1.
Occasionally, the world experiences things that are difficult to understand.
Or, events that are seen as mysterious are no different.
The Big Bang, the origin of the universe, was one such example, and so was the cycle of countless stars rising and setting. Moreover, the mysteriousness of humanity, akin to specks of dust, was also included.
Some say that the reason these things are mysterious and seem incomprehensible is simply due to the lack of our knowledge.
Phenomena we couldn’t understand in the past may eventually be revealed through the pursuit of vast knowledge in the future.
Thus, ‘inscrutable,’ expressed in another way, could be called ‘the absence of knowledge.’ As the saying goes, the fear of the unknown is the greatest fear.
We revered what we did not know and also feared it.
Primitive humans found mystery in the flames on the ground and the moon in the sky. The auroras dancing in the heavens, the solar eclipse when the sun and moon overlap, the parting of the tides at certain moments, and even eternal death—all these evoked wonder.
In the past, we regarded as mysterious the knowledge we were ‘still’ yet to understand.
Therefore, something incomprehensible can also be defined as phenomena ‘yet to be uncovered.’
All magical and fantastical phenomena belong to the scientific and rational realm. Isn’t it true that science at its peak is indistinguishable from magic? This statement held true.
Secret. Mystery. Miracle.
Thus, we pursued the ‘wisdom’ to understand these things, for the unknown was synonymous with fear.
It was equivalent to pursuing light to dispel fear.
Hence, I believe that the emotion we should embrace towards incomprehensible and mysterious events is nothing other than curiosity.
Mystery is not something to marvel at or fear but a subject we must investigate.
This was the guiding principle of the Parapsychology Special Response Division.
It was the value that the club I belonged to would pursue in the future.
Therefore,
There is no reason for me to fear the warning signals that my psychic sense, which could now be called my “mystery,” delivers.
Let’s investigate. And ultimately, reveal the truth.
That’s why I endeavored to interpret all the signals transmitted by my psychic sense.
I didn’t fear the vague sensations that came my way.
Instinctively, sensationally, I followed the direction my psychic sense led me to and eventually arrived at a place.
“……Shibaseki Ramen Shop?”
When I reached the spot, I couldn’t help but perceive the vague guidance of the psychic sense I’d felt.
As if a mystery beyond comprehension was conveying itself to me.
‘You still have a story you haven’t changed.’
It was as if it was saying that.
2.
Bang─!
The raucous noise of something being fired filled the previously bustling ramen shop, which was instantly enveloped in silence.
There were only a few customers—me and the detective agency members—but even Master Shiba, who had been cooking ramen, paused his work, fell silent, and stared at us.
Because just moments ago, there had been no noticeable presence, but now an overwhelming aura had suddenly erupted.
And the eyes of the detective agency members widened in astonishment upon facing the source of it.
“S, Silk?”
“…Why is Silk here?”
“Ohwow, I’m surprised! What’s going on?”
Though the reactions varied, the common sentiment among the detective agency members was bewilderment and shock.
Not only had Silk suddenly shot webbing at Haruka’s arm, but it was also unimaginable that one of the customers had been Silk this entire time.
“E, uh, i, is this….”
Haruka looked bewildered at her own arm, but no matter how hard she tried, the web refused to come off, her expression gradually shifting into a mournful one.
Silk calmly sipped her noodles while effortlessly enduring the stares of five pairs of eyes, including from Master Shiba.
“Chomp.”
Silk’s almost customer-like behavior relaxed the initial tension the detective agency members felt, filling the void left behind with confusion.
Haruka was going to set off a bomb, wasn’t she? So why is Silk eating ramen so casually?
“Hmm?”
As if noticing the detective agency’s gaze, Silk paused momentarily from her noodle-eating, looked up, wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin, and then spoke.
The detective agency members focused their attention on her mouth, tense with anticipation about what she would say…
“Uh, if you’ve come to eat, don’t do such pointless stuff.”
“…”
“…”
After issuing such a warning, Silk simply continued eating her ramen, leaving everyone flabbergasted, as was evident from the laughter in the background by Mutsubi.
Even Master Shiba, unable to adapt, grinned wryly, showing his teeth.
After a few more silent minutes passed, Silk raised her head again, seemingly now noticing something.
“Are you not going to eat?”
When she asked, Aru reacted with bewilderment.
“Uh, you didn’t come here to capture us?”
“…Me? You?”
Aru’s question now left me feeling confused.
“Did you perhaps cause a terrorist attack?”
“No?! I haven’t done that before?!”
“Did you perhaps harm an innocent person?”
“W, well, I almost did it occasionally, but not this time!”
“…Then why would I capture you? I stopped the black-haired individual over there because they were about to take drastic action. If none of you have done anything wrong, there’s no reason for me to fight you.”
“Is…is that so…?”
Upon my explanation, Aru seemed to relax, her expression brightening.
However, nearby, Mutsubi, who seemed to recall something, smirked mischievously and began speaking.
Then she started shouting loudly.
To make Aru look terrible.
“Aru Chan! Didn’t you say our company motto is ‘One Evil a Day’!”
“Mutsubi?! Why bring up that topic suddenly…!!”
“You once said your dream was to become the best hard-boiled outlaw in Kiburatos, right?! Don’t run away, Aru Chan!”
“KyaAAAAAAH! Please, muttttch your mouth, Mutsubi!!!”
Thinking that I would attack if their identities were revealed, Aru hastily blocked Mutsubi’s mouth with her hand, flustered.
Looking on with a wry smile, I said,
“An outlaw, huh?”
“A, a, not exactly…?!”
“Boss, you need to calm down a bit. You’re drawing more suspicion this way.”
“Aru Boss! Show us your outlaw side soon!”
“Ugh, zeba…!!”
Oh, Goro is really skilled.
The subject of the conversation has suddenly turned into teasing Aru.
I was momentarily impressed by Mutsubi’s ability to steer the conversation and decided to join their talk as well since things got amusing.
“If we’re going to capture you all, it would be fun, wouldn’t it? Are you bad people?”
“Hiik…?!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry….”
“Ahaahaaat! Gyaaak! Silk is going to arrest us~!”
“Haa… So much commotion over nothing.”
As I jokingly said this, it seemed Aru and Haruka thought I was serious, and their faces instantly turned pale.
“Aru, right? Come over here.”
“Huh, huwh?”
With laughter escaping from my lips involuntarily, I rested my chin on a hand and beckoned Aru over.
Aru looked back at her employees in confusion, but Mutsubi and Kayoko had likely realized I was joking and were watching the scene as spectators.
Aru reacted with an expression of betrayal but had no choice but to trudge over to me at my gesture.
Upon facing her directly, Aru’s expression morphed into that of prey facing a predator.
Then slowly, as I stretched my hand out toward Aru…
“Hhheek…?!”
I placed my hand on her head.
Startled by the unexpected move, an expression of surprise reminiscent of scenes from a game appeared on Aru’s face.
As I slowly petted her head, I said,
“This ramen here is delicious. So come here often to eat. Don’t blow up the shop though—I’m a regular customer.”
“E, h-huh? Wh-what…?”
“Fufu. That was a joke just now. Don’t be so tense, Aru. Your reaction was just too funny.”
“…?!”
“I’ll leave now. Enjoy your meal.”
Aru’s surprised expression intensified as I continued speaking.
I wasn’t sure if it was due to learning that I was a regular, finding out the previous statement was a joke, or being told to come often, but her reaction was priceless.
I simply prepared to leave my seat as I stood up to exit the shop. After paying Master Shiba, I also covered the cost of the detective agency’s food.
“Eh? Why…?!”
“Aah, thank you! We’ll eat well~”
“Thank you.”
“Th-thank you…!”
Leaving the flustered Aru behind and exchanging goodbyes with each member of the detective agency, I shrugged and left the shop.
I wondered if I should tell Haruka not to destroy the shop, but mentioning that I was a regular was enough.
And most importantly…
“Umm… I need to leave the shop quickly, you guys.”
Upon coming out of the shop, eyes were on me from every direction.
Numerous presences and noises caught by my senses.
It was a situation where laughter bubbled out of me involuntarily.
The difference lies in that the laughter back then was out of joy, while this laughter now comes from sheer astonishment.
“Hmph.”
It seems the story I haven’t changed refers to more than just the detective agency.
As such, understanding the danger signals transmitted by extrasensory perception is not something easily determined by human thought.
Therefore, I call it a mystery.
Because the signals occasionally transmitted by extrasensory perception transcend the realms of mere sensation and instinct, reaching something beyond—should I call it transcendence or oddity?
All I can say is that extrasensory perception has always delivered signals by reading my will.
Just as an ordinary girl who screamed for normalcy while perceiving a monstrous world transformed into a “hero,”
or as a frail adult’s sentence as a teacher changed the course of students’ lives,
in this place [Blue Archive], the will that people express is almost indistinguishable from mystery.
Because I sought wisdom after falling into this world, completely unknown to me, could this extrasensory perception in my hands be a tool to understand this world?
Even if this story is just a hypothesis, extrasensory perception remains the ability I find hardest to comprehend, being a great mystery, and simultaneously…
A landmark that leads me to my goal.
“That must mean those creatures are enemies I need to stop.”
My task has always remained the same.
I looked at my foes lingering at the edge of my sight.
The horns sprouting from their heads, the wings and tails on their backs, and the mortars aimed in my direction.
The familiar scene. The familiar situation. Familiar development.
Even the plot from the original story I didn’t wish for unfolded now.
<Ku-ung-!>
I stamped my foot down hard, like smashing the ground beneath.
It was the release of anger and a preparation for the attack heading my way from the enemies.
I could see in the distance that an ebony-skinned demon girl had locked eyes with me, a tinge of perplexity in her gaze.
Not just her, but all the demon girls were perplexed upon seeing the ferocious aura emanating from me and soon adopted expressions as if realizing their mistake.
Because,
<Kwaaahaaaang──!!>
A mortar shell that had already been fired was rushing towards me, and my foot was already swinging towards it.
The shell shattered, and an explosion erupted.
And it wasn’t just one shell; several shells were either shattered by my attacks or fell to the ground, scattering shrapnel upon being deflected.
Using web shooters and extrasensory perception, I twisted the trajectories of the multiple shells to block all attacks.
I destroyed some with fists and feet, made some collide using the web shooter, and simply redirected others.
The spectacle displayed before them, akin to an art form, brought smiles of surprise to the faces of the student council members, Iori, and Chinatsu, though it would be more enjoyable if they weren’t adversaries at this moment.
“What? What’s that sound-Heek…?!”
“Damn it, why are those guys here…!”
“Those guys?”
“They’re the Gehenna student council!”
“Eek…?!”
By now, the Shibaseki Detective Agency members and Master Shiba had long since stepped outside, clearly shocked.
And the vibrations coming from the phones in their pockets were likely from their Abidos friends, no doubt trying to contact them.
But answering the calls wasn’t an option.
They’ll just come here anyway, so it doesn’t matter.
At this moment…
“I was sure I instructed Hina… ”
I decided to punish the demons for ignoring my warning.
Apparently, they’ve got more than just big chests—they’ve got big hearts too.
Then, shouldn’t I test that, too?
As I muttered to myself, the pale green eyes hidden beneath my mask began to glow even more ominously.
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