"Mhm... the wounds are basically healed, and there are no signs of damage to the internal organs or blood vessels. The Spirit power pathways are also quite stable."
Looking at the data on the monitor report in her hand, Reine slowly nodded and advised.
"It seems there really aren't any problems. However, because of the blood loss, you're still a bit weak. Make sure you get plenty of rest over the next few days, Yutsuki."
"Mhm, I know."
Hearing Reine's words, Yutsuki nodded in understanding. Looking at Reine's usual sleepy appearance, she suddenly asked.
"By the way, Reine-san, can I ask you a question?"
"What is it?"
"Vaccine box—a matchbox-sized Realizer. Do you know what that is?"
Hearing Yutsuki's question, Reine tilted her head in confusion.
"Vaccine box... is that the small box that sealed your hacking abilities during the battle earlier?"
Yutsuki nodded to confirm.
"Yeah. I rember when Ellen took out that small box, I vaguely heard her call it that."
"Is that so... a Realizer that can interfere with an Angel's abilities?" Reine rubbed her forehead in thought for a mont, then slowly shook her head. "Sorry, Yutsuki... This is my first ti hearing the na 'Vaccine box' too. To my knowledge, DEM has never developed this type of Realizer. If they do have one, it must have been developed very recently."
"Thanks, that's enough."
Yutsuki waved her hand, showing it was fine.
As I thought, that Realizer is a tool developed specifically to counter my hacking abilities. Hearing Reine's answer, Yutsuki further confird her guess.
As soone who had previously hacked into DEM's database, Yutsuki didn't rember seeing any blueprints or developnt plans for that box. It was obvious that DEM realized just how severe a threat Yutsuki was during the Miku incident last month, which led them to develop a tool specifically designed to counter her hacking.
As for who the eccentric genius capable of developing such a nasty Realizer in just one month was? The first person Yutsuki thought of was the grey haired man with a strange personality she t not long ago—Westcott.
"But why did they wait until now to bring out sothing like that?"
Yutsuki's face showed a bit of confusion. Yutsuki believed that ever since she hacked DEM a year ago, she was their mortal enemy. Back then, when she was destroying DEM's reputation all over the world, DEM did absolutely nothing—no, it was more like they were completely helpless.
If Yutsuki were Westcott, she would definitely have developed it as soon as possible. Why drag it out until now?
[That's probably... because of .]
Suddenly, Arusu Marina—the black-haired girl wearing a black nun's outfit with an inverted cross—appeared on Yutsuki's computer screen, speaking with a face full of guilt.
"Marina?"
Yutsuki looked at Marina with a confused expression.
[Um...]
Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound ca out, seemingly hesitant out of fear. But finally, she gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and said in a trembling voice.
[Actually... back when you and the others dove into the computer world to save Shido, during one of the loops, I accidentally detected the operational fluctuations of the Angel Ratziel. At the ti... I was completely obsessed with wanting that person's approval... so I recorded it, disguised it as a regular file, and sent it to DEM headquarters.]
Honestly, even Marina herself didn't pay much attention to it at first. It was just so insignificant information, roughly equivalent to a docuntary showing a machine's operation fild with a video cara. Marina never imagined that Westcott would use just that to almost kill Yutsuki.
"I see, so that's when."
Yutsuki nodded in realization. The virus network that destroyed the internal commands was only completed right before the final loop. Before that, although Marina couldn't escape the computer world because Maria had sealed herself away, transmitting so information wasn't impossible.
[I am truly very sorry! I will accept any punishnt.]
On the computer screen, Marina got down on her hands and knees in a dogeza pose to apologize to Yutsuki.
"You'll accept any punishnt?"
Yutsuki confird with Marina.
[Yes, anything!]
Marina nodded without hesitation.
"Is that so? Then I won't hold back."
Saying that, Yutsuki reached out a finger and gently flicked the screen right where Marina's forehead was.
[...Eh?]
Of course, the Marina inside the screen wouldn't feel any pain from Yutsuki's flick. After a long mont, she blankly reacted.
[Is that... it?]
"How could it be over just like that? You're too naive! Too innocent! My dear Marina."
A mischievous smile appeared on Yutsuki's face.
"I'm just putting this on your tab for now. I'm too busy with other things. Next ti I return to the virtual world, I'm going to flick your forehead a hundred tis hard. Maria, rember to keep track of it for ."
Imdiately after, another window popped up automatically on the computer screen. The white-haired girl in the video smiled and nodded.
[Yes! I will rember it, Yutsuki.]
[Eh? —Eeeeehhhh!]
Hearing the conversation between the two that sounded like it had been planned beforehand, Marina couldn't help but cover her forehead with her hands and let out a panicked cry.
"Is this really okay? Yutsuki."
Reine asked.
"Yeah, this level is just right."
Yutsuki nodded. Honestly, she wasn't really angry about this. After all, she and Marina were still enemies back then, so it wouldn't be strange even if she had done sothing worse. But if she just forgave her directly, it might make Marina obsess over it forever.
"However, it looks like... there's sothing else on your mind."
Seeing Yutsuki looking thoughtful, Reine couldn't help but ask.
"Well... you could say that."
Yutsuki nodded with a bitter smile.
Actually, having her hacking thods sealed didn't cause Yutsuki too much distress or surprise. It was the sa logic as antivirus software being created shortly after a computer virus runs rampant. Even without Marina's actions, Westcott would have eventually created a Realizer to seal her hacking abilities using other ans.
Furthermore, when she originally ca up with the idea to hack Realizers, she just wanted to avoid fighting and killing Wizards as much as possible. The only reason she ended up in danger this ti was because she was caught completely off guard.
"What I really care about is the manufacturing thod of the Vaccine box."
Letting out a slow breath, a trace of seriousness appeared on Yutsuki's face.
"The fundantal principle behind that box's function is probably utilizing the power of a Spirit imprisoned in DEM—the one they call 'Material A'."
At that ti, the reason Ratziel couldn't successfully hack into the CR-Units of those grunt Wizards and Ellen wasn't because the box destroyed the hacking program Ratziel had built. More directly, Ratziel's operation was directly interfered with by the exact sa type of power. And only a Spirit could do sothing like that.
Hearing Yutsuki's deduction, Reine frowned slightly.
"You an... a Spirit is helping DEM?"
"Well, using a Spirit's Angel and Spirit power doesn't necessarily require their consent."
Recalling the Spirit power radiating from the box back then, although it was only a tiny amount, it felt sowhat similar to the Spirit power fluctuations Tohka emitted when she inverted.
I'm afraid the current condition of that Spirit can't be called good.
Thinking of this, Yutsuki couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
"Ah... whether it's Origami suddenly jumping ship to DEM, or the Natsumi situation. It really is an eventful autumn."
"Well, good work, Yutsuki," Reine comforted her softly, then asked, seeming slightly curious, "But, why did you only tell this?"
"Well... no special reason. Just thought I'd discuss it with you since you're here, Reine-san. Please pass this information on to Kotori and the others later. So—I should probably go check on Natsumi's condition."
Yutsuki shrugged and answered.
Although the imprisoned Spirit in DEM and Origami's situation both worried Yutsuki a lot, the first thing to resolve right now was still Natsumi's problem.
Stretching her arms forcefully, a sudden Riiip! sound echoed. The shirt Yutsuki was wearing tore open significantly with her movent.
"Ah... guess I can't wear this shirt anymore."
Yutsuki tugged at her clothes in frustration. After turning back from a child to an adult, Yutsuki's outfit also reverted to the disguise she was wearing a few days ago (although she didn't understand the chanics behind it). During the battle with Ellen earlier, it had beco covered in blood and tattered.
She didn't know if it would be wearable even if she took it back to wash and sew it up.
"Well... there's spare hospital gowns in the second drawer of the cabinet. I'll have soone bring your clothes over later. Can you make do with that until then?"
"That works, thanks."
Listening to Reine's suggestion, Yutsuki felt there was no problem and nodded.
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