“Terminus Station, Dream Mirage City has arrived. Passengers who wish to disembark, please prepare to get off.”
Time flew by, and seven days had passed in the blink of an eye. It had already been seven days since Ye Xi became Xi Ye. She was gradually getting used to this body that felt a bit too much for her to handle, and, following the guidance from the app, she boarded this train.
She turned her head to look out the window. At the front of the train, at the end of the railway bridge, lay a boundless, enormous city—her destination: Dream Mirage City.
According to her investigation, this city did not exist in the real world, but rather in a different dimension called “Dream Mirage.” It was a prison constructed by the Investigation Bureau specifically for containing Sealed Evil Gods.
“There are no humans in this city, you know~”
That was what the Agent had said to her.
“Sigh…”
Xi Ye had lost count of how many times she’d sighed today.
She just wanted a peaceful life, yet she’d been dragged back into an abyss with no end in sight.
Even a cursory glance at the documents showed her a number of familiar names. She wouldn’t say she was close to these “old friends”; in fact, every time they met, it was a fight to the death.
But thankfully, she was now “Teacher Xi Ye” and no longer that Legendary Investigator Ye Xi from before.
“So troublesome…”
Xi Ye had always hated trouble. Just thinking of all the thorny difficulties waiting for her ahead made her delicate brows furrow.
“Doo doo loo!”
Her phone chimed with what it considered a cute—yet in reality, rather punchable—notification sound. It was a message from the app.
Xi Ye tapped the icon, and saw that the Agent had sent her a message:
“Hello, Miss Xi Ye! Looks like your journey went smoothly—you’ve already entered the city’s borders!”
“To encourage your work, the Central Bureau has decided to set you weekly Performance Targets. If you do well, there’ll be rewards. If not, there’ll be penalties~!”
Dammit, even performance reviews are after me!
Xi Ye resisted the urge to throw her phone out the window and scrolled down to read further:
“[Week One Assessment] Details as follows:
“[Main Target] Gain the recognition of two Students (0/2).”
“[Secondary Targets] Handle three Student requests (0/3); prepare one lesson plan.”
“[Completion Reward] 200 Dream Points; one Lottery Draw.”
“[Failure Penalty] Walk through the city center in a Bunny Girl Outfit… for an hour!?”
Seeing the photo of that shiny, jet-black bunny girl vest, fishnet stockings, and thick-soled high heels, Xi Ye nearly dropped her phone.
Now she could be one hundred percent certain—this was definitely the handiwork of some jerk in the Bureau who had it in for her.
Damn it, don’t let me catch you. Or else you’ll regret it!
Xi Ye locked her screen, fuming.
It was strange. She’d always had a pretty good reputation in the Investigation Bureau. Just who would go this far to mess with her?
After scanning through her memories and coming up empty, Xi Ye gave up. As the train gradually came to a stop and the doors slid open, she stood up and followed the stream of people off the train.
In any case, let’s go to the office and drop off my luggage first… Hm?
As she stepped onto the platform, Xi Ye suddenly noticed a familiar figure to her right.
That’s… Tendo Yukino?!
Even from the side, Xi Ye was absolutely certain she couldn’t be mistaken.
What on earth is going on?
The existence of Dream Mirage City should be top secret. Other than the Investigation Bureau’s upper echelons, nobody should know about this place—much less be able to enter!
But Tendo Yukino was standing there, as real as could be, and had even ridden the same train as her!
“Why is Yukino here too? You promised not to drag her into this!”
Xi Ye jabbed the Agent’s avatar and furiously typed her question.
The Agent replied almost instantly:
“Ah-leh? Miss Xi Ye, you can’t go throwing accusations around like that. We’ve strictly kept this secret—there hasn’t been so much as a whisper! Miss Tendo being here is completely of her own will, you know?”
“Like I’d believe—”
“Miss Xi Ye?”
“Uwah!?”
The sudden voice startled Xi Ye so much she let out a yelp, hurriedly closed her phone, hunched her shoulders, and looked warily at the newcomer.
“Sorry, did I scare you?”
Tendo Yukino was standing right beside her, tilting her head as she looked over.
When did she get here?!
Why didn’t I hear anything when she approached!
After getting her new identity, both times Xi Ye had been startled had been because of Yukino. It seemed her ex-girlfriend was somehow naturally gifted at this…
“Just a little… I didn’t expect to run into Miss Tendo here.” Xi Ye subconsciously touched her face.
Tendo Yukino watched her gesture, a faint smile on her lips as she said,
“Why did Miss Xi Ye come here?”
I should be the one asking you that.
“Ah, it’s because of work.”
Xi Ye felt a tightness in her chest, so she tugged her tie down a bit. The black-and-red uniform’s collar opened, revealing her fair, delicate collarbone.
“I see. That really is quite the coincidence.”
“Ahaha… yes, it is. Speaking of which, why is Miss Tendo—”
“Doo doo loo!”
Her phone let out another ill-timed and annoying notification.
Xi Ye was about to ignore it and check later, but before she locked the screen, she glanced at it out of habit—and her eyes widened.
The message bubble read:
“You have encountered your first Student.”
“Tendo Yukino, Student ID No.00173, Academy: Hyakki Yako Academy, Codename: ‘Snow Woman’.”
“…!?”
“What’s wrong?” Yukino looked at her phone screen.
“N-nothing.”
Xi Ye quickly turned off the screen and stuffed her phone into her pocket, a bit flustered as she said,
“I have work to do, so I won’t bother you, Miss Tendo. I’ll be going now…”
Pa!
Just as she was about to turn and run—make her escape—a slender hand grabbed her wrist.
The grip was just right—not enough to hurt, but not something she could break free from.
So the Legendary Investigator had barely taken one step before she was forced back two steps, ending up pressed shoulder-to-shoulder with Yukino, who was half a head shorter.
“Um…!?”
For a moment, Xi Ye didn’t know how to react. Even though she knew Yukino’s true identity as the Snow Woman, after spending three years together, being pulled back like that actually made her feel a bit… grateful.
No, that’s not right, Xi Ye. This isn’t good…
Yukino… Tendo is an Evil God. As an Investigator, you shouldn’t—
“It’s still a bit of a walk from here to the station. Let’s go together?”
Tendo Yukino moved a little closer. Those shattered, icy eyes met hers.
“Ah, I’d rather not…”
Xi Ye hesitated.
She wondered if she should refuse, but on the surface, they were nothing more than acquaintances. If she turned Yukino down so abruptly, wouldn’t that look suspicious?
It’s just a short walk together…
“Hmm?” Tendo tilted her head slightly, pure white hair slipping along her cheek to rest on her shoulder.
“…Ugh, I mean…”
Xi Ye replied dejectedly,
“Let’s walk together.”