Melody of the Holoverse

Episode 11: Night Shift

I froze, my stare glued to the woman above us. Her very presence made the air heavy, smothering my breaths.

"I assumed something like this would happen," she said, her focus pinned to the beast girl. "While Maria is exceptional in her duties, she tends to get lost in her own interests. I'll have to reprimand her after this."

The monster girl smirked. "You came all the way out here just to see me again? I'm so touched. Does this mean I'm your kami-oshi?"

The woman wasn't amused.

She said to me, "Leave us, little girl. This matter does not concern you."

"S-She's hurt," I uttered. "We have to help her."

"She deserves nothing," the woman spat. "She is just a rodent—a rat who is trying to destroy everything Her Majesty has built. The Ethyria Resistance has all but vanished, and I'll be damned if I allow meager ashes to have the last laugh."

"Can you please check those giant fucking ears of yours?" the beast girl growled. "For the last time, I'm not part of any fucking resistance. I don't know a single thing about your lore, and you've been less than helpful getting me up to speed."

The woman ignored her.

"Leave us," she told me once more. "Return to Niji."

For the sake of what I'm trying to achieve, that'd be the smart thing to do. Just pretend I never saw this girl and be on my way.

But . . .

My fists tightened as I remembered how twisted Maria had become, how willing she was to let the blood coat her cheeks.

With a chin held high, I stepped to the monster girl's front to shield her.

She gaped, whereas the woman in the sky glowered.

"Don't be foolish," she said. "You gain nothing from protecting this parasite. Your friend has already gotten herself in trouble with Maria. Do the right thing and respect the justice we are trying to deliver."

"Justice?" I whispered. "Is that what you'd call what's happening in Niji? Killing all those innocent people? You call that justice!?"

"The people of Niji made their choice. They chose to aid the Resistance. Perhaps not all, but when one bad apple stands out, better to throw out the whole batch."

I felt my own anger sizzle, my veins hot.

Those are people, not things. They have dreams. They have ambitions. They don't deserve to be treated like cattle.

Maybe Jera was right. Maybe this world isn't a simple case of heroes and villains. Really, it's a battleground of ideals, and if I want mine to rise to the top, I have to fight tooth-and-nail for it.

I don't care who stands in my way.

I armed myself with my rifle.

I'll fight for what's right.

"I don't know anything about this girl," I said, "but while she's by my side, I won't let you touch a hair on her head."

The dragon couldn't believe her eyes.

Sticking your neck out for someone you barely know . . .

You really are a fucking weirdo.

Rarely had she felt such admiration.