Of course, when Kurumi asked this question, she didn't mean to have a change of mind or anything like that. She was just quite interested in what Origami, who had obtained the power of the spirit, was going to do with the [Twelfth Bullet].
Origami thought for a moment, took a deep breath, and then said in a cold voice: "I hope you can use the [Twelfth Bullet] to send me back to August 3rd, five years ago."
"...Five years ago?" Kurumi frowned in confusion and narrowed her eyes slightly: "If you go back to that time... ...what would you want to do?"
Facing Kurumi's question, Origami revealed a sharp look for a moment, and then continued: "I want to go back five years and kill the spirit who killed my parents. I want to erase the fact that my father and mother died... ...I want to use my power to change history."
Origami clenched her fists as if to express her determination. Hearing her answer, Kurumi paused for a moment.
"...Is that so?" Kurumi was not shocked by Origami's determination. It was just that when she heard the purpose, she overlapped her own figure with Origami's for a moment---
"What are you going to do if I say no?"
"I will do whatever it takes to convince you until you agree."
"...Oh, you really dare to say that." There was a dangerous look in Kurumi's eyes, and she pointed the gun at Origami again.
After all, Origami's words were very impolite, and her words of leaving no stone unturned also included strong measures. She could sense her determination to make her launch the [Twelfth Bullet] as long as she had the will, no matter how hard it was.
Did she underestimate Kurumi? Or did she suddenly get the power of the spirit and get carried away...?
She believe that Origami, who witnessed the battle on the school rooftop a few months ago, should understand that Kurumi, who controls the power of time and shadow, is not a soft person.
In that case, the reason why Origami uttered those almost provocative words was because she truly believed that she could make Kurumi surrender - or she didn't make any plans and just stood in front of Kurumi. These are the two reasons.
It's hard to imagine that clever Origami would do something rash.
The possibility of redeeming an irretrievable past. The possibility of rewriting established facts.
That sweet temptation can easily break into a person's heart, and gradually expand and erode like a drug. Even if the person is aware of it, she will still desperately crave it. ——Kurumi deeply understands that feeling.
Thinking of this, Kurumi sighed and put down the gun.
"...Okay. If I were to go without ever firing the [Twelfth Bullet], I would also feel uneasy. So I'll just use you as a guinea pig."
"---Really?!" Origami's eyes widened, the surprise in her words was beyond words, and she didn't have any dissatisfaction at all because of Kurumi's remarks that she was a guinea pig---
Looking at Origami, Kurumi was slightly stunned for a moment, and then said helplessly: "Having said that, using the [Twelfth Bullet] requires a huge amount of spiritual power and time. Of course, I don't intend to use my spiritual power at all. Are you willing to provide your spiritual power?"
"It doesn't matter. How much do you think it will cost?" Origami asked with a sincere look. Kurumi raised her index finger and touched her lips as if she was thinking.
"It will change depending on how far back in time we go. The longer the time is, the exponential function of spiritual power consumption will increase. If we were to go back thirty years, it would very likely cost the life of an spirit--" As she spoke, Kurumi's voice became smaller and smaller, and the second half of the sentence seemed to be talking to herself.
However, Origami, who had good hearing, was very sensitive to the key words in Kurumi's words---"...Thirty years ago?" Origami looked puzzled. Kurumi waved her hand casually and looked into Origami's eyes again.
"And there's another thing - by the way. Depending on how long you stay in the past, the amount of spiritual power you use will also change... But I haven't tried this myself, so I can't get a feel for it. --- Of course, don't worry too much about this, but it's very likely that you won't be able to return to the exact time you specified."
"It doesn't matter. As long as it's resolved immediately, there will be no problem." Origami immediately responded after hearing what Kurumi said. She seemed very confident, and there was no trace of confusion or hesitation in her eyes.
In fact, if it was Origami now, even if she used up the spiritual energy required to go back five years, it would still be more than enough for her to fight. The dense spiritual energy emanating from Origami could be felt strongly just by being face to face with her like this.
"Really? Then──" After turning around on the spot, Kurumi grabbed the hem of her skirt with her free left hand and bowed elegantly and gorgeously.
"Then let's start right away. Okay, come out, [Zafkiel]." Then in response to Kurumi's call, a golden clock appeared behind Kurumi---
[Zafkiel]. The angel that controls time that Kurumi holds. Kurumi pointed the muzzle of the rifle that she had already held in her hand upwards, and at the same time, she stepped twice as if she was dancing.
So at that moment, Kurumi's shadow expanded its area, crawled on the top floor of the building and squatted at Origami's feet.
"—This is…" Origami must have noticed something was wrong immediately, as she frowned slightly.
"Hehe, do you still remember?" Kurumi raised the corner of her mouth and revealed a smile. Origami should have stepped on such a shadow in school before.
[City of Devouring of Time] This is Kurumi's ability, which absorb time from those who step on it by expanding Kurumi's shadow.
Moreover, this is not the usual technique used to absorb time in a large area, but a special version that condenses the shadow to the limit and can directly absorb spiritual energy from the target person. Origami must be feeling her own power draining away rapidly.
"If you want to give up, now's your last chance. I'm not a kind person. I might absorb all your spiritual energy and break the agreement, okay?" After saying this, Kurumi showed a disgusting smile.
However, Origami still stared straight at Kurumi, not intending to look away and said seriously, "... Even so, I can only rely on you to achieve my goal now."
"Ah..." Kurumi smiled lightly, and then stopped talking - waiting to absorb a full amount of spiritual power from Origami, and then exerting force with the right hand holding the rifle.
Just as Kurumi said just now, she could also drain Origami's spiritual power. Or, she could absorb more spiritual power than was needed to fire the "Twelfth Bullet".
However, Kurumi did not do so. As for the reason? Maybe she was influenced by someone and no longer used any means like before, or maybe she followed her inner thoughts---
Or maybe --- she wanted to see with her own eyes what kind of path this girl who had also found "this" method would open up, or what kind of end she would reach...
"[Zafkiel]──[Twelfth Bullet]!" Then she shouted loudly. She called out the name of the final bullet that she had never fired even though she knew of its existence and power.
[Zafkiel] made a creaking sound that had never been heard before, and began to emit a black light. The aftermath of spiritual power leaped and splashed like rolling dust.
Soon after, they focused on one point - XII on the dial, and immediately a dense shadow burst out and was sucked into the muzzle of Kurumi's raised rifle.
The rifle loaded with bullets felt vibrating in his hand. The extremely high concentration of spiritual energy was raging in the pistol.
It was as if an invisible hand was stopping Kurumi from firing that bullet. It felt like she was holding in her hands the power that transcended time, an irreversible, inviolable existence, and defied gods and laws.
Kurumi raised the corner of her mouth and smiled coldly, pointed the gun at Origami and pulled the trigger.
"Well, have a good trip, Tobiichi --- Origami. To fulfill your long-cherished wish." The jet-black bullet released from the muzzle drew a black trajectory in space and flew straight away -
"… …" Origami gritted his teeth nervously and excitedly. This feeling was just like when you win 10 million in the lottery and are about to cash in the prize...
The moment it touched Origami's chest, the bullet dug into Origami's body, as if it was going to pull her into its rotation.
Then, the hole made by the bullet grew larger and larger, and in a moment, Origami's body was twisted as if being pulled into the trajectory of the bullet and disappeared from that space.
After a while, Kurumi looked at the night breeze caressing the space where Tobiichi Origami was just now, and lowered her arm holding the pistol.
"Let me see - will God allow this foolish attempt to change history..."
After muttering to herself, Kurumi released her grip and let the rifle fall into the shadows.
Five years ago ---
Tengu City.
"Ouch..." Origami frowned slightly. When the bullet fired by Kurumi touched her chest, she felt as if her existence was about to be broken, and then her consciousness was interrupted in an instant.
There was no pain. But Origami felt dizzy and nauseous, as if someone had grabbed her feet and spun her body around.
After that moment, Origami held her breath involuntarily. As she regained consciousness, she was overwhelmed by a strong sense of gravity and a floating feeling as if she were flying in the sky.
Origami realized that she was now falling headfirst from the air.
"Hu──" After Origami exerted a little force on her body, she stopped in the air and straightened her posture.
The method was not much different from using the display device to operate the random area. It was like giving instructions in the brain and distorting the space surrounding oneself according to the instructions.
Is it that the ability of the elves is essentially similar to that of wizards? Or did Origami think that the feeling of operating it was consistent with the ability to control the elves, and he arbitrarily connected the two? Although it is impossible to judge, in any case, it was a fluke for Origami.
If she didn't consider flying as common sense, she would not be able to make a quick decision and would crash into the ground. Although Origami wouldn't die even if she fell from a height.
"This is..." Origami frowned because of the slight pain that still lingered in her brain, and glanced at the air.
It was a strange feeling. The sky that had been dark before became brighter as if it was rewinding. I didn't know the exact time, but it was probably before dusk at most. It was the time when the sun began to set and the shadows of the buildings began to lengthen.
Then, looking around the streets from above, Origami discovered that the scenery on the ground was slightly different from what she had just seen from the top floor of the building.
To be precise, the shape of the avenues and land divisions had hardly changed. However, the buildings and advertising signs that lined the streets were different from what Origami remembered.
Another difference is that the trees on the roadside and in the park are also different from what they were before. The leaves that were dyed red in Origami's memory are now lush and green, just like midsummer.
At this moment, Origami looked down and saw a variety of heavy machinery lined up next to the foundation of a high-rise building.
——By the way, the building that Origami and Kurumi were talking about just now was not yet completed five years ago...
"Five years ago... I succeeded..." After Origami said this, she felt goosebumps all over her body. Her heartbeat accelerated due to the excitement, and she couldn't make a sound for a while.
But this is only natural. Who would blame the relief that comes with finally achieving a long-cherished wish that should have been impossible? Who would laugh at the feelings of a girl who has dedicated more than a quarter of her life to revenge for five years?
Becoming a spirit, using the power of the spirit to go back in time and kill the spirit. It was an abnormal situation that was hard to believe for a moment. If I had told Origami about this the day before, she would probably have thought it was a bad joke. This matter was too absurd.
However, the world that she perceives through her five senses is all reality, and she can be sure of this fact without pinching her cheeks.
Origami is now back in time. Back to August 3rd, five years ago.
Back to the day when Origami's parents were killed by the spirit.