Because I Am Surtr

"How many people in this world are your equal, or even stronger than you?"

"Probably none." Miss Surtr's answer was simple and swift—she hadn't met many who could survive her full power. Of course, that was limited to humans.

"What about non-humans?"

"Five or six, seven or eight? Quite a few I'd have to fight to find out." Surtr shrugged. She remembered the colossal furnace beast she encountered in the wasteland, a behemoth whose very movement was a cataclysm—she fought it for three days and three nights before cornering it. Only then, before delivering the final blow, did she realize its weakened human form was actually 'Nian,' an operator who would later join Rhodes Island!

It was incredibly awkward, forcing her to spend ten times the fighting duration—a full month—healing the 'hot pot girl' and enduring her bizarrely spicy meals, where chili was treated like water. Though for the latter half of the month, the girl was fine but pretended to be injured, deliberately force-feeding Surtr super-spicy food just to see her suffer. But what could she do when she had nearly crippled someone? It was a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, and no matter the outcome, she was in the wrong.

She shook her head inwardly, pushing that... unpleasant memory aside for now. Regardless, Nian and she were on the same level back then. And while Surtr grew stronger every day, Nian had twelve siblings—who knew if a hidden old monster might appear later!

"Perhaps a few more," Miss Surtr corrected herself. "But no more than twenty. And they rarely appear in the human world—when you return to Rhodes Island and see the world map and relevant data, I'm sure your intelligence will allow you to deduce their respective territories and origins."

"Originating from myths. Indeed, my understanding of this world is still too limited. Although I have general common sense in my head, and knowledge and academics that can be activated when needed. I only remember the knowledge itself, not the process of learning it."

Persephone gently tapped her forehead.

"I have a basic understanding now. Thank you for clearing things up. But based on my observations and judgment of you, since you've been so forthcoming with me, you must also expect me to be equally open. And I don't have any crucial information to give you right now—so, you must have a minor query, one that requires my intellect?"

She tilted her head, casting a searching gaze at the flame-haired Sarkaz before her.

"You've proven the 'power' you possess. I should indeed offer corresponding 'wisdom' in return. Please, speak directly. I will provide feedback based on the information you give me."

"...You're just as you always are." Surtr let out a soft sigh. "I do have one person I need your help finding. She's in this city right now. She commands a faction composed of Originium Infected—you know what that term means, right? And now her forces have been defeated by me, with many of her members already arranged to join Rhodes Island. But her whereabouts remain unknown."

"I want to find her, and I also plan to bring her to Rhodes Island—did I mention what Rhodes Island is before?"

"You didn't. But I can guess." Persephone wiggled her finger. "And the information you've provided is rather lacking—hmm, you acted so recklessly here. So, her faction must be around this city. You defeated her forces and want to recruit her—based on your actions, you must have some degree of fondness for that woman."

"Is it a split personality or mental contamination?" — She easily deduced the source of this contradictory situation.

"That's part of why I came to you for answers." Surtr shook her head. "I met her years ago and helped her remove some... unstable elements from her mind. According to my plan, she shouldn't be here at all right now. At least not with her current objective."

"What objective?"

"To incite the Infected and seize this Mobile City. Before that, she made some pacts with the nation behind this city. The possibility of it being related to war is very high."

"Does she know you treated her years ago?"

"Yes, she was quite grateful then. I even stayed for a bit and taught her some swordsmanship."

"Just swordsmanship?"

"Hmm, and some... immature ideas in retrospect. Like uniting the majority, class struggle, establishing a base, unifying thought, and so on. But not much—"

Miss Surtr fell silent.

Because she sensed something—the way Persephone was looking at her had changed significantly.

How to describe it? It was like looking at a piglet caught in the rain under a dripping eaves? A mix of pity, disdain, and a small portion of 'it was bound to happen.'

Surtr was no stranger to this look; Persephone had often looked at her that way before. So, she asked directly—

"Is the information enough?"

"Roughly enough." Persephone took a small breath. "Let me ask you, how old is she?"

"In her teens... early twenties? Perhaps a bit older?"

"You taught her swordsmanship and ideology back then, and did she ever call you 'teacher'?"

"...No. Why?"

"I'm starting to understand why I didn't die by your hand in the past, nor did I set up schemes to kill you later. A scoundrel like you, who pulls people out of darkness on their own and then abandons them in the light on their own, will eventually be torn to pieces. So, it doesn't matter if I leave you alone... Did I often say things like this to you before?"

"Is there a problem?" Miss Surtr looked confused.

"...So, even I was like that?"

The purple-haired unemployed Doctor rubbed her temples, looking quite troubled.

She suddenly sighed heavily.

"What's the most prominent feature of this city?"

"Uh... the main control tower in the city center?" Surtr replied uncertainly.

"Then why don't you go there?"

"...She's there?"

"Shouldn't the person you're waiting for be in the most conspicuous place?" Persephone shook her head, her fingers turning slightly white. "You've completely messed things up. If you want to get her to Rhodes Island, the best thing you could have done was grab a sack, stuff her in it, and take her back to the island, dealing with the consequences later. But I doubt you'd believe that."

She reached out and fiddled with the sarcophagus's machinery, pulling out a device. With a casual toss, a contraption that looked like an antique mobile phone but with exposed wires landed in Surtr's hand.

"This is a communicator. Take it. You'll need it."

"And then..." She waved her hand. "You can proceed as you see fit."

Four hours left... Hope YJ goes easy on me when they backstab me (:з」∠)

Hope Talulah's characterization isn't too far off from my predictions. It's so painful to rewrite drafts... (:з」∠)

Chapter Twenty-Four: It's Time to Fight the Big Dragon

Ah... that awful, uncomfortable feeling of encountering a scholar when you're a soldier, and even killing them is useless, has returned.

Surtr really disliked this feeling… because it made her feel like an idiot who knew nothing. It was also because Persephone was quite intelligent, at least relatively so compared to her. To the point where every intellectual exchange ended up validating the Queen of the Underworld's correctness.

But really, if she didn't hit a dead end, she'd feel a bit unwilling.

"Alright, I'll give it a try for now." Miss Surtr put away her communicator, extended her hand, and dispersed the wind barrier on the outside. "The kid who came with me last time was named Red, directly under Kal'tsit, who holds real power within Rhodes Island. Since I've made such a grand appearance here, she probably won't come. However, besides Red, there might be another person who comes to find you."

Flames flowed and took shape—W's form then appeared. A pile of burnt ashes served as the coloring, constructing W's iconic horns and white hair.

"Her name is W, a fan of Theresia. I told her you were here, and she might have some dissatisfaction towards you…"

Okay, not just some dissatisfaction. If W saw Persephone, she'd probably try to chop her up on the spot. However, considering the disparity in combat power, knowledge, and intelligence between them, if they actually fought… Miss W would likely not survive the second second after Persephone retaliated.

—But Persephone always maintained her persona of a "neurotic, delicate, and highly intelligent girl." So W wouldn't die, at least she wouldn't remember her own death, and could even partially get her wish, alleviating some of the grief over Theresia's death.

—That was why she thought to wish Persephone good luck back then. Of course, that was only part of the reason.

And Persephone clearly wouldn't fail to understand.