Chaos Mate ~Revenge In This Chaotic Academy~ - Chapter 51: The Child of the Rift and the Sister's Foe

Chapter 51: The Child of the Rift and the Sister’s Foe

The day after the incident, a holiday. Early in the morning, I entered Sumeragi Reine’s room.

Mogami insisted on coming, but this is personal, so I refused. That said, she’s probably lurking nearby again.

Having friend-registered in advance, I enter Reine’s room and look down at her, handcuffed hand and foot on the bed.

Just in case, I hold Byakka, sheathed, in my left hand.

“Sumeragi Reine, time to wake up.”

At my voice, Reine opens her eyes, her face haggard, and looks up at me.

“…Morning, Tsubaki Madoka-kun. What’s this situation?”

“As promised yesterday, I’ve captured you. Handcuffs are to avoid trouble if you resist. Right now, you’re my only lead to the Scarlet Phantom.”

Sitting on a nearby chair, I crack my knuckles, the shadow of my bangs darkening under my eyes.

“Now… shall we have an important talk?”

Seeing my face, Reine’s expression stiffens.

When I’m the Ice Queen, even I don’t know what I’ll do. I can’t control it.

That’s why I didn’t want Mogami to see this.

“The Scarlet Phantom, right? Sorry, I don’t know much.”

“Don’t worry. I know nothing, so you’re just right. Let’s be clear: I don’t care about the Phantom’s structure or goals. That’s secondary. I only want one thing: who killed my sister, Tsubaki Suzuka?”

“Ah, as expected. You’re unwavering. You’d choose revenge over world peace, wouldn’t you?”

“I can’t save the world alone. So, I decided to protect those within my reach. That’s my promise to Nee-san. The woman I cherished most was taken from me. So, I’ll leave the world to heroes who punch everything with love and courage. I’m focusing on revenge.”

Staring into her eyes with resolve, Reine smirks wickedly.

“Trying to sound cool? Sorry, it’s lame. …But I don’t hate that. Makes me wanna mess with you~”

She sticks out her tongue, licks her lips, and grins maliciously.

“I’ll let you in on something. You and the Scarlet Phantom are fated to face each other.”

“…What’s that mean?”

Fated to face the Scarlet Phantom?

I don’t get it.

Something’s blocking my understanding.

My hands and feet tremble.

My body screams not to hear more. A premonition hits me that the old me is crumbling again.

Not like before—this is a fundamental breakdown.

But my mouth opens, and my vocal cords move.

“Your ‘ability.’ It’s tied to a drug from the Scarlet Phantom, ‘Blood of Hope,’ and another drug created by those who rebelled against them. Your body carries the ‘Hope’ of the man called the worst Grim Reaper and the ‘Despair’ of the man called a hero!! You’re a chaotic existence. The organization’s researchers named you when they learned of you: the Child of Chaos, ‘Chaos’!!”

“Hope… Despair… Chaos? What the hell… is that…!!”

The moment she says “Chaos,” a sharp pain stabs my head.

For the first time in over a decade, that voice floods my mind again.

“Don’t touch my woman…!!” “Mogami’s my prey!!” “Kariharaaa!!” “You’re the best, Mogami!! You entertain me!!” “Come at me, all three… I won’t let one escape. You hurt Yurika like this, I’ll never forgive you!! I’ll kill you right here…!!”

The voices of two men pour out, unstoppable.

I hear unfamiliar names.

Mogami… is that Kouta-san!? Karihara…? Yurika…? Who are they? But… I feel someone’s emotions.

The love for this Yurika, rage toward Karihara… and trust and hostility toward someone else…

They mix in my head, overwhelming my capacity, driving me to madness.

“I… I…!! Arghhh!!”

I curl up, hunching forward, retreating into a shell.

I don’t understand. Am I really me?

Who’s Tsubaki Madoka? Mogami Kouta…?

I was never needed by anyone.

And the power inside me, the cause of it all.

It’s like everything’s being swallowed.

Not just a tower of blocks collapsing—a black hole sucking in everything.

Amid it, white mist spreads around me.

“What’s… this…!?”

Something glowing green approaches through the mist.

When its silhouette becomes clear, my body trembles.

“Why… you…!!”

No mistaking it.

For two years, I’ve burned this image into my eyes from photos.

A pure white knight’s armor, clad in a blue cape, with a helmet featuring five horn-like protrusions resembling a crown.

Its face is hidden by a full-face mask.

The one I’ve been searching for—Nee-san’s killer.

The knight turns its mask toward Reine.

“You talked too much, Sumeragi Reine. I didn’t permit that much.”

“Y-You… could it be—!?”

Before she can finish, the knight chops her neck, knocking her out.

“You… I’ve been searching for you… for two years!!”

Forcing my body up, I draw Byakka and point it at the knight.

“…Chaos.”

“I don’t know that name!! I’m Tsubaki Suzuka’s brother!! Tsubaki Madoka!!”

Gripping the handle with both hands, I charge, swinging from low to high, slashing down with momentum.

The knight dodges with a step back, flipping its cape.

I don’t stop.

From the downward swing, I slash upward.

I cut diagonally.

I sweep horizontally.

But every move is effortlessly dodged.

It grabs my head as we pass, slamming me against the wall.

“Guh!!”

“Sloppy swordplay. Dodging such strikes is easy. Tsubaki Suzuka’s sword was stronger, faster.”

“!? Don’t… talk about… Nee-san!!”

Not just my left eye, but my right aches too.

Frost radiates from my body, freezing the space.

The knight’s armor begins to freeze, and it releases me.

“A glimpse of Chaos’s power… But it doesn’t reach me.”

A green aura bursts from its armor, turning to heat, then flames.

“What… is that…!?”

“Thought you were the only special ones? Know this: your frost is easily melted by my flames.”

It brings a burning gauntlet close.

“Power fueled by hatred achieves nothing. Your blade can’t reach me.”

“Shut up!!”

Swinging Byakka, the knight grabs the blade, stopping it.

“Did she teach you to fight like a beast consumed by rage?”

“!?”

“If you want your blade to reach me, return to yourself.”

Its words pierce my chest. It releases the ice blade, turns its back, and lifts the unconscious Reine.

“Wait…!! I’m not… done!!”

Reaching for the knight, my hand is blocked by its green flames, and I’m blown back to the wall.

“Gahh!!”

I collapse, the impact too great to stand.

No pain, but my body won’t obey.

An overwhelming gap in skill.

The knight looks down at me.

“Chaos… Tsubaki Madoka. If you want to avenge Tsubaki Suzuka, survive this academy and bring judgment to the five pillars hidden in the Phantom. As one of those pillars, I’ll be waiting.”

With those words, the white knight vanishes with the green flames.

“…Nee… san…!!”

Unable to move, my vision fades to black.

Suddenly, I hear the room’s door open.

Someone calls my name.

“Madoka… Madoka…!!”

A voice on the verge of tears reaches my ears as my consciousness sinks into pitch-black darkness.