The Girl in the Red Fox Mask
The girl in the Red Fox Mask. Astaroth.
Yujin had not forgotten her for even a single moment. The effort of his past years. His hatred toward the monsters. The resolve he had endlessly tempered. How could he ever forget the experience of having all of that shattered just by facing her?
He knew a time would come when he would have to face her again. But he never imagined it would be this soon.
The research institute massacre. Although Heavenly Command had thoroughly covered up and downplayed the information so that it was barely covered by the media, Yujin, who was one of the parties involved in the incident, knew relatively detailed information. Having been urged to keep silent, even Class 1-A refrained from discussing it in detail.
A Rift in Space had opened at the research institute, and monsters had attacked. That was the extent of the information released to the public. But the truth was entirely different. It was clearly a crime intentionally committed by someone. Although no public bounty had been issued because the incident was swept under the rug to prevent it from escalating, Astaroth was the worst criminal, whom Heavenly Command was desperately hunting down. Her danger level was easily higher than that of the terrorist organization, the Family.
Surely a Captain-levelsupernatural ability user would be taking the lead in hunting her down, yet she was showing herself so openly?
...I was too complacent. I should have listened to Ms. Angelica.
Yujin touched his empty waist, admitting his mistake. His teacher had told him to always carry a weapon because one never knew what might happen. Yet, lost in his own delusion that this was a date, he had left his weapon behind. Yujin's stomach churned with self-loathing at his own pathetic behavior.
Fortunately, he had prepared a spare weapon. Yujin reached into his school uniform's inner pocket to pull out a dagger.
"Ahaha, don't worry. Relax your face. I didn't come here to fight today."
Astaroth tilted her parasol slightly and slowly looked around.
"I just came out for a stroll. To look at the flowers. Meeting you here was pure coincidence. I was surprised too, you know?"
"You expect me to believe that?"
"You should. I don't really want to get blood on my hands on a day like today."
Though spoken lightly without any overt pressure, the weight behind her words was anything but light. It was as if she were saying she could kill him whenever she pleased, causing Yujin to scowl.
"Don't underestimate me. I won't go down easily."
"No, not you, Oppa." Astaroth grinned and said, "But are you sure about that? There are so many people here."
"..."
Yujin clenched his fists as he realized her intention. This was the cherry blossom festival. Countless people had come to see the cherry blossoms on their day off. If a fight broke out here, where so many tourists had gathered to see the lush, blooming cherry blossoms...
Moreover, Astaroth was a monster that even Angelica couldn't handle. Although Yujin had grown stronger after overcoming his hardships, he was still far from Angelica's level. He had no confidence in fighting her while protecting others. It would be hard enough just to keep himself safe; would he really have the luxury to protect the crowd?
"Now, isn't it fate that we met like this? Shall we walk together?"
Astaroth passed by Yujin. She walked away, her heels clicking, leaving her back completely defenseless. What should he do? Yujin stared at the girl's back in conflict. A surprise attack... no, it was pointless. It would definitely be blocked. Then, for now...
"..."
"..."
Yujin and Aris looked at each other. Even without speaking, they could read each other's thoughts through their expressions and eyes. There was no choice. Everyone in the park was a hostage. With just a flick of Astaroth's finger, the head of an innocent citizen passing right next to them would roll.
"You're Aris, right?"
As they hesitantly followed behind her, Astaroth spoke. Aris, trembling all over, grit her teeth and replied,
"D-Do... d-do you... k-know... m-me?"
"Of course. You put on quite a show, didn't you? Beams shooting from your eyes. It was wonderful. So much so that I wanted to have it for myself."
Aris didn't know the details because she had been unconscious at the time, but her performance had indeed been incredible. The firepower of her terrifying heat rays burning dozens of monsters. It was no exaggeration to say that there were no casualties in Class 1-A because of her.
"What are you two doing here? A date?"
"...I have no reason to tell you."
"Oh? Doesn't that person's head look a bit heavy? Should I make it lighter for them?"
"..."
Such blatant blackmail...! She casually pointed her parasol at a passing citizen. It was impossible not to know what that meant. Though his face flushed with surging anger, Yujin took a deep breath and calmed his mind.
"...We just came to look at the flowers. There are no other intentions."
As he answered, he naturally slipped his hand into his pocket. The moment he turned on his phone and tried to press the emergency contact—
"Ah, I hate boring things."
Astaroth spun around gracefully and leaned her upper body forward. Even though she was hidden behind her mask, Yujin felt the illusion of their eyes meeting, and his fingertips froze stiff.
"I told you. I just came out for a stroll. I really won't do anything. But if you keep provoking me, I don't know what I might do, okay?"
"..."
Naturally, it was a lie. There was not even a single percent of trust in the words of a criminal who had killed the people at the research institute and unleashed monsters. But he had no choice but to comply. Every single person in his field of vision was a hostage. When Yujin pulled his hand out of his pocket, Astaroth let out a giggling laugh.
"I promise. I really won't do anything. I won't kill anyone, and I won't harm either of you."
With that, Astaroth took another step forward. Every time she took a step, a gust of wind blew. The tree branches shook, and cherry blossom petals fluttered gorgeously through the air.
"Let's just take a walk together while looking at the cherry blossoms."
I, Lucia, am currently in a deep dilemma. I have absolutely no idea what to do.
With a handful of cotton candy in one hand, I held the hand of a child wearing a white cloud mask with the other. To an outsider, we probably looked like a close family out to enjoy the cherry blossom festival together, right? But that couldn't be further from the truth. Right now, I'm holding onto a ticking time bomb with my entire body. If it goes off, we all die together.
Though looking like a ten-year-old child, this entity was actually a walking nuclear weapon. This wasn't an empty boast or an exaggeration; the Mains were truly walking natural disasters. If the Captains were the pinnacle of supernatural ability users, the Mains were the pinnacle of the other world's monsters. Supernatural ability users were human. Monsters were stronger than humans. The pinnacle of monsters surpassed the pinnacle of humans.
Three against one. It took three Captains to match a single Main. In other words, one Main possessed a level of power equivalent to three Captains combined. So, even though this creature looked incredibly young, it was actually an uncontrollable monster. Even if I could call for backup, unless a whole squad of Captains rushed over, it would only result in meaningless casualties. Well, in the first place, I don't even have a phone, so I couldn't call for help even if I wanted to.
This was no longer the time to worry about Yujin and Aris's date. The park was already packed with people due to the cherry blossom festival coinciding with the holiday. If Murmur started a slaughter, the damage would be catastrophic. Moreover, Murmur was dangerous in a different way than Astaroth. Murmur could open doors. Doors that connected dimensions. In other words, it could artificially create a Rift in Space. Even Astaroth couldn't do that, which was why she had to go through the trouble of using the research institute's monsters.
"..."
After melting and eating the cotton candy, Murmur reached out a hand to me. It meant it wanted the next cotton candy. Maintaining the most natural smile possible, I handed over the cotton candy I was holding.
"Is it delicious?"
"..."
There was no reply. I hadn't expected one in the first place. With the white cloud mask pulled up to the bridge of its nose, it focused entirely on eating the cotton candy.
What should I do...? For now, I'm walking in the opposite direction of where Yujin and Aris are waiting. I wanted to prevent those two from getting in danger. But I don't have a clever solution. It's not like I can drive Murmur away by force, and I don't even have the strength to fight and hold my ground. Even Angelica was no match for Astaroth. Needless to say, neither am I.
Ah, seriously. This isn't how it was supposed to go. I even set up a plan and prepared in my own way for Yujin and Aris. To think my plan would be derailed so absurdly. But how could I have known? That a Main would suddenly show up.
"..."
Murmur slowly munched on the cotton candy. Eating them slowly but steadily one by one, all the cotton candy in my hands eventually vanished into Murmur's stomach. Was it still not satisfied even after I bought more than ten? Murmur patted its stomach. It was a good thing that Murmur was preoccupied with food. At least it wouldn't cause trouble while eating.
I looked around. Since it was a festival, there were naturally many street stalls. Conveniently, a food truck caught my eye, and I pointed toward it.
"Are you still hungry? Then over there..."
"..."
Murmur was looking up at me. Its eyes were hidden by the mask, but I could infer where it was looking from the direction of its face. My left hip. It was staring at the handbag slung over my shoulder. ...Did it realize what was inside? Well, for a Main, that wouldn't be difficult.
Sighing inwardly, I spoke with an air of perfect composure.
"Are you interested in my bag?"
"..."
Still no reply, but as if I had received one, I took Murmur's hand and led it away. To a secluded edge of the park. I spread out a picnic mat on the green grass. What I pulled out from my handbag was a packed lunch box. The lunch box I had woken up early in the morning to make with Aris. Originally, we had worked hard to make it to give to those two... well, fussing over that in a situation like this would be foolish.
"Here, sit down."
"..."
I said, patting the mat. Murmur just stared at me silently. Even when I looked back with a smiling face, there was no response. In the end, only after I sat down on the mat first did it plop its butt down next to me.
"He-he, I'm actually not very confident... but I worked hard to make it. I hope it suits your taste."
"..."
There wasn't much, and there wasn't much variety either. Since I had made only a small amount as a light snack rather than a full meal, the lunch box was small, and the food inside was humble. Rolled omelets. Gimbap. Grilled sausages. And scrambled eggs, which I had experimentally made to somehow salvage a failed attempt at rolled omelets. Although it was an insulated lunch box, it had still gone cold. But the smell was quite decent and appetizing.
"..."
Murmur held the chopsticks with clumsy movements. Then, it picked up a rolled omelet and brought it to its mouth. It closed its small lips and munched, its cheeks puffing.
"How is it?"
"..."
It seemed to be fine. Murmur popped the rest of the rolled omelets into its mouth, followed by the gimbap, then the sausages, and finally emptied even the scrambled eggs.
The lunch box was empty in an instant. I felt a strange, complicated emotion. I hadn't made this to give to a Main... Seeing it eat so heartily did give me a slight sense of pride, but knowing that an enemy had devoured the food I had worked so hard to make for my friends made me feel somewhat melancholy.
Because the lunch box was small, the meal ended quickly. It was enough to fill a normal child, but for a Main, it was a different story. Its appetite was surely still there. If so, I should keep feeding it snacks to keep its attention away from other things. Even if it only bought us time, and even if I didn't know if it would yield any meaningful results... at least it was better than doing nothing.
"Did you enjoy it? Then I'll buy you something to drink. Or how about some ice cream?"
"..."
Murmur stared blankly at me, then nodded. It was the first time it had expressed its will. Until now, it had consistently remained silent no matter what I said. Fortunately, buying it cotton candy and giving it the lunch box seemed to have been positive factors. Feeling a secret sense of pride, I stood up. Then, I reached out my hand to Murmur, who was still sitting.
"Here, take my hand."
"..."
I pulled up its small, soft hand, characteristic of a young child, and helped it stand.
Now, let's use food as bait to get out of the park. We'll go to the most secluded place possible. We might not be able to prevent damage entirely, but we can minimize it as much as possible...
"I've decided."
Yeah, I've decided too. If we head out of the park entrance, turn right, and go straight, there's an area with less foot traffic than here—
...Wait, what?
Murmur pulled down the mask that had been raised to the bridge of its nose. The child's face was completely hidden by the mask once more. Fiddling with the mask a few times, Murmur spoke in a flat, emotionless voice.
"I will let you live."