A Way Out Without Freedom

After getting ready, we headed out.

«Hmm... I don't see many new things».

"W-w-what?! B-but technology has advanced so much since you died!"

I can't believe it. According to the book, he supposedly died in ancient times. It's impossible for them to have reached this level.

«Well, let me tell you that in my time, humans had reached this level of technology. I'm sure they just lost it due to their stupidity; by the way, what year are we in?»

He forced a change of topic.

"Umm... It's February 27th, 2132."

«So, a lot of time has passed... What's that thing above us?».

I look up and see the usual metal and glass dome.

"Th-that's MAF," I said, remembering. "Anti-Fuban Wall w-would be its full name. They created it to defend us f-from the Fuban that appeared in 2047. There are many scattered around the world, a-according to what I read."

«Oh, what are these Fuban».

"Th-they are very strong monsters that came out of the earth. Each one has a zetsubo, which gives them new abilities. Sometimes they even break MAF to get in and hurt people; w-when that happens, an alarm goes off, and everyone has to stay home and activate the security system that all homes have."

«You know a lot about this. Is there an education system around here?»

"Y-yes, but it's not that elaborate. They put us in capsules called learning capsules for about f-five years. Then, when we turn fourteen, they let us free in adolescent-only spaces to do whatever w-we want. Where we are is called Ecrait. But when we turn eighteen, they f-force us to take university classes for a job; that's why all the people now consider adolescence the best stage of life."

«That's a very interesting education system».

Since the education system underwent many changes due to the arrival of the Fuban, there are people who don't know much about the world.

«Well, I've found my objective. We will kill every one of those Fuban when we see them» I swallowed at his comment.

"O-okay, how about we buy something?"

«Hmm... Sure, why not? I haven't eaten anything in 20,000 years».

 ***

When I finally found a store, I went in, bought a soda, and sat on a bench in front of it.

"Ha~h, that's really good," I said after drinking."

«So this is a soda; its taste is better than I thought»

"W-wait, h-how do you know its taste?"

«We have shared senses when I'm inside, silly».

"O-ok." I nodded.

Though I don't really like that he can always feel the same things as me.

Since I'm talking to myself, anyone who sees me will think I'm weird.

With those thoughts, I walked over to the trash can to throw away the can.

Just as I saw the can fall.

"I didn't think you'd break up with your boyfriend so suddenly, Okibuki!" I heard some girls talking.

I turned to see who it was and froze.

"It was obvious I was going to break up with that fool, he hardly made any progress in the relationship; besides, I only became his girlfriend because he's from the Tokira family."

The one who replied was a blonde girl with a lollipop in her mouth. She was with a group of about four girls, wearing a white shirt with a sweater tied around her waist and a pink skirt; she turned and looked directly at me. When she realized who I was, she made a face as if she had found a toy.

"Hey, look who's here, Tsukimeki. It's been a while."

Hearing her call me that name sent a shiver down my spine.

«Who could this young lady be, speaking so carelessly about her relationships in the open air?»Arariel spoke, but her voice didn't reach me.

"Oh, you don't like me calling you by your family's prestigious name?" she spoke with a doubtful tone but her face showed happiness. "What was your name again? Ha... Ha..."

"I think her name was Hazora," said the first girl I heard.

"Thanks, Sugiri, remind me to reward you later," Okibuki turned to me after thanking her. "Anyway, Hazora, what are you doing out so late instead of being cooped up in your room reading your books, bookworm?"

"I-I-I..." I couldn't form a sentence or look her in the eyes.

They are acquaintances from my early years, from age four to eight; I had seen them before when I arrived in Ecrait but hadn't spoken to them. We didn't get along very well after all.

"Hazora, calm down, your unpleasant thoughts are reaching me," Arariel spoke in disgust.

"Well, it's not like you can talk, Tsukimeki. No wonder no one visited you when you were in the learning capsule." She started laughing when she finished, and all the other girls laughed too. "Mizuza, grab her."

A tall girl with black hair and black eyes stood behind me and grabbed my arms.

"L-let go of me!" I screamed in fear and despair.

Okibuki kneed me in the abdomen. I lost my breath.

"Ha, you're still the same weakling as ever." She tugged my hair. "We should cut this hair, it doesn't really suit you." She smiled. "Sugiri! Get some bathroom water in a bucket, we'll have fun here in the meantime."

"Yes!" Sugiri's footsteps headed towards the store's bathroom.

"This situation is getting annoying."

"P-please stop them..." I begged Arariel for help.

«I can't. If they discover me in this state, I surely won't be able to defend myself from the local defense forces around here. If you want to get out of this, you'll have to find your own way».

"Hey! Who are you talking to, Tsukimeki? You can't go crazy when we're about to have fun."

All of Okibuki's group surrounded me and proceeded to beat me; they kicked me, kneed me, hit my chest, and kept pulling my hair. After a few seconds that felt like hours, Sugiri returned with a full bucket.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no."

The girl Mizuza threw me against a wall forcefully, Okibuki took the bucket and drenched me with water.

The icy water soaked my skin, clothes, and hair; coupled with the cold night, my legs couldn't stand anymore.

My breathing became heavy, my forehead, back, and fingers were sweating, my hair was soaked with dirty, icy toilet water, my body felt as if it had been run over; I couldn't take it anymore, I couldn't maintain my sanity with these girls.

With those thoughts, I slid my hand towards the ribbon that tied my hair.

"It seems you're about to make your move," Arariel spoke with interest.

"Hey! What are you doing to that girl?" I heard a familiar voice. I turned and it was Nanami with a shopping bag.

Seeing her, the girls were surprised and backed away from me.

"Damn, Tsukimeki, you got lucky this time. Thank that adult. Girls, let's go." Okibuki and her group walked away as if nothing had happened.

"Are you okay?!"

Nanami ran to where I was and tried to offer me a hand.

"I-I'm f-fine," I pushed her hand away, looking down; I didn't want her to see me in this state.

"What do you mean you're fine?! You're all soaked! At least let me drive you in my car."

"I-I said I'm fine!"

I started running, fleeing from her.

"Hazora, wait!"

 ***

«Hazora, are you going to sit here until dawn?»

Arariel spoke, annoyed for some reason; my silver hair was messy and dirty, I felt cold, I was defenseless, I was scared.

"You said I'd find a way out," I muttered.

Damn wolf, you didn't help us at all and now you expect something.

«Yes, but it wasn't for you to sit in a dark place whining.»

My head began to ache. I could hear a voice that wasn't Arariel's in my head.

Kill them... kill them... Kill them!

I can't, I can't. If I kill them, they'll find out and then they'll kill me. I don't want to die, I'm afraid to die, I've tried to end the suffering so many times but the fear won't let me.

Their power... Let's use the power they've given us, with that damned power, what couldn't you do?

The voice in my head tempted me with its demonic tone.

I felt like my head was going to explode.

Right, now it will be different.

Enough is enough. I got up from the dirty, grimy ground.

The voice began to laugh maniacally.

The moment has come.

«Hazora, don't think anything stupid, your feelings are reaching me.»

"So what?" I retorted angrily. "I hate being the girl nobody wants! I want to stop being the girl who, no matter how hard she tries, can't win anything! I don't want to be the one who loses everything..." my tears wouldn't stop.

Every cell in my body told me to kill.

«Alright, if we use stealth, no one will, I won't have to worry about the local defense forces. I'll help you, but you'll have to follow my orders from now on,» Arariel said wearily.

"Israfel..." I said like a chant of death.

The silver dress appeared.

«Just follow their scents with your nose».

I took a deep breath, the smells appeared like colored trails.

I clumsily jumped over the rooftops, following the girls' scents.

 ***

Following the trail Okibuki left, jumping until I reached a large house where Okibuki's scent grew stronger.

I stopped on the roof of the house across the street.

«According to the scent, that's their den, or as humans call it, their house,» Arariel said, clearing my doubts.

I sat on the edge and thought about the situation for a bit.

In just a few hours, my life had turned upside down one hundred and eighty degrees, and at this moment, I was about to commit homicide on one of the great families to satisfy my anger. Yes, I'm total trash.

«Hazora, we've come all this way, and now you're going to start overthinking the situation—he got annoyed—. I've already spent mana manifesting your dress, we can't turn back now.»

If we look at it that way, there really is no turning back.

I jumped towards the entrance of Okibuki's house. The sign read Kanechi. This was definitely that girl's house. Just as I was about to jump the entrance.

«Hazora! Retreat!» Arariel said nervously.

"What?"

«Just obey me!»

I obeyed and retreated. A large explosion and a cloud of dust came from where I had been a moment ago. When the dust cleared, I saw a woman with insect eyes.

"Damn it! I missed tomorrow's meal," the insect woman complained.

She had green hair with antennae on it; she wore a tight black suit with green lines running across her body, insect wings on her back; her body looked about thirty years old. In her hands, she held two long green swords stained with something red.

«What is that woman?! Her magic power is on the level of a sorcerer... in my current state, we won't be able to defeat her...» Arariel began to murmur in my head.

"Th-that's not a woman... it's a Fuban. No, it's impossible, if a Fuban appears, the alarms should have gone off," I said and swallowed.

"Hey kid, don't just stand there, it's no fun if you don't resist," the insect woman spoke as she licked the red liquid from one of her swords—no, according to the smell, it was blood, and blood from someone in the Okibuki house; I hope it was hers.

I began to tremble, feeling the pressure exerted by the insect woman.

«Hazora, calm down and follow my instructions to the letter. If you don't, you'll die. Understand?» he spoke in a serious tone.

"Y-y-yes."

Arariel recited some words for me to repeat.

"S-silver armament release, Armament number 2, Harahel."

A silver sword began to form in front of me. When it finished, I took it.

«Good! Attack!»

"Aah!" I screamed as I lunged into the attack.

"That's it! Entertain me for a while, little girl!" the insect woman shouted, laughing.

She started by swinging one of her swords at me. I barely managed to block it.

«Right!» Arariel yelled nervously.

I looked where she said, and the Fuban tried to attack me with her free sword. I retreated, and she lunged at me.

«Left! Right! Right! Right, no, left!»

I followed everything Arariel said and managed to defend myself from the insect woman with my sword. Every time I blocked an attack, my arms hurt and became numb. I wanted to stop, I wanted to stop, but I didn't want to die.

It was surprising; I had never used a sword in my life before, but I instinctively knew what Arariel wanted me to do.

Following the light show we caused every time our swords clashed for a while, until my arms couldn't take it anymore, and I jumped back.

"Is that all you can do, child?" I heard the insect woman say in a bored voice.

I couldn't answer; my entire brain was only focused on getting some air.

«Damn, at this rate we're going to die,» Arariel said nervously.

"Huh?"

«That woman doesn't seem to have a drop of sweat.»

Now that I look at her, she looks just as she did when we started; as I watched, her antennae began to move.

"What? Evacuate right now? Don't mess with me, I'll do what I want while I'm out here," she spoke angrily.

It seemed she was communicating with someone.

"Damn it, fine, I'll be there in a moment." The woman joined the swords, and they transformed into a super advanced, latest generation rifle; it was gigantic.

Just looking at it made every molecule in me tremble.

«Hazora! DODGE IT!»

At Arariel's shout, I ran in the opposite direction from the woman.

"Ha, too late, little girl. If you wanted to live, you should have run from the very beginning." When I turned to see what she was doing, the rifle was starting to glow.

Damn, damn, I won't be able to dodge it, I'm going to die without being able to do anything in life. At least I would have wanted to confess to Akire before I died.

"Stop right there, old hag! Who told you you could murder such a promising young lady?!" a shout echoed throughout the area.

"Who dares call me old hag?!" the insect woman was about to explode with rage.

"Me! I was the great person who called an old hag a woman who doesn't even deserve to be called old! The great Otsumi Akanobu!" Above the roof of the Okibuki house was the shouting figure.

He descended with flips and landed gracefully. He wore a large hat. His face was about eighteen years old, with blue eyes and black hair. He wore a black trench coat with blue edges and interior, black gloves, a white vest, and inside it, a blue shirt and a black tie.

"You damn brat!" the woman changed her target to the figure, Otsumi.

"Hey, hey, did that insult bother you, Miss Fuban?" Otsumi spoke politely but with impudence.

"How do you know that, brat?!"

Wait, what do you mean, Miss Fuban? If a Fuban enters Ecrait, the alarms should have sounded!

«Hazora! Don't get even a little bit close to that boy!» Arariel's tone was nervous.

"B-boy! I-I don't know who you are but you have to get out of here if you don't want to die!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, ignoring Arariel.

Otsumi was surprised, but after a second, he smiled.

"What a polite girl!" He struck an exaggerated pose. "I can't let such a good girl die in the name of the mages' association!" He pulled a black wand from his trench coat pocket. "Kazu ichi anburera."

When he finished, the wand transformed into an umbrella. Otsumi grabbed it by the handle and pointed it at the Fuban.

"W-wait! Did you say mages' association?!" the Fuban shouted in a state of high alert.

"Yes, yes, that band of mages sent me to deal with a Fuban attack on one of the great houses," Otsumi's tone was bored when speaking of the association.

A question popped into my mind, and I asked Arariel:

"Arariel, what is the mages' association...?" I murmured so only she could hear.

«I-I don't know! They weren't there when I died!» her voice also sounded surprised.

"Let's leave those boring talks for later, I have to get back early so I'll have to finish quickly."

"Damn it, I can't hold back anything if it's someone sent by the association... Fotorai!" The Fuban pulled the trigger of the already loaded rifle.

"Hey, I can't let you do that, Miss Fuban, kagami hansha"—something shot out from the umbrella, it was several drone-like things, surrounding the Fuban from all directions—. "Kassei..."—Otsumi's smile was demented—. "Ka!"

The drones formed a square, trapping the Fuban.

"This damned cube won't stop me!" A giant light shot out from the rifle.

When that happened, a horrible scream was heard in the area, coming from the Fuban itself.

"Ha, ha, ha! I'm sorry, miss, this cube reflects any magic below patriarch level!" Otsumi couldn't hold back his laughter as he spoke.

"Arariel...!"

«I don't know what he's saying!» she interrupted me. «But that cube cannot be destroyed by magic below colossus level...» Arariel wasn't very helpful; I didn't understand the last thing she said.

"Miss Silver..."

"Kya!" At some point, Otsumi had gotten behind me and grabbed my shoulder with a smile.

"Who are you talking to?" He tilted his head.

My mind froze. His way of speaking and his gestures were simple, but they made my very existence tremble.