Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is Near (3)
'Hmm.'
Tsunashi Tenka stood in front of the door for a moment, simply observing.
It was an old apartment building. Even considering the geography, this place probably wasn't as inexpensive as it appeared.
Of course, given that the resident here had settled in well as a VTuber, it wouldn't be impossible to move somewhere better... but...
Whether out of thriftiness, lack of ambition, or simple propriety.
Either way, Tsunashi had no intention of interfering. She reached out and pressed the intercom button.
"Ninomae-chan, I'm here."
"Ah, yes! I'll open the door right away."
Just hearing that voice brought to mind the adorable sight of her rushing over, and Tsunashi couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
"Haa... it's been a while, Tsunashi-san."
"Indeed, it's been a while since the offline streams."
Ninomae Hitomi smiled gently, her expression warm and genuine.
Tsunashi smiled back at her. After all, the sentiment was mutual.
"By the way, you're already dressed? That's quick."
Tsunashi quickly scanned Ninomae from head to toe and spoke.
Ninomae was wearing a neatly arranged nun's habit.
Except for the belt around her chest, the outfit was otherwise ordinary... yet an eerie aura emanated from the cross necklace. Simply looking at it sent shivers racing down the spine.
"Tsunashi-san?"
"I did put it on, but..."
Suppressing the shiver that ran through her body, Tsunashi tore her gaze away and lifted the paper bag in her hand.
"A nun's outfit?"
"I guessed once based on the fact that you're a nun."
Ninomae peered inside the bag and confirmed the red-and-white attire.
"I borrowed it from Akane-chan."
"Ah. So Akaba-senpai's family is like that?"
Akaba Akane.
To Ninomae, the name Yugure Tama of Anathema Gen 1 was far more familiar.
A miko from a shaman family and Tsunashi's childhood friend. Ninomae had heard she was such a woman.
"By the way, do I really need to come this early?"
The broadcast was scheduled for 8 PM. It was only just past 2:30 now, so meeting up was quite early.
If the broadcast location was the studio attached to the office rather than her home, it was even more so.
"Well, appealing that we're getting along well is important too, right?"
Ninomae extended her smartphone screen.
[Mary Tepes @ Anathema Production] 1 minute ago
The arrogant wolf has finally arrived.
I'll press the doorbell before heading to the studio!
Ninomae smiled cheerfully, and Tsunashi scratched her cheek.
"If it were Mary Tepes, she'd say something like that."
Although she used that phrasing, the core meaning was that Tsunashi had come to Ninomae's house to play.
Considering Mary Tepes' character and usual behavior, everyone would realize that even if she said that, the true intention was to welcome her.
"Other colleagues would have a hard time with this side too."
"Yeah, since Tsunashi-san has the same character as her personality."
The cheerful older-sister character that fit the term "ikemen" perfectly. If viewers called her "prince" among themselves, the feeling would be clear.
And that was closest to Tsunashi Tenka's true nature. If it weren't for the werewolf concept, she might have been thought of as just another VTuber with no special RP.
"Anyway, don't just stand there. Come in."
"Then, excuse me."
Following Ninomae's words, she slipped off her shoes and stepped inside.
The wallpaper was faded in places, showing signs of age, but the room remained clean and tidy.
"By the way, how am I supposed to be teased from now on?"
"You've been thinking about that line since just now?"
Tsunashi grinned, referring back to the statement from the tweet.
It was a mischievous yet still refreshing and cool smile.
"First, watch a movie, and then have dinner, even if I get scolded a bit."
"Haha, that's a terrifying plan."
There was one pure heart wanting to play with the colleague she met after a long time, and two questions: how to frame this as a 'satanic plan' for viewers from 'Mary Tepes' who wasn't Ninomae.
A cute girl, a fun girl, and most importantly, fundamentally a good girl. Ninomae Hitomi was such a woman.
It wasn't surprising that she was the most popular among the Gen 2 colleagues.
Her hidden nature that couldn't be concealed while playing a confident noble lady made the Mary Tepes character even more attractive.
"First, I'll change. I'll take a photo first, right?"
"Yes. Taking one on Twitter before watching the movie would be perfect."
Tsunashi took the red-and-white nun outfit from the paper bag and headed to the bathroom.
Changing clothes didn't take long.
She had prepared simply, thinking she would change into the clothes she was wearing anyway, and the nun outfit she had worn a few times before.
Helping with her childhood friend's house during holidays.
Besides that, she had tried on the clothes she borrowed this time a few times at home.
"Huh?"
She noticed it when she saw the white top worn with the knot tied, leaving only the red wide-legged pants.
'...Smartphone?'
A black-cased smartphone placed on the toilet.
It wasn't hers, and probably not Ninomae's either.
Her phone had been holding it after posting the tweet a moment ago.
But then, whose was this? At that moment, she picked it up with that intent.
A clear but slightly small sound hit Tsunashi's ears. It was a sound she remembered.
Of course, because it was the sound of the intercom she had pressed when entering the house earlier.
"Ninomae-san. This is Sion."
"......!"
And Tsunashi's expression immediately hardened.
With two doors—the bathroom and the entrance—between them, her superior hearing caught the visitor's voice.
"Huh? Sion-san?"
Ninomae's voice from outside the bathroom confirmed Tsunashi's senses were right.
Sion. On the internet, called Sister.
The person Tsunashi Tenka most wanted to avoid was here now.
"What is it?"
"I left my phone behind."
She had found out the owner of the curious phone, but it didn't make her happy at all.
'Worst...!'
Her heart pounded with tension. Sweat poured from her hands, and triangular ears popped up on her forehead.
From the situation, Sion's job was likely a Holy Knight.
Her main task was to separate bones and flesh from anomalies.
And werewolves were one of the representative anomalies. Since 1414, they had been hunted by the church for hundreds of years.
No need for further explanation, but to be sure—Tsunashi Tenka was a congenital werewolf.
Of course, there's no guarantee she'd be killed just for being a werewolf.
But considering the Catholic Church's basic policy, exaggerated a bit as 'take them out when you can. Strike before they cause damage.', it was hard to expect positive results.
According to internet posts, Sion is a Holy Knight from the Japanese diocese, not directly from the Vatican, but that doesn't guarantee her personality differs from Japanese Holy Knights.
At least Tsunashi had no intention of betting her life on such 'probabilities'.
"So, even with Sister's superior sense of smell, she couldn't detect my identity from the scent clinging to Ninomae from the offline collab!"
There were limits to Sister's superior sense of smell. Limits, but...
'If I face her directly, it means nothing, past me...'
Still, not much scent had accumulated since entering Ninomae's house... but the problem was that Sister's purpose was this phone in the bathroom where Tsunashi was hiding.
In other words, the probability that Sister would leave before this door opened was approaching zero. Then what?
Facing the body that smelled like a beast and not being detected would be too optimistic an observation.
The sound of the entrance door opening. Voices of conversation. And footsteps approaching the bathroom.
"Ah, Tsunashi... Charlotte-san is changing clothes in the bathroom right now."
"Is that so? Then I'll wait a moment."
One footstep receded. If this was Sister's, it would be truly happy.
But Ninomae must have gone to set up for watching the movie.
In other words, the person at the door now was Sion.
Gulp. Tsunashi swallowed.
She had bought some time by the excuse of changing clothes...
'Ugh!'
──Knock. At that moment, a knock sounded. Tsunashi's body trembled.
Too early. She hadn't found a way to break through this situation yet!
Tsunashi opened her mouth. She had to buy a little more time.
"Sorry, I'm still changing..."
"You're not human, are you?"
Clunk. A shock like her heart stopping for a moment.
She barely endured the near-sinking of her legs.
"The scent of a beast is coming from you. I can tell for sure up close."
At that time, the scent from the car wasn't dog either. It was a wolf. The calm voice of Sion came from beyond the door.
'Why? No matter what, how could there be a scent left in the newly entered building...'
"Is this the first time wearing this outfit? I don't think so."
"......ugh."
Only then did Tsunashi realize the cause and let out a groan.
She had tried on the nun outfit she was wearing for the first time in a long time a few times at home.
Of course, the clothes were brought into the bathroom...
Tsunashi took the clothes out from the paper bag. That is, the paper bag that had contained the clothes for days was now outside the bathroom.
Precisely, next to the mat in front of the door. That is, right next to Sion.
Big trouble. There was no room for excuse.
Even if she thought of plausible words, there was no guarantee the other would believe them.
"Step out obediently."
It was a calm voice, but to the listener, it was nothing but a death sentence.
"......"
With one door between them, silence fell.
Knock. Again, knocking on the door.
"Kyaa?!"
The knock was slightly different. When she realized that, she was already sitting on the floor.
Her legs didn't have strength. Her whole body trembled with a creepy sensation. Her breathing became rapid.
What had happened? Tsunashi's eyes darted.
It wasn't just that her strength had left from fear.
"Although it's not important, my baptismal name is Margarita. Han Seoyeon Margarita."
Knock. Again, knocking.
Just hearing that sound made her body jump. With dizziness, her vision blurred.
"A sacred hammer that has slept for over a thousand years. It's a tool that crushes anything properly."
Since she had no chance of winning, she explained the current attack as if advising to give up.
It couldn't continue like this. Tsunashi urgently pulled out the amulet she had stuffed in her pants pocket—the one she had taken off—from her pocket.
It was a thing her childhood friend had forced into her hand, saying "just in case".
"Hifumiyoitsumunayakokono to..."
Hifa mi yotzia ma naane ykakhena tavo
Clenching it tightly so it crumpled, she chanted the spell. Her breathing slowly returned. Her limbs regained strength as if from a cramp.
"Repeatedly one, only, ugh, not done..."
But this wouldn't last long either. The third knock rattled her head.
It couldn't continue like this. It had only slowed the flow of sand.
If she stayed still, it would just slowly dry up.
'First, suppress the other side and think...'
Tsunashi gathered strength in her legs and stood up, staggering. Her eyes flashed gold.
Boom! She kicked the door hard and burst out. A woman holding a silver greatsword appeared in her sight.
As expected from the sound, the hammer was small. With this length, it was in the realm of close combat.
And for simple hand-to-hand, she had the advantage.
Tsunashi approached Sion's nose in one breath and grabbed her neck...
──At that moment, Sion kicked her ankle.
"Huh?"
[So, does that mean Sister is a high-ranking cardinal?]
No [No, but she's not a cardinal]
Balance shifted forward in an instant.
The slipped foot left the ground, and for a moment, her whole body flew through the air.
And the approaching holy silver-gilded hammer.
'Oh, I'm dead...'
Tsunashi instinctively sensed it.
No [The cardinals are over 12. Of course, their political status is higher than cardinals]
No [Just the top 12 most dangerous in the church]
No [Not strong, but dangerous? You're an anomaly?]
No [Charlotte "Acha cha" concept]
"Kyaa?!"
However, what approached was not death but simply painful pain.
Sion let go of the hammer as Tsunashi closed her eyes tightly.
Then, with a staff, she struck her abdomen. With a twisting shock in her belly, her body was thrown back into the bathroom.
"Jerome Unarmed Martial Arts... it's not a special skill, but I've learned the basics."
Tsunashi, who had crashed into the bathtub on her butt, looked dazed, watching Sion, who had snatched the hammer from the air with her own hand.
"I told you to come out obediently."
Sion sighed and entered the bathroom, picking up the smartphone that had been on the toilet.
To the dazed Tsunashi, she continued calmly.
"No incidents have been reported so far. You've been hiding your identity well until now. Even after finding out that I'm a Holy Knight, you didn't attempt an attack until you were driven to the extreme. And you tried to subdue me with minimal injury just now, right?"
Although saying that the target was the neck was a deduction depending on the opponent, she put the hammer and phone into her coat pocket.
"And most importantly, since Ninomae-san trusts you. For now, I'll trust you too."
Only then did Tsunashi realize why she was saying this.
The answer to Tsunashi's confused expression of "why am I alive?"
"Th... that's it...?"
"Huh? Yes. Well, yes. I was thinking of confirming what kind of person you are."
Of course, she wouldn't hesitate to dispose of her in some cases. She didn't say that.
"Anyway, as I said earlier, let's call it a passing grade for now. Work hard on the broadcast."
Without saying it, Tsunashi already had an idea.
"Ninomae-san, I found the phone. I'll be going back now."
"Yes, see you next week!"
A reply came from the living room. Probably the incident in the bathroom wasn't discovered.
"Ah, and just to add one more thing... um......"
Sion, who was turning her back to leave, suddenly stopped and opened her mouth again.
"There is such a theory, but it's not that you can't wear underwear under the nun outfit. As a folklorist, I guarantee it."
"Huh, yes? Yes. I know. But since it's white, black underwear would show through, so just..."
"...The lower part doesn't have to worry about being seen. It's red."
"Ah."
At that, Tsunashi thought about her state for a moment.
In the middle of changing, she had rushed in wearing only the top, and immediately after, she was subdued on her butt.
"......"
"......"
Immediately after, Tsunashi's ears turned red, and she subtly pulled down the hem of her top to cover her lower body.
It was a rather awkward ending for an encounter between a werewolf and a Holy Knight.