Chapter 156: Sadness Echo
The rays of morning sunlight broke through the tent's opening, waking Enju, Tina, and Kayo. Inside the simple camping tent, Enju's excited voice instantly broke the morning silence.
"Rentaro! Hurry up, I can't wait to show them!" Enju exclaimed while jumping up and down, her eyes full of enthusiasm.
Satomi rubbed her sleepy face, letting out a long sigh. "Geez, Enju. You're already like this early in the morning. Calm down first, okay?"
Beside her, Kisara smiled a little while helping to wipe Enju's face. "Let it go, Satomi-kun. This kind of spirit doesn't happen every day."
Meanwhile, Tina sat quietly in the corner, putting on her socks as she smiled at the small commotion. "She's really full of energy, huh," she murmured.
Kayo, who was doing her hair, suddenly snorted in annoyance. "But that cold guy is too much! Leaving early in the morning without saying anything. Does he think he's the boss here?"
Rentaro chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Kayo-chan, you know how Adrian-san is? He's not the type to give news. Maybe he's doing something important."
"Still!" snapped Kayo, folding her arms with an angry expression. "He's completely arbitrary, coming and going!"
After everyone got ready, the five of them walked towards the school in a cheerful mood, especially Enju who kept running in front. However, their laughter suddenly vanished when they arrived at the school gate.
"Oh my..." Kisara covered his mouth with his hand, his eyes widening at the sight ahead.
"What happened here?" whispered Tina in a trembling voice.
The neat school grounds were now a mess. Blast marks were visible everywhere, with a police cordon surrounding the area. Blood splattered on the ground, adding to the tense atmosphere.
A policeman was seen standing in the middle of the chaos, photographing the remains of the crime scene with a digital camera. His face looks tense, reflecting the seriousness of the situation.
The policeman was wearing his full uniform, a bulletproof vest with "POLICE" written on the back, and a hat that was slightly askew due to his hasty activity.
In his right hand, he held a camera, occasionally snapping shots of the blast site on the ground where a pool of blood had begun to dry, or scattered items that might provide evidence.
Occasionally, the police officer took notes in a small report book that was almost full of scribbles and rough sketches.
The sound of camera clicks echoed in the hushed air, accompanied only by the sound of the steps of other policemen who were busy putting up yellow perimeter lines around the area.
Occasionally, the policeman let out a long breath, then resumed his duties with a tired and responsible expression.
Rentaro immediately approached one of the policemen who was watching the scene. "Sir, what's going on here?" he asked in a serious tone.
The policeman turned around, looking tired and burdened. "There was a major attack here last night. The children of the Cursed Child victims were targeted."
Satomi stiffened at that. "What about them? The Cursed Child children, are they safe?"
The policeman shook his head slowly. "Five of them died on the spot. The rest were seriously injured and are now being treated at the district's Main Hospital. You can visit them there."
Slowly, people's views on the Cursed Child began to change, albeit only slightly.
This change was largely due to the actions of El and Yuri who had previously managed to give a glimmer of hope to their community.
The policeman on duty at the scene is one clear example of that change.
Instead of giving a sarcastic response or showing his usual cold demeanor, the policeman politely responded to Satomi who seemed to be very concerned about the fate of the Cursed Child.
The policeman's attitude reflects a growing empathy, albeit still hidden behind his professionalism.
However, tragic reality still cannot be completely avoided. In the original plot, all the Cursed Child who were in this place died without exception.
Although the tragedy was not entirely preventable, El and Yuri's actions had at least saved some of them, providing a bit of luck that was previously impossible.
But unfortunately, the Cursed Child under Satomi's elders and disciples were not spared.
Wounds and destruction enveloped them, leaving an indelible mark of suffering, as if chiseling a tragedy into the history that had always followed them.
Wasting no time, Satomi made a decision. "Let's go to the hospital now. The children must be there."
The five of them rushed to the nearest hospital. There, they found a room full of injured children. The atmosphere was quiet, filled only with the sound of medical machines ticking quietly.
A nurse approached them, her expression full of sadness. "Five Cursed Child died in the attack. The rest were seriously injured."
Enju, who was usually cheerful, just stood transfixed. "They... they killed my friends? What was the reason?" Enju asked in a low voice, her eyes beginning to tear up.
Satomi clenched her hands into fists, holding back the anger boiling inside her chest. "We have to find out who did this," she muttered in a heavy voice. "This is definitely not normal!
Kayo lowered her head, grasping Enju's hand tightly. "I promise, we won't let this happen again."
Tina and Kisara looked at each other, sadness and anger clearly depicted on their faces. In their hearts, they knew that what they were facing was no mere attack.
***
The streets were a mess, with garbage scattered and blown away by the wind.
The glass of buildings and other structures was broken, while the walls were covered in graffiti reflecting destruction and despair.
The gloomy atmosphere makes the area look like a place long abandoned by humans.
On the rooftop of a tall, six-story building stood the figure of El, his eyes tightly closed. In his hand, a violin emitted a soft yet heartbreaking melody.
The Silver Bullet he played sounded like a wailing lament that seeped into the wind.
Each stroke of the strings created a wrenching tone of loss, sadness, and struggle.
{N/A: This Silver Bullet music is from the Dmc 5 series, you can search for it online. This music is suitable for El's mood and the reversal of Black bullet, the title of the anime. Ehehe~}
However, El's face remained expressionless. There was no sign of emotion reflected on his features, only a cold emptiness.
Rinnegan's eyes, though dormant, held a void that had long taken hold of him.
Although the emotion had long since worn off, El still understood the deep meaning of the song, a story of nostalgia and sadness.
The breeze blew, touching his black trench coat until it fluttered slowly, while his dark hair danced with the wind.
The surrounding atmosphere was silent, filled only by the echo of the violin melody that reverberated far below, enveloping the chaotic city with tragic beauty.
El stood motionless, like a statue bearing witness to the crumbling world beneath him.
The music he played was not just entertainment; it was the only way for him to speak to express something he could no longer feel.
And at the height of the destruction, he kept playing his violin, bringing the meaning of each note into the void that was now part of him.
Suddenly, a loud boom like thunder echoed throughout the city, breaking the silence.
In the distance, the 32 monoliths that towered high into the sky began to crumble. Huge cubes of Varanium fell, hitting the ground hard, leaving huge cracks in the streets
Some of them plunged into the river, creating a huge wave that engulfed the ruins in darkness.