The Koutetsujo's whistle let out a long, mournful blast as the iron beast roared, pulling away from the platform and heading toward the nearest city gate.
On the tracks, several Kabane dressed in ornate finery turned their heads blankly, only to see a pair of massive headlights rapidly enlarging in their vision.
Bam!
The Koutetsujo slammed into them without mercy. Blood splattered instantly, severed limbs flew through the air, and the Kabane caught beneath the wheels were crushed into paste. Among them was the father Ayame Yomogawa had been desperately waiting for. However, since Ayame was currently following closely behind Misono Mika, she had no idea her father was now as dead as could be.
Suddenly, a Kabane clinging to the side of a carriage thrust its hand through a narrow window. It grabbed the arm of a samurai who had his gun poked out, attempting to drag him outside and pull him toward its gnashing teeth.
"No! Someone help me!"
The samurai's face went pale with terror. He struggled frantically while calling out to his nearby comrades for aid. Being scratched or grabbed by a Kabane carried a high probability of infection. If he didn't save himself immediately, he was essentially under a death sentence.
The others moved to help, but they were a step too late—the man's arm had already been yanked halfway out.
Bang!
Suddenly, a gunshot rang out from behind. Compared to the dull thud of a steam gun, this sound was far more distinct.
The samurai, who had been struggling for his life, suddenly tumbled backward and landed hard on his rear. Ignoring the pain, he frantically checked his body, only to see the severed hand of a Kabane still gripping his sleeve.
"Aaaah...!"
A second later, he shrieked and swatted it away. After rolling up his sleeve and seeing no wound, he collapsed onto the floor, his heart pounding in his chest. As a pleasant, fragrant breeze drifted past, the samurai finally realized who had saved him.
"Remember to be more careful next time."
Mika lowered her rifle and gave a casual reminder as she passed him. The previously rowdy carriage fell silent instantly. Their eyes were glued to the wings behind Mika and the halo floating above her head. Most people instinctively held their breath. The only sound was the continuous rhythm of distant gunfire.
The rescued samurai looked up at that beautiful departing figure, his eyes welling with tears. "Lady Mika, thank you... you've saved my life again..."
'Again? This isn't the first time?'
"Is it luck or misfortune?" Mumei glanced at the man who had suddenly burst into tears on the floor. She didn't mean to mock him; after all, everyone's mental fortitude was different.
After walking a few more steps, Mumei suddenly sensed something ahead that caught her attention.
"I'm going on ahead!"
After giving a quick shout, Mumei's petite frame surged past Mika. She nimbly dodged various obstacles and vanished from sight in an instant.
"She really is impatient." Mika shook her head helplessly.
Given Mumei's strong reaction, it seemed Ikoma had indeed turned into a Kabaneri. After all, Kabaneri were outcasts unaccepted by the world. It was only natural to want to huddle together for warmth upon finding one's own kind.
"Did you and Mumei know each other before, Miss Mika?" Ayame caught up from behind, looking toward the direction Mumei had vanished. "Mumei has been sticking close to you; she seems quite dependent on you."
"We only met a short while ago. The reason she's willing to stay by my side is likely because she has no acquaintances here, and I happened to make a good impression on her."
[Not to mention, I leaked information she couldn't ignore: 'A way to turn back into a human.']
Mika paused her stride. She bent down and picked up a kendama that had fallen on the floor. After testing the toy for a moment, she handed it back to a child who was watching her with wide, longing eyes.
"Th-thank you..."
The young boy turned red as he took the toy from Mika's hand. He then scrambled to hide behind his mother, peeking his small head out to watch Mika's retreating back. The mother pulled the boy into her arms, gently stroking his head.
'Give up, son. Don't dream dreams that can't come true.'
Seeing this, Ayame couldn't help but marvel at the incredible charisma Mika possessed.
As the two stepped into the next carriage, the quiet area they left behind became lively again as people began whispering, trying to find out more about Mika.
"Who is that person next to Lady Ayame? She's so beautiful..."
"Those wings and that halo can't be decorations. Could she be a Goddess from legend?!"
"What noble family could raise a young lady with such a transcendent aura? She doesn't look like an ordinary person at all. Didn't you hear what that samurai she saved said?"
Hearing this, those with nothing better to do locked their gazes onto the samurai who was getting back up to fight. However, now wasn't the time to disturb him, so no one dared to act recklessly for the moment.
Elsewhere.
"Ev-everyone, listen to me! I-I'm not a Kabane! My experiment was a success! I still have my mind, I..."
Ikoma looked down at his glowing red heart with horror. He looked up, his body trembling as he tried to explain. However, everyone in the carriage looked at him with terror, backing away as if they were looking at a monster. Not a single soul was willing to believe his words.
Ikoma staggered back a step, feeling helpless. When he saw his best friend, Takumi, in the crowd, a flicker of hope ignited in his dim eyes. He reached out toward Takumi, seeking support. "Takumi, you know... we were collecting Kabane tissue for the ex...periment..."
Then, Takumi, unable to suppress the fear of the Kabane in his heart, instinctively took half a step back.
It was that single movement that plunged Ikoma into an ice cellar. The last spark of hope in his eyes was extinguished.
Ikoma didn't want to die. He still wanted to perfect the Piercing Gun to avenge his sister who died to the Kabane. To that end, he had endured pain beyond human limits, completing his self-rescue at the cost of nearly strangling himself. Yet, facing this scene of being abandoned by everyone, he gave up.
No one was willing to believe him, and even he didn't believe he could remain rational forever. Ikoma stood there, powerless.
Did he feel resentment? But who could he blame? They weren't in the wrong; this was reality. No one was selfless enough to risk their life for him. When he was a child, hadn't he also abandoned his sister out of fear? What right did he have to criticize others now?
"Where is the Kabane?!"
Kurusu Konochi arrived with his men, immediately spotting the person isolated by the crowd. Once he saw Ikoma's appearance, his gaze turned cold. "So, it's you..."