Dimensional Kaguya Ōtsutsuki

"Well, well, Special Class Shinohara, I didn't expect to see you here. Is something broken?" Kureo Mado turned toward them, his dry, wrinkled face stretching into a smile that only added to his eerie demeanor rather than making him seem approachable.

For some reason, Kaguya felt uncomfortable under Mado's gaze. Although he appeared to address Shinohara, his sharp eyes lingered on her for far too long. Standing beside Mado was Koutarou Amon, whose eyes immediately narrowed the moment he saw Kaguya.

"No, not at all," Shinohara replied with a friendly smile. "I just brought a subordinate to pick up a Quinque."

"I see," Mado responded, shifting his scrutiny fully onto Kaguya. After briefly appraising her, he broke into a peculiar laugh. "So, you must be the newly arrived investigator from the 11th Ward?"

"That's me," Kaguya stepped forward with a polite smile.

"It's rare to see such remarkable talent in someone so young," Mado said, his tone laced with ambiguous intent. "A promising investigator like you is a rarity these days."

"Oh, it's nothing," Kaguya replied, her voice casual. "I just happen to have good luck."

"Good luck?" Mado's eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't be so sure about that."

Kaguya's gaze sharpened. "What exactly are you trying to imply?"

"Nothing serious," Mado said, shaking his head, though his expression grew even more unsettling. One eye opened wide while the other squinted as if measuring her. "I simply have a few questions. Would you mind answering them?"

"Of course," Kaguya replied with a faint smirk.

Her expression remained neutral, but inwardly she was intrigued. She knew from the original story that Mado was exceptionally skilled at identifying ghouls. His cunning and intellect made him an adept investigator, capable of unraveling the secrets of even the most elusive targets. Was it possible that he had sensed something about her? If so, Kaguya found herself genuinely curious.

"According to reports, ghouls have much more robust physiques than humans, capable of withstanding bullets from standard firearms. Only specialized anti-ghoul ammunition can effectively penetrate their defenses," Mado began. "But at the scene of your so-called heroics, it was discovered that you used standard bullets to kill several ghouls. Would you care to explain how you managed that?"

"Forgive me for being blunt, but could you skip to the point?" Kaguya interjected with a light smile. Her meaning was clear—cut the nonsense and get to the question.

"Well then, as I was saying," Mado continued, his gaze boring into her. "How is it that you were able to take down multiple ghouls using ordinary ammunition?"

"Watch your words, Mado First-Class," Shinohara cut in, stepping protectively in front of Kaguya. His tone was stern. "Are you accusing her of lying, or are you doubting the CCG's investigative conclusions?"

"No, no, nothing of the sort," Mado quickly waved his hands, his unnerving grin returning. "I'm merely curious about how she accomplished it."

"Oh, is that all?" Kaguya stepped out from behind Shinohara, chuckling softly. "Let me guess—you lack the skill yourself, so you assume no one else could possibly be capable?"

"What did you say?" Mado was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't expected such a brazen retort. His surprise quickly gave way to a sneer. "You're quite the audacious newcomer. Do you truly think that surviving the chaos in the 11th Ward and killing a few strays qualifies you to act so high and mighty?"

"Oh, I don't think so at all," Kaguya countered, her sharp gaze locking onto him. Her lips curled into a smirk. "But from where I stand, you're nothing special either. After all these years, you haven't even been promoted to Special Class. Perhaps there's a reason for that?"

"Oh? So you've done your research on me, Investigator Cang Yue. How interesting," Mado said, his grin widening, though his voice carried an undercurrent of hostility. "But since you're so confident, why not demonstrate your so-called skill?"

"I thought the investigators in the 20th Ward might have some backbone," Kaguya said coldly. Her expression twisted into one of disdain. "But it seems this place is full of trash and pretentious fools. Especially you—a man who couldn't even protect his own wife yet dares to lecture me. How pathetic."

"You—!" Mado's face darkened with fury, but before he could retaliate verbally, Kaguya's expression grew icy.

"Allow me to show you what real strength looks like," she declared.

With a sharp stomp of her foot, Kaguya launched herself forward. Her figure blurred, leaving a trail of afterimages in her wake as she dashed toward Mado like a streak of lightning.

"She's fast!" Shinohara exclaimed in shock.

Mado, momentarily stunned by her speed, instinctively reached for the activation switch on his Quinque case. However, before his fingers could even touch the button, Kaguya's figure flashed past him like a ghost.

"I expected more from a so-called legendary investigator. How disappointing," came her voice from behind them.

Everyone turned in unison. Kaguya now stood atop a high platform some distance away, casually tossing an object up and down in her hand.

Koutarou Amon's eyes widened in alarm. He quickly patted his waist, only to feel nothing but empty air. Cold sweat trickled down his back when he realized that Kaguya had somehow taken his sidearm without him even noticing. The item she was casually tossing in her hand was none other than his service pistol.

Had she intended to kill him, he would have been dead already.

"Fascinating," Mado muttered, touching his neck. He winced as his fingers brushed over the faint red mark left by Kaguya's earlier strike. His voice was tinged with grudging admiration.

"Now, let me give you a real demonstration of power," Kaguya announced.

A long, gleaming sword materialized in her hand. With a smile playing on her lips, she stomped on the ground and propelled herself toward the row of inactive Quinques lined up in the lab.

Before anyone could react, Kaguya leaped high into the air. Her sword flashed as she swung it down in a swift, brilliant arc. The blade glimmered like a shooting star, cutting through the air with deadly precision.

A streak of silver light surged forward, dazzling and unstoppable.

The room fell silent as the onlookers watched in stunned disbelief, unsure of what she was aiming to do.

Boom!

A deafening explosion rocked the air. A violent gust roared through the space, sending shockwaves that made the entire laboratory tremble.

When Yukinori Shinohara and Mado managed to steady themselves and looked up, their pupils constricted in shock.

What lay before them was a laboratory in complete disarray—black fragments of debris and the wreckage of equipment scattered across the floor. The most startling sight, however, was the massive crisscrossing gouges etched into the ground, nearly splitting the entire lab in two. Even the reinforced steel walls of the lab had been blown apart.

"My, my, I'm so sorry about that," Kaguya emerged from the cloud of dust, brushing herself off. Her tone was as light as if she'd accidentally knocked over a vase. "I might have overdone it a little. You're not going to make me pay for this, are you?"

Shinohara Yukinori was too stunned to speak, and Mado, along with Koutarou Amon, stood frozen, mouths agape.

The fragments littering the ground weren't ordinary debris—they were Quinque steel.

This highly specialized alloy, created from a blend of the strongest metals and ghoul-derived kagune material, was renowned for its unmatched sharpness and durability. Quinques, the investigators' primary weapons, were crafted from this very material. Yet in the blink of an eye, Kaguya had shattered the supposedly indestructible Quinque steel into shards. Such overwhelming power and speed far surpassed the limits of any human body—it was nothing short of unbelievable.

After a long silence, Mado and his partner Koutarou Amon departed, leaving the wrecked laboratory in their wake. Only Shinohara and Kaguya remained amidst the ruins.

"To be honest, you really shocked me," Shinohara Yukinori said, laughing heartily. "I never expected you to possess such strength. If someone didn't know better, they might even think you were a ghoul!"

Though visibly amazed by Kaguya's display of power, Shinohara harbored no doubts about her identity.

After all, Kaguya had undergone a thorough examination. Her RC cell count was well within the normal range for a human, far below the threshold indicative of a ghoul. The lack of a single trace of ghoul-like traits during her assessment solidified Shinohara's trust.

"Thank you for the compliment," Kaguya replied with a faint smile.

"That Mado First-Class Investigator really is something," Shinohara sighed, shaking his head. "Despite being an experienced investigator, he has a habit of turning on his own comrades. It's truly frustrating. If not for his reckless nature, he might have been promoted to Associate Special Class by now." Turning to Kaguya, his expression softened with a hint of apology. "I must apologize for the unpleasantness you endured earlier."

"It's nothing," Kaguya said, shaking her head with a polite smile. "I've heard about Investigator Mado—how he's a tenacious, courageous individual and a formidable warrior. He's certainly a role model for younger investigators like myself."

"Is that so?" Shinohara exhaled a relieved sigh. "It's good to know you think so."

Crack.

A sudden, sharp noise broke the moment.

Kaguya glanced down, her gaze settling on the long sword in her hand. Faint cracks had begun to spread across its blade. Like a spiderweb, the fractures rapidly expanded, crawling across the entire surface. Finally, with a crisp clang, the blade shattered into pieces, fragments scattering to the floor.

"Ah, sorry about that," Kaguya said sheepishly. "I must have pushed it too far earlier and broke it."

The sword had been something she'd picked up casually from the lab table. Its elegant design, adorned with sakura motifs, had caught her eye. Though crafted from Quinque steel, even this specialized weapon couldn't withstand Kaguya's overwhelming strength, breaking apart after just one use. It was a pity, really.

"No harm done, no harm done," Shinohara waved it off with a good-natured chuckle. "That sword was meant to be your Quinque anyway. But clearly, it doesn't suit you. You'll need something far sturdier. I'll speak with the lab technicians and see if they can create a weapon better suited to your strength."

"Thank you, Special Class Shinohara," Kaguya said, her lips curling into a smile.

On a shaded path outside the CCG's headquarters, Mado walked side by side with Koutarou Amon.

"She's not going to be easy to deal with," Mado said abruptly, his dry face twisting into a peculiar grin.

"Deal with?" Amon repeated, startled. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing," Mado replied casually, though his tone carried a sinister edge. "Have her RC cell readings come in?"

"Yes, they have," Amon responded immediately. "Her RC cell count is at 250, well within the normal range for humans. Investigator Mado, are you suggesting that she—"

Amon abruptly stopped mid-sentence, his expression a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

"My instincts tell me she's no ordinary human," Mado said, turning to glance back at the towering CCG building.

"No ordinary human?" Amon questioned, struggling to grasp Mado's insinuation.

"Have you ever seen a human with that kind of strength?" Mado sneered, his eyes gleaming with a sharp, ominous light. "But now isn't the time to focus on her. We have more pressing matters. Let's go."

"Yes, sir," Amon replied, hurrying after him.

Meanwhile, at an unfinished construction site littered with rusted steel beams and disordered piles of materials, the atmosphere was heavy with decay and dampness. Once a busy site, it had been abandoned ever since ghouls claimed it as their hunting ground.

"What did you say? A woman wearing a fox mask?" A scrawny ghoul exclaimed incredulously, glancing at his companion.

"Ayato Kirishima, you've grown bold enough to speak to me like this," growled a hulking figure with corded muscles, cracking his knuckles ominously. His face twisted into a menacing snarl. "Looks like someone needs a lesson in humility."

The blue-haired youth was none other than Ayato Kirishima, the younger brother of Touka Kirishima.

And his adversary? None other than Yamori, or "Jason," the brutal ghoul who had recently been humiliated by Kaguya.

"Tch, you let some masked woman scare you off? How pathetic," Ayato scoffed, glaring disdainfully. He clearly didn't hold Jason in high regard.

"Enough!"

A commanding voice echoed through the site. From the shadows emerged a figure clad in white, his face obscured by a mask.

"A woman wearing a fox mask, you say?"

The masked man's eyes narrowed sharply.

....

As Yukinori Shinohara's subordinate, Kaguya was assigned to Division One of the Countermeasures Department, tasked primarily with patrolling the Twentieth Ward. Compared to other wards, the Twentieth Ward was relatively safer and had not experienced large-scale ghoul activities like the other wards. The frequency of ghoul-related incidents here was minimal, making it a lower-priority zone for combat operations.

Since Kaguya was new to the Twentieth Ward, she wasn't immediately assigned any missions. Instead, she was allocated an office and tasked with handling ghoul-related administrative reports and document reviews.

This left Kaguya puzzled. Considering her strength far surpassed that of most CCG investigators, she should have been deployed to the frontlines without issue. However, for reasons unknown, she was temporarily sidelined. She suspected that her prior display of excessive power might have raised doubts among higher-ups, leading to a delay in assigning her active duties. It was not lost on her that there was an element of surveillance in this arrangement.

But it hardly bothered Kaguya. After all, she wasn't actually a ghoul, nor did she have anything to hide. With the destruction of the Eleventh Ward and the loss of most related records, the identity of the girl she was impersonating—Tsukiyomi—was virtually untraceable. Since the real Tsukiyomi was deceased, there was no risk of exposure.

What intrigued Kaguya more was the ghouls themselves. Why exactly did these creatures exist? Was it due to some form of biological anomaly or a consequence of specific environmental conditions? What was their role in this world's natural order?

The original story didn't delve deeply into the origins of ghouls, their lifespans, or the source of their powers. The existence of ghouls was merely a given, with no conclusive explanation offered. However, the CCG, having fought ghouls for decades, must have extensive research and intelligence on the subject. It would be in such information caches that she might find the answers she sought.

With that thought, Kaguya stepped into her assigned office, powered on the computer, and swiftly typed in a complex password, gaining access to the CCG's internal system.

Her office wasn't large but was tastefully decorated, with a minimalist yet elegant design. A small potted lily sat on the desk, its fragrance pleasantly soothing. Originally, as a Second-Class Investigator, Kaguya should have been allocated a desk in a shared office. However, due to her recent commendable performance, she had been given a private room, a privilege typically reserved for First-Class Investigators. Rumor had it that her achievements were significant enough to justify a promotion to First-Class Investigator, but her youth and lack of field experience had led the higher-ups to withhold their approval. The private office was likely a consolation prize.

As the system booted up, a glaring red message appeared on the screen: "Access Denied: Insufficient Clearance Level."

"So, there are restrictions," Kaguya murmured, narrowing her eyes.

The system seemed stringent. Without the requisite clearance, accessing classified information was impossible. Though Kaguya had studied computer systems in her original world, the technology here was vastly different, making it impossible for her to hack into the system directly.

"Do they really think this will stop me?" Kaguya's lips curved into a faint smirk. She already had a plan in mind, but it wasn't time to act just yet.

For now, she was stuck in the dull monotony of office work. With no immediate tasks, Kaguya leaned back in her chair, idly chewing on the cap of her carbon pen. Restlessness crept over her. If she'd known the job would be this tedious, she might not have come in the first place.

As her gaze wandered aimlessly, it landed on a stack of documents on her desk, prompting her to sit upright and sift through them. Her attention was caught by a particular file featuring a photograph of a young man. He had short black hair and delicate features that bordered on feminine. While his appearance was striking, it wasn't what drew her interest—she felt an odd sense of familiarity.

Her suspicions were confirmed when she read the name below the photo: Ken Kaneki.

Isn't that the protagonist's name from the original story?

"Kaneki Ken, male, age 19, a student at Kamii University. Last seen on Sakura Street in the East Port District, declared deceased on November 11th. Preliminary investigation indicates a ghoul attack."

Kaguya's eye twitched. "You've got to be kidding me. The protagonist is already dead?"

Her mouth twitched in disbelief, a bead of sweat forming on her temple. The immortal protagonist, famous for his resilience, had died? It was both unexpected and oddly amusing.

Still, it wasn't the first time Kaguya had found the fates of original protagonists in the worlds she visited to be less than stellar.

"Oh well, dead is dead," she muttered, shrugging it off.

However, her curiosity remained piqued. If Kaneki Ken was already deceased, what about the infamous "One-Eyed King" and the significant events tied to Kaneki's transformation into a half-ghoul? Was someone else destined to take up that mantle?

As she pondered these questions, a sudden burst of music from her phone interrupted her thoughts. Glancing at the clock on the wall, she realized it was time to clock out for the day.

Knock, knock.

The sound of a knock at her door pulled her from her musings.

Kaguya frowned slightly. She'd only been here for a short time and hadn't established connections with many people. Who could it be? Shinohara Yukinori, perhaps?

"Come in," she called out.

The door creaked open, and a young man hesitantly stepped inside. "Um… Hello, sorry to bother you."

The newcomer wasn't very tall and had short brown hair. His clean, boyish features were familiar. Kaguya recognized him as Seidou Takizawa, someone she'd seen a couple of times in passing. Her confusion deepened—she had no personal ties to him. What could he possibly want?

"Can I help you?" she asked politely, though her voice carried a hint of impatience.

"Well, uh, I just thought…" Takizawa stammered, his face flushing red. "Since you're new here, and we're all colleagues now, I wondered if you'd like to… um… grab dinner sometime? No pressure or anything!"

"…Huh?"

Kaguya blinked, momentarily speechless. His nervous demeanor and awkward phrasing made his intentions glaringly obvious. Was he trying to… flirt with her?

What a joke.

"Sorry," Kaguya said curtly, glancing at her watch. "I have plans tonight."

"Oh… I see." Takizawa looked crestfallen but forced a smile. "That's fine! Let me know if you're ever free."

How dense can you be? Kaguya sighed internally. She had no interest in entertaining this naïve boy's advances. Standing abruptly, she decided to put an end to this charade.

"Let's cut to the chase." Kaguya fixed him with a piercing gaze. "Are you trying to hit on me?"

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