Everyone was staring at me, as if they were all waiting to say something.
I expected Kiyosumi to ask the next question, but it was Tsurubami who spoke first.
“Do you know who stole the book, Mr... um, White-robed-san?”
His voice trembled slightly—maybe it was just my imagination.
“I never saw him directly. But I do know one thing about him. He’s said to have thirteen fingers.”
“…”
Silence fell over the group. Understandable. Their imaginations were probably running wild. And imagination is the most terrifying power of all.
“Um… are you from the Church of Medicine?”
Tsurubami asked again. Of course he’d know. He had lived underground, after all.
“Yes. I’m a pastor.”
“Which church were you with?”
Tsurubami’s tone changed slightly—there was clear fear in his voice.
“The one in the Western District. Come on, just say it. What do you really want to know?”
Tsurubami’s pale face flushed slightly as he finally spoke.
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“While I was underground, I was sheltered by the church in the Central District. And… I heard that the man who stole the book containing the secrets of the Oblivion Drug looks just like me.”
“…What?”
Akisumi let out a small gasp.
Unlike his older brother, he stared at Tsurubami with wide, honest eyes, frozen in place.
“Don’t be scared, Aki-kun. I don’t know anything about the Oblivion Drug. But because I resembled that man, it wasn’t safe for me underground. The people from the church protected me. I was allowed outside sometimes, but only in their vehicle, and only to places they trusted.
Just before I went underground, I heard someone had been dispatched to the surface to retrieve the stolen book. That was you… wasn’t it?”
He said it all in one breath. His pale, almost translucent cheeks were flushed now.
“Looks like we just missed each other. But don’t worry. I’ve seen the video of the man with thirteen fingers. He really does look like you—but he’s definitely someone else.”
Kiyosumi’s eyes sparkled.
“You chose to come to the surface, right? That means you know how to get in and out. Couldn’t you use that to bring back people who were sucked into the underground?”
His complexion, normally healthy, was growing even more flushed with excitement.
“That’s not possible. There’s no fixed entrance. Travel is done using a special kind of vehicle.
Kiyosumi-san… will you help me? What I mean is—”
Kiyosumi picked up his thought smoothly.
“Let’s find the Oblivion Drug. I’ll help. No—let me help you.”
“Brother, let me help too. If I just sit around, I might get pulled underground myself in the next four days.”
Akisumi said it with strength in his voice.
“I… I’m one of the few people alive who know both the surface and the underground.”
“And I’ll take care of this white-robed guy to the very end. I’m curious now—so I’ll see this through.”
Tsurubami and the café owner both chimed in.
I wasn’t alone on the surface anymore.
“…………”
I was too happy to speak.
Kiyosumi flashed a dazzling smile.
“Then it’s settled. Let’s take it back—the stolen Oblivion Drug.
And together… let’s save both the underground and the surface.”