Monogatari Series - Volume 24 - Chapter 2.12

012

But maybe Benikujaku-chan didn’t set her primary school as a base? I walked around the primary school as I held onto this slim chance – the primary school that is Municipal Primary School No. 4. At a glance, one wonders exactly what this school is fourth in; unlike its name, which completely lacks any human flair or care, the security of the campus is ridiculously tight.

It is virtually expected these days to see a security camera at the front door, but barbed wire atop the walls? Although I don’t think it’s actually the case, they’re so intimidating that I could imagine high-voltage electricity being passed through them.

Agile as primary schoolkids are, I don’t think even the bravest would want to scale the walls and take shelter here…well, that sort of deduction should’ve been limited by common sense, but I don’t want to risk triggering the alarm at the beginning of the investigation.

I’d have no idea what to say to the guard rushing in – especially about the blonde, golden-eyed young girl sitting on my shoulder.

‘Then stop having me sit on thy shoulder?’

‘Could you see anything from up there?’

‘The shoulder-sitting formeth not part of the search operation.’

Similarly, Ononoki-chan’s investigation is hampered by unreliable witness testimony.

How did Oshino manage to do it? Back when he was staying in my town, he was collecting all sorts of odd stories…but I wonder how that old no-hoper managed to collect the type of stories that ‘don’t leave the room’.

‘It is what it is. We’ll just have to go round and round outwards like a spiral in the area around Municipal Primary School No. 4. It isn’t a large area, though I’m sure Beniguchi-chan would like to be as far away from home as possible.’

To keep it at bay.

If Ougi-chan, ever the mystery fan, was here, then she would’ve thought of something more efficient, but this is the most I could think of…if I manage to think of something better, I’ll just improvise.

Huff. I don’t know if I can finish this in a night…I was hoping to sort this out before dawn, though now I might need the entirety of tomorrow too, by the looks of it.

‘That habit thou acquired in high school not going away?’

‘It’s a chronic disease. It’s staying with me for the rest of my life.’

‘If something is to stay with thee for the rest of thine existence, surely I would be enough? That tsundere woman is going to separate from thee whilst thou art at university either way.’

‘Hey, stop your bad-mouthing. Though it is true that she’s been studying really hard. She seems to have found something she would like to do.’

‘Completely unlike my master, who is utterly lost.’

‘I’m not lost. Stop trying to make it sound like I have to find myself before I find the small girl.’

‘Thy words, not mine…incidentally, my master. Not that I mind thy straightforward ways of thought, but as thy slave, if thou intend to use that method of looping in a spiral, wouldst thee find my powers of use?’

‘Mm? Your powers? What, is this something to do with your femur?’

‘Thee taking delightful interest in young girls’ skeletons is one seriously terrifying trait. What unspeakable darkness lay in thine heart?’

A darkness as dark as Ougi-chan.

Come to think of it, it really is terrifying.

‘Now thou hast mentioned that the mystery maniac may offer a method more effective, wouldst thou mayhap lend time for me orating mine ideas?’

‘Orate?’

‘’Tis true thy current physique standeth no chance against that doll girl’s “Unlimited Rulebook”. However, ignoring that reckless and unsafe method of rapid transit suited for corpses, if thy objective is to survey the area from above, there should remain still a way.’

That wouldn’t just be an overview, that’s a full bird’s-eye view.

But all Ononoki-chan can do is a high-speed pass…even with all sorts of minor adjustments; not that Ononoki-chan’s here with us anyway.

‘I too can soar the skies. Hast thou forgotten?’

Ah.

That’s right, Shinobu, the former vampire, can grow bat-like wings – unlike Ononoki-chan’s rough and tumbling rocketry, vampires can fly like a winged dragon.

Come to think of it, that’s how the iron-blooded, hot-blooded, cold-blooded vampire, Kissshot Acerolaorion Heartunderblade came to this country.

Twice, even.

Across the oceans.

She once even made a giant leap from the Antarctic with a super jump instant air dash – too much as far as migrants go, in both senses of the word.

‘I see. You thought of it when I mentioned you could see things better from up there. Seriously, good luck always comes when you least expect it. Wish you could see things from my shoulder.’

‘No, I have been on thy shoulder always.’

‘So I see, it’s not the femur, but the scapula.’

‘My wings do not involve any transformation of the scapula. Thy musings are heading towards an unhealthy direction.’

In reality, it’s probably transforming skin and muscles around the back…then it’s less like a winged dragon or birds in general, and more like the wings of an insect.

Though if I mentioned anything about back muscles or insects, Shinobu would probably be angry, so I’ll stick to bat wings.

‘In addition, do not expect much – as thou knowest, I have lost most of my powers. I can fly no higher or speedier than the doll girl. Expect something more akin to a glider. It is by no means an ideal tool for transportation – but it seemeth to suit thy current needs best.’

Indeed it does.

High-speed, high-altitude flight carries with it a risk of death, but for a stable flight, well, as long as I make peace with it and treat it like a reverse bungee jump, I’ll have more confidence in making it work.

In making it get off the ground.

If I’m viewing the surroundings from above, then that eliminates anything the map doesn’t show; even if Benikujaku-chan is an expert at hiding, surely she wouldn’t expect anyone looking for her from above?

If this was a mystery story, then to borrow a vampire’s skill would be considered an unfair development, though this is all for the small girl’s safety, so surely it’s acceptable to skirt the rules here…I thought to myself.

It may be unfair, but it’s not causing anybody harm.

Speaking of skirting the rules, just like Shinobu’s bat wings, my eyesight is also coming into play here…an eyesight upgrade is an after-effect from my previous exploits, though now it seems I can use it beyond navigating mountain roads in the dark.

Normally, even for an area as small as a school district, there could be many places one misses in such a short amount of time, but I’m sure if I max out my vision, then I could cover a considerable area.

If I was still my high school self, I’d say something such as ‘Right! In order to power up my vision, plus extending those bat wings so they can fly as long as possible – Shinobu, suck my blood! I don’t care if it’ll break the usual blood-giving (blood-sucking) schedule, just do it!’

But I’ve learnt from that. I can’t throw away my life just for the sake of saving others…basically.

Have I learnt from that?

Anyway, if such a thing happened, that expressionless watcher would quite likely kill me, so Shinobu and I’ll have to move ahead in our current condition.

‘Then let us change our formation. I shall initiate the super jump instant air dash whilst thou sittest on my shoulder, then I shall hug thee all the way up to the skies. The most I can fly for would be a minute. I shall fly in a spiral within the area, round and round as skylarks do, so let us do our best.’

‘Thank you so much. For letting me have the chance to sit on a young girl’s shoulder.’

‘Be grateful, but not for that.’

Like a skylark, huh.

Then again, peafowls aren’t a bird known for soaring – at least, you won’t see them high up in the sky.

Splendid as their feathers are, they’re all just for show.