chapter 15

The one who moved next was Roll .

She shortened the distance between her and Shiranui in several seconds . However, when she was on the verge of touching his face, Shiranui ‘disappeared’ .

Then, his voice materialized somewhere behind our backs .

“The Rolling Cat, huh? If I’m not mistaken, if you get to touch someone it’s over . You have such a dreadful ability . ”

As I thought, it’s not the sound that moves .

It’s some sort of ability .

Teleportation or something?

It’s impossible for me not to follow a sound .

“Well, well, I came to help and found such an unthinkable harvest .

The Rolling Cat and the above-the-norm boy . Two blessings at once, isn’t it?”

Damn it . So, the SDF called for reinforcements as well……!

There’s won’t be higher classes than colonels, how much of a bullshit could you utter, Boss……!

“Shion, can you stand?”

“Ah, yeah……”

I somehow managed to raise my hurting body and I stood up .

“……Trouble arrived .

I don’t know if I can win . ”

“……You’re joking, right?”

“I’m not . Lieutenant general Shiranui is an outstanding Teleporter, famous in the entire world .

Don’t look away .

You only listen to the sound . ”

Roll didn’t afford to look away either .

As I thought, he’s a Teleporter .

I have no idea how to deal with a Teleporter, and I guess there is no way to deal with it in the first place .

At any rate, it was the worst situation possible .

Shiranui didn’t move and looked at us as he let out a faint laugh .

I couldn’t move carelessly either .

If I were to distance myself even a tiny bit from Roll, who is invincible in close range combat, he would hunt me down .

The reason why he isn’t attacking me right now is thanks to Roll’s presence .

And because Roll knows that, she’s intentionally creating a space between us and him .

“Shion . If it gets extremely dangerous, don’t mind me and use your full power . ”

Roll didn’t take her eyes off Shiranui .

She’s checking him out .

“Un…understood . ”

The moment I answered this, Shiranui opened his mouth .

“Hmm . If you don’t come at me…… . For the time being, let me collect that box of yours . ”

“……!!”

Shiranui’s laughter disappeared into the night sky .

I hurriedly turned around towards the Sadinta, where the box was stacked .

“Roll!”

The box is in danger .

“Shion, hold on tight!”

However, Roll said this and grabbed me .

Then, she started running in the exact opposite direction of the Sadinta .

“Where are you going!? The box!”

“The mission is a failure! For the time being, think only about getting away from this guy!”

Roll entered a back alley from the main road, running through a dim street .

She was sprinting at full speed .

She ran in zig-zag through the back alleys .

A full power dash . I was shaking violently, holding on Roll’s shoulder .

After we ran through the back alleys for a while, we finally stopped and she let me down on the ground .

“Haa……haaa…… for now, we must blow up the Sadinta……

Shion, you pay attention to our surroundings . ”

As Roll tried to steady her breathing, she took out the car phone from her pocket and touched its screen .

Instantly, the sound of an explosion echoed from far away .

She blew up the Sadinta . That’s because there was various info about our organization left in there .

But, leaving that aside……

“……Roll, did we fail our mission?”

I timidly asked her, as she stared at the terminal phone .

“Yeah . Since that guy came, all we can do is run .

What mustn’t happen now is us getting caught by them . ”

These words shocked me .

“Missions failed… . . ?”

I bet they’ll get angry .

How should I put it…… . I didn’t really have any feelings towards doing missions…… . but, experiencing failure and knowing the current situation was quite shocking .

More than shocking, I was afraid we did something that cannot be undone .

Which reminds me that the box contained a ‘broken thing’, the Anonymous’ Development Department’s secret clump .

Now that this thing is in the SDF’s hands, they’ll be more than pissed off .

We did it .

“There’s nothing for you to worry about, Shion .

This time, it was the Boss’ judgement error, or, better say, it was the fault of the branch office guy who got caught .

From now on we have to be able to cover for ourselves .

At any rate, don’t think about this now . We better concentrate on running away . ”

Roll gripped the terminal phone as she spoke .

Her voice was clear but I wondered what her innermost thoughts were .

I can’t grasp her facial expression behind the mask .

“…… . Yeah . ”

“I conveyed the current situation to the reinforcement team .

Since we can’t escape this town on ourselves, I requested a rescue team .

They said they’ll arrive in about 10 minutes . ”

“Understood . ”

After I replied, I noticed a sound that seemed to be getting close to us .

It was him… . . !

“Roll, he’s approaching us…… . !”

The sound was irregular and scattered, but without any doubt it was getting closer to us .

Our location was exposed .

I guess they have an ability user with scouting powers in their logistical support team .

“That was fast . Let’s run away . ”

Roll grabbed me quickly and started running again .

She cut the wind, running through the alleys .

She jumped over a blue garbage box, kicked the wall and changed directions .

Her speed was tremendous .

The enhancement type Stray Cat .

This kind of terrain was Roll’s playground .

Now, the sounds coming from that guy were going far off…… Or so was supposed to be .

“Yo!”

“Wha!?”

All of a sudden, Shiranui appeared in front of us and Roll immediately turned around .

However, at that speed she couldn’t turn around fast enough and Shiranui closed the distance between us in an instant .

“Kuh!”

Roll couldn’t fight with me in her arms .

She kicked the ground with great power and jumped over Shiranui’s head .

She changed directions again .

Then, she continued to run uninterruptedly .

We passed through an alley and got out on the illuminated main street .

At the exact same moment, Roll let out a shriek .

“Gaah!”

Roll tumbled down and dropped me .

“Roll!”

I stood up instantly and rushed over to Roll .

Having done so, I saw a knife stuck into her back .

Her delicate back started to pour out blood .

“Hey! Roll! Are you okay? Hey!”

“……Guh… This isn’t much for me, so I’m all right……! Run away first!”

“Damn it!”

I somehow managed to grab the injured Roll and started to run, while carrying her along .

Still, Shiranui immediately blocked my way .

“Who would’ve thought that the Rolling Kitten will be brought down so easily . It’s thanks to you . ”

“…… . . !”

I thought about turning around and running away again .

But it was no good .

Even Roll got caught by him . There’s no way I’m getting away .

Damn it…… What should I do!?

“Shion… . . Don’t mind me and use your power!”

Roll said, her breathing rough .

Yet, that was truly our last resort .

Because that would end up killing Roll .

And that is……no good .

Damn, what should I do……!?

I know, I have to buy some time .

I decided to buy time . When the comrades from the headquarters arrive, we still have a chance of winning .

However, how do I buy time?

As I thought about that, Shiranui’s body blurred . He disappeared .

The next moment, the scenery I was looking at changed completely .

Roll’s weight vanished .

And I felt a strange floating sensation .

I discovered Roll about 10 meters ahead, laying on the ground .

Down was the ground .

And a sound behind my back .

I understood in an instant .

My position was changed .

“Well now, above-the-norm boy . Let’s talk a bit . ”

Coincident with the beginning of our fall, I heard this coming from Shiranui, from behind my back .

When we were close to the ground, the scenery changed again .

This time, we went higher than before .

“As a result of our analysis, we found out that you manifested a dominant ability . It’s a magnificent ability you have there . ”

After the fall, we changed places again .

He was rising higher and higher .

“Offensive ability, spying ability, high perception . No matter how you look at it, you have a top-class ability . If you train it, you’ll become an unbelievable ability user .

It’s rather dreadful, since you’re an enemy . ”

The scenery was changing, changing, changing .

He moved places repeatedly, and I ascending rapidly together with Shiranui .

Before one knows, I saw Roll standing up and starting to chase after us, climbing a skyscraper’s wall .

However, she couldn’t catch up with Shiranui’s teleportation speed .

“Now . I’m thinking about giving you the chance to atone for your sins . You must take the extenuating circumstances into consideration .

After taking your situation into account, I understand that you didn’t have anything else to do but join the Anonymous .

The SDF must’ve dealt with you differently too, maybe try to protect you by any means . ”

I saw the skyscraper’s rooftop .

An unthinkable altitude .

If I fall down from this height, I’ll certainly die .

“Do you want to join the SDF?

Depending on your answer, I’ll decide whether your life ends or starts anew . ”

The annoying noise coming from Shiranui from a while ago .

A very convenient mumbo jumbo .

The reason why I’m alive right now is thanks to the Boss .

You tried to kill me, remember!?

I guess I can survive if I switch sides to the SDF .

Speaking of my real intention, I would’ve liked to do so if possible .

But that was before that incident .

Being able to live is enough for me .

This manner of thinking hasn’t changed, but I still have my pride .

I could also lie in order to continue living .

But, instead of living because of that, I’d rather break myself down in this situation .

“Let me hear your answer . ”

I answered Shiranui’s question .

“Bite me . ”

“I see . Then, you’ll have to die . ”

He trampled down my back strongly and I started to fall at great speed .

Roll was running up the skyscraper when she entered my view .

However, Shiranui teleported right next to her .

I see . Because there was nothing I could do right now, he went to hold her down . The end, huh?

Impossible . I’ll do something myself .

I took out the wire emitter from a side holder and held it firmly .

I took a deep breath .

Then, I shot the wire .

The shot wire got stuck in a fence on the skyscraper’s rooftop .

Good .

I can do it!

I pressed the emitter’s button lightly and stopped the reeling wire .

All that’s left for me now is to somehow stick to the building’s wall .

However, without warning, a knife was thrown and hit me directly in the hand .

Together with a small blood splash, I was separated from my wire emitter .

“Damn it…… . . !”

I turned my head around .

I saw Shiranui fighting Roll . He most likely threw a knife towards me during their fight .

“Fuck!”

It’s useless .

I’m falling down…… . !

I closed my eyes, halfway to giving up .

My life… . I spent it while living in vain……

As I thought about this, I took a small breath and heard Roll’s voice .

“Shion! Shion!”

I turned around and saw her running up the skyscraper’s wall, while dodging all the knives coming at her .

She’s already up there .

Roll kicked the wall powerfully and jumped towards my falling self .

She then splendidly caught me .

However, the ground was getting closer .

It’s great that she caught me, but how does she intend to get over this critical situation!?

She dodged the oncoming knives by twisting her body .

“Shion! Get ready for the impact!”

Roll’s shout made me realize how close the ground was now .

Roll fixed me in her embrace, and prepared for landing .

Don’t tell she’s trying to…… . . !

“Oi!! Stop……! Don’t do it!!”

My cry came late, because we already landed .

Still, calling that a landing was doubtful .

It felt like I landed on one cushion as I stroke the ground .

But the sound I heard at that moment wasn’t the sound of my own body receiving the impact .

The detestable creaking sound came from Roll’s legs .

She vomited blood and collapsed to the ground .

Because of the impact, I couldn’t find my voice, but I dragged my body and crawled to where Roll fell senseless .

“……… . . O…i,……Ro……ll…… . . !”

Roll held me in her arms and undertook all the impact of our fall .

There’s no way she’s all right .

However, I can still hear her heartbeat .

She’s unconscious .

The bones all throughout her body are most likely shattered .

“Futile struggle . You’re going to die anyway . ”

“Da… . mn… . . it……”

Shiranui looked down on us, and I barely managed to voice those words .

I realized that more of the SDF’s reinforcements arrived there .

There was nothing more that could be done .

Our best chance was for me to use my ability .

But that would kill Roll .

Roll would die and I would survive .

This was the best strategy as partners as well .

But there’s no meaning to it if I can’t save Roll .

I can still stand, right?

“Oh . That’s amazing . You still want to continue, huh?

You’re such a regrettable man of talent . Yet, you don’t get a second chance .

Be quiet and die now . ”

Shiranui gripped the knife lightly .

It happened the next instant .

“Haaa…… . ”

A person appeared together with that sigh .

A black suit .

Their frank face exposed, and an Anonymous mask in one of their black gloved hands .

At any rate, with a listless expression that person approached us .

Perhaps……That person is the aforementioned Tameiki-san .

They coincide with the description I heard from Roll .

That presence, walking slowly but imposingly right in the middle of the main street, was approaching us .

“……It seems that your comrades arrived .

And in addition to that, it’s ‘Gravity’ 1”

Tameiki-san was releasing an overwhelming intimidating air, making even lieutenant general Shiranui become extremely vigilant .

The battle was bound to start immediately .

One SDF soldier concealed himself behind a building .

I didn’t know his rank, but he was someone who managed to survive my previous attack, so he was rather skilled . He was about to attack Tameiki-san .

However, the battle didn’t start .

Or, more accurately, it already ended .

In an instant .

He couldn’t even touch Tameiki-san because he turned into a cherry tomato crushed underfoot before he could realize it . He decorated the ground in a beautiful shade of red .

He was crushed flat .

“It seems that if I don’t get serious right now it might get rather dangerous……”

After Shiranui’s muttering, I heard another sigh .

“Haaa…… . ”

The next instant . The sound of a splat!

Blood splashed on my Anonymous mask .

Timidly, I turned around to look next to me .

Having done so, I saw a bloodbath spreading far away .

“Eh?”

If I’m not mistaken, that’s where Shiranui was standing a moment ago .

I was in a state of confusion when I heard another long sigh . I looked up and Tameiki-san turned around .

It’s… . . it’s over…………?

Flabbergasted, I couldn’t comprehend what just happened, when one woman appeared right next to me all of a sudden .

This woman was Shidou-san .

“Shion-kun, you did great . ”

I was astonished by her sudden appearance, but then I remembered Shidou-san’s ability .

‘Distancer’

Shidou-san can temporarily put under her control the very notion of distance .

Shidou-san brushed my head gently .

“Shidou… . san…… . . Ro, Roll……”

“I know that . Poor thing .

This is awful…… . But we can still save her .

Chiyaku is in the helicopter, so let’s return there as quickly as possible . ”

We can still save her .

Those words brought me relief, and I lost consciousness the next instant .

And so, our missions ended with the word ‘failure’ .