Meeting
September 26, 2026. Saturday. 15:10.
UCIA Japan Branch Investigation Base:
Ground Base. Operation Room.
”I’m sorry. I’m late.”
It was careless of me. After that, Asagiri-san’s story continued. Even though it was just idle talk, it was so enjoyable that I lost track of time. By the time I realized it, I had no time to spare to return to the base, and sure enough, I ended up being 10 minutes late.
”You’re late, Himemiya.”
The Chief’s sharp reprimand. Everyone was present. It seems Kamikura also returned from Yokota, his medical examination finally over. As I tried to take my seat, the Chief stopped me.
”Wait, Himemiya. What is that ring?”
”Ah, I received this from Asagiri-san. It seems to have a powerful protective effect――”
What is it? Was my expression relaxed? The Chief smirked faintly.
”I see, Himemiya. You must have had a very enjoyable time with Asagiri. And because of that, you were 10 minutes late for an important meeting?”
This is bad. The Chief is angry. I had a terribly bad feeling.
”I-I am incredibly sorry! From now on, I will be care――”
Before I could finish, the Chief’s further reprimand flew at me.
”You’re slacking, Himemiya! Listen, a 10-minute delay on the battlefield means the annihilation of the unit and the failure of the operation! Prepare for push-ups! 10 for every minute you’re late, which makes 100!”
”Y-Yes, ma’am!”
I immediately got into the push-up position. Perhaps seeing that made everyone laugh a little, but it only added more fuel to the Chief’s fire.
”What are you all laughing at! Is your comrade’s mistake funny! Whenever someone shows a gentle face, every single one of you starts slacking off! Chris, how many hours do you plan on playing in the cafeteria before you’re satisfied! Do you think you’re forgiven for anything as long as you do your job! And Hayama! You’ve bought multiple obscene books and e-books on the company expense account! I’m not saying don’t buy them, but there are too many! Finally, Kamikura! Your daily attitude towards your superior officer is unacceptable!”
Perhaps her patience had finally reached its limit; there was no stopping her now. The Chief must constantly be bowing her head to various departments. She must have accumulated a lot of stress…
Everyone――I’m so sorry.
”Everyone, push-ups in the training room! I’ll do them too! 300 reps! We’re all going to whip our slacking guts into shape together!”
――Afterwards. Having worked up a sweat from the sudden push-ups, we finally started the meeting. I don’t know why it tripled from the initial 100 reps, but it probably means the Chief’s frustration had built up that much. Taking the initiative to do them herself was just what you’d expect from a former Navy SEALs commander. And above all, I think she was enjoying it.
”Did everyone wipe their sweat properly? Don’t let your bodies get cold. Now then, let’s begin the meeting.”
Tomorrow, the 27th, is a full moon. In other words, there is a fear that a new victim might appear. It has already been a month since the previous victim, Yuna Hamano, was discovered as a skeletalized corpse.
”First, let’s reorganize what we know so far. Himemiya, according to ”Judgement”, the skeletalization incidents are the work of those who failed to become AWs, correct?”
The Chief said.
”Yes. She said that an AW on the level of ”Judgement” is capable of killing in a completely different dimension, which doesn’t affect the real world. In other words, it makes it possible to accomplish the perfect crime――that’s what she meant.”
”So the discovery of a skeletalized corpse means that murders committed in another dimension are gradually returning to the real dimension, thus catching our eyes――is that it?”
Saying so, the Chief fell into deep thought. Then, Kamikura spoke up.
”――I received instructions from the Department of Defense to lift the ban on my classified information, so I will share it here. I was formerly in the anti-AW special forces, the Night Striker unit. Our mission was the annihilation of AWs, and equally, those who systematically worship them. Himemiya and Chris probably don’t know this, but the Chief, Hayama, and Stephen were in the unit that served as its predecessor.”
(!?)
――Everyone falls silent.
”As you can see, the world situation is in extreme chaos. The weak bear the brunt of everything, and everyone is losing their hope to live; it’s the same all over the world. In the midst of that, if an entity known as an AW existed that could grant any wish――what would you wish for?”
Kamikura continued his story.
”Right. Anyone who truly desires power would wish for it. ’I want to become an entity like an AW, too.’”
’To gain even greater power, it is necessary to sacrifice and absorb a soul with high intelligence. It is deplorable, but indispensable in the pursuit of magic.’
I recall Judgement’s words. I spoke.
”Judgement said that to gain even greater power, it is necessary to sacrifice and absorb a soul with high intelligence. In other words, the skeletalization incidents occurring around the world are crimes committed by those who transformed into AWs and greedily seek power. However, if they are judged as good through the way they use the magical accessory that grants wishes, their wish is granted and their lives are spared. As for those who break the rules, even if they are judged as good, their souls are stolen so the caster can gain power…”
”――It’s exactly as Himemiya says. Not all skeletalization incidents are like that, but the majority are likely sacrifices made to gain greater magical power. They might even target someone from their end, just like they did with Himemiya.”
’The skeletalization incidents secretly occurring worldwide. It is not us causing them. It is those who broke the rules and foolishly sought power, failing to become modern wizards, ”Asphaltic Wizards”…’
”Judgement said it. The ones causing the skeletalization incidents are not them. It’s those who broke the rules and foolishly sought power, failing to become AWs. Considering that, were the AWs you fought, Kamikura, those who broke the rules?”
At my question, Kamikura opens his mouth.
”You could say that. Based on my past combat experience against AWs, ”Judgement”, whom Himemiya encountered, is an extraordinary, exceptional AW. It’s probably a true AW that has existed since long ago. I carried out numerous missions in the Night Striker unit, but even dangerous-level AWs didn’t possess that kind of power. It’s safe to say this recent case is extremely rare.”
Chris speaks up.
”Does that mean there are many AWs around the world who have broken their rules?”
”That’s what it means. And there are also those trying to systematically make contact with AWs. The Night Striker unit secretly annihilated those humans as well. Whatever the reason, it was one-sided…”
Kamikura said quietly.
”I, the Chief, Hayama, and Stephen bear that karma too… I don’t think it will all be forgiven, but as long as the UCIA is a military organization, orders are absolute. In the future, there will likely be possibilities of conducting joint operations with the Night Striker unit back home.”
Kamikura looks at me.
”――Himemiya. When that time comes, are you prepared to pull the trigger?”
Kamikura’s words echo heavily in my heart…
The sight from that time is still burned into my eyes. Even as an objective vision, it was honestly unbearable.
Could I really point a muzzle at so many women and young girls and pull the trigger…?
Before my words could come out, the Chief spoke.
”Kamikura. The UCIA is strictly an investigative agency. Although it is a military organization, it is not a unit that conducts annihilation operations. Confronting AWs in the future is inevitable. But we have absolutely no intention of conducting reckless annihilation operations. As the Chief, let me make that clear.”
Kamikura glares at the Chief.
”You’re naive. AWs are entities to which common sense does not apply at all. What happens if their numbers increase further in the future? The system of governance by law and public order will completely collapse. Are you all just going to silently――overlook that?”
Hayama interjected at Kamikura’s words.
”I understand what you’re saying perfectly well, Kamikura-kun. But I think it’s nonsense to condemn everyone who worships AWs as evil. You were in that kind of unit. I can’t blame you for thinking that way, but――”
Before Hayama could finish, Kamikura raised his voice.
”Hayama! Could you say the same thing if Chris were killed by them right in front of your eyes! Could you say the same thing if everyone in the UCIA were brutally murdered! Could you say the same thing if irreplaceable things were stolen, your own life trampled upon, and you were nearly killed!”
Kamikura’s angry roar. It might be the first time I’ve seen Kamikura bare his emotions to this extent…
”Kamikura. That’s enough for now.”
The Chief stood up, looked quietly at Kamikura, and said so.
”…………I’m sorry. I’m going to cool my head.”
Kamikura stood up and left the operation room. I thought about going after him immediately, but the Chief, sensing that, stopped me.
Silence visits us for a while. I was also surprised that Kamikura spoke about his past unit…
Could it be that Kamikura had someone important to him killed by an AW…? That tone. Was it about his annihilated unit, or…
”Umm, I’ll go brew some tea…”
Saying so, Chris exits the operation room.
A short time later, Chris returned carrying tea for everyone. At that moment, the Chief began to speak.
”――Kamikura’s story was sudden, so Himemiya and Chris might be surprised, but that is the truth. Hayama, Stephen, and I were previously in the same unit. Though, at that time, we weren’t informed about AWs at all, and we merely executed our missions flawlessly like machines, just as we were ordered…”
Hayama continued.
”But at a certain point, we began to lose sight of whether what we were doing was right or wrong. And after various things happened, that unit was disbanded. Then, we met face-to-face again at the UCIA. Because I have that kind of experience, I believe I understand just how painful this is for Kamikura-kun…”
Hayama looked down and said so quietly.
He, and likely the Chief too, must have killed many people. Missions conducted without being informed about AWs. It is easy to imagine what a profound psychological trauma that became later on…
Realizing that Hayama usually acts so cheerful because he is fighting to forget that past made my chest ache…
”Now then, Kamikura hasn’t returned, but I will explain our upcoming plans for now. It is suspected that an incident will occur between tonight and tomorrow night. Through discussions with Section Chief Totoki, it has been decided that the UCIA will handle information control and vigilant surveillance. Chris will monitor network information and operate the surveillance drones. If an incident occurs, Public Security Section 7 is scheduled to conduct the on-site investigation. Himemiya and Kamikura are ordered to stand by at the base. Hayama, I ask you to check and maintain the incoming equipment.”
”Understood.”
When everyone voiced their acknowledgment of the Chief’s instructions, a communication from VARIS came in.
<To UCIA Special Agent Asami Himemiya. As of this moment, LEVEL 1 VARIS usage authority has been granted to you. Furthermore, entry into the System Room is permitted only when accompanied by the System Administrator. I repeat――>
”Whoa! That’s amazing, Asami! You’re the first one ever to be granted permission to enter the System Room!”
”It seems the Chief, Kamikura-kun, and I are still not trusted by VARIS. Congratulations, Himemiya-san.”
Chris and Hayama offered small rounds of applause.
”…Umm, what does this mean exactly?”
I couldn’t quite swallow the situation.
”VARIS’s usage permission LEVEL and entry permission to the System Room. The one making those decisions is none other than VARIS itself. Chris has full authority because she is the system administrator, but for everyone else, VARIS makes its own judgments. And while no one has been granted entry to the System Room until now, you have become the very first, Himemiya――that is what it means.”
The Chief said so, sounding slightly frustrated.
”Thank you very much!”
When I said that, Chris spoke with a slight laugh.
”Asami. If you’re going to thank someone, say it to VARIS. The Chief wasn’t the one who gave the permission.”
”――Thank you, VARIS. I look forward to working with you from now on.”
I said so while looking up at the ceiling of the operation room.
<Likewise. Asami.>
”It called you by your first name. It seems it’s really taken a liking to you, Asami.”
Self-judgment by an AI. Why did VARIS choose me――? I don’t know the reason, but for now, I was deeply grateful for its sentiment.
Though, that is assuming――VARIS has a heart.