Ch.133Chapter 20. Request (8)

They say that humans became distinct from other beasts when they began to use fire.

By using fire to cook food, they reduced deaths from eating something harmful, expanded their realm of time by illuminating the night, and gained protection from predators.

That’s why humans have sometimes attached excessive interpretations to fire.

Especially in the religious realm, fire has held many meanings.

The wrath of God, and the karmic flames that cleanse the impure.

The sacred light that illuminates darkness.

Sometimes an object of reverence, sometimes an object of fear.

Perhaps, in a way, all those perspectives were correct.

“…Ah…”

Clutching her bleeding shoulder, Kagami looked up from her kneeling position on the ground.

There was no particular meaning to this action. Her wound hurt, and her legs had given out. It was simply the act of sitting down powerlessly.

She knew it was something to be ashamed of.

She thought she had grown accustomed to pain.

“Who are you…?”

But Kagami was so surprised that she momentarily forgot the pain.

She looked up at the figure standing with sword in hand, engulfed in flames yet not turning to ash.

It wasn’t intentional, but ironically, Kagami’s current posture was perfect for receiving this being.

The grotesquely distorted creature, which until moments ago had threatened everything living around it, was now cut in half.

Its skin, which had barely been visible before, was burning in blue flames and regaining its color. No, since it had existed somewhere between material and immaterial, it might be more accurate to say it was losing its color as it burned.

An ear-splitting scream rang out. It was the creature’s voice. It was struggling with flames covering its entire body.

Its tentacles extended high into the sky, writhing and convulsing like whips.

“Get away!”

Someone shouted.

“You’ll die if you’re hit— Ugh!”

As the voice called out, a tentacle moved in that direction, and light flashed again. There was a smell of something burning, and yellow blood sprayed into the air.

Whoosh, whoosh.

Kotone Kurosawa walked forward, lightly swinging the sword in her hand.

Her steps were joyful, as if she were out for a picnic.

That smiling expression, as if she might break into a hum at any moment, was not one that Kagami recognized.

Though Kotone did smile, her usual expression had a dark corner to it, as if she couldn’t fully relax. But now she was purely enjoying this situation, with her body on fire.

No, was it really burning?

A torch burns. It catches fire, blazes brightly, and illuminates its surroundings.

But it’s not easy to imagine that torch burning away to nothing.

After all, it’s made for that purpose, and therefore the fire burns for a long time.

Eventually, when it has served its purpose, it will cool down.

That “thing” before her eyes was like that.

There was no sound. Though she was smiling, she made no laughing sound, and she didn’t seem interested in communicating anything.

Just an expression like someone considering how to play with a struggling toy.

“Kotone! Kotone!”

As Koko tried to run toward her, Kagami instinctively reached out and grabbed her arm.

Koko looked down at Kagami with wide eyes.

Kagami herself was surprised by her own action.

“No.”

But she was less surprised than when she heard herself say those words.

“If you go there, right now…”

Her words came out fragmented and scattered, incomplete.

What was she trying to say? Even as Kagami let the words spill out, she had to struggle to organize her thoughts.

“That’s not Kotone. The person you know.”

And finally she managed to say that.

Yes.

It wasn’t Kotone. That wasn’t the entity known as Kotone Kurosawa. It was something beyond human understanding, temporarily descended into that body.

What was it?

What is that?

That thing with human flesh and blood is Kotone Kurosawa’s body.

No, that’s not it. There was a more fundamental answer. It shouldn’t just be called Kotone Kurosawa’s. That body—

That body— it, that, yes, it was a vessel.

Kagami had tried to create a vessel. For the Kurosawa family’s tragic wish, following her sister Kosuzu’s orders, she had created many vessels, and this was the least damaged one.

“That is…”

With each word, the truth emerged slowly but clearly from deep within.

If that was a vessel, then what was the entity occupying it?

Yes, it was supposed to be “used” like that, but then, what was the entity called Kotone Kurosawa?

The one who called herself Kotone and lived as such?

“No!”

At that shout, Kagami’s vision returned to normal. Her tight grip had been shaken off by Koko.

“No! That’s Kotone!”

Only after hearing those words did Kagami belatedly realize.

Ah, I see.

If the soul dwelling in that body wasn’t originally a god, then that entity…

It simply exists as it is called.

Just like everyone else.

Simply as the entity called Kotone Kurosawa.

“Kotone!”

“No.”

Kagami grabbed Koko’s arm again. Koko looked at Kagami again, but this time Kagami didn’t back down.

“That, right now, the entity occupying that body is a different being.”

A scream rang out. Not a human scream. There was the sound of metal piercing bone and flesh repeatedly, and a scraping noise. Tentacles flew through the air. The ones that fell to the ground moved violently like freshly cut octopus legs, then gradually stopped moving.

“If you go now, you’ll burn in the fire too. And you probably won’t be able to withstand that fire.”

“…”

Koko’s expression turned grim. Her hair visibly stiffened.

Kagami tried to stay calm as she spoke.

“…If you die, Kotone will be heartbroken when she returns.”

Koko’s face softened just a little.

She seemed to dislike that possibility.

Kagami couldn’t understand how the two had formed such a bond. All Kagami had seen was a writhing, failed lump of flesh trying to imitate a human.

But, at least.

“So wait for now. She’ll surely come back.”

She wasn’t certain.

But she felt that this moment wouldn’t be the end.

Somehow, though she couldn’t explain why, that thing was clearly enjoying this moment.

If Kotone were to die, and that body disappeared, it would no longer be able to enjoy itself.

For the first time, questions arose about what she had been doing all this time.

All sounds except the monster’s screams had subsided.

The cries of the injured beyond, the sounds of dealing with other monsters crawling on the floor, the breaking of glass bottles and things flying and hitting—

None of these could be heard now.

They were just trembling, listening to the sounds of a non-human monster dying.

“…Uu.”

Koko seemed to understand Kagami’s words somehow.

She seemed to realize that even if she went there and died right now, it would only please that thing.

Now the monster’s movements had completely stopped.

As if it were dead.

No, it must be dead.

“…”

The thudding sounds that had been ringing out stopped.

It stood still for a moment without even catching its breath, then turned to look toward Kagami and Koko.

Then it gracefully walked toward Kagami.

“…”

Unconsciously gripping Koko’s arm tightly, Kagami blankly stared at the dancing blue flames.

The blue flames gradually subsided from that body, which approached with a light-hearted expression as if it had just enjoyed playing.

It didn’t appear to be injured anywhere. Except for the wrist that continuously bled, its physical condition seemed much better than before.

Though that might be because everything else on its body had burned away.

As soon as the fire disappeared, Kotone staggered and collapsed sideways.

This time Koko rushed out immediately. Catching Kotone before she fell sideways, Koko carefully laid her down and cried out.

“Kotone, are you okay!?”

Koko shouted.

“…”

Kotone’s face grimaced. Gritting her teeth and trembling as if enduring something, she didn’t look okay at all.

“I’m, fine.”

But Kotone answered that way anyway.

“It’s all over.”

Kagami said this without knowing why she was saying such a thing.

“It’s all over, so let’s go back.”

She hadn’t forgotten the reason they came here in the first place.

But in their current state, searching would be impossible.

Besides, who knew how many of Kosuzu’s people remained in the area.

And those on the other side.

Kagami could tell they were from the church.

Considering the situation, their side was at a severe disadvantage. She didn’t know how the others had found this place, but they had far greater numbers.

Kagami had countermeasures for yokai, but not for humans. If they had been government people, she might have tried to negotiate somehow—

“Wait!”

Shouts from men on the other side could be heard.

The sound of hurried footsteps approached, and four men who had been waiting below ran up and stood in front of the fallen Kotone, Koko, and Kagami.

“Hey, back off! Come any closer and you’re dead!”

The oldest man said this while drawing a knife from his breast.

It was a real sword made for stabbing people, not something like a sashimi knife. It had no ridge and no decoration on the scabbard or handle.

The others also drew similar weapons from their clothes.

The tension was evident on their faces. Even for people used to physical work, such situations wouldn’t be common.

Despite the winter cold, sweat beaded on their foreheads, and Kagami thought this wasn’t just because they had run up the mountain.

From the other side came the sound of something being drawn.

“…It’s over, let’s go home.”

Koko said tearfully. Even her hair, which always stood stiffly in such situations, now hung limply without strength. Koko’s concern seemed to be only for Kotone now.

“It’s not over…”

“No. It is over. For now.”

Kagami said firmly as she stood up.

Then she went between the men.

She had no weapons, but having come this far and faced them directly, she felt she had to do something.

“Wait, wait a moment.”

Someone on the other side seemed to have similar thoughts.

The one who came forward first was a girl. She didn’t appear much older than Kotone.

No, perhaps that was just because Kagami knew Kotone’s age. Kotone gave a younger impression than others her age. Someone seeing her for the first time might think she was older.

Kagami knew who this was. The cult had a certain influence. Though they hadn’t been on the “religious” path for long, they had enough personnel to investigate what was happening in the school and who the students were.

Hana Hagiwara.

A girl who had been spotted entering the cathedral several times.

“…”

Slowly approaching with her hands raised as if to show she had no intention to attack, she looked directly at Kagami.

“What’s over there is—”

“Kotone Kurosawa.”

Kagami interrupted and said.

Just as she had done several times today, she didn’t know why she did it.

Even though Kagami knew what kind of entity Kotone Kurosawa was, for some reason she disliked it when others spoke as if she “wasn’t Kotone.”

…Perhaps she resembled Kosuzu in some ways, since they were sisters. She had definitely inherited the self-centeredness. Not a fact she wanted to acknowledge.

“‘She’ is called Kotone Kurosawa.”

Kagami deliberately spoke in a gentle voice, slowly explaining a fact the other already knew.

Like when she first met “Kotone Kurosawa.”

“…I know that.”

Hana Hagiwara said.

“But that form just now— clearly.”

“…”

Kagami said nothing.

She just stood her ground with a smile on her face.

Apart from Hagiwara, all the other church people were holding swords. Strangely, they weren’t simply “holding” them, but had inserted the blades between their fingers in clenched fists, making them look like claws.

“We know why you came here today.”

Kagami said.

“Surely, you came to catch a yokai.”

“…”

“I don’t know why you who believe in God would want such a thing. Don’t you think reading someone’s thoughts goes against free will?”

“…We just wanted to find it before others could use it.”

“Is that so?”

Kagami tilted her head and said.

“Then there’s no reason for us to be facing off like this. We also came to eliminate it. Before anyone else could use it.”

“…”

How am I supposed to believe that?

That was the expression on her face.

Well, it’s understandable. The idea of reading someone’s thoughts is too attractive.

“That’s why you were holding swords from the beginning. And why I came with these talismans. To exorcise it completely, so it wouldn’t fall into other hands.”

“…Not to capture it alive?”

“Unfortunately, our religious influence is weaker than yours. Even if we had it, I’m not confident we could keep it from being taken.”

She was sincere.

If she had been confident in containing it perfectly, Kagami might have made a different choice.

“…”

Should I believe this or not?

In the moment the girl was lost in thought, a voice came from behind her.

“We still need to deal with it here!”

I don’t know who it was.

“It’s the seed of heresy! Just now!”

“That’s right! Now’s our chance!”

Murmurs grew.

After the first voice was heard, others joined in agreement. Soon the voices were coming from all the surviving people on that side.

We must kill it. We must finish the job properly.

We cannot allow something so vile that defies God’s will to taint this world.

…Words with similar meanings.

“Be quiet!”

Hagiwara shouted, but it had little effect.

“You would understand.”

Kagami said, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.

“You would understand… that Kotone Kurosawa is just a young girl.”

The tongue of a serpent!

Someone shouted.

Gradually, the fervor increased. Even on this cold winter day, it seemed as if some emotion was visibly rising from that side.

“For God’s will!”

God’s will, huh.

That was a will very far removed from Kagami.

In many ways.

“Be quiet! We’re talking! Are you saying you want to kill that child? Are you in your right mind?”

Hagiwara shouted. Even as she shouted, she didn’t seem to think her words would have any effect.

“Kagami-san.”

One of the Yamashita men said, then backed up closer to Kagami. The other three did the same.

The door to dialogue was gradually closing.

“…”

Kagami put her hand inside her clothes and took out a talisman.

…It wouldn’t work on humans. That flame wasn’t one that burned material on this side.

But at least, as a distraction.

If the other side didn’t properly understand their methods, perhaps they could buy some time.

“Not yet.”

But as Kagami was making up her mind, such a quiet voice was heard.

“It’s not over yet.”

Despite gasping for breath, Kotone was speaking.

Kagami turned around.

“Kotone!”

Koko cried out in distress, but Kotone, her face pale, was getting up.

“Right now—”

“No.”

Kotone frowned and said, cutting off Kagami’s words.

It wasn’t the face of a child with some kind of spirit of self-sacrifice.

It was the expression of someone who really doesn’t want to do something but has no choice. At least, it wasn’t the face of a saint.

And because of that, Kagami could immediately understand Kotone’s words.

Her gaze shifted.

Blood was still flowing from Kotone’s wrist.

The red blade still maintained its form intact.

That’s right.

Kotone’s words were “literal.”

Nothing was over.

This situation was just—

Bang.

From far away, such an alien sound was heard.

A sound rarely heard directly in this country, one you’d expect to hear only in movies or dramas.

Everyone’s attention turned in that direction.

Screams could be heard from beyond. Then bang, bang, bang, a series of sounds rang out.

Crack, the sound of something heavy breaking and falling—

Boom.

The ground shook.

“…It’s not over. If we stay like this, we’ll all die.”

Kotone muttered with a terrified expression.

*

To somehow ignore the terrible pain, I kept thinking.

If I couldn’t escape the burning pain, I needed to divert my mind elsewhere.

And in those thoughts, I could retrieve one thing from the very depths of my mind.

Whateley.

The name of that monster.

Whateley.

Whateley…

…Ah.

I finally remembered.

Yes.

That’s right.

In “The Dunwich Horror,” there wasn’t just one who inherited the blood of the Outer God.

Brothers, side by side, inherited the blood.

One was a large, ugly-looking human.

The other was—

Crack.

The sound of trees falling.

…Yes. That’s right.

The other was a gigantic monster.

A monster that knocked down forest trees just by crawling, drained cows of blood until they withered, and threatened the world by its very existence.

“…”

The faces of those who were shouting for my death just moments ago now hardened with fear of death.

It wasn’t particularly satisfying.

After all, I was part of that group right now.