My Happy Marriage (LN) - Volume 4 - Chapter 5

  CHAPTER 5  

Without Fear

Arata hopped from place to place all over the capital.

After vowing to capture Naoshi Usui, he took a break from his public job as a negotiator and concentrated on following his target’s trail.

The imperial capital had gotten remarkedly colder; winter was in full swing.

His breath came out in a white cloud, and his fingertips grew less flexible and numb in the cold even from inside his gloves.

Arata had gone on his own around places that might be connected to his quarry—whether it was land connected to the Usui family, or the area surrounding the Gifted Communion bases previously exposed by the military—and gathered any clues he could find.

Unfortunately, however, he had yet to gain any intel that could point to Usui’s current location.

That said, one thing has gotten quite clear.

He mingled with the crowd, quickening his pace toward his destination.

Usui could pretty up his ambitions all he wanted, but at the end of the day, he wanted nothing more than to overthrow the government. In which case, there was someone the man would definitely put in his sights.

The emperor himself.

If Usui wished to control the empire as he saw fit, he would need to deftly handle the emperor—whether that meant killing him or keeping him alive—and take his authority for his own.

Currently, the one actually controlling the nation was the Imperial Prince Takaihito, but even Usui would have trouble reaching him. The Ministry of the Imperial Household had gathered their collective power to form a barrier around the young ruler.

It repelled not only Gifts and occult arts of a similar nature, but also repelled a specified kind of matter entirely. Only those inside the barrier could alter these specifications, and once they established Usui as someone to keep out, it would be impossible for him to pass through.

Arata still didn’t think this protection was absolute, but it was nothing to sneeze at.

In which case, something needed to be done about the emperor first. At the very least, Arata thought so.

Though the possibility still remains that he might try to get his hands on Miyo before going after the emperor.

In some senses, Miyo’s security was even tighter than Takaihito’s.

Not only was the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit station a den of Gift-wielding warriors, but it currently had a barrier around it similar to the one surrounding Takaihito. No matter how powerful Usui’s Gift may have been, it would be almost impossible for him to get his hands on her.

In other words, if something was going to go wrong, it would begin with the emperor.

The emperor resided in a small residence on the outskirts of the Imperial Palace.

While it was on the same grounds as Takaihito’s own residence, the emperor had already grown frail, losing his ability to move and his Gift of Divine Revelation. Consequently, he was less well guarded than Takaihito.

In order to erect a barrier like the one surrounding Takaihito’s residence or the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit station, it required at least ten or more practitioners, along with just as many people to maintain it. The wider the barrier became, the greater the number of practitioners it took to maintain it, so it wasn’t realistic to place one around both men.

With the Imperial Palace’s gate now in view from his position, Arata casually cast his eyes around the area.

Are those…?

Unsurprisingly, he sensed several anomalies mixed in with the regular passersby.

“The artificial Gift-users?” Arata said to himself with a frown.

The unusual presences would be quite difficult to notice without a Gift. Indeed, the Imperial Palace gatekeepers weren’t reacting to it at all.

Still, I can’t help but say the Ministry of the Imperial Household’s response here is far too naïve, to have this level of defense while supposedly being on guard against the Gifted Communion.

At the very least, multiple Gift-users or practitioners needed to be stationed on guard.

The Ministry of the Imperial Household may not have truly understood just how dangerous Naoshi Usui was, but to speak bluntly, their defenses were full of holes.

That was as far as Arata’s thoughts got before they were interrupted.

“What—?!”

A singular automobile stopped near the gate, and a frail man in a kimono, propped up by a few servants, slowly emerged from the Imperial Palace grounds.

Arata was very familiar with the man. In fact, Arata had once made a deal with him to further his personal ambitions.

His Majesty the emperor…!

Faced with this suspicious and ridiculous scene of the emperor flanked by just a few people as he walked out of the palace, the gate guards seemed almost completely oblivious to it all.

Is he here? Is Naoshi Usui nearby?

Usui must have been manipulating the guards’ and pedestrians’ senses of sight.

In which case, the man must have been somewhere he could directly watch this scene unfold.

Where?

Though he looked around, Arata didn’t spot Usui. If Usui’s Gift made it impossible for others to detect his presence, then there was nothing he could have done to begin with.

There are, at least, some methods of opposing Gifts from the Usuba family…

He had successfully found them by poring over any and all of the materials in the Usuba house and desperately researching the subject. Since the information was gleaned from old records in the Usuba main house, Usui was unlikely to know about them.

However, if Arata didn’t use these methods carefully, there was a chance Usui could catch on to what Arata was doing and come up with ways of countering them.

In the meantime, the emperor and the men with him got into the parked automobile.

“Tch!”

Arata gave a rare click of his tongue, then created some familiars.

Whatever the case, having arrived on foot, Arata had no means to pursue the car. For now, his only option was to have a familiar follow the car while he himself followed, belatedly, from behind.

He’d created two familiars.

One utilized elaborate camouflage arts and was sent to follow the automobile. The other was marked with the Usuba seal to make it clear it came from Arata and was sent flying to the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit station bearing an urgent letter of warning.

With this, Kiyoka ought to be spurred into action somehow.

Seeing the automobile take off without anyone stopping it for questioning, Arata started running.

A few days had passed since Miyo and Kaoruko decided to build their relationship back up from square one.

The season had firmly shifted into winter, but Miyo’s situation remained totally unchanged. She commuted to the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit station with Kiyoka almost every day, doing chores while she was there.

While sweeping and cleaning up the corridors, Miyo looked over at Kaoruko doing the same work a bit farther away from her.

Kaoruko was all smiles back then, so why…

She had confessed to being jealous of Miyo and doing things to hurt her. Miyo had forgiven her and had thought with it, Kaoruko’s troubles had been laid to rest.

However, even as she acted brave and tough, there were occasional moments where Miyo caught a flash of melancholy in her expression.

Miyo couldn’t claim she felt truly spirited herself, either. She had no way of knowing when Usui could appear in front of her, and she felt the cold stares from the soldiers directed her way. She had a mountain of troubles on her mind.

Nevertheless, Kaoruko seemed like she was anxious and driven back into a corner.

On this seemingly tranquil day, one just like any other, an incident occurred just before noontime.

Finished with the cleaning and done helping out in the kitchen with lunch prep work, Miyo was in the kitchenette with Kaoruko.

She filled the teakettle with water, and before long, its whistling sound filled the room.

“Do you think we should skip the teacakes? It’ll be lunchtime soon and all…”

“…………”

“Kaoruko?”

She posed the question to Kaoruko, box of sweets in hand, but she didn’t get an answer. When Miyo turned to look at her friend beside her, she found the woman staring off into space, looking as if her mind was elsewhere.

“Kaoruko.”

“Huh?! O-oh, sorry…”

When Miyo addressed her again, Kaoruko finally realized that Miyo was calling her name.

Kaoruko always tackled work with earnest, and Miyo knew well enough that she never had her guard down when she served as her bodyguard. However, at that moment, her mind had clearly been elsewhere.

Concern swelled in Miyo’s chest as she wondered what was bothering her.

“Kaoruko, are you feeling under the weather?”

“N-no, not at all. I’m just fine.”

“But……”

If she wasn’t feeling sick, then did she have something on her mind? Miyo wanted to ask, but it was a hard thing for her to do.

Kaoruko loved Kiyoka. She had since long before Kiyoka and Miyo ever met.

However, the woman Kiyoka had chosen was not her but Miyo. Because of that, Miyo wavered about getting involved in Kaoruko’s troubles, despite how close they were.

Though she considered Kaoruko’s troubles to be something completely unrelated, she still wasn’t inclined to pursue the answer.

“Sorry for worrying you. I-it’s so peaceful here, I probably just let my mind wander a bit. Ha-ha-ha.”

She laughed just like she always did, but it came off as a bit awkward and strained.

However, if Kaoruko herself was talking like this, then she must have something weighing on her mind that even a close friend couldn’t get out of her.

Maybe I’m the only one who feels like we’ve become friends.

If so, that too would be rather sad in and of itself.

Ultimately, she placed three teacups filled with green tea on a tray and the two of them headed for her fiancé’s office.

“Kiyoka, it’s Miyo.”

When she knocked on the door and announced herself, she immediately heard a reply of “Come in.”

Kiyoka was processing a large stack of documents as usual.

Currently, the Gifted Communion had not made any major moves, but the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit still had their regular duties to attend to—handling any incidents that involved supernatural creatures. Enough then, at that very moment, there were soldiers out on excursions to exterminate Grotesqueries.

He must be awfully busy…

Miyo gently placed the teacup on top of his desk.

“Why don’t you have a bit of a break, Kiyoka? It’s almost time for lunch.”

“Sure,” Kiyoka replied half-heartedly, his hands show no signs of stopping. If Miyo pressed further, she knew she’d be getting in the way of his work.

She exchanged glances with Kaoruko, and both women moved away from around his desk and sat themselves down on the office sofa.

“Nice and warm.”

The hot green tea permeated Miyo’s chilled body. Sitting next to her, Kaoruko also slowly took sips from her teacup, the gravity Miyo saw in her expression earlier totally gone.

That was when it came.

Kiyoka suddenly stood up and threw open the window.

“Kiyoka?”

When she looked up to see what was wrong, she saw something white abruptly flutter in through the window. Even Miyo had seen these before. It was a paper familiar often used by Gift-users to communicate with one another.

The familiar flew once around the room, riding the wind, before it landed in Kiyoka’s open hand.

Kiyoka immediately ran his eyes over what Miyo assumed was a message written on the familiar.

“This can’t be…”

Almost exactly as he gazed at the familiar in shock, there came a furious knocking on his door.

“Commander! It’s Mukadeyama!”

“Come in.”

Entering into the room, Mukadeyama looked to be in a terrible panic, his face pale.

“……!”

Miyo heard a gasp from nearby and turned to Kaoruko.

“Kaoruko?”

“I-it’s nothing…”

Despite her insistence she was okay, both Kaoruko’s voice and hands were trembling to a shocking degree. It was obvious to Miyo that she was terrified.

Does Kaoruko know something that I don’t?

Perhaps there was actually some major incident going on that didn’t concern Miyo at all, and she alone hadn’t realized the gravity of the situation. While it wasn’t entirely out of the question, something definitely still felt strange.

However, her train of thought was then interrupted.

Kiyoka fiercely slammed his hand down on his desk, the loud sound reverberating through the office.

“How dare they lay a hand on His Majesty…!”

Anger showed through in his low growl.

Something happened to His Majesty?

Currently, the emperor was basically confined away under the orders of the Imperial Prince Takaihito. Nevertheless, the man was closely tied to Miyo’s fate.

Had Naoshi Usui finally started to make his move?

Looking at Kiyoka and Mukadeyama’s grave faces, Miyo’s anxieties made her heart start pounding in her chest.

“We’re currently investigating His Majesty’s whereabouts. As soon as we find—”

“No, Usuba happened to be at the Imperial Palace when it happened and is in pursuit. We should know where they’re headed in due time.”

By Usuba, Miyo assumed he meant Arata.

She hadn’t personally seen him in a while, but he had supposedly been pursuing the Gifted Communion on his own. That would mean Usui and the Gifted Communion had made their move after all.

Miyo held her breath and listened in on their conversation.

“……Can we trust him?”

Mukadeyama’s face soured the moment Arata’s surname was invoked.

“Do you think he’s suspicious?”

“I don’t know much about Usuba the individual. As such, I think it’s only natural for me to imagine the possibility that Usui and Usuba are conspiring together.”

Miyo got the feeling that Mukadeyama had looked her way for a split second.

She thought she had done everything she could to prove herself to him, but it appeared that still hadn’t been enough to earn his trust. That was the meaning behind his glance.

Kiyoka didn’t say anything to Mukadeyama. Instead, he fell deep into thought, a grave look on his face.

Something happened to the emperor, and Arata’s on his trail.

In that case, what about Kiyoka? What about the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit?

Before she realized it, she had stepped in between Mukadeyama and Kiyoka’s conversation.

“I’ll be right here, Kiyoka. So His Majesty needs—”

“Miyo.”

Her overprotective fiancé frowned and shook his head.

“But I think that His Majesty needs your help.”

The thought of being separated from Kiyoka while she was being targeted herself made her extremely uneasy. However, as Gift-users, beholden to the words of the emperor, they couldn’t stand idly by and do nothing when their lord was in danger.

This was the answer Miyo had arrived at, but Mukadeyama frowned in disapproval.

“Please know your place. This isn’t a problem an outsider like you should be weighing in on.”

Miyo’s reflexively stiffened at his harsh reply.

“………My apologies.”

Mukadeyama was right. It was impudent of her to voice her opinions about their military work.

When she gave it more thought, both Kiyoka and Mukadeyama knew full well that they needed to go to the emperor’s aid. Given that they were confronting the Gifted Communion, the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit, able to oppose them with supernatural powers of their own, were the only ones who could stop them.

It really had been a totally unnecessary outburst.

Kiyoka slowly began to speak.

“Mukadeyama.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You stay here. I’m leaving the station’s defenses in your hands.”

“Wha—!”

Mukadeyama widened his eyes at his superior’s order.

“Why, sir?! I understand that defending the station is important, but I’ve been tracking down the Gifted Communion, too! The logical move would be to have my unit accompany you!”

Faced with his subordinate’s shouts, Kiyoka remained exceedingly calm.

“I’m entrusting you with it because it’s so important. Any objections?”

“No, sir…”

As Kiyoka spoke, he patted Mukadeyama—face twisted with frustration—on his shoulder and whispered something in his ear.

Miyo noticed that Mukadeyama’s startled gaze shifted to Kaoruko, who was waiting in the wings behind her.

Kaoruko…?

Remaining silent this whole time, Miyo turned to look and was similarly perplexed.

Kaoruko hadn’t even noticed the stares Miyo and Mukadeyama were directing her way. Her face had turned deathly pale as she stared at the ground, subtly trembling.

Miyo thought she had been acting a bit strange, but this was a little too abnormal.

“Kaoruko, you look awful. Perhaps you should take some time to rest in the first aid room?”

When Miyo spoke up, unable to stay quiet, Kaoruko sluggishly raised her head.

“I’m fine.”

Her tone was feeble, and her lips were trembling.

Miyo remained worried, but her hands were tied if Kaoruko herself insisted she was okay.

Perhaps Squad Leader Mukadeyama was tasked with staying behind to look after Kaoruko, too?

As Miyo wrapped her arm around the other woman to support her, she looked over to the other two, Mukadeyama heaving a resigned sigh and Kiyoka lightly nodding his head.

“Double-check where the guards are deployed, Mukadeyama. I’ll organize the squad to pursue His Majesty.”

“Understood.”

Mukadeyama quickly departed the office.

Kiyoka took the saber from its upright leaning position and strapped it to his waist, wrapping himself up in his winter coat and walking up in front of Miyo.

“Jinnouchi, you’re to follow Mukadeyama’s orders and work to protect the station.”

“…Yes, sir.”

Kaoruko, her face still pale, departed the office with shaky, unsteady steps. She looked so helpless, it set Miyo’s heart on edge.

“Miyo.”

“Yes?”

After watching Kaoruko depart, Miyo turned back toward her fiancé.

“You heard it all. I’ll be leaving the station from here. The barrier’s still up, but I can’t guarantee it’ll hold forever. Please be careful… Forgive me for being unable to stay by your side.”

“Don’t be sorry. I understand.”

She was scared. Imagining herself coming face-to-face with Naoshi Usui again terrified her.

However, she had made up her mind. She had to accept that some things just weren’t possible. That’s why Miyo would do absolutely everything she could, even though she lacked any fighting strength, to ensure that Kiyoka could return home with peace of mind.

Miyo quelled her fear and smiled.

“I’ll be here, safely awaiting your return. So go, Kiyoka, but please be careful.”

He brought out his arms, pulled her in, and wrapped them around her.

His arms were powerful yet very gentle.

“I don’t want to leave you.”

“……Kiyoka.”

She didn’t feel bashful in the slightest. Miyo simply gave in to her feelings and wrapped her own arms around Kiyoka’s back.

“If anything were to happen to you, I…”

Kiyoka may have been feared as a ruthless soldier, but even he had things he was afraid of.

Terror was the same for everyone.

For a few moments, as if to confirm each other’s existence, as if in prayer, they silently embraced each other.

Kiyoka, accompanied by two squads, set off from the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit station.

Miyo, together with Kaoruko and Mukadeyama, as well as the men in his squad, barricaded themselves in the dojo and remained on standby.

Outside, another squad was guarding the station gate.

Kaoruko seemed to have calmed down significantly compared to before, but the color was still drained from her face, and she remained quiet.

“I’ll ask that you make sure not to act out of turn,” Mukadeyama harshly warned Miyo.

While he individually felt like Miyo and the Usubas couldn’t be trusted, she could tell that beyond that, his warning had come from his strong sense of responsibility toward the duty he’d been entrusted with.

Miyo nodded without any objection.

She held a protective charm Kiyoka had given her. It was apparently a stronger, improved version of the one he had given her previously. Though, he hadn’t elaborated about how and where it was strengthened, or what sort of effect it had.

Miyo sat on her legs in the center of the dojo while the squad members encircled her in a defensive ring. There was only one entrance into the building. Everyone had their eyes fixed on it to ensure they wouldn’t overlook even the smallest change.

Miyo clutched the charm in her hands, praying to the gods above.

He’ll be okay. He’ll be fine.

Kiyoka was sure to be back at her side soon. As long as she waited here like this until he did, they would be able to return back to their old daily lives.

The dojo was silent.

Everyone present was holding their breath, and even Miyo could feel their concentration, straining their ears to sense any potential abnormality.

Then, her prayers in vain, the silence was shattered.

“The barrier’s been broken!”

At Mukadeyama’s shout, everyone rose to their feet and stood on guard.

Miyo rose a bit slower than the rest, her limbs stiff with nerves.

The barrier? How?

Kiyoka hadn’t claimed the barrier was absolutely impenetrable. But this was the worst possible scenario. The chance of such a rigid barrier breaking was almost zero.

“Well, well, well, I didn’t expect you all to be here—and to give me such a fiery welcome.”

The instant she heard the voice, Miyo’s heart pounded loudly in her chest.

Kiyoka led his squad members and rushed to the location Arata had given him.

The emperor wasn’t in his residence.

When Kiyoka received a note from Arata reading, “I witnessed the emperor being led from the Imperial Palace,” and when he heard from Mukadeyama that Takaihito had contacted them, he’d doubted his own eyes and ears. He thought there must have been some sort of mistake.

But the combination of a direct address from Takaihito himself and Arata’s message confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt that something had happened to the emperor.

Once the emperor was involved, Kiyoka would have to get involved, too, since he was a unit commander.

“Usuba, what’s the current situation?”

When he arrived at the designated location with his men in tow, Arata was already there waiting.

“His Majesty is down this road.”

Arata pointed toward the main street that stretched out in the direction of the sea. When Kiyoka considered that the emperor’s destination, or rather, the destination of those who captured him, involved the sea, he couldn’t prevent his thoughts from going in the worst direction possible.

If they escaped onto a boat, it would be difficult to pursue them.

“They don’t seem intent on assassinating His Majesty by the looks of things. I get the impression they’re treating him as respectfully as they can. Nor do they appear to be heading toward the port. This is just a guess, but I think they’re heading toward the imperial family’s vacation home,” Arata surmised, after sharing the sight of the familiar that was tailing after them.

Even Kiyoka had no objections to his assessment.

As things stood now, neither Usui nor the Gifted Communion had anything to gain by assassinating the emperor. The only motive he could come up with was that Usui bore a grudge against the man, since he’d created the circumstance that led to Usui being separated from Sumi Usuba.

Are they using the vacation home as their hideout?

The imperial family’s vacation home was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Imperial Household.

Houjou’s activities proved that there were cracks in the surveillance of Gift-users, so Kiyoka figured he should assume the Gifted Communion’s influence was already spreading within the government.

“Have you seen Usui?”

“At this point, no. However, when the emperor was led out from the palace, it was clear that Usui’s Gift was at work. It’s safe to say that he’s involved with this in some way or another.”

Hearing all of this, Kiyoka brought his hand up to his chin and began to think.

Should they really keep chasing after the emperor? A demand from Takaihito himself meant he had to obey his wishes. However, he still couldn’t help feeling that he was walking into a trap.

Using the emperor as bait to go after Takaihito and Miyo. Definitely a possibility.

This was why back at the station, he had left Mukadeyama in charge, someone with excellent skills who he could trust. He was the next best person with Godou indisposed.

Although if Usui did actually attack the station, no one would stand a chance without Gift-users of Kiyoka’s or Arata’s skill. He’d bring the whole station under his control almost immediately. In that regard, Mukadeyama and Kaoruko were still not strong enough for the job.

Thus, a situation where both Kiyoka and Arata were pulled away to chase down the emperor was less than ideal.

“Major, why don’t you head back to the station?”

Just then, Arata broached this very subject.

Kiyoka couldn’t get a read on any of the emotions behind Arata’s inscrutable expression. Even since learning that the man who claimed to be the founder of the Gifted Communion was Naoshi Usui, Arata’s character had changed. Or rather, he had dropped his facade.

“…That’s impossible. I was the person put in charge here. I can’t leave the scene.”

Kiyoka understood that Arata was thinking along the same lines as himself, but he was unable to go along with the proposal.

“But surely you understand yourself, Major, that there’s a chance His Majesty’s abduction is just a feint. Actually, that way of putting it might not actually apply to this situation, since gaining control of the emperor, and by extension the entire empire itself, is likely just as beneficial for them. That said, their true objective is likely—”

“Miyo.”

Despite himself, Kiyoka’s voice came out in a low growl.

“Exactly. While Usui is estranged from the Usubas, he’s stubbornly hung up on my family more than anyone else. That’s why Miyo is of immeasurable value to him.”

Pausing, Arata turned toward Kiyoka.

“Your decision, Major.”

There was a strong gleam of resolve in Arata’s eyes.

When he looked at him, Kiyoka started to feel pathetic for being bound by his duty, unable to immediately declare that he would protect Miyo. However, Kiyoka had made the choice himself to join the military, fully knowing it could lead to such predicaments.

“I’m—”

Not returning to the station.

It was right as the words were about to leave his lips. A sole military vehicle, closing in on them with tremendous speed, suddenly stopped in front of Kiyoka and the others, the brakes screeching.

“Who is it?”

He hadn’t heard of anyone else coming to their location besides those already gathered there.

After he asked for their identity, a large man dressed in a military uniform stepped out from the automobile.

“It’s me, Kiyoka.”

“Major General, sir…?!”

That big, stout physique—this was unquestionably the man who oversaw the entire Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit, Masashi Ookaito himself.

Ookaito stood imposingly in front of Kiyoka’s group and barked his orders.

“This is a command from Prince Takaihito. Major Kudou, you are to immediately return to the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit station. Everyone else will be under my command from this moment forth. We shall pursue the rebels who have kidnapped His Majesty.”

“But, Major General, sir.”

The order was more than Kiyoka could ever ask for, but that was all the more reason why he found it unbelievable. He couldn’t help but speak up.

In response to Kiyoka’s objection, which normally would have deserved admonishment, Ookaito grinned.

“Prince Takaihito has ordered me to apologize to you on his behalf. Telling you to pursue the emperor was a mistake. He told me he was sorry for being late with the orders based on his Gift.”

This order had come to Kiyoka as the result of Takaihito’s Divine Revelation. In other words, it meant that through his clairvoyance, Takaihito had seen a future where Kiyoka’s presence was needed at the station.

Usui’s target had been Miyo after all.

“Then I shall humbly do as Prince Takaihito wishes.”

Kiyoka bowed slightly to Ookaito, then turned around.

“Major, please keep Miyo safe.”

Replying to the major general with a small nod, Kiyoka dashed off alone to his fiancée’s side.

Words like startled or surprised didn’t begin to express Miyo’s shock in that moment.

She heard the voice of someone she couldn’t see, someone who shouldn’t have been there at all.

“I’ve come for you, Miyo.”

Her breath caught in her throat when she heard her name.

Despite the voice being audible from somewhere very close by, she had no idea where its owner—Naoshi Usui—was. The disturbing voice sent a chill up her spine.

Suddenly, Mukadeyama and Kaoruko both stepped in front of Miyo to shield her; there was nothing they could do against an opponent they couldn’t see.

“Naoshi Usui! Where are you?! Show yourself!” Mukadeyama thundered. In an unexpected show of obedience, the owner of the voice revealed himself.

Gradually, the outline of a man’s body came into view until it solidified into human form against the empty background.

Short, dark brown hair and round glasses. There was no denying it—the man was right there, wearing an inverness coat over his hakama, with the same ferocious gleam in his eyes.

“Thank you for the warm welcome. I thought it’d be a bit easier to slip in, but the security was lot tighter than I estimated. I suppose I should expect nothing less of Kiyoka Kudou.”

Usui laughed as though something was amusing, making Miyo’s skin crawl. The sound of someone gulping rang loudly in her ears.

Unbeknownst to everyone in the room, the door connecting the dojo to the outside had been thrown open. Usui had used his Gift to infiltrate the station right under their noses.

There were less than a few dozen long strides separating him from Miyo.

Although he had stopped advancing for now, everyone in the room was essentially at his mercy. They couldn’t afford to make even the slightest of movements.

Just what am I supposed to do?

Usui’s target was Miyo. At this rate, all of the soldiers in the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit would have to put themselves at risk for her sake.

Since Kaoruko and Mukadeyama had been tasked with guarding her, they would claim that the soldiers had been prepared to give their lives. Though that was indeed true, did that mean all Miyo could do in the face of peril was to quietly sit and watch as other people gave their lives to protect her?

“How exactly did you get in?” Mukadeyama asked Usui, trying to buy time.

Although Usui surely must have recognized the man’s true intent to draw things out as long as possible, he simply squinted his eyes in amusement.

Miyo could hardly believe the next words out of his mouth.

“It’s simple, really. Someone inside the station fiddled with the barrier, letting me pass right on through.”

“What…? What sort of nonsense…?”

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s quite true. Though, I understand why you wouldn’t want to believe it.”

Miyo wrapped her arms around herself and desperately tried to control her trembling.

She didn’t know how the barrier worked. However, it was clear enough to her that Usui was implying there was a traitor in the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit.

“Are you trying to say that one of our own has secretly been communicating with the Gifted Communion?”

“Exactly. Was that too difficult for you to get through your heads?”

“Impossible…”

“You might want to look at the reality in front of you. The simple fact that I’m standing here must mean that someone told me how to break your barrier.”

Mukadeyama fell silent in frustration and anger. Usui’s smile widened at the sight.

“Shall I reveal to you just how I got inside?”

“…………”

Slowly, he turned his malice-filled eyes to the collaborator.

At first, Miyo thought he was looking at her. However, she was mistaken.

What……?

Usui’s gaze was locked onto Kaoruko.

“Kaoruko Jinnouchi. Thank you for your cooperation.”

A stir rippled through the air.

Miyo felt her mind go totally blank.

Totally forgetting the powerful foe before them, the soldiers grew restless, and she could hear them whispering to each other.

“Kaoruko, why?”

Before she knew it, Miyo verbalized her dazed confusion.

Kaoruko jolted her shoulders with surprise before she gradually turned around to face Miyo behind her. Her gallantly beautiful face was paler than a sheet of paper.

“I—I…”

“Is this true, Jinnouchi?”

Mukadeyama pressed her, too, finding it impossible to hide the agitation in his voice. Her lips trembled as she responded, her entire body wracked with despair.

“I, um…”

“Go ahead, tell them the truth. Both my instructions to you and the situation I put you in. They might just sympathize with you, then.”

“…………”

Kaoruko stayed silent, biting down on her trembling lips and hanging her head.

Everyone gazed at her with bated breath. They waited for her next words, not wanting to believe whatever she would say next.

But keeping quiet in this situation was no different from affirmation.

Mukadeyama’s roar echoed through the dojo.

“Jinnouchi! Say something for yourself!”

“I—I……I can’t say it.”

Kaoruko shook her head, trembling.

Usui delighted in watching from the sidelines as Miyo and the others fought amongst themselves.

“Honestly, you’d think telling them ‘you can’t say it’ is basically an admission of guilt. I’d tell them the whole story if I were you.”

Kaoruko grit her teeth at Usui’s sneering ridicule. The next moment, she raised her voice.

“Yes… Yes, it’s the truth! I sabotaged the barrier, just like you told me to!! So what about your promise?! Is my father safe?!”

Everyone else in the room was at a loss for words as they watched Kaoruko question Usui, her face still deathly pale. Even Mukadeyama was speechless while he stared at her.

As if to tear herself away from her bewildered comrades, Kaoruko kept her eyes locked on Usui.

“Of course, your father and your family’s dojo are unharmed. After all, I didn’t do anything to them in the first place.”

“Wh-what…?”

“I lied about taking your family home hostage from the very beginning. The fact you fell for it so easily saved me a lot of trouble.”

This much of the conversation was enough for Miyo to surmise that something had happened with Kaoruko and those she cared about.

After she arrived in the capital, Usui must have convinced her that he was holding her family hostage, threatened her, and forced her to obey his orders to sabotage the barrier and let him into the station.

No wonder she had looked so out of sorts ever since they’d received word that the emperor had been abducted.

Kaoruko knew that Kiyoka would then leave the station behind and Usui would arrive.

How awful…

She must have felt so much anguish being forced into betraying her comrades and having her family’s lives used as shields against her. Miyo’s chest ached at the thought she had spent each and every day harboring such an intense pain inside her.

Miyo was the target here. But that didn’t mean she resented Kaoruko.

“Th-then what……? Wh-what was the point to any of this…?”

Kaoruko’s legs buckled at the knees. No one had any words that they could give to her at that moment.

Only Mukadeyama erupted with anger, glowering at Usui.

“How dare you toy with people’s hearts…”

“Hah-hah-hah. I was just having a bit of fun. It’s certainly nothing to get so riled up about.”

There was something off with this man. Miyo thought back to the past she had seen in her dreams.

Had her mother really loved a man like this? No—Miyo knew that couldn’t possibly be true. Though she may have been unable to recall what Sumi looked like, she knew her mother had a heart of empathy and compassion.

Otherwise, she would have never sealed away Miyo’s Gift in order to protect her from the Saimoris.

He made Kaoruko cry.

Usui hurt people on purpose. This was the man who wanted to stand at the top, to rule over the empire. The mere thought of this terrible vision of the future made Miyo’s hair stand on end.

His grin of amusement remained unbroken.

“You all have put on quite an entertaining little show for me. But I think it’s about time I get what I came here for…”

“You think I’ll let you, bastard?”

Even the murderous, infuriated retort Mukadeyama barked at Usui failed to unsettle him in the slightest.

“It’ll be quite simple.”

Slowly, Usui drew a short sword out from the chest pocket of his coat and unsheathed it. Then he began to walk forward.

Mukadeyama, a cold sweat running down his body, took out the saber at his hip. In response, the other soldiers all drew their sabers in unison.

“Miss Fiancée, we’ll engage him ourselves and buy time, so please use the opening to flee.”

Miyo stared at Mukadeyama’s back in shock.

“But—”

“That is our job. We’re all here to make sure you aren’t taken away. You need to steel yourself, too. What is your job here?”

My…job…

To run away, even if it meant fleeing on her own. It was surely the only answer Mukadeyama had in mind.

Am I really…am I really okay with that?

If Miyo left this dojo, Usui was sure to kill everyone in his way in order to pursue her. But what would happen after she made her escape—what then?

She couldn’t afford to be captured. She understood that.

The power of Dream Sight was dangerous. If she was captured and threatened like Kaoruko, she would end up using her Gift to aid the Gifted Communion.

“I suppose I’ll have to kill you first, then.”

With a cheerful smile on his lips, Usui readied his short sword with practiced movements.

“Don’t expect me to go down easily.”

“Hmm, we’ll see about that.”

Usui’s short sword and Mukadeyama’s saber slammed together, striking a high-pitched metallic chord. However, this single crossing of blades decided the fight all too soon.

“Wh-what……?!”

The saber in Mukadeyama’s hands shattered at the hilt, and the blade fell to the floor. It was almost too fast for Miyo to see.

“Weak,” Usui mumbled.

With a bellicose look, he plunged his short sword toward Mukadeyama’s throat. Evading the tremendously fast thrust, which grazed only his shoulder, Mukadeyama launched a sharp spinning kick in retaliation.

“It seems your Gift strengthens your physical abilities, or something along those lines. Phew, that was a close one.”

Although he had dodged the kick, Usui retreated back several steps and put space between them again.

At this rate…

Miyo surveyed her surroundings.

The first person to cross blades with Usui, Mukadeyama, had already sustained a shoulder wound. While his injury didn’t look severe, blood was streaming from it; if left unattended, he would lose all motion in his arm before long.

Kaoruko remained drained of strength, crouching down with her head to the floor. It was only natural. She had betrayed her comrades against her will. She was in no mental state to stand up and fight.

Fear showed on the faces of the Gift-users with the sabers drawn on all sides of her.

Even an amateur like Miyo could tell that at this rate, they were at Usui’s mercy, and he would toy with them until he decided to end it. And she would have no one but herself to blame for this.

What can I even do about it?

Even if she could pull something off, wouldn’t acting on her own just get in everyone else’s way?

After spending what felt like an agonizing amount of time wavering, she gave into the heat of the moment and moved, essentially on impulse.

“Fool…!”

Miyo leapt out in front of Usui as he again tried to close in on Mukadeyama. She heard him reproach her from behind, but she brushed it off.

“Stop,” she declared, thrusting her arms out.

Miyo was far calmer than she had thought at first. Her heart was beating almost painfully fast, and the tips of her fingers had gone ice cold, yet her voice was direct and unwavering.

Usui curved his lips upward before he stopped his advance and lowered the tip of his short sword.

“Miyo, have you decided to obediently join your father?”

“No. I don’t recognize you as my father. Nor will I cooperate with someone who can stand by and hurt others with a smile.”

“…I see. Then why did you step out in front of me?”

Usui nodded, as though he found even Miyo’s rejection of him amusing.

She was slightly worried about whether words would get through to a man like him or not. Scared, too. However, out of everyone in the dojo, she was the least likely to die here. If someone was going to end up hurt, it was so much better for her to step out in front to shield them instead if it meant that she wouldn’t have to see Kiyoka lamenting over his men getting hurt again.

Will help show up if I can buy some time like Squad Leader Mukadeyama did earlier?

While she didn’t want anyone to get hurt, she wasn’t going to let Usui capture her, either. Nevertheless, she didn’t have time to think up a plan, and she had no way of knowing if help was on its way or not.

With so much still unknown to her, she carefully answered Usui’s questions.

“Because you……you won’t kill me.”

“An astute observation. A nauseatingly splendid act of self-sacrifice. How admirable.”

“…………”

“But your dear father hates that sort of thing.”

A chill ran down her spine.

If she displeased him, he was sure to kill everyone. Though Miyo was safe because her power of Dream Sight was useful to Usui, along with the fact he thought of her as his daughter, even she could lose her life if he changed his mind.

What was she supposed to do? Should she continue to reject him, or start pandering to him?

Usui continued speaking, heedless of Miyo’s distraught thoughts.

“Your mother, Sumi, was the same way. Getting herself married off to a rubbish family like the Saimoris, claiming it was all for the Usubas’ sake. It’s foolish. No, it’s more than stupid—it’s repugnant.”

As he held his stomach and cackled, something sinister and black seemed to swirl in his pupils. It had a thick, swampy weight to it, like fire rising from solid black smoke.

My mother wasn’t foolish at all.

She’d just wanted to protect others—the Usuba family, on the brink of being turned out into the street, the lives of her family, the life her daughter was set to live.

Miyo didn’t know very much about her mother, but she clearly understood this much about her. Because she was the very same herself.

I see now, so that’s what it must be.

The things Usui had been unable to do. The things he was now after, having created an organization like the Gifted Communion to do so.

These both must have been the same as well.

Miyo took a deep breath and glared back at the man who claimed to be her father.

“I will never be able to be your daughter, and I will never support your ideals.”

“So you don’t need me, either, then?

“Did my mother say that, too?”

“Shut up… It looks like you need some more education.”

Usui growled while tearing out his hair with his open hand. It appeared Miyo could no longer buy any time.

Yet somewhere in her heart, she felt relief.

Usui’s reaction left Miyo certain that her father was in fact Shinichi Saimori. Not the man in front of her.

She never imagined a day would come when she would feel grateful to have been born in the Saimori family, which she had so longed to escape. Yet now she was undoubtedly relieved, thankful to know that the days she spent with the Saimori family hadn’t all been built upon a lie.

Finding her resolve, she continued speaking.

“If you take me away from here, it still won’t save my mother. The woman you wanted to save isn’t anywhere to be found anymore.”

“You’re wrong.”

“I’m my own person. So please, just give it up.”

It was true that Miyo bore Usuba blood. However, she was also the Saimoris’ daughter, born and raised in their household. Miyo stood where she was now because of the days she had spent in that house.

While she didn’t know her mother’s honest feelings on being married into the Saimori family, at the very least, Miyo didn’t think that she would want her daughter to be taken away by Usui.

No matter how much Naoshi Usui had wanted to save Sumi, he couldn’t turn back time, and no one could take her place. Miyo wouldn’t be influenced by his whims.

“You’re too small-minded, Miyo. Your world is far too narrow. My goals aren’t confined to such shallow waters. I need you to look out over the vast, wider ocean before you.”

Usui was grinning.

“It looks like I’ll need to take you by force after all.”

He brandished his sharp short sword once more. At the same time, his form melted into the scenery, slowly fading from view.

“Tch… If he disappears, there’s nothing we can do.”

It was impossible to take on an opponent invisible to the eyes and inaudible to the ears.

Mukadeyama’s irritation was clear to Miyo.

“Everyone, circle up around Miss Fiancée! Don’t let Usui through!”

“Squad Leader Mukadeyama, I—”

Now she could no longer prevent the squad members from sacrificing themselves. Before Miyo could put her thought into words, Mukadeyama shook his head.

“We’re out of time. If our sacrifice pains you, then please focus on escaping safely instead.”

“No, how could I?” Miyo asked him.

“How long are you going to sit there, Jinnouchi?! Get up! Stand and fight!”

Applying pressure to his shoulder wound, Mukadeyama yelled at Kaoruko, who was still frozen.

Then Miyo saw her firmly grip the hilt of her saber, still in its sheath. Then, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she stood up.

“I’m sorry, Miyo. I’ll clean up the mess my misconduct’s caused.”

“But… But…”

Kaoruko, her eyes red; Mukadeyama, his uniform stained with blood; and the rest of the squad members carefully watching the vicinity, their sabers in hand—each and every one of them looked as if they were about to walk straight into the gates of hell.

Miyo was powerless in a fight.

“Listen up, everyone! Try to avoid using your Gifts! There’s a chance the effects of everyone’s powers will collide and cancel each other out!”

Everyone nodded at Mukadeyama’s orders.

Despite their resolve, they were still ultimately facing off against someone wielding Usuba Gifts.

“Hnaugh……!”

Standing on guard next to Miyo, Kaoruko suddenly went flying, her body slamming into the floor.

“Kaoruko!”

As Miyo called out her name, Usui grabbed her by the arm.

“Aaah!”

“You’re coming with me. If you don’t want anyone here to get hurt, that is.”

The sinister words, whispered into her ear, made her hair stand on end.

I don’t want to go. But…

The moment Miyo wrenched her body to escape Usui’s grasp, she felt a cold sensation on her neck. She immediately recognized it as the blade of his short sword.

“Now, it’s time for you all to behave.”

The threat was directed to everyone in the dojo, Miyo included.

As things were now, no one could do anything to harm Usui. While he was unlikely to kill her, he’d have no qualms about harming her.

“Miyo…”

Staggering to her feet, Kaoruko called out to her.

I’m… It’s too late.

As Usui forced Miyo to walk toward the dojo entrance, his blade still pressed against her neck, the face of her beloved flashed in her mind.

Kiyoka.

Ah, she finally understood. Just thinking of him made her terrified of dying. She didn’t want to be separated from him. The heartrending pain made her tears overflow. Her intense desire to learn more about him. Her implacable anxiety about his past with Kaoruko.

She finally understood the true meaning of the emotions in her chest.

“Get away from my fiancée.”

It all happened in an instant.

She heard an ice-cold voice from behind her. Just then, Usui fell to the floor, a military boot crushing into his back.

Suddenly freed from Usui’s grasp, she staggered to the floor, only to be wrapped in a hug.

“Ah…! Kiyoka.”

“Sorry I’m late. Were you crying?”

She looked up and saw the smiling face of the man who she cared for more than any other.

He brushed his white-gloved fingers against Miyo’s damp cheeks.

“I cried when I thought about you.” No, I couldn’t possibly…

She’d never be able to tell him, nor did she want him to come to that realization. Ashamed, Miyo covered her crimson cheeks in her hands.

“Kiyoka…Kudou…!”

Usui spat her fiancé’s name and flipped his short sword upside down, swinging the hilt at his boot.

In the brief opening when Kiyoka suddenly shielded Miyo behind him and moved his foot, Usui flipped himself over on the floor and leapt to his feet.

Miyo was flabbergasted that someone of Usui’s age could move so lithely.

“You came back after all, did you?”

“Unfortunately for you, we have someone who can see the future working on our side. Though it was already such an obvious feint to begin with.”

“Prince Takaihito, then… Hmm, I see. It appears my plans were a bit too simple this time.”

Usui shrugged blankly.

While he had lost his original composure, he didn’t seem particularly disappointed that his scheme had been thwarted.

Almost as if he didn’t believe it had failed at all.

Kiyoka arched his brow slightly, also feeling like something was amiss with Usui’s attitude.

“There’ll be no next time for you, Naoshi Usui.”

“Oh no, things are just getting started.”

The man twisted his finely chiseled features into a sick grin of amusement.

At that instant, a group of large balls of water appeared from out of nowhere and flew toward them.

“Eeek……!”

Miyo reflexively shut her eyes. However, Kiyoka and the rest of the soldiers scattered each and every one of the projectiles; none of them hit their marks.

“Must be Houjou.”

When she heard Kiyoka sourly murmur this with a click of his tongue, Miyo opened her eyes to find that Usui was already gone.

Is everything…okay?

He might have cloaked himself with his Gift and could still be nearby. Although the thought crossed her might, she was at her mental limit.

Kiyoka was with her.

This alone filled her with a tremendous sense of relief, and she crumbled to the floor.

“Miyo?! What’s wrong? Are you hurt?!”

His eyes bugling wide, Kiyoka dropped to his knees in a panic and propped Miyo up. She shook her head to put his mind at ease, prompting him to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Sorry… I guess I felt a bit weak in the knees.”

“No, it’s my fault for not getting here sooner. It must’ve been terrifying.”

She had indeed been frightened, and yet far beyond the fear, she was comforted to know that they had weathered the disaster without anyone losing their lives, and without Usui taking her away.

Miyo grabbed the sleeve of Kiyoka’s coat with her trembling fingers.

“Thank you for coming to save me.”

“I’m glad you’re all right.”

Kiyoka embraced her chilled body. While the tears didn’t come, she truly felt ready to cry.

“Forgive me for interrupting, sir.”

Miyo heard Mukadeyama’s slightly irritated voice from above her head.

Kiyoka glanced at his scowling subordinate and snorted. Then, reluctantly letting go of Miyo and rising to his feet, he glared at Mukadeyama.

“What?”

“Currently, the uninjured men are scouring the area to check if Usui or Houjou are still lurking. The wounded have already been brought to the first aid room. Fortunately, none are seriously hurt.”

Mukadeyama had sustained the harshest injuries. As he gave his report to Kiyoka, the cloth he was pressing to his shoulder turned crimson.

“Gave us an awful beating, didn’t he?”

“…You have my apologies, sir. My powerlessness forced your fiancée to stand front and center agains—hngh!”

Before Mukadeyama could finish what he was saying, Kiyoka struck his cheek with the palm of his hand.

“K-Kiyoka!”

“It’s absolutely outrageous that the person you were tasked to guard almost wound up being taken hostage. What exactly are you here to do? I don’t have room in my unit for people who can’t carry out a single task.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And what was that about forcing her to stand in the line of fire? Depending on your answer, I’ll have no choice but to consider disciplinary action.”

Standing before Miyo was the famously cold-blooded and harsh version of Commander Kiyoka who she rarely witnessed.

Meanwhile, Mukadeyama, who had been grand and opposing as he rallied the soldiers together a short while ago, was now shrinking back.

Faced with his commanding officer’s cold ogre-like ire, Mukadeyama exhaustively informed Kiyoka of everything that happened following Usui’s arrival, without including the slightest hint of personal feelings on the events.

“Everything is my responsibility. I am prepared for any punishment you deem necessary.”

Mukadeyama apologized with a bow before Kiyoka made him look up. Once again, he thrust his palm across the man’s cheek, the loud smack echoing in the dojo.

Miyo covered her mouth with her hand as she witnessed the painful spectacle.

“Having your sword broken in a single attack from a middle-aged man, getting wounded, only to be shielded by an amateur and the very person you were ordered to guard. Are you really a soldier? I struggle to comprehend exactly how someone can possibly fail as hard as you did today.”

“My deepest apologies, sir.”

“I don’t need apologies. It’s been made clear that you’re useless to me. You’ll get that punishment you’re after in due time.”

“Understood, sir.”

“If you really understand, then get a move on. Even you should be able to handle dealing with the aftermath.”

“Yes, sir… If you’ll excuse me.”

Mukadeyama sorrowfully turned around and jogged off.

From Miyo’s perspective, he appeared to have done a splendid job. Usui had simply been too strong of an opponent. That wasn’t his fault, and they had been able to weather Usui’s raid with almost no injuries because Mukadeyama had stood his ground.

“Kiyoka, about Squad Leader Mukadeyama, um…,” she started to say before she could stop herself. If the man himself were here to see this, he’d likely reprimand her for sticking her nose where it didn’t belong again.

Nevertheless, Kiyoka appeared to correctly pick up on her feelings.

“I know. It’s because of Mukadeyama’s hard work that you’re still here right now. He’s an outstanding man. He’ll need to be reprimanded, but don’t worry, I’ll reward him for the work he’s done later.”

“I understand… Um, also.”

There was one other thing weighing on her mind.

Miyo glanced around the inside of the dojo, with the soldiers busily hurrying back and forth. She was already nowhere to be found.

“Wh-what about, Kaoruko?”

Voicing her name aloud made awful images float into her head one after another.

In the military, betrayal earned severe punishment. If someone double-crossed their comrades on the battlefield, the consequences would be immense. To prevent such situations, even execution could be on the table.

Kaoruko hadn’t betrayed them out of her own volition. However, that didn’t change the fact that she had ultimately invited the enemy inside the station walls.

But she was Miyo’s good friend. No matter what feelings Kaoruko may have held during their interactions, the time they spent together had been irreplaceable.

She felt a stabbing and cast her eyes down. Kiyoka placed his large hand on her head and stroked her gently.

“Don’t hold out hope.”

“…………”

Miyo exhaled, as if trying to expel a bad taste from her mouth.

She could only pray that at the very least, her long-awaited first friend would have her life spared.

Arata, together with the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit soldiers, led by Ookaito, trailed the kidnapped emperor and traveled to the imperial family’s vacation home.

Of course, they couldn’t just come and go freely from there.

However, the automobile that was being tailed by Arata’s familiar headed straight in that direction—before vanishing en route.

“The familiar disappeared…”

Ookaito reacted to Arata’s dazed murmur while they were on the move.

“What do you mean ‘disappeared’? Have you lost sight of where the automobile is heading?”

“Yes. Perhaps they caught on.”

This shoreline roadway was a straight, direct path. If they continued forward, the only thing waiting for them was the area under the Ministry of the Imperial Household jurisdiction where the vacation home stood. It seemed meaningless at this point for their target to shake off Arata’s familiar.

However, they might have gotten rid of it with a goal in mind.

Ookaito grimaced; anything that had to do with Gifts was entirely beyond him.

“At any rate, all we can do is press on. They’re bound to run into the Ministry of the Imperial Household’s security if they continue down this road. Naoshi Usui’s Gift doesn’t make things pass through walls, right? If they force their way into an area under the Ministry’s jurisdiction, there should be traces of them left behind. If there aren’t any, well……”

Arata could surmise where Ookaito’s evasive statement was leading.

The possibility of the Gifted Communion infiltrating the nation’s central apparatus.

While it wasn’t something he wanted to think about, whether it had already happened or was still on the horizon, they needed to consider the prospects of the situation before things reached the point of no return.

If there is one other possibility besides that, though…

There was a chance the emperor had never come out here to begin with.

Perhaps the kidnappers had noticed Arata on the lookout at the Imperial Palace and, calculating everything down to the familiar sent to tail them, manipulated what it was seeing to lead them all to a completely different and unrelated location.

Yet another undesirable option. In the worst-case scenario, not only would they lose all traces of the emperor’s whereabouts, but it could lead to damaged trust in both Arata himself and the Usuba family as a whole.

Any more suspicion directed toward the Usubas would be bad news.

Arata’s group pressed on, until they finally reached the land set aside for the imperial family under the Interior Ministry’s administration.

The grounds were surrounded by a thick stone wall and a dense thicket of evergreens, making it impossible for an outside observer to glimpse what was going on inside.

The gate was shut tight.

It looks like the guards are safe, too.

Arata watched Ookaito approach the gate with bitterness. It seemed that one of his worst hunches had been right on the mark.

As expected, when they heard the guard’s testimony that no one had passed through, all of the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit soldiers grew restless.

“We’ll investigate inside for now,” Ookaito announced, but many of the soldiers remained unconvinced.

Arata followed after him and stepped inside the imperial family grounds, being showered with thorny looks from the rest of the soldiers all the while.

Naturally, there was no trace that anyone had been inside the vacation home. There weren’t even any footprints left behind on the ground or ruts left by an automobile at the entrance. It was clear that no one had been on the premises for the past several hours at least.

Arata could feel in his bones that the slim amount of faith people had in him was beginning to vanish.

“Maybe it was all Usuba lies.”

“He could be coordinating with Usui.”

The whispers began to reach his ears.

“……We’re withdrawing.”

Ookaito’s decision came after they had spent around half the day investigating every nook and cranny of the grounds.

They failed to find any traces after such an inspection, so it was clear that the automobile carrying the emperor hadn’t come here. In other words, Arata had been baited into following after an illusion.

Dammit……!

This would only serve to worsen the Usuba family’s position.

“Major General, sir.”

Before he knew it, Arata had called Ookaito to stop him.

He couldn’t return empty-handed. If he didn’t have any results to show for himself, he’d lose too much face.

“Please give me permission to investigate this area. Even just until the end of the day would be enough.”

“You’re going to continue on your own?”

“Yes.”

Arata knew he was being selfish. Nonetheless, he had a reason why he couldn’t silently back down here.

He bowed, pleading. Ignoring the voice telling him it was useless to beg, Arata kept his head lowered until Ookaito heaved a heavy sigh.

“I’ll allow it. Go ahead and look around until you’re satisfied. I’ll report the situation to Takaihito myself.”

“Thank you very much.”

“The rest of you all are to return back to the capital.”

Ookaito and his men withdrew, leaving Arata on his own.

Now that he was alone, he couldn’t help letting his irritation at his own shamefulness get the better of him. Usui had made a fool out of him. The situation was unbearable.

Why? Why don’t things go my way?

If Usui bore a grudge against the Usubas and was trying to set him up to fail, then he had been hugely successful. At this point, it was only a matter of time before the name Usuba would be reviled by anyone familiar with them.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to play out.

“Dammit! Dammit!” he fervently cursed, kicking up clods of dirt.

Arata had entrusted Kiyoka to protect and save Miyo. That was because he had thought his role was to get a lead on Usui. Yet, in reality, he hadn’t been able to get ahold of anything at all.

Still moved by his irritation, Arata walked around the area helter-skelter. He was single-minded in his pursuit, even as his hands and feet numbed in the cold, and he couldn’t feel his nose anymore.

However, no matter how much he searched around, he couldn’t find a single clue.

It was only natural—no one had come here to begin with.

Before he knew it, the sun had sunk, and without any light sources around, the vicinity was gradually being wrapped in total darkness.

“It was all in vain……wasn’t it?

Arata feared returning to the capital far more than the darkness around him.

Just what kind of reception will be waiting for me?

He was deprecating himself when suddenly he heard footsteps behind him.

“So you did stay behind, then.”

Arata turned around and laid his eyes on a slightly fatigued Naoshi Usui.

He immediately took his gun out from under his coat and aimed the barrel at him.

“This is all your fault…!”

“My fault? Hah-hah-hah. That’s a funny thing to say.”

With a pull of the trigger, Arata could take Usui’s life right then and there. Yet the man’s composure never faltered.

“What about this is funny?”

“How couldn’t it be? Who exactly is so prejudiced toward you and the Usubas? Me?”

“That’s not…”

That wasn’t it. It wasn’t Usui who was using whatever reason available to oppress the Usubas, without even attempting to consider their true nature. It was the other Gift-users. The military men.

However, the man standing before him had undoubtedly helped create that situation.

Arata gathered his strength into his trigger finger.

“You don’t think your words will sway me, do you?”

“No, I don’t. I still have a very high opinion of the Usuba family’s Gift-users, you know. You’re not the type to fall for such an easy ploy.”

“Well, well, it seems you do understand after all. In that case, drop dead.”

Arata felt like he was radiating all the murderous rage he held deep inside his heart, but even then, Usui continued to speak.

“Hold on, now. You say that, but back in the capital you feel inferior and lesser, do you not?”

“Do you ever shut up? What does that have to do with you?”

“I might be able to tell you how to make your life just a little bit easier, you know.”

“……You detest the Usubas, don’t you?”

“Who’s to say? I just have one thing that I want to offer you.”

A smile came to his face, dyed red and illuminated in the setting sun, and Usui slowly extended his hand.

“Arata Usuba. Will you join the Gifted Communion?”

What an absurd question. Who in the world would possibly go along with such a slovenly invitation?

Thus, Arata’s search for an answer lasted but a brief moment.