"Ugh, I still feel like there's some of last night's stuff left..."
"Hey, don't talk about that in such a crowded place!"
We were at the reception desk of Special Division 6. I didn't want to have such a lewd conversation in a place full of civil servants.
"So that's how amazing Sho-kun is at night... I never thought I'd actually lose my footing like that. I can't make fun of Alter-san anymore."
"Let's try to get along from now on. And seriously, you went too far last night."
"By the way... Sho-kun, are you interested in butts too?"
"I didn't say that!"
She blatantly changed the subject. I wished she'd just get along with me without saying things like that. My heart can't take it when sparks fly every single time. Well, I guess she's not totally against the idea either. Right?
As we were talking, a woman approached us.
Her face was one I knew well, but I had never met her in person.
"Thank you for today, Officer Testarossa."
"Yes. Thank you."
"Thank you."
Fate T. Harlaown. She's a character from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha. There aren't many major differences from the original, and in this world, she's an enforcer for the Bureau.
The day had finally come. Sakura and I were at the Special Division 6 building, the designated meeting point. From here, we would head to that guy's house with the Division 6 personnel in charge of this investigation.
Special Division 6 was apparently a recent addition, but the building itself wasn't new. There were signs of wear and tear, a testament to the heartbreaking efforts to save costs.
The officer we'd be accompanying today was the beautiful woman in front of us, Harlaown-san. She would be leading a team of about five investigators to the scene. Since his relationships with women had already been investigated, all the investigators were female. Because of this, the looks directed at the other investigators, not including Fate-san, contained a certain oddness.
"I've heard from Koshiki-san. You're the one who defeated that vampire, Vlad."
Well, my party did. I only dealt with the zombies.
"And you also captured Kohei Shintani, who we couldn't handle... and you have a Stand ability. That's very reassuring."
"I'll do my best."
After the perfunctory greetings, we got into the vehicle.
"I don't feel very welcome, do I?"
"N-no, I don't think so? They're probably just a little on edge before a mission."
We were all seated together in the back. The looks I was getting made it clear that I wasn't welcome. Well, it's common for outsiders who are forced into a situation to not be well-received. It would be a waste of time to worry about a little discomfort.
"Even so, Special Division 6 is a more well-established unit than I thought."
"That's right. The new unit was established in recognition of the Mobile Division 6's achievements."
"Well, that's just the official story."
Mobile Division 6, like Testarossa-san, is an organization from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha. In the original story, there were rules about how much combat power a single unit could have, so they deliberately restricted their abilities just to be able to fit all the main characters into one unit.
The official reason was to retrieve dangerous artifacts called "Lost Logia." The hidden reason was to counter an ominous prophecy.
With that kind of background, I couldn't help but be suspicious of this world too.
"There are a few other students who have been scouted besides me, you know?"
Oh boy, I feel like a flag just got raised for characters I know to be here.
"Have you met them, Sakura?"
"Yes! Of course! Ah, no, Sho-kun, don't you dare."
"At the very least, I'm not thinking what you're thinking."
"Honestly! What do you think of me, Sho-kun!?"
I guess this is how she'd turn out even after being freed from the Matou family.
We had that kind of mundane conversation in the car.
It was a 30-minute drive to our destination. It was a building in a regular city block, not what you'd expect to be a hideout for a heinous criminal.
----------
"So this is it..."
"Yes, I guess he really did live in a normal-looking place like this."
Sakura said, her voice filled with emotion.
Following the address the zombie had given us, we found a building that looked very similar to my own house. The first floor was a garage with stairs leading up.
"You never know where a criminal might be hiding. Everyone, are you ready?"
Testarossa-san's expression didn't change as she prepared for the assault. However, an uncontrollable anger blazed in her eyes. I could feel a strong will to not forgive this crime, even within her calm demeanor.
The other investigators seemed to feel the same. Their hands gripped the weapons they were taking out.
"Alright, let's go."
At her signal, we broke the lock and entered.
"Welcome, customers."
"We've been waiting for you."
The inside wasn't particularly strange. The entrance was no different from my own house or any of the countless others that must exist in this world. There were no scattered trash bags or strange smells. In fact, the flooring, shelves, and even the small items placed on them were completely dust-free. It was as if the place had been meticulously cleaned to welcome guests.
But standing in the middle of this perfectly normal scene were two out-of-place, strange figures. Their demeanor was different from the girl I had met at Riko's shop. These two were professionals in worn-out maid outfits.
The two of them raised their heads, which had been bowed low. When I saw their faces, I was probably the only one who was hit with another wave of shock.
Is that... Rem and Ram!?
The two girls, who looked very similar as they were twins, watched us with emotionless, unreadable expressions. Since they were in this house, they had to be connected to that guy, but they didn't seem to have any intention of doing anything to us.
These two are characters from Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-. In that world, they also work together as maids in a mansion. The two are twins, with Ram being the older sister and Rem the younger.
Were these two also summoned? The possibility of them not being so seemed low.
The tension of the assault was shattered by this unexpected turn of events, and all of us, including me, froze. The first to regain her composure was Testarossa-san.
"I am Fate T. Harlaown of the Bureau's Special Division 6. Please do not resist. This investigation is being conducted under a formal order. Any resistance will be met with force."
She said this in a strong tone. A normal person would have been terrified and just nodded, but the two maids in front of us didn't even change their expressions.
In fact, they said,
"Please, this way."
"Our master is waiting."
They seemed to be guiding us further into the house.
"Sho-kun, what's going on...?"
"I don't know..."
They were too composed to be victims. There was no sense of relief from having been freed from that man. It was as if they were just performing their duties in a business-like manner. And their master? Who were they talking about? Didn't they know that guy had already been captured?
"Standing here won't help. Let's proceed with caution."
Following the backs of Rem and Ram, who were waiting for us, we walked further inside.
Still, it wasn't a particularly large house. Plus, it had the same layout as the one we lived in. I immediately knew where we were headed. The place where everyone usually relaxes, the living room.
"They are waiting for you here."
Just as I thought, we were led to the living room. We had come to investigate, but I was starting to feel the illusion that we had strayed far from our original purpose.
"It's huge..."
The room was several times the size of our own living room. It made sense since the house expanded every time a girl was summoned. It was possible the living room had the same function. Which also meant that the man had summoned a staggering number of girls.
This room was also immaculately clean. And above all, it showed signs of use. Did the girl living in this house use this place on a daily basis? If so, why was there no sign of her since we entered the house?
In that living room, a woman was sitting alone, reading a book. The hardcover's title was written in English. Her eyes behind the thin metal-framed glasses followed the text, completely unconcerned with our arrival. Her frame was slender, but she didn't give off a fragile impression. She was dressed in a simple suit, and even in her normal movements, I could feel a certain intensity that a regular person wouldn't have.
"I am Fate T. Harlaown of the Bureau's Special Division 6. Please do not resist. This investigation is being conducted under a formal order. Any resistance will be met with force."
Fate-san repeated the exact same line she had used before to the person in front of her. The officers and I were already on guard. The person in front of us was definitely an enemy. Everyone's intuition was in agreement.
"Will you cooperate with our investigation? If so—"
"It seems my time here is up."
The woman closed her book and looked up. I didn't recognize her face. But the others did. Fate-san gasped.
"You... you're 'Rye,' the Class 1 criminal...!"
Is she a criminal in this world? Is she that guy's accomplice? Why is she so relaxed? Is she that confident in her own abilities? Or is there some kind of trap set up?
"Oh, you know who I am. That's not very pleasant. I'd rather enjoy my life in peace."
"Don't move. An arrest warrant has already been issued for you."
Fate-san's face immediately shifted into combat mode. This must mean she's a formidable opponent.
I asked Sakura, who was standing next to me with a tense expression.
"Yes. She was a Butei, but now she's a hitman."
"It seems everyone has come to know me now. I hate that."
"There haven't been any records of her activities for the past two years, so it was thought she might be dead..."
According to the Butei Law, murder is prohibited—but that doesn't apply to every country. There are some Butei who specialize in killing.
Those Butei often fall into the life of a hitman. This woman must be one of them.
"In her case, she went too far. There was a time when two organizations hired her, and she wiped out both of them. Her willingness to accept requests regardless of whether they were from anti-social forces is what led to her current situation."
"Yozuki-san. That can wait."
Fate-san scolded us, as if to say this wasn't the time for a lesson.
She activated the Dark Magic, Magia Elevea, and glared at the woman.
"The Stand ability. That's why I came to this island. Although, I only learned that name after I got here."
Rye continued her monologue, ignoring us completely.
"As you said, I've been living quietly for two years. I've reflected on my actions. I should have been more careful. I have to control myself from standing out unnecessarily—"
I launched a Tusk with my fangs. The people around me were slightly taken aback by my actions. Why?
"Didn't you hear what Officer Testarossa said? This isn't the time for a chat."
There was a high possibility that this monologue was just her stalling for time. Furthermore, if Rye had a Stand ability, we could suffer a major blow from an unknown power.
I aimed for her hands. There was no way I would miss.
In front of me, Rye was supposed to be crouching in pain—
"You're quite impetuous, boy."
I heard a voice right next to my ear and reflexively attacked my blind spot. The no-look elbow I copied from Aria smashed through the living room wall.
But the enemy wasn't there. I missed... again!
"You're right, I am a Stand user."
Rye was sitting on a chair some distance away. There wasn't a single scratch on her body or her clothes.
"For me, someone who felt stuck in life, the Stand ability changed everything. I am here and yet I am not. I became a being that doesn't exist anywhere."
We were probably already under the influence of her Stand. This team is top-notch. We're not weak enough to be defeated by just any ability. This is bad. She got the first move.
"This was my castle. My own quiet world. But... I guess it can't be helped now."
"Do you really think you can get away after we've seen your face and name?"
"You can't possibly capture me."
At that moment, a Stand appeared behind Rye.
----------
"Gah! What the... where am I? Wait, I think..."
I went to investigate that zombie's house today... and we went inside. Then, what happened?
"I can't remember..."
That's strange. Is this some kind of memory loss, like Kamijo-san? I hope I haven't forgotten anything important.
Wait, this looks like one of the girls' rooms in my house. Why am I sleeping in her bed? That's weird.
And for some reason, I'm holding a pen. Oh, the cap came off. The ink is all over my hand because I gripped the tip.
Hm, no, it looks like something is written here. Who wrote this and how... when did I give them an opening? Something's not right.
The word 'strange' is about to collapse on me. This is the third time.
"..."
...Why am I sleeping in a girl's bedroom?
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