On the day they handed in their homework, Nakahara Chuuya's submission was several times thicker than Ranpo's.
Edogawa Ranpo, who was holding nothing but a single sheet of paper, was dumbfounded.
What the heck did you do?!
You think you can beat me just by writing more? ….Damn it, I really can't write that many words!
In the living room, Fukuzawa Yukichi sat nearby, sipping tea while trying to lure the cat with his homemade cat food. The chinchilla paid him no attention, happily darting around everyone's feet and chasing its own tail.
Asou Akiya and Randou took on the role of the "graders," sitting together on the sofa to review the two children's work.
"We'll read Chuuya's first," Asou Akiya said. "Then Ranpo's."
Under Nakahara Chuuya's hopeful gaze, Randou nodded with a smile, thinking to himself, Save the best for last.
Chuuya immediately beamed.
After being crushed by Ranpo's superior intellect for so long, he had finally gotten his day to hold his head high.
Having external brains was just that satisfying!
Edogawa Ranpo saw right through the reason, but couldn't be bothered exposing the adults' "hypocrisy." Sulking, he took a swig of his ramune before turning to Yosano Akiko, who was sitting obediently off to one side.
"You don't have to be so reserved. This is my and Chuuya's home. Akiya was the one who asked me to rescue you back then."
Yosano Akiko was startled and instinctively looked toward the gentle, refined black-haired young man in the room.
He met her gaze with a warm, reassuring smile.
"Akiko, how have you been doing out there?"
"I-I've been doing well."
Is he with the military? Someone Mori Ougai knows? Or a government agent sent to keep an eye on me?
Her thoughts descended into complete chaos.
"Nope, none of those," Edogawa Ranpo declared proudly. "Akiya's with the Mafia, so he has nothing to do with any of the people you're thinking of. Well... actually, that's not entirely true. He does know Mori Ougai."
Ranpo's remark immediately caught everyone's attention.
Fukuzawa Yukichi asked, "Akiya-san, you know the underground doctor who imprisoned Akiko?"
Asou Akiya coughed into his fist.
"I bought medicine from the doctor before..."
Randou promptly stepped on his foot.
Asou Akiya hastily corrected himself.
"But that was a long time ago—Mori Ougai is now the Port Mafia boss's personal physician. The organization I work for deals with the Port Mafia, so you could say he's one of the Port Mafia."
The moment Yosano Akiko heard Mori Ougai's name, she instinctively shuddered. The psychological scars he had left on her ran incredibly deep.
There was no way Akiya could admit that Mori Ougai was actually his direct subordinate. He might end up frightening the poor girl away.
Edogawa Ranpo waggled his eyebrows at his guardian.
There's a lot more to it than that!
Asou Akiya shot him a warning look.
"Be serious. We're grading your homework."
Randou focused his attention on the assignment.
Nakahara Chuuya had written down every useful suggestion he had gathered, even compiling social data and reference images. Compared to Ranpo's submission, it was far more considerate of the adults who would be reading it.
After discarding the suggestions that were impractical or incapable of genuinely solving André Gide's problem, only three ideas remained worthwhile.
The first read:
[Have them die gloriously on the battlefield and return them to their homeland as heroes.]
That is far too tragic!
Randou glanced at Nakahara Chuuya. Since Chuuya had no idea the case was real, he had enthusiastically filled pages with different ways the soldiers could die in battle, complete with examples of heroic sacrifices. Randou doubted André Gide would be willing to accept such an ending.
The second proposal was more childish, but its reasoning was sound:
[If the priority is getting them back to France, then arrange a way for them to return under new identities. If the priority is clearing their names, this would help with that too. After secretly returning home, they could quietly take care of their families while searching for people willing to help them. That would require plenty of patience and good persuasion skills. It would be even better if they could wait until there's a change in the government leadership...]
Randou pondered it for a while before a headache set in.
He couldn't remember enough about the political situation inside France.
Forget it.
He would leave that problem to the smart people.
The third proposal came from Kudo Yusaku:
[This is a very interesting homework assignment. I assume it's based on a real historical incident. First of all, treason is an extremely serious charge, overturning such a conviction would require a far greater price than anything that could be written on paper. If the soldiers refuse to live with that humiliation and insist on returning home with their honor intact, then, frankly speaking, they would need the support of at least one general with real political and military authority.
The prompt leaves many details blank. It doesn't mention exactly what crimes the soldiers were accused of, nor what became of their commanding officers. My guess is that those officers either died or managed to wash their hands of the whole affair.
That point could be used to shape public opinion.
The more people you can drag into the matter, the murkier the waters become. The soldiers themselves are in a weak position—they lack social influence and have no way to fight the hostile political factions within the government. Those factions are their true enemies, so...
Answering strictly from the perspective of this assignment: First, increase the soldiers' public influence so their voices can be heard instead of allowing them to die in silence. Second, looking at the postwar era as an example, anti-war sentiment is on the rise. Have the soldiers reflect on the war itself rather than simply advocating for more conflict, so that ordinary civilians sympathize with them instead of rejecting them. Third, as long as sufficient benefits are involved, no government will reject its own people forever. The soldiers could try making discreet contact with influential figures in the government and carry out work abroad on the government's behalf. I don't know what kind of people these soldiers are, but if they can earn the government's tacit approval and support, then perhaps they will no longer be considered traitors to their country.]
Faced with such a difficult problem, Kudo Yusaku had deftly reframed the issue, turning "betrayal" into a matter of perspective rather than an absolute fact.
The soldiers wanted their homeland's acknowledgement.
They wanted to return home?
Very well.
Serve your country once more. Once the job is done, your homeland will have every reason to welcome you back under a new identity.
The conviction would remain, but crimes were fixed while people were not. It all depended on whether the soldiers were willing to endure the public humiliation—to swallow their tears and devote the rest of their lives selflessly to serving their homeland.
Their country would compensate them...
Randou set Nakahara Chuuya's homework aside. His emotions churned so violently that he was left speechless for a long time.
This was a homework assignment that no one could laugh about.
Asou Akiya tucked a cushion into Randou's arms. Concerned about keeping up appearances, Randou didn't react. A few minutes later, after Akiya turned his attention to Edogawa Ranpo's homework, Randou quietly tossed the cushion aside, wrapped both arms around Akiya's, rested his face against it, and waited anxiously for Ranpo's answer.
Asou Akiya revealed Ranpo's submission.
It consisted of a single thin sheet of paper covered in untidy handwriting.
[Find the officer who gave the order and tell the public. Let everyone know It was his fault.
You can always find another scapegoat, can't you?]
That was Edogawa Ranpo's way of cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
Find another scapegoat.
And if your conscience couldn't bear condemning an innocent person, then make someone who knew the truth the scapegoat instead. Follow the chain one by one until every guilty party received the punishment they deserved.
His proposal created only one problem:
How could Gide make his voice heard and tell the public the truth?
As far as Edogawa Ranpo was concerned, that wasn't something he needed to think about.
Akiya would know exactly what to do.
Writing, marketing, and publicity.
This was Asou Akiya's old profession—his area of expertise.
A complicated expression crossed his face, somewhere between relief and exasperation.
I think I've taught Ranpo the wrong things...
Otherwise, a loophole-exploiting solution like that should never have come from the "white" Edogawa Ranpo.
"Akiya, what did Ranpo write?" Randou asked quietly.
"Don't be so down. Here, take a look."
Akiya handed Ranpo's paper to him.
He then turned to Nakahara Chuuya.
"Where's Tatsuhiko's answer?"
He didn't remember seeing anything that reflected Tatsuhiko's distinctive style.
Chuuya took out his phone. There was an email in his inbox that had already been marked as read.
After hesitating for a moment, he handed the phone over.
"See for yourself."
Puzzled, Akiya looked at it.
...Well then.
He found the scriptwriter group's "honest" answer:
[If one of the soldiers became a Transcendent, any country would gladly take him in.
The weak exist to serve as stepping stones for fate.]
Asou Akiya closed the phone and said earnestly, "Chuuya, don't learn from him."
Nakahara Chuuya nodded so vigorously it was almost comical.
No one wanted to learn from Shibusawa Tatsuhiko!
The very next second, everyone in the living room heard Nakahara Chuuya ask, "What is a Transcendent?"
The moment those words left his mouth, something subtle changed in the eyes of Randou, who was leaning against Asou Akiya. Confusion flickered across his face, and under the warm lights, even Akiya couldn't quite make out what was going through his mind.
"Akiya... that term sounds strangely familiar."
Edogawa Ranpo, seated beside Nakahara Chuuya, widened his emerald-green eyes.
"I'll explain it to you."
Asou Akiya's palms were damp with sweat. His throat tightened as he gently kissed Randou on the forehead.
Fortunately, Randou was wearing gloves.
More fortunately, Akiya's heartbeat and pulse didn't betray him.
He concealed every trace of his anxiety flawlessly. A faint smile curved his lips, making him seem like a true "higher-dimensional observer"—someone who knew everything and understood everything, silently watching over the flow of information in the world.
Whether it was Fukuzawa Yukichi, who worked for the government, or Yosano Akiko, who had personally experienced the Great War on Tokoyami Island, neither of them had ever heard the term "Transcendent," a word kept classified by governments around the world.
"A Transcendent is an Ability user whose Ability has evolved to its absolute pinnacle.
Every one of them possesses combat power comparable to that of an entire city—or even a nation. Guided solely by their own will, they are pioneers of idealism and embodiments of realism. If they take up the pen, they produce works of dazzling brilliance; If they take up arms, they become heroes on the battlefield. They are born with the talent to stand among the absolute strongest.
They are the favored children of their era."
Asou Akiya smiled, his eyes filled with admiration.
Holding Randou in his arms, he smiled directly at him.
Unaware of the truth, Randou blinked in confusion.
Within him, buried beneath the gentle soul that had emerged after losing his memories, slept the memories of a Transcendent.
Arthur Rimbaud.
The genius French poet of the 19th century—and one of the most powerful Ability users in the world of Bungo Stray Dogs.
Edogawa Ranpo slowly closed his gaping mouth. Cold sweat streamed down his back as every warning bell in his head blared at maximum volume. Despite being in the comfort of his own home in the middle of summer, he suddenly felt chilled to the bone.
Terrified cat.jpg
Akiya... the wife you tricked into marrying you was a French Transcendent?!
Randou-san alone could tear everyone in Yokohama apart?!
Help!
This house doesn't feel safe anymore!!!
Nakahara Chuuya fell into thought.
"The combat power of a single person... equal to an entire city, or even a nation?"
If he unleashed the power sealed within him with everything he had, he could probably match the destructive force of a city.
After all, the land that became the Crater had been blasted open by him unconsciously—and that hadn't even been a deliberate attack.
The next instant, Edogawa Ranpo whipped his head around to stare at his little brother. Seeing the faint confidence on Chuuya's face, his expression froze in utter disbelief.
Only then did Chuuya notice Ranpo's exaggerated reaction. He abandoned the thought and laughed.
"Ranpo, what are you doing?"
Ranpo quietly scooted farther away until he was sitting beside Yosano Akiko.
"I was just thinking... Akiko is the cutest."
Out of everyone in this house, the doctor was the safest person to stay next to!
Yosano Akiko instantly blushed bright red, as if steam might start rising from her head.
"Ranpo-san!"
Seeing this, Asou Akiya and Randou both burst into laughter.
After watching Ranpo flirt so straightforwardly, neither of them had any worries about his future love life anymore. This kid was definitely going to end up with countless admirers without even realizing it.
Then, the two of them passed over the forever-single Fukuzawa Yukichi and turned their attention to the carefree Nakahara Chuuya.
Sigh... This one won't do, either.
…
Mid-September.
A passage in French suddenly appeared in the most prominent spot of a local Arabic newspaper.
The author of The Tears of the Muse had written a message addressed specifically to the kidnappers.
[Dear readers from abroad, thank you for your love and support for my novel. However, your actions have seriously endangered public safety. Please stop at once and do not commit any more illegal acts.
I have heard that you not only enjoy my novel, but are also great admirers of Monsieur Jean Nicolas's poetry collections. Because of that, I spoke with Monsieur Jean Nicolas after his return to France, and together we reached a decision.
Here is our promise to you.
If you can write a novel that becomes a bestseller in France, I will write a novel especially for you. If you can compose poetry beautiful enough to earn the recognition of the French people, then Monsieur Jean Nicolas will write a poem for you as well. Let us make this our exchange, and together shine in the world of literature.
What this world needs is not people who spread destruction, but spirit, ideas, and great works of art!
May peace dwell in everyone's heart.
— Reader]
Behind the scenes, Randou—the one responsible for spreading the false story—had never left Japan in the first place, let alone returned to France.
Still uneasy, Randou asked Akiya, "What if André Gide turns out to have a talent for poetry? What if they don't write novels and focus entirely on poems instead?"
Asou Akiya slowly raised the newspaper, his expression grave.
"...Then they'll have no chance of winning any literary prizes for novels."
André Gide's strengths lay in novels and plays. Akiya had never heard of him becoming famous for poetry.
But what if, by some twist of fate, he ended up writing something brilliant that had never existed in Asou Akiya's previous life?
Monsieur Jean Nicolas...
Please use your talent to defeat him once again!
You're one of France's greatest poets!
Not some chronic procrastinator!
Just when will I ever going to get to read your poetry collections, A Season in Hell and Illuminations?