Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 267: Arc 4, Act II, - 112: Division One

Minutes left before they would depart, she reattached her sparkling blue ribbon-like sleeves down onto the knuckle of her middle finger.

Sat on her bed, preparing herself to go into the battle—she sighed. Her ears then bristled to the sound of footsteps approaching.

"Hey wolfy, Jotou told me about the siphoning thing."

Hotaru turned to see Fumeko and Jotou. "The siphoning thing? Feyan’s handling it, right?"

"Not that. You tried to siphon me, but it didn’t work," Jotou reminded.

"Oh," her brows raised. "Did you two figure something out?"

Fumeko crossed her arms, "Needed to confirm something. That spell also aligns with a necromantic affinity, right?"

"Yes... it’s mainly necromantic really."

"Jotou isn’t affected by it," the brunette held a hand to her chin, "So my theory could be right," she faced up to Jotou.

"...Half of it was my theory, but sure detective."

"I’m still having trouble connecting the dots here."

"Sorry Aru," Jotou chuckled to her. "I can’t be killed or harmed by whatever killed Anastasia. Ana died to a velatos-"

"Which without all the shadows and cover made by Lexi, were just undead enlarged by Jiana Kirk."

Jotou took over from Fumeko, "Velatos are undead. I couldn’t be killed by velatos. I can’t be affected by your siphoning; the spell is aligned with necromancy. Jiana had a necromantic affinity. Hence, I’m not immune to velatos; I’m immune to necromantic magic."

"Hm, interesting," Hotaru pondered.

"Ironic she came back from the dead," Fumeko pursed her lips.

Jotou let out a long sigh, "Still no closer to figuring how that happened..."

"Don’t overthink it; the answers and clues seem to be coming one by one, delayed as they may be. It just means, you’ll figure it out at some point. I should mess with you more often is what I’ve learned~" her tail swished.

"As if you don’t do that already," Jotou’s eyes glazed over.

Her fangs glistened, "I can do a lot worse~"

"Ugh," Fumeko rolled her eyes. "I’m gonna go wait in the carriage, you two hurry up," she blinked away and out of the tent to escape the flirting.

Jotou pouted back to the other, "Why do I feel you’re purposefully making her jealous?"

"I’m not that cruel~" Hotaru got up. "Besides, I’m just poking at her."

"Think I’m rubbing off on you more than I thought."

Hotaru approached, "This isn’t the time to be thinking of rubbing off on anything Ms Howllett."

"Not what I meant pervert," Jotou blushed.

Hotaru laughed taking Jotou by the hand, "Alright, I’m done, I’m done. Seriously, feeling sore anywhere? Are you sure you’re in a condition to fight so soon?"

"Well..." Jotou lowered her right shoulder, "I think I pulled a muscle while moving my arm. I don’t need that with my dominant hand..." she winced an eye.

Hotaru exhaled, bringing her palms to the location. "I don’t like this. I hope you can manage not getting any major injury."

"I’ll have time to rest on the trip there. Anyways, when have I not managed to get injured huh?" the blonde giggled whilst Hotaru continued healing over the garments. "I’m lucky to have you though.

You can scold me all you like once we get out of this," her eyes softened. "For now, thanks for being a part of my life. We’d be nowhere without you tricking us into getting into the party~"

Hotaru glared up.

Jotou stuck her tongue out with a smile.

Hotaru swiftly brought her head up and placed a kiss upon her retracting tongue, till their lips met. Jotou closed her eyes in shock.

Hotaru parted from it, "Spiteful little housecat," she sifted her finger through her blonde strands and held the back of her head. Brilliant blue pools staring into her, "...Promise me you’ll be fine."

Jotou stared back... "You know I can’t promise that."

Hotaru kept her gaze...

"Best I can do is try firefly."

The redhead twisted her lips to side in a smile, "Then try."

"Death hasn’t gotten me yet. I promise I’ll live; I always somehow do," she chuckled.

Hotaru planted another kiss and pulled back, "Don’t jinx it."

Slowly the blonde’s grin faded, "If I do-"

"No. We’re not thinking about that."

"I am. I always am and you can’t stop me. Let me at least share my thoughts with you."

Hotaru’s ears fell.

"If I’m gone, live for me," she beamed. "Mark your name on this world and keep living—keep going—keep fighting—keep standing. Do it for my sake.

Your dream and mine are one in the same; both beautiful. Take my spite with you and let nothing stand in your way," her teary eyes sparked, the smile upon her lips genuine.

Hotaru’s eyes shut, the loose tear making a break for it down her cheek. She smiled, shaking her head, "I will. But that better not happen," her voice croaked.

Jotou held her close, "I promised I’ll try."

_

Arabella alongside another soldier at the front, held the reins of the horsaroaches. No time to waste; the Sun was crawling up the eastern sky.

The king bade them a farewell, alongside the Division General. With a crack of the reins, the four horsaroaches clopped forward. A large enough carriage for the other five in the back; little to no supplies sat with them.

A few canisters of water, some rations and a map for Arabella. They set off towards the north, keeping their one transceiver open while they passed the path of other divisions.

The morning, the noon, the Sun blaring down more heat over the white-roofed carriage. The steeds went nonstop, every piece of loose earth rumbling as they went past.

The noon passed; the Sun making its way down the western sky. "Ara?" Daiyu poked her head to the front. "Need me to take over?"

Arabella’s armour clanked to her side, wearing her usual attire still. She shook her head, eyes focused on the path before her.

"Alright then, what about you, uh?"

"Laiso, your highness," the other soldier replied. "And no, I’ll be fine. We’re actually under an hour away," he wearily told.

"Shouldn’t you be putting on your armour then? Get behind, put it on, I can drive."

Arabella side-eyed for a second, flashbacks to when Daiyu last drove...

"What?" Daiyu half-closed her right eye.

At least it wasn’t a car... Arabella nodded and signalled Daiyu to jump in front. Daiyu went through the large gap and sat up front. Arabella handed the reins over and went into the back with the other four, bringing her armour with her.

Jotou, Hotaru and Asobi helped her put her armour on, while Fumeko went up to the front and poked her head out. Not another division in sight, except, "Is that a camp?" Fumeko pointed to the left.

"Uh, must be one of Division One’s companies," the soldier replied.

"It looks abandoned," Fumeko squinted. The tents had fallen over, supplies scattered.

"Well, they were supposed to gather back at the main base. We’re really close then," Daiyu uttered. Time passed; no other camps lied in sight.

The silverish armour with snake-scale-like patterns across Arabella had adorned. "Where the heck’s this thing supposed to go?" Jotou questioned, holding a pauldron upside down.

Arabella brought forward her left shoulder. Jotou fitted it in, only then realizing there were belts and buckles going all over to attach it. "All this, for one shoulder? What’s the point if the other one’s not protected?" the perturbed blonde started attaching.

Arabella raised a brow and brought her right arm forward; she pointed to her sabre.

’At this point, just throw yourself into the enemy with the amount of shit here, hell it’d do more damage.’ Jotou complained in her mind whilst fixing it in.

Hotaru held Arabella’s hair back, "How do you put this on alone?"

Arabella signalled with one hand and tightened her lips.

"It takes a really long time... Maybe the Royal Guard should invest in some lighter armour... Then again, the cost for enchantments," Hotaru calculated.

Asobi faced out the back of the carriage, "Ooo, pretty." Jotou managed to fit it in finally and Hotaru let go of Arabella’s hair. The three turned to Asobi, the sunset glittering across her face.

The rays of orangish-red light bounced off the ground of light browns, the cacti and wild plants of dark greens.

Thick shadows from the smallest of wild desert foxes to the multilayered and multicoloured peaks in the distance. It was as if rainbows had been painted onto the stone.

To the east, a sheer drop led into a red desert; to the west next to them were short overhanging platforms of light brownish rocks. Where they were headed? Some flat land in between; a perfect place to set up a base.

"It is pretty," Fumeko faced the same views from upfront. Daiyu with her eyes ahead, saw the first sign of a camp; a collapsed tent of desert camo.

"We’re here," the princess furrowed her brows.

The transceiver crackled in the soldier’s hand, "Division One, come in Division One. This is the princess’s squad, we are approaching the main base, do you copy?"

...

...

Merely the movement of the carriage and hooves against the earth. "Does it usually take this long? Are we too far?" Fumeko looked to him.

"Not too long and we shouldn’t be..." A series of beeps came through the transceiver... The soldier’s eyes widened, "That’s the emergency button’s response; something’s wrong or gone wrong."

"Shit," Daiyu held the reins tighter. "Run," she commanded the horsaroaches. However, they seemed to have been going as fast as they could have with all six of their legs.

They had entered the base of Division One, now passing by the outermost sites and stations. Fumeko kept her eyes on the surroundings.

Supply crates had been broken and spilled, bullet marks in the sides of tents which some had been collapsed. Countless footsteps in the light sand, "Still visible. It’s not too late, we’re right on time, they’re attacking right now!" Fumeko exclaimed.

The other four scurried to the front to get a better view. "Blast, blast, blast." Distant gunshots that were getting closer. In their sights were the bodies of soldiers now, bleeding out or dead with their veins visible.

Daiyu grunted, her leg started to shake. No use stopping now, danger was ahead. Closer and closer they got till, "Oh hell..." Jotou uttered to the view.

At least a hundred Trailonian soldiers were behind makeshift barricades, firing into the centre where the majority of tents seemed to be clumped up at.

Daiyu growled, not slowing down, "Get ready, we’re going in." The Trailonian soldiers turned, noticing the incoming carriage...

Fumeko’s eyes bubbled, "Daiyu, we can’t drive into that-!"