#devil translates

As the helicopter touched down, the impact from the wheels shook me slightly.

It took some effort to open the poorly fitted door. Greeting me on the other side was a vast expanse of snow-capped mountains.

However, no longer was it a magnificent view of the Himalayas, once touted as the highest peak in the world. All that remained was a mountain range, scarred with traces of having been eaten away at by something.

"You must be Sei Yagami. We've been expecting you. Captain Godot is waiting inside."

One of the approaching soldiers, squinting due to the wind pressure from the propeller, straightened their posture and gave a salute.

The soldier's voice barely reached me through the sound of both the helicopter and the dust-filled Himalayan winds.

After being shown to the reception room, I found two people waiting for me.

A young woman with flowing, beautiful black hair, and a tall man wearing large sunglasses.

As I stood in front of them and straightened my posture, my eyes met the woman's. She gave me a small smile, but I didn't return it, instead looking away.

At this moment, I was a new recruit assigned to the Fenrir Himalaya Branch. I needed to keep my position in mind.

As I turned my gaze to the man, I could see the woman frown out of the corner of my eye, displeased.

"So, you're the new guy?"

"Yes. I'm Sei Yagami."

"This is a remote outpost, nothing around for miles. Now, relax. That's all I got."

"'That's all'...?"

All I was told was to 'relax'. No more, no less...

"She'll take it from here... Maria!"

The man called out to the woman beside him.

The woman... Maria, shoulders trembling, fired back with indignation.

"Take what from here?! At least introduce yourself, Captain Godot!"

"Why bother? You just did it for me."

"So it seems, Captain Godot."

Hearing me agree with Godot's sarcasm, Maria went red, her eyebrows raised.

"You two...! That's enough! I'll take care of the rest!"

"Heh... You do that. Instead of listening to me give a long-winded speech, you two should go have some fun. Wouldn't wanna third-wheel your big reunion."

Godot gave us a light wave as he left the room.

"Honestly... You just don't want to make the effort..."

"Is he always like that?"

"Completely hopeless. ...Anyway, once again, welcome to the Fenrir Himalaya Branch! We're delighted to have you!"

Maria flashed me a bright, carefree smile.

"It's been three years... I'm glad you managed to become a God Eater safe and sound. My only surviving... little brother."

She held out her hand.

Her expression reflected her unconditional trust in her family, whom she'd been reunited with for the first time in years.

Even so, I stood here not as her brother, but as a newly appointed God Eater.

The correct response was a salute, not a handshake... Even so, Maria kept holding out her hand, refusing to give in.

"..."

Resigning myself, I reached out as well. Maria gently cradled my hand in both of hers, as though cherishing it.

Her smile grew wider. Embarrassed, I quickly pulled away.

"...You survived, too, Maria. We're both God Eaters now. You can't treat me like a little brother forever."

Even though we weren't related by blood, she still called me her little brother.

Maria and I were childhood friends, both growing up in the same facility at the Far East Branch.

Maria was a big sister to everyone in the facility.

I thought of her as my real sister, too.

Even so, we were only one year apart. It felt awkward always being treated like a little kid.

"Heehee, there's no need to be shy."

I looked away as Maria laughed. She'd always been able to see right through me.

"Who's shy? Anyway, let's move on to the mission briefing."

"Right... Then I'll get straight to the point. Would you accompany me on my mission? Both to explain the situation and assess your capabilities? ...Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. So, what's the situation here at the Himalaya Branch?"

"As Captain Godot said, this is a remote area and the danger level is low, but because of that, only the minimum number of personnel are deployed, so we're always severely understaffed."

"I see. It seems like we're short on people everywhere, but for you to say it, things must be really bad here, too."

"That's right... You'll be working alone more often than not, so your individual strength will be put to the test to make sure you're ready. ...You'll be okay. I'll be right here with you."

"It's okay. I'm right here with you."

Those words brought back memories. Maria would always say that to us when we were kids. Her words had always supported me.

Even now, the old days came rushing back to me.

I remembered when I was a child in a dimly lit prison, deprived of freedom and treated like a dog.

We weren't given any say, kept alive for the convenience of adults, and disposed of when we were no longer needed.

Sure, maybe we weren't any different from dogs.

But even so, we wouldn't be beat.

No matter how absurd it seemed, we would one day eat away at the chains that took away our freedom and break them to pieces.

That was the vow that connected us as Hounds in that prison.

I'd never forget those days, when we lost so much and gained so many irreplaceable things.

It all started the day I became Hugo Pennywort.

That day when, in the darkness—I found light.

[image id: "'Team Noir' new project starts." written on a black background. /end id]

"New Project Launch"

We, Team Noir, are a game team creating school RPGs that depict the dark side of the human heart and the charm of people who especially shine within darkness.

In Monark, the themes were desire and ego. Now, we are starting a new project based on a different theme.

Shinya's line in Panel 3 was originally something along the lines of "there's such a gap between you and [something]". I think this is an allusion to the term "gap moe", where the discrepancy between something or someone's outer appearance and their true nature or behavior create an appeal.