Episode 23 : Grey Shadow
- Washimine Ruri
First appearance. A P-cup beauty with purple hair and red eyes, she is a former imperial soldier and just two years older than Kai, but currently serves as the deputy director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Security Bureau and is effectively the head of the armed secret police. It seems she has known Kai since childhood...
- Marui Marui
First appearance. A long-time subordinate of Ruri. A woman with a bob haircut and round glasses, giving off a plain impression.
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Several hundred kilometers away from the governor's office of the Southern Colony of Talintamburi.
Dark grey clouds spread across the entire sky, and a sticky air enveloped the area.
Beside the muddy tracks, needle-like grass grows lushly, and the rainwater pooling on the surface of the leaves further amplifies the humidity.
In such an annoyingly humid atmosphere, an old woman in a white coat was diligently collecting something, sweat dripping from her.
Even amidst the suffocating feeling of having a wet cloth forcibly stuffed into her mouth, the old woman's enthusiasm never wanes.
On the contrary, even if mud splashes onto that lab coat, which is about to overflow with test tubes and pens in its pockets, there is no sign of concern whatsoever.
The old woman's eyes were filled with a childlike curiosity and a certain madness unique to great researchers.
"Oh, finally found it!"
What the elderly researcher, kneeling, hesitantly pulled out from the mud was... a woman's severed head.
On the surface of the severed neck, there are scorched marks in places due to exposure to powerful magical energy.
However, even though it had been a few days since the head had been severed from the body, it still seemed to emit a strong magical aura that felt alive.
Especially in those characteristic eyeballs that seem to have their sclera and iris inverted, a strong flame of hatred appears to be burning fiercely.
The old woman in the white coat took a small knife out of her pocket and carefully began to cut the head in front of her.
Then, something glimmering and slick oozes out from the wound on the top of the head.
"There are no scratches on the Demon Soul Stone."
When the old woman took out the magic stone she called the "Demon Soul Stone," the woman's severed head crumbled away as if sand were being blown away by the wind.
The old woman seemed completely unconcerned that the severed head had vanished, and with a creepy laugh, she held up the
A faint ray of sunlight breaks through the gap in the clouds.
Receiving that light, the magic stone began to emit a poisonous glow.
The
Ishi retained the vivid memories of the battle on the train from when she was the previous host of the leader of the "Red Wolves."
Ignoring the objections from the folks back home who wanted to quickly confirm the combat data recorded by the stone, it's worth the long journey all the way to this southern region.
The old woman wrapped in a white coat smiled smugly, pleased that everything was going according to her plan.
"Hmm, hmm, there are no gaps in the battle records. It seems they were captured without any issues. Hehehe, quite interesting."
"What on earth is so interesting about it?"
What was heard through the bent back of the old woman was the gentle voice of a young woman.
However, the old woman who had been laughing until just now felt a chilling coldness in that voice that made her heart almost stop.
When I hurriedly turned around, there stood a tall, slender young woman with a calm smile on her face, silently watching.
(How long has this woman been here?!)
The old woman's heart, with its character... upon seeing her appearance, trembles pathetically like a small mouse in front of a snake.
The woman, clad in the gray uniform typical of the armed secret police of the Empire, had beautiful, serene purple hair, and her large eyes sparkled like bright red rubies.
What stands out the most is her bombshell-like chest, which is possibly a P-cup.
According to the standards of this inverted world of beauty and ugliness, there was a genuine ugly woman there, someone everyone would want to look away from.
However, from the woman's demeanor and expression in front of her, there was not a trace of the lack of confidence or servility typical of an unattractive woman.
Rather, from that dignified demeanor, it seemed to exude a kind of confidence and pride.
The woman with purple hair, clad in a gray uniform, looked down at the old woman with a gentle smile on her lips.
However, contrary to the impression given by her mouth, her crimson eyes were filled with an overwhelming sense of anger and contempt.
"W-You are Washimine Ruri... Why are you here?!"
Before the old woman could finish her words, Ruri swiftly extended her hand like a whip and roughly grabbed the old woman's head.
In the blink of an eye, a tremendous amount of magical power-laden brainwashing current surged into the old woman's brain, attempting to invade her soul.
The old woman, struck by the current, let out a scream of agony, her eyes rolling back as she began to foam at the mouth like a crab.
(Because of this old hag, he almost died...! Should I stop brainwashing her and just burn her brain to a crisp instead?!)
In Ruri's crimson eyes, which were fixed on the old researcher crying out in agony, there was a merciless and fierce anger that seemed ready to burn anyone who looked upon it.
"Colonel! The car is ready!"
At that moment, a cheerful shout that seemed out of place reached Ruri's ears, accompanied by the low growl of a four-wheel-drive vehicle's engine.
She let out a sigh and removed her hand from the old woman's head, then turned around, her long purple hair swaying.
It seems that Ruri's subordinates, who were waiting behind, is approaching in a military vehicle.
As if to prevent Ruri from going too far, she made her appearance at just the right moment.
No, actually, if they appeared at such a precisely timed moment, it wouldn't be a coincidence.
Perhaps it was one of Ruri's long-time subordinates who was being considerate.
Having an overly competent subordinate can also be a problem in its own way, Ruri thought with a wry smile.
"Would you care to accompany me, Doctor?"
"...Yes, as you wish."
When Ruri quietly gave her instructions, the old woman wore an expression as if all her emotions had been completely stripped away, following her slowly like a poorly made tin robot.
"Let me out."
When Ruri, who had boarded the back of the vehicle with the old woman, said that, the woman with a bob haircut and round glasses sitting in the driver's seat skillfully revved the car's engine.
While vigorously expelling combustion gases generated by a mixture of fire and wind magic stones, the military 4WD vehicle begins to speed across the rugged terrain.
"Colonel, this time the
The bobbed-haired girl with round glasses while conversing with Marui, Ruri quickly glanced over the report documents she had in her bag.
The car's vibrations on the rough road transmitted through, causing her ample bosom to jiggle and making it extremely difficult to read the documents in front of her, but she showed no particular concern.
In the past, Ruri couldn't stand her oversized chest, but after learning about his preferences, she even began to appreciate the combination of her parents' genes and the divine arrangement that bestowed this body upon her.
"Well, even so, it's still a bit strange to be called 'Deputy Chief' at this point."
"I think it's fine for someone like you, with whom I've known for a long time, to call me Washimoto or even by my first name, Ruri."
"That's not acceptable, Colonel. Organizations have their own order. Is it called 'the order of seniority'?"
"Marui, you're strict in strange places. And in terms of 'seniority,' it's quite problematic for me to have you, who is older, as my subordinate."
From the driver's seat, Marui said with a laugh, "That's for sure, Colonel," as she turned the steering wheel and got onto the paved road.
Marui is Ruri's long-time subordinate from her days as an Imperial soldier.
Marui had keenly recognized Ruri's genius and broad-mindedness, despite her being more than a decade younger than him.
That's why, even after Ruri retired from the military in just a few years and made a sudden transfer to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Marui remained faithfully loyal.
Once we entered the asphalt-paved road, the car's speed shot up significantly.
Although it is already the size of a sesame seed, buildings managed by the 'Empire' in the southern military district are beginning to come into view through the front windshield.
Ruri flipped through the stack of papers, trying to read through the research materials before reaching the base, jotting down key points in a hurry.
(Who would have thought that even the cosmopolitans of the "People's Federation" and the nobles of the "United Kingdom" were involved? Sigh, seriously. The two-faced con artists of the "United Kingdom" might think they're just playing with fire, but...)
The "People's Federation" is one thing, but if the "United Kingdom" gets involved, that's a whole different story.
The upper echelons of the Empire, driven by various motives, are now moving towards improving relations with the United Kingdom.
At such a time, if I were to advise the higher-ups on measures against the spies of the "United Kingdom," I would probably be met with disdain.
Just thinking about the adjustments I have to make with my superiors from now on already gives me a headache.
To suppress the frustration that was bubbling up from the depths of her heart, Ruri took out a stick of yokan wrapped in tiger-patterned paper from her bag and started munching on it.
"Ahh~. When I'm irritated, nothing beats this."
"Since I quit smoking paper cigarettes three years ago, it's been that way."
"Yeah, I heard him say he can't stand the smell of cigarettes. Ever since then."
"Um, that person... Toudo, was it? You seem to have quite the fancy for him, Colonel."
"Well, you know. He, Kai-kun, is everything to me..."
Ruri, with a dreamy expression, began to think of Kai.
(When it comes to talking about Toudou-san, the Colonel suddenly becomes like this. He must be having a hard time being thought of so much.)
Ruri didn't even seem to notice the implication in her subordinate's words, which were spoken in a mischievous tone like a stray cat.
Marui, while wearing an awkward smile at her boss's age-appropriate behavior, couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety, wondering if the man in question was truly the kind-hearted angel Ruri claimed he was, even to an ugly woman.
"Speaking of which, I just remembered about Kai-kun's matter. How are the arrangements for the central military academy coming along?"
"Ah, in that case, I have proceeded as per the Colonel's instructions. It seems we will be able to accept it next week."
"Oh, you were quite early, weren't you? Adjustments must have been a hassle, right? The current dean is famous for being inflexible..."
"Well, you know. There were various 'legends' created during the Colonel's student days, so the Chancellor was quite reluctant to agree. But once Her Highness Prince Kanade Kanade spoke about it, things went smoothly."
"Hehe. That must have been tough for you too. Once we reach the mainland, we should stop by Miyagi Shrine and thank Kanade as well."
Ruri swallowed the lump of yokan she had been holding in her cheeks and, resting her elbows on the car's side window, gazed into the distance.
If it's Kai, maybe he would even accept Kanade, who has various issues with her appearance, and marry her.
To be honest, I want to monopolize him, but I want to repay the kind-hearted Kanade who took me in despite being treated as a problem child.
Besides, being in a relationship where we share one husband with her didn't seem so bad.
Kai was the one and only savior for Ruri in this world, and the feelings she directed towards him had already reached the level of worship.
That's why...
(That's why I can't forgive myself for not being able to prevent him from being attacked by these guys and getting into danger!)
Ruri couldn't forgive the fact that he, the one and only existence in this world, was hurt and even on the verge of losing his life.
She bit her lips so hard they almost bled, masking the rising frustration towards her enemy and herself.