Sayo's Perspective:
"Has Miss Jean really not returned for over three days?"
I was sitting in Miss Jean's room, burying my head in the blanket, breathing in the delicate fragrance that represented Miss Jean, and speaking to my reflection in the mirror about everything related to her.
"The first time I saw her, she was so extraordinary. Golden hair, beautiful cheeks, a tall and graceful figure, a noble temperament, and a smile as warm as a spring breeze."
"Just standing next to her made me feel how ordinary I was, how... as if everything I was once proud of wasn't so outstanding anymore."
I looked at myself in the mirror with disdain, only to find the reflection looking back at me with the same disdainful gaze.
"Of course, it's not that Najenda, our BOSS, or Big Sister Fiona, or Mine, Chelsea, Akame, or Kurome aren't good—they are all excellent people. But Miss Jean is different; she is so noble and dazzling. Whenever I am with her, all my shortcomings seem to have nowhere to hide."
"After that, I seemed to start avoiding her, using being busy with work as an excuse, minimizing my contact with her as much as possible."
"Not long after, Miss Jean, having just received her nichirin blade, went on her first mission. Relying on her own strength, she completed it very quickly. This news spread throughout the village in an instant; after all, she was the first swordsman who could independently use a Breathing Technique to defeat a demon. Her appearance proved the value of our village's existence."
"Looking back now, I wasn't as excited or incredulous as Tatsumi and Ieyasu. It felt normal, as if that person, who seemed to be from a different dimension than us, should naturally be able to accomplish all of this."
I tried to inhale and exhale using the Breathing Technique while facing the blanket, but I couldn't even hold on for one cycle. My lungs felt like they were being torn apart, and tears were about to fall.
"Waaah!" I quickly raised my head: "Phew, I almost got Miss Jean's blanket wet."
"I really am a useless person. I can't use the Breathing Technique at all, and the archery I've practiced since childhood is meaningless against those demons. I can only rely on my years of experience to bandage the villagers' external injuries. I even lied to her, saying the infirmary was busy, but apart from helping the injured change their bandages, there's nothing else I can do well."
Suddenly, I noticed the room getting brighter. It turned out to be the rays of the setting sun shining in through the gap in the door. Following the light, I looked up and saw that the courtyard in front of the house had turned golden.
"Come to think of it, it was right there that I saw another side of Miss Jean."
——Flashback——
That was the second day of the welcome party. Following a lingering fragrance, I came to the vicinity of this courtyard and saw Miss Jean, who had finished eating and started sparring with Akame in the distance.
Even holding a wooden sword, she was still dignified and made people yearn for her, but the scene that followed exceeded my expectations.
Perhaps because her reaction was a little slow, she was hit by Akame's wooden sword, letting out a cute sound.
Ah, I didn't expect Miss Jean to have such a cute side. Thinking this, I started peeking from a distance.
Just like that, unknowingly, time passed from morning until night. Even at noon, when she ate dry rations while enjoying the scent of roasted pork legs—although I couldn't understand my own behavior—I kept peeking.
Watching her get knocked down repeatedly while sparring with Akame and Kurome.
Watching her grit her teeth every time to stand up and start again.
Watching her eat lunch happily, chatting and laughing with those two.
Watching her finally knock away Kurome's wooden sword like a master swordsman who had practiced for many years.
From that moment on, it seemed I could no longer take my eyes off her.
——End of Flashback——
At this moment, heavy footsteps came from outside the door. I didn't need to guess to know it was that idiot Tatsumi. Then, sure enough, his loud voice rang out:
"Sayo! The team searching for Miss Jean is back!"
---
Kurome's Perspective:
"Assemble, assemble, all members of Demon Slayer, assemble."
On the windowsill, a crow started cawing loudly, waking me from my dreams.
"Ah, so annoying. What is it, interrupting my sleep!"
"Hurry up and get dressed, Kurome. BOSS is calling us."
Big Sister is really something, still as rigid as she was in the assassination squad, but supporting such a sister is also a younger sister's duty.
I rubbed my slightly aching stomach and fished out half a candy from the drawer. The remaining stock wasn't much, and even the people who could make candy were all dead.
Not wanting to think about those troublesome things, I followed my sister through the corridor and arrived at the gloomy conference room.
Seeing our arrival, Najenda looked around to confirm the members and said:
"The investigation has results."
Then Najenda fell silent again. At this moment, my sister asked excitedly:
"What about Jean? Is Jean alright?"
"I'm sorry..."
Tsk, here we go again. That's why I don't like interacting with others too much.
Seeing Najenda fall into silence, her little follower Lubbock began to explain:
"The Chain Crow recorded the entire process. First, according to the planned schedule, Jean defeated the demon who was a Teigu User and recovered the Teigu. However, during the rest period, her location was reported by local villagers. Finally, she encountered General Budo in the forest near the snowy mountain. According to the last recording of the Crow, Jean eventually fell in a pool of blood and was buried by an avalanche. It has been nearly three days since then; I'm afraid she is unlikely to survive. Although the intelligence personnel we sent during the day also conducted a search, they only found the Teigu left under the rubble."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry and find Jean. If we are any later..." My sister was still in such an excited state.
"Sorry, that won't work. According to the current intelligence, General Budo is still stationed in the same place, and a Teigu called 'Nightfall' has been deployed there."
"Nightfall?" Hearing the strange term, I couldn't help but ask.
"This is a Teigu that can block the sky. The specific situation is unknown, but within a 1km radius of its center, even demons can move normally during the day. Therefore, the team sent to investigate this time suffered heavy losses, and only two people barely managed to bring back the Teigu that Jean recovered. In addition, the Chain Crow has been monitoring the area since the avalanche stopped. So far, there has been no sign that she is still alive. At the same time, we have no way to counter General Budo, who has undergone demonization. So, unfortunately, the search for Jean cannot continue."
A reasonable explanation, so reasonable it makes me want to vomit. But ever since I can remember, my life has been full of such things.
At this moment, the door of the conference room was suddenly pushed open. Sayo rushed in and shouted at Najenda:
"Why just give up on her! Miss Jean is not a hero sent by heaven to save us, but an ordinary person who became strong through hard work just like us. She is an ordinary person living in the peaceful Western Kingdom, but she unhesitatingly left her country to join us, fighting for this country that is in hell. And now, are we going to abandon her when she is in trouble!!!"
I never realized that the lively and cheerful Sayo had such a side, but her plea was destined to be impossible. As an organization, rationality is more important than anything else.
Sure enough, the silent Najenda spoke: "We can only monitor the situation inside from the periphery of Nightfall during the day. I can only say that, dead or alive, we will try our best not to let Jean fall into the hands of the demons. But I'm sorry, this is the limit."
No one could refute Najenda's words. In fact, a huge army of hundreds of thousands was destroyed by General Budo alone. Even though Najenda's hands were trembling slightly, even though Brand was about to crush the stone table, even though Mine was expressionless the whole time, even though my sister was gripping her sword as if she was about to kill someone.
But it was useless. Perhaps one day we could avenge her, but we couldn't do it now.
After Sayo ran out again, Najenda announced the end of the meeting. Because the night search was cancelled, I had slept all day and couldn't fall asleep now.
My mind was full of Sayo's excited expression. If I died one day, would my sister be that excited too...
Sigh, I really envy Jean, having so many people thinking of her.
Sigh, it's a pity I might not be able to eat her roasted meat again.
---
Sayo's Perspective 2:
I really am a hopeless person.
Even though I spoke so passionately in the conference room just now, I never actually thought that way.
Jean is a hero sent from heaven; she is the most perfect person I have ever seen.
If she leaves, it just means returning to heaven.
However, however, those who betrayed her, those who hurt her, I will never let them go!
"Do you think I will be able to see Jean again? Miss Angel."
Hearing my question, Miss Angel appeared before me again. Even though her whole body was covered in an airtight black robe, she had pure white wings spreading behind her back.
"As long as you follow the method I taught you, your faith will gradually transform into your power. One day, it won't be difficult to call back the deceased."
After getting a positive reply from Miss Angel, I should also start taking action. Wait for me, Jean.
---
■ ■ ■'s Perspective:
This world is really terrible. The air is filled with acrid smells everywhere—filth, depravity, death, sin, all mixed together, and it couldn't be worse.
But it is precisely because of this that the world needs change. I must find a way to spread the method of transforming faith into power. One day, it can become a power capable of breaking the arrogance of the Mother Goddess.
...
'Listen, wandering humans. Humans may not believe in gods, but they must believe in themselves. Let the believing heart overcome some hardships and torments, and a better tomorrow will surely be waiting for you.'
The people who had gathered because I demonstrated some divine arts began to applaud one after another. At the same time, quite a few people threw over some coins, even a gold-bearing coin. However, before I could pick it up, it was snatched away by a child.
But why? Why are they full of interest on the surface, but sneering in their hearts? Why don't they want to believe even when the power of miracles is placed before their eyes? And why do they treat me like a street performer!
Every day they think that by bowing and worshiping in a meaningless way, the gods will fulfill their wishes. Offering 10 coins to the gods, wanting the gods to help them find 100 coins—are the gods stupid?
There are even those who are unwilling to give up even 1 coin. Don't freeload off the gods, hey!
...
I didn't expect there to be a small mountain village here. The people here have more hope and confidence. What a good place.
Ah, how dazzling this power of faith is. The power within this girl named Sayo is rare. If it were her, she would surely be able to accept this gift and carry on the will of humanity.
...
As I expected, Sayo accepted it very quickly and got the hang of it very quickly.
It's just that her faith comes from love, and unrequited love at that. A girl's heart is also quite nice. Come on, girl!
...
I thought Sayo was a Little Girl obsessed with a beautiful romance, but this—sneaking in while the beloved is not at home, and doing strange things while smelling the other person's scent... There is a yandere by my side!
However, the object of her affection went on a mission and hasn't returned, seemingly having met with misfortune. The poor child didn't even have time to express her feelings. Speaking of which, why is the name Jean so familiar? It must be an illusion.
Fortunately, Sayo's heart has become more determined. I'm even considering taking her with me when I leave the world. What a perfect Valkyrie seed.
...
Wait, something seems wrong. Why is her faith not concentrated on herself but flying into the distance?
Could it be that she has an object of faith? Come to think of it, isn't Jean the name of that evil god's child!
Stop it! Believe in yourself more, human!
...
I was glared at, glared at fiercely. Even though I am the Mother Goddess in the relationship of imparting power.
So sad. Why don't children nowadays respect their elders? This must be the so-called rebellious phase.
Fortunately, after some adjustments, the lost faith returned to her own body. It really is a rough road ahead...
---
Youth's Perspective:
Damn it! Why is it not working! If it weren't for the mission, I wouldn't have come here and fought this monster.
"Hehehe, a very interesting ability. To actually turn the wall of the heart into a physical wall. If I hadn't absorbed the Teigu Five Sights: Spectator, I really wouldn't have had any way to deal with you. But now that I've absorbed it, this power is mine."
Aaaaaah, it's too scary, I have to leave here. No, that's not right, I can't run... I can't run... I can't run...
"Let's see what your name is for the last time. I see, then goodbye, Shinji Ikari."
[Mission failed. Mission difficulty assessed as increased. Transferring upwards.]
I'm sorry, Kaworu Nagisa... I've failed again...
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