Chapter 538

Chapter 538

Abyss Lord’s Summer Vacation Arc Respective Circumstance

「Wait wait wait! Don’t try to open it naturally!」

Hidzuki stood in front of the door without any wariness at all. Agent J raised his voice in panic seeing that.

He was taking cover on one knee behind the sofa and only his head popped out from there. His hand was holding a normal automatic pistol.

Hidzuki tilted her head in confusion, but for the time being her hand that was reaching toward the door stopped.

「There art no need to worry. This time I wouldst not crush the door knob.」

「That’s not what I’m worried about!」

Even understanding that Hidzuki possessed strength that couldn’t be measured with common sense, Agent J had withdrew from the field early in the previous attack, so he actually hadn’t seen with his own eyes just how out of norm her strength was.

Surely he couldn’t even imagine that Hidzuki wouldn’t even get scratched just from a normal handgun fired at her from extremely close range due to her toughness. He also wasn’t aware that her true nature wasn’t human, but a legendary oni.

Naturally he tried to stop her from pure concern and wariness toward the person behind the door outside.

Further he also urged Kousuke 「Take that girl to the room at the back quickly!」 with a small voice. He wanted to prioritize securing the safety of Hinata first.

「Umm, J. I think there’s nothing to worry about. That woman, she absolutely isn’t human……she’s a monster in various senses I should say.」

「How can you say such thing toward a lady. I know that you must be shaken up but, get a hold of yourself! Agent K!」

Agent K-san who was taking cover behind a drawer was right on the money.

His comment could only be called natural after witnessing Hidzuki’s overwhelming violence toward the temporarily named ghoul, and the shocking sight of her not even getting scratched despite being at the receiving end of the violence of the temporarily named ghoul with their sharp claws and fangs and also inhuman physical strength.

Or rather, sights like her intentionally allowing herself to get hit by the temporarily named ghouls with a joyful look.

Or the sight of her hitting back while laughing loudly, and each time she did that the ghouls would be sent flying like toys.

Or the sight of the ground splitting from a single step forward.

Or how she swung around a ghoul with one hand to use it like a club.

Or how she gouged stone from stone wall and crushed it with just her grip strength, and then those fragments were shot like shotgun just from a casual swipe of her hand which resulted in horrible destruction……

Those sights were even more shocking than the fact of them getting attacked by ghoul. Exactly because he had witnessed with his own eyes how Hidzuki flaunted her absolute strength and demonic aura that perhaps it could be said that Agent K had gotten his mind done in.

「What the hell are you guys mumbling about!! Open the door already if you don’t wanna get shot! Don’t try anything funny! All of you get down on the floor where I can see you!」

The self-proclaimed cop of Detroit Police roared angrily. It sounded like he would run out of patience soon.

「Uumm~, we’re definitely not anyone suspicious here!」

Kousuke replied back at the self-proclaimed cop who seemed to be getting excessively heated up.

「Don’t bullshit me when there’re corpse lying around in front of the house! Even a psychopath can make a slightly better excuse than that!!」

「Certainly!」

Kousuke was instantly convinced!

「Even though I’ve been shouting loudly like this, not even a single kid showed their face! There isn’t even any sign of people! Where’re the people of this village!」

「Calm down! We’re MCB! We aren’t enemy!」

Agent J quickly said his affiliation. But,

「Haa!? MCB? What the hell is that! I’ve never heard of it! Who’re you!」

Agent J got an expression that seemed to say 「Yeaah……」. Of course the cop would react like that. The organization was new and not public. Even those who were aware of the organization’s existence were only the top brass of organizations or departments who received notification due to the chain of command. There was no way the rank and file cop could know about it.

The problem was how difficult it was for them to say the organization’s official name out loud. There was no way they could say something like belonging to an organization to deal against magical phenomenon. There was no doubt that most people would simply say 「Are you making fun of me!?」 or the like in respond to that.

And so, Agent J revealed the name of the department right above his organization.

「It’s a newly established department of DHS!」

「Aa? DHS you saay?」

Department of Homeland Security――it was the organization in charge of the domestic security of the country made up from an assembly of response department toward terrorism, disaster, and immigration. Agent J wasn’t lying that MCB was a subordinate organization of DHS.

「That’s right! Right now a situation that can’t be dealth with common sense is ongoing in this village! MCB is a department specialized in investigating that kind of incident! If you’re really a cop then we aren’t your enemy! I ask you to act calm――」

「How long art you two going to continue this boring exchange」

The one who ran out of patience first wasn’t the self-proclaimed cop or J.

Hidzuki didn’t even hide her irritated and sour expression as she grabbed the door knob at this side that was only barely hanging on. Then she pulled.

The self-proclaimed cop made a dumbfounded expression. Right after that he hurriedly pointed his gun again.

He was a male at his fifty wearing a leather jacket and jeans, with his hair that had whitened quite much parted at the center and growing somewhat long. His height was around 180 cm. His physique was sturdy but, his stomach was a bit round.

Gun holster around the waist and a badge that proved his status as cop could be seen on him.

A slightly sour looking veteran cop who looked like he had just finished work and was about to go drinking at bar as his habit dictated……that was the impression he gave off.

「……What’re you guys」

The cop ran his gaze inside the room and showed a slightly confused look.

It was only natural. The people inside the room were too ununiform. Their outfit too didn’t look like anything that people of this village would wear. Furthermore, there was even a very young girl among them. Not to mention that many of them were clearly Asian people.

This lineup must be too bizarre to be found in a desolate village inside a forest like this.

But, even the bewilderment only lasted a moment. The corner of his eyes immediately rose and he pointed his gun――

「Now now, don’t point such toy to us. Come in already」

「Ah? Oh……? ……Eh?」

Hyoi,

mister cop’s gun got taken away really easily. & *snap* too. The gun barrel broke and fell to the floor while scattering parts.

It wasn’t anything like stylish disintegration technique that often appeared in movie. It was an unexpected destruction by bare hand.

It couldn’t be helped even if they watched that with mouth wide open in dumbfounded state.

Mister cop’s gaze followed the gun parts clanging on the floor while his hands were still held up in a stupid pose like a kid imitating gun shooting.

The gazes of Kousuke and co were also following the rolling around parts.

And then, the gun was thrown right at where their gazes were going at *crack*. The gun wreckage half sank into the floor. Tragic……

Atmosphere and silence that were really hard to describe filled the room.

「A-as expected violence! Overwhelming violence can solve everything!」

「Vanessa, be quite for a bit.」

Hidzuki literally destroyed the tense situation with one hand. Vanessa sent her applause.

Perhaps it was Vanessa making effort in her own way to change the atmosphere but……

Kousuke and others thought.

Look at that cop’s expression! Not only his gun destroyed, its wreckage also got tossed away like trash. He’s staring at it with a straight face! There isn’t any expression at all on his face it’s scary!

That was their thought.

「Aa~, umm, you know. Anyway! We don’t have any hostile intent. And, our presence here is also for investigation. Why is a Detroit cop come visiting this place……that’s also something that bother us. For the time being, how about we share information with each other?」

Agent J’s calm and also slightly sympathetic voice called out toward the cop.

The cop finally lifted up his face. Then Agent J slowly put back his gun inside the holster in a way so the cop could clearly see it.

It seemed he was on guard against the self proclaimed cop but, Kousuke and co who were able to handily rout the temporarily named ghouls were with him, so he prioritized soothing down the cop’s wariness. Agent K also imitated his action even if with slight hesitation.

「……Alright. I’ll hear what you have to say.」

Perhaps it was because he had just witnessed a shocking sight of a gun getting crushed with bare hand. Or perhaps, it was the fact that he was unarmed now. It seemed that a type of resignation filled the cop more than wariness right now.

Mister cop nodded with a tightened expression of resolve. He got a nerve of steel it seemed.

Surely he was the type who could crack jokes even if a criminal pointed a gun at him. Exactly like a daring detective that was shown in movie.

Takehiko-ojisan’s eyes sparkled a little but……putting that aside.

The cop looked like he had experienced surviving carnage many times in his life until now. Sure enough, it seemed that he was unable to stop himself to at least get a word in. The corner of his lips lifted up sarcastically,

「Hopefully it’ll be a good story worthy the sacrifice of my partner for thirty years.」

He said that while glaring at Kousuke and others. He also whispered a grumble that the gun was a retirement present from the senior who became his first buddy when he was still a rookie.

Apparently that gun was something he had a heavy emotional attachment with.

A very awkward atmosphere filled the room. Despite his displeased look, there was also sadness that couldn’t possibly be hidden oozing out from the cop’s eyes, making the air even heavier.

「Hidzuki……please have slightly more restrain so that you do not destroy something every time there is a problem.」

Hinata sighed deeply as she gave an admonishment, but Hidzuki-san herself only shrugged without any look of guilt at all just as expected.

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After that.

They all sat facing each other on the sofas. Of course, number-wise not everyone could sit, so in the end it was Agent J and the cop who sat facing each other, while Takehiko and Hinata sat at J’s sides. Kousuke and others sat at the dining table behind them.

As expected, it seemed there was no one who brazenly wanted to sit beside the self-proclaimed cop.

Agent K’s complexion looked bad as expected and he was sitting on a chair near the wall. Zhu and Vanessa were standing near the window while observing the situation outside.

Meanwhile,

「A police inspector from Detroit Police Department, Richard Hill huh……」

Agent J ruminated on the cop’s introduction and focused his gaze on the police badge. For the time being, it seemed to be a genuine article. He returned the badge, however, he then turned his gaze to Kiyotake.

「Kiyotake, sorry but can I ask you to check with Detroit Police Department via your country?」

「Roger, Agent J. I’ll leave for a bit.」

Why was he going out of his way to confirm that through Japan’s organization? Richard narrowed his eyes doubtfully about that while asking.

「And? What is MCB? What kinda connection you guys have with each other?」

Agent J straightened his sitting posture. He coughed and his gaze wandered a little.

He looked really suspicious. Police inspector Richard’s eyes showed that thought of his.

「MCB……is the abbreviation of Magical Phenomenon Countermeasure Bureau.」

「……Haa?」

That reaction was something truly natural.

Of course he’ll react like that~,

Kousuke and others thought while their gaze became warm.

Agent J looked extremely embarrassed. And then, Inspector Richard’s expression was reddening more and more. Anyone who saw him could clearly see how his anger meter was currently going up.

「I’m not lying! If you’re a detective, then you should be aware how many strange incidents are occurring these days! The government established an organization that specialized in investigating such mysterious incident due to how many of them are occurring!」

Agent J-san’s voice got loud, perhaps because of his sense of shame.

「It’s like you’re an MIB poser.」

Inspector Richard stared hard at the black suit while speaking ridiculingly. He was right on the money.

And so, Agent J became even more ashamed and averted his gaze. As though to say that he hit the bull’s eye.

Inspector Richard’s anger voltage went up even more!

「Oi, don’t tell me you guys actually……」

「T-that’s just your imagination. It’s just a coincidence in the end.」

「You won’t even tell me your real name while calling yourself J like a clown, and that’s what you said? As expected it’s just too much of a coincidence……」

「My actual name is James Ford!」

Agent J-san felt too ashamed that he introduced himself normally.

Unlike a certain movie, he wasn’t forced to go as far as erasing his existence from society, so it wasn’t like the code name was absolute but……

Even so, how can you just reveal that to someone whose identity you haven’t confirmed

, Kousuke and others thought.

「Everything is going to be alright if I flash him anyway. Get a hold of yourself, me.」

They could hear such muttering. Everyone came to a realization while also feeling a bit put off.

It seemed Agent J-san planned to use Neuralizer(flashhh-) after drawing out as much information as possible from Inspector Richard.

A cough.

「Anyway, I’m not lying. You’ll find out quickly if you go check.」

「Hah, that so. Then I’ll do just that.」

Inspector Richard took out his smartphone. He looked completely distrustful toward them.

And then he immediately glared at Agent J. He muttered 「You bastard」 with a scowl.

「There’s no signal. ……It can’t be helped with how deep inside the forest we are but, you already know this from the start ain’t you?」

He looked around inside the house, but he also couldn’t find anything like a landline telephone. Seeing that Inspector Richard reflexively tsked.

「Let me borrow a satellite phone if you’ve one. You ain’t going to say that me checking your identity is going to be troublesome for you right?」

What Kiyotake had was a communicator made in another world. It was able to contact not only the phone in Kousuke’s hand, but also the terminal in the response division so he had no problem in making a call from here.

In other words, it couldn’t be used to call an organization in USA because they didn’t have the terminal.

「My bad but our phones use private line. It can only call to the designated number.」

「What the hell with that?」

Then, you’re telling me to believe in the existence of this MCB organization that I’ve never heard of without even being able to check?

Inspector Richard asked with a piercing gaze that contained anger in it.

「Of course, if you’re fine with that limitation then we won’t mind with lending you one.」

Takehiko said that with a sidelong glance to Kousuke for confirmation, but Inspector Richard clicked his tongue once more in respond.

「That’s not going to prove anything. After all I won’t know who the hell is at the other side of the call.」

「We shall accompany you when leaving this place. You then can check when we reach a spot where there’s signal.」

「Hah, that’s only if I’m still alive until that long.」

Inspector Richard replied with a lot of cynicism in his face. Then after making a difficult expression for a bit, he turned his gaze toward Hinata.

「Oi, missy.」

「Yes?」

In the end they were just supporters. Kousuke and co completely entrusted the lead of the conversation to Agent J because they decided that MCB should be entrusted with the authority in this situation.

Hinata along with everyone else showed confusion when the conversation was suddenly directed toward her.

「Anything troubling you?」

His gaze was really serious, as though to say that he wouldn’t overlook any kind of sign.

That was the gaze of an adult, and a detective who wished to protect children.

He must be trying to surmise what kind of group Kousuke and co was from the inner thought of a little child.

Perhaps that intention was conveyed and Hinata returned back the look with a straightforward gaze. Her gaze was strong and unwavering. To a degree that even made Inspector Richard flinched.

「No, there is nothing troubling me.」

Hinata informed him that clearly and smiled softly.

There was no other evidence that could top that. After all it was a natural smile that didn’t look forced at the slightest.

That must be why. Inspector Richard then,

「……I see. Then that’s good.」

Said that and returned his gaze to Agent J.

Apparently his anger meter was cooling down. His gaze was still doubting but, if this girl trusted this adult, then it seemed he decided to “I’ll trust you at least for now and listen to your story” for the time being.

「And, what’s the Order of the Phoenix doing here? What’s going on?」

He must be a sharp-tongued person. Certainly their group consisted of magical people of various races and diverse age group dealing with mysterious incident. In that sense, they certainly had similarity with a magical order that appeared in a certain movie of magical school. Like that Inspector Richard urged them for explanation.

He seemed to be a realism, or perhaps he was the type of person who didn’t believe in anything like magic, or monster, or supernatural phenomenon.

It was there Kiyotake returned. He nodded wordlessly. It seemed that the confirmation came through. Inspector Richard was definitely a cop of Detroit Police.

Agent J nodded back at that and waited for a beat before opening his mouth.

「First allow me to give a brief explanation of the present situation.」

The detective seemed stubborn and also had low boiling point on top of that. Even if they demanded him to speak about his circumstance first, it could be clearly felt from his aura that he would fire back

No you start first!

and the talk would devolve into a long back and forth, so Agent J started first to save time.

Matters like Takehiko’s serious injury, the wonder of regenerating lost body part, magic and spell were fundamentally secret matter, so and it also felt like bringing them up would only make the talk confusing so they were omitted. Agent J concisely talked about what happened in this village.

The expression of Inspector Richard gradually turned graver. The creases between his eyebrows got deeper.

It wasn’t because of the seriousness of the matter. It was clearly because of his dissatisfaction and disbelief toward the content of the explanation itself.

「……In other words what? There’s a swarm of human eating monsters in this village? The corpses outside are those things? The villagers too are most likely annihilated? These Japanese people are experts for this kind of thing that even agents from various other countries also group up together? You’re saying they’re collaborators who came here due to the nation’s formal request?」

Inspector Richard pondered over the explanation with a calm tone even while this eyebrows kept twitching. A second passed before he said 「I see」 and nodded.

He took out a rumpled cigarette box from his pocket and made just one stick stuck out from it with a practiced hand motion. He put it in his mouth, however, he recalled Hinata’s presence and glanced toward her. He clicked his tongue. He put back the smoke stick into his pocket without lighting it.

And then,

「You guys must think me stupid huh」

He very naturally snapped.

Of course he react like this~,

Kousuke and co thought. It couldn’t be helped. This was how the normal person would react. After all there was a limit even in being nonsensical.

「Unfortunately it’s the truth.」

「So you bastard don’t plan to give me a serious answer no matter what huh?」

Inspector Richard’s eyes narrowed dangerously. Agent J shrugged and turned his gaze to the window.

「It’s easy to prove. You saw the corpses outside right? Does that kind of human exist?」

「Certainly those are strange corpses but……it must be because they were drowned. That’s what make senses.」

Whether it was the strange skin color, or the swelling legs that looked like hoof and the claws, those were because the body got immersed in water for a long time and bloated and changed shape. Apparently that was the explanation that he reached at.

「There must be a river or a lake nearby. Or maybe……a village like this must also have a well. The crime scene is around there. Am I right?」

What a really sensible explanation. Also, from his sharp look he was clearly suspecting a murder case. At the same time, those eyes were suspecting that the culprit was their group or at the very least they knew something about it.

His gaze kept glancing at Hinata must be because of concern and also observing her reaction.

A little kid’s trust was the evidence of virtue. That was why, for the time being he listened to their story.

But, in the first place there were many cases where the definition of virtue for kid got defined by adult. The possibility of the kid’s sensibility had gotten warped by bad adult couldn’t be denied. That must be what he was thinking right now.

「Is this that……something like stupid murder by a cult? Then the corpses got decorated. Maybe they even tortured the victims while they were still alive with body modification or something. I’ve seen victim of grotesque murder who got animal skin stitched on him y’know? Either way, it ain’t anything sane at all.」

Inspector Richard kept his thinking realistic till the end.

Of course, there was a swarm of the temporarily named ghoul at the square that had been neutralized. And it was also possible he would change his mind if they showed him magic or spell but……

Looking at this, it felt like he would still find some kind of reasoning and denied that it was a supernatural phenomenon.

For him who had worked as cop for more than thirty years, the thinking that incident was something caused by human must have been planted deeply into him.

This Inspector Richard showed a thinking gesture for a short while, then he wordlessly put his hand into his pocket. Agent J and K’s expression changed and their hand moved toward their gun.

Inspector Richard scoffed at their reaction and took out several pieces of paper without any fear. He then tossed them on the table.

Those papers slid for a bit and scattered. They were photos.

Those photos showed atrocious pictures of a young man whose corpse had been torn apart into two. The upper body had traces of large claws tearing it up, while the photos of the lower body showed countless marks as though the flesh had been gouged and eaten.

The person must be blonde. The hair had gotten mostly dyed with blood but, the original color was slightly visible.

The body’s face was warped in terror. The eyes that had lost their light were still containing fear in them.

It was like, those eyes had seen something that must not be seen. Like the terror in them were greater than the agony. It was such distorted expression that was hard to describe.

Kousuke and co weren’t people who would be perturbed by just a bit of horror, even so the atrocious photos made them held their breath.

「This is……」

Agent J asked wonderingly.

Inspector Richard’s face became expressionless without any color in it. He stared on the photos for a while before letting out a heavy voice.

「My partner.」

*Hyuh* The sound of a breath getting caught in the throat could be heard. It was Agent K. His complexion that had gotten slightly better turned pale once more. His fingertips were trembling.

「Just now, you mentioned how I should be aware how there’re strange incidents occurring often these days. Yeah, I know about them. After all we were chasing the lead for exactly those incidents.」

Inspector Richard started speaking in bits.

According to him, apparently it started from a locked-room murder that was like something happened in novel. The victim was a freelancer journalist.

Perhaps it was because of his occupation. The man often incurred other people’s enmity and crossed dangerous bridge, so he was warier than ordinary people and always locked the door and window but……

The numerous locks were undisturbed inside the room where the reporter was killed.

It was obvious that it wasn’t suicide. After all he was crucified on the room’s wall. A wall where design that ought to be called a strange magic circle was drawn.

It was a cult-like crime.

Inpsector Richard and young Tim Seacrest who had been his police partner for three years were chosen to be in charge of investigating the case.

They not only investigated scientifically, but also asked for help from every kind of expert, but they still couldn’t determine the killing method. Naturally their investigation was rough going.

While they were making such efforts, it came to light that there were cases of missing person happening one after another in area where the public safety was bad.

Originally, they were quasi-criminals――no, they were people who had clearly dirtied their hands with crime, but the police didn’t touch them simply because there was no clear evidence.

Such group of people wouldn’t do something like contacting police, so the discovery of the cases were delayed.

「One day, they suddenly vanish into thin air without even any prior notice. They went out for some kind of backroom dealing, but then they didn’t even show up at the deal and nobody ever see them again. Well, that kinda case isn’t something unusual at all in that area. It must be something like their enemy getting their hand on them anyway. But, if multiple people vanish from inside a locked room, then someone getting cold feet would appear from even among that impudent lot.」

「I see. And so it came to light.」

Apparently a local resident at age that could still be called a boy came running to a police station with a frightened expression.

「The brat’s testimony was incoherent. He said things like sensing strange presence from inside the locked room, or seeing some kind of strange shadow. Normally I wouldn’t give him the time of day but……but, it’s a disappearance from a locked room. Naturally I got curious.」

Inspector Richard and his partner were unable to even grasp a lead. There was no way they could ignore this case that fell on their lap.

But, as expected they were still unable to grab any clue about the locked room mystery.

Even while that was going on, this time another case happened where members of a criminal organization that was under investigation by another division got massacred……

Days where they were at their wits’ end because their investigation of the strange cases didn’t have any progress at all continued.

「Then that stupid Tim, he was too persistent. He was gradually getting weighed down by it all. He was working non-stop, so I half forcefully made him took vacation. But, that idiot, he was still investigating on his own even during that time.」

One evening during that day off.

「I got an email from him in the middle of night. He said that he got a lead for the case, so he’s going to the scene.」

「Lead?」

「I dunno the detail. He sounded quite in a hurry. I called him back right away but he didn’t pick up. Or perhaps……he couldn’t. Anyway, there was only a map attached in the email.」

Apparently Inspector Richard then cursed his partner who went off alone while rushing out of his home.

He rushed in his car toward the place indicated in the map.

And then, he arrived at an old abandoned building and met his partner in a room there.

Yes, his young partner who had been reduced into a pitiful corpse.

「That guy was really an idiot.」

Inspector Richard took out his cigarette box again. He must not have the leeway to feel reserved for Hinata. He put the cigarette into his mouth with a natural movement and light it up.

He took a breath before slowly exhaling the smoke.

「That shitty gloomy guy was too hotblooded. He got nothing in his head other than the investigation from morning till night, and even after he already got home. Always yapping about how he’s gonna catch the perpetrator. Not only that, he even dare to lecture this me, how I drink too much, how I lack exercise, or whatever.」

Even though he was grumbling, there was no displeasure or anger in Inspector Richard’s voice. His tone was simply flat. Like he was suppressing his emotion to control himself.

「And yet he said that the way I drink look cool, so he follow me around like a damn duckling and drink beside me even though he doesn’t really like it. Even though I prefer drinking alone. That damn guy kept chattering on and on and oo~on nonstop. Really what an irritating guy.」

Kousuke and others simply listened to the cop talking. The story wasn’t directly related to the case, but they thought that they ought to do this.

「But, he was a good guy.」

Inspector Richard’s gaze returned back from the past. There was strength in his tone. And, there was anger oozing from it.

「He wasn’t someone who deserved to die in that way, absolutely not.」

「Inspector Richard……my condolences.」

Perhaps Agent J’s mournful words made Inspector Richard realized that he was getting too emotional. He let out a sigh to cover it up.

「That day, just what in the world that guy learned? I want to ascertain that and fished around in his PC and memo. Did that while also sorting out his things he left behind. And then, for some reason there was another map among them.」

「I see. And that map, pointed you to this place.」

「Yeah.」

There was only a checkmark in the map. There wasn’t any memo in it. He didn’t understand why his partner marked that map.

When he checked the place using satellite image from a map site in internet, he could confirm that there was a village in an open area inside the forest, but the village’s name wasn’t displayed.

From what he saw it was an isolated village. And sure enough, there also wasn’t option for street view in the site.

He fished out an old map in library and finally learned that the village’s name was apparently Banwitch.

「I went out of my way to take day off to laboriously chase after a clue that can’t even be called a clue, from Detroit until this far in the middle of northern Michigan state. Even I mocked myself how I’ve gotten senile while driving but……apparently I hit jackpot.」

The corner of Inspector Richard’s mouth lifted up and put back the photos into his jacket’s pocket.

「I’m serious. I’m not scared of dying or whatever. I don’t mind even if this become my last case of police career.」

That’s why,

Inspector Richard said as he leaned forward. What arose in his expression was staggering amount of resolve and drive. It was a face that sported violent emotion that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it an expression of oni. (TN: In Japan, expression of oni was a saying for a furious facial expression)

Agent J was momentarily struck dumb by the pressure of his intensity. He used that opening to grab Agent J’s collar.

He forcefully pulled Agent J closer and pierced him with intimidation in his eyes befitting that of a veteran detective.

「That’s why man, don’t test my patience too much. Tell me the truth.」

To Richard who was the type of person who wouldn’t believe explanation of supernatural phenomenon from the outset, Agent J’s explanation about the situation would only sound like a jest.

I’ve explained my situation. Now you already know what you wanna know right? You’ve no more business with me ain’t you? Now, what’re you gonna do?

The opponent was an unarmed single man. He also didn’t come here for official investigation. There wouldn’t be any witness no matter what got done to him here.

Inspector Richard unspokenly expressed his will and resolve.

He was clearly trying to gauge Agent J and everyone’s reaction and action with his life on the line.

The atmosphere was explosive.

Hinata looked back over her shoulder and exchanged gaze with Kousuke. Kousuke nodded and stopped Takehiko and Kiyosuke from moving with his gaze. He stared at Agent J while taking a wait-and-see approach.

Inspector Richard must have also anticipated getting jumped on by all of them all at once. He quickly ran his gaze around and narrowed his eyes observingly.

Agent J’s eyes wandered around for a moment before opening his mouth a beat later with a calm tone.

「……It’s only natural that you’re doubting us but, I’ll say this one more time. We aren’t your enemy. We also have no intention to harm you at all.」

「……」

「Go confirm with your own eyes what’s going on in this village. That’s including the supernatural truth going on in the hidden side of this world.」

Agent J firmly met Inspector Richard’s eyes with a composed look.

For a while the gazes of both sides clashed unblinkingly.

「……Hmph. Are you saying that the mastermind is V*ldemort?」

It was Inspector Richard who withdrew first. He spoke sarcastically even while letting go of the collar. And then he turned around.

「Alright. Then, I’m going to check it out with my own eyes. I’m counting on you to show me around, Mister King*ley from MCB.」

It seemed he was planning to investigate the village immediately.

There would be no progress even if they kept talking inside the house. He must be thinking that the truth about MCB would also get explained while he was directly confirming the truth of what was happening in this village.

Inspector Richard stomped outside the house without any reservation.

Kousuke and everyone looked at each other.

「……We missed the chance to explain to him the reason we come here. Let’s tell him while he’s doing his investigation.」

「Aa~, let’s do that.」

Kousuke and co nodded to Agent J with wry smiles.

Like that, they all stood up in order to follow after Inspector Richard.

「By the way, even though that uncle cop look that stubborn and scary, he actually like Harry *otter a lot huh. That’s a bit unexpected.」

Vanessa suddenly said that. Apparently she came to that conclusion because the detective’s comparison and sarcasm all used a certain movie of magical school.

Eh, that’s what bother you?

Kousuke and others thought with an expression of not knowing what to say.

「It’s fine isn’t it! There’s no problem with an old man liking HP!」

For some reason Takehiko-ojisan reacted really defensively. Kiyotake and Hinata looked at each other.

「……Dad, you also like it aren’t you. You brought me to USJ many times for it.」

「Come to think of it, Oji-sama gave me a magic wand as present at my seventh birthday wasn’t it……」

Apparently Takehiko-ojisan was also a big fan of Harry *otter series. Actually he also had the student robe and the magic wand of his favorite character.

「Ah, it’s not like we’re making fun of what you like! Just, a slightly scary looking old man liking HP, the gap is cute isn’t it? That’s what we mean.」

What, is that so. Then that’s fine.

Takehiko-ojisan accepted the reasoning.

But however, apparently the slightly scary looking old man was waiting at the entrance despite his quick exit. Their conversation made him snapped.

His head quickly peered into the house from the entrance.

「Try calling me cute one more time, little girl. I’ll teach you your place as an investigator with my fist.」

「Y-YES SIR!」

His gaze was even more intense than when he pressed Agent J before this. Perhaps his figure overlapped with her scaa~ry superior that Vanessa reflexively saluted sharply back.

Inspector Richard tsked. He angrily yelled 「Let’s go already!」 with a displeased tone and went out once more. As everyone followed his back with their gaze,

「Vanessa-san, I wish you can read the room a bit more……」

「Claire-san……I read the room and then made a joke filled with wits though……」

「Vanessa Paradis. You better notice already that your room reading is fundamentally wrong.」

Kousuke and co all smiled wryly at Zhu’s words. Apparently that was a common understanding among them.

Vanessa became simply dejected.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Inspector Richard thoroughly examined the corpse in front of the house. He frowned seeing the strange shape that didn’t look human at all no matter how he looked at it. However, he was still stubborn even then.

「……I once saw something like this during Halloween. Recently even things like make up technology has advanced drastically huh……this must be a doll.」

He made such reasoning. After that.

Even he himself must be thinking that there was hole in his conclusion. He became completely quiet, even so he checked the surrounding houses to confirm whether there was villager while following the urging of Kousuke and co to head toward the central square. On the way there.

「Aa~, in other words, from the start this village was in the list of organizations requiring caution that Nagumo wrote huh……」

「That’s right.」

Agent J told them the reason why they visited this village called Banwitch.

According to him, from the start Hajime was investigating organizations all over the world that seemed dangerous. There he apparently also noticed the existence of this Banwitch Village.

Although, it didn’t mean that there was a dangerous organization here that had to be monitored. Hajime only put this village in his list just in case, because this place was an isolated village worshipping an unknown god since a long time ago.

Naturally, that list was also shared with MCB.

Even the authority wasn’t paying particular attention to Banwitch Village. There was also no report of the village or the villagers causing some kind of incident, and most of all it was an old village. It wasn’t strange even if they had unique custom or religion.

But, around one month ago from today, something that made the authority questioned whether that perception had to be changed happened.

A professor of religious study from a certain university went missing. Apparently he was independently investigating the connection of mysterious incidents that tended to happen and became hot topic in internet with a new religious organization.

And so it wasn’t rare for the professor to go out for fieldwork, it was a different story when he became absent for days from coming to class without any notification. After all that professor wasn’t the type of person who acted like that.

Of course, missing person report was made to police. The result of their search was the discovery of his last destination. Yes, there was a memo that stated that the professor was heading to this Banwitch Village.

「Nagumo? Who’s that?」

「A collaborator of MCB. He’s like them, no, he’s considered as their leader. We’re receiving a lot of helps from him in regard to the supernatural incidents in our country.」

「……Sounds fishy」

Inspector Richard huffed.

「And, that missing professor didn’t get found in the end huh?」

「Yeah. Apparently the local polices asked around whether he visited here or not, but none of the villagers saw him, and apparently the investigators also didn’t find any trace of the professor visiting here.」

「So the residents of this village residents were still safe one month ago……」

Hinata muttered with a pained expression. Agent J nodded and continued speaking.

「But, it wasn’t a waste of time.」

「Apparently the cop who returned back from here acted strange. I heard that he was terrible frightened and showed abnormal wariness toward something even after several days had passed.」

According to Takehiko’s additional explanation, apparently the cop sensed something strange from the village and also the villagers. The cop also mentioned about an eerie feeling, like he was being constantly watched which gave him dread.

And then he ran away and returned back. But the feeling apparently still continued even after he returned to the town outside the forest.

After that his mental health was gradually worsening, and now he was apparently being hospitalized in a mental hospital.

「I see. And from that MCB got contacted wasn’t it?」

Agent J nodded in confirmation to Claudia.

「The lower an organization is the more they’re restricted from MCB’s information, but even the chief of a station of a small town is now obligated to report any incident related to occult to the upstairs. Though police is pretty guarded when it comes to their turf……so there’re also a lot of police chiefs ignoring the regulation but, apparently that chief is the type to follow the regulation. It’s fortunate for us.」

Or perhaps the police chief was also feeling scared.

After all, when MCB agent visited the hospitalized police, the patient was completely not in his right mind and couldn’t even have a conversation. He was simply repeating his words deliriously.

――Get out get out get out get out get out get out from inside me get out

He was doing nothing except muttering that. After seeing his subordinate like that it couldn’t be helped that the chief felt this was something out of his hands.

「And then, the agents before us didn’t come back……」

It was Agent K who muttered that in a small trembling voice. His complexion hadn’t improved at all. His eyes was also radiating fear again.

It seemed that his fear had gotten even worse after seeing the photos of Inspector Richard’s partner. Agent K could also be said as similar with the departed cop age-wise, height-wise, and also hair color-wise. Perhaps the photo of the cop’s death made him imagined himself going through the same thing.

Agent J narrowed his eyes seeing the state of his partner. He stared at him ponderingly, and then he sighed.

「Yes, we’re the successors. Around a week ago, two agents were dispatched here before us. And then, the contact from them stopped coming.」

It was an alarming situation. Something was going on in this old village. Furthermore, it was most likely something supernatural.

「The director suspended the investigation temporarily. He feared secondary damage.」

「That’s only natural. What about the demo――cough, the loaned employees?」

Special employees from the demon god force――puppet group who looked exactly like human while actually demon inside had been dispatched to this country in great number.

Kousuke almost slipped saying demon before he hurriedly corrected himself. The detective beside him was looking at him with suspicion, but he didn’t really say anything so it seemed that it was barely safe.

He was the type who didn’t believe in occult, so even if he heard the word demon he would surely think it was some kind of allegory, but there was still no need for them to intentionally sow the seed of troublesome conversation.

「Of course we asked them for help. It took three days because they were elsewhere for other cases, but after that they headed to this village.」

However, it seemed the villagers were already gone at that time.

「They also couldn’t find the missing agents, and they also didn’t report anything about monster here……」

Perhaps, they abandoned the village and ran away to somewhere because they got the attention of the organization? That seemed to be the conclusion that MCB arrived at.

Although, with the situation as it was, they couldn’t just drop the case. The director decided that they ought to be careful and forbid any entry to the village.

His plan was to count on the collaborator group that was scheduled to visit around one week after that and proposed a joint investigation to them.

Takehiko spoke with a troubled expression.

「Agent J was worried for the two missing agents. They might still be alive but it might be too late for them if he wait until the formal joint investigation begin. It was then, we arrived in this country for advance preparations.」

「Eerr, in other words……you guys acted arbitrarily?」

Agent J looked down when Kousuke asked that.

「Kuh, ……it’s just as you say. I haven’t told director about this.」

He had asked the director to be allowed to investigate the village after asking help from Takehiko and Kiyosuke, but the director wouldn’t give him the okay. After all they weren’t the official personnel, and he judged that it might become an international problem in case the worst happened.

「I’ve done wrong to Takehiko and Kiyosuke. Everything is my responsibility. I’m really sorry-」

「No, it was us who decided to help out in respect to J’s worry for his comrades. And the monsters’ presence here wasn’t something that we could possibly anticipate. So please don’t mind it.」

Agent J must be aware that he had been hasty. Feeling of strong shame and guilt because Takehiko almost died made him apologized. Takehiko put his hand on Agent J’s shoulder and shook his head.

Next he also apologized to Kousuke and co once again for bothering them.

Kousuke and co didn’t mind coming here for rescue. But, they reflexively smiled wryly at the group’s arbitrary action of coming here even though the demon dolls had done prior investigation and judged that this village was deserted. At the same time,

「Hah, I thought you’re just a damn elite, but you actually ain’t that bad huh」

Inspector Richard alone was laughing loudly

GA-HA-HA-HA-

. He hit J’s arm repeatedly in a great mood. It seemed that his positivity level for Agent J was going up for some reason.

This detective uncle, is definitely a habitual offender of arbitrary action huh……?

Kousuke and others were convinced of that.

The central square came into view while they were having such talk.

They could hear snarling from the large hole. Apparently several of the ghouls were awake.

The clones were already dispersed but the ghouls showed no sign of jumping out.

「Aa? What’s that voice……」

Inspector Richard whispered warily. They led him toward the edge of the hole.

And then, Inspector Richard froze.

「Wha-, this is……」

It was a deep hole more than seven meters deep created by earth element magic. It was warping back more the closer it got the surface to make it really difficult to escape from. Furthermore metal string that looked like they would cut just from a touch was also laid out like a lid.

The temporarily named ghouls were lying in great number on top of each other at the bottom. Several ghouls were snarling while stepping on their fellows.

「What do you think now, inspector? This proves that they aren’t drowned body. Do they look human to you?」

「……」

Inspector Richard was speechless. He had no leeway to reply, no, he must be desperately wracking his brain. To him there was no way this kind of monster existed in this world.

But, the figures of monster infesting the bottom of the hole thrust the truth more eloquently than anything to his nose.

Inspector Richard took a step back, and then another step.

「This is……your work?」

「To be more accurate, it’s their work.」

Agent J pointed at Kousuke and co with his gaze. Inspector Richard looked at Kousuke and co with a gaze that showed inscrutable emotion, then, he closed his eyes. He started massaging his forehead with his fingers.

「What……is that?」

「We also want to know that. Where they came from. What kind of existence are they.」

「So you also don’t know anything……」

Inspector Richard peered into the hole from the edge once more to directly look at the truth.

「What about communication? Can we talk with them?」

Agent J looked at Kousuke. Kousuke understood what he meant and answered in his place.

「For the time being, we haven’t found any specimen like that.」

「Are these all of them?」

「The specimens that we were forced to kill are gathered at different place.」

「So you can kill them? No, guess there’s no need to ask.」

「Well, physical attack work on them. They’re tough and agile but, if you hit them at a good spot then they can be defeated even with handgun.」

「I see……」

Inspector Richard’s gaze moved toward Agent J once again.

「What’re you gonna do with them?」

「Well, as expected I can’t act arbitrarily until that far. In any case I’ll have to report them to the director.」

There was no terminal for interworld communicator placed at MCB, so he would call them normally after leaving the forest.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

「……So Tim got killed, because he found out something related to this……huh? The way he died like he was assaulted by animal……if it’s these guys, they might be able to do something like that……」

「Inspector……」

Could it be there was also ghoul at Detroit? If that was the case, then perhaps there were also at other cities?

Everyone imagined such situation. It was at that timing.

「! What’s that just now!?」

Inspector Richard suddenly spoke loudly. Then right after that he suddenly started running.

「Inspector!? What’s the matter!?」

「There’s something! It entered that church looking building!! It looked like they’re wearing a black coat!!」

「Wha-, wait! You mustn’t go there!! It’s dangerous!」

The face of Agent J, no, the faces of K and Takehiko and also Kiyotake paled and they called him to stop. But, the inspector seemed to think it was a clue to his partner’s murder so,

「This ain’t the time to say things like that! That guy obviously know what’s going on here! I won’t let him get away no matter what!!」

He didn’t listen and charged toward the large building that didn’t has cross put up on it but definitely looked like a church.

「Kousuke-kun!!」

「Kou-sama!!」

「Ou, leave it to me!!」

Kiyotake and, Hinata who seemed to sense something called out to Kousuke with a serious expression.

Everyone also followed behind, but a formed clone had instantly closed the distance with Inspector Richard.

But, Inspector Richard had arrived to the church’s large wooden door before he could be stopped.

The double door was opened at just the right width that a single person could slip in, so the inspector entered inside without problem.

Kousuke followed right behind and entered.

Right after that.

Something flew out from the side. The instant he perceived it,

「Guwaaaaaaaaah!!?」

Kousuke screamed. Because one of his arms was taken away!

His left arm was entirely gouged from his shoulder!

「Are you alright!? Me!」

「I’m fine, me! Sorry that I reflexively screamed!」

The clone vanished with a puff of smoke.

Agent J and Takehiko and others entered inside after that and looked at him with eyes that were asking 「What’re you doing……」.

There was also Inspector Richard who saw the incomprehensible phenomenon that was the clone. He had fallen on his ass while looking dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, Kousuke quickly put on his sunglasses. Even though he was inside. Even though the outside was gloomy.

Ahead of his gaze, there was that thing.

A figure clad in something like black mist. The figure wasn’t clear to see. But, it seemed clear that the figure was like a dog walking on four legs.

「Be careful, Endou-kun! It’s that thing! The one that took my arm! It’s an elusive thing!!」

Takehiko warned with a voice that had tremor in it.

In respond to that Kousuke, no,

「Fuh, fully understood!!」

The abyss lord responded with his usual sharp turn.

And then, he was jumped in the middle of his turn.

「Fuuucck, my arm is takeeen-」

「Are you alriiight, meee」

「I was still in the middle of turninggg!! Can’t you read the room!?」

It was a repeat of the same gag. Together with a clone that he had switched with without anyone realizing.

Hinata and others were about to raise their voice in worry for a moment, but they looked at each other for a second.

It seems to be alright!

They nodded to each other and quickly went outside.

AN: Thank you very much for reading this every time.

Thank you very much too for the thoughts, opinions, and reports about misspelling and omitted words.

※Please allow me to make an announcement of new book’s release. The [Comic volume 16] is already on sale!

The cover image this time is Shizuku! I wrote a short story at the end of the volume like usual. A story with Shizuku’s first person POV. It’s also a story of Yue being charming. It’ll make my day if everyone can enjoy it together with the manga! My best regards!

※Material introduction

– Order of the Phoenix

From [Harry Potter] series. Kingsley who came out in a comparison is also a member of it. Btw, Shirakome likes Malfoy quite a bit.

– I’m still in the middle of turning-

From 「The children is still eating!」 of the drama [Kita no Kuni Kara].

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