September 2, 2026. 11:38 AM. Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture. Holy Alsard Church. Underground Chapel.
I suddenly woke up…
I felt like I had been having a long dream… Only, for some reason, my body hurt terribly and felt heavy…
“Asami! Asami!”
I heard Chris’s voice… When I opened my eyes properly, it seemed I had been laid down on some kind of pedestal, covered with a white sheet. And around me were Chris, the Director, Hayama, as well as Asagiri-san and Kamijo. Asagiri-san and Kamijo were wearing the vestments of the church.
“Thank goodness… I’m so glad you woke up, Asami…”
Chris’s face was a mess with tears.
“Chris… what happened to me…”
At that moment, Asagiri-san slowly walked up to me.
“It seems you have returned safely… Your dream was invaded by the AW, and you were subjected to a Mind Attack. If everyone at UCIA hadn’t noticed your anomaly and contacted us immediately, you would have been swallowed by the darkness just like that…”
“A mind attack… That battle with Judgment… was an event inside a dream…?”
“The events you experienced in the dream can be said to be both a dream and reality. Therefore, in this case, it is better to accept it as reality… If you had only heeded my warning a little while longer, you would not have encountered such danger. Your weakness of heart–caused even Hojo-san and Kamikura-san to be put in danger.”
…Indeed, if I had heeded Asagiri-san’s warning for another 30 minutes…
“U-um! What about Kamikura and Hojo-san?”
“–Please rest assured. They woke up before you and are now healing their bodies, which were exhausted from the Mind Exorcism. They should fully recover in a few days.”
“Thank goodness…”
I finally sat up… My head is still not clear, but…
Asagiri-san’s words. Her tone is gentle, but… she must still be angry… My actions, ignoring her warning, nearly caused the two of them to die… I look into Asagiri-san’s somewhat cold eyes.
“I’m sorry… If I had just listened properly to your warning, this wouldn’t have…”
I try to offer a heartfelt apology, but the words fail me…
Overwhelmed by my own worthlessness… tears well up…
“Himemiya-san… It is true that your actions put the two of them in danger. If I hadn’t made it in time, you probably would have fallen into darkness, and those two couldn’t have been saved either. However, right now, all three of you were able to return to this side safely like this. First of all, let us rejoice in that.”
Asagiri-san smiled gently.
“Miss Himemiya… Goddess Alsard says, ‘We must forgive. And we must save.’ What you did to the Messiah was unforgivable, but the Messiah has forgiven you. Be grateful for her mercy, and do not forget it.”
Kamijo said quietly.
“One more thing. –I am sorry for before.”
Saying that, Kamijo quietly bowed her head.
(She means that time…)
“No… I am also reflecting on what I did to Asagiri-san. Please raise your head.”
Her expression was completely different from that time. She had a gentle face full of affection. She didn’t look at all like the same person who had slapped my face and then struck me with a backhand…
“Asagiri-sama, and Kamijo-sama, thank you very much for accepting our urgent request this time.”
The Director bowed deeply to the two of them. Hayama and Chris also bowed their heads to them.
“There is no need for thanks… We also gained a lot from this incident. We, too, are grateful to everyone at UCIA.”
Kamijo said.
“–Our duty as the Alsard Church is not solely to spread the teachings of Goddess Alsard. The world is now in extreme turmoil, and all the burden is shifting toward the weak… The weak are exploited and oppressed, and in such a distorted world, people’s hearts are on the verge of being swallowed by a great darkness… It is also our duty to cleanse the hearts of the people violated by darkness.”
“You mean… Exorcism?”
“–Yes. Worldwide, evil spirit incidents are occurring more frequently than before. Here in Japan, the spiritual magnetic field is quite disturbed… Honestly speaking, we at the Alsard Church view it as falling into a quite spiritually dangerous state.”
Kamijo spoke while looking at the Director.
“The fact that we could form a connection with everyone at UCIA through this incident must be the guidance of Goddess Alsard. We also feel that AWs are a threat. Therefore, we would like you to join hands with us from now on. Through this incident, it also became clear that there is someone with immense power behind them. At this rate–Miss Himemiya will surely be embroiled in danger again. We have the means and the power to fight AWs. We should be able to help you.”
“–That is certainly reassuring. But first, without permission from our home country, right now we–”
Just as the Director was about to say that, someone came from the back.
“Permission from the Pentagon has already been issued. Director Hardy. Just now, a joint investigation against AWs among the National Police Agency, the Alsard Church, and UCIA has been confirmed. It is limited to within Japan, but let us build a cooperative framework together going forward.”
The one who came from the back was Tetsuya. On his left and right were Kujo and Mizuhara.
“Section Chief Totoki. You move fast, as expected. It helps us a lot.”
Said the Director.
“There is no need for thanks. But I was truly worried about this incident. I was doubly worried about Asami’s safety.”
Then Tetsuya slowly walked toward us.
“I’m glad you’re safe, Asami. It will still take a while until you fully recover. I’ve also asked the church to protect you for the time being. You should focus on recuperating for a while. I will come visit you every day. If there is anything you need, tell me anything.”
He’s too close. I’m happy about the offer, but acting like a boyfriend is too embarrassing. I wish he’d spare me. Hmm? Protection?
Asagiri-san opened her mouth.
“–Himemiya-san. You are completely targeted by that AW. Right now, you haven’t recovered yet, and we don’t know what the enemy will do. Therefore, the Alsard Church will protect you for the time being. We will also assign AMGE to guard you as much as possible.”
“What is AMGE…?”
“Alsard Messiah Guardian Exorcist. We take the initials and call them AMGE. You could say they are High Exorcists under my direct command. Hojo-san is the youngest among the current AMGE. The remaining four are all girls from the academy.”
The schoolgirls going in and out of the church late at night. I see. So this was the reason… Wait, there were supposed to be six of them in total, weren’t there…?
“–For now anyway, please rest well. In a little while, we will take you to a warm bed.”
And so, I fell asleep for a little while longer…
September 16, 2026. 8:32 AM. UCIA Japan Branch Investigation Base, Ground Base. Operation Room.
About two weeks had passed since then. My physical condition has completely recovered by now, though my body is a bit out of shape. I had recovered enough to move around to some extent by the next day, but the church was probably extremely wary of Judgment.
During my protection at the church, Hojo-san visited me frequently from the next day on. Tetsuya also made sure to show up in the evening, bringing souvenirs I hadn’t even asked for. The one who ate them most often was Hojo-san, though…
“Totoki-san. He is a very kind person, isn’t he?”
She said that as if sensing something. I think she has very good intuition.
Returning to Ground Base in a car from the church, I headed to the operation room. First of all, I must apologize to everyone from the bottom of my heart. Perhaps due to the impact of this incident, my suspension of investigator privileges was revoked today, and I was reinstated as an investigator.
“Good morning.”
Inside the operation room, everyone except the Director was sitting at the table.
“Welcome back, Asami! You’re finally back!”
Chris jumps at me. She looks very happy. I probably caused her the most worry.
“Welcome back, Himemiya-san. I’m glad you were safe during your protection. After what happened, everyone was worried about you.”
Hayama says with a worried look. I feel truly sorry towards everyone.
“Everyone, I’m sorry for causing you so much worry…”
Kamikura is quietly drinking coffee, looking down. Come to think of it, he hasn’t said a single word since returning to reality. Even while I was recuperating at the church, he never came to visit me once…
At that moment, the Director came in late.
“Good morning, everyone. Himemiya, is your condition alright now?”
The Director looks at my face with concern.
“Yes. I’m fine now. I apologize for causing you concern.”
“I see. Then it’s fine if I don’t hold back.”
(!?)
The moment she said that, the Director slapped my face with all her might. And then followed up with a backhand strike.
Instantly, silence runs through the room… Along with the pain in my cheek, I almost fell over instinctively, but managed to endure it.
“Himemiya… Do you know the reason–why I raised my hand against you?”
“………”
I can somewhat imagine… But I can’t spin the words out properly…
“The pain you are feeling right now is… the pain in our hearts from not being trusted by you. Why didn’t you tell us about the ring? Why didn’t you trust us…?”
“………I am very sorry.”
Pathetic… Those are the only words that come out…
“–The first one to notice that you were acting strange was Kamikura. After that, we all paid close attention so that you wouldn’t realize it.”
Chris opens her mouth.
“Your conversation with Asagiri-san at the rotary. I’m sorry, Asami, but we used VARIS to analyze the movements of your mouths from the security camera footage, and figured out what you were talking about. Since then, we waited for you to tell us. We were planning to ask you about it afterwards if you didn’t make your wish, so…”
Hayama follows Chris.
“…Everyone was truly worried. I’m sorry, but Chris was monitoring your room. The moment you collapsed onto the bed, I went to your room, but there was no response. That’s why we put you in a car we had arranged beforehand and rushed to the church.”
“Arranged… beforehand?”
“–How many years do you think I’ve been with you? It was obvious at a glance that you were acting strange. Ever since we went to Asagiri’s shop. After confirming your conversation with Asagiri, I contacted the church independently. Whenever you take action, it’s always right at the time limit. The fact that the church could immediately begin the exorcism was because of that groundwork.”
Kamikura said that.
“–Himemiya. There are three points you must reflect on. First, you did not trust our team and didn’t tell us a single thing about this grave situation. Second, you ran off on a selfish standalone play, causing everyone worry and exposing Kamikura and Hojo to mortal danger. If this were a battlefield, the unit would have been wiped out instantly, but as a result of your comrades covering for you to the utmost, your lives were saved purely by luck. Honestly, you could call it a miracle.”
The Director is right… As a result, I didn’t trust my comrades, and to make matters worse, I exposed Kamikura and Hojo-san to mortal danger… I made a mistake that would easily disqualify me as an investigator… I am prepared to accept any punishment…
“Finally, the third point. –Do you have any idea what it is?”
“No… I don’t know…”
The Director took a breath and said.
“–Have you already forgotten what I told you? You must take better care of your cute face.”
(Eh…?)
Sudden words. For an instant, my mind goes completely blank.
And then the Director pulls me into a gentle embrace.
“–You did well, enduring it all alone. You must have been truly terrified. I’m glad you came back. I am sincerely happy about your return, Himemiya.”
The Director’s gentle voice. With that embrace, the emotions I had been holding back somewhere in my heart overflow.
“I… I………”
Tears overflow… I can’t even speak…
I am an idiot… Even though there were so many comrades who worried about me this much…
To think I couldn’t consult with anyone… What a gross misunderstanding on my part…
“Asami. We’re all in this together. Don’t carry it all by yourself anymore…”
Before I knew it, Chris had also been drawn in and started crying.
“You can cry when you want to cry. Just honestly cry on my chest. Also, make sure you guard against slaps. Even the backhand I delayed slightly landed perfectly… A woman’s face is her greatest weapon. Take good care of it.”
And so, in the warmth of the Director’s chest, I wailed for a while…