Owari no Seraph – Ichinose Guren, 16-sai no Catastrophe v5c3

When Guren stepped out of the lift in the apartment that Shinoa lived in, it was already dark.

The time was 6.15 pm. The time where most people have dinner.

The street lights illuminated the figures of the salarymen and students on their way home.

Leaving the bustling street behind, Guren called out a taxi.

“Come here.”

“…………”

Guren let Shinoa climb into the car first, and then notified the driver of his home address. As the driver started the car, he glanced back at them through the mirror. The driver was a 40 year old man who had a full beard.

“Ha, for a student to ride a taxi, you must be someone of status.”

“…………”

Guren glared at the driver, and then ignored him.

The driver continued.

“Are your parents rich?”

Guren didn’t answer him. Although his father was rich, he was being held hostage by Kureto.

“Really, even in this sluggish economy…… I really do envy you rich kids, I……”

How noisy. He didn’t know whether or not he should voice his thoughts.

“Making me drive to such a near location, you’re not allowing me to make much money you know.”

“Who knows.”

“Ah, what did you just say?”

“Nothing.”

Shinoa, who was sitting beside, was watching the exchange with an interested look.

The taxi avoided the entrance to the Metropolitan Expressway, and continued on the leftmost lane.

Although it would shorten the distance by taking the expressway, the driver continued on, and said.

“I, until 2 years ago, was working in the manufacturing industry, you know. But my performance was too bad, so they simply fired me. How extreme. Anyone who isn’t outstanding get’s fired.

“…………”

“Really, it’s so anyhow. Ah, the politicians and the rich people ah…… I don’t know anything, but you guys think the world revolves around you.”

Because of the man’s servility portrayed through his words, Guren stopped his train of thoughts, and let out a bitter smile. Because everyday, he was also thinking about his servility.

Ever since he was born, he had been exposed to a world that was dictated by the Hiragi family.

The woman he likes had been snatched away, his respect had been taken, and now, even his own father and subordinates have been taken as hostages, and he couldn’t do anything about that.

The time left till his father’s execution would be 2 days.

And, he still doesn’t know where Mahiru was.

No, why does he have to chase after Mahiru? Why must he kill her? The one that decided the answers to this wasn’t him.

Here, there was no room for his objections.

Because he lost.

Because ever since he was born, he was homeless dog.

Therefore, everything.

Everything that he has.

Is under the control of the Hiragis.

The driver continued.

“But, rich children such as yourself, probably won’t know anything about the world.”

“……Haha, that may not be true.”

“Do you live in a warm house, passing every day happily and without worry?”

“Yeah.”

“This uniform is one of the elite school’s, right. Once in awhile you guys will take a taxi. You people look really smart. Great. Your future is certainly bright. I also want to be like that.”

“Ha ha ha.”

Guren laughed.

These excellent people from the elite school that took his taxi, are most probably dead. First Shibuya High students suffered two attacks by the 《Hyakuya Sect》 from April to September. A large portion of them were killed off.

Of course, there were a few times where his life was on the line. If it was possible, he didn’t want to be born in this kind of family.

“I’m sorry that my future is fixed.”

“Really, your attitude makes a complete turn, and I didn’t say anything much~”

The car stopped due to a traffic light. After making a turn at this cross junction, they would arrive at Guren’s apartment.

Mothers holding grocery bags while dragging along children were crossing the road. The driver tapped his finger on the wheel impatiently.

“……Really, how happily they walk. But, last time, I had children too. But when I was fired, I split up with their mother.”

At this time, Shinoa plainly said.

“Really, you do know how to prattle, even when I have no interest in this topic.”

“Ah?”

The driver let out a sound of surprise and turned his head around.

The traffic light was starting to flash. Mothers were pulling the hands of the kids that were still stumbling and falling.

Motorcycles weaved through the cars and stopped by the side of the taxi.

Then, at the same time.

“…………”

There was a loud ‘boom’ sound, like something had exploded.

“What happened!?”

The driver shouted.

Guren noticed that the sound was coming from above. Shinoa also noticed as well. Guren looked at the roof, and of course, he saw nothing.

He heard a high pitched creaking noise; it sounded as if something was being scraped against metal. He doesn’t know what happened.

Although he didn’t know, Guren still said.

“Oi, Shinoa.”

“……yes?”

“Get outside.”

Guren opened the door. He grabbed the driver’s collar.

The driver looked over,

“Hey? Hey? Oi, you guys……”

He said this, but was ignored.

Guren forcibly dragged the driver and jumped out of the taxi.

In the next instant.

A truck fell from the sky.

It was more accurate to say that the truck broke the sound barrier as it fell, and it obliterated the taxi. If they were inside, they would have died instantly. Then, the truck fell towards the sidewalk. The sidewalk where there was a mother and child.

He didn’t hear the screaming. They had a stunned expression. From where he was, it was impossible for him to reach there and save them; under normal circumstances.

They will die.

The mother and child would die.

Normally, they would have died.

But,

“……Lend me your strength, 《Noya》”

Guren said.

And then from the sword he brought along—— he took out a demon.

In that instant, Guren felt his body swell with desire.

Sexual desire. (T/N: now’s not the time to be thinking of mahiru, guren)

All those desires were be begging to be admitted.

All those desires swelled up, and then, he released them.

“Go.”

Guren took a step. His body was as light as a feather. He raised his blade. The truck was sliced cleanly into two.

Shinoa, who was behind him, said.

“Wah. Right now, you look like you’re no longer completely human anymore.”

Then, she glanced towards the mother and son pair.

“Nooooooooooooooooooo!”

They were being saved, but yet they were shrieking.

The shrieks captured the attention of everyone near by.

The fallen truck. The smashed taxi. A suspicious looking teenager who was wearing a uniform and wielding a blade.

Everyone who could see that scene was breaking out in screams of terror or surprise.

The driver, who fell on his ass, said.

“You, you, you guys, who are you!!”

Shinoa interrupted.

“Haha…… rich people who have a bright future~”

“Eh?”

“You’d better run, uncle. You might die here if you don’t.”

Guren ignored their exchange, and looked up at the Metropolitan Expressway above them.

Quite a few cars were raining down.

Boom, boom, boom.

All the people were running away from this chaos. The diver also ran off as well.

Shinoa stood next to him, and said.

“What happened?”

“How would I know? You better leave now.”

“You’re not running?”

“……I want to check it out.”

“Curiosity killed the cat~”

That was true. But, this place was very close to his house. Only a few minutes away. If the 《Hyakuya Sect》 and 『Mikado no Oni』 started fighting here, no matter what, he would be dragged in as well.

Shinoa said.

“Ah, then I won’t be having a good dinner tonight.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re really just like what they say, all talk and no action.”

“You’re damn noisy.”

His house was too close to the battle field, no chance for him to

have a leisurely dinner.

“I want to take a taxi back. Do you have any money?”

Shinoa said as she opened her palm.

“Because I have been suddenly kidnapped.”

Guren gave her a 10,000 yen note. (T/N: that’s a good 100USD)

“At least get something to eat before you go back……”

As he was saying this, yet another car came crashing down from the Metropolitan Expressway. But this time, it was different.

It looks like someone with an immense amount of strength threw it over, and the car hit a building along the Metropolitan Expressway.

That kind of thing, can only be achieved with the power of the 《Kiju》.

“……what is that. Some monster?”

Guren took a few steps back, to the building that was hit by the car. In a few leaps, he would be able to get to the Metropolitan Expressway. .

Shinoa, from behind him said,

“Ichinose Guren.”

No reply. Shinoa continued.

“Please be careful.”

Guren looked back, and replied.

“You too.”

With his sword, he turned the automatic doors of the building into nothing more that glass shards.

From there, he could see the top of the Metropolitan Expressway.

The Metropolitan Expressway had been destroyed severely. Many of the cars collided and were lying on the ground.

Then, on a few of the cars, stood six figures that look like humans.

One of them, Guren recognised.

Long, ash-grey hair. Snow-white skin.

That beautiful girl was wearing a sailor uniform.

It was Mahiru.

Hiragi Mahiru was there.

She was protecting a kid, and was surrounded by enemies. Her right hand held a katana. On her skin, the curse was actively repairing her wounds. She was wearing a rare expression of panic. Those enemies were powerful .

“…….so, who are they.”

The enemies were not holding weapons. It looks like they did not have 《Kiju》 weapons.

A man wearing a polo shirt.

Woman wearing a dress.

A man wearing a sweatshirt.

A man dressed in a white dress shirt.

“The 《Hyakuya Sect》?”

The man wearing the polo shirt jumped up. His actions were incredibly fast. Right now, Guren’s eyes could not follow his speed.

Mahiru used the katana to block the attack. The force of the attack collapsed the top the car that Mahiru was standing on.

The woman in a dress also jumped up.

She grabbed hold of her wrist. Mahiru wanted to break free, but was unable to do so. That woman in a dress opened her mouth. there were two fangs.

“Vampires?!”

Guren couldn’t help but shout out.

Although he had the 《Kiju》 weapon, but against four vampires, winning was impossible.

That is to say, Mahiru would be killed.

There was no way to save her. To engage the four of them in battle was suicidal.

Curiosity killed the cat—— it wasn’t a question of that calibre.

But at that moment, the one in a sweatshirt and the one in the dress shirt started closing in on Mahiru.

“Despicable!”

Guren also left the building, and began moving towards the Metropolitan Expressway.

At that time, he and Mahiru’s gazes connected.

She noticed him.

The four vampires were all sucking blood from her neck, wrist, waist and thigh.

If those guys were serious, Mahiru would be killed.

But, she looked over and smiled flirtatiously.

And then she mouthed something.

Guren read her lips.

She said.

——Don’t do anything. Just watching is good enough.

Mahiru’s complexion was steadily getting worse. Because she was losing blood, her life-force was diminishing. She could lose her life. Guren was well aware of this fact. But, during that, Mahiru also said.

—— Kyoto, the vampire Queen……

That was as much as Guren could read. In that instant, the woman in the dress stood up and her back blocked his view. He couldn’t see Mahiru’s lips anymore.

The rest of the vampires also stopped sucking Mahiru’s blood.

Although she had lost a lot of blood and was exhausted, she still looked beautiful.

Then she smiled. She smiled happily. She looked over.

She was attacked by the vampires, and then lost consciousness. That was how they managed to lift her up by her neck. One of them took Mahiru away, and surprisingly, they also took a little boy that was breathing lightly. It looks like they will be brought to some place.

No, he knew the location.

It was Kyoto. They were probably going to be bought to the vampire’s hideout.

Mahiru allowed him to see this. He was still in her palm.

Then, was it okay to have let her been taken away?

Guren clenched the handle of the 《Kiju》 weapon. He didn’t have the power to go and help her. Compared to Mahiru, he was even weaker. It was impossible for him to take on four vampires.

He gripped the weapon in his hand tighter.

In his mind, a certain phrase that has been there since forever, kept on repeating.

Why is it always like that, that he doesn’t have enough power?

The vampire wearing a white dress shirt looked over. He wore clothes and pretended to be human, but if one looks carefully, they would notice that they were a totally different creature.

Vampires were beautiful, their eyes were devoided of everything.

The one wearing the white dress shirt jumped up. In one step, he appeared in front of Guren.

Guren prepared to use his blade, but as his hand began to move, the vampire used his hand and pierced through Guren’s shoulder.

The vampire coldly said.

“Are you a friend of that woman?”

Guren stared at the emotionless eyes of the vampire. He was calculating if he could kill the vampire.

If the 《Kiju》 was bent on escaping, would it be possible for him to stab the vampire at least once?

But at this time, a voice came from within.

《That’s not possible. You’ll have to give your body to me for that to happen.》

《Noya》 said.

《Also, the chains of this curse will prevent you from running away. Perhaps, betray the Hiragi family then. If you don’t do that, you’ll never be able to get the things that you want.》

Noya had put it like this, but if the chains were removed, would he be able to defeat these guys?

These guys that were able to fully suppress Mahiru?

The vampire said.

“We want to take that woman away. Do not obstruct us.”

Guren answered.

“And if I said I wouldn’t allow it?”

“What can a mere human do?”

The vampire retracted his arm. Back facing Guren, he strode away.

He left his back wide open.

He didn’t think Guren was a threat.

Rather,

“…………”

Guren was unable to move.

If he moved, he would have been killed in an instant.

Even if he used the cursed 《Kiju》 weapon, he was still far away from the power of the vampires.

This was Shibuya.

This was where the Hiragi family that controlled 『Mikado no Oni』 was based. Other than the 《Hyakuya Sect》, no other similar organisation could enter this area.

But the vampires could easily stop the traffic along the Metropolitan Expressway, and escape in a helicopter.

Whatever they want.

They disrupted the order in the human world, but it’s humanity’s problem, not theirs.

There was a rope ladder dropped from the helicopter, and the vampire held onto the rope ladder with one hand, and Mahiru and the child with the other.

The helicopter rose.

They took away Mahiru.

Guren couldn’t do anything about it.

Absolutely nothing at all.

The other vampires jumped down from the Metropolitan Expressway, and then vanished.

Guren just stood there in a motionless daze, looking at the overturned cars on the Metropolitan Expressway .

Mahiru, what exactly are you up to? What Mahiru was asking him to do, he did not know.

“…………”

At this moment, something flashy caught his eye.

In front of him.

Next to one of the overturned cars.

Lying on the Metropolitan Expressway, there was a sword.

It was jet black, unable to reflect any kind of light, but yet it shone.

He was afraid that might be a 《Kiju》 weapon. It looked like the one that Mahiru was using just now.

When the vampires were drinking her blood, she must have dropped it.

“…………”

He studied the blade.

It looked like the blade Mahiru used.

He knew the name of the demon within the blade. He remembered that when Mahiru was wielding the knife, she shouted out a name.

『Come, Ashuramaru.』

In that instant, a 《Kiju》 weapon appeared in her hand. The katana in her hand seemed to have materialised from thin air.

Guren didn’t know how to use that aspect of the 《Kiju》. He didn’t know how to make the weapon disappear or reappear.

But, Mahiru could fully utilise the demon. She could use it much better than he could ever hope to.

This kind of black weapon.

“…………”

Anyway, 《Ashuramaru》 was the name of the blade. Or, is this some other 《Kiju》?

According to reports, Mahiru was harbouring two demons in her.

To save her sister Shinoa, she had assimilated the demon in Shinoa’s body.

So, she has been controlled by two demons and is no longer human.

For her sister.

Then, if that was the case, he couldn’t say for sure whether this was one of the demons in her.

Whichever one it was was, it has come to this.

Once again, Mahiru had left a demon in front of Guren.

Guren lowered his head and glared at the blade, saying.

“Are you once again telling me to take the blade?”

His voice fell flat, and from somewhere else, there was a response.

《That’s not possible, Guren. Don’t interact with other demons.》

That was Noya.

The demon that resided in his body warned him.

《You are mine. Don’t interact with other demons.》

Guren was tired of that voice.

“Why? Is there some sort of rivalry between demons?”

《It’s going to disappear soon. If it leaves its holder, there is no way for it to maintain it’s form.》

Just as Noya was saying this, the fallen 《Kiju》 sword’s blade began turning into a black smoke that was slowly dissipating.

It looks like she had dropped it there.

But, Mahiru’s fragrance had already gone.

After Ashuramaru had disappeared, Noya fell silent.

At the same time, the police sirens could be heard. It was the police. The humans have begun to take action.

The phone in his pocket was buzzing. Guren pulled out the phone and saw that it was Kureto who had called.

Guren brought the phone to his ear as he answered the call.

『What is the situation like?』

“I was at home having dinner.”

『Shut up. I heard police sirens coming from near your place. Are you at the scene?』

“Yeah.”

『Is Mahiru there?』

“No, not there.”

『What happened?』

“How would I know? When I got here, everything had ended already. But are your starting investigations yet?”

『Someone is saying that an unidentified helicopter had left. We are looking for surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts.』

Hearing this, Guren looked around.

All the people in the vicinity were killed. There were even cars full of dead people.

Same for the surveillance cameras. All the surveillance cameras nearby had been broken.

Was that due to Mahiru’s actions, or the vampire’s?

“…………”

It was probably Mahiru.

The vampires went back without any worries. Whatever the humans saw, it wasn’t something that they bothered with. Then, everything was Mahiru’s doing. The reason she did all this, was so that Guren was the only one that saw it. The only person that saw Mahiru being kidnapped by the vampires was Guren.

Kureto ordered.

『Stay there. I am sending people over.』

“No. There is nothing left here. I want to go home for dinner.”

If he disobeyed Kureto, would his father that was being held hostage, be killed?

But, after a moment of silence, Kureto said.

『……Really then. I got it. If there is any need I’ll come to your house.』

“Ah? You?”

『Is there any question?』

“……No, none.”

『Good. I’m hanging up.』

And then the call ended.

The sirens stopped. The police should have already been stopped. At the same time, Guren heard the sounds of numerous helicopters flying over.

It was probably the people where were under the orders of the Hiragis to come and investigate.

From the broken sound walls of the Metropolitan Expressway , Guren could see 『Mikado no Oni』 people dressed as policemen handling the crowds in the roads below.

“Hm.”

He dropped down into one of the groups of people. If he didn’t have the abilities of the 《Kiju》, his whole entire leg would have shattered. But he had given up on his humanity. Even though he was no longer human, his whole body was still bound in snaking chains.

One of the 『Mikado no Oni』’s fake policemen said.

“……Are you Ichinose-sama?”

Guren nodded, and the people allowed him to pass. Kureto must have ordered them to do this. Guren shoved the blade back into the sheath, and placed back in the bag that had fallen to the ground.

Shinoa should be home already.

Guren returned to the pedestrian pathway.

It was only a few minute’s walk back home.

Just a few minutes.

“…………”

It looks like everything is under Mahiru’s control

Chapter end