After that, we received a call from Totoki.
Tetsuya’s figure appeared on the large monitor in the operation room.
< This is Totoki of Public Security Section Seven. Regarding Yuna Hamano, her father suddenly turned himself in at a police box. >
“Eh? What do you mean?”
The Director couldn’t hide her bewilderment at the sudden news. And neither could we.
< Yuna Hamano’s father, Takashi Hamano, divorced when the victim, Hamano, was in elementary school. A year ago, he remarried a woman named Masami Tanaka. They apparently got along well, but one day, Takashi suddenly started committing domestic violence. Yes, it was from about two weeks before the incident occurred. >
“Don’t tell me…”
< Yes. When we thoroughly searched the murdered Yuna Hamano’s room, we found multiple SD cards for a Handycam. To be honest, the data inside made me want to look away… It recorded Takashi inflicting insidious domestic violence on Masami, as if it had been secretly filmed. Judging from the titles of each video file, it seems Yuna Hamano enjoyed watching them… We also found many photos and video files of her with her father. Quite a few of them were sexual in nature and not something you could show people. Yuna Hamano must have found it so unforgivable that her father was stolen away by his remarriage that it drove her to madness… >
“In other words, she manipulated her father with the power of the ring and made him commit domestic violence… Violence from a loved one is hard to expose, and it’s the most painful thing for the victim… Yuna Hamano knew that full well when she committed the crime… It’s terrifying. The darkness of the human heart.”
When I saw her in the photo, she didn’t look at all like the kind of person who would come up with such a thing… It sounds so horrifying it makes me nauseous… There were various incidents that left a bad taste in my mouth back in the NYPD too, but…
< It seems the father has also returned to his senses now that the ring’s effect has vanished. His wife, Masami, has suffered severe physical and mental damage. Even though he was manipulated, they can’t make the internal circumstances public. Masami hasn’t filed a lawsuit, but per Takashi’s own wishes, a case is being built for assault, and he will be atoning for his sins going forward… >
The truth is always distorted… What is announced to the public is only conveniently corrected information. The truth is never conveyed as it is. All the more so if it’s inconvenient information.
It’s a structure of the world that I already fully understand, but it always leaves a bad taste in my mouth, leaving me with a sense of powerlessness and slight anger that piles up in my heart…
This time, a victim—who perhaps inherently ought to be forgiven—has taken on the guilt…
It leaves me feeling helpless…
“Well, it’s about time for lunch. Don’t feel down, everyone. Let’s eat something delicious and cheer up.”
The Director said that as if to shake off the gloomy mood.
And so, we headed to the dining hall.
September 16, 2026. 12:05 PM. UCIA Japan Branch Investigation Base, Ground Base. Dining Hall.
“Still, it’s been a while since we all had lunch together! I wonder what today’s menu is.”
“It seems to be a special menu today. After all, it also serves as a celebration of Himemiya-san’s return.”
Chris and Hayama talk happily. Then, Steven came pushing a rattling wagon from the back.
“Hey Asami! Congratulations on your return! Today’s special menu is a special unaju. That being said, the main event is the after-meal sweets, Steven’s special fruit tiramisu cake! I made that as the main dish, so think of the unaju as an appetizer!”
No, I don’t quite understand the concept of unaju being the appetizer and cake being the staple food.
“Wow! It’s eel! Thanks for the food!”
Chris scarfs it down. Hayama, Kamikura, and the Director also began to eat in silence.
After we had eaten to some extent, Hayama opened his mouth.
“But, what do we do from here? Himemiya-san is completely targeted by the AW this time, right?”
“–Regarding that, there was a proposal from the church. Himemiya and I, given our positions as investigators, have a very high probability of engaging an AW. Therefore, it has been suggested that it would be better for us to acquire the means to fight AWs at the church. We’ll be accepting this proposal, won’t we?”
said Kamikura.
“That’s right. Setting Kamikura aside, Himemiya is honestly no different from a baby to them. And she’s being targeted. She needs to acquire the means to fight. Well, it’s not like we have any special powers either, so we can’t talk big. Anyway, I think the danger will only increase going forward. The Alsard Church’s cooperation is very reassuring, but let’s all brace ourselves.”
And so, after deliciously eating the cake, we each returned to our posts.
September 16, 2026. 8:32 PM. Inner-City Metropolitan Expressway. Expressway Inner Circular Route (C1).
Kamikura and I took the car out and were driving on the night Metropolitan Expressway. While drinking iced coffee we bought on the way, I was looking at the passing night view from the passenger seat.
“…What did you want to talk about?”
“…Right. Where should I start…”
I dragged an unenthusiastic Kamikura out and am making him drive the night Metropolitan Expressway. Then again, Kamikura should also have various things he wants to ask me.
“You already know what I asked of Judgment, don’t you, Kamikura…”
Kamikura kept his grip on the steering wheel, looking straight ahead.
“–I saw it. What you did in the unit you belonged to…”
After a brief silence, Kamikura opened his mouth.
“I know that what I’ve done… is unforgivable. Someday, the time will come for me to atone for those sins…”
Kamikura is fighting… I don’t know yet, but there must be some reason why Kamikura transferred to that unit…
“I believe… there must have been your own reasons for that. I think–I understand you better than anyone else. So, I have absolutely no intention of blaming you.”
Silence visited us. After a while, following the navigation’s voice, we resumed our conversation.
“–No matter what happens, I will continue to support you by your side. Even if the whole world turns against you, I will continue walking with you.”
I had decided. I will dispel Kamikura’s darkness. Even if it takes decades, I will dispel it.
“Himemiya. I–”
At that moment, Kamikura suddenly started to suffer in pain.
“H-hey, what’s wrong! Kamikura!”
< Physical anomaly detected in the driver. Transitioning to autopilot. I repeat. Physical anomaly detected in the driver. Transitioning to autopilot. Initiating automatic notification to emergency contacts. I repeat– >
“Kamikura! Pull yourself together! Kamikura!”
< Connected to emergency contact. >
Kamikura is clutching his chest and groaning in pain. What on earth happened!? Could it be a mental attack by an AW!?
< Himemiya-san! It’s Hayama! What happened!? >
“Hayama! Kamikura is suffering! Please prepare for medical treatment at the base!”
< Understood! Come back immediately! I’m activating emergency mode remotely! Hold on tight! >
< Emergency mode activated. Speed limiter released. Nitrous Oxide System activated. Returning to base at maximum theoretical speed. Please secure your body firmly and prepare for impact. >
And so, the car drove down the expressway with explosive acceleration, rushing toward Ground Base…
September 17, 2026. 2:41 AM. UCIA Japan Branch Investigation Base, Ground Base. Office.
I couldn’t sleep… I was alone, doing accumulated miscellaneous tasks in the office…
After that, Kamikura was rushed to the medical room, but he seemed to have recovered his physical condition in about 30 minutes. According to Hayama’s examination, the cause was unknown, and he said there was a possibility that he might have suffered some kind of spiritual attack…
However, I feel that possibility is low.
If I were an AW, it is hard to imagine targeting only Kamikura in that situation. If I were to target someone, it would be both of us. If they could carry out highly advanced magical attacks in the real world like the ones I saw in the dream, they would attack the whole car, and it wouldn’t end with such a half-hearted attack… The car won’t stop just from him suffering a little. The enemy must also know that it would switch to autopilot.
I don’t understand… Various things.
I recall the words of Judgment.
“Asami Himemiya… What do you perceive as the source of magic? You have a bizarre power woven into you in dozens of layers… Truly fascinating. No wonder it is difficult even for me to see…”
What does this mean… Some kind of power is woven in… Are they targeting that power…
Difficult to see… Does this mean she had a hard time detecting my existence?
There is no doubt that my strong wish ultimately awakened and invited Judgment…
“Interesting, Wizard Killer! Where did you acquire that power?! Who is behind you!”
The words Judgment threw at Kamikura… That power refers to the ability mentioned later, to exercise psychokinesis without consuming spiritual or magical power. What concerns me the most is that she hinted at an entity behind Kamikura.
That entity bestowed the ability upon Kamikura… That is probably certain…
Special Operations Unit AAST Night Striker. The witch assassination unit Kamikura belonged to… The skeletonization incidents occurring worldwide… In the end, the culprit who killed Yuna Hamano still hasn’t been caught. There are people all over the world who revere magical power and wish for their desires to come true.
If anyone’s wish could come true… they would want to grant it.
Even I… ended up chanting a wish in the end…
Perhaps… it wouldn’t be strange if a unit equivalent to the home country’s Night Striker existed here in Japan as well… It wouldn’t be surprising at all if countless people were being sacrificed in secret.
“…Asami. I know well that you have been abused and scorned in this time. And that your precious heart, which loves justice and peace, has been hurt… Come with me. Let us correct this distorted, stagnant world together. To create a world where the truly weak are saved, and everyone can live in peace.”
It echoes… Judgment’s words… as if driving a stake into my heart…
“–Very well. I will retreat for this time… but you will definitely come to me. Asami Himemiya. I am looking forward to that time…”
That demonic smile I caught a glimpse of back then… Can that person see my future self…?
I gasp. What did I just say in my mind… No. Don’t be misled by Judgment’s words!
I stand up from my desk and head to the powder room.
The more I think about it, the more I feel like I’m falling into the depths. Thinking late at night is dangerous. I should take off my makeup and go to sleep…
I stand in front of the full-length mirror.
The moment I saw it, my body froze…
Inside the mirror, it was standing… Clad in a vestment like a pitch-black dress, it was staring at me with cold eyes…
The “me” in the mirror, with an expression as if she had realized everything, slowly reaches her hand out toward me…
My believed justice… that such naive values are meaningless…
…The “me” in the mirror tells me through her expression that I myself should know that best.
Purge the fools with overwhelming power and build a new, righteous world.
Power itself is absolute justice and order. And the one to execute it is none other than myself.
As the “me” in the mirror gave a faint smile as if to say that, my spine froze, unable to move…
An absolute terror toward myself dominated my everything…
“Nooooooooooooooo!!”