I don't want to be an elf!

"So, that guy named Tokisaki Shozo was also a clone of Nightmare...?"

Dazai Osamu squinted and muttered to himself, "Ranpo-san's reasoning was indeed correct."

With Bandage Three's approval, Edogawa Ranpo's reasoning became even more reliable.

Bandage Three, who lives in the detective agency, and Eyepatch Three, who has contact with the special agents, are both clones who betrayed Nightmare.

"By the way, is Tokisaki Shozo a pseudonym?"

"Yes and no."

"What do you mean?"

"Nightmare's real name is Tokisaki Kurumi. I think that the clone named Tokisaki Shozo really liked his eyepatch, so he gave himself that name."

"From now on, shall we call you Tokisaki or Kurumi, okay?"

"No, I will not inherit this name until I defeat that guy!"

"So, how should we address you?"

“Hmm…” Bandage San pondered for a moment, “You may call me Bandage San, Tokisaki Bandage San.”

"You two really have a very simple and straightforward way of naming yourselves."

Upon hearing Bandage Three's reply, Dazai Osamu's lips twitched: "Your original self looks so elegant and tasteful... Are you really a clone of Nightmare?"

"Hmph, I wish I had nothing to do with that evil fellow."

Upon hearing Dazai Osamu's words, Bandage Three's tone turned cold.

But a hint of sadness was evident in his eyes.

She clenched her fists around her skirt, muttering to herself, "That kind of guy... I'd never admit it..."

Seeing the girl's slightly forlorn expression, Fukuzawa Yukichi and Dazai Osamu both fell silent.

Especially after the intelligence obtained by the special agents included what happened at the drug factory more than half a month ago, which further convinced them of Nightmare's heartless and inhuman side, they found it even harder to believe that the girl in front of them was the former Nightmare.

Especially Dazai Osamu, who spent a whole week with her, was so exhausted by her that he still felt a bit of pity for her.

For someone whose heart is set on the light, the greatest despair in the world is not the defeat of justice by evil.

Instead, they become part of evil themselves.

This child must be in so much pain.

Chapter Seventy-Three Unexpected Events

Dazai Osamu originally wanted to ask her why she betrayed Nightmare.

But looking at her now, he could guess the answer even without asking.

When the three bandages from the past were summoned, they witnessed the brutality of the present-day nightmare and refused to acknowledge that they were the same person.

Thus, dissatisfaction turned into conflict, conflict escalated into disagreement, and the two eventually parted ways.

However, even though he knew the reason why Bandage Three betrayed Nightmare, Dazai Osamu still had a question he wanted answered even more.

“Beng San, I’ll call you that from now on,” Dazai Osamu asked. “Do you know why you… turned from who you are into Nightmare?”

It is perfectly natural for people to change; no one in this world remains unchanged.

However, such a huge change between Bandage 3 and Nightmare must be because something happened that caused Bandage 3 to become Nightmare.

If they could find out the reason why Bandage Three became a nightmare, then the Armed Detective Agency might be able to find a way to fight her.

"I don't know."

However, Bandage Three shook her head and said slowly, "Because I am an individual from a very long time ago, I have absolutely no idea what the current Tokisaki Kurumi has gone through."

"Didn't you ask her before you betrayed Nightmare?"

“Of course I asked, but Nightmare has been unwilling to tell me.” Bandage Three curled his lip. “Not only Nightmare, but the other clones are the same. None of them are willing to tell me what will happen in the future. What’s worse is that they don’t even want to talk to me! Every time I try to get close to them, they run far away!”

"Hmm...that sounds very convincing."

Dazai Osamu had no doubts at all, because it sounded too real.

It's perfectly normal for people with chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) to be isolated. Some people, after graduating from chuunibyou, even want to travel back in time and strangle themselves when they think about their embarrassing past.

It's perfectly normal that Bandage Three is disliked by the main body and the other clones.

The three of them continued their conversation for quite some time.

While there are too many questions that Bandage 3 cannot answer, as a young Kurumi Tokisaki, it is not a problem to answer some questions about Kurumi Tokisaki's younger days.

Bandage Three also told them about Tokisaki Kurumi's experiences before high school without reservation.

This also includes the experience of Takamiya Mio giving Tokisaki Kurumi the Spirit Crystal.

However, this world does not have Mio Takamiya or Spirit Crystals, so in order to enhance credibility, the story of Kurumi Tokisaki was slightly modified to better fit the world's worldview.

After informing the two members of the Armed Detective Agency of their modified experiences, the background of Nightmare in this world truly began to unfold.

"You were originally just an ordinary person from a well-off family. One day, you were given the power of time by a being who called herself 'Phantom,' and at her invitation, you began your heroic activities of punishing evil and promoting good."

With great difficulty, Dazai Osamu extracted the key points from the hour-long, rambling narrative, which was full of adolescent angst, and repeatedly pondered the reliability of the story she told.

Even if you trust her completely, her story is still hard to believe.

However, as someone who had connections in both the underworld and the legitimate world, Dazai Osamu knew more than ordinary people, and even more than those in the industry, and he was well aware of how strange this world was.

Ultimately, the existence of superpowers is a purely magical phenomenon that countless scientists have tried to explain but have been unable to reach any conclusions about.

No matter how fantastical things were, Dazai Osamu found them all normal.

Moreover, superpowers can indeed be granted.

Although it was just a rumor in the world of superpowers, Dazai Osamu knew that superpowers could indeed be granted under certain conditions.

Izumi Kyoka is a good example. Originally she had no special abilities, but because of her bloodline, she inherited her mother's Yasha Shirayuki.

"But who is this phantom you're talking about? Do you have any clues?" Dazai Osamu asked.

“I have only fought alongside Phantom for a few weeks, and she has always kept her past a secret.” Bandage Three shook his head. “However, another traitorous clone might know something. Of all the clones, I have the shortest tenure.”

"Do you have a way to contact another defector clone?"

“No… If you hadn’t told me this, I wouldn’t even have known that there were other clones who betrayed Nightmare.”

"Well, how to invite that clone over for a talk is something we'll have to think about carefully," Dazai Osamu sighed slightly.

Although both Bandage Three and Eyepatch Three are clones who betrayed Nightmare, they are distinctly different in both personality and methods.

The former, not only was he caught by Nightmare while trying to escape, but he was also almost executed if he hadn't been rescued by the Armed Detective Agency. After spending the last few days with him, he gave the impression of being a child who hadn't grown up.

The latter not only escaped the nightmare's pursuit, but also managed to set a trap to lure out Sakaguchi Ango, who was hiding underground. The two talked for a long time, and Sakaguchi Ango didn't even know what she looked like, leaving no evidence against her.

A complete domination by skill level.

If we have to say which one is more like Nightmare, then Eyepatch 3 undoubtedly beats Bandage 3.

Therefore, Dazai Osamu believed that if he could talk to that clone, he would definitely be able to obtain more information.

However, meeting with Eyepatch Three was not an easy task. After Ango Sakaguchi was ambushed, the Special Ability Agency went all out to search for her, but found nothing.

Dazai Osamu felt that even if Edogawa Ranpo of the Armed Detective Agency personally took charge, he probably wouldn't have been able to do it any better.

But in any case, they have to try.

The only way to contact Eyepatch Three was through the phone number she left for Sakaguchi Ango.

The contact information for all the Eyepatch Three members of the Special Ability Agents is available, and Bandage Three is in the Armed Detective Agency. Perhaps the two can take this opportunity to join forces.

"Ding ding ding-----!"

However, just as Dazai Osamu was pondering his next move, his cell phone suddenly rang.

"Kunikida-kun? He's not calling to check on things, is he?"

Dazai Osamu took out his phone, a helpless expression on his face: "Even though the president is right here with me, how could I possibly slack off? Just how unreliable am I in Kunikida-kun's eyes?"

"Hey, this is Dazai, what's up?"

Just as Dazai Osamu answered the phone and was about to say that, Kunikida Doppo's urgent voice came through first.

"Dazai! Come back quickly! Nightmare has attacked the Detective Agency!"

Chapter 74 Nightmare Strikes

The Armed Detective Agency was on high alert.

There were no longer any onlookers around.

In this world, the existence of superpowers is not information that needs to be concealed from the public.

Or, even if governments in various countries intend to conceal it, they are powerless to do anything about it.

The reason is as it is now.

The streets, which should be bustling with activity during the day, are now deserted.

When people saw twenty beautiful girls dressed identically, some with their upper bodies partially visible in the shadows, others floating in the air, no one dared to look at them for long and they all hurriedly fled.

Even a child can understand what this means.

"Nightmare, your current actions have seriously threatened the peace of Yokohama and the stability of our company!"

Inside the Armed Detective Agency, Kunikida Doppo, who was temporarily acting as president, used a megaphone to shout from the third floor: "If the Port Mafia wants to start a war, they'd better consider whether they can bear the consequences of a full-scale war with us!"

"Oh dear, a full-scale war would be too much. I'm only here to ask you to hand over one person."

“If you’re talking about your clone, she’s not here right now, and even if she were, we wouldn’t hand her over to you.”

"To be honest, it doesn't matter what happens to that child. He doesn't know much anyway, and he won't pose much of a threat to me if you take him in."

"Then why have you come?"

“Atsushi Nakajima, I want you to hand over that man-tiger. This is a task given to me by Mr. Mori.”

"Impossible. Although Atsushi Nakajima is a newcomer, he is now a member of our company. If you want to take him away, be prepared to step over the corpses of others!"

Listening to the confrontation between Kunikida Doppo and Tokisaki Kurumi, Nakajima Atsushi, pale-faced, looked at Kunikida Doppo with gratitude.