#fuyuhiko inukai

[devilofthehounds]

God Eater 3 Character Novel | In the Name of the White Flower: Chapter 5

[image id: A novel cover. Hilda Henriquez from God Eater 3 stands in the foreground. In the background are profile shots of Abraham Gadolin (top left) and Werner Gadolin (bottom right). Separating the two are a pair of red armlets, streaks of dried blood overlaid on top of them. The text, when translated into English, reads, “God Eater 3 Character Novel | Chapter 5: Hilda Edition | In the Name of the White Flower”. /end id]

This is a fan translation. Original text here.

Masterpost 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

We barely escaped the satellite base with our lives. Soon enough, we were found by a Gleipnir transport and taken to safety.

Thankfully, Ricardo survived as well, receiving treatment on the transport.

However, we were unable to return to Fenrir HQ immediately.

A mysterious phenomenon that could consume all forms of matter, believed to be occurring simultaneously in various locations across the region.

Continuing to spread rapidly even now, it had swallowed up Fenrir HQ in the blink of an eye. The condition of the residents and God Eaters therein were unknown.

The surviving God Eaters somehow managed to find some survivors and regroup, but it seemed no one had an accurate grasp on the situation.

We were taken to a frontline base that had been designated as a temporary rendezvous point for those who had managed to escape. We disembarked, the carnage at the satellite base playing on repeat in our minds.

"Father!"

"Werner, Hilda... I'm glad you're safe."

Commander Gadolin, taking temporary command in this time of crisis, placed his hands on our shoulders.

"...Werner, stay with Hilda for the time being."

The commander wasted no words as he took in the sight of our bloodstained clothes.

Werner nodded, but I felt strangely clear-headed.

"I'm fine. Werner, you're needed elsewhere. Please, do what you can."

"But..."

"Don't worry about me. I'll find some way to help as well."

Werner looked back at me one last time, then nodded and returned to his unit with the commander.

"...Iris."

I pushed my way through the crowd, many of whom were disheartened and confused, as I searched for the children.

Did everyone at the orphanage escape safely?

If I were to lose them as well...

Memories of the smiles of everyone who supported my dream filled my mind.

Slowly, they were being painted over with vivid memories of blood and flames.

The longer I searched, the less I was able to suppress my fears. A wave of nausea rolled over me.

Please... Please...

"...Big Sis Hilda?"

I looked up at the faint sound of her voice calling out to me.

Just ahead was Iris, her eyes wide.

She was holding hands with the sketchbook girl from before and staring at me.

"Big sis... Big sis!"

As soon as she ran to me, I held her tight, clinging to hope. I couldn't hold back my tears.

"Iris! Thank goodness... I'm so glad...!"

"Me, too! Everyone from the orphanage is fine! We're all alive! I'm so glad you're okay, big sis...!"

We cried together, relieved we'd survived and found each other.

The girl holding Iris's hand smiled at the sight of us, seemingly relieved as well.

"I'm glad you're safe, too... Have you been able to make friends with everyone?"

"I've been helping her practice talking to everyone! I'm sure she'll introduce herself when she feels better, so we'll have a fun chat then, promise!"

The girl, blushing, nodded enthusiastically. She clung to Iris as if the other girl were her own big sister.

Seeing the two of them filled my heart with hope.

Iris led me to a makeshift tent set up in the base, where we were able to reunite with everyone from the facility.

"Big Sis Hilda, is Uncle Werner...?"

"He's alright. Right now, he's going around helping everyone. We'll see him again soon."

The news brought smiles to the children's faces, blossoming like flowers.

Hope was still alive.

With that, we could walk ahead into the future—or so I wanted to believe.

A mass of ash, devouring everything it came into contact with.

This phenomenon, swallowing up countless lives, became known throughout northern Europe as "The Calamity", the moniker spreading like wildfire amongst the survivors.

"A large-scale area created by the Calamity... For the time being, we will refer to these areas as 'The Ashlands'."

A majority of Fenrir's top personnel had been swallowed up by the Ashlands that emerged at HQ, their whereabouts unknown.

With Abraham Gadolin serving as governor-general, Gleipnir was reorganized. Conferences were held day and night to address the threat of the Ashlands, though no solution had been discovered thus far.

Werner and I attended the conferences as well, as we were researchers who had survived the chaos immediately following the outbreak of the Ashlands.

The top priority currently being discussed was securing safe places for the survivors to live.

It was deemed urgent that the next generation of satellite bases be built to maintain their functions even should they be swallowed up by the Ashlands.

As soon as that was established, attention immediately turned to the research being conducted by me and Werner—expanding living space underground, unaffected by the Ashlands.

"With the cooperation of House Victorious, we have already begun selecting a site and preparing for construction. Werner, Hilda, if you are asked about your opinion regarding the matter, do not hesitate to give it.

Both Werner and I could only nod silently.

In the blink of an eye, the utopia we had envisioned was taken from our hands, and development was to be carried out under Gleipnir's jurisdiction.

Thinking about it logically, I understood it couldn't be helped. And yet, it was frustrating to watch as our dream became distorted.

"Next, a report on the results of the investigation into the Ashlands."

"Yes. Thus far, we know that the Ashlands are composed of microscopic viral structures."

"Oracle Cells... So, the Ashlands are made up of microscopic Aragami?"

"It's impossible to say for sure. Their eating habits are too diverse, and there are many data points that don't match up with previously observed characteristics..."

"But God Arcs and anti-Aragami armored walls maintain their functions even after being swallowed up by the Ashlands! Could we consider this a new type of Aragami?"

Experts in various fields engaged in heated debate, grasping at straws for clues.

A realm where even God Eaters lost their lives in a matter of minutes.

Already, the infrastructure of northern Europe had been decimated and cut off by the Ashlands.

Even those of us who survived felt as though we were surrounded on all sides by approaching walls of death.

We knew that if a solution wasn't found quickly, people would begin to reach their limit.

"If the Ashlands are Aragami... would it be possible for Odin to devour them?"

Governor-General Gadolin's unexpected words brought silence to the conference hall.

Odin, the anti-Aragami weapon. An enormous, humanoid God Arc that was being researched underground at Fenrir HQ.

If it could be completed—

"Wait, Father. There are still many issues that need to be resolved before Odin can become operational. It's completely unrealistic to consider it when we can't even reach HQ!"

A majority of those present agreed with Werner's words.

However, even as he nodded in response to Werner's words, the governor-general stared intently into space, as if he were seeing something the rest of us couldn't.

"In any event, even with the completion of the underground bases, the survivors will be critically short on supplies! Most locations stocked with supplies, including Fenrir HQ, have been swallowed up by the Ashlands!"

As the debate drew on with no answers, what we needed to do slowly became clear.

"Our number one priority is finding a way to retrieve supplies from within the Ashlands! If we can't do that... we will perish!"

Everyone fell silent in the face of our unshakable, hopeless reality.

"But there are reports of unidentified powerful Oracle readings being observed within the Ashlands! Just what can we do...?"

As everyone's spirits sank further, suddenly—

"Why not just develop a solution? An evolved God Eater, resistant to the Ashlands."

In the heavy silence, the first to speak was a man wearing a flashy scarf.

Next to me, Werner immediately stood up.

"Doctor Inukai. You talk of evolution, but do you truly understand the amount of sacrifice that would entail?"

"Of course I do. Are you objecting out of fear of sacrifice? I'm certain everyone else has realized this is the only feasible solution."

Evolution, in order to adapt to the Ashlands.

As he said, it seemed everyone agreed it was the only option.

However, without exception, those gathered in the room knew the cost of such words was too great to bear.

It was understood that this road would be one paved with blood.

"...Father."

Everyone found their gazes shifting toward Governor-General Gadolin.

There was a long, heavy silence. As he bowed his head, I could sense the immense pressure he now bore.

"...It cannot be helped."

Eventually, he broke the silence with those terse words.

The governor-general slowly rose to his feet.

"We will continue to consider all possibilities and countermeasures. However, effective immediately, we must develop a God Eater suited for operation within the Ashlands! A new blade that will cut a path to save humanity!"

With that, the governor-general concluded the conference.

After the conference, I said goodbye to Werner, who was going out on patrol, and decided to check in on Ricardo.

He'd been in a coma this whole time.

I drew back the curtain in the infirmary. However—

"Huh..?"

Ricardo wasn't there.

All that remained was a bed, dutifully and meticulously made.

"What... Where could he have gone with those wounds?!"

It seemed the doctors had only become aware of his absence when I informed them.

I rushed outside in a panic. No matter how hard I looked, though, I couldn't find him.

If he had gone missing in a situation like this, there was no way we'd be able to find him.

"Huh? Big Sis Hilda?"

At that moment, Iris happened to be passing by with the children from the facility.

Iris and the others had been trying to help however they could, offering words of encouragement to those who were injured.

"Iris, have you seen a man with bandages on his right arm? He was staying here in the infirmary."

"Huh? ...Sorry, there are so many people here..."

It felt as if something important had slipped out of my grasp.

As if to fill this sense of loss, I gently brushed back Iris's hair.

Where on earth was I going?

Without regular contact with the children, it was becoming increasingly difficult to remember.