CH 5.36

After Sugita passed away, we left the corpse disposal and information manipulation to the organization.

It was said that by mixing a certain antidepressant with some Chinese herbal medicine in a specific formula, it would become a “drug” that would be effective for variants.

Since Kagutsuchi and Sugita had a monopoly on that recipe, the “organization concluded from what Yui had told them that the drug problem would calm down until someone else succeeded in making it.

The variant side is apparently moving to collect and dispose of the drugs that have already been circulated.

I wonder how they will investigate it.

-0-

As for the antidepressants that were obtained in large quantities using fake prescriptions, they have disappeared without being publicized.

The same goes for the destruction of the shrine.

It must have made quite a racket in the neighborhood but it seems to have been called as renovation.

-0-

Susanoo’s head was recovered by the variant that appeared in the abandoned building and had the ability to move at a moment’s notice.

The guy mumbled, “This is going to take a lot to regenerate”.

It’s already surprising that he’s still alive in that state and now he can still regenerate. The life force of high-ranking variants is tremendous.

-0-

My little sister Futaba woke up under the eaves of the main shrine a short distance away from the site.

She tilted her head with a difficult face but did not pursue the matter.

-0-

—Knock knock

「Oniichan, have you already gone to bed?」

Just as the date was about to change, Futaba knocked on the door of my room.

「No」

「Can I come in?」

She sounded a little nervous.

Usually, my little sister just barges in the door the same time she knocks but now, she’s waiting outside the door.

「Yeah」

I turned my chair around and urged Futaba to sit on the bed.

「What’s wrong?」

「Well….」

Futaba, who’s always cheerful……or rather, she can be said to come very strong when it comes to me, was frowning and looking down.

「Is it about what you’ve seen?」

「Oniichan, you knew about variants?」

It would be an obvious lie if I said I didn’t know.

Though adopted, we are siblings.

I know that much.

「Well, that’s……」

The fact that she knows the word “variant” means that Futaba is also related to it to a greater or lesser extent.

She’s probably doing the same things she’s doing in my first life……but I never realized it.

「The guy who pointed the flame sword at me looked very strong. I’m not sure how did Shiratori-san beat him.」

I see, so she thinks Kagutsuchi was defeated by Yui.

If so, that means that she has only seen us for a brief moment.

Should I tell her the truth?

I want Futaba to take the safest way.

「How about Susanoo?」

「Susanoo? If there was a super S-class variant like him there, we wouldn’t be talking right now.」

It looks like Futaba did not see Susanoo from where she stood.

Even if she could see him, would she recognize him?

「Does Futaba know who those guys are?」

「Yes….but….」

「You think I’ll be in danger if you tell me?」

「Yeah….」

Futaba seems to be wondering whether she should tell me or not.

What kind of brother would make his little sister look this distressed…..

Anyway, let’s hear what she has to say.

I made a small fire on my fingertip.

「I’m already part of it. You can tell me anything.」

「That’s, magic!? Not only you’re not using magic tools, you did it without chant or catalyst! No matter how much of a singularity oniichan is, that’s just…..」

Futaba’s eyes widened in amazement.

「What do you mean by singularity?」

「I see. You can use magic but you don’t know things like that. A singularity is like a crossroad where the boundaries between different worlds are congested together and becomes a ditch.」

「I’m having a hard time understanding especially the “congested” part.」

「Ehto….a place where the boundaries of various worlds overlap, from the divine and magical world….this world, and even several other worlds. That’s what a singularity is, that’s what oniichan is. It’s like the fossa magna in Japanese geological formation.」

「It’s great that you’re doing well in your science studies.」

「Ehehe….thanks. No! Do you have any idea what that means?」

Too many ideas, actually……

Starting with my reincarnation when I died as an arafoo, I felt that my encounter rate with variants is too high.

I don’t know the total number of variants though so I can’t say for sure…

「Come to think of it, how did you find out that I’m a singularity?」

「That’s……」

「From the “organization”?」

「You know? Ah, right. So that’s how you and Shiratori-san suddenly became close.」

「You know that Yui belongs to the Nordic Organization?」

「She’s a well-known celebrity in the industry.」

It seems like her father is a big shot in the Scandinavian organization.

「Futaba belongs to the Japanese organization?」

「Yeah….」

「Since when?」

「Last year, I think.」

「That’s around the time you started working as an intern at the shrine, right?」

「Your aptitude will be examined by the divine object of the shrine. If you responded well to the test, you would be invited to participate as a shrine intern but the truth is, you’ll be working for the organization.」

「So, you started your training at the “organization”?」

「Yeah」

「Why did you……couldn’t you just say no?」

She can’t say no because of me.

「Because….」

Futaba wiped her eyes as if she’s reluctant to say anything.

「It’s because of me, right….?」

Thinking about it, in a world infested by variants, there’s no way that I, a singularity, could have survived until I reached my forties.

Someone should be protecting me.

-0-

Even after I started living alone, Futaba took care of me in any way she could.

Wasn’t it all for the sake of protecting me?

「No! I wanted to do it! If I didn’t, oniichan would die soon……」

「That doesn’t mean you have to……! Have you ever fought before?」

「The dark Valkyries have increased lately for some reason so……I fought a few times….」

That “organization” sent a junior high schooler to battle using their immediate family as hostages?

It’s not just putting Futaba’s life in danger. She also must kill “former humans”.

「They told Futaba that you’re the only one that can protect me, right?」

Futaba nodded her head with a face as if she’s about to cry.

-0-

Yui had to do so because of her family.

It was also her own will. She’s prepared to do it.

I don’t know if that’s a good thing.

However, Futaba is basically being cheated.

But thanks to that, I managed to stay alive……

I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.

For me….?

I had thought that I should make contact with the “organization” once I’m ready but that’s no longer the case.

「Futaba, take me to the “organization’s” headquarters tomorrow.」

「Are you going to ask for protection…..? But if you do that, you may never come out again….?」

So that’s what they told Futaba to blackmail her.

Unforgivable……

「No, I’m not. I just want to talk. Please」

「I don’t know if they’ll let a lowly girl like me in the headquarters.」

「It’s alright. Just show me the way in.」

If they won’t let me in, I’ll just break in.

I’m going to have them hit the ground.