"Oh, I received it on my end too. Until reinforcements arrive, I'll prioritize assisting the evacuation."
"Understood. Please be extremely careful until then."
"Got it. I'll play it by ear."
Efnir took a deep breath.
The deployment order had already been issued. The supporting agents should arrive soon.
Just then, a shriek suddenly came from above. Efnir looked up sharply and saw something unusual happening to the massive Floating Island.
As expected, those Erosion Entities could not remain docile forever. The "Crows" that had merely been circling overhead seemed to have suddenly spotted prey. Their enormous, mournful beaks opened as though torn apart, and they converged as they flew toward Efnir, like droplets gathering into a stream, then swelling into a river. Their numbers grew ever larger before they suddenly poured down upon Efnir like floodwaters released from a dam, cascading like a waterfall.
Those Crows were rushing toward Efnir... or, more accurately, toward the venue beneath her feet and the people still stranded there, unable to evacuate in time.
Already prepared, Efnir's gaze sharpened as she leapt from the steel framework at the same moment.
A "Stairway" condensed beneath her feet, providing footholds. She stared fixedly at the falling black Crows, aimed herself, and rapidly bounded across the steel beams of the venue's roof.
"Codename Efnir, entering combat!"
She cut off her earpiece. Silver appeared in her hand and formed into a spear.
The power throughout her body was drawn together by Order Force, condensed into a single point, then hurled from Efnir's hand as a blinding silver streak. Like a meteor tearing across the night sky, it shot straight toward the Floating Island beneath the enormous black shadow.
First, she would deal with the big one using the simplest method, just like last time.
But this time, it did not go so smoothly—the black waterfall formed by those twisted Crows abruptly forced itself to change direction and collided head-on with the spear. Countless sparks scattered through the air as Efnir's strike nearly punched through the black cascade.
But that was all it did.
The meteor was swallowed by darkness and ultimately vanished without a trace, while the "waterfall" gathered together once more.
Silver light flashed, and the spear reappeared in Efnir's hand. This was the Weapon Recall ability used by all agents. Efnir stared at the massive black shadow overhead, her gaze blazing as her shoulders sank slightly.
Throwing her weapon like this consumed a considerable amount of energy. Moreover, until she recalled it, Efnir would be left briefly vulnerable. In battle, she had to choose the timing of such attacks carefully to avoid putting herself in danger, and she could not use them repeatedly.
"What a pain..."
Aerial combat was Efnir's weak point. It was not that she had no way of dealing with airborne enemies, but she lacked an efficient means of securing victory in one blow. The longer a fight dragged on, the more power she consumed, and the more disadvantageous it became for an agent.
And it was an enormous threat to those who had yet to evacuate as well.
Efnir clicked her tongue impatiently.
If, like last time, the main battlefield had been between skyscrapers, or if the primary enemy had only been the Whale, things would have been manageable. But now, Efnir was several hundred meters below the Whale, with no sufficiently tall buildings around her. Worse still, her only anti-air attack could be blocked by those troublesome Crows.
She gritted her teeth and leapt high into the air. A Stairway formed beneath her feet, and using those "steps" as footholds, she shot rapidly upward.
There was no other way until the aircraft was in position.
Then she would just have to force her way through.
Shelter—
"Please maintain order and follow the staff's instructions. Evacuate in an orderly and swift manner... Please do not crowd. Please give priority to children, women... Please..."
Evacuation facilities were generally built at least a dozen meters underground. They were enormous projects with exceptionally sturdy structures, like gigantic cocoons. It was said that shelters used the same Ruins Technology as Boundary Steles, allowing them to avoid detection by Erosion Entities to a certain extent, and their defenses were trustworthy as well.
In any case, no shelter had ever suffered an accident. It could be said that this place was absolutely safe.
Yukina followed Shinomiyami Nami here. She quietly crouched against the wall. The wall behind her seemed to be made of concrete, though perhaps it was some other material. Its chill seeped through the fabric on her back and into her spine.
It was much colder here than aboveground.
Yukina shivered, but she did not leave. From here, she had a perfect view of the shelter's entrance, and everyone who entered would pass through her line of sight.
But after all this time, she still had not seen her brother.
This was the evacuation facility closest to the venue. Normally, most people evacuated from the venue would be guided here for shelter. If so, her brother should have come here too. Yet even after no one else entered, Yukina never saw Yanase Naoto.
Bright white lights shone down from overhead. Hugging her knees, Yukina lowered her eyes. Under the lights, her shadow split into several overlapping shapes, their intersections darkening layer by layer. People around her dialed their phones again and again. Some suddenly began to cry. Some wore worried expressions yet laughed. Others, like Yukina, remained silent.
After settling her down, Shinomiyami Nami went to one side and spoke to someone through her earpiece.
Yukina had only learned today that Shinomiyami Nami was more than just a manager.
Agents and the Orderkeepers organization—this was the overlooked side of Efnir and Shinomiyami Nami. First and foremost, they were warriors who protected this city. Only after that were they a public idol and her manager...
Yukina could not help wondering whether she had become a burden and caused trouble for Efnir and the others.
When she came in, Yukina had seen the nightmare-like sight on the horizon from afar. An island that seemed inhabited by some immense demon simply floated in the sky.
She had never seen such a terrifying Erosion Entity.
This disaster... was probably different somehow, wasn't it? If things were serious, would her brother be in danger? Why had he not appeared here?
There was more than one evacuation point nearby, so it was possible that they had simply missed each other. Besides, Miss Efnir had said she would protect her brother.
But...
There were too many things to worry about, too many things throwing her mind into chaos.
It was hard not to think about them.
Yukina did not really understand. She only felt an awful headache. Her brows were drawn together, and a faint light shimmered in her lovely eyes.
Brother...
She took out her phone, hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number like everyone else.
It was her brother's number.
Though they were underground, the shelter had civilian signal stations. The connection was poor because too many users had connected all at once, but it could still be used in areas not covered by Corruption.
But her brother did not answer before the call went to voicemail.
23, His Message
Her brother had not answered the phone.
Yukina pressed her lips together, rested her face on her knees, and buried it in the crook of her arms.
"Yukina, are you feeling unwell?"
Before she noticed it, Shinomiyami Nami had come to her side.
Yukina raised her head.
"No, I'm not feeling unwell..."
But Shinomiyami Nami could probably easily see the thick worry in Yukina's eyes. She noticed that Yukina's phone screen was still lit.
"Are you still... worried about your brother?"
"Mm..."
"I see. You two really are close siblings... You talk about your brother all the time. It would be nice if I had a little sister like you."
"No, it's not like that, so please don't tease me..."
Shaking her head in embarrassment, Yukina buried her face again.
Being judged that way without permission gave her an inexplicable trace of joy, but even more disappointment.
Did other people really think she and her brother were close?
Yukina wished that were true, but in reality, while things between her and her brother were not cold, they were not close enough to be described as having a "good relationship."
"You called your brother?"
Shinomiyami Nami asked.
"Mm..."
"She didn't answer?"
"No..."
Of course he would not answer. Shinomiyami Nami looked at Yukina with an unreadable expression, then suddenly smiled and comforted her.
"I see. Maybe the signal is bad. Maybe he accidentally left his phone behind, or maybe he simply didn't hear it... But no matter what, little Yukina, you don't need to worry."
Shinomiyami Nami suddenly took Yukina's slightly cold hands in hers.
"Because Efnir is there, your brother will definitely be fine. I guarantee it! Efnir is incredible. Even the strongest Erosion Entity so far was defeated by her alone. This time will definitely be fine too. No matter what, little Yukina, please trust Efnir more! And... trust your brother more too..."
"Mm..."
Yukina nodded.
Yukina trusted Efnir without reservation.
Efnir was strong. She was the strongest agent in this city. Any Erosion Entity would be pierced through like tofu before her. Of course Yukina believed that Efnir would protect everyone.
"Then relax a little and wait properly for your brother to return."
Comfort might not always work, but it could make people feel warm.
Miss Shinomiyami Nami's hands were pretty and soft. Holding them like this made Yukina feel calm inside.
"Mm..."
Yukina nodded without saying anything.
"By the way, when did little Yukina become Efnir's fan?"
Shinomiyami Nami glanced at her watch and changed the subject.
"That... when was it... Probably almost a year ago... Around last December."
"Eh? That's impressive. You're a veteran fan! That's rare—you've been around longer than I have. Back then, I hadn't been assigned to her yet."
Shinomiyami Nami's smile was gentle, like that of an older sister next door, making Yukina feel a little embarrassed.
"It's nothing..."
"Speaking of which, how did you first notice Efnir? I remember she wasn't especially famous at the time, was she?"
"Eh...? W-well..."
For no apparent reason, Yukina's cheeks flushed slightly, and she suddenly began to stammer.
Yukina did not often mention the first time she met Miss Efnir.
—Because it was not an experience she could describe casually.
Back then, Efnir had pulled her from the water and firmly protected her while surrounded by Erosion Entities. Because she had nearly drowned, her memories of that time were already unclear. In those vague fragments, Yukina only remembered that Efnir's hands were soft and cold, and that determined, resolute gaze was a match for her brother's.
What happened afterward?
She passed out, then woke to find that Efnir had saved her, covered her mouth, and given her artificial respiration.
Efnir's lips felt like pudding just taken from the refrigerator—cool and soft. Perhaps that was because she had only just come out of the water herself.
Yukina still remembered the faint fragrance of Efnir's breath. Resting against Efnir's shoulder then, that warm and dependable feeling had reassured her. Sunlight passing through Efnir's hanging wet silver strands had turned into rainbow-colored brilliance.
Remembering the lingering charm of that day, Yukina gently pressed her lips together.
Of course, Yukina knew that there had not been the slightest ulterior intention in what Efnir did, so she had never thought about it in any other way.
She had never cared about it herself, either.
Probably?
Because Efnir, as an agent, was gentle, but... for no apparent reason, a sharp pain suddenly pierced her heart.
Yukina suddenly realized what had felt somehow "wrong" all along.
It was precisely because Efnir was gentle that she protected the people here and fought again and again... But... was that really something to be taken for granted? Because she only thought about her brother, Yukina had asked Efnir, "Please," and Efnir had smiled and agreed. Like everyone else, Yukina had selfishly thrust her own wishes upon Efnir.
It felt terribly selfish.
She wanted her brother to be safe, so she shamelessly asked Miss Efnir for help. But if... if Miss Efnir were injured, who would protect her? Miss Efnir actually looked even younger than Yukina. What, exactly, did those shoulders bear?
Because Miss Efnir was always smiling, Yukina had consciously or unconsciously ignored many truths.
It was common for agents to die in battle.
Before you continue