Kannazuki Kyouhei, former AST member, top expert in defensive operations against enemies.
His personal combat ability wasn’t among the strongest, but his outstanding command skills ensured zero casualties among his team and minimal public damage.
During his tenure, he was the genuine ace of the AST and had once been Ryoko Kusakabe’s captain.
But the guy was a pervert.
If training fell short or mission completion was flawed, the punishment was 【having shoes removed in public and being brutally stepped on while forced to listen to his blissful screams without blocking your ears】.
The social-death level caused most AST members who had served under him to develop selective amnesia and intermittent rage; a minority also acquired severe androphobia, remaining single to this day.
“Speaking of which, Ryoko, you’re already 27 this year, right? Why are you still as explosive as someone who’s never been in a relationship? Could it be you still haven’t dated once?”
Ryoko Kusakabe didn’t have androphobia, but she did have the single problem.
(╯°Д°)╯
“…Shut up! Say what you have to say and get out of my sight!!!”
For a moment she had the urge to raise her machine gun and eliminate this walking social-death disaster, but perhaps because she had already suffered enough stimulation lately, Ryoko Kusakabe’s nerves didn’t snap.
It wasn’t because she couldn’t beat him.
Let’s repeat: it wasn’t because she couldn’t beat him.
In terms of individual combat ability, Ryoko was confident she could go fifty-fifty with this pervert.
But if during the fight he let out one of those soul-shaking, imagination-sparking moans, Ryoko Kusakabe’s career as a normal person would be over.
“Ryoko?”
Origami Tobiichi struggled but couldn’t break free from Ryoko’s arms.
The pressure made it hard for her to breathe.
She couldn’t understand why this seemingly handsome, princely man exerted greater pressure on her captain than two spirits combined.
“Phew, though I do miss Ryoko’s trampling, I’ve already found the master I wish to follow~ So unfortunately, I can’t reminisce about our comradeship with you. I’ve realized—only the unripe beauty of young girls is the charm I pursue and adore—”
“From the voice, this guy should get along pretty well with me.”
Holding Kotori with one claw, Kyoumi leaped upward continuously, agreeing with the male voice above.
“No wonder Kotori is so popular.”
“There’s only one pervert like him! My other subordinates are perfectly norm—al…?”
She had wanted to retort fiercely, but as the words left her mouth, faces flashed through her mind one by one—the one who treats figurines as wives, the one divorced multiple times, the one who curses love rivals with straw dolls, the one who hasn’t slept in thirty years.
By the end, Kotori’s confidence had dwindled.
“Anyway, how deep did you bury me?! Why haven’t we reached the surface yet!!!”
She kicked the wrist of the giant claw beneath her with the tap-tap of her student loafers.
Though her body ached and she was covered in dirt, with her spirit power at a low ebb, the destructive impulses screaming in her mind had vanished.
Kotori Itsuka’s mood relaxed along with it.
“Can’t you already hear the voices on the surface?”
If the flame demon hadn’t burned her earpiece, they could have teleported her straight back.
No need for Kyoumi to climb.
Spirits could indeed fly by lifting themselves with spirit power, but Kotori, whose mental state wasn’t great, risked bumping into things mid-flight.
Kyoumi, on the other hand, was far faster on the ground than in the air.
The compromise led to the current situation.
“What kind of joke is this! Letting spirits go? Pretending nothing happened? What do you think the JGSDF is!”
“That guy Kannazuki… haa…”
Directly negotiating with the AST wouldn’t succeed in Kotori’s view.
Both sides had their own stances and couldn’t back down.
The girl was puzzled by her vice commander’s decision.
Though the man was a pervert, he shouldn’t have done something like this.
“That guy! The flame demon almost—”
“By the way, Kotori.”
The vague voice from above was drowned out by Kyoumi’s.
This annoyed the girl who had perked up her ears at 【flame demon】.
“What?”
“Have you ever killed anyone?”
“…I… don’t know.”
“I see. Do you want to kill now?”
“Hah? Of course not!”
“…Is that so? Then I won’t do it for you. You can handle it yourself.”
“What are you sayi—”
The girl’s body was thrown high, flying out of the hole.
The last warm colors sank below the horizon.
Night fell.
Spirit Beast, reaction vanished.
Confirmed return to the Neighboring World.
“…As if she knew exactly when she’d disappear…”
Controlling her body to land steadily, the girl’s vision no longer contained the purple-haired girl’s carefree figure.
“Commander, Miss Kyoumi she…?”
The blond man placed a hand on his chest, welcoming his master back.
“Hmph, her manifestation time ended. Naturally, she disappeared.”
Arms crossed, the girl suppressed the emotions in her heart and put on a perfectly cold expression.
“Kannazuki, what’s going on with those two?”
For some reason he had convinced them, Ryoko Kusakabe looked annoyed as she held Origami Tobiichi’s hand, while the white-haired girl, though furious, hadn’t attacked—despite having confirmed she was a spirit.
“Yes, please allow this subordinate to have acted on his own initiative. If the AST action team understands our intentions, even if they don’t cooperate, they’ll cause fewer obstacles in the future.”
“I never agreed to this ridiculous condition.”
There was no reaction to Ryoko Kusakabe’s resistance.
After all, the fact that she hadn’t turned and left already meant she was open to dialogue.
And if entering the airborne ship became necessary, that confidentiality agreement would be signed whether she wanted to or not.
“Then what about this one?”
Thus, Kotori Itsuka’s gaze turned to Origami Tobiichi.
“Efreet…”
“Hm. As for Miss Tobiichi here… I thought I’d provide the Commander with an alibi.”
“It was you who killed my paren—”
“…As you can see, she believes the Commander murdered her parents five years ago.”
Kotori Itsuka’s eyes widened—
“By the way, Kotori, have you ever killed anyone?”
Exhaustion, drowsiness.
Disappearance should have happened earlier.
Being dragged back here was truly a terrible experience.
Kotori should be fine for a while.
…She’s a child who takes responsibility.
Since she said she doesn’t know, then she didn’t do it.
But that burning hatred in her words was clearly directed at 【Efreet】.
…Was it that thing?
Or the existence that turned Kotori into a spirit?
But what benefit would drawing a human’s hatred bring to It?
…Incomprehensible… but it doesn’t matter.
As long as It still needs the boy to collect spirit power for It, then Itsuka Shidou’s existence is the biggest bargaining chip I have to lure It out and eliminate It.
Ratatoskr, huh…
After returning, I should be able to learn a bit from Tohka… and more…
…Before consciousness fades… I need to plan carefully…