An Endless Stream

Originium infection?

Hoshino thought it over for a moment and understood what she meant.

Just like Jingzhe, Ch'en had misjudged her. In this world, casters like Lightning Empress, who could generate electricity without a staff, were only found among those with Originium infection.

After all, casting Arts required Originium as a medium.

Without an Originium staff, it was only natural to assume that there were Originium fragments inside her body.

Wouldn't that make her an Infected?

Hoshino nodded.

"Why have you gone quiet?"

Ch'en did her best to keep her tone gentle. She could not imagine that such an enigmatic shrine maiden had raised such a well-behaved child. It was truly unbelievable.

Over the radio, she could not see the disdainful expression on Hoshino's face.

This was probably one of the Lightning Empress's traits. Hoshino would occasionally wear an expression that looked like she was staring at trash. Hearing Ch'en's question, she calmed herself slightly and considered how to persuade Ch'en to give up without making it obvious.

It was very difficult.

Ch'en was that sort of person—extremely stubborn, rarely changing her mind once she had made it up.

"Doctors?"

"Doctors from Rhine Lab. More precisely, they are all scholars. No one is better than them at researching the Infected."

Ch'en explained, more gently than she ever would while training recruits.

"Then they... must have killed many people like me, right?"

Hoshino spoke sorrowful words in an even tone, pricking at Ch'en's heart without leaving a trace. As a galgame player, she was already quite practiced at this.

"The more they understand, the more they kill."

The Lightning Empress's voice grew softer and softer, like a small beast hiding in the wilderness, making one's heart ache.

Ch'en felt like she was done for.

She was not good at handling situations like this. The Guard Department had a dedicated psychological counseling team, and Ch'en was clearly not part of it.

For a moment, Ch'en had no idea what to do.

Even after the call ended, that immense, indescribable sadness still hung over her heart, refusing to fade for a long time.

Ch'en could only sigh.

"Her efficiency is that high?"

Hoshino sighed.

After some probing, she figured it out. Even before speaking with her, Ch'en had already sent a superintendent to Rhodes Island.

This was a serious problem, and worrying would not help.

From what Hoshino knew, Rhodes Island had indeed taken in refugees from Rhine Lab—Ifrit, who had been an experimental subject; Saria, who had been security personnel; and Ptilopsis, who had been a data maintenance specialist...

The only one who actually qualified as a researcher was Silence.

They probably would not send Magallan, right?

Hoshino had a rough guess. Next, she needed to devise a countermeasure—one specifically aimed at doctors.

This felt strange somehow.

Hoshino had already transmigrated into the world of Terra, yet she was suddenly supposed to deal with scholars coming from Rhodes Island the way a child dealt with doctors. Anyone would feel a bizarre sense that time and space had been turned upside down.

Hoshino needed to come up with a flawless plan, one that would leave her unable to spot any cracks.

Rhodes Island?

Hoshino's heart brimmed with anticipation.

The thunderclouds in the sky vanished, and she returned to Yae Sakura form. These trivial matters could wait for now; Hoshino had more important work to do.

Exusiai had called.

Emperor had finally sprung back to life, and Penguin Logistics' business had finally returned to normal.

"I hope you'll honor the contract."

Exusiai said.

Perhaps it was just her imagination, but Hoshino always felt that she sounded a little unwilling.

Did angels like slacking off too?

Hoshino carried Sakura Fubuki toward Penguin Logistics' bar. The previous mess had long since disappeared, and the place was once again full of cheerful harmony.

She frowned.

"Warmly celebrating the former Emperor's death by lightning strike?"

Hoshino read it word by word. That was what the banner hanging over the bar said.

What a strange person.

Following Exusiai's instructions, she entered the bar.

Amid flashing, dazzling lights, Emperor stood atop two stacked boxes. His adorably rotund body was sprawled over the pool table as he concentrated on lining up his shot.

Hoshino looked around.

Besides the familiar Texas, Exusiai, and Croissant, Sora, who had been absent last time, was here as well.

Hoshino waved to them amicably.

The bar was somewhat noisy. Emperor's old songs played through the speakers, and the lights were pale pink. From the instant Hoshino stepped inside, she became the center of the entire room. Even Emperor, who had been playing pool, lifted his head.

He was celebrating his former self's death, yet he was still playing his old songs?

Hoshino found it absurd.

She roughly understood the situation. Emperor was waiting. If he could let his throat roll against a cold blade and kindle a spark of inspiration amid pain, he would compose a song on the spot and kick over this decaying gramophone machine.

Emperor removed his sunglasses and looked at Hoshino.

She slowly drew her sword.

It was not to kill an enemy, but to make it as visually pleasing as possible. She probably needed to slow the motion of her draw slash by a thousandfold.

The blade traced a perfect circle through the air.

Pink light flowed around it.

The sensation was very strange. Those watching perceived two utterly different sights at once: suffocating death, and suffocating beauty. Together, they carried an extreme chill that made one want to draw near, yet dare not approach.

"Wow, a flower on a high peak."

Sora blinked, her gaze full of admiration.

"She has such presence. If only we could get her to debut..."

Inside the enclosed bar, falling cherry blossoms filled the air.

They drifted without pattern, following the sonata of impermanence. Like a soft swarm of butterflies, they gradually engulfed Emperor. Emperor dramatically spread his wings and lifted his head high, like a proud martyr.

"Gasp—"

Everyone present smelled spring at the same time.

No words could describe that beauty. Just as everyone became immersed in it, the cherry blossoms all vanished at once.

Hoshino sheathed her sword.

The pool table shattered into several pieces without suspense, and Emperor's gold chain broke apart as well. He no longer looked like a composed martyr. Instead, he fell to the ground convulsing like a madman having an epileptic seizure. His black-and-white wings clutched at his throat as indescribable shrieks burst out again and again.

"The boss isn't dead, is he?"

"Don't worry. He asked for this himself. Unless he's a lunatic bent on dying, he'll definitely live."

Hoshino nodded in satisfaction.

She had not held back at all.

The reason Emperor could swagger around Lungmen and still be alive today was his powerful [vitality]. He would never die over something this trivial.

Besides...

Hoshino closed her eyes and listened. A pleasant chime announcing the completion of her mission sounded in her mind.

[At the boundary between life and death, blades flowed through his throat. His spirit, like soil plowed by a divine plow, became fertile land once more...]

[Reward: Alien: Bow of Hel, issued]

Hoshino did not care what song Emperor intended to write. Before he recovered, she turned and left.

A penguin's shriek came from behind her.

"Inspiration... inspiration is pouring out in an endless stream!"