Hey, Mr. Silas, you're not listening to me!
'What?　Didn't I tell you that?
I didn't say that!
'Well, well, it's just a quick hello. And you're going to be one of humanity's best hope. Can't I be as ostentatious as this?
Okay.


　Technically I'm still not convinced, but I take the microphone from Silas and stand in the middle of the stage and begin to greet him.


'Well, nice to meet you all. My name is Julia Curtis. I'm extremely happy to be chosen as the 13th special class anti-magician. From now on, I will do everything in my power for humanity with all my might....


　A little stiff?　But I tried to continue speaking, but........hmm?　There's some kind of mass of people in front of me, and for some reason they're holding a microphone.

　Um.........could this be.......


''Congratulations, the thirteenth special class anti-magician to be inaugurated, I'm sure all of humanity will be happy about it.
Oh, thank you.


　It's like a press conference!　The media was there too!　No wonder it's so crowded!　Eh ... maybe this is like answering all the questions?


Now, I have a question for you...


　Oh, I knew I'd get the question.


''The thirteenth special class anti-magician will be chosen. I'm sure many of you already knew this, but perhaps the most interesting thing is.......your background. Among them, is the rumor that you have been in Twilight for two years true?


　It's leaked!　Hey, what's going on with your personal information?　It's totally leaked!　I'm not trying to hide anything by any means, but it's okay!　I mean, everyone knew that the thirteenth special class antagonist was going to be chosen!　

　 That man.........it's definitely Thad. There's no doubt about it.........


　Now what is to be done? You can lie here, but after all........you should answer honestly. And I'm not being told to keep this a secret from anyone. I just thought it would be best not to tell anyone about it myself without permission.


''It's true. I've been in the twilight for two years. I've only recently returned to the Kekkai City.
Does that mean the rumors are true...?
I'm sure of it.


　At that moment, "Special news, special news! Saying that, I saw several people leaving this hall.

　Eh.........could this be an article already?　Is this possibly....bad?

　I don't want to show off too much. It's probably in my nature. It's hard to change my introverted nature. That's why I'm a little intimidated by it, but I try not to show it on my face. Even though it's sudden, I'm now officially a special class anti-magician. In that case, you should act resolutely.


''What kind of life will you have in the twilight...?''
It's...


　From there, this press conference lasted for two hours....


　◇


I'm tired...
Well, you've done a good job.

　It was Eira-senpai who came down from the stage and came near me. Senpai is so kind to call out to me at a time like this.

''Are you always like that, Silas-san?''
'Well, it's a bit natural. But I guess I'm enjoying what happened with it too...
Isn't that the worst...
Well, let's go.
You're going?
A meeting. It's a special class of demons. It's rare that all of them are here this time. But considering the other ward cities, it's not a good idea to gather all the special class anti-magicians here. We'll probably be done in less than an hour.
Now, the meeting...
Maybe they'll make me introduce myself. And I've been there.
Speaking of which, when did senior Eira become a special class anti-magician?
A year and a half ago.
'Oh, no wonder you didn't know that... oh, but the numbers haven't changed since I knew them?
I'm twelfth on the pecking order and the last one died. So I'm filling in.
Can you replenish your supply with that?
I can't. It's just a matter of timing for me.
I see...
Okay, let's go.
Yes, sir.


　I followed Eira-senpai. And just as I was leaving this venue, I saw Dan, Rebecca and Aria near the exit. They were all unbelievable.......I was sure they were more hostile to me than they were to me.

　Why him?　How could he be a failure?

　That's what he must be thinking. And at the press conference, why two years in the twilight?　I left the question of "What do you think?" appropriately muddled. I could have condemned them here, but I felt I should talk to them directly. I am no longer the me of those days. I'm Yulia, a special class anti-magician. I'm going to take care of my past by myself...because I've made up my mind to do so.

　And I dare to ignore that look and leave the place.


　◇


　We arrived at the conference room. There was a large round table placed in the center of the room. It seems that they sit on the right side of the table in order of rank. I'm 13th in the order, so I'm last for now. But I'm next to Eira, so I'm a little relieved.


''Senpai, I'm.......glad to get to know you. I can really rely on you.
It's not like you're suddenly...
'Ah!　Eira, she's so embarrassed. You and Julia have become friends?　I love it... I love it!
Gee, Claudia you're moving too fast....
Julia's coming!　Well, it's coming fast!


　The person there was Claudia-san, whom I met in the Seventh Boundary City.


''Let's introduce ourselves again. My name is Claudia. I'm seventh in the order, how do you do?
Yes. It's nice to meet you.


　The scent of her perfume tickles my nostrils as I approach her to shake her hand. A mature woman..... She's a little taller than me (probably because she's wearing heels) and has long blonde hair that's curled up in a vertical bun. Most importantly, he's soft-spoken and friendly.


　By the way, Eira-senpai has a lot of dislikes with Derrick-san and Claudia-san.......

　As I do so, yet another person approaches.


''Yo, Yulia.
'This is Mr Gill. It's been a while.
I'm number three on the pecking order. Nice to meet you again.
Yes!

　He bowed his head with a smile. Gil-san also seemed very dependable, like a big brother. It seems I'm being welcomed with open arms, I thought.


'Yes, yes. Everyone take your seats, we're going to have a meeting.


　Then the rest of the members and Silas-san came in. But I didn't greet the other special class anti-magician people. I tried to greet each and every one of them, but they said, "Don't do it. You're wasting your time. It's no use wasting your time." Eira-senpai told me that special-grade demons are strong as monsters, but many of them are very peculiar, so I gave up.

　And 13 people, including me, are gathered at the round table. There are many unfamiliar faces, but even so, you can tell from the atmosphere alone that they are not just anyone. It's as if they are wearing multiple layers of thick, deadly air like coats. The air in this room is somehow heavy. That's what I was feeling intuitively.


Then let's have our new special class antimagician, Yulia-kun, say hello. Since it's you guys anyway, it's probably a few people who were at the party earlier. Well then, Yulia-kun, please.
Yes!

　I stand up and introduce myself to them all with a brittle look in my eyes as they all price tag me.


''My name is Julia Curtis. It's an honor to be chosen as a Special Class Counter-Magician. I hope to contribute to humanity as much as you all do, so I look forward to working with you.


　As soon as I say that, I realize that a knife is flying in front of me. Fast.........rather than fast.......it feels like it was released as if it was sewing outside of my consciousness......but.......


　I immediately activated Invisibility 《Invisible》 as if it were a wall. Then I changed it to wrap around that wall and I killed the momentum of the knife and grabbed it. There was no intent to kill it, just a throw that was a test. Still, it was easy to see that I had considerable skill.


'I see. Silas, Gil, Claudia, and Eira are just guessing. It seems to be able to do so-so. By the way, I'm Roy, nice to meet you.


　It was the person in the fourth seat from Mr. Silas who made that statement. His hair stands up in a twirl, and his color is a bizarre mixture of blue, green and yellow itself. And he's wearing sunglasses. I've always wondered if the fourth person in the pecking order is apparently quite belligerent and flamboyant.


''So, is it for real that you've been in Dusk for two years?
Yes, yes it's true.
What are the levels?
"Do you have twilight syndrome?
What else could it be?
'I'm level 5 but if you can see my arm...'


　I expose my right arm completely. Then everyone stares at it intently.


Hahahahahahaha. It's a monster. You're the first one to come up to this level. I'll admit it, Julia. You will be fighting on the front line on a battlefield like hell, from now on, well ... good luck.


　And next, Mr. Silas opened his mouth.


''Well, looks like the customary thing is over.


　And as everyone's gaze gathers once again, I realize that I've been approved to become a special class anti-magician. I've been granted the right to become a special class counter-magician.

　I will become a member of the Special Class Counter-Magician, which is regarded as the last hope for humanity.