CH 9

(Third person POV)

“Is this testimony authentic?”

“Yes, each and every word of it is in accordance with the truth.”

In a room of the Security Organization, two men are holding documents describing the contents of the questioning of Akira and are both conversing with each other.

But while one of the men… Otachi Yuzuru looks as if nothing is serious, the other man, who seems to be a prominent figure, wears an expression of distress.

“Don’t be a fool… if this is true, there will be far more than a commotion…”

“Even so, I know for certain that she is telling the truth through the power of Satori-sama, and I understand that Omoikane-sama’s help in carrying out this kind of move has significance. Furthermore, Susanoo-sama, who heard this story through my ears, asked me to bring her to Takamagahara when she is able to move…”

“Sigh… it seems like things are out of our control now…”

“I would have to concur.”

Yuzuru can’t help but agree with the sigh that the distinguished man let out.

In fact, Yuzuru believes that this matter is beyond their control.

After all, the girl (formerly a man) who encompasses a whole god inside her is nothing major to a certain extent, but the girl is known only to a very few people in Japoterasu who are supposed to be involved in work related to the “Maze”. Not to mention that even Yuzuru, who had heard the story himself, found it unbelievable that she had met and survived encountering the presumed master of the “Maze,” an entity that supposedly would have annihilated anybody who encountered her.

On top of that, to the best of their understanding, there has never been a request for a visit from Susanoo, the younger brother of Amaterasu, the chief god of Japoterasu.

“In any case, if Susanoo-sama seeks a meeting, we should send her with a proper escort as soon as her wounds are healed. I will make preparations here. We should be able to select someone at the earliest opportunity tomorrow.”

“Please do so. I have other matters to attend to, so please excuse me now.”

“Oh, please take care of that as well.”

After Yuzuru bows and leaves the room, the man who seems to be a high-ranking person exhales a sigh and proceeds to perform his own task.

■■■■■

(Akira POV)

“Even so, I must have slept the whole day.”

“Yes, you did. I honestly don’t comprehend how you’re able to move so much anymore after all those wounds.”

“Perhaps it’s the power of you, Ys, a God with whom I have a contract.”

On the next day when I woke up, I had an examination of my wounds and found that they had perfectly disappeared, so I started rehabilitation under the supervision of yesterday’s doctor… whose name I believe was Sakurai…

However, rather than rehabilitation, I suppose it would be more appropriate to call it a practice to get used to my new body.

Incidentally, the fact that wounds can be healed quickly is indeed a result of the power of Ys.

Apparently, the regenerative ability of a lizard is exceptional, and with time and strength, even a single arm can be regenerated under normal circumstances. In reality, the wound on my chest—which ought to have been one step from my heart—has already self-healed, without leaving even a trace of a scar behind.

“It’s due to ‘God,’ isn’t it? You have been bestowed with power, so you should pay your respects to them.”

“…”

Disregarding the doctor’s words, I continue to do my flexibility exercises.

Pay my respects… huh. I don’t have any inclination to pay respect Ys for whatever reason. As for the rest of the Gods, I have no desire to pay respect to them, as I have abandoned faith in them as well.

“So what are you going to do now, Akira-chan? I heard that it was confirmed that there is a person with your same name in the Security Organization, but that person seems to be a different person, so do you have any plan for going somewhere?”

“About that… no, it’s nothing after all. I don’t have a destination, but I do have a task to do, therefore I will accomplish it.”

I am about to refute the female doctor’s words, but I restrain myself.

Being a man who abruptly became a woman would be incredulous. They would, at the very least, have a lot of doubts about what’s going on in my head.

I am aware of what I must do.

To attain that goal, though, I am not as prepared as I ought to be.

Not only my ability, but especially my equipment is not up to par. Ys’ magic eye can presently only be used to halt movement.

Yeah, I wonder how to get into the Security Organization’s eradication squad… If my memory serves me right, it entails a ton of paperwork and selection tests… Well, at worst, I could be some sort of freelance mercenary and figure out a way to survive on my own.

“Somehow… Oh?”

“Hmm?”

A male nurse approaches towards me.

“Excuse me. Actually, I’d like to speak with Dr. Sakurai…”

“What is it? Oh, we should probably speak over there.”

“No, it concerns your patient there, so I think it would be better if she heard it with you.”

“Hmm?”

It is apparently something that concerns both me and the female doctor.

Therefore, I stop working on my flexibility exercise and turn my head towards the man.

The man then looks aside in panic, and Dr. Sakurai, who is obviously aware of the fact that he is attempting to avoid staring at my face, briefly clears her throat before beginning the conversation.

“The subject is that Susanoo-sama has requested to bring her to Takamagahara after her wounds are healed, and the Security Organization has already completed the task of selecting personnel to escort her. So…”

“You’ve come to consult me on whether or not it’s okay to let her out of the hospital?”

“That is correct. Here are the documents related to the case.”

…Susanoo-sama… you mean that same Susanoo-sama? No way. This is impossible.

In addition to serving as the Security Organization’s chief, he is one of Japoterasu’s most renowned deities. I can hardly imagine that such a being would be interested in me.

“Hmm…”

[By all means, I would love to meet the actual Susanoo.]

But Ys is plainly keen to meet him, and the female doctor is reading the documents with a very stern face on her face.

…Is this for real? Are they serious!? No, hold on—this is utterly absurd! Even high-ranked aristocracy rarely enter Takamagahara! It’s a sacred place where the Gods belonging to Japoterasu gather! Inviting a person who has renounced their faith to such a place is utterly preposterous!?

Ah, but if it were true, I might have to go there for Ys’ sake. Ugh, somehow my stomach is starting to ache from nervousness…

“I understand. In that case, we can do it tomorrow afternoon. She could not make a visit today due to the medical examination, but her physical wounds have already recovered and her mental health seems to be fine.”

“!?”

“I see. If so, I will make that arrangement.”

[Oh, so we can meet! That’s one of my burdens lifted! I’m going to go! I’ll definitely go!]

“Yes, please do. I’ll find the right clothes for her. Is that fine with you, Akira-chan?”

“…Yes.”

Before I could say anything else, permission is granted, and I am now in a situation where I have no choice but to go, partly because of Ys’ request.

At any rate, I would vehemently object to wearing women’s clothing. I’m not willing to put on that kind of clothes yet…

—————–

A/N:

Because he originated from the lower middle class, Akira respects those whom he would involuntarily respect even if he had abandoned his faith.

T/N:

Those who read this from Outer World Story: The Black Mist that Devours, you can already figure out the connection between these gods and Kurokiri’s world based on the settings. And the name Akira is unisex but commonly dominated by male