Countless towering buildings rose in the central district of Kisou Academy.
On a floor hidden even above the highest one known to any but the select few, Miroku resided.

It had been three days since Miroku had entrusted herself to Kisou Academy.

By the third day, she had grown accustomed to the sterile white room.

(There’s nothing to do…)

Aside from eating and relieving herself, Miroku was not allowed any action.
In the first place, what could one even do in such a bare room, which lacked anything but the most essential items?

She sat on the bed, idly passing time, waiting for the moment to come.
Eventually, it did.

“Well, how are you today, Souhoshi Miroku?”
“…Professor.”

The man with a haggard appearance unlocked the door and entered Miroku’s room.
The Professor, looking as though one might believe him a moving corpse, scratched at his neck while smiling.

“Hmm. You seem in good health. Some people don’t last a day. Quality materials make all the difference.”

The Professor nodded in satisfaction.

“Now then, let’s begin today as well.”

Miroku, of course, had no choice in the matter.

She was escorted from her room and led, as always, to the indoor experimentation chamber.

The upper portion of the pristine white room featured a section made of glass.
The Professor always observed the experiments from behind that glass.

Seated in a chair placed at the edge of the room, the Professor gestured for Miroku to sit as well.

“Sit down. It seems the transport of Shieru has been delayed, so let’s talk for a bit.”
“…I don’t have anything to talk about.”
“Hah, you lack curiosity. For example, do you know what’s in the syringe injected into you during these experiments over the past three days?”

As the Professor spoke, he took out a syringe from an attaché case.
It was a syringe commonly seen in Academy City, designed for use even by amateurs.

“This is something I created during the process of developing Demonsgear. It enhances compatibility with Demonsgear. If the body rejects it, though, you end up like this.”

The Professor pointed to himself and laughed.
Ignoring Miroku’s reaction, she continued speaking freely.

“Tell me, what do you think of Demonsgear?”
“I don’t care. It’s just dangerous dive gear, isn’t it?”
“Not at all. Fundamentally different. Dive gear is the culmination of human wisdom. Demonsgear, however, is an artificial god created from a single sacred relic.”
“A god…?”
“Precisely, six manifestations of myths designed to end in tragedy. They are living legends.”

The Professor, overcome with enthusiasm, scratched his body until his skin split, wiping away the blood with his lab coat as he continued.

“Amazing, isn’t it? That something like this could be created twenty years ago. I can’t help but admire the researchers of that era. And so, I too wanted to create Demonsgear. In fact, I was just one step away. If I had the final sacred relic, I could have completed it.”
“Is that so?”

Miroku’s disinterest did not dampen the Professor’s excitement as he spoke.

“Twenty years ago, the six Demonsgear created by Fectom Integrated Academy were divided and stored in the major academies after the rampage incident. That much is confirmed in the records. However, the sacred relic at the core, the very source of Demonsgear, was excluded.”

Like a child discussing his favorite subject, the Professor’s eyes sparkled as he continued.

“If I had that sacred relic, I could have made a new Demonsgear. I’m sure of it. But the Board of Directors didn’t understand. They only acknowledged the need for six Demonsgear. Fools. They even removed me from my professor’s position and replaced me with some worthless nobody. Pathetic…”

While the Professor rambled on, Miroku stared up at the ceiling.

“Still, if Shieru gains a new contractor, I’ll have data on two Demonsgear, including Eina. With that, I might be able to create Demonsgear without the sacred relic. I’ll show the Board what I’m capable of!”
“That’s impressive.”
“Indeed! I am incredible. It’s wrong for me to be wasting away here!”

The Professor smacked his thigh repeatedly with no regard for restraint.
Then, as if suddenly calm, he turned his gaze to Miroku.

“To be honest, I didn’t have high hopes for you at first. You had potential as material, but that’s it. For that, I apologize. You are a gift from the gods themselves.”

Grabbing Miroku’s hand, the Professor smiled.

“Perhaps it’s the influence of Solciera’s magic, but your compatibility with Shieru is the highest I’ve ever seen. Incredible! With you as a contractor, my experiments will advance by leaps and bounds!”
“Is that so?”
“Indeed! I’m so glad I didn’t kidnap Sakuraba Rakka back then. Waiting brought me you.”
“…You know Sakuraba Rakka?”
“Of course.”

The Professor affirmed without hesitation.

“The Board first recognized her as an S-Rank.”
“…What?”
“Oh, right. Officially, Tenken was announced first. But Sakuraba Rakka was born an S-Rank and was identified as a sample for creating other S-Rank Seekers.”
“Our teacher… was an S-Rank?”

Miroku had never heard this before.
The weight of that title was far greater than she had imagined.

“You didn’t know? I guess she didn’t trust you enough to share her secrets. How pitiful.”
“…Shut up.”
“Come now, it’s the truth. Besides, you don’t trust your peers either. That’s why you’re here, trying to solve your debt alone. How are you any different?”
“…”

Miroku couldn’t respond.
His actions mirrored the very behavior she despised most.

“In that sense, you and your predecessor are similar. One sacrifices herself for her debt, the other for the Academy. Does Fectom Integrated Academy teach self-sacrifice as a virtue?”
“Do you know anything else about her?”
“Not really. I’m not interested. She’s a finished product, and my focus is on creation. Ask the Board if you’re curious.”

Miroku opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, the Professor stood up.

“Ah, it seems the transport has arrived. I’ll leave the rest to you. Be sure to get along with Shieru today as well.”

With those words, the Professor handed a syringe to Miroku and placed the attaché case beside the chair before leaving the room. He moved to his usual spot behind the glass.

“…As if I have a choice.”

Miroku understood her role.
She was well aware of her place within Fectom Academy.

A noise came from the opposite door.
The large metallic door, designed to transport objects larger than a person, creaked open with a heavy sound.

Several researchers in protective suits entered, carrying a massive cylindrical tank. Inside the tank floated a monstrous figure resembling a girl.

The researchers wheeled the tank in front of Miroku and operated a mechanism on its base. Without delay, they left the room.

The mechanism began draining the liquid from the tank.
Once completely empty, the tank opened with a faint sound.

“At last, it’s been nineteen hours since our last meeting.”

The girl stepped out, her wet feet slapping against the floor.
Naked, she fixed her gaze on Miroku and smiled—a smile imperfectly human.

“Shall we begin?”