Chapter 15: This World Lacks Faith
Hikigaya Hachiman ate a piece of twisted, impure, blood-colored crystal, no bigger than a fingernail, from his hand. It was what the Scarecrow Doll Cursed Spirit had turned into.
Any of the grotesques with a rank of Grade 2 or higher would condense into such a crystal after being slain by Hikigaya Hachiman. No one knew just how awful a Cursed Spirit tasted, but Hikigaya Hachiman frowned as he swallowed it, which showed that the taste certainly wouldn't be good.
This ritual of "grotesque passing through the bowels, the Emperor remaining in the heart" was Hikigaya Hachiman's purification ceremony for the grotesques and a display of his piety toward the Emperor.
At the same time, Hikigaya Hachiman felt the former spirit body in his sea of consciousness become clearer after he ate it. That was the special Power Armour worn by Hikigaya Hachiman when he served in the Sanguinary Guard, the personal retinue of their Primarch, Sanguinius. It was crafted by the Emperor's artisans, at Sanguinius's request, using the leftover materials from the creation of Sanguinius's custom Primarch Power Armour, the Regal Splendour, mixed with other precious materials.
This meant that Hikigaya Hachiman's exclusive Power Armour also contained a portion of the power bestowed by the Emperor. Because of this, Hikigaya Hachiman had always believed the psychic power in his body originated from the Emperor's blessing on his loyalty.
Hikigaya Hachiman rested for a moment and then headed to the Student Council room.
.
.
.
Shinomiya Kaguya had uncovered the truth that Ogino Ko wanted to conceal.
Shinomiya Kaguya immediately sent people to raid his apartment, and the resulting search of the private computer Ogino Ko had not yet managed to take away revealed a large number of incriminating pieces of evidence—all of them bloody evils that were too gruesome to look at.
Shinomiya Kaguya told the Student Council members the information she had obtained. Ogino Ko was linked to multiple cases of missing young women. He had recorded his crimes on video, involving brutal methods, torture, murder, and disposal of bodies, making him a complete and pure psychopath.
"Ootomo Kyoko was the only girl Ogino Ko failed to harm."
Hikigaya Hachiman picked up where Shinomiya Kaguya left off: "And the price for that was the complete destruction of Ishigami Yuu's future."
Looking only at the result and not the process, it was indeed perfect. A world where only he was hurt was achieved. Ootomo Kyoko transferred schools and landed safely.
The former Hikigaya Hachiman, when he self-destructed, would at least let the people around him know who did it, but the Ishigami Yu over there truly bore everything alone.
"What a lucky idiot." Hikigaya Hachiman estimated that Ogino Ko hadn't been exposed to the dark side of the Cursed Technique underworld for long; otherwise, Ootomo Kyoko and Ishigami Yu would have been victims long ago. He wouldn't have let them off the hook.
Upon hearing Hikigaya Hachiman's words, Shinomiya Kaguya said, "An idiot, huh? Not to comment on the right or wrong of it, there certainly would have been smarter ways to handle it."
"No." Hikigaya Hachiman shook his head. "The world is neither gentle nor correct, and that is why it creates behavior that can only be self-destructive."
Hikigaya Hachiman had experienced a much more brutal world, so he understood this powerlessness even more. Injustice abounds in the world; only by blood can thunder be summoned!
Without strength, ordinary people can only fight with all their might to protect something.
Although the Emperor detests religious belief, an appropriate spiritual need gives people the strength to do good. This world lacks faith, and without faith, there are no taboos.
Hikigaya Hachiman felt that humanity was like the technologically inferior Aeldari. If things continued this way, they would sooner or later be destroyed by themselves.
The Aeldari were once the undisputed galactic overlords in the universe. It was precisely because they had no enemies that they began to degenerate, with the entire populace seeking the stimulation of pleasurable sensations. The Aeldari, with their massive population base, magnified their sensations and pursued stimulation for ten thousand years, giving rise to Slaanesh, one of the four Chaos Gods of the Warhammer world. The former location of the Aeldari even saw the birth of the Eye of Terror.
To Hikigaya Hachiman, the Cursed Spirits breeding from human malice were a sign that humanity was about to follow the old path of the Aeldari.
Therefore, Hikigaya Hachiman wrote about this example in The Emperor and The Great Crusade of the Imperium. But they only viewed it as entertainment, completely unaware that what was in the book was gradually turning into reality.
"Ogino Ko brought a bomb to school. It's a good thing you all are safe." Even Shirogane Miyuki, who had a good temper, couldn't help but want to curse. Bringing a bomb to school—is that something a normal person would do?
The 'bomb' was Hikigaya Hachiman's cover story for Shirogane Miyuki, as Miyuki was an ordinary person and did not know about Cursed Spirits. The school's explanation to the other
ordinary students at Shuchiin was that the fire was caused by the incorrect use of unauthorized electrical appliances.
"The case of Ishigami Yu is closed. We can now give the result to the school."
"Leave the rest to me and Hachiman." Shirogane Miyuki thought that since they now knew the student Ishigami Yuu was innocent, they should go ahead and explain the misunderstanding to his parents and get him readmitted to school. This period of time would allow Ishigami Yu an opportunity to prepare for his brand-new high school life.
The result of the Cursed Spirit released by Ogino Ko's Cursed Object running rampant in Shuchiin was that the students of the entire Shuchiin High School would be off from this Thursday afternoon until they reopened next Monday. Shuchiin needed three and a half days for repair work. The members of the Student Council could also enjoy a rare vacation after discussing the follow-up work.
Both Hikigaya Hachiman and Shirogane Miyuki felt that it was crucial to resolve Ishigami Yu's matter without delay and restore his good name. It was also inconvenient to have the two girls out late at night, so the two boys would handle it together.
"In that case, let's adjourn."
Shinomiya Kaguya was about to say something, but Fujiwara Chika suddenly hugged her, looking at her with tearful eyes. "Kaguya-san, I was almost scared to death just now!" The sudden explosion while Fujiwara Chika was eating cake had startled her greatly. Who would have known there was a bomb in the classroom they had just searched?
Shinomiya Kaguya knew that Fujiwara Chika was unaware of things like Cursed Spirits, and since her family protected her very well, she could only let it go.
.
.
.
Hikigaya Hachiman and Shirogane Miyuki walked together, and when they reached the bicycle shed, Hikigaya Hachiman realized that his bicycle had gloriously retired that morning. It was a strange feeling. It was fine when he arrived in the morning, but alas, he couldn't go back.
Shirogane Miyuki also noticed this. Hikigaya Hachiman shook his head; he wouldn't have to walk back, though.
"President, we'll head to Ishigami Yu's house after dinner." They had already contacted Ishigami Yu's parents to visit their home on behalf of the school.
"Mhm."
By the time Hikigaya Hachiman and Shirogane Miyuki walked out of the school gates, most of the students were already gone, as the entire school had been dismissed, so there were no club activities.
However, Hikigaya Hachiman saw a slender and frail figure, very familiar to him, standing alone by the quiet school entrance. It was Yukinoshita Yukino.
Noticing Hikigaya Hachiman's gaze, Yukinoshita Yukino shifted her eyes over.
"Transfer student." Shirogane Miyuki also noticed Yukinoshita Yukino and, linking it to the club establishment form he had signed at noon, he immediately bade farewell to Hikigaya Hachiman with great tact. "See you tonight, Hachiman."
After saying that, Shirogane Miyuki gave Hikigaya Hachiman a thumbs-up and rode off on his bicycle with a speed that made it seem like he was rushing to grab discounted eggs.