Date A Bullet Volume 1

PDF from Date A Live LN Translation Page 1

○Empty
───Asleep as if dead, or dead as if asleep.
A fall so swift, as if dropping into hell at an irresistible force.
A crash so soft, as if gradually ascending to heaven.
Warm memories, cold impulses, everything was gone. Only this emptiness remained.
Swaying back and forth, like a boat thrown into the sea.
Help me! Help me!
The screams shouted exhaustively. Desperate cries in front of the raging sea───black waves,
black skies, black death.
A hole opened on the bottom of the boat, dragging it into the sea.
Can’t breathe. Nothing can be seen. Nothing can be heard.
Guruguru, shi ~yurururu──guru. No matter how hard I flail my arms, I just splash the texture
of the water in vain.
“You are left with nothing. Because you are an empty shell, filled with nothing.”
A whisper from the depths of that girl’s heart.
In her inner thoughts. Perhaps, because I can’t remember anything that I am dying like this.
A cold hand caught the girl’s right foot, strongly dragging her into the deep sea.
Die, die, die, die, die, die, die. Live, live, live, live, live, live, live.
Everything is empty.
There is nobody at all.
Sinking, sinking, sinking. The girl was sinking into the dark space without end. Painful, painful,
empty, scary, painful …………lonely.
Suddenly, the girl opened her eyes. At the bottom of this deep black sea, there was a faint glow.

Forgetting the fear of drowning, forgetting the pain of drowning, the girl swam towards that
radiance. How much pain and suffering can be forgetting by going towards it, the girl was a little
bit surprised at herself.
“Hurry, hurry, hurry. I’ll never touch it if I don’t grab this radiance now.”
Like this, the girl inspired herself.
She grasped it with trembling hands. It was weak, but surely still shining.
Indeed, she should not be permitted; a radiance that did not belong to herself.
If sleeping is to die, then waking is to live. To live is to think.
A girl was pondering over such an issue.
“──────Ahh.”
That was the connection to this world. She slowly supported her upper body while stretching a
lot. But the girl's sleepiness has not dissipated, so she slowly lied down once again.
“Na──────”
A sound only permitted while dozing off. Rather than cute, it was a very strange cry.
But somehow, due to it sounding similar to the cry of a cat, she wanted to make another sound,
but then she noticed something important.
“…...Where is this?”
After opening her eyes, the girl’s eyes fell into a panic. After getting up, her mind suffered from
a shock. No, rather than a shock, it would be better to say that it was like an empty shell.
A lack of knowledge, a complete lack of understanding of where she was now.
“……Who am I?”
In the first place, she didn’t even know who she was.
Shoes worn well, clothes worn well, glasses not worn.

There was a chest.
Only these things were known.
For the time being, I could understand that I am a woman. I was wearing white clothes and could
barely understand anything. Otherwise, nothing was known, nothing could be remembered.
In fact there was an air of indifference to this matter. The unnamed girl, who remembered what
she just said, laughed at the ridiculous notion.
───And then.
“I just laugh, and laugh, but ah, I wonder what should I do?”
The unnamed girl twisted her neck, clutching her head with her hand while trying to remember
about herself.
……Just like the feeling of being surrounded by a thick fog. Or that is to say, memories and
other important things about herself have been completely plundered away.
The girl turned to look at her surroundings.
It resembled a specially-customized and refined back alleyway. No, there should be some stains
and dirt in a normal alleyway. This place didn’t have even a speck of dust.
From this unconceivable sight, this girl was unable to calm down. Being surrounded by these
pure white walls, in every direction, made it feel more like being a prisoner in custody.
“Anyway, let’s go ask someone.”
Even if she tried to keep thinking, it would be pointless. She would be unable to solve this issue
here. In that case, there was no choice but to move onward.
She took a step forward.
Leaving behind the alleyway and walking outside.
“────────────”
She was at a loss for words for a while. It couldn’t be helped with this unfamiliar city landscape.
However, even though there was not even a single pedestrian present, it was not something that
could be described with “nothing”.
An uninhabited street, with a street light flickering and a store opened. However, the key element
of people cannot be seen. Not even, a stray cat was present.

“Is there anyone here?”
The girl stood and shouted loudly in the middle of the road. But there was no reply.
“Hello! Hello! Hello!” (TL note: First hello is said in English, second hello in Japanese, third hello in Chinese)
There was no voice.
There was no sound.
There were no people.
Had time stopped or has humanity been brought to ruin?
While enduring the anxiety beginning to spread, the unnamed girl continued to walk. When it
became no longer just enough to walk, she began to run.
“Someone──! Anyone──!”
Even after running until completely out of breath, nobody was there. The only thing alive on this
street was herself──
A dizzying spell. Although there were no memories, her common sense was screaming that
something was “unusual”. There must be no humans on this street.
This was quite strange; this ought to be quite strange.
“What to do? A dream? Is this a dream?”
She lost her balance and collapsed. Even though she was lying on the middle of the road, there
was not a single person who found fault in this.
The unnamed girl struggled to resist the urge to laugh. Once she began to laugh, it felt that it
would continue on until she died.
The girl prayed for this to be definitely a dream. Since it was a dream, there was nobody on this
street. Since it was a dream, it was normal to have no memories.
Once waken up, this nothingness will disappear. She would return to her daily life──despite not
having any memory of what everyday life was like.
The collapsed girl looked towards the sky──getting up at last upon seeing a towering building.
“……If looked at this from above……”

If gazed upon from the tallest building, she should be able to see a panoramic view of the town.
The girl rushed to the tallest building next to her, climbing up the stairs in a panic.
It’s fine, it’s just an illusion. The circumstances of no one being here were simply by chance.
Perhaps there was no one here because of a nearby festival. This building as well, happened to
just have no one here.
From the rooftop, everything would be understood immediately. The location of people present
would be clear.
Out of breath. Rapid heartbeats. Because of falling down earlier, there was quite a bit of pain
coming from my shin.
Since there was pain, this was certainly not a dream.
She panted while running to the top of the building. After opening the door, there seemed to be
something resembling a coffee shop or outdoor café, with stylish chairs and tables placed on the
open terrace.
……There wasn’t a single person.
“But……!”
Grabbing the railing, gazing at the scenery unfolding before her eyes──she fell to despair.
Nobody was here. Unbelievably, in this vast town, any creature other than herself did not exist.
Her heart was in disarray. From this reality, perhaps it was impossible to leave forever……?
Katan, a sound coming from other than herself resounded.
──Turning around to look back.
──The girl may have called this bad luck.
However, at this time, it was a miracle in of itself for her.
“…………Is, someone, here?”
A black and red Astral Dress that gave the impression of an icy cold beauty.
Brilliant black hair, glittering porcelain white skin akin to a Bisque doll, and a slender figure.

The girl in awe of this sight did not notice this abnormality. Normally, people standing so
gracefully on top of a chimney should not exist.
Her beauty can undoubtedly enable people to automatically ignore her anomalies.
Ah, how pitiful of a backdrop this blue sky served for her.
The girl surely thought so. The one that best matched her tastes must be a dark night with a faint
amount of moonlight.
“……Excuse.”
“……Excuse me!!”
Shortly after that greeting, a bang sound resounded. A strong wind pressure struck her ear.
“?”
As the girl stared blankly and tilted her head──their lines of sight intersected.
Her eyes blinked.
“My apologizes.”
A voice like a silver bell. After opening her eyes, she saw that the girl in the dark clothes
descended down from the chimney and landed onto the ground in front of her eyes. Soon after,
the girl noticed how truly beautiful she was.
──That pupil.
A clock was engraved on the left eye of the girl in black clothes. The second hand made a ticking
sound as it made a complete rotation. Then, as if echoing that rhythm, the minute hand pressed
forward one step as well as well after each spin. The hour hand was rotating at a lax speed
difficult to see with the naked eye.
The beauty of an object working at a precise accuracy, it reached an even more so brilliant level
with the radiance also exuded.
The girl in black spoke with a shallow smile.
“Inadvertently, I fired a shot.”
Fired a shot? The girl tilted her head in confusion.
“Sell? Hit? Shot? (TL comment: All three words are homonyms in Japanese)

It was shot.
Looking closely, the girl was holding an archaic styled short gun in her hand. Looking back, the
coffee table had been crushed.
“You shot at me!?”
“Just shot.”
The girl’s back fell limp. Then, the girl in black spoke with a grin.
“……Yes, you’re still alive. You are”
The girl asked with a stunned look.
“……Are you an angel? Or a demon?”
“When said like that, shouldn’t it be a demon? You ought to interpret it like that.”
The demon snorted and smiled. Indeed, that smile did not radiate any warmth.
“No, I think it is an angel for me.”
Faced with the girl’s words, the demon narrowed her eyes.
The girl continued on.
“……I don’t have a name. I am just Empty. What is your name?”
“……My name is Kurumi.”
The girl in black, as if giving a supplication, said that name.
“……My name is Tokisaki Kurumi.”

“So, Empty collapsed on the side of the alleyway.”
Kurumi’s scarlet-red eye, as if piercing though a target, stared at the unknown girl.
“Yes! So, where is this place, who am I, and why is there not anyone here!”
Confronted by Kurumi’s indifferent facial expression, Empty (for the sake of convenience, since
a name more appropriate than that couldn’t be conceived) kept talking on and on.
“Is it not possible to ask your questions one at a time?”
“Ah──, uh──. So, who am I?”
Even when faced with Kurumi’s giggling laughter, Empty refused to give up.
“I do not recognize your name at all.”
“That’s what I thought!”
“But, I know what you are.”
“You don’t know who I am, but know what I am?”
Empty tilted her head with a confused look.
Kurumi informed her without delay.
“I, as well as you. We are not human beings, but rather an existence known as Spirits.”
“……Spirit……”
Spirit, the word that Kurumi had said.
Although the reasons were unclear, Empty could understand that word without knowing the
reason why.
“You, among them, are a type called a Quasi-Spirit.”
“A……Quasi-Spirit?”
“There’s not the formidable power of a Spirit, but certainly more than a fleeting human being, an
existence like a mirage. Although having said that, since you’re not human you’ll suffer no
illnesses, no hunger. Traffic accidents cannot occur. You can also fly in the sky. Correspondingly,
a powerful ability may also be serviceable.”
“Seriously!?”

How amazing, it was worthy of being bestowed the name of being a Spirit.
“But since you were just born, it would be impossible for you”
“Gakuri……” (TL note: Original Japanese is がくり a Japanese onomatopoeia for a falling effect used to express shock. There’s not really
an English equivalent, so I just went with the romanji)
Kurumi let out a giggle. It seemed that she found Empty’s reaction to be pleasing.
“Additionally, here is the world where only Spirits live, a place where once former humans live.
Both heaven and hell. ──It is called the neighboring world.”
“……Neighboring, world.”
Both heaven and hell, for those that were once human──the world where Spirits lived.
“Of course, it is difficult to survive in this neighboring world. Although you won’t necessarily
die, it is quite hard to live here. Incidentally, nobody will take care of you here. Everything must
be done relying only on yourself and so on.”
“I-is there a supervisor……?”
“As far as I know, I have never encountered an adult here.”
“Then……then, uhh perhaps. I who have no memories and no relatives……”
Was this not despair?
Was this not hell?
“Well, this inquiry is finished. Now then, if you may please go, I am very busy.”
“But you look to be free.”
“Merely just an appointment that’s all. ……Look, it’s here.”
Wondering who was coming, Empty turned her head to look back. There was no one at the
entrance to the roof. Just as Empty was thinking, a voice poured down from above.
“Which person is the one who called me?”
The voice echoed from the sky. Confused, Empty looked upwards, there another girl stood.
It was a girl dressed in white and blue.

Her hairstyle was in sharp twintails resembling an insect’s antenna. Her short skirt was fluttering
against the wind as there was hint of malice in her eyes. And one more important point, she was
floating in the sky.
“Sky……flying……”
“The one who called you is me.”
Kurumi replied back while taking a step forward.
“I suppose. But what about that child over there? An assistant?”
“It doesn’t matter if you let her go. Since that is just an empty that has just formed.”
Ah, the girl nodded in the air as if understanding that.
“So, then you were the one who called me. Is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s right. Inui Yume-san.”
Inui Yume, the so called name of this girl, gave a smile full of confidence.
“I didn’t intend to drag in someone who had just taken form. Come to the sky.”
“Certainly.”
Tap, Kurumi gently kicked against the concrete floor. Only by this action alone, her body began
floating in the air.
“Ah……”
Empty couldn’t help unintentionally let out her voice. Seeing that, Yume sneered.
“That expression is just like an abandoned dog.”
“Clearly she’s been tamed before raised, but I guess that’s unavoidable for an abandoned dog.”
Cruel remarks passed as banter.
“I still have a mountain-load of questions to ask!”
“……I know. Then, please wait here. I will be back soon.”
“Haah. Uh, what are you going to do?”

Listening to that question, Kurumi and Yume both smiled together. Smiling, making a facial
expression as candidly as possible while they both made that declaration.
“Slaughtering each other.”
The two immediately flew into the air like birds.
Empty pressed her head against the fence as she watched on desperately──something
resembling two people confronting in a match could be confirmed.
Tokisaki Kurumi and Inui Yume were facing off against each other.
For a while, Empty stood dumbfounded, her shoulders abruptly shaking from the thunderous roar.
The two people floating in the air began to dance against each other in the sky.
Nevertheless, that alone was still within a permissible range. Meeting people who could fly in
the sky in an uninhabited town was undiluted fantasy. But what they were doing was──
“Really……killing each other……”
Shooting with a gun.
Soaring through the sky.
Trying to stab your opponent with a sword.
That is to say, no matter what flowery language was used to modify this, it was perfect attempts
at mutual massacre.
○Inui Yume
At noontime on the streets on an uninhabited city, two girls faced each other under the backdrop
of the blue sky.
One was a girl dressed in white and blue, with sharp twintails reminiscent of antenna. The purity
of her white and blue Astral Dress matched the impression of a dress suitable for a world marked
by sunshine.

On the other side was a girl dressed in black and red. She had black hair and an Astral Dress
where the colors of red and black intermingled with each other. However, her most distinctive
characteristic is her left eye. It was a clock──an eyeball ticking away the time.
Gulp, Inui Yume swallowed her breath.
It was likely due to being on verge of death multiple times now. But at a single glance, she could
read her strength.
“So, why did you call out to me? Although it looks like it has nothing to do with Doll Master.”
Hearing Yume’s words, Tokisaki Kurumi couldn’t help but smile.
“Yes, yes, that’s right. Completely irrelevant to that. There’s merely something that I want.”
“What do you want? I don’t have something for you though.”
“There is something. An invitation has arrived for you, has it not?”
“……Heh, what? So it turned out to be that. You sure are a strange person.”
“Araara, ara. So, can you give it to me?”
Cheekily, Kurumi smiled.
In order to break that smile, Yume spat out from her mouth.
“No, if you want it, rely on your own strength──”
A gunshot echoed as an impact struck Yume’s shoulder at a tremendous force. Yume’s eyes
widened. In the blink of an eye, the girl in front had pulled out her short gun.
“Oh, then please allow me to use my strength to hunt you.”
Kurumi smirked a little.
Yume didn’t intend on listening to this conversation until the very end. It seemed that the other
party was aiming to kill her from the very beginning. With killing intent in her eyes, Yume
manifested her double edged sword (Estoc).
“Ara, is that your Unsigned Angel?”
“Let’s go!”
“…..Yes. Please give it your all.”

Kurumi smiled. An extremely sinister expression appeared on the black and red dressed girl
floating in the sky. Perhaps due to this unclear and oppressive feeling, Yume let out an imposing
scream while charging to attack.
The battle had started.
That being said, even when seen from Empty’s perspective, it was clearly a one-sided battle.
There was a difference in the speed of flight. There was a difference in the range of attacks.
Despite Inui Yume’s attacks flying at a speed faster than the eye could see, the girl dressed in
black and red easily avoided them perfectly.
Incredible.
Was the existence of a so-called Quasi-Spirit so powerful in this world?
Empty could only breathlessly watch.
Inui Yume’s white and blue Astral Dress was now stained with blood. An ugly vermillion, a
miserable scarlet red.
She was terrified. Killing each other was what she had expected. However, the girl in front of her
was a difficult enemy far beyond expectations.
“So, if you hand it over to me, this problem will be resolved.”
The black and red girl declared. However, passing this over meant a defeat. It was owed to her
loathing, extreme loathing of defeat, that allowed her to remain victorious.
“No! Absolutely no! How can I hand it over to someone like you!”
“How bothersome. I want to participate in this game that you also wish to join. The fixed number
of participants has already been decided, so there cannot be any mutual compromise between us.”
“Clearly you talk about compromises after the fact, I would have to modestly decline!”
“Here, is there no choice but to fight? I have already decided. Decided to participate in that game.
For that reason, I’ll crush all obstacles to that goal.”
A chill ran down her spine. This Quasi-Spirit, impossible. It was no exaggeration to say that
attempts at communication would be futile. Kill or be killed, there was only two choices.

“You, this──!”
Attacks swung down to their targets from the Estoc sword in her hands. She understood, she
understood that this was reckless.
Since, to speak from the very beginning, her attacks have not even grazed the target……!
But she wanted to win more by participating in that game, to become stronger. She could never
fall at a place like this.
She had used many of her friends as food. For the sake of her own survival, she had betrayed
them. So surely, in Yume Inui’s eyes, she was the main character of this world.
As things stand now, retreat was impossible……!
──How stupid. Why was it impossible to understand without being alone?
In a low whisper.
A burst of pain. A hole had opened on her body. The Sephira Crystal establishing her existence
had been snatched away. Rather than hurting, it was a feeling of frightening loss. Surely, if
looked at a mirror now, an ugly expression of herself would be undoubtedly reflected.
“I am the same as you. No, rather my willpower is much stronger. A desire to be stronger? Is that
all? If it is just that, what a boring worthless wish──please do not stand in front of me.”
A complete loss.
At the same time the invitation card was taken away, she clung onto the girl’s foot with a single
hand. As the girl tried to shake her off in disgust, Yume tried to stop her.
“Wait.”
“What else is there?”
“Tell me your dreams. I want to ask you, my dreams, what kind of dreams I lost to.”
Kurumi opened her slightly shaking eyes. Inui was glaring at her with preparedness for death in
the corner of her eye. Saying a falsehood now would not be allowed.
“My dream is──”
As Kurumi conveyed her dream, Yume let out a brief smile of joy.

“Yes. In that case, it would be worthwhile to disappear.”
She let go of her hand. For a moment, Kurumi’s body moved. However, she was not qualified to
reach out to her.
Yume’s lost Sephira Crystal fell down.
The feeling of breaking down in the sky was not as unpleasant as imagined──such a thought
pondered in her mind at the same time.
One person fell while one remained. What remained was the black and red girl, Tokisaki Kurumi.
Just as promised, she had returned.
“That, just now Inui-san, she……”
“She’s dead.”
Kurumi coldly and ruthlessly announced. Dead, how? Was she killed by the Spirit in front of her?
There was not too much sense of reality here. Was it because those two were just flying in the
sky beforehand? Simply, this conversation felt like taking place in a fantasy world.
“Ara, are you scared?”
As Kurumi smirked, Empty nodded while perplexed for a brief moment. Speaking of being
frightened or not, it was certainly quite terrifying. However, Empty remained miraculously calm.
The girl in front of her was not someone to be afraid of. No, it was as if someone had whispered
that she shouldn’t be afraid of her.
“But. I will be quite troubled if I leave you now! Although I am sorry, please stay with me for a
while!”
This time it was Kurumi’s turn to look bewildered. Her eyes repeatedly blinked swiftly as she
stared at Empty. She was under the impression it would be completely natural to flee now.
Then, it was Kurumi who broke the silence.
“Ha……I understand, alright. It looks like you’ll be at least a little bit useful.”
Empty gently brushed her chest, lowering her head in gratitude towards Kurumi.

“Thank you, I am in your care!”
──So, who am I after all?
And what should I do from now on?
Confronted by Empty throwing around various questions, Kurumi giggled.
“Who you are or not, of course I don’t know anything about it. Also what you should do
henceforth, I competently do not know.”
“That is, even though I know that you don’t know─!”
Despite the hopes for her being seemingly omnipotent, that expectation was easily lost.
“Then, sorry to disturb you, but is there another Quasi-Spirit in this town?”
“It’s natural for there to not be any here. Since this town is a stage.”
“Hah, stage. For singing?”
“Yeah, someone other than me will be singing. If you compare it to……an ensemble of
desperate lament and painful shrieks.”
“……?”
This girl couldn’t fully understand the meaning behind those words. But anyway, Empty could
tell that she was talking about something painful and dreadful.
As Kurumi seemed to be aware of this, her face began to slightly flushed red.
“Forget it.”
“That……no matter what those desperate lament is; it’s not something that I can easily forget!”
Since the other party had already fired her gun once, she could only implement a non-resistance
policy. But it was fine, she wouldn’t tell a soul! Since there was no one here at all!
“Look, I can see the destination gradually. Although this is my destination.”
Kurumi firmly grasped the girl’s wrist. The strength of her grip was so strong that even Empty
felt some pain, but she still endured it.
She deeply felt that if she let go of that hand, Kurumi would abandon her afterwards.
Besides, even with that strong grip……being held by someone didn’t feel that bad.

Looking over, the girl turned her eyes to the sky. In the middle of the town, there was a strange
building among all of the modern style structures lined up. It was like a spiral, like a pyramid,
with those geometrics characteristics it was quite the bizarre building.
Kurumi pointed to the building as she spoke.
“My destination is that school building.”
“……School building?”
“Yes, it’s a school building. Since that is a school.”
“School?! Are you serious?”
“Indeed, very much so.”
Ha─, Empty, completely unable to make sense of the circumstances, sighed.
“So that is to say, this is the reason. We’re going to school. School life, great. Nothing to think
about, just learning, it feels good! ”
“Oh dear, I would be of great support if you think that now.”
Kurumi distorted her smile into a bold grin. Despite her face having such an ominous smile, the
girl couldn’t afford to care about it now.
Then again, even an ominous smile was completely fine. Since there was nothing crueler than
the feelings of loneliness felt at that time.
The inside of the school building was quite chilly.
“The air conditioning is working, is it not?”
“Even though outside is not that hot, this Dominion is quite unruly.”
“Dominion?”
The girl was left puzzled by this unfamiliar word, but it seemly unlikely that Kurumi would
teach her the meaning behind that word.
However, judging from the grim expression Kurumi had while muttering that word; the girl
speculated that this word was something unfavorable to her.

“Just to be sure, I’ll ask you again. Do you wish to follow me?”
“I will go, I will go. I am following after you!”
From that quick answer without hesitation, Kurumi stared blankly with an expression at a loss
for words.
“─Now then, be prepared. Surely, you are not stagnating because of fear. But that is never a
good thing, isn’t it?”
“……”
At that instant, the girl fell silent.
“Although I brought you up here on a whim, could this burden be too heavy for Empty?”
“In the first place, I don’t even know what is inside that building.”
Humans are afraid of the unknown──but.
It was impossible for humans to not be frightened of things they don’t fully comprehend or
things that they cannot touch. The fear of the night is sparked by sentiments of “will it make you
suffer” from an enigma lurking in the dark. As such doubts are born, fear is created.
Only an ignorant and innocent infant would not be afraid of something that cannot be seen or
known.
Based on that point of view, this girl was an infant.
Even after being told that she should be afraid, she didn’t know what to fear.
Kurumi thought for a while before it led to an easy to understand method.
“……Do you hate pain?”
“Uhh, that’s true.
“…...Are you scared of terrible things?”
“Of course.”
“Do you like fighting?”
“Eh.”

Kurumi whispered silently to the girl’s ear without waiting for a reply.
“Empty, Empty-san. From now on, I am going to kill the Quasi-Spirits. Are you also going to
kill the Quasi-Spirits who are all shaped like lovely girls?”
To kill, just like what happened to Inui Yume a moment ago.
It seemed from now on, she would continue to kill again.
……However, she couldn’t help but follow after her.
After all, what she knew now was only two points: “there are no memories” and “a city built,
with almost no one”.
Perhaps going forward may mean dying, but if she turned back now she would surely die.
Returning back to that alley and decaying without thinking anything, it was something which
was absolutely not allowed to happen.
To be left dead by inaction, granted even if God permitted that, she couldn’t tolerate the same
herself.
Definitely. Absolutely.
Empty was taken aback after accidently looking outside the window. Taking a closer look, there
was no sun shimmering light in the blue sky. Rather, the whole sky was brightly lit overall.
“In this world, there is no sun.”
“Eh? ……That’s true, I guess a sun would be too large.”
“Ah─this is a different world after all.”
Kurumi glanced towards Empty while muttering to herself. As Empty tilted her head, Kurumi let
out a ‘ha” sigh.
“Perhaps, that is it. As you have observed, here is a different world. For you at least now”
“Ah, as expected.”

“Let me explain later, if there even is a later.”
“Wow!”
The situation there was surprising.
“So many……!”
There were many students.
The interior style of the classroom, while a bit old, could be found anywhere in Japan. There
were wooden chairs and desks standing side by side, and some crude characters written on the
already somewhat pale chalkboard. And what surprised Empty the most where the “girls” sitting
on the classroom chairs that seemed to be of the same age as them.
Alive, breathing, and moving. There was no doubt that this creature was a human being, a girl of
the same generation. Everyone’s clothes were varied; some were dressed in outfits resembling
school uniforms while others were obviously dressed in casual clothes.
The girls turned their attention to Tokisaki Kurumi and Empty. Under that gaze, Empty clutched
her chest in relief understanding that there were other living people besides Tokisaki Kurumi.
“That’s a relief. Sure enough, there are some people here who are alive.”
If she had carefully examined their gazes, she would have probably noticed that these stares held
nothing but hostility, malice, and murderous intent, but Empty was too happy to realize it at all.
On the podium, there were two dolls that were slightly larger than a baby. One of the dolls had
long chestnut colored hair and a red kimono, giving it a somewhat gentle appearance. Rather
than saying “cute”, it would be more appropriate to say “beautiful”. Naturally, it also included a
translation of the Chinese characters.
The other one was a rather short blonde hair young boy doll. It was wearing a pair of trousers
and carrying a backpack that matched the owner’s preferences. From that perspective, it was
neither “cute” nor “beautiful”. The word “gallant” would be most suitable in describing it. For
some reason, Empty thought of it as that.
Well, that appearance was not the problem.
The biggest issue was that the kimono doll suddenly began to wave its arms, leaning over and
jumping from the podium.
“The doll moved……why……?”
“Usually, it will not move.”

It was not relying on wires or external forces like motors to move. Very naturally, its movements
came close to a human being’s actions.
The kimono doll opened its mouth.
“─May I ask you your name?”
The beautiful kimono doll spoke with a voice like a fair chiming bell. Aside from being baffled
and astonished, Empty had already given up thinking about this. A doll was talking, this lack of
common sense.
“New entry, my name is Tokisaki Kurumi.”
In that instant, the doll’s movements stopped. Its glass eyes stared at Kurumi.
“You cannot join the game unless you have an invitation card.”
“Araaraara. It’s no coincidence; I’ve just received an invitation.”
Faced with those words, everyone but the two dolls stared at Kurumi with a razor sharp gaze as
if to cut apart her body.
Although Empty could not understand, as always Kurumi began to explain in her own manner
“Against an exceptional person worthy of this invitation, it was with ease for me defeat.”
After a brief silence, the doll gently swayed its neck. From Empty’s point of view, the other
party seemed somewhat reluctant. ……Even though it was just a doll.
“……I understand. What about that one?”
Kurumi answered back with a smile.
“I brought her along. It seems she’s just appeared in this world. Since everyone is here, I’m
planning on using her as bait.”
“That’s right. I am the bait brought by Kurumi-san……bait? Am I bait?!”
Empty shouted in a panic.
“Ara, if you hate the word bait, you could also say decoy.”

“Doesn’t that mean the same thing!?”
“What is it now? A slave or servant would both work well. Not only do you not need sleep, there
is no requirement for payment. The one that wantonly begged me, wasn’t that you?”
“But I didn’t ask for that! I don’t remember ever agreeing to become a slave or servant!”
“Well, well, that much is not good.”
“Those remarks are a violation of basic human rights!”
Empty’s looks of astonishment had already dissipated. A presence like hers was already a
common “phenomenon”. From time to time in this world, a wandering lamb having lost
everything would occasionally appear.
Or to say it in other words, a wandering girl who had yet to part with her own life.
“Certainly, the power of the Sephira Crystal seems to be a small as gravel. I understand, I accept
this bait treatment.”
The red kimono doll had responded accordingly.
“I appreciate it.”
Kurumi gave her words of thanks. As it looked to be okay for her to stay here, Empty was able to
finally calm down and afforded herself to look around.
Taking a closer look at the girls around the same age, it was obvious that something unusual was
in their hands.
They were weapons─objects that could fit under that definition.
Great swords, long spears, gigantic bows disproportionate to those girl’s bodies──even though
those were at least understandable, there was also a huge inexplicable wooden cross.
Clap, a conspicuously loud rupture. Looking at the strange doll standing on the podium, it was
striking its hands together.
Clap, clap, clap.
“Everyone, the participants of this time have all arrived as scheduled. Please allow me to close
the registration.”
The red kimono doll that had returned back to the podium softly spoke out.

“Apologizes that I didn’t tell you this earlier, but my name is Akako Machi. I will serve as the
referee of the game.”
Then, the short-haired doll spoke out in a stern voice.
“Likewise, Lycos will also serve as a referee. That is to say, our words are also the words of Doll
Master.”
Everyone displayed a complicated response to the word “Doll Master”. Fear, anxiety, timidness,
fighting spirit, hatred, all of those various emotions intermingled in the classroom.
“So then please raise your hand and introduce yourself in order. Furthermore, I will point out
false declarations of weapons and Astral Dress here.”
Lycos turned its attention to Akako Machi. Akako Machi took the list with one hand and slowly
patrolled the classroom before beginning to call out each name.
“Participant no. 1. Sheri Musika, please stand up!”
“Here, here, over─here!”
A brown tone girl energetically raised her hand. Her beautiful appearance and cheerful voice was
somewhat reminiscent of a Brazilian style. With an innocent smile, she looked to have faintly
protruding teeth from her mouth to highlight her charm.
Her clothes were extremely simple with black spats and a pink T-shirt. It was better to say that it
made her look considerably younger than her actual age.
Embedded on her hand was a large optic lens──
“Are those, magnifying lens……unyah!?”
“Please don’t talk.”
Kurumi softly whispered while casually pinching Empty’s ass. However, regardless of this,
Sherri stood up to face everyone, lowering her head while making a peace sign.
“I am of the Fifth Spirit type, Sheri Musika! My weapon is the Unsigned Angel <Sekhmet>
(Hollow Flaming Demon Lens). Astral Dress is Blazing Spirit Dress no. 28 <Yaqut>! So
umm……should we count the number of people killed?”
She said those cruel and dangerous words in a brisk tone.
“Umm……a joke……”

“……It’s not.”
“Hobbies are saving money! Hanging on to money to support siblings!”
Empty nodded thinking that she might be a good child.
From this point, Lycos pointed out in a sharp voice.
“However, she does not have any brothers or sisters.”
Empty was convinced that she was a bad child.
“Ahahaha. Exposed─”
Even so, with no hesitation of what she just said, Sheri suddenly sat back down on her chair.
“Participant number six.”
“H-here!”
A girl stood up and bowed to the doll. Then, she lowered her head to her surroundings as well.
Although it would be rude to call it old-fashioned, for some reason her white sailor suit and long
navy blue skirt felt like something belonging to an old standard.
Her hairstyle seemed to match this with three old-fashioned braids. The corners of her eyes
looked to be slightly drooping, which made her look quite mild──but there was also a fatal
sense of discomfort. The edge of a ring-shape knife emitting light was hanging from the waist
part of her skirt.
“…..Umm, what is that?”
“That is a chakram. It’s an ancient Indian throwing weapon.”
“Eight type Spirit, I am Tonami Furue. Weapon is the Unsigned Angel <Silphid> (Wind Ring).
Astral Dress is no. 34 <Skywalk>. My hobbies are cooking and sewing.”
With the sound of applause, Empty thoughtfully clapped her hands. With a smile, Tonami waved
her hand back.
Now this time for sure, Empty thought that she was a nice person.
“Incidentally, the chakram that one has, your head would come off flying with a single strike.”

“No, but even so, I still want to believe she’s a good person……!”
If everyone was lovely, virtuous, and docile, then perhaps this world would change into a dead
space without a given pause.
Such a hunch tightly wrapped around Empty.
“Participant number 11. Blue……is it?”
“……Tsuan. Tenth type Spirit, Tsuan.” (TL note: Kanji 蒼 can be read as blue or Tsuan)
The girl answered in a quiet voice in response to Akako Machi’s question. Dazzling hair that
snatched once sight away and a determined gaze that cast a cold indifference everything, such
beauty had charm regardless of gender.
“I would like you to stand up.”
Hearing Lycos’ words, Tsuan stood up silently.
In her hands was a long handle war halberd. A combination weapon that combined a sharp spear
with a Warhammer, it was free choose between stabbing and smashing.
Empty turned her attention─their gazes intersected. Her heart was beating extremely fiercely.
Rather than shame or shyness, this was due to an intolerable sense of dread.
“Weapon is Unsigned Angel <Lailaps> (Celestial Wolf). Astral Dress……Extreme Death Spirit
Dress no.15 < Brinicle>.”
Hearing what Tsuan had said, the classroom fell into chatter. Everyone's eyes focused on her, but
she gave a feeling of not thinking about it, as she just stared at the scenery outside the window.
“……Why did everyone get so noisy?”
“The name of <Lailaps> is famous in this world for defeating 100 opponents and crushing them
with a single blow.”
Indeed, if one could swing that weapon freely, it would be simple to crush a single person.
“But, it’s impossible to lift such a weapon for a long time. She’s not a gorilla.”
A sudden chill, the atmosphere of the classroom froze. Tsuan glared at Empty─with that gaze,
Empty thought “Ah, I’m dead”. Starting from the top of the head, it would be a single brush for
an attack.

Apparently, it seemed that Empty’s impression had brilliantly rubbed the girl’s nerves the wrong
way.
Suddenly, Kurumi revealed a bright smile.
“Ara, ara, it seems that you are working on your role as bait very quickly. I’m so happy you are
working so enthusiastically.”
“T-that wasn’t my plan in the least! How to describe it, it accidently slipped!”
“……Hobbies, none. That’s all. ……I am not a gorilla.”
“……Not a gorilla.”
Tsuan said it twice, perhaps to stress its importance.
While glaaaaaaring intently at Empty, Tsuan sat down. Empty slammed her face downward to
continue to escape from that gaze.

“Now then……continuing on participant number 13.”
“Yes~.”
The girl holding the crude wooden cross and doll stood up. Compared to the other girls she was
extraordinarily young. The girl was like sugary confection covered in pink Lolita fashion. She
was the only one casting an innocent smile towards everyone since the very beginning.
“Fourth type Spirit, Ibusuki Panie. Weapon is the Unsigned Angel <Talos> (Bronze Monster).
Astral Dress is Old Thread Spirit Dress no. 52 <Victoria>. Thank you for your consideration,
Onee-chan.”
Faced with that smile was a blessing in this world. The only ones who barely responded to it
were Empty and Tonami Furue. The rest all muttered “idiots” while casting a disgusted look.”
Since from the moment she appeared in this classroom, she and everyone else here was not the
same type of people.
Although Empty was the only one who couldn’t understand, but──
“……?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, no it’s nothing.”
Empty was the only one who perceived the subtle unnatural two-face nature of Ibusuki Panie.
That being said, it was truly a minuscule uncomfortable feeling. For Empty’s thought process
right now, it would be best to do her utmost to grasp the current situation. It would be
unnecessary to be strongly attached to this subtle information, so Empty immediately
disregarded that uncomfortable feeling.
“My hobby is sweets. Panie is happy as long as I get to eat sweets. But, Panie needs a lot of
reiryoku to eat sweets. So, need to kill. Uhh.”
“That’s a terrible incentive……”
“Other people are likely to be similar.”
“Everyone’s trying hard! Hey, hey, ohh──!”
Finally, Panie spoke while raising her arm, but nobody joined in agreement.
“Participant number 15.”

“Yes! I am Hijikata Isami!”
A short-haired girl nimbly stood forward and lowered her head. She looked to be part of a
veritable sports department with sports shorts and a blue jersey on top.
Her reddish brown eyes held an atmosphere of an unyielding will, with a Japanese sword held in
her hands (although it may be a bit too big to be called that) she looked like a cheerful samurai.
In regards to the not only just her name and physical education attire, Kurumi gave a look of
disgust.
“No, that type, I’m not able to deal with.”
“Ahh……I understand, I understand.”
“Of course there is no other meaning behind that? Even though that doesn’t exist, but……”
“I heard that! It doesn’t matter! Because you are also the type that is difficult for me to deal with!”
Kurumi pursed her brow as Empty jumped up. Isami, while holding up her Japanese sword, let
out an ahahaha laugh with that look. Then, the girl behind her supported her glasses up as she
spoke.
“……Start introducing yourself quickly.”
“Oh, that’s right! I am of the First Spirit type, Hijikata Isami! My weapon is the Unsigned Angel
<Yinbentabei>; Astral Dress is Special Military Astral Dress no. 28 <Heiseiwei>! Hobbies are
fighting! Interest is also battle! Let’s all cut each other down together! But ideally I would like to
slash unilaterally! Well, best regards!”
It transition from an athletic department to a human chopping department.
Indeed, upon a closer look there was a dangerous color in her eyes. How to describe it; she
looked to be the type that would kill people cheerfully.
Continuing on, it was the girl who had cautioned Isami last time.
“Yes.”

A long black haired girl wearing glasses stood up. She was wearing a uniform: a navy blue
blazer, white blouse, and a checkered skirt of average length. The glasses were the so-called low-
rimmed spectacles that looked good being suspended above the corners of her eyes.
If Isami was part of an athletic organization, then she would be part of a literary one. It also gave
the impression of having the attributes of a super-aggressive discipline committee
member……as Empty would judge so.
The girl with the western-style bow crossed gazes with Isami──exchanging fearless smiles.
There was likely a strong rivalry involved, Empty couldn’t help but think that was the case.
“……Second Spirit type, Takashita Ayame. Weapon……Unsigned Angel <Crotos> (Primitive

Longbow); Astral Dress is Stellar Spirit Dress no. 79 <Alnasl>. Hobbies are reading.”
After that brief introduction, Ayame and Isami crossed gazes once again. In the absence of all
other feelings, their fighting spirit began to seep out.
“How nice, a rival, what a youth feeling!”
“……If it is just youthful, then it is fine.”
This was not just brimming in youthfulness. That point Kurumi made very clear.
“Ohh.”
Even in this particularly rich lineup, an eye-catching girl stood up. Firstly were her clothes. A
sailor suit with a tie removed along with a long skirt. Held in a single hand was a long spear
marked with a poisonous color as it dripped down a quite disgusting purple liquid.
Golden hair, but it was obvious that it had been dyed. There were marks of black hair on her
head that make her resemble pudding. Her expression seemed close to exploding. In other words,
if given the chance, her temper would explode immediately.
Compared to the other students,
“Ninth Spirit type, Nogi. Weapon is the Unsigned Angel <Basilisk> (Joyous Poison Fang).
Astral Dress is the Brilliant Spirit Dress no. 63 <Angel Dust>.”
“Ummm.”
Empty, having felt it was a bit unnatural for an introduction, gently raised her hand.

“Yes, bait-san.”
“I know your last name, but what is your given name?”
“……”
As Nogi sulked and shunted her face the other way, Lycos open its mouth as a substitute.
“Her name is Aiai.”
“Aiai.”
Lycos nodded gently as it said her name again.
“Nogi Aiai.”
“……That’s an interesting name!”
Extremely quiet, the atmosphere in the classroom froze once again. Even Kurumi had a
dumbstruck “what did you just say……” expression on her face.
“To say a name is interesting is really embarrassing……”
Aiai muttered with a murmur.
“……Uhh, I’m sorry.”
“Head to the back of the school building later to pay me back.”
“Hiiiiiiii!”
Empty clung onto Kurumi’s arms, but Kurumi, feeling that it was inconvenient, quickly pulled
her away.
The next one to stand up was a very strangely dressed girl. Slightly brownish hair, a slim body,
and above all, her face were hidden underneath bandages.
While standing up, her movements felt a bit rigid likely due to concealing her face with bandages.
Her clothes also stood out excessively like a sore thumb, resembling just like a patient’s pajamas.
Even though there was sense of cleanliness in that cyan color, it still looked out of place in the
classroom.

“……Sixth Spirit type, False Proxy. Unsigned angel <Gyges> (Invisible Finger). Astral
Dress……Hollow Spirit Dress no. 19 <Mastermind>.”
She stood up indifferently, bowed her head indifferently, and sat down indifferently.
“Are you……sick?”
She did not react at all to Empty’s whisper. Kurumi stared at her intently.
Merely on the account of spite.
Merely on the account of annoyance.
……From this, it was a little strange for Empty.
Hearing Lycos address the crowd, a girl with plain bundled black hair silently raised her head.
Her clothes were a remodeled indigo blue colored sailor uniform, with a short skirt to the point
of being overexposed. From the gap of that sailor uniform, a fluttering black lace was visible; in
any case, it was obviously not chainmail.
With a fierce expression, a sharp glint in her eyes wary of negligence, and a glimpse of those
fiendishly seductive thighs……it was exactly just like a kunoichi.
She appeared to be strong. Very, very, quite much so appearing to be strong. But for some reason,
there was a very dangerous atmosphere surrounding her, as if she would say “Ku, kill me……”
after being caught by the enemy.
“Seventh Spirit type, Sagakure Yui. Weapon is the Unsigned Angel is <Qibaoxingzhe> (Seven
Treasure Pilgrim>. Astral Dress is……Hidden Form Spirit Dress no. 34 <Idzuna>……nice to
meet you.”
She whispered coldly before immediately sitting back down.
“…….It seems to me that you are the type to say “Ku, kill me” after being caught.”
“……!”
In the moment Kurumi whispered that, Empty judged it necessary to immediately pinch her own
stomach with all her strength to prevent another mishap, but nothing had happened.
“……”

But while she continued to stare at this scene, there was no incident at all. Having said that, it
was not herself, but Kurumi instead──of course Kurumi was also keeping her focus resolutely,
but she look calm otherwise.
“She is absent.”
Upon hearing what Kurumi had said, Empty tilted her head──but in a short while let out a
dumbfounded expression.
It was her. She was girl that fell during her vicious fight against Kurumi and disappeared like sea
foam.
Akako Machi and Lycos nodded after looking around the classroom and confirmed that she was
not here.
“Attendance number──none. For convenience, it will be number 29.”
“So it’s me.”
Sitting next to her, Kurumi had stood up.
Then with a charming voice, she gave a bombastic self-introduction.
“Third Spirit type, Tokisaki Kurumi. Angel <Zafkiel>. Astral Dress──Spirit Dress of God's
Authority, Number 3 <Elohim>.”
This time the atmosphere did not become noisy.
The space froze──no time had stopped.
“……Angel? It is not an Unsigned Angel?”
Tonami Furue timidly raised her hand to ask a question to Akako Machi. The doll then rotated its
head in rebuttal of those words.
“No, Tokisaki Kurumi has an Angel. Clad in an Astral Dress of God’s majesty. That is to
say──she is a so-called genuine Spirit.”
It was such a heavy silence that even the sound of someone’s breathing could be heard.

The atmosphere became extremely unstable. Although Empty did not know why, the girl known
as Tokisaki Kurumi had revealed her identity without any concern. It seemed even among this
group of distinctive personalities, she remained top-class──a girl worthy of reverence.
Empty looked around to observe everyone’s reactions.
Almost everyone was shaken and exchanged glances with nearby people. The only exception
was the girl named Tsuan. She tightly kept her focus on Kurumi without wavering──even when
her line of sight intersected with them.
Immediately, Empty’s mind felt the danger of just like encountering a bear in a forest, as she
couldn’t help but look away.
Meanwhile, Kurumi smiled and waved her hand back every time her gaze intersected with
someone else’s.
“……Can you believe that?”
As Nogi Aiai muttered those words, several people expressed their agreement. Others seemed to
be too afraid to cross gazes with Kurumi.
Lycos once again clapped its hands to gather everyone’s attention.
“So far, ten people have arrived.”
“U-uhh. Haven’t I not given my introduction yet?”
Empty sharply raised her hand.
“It is unnecessary.”
Lycos replied back with a voice that clearly expressed boredom.
“I-I always feel that you are excluding me!”
“Alright. U─hh, what is your name?”
“My name! Empty! Ah, I’m called that name for the sake of convenience.”
“Astral Dress……it appears it doesn’t exist!”
“Since I don’t quite know what an Astral Dress is, probably not!”
Empty spoke out with her head stood proud.

“This guy really was just born……”
As if amazed, Nogi Aiai muttered out.
“When I was born? I am about 17 years old……anyhow I think I am around that age.”
While tilting her neck, Nogi Aiai muttered out an “ah──……” while pressing her hand against
her face.
“Uhhh, Empty-san. We are not humans.”
Tonami timidly spoke out.
“Yes, I know that, but…..?”
As Empty slanted her head in confusion, Tonami let out a sigh.
“Can I leave it to Tokisaki Kurumi-san to explain everything from the beginning?”
“Eh, I don’t want to. It’s too much of a hassle.”
“Please explain if you can!”
Empty’s shoulders were shaking, but Kurumi still looked the other way.
“──We are not human beings.”
Nogi Aiai muttered out loud. At that moment, Empty’s movements came to a complete stop.
“That’s right. We are Quasi-Spirits. Although we use to be human, we are now an existence
living in the neighboring world. What we need now to survive is not a heart but the Sephira
Crystal. What is necessary more than anything is a……dream.”
Tonami took over speaking for Nogi Aiai.”
“……Dream……?”
The girl softly nodded while smiling.
“You can also consider it as a purpose for consciousness. Our physical bodies do not exist. So, if
you think about it, it is just like a ghost.”
“A……ghost?”

“I want to do this, I want to be like that──if there is no such dream, Quasi-Spirits cannot survive.
I do not get hungry, but I cannot survive unless I want to eat delicious food. If you want to dress
yourself with beautiful clothes, if you want to keep singing, just keep wishing to do so. And──”
Isami stood up with a fearless smile.
“If you don’t fight, a Quasi-Spirit is also unable to survive. Just like us!”
“Yes. Fighting, fighting, killing each other. If you don’t cut down each other lives, you can only
see the reality of survival fade away.”
Adding on to Takeshita Ayame’s words, Sagakure Yui continued on.
“──At the end of gradually fading away, all that waits is annihilation. Since we are creatures
that can only continue to live by consuming our dreams.”
“Uhh. I-if that is the case……is everyone?”
Empty looked on at Lycos──the doll nodded while declaring with an awe-inspiring voice.
“The ten people here have gathered together to kill each other.”
Empty was at a loss for words.
“This is a war (date).”
Lycos declared.
“This is a mutual battle at close quarters (date).’
Akako Machi spoke out.
“In order to decided who will stand at the very end.”
Lycos continued on.
“Please, please do your best to kill each other.”
Akako Machi declared.
Lycos gently took out a jewel like object from a bag. The size was probably around a baseball.
However, it was too strange to be called a gemstone. Describing it, it was like smaller fragments
sticking together with adhesive……from that appearance it produced a feeling of unease.
“To the one that survived, the ruler (Dominion) of the tenth region (Malkuth), Doll Master, will
provide her this Sephira Crystal.”

“Amazing……”
Fuu, someone let out an exhilarated sigh.
“Uh, what is the Sephira Crystal?”
Empty turned towards Kurumi while asking. After thinking for a moment, Kurumi thrusted her
hand into Empty’s chest, softly sinking her fingers into her chest.
“I-iyah?”
Kurumi ignored Empty’s cry of confusion.
“The so-called Sephira Crystal is like a heart for a Spirit. No, it is the heart. We are producing
reiryoku from that small crystal.”
“If it disappears──”
“You’ll die, won’t you?”
“Eh. In that case, is it possible that is a huge Sephira Crystal?”
In all honestly, there was only a bad sense of foreboding coming from that. As Empty was
thinking so, Akako Machi unexpectedly replied back very calmly.
“This Sephira Crystal is the weight of a hundred Quasi-Spirits. That is to say, the one that obtain
this will gain the power of a hundred people.”
“One hundred people……”
Everyone held their breath, peeping out their surroundings to survey the circumstances. If one
was not careful, a brawl to the death would soon begin at this place. The fighting spirit filled the
room at an accelerated pace.
“──If you want this power, roar out proof that you are strong. That is the message from that
person.”
“Things like that are being thrown in for a momentary game……I can’t believe it.”
Akako Machi rotated its neck to refute Ayame’s mutters.
“For my superior, it is not a game. It is in earnest. By acquiring this Sephira Crystal, the victor
can finally fight my superior at an equal footing. Otherwise, that person will not survive.”
“I see. Then you are in the same position as us.”

──You cannot survive without fighting. If you don’t kill each other, you cannot survive. It
wasn’t good if there was an overwhelming power difference. As for knowing why, there was no
fulfillment in life with such a gap in prowess.
“Everyone, there is no objection. If you want to refuse, leave this classroom silently.”
Lycos’ attitude turned serious.
Not a single person tried to leave the classroom. Not even Tonami who appeared weak, or
Ibusuki Panie who looked ill-suited for battle, did not intend to leave.
“Hey, hey, doll-san. How should we get started? Ready, set, and begin killing each other all at
once?”
Panie had asked.
“Opposed! I am opposed! Perhaps it is just a rough idea, but I believe that I will get dragged into
something terrible in front of my eyes!”
Empty, sensing a bad feeling, raised her hand.
Akako Machi, who ignored her, replied back.
“As it is, that is out of the question since it the amount of influence luck holds becomes an issue
rather than it being purely a competition for strength. Please leave this classroom every five
minutes. The order of going out will be determined by lottery. ”
“Well──. In that case, it would be better to leave as soon as possible. Since you can ambush
them one by one afterwards.”
Listening to Panie’s words, everyone’s attention except for Isami focused onto Kurumi. Only
Isami was looking on with brighten irises. Kurumi then spoke while laughing cheerfully.
“In that case, I want to get an early pick as possible. It seems that the longer you wait, the more
you’ll become targeted.”
“Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Be sure to let us go first!”
Empty desperately appealed, but the doll continued to ignore her.
“Trying to seize every opportunity is no good.”
“It’s a very serious problem for me!”

Akako Machi took out a paper box where lottery slots could be drawn from.
“My apologizes for the preparations being somewhat simple, please draw lots from here.”
The Quasi-Spirits all drew out from the lottery as they pleased. Empty was giving her prayers
while at the same time intently watching Kurumi draw from the lottery──.
The result.
“To go so far as to be the very last. To go so far as to be the very last. Kurumi-san, you didn’t
have any lottery luck at all!”
“You’re too noisy, Empty-san. Well, anytime is okay for me.”
“Did you take my life properly into account?”
“No way.”
“That’s too awful──”
Glancing over at the exchange between the two, Sagakure Yui stood up.
“So, I am up first.”
Everyone stealthily glanced at her appearance. Sagakure glanced back at Empty──Empty

clutched tightly against Kurumi in fear.
“The Sephira Crystal will be mine.”
Opening the door to the classroom, Sagakure’s figure quickly disappeared.
Kurumi looked on at her while quietly whispering something to Empty.
“You, I wonder if you are willing to be useful?”
“Can I survive if I do that?”
“If handled carefully, it would be for the best going forward.”
Despite Empty feeling a bit uneasy with that reply, there was no other choice but to continue to
grab onto this chance.
“W-what should I do?”

“It’s very simple. Just ask them before they leave. What are they wishing for, what are they
fighting for. Fortunately, you are powerless. That is something everyone understands……so they
might open their heart to you.”
“……I’ll try.”
Empty stood up and looked around at the students. If pressing on in any order, the first person to
ask should be the girl named Tsuan, but──
“U-uh……”
“……”
Responding to that voice, Tsuan turned to look at Empty.
“──────────Ah.”
People will sometimes die from just being stared at. Empty was experiencing that sensation in
earnest right now. She felt that she would be cleaved opened just for trying to reach out to her
hand.
Rather than hatred, it was better to say that she had no interest in Empty. However, Empty also
felt that this time she would end up dead if she let her curiosity get the better of herself.
“……It’s nothing……”
Tsuan’s interest faded away as Empty hastily withdrew.
The sound of giggling laughter. Turning around to look, Tonami Furue was waving her hand in
invitation. Feeling saved, Empty sat down right next to her.
“H-Hello.”
“It’s hard work, getting involved in such a situation soon after being born.”
“Y-yes. It’s quite not easy. Umm……how do you know I was just born?”
“Us Quasi-Spirits are born relying on our own the reiryokuken.”
“Reiryoku……ken?”
“Hmm──let’s say for example, you have this manju here, right?”
“Yes.”

Tonami placed the white manju on the desk. After that, while clenching her fist with nothing
held, she opened her hand once again. There, another white manju appeared in the palm of her
hand.
“Alright, now there are two.”
“Eh, a magic trick?”
“No, I created the manju with reiryoku. The reiryokuken is the boundary that we create. I am
literally omnipotent within its interior. It can create desired things and the situation I hope for──”
Listening to Tonami’s words, Empty hurriedly held out her hand.
“…..Un──come out Castella, come out Castella, come out Castella! Sweet, fluffy, and with a
thick syrupy filling, come out Castella!”
She opened her hands.
It did not appear.
“It’s not coming out.”
“Yeah, of course there are several conditions for a magic trick just like now. You can only
reproduce the same items at hand or those that would not be considering strange to the
surrounding background. For example, textbooks and chalk can be created in this classroom.
However, a knife wouldn’t work, since it would be strange to have a knife in a classroom.”
“Ha──……”
“Also, the items that can be produced will change in proportion to the size of reiryoku. Empty-
san is likely at the level of not being able to produce anything yet. Hard to say, but you’re at the
level of classroom……fluff?”
“Only at the level of fluff!”
Tonami giggled while nodding her head.
“So that is how everyone knows that Empty-san was just born. Since, if you can’t develop the
reiryokuken for yourself, you’ll die from only being lightly tapped.”
“H-how can I get the reiryokuken to appear!”
“If taught to you, will you participate in the killing? Since being able to generate a reiryokuken
means that you will be considered a possible threat. It might even make your Unsigned Angel
and Astral Dress manifest soon.”

Empty groaned upon hearing Tonami’s words.
“Ugh, ughhh. But……”
“Although it is really dangerous not being able to use the reiryokuken, your current situation
might be a bit safer, Empty-san.”
“It’s time, Tonami Furue.”
Akako Machi turned to inform Tonami. Tonami stood up with an apologetic smile on her face.
“So, I will be taking a step out first. Good-bye, Empty-san.”
“Y-yes. Please take care~.”
As Empty waved good-bye, Tonami also bashfully returned the gesture in kind before leaving.
It was difficult to imagine that she was throwing down the gauntlet and entering a battle after
this──she looked just like a student going home from school.
Empty let out a sigh as she decided to challenge the next Quasi-Spirit.
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Takashita Ayame unhesitatingly refused to converse with Empty.
“D-don’t say that.”
“Likely, it’s Kurumi who told you to inquire some information, right?”
“Absolutely not, there is no such thing like that at all?” (TL: Entire sentence is said in katakana in JP, likely to convey
Empty’s guilt at lying)
Ayame coldly stared at Kurumi. In turn, Kurumi feigned ignorance while staring out at the
window, all while still mindful of that gaze.
“As I thought, I can’t imagine her as a Spirit.”
“Spirit……is that different from a Quasi-Spirit?”
“Completely different……comparing those two that is!”
It was Hijikata Isami who interrupted abruptly. Ayame glared at her with an irritated expression,
giving the impression that Isami had forcibly wedged herself into the conversation.

“Y-yes!”
“So, that is to say, there is not just Quasi-Spirits here, there are official ones as well?”
“Yes……it’ll be just like that.”
“And one of them is Tokisaki Kurumi!”
“……One of the initial ones. The living beings that first existed in this world. We just happened
to get lost in this world by chance.”
Empty tilted her head in response to Ayame’s statement.
“Did you……get lost?”
“Eh. This is the neighboring. The neighboring world. In that case, the world adjacent to this one
is──”
“That is to say, it’s the world where we used to exist. Memories and common sense are likely
obtained from when you lived there. Me as well, that is generally the case for everyone!”
“……Like that……”
Empty placed her hand against her chest while thinking about herself.
Even if she couldn’t remember anything, she would at least like to know a name.
While watching Isami and Ayame leave, she wished for that.
“Everyone, are you all dead?”
Inconsistent with her youthful face, Panie calmly blurted out the contents of her cruel
imagination.
“Dead……?”
“So, here is heaven……or hell, or at least I think it is such a place. Panie and everyone else can
hardly remember anything but names, but I only remember encountering very painful things. So
I remember once praying that I didn’t want to die.”
It may have been an accident.
She may have been bullied and chose death.

Or it may have been so abrupt that she didn’t know how she was killed.
“Just by using the reiryokuken here, you can eat cakes every day and not gain weight, all of that
is very good.”
“In that case, why fight?”
Suddenly, all of Ibusuki Panie’s movements had stopped.
“──I will die. I have to fight.”
Empty was left puzzled by that reply. It was clear that dying by battle was a possibility, but it
was strange to think that she would die if she didn’t fight.
“It’s not what you think. ……Um───, Panie thinks that her choice will begin tomorrow. So,
need to work hard to survive till tomorrow.”
As Panie said so, she left the classroom while following the instructions from the doll.
“Starting around tomorrow……you’ll start?”
Looking at Kurumi──she seemed to be eavesdropping on that conversation while gesturing with

her hands.
“U-uhh. Hello, False-san.”
“……”
The girl turned her face away in silence.
“I want to talk a bit with you, what do you say?”
Silence.
Just five minutes of silence, she quickly stood up and left the room.
“Ahahahaha, you got rejected.”
“Being rejected is unpleasant to hear! That person is just shy!”
“Even though I don’t understand it that well, that’s probably not it!”
“Oh no──it’s just simply being ignored.”

And so, the ones who came over to talk were Sheri Musika and Nogi Aiai.
“Sheri-san……”
“You’ll be coming over to talk to us anyway, right?”
“Well, I……I don’t want to talk about things important to myself.” (TL: Nogi switches from the feminine I
(atashi) to the masculine I (ore))
“Aiai-san……”
“S-stop calling me that name, you bastard! Call me Nogi! No─gi─!”
Nogi began to pinch and twist Empty’s face. Looking on at this scene, Kurumi clutched her
stomach in order to suppress her laughter.
“Ouccccccch, sorry, sorry, I wasn’t careful!”
“So, what did you want to ask?”
“Well……what is the Sephira Crystal?”
“The source of our lives and power. For me, that person, and also for you as well.”
With a tap, Nogi struck her own chest with her fingers.
“Well, to be accurate, we only have the fragments.”
“Fragments……?”
‘Only the original existence has a true Sephira Crystal……a Spirit. What we have is sort of like a
fragment of that.”
“Is there any difference?”
“Even from just a fragment, the size and energy capabilities would vary. But if it was a true
Sephira Crystal, we can do nothing against its power…...”
Nogi folded her arms to ponder it over for a while before opening her mouth to convey her
thoughts.
“Right. For a comparison, it’s like a disaster. While we are overstretching past the human level, a
Spirit has the feeling of a typhoon coming to destroy everything.”
“……Although that’s being said, probably Aiai as well has not seen a real Spirit yet.”

“Eh, Kurumi-san is……”
Tokisaki Kurumi.
An existence of a different magnitude compared to a Quasi-Spirit, a genuine, authentic Spirit.
“I don’t agree with what that guy said.”
“Is that so? She looks real to me.”
Nogi frowned in response to Sheri’s words.
“Hey. If that is true, we wouldn’t be opponents that can match her.”
──The power of a Spirit, it is distinct from the Quasi-Spirits that exist here. It’s not just the case
of being in a different magnitude. The species is different, the point of origin is different, and
most of all, the power itself is different.
“Well, if you can reach the level of the Dominion, I don’t know……”
“Ah, uhh, what is this Dominion? Is it a card game series to play with friends?”
“You are totally wrong. ……The so-called Spirits, one day they all disappeared from this world.
Although there were some areas that didn’t have Spirits to being with, but anyway all of them
disappeared completely. It’s rumored that they went beyond to the other world. That is to say,
this neighboring world suddenly does not belong to anyone anymore.”
God was gone.
The king had abdicated.
In other words, this was the battle to decide the next king.
“Now, this neighboring world is currently dominated by the Quasi-Spirit that is closest to an
actual Spirit. That is the Dominion.”
“Hah, I see.”
Empty nodded her head.
“But if you can capture that lump of Sephira Crystal──you can obtain a power comparable to
them.”
Sheri’s facial expression suddenly turned into something that would inflict chills to people that
saw it. Empty couldn’t help but keep her distance from her, but Nogi instead boldly laughed.

“…..Yes──that Sephira Crystal is absolutely worth killing everyone for.”
“Eh, can it be solved peacefully?”
“Do you think it can be solved peacefully?”
It most likely wouldn’t work, Empty considered. The doll had said earlier that it was the
equivalent of a 100 Quasi-Spirits. If they could gain the power of a 100 people, it was no wonder
that everyone was motivated.
“Oops, it’s my turn now. Well then, see you next time.”
“Next is me……Then, the last one is the self-proclaimed Spirit, survive properly will you? Since
you ought to be killed by me.”
“Ara, ara, I’m looking forward to seeing you.”
Kurumi giggled while watching Nogi leave the classroom.
──Afterwards, Empty finally walked towards Kurumi.
“You haven’t begun to gather any useful information. How useless.”
“No, it was all very helpful for me. No, it’s because Kurumi-san did not clearly inform me, so it
couldn’t be helped.”
“A lady should not chatter and jeer without cease.”
“So, is Kurumi-san really a Spirit?”
Finally, Empty had asked this to Kurumi.
Everyone recognized that power. The Spirits, that which is said to be strongest to the point of
being categorized as a different species.
If Kurumi was among them, Empty had to ask her.
“Yes, you are right. I am a Spirit──a genuine one.”
Without showing off, the girl had spoken. She couldn’t tell if this was lie, since the two had not
spent enough time for her to discern the truth.
Empty raised her voice with an impressed cry in admiration. If she stepped in to too heedless
territory, that old-fashioned pistol would soon be raised from her hands and aimed at her head.

But, only this she had to ask.
“……Why are you participating in this battle?”
According to the previous conversation, a Spirit already possessed a special Sephira Crystal.
In that case, there was no point in getting that.
Even if called a Spirit, the circumstances can still vary. ……I wasted a bit of power. So, I would
like that Sephira Crystal as a backup power supply. Since I am a Spirit anyway, it’ll be easy.”
“Hmm, I see.”
“It is time, well then Tokisaki Kurumi-sama.”
“Yes.”
Kurumi stood up and walked out with her gun in hand. On the verge of leaving the classroom,
she spoke to Empty.
“So, let’s go, eyewitness-san.”
“Ah, um……I know, let’s go.”
Just before leaving the classroom, she noticed Lycos and Akako Machi staring at them.
Incidentally, those dolls──at first Empty thought to herself “what the hell were they”.
No one thought it was strange that the dolls moved and laughed, or was that the power of the
Dominion “Doll Master”?
Lycos and Akako Machi gently vocalized in a classroom where everyone had left.
“Nine attendees, one absent, one proxy.”
“In accordance with those with the naming bearing the Quasi-Spirits, use the Unsigned Angel as
a slaughtering device to massacre the enemy.”
“Lust and hope, clad in despair and desire, dancing in madness.”
“Submit all the blood and souls. Make your way to the shrine.”
“Come now──let us begin our war (date).”

Soundless.
Silence.
Soon after, a sporadic clap, clap, clap, sound was heard.
○Nogi Aiai
Soon after leaving the classroom, Empty clung tightly onto Kurumi’s back.
“What is it?”
“No, since. It has already started?”
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you worried about being ambushed from a sneak attack?”
“Of course, there are concerns. Only……I know if there is one, there will only be one person
who would ambush me here.”
“She is──”
Just at the moment where she was going to ask who, Kurumi grabbed Empty’s back, kicking
apart the window of the corridor to leave from that place.
“Huh──?”
Immediately afterwards, the space where Kurumi and Empty just stood had melted away.
“Ehhhhhhh!?”
“It would be better to close your eyes and hold your breath──”
From the melted corridor, smoke was evoked at a furious momentum. Empty, who closed her
eyes, felt her body being embraced by the sensation of floating in the air.
It appeared that she had been caught and then picked up with a single hand. To be honest, due to
the intense vertigo from flying and the gravitational pull, she was about to roughly do an act
unbecoming of a girl.
“I-I feel sick……DEATH.”

“If you throw up now, I’m going toss you aside!”
Empty muttered to herself, as expected Kurumi used all of her effort to ridicule her into standing
up. Suddenly, the sensation of floating disappeared.
Fearfully, she began to open her eyes.
A bright blue sky──her own hand grabbing onto Kurumi’s. And also, in front of her eyes.
“Aiai-san……?!”
“Like I said, call me Nogi!”
Aiai Nogi gripped a long spear that was dripping with a purple liquid.
“As expected, I can hardly believe you are a Spirit. ……Anyway, everyone else is probably
carrying out a policy of continual observation for you.”
Despite the Spirit giving her name and revealing her appearance, her true strength was still
unknown. Therefore, the remaining eight must have chosen to “observe” instead. Likely, Nogi
also believed this to be the correct choice.
Despite believing that, she also thought that selecting such a gutless choice was truly bullshit.
“So, it’s up to me to fight this self-proclaimed Spirit!!”
Softly, a glimmering reiryoku overlaid itself on her uniform to form an Astral Dress.
“Ara, ara, ara.”
“P-please wait a moment. Do you feel like fighting on the roof of a small tower like this!? At
least do it in a safer place!”
“Grate──<Basilisk>!”
Accompanied by a low growl, the tip of the spear was thrusted towards Kurumi.
──Nogi Aiai was born to parents who gave her a comical name in a jestful manner.
To a degree it could be called surviving, her childhood itself could described as a thing of misery.
But after becoming a high school student, she directed all of her strength to reverse her fate.

She thought she should live alone. She prayed sincerely of wanting to be in a place with no
connection to love and friendship.
Sometimes this decision occasionally made her feel lonely, but in many cases it brought a calm
sense of serenity.
Even if it meant pointed by others and called a wicked girl.
That was the way of life she had chosen. Therefore, she did not care.
The only feelings of disgust were towards her own name. ……Besides, it was not because it was
a cute name that did not fit with her own image. If it carried both of her parent’s hopes, her own
hopes, if that name meant entrusting her with something, then it wouldn’t matter what that name
was.
Anything would be okay.
Her mother once said while drunk, “I don’t remember how I gave you your name.” Probably, she
was laughing uncontrollably, humming some song with Aiai in it.
On that day, she decided to leave home without hesitation.
She was invited to the neighboring world when she thought about using the money she had
earned from the sale of the brand-name bag that her mother cherished.
It was here when the reaction came.
Falling into this neighboring world, it felt sweet as sugary confectionery and poisonous as
nicotine.
Having said that, in Nogi Aiai’s mind, the memory just described does not exist. She
remembered the name. The weapon called the Unsigned Angel in her hands and the Astral Dress
that served as armor.
Compared to reality, this was like paradise.
You could get food by fighting. Victory meant living. In the opposite world, no matter how
much you fight, you can’t get food. Even if you won, nothing was obtained.
What had been forgotten in the past, she did not intend to recall it ever again.
……Only, only this name could not be discarded. It wasn’t out of love for her parents. It was
because this name was the only peerless proof of her identity.
Other than that, there nothing left anymore.

She had forgotten the faces of her family as well as the thoughts of any cherished memories with
anybody. She regarded no one as a necessary existence nor did she become a necessary existence
for anyone else.
Therefore, even if she was laughed at several times, she did not intend to change her name. There
was only one thing that she decided. To surely kill anyone who laughed at her name.
Nogi Aiai had decided so.
At the moment, that girl attacked with the spear she was holding, Empty finally understood that
this attack was the beginning of “killing each other”.
The Quasi-Spirits that had left earlier had all stopped, watching on from the sidelines.
“How truly impatient.”
“I wanted to wait for another 50 years!”
Kurumi trivially avoided the poison released. If touched, it would surely fester. If it reached the
eyes, it would inadvertently cause blindness. But if even if the poison could kill a person within
5 minutes, it was meaningless if avoided.
“Don’t underestimate me!”
The liquid that should have already fallen twisted and turned to once again to attack Kurumi,
sweeping past her Astral Dress.
“How convenient to have a tracking function……!”
Kurumi fell down while holding Empty aside. Empty raised a scream, but even if she didn’t faint,
the frantic running around in circles made it a supreme effort to resist the urge to vomit.
A liquid snake that rushed over at a speed over 200 kilometers per hour.
Dodge, dodge, dodge.
If even the slightest scratch was taken, a poisonous fang would erode away its prey’s life. A
legendary monster that petrified onlookers, the snake king Basilisk was an adequate name for
this Unsigned Angel.
“<Zafkiel>────!”
Behind the falling Kurumi, a huge clock had appeared. The hour hand looked disconnected from
the dial holding it. Empty looked at this with a dumbfounded stare.

“What is this?”
Kurumi did not reply as she spoke to herself.
“Only having one hand is really inconvenient, sure enough if I let you go──”
“Please spare me, if you need to let go please do it at least 30 cm above the ground!”
“Ah, that hassle is too troublesome! It’s so much trouble that I want to die!”
“Eh?”
“What?”
Empty couldn’t stop her in the mere seconds it took. Kurumi pointed the muzzle of the gun at her
own temple and pulled the trigger without any hesitation.
Don, the sound of a gunshot echoed. Nogi and Empty stood dumbstruck.
It was Empty who first realized that there was no bleeding.
“<Zafkiel>────the First Bullet <Aleph>.”
Kurumi’s falling body suddenly began to rise and accelerate.
“Wha……?!”
Before her very eyes, a snake-like smile drew on her face as she approached Nogi.
“That tracking function is fine, but isn’t your footwork a bit lacking?”
For a moment, for a very brief instant, Kurumi saw through Nogi’s special characteristics. It
wasn’t the Unsigned Angel conducting the pursuit, but rather it was by Nogi’s own power. If it
were tracking by the speed of human thought, it would be absolutely impossible to deal with
Kurumi’s acceleration.
More importantly, Nogi had been staying almost at the same place since the very beginning. She
had moved four times, and even then only during the moments when <Basilisk> moved in a
straight line.
“If it were undoubtedly a pincher attack between the serpent and yourself, there will be creative
ways to force my checkmate anyway. Since you haven’t done this, you must have thought up a
reason why, right?”
Nogi covered her dumbfounded look with a mocking smile.

“──Ha, it’s because there was no reason to think of that as necessary until now.”
……A frank confession.
Until this moment, Empty had not taken seriously what they had called “war” (date).
Likely fighting, likely hurting, surely it hurts because it is painful. Enough to make a person cry,
Empty had thought.
However, until now that was limit of that girl’s imagination.
A gunshot resounded under the azure sky.
It had taken a while for Empty to understand, to understand that Kurumi had shot Nogi.
Blood was overflowing.
The Astral Dress crumbled.
The girl had fallen.
“Wait………!”
Empty reflectively reached out. But, in the current state of being under Kurumi’s arms, it would
not reach. Nogi still had a slightly stunned expression.
Falling down.
Kurumi also dropped down chasing after her.
On a road with no cars, Nogi was laying down.
“……Ah……”
Still alive, Empty was astonished by this miracle. As her feet touched the ground, Empty ran
towards Nogi in a panic.
“A-are you okay?”
“……Do I look fine, damn……”
“──So, do you admit that I am a Spirit?”
Faced with Kurumi’s inquiry, Nogi responded with a defiant smile.

“No.”
“Is that so?”
Kurumi lifted up her short pistol. Nogi kept smiling while keeping focus on the muzzle of the
gun.
“Farwell, Nogi-san.”
“Shut up and drop dead.”
The sound of gunfire was heard again. Kurumi’s bullet had undoubtedly shattered Nogi’s
Sephira Crystal.
“Huh……?”
Empty couldn’t move as if she were frozen. She didn’t expect her to shoot, she didn’t even
consider it. Although this was a game of life or death, it was still a game. At that point, it was
said that dropping out of the game when too weak to stand was possible.
“Why did you shoot?”
Kurumi responded extremely harshly to being questioned.
“Please don’t ask stupid questions. Of course, it was because she was still alive.”
“But……!”
“Does that mean you are defeated when rendered into a state of temporarily being unable to fight
for a while? Who would acknowledge an irreversible defeat? In order to acknowledge it, there is
no choice but to kill. And after everyone dies, the winner will finally be decided.”
Empty had known this.
This reasoning was correct; no, even this instinct was correct, Empty had already understood this.
Yes, it was just within nature’s providence. It was the correct rule for this game.
However, because it was correct, it was wrong.
“Even so……even so this is wrong. It’s out of the question to not be wrong.”
“……Don’t joke around. To look at this world in such a naïve manner, I wonder if you must
have had such a happy life in the past.”
Kurumi stared at Empty with a cold look.

“No! ……It’s not like that! I think.”
Yes, it wasn’t like that. I know that I am very naïve. I know that this principle is an irritating
philanthropy marked with hypocrisy.
I know, but I can’t stop crying. Why, something awakening in my heart was twisting my
thoughts. I wonder if I am a human (no, presently considered to be a Quasi-Spirit) who would
say such a thing.
Even since knowing that the other party was would mercilessly murder others, Empty wondered
to herself why she would want to say that.
It was possible to be killed.
Despite not knowing why, it didn’t feel comfortable to tell her what she wanted to say.
Being stared at──returning the gaze without fear. Empty did not feel like losing. Eventually,
Kurumi turned her eyes away and muttered with a hint of regret.
“……Let’s hurry up and leave. The atmosphere here isn’t good.”
Empty didn’t think any further on condemning Kurumi. She knew that that doing this was a
mistake. Even though she knew, she still chose to fight.
So long as she could think so, it was enough.
“A-alright……”
Finally, Empty looked back at the battlefield. Nogi, whose Sephira Crystal had been crushed, had
disappeared with a gust of the wind.
Why was her heart hurting?
Even though they weren’t on good terms, even though they only talked for five minutes, even
though she knew nothing about her hopes, desires, and despair.
That girl was killed in an effort to kill them.
Perhaps this was a common event in this killing game.
However, there was something that couldn’t be abandoned.
It struck through her heart just like a needle, no matter how far Empty couldn’t escape from that
feeling.

◇
○Takashita Ayame
The friction of a pitched shrill resounded in that space as Takashita Ayame’s arrow bounced off
Hijikata Isami’s Japanese sword. However, even then Ayame’s figure remained invisible.
“Hiding and moving around as sneakily as ever, Ayame!”
Isami howled in enjoyment. From an unknown location, Ayame’s voiced responded back.
“That is my tactic. Please leave it alone.”
“No. It’s a good thing to fight with all your strength, so I don’t care at all!”
“……How truly straightforward.”
“What!?”
Without responding to that cry of doubt, Ayame fired further arrows. The three arrows curved,
shooting, driving, changing trajectory towards Isami.
“Ahahahaha! It’s really fun to fight against you!”
“Is that so? I’m not having fun at all, hurry up and die already.”
“How cold!”
No matter how the trajectory changed, the aim of the attacking arrows she sniped remained
constant. At the moment of entering the reiryokuken, the breakdown of perception and
interception occurred simultaneously.
“Compared to that──!”
“What.”
“──Easily won, that self-proclaimed Spirit!”
“Yes. Very strong.”
While fighting, the two of them at the same time began to unknowingly converse ideal gossip
with each other. Likely this was because the two had fought hundreds of times in serious

attempts to kill each other, but even then this was not the reason why the outcome had not been
settled yet.
The state of struggle for each other’s deaths and the ease, at which senseless gossip can be
enjoyed, both existed between the two parties. The two sides did not feel anything strange about
this matter.
“Her ability is unknown that is it!”
“But there are a couple of things I’ve noticed. With long distance guns, even at close range
relying on a gun would improve combat ability.”
“To be able to deal with both far and near distance! Amazing!”
“For me, it’s an annoying opponent. Although this is also the case for you as well.”
“What, it’ll be fine for both me and Ayame! I am strong, Ayame is also strong! Confronted by a
person with the luxury of both far and near distance, we won’t lose!”
“……”
“Ah, um. Sure enough, I hate you.”
“Why is it like that──”
Firing an arrow that was brimming with passion──and receiving that passion comfortably.
Hijikata Isami wished for this moment to last forever. The battle was harsh, painful, exceedingly
painful, with victory only bringing a peace of mind, but.
Fighting against her was always enjoyable no matter the injury. It feels like she’s been having so
much fun that she’s been postponing settling this matter all this time.
She knew that Ayame hated her. Surely, the reason was that her playful attitude would never be
compatible with her rigid demeanor.
Isami thought it was a bit lonely. However, she also didn’t want to lie.
But. Still──
Ah, she wished for this pleasurable time to continue forever and ever.
While embracing this hope that she could not tell others, Isami roared.

“Iyahho──────!!”
……Ah, it’s too irritating, Takashita Ayame thought as she clicked her tongue.
The appearance of Isami, which was seen across 10 windows and 3 buildings, was something
akin to a dot. But for Ayame, that dot was more than enough to adequately establish a target.
After hundreds of battles, she had finally gotten to this distance.
The feeling of distance between them.
An antimony where friendship deepen through mutual attempts at killing each other. The
stimulus was as indulging as slowly sinking into lukewarm water.
However, this was already over.
Today, they had come to settle this here and now in order to rise to greater heights. That was the
pledge she made to Isami. Wanting to become even stronger, they had mutually relied on each
other. For that purpose, both parties were fighting without fear.
To be honest, she couldn’t deny feeling a sense of regret within herself.
(I wonder if I had ever met her while I was in the other world.)
A friend, a rival, or otherwise just an acquaintance she would say hello to.
Thinking of herself in such a foolish matter, it was quite annoying.
Takashita Ayame also did not know about her past. However, with the slight memories she had
left and conversations with other Quasi-Spirits, she began to understand her own existence
accordingly.
Perhaps she was a high school girl living in Japan in the other world. She didn’t know how she
got lost here. Or maybe, she was invited here by someone.
However, those things did not matter now. With no lingering attachments to the past, she lived
day by day with all her might.
Did she go astray in this neighboring world, or was she here from the very beginning.
Ayame was always, always craving, longing for that. No matter how focused she was when
firing, whenever the arrow landed, she was unable to suppress this strange excitement.

It could even be said that she was alive for this purpose.
But on the other hand, painstakingly reading a book acquired from the other world also had an
unspeakable sense of satisfaction.
She especially liked books that depicted love. No matter how clumsily written, for herself who
had abandoned the feeling of love, it was a very charming matter.
To fall in love with someone, to be in love with someone, what sort of mood is needed in the end?
Someday she wanted to understand that.
But, when speaking of the things done for that goal, it was just killing and fighting.
Fighting, killing, and aiming for higher places……she had always been surviving like that up
until now. As a Quasi-Spirit who had been fighting for a long time, the memories of instant
chance encounters were engraved onto her mind.
Ah, that is to say……she recalled some people wearing the same clothes as herself. However,
their faces were faintly hazy to the point where she could not remember them.
And then, there was only one person around her.
Hijikata Isami.
But that was also coming to an end. Since this battle won’t stop until someone is killed. So, this
time there will certainly be one person who will die.
……Excessive thinking leads to stagnation.
She did not want to feel such stagnation when fighting her. Purely, there was only joy in
confronting Hijikata Isami.
──What is this? A maiden in love?
Not listening to the calm whispers, she casted away her enthusiasm.
She released the arrow. Firing again and again, bouncing back again and again, each time it
pointed out each other’s inadequacies.
Thanks to this, when facing Quasi-Spirits outside of Hijikata Isami, an arrow easily landing its
target would seem not too perplexing. It could be felt that when two people are pursuing strength,
the Sephira Crystals of the two would shine even brighter.
Gradually becoming absorbed in this, the result was choosing these repeated battles.

How much power could she have if she became the Dominion? What would the world look like
under those eyes?
Takashita Ayame wanted to know.
Desiring that knowledge, she released the arrow.
There was only one concealed motive; the existence of a partner to share this delight.
Yes, for example like Hijikata Isami.
──How stupid.
Ayame closed the lid of that idea. She shouldn’t rely on that unrealistic hope anymore, now they
simply had to kill each other. She would pierce an arrow through Isami’s chest.
If not, it was absolutely impossible.
With all the power in her body, she fired her favorite arrow, at last destroying Isami’s stronghold.
“What…..!?”
So far in front of Hijikata Isami, Ayame had been consciously sealing herself for the moment
where she could fire with all her strength.
Someday, when killing her──she would release this arrow at a speed before Isami could even
respond.
Someday, she would realize that this arrow could not be dealt with.
“Ku……!”
Ayame released further arrows. At a speed with a greater magnitude than so far, Isami and her
reiryokuken couldn’t keep up, causing her Astral Dress to tear apart.
Sneer and deride it as cowardice, slander and criticize her. Today Takashita Ayame, for this day,
for this moment, unleased everything that she had──!
“Ahahahahaha! Amazing, Ayame is the best after all! How can I lose to you!”
Hearing Isami’s loud voice, Ayame felt somewhat relieved.
“……Well, I thought you would call me out on my cowardice.”
Right now, she asked herself whether or not her heart could be described as feeling very pleasant.

While thinking of such a thing, Ayame let out a small smile──
“Right, like I thought! This match between us, can we slightly postpone it!?”
“What?”
Ayame immediately froze.
○Sheri Musika
“Bu──rn. Bu──rn. Fla──mes──bu──rn──!”
Contrary to that relaxed voice, the surroundings were wrapped in hellfire. The Unsigned Angel
in Sheri Musika’s hands <Sekhmet> focused the sunlight. At her fingertips, the buildings were
mangled while at the same time burning.
“Waaaaaah! Waaaaaaah! Enough already ahhhhhhhhh!”
It was Ibusuki Panie who was running while crying. Her Unsigned Angel <Talos> was “melted”
by Sheri with little effort. Even her Astral Dress had received 8% damage, as she had no choice
but to jump while fleeing in disarray.
Panie, who had just issued the challenge confidently, was now distorting her face with dread.
Honestly, despite being in bad taste, for Sheri it resembled a cheerful comical skit.
“So──rry! It’s──over!”
Upon hearing that, Panie’s face was stained in despair as she was driven into a corner.
“S-sorry! No, please help……!”
“No─pe─!”
The blow from <Sekhmet> merciless struck Panie. At the moment she cried out, Panie’s entire
body was under the illumination of the focused sunlight, leaving behind not even a grain of ash.
“The end.”

Clap, clap, she patted her hands against each other. The next moment, accompanied by an
extreme murderous intent, the sound of the wind being cleaved in half was heard.
“……!”
However, Sheri Musika was a veteran fighter. From the very beginning, she knew that there was
someone with a composed look aiming for her.
The wall of fire was easily splintered, splitting it apart. Although more than half had melted
away, it still cut through as the sharped edge approached Sheri.
“Don’t look down on me!”
Sheri barely intercepted the blade with her Unsigned Angel <Sekhmet>.
The tremors that came from her internal organs scattered a nauseous feeling through her skin.
Indeed, that blow made her realize she was on the brink of death.
“Tonami……Furue!”
“Yes, hello.”
Far away, the girl who threw the chakram ring gave off a bashful smile.
“As relentless as ever─!”
“Haha, who is the one that is merciless? Burning away an opponent as she was begging for her
life.”
Her mouth was laughing, but Tonami’s eyes looked incomparably cruel. Of course, that is to say
it couldn’t be helped as there weren’t any rules preventing matters like this.
“You usually wouldn’t do this. That being said, you just want the Sephira Crystal.”
“Yes, it’s just like that.”
Extracted Sephira Crystals, although it will take some time, can still be absorbed as nutrients.
Sheri, as well as Tonami, had lived in this manner, devouring other Quasi-Spirits and walking
away victorious up until now.
“You better stop doing it that way. It appears that Ibusuki Panie’s Sephira Crystal is going to
cause indigestion.”
“Did you know that Quasi-Spirit just now?”

While gossiping with each other, they made sure to probe without lowering their respective
guards. Although there was the mutual desire for acquiring more information, they could never
expose their weaknesses to each other.
Alternatively, even if displaying a flaw, it could be an unconscious flaw or even more an

invitation put on display on purpose─.
While going around in circles trying to outthink each other, they continued to chatter nonstop.
“Recently, I feel that child was somewhat famous. Well, it was same for me as well.”
“Were you seriously famous?”
“Of course it was like that!”
Sheri smiled.
Having missing memories of the other world, that point was common knowledge among the
Quasi-Spirits.
Even so, there were people like Sheri who remembered vaguely. On the off chance of someone
getting lost in the neighboring world with a book on their person, it started the impetus of
remembering all sorts of things.
As said during her self-introduction, Sheri used to have a younger brother and sister. The number
of siblings couldn’t be recalled, not due to a lack of love, it was simply due to being part of the
numerous things she couldn’t recall. Judging from her bad behavior, she likely lived in a city in
the other world that allowed for such things to happen after being exploited. Naturally, her
brothers and sisters are not in this world.
She used to have a starving younger sister who died. There were some that died in infancy whose
genders are now unclear. There were no parents, or at least there was the likely feeling of that
lack of presence. Even if they were there, it was probably nothing to remember.
Sheri thought of this world as if it was heaven. Or was it actually heaven?
It was the first time eating so many sweet cakes.
It was also the first time sleeping on such a soft bed.
No matter how much she ate, there was no tooth decay. Even if she wasn’t full, she wouldn’t be
hungry. She felt neither cold nor hot.
Always, life was fun all the time.

Thus, she continued to kill, since by killing she could live in this gentle world.
That is why, Ibusuki Panie, who had the same scent as her, was an opponent that she wanted to
crush first.
Capable of using cowardly methods that were unimaginable, adopting whatever tactics for
murder, because they were similar existences she was unpredictable. So, she had decided to
crush her first.
But the problem here now was Tonami Furue.
She also had the same scent as her as well──and she was a few steps better than Ibusuki Panie.
In the current situation, it was impossible to land a surprise attack and it was unclear if she could
win in face to face confrontation. Even if she did manage to win, she definitely wouldn’t have
enough power to challenge the next battle.
Being devoured by hyenas was an unwelcomed end. Besides, more importantly that girl was also
here.
“Hey, Tonami-san, let’s team up?”
“Team up, I don’t think so.”
“Really? You saw it as well, that self-proclaimed Spirit over there.
“……”
Tonami fell silent. That’s right, the ultimate and worst irregular in this game.
“Look, isn’t it said that Spirits have created this world in a sense? In short, aren’t they the source
of the power that we are desperately trying to control? Have you ever imagined how powerful
that would be?”
“……I have.”
Sheri was a fifth-Spirit type and a user of flames. Even against an opponent of the same type, she
was confident that she wouldn’t lose.
But, if against an embodiment of flames itself, how could she win?
“If that is the case. If the Spirits are actually participating in this mutual killing (date), then we’ll
all be effortlessly killed without leaving behind any fragments.”
“I suppose so. The third Spirit type…..is shadow. Since third Spirit types are rare, I’ve only
fought them two or three times.”

First type (light), fourth type (ice), fifth type (fire), eight type (wind), ninth type (sound), and
tenth type (substance) ──occupied more than 80% of all Quasi Spirits. The second (information),
sixth (sealing), seventh (transformation) types occupied the rest. The third Spirit type──a person
capable of manipulating shadows was exceedingly rare and below 1%.
“There must be something besides shadows, but even that is not enough to judge her strength.”
Tonami had poor fighting experience against the third Spirit type. And furthermore, the issue lied
with most of the third Spirit type being weak without exception. What needed to be done, what
to do now, even that was not clearly understood.
“Both of us, so in order to get rid of those two, let’s join forces.”
“Two? ……Ahh, so you’re including Empty-san as well?”
“Yes. I’m wondering if that child also has something, or at least that’s what I’m thinking.”
“I don’t think it is anything. That child is probably a trap (fake). I’m sure that it would be
cautious to crush her now, but I also don’t want to be caught in an unexpected trap.”
“Oh, that’s hard to understand. So, what shall we do?”
“……Let’s work together. So the immediate goal is Tokisaki Kurumi?”
“The goal is one more person. Only that one is just a simple threat.”
Sheri smiled while looking at the direction where a huge explosion had occurred. Tonami’s
expression changed either due to fear or hatred.
“Biscuit Smasher……”
“That’s fine after all. That halberd, I have only seen it once.”
“What are its weak points?”
Faced with Tonami’s question, Sheri laughed as if being caught.
“Her weakness, let’s start looking for it now.”

○Sagakure Yui
Sagakure Yui was a kunoichi. She did not remember what she was like in the other world.
However, her role in this neighboring world was clear.
Collect information and send it to “Princess”, to act as her sword or her hands and feet.
This meaning behind her existence was her sole joy.
Well, perhaps she was a kunoichi on the other side as well. Or perhaps she was a corporate slave
by nature. What a life to be had to be a corporate slave already by high school age.
Even if headstrong, frivolous, playful, and unpredictable, there was no other Quasi-Spirit suitable
for the name of “Princess”. That strength and beauty were unmistakably genuine.
The problem with the Dominion of the tenth region Malkuth, Doll Master, was that she never
showed her appearance, always participating using a doll as a proxy even during discussions
between Dominions.
“Isn’t it something that you can do? So, investigate the true identity of that doll.”
The princess’s orders were absolute and it was only natural to put her life on the line for it.
Because of being a kunoichi, she did not have an obsession of being victorious in battle.
Although she had decided to participate in the killing, she had planned to run away at the
appropriate timing. The escape route had already been established.
She had intended to escape. She had intended on doing so. She was now chased and forced into a
desperate situation.
──There are ten regions in the neighboring world. There are some areas that no one has ever
seen; other areas where many Quasi-Spirits gather. While some areas are devoted to fighting,
others have Dominions conclude an alliance and never fight.
In the tenth region Malkuth, strength is the ability to survive a battle. Therefore, the rumors of
various Quasi-Spirits would circulate.
There are rumors that she has power comparable to a Spirit.
There are rumors of being challenged by 100 Quasi-Spirits, with not a single one returning home.

Many of them were rumors that Quasi-Spirits loved to gossip about. However, very rarely there
was a kernel of truth within such legends.
There was a girl who could crush everything with a single blow. It seemed that she could break
apart everything as casually as splitting a biscuit.
“Haah, haah, haah……!”
When arriving at the top floor, Sagakure Yui believed herself to be fortunate. <Idzuna>, Hidden
Form Spirit dress No. 34, although it’s defensive capabilities were low, it had the secret art of
invisibility. Commencing a surprise attack without missing an instantaneous chance moment, it
was a daily routine for Sagakure Yui to use that to decapitate her foes.
Of course, Sagakure knew who Tsuan was. She was Biscuit Smasher, an outstanding Quasi-
Spirit suddenly emerged.
To be crushed like a biscuit──Sagakure felt very resentful of herself for having laughed at this
nightmarish joke before.
A single swing from that halberd could smash someone to the other side of the world. The
invisible sneak attack dealt by Sagakure was indeed successful. However, that was all……it
barely succeeded in landing a hit.
Tsuan’s <Brinicle>, Extreme Death Spirit Dress no. 15, although she didn’t know its special
characteristics, it simply boasted a high defensive power. Sagakure’s best efforts only got her
bruised. Originally, that level of power would have shattered the skull and severed everything
above the neck.
And then, Tsuan, who noticed the surprised attack, began to wield her halberd at a furious
momentum.
Sagakure, who was taken aback, immediately bent down. The position where her head was just
at was torn down with a thunderous roar.
Every single blow was quick, heavy, and sharp.
Even if she searched for cover, Tsuan would immediately break down that cover. Although it
was possible for her to use her Astral Dress for stealth, there were no more chances at finding a
momentary gap. So, in short she could only escape. However, that girl’s tracking speed was
horrifyingly fast.
No, rather than speed, it was the detection range of reiryoku that should be called abnormal.
“I heard that hound’s sense of smell was a hundred million times of an ordinary human
being……”

Her reiryoku detection skills may be comparable to the same degree as the other Quasi-Spirits.
In any case, she must first gain some distance……!
Sagakure thought up of several plans and choose the one with the highest level of certainty
among them.
“Cursed wave style──empty fowl’s ribcage!”
Tsuan felt a chill, but after understanding that there was no impact, she immediately initiated a
dash attack.
“Let’s go.”
The halberd swung down with an air of indifference. It shattered Sagakure Yui’s body just like a
biscuit──or at least it was supposed to.
“Finished……no?”
Tsuan slightly slanted her head. There was no Sephira Crystal fragment that every Quasi-Spirit
should carry. More importantly, the feeling was too light. When crushing a Quasi-Spirits, there
was more weight on her hands. If the usual could be compared to a biscuit, then today it was
about the level of a cracker.
In other words, this was a fake.
When Tsuan noticed this, Sagakure had already retreated to a safer place.
Even if she had a hound’s nose, it would be extremely difficult to find a completely hidden
Sagakure. However, it was true that she would be found sooner or later.
Sagakure estimated that it would take roughly ten minutes to be found.
“……Five minutes should be enough.”

She took a pencil on hand and wrote down all of the information gathered so far on a piece of
paper, and then she didn’t hesitate to cut off a piece of her Astral Dress.
“<Idzuna>──go.”
The piece of the Astral Dress transformed into a ferret. As soon as it retrieved the paper from
Sagakure, it quickly ran away from the spot.
“……Although it wasn’t complete, I’ve handed all of the information I’ve gathered with this.”
She breathed out a sigh of relief. However, due to the dispersion of reiryoku, her invisibility
power became slightly disheveled. Being disheveled meant being sensed.
“But, I know what I need to do.”
After adjusting her breathing, she raised her specialized weapon <Shichihōgiyōjiya>.
“If faced with a frontal attack……this is also a countermeasure.”
She took a deep breath.
Not afraid, she jumped out of the shadow of the building to face Tsuan. There, she moved
straight forward towards her.
Of course, that girl changed posture to intercept that attack. Sagakure took out 7 large kunai from
her holsters.
Tsuan gently shook her brow. There was definitely some confusion at such a move. For the other
party to choose a frontal assault, she must be aware that an ordinary attack wouldn’t work and
decided on a rush attack.
However, Tsuan must attack. There was no other way of dealing with it.
“<Shichihōgiyōjiya>──Demon.”
Fragmenting all things, it could be described as a single blow to cut apart the void.
“……!”
The seven kunai landed around Tsuan’s surroundings. At the same time, the power of the
Unsigned Angel was invoked. Tsuan’s vision, hearing, smell, touch──all five senses, super
perceptions like intuition, as well as reiryoku itself, were all temporarily sealed.
Even if temporary for a Quasi-Spirit, they would be completely disabled. This was Sagakure
Yui’s trump card. Beyond using it as a countermeasure at the very least, it was not a skill that
should be used for the first round.

But here this trick was used to break through this dilemma.
Moreover, it was not just a matter of killing; it was a means of escape…..!
However, it was still more important to survive. She did not participate in this killing game for
its original intention. She didn’t think she would survive up until the very end. There was only
one more important matter to her, and it was not to fight that girl.
The girl who self-proclaimed herself to be a Spirit, Tokisaki Kurumi, was the subject to a new
investigation. However, even compared to that, detachment from this game was a priority.
Hurry, hurry, hurry. Before she moves again, even a little bit more distance away──!
“…………………….Ah?”
Suddenly, there was no strength left in her feet. After turning around to confirm the situation,
Sagakure immediately understood. Indeed, she had accepted it as soon as possible.
Slightly far away, everything below her waist was now about one meter away.
Then, looking on ahead, Tsuan’s halberd was sticking on the ground. Perhaps, she had thrown it.
With such a silly attack easily destroying her body, should she admire it or should she despair?
“Could this fill the requirement for assisted suicide?”
Being well verse in Japanese culture, Sagakure thought indifferently while making strained smile.
This kind of thing always happened during missions. There were as many dead Quasi-Spirits as
there were stars in the sky.
It is said that──death was not the same in the neighboring world. Originally, they had no
physical body in this world. Will they return back to the other side after dying or return back into
being an empty shell?
However, Sagakure was confident.
Even if she died like this, there will be a next time.
“……Please.”
At the same time as that, Sagakure’s Sephira Crystal was extracted. Her consciousness was cut
off in a flash. There wasn’t even enough time to say thank you.
“……The best……”

Swallowing the Sephira Crystal, Tsuan nodded several times in satisfaction. She soon fell asleep
after being satisfied. To start sleeping so quickly, it was impossible to not think of taking
advantage of that in this killing game.
However, no Quasi-Spirit watching her battle with Sagakure made a move.
No one was stupid enough to wake up the sleeping tiger.
As if suddenly noticed, an ambient orange light was beginning to dye the sky.
“After Aiai-san, it was great to not have anything big to do. There was only that brief skirmish
with that person covered bandages.”
Empty let out a leisurely voice as if content with her position. It seemed she had adapted quite a
bit to this game. After defeating Nogi Aiai, a person with bandages covering their face, False, or
someone else, launched a surprise attack at them.
Despite her feet being tangled by bandages and being slammed against the wall, Kurumi easily
reversed the situation but was satisfied with letting the other side escape after firing a shot.
“As expected for the first day.”
Kurumi responded in a calm voice
“Hey, what are you doing tomorrow?”
“Well, tomorrow and the day after that, until someone wins.”
A slightly gloomy look was seen on Kurumi face as she muttered.
In the town, the sound of a chime resounded.
Kurumi had taught Empty that this was to inform a temporary end to the game.
“It’s similar to an agreement. Only during nighttime, battles are forbidden.”
“What will happen if you break that agreement?”
“Of course there will be punishment. If attempted, night attacks against another Quasi-Spirit
means being purged by the organizer of the game.”

“Even so, how does that make sense? Sure enough, the winner will become king regardless.”
“In order to prevent that, the dolls are always monitoring. As soon as a night raid is launched,
that girl will not be able to win.”
Kurumi giggled as Empty tilted her head.
“Uhh, sorry. Let me resay that again.”
“Yes, please go on.”
“Kurumi-san is a Spirit and stronger than other Quasi-Spirit, right?
“Yes, that is naturally so.”
”So, the Dominion who manages this game is a Quasi-Spirit, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Why would a Spirit obey a rule made by a Quasi-Spirit? Hey? Isn’t that a little bit strange? I
can understand why the other girls would obey. But……”
Hearing that, Kurumi smiled while putting her fingers against Empty’s lips.
The cold and pleasant feeling caused her to close her mouth automatically.
“It’s a whim of mine. If the rules aren’t followed, then it’ll be boring.”
“……”
Kurumi smiled. But her expression was as cold as her fingertips, brimming with a sense of
isolation.
“Don’t forget that you are also alive because of my whims.”
Empty nodded silently. Feeling satisfied, Kurumi lifted her finger. Being alive due to a whim, it
was also possible for Empty to be killed by another whim.
“……Is here alright?”

“Eh? Here?”
Kurumi stopped in front of a single family house that looked to have everything needed for the
night.
Wondering what to do, Empty looked on at Kurumi as she casually opened the door and went in.
“H-Hold on Kurumi-san! Ku──ru──mi──san──! Here is someone else’s──”
Chasing after her into the home, Empty was at a loss for words.
It was empty inside. Inside the interior, there was a huge vacuous space as large as the exterior.
“There is no such thing as someone else’s home. As long as it has the appearance of a house, it
can be established in this town here. Because there are no residents here.”
“Haha……”
Indeed, Empty pondered that over as she slanted her head to the side.
“Well, this is a bit inconvenient. At least building a little more would be better.”
After whispering, Kurumi crouched down and placed her hand on the white space they were
standing on. Could it have been was using magic, or was it an incantation? Or it could have been
using a magical (programming) language to rearrange the information of this space.
“Te──”
Hearing that one syllable without any enthusiasm, Empty felt a little bit disappointed.
Immediately afterwards, the white space transformed. Color was added, the interior became
furnished, changing appearance into a place suitable for people to live in.
“I’m going to rest.”
“Ah, okay. Do you want to take a bath? If you want to, we can wash together!”
Seeing Empty flutter her hands around, Kurumi frowned with a blunt face.
“No. If you want to wash, go by yourself.”
Blunt words used in a not at all good nature tone.
“Ah, alright……good night.”

Kurumi quickly retreated into a bedroom-like room deep within the house. After thinking over it
for a while, Empty decided to take a bath first. After turning the lights on in the bathroom, she
turned the faucet on the bathtub to begin accumulating hot water. Whether Kurumi wanted to
take a bath or not, it should be fine regardless. As a Spirit, that person wouldn’t stink even after
not taking a bath.
“That’s nice; a Spirit doesn’t need to take a bath.”
While taking to herself, Empty took off her white dress. Her underwear was also white. How
much did she like white? A more variety of color would be richer, or at least Empty thought so.
Suddenly, she noticed a strange person standing in front of the mirror.
“……!”
……No, that wasn’t it. This was me (Empty). This was the first time I had seen my own face. I
didn’t really understand this face. For a comparison, it looked just like blank white sheet of paper.
I didn’t know what was being drawn there, even if it was depicting something I didn’t know that
either.
What existed here was an ordinary face that could be seen everywhere: girl who should be buried
as part of the background.
“……Who am I?”
──No answer. Empty had no reply prepared.
“……Where did I come from?”
──No answer. From herself without any memory, the past did not exist.
“……Why am I here?”
──No memories, no past. There was no meaning behind her existence.
Although she wanted to cry, she endured it. Anyway, first, uh.
“Okay, let’s take first a bath and completely forget all those troublesome things!”
In the past, she may have hated taking bathes, but that was trivial now. After all being only an
Empty, she had no choice but to remain positive.
Fortunately, the bathtub was designed also for water storage. As expected of Kurumi, it was
finely calculated……Empty thought about it very loudly in her heart. If her heart was ever read,
then she would definitely be dead.

After washing the dirt off her body, Empty gently stepped into the bathtub.
“Ah~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~”
Good bye me until now.
Hello me starting from today.
Anyhow, she was going to live leaping into tomorrow as well. Bathing was the best.
“……Am I settling in too well?”
The future that seemed to be ahead was yet to be seen. First, she needed to calm down and take a
closer look at herself now.
There was no memories, also not a human but a Quasi-Spirit; no one knew anything about
herself (probably), the killing game……caught up in a battlefield while only relying on the Spirit
Tokisaki Kurumi.
“Ha──……”
The problem at the moment was that she did not understand why Tokisaki Kurumi was carrying
her along.
She had said that it for using as bait, but it didn’t feel as if she needed to do that.
After all, why else would she use someone who gave the impression of “that guy is weak” at a
first glance?
……To solve these doubts, a substitute method of thinking was necessary. But even that was
impossible due to not knowing how she would act even when placed under the same
circumstances.
Because that way of thinking wouldn’t make sense either, Empty tossed it aside.

“Tomorrow……can I survive……?”
Tomorrow as well, will it still be possible to thinking about these various things while taking a
bath?
Or will she be just like Nogi Aiai──turning to dust and disappearing.
After getting out and re-wearing her underwear…….she wanted to change into new underwear
tomorrow. Also, if her white dress got dirtier, it couldn’t be helped that she also wanted to buy a
new one……
Anyway, with her mood refreshed, Empty turned off the light.
Their surroundings were inhabited by no one. This town, this house, everywhere was silent.
To say good-bye before going to sleep, Empty thought up some extraneous matter.
“No, because if she said ‘I have no obligation to support someone as rude as not to even say
good-night’, that would be troubling……”
Empty muttered as she peeped into the bedroom......not there.
“Huh.”
On the bed, under the bed, in the closet, she was nowhere to be found.
No way, could she have escaped while leaving her behind? No, no, no, that shouldn’t be it.
“………………………………………”
From above, there was a faint voice.
Speaking of which, Empty remembered. To be sure, this house was two stories high. When
spreading the reiryokuken, perhaps even a second floor was built.
Empty went up the stairs……slowly, without making a sound.
“……Ah……aah……!”
Who was in that room? The door was opened. Empty carefully walked through the dark corridor,
sneaking a glance into the room from the crack; afterwards, she was able to see through.
She saw it.
“Aah……gu……ah……aah……!”

Biting her teeth, but even then the crying wouldn’t stop. Since there was nothing else to cling
onto, she was hugging a pillow within her arms.
Tokisaki Kurumi was crying.
For Empty, this was like a shock where the world had turned on its head.
She would smile, get angry, and sometimes displayed a sadistic expression.
However, she shouldn’t cry. Granted even if there were tears from laughing too much, with this
degree of sorrow and tears, that was absolutely impossible.
Empty had such trust embraced onto Kurumi during the daytime. But now, the scene in front of
her had perfectly crushed this fantasy.
Her tears were constantly overflowing and couldn’t stop. Her lips were oozing some blood from
being tightly bitten. Likely, Kurumi’s own will prevent herself from stopping.
Grief and passion, something even beyond even despair, both positive and negative feelings were
intertwined.
Why are you crying? Empty didn’t know the reason. However, she knew that she was being
shaken by something where she couldn’t display tears in front of other people.
──If thought about later, this must have been the moment.
How the perception of her changed, up until when the final decision was made.
Empty gently left that spot. Since Kurumi was using the bedroom, Empty decided to sleep on the
sofa in the living room.
Closing her eyelids, she recalled the scene of Kurumi cruelly shooting Nogi Aiai to death and the
first scene of her crying being seen.
No matter which appearances, both were part of a single aspect.

The matter of ruthlessly shooting someone to death, Empty had not accepted that.
But, aah, but──
If those tears are another aspect of her, then it really wasn’t only a vain performance displayed to
others.
Even though it was impossible to accept the shooting, even though she displayed a scathingly
harsh expression, even if it meant being publically declared of being a decoy.
Despite all that, Empty was still not going to leave Tokisaki Kurumi.
She had already decided.
Until this wonderful anxiety and uncontrollable desire of seeking the truth was fulfilled, she
would accompany her.
Even better, as a reward of its own, she wanted to help her.
While thinking of such a cheeky thing, Empty fell asleep.
The next morning.
Empty smiled and greeted Kurumi after she woke up.
“Good morning, Kurumi-san.”
“……What is this?”
Looking back at Kurumi’s surprised look, Empty smiled again.
“Because it was put away, I tried baking bread.”
“Fu……”
“And coffee as well. Sure enough the Japanese must have a cup of coffee in the morning.”
“……No, I feel that you are mistaken about this……”
While saying so, Kurumi placed sugar in her coffee.
Seeing that glance, Empty scratched her head.
“Is it strange? Even if we don’t get hungry, eating bread is still delicious.”

“We are not eating bread, but rather it is eating the idea of bread itself.”
“? ? ?”
Kurumi was convinced that she did not understand.
“……If a Quasi-Spirit has no dreams, they will not survive. This is not a metaphor or something,
but a fact.”
Kurumi slowly stated the cruel fact.
“A lot of girls have strayed into this neighboring world. Most of them──disappeared because of
not having any dreams. Well, at that point it can’t be helped anymore.”
“……Why will you disappear?”
“I don’t know the reason. But, it is certain that the relative importance and influence of the body
is weaker in this world compared to the other world. You won’t starve even if you don’t eat. You
won’t die even if you don’t sleep. You won’t get old. It’s not a joke to describe it as perpetual
youth.”
“Perpetual──youth.”
“But, if you don’t do anything for a long time, your mind will be cut off. So here, the mind is
more concerned with life and death than the body. And the most important thing is a dream.”
I want to do something. I want to do this. I want to have this. I want to that.
Pure desire, an innocent hope.
Alternatively, a pitch black desire is fine as well. By this, the heart is eager to move forward and
that produces a strong will to live.
Conversely speaking, the opposite is also true.
“It is really is easy to live here, but the neighboring world does not tolerate such laziness.”
“Laziness──”
No dreams, no strong desire to live on, and feeling that satisfied with only continuing to exist.
“The flesh will collapse and the mind will break down──becoming a presence isolated from
others before eventually disappearing.
“Ha──ha……”

Noticing this grave matter, Empty nodded. While nodding, a sense of trepidation suddenly
creeped through her back.
“I think that it will start tomorrow.”
That low whisper, she remembered that she said if she didn’t fight, she will die……returning
back to the present conversation, was that what Ibusuki Panie was feeling apprehensive about?
“──Look, your left hand.”
“………………Ah.”
She couldn’t breathe. The sense of security just now was uprooted. Yes, she didn’t have a dream.
She didn’t want a particular dream. For herself without any memories, this cannot be an
exception.
“Ayaaaaah……!”
A hoarse scream, the left hand had become translucent. It was disappearing, this existence
seemed to be disappearing right now……!
“Alright. Calm down. It’s only the left hand.”
“Buuuut! But──!”
“Come back.”
“Even my left hand disappeared……………………wait, return? It came back!”
For a moment, the left hand that had disappeared had easily regained its appearance. Just to be
sure, she tried closing and opening her hand, the perception was quite clear. However, after a
while, the left hand began to disappear again.
“So, please find a dream. That way you can completely change back. That left hand as well.”
Although it appeared that the chirp of a sparrow was heard, it was actually a quiet morning
devoid of the sound of any animal.
Empty asked while trembling.
“……With no memories at all? Without knowing what I am good at? Besides, under these
circumstances of your status in participating in the killing? You want me to think about my
future dreams?”
Tokisaki Kurumi responded with the highest smile while lacking commitment.

“Yes, yes, that’s right.”
It was unreasonable. It was truly unreasonable. But─there was no other choice.
“By the time this killing game is over, Empty-san will fall into nothingness. By then, I hope you
will find a dream.”
……Silence.
For a moment, Tokisaki Kurumi expressed an ill look that would infuriate others. Of course
people would take offense to that remark.
But there was no choice but to accept that. She would have to work hard.
“……I understand. I will try hard.”
“Be positive.”
“Ahahaha. I cannot do it unless I am already positive!”
Although it was only halfway self-discipline, little by little various things began to accumulate in
the empty vessel.
This was by no means only despair. Joy, expectations, and of course the desire to move forward,
a little bit of everything still existed.
“So, Kurumi-san. Where are we going today?”
“That’s right……is there anything that Empty-san wants to have?”
“I want freedom, memories, and safety.”
“Unfortunately, those are not sold at all. What else?”
It seemed that those concepts did not exist here. As Empty was thinking it over, she noticed the
stains on the cuff of her clothes.
“Ah──......clothes and underwear. If I slip or get caught in a fight, the stains on these white
clothes will be quite noticeable.”
Since the piece was pure white, any stains will be unusually eye-catching.
“If my clothes are okay, can you lend me yours?”
“Eh.”

Speaking of Kurumi’s clothes, of course it was a radiant and glistening pitch darkness gothic
Lolita style.
“……No, that…..is too much, don’t dare, hey, ah, uhh……”
Perhaps satisfied with the incoherent answer, Empty quickly interjected a “no way?” as Kurumi
nodded back.
“In any case, let’s head to the shopping mall. Clothes and underwear are there.”
“Eh, a shopping mall? Is there such a thing?”
“Yes, and there’s also a salesperson to receive guests.”
“T-that’s wonderful!” But a shopping clerk, I thought there were no other living things except
Quasi-Spirits.”
“It’s similar to a robot-like creature, so there’s no problem.”
“And money is──”
“In this world, money isn’t even worth being paper to blow your nose.”
“The end of the crazy century!” (According to the Chinese TL, this is a Fist of the North Star reference)
Despite lacking her memories, only unusual knowledge continually poured out of Empty like a
muddy stream.
○ Doll Master
After leaving home, the doll stood there. The one on the left was red, while the one of the right
was wearing a Gothic Lolita costume with a principle blue axis. Looking at their hands they were
holding a violin and flute, which they ought to have no problems preforming.
“Hello” “Hello”
They both spoke in high-pitched voices.
“Yes, hello”, said Empty as she replied back politely.
“What is it?”

On the contrary, Kurumi replied back in a dissatisfied mood. However, the doll continued to
speak without changing its expression.
“In yesterday’s battle, Nogi Aiai was killed by Tokisaki Kurumi, Ibusuki Pannier by Sheri
Musika, and Sagakure Yui was killed by Tsuan.”
Despite already knowing it would happen, a pain in her heart would still be felt each time
hearing the word “killed”. Ibusuki Pannier was the young girl who held that doll. Sagakure
Yui……certainly she remembered her as the ninja-like girl who was the first one to head out.
“A medal for fighting bravely” “Please by all means, please by all means”
“……No need.”
Kurumi kicked it away in irritation, which Empty judged from her voice and facial expression. In
just one day, Empty was starting to grasp Kurumi’s complicated emotional performance to the
point of being a little bit scared of herself.
“Is that so” “That’s regretful”
“The true power of a Spirit, let us thoroughly examine it today” “It would be our honor”
A monotone high-pitched voice──Empty couldn’t help but feel something barely audible burst
out.
“……Un, the preliminary skirmishes have already finished.”
“You’ll be certainly targeted today.” “Please be prepared.”
“Yes.”
For a moment, Kurumi’s eyes looked to be full of benevolence. But then she noticed the short
gun in her hands.
“What is this?” “That gun.”
“A Spirit is quite fickle. Next time, please make a doll that won’t bother me a little, Dominion-
san.”
The dolls suddenly jumped back, but it was already too late. While describing the cause of death
for those two, it ought to be no more than approaching to close to a calamity.
At the very least, if it were a sound-only creature, it should be able to escape death.
The two dolls shattered in quick succession, transforming into an ugly corpse.

“Uh, I saw something disgusting this early in the morning……”
When all is said and done, the doll was just a puppet. Even after being broken, there would be no
flesh and blood.
However, it was definitely not pleasant to see something with a human shape being crushed.
“Say, did that make you angry?”
“This is not an issue of whether this makes me angry or not. I am a Spirit.”
“Alright, let’s go.” Kurumi said as she took a step forward. Namu, namu, after pressing her
hands together in prayer for the broken doll, Empty hurried to chase after her.
It was a leisurely walk to the shopping mall.
There were no attacks. Although Empty was worried about being caught in a fight and killed, she
was more concerned about her left arm.
Fortunately, it was not painful. However, there was a ridiculous strange sense of loss from just
disappearing and reappearing a while ago──but she could only endure.
“Is there anything Kurumi-san wants to buy at the shopping mall?”
“Nothing in particular at all, I have no interest in fashion.”
“Ha, what a pity, you look so beautiful.”
After Empty said that, Kurumi rolled her eyes up──and then cheerfully laughed from the bottom
of her heart.
“Yes, yes, that’s right. I am a beautiful girl.”
As Kurumi finished speaking, she covered up the corners of her mouth.
……Well, it looked like she was in a good mood.
Empty made the utmost effort to move as positively as possible as the shopping mall was finally
within sight.
The shopping mall, which was covered in pink and white mosaic tiles, was shaped just like a
mysterious castle from a fairy tale.

Going to that castle, anyone could use magic. Any girl could become a Cinderella princess. She
felt that the castle was beckoning to her.
“Castle……? To me, I can only see a tombstone.”
“I-If you say it like that, it may end up looking like that. Can you not give such a sinister
association to the place we are going to!?”
Certainly it did also look like a grave. A huge tomb fit for a king. If so, would they be grave
robbers?
Kurumi smiled as she spoke.
“The tenth region (Malkuth) was originally in the possession of a Spirit. So, all of us are illegal
intruders here.”
“Ah, right. If you are a Spirit, do you know any other Spirits?”
Kurumi stiffened for a little, but after a while she slowly turned her head to the side.
“Regretfully. I don’t know any other Spirits.”
“Eh……”
It was the Spirits who formed this neighboring world. Tokisaki Kurumi was among one of them.
To be able to create whatever world desirable, what sort of feeling would that be?
Empty imagined a girl who would create an empty city within an empty world.
Fearful of the great power of the Spirits, no one would dare to invade this world. This was a so-
called awe-inspiring sanctuary, a town bathed in white light.
“It’s very lonely.”
Empty quietly muttered to herself.
○Hijikata Isami

Hijikata Isami was the type of Quasi-Spirit whose memories had disappeared beautifully.
Generally speaking, girls are more or less concerned about this.
How in the world did she arrive here? Most Quasi-Spirits wanted to know this. This was true
even for girls who sought their existence through battle. It was the same for those desiring candy
like Sheri and those seeking books like Takeshita Ayame.
The things sought would differ from person to person, but that was the only line connecting
between the far side to the other side.
Hijikata Isami did not seek such a difficult goal.
After reaching this neighboring world, she discovered that she could survive in this world by
killing others.
And so, she killed. That was all.
There was no need for eating, sleeping, dressing, or even entertainment.
Because there was no need, it became better to swing a sword. Although training was
troublesome, Isami continued to cut and kill before suddenly stopping.
──Oh. Could it be said that she had some sort of issue?
As it turns, there was no one who would speak affectionately towards herself. Acquaintances
should keep fading away.
Since she was the one killing, it ought to be like this.
I want a friend. No, I don’t want that. I don’t want to think like that. It was only a matter of time
before that relationship would be torn apart.
It was a little bit lonely. Not being able to do anything but killing, it was a little miserable.
……But still. She could not suppress her excitement, her accelerating heartbeat, when facing
other strong Quasi-Spirits.
And so, Hijikata Isami liked Takeshita Ayame. Despite knowing being hated by the other party,
it was still a feeling of fondness. And most of all, rather than now, she hoped to kill each other at
the very end.
There were Quasi-Spirits just as strong as her.
There certainly were Quasi Spirits even stronger than her.

However, as the only girl constantly fighting against, it couldn’t be helped that she was an
exception.
Therefore, Isami felt relieved when asking for a joint effort.
“Alright, let’s have me and you finish off those guys together!”
“Ara? Does that mean dragging in that pitiful girl Empty as well?”
Ayame raised her eyebrow. Somehow her judgement on that matter seemed relatively
sensible── or at least Isami thought so. While undoubtedly looking callous and harsh at a first
glance, underneath that mask there was a cluster of tender and good-nature consciousness. Isami
thought she was different from herself, a ronin who would swing a sword underhandedly.
“That’s right. Cause that chap is an enemy.”
Isami calmly said so. Truly the distinction between the enemy and them was drawn too fast.
There was no room for sympathy, only the desire the cut down enemies when seen.
That was Isami’s approach, her method for survival.
So even now, Isami would kill Ayame if given the opportunity. She was already an enemy;
merely it was only that now was not the chance to kill.
However, these useless conversations exchanged on the battlefield were the greatest salvation for
Ayame in this all too merciless world.
Honestly, this can be said to be the reason she has survived up until now, making it possible for
the Sephira Crystal to accumulate even more power.
Quasi-Spirits cannot live without dreams. If so, Ayame’s dream was──to someday not have an
Unsigned Angel and leisurely converse with Isami underneath the sunshine. That was all.
Isami would surely laugh if she heard this.
Before killing, before being killed, Ayame hoped……to be at least able to convey that.
(……Well, even after deciding to kill, I broke down.)
Even though she desired that, she also still didn’t want herself to die, how utterly foolish.
However, Isami repeated this matter again and again.
“If anything, I want to kill each other at the very, very end!”
“Yes, yes……I also hope for that as well. There are things I want to enjoy until the very end.”

Isami widely opened her eyes. Ayame felt it was a little strange.
“Hey, let’s go. To the shopping mall to play with both of them.”
“Yeah! Un……let’s go. Whether it’s a Spirit or Quasi-Spirit, it doesn’t matter. There’s no
difference in withered lives. Be careful──<Yinbentabei>.”
After entering the shopping mall, a strange scene was unfolding in front of them. There was a
clerk. However, the clerk was just like a mannequin. There was a face, but no eyes and nose,
only the faint outline of a mouth and no holes in the ears to listen to.
Was this a mannequin, or could it be──
“It’s a mannequin, that thing.”
“Welcome, what do you need to serve you?”
“Hello, I want clothes. Are there any recommendations? I am completely covered in pure white,
it feels a bit too dirt free, or that is to say a bit too simple and naïve. I hope to be able to change
into clothes that give people a more refreshing feeling──”
“Welcome, what do you need to serve you?”
“……Is that all you can say?”
With faintly moistened eyes, Empty turned to look at Kurumi. Kurumi placed her hand towards
her lips while giggling gracefully.
“Well, why don’t you continue this merry one-man play a little more?”
“I’m not performing!”
Empty entered the eye-catching store with her shoulders twitching in annoyance.
(Hey, which one do you think looks good?)
(Isn’t anything fine enough?)
(Don’t say that, I want you to help find clothes that suit me!)

……The faint buzzing in her ears caused Kurumi to scowl. From the recovery of things that
should have been long abandoned, Kurumi’s head suffered from an exceedingly sore headache.
“Sorry, Kurumi-san. Do you think that this suits me?”
From Empty suddenly darting out while dressed in underwear, Kurumi was involuntarily taken
aback in surprise.
From her innocent smile, Kurumi felt a faint degree of irritation and guilt. But at the same time,
she unexpectedly did not want to deny the heart intertwined with that smile.
“……Ah……anything is fine……isn’t that right?”
“I’m troubled when you say that……since I can’t recall any memories, I don’t know which one
is suitable for me.”
Agilely taking a glance to compare Empty’s undergarments, Kurumi smiled with ill intentions
written on her face.
“Isn’t there something good right there? Something quite childish suits you.”
“D-did you said something you shouldn’t have!? Wait a little bit longer!”
After Empty chose a really mature underwear to change in the fitting room, she vigorously
yanked open the curtain.
Well, how about now, Kurumi-sa……nyaan!?”
Kurumi had already undressed with the magnificent figure of her underwear peeping out.
“Now, what were you saying?”
From top to bottom, with black as the main tone, the underwear had the most minuscule amount
of fabric possible. Although it was black, the side straps of the panties had many see-through
parts. It was at the level of barely being naked at the last moment.
Bewitching was one way to describe it. It was not a color that high schooler would wear by
mistake nor was it underwear that a high schooler should wear at all. Including the transparent
part, the entire bottom section was almost completely visible in the light.
Speaking of which, Empty thought that being entirely naked was not as erotic as this. To think,
she had publically changed clothes in the store without using the fitting room. Anyway, the last
thing that Empty had thought of, in any case, could not be said.
“Um, can I say something?”

As Empty raised her hand, Kurumi, while still in her underwear, crossed her arms together and
nodded. That unruly attitude did not change even when in her underwear.
“Yes, please feel free to.”
“Obviously, there’s no one else watching, but what do you mean with that super-obscene style of
dress?”
If this kind of thing was seen by an adolescent boy, he would transform into a hungry wolf on the
spot. Probably, it was also very lethal to girls as well.
“Underwear is a weapon for a woman. As a lady, how can I not wear this level of underwear?”
“I really think that ladies wouldn’t wear that kind of underwear……no, forget it.”
Despite not knowing why, there was a tremendous sense of personal defeat.
“My victory.”
With a refreshed look, Kurumi said so.
“──Activating. First, second, and third shot preparation. Loading. Determining measurement.
<Crotos >.”
On a drafty structure in the shopping mall, a single Quasi-Spirit began to drop down.
The target was on the second floor of the ladies’ fashion shop, the girl Empty who was leisurely
changing clothes and Tokisaki Kurumi.
The other Quasi-Spirit carefully took aim.
Needless to say, her goal was the same as the Quasi-Spirit falling down. From the very beginning,
they couldn’t display mutual assists to support each other.
Since that was the case, the pair decided to attack Kurumi at the same time. If either one could
kill her, that was fine.
Their combat power was doubled. In addition, since both sides agreed to not kill each other yet,
there were further improvements to their strength.

Of course, the four other remaining Quasi-Spirits──Sheri, Tonami, Tsuan, and False may
intervene. In particular, Sheri and Tonami would be prepared to plunder the spoils without any
hesitation. However, if they were afraid to come out due to that risk, they wouldn’t have
survived up until this point.
“A person’s life is short; a brief life suddenly blooms and fades. It is a life to live without
regrets!”
With a smile, the girl prepared to set up her Unsigned Angel.
After the fashion store, there wasn’t much more shopping. Rather, it was better to say that
Kurumi and Empty were making a game of wandering around the shopping mall. Empty had
enthusiastically called out to Kurumi to enter a store, but Kurumi had ignored each request every
time.
“Really, what is the matter, Kurumi-san?”
“I did not come here to play.”
“Eh, then what did you come here to do?”
Kurumi held the old-fashioned pistol in her hands while looking at the sky.
“It’s to wait for an ambush.”
Originally, the reason Kurumi had come to this shopping mall was to fight. Yesterday’s
investigation had shown that of the remaining 6 Quasi-Spirits, two of them had formed two-man
groups.
Moreover, it could be said with certainty that neither Tsuan nor False would ever partner up with
anyone.
Kurumi was aware. She had thoroughly investigated it. Yesterday, it had already exceeded 13
times that these ten people have fought against each other. Why were these Quasi-Spirits
participating, what their spirit genus was, what their stance on this situation was, and how they
were planning the challenge this conflict.

Tokisaki Kurumi was weak. No, of course it was impossible for her to be weak. From the
perspective of being a Spirit, a line was already drawn between the Quasi-Spirits. However, she
was still weak.
Only one short gun could be obtained. That ability could only be used sparingly, including the
First Bullet <Aleph>. Above all, it was impossible to exercise more than that.
It was hard to say that the Spirit Dress of God’s Authority no. 3 <Elohim> was perfect. Contrary
to what one might expect from its stylish appearance, it was difficult to say how long it could
withstand the fierce attacks coming from the Quasi-Spirits.
However, that was the source of her method of survival. She survived through enduring,
investigation, determining a target, and then driving that opponent completely into a desperate
corner.
It was coming, Kurumi’s intuition had whispered to herself.
The shopping mall was a spacious structure. Therefore, if commencing a surprise attack, now
was the perfect opportunity as the two were about to walk outside.
It wasn’t like those girls to miss such an opportunity.
As she looked at the Quasi-Spirit falling down, there was no look of surprise on her face. As
expected, everything was as planned.
Yes, as expected, what had fallen down was──
“<Crotos>──<Spira>!”
“Welcome, Takeshita Ayame-san. I would like to praise you for not attacking while a lady is
changing clothes.”
As Takeshita Ayame dropped down, Kurumi smiled while pointing the pistol with her fingers
already hanging over the trigger.
The intersection lasted just for a moment.
Even though stunned at being seen through, Ayame fired her arrow. The arrow was just like a
rifle bullet, going forward perfectly straight in a spiral motion. At the cost of sacrificing speed,
the arrow had the destructive capability of penetrating an Astral Dress──
Kurumi avoid it by slightly bending her body.
“Ku…………!”

Other arrows can increase speed by boasting them with reiryoku, but since <Spira>’s increased
power depended on its rotations, increasing more speed would yield errors in accuracy. No
matter how much speed increased, it made no sense if a hit couldn’t be landed.
However, Ayame’s role of pinning that girl to a single location had already been accomplished.
While putting on the brakes mid-air, Ayame continued firing one arrow after another.
“Kiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
It was that girl (Empty) who let out a sorrowful scream while fleeing in disarray.
On the other hand, Kurumi did not run away as she threw a clothing rack from the ladies’ shop
towards Ayame.
Countless clothes danced in the air. Ayame’s field of vision was obscured. A single gunshot rang.
It seemed the other side hasn’t established a target; the bullet didn’t even sweep past her.
However, the sound of gunfire gave away her standing position.
No problem, within effective attacking range……!
“Isami, now!”
Ayame shouted. Immediately, afterwards, accompanied by a slamming roar, Isami leaped from
the fifth floor and landed on the ground.
“<Yinbentabei>──!”
It was an innocent monster-like roar. An extraordinary onslaught struck the surrounding region.
There was no such thing as a special ability for Hijikata Isami’s Unsigned Angel. It was a pure
mass of reckless slashing. Merely, cutting, cutting, cutting, until the very end, a fury of slashes
where neither defense nor escape was permitted.
Not matter what sort of Spirit; no one could remain unscathed from this.
“──Eh, there’s no one here!?”
“Huh……!?
Ayame froze upon hearing Isami’s voice. Thinking back just before her thoughts got scrambled,
she remembered the gunshot.
Yes, she seemed to be──able to gain strength by shooting at herself!
“Ayame, where!?”

“Looking for, now──”
Ayame suddenly looked up. This time, with her arms widely stretched out, Tokisaki Kurumi was
falling towards them.
“Above……!”
After shouting, she quickly noticed that was wrong. What was falling was merely just a
mannequin dressed like Tokisaki Kurumi.
Seeing that was wrong, she wanted to scream that out──Ayame had noticed. But Isami
responded to her voice and looked up to the sky. However, the problem was not only there.
“Behind──”
From Isami’s shadow, a girl crawled out. There were two main ways of defeating Isami’s
slashing boundary.
One way was to attack the boundary with enough destructive power from a distance where her
boundary could not reach.
The second way was to not let her attack in the first place.
“To give you a piece of advice……you two should have put more emphasis on the meaning of
working together.”
No matter how much you know each other, no matter how much you are deeply attached to each
other from the bottom of one’s heart.
The act of launching a coordinate attack was a separate matter. It was only though countless,
exercises, negotiations, and failures could that power be enhanced.
It was not unusual for 1 + 1 to become negative.
“Ugaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
Isami turned to look back to slice at what came out of the shadow. However, there was an
indescribable grief within her expression.
She wouldn’t make it in time, was it by instinct or was it──
A gunshot shredded apart her thoughts.
Unable to escape, a blow to the Sephira Crystal. The radiance of life within that girl’s eyes was
taken away in the blink of an eye.

“Isa, mi!”
──However. Isami continue clung onto to Kurumi.
“Shoot……Shoooooooot!”
There was no hesitation. With the greatest concentration within her life, Ayame’s promise
inevitably gave way to her greatest single attack.
“<Crotos>──<Spira>!”
At that moment, a phenomenon occurred that even Kurumi could not predict.
The ground shook, Empty screamed (although this was the case every time), Isami and Kurumi’s
faces both changed complexion.
“Neighboring world composition (Compiler)……at such a time!”
In the neighboring world, Spirits have already disappeared. However, even so, the Spirit’s
majesty was still unceasingly spread here. Occasionally, even when in a distant world, they
continue to have a great influence over the Neighboring world.
It is unclear when and how this effect will occur. The scale that would change is also
unpredictable.
……According to one theory, the effect would occur when a Spirit’s mood is greatly shaken, but
that was not certain.
The earth was torn apart.
Black pillars soared up, ravaging this world. From those pillars, countless needle–like thorns
began to grow.
Apparently, this current transformation seemed to have been brought by a mood turning sour.
“Ah!? No, wait……”
The floor that was about to collapse was now tilted obliquely as Empty was sliding down without
any leverage.
The destination, which used to be a staircase, was now nothing else than a black pillar protruding
outward.
“Kiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Empty’s scream. She and Kurumi exchanged gazes──Kurumi was clung onto by Isami and
couldn’t move. Even so, Empty reflexively stretched out her hand.
The woken thoughts spoke out.
“It was impossible to be saved.”
Empty had known, she had always known. Since she was a very weak creature, she couldn’t help
but reach out.
“Y-you──”
It was hard to believe.
It was impossible for Kurumi to reach her hand. A faint trembling of the eyes. As Empty was
falling to the hole of death, she thought that was enough.
How comfortably easy it was to sway the heart.
As long as she, reached out towards me──
Falling down.
It was similar to when she was born just a while ago, Empty thought so.
Soon afterwards, the impact will come; it was a great enough height to at least die. If she landed
on her head, she would die more easily. She considered that as she closed her eyelids. While
waiting for the shock that would come soon, the worst scenario would be to continue living
while half-dead. The painful experience afterwards would likely be very difficult.
Soon the impact will arrive, it was impossible to prepare for what was going to happen. She
couldn’t help but cry. The shockwaves would soon come, she guess that this was it.
“A──re?”
No matter how long, the impact hadn’t come yet. She trembled in fear as she opened her closed
eyes.
Then, just at the moment of opening her eyes, Empty finally tasted the super-level impact.

“No way……!”
Kurumi understood that Empty would not die from a fall from that extent. At best there will be a
little pain or shock. However, those thorns were quite bad.
Those thorns are said to be the heart of a Spirit itself. There were a lot of Quasi-Spirits that were
swallowed and never returned. It was the same regardless of whether formed from positive or
negative emotions──. Looking down at the bottom, Empty’s figure couldn’t be seen as expected.
Isami was already dead. On the other hand, Ayame had not recovered yet. Even so, because her
instincts as a warrior, she had already nocked her arrow.
However, Kurumi’s short gun was slightly faster.
The sound of gunfire resounded.
Ayame’s Sephira Crystal was shot through.
“Ku, u──”
The serious collapse had begun. In addition, blazing flames rained down incessantly from the sky
as a souvenir.
“……As expected, the timing is too bad.”
Kurumi’s eyes firmly captured the second attacker.
Sheri Musika, along with Tonami Furue.
“With cute faces, two young ladies who can’t be taken lightly. ……I have no choice but to
escape.”
This was not a battle that can be won. Tokisaki Kurumi’s power was versatile with extensive
uses. Even in the present situation where only two abilities can be used, it was possible to see the
optimistic prospect of this being manageable.
However, Kurumi understood that this was a gamble.
No matter how convinced of not suffering defeat, there were no absolutes in battle.
The battle in the shopping mall was because Kurumi expected to win. Takeshita Ayame would
start a surprise attack. She would work together with her rival Hijikata Isami.
Relying on Ayame’s signal from perhaps above or below, Isami would rush towards her without
exception.

A slashing boundary that could be called absolute. In order to escape that, there was no choice
but to accelerate with the First Bullet <Aleph> to escape over a long distance.
In the battle with Nogi Aiai, their eyes should have noticed her using a bullet.
Therefore, she took her gaze off Isami to peek into the surrounding situation. Then, she kicked
away a planned in advance mannequin that was dressed like herself, using it as a decoy.
All for that brief moment, in order to completely deceive the other party. And in order to conceal
another power in the end.
Tokisaki Kurumi decided to withdrawal.
……Could Empty be able to return in the end? There were few Quasi-Spirits that could escape
capture from those thorns.
It was a pity to lose her, Kurumi thought so. Although it was extremely of self-interest, there
must be a limit to self-deception──.
Forget it. What should be considered right now was something else. It was almost time for “her”
to appear.
Even with the power of a Spirit, she didn’t know if she could beat her in the end.
No, she had to win. Anyhow. If not──she would forever be unable to be saved.
“……Isami……”
The Sephira Crystal had been broken; Ayame understood that this was defeat. Remorse, despair,
all sorts of frightened emotions escalated──but all she could do was shed tears.
The day would come where they wouldn’t have to fight and be free to talk to each other without
concern. She only had those faint hopes.
Why did she throw that dream away?
“…...Next time, I hope it’s at least not a relationship of fighting each other.”
Whispering such words, she closed her eyes.
“──That dream, it’s for you to grant.”

She shouldn’t have made such a frivolous wish, Ayame regretted that at the very end of her last
moments.
○□□□□
Opening my eyes, what appeared in front of the field of vision was a school classroom. However,
the appearance was different from the classroom visited yesterday. The school building was
somewhat old and felt more familiar than the classroom from yesterday. However, there was just
one problem.
The classroom was basically half-destroyed. All of the desks were damaged or knocked down
and there were no chairs left functioning as chairs.
It was strangely sad, Empty thought──while frightened.
This hand was not her own hand. Rather than the sleeves of her white dress covering her hand,
there was something resembling a hand guard instead. Not only that, the hand was moving on its
own initiative.
Like within her dream, the hand was moving without permission.
Someone (me) was moving.
There was a door open to the classroom. Although it was not out of her own will, her gaze
reflexively shifted there.
It was like a strong collision against the skull or a sharp blade striking the heart.
In that manner, the painful shockwaves traversed through her body.
In front of me was a boy perhaps of the same age. With blush black hair, a slender body, and a
gaze that was difficult to conceal the fear that was permeating.
Something inside me was carelessly released. The door and the rear window glass were blown
away, as the boy’s face was stained with blood.
(No!!)
A loud screech, a hysterical struggle, it didn’t matter if this was a dream or not.

But, it was hopeless for him. What happened was absolutely hopeless for him.
Fortunately, the previous attack had just passed through the side of the boy’s body. It only
caused minor injuries on the face. Even so, it felt as painful as my heart being carved out.
“──Stop.”
From the mouth, those words rushed out. No, not just that. I am not myself, but rather borrowing
someone else’s body──Empty was convinced of that.
As for the reason why, it was because this voice was completely different from my own.
Although physique and chest size have not changed much, the voice and fingers were different.
Clothing was also different. And above all, there was the feeling of not being myself.
……The boy did not try to escape.
It was impossible not to be afraid. If looked closely, both legs were trembling. The waist was
also a little bit jittery. Both eyes had a timid hue. She could kill him as easily as picking up a
flower, the boy likely also understood this well.
However, he did not run.
No, it wasn’t a timid look, but rather a look of determination. This was not something like a
man’s resolve.
In order to protect something even more precious than himself, he would not retreat here.
A worthless conversation had begun. The boy gave his name. Strangely, that name couldn’t be
heard. However, she thought that it was not likely important.
As important as he may be, a name was only an accessory.
As a girl without a name, Empty thought so for some reason.
“I……to talk to you……came here.”
“I want to talk to you.”
“I──won’t reject you.”
Each word permeated just like a shower of rain, piercing through her just like a bullet.
Was the one crying herself or this host? Even that was undistinguishable.

I wanted to talk. Thinking deep down, I wanted to talk with that boy, just like her. Rather than
wanting to burn, my heart felt like ignited like a raging flame. However, this was a flame that
would never disappear without a trace.
As soon as she realized that, it was not a jest to say that she felt possessed by a murderous intent
towards her.
Why was it not herself, why was she chosen?
“────Tohka.”
And so, she at last surpassed Empty.
The girl, who also was without a name, was given the name Tohka. She was attached to this new
name.
What a simple reason. If you forgotten your own name, it was unassuming enough to have
someone else give you a new one.
It’s just, that was it.
She accepted that name. A great name, which she spoke of proudly.
Hazy. Blurry.
Reaching out, even if she stretched and stretched, it wouldn’t reach that boy. It would never
reach. It felt just like that.
No. I don’t want this. It’s still not enough, I want to talk, I want to see his smile again, not her,
I──”
Screaming. Howling. The tears continued to overflow. Recognizing. Even without any memories,
I would never forget it, how can I ever forget it.
Like or blazing fire burning, like contaminated water diffusing outward, or possibly the gloomy
sentiments of a shadow lurking in an alleyway, Empty filled herself.
To herself who should have been nothing, a single guide point was born.
On that day, she fell in love with this boy────────once again.

◇
Opening her eyes, it was like waking up from a dream. The black pillar had already disappeared.
Apparently, it was a temporary object that would soon withdraw after some time had passed.
Empty was laying down on the first floor of the shopping mall, with her limbs all stretched out in
shape of a 大 character.
There was no pain.
She stood up by supporting herself with her left hand. Speaking of which the left hand should
have already disappeared, while thinking of such a thing Empty repeatedly closed and open the
palm of her hand. Although there was still uneasiness about the future, there were already intense
aspirations burning within her chest. There was a strong conviction that her left hand would
never disappear again.
She felt she understood the reason why everyone had a dream. It was love rather than a dream,
but it didn’t change the matter that she hoped to live on for that purpose.
The neighboring world was very beautiful. So beautiful, a Quasi-Spirit with dreams could dance
here forever as if in paradise.
If an eternal girl could weave a dream forever──how beautiful could it be?
Conversely, looking at the other world how was it in comparison? There was no such thing as
eternity, only the ugly struggle of the human world.
Likely, this world here is much better. To be more convenient, a method to live without fighting
should also exist.
However, there was no such person here. Because he was not a Quasi-Spirit in the neighboring
world; but rather, he was a person living a life as a human being.
Empty fell in love with a person from the other world.
I want to see each other; I want to talk after meeting. If only through looking, those words would
never be said. I want to hug; I want to be by each other’s side. I want to smell, to look into each
other’s eyes. I want to hold each other’s hand, hear each other’s voice──.
“……To take a small taste, that would be out of the question.”
The feeling was unbearable.

Anyway, what should be done to meet him? Empty kept considering that matter.
The color of the world felt like they had become richer. Despite not knowing where to go, the
final destination was already decided upon.
This was Empty’s dream.
……Now. This girl, with dreams of love almost switched into sleep mode, suddenly snapped
back to reality.
“──My apologizes. Can you be a hostage for a while?”
I really became a hostage. Ahaha.
Two hours after the battle in the shopping mall, Tokisaki Kurumi’s message was transmitted via
doll.
“Taking Empty as a hostage?”
“Exactly.”
“Well, I understand. The location is──oh, where? Oh, so that is it. Please act on my behalf; I’ll
head over there at 7:00 PM if possible.”
“Isn’t it already after school hours?”
“To let the other party have a hostage there, a useful overseer who would already turn a blind eye
to a little matter like this.”
“……I hope not to add too much trouble.”
While watching the departing doll, Tokisaki Kurumi couldn’t help but softly laugh.
“What is this about talking about her as a hostage? They’ve really thought of something
interesting.”
──After laughing for a while, an icy cold hatred covered Kurumi’s heart.
Hostage or whatever, it was really amusing. Was she that important to me?
……In a sense, that was correct. She truly was a cherished existence. Even if she must be
prepared to abandon her consciousness at the key moment……

Then, when was this critical moment? At that time, it couldn’t be that the reason she reached out
was due to her having unwillingness to part.
Her thoughts ran stagnant.
She vowed not to look back, but the superfluous past had come crawling out. No, not yet. Don’t
let her heart thaw and be hindered by worthless emotions. Until that goal was achieved, she
would remain ruthless. Prideful arrogance, fearless courage, scorning everything with that
laughter as such was the worthy presence for this smile.
……Anyhow, her being made hostage strategy was born.
Reflecting it over, turning strategies on their head, it was all for eventually reaching that
woman’s side to defeat that enemy.
Was struggling here something to be accumulated?
Yes, truly Tokisaki Kurumi would never have to struggle. With this graceful power, she would
bewitchingly strike down her opponents.
Three hours left.
Tokisaki Kurumi continued to think so.
○Tonami Furue
──When did the bullying begin?
Thinking that over, Tonami Furue clearly recalled memories from the other world.
Perhaps it was due to her being quite uncouth, perhaps it was because of being unremarkable, or
perhaps she randomly provoked a group that incited the bullying. Or maybe, she was simply
selected by chance?
For a long time now, she had certainly been self-conscious of her plain, docile, and reserved
nature.
It started with sneers and malicious gossip.

“Country bumpkin.” “Self-deluded in love” “Teacher’s pet.” Absurdly serious.” “Natural
airhead.” “Smelly (which of course was slander)” “Filthy (which was also slander)” Germ-
spreader (the follow was an abbreviation)”
It grew to where scraps of paper were thrown at her.
Although it was awfully unpleasant, Tonami couldn’t help but decide to endure. It would soon be
over just like any other case of bullying, or so she thought.
However, for some reason the bullying intensified as more time passed. Her shoulders were
struck when passing by. She was told lies of needed to go to another classroom, hiding her
learning materials, writing mischievous text on her desk each day.
And finally, when forced into a bathroom, they thought it would be amusing to throw in a bucket
filled with water. Taking advantage of a cowardly opening, she grabbed a mob and used it jab at
the faces of those three──well, maybe that was overkill. Their noses were broken and eyes were
in awful shape, it made their depraved faces even more repulsive.
After that, she remembered falling into a pitfall while running away.
Her life in the neighboring world also began from there.
Tonami Furue felt no joy, sorrow, or loneliness living in this world. There was only the feeling
of adapting to this world.
She couldn’t see her parents, she couldn’t see her classmates, but that wasn’t a big deal.
Since she was only dimly alive no matter which world it was.
However……how to describe it, she always felt that she possessed a helpless disadvantage as a
unique human being.
What would become a sin in the other world was considered as respectable skill in the
neighboring world.
Tonami Furue was brutal beyond cure. If Sheri Musika was a wolf in sheep’s clothing born from
a bad environment, then it was Tonami Furue’s natural disposition to be a furious beast.

○Empty (in capture)
As soon as she opened her eyes, Empty saw two terrifying Quasi-Spirits in front of her.
Moreover, contrary to what the two of them had said (roughly that she had no value in Kurumi’s
eyes), they tied her up as a hostage.
That amount or more was currently confirmation of her current status.
Right now, time had already passed and night was soon approaching. That is to say the battle had
come to an end for a while.
But still, she wondered why she was kidnapped.
“……Say, this rope is……”
“Please rest assured. We aren’t planning on doing anything like torture for you.”
Tonami Furue smiled at Empty. That being the case, she wasn’t asking about that right now.
“Haah, thank you for that……in that case, can you please untie this rope, both of my hands have
already gotten numb.”
“That won’t be good♪”
Hagu, Empty sighed a little. Both of her arms were strongly tied and suspended to a pole from
behind. Besides the numb soreness, it also felt itchy from the rope digging into her arms.
Although it was not torture, it was still quite the uncomfortable state.
“If you want to think like that, isn’t interrogation via torture not out of the question?”
In a cheerful voice, Sheri raised her magnifying glass. Then, she glanced over the focused laser
beam towards Empty’s cheeks.
“Hot……! No wait, was it really just that super-hot just a moment ago!? My face, is my face
okay!”
“Stop, please restrain yourself from doing this to the hostage. I for one detest violence that isn’t
necessary.”
Tonami glared at Sheri. Sheri shrugged her shoulders while saying “what’s the harm of
something of this level” as the slightest degree of reflecting on her own conscience flew past her
head.
“D-don’t look at me like that. Is my face okay? As a maiden in love, my face is very important.”

“It’s fine for the time being. ……Love?”
“For the time being!? That line is too vague and subjective; I’m begging you for a mirror right
now! Also, that’s right; I am now immersed in love!”
Tonami and Sheri looked at each other.
“No way, with Tokisaki Kurumi?”
“An unusual hobby?”
“I don’t have those sorts of feelings for that person!”
“……Then, who is it?”
“Sorry, I don’t know his name! I wasn’t able to hear it!”
“If that’s the case! What does he look like!? Is it someone here!? Or is it someone over there!?”
Empty felt her stomach rumble as she gulped. It felt strangely embarrassing to talk about him.”
“It’s not a Spirit. Uh, he’s not a person in the neighboring world! A human boy! High school
student! As far as I know, he is the type of person who would talk with Spirits……!”
Her words came to a stop right there. The faces of those two were full of surprise.
“……Excuse me, what……?”
“Incredible. You’re actually, really, in love.”
As Sheri spoke, there was an unmistaken envy that her eyes could not hide.
“So……it’s true.”
Tonami muttered out while in a daze. Until now, the two who were so robotic and terrifying
suddenly formed a response consistent with a girl of their age.
“Excuse me……what is going on?”
──Evening approached in earnest. In the factory a light, which was about to be broken faintly
illuminated on those three. The outside had already been completely shrouded by darkness with
no signs of people.
“That boy is a kind of a legend for us Quasi-Spirits.”

Although it didn’t change from being tied up, the two of them were chatting with Empty in a
more open manner than before.
“Legend……?”
As Empty slanted her head, Sheri opened her mouth in an amiable manner.
“Probably it was around the time of the neighboring world compilation. You must have been
sucked into the black pillar, right?”
The legends in the neighboring world were numerous. Rumors spread quickly in girl-specific
networks, becoming legends that would sooner or later disappear.
However, there was also a deeply ingrained legend.
“At the beginning……it was about five years ago. It was the era when the neighboring world
was still dominated by a large number of Spirits. At that time, Quasi-Spirits who were involved
in the neighboring world were said to have spoken ‘I seem to be in love’ or something like that.”
“With the large departure of many Spirits, those words have become more and more common.”
“It seems that Spirits have gone to live in his world. However, when their hearts are deeply
impacted or perhaps when experiencing some sort of supreme joy, the mental state of the Spirits
still leaves an influence over the neighboring world.”
“There are some recent events of recalling an intense past from time to time. The Quasi-Spirits
caught in that all return looking……mostly like they have fallen in love.”
“……And then, as a result of the discussion of these various rumors, it is presumably true that
the Spirits are falling in love as well.”
“Love──wait……is it to that person? To my man!?”
“T-to talk as if you already own him like a possession……”
“A girl with strong desire for exclusivity will be hated; I understand that even though I have no
experience!”
“W-why is it like that! How can it be like that──────────!”
Despite wanting to keep her screams to her head, she couldn’t twist her body violently because
her hands were tied. Clearly, it wasn’t of much use.
“Ah, yes, yes, calm down.”

Sheri tried to soothe this lukewarm feeling.
……For example, what would happen after to someone other than herself who would taste this
experience?
Having no clue of what to dream of, not even knowing where to go. Not being able to recall any
names, the same type of Quasi-Spirit as herself.
If you look at his delicate expression, hear his words even though they aren’t directed towards
herself. If you accept that sincerity.
Then likely……well perhaps, she would truly fall for that.
With a soft smile, Tonami continued on.
“So the Quasi-Spirits who came back basically fell in love……it seemed like finding the strength
to support one’s survival. It is said that there will be no more feelings of being “lost” and the
like.”’
“Haha──, so that’s it. No wonder my left hand was restored……”
“So, that left hand was about to disappear. Then it couldn’t be any better to have it restored back
to normal.”
Sheri nodded in admiration as she suddenly looked up to the sky in loneliness. The crumbling
ceiling of the factory was naturally full of gaps that allowed the stars to be seen through.
Of course, these stars were nothing but fakes. As they repeatedly flickered, they were no more
than an inferior substitute for a light bulb.
No matter how far the struggle, a nighthawk flying to the stars in vain was an unreachable hope.
“Love, is it really such a beautiful thing? I don’t understand; I don’t understand it at all.”
“Sheri and I are companions on this point. I also don’t understand this very well.”
As if showing her approval, Tonami unceasingly nodded her head.
“I feel you must come from the country that wouldn’t have the spare time for matters of love.”
“Surely I think I must be the timid type that would treat falling in love as forbidden.”
The two looked on at the starry sky together. Based on this situation, Empty was absolutely
helpless. The two in front of her were well-known Quasi-Spirits that were skillful at fighting. If
they were inclined, it was to the extent that Empty would be wiped out from this world at a
moment’s notice.

The difference would be choosing between being burnt to ashes or cut apart into pieces.
……But, despite understanding that this way of thinking was out of place regardless of the
situation, Empty still thought the situation was a misunderstanding beyond repair.
Those two seemed so pitiful.
Not because there was no love. Those two ought to have comprehended the feeling of love, yet
they also could not go searching for it.
That point couldn’t be denied. It was not a matter of being incapable of liking a person, rather
there were many who have a fondness for particular objects other than people. But apart from
that, they didn’t seem to be knowledgeable about that matter.
“Falling in love, what in the world is it? Tonami.”
“What exactly is it? Sheri.”
But to consider that they didn’t know anything about love in the first place.
They didn’t know the indiscernible type of dedication to someone or something, the warm
passion that drifted here like the flow coming from the waves.
It was because they didn’t know, they couldn’t judge whether love was a priceless jewel or a
worthless block of stone.
……As I thought that was it. Sure enough, Empty still felt a little sad towards them.
Bzz.
Suddenly, the factory lights were shot down in quick succession. There wasn’t even enough time
for Empty to scream as the surroundings were immediately covered in darkness.
“Sheri.”
“Yeah.”
In contrast to the simple words those two said, it was enough to understand that they had
completely switched to a different mode.
The girl-like atmosphere had just disappeared. Certainly, their expressions must have changed to
match the proper appearance of a warrior.
“Let me tell you this in advance. If you run away now, I will kill you.”

“The moment you try to escape, my chakram will cut you apart from your head to your bottom.”
“N-no, I won’t escape. Please rest assured I’m not going to run away.”
She could feel that both of them were slowly about to leave. ……This factory seemed to be full
of gaps and easy to invade, but it was actually full of traps.
There seemed to be a person among the Quasi-Spirits with the ability to steal Astral Dresses and
Unsigned Angels from other Quasi-Spirits to tamper and maintain them. It is said that she
wanders around the neighboring world, selling those deprived items to those in need. Of course,
if you use those items, even weak Quasi-Spirits could greatly enhance their combat effectiveness.
An Astral Dress used for snaring its prey and an imitated Unsigned Angel used for a single
counterattack.
……As for those who were ripped off, it was a bit unimaginable.
Anyhow, this factory was filled with Astral Dress type traps improved in that manner.
If entered carelessly, even a Spirit would have to pay hefty price.
Additionally, both Sheri and Tonami had a precise and swift reaction time. Despite hardly having
any interest, the duo pushed forward to victory with a terrifying cool-headiness.
No matter where invaded or how attacked, they were ready to respond to any tactic. Although it
was simple, it was also amazingly time consuming──but if prepared enough; they would
undoubtedly come out as the winner.
However, there was nothing that could be completely prepared. Even as a Quasi-Spirit, it didn’t
necessarily mean they could transcend humanity’s thinking capabilities. Kurumi’s first move was
completely unforeseeable to them.
Tokisaki Kurumi had control over time and shadows, an invisible domain that couldn’t be seen
even by Quasi-Spirits.
It was then when Empty noticed her faint breath touching her hair for a split second. Kurumi
appeared softly from the shadow of the pillar that Empty was tied down to. Kurumi had sneaked
into the factory through the shadows, almost as if she had known about the traps Tonami had set
up. The two Quasi-Spirits on alert outside wouldn’t have noticed this.
Kurumi softly whispered close to Empty’s ear.
“──Please be quiet and don’t make any noise.”
“……!”

When hearing those words, Empty was so stunned by Kurumi that she could hardly even breathe.
“If it is convenient, I am going to kill you next. Please do your best to die.”
(What do you mean? That’s──!)
“Yes, please be obediently killed by me.”
It was useless to keep asking questions as she threw some liquid with an astringent smell onto
Empty’s clothes.
(S-smells fishy…… this smell is rust or something……what the hell is this!?)
There was no reply. Kurumi vanished quickly as she had appeared.
“……Hm? This smell……”
Immediately after Sheri responded, a gunshot screamed near Empty.
Or perhaps it would better to say Empty had been shot.
“Ah……gu……?”
Blood spurted from her mouth. A hole opened in her chest from the shock.
“Eh……?”
Both Tonami and Sheri looked at the girl who was just struck. When seeing Empty’s neck bend
back a little, both of them stood up in alarm.
Tonami ran over to raise Empty’s face.
“Achoo!”
With this exaggerating sneeze, Tonami was sprayed with ketchup. From this, she immediately
understood everything and gave out a warning.
“It’s a trap!”
Sheri made the judgment to instantly use <Sekhmet> to sweep around the surroundings. The
sunlight stored during daytime tore through the darkness.
“Found it……up above, at the direction of 1 o’clock.”
Following Sheri’s voice, Tonami looked up. From a steal beam that supported the ceiling──a
black shadow dwelled over there.

As if bewitchingly dissolving into the darkness, Tonami lost her voice for a split second. It was
as if there weren’t any traps at all. How did she move so silently to that place?
An ability of her Astral Dress……or was it the power of a Spirit?
Kurumi overlooked the two with a proud expression.
“The idea of a hostage was wonderful. But the location chosen was too poor. It’s appealing that
you didn’t have any countermeasures besides standing ready and waiting.”
Silence. Although there was no lighting, there were no issues with eye contact due to the
illumination brought by Sheri’s sunlight.
Not far from Kurumi’s location, there was a manufactured Astral Dress type snare set. Through
usage of the ninth Spirit-genus’s sound vibration, it caused a temporary paralysis effect. Even for
Tokisaki Kurumi, it would produce several momentary openings.
And those two would never let go of that opportunity.
“Now!”
At the same time Sheri screamed and tightly clenched onto <Sekhmet>, Tonami threw her
<Silphid>.
“Ara, ara.”
As expected, it was like being suckered into it. Kurumi fell into the effective range of the trap.
Tonami pressed on a switch. After on a fraction of a second, the shockwaves ran simultaneously
with the explosion.
At the moment she stopped moving, Sheri would release all of the sunshine energy stored in her
Unsigned Angel. Until her reserves ran zero, she would give all of her strength into a single blow.
──However.
“Kya……aaaaaaaah!?”
Sheri screamed at the same time the explosion occurred. Looking closely, it wasn’t Kurumi who
was paralyzed by the sound vibrations.
“Why!?”
“Just around the time you two rushed over to check up on Empty.”
“A-at that moment, you saw through and removed the trap!? Impossible……you’re lying……”

“No, seeing the trap was from the very beginning. Going a step further, I already know when you
set up traps here.”
“Beginning from ten days ago!?”
There was a lot of time before the start of the killing game. Before teaming up with Sheri,
Tonami Furue had planned on using this factory as a fortress for laying traps.
There were many traps, devices, and even Astral Dresses that she didn’t even tell Sheri about.
“Since you are a very strong person. Very, very strong. You were likely to draw your opponents
into a trap. You’re the type of person who would scatter bait and smash the enemy from the top
of the abyss. Therefore, it would be impossible for me not take such rigorous precautions first.”
No matter how many traps set, the last 90% or more will be in vain.
To be cautious enough to be ridiculed as a coward, to be laughed at for being paranoid, such was
Tonami Furue’s method for survival──a very difficult way of living.
The Quasi-Spirits, whom all fell into such traps, screamed curses at her without exception.
Cursing her as a ‘despicable coward’. But if one asked Tonami, the Quasi-Spirits who fell into
such traps were the ‘despicable cowards’. Their behavior was simply not reflecting their own
mistakes and shirking the responsibility onto others.
Even so, when criticized by others, Tonami’s heart still felt a little bit stung.
“──So. You don’t think I am a despicable coward?”
“Isn’t that obvious. If you want to smear your own efforts for victory, then you are
despicable──in battle there is only the strong outmatching the weak in order to prevail.”
Those words were not a lie. Kurumi truly thought of that for Tonami.
(──Ah, I’ve always felt that was enough.)
Likely, the true cause of her defeat was not that her traps had been seen through. Rather it was
because of her praise that her heart felt charmed. Even though in the past she was fed up of
malicious words spoken behind her back, hearing those words today made it feel like everything
had been rewarded.
Kurumi’s muzzle pointed towards Tonami. If she used <Silphid> to block the shot, then she
should be able to continue fighting. However, Tonami had no such intentions at all.

The trap was seen through, and she was made a fool by having it used against herself, this was
more of a one-sided devastation than a battle.
However, Tonami truly thought it was a time of fulfillment.
Next, she felt a little sorry for her partner Sheri as her last wishes left her mouth. Speaking it out,
it felt more embarrassing and joyful than she had imagined.
“Ah~ ah, I also want to fall in love too.”
The gunfire echoed as the Sephira Crystal was crushed.
However, Tonami Furue smiled happily while accepting the bullet.
The remaining one.
Kurumi shifted her gaze to Sheri, who was still paralyzed.
“……You, this….……!”
Sheri glared at Kurumi with a look brimming with hatred. In a few seconds, she would soon
recover from the paralysis.
There was no time to hesitate. Kurumi, who made that judgment call, immediately turned her
pistol towards her.
The sound of coughing. This time, it was Kurumi rather than Sheri who showed a chance
opening. Rather than hesitating on pulling the trigger, Kurumi turned towards Empty.
The most terrifying thing about Sheri Musika was likely her willpower to keep surviving.
To survive for even a second longer, even if it was only ten seconds. Keep thinking about
survival until just before she dies.
Sheri realized at that moment that Kurumi had turned away from her and towards Empty.
There was only this instant, wanting to live, it took less than a second for her to gamble
everything.
Sheri forcibly advanced the recovery that should have taken a few more seconds. She focused all
of her nerves and reiryoku into her right arm to release <Sekhmet> towards Empty.
“Eh──?”

The dazzling sunshine poured out at a great speed. Empty and Sheri’s eyes also coincided at that
instant.
Sheri felt a little apologetic. But even then, she still wanted to live. Since that girl who should
have been empty without a name had enthusiastically shown her the brilliance of life.
Not only just fighting, not only just killing, at the end of all of this there must be someone
waiting for her after working so hard so far.
So──she must survive by any means possible. Because of the confusion, a drastic change in the
situation was necessary.
Therefore, the choice of this attack was Empty. Of course, it was also true that her paralyzed arm
couldn’t take any further action.
It seemed that good fortune had rained down on Sheri. Kurumi, with a stunned expression that
didn’t match her, adopted a reckless act. Stretching out his arms and feet, a moment’s worth of
hesitation separated life or death for her. Therefore, Kurumi didn’t hesitate in the slightest.
Empty widened his eyes. After a moment of it being unclear of what had happened, she saw
Kurumi standing in front her──blood flowed from her lost right arm.
“……You are really a troublesome labor.”
“S-so……rry?”
No, now was not the time to speak calmly and without stress. As Empty was thinking of that,
Kurumi smiled.
“No, this is my responsibility. My own negligence was to blame for this.”
Kurumi cut the rope that was tying Empty. Then, she threw her detached right arm towards her.
“……Ha, gross. Wait a moment, why are you giving this to me for safekeeping!?”
“Please hold on to it. I have to go end that child──. Also what do you mean by gross? My right
arm should be beautiful, right?”
“No, but it’s disgusting to walk around with a broken limb like that!’
Kurumi didn’t respond to Empty’s sharp criticism. Instead, she grabbed the shot gun with her left
hand. Originally, no matter with which hand used, Kurumi could use her pistol skillfully.
But──by that moment Sheri had already arrived at the entrance of the factory. Sheri, who was
running away and displaying her back, turned to Kurumi.

A strong wind blew.
“I won’t let you escape.”

“I didn’t plan on running.”
Consequently, she understood that victory would go to the one with the faster attack.
Sheri revealed a sly smile as she spurred on her paralyzed body. Even during a conversation like
this, the paralysis gradually eased. The damage she received from the explosion was not too deep.
If she continued like this, her power would soon return.
In contrast, the damage Kurumi received was very serious. In any case, her right arm was
disconnected. Her right arm being disconnected from being burnt off, but to be more precise, it
was a direct blow to the back of her right arm. Even though she was relying on the protection
from her Astral Dress, her back was still bleeding.
It was Sheri, not Kurumi, who would benefit from more time being spent.
However, it was because of this that Sheri had chosen to act quickly. She wouldn’t allow Kurumi
to get back up. This was war. If she continued to move slowly, the remaining Quasi-Spirits may
invade this battle.
That was the most dangerous possibility right now. After all, there were two remaining Quasi-
Spirits. There wasn’t much issue with one of them; a sham like False Proxy would be massacred
without much trouble.
The problem was with the other one.
Biscuit Smasher. The Quasi-Spirit they had scheduled to kill after Tokisaki Kurumi.
But now that Tonami is dead, there was no chance of winning unless she returned back to a
completely perfect state. Therefore, Sheri set up her Unsigned Angel to decide this match.
Is it a bullet, or is it a ray of light.
(I’m faster……I’m quicker……I’m better!)
Recovery from paralysis, damage to opponent, weight of weapon, and rate of fire, if all of that
considered together, Sheri believed herself to have the advantage.
Still.
This was like walking on a tightrope.
She wanted to live. Sheri continued to want to hold onto that wish.
She couldn’t die, Kurumi likewise also held that obsession.

In that moment.
Not knowing what the signal came from, both of them set up their respective weapons at the
same time.
“Focus, <Sekhmet>──!!”
“<Zafkiel>──the First Bullet <Aleph>!!”
Even without aiming, the light from <Sekhmet> was about to run through Kurumi’s Sephira
Crystal──just before that, Kurumi retreated to outside the factory with Empty. A moment later,
<Sekhmet>’s ray passed through the position where Kurumi was just located.
“Eh……?”
Kurumi didn’t aim her muzzle at Sheri. Her goal was to shoot herself. It was the same bullet used
during the battle against Nogi Aiai to improve physical abilities.
……Anyhow, she survived.
She──somehow managed to survive.
It couldn’t be denied that the chance of victory had diminished. But even so, she had brought
Tokisaki Kurumi to the point of retreating.
She couldn’t beat biscuit smasher. At the same time, it was impossible now to team up with
Tokisaki Kurumi.
Anyway, she was very tired today.
Go take a shower. Have a meal. Take a break in a warm bed. Then pray that Tonami would be
able to ascend to heaven. The next time she is reborn, Sheri hoped she could live a happy life in
the other world──
Suddenly, Sheri’s feet lost its strength.
“Wh……at……”
There was a sharp pain coming from her knee. While thinking over what had happened, she
found there was a small arrow there.
“W-why……who……!? It should be over for today!!”
Even while panicking, Sheri held up <Sekhmet>.

“Nobody said anything about that. Isn’t that right?”
Seeing the appearance of that Quasi-Spirit, Sheri was at a loss for words. Even her willingness to
fight was uprooted by her shock.
“……Hey……why……how come……!?”
At the girl’s side was another Quasi-Spirit. The bandaged woman that Sheri despised.
“This is not a game. There is no God with strictly defined rules. The flow of penalties is without
meaning. If you can’t understand something of that level, it’s no wonder you can only serve as
bait.”
She made a big announcement with her hands wide open. As a result, Sheri also understood.
“There were two people this time……!?”
“Smile!”
The sound of a finger echoed.
Kusukusu, kusukusukusu, kusukusukusukusukusukusukusukusukusukusukusukusukusukusu

kusukusukusukusukusukusukusukusuku ukusukusukusukusukusukusukusukusu────.
That laughter resonated all at once from the surroundings.
Seeing that thing emerge from the darkness, Sheri felt despair from the bottom of her heart.
Returning back to Kurumi’s house, Empty finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“B-bandages, bandages……”
“Not……necessary……”
Leaning on the front door, Kurumi prompted Empty to hand over her right arm. Frightened,
Empty presented the carelessly amputated arm for her to reattach.
“And also, a needle and thread……”

After Empty vaguely imagined the creation of a needle and some thread, Kurumi squeezed the
collar of her clothes and forcibly sewed the arm back on.
“Wait, is that really okay!?”
“Do you think there’s the risk of infection in the neighboring world? Even the laws of physics
are weird here.”
“But……at least, you should go to bed to sleep.”
“No need……please……let go……”
Kurumi closed her eyelids. It seemed her fatigue had reached its limit. Empty didn’t lay her
down by the entrance as she held onto Kurumi’s left hand.
“……You should sleep at your own convenience.”
“That’s impossible……really.”
After Empty was done speaking, Kurumi let out a fake-like cheerful laugh──a rather lonesome
laugh.
“Your personality will be similar if the container changes.”
“Eh?”
Kurumi gave a lonely smile as she reached out with her left hand to touch Empty’s forehead. But,
perhaps it was because her consciousness was beginning to blur, it didn’t look like her eyes were
staring at Empty.
“I used to be, once you. Even if there are memories, if the container is different, you can be
different. What’s more, even without memories, if the container remains the same──sure
enough, you are the same as before.”
Empty saw Kurumi’s tears for a second time.
“What a stupid existence, what a stupid concept, what a stupid……me.”
“What the hell are you talking about”, Empty was just about to ask that. However, Kurumi
stopped her by continuing to weave her words.
“You are not you. I am not me. If so, what is my meaning, what is the meaning of this existence?
These impulses, this determination, everything……perhaps may all be a hallucination.”
The words she spun out were loathsome enough to let a person’s blood run cold.

“I’m tired……really……tired.”
With a sigh, her life gradually began to fade away. Softly, the fingers on her right hand
disappeared.
“Kurumi-san!”
Empty hurried and shouted as she shook Kurumi’s shoulders.
“Kurumi-san! No! You can’t disappear! Please come back! Kurumi-san! Kuru──mi──san──!”
“……From the very beginning……you are so noisy…..you’re not allowed to call me

Kurumi……Empty……”
Empty widened her eyes. Just by a little, the pigment of Kurumi’s black hair began to lose its
color.
Something fatal was occurring.
“Open your eyes! Wake up! Wake up! You still have something to do!”
“That matter…… must be done……”
“Don’t you want to win this war (game)!? If you want to win, isn’t that something you want to
do!? Even though I don’t know if that’s right or not, I can only say this! I don’t want you to die!”
In a world full of unknown, the one who gave me the guideline to live a little was──
“……Yes. You don’t want me to die.”
“I don’t want you to not exist!”
“I’ve had so many disputes with you, used you as bait, perhaps……even intending to finish you
off at the very end? And you still don’t want me to die?”
“……If you decided to get rid of me, you would have already done so long ago. Although for me
to be used as bait before was exceedingly painful!”
Since her relationship with Kurumi felt just like gunpowder, generally speaking it was volatile
dream-like state despite the chance from likely losing consciousness due to the impact.
“……Really……”
Kurumi staggered she stood up. The wound on her back was no longer bleeding and was
beginning to heal.

“The power of the Sephira Crystal will restore if left alone. Although, it will take some time.”
“Um, do you want to take a shower……”
“No. There’s no problem, I will not disappear, I still can’t disappear, I just remembered that.”
Looking back, Kurumi smiled. It wasn’t a lonely smile but rather a smile where devotion could
be felt.
“Likely, tomorrow will be the last. The last remaining Quasi-Spirit is a super strong enemy.”
Empty slanted her head to the side.
“……Eh? Um, even excluding Sheri-san, aren’t there two enemies still remaining?”
“It doesn’t matter if you count one more. There is a Quasi-Spirit that exists to be
defeated……Yes, even if it just a decoy.”
After saying that, Kurumi swayed herself towards the bedroom.
“Then, the super strong enemy is──”
“Tsuan. Or rather the Quasi-Spirit called……Biscuit Smasher.”
“Biscuit? What, that’s a little bit cute.”
“She can crush the enemy as easily as a biscuit, so that’s how she got that name.”
“I want to take back what I said. That’s not cute at all, that’s something straight from a horror
movie.”
Kurumi didn’t respond back to Empty. Instead, she continued to walk to the bedroom with
unsteady footsteps.
Smelling her clothes……it reeked of gunpowder and blood. Most of which was Kurumi’s own
blood.
It couldn’t be worn anymore. Feeling a sense of pity, Empty took off her clothes.
After entering the bathroom, she also took off her underwear. She then took a bath to wash away
the stains.
Bathing under the water, the girl thought about the end.
As Kurumi had said, tomorrow would be the last. It was between being caught, killed, or
continuing to live like this.

Why did they want to kill each other? Even if asking for the root cause, they would only answer
back with “it’s just because it’s like this”. For them, living was the same as fighting.
……But, Tonami-san wanted to be in love. Sheri-san also yearned for love.
Her heart, which ought to be hollow, scorched by his words, his appearance.
That person.
A boy from the other world whom all of the Spirits fell in love with.
Then, the idea suddenly came to Empty. If it was all of the Spirits──then, Tokisaki Kurumi
should also be the same.
She was so overwhelmed that she completely forgot. Does Kurumi know anything regarding that
person?
Perhaps he was a lover, perhaps she liked him, and perhaps they went out on a date, either way
she had to know!
A maiden in love would basically be unable to care for anything besides the object of her love.
No, maybe such a person was out there, but at least Empty was not like that.
After finishing the shower, she wiped her body and left the bathroom. While changing her
underwear, Empty walked across the hallway and rushed into the bedroom.
“Um──, Kurumi-san! I want to talk a little about……”
The smell of blood struck her nose alongside the sight of Kurumi’s pale face.
“Gu……ah……ku……!”
Kurumi squatted on the bed, desperately pressing her head with her right arm while letting out an
agonizing groan.
“A-are you alright!?”
“……Hand still……connected……rest assured.”
Kurumi groaned as she struggled to speak.
The nerves were being forcibly reconnected. The pain from the amputation was overwhelming,
but she still needed to deal with this pain in order to restore the arm. She couldn’t lose
consciousness; there was no choice but to continue to endure for a few more hours.
“W-what can I do……”

As Empty trembled while asking, Kurumi merely shook her head. There was nothing. She could
do nothing for her or for even herself.
“……You wanted to talk about something……right? Can we talk about that?”
“Oh, but. Now is not the time to ask Kurumi-san…...”
“It’s fine. Now, I want to listen……this can……distract the pain, right?”
Kurumi laughed weakly, but still──wrinkles distorted her face from the sharp pain that still
occasionally struck as she reached her left hand out to Empty.
This was by no means a testimony of trust.
In any case, it could merely be from the uneasiness in her heart. Regardless, Empty didn’t
hesitate in grabbing her hand.
No matter how powerful a Spirit may be, sure enough a single person will likely still suffer from
loneliness.
“T-then……from the beginning.”
Empty timidly opened her mouth.
“The boy who the Spirits fell in love with……do you know him?”
Kurumi’s expression remained completely unchanged.
“……No, nothing in particular.”
While feeling something strangely out of place, Empty continued on.
“It’s the boy that all the Spirits love. Do you really not know anything?”
“……I don’t know…….you……saw……aah, that’s right……you were……taken in……”
“Yes. Was it called the neighboring world compilation? I saw it during that time. The world over
there……and also that person.”
“You……fell in love……?”
“……Probably. No……not probably……I love him.”
As Empty spoke, Kurumi’s face changed to complicated look.

“Because it’s the first time I’ve ever felt this way────huh?”
Her heart was trembling. Her cheeks were getting warmer. Her heartbeat raced, there was a
wonderful itchy feeling spread across her body that made her feel as light as a feather.
Why was she so certain that this was love?
“……Perhaps, this isn’t the first time.”
“Eh, that’s───”
That’s.
This was──something different, Empty felt that something was out of sorts. To consider that she
used to have these feelings for other men. No, wait a minute, calm down. The counterpoint
would also seem too fastidiousness.
“Just kidding.”
“Huh?”
“You surely must have loved the same person. It’s just that this is only the second time.”
Kurumi’s riddle felt just like a puzzle piece falling exactly into place.
“I haven’t been in love. But, I know something close to it. No, if it is close or not──I don’t
know. But it should almost be the same.”
Kurumi’s breathing became disheveled. Painful wrinkles marked her face as she continued to
whisper.
“……That’s……”
Speaking of a feeling close to love.
“……I have a friend. I──for me it is an important friend.”
Kurumi’s soliloquy seemed to even lower the temperature of the room.
With a calm look, Empty quietly looking into Kurumi’s eyes.
“Do you think……it’s surprising?”
“No, I somehow knew.”
At that time, the one who Kurumi was looking for while stretching out her hand was not her.

Her hand was not for Empty, but rather for someone in Kurumi’s memories.
Although she felt a little lonely after thinking it over……but at the same time it couldn’t be
helped. No, it was because of the traces of those memories that she was able to be saved in the
very beginning.
“Is that so?”
Kurumi seemed to be hesitant. That act did not match her at all, Empty thought. Empty hoped
she would reveal her usual devilish smile and not this small fiendish giggle.
“Please laugh at me as unusual with your kakakakaka laugh.”
“No, I don’t remember ever laughing like that!?”
“Is that right? Maybe it was an ohohohohoho laugh.”
“……Hold on; wait until my right arm is fully reconnected.”
Kurumi spoke while openly harboring a grudge.
In that regard, Empty felt a little bit happy.
“So Kurumi-san, let’s continue.”
Upon Empty’s urging, Kurumi began to speak once again.
“In the tenth region Malkuth, there are many Quasi-Spirits who use survival as the motivation for
living. However, that is by no means everyone. There are also Quasi-Spirits that can continue
living just through a desire of enjoying life.”
In a nostalgic and pitiful tone, she recalled her memories.
“I was happy just being with that child. She encouraged and supported me who had lost
everything. Laughing and just living together was enough to make me satisfied. But──”
Kurumi’s expression changed from nostalgic to being engraved with hatred.
“She was killed.”
“Eh……killed……?”
“She was involved in this game, fighting, fighting, fighting frantically──until she was cruelly
killed. No, it can’t be regarded as killing. She was toyed with. She was ravaged, insulted,
trampled on until there was nothing of her human dignity left.”

“Eh, who in the world did that……!?”
Kurumi said that unclear name with a disgusted expression brimming with malice.
“──Doll Master, the Dominion of the tenth region Malkuth.”
The moment she uttered that name Kurumi seemed to even forget her pain. What existed there
was a lone wolf sharped its fangs through its hatred.
“……T-then. The reason you participated in this battle was to defeat Doll Master?”
Yes, indeed the reward for this war was a powerful Sephira Crystal. After listening to what
Empty had said, Kurumi smiled.
“Fu~. You really are an idiot huh? ……Do you really think that such a thing would be given as a
reward?”
Empty felt a fierce chill run behind her back.
“……Then, everyone has been deceived……”
“Yes. After all, all of this killing is just a trick. Quite the uncouth farce. A farce──that one must
embrace otherwise the Dominion won’t appear.”
Cautious, crafty, paranoid.
The Dominion of the tenth region Malkuth is that sort of Quasi-Spirit.
Even with the overwhelming power surpassing all others, she will never show up. It was always
the Quasi-Spirits under her control that appeared.
“False Proxy is one of them. I have already confirmed this. In the first place, False
Proxy……there’s a limit of how much you can make a fool of others.”
“Ah──……!”
Empty patted the palm of her hand with her other fist.
“Maybe some of the other Quasi-Spirits have already noticed it. No, even if noticed, they
wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation. Besides, it wouldn’t be predictable that the Dominion
would take the lead in smashing apart the rules.”
As if a red-hot iron battles, a thunderous battlefield, a raging inferno of a war.

By being able to chip away at life, the Quasi-Spirits in this region are the granted a real sense of
survival. Believing in that, they would continue to fight if as in a dream.
Likewise, the Dominion was also the same, secretly participating in the battle in order to
experience the same sensation of life.
However, Tokisaki Kurumi knew. Evil was always omnipresent in this world and common sense
will easily be subverted by such malice.
If a Quasi-Spirit lost their dreams, they would disappear.
And there certainly existed an evil that wanted to manipulate those dreams for the sake of
personal survival.
“So, Kurumi-san is──”
“It’s just as you think, I’m fighting the enemy in order avenge her.”
“That’s──something──”
Empty thought that this was a good motive. However, there was still a subtle sense of unease.
However, she felt that if she pointed this out something was likely to end.
“……That’s quite the interesting expression, you.”
“Isn’t there a limit to your rudeness, Kurumi-san!?”
“I’m obviously praising you.”
“There’s no boast. That’s not a compliment.”
“I’m a girl in love. Please be a little more considerate.”
“Oh dear. Do you want to make red bean rice manifest?” (TL: note red bean rice is usually eaten on celebratory occasions for girls)
“After all this time……and you’re still not considerate……”
It should be no good to put red bean rice on the dining table unless a young maiden was going
through puberty or at least Empty thought so.
“Um……that friend, what kind of person was she?”
“If you wanted to retreat, she was the type that would push you forward even if it meant
snapping your neck.”

“A savage woman!?”
“Go forward, go forward, and just keep going forward. Even if it hurts and you want to cry, just
keep moving on ahead for the time being. That habit was very naïve and easy for her to get hurt.
Since she was often crying, so I would go comfort her……often.”
In the tenth region Malkuth, one had to fight, kill, and survive to become stronger.
That is what it took to have a dream and not fade away.
“But that girl had the same dream as myself. Seeing someone with the same dream fade away, I
realize I was embracing onto an incurable transient fantasy.”
A dream was never something that one could hold and complete alone.
In the shadows of one girl’s dreams being achieved, there will be over ten girls crying over their
dreams being shattered. Such a theory was a logical and natural conclusion.
“The same is true of love. When your love is realized, someone who also likes that person will
definitely cry. It will make her deeply heart-broken. Perhaps, it will make her unable to fall in
love again.”
“……Yes.”
She knew. Empty had already known this.
And surely, she knew that her love would never be fulfilled.
If all the Spirits are falling in love, then she must have fallen the farthest behind. There were
limits to even an illicit love. Not to mention, she was neither beautiful nor strong.
She was empty, nothing, nothing at all.
Therefore, she was already aware of the conclusion brought by this love.
……Despite that.
“Even so, it’s fine.”
Empty’s voice was calmer than she expected.
“I’m sure that it will be sad to be rejected, but I feel alive now. Just thinking about that person
makes my heart feel warmer──right now that is enough.”
I am satisfied enough with being in love.

Kurumi narrowed her eyes with both pity and kindness.
“……Helping you achieve……your love……wouldn’t be bad……”
Hearing those scripted lines made Empty feel doubtful.
“……T-thank you……uh, are there no other meaning behind those words……?”
Frankly, those words sounded like a jinx permitted her to fail, Empty considered the meaning to
be like that.
“Should I shoot you?”
Kurumi took out her short pistol from somewhere as Empty hurried to explain.
“S-sorry. I thought that you really weren’t going to help!”
“…..Well, then it can’t be helped.”
“Compared to that, are there no problems with being here?”
“What do you mean?”
“Uh, since Doll Master will calmly break rules and launch attacks, won’t she also do it again this
time?”
The chime signaling the end of today’s battle had already surely rung, but that didn’t mean there
wouldn’t be any more attacks.
“Yes, that’s why I’ve carefully designed traps. About 40% of the houses in this town have my
traces and traps. I’m well aware of her tricks. Notice how this house isn’t the same as the one
from yesterday?”
Empty wasn’t aware of it at all. There wasn’t even the slightest hint of it being uncomfortable. If
the exterior and interior appearances were the same, it would be impossible to find no matter
how she searched.
“Hey, weren’t we followed yesterday?”
“Of course, that was intentional. Doll Master is only involved in the war from the second day.
On the first day, she is merely overlooking the situation, so there’s no need to vigilant. By the
next day, we must be wary of her.”
Boom, the sound of explosion rang. It wasn’t at this house. But it seemed that something had
exploded at a distance.

“……Just now……”
Kurumi placed her finger against her lips.
“It appears that they were fooled. It would be quite loathsome to be consumed by a subordinate.
It should be okay for today……though there’s nothing to do but pray.”
“Pray──right.”
There was no choice but to leave their chances to the heavens. But still, the anxiety remained. If
a subordinate found this residence, it would all be over.
“I’ll have to endure for a few more hours. There will definitely be continuous battles tomorrow.”
Endure the pain, endure the fear, and just continue waiting for tomorrow to come.
On top of that, she had to prepare for continuous battles. One of the last remaining was the
powerful enemy──Tsuan. The other was the Dominion of this region, Doll Master.
This conviction was just like a cold chill freezing Empty’s body.
No matter who it is, everyone will want to live for happiness.
The problem lies in how, even if it brings misery to others, no one but herself can understand this
happiness as long as she still feels this happiness.
For a third party, inferences can only be made through ethical judgment and common sense.
Empty was a third party. It was unclear how much Kurumi missed her friend. However, there
was only one thing that can be said with certainty.
“Good luck……”
Kurumi must have thought that if this wish could be granted, she wouldn’t even mind dying.
“Please try your best……”
From Empty’s encouragement, Kurumi’s voice began to shake.
“If you think so, continue talking to me. Also please don’t fall asleep earlier than me──”
Kurumi smiled after saying that.
Empty nodded as she began to speak. Although she lacked memories, there were an infinite
number of things she could talk about.

After all, Empty was in love. Although Kurumi occasionally intervened to snark, her expression
remained smooth that it was unimaginable that she was still enduring the pain.
In the few days spent together, this was the longest and calmest time these two shared together.
“──Mu, mu, mu. Mumumu mumumu mumumu mumumu mumumu mumumu mumumu
mumumu mumumu mumumu mumumu mumumu mumumu mumumu mumumu mumumu
mumumu mumumu mumumu mumu……fu.”
Doll Master sighed. After smashing in, the subordinates and the house were blown away by a
trap made from remodeling the fifth type Spirit’s Astral Dress. Two highly-priced, important,
and lovely dolls were completely burnt to the point where they could never be brought back.
Only two. Despite it only being two, Doll Master’s heart was deeply, deeply hurt. Just like a
mother who had lost her beloved child.
The image shifted as Lycos’s face appeared. Doll Master thought to boast that it looked lovely
today as well.
“What do you want to do?”
Listening to Lycos, Doll Master spoke after careful consideration.
“How many responses are left?”
“136 houses have been detected with a spirit wave response. I am afraid that all except one have
set snares of this level.”
“How thoughtfully prepared. This isn’t something that would take two or three days to get ready.”
“According to the calculations, this would take three months at the latest. Another three months
should be included in order to move unnoticed, so it should take a total of half a year.”
“Well, perhaps there are traps in other places as well. Although this annoys me, withdrawal.
Let’s fight with Tokisaki Kurumi tomorrow.”
“Understood, Akako Machi, master is requesting for you.”
“Understood.”

The image of Lycos was cut off.
“Today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, for an eternity──this region is ours.”
Although fighting battles was silly, victory was correct.
So the most important thing was to win before fighting. This foolish war, before it even began,
Doll Master was victorious.
“My master, my master, I have returned now.”
Shaking back and forth, two dolls had come back. With clothes mimicking an angel, there was a
wing on their back which was a self-made work of Doll Master.
“What happened?”
As Akako Machi called out, the angel doll’s party was wriggling as if deeply overcome with
emotion.
“This was my first time going into the sixth region (Tiphereth).”
“How dreadful──”
“Hey──”
“……Is there a harvest?”
In response, to Ayako Machi’s question, the angel puppet nodded its head.
“Of course. We were ordered to not come back until finding something!”
“That means we had the possibility of never coming back!”
“I was scared──”
Ayako Machi slammed the fan in its hand against the angel doll.
“……Alright, please explain.”
“Yes”. “Yes, yes.”
The angel dolls began to explain the information gathered. Soon after, Doll Master’s expression
turned smug in the blink of an eye.
“Yes, sure enough you’ve worked. You can step back now.”

The angel dolls joyfully exited out of the room.
“What to do about Tokisaki Kurumi?”
Hearing Ayako Machi’s words, Doll Master exhaled a sigh of relief.
“It’s fine that can be taken care of at any time now. But, there’s still the need to be cautious.
There’s one more problem besides that. How is Tsuan?”
Ayako Machi read the report it just received.
“Asleep, in the wilderness.”
“Is she not considering being attacked?”
Doll Master spoke out in surprise.
“Or perhaps she must be confident in her own strength.”
“……Well, forget about it. Tomorrow is the last day. Although there are more irregulars than
usual, the result will be the same. Here is the hunting ground for Doll Master; there is no room
for anyone else to step in.”
Not knowing when she went to sleep──Empty opened her eyes to find Kurumi closing and
opening her right hand.
“Are you……okay?”
As Empty timidly asked, Kurumi laughed.
“Yes, there seems to be no problems.”
“That’s a relief……”
Empty sincerely felt relieved from the bottom of her heart.
Kurumi, who was bathing in the morning sunlight, still had imprints and marks left from
yesterday’s battle.

“Time to take a shower──”
“Yes, there should still be some time left.”
“Then, I’m going to prepare clothes to change, eh, where are the spare clothes?”
“I’ll make the replacement now. Please leave it aside.”
Kurumi threw the clothes she weaved out of reiryoku at Empty.
“Understood. I’m going to make coffee then.”
“Please add three pieces of sugar for mine.”
After Kurumi entered the bathroom for a while, the sound of the shower starting could be heard.
Listening to that sound, Empty placed the replacement clothes in the bathroom. Suddenly,
Kurumi unintentionally entered Empty’s line of sight. While she couldn’t see through the
polished glass, but there was a subtle allure coming from her hazy white back. Feeling that she
was acting strange, Empty quickly looked away.
Empty picked up the dirty clothes to place in the washing machine.
In hindsight, this dress was woven through reiryoku, it should be meant to be thrown away
afterwards. Kurumi wouldn’t expect Empty to wash it.
Therefore, it was truly a coincidence that Empty found this photo.
Picking up the clothes, it fell onto the bathroom mat. Was it a note or something similar, as she
was considering that──Empty froze in place after taking a peek.
The sound of the shower as well as everything else felt so far away.
If it was Kurumi on the photo, she would smile. If it was Kurumi together with someone else in
the picture, she would wonder if it was the friend that Kurumi felt uneasy describing.
Kurumi wasn’t on the photo. On them was a girl with short blue hair. The other girl was
someone she was familiar with as much as Kurumi.
It was Empty.
It was herself, Empty, who had no memories and was completely powerless.
She was holding hands with the short-haired girl, while smiling shyly.
“This is……me……?”

Instances like this are where memories could be recovered by an electric shock from seeing this.
If such a thing occurred, perhaps Empty would have raised a scream.
But Empty didn’t feel anything. Seeing someone identical as herself in a photo, she wondered
how much of it was truly a joke.
Empty stood motionless in astonishment. But──nothing like her true emotions or the sort had
resurfaced.
It was clear that the relationship in the photo was close. But there wasn’t even the faintest hint of
memories flashing through her mind.
Empty quietly placed the photo back in the clothes. She put the fresh clothes to the side and left
the bathroom.
There was one question remaining .Why did Kurumi possessed and hid of photo with her on it?
Hiding……perhaps it would be better to say cherish.
──Could it be that.
“Kurumi-san and I……didn’t happen to meet by chance?”
If so, was that encounter also calculated? …..She didn’t know. The more she thought about it the
dizzier she became. It was a miserable feeling just like frantically searching for something on a
shelf with nothing left.
Empty tried to recall while sipping some coffee. But, sure enough──she could feel anything but
surprise coming from that photo.
“……I am, so callous, so insensible to this degree. No, it feels like becoming insensitive, but──”
A friend who should be cherished can be forgotten this easily. I am such a useless good for
nothing.
“Fu……so refreshing.”
Empty took in a deep breath.
Turning around, she smiled.
“I’ve made the coffee. Three pieces of sugar, right?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Likely, she would laugh at her as well, Empty thought.

“Now, let’s head out.”
“Alright!”
Empty decided to make the bed in the bedroom. It was a house that no one used, but it was still
necessary to have the bare minimum of proper etiquette.
Kurumi forced a smile while waiting for her.
“I’ve kept you waiting, Kurumi-san, now──”
That sound was very loud. Moreover, it was the sort that would be heard daily. Ding dong, it
such a brisk electronic sound. But it was not a sound that should have ringed.
Kurumi already grasped her short pistol as Empty looked stunned at the front door.
Kurumi slowly opened the entrance door.
“……”
A single girl guarded in silence. On her back was a long halberd. Her Extreme Death Spirit Dress,
Number 15 <Brinicle> was almost like a knight’s armor──Tsuan, the only surviving Quasi-
Spirit besides the fake.
“Why are you here?”
“The sound of the shower. The odor of reiryoku can be deceived, but it is impossible to falsify
pure sound.”
Empty couldn’t suppress the shudders caused by Tsuan’s words.
The sound of a faint shower in a closed home. How could she even hear that?
“Well, you have quite the good ears.”
Tsuan nodded her head. Perhaps it was from Kurumi’s compliment, but there was little reddish
tinge shining on her pure white face.
“U-um. Your goal is……”
“You’re the only one left alive.”
Tsuan calmly looked at Kurumi.

“Ara, isn’t there one more person left with the same name as baked buns?” (TL: baked buns (Pirozhki) have a
similar pronunciation to False Proxy)
“That’s meaningless.”
Of course, in an indifferent tone, Tsuan tossed her words aside. Meaningless, which also meant
to say──she, also knew.
“U-um, Tsuan-san.”
“……?”
Tsuan glared at Empty. Her eyes were obviously different from when she was talking to Kurumi;
they were filled with murderous intent.
“Hii, w-why are you glaring at me?”
As Empty became frightened, Tsuan’s expression soon turned apologetic.
“Sorry, it wasn’t meant to be done consciously. So what is it?”
“Um, can you help us? Can we fight against the Dominion together?”
“Out of the question.”
Tsuan flatly rejected Empty’s proposal. Then, she pointed her finger in assertion to Kurumi.
“That person will likely plot against from behind.”
Empty cried out indignantly.
“That sort of thing! Won’t happen! There’s no reason! There’s no need! Perhaps!”
“Contrary to what one might expect, you sure have a breakpoint.”
Kurumi chose to ridicule them both.
Well, to be honest, Empty was convinced that Kurumi would likely plot against her. And Kurumi
was also aware that. Even Tsuan was convinced to be suspicious towards that.
“Everybody seems to know each other very well!”
“Exactly.”
“Location, where?”
It seemed that Tsuan didn’t have any preference to where the duel occurred.

“I’ll be thankful if we can head a little farther from here…….”
Tsuan nodded back in response.
Against the dazzling sun, Empty narrowed her eyes. Kurumi walked in front with Tsuan
following her and Empty trailing from the end.
Kurumi suddenly stopped walking. The duel was in the middle of a residential area as Empty
tried to hide behind a telephone pole.
“……What are you doing?”
Kurumi looked to the top of the pole that Empty was hiding behind. As Empty looked towards
the sky, she saw that one of Doll Master’s puppets was hanging on the top of the pole.
“No, no──. Just watching, please don’t mind.”
Without looking back, she causally grabbed the halberd axe on her back and swung vertically
into the sky.
The telephone poll and doll shattered. Just as the name Biscuit Smasher would suggest, it was
pulverized into tiny pieces. The broken doll’s head rolled towards Empty, who let out a “fugyaa”
scream.
“In the way.”
Tsuan glared at the empty space. Perhaps they were hidden through some form of optical
camouflage, but several dolls appeared in fear and fled in a panic.
“Well done.”
“Un. Well, despite fighting, they still appeared anyway, come……”
While responding to Kurumi’s praise, Tsuan suddenly stopped talking as she was replying back.
Kurumi’s figure had disappeared.
“What happened……?”
It occurred in a matter of seconds. Kurumi had vanished right in front of Tsuan and Empty.
“Where…...!?”
Tsuan searched around in a panic. Despite this residential area being near an intersection, it was
still abnormal to abruptly vanish.

But Empty knew how she disappeared.
(It’s the shadow……)
Tokisaki Kurumi had sneaked into the shadows. If you removed your eyes from Kurumi for even
just a moment, she could likely immediately activate this to disappear.
Tsuan stared at Empty.
“Ah, I-I don’t know anything, I don’t know anything at all!”
Empty hurriedly shook her hands to deny any claims. Tsuan was unable to judge if this was
because she was lying or if this was done purely from fear.
Tsuan leaped up to position her body into the sky. She looked into her surroundings from a bird’s
eye view──there were neither any signs of her figure nor any sounds heard.
However, there was one more supernatural talent she was proud of. It was her keen sense of
smell.
With her extraordinary level of smell that was on the level of a hound dog, she sniffed to search
for Kurumi’s scent from just a moment ago. The slight smell tickled her nostrils.
Direction detected──distance detected──calculating correct coordinates.
(Found it──!!)
Facing that direction, Tsuan released her murderous intent. If it had been an ordinary person,
their movements would freeze in an instant like ice.
However, there was nothing there. There were only garbage bags and utility poles stacked within
the shadow.
“……!?”
The strange occurrences happening one after the other caused Tsuan’s mind to fall into chaos.
Believe in your instincts, the Quasi-Spirit that had taught her how to fight had once said so.
──Becoming wiser meant becoming stronger.
──But until then, you have to think nothing else but fighting.
──It is weak to consider too many extraneous things, which is why your physical body has
grown stronger and stronger.

──Follow your instincts to kill the enemy, this way you can even outmatch the Dominion.
──But if there were any enemies that couldn’t be defeated in this manner.
──If the compatibility is bad and the worst match for your abilities, then the most loathsome
enemy for you has appeared.
──Then, there can only be one thing left to do.
From the shadow of the garbage bag, a sneaky white arm jumped out.
“! !”
The bullets were fired. Along with the sound of breaking the air barrier, the jet-black bullets flew
over. The distance to the target was about 200 meters. At such a distance it would be a miracle
for a pistol to land a shot, but for Kurumi this was child’s play.
But being given a distance of 200 meters also gave Tsuan enough time to respond. While a bit
frustrating for her, it was also a little joyful as well.
She was so terrifying that even all of her friends had abandoned her.
Was it righteous indignation, or poorly placed anger without reason? Regardless, she felt
somewhat happy that her strength had been recognized.
Of course, the bullets were bounced off.
As long as her <Zafkiel> was the short pistol, her defense would not be broken. Needless to say,
the ability of her bullets had also long been known.
She was vigilant towards the surprise attack by firing at herself to multiply her physical ability.
To reach the distance of 200 meters, Tsuan decided to bolster her Astral Dress with her full
power to traverse in a split second.
A second to pull her out of the shadow, another second to render her unconscious through a head
blow, and a final second to crush her body with < Lailaps>.
A total of four seconds.
As long as there was that much time, it would be enough to kill Kurumi. She wasn’t afraid of
getting injured in the process. The only fear was that of defeat──no, not only that.
Tsuan was aware that she was frightened.

Although she didn’t know what it was specifically, there was one thing that was certain.
This fear was surely caused by Tokisaki Kurumi.
So Tsuan let out a roar. Howling, intimidating, she glared to convey all of her killing intent.
──GO, GO, GO!
Giving orders to herself, her Extreme Death Spirit Dress, Number 15 <Brinicle> greedily
consumed her reiryoku to literally shoot out Tsuan at an insane speed.
If Kurumi shoot out a bullet, it would be the special attack fired at herself.
It was hardly an exaggeration to say that she had no concern for her own safety. Since the
opponent was the Spirit Tokisaki Kurumi, Tsuan decided that the price was worth it.
One second to reach the side of the shadow.
One second to pull her out of the shadow.
One second, she should have delivered a strong head strike.
A gunshot.
However, the damage to her Astral Dress was minimal. If she ignored it, she could land the
heavy blow to her head──yet, that couldn’t be delivered.
Sluggish, heavy, painful.
Her body felt heavy as if trapped in quicksand. Her movements were sluggish like a turtle, but
since the speed of her thought process remained the same, Tsuan realized that it was undeniable
fact that she had slowed down.
“<Zafkiel>──the Second Bullet <Bet>.”
It was another one of Tokisaki Kurumi’s certain kill skills. Slowing the progress of time so that
even the greatest speed would come to halt, it was a wretched fairy tale where a rabbit
transformed into a turtle.
Kurumi let out a sinister laugh.

Tsuan now had no more means of dealing with the high-speed constant barrage. In quick
succession, because of the bullets that passed through, her Astral Dress let out a creaking sound
as it began to crumble.
It was the other party’s turn to be completely crushed.
Tokisaki Kurumi struck with all of her strength. She knew that if she missed this opportunity, she
understood that she wouldn’t be able to defeat her. She also realized that she couldn’t stop until
killing her.
Even between a rebel army victory and a rebel army defeat, there was no neither evil nor justice
for her. In that case, it was her manner to plan out any unscrupulous measures possible.
Truly a desperate act, Kurumi thought to herself self-deprecatingly.
Countless dreams, her goal meant trampling countless Quasi-Spirits under the soles of her feet.
How worthless would this appear to the eyes of another?
Even so.
Even so, this body, mind couldn’t suppress what began to stir restlessly.
After breaking Tsuan’s Astral Dress, the bullets finally landed a direct hit. After that, all that
remained was keep shooting bullets into her body until the effects of the Second Bullet <Bet>
ended.
Shooting.
Keep shooting until she dies, kept killing until she dies.
Shooting.
Crushing through the Astral Dress, the bullets struck her body.
Shooting.
Suddenly, Kurumi remembered something about her Astral Dress.
Unlike those of other Quasi-Spirits, her Astral Dress was considered in the minority of being one
of the best heretics. (Of course, this was excluding the majesty of God worn by the Spirits)

Hersey meant being crafty.
And crafty meant being strong.
According to rumors spread by Quasi-Spirits, the strength of an Astral Dress is closely related to
strength of that person’s mental power.
But it was only the Astral Dress that conformed to this rule.
Endurance was exceptional, speed was unusually precise, and maneuverability was excellent.
However, that wasn’t why it was crafty.
The true essence of Extreme Death Spirit Dress, Number 15 <Brinicle> was to kill the enemy by
just approaching.
Therefore, when becoming her opponent, a distance must be kept to without getting close in
order to uniformly crush it.
There was a thirty second delay before Tsuan traverse the entire 200 meters in a single second.
Empty was finally at a point where she could see their fight.
“Kurumi-sa──”
Empty was at a loss for words.
For Kurumi, who was close enough to touch Tsuan’s Astral Dress, it happened in an instant. The
left arm holding the gun and her right foot began freeze.
“……This……Astral Dress……!!”
Despite the hollow expression, Tsuan’s hand slowly approached Kurumi, who had an anguished
look on her face. The electrical poles, walls, and even roads also began to freeze.
Standing at the center was the girl called Tsuan.
“Kurumi-san, hang in there……!”
Did her consciousness revitalize from Empty’s encouragement?
Or was she simply still unconsciousness?
In any case, the trigger was pulled. The ice was shattered into pieces as the Astral Dress was
crushed.
“`Gu, u ~u~u~u~u……!”

Tsuan reached out to grab Kurumi’s slender neck.
“Aren’t you going to smash me into dust……!?”
“I, don’t intend, to be tied up, by this sort of thing……!! Basically, with me as the opponent, can
you still decide your strategy……!”
Be killed when killing.
Let people die when they die.
Slowly, Kurumi approached death step by step. But even then, she didn’t know if it was because
of her strong will or perhaps it was due to Tokisaki Kurumi being such an existence.
Kurumi mercilessly pulled the trigger. Each time a bullet was shot, Tsuan’s grip had loosened.
Just from that loose opening, a pistol flowed out from the shadow.
As the two struggled to the very end with the goal of killing the other, it was neither an Angel
nor Astral Dress that determined the difference.
There was a difference in killing intent.
Tsuan had not consciously wanted to kill until now.
Swinging her Unsigned Angel <Lailaps>, smashing her opponent was just the consequence of
that. Under the circumstances where there are no more hands to play, she was willing to fight to
the death for the sake of victory.
However, Tokisaki Kurumi was different.
She must be victorious, with the realization that her path ahead will be full of blood; she would
never allow the corpses stepped under her feet to lose its meaning.
No matter how many people, no matter how many people.
Even if it was less than Doll Master, the number of corpses she piled up was also huge.
In order to continually kill, there must be an awareness that can be fully sustained.

Forcing her nearly collapsed heart to move, a creature that only dreamt of revenge.
Consequently, Tsuan wanted to defeat Tokisaki Kurumi.
Tokisaki Kurumi also understood that she must kill Tsuan.
Under these circumstances, power or ability was no longer meaningful.
There was a difference in killing intent, a difference in a determination to face death. Each time a
bullet struck, Tsuan’s memories of the past woke up.
──Even if there’s a guy, there’s no one who can handle your strength anyway.
──It’s the end of childhood to fight without thinking.
──Move your rusted head. Even if heart collapses because of the fear of death, use at least 30%
of your brain to start thinking.
──You’re an idiot, but there are no laws that idiots can’t think.
──Well, if you’re dead, everything will be over!
Just like that, Tsuan realized.
This was the end of childhood. She was no longer a beast that considered nothing else during
combat. Rather, she was now a Quasi-Spirit that could accurately reflect over the act of killing.
She loosened the strength in her hand.
There were no less than 28 gunshots fired altogether, which was sufficient enough to tear
through her body.
Faced with these bullets, Tsuan let go of her consciousness──────although it was just for a
brief moment.
The ice instantly turned into water as Kurumi regained her freedom.
“Ka, ha……!”

She couldn’t breathe as her wind pipe felt chocked, but in actuality this wasn’t too serious.
In the neighboring world, death was the death of the soul. It didn’t have much to do with a
physical death. So, rather than be killed by suffocation, much of the desperate breathlessness
would be due to the soul choosing death.
“Kurumi-san!”
Empty ran over in a panic──recklessly from a bad premonition.
“Please hang in there──bugya!?”
From the melted ice, a large amount of water accumulated with the mud from the lower part of
the road. It was a murky puddle; moreover, a relatively deep one had temporarily formed.
And of course, Empty didn’t notice this as she stepped forward.
And of course, the puddle was in front of Kurumi.
And of course, the answer that could be derived from this above situation was──
“……Is it really good to splash muddy water on someone else’s face?”
With her finger already at the trigger, Tokisaki Kurumi-sama was furious. The white
handkerchief was instantly soiled by mud.
“S-sorry, sorry, I am really, really sorry. I didn’t do that on purpose. Um, it was involuntary! It
was involuntary!”
“Even if that was involuntary, that just means it was vile in another sense.”
“B-but. With this you have defeated everyone!”
Hearing those words, Kurumi took in a deep breath.
But that didn’t mean she could relax her vigilance. Kurumi also understood that as she regrouped
her thoughts to fight once again. Listening to Empty’s words, she couldn’t allow her mind to
tremble now.
Despite this.
If she had taken one more step forward at that moment, her ankle would have been caught in the
trap at a moment’s notice just as her back would be literally frozen.

Standing.
After bearing more than 30 rounds of bullets, the girl still stood up. Even the slightest hint of
pain couldn’t be seen, a very serene expression──only her abdomen was covered in blood. It
was like mangled flesh so to speak.
It was impossible to not feel any pain.
Even so, the girl was wearing her Astral Dress again. Her hands clenched onto her halberd.
Then, she said this to Kurumi.
“──Thank you.”
The crisp, clean voice was both relaxed and cheerful.
But it was also a line of unknown meaning.
“Thank……um……what are you talking about?”
Empty’s voice trembled as she asked. Tsuan, as if seemed no matter how times she was asked for
a reply, continued to nod before speaking.
“Thank you very much. Thanks to you, I can grow stronger.”
Ah, so that was it.
Kurumi and Empty looked at each other while nodding slightly.
In this world, there were opponents that must not be fought. Not just because they are strong, but
because they are simply too frightening and brutal.
A battle junkie that enjoyed it for fun.
An opponent fighting with this mentality was both strong and scary, but above all a land mind to
be avoided.
Because of this, it was inevitable that their way of thinking led them to seek opponents in order
to ascend to greater heights.
Tokisaki Kurumi had overcome all of her opponents up until now by considering them as
obstacles to Doll Master.
However, when an obstacle returned and was happy to see her──it was no longer an obstacle but
an even more bothersome matter. In this situation it could be fatal.

It was an existence that could be called a rival.
“……So, more, more, more. I want to fight with you.”
Indeed, her stomach was bleeding. However, this pain should have been pleasurable for her to
the point of ecstasy.
“Kurumi-san……”
Even though she had called out, Kurumi didn’t notice Empty at all. The sense of urgency here
had risen to such an extent.
“You’re fun, interesting, and exciting. I want you to damage me more and more. Then, I’ll get
even stronger from each hit.”
“Please don’t force someone to do something.”
Even if her heart was beaten and broken, even if a fatal wound had been given, she would stand
up again and again, surviving until finally winning.
……In general, there was a name given to such an idiosyncrasy.
Hero──a girl with the power to defeat all irrationality while trembling from the excitement of
battle.
The air felt frosty. Empty rushed to take a step back, but felt that she couldn’t move under the
heavy pressure.
However, even if she had no memories of fighting, she knew that this situation was
disadvantageous for Kurumi.
Tokisaki Kurumi had been basically using the weakness of her opponents. Although it wasn’t as
precise as a shogi problem, she had been cheating with her special bullets and using tricks in
hiding within the shadows to completely defeat the opponent on the board.

In other words, it was a sign that she wasn’t good at a head-to-head confrontation.
……No, although she had never said so before……it had already been completely exposed. For
her, the best type of match up would be with a Quasi-Spirit like Tsuan, who knew nothing else
but a confrontation style match.
For Kurumi, it would be like animal willingly jumping into a trap.
However, a problem occurred here.
Very rarely, it existed.
An animal that broke through the trap, it was a beast with power that couldn’t be countered by
superficial human wisdom.──We would describe it like this──no; we would call her a concept
like this.
“You really are a monster──”
Tsuan gave a gentle smile as she stepped forward. Kurumi let out a sigh, appearing exhausted in
front of Empty.
The gesture was strangely human, it gave Empty a peculiar feeling. Even now, Kurumi was still
holding onto her pistol.
The matchlock of the deceive battle was quiet. And then, it slowly cut off.
And at the same time.
This was also a chance for her to start moving.
The classroom was now a stage as her dolls crowded the entire room. The dolls reported the bad
news about Tokisaki Kurumi to Doll Master, while the angel doll conveyed the good news.
There were also all sorts of other dolls that were whispering to each other.
“There are only two left at the very end.” “One of them is Tsuan.” “The other is Tokisaki
Kurumi.”
“Let them crush and kill each other.” “I have to secure it before it disappears.” “In the worst case,
it doesn’t matter to give up on Tsuan.” “Tokisaki Kurumi” “She’s not like our existence.” “A

genuine Spirit.” “Really?” “Nonsense.” “But it is true that there is a portion of that power.” “If
that is the case.” “If to not kill.” “If to not end.” “This world.” “This region.” “If it does not
become mine.” “Please, I ask” “You.”
Without the mouth opening, False replied back.
“No.” “If we are not capable.” “Even stronger ones” “The reconnaissance team can’t do it.”
“The battle has intensified.” “Even more powerful” “Need”
From the throat, from the heart, from the abdomen, from the calf, the voice leaked out. As the
dolls listened to that complaint, they glanced at each other’s faces while rustling nosily.
“Who is going?” “Who is coming?” “Who is going to do it?”
“Me.” “Me.” “Me.” (TL: Note. The first person pronoun (me) here is different for each doll in Japanese, going from left to right it is
アタシ(atashi)，私 (watashi) 和ボク(boku))
One of them was a doll with a long Japanese sword.
One of them was doll holding a bow.
One of them was a doll possessing a huge magnifying glass.
The puppets squatted, walking over to climb onto False’s body. False was immovable,
completely ignoring their actions. Afterwards, using both hands to disregard joints of her jaw,
she opened her mouth.
The three dolls jumped into the mouth one by one. Gufu, False’s abdomen swelled up.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah……”
False let out a hoarse voice in pain.
“No good.” “Someone is coming back.” “Three is too much.”
The dolls let out a panicked voice. From the wide open mouth, another doll had slipped out.
“Dead?” “Disappointed” “Worthless”
The dolls saw that one of them was not moving, so they tossed it out the window.
“Now, let’s get ready.” “Break them apart, False Proxy” “Go kill them”
Fixing the strange distorted face from the dolls entering, False slowly nodded.

……As one can see from this horrific sight, False Proxy was neither a Quasi-Spirit nor anything
resembling a living creature.
It was a collection of dolls pasted with human skin. So, it was a fake, so it couldn’t die.
This doll has participated in many killing games, sometimes fighting, defeated, and then
resurrected. There were very few people who knew the truth. Tokisaki Kurumi was one of them.
And needless to say, it was Doll Master who was the commander of these dolls.
Yes, this game had been a farce from the very beginning.
“Ignorance is terrible.” “Very terrible.” “A sacrificial ceremony” “Misunderstanding” “Very

regrettable”
A wide variety of miscellaneous inorganic sounds intertwined.
Doll Master was cautious, crafty, prudent, unscrupulous, relentless, cruel, and cowardly.
Even now, there had never been a Quasi-Spirit that defeated her. Although she remained
unbeaten, there were several people who could achieve a reversal.
But as long as she left everything to the doll, never reveal her own appearance, and never let
anyone know of her position, then she would definitely invincible.
False flew out the window.
The messily wrapped bandages danced wildly like a spider’s legs. The two dolls in charge of
False’s sight at last caught Tsuan and Tokisaki Kurumi outside the field of vision.
“According to the surveillance report (Right eye)” “Those two are still fighting. (Left eye)”
“Is it better to wait a little longer?” “That’s wise.” “Let’s do it!”
“Since those two are very strong.” “Competing against each other.” “Wearing each other down.”
“But that girl” “Surely, all sorts of matters” “Everything was heard from Tokisaki Kurumi.”
“Then kill it.” “Don’t leave it behind.” “No one will bother.”
“Empty!” “Empty!” “Empty!”
“That girl Empty!” “It’s inconceivable that she’s struggling without her memories!” “Let’s kill!”
The sound of cheers swirled, the dolls encased in False brandished their favorite weapons.

Gun, sword, lance, bow, Japanese sword, magnifying glass, chakram──
The monsters in that colony (False Proxy) laughed all over.
The battle had turned into an uncouth brawl.
Using the First Bullet <Aleph> to accelerate herself to the limit, an attack from every direction
was carried out by Tokisaki Kurumi.
And then, receiving every blow with her tenacious Astral Dress, Tsuan slamming her down with
a kick before catching Kurumi with a single hand.
“H-hurry, and run away────────────!”
Seeing this battle unfold, Empty issued out a reasonable scream. The moment Kurumi was
caught; she realized the truth behind the nickname of being called Biscuit Smasher.
Once caught, you could definitely not escape. You will definitely be killed. You will absolutely
be crushed.
Tsuan, who was flinging Kurumi around like a stick, smashed her against the stone wall.
However, that choice was not wise.
Tsuan’s eyes widened as she didn’t feel the sense of impact being transmitted to her fist.
Immediately afterwards she understood why this had occurred, there was a shadow on the stone
wall which Kurumi had half-burrowed inside.
“Now, please come here……!”
With that said, Kurumi forcibly dragged Tsuan into the shadow. In a space where it was
impossible to breathe or determining up, down, left, and right, Tsuan flailed both of her
arms──meaninglessly.
The halberd, which she should have been holding, had disappeared.
Accelerated by the First Bullet <Aleph>’s invisible combo, finally there was a crack in Tsuan’s
Extreme Death Spirit Dress, Number 15 <Brinicle>.

At the very end, a strange sound resounded in that space just like a trumpet signaling demise.
Kusukusu, the sound of laughter.
Tsuan kept silent. But that was not from fear. Delight crawled up her spine as her spirits were too
excited to be controlled.
──Fun!
Fighting against her was so much fun! She couldn’t even predict what was going to happen to
her in the next second!
It could be said that she was already accustomed to the sound of this impact. When struck again,
Tsuan had thought that. She had built this logic while thinking it over. Fortunately, there was one
useful thing about this shadowy space.
There was no noise in this reality. Size of sound, direction, deviation from landing, she could
sniff them all to explore Kurumi’s whereabouts somewhere in this shadow──and locate her.
“Caught you──!”
Without hesitating, Tsuan vigorously grabbed onto Kurumi’s neck. Instantly, she returned back
to a world full of light.
Her vision momentarily became fuzzy because of the sudden return.
Empty looked at herself in a resolute manner──no hostility, no threat, no problem.
On the ground, Tokisaki Kurumi was on the ground. Blood poured from her forehead as she
groaned in pain from hazy consciousness……but she still kept her antique pistol at Tsuan’s
throat.
If she could endure this bullet, then victory was hers.
But at the same time, she didn’t feel confident that she could endure it.
Extreme Death Spirit Dress, Number 15 <Brinicle> had all but destroyed. Her current defense
was the equivalent to a single sheet of countertop paper.
However, as long as that bullet was endured, Tsuan could strike Kurumi’s head again and win.
Tsuan had the self-confidence in that.
……Of course, she also had the inconsiderate gamble of pulling back to gain some distance.
However, Tsuan’s instincts were screaming. If she did that, there was no chance for victory.
If she endured this, it was her victory. If she succumbed, it was Kurumi’s victory.

“My, victory……!”
“No, it’s your defeat……!”
The first one to notice something unusual was Tokisaki Kurumi. It was because she was laying
on the ground, with the humiliating condition of being concealed by Tsuan looming over her.
The Quasi-Spirit that had descended from the sky──False Proxy. In her hollow mouth, she had
six hands stretched out.
The moment she saw that figure, something broke within Tokisaki Kurumi’s mind. No matter
how brutal the fight to the death with Tsuan had been until now, even the kill or be killed
mentality, everything had been driven out of her mind.
She shifted the pistol that was aimed at Tsuan’s throat and pulled the trigger towards the sky.
False tried to reach out to catch the bullet. Naturally, that failed. A booming screech, the flesh
splattered──small cracks spread over the body in an instant.
False exploded. At the same time, dolls hidden inside emerged on after the other.
The sound of a high-pitched battle cry.
Tsuan noticed this and turned around. Because of this inconvenience, Kurumi jumped up and
kept shooting from her antiquated pistol in rapid succession towards the sky.
Astonishingly, all of the bullets had been avoided.
“Let’s gooooooooooo!” Accompanied by that loud voice, a Japanese sword was brandished
upward.
“Target confirmation. Fire────!” With a high pitch voice, the bow was set.
“Burn up────!” Along with a brash voice, a magnifying glass was lifted up.”
Magnifying glass.
The moment she noticed this, Kurumi gritted her teeth. If looked closely, these dolls shared a
similar impression with other people that she could recall.
Tsuan raised her fist to intercept the attack. The doll merely laughed.
“Slow” “Too slow” “Too sluggish” “It can’t be helped” “Since” “She must be exhausted!”

Even with that in mind, the doll’s movements were very nimble. The doll waving the Japanese
sword impaled Tsuan’s chest with its blade. A small arrow pierced her throat. Rays of condensed
sunlight scorched her body.
Seeing Tsuan toppled over, Empty let out a mournful cry.
Was it because Tsuan was knocked down again and they were surrounded by dolls?
No.
“……These, dolls……are……”
Empty quivered while pointing her finger at the doll. It was the splitting image of Hijikata Isami.
The one next to her looked exactly like Takeshita Ayame. And lastly, the doll that had attacked
Tsuan with the magnifying glass was definitely the same as Sheri Musika.
The dolls screamed, when listened carefully it was indeed their voices.
Already standing up, Tokisaki Kurumi dreadfully muttered as she was oozing with the intent to
murder.
“Everyone has turned into a doll. No, it would be better to say that they were turned into one.”
“B-being turned into……?”
All Quasi-Spirits are based on the fragments of the Sephira Crystal. So if you die, the Sephira
Crystal will become someone else’s property.
Doll Master had plundered pieces of Sephira shards from more than 100 Quasi-Spirits and turned
them into dolls.
Isami, Ayame, and Sheri’s dolls began to dance.
They found it extremely enjoyable and humorous, but for Empty it felt on the contrary to be
intolerably repulsive.
Such a ridiculous caricature, it seemed to the vilest and blasphemous end for those defeated due
to a lack of strength.
“So this is your worst. Doll Master.”
She wasn’t just satisfied with turning them into dolls.
Keeping as much of the original personality and abilities as possible on top of them being made
into cute dolls. Moreover, a fatal portion of the personality had been altered──no matter how
arrogant the original personality, they will become a faithful servant to Doll Master.

“Fun, it’s fun.” “Everyone gets along so well, so beautifully” “Ah, it’s so good to be a doll.”
“Shut up!!”
For the first time, she saw Tokisaki Kurumi truly enraged.
When hearing this, the dolls began to laugh more and more cheerfully.
“Angry, you got angry!” “Crumple and collapse!” “Let’s kill, let’s kill!” “This Spirit is a doll!”
“Can make this Spirit into a doll!” “Join our family!”
The old-fashioned gun blew away one of the frolicking dolls. The cheers quickly turned silent for
a moment.
“What noisy chatter. Does that annoying person think she’s some sort of king by manipulating
these uncanny dolls?”
There was a silent anger contained within Kurumi’s words. But Empty thought at the same time.
She couldn’t afford that right now. Acting on pure anger towards the attitudes of those
disappeared from being eaten.
On the contrary, it could be because the situation had turned into a crisis. Or──
“Anyway, is Doll Master just looking on from somewhere? If so, I will destroy every single doll.
That will make it quick and easy.”
The dolls laughed at once at the same time.
“Impossible!” “Impossible!” “Impossible means that it is unmanageable!” “Because we are!”

“Many!” “An unlimited insignificance!” “A legion, a legion!” “A one thousand strong army!”
“Even for a Spirit, it is impossible to defeat us!!”
Just as those words were said, they were surrounded by the dolls. Empty fell softly onto the
ground.
Those inorganic pupils, more than 2000 of those glass eyes were staring at Tokisaki Kurumi. She
was not afraid, not trembling, not crying──.
Her expression was full of rage, but there was no fear. But even so, she wasn’t smiling as usual.
Calmly, she took in a gentle breath as she turned to look at Empty.
“Empty.”

There was no tremor in the sound of her voice.
“Y-yes. What is it?”
“I’m really sorry for getting you caught up in my revenge. You’re not really Empty”.”
“Eh, then……!?”
Kurumi smiled while pointing to the ground. She was referring to a manhole cover, which she
kicked open to reveal an entrance.
“Run away. You’ll be a hindrance if you stay here.”
“Eh, but……!”
Although she intended to say some heroic line of not wanting to abandon her, but──
“Saying anything else is worthless.”
Empty’s nape was suddenly grabbed as she was thrown into the sewer. Fortunately, there was no
such thing as an unpleasant odor due to the lack of human activity in the neighboring world.
“Kurumi─sa”
“Like I said, saying anything more is worthless.”
Kurumi said with a smile as she gently waved to Empty from above.
“You’re sheltering her!” “Important? Important?” “That girl Empty?”
The dolls held their stomach while laughing.
Seeing this ugly scene, Tokisaki Kurumi smiled. There was already enough pleasure and
enjoyment to smile from this.
“No, just──as expected, I’m neither cruel nor shallow enough to get her involved in this matter.
That’s all.”
The dolls slanted their heads in confusion.
Kurumi raised her antique pistol──aiming not at the dolls──but at the window of a residential
home.
Then.
A flash of light filled the eyes as a boom sound burst into the ears.

However, that was only if……those dolls had eyes and ears.
Burning, bursting, and erupting.
With her at the center, one square kilometer had transformed into an empty lot.
“A nitro dress that was a combination of roughly over 200 Astral Dresses and Sephira Crystal
fragments. How difficult was it to collect only that much?”
Kurumi had truly struggled.
First of all, collecting over 200 was not something a sane person could accomplish. But this nitro
dress was a single shot that had the power to reverse the battle. Therefore, under normal
circumstances it would be impossible, but as long as the single explosion was needed, she was
able to reach an agreement no matter how irrational the transaction was.
At the time of collecting all 200, others would no doubt begin to suspect her motives. And once
she is suspected, Doll Master would definitely analyze that information and begin developing the
corresponding countermeasures.
First of all, in order to prevent that, she changed her appearance when she was negotiating with
others. She transformed her voice, body shape, and even her personality.
It took a long time, but in order to not be discovered by Doll Master, she little by little installed
them in temporary houses.
……Tokisaki Kurumi had already expected her use the dolls when she survived.
And being a Spirit, she would be more cautious and invest as much of her forces as possible.
In order to kill 1000 dolls, Kurumi arrived at the conclusion of a wide area explosion.
Naturally, this was a gamble that put herself at a disadvantage. Frustrated by the sense of
hopelessness, there was once or twice where she couldn’t go to sleep.
But, she won.
Kurumi peacefully sat on the ground──sparing no effort to recover.
Just a little bit more, victory was in sight. I can get revenge. I can get rid of her.
“Yue, Yue, just a little bit more, a little bit more……”
The words stopped. In front of Kurumi’s eyes was Ibusuki Panie. Ibusuki Panie, a person who
should have been dead.

“Yes, you just said Yue-chan. I understand, I finally understand!”
“……You’re still alive? How surprising.”
Kurumi’s finger was on the trigger of her pistol. Ibusuki Panie denied that with an innocent smile
just like an angel.
“No, no, not alive. Because Panie is already dead.”
“Ah, so that’s it. Then, you are the same as False? Is your little body full of dolls?”
When she heard Kurumi, Panie smiled and nodded.
“That’s right! Umm, there’s about 400 in Panie (storage house). So, I have around another 1400
bodies to be kept aside!”
Kurumi couldn’t understand the numbers for a moment.
“Ha……?”
“Like I said, I have around 1800 bodies! Yeah, no one has ever been able to get past 1000 bodies
before! Panie was so moved! So there are about two-thirds still remaining, please try your best!”
“……You’re bluffing? You’re being driven to that extent, right?”
It was a miracle that Kurumi’s voice was not shaking. There were 1800 dolls left?
So much, there was no chance of winning……!
“Does it really matter? Aren’t you a Spirit? Can’t you easily crush anything on a level that a
Quasi-Spirit can’t compare?”
Silence.
Kurumi restrained the fear that was held closely to her heart.
“……I am Tokisaki Kurumi.”
Ibusuki Panie opened its mouth as wide as False Proxy and took out a doll from within.
A familiar Astral Dress, a familiar weapon, and a familiar face.
The moment she saw it, Kurumi’s will to fight burst and faded away.
“Hmm, what was this one’s name? Y…Yuei……?”

“It’s Hiriyu Yue, Ibusuki-san.”
“Ah yes, that’s right!”
“Y…ue……”
Blueish short hair, clear eyes, and a giant claymore sword that didn’t match her size.
Even in the current state as a bad caricature, she would never forget that face.
“Tokisaki Kurumi has nothing to do with Yue, right?”
“Yes! She has nothing to do with me!”
“If─that’s─the─case──”
Ibusuki Panie glanced over at Kurumi, revealing a faint sadistic smile.
“Hiriyu-san is your friend?”
“Best friend is a Quasi-Spirit!”
──The air froze.
Everything was known, everything was sealed. Even if the pieces could move freely on the board,
they still would never reach the game master.
“Now then, please kill that Spirit-san.”
“I understand, Ibusuki-san! I’ll go kill it!”
The doll turned this way. Those glassy eyes were unable to tell even the tiniest hint of emotion.
“……Yes, that’s it.”
Tokisaki Kurumi, the girl who kept inspiring herself, lowered her head.
The doll rushed over with great excitement. It was reminiscent of how she used to run.
Lost, lost, everything was lost. But even, she still lived on for her sake.
But in the end, it was meaningless. The innocent doll set up its favorite claymore.
Somedays, it felt like a nostalgic dream.

Victory, sometimes she would shout that when greeting her back home. I hated fighting, I also
hated being hurt, even more so if it was a friend hurt.
However, I didn’t want to disturb how happy she looked talking.
And so, I have always, always been waiting for that day and time again.
“……I’ve been waiting for you all this time.”
Welcome back, the girl whispered to herself.
She spread her arms out to greet her as the doll’s sword was embedded in her chest.
Looking at the fallen girl, Ibusuki Panie──the dolls hidden inside began to snicker.
This war (date) had also ended quite meaningfully. Although it was a pity that the Spirit was a
fake, it didn’t mean that she fancy the idea of having a real Spirit as an opponent.
They are a disaster that should not exist in the neighboring world. They must be living happily in
the other world.
However, the neighboring world was theirs. The tenth region was hers. Doll Master nodded with
satisfaction as she wanted to praise her puppets.
The dolls, following the order, happily planned to chop apart Kurumi’s body. As Doll Master
tried to add a command to not damage the Sephira Crystal──she witnessed the doll blown away.
The huge explosion could be felt even in the sewer. Empty screamed with her back pressed
against wall, trembling from the fear of not knowing if the ceiling would collapse.
A short silence.
……After confirming she was still alive and unharmed, Empty stood back up to her feet.
It didn’t fit the image she had of herself to remain crouching here. The cause of this explosion
was definitely Kurumi. In that case, it would better to head out to see the results.

Empty didn’t think that she would die. Although she didn’t think that she would die, she still had
a bad feeling about this.
Following the light coming in, she climbed up the ladder.
The temperature likely had risen from the explosion earlier. And then, she didn’t even know if
Tsuan was still alive after being engulfed in the explosion. Despite the frightening image of
minced meat, she still felt the urge to eat hamburgers today.
……No, it wasn’t good to let her thoughts wander off into such worthless matters right now.
But while climbing this ladder, she only felt an uneasiness that made her heart feel faint.
The last thing seen was that lonely smile──.
She prayed for herself to be wrong.
Perhaps it was her intention to die regardless of failure or success.
It was so full of sorrow that it seemed like that, a smile that quietly accepted the destruction.
Such a smile was not suitable for her. Tokisaki Kurumi should be more magnificent, illusory,
cruelly laughing and trampling over her opponent.
Arrive above ground; Empty was stunned at the tremendous sight. The surrounding area had
been reduced to rubble; the place where house were supposed to be lined up was now a free lot.
This ought to have been Tokisaki Kurumi’s hidden card.
In order to deal with the notorious Doll Master, there must have been no other way but this large-
scale explosion.
But……in this explosion. She didn’t know if Kurumi had survived.
Even if there was an Astral Dress……
As she was about to call her name, Empty realized that she was right in front of her.
Even if she turned back, there was no way that she could miss this view now.
“Kurumi-sa─”
The sound of the puncture was quite light; the blood splatter was also minuscule. But from the
chest to the back, a steel-sharpened blade had run through.
But that wasn’t strange. It was in the middle of a battle, so it wasn’t strange.

Yet, Empty was unable to comprehend this. At this moment, Tokisaki Kurumi had actually shed
blood and fell down.
“……Kurumi-san?”
She couldn’t understand what was happening at all. She wouldn’t die; Tokisaki Kurumi had an
unfathomably absurd invulnerability.
Don’t die, don’t die to something as trivial as this, absolutely don’t die.
However, the blood would not stop. Whether if it was a Quasi-Spirit or Spirit, she would die if
blood continued to be lost. The mind would give in before the body.
Nevertheless, the blue-haired doll gladly prepared to cut off the shoulders, arms, and legs.
“……Hand.”
Completely unconsciously, Empty grabbed what was in that hand. The doll looked a little
surprised as it stared at Empty.
What was in Empty’s hands was Tokisaki Kurumi’s old fashioned pistol. She understood it only
through instinct, the bullets were still loaded, and afterwards she only had to make a firm
resolution……just by relying on this feeling.
“……Stop.”
Her voice was cold, her fingertips were cold, only her heart felt warm. Pulling the
trigger──shock, boom, recoil. The right hand of the doll shattered and fell onto the ground.
It was clear to Empty that now was the time to be stunned.
Ibusuki Panie stared blankly in puzzlement. But after seeing Empty try to use her shoulders to
support Kurumi, both her arms began to shake while she stared at them.
“Really──! How troublesome──!”
Dolls were released from Panie’s mouth. There numbers were around thirty, it was a very simple
act to kill two people who wanted to escape.
Empty was not strong enough to carry a girl that had lost consciousness. If she went by foot, they
would definitely be caught. Additionally, Empty’s mood right now was completely fretful.
Kurumi’s hand was annoyingly chilly from the incessant blood flowing out.
“……Do…..”

Kurumi muttered a soliloquy, but right now was not the time to listen to that.
Being caught meant being killed, dying, not only herself but Kurumi as well.
There was no rescue. There was no miracle that would occur. Destiny had strictly, ruthlessly, and
completely bound them.
──So, this wasn’t a miracle.
If one were to describe it, it was a miscalculation from Doll Master.
Her bad taste caused this development.
The thirty dolls caught up, they were more than enough to kill an Empty Quasi-Spirit and a Spirit
that had lost consciousness.
The doll that finally caught up and swung its sword──repelling away the others.
“Eh?”
The puppet let out an awkward voice. Sparing no time to cut off their arms and heads in an
instant.
“……Eh?”
This time it was Empty who let out a voice of surprise.
Their helper was neither a God nor a Quasi-Spirit.
“I see, so it was like this!”
The one-handed puppet smiled happily. It was the doll that Empty had shot just now──.
“Why……?”
Empty stopped her own steps as she whispered blankly. The doll raised the huge sword with a
single hand while shouting.
“You are my friend! I am your friend! So, surely I shouldn’t kill her! Sorry! I wasn’t aware,
sorry!”
There were tears in those glassy eyelids.

Facing Empty who was completely lost, the doll yelled out loudly.
“I don’t know anymore. Everything. But, I remember. I can only remember the things that Hibiki
liked, what Hibiki liked! So! That’s why……”
Run away, she whispered. The doll cut apart the other dolls that had caught up.
Nothing could be conveyed, nothing was answered. Empty fled from that place while dragging
along Kurumi.
Anyway, they first needed gain some distance. She focused nothing but on getting farther away
to a place that was invisible to the eyes of the dolls.
Empty’s choice was not the residential building but the abandoned factory. The place where she
was once imprisoned. Although it had half-collapsed from the fierce attacks, it was because of
that she felt it wouldn’t attract any attention……the only thing left to do now was to pray.
A cold droplet dripped down her neck.
Fortunately, there was a sudden downpour. This way, both their scent and footprints would
disappear at the same time. Although she was worried about being chilly, being alive right now
was more important.
After that, if Tokisaki Kurumi could wake up.
“……Here is……”
“Kurumi-san!?”
Empty hurried to lean over. That pale expression, the loss of color in her lips, the constant flow
of blood that wouldn’t cease, but even then Kurumi was still alive.
“……Ran away…..why……?”
“Yes. That doll helped us.”
“Doll, but……?”
“It said that it was my friend.”
Hearing those words, Kurumi opened her eyes──then; she began to gasp as if breathing out her
soul.

“……I-is that right.”
Kurumi used her trembling hands to find a photo in her pocket. It was the photograph with
Empty close together with the girl that became the model for that doll.
“Aren’t you surprised?”
“Nothing would surprise me at this point.”
“In that case. Even if I said I wasn’t Tokisaki Kurumi, you wouldn’t be surprised?”
“……Even if that’s the case. I won’t be surprised.”
Kurumi touched her chest to wipe out the blood.
“With this much blood flowing……well, it looks like it’s hopeless. I don’t feel like I can be
saved.”
“Please don’t say that!”
“……Do you want to hear an old story?”
Suddenly, her tone changed. As if dissolved in water, her hair began to lose its color. It was
testimony that Higoromo Hibiki had released Tokisaki Kurumi’s power.
A story overflowed from her lips.
By the time she noticed, she was already lost in the neighboring world.
Mixed in with the Quasi-Spirits of all sorts of colors, Higoromo Hibiki was part of the
overwhelming majority that was completely helpless.
The title of Empty was not a false name.
Not just memories, there was sometimes girls wandering around that would lose their
personalities as well. A harmless ghost that was an eyesore to look at.
Perhaps, they were a symbol of fear that others wanted to avoid becoming as well.
That was Empty.

It wouldn’t take long for their hands and feet to disappear completely before finally those girls
are destined to disappear completely from the neighboring world.
Higoromo Hibiki was such a person. She didn’t know anything, she was afraid of arriving at this
world, afraid of fighting, For those not fortunate enough to be able to use an Astral Dress, they
were afraid of disappearing.
There were no dreams.
There was no hope.
There was nothing to crave for.
There wasn’t even a heart to crave.
A person who was born not knowing anything should die alone. That should have been
Higoromo Hibiki’s fate.
In this lethargy, it was a coincidence that Hibiki saw her.
In the tenth region Malkuth communication was marked──by killing each other. There was a
girl who lived happily by fighting.
After several clashes, she had obtained a triumphant victory. With her hollow eyes, Hibiki tried
to match the look of the eyes of that girl.
The girl was full of smiles. To Hibiki who was staring at her helplessly, she made a victory sign
with her two fingers.
“I won!”
Blankly staring at her──Hibiki slowly returned the victory gesture.
“Thank you!”
The girl disappeared after saying that loudly.
Hibiki stood up. She noticed that the arm that was disappearing had been restored. In such a
meaningless exchange, Hibiki had found hope.
That girl’s name was Hiriyu Yue. Empty’s name was Higoromo Hibiki.
Yue was a typical Quasi-Spirit that couldn’t live without fighting. And Hibiki was a Quasi-Spirit
that can continue living by cuddling onto some else without needing to fight.

It was like a calm day after a storm.
Each time Yue came back injured her heart would ache. On the other hand, her heart would also
felt relieved as long as she returned.
Hibiki thought that she didn’t want to use the power of her Unsigned Angel.
It has horrific power, but the cost was too great. If used recklessly, all that awaited her was
becoming an invalid.
“That’s such a waste!”
Although Yue spoke while complaining, Hibiki just smiled as if a little troubled. The worst part
of that power was being able to replace herself.
Personality separated, memories deviated, and even the name Higoromo Hibiki needed to be
forcibly thrown away.
It was a shame to forget about Yue who was right in front of herself.
“It’s fine Yue. I don’t care.”
“Really? It doesn’t matter at all for your body?”
“I don’t like fighting, so I’m okay for now. Un, it’s fine because I am happy.”
Fighting wasn’t the only way to chase after a dream.
There was also a dream of being satisfied through just waiting. The days spent playing and
chatting with Yue.
So Hibiki felt satisfied living in the present.
──But if she lost Yue, this sense of fulfillment would disappear.
Why was it that she would always look away whenever she said that?
Why was it that she was convinced that as long as she waited, her words of “I’m coming back!”
would always ring true?
The last time she said that was after receiving an invitation to a game sponsored by Doll Master.
“I wanted to participate since the beginning.”

Yue spoke in an unusually calm tone.
“But to participate in the war she’s sponsoring means staking your life. I think that’s a bit wrong.”
“Great, that’s a relief……I was still wondering if you were going to defiantly go there.”
Hearing Hibiki’s reply, Yue muttered as if embarrassed from the bottom of her heart.
“At the time of fighting for my life, I think that I would want to know.”
“Yue, when are you going to risk your life?”
“If you ever encounter a pinch, I’ll definitely risk my life on the line to save you.”
Yue had always categorically said that line.
“Ah──……thank you. In that case, I feel relieved.”
Very embarrassing, but only those words could describe the emotion filling up her chest.
“Anyway, I’ll refuse it tomorrow.”
The second day after Yue had said that, she had completely disappeared.
It wasn’t unusual for a girl to go missing in the neighboring world. Even more so if it was a girl
who liked to fight.
Moreover, when the whereabouts are unknown, all she could do was waiting for her.
In time, Hibiki heard a rumor about Doll Master. She was collecting dolls, these so-called dolls
used to be Quasi-Spirits. If she had her eye on you, then you would absolutely be turned into a
doll.
“Doll Master, Doll Master, Doll Master!”
Achieving revenge became Hibiki’s new dream.
Since the first step was fighting, she grew accustomed to battle, seeing blood, and treating
wounds. The next step was collecting information.
Luckily, the abilities of the Astral Dress were most suitable for information gathering. She made
a thorough investigation of Doll Master’s advantages, disadvantages, secrets, and weaknesses.
Although many times in the process her life became targeted, her obsession didn’t permit her to
die.

The last step would mark the completion of the plan. In order to kill Doll Master, in order to
defeat Doll Master, what was indispensable?
Thinking, thinking, thinking──looking back, she found that she come quite far.
To imagine that she had lived alone for such a long time.
Even if she met Yue again, that girl would surely not recognize her. Well, but. That didn’t matter
anymore. Because it was impossible for a reunion.
Therefore, it was fine not to be Higoromo Hibiki (me) anymore. The Unsigned Angel of the
seventh genus, <King Killing>. It held the power to plunder. Exchanging bodies with the target,
even abilities can be plundered──the ability to reversal a law in order to murder a king.
So far, it had been used to temporarily rob the faces of other Quasi-Spirits in order to hide herself.
However, the robbery of abilities was a far more advanced use, an unknown world to herself.
Once started, she couldn’t lift it until she died. It was power with great risk that was irretrievable
afterwards.
Consequently, Hibiki wandered around the region searching for the greatest strength and most
powerful presence to plunder from.
A Quasi-Spirit with the power to compete against Doll Master.
And so she finally found it. Not a Quasi-Spirit, but it was a Spirit that was said to bring disaster.
It was beautiful.
No matter where, it was matchless beauty.
The girl that was falling out of the sky was about to die. Nevertheless, she could easily see that
huge power.
If there was anything that transcended both human intelligence and Spirits──it was the once in a
million fortune granted to Higoromo Hibiki through this encounter.
……Hibiki knew. Her ability stole not only both physical form and Astral Dress, but it even
robbed one’s personality as well.
There was a high probability of discarding a stupid notion like revenge upon being able to seize
this power.
There were no countermeasures. So she strongly thought. She firmly embraced the memories she
shared with Hiriyu Yue into her chest.

Please I beg of you, it doesn’t matter if you take away anything from me. After this revenge is
successful, I’ll also give up my own life. So please don’t take my dreams away. Please let me
achieve my revenge.
That is to say, it was expected that there was no spectacle of joy whatsoever in revenge.
A dark night. In the depths of an unnamed alley devoid of any human waste. In the rain, a single
girl held hands with the dying Spirit.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry……”
She had considered it countless, countless times. The thought was already lingering in her mind.
But her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
With her personality altered, she wouldn’t be herself anymore. In order to kill her opponent she
needed to kill herself.
Higoromo Hibiki was now prepared to kill two girls.
Only in that manner, she repeated that line countless times again. Despite this, she couldn’t take
the final step forward.
So, she remembered more strongly.
The sight of those days; the peaceful days where it felt fulfilling just being together.
A calm scene that could never be recovered again.
“Don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget!! Absolutely
don’t forget that scene!!”
She screamed.
The Unsigned Angel <King Killing> was launched.
A huge claw deprived everything from the Spirit girl who was there, burying it deep into
Higoromo Hibiki.
And then after being deprived of everything, the Spirit became Empty.

At the end of the long monologue, she slowly changed back from a Spirit into a Quasi-Spirit. She
discarded the filled container and returned back into being the original Empty.
“……I’ve been lying to you all this time.”
The girl who was just Kurumi until a moment ago had said that.
Empty listened to her confession while stunned.
“I knew why you had no memories. I knew who you were. However, I didn’t tell you. I knew
that and still lied. Because I can only──lie, lie, lie constantly.”
“……Why didn’t you kill me?”
The girl suddenly laughed.
“I am selfish. I didn’t want to see myself die. That’s all.”
Flowing out, the essence of Tokisaki Kurumi was being slowly sucked into the girl standing next
to her.
“Go. You are a Spirit; that is a fact that no one can interfere.”
The girl standing in front of her eyes was no longer Empty.
The Spirit silently raised her gun.
“──I can’t forgive you.”
“……Yes, sorry.”
This ending was also very good, she thought. From the very beginning she did something terrible
to her.
“Aren’t you going to beg for mercy?”
“Didn’t you just say it? Yue protected us. When I heard about that, it was already okay.”
She protected me.
Even after being turned into a doll, she tried to fulfill her promise to me.

Not matter how or where, Yue would always be her personal hero. Just by knowing this,
Higoromo Hibiki felt saved.
A thunderous silence.
And thus, Tokisaki Kurumi died──.
And thus, Tokisaki Kurumi woke up.
As the girl left the factory, there was a multitude of dolls surrounding her.
The rain had not stopped falling.
“Found you.”
A battered doll was thrown away into a puddle of mud. It was the doll of Hiriyu Yue. To be
precise, it was only her head. The tossed torso was incised with countless scars. It should be
owed to their hatred towards the traitor.
The girl squatted down and gently stroked the face of the doll.
She didn’t dislike such people who would firmly keep their promises, regardless of whether it
was a doll or Quasi-Spirit.
“Where is Tokisaki Kurumi? If you don’t answer, we’ll torture you.”
“……”
Silence. Although it was humorous that they had the time for such a remarks, she ignored them
as she continued to gently stroke the doll. Her actions caused the other dolls to become irritated.
“Like your best friend, it’s not bad to kill you after becoming a doll.”
No response.
Passing this frustration, as strange chill ran through the dolls.
“Did you……hear?”

No response.
Because of the downpour, visibility was poor as none of the dolls could see her face.
Posture, clothing, that was certainly Empty──no, wait.
“That gun, are you going to use it?”
No response.
The old fashioned pistol used by Tokisaki Kurumi was held tightly in her hands.
──And then finally, Empty responded.

It was a wild laughter like coming from the pits of hell.
Rather than frustration, as the fear reached a critical point, one of the dolls let out a strange
scream and jumped up.
Doll Master’s puppets even reproduced a pseudo copy of the Quasi-Spirits’ Astral Dress. Her
Astral Dress swirled up in flames as she propelled forward just like a rocket.
In front of the doll that was rushing forward at a furious force, the girl, who should have been
helpless, shot it down as easily as a fly.
“……Ha?”
The dolls roared. Watching this, Doll Master, for the first time in a while, felt an extremely
unpleasant foreign object clogging her throat.
“I hope you don’t misunderstand. I don’t have any particular strong feelings towards that doll.”
──That was true. After all, from her perspective, she was nothing more than someone
completely unrelated to that doll.
“So, I think the safest choice would be to leave here without any questions.”
That was something that should be done regardless of how many people there were.
“Just, well. How to describe it? I am somewhat impatient. But now, I’m already very angry.
Whether it’s being caught in a troublesome manner, still everything about your existence is
annoying and unbearable.”
The tone was different.
Even the voice was different.
Looking closely, the reiryoku overflowing from her Astral Dress was incomparable from before.
Calm down, the dolls told themselves. Tokisaki Kurumi was an imposter, a sham, a disguise
used by Higoromo Hibiki; there were countless Quasi-Spirits that could manage this.
Besides, even if it was one in ten thousand chance. No, the possibility of being a Spirit was one
in a hundred million. With these numbers, it would be unmanageable to lose.
Doll Master desperately tried to convince herself.
It was impossible to lose. Being that she was the Dominion of the Tenth Region──
At most it was feeling hesitant about a single person──

That can never be allowed!
“All members commence the assault! Do it!”
Without leaving or moving away, the girl greeted the assault by stretching her arms out. On one
hand was a pistol while on the other was a long rifle.
And behind her, a huge clock appeared.
It was her Angel──the ruler of time and shadows <Zafkiel>.
“No, just being annoyed isn’t enough to describe it. Sorry, I’ll use more concise and succinct
words──I want to kill you all.”
Black and white began to change.
Rather than mixing, it changed without stagnating.
Swishing, rustling, as if making light of the surroundings.
The soft bones of the various soldiers felt resigned to their death.
Standing before their eyes was a beast that was a harbinger of death.
What awaited them was a blood-soaked death.
Setting the ancient pistol, devouring the shadowy bullet, that silhouette stood prominent among
the shudders.
Something that was difficult to distinguish, an inhuman outsider.
Now come, scream in distress at this calamity.
There was only an unshakable talent, the Dominion of time and shadows. That which comprised
of one-tenth of the neighboring world.
Her name was Tokisaki Kurumi.
A lovely maiden who strived to be the worst and greatest Spirit in history.

“I’ll carefully trample on (play with) you all. Riffraff.”
Despair had begun.
It wasn’t the case of Tokisaki Kurumi seriously fighting by herself──
Having the Worst Spirit as an opponent, these dolls weren’t even qualified.
Bullets were fired in quick succession from each hand. Each bullet accurately shot out the dolls’
Sephira fragments. After violently laughing, she once again reloaded her bullets.
“First is the warm-up. <Zafkiel>──the First Bullet <Aleph>!”
Kurumi shot the bullet at herself, charging in with the same momentum as a storm.
The dolls approaching to slash at her fell into a panic at Kurumi’s sudden disappearance.
“Where the hell is────!?”
A doll that should have been at the rear was blown apart and launched into the sky.
The doll responsible for Ibusuki Panie’s vision was able to look back only a few moments later

“……What, is this.”
Accompanied by a bang, the doll was crushed on the floor. Kurumi slammed the doll under her
feet. Aiming at its squirming head, Kurumi pulled the trigger.
“What the hell!? What the hell is this!? This……monster!!”
One after the other, the dolls were being minced and crushed.
The dolls were neither singular nor plural but rather a collective army. An approaching doll
waved a huge razor not for shaving off hair or a beard, but to cut open her arteries.
Kurumi looked at her and smiled──biting the sharp blade with her teeth.
“Kihi!”
Blowing away the skull of the astonished doll, she spat out the razor from her mouth and kicked
off against the ground.
Flying at out a furious momentum, the razor pierced the forehead of a doll aiming at her with a
rifle.
“Say, didn’t I mention that? I’m playing around, that is what it means to fight against me, you
riffraff. So──hey? I hope that you can be more tenacious.”
A doll crawled from behind unnoticed, silently to pierce her chest with a long spear.
“Ara, ara.”
“Kill!” “No, not yet!” “Collection!” “All members!” “Gather your power together!”
With long handle angels (weapons) in their hands, the dolls approached forward. Long spears
and sword constantly skewered Kurumi’s body. There was the feeling of her Sephira Crystal
being crushed.
“Got it!”
The roar of joy──disappeared in an instant.
“W, h……y……”
What they had joyfully pierced was the doll that had tried to pierce Kurumi with a long spear
from the very beginning.
The dolls fell into a panic. The dolls that made up Ibusuki Panie suddenly remembered
something.

“Shadows……!”
Yes, they had forgotten. Her ability allowed her to freely jump through space by using the
shadows.
“Disappeared!” “Where!?” “Not here!” “Not here as well!” “Not even here!”
Not found, she was hidden somewhere in the shadows.
“Don’t hesitate! Search, search, searc──”
Kihihihihihihihihihi.
Once again, Kurumi laughed.
A chill pierced through their spines like a long spear. If the dolls had sweat glands, the cold
sweat sprouted would have frozen from the mental pressure.
That one doll had been dragged into shadows──it should have been like this after they
excavated the Sephira Crystal and tossed it to the side.
Crushing, shooting, harming, twisting, cutting, tearing, dismantling, beheading, striking,

breaking, beating, collapsing, destroying, exploding, and trampling.
Visually it was miserable to see, the dolls were constantly being destroyed.
A single bullet was all that was needed completely stop a doll. Even if slipping through the
shower of bullets and throwing down the gauntlet, they would only be dragged into the shadows.
The same result would occur if they tried attacking from a distance.
Can’t kill. Absolutely can’t kill that.
For the dolls that make up an army that wouldn’t fear death as long as Doll Master’s instructions
were made, death was by no means a matter not to be concerned about.
Still, they were proud of being the strongest, the strongest quantitative force. They believed so
long as hundreds of dolls attacked at once, there was no enemy that couldn’t be defeated.
Even for a Spirit──Tokisaki Kurumi was no exception. Of course, it would be troublesome if

she had some sort of tyrannical and unreasonable power like the other Spirits, but that obviously
wasn’t the case.

At most it was just manipulating the shadows……and using her gun to improve her physical
abilities.
Wrong, completely wrong.
It was fundamentally something not of that degree.
Her ability was positioned much closer to the origin──it was the ability to rule over the world
itself──!!
Emerging from the shadows, Kurumi appeared. The fact that her abdomen was bleeding was
source of comfort for the dolls.
However, Kurumi enthusiastically shot herself with the short gun, the wound instantly recovered
as if time had rerolled back.
What is this? That recovery speed is ridiculous.
Kurumi stared at Panie……or more specifically she peeped into the dolls hiding inside Panie’s
body.
The dolls raised a shriek.
“──Kihi.”
A mocking laugh.
Not being able to be seen until now, there was a clock in one of her eyes. Her expression seemed
to reveal a wonderful delight. No, it was leaking out her delight right now. It was the type of
joyful delight from the bottom of her heart that she was unable to stop herself from expressing.
“Isn’t this fun? So much fun that it’s unbearable, right? After all, this is the same that you’ve
done so far. Use overwhelming force to crush the enemy and enjoy the sight of them struggling
and begging for mercy. ──Yes, yes, I don’t deny that this very fun.”
The doll that slowly lurked behind her back──was shot down without her even turning around.
Its skull and Sephira fragment were simultaneously shot just as Kurumi had finished speaking.
“Only, well you didn’t seem to think you would become the target being trampled upon. Ah, ah,
this can’t be done. That is terrible recognition. Anything done will be repudiated, that is heaven’s
law for karma.”
“……S-Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! There are only 300 dolls that you’ve defeated! There are
more than over 1500 Panie dolls left! You! Can’t! Win!”

“Kihihihihihi! Don’t be so scared. Hey, adorable Panie-san. ──Let me inform you of something
good.”
Pointing to the abandoned factory, Kurumi spoke.
“Not long ago, the one who was using my powers as a skin was there.”
“Wha──!?”
“But it doesn’t matter for me. If you want to get rid of her, please feel free.”
While saying so, Kurumi jumped. Tap, she landed on top of the telephone poll.
“……What are you thinking?”
As Panie asked with a timid expression, Kurumi let out a remarkably loud, loud laugh.
“I want to head to Doll Master as soon as possible. But doing this, you might try to use her as a
hostage and give some grandiose speech. I detest such troublesome things. If you want to kill her,
please do so as soon as possible. For her, if she’s taken as hostage, she’ll probably want to
commit suicide.”
Panie understood the real horror of what Kurumi had said.
Using her ability and wearing it like skin──
“Then, then……don’t tell me you’re real?”
“Say, whether if that is true. Perhaps you’ll understand if you trying killing me some more? Even
so, but……you’re boring me now. I’ll let you run away. Please escape with your tail tucked
between your legs.”
“Don’t screw around!” “Kill her.” “Kill──”
She shot it down.
The doll whose head was shattered fell to the ground. The power to fight back no longer existed
in these dolls.
“Please be prepared to meet me. Or do you still think that the 100 dolls still here are enough to
destroy me?”
The fighting spirit in these dolls had vanished. That also included the dolls still lurking inside
Ibusuki Panie. She was a Spirit. It was only possible to defeat her by deploying the entire army.

“Please choose your favorite option. ──To die here or to die by your master’s hand. Although
there’s not much difference in terms of the end result.”
Kihihihihihi, with that high pitched laughed, Kurumi smiled while disappearing into the rain.
“Must head back!” “Must head back!” “Must hurry back quickly!” “She’ll be killed, she’ll be
killed!”
Ibusuki Panie could no longer decide. But, staying here meant certain death.”
“Retreat! Protect the master! All remaining forces return to protect the master!”
After all of them had left, Kurumi finally breathed out a sigh of relief.
Her legs were shaking. Suppressing her fierce heartbeat──she resisted the fatigue rushing into
her body. Feeling disoriented, she could only avoid losing consciousness.
“……It’s great that the IQ of a doll is so low.”
The words from just now, most it had been entirely a bluff. The angel Kurumi used, <Zafkiel>,
had a terrifying power, but at the cost of the consumption of “time” being necessary.
That is to say, it was also Tokisaki Kurumi’s lifespan.
For her, this consumption is fatal.
“Although I’m used to eating human time……I didn’t expect to be eating the time of dolls on the
verge of death.”
Of the 280 dolls, only around 50 had their Sephira fragments completely crushed. The rest were
preserved as much as possible during the state of battle.
……Having said that, this was by no means benevolent.
“Now…… itadakimasu. Safe travels, everyone.”
Kurumi invoked her terrifying ability. The <City of Devouring Time>, a boundary that absorbed
the “time” of anyone who stepped into her shadow.
Kurumi didn’t hesitate as she mercilessly to absorb the time of the half-dead dolls.
The poor feeling was even more than expected, so much so that she felt nauseous. This was not a
doll, but a former human. A Quasi-Spirit to be exact, but for Kurumi who understood their
creation, she still viewed them as a former human.
So right now, she was killing 280 people.

Of course, there were many excuses that could be made. Firstly, if she didn’t kill, she would be
killed. Secondly, in order to survive, additional time was necessary. Thirdly, they could only live
on in this wretched form with a distorted personality in blind servitude to Doll Master.
For these reasons, Kurumi thought they should be killed.
For these reasons, Kurumi hoped that they will be killed.
Then. That was all. But there was still one problem.
“If that person sees this……what would he think?”
The sight of being surrounded by a group of corpses.
Anger──that shouldn’t be it Kurumi thought. Although he had a strong sense of ethics and
justice, I imagine he could determine that this situation couldn’t be helped.
It would be better to say that he would even try to comfort her with a sad look. Not because of
the death of the dolls, but because of the sadness in the choice Kurumi had chosen.
If he did such a thing, he would surely be crying……
“I want to see you……”
That soliloquy faded away alongside the wind. Afterwards, Kurumi temporarily sealed away her
own weak voice. Anyway, the number of deceased would continue to rise.
She looked towards the abandoned factory that had been quiet. This place was no longer useful.
She had retrieved her abilities, retrieved her appearance, retrieved her memories──no, wait a
minute.
“……Ara, ara, ara. How strange.”
There was a lack of memories. I only know that I am Tokisaki Kurumi. I don’t even know the
name of that person. Strange. I obviously like him, I like him very much, but I can’t even
remember anything that he said.
And why was she in the neighboring world? It was clear that she should have been in the living
in the other world, the world that the Quasi-Spirits described as the world of humans.
Dead──that wasn’t impossible.
However, this was still very strange. Can a Spirit return to the neighboring world after death?

That being said now was not the time for Kurumi to carefully consider that over. Fortunately,
there was no part of the memory loss that served as an obstacle to fighting.
It was better to describe this as further motivation necessary to achieve victory.
……Speaking of which, Kurumi would also consider herself to be ruthless. It was in her nature
to take advantage of others believing her to be callous and brutal.
However, because of this, she was absolutely unable to vilify their thoughts.
They had provoked this battle of their own will and there was no room for Kurumi’s intervention.
However, that girl had treated them as worthless. She not only regarded the wishes and hopes of
those Quasi-Spirits as insignificant, she also made a mockery of them.
That was something that couldn’t be forgiven.
Because it couldn’t be forgiven, she was obliged to do this.
“I’ll tear you to pieces little by little until the end of the very end.”
She temporarily locked those memories in an important box.
She prepared her resolution, now was the time to fight against the enemy that was out of touch
with reality, to smash and make mincemeat out of the mistaken Dominion.
“Let’s start now Doll Master.”
A smile appeared on Tokisaki Kurumi’s face as the surrounding air was distorted by her low
voice.
“Now──let’s begin our war (date).”
○ Doll Master
──At first, I remember just wanting a friend.

Because of being an incurable coward, I was at the bottom standing of the neighboring world, so
there wasn’t a single Quasi-Spirit that could be called a close friend.
When the other Quasi-Spirits looked at me, their icy gaze treated me like leftover bento scraps,
as if saying “Ah, don’t die soon”.
Even now, that gaze filled me with fear.
My Unsigned Angel created a friend. A friend that was loyal to me, it said that it would fight in
my behalf.
But sadly, the doll was very weak alone. Moreover, the other Quasi-Spirits couldn’t tolerate the
existence of the doll.
Your doll is something that is an insult and affront to us. Unforgivable, or so they had said.
Very harsh things to be said.
But there was no other way; I needed to increase the number of dolls. I was forced to rely on
their quantity to fight. I increased the number of dolls, blindly increasing their numbers.
Afterwards, the Quasi-Spirits that knew my ugly past became my friends.
So happy.
Each day was lovely and glistening, controlling this world and being surrounded by so many
friends.
As much as possible, I want nothing to do with the other regions. I only want to spend my life in
this miniature garden forever.
However, foreign elements occasionally came to this region. They were barbaric Quasi-Spirits
who liked to fight and couldn’t live without fighting.
Although it was very easy to crush them, there was something to worry about. If it was just a
single Quasi-Spirit, she could crush her as easily as an ant. With ten, it was like snapping off a
puppy’s neck. With 100──although there was the possibility of wining through heavy sacrifices,
there was still the possibility of also losing as well.
Even if their individual power was not too great, their combat effectiveness would improve
drastically when considering their ability to use different Astral Dresses and Unsigned Angels.
So, I decided to let them kill each other.
The reward was a Sephira crystal worth 100 people. Despite having said that, I didn’t intend to
hand that over.

The winner was always a doll. Those ugly girls usually self-destructed before getting the chance
to assemble their strengths together.
Thus I was finally able to pass through each day with my mind at peace. ──Though days felt so
smooth as if it was a dream.
……But then that woman (Tokisaki Kurumi) appeared.
That person was too devilish. How relieved did I feel when discovering that she was a fake?
However, that major event was far from reassuring. She brought along that Empty who was the
real Spirit.
A mistake, from the very beginning, I should have used all my might to crush that helpless girl.
Although there were opportunities on several occasions, I had let her go.
However, she also let me go. Now, I have 1500 dolls in hand. So come, Tokisaki Kurumi.
It is I, Doll Master, who controls this region.
“……Found you!” “Found you!” “Found you, found you, found you!” “Spirit!” “Tokisaki
Kurumi!” “Must fight!” “Must guard!” “Must kill!”
──It finally came.
One thousand five hundred to one, the difference in numbers was overwhelming. Their above
quality was enough to despair over. However, quantity can always prevail over quality. Even
more so if that quality was just limited to a single person. In contrast, if her quality was also in
excess, then she would be unequalled.
Moreover, Tokisaki Kurumi was not invincible. Indeed, it was possible for her to close her
wounds in an instant. However, she was certainly injured at that moment.
“……Listen, listen, listen! She is not absolute! She is not invincible!”
“Yes! She is indeed a disaster; it is not without reason to despair! But! However! You can resist!
You can win! You can win!”
Ayako Machi’s usual calm voice sounded high-pitched and felt uncouth.
Lycos’s usual strict voice sounded impatient and felt ugly.

However, the dolls still cheered while raising their Unsigned Angels. For the dolls, the master’s
orders were absolute.
“It is the master’s orders to kill!”
“Master’s commands are to kill!”
The dolls moved in accordance to Doll Master’s words. In the sky, in the ground, in the building,
everywhere was filled with 1,500 dolls.
And. There was only one person against them──Tokisaki Kurumi.
“Let the war begin, sound the bell.”
“Understood, master!”
The chime of the school rang at a foolish volume.
The chime of the school rang──it was a bit sloppy to signal the beginning of the battle.
“The other party has 1,500, while I’m alone.”
That was also quite good.
Without her memories, it was a miracle beyond her understanding of how she was still alive.
It wouldn’t be strange for her to fade away from this world completely at any time.
“……How strange, it feels like I want to cry.”
If she closed her eyelids, she could see a single boy.
She wanted to ask that person. To ask him why he made that choice when he might die.
People die. However, it was human instinct to delay death for as long as possible.
When the pain that death is eliminated, even a person seeking death would also yearn to secretly
survive.
……That person wasn’t like that.

He could escape, he could ask for help, even if his spirits collapse, who could blame him?
The girls around him must have also thought of this at least once.
Why is this person who seems to be dying still standing here?
It wasn’t just for being good to the Spirits. No, it was partially for that as well, but. He stayed
with them so long as──they could be saved.
“……So, it absolutely won’t do for me to be afraid and cry.”
I have bullets (power).
I have <Zafkiel> (power).
I have Spirit Dress of God’s Authority no. 3, <Elohim> (power).
She filled the shadows into her short and long guns. She tightened the ribbon on her Astral Dress
while checking her appearance through a mirror.
“……Alright.”
At the very least, she wouldn’t lose in dazzling the people and surroundings with the splendor of
the Spirits. Recently, she had begun to think that only wearing red and black looked a bit too
heavy, but it was even more detestable to return back to the sweet loli route of white, white,
white.
She felt content with herself for considering such useless things.
Satisfied, she jumped out of the window.
The rain had stopped and the sky was at a beautiful sunset. An orange light illuminated the
empty city where no one was present besides the dolls that were lurking there.
In the middle of the road, she gracefully raised the hem of her skirt to curtsy.
Compared to this,
“Now, everyone. I’m here to save you.”
The 1,500 dolls flooded forward as Tokisaki Kurumi muttered to herself.
The dolls’ scream signal the beginning of the war (date).
“<Zafkiel> ──the First Bullet <Aleph>!!”

Kurumi instantly accelerated. 500 of the 1,500 dolls turned their eyes without being able to catch
up to her speed. The remaining 1,000 only barely managed to catch a faint afterimage with their
glassy eyes.
However, half of the remaining 1,000 understood that they could only see and do nothing else.
Being able to see Kurumi racing as swift as the wind, there were only 500 remaining dolls that
attacked.
Within that 400 of the attacks were avoided. Kurumi jumped, turned, intercepted, accelerated,
and deaccelerated. Performing all sorts of movements to confuse them, Kurumi traverse through
the road without acquiring even a single scratch.
Then, only a hundred were remaining left.
“……!”
Kurumi shot from her two guns in quick succession. The 100 dolls rustled around the ground to
avoid the bullets.
“Do you remember me?”
“……I remember.”
Hearing the loud shout from a doll with a magnifying glass, Kurumi replied back while slightly
frowning.
“Then, me as well?
“In that case, how about me?”
Kurumi nodded with a dissatisfied look towards the two dolls.
“Do you remember us?” “Do you remember me?”
Five dolls were standing in front of Kurumi.
“Sheri Musika. “Hijikata Isami. Takeshita Ayame. Nogi Aiai. Tonami Furue.”
Not a friend or partner, nor a presence that could be called a good opponent.
At best, they had only been trying to kill each other for three days or so now.
Even then, Doll Master must be looking forward to this. Although it was brief, even a Spirit may
have sympathy due to having interacted.

Don’t hesitate, there isn’t enough time.
──Certainly, sympathy and hesitation may lead to an opening appearing.
There was only one thing she miscalculated. It must be remembered that Tokisaki Kurumi was
just while Empty until a few hours ago.
She cried, laughed, and above all sympathized with these Quasi-Spirits.
“……Yes, is that so?”
There was a girl who wanted to be innocently in love.
There was a girl who admired what being in love was like.
Although it was only for brief moment, she felt close to these girls who were similar to herself.
Not unlike what had happened with her own name, it was rotten for these dolls to claim the
names of these girls as well.
──Ah, but they have nothing to do with myself.
They have nothing to do with me, but this still puts me in a bad mood. So let me say this.
“Are you trying to make me even angrier, Doll Master?”
While stepping forward, Kurumi pulled her long rifle into the jaw of one of the five dolls,
furiously brandishing it while pulling on the trigger.
The doll burst open in an instant.
The dolls didn’t have any livers or even sweat glands. However, their faces seemed to be
stiffened with fear.
“I won’t let you play with them even more.”
She will kill them.
She had already decided upon that. It was already decided because she wouldn’t let them be
humiliated any further.
Since this was what she had decided, it was absolute.

The time needed to kill the five dolls was around 77 seconds. Kurumi used all of her strength to
fight with them, shooting them with the repeated fire of bullets.
“They bought time!”
“Yes, display your strength now……!!”
Ayako Machi and Lycos gave the commands.
The 95 dolls, 400 dolls, and 1000 dolls didn’t let go of this opportunity to kill. Tokisaki Kurumi
didn’t retreat into the shadows, but rather just stared straight ahead. All of the dolls were located
behind her. There was nothing left to hinder this.
“I’ve caught you, Doll Master.”
“Impossible. How is it possible to be caught……!”
At 300 meters ahead of Kurumi, there was a school that became the center of this area. Doll
Master was really there.
The top floor of the building was surrounded by a powerful reiryokuken. It was the only
heavenly area that can survive in peace during this war (date).
Was this necessary for Doll Master to control this region?
The ruler laid at the summit and the person sitting in control must want to stay at the highest
location. Even the careful and cowardly Doll Master was no exception.
By conveying the message of protecting Doll Master to the puppets, Kurumi was able change her
speculation into conviction.
As expected, the dolls were positioned to protect that building no matter which direction Kurumi
chose to attack from.
It didn’t matter where she was in that building, since there wasn’t going to be enough time for
her to escape.
“I will drag you down.”
The huge clock turned as the long rifle inhaled the shadows while aiming straight ahead. Doll
Master, who was peeping at her, was left puzzled by this move that seemed to be meaningless.
“It’s the appointed time, Doll Master. <Zafkiel>──The Third Bullet <Gimmel>.”

She pulled on the trigger of time.
The bullet struck the school building across the road──the wall of the school building served as
the starting point for everything.
Kurumi’s idea wasn’t wrong. However, the implementation wasn’t correct either. Even if each
bullet struck the building, what will happen?
“……?”
There wasn’t an explosion. The schoolhouse still stood tall. In the short moment Doll Master felt
at ease, Kurumi continued fire one round after the other in quick succession, letting even more
doubt seep in.
“The Third Bullet <Gimmel>.”
“The Third Bullet <Gimmel>, the Third Bullet <Gimmel>, the Third Bullet <Gimmel>, the
Third Bullet <Gimmel>, the Third Bullet <Gimmel>, the Third Bullet <Gimmel>, the Third
Bullet <Gimmel>.”
The dolls finally caught up to her.
As Kurumi was tackled by one doll, the other dolls used it as an opportunity to flood in.
However, even if Kurumi lost her balance, squatted on the ground, stabbed by a short sword, she
still kept the aim of her long rifle without any hesitation──.
“The Third Bullet <Gimmel>──!!”
She continued to shoot.
Rumble, an unusual sound was heard coming from that building.
“Wh, at……?”
“What is this……?”
Anxiety spread through Ayako Machi and Lycos’s faces.

As if responding to that, Kurumi, who was dogpiled by more than 1,400 dolls, replied back with
a smile.
“The Third Bullet <Gimmel> shares the same effect of acceleration as the First Bullet <Aleph>.
However, the role is different. If the First Bullet <Aleph> handles external time, the Third Bullet
<Gimmel> is the acceleration of internal time.”
The acceleration of the Third Bullet <Gimmel> would be applied to the inside. In other words,
the bullet would consume the internal time of its target.
Humans would age from children to the elderly. For trees, young sprouts would turn into mighty
trees. And──if it was concrete, it would become as unreliable as tofu for forming a solid
building.
Rumble, rumble, rumble.
The dolls were all shocked. The sacred tower, the starting point where this war (date) had begun.
The schoolhouse, which symbolized the prosperity of the tenth region Malkuth, let out a
sorrowful sound.
“Was that a new school building? I’m sorry, but that building has grown to be 1000 years old
now.”
The school building let out a thunderous roar before collapsing.
The dolls screamed, completely forgetting about Kurumi. No wonder. Their master was on the
top of that building.
So, Doll Master could only escape. The only choice was to escape by jumping into the sky.
However, Doll Master didn’t try to leave the collapsing building. Even for a Quasi-Spirit, a fall
from the top floor would cause an inevitable injury.
If she didn’t come out despite that, then──
Waking up, there were no wounds on her body.

But, she was a little surprised at how much her clothes were covered in blood. Whether it was
her hair, feet, hands, she was no longer Tokisaki Kurumi but instead an ordinary empty girl that
could be found anywhere.
The morning sun began to shine into the abandon factory. The pouring rain had completely
stopped as it seemed an entire night had passed.
“Kurumi-san…….”
Standing up, it was terribly quiet outside. Whether if it was a doll or Quasi-Spirit, there were no
living creatures outside.
“An empty street.”
Sadly, everything in this town was empty, including herself.
……There was only a vague feeling since she couldn’t see any dolls. But there was nothing to
look forward to, since everything was already over. There was the possibility that she already no
longer important in the eyes of Doll Master.
There was no value in her existence.
There was no reason to continue to live.
However, if she was still alive, she had to see this to the very end.
That was Higoromo Hibiki’s duty and responsibility.
As she steadily walked alone, the place to aim for was the original spot for first encounters, the
starting point for the killing and the school at the very center.
As she got closer, Hibiki slowly discovered the abnormality of this situation.
“A mountain of corpses.”
The dolls looked like their souls had been pulled out as they collapsed everywhere. Of course,
this was the remains of Doll Master’s soldiers.
Dead.
Although some were badly injured, the majority was overwhelmingly unscathed.
Her heart began to beat fiercely.
The school building had completely collapsed. That meant──

“Kurumi-san!”
She called out to the girl sitting in the ruins with her legs drooping as if slightly bored. Kurumi
turned around as if slightly disappointed.
“Ah, so you’re still alive.”
“No, it was Kurumi-san who healed me, right!?”
The bullet Kurumi fired was the Fourth Bullet <Dalet> for the purpose of restoration. Time went
in reverse. Needless to say, even a wound like an amputated arm could be healed. The problem
here is what happens when time is reversed.
If it was only to cure a wound, Higoromo Hibiki would have turned back into a false Tokisaki
Kurumi. But, time had once again flowed backwards. The time reversal restored Hibiki’s
physical body in an instant, so that she could recover her original body without dying.
“Umm, thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Just a whim. Besides, look over there.”
Kurumi replied back indifferently as she pointed to the depths of the rubble.
Hibiki shifted her gaze──her eyes couldn’t help but widen.
A girl was laying there. And two dolls clung onto her in an attempt to protect her.
Ayako Machi and Lycos. Only these two dolls……were still alive.
“The doll lying over there seems to be Doll Master.”
“……Is she already dead?”
“I’m alive. It’s a shame. But I can’t even move a finger now.”
Her eyes opened significantly. Doll Master, who was regarded as the strongest in the tenth region
Malkuth, looked exactly like Ibusuki Panie.
She resembled more like a French doll than a girl.
“Y-you didn’t fight?”
“She doesn’t seem to be able to move. It’s not fault, it was like this originally.”
“Then, she’s only a doll……!?”

“Dolls were my only lifeline. My life was built by them.”
Although she should be detested, Higoromo Hibiki could only sigh when confronting her.
That is to say, she. Laying on a bed, while only controlling dolls, she climb all the way up to
become the Dominion of the tenth region Malkuth.
“Oh, but. Then, why……?”
On the other hand, since she appeared like this, Hibiki also understood. She was powerless. As
soon as a single bullet was fired, everything would be solved.
“……Waiting for you.”
Kurumi sighed.
“Waiting, me?”
Hibiki thought that she couldn’t understand this at all. Kurumi then fell down in front of the bed
where that girl was sleeping.
The two dolls turned around, staring at her with a fearful but decisive expression.
“I don’t bear any hatred at Doll Master. I feel a little angry about what she did, but when it
comes to revenge, when it comes to killing, it’s far from reaching that level.”
Higoromo Hibiki understood what Tokisaki Kurumi was asking for.
“For me?”
“Yes, if you want revenge, this trigger should be pulled by you. Because there’s no one else who
has that right other than you.”
She was robbed of her best friend.
In order to achieve revenge, she completely disregarded her own life.
Tokisaki Kurumi had only accidentally gotten involved in this matter. Because of being a
temporary passing traveler, she herself had informed her of this.
“Now, please prepare.”
Kurumi softly held the gun in her hands. Then, Kurumi snuggled close to the girl as if covering a
shroud over her. The shadows quickly loaded the gun.
“After that, you just pull the trigger.”

“Do as you wish.”
Doll Master let out a small laugh.
“Please, forgive her……please forgive her. If you want, you can destroy us as much as want.”
“Please. Please stop! We’ll give you anything you want! Astral Dress, Sephira Crystal, anything!
It doesn’t matter if you turn the tenth region into your territory. Realize your dreams however
you want! My master swears! We will absolutely never oppose you again!”
The two dolls desperately tried to convince her to stop.
In the face of this desperate request Hibiki hesitated──she wanted to turn around but she steeled
herself.
A snicker resounded in her ear as Kurumi whispered.
“……Is that so? Perhaps Doll Master isn’t so sinful after all.”
“I have sins. Have. Please don’t misunderstand, Empty. It was my will to increase the number of
dolls.”
Doll Master proclaimed so with a dignified attitude.
The fingers wrapping around the trigger were infused with more strength.
Don’t say things words like that which incites hatred.
I can’t help pulling it, I can’t help……!!
“Shut up Doll Master. Please don’t add extra ingredients to influence her judgement.”
Gently, Doll Master smiled.
That is to say, that girl knew keeping her current situation would have been the worst choice.
“Kurumi-san, what is behind that doll──”
“All of it has already stopped. It seems impossible to start up again. After all, it’s specifically
fragments of the Sephira that have been shattered.”
In that case, knocking down the remaining dolls──would that be the best revenge?
“……Yes. If it was for the sake of revenge, this must be the right choice. It must be like this.”

“Please shut up!”
Her face felt hot, her fingertips cold, her entire body was shaking to the point it was difficult to
aim well.
“No matter which, both would be correct.”
Kurumi whispered.
That sincere whispered simmered and lingered in Hibiki’s chest.
“Whether to pull this trigger or not, it is still likely to be her retribution. In that case, the most
important thing is what your own feelings are. “
Let her fall into loneliness, let her taste despair.
……It was a great choice. There wouldn’t be any Quasi-Spirits who would object to this. After
all, how many Quasi-Spirits has she made into her friends by turning them into dolls?
But.
But, this was──why did she feel so strangely.
“……I see. I feel sorry for you.”
“By no means is it sympathy?”
“No, I sympathize with you. I feel pity for you from the bottom of my heart. You look sorrowful.
But, because of that I have to pull this trigger.”
“…..Isn’t that a contradiction?”
“No, it’s not a contradiction. Because the way you are living now is painful.”
So──she needed to end this already.
Everyone was suffering and struggling, but even then they kept fighting.
As the Dominion of the Tenth Region, that meant she had also had to fight.
With a body that couldn’t even move a single step, she manipulated the dolls to stay at that
height. Surely, it must have been painful and difficult.
“I’ll pull the trigger with mercy.”
“……Yes. You’re a bit annoying at the very end. But it can’t be helped.”

The trigger was lighter than she thought, but the sound of the gunshot was loud compared to the
sound of the impact.
Guarded to her last doll, the light in her eyes faded as her eyelids closed.
“I killed.”
“No, you made a mistake. You sent her away. You sent her to the world she wanted to go, the
darkness that she wished for.”
It couldn’t be like that, Hibiki fell breathless as she tried to refute.
Illuminated by the morning sun, Doll Master’s face looked peaceful.
It was like a child that had finally fallen asleep.
Her memories left her confused. The hatred for her best friend, in order to kill her she was so
bitter. But in the end, she achieved her long-cherished wish.
However, there were strangely no regrets. Sadly, her heart understood that this was necessary. If
it was her best friend, she would have done the same. She was sure of this. Since Hiriyu Yue was
so kind, she would do this as well.
She placed the gun down while squatting on the floor. Besides this, she couldn’t think of any
other way to vent out this feeling.
──Doll Master died. The tenth region Malkuth no longer belonged to anyone.
But to it would take a little bit longer for Quasi-Spirits in this region to learn of this.
Similarly, the dolls manipulated by Doll Master had all disappeared without exception. It would
also take some time for this to be known.

Higoromo Hibiki muttered foolishly to herself.
“……Are we the only ones that survived?”
“No, it seems like there’s one more person.”
As Kurumi said that, a large piece of rubble was thrown at her.
Kurumi sighed as she kicked away the approaching debris.
“How rude, Tsuan.”
“Ah, you’re still alive!?”
Tsuan, with a confused look, inadvertently approached Kurumi, sniffing her like a dog.
“……Um. Can you please stop that?”
Kurumi turned her body with a look of disgust.
“I’m surprised. Did you peel your skin and replace it?”
Tsuan looked alternatively between Hibiki and Kurumi. Certainly, from her point of view,
Tokisaki Kurumi and Empty switched places while she fainted, so this wasn’t unreasonable.
“How bothersome. Which one should I crush?”
Tsuan slanted her head.
Somehow she looked like a golden retriever while slanting her head. Hibiki smiled──but after
thinking it over, this wasn’t anything worth smiling about.
“Didn’t you admit defeat when you fainted, Tsuan-san?”
“……But I still want to fight with you.”
Tsuan spoke as if unable to wait.
“I’ve already experience one battlefield after the other, so the current situation is very unbearable.
If you really want to, how about waiting a few more days for a fight?”
“Guu……”
Tsuan looked a bit distressed as she awkwardly asked Kurumi.
“If I make an appointment……can you have a serious fight with me?”

Kurumi smiled as she extended out her pinkie.
“Yes, yes. Of course. You’ll see. It’ll be a good time.”
Tsuan bashfully made the pinkie promise.
(I will keep my promise, you have no idea.….)
Only Hibiki alone saw the truth.
Quietly watching Tsuan set foot back home with a satisfied look, Kurumi put away her forced
smile and sighed.
“Ah, how depressing.”
“It looks like you……really don’t want to keep that promise.”
“Isn’t that natural? I’m not compatible with a sports department member like that.”
“Is there anyone in this world that can get along with you?”
After Hibiki said that, Kurumi silently twisted her fist against her head.
“Ouucch!? Sorry, sorry for running my mouth off.”
“I’ll leave here sooner or later and probably won’t see Tsuan ever again.”
“……Um. What does Kurumi-san want to do in the future?”
While feeling her aching head, Hibiki asked.
“I have decided on what to do. I want to go back to the original world. What you all have
referred to the world beyond this world.”
Kurumi’s mind had made its decision.
If she didn’t return to the original world, she wouldn’t be able to see that person. She wouldn’t
be able to see him, so she needed to go to him instead.
It was just like that.
“Is that so……it’s a pity but it can’t be helped.”
“Yes. Then, Hibiki, how do I get back?”

“Eh?”
Hibiki’s face looked stunned at Kurumi, while Kurumi also blankly stared back.
“Um, sorry. Going back, I don’t have any memories of the world over there.”
“Well, then in order to go back, what do I need to do?”
“How to do that……probably by being hot-blooded?”
Hibiki lifted both of her hands in victory pose as if telling her to try her best. For this, Kurumi
didn’t hesitate to use both of her fists to twist against her head.
“Ouuuuch!? I don’t know, I really don’t know! Besides, I wasn’t the one who brought Kurumi-
san here! I found Kurumi-san fallen here! Ouch! It hurts! It hurts!”
That was also true; Kurumi was convinced. Although she understood, the anger in heart wouldn’t
dissipate. Kurumi continued to drill against her head for five more minutes.
“U-um! Even so, I have a few clues about the other world.”
She stopped her fists upon hearing those words from Hibiki.
“What is it?”
“Um. Since here is called the tenth region Malkuth, there are nine other remaining regions. There
is a rumor that the other world will draw closer the more you approach region number one.”
“……That means.”
“Each region is ensured by its Dominion and there is little communication between each region.
In the past, trespassing in these areas wasn’t so difficult……”
“It’s difficult now, right?”
“Yes. Anyway, in order to reach the first region, you’ll have to negotiate with each Dominion
every time.”
“Hmm……then just ‘negotiations” will suffice?”
“You definitely don’t want to talk peacefully!?”
“I consider dillydallying to be a pain in the neck.”
Waving her old fashion pistol, Kurumi smirked.

“U-um, let’s try it a little bit more peacefully. I will follow you!”
“……Ha?”
Higoromo Hibiki corrected her posture as she cleared her throat with a cough.
“My revenge is over. In other words, I have nothing left to do. But my Sephira Crystal is telling
me to follow after Kurumi-san!
With a faint look, Kurumi stared at Hibiki.
“Didn’t you try to deceive me?”
“D-deceive……”
“Didn’t you imitate my face, my voice, and deceived me through that?”
“T-there’s no such thing……no, I’m sorry. That’s true. But to use my Unsigned Angel to create
a substitute strips away the entire personality. You would have said the same things even if the
positions weren’t reversed……no, it’s nothing!”
“Such an unscrupulous person, should I really take you with me?”
“Is that……a no? But I feel that I can come in handy……”
Hibiki’s voice was a bit timid, but she still didn’t look away from Kurumi.
……Finally, it was Kurumi who made the compromise.
“It’s bothersome. …..Well, I don’t mind if you tag along.”
“Hooray!”
“But in return, you have to help me as well. Without further ado, how do you leave the tenth
region Malkuth?”
“No problem, I know where the exit to the tenth region is. But what I know is only the door to
the ninth region.”
“……Whatever, as long as we keep moving forward, there’s nothing better than that. So, who is
the Dominion of the ninth region?”
“About that……there’s only one thing that I know.”
“What is it?”

“In the ninth region, being able to sing and dance is the condition for a strong person. In short,
you need to become an idol, Kurumi-san!”
“I see, so singing and dancing is what defines strength there──no wait a minute, did you say
something outrageous just now?”
“Now, let’s aim to be idols! Don’t worry, there’s no particular reason for this, but if it is Kurumi-
san, you would make a natural idol!”
“Please tell more about this! Idol!? Idol, you mean that kind of idol!?”
Tokisaki Kurumi is a Spirit that control time and shadows.
Falling into the neighboring world, there was only one thing left remaining after her memories
were erased.
Holding the feelings of a boy whose name she couldn’t even recall, she has to traverse through
the neighboring world.
She is in love.
She is in love, a love that couldn’t be achieved or fulfilled.
In the eyes of onlookers, this may seem very strange.
They would say that it is foolish to risk her life on something that couldn’t be fulfilled.
Even so, Tokisaki Kurumi──fell in love with that person.
So when someone asked her, “what is your dream?” she had the answer to that question.
──The wish of one day meeting that person again.
That girl thought of that as she took a step forward.

Postscript
To all Date A Live fans, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Higashide Yūichirō.
“Do you want to write a spin-off of Date A Live?” ……When I was asked of that by editor-san, I
was very shocked.
Well, an interesting spin-off is difficult and different than what it may appear at a first glance. As
long as it is a spin-off, you must naturally be familiar with the settings of the home and there
must be no contradictions. Even in a love comedy spin-off when a side character becomes the
main protagonist……even if it simply, “Is the setting correct? Is the time table functioning
correctly? Are these feelings contradictory to the character in the home series?” these types of
questions will become entangled from start to finish.
And when this includes a battle structure setting like Date A Live, the difficulty of the spin-off
will further accelerate.
Incidentally, the solution if very simple: “The spin-off should be done by the creator of the main
story!” Even if a contradiction is found, “I’m sorry, that was a lie before”, that can be said! Can
that be done?
Even though it was difficult to start writing Date A Bullet, it was almost impossible to continue
to write without such difficulties.
Editor: “Tokisaki Kurumi will serve as the main character.”
Higashide: “Since she’s so popular, I like that as well. She uses guns, controls time, and much
more, erotic with a devastatingly cute voice.”
Editor: “(Completely ignored) And the stage is the neighboring world.”
Higashide: “Ah, the world where the Spirits come from……I don’t remember any specific
descriptions from the main story.”
Editor: “Yes, there is none.”
Higashide: “If it is like that, that means……I can create whatever I want!”
Editor: “No, because Tachibana-sensei is watching closely!”
……Well, in accordance with that feeling, this is how Tachibana-sensei will be supervising this
spin-off! Even if there is a contradiction, then……I will prostrate and acknowledge the error.
This so-called neighboring world is where the Spirits had once existed in the past.

And now, it has become a world not owned by anyone. All of the Spirits have left for the world
(reality) over there.
What are left are girls who got lost in the neighboring world──people who are called Quasi-
Spirits.
This story unfolds the journey of Tokisaki Kurumi in the world where the Quasi-Spirits are left
behind.
Bringing along a young girl (Empty) as a mascot, this is the story of a girl who kept running in
order to see “him”, whose name isn’t even known.
Understanding an unconditional lead while falling behind, she will still never give up. A woman
in love is unruly, arrogant, cruel, brave, and adorable.
This is the Tokisaki Kurumi of this work.
Another person is the girl called Empty, who provides an indispensable supporting role.
A woman with no name, no dream, no purpose, and no future.
She is accurately ridiculed as noisy and unconsciously pretending to be naïve. For why she has
these habits, even the girl in question herself does not know. Such a girl is surrounded by
darkness.
If you read the novel first, I think you already know who she is……can her dream come true?
For readers who are reading this postscript first, I would feel honored if you would also read this
book as well.
And also the participants in the killing game (date) that surrounds those two. They have their
own wishes and dreams that are scattered about. Don’t miss the beautiful illustrations drawn by
NOCO-san. I wanted those adorable characters to take a leading role, what do I mean by
that…….?
Last but not least, thanks to the editor-san who suggested to me “how about this?” to write this
spin-off and got it approved, Tachibana Koushi-sensei for providing me with such interesting
ideas, as well as deep gratitude towards NOCO-san for drawing such adorable characters. In a
particular, NOCO-san suddenly dropped the character designs for over 10 people and didn’t raise
a single complainant given the situation. And everyone is so cute! ……I sorry, I’m really
sorry……but it’s not my fault sensei. Tachibana-kun told me to do this (the cheeky expression of
a primary school student).
Anyway, I hope to see you in the next volume!

Higashide Yūichirō.


Date A Bullet Volume 1

Încărcat de

Informații document

Titlu original

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Date A Bullet Volume 1

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

PDF from Date A Live LN Translation Page 1

PDF from Date A Live LN Translation Page 2

───Asleep as if dead, or dead as if asleep.

A fall so swift, as if dropping into hell at an irresistible force.

A crash so soft, as if gradually ascending to heaven.

Help me! Help me!

Can’t breathe. Nothing can be seen. Nothing can be heard.

A whisper from the depths of that girl’s heart.

There is nobody at all.

PDF from Date A Live LN Translation Page 7

Like this, the girl inspired herself.

If sleeping is to die, then waking is to live. To live is to think.

A girl was pondering over such an issue.

A lack of knowledge, a complete lack of understanding of where she was now.

Shoes worn well, clothes worn well, glasses not worn.

PDF from Date A Live LN Translation Page 8

Only these things were known.

The girl turned to look at her surroundings.

“Anyway, let’s go ask someone.”

She took a step forward.

Leaving behind the alleyway and walking outside.

PDF from Date A Live LN Translation Page 9

There was no voice.

There was no sound.

There were no people.

Had time stopped or has humanity been brought to ruin?

This was quite strange; this ought to be quite strange.

“What to do? A dream? Is this a dream?”

“……If looked at this from above……”

PDF from Date A Live LN Translation Page 10

Since there was pain, this was certainly not a dream.

……There wasn’t a single person.

Katan, a sound coming from other than herself resounded.

──Turning around to look back.

──The girl may have called this bad luck.

However, at this time, it was a miracle in of itself for her.

“…………Is, someone, here?”

PDF from Date A Live LN Translation Page 11

Her eyes blinked.

The girl in black spoke with a shallow smile.

“Inadvertently, I fired a shot.”

Fired a shot? The girl tilted her head in confusion.

PDF from Date A Live LN Translation Page 12

“You shot at me!?”

“……Yes, you’re still alive. You are”

The girl asked with a stunned look.

“……Are you an angel? Or a demon?”

“No, I think it is an angel for me.”

The girl continued on.

“……I don’t have a name. I am just Empty. What is your name?”

“……My name is Kurumi.”

The girl in black, as if giving a supplication, said that name.

“……My name is Tokisaki Kurumi.”

PDF from Date A Live LN Translation Page 13

“Is it not possible to ask your questions one at a time?”

“Ah──, uh──. So, who am I?”

“I do not recognize your name at all.”

“That’s what I thought!”

“But, I know what you are.”

“You don’t know who I am, but know what I am?”

Empty tilted her head with a confused look.

Kurumi informed her without delay.

Spirit, the word that Kurumi had said.