The Black Suit guided us deep into the Arius Basilica, to the holiest of holies.
A place where Saori was nearly sacrificed. And the site where I first faced death.
For us, this place didn’t carry many fond memories.
But once today wraps up, that story will change.
“…What’s this?”
“Two sisters?”
Saori and Atsuko, two girls in a gigantic experimentation tube. They looked flustered seeing a naked clone of myself looking just like me.
“Oh. Come to think of it, you are the royal blood of Arius…”
“Black Suit. Stop being interested in our Atsuko-chan, let’s focus on our tasks!”
“Hehe, it’s not me who’s curious about that girl, but the madam over there. It’s just a simple… how should I put it… I’m glad to see a test subject from a different lab in my courtyard.”
“…You just called the princess a test subject.”
“It’s just a simple joke, no need to get all worked up over it. Rather, let’s handle the client’s demands first.”
The Black Suit approached a machine that looked eerily familiar, reminiscent of what I had seen before, and began adjusting panels. The bubbling of the test tube oddly caught my attention.
“The transfer of souls… surely, those who attempted it must exist. After all, it’s one of the most suitable methods for mortals to chase immortality.”
“…That’s not my goal.”
“Hehe, the ultimate destination of this research is indeed immortality. Of course, we at Gematria have no particular interest in that… but since the results of this research mustn’t be disclosed to the world, everything must be destroyed once this job is finished.”
It wasn’t hard to understand what the Black Suit was saying.
The technology of soul transfer and creating artificial bodies was, in essence, a way to extend life infinitely.
“Oh, heavenly Mikael…”
“…Ah.”
Seeing what the Black Suit pulled out, I frowned.
There it was, that artificial holy relic. The cross that was painfully agonizing to just hold.
“Oh, there’s no need to make that face. Any minor side effects from earlier have been improved, you know. Probably.”
“…Probably?”
“I can’t be sure, but I believe improvements have been made.”
“…”
Should I trust this? Well, I had no choice really.
If I don’t believe it, what can I do?
“Um, just in case I ask… what’s the success rate of this operation?”
“I guarantee it’s 100%. I put in that much time into it.”
“…Heh, then that’s alright. Yes.”
If the Black Suit was saying that much, I needed to trust it. Besides, there really was no one else who could make this work except the Black Suit.
“Now, oh heavenly Mikael, please have a seat here.”
The Black Suit pointed to a chair right next to the test tube. I sat down as instructed, and the Black Suit approached, starting to attach what looked like wires all over my body.
“With this, all preparations are complete. We have an audience here to witness the show, so it couldn’t be better.”
I exchanged glances with Saori and Atsuko. I flashed a smile at the two of them who were looking at me with worry.
This was something I absolutely couldn’t back down from, and that was all I could do for them.
“Are you ready?”
“…Yes.”
I gulped and answered. The Black Suit nodded seriously for a change.
“Then, we will now begin the operation of soul transplantation.”
As the Black Suit’s hand touched the panel and started fiddling, a strange wave began to surge.
Woom—
As a sinister sound spread, a scorching heat began to rise from the cross in my hand.
Soon, that burning sensation spread through me—
Wah—oo!
Black Suit, you madman. You said you improved…
If you improved, why is it worse than last time…!
Ah.
Seriously, let’s just take two hits, one for all those times I postponed.
While I was thinking that, the pain that had been lingering until just now suddenly ceased.
Followed by the sensation of something tearing from inside my chest, I lost consciousness.
*
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a familiar space.
In front of me was a mirror, but beyond it was an empty void.
As I instinctively brought my hand to the mirror, I flinched. The pitch-black darkness began to be painted over with all sorts of colors.
Like stained glass in a church.
More specifically, just like the ones in the Arius Basilica…
“…Mika?”
Feeling a sense of inexplicable unease, I raised my voice. With my hand resting on the mirror, I called out to Mika in the empty void beyond.
And then,
“…Hah.”
The sound of a deep sigh echoed. It was a voice that carried an oddly decadent air.
“You really were a hopeless fool.”
Mika’s voice resonated. Still, the other side of the mirror remained empty.
“Didn’t I tell you? To doubt everything. Do you still not understand why I said that? Huh? If that’s the case, then you’re really… No, it’s meaningless to say this to someone even more foolish than I.”
“…Why did you say that? What for? Mika, you still exist in this world. At the very least, I desperately hope for your return.”
“Ah, yes. That’s right. Even if everyone denies me, you would affirm me to the end. Yes, that must be your last remnant of conscience, you thief who stole my body.”
“No, that’s not it…!”
“Do you even realize what you’ve done?”
Finally, the pitch-black darkness completely lifted.
And from the empty mirror, Mika revealed herself.
“I was serious about not letting anyone take me out. The moment that happens, Kivotos will be doomed.”
“…What?”
“What you’ve done will bring ruin to this place. All because of some idiot who released a single witch from her cage… Your beloved Nagisa-chan, and all those horned devils will die.”
“Wait a minute. Your appearance is…”
“You see, I wasn’t trapped here. If I’m being precise, I was the one who chose to lock myself away.”
Mika confessed. She wasn’t an imprisoned princess or anything. Rather, she was a witch who had resolved to hide herself.
“The moment I faced death and opened my eyes… I realized I returned to my past self, together with you as an unwelcome guest. When I realized you had the initiative, and while I watched your foolish antics… I understood that very situation might be a better path for everyone.”
“…”
“Isn’t it ridiculous? I thought I had received a miracle, but it turned out that place was a hell to punish sinners.”
The mirror shattered.
“This is my true form, fake. You must know this, right?”
“Color…”
“Yes, that’s right. Now, do you understand a little bit how foolish your deeds were?”
I didn’t want to understand, but I could.
Mika had hidden her true self from the world.
The moment she revealed herself was also when the colors began to recognize Kivotos’ existence.
Tears flowed from Mika’s eyes, yet her face bore no expression. She approached me.
Even watching it, I couldn’t do anything at all. The shock was too great, my body and mind completely frozen…
“Congratulations, fake. You managed to get rid of Beatrice, that worthless bitch, to end up with the same result. That’s quite an achievement, don’t you think?”
“…”
The world around us began to crumble. I hurriedly spoke to Mika.
“The colors were all working together to defend against it. Yeah. So, we can surely stop it somehow.”
“If you really think so… Oh, right. I forgot you were the world’s biggest fool. Well, anyway, it’s impossible. Because…”
Mika showed her first smile. It was a smile laced with deep bitterness.
“No, you’ll find out for yourself. There’s no such thing as a hopeful future in Kivotos.”
As Mika spoke those words, the bizarrely colored world completely collapsed.
*
“…What is this?”
The Black Suit realized something was wrong about five minutes after Mika lost consciousness.
The soul transfer was proceeding without any issues.
What puzzled the Black Suit was that part.
“The sublime…”
The task of transferring Mika’s mystery to the clone in the test tube was meant to take place afterward. However, a halo symbolizing the sublime began to emerge above the head of the Mika in the test tube.
Not only that, but dark garb began to form on her body. It was only a different color; the shape was the same as the uniform Mika wore.
Saori and Atsuko also realized the situation was going awry.
“What are you doing? Explain this properly or—”
“Be quiet. Right now, Kivotos is facing an unprecedented crisis.”
Even when the Ark of Atrahasis came to mind, the Black Suit had never felt such a pressing sense of crisis. It was because he was aware of the Utnapishtim Team, the weapon capable of countering the ark.
However, this was a different story regarding the colors.
Even though the efforts of Gematria and the Supernatural Special Forces had devised some countermeasures, the colors were still in danger.
It wasn’t just something that could be prepared for.
Crack, crackle.
The glass of the test tube began to fissure.
Tick, tick. Holes began to open up here and there, with the liquid inside spilling out.
And finally, the moment the girl in the test tube opened her eyes.
BAM—
The test tube shattered completely, and water poured out in all directions.
“Saori-chan…”
Atsuko’s gaze fell on Saori. In the midst of it all, to protect Mika beside the test tube, a girl who had covered herself with her body to shield against the shattering glass was now drenched and torn, her coat in shambles.
“Hah… Princess, I’m fine.”
Saori attempted to smile weakly but flinched. She quickly turned and aimed the gun she held.
Thud.
No, she tried to aim.
“…What an interesting feeling. It’s been a while, Jomae Saori.”
Saori’s eyes widened as she was grasped by the wrist of the ‘real’ Misono Mika.
The presence in front of her was Mika, yet she wasn’t the Mika that she loved.
“Ahaha, indeed. You don’t recognize me, do you? Just like that poor sacrifice over there.”
Misono Mika said bitterly, releasing Saori.
And then, she gazed at the body that had originally belonged to her.
“By the way… I wonder if the teacher has arrived by now?”
As Miko muttered that, she took a step forward, and the space in front of her warped. As she was about to leap beyond, her gaze landed on one person in the hall.
“Ahaha, a-ha…! That’s right. I almost forgot the most important thing, didn’t I?”
At the end of her gaze was the Black Suit.
“Gematria… I really despise you deeply☆”
The laugh from Mika was that of someone who had gone terribly wrong somewhere.
