Queen Sensei's Infirmary

Startled that Queen has also turned up inside Empty Space, Momo immediately pegs her as a threat. Koki spins a lie that Jiji and the rest jumped her, which sets off Queen's zero-tolerance stance on bullying and her demand that the real offender own up. Jiji insists it was Koki who struck first, but Queen doubts the quiet girl could be the attacker, and a stumped Jiji turns to Momo for backing. Momo tells him there is no need to lie, since she trusts his good heart, and urges him to speak plainly. Bamora chimes in that Momo was the actual victim, yet when Queen asks where that victim is, Momo's shouts go unheard.

Jiji declares outright that the girl he loves is the one who was hurt and presses Koki on why she would target her. Koki keeps lying, claiming the whole group ganged up on her while she stood alone, and begs Queen for punishment. Queen steps over, brushes Koki's hair back to study the wounds, and points out that her account clashes with her earlier denial of knowing Jiji. Scrambling, Koki says she would rather forget him because he frightens her. Noting how strange a lone-victim story is when far greater numbers ring her, Queen reveals to everyone that the pygmies are plainly visible to her. She explains that years of hearing students' confessions, some about spiritual troubles, opened her eyes to spirits, and she promises not to brand Koki a bad person until she hears the truth. Moved, Koki admits she was the one who attacked Momo and says she is sorry. Momo is ready to forgive and listen, but Queen answers with a slap, jolting the onlookers, and Jiji and Bamora rush to hold her back.

Koki then reveals a teacher blackmailed her into stabbing Momo, threatening to expose her secret social media account, though she cannot recall the teacher's identity. Aira suspects she is shielding the culprit, while Momo connects it to Unji's account of a figure who once helped him with the cursed trunk, and Okarun concludes it is the same person. Koki adds that her orders were never to kill Momo, but to take her power.

Koki tries to pin the blame on the others, but Jiji stands up for Momo, calling her someone precious to him. Queen, made spiritually sensitive after assisting students through several rituals, can see the pygmies and tells Koki her tale does not add up. Koki owns up to lying and apologizes, only for Queen to slap her. In the infirmary she describes her blackmailer, though the name and face escape her. The aim behind the scheme, Koki admits, was to seize Momo's power rather than her life.

Arriving November 12, 2024 in Volume 20 of the Ultimate Yokai Saga, the chapter recasts Queen from suspect to ally and shifts the mystery toward a hidden teacher. The revelation that the goal was Momo's power, not her death, reframes the whole Kozuka Knives plot.