Strike the Blood, Vol. 11: The Fugitive Fourth Primogenitor

“No, it’s fine. It was my fault to begin with…”

Once she had calmed down, Yukina put her clothes in order. Then she folded her spear and returned it to the guitar case.

“Well, setting all that aside, we still don’t know what the Lion King Agency’s goal is. No clues, either…”

Kojou murmured at his own expense, feeling stifled, as if walls were closing in around him.

He couldn’t get in touch with Nagisa or Gajou. With the Lion King Agency shutting off information, they had no way of knowing what had happened at Kannawa Lake. Asagi said she’d check on things, but the information you could gather via the Net had its limits. Unlike Itogami Island, a man-made isle, the Kannawa Lake environs were still thick with nature, and virtually no electronic devices for Asagi to hijack.

What should we do? Kojou asked himself internally.

The next moment, in the middle of the road, early morning with no sign of anyone around, he heard the echo of a gentle voice:

“It would seem you are in distress, Fourth Primogenitor.”

“—?!”

Kojou and Yukina simultaneously turned in the direction of the voice.

For the first time, she entered their sight—a slender figure standing with her back to the dazzling morning sun. Traditionally-styled, long, black hair trailed down her back, and she wore a similarly old-fashioned black sailor outfit. Even against the sun, her beauty was unmistakable, but because of her eyes, which seemed to look down on the entire world, her natural expression made her appear rather sinister.

“Kiriha Kisaki…!”

Yukina immediately raised her guard, reaching for the guitar case on her back. Kojou, too, lowered his center of gravity, adopting a posture for moving at any instant.

Kiriha Kisaki was a Priestess of the Six Blades of the Bureau of Astrology—an expert in anti-demonic beast combat. They employed the same techniques as the Sword Shamans of the Lion King Agency and the two professions were said to be opposite sides of the same coin.

About a month prior, she and Yukina had faced off against each other during the Blue Elysium incident.

The victor of that duel had not yet been decided. However, at that moment, Kojou didn’t get the feeling they would be picking up where they left off. Nor was there any sign of Kiriha reaching toward the large tripod case she carried on her back.

“It’s been a while, Yukina Himeragi. What an awful face. Are you aware that you look like an abandoned puppy?”

Kiriha looked back at the hesitant Yukina, trying to rub salt in her wounds. She wasn’t attempting to pick a fight—it was just the only way she knew how to talk to other people.

“You want to know what the Lion King Agency is up to at Kannawa Lake, yes? Am I wrong?”

“And you know…?”

“Yes, of course. I can tell you if you’d like.”

Kiriha looked back at the surprised Kojou, smiling sardonically.

The Bureau of Astrology she belonged to was a special agency under the umbrella of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Since their organizational objectives overlapped, they and the Lion King Agency’s interests were frequently at odds—hence why they kept track of the Lion King Agency’s movements.

“Really, I wanted to tell you much sooner, but you two were embracing so intimately, I just couldn’t find it in me to interrupt.”

“Wha—?! W-we were not!”

“That wasn’t embracing, dammit!”

Kojou glared, with a red-faced expression that screamed You were watching us?! Kiriha smiled with indifference as she gazed at the pair’s reactions.

“I do not mind telling you the truth, but our Bureau of Astrology and the Lion King Agency are at odds. Despite that, will you trust my words?”

“Just tell us already.”

Kojou bared his fangs and pressed Kiriha to continue.

“If hearing the information isn’t convenient for the Lion King Agency, you’re the ones who benefit from giving it to us. In that sense, I’ll trust you,” Yukina said.

“I see. A sound decision.” Kiriha nodded in a show of admiration.

She knew Kojou’s objective. The Bureau of Astrology no doubt intended to use Kojou to hinder the Lion King Agency’s actions. But that also meant Kiriha was certain Kojou would end up as the group’s enemy.

“Very well, I shall tell you all that I know. Though I believe you will regret your decision…”

Kiriha stated her preamble with the crimson-dyed horizon at her back.

Such was how that fated day—a day upon which Kojou and Yukina would be faced with a difficult decision—began.