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Track 03 ~ Protector of Justice
There we were surprised to find an enormous retrieval shaft, apparently one of many set up all over Arkham City.
The lift carried Demonbane far, far underground, and eventually brought us back to the original hangar.
Waiting for us there were the butler... and a very angry looking princess.
Well, I suppose I can't blame her...
And now I'm being given the third degree.
So, what should I do?
"Why were you inside Demonbane? How were you able to move it? Who is that girl? ...I don't understand any of this."
Don't ask me all at once.
To tell the truth, I don't get much of it either.
Umm...
"How should I put this? Oh, right."
I pick Al Azif up by the collar and present her to the Hadou princess.
"Nya?"
"........."
"........."
---Silence.
Beneath her smile I can feel an intense aura of half-mad anger.
Oh shit.
"No...... I'm dead serious. This is a grimoire."
"Indeed I am. No need to pay respects. Be at ease."
"........."
"........."
---Silence.
......It would be so much easier if I really had just gone nuts.
"Enough! You act awfully self-important for a mere human girl! Behold!"
Al Azif must've reached the limit of her patience, as she starts yelling.
The right half of Al Azif's body suddenly dissolves into countless pages that spiral through the air around us.
"I am the ultimate grimoire, Al Azif. It may be impossible for a pitiful, small-minded girl like you to understand, but not all grimoires need take the shape of books. A grimoire as great as I has life, and can create a body to contain her soul. Don't try to apply your meager understanding to me. I find it exceedingly displeasing."
The pages are drawn into Al Azif's body, returning to their original shape.
The princess had been frightened at first, but now, faced with Al Azif's arrogant attitude, her anger explodes.
She draws near to Al Azif and glares at her menacingly.
"......! You keep saying 'girl'! Just which one of us is the girl!?"
"That's what I mean by small-minded and ignorant! You judge everything by it's appearance! I have lived for over a thousand years! You who have lived not twenty are naught but a girl to me!"
"You......!"
The butler steps in, trying to diffuse the situation.
Good job, man.
"Alright...... Anyway, I'll go in order."
I tell the whole story from the beginning.
My meeting Al.
Our battle with Black Lodge.
And then...... Our accidental finding of Demonbane.
"I see. So then you, Mr. Daijuuji, are her master."
"Yes, Kurou's magic wavelength meshes well with mine. He's still a novice as a sorcerer, but I've taken a liking to him."
"Like I keep saying, I never agreed to that! Oh, that's right, I have a question. That robot----it's called Demonbane, right? Which means......"
The butler nods in reply to my question.
......I knew it.
The strongest.
It definitely is that.
Strong enough to easily overpower a Black Lodge destroy robot. A robot with such destructive power...... Just thinking about it gives me the shivers.
"Indeed, it is well made for an imitation. I will use Demonbane as my Deus Machina. Consider this an honor."
......Damn, she just had to butt in when things were calming down. Of course, the princess explodes again.
"Who are you to decide that!? Demonbane was left to me by my Grandfather! I won't hand it over to a witch like you!"
"Oh? Then what do you intend to do with it? Are you just going to leave it here to gather dust? How absurd. Demonbane was created to do battle. Of course it desires the greatest grimoire as its partner. Understand? Demonbane is not your toy!"
"What are you saying!? Look at all the damage your fighting did to it! Getting Demonbane destroyed won't do any good!"
"You're trying to pin this on me!?"
Now I'm the target.
The princess glares at me with eyes that could kill.
......Now I'm really scared.
I wince, but manage to open my mouth.
"Umm...... Well, I did find you a grimoire......"
"You think I'll accept this?"
Not one bit.
"Please find me a proper grimoire, not this vulgar thing."
"Kurou! You don't need to go along with this girl's selfishness! Demonbane belongs to me, and to you!"
"Now who's being selfish?!"
She has a point.
"It won't move without a grimoire and a sorcerer to pilot it. Now where are you going to find another sorcerer?"
"You don't need to worry about that! Anyway, Mr. Daijuuji!"
"Y-y-yes!"
For some reason, I find myself standing at attention.
"Depending on your actions, you might have to bear responsibility for using Demonbane without permission. If you don't want that, please find another grimoire at once!"
Is that a threat?
Yeah, it's a threat. No doubt about it.
All I can do is nod.
"Roger......"
