Something heavy was moving upstairs. The sounds were more akin to heavy rolls rather than steps. Kyon wasn't sure if the wind had knocked over a lamp or something along those lines, but it didn't seem like it had left the room. In any case, that wasn't reassuring at all. Whatever was up there, it had jumped from the ground. Yet, could it be Kawahara? Wouldn't she have deconstructed the door or simply bursted through it if it were an interface? Perhaps Koizumi was right, and it was weakened? But if so, why the upper floor and not any other place?
Kyon was still hiding in the living room corner, covered by the raincoat. He hadn't closed the living room door, so he had a partial view of the lit hallway from his position. Nothing was on the main floor. Still, his body was locked in fear. He couldn't precisely say what it was, but he could feel it, the same way you can feel someone watching you—a primitive instinct telling him that there was danger.
Fighting the invasive terror, he got up from the ground. Kyon slowly put on the raincoat, thinking the thick plastic could be enough to protect him. Even though he knew it would be folly.
He wanted to go out of the living room. Go out, open the front door and find Nagato. But that was suicide. Outside was even worse with the hostile weather, and there was no proof he'd reach her in time.
Kyon dragged his feet, making as little noise as possible. He wanted to close the living room door, add a bit of extra protection to his predicament. Luckily, the sounds upstairs didn't seem to change, so he reached and closed the door as quickly as possible, making a slight clacking sound. He contemplated flicking the light switch and decided against it. Like so, he remained still in the dark room.
He could barely hear anything now. But the low light that entered through the shutters made him aware of some odd movement outside. As Kyon approached the windows, voices began to be discernible. And these voices didn't sound otherworldly. They were too muffled to be understandable, but two or three people were outside—at least one woman among them.
Kyon remembered what the ESPer had told him, unlike in previous instances, we have human opponents. So they probably didn't have the means to enter, or perhaps they wanted as little attention as possible. The most reasonable theory was the former because everyone's attention would be focused on the typhoon.
A thud on the floor above quickly reminded him of the actual danger at the moment. He quickly pressed his ear against the closed door. It was like the thing upstairs was hitting itself on the walls, trying to find a way out. He didn't know which room it was in, but they were all closed, right? Perhaps it was trapped. It couldn't open the front door, so who was to say it could even open a regular door? Of course, the indoor doors had no lock, but maybe it wasn't smart enough to manipulate a handle.
But that was the issue. Kyon wasn't sure. He had no clue about anything. And that uncertainty only stressed him out even more.
And then, like the world wanted to play a sick joke on him, the landline phone on the entrance started ringing. The same tune as always. The same annoying and stressful tune. It was loud, somehow louder than in all previous instances. It seemed like the storm itself lowered its volume to laugh at him.
The blaring sound only aggravated the creature upstairs more. It wasn't merely bumping against walls anymore. Instead, a hollow and violent smash reverberated through the building. The beast wanted out, and if it kept acting wildly, it would.
Only one option remained: shut up that phone before things got worse. And that meant leaving the relative safety of the living room. The choice didn't linger much on Kyon's mind. It was either being in the hall before the creature could enter it or being sieged down in the living room. Because if that thing got out of the room, it would hunt him down. Or worse, it would remove the locks of the front door. And he knew that whoever was out there was human, with an objective in mind. He knew it. Kyon didn't like either option.
He was hyperventilating, which only meant more oxygen to make quick decisions. Kyon didn't think twice about it. He opened the door as quickly and gently as possible, turned right and rushed towards the phone. He picked up the handset and immediately put it back where it belonged. The sound was over.
But the relief didn't come. Instead, Kyon made the mistake of looking up at the second floor. The error of looking at the opened door of his bedroom. He hadn't closed it after Koizumi's call. And then, with that realisation, he felt the stale, cold breeze that was flowing through the house. Because something was leaving his bedroom.
Kyon felt something inside him evaporate away from his body, either his soul or blood. It didn't matter. Because what came after was worse. It sounded like something immense and rugged had fallen from a ridge. His bedroom doorframe became very small in comparison with the figure. It rose, crawling on the ceiling before its body was fully observable.
It was the upper half of a man attached to some sort of air finger. Dead leaves formed it, with sticks and a green mucous engulfing its whole body. Where its head was supposed to be, a void of dark air swirled inside, like an all-seeing eye observing everything. Its limbs resembled arms, but its hands were comprised of tubular structures mainly formed of a greenish aura. Below its body was a column of air that left the house from the broken window in his bedroom.
Kyon's lungs seized up at the moment he saw it. Because what was he even staring at? A mass of dead vegetation stitched together with green sludge and blackened essence? There was no way he could understand how that thing worked or if it even was alive, blind or deaf. He just wanted to get it out of his sight.
The golem of leaves started to crawl towards him, its body not affected by gravity. Kyon was locked into place, unable to breathe as his grip on the swiss knife grew stronger and stronger. Fight or flee. His mind kept repeating those lines like a mantra, to no avail. He was too consumed by fear to choose any, like a baby deer surrounded by a pack of wolves. Because what could a small 6 cm blade do against something like that? The only thing vulnerable about that being was the seemingly infinite column of air that comprised its lower body. But there was no way he could cut the air to kill it.
The creature crawled toward him. No, not towards him. It seemed to be heading towards the front door. It didn't look like Kyon's existence had even been registered by it. As he slowly and premeditately walked towards the living room, the golem remained passive towards Kyon's movements. It had the rationale of an animal. And that, he could beat.
So with that in mind, he slowly moved towards the hallway. Specifically towards the kitchen. The air golem didn't seem to mind him, continuing to crawl on the ceiling towards the front door. The creature was passive but determined on that front. That was a problem.
His tongue felt dry and swollen, sealing his mouth from making any noise. If it weren't for the fact he hadn't breathed in half a minute, there wouldn't be any incentive to do what he was going to do.
"Hey!" A half yell, half cry left his mouth like an unswallowed pill.
The effect was immediate. The golem turned, staying eerily still for a few long seconds, before crawling towards him at a moderate pace.
Kyon opened the kitchen door and waited in front of it before taking a few steps back as the creature approached him. Because there would be a point where the monster would be on his face. The plan was simple: Trap the air beast in the kitchen. At best, the air current that controlled it would be severed. At worst, he'd have it trapped somewhere.
"Come on, closer." His voice didn't waver as much. It was an animal. A big animal, but an animal nonetheless. "Are you following my voice or my breath?"
He backed away even more, entering the kitchen and walking back until his back hit the sink. The air golem stopped as it hit the frame before its long and robust arms entered through the door. It tapped the floor surface and walls, making its way towards the ceiling. Finally, it pulled itself, its main body forcefully entering the kitchen.
It felt cramped. The monster's body hung on the kitchen ceiling, its odd windy head getting closer and closer to the ground. Kyon moved his torso side to side, observing how the creature followed his head sometimes, in rhythm with his breathing. Was that how it was locating him? His breathing?
The being crept towards him, so Kyon crossed his fingers and threw all his chances on a gamble. First, he had to go below the creature to get out and seal the kitchen. If he held his breath long enough, perhaps he would have enough time to slide below it and be saved. Otherwise, he would be caught in his own trap.
So far, the being was menacing but not hostile. With that in mind and crossing his fingers, Kyon held his breath and slowly walked towards it. The golem didn't seem to be reacting. It was still. Motionless. Observant. As Kyon walked towards it, he wondered if the beast thought or comprehended what it was doing.
Barely half a metre away from the creature, Kyon slowly crouched down, not stopping his march. That ball of dark wind had a stale and dizzying scent. Like it released pure CO2, damaging his cognisance. He was directly below it at that point when the beast reacted. The dark wind suddenly heaved away a stream of its wicked air towards Kyon's face. There was barely any time to respond. He fell flat on his back, knocking the air out of his lungs.
The golem detected it immediately, accompanied by a low and bellowing snarl that increased in volume until it became a guttural roar, echoing through the house.
Kyon didn't stand idle as the beast showed its prowess in yelling. Instead, he scuttled out of the beast's range like a crab escaping a seagull. The kitchen door was right there, a mere two metres away from him. But the monster wouldn't let that happen. Kyon's raincoat became its worst enemy as the creature snatched the plastic hood, preventing him from moving. In a snap of a thought, Kyon removed the coat and lurched forward, grabbing the door's handle and closing it tight.
The door trembled as the creature bashed against it. Kyon held on to dear life, clutching the handle as his life depended on it. And it may very well be. He had the creature trapped. Now what?
"I'm not sure why everyone's complaining. The wind's not that bad." Haruhi's clothes barely swayed as she grumbled. "It stinks, though. Did a pipe break down or what?"
The Brigade leader was keen on chatting about the weather, walking Kyon's bicycle. Everywhere she moved, the weather seemed to lessen to almost tolerable levels. The rain eluded them, though a few stray droplets found their way into their path.
"I don't smell anything weird." Asahina picked up the conversation, escorting the bicycle from the other side. "Well, besides the salt from the sea."
"Seasalt? Seasalt doesn't rot, dummy. It's like putrid fish had a baby with a rotten egg… You smell it, right, Yuki?" Haruhi brushed away her comment as she glanced at Nagato.
"Methane and sulphur." Nagato accompanied Suzumiya, staying relatively close to her.
"Methane? I thought it was odourless. I suppose it's mixed with something else. But, in any case, I don't like it!" She whined again.
"I just want this whole thing to be over." Mikuru's meek and mild tone only reinvigorated Haruhi more.
"I bet it will be over sooner than expected. Because, obviously, we already know the typhoon is doing tricky things, so we won't be surprised anymore. But, if anything, with our guard so high, unless it starts opening a gate to another dimension filled with shell-people, we'll be disappointed." Her optimistic and skewed argument could have quickly fallen apart if Kyon were there, but luckily for Haruhi, she didn't have anyone to push it back.
"Shell-people?" Mikuru innocently asked.
"Oh, you don't know about the shell-people, Mikuru?" Haruhi leaned over to Asahina, the bicycle rocking from the sudden weight change.
While Suzumiya made up a story about shell parasites attaching to humans, Nagato was vigilant. Most of her instruments were useless, but her sight and hearing worked as well as they should. So she made sure to look around, making sure nobody or anything sneaked upon them. She only stopped to check if she could contact Kimidori or follow Haruhi's conversation. Regardless, it was troublesome. Nagato continuously saw unnatural yet premeditated wind patterns. Whatever was out there; it was circling them—not daring to come close. Was it because they noticed her overwatch? Or because of Haruhi? Those were the only threats in her group. Unless Asahina held something important…?
After a few metres away from Kyon's house, Haruhi and Mikuru noticed somebody familiar in the vicinity.
"Oh, big sis! Three of them!" Kyon's sister was heading the same way cutting across a corner in front of them. A woman with another child waved goodbye as they continued into another street.
"Hello-hello! We arrived at the same time!" Haruhi greeted her, waving her arms unrestrained.
The little sister imitated her back, her raincoat jumping up and down as she skipped towards them. Nagato, however, glanced at Kyon's house. Something was out of place. She sneaked towards it, ignoring the happy meet up with his sister. The front gate was opened, leading to the lightly scratched front door, with small wood shavings on the ground. Her hand touched the door for three seconds before it was fixed, alongside the house's imperfections she couldn't entirely see.
Nagato observed the swaying decorative plants around the house with the fixing out of the way. A gale of wind had battered them, but that didn't calm the unease clouding her mind. There was something she was missing. She managed to walk a few metres away from the front door when something scurried by. However, she felt no ill-intent from the odd puffball that suddenly jumped in front of her. It was just Shamisen, Kyon's cat. It somehow was well and cocky as he rubbed his face against her legs.
She would have ignored it and continued her investigation, but Haruhi and others noticed Yuki's absence quite quickly. Luckily, they lost any complaint as they saw the small fluffy creature in the front yard.
"Shami~, you're not supposed to go out!" Kyon's sister cooed as she snatched the poor cat from the ground.
"I was wondering where it was yesterday," Haruhi muttered.
"Somebody must have left the door opened, and he left." Kyon's sister replied, juggling the cat and the keys on her backpack.
Mikuru hastily scrambled for help, getting the keys with unexpected finesse. Finally, after asking what key on each respecting lock, the front door opened with a low creak.
"We're home!" Haruhi waltzed in like she owned the place, followed by the rest, only to find Kyon standing in front of the kitchen door, visibly tired and holding it closed. His attire also raised some eyebrows, half-dressed to go out.
"Oh, eh, what's up?" Kyon's inconspicuous answer didn't fly over Haruhi's mind.
"Just because you're a bit better, it doesn't mean you should overdo it," Haruhi stated like it was a fact, leaving his bicycle on the entryway. "You didn't clean the plates, did you?"
"Uh, I cleaned them, yeah." Kyon grasped the door even tighter. "I've been trying to secure the place, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but there's a typhoon coming. So can you check what I've gathered in the living room? I'm not sure if it's enough."
If Suzumiya had any doubts, she didn't express them. "Only because it seems like you've been diligent. But you better rest afterwards."
She walked through the hall, stared at Kyon for half a second before entering the room. Almost immediately, Kyon gestured for Nagato to come towards him. Noticing something was amiss, Asahina tried to distract Kyon's little sister in the meantime.
"S-So, how was the sleepover?" Asahina asked as Kyon's sister struggled to remove her shoes. She still didn't let go of Shamisen.
As soon as she asked that, Kyon's sister leaned into Asahina and whispered some secrets with her. The more she whispered, the more beet red Mikuru's face became.
"All night, it's crazy! And then when they were in the kitchen…." Shamisen wiggled out of her grasp, much to her dismay. "Hey Shami, come here! You have to eat lunch!"
The cat sprinted out of the entrance, dashing towards the now opened kitchen door. Nagato stumbled out of it as Shami rushed in.
"It is done." Nagato simply said, placing the half-ruined raincoat on the door handle. "Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine… Just tired after fifteen minutes of holding the door." Kyon admitted, letting a big sigh out. "My legs feel like jelly. So what the hell is going on? You saw it, right? What was it, some kind of air golem?"
"There were only leaves and sticks. Data analysis points towards it being a mere drone that was cast away."
"Wait, so, it just died? But I'm sure it was pushing against the door." He was more shocked than scared by this point. Maybe he was so on edge he didn't even realise it died?
"Haruhi Suzumiya is weakening the gas entity's data manipulation. However, the gas entity can form, create and control small quantities of air molecules, leading to these beings. Air spiders, dubbed by Itsuki Koizumi, are a manifestation of it. Air golem, dubbed by you, is another more complex manifestation." Yuki's explanation didn't satisfy Kyon in the slightest. "With its control weakened, the gas entity ceased its mission."
"But even then, what was it after? There were people outside and…."
"Do not worry. I will protect you. Everyone." Nagato uncharacteristic assertiveness stopped the conversation.
Kyon knew there wasn't much point in rejecting her offer, but there was still some unease in his voice. "God knows I need a rest after that… But, damn it. Just don't push yourself too much. Ask for help if you need it." Yuki's eyes glimmered for a few seconds. "You seem pretty lively, Nagato. Did something happen?"
"I am determined." Yuki merely answered.
"That's… odd to hear, but good. And you, Asahina? Did you…" Kyon trailed off as his sister ran into the living room, giggling uncontrollably.
Mikuru nodded, blushing heavily, as she hastily headed into the living room without making eye contact.
"What's up with her?" Kyon thought out loud. "Ah, yeah. That golem thing entered through the upstairs. It broke my balcony screen door. Mind if we check?"
"I already fixed it. Along with your front door." Yuki said before glancing back at the living room.
"Kyon!" Haruhi's head peeked out of the living room. "We need to talk. You too, Yuki."
"Good grief, what now?" Kyon complained under his breath. His whole body was already out of stamina, and his arms felt like they were a pair of wet noodles.
Followed by Nagato, he entered the completely lit living room and sat on the couch beside his sister. The TV was on, but only static came through. Alongside that, Asahina sat down by the coffee table, nervously twirling her hair.
"So, there's no TV signal. And since the storm is getting worse, what are your plans?" Haruhi started, placing herself in front of the TV.
"Holing up." He answered.
"Yeah, I'm not asking you, Kyon."
Then why did you want me here? he thought.
"I, um, was going to stay with Nagato. Since we live alone, I thought it would be better to be together." Asahina made up a lie right there, based on previous plans.
Nagato simply nodded, taking the remaining space on the sofa, right beside Kyon's sister.
"Oh, great initiative. Then, how about we expand on that plan and we all stay here? I was already going to stay, but since it's getting dangerous…."
"Is that why you bought enough food for a regiment?" Kyon asked, pointing to all the dry food he had gathered on the coffee table.
"O-Of course not, better safe than sorry!" If Haruhi had planned it from the beginning, it looked too convoluted. "Regardless, if you don't want to, I'll take you home. Or wherever you wish. I did force you to come here, so I'll take responsibility."
"That's new," Kyon muttered, the weight of all his previous actions dawning on his tired body.
"I like the idea, but I only have what I brought with me," Asahina said, looking back at her school bag.
"Hm, that's true. I brought some extra clothes, but I think with your extra size, they won't fit." Haruhi eyed up Mikuru.
"Just take some of my clothes. They'll keep you warm, at the very least." Kyon offered, gaining the stink eye from Suzumiya.
"Fine! So I'll just lend them to Yuki."
Nagato nodded, taking some time to react to the little sister's prodding against her arm. She wanted to tell her something. Yuki leaned in, some unknown whispers leaked by the mischievous little sister. Then, Nagato just looked at Haruhi, then at Kyon and stared at the ground.
"…Hey… What did you just do?" Haruhi tensed, her good leader act dropping immediately.
"Nothing, I'm getting ready for a sleepover!" His sister proclaimed, rushing out of the living room.
Haruhi looked at Asahina, who was blushing heavily, and then to Nagato again, who averted her gaze when their eyes met. The Brigade leader didn't need any more proof.
"Hey, no! Come back! Kyon, do something!" Haruhi ordered him around, to which he promptly did.
"Come back." He muttered, making himself cosier on the sofa. He sure had gotten sleepy all of a sudden.
"You're insufferable! She… She told them the secret! The thing that never happened!" If Kyon wasn't freaking out, Haruhi sure was.
What secret? Kyon was sure they didn't have any secret until Haruhi messed up and slept on his bed, which…
"…SIS, COME HERE RIGHT NOW, YOU LITTLE MONSTER!" He sprung out of the sofa, sprinting out of the living room faster than when he had to shut the phone up.
Koizumi fought to keep himself steady as the wind battered him to no end. Communication no longer seemed possible. His phone had a full battery but no signal. He wanted to believe it was a faulty cell tower, but he held no delusions. Whatever that gas entity was doing, it slowly separated the town from the real world. However, that also meant creating this new dimension made Koizumi's powers easier to use. Rain was no longer an issue, as it hit a red barrier surrounding his body. The harsh wind seemed to ignore it.
He reached an apartment building five minutes away from Nagato's home. Compared to her apartment building, this one was less well-kept and showed age. Still, the concrete was sturdy and wouldn't have any issues withstanding the storm. Koizumi looked around, vigilant, expecting somebody stalking him. However, that didn't seem to be the case. Before he could use the intercom, the building door was unlocked by someone. He quickly entered, dropping his shield but maintaining tension. The lobby wasn't too big, only a small hall decorated with a potted plant leading to a staircase and an elevator.
Not wanting any risks, he climbed the staircase until he reached the second floor. There, somebody was already waiting for him.
"Koizumi." Keiichi Tamaru, the middle-aged man who acted as his distant relative on a Remote Island, stood before the apartment door. His left arm was bandaged, and he wasn't putting any weight on his left leg either. "Mori's inside, alongside our esteemed guests."
"So they attacked you too," Koizumi muttered.
"I was unlocking my car when somebody tried to tackle me. Three men, I believe. But two of them were amateurs; they were nervous wrecks, so I could wrestle them out. Even then, that man in charge… if it weren't because of my car being right there, I wouldn't be here." Keiichi solemnly explained.
"You're here and safe. So let's not dwell on that right now."
Mori said something similar, Koizumi thought, they might have acted simultaneously, but only these leaders seem competent.
"Come, let's enter." Keiichi opened the apartment door, limping his way inside. "When I got to Miss Mori, she looked even worse than now. I suppose she's glad her motorcycle didn't break down."
Koizumi closed the door of the small apartment. The entrance led directly into a hall, with two doors on the right wall. Continuing through the hall, he found himself in a living room with a kitchen island. There Mori applied some ice to her head, looming over the two captive cultists. Her eyes were wide and wet, hyperfocused on the two cultists.
"He's here, Miss." Keiichi snapped her out of the trance.
She stood dumbfounded for a few seconds before reacting. "Oh, thank god, Itsuki. I couldn't reach you anymore." The ex-maid's shoulders dropped in exhaustion. She was in a much worse state than Keiichi. Her head was bandaged and somewhat wet from the iceberg. Her right forearm was swollen, indicating a broken bone. Lastly, she hid her right leg from Koizumi, not wanting him to see the burns that covered it.
Mori reached over and gave him a quick hug before facing the cultists again.
"I don't have any signal either, but landline phones might still work. Regardless, sit down. I'll take over." Koizumi explained.
"I rather not try that. The pain's going to kill me if I do." Mori maintained her façade, even though she was clearly hurting.
"After I finish here, take her to a hospital." Koizumi glanced at Keiichi before turning to Mori. "No excuses. I managed to contact some unexpected reinforcements before the signal was lost. So please, rest."
Despite believing that was a lie, Mori nodded, maintaining her gaze on him. He wasn't the leader of the Agency for nothing.
With that issue settled, he walked towards the prisoners. They were tied against two respective table legs, separated by a metre and a half. On top of it, some out of place boxes and weights cluttered the table surface. Their masks had been removed along with their hoods. They were normal, some twenty-something years old Japanese men. They both had a small tattoo on their necks, reassembling a spiral. One of them looked down, defeated. He had a black, swollen eye. The other cultist stared at Koizumi with a maniac glare. That cultist's eyes seemed too big for his eye sockets, while his trembling lips showed his fear.
"Really? Some high school kid?" The maniac cultist said with forced laughter.
"What's your name?" Koizumi asked, crouching down to their level.
"As if I'd tell you." The crazed cultist quickly answered.
"Alright, Mr Maniac. And you?"
"…Ishimoto." The sullen cultist muttered.
"Ishimoto. Very well."
He had quite a few questions in mind. Koizumi wasn't sure how to properly manage an interrogation, but he decided to get their attention quickly. He rummaged through his pockets for a few moments. Then, he showed the broken idol to the two cultists.
"Ninlil-Shu…?!" The crazy cultist said in shock, getting the attention of the downtrodden Ishimoto.
Asahina was right, Koizumi instantly thought. "This idol was part of some sort of ritual, wasn't it?"
The cultists stared in shock at the broken idol. The depressed cultist talked first, much to the irritation of the maniac.
"Ninlil-Shu wouldn't let its vessel be destroyed." Ishimoto's lips trembled as he spoke, his eyes not moving from the figurine.
"Shut up. Have you lost your dignity?" The maniac cultist replied in anger. "It has only outgrown it, you imbecile."
"That name's related to this gas entity, right? So why did you release it?" Koizumi asked.
"Gas…? This is not gas. We're in its body—a phase of transition. And for humanity as well. Don't you get it? We're a vanguard who will bring fort-" The maniac prisoner kicked Ishimoto, stopping him from talking.
"Shut the hell up. You're talking to a goddamn cursed child." He yelled. "You can't stop this. Nobody can anymore. We're past the tipping point. The moment Ninlil-Shu engulfed this city, we already won. It's a God once again, in a state of incubation."
"If you had already won, you wouldn't be here. You've attacked us because we're a threat or an important puzzle piece to your supposed god." Koizumi simply explained, shutting up the maniac cultist. "So you want to help humanity, do you? What will this entity reward you with?"
"Don't you fucking answer!" Those were the last words of the maniac cultist, as Mori kicked his head and knocked him out.
She avoided Koizumi's glare and offered a meek explanation. "I was getting tired of his yapping."
The depressed cultist started yelling as he stared at Mori in pure fear. Koizumi didn't need any explanation. That black eye was probably a gift from her.
"Mori won't hurt you if you continue answering. But, come on, why did you join this random cult?"
The only conscious prisoner shook his head intensely, his eyes crying and babbling in broken Japanese. "Everything… is going to hell. We'll destroy our planet before we can get out of it. We just wanted humanity to have a chance. A chance Ninlil-Shu will give us one if we help it."
"A noble goal." The young ESPer answered. "But are you sure this is what will happen?"
The remaining cultist didn't answer.
"What were you trying to accomplish by killing us?" Mori asked with a piercing glare.
"We weren't trying to kill you! Ninlil-Shu needs strong followers! Like our leader, who was accepted by Ninlil-Shu and granted power. You saw her disappear, didn't you? Her power was supposed to be unique. And then you… You have power as well." Ishimoto's head dropped, sobbing and slobbering. "I thought it was unique, but… There are more Gods out there. We're all just pieces."
"So why did you want to kill our God?" Keiichi asked from the back.
"Your God?" Ishimoto looked up, trying to see Keiichi from behind Koizumi.
"Please disregard his comment. You're seeking sacrifices, aren't you? Snacks, your leader called them." Mori continued, stealing a glance at Keiichi.
"I don't know much more. We were told that heretics who wanted to stop Ninlil-Shu ran rampant in the city. But, I just… joined because Ikehara did as well." Ishimoto looked at the unconscious cultist. "And a few months ago, when we finally understood the language, we were initiated. We finally heard its name and understood it… We ended up believing that it was an actual God. That Ninlil-Shu should walk among humanity and give us wisdom. But if you have power, and I presume you two do as well, then Nin… No, whatever this gas is, it's only one among many."
The ESPers thought for a few more moments of the implications of the cultist's words. But the lower echelon didn't know of Suzumiya's existence.
"Heard its name? So Ninlil-Shu is just a placeholder?"
"It's a way for our tongues to say its name. Only adepts or higher can truly pronounce it."
"I see, convenience. Either way, you mentioned that this statue was a vessel. Do you know its origin?" Koizumi pressed again.
"…No. I've seen drawings of it. The Prior's back has a similar tattoo, a representation of Ninlil-Shu."
"So if it's so important, why did your cult simply give it away?"
"I don't know. It's supposed to be his vessel. If it were inside, you would be dead."
"Well, this gas has been out for just two or three days," Mori said. "Which begs the question, why is it dwelling here?"
Ishimoto grimaced like he was holding back from yelling.
"… Why would I know?" The cultist's eyes were fixated on the ground. He was lying.
"Very well then. One more question." Koizumi placed the figurine back in his pocket and stood up. "If this is no longer its vessel, what is it?"
Ishimoto looked up at him, a warped smile suddenly forming on his face. "Don't you mean, who? She's pretty, real pretty!" His words got choked up on his own laughter. "A perfect vessel, yes! That will allow it to fix the past mistakes of his unjust past imprisonment!"
The laughter was hollow and mad. It was utterly unhinged. So much so that Mori had to shut him up for good with another well-connected kick.
"Good lord, he was as crazy as the other one. Did he feed us fake info?" Mori turned to Koizumi. But instead of finding his usual calm and rational expression, she saw an earnest and solemn scowl.
"Keiichi, wake the other guy." Koizumi's voice showed an odd restraint like he couldn't fully move his jaw. "And Sonou, please stand back. Don't interrupt again."
Mori started saying something before closing her mouth and stepping back. It seemed like her adrenaline was beginning to run out. He didn't blame her. These men attacked her and put her in that situation. But he needed answers, as insane as they were.
As Keiichi tried to wake up the maniac cultist, Ikehara, Koizumi placed the idol back in his pocket. His hands had a layer of black soot, the figurine basically disintegrating even more. He didn't like it one bit.
"Pagans… all of you…." The cultist murmured, barely able to maintain his head up.
"You're a true believer of this Ninlil-Shu, aren't you? So how did you come across the cult?" Koizumi started with a simple question.
"You don't find the cult willingly. They search for you." Ikehara snapped his eyes open, bug-eyed. "Just like they've found you all, dipshits."
"Who are they? Are you referring to the woman who commanded you?"
The cultist coughed, muttering some unrecognisable taunt.
"He doesn't seem as responsive as the other one, Koizumi," Keiichi whispered, standing beside him.
The young ESPer didn't say anything. Instead, he pulled out a small note from a pocket in his trousers and knelt beside the cultist.
"Mother of Abominations, Conqueror of Passion, Bringer of Demise. Does the Whore of Babalon deserve worship?" Koizumi recited the note Kawahara handed him. "Are these different entities, or do they refer to one individual?"
"That's the petty god you worship, don't ask me." Ikehara spitted those words out like they had shimmered in his tongue for hours.
So they're just titles for the same entity, Koizumi quickly reflected, holding back a sigh.
"We don't worship any God here." Koizumi's patience was running out. "So you join this cult of Ninlil-Shu. Its supposed vessel is handed over to some random person. This supposed god surrounds the whole city, and somehow you don't know why. And when you're told to kill us, you simply obey. This all seems very sketchy. So sketchy, in fact, that I'm not buying any of it."
"I'm not going to tell y-"
Koizumi planted his foot on the man's chest, forcing him to lay down on the floor. His arms, tied behind in the table leg, bent back in a way they were not supposed to.
"And I'm not asking again. First, why was the idol handed over? Second, why is the gas surrounding the city? And third, who is the gas' new vessel?" The young ESPer voice was loud and authoritative.
"M-My arms are-"
"Shut up." Koizumi placed more weight on his leg. "I'm tired of having no answers. And you will give them to me."
"F-For Ninlil-Shu to transfer to another vessel, we needed a lot of energy. Someone who exuded so much energy that we could do it without it realising…! B-But we failed! And because of it, Ninlil-Shu lost its form and became the gas you see today! That's why we need sacrifices to shape it into form!" Ikehara cried in pain. "I swear, I don't know anymore! I don't know what went wrong! Initiates like us didn't know your God was actually real!"
"You haven't answered my third question. Who is the new vessel? If you tried to transfer vessels this Saturday, it means it already was there." He maintained the pressure on his chest.
"I don't know, I swear! I just know she's uh, she's bree…." Ikehara choked on his words as his arms were about to snap. "It's someone the stupid robot girl told us about a week ago! Someone who will fix Ninlil-Shu's unjust past imprisonment! Someone who knew the language and heard its name! I've never seen her, I swear, I swear by my mother's life!"
"Then… where does Suzumiya fit in all of this?" Mori muttered behind Koizumi.
"I was under the belief they wanted her to be the vessel." The young ESPer answered, removing his foot from the cultist's chest. "But they wanted to use her power indirectly to transfer vessels. And now that they failed, they're taking a more direct way. That's why they wanted us out of the picture."
"You all… have her power within you. That's why we wanted you as sacrifices as well." Ikehara did his best to sit down on the floor, maintaining distance from Koizumi. "The leaders never wanted to provoke this conflict… our hand was forced because we failed. But with the new vessel, the past won't matter anymore. So please, just let us go…"
Koizumi didn't react to his pleas. Because with that, he finally understood it. The supposed failure in the transfer of vessels The lack of knowledge about the vessel itself. Kawahara's betrayal and leak of data. The betrayal was recent, yet Ishimoto and Ikehara had been part of the cult for a few months at least. This meant that the cult was ready for the transfer for months. They just needed crucial data from Kawahara. Despite all that, these novices weren't told about figures like Suzumiya, but they repeat the exact phrase. Fix Ninlil-Shu's past imprisonment.
"A vessel that can fix past mistakes…." Koizumi muttered. "It's bothered me how the Overmind and we in the Agency came under attack by this cult. But one group wasn't. Asahina was kept untouched for a reason I didn't know. But now… Shit, we need to go now."
"Wait, what's wrong?" Keiichi asked, his mouth dry like chalk.
"Damn it. Now it makes sense. Asahina's headache, her dream of the summoning, how she was mesmerised by the idol the first time she saw it. She's the new vessel, whether she knows it or not."
Thunder clamoured as the typhoon approached Japan. After that, nobody could enter or leave Nishinomiya anymore. Severe gales travelled through its streets, with rain making any travel by foot almost impossible. And as the gas entity became stronger, the cult prepared itself to be ready for a new transfer ritual.