Challenge: The Fool with the Surname Okayamine

Chapter 206 Neighboring Realms: Execution Belonging to the Dominators

'Bang--!'

A deafening explosion rang out, and the school building, starting from the entrance, was covered and obscured by a highly compressed black flame cross. The building was completely reduced to dust, leaving only a charred ruin.

The puppets that rushed around them, like insects, all rushed in one direction. In this ruin, there was only a girl whose whole body was burned and who was almost unrecognizable, and a black king standing in the ruin.

As his military uniform slowly receded, Wuming, whose spiritual power had been nearly exhausted by the attack, walked slowly towards the group of puppets.

The ruins were unusually noisy, and the cries of the dolls in front of the girl whose body was charred black and who seemed to have lost the ability to move were chilling.

"Master!" "Protect Master!" "As long as you won't hurt Master!" "I'll kill you!"

Despite being a quasi-elf killed by the 'Puppet Master,' because even his soul had been twisted, he stood in front of Wuming without hesitation, followed by several gunshots from behind.

The doll was instantly shattered.

"You seem to still have a sliver of pity, actually managing to make a move the instant you surrounded them?"

A somewhat complex voice came from the shadow behind Wuming, and then a girl named Tokisaki Kurumi stepped out of the shadow.

"No, it's just that it's sad that those who longed to fight from birth to death are defiled in this way after their deaths... After all, it wouldn't be good if [she] were among them."

He tilted his head slightly to look, and what followed was Wuming's voice, devoid of any emotion.

His memories of Kurumi were vague, and Kurumi's memories weren't much better than Wuming's. The only thing they could be sure of was that they had been friends.

It was both familiar and strange, like meeting an acquaintance for the first time, and even Kurumi and Wuming might not be able to identify who the "she" was for the time being.

"Hmm, how are you now?"

"My memories have mostly returned, but my body is generating spiritual energy very slowly. Even the spiritual armor I created for myself just now to withstand this massive explosion, based on my memories, has disappeared."

"I see. It's not comprehensive. It seems my memory isn't much better than yours."

The two sides exchanged information briefly, but gained nothing. Their memories of each other were limited to the fact that the other was indeed a friend.

However, compared to this situation...

Wuming and Kurumi were more concerned about remembering that even their eyes had been blown out, and only one or two puppets were still around them. The puppeteer was now lying on the ground, isolated and helpless.

The two exchanged a glance.

"Aren't you going to make a move? I thought you'd be very interested..."

"Miss Kurumi, I don't care. You can kill her if you want, just announce that I killed her."

"Wow, you're really casual~ Then I won't stand on ceremony."

After waving her hand, Kurumi walked gracefully toward the 'Puppet Master' who had almost lost her powers, her 'Zafkiel' already fully charged and ready to be used.

...Meanwhile, on the other hand, Hibiki, who had originally taken over Kurumi Tokisaki's identity...

On a ground stained with blood, he opened his eyes and found himself completely unharmed.

She was startled to find her clothes stained with blood. Her hair, hands, and feet were no longer those of Tokisaki Kurumi, but rather those of an empty, bare girl.

The morning sun began to shine into the abandoned factory. The rain, which had been falling incessantly, had completely stopped, as if it had lasted all night.

"Where's Kurumi..."

She stood up. It was eerily quiet outside. There seemed to be no sign of any dolls, quasi-elves, or other creatures moving about.

"A street that is completely empty."

This street was empty, sadly desolate. Just like myself.

...When she didn't see the puppet, she vaguely sensed something was wrong. But she didn't expect it, because it was possible that everything was simply over, and even the "puppet master" didn't want her anymore.

—I have no value in myself.

There is no reason to live.

But if I survive, I will have to witness the end.

That was Hibiki Hibiki's duty and responsibility.

Hibiki walked on alone, listless. His destination was probably the place where they first met, the starting point of their battle—that central school building.

As she got closer to her destination, she gradually became aware of the unusual situation.

In that scorched ash area, the so-called school buildings were long gone, leaving only a mountain of corpses.

A group of puppets collapsed to the ground, looking utterly dejected. Of course, they were all soldiers of the "Puppet Masters".

He died.

Some people may have occasional external injuries, but the vast majority do not.

Heartbeat.

The complete collapse of the school buildings means that—

"Kurumi—!"

Hibiki sat on the ruins, swinging her legs listlessly. Kurumi turned around, looking somewhat disappointed.

Wu Ming, who was standing to the side, simply devouring the undamaged soul crystals that were being taken out to restore his spiritual power, only glanced at her and did not intend to pay any attention to her.

"Oh, you're still alive!"

"You're the one who healed me, aren't you?"

Kurumi's bullets, the "Fourth Bullet Dalet," are designed for regeneration. They can reverse time, healing not only wounds but even severed arms. The question is, how does Hibiki regenerate?

If it were just about healing her injuries, then Hibiki would have returned to the time when she was the imposter Kurumi Tokisaki. But her physical timeline reverted to the moment she was healthy, restoring her original body; she didn't die.

"Uh, thank you."

"It's nothing. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing. The point is, look."

Kurumi responded coldly and pointed into the depths of the rubble.

Hibiki shifted his gaze in that direction—his eyes widened.

There lay a girl whose entire body was charred, and two dolls pressed tightly against her, as if protecting her.

It's Zhu Xiaoting and Lu Kesi. Only those two dolls... are still alive.

"The girl lying there looks like a 'puppet master'."

"Was she...dead?"

"I'm sorry, I'm still alive. However, I can't move a single finger."

I couldn't see her face clearly; she looked like a cockroach, her mouth opening and closing intermittently. I remember that pain seemed to be constantly tormenting her body, to the point that she couldn't even move or die because of her physical condition.

"Aren't you going to fight?"

"No, it's a pity I wasn't the one who did it, and she seems unable to move. It wasn't my fault, she was always unable to move. It's also possible that it started after she came to this neighboring world, but that's none of my business."

As she spoke, Kurumi glanced slightly at Wuming standing next to her, and even Hibiki looked in that direction, but was startled by the terrifying sight of Wuming constantly devouring the soul crystals of others.

In the end, our attention returned to the 'Puppet Master'.

"So, only dolls...?"

"The dolls are my lifeline. My life depends entirely on them."

She was a hateful existence, yet Hibiki could only sigh in despair.

In other words, she lay on this bed and, by simply manipulating the puppets, climbed to the position of the ruler of the tenth domain.

"Wait, but... then why...?"

Conversely, seeing her appear in this manner, Hibiki could understand. She was weak; a single bullet could solve everything.

"……I’m waiting for you."

Kurumi sighed.

"wait for me?"

Hibiki felt bewildered. Kurumi gracefully landed in front of the bed where she was lying.

The two dolls moved their bodies. Despite their fear, they glared at Kurumi with resolute expressions.

“I have no grudge against the ‘Puppet Master.’ Although I am somewhat angry about what she did, revenge and murder are another matter.”

Hibiki understood that Kurumi Tokisaki wanted her to personally end her grudge.

"Shall I do it?"

"That's right. If you crave revenge, it's you who should pull the trigger. Only you have that right."

My best friend was taken away.

They fought desperately, disregarding everything, to seek revenge.

Kurumi Tokisaki just happened to board that train; she was merely a passerby. That's what I'm telling you.

"Come on, raise your gun."

Kurumi gently placed the pistol into Hibiki's hand, then pressed her entire body against Hibiki's. Shadow was already fully loaded.

"Next, all you have to do is pull the trigger."

"Kill me or torture me, it's up to you."

The puppeteer chuckled softly.

"Please, spare her... spare her. We'll let you wreak havoc to your heart's content."

"Please, stop! ...I'll give you anything—spirit armor, soul crystals, everything. You can even have a part of the Tenth Realm as your territory. Just stay there and do whatever you want. I swear to my master! I will never attack that place!"

The two puppets desperately tried to stop it.

The pleading look on his face softened Xiang's heart for a moment—he wanted to turn his head away, but he restrained himself.

Kurumi chuckled softly in her ear and murmured:

"...That's true. Maybe the 'puppet master' isn't guilty at all."

"Yes. I am guilty. Don't get me wrong, it's nothingness. Adding puppets was my idea from beginning to end."

The puppeteer made this declaration with unwavering resolve.

The finger on the trigger was full of power.

Don't say things that incite hatred.

It would make me unable to resist pulling the trigger...!

“Shut up, ‘Puppet Master.’ Don’t add fuel to the fire with her judgment.”

The Puppet Master gave a wicked smile.

Her behavior made Xiang realize that she was deliberately provoking her. In other words, the current situation was the most painful for her.

"Kurumi, the puppet on your back—"

"Everything has stopped. It seems impossible for it to move again; the soul crystal fragments have shattered."

So, defeating the remaining puppets would be the greatest revenge.

“...That’s right. If your goal is revenge, then it’s definitely the right judgment.”

"Shut up!"

My head was spinning, my fingertips were freezing, my body was trembling, and I couldn't aim properly.

"Both sides are correct."

Kurumi murmured.

Her sincere murmurs inexplicably seeped into Xiang's heart.

"Whether you pull the trigger or not, it's all revenge against her. So the key is 'what you think'."

They pushed her into the abyss of loneliness, making her taste the bitterness of despair.

...What a wonderful choice! No matter what kind of near-spirit she is, she probably won't complain. And how many near-spirits have she turned into dolls?

but--

However, for some reason, I feel a little uncomfortable.

"...Oh, I see. I used to think you were pitiful."

"You don't need to pity me."

"No, I sympathize with you, pity you, feel compassion for you, and think you are pathetic. But that's precisely why I'm pulling the trigger."