMa? No, he probably wouldn't mind.
She thought about such things. For quite a while.
...
Though it was called a festival, it wasn't particularly splendid or prosperous. Just several bonfires lit in an open space, with people roasting hunted venison.
A crude fence surrounded the open area, with one person standing guard at the entrance. A middle-aged man with considerable experience in the Annihilation Squad, whose name was...
"...Rat?"
"A succubus."
His blunt, clipped speech was actually welcome. Other Annihilation Squad members always added unnecessary comments. So she was almost glad to receive such terse responses.
He gestured toward the guest book. Yuri took the quill pen placed beside it and firmly wrote her name and... MadMa's name.
Rat asked abruptly.
"An outsider?"
"Not an outsider. He came with an order sealed with the Imperial seal, saying he would be working with the Annihilation Squad for a while."
"I haven't heard about receiving such an official document... but since you're not a fool, I suppose it's true."
Yuri inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. She had been momentarily tense, worried he might turn her away saying outsiders couldn't be admitted to the festival.
Then, she began lingering at the entrance.
She was reluctant to enter alone. She planned to wait at the entrance until MadMa arrived. Seeing this, Rat frowned and said:
"...Still haven't adapted?"
"Adapted, you say."
Though she instinctively hunched her shoulders at what sounded like a rebuke, Yuri mustered her courage and glared at Rat. He replied with an inscrutable look:
"You should give it up. You can't catch two rabbits at once."
"What are you telling me to give up?"
"Your heart, future, life—everything except revenge."
Not a rebuke... but advice?
"Those who have lost can recognize those who still possess. They can smell it. That's why everyone dislikes you. Like starving beggars hating the rich."
"...I've lost too. My family and village. So what exactly do you think I still have...?!"
"If you don't understand, leave the Annihilation Squad. It's painful to watch."
With a click of his tongue, Rat said only that before entering the open space. What was he talking about? I too have lost much and came here for revenge.
Isn't it just an excuse? Because they don't trust the succubus race, aren't they just vaguely rejecting me with ambiguous reasons?
The sound of laughter and chatter comes from inside.
A cold wind swept through her heart. She couldn't belong to any group. She couldn't blend in among humans either. Because she was viewed with suspicion.
She couldn't blend in among succubi either. The Queen had burned all of Yuri's family, and the Queen was someone she hated.
Even the Annihilation Squad—a gathering of people who shared the same wounds, who had lost something—wouldn't accept her.
She had been trying hard to endure. She endured even when they mocked her relentlessly. But sometimes it was achingly lonely. She missed the happy past that she could never return to.
It was unbearably painful to dwell on the fact that she herself had destroyed that paradise.
But beside him... she could forget such gloom for a while.
"...When are you coming?"
Yuri found herself muttering. Quite some time had passed already. She had informed him of the festival location in advance, so he shouldn't have gotten lost.
Did he perhaps enter through the back door? Could they have just missed each other, and was he also looking for her inside the festival? Yes, why didn't I think of that...?
Thinking this way made her heart race. Suppressing her fear with anticipation, Yuri walked into the open space.
Yes, he wouldn't break his promise. He had seemed excited when he heard about the festival.
She searches for MadMa among the laughing and chattering Annihilation Squad members. Since he's a sociable person, perhaps he's already made friends with someone and is mingling. She looks around.
He's not there. She can't see him.
No. I just haven't found him yet. She desperately tried to comfort her heart, which was getting increasingly damp with disappointment. She deliberately ignored the seemingly mocking gazes.
Swish.
"...MadMa?"
Someone placed their hand on Yuri's waist. She turned around with a bright expression, but there was only an Annihilation Squad member with an unpleasant smile. He was heavily drunk, the alcohol smell reaching her from where she stood.
He was someone who had been making passes at Yuri even before. He spoke with a slur:
"Who might you be looking for? If you're looking for a man to satisfy you tonight, he's right in front of you, hmm?"
"...Don't touch me!"
She pushed him away in horror.
No. It felt terrible, like a cockroach crawling inside her clothes. She felt powerless and shaky. But no one would help her. She knew that well. It was frustrating and sad.
The worst part was... that she was still secretly hoping.
Could MadMa be hiding among these people... watching? Not that he had forgotten their promise and gone somewhere else. Maybe he was just playing a mischievous prank.
"..."
Should I have given up earlier?
Should I not have had any expectations from the beginning?
Am I too weak for being sad and surprised by such harassment?
Should I become someone who doesn't yield to anyone and doesn't waver emotionally? Someone who responds to mockery with mockery, who isn't hurt or doesn't show it when their weaknesses are poked, a detached person with a deeply submerged heart.
But if I become such a person, an iron figure who shows neither tears nor screams on the outside, it seems too... painful...