"Did you meet him?"
"Yes, Natsume-sensei. We recorded the entire meeting. However, one portion of the conversation was conducted in Latin. Should we lower the classification level of the report and have someone else translate it?"
"No. I can read Latin."
After leaving the tape recorder behind, the government official respectfully excused himself.
Natsume Souseki sat alone in a room specially prepared for him by the Special Division for Unusual Powers and switched on the recorder. At the same time, he brewed himself a cup of coffee, intending to hear how his future eldest disciple had approached that young man.
Asou Akiya never failed to surprise him.
The man's actions were always impossible to predict. Natsume believed that Shibusawa Tatsuhiko, who had yet to be tempered by the harsh realities of the world, was no match for Akiya—for the time being, at least.
["...I am Asou Akiya. My Ability is 'Higher-Dimensional Observer.'"]
"Cough! Cough—!"
The very first thing he heard was Asou Akiya introducing himself with the name of a supposed Ability, causing Natsume to break into a violent coughing fit.
He picked up his coffee, took a sip of the rich brew, then frowned at the lack of sweetness. Adding another spoonful of sugar, he thought to himself, He's already a grown man, yet he's still playing pretend like Ranpo.
Even so, the middle-aged man's expression gradually became serious as he continued listening to the recording.
There were three reasons he had arranged for Asou Akiya to meet Shibusawa Tatsuhiko.
The first was to help Akiya establish a positive relationship with the government.
The second was to assess how capable Akiya was at persuading an Ability user through direct conversation.
The third—and by far the most important—was to determine whether Asou Akiya had awakened an Ability of his own.
Although Natsume had already accepted Akiya as his disciple, it would not have bothered him if the young man possessed no Ability. Nevertheless, in this society, having an Ability undeniably made many things easier.
Coincidentally, Shibusawa Tatsuhiko's Ability, "Draconia" was perfectly suited to answering that question.
The recorder continued to play, and Shibusawa Tatsuhiko's youthful voice came through the speaker.
["An Ability user?"]
Natsume Soseki could already guess how the conversation would develop next, and a faint, amused smile appeared on his face.
A few seconds later, that smile turned into a sigh.
Akiya did not possess an Ability. Without one, it would be extremely difficult for him to advance through the Special Division for Unusual Powers and reach any meaningful position of authority.
That thought did not linger for long. As the recording continued, Natsume's expression shifted repeatedly.
First came surprise when Asou Akiya mentioned "priority."
Then came astonishment when Shibusawa Tatsuhiko questioned him, asking, "Is your Ability level higher than mine?"
And then came something even more unexpected—Asou Akiya, while pretending to be an Ability user, began analyzing Shibusawa Tatsuhiko.
No—it was not merely analysis. It was a full psychological dissection.
Natsume Souseki pictured the scene in his mind, briefly placing himself in Akiya's position as he tried to infer Shibusawa Tatsuhiko's nature.
The more superficial preferences were easy enough to deduce from available information. But deeper tendencies—such as his inclination toward demonology and the occult—would have required careful reading of microexpressions, subtle guidance of the conversation, and layered inference based on reaction patterns.
"Hm, a very thorough dissection," Natsume remarked with approval.
Before he realized it, the recording shifted into Latin—the incantation for summoning a demon.
"My, this is quite something."
Even Natsume had not anticipated that part.
Looking at the records of Asou Akiya and Shibusawa Tatsuhiko, who would have thought both of them had gone through a chuunibyou phase?
Truly, one could not judge a book by its cover.
"Next time, the Special Division should train more language specialists."
He listened with growing interest, even finding it rather rewarding—knowing another language meant that when you came across someone else's embarrassing history, you could at least understand it in full.
["I saw your future—"
"You will become increasingly arrogant, increasingly lonely, and in the end, even at the moment of your death, you will still fail to truly understand yourself."]
Natsume Souseki's expression gradually sobered.
He put considerable trust in Akiya's judgement.
Would Shibusawa Tatsuhiko die because of arrogance and loneliness?
How exactly did the Shibusawa family raise their children? A psychological issue this serious had never even been reported to the government.
After that, the voice on the recorder shifted to Asou Akiya's attempt to persuade Shibusawa Tatsuhiko—speaking about the topic of "love." Young people tended not to like it, but older people were fond of hearing it; after all, the world could not do without beautiful emotions.
Natsume Souseki leaned back in his chair, eyes half-closed, like an old calico cat listening to his juniors meowing. Beneath his round felt hat, strands of hair were clearly distinguishable—white threads increasing year by year.
He was nearing retirement.
And yet Japan was still producing so many outstanding individuals. That alone was something worth being glad about.
He felt a certainty born of experience. Sending Asou Akiya to interact with Shibusawa Tatsuhiko, whose personality had not yet fully formed, was absolutely one of the correct decisions of his life.
["They want to use me."]
["There isn't that much sincerity in the adult world."]
Natsume could hear the bitterness in Asou Akiya's voice, and even found a certain resonance in it. But Shibusawa Tatsuhiko might not have understood it at all—this was precisely the difference between someone seasoned by experience and a young man still unshaped.
Natsume sighed softly. "Sincerity does exist—provided the object of that sincerity is worthy of it."
Wasn't his own cultivation of Asou Akiya itself an act of genuine sincerity?
After all, few would dare to take a Mafia member as their disciple.
In the end, Natsume heard the blueprint Asou Akiya laid out for Shibusawa Tatsuhiko—and he suddenly burst into hearty laughter. His "ho ho ho" laughter echoed through the room.
"An entry ticket? Akiya, are you talking about an entry ticket to the level of a Transcendent?! You actually think that highly of Shibusawa Tatsuhiko's potential?"
At seventeen, Shibusawa Tatsuhiko had not yet reached his peak. It had been less than three years since his Ability awakened, and the range of his fog domain was still small. If not for the precedent of Verne, the government would never have placed such high expectations on him.
Hearing this from the Port Mafia Analyst only made Natsume Souseki's confidence in Shibusawa Tatsuhiko deepen further.
Japan truly might give birth to a Transcendent Ability User.
"So many unknown possibilities…" Natsume's thoughts drifted, stirred by Asou Akiya's vision. He found himself reflecting on everything he had seen across his long life. "I almost envy the young people of the future."
Youth meant vitality, momentum, and the courage to climb toward the peak and gamble everything on the ascent.
The recording finished and automatically looped back to the beginning.
The coffee in Natsume Souseki's cup had already gone cold. He remained seated in silence, lost in thought. A knock sounded at the door. After he granted permission to enter, a thin-haired man in traditional clothing stepped inside.
"Regarding Shibusawa Tatsuhiko, Natsume-sensei—"
"Shh."
Natsume Soseki opened his eyes. Those eyes, long accustomed to reading the currents of human affairs, were now gentle and calm, as though softened by age itself.
He said to the head of the Special Division for Unusual Powers, "Listen. This is the future of Japan's new generation."
Taneda Santouka was slightly taken aback, but he obeyed and focused on the recording of the conversation between the two men.
"Does Asou Akiya… have an Ability?"
"What exactly is an Ability?"
As though acting in the role of a teacher, Natsume Souseki used this moment to quietly redress a misunderstanding that had persisted for a long time.
"When the term 'Ability' was first defined, it referred precisely to a power that is beyond ordinary human capacity."
"It is something that allows a person to accomplish what normal humans cannot, to reach domains beyond their limits."
"It is not something separate from reality—it is reality itself, merely expressed in a different form."
Natsume Souseki's voice was not loud, yet it carried a weight that struck deeply, as though it resonated directly in the mind.
Taneda Santouka accepted his guidance and said with a complicated expression, "You are right."
For a long time, while staying within the Special Division for Unusual Powers, he had forgotten the abilities of ordinary people. Everywhere he looked, there was either the talent of Ability users or the chaos caused by them. Yet at the very top of this country—the conglomerates, the aristocratic families, and even those within the Imperial Palace—very few were actually Ability users.
Natsume Souseki said, "It is not your fault. Our thinking has become rigid. Back then, didn't even the so-called 'Clairvoyant' end up being mislabeled through rumor as an Ability user?"
Recalling an old friend's joke, Natsume added thoughtfully, "Whether Asou Akiya is an Ability user or not, let us not speculate or doubt it for the time being. If those above ask, just say 'possibly.' After all, even Shibusawa Tatsuhiko already believes that Asou Akiya is an Ability user."
Taneda Santouka said with a wry smile, "Shibusawa Tatsuhiko was probably deceived, wasn't he?"
Natsume Souseki replied shrewdly, "If it hasn't been exposed, then it can't be called deception. Besides, he is about to meet Ranpo-kun."
Thinking of the intelligence file regarding Asou Akiya's family, Taneda Santouka felt an overwhelming sense of absurdity.
A whole family of "Ability users"?
The intelligence officer who recorded that report really ought to attend some kind of anti-brainwashing course.
After lunch on Saturday, Asou Akiya lay down with his head resting on Randou's lap. His fingers played idly with his lover's long, curly hair, winding the strands around his fingertips and braiding them into tiny twists.
Randou sat on the bed beside him, translating one of Akiya's novels.
"Akiya, where did you go on a business trip this morning?"
"Tokyo."
"You didn't bring back any souvenirs?"
"I came back in a hurry and didn't have time to buy anything. I just wanted to get home sooner and see Randou."
"Your mouth is certainly sweet."
Randou rewarded Akiya with a dried honey jujube from the nightstand.
Asou Akiya took it into his mouth and lazily stretched out across Randou's lap. Randou lifted his knee slightly, and Akiya's body folded at the waist with easy softness, like a large black cat going completely boneless.
"Randou," Akiya asked, "did Kimura Seimei properly clean the Sunset Manor last time?"
"Go ask him yourself," Randou replied.
"Wait!" Asou Akiya quickly stopped Randou from activating Illumination. He first called Nishida Shibashi to confirm that there were no other matters requiring attention. Only after receiving confirmation did he allow Randou to release control over Nishida Shibashi.
A flash of golden light appear and Kimura Seimei "returned to life" within Illumination.
The moment he appeared, Kimura Seimei immediately broke into tears, crying in an especially pitiful manner. Full of grievances, he complained, "The houses you make me clean keep getting bigger every time… this time is just outrageous! You want me to clean the entire Sunset Manor alone? Even if I worked nonstop for three days, I still wouldn't finish!"
Asou Akiya adjusted his lying position to look at him more directly. "Did you clean the areas I told you to clean?"
Kimura Seimei said, "All the bloodstains, broken furniture, letters, and everything else have been cleared away. If there's anything left in the corners, don't blame me—I'm only one person, and the place is just too big."
Asou Akiya still wasn't entirely reassured. "Go back and check it again."
Kimura Seimei shouted in protest, "Why don't you just hire professional cleaners? Is it really that expensive?!"
Asou Akiya sighed. "I'm afraid they might get scared."
Randou had never actually been to the Sunset Manor, but now he more or less understood why Akiya never took him there directly. He said casually, "Akiya, did you buy a haunted house and give it to me as a gift?"
"This is absolutely not some haunted house." Asou Akiya said shamelessly, but then accidentally let something slip. "It's a grand mansion with historical significance, inherited from Mr. Karasuma Renya. Inside, there are many artworks from the last century. But, there were only two murders that took place back then—"
Randou immediately lost all his mood for gossip. He froze. "Only… two?!"
Asou Akiya protested, "Randou, don't pull my face like that."
Randou replied, "The records only mention that there was once some chaos during an art auction."
Asou Akiya wiggled his eyebrows smugly. "What do auction records know? I've been keeping an eye on this place for years. It wasn't easy to finally get the chance to buy it."
Randou said, "With that much money, you could have bought a private jet instead."
Asou Akiya rolled over and pulled the reluctant Randou into his arms, soothing the beauty's mood.
"Tomorrow. Tomorrow we'll go see the house."
"…Alright."
Randou decided he would go and see the Sunset Manor for himself, to determine whether it was really as "good" as Akiya claimed.
On Sunday morning, the whole family went out together, including Nakahara Chuuya. They all got into Asou Akiya's car—adults in the front seats, children in the back—and set off on a self-driving trip to Nagano Prefecture.
Nagano Prefecture is located in central Honshu, Japan, and is one of the country's few landlocked prefectures. It is rich in tourist resources and is known as the "Switzerland of Japan."
Along the way, Asou Akiya bought a box of locally grown Nagano apples. Everyone happily ate apples, enjoyed the scenery, and took in the beauty of this famous tourist destination.
After arriving at the Sunset Manor, everyone was deeply astonished by the former estate of Karasuma Renya.
Big.
It was truly enormous in land area.
Nakahara Chuuya couldn't help but get excited. "Akiya-san is so rich!"
Edogawa Ranpo's gaze darted around as he studied the exterior of the Sunset Manor, trying to uncover some hidden secret. The night before, after learning they would be visiting the mansion, he had even done a last-minute crash course in architectural theory, all in order to spot any abnormalities the moment he saw them.
Randou examined the property's size; it matched the information in the documents exactly. Then he pointed toward an open area with a faint smile.
Asou Akiya pressed a hand to his forehead. "I understand. I understand."
Randou perked up. "You understand what?"
Asou Akiya said, "That space is suitable as a helipad. A helicopter… there will be one someday…"
Randou laughed. "Akiya really is the smartest!"
Edogawa Ranpo, eating coarse snacks as he walked behind the two adults, said to the visibly uncomfortable Chuuya, "You still haven't gotten used to it? This is how they always talk."
Nakahara Chuuya hesitated. "Helicopters… they must cost a lot of money, right?"
Edogawa Ranpo replied absentmindedly, "Probably. But Akiya can earn it."
Nakahara Chuuya let out a small sigh of relief.
He had been really worried that "Mom" might spend so much of Dad's money that he would end up bankrupt.
Immediately after, Nakahara Chuuya was startled by Ranpo's intensely focused gaze. Those emerald-green eyes seemed to burn with a cold phosphorescent fire, his reasoning pushed to its absolute peak.
Asou Akiya took out the key and opened the door. The interior of the Sunset Manor came into view before everyone.
The four-person family stepped inside to inspect their newly purchased mansion.
Suddenly, Asou Akiya heard a restrained, rapid breath coming from beside him that could not be suppressed.
Asou Akiya and Randou turned back together.
Ranpo's cheeks had already turned slightly flushed, and his emerald-green eyes were fixed on every corner of the house as he scanned it with unnaturally intense focus. The moment he noticed the gazes of his two guardians, Edogawa Ranpo abandoned Nakahara Chuuya without hesitation, sprang to Asou Akiya's side, grabbed his hand, and began wildly gesturing in all directions in a chaotic, incomprehensible flurry of movements.
"Am I right? Is it really it?!"
Asou Akiya smiled and nodded.
Edogawa Ranpo let out a piercing scream. "Waaaaah!!!"
Nakahara Chuuya covered his ears.
Randou: "?"
What exactly had he figured out?
Even Randou, who prided himself on having a reasonably sound intellect, concentrated fully and attempted to deduce the answer on his own.
He looked left, then right—but still found nothing unusual.
At most, it was simply an old residence that had not been properly maintained. It was built in a European architectural style, carrying traces of life from thirty years ago. The previous owners had never even managed to move in before financial difficulties forced them to sell it off to the next buyer.
Asou Akiya took Ranpo's hand to keep him from knocking on the walls. "Let's go further inside."
Edogawa Ranpo suddenly began rambling, "I want to buy a snack-processing factory!"
Asou Akiya replied calmly, "Stop dreaming. This is a gift I'm giving to Randou."
Ranpo remained in a state of unrestrained excitement.
In his entire life, he had never seen such an enormous treasure.
Randou: "..."
Nakahara Chuuya: "..."
Randou hesitantly asked, "Chuuya-kun, did you notice anything?"
Nakahara Chuuya's green eyes were utterly blank, his mind equally vacant. He replied in a mechanical voice, "Randou-san… I'm the dumbest one in this whole family."
Randou looked a little dejected. Well, that made him second-to-last in intelligence.
During this trip to Nagano Prefecture, Asou Akiya and Edogawa Ranpo were constantly whispering to each other. Ranpo's laughter never once stopped, and he kept acting like a clingy cat—his gaze toward Akiya practically sparkling with golden light, as if he had just discovered the greatest patron in his life.
On the way back, Nakahara Chuuya tried to pry the secret out of Ranpo's mouth.
Edogawa Ranpo grinned. "Can't tell you. Akiya said I'm not allowed to say it—you have to discover the secret yourself!"
Nakahara Chuuya guessed, "Is there treasure in the house?"
Ranpo made a thumbs-up. "Yep. Keep guessing."
"Lots of money?" Chuuya scratched his head.
Ranpo glanced toward Randou in the front seat, as if not wanting him to overhear. Then he leaned close to Chuuya's ear and whispered very quietly, "A lot. A whole lot of money. You don't need to worry about Akiya going bankrupt."
He enunciated each word with exaggerated emphasis: "We—are—suddenly—extremely—rich."
Chuuya let out a sharp intake of breath.
In the front passenger seat, Randou desperately wanted to hear what was being said behind him, but the music drowned out most of it, and even his sharp hearing could only catch fragments.
Rich…? Suddenly rich…?
Where had they suddenly become rich?
Asou Akiya casually whistled, pretending nothing was going on, wary of being harassed while driving. "Randou, you'll have to discover the gift yourself."
Randou's eyes lit up with excitement. "Mm, I'll solve this mystery."
That night, Kimura Seimei was assigned the role of treasure hunter, sent to uncover the secrets of the Sunset Manor. However, if he had possessed the intelligence to find treasure on his own, he would not have ended up dead in the first place.
And so… he still found nothing.
Randou lay down on the bed in disappointment, turning his gaze toward the person beside him. Akiya had already fallen asleep.
After thinking about it for a moment, Randou felt his head ache. Too lazy to think any further, he simply gave up.
He burrowed under the blanket.
Anyway, Akiya would buy him anything he wanted. Money was just a collection of numbers, nothing more.
He wasn't curious at all!
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