Chapter 26: Spirit Six-Eat
"What's going on here?"
"Why does this person look like a 'mosaic'?"
Seeing the scene before them, all the girls present couldn't help but stare dumbfounded, unable to believe what they were witnessing.
After all, they were high school girls and scientific-minded atheists.
Yet the supernatural phenomenon before them remained incomprehensible.
This mosaic-like figure resembled "garbled code" from a computer, appearing directly in reality—and more importantly...
"Oh dear~ I've been spotted. Such interesting figures, each and every one~"
It actually spoke!
The voice was impossible to place—indistinguishable in age or gender—utterly bewildering.
For the three ordinary girls who had never encountered such a scene, it was naturally shocking.
Mei and Ayano had just finished making the cake and left it downstairs, intending to bring it to Mukuro, while Asahi was also in high spirits.
But as soon as they arrived, they heard some commotion inside, as if there was another person's voice, so they entered.
Who could have imagined something like this would happen?!
"...Y-You! What have you done to my sister?!"
But it was Asahi who reacted first, shouting anxiously.
This entire orb and mosaic-like form looked utterly bizarre, and she was truly afraid something terrible had happened to her sister!
"Hehe, don't worry. I haven't done anything bad to her. On the contrary, I've helped her fulfill her wish~"
The "mosaic" remained unfazed, still chuckling lightly.
Yet her words only heightened the tension among the others.
What did that mean??
It sounded like a good thing, so why did they only feel a sense of foreboding?
"I won't say anything more—it seems unnecessary now~ It's just a pity I couldn't see the person I wanted to see. A bit of a regret~ Farewell~"
But then, the mosaic figure suddenly spoke these words, and her body began to emit a dazzling light. In the moment their vision was blurred, her form vanished completely, leaving only the orb behind...
No, the orb was also gradually fading, replaced by the petite, lovely figure emerging from within.
What stunned everyone was the girl's appearance—unlike her usual loungewear, she now wore a pink-purple qipao adorned with starlike patterns.
Her long, golden curls and amber eyes, gloves and dress hem decorated with constellation motifs, and feet clad in armored boots reminiscent of medieval knights gave her an overwhelmingly "divine" aura...
"A Spirit..."
"Huh? Yuigahama-san, what did you say?"
Mei's murmured words drew a puzzled look from Ayano beside her.
"I-I mean, Mukuro-chan's current appearance looks just like the 'Spirit' described in the novels!"
"..."
Hearing this, Ayano's expression shifted uneasily.
She seemed to realize where the sense of incongruity had been coming from ever since she first laid eyes on them.
Although they had never seen her in person, they had seen the character design drawings of the "Spirit Kurumi" previously created by Satoru and Nia.
The red-and-black Gothic Lolita dress, the dual guns in her hands, and the mad smile on her face gave off a completely different impression from Kurumi's usual gentle and elegant demeanor.
Yet it also exuded a strangely realistic and captivating charm.
For some reason, the moment they saw Mukuro just now, the image of Kurumi from that time simultaneously flashed in their minds—it was as if the two overlapped!
"What is a Spirit? Is my little sister okay?"
"I'm not sure about that either. I really don't know what's going on..."
"Sister, I am fine."
Fortunately, just as they were puzzled, Mukuro suddenly spoke up, smiling as she looked toward Asahi, which made them all sigh in relief.
"It's good that you're fine, but why are you like this now...?"
"It is nothing. I merely wish to remain with you eternally, never to part, and not to be disturbed by anyone."
"Huh? Mukuro, what are you saying...?"
"Michael."
But before they could rejoice for long, Mukuro's tone suddenly took on a somewhat archaic flair, and she extended her right hand.
Out of thin air, a long staff resembling a "key" appeared in her hand—its tip adorned with ornaments and its base featuring irregular metal teeth.
"Erase your memories of my sister. Do not approach my residence again."
"M-Mukuro??"
What in the world is going on?!
Watching this golden-haired girl, whose expression was growing increasingly excited yet whose words had become strikingly antiquated, even her sister Asahi was stunned and couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.
But the staff was already moving toward them, poised to strike...
"Wait, Mukuro-chan!"
"Hm?"
However, at that very moment, a man's voice suddenly cut through the tension, interrupting everything!
From behind the door, a black void appeared on the wall, and a familiar man emerged from it, shouting excitedly at Mukuro!
Thank goodness, he almost didn't make it in time!