Ch.163Chapter 24. Flesh (8)

“…….”

What a strange feeling this is.

People say not to judge by appearances, but no one could help feeling repulsed by a creature that looks like a toad split in half with several octopus legs attached to its waist.

Then again, it was probably designed to evoke disgust. It’s from the Lovecraft mythos, isn’t it? I haven’t read the Dreamland stories, but if it’s a monster from there, that would make sense.

Yet when I reached out my hand, this monster sat down with a groan.

When I was told to do something about these savage monsters, I didn’t understand what I was supposed to do, but now I see why they brought me specifically.

“…Is it because I’m a being who crossed over from reality?”

As I muttered this thought while watching the creatures sitting on the ground with their tentacles drooping, accepting my touch, Kuro shook his head.

“No, that’s not it. It’s because you’re ‘you.'”

Meow, Kuro purred and sprawled on the ground.

In front of me were countless creatures in similar postures. At least they weren’t making groaning sounds.

It feels strange… like they’re showing gestures of submission.

“Thanks to you, we’re fortunate. Otherwise, there would certainly have been bloodshed. Many people would have died.”

“……”

I stopped petting the moon beasts and examined my hand.

There was nothing on it. With that visual appearance, it wouldn’t have been strange if it were covered in sticky mucus, but it wasn’t.

“…So?”

“Meow?”

“You said you’d tell me if I helped.”

I turned toward Kuro, plopped down on the ground, and looked down. The ground was covered with fine sand. I don’t know what it was made of, but it was the color of the “moon.” Actually, it sparkled so much that it could have been silver powder rather than sand. Or perhaps fine silver particles mixed with the sand.

I can breathe here, and the wind blows, but I don’t understand why the craters like those on the real moon haven’t disappeared. Is this also influenced by people’s dreams?

Well, that doesn’t matter now. It seems foolish to question things using physical laws as examples anyway.

Rather—

“About the prophecy.”

Kuro looked up at me.

“Oh? You want to know?”

“Yes.”

If it wasn’t for that… no, even if it wasn’t for that, I don’t think I had any choice but to follow.

It seems Kuro is hiding me somehow. Protecting my spirit that has left my body… at least that’s what it seems like. I don’t know why.

Is this place really our destination? Or is there another reason hidden behind it? I’m a bit worried.

“You said I haven’t properly died yet? And Yuka thought again. So, is the prophecy broken?”

“Meow, well.”

Kuro answered. His eyes narrowed. I think that sound is his version of laughter.

“So there’s nothing to worry about now?”

“Well.”

Kuro answered the same way again.

“Yuka isn’t the only person you trust.”

“…What?”

“Whether simply expecting someone to do something fully aligns with ‘trust’ is debatable, isn’t it? You trust Yuka but didn’t tell her everything. That trust is different from trust as a verification of facts, like in a transaction. But you believe Yuka will take your side in any situation, right? Even if you didn’t tell her everything, and even if you told some lies. That’s trust. Not confidence, but trust.”

“……”

“Then what about that outer god, Nirlas? You trust that outer god. You think it will do anything as long as the terms of the deal are met. In a way, that’s also trust, right? But at the same time, you’re wary, aren’t you? You believe it won’t lie, but you also think it’s playing with you. You don’t think that will only lead to positive results.”

“So?”

“Was it Yuka or Nirlas who stabbed you?”

“Obviously Nirlas.”

I frowned and answered immediately.

I didn’t want to think Yuka had stabbed me. That was the truth. It’s not the fault of someone who gets hit by a car and flies into another person. It’s the fault of the person driving the car.

“Good. Regardless of which one it was, you were definitely stabbed by someone you trust. Yuka definitely ‘thought again,’ as she said so herself. Then what about Nirlas?”

“…Huh.”

“Well, I can’t read the memories of beings of equal rank, so I don’t know, but seeing that it didn’t particularly tease you, things might have gone in a direction it didn’t expect. Especially considering how it moved the knife to stab you.”

I tried to be patient. It’s not particularly because he called himself equal in rank to Nirlas. I had already expected that.

It’s just that if Kuro gets upset and stops talking to me, I won’t get to hear what I want to know.

Kuro looked up at me, seemingly enjoying my expression, and said:

“You trust many people, but if we narrow down those who can definitely kill you, there aren’t many. Could Kaoru kill you? Probably impossible. Even if she pushed you from a high place, you’d get up again.”

I agreed with that point. I don’t think Kaoru would do such a thing to me anyway… Ah, yes. This is also trust.

“Among those who could kill you and whom you trust, who else is there?”

“…Koko?”

“Is that so? Could she kill you? I think it’s unlikely.”

Kuro said.

“She wouldn’t even consider the possibility of killing you. You two are connected somehow. You share the same mother.”

“Because we… were born from an outer god?”

“Meow.”

Kuro purred.

“You’ll find out about that later, later.”

Kuro smiled lightly as if looking forward to that time, then continued:

“So, let’s get back to basics. How do you think about the concept of ‘dying’? Is it when the heart stops? When the head is cut off?”

“…You said it yourself. Those things only apply to ordinary people.”

Even Koko was just a ‘nose’ when I found her.

When I attached flesh, it became a head, and I made each part of the body and put them together to create the current Koko.

“Right. After all, you’re still in a dream, and because you’re sleeping, your soul hasn’t left your body yet. That’s what real death is. Leaving the body. One more thing. How many souls do you think can enter each body?”

“…One?”

“That’s also what you’d say when you add ‘normally,’ right?”

Kuro looked up at me with narrowed eyes and said:

“That’s why I find you interesting.”

“Are you saying… I wasn’t like that?”

“That’s right.”

Kuro smiled and said:

“When you talked with Nirlas, where did the voice come from?”

“Well, right next to my ear… normally…?”

“How did it feel?”

“Like caressing my body, or putting a hand on my shoulder.”

I shrugged.

“I couldn’t see it anyway.”

“Interesting.”

Kuro meowed and laughed again.

“It’s very human to not realize something that’s in the closest place.”

“…What?”

“Let me ask you something. If there’s something in the closest place in the world but you can’t see it, who do you think it is?”

“That’s…”

“Whether human or not, all animals’ gazes are directed outward. Not inward.”

Kuro said.

“What happened every time you called Nirlas? Your body wouldn’t move, right? As if you lost control.”

“…Huh?”

“What did you do whenever you wanted to call Nirlas? You tore your body and bled, right? That blood flowed through the pattern deliberately drawn on your wrist.”

“W-wait a minute.”

I stood up.

“Your chest was pierced. That wound hasn’t healed yet, and almost all the blood has drained out.”

“That means—”

“Don’t worry. Blood is… well, common-sensically speaking, just ‘part of the body,’ right? Don’t you remember talking with Nirlas? What did it say to you?”

Avatar, it said.

That’s right. It definitely said that. Not in a roundabout way, but from the beginning.

Meow.

Kuro purred.

“As long as your soul doesn’t leave and ‘die,’ it will continue as is. Aren’t you grateful? While you’re here, the other owner of that body will never wake up.”

“Are you saying the prophecy hasn’t been fulfilled yet?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, who will kill me…?”

“There’s still one person left.”

Kuro looked at me steadily and said:

“Someone who only recently came to believe that you would never betray each other.”

“Ah—”

“What if there’s someone who has changed their mind and wants to see you again? Wouldn’t they want to summon you back by any means necessary?”

Kuro stood up, stretched his front legs, and said:

“And for resurrection, death is necessary. While two souls can enter one body, one soul cannot be in two bodies. And when the soul moves on, the body left behind can be described as ‘dead,’ don’t you think?”

*

Kagami thought it was important to check the condition of the corpse.

If Kotone dies like this, and the body doesn’t revive but remains dead, perhaps her mind would be at ease.

Because then it would be over for good.

If the corpse becomes stiff with rigor mortis, or is already slowly decaying… if that’s the case, then Kotone is truly dead.

It’s possible to summon a soul that has gone to the netherworld. But it’s almost impossible for that soul to settle in a new body.

The reason is unknown. Even if a new body is found, it either rejects it, or even though it clearly revives, the body slowly decays. There’s also a method of possessing a living person, but this doesn’t last long either. At least according to the literature, “continuing to live as normal is impossible.”

There were theories. One theory is that just as a person’s body grows, so does the soul, so it cannot settle in a body that doesn’t exactly match it. This hasn’t been proven. Only those who have already died have been to the netherworld.

But, very fortunately.

If the corpse remains without decaying.

It’s possible to recreate the body through Koko. She could create a body with the soul that hasn’t departed. Just as Koko is living by imitating Kotone’s body.

And by doing so, Kotone could be brought back to life in this world.

…Of course, that means completely handing over Kotone’s body to someone else.

Again, the reason is unknown. Kagami doesn’t know why an outer god that showed no interest for 16 years suddenly wanted to enter Kotone’s body.

Perhaps Kosuzu was right all along.

Time and again, they created bodies that gods could use. And finally, one of them became a suitable body.

Just as a soul can only settle in a suitable body.

After years passed, and the body grew, it finally became suitable for settlement—such a dispiriting story.

Kagami didn’t know from the beginning. She only concluded that Kotone’s existence wasn’t what Kosuzu wanted after having long conversations with Kotone.

Kotone’s blood attacked people.

Kotone’s blood stabbed Kotone.

Kagami doesn’t think Kotone would kill someone she’s close to.

Kagami doesn’t think Kotone would consider killing herself.

Then there’s only one conclusion, isn’t there?

At least the owner of the blood flowing in that body is not Kotone.

She doesn’t know what that thing inside is, but the moment Kotone’s soul is extracted, will the ownership of that body return to that being? So, it’s dangerous.

If it fails, she’ll only lose Kotone, and the world will burn.

But— still.

It doesn’t matter.

Even if the world burns.

Anyway, she’s often wanted to do that for a very long time. When she was used and discarded by her sister. When she realized she was just a tool for creating something, not following some grand purpose.

Not wanting to suffer more, wanting to prove that wasn’t the case, she tried and was about to give up when she met Kotone.

For the first time, she had someone she considered a daughter. She had someone she could consider family. A family who treated her just as a person, not as a tool or superior.

She had given up on everything.

Yes, she thought there was no connection from the beginning.

Not just her sister Kosuzu, but everyone in that house was like that. The purpose of the family had been determined long ago, and both Kosuzu and Kagami were just tools created in that house.

Stagnant, stagnant, stagnant, stagnant, a black pond whose bottom cannot be seen.

That was Kurosawa (黒沢).

Honestly, when Kosuzu sorted everything out, there was hope.

When Kagami was told she was important, she was overjoyed.

But in the end, she was abandoned again.

If she hadn’t known anything, Kagami would have just lived on. Covering her emotions with a smile, curving her eyes to gain people’s favor.

She finally met someone who brought back the emotions hidden beneath Kagami’s smile. Someone who came to Kagami on their own, when Kagami wasn’t making any effort.

If she loses that person forever, she’ll just go back to how she was then.

Even if the world burns, choosing the option with a possibility of getting Kotone back is beneficial.

If Kotone comes back to life, what should she do?

Let’s hold hands and run away.

Take both Kotone and Koko, and run as far as possible.

Until the flames engulfing the world chase after them. Until they can no longer escape.

Even then, the final death would end warmly in the embrace of family.

*

Shii was confused.

“…Brother?”

Shii looked up at Souta blankly, but Souta couldn’t say anything.

“……”

And between Shii and Souta, Nanami couldn’t say anything either.

The reason Nanami came to Souta’s house was none other than because of Kotone.

They weren’t close enough to be called complete best friends, but Nanami did consider Kotone a friend.

News about Kotone spread very quickly throughout the school.

That’s understandable, as it was a case where a student had died.

Moreover, Kotone was a somewhat famous child in the school. She had a pretty face and was almost always expressionless.

From the beginning of the first semester, she had been involved in various troubles, so there were some bad rumors circulating behind her back. Of course, Nanami ignored most of them and even tried to correct some rumors, but still.

Such a child had died.

Nanami could guess the cause.

That is, she was a child who lived in that kind of world. Having been caught up in that business once, Nanami saw it as a situation where death wouldn’t be surprising at any time.

They say Kotone died, but Nanami didn’t know anything about it. She had visited Kotone’s classroom. She had prayed for her soul while looking at the place where flowers were placed.

But Nanami’s relationship with her wasn’t that deep. She couldn’t suddenly intrude and say things like “It’ll be okay.”

Her younger sister wasn’t visible, and the child who could be called her best friend wasn’t in a state to be approached.

Hagiwara wasn’t coming to school.

Souta had already gone home or wasn’t visible at school.

Nanami, who couldn’t do anything with a worried expression, remembered that Kotone and Shii were close friends.

She was a somewhat annoying child who subtly interfered with her relationship with Souta, but still, she was worried—

And finally, she came here, and this situation unfolded.

Only after seeing Souta’s face did Nanami realize that Shii still didn’t know about it.

“What happened… to senior?”

Shii asked again with a trembling voice.

“Ah, well, that is…”

Nanami opened her mouth to try to smooth things over, then closed it. She could feel the blood draining from her face.

And having shown such a face, it’s now meaningless to say it was a misunderstanding or a mistake.

“…Shii.”

Souta was the first to speak.

“…Listen carefully, calmly.”

“Brother?”

Even after hearing the story, Shii looked up at Souta blankly, not understanding the situation.

As if she didn’t understand why Souta had such a serious expression.

“Kurosawa is…”

Souta looked at Shii seriously and placed his hands on her shoulders. Though she looked puzzled as if she didn’t know anything, Shii’s shoulders were already trembling slightly.

“Kurosawa has passed away.”

“Brother?”

Shii’s eyes blinked.

As if she didn’t understand what that meant, she looked up at her brother blankly, then turned around.

Only after seeing that there was no change in Nanami’s expression, who was standing anxiously outside the entrance, did Shii blink again.

“Wait, Shii!”

“Shii!?”

And she sat down on the floor as if collapsing. It could have been serious if Souta hadn’t been there.

“Shii, I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I…”

Nanami said with her hand on Shii’s shoulder, but Shii seemed not to hear anymore.

“Senior… is gone? Why?”

Whether she was asking Souta or Nanami, the direction probably didn’t matter much.

“Shii.”

Souta embraced Shii, letting her lean on his shoulder.

Shii leaned on Souta’s shoulder without saying anything.

Normally, Shii would have blushed, but.

Now, like a puppet with its strings cut, she said nothing.