Journey to Find Heroic Spirits

ps:

Okita is so cute, she hugged me as soon as she got to Chaldea!

Can't hold it in anymore (awsl)

Chapter 47: Let's Go All Out!

What was bound to happen eventually, happened: the Aldebaran corruption incident at the Monolith.

Thanks to Yuxian's warning, Kisaragi Tendo had been keeping a close eye on every Monolith, so she discovered the anomaly immediately, leaving enough time to prepare.

Seitenshi convened an emergency meeting, summoning all relevant personnel to discuss how to resolve this crisis. The Monoliths were the foundation of the city's existence, and absolutely no mistakes could be made.

Even with the most advanced construction methods, and all workers putting in overtime, building a new Monolith would still take several days.

Furthermore, due to Aldebaran, a massive Gastrea swarm had gathered around this particular Monolith, making reconstruction incredibly difficult. Without clearing them out first, construction work would be impossible.

It was ultimately decided that the cleanup operation would be a joint effort between the Self-Defense Forces and civilian security personnel, with the Self-Defense Forces taking the lead and civilian personnel providing support. All armed forces in the Tokyo Area mobilized rapidly at this moment.

News of Aldebaran's appearance quickly spread among the populace, causing widespread panic throughout the Tokyo Area. Everyone started fleeing, but the underground shelters couldn't accommodate everyone. Those with the means and status to leave the Tokyo Area spared no expense in their efforts to escape the city.

Seitenshi rushed to the television to calm the public, but her efforts were largely ineffective. In such a critical moment, no one could be persuaded by a few words.

The Monoliths were humanity's last barrier against the threat of the Gastrea. Everyone knew what would happen if the Monoliths collapsed and the barrier was breached. Seitenshi's reassurances alone were far from enough.

The once bustling streets of the city suddenly became eerily deserted. Some criminals took the opportunity to cause trouble, and public order collapsed in an instant, plunging the entire city into chaos.

Yuxian had anticipated this situation. He had warned Atalanta and Chiron in advance, so the outer areas were well-prepared, and everything remained as usual.

With Chiron and Atalanta holding the line, the rioters couldn't get close. The children were confined to the outer areas, which remained the last sanctuary in the entire Tokyo Area.

Yuxian received a call from Kisaragi Tendo, inviting him to meet with Seitenshi. He couldn't stand aside; this was part of his plan, and there was no reason to avoid it.

Meeting Seitenshi, the supreme leader of the Tokyo Area, up close for the first time, Yuxian remained calm. It wasn't as extraordinary as he'd imagined; it felt no different from meeting an ordinary person.

"Yuxian-kun, I need your help!" Seitenshi got straight to the point with her request.

Yuxian nodded, not refusing. He had come for this very reason. "Do you have a specific solution?" he asked.

Seitenshi explained the formulated plan to Yuxian in detail, finally requesting sincerely, "I hope Yuxian-kun can serve as the commander of the Civilian Security Corps, coordinating all civilian guards and assisting in the implementation of this plan."

After hearing the detailed plan, Yuxian didn't immediately agree. He remained silent, carefully considering the key details and various issues in his mind.

Seitenshi didn't disturb him, quietly awaiting his reply.

After a long while, Yuxian finally looked up, met Seitenshi's gaze, and said solemnly, "I can accept this task, but I have a few conditions."

Seitenshi gestured for Yuxian to state his specific terms, assuring him she would do her best to meet them.

After organizing his thoughts, Yuxian slowly stated his demands:

"First, the priorities of the overall action plan need to be changed. The Civilian Security Corps will conduct the frontal assault, with the Self-Defense Forces providing support. They will be stationed on the defense line near the Monolith to prevent Gastrea from flanking into the barrier area."

"Second, the rioters currently causing trouble in the Tokyo Area should be dealt with during this opportunity. They absolutely cannot be allowed to run rampant, especially those who plot against the Cursed Children must be thoroughly eliminated. You can deploy armed forces from the Self-Defense Forces for this. Their role against a Stage IV Gastrea like Aldebaran is limited, so it's better to use them elsewhere."

"Third, I wish for the entire war process to be broadcast live on television to all citizens, so they can understand who is protecting them. This will greatly help in dispelling their wariness towards the Cursed Children."

Seitenshi listened carefully to Yuxian's demands and, after a moment of thought, asked, "Are you confident in having the Civilian Security Corps conduct the frontal assault?"

Yuxian smiled. "How does Aldebaran compare to Scorpio? What you need to consider now is how to rebuild the Monolith as quickly as possible and ensure the barrier is fully repaired."

It wasn't Yuxian bragging; he didn't take a mere Aldebaran seriously. Its strength lay in its ability to command Gastrea swarms into legions. Unified Gastrea swarms were terrifying. As for Aldebaran itself, Yuxian could teach it a lesson in minutes.

He demanded that the entire battle be broadcast live on television to all citizens so they could see the children fighting desperately on the front lines, protecting humanity.

At the same time, he wanted to show off his strength, letting the whole world see his power. After this incident, he would likely leave. Displaying his formidable strength would serve as a deterrent, greatly benefiting the future status of the Cursed Children, making everyone wary of him and unwilling to risk offending him by mistreating the children.

"Good!" Seitenshi agreed to Yuxian's demands decisively, her decisiveness causing Yuxian to once again regard the young girl with respect.

However, all of this was irrelevant to Yuxian. He would soon leave this world and couldn't concern himself with the aftermath. Doing his best was already enough for Atalanta.

He waved goodbye to Seitenshi.

Returning to the outer area, Yuxian gathered everyone together and explained the situation, seeking their opinions.

No one had any objections to Yuxian's decision. While it seemed pointless to ask for opinions, Yuxian inwardly respected the thoughts of everyone around him.

"Master, just proceed as you see fit. We will fully support you," Chiron said with a smile, expressing his support. Yuxian's growth was what he most wished to see.

Atalanta shyly said in a soft voice, "Thank you..."

She understood clearly in her heart that Yuxian was doing this entirely because of her. Otherwise, Yuxian could have stayed out of it and left for Chaldea long ago.

She was grateful that Yuxian patiently considered her feelings, was willing to tolerate her willfulness, and helped her fulfill her wish.

Seeing no dissenting opinions, Yuxian waved his hand, "Then let's go all out!"

Chapter 48: Cat-eared girls are the cutest!

As the commander of the Civilian Security Corps, Yuxian arrived at the camp where the civilian security personnel were gathered. Everyone by his side had come with him, including Chiron and Atalanta. Even Hina was fully equipped and ready to follow. It was an all-out effort to face the Gastrea legion of Aldebaran.

Many people had already arrived, and at this critical juncture, everyone wanted to contribute their strength.

Everyone understood the principle: "Under a collapsed nest, how can there be any intact eggs?"

The camp was vast. After all, it wasn't a formal organization, and the camp looked messy without any unified planning.

Everyone in the camp wore grim expressions. Facing a powerful enemy like Aldebaran, it was impossible to say they weren't worried, but they still stood their ground without flinching, ready to face the brutal battle that awaited them.

Yuxian strolled around the camp, encountering many familiar faces. He had met some of them during the last 'Seven Stars' Relic' commission, while others were Initiators from schools in the outer districts.

"Rentaro, Enju, you're here too," Yuxian greeted Rentaro as he approached.

"Of course I had to come. This is a true great crisis. The Tokyo Area is in danger of annihilation at any moment," Rentaro stated matter-of-factly, his personality unchanged.

"I'm going to show off this time and surprise you all!" Enju declared confidently, hands on her hips.

Yuxian encouraged her, "Then you'll have to do your best. There are quite a few opponents this time."

Just then, a pair of partners, one large and one small, walked over. The silver-haired man among them called out to Rentaro, "Rentaro, long time no see."

"Senior Akimaro!" Rentaro exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the silver-haired man. It was Shizutake Akimaro, the senior of both him and Kisaragi Tendo. Beside Shizutake Akimaro was his Initiator, Fuse Midori.

Fuse Midori, wearing a wizard's hat, seemed timid. She pulled the brim down low, obscuring her face.

"I get to fight alongside Senior Akimaro again!" Rentaro was overjoyed. He hadn't seen Shizutake Akimaro in a long time and was very excited.

Shizutake Akimaro chuckled lightly, self-deprecatingly. "I'm just someone expelled from my school, nothing worth looking forward to. You, Rentaro, have grown a lot and become much stronger."

Rentaro enthusiastically introduced Shizutake Akimaro to Yuxian, showing the good relationship they had.

"Wow! That hat is so cute. Alice wants a hat like that too!" Gretel said enviously upon seeing Fuse Midori's wizard hat.

"Alice, you won't be able to see where you're going if you wear a hat like that." Both Illya and Gretel had a habit of wearing hats, so their attention was drawn to Fuse Midori's head.

Fuse Midori shyly hid behind Shizutake Akimaro, feeling a bit scared in front of so many strangers.

Shizutake Akimaro pulled Fuse Midori forward and introduced her to everyone. "This is Fuse Midori, my Initiator partner. She's a bit shy, so please don't mind her."

Fuse Midori softly greeted everyone. She took off her wizard hat, lowering her head shyly. A pair of cat ears on her head twitched occasionally, her adorable appearance evoking tenderness.

"Wow! Her ears are just like Sister Atalanta's!" Several of the younger ones exclaimed upon seeing Fuse Midori's ears.

"I'm an Initiator with cat factors..." Fuse Midori explained in a barely audible voice, her head still bowed.

She had always been troubled by her cat ears. As a Cursed Child with such obvious distinguishing features, it had been difficult for her to show her true face in the past, so she always wore a large hat to cover them. This had also made her personality exceptionally introverted and timid.

Now that the new law had been enacted, the status of Cursed Children in the Tokyo Area had improved, and she no longer needed to hide. However, her long-standing habit couldn't be changed, and she still wore the large wizard hat all the time.

"Can we try on your hat?" Gretel politely asked Fuse Midori.

"Okay!" Fuse Midori nodded and handed her wizard hat to Gretel.

Gretel and Illya eagerly began trying it on nearby.

Atalanta walked up to Fuse Midori, crouched down, and looked her in the eye, saying gently, "Our ears help us find prey. You should be more confident."

Looking at Atalanta, who had the same ears as her, Fuse Midori naturally felt a sense of kinship. She blinked and nodded firmly.

Yuxian, seeing Gretel wearing the large wizard hat with a comical expression, was speechless. "Hurry up and return the hat to her!"

Gretel returned the hat to Fuse Midori and asked curiously, "Can you see where you're going with that on?"

Fuse Midori put the wizard hat back on, hiding her entire head under it, and said softly, "As long as I can see the path at my feet, it's fine."

After chatting together for a while, more people gradually arrived at the camp. Seeing that the time was approaching, Yuxian bid farewell and led everyone away.

He arrived at the center of the camp, where a high platform had been erected. His current identity was the temporary leader of the team formed by these civilian security personnel. This was Yuxian's first time leading so many people.

At Chaldea, he was at most a core member. The head of Chaldea was the director, not him. More often than not, they relied on Da Vinci and others to handle various matters, which had nothing to do with him.

He walked onto the platform and sat in a pre-prepared chair. The feeling of looking down from a height was special, giving him a sense of having everything under control. No wonder those important figures liked to look down on the masses from above.

Staff members loudly summoned everyone to gather there. All the people in the camp converged in front of the high platform, creating a throng of people and a cacophony of noise.

It was unrealistic to expect strict discipline from a temporarily assembled team. Yuxian didn't expect them to be as disciplined as an army; as long as everyone had the same goal and didn't drag their feet, it would be fine.

The main fighting force against Aldebaran this time would be him and his Heroic Spirits. Everyone else would primarily assist in eliminating the scattered Gastrea, preventing them from overwhelming the entire defense line.

When everyone had gathered, the staff reported to Yuxian, awaiting his instructions.

Yuxian nodded. He surveyed the crowd below, cleared his throat, and prepared to speak.

ps:

Thanks for the tip, Gu Ming Di Lian (First Setting)!

Section 49, Chapter 29: You Guys Just Need to Play Along

Clearing his throat and pausing for a few seconds, Yuxian slowly began, "I am Yuxian, the temporary leader for this war against Aldebaran."

Yuxian's self-introduction caused a stir among the people below. Although they had seen Yuxian sitting in the main seat earlier, they couldn't help but feel unconvinced upon truly learning his identity, and began to whisper amongst themselves.

"Huh? You're the leader?" Ikuma Shogen questioned loudly with a displeased expression.

His words echoed the thoughts of everyone present, but others weren't as thoughtless as him and didn't jump out immediately.

Yuxian sighed helplessly. He looked at Natsu Yo Senju beside Ikuma Shogen with sympathy. It must be tough for little Senju to have such a muscle-brained partner.

To be the first to speak up at this moment wasn't seeking trouble. Anyone with a bit of sense wouldn't do that. The early bird gets the worm, as the saying goes.

To be appointed the leader for this operation, no one would believe that Yuxian lacked any ability. Most people, even if unconvinced in their hearts, would only discuss it privately. Directly questioning him to his face like Ikuma Shogen was clearly not a wise move.

Natsu Yo Senju tilted her head, her expression unchanging as always. She silently said something to Yuxian, but unfortunately, Yuxian couldn't read lips. He could only guess that she was expressing helplessness or something similar; it couldn't possibly be about being hungry.

Yuxian remained expressionless and said nothing. Atalanta, standing behind him, drew the Sky-Piercing Bow and loosed an arrow.

She shot with incredible speed. Though her archery was slightly inferior to Chiron's, it was still unparalleled, far beyond what ordinary people could achieve.

The arrow whizzed past Ikuma Shogen's head, narrowly grazing his face before he could even react.

Ikuma Shogen stumbled back two steps, his expression a mixture of vigilance and panic. Atalanta's shot had knocked his mask to the ground, leaving him looking furious.

This swift and precise arrow drew everyone's attention. They no longer held any contempt, believing that they too would have struggled to dodge it. The noise from the crowd below subsided considerably.

Yuxian smirked with satisfaction and continued, "I don't care what you're thinking. The fact that you're all here means your goals are the same."

"Originally, our mission was to assist the Self-Defense Force in their attack on Aldebaran. However, I proposed to Seitenshi that we take the lead as the main attack force, with the Self-Defense Force providing support. Therefore, our responsibility is greater, and the burden is heavy."

Hiss!

Before Yuxian could finish speaking, a clamor erupted from below. The idea of civilian security personnel being the main attack force was unacceptable to everyone. They believed Yuxian had gone mad. Aldebaran was a Stage IV Gastrea, accompanied by an entire army of Gastrea. Entrusting such a mission to the civilian security force was no different than sending them to their deaths.

"This is suicide! We're not doing it!"

Someone from the crowd protested, believing Yuxian was sending them all to die.

Yuxian raised his hand to signal for quiet and continued, "Anyone who wishes to leave can do so now. I won't force you. However, if you choose to stay and participate in this operation, you must follow my specific arrangements."

A ripple of unrest went through the crowd. Ultimately, no one left. They wanted to hear what arrangements Yuxian had that could possibly allow this disorganized mob to confront Aldebaran head-on.

Seeing that no one was leaving, Yuxian nodded with satisfaction. "Actually, there aren't many arrangements. Your mission is to intercept all the Gastrea attacking from the flanks and prevent them from forming a pincer movement. As for Aldebaran on the front lines..."