「現状を確認します。」
アデプト部隊の指揮官であるバン?レイコは、画面に映し出された地図を指差しながら言った。
彼女の声は穏やかでしたが、ユニット全体に深く響きました。
アデプト部隊の指揮官として、バンは事態の重大さを深く反省していた。
Being a user of the Malachite Adept Stone herself, Ban had made up her mind not only to lead the unit but also to stand at the forefront of the battle.
"About two months ago, a ''terrorist'' group composed of around 30 Adepts landed on the Chita Peninsula."
Yes... ''Terrorists''.
Ban fully understood the emptiness of that term.
Their movements, the Adept Stones they wielded, and the precision of the tactics behind them... they couldn''t simply be a "group" of any kind.
Yet, for the sake of the government, they had no choice but to label them as "terrorists."
Wars had already begun in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia, and conflicts were escalating across the Far East.
While Japan was supporting Taiwan, it had yet to fully engage in the war, focusing only on self-defense.
In this situation, openly naming countries like "China," "Russia," and "North Korea" would mean Japan fully entering the world war.
The government was determined to avoid acknowledging this attack as "state-level operations."
Ban continued to calmly point at the map displayed on the screen.
"They took control of the international airport within just a few hours. Then, they destroyed the ports, major highways, and railways. They advanced into the city and neutralized the administrative systems, completely isolating the city."
Everyone realized that there was no more room to reduce the area of Nagoya City that Ban was indicating.
"Unfortunately, the evacuation of civilians is also incomplete."
Ban took a breath and returned her gaze to the map.
"There are still people trapped inside the city, trembling as they worry for their families."
With those words, the air in the room grew heavier.
"...And the enemy is exploiting this situation. No, this was their plan from the start."
Ban pointed at a specific spot on the screen, her tone becoming slightly sharper.
"They''re using the entire city as a shield and restricting our actions."
She sensed the tension in the unit and carefully continued her speech.
"As a result, large-scale attacks by the Self-Defense Forces are impossible. Currently, the Adept units are clearing enemy Adepts from various routes, and the only option left is to defeat their leader—the Adept named ''Cinabar'' from the Cinnabar Stone."
Ban took a deep breath and glanced around at the faces of the unit members.
"We have no other choice."
She quickly scanned everyone in the room with her eyes, then firmly declared:
"This—Nagoya—is the battlefield of our final decision!"
<hr>
Masato Senjoujiki gasped for breath and collapsed, sitting down. The unconscious boy lay in his arms.
"We''ve been wiped out... It''s just me and this kid left..."
Senjoujiki''s voice was hoarse. Even with the power of his Diamond Adept Stone, he couldn''t reach the enemy leader, Cinabar.
"Cinabar... He doesn''t die. No matter how many times you kill him..."
Senjoujiki''s eyes were vacant, filled with frustration and despair at his own powerlessness.
Ren Nittazuka quietly listened to Senjoujiki''s words, staring ahead. Nearby, Takumi Togo whispered weakly.
"Sensei... I... I ran away... leaving my friends behind..."
Takumi Togo, a genius Adept with the Tourmaline Stone, was still a young member of the unit. Ren placed a hand on Takumi''s shoulder.
"That''s fine, Takumi. You made it back alive."
Takumi closed his eyes and nodded slightly.
"Senjoujiki... Thank you for bringing Takumi here."
Senjoujiki lifted his bloodstained face and gazed at Ren.
"Ren... I know it’s asking a lot, but..."
Ren closed his eyes, waiting for the rest of the words.
"Please take down Cinabar! You''re the only one who can defeat him!"Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Tears welled up in Senjoujiki''s eyes.
"If you lose, then no one in Japan will be able to defeat Cinabar! Take revenge for your friends!"
Ren exhaled deeply and nodded slowly.
The sound of a communications officer’s voice broke the tension.
"We''ve located Cinabar''s—"
Ren turned around.
"Where?"
"In Naka Ward, Honmaru... Nagoya Castle!"
"That bastard... He''s underestimated us..."
Senjoujiki clenched his fist and growled low.
"Take me there. I''ll go as far as I can. Cinabar—I''ll defeat him!"
His words felt unnatural even to himself. He wasn’t the type to speak so bravely.
It wasn’t just about taking revenge for Senjoujiki and Takumi''s fallen comrades.
Ren was drawn to Cinabar.
<hr>
Ah.
When did this start, this battle between me and this man?
I can no longer remember.
Ah, here''s a good one...
Normally, this would be a fatal wound.
But he''s getting back up. Why?
My poison should still be working.
Isn’t he a Quartz Adept?
No, could he be using Quartz as a base... and simultaneously using other stones of the same type...?
Can that even be done?
I can’t deny it. He''s doing it right in front of me.
--- I’ve died again.
How many times? How many times has this man killed me?
And how many times have I defeated him?
He''s a monster.
Just like me.
He seems to enjoy it.
He''s laughing.
Am I... laughing too?
I must be.
Ah.
Cinabar... Philosopher''s Stone...
If only... this moment could stop.
<hr>
Ren''s final blow pierced Cinabar''s chest.
Cinabar staggered, kneeling. His body crumpled and sank quietly into the rubble.
The Philosopher''s Stone (Cinabar) couldn’t re-crystallize and shattered into fragments, drifting like flower petals.
Ren also collapsed in the same spot.
His Quartz was barely re-crystallizing, but its light was faint, clearly on the brink of shattering.
By chance, the two of them lay side by side.
They looked up at the same sky.
Cinabar smiled weakly and forced words out.
"...If you hadn’t rejected my offer to become my ally... we would have been kings of the new world!"
レンは静かに答えた。
「私は……そういう人間じゃないよ、シナバー。」
シナバーは小さく笑い、かすれた声で続けた。
「ははは……そうだよ……だから負けたんだよ。あんたのせいで……負けたんだよ」
レンはその言葉を聞きながら、少し目を閉じた。
「シナバー……」
「アルです。友達は私をそう呼んでいました... あなたはどうですか？」
「レン……」
シナバーは――いや、アルは――微笑んだ。
「レン……レンか……なあ……楽しかっただろう？」
「……そうだよ、アル。楽しかったよ。」
名古屋市の大部分は彼らの戦いによって壊滅的な被害を受けた。
崩壊した高層ビルと立ち上る黒煙。散乱した瓦礫と赤い光の残骸は、まるで戦いの傷跡のようだった。
しかし、レンとアルにとっては、それは些細なことのように思えた。
彼らはただお互いの顔を見合っていた。
レンはかすれた声でつぶやいた。
「寂しい…これで終わり？死んでしまうの？」
「……賢者の石（シナバー）は……消えた。終わりだ。」
アルの命の光はゆっくりと消え始めた。
彼の視線は遠くを見つめているようだった。
「レン…君は…僕のいない世界で…どう生きるつもりだ…」
レンはアルの残りの言葉を待ったが、それは決して来なかった。
賢者の石（シナバー）の破片は光を失い、静かにレンに向かって落ちていった。
<hr>
数時間後、戦争で荒廃した戦場で、レンは仲間たちに発見された。
空気は煙の匂いで充満し、無数の破片が戦いの激しさを物語っていた。
ヘリコプターの音が近づいてきて、仲間たちが彼に向かって駆け寄った。
「先生！」
最初に声をかけたのは東郷拓海だった。
彼は瓦礫を乗り越え、レンのそばにしゃがみ込み、心配そうに尋ねた。
「先生！シナバー…！」
レンは静かにタクミの目を見つめた。
彼は疲れた体を少し起こし、短くうなずいた。
「ああ……終わった」
彼の声はかすれていたが、はっきりと聞こえた。
拓海の表情が安堵で和らいだ。それは彼がよく知っている少年の顔だった。
「…彼は強かった…私が知る誰よりも強かった…私よりも強かった。」
彼の言葉の裏にある感情は誰にも理解されなかったかもしれない。
しかし、戦いが終わったという事実が空気中に重くのしかかっていた。
<hr>
この戦いは後に名古屋の戦いと呼ばれるようになり、アデプト達が戦った最も激しい戦いとして記憶されることになる。
激しい戦いから数ヶ月後、世界は平和条約へと向かい、長い戦争は終結した。
<hr>
2年後。
成長した東郷拓海が玄関先で元気に声を上げた。
「先生！遊びに来ました！」
レンは若者の笑顔を見て肩の力を抜き、息を吐いた。
「相変わらず元気だね、タクミ。」
タクミはレンの隣に座り、小さな赤ちゃんをじっと見つめた。
「これはあなたの…？」
レンは赤ちゃんをそっと抱き上げ、静かにうなずいた。
拓海は指を伸ばし、赤ちゃんがそれを握ると嬉しそうに微笑んだ。
「……この子と新しい世界で生きていくんだ」
レンの首にはシナバルのフィロスの破片で作られた小さなペンダントがぶら下がっていた。
オーフェルの石は、今は鈍く沈黙し、静かに揺れている。
<hr>
そして…15年が経ちました。