Chapter 157 – I Meant to Send You Flying… but I Shall Graciously Save That for Another Time

In the dim darkness of the storeroom, Letaria, her back pressed against the wall, held her breath and looked up at the towering figure before her.

A cap pulled low shadowed the man's face, hiding both his distinctive soft mohawk and his features. What he wore was the same dark-gray combat uniform as the guards she had been facing as enemies only moments ago.

But -- his overwhelming build, the low, calm resonance of his voice, and above all a singular, quiet presence that pricked at the skin gave Letaria certainty.

"You are... Twoin-san..."

She lowered her voice with care and forced the words out in a murmur.

"...It seems the commotion in the facility just now is your doing, Lady Letaria."

The man she had called Twoin did not even raise his head as he spoke, flatly.

"How did you know it was I? At present I am in disguise for the infiltration, clothes and hair color alike."

Letaria tilted her head in suspicion. Right now she should be well disguised, her own hair covered over in blonde.

To her question, Twoin answered at once, without the slightest hesitation.

"With so many soldiers and staff shouting through the corridors? When one hears them making a fuss over some 'Letaria,' one cannot help but work it out."

"...I see..."

The strength drained out of her in spite of herself. The enemy had simply been bellowing her name all over the place on their own. She was convinced -- but the sharp light of wariness returned to her eyes at once.

"Then, my next question. ...Why are you in a place like this? Surely you do not side with Argria?"

Letaria braced herself and fixed her gaze keenly on Twoin's movements as she pressed him. The attack in Seldia. If he were truly in league with Argria, she was prepared to fight him here, if need be.

But Twoin answered without so much as a change of expression.

"Like you, Lady Letaria, and your companions, this too is part of my work."

From his manner she understood that he would say nothing more, and had no intention of doing so.

"...Is that so. And what do you intend to do with me? Capture me and hand me over?"

At Letaria's words, Twoin checked the corridor outside through the gap in the door just once, then quietly returned his gaze to her.

"Nothing. You are being pursued and cannot move freely, so you are in some difficulty, are you not, Lady Letaria? ...Perhaps something over there may prove useful."

With that, Twoin pointed to a metal door at the very back of the storeroom, in the shadow of the supplies.

Letaria's look of suspicion deepened, and she glared at him.

"...Is it not a trap meant to ensnare me?"

"Whether you believe it or not is for you to decide."

He was calm to the last, yet nothing in his bearing suggested he was lying. Letaria fell silent for a while, thinking it over. Fighting him in her exhausted body would be folly, and above all she wanted, desperately, any escape route or counterstroke that might let her rescue Rofi.

"...Very well. I shall believe you. ...And what will you yourself do?"

At Letaria's question, Twoin pulled his cap down low once more.

"I have a little more investigating to do on my side. It would suit me better, too, if you were to cause a great scene outside, Lady Letaria."

"...You do have some nerve."

At that audacious way of putting it, the set of Letaria's lips loosened, and a small smile slipped out.

Keeping her guard up, she walked toward the door at the back, and as she passed him, she called to Twoin behind her.

"After that incident... I had intended to send you flying with one good, thorough blow... but... I shall graciously save that for another time."

Hearing those words, Twoin's mouth curved faintly in the darkness.

"I'm counting on it. I will be waiting."

Feeling the man's presence behind her, Letaria stood before the metal door at the back that he had pointed out. It was not locked, and the door opened.

She passed through a corridor, and in the instant she stepped into the wide, hangar-like space beyond--

"This is..."

Letaria caught her breath and was left speechless.

Beneath dim spotlights, enthroned there, was a single Makina with no paint anywhere upon it, its silver armor giving off a dull gleam.