Ch.106Chapter 17. Above the Neck (2)

The School Trip was enjoyable.

Really.

Though it’s called a “school trip” to cultivate learning, nobody actually studies seriously during these trips. Well, it’s not even an environment conducive to studying in the first place.

Everyone in a group shares one room, and the homeroom teacher tries to form groups with students who get along well.

Of course, there might be some complaints, but generally, everyone enjoys being with their roommates.

It’s not exactly the “extraordinary experience” that light novels talk about, but it’s a pleasant variation from everyday routine.

There’s an assignment to write a report after the trip, but it shouldn’t be difficult to complete.

“Where should we go tomorrow?”

Fukuda was the first to speak when we gathered in our room.

Her expression showed she was already excited about sightseeing.

Well, I’m a bit excited too, so I can only imagine how the actual high school girls must feel.

“Actually, I made a plan…”

Mako pulled out a notebook with a slightly embarrassed expression.

Fukuda and Yamashita had “I knew it” expressions. Even I, who had only known Mako for a few months, had expected this.

Mako had meticulously recorded how to properly enjoy Kyoto in her notebook.

What would it have been like in 2024, when I used to live? Perhaps kids then wouldn’t record plans in notebooks like this. With smartphones and tablet PCs, maybe such planning wouldn’t even be necessary.

…But unfortunately, we didn’t have such things during my school days, so this feels nostalgic and nice.

“Wow!”

Koko’s eyes sparkled more and more as she listened to Mako’s explanation.

I think Koko is looking forward to the food we’ll eat tomorrow. Mako had organized information about restaurants worth visiting.

“That’s our Mako-chan.”

“…If Fukuda were the leader, we’d probably just wander around until sunset.”

“What?”

Fukuda reacted with disbelief to Yamashita’s comment, but then added, “Well, I can’t deny that,” and laughed.

When I nodded at Mako, her face turned even redder.

Just like a class president should be.

*

Actually, street foods like dango could be eaten in Tokyo too.

But doesn’t food taste different when you eat it far from home while traveling?

No, it definitely had a different taste. The preparation method or ingredients must be different. It would be hard to say which tastes better though.

We had already eaten breakfast at the inn together. We would also have dinner there.

Since we couldn’t have multiple lunches, we chose street food to try a variety of dishes.

“Mmm!”

With her mouth full of wagyu beef skewer, Koko’s eyes sparkled. She seemed more satisfied with today than yesterday when we visited the most important places in Kyoto.

Yes, it is delicious. We rarely even dream of beef in our daily lives. And it’s wagyu at that. Of course it’s delicious.

We tried various foods while walking through the market. Walking through Kyoto’s old, narrow alleys really gave us that tourist feeling.

The bamboo forest was nice too. Looking at the densely planted bamboo on both sides of the path felt like being on a movie set. Well, I don’t watch many Japanese movies so I’m not sure, but I imagine many films have been shot here.

I was happy the entire time we walked around, wishing these moments could last for days instead of just one.

And on the other hand, I grew increasingly anxious as time passed. After this time ends, the episode that appeared in the original work will begin.

“Kotone!”

While walking, we happened to run into Yuka, Sasaki, and their group.

They seemed less awkward than yesterday, which was somewhat relieving.

Though Yuka did seem excessively happy to see me.

“Are you enjoying the trip?”

“Yes.”

“You look like you’re having fun.”

Yuka said that as if she was relieved.

“…How about you, Yuka?”

“Me? I’m… having fun, of course.”

She doesn’t seem to be enjoying it as much as I am.

I felt slightly guilty, but what could I do? We’re in different classes now. It’s not like Yuka could join our class.

It wouldn’t be impossible, but that would leave a bad impression on her current classmates.

“Well, see you at the inn tonight.”

Yuka said goodbye first. I waved back.

“…Sasaki, have a good time too.”

“Oh, yes.”

I waved to Sasaki, who had been seriously contemplating whether to join our conversation, and she smiled back at me.

I felt a bit regretful, but we decided to part ways.

We could meet briefly after dinner.

That should be fine.

…And anyway, both Yuka and Sasaki will end up getting involved in the incident.

*

Since we attend an expensive school, our accommodations were quite nice, and the food was delicious.

After filling our stomachs, I asked the three for permission and left the room with Koko.

I got a drink from the vending machine, placed it in Koko’s hand, and as we were walking side by side,

“Kotone.”

—someone called my name.

Not many people at school call me by name. And among the people here in Kyoto who would call me by name, three were in the room, so only two people remained who might call me by name here.

One of them was currently holding a drink can to her mouth. So naturally, only one person remained.

“Yuka.”

I turned around, calling the name of one of those two people.

Yuka looked a bit surprised.

“Why are you outside?”

I shrugged.

“No particular reason.”

“…I see.”

Yuka didn’t seem particularly worried. When we met this afternoon, I was getting along well with Mako’s trio. There was no reason for me to pick a fight with them, nor would they suddenly start bullying me.

On the other hand, Yuka had a reason to be outside.

She must have felt awkward with the girls in her room. Though she’s in the same group as Sasaki, they probably don’t share the same room.

Naturally, she wouldn’t be very close with the girls in her room.

I handed Yuka a can I had bought in advance.

“Oh, what about you?”

“I’m fine.”

“…”

Yuka silently accepted the can at my words.

With a slight furrow in her brow, she looked at me as if trying to read my true thoughts, but soon gave up and opened the drink.

The three of us sat on a bench in front of the ryokan building.

It was crowded with people. Not only was our entire grade staying at this ryokan, but other accommodations were also full of people.

This is Kyoto after all. One of the most famous tourist destinations in this country.

There were quite a few foreigners too. I wondered how many Koreans were among them. Would they be surprised if I suddenly spoke to them in Korean?

Yuka beside me would be surprised too.

“Want to take a picture together?”

“Huh? Oh, sure.”

I held out my hand to Yuka.

To Yuka, who just blinked at me,

“Your phone.”

That’s what I said.

“What about yours?”

Yuka asked while placing her phone in my hand,

“I left it behind.”

That’s all I answered.

I actually didn’t bring it at all.

I gathered Yuka and Koko on either side of me and took a photo. The quality wasn’t great since we were in a dark place, but it was satisfactory enough.

After returning the phone to Yuka, I sat blankly for a moment.

“Hey, Kotone. Is something—”

Yuka started to ask, perhaps judging from my attitude that something was wrong, but her words were quickly cut off.

“…”

A chill ran down my spine.

“Kotone, did you feel that?”

I nodded and stood up.

“It’s a yokai.”

“Yes.”

We looked around.

Nothing was immediately visible.

However.

“…I’ll go in and come back out quickly.”

That’s what Yuka said.

Since last summer, Yuka always carried a sword with her.

It looked suspicious no matter how you looked at it, but strangely, people around didn’t pay much attention.

In the original work, no one found it strange either.

Perhaps it’s the effect of “Muname.”

I waited for Yuka with Koko.

I already had a box cutter ready in my pocket.

“Kotone?”

Koko called my name, perhaps finding it strange that I was sitting so calmly.

“It’s okay.”

I said.

At least, things won’t unfold like in the original work.

*

The light novels of that era, called “Shintenki,” had a characteristic.

They were drenched in blood. Reading the descriptions was like watching a slasher movie.

And generally, people die when they lose that much blood. While the protagonist and those around them get injured but rarely die, it’s different for characters created specifically to be killed.

Like the victims devoured by the Amanojaku, those meant to die will certainly die.

In “Tokyo Slayers,” Yuka senses the appearance of yokai.

But she couldn’t completely stop them. Just as Yuka’s family was in Tokyo, there were many people in Kyoto who did such work, but they failed to prevent the yokai attack.

The reason was simple: there were too many yokai. Plus, it was a tourist spot crowded with people.

But today—

“Koko.”

“Yes!”

—today is slightly different.

Thud.

“Argh…!”

An oni, was it?

It looked similar to the makeup the neighbor wore, but looking closely, it was slightly different from a namahage.

The oni looked simpler. A burly male body with red skin. And horns protruding from its head.

It swung a club in its hand, but that was the extent of the danger. If I had been alone, I might have been turned into minced meat by that iron club.

But now, Yuka is here, and Koko is here.

And I’m here too.

“Who are you people…?”

While it was aware of Yuka’s existence, it didn’t seem to know about me, who was wielding a blood-made sword.

The exorcists of this region all looked at me with astonished expressions.

“…”

Without bothering to answer, I gripped Koko’s arm tightly.

Yes.

The reason they couldn’t protect people from such simple yokai threats was simply because “there were too many.”

If yokai emerge from all directions, it naturally takes time to move from one point to another.

And if it’s random, the situation becomes even more complicated.

If there are many yokai, they spread out to harm people, and the number of people to protect exceeds the number of yokai, then even if Kyoto is an old city with many historic exorcist families, it becomes an overwhelming battle.

I’m not sure how it was in the past. In a class society, they might have protected only the high-ranking individuals and accepted the sacrifice of those below.

But now, that’s not possible. The number of people has increased significantly, and the modern government needs to manage its image.

In the original work, the exorcists became more dispersed, and the damage increased. There were even student victims.

“Is it the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons…!”

I heard someone shout.

No.

That’s definitely not it. The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons episode comes much later.

Right now, I only see one oni here.

Fortunately, it was inside a “nest” so ordinary people couldn’t see it.

“Let’s go.”

“Kotone…?”

Koko looked at me with concern at my words.

My body was already covered in blood. The blood smell probably wouldn’t come out with just one wash.

While my blood wasn’t that much—no, I actively used my left arm, so my blood must be considerable too. Anyway, I was covered in more yokai blood than my own.

My arm trembled slightly.

“Let’s go, Koko.”

Chi, on my shoulder, was crying with a squeaking sound.

“How foolish.”

I even heard a voice whispering in my ear.

“I don’t understand why you need to go this far for those who mean nothing to you.”

Though the words sounded concerned, the voice had a hint of amusement.

Nirlas was enjoying my sacrifice.

“…”

Ignoring those words, I moved with Koko.

“…Kotone…!”

We arrived at the place where Yuka was fighting.

Yokai have different tendencies. Some yokai set up a definite nest, use it for protection, and conduct all their activities inside. Wachigai and Raiju were like that.

Or yokai that prepare their nests to “allow anyone to enter” and actively hunt for prey. Among the yokai I’ve seen, the Amanojaku was like that.

Depending on the yokai, some even come out of their nests.

The oni was the type to prepare its nest for anyone to enter. Of course, as there are many traditions about them, they also frequently go outside.

In the story, only Yuka’s “Muname” can directly cut down yokai, but that doesn’t mean yokai can’t be exorcised by other means. If they can be drawn out of their nests, there are more ways to damage yokai, like Grandpa’s Parma arrows.

Since yokai are clearly not beings of this side, weapons made of “iron” can’t damage them, but as long as they are “here,” they can’t completely escape the laws, so weapons can “pierce” their bodies. Of course, what actually damages them isn’t the piercing weapon but the Parma ritual itself… it seems.

It’s not a very intuitive explanation, but yokai themselves are non-intuitive beings that can’t be analyzed by the logic of this side.

Oni are aggressive and proactive. Since they keep their nests open, Koko’s movement alone allowed me to join Yuka immediately.

“How is this possible?”

Words came from the oni’s mouth.

It’s strange, isn’t it?

The Amanojaku I first met when I came here could also speak human language. Ironically, the more dangerous ones were all just like beasts.

“…”

Well, just because a yokai speaks doesn’t mean we have an obligation to answer.

They don’t explain their reasons when they kill people either.

I jumped in with all my might.

Koko did the same. She transformed her hair to block the oni’s iron club and helped me cut it with my sword.

On my left arm, a weapon similar to the one in my right hand had sprouted.

As time passed—the sword grew in proportion to my blood loss. But there’s no need to worry about the weight of the sword. It breaks a little each time I swing it anyway.

Drip.

Red blood spattered on the floor. It was the oni’s blood and mine.

“…Haa.”

“…Kotone.”

Yuka, who had frozen momentarily upon seeing me move, cautiously called my name.

I looked back.

Yuka was also covered in blood. Even Muname, which usually sparkled, had droplets of blood on it.

Despite striking and killing so many, still.

Is this Kosuzu’s doing too? In the light novel, this incident was described as some kind of precursor. And later, the real Night Parade of a Hundred Demons occurs.

“Are you okay?”

I silently nodded. Yuka’s face contorted when she saw mine.

“…Even if I tell you to rest, you won’t, will you?”

“…That’s right.”

“…”

At my answer, Yuka said nothing for a moment, then nodded.

“Then, let’s finish this quickly and rest.”

I nodded and took Koko’s hand.

“Kotone…”

“…Koko, if we don’t do this, the children will be in danger.”

Only after hearing my words did Koko’s face harden.

Yuka also took Koko’s arm, and we moved together.

*

“Haa, haa…”

My breathing was rough. There was a metallic taste in my mouth.

But, at least, with this.

“I see.”

A voice sounded in my ear.

“It seems you’ve killed everything you wanted to kill.”

I still don’t know what the outcome is.

Kyoto City is vast. Even if the Chi I created and scattered did its job, a few oni must have succeeded in rampaging.

“Since your wish has been fulfilled, I shall withdraw now.”

Something bothers me.

Is it because I didn’t handle it perfectly?

“Kotone. It’s okay. Rest.”

Yuka grabbed my arm.

Following Yuka, I leaned against a nearby wall and sat down.

Only then did I hear people’s screams.

They were terrified by the sudden appearance of blood-covered girls.

Someone will probably call the police. I’ll soon be taken to a hospital.

…I don’t like that.

The school trip still has one day left.

Yuka was holding her phone. A smile spread across her face as she listened with a serious expression.

Then, sitting in front of me, she said,

“Kotone, we did it.”

As if not caring whether people around heard or not.

“It’s okay. No one died. There aren’t even any injured people. It’s a perfect victory.”

“…Ha.”

I felt drained at those words.

…Was it that perfect?

Perhaps what I did was more effective than I thought?

I heard sirens in the distance.

“So rest now. Do your best to rest, okay?”

Yuka said with a slightly tearful voice.

“Tomorrow, let’s go around together.”

“Kotone…”

Koko’s voice was completely choked with sobs.

…

Should I?

Is that possible?

Well, alright. It’s fine.

If no one died, then it’s okay.

Yes, tomorrow morning when I wake up—