「なぁアイーナ、これ文字化けしてないか？」
「え？あ、それはですね、私が一通り目を通して、怪しいと目星をつけたファイルなのですが…」
　ミフィに髪を掴まれ、そのミフィの胸を握り潰そうとしていたアイーナはエルザの問いに答え、ミフィも渋々といった様子でアイーナの髪から手を放す。即座に状況を思い出し、こんな事をしている場合ではないと判断できる、やればできる子なのだ。アイーナの手は未だにミフィの胸を掴んでいるけれど。痛てて。
「他のファイルもだな。文字化けしてるのと怪しいのは違うんじゃないか？」
「いえ、そうではありません。このファイルの元データがあるＰＣのセキュリティは、私が手を加えずともエージェントがオートハックで簡単に潜り込めたので、特に問題はありませんでしたのよ。ところがこのデータは、閲覧するにも持ち出すにも、それを行うマシンは管理ＰＣから割り振られたＩＤを照合する必要があるらしく、強引に開こうとするとこうなってしまうようでして…」
「こんな風になってしまう訳か。高い機密レベルで管理されていたという事なんだろうが、ランの名で引っ掛かったデータがこれとは…なるほど、少々匂うな」
「けどさあ、これじゃいくらお嬢でも解読は無理だろ、データが壊れてちゃってるんだからさ」
　肩を竦めるミフィに、ひゅ～い、と下手糞な口笛を吹き、ちっちっち、と舌打ちしながら人差し指を振るアイーナ。ありもしないテンガロンハットが見えた気がした。
（しかし日本じゃ二番目だ…ってか。これでズバッと解決してくれりゃあ楽なんじゃがの）
　でもあれ復讐目的だぞ。
「ふふん、そう思うのが素人の浅はかさですわミフィさん、私を誰だと思いですの？修復可能なファイルはきちんと読めるようになっておりますわよ。流石に、完全に破損したデータや、部分的にしか修復できなかったものの方が多かったりしますけれど、意味を成すまでに修復できていれば、エルザさんならきっと解読してくれますわ」
「やるさ。他ならぬ可愛い義妹の為じゃからな」
　言いながら、今度はアイーナが指示したファイルを開くと、所々数式や難解な図形が入り混じり、聞いた事もない名称の、薬品なのか物質なのかも不明なものの配合分析や反応結果が記されているものがあった。肝心な部分で文字化けしていて完全に解読できる形にはなっていないが、断片的な情報からそれは何らかの化学実験データである事が解った。

　これがランとどう関係するのかと思いながらも、時間をかけて四苦八苦しながら読み進めていくエルザは、その内容に一抹の不安が募っていった。自分には関わりのない化学分野の内容の筈が、要所要所で自分が過去築き上げてきた知識と合致する。永い時間をかけて組み上げた己の理論と術を、魔法ではなく化学的な解釈とアプローチで実現しようとする実験、それは…。
（アンデッド創造の研究資料じゃと！？しかもネクロマンシーとも違う、霊触媒と化学化合物を用いて人工的に霊体を生み出す研究…現代科学と呪術のハイブリッドともいえる研究じゃな。これは興味深い。しかし…言い方を変えれば、人工妖怪を生み出そうとしている危険な研究、という事にもなるが…）
　エルザの懸念は、それらの研究が過去実際に行われ、数々の悲劇を生み出してきた事実に基づいている。人工妖怪は、それを生み出すという事そのものが、人間、妖怪双方の間で禁忌とされている。何故ならそれを許すという事は、妖怪の兵器転用に繋がる危険を孕んでいるからである。人間では有り得ない能力を持った、人工的に生産可能な超人兵、生体兵器。それを人間が制御などできよう筈もなく、行き過ぎた兵器開発がもたらす未来には、戦争という凄惨な爪痕しか残らないのだ。何より人工妖怪といえど彼等は生命を持って生まれてくる。利己的に生命を生み、弄ぶ権利など、人間にも、妖怪にも、ましてや神にすら無い。
（なかなかに興味をそそられる内容ではあるが、非合法に行われているらしいのが感心しかねるな。妖怪の世界を知っておる者ならば、人工的に妖怪を生み出す事がどれほど危険か、解っておるだろうに…いや、それ故の非合法であり、機密なのか…ん？）
　解読可能な部分を探してテキストをスクロールさせていたエルザの手が止まる。目を引いた解読可能な記述の一部に、見慣れた人名が記されていたからだ。

”故・エトランゼ・シュトゥーリア”

（おいおい、まさかのビンゴか！こうもはっきりと記されておるならば、ランの遺体を運び出したのはこの研究の関係者とみて間違い無さそうだ。そしてランの遺体を選んだのが無作為ではなく、ランの遺体である必要があった、という前提を置いた上でこの実験データとくれば、おそらく怨霊化のプロセスを解明する為の実験素体に用いるのが目的である、とも思えるが…それならば何故、遠回しな方法で遺体を戻した？まるで必要なくなったと言わんばかりに…そして一部だけを残しておるのは何故じゃ？）
　それが不可解でならない。どう考えても不自然だし、そうする理由も目的も、全く見えてこないのがもどかしい。
「で、どうなんだお嬢。これは手掛かりになりそうか？」
「…そうじゃな。不可解な点は依然として残るが、まずこの実験データを作成した連中がランの遺体の行方に一枚噛んでいる事は、まず間違いないと見ていいだろう。どちらにせよ、早い段階でこれが見付かったのは僥倖だった。このデータの出所が解りさえすえば、あとは徹底的に調べ上げてランの遺体を取り戻すだけじゃ」
　ランと偽家族になってから遺体の捜索を続け三年余、やっと掴んだ手掛かりらしい手掛かり。確証などどこにも無いが、エルザはこれまでにない手応えのようなものを感じていた。
「よし、アイーナ、早速こいつの出所を割り出してくれ。早ければ今日の内にでも殴り込みをかけるぞ」
「はい。ですが先ほども言いました通り、おおよその区域を特定するだけで、正確な位置情報は掴めませんわよ。もう少し時間を掛けませんと」
「なら、早ければ明日にでも…」
「はいはい、少々お待ちを」
　アイーナが素早くマウスを操作するとＤＯＳプロンプトが立ち上がり、慣れた手つきでコマンドを続けざまに打ち込むと、まず世界地図が表示され、そこから徐々に特定箇所が拡大されていく。それぞれの街を把握できる程度にまで拡大されると、プログラムが潜伏しデータ収集を行った区域を示す赤い円が広がっていき、やがて止まった。
「…おいおい、これ、私達の住んでる所だぞ！しかも、シュトラヘルツ家も、フォックスライダー家も、両方含まれてるじゃないか…広すぎる！」
　驚くべき事に、その位置情報は自分達の住まう土地を示していたのだった。両家とも広大な敷地を有しているというのに、それを丸々飲み込んでいるのだ。もっとも赤い円は、国土の３／４程を覆わんばかりに大きく広がってるのだが。
「なんか、結構近い場所かもしれない、って事には驚いたが…せめてもう少し絞り込めないのか？」
「この範囲内に存在するネットに繋がったＰＣなんて、どれだけあるか想像してごらんなさい！エージェントはデータ収集に特化した作りで、追跡機能は便宜的に追加しただけなんです、これでも随分絞り込まれている方なんですのよ」
「で、でもなぁ…！」
「よいミフィ、これで十分じゃ。アイーナ、よくやってくれた、あとは儂が調べよう」
　食い下がるミフィを手で制したエルザは、二人に向かってニヤリと笑って見せた。
「そうは言うがお嬢、こんな広い範囲を宛てもなくなんて…」
「無論。しかし調べようはいくらでもある、儂の領分ならではのな。ある意味では近場である事は儂にとって有難くもあるという事じゃ」
「まさか、シュトラヘルツ家の財力を活かして、強制捜査なさるおつもりでは…」
「それこそまさかだぞ。っと、儂のケータイは日本でしか使えんモデルじゃったな。アイーナ、少々電話を借りるぞ」
「ええ、どうぞ…え、どちらに？」
「スイーパーズにじゃ。街には怪異が溢れてる、ってな」
　エルザが何をしたいのかさっぱり判らない二人は、部屋に備え付けられた電話から受話器を取るエルザを複雑な表情で眺めていた。

"Hey, Aiina, isn't this corrupted text?"
"Eh? Oh that. I glanced over it once, it's a file that's strange..."
Aiina, who had her hair gripped by Mifi, and was gripping her chest, answered Elza's question. Mifi also reluctantly let go of Aiina's hair. Immediately remembering the situation, they knew that this wasn't the time to be doing this, and they could stop if they wanted. Aiina's hand was still squeezing Mifi's chest. It hurt.
"Other files are also like that. This strangeness isn't corruption?"
"No, it's not. The security on the PC that the file was originally on was auto-hacked without my help by the agent and was easily able to avoid it, so there wasn't any problem. However, this data, when read and transmitted, the machine that did this required confirmation of the assigned ID from the master PC, and forcibly terminated it..."
"And because of that, it turned into this. I guess it must have a high level of security, but for Ran's name to be contained in the data means... I see, it smells fishy."
"But, like this, it's impossible to figure it out, even for you, Mistress. The data is ruined."
Shrugging her shoulders, Mifi whistled poorly. Aiina clicked her tongue and waved her finger. She could almost see an imaginary ten gallon hat.
(However, Japan is second... Actually, if this is resolved, it would be easier.)
But that's just her trying to get revenge.
"Hmph, thinking that just shows how much of an amateur you are, Mifi-san. Who do you think I am? I can read any file that's possible to repair. Of course, there's a lot more data that's completely damaged and can only be partially repaired, but if I can repair it enough to understand its meaning, then Elza-san can definitely make some sense of it."
"I'll do it. It's for the sake of no one but my cute adopted sister."
Saying that, Aiina now opened the selected file, and formulas and difficult to understand shapes appeared all over the place. And without asking for it, the title appeared. It was something like a chemical or a material or some unknown analysis or effect or a reaction. The main part of it was corrupted, so it couldn't be completely understood, but from small bits of information, they knew it was some sort of chemical experiment data.

As they wondered what this had to do with Ran, time passed as Elza worriedly read through it. The contents made her even more uneasy. She didn't know much about chemistry, but the main points matched with the knowledge she had built up over time. It took a long time, but the theories and techniques that she came up with weren't just magical, but also a chemical explanation and approach to create things, and experiments. This was...
(Research to create the undead!? And it's different from necromacy, it uses a spiritual catalyst and chemical compounds to create a ghost... It's research into a hybrid of modern day science and magic. This is very interesting. However... To put it another way, creating human-made youkai is dangerous research, and to do this is...)
Elza's fear was due to the fact that this research had been done in the past, and it had caused many disasters. Human-made youkai, and creating them, was forbidden by both humans and youkai. This was because, if it was allowed, it was filled with dangers, like youkai being used as weapons. They had powers that were impossible for humans, and could be produced as super human soldiers or living weapons. Humans wouldn't be able to control them, and there would be an arms race, and the only thing left after that would be the scars of war. Most importantly, human-made youkai could be said to be alive. If they live their lives for themselves, and can do as they please, they would be like gods to both humans and youkai.
(I'm quite intrigued by the contents, but since it's illegal, I shouldn't be interested in it. Anyone who knows about the youkai world should know how dangerous human-made youkai are... No, that's why it's illegal and was done in secret... right?)
Scrolling for the portions of text that were decipherable, Elza's hand stopped. One part of a description that was deciphered caught her eye. It was a record of a name that she became used to seeing.

"The late Etranger Shutulia"

(Hey, is this what I was looking for!? If this is clearly recorded, then it's certain that Ran's corpse being carried away is related to this experiment. And that means Ran's corpse being chosen wasn't random, but instead that it was necessary. Give that assumption and this experimental data, their goal was probably to test and document the process of turning into a vengeful ghost... If so, then why did they return her corpse in such an indirect way? It could be said to be completely unnecessary... And why do did they keep one part?)
She was unable to figure that out. No matter how she looked at it, it was unnatural, and she was frustrated that she couldn't see the reason or purpose behind it.
"So, what is it, Mistress? It looks like you found a hint?"
"...Not looks like. There's still an unresolved point remaining, but the ones who created this experimental data were involved in moving Ran's corpse. That I'm certain from seeing this. Either way, it was good luck that we found this so quickly. As long as we know the origin of this data, we can do a detailed investigation and take back Ran's corpse.
Ever since they had become a fake family, the search for her corpse had continued for 3+ years, and they finally got a clue. There was no certain proof, but Elza hadn't gotten any response like this before.
"All right, Aiina. Quickly determine out the origin of this. If we're fast, we'll be able to raid them today."
"Yes. However, just as I said before, it's just a general area, and we won't know the exact location. It will just take a little more time."
"In that case, if it's fast, we can start tomorrow..."
"Yes, yes, wait a moment."
Aiina quickly used the mouse and brought up a DOS prompt. She typed in familiar commands one after another, and first a map of the world appeared, and soon a specific region was enlarged. The enlarged part, which contained several cities, showed red dots as places where the program had hid and collected data.
"Hey, that's the place we live! And the Schtlehertz house, and the Foxrider house are both included in it... It's too wide!"
What was surprising was that the location information had shown the location where they lived. Even though both houses had spacious grounds, they were completely swallowed up in it. In addition, the red dots covered about 3/4 of the map, and it was too big and spacious.
"I was surprised that it's a pretty close by place, but... can't you narrow it down a little more?"
"How many PCs that are connected to the internet do you think there are in this area! The agent was specially created to collect data, the tracing function was just an added bonus, so this is plenty narrowed down."
"B, But...!"
"It's fine, Mifi, this is enough. Aiina, good job. I'll investigate from here."
Mifi, who was persistent, was stopped by Elza. The two of them turned towards each other and smiled.
"Even though you say that, Mistress, it's such a large area with no address..."
"Naturally. However, we can investigate as much as we like. Since this is my area. In a certain sense, I'm quite glad that it's in my neighborhood."
"You can't be planning on using the Schtlehertz family's assets and doing a forced search..."
"I wouldn't do that. But my phone's model only works in Japan. Aiina, can I borrow your phone for a bit?"
"Sure, here. Eh, who are you calling?"
"The Sweepers. I'm telling them that there's something strange going on in this city."
The two of them had no idea of what Elza wanted to do. As Elza picked up the phone in the room from it's base, they saw that Elza had a difficult look on her face.