Episode 21: You Guys Have No Tomorrow
If the National Defense Force was in an uproar, then naturally, things were getting noisy over here too.
“Hey, hey, are you serious?! Now it’s the Silver Knight-sama! Just how many of them are there? Don’t tell me there’s a black, blue, green, and yellow one waiting in the wings?”
“Cut the jokes. There’s no way people with that much skill would just pop up one after another.”
“But come on! You saw those ridiculous movements! For a second, I thought it was teleportation, but that was just pure, imperceptible speed! Not even the Chinese Overlord can pull off something like that!”
As Azrael reacted exaggeratedly, as if he couldn’t believe such a thing, Lunazel pressed his temples as if struck by a severe headache. He was probably clutching his head over the increase in troublesome matters.
“Hey~, the analysis is done~.”
A boy wearing a lab coat far too large for his height appeared before the two, speaking in a listless voice.
“The results?”
“Couldn’t figure it out~.”
“What the hell is that! There has to be more!”
“Can’t be helped~. All we have is footage taken on a cell phone~.”
“Tch… Well, were you able to analyze the Gifts?”
“That part’s perfect~. First, Body Enhancement, right? A spatial type, probably Item Box, right? And then, he was a cheat of a guy, equipped with an enhancement Gift, a healing Gift, and even a flight Gift.”
“What the heck! That’s on par with the Crimson Knight! Just how many Gifts does he have?!”
“Just from what I’ve heard, that’s five… Hmph, I’m getting dizzy.”
The Crimson Knight alone was troublesome, and now the Silver Knight had appeared. Moreover, he similarly possessed multiple Gifts, including a spatial-type Gift. Considering he might even have a powerful Gift like teleportation if things went badly, Lunazel, whose headache was worsening, began to rub the bridge of his nose.
“Also~, that Satsuki Kazuma guy the National Defense Force is watching was at the scene this time too~.”
“What? Is that true?”
“Why don’t you know, Lunazel? There should have been at least a report about it, right?”
“The report did arrive, but I haven’t gone through all of it yet.”
“Ah~, well, there was probably a lot to report this time. So it can’t be helped, huh~.”
“More importantly, isn’t that Satsuki Kazuma guy the culprit?”
As Azrael, who had been silently listening to their conversation, said that, the other two decided to hear him out.
“I mean~, isn’t it too much of a coincidence? That guy was at the scene during the Humanoid Ibinom incident, this time, and also during the Amrutat incident, right? Each time, an unidentified Gifted appeared. A mysterious man calling himself a spy, the Crimson Knight, the Silver Knight. He was always at the scene when those three appeared. Hey, no matter how you look at it, I think he’s the culprit—what do you guys think?”
“Wow~. Azrael, you were actually thinking properly~.”
“Are you making fun of me?”
“No, not really, but I didn’t expect you to offer such a sensible opinion, so I was a little surprised~.”
“I get now how you see me. Maybe I should rough you up a bit.”
Azrael, cracking his knuckles, approached the boy. Lunazel stepped in and stopped Azrael, who was exuding a menacing aura.
“That’s enough. Asmodeus, you stop provoking Azrael too.”
“Okay~. Sorry~.”
“Tch. Fine.”
The atmosphere was touch-and-go, but thanks to Lunazel’s intervention, the two avoided a confrontation. However, both still looked dissatisfied.
“Good grief…”
Both of them were excellent comrades, but their personalities were a bit too strong, or rather, they were too self-willed, somewhat lacking in cooperativeness. He had suffered so much because of it. Lunazel sighed and shrugged his shoulders.
“Getting back to the topic, as Azrael said, the National Defense Force is currently monitoring Satsuki Kazuma. To be honest, we need one more piece of evidence. Proof connecting him to the Crimson Knight and the Silver Knight.”
“Then, how about administering the new drug I’m currently developing to Satsuki Kazuma’s friends or classmates?”
“Hmm. An improved version of that?”
“Yeah. It’s not complete yet, but I think a prototype will be ready soon.”
“I see. Then, let’s go with that plan. Hopefully, we can catch his tail this time…”
“That’s not my job, you know~. Ask someone else to do it.”
“I know. First, let’s thoroughly investigate Satsuki Kazuma’s social circle and prepare meticulously.”
“Well now~, things are going to get busy~. Even though my name is Asmodeus of Sloth, I’m working way too hard, aren’t I~?”
“You’re probably planning to take a long break once that job is done.”
“Well, yeah~.”
It was decided that Kazuma’s friends would be targeted next. Would Kazuma be able to protect his friends to the very end?
◇◇◇◇
While the Ivera Church was about to start a new operation, the National Defense Force was discussing the two who had rampaged in the city.
“Their Gifts increased to two?”
“Yes. Upon interrogating the two suspects, they stated they received a drug from a suspicious man wearing a top hat. After taking the drug, a Body Enhancement Gift manifested, and their original Gifts were strengthened.”
“Were tests conducted?”
“As a result of the tests, Ibinom blood was confirmed in their bloodstream. That is likely the cause.”
“Increased aggression and the manifestation of new Gifts… Indeed, that would happen if one incorporated Ibinom blood, but an ordinary person wouldn’t be able to withstand it.”
“That’s right. Currently, even without genetic manipulation, our ancestors incorporated Ibinom blood into their bodies and adapted to it over many generations, allowing us to manifest Gifts without risking our lives.”
“Indeed. However, to think there are still people conducting such dangerous experiments in this day and age…”
“Could it be the Ivera Church?”
“That occult group… The possibility is high, but honestly, I don’t know. Perhaps…”
“Surely not… those from the continent?”
“That’s also a possibility. Haa… good grief, what a troublesome matter.”
“It’s a source of headaches…”
“As for the two suspects, after they’re examined at the hospital, put them in a containment facility. Their punishment will be decided after the trial. Well, luckily no one died this time, so their crime will likely be light… but they probably won’t escape becoming experimental subjects.”
Currently, the juvenile law has been revised, and the age limit has been lowered to ten years old. In other words, if someone ten years or older commits a crime, they will be arrested as usual, and in the worst case, even face the death penalty. In this modern era where Gifts exist, there is no mercy, even for children.
“Sent to the research institute, you mean…”
“Of course. They are valuable samples from whom Ibinom blood was collected and who manifested new Gifts. If that mad scientist hears about this, he’ll undoubtedly be delighted. He might even dissect them alive, saying criminals have no human rights or anything.”
“That is, well, quite a pitiful story…”
“It will be a good lesson. The one about not accepting sweets from strangers.”
“The price was far too great, wasn’t it~.”
From now on, Inoue and Tamura would live like guinea pigs. They were lucky enough to obtain a second Gift, but the outcome was tragic. They probably wouldn’t be dissected alive, but at the very least, a normal life seemed out of reach.
If there were a next time, they would surely stop following strangers and refuse sweets or toys. Unfortunately for them, there would be no next time.