Chapter 1

This story takes place in a country with a modern Japanese style, but as it is a work of fiction and fantasy, it has no relation to any real country, person, or organization with the same name.

Rei Natsukawa is an office worker at Kikawa Metal, a small factory.

"Rei-chan, can you work overtime tomorrow?"

"I'm sorry, but I have a meeting with my probation officer tomorrow."

"Oh, I see. It's been a year already, hasn't it? Time flies. I'm getting older, you know."

"You've been taking care of me for five years now. Mr. Nakata, you're not just an old man, you're a cool old man."

"You're so smooth. But no matter how much you flatter me, it won't get you anything, you know?"

Rei laughed, "Hehe."

Nakata, who is in his early fifties and a devoted husband, smiled with a somewhat satisfied look.

Rei was found unconscious on the beach five years ago and was taken into protective custody. She is now twenty-five years old.

At the time of her rescue, she was questioned by the police. After it was determined that it was not a suicide attempt, she was taken care of by the welfare department because she was extremely confused and claimed to have no memory of her past.

"Based on her appearance, health, and medical examination, she is probably around twenty years old."

This was the doctor's assessment, and she was considered to be twenty at the time.

Rei Natsukawa was given a name and an address at a protective facility, and thus became a Japanese citizen. Although her facial features are somewhat Western, she speaks perfect Japanese, so it was assumed that she is Japanese or was raised in Japan.

After receiving vocational training, she was introduced to a job, and for three years, she had a monthly meeting with her probation officer.

But now, apart from an annual meeting, there is nothing else.

"Well, today I have to deliver five boxes of coupling fittings to Maruhishi Industry and ten boxes of truss small screws to Iida Industry."

"Rei-chan, I know you're busy, but can you go to Goto Industry to collect the payment?"

"Can I go after lunch?"

"Hmm, I have a bad feeling, so can you go collect the payment first? I want it to be deposited before the bank closes. You can have lunch afterward. Here, this is for your lunch. It's a little extra for your trouble."

"Thank you. I'll go collect the payment first, then."

Rei received a thousand-yen bill, put it in her wallet inside her red tote bag, tidied up her desk, and set out to collect the payment.

Goto Industry is a subcontractor for a major construction company. When the economy is good, things are fine, but when it cools down, they are the first to feel the chill.

Nakata's bad feeling is probably not a real premonition. It's likely that Goto Industry's payment method or timing has changed. If he is asking her to collect the payment directly instead of waiting for a bank transfer, Goto Industry must be in serious financial trouble.

(We have to get paid when they can pay, or Kikawa will lose out.)

Muttering to herself, she got on the bus. The destination is about fifteen minutes away by city bus.

When she arrived at Goto Industry, three of the entrance shutters were down, and one of them was only halfway down.

"Oh, this really looks bad."

A black mist was drifting from the half-open entrance.

In this world, there is no miasma, but something similar exists. What she sees in front of her is one of those things. However, this is something sinister created by people.

"Hello! It's Kikawa Industry! I'm coming in!"

She called out to avoid being accused of illegal entry. Even so, it might still be considered illegal, but she entered Goto Industry while recording a video on her smartphone, as she had been taught by Nakata when she started working at Kikawa.

She entered the shutter and headed towards the office, where no one was present. The black mist that had been drifting outside became even denser.

"This is..."

She could smell something faintly. It was a smell she recognized from charcoal grills. She thought her body was fine, but to be safe, she covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief and tried to open the door that separated the office from the living area, but it was locked. Not only that, but a strong black mist was flowing out from inside like a wave.

"Purify!"

She whispered sharply and held her palm towards the door. White light spread from her hand, and the bad energy dissipated.

"Unlock"

Again, a thin beam of white light was directed at the doorknob, and the lock clicked open.

She quickly turned the doorknob and entered. Goto Koushi, the president of Goto Industry, was lying on a guest sofa with his eyes closed.

"Tsk!"

Rei involuntarily clicked her tongue. She knew it was a crude gesture, but she had tried it once when alone and felt a sense of relief in her chest, so she often used it when no one was around.

On the floor of the room was a charcoal brazier, and the cylindrical charcoal was burning red. When she tried to open the window, it was sealed with duct tape.

She ripped off the duct tape, "Rip! Rip!" and opened the window to let in fresh air. She also took the charcoal brazier outside.

Then she returned to the sofa. It seemed that Mr. Goto had also finished a bottle of shochu. When she lifted the one-liter paper pack of "Red Devil Killer," it was almost empty.

"Damn. Detoxify! Heal!"

White light enveloped Mr. Goto's upper body. His breathing, which had almost stopped, stabilized, and he moved.

From then on, it was a busy time. She stopped the recording on her smartphone, called an ambulance, and reported to the police. Then she called Nakata to explain the situation.

The ambulance arrived a few minutes later, followed by a police car.

She thought she would have to ride in the ambulance as the discoverer, but the officer stopped her.

"Hey, you need to stay. I need to ask you some questions."

"Okay, I understand."

Rei put on a bright smile but was disappointed inside.

(I should have had lunch first. But I should cooperate as a good citizen.)

Rei's stomach growled in protest.