The several existing buildings owned by <Ratatoskr> at the outskirts of Tenguu city.

Woodman visited one of them and was at the 3rd floor underground.

“-----This way. Sir Woodman”

The young organization member leading Woodman stopped his legs at the end of the long corridor.

Over there, there was a narrow residential space separated by iron bars. Basically, it was a jail.

There was one man inside. He was a middle-aged man wearing plain work clothes. There are several wounds thought to be left just recently on his face, and body.

“Around 2 months ago from now, it is the DEM member captured during the events in Arubi Island. We found out he is the second chief executive colonel James A Paddington from his ID but, we don’t know anything else other than that”

“Nothing? Does that mean he is silent?”

“Rather than calling it silent............”

The organization member made a troubled face and *gan**gan* slammed on the iron bars. However, Paddington inside the jail was lying down on the bed and did not respond back at all.

“That’s the case. We tried several times interrogating him using a Realizer but, it’s like memories slipped out from his head”

“I see. It’s a hand that guy would use”

“That guy?”

The organization member tilted his head. Woodman [No] replied back with that.

“Can I talk a little with him”

“Haa..........I don’t mind, though..........”

The organization member made a dubious face while stepping back. When Woodman ordered Karen, the wheelchair was faced towards Paddington inside the cage.

“-----Yaa, James. Will you talk with me a bit”

And. The moment he called out to him.

“...........!”

Being persistently unresponsive until now, Paddington jumped out from the bed as if he was a doll with a spring attached onto it.

“Uooo...........!?”

The organization member twitched his shoulders. But, Paddington did not bother about that and after he walked towards Woodman with unsteady steps, *gashan* such a sound was produced and he lay on the iron bars. After his eyes became unfocused, his lips covered with drool was forced towards Woodman and the group's presence.

“A-a-aaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAaaaaa-WoooooOOOOOOD-Ma-Mamamann”

Paddington made a code-like broken voice echoed from the depths of his throat and his head shook repeatedly after some intervals.

However, after a few seconds. The weird dissonant voice echoing out from Paddington’s throat was stabilized and could be heard as a voice.

And then.

“-----Yaa, Long time no see, Elliot.”

He made a voice different from usual.

No............calling the impression 'made a voice' correct could be strange. Paddington’s face did not change until now. Even though voices were coming out, his lips and tongue were not moving. It is already appropriate say, a different voice was echoing out from a human-type speaker.

“Wha-thi-this is........”

The organization member raised a voice filled with dismay. Well, that was only normal. Woodman made a small shrug with his shoulders before, at Paddington------no, more precisely, towards the guy at the other side of him.

“Aah....it’s been 30 years. Are you doing well Ike?”

“Thanks to you. How about you, Elliot?”

“I have no confidence in my side. My eyes has completely gotten bad just recently.”

“Oh well oh well.”

After the unknown voice was released out from a zombie-state man, they had a small chat for a while. The organization member at the side was looking at him with disgusted eyes.

“By the way, Elliot. Why don’t you come back to us. You should know this too but, we Inversed <Princess>. Our dearest realization is near. If you provide assistance that would probably make it even more certain. If you come back, Ellen would certainly be pleased.”

“Sadly, I don’t have such intentions, Ike. I told you that many times 30 years ago.”

When Woodman said that, the [Voice] sighed regretfully.

“That was a letdown. Even when 30 years passed, it looks like the fever that harmed you has not completely healed.”

The same time he said that, Paddington’s body slowly slithered down the iron bars.

“--------then, I won’t go easy on you the next time we meet. I will use the Spirits for my dearest realization.”

“I won’t let that happen. That’s what <Ratatoskr> is for”

“Fu..........”

And------at the same time, after Paddington prostrate on the ground, he spat out a large amount of blood from his mouth.

“Wha........!?”

The organization member loses his cool before operating the terminal, and starting to contact the upper floor.

While looking at the situation, Woodman slightly brought his eyebrows closer.

“You don’t change at all, Ike.-------everything is just the way it is from 30 years back.”

After that, he called out to the girl holding onto the wheelchair’s handle without changing his face direction.

“Not far away, it might be possible there will be a direct battle with DEM........please be prepared, Karen.”

“There is no problem. I understand my sister and I won’t understand each other from years ago.”

From Woodman’s words.

Karen?NoraN?Mathers, replied back without changing the tone of her voice.

At the same time. Inside a room in the building of the British HQ of DEM industries, the company managing director Isaac Wescott made a sigh.

And, after he operated the buttons near his hands, he called the person outside.

After some time passed, the room door was knocked.

“----Pardon my rudeness”

After saying that, Ellen entered the room.

“Is there something you need, Ike?”

“No........it’s not a big deal though.”

Westcott said that while directing his sights towards Ellen.

“I just thought Murdoch’s opinion made sense, in the last board meeting”

“And, which is?”

“The fact that we lost large numbers of Wizards in the last battle. Especially, the loss of Adeptus 2 Takamiya Mana and Adeptus 3 Jessica Bailey will make a huge problem in targeting Spirits from now on”

“..........are you saying, a replacement member?”

Ellen raised the side of her eyebrows while saying that. There is no mistake there is a glimpse of slight displeasure on her expression. Westcott made a small shrug with his shoulders.

“Naturally, everything would progress nicely if I have you. But, it is just a reserve to the end. It’s reality that even you move easier that way right?”

“...............”

Ellen made a sigh before looking back at Westcott again.

“-------But even so, who on earth? A wizard who holds the power worthy of a DEM Adeptus numbers. If it is SSS Artemisia, then regretfully she is--------“

“Nooo”

After Westcott stopped Ellen’s words, he lifted the side of his lips.

“--------Well wasn’t there one. An extraordinary Wizard that inflicted a wound on your body”

---Outside the room, *Chichichi*he heard the sparrows chirping.

“...........”

Shidou silently took a glance at the morning sun from his room window, before looking alternately at the data on the screen of his personal computer and the scary amount of documents scattered around nearby.

On it, particular details and response towards Shidou from the suspects were written down closely together. Several information investigated by <Ratatoskr> ignoring their privacy such as hometown, family structure, body type data like height, weight, blood-type, mole positions, the house addresses in their surroundings until detailed hobby preference, and fetishes, were messily written down. Naturally, data related to the spirits were only toothless data’s.

That was not all. Shidou requested Reine and looked through the video recording on all suspects. Tentatively, <Ratatoskr> has checked all of it once before but, he couldn’t be satisfied until he looked at it with his own eyes.

“..........It’s...... already morning huh”

Shidou scratched his blurry eye while operating his personal computer to display the list of the remaining suspects.

---it has been quickly 2 days after Tohka disappeared.

During that time, Shidou made a mistake in pinpointing the criminal twice and a total of 4 suspects were lost.

The next day Tohka disappeared, Tama-chan-sensei pinpointed by Shidou disappeared together with Tonomachi.

And again on the next day. Just like Tama-chan-sensei, Shidou who reconsidered back his information from the start, pinpointed Hazakura Mai since he did not talk to her before according to his past information then-------Mai, and Mii disappeared.

Right now the only ones left were Kotori, Origami, Kaguya, and Miku, these four people.

But--------no matter how many times he investigated these 4 people, he could not find any traces of Natsumi.

“................”

However, Shidou was swimming in thoughts inside his hazy conscious.

---Something was pulling his mind.

The suspects completely have no suspicious points coming out. That fact sprouted a certain possibility inside Shidou’s mind.

He was still not certain. Also, it’s not like he clearly knows who Natsumi was disguised as. But, that possibility was a thought filled with powerful poison that might flip Shidou’s actions until now upside down.

“.........Maybe, this is------“

Shidou placed his elbow on the table and brought his hands to his mouth. Maybe it was because of lack of sleep or excessive stress; just those movements caused him to feel a little nauseatic.

And, when Shidou was silently thinking for a while, the door suddenly opened from behind and Kotori entered the room.

“Shidou..........wait a second. Don’t tell me you didn’t sleep?”

Kotori raised her eyebrows and walked closer to Shidou.

“.........Ou, Kotori”

“I told you before, don’t force yourself. I understand your feeling but, we will lose everything if you destroy your body condition”

“It’s okay, something this much. Today..........is a day for re-investigation. Errr-------first off was Kaguya right?”

After Shidou replied with half his eyes opened, he extended his hand to pick up the documents that fell on the floor just now.

But at that moment, he suddenly felt dizzy, and fell on his knees on the spot.

“Uh..........”

“Aaah Mouu, Like I said......!”

Kotori said that in irritation and took Shidou’s hand.

“I told you so..........! Anyway, hurry up and rest! You can't even make a normal decision if you are at that state!”

“I don’t have that-------free time........I finally, understood something. I have to find Natsumi faster or else”

“Enough of that. No matter, I was planning to cancel the investigation in the afternoon and evenings so, please sleep for a while now!”

“...........!”

Hearing that from Kotori, Shidou immediately swung her hands off.

“Cancel........? What do you mean? Doesn’t that mean we would lose clues unnecessarily. Why would you..........!”

“Calm down a bit”

*Pisu* Kotori chopped Shidou’s head. It’s not like she put in a lot of strength but, it was a tremendous strike to Shidou right now. He then fell face flat on the ground from the head rocking impact.

“Guh............”

“Just stay like that and look at this”

After saying that, Kotori showed a white card in her hand.

For an instant, he thought it was the message card sealed together with the photos from Natsumi but, it would seem the sentence writing was different. He blinked his eyes and read the sentence written on it.

[Let's end this game.

Tonight, catch me.

If not, everyone will disappear.

Natsumi]

“Wha.........”

After Shidou gasped, he raised his body and snatched the card away from Kotori’s hand.

“What is......this”

“It was in the post, when I woke up in the morning. A challenge letter from Natsumi........that should be it”

Shidou gulped from Kotori’s words.

“Tonight..........if I don’t find Natsumi, the remaining suspects will disappear........that's it?”

“If we take it literally, that would be the case”

Kotori said that while shrugging her shoulders. Shidou clenched his teeth while placing his hands on his forehead.

He did what he can. He checked everything he could think of. But even so, Shidou has not selected a Natsumi-like person from the remaining 4 suspects.

But even so............the time limit suddenly came forth. Telling him not to get impatient is impossible.

---Today, if Shidou made a mistake in his decision, all of the remaining suspects will disappear.

That extraordinary pressure, gripped Shidou’s heart tightly.

But-------Shidou clenched his teeth.

“........Kotori. I have something I want to ask from you. Will you listen?”

“What? I will handle it properly if it is within my limits.”

Kotori made a meek face and replied. Shidou summed up his thoughts while slowly saying his plan.

After a few seconds. After hearing that, Kotori *fuumu* groaned and placed her hands on her chin.

“I see. Alright. I will have that prepared”

“............that’s a life saver. Honestly, I still am lacking conclusive evidence.”

“In exchange, you have to sleep properly until that time. That is my condition.”

“.........Aah, I understand”

After Shidou nodded honestly, he stood up and made small yawns while lying his body down on his bed.

He then slowly raised his right hand and bends his fingers one by one before making a fist.

Even now, Shidou was still not positive who Natsumi was disguised as. If this is called a puzzle then, it would be in a state where the last few pieces were missing.

That is why-------regardless whether if Natsumi’s challenge letter reached him or not, Shidou might request the same thing to Kotori.

“-----Natsumi”

He looked at empty space while mumbling.

“Tonight......I will definitely-----find you”

“Ufufu..........fufufu............”

Disguised as XXX, Natsumi made a smile in a good mood.

She remembered Shidou’s face when she cause the disappearance of Yuzuru on day 1, Yoshino and Ai on day 2, Tohka on day 3, Tamae and Tonomachi on day 4, Mai and Mii on day 5.

An indescribable expression from the mixture of fear, uneasiness, dismay, and despair. Each time it was pictured in her mind, Natsumi would feel a pleasant ecstatic feeling run through her body.

However, that was no good.

---It was no longer enough for her.

Natsumi was craving. For a bigger fear than anything before. For Shidou’s expression to be tormented with despair to its limits. That is why--------one more letter. She sent the last letter to Shidou.

In order to erase all of the remaining suspects.

In order to see Shidou’s expression in that instant.

And after all of it ended--------in order to suck Shidou in too after he was on his knees from despair.

“I will not forgive........those who saw my secret. I won’t let it end by erasing them. I will make them die from despair of losing all their comrades”

After Natsumi muttered that, she clenched her teeth.

“No one.......can find me anyway”

At night on that day.

After taking enough sleep (Rather, half of it was taken forcefully) Shidou and Kotori were together in a dim room.

It would seem this was a place under a facility owned by <Ratatoskr> but, the details were not known. Since he was made to walk quite some distance from the entrance, this place was indistinct to any other residential area.

The width of the room size is around 20 tatami mats. Although there were tall tables placed here and there, there is nothing else than that and the space looks like a dance hall.

Originally, it seems to be more convenient if they used the <Fraxinus> meeting room but, as long as Origami and the spirit without her powers sealed Natsumi were inside the suspects, they can’t have that happen.

Thus------not long later, the sound of the room door slowly opening was produced.

And from there, 3 girls were slowly walking into the room.

“Kuku, how idealistic. It’s a suitable stage for us to give judgment to your wicked king”

The 1st person was Kaguya.

“Amazing, it’s like we are in a secret base---”

The 2nd person was Miku.

“....................”

And the last------Origami.

After including Shidou and Kotori who were originally in the room, it would become 5 people.

All of the remaining suspects in the current situation were right now gathered in this room.

Yes. That was what Shidou requested Kotori.

He wanted her to make an environment where he can talk with all of the remaining suspects, with everyone of them gathered in one place.

In order to get his last conviction, that was a factor that was needed by all cost.

And-----there is one more. It was his honest thoughts for wanting everyone’s new opinion.

Everyone should have been given a rough explanation about the situation from the <Ratotoskr> organization members. Maybe it was lucky or unlucky---------this was a method that could only be used because the remaining people know about the existence of the [Spirit].

“-----Glad all of you could turn up.”

After Kotori said that, the 3 girls were looking at her in a slight perplexed manner while walking towards Shidou and Kotori.

*Suu* Shidou then breathed in and looked at the girls in turns.

“......everyone, I think you all should have heard it. First off............let me apologize. Sorry. Everyone got dragged into this because of me........I am really sorry”

He then took a deep bow. When he did that, he could hear a commotion from everyone.

“Fuun, do not mind it. Rather than that, I rather have you apologize to us for keeping quiet about something this important”

“U—n, so that means that date was a part of the investigation. That’s a little disappointing”

“...............”

Everyone said. Shidou took another deep bow before slowly lifting his head.

“I know it was selfish. But........I beg of you all. Everyone......please lend me your strength........!”

He said that as if he was appealing. And, everyone uniformly made a strong nod.-----except for one person.

“Shidou”

Maintaining silence from just now, Origami stared at Shidou while opening her mouth.

“What does this mean”

“! Sorry, Origami. But, I beg you. I need your strength”

Origami immediately cast her eyes downwards and shook her head, when Shidou said that as if he was appealing to her.

“I don’t want you to misunderstand. It is only natural for me to lend Shidou my strength. Even more if it is regarding spirits.-------What I want to ask, isn’t those”

“Eh? You’re saying............”

“Where is this place? Who was the one who explained the situation to us just now? I thought about this before. What on earth do you have connections with?”

“Th-that’s..........”

Shidou hesitated by reflex. It’s true that, it was a normal question from Origami’s perspective.

“Your wrinkles will increase if you worry about small details”

Standing in the left side beside Shidou, Kotori replied with that. Origami’s thorn filled sights were poured towards Kotori’s direction.

“........Itsuka Kotori”

“......what?”

Kotori responded with half her eyes opened from Origami’s voice. Both of them looked at each other for a while.

Thinking back, both of them had a deep fate. Once, Origami doubted Kotori as her parent’s revenge and initiated an attack at her before.

In the end, understanding it was a misunderstanding; Shidou managed to stop both of them by interfering but---------the strange relationship between them did not disappear.

But. After Origami cast her eyes downwards without saying anything, she made a small sigh and averted her sights from Kotori.

“-------I will listen to what you can say later. Anyway, I have no objection in cooperating with Shidou”

“A-aah........Thank you, Origami”

“I don’t mind. But”

“But?”

“Since you call me suddenly, I was a little, expectant”

“.........That’s.......how should I say it, sorry”

He could only say it like that. He lowered his head slightly..........in reality, starting from Origami, everyone was brought together by Reine and he has no idea what method she used to call them out.

“Kuku, it’s settled then”

At that moment, Kaguya spread both her hands, and raised a loud voice while taking a pose.

“Let’s get it started then. The selection ceremony to bring out the atrocity lurking within us out to the light!”

“A-ra, you look quite into this”

“Isn’t that obvious!”

Kaguya spread out her hands exaggeratedly when Kotori said that.

“That insolent person that kidnapped Yuzuru is inside here right!? Then I will find that person and unless she pays a suitable compensation------I will not feel satisfied..........!”

Half-way through her words, her normal self came out. Kaguya probably noticed that and *Kohon* made a cough before retaking a pose.

“Anyway! I will definitely find that spirit that made Yuzuru and the rest disappear!”

After saying that, she gripped her fist tightly. Even from the side-view, it looks like strength was put into it. Mostly likely, she wants to direct all of the saved up emotions that had nowhere to go because of Yuzuru’s sudden disappearance towards the criminal.

“Yeah yeah, I understand you are into this so, calm down for now”

Kotori lifted the chupa chups she has in her mouth and moved her lips.

“The situation is as what you have been explained before entering this room. There is one spirit with the power of transformation inside here and we have to find her no matter what. All of the investigation results have been collected into these documents. If you have something bothering you or a question, we don’t mind it no matter how small it is. Please go ahead and say it”

After saying that, she showed a table nearby. There were several sets of documents suppressed by double clips placed on it.

Everyone took the documents and glanced through it for a while.

And after a while, Miku *fuuu* sighed.

“I see--........the question darling asked at that time had these meanings”

“........Darling?”

Origami twitched her eyebrows. Shidou hurried and let out his voice.

“We-well, why don’t we leave that for later”

“................”

After Origami was discontent while honestly keeping quiet, she once again dropped her sights on the documents.

And as if to replace that, *piin* Kaguya erected her finger.

“So, Shidou. What kind of appearance does that Natsumi have”

“Eh? Aah, that’s-------“

“-------it’s repulsive, a horribly unattractive face”

Kotori interrupted Shidou’s words and said that.

“For example, she had face like a toad that got run over by a car. Her droopy eyes very far apart and her nose was heading upwards like a pig, her skin was completely filled with pockmarks like the craters on the moon. She has a fat body; a terrible body so much that it made me thinks her bust waist hip might have the same value. And, anyway her face is just plain big. Mostly like around three heads together. Somehow rather than spirit, she was more of a monster”

With a serious look, Kotori continuously explained Natsumi appearance. But all of it, does not even bear a slight similarity to Shido’s memories and was obviously garbage information.

“Oi, Kotori................”

When Shidou was about to say something, Kotori [Shh] erected one finger up.

At that moment, he guessed it. Most definitely, this was to lure out Natsumi’s reaction from inside them. Being told slanderous like that, there are not that many people that would not take notice to that. Even if it isn’t shown in their expression or actions, there should be some kind of response coming from the observation device installed in this room.

But-----------

“............there is none of that response”

Reine’s voice was heard in Shidou’s right ear.

Kotori probably received the same announcement. *Tsk* she clicked her tongue and operated the small terminal placed on top of the table.

“..............That’s a joke. Please look at this”

At the same time Kotori said that, Natsumi’s figure was shown out on the terminal’s screen. It was a beautiful girl.

“Eeh........... That’s totally different from what you said. Kotori-chan you are such a scary child”

Sweat was flowing down on Miku’s cheeks while she brought her eyebrows together. However, Kotori did not really bother about that and urged her with a [Is there anything else] question.

“However, I am a little curious, on how come Shidou and Kotori was doing this but still unable to catch even her tails”

The next one who said that was Kaguya.

“In the first place, is it true that Natsumi is really inside here? Isn’t it a possibility that she lied and was actually disguised as someone else, and is immersed in joy looking at Shidou panicking?”

After saying that, Kaguya tilted her head.

“............of course, that possibility isn’t zero. But--------“

Kotori folded her arms while making an eye signal to Shidou. Shidou tilted his head slightly forward to respond to her.

“Aah. Although I didn’t talk to her for that long.........most likely, I think she wasn’t lying”

“Houu? How can you say that? The opponent is a spirit that made Yuzuru and the rest disappear you know? I think it would be hard to believe her”

“Hnn, how should I put it..........I felt that Natsumi holds a strong confidence in her abilities. And also, Natsumi said clearly that [I am inside one of these]. Leaving aside from her strikes in the gap of the rules, I think she won’t obviously break the rules”

“Fumu.............”

Kaguya made a difficult groan before nodding to show she agreed.

“I see. Well, it was you who has a direct conversation with Natsumi. I’ll believe in that”

After saying that, Kaguya returned her sights to the document.

And after a while, Origami lifted her face after she finished reading all the documents.

“Shidou. Is it possible to show me the photos and card send by the spirit <Witch>?”

“Aah, of course”

After Shidou nodded, he took out a white envelope from the bag he brought and handed it to Origami.

“...........”

Having received the documents, Origami took the photos and card from inside and lined up on top the table. From the side, Kaguya and Miku took a peek at that.

“Fuun............I see. So it means it was taken while hiding.”

“Wait! Half-my eyes are opened--!”

Kaguya snorted and Miku was *puri**puri* getting angry. However, Origami did not stop to bother about them and crawls her sights on the lined up photos and card one by one.

And, after a moment of silence and hand placing on her chin, she lifted her face.

“--------there is one thing I want to confirm”

“Aah, what is it?”

“Is it possible that the <Witch>’s transformation ability can transform into something else other than spirits and humans?”

“Eh..........?”

Being told that. Shidou opened his eyes wide.

“Other than spirit and human........?”

“Yes. To put it more specifically, it is possible for her to transform into a material that does not conduct life activities, or, into an existence clearly with a different volume from her original form, that is what I meant. For example, changing into a size that can be gathered on the palm or thin like a paper”

Shidou made a small nod from Origami’s words.

Now that he thinks back, the first time when Shidou met her, Natsumi turned the AST members into comical characters. If it is possible from a third person, then it isn’t strange for her to transform her body into something else other than humans.

“It might be possible. But, to be able to change her body to different extreme sizes..........I am not sure about that”

“You can’t say it is not impossible, that’s it?”

“Aah..........that would be the case”

“Yes”

Origami nodded. Then sitting next to her, Miku *pon* hit her hand as if she thought of something.

“Eh, is it perhaps--..........”

While saying that, she pointed towards the photo lined up on the table.

“The Spirit-san might be disguised as one of these photos..........something like that, is what you meant?”

“Photo........”

Shidou placed his hand on his chin. It’s true -->>

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