Chapter 38

1.

Gematria.

An enigmatic force that appears in [Blue Archive].

They introduce themselves as researchers and observers and, for some unknown reason, are after the students of Kiburatos, making them essentially the antagonistic force in the story.

Though we were bound to meet them eventually, I never thought this moment would come now.

I was immediately filled with the urge to either attack them or escape from here—

But the moment they brought up their topic,

I had no choice but to dispel that thought.

“Intriguing subject, isn’t it?”

Indeed, it was a subject that couldn’t help but stir curiosity.

2.

The mystery has been lost.

An adult, yet not an adult. A student, yet not a student.

To be honest, it was hard to understand. More precisely, I was most curious about how they had come to know such facts.

In this world, the term “mystery” (Mystery) simply refers to ‘the unknown power possessed by students.’ For example, Black Suit refers to Hoshino as the ‘greatest mystery of Kiburatos.’

Indeed, Hoshino is depicted as someone possessing strength comparable to the strongest from other academies.

From that perspective, the statement that I have lost my mystery doesn’t hold up.

Haven’t I achieved many feats that would make it hard to conclude that I lack mystery?

Why would Black Suit have come to such a conclusion? Is it because my soul has possessed Mob’s body? Or is it because I am not an ordinary student but rather someone who has possessed another?

I couldn’t comprehend it. It wasn’t a convincing reason.

After all, how could they even know that I’m a possessor?

All I could speculate was that they likely had some method of discerning mysteries, similar to how they perceived Hoshino’s mystery.

“But why do you say I’ve ‘lost’ it rather than simply not having it?”

As if implying that I once possessed it.

Something I might have dismissed as trivial had it been anyone else, but coming from them, it was a topic hard to overlook easily.

Therefore, I had to ask.

“…What do you mean by that?”

Not understanding compelled me to ask the question. Honestly, I wanted to avoid engaging in conversation with them, but I couldn’t.

Because I remembered the thoughts that came to mind when I decided to join the Special Paranormal Investigator’s Unit.

Why did I possess this body?

Why am I here?

The fundamental questions about myself. If discovering even a fragment of the truth requires stepping onto the stage they’ve set, that’s what I intend to do.

That’s why I threw the question.

It was a sign that I intended to play along with their intentions.

Upon hearing it, the crack at the corner of Black Suit’s mouth widened slightly, forming a pleased smile. But the response I received wasn’t the one I hoped for.

“Rather, I would like to ask you a question: how is it that you, a student, can also possess the characteristics of an adult?”

“…”

“You are a truly contradictory existence. Do you know how shocked we were while observing you? You are already ‘complete.’ The form of ‘adult’ that we symbolize—you already possess it. But how is it that you also embody the symbol of a student?”

Why does a student possess the characteristics of an adult?

Is it because I’m not originally from this world?

But here’s the question—if what they call “adult” refers to a ‘completed’ being, can I even classify myself as an adult?

No. Simply being from another world doesn’t automatically mean being ‘completed.’ Then, what about me led them to describe me as ‘completed’?

And that is precisely—

“「The Unfathomable」. You are an「Unfathomable」being just like us, which is why we call you an adult.”

“….”

Because of the “incomprehensible power” I possess.

The power that lies beyond their understanding, the power whose source even I can barely guess at. Abilities one would otherwise attribute to ‘mystery.’ But they stated otherwise.

“Why? We sense no mystery in you. The mystery that a student should inherently possess—there’s not even a trace of it in you.”

They claim I have no mystery. More precisely, that I’ve lost it.

Nevertheless, a doubt arises here.

“How are you so sure I’ve lost my mystery?”

Because I didn’t want to believe it? No.

Be it mystery or anything else, it wasn’t that important to me.

It was more of a rebuttal, asking them to prove their claim.

The response to this didn’t come from Black Suit.

“I’ll take this opportunity to explain.”

A strangely dressed man in a trench coat, holding a frame with a sculpted head within, stepped forward.

To be precise, the entity inside the frame spoke.

“I’m from <Gematria>, hailing from Golcote. Allow me to skip introductions. The answer to your question is simple: we judge that you’ve lost your mystery because you are an extraordinarily convenient existence.”

[That is correct!]

What nonsense is this?

No matter how I contorted my face, Golcote continued speaking.

In a way that wasn’t easy to comprehend, in a highly meta and literary manner.

“Originally, the story of this stage was not meant to flow this way. It was intended to start in a far more literary and tragic form. But you’ve distorted the text of that storyline.”

“…”

“Every story has supporting characters, main characters, and protagonists. According to the text I represent, you were never supposed to be the protagonist. However, your presence has altered the narrative, disrupting its structure.”

All due to the deeds you’ve done as what should have been a supporting character.

With that, Golcote paused. His words struck a chilling note. It felt as if he was implying that I had interfered with his plans.

Though his tone was calm, his words carried an unrestrained emotional undertone, a mixture resembling both anger and ecstasy.

Regardless, Golcote’s deep interest in my existence was undeniable.

While I stared at Golcote in bewilderment, Black Suit took over the explanation.

“An unrecorded existence. A forgotten existence. A mystery that hasn’t been left behind in the story. It reminds you of them, doesn’t it—the ones who should have disappeared by now?”

“‘Them’?”

“Mystery is synonymous with identity. It is also existence. Those defined by Kiburatos as students all bear names befitting their mysteries.”

The connection between the students’ names and their mysteries.

It wasn’t just the names, but several elements associated with students were related to the mysteries they individually possessed.

This was the gist of what Black Suit was trying to convey.

“That name doesn’t exist for you. The nameless hero. That name of yours is merely a replication of your actions, isn’t it?”

“…”

“There is no such mystery-named entity in this Kiburatos, nor can there be. So, I ask again.”

And he asked.

“What is your real name?”

My existence.

3.

Black Suit asked what my real name was.

I couldn’t help but remain silent.

Was it out of shock? Or the inability to answer?

“Uh…”

In that moment, chills ran down my spine.

It was both. Reflecting back on my memories, I couldn’t recall my name before I possessed this body!

The only thing that came to mind wasn’t my real name but the second name I was ‘given’ in this world.

That isn’t my real name.

It’s merely something etched after I arrived here, a mark covered by a mosaic. Even the name “Nanashi Hiiro,” given to me by the teacher during the prologue, wasn’t my true name.

“What…is this?”

Recalling every memory I have, there is only one thing that no longer exists.

My name. Title. My existence.

Throughout this time, not once did I recall—or rather, couldn’t recall—my real name.

Even now.

My real name.

The name I originally had.

“Can’t you remember?”

It’s as if it has been erased from my mind.

Why? How?

It’s as though it’s been plucked out of my brain, leaving nothing but the traces of my life intact, while my name alone has been erased and blurred.

For the first time ever—in fact, for the very first time—I felt fear.

“What in the…?”

“Even those who have reversed mysteries or have never possessed mysteries from the start own something—a name.”

Which I don’t have.

Or rather, have lost. That sense of loss overwhelmed me.

“Heh heh heh. Aren’t you curious? Why you lost both your mystery and your name. Why your existence so closely resembles those who have lost their names.”

“…”

My whole body trembled. The unknown was incomprehensible, and encountering it came at a great cost. I even cursed my past self for making an irreversible choice.

I couldn’t answer Black Suit’s question.

In fact, I barely registered what he was saying.

All I did was mull over it.

“Why can’t I…recall my name?”

Why can’t I remember?

Clearly, the memories of my life on Earth remain in my mind, yet only the three characters of my name refuse to surface.

Confusion and fear consumed the situation.

What judgment should I make right now?

“No, think logically.”

Judgment. Judgment. Judgment. I repeated the thought process.

An alarming scenario where my memories had errors. It felt like a ghost story, but instinctively, I knew I couldn’t get lost in this emotion.

So I shook it off. While forcibly suppressing the lingering anxiety in my heart, I retained only my intuition.

“Calm down.”

I repeated it in my mind.

With a clear mind, I focused on my goals.

As a result, my super-sensitivity, which had been equally shocked, slowly regained itself and whispered a faint intuition to me.

Ultimately, the conclusion I reached was the same.

“Our pursuits are different.”

“Ke ke ke. Is that so?”

“You’re my adversaries, inevitably.”

“Regrettably, I must ask once more: do you not wish to cooperate with Gematria?”

“No.”

This was an inevitable result, an intuition.

The attention these entities showed toward me was a great threat, as the teacher had been.

Even though I judged that seeking answers from these people would lead to more hardship in the future,

Still, the entities in front of me…

Revealed secrets unknown to me and, through instinct, I realized they couldn’t be destroyed immediately.

“So, get out of my sight already.”

Otherwise, I might end up attacking them. They responded individually to my words.

“You’re a convenient existence. Arbitrary and absurd, intruding randomly into this world’s text and disrupting the concept of the story—a presence that obliterates all context, likelihood, and structure. That’s you. So, we will explore the metaphor symbolized by your symbol.”

[That’s right!]

As always, Golcote & Decalcomania delivered their literary and meta statements.

“Yeah! Show us, Hero! Oh muse of mine! Your belief, wisdom, and grace…! And kindly give me an answer to my <Sublime>…! Respond fully to my ‘work’ and show me the answer, the price, the power you impose!”

Maestro, praising his art and works, called me his muse and showered me with compliments.

“Such an intriguing existence you are. Having lost your mystery, losing your name, infinitely contradictory while your form embodies a clear ‘completion’. Therefore, we desire to observe and explore you.”

Black Suit revealed his goal, driven by the pursuit of knowledge and curiosity, in a quiet declaration.

All the elements they created.

Ghost company, requests, Terrorized Soldiers, Decagrammaton.

All were merely the backdrop to their stage.

Their purpose was the meeting with me and the exploration of me. My first activity as a student was merely a pretense for this private meeting.

Hence.

“Just disappear, you bunch.”

That’s all I could tell them.

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