Chapter 22

Epilogue Norman sat across from two women in the windowless office. One was Sufiya Hamish. She had the same hair and eye color as Norman and wore glasses. She was head of the Cartesius Bardium branch. Iris Norton stood behind her in a black suit and had black hair. She was an intelligence officer who closely monitored and gathered information on the Unlaw within the city and served as Sufiya’s secretary. “Hmm. So how do you feel?” “How do I feel? That’s a tough question. I got stabbed in the chest, I got shot in my ribs, my left arm is cracked, and my right ear is torn. And I fell from the top of a tower two weeks ago. I can’t walk without a cane. And while I was in that condition, I was kicked out of the hospital to come here. So yeah. I’m in top shape.” “Then everything’s fine.” Norman replied to his sister’s calm smile with silence, a protest that was entirely pointless. “Now, my foolish little brother, I called you here for two reasons.” “What is it? I already gave you the report on that deviant actor. Well, Iris, not you. You didn’t even visit me once. Iris did, but it felt more like an interrogation. Actually, tell me something first: Is Jim really dead?” “Yes, it’s been dealt with. You’re better off not knowing the specifics.” “Sure. I don’t want to know, and I don’t even want to remember.” “Jim Adamworth is dead, and the militarization of Unlaw has been suspended. There shouldn’t be any problems, at least for now. Of course, there will be no conscription in the city, either.” “If there were, everything you did would be for nothing.” “Yes, that’s part of my job and also something that concerns you.” With that, Sufiya took out a small box and placed it on her desk. “Here you go.” “…Thanks.” He stood up despite the pain, reseated himself, and opened it. There was a badge inside the box of a cane and hat, surrounded by blue, red, yellow, and green designs—there was also text on the brim of the hat: ELEMENTARY. “…What’s this?” “You always said you wanted an official job, right? Well, as a reward for this job, I’ve arranged for you to operate as a detective agency called ‘Elementary.’ All the necessary documents have been sent to your lodgings, so feel free to use that as your office.” “…You’re up on trends, huh?” “No, it’s as in the four elements.” “Huh? Oh…I see. Well, whatever.” “You did well. You worked hard to solve the case for them and earned points for Cartesius in the process.” He didn’t react to his sister’s sarcastic smile. “The second matter is—” “Your next job.” “…Fine. I’ll do my best, even though I’m still recovering.” “All right. That’s all, then.” Norman sighed, rose to his feet, and opened the door, leaning on his cane. “…Hamish.” The voice wasn’t Sufiya’s. It belonged to Iris, who’d been silent up until now. “Is that detective agency what you wished for?” Her words were like a chilly blade. “…Well, it’s not exactly what I hoped for, but I’ll take it.” “I see.” Her stare pierced through Norman. “You never change, huh?” “Where should we sit?” “I’ll sit here.” “Fine.” In the living room of Norman Hamish’s lodgings, Clareth and Lonsday plopped onto the only two sofas in the room like they owned them. “Eltiel, make some tea with brandy.” “Nice! I’ll have a royal milk tea.” “I’m not your servant, you know,” Eltiel replied while sweeping the floor with a broom. She’d been cleaning regularly during Norman’s hospitalization, but she was giving it another go today. “Feel free to make it yourself.” “What do you say, Clareth?” “Norman will probably make tea when he gets back, so let’s wait for him.” “Good idea.” “Good grief…” Eltiel couldn’t help but sigh at the two of them. It was no use talking to them because they never listened. “Not a speck of cooperation between them.” Smiling wryly, Shizuku worked in a corner of the room. “That’s rich coming from you, Shizuku. That’s some dangerous luggage you’ve got there. “You’re not the only one Norman’s teaching self-defense to, Miss Clareth.” “Hee-hee. That’s some self-defense.” Clareth smiled, her gaze lingering on the rifle Shizuku was doing maintenance on bare-handed. Shizuku wiped down the metal sections with oil, oblivious to everything around her. “Why don’t you come over here? We’re still senior and junior, after all.” “I already dropped out, senior.” “Come on, Shizuku. You come over here, too. Let’s be friends.” “…No, thank you, Detective. Do we really need to be friends?” “Good question. I guess so, considering the future.” “The detective agency, right? It’s great that Lord Norman will be in charge of his own business.” “Elementary. It still makes me laugh, though.” The four of them had already been informed by Sufiya about the detective agency, which was why they had gathered for Norman’s discharge. They wouldn’t have gathered otherwise—the four of them could probably turn a tea party into a deathmatch. It could easily escalate from someone getting in someone else’s way or them simply finding it interesting. Essentially, they had taken a stance of non-aggression against the others because they knew Norman was trying to protect all four of them. “…Does he really need a detective agency?” Shizuku muttered after polishing the parts, assembling them with practiced hands. “We’ve all managed fine on our own the past year and a half.” It might have sounded like a monologue, but there was someone who caught her words. “If you ask me if it’s necessary or not, I’d say not.” Wearing her usual smile, the Fairy picked up the tears spilled by the flower. “The four of us helped Mr. Norman this time. It was a small miracle that he caused by always being there for us. In that case, don’t you want to show him the miracle again? I’m sure he’d be happy to see us drinking tea together or something.” “…” Shizuku’s hands stopped for a moment. Lonsday comfortably puffed on her cigarette, and Eltiel listened attentively to Clareth’s words. “Does the idea of us four being together bother you that much?” “…Not that much. Well, I don’t really care.” “Then it shouldn’t matter if we gather here, either.” The pleasant, sharp sound of Shizuku spinning her assembled rifle rang out. She hadn’t responded immediately after finishing her gun repairs. She wiped her hands on a cloth and removed the gun barrel again, then carefully stored the rifle in the violin case lying next to her. “…I’m fine with it if Norman’s happy.” Shizuku remained where she was, grudgingly. She produced a violin from a different case that didn’t house a gun and haphazardly plucked at its strings. “You’re a smooth talker.” “Thank you. And what do you think, Detective?” “Hard to say. What about you, Eltiel?” “If it brings Lord Norman joy, then it’s fine by me,” she replied instantly, like it was only natural. Then she gathered the trash into a dustpan and threw it in the can. Like a faithful dog, she only wished for her master’s happiness—because it was also her own. “About what I expected. Well, I mostly agree with you. And a detective agency won’t be so bad.” “Hee-hee. What a weak-willed bunch.” “Ha, that’s Elementary.” “…?” Clareth slightly furrowed her brow at the puzzling response. Shizuku and Eltiel also looked to Lonsday, who met their gazes with a smile. “It’s the four elements theory. The idea that the world is made up of four elements. Sounds kind of like us, right?” She wasn’t making some detective-esque pronouncement of the truth. It was gentler than that, like a wry smile mixed in with a quiet prayer. Earth, water, fire, and wind. The four elements of a single world. Shizuku Teardrop. Eltiel Siriusflame. Lonsday Enhancedia. Clareth Airystep. Together, the four of them formed a single world—the world of Norman Hamish. “Elementary.” That was why the four of them could gather in this office. In here… She didn’t have to tremble in a corner of the room. She didn’t have to hide who she was. She didn’t have to doubt what she should do. She didn’t have to be bored. It was something he had dreamed of, the promised place where they belonged, and the miracle he had created. The four of them thought the same thing: Wouldn’t that be nice? Norman returned to his lodgings and placed his hand on the doorknob. “…” The door was unlocked. After a moment’s hesitation, he opened it easily. “Hey, welcome home.” When he opened the door, the four of them were gathered in his living room just like he’d thought they would be. He recalled saying some outlandish things during the Bardium Tower case, but it wasn’t important. It was unlike him, but he hadn’t been lying, either. “Welcome back.” Shizuku sat cross-legged on the floor in the center of the room. Next to her were two violin cases. She had taken off her gloves but still continued to wear her hood. She plucked the violin strings with her fingers, a small smile playing on her lips. “Welcome back. I made tea.” Eltiel had just emerged from the living room, carrying tea for all five of them. “You’re late. Did that schemer load up your plate with more crap? I hope it’s an interesting case, at least.” Lonsday lounged in one of the two sofas in the room as if she owned them, her feet up on the small table next to her, happily puffing away on her cigarette. “Hmm. I’d welcome an interesting case. Welcome back, Mr. Norman.” Clareth sat demurely on the sofa opposite Lonsday. Her smile, the same as always, was genuine. “Yeah.” This was probably one of Norman Hamish’s whys—just as he couldn’t stand to see the girls rejected, he wanted to find a place where they could truly belong. Long ago, he’d made that promise to them, and more specifically, that they’d all be able to gather and have tea. The sight he’d thought was a pipe dream was right in front of him. It was a minor miracle. This last case has been an incredible ordeal. But if he could see this moment—and see it again in the future—it would be priceless to him. All the hardship would be worth it. “All right, I have something to tell you all while we drink our tea.” Tear Blossom. Hellhound. Jewel. Fairy. Slowly, Norman looked around at the four people who meant the most to him. “It’s not worth much, but I’ve got our next case.” In a city surrounded by walls, where no wind blew, the tale of humans and monsters would continue.