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The Red Ring and the Dream Witch

In pursuit of her missing partner, Kamikura, former FBI agent Asami Himemiya transfers to the mysterious UCIA Japan Branch. There, she faces a gruesome string of skeletalization cases entangled with the urban legend ”Yume-mi-sama”. As Asami delves deeper into the investigation, a dark red ring suddenly materializes on her right hand… This is the first chapter chronicling the outbreak of supernatural events that overturn the world’s common sense.

Full-length novel

PROLOGUE

The Lost Messiah

The mysterious investigative agency UCIA, Public Security Section 7, and the Alsard Church. The three factions forge a joint front to combat the overwhelmingly powerful ”Asphaltic Wizards (AW)”. High-ranking AWs crowned with the names of ”Death” and ”Moon” emerge one after another. As an unprecedented threat looms, ”Operation Lightbringer”, a daring assault on the enemy’s headquarters, is set into motion. This is the second chapter portraying the intersection of justice and a harsh, relentless war.

Full-length Novel

Translation in progress. We look forward to your messages of support!

The Maidens of Alsard

The globally expanding new religion, the Alsard Church. But behind its facade, the chosen maidens of ”AMGE” risk their lives to purge the ”Dark Force”. The sixth rank, Ayuka Hojo, plunges into the harsh duties of an exorcist alongside her best friend Yuika, who lacks spiritual power. A journey to Nagano, intended as a brief rest for the scarred maidens, descends into a despairing encounter. This is another story of light and shadow that intertwines with the main saga.

Mid-length novel

Translation in progress. We look forward to your messages of support!

【Asami Himemiya】

■ Affiliation / Rank: UCIA Japan Branch / Special Agent (Second Lieutenant)

■ Profile
The main protagonist of this story.Born in the United States, this Japanese-American spent her youth in Shizuoka, Japan, raised by her grandmother, a Shinto priest.After earning her degree from Harvard University, she built her career through the NYPD before becoming an FBI agent.However, her childhood friend and sworn partner, Hisamune Kamikura, suddenly vanished from the FBI without a trace.Following days devoid of color, she chased his shadow, leading to her　reassignment to the enigmatic ”UCIA Japan Branch”.

■ Abilities & Persona
Endowed with an exceptional ”Intuition” for perceiving danger, she saved Hisamune’s life numerous times during their FBI tenure.Her delicate and beautiful features seemingly contrast with the harsh realities of criminal investigation.Though genuinely kind and deeply empathetic, the horrific scenes of the simultaneous terrorist attacks she witnessed as a child remain seared into her eyes.This fuels her unshakable conviction to maintain peace, holding onto the belief that ”No ideal can ever justify the sacrifice of innocent lives.”

【Hisamune Kamikura】

■ Affiliation / Rank: UCIA Japan Branch / Special Agent (Second Lieutenant)

■ Profile
The childhood friend of the protagonist, Asami Himemiya.An excellent agent who graduated from Harvard University with her and formed a buddy team in the FBI.However, one day he suddenly disappeared from the FBI, and after a blank period of about a year and a half, he was assigned to the UCIA Japan Branch.He is an old friend of Tetsuya Totoki from Public Security Section 7 since their university days, but is currently keeping his distance for a certain reason.

■ Abilities & Persona
An elite raised on Kendo and Judo since his youth, his marksmanship and combat instincts are top-tier even among UCIA operatives. Furthermore, he wields a potent ”Psychokinesis” capable of physical manipulation without expending spiritual energy or other resources.Having engaged in numerous battles against ”Asphaltic Wizards (AW)”, he is feared in certain circles as the ”Wizard Killer”.While he maintains an aloof and cold exterior, he possesses a deeply caring nature, secretly guarding Asami and worrying for her safety more than anyone else.

【Hardy Evans】

■ Affiliation / Rank: UCIA Japan Branch / Director

■ Profile
The stylish, blonde director presiding over the UCIA Japan Branch. While she often adopts a highly rigorous attitude toward her subordinates, she is a dependable commanding officer who harbors genuine warmth and deep affection for her team beneath her strict exterior.

■ Abilities & Persona
She is a composed commander leading her forces, as well as a master who boasts overwhelming strength in close-quarters combat. She specializes in dual-wielding daggers during engagements, and once the battle commences, she unleashes her hidden ”battle-crazed” persona. Deeply caring for Chris, the communications specialist, and the newly assigned Asami, she continuously guides and protects them through grueling training.

【Christiana Harris (Chris)】

■ Affiliation / Role: UCIA Japan Branch / Communications and Analysis Specialist

■ Profile
A genius hacker who solely oversees the information communications and data analysis for the UCIA Japan Branch.She hails from an elite lineage as the daughter of the current US Navy Admiral, Lloyd Harris.Amidst the grueling operations at UCIA, she is adored by the team as a cheerful and innocent little sister, affectionately referring to the protagonist Asami as ”Onee-chan”.

■ Abilities & Persona
Tasked with the operational management of the autonomous AI ”VARIS”, which governs everything from base defense to information control, she holds a profound love for the system.
In cyber warfare, she boasts unrivaled, overwhelming hacking and data processing capabilities.
At the same time, her affection for technology and machinery runs extraordinarily deep; she possesses a pure and fragile heart that strongly detests systems being used for malicious purposes to harm others.

【Toshiro Hayama (Toshiro George Hayama)】

■ Affiliation / Role: UCIA Japan Branch / Medical Officer and Supply & Equipment Manager

■ Profile
A Japanese-American operative serving as the military physician for the UCIA Japan Branch. Around 30 years old, he is a refreshing, handsome young man with glasses and distinctively long, deep brown hair. Beyond his medical duties, he solely manages the procurement, maintenance, and calibration of the latest weaponry and supplies sent from headquarters. He possesses an exceptionally friendly demeanor, casually telling even new acquaintances, ”You can just call me Toshi.”

■ Abilities & Persona
Never losing his gentle smile, he acts as the team’s mood maker, offering a sense of calm amidst the grueling missions of the UCIA. He has a slightly flirtatious side, frequently breaking the tension with jokes and muttering, ”I wonder when my golden age of popularity will arrive.” Yet, beneath this exterior lies a highly capable medical professional. Armed with extensive medical expertise and the ability to provide cutting-edge gear (such as custom rifles with special attachments), he provides unwavering rear-guard support to frontline agents like Asami and Hisamune.

【Stephen Turner】

■ Affiliation / Role: UCIA Japan Branch / Exclusive Cook

■ Profile
The exclusive Black cook who single-handedly sustains the appetites of the UCIA Japan Branch. He boasts a formidable, heavily muscled physique that makes his pristine white apron seem somewhat incongruous. Blessed with a highly sociable and cheerful disposition, he greets the newly transferred Asami with a warm and friendly welcome from their very first encounter.

■ Abilities & Persona
A master of the culinary arts, he confidently claims, ”From casual breakfasts to exquisite dinners that would leave government dignitaries speechless, I can handle anything.” Whether it’s steaks and yakiniku sets featuring premium Black Wagyu beef or his exquisite signature desserts, he provides exceptionally delicious and nutritious meals to the UCIA team enduring grueling missions and training, offering them robust physical and mental support. Though his brawny stature suggests he is far more than a mere cook, he remains a dependable figure with an ever-present smile.

【Tetsuya Totoki】

■ Affiliation / Role: Public Security Section 7 / Division Chief (Superintendent)

■ Profile
The young leader heading ”Public Security Section 7,” a specialized investigative organization newly established by the Japanese government for anti-AW (Asphaltic Wizard) operations. An old friend of the protagonist Asami and Hisamune from their Harvard University days, where they majored in psychology together. He is a super-elite bureaucrat who achieved an exceptionally fast promotion to Superintendent at the young age of 28. He comes from a privileged family; his father is a prominent politician, and his mother is an executive at the global corporation Kirimine Heavy Industries. However, he himself despises the corrupt political world and appears to be making various moves utilizing his unique connections.

■ Abilities & Persona
He is highly particular about food and fashion, preferring natural foods with minimal additives and even cooking for himself. He favors chic, high-quality clothing, often wearing white or beige outfits in contrast to Hisamune, who prefers black. With flawless specs—handsome, brilliant, and immensely wealthy—he is an ideal figure admired by women, yet he has not had a specific girlfriend from his university days to the present. He is a reliable ally who gently cares for Asami upon their reunion in Japan and shows a cooperative attitude toward UCIA’s investigations. On the other hand, a hostile atmosphere currently flows between him and his former best friend Hisamune, as they constantly keep each other in check.

【Reiko Shisei】

■ Affiliation / Role: Public Security Section 7 / Inspector

■ Profile
A female investigator newly appointed to Public Security Section 7 by Totoki. Formerly, she was affiliated with ”Public Security Section 6,” a division exclusively handling supernatural incidents. Her straight black hair flows down to her chest, obscuring one eye, and a persistent, eerie smile graces her lips. Struggling with interpersonal communication, she speaks in a faint, low voice, radiating an unsettling aura highly uncharacteristic of a police officer.

■ Abilities & Persona
Endowed with exceptionally high spiritual intuition and clairvoyance from birth, she can precisely extract diverse information from the residual magical energy left at crime scenes. A specific incident in her past triggered the awakening of highly dangerous abilities, leading to her being placed under strict surveillance. Yet, Totoki specially recruited her as a trump card against AWs (Asphaltic Wizards)—making her a highly volatile ”double-edged sword.” Radiating a murderous aura and adopting a provocative stance toward Asami and the UCIA team right from their initial encounter, she remains a deeply mysterious and hazardous individual whose true loyalties are unfathomable.

【Toshimichi Kujo】

■ Affiliation / Role: Public Security Section 7 / Investigator( Inspector)

■ Profile
A male investigator affiliated with ”Public Security Section 7” commanded by Totoki. He frequently operates as a pair with Nami Mizuhara from the same division. Standing nearly as tall as Hisamune, he is a striking figure with slicked-back black hair, impeccably dressed in a black suit.

■ Abilities & Persona
Speaking in a slow, tranquil tone, his expressions are entirely devoid of malice. He is a master of interpersonal skills, capable of naturally slipping past a target’s defenses without arousing the slightest suspicion. While he initially appears to be a harmless, amiable young man, he is actually a first-rate public security investigator who coolly carries out perilous assignments, including highly classified undercover operations, securing the absolute trust of Division Chief Totoki. As one of the elites in the newly formed Section 7, he is poised to play a crucial role in the joint operations with UCIA.

【Nami Mizuhara】

■ Affiliation / Role: Public Security Section 7 / Investigator (Police Officer)

■ Profile
A female investigator affiliated with ”Public Security Section 7” commanded by Totoki. She frequently operates as a pair with Toshimichi Kujo from the same division. In sharp contrast to Reiko Shisei, who opts for a tight skirt, she favors an active and practical pantsuit.

■ Abilities & Persona
She conceals such immense potential that even the St. Alsard Church faction acknowledges her ”spiritual aptitude.” She is a formidable operative, radiating an extraordinary presence that Asami instinctively sensed after just a few encounters, proving she holds undeniable ”abilities” worthy of being handpicked by Totoki. Prior to the large-scale assault operation, she fiercely assured Asami, ”We in Public Security will protect your safety to the absolute limit,” demonstrating an exceedingly reliable and sincere demeanor.

【Mayu Asagiri】

■ Affiliation / Role: St. Alsard Church / Holy Priestess (Messiah)

■ Profile
The symbolic figurehead of the St. Alsard Church, a new religious order devoted to the ”Goddess of Light, Alsard”, revered by its followers as the ”Messiah”. She carries a tragic past, having lost her parents in a childhood traffic accident that also left her suffering from severe amnesia. Working part-time as a clerk at the antique shop ”Princess Maker” in Shinagawa about twice a week, she heals her heart, which is crushed by the heavy burdens of the church, by experiencing life as an ”ordinary woman”.

■ Abilities & Persona
Despite her exalted status as a Holy Priestess, she is a deeply compassionate woman who treats everyone with equal warmth. Possessing a pure, enigmatic charm that captivates even women, she is profoundly loved and adored by the maidens of the elite exorcist unit (AMGE), who serve as her devoted disciples. Though she appears as a frail and delicate woman, she harbors an overwhelming spiritual power that earns her the title ”Child of God”. When spiritual combat ensues, she wields a radiant silver ”Sacred Staff” to cast immense light magic, demonstrating an extraordinary level of power capable of repelling even formidable high-ranking AWs.

【Ayuka Hojo】

■ Affiliation / Role: St. Alsard Church / AMGE No. 6 / Assistant Priest

■ Profile
The youngest operative within AMGE and a third-year student at St. Alsard Girls’ High School. Within the school, she also holds the position of chess club president. She bears a tragic past, having lost her parents during her elementary school years, which led to her and her only younger sister, Mayumi, being placed under the church’s protection. Today, she dedicates herself to grueling exorcism missions to provide for her sister and grant salvation to the vulnerable. She shares a profoundly deep bond, transcending mere friendship, with her classmate and devoted bodyguard, Yuika Kirimine.

■ Abilities & Persona
Commanding the most overwhelming spiritual aptitude in her unit, she specializes in erecting impenetrable defensive barriers and unleashing devastating long-range magic attacks using a sacred bow of light manifested from her azure cross. Conversely, she is entirely unsuited for close-quarters combat; the mere thought of wielding a weapon induces severe tremors and palpitations. Consequently, during engagements, she consistently operates from the rearguard, offering tactical support and offensive strikes while shielded by Yuika on the frontline. Radiating a gentle and serene aura, she is a compassionate girl akin to a holy sister who extends kindness to all. She interacts amicably with Asami of the UCIA, demonstrating her pure, unwavering faith by offering a purification spell (prayer) upon their initial encounter.

【Yuika Kirimine】

■ Affiliation / Role: St. Alsard Church / AMGE Assistant

■ Profile
The sole daughter of the President of the global enterprise Kirimine Heavy Industries, and an elegant young lady enrolled in St. Alsard Girls’ High School. She is the classmate and absolute best friend of Ayuka Hojo, AMGE No. 6. A slender beauty graced with long, bright chestnut hair, she is an overachiever in both academics and athletics. Though she is a flawless maiden who commands overwhelming popularity among the younger students, her deep adoration for Ayuka keeps her constantly by her side on campus.

■ Abilities & Persona
Uniquely among the chosen maidens, she suffers from a fatal lack of ”spiritual power”. Consequently, she was not selected as an official operative of AMGE. However, she boasts extraordinary physical prowess and exceptional talent in ”Alsard Church Swordplay” (Longsword Class A+). Serving as the absolute shield (vanguard) for Ayuka, who is incapable of close-quarters combat, she dives headfirst into harrowing exorcism missions alongside her. Empowered by Ayuka’s spiritual blessings, she unleashes enough martial brilliance to flawlessly score a strike even against the formidable UCIA agent, Kamikura. She is a straightforward, fiercely devoted girl who purely seeks to perfect her swordsmanship to protect her beloved Ayuka with her own two hands.

【Chisato Kurokawa / Chizuru Kurokawa】

■ Affiliation / Role: St. Alsard Church / AMGE No. 4 (Chisato) & No. 5 (Chizuru)

■ Profile
Twin sisters in their third year at St. Alsard Girls’ Academy, holding the prestigious ranks of AMGE No. 4 and No. 5. Distinguished by their beautiful short black hair, they share an exceptionally close bond and invariably operate as a pair. Graced with gentle and serene personalities toward all, they serve as dependable older sister figures, often mediating and offering thoughtful support to smooth over clashes among the highly individualistic AMGE members.

■ Abilities & Persona
In engagements, they specialize in masterful, perfectly synchronized combination strikes that only twins could execute. The elder sister, Chisato, dominates in close-quarters combat utilizing the sheer speed of dual-wielding daggers, whereas the younger sister, Chizuru, is an expert in deploying ”Magic Traps”. Despite their normally elegant and modest demeanor, they harbor a surprising fondness for alcohol, particularly local Japanese sake. When intoxicated, Chisato becomes a playful drunk who teases her peers, revealing an endearing gap completely at odds with her usual poised self.

【Ayana Matsuyuki】

■ Affiliation / Role: St. Alsard Church / AMGE No. 3

■ Profile
An exceptional exorcist serving as AMGE No. 3, despite being in her first year at St. Alsard Girls’ Academy. Distinguished by her loose, wavy long hair and refined red locks, she radiates a noble aura characteristic of a true highborn lady. A devoted epicure, she favors premium French black tea, exquisite pastries, and first-rate cuisine, maintaining elegant standards in every facet of her daily life.

■ Abilities & Persona
She boasts top-tier prowess within AMGE in the integration of swordsmanship and spiritual power. She specializes in ”Magic Swordplay”, which imbues her longsword with potent magic, and executes three-dimensional close-quarters combat leveraging her extraordinary agility and jumping capability. Her exceptional combat sense has earned high praise even from UCIA Director Hardy. While she possesses immense pride and occasionally delivers harsh, biting remarks, this stems from her deep disdain for ”superficial relationships” and reflects her sincere desire to engage with others genuinely. Quick-witted and constantly observing her surroundings with a calm eye, she secretly harbors a deeply caring and protective nature toward her comrades, despite her abrasive delivery.

【Aoi Tachibana】

■ Affiliation / Role: St. Alsard Church / AMGE No. 2

■ Profile
A highly capable woman in her fourth year at St. Alsard Girls’ Academy, holding the title of AMGE No. 2 among the chosen elite exorcists. Distinguished by her beautiful long black hair flowing in the wind and her graceful, serene presence. She is frequently seen playing a stunning custom-made flute in the shade of the campus trees, demonstrating a mesmerizing mastery that could easily be mistaken for a professional music major’s. In truth, she is an MTF recipient of the ”ASSP (Alsard Special Support Program)”, a gender-affirming support system granted only to a select few who clear the church’s rigorous screening.

■ Abilities & Persona
Thanks to the flawless adjustment procedures of ASSP—encompassing genital, vocal cord, skeletal, and facial feminization surgeries—she possesses an overwhelming beauty and a crystal-clear voice that completely belie her former male identity. Yet, this very beauty and her status as an ASSP recipient often attract heartless jealousy from her peers, shaping her into a reserved individual who consistently takes a step back. In battle, she invokes the blessing of the ”Goddess of Water”, wielding undeniable prowess fitting for AMGE’s No. 2. Gentle and courteous to all, she acts as a deeply caring and compassionate older sister figure, swiftly coming to the aid of her junior Ayuka Hojo during a heatstroke and immediately arranging for the church’s medical team. However, deep within her beautiful eyes lies a hidden shadow—a profound ”sorrow” and ”loneliness” rooted in the unique circumstances of her life…

【Ritsuko Kamijo】

■ Affiliation / Role: Executive Secretary at Kirimine Heavy Industries Headquarters / St. Alsard Church Holy Priest

■ Profile
A talented woman in her early 40s who serves as the executive secretary to the president of the global corporation Kirimine Heavy Industries, while holding another face behind the scenes as a ”Holy Priest” who practically manages the operations of the St. Alsard Church. She is also the de facto foster mother (aunt) who took in Mayu Asagiri, who lost her parents in a traffic accident at a young age and was living in an orphanage, and the founder of the high-ranking exorcist unit ”AMGE” that guards Mayu. Since she took office as the executive secretary, Kirimine Heavy Industries’ performance has consistently recorded upward growth.

■ Abilities & Persona
She usually wears a gentle smile full of affection, but she shows absolutely no mercy to anyone who harms her beloved Mayu. She possesses a fierce side, flying into a rage and delivering a powerful slap and backhand strike that knocked the protagonist, Asami, to the ground after she had stunned Mayu and forcibly taken her away. Although she does not basically stand on the front lines, in an emergency, she wields a holy staff emitting a dull purple light and hides a bottomless spiritual combat ability capable of overwhelming AMGE No. 2, Aoi Tachibana, without even losing her breath. She is a very strict and flawless woman who knows everything about the church’s hidden face.

【Shizue Sato】

■ Affiliation / Role: St. Alsard Church / Holy Priest

■ Profile
One of the elite ”Holy Priests” overseeing the administration of the St. Alsard Church. Serving as the church’s public relations figurehead, she spearheads various media strategies on a daily basis and supervises the church’s internal affairs along with the general duties of the priests and assistant priests, rendering her an exceedingly busy woman. If Ritsuko Kamijo, who practically controls the church from the shadows, is the ”Holy Priest of the Shadows”, she serves as the ”Holy Priest of the Light”, symbolizing the order’s pristine public image.

■ Abilities & Persona
Graced with a gentle demeanor and a beauty that conveys profound kindness, she is deeply adored and venerated by believers and church personnel alike. She is also the lifesaver who granted sanctuary to Ayuka Hojo—who, orphaned and desperate, fled to the church at night clutching the hand of her younger sister, Mayumi—by commanding, ”Prepare a warm meal and a bedroom for those fragile sisters.” To Ayuka, she is a deeply compassionate figure radiating the warmth and tenderness of her late mother, having perceived Ayuka’s hidden talent (potential) from the moment of their first encounter.

【Marina Mitsuse】

■ Affiliation / Role: St. Alsard Church / AMGE No. 1 (*Currently Missing)

■ Profile
A woman who held the title of No. 1 in the elite unit ”AMGE”, dedicated to guarding Mayu Asagiri. It is said that her personal initiative to protect Mayu, the Holy Priestess, served as the very catalyst for the formation of AMGE. She possesses an overwhelming beauty, boasting a stunning model-like figure akin to Yuika’s, complemented by long raven hair flowing in the wind. She directly mentored Aoi Tachibana, AMGE No. 2, in both swordplay and magic, and it is said they shared a bond as close and joyful as true sisters. However, at a certain point, she suddenly went ”missing”. Although the church headquarters continues its investigation, they have yet to grasp even a single clue to a resolution.

■ Abilities & Persona
The most exceptional and strongest exorcist, having earned the highest evaluation of ”Class S” in both Alsard Church Longsword Swordplay and magical arts. Her prowess was extraordinary even within AMGE; it is said she could stand alone and flawlessly repel even formidable ”Dark Forces”. Her disappearance has cast a dark, profound shadow over the hearts of the AMGE members—especially Aoi, who deeply adored her—and she remains an absolute symbol of both immense respect and tragic loss for the maidens left behind.

【Kikuna Himemiya】

■ Affiliation / Role: Himemiya Shrine / Shinto Priest

■ Profile
The grandmother of the protagonist, Asami Himemiya, who serves as a Shinto priest at a small shrine in the mountains of Shizuoka. Because Asami’s parents went to work at a national laboratory in the United States, she took her in and raised her for six years, from the time Asami entered middle school until she graduated from high school,Around the same time, she also took in Hisamune Kamikura as an adopted child, raising them both very strictly as if they were her own grandchildren.

■ Abilities & Persona
Although she is usually a strict and stern grandmother, she is fundamentally a kind and affectionate person. As a Shinto priest, she is often consulted for spiritual ”exorcisms”, and is presumed to possess genuine power in that field. She makes Asami perform a secret dance and prayer called the ”Himemiya Family Shinto Ritual” until dawn once every three years, and it is highly likely that she holds the key to the unique constitution that renders their ”Spiritual Power unmeasurable”,It is also believed that she has cast a powerful protection spell on Asami and the others.

【Elise Grant】

■ Affiliation / Role: DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) / Director of the Advanced Technology Research Laboratory

■ Profile
The woman who serves as the Director of the Advanced Technology Research Laboratory at DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). As the original developer of UCIA’s autonomous AI ”VARIS”, she maintains a profoundly close friendship with Chris. Typically, she engages in regular conversations and information exchanges with Chris through a state-of-the-art VR space compatible with CBLS (Cybernetics Brain Link System).

■ Abilities & Persona
She is the visionary who entrusted VARIS to Chris, dreaming of creating a ”completely peaceful artificial intelligence that stays close to humanity while jointly exploring a bright future”. Although she reflects upon the flaws in the program she initially built, she holds deep gratitude that the current VARIS exists thanks to Chris. She firmly believes that Chris is capable of forging a future where humans and AI can truly coexist.

【Kisaragi】

■ Affiliation / Role: Regular customer of the antique shop ”Princess Maker”

■ Profile
A female customer who frequently visits the antique shop ”Princess Maker” in Shinagawa Ward, where Mayu Asagiri works part-time about twice a week. She is a woman with beautiful jet-black hair that reaches down to her waist and refined behavior, and she prefers wearing elegant monotone fashion.

■ Abilities & Persona
She harbors a very strong affection for the shop clerk, Mayu, and makes fierce appeals by bringing a large amount of presents, such as clothes that would suit Mayu, high-class sweets, and Western liquor, every time she visits. Even Mayu, who usually shows a perfect and affectionate response to everyone, is troubled and perplexed, thinking, ”She is a good customer, but…”.

【Lloyd Harris】

■ Affiliation / Role: United States Navy / Admiral

■ Profile
An Admiral reigning at the top of the United States Navy, and the biological father of Christiana Harris (Chris), the genius hacker who manages the UCIA system.

■ Abilities & Persona
He has a doting side, deeply loving his only daughter, Chris. The reason Chris receives ”no reprimand” even after launching large-scale hacks against private companies is due to his existence as a powerful backing (authority). Furthermore, for Director Hardy and Hayama, who are former Navy members, he is a person they owe a great debt of gratitude to from their Navy days, which is one of the reasons why the Director desperately protects and treats Chris with great care on a daily basis.

【Mayumi Hojo】

■ Affiliation / Role: 1st-Year Student in the High School Section of St. Alsard Girls’ Academy / E-sports Scholarship Student

■ Profile
The only younger sister of Ayuka Hojo, AMGE No. 6. Although she is in her first year in the high school section of St. Alsard Girls’ Academy, she has a unique background, having entered as an ”e-sports scholarship student”. In the Japanese fighting game (Guilty Exex) community, she is a highly skilled and famous player known by the name ”MAYU”, and has many viewers on her online streams.

■ Abilities & Persona
In stark contrast to her sister, who achieves excellent grades in the strict theology department, she lacks faith in the Goddess Alsard, instead rebelling and even voicing hostility. She often skips classes for offline matches and information exchange, which results in her sister being called in and lectured every time; she is a problem child in the midst of her rebellious phase who cannot be honest with her feelings. She has a flashy gal-style appearance, preferring brightly dyed straight hair and revealing clothing (such as short denim shorts), and possesses an outstanding figure that rivals even that of Yuika Kirimine.

【World Situation】

The setting is 2026. While technology and AI are achieving advanced development, the world is on the verge of a severe collapse. Due to explosive population growth in developing countries, the accompanying immigration issues, and the widening gap between rich and poor, the national governance capabilities and public order maintenance of various countries are becoming mere facades.

Even advanced nations such as the United States and Europe cannot take effective measures against these various problems, and the social turmoil only deepens. Especially in Japan, a gradual decline continues due to government corruption and espionage activities by foreign powers, and many good citizens are exploited, finding themselves in a desperate situation where they lose hope for living.

Against the backdrop of such national dysfunction, the new religion ”St. Alsard Church” is rapidly expanding its influence all over the world, embodying the thorough salvation of the weak. They provide a wide range of support free of charge, not limited to free soup kitchens and distribution of simple meals on weekends, but also job placements for those in need, counseling for psychological troubles, introductions to lawyers, and even the provision of residential facilities for those who renounce the world, gathering absolute support from the citizens.

In addition, massive financial support from global entrepreneurs who agree with the order’s philosophy is also a major factor in the expansion of its influence. The church has many affiliated companies (from media businesses such as anime, movies, games, and books, to health foods and beauty supplements) and generates enormous profits through extremely clean methods. They have built cooperative relationships behind the scenes with giant corporations like Kirimine Heavy Industries, deploying a clean image strategy by having them sponsor the church’s charitable works, and have now established a powerful power base to the point of being called the world’s fourth-largest religion.

【THREATS & PHENOMENA】

■ AW (Asphaltic Wizard)
Entities that conduct the selection of souls using magical accessories. It is said that they have maintained the balance of good and evil in the world with absolute power, but their true purpose is shrouded in mystery.

■ Yume-mi-sama (Dream Witch)
An urban legend of an entity that appears in women’s dreams and grants them accessories that make any wish come true. Its true identity is an AW, and it is said to steal the souls of those who make wishes beyond their stature.

■ Skeletalization Incidents
Incomprehensible serial murders occurring secretly all over the world. Their true nature is the end result of victims whose souls were absorbed as sacrifices by rule-breakers who failed to become AWs, in order to gain more powerful magic.

■ Major Arcana and AD (Defector)
A general term for extremely powerful high-ranking AWs bearing Tarot names such as ”Judgement” and ”Death”. On the other hand, AWs who break the rules and run rampant with their desires are designated and distinguished by UCIA as AD (Defector).

■ Dark Force
Aggregations of negative energy that manifest in this world from the Astral Dimension when the Astral Magnetic Field is disturbed by conflicts and hatred in the present world. Also known as evil spirits, they are the main exorcism targets of the St. Alsard Church.

【CYBER & MILITARY】

■ VARIS (Variable Artificial Recreated Intelligence System)
A variable large-scale artificial intelligence system that controls the base functions of UCIA. Managed by Chris, it autonomously handles access permissions and information regulation through advanced AI self-judgment.

■ M7-X1-AWS (New Prototype Assault Rifle)
A new prototype assault rifle for anti-AW use developed by DARPA. It is equipped with an unknown mechanism that absorbs something from the atmosphere and converts it into energy.

■ AWS-XF01 Astraea
An anti-AW combat UCAV deployed at Yokota Base. With the control support of VARIS, Chris can remotely pilot it in complex trajectories just by thinking, much like a VR game.

■ Anti-AW Special Operations Forces
Special forces for anti-AW use deployed top-secretly by the United States to various countries. These include ”AAST Wolf Fang” deployed in Japan, and ”Night Striker”, to which Hisamune once belonged.

【SPIRITUAL SYSTEM】

■ Mana (Natural Particles) and Spiritual Power
The fundamental mechanism of magic in this work, where the particles of light drifting in the atmosphere, ”Mana”, are absorbed into the body and combined with the innate talent of ”Spiritual Power” to manifest supernatural phenomena.

■ Protection Field (Defensive Barrier Arts)
A spiritual defensive wall deployed by the practitioner. Three types are used depending on the situation.

【Three Types of Protection Fields】

1. Frontal Protection Field (Shield)
Characteristics: A forward-deploying barrier. By instantaneously deploying and converging it, spiritual power consumption can be significantly reduced.
Details: It can only block attacks from the front, but in exchange, a very strong barrier can be deployed.

2. Omnidirectional Protection Field (Barrier)
Characteristics: An omnidirectional barrier. It can defend a wide area, but it consumes a large amount of spiritual power and instantaneous deployment and convergence are considered impossible.
Details: It completely covers the practitioner’s surroundings and can block attacks from all directions.

3. Constant Deployment Protection Field (Force Field)
Characteristics: A constantly deployed defensive barrier. It consumes a constant amount of spiritual power. The effectiveness tends to vary depending on the practitioner’s ability.
Details: A defensive membrane that prevents a certain amount of attacks can be deployed in all directions in advance. It loses its effect after taking about two to three impacts, but it can cut more than half of the impact that would normally be received. It has the lowest defensive power among the three types of protection fields, and its defensive power gradually decreases over time.

■ Mind Exorcism
A dangerous exorcism technique that directly invades the subject’s spiritual world to purify evil spirits eroding the soul. If the practitioner cannot return within the time limit, it carries the risk of the practitioner themselves being swallowed by the darkness.

■ Astral Dimension
A spiritual dimension different from the present world. It is a place where threats such as evil spirits lurk, and it is also considered the cause of being ”spirited away”, where those whose souls are not yet settled are dragged in.

【Tactical Details of the Magic Activation Mechanism】

1. Fundamental Principle (Synthesis of Mana and Spiritual Power)
Drifting within the Earth’s atmosphere are ”tiny, seven-colored particles of light” that serve as the ultimate source of power, designated as ”Mana (Natural Particles)”. By calming their mind, a practitioner absorbs this Mana into their body and synthesizes it with their innate talent, ”Spiritual Power”, thereby manifesting a myriad of supernatural phenomena (magic).

2. Tactical Metrics for Magic Execution (SP and MPS)
Spiritual Power fluctuates drastically among individuals, and a practitioner’s capability is strictly quantified by the following two tactical metrics.

SP (Spiritual Power Capacity Limit): The maximum threshold of Spiritual Power that can be contained within the physical body.

MPS (Mana Power Second): The exact volume of Mana that can be absorbed from the atmosphere per second. The exponentially higher these values are, the more capable a practitioner becomes of executing devastatingly powerful magic in rapid succession.

3. Spiritual Power Consumption and ”Mental Strength”
Executing magic (phenomena) inevitably drains a practitioner’s Spiritual Power; however, the critical determining factor here is the practitioner’s ”Mental Strength”. Individuals possessing formidable Mental Strength can drastically mitigate the Spiritual Power consumed during the generation of magic.

4. The Source of Power (The Dichotomy between the Church and AW)
While the fundamental mechanism of synthesizing Mana and Spiritual Power remains identical, the core energy fueling it differs drastically between factions.

St. Alsard Church: The ultimate source of their power is a ”pure and resilient heart”, fueled by absolute devotion to the Goddess, a profound love for nature, and gratitude for all creation.

AW (Asphaltic Wizard): Their power is strictly fueled by ”negative spiritual energy (malice)”, deeply rooted in dark emotions such as wrath, hatred, and sorrow.

5. Tactical Applications of Magic
This sophisticated mechanism can be applied to a vast array of phenomena. It encompasses not only direct offensive maneuvers, such as discharging orbs of light and light bullets, but also extends to the deployment of complex Protection Fields and ”Magic Swordplay”, which exponentially boosts physical capabilities for lethal close-quarters combat.

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