"Zombie Devils, gang members, and someone who called herself the Hunger Devil. She said her name was Kishibe, but she exploded on the spot for some unknown reason after just a few words. Later, I asked Captain Kishibe, and she said it was your doing, Makima."
Three hours later, in Makima's office at the Tokyo Public Safety Headquarters, Renji explained.
"That's everything I encountered inside the gang's building. Nothing else. As for the details of the conversations, I'll write them all in my report tonight and submit it to Captain Kishibe for review."
The operation to subdue the gang had concluded. Three hours later, Makima returned to Tokyo from Kyoto, taking over from Kishibe to handle the mission's aftermath and the preparations for the new Special Division 4.
After Kishibe finished her phone call, she found Renji—who had been patrolling, standing guard, slacking off, and daydreaming in the plaza—and told him Makima had urgent business and wanted to see him immediately.
"Makima is back from Kyoto. She says it's urgent. It's a bit odd, but she wants you to drop whatever you're doing and go see her at headquarters."
After that, Makima asked Renji to briefly recount everything that had happened inside the gang building.
She explained to him that it was a very important matter because Public Safety investigators had found a large quantity of Gun Devil flesh fragments in the building. This was crucial to locating the Gun Devil's true body, and the higher-ups were deeply concerned.
Renji was, after all, the central figure in this operation—the gang's planned assault on Public Safety had originated because of him. Therefore, the higher-ups had specifically instructed Makima to question Renji about anything he might have encountered or discovered during the mission.
Makima's wording made it clear she wanted to know what had transpired between Renji and Kishibe.
But that was also the strangest part. From Renji's perspective, he had no idea how the Public Safety higher-ups in Kyoto viewed Kishibe.
Kishibe had clearly been involved in the gang's attack, and as a primary instigator, she was now at large. Yet Makima barely mentioned her in her account and didn't discuss her apprehension at all.
Renji gave a brief summary as Makima requested, but even a summary inevitably mentioned Himeno Senior and Power a few times.
That was fine, though. They were all colleagues. Even if some things had happened that weren't suitable for younger eyes, Renji could easily gloss over them.
But Kishibe was different. She was a significant presence, and she, too, would inevitably come up a few times in this brief account.
What troubled Renji most was his conversation with Kishibe. According to Kishibe, Makima shouldn't have been able to hear their discussion. Renji guessed that was the real reason Makima had called it "urgent."
He didn't know what position Kishibe held within Public Safety. His final plan was to fabricate the content of their conversation—to gloss over it as well.
That is: Kishibe had barely introduced herself before she exploded.
Renji's reasoning was this:
From Makima's perspective, as a male, Renji would always have his own little schemes. Most importantly, Renji didn't know that Makima could control lesser animals and gather information through their ears.
Makima was a devil hunter directly under the Cabinet Secretariat. Ordinary contract hunters and Public Safety personnel like Renji had no right to know the abilities of the devil she'd contracted with, let alone know that she wasn't human at all, but the Control Devil.
Renji would presumptuously conceal parts of his conversation with Kishibe, not telling the whole truth. That was a foolish move—one that would make Makima believe Renji was still under her control.
"Mmm…"
Makima's voice was drawn out. She rose from her seat and walked toward Renji.
She stopped in front of him but didn't halt immediately, instead slowly circling him.
Makima stopped behind Renji, tilted her head slightly, and her delicate nostrils flared gently as she began to sniff carefully.
A highly ambiguous gesture.
"Renji, are you lying to me?"
Renji feigned confusion.
"Why would you ask that?"
"I don't think I've mentioned this to you? My nose is very sensitive to smells. You have a very… messy, unusual scent on you."
Makima pointed to her delicate nose.
"This is a serious matter. A very dangerous act. If you conceal secrets and fail to report key information, and if that leads to consequences later in this operation—threatening the safety of citizens—it's a grave offense."
Renji shook his head.
"Makima, why would you say that? I'm absolutely not lying."
Renji's tone shifted subtly, beginning to deliberately lean into a self-important, slightly foolish persona, allowing a hint of unintentional arrogance to seep into his words.
"But… Himeno Senior, Power, and the Devil—these are all very strong scents. Logically, with just ordinary contact between colleagues, the smell shouldn't be this potent. Are you sure nothing else happened between you all?"
[Ding~ Detected Makima's disgusted emotional state. System rewards 20 points.]
[Ding~ Detected Makima's disgusted emotional state. System rewards 20 points.]
The system indicated Makima's disgust—once, then again. Renji was slightly taken aback and looked at her.
Makima's exquisite face still wore that faint, gentle smile. Her entire expression remained soft and amiable, still maintaining that tender, approachable demeanor.
Just by looking at her expression, one would never guess she was feeling disgusted and repulsed inside.
Renji thought for a moment, quickly fabricated another story in his mind, and spoke.
He said that he and Himeno Senior had cleared the zombies too quickly and then went to assist in other sectors. In the middle of it, he and Power had argued and even scuffled, and Himeno Senior had sustained minor injuries. The smell might have come from that.
Makima looked at Renji, remaining silent for a long while before finally nodding, asking no further questions.
"Hmm… I see… Then perhaps I was overthinking. Speaking of which, there's actually one more reason I called you here."
Renji finally breathed an internal sigh of relief.
Makima returned to her office desk, pulled a photograph from the documents on the table, and handed it to Renji.
"Special Division 4 has just been formed, and many personnel arrangements aren't yet finalized. Your assigned partner for today will temporarily be this person."
Renji took the photo. It showed the upper body of the Angel Devil, along with her listless, androgynous face.
"Like Power, she is a Fiend—the Angel Devil. She's very strong. Within Special Division 4, her combat ability is second only to yours and Captain Kishibe's. Of course, that's assuming she isn't slacking off."
Renji nodded, though his attention was no longer on the Angel Devil—he'd already met her. Now, he couldn't help but circle back to thinking about Kobeni.
He strongly suspected that what was in Kobeni's water bottle was his seed, collected from that first utility room.
Renji began to regret not chasing after Kobeni when she ran off earlier.
What had Kobeni meant by her words as she fled? Had she discovered something?
"She was born in a seaside village, but for unknown reasons, everyone in the village disappeared. She was all alone until I found her.
"Her ability is very powerful, but also very dangerous. She can absorb the lifespan of those she touches and convert it into weapons. Renji, you must be careful."
Renji nodded.
"Mmm… I understand."
"The katana assigned to you was forged by her. These weapons possess many special attributes—for instance, they can cut entities that are normally intangible. Though it seems you haven't used it yet. She also…"
Makima noticed Renji's expression.
"You seem a bit distracted. Is something else troubling you?"
"Hm? Ah… Mmm, no, just some minor things."
"Work-related? Or interpersonal matters with your colleagues? I might be able to offer some insight."
Renji shook his head.
"It's really nothing. It's just that Hayakawa Aki asked me to buy a limited-edition figurine earlier, and I forgot. Now, if I want to get it again, I'll have to wait five days."
Makima thought for a moment.
"In that case, would you like to go buy it with me in five days? Consider it a date?"
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