I was always envious of others.
The way they could live so confidently with names given to them by someone else.
It was as if they stirred a foul sense of jealousy and inferiority within me.
The gap was too wide to simply dismiss it as me being a special case, or something that couldn't be helped.
After all, I was desperately trying to find an identity by clinging to the mere role of a Soldat.
Perhaps that’s why I was so angry when I faced that Hollow.
Because people who naturally achieved things that were so difficult for me died so pointlessly.
If those who were better than me could be killed so insignificantly, then what on earth did that make me?
That was what I thought.
It was a bit of an embarrassing way to act.
Still, while going on like that...
I met you.
*****
"Who the hell are you?"
A figure I had never seen before dropped down in front of me.
'Who is this?'
I heard the evaluations were being conducted sequentially, and there were definitely no other schedules.
Did she come here without permission?
To Hueco Mundo? For what purpose?
'No. That’s not what’s important.'
Her attire was individualistic, far removed from the standard uniform.
She wore a short skirt and long boots instead of military ones, and there was even a heart-shaped accessory hanging from her belt.
Judging by the free-spirited clothing that even a Division Commander wouldn't be allowed to wear, and the sheer carnage around her, her rank was likely Sternritter.
At that level, it made sense that she could use the Sun Gate freely.
In any case, it meant she was an ally.
"1st Division, 3rd Battalion, Headquarters Company—"
"I don't care. Did I ask for that?"
She cut off his attempt to state his affiliation and rank, her face contorting into a fierce scowl.
She was already in a foul mood; she didn't have the patience to listen to him prattle on.
"You're a Soldat. And yet you dare ignore my words like that?"
"I apologize."
He bowed his head. Just like that.
It was absurd.
He wasn't suddenly terrified, nor was he hesitating; he just apologized naturally, as if it were the obvious thing to do.
She had seen plenty of people slam their heads against the ground begging for forgiveness, but she had never seen someone like this.
Specifically... that voice, which sounded as if he sincerely believed this was no big deal rather than just trying to escape the situation.
If it weren't for that, she would have hounded him to the ends of hell.
"Ha, you've completely ruined my mood. 1st Division? Your Division Commander is dead meat."
Dealing with someone like this only made her blood boil; it was better to leave him to the underlings.
Just as she was about to push past him to kill the remaining Hollow.
Step.
"...Hey."
The guy blocked her path.
"Do I look easy to you because I'm just using words? Should I just kill you here?"
She looked up at his face from point-blank range.
Whatever expression was hidden behind that mask didn't matter anymore.
The guy managing the gate had mentioned Haschwalth, so she had tried to hold back for the sake of his reputation.
But this insolent Soldat had dared to cross the line.
Bambietta's eyes wavered with a murderous intent and irritation that went beyond mere anger.
"I apologize. However, that Hollow is the first one I have chosen to kill. I must finish it with my own hands."
It wasn't that he had forgotten the Hollows he killed in the forest.
It was simply that the fundamental existence of a choice had made the difference and moved him.
"Hahaha! Wow, this guy is hilarious."
She applied strength to her fingers, curling them.
Countless lights flickered within her small, gloved hand.
"I heard your last words loud and clear."
The sound of small air pockets popping could be heard as she flashed a smile condensed with rage.
'What is this...?'
While the atmosphere soured to its limit, the Hollow sat alienated in the middle of it all.
Aren't Quincies all on the same side?
No, what did it matter?
This was an opportunity.
It would escape quietly in this gap.
However, if something ten meters tall suddenly vanished from sight, it would feel out of place.
This was when it would use its hidden trump card.
It wasn't just a simple tail-cutting of a giant form; it could escape by dividing itself individually based on pieces of its carapace.
Like a flock of birds huddled on a tree suddenly flying off in multiple directions at the sound of a gunshot.
'I'm glad I saved this until the end!'
As long as even one piece escaped, its life would be preserved.
If multiple bodies survived, they could gather and merge again later.
'In the end, I am the one who survives!'
Feeling a base pleasure and the thrill of survival at the bottom of its emotions, it activated its ability—
"..."
It didn't activate.
'Why isn't it working...?'
How?
Why?
'What? No matter how damaged my body is, this is a separate mechanism, so it should at least divide.'
Something. Something. Something was wrong.
Ah.
Could that guy have used some kind of ability?
No, did I even have such an ability to begin with?
'Did I...?'
While desperate schemes churned in the Hollow's head, the conversation between the two Quincies continued.
"Please, do not do that."
"Your last moments are normally ugly."
"Someone like you must not become like me."
'What kind of sophistry is this now?'
He was so peculiar that it had moved past being annoying and into the realm of fascinating.
Just as she was about to blow his head off, she looked up at his face and saw his eyes through the dust-cleared goggles.
That gaze.
Those golden eyes visible through the glass.
Those eyes that sincerely believed a person like her would never make such a choice.
Faith.
Worry.
Respect.
Admiration.
A current of emotions that seemed impossible to have for someone he had just met.
Feeling those honest and alien emotions that she had never experienced before...
She unconsciously let the strength drain from her hand.
Slide—
Her arm naturally dropped.
An awkward and embarrassing, yet not entirely negative silence filled the air.
"...Thank you very much."
*****
After that conversation.
Nachahmer caught the Hollow that was trying to quietly flee and finally obliterated it.
Afterward, he joined Belmaia's group and recovered the remains of the officers.
The Sternritters following Bambietta also returned to the Wandenreich, and the group was guaranteed a brief period of rest and treatment.
However, the evaluation continued under the reasoning that deaths were an inevitable part of actual combat.
During this, Giselle Gewelle attempted to turn the officers' corpses into zombies.
"Enough. They died to a Hollow, so just leave them alone."
Thanks to Bambietta's advice—or rather, her command—they were able to be buried peacefully in the mortuary.
It seemed as though Bambietta had glanced at someone for a moment before stopping Giselle, but it was so brief that no one paid it much mind.
As things were wrapping up and the soldiers were about to head to the medical ward.
"Hey, Soldat."
Bambietta stopped one particular Soldat.
"Yes."
"...You, follow me to my room. I need to relieve my urges."
At her words, the soldiers heading for treatment, the officers, and even the rest of the Sternritter were all shocked.
Well, except for Giselle.
"Hey, hey! Bambietta! What are you talking about? Why are you taking that huge guy?"
Candice asked, looking disgusted.
Though they didn't show it, Liltotto and Meninas were also quite bewildered.
No matter how reckless she was, she had never done something like this before.
How should I put it?
Bambietta had simply let the words slip out.
The reason was probably...
"...Just because."
That gaze.
"That guy was looking at me in an annoying way."
It was to resolve that curiosity.
She felt like she needed to hear the reason to feel at peace.
Swallowing the rest of her words, she turned around.
*****
The reason I looked at you that way back then was...
Regardless of good or evil, you were the first.
It was the first time I'd seen eyes so firm and unwavering. I had never seen a person like that until then.
I told you, didn't I? I thought everyone was more wonderful than me.
But seeing someone so far out of reach like you actually made my inferiority complex vanish.
It was just...
Brilliant and beautiful.
"So it was love at first sight?"
...That's right. I fell for you instantly.
Gosh, I completely lost.
I can't win.
Giggle.
"...Actually."
Yeah?
"I think I felt the same way."
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