We are slowly making our way through a snow-covered commercial district.
It must have turned into ruins recently, for only a desolate silence now enveloped the bustling street.
Abandoned cars lined the streets, interspersed with crumbling commercial buildings.
From this point forward, we had to remain vigilant, as a Homunculus could appear at any moment.
[Numerous Homunculi are positioned near the pharmacy ahead.]
I strained to hear Sena’s voice coming through the Void. Although we were concealed behind a streetlamp, we could be shot at any second.
“Everyone, be careful. For now, let’s try to go around…”
Before In-ju could finish, So-yi interrupted him with an annoyed, casual tone.
“Why? We can just wipe them all out.”
At So-yi’s blunt remark, Ret, who had been behind her, turned to stare. Sensing she was about to be scolded, So-yi quickly shut her mouth.
“We don’t know what dangers lie ahead, so let’s avoid combat as much as possible.”
I nodded at In-ju’s words. He was right. The later arrivals would undoubtedly clear out the Homunculi. Our primary objective, for now, was the apprehension of Samael.
“The only way to bypass the pharmacy is to cross through the commercial buildings to another one.”
The pharmacy stood centrally. If we were likely to be discovered regardless of our path, then considering movement across the rooftops of the commercial district seemed like a viable option.
We all nodded at Ret’s suggestion. However, there was one person who looked utterly bewildered.
It was So-yi.
“But why move across the rooftops?”
“The pharmacy is on the first floor. To safely pass it, the rooftop is the safest option, as it’s out of their line of sight.”
So-yi glared at Ret with a displeased expression. After explaining, Ret simply gazed ahead with an indifferent look.
“Is there a possibility of Resistance members being in other buildings?”
[While it’s true that many are positioned around the pharmacy, moving across the rooftops would significantly reduce the chance of combat.]
Sena’s voice filtered through the Void, confirming that Homunculi were positioned around the pharmacy. The distance from the pharmacy to the academy was quite significant, at least a twenty-minute walk.
‘Why are they concentrated around the pharmacy?’
“But why are they gathered around the pharmacy?”
[I don’t know the exact reason, but they are clearly deployed around the pharmacy. Alternatively, there might be something inside the pharmacy itself.]
In-ju nodded at Sena’s words. If there was something inside the pharmacy, it meant the Homunculi were guarding something important.
That implied something crucial was at stake.
“First and foremost, safety is paramount, and second to that, also safety.”
In-ju spoke in a calm tone, attempting to lighten the mood. Yes, safety was crucial. Minimizing injuries and simply achieving their objective would prevent any issues.
“Then let’s move directly to the building in front.”
The building In-ju pointed to was a dilapidated, abandoned structure that appeared to be about five stories tall. Though it seemed to have once housed shops, it now exuded a rather eerie atmosphere.
****
With a soft crunch of footsteps, all four of us stepped inside the commercial building. Immediately upon entering, an elevator greeted us.
“I wonder if this thing even works?”
So-yi pointed at the elevator with her finger, speaking casually. To even suggest taking an elevator seemed incredibly naive in their current situation.
“Haven’t you ever been taught not to use an elevator during combat?”
At Ret’s sharp retort, So-yi, with her arms tightly crossed, seemed eager to argue back.
“Fine, I’m ignorant, happy now!”
Angered by Ret’s words, she spun around and began to climb the stairs first. In-ju walked beside Ret, speaking to him calmly.
“Ret, aren’t you being too harsh? You seem particularly hard on So-yi today.”
“Not at all. I simply can’t stand it when she acts like that, relying solely on her looks.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at Ret’s words. So-yi was, after all, quite the tomboyish young lady. She always did as she pleased, though she showed a sweet side to her escorts; this was her true self.
“So, Eun-ah, you felt the same way.”
“Oh, no, I just…”
Ret, seemingly having found an ally, cackled mischievously at me. I was flustered, quickly changing the subject. While I secretly agreed, I knew it was best to hold back, considering So-yi’s potential retaliation.
Glancing ahead, I saw So-yi, her face contorted in a pout, staring back at us.
“What is it, all of you? If you’re talking behind my back, I won’t let it slide!”
In response, Ret simply nodded, his expression utterly unchanged.
“She knows she’s in the wrong, then.”
He truly was a terrifying individual. Was it really okay for a Homunculus to be so brutally frank with a human?
****
Despite our brief squabble, we quickly arrived on the rooftop of the commercial building. The cold May wind, coupled with snow nearly as heavy as winter’s, swept through the outskirts of St. John’s Academy.
I lifted my head, gazing upwards. White snow was falling—the kind some might call pure.
“Alright, shall we go?”
Ret took out the grappling hook he had prepared and flung it toward the commercial building opposite us. With a ‘clink,’ it secured itself onto a pipe next to the building.
Ret, having connected a rope to our current building, carefully pulled on the line.
“This should hold.”
As soon as Ret finished speaking, he turned his head to look at So-yi.
“It’d be better for the lightest person to go first, so would you like to go?”
At Ret’s words, So-yi slowly walked forward. Perhaps she had looked down, for she let out a piercing scream, her face etched with terror.
“Are you insane! Seriously, how am I supposed to do this?”
“Obviously, you grip it using your arm strength and…”
“Is that even possible, you dumb robot?!”
This time, So-yi’s outburst left Ret speechless.
“Indeed, using arm strength to cross might be possible for Ret and me, but it’s too much for the female students.”
At In-ju’s words, So-yi stood with her arms crossed, sulking. Honestly, I wasn’t confident either. To hang from a rope and cross to the opposite building?
I wished there was an easier method.
“Clothes. We have clothes, don’t we? If we make them into a rope, we could use them to cross the line…”
At my suggestion, So-yi clutched her jacket tighter.
“No, no way. I’m cold!”
It was frustrating. Here I was, wearing only my uniform, while the person who had even borrowed my jacket vehemently refused.
“Then you can just cross by yourself.”
“What?”
So-yi flinched at Ret’s words. Ret seemed unusually harsh toward So-yi today, which wasn’t like him.
“You can cross using brute force. I can carry Eun-ah across, so it’s fine.”
Ret said this, then stared at So-yi. Perhaps afraid of being left alone, So-yi flinched and finally spoke up.
“Alright, fine! Just take it!”
We forcibly took two jackets from So-yi. In-ju quickly received the jackets and fashioned them into a makeshift rope for crossing. The idea was to attach the cloth rope to the main line and use it for support. It was risky, but safer than crossing barehanded.
“Alright, So-yi, you go first.”
At my words, So-yi hesitantly walked forward. She was clearly scared. After a moment of hesitation, she gripped the makeshift rope, bracing herself firmly.
“Then, I’m going?”
After a brief pause, So-yi immediately shot down the line as if racing. Having quickly reached the other building, she trembled as she untied the clothes and descended. Now it was my turn. In-ju, standing in front, was still handling the clothes, making another rope.
“Eun-ah, it’s your turn.”
I nodded at In-ju’s words. It was my turn now. At his prompting, I walked forward. I could see the ground below—a five-story drop. It was a height that would surely kill me if I fell. My legs trembled, but I had no choice but to cross. I had to cross for everyone.
I steeled my resolve. I had to cross. Even if I was scared, I had to cross.
*Thump—* I gripped the jacket-rope and began to move. I supported myself, pushing forward. With a single motion, I grabbed the rope and propelled my body ahead. Slowly, I moved forward, then sped downwards.
*Bang—* Just then, a gunshot echoed. Someone was shooting at us from somewhere.
“What was that, a gunshot…?”
“E-Eun-ah, hurry!”
At the sound of the gunfire, So-yi hastily climbed onto the building. I, still descending, quickly lunged toward So-yi. Fortunately, she was barely able to brace herself to receive me safely, so I wasn’t hurt, but the rope snapped completely.
[Eun-ah, are you alright?]
In-ju’s voice came through the Void. As soon as I heard him, the tension in my body dissolved. The rope lay on the ground below. I had almost fallen to the ground!
“Yes, I’m fine.”
[That’s a relief.]
In-ju sounded relieved at my words. However, a problem lay ahead. The rope was cut, and there were no spares. There was no way for In-ju to cross. Was a direct frontal assault truly the only option left?
“But what about the broken rope? How are we supposed to cross…?”
[Don’t worry for now. I’ll go downstairs with Ret and we’ll figure something out.]
Even though In-ju said that, I remained just as worried. What were we to do? There seemed to be no solution. I looked at the opposite building, where In-ju was gazing back at us. The distance between the two buildings wasn’t that far; there had to be a way.
[For now, Eun-ah and So-yi, please hold your positions.]
As his words ended, the Void automatically shut off. I subtly glanced at So-yi, who was dusting off the jacket that had fallen to the ground and putting it on. She then handed my jacket back to me.
“Here, wear this at least.”
I held the jacket she had given me—In-ju’s jacket. I stood there, clutching In-ju’s jacket tightly.
I was worried. I was so incredibly worried about In-ju.
Embracing his jacket, I bowed my head.
‘I should have protected him.’
‘I should have stayed with him.’
A wave of self-pity rose in my throat, causing me pain.
****
“Fufufu… I have heard Mother’s words clearly.”
A nun, smiling with a hand to her ear, was speaking. She was the woman in command, leading other Homunculi. To be precise, her true identity was Vermis, a parasite that lived by preying on other Homunculi.
“Seira. Were you even listening to me?”
Seira responded to her words as if reciting a predetermined answer. Twirling a strand of her hair around her finger, Seira gazed upwards.
“…As Mother instructed, I have deployed them around the pharmacy.”
“Good. First, occupy the commercial district, then slowly choke the life out of those Asteria bastards.”
Seira smiled as she replied to her. At this moment, her mind was elsewhere.
The newly acquired body of a nun.
Perhaps the Homunculus’s memories lingered, for it constantly raised questions about the existence of God.
“…Yes, I have understood perfectly.”
“Did you really hear me, Seira? You need to—!”
Seira hung up before Aira could finish her sentence.
Seira lifted her head, looking out the window. Her eyes then caught sight of a yellow rope, and a woman precariously crossing to the opposite building.
“Fufufu… It seems the heretics are attempting to enter the sanctuary.”
Seira turned, shouting to the Homunculi behind her.
“Everyone, fire a volley at that woman!”
At Seira’s command, the Homunculi behind her lightly began to shoot at the rope.
With a light *thud-thud-thud* of gunshots, the rope snapped helplessly. The woman nearly plummeted, but she barely managed to scramble onto the building’s rooftop.
It was the pharmacy’s rooftop floor.
“Huhu… It seems something very interesting will happen.”
Seira caressed her own face, then looked at the Homunculi behind her.
The Homunculi stood, filled with fighting spirit. Seira, gazing at them, continued in a gentle tone.
“Alright, we will now ascend to the upper floors. Let us send all those who trespass into the sanctuary straight to hell.”
