"You, you fellow. How do you know I'm a Spirit?" Itsuka Kotori looked at Toujou Nozomi with a surprised expression. Her spiritual power was currently sealed by Itsuka Shido. Even Yoshino, who was also a Spirit, shouldn't be able to discern her Spirit identity, so why was her identity exposed now?
"Hehe~ When I learned that your brother, Itsuka Shido, was the one who sealed Spirits, I felt two forces within him. But currently, there's only Yatogami Tohka, a sealed Spirit, by his side. So where did the second force on him go? The answer might lie with someone close to him. Today, after seeing you, his younger sister, I realized: you are the fifth Spirit, Itsuka Kotori. You were sealed even earlier than Yatogami Tohka, weren't you?" Yoshino, sitting in Toujou Nozomi's embrace, glanced at Toujou Nozomi, saw her confident expression, shook her head slightly, and turned back. This information was clearly told to her by Yoshino, so why did it now sound like Toujou Nozomi knew it herself?
"As the fifth sephirah, Geburah (Severity), of the kabbalah tree of life, also known as the 'Angel's Surgeon,' you should possess strong healing abilities. Itsuka Shido sealing your spiritual power also gave him your healing ability. This is why you confidently allow your brother to approach 'dangerous' Spirits, because you know he won't die. After all, he possesses your power."
"The number is 5, the color is red, the gem is ruby, the planet is symbolized by Mars, and the Guardian Angel is Camael. Isn't that interesting, Commander Itsuka? Every Spirit's name has a number corresponding to its particle on the kabbalah tree of life. Yoshino is the fourth sephirah, and Itsuka Kotori is the fifth particle. That's how I knew your hidden identity is a Spirit." Toujou Nozomi didn't stop talking, continuing.
"Even Yatogami Tohka, who is the tenth particle, didn't seem to have a name at first. Her name was given to her by Itsuka Shido. Don't you think all of this was already decided in the dark? You know, Yatogami Tohka's greatsword was pulled from a throne-like object, and the tenth particle represents a young woman sitting on a throne. That's the evidence." Toujou Nozomi's words directly silenced Itsuka Kotori, who was about to refute. It seemed the other party had indeed investigated before coming.
"The particle numbers represented by these Spirits will definitely appear in their names, and their personalities are also very similar to the particle they represent." After saying this, Toujou Nozomi fell silent, watching the constantly thinking Itsuka Kotori. "You should know that these Spirits are part of the kabbalah tree of life; they all represent good. But after despair, the Spirits will reverse, and then they will become beings that destroy this world."
"What do you mean?" Itsuka Kotori, who was deep in thought, trembled when she heard this, looking at Toujou Nozomi with a puzzled expression.
Toujou Nozomi reached out and flipped the projection of the kabbalah tree of life directly by one hundred and eighty degrees. As Toujou Nozomi rotated it, the meanings represented by the ten particles on the kabbalah tree of life changed together. Even the leaves, which initially carried a sacred color, became incredibly dark, like an aggregation full of evil.
"See? The kabbalah tree of life will reverse to become the inverse kabbalistic tree of evil. This is when the Spirits of angels truly turn into demons."
"After the reversal, the ten particles on the Spirit's body will become the ten great vices, and the angel on their body will also become a demon. Their weapons after becoming a reversed body will be even more powerful than angels. As long as humans continue to hunt down Spirits like this, one day, when they feel despair, they will reverse. Then they will become truly destructive beings." She pointed to the fifth particle that Itsuka Kotori had just represented, only now the symbol on it had changed to Akzeriyyuth (Cruelty).
"I don't know when Spirits will destroy humanity, I only know that it is always humans themselves who lead to their own extinction. When life reaches its end, Noah's Ark will appear to restart this world. I just don't know when humans will pay the price for their actions. I'm very curious." The magic circle surrounding the room slowly began to shrink, gradually shrinking to a size that could only accommodate Yoshino and the others. By the time Itsuka Kotori recovered from Toujou Nozomi's words, they had already completed the preparations for teleportation.
"Wait! Toujou Nozomi! Why do you know so much!? Who... who exactly are you!?" Even the smartest person couldn't possibly know so many secret things through investigation. Toujou Nozomi's identity is definitely not simple. No, the identities of Toujou Nozomi and these few people are not simple. The information I had collected about them before was completely wrong. It's possible that even such a big change in Hermit is related to them.
"Me? I'm just a beautiful young girl who likes supernatural powers, and right now I just want to stay by Yoshino's side. I'm telling you these things now because I trust you, Commander Itsuka. If you report what I told you today to the higher-ups, it might create a serious impression of the Spirits. Because to prevent the Spirits from despairing and becoming world-destroying demons, they might start hunting down Spirits, just like the AST and DEM Company, under the pretext of protecting the world. I wonder if you, as a Spirit, will push the Spirits to a dead end~ Itsuka Kotori of the fifth particle." The magic circle began to emit dazzling light, and Toujou Nozomi continued, holding Yoshino.
"I think if they knew about this, their first target would probably be Yatogami Tohka, whose Spirit power you've already sealed. Without her power, a sniper rifle could be fatal to her. Hehe~ Well then, goodbye, Commander Itsuka. If you've thought it over, you can come talk to us. You're always welcome to visit our home." After the dazzling light disappeared, the people inside and the magic circle vanished together. Only Itsuka Kotori was left, frowning and pounding the table forcefully.
"Commander! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? Where did those people go just now?" Kannazuki Kyouhei and Murasame Reine appeared in the room the first moment they could enter. First, they looked at Itsuka Kotori anxiously, and after confirming she wasn't hurt, they breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that Toujou Nozomi and the others, who should have been in the room, had disappeared, they asked curiously.
"...Kannazuki Kyouhei, Reine. Everything that happened today is forbidden from external publicity, and all related surveillance on Ratatoskr must be deleted. This matter concerns Ratatoskr's protection of Spirits and absolutely cannot be announced externally." Thinking of Toujou Nozomi's last words made Itsuka Kotori break out in a cold sweat. She really wanted to trust the high-ranking executives of the Round Table Conference, but she couldn't gamble on this matter. She wasn't a Little Girl who knew nothing anymore; today's conversation absolutely could not be known by others.
"...I understand, Commander." As the Vice Commander, there was no need to know too much. Moreover, seeing the expression on Itsuka Kotori's face now, he knew this matter was very serious and couldn't be joked about as before.
Meanwhile, Murasame Reine looked at Itsuka Kotori, her brows slightly furrowed. She felt that Itsuka Kotori had learned something in those few minutes. She just didn't know what it was.
What on earth made Itsuka Kotori's emotions change so much?
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!