Tatakau Shisho

Volume 8, Chapter 4: The End of the Liars – Part?2

Her first opponent was a single trainee. He was a relatively old trainee who hasn’t made much progress. He was probably thinking of showing his power there.

“Do you use any weapon?”

Mattalast said. Hamyuts replied.

“Hmm? I don’t really care either way.”

“Then go without. It’ll be bad if you get hurt.”

However, the trainee objected.

“Won’t you use one? It’ll make me angry if you later say I won only because you don’t have a weapon.”

“Is what he said.”

Mattalast threw Hamyuts’s luggage at her. She took out her weapon from it. She wrapped a bag full of stones around her waist and held a leather rope with her right hand. Everyone was surprised seeing this old-fashioned weapon that no one used nowadays.

The match lasted a second. The sling’s first shot smashed the trainee’s chin.

“What’s up with that sling?”

Even Vizac was surprised.

“Amazing, right? You’d be even more surprised seeing it from long range.”

The second trainee was a gun user. Hamyuts bent back and dodged his fast shooting. Using some kind of muscle strength, by swinging her sling from an abnormal position, she pierced his abdomen before the second shot came.

“Why does the lass use that sort of weapon?”

“Who knows. Seems like it’s the only thing she has.”

“Even a bow and arrow would be more useful.”

Vizac said.

“I’ve told her the same. When I did, she asked me what a bow and arrow were.”

“…What the heck.”

“When I showed her what it was she was surprised at there being such a useful weapon in the world.”

“What about a gun?”

“She knows about guns. But it seems like they aren’t very useful to her.”

Vizac shrugged.

The third trainee challenged her in close combat. Different from the ones before him, he dodged the gravel bullets well. Hamyuts fought while retreating.

The moment he tried to return a decisive blow a string was wrapped around his wrist holding the gun. Hamyuts hurled the trainee’s body away, creating an unpleasant noise in the process.

“Matt, I think that person’s broken.”

The squirming man’s comrades ran to him. Seeing the condition of his broken wrist, it wouldn’t be impossible to recover. However, fixing his broken heart was another matter entirely.

Vizac spoke to Hamyuts while grinning, yet the atmosphere wasn’t calm at all.

“Say, young lady. You’re quite something, huh. Won’t you try becoming an Armed Librarian?”

“Matt’s already asked me though. Being a seamstress it fine, but I wonder if becoming an Armed Librarian would be good as well.”

“Is that so. I’m grateful. But young lady… If you become an Armed Librarian, you’d have to follow our discipline.”

“What do you mean?”

“We need to punish the person who’s broken three trainees. You’ve gone a bit too far, young lady.”

Vizac readied his spear. He pointed its tip at Hamyuts.

“Hey, Matt.”

Hamyuts smiled for the first time that day.

“It’s fun here. I’m glad I came.”

Everyone then realized: It wasn’t Mattalast who’d brought the girl here. She was the one who made him bring her here. A monster came to seek its playground.

“Yeah, it’s getting fun, really fun.”

Saying so, Mattalast cackled. For now, as long as she was here, things were about to get interesting.

Vizac and Hamyuts were equal at that time. However, it took her two weeks since starting her formal training to surpass him. And it took her less than half a year to catch up to Mattalast.

And so a few years passed.

Mattalast calmed down just as Ireia had said. After he became eighteen he stopped acting like an idiot. He had to think rationally when looking at the mirror. He was by no means stupid after all.

He cut his hair and started wearing a suit. His habit of slacking off remained, but he learned to be stricter with everything important.

The monster he had brought along, Hamyuts, was also not as much a problem child as expected. She lacked common sense, was belligerent and couldn’t hold back, but even so, she wasn’t stupid, and was surprisingly obedient to the organization.

“You have grown quite calm as I have said, right?”

Ireia teased.

“Yes. As expected one should listen to their elders.”

“You have gotten popular lately. People say that you can inherit Photona-san.”

“Ahaha, delinquents are seen favorably when they do good things once in a while.”

“Please do your best. You will have to take responsibility for the Armed Librarians even after I die.”

“…Well, I’m gonna work just for my salary.”

Ireia probably interpreted that as Mattalast’s joke. But this was his true opinion. Even now that he became decent, he had no pride in being an Armed Librarian. Since it seemed like being an Armed Librarian was the only thing he could do he thought of at least working seriously.

He just gave in to reality. He didn’t become an adult but simply grew up.

Inevitably Mattalast came to know of the secret. It happened three years after he had obtained the qualifications of a First Class Armed Librarian and eight years after he became an Armed Librarian, meaning when he turned 22.

When Mattalast was called by Photona he thought that the time for it finally came.

He vaguely realized that the Armed Librarians have some secret. Besides Mattalast, even the veterans such as Ireia and Vizac noticed the existence of a secret.

As well as the fact that only those who were to succeed the Acting Director would know of it.

Taken by Photona, Mattalast went down to the Second Sealed Archive.

“Mattalast. To tell you the truth, I had no intention of telling you about this. You probably know this, but neither do I like you nor do I trust you.”

His direct words weren’t unpleasant. Even Mattalast knew they didn’t get along.

“Yeah.”

“However, the fact remains that you’re strong. I have to let you know.”

Mattalast decided to ask on something that piqued his interest.

“You’ve already told Hamyuts the Armed Librarians’ secret, right?”

“How did you know?”

“Somehow. Well, does that mean she’s better than me?”

“Yeah. I also can’t trust that woman, but I’ve judged her to be better than you.”

They entered the Second Sealed Archive.

Mattalast was told everything in front of the tree. About Ruruta, about the true duty of the Armed Librarians and about the Indulging God Cult.

Normally anyone would shake in fear. There were some so shocked by hearing the truth about the Armed Librarians they believed in that they had an identity crisis.

However, Mattalast’s impression was different.

“How stupid.”

He spoke in a low voice as to not let Photona hear him.

“I’ve been wondering lately if the Library’s any good at all.”

Until then, Mattalast more or less held respect for the Armed Librarians. But that day, it finally completely vanished.

He readily accepted the duty of offering up Books for Ruruta to the extent that it felt disappointing.

He started thinking while looking at the tree.

I’d better fight against this thing… this shittier than shit being. Mattalast was considering this from the bottom of his heart.

He had certainly once decided on fighting. However, he didn’t think of drawing his gun during that moment.

Because I’ll find a way to defeat it eventually. Thinking this, he submerged his fighting spirits deep inside his heart.

Exiting the Labyrinth, Photona told him that they would move to a different place. Mattalast thought it strange; if he wanted to keep a secret, it should be best speaking in front of Ruruta.

He told him they will talk while boarding an airplane. No way, is he going to discuss a way to defeat Ruruta? Mattalast thought. Something to not be heard by Ruruta… it was natural to think that.

However, what Photona told him was different.

“Three months ago, I and Hamyuts killed a certain girl and her comrades.”

“…Ho?”

“There is no need to speak of her real name. From henceforth she will be referred to only as the Violet Sinner. She was a great sinner who tried destroying Heaven. We have obliterated her Book and erased all records pertaining to her.

Anything about her is top-secret. Even the fact she had existed must not leak out to the public.”

“…Hmm.”

It seemed like the wind was blowing to another direction.

“Seems like she’s getting special treatment. There should be countless other people who’ve tried to destroy Heaven.”

Mattalast had viewed their Books in the Second Archive. Many Armed Librarians and rebels tried to challenge Heaven but were defeated.

“There were many other people other than the Violet Sinner who tried defeating Heaven. Their Books were left to teach the lesson that confronting Heaven is meaningless.”

“Hmm.”

“However, she was special. She arrived at the possibility to destroy Heaven. It was perhaps a one-in-a-billion chance, but she might have destroyed Heaven.”

“That’s quite a big deal. We really need to call the Armed Librarians on that.”

Photona ignored his joke. As I thought I don’t like this person at all, thought Mattalast.

“…If her existence becomes well known many fools would appear again to challenge Heaven. We have to stop that at all costs.

If Ruruta is provoked, the entire world might be destroyed.”

“…Ha.”

Mattalast laughed nasally.

“So it’s forbidden to even hope or try to destroy Ruruta? But there’s no need to let such a piece of shit live.”

It was right to change places, thought Mattalast. He couldn’t talk like that in front of Ruruta.

“Don’t be stupid. If it fails, the world will be destroyed.”

“But wouldn’t Ruruta be the one in trouble if the world is destroyed?”

He could feel murderous intent rising from Photona’s body. Killing those who wanted to challenge Ruruta was also his job as the Acting Director.

“…Would you like to die here?”

“You go first.”

At that time Mattalast and Photona were about equal. They both calmly stared at each other inside the plane. Mattalast folded first.

“I get it. I realize how dangerous that is. I won’t think of fighting him.”

“Yeah. You’re a person who can calculate gains and losses. I trust that part of you.”

“Thank you very much.”

Photona glanced at the direction of Past God Bantorra’s Island. Its silhouette was growing far away.

“From here on, is something you don’t want Hamyuts to hear about.”

“Indeed.”

Photona said. Using her Sensory Threads, Hamyuts could eavesdrop from far away. There was no way to prevent it but moving outside her maximal range which was 50 kilometers.

“That woman’s nature is a complete unknown. Why does she seek combat to that extent?”

As if I know, thought Mattalast. Even he didn’t know the truth about her.

“I shouldn’t have told her about the existence of the Violet Sinner. Hamyuts might, someday, challenge Ruruta Coozancoona.

I’m telling you this so you would monitor her. Just in case she appears to be a threat.”

Photona was silent.

“Do you understand?”

“Are you asking this of me?”

He probably knew that Mattalast was Hamyuts’s lover.

“Since it’s you it’s a command. I leave everything about keeping the secret to you. Erase all those who approach Heaven, all those who approach the Violet Sinner. Also keep the secret hidden so its very existence would not be known.”

“You’re quite the villain as well.”

“There’s no choice if I want to protect the world from Ruruta. Evildoing is also one of the duties of the Acting Director.”

Mattalast laughed.

“Duty, huh? Stop using that pretense. We’re two men alone. Will you not be frank with me?”

“…”

“Who’s protecting the world? You’re simply regretting your position. Everyone around the world admires you and calls you the God’s representative. Aren’t you happy?”

Photona didn’t reply.

“How stupid.”

Mattalast muttered so that he could hear him. He had never cursed his own strength so much like now. He was an Armed Librarian that didn’t want to become one. Now he became the guardian of a stupid secret. How far did my life turn over because of this talent?

As I thought, I’d rather kill Ruruta. Those feelings strengthened.

He parted from Photona and got back home. As he opened the door, Hamyuts hugged him.

“Welcome back, Matt! Do you love me?”

“Of course.”

He held Hamyuts’s body by the entrance. He kissed her thrice and got kissed by her five times.

“Dinner’s ready, try guessing what I made.”

“Hmm… a croquet?”

“Wrong.”

“Steak?”

“Wrong. Geez, why don’t you know? I hate you.”

While having this stupid conversation, the couple hugged and separated again and again. Incidentally, dinner was a mutton stew made in the style of the southern frontier. How could I even guess such a thing? Thought Mattalast.

They kept their rambling while eating dinner. Then, Hamyuts spoke.

“You’ve heard about the secret from Photona, right?”

“Yeah. Even though I didn’t want to.”

“After that you’ve flown somewhere. Did you discuss whether to kill me, I wonder?”

Hamyuts said lightly.

“Correct answer!”

The two laughed loudly. Their aerial excursion was unnatural. It had to be a secret that they didn’t want to let Hamyuts hear. There wass no way that both of them didn’t know at least that Photona regarded her as dangerous.

“Did Photona really think I wouldn’t find out?”

“I wonder.”

Laughing for a while, and after cracking jokes on Photona, Hamyuts’s face became serious.

“So, what’ll we do?”

“It’s not something for today or tomorrow. If I kill you Photona will be the one in trouble.”

“I see.”

This time it was Mattalast that turned serious.

“…Hamyuts. What are you going to do? Will you fight Ruruta?”

“Hmm, I’m not planning to. If I really run out of opponents to fight, maybe I’ll go get killed by him. But he’s not my type.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t I tell you? I like feeling murderous intent. I want someone to come at me with their mind and body intent on killing me. If I fight him I won’t have the leisure to enjoy it.”

“…I see.”

That was the part Hamyuts liked the best. Even at this time she already possessed a desire for defeat that would last several decades.

Her abnormality was also frightening. However, if she hadn’t had this strangeness, Mattalast wouldn’t have been drawn to her.

“So it’s fine.”

Mattalast said. This meant that the possibility of him killing Hamyuts was slim. However, Hamyuts interpreted it in another way.

“Yeah. If not Ruruta, then someone else will come to kill me someday.”

He made no correction.

During that day in the middle of night, Mattalast opened his mouth again. Next to him, Hamyuts was on the subtle boundary between sleep and wakefulness.

“Say. Who was that Violet Sinner?”

Hamyuts replied with a sullen voice.

“You’re the worst, Matt. Talking about another woman in bed…”

“Don’t be strange. Even if it’s me, I wouldn’t cheat on you with a dead person.”

“That makes no sense, I don’t get you men.”

And that’s why women are troublesome, thought Mattalast.

“Did it seem like she could win against Ruruta?”

“I wonder. She didn’t try it.”

Photona said that Hamyuts had read the Violet Sinner’s Book. He wasn’t told why only she had read it and why he or Kachua haven’t.

“It’s useless to think of it. The Violet Sinner’s dead after all.”

“Then, if I were to inherit the Violet Wish, would I be able to beat Ruruta?”

Hamyuts waved her hand.

“Impossible, definitely impossible.”

It made Mattalast a bit angry to have her assert this to that extent. He had somewhat of a confidence in his own strength.

“Even if we were to cooperate? If that happens we would be close to being the strongest combination in history.”

Hamyuts shook her head.

“That’s not the problem. It doesn’t matter how strong you are or if you have allies.”

“Then what is it?”

“Just like I said. Defeating Ruruta can’t be done with strength.”

If not by strength then how? Mattalast was puzzled.

“You have no idea right? So it’s impossible.”

“…Is it, really?”

“It is. She was the only person in the entire world who could do it. No one else can.”

At that moment Mattalast had a hunch: there was some connection between Hamyuts and the Violet Sinner. They had personal connection beyond being an executor and a criminal.

He caught a glimpse of Hamyuts’s past for the first time. But it had no follow up.

“Then I’ll quit trying to defeat Ruruta. Don’t you go thinking about weird stuff as well.”

“I know that, Matt. I don’t want to be killed.”

She spoke differently than usual. She was supposed to always wish for someone to kill her.

“Hey, Matt. You know… you’re the only one I don’t want to be killed by.”

Saying this, Hamyuts smiled.

Did I fulfill my duty? Wondered Mattalast. He hugged Hamyuts’s bare shoulders. But doesn’t that make it look like my job is sleeping with women?

Mattalast later regretted the fact that he hadn’t asked about the Violet Wish that day. As well as the fact that he hadn’t asked about Hamyuts’s past.

“Definitely impossible”. Mattalast’s fighting spirits dampened by those two words. It’s not that he lost the will to fight, but he was a man who compromised with reality.

Mattalast’s job of protecting the secret of Heaven started. His first work was the incident where information about Lascall Othello leaked out. He secretly organized soldiers and sent them to investigate. It was a bothersome incident. The Armed Librarian called Haiza had already learned some information and started acting.

He reached the origin of the information a few steps before Haiza.

Mattalast summarized the investigation and reported it to Photona.

“So the source is Parney Parlmanta like we thought, huh. There’s no mistake about it.”

Mattalast nodded. He heard that she was one of the Indulging God Cult’s True Men. Having information leak from there caused concerns about the structure of the Cult.

“Of course, Kachua noticed it as well, but seems to have left it alone. He seems to cherish his True Men.”

“We have no choice… we have to act independently.”

Hearing just that, he left the Director’s office.

Well then, how shall I silence up everything? Mattalast started racking his brains.

I’ll try using the water of Argax on Parney. We have no choice but to leave Haiza alone. And there’s also the question of how to compromise with the Indulging God Cult.

A few days passed. The conclusion arrived before Mattalast was able to finalize his plan.

“You’ve done it, Photona-san.”

He was angry at him stepping over his job so rudely. Mattalast pounded the newspaper unto the table of the Acting Director’s Office. The headline of an article was printed in huge letters. “Great Actress Parney Parlmanta Murdered”. The entire paper was filled with articles pertaining to that.

He couldn’t think of anyone who would’ve done it but the man in front of him.

“You probably didn’t intend on killing her. That’s na?ve.”

“Aren’t you the na?ve one here? Doing this will create more speculations and gossip. Their doubts will also grow.”

“Crushing the foundation settles it all. Getting caught up on meaningless details will make you miss the full picture.”

“…Shit!”

Mattalast pounded the desk. He left the office in a quick pace.

“I’m disappointed in you. You won’t kill people to protect the secret. Did you think I’ll let it pass?”

Mattalast answered him as if spitting out.

“I just thought that I don’t need to kill. That it would only be the final measure. That I’d only kill those who want to rebel against Ruruta.”

Mattalast’s work was inexhaustible. The rumors of Lascall spread all over the place. He used his private soldiers to look closely whether there were any strange movements.

He also had to keep watch for archaeologists who were researching the Paradise Era as well as historians investigating the incidents caused by the Indulging God Cult in the past. He sent spies before they reached the core truth in order to lead them down a wrong direction.

Three years passed. Mattalast’s job of protecting the secrets continued. Then, on a certain day, he once again moved for a secret mission.

He waited in front of the Third Sealed Labyrinth for a rebel who had gotten close to Ruruta. Mattalast was thinking while blowing his pipe. Who would’ve thought I would end up fighting him?

“Mattalast? What are you doing here?”

The one to appear was Photona.

You’re clearly shaken, thought Mattalast. He was just too bad at concealing things. Telling Hamyuts he was going to check on Ruruta’s condition, he went down the Labyrinth. Mattalast went ahead and waited for him here.

“I came to stop you.”

“What’re you talking about? If you don’t have any business here then return to the surface.”

Photona passed next to Mattalast.

“Not long ago Ireia and Kyasariro caught an amusing man. He became a trainee, but do you know him?”

“Yeah. He was a bandit from Ismo. Minth, was it?”

“His ability, Sacred Eyes, is the power to see humans’ souls. And Minth said a strange thing… he asked whether a big battle was coming.”

“What’re you talking about?”

“I also asked him that. He then told me… Photona-san seems greatly resolved on doing something, he said.”

“…That man can’t be trusted. Let’s fire him.”

“No, I refuse. He’s someone we can use, after all. I’m thinking of making him the next Overseer of Paradise.”

Mattalast flicked the gun at his waist with a fingernail. Hearing that sound, Photona leapt aside. Pulling out his weapon, he readied it and directed it at Mattalast.

“What’s wrong? Did you think I was about to attack you?

You came here to challenge Ruruta, but did you think I found that out and came to kill you?”

“…”

Photona no longer tried to smooth out everything. He pointed his weapon of choice, a short stick, at Mattalast. With his ability, even with this simple stick he will be able to cut through anything and everything.

“You’ve never thought of challenging Heaven. If Minth wasn’t here it would’ve been dangerous. What happened to you?”

Photona didn’t reply.

“Is Volken the reason? Who would’ve thought some semblance of a human heart remained in you.”

“It’s fine for me to be the last person to commit evil.”

“I see. You don’t want Volken to do that. So we can call it your parental affection.”

But it’s too late, he added in his heart.

“Didn’t you also possess the will to fight against Ruruta?”

“No, I’ve never thought of that for a single moment.”

“That’s why I left Hamyuts to monitor you.”

Mattalast didn’t know that. This would probably be the first and last time he would be outmaneuvered by Photona.

“Let me tell you as well. Perhaps one day you’ll think the same as me. The sole way of defeating Ruruta is…”

Before he said that, Mattalast drew his gun. He couldn’t listen to him.

“Even with the Violet Wish the odds are a billion to one. That’s what I heard.”

Photona was about to charge and slash. Even using his Predictive ability Mattalast would need to give everything he had to evade it. He retreated while keeping his opponent at bay with his gun.

Generally speaking Mattalast was probably stronger. However, their drive was completely different. It was a momentary clash, but Mattalast was clearly pushed back.

Photona emitted his vigor in silence. He sought an opening.

Mattalast opened his mouth to speak. He wasn’t being careless; he was calm.

“I won’t fight Ruruta. Actually, Photona-san, I’m a person with a personal rule to fight only when I’ve created a situation where I can win.”

A stone came flying from behind Photona. It was Hamyuts’s ricochet attack. It didn’t hit, but was enough to divert Photona’s attention. And it created enough of an opening to let Mattalast finish him.

His shot stabbed Photona’s neck. Missing his vital trachea, it shaved through the bones in his neck. He destroyed the nerves that connected Photona’s brain to the rest of his body. It would be a fatal wound for a normal person, but with Photona’s regenerative capabilities he would probably be healed in several weeks. However, he couldn’t move anymore.

“I won’t kill you, Photona-san.”

“…”

“Do you understand the reason? It’s because Volken’s here. If you were to die that boy would surely make a move. He’s strong and has a good head on his shoulders. He’s also popular on top of that, so it’s troublesome.”

Photona desperately tried to reach for the weapon that fell on the floor. Mattalast stepped on his hand and continued.

“Please be grateful to Volken. You’re able to survive thanks to him. Now then, let me tell you something, Photona-san. I’ll teach you how to create the thing known as a lie.”

Mattalast held up Photona and started walking.

He already had a plan in mind. A way to deceive the Armed Librarians and hush Photona.

Yet he then thought faintly.

Is that really fine? Didn’t I also have the choice to battle alongside Photona? Defeating Ruruta… didn’t I once want to do so?

“…”

He shook his head to shake off these feelings.

There was no need to push himself. Maintaining the status quo was good enough. And Ruruta wasn’t an enemy they had to defeat as soon as possible.

Mattalast later came to regret this decision as well.