Ch.160Chapter 24. Flesh (5)

I’ve thought about it, and there’s definitely a big difference in atmosphere compared to D○sney.

It’s not just about being colorful, right? D○sney isn’t just that. It’s more like… yes, it reminds me of those illustrations of the Cambrian sea that I used to see as a child.

Not that it’s actually underwater. Those illustrations always showed incredibly colorful creatures wandering around everywhere, and that’s the kind of atmosphere I’m talking about. And anyone familiar with illustrations of that period would agree that, honestly, it’s a somewhat frightening sight.

The creatures from that era all look somewhat “Cthulhu Mythos”-like.

I was tired from climbing the stairs. If this had been underwater, I would have immediately stopped breathing. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

I’m glad there’s a modern creature—a cat—beside me. Otherwise—well, I wouldn’t have gone mad immediately like protagonists in Cthulhu stories, but I might have developed something like thalassophobia.

“…So?”

I looked up at the sky, which resembled a dawn painted in Van Gogh’s style. In between patches of sky, swarms of crustaceans that looked like they’d have archaeological scientific names in the real world were flying around. I just hoped those creatures wouldn’t take an interest in me.

“What do you want me to do here?”

Should I cut my wrist again?

But would that even work? In reality, my body was Nirlas Shura’s avatar or whatever, so I could borrow a bit of Nirlas’s power, but that probably wouldn’t work here.

“It’s not that difficult. ‘You’ should be sufficient.”

“What do you mean by ‘me’? Me as myself? Or me as Nirlas’s avatar?”

“Meow, who knows.”

I had already decided to interpret Kuro’s meows as laughter while climbing the stairs, so I chose to consider that “meow” as mockery.

That made me quite annoyed.

Seeing my reaction, Kuro meowed once more. Hmm, at least this one doesn’t seem like mockery. More like an embarrassed laugh.

…To think I’m interpreting a cat’s facial expressions in the afterlife.

My fate is truly bizarre.

“This world isn’t all like this. It’s a dream world, right? There are also ‘people’ who live here. Naturally, there are those who need help.”

“…And?”

The people here probably aren’t the “people” I know.

Besides, I’m starting to understand where this place might be.

In the Lovecraft mythos, the only place that could be called a “dream world” is literally “Dreamland” in English.

Unfortunately, I don’t know much about this. I was into Lovecraft as a child, but I never read the complete collection.

The reason is simple. It’s the same reason I stopped reading other manga or light novels midway.

The later books about Dreamland were released so late that by the time they came out, I had already forgotten I wanted to read them. When I found out they were released, my enthusiasm had already cooled.

Still, I remember some of the settings.

…I hope the “people” here aren’t “ghouls” or “night-gaunts”?

“First, we’re going to the moon.”

“The moon?”

I looked around.

There was indeed a moon hanging in that Van Gogh-like sky. More precisely, there was also something slightly smaller, like another satellite, but that one… though it hung like the moon, it looked more like Mars. A planet that would probably have a rusty red sand desert if you landed on it.

And the moon’s position was uncomfortably close. They say the distance between Earth and the moon is enough to fit all the planets in our solar system, but this moon was definitely not that far away.

It was close enough that its gravity should be causing tidal waves.

“…How?”

On Earth, we use rockets to go to the moon, but in this era that looks more like prehistoric times—even before humans evolved—I doubt there would be such things.

Surely we won’t be riding on the back of some creature?

“Obviously, we’ll take a ship.”

“A ship? A spaceship?”

“Something like that.”

Kuro started leading the way, as if enjoying being the one to explain this.

Like the surroundings that evoked the image of being underwater, the ground below was similar. There were anemones—or perhaps their ancestors—growing everywhere that looked like they shouldn’t be touched, and worm-like creatures slithering around, with a wide expanse of sandy beach that seemed safe to walk on.

I carefully followed in Kuro’s footprints as he walked across the sandy beach. I was afraid some unknown creature might suddenly jump out from the ground if I stepped elsewhere.

“Where are we going?”

“Through Ulthar, to Dylan’s Lyn. From there, we’ll take a ship and sail to the western sea.”

They both sound like city names or something similar.

“Don’t worry. From there, you just need to carry me.”

“…Why?”

“It’s a place that doesn’t harm people who don’t harm cats.”

Kuro meowed.

“So, as long as you don’t suddenly punch me, you’ll be safe as a guest.”

So I just need to not abuse cats?

“What does carrying you have to do with anything?”

“Because, separate from not abusing cats, you wouldn’t be a particularly welcome guest. Don’t worry if people glare at you. While you’re with me, you’ll be a guest, even if not a welcome one.”

“…”

Not knowing how to respond, I just nodded.

Even though Kuro was only looking ahead as we walked, he seemed to notice my nod and swished his tail in response.

*

Thankfully, the “people” Kuro mentioned were indeed “people.” Not much different from me. In fact, they were so similar that there were even Asians just like me.

Of course, I don’t think “Asia” here is the same Asia I know.

And as Kuro said, most people glared at me intensely. Some simply turned away, pretending not to notice, but others looked like they would have grabbed me by the collar if Kuro hadn’t been there.

Is it because this is a place where you can’t harm cats? Like how cows are commonly seen everywhere in Hindu regions of India, cats were scattered all over the place here.

People didn’t seem to care much about what the cats were doing or where they were. Instead, they would give the cats strangely twisted otherworldly fish.

…And the cats ate them with great delight.

The innkeeper looked at me quite suspiciously, but thanks to Kuro, he didn’t charge us. Honestly, I’m not even sure if money exists in this world.

“So, this is Ulthar?”

Only after safely making it to the inn thanks to Kuro did I feel comfortable enough to ask.

“Yes. It’s the city of cats.”

“I don’t think even ancient Egypt worshipped cats this much.”

I said, looking down through the window. Kuro meowed once.

“True. If you kill a cat here, you die too.”

“You mean capital punishment?”

“No such process is needed. The cats take care of it themselves. Not a single bone, piece of flesh, or drop of blood remains.”

“…”

That’s… a bit scary. Very Lovecraftian.

And only after hearing that story could I vaguely recall one short story.

“…You, that…”

“Meow, that’s right. Here, I’m treated as a goddess. I was once treated as a goddess in your world too. Time is cruel, isn’t it?”

Kuro glanced up at me once and meowed again.

“You don’t seem very surprised.”

“No… I was imagining something much more terrifying.”

Like Nyarlathotep, whom I had been wary of since coming here.

The reason I thought of Nyarlathotep specifically is because he’s the most malicious character in Lovecraft’s stories.

Other gods—the ones truly called “gods”—don’t show much reaction unless humans approach them first, claiming to worship them. They’re simply not interested in humans. Their mere existence can drive people mad, but that’s not intentional.

But Nyarlathotep is different. In the stories, he’s clearly an “evil god” who interferes in the human world at will, committing all sorts of evil acts from behind the scenes of history. Though he appears as a servant of the gods, in that sense, he’s more threatening to humans than the other gods.

“Meow.”

Kuro laughed again.

Perhaps because we’re in his favorite city? Kuro has seemed in a good mood for a while now.

“Is that being you’re thinking of so scary?”

“…Are you reading my thoughts?”

“I told you. This is the dream world. And dreams come from thoughts. Since you didn’t come here with your physical body, someone like me can see your thoughts clearly.”

“…”

“Yes, I know. You want to go back? Don’t worry. Time will solve everything. I’ll keep you safe here.”

“Thanks for that.”

“In return, as I mentioned earlier, I just need you to do one thing.”

“And that’s why we’re going to the moon?”

I said, lying down on the bed. It doesn’t seem to be a spring mattress. From the rustling and somewhat hard feeling, it might be hay?

“Yes, that’s right. There, you’ll do something only you can do.”

“…How long will it take?”

“Just to get there? About two weeks?”

“What?”

I jumped up from the bed, and Kuro laughed again.

“Time flows relatively here. Don’t worry. You won’t be too late for your original world.”

Kuro looked at me quietly and curled up on the bed.

“…And, yes, since you’re helping, I’ll help you too. When everything is done, I can tell you about that prophecy.”

“…”

I thought for a moment.

And quickly came to a conclusion. After all, I can’t do anything here without Kuro anyway.

“Well, alright.”

I lay back down on the bed.

“Meow, good.”

Kuro responded to my words.

“…”

“…”

For a moment, I closed my eyes and stayed still.

I couldn’t fall asleep.

“I can’t sleep.”

“Of course not. This is the dream world, remember? Strictly speaking, your soul is still asleep.”

…That’s going to be really boring.

*

Being a year older than the dead child and her friends didn’t make her an adult yet.

No, even if she were an adult, she was still at an age where she had much to learn.

So, she didn’t know how to accept the fact that a child a year younger than her, whom she was very close to and cherished, had suddenly died.

Kaoru Kaneko and Izumi Ikeda, the two of them, went up to the literature club room out of habit after classes ended.

Normally, Kotone Kurosawa, who had classes on a lower floor than them, would have come up to the literature club room a little later. With her sister Koko beside her.

Kaoru had planned to play a prank on the two of them. As she often did with Kotone, she had prepared bread and fishing line today too. Kotone had become less susceptible to it, but it was still quite effective on Koko.

Kotone might not like this description, but to Kaoru, Kotone was like a small animal. A cute little animal that didn’t know how to run away and just stood there blinking when faced with a threat.

Of course, Kotone wasn’t really like that.

She was a child who could draw a weapon and fight for her life if necessary. That’s the Kotone that Kaoru had seen.

A child who could fight monsters from the underworld without hesitation.

“…Why?”

Kaoru, sitting with her head bowed, muttered.

Yes, why?

How on earth did that child die? Kaoru had no idea.

Even if one isn’t the type of person who deals with such matters, usually when someone dies, they at least tell you the cause.

She had never experienced such a thing before, but surely that’s how it would be. If someone died in an accident, they would say they died in an accident, and if someone was murdered—

“…”

Kaoru’s face hardened.

Yes.

If she was murdered, that might be something they could hide. At least, the fact that they weren’t told about the death suggested that there was a complex incident behind it that couldn’t or wouldn’t be spoken about.

If Kaoru hadn’t known Kotone.

If she hadn’t known about the underworld, and wasn’t certain that yokai existed, she might have dismissed it as just an interesting conspiracy theory—

…No, if Kotone hadn’t been there, Kaoru probably wouldn’t have even made it to the third semester.

“Kaoru?”

When Kaoru suddenly stood up from her chair, Izumi jumped in surprise and asked.

Without even thinking to apologize for startling her closest friend, Kaoru roughly searched through her bag.

And what she pulled out was a sheet of paper.

Izumi blinked as she watched Kaoru begin to write the fifty-sound table (gojūon) on the paper.

“I don’t understand.”

Whether she was speaking to Izumi, to herself, or perhaps to the departed Kotone.

Kaoru spoke while roughly scribbling.

“I don’t understand why Kotone had to go like that.”

Yes. Kotone was strong.

And, above all.

She wasn’t the kind of child who should have left the world so meaninglessly.

After all that suffering, she was such a good child. A child with such integrity that it seemed like nothing in the world could casually alter her nature.

Why would such a child…?

She thought it might be a lie. Could someone be hiding her and lying about it? The kind of stories she had read came to mind, but Kaoru wasn’t convinced they actually existed.

What Kaoru was certain of was only that her junior and friend who had suddenly left had definitely existed by her side.

So, those things didn’t really matter.

“Why did she have to leave without saying anything to us?”

She wasn’t sure if Kaoru or Izumi deserved to hear that child’s last words.

After all, a person’s last words are only for those who stay by their side until the end.

But still, if she had to leave, couldn’t she have at least shared a few words?

That would have helped them know what to do next. Whether they should just let Kotone rest in peace, or investigate and expose the truth, or even seek revenge.

The only one who knew was the one person no longer with them.

Only Kotone.

“At the very least, she could have told us the reason.”

It might be unreasonable.

But her heart was so heavy that she didn’t know what to do if she didn’t try something like this.

Kaoru had almost lost another junior once before. Because she was too insensitive. Because she didn’t know what was happening. Because she found out too late, she only acted after everything was over.

It was the same this time. That fact tore at Kaoru’s heart.

“Wait, Kaoru!”

Izumi, who had just realized what Kaoru was making, grabbed her arm in horror.

“Kaoru, what are you doing!?”

Her words were almost a scream.

“Are you trying to contact Kotone—”

“Yes.”

Kaoru stared at the paper as she spoke.

A few characters were crooked because Izumi had grabbed her arm, but the table itself was more or less complete.

“That’s too much!”

Izumi shouted.

“Kotone… Kotone is gone, and you’re thinking of playing around with her name?”

Kaoru finally looked up.

Many emotions were visible on Izumi’s face. Shock, anger, sadness. Especially her eyes, which looked at Kaoru as if she were a stranger, making even Kaoru tremble a little.

“That’s… that’s…”

“Izumi.”

Kaoru, who had returned to reality a bit thanks to Izumi, spoke in a slightly calmer voice.

“Izumi, that’s not it. Listen.”

“If that’s not it—”

“I can do it.”

Izumi was left speechless at Kaoru’s words. It wasn’t the fact that she could do it that shocked her. Rather, she seemed to think that Kaoru had finally lost it.

“We saw it then, right? When we encountered the woman with the split mouth.”

Izumi nodded slowly, with an expression that suggested she didn’t know how to handle the current situation.

“There was one more time. Long before that. I think I told you.”

“Even so—”

“And you saw it too.”

Kaoru looked directly at Izumi as she spoke.

“Before, when we were with Kotone. The coin moving. You definitely saw it.”

“…”

Izumi’s expression slowly crumbled. She was clearly confused. A face that couldn’t bring itself to agree or get angry.

“So, I can do it. If Kotone has really left this world—”

Kaoru took a moment to catch her breath. Her heart was pounding.

In truth, even Kaoru herself didn’t know exactly what she was hoping for.

She just wanted to do something. Because once again, she had found out too late.

“I can ask Kotone. What exactly happened. Aren’t you curious? And… don’t you feel sorry? As her senior, if there’s anything I can do, I want to…”

Her voice began to break as she spoke.

The tears she had been holding back overflowed. A few drops fell from her chin onto the paper she was holding, causing some of the characters to blur.

“I… so…”

Kaoru couldn’t explain properly in the end.

But, faced with this action that couldn’t be called logical—no, perhaps because it was such an action—Izumi could only nod blankly.