Looking at the characters for 'Epiphany Manufacture' on the file in Kujou Katora's hand, Saionji Sagara's expression remained as calm as an ancient well.
She knew that even the Empire itself might not be willing to easily provoke 'Epiphany Manufacture', even if this laboratory was merely one of many under its banner.
But Kujou Katora was different. She was the kind of wild dog that would descend into immediate madness the moment she caught the scent of an Aberrant. Once she locked onto that scent, she would absolutely never let go.
Saionji Sagara gazed at the collar on the girl's neck; this was also a significant reason why she intended to entrust Zero to Su Yuzu. Because perhaps only Su Yuzu could tame this crazed wild dog. Although... she didn't know how Su Yuzu managed to do it.
Among the many people Saionji Sagara knew, only Kujou Katora was suitable for destroying that laboratory. She was willing, and she had the ability. Moreover, she feared no retaliation from either the Empire or 'Epiphany Manufacture'.
Kujou Katora's existence was the switch to a terrifying bomb. Everyone knew that although she detested Aberrants, the Abyss stood behind her. She was the thin thread tied to the hilt of the Sword of Damocles.
If anything were to truly go wrong with Kujou Katora, the 'Abyss of Eternal Smiles' that wandered the earth might be at the city gates by the next day. This time, there would be no Saintess from the 'Holy Royal Court' to sacrifice herself. No one dared to claim they could definitely stop an avatar of the Abyss Will that deployed an 'erosion domain' as a permanent ability.
The only person who might potentially stop that avatar of the Abyss Will... was still in the Abyss Battlefield and had not yet returned. If not for Soga Retsu's 'Sword of Will' shining as brilliantly as the sun, the outside world would have almost assumed he had already died within the Abyss Battlefield.
"Chiba Prefecture..." Kujou Katora flipped through the materials.
"Yes." Saionji Sagara nodded.
"Is there no more detailed location? We only know it's by the sea?" Kujou Katora's brows furrowed slightly.
"Under 'Epiphany Manufacture', there are a total of two laboratories by the sea," Saionji Sagara explained to Kujou Katora. "But we really don't know specifically which laboratory it is."
From the day she opened her eyes, Zero had always been inside the laboratory, never once stepping outside. Even the combat experiments involved death row inmates purchased from the outside, captured Walking Husks, or simply failures created by the laboratory... who should have been Zero's siblings.
Even the information about the laboratory being by the sea came from a scene Zero saw one day when the researcher sister she mentioned—acting on a sudden burst of kindness—took Zero to the rooftop for some fresh air. A night of brilliant stars, and a calm, deep sea surface. That picturesque scenery left a very strong impression on Zero.
"What a troublesome matter..."
"This isn't even as good as cleanup duty."
"I originally wanted to have some good fun with Yuzu."
"I haven't seen Yuzu for nine days and fourteen hours..."
The corner of Saionji Sagara's eye twitched suddenly. Kujou Katora watched Saionji Sagara's expression, thinking to herself that she hadn't even been precise down to the minutes and seconds yet.
aside from Miss Yuzu, after leaving Miss Yuzu, even the blessing of that bitch Lady Fate had become formulaic. It was like a timed alarm clock, making Kujou Katora always feel that something was missing.
"Anyway—" A smile that appeared warm and gentle brimmed on the girl's face as she waved the file in her hand. "This kind of laboratory that dares to extend its hand toward the Abyss... just leave it to me."
The girl's crimson eyes gazed at Saionji Sagara. "I understand Teacher's meaning. It is indeed inconvenient for Teacher to act in this matter."
Kujou Katora was very respectful in her address to Saionji Sagara, and that was because Saionji Sagara really was her teacher. A long, long time ago. Back when Kujou Iruka was still around.
At that time, Saionji Sagara was still a teacher at Imperial Capital University. She was also the strongest archer among all body-reinforcement type Espers. Unlike the agile, wind-like, high-attack but fragile elven archers often found in games, real archers possessed strength capable of rivaling a thousand armies.
And Saionji Sagara was the outstanding master of the bow at Imperial Capital University, and also... the leading teacher of Kujou Iruka. She had taught Kujou Iruka the bow. She had also taught Kujou Katora the chain saw.
Kujou Katora was very respectful toward her. Although Kujou Katora was crazy, she was not stupid. She knew the reason why Saionji Sagara gave her these materials. Teacher Saionji wanted to borrow her hand to destroy that laboratory which dared to reach out to the taboo.
Yes, destroy. The Edge of Aberration was a forbidden red line. A laboratory reaching out to the Edge of Aberration had no necessity to exist. Moreover, according to the data... they had already manufactured an Aberrant activation device capable of infecting civilians or Espers into Aberrants. If they were to fall toward the Abyss, the consequences would be unimaginable.
However, Kujou Katora didn't care about consequences or whatever; she just wanted to kill every last Aberrant. Since it was inconvenient for Teacher Saionji, she would do it herself. As for... the matter of Teacher Saionji using her? What 'using'? Wasn't that mutual consent? The interests and objectives were completely aligned; this was cooperation.
"However, before going to Chiba... I want to see Yuzu." Touching the leather of the collar on her neck, Kujou Katora lowered her brow and eyes, revealing a girlish smile completely different from her usual crazy expression.
"Tomorrow afternoon at five-thirty, Yuzu finishes class. Today, she is out on a mission." Saionji Sagara directly gave the time Su Yuzu would finish class. As for... Su Yuzu's mission today. Saionji Sagara didn't lie; Su Yuzu was indeed executing the mission of raising an Aberrant girl.
"Okay~~" Kujou Katora slipped her fingertips into the collar, tugging it slightly. The [Loyal Dog's Collar] had already been adjusted by her to a slightly smaller size. Even wearing it normally felt slightly suffocating.
But... Kujou Katora just liked that feeling of being locked. It made her feel as if Miss Yuzu were holding her leash. Under this tugging, Kujou Katora even felt a slight sense of suffocation and breathlessness.
But this was just right. Before experiencing a gluttonous feast, one always had to let things brew a little, to endure the hunger. that hunger would make her feel even more desire for the upcoming feast, brewing the deliciousness into something even more alluring.
*
By the time Su Yuzu came out of the classroom, this was the scene she saw.
A girl dressed in a bizarre combat suit; the upper garment was pitifully short, not even able to completely cover her chest. Tight black silk stockings perfectly outlined the curves of the girl's figure, sparing not even the muscle lines of her waist and abdomen or the contour of her navel.
The girl stood quietly at the intersection in front of the academic building. Those scarlet eyes, which seemed gentle yet made one dare not look directly at them, seemed as if they were about to burst forth with light the instant they saw Su Yuzu.
"My..."
"Lady Yuzu."
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