Safe House
September 25, 2026. Friday. 21:40.
Somewhere in Azabu, Minato Ward, Tokyo.
After returning to the base with Chris, I met up with Tetsuya in Roppongi, and we had dinner together. After that, we headed to Tetsuya’s safe house in Azabu.
A regular exchange of information. There is no place safer than Tetsuya’s safe house. According to him, they are scattered all over Japan, which probably isn’t a lie.
”I have a variety of Western liquors. What would you like to drink?”
Tetsuya was choosing a liquor at the counter, but unfortunately, I wasn’t in the mood for a drink.
”I’m fine with iced coffee. I’d be happy if you had some sweet snacks, though.”
”Understood. Wait a moment.”
The room was lit by pale orange indirect lighting just like before, and classical music was playing at a low volume. Tetsuya seems to be particular about his audio equipment; even at a low volume, the sound is somewhat sensual. Most women would probably fall for him if they were wooed in a place like this.
That being said, it seems Tetsuya hasn’t had a girlfriend since our university days up until today.
”Sorry to keep you waiting. No alcohol today, then. It’s iced coffee from a department store basement, but how does it taste? Sorry if it’s bad.”
Tetsuya said with a laugh.
”You say that, but it’s actually quite expensive, isn’t it? I’ve never seen you buy anything cheap.”
Since university, Tetsuya has been particular about what he eats and his fashion. His food consists of natural products with as few additives as possible. When cooking, he is particular about the ingredients, and I think he normally bought them even if they were relatively pricey. As for clothes, he preferred chic but high-quality items. He mostly wore beige or white, which was quite a contrast to Kamikura, who preferred black.
”How is it? Does it suit your taste, Asami?”
”Yeah. It’s a bit acidic, but it has a refined taste. I think it’s delicious.”
”I see. I’ll look for something else next time.”
Tetsuya was always like this. If there was even a slight thing that bothered me, he would look for something else or another place. But I don’t feel like constantly praising everything just to be considerate. I feel a bit sorry, though…
”Well, shall we talk now? About the scene I saw…”
Tetsuya’s expression turned serious.
”I saw two military helicopters flying through a pitch-black night sky over some mountainous forest area. The Special Operations Unit AAST Night Striker. The helicopter captain said this over the intercom. Their objective was likely the annihilation of witches. They mercilessly opened fire and massacred the women and girls gathered in the basement of an abandoned village church…”
Recalling that scene still sends a chill down my spine.
”That’s a unit name I’ve never heard of. The Self-Defense Forces conduct many joint training exercises with the US military, but…”
”I believe AAST stands for Anti Asphaltic wizard Special Team. Meaning, an anti-AW special team. Since Kamikura was in command, it must be a special forces unit belonging somewhere within the US military. It might be an organization directly under the Department of Defense, just like the UCIA.”
”I see. So his belonging to that organization is the reason why Kamikura changed…”
”It seems he had a partner named Donovan. Kamikura was the leader of the First Squad, Alpha Team. That man was the leader of the Second Squad, Beta Team, but Kamikura was the one commanding. Kamikura chased after a mysterious light that suddenly appeared in the sky, dashing out of the operation area alone. And then――”
I took a breath and said.
”It might be hard to believe, but the women who were supposed to have been shot dead rose like zombies and attacked. The First Squad waiting outside was also surrounded by living corpses emerging from the abandoned houses, and the scene fell into utter chaos. Then, a mysterious, massive explosion occurred…”
”…What happened to Kamikura after that?”
”All I could see was the site turned into rubble afterwards. Since both helicopters were reduced to wreckage, I think the unit was completely wiped out. However, because Kamikura was outside the operation area, I believe he somehow survived.”
To be honest, since it was such a tremendous explosion, I thought there wouldn’t be a single survivor… I want to thank God that Kamikura survived that blast.
”Was there anything like a landmark in the scene you saw, Asami?”
”The surrounding area was a mountainous forest… But for a place with an explosion of that magnitude, we might be able to find the location if we comb through satellite imagery. If we can go to the site, my true intention is to go and investigate.”
Though it was turned into a mountain of rubble by the explosion, there are many things you can only understand by visiting the site. What were the numerous murdered women trying to do in the basement of the church? It was probably a ritual to awaken an AW, but what I want to know the most is why Kamikura left the scene. I want to know the reason.
”By the way, have you told anyone else about this?”
”No, you’re the only one I’ve told, Tetsuya. The Night Striker unit Kamikura belonged to is a top-secret matter back in the States. The Chief and the others likely know about it, but I can’t speak of it within the UCIA.”
Unfortunately, what did I wish for? No one has asked me that. But everyone in the UCIA must have realized the answer. And I believe they are all sensing it and deliberately not asking anything.
”I see. I’ll look into the Night Striker unit on my end as well. I have various connections in many fields. I might be able to find out something.”
”Thank you. That’s reassuring. As expected of the son of a famous politician and a Kirimine Heavy Industries executive.”
Then, I realized my slip of the tongue――.
”――Ah, don’t worry about it. It’s the truth, and the fact that it creates huge connections is also true. I think they are splendid parents. However, my younger brother and I are disgusted with the world of politics. Sadly, there are many harmful elderly politicians in this country. Young politicians who care about the country are struggling, but the reality is that they are fighting desperately amidst various entanglements.”
Tetsuya is apprehensive about the domestic situation. It’s the same in Japan, as well as back in the States and Europe. Various problems are occurring, and effective measures cannot be taken. Communist blocs like China and Russia are also controlled by dangerous dictators. If something happens in the future, there is a fear it could develop into an irreversible situation. The possibility of a Taiwan contingency has been suggested for a few years now, but this year it might truly be dangerous.
”――Tetsuya, you had a younger brother? That’s the first time I’m hearing this.”
”Yeah. Unlike me, he’s a gentle guy. Since he was a child, he pursued the path of Buddhism. Now he is serving as a Shinto priest at Ise Grand Shrine. Come to think of it, your family home is a shrine in Shizuoka, isn’t it, Himemiya? This might be some kind of fate too.”
Tetsuya said with a slight laugh.
”Come to think of it, there was something I wanted to ask you.”
”…About Ritsuko Kamijo?”
Tetsuya guessed my question while drinking his iced coffee.
”Kamijo is the executive secretary to the president of Kirimine Heavy Industries. However, at the same time, she is one of the Holy Priests of the Japan Alsard Church. This hasn’t been announced to the public. The one governing the Alsard Church is the High Priestess. Kamijo’s rank as a Holy Priest is second in command, but according to the information obtained, the one actually managing the Japan Alsard Church is Kamijo, and the High Priestess never appears on the public stage. The one acting in a public relations role is the other Holy Priest, Shizue Sato. Led by these two, the Japan Alsard Church is operated by several subordinate priests.”
”I see. Could it be that the Alsard Church and Kirimine Heavy Industries have a deep connection――some kind of profit-inducing scheme? Kamijo is the executive secretary at the Kirimine Heavy Industries headquarters. Considering she has the authority to manipulate church-related companies…”
”I considered that angle too. But Kirimine and the Alsard Church-affiliated companies haven’t done anything illegal. They are generating revenue in a very clean manner. Many of the Alsard Church-affiliated companies are media businesses. Anime, movies, games, books, etc. If they hit it big, they bring in enormous wealth far exceeding the initial capital. There are also many other businesses that cannot be replaced by AI. Recently, they have been expanding into health foods and beauty supplements. On the other hand, Kirimine has heavily expanded into military-related fields using its advanced technology over the past few years, growing its business performance. And to wipe away that dirty image, Kirimine sponsors the church’s charitable projects and such, thereby promoting a clean image.”
”The fact that the church actively saves the weak might also be to find people with some kind of talent among them and actively place them in affiliated companies. It’s a church with various rumors, but the fact that nothing particularly dark can be found makes it all the more suspicious, or rather…”
Saving the weak. In that sense, the Alsard Churches around the world are contributing more than their respective national governments. On weekends, they offer free soup kitchens and distribute simple meals. They find jobs for those in financial need. They offer counseling for mental troubles and anxieties. Introductions to lawyers, and a wide variety of other services. It seems they’ve recently started providing residential facilities for those entering the priesthood.
”――Well, from your position as an investigator, Himemiya, it might be inevitable for you to be suspicious. I am, for what it’s worth, a man of the police. But I hold a favorable stance towards the Alsard Church. I speak with Kamijo often lately, and the people of the church are all polite and affable. They are actually saving many weak people. Without the church, the state of this country would have been even worse. That’s easy to imagine.”
Indeed, what Tetsuya is saying makes sense. It is said that the number of people seeking help from the church without relying on government support is increasing. That the number of those entering the priesthood is growing globally was already grasped by the NSB (National Security Branch) during my FBI days. Their influence is growing little by little, yet steadily.
What I fear is that power which swells day by day… Is there some ulterior motive behind it? Just as Kamikura and Hayama said, I also feel something fishy about it. That was a fact.
”Come to think of it, are you close with Hojo of ”AMGE”? She seemed to be attending to you affectionately.”
Alsard Messiah Guardian Exorcist. Commonly known as ”AMGE”. High Exorcists directly under the Messiah.
They are exorcists who solve spiritual incidents that are frequently occurring behind the scenes of society.
’So to speak, they are the High Exorcists directly under me. Hojo is the youngest among the current AMGE. The other four are all girls from the Girls’ Academy.’
I recall Asagiri’s words.
”Hojo is very kind, perhaps we have good psychological compatibility. Come to think of it, Asagiri said the remaining four were all girls from the Girls’ Academy. But there were six people coming in and out of the church, right? Does that mean――”
”Yeah. It seems Yuika Kirimine from the High School division is not officially part of AMGE. Apparently, she wasn’t selected because she has a fatal flaw in her spiritual abilities, but she seems to possess an outstanding talent in physical ability and church swordsmanship. As a guard for Hojo, whose physical ability is low, she accompanies her during normal exorcisms. I hear she can strongly hold her own against spiritual entities materialized by Hojo’s divine protection.”
”I think I was shown a picture before, and they really looked like a close pair.”
”This one?”
Tetsuya shows me an image displayed on his tablet. There are several photos of them walking along the school route. There’s a picture of them walking hand in hand, but it seems Kirimine is taking the lead, making for a heartwarming sight. There’s also a photo where Kirimine has casually linked arms with Hojo.
However, Hojo looks slightly bewildered.
”――It’s nice. Their smiles are dazzling.”
Student days. To be honest, I feel like I don’t have many good memories from middle and high school… I was agonizing over my career path, and my studies kept me busy. I honestly think I was lucky to get into Harvard. Though, the studies were much harder after getting in…
”Speaking of Asagiri. She’s called the Messiah of the church, but is there an origin to that?”
”――There are many mysterious aspects. Her tremendous spiritual power might be the reason after all. Since she was little, her abilities were apparently outstanding, like a child sent from God. Kamijo cherishes Asagiri very much. You taking a slap to the face was probably because Asagiri is that precious to her. Though it was quite a disaster for you, Asami.”
”The Chief told me, ’Taking a slap without resisting shows what a soft touch you are, Himemiya. You should take better care of your pretty face.’”
”That’s very true.”
We smile at each other. The Chief is strict, but a very warm person. She is my boss, but UCIA is officially a military organization. It might be more correct to call her my commanding officer.
”By the way, do you know a passage from the Book of Genesis, the sacred scripture of the Alsard Church?”
Tetsuya moistened his throat with iced coffee and began to speak.
”――This world was created by the Goddess of Light, Alsard, and her subordinate Four Goddesses who govern nature. The Goddess of Fire, Blaesils; the Goddess of Water, Astneia; the Goddess of Earth, Gardmagna; and the Goddess of Wind, Urshaine. The Goddess of Light traversed this planet with the Four Goddesses, and rich nature and life dwelt there.”
I just listened to Tetsuya’s storytelling.
”――The humans on the ground eventually increased in number and prospered. But the arrogant humans forgot their faith in the gods, and the saddened Goddesses ceased to bestow their divine protection. As a result, the light turned into heat rays, the earth shook violently, the water swallowed everything, and the wind turned into raging tornadoes. And it seemed as if humans had vanished from the earth.”
Tetsuya took a breath and continued speaking.
”――At that time, a single young girl alighted upon the ground. ’Please forgive the sins of the world,’ the girl prayed, looking up to the heavens amidst the pouring rain of fire. The great power and light emitted from that girl completely negated the pouring fire and tornadoes. And when her prayer reached the heavens, the Goddess who descended told the girl: ’We must change. We must forgive. We must save.’ It is said that when this was accomplished, along with a new divine protection, a new kingdom was built.”
Tetsuya finished his iced coffee.
”That girl is referred to as the Messiah within the church. Sorry. Was that a bit long?”
Although Tetsuya said that looking slightly apologetic, judging by his way of speaking, it seems he has drilled the contents of the Alsard Church’s scripture into his head. To be honest, I still don’t understand the Alsard Church very well. I do think Hojo and Asagiri are very kind people. If the teachings of Alsard are genuine, there would be nothing strange about believing in them.
”Regarding the Alsard Church, I might have to interact more and learn about them. During my FBI days, there was a part of me that was always suspicious, thinking there must be something going on. Though――my standpoint hasn’t changed that much even now.”
”That can’t be helped. Initially, I had a similar view as you, Asami, but by interacting with various church officials starting with Kamijo, there were parts where I changed my mind in many ways.”
”――In this information society, it’s easy to fall into the mindset of thinking you understand everything just from assorted information. Prejudice, discrimination, and people’s likes and dislikes too. But there are many things you only understand by actually talking and interacting, and I think the meaning of actually feeling and experiencing things with your five senses is significant.”
”Then, shall we go to a church mass together next time? Hojo would probably be pleased too. She’s in the position of an Assistant Priest at that age, but I hear she will be given the official rank of Priest once she advances to the Girls’ Academy. It seems she often leads the Sunday morning mass.”
After that, I continued talking with Tetsuya for a while, and before we knew it, the hands of the clock had passed 1:00 AM. By the time we arrived at Ground Base in Tetsuya’s car, it was past 2:00 in the morning.