Chapter 33: The Judge
Kazama Chiba's first reaction was disbelief.
Just two days ago he'd searched online and confirmed that Cardcaptor Sakura still existed in this world.
Then Kazama Chiba pulled out his phone.
Google search: Cardcaptor Sakura.
Results: 0.
Different keywords: Cardcaptors.
Results: 0.
Try again: Clow Card.
Results showed some unrelated information about tarot cards and divination.
Even those famous anime forums, encyclopedia entries...
Really.
All of it had disappeared.
That kind of clean, thorough disappearance—as if this classic work that had influenced an entire generation had truly never been born in this world.
After confirming the concept of Cardcaptor Sakura had vanished from this world, Kazama Chiba lowered his phone and said:
"You did this?"
"Reality modification? Or concept erasure?"
Kaguya didn't answer directly. Instead, she nodded with satisfaction, seeming to award him high marks for his reaction speed.
"Not only do you remember the work, you figured out it was concept erasure so quickly. You're quite good."
Then she nodded generously.
"That's right. I did it."
"After all, spreading magic as entertainment content everywhere is a bit of an eyesore for people like us."
"Plus, if I didn't do this, those suddenly appearing magical creatures would cause a lot of unnecessary trouble. That would make the game less fun."
"Game..." Kazama Chiba repeated the word.
"So what's your actual purpose? Cleaning up bugs? Or going after those cards?"
"No, no, no."
Kaguya shook her index finger.
"I have no interest in those cards. To me, they're like discarded toys."
"What I'm truly interested in—"
She leaned forward, that scent mixing alcohol and floral fragrance rushing over.
"Is you."
"A human with no magic circuits, no bloodline inheritance, yet able to command the Clow Cards through some strange energy source."
"I'm very curious—just how far can you go?"
Kaguya extended her hand, pointing at Kazama's bulging chest pocket.
"So call out that yellow-furred plushie hiding in your chest. Don't let it suffocate. Though it's just a counterfeit, watching it tremble in fear is quite amusing."
Since the conversation had reached this point, hiding it further was meaningless.
Kazama Chiba unzipped his pocket.
Kerberos, who'd been holding its breath, immediately poked out its head and flew to Kazama's shoulder. Though afraid, it still assumed a guardian's stance.
"You woman!"
Kerberos tried to appear dignified, though its beady eyes betrayed its panic.
"You're after the Clow Cards after all! I'm telling you! Though I don't know who you are, we're not easy targets!"
"I already said I have no interest in the cards."
Kaguya toyed with the sake cup in her hand somewhat boredly.
"I just want to see... whether the new Clow Cardcaptor can bring me a little entertainment."
"Huh?!"
Hearing this, before Kazama could react, Kerberos exploded first. It widened its eyes with disbelief and disdain.
"You... you actually want to rob the cradle?!"
"Wow! You're shameless! This is a minor!"
"..."
Kazama Chiba covered his face in embarrassment. This lion was really courting death through sheer skill.
The smile on Kaguya's face didn't change—it actually became even brighter.
In an instant, her finger flicked lightly.
"BANG!"
Kerberos, still yapping mid-air, was hit like it had been struck head-on by an invisible high-speed train. It became a yellow blur, slamming hard into the opposite wall.
The entire plushie embedded itself into that solid wooden decorative panel, impossible to pry out.
"My, my."
Kaguya lowered her finger, elegantly blowing away the nonexistent dust from her fingertip.
"Seems this counterfeit needs some proper discipline."
That dull impact sound echoed through the private room, shaking the ukiyo-e painting on the wall until it hung crooked.
Kazama Chiba looked at Kerberos plastered against the wall like a rotten tomato. He reached out and pried it loose with some effort.
"Hey, still alive?"
"Ugh... hurts hurts hurts..."
Kerberos released several unclear whimpers, its little stubby paws clutching its head. That previously arrogant attitude had been completely slapped away by that single strike.
"Good that you're alive."
Kazama Chiba stuffed it back into his chest, leaving only its head exposed for air.
Then he turned around and sat back in his seat.
This time, he didn't adopt that defensive posture. Instead, he leaned back against the chair, arms crossed on his knees.
That constrained feeling of trying to disguise himself as an ordinary high school student completely disappeared, replaced by a cold composure—since the veil had been torn, they might as well be honest with each other.
Regarding Kaguya's question about whether he'd guessed her identity, Kazama actually already had a conclusion. But out of caution, he first turned to ask Kerberos.
"Hey, Kerberos. Though you're a useless glutton, you're still supposedly a Beast of the Seal. Did you sense anything from this woman?"
"Ugh..."
Kerberos shook its dizzy head, struggling to focus as it stared at Kaguya for a moment.
That finger flick had really hurt.
But beyond the pain, that instantly erupting magical power fluctuation was deeply etched in its memory.
"Though I really don't want to admit it... but that magic just now was definitely from the same source! Just like Clow Reed's magic."
It took a deep breath, as if making some determination, then suddenly shouted at Kaguya:
"Who are you?! Why do you have the same source of power as Master Clow Reed?!"
"So noisy."
Kaguya didn't acknowledge its questioning. She simply set down her sake cup, chin resting on one hand, looking at Kazama with deep meaning.
"A clever child like you should have already guessed, right?"
"Yeah."
Kazama Chiba nodded, quickly running through all the information in his mind.
The answer was already obvious.
"You were sent by Clow Reed, weren't you?"
"Correct. I am Clow Reed's creation." Kaguya admitted without changing expression.
"To look after you—this wild, self-taught new Cardcaptor who appeared from who-knows-where—that master went to considerable effort to create me specifically to substitute for 'Yue's' position as the new guardian."