Chapter 2: Maid × Nun

My little deserted island day trip with Satsuki ate up most of the weekend, and before I knew it, the calendar had rolled back around to another gloomy Monday. Hahh, there’s nothing quite like the sinking feeling that comes at the start of the week... All Mondays should just be half-days at school, seriously. When I said that out loud, Satsuki scolded me. I was at least hoping my childhood friend would back me up, but no.

For the record, all R had to say was, “Honestly, Rekka, you’re useless no matter what day it is.”

What she said was one thing, but the way she said it was worse. She was looking at me like I was some insect...

Well, anyway, I dragged my sleepy butt to school on Monday and managed to suffer through class, doing my best to fulfill my obligations as a student. And when it came to after school, I had a couple of routines.

First and foremost was just the regular going home routine. I usually walked home with Satsuki and Iris, or Rosalind. Sometimes all three. Sometimes I even walked home with Tsumiki, but she normally went straight to Nozomiya after school, so that was a rare occasion.

My second routine was club activities. And by “club activities,” I really just mean stopping by the light literature club room and saying hi to Tokiwa every now and then. I guess it wasn’t much of a routine. Since Tokiwa was the only one who regularly did anything for the club, she often preferred to do her writing from the comfort of her own home. Some days I would show up to the club room and find the door locked. But there were also days Tokiwa would call me over to her classroom and then drag me to club with her. It was kind of a toss-up.

As for my third routine... That pretty much was the “everything else” category. Sometimes Iris would invite me to hang out somewhere, Tsumiki would cart me off to taste test some of her latest recipes, or Rosalind would take me to the bakery by the station to try their new pastries. R called them “the after-school events of a dating simulator” and would often ask me who I planned on raising my affection with for the day... That being said, it was always the girls inviting me out and not the other way around, so it wasn’t like I had much of a say in the matter.

Incidentally, the after-school event that I’d managed to trigger today was Rosalind’s bakery trip... Actually, putting it that way, it really did make it sound like a dating simulator, so forget I said that.

“Hm? What’s wrong, Rekka?”

“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about how good this purple sweet potato cream bread is.”

“Indeed. It’s scrumptious,” Rosalind agreed, nodding with a contented expression.

She seemed none the wiser that I was actually thinking about some rather strange things. Relieved, I took another bite of the bread in my hands. The purple sweet potato cream had a gentle, sweet aftertaste, and I continued chatting with Rosalind until we finished our coffee.

“Well, I guess it’s time to head home.”

“Yes, let’s... Oh?”

“Huh?”

Rosalind suddenly looked towards the entrance of the store. I followed her gaze just in time to see Suzuran, dressed in her usual maid outfit, come through the chiming door.

“Oh, hey, Suzuran!”

“Oh, Sir Namidare. And you as well, mistress.”

Suzuran politely bowed when she saw us, then approached our table.

“Are you out shopping right now?” Rosalind asked.

“Yes. I heard your favorite bakery had come out with a new item, so I came here to buy you some... but I see you’ve already tried it, mistress.”

“Regardless, you were right to come here. Please buy two to three more samples for a midnight snack.”

“It’s not good to eat too much.”

“Are you my mother?”

“I am your maid.”

“That’s right. Well, it’s not like I know my mother, either... However, as my maid, you must abide your master’s wishes.”

“It is also a maid’s duty to mind her master’s health.”

“Mind you, I am a vampire. And vampires don’t need sermons on health.”

They continued discussing whether or not to buy more cream bread for a while, and eventually settled on a compromise: they’d get it, but for breakfast the next morning rather than a midnight snack. After they checked out, the three of us left the store together.

“Are you going shopping for dinner ingredients now, Suzuran?”

“Yes, I’ll be heading to the market from here.”

“Then I’ll come along with you.”

“Very well.”

“Hmph... If Rekka is going, then I shall, as well.”

And so the three of us made our way towards the shopping street.

“Suzuran, what is the menu for supper tonight?”

“I was thinking of making a meat and potato stew.”

“Hmph, I’d much prefer a Western meal this evening.”

“But you asked me to start making Japanese cuisine just the other day, mistress.”

“I’m tired of it already.”

Typical Rosalind and her spoiled ways... Suzuran looked a little troubled, but eventually nodded with a relenting sigh.

“Understood, mistress. Dinner for tonight shall be a stew, then.”

“Good. A Western-style stew, I hope.”

“I hate to break it to you, Rosalind, but I dunno how different Japanese-style and Western-style stews really are...”

I’ve heard that Japanese curry is different from European or Indian curry, but did that really apply to stew, as well? I wasn’t so sure... Come to think of it, what was for dinner at my place? Harissa’s cooking was good, so I was always looking forward to it.

“But you sure have to cook a lot, huh? There’s Rosalind, Suzuran, Corona, and Ulaula... Isn’t it tiring cooking for four people?”

“Miss Corona and Miss Ulaula both help me out, so not particularly.”

“Are those two any good at cooking?”

“As far as preparing the ingredients.”

“Hmm...”

Suzuran had only become a maid recently, but it seemed she’d already settled into the role perfectly. Now she was even the head maid of the house. She was fitting right in and excelling. Which was a great thing, really. It had been a long, fraught road for her to get to where she was. Suzuran was originally a homunculus created to kill Rosalind, after all.

“...”

But after becoming human, she was now living her own life. Following her own path. Seeing her hold a potato in each hand and seriously contemplate between them... It was kind of a relief.

“I’m glad to see you’re enjoying yourself, Suzuran.”

“Hm? Did you say something, Sir Rekka?”

“Nope, not a thing.”

I shook my head as I stood next to her at the cashier.

“Thank you! Come again!”

Once we were done with the shopping, I took two of the supermarket bags and left the store with Suzuran and Rosalind. My intention was to carry their groceries halfway for them.

“Oh?”

But as we were walking down the street, something seemed to catch Suzuran’s eye. She was looking up ahead with a surprised expression.

“What is it?”

Wondering what she’d spotted, I looked up as well... and saw a confused-looking girl at the fork in the road in an outfit that rivaled Suzuran’s maid getup.

“Is that... a nun?” I muttered to myself as I stared at her outfit.

I think it was called a habit?

“Urk...”

When Rosalind saw the nun, the corner of her mouth twitched.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I despise those types... Rekka, carry my share as well. I shall take a different route.”

“Huh? Uwah!”

Rosalind forcibly shoved the shopping bags she was carrying on me. I tried to stop her in a fluster, but she turned on her heels and was gone in the blink of an eye.

Those types, huh? Being a vampire and all, maybe she must consider nuns a natural enemy. But for someone so prideful to turn tail and run like that... She must have really meant it when she said she despised them. Either way, Suzuran and I were abandoned with all the groceries.

“What shall we do, Sir Rekka?”

“Hmm... She appears to be lost, so let’s at least ask if she needs help.”

Suzuran and I walked over to the nun, who—I gotta be honest—really stood out wearing her habit in the middle of town.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

She reacted to my voice and turned around, her blond hair waving behind her. From what I could see, she didn’t look that much older than me. And it seemed she hadn’t expected anyone to approach her, because she looked a little surprised. She was clutching a map in her hands too, so I guess she really was lost.

“Do you need something from me?”

“No, it just looked like you were lost... We were wondering if you might need some directions.”

“Oh, my! That would be very helpful.”

The nun clapped her hands together in delight, smiling widely. Turns out she was headed for a church not too far from the shopping street.

“I’ve just been transferred to this town. My name is Yulia.”

“I’m Rekka Namidare.”

“And I’m Suzuran.”

After we all introduced ourselves, we took off for the church. Suzuran and I were going to show her where it was since she didn’t know her way around town. Yulia’s suitcase... was rather oddly shaped. It looked more like a guitar case, and awfully heavy even for that. If I hadn’t had Rosalind’s shopping bags to carry, I would have offered to help her out with it.

“So, Yulia, you’re a nun, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Did you come from overseas?”

“Yes, I’m from the European countryside.”

Europe, huh? That was where Chelsea was from, too. Granted, Europe was a pretty big place... They may very well be from different countries.

“What kind of job is a nun?”

Yulia tilted her head curiously at Suzuran’s question.

“You don’t seem very Japanese yourself, Suzuran. Have you never met a nun before?”

“I am ignorant of the ways of the world.”

“...”

Well, she had spent most of her life as a homunculus, so it’s not like she could really help her lack of knowledge when it came to human society. But despite the strangeness of it, it seemed like Yulia could tell Suzuran was being completely serious. She smiled gently and crossed herself as she answered.

“Our job is to help shepherd little lost lambs into the fold of God’s love.”

“God’s love...?”

“Yes.”

Yulia then paused for a moment as she folded her hands in prayer before smiling again. Suzuran was pensive and quiet for a moment, as well.

“Then... what is love?”

“Huwah?! We have to start there?!”

Yulia’s jaw nearly hit the sidewalk. But again, Suzuran did used to be a homunculus, so... yeah.

“V-Very well, then! As gratitude for leading me to the church, I shall make sure to teach you everything there is to know about love!”

“Please do.”

Yulia was strangely motivated, and Suzuran bowed politely to her.

▽

Three days later...

“Rekka, is that nun still in town?”

After school, Rosalind made her way over to my desk.

“Hm? By ‘that nun,’ do you mean Yulia? I mean, she said she was transferred here for work, so... probably?”

“Tch... I see.” Rosalind clicked her tongue in irritation.

“Are vampires bad with religious stuff and people?”

“I’m not bad with them. I just despise them.”

So... was that a yes?

“But vampires are typically depicted as weak to those affiliated with the light attribute...”

“The light attribute? You’ve been playing too many video games...”

“I guess that wasn’t the right way to put it... I mean those who do battle against demons.”

“Are you talking about exorcists?”

“That’s right, exorcists!

They used holy water to fend off stuff like demons, vampires, and ghosts, right? Did that really work? All my knowledge on the matter was completely sourced from video games and manga, so I had to ask Rosalind for confirmation. When I did, however, she just sighed.

“Rekka... Give it a moment’s thought. There’s no way something as plain as water could truly harm the likes of vampires and demons and whatever other nonhumans you can think of. The idea that some mystical, universal weapon exists... It’s pure hogwash.”

“What? But...”

“More importantly, Rekka, you’ve met not only vampires and demons, but yokai and biblical beasts before. While you may file us all under the general category of ‘nonhuman,’ we are all, in fact, different species. We may share some similarities, but that certainly doesn’t mean we all have the same weaknesses.”

“When you put it that way...”

“You see, those so-called exorcists with their so-called holy water have really just brewed concoctions to deal with each threat—one for demons, one for vampires, and so on.”

“Okay, so you’re saying that holy water for demons is different than holy water for vampires? That there are different flavors, I guess?”

“More or less. They’re like potions—poisons, if you will—catered to each species. And all those poisons go by the general name of ‘holy water.’ It’s far catchier for their religious marketing. The same goes for their other ‘holy’ weapons as well.”

“Huh...”

So... holy water was kind of a lie? Or, as Rosalind put it, a marketing strategy? I’d always thought it worked against anything evil. I mean, that’s kinda how they sell it to you... What a rip-off. That was a lot to think about.

“At any rate, if that Yulia girl is your run-of-the-mill nun, there’s no doubt she has it out for nonhumans like me. Vampires are especially hated in the West. I was a basically a fugitive there,” Rosalind said with an annoyed click of her tongue. “I guess I’ll have to avoid the area around the church for a while, which is a shame. That means I can’t go home with you, Rekka.”

After that, we said goodbye for the afternoon. Rosalind packed up her things and left the classroom.

“Rekka, let’s go home together.”

“Rekka! Time to go homey-home!”

“Right.”

Satsuki and Iris were waiting for me, so I grabbed my bag and left, too. The three of us chatted as we left the school gate, walking along the road with other students heading home.

“Hey, Rekka. Let’s grab something to eat at the shopping street.”

“Not again, Iris. I’ve told you before you can’t be stuffing your face all the time.”

“I’m not asking you, Satsuki! So, how about it, Rekka? Let’s go!”

“No, Rekka, don’t do it!”

Being pressured from both sides, I looked around for an escape route.

“Ummm... Ah, I know! Did I tell you guys I met a nun named Yulia the other day?”

Desperate, I started talking about the first thing that came to mind. And when I let my mouth run free, I ended up blurting out what I’d been talking with Rosalind about just earlier. But... Somehow I just managed to make things worse. The fire in Satsuki and Iris’s eyes increased twofold.

“Really?”

“Again?”

“What do you mean, ‘again’? I’ve never met a nun named Yulia before.”

“That’s not what we mean...”

“Jeez! Why are you like that, Rekka?”

“Wait, like what?”

I felt like I was being falsely accused of something here... But I’d at least managed to change the subject, so I decided to run with it.

“Suzuran and I ran into her at the fork in the road just past the shopping street, so we showed her the way to the church. And then...”

“Oh, Sir Rekka.”

“Huh?”

Someone suddenly called to me from behind. I turned to see who it was—and speak of the devil! It was Suzuran carrying her basket in one hand.

“Oh, hey, Suzuran. Shopping again?”

“No, but I will be later.”

“Later? You mean you’re doing something else right now?”

“Yes.”

Now that she mentioned it, it was a little early for her to be out shopping for dinner. What was she up to, then? It was unusual for Suzuran to take detours.

“Where are you headed now?”

Unable to hold back my curiosity, I ended up asking her.

“The church.”

“The church?”

Wow, super speak of the devil—er, God? I’d just been telling Satsuki and Iris about the church.

“Would you all like to come along with me?” Suzuran asked.

▽

Since we didn’t have anything better to do, we all followed Suzuran to the church. It was a little off the beaten path, a couple blocks from both the main roads leading to the station and the shopping street, so it wasn’t a particularly popular destination. The building itself was getting pretty up there in age, too. For as far back as I could remember, it had always looked antiquated.

“Huh, the interior’s actually pretty nice.”

I’d walked by it plenty of times, but this was my first time seeing the inside.

“Oh, hello, Suzuran. And you too, Rekka.”

Yulia, who was sweeping the floor, noticed us as soon as we came in the door. She set the broom aside and approached us in a warm and friendly manner. Then, realizing we were accompanied by some unfamiliar faces, she tilted her head and smiled pleasantly.

“And who have you brought with you?”

“I’m Satsuki Otomo. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Hi, I’m Iris.”

“We bumped into Suzuran by chance on her way here, and decided to tag along.”

Following Satsuki and Iris’s introductions, I explained how we’d all ended up here at the church together.

“Oh, my! Are you two girls also interested in the teachings of God? Oh, pardon me. Where are my manners? My name is Yulia. I’m the one in charge of this church.”

Yulia delightedly led us over to a pew and urged us to take a seat. The church was so small, though, that the benches only sat three people. Satsuki, Iris, and I sat down on one, and Suzuran and Yulia sat down on the bench in front of us.

“Oh, I’ll just go and get some refreshments,” Yulia said as she retreated into the back room of the chapel.

The three of us who had come here on a whim fidgeted and looked around for lack of anything else to do. The silence of the church made the atmosphere strangely tense.

“So... have you been coming here ever since we met Yulia, Suzuran?”

“Yes, I come here every day.”

“Every day?!”

That was more than I’d expected. Although she did seem awfully friendly with Yulia now... They must have gotten close.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what exactly do you do here every day?”

“We mostly talk about the world, really. I tell Yulia about the town, and she tells me stories about her nunhood... But when I first started coming, it was to learn about things I don’t understand.”

“Things you don’t understand? Like what?”

“Love,” Suzuran answered decisively.

“Did you just say...”

“Love?!”

“Yes?”

Suzuran gave Satsuki and Iris something of a funny look for their over-exaggerated reactions. But, honestly, I wasn’t really expecting her to say that, either. I hadn’t realized she was so interested in love before. Did she have her eye on someone, maybe?

“Sorry for the wait!”

Yulia returned to the sanctuary with snacks and tea for everyone.

“Ahh... Today’s green tea is delicious, Yulia.”

“Yeah, this is good... But you should consider buying some traditional Japanese teacups.”

“Oh?”

Because, honestly, drinking Japanese tea out of a Western one was a little surreal.

“Well, then, shall we have a little talk today?” Yulia asked, turning to Suzuran.

“Yes, please.”

When Suzuran mentioned she was learning things from Yulia at church, I’d envisioned something like mass... But this was more like a low-key friendly chat.

“...So everyone is equal before God?”

“Indeed. God looks down on us all from heaven, watching over us and loving us. And before God’s love, we’re all the same.”

With the snacks and tea placed between two benches, Suzuran and Yulia began talking. Because we were here today, they were intentionally speaking loud enough so we could hear them, but it was basically like they were having their own conversation. We were just listening in.

“Then...”

Suzuran seemed to be quite an eager learner. Every time Yulia finished one explanation, Suzuran would throw another question at her. And Yulia took it in stride and then some, passionately answering each and every one of Suzuran’s questions. Satsuki has always been serious, so she was intently listening to the two of them, but Iris and I started to get sleepy midway through. I kept my eyes open, but Iris totally zonked. And so the afternoon passed like that until it was time for Suzuran to go shopping. The rest of us decided to use that as an excuse to make ourselves scarce, too.

“Thank you for today,” said Suzuran.

“It was my pleasure. Please come again tomorrow. And Rekka... We’ll be starting masses this Sunday, so if you and your friends have no other plans, feel free to drop by.”

“Okay, sure. Thanks.”

“Oh, and there’s one more thing I’d like to ask you.” Just as we were about to depart, Yulia stopped us. “Have you heard of anything strange occurring in this town?”

“Strange? What do you mean?” I asked.

“Let’s see... I mean something so out of the ordinary that you would never think it possible.”

“Uh...”

The four of us glanced at each other. We were all probably thinking about the same thing—the stories I kept getting wrapped up in. That, and all the other trouble we’d gotten into with ghosts and yokai and whatnot. But it wasn’t like we could just casually bring up that stuff, so... In the end, we all silently agreed just to say we didn’t know anything.

“Is that so? Thank you anyway.”

“No problem. Why do you ask, though?”

“Oh... It’s just that I’m bad with scary stories and such. I was hoping to hear there wasn’t anything like it in this town. That’s all.”

“I-I see...”

Now that I thought about it, this town sure did have a lot of strange stuff going for it... But nothing I could think of that would bother humans, so I didn’t think she had anything to worry about.

After that, we bid our farewells to Yulia and left the church.

▽

“Love, huh...?”

Later that evening, I was in my room working through my homework at a 1:4 ratio of breaks to slow progress as I reconsidered the events of the afternoon. Hearing me mumble to myself, R shook her head in slight exasperation.

“Good grief, if you have time to be saying things like that...”

“Wait, what’s happening? Did you say love? Don’t tell me a dramatic story of passionate love and hate has started to unfold around you again!”

The girl from the future spat her harsh words at me as the idiot angel who’d recently taken up residence in my room interrupted. Although, since I was the only one who could see and hear R, Rachelle had no idea she was interrupting.

“...”

Wow, her eyebrows were awfully scrunched up. It was pretty rare to see R so displeased. But putting her aside, I pushed Rachelle away from me as she started breathing down my neck.

“No, there’s no carnage.”

“Whaaat?”

The disappointment in her voice was palpable.

“Come on... Aren’t angels supposed to be at least a little bit angelic?”

“What are you talking about? I am totally angelic.”

“Shut up. I’m telling you to stop trying to bring carnage into everything you can.”

“But I can’t help it! I’m the angel of love and passion, after all,” she said, puffing out her chest proudly for some reason.

Like she said, she was an angel of love and passion... But a twisted one. She craved love and passion so intense that what she really wanted was violence. And ever since I’d helped snap her out of her love-drunk rampage the other day, she’d been freeloading at my house...

“Well, I’ll forgive you for whatever delusions you’re under, but no provoking everyone and starting another jealous war like you did last time. That’s strictly off-limits, and I’m not kidding. Got it?”

“Hmm... Whatever should I do?”

“I’ll seal you away like an evil spirit, you dumb angel.”

I was pretty sure I had Sakuya’s jar in the storehouse somewhere.

“I-I was just kidding!” Rachelle waved her hands in a fluster and tried to pretend like she was innocent.

I decided to let it slide this time.

“Jeez, I can’t believe a nun is more pure and inspirational than a freaking angel.”

“No kidding, huh? She’s definitely devoted. Mad respect.”

“You... Are you sure a fallen angel should be saying something like that?”

“I told you I’m not a fallen angel! I’m as pure as can be.”

Like hell she was.

“Aren’t angels also servants of God? How on earth did the two of you end up so different...?”

“Apples and oranges, really. We angels serve God directly, but that’s not the case with humans. Humans can’t meet God, after all. So really, what they operate off of is their own faith.”

“Faith? Huh...”

They seemed pretty similar at face value, but I guess they were kind of different. We continued to chat for a while as I ignored my homework, when all of a sudden there was a knocking at my window. And my room is on the second floor, mind you. There were only a few possibilities as to who it might be.

“Ai?”

“Rekka!”

The one who jumped in through the window was a rather panicked Ai, the nekomata I knew from my childhood who lived in the mountains. She would stop by sometimes for a visit while she was in town, but I could tell from the tone in her voice that something wasn’t right.

“What happened?”

“I-It’s terrible, meow!” Ai practically shouted as she grabbed the sleeve of my shirt. “My friends are being attacked by a girl in weird clothes, meow!”

▽

From my house, Ai dragged me by the arm to the mountain behind school.

“What happened this time? Why are you being attacked again? Didn’t you resolve things with the local yokai, like... just the other day?” I asked.

“They’re being attacked, too! A strange girl wearing strange clothes suddenly showed up and started attacking us out of nowhere, meow!”

“A girl in strange clothes...?”

Now, what would a yokai like Ai consider to be strange clothing? I pondered that in the back of my mind as we hurried up the mountain trail. And then...

“?!”

When we arrived on the scene, the first thing that caught my attention was the sight of yokai being tossed this way and that through the air.

“Eeeeek!”

“Heeelp!”

A floating head was spinning around in circles as an umbrella with a leg screamed for its life. Ai’s nekomata friends were also scurrying about, trying to escape the cause of all the ruckus. In the middle of everything stood...

“...Yulia?” I murmured her name in a daze.

The girl dressed in a nun’s robes—which Ai had probably called strange because they were extremely uncommon around here—reacted to my voice and slowly turned my way.

“Oh, my... Rekka? Why are you out so late? And in a place like this, no less?”

Yulia greeted me with the same gentle smile she had when we stopped by the church earlier. But the giant battle-axe she was holding looked like it was grinning, too.

“What are you doing?”

I mean, it was probably exactly what it looked like... But I still had to ask.

“Goodness... Whatever should I do?” Yulia mumbled, placing a hand pensively against her cheek.

My sudden appearance here was probably quite a surprise for her. She was acting rather calm, but judging by the way she was tapping the end of her axe handle against the ground, she must have been in something of an anxious fluster. But, honestly, I was too. Why the heck was a nun attacking yokai like this? Pondering that, the conversation I’d had with Rosalind earlier came to mind.

“Hey, uh, Yulia... Might you be an exorcist?”

“Bwuh?! W-Was it that obvious?” Yulia spluttered, swinging her axe in a panic. It startled the yokai around her, and they backed even further away. “Um, Rekka... I’m sorry to ask, but could you please keep that to yourself? It’s... meant to be a secret.”

“Really? ’Cause...”

“Please?”

She was begging me, practically on the verge of tears.

“Yeah, I mean, sure. If that’s what you want, then I won’t tell anyone else, but...”

“Ah, thank you so much!” Yulia nearly shouted in earnest relief.

To her, the terrible spectacle that was currently happening—rather, the terrible spectacle she was currently causing—wasn’t as big of a deal as the secrecy of her identity. But as far as I was concerned, there was something far more pressing to address at the moment. And the clear difference in our priorities right now made me a little uneasy. No, make that real uneasy.

“So... the whole transferring here as a nun thing was just a ruse, and you’re really here as an exorcist to exterminate the yokai?”

“That’s the gist of it, yes,” she agreed readily with a nod. “Although I really did transfer here as a nun.”

A chill ran down my spine. I could tell from the look on her face and her tone of voice that she wasn’t joking.

“Now, why are you here, Rekka? You don’t seem very surprised to see all these nonhuman creatures surrounding us. Why is that?”

“...You could say they’re acquaintances,” I answered briefly, trying to find the right words to get her to stop all this. “Yulia. Please, could you stop attacking these yokai?”

“Oh? Whatever for?” Yulia lowered her axe and tilted her head in a look of pure confusion that told me she truly didn’t understand what I was asking her to do.

“Well, these guys aren’t actually bad yokai. Honestly, what have they even done? What could they even do? They’re just taking life one day at a time. They’re way too concerned about themselves to be bothering anyone else.”

“Rekka... That’s mean, meow.”

Ai’s ears drooped sadly, but I could apologize to her later. My highest priority right now was getting Yulia to back down.

“Hmm... I’m sorry, Rekka, but I can’t just turn a blind eye to them.”

“Wh-Why not? Don’t exorcists hunt demons and ghosts and stuff because they terrorize humans? So if they haven’t done anything wrong, then there shouldn’t be a need to exorcise them, right?”

“That’s incorrect. The reason exorcists hunt the supernatural is because their very existences shun the love of God,” Yulia answered without any hesitation.

She then swung her axe in demonstration, the blade slicing right through the twilight air. All of the yokai who had been watching things unfold tensed at the sight.

“As such, it is my duty as an exorcist to slaughter the supernatural. All of them. There are no exceptions.”

“Meow?!”

Yulia then pointed her axe at her next target—Ai, who stood bolt upright at being singled out.

“...!”

I jumped between the two of them without even thinking. And that was nearly the end of me. I thought Yulia’s axe was going to split me right in two... but it stopped just before it reached my face.

“Rekka? Why are you getting in my way?” Yulia asked curiously, axe still held at the ready.

“I’m begging you, please stop. You can’t kill them all just because they’re not human. That isn’t a good enough reason.”

“...Are you taking their side, Rekka?” Yulia asked, narrowing her eyes and swinging her axe upward.

“Stop i—gwah!”

My eyes instinctively followed the axe head, which distracted me from Yulia’s next move. She unleashed a roundhouse kick aimed right at my blind spot. I went flying.

“And here I thought you were a good person... What a shame. But as I said before, I cannot overlook the supernatural. So kindly stay out of my way.”

“No, Yulia! Stop!”

I sprung to my feet and ran towards her. I would throw myself at her if that’s what it took... but I wasn’t going to make it in time!

“...!”

Before the imminently approaching axe, Ai squeezed her eyes shut and ducked her head. But then...

Wha-chink!

The shrill sound of metal hitting something hard rang through the air—Yulia’s large axe had been stopped by a wooden sword.

“President Momone?!”

“Hey, problem child. You really must love sticking your nose into trouble like this, huh?”

The faintly glowing wooden sword was only barely holding back the large axe, but the One-Eyed Student Council President greeted me rather casually. I wasn’t sure where she’d shown up from, but she was dressed in a shrine maiden’s outfit. Her usual wooden sword was aglow, probably with the same technique she’d used to beat up the yokai over summer break. But for her to be able to fend off a giant, heavy axe with that...!

“Hmph!”

Realizing she wasn’t going to win in a contest of strength, Yulia relented and took a step back.

“And what are you?” Yulia asked, eyeing President Momone with a wary look.

But President Momone didn’t seem intimidated. The opposite, really. She rested her sword against her shoulder with one hand and flipped up her eye patch with the other to reveal her glowing right eye.

“The yokai under the protection of our shrine contacted me, you see.”

“Under protection? Nonhumans?” Yulia furrowed her brow with a suspicious look.

“From what I can see, you’re not some stray, but an agent of the church, no? If so, then I’m guessing you’ve heard of the Demonslayer of Kibi Shrine before, haven’t you?” President Momone inquired after seeing how stumped Yulia was.

“Oh, my... So, you’re the famous Demonslaying Ogre Killer?”

“Nope, that’s my grandfather. I’m only his successor. The real deal is a lot scarier,” President Momone said with a menacing laugh. “I’m sure the churches of the West probably have a different way of doing things, but as they say... When in Rome, do as the Romans do. You follow? We’re not going to just sit idly by and let you do as you please on territory under our jurisdiction.”

Despite President Momone’s light tone of voice, the sharp glare in her eyes was no joke. Me and all the other yokai present nervously awaited Yulia’s response. Eventually, she let out a sigh and lowered her weapon.

“Then I suppose I must oblige... While it pains me to be unable to fulfill my duty, I can see this isn’t worth causing unnecessary trouble. In regards to those present here, I will follow the proper procedures in dealing with them.”

It seemed like she was willing to defer to President Momone—or, really, President Momone’s grandfather. But it also sounded like she still hadn’t completely given up yet.

“Now, just to make sure, the yokai under the protection of the Ogre Killer are limited to those present here—is that correct? There are no others?”

“Hm...?”

At Yulia’s question, President Momone looked around until her eyes fell on a tanuki peering out at us from the shadow of a tree.

“Pon, is everyone from your group accounted for?”

“Huh? Oh, ah, h-hang on a sec...” Pon, the tanuki leader of the local yokai, started a headcount. “Yup, everyone’s here.”

“How about you, nekomata?” President Momone asked, turning to Ai.

“Let me see, meow...” Ai mumbled before running over to her friends. She returned a few minutes later, slightly out of breath. “We’re all good, meow. The whole kitten catboodle’s here.”

“All right,” President Momone said with a nod before turning back to Yulia. “Then yes, all of the yokai under our protection are present here.”

“I see... Very well, then. I shall stand down here,” Yulia said, lowering the head of her axe to the ground as she turned to walk away.

“The original mission I received from the church was for something else, anyway,” she muttered as she walked past me, just before she disappeared into the dark of night.

“Whew...”

Suddenly overcome with exhaustion, I dropped to the ground and sat down on the spot. The sticky situation had been resolved thanks to President Momone... but it got really tense for a moment there.

“Thanks a bunch, President Momone. You’re a lifesaver.”

“It’s no problem at all. Now you owe me three favors.”

“Urk...”

It was starting to feel like she was in the market for me owing her favors... The thought of having to repay her one day was kind of scary.

“But that nun sure withdrew easily.”

“Huh? Wasn’t that because you name-dropped your grandfather?”

“Maybe, but something doesn’t feel right.”

“...”

Now that she mentioned it, Yulia had crossed an ocean to come to this town specifically. She said it was true she’d been transferred here as a nun, but she didn’t deny she was also working as an exorcist. And if she wasn’t really after the local harmless gaggle of yokai, then who was she after? A target worth a trip all the way to Japan...

“Oh...”

Something suddenly clicked into place in my mind. It was only a theory, but there was a possibility... I knew at least one big target an exorcist might be after who was living right here in this very town.

The vampire Rosalind.

▽

“Hahh... Hahh...”

Leaving Ai and the other yokai to President Momone, I took off running down the mountain path. My destination was Rosalind’s mansion. I had no idea what kind of transportation Yulia was using, so I hurried as fast as I could.

Vampires were particularly detested in the West. Rosalind had said herself that she was practically a fugitive there. Her story there had ended with her getting sunk to the bottom of the ocean a hundred years ago, but if the church had somehow found out she was back, then...

Of course, it was also possible I was just being paranoid. There was no guarantee that the “original mission” Yulia had mentioned was to eliminate Rosalind. I didn’t even know which way Yulia had gone after leaving the mountain. Perhaps she didn’t even know Rosalind was living here. But whatever the odds were, I just couldn’t shake the sinking feeling I had. Letting that fuel me, I ran until my breath was ragged and then some.

“Hey, Rekka, how about joining the track team and building some stamina sometime? Just a thought that crossed my mind.”

“Shut... up...!”

I didn’t want to hear that from someone who just leisurely floated through the air all the time! Except... she was kind of right. I had to think about what building my stamina would do for me as I bent over and leaned my weight on my knees to catch my breath.

“Hahh... Hahh...”

After gulping down a few deep breaths of air, I looked up at the sloped road before me. Rosalind’s mansion was just at the top of this hill.

“Time to go...!”

I broke into a sprint once more, R tagging along like a caboose as usual. About halfway up the hill, I could see the red roof of the mansion come into view... along with Yulia and Rosalind fighting out front!

“Rosalind! Yulia!”

“Rekka?”

Rosalind looked over when I called out to her, her arms crossed. And Yulia didn’t waste that opportunity. Without a moment’s notice, her axe cut through the air with a whooshing sound.

“...Hmph!”

However, Rosalind simply scoffed and transformed into countless bats to avoid the attack. The swarm flew straight past Yulia, putting a good deal of distance between them before turning back into a blonde vampire.

“The holy weapon I prepared doesn’t seem to be making contact...” Yulia muttered flatly.

“I’m used to being attacked by your lot. And I must say, there’s nothing more irritating.”

“If running away is too much trouble, why don’t you let me put you out of your unholy misery right here and now?”

“I don’t consider myself benevolent or upright by any means, but being so denounced is quite infuriating. And, I’ll have you know, I’ve never once run from the likes of you.” Rosalind narrowed her eyes, spreading her arms wide in a provoking challenge. “I will take you out just like the countless rabble that came before you.”

“What a talkative bat...” Yulia readjusted her grip on her axe, the tension between them mounting ever higher.

So... what was I supposed to do now? I hadn’t known Yulia for more than a few days, but I certainly couldn’t stand by and just watch her pick a deathmatch with Rosalind. There had to be a peaceful way to settle this.

“Yulia! Stop it!”

Finally, Yulia looked my way.

“You again, Rekka? I was surprised to see you earlier, but for this to happen twice in a row... Don’t tell me you’re going to stand up for this vampire, too.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly right.”

Yulia fell silent for a moment before the look in her eyes hardened.

“How frightening indeed... So this is the charm power that vampires use to control people. And poor Rekka has already become a thrall of this vampire...”

“Wh-What? No!”

While it was true I had been the victim of Rosalind’s charm before... multiple times... I wasn’t just some mindless puppet like Yulia was imagining. I tried to tell her that, but she seemed convinced already. She ignored me and turned back to what she deemed to be the real threat—Rosalind—with a furious look in her eyes.

“As a servant of God, I will never forgive you demons that wreak havoc on humanity! In the name of the Lord, I will cut you down where you stand!”

“Ha! I’d like to see you try!”

Rosalind snorted, then made to leap at Yulia when...

“Please wait a minute.”

A silver-haired maid calmly walked between them.

“Suzuran...?!”

Yulia’s surprise upon seeing me was nothing compared to the moment Suzuran appeared. Her eyes widened in shock, and her face looked like it had frozen over.

“What is it, Suzuran? This woman here is my guest. Did I not tell you and the others to wait inside the house until I was done conducting my business with her?”

It seemed like Rosalind had been trying to keep her maids from getting tangled up with the people who were inevitably coming after her. However, Suzuran had disobeyed her orders and come to her aid anyway.

“Mistress, would you please allow me some time to speak with Miss Yulia?”

“I told you not to address the likes of her so politely... but fine.”

Seeing Suzuran bow so humbly, Rosalind had no choice but to grant her request, however reluctant she might be to do so. After giving Rosalind a word of gratitude, Suzuran turned around and faced Yulia.

“Miss Yulia.”

“...”

Yulia flinched and braced herself reflexively. But rather than looking like she was preparing to go on the offensive or defensive, she just looked uncertain. Meanwhile, Suzuran bowed her head.

“Miss Rosalind is my mistress. I serve as her maid. So, please, won’t you lower your sword—or, as the case may be, your axe?”

“This can’t be... Not you too, Suzuran...”

Yulia groaned with an expression several times more aggrieved than how she’d looked at me earlier. I suppose the shock must have been even greater to think that something had happened to a close friend.

“I can’t believe you would sink your evil fangs into the kindhearted Suzuran, too... Unforgivable! You have to be stopped, vampire!” she said through her clenched jaw.

It seemed Yulia had once again come to her own conclusion on things. She reached her right hand into her robe and swiftly pulled out something small and glimmering.

Ka-chink!

The silver flash of her throwing knife was deflected by a second—a knife Suzuran had thrown—and clattered to the ground.

“Kuh...! Please don’t get in my way, Suzuran!”

Yulia threw more knives in anger, but they all met the same fate as the first. Once she was done striking down Yulia’s knives, Suzuran calmly returned the rest of her own to the holster on her thigh.

“Those knives just now were all aimed at my mistress, correct?”

“...Of course. Why do you ask?”

“Why aren’t you aiming for me?”

“You’re being controlled by the vampire. It is only natural that I prioritize defeating her.”

Suzuran’s stoic expression remained unchanged upon hearing Yulia’s answer.

“Then, Miss Yulia, you perceive all nonhumans—vampires like my mistress included—as enemies to be defeated at all costs. Is that correct?”

“Yes, quite so.”

“Then you should readjust your aim,” Suzuran informed her plainly. “I may be a human now, but I used to be an artificial life-form called a homunculus—a being given life by an alchemist.”

“...What?” Yulia nearly gasped as she stared at Suzuran with a blank expression. “B-But, Suzuran, you’re clearly...”

“Yes, in my current form, I am. And that is all thanks to Sir Namidare over there. But it wasn’t long ago that I was a man-made life-form... A nonhuman, as you call them.”

“...”

Rosalind and I watched on silently as Suzuran told Yulia her story. I didn’t really know what she was thinking, but it was clear she was the only one Yulia was going to listen to. That’s what my gut told me. Suzuran tilted her head slightly, looking at Yulia questioningly.

“Now, what will you do with me, Miss Yulia? Will I be spared because I am currently a human? Or am I an enemy that must be eliminated because of my past as a nonhuman?”

“Th-That is...”

Yulia trailed off. She’d been rendered speechless. The head of her axe swayed from left to right, as though in reflection of her wavering emotions. Suzuran’s status as a former-homunculus-turned-human was particularly unique, even among my lineup of unusual friends. If humans were good, and nonhumans were evil... Where did that leave Suzuran, who had been both at some point in her life?

“Suzuran wasn’t a human before... but she is one right now... All nonhumans must be eradicated, but... the vampire... But... I... Oh, dear father in heaven, please give me guidance!” Yulia clutched her axe tightly, her eyes wandering this way and that as if she were searching for an answer.

“Miss Yulia.”

Yulia flinched when Suzuran said her name.

“Does your dedication to the teachings of God stem from the fact the church adopted and raised you?”

What? She was adopted and raised by the church?

“Hey, does that mean...”

“Yes, I used to be an orphan,” Yulia explained, prompted by my confusion. “Someone from the church adopted me when I was all alone, and they raised me to be the way I am today. A devout child of God... and an exorcist who protects people.”

Suzuran had mentioned before that she’d talked with Yulia about how she’d become a nun during their get-togethers at the church. That was probably how she’d learned about Yulia’s past. And to an orphan like her, the church must have felt like a parent. That was why she was so faithfully devoted to it and its teachings... to an almost frightening extent.

“That’s right... There’s no way that God is wrong... Those who have turned their backs on God must face their punishment... That’s why... That’s why...!”

Yulia continued to mutter as she tried to assure herself of her righteousness. She pressed a hand to her forehead like she was in pain, but her eyes were swimming as she looked at us through the space between her fingers.

“If you insist on battle, Miss Yulia, then as unfortunate as it may be, I will accept your challenge. However...” Suzuran reached for her holster once more, looking directly at Yulia. “Please refrain from doing so just because God said to.”

“What?! What are you saying? For the devoted, God’s word is law! Cutting down those who would sully his name is the only way—”

“A life dictated completely by the words of another is no life at all. Even if those words are the commandments of God himself,” Suzuran stated clearly. “My former self was created in order to kill my current mistress, Miss Rosalind. For 200 years, I lived my life trying to fulfill the singular mission that had been bestowed upon me by my master.”

“...”

“But once I became a human and looked back on that life... I realized what a terrifying thing it had been. Just the thought of it makes my hands shake now. I had been trying to kill someone with no motive of my own, simply obeying the words of another... And with this human heart, I can appreciate how wretched I truly was. That’s why I’m asking you,” Suzuran pleaded. “If you wish to subject me and my mistress to your judgment, then please do it because you so desire, Miss Yulia. I do not want to see you carry out such a dreadful task for any other reason.”

“Say what you will, but this is my life! It’s the only life I’ve ever known...!” Tears welled in Yulia’s eyes as she leveled her axe at Rosalind and Suzuran. “You... You’re just a servant of the devil trying to sway my faith and make me turn my back on God! As punishment, I shall... I shall...!”

“Hmph. Of course this is how it ends. What a waste of time,” Rosalind muttered in a bored tone after watching their exchange unfold.

She then readied herself to intercept the attack Yulia looked like she’d be launching any moment now. As for me...

“Wait,” I said, stepping between the girls and spreading my arms wide.

“What now, Rekka? There’s no further point in a diplomatic approach. This girl is beyond reason. Her lot only know how to wail about God this, God that. They blindly believe in all the nonsense they’ve ever been fed, despite having never met or spoken to this so-called God of theirs.”

“Silence!” Yulia raged at Rosalind’s mocking words.

“That’s why I said to wait! If you’ve never had a proper conversation with the guy before...” I thrust my finger out, pointing in the direction of my house in the distance where Harissa and the others were. “How about we go ask God what he really thinks?”

▽

From Rosalind’s place, I went and got the freeloading angel from my house.

“What is it, Rekka? I only just finished showering... You’re interrupting my beauty sleep on top of the clouds, you know?”

“Shut up. Try and be useful for once, you hopeless angel.”

With my hands on her back, I pushed her along until we got to the top of the hill... and were standing right in front of Yulia. Well, Rachelle was an angel, so she was more floating than standing there, but whatever.

“A-An angel...?”

“Yep, that’s me! The angel of love and passion, Rachelle, at your service.”

It seemed not even Yulia had expected an angel to appear before her, and she stood there looking at Rachelle agape and wide-eyed as Rachelle oh-so-casually introduced herself.

“Are you... real?”

“What? Gosh... People have really been doubting me recently, but I swear to you that I’m a 100-percent authentic, totally real angel. You think these wings and this halo are just for show? Do I have to perform a couple of miracles to get you to believe me?”

“N-No! I apologize for my rudeness!”

Seeing Rachelle’s discontent expression, Yulia fell to her knees in a panic and offered a prayer.

“Hmm... So, you’re one of those so-called nuns, huh?”

“Y-Yes!”

“I see. So, Rekka, why did you drag me all the way out here?”

“Didn’t I explain it on the way...?”

She really was a useless angel... With no other choice, I decided to refresh her on the key questions I needed answered.

“Rachelle, Yulia is both a nun and an exorcist. In the name of God, she makes a living hunting nonhumans. Basically vampires like Rosalind and stuff.”

“Yeah, so?”

“So... what do you think God has to say about killing all those nonhumans?”

“Why do you ask?”

It seemed like Rachelle hadn’t quite gotten her head around what I was really getting at.

“I’m asking if God really condones all that.”

“Not really,” Rachelle replied flatly.

“B-But the teachings of the church—” Yulia immediately tried to interject.

“Yeah, exactly. Those are the teachings of the church, no? The teachings of a group of humans trying to manage other humans. It’s only natural for humans to fear vampires and demons, the same way it’s natural for rabbits and mice to fear foxes and cats. Of course they’d want them exterminated. And by spreading that idea through their teachings, the church recruits more people for their cause without directly getting any blood on their hands. However, the big man upstairs has never made a statement on the matter. It’s not something he’s asked for, and it’s not something he desires.”

Yulia desperately tried to argue, but Rachelle held a finger up to her lips as she explain the facts of the matter simply. Hearing it all, the strength drained from Yulia’s body, leaving her in a daze. She was probably at a complete loss after having the foundations of her faith so shaken. Straight from the horse’s mouth, too. Well, Rachelle wasn’t God, she was just a mouthpiece, but surely hearing it from an angel was persuasive enough.

“Anyway, serving God is the angels’ job, so there’s no need for you humans to worry about things like that. I mean, if you want to do my job for me, I won’t argue... Uuugh, actually, now that I’m thinking about it, I haven’t met my quota yet...”

Rachelle trailed off into moaning as she clutched her head. Serves her right, though. That’s what she got for slacking off at my place for days now. Next, Suzuran approached the stock-still Yulia.

“Miss Yulia, what is the matter?”

“...”

“Miss Yulia?” Suzuran asked again when she didn’t respond. “Let me hear your answer.”

“My...”

“That’s right. The God you believe in doesn’t wish for either me or my mistress to be eradicated from this world. So what will you do now, Miss Yulia? It’s up to you to choose how you deal with us.”

“...”

“Will you go back on your words? Will you now claim to defeat us in the name of the church that saved you rather than in the name of God?”

“H-Hey, Suzuran...”

I was a little nervous about her doing anything that might upset Yulia, but she seemed intent on pressing the matter.

“Sir Namidare, I would like Miss Yulia to decide for herself,” she explained.

She then turned back to Yulia.

“When I became a human thanks to Sir Namidare here... He freed me from the order my master gave me 200 years ago. The order that I was chained to. But being released from that chain was terrifying,” she said nostalgically. “I felt like I was losing something important—my purpose. And without that, I was lost. It was like I was starting over again from nothing, a blank slate... Just like you are now. But what you choose to write on the blank slate you’re given is up to you, I believe.”

Yulia silently listened to Suzuran until the end. And then...

“I...”

▽

That Sunday...

“Welcome, lost lambs. Thank you for coming to today’s mass.”

Yulia stood at the pulpit dressed in her habit and greeted all the churchgoers in a quiet, welcoming voice. Suzuran and I had come to listen to her sermon, and were sitting together on one of the pews in the back.

So... in the end, Yulia hadn’t exterminated Suzuran or Rosalind.

Anyone would have found it difficult to abandon teachings they’d been following their whole life, especially on the spot like that. But what Rachelle said about God from her point of view as an angel and Suzuran’s story seemed to have moved her.

“I will put your disposal on hold for now, vampire. However, know that I have seen many humans suffer at the hands of demons like you before. I will not eliminate you without reason... but if I ever find that you’ve brought harm to humans, I will not hesitate to end you.”

Those had been Yulia’s parting words for Rosalind that day. Rosalind had scoffed, of course, but Suzuran and I both had breathed a sigh of relief. And now, after all that, here we were at the church...

“I believe some of those with us today are attending mass for the very first time, so I would like to begin with a small lesson about God’s wonderful love.”

Today was Yulia’s first mass since coming to town. I was hoping she’d think carefully about what she wanted to do from here on out as she fulfilled her duties as a nun.

“...Come to think of it, why did you start coming to church to study love in the first place, Suzuran?”

The only real reason we’d been able to reach a peaceful conclusion to the situation was Suzuran, who’d made friends with Yulia by coming to church to see and talk with her every day.

“Because I wish to have a child.”

“Bwuh!”

That unexpected answer made me choke on thin air. I rushed to cover my mouth, but it was too late. Yulia shot me a glare from the pulpit, then cleared her throat before continuing her sermon.

“Ahem... So, ultimately, God will always watch over everyone because he loves everyone equally. Furthermore...”

“...What do you want a child for?” I asked Suzuran in a whisper, careful not to disturb anyone else.

“I’ve found myself interested in the community called family. When I was a homunculus, I gave up on the idea of a family because I had no reproductive ability... But now that I am a human, I would like to have a child of my own,” Suzuran answered plainly in a quiet voice.

“I-I see...”

So she wanted a family, huh? It kind of made sense when she put it that way, but there was still a major issue to address...

“Suzuran... You do know you can’t have a child on your own, right?”

“I am aware. A man is necessary to successfully perform the reproductive deed with me. Is that correct?”

“You’re not wrong, but could you lower your voice a little...?”

I glanced around with a red face. Suzuran had been speaking quietly from the beginning, but the church was so silent that I was still nervous about someone overhearing us. And as I continued to look around like a shady character, Suzuran added...

“Although, I do have a candidate in mind, so there is no need to worry about that.”

“Huh...?”

A candidate in mind... Wait, she’d already found someone?! I was already surprised, as it was right after hearing that she wanted a kid, so I didn’t have the courage to ask for details. Instead, I just silently sat there wondering who she might mean.

“...Thus, as humans, we must also must come to understand and forgive each other through love. That way, we can walk together towards living in peace just as God has intended.” Yulia stopped there and crossed herself, offering a silent prayer up to God in her heart. “May the world be filled with love. Amen.”