A minor trouble occurred, but after seeing Katsu off safely, I let out a sigh.
“Phew, I wasn’t found out.”
Then, I checked the entrance once more to make sure Katsu hadn’t returned, picked up the envelope I had intentionally left on the desk, and carefully retrieved another piece of paper that I had hidden from Katsu’s sight.
“…”
Even staring at it, the words didn’t change.
I knew.
I knew, but still, the regrettable feeling didn’t change.
“Haa, I’m such a troublesome woman.”
Unlike the report Katsu was looking at, this was a single A4 sheet of paper with few words, written on a few pages.
“Special Zone Entry Permit”
This was a permit to enter a section within the company that was inaccessible without authorization.
This was the one I was truly after, which I hadn’t been noticed for because all attention was on that suspicious man, Suzuki.
Even if Suzuki was targeting Amy (chan), the company was handling it.
In other words, it wasn’t my domain.
I’m aware of it and wouldn’t hesitate to act if necessary, but I also understand that I shouldn’t interfere, which makes it easier for me.
I, or rather, we.
Even with the special power of magic crests, we are still individuals.
The only beings who can stand against an organization are probably people like Jiro-san, who recently quit being human and has fully stepped into the non-human realm.
However, even he can’t really stand against an entire country, and without magic power, he’s only as strong as a well-trained human.
Therefore, I believe it’s presumptuous for individuals like myself and Katsu to think we can do anything against an opponent involved with a religious organization.
Thinking I need to do something, like Katsu, is a virtue.
Acting for someone and showing results is noble.
But, if you don’t manage the risks properly before acting, bravery turns into recklessness.
Good intentions are easily trampled upon.
“I wish Katsu had a bit more sense of crisis.”
People have good intentions, but they are not filled with good intentions alone.
Knowing this, I sometimes get a chill from my childhood friend’s actions.
However, if asked if I want to see my childhood friend lose that purity.
I shake my head, saying that’s not the case.
“Well, I guess that’s just Katsu.”
The words, as if negating my own, expressed the inner feelings of someone who didn’t want that kind of Katsu.
As if I was exasperated with myself, I let out a wry smile and reached for the game controller, but I wasn’t in the mood and left it as is.
“I think I’ll sleep today.”
Tomorrow is also important.
Unusually, I felt like sleeping early today, so I snuggled into bed.
I’m not sleepy.
But I’ve learned the skill of falling asleep quickly, so even if I’m not sleepy, I can still sleep.
However, I don’t try to fall asleep immediately after getting into bed.
“My life has changed quite a bit.”
The trigger was brought by Katsu.
That conversation was definitely a turning point in my life.
I’m sure of it.
If, hypothetically, I hadn’t met Jiro-san and the others, what would have become of me?
“…”
No need to think about it.
I would probably have spent my time safely in this dark room and arranged for Katsu to take care of me passively.
Instead, I am facing my current reality, so you never know what will happen in life.
I never thought I’d spend my days being pulled into a world of fashion, a world seemingly far from me, by a woman my age named Kitamiya.
I won’t be able to tell Kitamiya my true feelings face-to-face due to the great wall of shyness, but I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart.
At first, we were childhood friends, and as we continued our sibling-like relationship, I was able to see Katsu, who had given up, blush when he sometimes looked at me with the eyes of a woman.
Well, I guess I’ve become a troublesome rival in love, but I have to accept that.
I owe him so much.
I haven’t fallen so low as to repay that kindness with ingratitude.
As I think about such things, my thoughts gradually slow down, and I feel the sensation of falling asleep.
Without resisting, I surrender to sleep, wrapped in the sheets Katsu had washed.
And the next day, I woke up earlier than my alarm, which was unusual for me, and got ready ahead of schedule.
“Ah, I’m nervous.”
It’s good that I can objectively analyze the reason for my quick actions, but the nervousness probably stems from the fact that I’m not enthusiastic about what I have to do, even though it’s necessary.
I just quickly check my full-length mirror to make sure there’s nothing out of place and leave the apartment.
It takes about thirty minutes to get to the company, my destination.
After transferring from the train to the bus and getting off at the bus stop nearest to the company, the building is just a stone’s throw away.
With my employee ID in hand, I pass through the automatic doors as usual. Normally, I would head straight to the floor where the First Division is located and change into my work clothes, but today is different.
“You’re here.”
“Sorry I’m late.”
I jogged to the woman waiting near the entrance, Evia-san, and bowed my head honestly. Evia-san looked at me with a strange expression.
“You’re not speaking in your usual manner today.”
“This is not a place where I should speak in that tone.”
“…Is that so? Time is precious, let’s go.”
It seems she’s surprised by my unusual lack of samurai speech.
That’s understandable. I’m usually so frivolous with my words, so it’s natural to wonder if something happened when I suddenly become serious.
I’m sorry, Evia-san.
I apologize for the trouble, but I absolutely do not want to show *that* side of myself to *that* woman.
The “that” persona is me at that party.
I want to face her as *this* me.
Following Evia-san, who walks a little faster, we pass through several checkpoints and gradually enter a more secluded area within the company.
It’s not the research building, not the training facility, and not the armory.
We proceed down a path guarded by stern-looking staff members at multiple gates, guided by Evia-san.
“Where is this?”
“Proceed with caution from here on. If you get separated, you might not be able to leave for the rest of your life.”
The floor, ceiling, and walls, except for the entrance we came through, were all mirrored.
It wasn’t a square room like a normal room, but an octagonal, mirrored chamber.
Evia-san turned her attention to me, facing the sudden, peculiar space.
“You might not leave for the rest of your life.”
At those words, I straightened my back and slowly followed Evia-san, making sure not to fall behind.
After all, this is a prison.
“Special Zone Entry Permit.”
This is a permit to enter a space within the company that needs to be exceptionally isolated.
This was an opportunity I had applied for many times and finally received, to meet a person imprisoned for a certain incident.
It was only possible to meet for a very short time thanks to the recommendations of both Jiro-san, who had become a General from a General Candidate, and his fiancée, Evia-san.
I heard that special beings called Seraphim are also imprisoned here.
It’s an infinite boundary prison created by parallel mirrors.
A special space that compresses space with magic, eliminating the sense of distance and preventing recognition of the entrance.
Each space within that area is equipped with a special solitary confinement cell to cut off interaction with the outside world.
It is said that even the president cannot find someone who wanders in.
It takes courage to step into such a space.
But there was no time to hesitate, so I followed Evia-san inside.
A magic circle floating in the mirror beckoned me in, and with a sensation like immersing myself in soft water, I entered another realm.
Looking around, I expected a dark space, as it was a prison managed by the Demon Lord, but to my surprise, I emerged into a normal corridor, which was quite anticlimactic.
“It’s normal.”
“Of course. A prison requires strength. Eccentricity is unnecessary. What did you expect?”
Evia-san furrowed her brow at my comment.
Looking back, it made sense, but still, having come to an otherworldly prison, I had expected something like a medieval European prison with cobblestone streets, or perhaps to see him bound by magic circles, so this sterile corridor was completely unexpected.
“Given how we entered, I thought the inside might be special, too.”
So, when I honestly stated my thoughts, Evia-san stopped and smiled wryly.
It was a smile that seemed to mock my lack of understanding.
“This prison was newly built after a certain Hero’s descendant escaped. In terms of facilities, it has the latest sealing magic, of course, but also barriers powered by magic furnaces, special restraints made by Giants, and contracts using the secret arts of the Demon race. It’s specially designed to excel at fixing beings within this prison through various methods. Furthermore, surveillance cameras obtained from Earth are installed everywhere, along with infrared alarm systems, and the doors are double-locked with electronic keys and magic circles. It may look ordinary, but in terms of functionality, it’s an exceptionally unique prison in our country.”
And the details she rattled off were far from ordinary.
What’s more, a being moving with smooth motion from down the corridor was…
“A Golem?”
“It’s a custom-made Golem by the Kiō. One of those can build a mansion,”
“Eh?”
The Golem had a sleek, streamlined body and was white.
It had a very simple shape, but its smooth movements and the amount of magic power contained within its body made me break out in a cold sweat, thinking I couldn’t defeat it.
As it stood before us, it shone a white light from its massive body.
I stared at the Golem for a while, but it didn’t do anything and quietly turned back and left.
I wondered what it had done, then the space contorted.
“Where is this?”
“If you destroy that Golem, you won’t be able to enter this space. That thing itself is the gatekeeper to this space.”
Now, I had finally arrived at what I imagined an otherworldly prison to be like.
The sterile corridor I was in earlier was a decoy; this was the real prison.
“Without that Golem’s transfer function, you’d have to deactivate thirty-two barriers and traverse the space sealed within each barrier. Even the Oni King would take twenty days to do so.”
“Did you perhaps… experiment?”
“Ah, I lured him with the Demon Lord’s prized sake. He gladly participated, and afterward, he was quite sulky, saying it wasn’t worth it.”
It was a space where countless magic crystals were stacked.
These crystals extended like spears, emitting magic power towards the central crystal.
The crystal floating in the center was sealed by multiple magic circles, and within the crystal, a cocoon-like being was bound tightly with restraints.
Its face was covered, all five senses were sealed, and its appearance was so altered that it was impossible to tell who it was.
This being was the person I was looking for.
“Midori, you were here.”
“Are you pitying me?”
“We’re not on those terms.”
“Is that so?”
Evia-san asked me about the words I murmured upon seeing her in such a state, but I shook my head, denying her question.
Evia-san gently waved her hand and activated a magic circle.
Then, like a hologram, a spectral figure of Midori Kawasaki appeared before me.
Her eyes were closed as if sleeping, and she appeared naked. And then…
“Ugh…”
She slowly awakened from her sleep.
The first words I spoke to Midori were simple.
“Good morning, Midori. I’ve come to mock you. How are you feeling?”
“I was sleeping soundly and feeling great until just now, but seeing your face has made me feel absolutely terrible.”
Our words were filled with mutual animosity.
Today’s saying:
For what you seek, follow the proper procedures.
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“Pandora Pandemic Panic: Pandora’s Box Has Been Opened Again, But We’re Fighting Back with Secret Bases and Other Things!”
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