Mana's vision was full of small missiles.

Needless to say, launching such a large amount of missiles in such a crowded place, not only was the target hit, but the DEM Wizards and〈Bandersnatch〉were also hit, falling to the ground.

"......you, actually hit your own comrades!"

"Hahaha! There's no way you can dodge that!"

Ignoring what Mana said, Jessica who was carrying a huge airframe, was laughing loudly.

"It seems like she doesn't even have the normal ability to analyse."

Mana continued flying, frowning in disgust.

Strong magical power, missiles, machine gun bullets and laser swords came firing and attacking continuously. Every attack she received was severe. If she let her guard down, her protective barrier could be broken.

Most likely, Jessica's brain had been modified with magic.

——similar to what Mana underwent for years, except it was done within such a short period of time.

"Kuh——"

Mana didn't know what was done to make Jessica stronger to such an extent within a day. But she clearly knew that this kind of action would inflict a fearful amount of damage to the body.

In fact, Jessica started showing signs of her body being damaged. Perhaps her thoughts were obstructed as she wanted to defeat Mana desperately, hence ignoring her comrades' safety and attacking randomly. Furthermore, she destroyed the DEM facilities around her as well.

"Kuh——"

"Mana! We will cover you! Move it!"

Kotori's voice could be heard through the speakers.

Then, Mana opened a small-sized protective barrier while the missile chasing after her exploded in mid-air.

It seemed Kotori sent over several <Yggd Folium> in mine mode and blocked the missiles for her.

"Thank you, it's a great help----"

After giving a short thanks-------however, Mana stopped talking and turned around.

Next, a torrent of cold air crossed the space Mana was at.

"This is....!"

For a moment, she thought that Jessica had fired the Maryoku cannon again without learning from her mistake but.....that was wrong. Mana looked downwards.

Over there, there was a girl in a maid uniform attached to a giant rabbit doll.

"<Hermit>....no, Yoshino-san....!?"

"It's an order...from Onee-sama. I will get rid, of....the Wizard-san!"

"So close, that's the way Yo-shino! Ushaaa! Freeze that girl!"

"Un......!"

Yoshino talked with the giant rabbit-<Zadkiel> while creating several ice pillars in the sky and shooting them towards Mana.

"Wai......."

After Mana twisted her body in panic, she flew while dodging and striking down the approaching ice pillar bullets with the laser blade in her right hand.

But, to interrupt her, a tremendous wind pressure came attacking from above this time. Mana frowned her face, turned her Territory into defensive mode and flew upwards after somehow passing through the wall of wind.

"Kuku, oh well, not bad at all. You're different from those Wizard worms wriggling around there."

"Alert. Kaguya, please be careful. That's Shidou's sister. I heard she's strong."

The twin girls holding a lance and pendulum respectively were cautiously looking at Mana.

"That's the....Yamai sisters, huh."

Mana said that and licked her lips. It tasted like sweat.

Now that she thought about it, they were being controlled by the Spirit-<Diva> too. She heard that <Fraxinus> radars picked up winds thought to belong to the Yamai sisters heading towards the company's 1st building; it seemed that they were accompanying Yoshino.

She had no idea why the girls were here. But, there was no time to think leisurely. While she was just doing that, a red silhouette was heading towards Mana after it charged through the missiles' explosion.

"You're kidding me......!"

It was still okay if it was a normal opponent but, Jessica's brain had been tempered till it was messed up and her Maryoku had been increased to Mana's level. With 3 Spirits added into the equation, it was going to be tough, even for Mana.

"Kuh----Losing Jessica is......impossible huh. I have to divert the girls' attention somewhere else.....!"

At that moment, Mana found a group of Wizard in the air zone in front.

There was a group of Wizards wearing different wiring suits compared to the DEM Wizards. Most likely, everyone from the JSDF AST was called as back-up.

"Ah----!"

Mana opened her eyes wide in reflex when she found a familiar face.

"-----Captain!"

"Eh......? Huh, you're----Mana!?"

The AST captain Kusakabe Ryoko replied back with a surprised face.

"Why are you in a place like-----"

"Talk later! Tag!"

"Huh?"

"I'm leaving those girls to you!"

After saying that, she activated her thrusters and passed through the space between the AST members. The members opened their eyes in surprise, maybe because they got stirred up from the wind pressure.

But, something happened a beat after they were taken back. That was only natural. That was because <Hermit> and <Berserk> came attacking at the same time.

"U-uwah!? Everyone, retaliate! Team A target <Hermit>, Team B target <Berserk>!"

"U-understood!"

But as expected from Captain, she dealt with the sudden situation and fired back at the 3 of them.

Maybe they felt they were going to get attacked as Yoshino, Kaguya and Yuzuru changed their targets from Mana to the AST. After confirming that by looking with the edge of her eye, Mana left that air zone.

But, there was no time to take a breather in the first place. All she had done was change the status quo of the situation that had turned into the worst scenario.

Not batting an eye to the Spirit and AST members, Jessica was approaching Mana from behind while pointing the 2 giant Maryoku cannons at her.

"MaaaaaaaaaaaaaaNaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

"How persistent......!"

She moved her eyebrows closer in irritation and clicked her tongue again.

But at that moment, a feeling as if her spine was being traced with a cold finger attacked Mana.

"------!?"

For a moment there, Mana thought Yoshino and the Yamai sisters attacked her. But-----she was mistaken. This feeling only appeared when a Wizard with radial Territory was getting closer, causing both of their Territory's to clash with each other.

"Kuh........!"

The same time she noticed that, Mana quickly twisted her body and took evasion measures.

Next, a laser blade around Mana's height, passed through the space Mana was at a moment ago.

"----Oh my, you dodged it huh. Nice reaction."

With that said, the girl that appeared behind Mana out of nowhere calmly lifted her chin while saying that.

She had blonde hair which was fluttering in the sky and blue eyes. A white CR-unit was being worn over her pale skin.

Mana gasped-----

that was because, DEM industries' prided strongest Wizard- Ellen M Mathers -was there.

"Ellen....!"

"I heard that there was a big rat within the assailants but....it was you huh, Mana."

After saying that, Ellen looked down on Mana.

"How disappointing. I acknowledged you as the 2nd skilled personal before me, inside DEM."

"Hah... Stop with your joke. You guys mess with one's body as you please."

After Mana said it like puking, Ellen twitched her eyebrows.

".......I see. You found out to that extent. It seems it's true that <Ratatoskr> picked you up."

"Fuun, judging by your unsurprised look, it seems you're an accomplice huh. An idealistic scenario would have you join me and beat down the president after finding out the truth..."

"Sorry but I will not betray Ike."

"......Like I thought huh."

Mana distorted her eyebrows while muttering in detest.-----Honestly, a woman she didn't want to have as an opponent had appeared. The summit of the Adaptus numbers. The strongest Wizard both acknowledged by herself and others. Even though Mana was wearing <Ratatoskr>'s CR-unit--<Vánargandr>, there was no guarantee that Mana could win.

What was more, currently-----

"Disappear! <Blastark>!"

Mana looked behind when Jessica shouted and a tremendous torrent of Maryoku was shot out from the 2 Maryoku cannons.

"Guh.....!"

Even if it was Mana's Territory, there was no way there would be no damage if she took a direct hit from <Licorice>'s Maryoku cannon. After twisting her body, Mana minimized the impact by sliding on the Maryoku cannon's attack with the surface of her Territory before flying backwards to have both Ellen and Jessica fall into her view.

On her right hand, there was the strongest Wizard in white armor.

On her left hand, there was the craziest Wizard with a crimson tank behind her.

"It doesn't feel right to have a 2 vs 1 fight but----well, I can't help it if it's Ike's intentions. Let's end this quickly."

"A-ha-hahaha. Mana, Mana, I finally caught up. MaaaaaaaNaaaaaaaaa?"

"Tsk......"

Being glared by the two of them, Mana clicked her tongue in detest.

"-----So, where is Tohka-san? It's a waste of time walking around mindlessly in this big building"

"Iyaa, err"

Miku asked him while they were walking in the corridor. However, it was not like he knew the specific location. Shidou spoke ambiguously in awkwardness.

"Haaa? Did you intend to infiltrate without investigating that? Eh? Is that cluster of ugliness riding on your shoulders filled with over boiled udon, just like a clay doll?"

"Muguh......."

Actually, it was bulls-eye. He hesitated to talk.

"B-but there's no way I can easily investigate that, right....!"

"Heee.....You think so?"

At that moment, Miku *Kashi* stopped moving after making a noticeably loud footstep and the group of DEM wizard aligned to the wall looked at Miku when they heard her song.

Within them, she picked a young girl and *Kui* bent her fingers.

"Hey you over there. Come over here for a bit!"

"Ye-yes, Onee-sama!"

The female Wizard walked over to Miku with a nervous face. When she reached there, Miku lifted her face with bewitching hand movements.

"Neee.......Please tell me. Where is Tohka-san being confined in?"

"Th-that's......classified information.........."

"I will hate you if you don't tell me, you know?"

"N-no way! Onee-sama!"

After Miku made a smile and said that, the Wizard clung onto Miku with a face as if she was going to cry any moment.

"She's at the quarantine area on the 18 floor! I-if you use this ID, you can enter! S-so please Onee-sama! Show mercy......show mercy!"

"Ufufu, I like honest girls"

After Miku accepted the ID the girl offered to her, she erected her index finger and touched her own lips before touching the girl's lips.

"Ah, aah........!?"

The girl made an ecstatic voice as if she ascended to heaven and collapsed powerlessly. It seemed she fainted from the deep emotion. The Wizards standing at the surroundings were looking at her in jealousy and making postures while biting their handkerchiefs. The males were also taking the same actions so it was a little uncomfortable.

However, Miku did not stop to worry about the worshipers' reaction and looked down at Shidou as if she won.

"How about it? There are many ways of doing it you know?"

"......much obliged."

Originally, he should be rebuking at Miku for toying with others unreasonably like what she did in the Tennou festival, but the current situation called for it. Shidou scratched his cheeks with a very complex mood.

But thanks to that, he was able to find Tohka's location and at the same time, gained the key to get to her. He nodded a little while clenching his fist and looked upwards at the next floor.

"Okay, let's go Miku."

"Like I said, will you stop thinking I am helping you? Do you understand? I am here to add Tohka-san into my army. We are enemies!"

"I-I get it."

There was a lot of stuff he could think of but, it was a fact that Shidou would not know of Tohka's location if not for Miku's presence. Shidou quietly started walking and followed after Miku.

After that, they went to the next floor and after walking for some time, they saw several Wizards in wiring suits equipped with small firearms and close combat weapons in front.

They were probably informed of the irregular existence-Miku. They upgraded their equipment compared to when Shidou was alone and the Wizards had expressions filled with nervousness.

"Shoot! Don't go easy on them!"

Together with the captain's order, countless bullets spew out from the firearms they were holding. But at that moment, Miku took a deep breath and,

"WAH!!"

She released a sound wave in front of her.

The bullets approaching them bounced off an invisible wall and sunk into the walls and floor. The Wizards leaked their dismay all together at once. She might have directed the wall properly, but the atmosphere around Shidou was vibrating too and it made him cover his ears in reflex.

"Ahaha, you seriously think you can stop me with that attack? I sure am underestimated huh."

After Miku laughed, the faces of all the Wizards distorted with fear and gasped.

But at that moment, 2 more Wizards appeared from the back corridor and pointed their pistol at Miku's back.

"Miku!"

After shouting, Shidou swung <Sandalphon> with both his hands. Light was shot as if it traced along the blade and blasted away the Wizards' Territory. Several bullets shot from the pistol got scattered to the ceiling.

"Guah-----"

However, the moment he released <Sandalphon>'s slash, his whole body hurt starting with the hand holding the sword. Shidou fell on his knees in reflex.

"Gua......"

"Wa-wait!?"

After clearing the Wizards at front, Miku raised her eyebrows while shouting. But, Shidou did not have the leisure to respond to her now.

The price for swinging the Spirit sword-----Angel <Sandalphon> which contained power too excessive for a human body, several times was taking an unexpectedly high toll on Shidou's body.

But, it seemed Kotori's power dwelling in Shidou's body had not forsaken him yet. At the same time a flame lighted deep inside his heart, the heat slowly spread out to the edges of his body. He could feel the flames healing his organ damages, muscles and bones which could not be seen from outside......of course, this rough healing method came with the heat of hell fire.

"Uu-guh......"

Nevertheless, he could not complain. Shidou withstood the pain which was strong enough to blow his consciousness away and stood up before dragging <Sandalphon>'s tip on the corridor while somehow walking.

Miku snorted in detest when she saw Shidou in that state.

"....How pathetic. Why do you go that far?"

"I told you already........I have to save Tohka. As long as I have no idea what is happening to Tohka, if I waste any time......I don't have the time to stand still-----"

Shidou said that before clenching his fist------the pain when he did that distorted his face.

"Kuh......"

Miku twitched her eyebrows and purposely made an expression filled with disgust.

"Aaah-aaah-aaah-. How cold. What's with that? Did you get drunk with the thought of saving your tragic heroine? You aren't in the age to be looking up to heroes of justice."

Miku shrugged her shoulders as if to ridicule him and continued.

"Ahaha, is it perhaps that? You can't retreat because you already told me that Tohka-san's life is more important than yours? It's fine actually. I know how disgusting humans are since a long time ago so I won't be disappointed."

"............."

But, Shidou did not show any reaction and continued walking in the corridor silently.

"Wait! Don't ignore me!"

Maybe because Miku did not like that, her voice turned wild before she overtook Shidou----and, *Pon* hit her hand as if she thought of something.

"-----Aah, I know. Then let's do this. Go ahead and tell me you would give up on Tohka-san, here and now. If you do that, I will use my [Voice] and make as many girls as you like into your slaves. How about it? All of them will absolutely follow your words. Theeyyy will do anything for you? Ufufu, not a bad deal right?"

Miku gave him a deal. Shidou twitched his eyebrows.

Unpleasantness spread out inside his chest. It was not a good idea to make Miku mad now------he fully knew that but, he could not forgive her for that sentence. He glared at Miku and opened his mouth.

".....Don't screw with me! There is no replacement for Tohka!"

"........uh."

When Shidou made a stern face, Miku made a slight twitch with her shoulders before increasing her tone as if she lost her temper.

"Fu-fuun, stop pretending already! Your [Like] or [Precious] is just at that level right? I am saying I will prepare a replacement so, that's acceptable right! Why would you go that far for her....!"

Miku said it in a forceful tone. Even if this was to tempt Shidou, there was no composure in her tone. It was as if she felt that her existence was being denied unless Shidou agreed with her.

"You're mistaken. Not all humans are-----"

"Shu-tt u-uppppp! Humans are my toys! Males are my slaves! Females are my cute dolls! All humans only have that value!"

Miku shouted to reject him.

"Miku, you........"

Shidou raised his eyebrows. The words that he missed to hear when he was inside Kurumi's shadow scratched his mind.

"Why-------why do you hate males that much! Why do you treat females like objects! Why do you see humans in that perspective.....!"

"Huh, that's obvious right? Humans are worth just that much----"

"-----Even though you're human yourself too..!"

He said it to interrupt Miku's voice.

Miku stopped her words and gasped.

"-----!?"

Miku opened her eyes in surprise and looked at Shidou. Shidou looked back at her and continued.

"When you were still human, <Phantom>---the [Something] that has the appearance of a noise, gave you the power of the Spirits.......am I wrong!?"

"..........!"

Miku twitched her shoulders. But-----she did not show any signs of denial.

That was what Kurumi told Shidou while they were getting here.

That was the information she read from the objects-----a penname CD and a photo showing?a young Miku with a male and female thought to be her parents?they found in Miku's house.

Just like Kotori----Miku was a human turned into a Spirit by someone.

And also, she had a past of being active as an idol with a different name.

"........How do you know that?"

Miku glared at him with sharp eyes. That reply was proof.

"I had a well-informed friend."

There was no need to explain Kurumi's powers in detail. Shidou said it ambiguously to play it off.

Nonetheless, it's not like Shidou actually knew everything. Kurumi gained many fragmented information from reading CD and photos, and there were many things still left in the unknown.

Yes..........If Miku really was originally human---

---then why would she treat her fellow humans as objects?

Not only she hated males, she even treated girls she took a liking to, just as antique dolls. She didn't treat humans as living things like her and it felt extremely strange.

At first Shidou thought that her value system became distorted because she was gifted with the [Voice] to make anyone listen to her.

But-----if Miku was human before then...

If Miku was active in human society for 10 years then..

Just what on earth could cause her to harbor such robotic emotions to humans?

"You're...a human too. Then you should----"

When Shidou was about to finish his sentence, Miku glared right at him.

"Don't joke........Just, just what do you know about me?!"

Miku shouted hatefully. Shidou slowly opened his mouth.

"Miku....what happened to you?"

"......Fuun, why should I-"

"Miku"

When Shidou pressed on with his words, Miku sighed in annoyance.

"How persistent. Fuun......"

After she said that-----Miku started talking in a vomiting manner.

---Singing was the only thing I had.

That was what Miku already felt when she was 9 years old.

It was much faster to count her studies and sports results from below and it was not like she was good in art and crafts. There was only one [Not bad] in her report card during her elementary school and it did not change even when she was in middle school.

But Miku had her singing. She was better than anyone in her class, and could sing songs beautifully.

What made her start singing in the first place?......yes, it was because she got praised by her teacher for being good at singing during her kindergarten game meeting.

To the young Miku, it made her very happy and she felt very proud as if she received a shining medal that no one else had.

It might be a normal result for Miku to start idolizing singing and dancing idols on television.

The young Miku was engrossed at the girls singing with their cute voice while dancing on a dazzling stage. Of course for lyrics, she could perfectly remember even their style and it surprised both her parents .

And once Miku reached 15, she got the attention of the judges in the audition and was able to debut as her desired Idol with the name Yoimachi Tsukino.

That was the happiest time of her life. She could stand on the place she had been aspiring for a long time. Her song, her voice could be heard by many people. Just thinking of that made her tears fall naturally.

Although her work could not be compared to before, things were going smoothly without any problems. Her CD slowly entered the charts and the audience started to increase in her lives.

The male audience crossed 90 percent of the total audience and although now that she thought about it, this was enough to give her the willies.........but to Miku at that time, all of them were the precious audience that would tell her that they loved her singing.

She liked recording for her CDs and radio but Live shows were the most fun for her.

It was the best way to actually feel her song reaching everyone.

Everyone would praise Miku's singing.

They would say that they loved Miku.

The medal placed on her chest was shining beautifully even more.

She thought that dreamlike time would always continue.

---But, demise easily came.

It happened around 1 year after Miku's debut. Around the time she was quite popular, she was told that a producer from a certain department had taken a liking to her from her office manager. If she?got along?with him then she would be able to get the golden regular or something like that.

Although it was not specified clearly; it was basically?that.

Of course, Miku refused politely.

The reason why Miku became an Idol was not because she wanted to appear in TV; it was because she wanted everyone to hear her songs.

But, after a while from that.

A scandal she had no idea about was published on the weekly photo magazine.

What were the contents?.............although she did not read it in details because of the shock she received, she could remember eye raising stuff like her past relationships, abortion experience, how she frequently attended drug parties, etc.

She found this out later and it seemed like the previous producer got involved in this. He seemed to be in good terms with the president of Miku's office and-----Miku easily lost her place in the company.

But the most unbearable thing was the reaction of her fans.....no, the people she thought were her fans.

The people that would line up with the [I like], [I love you], [I would die for you], suddenly started changing their attitude like flipping the palm to the opposite side.

It was tough knowing that people would believe rumors spread by some unknown person and not Miku's words.

(------hey, how many times did you have sex with your previous boyfriend?)

(Abortion? That's basically killing a baby right? What are you doing even though you're a killer?)

Each time those types of comments were posted in her blog...

Each time she received heartless words during the handshake and sign events with fewer customers...

Miku's heart gradually exhausted away.

But Miku did not give up.

Yes. Miku had her singing. She had her songs. She only had her singing from the start.

No matter how much people were going to spread rumors about her, they would understand once they heard her songs.

My songs have that power.

Somewhere in her heart, that confidence with no basis at all was still there.

And thus, Miku stood on the live stage again.

But, it was no use.

Her body was controlled by nervousness and another kind of palpitation, when she saw the people crowding the arena, as some kind of scary monster.

However, she had to sing. Nothing would start if she didn't sing.

The BGM started. She brought the mike closer to her mouth. She shook her throat.

But----

(.......! ........!)

---*Hyuu**Hyuu* Air only came out from Miku's throat.

She was diagnosed with Aphonia due to a psychological problem.

Like that, the life of Yoimachi Tsukino easily reached an end now that she lost her singing.

Once a girl who only had singing in her life lost her voice, that girl no longer had any value in life.

She knew that from a long time ago. She understood that when she was only 9 years old.

That's why, Miku started thinking of suicide, and it was only natural for her to do so.

Any method would do. Hang herself. Or maybe, take an overdose of sleeping pills. It was also okay to jump in front a train, and she wouldn't mind pulling a razor at her hand. With just those actions, it was possible to easily dispose of a girl with no value.

But, just when Miku was about to take those actions,

A [God] appeared in front of Miku.

(----You're disappointed of humans. You think this world is hopeless. Neee, do you want power? A power big enough to change the world?)

"I------Lost it. Once. Because of those ugly males, I lost my voice because of a psychological disorder-----the voice....the voice more important than my life........!"

Miku spoke to herself as if to show her emotions, and talked with a face that was close to crying.

"I thought of suicide many times. But, at that time.......[God] appeared and gave me this [Voice]! The best [Voice] that will make people fall for me once I sing!"

Most likely, that [God] was the unidentified Spirit called <Phantom> that gave Kotori her Reiryoku.

".........Is that so."

Shidou felt extremely weird of Miku who didn't treat someone else as a person.

He felt her value system, and life/death perspective was far off from normal humans. It was so far that he might feel hatred to her.

When he realized that Miku might have a human past when he found the photo and CD in her house, that weird feeling expanded even more.

But----he was wrong.

Of course, he had no intentions to accept Miku's way of dealing with humans. He could not accept Miku's way of forcefully making someone obey her every word by using her [Voice] covered with Reiryoku, and act like a queen.

However, it was different. It was not like Miku thought of humans as something lesser than her-----

She was just very very scared to treat them equally.

She would definitely be betrayed if she believed them.

She would definitely be abandoned if she went under their care.

She would definitely be tricked if she counted on them.

That was why.....she wouldn't expect anything from the start.

She would separate herself from humans.

She would think of humans as another type of existence.

She wouldn't entrust anything to them.

While she was unaware of this, it was her defensive measures to them, due to her disappointment to humans, and because she once lost her precious voice before.

The producer fabricated a scandal to harass her just because Miku did not become his girl, and the fans that played with and hurt Miku's heart. She scorned those selfish males and rejected them.

She could not open her heart to girls too and could only treat them as cute dolls that won't betray her.

"That's why I hate males! They are vulgar, dirty, and ugly-----just looking at them makes me wa-->>

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