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Last Embryo Volume 1 Chapter 9 Part 6

Translator: DarkHeartedAlchemist

Editor: Weasalopes

*Beep…* *Beep…* *Beep…* *Beep…*

Homura ended the call after that, doing so in a surprisingly calm manner considering everything that he heard just now. As he continued to gaze at the phone while trying to understand why was he acting in such a way, he failed to notice that Queen Halloween was now staring right into his eyes, getting so close to him that the sweet smell of her body tickled his nostrils with its intoxicating fragrance.

「………!?」

It was a totally normal, innocent action with no ulterior motives or subtext, but he still reflexively bend himself backwards to put at least some distance between them. She might have been a powerful monster stronger than anything Homura has encountered up to this point in his life, but that didn’t change the fact that she was still an incredibly attractive beauty, so it was perfectly natural for him to feel a bit overwhelmed when someone like that was so close to him, and he didn’t want her to hear that his heart was now pounding like crazy.

「Queen?」

「Yes? What is it?」

For the first time since they met face to face, Queen Halloween flashed him a brilliant smile of enjoyment that didn’t feel like she was putting up appearances. Right now, she seemed to be enjoying herself from the bottom of her heart. Her red, rose-like lips were slightly parted like a flower whose petals began to open when it reached full bloom, and her jewel-like eyes were keenly fixated on both Homura and Izayoi, even though the two of them were literally worlds apart from one another. Right now, she must have been dying of anticipation to see what their next moves were going to be.

Meanwhile, the storm at the other side of the window was only getting stronger, its winds tugging at the fire in the fireplace as if they desperately wanted to snuff it out. Right now, it looked like all it would take for it to be gone was just one slightly stronger gust, but no matter what happened to it, how viciously it was assaulted and how much it was shrinking, it always came back, bigger and stronger than before, as if it was jealous of the pair of flames that were now reflected in Homura’s eyes, illuminating them with a variety of emotions that looked like they could ignite everything around him with the power of their resolve flickering in the deepest depths of his pupils, because for the very first time in his life, Homura had his mind, body and soul overtaken by one emotion in particular: anger.

「If it is alright with you, then I would like to ask about a few more things.」

「Sure, go right ahead. With the way you are now, I will gladly answer any question you will ask of me~~.」

And she showed him one more smile that was as radiant as the sun in zenith. Gladly taking the opportunity she presented to him, Homura asked while trying to control the emotions that burned inside of him.

「Was the person who summoned that Celestial Beast, 『The Bull of Heaven』, to the outer world… to my world, someone from Little Garden?」

「Yes, indeed it was. But I’m afraid I cannot confirm if that someone was human or not~~.」

「That’s fine for now. Whoever that someone was, did they study the nanomachines – Star Particle Bodies – my father was working on?」

「No, and although they might appear to be similar, those two people are actually very different. However, the two of them are collaborating with one another~~」

「In what aspect? How exactly are they cooperating?」

「That particular matter is connected to your father’s…. fufufu, that was a nice try, you almost made me say something that is supposed to stay a secret for, and as much as I like your naughty attitude, that is one thing that I cannot tell you right now, but do not worry. If you keep being a good, sweet boy, and continue to entertain me like you are doing now, you won’t have to wait long to find your answer~~」

Backing away from Homura, she sat back at the table and rested her elbows on it, tickling his heart with a promise whispered is a sugary voice so sweet that he felt like he was going to melt away in it. It was obvious that she wanted him to hear him say certain words of his own volition with his own mouth. She wanted him to realize that if he, someone who spent his entire life up to this point, as short as it was, devoting it for others – the orphanage, his family and friends – were to start fighting for his own sake, it will end up becoming a beautiful tragicomedy: fierce and all consuming, but also passionate like the glow of burning flames.

「…………..」

After meeting her in person, Homura was willing to hazard a guess that he got a pretty good understanding of her personality. She was a playful and whimsical woman, just like a cat, and she was most likely toying with him right now…

But in order to find the answers he was looking for, he was willing to let himself be wrapped around her little finger, dancing to the tune she was playing for him.

After failing to connect multiple times in a row, Sakamaki Izayoi threw the phone down in anger. No matter how many times he tried calling back, it just wouldn’t let him through.

「…… Now she’s done it, that FUCKING SHITSTAIN OF A QUEEN!!!」

He put all of his strength into the throw without even realizing it, as a result of which the phone he was using got smashed into tiny pieces. This was probably the first time in over 3 years since he has erupted with pure, unrestrained anger like that, but when he finally realized what he had done he tried to keep himself from raging out loud any more than he already did. The only saving grace here was the fact that the object that bore the brunt of his anger was the phone, and not the temple itself. If it was the other way around, then things would have been pretty bad for everyone gathered inside.

Looking at this unsightly spectacle from the sidelines while carefully listening to every word, Tokuteru felt relieved that his domain remained intact. He was kinda salty about his destroyed phone, but given the circumstances he decided to let this one slide, at least for now.

「Queen Halloween… she certainly played us like a damn fiddle. Stopping us from returning would be one thing, but completely shutting down the Boundary between the worlds just for that? Even knowing her, I have to say that this is a rather extreme step to take. In other words, no matter what we try to do right now we won’t be able to open a gate connecting Japan to Little Garden, meaning that our only measuring of getting Izayoi back there has been taken away from us…not gonna lie, this has turned into some truly troublesome situation. Any ideas of how we may turn it around, Pritt?」

「None whatsoever I’m afraid. Regrettably I am not aquainted with anyone who has control over the boundaries and would be able or willing to help us with going against one of Queen Halloween’s decrees.」

「I should have guessed so. As things are now, we will be unable to go back to Little Garden before The 2^nd War for the Sun’s Authority draws to a close. I take it you’re not fine with such an outcome, right, Izayoi? That being said, what are you going to do now?」

Tokuteru asked him half-jokingly. But contrary to what he was expecting, Izayoi not only gave him an immediate, but also a totally serious reply.

「I think I might have an idea. If it turns out right, then we might just be able to connect this world to Little Garden again.」

「Oh really now? And where that might be? Somewhere in this country that we do not know about?」

「No, the location I’m thinking of is actually overseas, where my partner is waiting for me. I wanted him to come here with me, but he just wouldn’t shut up about wanting to see the temple at least once, so I just kinda left him there. How about it, you two? Want to come with me? If you ask nicely I might just agree.」

Izayoi asked the two Divine Spirits who looked back at each other. The tow of them have really exhausted all the option available to them, so if they had nowhere else to turn to, it probably wouldn’t hurt them to keep Izayoi company to see what else he might be hiding up his sleeve.

「Fine by me. But in order to get there we will use cars, planes and other means of travel typical for humans in order not to raise any unnecessary suspicions.」

「Yeah, yeah, whatever, I know. Besides, this is my home world, so I do not plan on having it destroyed, you know? See, I can be nice if I want to.」

Having confirmed each other’s plans, the three of the decided to head to an airport immediately, but when Pritt got off her phone after requesting a fake passport to be made for Izayoi, she looked as if she remembered something all of a sudden and asked him:

「That reminds me… Are you really not related to the current happenings at all, Sakamaki Izayoi? Because from where I’m standing, it looked like you and Queen Halloween seem to be quite close… friends? Aquaintances?」

「I am most definitely unrelated to the mess that is currently going on, but you’re right that I know Queen Halloween and the Minotaur, because it has been summoned to the outer world once already, when I fought it during the Gift Game in the Labyrinth.」

As he was talking, Tokuteru and Pritt exchanged surprised glances.

「Care to elaborate on that? Because I do not think I heard that particular story.」

「That’s because I didn’t think it was something that I should be telling you about. But now when things are getting blown way out of proportion like they are now, I think it would be better for you to know the entire story from start to finish. Just focus on getting us to the airport, and I will explain everything on the way there.」

Getting into Tokuteru Mikado’s beloved car, Izayoi began his tale of how this whole mess started. It all began around one week ago, with a Gift Game centered around one of the legends from Greek mythology.

『Minotaur – The Throne in Labyrinth –』

Recalling everything that happened ever since then, Izayoi told them about the Gift Game between Gods and Demons, and a certain monster he encountered there.

Last Embryo Volume 1: The Return of the Problem Children, END