Resolution and Limitation
The burning world continues to spread its threatening hand.
That which should be flames strangely does not burn anything, existing there like a mere illusion.
“… I don’t know what you’ve done, but I suddenly want that body of yours now!”
Under the Professor’s control, Orthros rises.
And it fires off a makeshift artillery attack.
Compared to the previous two shots, its destructive power is inferior, yet it remains potent.
A shot that traded power for speed.
Mizuki Senpai glances at it and raises her right hand.
“Cunning.”
Flames filling the ground surge upward, forming a wall.
The flame wall clashes violently with the artillery fire, consuming it and growing even stronger.
“What, what are those flames?”
“Do they look like ordinary flames to you?”
When Mizuki waves her hand, the flames covering the ceiling descend like vines, wrapping around Orthros along with its barriers in an attempt to restrain it.
Orthros struggles but cannot break free from the intangible grip of the flames, its body slowly being burned to a crisp.
“Magic barriers? How pathetic. I’ll just turn them into kindling.”
In response to Mizuki’s words, the flames grow fiercer.
Simultaneously, Orthros’ barriers are incinerated, allowing the flames to reach its core.
As Orthros struggles and suffers, the Professor can do nothing.
“This is impossible… That barrier is impenetrable even to an A-Rank Explorer!”
“It wasn’t penetrated. It was entirely consumed by fire.”
Ciel immediately understands the true nature of Mizuki’s flames and states it plainly.
“No magic-based attacks will affect her. Magic merely becomes fuel for her flames.”
“What nonsense… Damn it! What is this magical depth reading?! Is this little girl really capable of such power?”
The Professor shouts upon seeing the numbers displayed on the measuring device.
Numbers only someone who has extensively studied Explorers would understand.
“This is no different from an S-Rank! There’s no one like this in the Bright Star Project. No plan exists for cultivating someone to this level!”
The Professor frantically pounds the console.
From the burning walls emerge several cannons.
“To achieve S-Rank independently is astronomically improbable! There’s no way some ridiculous irregularity should interfere with my legend of heroism!”
Multiple artillery attacks are fired at Mizuki.
She doesn’t move to defend herself.
The magical artillery strikes Mizuki directly multiple times.
Intense explosions envelop the area in black smoke.
Toa freezes at the sight, while Miroku painfully looks away.
“If she hadn’t been aware of the attacks, there would have been no way to defend against them. She shouldn’t have been able to handle attacks from multiple directions.”
The Professor triumphantly declares this, but his expression twists as he sees the edges of the black smoke beginning to burn away.
“This much?”
The black smoke transforms into flames spreading around the area.
At the center stands Mizuki, battered and bruised, but still standing tall, staring at the Professor despite her grievous wounds.
“Why…? I’m certain it struck you directly. Why are you still…!”
“It did strike me. And that’s all.”
From her wounds, flames spill out.
Like blood, these flames are generated from within Mizuki’s body, burning the wounds and growing stronger.
Faced with this impossible phenomenon, the Professor’s thoughts come to a halt.
“…Hey, what exactly did you just do?”
Her wounds weren’t healed.
Something more fundamental occurred.
She burned the very concept of injury, erasing it completely.
Mizuki points her hand towards the sky.
Following her gesture, flames gather along her arm and transform into a single gun.
“You still don’t understand?”
A red gun adorned with flame motifs.
With Orthros in its sights, Mizuki pulls the trigger.
“My flames burn whatever I desire. Wounds, magic, your so-called absurd ‘legend of heroism,’ everything will be burned away.”
A single bullet is fired.
It is a fiery projectile, crimson and blazing fiercely, unlike anything else in this world.
“Orthros!”
Following the Professor’s command, Orthros lunges forward.
No longer capable of firing artillery, its function having been burned away.
“It’s futile.”
The bullet pierces through Orthros without any deceleration.
Just one shot.
But it is enough.
Starting from the edges, Orthros’ body turns to ash and crumbles away.
Witnessing this, the Professor can do nothing but cry out in despair.
“My masterpiece!”
“You created nothing but junk.”
“YOU!!”
“…What? Do you wish to burn as well?”
Mizuki points the gun at the Professor.
“Aaaahh!”
The Professor collapses to the ground, his earlier composure gone.
“H-H-HHHH! DAMN IT ALL!”
While emitting pitiful screams, the Professor crawls backward toward the far corner of the room.
“…There’s no point in dealing with someone like you right now.”
For a moment, Mizuki considers pursuing and killing him but quickly dismisses the thought.
They came here to save Miroku.
“How are you doing, Miroku?”
Standing before Miroku with the burning flames behind her, Mizuki speaks.
Sitting on the floor, Miroku can only look up at Mizuki, unable to speak.
“I became strong to save you and to live together with you. We no longer need sacrifices. If anyone says we do, I’ll burn everything in this world that demands such things.”
This was the answer of the beautiful girl named Mizuki.
A will of rebellion against a world that demands sacrifice.
Or perhaps a determination—a powerful resolve—reflected in the flickering flames surrounding her.
“So, come back.”
Mizuki extends her hand to Miroku.
It was a scene no different from their usual interactions as childhood friends.
“After all this, do you still think you have no meaning? That you have no value?”
“But after all the selfish things I’ve done, I…”
Mizuki sighs exasperatedly and smiles wistfully.
“You’re so troublesome. Every time we argue, it’s always like this. Since we always make up in the end, why not just hurry up and reconcile?”
“…What does that even mean?”
Mizuki forcibly grabs Miroku’s hand and pulls her close.
Before Miroku can refuse, Mizuki embraces her.
“In situations like this, saying ‘I’m sorry’ is fine, isn’t it? You idiot. I don’t want to lose anyone important anymore.”
“…I’m sorry.”
A voice so soft it could barely be heard over the roaring flames.
Yet, it clearly marked the end of an event.
“You’re too smart for your own good. You see things you shouldn’t. …Please, stop thinking about worthlessness or roles. There’s meaning simply in Miroku being Miroku.”
“Mizuki…?”
Upon hearing her name, Mizuki tightens her embrace.
“…Thank you.”
Miroku hesitates slightly but eventually wraps her arms around Mizuki’s back.
■
What?
Who would have thought I’d get to witness something this amazing?!
Money! Where do I send the payment?!
This is what a beautiful girl truly is!
Radiant with the brilliance of natural, innate beauty!
Is there a brighter light than this?!
Of course not! Because it’s the shine of a beautiful girl!
So radiant that even the sun would cry tears of awe!
“Hey, quiet down!”
Seriously, what’s with Mizuki Senpai?
Isn’t she just too cool?! Beautiful girls can be this cool too?!
My heart is fluttering wildly!
The flames are incredible and she’s so powerful!
Reliable beautiful girls are the best!
Kicking logic to the curb and staying true to oneself—that’s admirable!
I’ll take a lesson from her unwavering stance!
Let’s learn from it!
“Settle down… Wait, what?! No way! Not again…!”
Considering Miroku Senpai’s relationship, getting help from Mizuki Senpai was definitely the right choice!
There was an overflow of that special energy unique to childhood friends who have contrasting personalities!
Childhood friends have their own unique troubles!
And childhood friends who are both beautiful girls?! What are the odds?!
Thank you, world! I offer you my gratitude!
“Blah blah blah… Too much…!”
That final hug was insane!
I almost lost my eyeballs from how majestic it was!
Every time they went too far, they’d pull each other back.
They must be used to hugging; maybe it’s their reconciliation ritual?
Beautiful girls reconciling is already stunning, but add a hug to it…
Oi oi oi! The world itself is giving birth again!
How many times has it been reborn?! Happy Birthday!!!!
“Blah blah blah…”
Ah, Factom General Academy is great!
The best!
I’m glad to be alive!
Wait, didn’t I die once?
Then dying was worth it! Thanks, truck driver guy!
Alright, let’s keep the excitement going—
“Buddy!!!!!!!!!”
Too loud.
What?
What’s wrong?
“That was my line. I panicked when our connection suddenly cut off. This has never happened before. Without me, your camouflage would disappear and you’d fall straight down, so be careful!”
Really?
Sorry, I was getting overwhelmed by my inner self trying to manifest into the shape of a beautiful girl.
“What are you talking about? Anyway, we should move soon. We have things to do.”
Ah, right!
After witnessing this, I have two tasks.
One is to wait in the spot where I first parted ways with Mizuki Senpai, looking rather tattered.
The other is to steal the Professor’s experiment records.
These records are valuable.
Especially since Mikage Academy sent Tourak to infiltrate for them.
Since the infiltration target is already in chaos, I’ll deliver the records instead.
This will tie up the original story’s loose ends.
I’m quite clever with my plans.
“Clever… Clever?”
Don’t question it.
By the way, did you manage to mark the Professor?
“Yeah, it’s fine. Not as precise as Eina’s work, but if we want to capture him, we can anytime.”
Impressive, Star Reader’s Staff.
“Shall we kill him immediately?”
No, today’s fine.
We ended on such a beautiful note of friendship between beautiful girls.
It wouldn’t do to stain it with villainous blood.
Also, we intend to present the Professor to Jouka.
All of her hatred towards Kisou Academy will be directed at him.
I don’t know why she dislikes them so much.
Well, if he can serve as her punching bag, it might not be so bad.
“As always, you lack a sense of ethics.”
I do have ethics!
What are you talking about?
Ethics are beautiful girls!
“Wha..?”
You amateurs always cause trouble…
Anyway, let’s quickly steal the experiment records and get ready.
“Alright.”
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ni hyōi tensei shita ore wa TS o akiramenai, かませ役
