บท 61: Chapter 3&4
Chapter 3: The Golden Spirit's Personality Breakdown
Inside the main ship of the Second Division of the Winged Army.
As the hatch opened, Tohka Yatogami, upon Gray Rock's invitation, officially entered the metallic giant's interior.
Though operated through magical devices, the flying ship's interior was unexpectedly simple, resembling a modest yacht rather than a warship. At the entrance, four beastman soldiers armed with rifles saluted Tohka nervously before guiding her forward.
Currently, Tohka was still dressed in her Astral Dress, but Sandalphon, her weapon, was nowhere to be seen. It hadn't been confiscated but rather disappeared by her will and could be summoned again at any moment. Nevertheless, the soldiers escorting her gripped their rifles tightly, their unease evident.
After all, the culprit of the earlier disturbance was none other than this golden spirit-like girl. Despite lacking the robust physique of tiger beastmen or the sharp blades of some insect races, if she wanted to, no one aboard the ship could stop her.
They were seasoned soldiers familiar with the combat capabilities of golden spirits, a race unmatched by those without magical abilities. The gap between them couldn't be bridged by sheer physical strength or firearms.
Under their watchful eyes, Tohka was soon led to the ship's reception room.
"Stand down," Gray Rock said as his guest arrived.
"But, Sir Gray Rock," one of the beastman soldiers hesitated, casting a wary glance at Tohka.
"Trust me. If she wanted to destroy this fleet, we'd already be dead," Gray Rock replied calmly.
"Understood."
The guards, though reluctant, followed orders and stationed themselves outside the room.
Gray Rock gestured for Tohka to sit, pouring a cup of tea as a gesture of goodwill. Tohka maintained her cold expression but decided to sit, her mind in turmoil.
Initially prepared to demonstrate her strength, she hadn't expected Gray Rock to invite her aboard, mistaking her for a golden spirit.
Golden spirits were the main force battling the Sixth Beast in this world. Possessing immense magical power, they wielded ancient holy swords and bore a striking resemblance to the now-extinct humans. Tohka's mission in this world involved the golden spirits, though she hadn't expected to be mistaken for one upon arrival.
"Well... I can understand this lizardman's confusion," Tohka thought. "If I had to choose a race in this world, I'd probably resemble the golden spirits the most."
To humans, they appeared as flawless maidens, wielding magic and holy swords, while Tohka, as a spirit, wielded spiritual power and Sandalphon. Though magic and spiritual power differed, to these beastmen, distinguishing the two was impossible.
"Thank you for cooperating, unfamiliar golden spirit," Gray Rock said, his deep voice carrying a calming tone. "This is the Second Division of the Winged Army. We guarantee your safety. May I ask you a few questions?"
"Hmph... I'm not unreasonable. Since you mean no harm, I assure you I won't harm you either," Tohka replied.
"First, may I ask what you remember?"
"What I remember..." Tohka hesitated, realizing she couldn't answer truthfully. As a new arrival in this world, she had no memories here. Sharing her past from her previous life or the Bungō Stray Dogs universe was out of the question, especially since she had to maintain her role.
"I see!" Inspiration struck as she fabricated a fitting response:
"I can't remember anything," she said, feigning confusion. "Since I can recall, I've been pursued by strange beasts, and all I remember is fighting."
This aligned with her original story, where Tohka, upon first appearing in human society, knew little, having faced endless battles whenever she descended into the present world. Here, she adapted the AST pursuers to the mindless Seventeenth Beast for consistency.
"Nothing at all? No friends? Family? Favorite food?" Gray Rock inquired.
"Well..." Tohka thought hard before hesitantly replying, "I think I remember my name."
"At least that's something. What is it?"
"Tohka Yatogami."
"Tohka Yatogami... an unusual name," Gray Rock mused. "Among the golden spirits I know, none have such a name. Who gave it to you?"
"I don't remember," Tohka said, shaking her head. "Only that it was someone very important to me."
"That aligns with what I suspected," Gray Rock said with a hint of pity. "You are a golden spirit in the late stages of personality collapse, perhaps even with a replaced personality."
"Me? A golden spirit?" Tohka asked skeptically.
Gray Rock explained how excessive use of magic led to golden spirits losing their memories and individuality, sometimes even seeing hallucinations or adopting memories that weren't theirs.
"That's why you are admirable warriors," Gray Rock said sincerely. "Though you may not remember, others will. I'll have my men check the archives for any records on Tohka Yatogami."
Tohka sipped her tea, amused yet relieved. She knew no such records existed, but the symptoms Gray Rock described meant her fabricated identity would be attributed to hallucinations.
"Until then," Gray Rock continued, "for your safety and that of the floating islands, I'll arrange a place for you to stay. Is that acceptable?"
Tohka nodded, hiding her smile. Her journey in this new world was only beginning.
Chapter 4: Snacks? What Snacks?
"Don't."
Without hesitation, Tohka Yatogami refused the offer.
Gray Rock wasn't surprised by the rejection.
Though refused, he wasn't angry. He had no intention of using the forceful methods that other high-ranking officers might employ to imprison a golden spirit suffering from personality collapse. This wasn't his first time dealing with such cases.
Lizardmen were a long-lived species, but golden spirits were short-lived, and as one of the oldest officers in the army, Gray Rock had dealt with golden spirits countless times, many of whom had suffered from personality collapse. Despite losing their memories and self-awareness, the purity hidden within their souls remained unchanged.
At the late stages of personality collapse, some golden spirits became irritable, others indifferent, and some even broke down under the harsh reality. But no matter the condition, as long as one approached them with goodwill and patience, it was always possible to get through.
Taking a sip of his tea, Gray Rock continued, "This world is dangerous for you. If you choose to leave on your own, the next person you meet might not be as reasonable as I am."
"If anyone tries to start a fight, I won't be afraid," Tohka responded, her neck lifted high like a swan, showing no fear.
"Perhaps," Gray Rock said, "But if you shoot down an airship, the floating continent will be your enemy. After that, there will be no place for you in the sky. The land below is even more dangerous, filled with the Seventeenth Beast. You won't survive."
"There will always be somewhere to go," Tohka retorted.
"Even if you do find a place to stay, what will you do next?" Gray Rock pressed. "How will you get food? How will you protect yourself from storms and winds? How will you find clean water? Without your memories, how will you survive?"
"Hmm…"
"See? This is the consequence of trying to leave alone."
Seeing that Tohka was starting to understand, Gray Rock took the opportunity to say, "But if you're willing to serve the military, I can arrange for you to live with other golden spirits. You'll receive free housing and food. If you grow tired of fighting, I can send you to the First Floating Island, where golden spirits in the late stages of personality collapse live."
"Wait, what did you just say?" Tohka's indifferent expression suddenly changed.
"If you grow tired of fighting, I can send you to the First Floating Island," Gray Rock repeated. "It's what those who've given everything to the floating continent deserve. You'll live out your days there, and it's a small token of gratitude from us."
"No, no, not that. The previous sentence."
"If you're willing to serve the military, I can arrange for you to live with other golden spirits."
Gray Rock paused, then repeated, "If you want to live with other golden spirits before your disappearance, I can arrange that."
"What nonsense. I mean free food!"
Tohka slammed the table and asked loudly, "You're not lying to me, right? Food really is free?"
"Uh..."
Gray Rock was surprised by Tohka's focus on food, more so than her desire to live with other golden spirits or her potential life on the floating island. He had never met a golden spirit quite like her.
"Why are you hesitating? You really are lying to me, aren't you?" Tohka's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Oh, no, of course not!" Gray Rock quickly assured. "There will be plenty of food. Fresh, high-quality, diverse food. Whatever amount you want!"
"Hmm."
Tohka slowly nodded, her dangerous gaze fading. "If that's the case, I suppose I could consider obeying your orders."
Gray Rock couldn't help but feel exasperated. If he had known that food would resolve everything, he wouldn't have said so much.
But in the end, if food was enough to calm a golden spirit and remove the danger, he had no problem offering it.
"Alright, I'll go check which storage you were assigned to earlier," Gray Rock said.
"Uh... Don't worry about it. I don't mind where I go."
"Don't you want to live with your old comrades?"
"I don't remember them. If they still remember me, it might be sad for them," Tohka said with a complicated look.
"I see," Gray Rock sighed, "Well, then I'll arrange for you to stay at the nearest storage facility for golden spirits."
As he spoke, he thought about how little could be done to help this tragic race. Golden spirits had a short lifespan and were almost all afflicted by personality collapse. They were the military's secret weapon against the Sixth Beast, but the general public didn't even know they existed.
Quietly appearing and fading away, their fate was sealed. Even though Gray Rock sympathized with them, there wasn't much he could do within his position. The golden spirits were treated as mere tools, and their welfare was almost nonexistent.
Shaking off these thoughts, Gray Rock said, "The nearest golden spirit storage facility is Storage Facility No. 4. I'll take you there."
Storage Facility No. 4?
Tohka's expression didn't change much, but inside she was a little surprised. If she remembered correctly, Storage Facility No. 4 was where the main characters of this world were located.
Honestly, it didn't matter whether she met them or not. The main story's quests were tasks she could complete on her own without interacting with the main characters. However, she didn't mind going to Storage Facility No. 4.
It was always nice to meet old acquaintances, even if the main characters here didn't recognize her.
"I'll accept it."
"Great. From today, regardless of which storage you belonged to before, you'll be assigned to Storage Facility No. 4 and will follow my orders."
"As long as you can keep your word about the free food, it's fine."
Having solved this unexpected issue, Gray Rock finally let out a sigh of relief.
"You'll have to get along well with the other golden spirits in your new environment."
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