Prologue
The Possessed Woman
Currently, in the Nelferian Empire’s Imperial Capital of Filas Philia, in the alleyway where the Yakagi residence was located, a slight tension filled the air. It wasn’t the feeling of tension before a fight nor was it the indescribable premonition invited by ominous events. If one were to make an example, it would be like the time where one were to confront a devil that came up during a summoning spell, it was an intersection of gazes filled with hostility.
However, the source of that strange atmosphere came from the confrontation between Yakagi Suimei and the girl before him. On top of her school uniform was an unseasonable red muffler. On her hands, she wore fingerless gloves. It was an outfit which gave off a somehow complicated sensation. With glossy long black hair, a charming small face and large and round eyes, normally she would be his good friend, Anou Mizuki―But at that moment, there was a sense of discomfort which implied otherwise.
The eyes she directed towards him were black and gold. Normally, both of her eyes should have been black, but for some reason one of them had changed colours. That ever gentle smile that she always had on, had now become like the sneer of a devil, and gave off a sense of provocation.
It was a transformation one could not possibly imagine from her normal self. Yes, right now, the one in from of Suimei, was Io Kuzami. She was, something, that named herself so. Just how long had it been since they began talking? Suimei and Io Kuzami’s gazes simply collided in silence. And then, she made an exasperated expression like she grew tired of waiting.
"―So, isn’t it about time that you let me through?"
"… Frankly, I don’t want to let an ominous guy like you into my house."
"Mu―?"
At Suimei’s words, Io Kuzami’s face became stern. It wasn’t all that surprising, she was something who’s true nature was completely unknown, so Suimei’s complaint could certainly be said to be respectable. Seeing that, Io Kuzami was about to say something with a predictably exasperated expression when…
"But―It’s also true that I can’t just say that."
As if implying that he would allow her to come and go, Suimei turned his back to her. It certainly didn’t sit right with Suimei to let something of such a suspicious nature inside. But in that case, no matter how long he just stood there and waited, nothing would progress forwards, and if he drove her away here, he would lose the chance to gain information.
Compared to letting a suspicious entity into his house, Suimei was more reluctant about those other points. He wanted to know just what she was and to ascertain whether or not she would cause any harm. It was necessary for him to analyze her from all her words and actions. In that case, it was unavoidable to let her inside his house. And then, Io Kuzami broke out in laughter as if to make a mockery of all that.
"You’re quite the troublesome human, aren’t you bastard? Despite wanting to live a simplistic life, you can’t help but entwine yourself in theories. Won’t you just accumulate resentment like that?"
"Shut it. What’s a magician going to do if they don’t entwine themselves in theory? Theorizing about each and every bothersome thing and assembling a theory by one’s own effort, that’s when magic first take shape ain’t it? If you deny my occupational disease it would be the same as taking away my food."
As he spoke bluntly due to the irritation of things not going his way, Io Kuzami threw away her own frivolous way of talking, and narrowed her eyes.
"So? Will you let me inside? How about it?"
"… Is it true that you won’t cause any harm?"
"I hate meaningless questions."
"That’s rich coming from someone who spouts meaningless crap as much as they want."
"Fuu. If I was intent on causing you all harm, I would be sure to make you all unprepared for it from the start. Don’t you also understand this without me having to explain every little detail?"
"I’m just making sure is all. If you don’t want to say anything, I at least want to hear from your own mouth that you at least won’t do anything."
"Do you really think I would lie?"
"That’s why I’m saying I want to hear it from your mouth."
The reason Suimei was clinging on so persistently was naturally to keep Io Kuzami in check. In this kind of bottomless exchange, even without lying, he was at a disadvantage if she remained silent. Therefore, in a way, it was a last resort to at least have her declare that she would do nothing. If she was a spirit of high purity, there was no way she could ever lie after all―"
Eventually, Io Kuzami shrank back like she was giving up.
"I have no intention of bringing harm to you bastards. If that wasn’t the case, I wouldn’t have saved them."
"Then just what kind of benefit do you get from this?"
"To not just honestly accept my kindness, you’re quite uncooperative aren’t you?"
"That is my role. Reiji and Mizuki are good people, so I have to be the one who is distrustful."
"Even the parts of you that are not softhearted are naive."
Saying that, Io Kuzami laughed like she found it somehow delightful as Suimei clenched his teeth bitterly and turned away. And then, he raised his finger next to his face and waved to it beckon her along. Seeing Suimei’s attitude, as expected, Io Kuzami let out ‘what an insolent guy,’ while laughing it off. He still had no idea just what she was thinking.
"…"
Suimei casually peeked out the corner of his eye at the cats. If it was the cats who were sensitive to the presence of bad spirits, they would react to any threat that Io Kuzami posed. However, the cats in the alleyway were completely normal as they playfully meowed where they were.
In other words, it at least meant a devil did not possess Mizuki. With that, one of Suimei’s worries had vanished. That being the case, there were still other possibilities, so he couldn’t be negligent. As Suimei guided Io Kuzami into the house and towards the living room, everyone except for Liliana was sitting in chairs around the table.
"Menia, where’s Liliana?"
"Liliana is in the middle of replenishing her need for cats. It seems she took several of them to her room to play with."
"I see."
Because she had been away from cats for some time, Liliana likely wanted to play with them with all her energy.
"Well, even if everyone is not gathered, I do not particularly mind."
"Why are you suddenly acting so damn self-important…"
After being let in, Io Kuzami was acting excessively haughty leaving Suimei unable to hold in his astonishment. As he exchanged looks with her asking her what the hell she was saying, Io Kuzami returned an expression like she was getting carried away asking him to just follow along.
"You hear me my worthy rival? I am great. Greater than anyone to the extremities of this universe. Thus, you shall also show me respect as one would show their master. No, I will allow you the privilege of doing so once every ten days. I won’t ask you to lick my buttocks, by I will at least allow you lick the dirt off the soles of my shoes."
"Who’s going to lick what? Rather, if you want someone to show you respect that much, go found a new religion or something. That way is far more reliable."
"Ooh! That is also a grand idea. Right then, on the dawn of a new religion, the organization’s name will be the Mother of Darkness… No, Life Form Airspace Third Law of…"
"Oi stop that! There’s all sorts of things wrong there!"
"What are you saying? Were you not the one to tell me to do so?"
"I didn’t mean to actually go and do it dammit."
Even as Suimei yelled, Io Kuzami recklessly spat out her words fluently. Suimei kept exchanging looks with her to tell her to stop, but all she did was put on a smile like she was toying with him as she lead him around by the nose.
"Are you listening? When I read your damn name, I read it as a worthy opponent―in other words, a rival. Do you honestly believe that I would meekly listen to such an opponent’s words?"
"AAAAAAAH why do I have to go through this crap where I feel like I can’t get through at all in this kind of place dammiiiiiiiiiit!"
As one would expect, even Suimei was yelling completely at his wit’s end trying to mesh his conversation together with Io Kuzami. Because she wasn’t being air headed and was doing it on purpose, it just made it worst for him. Seeing this exchange between them, Felmenia and Lefille both had their eyes and mouths wide open and gave their impression.
"It’s amazing isn’t it."
"How amazing…"
To the two of them, they never thought that Suimei could be toyed around with to that extent. In the Alliance there was Gaius, and then Rumeya, and this was now the third person. And then, Felmenia suddenly threw a puzzled question at Suimei.
"Umm… Suimei-dono. In the end, just what caused Mizuki-dono to end up like this?"
"That’s… I also don’t really know. Well, I guess she’ll just be like this until she goes back to normal huh?"
"E-eh…"
Suimei’s answer of just giving up was quite unlike his usual self, and hearing that, Felmenia didn’t really know how to reply and let out a doubtful voice. As Suimei and Felmenia had that exchange, Reiji scratched his head while muttering, ‘What did she call it? That’s my dark history… dark history… Haha…’ His anguish was something that his fellow victim Suimei was more than able to sympathize with. On the other hand, including Titania, all the girls had absolutely no idea what was what.
"… Setting that aside. Shall we talk in detail about what went on after we split?"
"… Un, you’re right. I also think that’s what we should be prioritizing here."
"Umu, then let us begin."
"That’s enough from you already, just take a damn seat!"
After Suimei said that, Io Kuzami took her seat, and he began to speak of what happened to them.