"Yes, Black Suit... so, did you achieve your goal of sublimity?"
"Unfortunately, I am currently conducting research into mystery."
"Then I’m sure you can get your hands on Kaiser Tech’s secret experiment ledgers, at least."
"Hmm, yes. I do seem to recall hearing, secondhand, that one of the test subjects from there was adopted... The memory is coming back to me quite vividly."
"Then was that test subject killed? Or was it consumed by fear?"
"Hmm... probably consumed by fear... or perhaps... it could be the child standing before me right now..."
"Correct."
"So it’s the latter."
"Yes. For some reason I’ve completely fused fear and mystery together... so in your terms, I suppose you’d call it sublimity."
"Hmm... there’s a lie in that statement."
"What lie?"
"Even a precise examination can’t determine whether the fusion is truly exact. Even if you’ve somehow sensed it by intuition, it’s highly likely that it isn’t in a complete form."
"..."
"Silence is affirmation... so it must be true."
"Yes. I’m just before the point of exact fusion."
"Hmm... then it may be that fear hasn’t properly blossomed yet."
"Yes. Fear still hasn’t blossomed, so as you can see, I can’t do anything about it."
Haruta stared at Black Suit and took out the telescope he had made.
Black Suit looked momentarily flustered, but soon recovered his usual smiling expression.
"Kukukuk... impressive."
"Well, mystery is the other side of fear... so handling it itself wasn’t that difficult."
"And the side effects?"
"I don’t think I need to tell you that much, do I?"
"Then let us make a deal."
"Yes, I was waiting for you to say that."
"Then this should proceed quickly."
"Yes, go on."
"Haruta, do you know of the OOPArt of the Nameless Gods?"
"Yes, I know it well."
"Then this will be quick."
"Only one OOPArt of the Nameless Gods has currently been discovered."
"Yes, you need to know at least what those Nameless Priests made if you want to make a deal."
At the mention of the Nameless Priests, the corner of Black Suit’s mouth lifted.
"Kukukuk... even the Nameless Priests... you are truly astonishing."
"So what did those bastards make this time?"
"We don’t know the exact name either."
"? That’s interesting. Gematria has an OOPArt whose name it doesn’t even know?"
"We also don’t know the exact operating principle. However, one thing is certain: among all the OOPArts we have observed and confirmed so far, this one boasts the highest level of technology."
"Then why tell me about such a valuable treasure?"
"Even we do not know how to use it."
"Then the reason you’re telling me is probably..."
"Yes, it seems you’ve found the answer."
"Right. You probably thought I could use it... or something like that."
"We know the origin of your halo and its power."
"I’d already guessed that much."
"But we do not stop at guesses... we have identified its true nature and power."
"Yes, but what does that have to do with this OOPArt?"
"Kukukuk... we have given this OOPArt a name."
"What is it?"
"[Akashic Records]."
I know the Akashic Records. Something transcendent that records everything in the world—no, all things.
"It exists in the form of a small mobile phone."
"...Wait, are you saying I can open the Akashic Records?"
"That is correct. The world, its reason for existence, sublimity—all the information we desire is there."
"Hold on... did the Nameless Priests really reach that level of technology?"
"No. Our estimate is that it was not the technology of the Nameless Priests, but rather something else intervening... yes, a 'god'—a being that understood the principles of the world as if it were a god."
"Then... what do you want in exchange for giving that to me?"
"Kuk... we are merely curious."
"You don’t have some ulterior motive?"
"No. Naturally, what we want this time as well is an experiment and the results that follow from it... that would be the way to put it."
"Fine. Then I should give you something in return. If there’s anything you want—no, anything you’re curious about, I’ll answer all of it."
"Kukukuk... then what are the side effects when you use fear?"
"Yes, that’s the easiest question. I’m not exactly sure, but my heart stops, my head goes numb, and then my body is paralyzed for a moment... I think that’s about it."
"Then second... do you know the source of the fear in your halo?"
"Wait. Fear has a source too?"
"Exactly as I said. If you truly possess both fear and mystery at once, then fear must also have a source."
"...Right, I guess that could be true... So you want me to tell you the source of my fear?"
"Yes. Tell us the source of your fear."
"Before that, there’s something I want to ask."
"? I believe you have already paid the price."
"No, not that."
"Then what is it?"
Haruta let out a sigh and asked in a heavy tone, "Hey. Could there be more than one source?"
"...? Do you understand what you’re saying right now?"
"Haah... I thought it was weird too."
"What you just said is no different from saying you have seven brains."
"No, my source might be one thing, but that source created my abilities."
"Hmm... if it’s your mystery and the fear fused with it, then that’s certainly possible."
"No, but seriously, whose mystery did I even get?"
"Let us call it a false god..."
"Haah... so where is this Akashic Records thing?"
"It appears to be on the throne inside a palace-like structure in the underwater cave on the outskirts of Trinity."
"?? Wait, an underwater cave? You’re saying the phone is submerged in water?"
"Yes. But I believe the Akashic Records itself will be unharmed."
"Fine, let’s go there first."
"Kukukuk, then."
Black Suit placed a hand on Haruta’s shoulder and snapped his fingers.
Whoosh!
"? What the..."
"This too is an OOPArt."
"Yeah, I’m not asking about that."
The place they teleported to was a palace overflowing with antique treasures at a glance.
Among the swords, gold, and jewels that drew the eye, there was a single treasure chest placed there.
"...Is that it?"
"Yes. What you are looking at now is the Akashic Records."
The moment Haruta’s hand touched it, the chest opened.
Creeeak
The chest immediately turned to ash and crumbled away.
"?? What the hell?"
"It seems it couldn’t withstand the passage of time and evaporated."
"?? Wait, then what are these rings?"
"Hm? What ring?"
Inside the chest were a single mobile phone, a ring set with gold and diamonds, and, on top of that, two rings glowing red like Haruta’s eyes.
"...Even during the precise examination, these rings didn’t appear. This really does seem like magic."
"Huh..."
Haruta picked up one ring and slipped it onto his finger.
"...Hey, Black Suit."
"Why do you call?"
"Is the proper finger for this only my left ring finger?"
"...? I believe you understand exactly what that means, do you not?"
"No, and it won’t even come off."
"?"
The ring clung to his skin and showed no sign of coming loose.
"Then... the remaining ring..."
"Hold on, I’ll just wear it later or give it to someone else. I’ll figure it out."
"...As you wish."
Haruta put the ring into the space of his unconsciousness.
The ring, as if waiting for this, bounced from his hand and entered that space.
"Haah... seriously, what even is this place? Nothing here can be explained by common sense."
"I am equally confused."
"Fine. Let’s open this Akashic Records thing first."
"Yes... I cannot even hold it with my hands, so I have no choice..."
"Then..."
Haruta reached out and touched the phone.
Bzzzt!
"What the hell! Why is it doing this!!"
Light burst from the phone and swallowed Haruta.
"What is this!!"
"I don’t know eithe...!"
"Tch!"
Black Suit was flung away and slammed into the wall.
"Ghk...!"
{Recognizing....82.84%}
{Recognizing....98.94%}
{Recognition complete... Welcome}
When the screen lit up, what spread out before him was a vast library.
"?? What is this place?"
An endless library stretched out before him, and through a massive hole torn in the sky, outer space could be seen.
That cosmos shone brightly, like a resting place for stars and galaxies, like a refuge for everyone.
In the center of that space, a little girl was sleeping.
"Huh?? This is exactly like meeting Arona at the start of Blue Archive—"
"Nn...? Huh? A person???"
There was definitely a difference from Arona.
Yellow hair.
A uniform like a library director’s.
A single book in her hand.
Her eyes shone like bright rubies.
"Uh... hello?"
The child sniffled and threw herself at him.
"Waaah!!!"
Haruta braced himself when he saw her rushing over, but the impact was too strong and his body couldn’t hold out; he toppled over.
"Ghk!"
"Waaah!!!"
The child cried as she came closer and slowly clung to him.
-----------------------
30 minutes later
"Sniff... I’m sorry... Master... It’s been so long... since I saw a person here..."
"No, no. More importantly, who are you?"
"Ah, I’m called Akashi!"
He never imagined the Akashic Records’ director would actually be named Akashi.
"...So, Akashi?"
"Yes... Master?"
"What should I call you?"
"Just... call me Haruta..."
"Yes! Master Haruta!"
"No, if a child younger than me calls me 'Master,' it feels dangerous somehow."
"Ah... then Haruta? Is that okay?"
"Yeah, that’s better."
"Then did you come looking for this Akashi for a reason?"
"....Not really?"
Akashi stared at Haruta with a look on the verge of tears.
"...Waaah!!"
As Akashi burst into loud sobs, Haruta rushed over and pulled her into his arms.
"Ahh!! Sorry!!"
------------------------------
10 minutes later
"...So, are you calm now?"
"Yes... I’m sorry..."
"No, I’m the one who should be sorry."
"Huh???"
"What? Why are you so surprised?"
"...Up until now, the masters who came here never even looked at me..."
"...Ah. Sorry."
"A-ah, no! I’m fine."
"How did I even get in here, anyway?"
"Ah, there isn’t really a door to leave through, but if you just think you want to go out, you should be able to return to the way things were!"
"Oh... okay. I’ll keep talking to you even after I leave, so don’t worry."
"Yes! Thank you!!"
"Right. If you need anything, I’ll call you right away."
"Yes!"
When he came to his senses, he was back in the palace.
"Huh... this is really..."
"Have you confirmed that it is indeed the Akashic Records?"
"...Yeah. This is the Akashic Records."
"Kukukuk, then let us return."
Once again, Black Suit placed a hand on Haruta’s shoulder and snapped his fingers.
"Ugh, I get dizzy every time you do that."
"Then let us meet again next time."
"Yeah. If you touch our research—or whatever this is—then I’ll tear you and every other bastard apart."
"Kukukuk, understood."
"Good. Now get lost."
Black Suit dissolved into smoke and vanished.
"...Akashi?"
"Ah... yes! Master!"
"Can you talk from inside the phone?"
"Yes! In modern terms, I’m called an AI!"
"Fine. Let’s head back for now."
"Ah, and for convenience, I moved your original phone over as well!"
"Oh, thanks."
When Haruta touched Akashi’s golden hair, his hand really was drawn into the phone, and he could feel the texture of her hair.
"Oh, it’s soft."
"Hehe... thank you!"
"Right. Oh, by the way, what time is it now?"
"Hmm... in Kivotos Standard Time, the current time is 2:24!"
"...How many Momotalk messages have I gotten?"
"A total of 651 messages and 391 calls have been confirmed."
"...I’m so screwed."
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