Following the mysterious mass outbreak of annihilation factors, Mushiki, as Saika, paid a visit to the medical facilities in the Garden's eastern precinct.
The Garden's medical building was a large five-storied building, though in truth, it wasn't much different than a major hospital. The students who had been in the training hall during the attack were now gathered on the first floor.
That said, at first glance, none seemed to be badly injured. Even the worst among them had sustained nothing more than scratches or bruises. Rather than urgent medical treatment, the most prudent course of action was to give them all checkups as a precaution.
"Oh, Saika. That was a total disaster, no?"
Interrupting Mushiki's thoughts, a young girl clothed in a large white coat with a light underwear-like outfit underneath approached him from the back of the building.
It was Erulka Flaera, a mainstay of the Garden's knights. Incidentally, Mushiki remembered hearing that her usual role was overseeing the Garden's medical department.
"Ah, Erulka."
As Mushiki turned around, the students watching stood up straight in awe. Erulka, no doubt noticing their heightened attention, waved, the sleeves of her lab coat flapping delicately. "All right, all right," she said. "Don't overdo it if you're injured."
She glanced around, stroking her chin. "Hmm. Looks like we have a lot of patients. Which of you should we start with, I wonder…?"
With that, she brought her fingers together to make a special sign—and two red tattoo-like patterns appeared on her skin.
"Second Substantiation: Horkew."
No sooner did Erulka murmur those words than several creatures appeared around her—wolves complete with glowing fur and emblazoned with patterns similar to Erulka's crest.
There must have been more than a dozen of them in total, and they wasted no time responding to their summoner's gestured instructions and approaching the students gathered in the center of the room.
Sniffing their targets over, they began to lick the scratches and grazes that covered the students' bodies.
"Eh? Wh-what?"
"Bah! Ha-ha…!"
More than a few of the students contorted themselves in laughter at this tickling form of treatment.
"Keep quiet for a moment," Erulka cautioned the wolves, and with that, their tongues took on a faint glow, the wounds that they were seeing to slowly fading away.
"…"
Mushiki stared wide-eyed. He had heard about this technique from Kuroe, but even with that knowledge, he couldn't contain his amazement witnessing it with his own eyes.
"Hmm. I think we can leave this to my wolves here. This way, Saika. I know you wouldn't let an annihilation factor of that level harm you in any way, but just in case…"
"Huh?"
"The students are one thing, but we can't leave a mage of your caliber to my wolves, now, can we?"
"Ah. Oh." With that exclamation, Mushiki let Erulka lead him to an examination room at the end of the floor.
It was a small room, equipped with a desk, a cot, and two chairs. Erulka sat Mushiki down on the chair, then took a seat in the one across from him.
"Now, then." With a practiced motion, she grabbed the hem of Mushiki's gym top and pulled it up, exposing his abdomen and more to the open air.
"…?!"
He was doing his best to act as Saika would, but he couldn't stop his eyes from opening wide in surprise at her sudden action.
Erulka broke into a puzzled frown.
For a moment, Mushiki was gripped by a fear that he had failed to properly maintain character, but he soon realized he was mistaken. Rather, Erulka's gaze was fixed on his—or strictly speaking, Saika's—voluptuous breasts, poking out now that she had lifted his gym top.
"Hmm? Why aren't you wearing a bra?"
"Ah." Mushiki let out a soft gasp.
He was wearing proper women's sportswear, but that wasn't because he had changed clothes after transforming into Saika. As much as he would have liked to keep his true identity hidden, he simply hadn't had time to change.
According to Kuroe, clothes made from spirit thread, such as the school's uniforms and gym outfits, were enchanted to change shape to match the contours of their wearer—in this case, they had adjusted themselves when he had morphed from boy to girl.
However, this only meant that a men's shirt would become a women's one, that a pair of shirts and gym shorts would become more fitting. It didn't mean that new articles of clothing would appear where they hadn't been before.
Yes. In short, Mushiki, having transformed into Saika without having had time to prepare, was presently in a state of being braless.
"Ah, no, about that…" His eyes swam around in circles as he tried to conjure up some explanation that might be fitting of Saika's personality.
Though no matter how hard he thought, all he could come up with were sloppy excuses, careless reasons, or perverse oversights. Not one of them seemed plausible coming from Saika.
He was at a complete loss when Erulka's lips twisted in a grin.
"Well, they are a hassle, aren't they? I understand. If not for that Ruri, I wouldn't be wearing anything under my lab coat, either."
"…Ah-ha…"
Mushiki felt as if he had just been the subject of an uncomfortable misunderstanding, but he couldn't afford to protest now, so he offered only a vague smile.
It wasn't long before that smile gave way to startlement all over again.
Reason being—Erulka…was licking his belly.
"Hyargh…?!"
Before he knew it, he had let out a high-pitched squeal, pulling away.
Erulka stared up at him in wonder. "What was with that strange voice just now?"
"Ah, um… Erulka, what are you…?"
"Odd. A medical examination, of course. Sweat tells me a lot more than just words," Erulka said, fixing him with a strange look. "Saika… Are you feeling well…?"
"Huh? Wh-why do you ask?"
"Hmm. You just taste a little different than usual."
"…!"
Mushiki's heart seemed to skip a beat.
Had Erulka realized he wasn't, in fact, entirely Saika…?
"Hmm…? Let me try again…"
"H-hold on a—"
With a smack of her lips, Erulka tried once more to stick her head beneath Mushiki's top, leaving him to push her head away in a panic.
He had no desire to continue this medical examination, as she put it, and have his true identity be revealed—and more importantly, his heart was still racing from when she had last licked him. If he wasn't careful, he could end up turning back into his own body directly in front of her.
"What are you doing? Do behave yourself, now."
"No, I'm okay, really, so…"
As the two of them engaged in a quiet game of cat and mouse inside the cramped examination room, there came an unexpected knock at the door.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Ms. Erulka, but can I have a moment of your time?"
The next moment, a woman—a nurse, judging by her appearance—opened the door slightly.
Glancing up, Erulka arched an eyebrow in suspicion before quickly rising to her feet.
"Hmm. I'll be back in a moment. Stay right here," she said, pointing toward Mushiki as she left the room.
After watching her step outside, Mushiki breathed a sigh of relief. "That was…a close one…?"
The next moment, his body let out a faint glow, and he underwent another state conversion, shifting from his Saika mode back to his Mushiki mode.
Erulka really had been called outside in the nick of time. If not for that nurse's intervention, he may very well have transformed just as Erulka's tongue roved across his skin.
Nonetheless, he still couldn't let down his guard. As much as he hated leaving her high and dry, he would have to make a run for it before she came back.
Just as he reached out to open the door—
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Saika."
"Ugh."
After what seemed like only the briefest of interruptions, the door swung open, and Erulka stepped back inside.
Mushiki leaped backward in shock.
"Hmm?" Erulka glanced curiously around for a moment before stepping outside again to double-check the room number.
Finally, she directed her gaze to Mushiki. "Who are you? Where did Saika go?"
"Oh, um, well, she said something about having some urgent business to see to, so she left early. I was just walking by, so she asked me to let you know…"
Erulka let out a sigh, almost as though suspecting he was trying to pull one over on her. "I told her to wait. It's always the same with that one…"
Mushiki had thought it a rather pitiful excuse, but it looked like Erulka had bought it. He let out a relieved exhale and dipped his head. "In that case, I'll—"
"Hmm? Ah…"
Just as he was about to slip past her, Erulka's eyebrows twitched.
"Hold on a second."
"…! W-was there anything else?" Mushiki stammered, his legs weighing him down as they stopped moving.
Suspicious, Erulka sniffed the air. "Have we met before?"
"I—I don't think so. Why do you ask?"
"There's something familiar about your scent…" She fell silent, pondering for a moment, before pointing back to the chair. "Sit."
"Huh?"
"I said sit. You're one of the students from the training hall, no? I'm free right now. I'll give you a special examination."
"Huh? M-me?"
"Just sit down already. Quickly now."
"…Right."
He would only serve to draw further attention to himself by refusing her any more than he already had, so resigning himself to his fate, Mushiki sat down in the chair.
Then, with a slight warmth rising in his cheeks, he began to roll up his gym shirt… He would have been lying if he had said he wasn't embarrassed, but at least he was unlikely to undergo another state conversion from his Mushiki mode back to his Saika one, so he would probably be okay.
Having affirmed his resolve, he waited—when Erulka stared back at him blankly.
"What are you doing?"
"…Huh? I thought you licked your patient's stomach when you examined them?"
Erulka's eyes opened wide at this remark, and she guffawed. "Ha-ha-ha, don't tell me you heard that from Saika? That's just for her."
"…Ah. Right…"
He had acted too hastily. Feeling even more embarrassed, he reluctantly lowered his rolled-up gym shirt.
At that moment, Erulka grabbed him by the hand. "And yet…even if Saika did tell you, it takes a certain amount of courage to roll up your shirt like that and expose yourself to a stranger. I wouldn't have expected such confidence from one with a face like yours… Very well. Perhaps this is fate, of a sort? Just for you, I'll give you a special lick."
"Huh? Uh… Eh?!" Mushiki cried out.
In a manner that didn't at all suit her petite frame and youthful appearance, Erulka gave him a lewd smile. "Now, then… Where should we begin?"
"Ugh, um, hold on a—"
Resistance is futile, she all but declared as she licked his abdomen. Mushiki let out a startled shriek.
At that moment, Erulka's eyebrows shot up in suspicion.
"…Hmm? This taste…"
"…!" Mushiki caught his breath.
Erulka, having licked his sweat while he was in Mushiki mode, seemed ill at ease. Could she have realized something?
"Hmm…? Perhaps it's just my imagination. Let me take another—"
"S-sorry, I really have to go…!"
"Stop! Wait!"
As Mushiki rushed to leave the examination room, Erulka reached out to grab him by his gym clothes.
"I-I'm fine! I'm completely uninjured!"
"I don't care! Just let me lick you! Come on, take off your clothes!"
"Aaahhh! Nooo!"
"Come on, it will all be over soon! Just lie down and count the stains on the ceiling!"
Once again, a fresh cat-and-mouse game, a new rough-and-tumble had erupted in the examination room.
Beyond the door, the other students in the waiting room could easily make out the pair's raised voices.
Afterward, rumors that Knight Erulka Flaera had been trying to get physical with a male student spread like wildfire, but at this moment in time, Mushiki was in no state to worry about such things.
"I've been looking all over for you, Mushiki. Where on earth have you been?"
About ten minutes after the attack in the examination room, Kuroe called out to Mushiki as he staggered down the corridors of the medical building.
"…And what made you transform again in such a short period of time? And why do your gym clothes look so worn-out? I take my eyes off you for a couple of minutes… Just what did you get up to? Something dirty, I'm sure…" Kuroe stared at him, her eyes filled with disdain.
Mushiki shook his head. "No, you've got the wrong idea, Kuroe."
After he explained the situation to her, Kuroe watched him through half-open eyes. "I see. Knight Erulka, you said? She hasn't learned your true identity, I hope?"
"No. It was a close call, but I don't think she caught on…"
Kuroe breathed a sigh of relief.
That respite was short-lived, though. Her expression quickly turned grim. "Mushiki. We need to talk. But there are too many people here. Please come with me."
"Huh? Ah, okay." He followed her down the medical building corridors.
Eventually, they arrived at a deserted area. Kuroe glanced around to make sure they were alone before speaking. "We will have to wait for the investigation department's report to know the details, but it appears that today's mass outbreak of annihilation factors may have been man-made."
"What…?" Mushiki's eyes shot open. "Are you saying those dragons attacked us on someone's orders?"
"I wouldn't go so far as to say that someone was directly using them. However, it's possible that the timing and location of the annihilation factors were somehow manipulated—or that a great number of annihilation factors were transferred to a single location."
"But how…? And aren't annihilation factors capable of destroying the whole world? Who would…?" But before Mushiki could finish that sentence, he suddenly fell silent.
No doubt having realized the same thing that he had, Kuroe gave him a brief nod. "Yes. A trick like that couldn't be pulled off by any ordinary mage. However…"
It was exactly as she said.
The same mage who had attacked both Saika and Mushiki could very well have been behind this latest incident.
"If you stop to think about it, it was exquisitely put together. A swarm of annihilation factors each of a level that they could easily be defeated individually. However, by the time they were all dealt with, there was a very real possibility that the students would be put in harm's way…"
"…So what you're saying is…," Mushiki began solemnly.
Kuroe nodded. "It was beautifully staged to confirm whether the Lady Saika currently present at the Garden is the real thing—to see whether you were capable of using her fourth substantiation."
"…So I'm…?" Mushiki fell silent, looking upset.
Kuroe, her eyes downcast, shook her head. "There is no need for you to feel responsible, Mushiki. If you hadn't acted, the students could have been injured. No doubt if Lady Saika was here, she would have done exactly the same thing. No, you should be proud, I think, that you successfully pulled off her fourth substantiation on such short notice."
"I know, right? This really is Saika's body, huh?"
"But it is strange. When you talk honestly, it makes me think that you do care a little." Kuroe sighed.
As she watched him through half-open eyes, Mushiki folded his arms in thought. "But this is bad, isn't it? If that really was caused by whoever attacked Saika and me…"
"Yes. They would have been able to confirm that Lady Saika is still alive. That said, we wouldn't have been able to keep that a secret forever. The truth would have come out sooner or later. Although…" Kuroe paused for a moment. "There is a certain course of action only available to us now that we know the assailant is aware of Lady Saika's survival."
"A certain course of action…?" Mushiki repeated.
"Yes," Kuroe answered before briefly explaining what she had in mind.
"…I see. But wouldn't that be pretty dangerous?" he asked.
"I won't deny it. But if we succeed, we should be able to fully identify your attacker or attackers. It's worth a try." With that, Kuroe spun around with a click of her heels. "I will examine any lingering traces left behind in the training hall. You, Mushiki, should return to your classes. In your present excited state, I doubt you will undergo another state conversion anytime soon."
"Um, Kuroe…?" Mushiki called out, but she had already disappeared down the corridor without looking back.
"…"
Left to himself, Mushiki stood there in stunned silence for a moment. After deciding that it would do him no good to remain that way forever, he started toward the medical treatment area, when—
"Mushikiii!"
"Huh?!"
No sooner did he step out from the room than a figure leaped out in front of him, the surprise sending him falling flat on his butt.
"Owww… Wh-what?" Mushiki frowned.
The girl now sitting astride him—Ruri—breathed an audible sigh of relief. "Mushiki! Ah, thank goodness you're okay…!"
She was out of breath as though having run all the way there, her sportswear damp with sweat. Judging by the redness around her eyes, it looked like she had been crying.
"Ruri…?"
"Don't scare me like that! When I lost sight of you, I—"
She stopped there, no doubt realizing that she and Mushiki were attracting considerable attention from the students and medical staff around them.
"…Come over here for a minute," she said brusquely, rising to her feet and tugging at his hand.
She led him out of the medical building, only releasing him once they had circled around to the back.
"I'm amazed you survived all that. I really thought you were dead," she said sullenly, folding her arms.
Mushiki's eyes opened wide. "Huh? You're acting different, aren't you? You seemed so worried…"
"What are you talking about? I wasn't worried…" Ruri played dumb, before her gaze sharpened. "Anyway, do you get it now? How dangerous it is to be a mage here at the Garden? I don't know how you found out about this place, but you're just not up to it. So pack your bags and get out of here. Forget everything you've seen here and go and live your life in peace," she ordered, pointing her finger right under his nose.
It was a sensible suggestion, but Mushiki found himself letting out a groan. "I'm sorry, Ruri. I know I'm not good enough. But I can't leave. I've got my own reasons."
"Reasons…? What reasons?" she demanded, squinting back at him.
Of course, he couldn't tell her the truth.
So he gave more pretext.
"Well… I've kind of…fallen in love with someone."
"Huh?" Ruri stared back at him blankly for a moment before—
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!"
Her scream was so loud it could probably be heard from up in the heavens.
"Wh-wh-what the heck?! Y-you mean there's someone here, at the Garden, who you like?! You decided to become a mage just to get close to them?!"
"Um, yeah. The details are a little different, but that's basically it…"
"Ngh…?!" Ruri's eyebrows seemed to shoot halfway up her forehead, her eyes spinning in their sockets. "Th-that's…insane! Are you that stupid?! You threw yourself onto a real-life battlefield for something like that…?!"
"Sorry. But right now, nothing matters to me more."
"…" Ruri bit her lip in frustration at this last remark.
Almost as though she wanted to say something more.
She seemed to have second thoughts but ended up shaking her head. "N-nope, I can't accept it. That's just so, so…"
Looking conflicted, she seemed ready to say more—but having remembered something important, Mushiki interrupted her before she could continue.
"Right, Ruri. There's something I need to ask you."
"…Wh-what?" she demanded with a quizzical frown.
"I'm heading outside the Garden on Saturday, so if you're free, do you mind tagging along?"
"…Eh?" She stared back at him blankly for a while.
As her brain finally registered the meaning of his words, her eyes rounded in shock. "Wh-wh-what's that supposed to mean, all of a sudden?! Why would I—?"
"So it's no good? I really do need your help, though," Mushiki added.
"Ngh…?!"
In what seemed like less than a second, her face turned bright red. "D-don't tell me… This person you're chasing after; you don't mean—"
Then mumbling something under her breath, she turned her body away from him.
"Ruri?"
"…I-I'll think about it…! I'm thinking…!" she shouted as she wagged a finger under his chin before taking off down the pathway at a run.
◇ ◇ ◇
"Hizumiii!" Ruri cried out at the top of her lungs as she slammed open the door to her dormitory room after classes.
Hizumi, who had returned to their room ahead of her, glanced timidly over her shoulder. "Huh?! Wh-what…?! Ah, Ruri? Good work tidying up after the attack. What's wrong?"
"It's an e-e-emergency! M-my brother!"
"Your brother…? You mean Kuga?"
"Right! That brother! H-h-he asked me out on a date!"
"A date…? But you're siblings? Don't you mean just talking together…?"
"No! He practically said it! I came to this Garden because I love you, Ruri!"
"Eh…eh?!" Hizumi exclaimed with alarm. "B-b-but…you're brother and sister… What…? Wh-what exactly did he say…?"
"He looked me right in the eye. And then he said: I need you, Ruri. And he had me cornered against a wall, I think…? Right… He was basically leaning over me all romantically… A-and then he lifted my face by my chin!"
Her interest piqued, Hizumi leaned forward, her cheeks having turned faintly pink. "W-wow… Despite his looks, Kuga sounds really up-front and assertive…"
"Wh-what am I supposed to do?! I've never been on a date before…!"
"Why are you asking me of all people…? Well, um, just so we're clear, you are thinking of going, right?"
"Of course! Why do you ask? I mean, my own brother invited me! I have to go!"
"No, I just mean… It sounds like he was hitting on you, is all."
"I get that… It's complicated, you know?! But that's that, and this is this!"
"R-right…" Hizumi scratched nervously at her reddened cheeks before asking: "Um… So when is it?"
"Saturday!"
"Saturday… A day off school, then. Well, you can't wear your uniform. First of all, you'll have to pick out something nice to wear, I suppose…?"
"That's it! Smart thinking, Hizumi! You know your stuff!"
"I wouldn't go that far…" Something about Hizumi's expression suggested she didn't totally agree with that assessment, but Ruri ignored her as she threw open the closet doors and began to sift carefully through the underwear folded up inside.
"The basics first. The top and bottom have to match… Maybe blue, like what I usually go with? Or maybe I should be a little more daring and try black…? Or I could use the garters I bought just for this kind of occasion…?!"
"Hold on, Ruri. You're jumping the gun a little."
"…! You're absolutely right. Thank you. I was so excited I got ahead of myself. The real ace in the hole isn't erotic lingerie, but neat white underwear."
"That isn't what I meant."
"You're always so cool and reserved, Hizumi. I'm so grateful, you know? You're always here for me, my good friend—"
"Could you put yourself in the shoes of this good friend for a minute?" Hizumi said in all seriousness, her expression sullen. "Why are you going on about underwear all of a sudden…? Why don't we start from the outside…? Hold on; is there really a chance he might see them…?"
"Well, you know… He's my brother… And it's not like he should have eyes for his own sister, but still…"
"H-how lewd…" Hizumi covered her mouth with her hands as her face turned bright red. She quickly shook her head as though to dispel unwanted thoughts. "How's this, Ruri? If this is what you want, I'll support you. But don't let yourself get carried away. You have to look after yourself, all right…?"
"Yep… Got it. I guess I'll go with gift catalogues with vouchers to give to the guests at our wedding instead of commemorative plates…"
"You're jumping the gun again!" Hizumi couldn't help but cry out loud.
◇ ◇ ◇
That Saturday, at nine thirty in the morning—
"Here we go!"
Knight Ruri Fuyajoh, dressed in her finest clothes, set out from the Garden.
After completing all the formalities to leave the grounds, she passed through the main gate. Glancing over her shoulder, the huge school buildings and its various ancillary facilities that she had left behind just a moment earlier had been transformed now into a regular everyday school.
Of course, they hadn't really been transformed. Due to an illusion designed to conceal the Garden from the outside, they had simply been disguised as something else.
Returning her gaze to the road ahead, she let out a sigh to calm herself and started down the footpath.
Her destination was the plaza in front of the station, where she had agreed to meet Mushiki. From the Garden, it should take her around fifteen minutes to reach it. Their rendezvous was scheduled for ten o'clock, so she ought to have plenty of time to spare.
That said, she had to consciously slow her steps to keep from walking too fast. If she didn't, she would have ended up skipping along at a brisk pace.
Only that was understandable.
After all… Today she was going on a date with Mushiki.
"…"
She had to muster her iron will to suppress the bubbly feelings welling up inside her.
It wouldn't do to look too excited. If Mushiki saw her in such a state, he would end up taking advantage of her.
Exactly. That was that. This was this. While she might have accepted his invitation to go on a date, she was still committed to getting him kicked out of the Garden.
So she had to keep her cool today. No matter how much fun she was having, she couldn't let it show. She made sure to carve that thought into her mind.
However…
"…"
She walked for fifteen minutes with those thoughts jostling around in her head. Yet the second she spotted Mushiki at their arranged meeting place, she all but forgot her previous self-remonstrations as her heart skipped a beat.
No doubt having noticed her, Mushiki glanced her way. "Ruri!" he called out.
"…!"
She jumped in surprise but quickly feigned composure and adopted a moody pose.
"What's the matter now? You ought to be thanking me for even coming, no?"
Having heard that, Mushiki's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at her. "You're beautiful," he said. "You surprised me when I first saw you."
"…?!"
Ruri felt the blood rushing to her head, and she pulled away sharply at this unexpected compliment.
Not a second later, however, she slapped herself on the cheek to control her expression.
"R-Ruri?" Mushiki asked.
"Never mind. It was just a mosquito. Anyway, where are we going…?"
Before she could finish that question, she fell silent, blinking several times over.
There was another figure standing behind Mushiki—Saika's attendant, Kuroe Karasuma.
"Good morning," the plain-clothed Kuroe said with a short bow.
Ruri likewise bobbed her head in response. "Hmm? Ah, right. Hi."
Then, a few seconds later—
"Wait, whaaat?!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Wh-what's wrong, Ruri?" Mushiki asked, pulling away at her sudden outcry.
"Isn't that my line?! What's Kuroe doing here?!"
"What…? Because we're going out together."
"Hah…?!" Ruri's eyes widened even more when she heard this.
"…What?" she began to mutter under her breath, her hands trembling. "What's the meaning of this…? Together…? A three-person date? Don't tell me he was into Kuroe, not me? Then why invite me here…? Is he just trying to flaunt some lovey-dovey relationship…?! No, no, no, you have to keep cool, Ruri Fuyajoh. A mage can't afford to lose her nerve… You've got to consider all the possibilities…"
She rested her hands on her forehead and fell to pondering with a serious look.
Mushiki couldn't make out what she was saying, but he understood at some vague level that she was taken aback by Kuroe's presence.
Although that didn't make any sense. Without Kuroe, today's investigation would have been impossible.
For a moment, he let his mind take him back to the conversation he'd had with Kuroe a few days earlier, just after the attack by the annihilation factors.
"There is a certain course of action only available to us now that we know the assailant is aware of Lady Saika's survival."
"A certain course of action…?"
"Yes. An investigation outside the walls of the Garden. Until now, we have remained within the Garden to try to keep Lady Saika's survival a secret from your assailant. However, if the truth has already been exposed, that strategy is rendered useless. So let's return to the site where she was attacked and examine any lingering traces of magical energy. Of course, we will need a knight to escort us…"
So when Mushiki had stumbled upon Ruri shortly after parting ways with Kuroe, he had asked her to join them. Kuroe had been unusually appreciative of his quick thinking.
Seeing Ruri's reaction now, Kuroe cupped her chin in her hand. "Hmm…" Then she slid across to Mushiki, leaning close to his ear. "You mentioned that you had convinced her to join us, but she doesn't seem entirely satisfied by this arrangement. In that case, there is nothing we can do about it. We shall have to set out alone, just the two of us."
"Huh?"
"What…?!"
Ruri's eyes snapped wide open at the sound of the word alone. "Wh-why would you say that?! I don't mind!"
"No, please, there's no need for you to go out of your way. I can escort my darling Mushiki—ahem—by myself."
"Darling?! Did you just call him your darling?!" Ruri cried in shock. After pulling at the roots of her hair, she leaped toward Mushiki and snatched him away. "All right, all right, got it! Argh, I don't get it! Let's just go already, all right?!" she said in a desperate tone.
Mushiki didn't exactly follow, but it looked like they were ready to go, so he breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you. I was afraid you wouldn't want to join us," he said, flashing her a smile.
"Nggghhh!" Ruri let out a smothered cough.
"It looks like that worked," Kuroe said in a small voice as she watched from the sidelines.
"Kuroe… Why did you say that?" Mushiki asked in an equally low whisper.
"There seems to have been some misunderstanding," Kuroe explained. "She may have gone home if I didn't put on an act, so I decided to fan the flames a little."
"Ah, I see…"
"And also…"
"Yes?"
"Knight Fuyajoh's reaction was somewhat amusing."
"…"
Mushiki couldn't help but think that was the main reason behind her choice of words…but he tried to convince himself that he was just imagining things.
While the two of them were busy whispering back and forth, Ruri, it seemed, had managed to regain her composure and now turned her attention back to them.
"…So where are we going?" she asked. "To see a movie? The aquarium? Or maybe something adventurous, like an amusement park?"
"Huh?" Mushiki stared back at her blankly.
Ruri's lips twitched in disapproval. "Hah? So you invited me here with no plan at all? You really are hopeless, huh…?"
"N-no, I do have a plan. We're just not going anywhere like that today. We have somewhere more important to go."
"More important…?" Ruri muttered before suddenly choking up, her cheeks turning bright red, as though her thoughts had just led her to the wrong conclusion.
"I-it's a little too soon for that, no?! And Kuroe's here, too!"
"…? Yeah, we need her to join us for it."
"…! So you planned this from the beginning…? Er, you can't mean you want her to watch…?! Or that you want me to watch…?!" she exclaimed in confusion, breaking out in a sweat.
Mushiki tilted his head and reached out toward her. "What are you doing, Ruri? Let's go?"
"Huh? Ah, um, er…" With a hesitant nod, she took his hand in her own.
Her whole body was trembling all over.
At that moment, Mushiki realized something. She was trying to hold hands with him just like they used to as children.
"Ah, sorry. But you're a high schooler now."
"…! Wh-what does that matter?! If you want to hold hands, I'm not going to stop you!"
"No, I wasn't trying to—"
"Mushiki! I don't care! If you want to, I won't stop you!" Ruri shouted, emphasizing each and every word.
Mushiki could only watch on in bewilderment.
Kuroe, by his other side, acted natural, and as she took off at a walk, she said, "All right. Let's go."
"Ah, yeah."
"Wait for meee!" Ruri called after them as the two began to leave.
"What…? Kuroe, what are you…?!"
"I've nothing more to say," Kuroe responded, her tone of voice as calm as could be.
"Ngh…" Ruri could only gnash her teeth in frustration. Even so, she seemed to quickly make up her mind, and as her face turned bright red, she grabbed Mushiki's right hand in her own. "L-let's go."
"Eh? Ah… Right."
So holding hands with Kuroe on his left and Ruri on his right, Mushiki began to make his way past the square in front of the station and down the main street.
Holding hands with not one but two girls was attracting considerable attention from passersby. Nonetheless, he was moved by the fact that he had finally managed to return to the outside world after what seemed like an eternity.
It had only been a few days, but it felt like forever since he had last laid eyes on the familiar scenery, the nostalgic cityscape. He found himself catching his breath as he looked up into the sky and savored the feeling of having returned home filling his lungs.
"…Ah," Ruri exclaimed after a few minutes, seemingly having spotted something.
At the end of her line of sight was a food truck that sold crepes.
"Well, if that's what you want, I suppose I'll share a crepe with you!" she declared.
"I didn't say anything… But do you want one?" Mushiki answered with a forced smile.
Ruri puffed out her cheeks. "Isn't it natural to stop for a bite to eat when you invite a girl out on a date?"
"…Huh? But you don't normally eat all that much when you're out on a survey, do you…?"
The two of them watched each other for a long moment, both similarly confused.
Well, Mushiki thought, if she wanted a snack that badly, he didn't have any good reason to refuse.
He glanced across at Kuroe, as though asking permission. Having understood his unvoiced question, she nodded, her gaze fixed on the ground ahead of her.
"All right. We're here, so we might as well get something."
"Really?!"
Ruri's face lit up at once—before quickly turning grim again as she let out a huff. "W-well… We might as well, no? I mean, you're going to be leaving the Garden soon anyway, so let's treat it as a farewell gift. A last supper of sorts."
Mushiki felt strangely on edge. "Where did that come from…? Anyway, what flavors do you two want?"
"…Strawberries and cream."
"I'll have banana and chocolate."
Ruri and Kuroe said simultaneously as they both looked over the menu.
"Hmm. I guess I'll go with strawberries and cream, too," Mushiki said after giving it a little thought.
"…!" Ruri struck a victorious pose at this decision before peering at Kuroe with a look of triumph. "I knew it! Even if we haven't seen each other in years, we're still brother and sister, right? Maybe we have similar tastes? I'm sure we've got so much in common."
"…" Kuroe said nothing in response, her face expressionless… But for some reason, she looked slightly annoyed.
"Er, um… Right, I'm ordering, then."
After paying at the counter and receiving the crepes, the three of them sat at a nearby bench. Ruri on the right, Kuroe on the left, and Mushiki sandwiched in between.
"Well, let's dig in…"
He took a bite of his crepe, the spongy wrap filled with strawberries and whipped cream. The blend of rich sweetness and refreshing tartness created a perfect harmony in his mouth.
"Hmm… It's been a while since I last had a crepe. It tastes pretty good, huh?" he said.
"Yep." Ruri nodded. "And it's even more delicious eating it here with my brother!"
"Huh?"
"I said you should give up on becoming a mage and drop out of the Garden."
"What? That wasn't what I heard, though?"
Mushiki was visibly confused—but at that moment, Kuroe, chewing on a bite of her banana-and-chocolate crepe, glanced his way. "Hmm. I wonder what that one tastes like. Do you want to swap for a minute, Mushiki?"
"Ah, okay. Here you go." He held out his crepe, letting her take a bite.
Then Kuroe, likewise, offered him a taste of her own.
"Wh-whaaaaaat?!" Ruri screamed like a character in some horror comic.
"Whoa. You surprised me there. What's wrong, Ruri?"
"That's my line! How can you be doing that like it's so natural?! I mean, it's…it's basically…you know?!" she exclaimed, pointing back and forth between Mushiki and Kuroe.
"Ah," Mushiki let out after a long moment, his eyes widening in realization. "Now that you mention it…"
"Hmm. But there's no point making a fuss over a little indirect kiss after all we've done together," Kuroe said matter-of-factly.
"All we've done together?! All we've done together?!" Ruri gasped, her eyes swirling dangerously.
"Why worry about a light drizzle after you've just gone for a swim in the lake?" Kuroe asked her.
"Can you stop with the suggestive metaphors?!" Ruri screamed. "Nggghhh…" She groaned in frustration before holding out her own crepe. "Here, Mushiki! Take a bite of mine!"
"Huh…? But they're the same flavor."
"What…?!" Ruri let out a silent gasp. "Y-you planned this, Kuroe…!"
"What a rude accusation," Kuroe said with an unreadable glower.
Ruri, however, paid her no more attention, stuffing what remained of her crepe into her mouth and running back to the van to buy a fresh one.
Then, after taking a bite of her second one, she held it out to Mushiki. "It's tropical mango! You can't complain about this one, can you…?!"
"Um, I guess not…"
Feeling like he had little choice in the matter, Mushiki took a small bite of the new crepe.
"…Hee-hee-hee." Ruri chuckled as she, too, took another mouthful.
"…"
Mushiki did worry that she was eating a little too much…but the innocent smile she flashed him brought back fond memories.
◇ ◇ ◇
After spending a good three hours walking a route that should have taken no more than thirty minutes without distractions, Mushiki and the others finally arrived at the park next to their destination.
Apart from some time spent window-shopping and taking some photo stickers at the game arcade, the trip had been largely uneventful.
The three of them sat side by side on a park bench sipping at some iced tea they had bought from a vending machine.
"…Kuroe. I was walking down an alley near here when I wound up in some strange world," Mushiki whispered softly in her ear so Ruri wouldn't overhear them.
Giving him a small nod of understanding, Kuroe quickly rose to her feet. "Ruri, I need to find a restroom. I'll be back in a minute."
"Ah, okay. We'll wait here, then."
"Very well," Kuroe said before glancing toward Mushiki.
Sensing her intentions, Mushiki decided to follow her lead. "Ah, I'll go, too," he said, rising from the bench.
"Huh? You too? Have you had too much tea? Are you feeling all right? Are you giving up on becoming a mage?" Ruri asked inquisitively.
Her obsession with him leaving the Garden had practically become a fixed tagline at the end of her sentences.
Mushiki let out a forced chuckle as he waved his hands, before taking off in the direction of the public restrooms with Kuroe by his side—and then ducking quietly into the shadows.
Then, a little quicker on their feet, the two of them headed toward their real destination.
"Is it really safe to leave Ruri like this?" Mushiki asked.
"It is a risk, but we can't afford to let her see the scene of the crime, so it can't be helped. Let's wrap this up quickly so we can go back," Kuroe answered.
Mushiki nodded as they made their way down the street.
It wasn't long before the familiar alleyway opened up before him.
"It was around here, I believe?" Kuroe came to a stop, glancing around.
Mushiki's eyes opened wide in surprise. "How did you know?"
"Just a hunch," Kuroe answered as if it was a matter of course.
The alleyway was situated roughly halfway between his old school and his home and was most certainly the same area he had entered before getting lost in that urban labyrinth. It was a bit of a distance from the downtown area, so there weren't any pedestrians around, only the sound of the wind rustling through the nearby trees.
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary alley… But maybe Kuroe had another way of scanning it that remained as of yet unknown to him.
"…"
Kuroe glanced carefully around, then slowly fell to her knees and let her fingertips graze softly against the asphalt.
"We will need to examine the area in detail. Mushiki, give me a hand."
"Right. What do you want me to do?"
No sooner did he finish speaking than Kuroe stood up, her pace brisk as she pushed him against a nearby wall.
"Um, Kuroe…? Are you…?"
"Precisely. Once you've changed into Lady Saika's form, disperse the magical energy around you. With that catalyst, you can check for any remaining traces that were left behind on the same wavelength. That should help us to zero in on any traces of the fourth substantiation used at the time."
"But there must have been all kinds of comings and goings here since then… Besides, Ruri is waiting for us, and once I transform, it isn't exactly easy to change back."
"Don't worry about that. You're remarkably simple to deal with."
"How rude."
"No more grumbling, please. Open your mouth. I'll turn you into a girl."
"That could be easily misconstrued—ngh…"
Before he could finish his sentence, Kuroe pulled him down by the collar and initiated a forceful kiss.
All at once, a warmth took hold of his body, his skin radiating a faint glow… And with that, he became Saika. The clothes he was wearing, being woven from spirit thread, likewise adjusted to a women's fit.
"The Witch of Resplendent Color, Saika Kuozaki, will descend upon the world tonight," Mushiki said.
"…What kind of embarrassing quip is that?" Kuroe asked.
"I—I just thought it would be cool to have a catchphrase or something."
"There's no need… Now, let's get started. Stand in the middle of the road here."
"Right. Um… How do I disperse the magical energy, though?"
"As I've told you before, you have yet to bring your powers under control, Mushiki, and are constantly releasing small amounts of magical energy. It will be enough for you just to stand right there as you are. Just try not to do anything unnecessary. We wouldn't want a repeat of what happened in the classroom the other day."
"Hmm," he murmured as he approached the designated spot, adopting a fancy model-like pose.
"Standing normally will be fine," Kuroe said flatly.
"Huh? But—"
"Normal will be fine."
Mushiki's shoulders slumped in disappointment. He had thought it would look cool.
"In that case, let's begin." Kuroe raised a hand in front of her, took a deep breath, and then chanted, "First Substantiation: Eye of Inquiry."
With that, a crest spread around her neck like a collar, her eyes flashing with an inner light.
"…! Kuroe! Is that…?"
"A magical technique to analyze the composition and structure of targeted objects. I am, after all, a mage of the Garden."
As she spoke, her dimly glowing eyes took in the area around her.
"Tra-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la… ♪"
Sitting on the park bench, Ruri was humming a happy tune to herself as she shook her bottle of cold tea.
There was nothing unexpected about that. After all, she was out on a date with Mushiki.
How many years had it been since she had last gone exploring with him? This must have been their first time since she was in elementary school.
It wasn't like they were doing anything important today—just walking around town, stopping to get something to eat, and doing a little shopping. However, the mere addition of a little spice to her life—Mushiki—had been enough to make everything refreshingly, irresistibly fun. In fact, she had been looking forward to this so much that she had barely been able to get any sleep the past few days since receiving his invitation.
"…Hmm, no, wait. Calm down, calm down…," she muttered under her breath as she shook her head.
Yes, it was certainly true that she was having a good time on her date with Mushiki. Still, that didn't mean she could permit him to remain at the Garden. If she let it show just how happy she was, he might not take her objections seriously.
She clapped her cheeks in self-remonstration, then glanced back to the clock in the middle of the park.
"Huh? They're taking their time…," she muttered.
It would be a violation of basic etiquette to go snooping on them while they were both using the restroom, and normally, she would hardly worry about anything like this.
However, the fact that the two of them had both decided to go at the exact same time did have her a little on edge.
"…Th-they couldn't…"
At that moment, an unpleasant vision took hold of her brain.
She envisioned that Mushiki and Kuroe had both made their way toward the public restroom, but when the two of them were out of her sight, Kuroe licked her lips and looked at Mushiki with lewd smile.
"I'll be back in a minute, Kuroe."
"Oh-ho-ho… Whatever are you talking about, Mushiki? We've finally got some time alone, just the two of us."
"Huh?! Wh-what are you doing, Kuroe?! Ruri's just around the corner…!"
"Don't worry. I can't stand it, watching the two of you being lovey-dovey all day. Come here. I'll teach you what real pleasure feels like."
"Wha—?! Help, Ruri! Heeelp! Ruriii!"
"Damn you, Kuroe! Get your hands off my brother…!"
Ruri's eyes widened as she crushed the plastic bottle in her hand and took off with explosive force.
"…"
Roughly three minutes after deploying her first substantiation, Kuroe squinted and lowered her hands.
In perfect sync, the crest that had appeared around her neck likewise dissipated.
"Did you find anything, Kuroe?" Mushiki asked.
"…Yes. I detected Lady Saika's residual magical energy. It seems this is definitely where the incident took place. Fourth substantiation techniques are used to create their own miniature planes of existence, but they always have a starting point here in the real world." Despite that response, her tone and expression were stiff. "However, I can't detect any other traces of magical energy. Of course, I can sense weak amounts of mana, ubiquitous throughout the world, but nothing to suggest that a fourth substantiation was deployed…"
"Does that mean the perpetrator covered his tracks…? Or that they didn't use a fourth substantiation in the first place…?" Mushiki asked.
Kuroe stroked her chin before responding. "The former, if I had to guess… It's hard to imagine the latter situation, given the circumstances. However, it's equally hard to imagine using enough power to trigger a fourth substantiation and then erasing all trace of that… And there is something else here that is bothering me."
"What's that?"
"Lady Saika's residual magical energy is unusually dense. I can only assume that she was in the midst of deploying her own fourth substantiation."
"…Hold on; are you saying she was trying to use it against her attacker? And that whoever it was then got her and erased all evidence of the fact?"
"That wouldn't be possible," Kuroe said brusquely with a shake of her head. "If she had deployed her fourth substantiation, there is no way she could have lost."
"…Right."
He thought back to his duel with Anviet, then to what had happened during the attack by the annihilation factors, and broke out in a sweat.
"But in that case…what on earth happened?"
"…That is indeed the question. There is one possibility—"
But at that moment—
"Mushikiii! Kuroeee!"
Behind them, from the direction of the park, came a deafening cry followed by the sound of thunderous footsteps.
"Is that…Ruri?"
"…! Madam Witch?!"
By the time Mushiki turned around, Ruri was already running toward him. No doubt startled to see him—or rather, Saika—she slammed on the brakes and came to a quick stop. There were faint skid marks behind her, and smoke was rising from her feet.
"It's an honor to bump into you in a place like this! What are you doing out and about today, Madam Witch?!" she said with a bow.
Mushiki did his best to give her a vague smile. "A-ah. I decided to go out for a walk for a change. What brings you here, Ruri?"
Only then did Ruri let out a labored breath as though suddenly remembering something. "Right…! Madam Witch, have you seen my brother and Kuroe around here? I mean… Ah, you probably don't know him… Er, he's a boy, and Kuroe looks like she'll take advantage of him! And something about that just triggers my maternal instincts! I have to find them!"
"Huh? Oh… Um…?"
It sounded like she had come looking for the two of them. Wondering how best to answer, Mushiki looked to Kuroe—only to find she had disappeared.
Looking carefully, he spotted her lurking behind a fence some distance away. She must have hidden herself the second she had sensed Ruri approaching.
This called for an immediate decision. There was no denying that things would have been even more complicated if Kuroe, who was supposed to have gone to the bathroom, had instead been standing beside him.
"…" Kuroe attempted a silent gesture his way. Mushiki could only interpret it as the words Brush her off.
"Ah, Kuroe? I saw her a moment ago. Um…yes, I think she said something about finding a convenience store because the restroom in the park was so crowded…?"
"…! R-really?!" Ruri exhaled loudly in relief. "So I was overthinking it… I was so sure of it…"
"So sure of what?"
"Ah! N-nothing!" Ruri shook her head, her cheeks bright red.
Mushiki glanced over at Kuroe once more. This time, her hands seemed to be saying I'll join you later, so buy us some time. Apparently, she had something else she wanted to look into.
"Um… Ruri. If you don't mind, how about you join me for a short while?"
"Huh?! A-are you sure?!"
"Yes. I'm a little tired after all that walking. I was just about to take a break. But I don't want to interrupt you if you're busy."
"It's no interruption! P-please come this way!" Ruri seemed fearful but thankful at the same time as she motioned toward the park.
With that, Mushiki followed beside her as they made their way there at a slow pace.
"Could you wait here a moment, please…?" Ruri said once they arrived…before spreading a handkerchief on a bench in the shade of a tree.
"Please, after you," she said, gesturing.
"A-ah. Thank you."
It was a bit too much, but he felt guilty disrespecting the hospitality she was extending to him, so he availed himself of her kindness.
Nonetheless, even after he took the seat on the bench, Ruri continued to stand directly in front of him.
Sensing her intention to wait on him, Mushiki showed her a gentle smile. "Oh-ho, do sit down, Ruri. You'll make me feel uncomfortable doing that."
"…! M-my apologies…" With a look of utmost embarrassment, she sat beside him, her back straight.
The depths of her respect for Saika must have been considerable, Mushiki mused. He couldn't help but break into a smile as he watched her.
"Madam Witch…?"
"Oh. No, it's nothing… How have you been today? It's unusual for you to go out and about with Kuroe, no?"
Needless to say, Mushiki was fully aware of the situation. However, he would have to make sure that Ruri relayed it all to Saika for the conversation to proceed smoothly, so he made a point of asking her about her day.
Ruri blushed, scratching nervously at her cheek. "Ah… Well, to tell you the truth… Hee-hee-hee… I'm on a date with my brother…," she said shyly.
"Huh?" He stared back wide-eyed.
"Is something the matter?" Ruri tilted her head.
"Ah, no. Not at all." Mushiki shook his head in an attempt to brush his question aside.
The two of them had seemed to be talking at cross-purposes since morning, but to think things had gotten so misconstrued…
"Ah… So that's why you looked to be having so much fun, Ruri."
"Huh? Is it that obvious?! Uh-oh, this isn't good…" With that, Ruri began to rub her cheeks with her hands, as though hoping to change her facial expression.
"…? What isn't good? If you're enjoying yourself, you ought to let it show, no?"
"No, I can't. I am enjoying myself… But I can't let my brother know that."
"…? Why not?" Mushiki asked.
Ruri wore a troubled expression. "Well… While you were absent from class, we had two new transfer students join us… The first was Kuroe, and the second was Mushiki Kuga—my brother from the outside. I don't know how on earth he found out about the Garden…"
"Ah… Is that so?" he answered vaguely.
After all, it would be unusual for the headmistress not to know about any new transfer students, and Kuroe was, after all, Saika's own attendant. It would be best not to pretend that this was entirely new information.
"So I… It's hard for me to ask this of the head of the Garden… But I really don't want my brother to be a mage…"
"…Hmm," Mushiki hummed, crossing his arms. He already knew that. "Do you…dislike your brother, Ruri?"
"Not at all!" she cried back.
She immediately adopted a frightened look and shrugged. "S-sorry…"
"No, it's fine. But can you tell me why?" Mushiki asked.
Ruri looked conflicted but, making up her mind, began to speak: "It's a simple reason. Annihilation factors are capable of destroying the whole world, and the damage they cause is enormous. It isn't unusual for even relatively small annihilation factors to cause deaths numbering in the thousands in the blink of an eye. If they can be defeated within the window for reversible annihilation, that damage can be made like it never happened… But any mage who sees it for themselves will still be injured. And there's no way to undo death then… I can't lie to you, Madam Witch. As shameful as it is, that's the honest truth. I don't want my brother to get hurt. I don't want to lose him. I mean—I became a mage to protect him."
"…" Mushiki was at a loss for words at this confession.
"I know that once you've entered the Garden, you'll see an annihilation factor," Ruri continued, her gaze burning with determination. "But it can't be too late. There has to be a way. If we can block his access to magic and erase his memories, he should still be able to go back to the outside world. I'm glad he followed me all the way to the Garden, but I can't… I can't…" She fell silent, clenching her fists tightly.
She seemed to stumble over her words toward the end there… But maybe that was just his imagination.
"I know you can't just ignore his wishes. But I'll make sure he accepts it. When he does, I'll do anything for your help." With that, she looked straight into his eyes.
"…"
Mushiki stifled his urge to speak. He felt like he was being compelled to action by Ruri's sheer strength of will.
His words right now wouldn't be those of the real Saika. He couldn't speak for her on a matter of such importance.
After giving it some thought, he let out a deep sigh. "That must have been a slip of the tongue just now. Ruri…I can see you really do love your brother."
"Yes! I do!" she replied with a brilliant smile, completely at odds with her prior demeanor.
"Ruri."
"Yes! What is it?"
"Can I hug you? Just a little?"
"Of course— Huh?!" Her face turned bright red as she flew into a panic.
Mushiki had spoken too quickly out of love, but he was, after all, presently inhabiting Saika's body. Ruri's confession just now must have hit him too strongly. With a wave of his hand, he said, "I'm sorry. Don't worry about it. I suppose I just got a little emotional."
"N-not at all…" Ruri looked relieved, but at the same time, somehow disappointed.
Then she suddenly jolted upright, glancing around quickly.
"Ruri? What's wrong?"
"Ah… I just thought it's about time those two came back… Madam Witch, please don't tell Mushiki what I said. If he knew, I'm sure he would absolutely refuse to leave the Garden."
"…Ah. I won't say anything… Not a word."
"Please. Ah, and the same for Kuroe. Those two seem to be really close for some reason…" She stopped there, looking like she had suddenly remembered something. "Oh, and about Kuroe, Madam Witch… There's something I've been wondering for a while now…"
"Hmm? What would that be?"
"When exactly did you hire her?"
"…Huh?"
Mushiki's throat constricted in alarm at that question.
"What do you mean? When did I hire her…?"
"Yes. I mean, you've never had an attendant before, right?"
"…?! What…?!"
He realized at once it was a very un-Saika-like reaction, but for a few brief seconds, he was unable to compose himself. Fully aware that his last question made absolutely no sense spoken from Saika's lips, he hastened to add: "Hold on a minute. Kuroe has been serving in the mansion, right?"
"…? Was that it? I'm sorry, Madam Witch. I've visited countless times, but I never saw her before."
"…" As he listened to her go on, Mushiki's heart began to race.
He was well aware of Ruri's earnest and persistent personality and had come to appreciate over the past few days how painfully devoted she was to Saika.
Which was why he couldn't stop a certain thought from coming to mind.
Was it really possible that Ruri was completely unaware of Saika's attendant, who assisted her in every aspect of life?
Was this simply an oversight on her part?
Had Saika gone to lengths to conceal Kuroe's existence?
Or else…
Several possibilities swirled through his head. With a trembling voice, he asked, "Ruri, when did you first learn about Kuroe?"
She placed her finger against her cheek as though probing her memories. "Well, the first time I saw her…was at the last regular meeting. You brought her with you to the conference room, then, right?"
"…" Once more, Mushiki was left speechless.
The day of the regular meeting. He remembered it well.
After all, it was the very same day when he had merged with Saika and woken up in the Garden.
…And before that day, Ruri hadn't so much as laid eyes on Kuroe.
Was that to say that Kuroe had only come to the mansion after he and Saika were attacked…?
If that was true…
How had she established herself in Saika's mansion?
How had she seemed to know everything about his situation?
How was she guiding his every action?
Who on earth was she?
"It can't be…" Mushiki moaned as a cold premonition took root in his stomach.
If he said any more, there would be no going back. He understood that perfectly, but he had to ask. Already, his mouth was putting into words the worst possible scenario.
"Kuroe, are you—?"
At that moment, as though to cut him off midspeech, the scenery around them changed.
"What…?!"
"…!"
It was a strange feeling, as though darkness was flooding the beautiful afternoon park.
That darkness enveloped the area instantly, and several huge structures suddenly emerged from the ground.
An urban labyrinth with no end in sight. A gray world comprised of iron and stone.
Yes, there could be no mistaking it—this was the eerie space into which Mushiki had wandered that day.
"…! A fourth substantiation…?! But who could be—?!" Ruri choked on her words for a moment—but her expression quickly took on that of a warrior.
No doubt she had realized what this was. They had already brought it up at the general meeting a few days earlier. This was the mysterious mage who had attacked Saika.
"Luminous Blade!" she chanted, two lapis lazuli–colored crests glowing atop her head as a naginata comprised entirely of light materialized in her hand. Her second substantiation, with the rank of matter.
Ruri braced herself with her sword—and as if in response to her defensive posture, several human-shaped shadows crawled out from amid the towering structures that had appeared around them.
When she saw this, she glowered. "Annihilation Factor No. 414: Wraith. Still, how can there be annihilation factors within a fourth substantiation…?"
The shadows offered no answer. They turned their unreadable countenances toward Ruri and Mushiki, then threw themselves forward in one lunge.
"Hah!" With a frenzied cry, Ruri lashed out with her blade of light.
As she moved, that weapon stretched long and thin like a thread of string.
Then, as if imbued with a will of its own, it fanned out in all directions, effortlessly slicing through the amassing shadows that continued to surround them.
Defeated, those figures faded into thin air without even having had time to let out a final gasp.
But even after overcoming those creatures, Ruri and Mushiki were still trapped in the gray labyrinth.
"Tch… Just because we stepped foot outside the Garden, someone thinks they can mess around with us," Ruri said with a click of her tongue before raising her voice as though calling to someone atop the towering edifices nearby. "Whoever you are in charge of this plane, come out! A mage who's reached their fourth substantiation ought to be capable of more than just that last stingy assault! What are you trying to achieve? Do you even know who you just attacked?"
Her call echoed across the walls of the myriad buildings, like the rumbling voice of a mountain deity.
Then, as if in response, a soft pitter-patter of footsteps began to sound from deep within the darkness.
"…! Ruri!" Mushiki called out in warning.
"I know," she said with a small nod, holding her naginata at the ready.
Finally, a lone figure stepped out from the gap between two tangled buildings.
They were covered from head to toe in a dark robe, their face concealed by a hood that obscured their appearance and age—even whether they were a man or a woman.
Nonetheless, the four-layered crest floating above their head in a sharp, piercing design akin to a wide-brimmed hat clearly indicated that they were the master of this plane.
"You've finally decided to show yourself. In the name of the Knights of the Garden, you're under—"
Ruri, still holding her naginata at the approaching figure, choked on her words.
"Ruri?" Mushiki asked, looking at her in concern.
That was only natural. After all, though she had until that moment been staring calmly toward their enemy, Ruri's face was now tinged with indescribable dismay and consternation.
Sweat dripped down her face, her lips quivering silently. Her eyes had opened wider than he had ever seen before, her gaze wavering—and, it seemed, slightly out of focus.
"You…," emerged a gravelly sound from deep in her throat.
Those words. Her voice.
She must have realized just who their opponent truly was.
"…Ruri!" Mushiki called out.
"…"
The approaching mage lifted an arm into the air—a slender, beautiful hand poking out from their sleeve.
Then the figure snapped their fingers.
"…?!"
All of a sudden, the glowing blade in Ruri's hands swelled in size, a thousand needles erupting from it to pierce her hands, her legs, her chest.
"Ugh…"
Unable to even process what had just happened, she choked on her words as she sank to the ground, an ocean of blood spewing from her body.
It had all happened in the blink of an eye.
"Ruriii!" Mushiki screamed, running to her side as she collapsed in a pool of blood.
A second later, the crest above her head faded away, and the naginata in her hands vanished in a flash of light.
She was barely breathing, and it was clear that she was in critical condition. Blood continued to pour from the countless wounds that covered her body. Among them, one of those light-based needles that had pierced her chest seemed to have hit a vital organ. She needed immediate treatment, lest her injuries prove fatal. But even then, it might not be enough…
"…Ugh…"
The tragic sight of his sister bleeding out tore at Mushiki's heart.
Searing rage and enmity building up inside him, he glared across at the mage standing before them.
"You…!"
The unforgivable enemy who had attacked Saika, mortally wounded him, and now dealt a fatal injury to his precious sister.
…He had to defeat this foe. Here and now.
If he didn't, Ruri would die. Saika would die. He would die.
He understood how impossible this task seemed. Even so, having made up his mind, he rose to his feet and lifted his hands toward the mage.
"…Heh."
Having seen his state, and after one exhalation of breath, the mage turned on their heel.
As if to say they had accomplished their goal for the day.
Or perhaps even that Mushiki wasn't worth their time.
"Wait—," Mushiki began before swallowing his words.
No, he couldn't let this enemy get away with everything that they had done. But what would happen to Ruri if their foe turned back around?
He couldn't risk Ruri's life in a moment of recklessness when he didn't have the faintest hope of emerging victorious. Digging his fingernails into his palms and biting his lip in frustration, he stared at the mage's back as the figure walked away, vanishing into the darkness.
A moment later, the labyrinthine landscape that had enveloped them all crumbled away, and the peaceful, late-afternoon park returned to take its place.
One thing, however, had most certainly changed.
"…Arrrggghhh…"
Unable to contain his rage, clenching his fists smeared with his sister's blood, he cried out into the heavens.