Chapter 11: The Bomb that Destroys Halos

Two nights before the extremists’ surprise attack.

Inside an old, decaying cathedral.

The student council vice president once again encountered that inhuman being—no, Beatrice.

"To counter the moderates, the special weaponry has been completed."

"What…! Incredible!"

It had not been long since the explanation of the situation, and yet the results were already here. Saria thought again that she was right to trust this person.

At first, she had been cautious of Beatrice, an incomprehensible existence. But Beatrice had made up for what Saria always lacked—tactical ability, leadership, command. It hadn’t taken long before Saria placed her trust in her.

"Here it is."

"This… is a bomb?"

It looked no different from an ordinary bomb, with a trigger device attached.

"Yes. But it is no ordinary bomb. Let’s say… it is specialized to rob students of consciousness. Once hit, they won’t be able to move for three days. Even the student council president would be no exception."

A lie.

What Beatrice presented was a prototype created through the power of her colleague, Golconda’s "Texture."

The so-called "Bomb that Destroys Halos."

A monstrous device, able to annihilate the mystic aura that students possessed—something normally untouchable—killing them outright. Its only purpose: to slaughter students.

That was why, unlike ordinary bombs, it carried no physical destructive power. If it could touch the untouchable, it could not touch the tangible.

Although still in adjustment, though limited in range and requiring time to reach full effect, it still had enough power to kill a single student.

And because its performance was low, they could afford to produce several.

"Magnificent…! With this…!"

"Yes. You may even achieve one-sided victory. I’ve prepared ten of them. How you use them is up to you."

Unaware of the truth, Saria’s mind raced with possibilities of how best to use the bombs.

"But be cautious. These bombs have no force. You cannot block the blast with cover like a normal explosion. Nor can you use it to destroy anything. Use it incorrectly, and you’ll be the one suffering severe wounds."

"Yes. I’ll keep that in mind."

—Ah, if only she had been raised from the start to kill, I wouldn’t have to bother with such deception.

Though her expression remained blank, Beatrice inwardly cursed.

It was fine if she hesitated to kill. Fine if her mind broke.

All Beatrice wanted was a perfectly obedient pawn.

That was why she cooperated with Saria—for now.

But when this war ended, Saria too would be disposable. Easy enough to kill.

Obedience was useful, but in order to reveal her existence and rule Arius through fear, Saria would only become an obstacle.

Beatrice never let such self-serving thoughts show on her face as she sank further into plotting.

The moderates’ sudden rise in military strength. Even she hadn’t expected this.

There had to be someone among them—someone new—who hadn’t been there before.

That faint sense of wrongness… Beatrice could not help but feel wary of it.

Protected by Cyan, the bomb detonated right before my eyes.

"Ugh…!"

"Cyan!!!"

Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it!!!

Cyan had been wary of that bomb—something in it had triggered her instincts!

And because she shielded me—!

"…ugh."

"You’re conscious!? Stay with me!!!"

At least she was still awake… for now.

Looking to the enemy who had thrown the bomb, I saw they had already lost consciousness. No worry of a follow-up attack.

But still—

"Reinforcements! Incoming…!"

"Damn it!!! Retreat!! Those who can still move, carry the wounded! Everyone scatter and head for the cathedral!!"

The extremists’ reinforcements. Brought in by the one who had been pretending to be down.

A quick glance showed at least twenty. The situation was extremely dangerous.

But if we could make it to the cathedral, it would change. I had set some bombs along the path. With those, shaking them off wouldn’t be too hard…!

"Cyan!! Can you hold on!?"

"…ah… ngh…"

"Damn it…!!"

Her consciousness was slipping. Or maybe she was in too much pain—her face twisted in agony.

Her strength was clearly fading fast.

"Damn it…!! Sorry, emergency situation!!"

Carrying Cyan on my back, I make sure everyone is ready to retreat.

"There they are!!! After them!!! Don’t let them escape!!!"

Gunfire tears into me from behind, a sharp pain shooting through my body.

Even as we try to flee, a storm of bullets rages. Hugging the shadows of boulders, I push forward toward the cathedral.

I slip around to the back of a building, setting Cyan down and propping her against a wall.

Damn it, what do I do, what do I do…!! Are the others safe? How the hell are we supposed to get out of this?!

I’m not strong. Taking on all of them right now is impossible.

What do I do, what do I do, what do I do what do I do what do I do—

"I-It’s… it’s enough already… Suou-chan…"

"…! Cyan!! You’re conscious again?!"

Thank god… she might not be able to fight anymore, but at least she’s—safe…?

"Y-yeah…"

Wait. This wound.

Why does Cyan have a hole from just that level of gunfire?

Now that I think about it, something’s off.

Why did I feel bullets hitting my back when I was carrying her?

…Because the bullets passed straight through Cyan’s body.

"Just… leave me behind…"

"What the hell are you saying?! Like I could ever do that! Do you know what they’d do to you?!"

"It’s… okay… I can’t anymore… You can tell, right…? I can’t even stop the bullets… I’m already… dying…"

"Shut up!! Don’t you dare say something that stupid!!"

Damn it, the wounds won’t close!!! Her skin’s too fragile, like her body’s lost its protection!! Her power—her Halo—it’s not flowing!!

Damn it, damn it damn it damn it!!!

Her Halo is collapsing…?! That bomb from before—!!

"They’re… coming… you have to go…"

"Like hell I’m leaving you!!"

"…"

What do I do, what do I do?! Can’t I share my power with her? If I can, how—?!

"…Hey, Suou-chan… listen to me…"

"Don’t talk like it’s the end!! I’m not leaving you, no matter what!! Stop it!! Don’t you dare break down…!! Stop bleeding, damn it…!!"

"………You know… I… I actually hated being strong…"

…!!

………

"I never wanted this power… It just meant I had to try harder… less time for games… And being treated like some gorilla, well, fine, but…"

"……"

"………Man… I just wanted a normal life… How did it come to this… for us…?"

"…Don’t… give up… okay? You can still… do something, right? Once this fight is over, we can…"

Her Halo keeps collapsing.

No matter how long I press down, the bleeding won’t stop.

"It’s no use… I’m… going to die… Ah… but, you know… spending time like that, with Anna-chan… and lately, with you too, Suou-chan… playing games together… talking about our favorite manga… those moments… were the happiest… That wasn’t so bad at all…"

"………!"

"So, okay? Suou-chan… don’t blame yourself…? You might think of yourself as the adult here, but… you’re actually kind of childish… so, rely on people a little, yeah…? And also… I want Anna-chan and you, Suou-chan… to just… live normally… and be happy…"

Cyan’s palm touches my cheek.

Her hand was big… but so cold.

"That’s not good enough…!! It doesn’t mean anything if you’re not here too, Cyan!!!"

"I… I can’t anymore… That’s why… promise me… you’ll be happy… okay…? Please…"

"………Cyan? Hey!!! Cyan!!! Answer me!!! Hey!!"

The light vanished from Cyan’s eyes.

Her heartbeat was gone.

Her body went limp, all strength leaving it.

Her Halo was no more.

…Because she protected me.

No—if only I hadn’t made the wrong call before that.

"…ah… aah…"

I killed her. Me—the so-called adult. I was supposed to protect the kids.

I was supposed to protect everyone.

"AaAAAAAaaaaAAAaaaaaAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

I… killed her.

The Bomb that Destroys Halos

— A vile weapon created to destroy (kill) a student’s Halo.
— In the original story it never fully demonstrated its effect, but in the 4th PV there is a still image showing what appears to be a student killed by it.
— According to Golconda, a member of Gematria (mentioned below), it is considered a failure… though the truth is uncertain.
— Notably, it has no effect on Shale’s teacher, who does not possess a Halo—meaning even if struck by it, they won’t die.