Epilogue

"You're such a pushover."

Guest thinks so too. After fighting that hard, here they are, standing side-by-side again.

They were walking through a dark, damp corridor filled with the smell of blood and gunpowder, with Guest supporting Cyan's shoulder.

"I really went in there with the intent to kill. And yet, you..."

Right back at you. Did Guest say it out loud? Or just think it?

During that fierce battle, Guest saw Cyan's sword strokes waver many times. That's why their head is still attached to their torso, and why they can help her walk like this.

"Ha. Shut up and keep moving. The others will be worried."

Cyan turns her face away bashfully. Beside her, Guest gave a wry smile.

"Ah—!?"

Returning to the hangar, the members of Unit 2, who had taken off their helmets, were munching on rations. A girl with blue hair stood up with a surprised yet happy expression.

"You guys made up!" "Now, now, Corone. With your energy, you'll confuse someone meeting us for the first time." "Ehh, but look. The boss looks happy—"

Thump.

A shock resonated deep in their guts. Fragments of concrete fell from the ceiling.

"What's this, what's this? Fireworks?"

A bead of sweat slid down the neck of the large beauty looking up at the ceiling.

She didn't really think that. Despite the light remark, her eyes were searching beyond the ceiling.

"Tch... this is bad-ssu."

The black-haired member, who had been silent until then, clicked his tongue while looking down at his terminal.

"A large formation of bombers-ssu. The follow-up is also heading straight for us."

"What did you say!?" "They intend to level this place-ssu. Along with us."

What do we do?

Everyone's gaze concentrated on Cyan.

"I see."

She removed her arm from Guest's shoulder. For a moment, her legs faltered. Even so, she stood firm on her own feet and straightened her back.

As Cyan Mei of the Public Security Bureau. And above all, as the leader of Unit 2.

She had no intention of buckling her knees in front of her subordinates. Her back told that story.

"Listen. The Agency underestimated us." "Heh."

The eyebrows of the white-haired member called Shuji twitched.

"Win or lose, they planned to wipe us out together." "I see how it is." "Ahaha. Is that so? That's annoying." "It's irritating to end as a disposable tool-ssu." "Then, shall we do the thing they hate the most?"

Boom, boom.

Bombs dropped one after another, shattering Narita's largest factory. Wiring along the walls spat fire, and flames crawled up to the ceiling.

Even in the midst of this, they were laughing and exchanging glances.

Their eyes were not laughing.

A rule that only applied among them. A language Guest did not know.

"We're letting this one through. We won't let things go as they planned."

Cyan gestured toward Guest with her chin.

"—So. What can we do for that?" "Search for a shuttle." "A shuttle?" "The weapons here are meant to strike the Aragami of 'Flame' sealed on the moon. There must be facilities to send them out."

Cyan looked toward the back of the hangar.

A large transport route continued beyond the fire doors. On the guide sign beside it were the words for the launch sector.

"A transport craft or a maintenance craft, anything will do. We'll borrow a ride that can fly to the moon."

Clang.

Behind them, a mangled gate fell inward.

What flowed in were hellfire and—autonomous armor with a single eye and an exoskeleton closely resembling a human skeleton. Narita's flagship product, the Concolor.

Beyond them, more red single eyes lit up. Ten, twenty. And even more beyond that.

"Run!" "No."

There were no footsteps following Guest and Cyan.

Looking back, Shuji was holding his drawn sword low. The other members were also scattering in front of the opened gate.

Beyond the gate were countless humanoids. Autonomous weapons from all over the factory were surging through the flames.

"If we leave this spot, they'll catch up before launch."

Shuji said quietly and turned toward them.

"Good luck."

He was smiling.

Cyan gasped just once.

"Understood. Guest, this way."

Saying only that, she grabbed Guest's arm and ran.

Without a goodbye or a word to stop them. With a stiff expression, looking only forward.

However, the hand gripping Guest tightened.

So much that her nails dug in and blood seeped out.

Neither Guest nor Cyan said anything, running through the bombardment while listening to the gunfire echoing from behind.

■

"This way!!"

Bingo.

Running and running and running through the flames—they finally found a large shuttle. Ironic or not, it truly was 'Safe and Secure Narita.'

Even as the hangar began to collapse, the shuttle was unscathed.

A white hull towering on the launch rack. Cyan ran to the control terminal at its base.

"Get on first. I'll start it up!"

Guest couldn't help but wonder if a mere Public Security officer knew how to launch a shuttle, but they opened the hatch and climbed into the cockpit.

Cyan is a woman who does what she says she'll do.

Sinking into the upward-facing seat, they fastened the belt. In front of them were only rows of consoles; no control sticks were in sight.

Screens lit up one by one. The flight path to the moon. The auto-navigation display. The external camera footage showed Cyan operating the terminal while illuminated by the flames.

Trust Cyan. That was the only thing they could do.

"Static—Alright, good. The destination is 'Flame.'"

A voice mixed with noise burst from the seat speakers.

"Go. Give 'em hell!"

Guest was about to sigh in relief, but stopped.

Go?

Guest looked back at the hatch. No one was coming.

In the external camera, Cyan looked up.

"—Haha. That's right. 'Go.'"

The shuttle began to vibrate. Whether it was the shock of the bombing or the engine starting, they could no longer tell.

Guest reached for the belt buckle.

"The launch control is fried from the bombing. It won't fly unless someone operates it from the outside until the very end."

Cyan's fingers raced across the terminal.

"If that's the case, then that's the partner's role. Right?"

This is not good.

They pulled the buckle. The belt, tightened in preparation for acceleration, pinned their body to the seat.

"Those guys in Unit 2... they're no good without me."

Something collapsed beyond the speakers. Cyan didn't even look back.

"After doing whatever we wanted, who's going to take responsibility? I can't be the only one to run away."

This is really not good.

"Besides. I'm too heavy."

A light laugh mixed with the roar of the flames.

"I betrayed you. I can't fly in the sky."

On the screen, Cyan looks this way. She was smiling slightly, looking troubled.

"...See ya, partner."

Before Guest could tear off the belt. Before they could leap for the hatch.

The shuttle launched.

Tremendous acceleration slammed their body into the seat. The external camera footage shook violently.

The white, smoky launch rack. The receding control terminal.

Flames poured from the collapsed ceiling onto Cyan, who stood beside it.

Until the end, she was looking up at them.

"Farewell."

The footage cut out.

Guest races through the sky.

Aiming for 'Flame.'

All alone, to the ends of the world.