Chapter 7: This Is Too Much for a Rookie Like Shidou

“Of course, using this question to grill you feels a bit like I’m bullying you, so I’ve removed the spiritual energy blocking the signal to your earpiece. My final question might still be heard if your people are quick enough.” 

Waving her fingertip, the spirit girl eased the pressure on the boy and stepped back two paces, retreating into the shadow of an unlit shelf.

“Shidou, Shidou! Thank goodness, we’ve finally reconnected!”

“I’m fine, Kotori… Is what she said true?” 

Since he’d already been found out, there was no point in hiding. 

Shidou Itsuka spoke directly to the commander of the airship, his sister, Kotori Itsuka.

…Though she said they could reconnect if they were fast enough, the fact that they pinpointed his location and established a connection almost immediately after she lifted the interference…

The spirit girl, casually nibbling on a chocolate stick, slowly massaged her temple, not taking the boy’s words too seriously at first.

After eavesdropping on his conversation with the other spirit, her initial plan was just to gather more information. 

But bringing him here revealed he was a clueless goof… though, admittedly, not bad-looking and not too annoying. 

If she had more time…

But for now, figuring out the stance of this new organization was far more important.

A faint dizziness lingered in her mind. She slowly flexed her swollen wrist, the ache stimulating her nerves. 

The sweet taste of chocolate spread in her mouth, calming her slightly irritated mood.

If she didn’t get answers, no matter how many times she manifested, she’d never find peace. 

Hostile glares and violent expulsions would always follow her.

If this organization could truly ensure spirits no longer had to endure this, that’d be nice. 

That was why she didn’t leave immediately after the boy’s string of foolish remarks. 

Of course, she couldn’t deny his looks were quite appealing.

Ugh… my head’s getting foggy… I need to hurry… my rationality…

***

“Well, expecting Shidou’s unrefined brain to figure this out on his own is a tall order, isn’t it?”

Relieved to know he was safe, Kotori’s voice slipped back into her commanding, slightly mocking tone. 

But instead of dragging it out, she got serious after a jab:

“It’s sophistry, Shidou.”

“Sophistry…?”

“Yes, sophistry. The claim that training can reduce the scale of automatic spacequakes has only been proven with her. There are no other cases among spirits.”

“Theoretically, spacequakes can cancel each other out if they’re of similar magnitude, but a spirit’s appearance and disappearance are random. Who can guarantee another spirit will show up at the exact moment to offset the explosion?”

“It’s like asking how you got first place in your grade, and the answer is ‘I turned in the test.’ It’s utterly unconvincing sophistry.”

“Sophistry, huh… But if it’s so easily debunked, why would she…”

“Why say it? Probably to fish for information.”

“Wait, hold on, isn’t she the one asking us?”

“Don’t you get it? Her affection toward you is stable—probably because of something you said earlier. Nice work there, Shidou. Keep it up.”

“So you mean…”

“A date, a date! Just like before. Fraxinus will back you up.”

***

“Enough whispering. What’s your goal? To strip spirits of their powers or use us for something else?” 

Not giving them much time, the spirit girl stuffed the empty plastic wrapper back onto the shelf and spoke up.

“It’s neither stripping nor using! Our goal is to save spirits!! To let you live normal lives!” 

Bolstered by the support, Shidou Itsuka answered firmly.

“How do you save us? As long as spirits remain spirits, this won’t stop.”

“By sealing a spirit’s powers, they won’t emit spiritual energy, won’t disappear, and can live like humans in this world!” 

With Kotori’s information feeding through his earpiece, Shidou responded.

“Seal their powers? I won’t ask how, but prove you have the ability to protect spirits who lose their powers.” 

No precedents, just empty talk—she was growing irritated at the lack of useful answers. 

She’d given him plenty of time to organize his thoughts, yet his response was still so vague.

“I’ll cut off your left arm in five seconds. Prove yourself. Prove you have the power to protect yourselves and spirits.” 

Her patience, unrewarded, ran dry. 

The spirit girl, with no time for long-winded nonsense, issued her attack declaration and raised her fingertip. 

“Five.”

“Why is this happening?! Her affection hasn’t changed; it’s still friendly! This should’ve been fine for further dialogue!”

“Four~”

“Huh?!!” 

Shidou, on the scene, felt none of that supposed friendliness. 

Even her drawn-out countdown carried a heavy pressure, jarring his nerves. 

His body trembled instinctively, wanting to flee, but his legs wouldn’t move.

“Forget that! Retrieve Shidou immediately!!!”

“We can’t, Commander!! Shidou’s location is jammed! We can’t pinpoint him for retrieval!!”

“Run, Shidou!!!” 

The panicked voices of the crew and Kotori’s orders faded from Shidou’s mind, drowned out by the unexpected shouts.

He stumbled backward. 

A purple-red longsword arced, trailing red natural pigment.

The countdown didn’t continue—she never struck at the last moment.

Collapsing clumsily to the ground, he realized his left arm was bent backward from the impact, the bone severed, held together only by a sliver of flesh.

“AAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!” 

His agonized scream echoed through the mall.

“No means of escape or anything else?” 

Casually flicking the liquid off her sword, the spirit girl frowned. 

“Looks like I’m wasting my ti—hm?”

A faint glow flickered. 

Shidou’s wound erupted in pure white flames—not his uniform catching fire, nor did her blade have any incendiary function. 

The distorted arm was burning, but not to harm—it was healing.

“An interesting ability, but calling it protection is a stretch.” 

Though the wound wasn’t fully visible, the moving fingers suggested near-complete recovery.

“Two seconds. This time, it’s your head.” 

Squinting, the purple-haired spirit pointed her sword at the boy clutching his arm on the ground. 

“Two.”

Shidou held his breath. 

The burning sensation and dizzying pain intertwined, and for a moment, he felt something being pulled from within him.

As she uttered the number, the spirit thrust her sword down, only for a flaming battle-axe to smash aside her casual strike.

“My, attacking my brother in front of everyone? Don’t you think that’s a bit much, you deaf piece of trash~?”

“Another spirit? Is this your trump card?” 

Her longsword dissolved into specks of light, and the girl stepped back, sighing softly. 

“If this is all you’ve got, I’m truly disappointed…”

Looking up, dark armor had already enveloped her limbs.

“Kot… Kotori?!?!!”