Chapter 75: Squad

"Hmm."

Beatrice let out a thoughtful hum while examining the blood-stained pistol Saori had brought. Saori stood before her, staring into space with an expressionless face. That appearance seemed like she was reminiscing about something, or simply spacing out. Whatever it was, Beatrice couldn't figure it out. It didn't seem like a proper answer would come even if she asked. Instead, she examined the blood-soaked muzzle from various angles.

Honestly, just looking at this blood, it was hard to predict what happened to that man. Couldn't it just be that he was wounded somewhere and only bled? There were four bullets missing, and the smell of gunpowder suggested it had been fired, but the possibility that it was just a superficial show couldn't be ignored either.

Beatrice looked at Saori and rolled her head. Normally, the trembling wretch before her eyes was unusually bold today. Because she completed her mission? Or…… is there some reason she can be bold? She raised about half of her dozens of eyes and spoke.

"Did you kill him?"

A direct question thrown out to test her. Beatrice wanted to gauge Saori's reaction with that question, but Saori was nonchalant.

"I couldn't kill him. I shot four bullets into his abdomen, but he fled in a near-death state."

"Is that so. But why are you unharmed? If such a thing happened, he would have taken some action."

"It seems he had some attachment to me. He tried to swing his fist, but stopped before my face. Thanks to that, I was able to fire a few more shots."

Saori's attitude was polite and also straightforward.

She didn't seem to be telling a lie. And even if it were a lie, such a thing didn't matter much to Beatrice. She would prefer the man to be dead, but for now, him leaving the Arius Autonomous District was enough. She changed the coordinates of the entrance as soon as he left, so there would be no way for him to return.

"Good. Well done, Saori."

Beatrice said that and stood up, handing the detonator to Saori. Saori, still without any expression, accepted the device.

It was heavy. It was also cold due to the metal material. She looked down at the metal lump and gritted her teeth tightly. Beatrice, not noticing this, explained the functions of the detonator.

"Press the top button and it will explode. I told you, right? The bombs are currently attached to the necks of the four of you. The power isn't strong enough to separate the head and neck, but it should be enough to destroy blood vessels from the inside. So make sure you don't press it by mistake."

"……Yes, Madam."

"The one below. The second button is the one that deactivates the bombs. Press it and the bombs will detach from your flesh and decompose on their own. No need to worry afterward. They will melt and disappear inside your body."

Beatrice didn't lie. As she said, pressing the button would neutralize the bombs and make them cleanly disappear. And that was also her intention.

If she didn't keep her promise regarding this incident, Saori wouldn't trust Beatrice from now on. That wouldn't be good for Beatrice either. After all, Saori was an important figure to Beatrice, and such a person turning away one-sidedly would be a great loss for her too.

Of course, using force and threats to completely crush her would be easier, but historically, tyrants who chose such methods were short-lived. Most died due to external pressure.

Beatrice was someone who knew how to value her own life and how to use her head. If Kenji hadn't been a significantly irritating presence in her eyes, she wouldn't have used such coercive methods through threats either. This incident was an unusual choice for her as well.

Thus, she needed to recover the lost trust even more. Beatrice smiled faintly and patted Saori's shoulder.

"You've been through a lot. Rest deeply for a while."

"Yes, Madam."

Saori gave a dignified bow toward Beatrice, then left the Basilica. The gray streets and dark sky greeted her. Saori stared blankly at the black sky for a moment, then moved her steps toward the residence where the Squad stayed.

After moving a few steps like that. She checked if there was any listening device attached somewhere on her body, but fortunately, nothing was found. It seemed no watcher was attached either.

Only then did she throw off her mask. The eyes glimpsed between her hat flashed with killing intent. Her tightly clenched fist trembled, and the sound of teeth grinding, grind, echoed blatantly. Fortunately, there was no one to hear, but Saori's heart was pounding faster than anything. But soon, she calmed her emotions. Suppressed the hatred, suppressed the killing intent. Then, all that remained was a sense of guilt that seemed to bind her entire body.

Saori tightly closed her eyes.

She could still recall it vividly. Kenji's twisted smile, suppressed groans, scattered fresh blood, spreading bloodstains. All of that grabbed Saori's ankles and clung. As if trying to drag the 'murderer' who shouldn't exist in this world to hell.

She felt the impulse to entrust herself to that grasp. But she didn't.

Because she promised.

-When we reunite later, become someone who can walk around proudly with your chest out. Got it?

Right, later. There's still a later left. We can reunite. To keep the promise, she must not collapse here. She had to hold her mind tight and become someone he could smile and be satisfied with when they met again. Saori made that resolution inwardly and caught her breath.

The promise she made with him wasn't just one. And she had to keep the other one right now.

She made up her mind. Saori walked with neat steps toward the building where the Squad stayed. Atsuko, noticing her presence, flung the door open and came out to meet her. No, her expression was too serious to call it a greeting.

"Sa-chan! Where have you been?"

Behind Atsuko, the faces of three others were visible. Saori slightly chewed her lip, then looked at Atsuko and spoke.

"……Let's go inside. I have a lot to say."

She didn't wait for an answer. Saori passed Atsuko and entered the building. Atsuko suppressed her confused feelings for now and followed her. Thus, all five gathered inside the building. None had normal expressions. Probably because they roughly guessed. Saori took a deep breath, then looked at each of them in turn.

And then began her story.

With a devastated heart, Saori laid everything bare. First, she said bombs had been implanted in their necks. Then they flinched and fidgeted with their own necks. They thought the unease they had been feeling lately might be that.

Saori even let them verify it. When she pressed the second button on the detonator, the unease they felt completely vanished. It stung a bit, but that was because the bomb detached from their flesh. The direct danger was gone.

Next, Saori began her second story. The story of being forced and threatened by Beatrice to choose who to kill between Kenji and the Squad. As her story gradually lengthened, the Squad's expressions also distorted. In the end, some burst into tears upon hearing what Kenji said just before being shot.

It was Hiyori and Atsuko.

Hiyori collapsed as if her legs gave out and began wailing loudly. She felt a terrible guilt, as if he had disappeared due to her carelessness. Her chest felt hollow, and even the self-blame and lack of confidence she always spouted, she couldn't utter this time. She just cried. Until her throat cracked and she nearly fainted. She shed tears endlessly.

Atsuko stood still, only pouring out tears. Her expression was gloomy. She looked like someone who had received a great shock, on the verge of breaking. No sound, no breath, no movement. She shed tears like a calmly flowing river.

Azusa and Misaki were furious.

Azusa was angry at her own weakness. Such a thing happened, yet not only could she not help, she only caused trouble as a burden. A thought she usually carried suddenly came to mind. Everything is futile, but one must struggle? What struggle did I make this time? Didn't I just remain ignorant, taking the position of a bystander? That shouldn't have been. At the very least, I should have given him some hint. Then, then he wouldn't have needed to suffer like that.

Drip, drip.

Blood flowed from Azusa's bitten lip. Her eyes were wide open but unfocused, and her tightly clenched fist trembled uneasily as if it would shatter any moment. Just like her emotions.

Misaki staggered and recalled the words she had uttered just a few hours ago.

-……Yeah. But since I might have said something unnecessary, don't push Leader too hard. Leader must have a lot on her mind too. Among them, there are definitely things she can't tell us. Leader…… unnie is a leader leading a squad, after all. Please.

What thoughts did he have while being shot by Saori? Could my words have become a shackle to him? Could he have escaped perfectly fine, but because of my unnecessary words, he couldn't escape? Misaki smiled self-deprecatingly and slid down against the wall.

He was a precious person. That person crossed a river he couldn't return from overnight. And not by his own will, but by another's.

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Because of me.

Because I fell for the Madam's scheme. Because I said strange things.

Because of me.

Misaki sharpened her nails and frantically scratched the bandage-wrapped neck. But no wound formed. Only red marks remained.

It didn't matter. She gasped for breath and moved both hands as if insane. It felt like indelible filth was smeared all over her body. Her lungs refused to breathe. It felt like her organs were twisting. Her head hurt. It was cold. It was hot. Her heart, her heart felt like it would pop and burst.

If it would burst, then could she escape this guilt? Misaki moved her trembling hand toward her chest.

"Get a grip."

Then, a softly resonating voice caught her derailed thoughts. Misaki gasped for breath roughly and looked back at Saori. She was looking down at everyone with a pained expression.

"Remember what I said. He didn't die. He promised to return to us when the time comes."

"……."

"Then there's only one thing we must do. Trust him, and wait for him."

"……Sa-chan."

"I know I have no right to say this. No matter what anyone says…… I'm the one who shot him. Even if that justification was to save you all, my sin won't disappear and will torment me forever. But you are not."

Saori almost shed tears for a moment but painfully corrected herself.

"I will bear the sin alone. So don't feel guilty."

"……Saori, you were also ultimately used by the Madam."

Azusa spoke. No one refuted those words.

Because it was true. Saori was a perpetrator, but when you think about it, she was also a victim. A victim forced to harm someone. Like a puppet bound by strings, she merely followed the Madam's orders due to her threats. Everyone here knew that fact. They knew Saori wasn't the kind of person who would harm someone of her own will. That's why they didn't blame her. Didn't resent her.

Rather, they sympathized.

"You have no reason to feel guilty. Sensei also…… said so, right. That he doesn't resent you."

"……."

"So we don't resent you either."

Azusa wiped the tears flowing down her cheek and stood up.

"Right, Saori. Let's wait. Let's wait until Sensei returns. And let's strive to become people who won't be ashamed before him."

"……."

"Let's forget the hatred and doctrines that aren't ours, that were just fabricated. Sensei taught us, didn't he? That there is nothing futile in this world. Even to ensure his sacrifice doesn't become in vain, we must follow his teachings."

"Azusa……."

"And let's take revenge. On the Madam who made him, and us, like this."

It was a calm declaration. But no one objected. Atsuko lowered her head and shed tears, Hiyori hiccuped, *hic, hic*, while staring holes into the sniper rifle placed in the corner. Misaki's gaze was also sharpened coldly like a blade.