The film now progressed with two parallel storylines.
One followed Kokutou Mikiya as he searched for the true reason behind Asagami Fujino's murders.
The other followed Ryougi Shiki, who, armed with her weapon, was determined to put an end to Asagami Fujino's killing spree.
<+>
Under Aozaki Touko's recommendation, Kokutou Mikiya visited an elderly professor and asked whether the concept of supernatural abilities truly existed.
"Supernatural abilities do exist in this world," the old professor confirmed. "However, there are different types of supernatural abilities. This field of study is highly taboo, and only a handful of research facilities study it under classified conditions. I don't have detailed information, but supposedly, in the past three years, research has advanced to a level where it's becoming practically applicable. But who knows? After all, to develop such abilities, one must have already undergone a breakthrough at birth."
Hearing this, Kokutou Mikiya immediately asked, "Then how do humans obtain supernatural abilities?"
"Through channels. Do you watch television?"
"Of course, I do. But what does that have to do with this?"
"The human brain is like a TV receiver. We can only tune in to the signals we are capable of receiving and perceive their content. Although other channels exist, we simply cannot access them. Do you understand?"
"I see… That's kind of unfortunate."
"No, it's not unfortunate at all."
"Why not?"
"If you could tune into a supernatural channel, your perception of the world would change. You would develop an entirely different sense of reality, one that does not align with common societal norms. In a normal society, such knowledge does not exist, and someone who possesses it is labeled an outsider."
"An outsider? You mean, like a mentally ill person?"
"Exactly. Imagine someone who can communicate with plants but, as a result, lacks the ability to communicate with people. Wouldn't they be considered mentally ill by society?"
"That… makes a lot of sense."
"In reality, there are many such people. Society often labels them as serial killers or lunatics, but I call them 'nonconforming existences.' Many people struggle to adapt to society, but these individuals were never capable of adaptation in the first place. They are outliers—distorted beings who can never be reshaped into normal members of society. Supernatural ability users are simply individuals who possess such abnormalities but with additional powers."
Their conversation ended there.
Now, having gained a deeper understanding of what it meant to be a supernatural ability user, Kokutou Mikiya found himself even more confused.
Could Asagami Fujino still be saved?
He had no answer.
. . .
At the same time, inside a ruined building, Asagami Fujino sat exhausted in a corner, clutching her stomach.
Outside, heavy rain poured down, and a raging wind swept through the city.
Unconsciously, she drifted into memories of her past.
She recalled an incident from her childhood when she had once twisted her ankle.
Because she had no sense of pain, she could still walk, though her appearance was miserable.
At that moment, a senior with black hair appeared before her, looking at her with concern.
"Does it hurt?" he had asked.
"You're so foolish. Listen to me—when you're hurt, you don't need to endure it. If it hurts, you should say it out loud, Fujino."
Saying that, he carried her on his back and walked all the way to the infirmary before leaving without another word.
That memory felt like a faint dream.
Looking back, perhaps she had already fallen for him back then.
It was a dream that belonged only to her.
But in the end, dreams always fade away.
As she opened her eyes again, the howling wind and pouring rain framed the figure of 'Death' standing before her.
"Finally, I've found you, Asagami."
Draped in a red coat over white garments, Ryougi Shiki stood amidst the storm, smiling at her. Her ghost-like presence seemed almost unreal.
No unnecessary words were needed—both of them knew what was about to unfold: a merciless, brutal battle with no room for reconciliation!
<+>
As the scene built toward the impending clash, the audience collectively held their breath, their discussions intensifying.
"By the way, the world of The Garden of Sinners doesn't have things like magic or supernatural abilities, right?"
"Not exactly. It's just that such things are hidden from ordinary people, concealed in the shadows of the world."
"I wonder how a world like that would develop. Do humans there not have external enemies? If they don't, does that mean they don't have wars either?"
"Hard to say. Our world is full of foreign races, and humanity only has a single kingdom left. If it weren't for the first Arch Mage, Roland, who led humanity to victory in multiple wars of survival, we would probably still be scattered and weak today."
"The presence of powerful external enemies pushed humanity to pursue magic and martial arts. For us, supernatural abilities aren't anomalies—they're strengths to be proud of."
"The peace of our empire is entirely upheld by mages. Magic changed humanity's status from the weak to the strong, forcing other races to take us seriously."
"If there were a world where humans had neither external threats nor magic, that world would probably be incredibly peaceful."
The discussion flowed naturally as the audience shared their thoughts.
To them, a world without external enemies or special powers would have no reason for large-scale war.
But in truth, war exists in every world.
After all, the root cause of war has always been the same—desire and greed.
<+>
At the Imperial Magic Academy, students debated the battle about to unfold.
"We still don't have a clear explanation of Ryougi Shiki's ability. What exactly are her Mystic Eyes?"
"No matter what her ability is, she has to get close to Asagami Fujino for it to work. But Fujino's Mystic Eyes can affect her surroundings at a wide range. In that case, Shiki might not even be able to get near her!"
"That's right. This fight actually seems unfavorable for Shiki."
"But Shiki's combat skills are nothing to scoff at. Remember when she was leaping across rooftops with ease?"
"It depends on the situation. In a way, this is a battle between a mage and a knight—it all comes down to who can seize the right opportunity!"
"Haha! Then I'll side with the mage—Fujino!"
"Heh, but Shiki is the protagonist of this film. Do I even need to say who's going to win?"
The mages engaged in a heated discussion, their excitement evident.
At the same time, all eyes were locked onto the screen, eagerly awaiting the moment the battle would erupt!
<+>
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