Chapter 15

Next, it was Roll's turn to move.

Roll closed the distance with Shizukana in just a few seconds. However, just as she was about to touch his face, Shizukana "disappeared."

Then his sound appeared behind us.

"Spinning Kitten, right? I heard you're done for if you're touched. What a terrifying ability."

As expected, there's no intermediate process in his sound movement.

It's some kind of ability.

A teleportation ability, perhaps?

There's no way I can't catch up to sound.

"Well, I came to rescue and got an unexpected bonus.

A Spinning Kitten and an irregular boy. Two for the price of one, huh?"

Damn, the Self-Defense Force had a rescue option too...

And to send a colonel-level guy, what a ridiculous boss...

"Death Sound, can you stand?"

"Y-Yeah..."

I somehow managed to stand up, despite the pain in my body.

"...We've got a problem.

I'm not sure if I can win even against me."

"...You're kidding, right?"

"Really. Shizukana Lieutenant General is one of the world's top teleporters.

Don't look away.

You just listen to the sound."

Roll had no room for complacency.

As expected, he was a teleporter.

I have no idea how to deal with a teleportation ability, and there might not even be a way to deal with it.

Anyway, the situation is the worst.

Shizukana was smiling thinly at us, who were standing still.

I can't move recklessly.

If I create any distance from Roll, who is invincible in close combat, I'll be hunted.

He's not attacking now because Roll is here.

Roll seems to understand this and doesn't attack Shizukana, who is deliberately showing an opening.

"Death Sound, if it really gets bad, use your ability without worrying about me."

Roll didn't take her eyes off Shizukana.

She was keeping him in check.

"O-Okay."

As I replied, Shizukana spoke.

"Hmm. If you're not coming... I'll just take the cargo, then."

"......!!"

Shizukana's smile vanished into the sky.

I quickly turned to look at the Sardinia where the cargo was loaded.

"Roll!"

The cargo is in danger.

"Death Sound, hold on tight!"

But Roll picked me up and started running in the opposite direction of the Sardinia.

"Where are you going? The cargo!"

"The mission has failed! For now, just focus on getting away from him!"

Roll ran into a back alley from the main street, dashing through the dimly lit path.

Running at full speed.

We zigzagged irregularly through the back alleys.

I was bouncing on Roll's shoulder as we ran.

After running for a while, she finally stopped and put me down.

"Haa... haa... We need to blow up the Sardinia...

Death Sound, keep an eye out for the surroundings."

Roll, catching her breath, took out a mobile device from her pocket and fiddled with the screen.

Soon, an explosion echoed from a distance.

She must have blown up the Sardinia. It contained various pieces of information about the organization.

But more importantly...

"...Roll, did the mission fail?"

I timidly asked Roll, who was staring at the mobile device.

"Yes. If someone like that shows up, there's no choice but to run.

The worst thing is getting caught by them."

I was startled by those words.

"Mission failure...?"

Will I be punished?

Why... I didn't really feel like I was on a mission, but now that I've failed, it's quite a shock.

It's not just a shock; I might have done something irreparable.

That "broken" cargo was a bundle of secrets from the Anonymous Development Department.

If it falls into the hands of the Self-Defense Force, it's not just a matter of being punished.

I messed up.

"You don't need to worry, Death Sound.

This time, it was the boss's mistake, or rather, a mistake by someone at the branch.

We need to be able to cover for each other from now on.

For now, focus on escaping."

Roll spoke while fiddling with the mobile device.

She sounded calm, but what was she thinking inside?

I couldn't see her expression under the mask.

"...Okay."

"I've informed the rescue team of the situation.

It'll be tough for us to get out of this city alone, so I've continued to request assistance.

They should be here in about 10 minutes."

"Got it."

After replying, I noticed a sound approaching.

It's him...!

"Roll, he's getting closer...!"

Despite our irregular movements, he's definitely getting closer.

Our position has been detected.

There must be a specific type of ability user in the rear support.

"That's quick. Let's run."

Roll quickly picked me up and started running again.

We dashed through the back alley, cutting through the wind.

We leaped over a blue trash can and changed direction by kicking a wall.

It was incredibly fast.

Enhanced, stray cat.

This kind of terrain is Roll's forte.

And his sound was definitely getting farther away... or so I thought.

"Hey."

"What!?"

Suddenly, Shizukana appeared in our field of vision, and Roll immediately turned around.

However, a quick turn at this speed didn't work, and Shizukana quickly closed the distance.

"Damn!"

With me in her arms, Roll couldn't fight.

Roll kicked the ground hard and passed over Shizukana's head.

She turned around again.

And we kept running.

We emerged from the back alley onto the main street, illuminated by the sun.

At the same time, Roll let out a scream.

"Ugh!"

Roll rolled over on her knees, and I was thrown out.

"Roll!"

I immediately stood up and ran to Roll, who had rolled over.

Then, I saw a knife stuck in Roll's back.

Blood was gushing out from her slender back.

"Hey! Roll! Are you okay! Hey!"

"......This is nothing...! Run ahead!"

"Damn it!"

I picked up Roll, who was lying on the ground, and started running.

But Shizukana immediately blocked my path.

"To think I could capture the Spinning Kitten so easily. It's all thanks to you."

"......!"

I tried to turn and run.

No, that won't work.

Even Roll got caught. There's no way I can escape.

Damn... what should I do.

"Death Sound... I'm fine, use your power!"

Roll said this with a rough breath.

But that's the last resort.

It will kill Roll.

I can't do that.

Damn, what should I do...!

Right, buy time.

Let's buy time. If the team from headquarters arrives, we still have a chance.

But how do I buy time?

While thinking about this, Shizukana's body blurred. No, he disappeared.

The next moment, the scenery changed.

The weight of Roll disappeared.

Then a mysterious floating sensation.

I found Roll lying about 10 meters ahead.

It was the ground.

The sound behind me.

I instantly understood.

I had been teleported.

"Well, irregular boy, let's have a little chat."

As I started to fall, I heard Shizukana's voice from behind.

As the ground approached, the scenery changed again.

This time, it was even higher.

"From the analysis, I know you manifested sound control. It's a wonderful ability."

Falling, then teleporting.

The height increased.

"Your attack power, stealth, and perception. Each of them is top-tier. With training, you could become an incredible ability user.

It's terrifying because you're the enemy."

The scenery changed, changed, changed.

We kept teleporting, and I ascended with Shizukana.

I could see Roll, who had somehow stood up, climbing the wall of a high-rise building in pursuit.

But she couldn't keep up with Shizukana's teleportation speed.

"Here's the thing. I want to give you a chance to make amends. A chance for leniency.

Considering your situation, I understand why you had to join Anonymous.

There must have been a way to protect you without resorting to this."

The rooftop of a high-rise building came into view.

An incredible height.

If I fell from this height, I'd probably die.

"Are you willing to join the Self-Defense Force?

Your answer will determine whether your life ends or begins."

The noise has been annoying.

Talking about convenient things.

I'm alive because of the boss.

You guys tried to kill me.

If I defect to the Self-Defense Force, I might survive.

Honestly, I'd like to.

But that's it.

If I can survive, that's enough.

I still think that way, but I have pride.

I could lie to survive.

But I want to break this situation on my own.

"Give me your answer."

I answered Shizukana's question.

"Go to hell."

"Is that so? Then I'll have to kill you."

He stomped on my back, and I started to fall rapidly.

I could see Roll climbing the high-rise building in the corner of my eye.

But Shizukana had teleported right next to her.

I see. Since I can't do anything from here, he's going to pin down Roll and end it.

No way. I can handle this myself.

I took out a launcher from one of my holsters and held it firmly.

Deep breath.

Then I fired the wire.

The wire caught on the fence on the rooftop of the high-rise building.

Good.

I can do it!

I lightly pressed the launch button to pull the wire taut.

All I had to do was stick to the wall of the building as I fell.

But suddenly, a thrown knife hit my hand.

The launcher flew out of my hand with a small splash of blood.

"Damn...!"

I turned around.

There was Shizukana, who must have thrown the knife during the fight with Roll.

"Damn it!"

No good.

I'm falling...!

I closed my eyes, half-giving up.

I've lived a little longer by struggling in vain...

As I took a small breath, thinking about that, I heard Roll's voice.

"Death Sound! Death Sound!"

I turned around and saw Roll, who was still climbing the wall of the high-rise building, dodging the thrown knives.

She was almost there.

Roll kicked the wall and jumped at me as I fell.

And she caught me perfectly.

But the ground was getting closer.

She caught me, but how does she plan to get out of this crisis?

Roll started deflecting the knives Shizukana was throwing with a knife from her holster.

She dodged the ones she couldn't deflect by twisting her body.

"Death Sound! Get ready for the impact!"

I realized the ground was close from Roll's shout.

Roll adjusted her hold on me and braced for landing.

Is she really going to...!

"Hey!! Stop...! Stop!!"

My shout was too late, and we landed.

But it was questionable if that could be called a landing.

With a cushion, I was slammed into the ground.

But the sound I heard wasn't the impact on my body.

It was the unpleasant sound of bones breaking from Roll's feet.

Roll spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed on the ground.

The impact of the fall was too much for her.

I couldn't make a sound from the impact, but I dragged my body to Roll.

"...R-Roll...!"

Roll had taken the impact of the fall for me.

There was no way she could be unharmed.

But I could still hear her heartbeat.

She was unconscious.

Her bones must be shattered all over her body.

"Struggling in vain. You're going to die anyway."

That was all I could say to Shizukana, who was looking down at us, with great effort.

I noticed more reinforcements from the Self-Defense Force had arrived.

It's over.

The best option would be for me to use my ability.

But Roll would die.

Roll would die, and I would survive.

It would be the best option for a partner.

But it wouldn't mean anything if Roll didn't survive.

I can still stand, right?

"Wow, impressive. You still want to fight?

What a waste of talent. But there's no second chance.

Die quietly."

Shizukana gripped his knife lightly.

The next moment.

"Ha..."

A person appeared with that sigh.

Black suit.

Unmasked, with a black hand glove on one hand, holding an Anonymous mask.

He looked incredibly lazy as he approached.

But it was probably... that Sigh guy.

The features matched what Roll had described.

His presence was so overwhelming that he walked slowly and confidently down the middle of the main street.

"...Your friend has come to help.

And it's the 'Heavy Sigh.'"

Shizukana Lieutenant General was on guard against the overwhelming presence of Sigh.

The situation changed quickly.

A Self-Defense Force member hiding behind a building.

I couldn't tell his rank, but he must have been a trained ability user to withstand my attack. He rushed at Sigh.

But the fight didn't start.

No, it was already over.

Snap.

He didn't even touch Sigh and was crushed like a tomato, leaving a red flower on the ground.

Flat.

"This might be a bit serious, I'll have to get serious..."

After Shizukana's mutter, "Ha..." another sigh was heard.

The next moment. Squish.

Blood splattered on my Anonymous mask.

Cautiously.

I shifted my gaze to the side.

There was only a large pool of blood.

"Huh?"

Shizukana should have been there.

As I was confused, a long, long sigh was heard again, and I saw Sigh turn and walk away.

It's over...?

Still in shock, a woman suddenly appeared next to me.

It was Shido.

"Good job, Death Sound."

I was surprised by her sudden appearance, but I remembered her ability.

"Void User."

Shido can temporarily control the concept of distance.

Shido slowly stroked my head.

"Shido... R-Roll..."

"I know. Poor thing.

This is bad... But she can still be saved.

Senyaku is still on the helicopter, so let's hurry and take her back."

She can still be saved.

Relieved by those words, I passed out.

And so, our mission ended in failure.