One winter in 2012, heavy snow fell in Russia, covering everything around it.
In this heavy snow, it was not uncommon for a woman named Cocolia to be attacked by an assassination squad in the forest.
As an enemy of Russia, Cocolia, known as the Witch, had to be eliminated.
However, she was so powerful that even without using weapons, she easily killed all the members who tried to assassinate her. It was simply an impossible mission.
But... this mission had an unexpected turn, one that even Cocolia had not anticipated.
"Are you Cocolia, the one known as the Witch?"
Appearing before Cocolia was a Little Girl in a miko outfit, with her eyes closed, holding a tachi.
Although it was snowing, she wore a thin miko outfit. Her beautiful silver hair complemented the white snow, and her cold aura made her seem like an ice beauty.
Although she called Cocolia a Witch, she showed no fear. After stopping not far from Cocolia, she asked tentatively.
"I am... haha. Little Girl, are you also one of these guys? With your companions dead, are you still planning to fight me?"
Cocolia, who had just unhesitatingly killed the members of the assassination squad, now paused, a faint smile on her face, looking at the Little Girl standing not far from her.
"Companions? They are just tools that were controlled. The reason they were sent to attack you also shows that these guys are just tools for the army to use and discard. Perhaps even those guys didn't believe this mission could be completed."
If they were truly going to assassinate Cocolia, the army would certainly not send out such limited combat power. At the very least, they would send out various heavily armed units. But merely sending a group of trained soldiers to the field, it looked as if they had given up on them.
"Oh? It seems you know a lot. What about you? Since you know this mission is a one-way trip, yet you still came to me. Should I praise your courage? Or your foolishness?"
"A one-way trip? That's only used to describe trash. I... am not like those trash."
In an instant, Cocolia felt a huge change in the aura of the Little Girl in front of her.
Cocolia, being from a military background, possessed outstanding abilities in both political maneuvering and combat style.
Unlike some small fry, she sensed something amiss when the other party's aura changed.
If the other party was just a harmless rabbit before, now she was a demon that could devour her at any moment.
"Pill Self-Manifestation Style — my name is Inaba Tsukiyo. This is the name of the person who will take your life, Witch Cocolia. If you wish, you may also call me by my title — crimson moon."
Opening her eyes, her scarlet pupils were now like fresh blood. Inaba Tsukiyo instantly vanished from her spot, and the mikazuki munechika in her hand was unsheathed in an instant.
A fatal blow. During their conversation, Inaba Tsukiyo had already closed the distance with Cocolia to a lethal range. Inaba Tsukiyo was confident she could kill Cocolia with one strike.
Clang!
However, to Inaba Tsukiyo's surprise, a dagger blocked her attack. In the nick of time, Cocolia actually reacted.
The dagger, after blocking Inaba Tsukiyo's attack, caused her hand holding the hilt to loosen. She then gripped the fallen hilt with her other hand and slashed towards Inaba Tsukiyo.
Slightly turning her body, she dodged Cocolia's counterattack. After failing to deliver a fatal blow, Inaba Tsukiyo leaped with her right leg, swiftly closing the distance with Cocolia.
Cocolia, already prepared, no longer had her previous disdain. Another dagger appeared in her other hand, and she stood ready with Inaba Tsukiyo.
Cocolia's combat ability was truly high. Even wearing a short skirt completely unsuitable for combat, she could perform incredibly agile movements. It made Inaba Tsukiyo somewhat understand why the military feared her.
However, if this was all, Cocolia was still too naive. This was just a warm-up before the real battle.
"You... didn't bring your usual weapon with you, Witch?"
"Who would carry something like that around? I wasn't going to battle, so of course it stayed at my residence. Carrying two daggers is already the limit."
Of course, another reason was that Cocolia was very confident that even if she encountered an assassination squad, her combat prowess would ensure they couldn't harm her.
However, she hadn't expected the enemy to send such a master as Inaba Tsukiyo to assassinate her this time.
She somewhat understood why Nangong Lina called those assassins she killed 'tools.' Compared to someone with terrifying abilities like Inaba Tsukiyo, those guys indeed only had value as tools.
Cocolia was skilled at using greatswords; powerful, direct attacks were her style.
Although Cocolia was confident in her dagger skills, not losing to others, facing Inaba Tsukiyo with them was still a bit too difficult.
"Your name is Japanese. You must be an orphan who lost her home after the Second Honkai Eruption, right?"
"...That's none of your business, Witch. My past has nothing to do with someone who is about to die."
Inaba Tsukiyo arrived in this world two years ago, landing in Russia, a country with particularly strong combat power. She was discovered by Russia's secret forces and became their secret weapon.
Although she was reluctant to be used as a thug, she knew nothing about this world. To understand it, she could only pretend to follow the Russian army, carrying out various assassination missions.
Her identity was like those displaced children; because of her petite stature, she was believed to be an orphan who lost her home in the Honkai.
However, unlike those killing machines armed with firearms, Inaba Tsukiyo's weapon was always a blade. Each time, she would flawlessly complete her missions.
During one mission, to assassinate her target, she directly killed everyone in the entire base. Afterwards, those who arrived saw the figure standing on top of the building, and her crimson pupils left a profound impression on them.
Coupled with the fact that the moon appeared blood-red for unknown reasons that night, Inaba Tsukiyo likely earned the title of crimson moon.
"Although you say those people are tools, aren't you also a killing machine in their hands? Why do you have to obey their orders? Don't you want to get rid of them?"
"Tools? It's just mutual exploitation. I don't like those high-ranking officials either, but I still have someone I need to protect. To protect her, you must die here this time, Cocolia."
Not to carry out orders, but to protect someone she cared about, Inaba Tsukiyo had to complete this mission.
Due to the Honkai Eruption in Siberia, various European countries splintered, leading to local unrest and national turmoil.
Although treated as tools, those homeless people at least had a place to stay.
As long as she completed those people's missions, the military would meet her demands. As long as she could continue to complete missions, she wouldn't need to warm herself alone with a cold firearm in the biting wind.
Clang!
The dagger in Cocolia's hand broke. After enduring multiple attacks from mikazuki munechika, the dagger finally couldn't withstand the pressure and snapped.
Cocolia, completely without any means of attack, was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. With just one strike, Inaba Tsukiyo could complete her mission.
However, just as Inaba Tsukiyo was about to end the Witch's life, something unexpected happened.
"Tsukiyo-neechan!!!"
"!!!"
The familiar voice caused Inaba Tsukiyo's movements to falter slightly, and it was this momentary hesitation that allowed Cocolia to evade the fatal blow.
She looked up, disbelieving, towards the source of the voice. The person who had just called her name was the Little Girl she had always wanted to protect.
"Bronya! Why are you here?!"
This assassination mission for Cocolia was actually planned by the military for Bronya to execute, but Inaba Tsukiyo, knowing that Bronya was no match for Cocolia, volunteered for the mission.
But... why was Bronya, who should have been in a safe place, here? What exactly was going on?
"Hehe~ So this is the person you want to protect? She's really cute. There's something similar about you two."
Cocolia, having dodged an attack, appeared behind Bronya. Bronya reacted, dropped her sniper rifle, and pulled out a small knife to attack Cocolia, but was easily subdued.
"Very good skills, but still a bit too green. Just sleep for a while, Little fellow."
Striking Bronya unconscious, Cocolia, holding Bronya, looked at Inaba Tsukiyo, who was about to make a move, with a victorious smile.
Although she wasn't entirely clear about the relationship between Inaba Tsukiyo and Bronya, from Inaba Tsukiyo's actions, it was evident that Inaba Tsukiyo cared deeply for Bronya.
"...As expected of the woman known as the Witch. I admit, you win."
Sheathing mikazuki munechika, Inaba Tsukiyo threw the sword, along with its sheath, into the snow.
"I have shown my sincerity. Now, release her. No... please spare her."
"Oh? The legendary crimson moon, the ruthless assassin who would stop at nothing to complete a mission, would actually abandon a mission for someone? How rare."
Cocolia looked at Inaba Tsukiyo with some surprise. Although she had expected Inaba Tsukiyo to disarm, she hadn't expected Inaba Tsukiyo to even throw away her weapon.
Was this to show her sincerity? The initial draw-and-slash was too beautiful; even if she put away her weapon, Cocolia still felt danger. This fellow definitely had the ability to draw her weapon in an instant and deliver a fatal blow to her.
"Come with me. Your mission has failed. Since your goal is for someone important to have a place to belong, then I think we can make a deal."
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