4-62: The Disciples Are Also Reckless (1/4)

4-62: The Disciples Are Also Reckless (1/4)

There was a small building by the border of the urban and suburban areas of Kyoto.

It was completely owned by a certain company, and for some reason, there werent many people in it. In a certain room within the top floor of that building could be found two women facing each other over a table with guards standing behind them.

There was a sharpness to the air between them, and the atmosphere was anything but friendly.

What do you mean you failed?

A woman in a white ladies suit was sat deeply on a luxurious sofa, glaring at the woman before her with an intimidating air, yet the woman dressed in a kimono was unaffected and merely returned it.nove(l)bi(n.)com

We didnt fail, someone interfered, but they didnt show themselves even once, and all the units were destroyed.

Hence, it was not an accident or anything of the sort, but the intentional interference of a third party.

The woman in a suit did not seem convinced, but that couldnt be helped.

Well, youre the only one who can see, so you can say whatever you want.

The only proof the woman in kimono had were her words, so her claims werent that credible.

But neither did she stay silent in the face of those accusations.

Then why did those mechanical bugs youre so proud of fail to return? Not even a single one came back. Operating them and figuring out what happened to them is your job, no?

Why did they all become unresponsive? The woman in suit did not have an answer to that, so she changed the topic with a bitter expression.

Hmph. In any case, our main objective, the dimensional interference device, was a success. The drones were just a way to explore the integration of our technologies anyway.

Lets leave it at that then.

When the woman in suit said that it wasnt anything to fuss over, the woman in kimono sneered.

While it was true that their main objective was the Dimensional Interference Device, the demand was for the mechanical bugs(drones).

The woman in kimono was aware how unfamiliar she was with the world, but she wasnt so ignorant as to fail to understand that much.

A device that could cause cracks on the dimensional walls and force raybeasts to spawn, and a drone that could camouflage itself as a bug.

The dimensional interference device was certainly revolutionary, but it was by no means practical.

In comparison, even if the mechanical bugs were still prototypes, it was something that was being researched even before the exchange was made public.

Only, despite the many years of research, they could not make the bugs act like real bugs while packing them with cameras and keeping their size.

Was that not why they turned to them? The woman in the kimono mocked, not with words but with her expression.

Thats funny. Was it not you who left your clan and had to cling to us out of fear that you might be completely left behind by the times?

But the woman in suit seemed to have seen through that, and she said that bluntly with an even sharper glare.

The woman in the kimono did not change her expression, but she did grind her teeth.

Because they insisted on making the drones as small as real bugs, the amount of things they could stuff inside had to be reduced.

A spiritual blade invisible to normal people shot straight for the black mist, but the only response she got was a sigh.

Good grief

Something that resembled a black arm spun in a circle and gave rise to a black disc that swallowed the spiritual blade.

I-Impossible! What is that!? Thats not spiritual power! What did you do!?

When a power the kimono woman couldnt sense was used, her still calm face finally collapsed.

Theyre too hesitant to use their power against humans, but you people just dont care, do you? But then again, it might be too much to ask you to consider me as human.

Human? While looking like that?

The black mist criticized the kimono womans actions but then came to a realization all on its own that perhaps it couldnt be helped.

The women felt like they werent being taken seriously, but they couldnt move because the black mist was just too mysterious.

Who are you!?

Despite that, perhaps in a display of courage or merely because irritated by the situation, the woman in suit raised her voice and asked that question.

When the woman in kimono didnt say anything, the mask sighed.

Its one thing for the president not to know, but youre ignorant too, huh. Looks like the amateurs of the underworld arent well informed. On one hand, I suppose I could say I did a good job, but on the other hand, this is sort of a failure too. Either way it seems my fame wont have any effect on the exorcist clans. What a pain.

Then the mask vanished from their sight, and before they could even gulp, they were lifted by their necks.

Ah, gah!

Ugu, d-damn, you!

I more or less understand whats going on now, so I dont have any use for you anymore. Your company, your clan, everything is already on the palm of my hands.

Their faces were filled with the anguish of being strangled, and for a moment those same faces distorted in confusion and astonishment, their gazes turned to the two screens floating in the air.

On one screen was shown the collapse of a grand Japanese estate with history, and on the other, a local news report about the electrifying ousting of a certain companys management.

T-The estate is No way!

Impossible Why

When they realized what that meant, the mask put more power behind its hands.

After a sharp pain and a moment of agony, they saw a crescent smile surface beneath the mask, then they lost consciousness.

As the mask dropped them on the sofa, it opened another screen.

On that screen was displayed a boy and a girl standing before a building.

Now then, how well will my disciples do?

As it watched, the mask made a truly joyful sound.