Natsukawa Rei is an office worker at a town's factory named Kikawa Metal.

"Rei-chan, can you work overtime tomorrow?"

"Sorry, tomorrow is the day I have a meeting with my probation officer."

"Oh, is that so? It's already been a year. Time sure flies. I feel like getting more and more like an old man."

"I've been taken care here for five years already right. Mr. Nakata is surely not an old man, but a cool gentleman."

"You're good with words as always. But saying that won't change anything, you know?"

"Ehehe," giggle Rei.

Nakata that currently smirked with a not entirely dissatisfied expression is a man in his fifties devoted to his wife.

Five years ago, Rei was found unconscious on the beach and was taken into custody. She is currently twenty-five years old.

At the time of her custody, she was questioned by the police. It was determined not to be a suicide attempt, so she was taken care of by the welfare department because at that time, Rei was very confused and claimed to have no memory of her past.

"Well, judging from her appearance, health, and the results of the examination, I'd say she's about twenty."

That's what the doctor concluded, estimating her age to be around twenty at the time.

She was given the name Natsukawa Rei and the address of the custody facility, thus becoming a Japanese citizen. Although her facial features are somewhat Western, her perfect Japanese led people to believe she was either a Japanese or someone raised in Japan.

After receiving vocational training, she was also introduced to a job, and for three years, she had a monthly meeting with her probation officer.

But now, apart from the annual meeting, there is nothing else.

"Now then, today we have to deliver five boxes of connecting brackets to Marubishi Industries and ten boxes of truss screws to Iida Industries."

"Rei-chan, sorry to bother you when you're busy, but could you go collect payment from Goto Industries?"

"Can I do it after lunch?"

"Hmm, I have a bad feeling, so could you go collect the payment first? I want it deposited in the bank before it closes. You can have lunch afterward. Here's the money for lunch. It's a reward."

"Thank you. Then, I'll go collect the payment first."

After receiving a thousand yen bill, Rei put it in her wallet inside her red tote bag, tidied up her desk, and went out to collect the payment.

Goto Industries is a subcontractor for a major construction company. When the economy is good, they do well, but when times are tough, they're the first to feel the chill.

The manager's bad feeling might not be groundless. Probably because the payment methods and timing of Goto Industries this time is unusual. If manager asking for direct payment without waiting for the usual process, Goto Industries must be in serious financial trouble.

(If they don't pay when they're supposed to, it'll be a loss for Kikawa.)

She muttered to herself as she boarded the bus. Her destination was about fifteen minutes away by city bus.

When she arrived at Goto Industries, three out of the four shutters at the entrance were closed, with one of them halfway down.

"Oh dear. This could really be dangerous."

A black haze drifted out from the partially open entrance.

There might not be miasma in this world, but there are similar things. What she saw in front of her was one of them. But this was something sinister created by humans.

"Hello! From Kikawa Industries! I'm coming in!"

She called out to avoid being accused of trespassing, although she might still be trespassing. Nevertheless, she entered Goto Industries while recording a video on her phone just in case. She learned this from Nakata after joining Kikawa.

She entered through the shutter and headed to the office where there was no sign of anyone. The black haze that had been drifting outside was becoming thicker.

"Is this..."

There was a faint smell, reminiscent of a charcoal grill restaurant. She thought her body was fine, but just to be sure, she covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief and tried to open the door separating the office from the living area, but it was locked. That wasn't all. A fierce black haze was billowing out from inside like waves.

"Purification!"

In a low voice but with determination, Rei muttered as she held out her palm toward the door. A bright white light spread from her hand, dispelling the bad energy.

"Unlock."

Once again, a thin white light was directed at the doorknob, and there was a click as the lock opened.

She quickly turned the doorknob and entered. Inside, Goto Industries' president, Goto Hiroshi, was lying on the guest sofa with his eyes closed.

"Tch!"

Rei clicked her tongue involuntarily. She knew it was rude, but she found it relieved her when she tried it once alone, so she often did it when no one was around.

here was a charcoal stove on the floor of the room, and cylindrical charcoal was burning bright red. When she tried to open the window, she found it tightly sealed with duct tape.

She peeled off the duct tape, then opened the sash to let in fresh air. She also took the charcoal stove outside.

Then she returned to the sofa. It seemed that President Goto had already finished his shot of shochu. When she picked up the one-liter pack of "Akki Koroshi" shochu, it was almost empty.

"Jeez. Detoxify! Heal!"

A white light enveloped President Goto's upper body. His breathing, which seemed to be faltering, steadied, and he began to normalize.

After that, it was hectic. She stopped recording on her phone, called an ambulance, and notified the police. Then she explained the situation to Nakata over the phone.

The ambulance arrived in a few minutes, followed by a patrol car.

She thought she had to ride in the ambulance as the one who found him, but she was stopped by a police officer.

"Ah, hold on a second. Could you stay here? We'd like to ask you some questions."

"Yes, of course."

Rei smiled brightly, but she felt disappointed inside.

(I should've come after lunch after all. But still, I have to cooperate as a good citizen.)