Nina-chan leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with determination as she spoke.
"...I want to go too, Itsuki's dad. Please, let me come along!"
However, my father responded firmly and without hesitation.
"...No. I can't allow that. I don't know your capabilities, and it would be too dangerous."
It was such a blunt, matter-of-fact statement that even I, who usually understood his reasoning, felt like saying, "Come on, give her a chance." But despite how cold it sounded, I knew it was the truth. My father always prioritized safety, especially when it came to matters involving dangerous magic or monsters.
However, I felt like I owed Nina-chan something. She had spent countless afternoons helping me practice magic and refine my skills. She had been patient, supportive, and, most importantly, kept her promise to assist me. Now, it was my turn to help her.
"But, Dad, you took me with you, right?" I asked, trying to reason with him.
"That's different, Itsuki. I know your abilities inside and out. But I don't know hers. If I don't understand what she's capable of, I can't risk bringing her into a dangerous situation. It would be irresponsible."
My father crossed his arms, his expression as unyielding as ever. Even Hina, who had been playing around earlier, seemed to sense the seriousness of the conversation and stopped fooling around.
But Nina-chan wasn't ready to give up. She wasn't the type to back down easily, especially not when it came to something as important as this.
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"I understand that... but I really want to become an exorcist. That's my dream, and it's not something I take lightly! And to do that, I need to see more magic and monsters up close. Please... I need this experience!" Nina-chan's voice wavered with desperation, and I could tell she wasn't just saying this on a whim.
From the way she spoke, I could sense that she hadn't had many opportunities to see real monsters. Maybe her mother hadn't taken her to witness an actual exorcism yet. And for young exorcists like us, watching experienced exorcists in action was a vital part of learning. It was common for kids to tag along and watch from a safe distance.
That's what I had done, and so had Aya-chan, who joined us on various occasions. So why not Nina-chan?
"Even so," my father said, shaking his head, "the risk is too great. No matter how much you want to, there are dangers involved that you might not be prepared for."
He was getting ready to deliver a final, decisive "no," but I wasn't ready to let the conversation end there. Not after everything Nina-chan had done for me.
"Dad, listen," I said, cutting him off before he could finish. "I'll be with Nina-chan the whole time. I'll protect her. We won't get close to the monsters. We can just watch from afar. I'll use 'Enhanced Vision' magic so she can see everything from a safe distance.
That way, it'll be completely safe. You won't even need to worry."
My father paused for a moment, clearly thinking it over. His eye narrowed in thought, but before he could respond, his phone buzzed again with another work-related call. He always kept his ringtone distinct for emergencies, so it was clear that the situation was urgent.
He answered quickly. "Understood. Two of them? We're on our way."
After a short drive, we reached a quiet residential neighborhood. The streets were eerily empty, but the reason for that became clear as we approached the park. Police had blocked off all the streets leading to it, creating a perimeter to ensure no civilians got close.
The park itself was entirely out of sight, hidden behind barriers to keep any curious onlookers at bay. My father parked the car, and we got out, quickly making our way toward the blocked-off area.
"Remember, Itsuki. You're not to go beyond this point. Stay back and watch from here."
"Got it," I replied, my voice steady as I nodded. My father's tone was serious, but I knew he trusted me.
We followed him down a narrow street, and as we rounded a corner, he held up his hand, signaling us to stop.
"This is as far as you go," he said firmly. "You'll be able to see everything from here. Do not move any closer."
"Understood," I answered, and Nina-chan nodded beside me.
I peered around the corner and spotted the park. It was a small, modest space with just a few swings and a slide, the kind of generic park you could find in any neighborhood. From where we stood, I could hear faint sounds—children crying and a woman's voice shouting angrily.
I squinted, using my enhanced vision to get a better look. In the middle of the park was a tall, gaunt figure—a monster, unmistakably female in appearance, with a bizarrely tattooed body. She was yelling at the two crying children who stood before her, huddled together in fear.
"Stop crying! You think you've got it bad? I've lost my sister, you brats! You think your tears mean anything?!" the monster shrieked, her voice laced with rage.
The more I watched, the more I realized that her appearance was oddly familiar. Her upper body was almost completely exposed, save for a few bandages wrapped around her chest, and she was covered in intricate tattoos. It reminded me of...
Where have I seen this before?
"Look at me! Do you see this? My sister was the most beautiful being in existence! These tattoos are nothing compared to the ones she had! She was the definition of elegance! Of style!
Humans could never compare to her," the monster screamed, stomping her foot angrily on the ground.
As I listened to her ramble on, a sense of recognition began to sink in. The way she spoke, the way she carried herself...
Where had I seen this before?
Then it clicked.
This was the same kind of monster that had caused the incident with the cube-shaped humans.
And now I was wondering—was it really okay to let Nina-chan see this?