Chapter 51: Ready the Armor, Sharpen the Blades (Patreon)

The four people in the office ate curry as they sorted through the developments in Lungmen over the past few days.

"Ch'en, more and more refugees from Ursus have been arriving lately. I suspect some Reunion members are hiding among them."

Hoshiguma's concern made Ch'en nod silently.

Ever since the Chernobog incident, the number of refugees pouring into Lungmen had increased by the day.

However, most of the refugees who actually followed regulations and registered themselves were people who had not contracted Oripathy. The overwhelming majority of the Infected simply chose to settle directly in the slums.

As a result, the slums had expanded considerably in only a few days.

How many of those newcomers were genuine refugees, and how many were Reunion operatives, was anyone's guess.

Ch'en then handed several photographs to Ciel and the others.

"These were sent over by that pink-haired rat. The person in these photos is most likely the one Doctor Kal'tsit said Reunion is searching for."

Swire folded her arms and frowned, her fingers unconsciously tapping against her sleeve.

"Just who is this girl named Misha? Why would Reunion's supreme leader personally order her capture?"

"Rhodes Island is still investigating the exact reason. But if she's someone that 'Black Snake' wants, then we absolutely can't let it get its way."

Ch'en slammed a fist onto the table, making the coffee cups tremble.

"That said, the recent surge in refugees has given the Guard Department more than enough justification to act. Starting tomorrow, the LGD will officially intervene in this matter. Amiya will also lead a Rhodes Island squad to support us from the shadows."

While the three LGD officers enthusiastically finalized their plans for protecting Misha in the streets and arranging an evacuation route, Ciel, who had been sitting quietly to the side, suddenly stood up.

"Your tactical arrangements are thorough. But I'm going to disappear completely for a few days."

Her usual carefree demeanor vanished. A focused gleam appeared in her golden eyes.

"You deal with the Reunion grunts who've infiltrated Lungmen and keep that girl Misha safe. Meanwhile, I'm going to prepare a few gifts from the Lord for that disgusting old monster."

With that, Ciel turned toward the door and waved to the three women without looking back.

"I'm heading home. I'll leave Lungmen's streets to you."

Watching her disappear through the doorway, Ch'en took a deep breath and turned her attention back to the map of Lungmen's lower districts.

"We proceed according to plan. LGD, begin the operation!"

...

Late that night, in the Penguin Logistics employee dormitory.

Ciel locked her door and drew the heavy curtains shut.

In the center of the room sat the Laterano airdrop that had arrived earlier that day.

She opened the crate, which carried a faint scent of frosting.

Inside was a stack of Laterano scriptures titled Acts of the Apostles, their thick pages carrying the musty scent of old parchment. Beside them were several bottles of specially consecrated Originium powder and various items required for religious ceremonies.

The most eye-catching object of all, however, was a pure-white set of vestments embroidered with elaborate patterns.

Ciel reached out and ran her fingers across the fabric.

So that old man, the Pope, still hasn't given up on making me his successor?

Persistent as ever.

After a brief moment of reflection, Ciel turned her attention back to the books, each of them practically as thick as a brick.

In her original world, religion had spread far and wide and possessed countless believers. Combined with the widespread availability of printing technology, producing Black Keys had become easier and easier.

All one had to do was buy a Bible from a bookstore, perform the proper ritual, and the process could begin.

Religion in this world, however, was far more restricted by race and territory.

Lungmen was an enormous city, yet it didn't even have a small Laterano church.

That made producing Black Keys considerably more difficult, which was why Ciel had previously resorted to the far more expensive option of constructing them mechanically.

Fortunately, during her earlier battle against that pitch-black figure, Ciel had discovered something.

Even though her weapons had been mechanically constructed, they still gained a certain degree of effectiveness after undergoing her prayers and baptismal rites.

In that case, with everything now sitting before her, making a few hundred Black Keys by hand shouldn't be unreasonable, right?

Ciel thoroughly washed herself, then changed into the vestments brought over from another world.

She lit specially prepared incense and began the long baptismal ritual over the contents of the crate.

The following afternoon, in the hallway of the Penguin Logistics employee dormitory...

Texas and Exusiai arrived outside Ciel's room carrying the lunch they had just bought.

Ever since the blue-haired nun had returned the previous night, she hadn't stepped outside once.

"Senpai! Lunchtime—!"

Exusiai raised her hand to knock out of habit, only to suddenly freeze.

She leaned closer to inspect a sheet of white paper that had been firmly taped to the door. Even the halo above her head flickered in surprise.

Several large, flamboyantly written lines covered the note.

IN SECLUSION. DO NOT DISTURB.

P.S. LEAVE THREE MEALS A DAY OUTSIDE THE DOOR.

NOTE: NO DESSERTS. NO CURRY. SOMETHING LIGHT WILL DO.

Exusiai sucked in a sharp breath.

Her red eyes filled with shock and suspicion.

"No. No way. Something's definitely wrong!"

"Texas, think about it! Senpai complains about the Pope all the time, sure, but she still eats Laterano desserts! And 'something light'? How could those words possibly come from someone who practically wants to bathe in curry every day?!"

Texas stared at her expressionlessly.

"And?"

"Therefore, there's only one possible truth!"

Exusiai abruptly struck an exaggerated detective pose and pointed confidently at the door.

"Senpai has obviously been kidnapped in there! This note is a secret message she wrote under threat from the criminal, begging us to save her!"

"Wow."

Texas delivered the response with absolutely no emotion.

She's definitely been reading too many detective novels lately.

Feeling extremely pleased with her own reasoning, Exusiai immediately drew the submachine gun at her waist and lifted one foot, preparing to kick the door down.

"Hang on, Senpai! I'm coming to save—"

Just as her boot was about to slam into the door and her hand reached for the doorknob, a faint voice drifted eerily through the crack.

"Little Lem..."

"If you dare kick that door open today and interrupt my baptismal ceremony..."

"I promise that the first thing I'll do when I come out is turn you into a genuine angel."

"Urk."

Exusiai's raised leg instantly froze in midair.

She remained balanced awkwardly on one foot outside the door, even breaking into a cold sweat.

"Ahahaha... Senpai, you carry on! Don't mind me! I'll leave some clear noodle soup outside right away! No scallions, no chili, I promise!"

Smoothly lowering her leg, Exusiai moved with incredible speed to hide the extra-spicy apple pie she had originally planned to "share" with Ciel behind her back.

Then she stood perfectly straight like an obedient child.

Texas sighed helplessly.

She placed her own mild sandwich and carton of milk on the mat outside the door, then grabbed Exusiai by the back of her collar and dragged her toward the end of the hallway.

"Texas, let go of me! I was genuinely worried about her! That was nothing but pure concern between coworkers!"

"Shut up. Keep making noise and she won't have to do anything. I'll turn you into a real angel myself."

Listening to their bickering gradually fade into the distance, Ciel took a deep breath inside the room and once again focused her attention on the faintly glowing pages in her hands.

Behind her, a piece of pure Originium resting atop the Seventh Holy Scripture pulsed with light in time with her baptismal chant, glowing and dimming as though it were breathing.