Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 148: Arc 3, - 58: The Definition of Insanity
’Again I go... Did I have a dream?’ The blonde knitted her brows; the last thing she remembered was pressing the button and bidding Asobi goodbye.
Jotou sighed, getting ready for another day—another chance at ending all of this mayhem. ’Probably didn’t have a dream.’ She could recall nothing else after the moment of when she pressed that button.
’Stop overthinking it.’ Jotou brushed aside, rising from her bed and pushing the sheets aside. A small smile she turned with to a brunette with a purple headband.
Fumeko sat at the side of the bed, removing the strands of hair stuck to her face. Jotou took a breath, a soft smile still worn, "Morning."
"Mm... Morning," Fumeko grumbled, rubbing her forehead.
’I wonder.’
Jotou watched as Fumeko winced, wrinkling her brows tight as she grunted holding her head, "Gah..."
"Meko? What’s wrong?" Jotou threw the sheets aside and strode over to the brunette’s bed.
"It feels like someone’s poking a hundred needles into my head and rolling a boulder over it," Fumeko shook her head, trying to ease her mind. Jotou let out a groan.
Fumeko calmed herself down and peered up at the blonde, "Why? You have a headache too?"
"No. But it’s getting much, much worse..."
"Getting worse?"
_
"You’re serious? That’s the reason for the headaches?" Fumeko queried.
"All of our headaches... You’re telling us we died multiple times?" Hotaru glanced to the blonde.
"And, my magic can put on a show to hurt people?" Asobi’s eyes softened; the news of them dying did not sit well with her.
Jotou nodded, "I need to talk to all of you separately." Jotou smiled a little, "Don’t worry. I have a plan and enough intel—I hope. We have a few little trips to make."
Four breakfasts around the table, Aviv interrupting, the morning filled with the same faces again, the carriages parked in the same positions. Every last detail, including the tank Jotou added.
The people all around them seemed to be in sour moods. A veterinarian had come to visit the horses and horsaroaches that seemed sickly. Even the food had become edible as opposed to delicious.
They found themselves inside, hours going by as Jotou talked to each one of them privately once more, not skipping any detail. Once more, their interactions were just as similar as last time.
They all gathered in Jotou and Fumeko’s room again. "I know none of you have any memory of this, but I hope me telling you at least could make a fake memory of it."
"I can see all of it now!" Asobi brought her wand out, forming the light into the various scenes Jotou described.
"We don’t need to go through all of it again," Fumeko snarked.
"A tank is what ended Fumeko and I?" Hotaru’s ears folded, "The vehicle Mayor Gestryle told us about?"
"Exactly that."
"Jotou, do you think I could learn all those cool, awe-inspiring spells again?" Asobi’s legs shook.
"I’m not sure how, but you could do it when you’re happy and entertaining people I believe."
"So, you want us to go to that grass border and get whatever notes the past, us, left behind?" Hotaru repeated to make sure.
"Not yet. I’ve thought of a list of things we need to do in order. We do that after meeting the minister," Jotou plotted.
"And the more times we reset, the worse the consequences?" Fumeko held a hand to her chin.
"Yes. The device can’t be used twice. It records and reverts; and it reverts as many times as it needs. The only way to turn it off is to destroy it.
If we lose, the battalion will invade Hartamat after destroying the device, so no chances to reset after that. The entire experiment is the time loops and trying to change Trailon’s outcome. It’s what I meant by it’s getting worse."
"And getting worse for everyone in the rogue battalion. Assuming they’re resetting like us," Fumeko added.
"I can’t say for certain, but last time there were less soldiers than the time before that. It could mean many soldiers were down; but how it went from two hundred to four is still a mystery.
I thought about intercepting the messenger who would arrive to Major Schroeder today, but that would lead to nowhere useful," Jotou shook her head.
"Okay, let’s go see this minister then."
"I hope you believe me," Jotou smirked.
Hotaru’s tail swayed, "Jotou, of course I do."
"I can tell you guys the rest of the plan on the way, but before that, can we have a little fun?" the blonde shifted her bangs.
"Fun!?" Asobi hopped up.
_
"Who bothers me at this hour?"
"Sir, the, Thundering Blade and her companions," the guard in full chainmail and a polearm relayed.
"What!?"
_
The three walked out the area of the minister’s office, to be met by a shadow that appeared. Fumeko kept low, despite no guard being nearby.
Her hair cut shorter and tied into twin-tails, wearing clothes bought for her in their little outing. She held a briefcase and some documents. A smug grin upon the brunette’s face, "Got it."
_
"I see a tall border of grass," Aviv relayed through the little door.
Asobi poked her hand out, shaping her fingers like a sock puppet, "Thank you! Jotou says we should stop by a tree," Asobi moved her fingers like a mouth.
"The zebras, they’re gone..." Jotou tried to spot in the distance.
"Maybe they...?" Fumeko tried to look as well, "You know..."
"Poor things," Hotaru’s ears folded over her head.
"How’s everyone doing now? The headaches and all," Jotou faced them.
"Doing great!" Asobi threw her wand up to make an invisible dome.
"The headache’s died down and I don’t feel the heat too much now. I’d still like proper enchanted clothing, hmph," Fumeko grumbled.
"You’ll get one soon detective, don’t worry," Jotou rolled her eyes. The grass inwards brushed the same height from before against them, whilst the taller grass appeared maybe quarter of an inch taller.
Jotou pointed out where all four of their notes were. They reeled them in like fishing rods to find a note attached to each. "Don’t throw them away. Put the string back on and toss it back," Jotou pursed her lips, "Just in case."
_
"Cheesewisk, the name of your cat, right?" Both the first lieutenant and the major glanced up, Fumeko stifling a giggle to the name.
Their travel documents sat on his desk, placed by Hotaru—the first day having gone by.
"I didn’t need any more reasons to believe you, but that certainly seals it... Would you mind sharing the information you know, please?" the major cleared his throat.
_
"A tank?" even the major’s eyes widened, "Using that level of weaponry in a rogue battalion? Well, I suppose it is not exactly ’rogue’ with all the support it’s gaining."
"And there were apparently two hundred and fifty-seven soldiers instead of four hundred. Do you have any information regarding it this time?" Jotou queried.
"Hm, we can take another look, but I’m certain I read three hundred." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
Jotou sighed, "Still changes... Well, prepare for the worst. With all the information we have now, there can’t be any surprises left other than maybe more tanks; so prepare for that too I guess."
The First Lieutenant spoke up, "How are we planning to defend against tanks other than grenades?"
"You guys don’t have preparations for those?" Fumeko raised her brows.
"Those sort of defences and counters are for bigger and more advanced battles. Normally kept in high profile areas like the warzone in the west; Galuvit Town has a few. Not a relatively small city or township like Hartamat..."
Jotou took a breath, "Then I’m the best weapon you have against them."
_
"That went well," Hotaru walked down the near empty road with the rest.
"Other than Jotou being the only thing they have against a tank outside of a well-placed grenade," Fumeko looked at the blonde.
Jotou shrugged, "As long as I can get close to its barrel and chop it off, I should have no issue. Plus, we’re attacking earlier with no warning this time.
This rogue battalion has gone on long enough and I’m sick and tired of it. Doing the same thing over and over; I’m trying, but there’s only so long I can take it," Jotou vented.
"I think you did really well!" Asobi hopped to walk backwards.
Hotaru held Jotou by the shoulder, gently rubbing her back as she casted her rejuvenate spell. Jotou smiled a little, feeling the comforting pats.
Fumeko leered to an oncoming figure, knowing what’s to come. Shadows already trailed along her footsteps. "Meko," Jotou called her name.
"I know, I know..." the brunette replied.
The small hooded figure cut Hotaru’s purse strap and booked it the way they came. Hotaru let her purse go without resistance.
The brunette’s brown eyes honed in on the small hooded figure. Shadows took her form, "Oh no you don’t!" Fumeko blinked and grabbed the figure by the wrist.
The purse dropped immediately; he threw his hands up, a tail behind him. The dagger in his other hand dropped. "Tink!"
The other three walked back as Fumeko demasked the hood. Tanned skin, some black hair and under his ears were emerald green scales that went under his clothing.
The reptilian tail stood sharp in shock. Fumeko gripped his wrist and picked up Hotaru’s purse, "You’re coming with me kid."
"Jotou?" Hotaru glanced to the blonde, tail swaying and ears up.
The boy glanced back and forth, wide-eyed. Fumeko stared to the blonde in a shrug. Asobi stood, eyes open and holding her wand whilst Jotou folded her arms.
"I can’t believe you’re making me do this..." Jotou whispered. The blonde walked up to the kid and crouched down, "Kid, listen. I get that you’re stealing because everything at home isn’t right.
Can I help you with something? Because going around stealing things isn’t really going to solve your issues. I’m the Thundering Blade, maybe you’ve heard of me. Maybe I can solve something?" Jotou gleefully smiled.
"Huh!? The Thundering Blade!? I’m so sorry!!!!" his eyes were as wide as an omelette, "You look so different than in the newspaper! I-I just steal for fun, please don’t strike me down!" he braced himself.
"Strike you down?" Jotou knitted her brows, "Who do you take me for!?"
Hotaru’s tail wagged, covering her mouth as she giggled. "Hold on, you steal, for fun?" Fumeko jostled the boy’s wrist.
"I- it just gives me a rush of ad-er-an-aleen," the boy admitted.
"Ad-er-an-aleen?" Asobi tilted her head.
"Adrenaline," Jotou stated shaking her head.
"You should probably stay in school kid," Fumeko’s eyes glazed over.
"But, school’s really boring..." the boy was at the brink of tears.
Jotou groaned closing her eyes... "That hit too close to home... Gh... Let him go Meko," Jotou held the bridge of her nose, "Just, stop doing this kid, please."
"Uh, alright Thundering Blade, I promise!" as soon as Fumeko let his wrist go he scurried the other way.
Finally Hotaru was allowed to laugh completely, her fangs glistening as she held her stomach. Asobi joined in her giggle, not knowing why she was laughing.
"Ugh, is this our punishment? Are you satisfied wolfy!?" Fumeko glared.
"Why are you mad!? I’m the one who had to be nice!" Jotou retorted.
"Ah..." Hotaru wiped her eyes and took her purse back. "That wasn’t so hard, was it Thundering Blade? Unfortunate that you have a rumour of striking people down with lightning," she teased.
"Now we have another thing on the to-do list," Asobi held the strap of her cut purse, "Fix this!"
"I hope that was worth it, I can’t believe we’re letting a thief go without even taking him to his parents," Fumeko sighed.
"Well, are you happy Aru?" Jotou gave a sideways glance.
"More than delighted," Hotaru petted Jotou’s head in a smile, "Don’t get all pouty."
Jotou couldn’t resist her as the corner of the blonde’s lips rose, "Fine..."
