Blindfolds and Suspicion

Translated by LyraDhani

Edited by LyraDhani

The file given to him by Higoromo contained detailed information about the great fire.

Starting from the scale of damage, the final number of deaths, speculatively the cause of the fire. In conclusion, the government had determined that the fire was a kind of man-made disaster.

The source of the fire was a religious institution, The Star of Dawn,, which was the base of operations of a group whose leader was a 14-year-old girl.

The reason for its founding was to ease the suffering of victims of Demonic Beasts through the prayers of a priestess who could hear the voice of God.

Most of its followers were people whose family members or loved ones had lost their lives in a Demonic Beasts attack, but no particularly malicious damage had been confirmed. Unlike the dubious reason for its founding, the activities themselves were relatively straightforward as a religion, as they simply prayed sincerely and did not ask for excessive amounts of money or goods.

However, despite the solid operation, there were records that some believers were acting strangely behind the scenes.

Among the believers, there were a lot of occult researchers and former government officials who had quit due to mental illness. Higoromos findings, which were handwritten in the middle of the document, suggest that these people might have manipulated the girl who was the head of the church to conduct research on Demonic Beasts with the help of the entire organization.

Since there were almost no survivors at that time many of the followers died in the great fire, and even those who were lucky enough to escape the disaster died of an unknown illness within a few months the actual condition of the Star of Dawn was not known, but one thing was certain. In the memoirs of believers who happened to have remained unburned, an extraordinary fact was discovered.

They were trying to control the Demonic Beasts with human hands.

At last we have found a way to control the dimensional rift. All that remains is to prepare to receive the Gods as the Miko instructed. Ah, at last mankind can overcome the Demonic Beasts. In order to prevent any more victims like my wife, we must make sure that this ritual is a success. Yes, absolutely.

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At the end of such a disturbing notation, the memoir was interrupted.

Some of the believers were trying to summon some kind of [God] through Mikos oracle.

Bells earlier guess was still correct. They were trying to bring down the Gods. Tsugumi, who was involved with Gods in some small way, understood how reckless it was. From the beginning, the human race couldnt control Gods.

Just what exactly was the control of Demonic Beasts they were researching. He was curious, but there was no further information in the file.

Then, as Tsugumi rolled up the file with a difficult look, Bell nodded her head in agreement and opened her mouth.

I see. No wonder it smells so bad around there.

Eh, what?

When Tsugumi asked back, Bell began to talk uncomfortably.

I had forgotten to tell you because it was so repulsive, but after I heard your story earlier, I was intrigued and went to the closed area you mentioned. But it smelled so bad there. If the fallen God descended on that place, then that smell is understandable. And with a disaster of that magnitude, it wouldnt be surprising if it swallowed up a city or two. They did a foolish thing.

To Bell who said this in an exasperated tone, Tsugumi opened his mouth, troubled.

I understand how they feel, though. If humans could completely control Demonic Beasts, the damage done to people could be reduced considerably. It sounds like a dream come true. Though, in the end, it seems to have failed.

-At least they were convinced of the success. But the result was too ruthless. As a consequence of irresponsibly reaching out to God, many lives were lost and the land died.

It was most irredeemable that they had no ill will whatsoever. They must have been trying to control the Demonic Beasts with good intentions. So that there would be no more sad victims like themselves.

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But it wasnt the real problem for Tsugumi. If all this data was correct, then Sakura-oneechan was a terrible sinner. In other words, her supposed brother, Tsugumi was a person on the perpetrators side.

Maybe this was what Higoromo was talking about when he said he would be shocked.

It would be a lie if he said he didnt think it would have been better not to know. But he couldnt keep running away from the past forever. If this was the truth, he had no choice but to silently accept it.

As Tsugumi raised his eyebrows, Bell laughed, as if she could see right through his thoughts.

Hmm, you seem to have been born under a very nasty star. The people involved are almost all dead, but it doesnt mean that there isnt someone who knows about you. Youd better watch out for blackmail at best.

Yes, Ill be careful.

Tsugumi replied with a grimace and let out a loud sigh.

Regardless of Tsugumis situation, the problem was with Chidori. As far as he could tell from the material in the file, there was no confirmed sighting of a girl resembling Chidori among the Star of Dawn. Was it more importantly hidden or did it not exist from the beginning? Tsugumi was afraid to know the answer to those two choices.

But then again, your sister the contractor of the white rabbit is never confirmed. There are no traces of her being there, no photographs or testimonies. Why dont you just admit it? You really know whats really going on-

Shut up. Saying anything more, even if its Bell-sama, is unacceptable. Please, dont say anything.

Saying this in a voice that stifled his emotions, Tsugumi held his chest with a trembling hand. He suppressed his agitation by feeling the pain of his clawing nails.

Tsugumi did not doubt that Nanase Chidori was his sister. But the mounting evidence refuted that notion. As if to mock Tsugumis naive thinking.

Would it still be an escape if he didnt want to be given an answer?

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Even though they were twins, as long as they were separate human beings, he knew they would part ways at some point. But it was never this way.

Therefore Tsugumi pretended not to notice without clear evidence. He hid his eyes, covered his ears, and abandoned his thoughts. Because if he didnt, the soft parts of his heart would break.

Bell stared at Tsugumi as if looking at a troublesome object and then let out a sigh.

The creature known as a human being is truly incomprehensible. Even if the problem is postponed, the result will not change.

Unlike Bell-sama, human beings are weak. I am no exception. I just need a little bit more time.

I am much more afraid of being hated by Chidori than I am of taking on a Demonic Beast or appearing in front of the great government. Because the center of Tsugumis world was always a girl named Chidori.

Then casting his eyes down, as if trying to bear something, he heard a tinkling sound like the ringing of a bell. It was the ringing of a government-issued terminal.

An emergency call? Whats going on?

Youre off duty today. Ignore it. Theyll take advantage of you if youre too nice to them.

Thats not how it works. Um, the call is

Tsugumi, calming down Bell who made a disgusted face, picked up the ringing terminal and, after a proper transformation, began the call.

Yes, this is Hagakure.

Oh, thank goodness you picked up. Its Inaba from the Demon Beast Countermeasure Headquarters. Im sorry to bother you on your day off, Hagakure-san.

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I dont mind, but whats going on?

When Tsugumi asked back, he felt tension over the phone. In a calm and quiet voice, Inaba cut in.

In an hour from now, a B-class equivalent Irregularity is predicted to appear on Itsukushima Island in Hiroshima. As the head of Demonic Beast Countermeasure Headquarters, I am requesting your help. Please, Hagakure-san. Could you please head for Itsukushima?