How bold is this little brat, actually harboring such irreverent thoughts!
The others cast looks of mild hostility toward Mumei. She suddenly felt as if the entire world had turned against her.
Are these people so hostile just because of that last thing Lady Mika said...?
"So, was that intentional, or were you just joking with me?" Mumei couldn't help but steal another glance at Misono Mika, her mind racing.
Misono Mika, acting as if she hadn't noticed a thing, offered a grave reminder: "I don't actually dislike you, Mumei-chan, nor do I care how others view me. But, Mumei-chan, have you truly prepared yourself mentally? Are you ready to be treated by others the way they treat a freak?"
"I already said I don't have those kinds of thoughts! You are definitely beautiful, but we're both girls—that kind of thing is impossible! Besides, we only just met!"
Mumei denied it frantically, pulling her hand back as if she'd been electrocuted and putting a wary distance between herself and Misono Mika.
"That's true."
Misono Mika nonchalantly toyed with a lock of hair draped over her chest, her gaze filled with meaning as it swept over her. "But Mumei-chan's actual identity should be far more complicated than that."
Mumei: "!!!"
She really did realize it long ago!
"The reason Mumei-chan is so afraid of me is because of this special identity, isn't it?" Misono Mika said in a low, titillating voice. "Are you afraid that once I find out, I won't believe your explanation and kill you on the spot?"
Mumei was no ordinary human. She was a being created through human modification—a half-human, half-Kabane existence. While immune to the Kabane virus, she had gained physical capabilities far beyond those of normal people. This was the origin of the name Kabaneri.
Even so, a Kabaneri still faced the risk of fully transforming into a Kabane. Although they possessed superhuman physical traits, they couldn't maintain it for long. In the original story, Mumei was forced to rest for long periods after each battle.
Because Kabaneri were extremely few in number and difficult to replicate, they were almost unknown to the general public. This was exactly why Mumei felt a certain affinity for Ikoma after seeing him turn into one. It was a sense of belonging from finding a fellow member of her kind—or perhaps a sense of shared tragedy—that made her willing to help him.
Regardless of the reason, Kabaneri were not accepted by the world. It was like someone bringing out a well-known poisonous mushroom, removing the toxins through special processing, and telling everyone it was safe to eat. The problem was: who would dare? Who would gamble their life on the hope that the mushroom was actually non-toxic?
Human nature is selfish and cannot withstand such tests. No one would gamble their life. And since the Kabane virus was contagious, losing that gamble wouldn't just mean the death of one person!
In the original story, the only reason Mumei dared to reveal her Kabaneri status to save Ikoma was that she had the strength to protect herself.
But now, Mumei was facing the unknown power of Misono Mika. If she had to handle those dozens of Kabane herself, it would have taken at least two minutes at her fastest. Yet she had personally witnessed Misono Mika wipe them all out with a single, effortless volley.
She wasn't stupid enough to credit the gun alone. If it were just the weapon, those samurai would have found a way to steal it long ago instead of being as obedient as dogs.
The massive gap in strength made Mumei feel an instinctive dread. If she were exposed, she would essentially be handing her life over, surviving only if the other party allowed it. It was this uncertainty that caused her instinctive fear of Misono Mika.
"When did you realize...?" Mumei felt her lips go dry, her body tensing.
"I knew from the very beginning."
Misono Mika gave an ambiguous answer. She then patted Mumei's head and said softly, "I said it at the start—I'm saying all this just to clear up the little misunderstanding between us. The specific content of the conversation doesn't matter."
"I won't hurt you for no reason, even with that identity of yours."
Misono Mika clearly sensed Mumei's tense body gradually relax. She withdrew her hand and said pointedly, "However, do you really want to keep living with this identity forever? I said it before, didn't I? This identity of yours is far less socially acceptable than two girls getting married."
"...I... don't know."
Mumei lowered her head bitterly. She didn't know how to answer. She was also afraid that she would one day turn into a Kabane. But without the power of a Kabaneri, she would be abandoned by her Brother, losing her last place of belonging—and perhaps her life.
Misono Mika saw through Mumei's confusion and conflict, and she understood Amatori Biba's significance in the girl's heart. After all, Biba had saved her when she was young. Combined with years of upbringing and brainwashing, Mumei had long been completely submissive to him.
However, after becoming a sacrificial lamb for his father's political consolidation and narrowly surviving the maws of the Kabane, Biba had gone insane. For the sake of revenge, he was willing to sacrifice everything, including those closest to him. Mumei was one of them.
Watching the lost Mumei, the corners of Misono Mika's mouth curled up slightly.
While her goal was Mumei, she wasn't just out to "pick up girls"—that would be far too boring. She wanted to interfere in Mumei's life, helping her step out from Biba's control and find herself. She wanted to see the possibilities within her.
Mumei was kind by nature, and Misono Mika was willing to help kind people. Good people shouldn't have guns pointed at them.
At the same time, she wanted to see just how far Mumei could go. Misono Mika didn't consider herself a noble person; everything she did was to amuse herself. To that end, she dropped a bait that Mumei couldn't ignore:
"Mumei-chan, do you want to become human again?"
Mumei: "?!"
As Mumei stared at her, dumbfounded, Misono Mika knew the hook was set. But having only Mumei wasn't enough; she was a very greedy person.
Ikoma, Kurusu, Ayame Yomogawa, and everyone on the Koutetsujou—even the original villain, Amatori Biba—were her targets. Over the next two short years, she would interfere in their lives, letting them perform a grand show to entertain her.
"No need to rush for an answer now. We'll have plenty of time together in the future."
Misono Mika's voice soothed the chaotic mind of the young girl.