Immortal Children

Misuzu’s amber gaze was fixated on the bomber in the distance.

『Hmm? I’m receiving a human response, Ray……. Uh, no. Is this an anthropomorphs?』 Kaguya said.

I focused my attention on the map on the canopy.

In response to Wiedle’s motion sensor, a red dot flashed on the map. The blinking red dot was passing beneath the structure we were in.

Misuzu clutched to the wall, Wiedle’s head tilted to the ground. Then I noticed a child in a yellow raincoat sprinting down the road far below, followed by quadrupedal anthropomorphs.

“Leila, the child is being attacked!” Misuzu said.

“Misuzu, wait――”

Misuzu grabbed control of the Wiedle and kicked the wall into the air before I could say anything further.

Misuzu kicked the anthropomorphs with the Wiedle leg after landing between the kid and the perpetrator. The blown-up anthropomorphs crawled on the ground before immediately resuming its stance and spitting blood.

“Kaguya, the canopy!”

I swiftly pulled my rifle from the back of the seat and set it up.

The bullet, fired before the canopy was fully open, went through the opening and closing canopies into the mouth of the looming anthropomorphs in front of us, leaving the back of its head with brain plasma.

The anthropomorphs continued to run in the incorrect direction, colliding with walls and coming to a halt.

I exit the Wiedle and fire a bullet into the head of the anthropomorphs who were attempting to stand.

I pause to shoot one, two, or three rounds. The anthropomorphs’ heads had disappeared from above the chin.

The anthropomorphs had no skin on their bodies and twitched their slimy reddish-black limbs.

Misuzu, who was meant to be on the Wiedle, was not there when I turned around to return to it. She was apparently on her way to protect the child who was being pursued by the anthropomorphs.

Child……?

Why is there a child in this place…?

I dashed out and grabbed Misuzu’s arm from behind, then hopped atop Wiedle, who had appeared at my side thanks to Kaguya’s remote control.

“Kaguya! Full speed!”

The Wiedle accelerates enough to push my body against the seat as soon as the canopy closes.

“Leila, the child――”

I raised my voice at Misuzu’s words.

“That’s not a child!”

When  I turned around, I saw the kid from earlier coming after us at breakneck speed.

The hood of the yellow raincoat flaps up in the wind, revealing a silvery-shaded skull. Its eyes are a bright crimson.

“Guardian…” Misuzu said with a faint voice.

“We were caught. The wall, Kaguya.”

Wiedle, who had been rushing to avoid the debris, leapt up and stuck to the building’s wall, then raced straight down it. A child-shaped guardian was also rushing after us, its feet sinking into the old civilization’s stony walls.

“Misuzu, put your belt on.” Misuzu, who was still being held by me, slid beneath me, produced a clicking sound, and rapidly fastened her belt. “Just hold on to me so I don’t fall.”

Kaguya moves Wiedle after sensing my intentions.

Wiedle gains velocity as he kicks the wall and leaps into the air, the canopy opening.

I frowned at the floating sensation.

Misuzu cradled me in her arms, preventing me from being flung out of the open canopy. I operated the bolt handle of my rifle and gently squeezed the trigger, feeling the warmth of Misuzu’s body.

The bullet pierced the child guardian’s leg.

The guardian loses his footing and collapses among the rubble.

“Kaguya, let’s get out of here!”

I shifted to the rear seat and turned around to find the child-like guardian standing there with a weird smile on his face. That smile made me feel uneasy. Maybe it was something I felt since I couldn’t interpret the expression on the metal skull.

I sighed and sank down heavily in my seat once I was certain that my surroundings were secure.

“I’m sorry,” Misuzu’s dejected voice murmured.

“You don’t have to apologise,” I stated emphatically. “There was just too much ambiguity in this situation. I can’t blame you, and I’m not going to try.”

“Yes…”

We emerged from the jumbled rubble with a clear perspective after a few seconds of stillness while searching for the enemy.

A green planet surrounded by thick flora emerged from the grey world formed by man-made structures. The huge forest that sprouted unexpectedly in the city centre was formed over time in a crater caused by the bomb’s impact.

The long grass swayed in the breeze, and weird insects flew across it.

“The birdcage will be here soon,” I told the disheartened Misuzu.

Misuzu said the words, “Leila. Are you afraid of fighting?”

I attempted to consider the intent of Misuzu’s question, but immediately gave up and spoke to her.

“I’m scared. Very.”

“That is a blatant lie. As far as I know, you have always fought valiantly.”

Misuzu’s situation surprised me.

“I’m not making this up. In fact, I believe anyone who claims they aren’t frightened to fight is lying.”

“Why?”

“It hurts like hell if you get hurt, and it may kill you.”

“I, too, don’t want to get hurt.”

I take a look at the unusually huge insects that arise from time to time among the overgrown grass.

“I’ve nearly died before.” I murmured gently to Misuzu, as if I were sharing a precious childhood secret. “When I was in pain, I begged God, ‘Help me, if I live today, I won’t be so irresponsible anymore. I’d live a pure and righteous life.’“

I don’t even have a god to whom I may pray.

I laugh in a pitiful tone.

“But I suppose that’s because humans are hardwired to forget suffering. The next thing I know, I’m in hot water again. So I’m terrified once more. But it’s in my nature. There is no other option.” I said.

“I’m terrified as well. I’m also always pestering you…”

“Are you scared?”

Misuzu shook her head.

“You can stop it. I promised you I could at the very least look after you.”

I thought I glimpsed Misuzu at the base with the housekeeper droid for a split second. But that was simply a feeling.

“I won’t stop. I may be selfish, but I aspire to be Leila’s equal. If you do something for me, I want to reciprocate. No, I’ll even do more than that.”

“I hope you do.”

『That’s right,』 Kaguya said. 『I’ll be there for you.』

Suddenly I felt a gaze on me and I turned around.

I could see a person standing in the centre of the debris-strewn road between the collapsed buildings. As I focused my attention, I noticed the shape of a weird human figure wearing an ancient long coat and a crimson mask. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a Japanese sword at his waist and two distinct antlers on his head. I narrowed my eyes and broadened my range of view even further.

『A guardian.』 Kaguya said.

“Looks like it…” I replied.

The metal skeleton, which could be seen through the clothes, was pure white.

“Did that earlier kid come after us?”

As Misuzu turns Wiedle, I shake my head at her question.

“No, that’s a different individual.”

The guardian vanished among the ruins after pointing at the wrecked city.