As expected, they couldn't enter the Aoyama Cemetery, but there was no need. Tatsuya, the two girls, and the humanoid robot were strolling along the high walls built during the post-war era—a scene that might have looked like a pleasant night walk if not for the distinct, heavy presence approaching from the front.
"Master, three 'Parasites' are closing in."
Tatsuya came to a halt at Pixie's telepathic warning. He had permitted her to use telepathy rather than her internal speakers specifically to lure the Parasites in, and he had ordered her to ensure the message reached Miyuki and Honoka as well.
Almost simultaneously, the two girls stopped and pressed close to Tatsuya's sides. They showed no outward signs of fear, but their tension was palpable.
Following their pre-arranged plan, Tatsuya pressed the transmission switch on his mobile terminal. His current GPS coordinates were instantly sent to Erika and Mikihiko.
He drew his silver companion from its holster under his left arm. Letting his right hand hang naturally, he gripped the handgun-shaped specialized CAD, "Trident," and waited for the arrival of the possessed creatures.
Squinting through the haze of the streetlights, three silhouettes emerged. Their footsteps were unwavering; as Pixie had predicted, the Parasites could sense her location just as clearly as she sensed theirs.
Neither side made a move as the gap between them inexorably closed. At a distance where their clothing became distinguishable, two of the Parasites stopped. The third continued forward, approaching the stationary Tatsuya. As the figure came into focus, a profound sense of wrongness intensified.
Tatsuya identified the source of that discomfort immediately. It was the dissonance between the information his eyes provided and what his skin felt. The man's clothes were utterly mundane; his eyes, mouth, nose, and limbs were all within the realm of the ordinary. Yet, while he held the shape of a human, he lacked the presence of one.
Tatsuya observed him closely until the Parasite stopped at a distance where voices could carry and expressions could be read.
"Tatsuya Shiba. I wish to speak."
"What should I call you?" Tatsuya asked.
The man possessed by the Parasite stood with his mouth half-open, the rest of his intended sentence dying in his throat. Tatsuya found it remarkably human of the creature to be rendered speechless by such a simple question.
"…Marte."
"Very well, Mr. Marte. Or should it be Señor Marte? To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Tatsuya's dismissive tone caused a flicker of irritation to cross the creature's face. It seemed Marte didn't appreciate having the rhythm of his negotiation disrupted.
"'Mister' will do, boy."
"Then get to the point. What do you want?"
"…Tatsuya Shiba. We have no further intention of acting with hostility toward your kind."
"That's too abstract to be meaningful," Tatsuya countered. "Who is 'we'? Who is 'your kind'? And what exactly do you define as 'hostility'?"
"—We Demons have no intention of taking further hostile action against the Magicians of this country."
Demons. Not devils, ghosts, or specters. Apparently, that was their chosen self-designation. Pixie hadn't used that word, so they had likely conferred among themselves to decide on a title for this negotiation.
A faint, mocking smile tugged at Tatsuya's lips. He was well aware that some referred to his Decomposition magic as the "Demon's Right Hand"—a moniker earned because he often leveled his CAD at targets with his right hand. However, he felt no sense of kinship with the creature before him.
"And? I assume there's a 'but' coming."
"In exchange for our vow of non-aggression, we require you to hand over that robot."
"Listen, Mr. Marte. Could you try being a bit more thorough? Even if you demand I hand her over, I can't give you an answer until you explain why you want her."
"I did not think an explanation was necessary. You have no reason to protect that machine."
"Whether or not we have a reason is for us to decide."
Marte grimaced. Considering the apparent age gap between them was over a decade, the creature's visible look of offense was a very human reaction.
"…It is to release our compatriot imprisoned within that shell."
"Is a robot not a suitable host?"
"I do not know what you believe us to be, but we are living beings. And—"
"I've heard enough of that part," Tatsuya cut him off mid-sentence. "Even if you say 'release,' how do you intend to do it?"
"We will destroy the unit. Once the current host is lost, our kin can migrate to a new one."
"I see… well, you heard him, Pixie. Do you wish to be 'released' from there?"
"I refuse, Master!" Pixie's telepathic voice rang out with unexpected fervor. "I am myself. My only desire is to belong to my Master. That is who I am. Where I came from or where this core desire originated does not matter to me anymore. I refuse to stop being myself."
"That's her answer, Onii-sama," Miyuki added softly.
"So it seems. Well, I imagine you expected that response… but before I give you our official answer, I have a question."
"You are more foolish than I anticipated, Tatsuya Shiba. I am disappointed… fine. Ask your question."
"You said you wouldn't act with hostility toward magicians, didn't you? Why specify magicians instead of humans in general? If we accept your terms, you won't fight magicians. But what about everyone else? After you destroy Pixie, what did you intend to use as a host next? No, don't bother answering. I already know."
"…You possess a surplus of pointless sophistry," Marte hissed. "I told you we would not fight you. Why is that not enough? Just as we Demons are incompatible with humans, are you magicians not equally alien to them?"
"Oh?" Tatsuya let out a dry, hollow sound of amusement as the Parasite began its impromptu sermon. When Marte finished, he stared intensely at Tatsuya's face.
"For someone who calls others foolish… you're quite the idiot," Tatsuya said coldly. "Not harming us magicians? Truly wonderful. However, you've already harmed my comrades. My friends—who are magicians. Why should I believe a single word about 'future' non-aggression when you haven't offered a single word of apology for what you've already done? Your vow is as empty as a politician's promise of human rights. To think you could extort something from us in exchange for such a hollow lie… your arrogance is boundless."
Tatsuya paused, his lips curling into a bored, contemptuous sneer.
"By the way, I believe I still owe you an answer. It's 'No'."
"You brat…"
"And don't bother with the cliché 'you'll regret this' line," Tatsuya added. "It would be embarrassing for both of us."
Behind him, Miyuki and Honoka looked as if they were about to burst into laughter, while Pixie directed a gaze of burning adoration toward Tatsuya.
He chose to pretend he didn't notice.
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