Gray Raven Detective Agency
Five Days Later
I'm so bored... Where's your tiny assistant anyway?
Now deemed a safe visitor, Kamui makes himself completely at home at the agency. He has claimed your chair for himself, putting his head on your desk and tracing circles on the surface with his fingers.
Sure, she can take her time. I'm in no rush. But you, [player name]... I'm pretty sure most of your work's done, right? You don't need to keep burying yourself in all that paperwork! Pay attention to me for once...
...I didn't know you were one to hold grudges! Okay, okay, my bad. I did feed you some bogus info on purpose to throw you off.
I mean, if I'd told you right away that I was your Tail, you would've stopped me from digging deeper into the case. You never would've let me take any risks...
Wait, wait, stop! Don't you dare keep going. I was trying to keep my identity hidden so I could protect you!
Look, I'll own up to it when I'm wrong, and I promise I'll never lie to you again! So you can't keep using this as an excuse to ignore me anymore!
Something about that gives Kamui pause, and his expression shifts into something uncharacteristically serious. But the moment doesn't last, and his usual grin is back in place soon.
You're right, [player name]! I'll handle the sorting. I can separate what we got from Marlis and what you left at the old base years ago.
We'll use the stuff from Marlis when we talk things over in a bit. As for the old materials... I think you should just add those straight into your notebook.
...Aw man, you saw right through me. Now, I never said that! I mean, it's kind of what I'm getting at, but not exactly.
I'm not trying to single out your assistant or anything, but... it's just a hunch I have. I think you should hold off on telling her everything about the Archdevil for now.
I'll keep digging and see what I can confirm. She might not even be aware of it herself, but there are too many things at play here. This could turn into something neither of us can control.
While you are talking, Kamui's hand drifts toward the pile of documents, but you catch it before he can do anything. One look at the precarious stack is enough to know Kamui's organizational skills aren't up to the task.
Oh, really? I was worried you'd have trouble telling the two sets apart with those missing memories and all.
Huh...?
Kamui freezes for a moment. He never bothered looking through those files before, so this comes as news to him.
His attention redirected, Kamui drops the organizing idea. He crouches by a corner of the table and places his arms on the surface, resting his head on them. Shy as he may be, it doesn't stop him from staring at you.
I mean, I had a hunch... but it turns out I still can't keep it together when I verify it. It's like getting the best surprise ever!
No matter how much time goes by or how many times this happens, it gets me every single time. Makes me just as happy as the very first.
Kamui... Kamui... Every time you call my name, it's like getting that same surprise all over again.
Of course! It's because... Kamui is the name you gave me back then! It's the most meaningful name I could ever have!
You should know by now that I didn't have a name before you saved me. Marlis just called me by my designation, [SU-0].
After my family took me in, Mom and Dad didn't want me to feel like I was filling someone else's shoes, so they decided against giving me his name. They asked you to help come up with a new one for me instead.
Well, to be honest, I was pretty young back then, and I wasn't exactly in the best headspace either. I don't remember all the details myself. Mom and Dad were the ones who told me about it.
"We each came up with a name and told you to pick the one you liked, but you just grabbed onto [player name]'s clothes and wouldn't let go. You absolutely had to have the name [player name] picked."
And that's how I officially became Kamui!
"From now on, your name will be Kamui. You still have the strength to protect yourself and others, but you're also someone with a warm heart who deserves to be loved and cared for."
"I want you to understand that your very existence is a wonderful miracle."
Like it? I super-duper love it! There's no better name in the whole world!
Anything you give me... will be the best thing in the world to me.
Kamui beams at you as he moves closer, joy radiating from every word he says. Your feet press together, and his arms slide from the table to rest gently on your knees.
His bright, sparkling eyes lock with yours. From the moment you first met until now, that gleaming light has never dimmed, and it is still burning with the same desire to get close and bring warmth to you.
So... since neither of us has anything to do right now, it wouldn't be too much for me to ask a tiny favor, would it?
It's nothing complicated, really. It's just... could you say my name a few more times, [player name]?
Doesn't matter how you say it! And the more you say it, the better, obviously! I want to remember every single one so I can replay them in my head whenever I miss you!
There's nothing wrong with being unique! Let's just say it's our own little secret, something only the two of us share, yeah?
It's not simple at all, you know. This means something very special to me. It's something irreplaceable that no one else could give me.
—Hehe, that's me!
The fluffy blonde head resting on your lap inches closer, the distance between you gradually shrinking. With no one else around to interrupt you at the agency, Kamui wants to treasure this rare moment of privacy...
—Back off! You're way too close, Mr. Weirdo!
A thick book wedges itself between Kamui and you. Kamui shoots a disgruntled look at your assistant, the very person he had hoped would show up later. Or better yet, not at all.
Glaring at me won't change anything. Stop wasting our precious business hours at the Gray Raven Detective Agency... Now, let's get to work!
Eileena spreads everything she has managed to dig up about the Mist while tackling your regular cases across the table.
Alright.
Kamui adds all his materials and files to the pile, including clues he's gathered from other places since he became the Revenant Hunter.
The stuff I've collected is pretty scattered. It's gonna take a while to go through them. Let's start with the case you just wrapped up.
Can we confirm that Gecko Tail is connected to the Mist and... that being?
These Tails... they all match up with victims from the missing persons cases, but every single one of them has lost their memories. And that's not all...
...Our bodies... are different from humans in a lot of ways.
Kamui pulls out blueprints he collected from the underground castle and places them on the table. Eileena studies the bizarre diagrams, unable to hold back her curiosity.
You're sure this is what's inside your bodies? I've only ever seen this kind of thing in clockwork and machinery...
And to make them look completely identical to human bodies... Is there really anyone capable of something like that?
Our bodies were already like this when we first woke up, so I can't really say for sure how it was done.
I've seen engineers build machines modeled after humans, but none of them could ever create a shell that looks exactly like the real thing.
Sorcery? Black magic? That's hardly logical.
Now that you mention it... I have this fuzzy memory that might give us some clues.
I was the first Gecko Tail they made, so I woke up before the others. I couldn't open my eyes back then, so I still looked like I was asleep.
But I heard... Marlis talking with someone else.
Forgive my ignorance, but why must we hunt humans to use as materials for the Gecko Tails?
They are nothing but lowly, vile creatures. Wouldn't using them as our foundation taint the greatness of this entire endeavor?
The Gecko Tail project still requires trial and error. It's only logical to prepare test subjects in bulk as expendable resources.
Since the vast majority will be expended anyway...
I understand completely. Naturally, using the lowliest humans as test subjects would be most fitting.
Only one as wise as yourself could consider every aspect so thoroughly. You truly are the great divine and fath—
—Silence.
Must I remind you again? Do not presume, Marlis. The one above me... is our most exalted deity.
—BAM!
...Those inferior creatures we captured are resisting again. They're still trying to escape.
I will deal with them right away. Can't have them disturbing you.
I offer you and them my utmost devotion... all so that you may grant me the truth and reveal my noble species for what it truly is. Never again will I be deceived by lowly humans.
...Tap, tap, tap.
—SLASH!
...Heh, what a loyal hound. Unfortunately...
A blind hound, at that.
She actually believes that she isn't human. Killed her own parents with her own hands. And now she slaughters those she deems inferior—
When in reality, they are her true kin. The same blood flows through their veins as hers.
Humans truly are cruel and foolish... A species beyond salvation.
This world will ultimately fall under their dominion. Humans polluting this earth will be exterminated to unseal the power that has long lain dormant...
Glorious is the divine. May you soon bring this world its rebirth.
