The air hung thick and heavy.
Sunlight glittered off the sea, glaring as it poured into the train car.
Even though it was already October, the sunlight on Itogami Island remained as intense as midsummer's.
Inside the monorail car circling the island, a bustling crowd packed the somewhat cramped space.
A petite girl with long black hair stood with her head lowered in the throng, gloved hands gently smoothing the high school uniform of Saikai Academy she wore.
For some reason, despite the stifling heat, she had pulled a hoodie on over her uniform.
Even with the hood thoroughly covering her face, her jet-black hair and pale skin stood out vividly.
As if drawn by the girl's figure, a middle-aged man acting rather suspiciously slowly edged toward her from within the crowded mass.
In a packed train car, close proximity between people was perfectly normal.
Raising no one's suspicion, he skillfully squeezed behind the seemingly timid, bowing dark-haired girl, then stealthily extended his hand.
A rough palm drew closer and closer to the girl's slender thigh.
Closer still.
As the train slowed approaching the station, passengers swayed forward with the inertia—and just as the man's hand was about to brush against the back of the girl's thigh—
The seemingly timid girl suddenly reached out with her gloved hand and clamped down tightly on the man's wrist.
"—Wha?!"
Before the man could speak, he was shoved out of the car by disembarking passengers flooding toward the platform.
The moment there was enough space, the world seemed to spin.
The petite girl instantly flipped him onto the ground. The feel of her grip—not quite like a human hand—gave him a sinking feeling.
"You're under arrest, you pervert. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can and will be used against you in court."
A pleasant girlish voice sounded by his ear. He struggled to look up.
Under that tightly drawn hood—was the cute face of Neco-Arc.
"Just as expected, whenever holidays or events roll around, all the weirdos come crawling out."
Minamiya Natsuki, who had been waiting on the platform after receiving word, crossed her arms authoritatively and muttered wearily, "The Halloween Festival is almost here… the workload shot up all at once."
The Halloween Festival—Itogami Island's biggest annual celebration, held the last week of October.
Firework displays, outdoor concerts, costume parades, and all sorts of events would take place, turning the whole island into one big party.
During this period, over 120,000 tourists visited the island. Considering Itogami's remote location in the Pacific with inconvenient transportation, that was an astonishing number.
And since this was the first Halloween Festival since the Fifth Primogenitor took over Itogami Island, countless businesses, like sharks smelling blood, were heavily promoting upcoming new products.
The island's advertising media had started their campaigns half a month ago; these past few days, every program was filled with Halloween Festival news, much to Avrora's displeasure—she just wanted to watch anime.
"Yeah, you all really have it rough."
Beside her, Arcueid also crossed her arms and nodded sympathetically. "Especially the Neco-Arcs. Must be a hassle not being able to just execute perverts on the spot."
"…That would turn into a real mess." Minamiya's lips twitched slightly as she sighed weakly. "If you know how hard we're working, could you at least behave a little lately?"
"What do you mean, behave?" Arcueid puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction, grabbing the watching Avrora beside her and giving her a playful rub. "I've been pretty busy lately, you know."
"Busy fiddling with that little toy of yours?"
"Exactly!" Arcueid nodded, casually pulling out a mechanical bug.
This was the queen unit of the Nalakuvera she'd retrieved later; with a bit of modification, it had taken this form.
"Still a bug, huh." Minamiya cast a faint glance at the dark larva.
"Feels like when you think of self-evolution, bugs just fit, you know?" Arcueid waved a hand lightly as if stating the obvious.
Sort of like the Zerg from StarCraft or something.
"…Fine, as long as you're happy." Minamiya nodded, then asked, "Did the person controlling the Nalakuvera have anything to say afterward?"
"Nope." Arcueid shook her head. "When I got there, only the empty queen unit was left."
The Nalakuvera were weapons that could be remotely controlled anyway, so it wasn't strange for the queen unit to have no operator inside.
"Even if they had something to say, it'd probably be about how the world should return to the rule of the 'Deva' or something." Arcueid idly patted Avrora's head.
"Those who once ruled rarely give up their past glory easily."
Avrora looked up blankly, adjusting the single-strap bag on her shoulder.
She didn't really know what was going on; she just remembered the food at that banquet being pretty tasty.
Himeragi Yukina and Kanase Kanon stood obediently behind her.
The former was trying hard to mask her shocked expression upon hearing such secrets, while the latter curiously poked the queen unit Arcueid had placed atop Avrora's head.
Was Kanon thinking of keeping this thing as a pet too?
Arcueid handed the queen unit to her, and as Kanon's face lit up happily, she turned back to continue speaking to Minamiya. "Remember what I told you before about the Beast Vassal Warheads?"
"The 6,452 girls within whom the Sinful God Cain sealed Primogenitor-class Beast Vassals in another dimension."
"That's what he's after."
Arcueid tilted her head, gaze shifting toward the moving monorail.
Her crimson eyes narrowed as if bored, watching the train cars flash past one by one.
"Keystone Gate… truly serves as a gate, after all."
"…"
Minamiya's eyes widened, staring fixedly at Arcueid.
Did that mean… Keystone Gate could open a door to that other dimension?
After a long pause, she finally spoke slowly, "No wonder this island is plagued by so many disasters."
So that was why Shahryar Ren, descendant of the "Deva," was so fixated on this island.
"Don't worry. They're just 'Deva.' No need to pay them too much mind."
Arcueid jerked her chin toward the train now coming to a stop up ahead, reminding Avrora and the others that the person they were waiting for had arrived.
"Avrora—"
The voice came before its owner appeared—the lively, cheerful tone of Akatsuki Nagisa ringing out from the bustling crowd.
She bounded over to Avrora with quick steps, immediately launching into an animated conversation with Avrora and the others.
A few seconds later, under Minamiya's puzzled gaze, she walked over.
"Natsuki-chan~" Akatsuki Nagisa waved energetically, her tone bright.
"How about we all go enjoy the Halloween Festival together? I have a friend coming to visit Itogami Island."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.