When the King Colossus vanished… a single mask dropped in its place. It resembled his face—no, it was his face. Inari picked it up, muttered, “Hmm… well, I have no need for this,” and tossed it into the Divine Concealment.
Just then, Atsuage—back in its small form—ran up to her. Inari greeted it with a gentle smile.
“Well done, Atsuage. Thanks to thee, much was accomplished.”
But instead of stopping, Atsuage darted straight into her robes, hiding as though fleeing something.
“What now?” Inari asked, puzzled—until she saw what was flying toward her back. Then her expression turned to one of recognition.
“Ugh, damn that toy beast! I lost track of it—huh?”
At the sight of the all-black woman, Inari waved lightly. The woman descended slowly to the ground.
“What a peculiar outfit,” Inari thought.
Her attire resembled a black gakuran, but laden with gaudy golden ornaments. She carried a staff twisted into a sinister shape, and atop her head sat a brimmed black witch’s hat—one that suited her disturbingly well.
She appeared to be in her twenties, with a well-proportioned figure, long lustrous black hair, and striking red eyes. There was no mistaking her. She was the one often seen on television: the Black Witch herself.
“So this too must be fate. I am the Black Witch. Tell me, fabled fox shrine maiden—have you seen, hereabouts, a monster that looked rather like a child’s stack of building blocks put together?”
“Ah, yes. That would be my pet.”
“Eh, your pet? That thing, shifting from giant to tiny?”
“Aye. That’s the one. But more to the point—thou art the so-called Black Witch, art thou not?”
“Yes, indeed. Guided by the black omen, I have arrived here. Everyone else may dismiss things as fine or unnecessary precaution, but I heard it clearly, the darkness threatening this land.”
“We just felled the ringleader. If no remnants remain, then it shall only be a matter of aftermath.”
“Aftermath…?”
“Aye. My thanks for coming, all the same. I had heard thou wouldst arrive around midday. Thou must have hurried greatly to be here so soon.”
Inari laughed heartily. The Black Witch froze… then suddenly shouted:
“Why! Why is it always like this!? I rushed here after slaying hordes of monsters along the highway! Flying burns through mana, you know! And when I arrive—it’s all over already!? That makes me the clown! I’m not a clown! I even worked up the right tension for a proper job—why!? Tell me why!?”
“Er… aye, why indeed.”
“Argh, I can’t stand this. Tomorrow’s headlines will say it for sure: ‘Black Witch Arrives Too Late.’ I’m not free all the time! I can’t just answer calls anytime, anywhere!”
“I cannot claim to understand, but thou hast my sympathies…”
Inari patted her lightly, as though consoling her. Sarina let out a long sigh and tapped her staff against the ground in weary frustration.
“Anyway… I am the Black Witch, Sendou Sarina. And you’re Kogami Inari, right? You really are small.”
“Aye. I am Kogami Inari. I had seen thy figure on the television ere now.”
“Well, when you’re at my level, of course. But you’re no slouch either. People are already saying you’re the rise of a new ranker.”
“I care not for such things.”
“Some people don’t. So? Tell me about this ‘ringleader’ business—what happened here?”
“Aye, it is somewhat of a long tale…”
Inari summarized the events. Sarina’s expression grew grave.
“So, you’re saying monsters possessed humans? And not just any monsters, but statue-type, full-on material-based ones? I’ve never heard of such a thing. But… it would explain it.”
“Aye. The evil should have been purged, but I have yet to confirm what became of the victims afterward.”
“There must have been people under mental spells as well. It’s impossible that the entire city was replaced. More likely, wide-area mind manipulation.”
“Hmm, I see. Then that too should now be undone… Yet judging by the silence, it seems at least this whole district was deeply affected.”
Only then did Sarina notice—the utter absence of sound. Reports often spoke of people fainting after forced cancellation of mental spells. Indeed, it seemed everyone in the area had been under manipulation. At the very least, this was a massive incident. Tomorrow’s top story, without doubt.
“Ugh… good thing I at least cleared the roadside monsters.”
“I had heard thou wert reinforcement. Art there no others? It would be difficult for me alone to cover all.”
“I reported the monsters as soon as I saw them, so the Association should be moving. But given the state of the Shizuoka Branch, it’ll take time before they arrive.”
And so it was. The Shizuoka Branch—the director possessed, the staff under mind control—had by now collapsed entirely, every member unconscious.
The “Itou City Takeover Attempt Incident” would soon become a headline of worldwide news.