The Shinjuku sub-center of the city, where high-rise buildings stand in a row. In one of the high-rise buildings, there is a nameplate on the massive door that says "Regional Manager".
　The people who come and go from the building don't know how long it has been there or what the branch is for.
　It's a high-rise building with a number of companies as tenants, so it's only natural that no one pays attention to it.

　Inside the room, Hisae Omine was taking charge of her duties as the head of the Japan Branch of the World Ability Agency. She sits at her computer and simultaneously carries out various tasks such as checking reports, settling accounts, investigating pending matters, and grasping the movements of those with abilities that are currently in action.
　In addition, this year's newcomer exams, an important event in Japan, are coming up, which keeps Nisae extremely busy.

　The sun is setting and the setting sun is shining on the room near the top of the building. There was a knock on the door of the branch manager's office.
　A young woman in a hurriedly dressed suit comes in as she turns her head toward the door, stopping her hand to look.

''Shall we excuse you?''

''Oh, Shima-chan, you're unusually quite flustered. What's going on?

'Yes, sir. I've just received an urgent call from the London office.

...from London?

"Yes, sir. Sister Sophia Sutherland has passed away...

Eh....

　The soft demeanor of earlier changed and Nisasae's movements stopped.
　Then, Hisae meditates and leans her weight on the back of a fine chair as if she has lost her strength.
　The branch manager's secretary, Shima Kakidateshima, looks at Nisasae and pauses to discuss the rest of her report.
　This area shows a glimpse of his relationship with his boss, Nisasae, and her excellence as a secretary.

''Well........Sophia-sama....... She was indeed very old. Recently, she was in a wheelchair........

　Hisae still remembers that sunny smile of spring. The person who gave me an inch of light in the darkness at the bottom of the earth. Hisae spins her chair around to look at the reddish-brown landscape of the city center behind her.

　

　For her personality, she was called the 【Satori of Compassion】, a person who was loved not only by the gifted, but also by people all over the world in the surface world. He also belonged to the World Organization of Gifted Persons, and his Satori ability was a non-combat type rank SS, which was truly the supreme treasure of humanity.

''No, it's not. Oofeng-sama. Sister Sophia was........killed.

What?

　Nissae turns around and glares at her secretary to see if she's not mistaken.

'We seem to have an idea of who the culprit is.

'Hey!　Why!　A vampire (Nosferak) would do such a thing.... They must be extremely disgusted by the fact that they stand out in human society. That's why they're doing this kind of stupid stuff........ It would also turn the institution against them.

'Yes......... The circumstances are currently unknown, but it appears that the Nosferak has been in and out of Sister Sophia's house for decades before. The London Branch has notified me that they wish to gather representatives from the London Branch in this matter to their branches around the world. It also appears that the vampire side of the group will be present at that meeting.

'From Nosferak's side!　What the hell is that...?

'Yes. The vampires are a solitary race with no interest in each other either, but we have organized a community at a minimum. It appears that a representative of that community is coming this time.

　To the best of Nissae's memory, she has never heard of any contact from the Nosferak side of the agency itself.

　Vampires (vampires) are one of the few powerful extrapersonal entities that have recognized human society.
　They are not many, but they are not few. There are also vampires who have survived for thousands of years and have abilities of the very class of demon gods.
　However, throughout the course of history, I had heard that vampires had abandoned their hostility to humans as human society became more and more solid, and each of them lived quietly.
　The proof of this was that they had even abandoned the act of bloodsucking for hundreds of years.

　However, they, too, have demanded the humans to do the right thing. At that time, hundreds of years ago, what they demanded of the powers of the hour as the price of abandoning that bloodsucking act was citizenship in human society.
　The powers-that-be granted it, and the long enmity between vampires and humanity was thus ended.

　Because of this, vampires have become a part of human society in many places today, disguising themselves as people and integrating themselves into human society. And because they are a very proud race, they do not act carelessly or carelessly.
　They don't even show any interest in each other, and I've heard that they organized the community so that someone of their own race would stand out in human society, and would regularly keep a minimum amount of surveillance so that others would not be inconvenienced.

　Hisae touches the desk with her index finger with a thump.

''........Shima. I'm sorry, but will you go to that meeting this time as a substitute?　We can't keep our hands off the newcomer's exam that's going to be held at the beginning of next month. Besides, I've been told by Headquarters that the investigation of the Shinagawa Demon God has not progressed even after a year. The psychometrists of that time are still in the hospital. I'm sorry to hear that, although I'm sure they're probably in a lot of trouble.

No, I understand.

I'll be in touch with you soon with the details. I'll start with a verbal statement. I'm sure it's quite a feat to have representatives from all the branches in the world.

'Yes. And about that...

What do you know about it?

'No, I'm not sure of the relevance, but there seems to be an uproar in various branches of Europe that several people with abilities have gone missing in the last few weeks. However, it's not public information, it's my personal information.

　Nisae frowned. However, he thought it was too early to doubt the relevance of this story.

''Hmm........ Until that story is confirmed to be related to Sister Sophia's murder, we don't need to say anything else. You can't let rumors about our branch's gifted individuals get the better of you. Besides, geographically speaking, the possibility of something happening in Japan is low.

Yes, I understand. Then we'll get ready and leave next week.

　Nissae nodded. Then, when she saw Shima leave, she stood up and lightly clenched her fists.
　Nisasae had met Sophia Sutherland before. Hisae had a connection with her then, she was troubled and disturbed by her own path, but Sophia's advice and care had helped her to recover.

　Nissae thinks of the person who saved her life, or rather her heart, in her heart.

(Sophia-sama......... What in the world........ (As soon as the rookie exams are over, I will also........)

　Hisae stared at the skyscraper city approaching the night scene.
　



　At this time, Yuto felt a firm unease........

　Right now, Yuto was doing his homework while eating canned food in the tent in the garden of his new house. He bought a candle, turned on the light and used the tangerine box as his desk. It's windy today and I'm worried that the tent will fly away.
　The price of getting a high school life is living in a tent....

　The other day, when Masato called a contractor to give him an estimate for repairs to his house, he was quoted a ridiculous amount of money.
　It's not a lot of money, but it's not something that a high school student like Masato can afford. Still, Masato wants to do something about it, but he has no idea what to do.
　Masato let out a deep sigh with tears in his eyes.

''Ugh, I can't even think of high school life in this situation!

　Yuto stood up, interrupting his homework to reinforce the fixation of the tent, which was about to be blown away by the strong wind.