Hinosmera, the Purgatory Mysterious being, formerly one of the Ark Dominion’s highest-ranking officers.

She is a veteran mysterious being who supported the early days of the Ark Dominion as the right-hand man of Leader Dragius III, along with General Tagaraak from the organization’s inception.

When did she come into this world, and how did she awaken as a mysterious being? It’s no exaggeration to call this history, it’s so far back in the past that it’s mind-boggling.

The hatred, resentment, and despair toward others that had been built up over many years. The depth of its roots is a “curse”.

In the past, countless acts of justice and countless evils stood in front of her, but no one was able to break the chain of her curse.

「Did ya’ force me to this point through calculation? Yer’ such a quick thinker, I want kinda want ya to be my subordinate.」

「Well, thank you. Then can you give back my subordinate? Personally, I’d be happy if you just surrender.」

「I guess ya can’t just let it slide.」

In the pouring rain, Hinosmera stepped onto the bridge over the sea, a place of death from which there is no escape. Hinosmera faced head-on the man who had put her in a tight spot not once, but twice.

This is a man who was prepared to create this situation by destroying other bridges and cutting off the Shuto Expressway. Even if she tried to go back to land, the bridge would already be blocked by a large number of mysterious beings and water trucks.

「I don’t mind even if it’s a bluff…… It’s effective enough. Well then, it’s time to bring the curtain down.」

「If ya want to do this no matter what, I won’t show ya mercy, y’know.」

Hinosmera muttered quietly with her eyes downcast. Then she quietly clenched the smoldering black flame in the palm of her hand.　

The rainfall intensified and poured down mercilessly on Hinosmera’s head. Although the flames clinging to her body continued to vaporize the raindrops, the intensity of the fire was gradually diminishing.

Who knows how many more of her prided flame attack she can still do.

「Man, you sure makes it difficult for me, geez. As expected of someone who sat in the executives’ seats.」

「……Yer’naive, y’know.」

「It’s unsightly to be sore loser. As a former executive, I wish you know when to quit.」

He definitely had devised a number of plans. Rintaro was already confident of his certain victory.

「This is why I called ya naïve.」

It is true that the weakened Hinosumeras of today may not have the advantage in taking on the top-level mysterious beings in a head-to-head matchup. However, it is precisely when they are overconfident in a situation where they have an absolute advantage, that she will be able to take advantage of the situation.

「Ya have misjudge my ability.」

「What’s that?　How can you possibly hope to get any further with your one-track mind?」

Suddenly, without warning, Rintaro’s feet swayed unsteadily.

「Whaat……!?」

The green body lost its balance, as if he had stepped into a swamp.

What Rintaro saw was one of his own feet being swallowed by the bright red asphalt. A series of red ruts in the magma-turned-ground extended from Hinosumera’s feet.

「Bastard…… You don’t think I’m going to let you get away with just this useless resistance, do you……!?」

「A word of advice from a senior. Don’t let your guard down until you’ve killed your opponent.」

Hinosmera’s body, burst into flames and exploded with acceleration, closed in on Rintaro. The distance between the two, which had been more than ten meters, quickly became zero.

「The reason I gave a name to every technique, is just to make people think, “That’s the only thing she has”.」

Hinosmera smiled bewitchingly and patted Rintaro’s chest as his feet were caught in the melted asphalt.

「Oi stop, let’s calm down for a bit……?」

「Useless resistance is it, I wonder what would happen if I do it at this distance.」

「I- I think you shouldn’t do it, Hinosmera’san, You will understand if we talk……!!」

「I’d really love to let ya go for the sake of Samecchi, but…… Be patient with me, onii-chan.」

Heat was built up in her slender fingertips, and when she filled it with what little energy remained, she released it all at once. At the same time as Hinosmera opened her eyes, Rintaro’s entire body was engulfed by the dark sun.

「Guwaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!」

Rintaro was burned by the fire with a desperate scream and eventually collapsed as if his threads had been severed. His blackened mask no longer retained its original shape, and what was once Rintaro was reduced to mere charcoal from head to toe.

At the same time, Hinosmera’s body, having exhausted the power of the black flame, loses heat along with tension.

「I’ve done it…… Really be patient, be patient, Samecchi……」

The flames that covered her entire body were diminishing as she looked at them. But not yet ready to kneel, Hinosmera uttered words of repentance.

Perhaps it was a life that did not need to be taken, but Hinosmera did. As long as Death Green wanted Hinosmera’s life, it was inevitable.

Two people who are in a relationship of robbing or being robbed cannot stand side by side in the same world. Once you awaken as a mysterious being, you cannot escape the chain of death.

In that case, it is the courtesy of the person who takes away the life to at least live on, even if it means swallowing dirt.

「But Samecchi would probably holds a grudge against me…」

Despite her readiness to take a life, this was the only thing that concerned Hinosmera.

Even if Samechi ever regained consciousness in the future. The man she adores as aniki would no longer be in this world.

What color will the pure and white heart of Samecchi turn into?

Is it the color of revenge or the color of despair? Or is it the color of pure, dark, stagnant darkness?

「I’m not asking for forgiveness, but ……. Being hated by Samecchi…… haha……. That’d be a little harsh. ……」

Hinosmera mocked herself as she embraced her burning body. Hinosmera had let go of the salvation that was finally within her grasp.

If the “vessel” had not been Samecchi, She is sure she would not have even felt this pain. However, even if it was a complete coincidence, Hinosmera chose Shamechi as her “vessel”.

That was the punishment for Hinosmera, who was drowned in the sin of resentment.

Hinosmera looked down at the charred corpse of the man (Rintaro) and slowly folded her knees. She gently touched the man’s chest with her burning hand, as if to mourn his soul for Samecchi, who had become her vessel.

「Samecchi, onii-chan, be patient……」

『Hey stop it girl, these days even touching a man’s chest is considered sexual harassment.』

The voice was indeed heard from right in front of Hinosmera’s eyes. From the mouth of the man lying in black charcoal.

「…………Huh? Eh?」

The situation was horrific, but the man’s tone was light, not compatible with the situation. But Hinosmera’s hand on the man’s chest, of course, felt no pulse of life.

The charred head spun around in front of the bewildered hinosmera. Stagnant eyes glowed green under melted goggles.

『A word of advice from a junior, Don’t let your guard until Pigagaga!』

「Ya- Could it be……!」

At the same time as she spoke, a bucket full of water poured down from above Hinosmera’s head.

The person who doused Hinosmera with cold water from behind her, threw down the bucket and microphone in his hand. He then brushed his wet hair and put his glasses back on.

「…… Until you’ve killed your opponent, was it?」

Rintaro looked down at Hinosmera, not even wearing a death-green suit. But his face lacked its usual bad smile.

「Guh…… Aaaa……!」

『Dahyahyahyahya! Henosmera, I’ve made sure to film your triumphant face on video, noja! Piigagaga!』

The voice of a young girl, who was probably in a safe zone, echoed from the speaker built into the body of the charred former Death Green. As if in response to the voice, the Death Green’s made a dull machinery sound and finally completed its task.

「As usual, in bad taste. Please share that video later.」

「Uwaaaaaaaaaah!!!」

Hinosmera flailed around, trying to dispel the moisture from her body, which was getting wet and reverting back to that of a girl (Samecchi). But she soon learned that her efforts were in vain.

Her control of the physical body was rapidly lost like a dying fire.

「Aaaa……Aaaah no…… My body is……」

「That’s not your body, that’s Samecchi’s body. I’m going to ask you to give it back.」

Kuriyama Rintaro stared at the wet and shrinking Hinosmera with cold, stagnant eyes.

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<149: Anger Incarnate
151: Heat Haze>