Silence had fallen asleep.
She felt as though she were sleeping on a little boat, her body swaying with the waves. It was very comfortable.
She woke up.
Then, to her surprise, she realized she was being carried over someone's shoulder.
"What's going on?"
She wasn't muttering to herself in surprise. She was staring down at the person carrying her and asking with a puzzled expression.
The person was tall as an iron tower, with green hair and horns like a demon's.
Beside them was a short Feline who wouldn't stop chattering.
She was taller than Silence.
Hoshiguma looked up and replied, "Doctor Kal'tsit said you'd agreed, but still wanted to sleep a little longer, so I took it upon myself to carry you along."
"Was that your idea, or that woman's?"
"Mine. She agreed to it too."
"Tch."
Silence herself didn't really mind. Being carried around like a child wasn't a big deal. She was only concerned about whether her experimental equipment had been brought along. If it hadn't, she'd have to go back and get it, wasting energy for no reason.
"Doctor Kal'tsit said you were ready."
"She knows jack—"
Silence didn't seem to think much of old-school medical experts. That was only natural. In research, the new always trounced the old.
Still, Doctor Kal'tsit had prepared everything she needed.
With nothing else to do, she went back to sleep.
"Yawn~ Wake me up when we get there."
"Don't you want to ask what's going on?"
"No point. You'd only be telling me what other people think. Words can be deceptive, and I don't want anyone else's words influencing my judgment. I want to see it with my own eyes."
"Just what you'd expect from a rigorous researcher."
Hoshiguma praised her.
Swire sneered from the side. "Maybe she just doesn't want to talk to you."
"Fine."
Of course, they hadn't walked all the way to Rhodes Island. Carrying Silence over her shoulder had only been a temporary measure. Swire's car was parked nearby, its black body and white lace-trimmed curtains making it look like a solemn coffin.
It certainly looked like a good place to sleep.
Hoshiguma got into the car and set the sleeping Silence down on the dining table. Her petite frame fit it surprisingly well.
Swire reached out with her wicked hands and folded Silence's hands together. Once she was done, she bowed her head and sat down in silence. Hoshiguma understood at once, plucked a little white flower from the vase, and placed it beside Silence.
"Now that's impressive, Hoshiguma!"
Swire applauded, then raised her hand and slapped it against Hoshiguma's.
(〃￣︶￣)人(￣︶￣〃)
Hoshiguma put on a serious face. "Quick, put all this away before the researcher wakes up and gets angry."
"I'm already awake."
Silence didn't open her eyes. She rolled over and answered.
"If this is Lungmen threatening me with death, I can pretend I didn't see it. Rhodes Island won't be intimidated by a threat like that."
For a researcher, she certainly had a lot on her mind.
Hoshino was writing a note.
After spending the entire day practicing at the entrance to the shrine, Ch'en had finally been thoroughly defeated by Kallen's supple legs. Left completely baffled, she'd been forced to accept the objective truth that Gun Kata didn't need a gun.
Now, she had to leave a note to make it look as though she'd gone out.
There was no other choice.
Silence arrived at the shrine later that day. Black clouds hid in the black night sky, and oppressive thunder rumbled through the air.
"The ionization level in the air is very high."
She sniffed. "There's a strong smell of ozone. This is a powerful Arts user who can change the weather."
For an Infected person, greater power meant a more severe illness.
She took each step as if approaching a formidable enemy. Halfway there, she turned around and said irritably, "You'd better not come any farther. You'll interfere with my work."
"Uh..."
Did that mean the patient's family wasn't allowed inside?
Silence continued up the steps.
The smell of ionization grew stronger with every step. She crossed the threshold and saw the Lightning Empress curled up in the shrine.
It was a curious feeling.
Silence thought of the Flame Demon Project she was responsible for. Those were demons of fire, while the woman before her commanded lightning. Both were powerful weapons for one-on-one combat. Silence couldn't say they had nothing in common.
Hoshino was pretending to sleep.
Silence spotted a note on the table. The handwriting was graceful yet sharp, and the note was addressed to a doctor.
[Doctor Silence—]
The opening made her frown. Her arrival should have been a Lungmen state secret. Wasn't it rather careless for the note to use her full name so openly? Were Lungmen's police officers really that incompetent?
Never mind. She was only a medical worker, after all. She'd long since left the front lines of research.
The note was brief. It explained that the Lightning Empress liked to be alone, and that no more than two people should interact with her at once. Otherwise, a thunderstorm might break out. To make the doctor's work easier, everyone in the shrine had already left.
That was reasonable.
The fact that the shrine maiden had been comfortable leaving showed that this human weapon wasn't as timid as Silence had imagined.
First, she'd examine her.
Looking at the Lightning Empress curled up in the shrine, Silence wondered how to wake her. A weapon like this might not be afraid of people, but being woken abruptly was another matter. It could trigger some mysterious stress response, and Silence might even be killed on the spot.
Just as Silence was at a loss, Hoshino realized the time had come.
She [woke] up.
Her splendid purple eyes opened and fixed directly on Silence.
It was a look of absolute superiority.
As Silence watched her, she suddenly felt diminished. The woman was lounging lazily, yet she seemed as proud as a queen on her throne.
No wonder they called her the Lightning Empress.
Indeed, it was hard to think of any other word to describe her.
"Did⚡I⚡scare⚡you?"
Hoshino blinked.
The rumble of thunder brewed in her words, and the tightly suppressed sound burst forth. Silence frowned, feeling as though her eardrums were about to shatter.
She turned her frown toward Hoshino in her Lightning Empress form.
The latter lowered her head in embarrassment.
It was such a contrast to her overwhelming queenly presence. Was she unexpectedly easy to fluster?
Silence was a little bewildered.
How on earth had anyone raised a queen to be like this?
No wonder the elusive shrine maiden had felt comfortable leaving a note and going out without a care.
Silence couldn't help but feel a sense of respect.
Of course, Hoshino had carefully put on this whole act.
After experimenting many times, she'd discovered, to her dismay, that nothing could get rid of her queenly aura. But what she wanted wasn't majesty. She wanted to seem so innocent and naive that people would believe anything she said.
So she'd come up with a whole act built around contrasting cuteness.
It had worked surprisingly well.
Hoshino kept playing up the contrast. "Doctor, how are you going to examine me?"
"Take off your clothes first."
Silence had calmed down a little. She adjusted her glasses and replied.
Before you continue