Tantei wa Mou, Shindeiru - Volume 2 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 

So the Dead was revived. 

"I want you to help capture the revived Jack the Ripper." 

England, London. 

Fuubi-san showed up at the office Siesta and I stayed at, sat on the sofa opposite, and said while smoking her cigarette. 

"…Fuubi-san, how did you get to England?" 

"Ahh, I didn’t mention this to you two. I was deployed. That’s up till yesterday though. I’ll be heading back to Japan after this." 

"I have never heard of anyone being deployed like this.…" 

Fuubi Kase??a red haired policewoman I met in Japan. It’s been almost three years since Siesta and I met her like this once we left Japan together. 

Just minutes ago, she dropped in without any appointment, showed no signs of wanting to celebrate a reunion or something, and suddenly, that request. 

"No smoking here." 

"Shut up." 

That's unreasonable. 

"Anyway, that’s how it is. I’ll leave this task to you??capture Jack the Ripper." 

"Wait, that one?" 

Jack the Ripper, the common name of the criminal behind several serial killings in England, 1888. Their true identity remained unknown, and even over a hundred years, many were curious of the uniqueness of these incidents. 

"Ahh, that’s the one, no doubt. There’s been a few such cases in London recently. We just found another body today." 

Same method huh? I remembered Jack the Ripper used to brutally gut the victims, and victimized others in heinous ways??but, 

"That was at least a hundred years ago, right? Obviously the culprit’s already dead." 

"Yeah. That’s what I said, didn’t I? It revived." 

"That’s impossible." 

A dead person could never revive. Even a grade school kid would understand. 

And thus, 

"We got a modern Jack the Ripper imitator?" 

I asked Fuubi-san, who exhaled through her red lips . 

"Now that’s a damn serious question. But well, it certainly seems so." 

"Couldn’t you have said so right from the beginning?" 

"If I didn’t, that Missy over there wouldn’t be interested at all, right?" 

Fuubi-san narrowed her eyes towards the famous detective that had fallen asleep on the table. 

"Oy, she’s talking about you??Siesta." 

I kept shaking Siesta while her forehead was on the table…but she didn’t react at all. Yep, once she got into that state, this wouldn’t be enough to wake her up, which I expected. In that case?? 

"You’ll die if you don’t dodge." 

I left my seat, went to the kitchen behind, picked up a chopper , and threw it at Siesta. 

"…That was dangerous." 

Siesta remained prone on the table while she caught the chopper between her fingers, and then stretched herself hard before getting up. 

"Are you never going to wake up unless your life’s in danger or something?" 

I sat on the sofa, asking so with a flabbergasted look. 

"It is your fault for giving me the opportunity to sleep." 

"What opportunity? Sometimes you can fall asleep even while eating. Are you a baby?" 

"Eh, are you not the baby? You do play such games once in a while." 

"We got a guest here. Shut up right now." 

Listen up. Forget about what we just said. Make sure you do. 

"So, what? I remember we were talking about a Jack the Ripper that revived in modern times." 

Siesta asked me while yawning like a kitten. 

"How are you able to hear while sleeping? And you got a mark on your forehead." 

"My hearing cells are still working even as I sleep. You’re kidding, where? Is it red?" 

"Don’t say something ?Bat? would say. Alright, look at your own mirror.." 

"I do not grow such disgusting ?feelers?. Woah, there is a pattern." 

"Haha, you look like a kid with the way you ruffle your hair. Your forehead’s unexpectedly large." 

"Shut up. You’ll definitely grow bald in the future. Your hair’s so thin." 

"Ah?, hey, stop touching. Argh…take this." 

"Ow. Heh, you sure have guts to flick my forehead." 

Siesta showed a feisty  smile, and leapt towards me?? 

"Since when did you two get along so well?" 

Fuubi-san looked a little flabbergasted as she stared at me, and Siesta, who was seated on my lap, exhaling some smoke. 

"Even if you ask what relationship we have." 

"We’re just ordinary," 

I exchanged looks with Siesta on my lap, and then, 

""Business partners."" 

We narrated this obvious fact in unison.. 

It’s Siesta and me, you know? There’s no way there could be anything more, right? 

"Well, whatever." 

 Fuubi-san was the one who asked, but it seemed she too lost interest as she stood up, extinguished her cigarette, and said, 

"Let’s hurry and check on Jack the Ripper’s victim." 

In a mystery, a corpse would have to be checked. 

"This is the work of ?Cerberus?." 

Siesta knelt down, saw the corpse of a bloodied man, and noted so. 

We were inside a Baroque-styled church??where the modern Jack the Ripper was said to be revived. We went our separate ways from Fuubi-san midway through, but we were given permission to enter the cordoned off area. However?? 

"Cerberus, you say?" 

I tilted my head as Siesta said something a little different from the situation at hand. 

"Your voice sounds weird." 

"I really can’t handle the stench of blood." 

"You should at least lower your head or cover your nose, no?" 

Here, Siesta took one of the ?seven tools? at her waist??the little mirror, and showed it to me. 

There’s a guy giving a really strange pose there. 

I pinched my nose, as I was told, and knelt down next to Siesta. 

We were inside a chapel hall, and beneath the large Cross was a corpse of a clergyman, it seemed. 

"No touch." 

"Understood. I shall not leave fingerprints." 

"Sounds like a criminal." 

"If that’s the case, it’s immediately dealt with." 

We bantered each other, and I clapped my hands together. 

After several seconds of silence, I opened my eyes. I couldn’t say that I could get used to seeing dead bodies immediately. I saw many deaths over the past seventeen years due to my nature of getting into incidents…but the lingering bloody stench and corroded eyes of the deceased always disturbed me. 

"And so? Is the Cerberus you speak of the real identity of the Jack the Ripper?" 

I narrowed my eyes at the scene of devastation, asking so. 

I looked over at the corpse of a priest with his left chest ripped open. 

"Yes, codename ?Cerberus?. Watchdog of Hell, known for devouring human hearts." 

Siesta’s expression remained poised as always as she pulled her hair behind her h ead when she said so. 

"Those guys did it?" 

"I can’t be certain." 

Siesta put her fingertips at her chin, and continued, 

"Leaving aside the incidents a century ago??the police haven’t had an inkling of the culprit despite so many incidents, even till now. In other words," 

"Well, I guess." 

As expected, the enemy was ?SPES? ??and since there was a codename, we’re probably dealing with an ?Android?. 

"What’s the enemy’s objective? Why is Cerberus ripping out other people’s hearts?" 

It probably wasn’t intending to actually mimic Jack the Ripper for real, right? 

"I don’t think it did so on its own. I think it acted as per instructions from its superiors." 

Instructions from superiors…I remembered that three years ago, when I met Siesta during the hijacking, Bat was ordered by his organization to enact a terrorist plot. 

"Well, the enemy’s objective aside, we just need to capture and get a confession." 

"Siesta, it feels like you’ll torture with a stoic look." 

"Such a crude way of putting it. Ah, are you indicating that you wish for me to do so to you?" 

"That’s impossible. How many unique fetishes are you going to label me with?" 

This shouldn’t be a conversation held at a murder scene. 

"But Siesta. You say you just need to catch him and get him to talk…but that can’t be done in the first place, right?" 

There were many victims, and even the police was stumped. How were we supposed to capture such an enemy? 

"…What’s that?" 

But Siesta didn’t answer my question, and instead looked at my hand. 

"Ahh, this? Fuubi-san gave me this when she left." 

I had taken the Zippo lighter from my pocket and flicked it to calm myself down. 

"She gave it to me since smoking wasn’t allowed." 

I didn’t know if there’s any change to her mental state, but I was really grateful that she wouldn’t be smoking a cigarette at our house again. 

"I see. So she entrusted her most important thing to a man she met after a long while?" 

"What kind of feeling is that?" 

She probably thought I was just a suspicious brat who she would bump into at a murder scene from time to time, right? 

Ah, it’s really not the time for some meaningless chat. 

"We’re talking about how to capture Cerberus. Do you have a plan?" 

If we just stood by the sidelines, more victims would pile up. We had to act as soon as possible. 

"In fact, I had seen the damage caused by this Cerberus in the past." 

Siesta knelt down again, and said so as she looked at the corpse with its heart ripped out.. 

"Yeah, you definitely wouldn’t let this incident slip." 

Though she wasn’t requested to, Siesta would continue to abide with her mission to fight the ?enemies of the world? ??that’s the kind of girl she was. Thus, till this point, there had to be a reason as to why Siesta hadn’t caught Cerberus yet. 

"The enemy’s ?nose? seems rather potent. It’s been able to escape me no matter how I tried to pursue." 

"I see. That’s a dog for you." 

Just as Bat’s ?ear? was rather advanced, the ?Androids? had certain parts of their bodies modified. It seemed Cerberus’ specialty was their ?nose?. 

"But for some reason, Cerberus committed this crime even though we are in London." 

"…A trap?" 

"I want to say this is a chance, you know?" 

Still the same old feisty famous detective. 

"It is true that there is a possibility they were planning something. But at the same time, if we let this chance slip, there might never be another perfect opportunity to do so." 

"You say that, but how are we supposed to catch them?" 

"The other way around." 

Siesta then stood up, 

"We shall not give chase after Cerberus. We will lure Cerberus to us." 

She said something inscrutable with a completely serious expression. 

"Listen up. The enemy now has a chance to defeat us." 

"But didn’t Cerberus run because they're scared of you? In that case??" 

Once I said, I had a bad feeling about this. 

"Wait, Siesta, you…" 

"Quite the nice deduction you have." 

Siesta smiled delightedly, 

"Cerberus fears only me. In other words, it will be more than happy to attack you alone." 

"So you’re using me as bait!?" 

This famous detective’s using me as bait against a hell’s watchdog! 

"You should have known this day would come ever since you started this job." 

"I don’t remember preparing myself for this much!" 

Dammit. Didn’t you say you’ll protect me while I act as your assistant!? 

"The day finally comes when you shall fight a powerful enemy." 

"Don’t make it sound like I’m a legendary hero." 

"No, I am that legendary hero. You are my blade that shall tear the enemy apart…the blacksmith, actually…or rather, a farmer who couldn’t inherit the trade, you know?" 

"That's unreasonable." 

It was a little too cruel to the assistant who had to face the savage alone. 

"Now then, let us leave. We have already checked out the scene." 

Siesta ignored my displeased look, and turned to leave for the entrance. 

"…Where are we going next?" 

"Hm, some afternoon tea while we discuss our plans?” 

"You’re the only one in this world who can go for some afternoon tea immediately after witnessing a murder scene." 

And while this famous detective had a slim body, she always had quite the appetite. Even after arriving in London, she often ran off to a restaurant for some Sunday Roast. The bills were so large, we had to work to near death just to survive. 

"…I always use a lot of brainpower, so my three desires are somewhat stronger compared to a normal person." 

Siesta turned back towards me, and continued to prattle on, unlike her usual self. 

It’s rare to see her like this. 

I guessed she too had feelings an ordinary girl should have. 

"That’s why you often take naps?" 

"I do not want to hear that from you when you laze in bed." 

We teased each other, and left the scene. 

"Your three desires are stronger than an ordinary person, huh?" 

"…………Appetite and sleep." 

The famous detective just wouldn’t show up. 

“Anyway, that is the case. Just wait in the room, enjoy your pizza, and the rest of your li…no, your free time.” 

"You’ll save me right? You’ll definitely save me before I get killed, right?" 

I was in a hotel room Siesta prepared for me. After our afternoon tea session, we had dinner, I went on my separate way, and laid on the bed alone when I called her. We were going through our final plans to lure out Cerberus…with me as bait. 

“It has been almost three years into this trip across the world…time certainly flew by.” 

"Don’t get nostalgic about the past all of a sudden. If we want a nostalgia trip, leave it when we’re old." 

“We started out arguing all the time…actually, no, it’s still the same. But because of this, it’s never boring every day.” 

"I said don’t act like I’m going to die or something!" 

Even though I’m your assistant, I don’t want to risk my life on this, you know? 

"…And so? Will Cerberus really come to this room?" 

Now that we’re starting on this, there’s no turning back. Let’s just focus on ensuring that the mission would go well. 

“It is fine. If it goes according to plan, you shall be gnawed to death by Cerberus at midnight.” 

"Am I going to be killed or something?" 

Save me already. Within five minutes. Please. 

"Why do I only have three hours of my life left?" 

I looked out of the window, and it’s already night, the sun had set completely. 

“To be honest, I don’t know when it’ll be, and I don’t know if it’ll be today.” 

…Of course. Cerberus would most likely target me while I was away from Siesta, but even that wouldn’t be enough to determine the time and date. I might have to be on standby in this hotel until the day comes. 

"Siesta, you’re in the next room, right?" 

“Are you a fool?” 

Again I got insulted immediately . That's unreasonable. 

“If I am nearby, the enemy won’t appear as it will be wary of me.” 

…Ahh, that seemed to be the case. 

"Wait a sec. Then am I really alone now? Will I really end up dying today?" 

Not to boast, but there’s no way I could beat an ?Android?, you know? 

“It’s fine. I did set things up to ensure that there’s a one in a thousand chance you will be saved, just in case.” 

"So I have a one in a thousand chance of being saved?" 

“That was a joke.” 

That’s the problem. It didn’t sound like a joke coming from you. 

"Haa, if only you could be in the same room…" 

I thought of the worst possible situation, and unwittingly lamented so. And then?? 

“……Hm?” 

The tone that came through the phone next seemed inclined to tease me for some reason. 

“So you wish to stay in the same room as me?” 

"! I don’t mean that. It’s just for my safety.” 

“So you want to sleep on the same bed.” 

"That’s not it. Don’t you have terrible sleeping habits? How many times did I take a backfist from you?” 

“Do you want to take a bath with me?” 

"I’m not getting into a bathtub with you." 

“Quite the dishonest one.” 

Unfortunately, those were my true thoughts. 

"Ah whatever…it’s about time then." 

While we continued with our nonsensical charade, I ended up relaxing before I knew it. I just had to bet everything on the plan Siesta prepared. That's what I thought when I got ready to hang up. 

"Siesta, are you outdoors now?” 

I could hear a car horn from the other end of the phone call. 

“Eh? Yes, that is true.” 

"Don’t stay out for too long. Cerberus won’t be looking for you, but there are dangerous people out there." 

“…………” 

And there was silence for some reason. 

"Siesta?" 

“…Nothing. Sorry. It is a little refreshing that you actually think of me as a girl??” 

"Were you shocked?" 

“I laughed.” 

“What are you laughing about?” 

Don’t laugh. Seriously. 

It’s rare for me to show my gentle side, but it always ends up like this. 

"I’m hanging up now." 

“I will not be next to you, but I can continue to remain on the call so that you will not feel lonely .” 

“I’m not feeling lonely…but if you don’t want to hang up no matter what?" 

“Ah, yes yes. I know without you having to say anything. ” 

A few more hours passed. The premonition I didn’t want to occur came true; as far what that was, it was the moment Cerberus attacked. 

I sensed a presence. 

I could feel, physically, that it was a little past midnight at this point. 

I was alone in the room…but I could clearly sense something moving nearby. 

A few hours passed after that phone call. I ordered room service, watched the TV, killed some time appropriately, switched off the lights, and without changing my clothes, I got onto the bed. I pretended to sleep and waited for that moment, just in case…but I never expected that one in a thousand possibility to occur. 

The enemy was probably alone.. 

It was completely dark, after all the lights were extinguished, and it was a place so quiet, I could not hear the buzzing of the air conditioning. I could clearly hear the safety removed off a pistol. Someone was targeting my life, but?? 

"Sorry. I’m already used to being targeted." 

I managed to figure out where the enemy was, to a certain extent. I hopped off the bed without warning, clamped the arm wielding the gun with both legs, and did a Ude Hishigi Juji Gatame. 

"…!!" 

I had to protect my own life. 

I did think of Siesta as my last string of life, but I had to deal with anything I could. I learned some martial arts in the past to deal with the trouble caused by this nature, and I had Siesta train me recently. 

"You can handle a broken bone or two, right." 

Sorry. I’m not holding back against an ?Android?. 

"…!" 

The gun fell from the enemy’s hand. But, I had to tighten my grip. I had to buy some time for Siesta until she got here.. 

"Don’t move. If you move unnecessarily…wait, what?" 

I thought I had locked the arm, but the feeling disappeared??and right when I thought so, 

"Grr …!" 

I felt a sharp pain on my arm, bit my tongue, and tasted metal in my mouth. 

"…Dislocated your shoulder on purpose?" 

I couldn’t see who it was in the darkness, but it probably was as I expected. The enemy dislocated the right arm, turned around using skill, raised the leg and kicked my face. No ordinary person would be able to do this. 

"Haha, of course." 

What ordinary person? We’re talking about a watchdog of hell that devours the hearts of man, Cerberus??the Jack the Ripper revived in modern times. 

"Siesta, I can only buy you thirty seconds." 

I stomped my right foot out while pleading for my partner who was out there, somewhere. I aimed for the enemy’s gun that had fallen to the floor, but I missed by just a step. 

"Dammit…" 

The gun was picked up. A gunshot rang. I clearly felt a bullet graze my cheek. 

"You’re killing me no matter what, huh?" 

And after that, rip my heart out of my left chest, huh? 

I crouched in the darkness as much as I could. I could not act at all when I had no weapon and visibility. If only there was something to break the deadlock?? 

Ahh, there’s this thing. 

"As expected of a police officer to have such keen foresight." 

I took out the Zippo that was in my right pocket, lit it, and tossed it onto the bed.. 

"…!" 

The fire immediately spread…or not. The sprinklers set up at the top were immediately activated. 

"There’s an opening." 

"…!" 

As the water rained down, I pushed the startled enemy onto the bed.. 

"Game over." 

Sorry Siesta. There’s no need for you to step up to the plate. 

"Time to see who you are." 

I reached for the lamp switch by the bed…and lying on the bed was a girl in a camo suit, the drenched blond hair on her cheeks.. 

The girl’s face was covered in embarrassment as she was pushed down by her prey, or terrified?the gem-like eyes were so distinct from a Japanese, and they faltered. 

"You are…" 

And the girl told me her name. 

"My name is??Charlotte Arisaka Anderson." 

That face alone is unforgivable 

"Charl?" 

I knew this girl.. 

Charlotte Arisaka Anderson. 

She’s a sixteen year old American, but she’s a mixed blood with Japanese lineage. She’s travelling around the world as an agent, under the command of her organization. She also worked alongside us once when Siesta invited her?so she’s kind of an acquaintance to me. 

"You alright?" 

I cautiously called out towards Charl. 

"…Yeah, somewhat." 

Charl slowly got onto the bed, holding down her injured right shoulder. I too stood up, and pulled my distance from the bed. 

But why’s Charl here? Why did she show up, completely armed… 

"Ah, I see. Siesta asked you?" 

So this was the plan Siesta came up with? It’s true that Charl’s combat ability was enough to fight the enemy. I was a little too defensive and preemptive, it seemed. 

"…Yea. Seriously, why did you attack me out of a sudden." 

"My bad. But you too, you brought a gun alone." 

"That’s because, well, Cerberus might strike before me." 

I see, so that’s how it is. Maybe I’m just being too precautious. Siesta would laugh at me if I was too much of a scaredy cat. 

"Hm, something stinks." 

Charl twitched her nose, and sniffed the air. 

"Really? Did you fart or something?" 

"Don’t you know what the word delicacy means?" 

"My partner’s the famous detective who doesn’t know of the concept of delicacy." 

I answered Charl, and opened the window for some ventilation. 

"But you’re unexpectedly capable, Kimizuka. My loss." 

I heard Charl’s voice behind me. 

"It’s partly because of an ambush, but I didn’t think you would overpower me." 

"Well yeah. It’s my first time beating you head on, Charl." 

Probably because I was usually trained by Siesta, so I thought as I reached for the window, got ready to open the window? 

"No, can I really beat Charl?" 

It wasn’t some self-reflection of a weakling, nor was it a guess based on a lack of pride. 

But I knew. 

I knew how strong the girl Charlotte Arisaka Anderson was. I knew how much stronger Siesta was compared to everyone else. There was no way Charlotte would have lost to me. 

"…No, more importantly." 

It was a much simpler deduction. 

"There’s no way that feisty person with such a rotten temper would have admitted defeat so easily." 

After all, she’s a sworn enemy of mine. That’s why?? 

"Who are you?" 

I turned back to ask Charl…or rather, the person who claimed to be Charlotte Arisaka Anderson. 

"I see. So I was seen through." 

The person’s voice changed from Charl’s to a gruff male. At the next moment, I could see a complete distortion on the entire body?appearing thereafter was a man in his prime, dressed in black robes. 

"Well, that works too. I’ll be taking your heart then." 

"…Tch, so you’re Cerberus?" 

The origin of that codename was that transformation ability…just as the watchdog of hell had three heads, he was capable of transforming into others. Also, his ?nose? was sharp, and it was no wonder that the police had difficulty dealing with him. It’s understandable why he had not been caught. 

"But too bad, your days of imitating Jack the Ripper ends today." 

I readied the magnum gun I reclaimed during the battle, and pointed it at the enemy’s forehead.. 

"You are rather capable yourself. I thought you would be just a little lackey next to that detective, but I have to change my mind about you." 

Cerberus said, silently closed his eyes, and clapped his hands before his chest. He was acting like a clergyman, unlike the arrogant words he just said. That thought lasted for just an instant however.. 

"Tonight is the full moon, and the blood shall be drained." 

At that moment, the muscles all over Cerberus started to rise. Long hair quickly covered his body, and that appearance was, 

"You’re a werewolf…?" 

Is there a mixup between a Cerberus and a werewolf or something? This really wasn’t the right time to make such a joke however. 

"Don’t grumble when you get hit." 

I squeezed the trigger, and shot the bullet?but. 

"If you can hit me." 

Cerberus avoided the bullet with the agility of a wild beast.. 

"Grr…!" 

That hulking figure avoided all the attacks, and charged over. 

The sharp claw arrived before my eyes, and I had no weapon.. 

I steeled myself for the tragedy that was to come, and closed my eyes?? 

“Get down.” 

I heard a voice from the phone, and got down at the last minute. 

"??kaaahh!" 

I heard a gunshot and a gruff scream at the same time, opened my eyes, and spotted a beastman with dark red blood oozing from the shoulder. 

"…I guess opening the window saved me here, huh?" 

I then realized that I had not hung up yet, took the phone to my ear, and said to the other end.. 

"But why did you remain silent? Shouldn’t you be sleeping?" 

And then, 

“I caught up anyway. That is fine, no?” 

The voice from the phone quickly showed up right behind me. 

I looked completely displeased, and turned back?to see a white haired girl with a giddy look, standing on the large window sill as she said to me, 

"Feeling lonely?" 

The crimson devil, the ice queen 

"Now then," 

Siesta said as she readied her musket, leapt onto the fallen Cerberus, got onto him, and pointed the muzzle. 

"That looks familiar." 

The scene on that flight three years ago appeared in my mind. I remembered Siesta pointed her gun at Bat’s forehead, just as she did at this point, and successfully quelled the hijacking. 

"…When did you get close?" 

The prone Cerberus winced bitterly, 

"I couldn’t sense you from this ?nose? of mine…so, why." 

That was definitely the plan. I was alone, to be the bait, and she would hide at a place where Cerberus’ ?nose? could not detect her…but Siesta got here without him noticing.. 

"Seems like there is still some stench here." 

Siesta immediately sniffed about.. 

"Still some stench?" 

"Huh, you haven’t noticed? Before you opened the window, this room should be filled with a special gas ." 

"Gas…? Ah, speaking of which.." 

Cerberus did mention that there was a stench in this room when he took the form of Charl. Uh…when did that happen? 

"That." 

So Siesta said as she pointed at the ceiling??nope. 

"The sprinklers?" 

It probably was the plan Siesta had prepared. She knew I brought the Zippo, expected that the sprinklers would be activated in the battle, and added some gas in the water. Cerberus had a sharp nose, and might be numbed by the gas, so he didn’t expect Siesta to be nearby. 

"…Still as well prepared as before." 

It was as though Siesta had expected such a development to occur. 

"Anyway, it’s my win. Give up." 

Siesta again poked her gun at Cerberus. I seized the chance to try and contact Fuubi-san…or so I thought as I frisked my phone. 

"I can’t be caught yet." 

Cerberus stated defiantly, and quickly shrank. 

"! Transformation!" 

He became as small as a kid, and immediately broke free from Siesta’s restraint. 

"Assistant! Close that window!" 

Yeah, how can I let you get away…! 

I hurriedly turned towards the window behind me, prepared to close the window to stop the escaping Cerberus…but, 

"Too slow." 

He transformed back to his beastman state, and leapt over me with dexterity. 

"I still have an order to fulfill. Just one, one more. I need to get a living heart." 

And so he leapt out of the window?? 

"In that case, do have a rest." 

Blood splattered. 

Cerberus’ head, and only the head, fell out of the window. The body that lost its head slowly fell backwards. 

"…Huh?" 

I couldn’t comprehend the sight before me. Why did Cerberus die? 

Who? Who did this? 

"Assistant!" 

Siesta called out anxiously. I had never heard such an anxious voice from her before.. 

"Be careful." 

She aimed her musket at the window. I then noticed that the muzzle was shaking slightly. 

"This is our first actual meeting, Miss Famous Detective?" 

It was a voice of absolute zero. There was a person, probably the one who murdered Cerberus, seated at the window sill. She flailed the saber about, and flicked off the blood. 

"……" 

It was a girl with red eyes and short black hair, dressed in a dark red military uniform, with several sabers hanging by the waist. She’s probably of similar age to Siesta. I couldn’t see her face clearly as it was shielded by the peak cap and the collar.. 

However, if the flawless famous detective was so wary, then?? 

" My name is Hel. Codename??Hel" 

She sat by the window, and flatly said so as she wiped the blood with a cloth. 

"Codename…then, she’s?" 

"The top executive of ?SPES?." 

Siesta approached me, and muttered with a grim look. 

"Hel??that’s the name in Northern Mythology, queen of the ice country called Niflheim" 

"So there’s no rule or rhyme in codenaming?" 

At the very least, I figured that she was of a completely different level from Bat and Cerberus. 

"Now then." 

But Hel got off the window, did not look at us, and instead went directly to Cerberus’ corpse. She knelt down?and stabbed her sword at Cerberus’ left chest.. 

"…!" 

I felt a little repulsed when I saw this horrendous scene. Hel didn’t show any emotion on her face though as she stabbed her hand into Cerberus’ left chest…and drew out something from amidst the blood. 

"This is the last part.." 

Contained in Hel’s bloodied right hand was a little black ore-like item. 

"Now then, I shall be taking this back, and will execute the plan…" 

"You think I’ll let you?" 

Siesta stared sharply at Hel, and while she said so, the raised musket was no longer shaking.. 

"Heh. But." 

Hel turned to look at Siesta. 

"You can’t shoot me." 

"What are you….……ugh!?" 

Siesta seemed to notice something, and raised her eyebrow. 

"And furthermore, you shall not take a step further, and you shall not make a sound." 

Hel’s bloody red eyes flickered alluringly. Siesta widened her eyes, and kept opening and closing her lips like a fish at the water surface, seeking its feed, unable to make a sound.. 

"Is that the ability of an ?Android? …?" 

Since Hel was a member of ?SPES?, she too probably had a unique ability. Looking at the situation, I guess it’s to control other people’s actions or something…? 

There wasn’t time for me to calm down and think however. Siesta’s movements were completely sealed, and there’s only one action the enemy would do?the red uniform raced towards me.. 

"Shall we have a look at Hell together?" 

At that moment, my consciousness was severed from this world.. 

To the future a year later 

"This is…" 

I opened my eyes, and found an unfamiliar, dim space. 

"……!" 

I was handcuffed and shackled on my feet. The legs of the chair beneath me were fastened to the concrete floor. I could also smell a stinging, foul stench. There’s a murmur echoing around me…the basement? 

"Looks like you’re awake." 

A person suddenly appeared from the darkness. 

A lowered peak cap, upright collar, couldn’t really see her expression, but yep, the one who dragged me here was?? 

"Hel…!" 

Yep. I was abducted at the hotel, and then, 

"Where is this place? Are you…going to kill me?" 

My throat kept shaking. She separated me from Siesta, brought me to this place, but why?? 

"Will you become our companion?" 

My thoughts froze immediately once I heard this completely unexpected answer. 

"What are you saying…?" 

And before I knew it, Hel arrived behind my back, 

"Ahh, it is a little incorrect to say so?I want you to be my partner." 

The voice seemed to be licking at my ear, and I had goosebumps all over. 

"…I don't get what you’re saying. What’s the merit of me being your partner?" 

"You have a low opinion of yourself." 

"Please call that being humble." 

I could still joke naturally at such moments. 

No, it’s because it was such a moment. I wouldn’t be able to calm down if I didn’t do so. She, …this Hel had a terrifying aura that would cause anyone to shiver. 

"No, this is just me shaking with excitement." 

"But I haven’t said anything." 

"You can check if I’m peeing right now." 

"I see. So you two have been fooling around like this all the time?" 

Hel showed a faint smile, and finally moved away from my back. 

"…Didn’t think you would smile too." 

"Ahaha, that is cruel. What kind of person do you think I am?" 

The crisp footsteps of the boots rang, and Hel made a huge circle around my chair.. 

"A devil without emotions? A monster who can’t communicate with words? A villain who can’t be reasoned with?" 

Rude.  Hel showed a wry smile once again. 

"You’re talking to an ordinary girl." 

Hel said, went across my sights, flipped a thick book she obtained forms somewhere, and stared at a page. 

"I don’t think an ordinary girl would just kill her companion like that." 

I refuted, recalling what Hel did to Cerberus at that hotel, by her own hand.. 

"companion? Ahaha, no. That was just part of the plan to be completed." 

Hel seemed to find it funny, for she burst out laughing. It was simple, delighted, pure?savagery. That was my denotation of the girl called Hel. 

"Are you going to use me and abandon me too? Furthermore, there’s no merit in having me as a partner." 

I didn’t think she actually wanted me to be her partner at all. What was she planning exactly? 

"A merit to being my partner, you ask?" 

Hel looked at the book in her hands, and continued, 

"But before we can talk about merits or demerits, everything recorded in the ?Bible? is absolute." 

"Bible?" 

Was Hel referring to the book in her hand? 

"I merely hold one of them. It records something that will happen to you in the future." 

"That’s impossible??" 

"??Impossible, you ask? This is the truth however. This ?Bible? truly recorded the fact that after Cerberus died there, you would be taken here." 

That’s just an excuse, just her saying that everything that had happened was prophesied beforehand. 

"Your eyes seem to be full of doubt." 

"Yeah, but don’t mind. I’m the type to only believe myself." 

"What a coincidence. I’m the same." 

Oh, so maybe we could have a common understanding, even though I didn’t want to. 

"Now then, have you heard of ?N?di Astrology? ?" 

Hel asked, the book still opened. 

"N?di Astrology…I remember it’s the book of prophecies left behind by an Indian sage in the BCs…" 

Siesta used to tell me all sorts of nonsensical trivia, and I remembered there was this particular one. In the distant past, the Indian sage recorded the prophecies given by the gods in Tamil, on palm leaves, more or less. It depicted everyone’s futures. 

"This ?Bible? is created with the ?N?di Astrology? as the backbone. Your future too is recorded on it." 

Hel looked down at the opened book, and wandered around the spacious room. 

"Like say, a month later or so, you will regain the daily life you always wanted, and live an ordinary high school life." 

"That’s impossible. There’s no way that famous detective will simply let me go." 

Of course, I’d be happy if we could wipe out ?SPES? completely in a month, have a happy ending, and then I get my ordinary daily life.. 

"A year later, you shall not be an assistant. You will be a detective, and solve all kinds of issues." 

"That’s impossible too. I’ll only end up as Siesta’s assistant." 

There’s no way she would simply let me take up the vaunted position of a detective that easily, right? 

"The forgotten memories of a heart, a miraculous sapphire priced at 3 billion yen, and the legacy of the famous detective?if you can remember these words a year later, that will most definitely be the answer to me." 

"What exactly is this nonsense? What are you saying?" 

"I am talking about your ?nature of getting into trouble?, sort of." 

Hel closed the book and said so. I never mentioned my nature to Hel. Was that too recorded by the ?N?di Astrology? or something? 

"But I have a slightly different view about your nature." 

"…What are you saying?" 

"You are not drawn into trouble. You willingly get involved with them." 

Along with the world.  Hel spread her arms wide in an exaggerated manner. 

"That thing of yours is a power that can change and kickstart anything??you are the center to this world." 

And that’s why, Hel continued. 

"I want you to become my partner, to save the world along with me." 

The red eyes staring at me gave an alluring glint. 

"Destroy the world, more like." 

"To me, that is redemption." 

"So if you destroy the world, you can get what you’re looking for?" 

"You can say that." 

"And what if I refuse?" 

"That’s fine too." 

Hel then turned around, and walked in a certain direction. 

"In fact, according to this ?Bible?, it will take some time until you become mine. However, the need to kickstart things in motion is father’s??" 

And then, Hel stopped talking. 

Father? Who’s she talking about? 

"But it’s a pity. If you can be my partner, I can provide all kinds of specials for you.." 

Hel nonchalantly continued in a joking manner, as though she hadn’t said what she did.. 

"First of all, the most important thing is that you don’t have to do anything." 

"That’s quite the condition right off the bat." 

I really wanted a certain famous detective who always had me at her beck and call to hear this. 

"You can spend the entire day playing games on a large TV." 

"Are you an angel?" 

"And you can have your free choice of sweets, ice cream, or cup noodles at any given moment." 

"You’re a god, right?" 

Oy, the white haired famous detective, did you hear that? We got a villain giving me quite the huge privilege. I’ll defect in two seconds. 

"So what do you think?" 

The girl in military uniform reached her right hand out towards me, while I was seated on the chair., 

"You??be my partner." 

The smile brimmed with innocence as she gave such a tantalizing offer. 

And so, my answer was, 

"Yeah, of course??I’ll refuse." 

Sorry. I was always the cautious one. Whenever I had to make a decision, I would prioritize the demerits rather than the merits. 

"I think it’ll be more terrifying to have Siesta as the enemy instead of you." 

I made such a sarcastic choice, smiled, and refused Hel straight up. 

"And you didn’t think I would accept your bargain, right?" 

"Ahaha, you found out?" 

Hel looked like a kid who had her prank figured out, and deftly turned aside, walking there. While Hel turned her back on me, I tried to figure out a way to undo my handcuffs. 

…Goodness, she locked me up with these, and actually tried to get me to join her? She must have known that I would refuse her in the first place. 

"Now then, it might be inappropriate for me to call this the alternative, but I do have something I want to show you." 

The next moment, a faint light appeared around us. Hel switched on the lights? So I thought as I looked around?? 

"What are, these…" 

There seemed to be something within the limited range I could see in this darkness. 

That monster in a cage resembled a large crawling bug…but to be honest, I really had no impression on such monsters. If we’re talking about stuff that were similar, then I could only think of a monster I saw in some movie or somewhere else that was called an alien. 

By my guess it was almost 4 meters in length. I could not see anything resembling eyes on its head, and there were fangs growing from its large jaws. There was mucus-like stuff dripping from the mouth, and I could see the bare minimum of vitals, but it remained still over there, it seemed. Maybe it’s sleeping or something? 

"A ?biological weapon?." 

Hel calmly stated. 

"The breath of this thing contains poison that can bind together with all the oxygen in the atmosphere." 

"…Are you planning to commit a terrorist act with this? In London?" 

"That is correct. That is the future history recorded in this ?Bible?, God’s salvation." 

"What kind of religion is this…" 

Grr, so they weren’t content with ?Androids?, they created that thing too? If such a monster was released onto the streets…and, yeah, where am I? What was she intending to release this monster? It seemed like we’re in London, but…. 

"Ahh speaking of which, I haven’t answered your question as to where we are, huh?" 

Hel reached for the metal cage, and patted the head of the ?biological weapon?, endearingly. 

"We are in the basement of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the Palace of Westminster." 

There’s no point in acting cool at this point. 

"…Since you built such a place beneath a government headquarters, I guess that means you have quite the supporters, huh?" 

Over the past three years, Siesta and I fought ?SPES? together…but we never could stop their invasion completely, and they had intruded into places far beyond our imaginations. 

"Yes, it is as you say. Our allies have spread all over the world, politicians, bankers, policemen, religious leaders…maybe a certain person next to you is actually a member of ?SPES? too." 

"Now that sounds like hell." 

I spat out these words…and while Hel was focused on the ?biological weapon?, I used my mouth to grab the metal wire in my chest pocket, before reaching towards the handcuffs on my wrists…I just had to use my many years of experience and instincts to wriggle about. Not to boast about my nature of getting into trouble, but I was already used to abduction and imprisonment. 

"But why tell me about this terrorist act?" 

I continued the conversation while ensuring that I didn’t act unnaturally. 

"Why show me such a monster? Are you going to use me as the first feed or something?" 

Immediately, Hel said, 

"Food, huh?" 

She, who had turned her back on me, suddenly stopped. 

"…Well, just a metaphor." 

I said something unnecessary…I didn’t want to be eaten up by this disgusting monster…. 

"Getting warmer. But well, you’re mistaken." 

…That was close. I saved my life. 

At the same time, I was concerned when Hel said “Getting warmer”. Wait? 

"Are you going to unleash it and let it run around, eating people?" 

"Ahhh, no no no. It’s already sufficiently fed." 

"Sufficiently fed?……!!!" 

So that’s how it was. The true intent of the incidents occurring in the center of London, when Cerberus hunted those hearts? 

"That monster eats human hearts?" 

Those were the food, or rather, the energy source. The ?biological weapon? relied on human flesh and blood to work. 

"Heh, you really are a smart one. You really are suited to be my partner after all." 

"!! I said I’ll pass on that." 

I finally removed my cuffs, so I immediately used my freed hands to untie my binds. Right when I was about to run towards where the wind noises came from?? 

"Where are you going?" 

I was found out immediately. But well, I would be caught in the midst of my escape away. 

"Well, it’s only a matter of time until you become my partner, so let’s show you what will happen. Now then, ?Betelgeuse? ." 

Hel called for the ?biological weapon?, probably its name, and drew out something from the sleeve of her military uniform. 

"That black ore-like thing…" 

I remembered Hel extracted it from Cerberus’ left chest. If the human heart was the energy source, that might be the last key to start up the ?biological weapon? ?? 

"Betelgeuse, time to work." 

And Hel stuffed the little stone into the left chest of the ?biological weapon?. At that moment. 

"??Guu, ?guu, ??, ????goooaaaarrrr!" 

The bellow echoed through the basement. It was the sign that the ?biological weapon? had awakened. 

The massive monster seemed to break free of its shackles, and it wriggled about, slamming the cage as it unleashed its excitement. And then, 

"AAAAHHHHH!" 

An intense noise erupted, and the cage was destroyed from the inside. The monster devoid of self-control started to assault Hel, wanting to devour her. 

"Goodness, you’re unruly." 

Hel’s red eyes shot the monster a look, and at the next moment. 

"??!! Gaaaahhh." 

Hel drew several sabers while my eyes couldn’t grasp so, and stabbed them all over Betelgeuse. 

"How about you be a little obedient?" 

Betelgeuse immediately obliged, like it was a large pet or something. 

"You’re releasing such a monster outside?…Are you serious?" 

"That is destiny, my mission.." 

“So you have to be stopped, right here, right now." 

"Heh, by yourself?" 

Hel’s rouge lips were raised. 

"Nice smile." 

"Huh, are you flirting with me now?" 

"Just social etiquette at work. Sorry, there’s no way I can become your partner." 

We bantered off each other at the end, and I firmly believed it was goodbye. 

"Yes, it is a pity. You may watch this city be destroyed then." 

Hel said so, got onto Betelgeuse, and sat on its head. They would rise to the surface, and the first thing they would do was to destroy a government. 

But I remembered I did say this. 

"You’ll be stopped here." 

"So how are you going to do that? You have no weapons, and you’re alone." 

"You’re the one who misunderstood something, right? Since when did I say I’ll stop you?" 

When would she leave this tantalizing position to me anyway? 

"??Assistant!" 

A warmth voice came from somewhere, like a ray of light shining into the darkness. 

"Assistant……where are you!?" 

The voice was getting closer and louder from beyond the left wall. 

"Assistant……! Assistant, where are you!? Assistant!" 

…Hmm, there’s no need to call for me that many times. Calm down, I’m here. 

"Hey! Assistant…assistant’s not here…where are you!? Assistant! Assistant…not here, assistant……!" 

Erm…no, she’s fine at this point, right? 

Wouldn’t it be awkward after we meet up later? 

"…!! This wall’s in the way. No need for it. I’ll just destroy it all." 

And at the next moment, I heard a deafening boom, 

"assistant!" 

Siesta, riding on a massive robot, entered after she obliterated the wall. She was on the pilot seat that was translucent, showing an anxious look I had never seen before, and her pretty silver hair was in a mess. 

However, even though she was huffing about, Siesta quickly saw that I was unharmed, and we spent ten seconds or so staring at each other?? 

"Fuu, goodness, such a troublesome assistant." 

"No point in acting cool now, you know?" 

You are the Angel, I am the Monster 

I looked towards the ?humanoid combat weapon? Siesta rode on. 

Its armor had a white base color, and the length of its entire frame was a little longer than Hel’s ?biological weapon? by five meters or so. The area near the head was partially made of glass, and I could see Siesta seated inside. It’s most probably the pilot seat. 

The machine was pretty much a robot right out of an anime. Its large arms and legs were its unique characteristics, but I could see some missile and gun pods at the joints . It’s appropriate to call it a combat robot. 

…But then, I had a question on my mind. 

"Siesta, how did you get such a thing…?" 

I supposed several hours passed after I was abducted. How did she get this mobile armor in such a short time? And while I raised this completely reasonable question, Siesta just answered, 

"…Ah well, picked it up on the way here?" 

She averted her eyes unnaturally. 

"Stop lying! There’s no way you can just pick that thing up from the streets!" 

"…It’s true. I didn’t think you would actually be abducted, and I was so shocked, I hurried off to negotiate with the English government, so I borrowed the humanoid combat weapon ?Sirius? that their military has been developing in secret." 

"This is more complicated than I thought…!" 

That’s her revealing everything now, right? She really couldn’t lie at all. 

"Siesta, you’re too desperate to save me, aren’t you?" 

"……!……I said it’s not as you think!" 

Siesta muttered so as she turned her face aside, and it’s a pity, but I couldn’t see her expression. 

"Goodness, I’m a little jealous that you are flirting so passionately with my future partner." 

The person said such passionate words with a contrastingly callous tone. 

"Hel." 

From the pilot suit, Siesta’s blue eyes glared at Hel, who prone forward on Betelgeuse’s neck as she readied herself for battle. 

"I will not allow you to do as you please in this city." 

"Do you think you can really stop me?that you can stop fate?" 

That indicated the start of the battle. 

"??GOGAAAAHHHH!" 

The monster bellowed, and raised over on its four legs. 

"Assistant!" 

Siesta opened the hatch, leaned over from the pilot seat, and reached her right hand out. I grabbed her hand, got pulled over, and climbed into the machine. 

"…It’s squeezy." 

"It’s for one person to use." 

Siesta and I were camped together in this cramped cockpit, most of our bodies stuck together while we were going to fight the monster. 

"I’ll handle the right side. You move the left." 

"Don’t make me pilot this out of a sudden. I don’t have a driver’s license." 

"No other choice here. My hand can’t reach your side in this situation. See, they’re coming." 

Betelgeuse, which Hel was riding upon, quickly leapt to the left. 

"…I know!" 

There was no time to hesitate. I grabbed the lever instinctively, tried operating it…and then, 

"Woahhh?" 

The Sirius we rode on lost its balance, and tumbled over. 

"Owowow…this is the leg lever?" 

Dammit. I wanted to fire a cool rocket punch. 

Just as well though, since Betelgeuse lost sight of its target, and tumbled backwards. Our enemy’s a monster that had just woken up, strong, but still not easy to control. We’re on the same boat, more or less. 

"…Since you have the time to calmly analyze, mind moving aside quickly?" 

"Hm?……ah." 

I realized then that after I collapsed, Siesta was right beneath me, and gave me a displeased look. It seemed my hand touched an inappropriate place, so I hastily got up. There’s almost zero space for me to budge in this cramped cockpit space however.. 

"I guess I should pilot this by myself after all." 

"But if we’re side by side, you can’t reach the lever, right?" 

"Next to each other, huh?" 

……That’s it? Well, we got no choice. 

"??GOGAAAAHHHH!" 

We heard the ?biological weapon? roar behind us, hurriedly positioned ourselves, operated the levers, and the tumbled machine reverted back to its original state. 

"I’ll despise you if you seize this opportunity to touch anywhere weird." 

"You have zero trust in your assistant?" 

I latched the seatbelt, and said, 

"That was a joke. Now then, we’re going for real now??Sirius, advance." 

Siesta said as she sat on my lap, and held the levers firmly. 

"Let’s go" 

"Wooooo……!" 

The engine roared ferociously, and the machine quickly advanced. It went straight for the quapedaled grotesque monster, and its thrusters allowed it to quickly close in. 

"Time to settle this head on." 

Right before us was Hel, riding on Betelgeuse’s head. There was a loud collison, and the ?humanoid weapon? and ?biological weapon? crashed into each other. 

"I didn’t think they would create such a monster." 

Siesta pushed the lever forward, her eyes staring intently at Hel, who was beyond the glass, riding on the monster. 

"You are causing unnecessary hindrance." 

Hel’s cold red eyes stared at Siesta. It’s a different feeling from the casual talk we had, I could clearly sense hostility from her. 

"That is my mission after all." 

Siesta said, put her finger on a button, and then bullets were fired near Sirius’s wrists. 

"??!!" 

Hel saw that, stabbed some sabers into Betelgeuse’s back in a shallow manner, controlled it through pain, and evaded our attacks. She acted like a horse jockey with a whip. 

Hel probably thought Betelgeuse would be at a disadvantage in physical attacks, for she ignored us, and led it down the underground passage.. 

"Siesta, don’t let it get away! She’s planning to release that monster onto the streets!" 

Yep, Hel didn’t have to fight us at all. Right above this underground passage was the Parliament of the United Kingdom. If that place got hit, there would be immeasurable damages. 

"I know that. Do not begin explaining just because you got nothing to do." 

"That's unreasonable…" 

Siesta pushed the levers forward, and gave chase after Hel and Betelgeuse. 

"Quite the annoyance." 

Hel saw that we were giving chase, drew several sabers from her waist, and threw them at us. 

"……!!" 

Siesta defiantly retaliated with the machine guns mounted on Sirius??there was no doubt that it had the superior firepower, but the monster had the superior mobility. The bullets fired from Sirius were all completely avoided. 

"Hel…why are you starting a terrorist act?" 

Siesta tried to seek a chance to win as she continued to race through the underground passage against the enemy. 

"Why, you ask? It is destiny, of course." 

Hel, still riding on Betelgeuse, glanced aside at us while we were alongside her. 

"It has nothing to do with my will. I am just following the ?Bible?." 

"You’ve been saying this the entire time." 

I couldn’t get through with her at all, and started to feel frustrated. 

It seemed Siesta felt the same. 

"No, I want to ask if this is out of your own will. What do you think about enacting this terrorist act?" 

Sirius swung its right arm towards Betelgeuse…who deftly dodged it. 

"My will? I said that I am just following the future listed in this ?Bible?. This is my raison d’etre, and I am born for this." 

Hel stabbed a saber into Betelgeuse’s back. The monster let out a little groan, sped up, and climbed up the walls to escape. 

"Siesta!" 

"It’s fine, I’m not letting them get away. Hang on tight." 

"Alright, I’ll leave it to you!" 

"I told you to hang on tight, but I didn’t expect you to hug my waist so firmly." 

Not like I got anywhere else to grab. There’s nowhere else to latch onto. 

I could hear the ignition of the engines close to Sirius’s legs ignited, and we quickly closed the distance to Betelgeuse in an instant. 

"You say it is your mission to stop us, no?" 

Hel did not mind that we caught up to her, and said, 

"So why did you become a detective? Why do you want to protect others? You are just an existence created for this purpose. The same applies for me. Just as you live to protect the world, I live to destroy it. This is the duty I was born with. A desire to dominate? An impulsive urge to destroy? None of that matters to me. I only abide by the instincts I was born with." 

The next moment, Betelgeuse abruptly changed directions, and bit the neck of the Sirius we were on. The armor and the teeth clashed, and I could hear an unnerving metallic noise. 

"……! You say our natures are similar? That there is no distinction between good and evil?" 

Siesta continued to pilot the Sirius, and tried several times to slam Betelgeuse into the walls or the floor. The ?humanoid weapon? and the ?biological weapon? continued to attack each other physically, tussling away as they continued to head towards the exit of the underground passage. 

"A distinction between good and evil? None of that matters." 

Hel stabbed her sabers at the joints of Sirius' two legs. The machine tumbled, and Betelgeuse seized the opportunity to leap up. It showed that we’re not too far away from the surface…and that, after this, it would be the Parliament of the United Kingdom. There’s no way to stop it at the underground stairs, huh…? 

"Siesta!" 

"Engines, full throttle." 

I reached out from behind, and overlapped Siesta’s hands, pushing the lever forward. Sirius spread the large mechanical wings on its back, and with an accompanying boom of the engine, it flew.. 

But at the same time, the ceiling above the underground facility was opened, and there was darkness outside.. 

"You are good, and I am evil. That does not matter." 

Hel and Betelgeuse flew into the outside world. 

"Wait…!" 

We flew together with Sirius, and pursued them. 

The moon and the countless stars were in the sky. Betelgeuse immediately hung onto the large clock tower atop the Parliament of the United Kingdom??the Big Ben. 

"You are the Angel, I am the Monster. It suits me very well." 

Hel and Betelgeuse both climbed to the top of the clock tower. 

The ?biological weapon? opened its mouth wide. Within it was a toxic breath??a calamity that could kill organisms. The terrorist act started by ?SPES? was completed. 

But there was still a chance to give chase. 

Just a little more. Just one step.. 

As long as I reached out this hand. 

"Assistant." 

Siesta called for me. And then, she said while she continued to look in front.. 

"From here on, even if anything happens, get away from here immediately." 

…What are you saying? 

I was about to ask what she meant, but I found myself booted out of the hatch, and fell out into the void. 

The world was topsy turvy. I didn’t know if I was spinning, or that the world around me was spinning. My semicircular canals were in confusion…but I then found a tremendous tug behind me, and before I realized it, I found myself falling in the night sky, held up by a parachute. 

"Siesta, why…" 

And the next thing I saw, 

Was a monster dangling off a clock tower in the night, facing off against a robot??before both of them fell to the ground. 

Thank you for being angry 

"Siesta!" 

A large fire pillar appeared on the night streets. 

That was where Sirius and Betelgeuse landed. In other words, their pilots should still be there. I quickly hurried to the explosion, while the sirens blared throughout the night. 

"Siesta……oy, Siesta!……Where, are you……Siesta!" 

The smoke and the heat waves left me unable to open my eyes. The burnt, sticky stench left me nauseous, and I was burning all over, my knees about to buckle. I lifted my hands to shield my face as I waved through this fire, and then?? 

"……Are you a fool?" 

Even in this environment, this unmistakeable warm voice reached my ears. 

"Like you’re one to talk. You don’t have to call me so many times. I can hear you." 

A gust blew aside the rising smoke. 

The elegant white skin was a little stained, and heart wrenchingly, Siesta stepped up, while she was still bleeding. 

"You’re the idiot." 

I ran over, and instinctively carried that little body. 

"Why were you so reckless…why did you make me escape alone?" 

Siesta most probably planned to have me evacuated right from the beginning. The unit’s for a single person, and there was only one escape hatch. I guessed she already planned to do that when she got me to sit. 

"…Well, that was the final measure, that’s all. I don’t want to die here. If one of us has to live though, then I??" 

"Enough with the jokes!" 

I lashed out loud from the bottom of my heart, and Siesta widened her blue eyes. 

That’s good. Spread your ears wide and hear me loud and again. 

"Don’t talk about how you’ve already prepared yourself for this. Listen up. You’re the one who dragged me along three years ago, in that plane, ten thousand meters above the ground. Listen to everything I have to say…until the very end. Unfortunately, as I can tell you, I don’t believe I could have escaped from ?SPES? …I wouldn’t be able to live without you! If you hear me, make sure you bear responsibility and protect me until the very end!" 

My body was hot. 

Was it because of the fire pillar next to me? 

Or was it because I was yelling with all my might? 

No, it’s because I was completely infuriated by what I practically said, that she couldn’t die if she wanted to protect me. My breathing was hectic, and sweat oozed all over me. 

"…This is the first time in my life that I was scolded like this." 

Siesta stared at me, looking completely dumbfounded. 

"So you do get incensed like this. Well??" 

"Surprised?" 

"I find it funny." 

"What are you laughing at?" 

Don’t laugh. 

"Fufu" 

And as she said, Siesta laughed. 

"I wouldn’t be able to live without you?" 

"Oy, don’t abstract the weird part." 

"It feels like I had received a passionate proposal." 

"I’m not proposing!" 

"Well, we can talk about this once again when you’re eighteen." 

"I said! Haa, whatever…" 

"Fufu." 

She usually had a cool, stoic look on her face, yet it was at such moments that she would show such an innocent smile. 

Seriously, this famous detective…. 

"I swear." 

Siesta immediately looked up. 

"I shall never die while keeping this a secret from you??never" 

Thank you for being angry. 

Siesta said, and pressed her forehead onto my chest. 

At that moment. 

"??! Ow??!" 

Something grazed my left eye, and my vision turned red…was there blood entering my eye? What’s going on? What flew in…!? 

"Assistant!" 

Siesta widened her eyes worriedly. Ehh, this expression really didn’t suit you. 

"I’m fine. More importantly…" 

I pointed my finger for Siesta to look, and right over there was, 

"Haa…haaa, it’s not, over yet. I-I’m still not dead…not at this place…" 

Amidst the surging flames, Hel attacked us while surrounded by black fire. 

"Hel……" 

Hel dragged herself while being more battered than Siesta was, wielded a red sword, and appeared before us.. 

"You’re still alive?" 

Siesta took a step forward, as though she was protecting me. 

"Of course…I’m not destined…to die here." 

She wasn’t holding her so-called ?Bible?. Maybe it got burned in that explosion. Hel seemed to abide by a past promise as she opened an invisible ?Bible? in her right hand. 

"The final victory shall be mine. If not, then the significance of what Father left me…!" 

At that moment, I seemed to witness her true feelings for the first time. 

"I see. So you." 

Siesta then widened her blue eyes in shock. 

"Siesta?" 

Oy, you realized something? 

"Let’s …end this here." 

I wasn’t even allowed to ask when Hel raised her military sword. 

"You shall remain still and be stabbed by me…!" 

Blood ran through her red eyes, and she charged at Siesta who stood there. 

"Siesta, run!" 

I immediately yelled…but Siesta seemed to be stuck on asphalt, and couldn’t move at all. 

"Hel’s ability……!" 

It seemed like she had some mind control ability??anything those ?red eyes? saw would somehow end up obeying Hel’s orders. Siesta had seen those ?eyes?, and she couldn’t move away…! 

"Siesta!" 

Hel mercilessly held her saber, and plunged it towards Siesta. And then, 

"………………Hah?" 

It was Hel who blurted out that sound. 

The red eyes flickered, looking bewildered, and then she looked towards me. 

Hel looked at the red blade that was stabbed into her own chest. 

"Why…" 

The next thing that appeared in those shocked eyes was a mirror chained to Siesta’s waist.. 

Yes, Hel did say to her own red eyes??You shall remain still and be stabbed by me. 

"Check." 

Siesta said, and Hel collapsed before her. 

"??" 

Blood trickled down the location where Hel’s heart was. 

Those eyes looked confused. 

"Why, did I lose…it’s not, supposed to be, like this…I, have a mission…I fight for this mission……. …………, mission? Then why did I…why was, I born? Why, am I…" 

"As for that answer," 

Siesta pulled out the sword from Hel’s chest. 

A little whimper later, blood gushed out.. 

"You can look for it in hell." 

Siesta then prepared to swing the blade down at Hel’s head. 

At that moment. 

"??Chameleon……!" 

Hel yelled to the air. 

"S-some call to attack?" 

I frantically looked around…and at the next moment, I realized my guess was wrong. 

"……! The body’s disappearing…" 

Not mine, not Siesta’s??Hel’s body began to disappear. 

It was a phenomenon, like there was a transparent mat draped over her. She seemed to blend into the darkness, and gradually disappeared. 

"…You’re not running away!" 

Siesta raised her musket, and fired at Hel…but at this moment, the enemy was nowhere to be seen. 

"Siesta, is that Hel’s ability?" 

"No, probably not. A companion, maybe." 

Siesta calmly determined, and lowered her gun. 

"Chameleon…a ?SPES? codename." 

I guessed the ability was to hide oneself, along with anything it touched.. 

And in this case, we wouldn’t be able to give chase after Hel. 

Just one step, and the most savage enemy returned to the darkness. 

"I guess we share the spoils now, huh?" 

"Yeah. Once we get back, I have something to discuss with you." 

Yes. Hel’s managed to survive, but she’s gravely injured, so we had a chance. We should regroup and strike back. Once we came to a common agreement, we went off to the hotel we were at?? 

"??" 

But the moment she stepped forward, Siesta’s face was suddenly contorted. 

"Siesta?" 

"……I’m sorry." 

Siesta said, and she collapsed to the ground knee first. 

That misunderstanding is unforgivable 

"Ahh?" 

I handed over a peeled apple towards the mouth wide open like a fledgling  waiting to be fed. 

"……Ahmmm……nn……nghh……hmm, this apple isn’t really sweet." 

"I’m feeding you, stop complaining." 

"I got no choice. I’m injured after all." 

"Your legs are! Your hands are free!" 

We’re in a room back at our office and house, an apartment. 

Siesta ignored my retort as she laid on the bed, and stretched. It’s rare to see her dressed in a parka, a rather casual outfit, but there’s a reason why she’s in a non-combat mode attire. 

"Did you forget that you spent a long time lecturing me that day, even though I was injured?" 

"…I thought it was a light injury since you didn’t appear to be in pain. My bad." 

"Well, I had a little adrenaline rush, and forgot that I was injured." 

"So why am I the one scolded now?" 

Days ago, there was a deathmatch, and since Siesta fell from the Big Ben, the impact meant that her legs would need two weeks to complete recovery. 

We should have given chase after the escaping Hel, but we had no other choice since Siesta was so injured, and could only fall back to our base in London, and wait for her to recover completely. 

"What about you, you alright?" 

"I’m healthy enough to diligently take care of a stubborn partner." 

"I see. That’s good." 

"I’m being snarky towards you." 

"I can’t live without you after all." 

"……Don’t try to change the topic by acting dere out of a sudden." 

And besides, you never thought about such a special thing. 

"Alright, hurry up and recover. I’m bad at housework." 

I travelled with Siesta all over the world for almost three years, and would spend quite some time with her under the same roof, but Siesta’s usually the one to do the housework. I was a little sorry, but that’s just being at the right place at the right time. I hoped this would cancel out the moments when she would just order me around. 

"This is the cohabiting life you wished for. How about you enjoy it a little more?" 

"Don’t say we’re cohabiting. It’s tactical." 

"And you should work on your life skills. What will happen to you if I’m not around?" 

"…Oy, those words are forbidden." 

"…Oh yes." 

I got scolded again, so Siesta smiled wryly. 

"But you should know how to wash clothes. A shoddy man is usually hated." 

"I thought about that…but well, due to many reasons…" 

"Hm? Ahh, my underwear?" 

Oy, I was trying to be discreet. Don’t say that.. 

"If you want to wear it, do so when I’m not looking." 

"I never thought about doing that at all." 

"Ah, it might be inappropriate for you to sniff them." 

"You have no trust in your assistant at all, huh?" 

Seriously, what’s the point of the time we spent together for almost three years? 

"…Haa" 

Seriously, this companion.  I let out a wry smile, and slowly stood up. 

"Hm, you’re going out?" 

"Huh? The supermarket." 

"? Didn’t you say you bought all the necessities this morning?" 

Oy oy, Siesta, you. 

"You like sweet stuff, right?" 

Goodness, don’t just forget about what you just said. 

And then, Siesta looked dumbfounded for some reason. 

But it lasted only for a short moment, for she quickly chuckled. 

"Wh-why? Why are you laughing?" 

Whenever Siesta laughed like this, she’s obviously going to tease me. I had no idea at all…as to why Siesta was laughing at me… 

"……Say, you," 

Siesta quickly eked her voice, as though she was trying to rein in her laughter. 

"Aren’t you quite fond of me?" 

……?!?…………!?!?!?!?!?!? 

"Huh? No, I don't get what you’re saying. Huh? No, huh? Huhh??????" 

What’s she saying out of a sudden? Ah, was it because of her injury? Did she hit her head? There’s no way she would say such clumsy words if that’s not the case. I was just taking care of the sick, and I decided to go out and buy just because she said she wanted to eat a sweet apple…no, I guess I did spoil her too much, or maybe it seemed like I really treasured her. I didn’t think this would equate to me thinking of Siesta as a special person. Yep, in other words?? 

"Shut up, you idiot!" 

I felt like I reacted like an elementary school kid. But well, forget about it. Time to calm down a little, and hurry out. 

Hm, that’s weird? The doorknob felt slippery for some reason, and I couldn’t open it. 

It’s spoiled? It’s spoiled. I just kicked the door, and left the room. 

"Dammit, I’m not going to be so nice towards you." 

……Well, this will be the last time. She’s the injured one after all. Yep, just this once. Hm, just this once. I muttered to myself, and went to the supermarket. 

And I, who went out to shop, picked up a lost girl in an alley near the large Baker street.