Owari no Seraph – Ichinose Guren, 16-sai no Catastrophe v3c3

『Right now I’m there. The firefighters have spared no effort to put out the fire, but it isn’t successful. The fire doesn’t seem to be going out.』

The reports on the TV are filled with noise. It seems to be due to the block of flats catching fire, and that the fire is spreading.

The TV shows footage taken from a helicopter; the 6 o'clock news is talking about the fire. Right now, the images switch to show a female presenter with a solemn expression, her head bowed.

The 6 o’clock news has started.

That is to say, it is already evening.

However, “Hey General~”

At this moment, Guren heard Shinya’s voice coming from the living room.

In front of him, there was a mini Shogi chess set bought from a convenience store. Mito Jujo was was hesitating over what move to make. “Hmm…. wait a bit please!”

Mito crossed her arms, deep in thought as she contemplated her next move.

Goshi was sat on the sofa, drinking Cola and keeping time.

“Fine, I’m going to start counting down now. Mito doesn’t have much time left.”

“I know, so shut up!”

“Alright, you still have…”

“Enough!”

At the same time, Guren was sat at the dining table which was a bit further away.

“I say, you guys should give me back my…”

“I said keep quiet!” Mito loudly raged.

Actually, none of them know how to play Shogi. Maybe it’s because since young, they didn’t have the time to spend on this kind of activities, or maybe it was because they weren’t allowed to play. Guren thought that since no one has played it before, they shouldn’t have bought the game. However, Goshi insisted that they get it, and even specifically looked up how to play it, and they began playing in an elimination-style contest.

The first round, Goshi vs Guren. Guren was soundly defeated.

The second round, Shinya vs Mito. Mito is currently in an unfavourable situation.

Shinya whistled. “Hng hng~. I think you can’t change the situation-”

“Please wait a bit, Shinya-sama.”

“Contrary to what you may think, I can wait however long you want me to~ How many more seconds?”

Hearing Shinya’s question, Goshi replied. “40 seconds.”

“Hng hng hng hng hng~”

Mito groaned. She was concentrating very hard, her eyes opened wide. However, it was to no use. Shogi, if played properly, would have been fun and interesting. To thoroughly crush your opponents, one needs to have proper planning. Students like them, who have never even seen a Shogi manual but march straight into battle, can only resort to chance and create emergency measures as they go along.

When Goshi played against Guren, he had sucked his brain cells dry to find the fastest way to eradicate him without letting him know of his plans. This proved effective. Goshi’s face when he won was full of joy.

Guren’s rapid loss became a comforting point for Mito.

However, Shinya may have noticed Guren’s deception.

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Guren sprinted all the way to his motorcycle, and with his fastest speed shoved the key into the keyhole and began frantically turning it, violently kicking it to get the engine going.

At the moment the engine started, the vampire rushed towards him.

He turned the accelerator. The 1100cc motorcycle flew forward. The front wheel hit the vampire.

Despite that, the vampire managed to grab onto the front wheel on the motorcycle, and she smiled.

“Detestable.”

The vampire’s nails pierced the front wheel, and it exploded with a loud noise.

As he fell off the motorcycle, he pulled out a katana that was strapped to his waist. He brought it down with a wide slash. The vampire easily evaded it. However, both of them knew that the attack would not connect. The vampire grabbed the motorcycle and prepared to smash it on him.

He can’t escape.

Death……

“Guren, grab my hand!”

Shinya hollered. Guren stretched his hand towards the sound of his voice. His outstretched hand was forcefully pulled. Guren was being dragged along by Shinya’s speeding motorcycle. Guren stumbled for a bit, before successfully jumping onto the backseat of the motorcycle.

The vampire hurled Guren’s motorcycle, but it hit a passing-by taxi. The taxi flipped over a few times.

The mess was already beyond anyone’s comprehension.

The vampire continued to chase. From his sports bag, Guren took out a few wards and threw them behind him.

The moment the wards made contact with the ground, they exploded. One of the explosions managed to burn off the vampire’s leg. However, the leg began regenerating. The wards are totally useless against this kind of vampire. Despite her clothes burning, she didn’t try to put the fire out. Once her regenerated leg touched the ground, she began moving again.

Seeing this, Guren said to Shinya, who’s back was facing him as he drove the motorcycle,

“……Shinya.”

“Yeah?”

“It might catch up to us.”

“Are you serious!? We’re already going faster than 70 miles (about 112 km) per hour……”

“It’s coming.”

Guren’s words had barely left his mouth, when the vampire jumped at them, almost flying straight at them. That action wasn’t so agile as when she was fighting just now. In order to shake her off, they had to go over 100 km/h and flee for their lives.

Shinya continued to accelerate.

But even so, the vampire’s hand touched the motorcycle.

However, if they can pull off the next attack, then there’s still a chance to flee. Once the vampire drops from the air, it needs to touch the ground to get back in the air. At that instance, it’s speed should drop.

The motorcycle can still accelerate.

One attack.

If it can dodge this attack.

“…………”

Guren held the katana in his right hand, and with his left, grabbed onto Shinya’s shoulder.

He took a deep breath, then exhaled heavily.

The vampire’s hand stretched towards them.

Guren swung the katana.

The vampire wanted to grab hold of the katana. But the blade must not be caught. She cannot be allowed to latch on. The katana must cut through. Guren didn’t allow the vampire’s hand to touch him, and with effort, he slashed down with all his might.

If it didn’t hit, they are dead.

If the katana was caught, then it’s death as well.

So,

“……damn it, cut through!”

Guren yelled. The vampire’s fingers still haven’t touched the blade.

It’s arm was cleanly sliced into two.

“Good! It cut through! Shinya, move!”

“I’m already moving as fast as I can!”

The vampire looked at its severed arm, but it seemed to pay it no mind.

However, it seems that she doesn’t want to continue the chase anymore.

She dropped to the ground and glanced at Guren.

The motorcycle sprinted off at terrifying speeds; running away from the vampire. The speed has already crossed the 150km/h mark. But if they slow down, the vampire might change its mind about chasing them.

There is a need for the vampire to stop chasing them—— but with this current speed it is impossible to turn corners. Furthermore, if anyone falls off the motorcycle that is moving at this speed, it is a certain death.

Guren grabbed Shinya’s shoulders and turned around. He saw the red light flash, but the motorcycle couldn’t stop.

There was a huge truck speeding towards them after the right turn.

In front of them there were a few taxis.

Shinya was preparing to weave through the vehicles——

He shouted.

“Guren, hold on tight!”

“Today really is a terrible day.”

Even though he said this, his left hand still held on tightly to Shinya’s body.

The side mirror scraped against the truck, shattering. Shards of glass flew towards Guren’s face. He immediately used the blade of the katana to shield his eyes, but a shard had sliced his forehead. There was that feeling of skin being split open.

But then, the skirmish was over.

“…………”

The vampire didn’t chase them.

Maybe it was because of the time, the roads were all empty and it allowed them to travel at the speed they were going at. But after this, the vampire shouldn’t be pursuing them anymore.

Therefore the question right now is,

“……eh, Shinya. Slow down. If the police catch us, it’ll be troublesome.”

Guren said.

At this, Shinya asked.

“The vampire?”

“It looks like it let us go.”

“Really—, are you joking? That’s great!”

“Then hurry up and slow down.”

When Shinya heard this, he smiled lightly.

“But, we’re not wearing helmets and you’re holding a katana…… going slowly or not, we’ll still be caught~ Are you going to say that you’re a mobster from that era?”

Hearing this, Guren eyed the katana in his hand and smiled.

“……yeah, I agree……but, we barely escaped with our lives, and I refuse to die due to your poor driving skills.”

“Nothing will happen.”

“Aren’t you driving without a license?”

“Under these circumstances, driving without a license doesn’t matter. However, if we slow down, we’re going to be quite conspicuous~. You’re wrapped around me, we’re not wearing helmets, and both of us are guys, what does this look like?”

“Cut your nonsense, hurry up and slow down.”

“Yep yep~”

Shinya slowed down the motorcycle, and then turned into a small alley and parked the motorcycle.

“Are you sure it didn’t chase us?”

Hearing Shinya’s query, Guren nodded.

“Probably.”

“If it’s just probably then it’ll be hard.”

“Then you can make a trip back to check.”

“No thanks. Guren,”

“Eh?”

“Didn’t you get hurt?”

Shinya glanced at Guren’s forehead, and said.

“Was it the vampire?”

Guren got off the motorcycle, answering.

“No, it’s because your driving sucks, it caused me to be attacked by flying mirrors.”

“Ahahaha, that. You should have dodged it~”

Guren didn’t hear what he was saying, and touched the wound on his forehead. It was bleeding quite a bit.

This blood has already been cursed. If this blood is injected into Mitsuki’s hand, she would turn into a monster that has no control over her actions.

Although he doesn’t how much blood needs to be orally ingested, or injected, for the curse to be transferred; even getting close to the blood would be dangerous.

Guren sheathed his sword and then opened his sports bad and pulled out a bandage.

At this moment, Shinya said.

“Let me help you with that……”

“No need. I can do it myself.”

“But you can’t see the wound on your forehead.”

Guren ignored him and balled the bandage, putting pressure on the wound.

“How rough. If you don’t bandage it properly, it would scar~”

“It would? Thanks for the concern.”

“But then how can you be married off~?”

“Ah—, I got it, I got it. You’re so noisy, shut up.”

“Ahahaha~”

After he finished laughing, he let out a sight to ease his frayed nerves.

“……However, that was really dangerous. What was that? Why did the vampire suddenly appear?”

“How would I know?”

“The guys from the《Hyakuya Sect》were all killed.”

Guren glanced at his watch.

It was finally the time that they had arranged to meet the《Hyakuya Sect》; 2 in the morning.

However, they cannot go back to the park to meet the 《Hyakuya Sect》since all the《Hyakuya Sect》members are dead, and the vampire could be anywhere.

Under these circumstances, they were still alive, and that in itself is a mystery.

It must be due to their good luck.

If they hadn’t had such good luck, they probably wouldn’t have gotten out alive.

The vampires are something that humans cannot beat. If the vampires really have plans to kill humans, it would be too easy. However, they somehow have been spared by that vampire.

No, perhaps it can be said that the vampire wasn’t really after them.

After all, to the vampires, humans are but a bunch of noisy livestock, one more or one less doesn’t matter to them.

Therefore vampires rarely interact with humans; there are no signs of them anywhere.

“…………”

However, the vampires have been appearing more often. It looks like that vampires aren’t happy with the experimentation carried out by the 《Hyakuya Sect》.

One of the vampires Mahiru had interacted with before, Ferid, had said something to that effect.

『How frightening. It’s a shame that humans still want to continue with this kind of thing. If humans end up fiddling with the forbidden curse, then the world would end pretty soon.』

The forbidden curse could end the world.

That is to say, the《Hyakuya Sect》must be hiding some secret about the forbidden curse within that piece of the hybrid monster.

Also, the vampires hate it.

They hate the lustful humans, who would end up destroying the world.

Shinya, who probably was thinking about the same thing, asked.

“If the vampires are really eyeing the《Hyakuya Sect》, then even they would be destroyed?”

Probably.

However,

“Do you think that the《Hyakuya Sect》are prepared to take on the vampires? They should know that they can’t fight the vampires.”

If the vampires really command the 《Hyakuya Sect》to stop their research on the forbidden skills, the《Hyakuya Sect》would have to comply.

Shinya said,

“……then, what was that? Why did the vampires suddenly appear?” No idea. No, in fact, the things that they know are more than the things they don’t know. Desire and lust are the things that connect the different groups, it is hard to see the truth.

However,

“…………”

Shinya looked here. Guren knows what he is thinking about; who’s the one in the shadows pulling the strings. The person who allowed《Hyakuya Sect》and 『Mikado no Oni』to clash; both of them now know who it is.

“…………”

Unfortunately, Mahiru is in the center of everything.

Hiragi Mahiru secretly planned it all.

Of course, they didn’t know if what happened today was part of her plan.

“……if we continued to be blur, the whole thing would have been settled without us hearing anything about it.”

Shinya said tiredly.

Guren understood his meaning. Because Mahiru was running about in such far locations, only looking at her back can be tiring.

Guren brought down the bandage that he was using. The wound had stopped bleeding. Fortunately, the wound was close to his hairline, and as long as he let his fringe down, it would be covered.

Guren put his blood soaked bandage into his sports bag, then started walking.

Shinya asked,

“How strange~ and where might you be going?”

Guren answered,

“Home.”

“And you’re walking?”

“Is there any other way? Continue to ride without a helmet?”

“Yeah~”

After hearing this, Shinya also got off the motorcycle, and tossed it aside. It looks like Shinya’s motorcycle is also stolen property.

“However, we’re still around Nerima right? It’s still around 20km from Shibuya.”

“So?”

“Let’s go steal a bicycle then~. Well, we’ll find our own ways back?”

“Of course.”

“Then, we’ll end off here?”

“Yeah.”

Guren said without looking back.

Shinya then continued.

“Then, see you in school tomorrow.”

“I know.”

“Good night~”

Hearing this, Guren stopped and turned around.

He glanced at Shinya, who was waving at his retreating figure, and said.

“Shinya,”

“Yes~?”

“…………”

“What is it?”

Guren looked at Shinya and said,

“……Thanks for today. If not for you, I would be dead.”

Hearing this, Shinya was a little surprised.

“Eh? Eh? And what does that mean~ Are you……”

Guren interrupted him.

“No, I’m not thanking you. Without me, you will be dead.”

“Ah, that is true~”

However, Shinya didn’t need to save him. When he was attacked by the vampire, riding the motorcycle and grabbing him by then hand just to save him was a very big risk. He should have just saved himself.

But Shinya didn’t do that

Therefore correspondingly,

“……a little, I can trust you a little now.”

Hearing this, Shinya smiled bitterly.

“A little?”

“Yeah. A little.”

“Now that really is a thank you. That’s all?”

“Yes.”

“Then, see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you.”

Saying this, Guren began walking towards Shibuya.

◆

He was gone for three hours.

Shigure and Sayuri didn’t go to sleep at all.

When they saw Guren enter from the door,

“Guren-sama!”

Both looked like they were about to cry as they dashed over.

Guren looked at both of them and said,

“……Why are both of you wearing sleepwear? Didn’t I say that if I didn’t come back by morning both of you are to return to Aichi?”

He didn’t finish his sentence when Shigure interrupted.

“No, Guren-sama would return alive.”

“You ah, there is still a certain degree to disobeying orders……”

This time, Sayuri interrupted him. Sayuri lifted her head to get a good look at him, and tears started pouring out from her eyes

“Waaaaaaah~ Guren-sama, why are you covered in blood?!!!”

With tears streaming down her face, she opened her arms to give him a hug, but Guren stopped her by grabbing her arm.

“……don’t come over. My blood has been contaminated.”

“I don’t care!”

“But I do. Shigure, go take a bath. Wash off the blood.”

Shigure didn’t move an inch. Her eyes were still full of tears.

“……waah~.I’m so sorry……It’s our fault, we’re too weak.”

Sayuri glanced at the wound on Guren’s forehead, and then began crying even more.

“……We were so worried, if you didn’t come back, what would we do? It’s our fault, we’re too weak, we couldn’t help Guren-sama……”

At this, Guren, who was still standing at the entrance, replied wearily,

“Ah? What are you saying……?”

Shigure said,

“When Guren-sama was out there risking his life, at the very least, we should have been there right by his side. We hated staying at home and waiting. Even if we don’t have the strength and we’re unable to assist you……at the very least, we still could have helped you block the blows.”

As she was saying this, her voice became more steady. She rarely cries, but this time, her tears were flowing without end.

This time, looks like she was really worried about him.

With another loud ‘waaah’, both of them ran up and hugged him.

“……Both of you are idiots. Didn’t I say not to get close to me……”

Both of them hugged Guren tightly. Maybe it was because the blood was dried when it touched them, since nothing happened. With this dosage, nothing happened. If it’s just through contact, then the demon won’t be transmitted? Maybe it was the dosage that affects it. Are there any conditions to be met for one to be infected?

Even so,

“……you guys, I already said that you shouldn’t get close to me, so don’t. Go back to Aichi and get a check-up.”

Sayuri lifted her head and looked at Guren, saying,

“Ah, is Guren-sama coming with us!?”

“No, I’m staying here.”

Shigure then said,

“Then we’ll stay right by Guren-sama’s side……”

“What kind of joke is this, both of you. Listen to orders.”

“No.”

“I’m not going.”

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Guren muttered into his pillow as he fell into bed, but he did not manage to sleep at all.

Chapter end