Hidan no Aria - Volume 16

Chapter 2:

[START]

Not knowing my right from my left in Brussels, I ran to disappear in the dark of the residential area.

Now that I’ve run away, there’s no other conclusion to be made than that I am a spy.

In other words, all members of DEEN will be pursuing me.

Is this what they call…『poetic justice』?

Many people. Tracking one person down. To arrest and capture them.

Until now, that was what I had been doing to me enemies.

What I had done to other people had come back to me.

From being the pursuer, I had become the pursued. But as I was running–

Was Jeanne really a traitor? If not, then who is?

I have to find out the truth. Here in Belgium where don’t understand the language, without a friend to interpret, and I am alone.

This is like a brutally difficult game, a super dreadnought class punishingly hard game. But this is real life.

This might be the hardest thing I’ve ever faced.

「…」

My breath puffing white, I came to an intersection where the signal colours were subtly different from those in Japan… and I looked all around.

With cars passing by and the figures of people in the distance, I see enemies all around.

In actuality, Liberty Mason has members all over Europe.

Although they lacked the numbers of Rampan, their surveillance capabilities are on par.

First, I have to find a place to hide myself. But where… which way should I go?

Right now, I am DEEN’s enemy, in addition to being an enemy of GRENEDA from the beginning.

Until now, Brussels was home territory, but suddenly it became enemy territory. In that case, would GRENEDA’s territory be safer?

As I thought that– I ran toward the place that DEEN was least likely to go.

The place GRENEDA had just attacked, the hotel where we had stayed temporarily. Turning the corner of a brick building, I peeked out at the scene of the fire…

The fire extinguished, there were several firefighters on the flooded road, taking of their helmets and chatting in French.

I had already seen it, but there was a fire engine with a 4WD Unimog RW1 base. But their tyres were oversized, and the ride clearance was huge.

From observation, I could tell that the firefighters were ordinary people and full of openings…

…So please give me a short ride.

With silent footsteps, I crept closer and slipped underneath the engine.

After I had remained hidden for a while, the firefighters loitered around a bit longer– then the engine motor fired up and the Unimog started off. Clinging to the underside, I was carried along.

I took『Remora』classes in my first year at Butei High. It’s something that good boys and girls should not try to imitate.

It was an emergency vehicle, so the fire engine was making considerable speed. But what’s this? Logi’s Edogawa-sensei made us do all kinds of car stunts and cling to the underside of trucks. Compared to that, this is a picnic.

But after we had gone a short distance–

Glancing to the side of the road, I could vaguely make out blue and red flashing lights. It’s a patrol car.

From underneath the car, I couldn’t see very clearly, but the tyres were next to us.

–It’s an inspection=. An inspection would be dangerous for me.

A chill pierced my heart. but, as you might expect, the engine didn’t stop, but merely slowed and sailed through the checkpoint.

That was good.『Hiding inside an official vehicle』is a classic escape technique.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe that the inspection was meant to catch me– and if I had used a taxi for transportation, I would have been discovered.

That being the case, Liberty Mason might be after me. No, make that probably. Like Rampan, they have a lot of members in the police force as Kaiser had said.

Conversely, since the inspection didn’t turn me up–Kaiser and the rest are more likely to come to the incorrect conclusion that I fled on foot.

It has been 12 minutes since I escaped. Within that time, the distance I could make on foot is limited to 1 km. However, the fire engine has already travelled 3 km, and we are 2km away in a straight line. That is to say, outside of DEEN’s police dragnet.

********************************************

Just to be sure, let’s ride a bit further…

When the engine stopped at a railway crossing, I dropped to the road.

「…」

Unlike the clustered high-rises of Tokyo, this area seemed more like a business district.

In the mid-winter night, there were few people on the street corners…

Before long, Liberty Mason will start canvassing the area on foot. It’s a good thing because there will be few eyewitness reports. An Asian person stands out in Europe.

This is a classic technique–

Creeping into a parking lot… using my butterfly knife as a lever, I pried open the manhole cover that had ribbon festooned coat of arms engraved on it.

It had a peculiarly dry smell and warmth… it was used to lay subterranean communications cables. That’s good fortune.

I had resigned myself to using sewage tunnels, but this might be due to sharing in Meiya’s increase of luck.

**********************************************

It was a brickwork tunnel that seems to have been formerly used as a sewer… It was relatively large, so it was easy to move through.

It was a bit dark, but not pitch black.

The upkeep seemed to be adequate, only 2 or 3 of the lights were out, and there was emergency lighting as well.

Since it was originally a sewer, that means it must be connected to the river and the ocean. It appeared to avoid the heavily populated areas, and the tunnel headed in the direction of the Atlantic.

That being said… it was like walking down a hall. Running and hiding.

That as well is thanks to Aria.

With that thought in mind, I perceived the ground beneath my feet sloping downward as I walked–

…!

I came to a halt.

Ahead, past some crumbling brick and around a corner, there are signs of human presence.

I couldn’t see them past the corner, but they were very close.

I saw them underneath an emergency light, sitting in the shadows. It was a woman.

A cable worker… but she didn’t seem like the type.

I don’t think she noticed me, but I think she’s one of the pursuer’s sent out by Liberty Mason– They must have predicted my escape route. That being the case, if I don’t take her hostage, I won’t make it back to the surface alive.

Firstly, I have to be sure she hasn’t spotted me.

Carefully, I drew my Beretta… with my killing intent…

Then extracting a small mirror from my Butei handbook, I peered around the corner.

Then–

…?

The ordinary woman wore a blood-stained blouse as she slouched against the wall, and she was treating her wounds

Her injury was on the left side of her torso. Just like mine. But hers was bleeding and more serious.

There was what appeared to be stolen medical supplies near her, along with clothes and wigs… and I recognized one of the items.

The clothes, after my encounter with Bewitching Blade, a girl had bumped into me carrying them.

Thinking back and taking another look, there was no doubt that this was the same girl. Even her injury matches.

「Nn…」

With a small cry, she was stitching up her wound that had been pulled together with surgical tape–

She was a typical Norther European.

Her naturally blonde hair seemed to give off its own light. Her skin was pale, and her eyes emerald. Peeking out from within her blouse, thin white lace underwear enveloped her large breasts. As for her age, she seemed to be as old as I was.

But something else caused me to forget her outward beauty–

Atop a handkerchief placed the stone floor, there were two bullets.

Had she surgically removed the lodged bullets from the wound and sewed them up herself…!?

Besides merely carrying guns, armed personnel are not amateurs when it comes to gunshot wounds. That is to say, they are able to provide emergency trauma medical care.

In general, however, it is provided to someone else, whether a friend that has been shot, or if you have been shot by a criminal.

But removing a bullet from your own body isn’t a feat that even S-Rank MEDICA students are taught,

Even so, this woman seems to have done just that.

The seemingly stolen equipment she used was crude. And there was no anaesthesia.

However…as might be expected, the treatment was incomplete. From the amount of blood, the wound is deep. Major blood vessels and organs must have suffered damage. If she doesn’t get more professional treatment at a medical institution, her life is in jeopardy.

…!?

Mistrusting my eyes once more, I looked back at the extracted bullets and from the calibre and shining solid silver, they were like those used by Watson.

Back during the attack on the hotel, Watson fired at the attacker.

This person then–

…GRENEDA…!

She must be the assassin that attacked the hotel.

Being injured, she took the underground tunnels to escape

Then, having spent her strength, she stopped for brief spell to tend her injuries… or so it seemed.

Despite being weak, she was clearly conscious. She was now sorting through and choosing from the stolen clothes and wigs. She must intend to disguise herself to escape from DEEN’s territory.

Properly speaking, apprehending her and hauling her back to DEEN would be meritorious service, but… right now, I am a fugitive from them myself.

What’s more she is an enemy combatant. I don’t know what kind of weapons or magic she possesses, and I’m still not sure I didn’t suffer any internal injury from Bewitching Blade’s attack.

At this moment– I should quietly creep away while still unnoticed.

As soon as I took a step backwards…

*Squeak!*

I seem to have stepped upon a rat on the ground, and it cried out and running along the wall–

「Uwah…!」

Crap!

Since I don’t see too many rats in Daiba, I cried out…!

「–!」

From her shadow on the wall, I could see her square off.

I’ve been discovered…!

–Dammit!

Running away in this narrow passage would mean turning my back and presenting a target.

In this situation, there’s no way to avoid fighting with GRENEDA…!

Clicking my tongue in annoyance, I unwillingly sprang around the corner and pointed my gun at the girl.

「–Don’t move!」

I didn’t know if she would understand me or not, but I added a threatening tone to my sharp order–

「…! Kinji… Kinji Tohyama…!」

As I thought, as a member of DEEN, she was thrown into a crazed panic when she noticed me.

Then…

「P-please…! Don’t kill me…!」

She said in fluent Japanese…

Is she… begging for her life?

That’s what happened.

Then she prostrated herself on the spot.

With both hands open and stretched out in front of her in abject submission to prove that she didn’t have anything in her hands.

…?

What is this…? She doesn’t even have a gun.

This was the situation upon my first time meeting her.

Her long blonde hair quivering, she turned up a pretty face to look at me,

「Please don’t hurt me anymore..!」

Sobbing, with tears moistening her eyes, she looked up timidly from the ground.

*************************************

*************************************

In her eyes, there was no intent to fight to speak of, much less any indication of a surprise attack.

Something like this… was something that I never expected to happen.

「…Didn’t we pass by each other? Are you DEEN’s instigator?」

For the time being, I carried on the conversation with my gun turned her direction.

「I’m Lisa. Lisa Avé du Ang. A member of the war hawk faction of I.U.’s survivors and representative fighter for DEEN.」

This normal looking girl called herself Lisa, hands folded as if in supplication as she looked at me.

On the middle finger of her right hand there was a school ring with a『伊』kanji surrounded with a horseshoe-shaped ‘U’.

…Is this a joke?

If she’s an I.U. warhawk, then she’s part of a hyper-aggressive group plotting to take over the world.

If that’s the case, I would naturally assume that she would be belligerent… but she is cowardly.

In that case, it is only natural that she would be fluent in Japanese.

Japanese and German were the common languages in I.U.

「If you’re planning to surrender, show all your weapons.」

「I do not have any weapons.」

…Huh?

My eyebrows rising in surprise, I looked Lisa over…

She certainly wouldn’t be able to hide any weapons inside her open blouse.

There also wasn’t any kind of bulge indicating a gun or explosives in her long skirt.

「You attacked our hotel, but you’re saying that you don’t have any weapons. Did you leave them with your friends?」

「I only had the one anti-tank shell that I fired. I don’t have any friends either. I was instructed to fight alone.」

Hold it…!

Do you normally go to attack an enemy base with only one explosive?

But Lisa gives no indication that she is lying.

In short… does that mean that she is a sacrificial pawn, a type of suicide bomber?

The main target of this attack was me– and the one tasked with bringing me down was Bewitching Blade.

Lisa was tasked to distract and isolate me from the other members of DEEN so that Bewitching Blade could attack. If Lisa were killed after launching a surprise attack, that would be fine by them.

Such a strategy was not devoid of logic. It was a heartless plan, though.

「I… Lisa was always a reckless fighter and has been seriously hurt many times. Because of that… I couldn’t stay with the others in GRENEDA. So Lisa was trying to escape.」

Trying to escape, you say?

「So I’m asking you. Please– let me come over to your side of DEEN. Lisa cannot go anywhere from here.」

B-before even fighting… she’s officially surrendered.

This is truly the first time this has happened. In the record of all my battles.

「You should have asked 30 minutes ago.」

With a sigh of resignation, I lowered my gun.

「Right now, I am running from DEEN myself.」

「Eh!?」

Her emerald pupils widening, Lisa’s voice rose.

Rather, it was her eyes. Just like a normal person would.

「You are running away too?」

「No. They suspect me of being a traitor.」

「Oh… so that’s how it is… That’s unfortunate. Urk!」

Hanging her head, she bent over and clutched her wounds.

Her gunshot wounds… must be painful.

Even so, Watson didn’t hesitate to shoot her. A woman. Even though she’s a woman as well.

She was shot twice. Aren’t you ready to die? English Butei are allowed extraterritoriality in cases of homicide, and so they can kill, right? I respect that determination.

But from the trail of bloodstains on the floor of the tunnel–

GRENEDA will be able to discover Lisa’s trail.

Blood contains a whole bunch of useful information.

Lisa’s blood type is one of the things that could be discovered, and from the degree of clotting, how long it had been since she passed. GRENEDA will definitely not overlook something like that.

If that’s the case… then by being here, I am also in danger.

I silently returned my gun to its holster–

「…」

Turning away from Lisa as she hung her head in pain, I turned to go back where I came from.

The tunnels were not a straight path and branched off in several direction, so I could escape that way.

So, I turned my back on Lisa and rounded the corner…

I walked by the illumination of the emergency lights.

I was abandoning the pathetic woman–

Lisa had seen me. She seemed grateful that I didn’t kill her to keep her quiet.

…Running away…

In all the fighting schools, it is the most serious crime.

In the armed forces, it is usually punishable by death.

In her current state, Lisa is unable to move…

–She will probably be discovered by GRENEDA before long.

When discovered, she will be killed.

The tunnel is dark, dingy, and cold.

No, before that, she might die.

Her injuries are serious.

…

But Lisa is a part of GRENEDA. GRENEDA is the enemy. I know that.

–She’ll remember me.

She knows who I am…

Dammit…

For some reason I went back.

Past the corner to where Lisa was.

「…!?」

Startled by the sounds of footsteps, Lisa was surprised that I had come back after I had left.

It was extremely surprising. Even to myself. I was surprised how soft-hearted I was.

She played a supporting role to Bewitching Blade who just tried to kill me.

What’s more, GRENEDA was closing in. What am I doing?

「I-it’s… not like I wanted to help you, or anything. I-it’s just… if you die because I ignored you when you were dying, I’d have trouble sleeping later. A good night’s sleep is important.」

So, while affecting an Aria-esque opening–

I took out a single disposable pain-killer injection from my Butei handbook and set it on Lisa’s lap.

「…Th-this… makes me happy… but what about your own injuries…?」

In accordance with her expected medical knowledge, Lisa quickly diagnosed my injury and looked to my side.

That was it. That was how it was. The reason I wanted to help her.

Doctors and nurses should be kept alive.

I don’t know why I am doing this when I am injured myself and running from DEEN.

Isn’t this just an especially pathetic and naive emotional response?

「You should use it yourself. I’m a man, so I’ll be alright. There are only 15 mg, so you can’t use it again.」

In actuality, the blow to my abdomen from Bewitching Blade hurt…

A young man using a painkiller for himself would be ridiculous in ASSAULT. So, I’ll give it to someone else.

That being the case, Lisa seemed greatly affected by it… holding the medication in her hand, she looked up at me with sparkling eyes.

「You are… Lisa’s hero.」1

She said in some foreign language.

「What…?」

「U-uh, nothing… Th-thank you very much!」

Prostrating herself multiple times, she hung her head in the Japanese style as she applied the pain-killer–

I selected a suitable blouse and skirt, then a coat, long-haired wig, and black rimmed glasses from the clothes Lisa had brought here.

Then I held them out to her as I turned my back–

「I won’t look, so hurry up and change.」

Saying that, I used the large coat as a wrapping sheet and tucked the rest of the clothes and wigs inside. If we leave them behind, then it will be concluded that『Lisa is disguised』. It will be a pain, but we’ll have to get rid of them somewhere else.

After a brief moment,

「…I-I’m changed.」

As she said that, I looked back at her… good. She really does look like an Office Lady.

She looks entirely different than she did before.

「Alright, let’s go. Your injury might give you some trouble, but it will be better than being discovered by GRENEDA.」

Taking Lisa’s hand to carry her on my back since she couldn’t stand–

「Ah…!」

Even though it’s a crisis, Lisa still made a sound of embarrassment.

It’s as if you’ve never been touched by a man or something.

Please stop. That’s such a maidenly reaction.

「…I’m unfamiliar with Europe. And I can’t read the signs to get on a bus or some other mode of transport. So you’ll have to guide me. I want to escape DEEN alive.」

「Y…yes.」

Saying that…

I helped a member of I.U.’s survivors that tried to kill me before, and members of both DEEN and GRENEDA were forced together.

But Lisa… that is to say, her breasts… Despite her delicate frame, they were especially soft as they pressed up against my back.

She had no muscle to speak of and was ridiculously soft. Like a water-filled pillow. Exactly like that.

Carrying Aria piggy-back did not prepare me for this contact (because there was nothing to speak of to contact). Carrying a woman on you back is a dangerous act.

****************************************************

As I walked through the tunnel, I asked Lisa about her wound–

「Thanks to the medicine I took, it doesn’t hurt. I think it will be healed in about 2 or 3 days.」

She responded from behind me.

「Lodged bullet wounds don’t heal in 2 days.」

「I… that is, Lisa heals very quickly. It’s not the near infinite rejuvenation of Dracula Vlad who was defeated by Tohyama-sama, but it’s definitely quicker than the ordinary person. It will heal without any complications of inner abdominal conglutination or a scar.」

「Are you a witch?」

「Not quite… it is more of a personal quirk.」

It’s a quirk that hard to believe, but then again, I also have one as well.

Having witnessed Vlad’s superior version of rapid regeneration, why should I be surprised by this fact?

I see. That’s why she is being used so recklessly in battle.

If shot or stabbed, she’d be relatively fine, so she makes a convenient sacrificial pawn.

Recently the sentiment seems to be「It’s Kinji, so it’ll be fine」whenever matters of life and death have come up, so I empathise with her…

「–Tohyama-sama. Let’s go up here.」

Lisa said abruptly, pointing out a shaft above us.

「Here? Aren’t we still in the city?」

「Yes. I believe we are directly beneath Schaerbeek station. As I consider it… I believe it would be best to leave Brussels by rail.」

「An electric train? Where do you plan to go?」

「In a case such as ours, when troops are massing on the front… things are complicated in the area totally under either of their control, and we are safer hiding in the empty space outside their territory.」

In that case…

「If we go south, GRENEDA is in control, and if we go north, DEEN is in control– Of these two, DEEN is currently in control of Brussels. If Tohyama-sama is suspected of collaboration with GRENEDA, all the routes to GRENEDA controlled France will be monitored.」

Hey… this girl…

She has a good head on her shoulders.

What she had said was perfectly logical.

I had a bit of a question, but I’ll keep quiet and listen a bit longer.

「From GRENEDA’s point of view, Tohyama-sama is an enemy. Helping Lisa escape will obviously lead to further disaffection. Even if you manage to evade DEEN’s surveillance and hide in France, if we are discovered by GRENEDA, we will be killed. Tohyama’s escape, after all, is suspicious… and it cast doubt upon him. But, if while hiding in the Netherlands, Tohyama-san could determine who the real traitor was– and Lisa doesn’t have any idea who that might be– then it is possible that you can clear up the misunderstanding. Moreover, at that point in time, Lisa will willing surrender to DEEN as well.」

「Looking forward… do you think that the two of us can survive in the Netherlands?」

「Yes. Above all things, it is Lisa’s home country. Being intimately familiar with the geography and culture, we can hide from anyone.」

…Settling the argument with a single deciding blow, she was a good talker.

I was biding my time as I listened to her talk, but there was no need to convince me.

I get the impression that this truly smart girl has suggested the best course of action.

Despite the fact that the habit of calling herself by her own name is kind of stupid.

「…I understand you so far. But going into the station to get on a train will expose us to the eyes of many people. Asian people like me will stand out. Liberty Mason will definitely find out about it and be able to track us.」

「I have considered that. So you will have to disguise yourself, please.」

On her own back, Lisa carried to bundle of clothes wrapped up in a coat.

「But there are only women’s clothes here.」

「If you disguise yourself as a woman, you’ll be able to evade the notice of DEEN.」

「I don’t like that plan.」

「I understand your dislike. But the beginning is the most dangerous part of the plan for Tohyama-sama to escape from Brussels.」

Talking about losing my own life, Lisa whispered earnestly into my ear.

「…I know that… but…」

「Please weigh your life against the embarrassment, and please reconsider which is more important.」

–Oh goodness. This girl Lisa really does have a honeyed tongue.

**********************************************

A cold wind blew through Schaerbeek station–

There were no station attendants or ticket gates.

I considered taking a free ride, but apparently Lisa did not. The effects of the painkiller had worn off and she was unable to walk, so I purchased tickets from a dirty touch-panel ticket machine.

But since I could not choose solely based upon fare like the Japanese system, I was afraid of making a mistake when it came to destination, class, and discount rates, it took me some time. Furthermore, in order to prevent misuse, you have to input the time you entered the station on a stamp machine yourself.

While I did that, 2 or 3 other passengers passed by… one was a female police officer on a bicycle that passed by…

Each one of them, I imagined they were agents of Liberty Mason.

–It would be terrible if we were discovered…

The large tickets in hand, I leant a shoulder to Lisa and helped her to the platform. Come quickly, come quickly, I prayed as we waited for the train… but it didn’t come.

This late at night, there aren’t a lot of people around, are there.

Despite the fact the it is dangerous; we can’t easily hide ourselves.

The old-fashioned split-flap display fluttered and showed that the international train headed to Amsterdam’s was behind the ETA by『±10 minutes』. Just now with a flapping noise it changed to『±15 minutes』.

Dammit! Why is the train late?

「Tohyama-sama. Please don’t look at the clock or timetable any more than you need to. It is suspicious. In Europe, it is common for trains to be late. It won’t come any faster–」

「The Japanese shinkansen apologise for a delay of 8 seconds. Damn you Europeans and your sloppy ways…!」

Trying to contain my agitation, I stood in the cold wind…

Then, finally, the train came.

It was dirty, muddied yellow vehicle with a front that looked like a mis-shappen dog nose that hadn’t been washed for an entire year. Can it really make it all the time to the Netherlands?

However… inside the night train, the interior was very barebones.

Trying to make our escape, we were saved.

There were 1st class and 2nd class tickets, but there wasn’t anyone in 2nd class yet.

Lisa had me buy 2nd class tickets. Luckily. Thinking that–

「This late at night, public order is bad, so a lot of people buy 1st class tickets to avoid having their things stolen. Since we do not want to be seen by many people, we will take 2nd class. Please bear with it.」

It seems that this has all gone according to Lisa’s plan.

I couldn’t have done such a thing. This is what I’d expect from a local.

Lisa pushed a button to open the automatic doors, and we entered the dirty, high-power electric train…

「…」

We took a seat at the back of the deserted 2nd class compartment.

First of all, we have to get away from Brussels that is full of enemies.

I took a breath then…

I looked at my reflection in the window…Ugh!

It was distorted. By tears.

With a sigh, Lisa sunk down into the seat across from me–

「All things considered… you make a perfect woman, Tohyama-sama. You are awfully beautiful. You have real talent.」

Grinning, she turned a smile toward my transformed feminine figure.

In another situation, I might think that face was cute. She is also a very beautiful woman.

…I want to die…

I hung my head in shame–

I was using a wig from the bundle of women’s clothes Lisa was carrying as a disguise.

According to Lisa, I looked like a beautiful Persian woman. The underlying theme of the disguise was black to match my hair colour, and our cover was that I was a rich woman from the Middle East who had emigrated 3 years prior. Lisa’s role was her secretary.

When Lisa had finished helping me dress, she made all kinds of ooh’s and ah’s, and I could see why. I looked like some kind of knock-off black-haired Maetel.2

It appears that I was no less capable than my Onii-chan. Blood tells, it would seem.

「What fake names should we use?」

Lisa asked.

「I’ll leave it to you. Think of something to suit to the black Maetel image.」

I answered brusquely and… *Cl-lunk!*…

The train started to move.

For a while, we fell silent and turned our faces into the train as we passed through the suburban areas…

「Brussels was a source of sorrow for both of us. At least that is how it looks to Lisa…」

With a downcast expression, she answered in a lifeless voice.

「…As for me, it seems like just desserts. GRENEDA– they are just a bunch of bad guys.」

「GRENEDA are a bunch of bad guys, you say?」

「That’s obvious!」

「If you ask Lisa, Lisa would say the opposite.」

「It’s the opposite of that. GRENEDA are the bad guys, and DEEN are the good guys.」

「Then why are you running away from DEEN, Tohyama-sama…?」

「That’s simple. I am running from the good guys, so the bad… uh… Well… that is to say…」

Damn she’s sharp.

But, as for my place in the situation… I have to make her understand the difference.

Carried to a logical extreme, from a squabble of children to world wars, Manicheanism doesn’t discriminate which side id good and which is evil. In any quarrel, you will natural assume that you are the right side.

For generations, the Tohyama Family have been called champions of justice…

Now, as their descendant, I bear the name of a traitor.

「…」

I hung my head in silence–

「…But, Tohyama-sama. To Lisa, you are a good guy. Without considering the risk to yourself, you rescued me from their grip of deaths.」

Lisa placed her hand under my coat and rested it softly on my knee.

But then her face– quickly froze.

…?

Lisa glanced up at the door at the front of the car, and following her gaze…

An ordinary looking plump, male train conductor in a dark blue uniform was making his way over toward us.

「–It is a ticket inspection. Lisa will handle it, so please pretend to be asleep.」

Lisa whispered as she sat up, and the conductor lumbered over–

With a small nod, she handed over the two tickets.

I was caught off guard. In European railways there aren’t ticket gates, but ticket inspections instead, it would seem…

I slouched my head forwards so that my face was not visible… through half-closed eyes, I stole a peek through the wig, pretending to be asleep until he passed by.

After checking the tickets, the conductor punched a hole in them and–

「What about her? Is she not feeling well?」

I didn’t know what they were saying because it was in French, but I assumed it was about me.

「Not at all. Please do not be concerned. She is sleeping.」

Holding up both index fingers, she waved them back and forth in a negative gesture.

「The next station is a domestic station in the Netherlands. Will she be able to show her passport then?」

Crap…!

I just heard the word ‘passport’.

By all outward appearances, I was a foreign national, so crossing national borders, naturally they would like to confirm my identity. It would be a problem if they say my Japanese passport.

A cold sweat then broke out on my forehead as I just recalled the Beretta I was carrying–

「She is not merely ‘that woman’, as you say. You are not arbitrarily judging a person’s nationality by their appearance, are you? She is a Dutchwoman who, for the last 3 years, has been the COO of Belmont B.V. As an extraordinarily thrifty person, she has chosen a second-class ticket in order to save the burden of expense on her subordinates in the company. I will not allow you to wake her so rudely for such a purpose.」

Lisa chattered on fluently… this time not in French. Was it Dutch…? Seeming to understand, the conductor replied:

「Well then…please accept my deepest apologies. Please have a safe trip.」

Nodding several times, he answered in a low voice as he moved on.

…Thank goodness!

Somehow, we got past it.

After enough time had passed since the conductor left,

「…You saved me. I owe you a debt. What did you say?」

I asked– and Lisa repeated what had been said word-for-word, supplying a Japanese translation. She has an incredible memory.

「…So that was how it was? His aggressive tone gave me chills.」

「From his name plate, I could tell that he was Dutch. In the Netherlands, Whites, Blacks, Arab–among other races coexists and racism is a crime. Once I had that strong position to work from, I could seize the initiative.」

「…I see. But why did you make me out to be such a stingy person?」

「In the Netherlands, stinginess is a good thing. Taking pains to save money in order to give to those in need is considered by the culture to be a virtue. We were already riding in second class– so I used that fact to make him think that you were Dutch.」

To do that in a moment… is a display of quick-wittedness. That’s huge, Lisa.

And that is not all. Lisa’s tone was slightly hysterical, playing the role of what in Japanese we call a『bellyaching bleater』. She even managed to convince the conductor.

「You’re smart.」

Ii said, and to my small bit of praise,

「Wha-wha… That’s… ridiculous!」

Lisa’s white cheeks flushed pink, and she began fanning herself with her hand.

Her tone was different from that which she used with the conductor–crossing both her hands in front of her chest, she made a negative gesture that a Japanese girl would. As the other party, I am Japanese.

Possessing extensive knowledge, the clever Lisa rose a bit in my estimation…

Although we are not friends, as members of DEEN and GRENEDA, we were able to work together, and I would like to see if she has any other helpful abilities.

「Besides intelligence, what other skills do you possess? You were a part of I.U., so what kind of fighting ability do you have? It’s not close combat, so is it vehicle operation, communications, missile engineering–?」

I asked, and Lisa…

Once more, she dropped her eyes in shame.

「Nothing like that… Instead of any kind of fighting ability Lisa… is an accountant…」

「Accounting?」

「Lisa was I.U.’s accountant. Negotiating prices for fuel and weapons; purchasing equipment and food; and managing stock and inventory.」

An accountant…. huh…

What the hell!?

No matter her intelligence, there is a huge gap in her fighting ability.

If I were running from someone strong like Vlad or Patra, combining strength with intelligence would result in a higher degree of safety.

「Besides that… is there anything else you can do?」

「I can act as a nurse or pharmacist. But I am not a doctor like Vlad Sayonaki-san, so there is a limit to my abilities.」

I had an expectation from the surgery I had seen her conduct on herself, but it must be tempered…

Trusting her own rapid healing ability, she was able to conduct the absurd procedure.

「Anything else?」

「As for other things, there’s still my main scope of work… In I.U. and GRENEDA’s, Lisa always did the cooking and washing. I originally attended an Amsterdam maid school.」

Accounting. Nursing. Maid work.

Nothing else– that is to say no fighting skills, martial arts, sword skill, gun skills, or magic– not a single one, and Lisa looked up at me apologetically in silence…

I had no words to say either.

Armed forces have non-combat personnel to cook, play music, and do clerical work… Lisa was connected to I.U. and GRENEDA for those sorts of purposes.

「Then why are you a member of I.U.’s warhawks…?」

「When I.U. came to the North Sea, I was received an invitation. My ancestor… seemed to be a strong person.」

「But you aren’t. Why did you stay with an armed group? Were you held captive?」

「Not at all. It was my own choice to stay with I.U… I wanted to meet someone on that warship. I wanted to serve them, a hero-sama…」

「…Hero-sama?」

「In my family– for generations, the women of the Avé du Ang Family have each had a hero-sama… serving a warrior and remaining unscathed during times of war. There have been all kinds of warriors that have been served loyally, and they have acted as valuable allies… By doing so, they have received affection, protection, and have survived.」

「That’s… a complicated way to live.」

「Summarised easily into Japanese, my family have decided to be『useful women』.」

「…」

「But the I.U. warhawk party had so many women in it and there did not appear to be any hero-sama that Lisa should serve. Even though my grandmother and mother had such a person… for some reason, no such person had materialised for Lisa, so Lisa could only cry in her bed aboard the warship.」

Lisa, that’s…

It’s not an area I am very familiar with, but I think that’s what they call『Prince Charming Syndrome』.

Such people believe that somehow, someway, someone is destined to appear, and they have to wait for them.

It seems that this belief has been passed down through generations of this family.

「If you’re crying so much then you should change the way you lived your life. Cast aside the Showa era Shoujo manga way of thinking… You were already at I.U., you could, for example, have reversed the roles and become a female hero that would fight and protect a man.」

I said in complaint to Lisa who lacked all fighting abilities, to which she replied–

「Impossible. Lisa does not want to fight at all. I definitely, definitely, don’t want to be hurt.」

She insisted stubbornly, touching the clothes atop her wounds.

**************************************************

Taking turns napping, Lisa and I rode along as the train made its way northward across the flat country.

Night has not yet fallen. Occasionally, looking along the tracks, I could see orange coloured lamps shining here and there.

According to the well-informed Lisa, orange coloured light is readily noticeable to the human eye without much illumination and so saves energy costs.

Japanese roadway lights are white, but that’s a matter of taste.

「When will we arrive in the Netherlands, do you think?」

I muttered to Lisa as we changed shifts napping–

「We are already there. We crossed the national border some time ago, about when the conductor-san passed through.」

「…? But where are the tulips and windmills?」

I pressed my face against the windows and searched the pre-dawn landscape, to which Lisa chuckled softly and gave an adorable smile.

「It is winter, Tohyama-sama. If it were spring, then the tulip fields would stretch out to the horizon. What is more, Tohyama-sama’s mental image is perhaps a bit outdated–『Windmills』are old-fashioned and there are practically none within the Netherlands.」

「I-I see.」

「But now–Look on the other side of those woods! There is a modern-day windmill.」

Lisa moved her pretty face toward the window, and staring out cheek to cheek, I felt nervous for a brief moment–

On the horizon was a propeller shaped electric windmill, and I gave wry grin.

It was a familiar sight and of the same type as the ones on Empty Island in Daiba. I let out a sigh.

「Have you always used windmills in the Netherlands for power generation?」

「You might say that. Windmills have been in the country since the 2nd century.」

「Well, um… Did you use them for flour milling?」

「Windmills were used for flour milling, but they had the more important role of『expanding our borders』.」

「Expanding borders…? Windmills?」

「『God created the Earth, but the Dutch created the Netherlands』is a Dutch proverb. We Dutch have built hundreds of kilometres of levees, and drained seawater using the power of tens of thousands of windmills over centuries to uncover more land. This land is below sea-level.」

While boasting of her own country, Lisa smiled beautifully.

The Netherlands– she seems happy to be returning home.

Looking out once more, I could see that this Country was maintained by a man-made drainage system. Looking left and right through both sets of windows, I couldn’t see a single mountain in sight.

Like the reclaimed land of Daiba, there was nothing to stop the wind from blowing where it willed.

–I see. The Netherlands is a country created by windmills. You should try to visit.

Travel broadens one’s horizons. Even if running away.

************************************************

We finally reached a latitude even further north than Hokkaido, and at 8 A.M. it was still pitch black–

Lisa and I reached the safety of the Netherlands largest city of Amsterdam.

Descending and coming to eye-level with the yellow train I had nicknamed『Dog-nose』, we entered the unfamiliar Amsterdam Centraal station, and I didn’t know my right from my left– but I followed the local Lisa who did not lose her way. Exiting the brickwork station, we started down a slightly uneven cobblestone path.

The weather was overcast. The temperature… had to be below 0 degrees Celsius. My left side had to put up with the cold.

Like Brussels, the town was full of building that looked like something out of a fairy-tale, packed together and crowded around the streets– but each of them was larger than those in Belgium. I suspected something was wrong, but that concern was quickly resolved upon seeing the people headed to work. The people were huge.

According to Lisa, the average height in the country is the largest in the world, with men at 184 cm and women at 171 cm.

If Aria came here, forget elementary student, they might think she was a kindergartener. It’s a country of giants.

「…Not only the town, but the people are large as well.」

We walked along the street identical to the『Beautiful but Dirty』city of Paris–and as we did so, Lisa’s breathe puffed white in the air as she muttered,

「Yes. But we should not stay here long… The rail system is a key point of city infrastructure where both weapons and medical supplies can be easily introduced. We should make a short visit to resupply.」

I had become tired, but it seemed Lisa had thoroughly planned out our escape route.

Walking a short way east of the station, we entered a cramped street that probably had some historical significance–

At one of the corners, there was a black door with a weather worn sculpture on it that swung open easily.

I wouldn’t have noticed it with a passing glance, but inside was a reception area. It appeared to be an out of the way but simplistic hotel.

After a brief conversation at the front desk, Lisa said:

「I will collect and purchase the supplies we need now. There is a lot of foot traffic during the day, so you should rest.」

And she handed me the key for room 201…

Parting from Lisa for the first time, I took an old-fashioned elevator to the second floor– which in Japan would be the third floor.

「…」

Shutting the door with an auto-lock behind me, first of all, I felt as if I had experienced a huge sigh of relief.

Those in DEEN believe that I an unfamiliar with the lay of the land in Europe– but I quickly escaped to another city to an hotel known to an acquaintance.

That is to say, I am avoiding public attention. For several reasons, I don’t want to be seen by anyone.

When I went to make sure the curtains were closed…

…!

I looked outside the window.

Below there was a narrow, muddy canal where swans glid smoothly, patrolling the surface of the water–

But across the canal, on the first floor of the fairy-tale like building with a row of eaves–

With several red lamps arranged on the exterior, there was a line of glass-fronted openings…

Behind each glass pane, there was a beautiful Onee-san beckoning and blowing kisses to the men that were walking by.

Instead of wearing clothing, they were each clad merely in different coloured revealing underwear.

Even someone like me–

I could understand the situation with half a brain.

There was also a glass door that had the curtains tightly shut, and as for what fairy-tale adventure was going on in that invisible room– I did not want to imagine!

If it were Mutou, he’d happily gaze toward that place.

Hurriedly shutting the curtains–

I stripped off the wig and women’s coat… then I flopped onto the bed.

This was another reason to not want to stay long.

Come to think about it, besides tulips and windmills, I do know one other thing about the Netherlands.

Mutou told me about it a long time ago.

In this country, many things are legal that are illegal in other countries.

Narcotics, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, among other things.

Truly– ever since Hong Kong, I have been surprised travelling abroad.

***************************************************

Lisa bought a Burger King Double Whopper, and we ate them in the hotel–

「Tohyama-sama. The colour of your face has not been too well for a while now. Are your injuries troubling you? Do you want any of the pain-killers that Lisa has?」

As we sat across from each other at a small round table, Lisa peered into my face with concern.

Incidentally, Lisa had placed her burger on a plate from the room and was eating it with a knife and fork. Such good manners.

「…I have a constitution such that drugs aren’t terribly effective. But please don’t worry.」

The swelling of my side was painful, but not as much as the frightening place across the street.

But should I talk about something like that with a girl like Lisa? No, I can’t.

Still flustered, I murmured this question inside my head

「Then do you want to buy hemp at one of the nearby coffee shop?」

「Hemp? What is that?」

「Cannabis. It’s a natural drug.」

「No way!」

Drugs are drugs, but this is a narcotic.

At my sharp tone– Lisa was shocked. That’s right. We aren’t in Japan.

Hong Kong was a learning experience, but it didn’t cover everything overseas.

「..Sorry. In my country, that’s illegal. And I haven’t done anything. Earlier or now. I owe you an open apology, you bought yesterday’s tickets, and today you purchased medicine, food, ammunition, and covered the price of this room.」

Finishing our respective meals, I took out my wallet and handed over about 300 Euros.

Ah! Now I have practically no money left.

That is because I was short on funds from the start. Due to my idiot younger brother breaking the millstone.

「No, no, you have more than repaid me. Tohyama-sama saved Lisa’s life.」

「I’ve tallied things up until now. If I hadn’t met you, I might be dead in Brussels by about this time. I won’t feel right if we don’t square accounts.」

I pressed the Euro notes upon Lisa…

「I-I understand. If that’s the case–」

Lisa took out her own wallet with an embroidered golden wolf and make change…

…Oi! She gave me 152 Euros back.

It’s less than half the amount I had roughed out. That’s pretty cheap, isn’t it?

「Oi, Lisa! You don’t have to hold back, tell me what it really cost. I might be a poor Butei, but taking money from people like this would make me a good-for-nothing, wouldn’t it?」

I tried to press the bills upon her once more…

「N-no, it truly did not cost this much.」

「That is what a lot of people say, but they are upset at the end.」

「L-Lisa was able to buy the same items at a rock-bottom price by going directly to the supplier. You can find a drug with the same effectiveness at a lower price if you look for it. Negotiating with the supplier, you can get up to a 70% discount. I even purchased the hamburgers as part of a reduced-price meal set.」

Relapsing into old habits, Lisa chattered on, feeling the need to itemise the expenses.

In light of that… she really did manage to buy everything cheaply. From the tickets to bullets.

We actually got onto the train, and the medicine wasn’t counterfeit. On the receipt for the 9mm parabellum bullets I had asked for, there was a seller’s note– it was a calculation to reduce the price to a third of the original.

「…Are you sure that you’re an ordinary human? I’m sorry for what I said. I apologise. I understand now.」

Embarrassed about fussing over money… I bowed my head low to apologise in the Japanese style.

Whereupon Lisa flushed red and began waving her hands wildly.

「It was nothing, please raise your head.」

She said in a fluster.

「Everyone is surprised once… But you are not a good maid if you cannot shop well. On I.U. I purchased nuclear fuel at 80% discount. When the Koko came to sell weapons, they looked at me with a mean face.」

With a laugh, Lisa couldn’t help but smile…

I also gave a small smile. The disgusted face of the Koko sisters immediately popped into my mind.

Regardless, with all these things, Lisa has proven to be a valuable ally.

Didn’t she say on the train that she didn’t have any fighting ability? She is an excellent logistical aid. With the same outlay for equipment– she has increased the number of bullets I can shoot by a factor of 3.

[END]

************************************************

1. Dutch in the original: Bent u van Lisa een held.

2. Character from Galaxy Express 999