Chapter 10: Suspicion

Who rides so late through night and wind?

It is the father with his child.

He has the boy well in his arm,

He holds him safe, he keeps him warm.

— Schubert, from the play "Erlkönig" (The Erlking)

"Have we cleared the Ashlands? It seems that armored Ash Crawler headed this way."

The sky was choked with stagnant, dark clouds. A gloomy, overcast day.

Thunderclouds smoldered slightly; a downpour was likely on its way.

"Ship went that way. Shall we follow, Werner?"

The speaker was Bell, an Aragami girl. She wore filthy rags draped like a robe, with cloth wrapped around half her face like a bandage.

"Yeah. Let's go."

Werner, also wearing a robe pulled low over his head to hide his face, nodded.

It would be a hassle if her true form were exposed to human eyes. For now, this disguise would have to do. To a casual observer, she would look like nothing more than a destitute girl. It was a small comfort, but better than nothing. As long as she didn't remove the cloth, her horns would stay hidden. He had asked her to curl her tail against her back; the resulting bulge under the robe made it look as though she were carrying a backpack underneath.

"Ugh... I have a bad feeling. It’s noisy... buzzing..."

Bell narrowed her eyes, staring in the direction the ship had sailed.

"…You’re right. I can feel a bleak presence in the air."

Despite having left the Ashlands, his skin prickled with unease. Perhaps it was his intuition as a God Eater, or something instinctive within his Aragami cells.

Werner and Bell set off, tracking the path of the Ash Crawler.

Werner and I are tracking an armored Ash Crawler.

At first, it was just curiosity. But as we draw closer to our goal, a sickening sensation has been churning inside me.

There is a part of me deep inside saying, "Don't go."

Yet, another part of me says, "Go."

A vague, hazy version of myself flickers in the darkness.

Tempting me. Guiding me.

What should I do? We’ve already come this far, and more than anything, I’m curious about that big ship.

It'll be okay. Werner is with me. I force down the ominous fluttering in my heart, grip my robe tight, and follow close behind him.

Before long, a heavy rain began to fall, accompanied by the flickering pulse of lightning.

As if providing the perfect camouflage, the thunderstorm became our cloak.

Because our physical capabilities were vastly enhanced, tracking the Crawler was no difficult feat.

"…There it is."

Eventually, we discovered the armored Ash Crawler stationed nearby. We scouted the situation from the cover of some nearby rubble.

"…So many people…"

Bell huddled into her robe and pressed closer to Werner.

From the Ash Crawler, fully armed soldiers carrying assault rifles emerged. Following orders, they formed ranks and moved with crisp, disciplined steps toward a specific location.

Standing before them was a bizarre structure—an ancient church ruin that had been renovated and expanded into something grotesque.

The soldiers raised their weapons, quietly surrounding the building.

A man stood there, overseeing every movement and barking out commands.

He was a middle-aged man wearing a bandana, his rugged face marked by several scars. Based on the Armlets on both his wrists and the Short Blade God Arc he carried, he was clearly an AGE (Adaptive God Eater).

"…That man… He’s an AGE from Baran… What is he doing here…?"

Werner scowled.

At that moment, the man flicked his gaze toward them, as if he could see exactly where they were hiding.

"!? Could he… have noticed us…?"

Several soldiers ran up to the man in the bandana and saluted.

"Captain Gou. All units are ready to breach."

The AGE named Gou turned back to his soldiers.

Gou Baran. An Adaptive God Eater belonging to Port Baran.

Baran was a Port that had once provided various experimental technologies to the Crimson Queen. No—calling it "technology" was too kind; they were heartless experiments. Werner felt a pang of regret even now; the Ash Storm Induction Program, in particular, had been nothing short of diabolical. He knew that one day, he would have to apologize to the comrades who had fallen in pursuit of those twisted ideals.

"Good. All units, transition to combat readiness. Priority is the recovery of the target of protection. Eliminate the enemy swiftly. Show no mercy to those who resist. Begin the breach!"

"Sir!"

At the captain's signal, the armed soldiers stormed the building one after another.

Whatever was happening, it was clearly an extraordinary situation.

"…Curious, are you? If you think you're hidden, you’ve still got a long way to go. Come out. Or shall I come over there and greet you myself?"

Gou pointed the tip of his God Arc toward them with a sharp, piercing glare.

"I knew we’d been made. It can’t be helped. Bell, stay here."

"…Okay."

Werner stepped out from the shadows.

"Who are you? Are you affiliated with the Gleaners… or the Cult?"

"The Cult? I don't know what you’re talking about. We’re just wandering travelers passing through. We thought a caravan ship might be willing to trade supplies for Aragami materials, but…"

Werner kept his hood pulled low to hide his face. He showed his hands to reveal his God Eater Armlets and gestured to the God Arc slung over his shoulder.

"…An AGE, huh? I see. So you were just lured in by the ship."

Gou nodded, seemingly satisfied.

—In that instant.

The Short Blade held in a reverse grip flashed.

Sparks flew. The ring of metal on metal echoed through the rain.

Werner’s Biting Edge caught the blade of the Short Blade just in time.

"…What transparent nonsense. You’re suspicious. A God Eater 'traveling' is the height of suicidal folly. You can only receive Bias Factor injections at specific facilities. Whose pawn are you? Baran? Another Port? A corporation?"

Gou questioned him with a murderous gaze, their God Arcs grinding against each other in a deadlocked struggle.

The blades clashed repeatedly in a dance of steel.

The Short Blade, held in a reverse grip, moved in a series of volatile, unpredictable trajectories.

He was strong. Every strike was lethal—a killing technique honed on the front lines.

"…I’ve told no lies. You’re the suspicious ones. What is going on here? Who are these armed soldiers? And what is this 'Cult'?"

Werner used his dual blades to parry the onslaught, skillfully blocking every incoming strike.

As they pushed against each other, neither giving an inch, Gou narrowed his eyes at Werner’s response.

"…You truly know nothing? Hmph. This swordsmanship… there is no hesitation in your stroke. It seems you aren’t lying…"

Suddenly, the heavy sound of gunfire erupted from inside the building.

Simultaneously, screams and angry shouts echoed out.

"…Gh!!?"

"It’s started."

Gou kicked back, disengaging his blade with a sharp metallic screech, and took a defensive stance.

Then, he slowly lowered his Short Blade.

"…I’ll believe you. It seems you aren't enemies. For now, at least… Very well, AGE who happened to be passing by. I’ll tell you what’s happening here…"

Gou showed no further intent to fight.

"But, one thing—I saw someone who looked like your companion slip into the building just a moment ago."

Gou gestured non-committally with his chin toward the building, where the gunfire showed no sign of stopping.

"…What did you say!? Bell!?"

Werner spun around in a panic to check the spot where the girl had been hiding.

But the girl was gone.