Not checking the results himself, the knight yanked on the reins. The horse reared back, then planted its hooves on the stony ground and skidded to a sudden stop, sparks flying.
When the knight did turn around, a shudder ran through his frame. Mephisto was standing thirty feet in front of him. “That lance didn’t go through me,” he calmly explained. “I went through the lance. Either way, you are an overly violent man. You need treatment.”
The horse and rider didn’t answer, but charged again. The deep blue spear tip sparkled. Air swirled around the shaft. The true nature of the knight and the weapon was on display.
Something slashed through the blue sky. A cloud of dust arose. The horse suddenly stopped. The flurry of small stones bounced off Mephisto’s cape. His gaze fell on a section of the road where a patch of asphalt still remained. A slender object sprouted out of the ground.
A disposable wooden chopstick buried halfway through the lump of blacktop.
Mephisto’s mouth bent into a knowing smile. His eyes turned toward the ruins, as if, in that moment, he had traced back the trajectory of the chopstick. A stone wall next to the building formed a narrow alleyway, leading to a dead end that was hidden from the view of both Mephisto and the knight.
“You certainly took your time,” said Mephisto.
The knight pointed his lance toward the alley. Then retreated as the horse slowly backed away. Something had touched its untamed senses. It ignored the knight’s heels in its sides and kept going backwards.
A fierce shower of light tipped the scales once again—energy burst from the tip of the lance. What form would the destruction take? Fire or ice? A shock wave?
The roadway appeared to suck up the light—no, not the roadway, but a wooden sword that swung outward from the shadows. The person holding it stepped into view. The gold buttons quivered on his black collar.
“Excuse me for barging in like this,” said the young man.
“Ah,” said Doctor Mephisto. “The star performer makes his appearance on the stage. Kyoya Izayoi.”
II
The mounted knight’s surprise could clearly be felt. He drew back the lance and looked down at the high school student with blank surprise.
“Hoh. Your name must strike a bell with him,” Mephisto teased. He asked in what was for him an unusually jocular tone, “What brings you here?”
“I came to see this funny flying house,” Kyoya said, taking in Mephisto and the knight with bright eyes. He’d disposed of the frightful burst of energy from the spear tip with a single swipe of his sword, yet made no mention of it. “I was hungry, and thought of getting a ramen. Lo and behold, here you are, causing trouble. I was going to wait to see how it turned out, but couldn’t resist. Sorry for sticking my oar in.”
“Not at all.”
Despite Mephisto’s nonchalant reaction, Kyoya looked at the knight. “So what are we gonna do with him?” he said, scratching his head. “Well, I’m here, so Gigantor can sit this one out. How about I take him off your hands?”
“Hmm.” Mephisto thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “We will meet again and discuss your therapy then.”
“On that note—” Kyoya held up a fist to the knight, a gesture of respect among fighting men of bad character.
Murderous intent once again welled up around the knight. Feigning naivete was Kyoya’s opening gambit.
“Kyoya Izayoi.” A voice as if from within the earth issued forth from the mouth of the helmet. “In deference to that name, I shall withdraw. The day will come when the decisive battle must yet be fought.”
“Whatever. No need to come to blows.” Kyoya nodded to the knight.
The horse turned its head toward Mephisto. The hooves stamped against the ground. The dark blue knight rushed past the Demon Physician.
“What the hell was that all about?” Kyoya asked, emerging from the alley. “I guess he wanted to become famous. Taking out Doctor Mephisto would sure do the trick.”
“In which case, that would make him a lot easier to deal with,” Mephisto said, patting his chest. “Fully unleashed, the energy and mental power in that spear could destroy half of Shinjuku.”
Kyoya only shrugged.
“And why did you come here again?”
“Like I said. To take a look at the floating house.”
“Here? There are much better sightseeing spots.” Mephisto smiled. In all of Demon City, this man would so reveal his humanity only to Kyoya and one other person.
“Say what?” Kyoya pursed his lips and glared at him, though there wasn’t any force behind it. “Hey, stop it with the funny looks.”
“This is Ichigaya, Kawadacho. Not only are there more suitable venues for house viewing and eating ramen, but more appropriate places where I would expect to find you.”
“W-what is that supposed to mean?” Kyoya flushed. He’d sent the strange apparition threatening Doctor Mephisto packing, and yet the same Doctor Mephisto could so easily knock him off his game. “What are you implying?”
“I haven’t implied a thing. As yet.”
Mephisto’s smile broadened. Kyoya hastily averted his gaze. When it came to hitting beneath the belt, the Demon Physician knew his weak points. “What I was going to say is that a mile or so on is the United Nations Philanthropic Hospital. My business rival, so to speak. There is a nurse in the surgical department by the name of Sayaka Rama.”
Kyoya feigned ignorance and stared up at the sky. “Nice blue sky.”
“I’d only be surprised if it wasn’t,” Mephisto replied crisply. “More interesting to me is the man who can’t man up to the fact that he came to see a woman. I’d be happy to accompany you the rest of the way.”
“Mind your own business,” Kyoya fumed. “I haven’t said one way or the other.”
“No need to put emotions into words. I am a doctor. When the blood rushes so violently to the head, my business is to look to the cause. Lead the way.”
The white door silently slid open to the side. A blue uniform approached, together with the scent of flowers, suggestive of freesia. Her waist-long hair swayed. She smiled brightly at the two men. “Hello,” she said. “Kyoya, Doctor Mephisto, you seem in good spirits.”
“It has been a while,” Doctor Mephisto said with a slight nod. He gave Kyoya a sidelong glance.
“Well, ah, thanks.” Kyoya’s smile was as stiff as his voice. “Sorry for barging in like this. You must be busy.”
“Not right now. I’m on a break.”
Sayaka showed the two to a pair of chairs. They were in the hall of the United Nations Philanthropic Hospital. Its sponsorship meant that the facilities lacked for nothing.
The patients moved in electric wheelchairs or on self-propelled walkways, leisurely coming and going. If they couldn’t move on their own, human or robotic nurses were there to assist. The “rehab light” pouring down from the ceiling accelerated muscular rejuvenation and protected against aging and cellular deterioration.
This was one byproduct of the large-scale research groups the United Nations had sent into Demon City. And the investigations were still underway.
Mephisto said with an entirely straight face, “In any case, we should have called ahead first. But Izayoi-kun here said he wanted to see you.”
Kyoya jumped as if hit by an electric shock. “W-what are you are going on about? He just made that up.”
“Well, either way, here we are. That should be sufficient, no?”
“Sufficient, my—” Kyoya started to say, when he became aware of the sad eyes looking into his.
“You really didn’t want to come here that badly?”
“No, no, no. Nothing like that. Really. This guy’s just messing with me.” Kyoya turned away in a huff. The tendons in his neck stood out.
“How are your patients doing?” Mephisto calmly asked, stepping in to rescue the conversation.
“They’ve increased in the last two or three days. The gale that blew through the city the night that building
appeared has affected many people.”
“A nuclear explosion.”
“I think so.”
Mephisto and Sayaka nodded. Kyoya put on a serious face. Three days before, the gale — the shock wave — that accompanied the appearance of that huge structure was theorized to be the result of its constituent atoms and those in the surrounding atmosphere fusing together when it suddenly materialized in the air.
“Teleportation is not something human technology is capable of,” Mephisto said, deeply impressed as he rarely was. “What would that say of the person living there?”
“Opinions are a dime a dozen. For these last three days, the United Nations must have collected several hundred million.”
“And one of them must be correct. However—”
Mephisto stopped speaking and cast his eyes down the hallway to the lobby. Sayaka, then Kyoya—who’d been staring at the ceiling—followed his gaze.
Escorted by four tall men in dark suits, a gray-coated individual approached the receptionist. A face that Kyoya and Sayaka had seen before.
“Hey—” Sayaka went to stand up.
Kyoya grabbed the hem of her skirt and pulled her back down again.
“But that’s Yamashina-san.”
“The look on his face tells me he’s up to no good.” Except the grim look on his face made Sayaka giggle. “The last time we met with him, we nearly ended up getting ourselves killed. Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but if not, I’m not keen to end up the devil’s plaything again. What do you say we get out of here?”
“Sure.” Sayaka nodded, her eyes bright with trust and affection not in the least bit feigned, a reaction strong enough to leave Kyoya a bit flustered.
His next move was interrupted by a pretty bing bong chime from a ceiling loudspeaker. “Surgical nurse 737, Sayaka Rama, please come to the number one reception area.”
The announcement being made in an equally pleasant voice didn’t keep Kyoya from scowling. “Son of a bitch!”
As if in payback for that remark, the following announcement said, “Kyoya Izayoi and Doctor Mephisto’s presence is also requested.”
“Son of a bitch!”
Doctor Mephisto was the one who said it this time.
Five minutes later, they were sitting around a table in the number one reception room in the thirtieth basement level. Dai Yamashina, chief of the World Federation Government Information Bureau, Japan section, was the only other person there. The guards waited in another room down the hall.
“It’s been a while, Izayoi-kun,” Yamashina said, a heartfelt smile creasing his warm, friendly face.
“Yeah, it has,” Kyoya replied. Despite his obvious confusion, he smiled too. He wasn’t so rude as to turn aside such a well-meaning greeting. “You’re looking as professional as always. Get a raise recently?”
“Still being paid peanuts,” Yamashina said wryly. “And this is Doctor Mephisto? I believe this is the first time we’ve met.”
He nodded. Mephisto returned the gesture.
“Rama-san informed me about your assistance in that recent incident. The World Federation government would like to see that you are appropriately compensated.”
“I’m afraid you are mistaken,” Mephisto coolly said. “I did nothing of any note. And therefore expect nothing in return.”
“In any case, the World Federation is deeply grateful. If there is anything we can offer you, do not hesitate to let us know.”
The words had hardly left his mouth before the expression froze on his face—in response to Mephisto’s thin smile, a smile quite different from what he’d shown Kyoya and Sayaka. More like: And if I asked for your life?
“Um, what did you want to see us about?” Sayaka asked nervously. “Something to do with my father?”
“No, thankfully. Or not. Something else entirely.” The section chief shook his head. The tense expression on his face only set Kyoya and Sayaka more on edge. “Did you receive a letter today?”
“No. Well, I haven’t checked.”
The section chief held up an envelope in his right hand. “I apologize for taking the liberty of hand-delivering your mail. This morning, starting with the prime minister, three hundred of Japan’s top government and business officials received a letter just like it. Please read it.”
Sayaka took the envelope and cautiously examined it. The “paper” was made of a metallic silver. The address of the hospital and Sayaka’s name was engraved with laser precision. The flap was closed with yellow wax in the medieval style.
“That’s a curious-looking seal,” Kyoya said, leaning forward. “What is it? Lizard? Eagle?”
“A dragon,” said Mephisto.
“Exactly,” nodded Section Chief Yamashina. “We are currently investigating the owner. It’s quite likely that nothing will turn up. But if there was anything to be found, the World Federation’s supercomputers would have coughed up a result in ten seconds flat. All we know is the sender’s address.”
“Hoh.” Mephisto’s eyes glimmered with a strange light. Though there was no draft, the hem of the cape fluttered. Even Kyoya’s eyes widened.
“I’ll read it.”
Sayaka broke the seal and extracted the white card inside and scanned the text with a combination of suspicion and unease. Kyoya read over her shoulder. The note was brief and to the point.
Sayaka Rama-sama,
You are cordially invited to a housewarming party, to be held at the following address on the twentieth of the month, the year 2030.
I am aware that you lead a busy life, but truly hope you will be able to attend. A courtesy limousine will be provided on the designated day. The most unusual delights await you.
A car will arrive at one o’clock in the afternoon (wherever you may happen to be).
The Lord of Babylon Palace
Shinjuku Ward, West Shinjuku, Chuo Park
“Presumptuous bastard,” said an openly indignant Kyoya. “There’s no way you’re going, Sayaka-chan.”
“But why would I receive such a letter?”
“That is a puzzle,” Section Chief Yamashina interrupted. “Which is why I came. Today, the World Federation Government Information Bureau received a list of all the invitees who were sent the same invitation from the same sender. Izayoi-kun, your name was included along with Sayaka-san’s.”
III
All eyes focused on Kyoya.
“You do have some interesting friends,” said Mephisto.
Kyoya fired back, “Starting with you, I suppose. None of my friends would show off like that.”
“Then why—” Sayaka furrowed her brows.
“The puzzle should soon unravel,” said Mephisto.
“How’s that?”
“Simple. Accept the invitation.”
“Eh?”
“The invitation itself states that no matter where you are, somebody will be there to pick you up. Rather than fighting them, join them. You can’t beard the lion unless you venture into its den.”
“What would I want with a lion’s beard?”
Mephisto said, “What do you think, Sayaka-san?”
“Hey!” Kyoya protested. “What the hell? That’s not gonna happen, right, Sayaka?”
Sayaka said, “No, I think I will.”
“What?”
“I’ve no idea why I received an invitation, though it probably has something to do with me being the daughter of the president of the World Federation. Besides, sending out a list like that, regardless of the malicious intent, seems to be throwing down a gauntlet. I accept the challenge.”
“Cut it out,” Kyoya insisted, though clearly losing the argument. “C’mon Yamashina-san, do something.”
“To be honest,” the section chief stated, “we were hoping that’s what she would decide to do.” He continued despite Kyoya’s raised eyebrows. “Taking all the worst-case scenarios into account, the cabinet of course will be deploying android stand-ins and agents in disguise. But considering the technological sophistic
ation of the opponent, such steps are not guaranteed to succeed. In order to get as close to the target and gather as much information as possible, we need people who can adapt and react on the spot to any contingency. Examining the guest list, that would be Sayaka-san and you.”
“Easy for you to say,” Kyoya grumbled. “No matter how many subs and stand-ins the prime minister and the cabinet send in as reserves, she’s still gonna shoulder the full load. Whose idea was that? Did her father—Mr. President of the World Federation—sign off on this?”
“Well—”
“See, Sayaka-chan? There’s no freaking way!”
Sayaka gazed back at the fuming Kyoya with an indomitable expression. “I’m going,” she said.
“Sounds settled,” Doctor Mephisto said, with a wry look at Kyoya. “There’s nothing to worry about, Sayaka-chan. You’ll have the world’s best bodyguard with you.”
Four days later, at one o’clock in the afternoon, black limousines began arriving in front of the fence surrounding Chuo Park, curiously in the same place where the patrol helicopter had crashed.
The VIPs who’d received the invitations came to the mysterious floating house. Movers and shakers in government, business and the arts. No one declined to attend. Skipping out would not only look bad, but even worse, would yield the limelight to other celebrities.
Especially with the mass media focusing their attention day and night on the enormous structure. For audiences outside Demon City, the bigger the scale of the supernatural phenomenon, the better the entertainment value.
To the peaceful world, like the Devil Quake itself, the reality show that was Demon City shook the foundations of physical law. Its very existence was a threat. Real information was limited to the local and small-scale. Everything else was treated as comedic filler.
Though the perfect attendance came down to one incontrovertible factor: bodyguards were also allowed.
The last guest arrived thirty minutes later.
Demon City Shinjuku: The Complete Edition Page 22
