Doubts
September 27, 2026. Sunday. 19:55.
UCIA Japan Branch Investigation Base: Ground Base.
Cafeteria.
Returning to the base from the church in the evening and finishing up our routine desk work, Kamikura and I broke a sweat in the training room. We completed basic physical training as well as meditation to feel Mana. Kamikura, who suffered a defeat against Kirimine-san, was desperately striking with his wooden sword. He must have been quite frustrated. The power exerted by a human who has received spiritual divine protection. I could only be astonished by that power.
On the other hand, the Chief’s power, which overwhelmed Kirimine-san—who defeated Kamikura—with an overwhelming number of attacks and smashed the longsword she held, is nothing short of terrifying. The Chief is probably a master of the survival knife.
”Eat this and get your energy back, you two. Sounds like you had a hard training session today.”
Stephen brought our dinner. A shrimp salad and a juicy steak. It even comes with consomme soup.
”Thanks as always.”
”It’s rare for Kamikura to say thanks. You usually just eat in silence.”
Stephen said so with a laugh.
Both Kamikura and I continue to eat in silence. The reason being, after the training at the church, we measured our values for Spiritual Capacity Limit, SP (Spiritual Power), and Mana Absorption Rate per Second, MPS (Mana Power Second), using a dedicated device, but both of our SPs were unmeasurable. As for MPS, the values were under 50. We were told that the MPS couldn’t be helped since we can’t absorb particles, but the fact that our SP is unmeasurable is what doesn’t make sense. It seems that any human has around 100 to 200 SP, and psychics have SP close to 1000, but we were told it’s unknown for what reason ours is unmeasurable.
By the way, it seems Asagiri-san was unmeasurable for both values in a different sense; she apparently broke the machine once. Since then, it seems she stopped measuring her values.
When we were somewhat finished eating, I asked Kamikura.
”Still, it doesn’t make sense. To think that even your SP is unmeasurable when you can use Psychokinesis. Wasn’t the machine just malfunctioning?”
”Well, saying this and that won’t make it measurable. It can’t be helped. Though it was surprising that the Chief was able to be measured smoothly after that――”
When the Chief measured hers after us, surprisingly, her SP was 486. The Chief was quite in a good mood about having more Spiritual Power than the average person. Having visited the church this time, it seems the Chief has embraced quite a bit of goodwill and interest towards the Alsard Church.
”The Chief was strong. It’s my first time seeing her go all out like that…”
”Navy SEALs. I hear she had top-class abilities even among them, and also possessed a side like a battle junkie. When people are put in extreme situations or mentally cornered, they become unable to make calm judgments. But the Chief is the opposite. The closer she gets to an extreme situation, the clearer her head becomes, and she’s driven to combat. Or so I’ve heard.”
”Aren’t you putting up a good fight against the Chief in training, Kamikura? Chris was saying something like that.”
”With me, she just fought on equal footing using weapons, that’s all. I think I’m putting up a decent fight, but I feel she still hasn’t shown her true strength. Her limits are unknown.”
Kamikura poured post-meal coffee into a teacup. At dinnertime, Stephen had put coffee in a pot for us.
”I thought about it, why our SP was unmeasurable. I have one idea.”
Vaguely, I have a guess too, but…
”Grandma Kikuna… maybe?”
”That’s right. Himemiya, you’ve been taught some kind of ritual by the old lady since your student days, haven’t you?”
The Himemiya family’s Shinto ritual, held once every three years. Performing a ritual dance in the precincts, and offering prayers together with grandma until dawn.
’Appease. Sleep. For the dawn that will soon come. Appease. Sleep. Bathed in the moonlight. Appease. Sleep. Until the time the rising morning sun awakens and burns.’
A passage of the prayer words I was taught by Grandma Kikuna. I still remember how those words were somehow scary to my childish mind. Pray, dance. Pray again. We repeat this until dawn.
”Well, the details of the ritual are a secret. Grandma told me not to tell anyone. And I don’t actually know what we’re doing it for myself.”
Kamikura took a sip of his coffee.
”If it’s the old lady’s orders, it can’t be helped, but both you and I were raised strictly. It might be better to meet with the old lady face to face and talk about these matters.”
”Yeah. The last ritual was last year. Since we’re here in Japan and all… though that is――if we have the time.”
There is a fear of an incident occurring tonight. And Kamikura and I have orders to stand by at the base. If an incident occurs, we won’t have time for anything else due to the investigation. It might be better to consult the Chief about it.
”I’ll try negotiating with the Chief. If it’s Shizuoka, we can get there in two hours by car.”
While we were talking about such things, the Chief arrived with perfect timing.
”Good work. Having a friendly meal together tonight?”
The Chief with a faint smile. She seems to be in a good mood ever since returning from the church.
”Stephen! Dinner, please! Extra meat today!”
The Chief, looking at today’s menu. She moved her body a lot, so it seems she’s hungry.
”Still, that Kirimine Yuika. To brilliantly score a point against Kamikura, even with spiritual divine protection, she’s quite a promising girl. Those eyes seeking straightforward strength. I really like her.”
The Chief seemed to be very fond of the church, but more than anything, of Kirimine-san. Swinging a longsword while letting her beautiful straight long hair flutter, she was outstandingly beautiful even from a woman’s perspective. It’s understandable why she is greatly adored by the underclassmen.
”Chief. I have something to consult you about――”
Kamikura explained what we just talked about to the Chief and consulted her.
”I see. Asagiri certainly did find it strange. Although she said she definitely felt a strong spiritual power…”
”My grandmother, Kikuna Himemiya, often received consultations for spiritual exorcisms. There is a possibility that grandma cast some kind of protective spell on Kamikura and me. We want to clarify matters around that.”
I told the Chief.
”Understood. It depends on the incidents, but I’ll think about it. I have instructions from the higher-ups to not let you two move from the base as much as possible. I might have to ask you to endure it for the time being. Sorry.”
After the Chief said so, Stephen brought her dinner.
”Hardy. I doubled the amount of meat. From the looks of it, you got fired up for the first time in a while.”
”Stephen, I’ve told you to call me Chief in front of everyone.”
”I’m just a cook now. Though I used to be a wildcard in the hellish Navy SEALs Team 13.”
Stephen letting out a loud laugh.
”Come to think of it, Chief. I’ve been wondering since I arrived, but everyone speaks in Japanese. Does everyone in the team here at the UCIA have roots in Japan?”
I remember that when the Chief first called out to me upon my arrival, it was also in Japanese.
”That’s right. Everyone’s parents were military personnel working at US military bases in Japan. Everyone has experienced being in Japan during their childhood. Navy SEALs Team 13 is a unit that conducts extra-legal operations and does not exist on the surface. Naturally, it’s also necessary to acquire Japanese, though.”
The Chief spoke while elegantly cutting her steak.
”So that was it. Navy SEALs Team 13. I heard they were a gathering of master operatives who could complete any mission with just four people.”
Kamikura said so while drinking his coffee.
”Well, I know it was rumored to some extent within the military. It’s also true that there were honestly many terrible operations. I think Kamikura, the former captain of NS (Night Striker), would understand, but there were operations that couldn’t be completed unless we devoted ourselves to being machines. Me, and also Hayama and Stephen, we’ve all had enough of that kind of thing.”
The Chief used her knife and fork, eating her steak elegantly while talking.
”I miss the demon Captain Hardy. Everyone was thoroughly drilled in close-quarters combat. From bare hands to survival knives, from crowbar-like objects to shovels. There were numerous bone fractures and severe injuries during training, and even most of the guys who made it through BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training), which is said to be grueling, couldn’t keep up.”
Stephen speaking as if reminiscing about the past.
”The only thing said to be grueling in BUD/S is about Hell Week, but if you ask me, that’s nothing more than playing in the sandbox. Because even at the captain level of each Navy SEALs team, there were many who were soft. Well, after that, I reflect that the level I demanded was abnormal. I’m very kind now, aren’t I?”
The Chief is eating her steak while smiling brightly. I think from the bottom of my heart that I’m glad I didn’t meet the Chief during that era.
”Come to think of it, Hayama-san was in the Chief’s team, right? I kinda can’t imagine it.”
Hayama, who is always a mild-mannered guy with glasses. And gives off a somewhat flashy vibe…
”He’s like that now, but he’s considerably scarier than I am. He had considerable medical knowledge, and his strength in knife combat was tremendous. For a time, he was on equal footing with Hardy. Only his torture――I wouldn’t want to endure it even if I die.”
Stephen said fearfully. Considerable medical knowledge. What that implies feels extremely terrifying. It’s also surprising that he was on equal footing with the Chief in knife combat.
”――Well, it’s a good thing Hayama isn’t an enemy. I’m the one who trained him, but he has an insane combat sense. Placing him in an environment as far away from combat as possible is probably the right answer.”
The Chief finished her dinner and poured coffee into her teacup.
”Come to think of it, I’m thinking of going to the church’s mass next time. How about you guys?”
The church’s mass. Come to think of it, I feel like Tetsuya invited me too. If the Chief is with us, I can feel at ease in various ways.
”Yes. Come to think of it, Totoki invited me to mass as well. I’ll feel much safer if you’re with us, Chief.”
I answered so.
”How about you, Kamikura? Faith is also important for the awakening of spiritual abilities, isn’t it?”
Kamikura drained his coffee.
”Unfortunately, flocking together doesn’t suit my nature. Besides, I have absolutely no intention of worshipping Alsard. If I’m told to repent for my past deeds――I might oblige, though.”
Saying so, Kamikura stood up from the table and left the cafeteria.
”Good grief. Maybe he just doesn’t want to see Section Chief Totoki face-to-face. It’s tough being a popular woman, huh, Himemiya.”
The Chief looked at me with slight concern.
”Section Chief Totoki and Kamikura. They seem to be on rather bad terms. Do you have any idea why?”
It’s true that ever since coming to Japan, I feel like Kamikura has been avoiding Tetsuya. Tetsuya also seemed worried about Kamikura when we had a meal in Roppongi before, but ever since then, it seems like his attitude has somewhat changed.
”To be honest… I don’t really know either.”
That was all I could say.
”Section Chief Totoki taking a liking to you can’t be helped, but please ask him not to direct too much hostility toward Kamikura. A hostile mood has a negative impact on the surroundings.”
”Yes. I’ll let Totoki know indirectly.”
The UCIA, Public Security, and the Alsard Church are currently conducting a joint investigation. Of course, I think Tetsuya understands that too, but…
September 30, 2026. Wednesday. 19:10.
UCIA Japan Branch Investigation Base: Ground Base.
Cafeteria.
Three days have passed since then. The full moon on the 27th; no incidents occurred that night. Although we were on high alert until dawn, nothing happened. After taking a nap for about four hours, we trained at the base, and in the afternoon, we had spiritual ability training at the Alsard Church. After that, we returned to the base, did desk work, and trained. These past three days have been a repetition of that.
Orders to stand by at the base. How long will this continue? We were told it would probably be lifted in about a week, but spending this much time at the base is depressing. Of course, there is a decent amount of entertainment, and I have no complaints about the food. However, the only opportunity to go outside is for spiritual ability training at the Alsard Church.
”I’m hungry~. Being cooped up in here every day is tough~.”
Chris entered the cafeteria while complaining. Gradually, Hayama, and then Kamikura and the Chief came in as well.
”Oh, it’s rare for all of us to have dinner together. Today is special Neapolitan pasta and seafood soup. Seems like a rather light meal.”
Hayama sat down while saying so.
”I think it’s good to have days like this once in a while~. You get tired of it if it’s just meat all the time~.”
Chris said so while sitting next to me.
”Asami, how was the spiritual training at the Alsard Church? Are you starting to get the hang of it?”
Regarding this, Kamikura, the Chief, and myself have had pathetic results every day.
”Hmm, it doesn’t seem like something you can master right away. It’s frustrating, though.”
To be honest, I don’t feel any growth at all. Or rather, I don’t feel like I can do it. Although I somehow feel something like particles, I don’t know their colors at all. I feel like something gray is drifting about. That’s simply it.
”Is it the same for Kamikura-san~?”
”…It’s more difficult in various ways than I imagined. Though what we are trying to master are the basics of sorcery. It’s probably not something that can be acquired so easily.”
As expected, it seems Kamikura hasn’t shown any progress either. Though he is further along than me given that he can at least grasp the colors, he hasn’t been able to feel any progress since the first day.
”Both you, Himemiya, and Kamikura can feel the existence of Mana, right? I can’t even perceive that much yet. I’m worried about the future.”
Although the Chief is also taking it seriously, results aren’t showing. Naturally, it’s not something that yields results so easily. I think the Chief understands that as well, but she seems to inevitably feel impatient. She probably feels exactly the same way I do.
While we were talking about such things, Stephen brought everyone’s meals. Only one portion of Neapolitan pasta was piled high in a mountain. I handed it to Chris.
”Thanks for the food!”
She must have been very hungry. Chris began to eat ravenously. Hayama laughed while watching her.
”Same appetite as always. It feels like even my own appetite is being satisfied.”
”It’s nice to be young. Compared to the past, my appetite has gotten smaller.”
Hayama and the Chief began their meals while laughing.
”――Still, to think nothing would happen. It conversely increases my anxiety, though.”
Kamikura muttered while taking a sip of the seafood soup.
”Right. I’m concerned about that too. By the way, there was a message from the Pentagon saying that a few incidents occurred back home. The number of cases has increased compared to last month. Thinking that AWs are maneuvering in secret and gaining power in our home country as well, we can’t let our guard down…”
The Chief said so.
”I wonder how many of them actually exist. The ones occurring as incidents are strictly caused by rule-breakers among the AWs, right?”
I answered Hayama’s question.
”To be honest, I think we have absolutely no idea about the numbers. If it’s an AW of ’Judgement’s’ class, they can carry out crimes in a completely different dimension, and it wouldn’t manifest in the real world. I don’t think there are many of that class, but there are AWs who act according to their discipline. And the people who are trying to become one from now on… I don’t think we can grasp that number.”
”I think Asami is right. I tried asking VARIS a similar question, but there were too many uncertain factors, so it resulted in an error.”
Chris finished her Neapolitan pasta and moved on to the seafood soup.
”What we can do is reduce the number of victims from AWs as much as possible. Though we will have to defeat them when we confront them. Public Security is also investigating to see if there are any cults or the like that worship AWs.”
At the Chief’s words, Hayama opened his mouth.
”Chief. I think everyone is probably wondering this, but the first mission of our UCIA Japan Branch was to investigate the skeletalization incidents occurring globally――right?”
”That’s right, but.”
The Chief put down her fork.
”However――the Pentagon has already been operating an anti-AW unit for several years. They must have known that AWs were the ones causing the skeletalization incidents. The three of us have killed many people, just like Kamikura-kun. Are they trying to make us do the same thing again here in Japan?”
Hayama’s voice tone was low. He continued further.
”The UCIA is an investigative agency. Intelligence gathering on AWs or their affiliated organizations lying dormant within Japan is probably our main duty, but the newly delivered weapons are special armaments strictly for anti-AW use. I don’t know what kind of structure they have. But in terms of sheer power, they far surpass normal firearms. What is the Pentagon――trying to make us do?”
Hayama seemed to be feeling resentful…
As I thought, his past missions must still be a burden on his heart. Chris also said she didn’t know what the Pentagon was thinking. I feel the same way about that.
The establishment of the UCIA. True, investigating the skeletalization incidents was the first mission, but the Pentagon must have grasped that they were caused by AWs. And after I encountered ”Judgement”, Kamikura’s information was declassified, and we publicly came to know that AWs definitely exist.
If I hadn’t encountered ”Judgement”…?
Would Kamikura’s information never have been declassified, and would we never have known of the existence of AWs publicly?
As Hayama said, the purpose of the UCIA’s establishment is intelligence gathering on AWs and their affiliated organizations. That should be our main duty. Then why didn’t the Pentagon convey detailed information about AWs from the very beginning…?
”As Hayama said, I don’t know what the Pentagon is thinking either. But one thing I can say is the fact that the threat of AWs definitely exists, and it is spreading all over the world. They probably wanted to handle it in top secret originally, but because Himemiya encountered ’Judgement’, the threat level far exceeded their expectations. I think that’s the reason why Kamikura’s information was declassified as well. Coordinating with Public Security and the Alsard Church. In other words, the situation is just that desperate.”
The Chief continued further.
”If it turns out that multiple AWs of ’Judgement’s’ class exist, there is a possibility that they will make a move all at once around the world. I think everyone has read the report of Himemiya and Kamikura engaging in combat in the dream. If they can unleash that much power in reality, a catastrophe will occur worldwide. That――is already fully capable of happening in reality.”
Kamikura opened his mouth.
”What the Chief is saying is completely right. Himemiya encountering ’Judgement’. The fact that an AW of that level existed changed the situation drastically. They probably couldn’t afford to care about appearances anymore. Considering what ’Judgement’ said to Himemiya, it’s only a matter of time before they make a move all at once. We should――prepare ourselves as well.”
’Come with me… Asami Himemiya. You will eventually surpass me by far and become a magnificent Asphaltic Wizard! We shall purge the fools and build a new world ourselves. If things continue as they are, the world will surely collapse. You must understand that better than anyone!’
I recall ”Judgement”’s words once again. Purge the fools and build a new world ourselves.
In other words, that means tearing down the current regime and building a new world governed by AWs.
The crisis might indeed be looming right around the corner…
But what could it be? I feel like something is bothering me…