I don't want to be an elf!

When the guards with plastic batons saw the real guns in the girls' hands, they weighed whether their monthly salary was worth risking their lives and, after reaching a conclusion, all surrendered.

From entering the television station to suppressing everyone, the time was no more than five minutes.

Not a single person escaped from the television station.

Some people tried to call the police, but Yokohama is now in chaos. After the clones caused panic, many thugs took the opportunity to rob and steal, which greatly attracted the attention of the police. As a result, too many people called the police and the Metropolitan Police Department's phone was completely busy.

Clone Number One approached a middle-aged bald man and asked, "Are you the station manager?"

The bald man, barely managing to remain calm, replied, "Yes, that's me. I need to tell you that barging into a television station without anyone's permission is illegal. You'd better do it right now..."

However, before he could finish speaking, the muzzle of a flintlock pistol was pressed against his forehead.

"Enough with the nonsense. What I say, you do. Can you do that?"

"Yes...yes..."

"Very well, even I don't want to cause unnecessary casualties."

Putting away the flintlock pistol, Doppelganger Number One said, "Prepare a venue for us; we want to broadcast this live."

"Live stream? You guys?"

"Didn't you hear me?"

The station manager was so frightened by the cold look that he dared not say a word.

He directed his staff to quickly set up the equipment that was usually used for relaxing news broadcasts and to stop the cartoons that were being shown on the local television channel.

The staff moved quickly, but they had to be fast, given that there were nine Nightmare clones armed with guns behind them.

They realized they had been drawn into some kind of supernatural conflict. As ordinary people, they had no way to resist, so for the sake of their lives, they decided to obediently follow the other party's orders.

Soon, the cameras, channels, spotlights, and all the equipment and devices for the live broadcast were ready.

"Three, two, one, start."

As the station director counted down, all the screens controlled by Yokohama Television, including local Yokohama channels on TV, commercial screens in the business district, and projection advertisements on the Shinkansen bullet train, disappeared, replaced by the figure of Doppelganger Number One.

People running for their lives on the streets, people anxiously heading home on trams, and people staying at home feeling uneasy—all of them turned their gaze to the elegant and charming young woman on the screen at this moment.

The girl smiled, looking more photogenic than most female celebrities. The camera, which would normally attract many fans, now bred more fear.

Because almost all Yokohama residents have seen the face of the culprit who caused this riot through different channels.

They knew that the person shown on the television screen was the mastermind behind the riots.

Good afternoon, everyone.

I apologize for taking up your time. I have something very important to announce to you all. I hope that those of you who see this will stop what you are doing and listen carefully to what I have to say.

My name is Tokisaki Kurumi, an ability user who can manipulate time.

My goal is to go back in time, but that will take a lot of time and I can't do it alone.

Therefore, I would like to ask for your help.

Next, you may experience various symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, nervousness, and drowsiness, but please don't worry, it's nothing serious, it's just me absorbing your lifespan.

Perhaps most of you will die as time runs out, and I am deeply sorry for that.

But rest assured, if I successfully change the past, then the timeline will be altered, and everything that is happening now will cease to exist.

So, everyone in Yokohama, let's meet again in the new world.

----------

----------

Meanwhile, Yokohama Forest Park.

While clone number one was carrying out its mission at the television station, the original Tokisaki Kurumi was also carrying out her own mission.

As she gazed at the throne gradually taking shape, woven from grapevines, Kurumi Tokisaki's eyes gleamed with excitement.

Finally, we've come this far.

Since arriving in this world as Kurumi Tokisaki, all her acting and efforts have been for the purpose of waiting for this moment to arrive.

Whether it's joining Yokohama's three major organizations, delaying the group's requests, or creating chaos in Yokohama, her ultimate goal is the throne before her.

The grafting ability of the Grape of Wrath will expand the influence of Kurumi Tokisaki's City of Time to the entire Yokohama.

The mission of Doppelganger One was to inform the citizens of Yokohama about what would happen next after occupying the Yokohama TV Tower, thus sowing the seeds of fear in advance.

Now, all the prelude has been completed.

It's time to shroud all of Yokohama in fear.

As the vine throne was fully formed, Kurumi Tokisaki suppressed her excitement and slowly walked onto it.

As she sat on the throne, thinner vines grew from the armrests and back of the chair, wrapping around her and piercing her skin.

The grafting is now complete.

"Ms. Tokisaki, my ability can now sense you."

After being soundly beaten and forced to admit defeat, John repeatedly confirmed his deal with Kurumi Tokisaki, saying uneasily, "As agreed, I'll help you complete your plan, and then you'll let me leave safely, right?"

At this moment, the grapevines have been grafted onto Kurumi Tokisaki's body, so it can be said that her life is now in John's hands.

If he wanted, with a single thought, he could crush this terrifying and mysterious woman on the throne.

Even so, John, standing in front of her, had absolutely no ulterior motives.

He was just a mercenary for the group, with no loyalty to his superiors whatsoever, and he obeyed orders only for money.

But the group is now defunct in name only. Even its leader, Fitzgerald, has been captured and imprisoned in the Shadow Dimension, so John has even less reason to risk his life for the group.

Moreover, even if he really wanted to avenge the group, he had several clones watching him. Even if his main body couldn't move, these clones still had their own judgment.

If he dares to have even the slightest wicked thought, the clone monitoring him will not hesitate to fire.

"Yes, I guarantee you can leave safely after this is over." Tokisaki Kurumi nodded slowly.

“Well, I guess I have no choice but to trust you.” John sighed. “I’m all set up here too. My grapes have been grafted onto most of the large plants in this city. As long as you use your abilities, they can spread them throughout the entire city.”

"very good."

Kurumi Tokisaki closed her eyes and murmured to herself, "Then, let the final curtain fall."

In an instant, the crimson City of Time expanded outwards from the girl's center.

The plants that were grafted onto John's grapevines, scattered throughout Yokohama, also spread out in the same field at the same time.

In just a few seconds, the entire city of Yokohama was shrouded in crimson.

At this moment, everyone still in the city was completely captivated by this dizzying crimson.

The seeds of fear took root and sprouted.

At this moment, Yokohama was plunged into complete chaos.

"The final stage has been set up."

Kurumi Tokisaki lowered her head, feeling pain and weakness from the side effects of the grafting, but a hopeful smile still appeared on her lips.

"Guardians of Yokohama, please do your utmost and dance with me."

Chapter 94 Mori Ōgai: It's Time to Show Your True Skill

As he looked at the clone number one appearing on the giant screen, Dazai Osamu's expression turned solemn.

He knew that the Tokisaki Kurumi on the TV station was definitely a clone, while the real Tokisaki was hiding somewhere making final preparations.

After all, the final piece of Kurumi Tokisaki's plan, the psychic John from the group, had already been captured by her.

After they shook off Fitzgerald and his fifty clones, Fitzgerald, who was supposed to form a cooperative relationship with Kurumi Tokisaki, suddenly called them and told them John's location.

The reason is that after Dazai Osamu and his group shook off Fitzgerald, their clones immediately betrayed him.

However, they couldn't worry about that at the time. They had no choice but to abandon their plans to go back and reinforce Fitzgerald and immediately set off for Yokohama Port, hoping to protect John before Kurumi Tokisaki arrived.

It’s a pity that they were still a step too late.

When they arrived at their destination, John and Anne had vanished, leaving them only with the sight of a giant octopus monster slowly walking towards the sea and sinking into the ocean.

At this moment, all the capable superhumans from the three major organizations gathered together, unsure of what to do next.

Yes, all those with superpowers who can move.

To stop Kurumi Tokisaki's evil plan, the three organizations that usually don't get along with each other mobilized all their forces. More than twenty powerful and unique superhumans stood together, like five fingers finally clenching together.

This is a historic moment.

However, none of those present had the inclination to commemorate it.

"Sakaguchi, can you pinpoint the Nightmare's location?" Fukuzawa Yukichi asked, frowning.

"No, the Special Ability Agency has searched with all its might, but hundreds of clones are still hindering our search, and we haven't found any clues yet," Ango Sakaguchi replied with shame.

"Detective agency, show us your deductive skills!" Chuuya Nakahara turned his gaze to Edogawa Ranpo.

"Give me some clues. My ability is super deduction, not divination or precognition," Edogawa Ranpo said, looking speechless.

"Does that mean we can't do anything right now?" Atsushi Nakajima anxiously tugged at his hair, pacing back and forth restlessly.

“Yokohama is too big, and Nightmare is unpredictable; there’s no way to find her current location,” Kunikida Doppo said, frowning.

“Miss Tokisaki seems to really like her subordinates. Perhaps we can learn something from that child named Izumi Kyoka,” Mori Ougai suggested.

"Impossible. It's precisely because Miss Tokisaki is fond of Kyoka that she won't tell Kyoka anything." Ozaki Kouyou waved her hand, rejecting the suggestion.

"What about the government? Isn't the government going to do anything?" Chuuya Nakahara glared at Ango Sakaguchi.

"Come on, Nightmare is undoubtedly a transcendent being. Japan has produced such a figure, and the government is too busy currying favor with him. Let alone destroying a city, if it could please Nightmare, sacrificing half of Japan would be acceptable to them," Edogawa Ranpo sneered.

“Although it’s not appropriate for me to say this from my perspective, Mr. Ranpo is right. The government is too eager for a transcendent to be its own. They won’t send anyone to support Yokohama. We can only rely on ourselves,” Ango Sakaguchi said, biting his lip in frustration.

"Do the two clones have any way to find the main body?" Fukuzawa Yukichi asked with a solemn expression.

“No,” Bandage Three replied.

"I'm sorry, there's nothing we can do," Eyepatch Three said regretfully.

"Hey, it seems that what Dun-kun said wasn't wrong after all; there's nothing we can do."