【Dispatch Application Documents | For First-Mission Enja Response】
Document No. EN-089-SNS / Dispatch Class-A No. 1
Submission Date: Reiwa ██, August ██
Submitted by: Chinen Division, Sixth Tactical Squad, Squad Leader Hazama Ryoushi
Receiving Department: Fukan Squad Syntax Bureau / Enri Academy Operations Office
■ Mission Classification
• Response to an A-Rank aberrant entity labyrinth
• Field NARROW sealing test
• Verification of the labyrinth acoustic phase of a newly emerged aberrant structure
■ Information on Dispatched Subject
Name: Mikama Senano
Affiliation: Enri Academy, A-Rank Course (enshi)
Rank: A-Rank certified (permission for dance-type syntax use already granted)
Planned Equipment: NARROW Hibari / Fukan-Type Flame-Poem Syntax Blade
Previous Combat Experience: None (this mission will be first deployment)
Aptitude Evaluation: Excellent emotional control / compatible with heat-phase control / mental strength A-
■ Target Aberrant Entity Information
Aberrant Entity Name: Tank of Glass Voices
Danger Rank: A-Rank, special notation (preliminary S-Rank designation application pending)
Manifestation Location: Underground level of Old Hakuon Cinema, Cultural Development District, Kyokoku City, Tokyo
Anomaly Overview: Loss of voice / mental delay / bubbling / signs of rising labyrinth water level
Scene Status: 3 workers have lost their voices, 1 is suffering memory impairment, and 1 has developed delayed speech syndrome
■ Mission Objective and Rationale
Evaluation of the sealing aptitude of flame-dance syntax in an acoustic-type labyrinth
Verification of the practical adaptability of labyrinth interference control through emotional temperature
Syntax stability test for a first-mission Enja during initial NARROW deployment
■ Instruction / Accompaniment Structure
Observer: Fukan Squad Chant Audit Officer Rakuraku Miraku
Observer’s Assistant: Chinen Division Deputy Assistant Officer Touen Nene
Escort Support: None (already approved as a solo sealing-dance adaptation mission)
■ Notes
As this aberrant entity possesses the property of “stealing sound,” interference through language-syntax NARROW is considered difficult.
Based on the Fukan Squad’s analysis records, Mikama Senano’s chantless dance-type syntax activation technique has been designated the only current candidate for field deployment.
Furthermore, regarding the mental effects and side effects caused by syntax distortion in this mission, the subject has already signed off.
■
As dawn broke, the city was slowly bathed in sunlight, as though it too were awakening.
Senano narrowed her eyes as she looked down over the cityscape.
Apparently, the river’s surface reflecting the sunlight was dazzling.
“…Even though it’s been a while since I was in Tokyo, it doesn’t look like I’ll get to have any fun at all.”
Her reddish-brown hair darkened toward the tips as if scorched black, and her short hair looked like flames on the verge of burning out.
Rather than the grand white uniform she usually wore, she was dressed in the uniform of a nearby high school, and as the city grew noisier, she started walking.
With a large guitar case on her back, she held a smartphone to her ear with one hand.
“Ah, hello, Raku-chan? Is it about time I can start the mission? I’m tired of waiting.”
『Senano-san, thank you for waiting. You may proceed with the target aberrant manifestation on your end now. Whether you collect it or sever it, do as you please.』
A cheerful voice said that from the other end of the smartphone.
At those innocent, tensionless words, Senano gave a wry smile.
There was still some time before she reached her destination. It seemed there would be no problem chatting for a bit.
“So, are things all right over there? The Enri Agency was making a fuss, right? About a calamity-lord-class disappearing.”
『Ahaha… it doesn’t seem like things are all right. Apparently they narrowed the search to the Tokyo area due to the connection with the incident five years ago, but it seems they didn’t find any aberrant anomalies at all…』
“I see. What was the name again, Sora, Sora no…”
『Sorayodo no Oohito. It’s an extremely old aberrant manifestation in Japan, said in the oldest records to have existed since the Muromachi period.』
“If something like that suddenly vanished, that’s bad no matter how you look at it, isn’t it? Am I really supposed to be taking a promotion test right now?”
『Of course. Even if this is called a test, actual damage is being caused by that aberrant manifestation. Dealing with aberrant manifestations in secret without letting ordinary people find out. We must not forget the basics of our role as Enja!』
“I know that. …Now then, I’ve just arrived.”
Senano, brimming with spirit, planted herself firmly and glared at the building in front of her.
It was an old movie theater.
Other than the word “Cinema,” the lettering had faded too much to read, and the place looked no longer like anything but a ruin. That was her destination: Hakuon Cinema.
“All right then, so Tank of Glass Voices is in here. Easy. Total cakewalk.”
『Don’t let your guard down. Even if you’re A-rank, you’re still a student!』
“I know, I know. But I’m strong, after all. Okay, I’m going in.”
Slipping the smartphone, still on speaker mode, into her breast pocket, Senano stepped inside the building.
『There you go getting careless again… Anyway, please keep the call going as it is. Also, if you stop hearing my voice, be careful. The target aberrant manifestation steals sound. In other words, the moment sound disappears, that means it’s right there.』
Even though dawn had broken, the inside of the building was still dim.
Senano took out a flashlight and shone it ahead of her.
“Whoa, it’s full of trash. This place has been seriously trashed.”
『Apparently it was a hangout for delinquents before the aberrant manifestation appeared. Be careful of the broken glass and things too. If you get cut, disinfect it, all right?』
“You’re overprotective as ever.”
『Naturally. You’re my prized student, Senano-san.』
“Yeah, yeah. Then I’ve got to live up to Raku-chan’s expectations.”
『Then first, please stop calling me Raku-chan.』
“Ah, the signal all of a sudden…”
『!? Is that true!? We haven’t observed anything from here…!?』
“Just kidding, just kidding.”
Teasing the operator, Senano went deeper and deeper inside.
There was no fear in her steps.
If anything, her pace quickened as if she had been waiting for this.
“Once this is over, I’ll be S-rank. At last, I’ll be able to go hunt aberrant manifestations on my own.”
『Honestly, Senano-san, your problem is how overconfident you are…』
Even so, there was still a sense of ease in the operator’s voice as well.
For the two of them, it would not have been an exaggeration to say this mission was already assured victory.
That was because they believed that the girl named Mikama Senano possessed that much ability.
“I’m here. Beyond this point is its labyrinth.”
『Yes.』
Senano checked her wristwatch and lowered the guitar case.
“August 15th, 6:13. Requesting release of NARROW.”
『Release of NARROW approved.』
When she opened the guitar case, inside was something like a slightly smaller coffin.
Senano pulled down the lever mounted on its front.
Then, along with a warning sound, steam burst out and the coffin slowly opened.
“Heh, so this is Hibari. First time seeing the real thing.”
Inside the coffin rested a blade shaped like a single feather.
At first glance it could even be mistaken for a kukri knife, but from its design and small size, it was indeed more fitting to call it a feather.
『The Fukan-Type Flame-Poem Syntax Blade, a precious new model NARROW. Please handle it carefully.』
“I know that. Leave it to me. I didn’t skip dance practice once for the sake of this day.”
Senano took it into her hand.
Then she gripped the base of the feather tightly against her chest and took a deep breath.
“I’m strong I’m strong I’m strong I’m strong… okay! I’m the strongest, okay!”
Putting spirit into herself one last time, Senano finally stepped into the underground theater.
“All right! I’m gonna hunt down this aberrant manifestation!”
She leapt boldly into the underground theater.
At this point, Senano had already constructed her pattern for victory.
(Going by the cases of muteness, it’s probably prioritizing direct physical interference with humans. Maybe it’s sizing me up, but if there’s an opening, then if I slam a dance technique into it right from the start—)
Most of Senano’s assessment was correct.
Her response to Tank of Glass Voices could be called perfect.
The problem was that the aberrant manifestation was already gone.
“…Huh?”
A small light was burning in the theater she had jumped into.
In this underground theater, which should have been wrapped in darkness, that light looked almost like bait meant to lure something in.
Beside a lantern hanging from one of the seats was a piled-up mountain of manga.
Since they were covered in plastic, it was clear they were still unopened.
More than that, there was a girl sitting in a nearby chair with a manga volume in her hands.
The girl seemed absorbed in reading and did not appear to have noticed Senano.
『Senano-san, are you all right?』
Hearing the operator’s voice, Senano came back to herself with a start.
(I can hear her voice. Which means Tank of Glass Voices isn’t here…?)
Senano slowly looked around, confirmed that there were no abnormalities other than the girl and the manga, and then spoke.
“…Raku-chan, can you hear me?”
『Yes, I can hear you. …Could it be that it’s already over?』
“I don’t know. But… there’s a girl here.”
『What!? Could she be another victim!? The area was supposed to be sealed off…!』
“I don’t think she’s a victim. White clothes like shrine maiden robes, black hair. Maybe another Enja who was called in besides me.”
『We’ve received no such report. Please stay on guard, Senano-san!』
Holding Hibari at the ready, Senano slowly approached the girl.
Then, remaining in a stance from which she could move at any moment, she called out to her.
“Um… do you have a moment?”
“—Eh?”
The girl finally seemed to notice and looked up.
That alone made Senano catch her breath.
(Her face is insanely pretty! What is this girl, a doll!?)
A straight, elegant nose, and large black eyes that sparkled as though glass beads had been set into them.
Her beautiful black hair was neatly cut at the ends, matching perfectly with Senano’s image of a Japanese princess.
Even her startled expression was beautiful enough to make one want to take a picture of it.
“Um…?”
The girl seemed to be waiting for her to say something, but Senano had frozen up from sheer beauty.
Eventually, perhaps disliking the silence, the girl tilted her head lightly and asked of her own accord.
“Did you come here for a test of courage?”
“…No.”
Somehow forcing the words out, Senano returned to her senses.
And then she said this to the operator.
“I picked up a cute girl.”
『That report is far too brief, Senano-san.』