Chapter 61

**Side Story Case File 61: Love is Endless Violence**

Using the furious energy as fuel, the “Guardian Sword,” burning with pitch-black flames, decisively severed her entire arm from below the left shoulder. The fountain of blood that gushed forth served as proof; if it weren’t for a few blood vessels still connecting her arm, it would have splattered onto the ground entirely.

The energy of the present was raging uncontrollably, violently forcing her muscles back into place, disregarding whether they aligned correctly, and forcibly connecting bones and nerves. The agonizing pain rivaled that of a butcher, enough to make seasoned veterans on the battlefield cry out in horror. Yet at this moment, with one hand facing Time Fire, Hana simply stared wide-eyed, fixated on the figure before her.

“Love?!”

Repeating the strange words suddenly spoken by the other, Hana’s tone turned oddly skewed in an instant.

The Melody Holy Sword finally slipped from her bloodied hands, and while Yashu struck the sword towards her, she had indeed lost her sanity.

“You said… love!”

Anger, pain, sadness, and a happiness so small that it couldn’t even emit light, all buried beneath vast and despairing darkness, erupted from her throat in a beast-like roar while her clenched fists tightened at her sides. The force that exploded forth was like a bullet leaving the chamber, producing a sound that ignited the gunpowder.

The only one unqualified to speak of love… was you, the pervert who has been trailing behind Cure Yell like a shadow!

Why… why must my first time be confessed to by such a despicable guy!!!!

The Rising Dragon Fist swung by Cure Yell from below exceeded Yashu’s speed in striking the Guardian Sword! With all her might, she smashed her fist into Time Fire’s chin, visible cracks spreading from his jaw to his lips, silver helmet fragments flying everywhere.

“Love in this world never loves those who wish to pursue it!”

At that moment, Cure Yell was covered in wounds, looking disheveled; even the two bundles of hair tied at the back fell loose, hiding her face. Only her two blood-red eyes shone through.

In that moment, Cure Yell was as strong as a demon, looking like a madwoman.

“Guah—!”

Yashu, letting out a froggy-like scream, was punched into a wall that had already collapsed beyond repair, the impact shattering the glass behind him like rain as he crashed upward.

As Yashu was about to shoot into the sky, he grabbed a rebar sticking out from behind, spinning in mid-air and redirecting his force to squat on it.

“Crack!” Twisting his shifted jaw back into place, Yashu licked his lips, swallowing a few bloody teeth.

Is this blackened state three times stronger? If so, how terrifying!

“That’s right, this is love.”

“You, who only think of making everything conform to your desires, have no right to speak of so-called love!”

In Hana’s eyes, there was now only the figure of Time Fire. She jumped from beneath the Final Monster, leaping to chase and strike at him where he was elevated!

Hana’s current state was noticeable even to passersby, who screamed and fled, afraid to glance at the smoky battleground that had formed, leaving only a mother kneeling to weep in pain.

They had no idea what was happening. All they could do was stare in disbelief at their hero losing her mind, and other than praying for her, they did nothing.

Thus, the more Yashu liked Cure Yell, the more he loathed these ordinary passersby.

“But it seems this love has ultimately transformed into hatred!”

Yashu did not mind his previously shattered jaw; instead, he faced the incoming assault with even more fervor, actively descending from above. The silvery blade ignited by black flames turned a crimson hue as it re-collided with the Melody Holy Sword.

They had repeated this action countless times already.

Crumbling to the ground, he sat astride the exposed belly of Cure Yell, the sword shooting light to illuminate Hana’s fierce expression. Absorbing dark energy from her, Yashu once again suppressed her.

“Overzealous emotions run rampant, pure wishes instead becoming accomplices to destruction!”

Picking up on something, Yashu’s gaze swept over to the distant mother who could only cry. If he hadn’t acted earlier, Hana’s friend Saya would have been killed by this hero meant to protect humanity.

This was something Yashu absolutely could not allow! Whether it was Hana grieving for her friend or Cure Yell losing her heroism, it was a future he could not accept!

“This is the last wish of that poor mother. As a hero, aren’t you going to listen?!”

Listen? What’s the point? Am I not currently defeating the enemies of darkness?! I’ve always been doing this; why do you still point fingers at me?!

Hana wanted to hear nothing now… The time spent fighting for others had been enough, right?! Besides, what’s wrong with wanting to defeat the enemy?!

“Look at you now; I wanted to see your beautiful self, but this posture of rejecting everything is just like a girl throwing a tantrum after being dumped by her boyfriend!”

“What nonsense—!” Fury-filled Hana kicked him in the stomach, toppling him over. Stepping forward, she stomped on his foot before, with a spray of blood, she thrust the sword downward, impaling herself and Yashu’s foot onto the belly of the Final Monster! “You perverted mask-wearing bastard, what do you understand?!”

Hana was about to shatter the sound barrier with a punch aimed at Yashu’s head when her wrist was firmly gripped by the hand of Time Fire. The immense force clashed in mid-air, neither giving way.

“What I understand is your twisted reality!”

“You made me into this—it’s you all!”

Yashu, the doctor… the one who helped her, saved her, attracted her, made her fall in love, gave her hope, and finally denied her.

No, don’t go!

Desperately reaching out, crying his name while he left her only with a retreating back.

It’s not that I can’t accept the fact that he doesn’t love me; rather… if I am loved by everyone as “Cure Yell,” why must I live in this world as “Yano Hana”?!

“You people, spouting love while making me believe that love is a real existence, have turned me into this form that I cannot even embody myself!”

“It begins.”

The bruised man limped closer, looking at the battlefield dominated solely by dark forces colliding, his expression one of numb indifference.

“An unprecedented tragedy begins.”