PHASE 56 - THE WHISTLEBLOWER

That previous hot spring chapters gave us a huge leap towards our main goal.

Why? Because we are finally able to capture a Cursed Guardian. Drex Brynheim, the giant maceman, will be our road to discover all the secrets of the New Order. Right now, he is confined in the Kozukata Shrine, in a cage full of anti-curse seals. He won’t be able to escape. Amy will conduct interrogations once she replenished her ability.

Anyway, the destruction of the wall was no-one’s fault, at least it’s what all normal people believe. Eyewitnesses stated that there is a gigantic tornado that shredded the wooden wall, and it was purely a fortuitous event. So the girls in our class didn’t hold the boys in contempt. Nobody is getting suspended.

But there is another trouble.

Divina, our class representative was in front, and the whole class was conducting an open trial. It was currently our homeroom, but Macho Steel allowed the girls to emphasize the issue on hand.

Divina slammed a notebook on the teacher’s desk. “It’s true that everything happened about the hot springs is purely an accident, but… We cannot overlook the fact that the guys conducted a disgusting votation! That’s right! This is the Cutie Poll that was seized in the men’s locker room!”

Every man in this classroom was astounded. All of us tried to hide our faces by bowing our heads.

Divina continued furiously. “I know that this malicious act is not punishable by our school rules, but this is an insult to femininity! Especially that all guys participated and they left harsh comments! And… And… I got zero votes at all!”

So that’s why she’s emphasizing this small issue. I was about to laugh, but I managed to suppress myself. I only gave a mouth fart.

“We girls just want justice,” Divina said. “We will not provide for punishment as long as the ringleader of this cursed notebook reveal himself.”

Everyone was silent. None of the girls know who did it, but all the guys know who. We just don’t want to sell our comrade, because he is the author of the greatest book. The Cutie Poll is a blessing and a curse, and it holds power greater than the Necronomicon, Akashic Records, and Fifty Shades series combined.

Oh, Andrew wrote the Cutie Poll.

<>

A brief flashback.

I remembered what Andrew said before the morning started. He swallowed up his whole pride and prostate to me.

“I beg you, Ric, please hear my request. The class will have a trial about the holy notebook that was seized during our field trip. I’m planning to voluntarily surrender myself so that I will retain my dignity and honor as a man. But that would mean I have to shave my head! I don’t want that!”

I don’t get the logic, but I let him continue anyway.

Andrew cried. “So to prevent me from shaving my head, I ask you to pretend that we are co-authors of the Cutie Poll! Surrender yourself, and tell them that you will shave your head too! With your charisma as a heartthrob, the girls will be affected by reverse psychology and they will stop us from shaving our head! That’s my brilliant plan!”

I don’t get the logic either.

<>

Back to the present, where our classroom is dead silent. It’s been half a minute and every man is testing the girls’ patience.

“You better show up, Mr. Author. Or else you will spend your whole high school life without any girl talking to you.” Divina threatened.

Everybody gulped. There was a ten-second silence once again, but after that, one brave man stood up. Andrew was manly enough to do it!

“It’s me.” He said calmly as he bowed down. “I’m willing to receive any punishment! I will shave my head to atone for my sins!”

All the boys were astounded. He is the savior of mankind! But every savior needs a savior since he’s not God after all. I guess I have to do it, huh?

Everybody shattered the silence when they saw me standing up. All the girls are surprised! They couldn’t believe what is happening! I inhaled and exhaled softly as I made a shocking revelation.

“It’s him… Shave his head.”

Because I abandoned my post as “Mankind’s Hero”, I became dubbed as the “Righteous Whistleblower”. All the girls adored me more for telling the truth. “Alaric is so cool!” , “He’s so handsome and righteous!” , “You make me wet, Alaric!” Those are the comments I heard from them.

Selling my comrade only gives me a lot of troubles. Surely, more girls will confess to me from now on. And now all the guys here are looking at me with disdain.

<>

After the classes ended, we boarded a train to Heightsburg. Amy, Tiara, and I went to the Kozukata Shrine to conduct the interrogation of our newly caught Cursed Guardian.

But actually, Amy is the only one who will do the questioning. With her , she’s more than enough to squeeze all the information from that enemy. Amy transformed to Lord Freya to hypnotize him with her anti-male goddess charm so that the chance of Drex to disobey the will be highly unlikely.

Tiara and I are just here to take down notes and watch.

"With the power of my , I command you, Drex Bryheim, to answer all of my questions with the whole truth!”

Freya’s golden cross sigil glowed as she stared into the eyes of the Cursed Guardian. The Cursed Guardian’s crimson eyes glowed with a faint golden light for the duration of the .

“Let’s start from the very beginning. What is the New Order?” Freya started with the basics to test the effect of her mind controlling abilities.

“The New Order is an organization of Cursed Guardians that has one goal; to corrupt potential Gate Guardians. It is for the preparation of the third Eidolon rampage that would lead to the mankind’s final war.” Drex said like a robot. Even his gangster accent was completely obliterated. And that scares me in a lot of ways.

“Who leads the New Order?”

“The New Order was led by four generals, who also serves a man named ‘Aeternos’. I haven’t seen that supreme leader nor know the names of the other generals. All I can tell you is that I am taking orders from Diadem Solstice.”

“Is your attack at the Brynheim Hot Springs an order from Diadem Solstice?”

“Yes. I was supposed to deliver a message to Diadem’s beautiful twin. But I got carried away and fought Alaric Eisenhower for the fun of it.”

Drex slowly lent out a rolled piece of paper to Tiara.

The shocked shrine maiden opened it slowly. Freya and I took a peek.

‘My dear twin sister, I suppose you are in search of the truth. I know everything. I know where the father is. I know the truth about the Brightmore Witch. I know… all the deleted timelines. Let us meet at the Wrightson Park here in Dradecim City on Friday afternoon.’

Tiara was saddened after reading it and she can only mutter the word “Brother.” on her mouth.

Freya released the captured Cursed Guardian from her and she reverted herself to tiny Amy. Then she turned to me.

“I will continue the interrogation once he got transported to the Black Cross Quarantine Prison. We should resolve these cases one step at a time. There’s no need to rush.”

<>

We three went to the backyard of the shrine to gather some fresh air. There’s a lot of things to be tackled, and that creepy letter from Diadem really boggles our mind.

“Rikkun… Necchan…” Tiara had her eyes watery. “I think I need to go.”

“We are all going to go.” Amy smiled. “We will let you have your sibling talk and when you guys finish, we will capture him!”

Tiara was delighted upon hearing those words. But for me… I don’t really think that it is a great idea. I just recalled my on my thought.

Traumatizing images of defeated Lord Freya, the disgusting horrible tentacles, and the pain of having my left arm decapitated entered my mind. Friday is the day and afternoon was the time when Helena died.

And the day of the meeting is exactly the third week from the last sign of the .

“You should stay, Amy. Or else… You… You will die.” I said.

“Ric.” Amy put her warm hands on my cheek. “This is our only chance. I will not die in this fight. I promise.”

I never convinced her to change her mind. Once she starts rolling, nobody can stop her. She’s too stubborn, just exactly what her parents said to me.

If only she knew that Helena also made the exact same promise of staying alive...