Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 119: Arc 3, - 29: Lost in Crimson
’What am I even doing anymore? What does this all mean? Why am I stuck, seeing the same day, over and over. Is this what I’m supposed to be doing? Why do I even have my sword out? Where is my objective?’
That thought was but one voice, lost in a sea of her own paranoia and anxiety.
’It doesn’t matter. I need to be decisive. It’s the only way forward; the only way to keep them all safe. I need to eliminate every threat till this day is over and then the next. I WILL!’
Another voice conquered any other’s in her mind. Her blade sparked to her command—the grip on the handle, a mere instinct to hold on so tight till her nails marked her palms.
Hotaru furrowed her brows to the scene, her lips opened; ’Jotou, if you’re right then we can go through this legally and be fine’. It was so simple and yet those words never left her lips, "Aegis-Aura."
A layer of bluish protection hummed around the three. Jotou tilted her head, showing a little smirk in the redhead’s direction.
Moments, seconds, hours, all in a fraction of a fraction, her doubt disappeared. Her tail spiked, trusting in her words and in her words alone.
Her ears bristled, facing the incoming opponents. Jotou knew what she was doing, she had to know... right?
One other person, awaited a word of command. Something to do in such a sudden moment. Was she to flee? Was she to go invisible? Perhaps make everyone invisible?
No word came to make her decision. The elf’s lips wriggled, hands tightly holding up her wand to her chest; she faced every direction as her jade-green eyes kept going back to Jotou...
"Blinding Light!" she threw her wand forward, a dim white light flashed to the front. Awaiting approval or something, anything, her eyes wandered again to the mane of gold.
Though, the fraction of a fraction of a moment was over. "CLING!" Jotou had already stepped up, her sword held sideways to hold back to halberds.
Not even a glint of a spark in her brown eyes, "HYA!" she kicked from underneath and knocked the halberds up. She pushed forward the sparking blade, one across the neck as crimson cauterized on impact.
She managed to grab the other guard’s armour, "ZAP!" the lightning jolted off her fingers and arced across the chainmail and cloth, going through the veins of his fingers and neck.
"GGGGaahahaAGAG!" he choked; his eyes rolled back as his tongue spat and spasmed before his body dropped. Two metal clunks hit the floor right before her boots.
The scent of evaporating blood and charred flesh filled her breath as the blonde faced the others who dared approach. Her eyes fixated on the minister who hushed something to the guards—fear forming in droplets of his sweat.
One guard ran towards the office while two pushed the minister into a corner with their backs, slowly escorting Minister Saady to the exit along the wall’s edge.
"YOU CAN’T ESCAPE SAADY! YOU CAN’T RUN!"
Asobi squeaked to the exclamation of the blonde, shrinking her shoulders in, her eyes bubbled. Why was she smiling? Why in the world was she smiling when she yelled out something that makes people keep one eye open at night?
Jotou leapt over the bodies and ran forward. A light growl came from Hotaru who leapt forward with her, within an arm’s length of her blonde hair.
Jotou put her left hand out to halt the redhead, as she raised her armite sword. Three guards went into the narrow space and more funnelled behind—packed like sardines to block her exit.
Her crimson locks flung forward over her eyes as her feet planted. Jotou knew of his corruption, Jotou knew he would run; frankly, the wolf-girl was tired of political warfare as it was.
A why, a how, without a shadow of a doubt, she followed. Knowing Jotou had promised to explain all of this later. Jotou knows what she’s doing. Jotou knows what she’s doing.
"SLASH! CLINK! SHRUCK!" The Thundering Blade could not spin herself in such tight quarters, but that did not stop her sword webbed in yellow.
Their polearms served little to no purpose in offense; the plan was clear, block the exit so that the minister can retreat. Mere scratches went over her yellow coat, not even leaving a mark.
Unable to swing, her sparking blade was of little to no use, to their chainmail and polearms aimed at her. "PATHETIC!" Jotou lowered herself and swiped her sword up, breaking the spears by the shaft.
Her sword pierced forward into the necks of her opponents—a gurgle of blood echoed ahead stopped by a spark, "Zap!" she beheaded to the left as his helmeted head pinged onto the floor.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Jotou dashed forward, pushing into the dead bodies and throwing them aside. Hotaru followed suit to push them away as Jotou thrusted her blade forward.
Sanguine fluid, fresh iron scent through the defending guards of a relatively narrow hallway. Blood splattered across the walls and onto to their clothes, "Rejuvenate!" Hotaru would add to her effort.
Asobi blankly stared while one by one bodies fell like hay off a cart. Their grunts and efforts to keep the blonde at bay coming to a quick failure.
"Asobi!" Hotaru called for.
A slight, "Huh?" came from her lips before the raven-haired elf shook her head. She realized how far the two had gone. "I’m coming!" she hopped over the bodies, ignoring the sight below as she joined them.
Six or so corpses left in her wake before, "Screw this!" one guard turned back with a nervous sweat down his tanned skin; he ran off.
One by one the other guards followed his lead, going into retreat once realizing the minister was no longer anywhere in sight.
The last to turn back and try to- "CHLACK!" He choked—a blade through the back of his neck, right in between the end of the helmet and the chest plate.
The body fell limp against the wall, but her eyes fixated forward as polearms were being thrown away in retreat. "GET BACK HERE!!!" Jotou dashed, followed by Hotaru and Asobi.
"SLICE! STAB!" Jotou chased down, a feverish pant in her hasted bloodbath. ’Everyone, every single one needs to be GONE!’ Soon, she found herself slicing the last guard in her view.
Everything, a blur, blood dripping down her sword that did not glow in sparks any longer. A guard walked past the entrance, holding a plate of chocolates before the plate crashed.
His eyes widened, "AHHH!" he screamed, running out the door. Jotou groaned, then ran after him. The doors burst open as the guard ran out.
The blonde, followed by her other two companions, rushed out- "Put your hands in the air and drop the sword!" three armed policemen aimed their muskets at her.
The guard ran and ran past them—chainmail clanking. The police had arrived, other muskets being aimed whilst many held spears at the ready.
The minister stood behind them all, with the two guards that had escorted him out. "I LET ONE OF YOU BASTARDS SLIP OUT TO THE OFFICE DIDN’T I!? MY MISTAKE!"
"DROP THE SWORD AND ON YOUR KNEES OR WE WILL FIRE!" the one in the middle put his hand up, away from his own musket to command the others to shoot.
Jotou’s arm covered over Asobi to her left, "I’LL BE DAMNED IF I-"
Hotaru gripped Jotou’s armed wrist; anger flashed across the redhead’s face as she bared her fangs to the police, "Jotou; I think it’s better if we drop it," no anger went in the direction of the blonde however.
Jotou breathed, breathed... Considering Hotaru’s plea... Jotou closed her eyes. "CLANG, tang, cling..." The blood-soaked sword dropped.
_
Fumeko walked around to see the three of them. The skies had gone red and purple by the time they were freed from their handcuffs.
Asobi rubbed her wrists that were cuffed and yet her gaze remained on Jotou. Hotaru’s eyes were half-closed, "I told you we could be fine."
Jotou did not glance in her direction, "Thanks," barely a mutter.
Fumeko stared from the other side of the room, "I can’t believe Hotaru got arrested before I did."
"Shut it," Hotaru exhaled.
Camo uniforms traipsed the police station—the minister kept in a private room not too far away whilst some of his lawyers were at the ready with their files.
The jail cells were not the most comfortable, but the documents Fumeko gave Major Schroeder ensured they did not stay in them for very long.
Speaking of which, "Let go on the claims of self-defence. Quite the story, though I suppose you leave quite the impression wherever you go Thundering Blade," the major stopped them in the hallway leading into the main building.
"Ms Howllett doesn’t have to say anything and neither does Ms Asobi. If you have further questions, you can speak to me," Hotaru stepped in front.
"It’s fine Aru," Jotou stepped beside her. "I know I’m not off the hook," Jotou looked to the major.
"Yes, you still have a lot of questioning and interrogations to get through. However, considering your previous accomplishments and your, ’self-defence’, I have another offer," the major glared, standing as straight as an arrow.
"Would that be aiding in the fight of the rogue battalion in the west?" Jotou asked as Hotaru and Fumeko glanced at her, puzzled.
The major did not break eye contact, "I’m glad that you’re aware. If you aid us, we can lessen whatever is to come. Consider the fact that the guards you killed had families who will sue.
Not to mention, even with the evidence you have of why you acted this way, the minister and his lawyers will fight you in court-"
"Alright. Some things are off plan, but this will do. As long as you can inform my party on all the intel you have on them, I will fight this battalion," Jotou cared not for him to finish.
The major, raised his head, "Then it’s settled. I would say it’s an honour to be fighting with the Thundering Blade herself, but I’d rather not."
"Wait, wasn’t this all for the travel ban? What’s going on? Is it lifted?" Fumeko squinted back and forth.
"Not yet. While we can say that this ban exists with Trailon’s involvement, we can’t complicate things just yet. There are rules we must fall back on.
The public were warned to stick to their daily routines whilst the minister is in custody. Things will run as they are until this case is solved.
Since a couple of our forces will now have to be stationed here to keep order, we need all the help we can get. In other words, the ban is going to be much longer than expected.
Given the intel we have, it’s also not safe to give passage to messengers to other regions to inform everyone as that will require some military aid to get across and we can’t afford it in the coming battle."
"What intel would that be?" Hotaru queried.
"It’s from the letters Ms Namora provided us. We require not to give said intel to you."
"This is what I get for not reading them fully..." Fumeko grumbled.
"Fine, I can figure that out later. I’ll deal with whatever comes next," Jotou swore. ’As long as everyone that I care for stays safe and alive.’
