Midnight Occult Civil Servants (真夜中のオカルト公務員)

This is the place. I think.

- Um, hi. -Yeah?

I'm looking for the Nocturnal Community Relations Division.

I'm Miyako Arata.

Ah, so you're the new kid, huh?

Sakaki told me you'd be by. Please come on in.

Follow that hallway to the end and turn right.

Pass the elevator hall.

Make a turn at the corner with the cafeteria,

then you should see it.

First door on the left.

This it?

Hi, I hope you weren't waiting long.

That's strange. No one's here.

Uh?

Jeez. Didn't expect that.

Did I use the wrong stuff?

Let's see, sulfur, aluminum, and goat gallstones.

Were my proportions off?

-Um, excuse me? - Huh?

Is this the Nocturnal Community Relations Division or...

It is, but who are you?

Well, I'm supposed to be starting here today, but---

Oh yes! You're the new kid!

I remember Reiji telling me something about that earlier.

Nice to meet you. I'm Theo Himeduka. I work here.

There's no need to be formal around here, so please,

-call me Theo. -If you say so.

I used to live in Britain,

so I'm used to first names.

Seriously, Theo? You did it again, didn't you?

The smoke got all the way to the cafeteria this time!

-Tell me you weren't using fire. -

The only one in the wrong here is you, Kyouichi!

You jerk!

You used my photo to break up

with your latest skank again, didn't you?

-Grow up! -Oh. Secret's out.

Listen, it's so much easier for them

to think I found someone else.

Not for me!

Every day there's some angry hag on my doorstep

giving me the side-eye!

Lucky you!

Quit making me clean up your mess

after these shady trysts!

I swear. It happens again, you'll regret it.

Wow, I'm an idiot.

Do you have a cold, Miss Himeduka?

I thought you were a man for a--

What? Of course I'm a man!

I told you to call me Theo!

-Theo! - Okay.

It's really not that hard.

Hello. This is Sakaki. What's up?

Yeah, Miyako's here. The new recruit.

Should I send him in?

Understood.

It's no problem, introductions can wait.

That's Sakaki Kyouichi.

-He loves women and drinking. -Right.

- Used to work as a host. -Yeah.

Now he's the shift leader of the division.

Never know it by looking at him.

Huh.

Thanks for that, Theo.

Feel free to ask us about anything

you don't understand, all right?

Thank you so much. I appreciate that.

- - Huh?

Well, it's 7:00.

About time for us to get to work, then.

Change into the outfit in that far-right locker.

We'll be going outside for your first shift.

We spend most of our time outside the office.

I'll give you a nametag to wear inside later.

We work a different shift than everyone else,

so you won't use it much.

Um, won't it be getting dark soon?

What part of the job requires going out at night?

-What were you told? - Huh?

Oh, um, the job description said

"building relationships with people of all ages

"in various fields and social positions.

Also engaging in planning and promotion."

That's right. This is Shinjuku,

where people from several different countries

do many different jobs in many different places.

You might be wondering what it is we do

to make this a better place for them to live.

Well, figuring that out is our job, basically.

At least, that's what the paperwork says.

Is that helpful?

Have you ever seen a youkai or an angel or a devil?

Huh?

Is this a joke, or am I supposed to answer that seriously?

I'll go ahead and take that as a hard no.

But if you were assigned here,

it means you triggered that little trick

that's hidden in the employment exam.

He's probably the type who didn't notice it.

Well then, we'll need to do a rite of passage.

Huh? I don't know what you're talking about.

What is this place?

Huh? Shinjuku Imperial Gardens.

You've never been?

Well, sure. I have but, um...

Wait, I don't think they allow anyone

to go in at night, do they?

We have to come here a lot as part of our job,

so we have a key.

There's hardly any light inside, so be careful.

Sure, okay!

We work in the Imperial Gardens after hours?

What did I sign up for?

That looks like a good spot.

I agree.

The rite of passage, you ready?

Uh, hold on. I don't understand.

What is this thing you keep talking about?

There's nothing to be afraid of.

Even if you scream and pass out, I'll take care of you.

It'll be easier to understand if you experience the job

rather than us explaining it.

-Look over there. - Huh?

Notice the fairy? Between those trees.

Uh... where?

It's there.

You probably can't see it right now, though.

Same goes for youkai, angels, and devils.

In fact you should assume most of the occult creatures

you've seen in works of fiction actually exist.

And, rookie, that's the first lesson

on our agenda for tonight.

Okay. It's just kinda hard to believe

this has anything to do with work.

I understand.

But it's an important discussion

pertaining to the job we do.

-Theo? -Yup, that's right.

So, why are we spraying bushes?

It's the Spray of Ibn Ghazi,

a little helper for people who can't see them normally.

It's made from the soil of ancient tombs,

amaranth flowers, and ground ivy.

Look. There, in front of you.

Huh?

Now tell me what do you see?

I, uh, I see a light.

-Wait, it's changing. -

What is happening? It's a little girl?

And she has wings on her back.

Is that a fairy?

That one was a pixie.

You can find them everywhere.

It's just hard to believe.

Well, you have to believe it if you can see it.

Because, otherwise, you'll just have to assume

that you're going insane.

- - Huh?

What the hell is that?

You can see without the spray already?

Means you've got good instincts.

This big boy is a Cu Sith.

Don't worry, it's friendly.

Neat, huh?

They all have their own unique names.

And each falls under a certain category of occult creature.

Angel, Devil, Youkai, and Fairy.

That said, we have a general term for them.

We refer to the non-human creatures

we use in our work as...

"Anothers."

Wow, you don't seem very scared.

Well, no.

I'm more surprised.

If that's all you are, then this rite of passage

was a big success.

Looks like we might have actually got

a decent rookie this time.

Most are usually passed out by now.

Or at least their legs are too weak to stand.

But you're doing all right, huh?

Yeah, but I'm still wondering what our job is?

Maintaining relations with the Anothers.

And then, if they cause any problems for civilians, well...

we're the ones who take care of it, make sense?

As members of the Nocturnal Community Relations Division,

we work primarily as public servants.

Hmm? What's wrong?

Nothing. Just...

-I'm a little worried. -Nothing to be worried about!

If you can stay calm at the first time of seeing Anothers,

I'd say you're doing pretty good!

He's got a good point.

Just do what you're told

and focus on the things you feel good about.

We won't ask for much more than that just yet.

Okay.