Sky Striker Ace, but Symphogear

When Chris heard Raye say that, a terrifying idea that made her feel as if she had fallen into an icy abyss surfaced in her mind.

"No, no way. You're lying, right, Raye? Are you trying to deceive me?"

Chris shook her head, trying to drive that frightening idea from her mind. She still couldn't believe that someone she had once spent time with had now become such a detestable "villain."

"You know that everything I've said is true. I can guarantee that I haven't told you a single lie today."

Raye said this as if she believed it herself, and Chris couldn't see any sign that Raye was lying.

"In other words, you really killed everyone at the orphanage to obtain the powerful force of this Relic, then used their lives to activate it... Why would you do something like that?!"

After receiving Raye's confirmation, the white-haired girl was struck by this sudden truth and instinctively took half a step back.

The good news was that she seemed to have learned about Raye's past from Raye herself. The bad news was that Raye's experience seemed to differ slightly from what she had originally imagined.

"I don't know. I've never thought about that question."

Looking at the words on the screen and ignoring Chris's reaction, Raye answered like that.

"But are you satisfied with that answer? Now, can you focus on activating Durandal?"

Then Raye began asking Chris what she thought, and whether she could activate the Relic as she had before.

"I don't understand at all! Why did you do this, Raye? Were you pretending all along?"

Chris rubbed her head. She felt that something had gone wrong somewhere, and that things shouldn't have turned out this way.

"That isn't the case. The me from before was me, and the me now is also me. It's just that compared to who I was before, I've changed a little.

"Besides, this isn't some change that's difficult to accept, is it? Or rather, this is what being human means. The childish ideas of childhood will eventually be replaced by more mature reason after one grows up.

"I simply realized what the ultimate result of my previous actions was: that I could obtain nothing. So when I needed to do something like that, I naturally did it."

After hanging the Sky Striker she had shown Chris earlier back at her waist, Raye glanced at the time and stood up, intending to get some work done while she still had time.

Her time was rather precious.

"What exactly did you grow into!?"

Chris moved in front of Raye, who was about to leave.

After the conversation had reached this point, Chris already somewhat believed the facts Raye's words had constructed.

However, although she knew those facts, she didn't know how to face them, so she asked the question on impulse.

"You're being a little noisy, Chris. Still, if answering you will help you fulfill your duty, I'll answer your question."

Looking at Chris in front of her, Raye's expression shifted slightly before returning to normal.

"My growth simply consisted of realizing that what others give me will never be reliable. Only power that I truly control in my hands is the one real thing to me."

"So, in order to obtain power, I can abandon many things that I consider unnecessary."

Raye told Chris her sincere thoughts at that moment.

She was interested in anything that could make her stronger. That was why she had devoted herself to collecting Heresy Technology, without a doubt the strongest power in this world.

"In other words, you did that because you held those beliefs? If so, aren't you exactly the same as those evil adults?"

Having sensed Raye's sincerity, Chris fully understood that the other girl had become completely different from the person in her memories.

"That has nothing to do with me. As long as I can obtain enough, I don't mind staining myself with blood. So, do you understand now, Chris? The Raye in your memories has long since become obsolete. I suggest you discard that image as soon as possible and focus on the work at hand."

Regarding Chris's inability to accept it, Raye merely stated this indifferently.

"Work... Right, I understand. I'll properly activate Durandal, then complete our goal with Fine. After that, I'll definitely destroy a nasty person like you first."

Having completely understood the "facts" and no longer feeling lost, Chris said this to the blonde girl before her.

Although she currently had no choice but to cooperate with Raye because of their collaboration, she had already truly begun treating her as an enemy.

"Mm. If you can do it, Chris, you're welcome to try. Then, after we rest for a while, we'll try activating Durandal again."

Seeing Chris's reaction, Raye spoke with slight satisfaction. She then walked around Chris, who was blocking her way, and left the room.

Hmph. If it's the current me, I can definitely concentrate and activate Durandal. Just wait. When the time comes, I'll completely erase someone as awful as you from this world.

Ignoring Raye as she left, Chris prepared to give one thousand percent of her effort to help Fine, so that her dream could be realized as soon as possible.

Should I Believe It?

"Why, exactly, Chris? I don't understand. What is it that you still can't figure out?"

Looking at the value on the instrument, which had not only failed to increase compared to the morning but had actually dropped, Raye wore a puzzled expression.

According to her reasoning, Chris's String Gain output had fallen because of what had happened to her. After Raye had just told her part of the "truth," Chris, having understood everything, should have returned to her usual output level.

"So what exactly is the reason, Chris? Do you have some other concern?"

Raye looked at Chris, who had just finished activating the Relic and whose expression seemed unnatural, and tried asking her this.

"What's it to you? This is my business. It has nothing to do with you."

Facing Raye's question, Chris merely glared at her fiercely before walking straight out of Durandal's activation chamber.

"Ah... This is exactly why I hate emotions that are completely beyond my control."

Looking at the unexpected data on the screen and thinking of Chris's obvious state of confusion, Raye unconsciously clenched her hand.

Something's wrong. Something is definitely wrong.

After leaving the room, Chris thought this to herself.

At first, after hearing Raye's claims, Chris had indeed fallen into a rage, believing that Raye had become an unforgivable villain.

However, after calming down, Chris began to doubt that conclusion.

This wasn't because she had found any contradiction or loophole in Raye's words. On the contrary, it was precisely because her reasoning had proceeded so smoothly from beginning to end that she suspected something was wrong.

The reason was simply that the last time her reasoning had gone so smoothly, she had nearly been happily tricked into becoming some kind of idol.

And because this doubt had suddenly appeared in her heart, she had once again failed to concentrate during the earlier activation of Durandal.

I have to think this through carefully. I can't make such a hasty judgment.

Following her doubts, Chris began using her brain to think. Then, she realized something.

Wait. Have I been letting that woman Raye lead me around by the nose this whole time? Why do I have to believe everything she says?

After reviewing her conversation with Raye that morning, Chris suddenly realized that she had no reason to believe everything Raye said.

Even if Raye always said things that sounded reasonable and made decisions that seemed steady, that didn't mean Chris had to believe every word she said.

Although, based on what I knew of her before, I couldn't tell that she was lying... But as she said, "People can grow." What if she had overcome and changed the traits that used to reveal her lies? That's right. I don't need to completely believe that woman.

After figuring this out, Chris began considering whether her judgment was reasonable. But then another doubt surfaced in her mind.

But if that's the case, how am I supposed to decide whether I should believe her or not?

Indeed, although Chris had accepted that Raye's words couldn't all be trusted, she was at a loss when it came to judging how credible they were.

There was nothing she could do. For some reason, Raye now wore the same expressionless poker face all day, making it difficult to determine the truth of her words from her behavior.

Ahhh! This is so annoying! Why do I have to worry about something like this?

Whether to believe someone or not had been a difficult question since ancient times. Especially when facing someone like Raye, who gave away no information at all, Chris couldn't think of a solution.

What am I supposed to believe, anyway?

Chris's mood sank.

To be honest, in theory, the matter troubling her now was unlikely. Raye had no reason to deceive her, as far as Chris could tell, and the confidence Raye displayed when speaking to her contained not the slightest trace of falsehood.

In a sense, the reason Chris was so troubled was that she didn't want to simply believe that Raye had become the detestable person she described herself as.

"What should I..."

"So what are you doing now, Chris? Performing a face-changing art?"

Just as Chris's expression kept shifting because her thoughts were in chaos, a voice she knew very well suddenly sounded beside her ear.

"Ra-ra-ra... Raye? Why did you follow me out? Didn't I say to leave me alone!?"

Startled by the voice beside her ear, Chris spoke nervously. A strange sense of embarrassment caused a faint blush to spread across her face.

"I don't want to interfere either. But since I promised Fine that I'd find a way to activate Durandal, I have to put some thought into it. So, what psychological problem have you developed now? Didn't I already tell you about what happened to me? What other questions do you have?"

Raye first explained why she had appeared there, then asked in a slightly exasperated tone what was wrong with Chris this time.

"Not again! Don't even think about tricking me with those words that sound so reasonable! I won't fall for it again!"

Hearing Raye's question, Chris, who had just been immersed in thoughts about belief and doubt, immediately reacted with considerable hostility.

"Huh? What?"

This time, Raye was genuinely confused. She had no idea what Chris was making a fuss about now.

Raye had indeed used some verbal techniques during their earlier conversation, but Chris's reaction looked neither like she had noticed them nor like she hadn't. Raye couldn't determine what was going on.

"Stop pretending! Until I find a good way to judge things, I won't accept everything you say anymore."

The white-haired girl in red bared her teeth like a wildcat and issued this threat to Raye.

"...All right. It seems that, for some reason, you've begun to distrust my words."

Raye finally managed to grasp a clue from Chris's behavior, but she felt even more troubled. She had thought that after Fine left, no one would do anything beyond her expectations. Chris's behavior proved that she had been overthinking it.

"Whatever. If you don't trust me, that's fine."

In the end, Raye seemed to speak with a hint of resignation.

"However... letting you continue to worry like this would also be a problem. In that case, I might as well give you some advice."

Looking at Chris, who watched her warily, Raye thought for a moment and decided to offer her a suggestion.

"Since you doubt what I've told you, investigate the truth yourself. Then you won't have to remain suspicious of everything like this."

Raye said this.

Investigate the truth myself? Right. As long as I obtain evidence of the facts, I can determine whether this woman lied to me.

Hearing Raye's suggestion, Chris realized that her thinking had fallen into a blind spot.

"You don't need to tell me. I'll judge it using my own methods."

Although she agreed with Raye inwardly, Chris still pretended not to accept it outwardly.

Sorry to trouble you, but more importantly, Chris, since you still can't restore your String Gain output, we can only continue with the plan we discussed earlier.

Ignoring Chris's behavior, Raye calmly reminded her of this.

"Wait, weren't you saying that as long as I recovered, we wouldn't have to carry out those two plans?"

Chris argued back after hearing Raye's words.

"Mm, that's indeed what we said before. But the problem is that I've already given you two chances and done my best to help you recover. Unfortunately, you failed to reach your usual level both times."

As she spoke, Raye took out her tablet and showed Chris the data from her two activations of Durandal that day.

"Th-this... Please give me one more chance! I'll definitely activate Durandal successfully next time!"

Chris tried to win herself another opportunity.

"Unfortunately, even if I wanted to agree to your request, I can't because of my agreement with Fine. I promised her that I would find a way to activate Durandal as soon as possible. One of the plans was something she made me agree to even at the cost of giving up the initiative. So, Chris, I'm sorry."

Raye rejected Chris's request without any room for compromise. Although she personally disliked Fine, a promise was a promise—something that had to be fulfilled even if one had to do it perfunctorily.

"Starting tomorrow, I'll give you some idol lessons in the morning, and you'll also have to cooperate with some preliminary promotional work. In the afternoon, we'll carry out Fine's plan. You'll go out and stroll through the streets with me. These two things will continue until you can fully activate Durandal."

With a relatively forceful approach, Raye established Chris's daily work from then on.

"Um, I don't have a problem with strolling around or anything, but the idol stuff isn't necessary... Wh-okay, I understand. I'll do it."

Chris still tried to struggle, but Raye quickly suppressed her with a terrifying look.

"Good. There's still some time left today, so I'll first carry out some threat-reduction treatment on you. I hope you'll cooperate with my work. Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage!"

After forcing Chris to accept the arrangement, Raye placed the tablet somewhere, then picked up the black-and-red blade hanging at her waist.

Soon, the red patterns on the blade shone intensely, and Raye's ordinary clothes transformed into white outer armor worn over a black bodysuit.

"Wait, Raye, what are you doing? You don't need this much for threat removal, do you?!"

Looking at the blonde girl who had suddenly donned armor, Chris sensed that something was wrong. Why did so-called threat-reduction treatment require her to enter a combat-ready state? And, for that matter, what exactly did threat-reduction treatment involve?

"This is merely necessary preparation. Now then, Chris, are you taking everything off yourself, or should I do it?"