A Happy Place (幸 (しあわ) せの在 (あ) り処 (か) , Shiawase no arika^?) is the 27^th chapter of the Versus manga series.

Summary

While investigating the ruins of a Mecha Ordinance city, a group of four neo-humans stand over several robots they destroyed, inspecting them and noting their designs as unusual. One of these four is Heidi, who says that they should continue investigating and exchange information with the other investigation units. However, as she looks up from the robot part she was holding, she sees an advanced robot unit has killed the other three in the brief instant, evaluating her as Threat Level 3. With an arrogant tone, Heidi engages it in combat.^[1] Some time later, she wakes up extremely injured—despite having destroyed the robot—and is saved by several humans of Neo-Terra searching for other survivors with the Mage Force. She is taken to the fortress where she silently observes the situation while pretending to be a regular human, noting information about their respective worlds, levels of civilization, and their natural enemies. She intends to return to the Ninth City of Neo-Terra when her injuries recover, bringing a gift.^[2]

In the Ninth City, the administrator Rogen, reads the letter Heidi had smuggled in Ario's clothes, deciding to wait for her return since he was unable to contact her. A neo-human woman enters his office, relaying that they have successfully sealed a parasite for later analysis. Rogen then turns to a monitor showing Ario strapped to a gurney, thanking him for carrying the letter from Heidi, who he names as his "little sister". Ario realizes that she had slipped the letter in his clothes when she hugged him before he left.^[3] Rogen turns to the window, gazing down at the city which is crawling with parasite-infected neo-humans, expressing doubt as to how they could be used as well as hoping Heidi would not bring back any "unnecessary presents".^[4]

Meanwhile, in the Verdant Forest, Shirokaki urges his Granny to take her medicine but she does not respond, being revealed that she is infected by parasites. Despite still struggling against them, her mind is failing as Granny touches Shirokaki's chin and struggles to thank him. Shirokaki reassures her before suddenly saying something bizarre.^[5] This alarms him as he dashes outside, wondering if he was still himself. Looking up at the surrounding forest, he notices the unusually large number of animals gathered around, despite it being the route of the Great Lord of the Verdant Forest, Iron King. Yet as he studies them more closely, he realizes they are all infected by parasites, before being lunged at from behind by an infected monkey-like animal. It is smashed apart by the Great Lord's antlers before it reaches him.^[6]

Shirokaki expresses surprise and admiration that the Great Lord is defending its territory but as a massive flower-like Super Wurm charges past him only to quickly take down Iron King, he forlornly realizes the Iron King was only trying to escape, noting to himself that the end of the forest had come. Fully dejected and succumbing to the parasite in him, he slumps down and thinks of Nukizumi, hoping he can survive and fight back. Grandma appears, hugging him from behind and thanking him.^[7]

In the Land of the Lawless, Gore gazes upon Yaotsu who asks if they were looking for a God. Despite Gore being deeply frightened, Rinri simply tells him that he can't see the so-called God since Gore is obstructing his view. Gore is surprised that Rinri's still alive, who answers that he can still think clearly, namely how to use Yaotsu in the future. Gore is astonished that even in his current shape, he can consider the future plans, feeling reassured and less frightened as a result. Gore thinks back to when they were young and how Rinri's decisions were always right, concluding the only way to survive was to ensure he lived, helping him to his feet despite the risk of infection.^[8]

Yaotsu again asks, who called him and why they hesitate to answer. Zaybi anxiously ponders if they can negotiate with them, thanking Yaotsu for saving them and that he is really powerful. This pleases Yaotsu, who looks proud and spits out the Super Wurm—now a tiny trembling worm—declaring they are an almighty God and that the worm was but a plaything. Everyone is surprised at the worm's state, especially Cartel,^[9] while Yaotsu just laughs jovially. Naurai fearfully warns Zaybi to be careful what he does or says, but as Zaybi acknowledges Yaotsu as the actual God of Indignia, he accidentally angers them as it implies he did not know them already by sight. Yaotsu's left half turns black and erupts with eyes^[10], lifting Zaybi off the ground as Naurai warns Zaybi to pray and beg for their forgiveness. Keila and her men lift their guns in alarm but Zaybi shouts at them not to do anything as he explains that they are residents of a different world that lacked any almighty being and thus could not have known Yaotsu.^[11] This calms them down, who with a gesture turns Keila's Anti-Machine Combat Forces' guns to sand.^[12]

Yaotsu—now smiling again—tells them to be grateful before asking what they sought from their God. Naurai attempts to speak but is shoved aside by three Lawless thugs. The first asks for food until his stomach swells, the second asks for his brother to be resurrected, and the third asks a new safe place to call home.^[13] Yaotsu fulfils their wishes in order but not how they envisioned. A torrent of food rushes into the first thug's mouth until his stomach explodes and the head of the dead brother sprouts from the second thug's face. The last thug tries to retract his wish but Yaotsu turns the Kyokai Headquarters into a walled temple city such as those in Indignia,^[14] declaring that God shall be with them as they seat themselves at the peak of the largest pyramid.

Finally, within the ruins of the Mecha Ordinance city, Jachi confronts a group of robots, above which hovers an advanced unit named Naver. Evaluating Jachi as a Threat Level 10, Naver prepares to exterminate him.^[15]

Characters in Order of Appearance

References

Navigation

v • e Chapters and Volumes
Volume 1	1 • 2 • 3 • 4
Volume 2	5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9
Volume 3	10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14
Volume 4	15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19
Volume 5	20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24
Volume 6	25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29
Volume 7	30 • 31 • 32 • 33
Chapters not yet in Volume format	34

v • e Story Arcs
Introduction Arc	1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5
Titans vs The Neo-Humans Arc	6 • 7 • 8 • 9
Demons vs Aliens Arc	10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
Demons vs Titans Arc	16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21
Lawless Kyokai Arc	22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27
Current Arc	28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34