Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 5th Episode 17 (section)

=== Part 2 ===
Uno Noiru.

She had introduced herself as a member of the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau.

"An inspector?"

Arisu's and Daisuke's voice matched in the passage near the infirmary.

Noiru shrugged with a twitch. Her back clashing against the fence, she was putting her fingers on her uniform with a pale face.

"No, don't strip."

"What exactly do they think of you in the SEPB, Daisuke…?"

She was a cute girl with large pupils. Yet the way her expression paled with fear and her entire body shook was suspicious. To any third party watching it would probably look like Arisu and Daisuke were threatening her.

"I heard nothing about a new inspector coming here from Central Headquarters. What's an inspector, exactly? Explain."

Daisuke hounded Noiru, grabbing her hands that were about to take off her clothes. Noiru averted her eyes and wrung out a shaky voice.

"W-will you abstain from killing me if I explain this, the one feared as a demon, East Central Branch Blaze Class Rank 1 Kakkou-san?"

"…That's way too longwinded."

"I am the Central Headquarters member called Kanakana. After the exception among exceptions of someone inheriting another person's Mushi—Ichinokuro Arisu—had been deemed a Mushitsuki, I was dispatched to conduct a necessary process. I'm sorry that a failed Mushitsuki such as me took on such an outrageous mission. Does it annoy you? But please don't kill me."

Noiru spoke in a mechanical tone, not even looking at them.

"A necessary process?"

"Sorry for being so roundabout. Please don't kill me. This necessary process being the need to designate Ichinokuro Arisu, alias Spear-Form, with a Rank."

Arisu widened her eyes. Daisuke also froze with surprise.

"A Mushitsuki's Type is decided according to which of the Original Three—meaning the three Prototype Mushi—had made them a Mushitsuki. Those created by Oogui are Minion Types, who control their Mushi that possesses a separate body, those created by Shinpu are Fusion Types, only manifesting their Mushi through their ability of a certain medium, and those created by Sanbikime are Fusion Types, able to merge their bodies with their Mushi—among these, Hanashiro Mari's Morpho butterfly is a Fusion Type. Please don't kill me. Ah, I might be out of luck."

Noiru kept mumbling.

"The SEPB divides Mushitsuki to three kinds according classification and strength of their abilities—Blaze Class, Special Class, Hidden Class, and then assigns a Rank of 1 to 10, thereby managing them. Since there was very scarce data on Hanashiro Mari when she was alive, the Morpho butterfly's classification had yet to be decided. Please, spare my life."

"Are you making fun of us? We already know all that. I told you to explain what you're here for."

"Aah, I'm going to be killed. To determine Ichinokuro Arisu's Rank, I came to directly inspect her. —Until now the Central Headquarters' upper brass were the ones to decide Mushitsuki's Ranks, but to check again whether or not Ichinokuro Arisu-san is actually a Mushitsuki, it was decided that I, someone useless, hopelessly weak, please don't kill me, but loyal to the SEPB would be sent to inspect as a test case."

Arisu and Daisuke exchanged glances.

Even if she was told she was being ranked as a Mushitsuki, she didn't really get it.

"Arisu doesn't need a Rank."

Daisuke stated this plainly.

"Because I don't consider her a Mushitsuki."

"Daisuke…"

"Selfishness scaleee, plus oneee."

Shaking her body to the sides, Noiru returned Daisuke's gaze. Her scared face wore a dark smile for an instant.

"Central Headquarters acknowledged her as a Mushitsuki. Since I have been officially sent to inspect Ichinokuro Arisu by Vice-Director Miguruma, please think of my actions as the will of the SEPB as whole. So please don't kill me."

"Miguruma… that sly woman, huh. Go back to HQ and tell them this. I don't know what you're planning at this stage, but don't do more than necessary to stimulate Hanashiro Mari's Morpho butterfly."

"S-savageness scaleee, plus oneee… If you threaten me with such eyes, you will be violating your orders, Kakkou-san, oh no. I'm going to die."

"I got it."

Arisu raised her voice, cutting between Daisuke and Noiru. She didn't really understand the situation, but leaving it like that would probably lead to trouble.

"Shut up, you. If we allow this kind of thing, who knows how far Central Headquarters will want to—"

"This so-called inspection isn't something particularly dangerous, right? I'm also being monitored by you and Kasuou, so adding this inspection whatever at this stage isn't a big deal. Aren't you bullying her? Look how scared she is."

"Likability scaleee, plus oneee. Spear-Form is a good person, unlike this demonnn." 

The teary girl hid behind Arisu's back. Daisuke clicked his tongue.

"Well, if you end up regretting this later it's your problem."

The boy's ominous prediction would soon come true—