happened in the apartment before, he would know immediately.

Completely different from before, today Layfon had already entered a battle state. As soon as a screech entered his ears, he was confident that he could get to the scene in a moment.

Layfon waited, listening carefully.

And then, he heard it.

"!"

A cry.

Where? ....Layfon looked in the direction the sound had come from, and at the same time strengthened his vision.

Got it. On a balcony in the middle area of a tenement building, a girl was standing there with an expression of shock.

Layfon followed the girl's gaze. There was a black shadow there, and its figure was indeed small, but the shadows of its hands were confusingly long. Before Layfon's vision could catch up to the shadow and see clearly, the opponent had already hid in the shadows of the trees.

"Don't think of running."

Internal-type Kei variant - Reflecting Water Ferry.

Like ripples moving over a surface of water, Layfon closed in at rapid speed while leaving almost no trace. If Whirl Kei was dynamic movement, Reflecting Water Ferry was silent movement. Its speed exceeded that of Whirl Kei, letting Layfon leap over the vast space of the Academy City in a moment, and then land soundlessly and with no presence.

The location of his landing was the forested park in front of the tenement building. A Yuusuiju tree in the center of the park created moisture that left a sticky feeling on the skin, and other than this there were no presences of anything.

The criminal was....

"There."

The criminal was still over there. He was constantly jumping through the dense tree branches, gradually leaving the area.

Layfon pursued.

However, before Layfon reached his target, the criminal did something unimaginable.

The criminal leaped into the center of the park, towards the pool of water surrounding the Yuusuiju tree.

"Huh?"

No splash at all had been made.

Layfon looked closely at the pool, but only saw the drain at the end of the pond that prevented overflows, and that the grating that was supposed to be covering it was nowhere to be seen. The criminal had definitely escaped inside.

"Damn...."

With Layfon's physique, it wasn't like he couldn't squeeze inside.

What should he do.... After hesitating for a moment, Layfon squeezed his body into the hole.

It was very slippery here.

Moss grew everywhere in the sewers, and he would step on it and slip if he wasn't careful. When he had just entered the hole, Layfon had been forced to crawl, but the passageway was tilted, so the clothes he wore all got utterly filthy. Moreover, the water gushing out of the Yuusuiju tree was warm, so he was surrounded by a muggy heat in the narrow space, and when he reached a larger open area, his entire body was already dripping with either sweat or humidity.

What Layfon entered seemed to have been a waterway leading to the water purification plant. Layfon let out a heartfelt sight, thankful that it wasn't a waterway for sewage. The current Layfon was using internal Kei to raise his senses, and if he were attacked by a stench as well in his current environment, Layfon might have reconsidered what was going on in his life.

It was also very hot in the waterway, but there were walkways on the side meant for security. There were only weak safety lights inside the waterway. In order to keep from missing the sound of footsteps of the person ahead, Layfon focused his mind on his ears, concentrating on tracking the criminal's path.

There would occasionally be small black shadows flitting around in the dripping waterway, or the light given off by the safety lights would be reflected by silvery things. It seemed that there were also fish in this kind of place. Layfon looked at the fish as he kept his distance behind the sound of footsteps. Layfon thought that, since things had progressed to this degree, he might as well unearth the suspect's secrets completely.

Moreover, Layfon was very intrigued by the sound of these footsteps. The way the other party set his feet down and the way he walked was different from a trained Military Artist. However, Layfon had a hard time catching his presence. His footsteps were the same. They weren't the sounds of shoes, nor were they the sounds of bare feet, so maybe it was a mix of the two - it was a subtle noise that sounded very mysterious.

He might as well just close the distance in a breath and the opponent, and that kind of charge constantly enticed Layfon. Maybe doing that was better, but getting back the stolen objects was also very important. If he just charged out, Layfon would be giving up on that idea.

The waterway finally reached a large pool. The water released by other Yuusuiju trees would all gather in this place. This was a place where waterfalls made crashing noises as they fell, and many fish were swimming around in schools. The water here would pass through a giant waterway, and then flow into the water purification plant.

The sound of footsteps moved towards the passageway from another Yuusuiju tree.

Layfon kept chasing.

The footsteps continuously advanced, and soon after Layfon had to do the same as when he had entered, squeezing himself into narrow waterway. His pants and arms were soaked again by warm water, and the moss spread in this waterway was even thicker, completely different from the moss in the forested park.

Sure enough, the grating installed at the end of the waterway to block off garbage had also been removed.

After he walked out, a tract of jungle that the forested park couldn't compare to at all appeared before him.

"Is this the Agricultural Department's land?"

It seemed like the forests that he had tended before. While he was confirming the sensations of the forest, Layfon noticed that the footsteps had disappeared.

"Damn!"

Layfon hurriedly focused his mind, but the footsteps had already been drowned out by the noises of the livestock raised in the forest, and he couldn't hear them.

No....

Listening closely, Layfon noticed that new footsteps were drawing closer.

At the same time, he also noticed small things preparing to surround him.

"A trap!"

A tense feeling flitted across his heart.

However, that feeling wasn't correct.

The small things were Psychokinesis flakes, and their shape was a kind that Layfon was familiar with.

Moreover, under the light shining through the trees, he could see the truth behind the footsteps that were constantly drawing close.

"Captain.... and Naruki?"

The Psychokinesis flakes were Felli's.

After seeing Layfon, Nina and Naruki also showed surprised looks, but those were only for a moment. Dangerous looks quickly appeared on their faces, and soon after became deep scowls.

Layfon had a bad premonition.

An extremely bad premonition.

"I never thought.... no, I never would have thought that this kind of thing would happen."

Nina murmured this in a low voice. She shook her head slightly, raising her eyebrows.

However, her gaze didn't leave Layfon's body.

"No, please hold on. I...."

(I thought that something was wrong, since the criminal always appeared when you weren't there.)

Felli's voice sounded by his ears. Layfon's surroundings were filled with Psychokinesis flakes.

"That's only coincidence!"

Layfon cried out. A trap, it was truly a trap.

He hadn't imagined that he who was chasing the criminal would have been mistaken as the criminal.

"I was just chasing the criminal!"

"We were also chasing the criminal."

(Moreover, you're the only one nearby.)

Naruki and Felli's emotionless tones made Layfon's hair stand on end. He had to prove his innocence no matter what, but it was no use against them. Fueled by their impatience at being unable to catch the criminal, and the enigmatic emotion of Layfon being unable to understand, Nina, Naruki and Felli's anger at the underwear thief lost control.

The three of them who had completely lost control were looking for an outlet to relieve their anger.

And the target they had locked on was Layfon.

Maybe he should escape....

Just as Layfon thought of this, a flake suddenly gave off light, and bindings also wrapped around his wrist.

It was Naruki's rope.... She had taken advantage of the opportunity and captured Layfon.

(It's no use.)

Felli spoke lightly to the dazed Layfon:

(You're surrounded. I've already grasped your movements using your nerve impulses.... Even if you're strong, you have no way of escaping if your actions are predicted.)

"Eeeeeeehhhh...."

Felli said these things in a serious tone, making a feeling of fear run through Layfon's body and causing him to almost collapse.

"And also...."

That was Naruki's voice, and sparks flew through his vision.

This was the External-type Karen Kei variant - Amethyst Lightning.

External Kei that had become electricity assaulted Layfon's entire body. Layfon quickly used external Kei to deflect that move, so he wasn't hurt. However, his body became heavy quickly. Bathing one's entire body in external Kei would sometimes throw the mind into chaos, making the body unable to move. The goal of Amethyst Lightning was originally to daze the opponent, so even if that result wasn't achieved, the effects produced by the electricity were the same as what happened when his body was bathed in external Kei.

The effects produced by Amethyst Lightning didn't immediately disappear, and having his body become heavy made Layfon fall to his knees.

At that time, Nina strode towards him.

"I should give you some punishment."

She growled violently.

The iron whips in her hands had long been pumped full of Kei.

"Don't joke around like that!"

Layfon yelled, and then leaped high. His body was very heavy, and couldn't jump as quickly or as high as he had wanted.

"Don't try to escape!"

Nina and Naruki chased him.

The Psychokinesis flakes stuck to Layfon with frightening speed.

A brilliant burst of thunder surrounded Layfon, and then overwhelmed him.

◇

After saying goodbye to Layfon after school, Meishen was alone. Naruki and Layfon went to training together, and Mifi went to pursue matters regarding the underwear thief alone. Mifi had said that if she would make it into an article if she saw the criminal, but Meishen could plainly see that she was really doing it for her own motives.

Why had things become like this.... Meishen couldn't help from sighing. Meishen had been the one whose underwear had been stolen, and she should be the one who felt angry, worried, or hurt, but the outrage of Naruki and Mifi far surpassed their duty as good friends, and moreover it had gone out of control. Seeing the out-of-control anger of the two, Meishen could only feel more and more meek, and gradually felt pained.

"Layfon also feels worried.. I really hope this can be resolved quickly."

After mumbling this, Meishen took a detour on the way to the tram station that she could take to get home. Today she didn't even need to go work at the cafe. Meishen thought that she should buy the things she would use for dinner on the way. After thinking of the materials in her fridge, Meishen thought 'I shouldn't need to buy too many things', so she chose to go shopping in a place nearby the school.

"Oh my."

Just as Meishen was holding vegetables deciding whether they were good or not, someone spoke to her.

"Ah...."

Turning around, she could only see Leerin, waving while holding a shopping basket just like her.

"Mei, you also came to buy things?"

"Um.... Nn."

"It seems like you're troubled."

After Leerin came by Meishen, she spoke while beginning to choose vegetables.

"I feel like Nina's been very worked up recently, and a bit talkative."

Leerin said this with an ordinary mood, making a puzzled smile emerge on Meishen's face.

That response made Leerin tilt her head and show a confused expression.

"Could it be that you're still troubled by it? Is the criminal still targeting you?"

"No, it's not like that. But...."

Meishen spoke hesitantly. She thought as she hesitated.

"Mei?"

Leerin looked at her worriedly. Meishen made her decision.

"Uh, do you.... have some time later?"

To Meishen, even inviting someone of the same gender to a cafe required a bit of courage.

"Ah my~~"

Leerin made a sighing sound as if she partially understood but partially didn't understand, making Meishen's face go red.

"Ah~ So that's how it is. I never would have thought Nina would be so concerned about such a thing."

"Um, I don't get it...."

Leerin moved her gaze as if she were thinking about something. Meishen lowered her head, her eyes peeping out to see her response.

It would be alright if it were her, Meishen thought, and that was why she had talked with Leerin. But, how would she respond after all?

"....Indeed, if it were Synola-senpai, I think she'd definitely be qualified."

After looking at Meishen, Leerin said that kind of mysterious thing.

"Huh?"

"Aah, nothing."

After Leerin shook her head, she clapped her hands and changed the subject.

"In any case, this can't go on. If we don't catch the criminal, Nina will stay unhappy, and the dorm atmosphere will become very bad just because of her. Everyone's worried...."

"Nn...."

The situation on her side was the same. Naruki and Mifi gave off killing intent, and Meishen could only pass every day with the feelings of hiding in a shelter waiting for Military Artists to fight off filth monsters.

She hoped the criminal would be arrested sooner.

Because that would definitely make everybody's current discontent go away.

"On the other hand, as for what we can do...."

Leerin sighed.

Right, that was also a problem. The criminal was someone whose crimes hadn't been stopped even by Layfon and Nina's nightly patrols, and had even become a terrifying person who was a serial underwear thief. Even if normal people like Leerin or Meishen helped out, they couldn't resolve that matter.

"But, maybe we can ask what developments there have been in the investigation."

Leerin spoke that suggestion.

"See, Mei was a victim after all."

Whether Meishen agreed with that proposal or whether she was convinced, the two of them ended up leaving the cafe and walking over towards the City Police headquarters.

After explaining their business by the counter on the first floor, the two of them were told to go upstairs directly, and not long after, Formed showed his face.

"Speaking of that matter, it should be resolved soon."

Contrary to their expectations, Formed immediately said that kind of thing.

"Huh?"

Meishen and Leerin felt surprised, and Formed showed a difficult and complex expression, taking a cup and drinking some tea.

"Naruki is being too noisy. Also, she's too lax when collecting evidence."

Formed's unhappy expression made Meishen and Leerin look at each other. Just as they did this, a policeman came, saying several quiet words to Formed.

"Ah, as I thought."

His unhappy expression became complicated. It was a look of wanting to laugh, but being unhappy.

"....If you don't care about spending a bit more time, do you want to see the moment we arrest the criminal?"

He gave an order to the policeman, and after he stood up and thought a bit, Formed made a proposal to the two of them.

After looking at Leerin's response, Meishen nodded.

Afterwards, Meishen and Leerin first returned to their own rooms for a bit, and then returned to the headquarters at the time that Formed had designated....

Then, they came to this place.

The two of them entered a tram with the policemen. The city transportation tram sent the two tense individuals to the entrance to a jungle.

"Is this.... the Agriculture Division?"

In the dim moonlight of the night, the forest seemed like it had no bounds.

After Leerin asked this, Formed nodded. The policemen used their flashlights to illuminate the forest's darkness and advanced forward.

Even the hard, sloped road was covered with leaves. Formed deftly advanced on the sloped road, and after confirming the fork of the road, he gave his flashlight to the policemen and gave a wordless signal.

The policemen advanced and dispersed.

"Then, can we ask what the situation is?"

Why did they have to come to a forest of the Agriculture Department when they wanted to arrest an underwear thief?"

"You'll know the answer very soon."

They could see the face of Formed in the darkness, with exactly the same unhappy face he had shown in the beginning.

"....Suspecting the Alchemy Department and the Agriculture Department first whenever something troublesome happens, that's the modus operandi of the City Police."

He murmured softly.

"Because those two departments both carry out experiments, and moreover sometimes very unexpected things happen."

A small sound could be heard, as if air were escaping from something. The leaves made an intense rustling sound, and something made a screech, and then made a sound of falling to the ground.

"Why didn't that girl notice in the apartment laundry room. Really, her attention to detail is too low."

Formed murmured this with a reproachful, sharp tone, and then walked to the source of the screech.

After looking at the thing that a policeman had captured in a net, Meishen and Leerin's breath caught.

"Uh.... is this a monkey?"

Leerin mumbled without any confidence. Its size was about as large as a ten-year-old child, and its arms were abnormally long, but its feet were very short. This monkey was completely covered in fur, but didn't have any on its face, so its red skin could be seen directly. Its mouth protruded outward, and sharp teeth could be seen lined up inside.

It held a pure white object unfitting for a wild animal in its hands.

A bra.

"....Huh?"

The two of them made sounds at the same time.

"Some people of the Agriculture Department tried seeing whether they could make a monkey into labor in order to reduce their chores. Maybe they thought so because this monkey was very clever, so perhaps they could succeed with a bit of training. In their experiment, it seems that they gave the work of raising birds to this monkey."

Formed spoke while warily taking the bra from the monkey's hand, giving it to a female policeman, then walking into the depths of the forest in front of the monkey.

After catching up to Formed, that scene was immediately reflected in their eyes.

A part of the forest had been fenced off. Floating along the wind was the odor of chickens that she had raised when she was small.

"These chickens don't really need to be tended, and just need to be given space and food. Did you know that their leg meat is very tasty?"

"Nn, I think so."

"The only problem is these chickens' nests. In order to grow good legs, they need to be able to exercise. So we purposefully put their nests in a high location, making them constantly hop to exercise their legs. Usually we use Kuwada beans to make their nests, but...."

The policemen shone their flashlights into the fence together. The bright light that suddenly appeared made the chickens emit protesting cries.

Among the countless beams of light piercing the darkness, several things could be seen floating in midair.

No, they were hanging in midair.

They were bras.

A large web spread through the branches of the trees, and countless large bras were hung in midair. The bra cups that usually housed girls' chests had been stuffed full of grass and leaves, and small chicks were sleeping inside.

"....They're very similar to the pods of Kuwada beans."

Kuwada bean pods were very large, and they could hold many beans inside them. As soon as a fitting season arrived, a light wind would cause the pod to burst, spreading the beans everywhere.

"This year we used a new product, so no one grew those kinds of beans."

"Uh, in other words...."

Leerin rubbed her temple while murmuring. She seemed to be organizing the thoughts in her head.

"For their experiment, the Agriculture Department people gave the work of tending these chickens to this monkey. Then, the Kuwada beans that were used as their nests stopped being produced this year, so this monkey went out to find something that could serve as a replacement, is that right?"

"The experimenters seem to have prepared a replacement, but it doesn't seem very satisfied."

Formed didn't disagree with her conclusion.

"Hm."

Leerin looked at Meishen after making that sound.

She sized up Meishen's chest.

"It could fit one of those chickens."

"N....no way."

Meishen lowered her completely red face.

Just then, a strong light spilled forth from the distance.

◇

"Come on, fight me, Layfon! No, pervert king!"

"You deceived me. No, I'm quite disappointed that you've been looking at me with that kind of gaze."

(How deficient.)

Layfon had escaped from the surround of Psychokinesis lightning with difficulty, but merciless roars along with external Kei and Dites assaulted him.

"I'm innocent!"

Regardless of how loud Layfon yelled, the girls didn't listen to him.

He cried out while running away, but had no way of avoiding the encircling Psychokinesis. In addition, the damage inflicted by Amethyst Lightning and the Psychokinesis lightning just now had slowed Layfon's movements. A difficult battle that had never appeared during training was gradually driving Layfon to an impasse.

The three of them became a destructive storm that devastated the Agriculture Department's forest, and Layfon who was being pursued could do nothing but flee.

"I didn't do anything!"

Layfon's grief-filled appeal dissipated in the darkness of the night.

The escape drama didn't stop until Formed and Leerin used megaphones to carry out a dual audio attack.