“Reuniting all the goddess’s soul fragments in one body… So the ritual involves summoning her.” “God summoning… That’s mediumship, right?” Hizuki asked. “Got that right. See, the regalia are top-class magi-gadgets, but they don’t do much on their own. The Seburds’ Crown increases divinity, the Götels’ Blade allows for its use, and the Reynards’ Orb controls it. It’s only when you get all three together that their true power can be harnessed.” Korneah tapped the Crown on his head. “I don’t need this thing myself. Not worth giving a crap about noble blood or sovereignty that relies on some royal symbol. I’d rather everyone get on with the times.” He sounded fed up. “But truth is that this stupid tradition still has a tight grip on the city. This damn regalia continues to function as a true symbol of power. All because of the city’s special soil.” “Soil?” Veltol asked. “Akihabara is Shinjuku’s satellite city, but the influence of the Greatest Six—like MAGTEC and IHMI—which control the ITEM industry and information technology, is surprisingly low,” Hizuki replied. “They couldn’t reform anything by force; that’s why Electric Town still has all these independent small and medium-sized companies and mom-and-pop stores, and why Magic Town keeps its traditional townscape.” “That’s got its perks, sure,” Korneah said. “Back when the previous Reynard head was still alive, we chose representatives from both sides to form a council… Sad to say, it’s now just a shadow of its former self.” He grabbed the Crown and twirled it around on his finger. “Makes me sick. It’s beyond ridiculous that this still holds power over Akihabara. Ain’t got no choice but to use it, though. I love Electric Town, so I wanna make it even bigger. The whole city’ll go under if we keep clinging to tradition. I wanna upgrade everything to stop that from happening, and gathering all the regalia would be the fastest way to do that. Bet Tratte thinks the same, too.” “So you would get rid of powerful people on the other side in order to put yourself in better standing?” “Those rumors? All bullshit, and I’m sure it goes the same for Tratte’s end. It’s other folks who are stoking the rivalry. No reason for us to take it further. I think it’s all some stupid extremist faction…or maybe a third party messing with us.” “A third party…?” “What I need now is the power to reform under proper procedure. That means becoming king of the city, which in turn means getting the three regalia.” The cigarette on the ashtray had burned up almost to the filter. “It’s all a matter of our standing. She wants to keep the city’s traditions, and that’s why she wants the regalia. I want them ’cause I wanna change those traditions. Not really a matter of who’s correct in any case. We both are.” “Why are you going into so much detail?” Veltol asked. “I thought you were concerned about a third party—or me, a potential Magic Town spy—usurping power.” Korneah glanced at Hizuki. No emotion could be read from his artificial tube-shaped eyes, but somehow, it was clear he had no ill intentions. “To put it bluntly…it’s just my hunch as a merchant.” “A hunch?” “I feel like you’re worth trusting. Guess you won’t take my word for it, though.” He looked at Hizuki again. “Sorry, but mind leavin’ me alone with this fella?” “Huh? Veltol, is that okay?” “Yes, no problem,” he replied, nodding. Hizuki, Meral, and the full-borg bodyguard left the room. Korneah started talking once he confirmed he and Veltol were alone. “I don’t want them…or rather, her to hear this. I still don’t know why exactly you want the regalia, Veltol…but would you let me in on it?” “I want the regalia to verify the contents of the treasury, and you want them to change the city. I don’t see how our objectives might conflict…do you?” Korneah’s smile deepened. “Not that I’m gonna get all chummy saying we should join hands, but I think we can both get something out of this. She—Hizuki—brought you here. I don’t need nothin’ else to trust you. That’s the whole reason why I’m telling you everything I know…and that’s good enough for me.” “Hmmm…” Veltol thought about it. He would certainly get close to achieving his goal by collaborating with a head of the Three Great Houses. Plus, he wouldn’t be cooperating with the Seburd Company, but with Korneah himself. Veltol could also feel from the way he spoke that Korneah truly wanted to improve this city, and that he really cared for Hizuki. “I understand. My gut says I can trust you.” Veltol judged Korneah was the kind of person who could put others before himself. Korneah nodded in satisfaction. “Since you’re here, lemme let you in on a little secret. Something I don’t want her finding out.” “What is it?” Korneah interlaced his many-ringed fingers. “The Orb is nearby.” Veltol opened his eyes wide. “What…?” “I dunno its exact location, but I can feel it. The Crown stored in my soul tells me that the Orb is still in this city. Akihabara…or Lu Xel, rather, is sacred ground for the goddess Meldia, so I can feel the regalia’s presence so long as it’s here. Tratte can probably feel it, too. She hasn’t made a fuss about its being lost ’cause she knows it’s still nearby.” Korneah lit another cigarette. “Try looking for it. I’ll open the treasury for you if you can get me the other regalia.” He puffed smoke out his nostrils. “Now, this is a plea from me personally, not the Seburd head. If you’re even a little concerned about Hizuki, then I ask that you help her out.” “Hizuki?” “She may act tough, but she’s really vulnerable. I’d like to give her more comfort, if only it wasn’t for my pesky Three Houses status. Wanting to liberate her from this city’s chains is also one of my reasons for changing it. So yeah, I’d appreciate if you could get to know her better.” He flashed a tender smile while putting out his cigarette. “And the key to finding the regalia…lies within her.” “Within her? She didn’t seem aware of its whereabouts, though.” “Only a select few in Akihabara know this, but…” The remnant smoke swayed upward. “…according to the records, she inherited the Orb when she was still a child.” The third level of Akihabara Electric Town was where all the classic subcultures from the previous world flocked. It was the safest place in town, in a way…and the least safe in another. The streets were full of faded posters of anime-style illustrations, along with fighting game tournament brackets and odds tables for the gambling arcades. Shadowy otakus lurked in the narrow paths dealing counterfeit plastic model kits, showing off their magiroid daughters to one another, and exchanging casual banter about their sweethearts. In one corner of this hellscape was Machina, holding a paper-substitute shopping bag while crouching in front of one of the many capsule-toy vending machines. “Hrmmm…,” she muttered while staring at it. Buying a capsule toy was quite simple: just scan the QR code, pay on the website, then rotate the vending machine’s handle once it unlocked. The way the machine worked, you got a random capsule and didn’t know what was inside until you opened it. However, Machina didn’t want any of this machine’s products. She already had the tanuki from the Extinct Mystical Beasts series of figures in her hand. “Ishimary trading figure… Ten variations plus a secret one.” The vending machine’s screen read SOLD OUT on top of the pink, bunny-like round shape. A ton of opened capsules were piled up in the trash can beside it. The machine’s log said one person had pulled every single one of them. “Who would even want this?” Ishimary was the mascot of the giant corporation IHMI. They had all sorts of merchandise, but most people on the net didn’t like Ishimary. “Maybe it’s popular in Akihabara?” Waves of people came and went farther down the passageway, and she could hear the sweet voice of a maid trying to pull in customers. Machina stood up and looked down the path, then gasped. “…What?” One person grabbed her attention. She was short, wearing black clerical clothing and a veil over her visor-clad eyes. Machina started to follow her, but the figure soon disappeared into the crowd. “Who was that…?” It should’ve been the first time she saw her, yet she got a strong feeling of déjà vu. Then someone came down the steep, narrow stairs of the building in front of her. “Sorry, the haggling took me a while.” It was Takahashi. Above the stairway, so tight of a fit that an adult ogre couldn’t go through it, was an antique card shop—something hard to come by in the modern era. “Don’t worry, I didn’t wait long. Besides, I’m an expert at waiting for people.” “What’d you buy?” “Oh, just some books—” “Show me, show me! Whatcha got in there? Dirty books?” “Wh-why are you getting so worked up?! And no, they’re not!” Inside Machina’s bag were pristine secondhand paper-substitute doujinshi. The stories followed a demon lord, based on Veltol, penned by Duchess Crimson of the doujin circle Six Dork Peers. Machina’s brain was firing on all cylinders. These doujinshi I drew to distract me from my loneliness prior to Lord Veltol’s return are now real-person fiction! I have to get rid of them all before he finds out! It took her 0.2 seconds to elaborate. “Um, uh… I—I just got a few interesting used books.” “Nice, lemme see ’em later.” “Ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha-ha-ha.” They chatted until they reached a vending machine a slight distance from the card shop. Its entire lineup was oden. There were dozens of the same machines, all selling canned oden, which was why this path was nicknamed Oden Street. They had agreed to meet back with Veltol and Hizuki there. “Takahashi, were you really okay coming here?” “Where?” “Akihabara, on the exchange program. You didn’t have to join us.” “It’s fine, it’s fine. Don’t worry ’bout that now.” “Perhaps I shouldn’t concern myself with this, but you have your own life—” “Hey, you callin’ me a nuisance?” “No, that’s not it at all…” Takahashi pushed the vending machine’s button to buy a can of oden. Electric Town, just like Shinjuku, was a cashless society. Some places in Magic Town still used Lu Xel money, but they were few. “Besides, I’m just staying in school to please my folks in the first place. Only thing that matters is that I get enough credits and graduate. I’ll give ’em back the tuition fees with a little extra once I’m done. What’s with the big-sister act anyway, Machina?” “Well, I am your elder, technically.” “You’re, like, everyone’s elder, technically.” Takahashi pulled the tab to open the oden can, then took out one piece of skewered synthetic konnyaku and gave it to Machina. “And yet I’m a relative newbie among immortals…and among the Six Dark Peers, too.” “Really?” “Yes.” Machina nodded while nibbling at the konnyaku. “The Six Dark Peers from oldest to youngest are: Sihlwald, the Black Dragon; Zenol, the Karmic Sword; Ralsheen, the Blue Storm; that asshole, Marcus; then me; and finally, May, the Mournful Firmament. Sihlwald is actually older than Lord Veltol while Zenol, Ralsheen, and Marc-hole are basically from the same generation. Then come May and me. Granted, May has a pretty complicated background for an immortal, so it may not be entirely correct to consider her a newbie.” Machina grabbed an egg with her skewer, Takahashi grabbed a mernius, and they both stuffed their cheeks. “Hmmm, so you were close with this May person?” Takahashi pouted. “Huh? Why do you ask?” “Well, your voice is different when you talk about her. Like, it gets higher.” “Oh… True, she was like a cute little sister to me.” “Hmmmmmm…” Takahashi eyed Machina unamusedly while receiving her skewer back. “Wh-what is it?” “Nothiiing.” Unable to understand why Takahashi was sulking, Machina gazed into the distance and whispered, “I just hope she’s alive and well…” Takahashi tried her best to look away from Machina and gulped down the remaining oden soup. She put the skewers in the can, then tossed it into the trash receptacle beside the vending machine. “Huh?” “What’s the matter?” Takahashi had seen someone familiar walk in their direction. “Isn’t that the principal?” It was Tratte Götel. Takahashi waved and called out to her. Tratte looked surprised once she noticed. Her expression seemed slightly stiff, unlike when they met her a while before. “We meet again, Principal. Whatcha up to?” “Again…?” Tratte froze for a moment. “Did you find Professor Mag?” Machina asked. “Ah… No, I couldn’t, actually.” “Oh, I see.” “Yes, I’d been waiting for a while after I met with you two. Sorry, I have things to attend to, so if you’ll excuse me…” Tratte immediately left in a hurry. “Did she seem weird to you or what?” Takahashi asked. “She did…” “Like, did she change parts of her skincover or something? Her face looked super stiff.” “You’re quite attentive to detail, Takahashi.” “Can’t be a super genius hacker babe without a sharp eye.” With the taste of suspicion still in their mouths, two more people appeared right away. “Thanks for waiting, you guys.” They were Veltol and Hizuki. “Hizuki, welcome back!” “I’m back, yeah.” “How did it go, Lord Veltol?” “I managed to get Korneah Seburd on our side.” “Oh? So we already got two of ’em? Everything’s going swimmingly, huh?” “It’s a bit early to say our goal is just within reach, but we did get some useful information, all thanks to Hizuki.” “You did? Thank you so much, Hizuki,” Machina said. “I—I didn’t do anything…” Hizuki scratched her cheek awkwardly. “Hey, hey, hey, so what now?” Takahashi asked. “I’d like to look for some more dou…used books.” “I want to check out the arcade,” Veltol said. Looking at them, Hizuki whispered so softly that no one could hear her, “This feels…pretty nice…” Here she was, casually spending after-school time with classmates. Not even she understood how priceless this experience was to her. “Nice, nice, let’s do a little more browsing before heading back to the dorm—” “……” Hizuki looked sad for a brief moment, and Takahashi didn’t miss that. “…Hey, how ’bout we crash at Hizuki’s place for the night?” Hizuki opened her eyes wide at the suggestion. “Huh?!” “If Lord Veltol is fine with it, I would certainly like to visit.” “I have no objections.” “Well, I do! Wh-why my house?” “Because we wanna hang with you a li’l longer!” Takahashi exclaimed. “Yes, I’d like to get to know you a little better myself,” Machina said. “—” Hizuki couldn’t breathe. Joy, hesitation, and anxiety swirled inside her chest. Her voice trembled. “…Ha-ha-ha, what a bunch of weirdos,” she said softly while looking away, although trying desperately to contain a smile. “Good… I hereby announce we will be staying at Hizuki’s house for the night! That is an order!” The Demon Lord’s decree was loud. “H-hey, you can’t just… Ugh, fine, let’s do it.” Hizuki sounded exasperated, but she eventually couldn’t hide her smile. How had it come to this? No answer would come, no matter how many times she asked. The fault probably lay in her. She was unprepared for these unforeseen circumstances. Why…? Why am I in the bath with a man I just met today…? Veltol was in the opposite corner of the bathtub, merrily humming. Only Hizuki and him were there. Problematic in every way imaginable. This was the first she had seen a man naked since the last time she bathed with her father when she was a child, and her last memory of bathing with anyone period was with her mother. Hizuki shot a sidelong glance at Veltol. He paid her no mind, simply soaking in the bath. Yet she found even the lack of attention humiliating. She didn’t want him to look at her like that, but it felt as though he didn’t find her the least bit attractive. Weirdest of all was how casual he was being about the whole thing. Why and how had it come to this? To find out, we must go back in time a few hours… “Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honor that I, Takahashi, lead the toast tonight. I want to thank everyone present for taking time out of their busy schedules to gather here in the Hizuki household.” “Enough rambling! Cheers to our meeting, friends!” Veltol exclaimed. “Hey, that’s too short, Velly!” Everyone raised their glasses, none of their drinks alcoholic. All juice and tea. After checking out all the sights they’d wanted to visit, the group had arrived at the Reynard residence to spend the night as planned. The Reynard home was a mansion three stories high, divided into an east wing and a west wing from the entrance hall. They were currently in the dining room, in the east wing. The dining room…or rather the mansion in general, wasn’t as well maintained as the luxurious exterior would have you expect—there was few furniture in the first place. It lacked maintenance outside as well, giving it a look of abandonment. Hizuki lived in that huge house alone, after all. The dining room had only a table in the middle and a cupboard, fridge, and stove in a corner. They had bought groceries on their way home and had ordered pizza via drone delivery. A colorful array of food Hizuki and Machina had prepared decorated the table. Veltol and Takahashi helped out elsewhere. This group never stopped eating. “I’m surprised you’re such a good cook, Machina. I pictured you as this secluded rich girl who’d never held anything heavier than a pen.” “It’s because I lived alone for so long. You get a basic grasp of cooking that way.” “Wooow, that’s a huge shock. How long did you live alone for?” “Goodness, it’s been decades by now…” “Huh?” Hizuki and Machina chatted while helping themselves to slices of pizza topped with grilled mernius and char siu. “Velly, you gonna play any fighting games when we get back to Shinjuku?” “Yes, of course. I must get revenge on the people who defeated me at the arcade…” “They sure had you renco-ing like crazy, huh…? Come to think of it, I wonder what the co part of renco’s for.” Renco was the Japanese shorthand term for inserting coins nonstop to continue the game after being defeated: ren meaning “consecutive” and co standing for “coin.” Thing was, arcades in this era—an endangered species, by the way—didn’t use coins, but virtual currency. Enthusiasts continued to use the word renco, despite its semi-obsolete etymology. The same was true for many other words as well. “It was a nice surprise finding retro fighting games with actual physical input here instead of the full-dive VR variety. Didn’t know they had those in Akiba.” “It would seem that both Magic Town and Electric Town hold onto old cultural relics.” Veltol and Takahashi distributed fried rice from a large plate. “I wasn’t expecting Hijiki to be that good at fighting games…” “Her hand-eye coordination was perfect. Lord Veltol couldn’t land one hit.” “Heh-heh-heh. I mean, I won’t lose to someone who can’t even block high hits, overheads, or cross-ups.” Time flies when you’re having fun. “I’m sorry.” She heard the voice. Hizuki was walking through the halls alone after the party had ended. She was on her way to take a bath in the bathroom down the stairs on the west wing’s first floor. Her steps were the only sound in the dark, cold corridor. She was wearing a lounge dress and her hair was down. She took a glance out the window. The Reynard manor was on a small hill on the outskirts of Magic Town, and it was in desperate need of maintenance, so neighborhood kids called it a haunted mansion. Out the window, she could clearly see Akihabara’s townscape: the faint aether lights of Magic Town, the blinking taillights of brooms like shooting stars in the sky, and the mountain of light that was Electric Town beyond. Back when she was little, the garden had flowers genetically engineered to be chill-resistant, and her parents employed many live-in servants. It was a lively place. Now she was the only person living there, and the garden didn’t have even a blade of grass. It was an empty, dusty, and lonely mansion. But not that day. She had visitors: three classmates staying over that night. Somehow, she didn’t feel uncomfortable. They had even found out she had a part-time job, so there was no need for pretension, no need to put on airs in front of this group. She had fun walking about Electric Town with them, playing at the arcade, buying food on their way home, throwing a small party, and even holding a gaming tournament. All three had already taken a bath and were now sleeping in whichever open room they wanted. Hizuki was last to bathe. She didn’t have anyone to call a friend—just shooting the breeze with these three was an all-new experience to her. Takahashi, Machina, and… “…Veltol.” She had felt something ever since she first saw him in the classroom. Not quite love, not really romance, but something else entirely. Something she felt would change her life. Even the usually quiet, empty, and desolate mansion seemed to have gone back to better, happier times, just for the time being. Hizuki opened the door to the changing room and touched the sensor on the wall, turning on the bathroom lights with her mana. “Honestly…I should really stop.” Every time she thought she wanted to get closer to them, a feeling telling her not to become involved grew stronger as well. She didn’t want anything grand. After all, the more important something was to her, the sadder she would feel when she lost it. “Just like my parents… Besides—” She took off all her clothes, including her underwear. The cold air made her shiver. The mansion was inside the cryotolerance zone, but she’d turned off the heating to save money. Thankfully, she had a hot bath ready—usually, she only took showers. Hizuki grabbed a towel and stepped into the bathroom. There, she saw him. “Huh?” For a moment, her brain couldn’t process what she witnessed. The bathroom, with its floral melju-patterned tile floor, was wide enough to fit four or five adults, and the bathtub was equally as big. Veltol stood at the center of the tub. “Oh, if it isn’t Hijiki.” Nude. “Wha—? Huh? Um? Ah? No, it’s Hizuki,” she stammered while covering herself. To her own surprise, she managed not to scream on reflex. Steam came off Veltol’s rock-solid torso. He held his hands to his waist, as though intentionally showing off his body, which was as beautiful as a work of art. He showed no shred of embarrassment, no intention of hiding anything. Why was Veltol still there? Why was he making that pose? Why was he so calm in front of a girl who had mistakenly entered the bathroom? Hizuki had no answer to any of these questions. “Why…are you…naked here?” “Hmm? This is a bathroom. Who on Alnaeth enters a bath while clothed?” “I—I mean, yeah, but…” “My, my, I understand your desire to ogle my ravishing physique, and you are the master of the house, but I daresay peeping at someone bathing is a little impolite. Sigh… I will allow it this time.” He brushed back his wet bangs with a seductive gesture, so charming, in fact, that her first thought wasn’t to rebuke his nonsense. “Huh? Wait, no, what? Why? The lights were off. And didn’t you take a bath already?” Hizuki’s brain was having trouble processing any thought, and she could only open and close her mouth repeatedly while looking up and down. “I’m accustomed to bathing twice—once after dinner and again before sleeping. And I bathe in darkness.” “Why turn off the changing room lights, too, though?” “I cherish the night. You might say absorbing myself in its darkness is as natural as a banshee’s wailing.” “Okay, you’re a weirdo, got it… It’s my fault for not checking in here first, I guess. Tell me once you’re out.” Hizuki started retreating into the changing room. “Heh, I suppose it’s only natural that a young girl like you would be frightened by my perfect body…” “Wha—?! I-I-I-I’m not scared! What the hell are you even talking about?!” “No matter. Having to bathe beside my peerless beauty would undoubtedly cause you to compare your own physique against mine. Yours is not bad at all, I will give you that…but I’m just better.” He flaunted his pectorals, sturdy as shields, then slowly submerged himself back in the bath while showing off his trapezii, like a great dragon’s scales. “I perfectly understand your wanting to run away. While getting the chance to bathe with me is a great honor, it is also a touch masochistic…” “St-stop looking down on me! I have absolutely no problem bathing together!” Hizuki’s competitive streak betrayed her, and she unconsciously fell for Veltol’s provocation. Outraged, she washed her hair, tied it up with a towel, washed her body, and got into the bath, in the opposite corner from Veltol. So that happened. The bathwater was tinted green from the Aldgard Cure-all Bath Salts she bought in Magic Town. The hashnova and mandrake herbs had a characteristic aroma that acted as a natural relaxant, plus the healing effects of the famous Aldgard hot springs that helped soothe nerve pain, rheumatism, stiff shoulders, and sensitivity to cold. “Today’s party was fun,” Veltol said. He was spreading his legs and still had plenty of space left in the roomy bathtub, despite his stature. He wasn’t one to feel reserved, but even Hizuki thought he’d been the most relaxed that day. “Yeah, I won’t deny that. I haven’t enjoyed myself that much in a long time.” “I was astonished when Takahashi proposed the gaming tournament. I didn’t expect her to have bought controllers in Electric Town.” “That was hilarious. And you’re actually pretty bad at games for a game streamer…” “I’d say I’ve gotten much better. The real surprise is how good you are.” “Browsing the net and gaming are my only hobbies. What’s actually baffling is Machina’s skill, though. Like, she’s really good.” “I agree. She looks sweet on the outside but she’s not afraid to use the dirtiest tricks in battle…” “It got me really fired up.” “Sounds like you truly enjoyed yourself.” “Yeah, I did…really…” Hizuki hugged her knees and clenched her teeth. Was this friendship? Or something else? She didn’t understand interpersonal relationships, so she had no way to answer. She knew just one thing. “Hey, Veltol.” No, don’t ask him, she thought, but she couldn’t help herself. It was like looking up what other people said about your favorite piece of media on the aethernet, knowing you wouldn’t be satisfied with what you’d find. “What is it?”
Chapter 21
23 min read