Origami's unauthorized action this time had a very negative impact, so the higher-ups of the AST seemed to want to personally judge Origami.
Although they said they would judge Origami, the disciplinary decision had actually already been made; the other proceedings were just a formality, pretending to solicit opinions from others.
After all, the opinions of other people were not important; the most crucial disciplinary decision was made by those higher up.
The final disciplinary result was that Origami would receive two months of confinement.
Although it was called confinement, it would not interfere with Origami's freedom. Besides not allowing Origami to use the visualization device during these two months, even her daily school schedule would not be disturbed.
These two months were almost like a period for Origami to recuperate, allowing her to recover from the physical damage caused by operating the forbidden visualization device.
Origami at school hadn't changed, but after returning to school, she didn't target Spirits or Kotori as Shiori had feared. For a long time, she was in a daze.
Even Shiori didn't have a chance to explain the events of five years ago to Origami; every time she tried to approach Origami, she was stopped by Tohka, who was worried about her.
"So...the reason you weren't punished is because someone from DEM, above the AST, noticed your use of that forbidden equipment? He saw your talent, so he helped you deal with the punishment?"
No wonder the AST high-ups didn't punish Origami this time. It was entirely because someone from DEM wanted to win over Origami, using this method to recruit such a promising expert.
On the Rooftop of Laichan Middle School, Illya and Kurumi said with sudden realization after hearing Origami's explanation.
That's right, Origami didn't go to Shiori for lunch this time; instead, she found Illya and Kurumi, the duo, and told them about her situation.
"Isn't that good? DEM's visualization devices are much more advanced than the AST's. Maybe after joining DEM, you could get a visualization device that doesn't harm your body and allows you to fight Spirits."
Kurumi expressed her opinion while eating her bento. Origami joining DEM wasn't a bad thing; after all, she could gain more powerful strength that way.
To Kurumi's surprise, Origami shook her head without any hesitation, indicating that she didn't want to join DEM.
"That man's eyes... are very unpleasant. It's as if he controls everything, as if everything is under his command. He is very dangerous."
Origami unhesitatingly expressed her dislike for that man. He was more dangerous than a Spirit; this was Origami's first thought upon seeing him.
"Your thoughts are correct, Origami. If the person you saw is the same one I'm thinking of, that person once captured a Spirit and tormented her for four years."
Kurumi told Origami about Nia, including how Nia was captured by DEM's strongest Magician in the world and tortured on Niliru Island.
Origami showed a surprised expression, recalling the scene when she was trapped in Imaginary Space, and Nia was secretly watching Inaba Tsukiyo and others from the shadows.
That person, who had no figure and would not be mistaken for a girl if she wore men's clothes, was actually imprisoned by DEM for four years? And was subjected to inhumane abuse during that time?
Her psychological resilience is too good, isn't it? Is she a happy-go-lucky player?
"Her purpose in doing this wasn't to torment Spirits; she simply wanted to obtain the power from Spirits, to gain the power of Spirits."
"Although I don't know if you believe us, this is DEM's ulterior motive. This organization that claims to eliminate Spirits actually wants to obtain their power. Don't you find that ridiculous?"
"..."
Origami lowered her head, thinking about something. Kurumi seemed to want to say more, but Illya stopped her.
Kurumi pouted with a hint of boredom, focusing her attention on her bento. Illya, on the other hand, watched Origami; she had been waiting for Origami to state the purpose of her visit.
She didn't think Origami had come merely to tell them about the AST's handling of her; she surely had other things she wanted to tell them.
Solving Origami's problem is very difficult. At the very least, the death of Origami's parents is absolutely unchangeable, and the hatred Origami has accumulated over many years is not so easily dispelled.
Although time can wash away many things, time can also allow some things to settle. Origami completely falls into the latter category; the death of her parents is something etched into her bones.
Because of this, if Origami were to discover the truth, one couldn't even imagine what she would become.
Perhaps she would become a Devil King of destruction, using her power to destroy this world that brought her such sorrow.
It should be known that the source of tragedy has always been hatred, but eliminating this hatred cannot be achieved through ordinary methods.
It would be better if Origami hadn't lost her parents when she was a child, but children are emotional, and they remember many things very clearly. And at that time, Origami was clearly at an age when she cared most about her parents.
Therefore... Origami lost her parents at the time when she most needed their care. To heal Origami, one must address the most fundamental issue.
To address this matter from the most fundamental issue... the most fundamental issue... parents, parents... Origami's parents... Illya looked at Kurumi. Kurumi is the Angel of Time; one of her abilities must be to allow people to return to the past.
If so, does that mean Kurumi can allow her to return to the past and meet Origami's parents?
As for saving Origami's parents, that's impossible. This is the so-called "Butterfly Effect."
Changing a small detail in the past could potentially have a significant impact on the future.
She remembered an animated film, seemingly from Europe, that told the story of the Flash accidentally traveling back in time to save his mother, but this action almost destroyed the future world.
Even if she saved Origami's parents, what then? Origami's parents would surely die later for some reason.
So, to save Origami, one must interact with her parents without changing the future. Although she doesn't know if doing so will have the same consequences for the future, but... who cares?
Even if it really affects the future, what then? Even if her action might create a brand new future, what then?
When she came to this world, when she became Yoshino's Twin Spirit, she had already deviated the course of this world.
Moreover, she works for alaya. Even if the world's consciousness wants to stop me from doing this, alaya will definitely find a way for me.
At worst, she'll use her Herrscher abilities to directly confront the world's consciousness. She doesn't believe the power of one world would lose to another.
"You said that the truth of five years ago isn't what I imagined. What exactly happened?"
"The truth of five years ago? Didn't Shiori tell you about this?"
These past few days, Shiori had been trying to explain the Amamiya City fire five years ago to Origami. Origami should know that Kotori wasn't the real cause of her parents' death.
Origami nodded. Shiori had indeed contacted her by phone, telling her about the events from five years ago.
But… she had a premonition that Inaba Tsukiyo definitely knew a lot of things, and these things surely included who the real killer of her parents was back then.
In her judgment, Illya was on Inaba Tsukiyo's side, and since Inaba Tsukiyo knew about this matter, then Illya would also know. She wanted to get an answer.
"Do you know any other clues? Or do you know who the real Spirit that killed my parents was?"
'How am I supposed to tell you that? Aren't you making things difficult for me?'
Illya thought helplessly. This girl's intuition was truly not just ordinarily sharp. Why could she even think of this much?
Fortunately, this girl's intuition wasn't sharp enough to discover the truth of the matter, otherwise, she really wouldn't know how to explain this to Origami.
"No, you just need to know that Itsuka Kotori is not your enemy. As long as you pursue power, you will discover the real culprit at some point in the future. And at that time, you will realize that revenge is a very simple matter for you."
"...What do you mean?"
Origami didn't understand the meaning behind this, but Illya didn't intend to explain it to Origami. She shook her head, not planning to continue speaking.
After Origami left, Kurumi watched Origami's receding back, then turned to look at Illya and asked,
"Is that alright? Do you intend to tell her the truth?"
"She will know. If she continues this way, she will definitely discover the truth from five years ago. It's just a matter of knowing sooner or later."
"Then you…"
"So now we need to buy time. Before she knows the truth of the matter, I still need to do something. For this, I need your help, Kurumi."
Putting down her chopsticks, Illya looked at Kurumi seriously.
"It's not impossible, but what do you want to do?"
Kurumi was stunned by Illya's expression, making her a little nervous.
Just as Illya was about to speak, ruby, hiding in Illya's hair, suddenly sensed something. She tugged on Illya's hair and whispered something.
At ruby's reminder, Illya also discovered that the barrier she had set up on the Rooftop had been triggered. Someone had secretly come here not long ago, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation.
She quickly used ruby's power to partially transform, rushing to the problematic area at the fastest speed.
It seemed the other party knew Illya had discovered her arrival. As Illya rushed over, she could only see a blurry figure disappearing from sight, at most only seeing something moving like a mosaic.
"This person…"
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