Ch.50Chapter 8. About the Future (3)

“But I have plans on Thursday.”

I didn’t say that out loud. If Yuuki had called for me, it meant she had no other choice.

Although we had a tentative agreement of “20,000 yen per job,” Yuuki hadn’t specifically called me for any work, perhaps because no other jobs had come in.

Even when I caught the silkworm, I went on my own initiative; she hadn’t actually called me to come.

Come to think of it, the silkworm incident probably didn’t bring Yuuki any money anyway, since no one had specifically requested it.

Well, Yuuki and her family must have their reasons for what they do. They must have some source of income.

They have offering boxes and might sell things at the shrine too.

After receiving Yuuki’s call, I showered and prepared to go out.

I debated what to wear and decided on my usual shabby outfit.

I guarantee that I’ll probably end up in the hospital again this time.

…It’s ridiculous that I’m already thinking this way, but based on my experiences so far, that’s how it’s been.

Well, even if I’m hospitalized, I’ll be discharged soon enough.

Okay, I’ve decided what to wear… hmm.

I looked at the white dress I had deliberately taken out and hung in my room.

It was the dress Yamashita bought me last week.

I’d washed it once but hadn’t worn it since. It was such a pristine white that I was afraid of getting it dirty.

I was saving this dress for when we go to see the fireworks.

After a moment’s hesitation, I opened my drawer.

I took out the shopping bag I’d brought home last time. Good thing I hadn’t thrown it away. None of the bags I had at home would carry the dress without wrinkling it.

I carefully folded the dress and placed it in the shopping bag, taking care not to wrinkle it.

Just as I finished, my phone rang again.

It was Yuuki.

“Yes?”

[I’m almost there.]

“Got it.”

I stood up and grabbed the shopping bag.

[Um…]

“Yes?”

[…I’m really sorry.]

“Huh?”

[Because I’m asking you to do this even though I know it’s painful when you use your ability.]

“…”

After Yuuki’s words, I remained silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

“It must be that urgent.”

Yes.

If Yuuki had deliberately called for me, it must be something urgent. Some incident not described in the original work.

Probably something Yuuki had prevented “behind the scenes.”

Perhaps this is where the entanglement with the church begins.

The church faction, which didn’t appear in volume 1, appeared in volume 2 on not-so-friendly terms with Yuuki.

[…Yeah.]

Yuuki answered hesitantly.

“It’s okay. I’m not doing this for free anyway.”

I tried to say it jokingly, but failed to inject any humor into my voice. It’s been years since I’ve joked around with others. Trying to be funny now just falls flat.

[…I’ll make sure to compensate you properly.]

Yuuki’s serious voice through the phone sounded more like a joke than mine had.

*

Less than a minute after I went outside with the paper bag, Yuuki’s van arrived.

The grandfather was in the driver’s seat, with Yuuki in the passenger seat.

I opened the back door and got in.

“Father went to search elsewhere.”

“Elsewhere?”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mention it on the phone. It’s a somewhat sensitive matter.”

As I tilted my head in confusion in the back seat, Yuuki’s grandfather spoke up.

“It’s a Kudan.”

“Kudan?”

“It’s written like this in kanji.”

Yuuki opened her phone and sent me an email.

[件]

It was the character “ken” as in “object” (物件).

“Are we looking for an object?”

“No, not an ‘object.’ Look carefully at the 件 character. It’s made up of 人 and 牛.”

Ah, so it’s a play on words. The single character 件 is read as “kudan,” but it means 人牛, a combination of “person” and “cow.”

It must be a yokai. Something with both human and cow features.

…A minotaur?

“It’s a yokai with a human head and a cow’s body.”

I see.

The complete opposite of what I was thinking.

Well, there are human-faced dogs and human-faced fish, so I suppose human-faced cows make sense too.

“It’s said to prophesy calamities that will befall the world before it dies.”

“…”

I understand why they want to catch it.

“The problem is, we observed its birth but lost track of it before hearing the prophecy.”

“Near Tokyo?”

“Chiba Prefecture.”

Yuuki answered.

When I gave her a startled look, Yuuki turned from the passenger seat to face me, looking genuinely apologetic.

“…It’s such an important matter that they’ve called everyone who could start from nearby. If we’re not careful, we might miss knowing what the calamity is.”

I see.

It seems one person alone can’t catch it. If it were just a matter of searching and finding, they wouldn’t need to call me.

“It’s a cow that prophesies and dies.”

Yuuki said, as if reading my thoughts.

“It dies after speaking its prophecy, but if it doesn’t speak…”

It can continue to live while making prophecies.

…Can’t we just leave it alone? It will avoid humans and hide on its own. If it can predict our search, isn’t this already meaningless from the moment we lost it?

“This time, they say two Kudan were born.”

The grandfather spoke while gripping the steering wheel tightly.

“Until now, Kudan have only been born in Shikoku or Kyushu. It’s widely known that the only way to avoid a Kudan’s prophecy is to hear a contradicting prophecy from another Kudan. When two are born, one prophesies good fortune and the other misfortune, then they die.”

“One was also discovered in Kumamoto Prefecture. That one was female.”

“…Did it leave a prophecy?”

“Yes.”

Yuuki nodded and said,

“‘Think again,’ it said.”

“…”

What kind of prophecy is that?

“Strange, right? That’s why they’re so desperately searching for the other Kudan. If this is a prophecy we need to avoid, we need to know what the opposite one is.”

I see.

If it had just plainly said something like “this year will bring a good harvest,” that would have been better. We wouldn’t need to find the other Kudan.

But since they heard something so strange that it might be a prophecy, the purpose of this request seems to be finding the cause.

The client is probably… someone high up in the government.

“I understand.”

I nodded and leaned back in my seat.

Anyway, let’s aim to find it as quickly as possible and return to Tokyo. Fortunately, Chiba Prefecture isn’t too far from Tokyo.

It’s night now. Whether we search all night or sleep and search in the morning, we just need to catch it before Wednesday ends.

Even if I get hurt, I’ll recover after spending the night in the hospital. I’ll be able to keep my appointment.

“By the way, what’s in that shopping bag?”

Yuuki asked cautiously. Actually, she had glanced at it when I got in the car earlier, but only now found the right timing to ask.

After a moment’s hesitation, I decided to tell the truth.

“I have an appointment on Thursday. Just in case.”

“…”

The car fell silent.

Maybe they’re trying to guess what I have scheduled for the 29th?

“I’m sorry.”

Yuuki apologized again.

“It’s okay.”

I answered, but Yuuki’s expression remained troubled throughout our journey to the destination.

*

We crossed over to Chiba Prefecture via the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line. From there, we drove for another 30 minutes to reach a ranch spread out on a gentle hill.

I had wondered if there would be something special about the undersea tunnel, but of course there were no windows. Well, even submarines don’t have windows, so why would an undersea tunnel? It just felt like a slightly longer tunnel that went down and then back up.

Still, the feeling of driving over the sea in the middle of the night was quite enjoyable.

Maybe I should get my driver’s license right after graduating from school. In Korea, you can buy older cars for less than 10 million won, but I’m not sure about Japan.

If we weren’t going to catch a yokai, it would have been a more pleasant feeling.

After exiting the undersea tunnel, we continued driving for quite some time.

Only after the city name changed twice did we finally arrive at our destination, the ranch.

It was exactly the image that comes to mind when you think of a “tourist ranch.” Although it was dark and difficult to see clearly, the distant landscape was definitely mountains with trees jutting out. In the midst of those mountains was a very large pasture, and the ranch seemed to use almost all of it.

…I think all the cows here must be dairy cows. Isn’t that what they usually keep in places like this?

Come to think of it, what breed of cow appears frequently in traditional Japanese stories? Probably not the black and white spotted dairy cows.

Wagyu?

No, that’s just the image that comes to mind when thinking of delicious beef.

While I was lost in these random thoughts, the door to my back seat opened.

Since it was a van, the door slid open.

“We’ve arrived.”

I nodded and got out of the car. I left the shopping bag inside. I wouldn’t need to carry it around while we were searching anyway.

In the middle of the dimly lit ranch stood a rather pretty log cabin. It gave the strong impression of being a place decorated for tourists rather than an actual residence.

Following the grandfather and Yuuki up the gentle slope, I saw people gathered in front of the log cabin.

I wasn’t sure whether to consider it expected or unexpected.

There wasn’t a single person wearing shrine maiden or priest attire. Everyone was dressed in comfortable clothes for easy movement. Well, Yuuki was also wearing a tracksuit.

It was nearly August, so the weather was quite humid and hot. By the time we reached the top of the hill, my back was slightly damp with sweat.

“Mr. Yuuki.”

A middle-aged man who had been standing at the front of the waiting group extended his hand to the grandfather.

“Mr. Sato.”

The grandfather nodded and shook the offered hand briefly.

“My son is currently handling matters elsewhere, so I’ve come with my granddaughter.”

“I see.”

Yuuki gave a slight bow, and the middle-aged man nodded back at her.

Then he looked at me.

“This is a child who works with us. She has excellent intuition and will be helpful.”

The grandfather only said that much, apparently feeling no need to mention my name.

The man gave me a slight nod, and I returned the gesture.

The gathered people were of various ages and dressed differently. Middle-aged women and men. Men and women in their twenties who looked a few years older than us, and even someone around the same age as Yuuki’s grandfather.

Among them was someone with a completely shaved head, suggesting that even temples had sent representatives.

Despite their diverse appearances, everyone wore serious expressions without a hint of a smile.

“I believe everyone has been informed of our purpose for gathering. You may use any means necessary, but please ensure that the Kudan’s existence is not discovered by outsiders. The best approach is to capture it definitively before dawn.”

The man looked around once and continued.

“Even if you lose track of it, please let it go. If the Kudan were to die before we hear its prophecy, it would be a disaster.”

Everyone nodded at Mr. Sato’s words.

“Good. I have assigned each of you an area. The Kudan cannot move faster than a cow’s pace, and since there have been no reports of cow-like creatures with human faces, we believe it hasn’t left the prefecture. Its physical structure also makes escape difficult.”

As he spoke, the man handed out slips of paper to everyone gathered.

The grandfather also received a slip and examined it slowly.

“Now… we will begin the search. If you have any questions, please ask.”

Everyone shook their heads.

Whether it was just a formality or if everyone truly knew all the facts and had no need to ask.

“Let’s go.”

The grandfather said that and turned around, and I followed behind him with a slightly puzzled expression.

“…Is it always like this?”

“Well… yes.”

Yuuki nodded at my question.

“They don’t really try to be friendly with each other. Without someone to mediate, they might start fighting over territories and such.”

I see.

And considering that there are people of different religions, it might be an even more sensitive matter.

…A battle of wills among yokai hunters.

I definitely don’t want to get involved in that.

“So it’s best if we just complete our task and return quickly.”

The grandfather said as he headed toward the car.

“…So, could I borrow your power a little?”

I nodded.

*

I cut my wrist inside the car.

I’m not sure how to describe this feeling, but the car was fully prepared with a first aid kit and plastic sheets.

I wore a transparent plastic sheet like an apron, placed a wide and deep bucket under my arm, and cut my wrist with an industrial cutter.

This atmosphere was… how should I put it?

It was awkward and uncomfortable in many ways.

If we had been far apart like on the sports field, it would have been fine, but trying to do this in such a confined space felt difficult.

“Take your time… whenever you’re ready.”

Yuuki’s voice was filled with guilt.

The grandfather remained silent with his lips tightly closed.

I looked at my wrist.

The five-pointed star was still clearly drawn there. From my perspective, an inverted five-pointed star.

I gritted my teeth and pressed the knife tip firmly against my wrist.

Feeling the blood slightly seeping out, I dragged the knife sideways.

Watching flesh split open is never pleasant, no matter how many times I see it.

The straight cut wound opened up like an eye, and my left hand suddenly moved upward as if holding something.

Drip, drip, drip.

As red blood flowed into the bucket, time stopped.

“What an interesting situation. A prophecy.”

In my opinion, Fake Ishtar must also be capable of prophecy or something similar. Whenever I asked something, she would give directions as if she knew everything.

“Will you help me?”

I asked.

“You wish for my assistance?”

At the slightly teasing voice, I silently nodded.

Honestly, I don’t really understand what this woman wants.

Actually, what Fake Ishtar wants might not be that important. Whatever she wants, she’s the kind of being who can just take it if she desires.

Rather, Kagami and the cult following this Fake Ishtar are much more dangerous, especially since they’re related to my future.

“You want to know the location of that child?”

“…Yes.”

As I tried to nod but realized I was frozen in place, I just gave a short verbal response.

“Then, there is one thing I would like you to do.”

“Tell me.”

“For my sake, I would like you to listen to that child’s final words until the end.”

“Of course I would—”

“Alone.”

“…”

I tried to move my gaze to look at Yuuki, but my body wouldn’t move.

Actually, even the flowing blood had solidified in mid-air, so it was strange that I could make sounds at all. This must indicate just how transcendent this being is.

“Don’t worry too much. You won’t need to make any special effort for this to happen.”

Fake Ishtar spoke with an amused voice, as if she had already seen what would happen.

“Afterward, it doesn’t matter if you tell others what you heard from that child.”

Fake Ishtar said cheerfully, then added,

“But, will you be able to do so? I wonder.”

With a giggling sound, something sticky and unpleasant plopped into the bucket.

“Kurosawa, are you okay?”

“…Yeah.”

Honestly, this pain doesn’t get any more familiar. It’s still sharp enough to make me wince. It hurts.

I opened the kit and took out a bandage.

“Hold your arm out. I’ll do it for you.”

“Blood will get in the car.”

“We can put the bucket between us.”

I placed the bucket between the driver’s and passenger’s seat backrests and extended my arm. Yuuki wrapped the bandage around my wrist. Of course, it was immediately soaked with blood.

This was possible because we hadn’t started driving yet.

“Huh?”

Yuuki, who was tying the bandage, noticed something wriggling in the bucket and made a slightly surprised sound.

Oh, that’s right, Yuuki didn’t see Chi that time. It was on my shoulder under my clothes. After achieving its purpose, it just turned back into blood and flowed away.

“What is this…?”

“I call it Chi.”

“Chi… Blood?”

Is that name too obvious?

“This tells you the destination?”

“Yes.”

I carefully put my left hand into the bucket and lifted Chi.

Except for being completely blood-colored, it was quite cute-looking. It even had eyes and a mouth.

“Kyu?”

“…”

The grandfather and Yuuki stared blankly at the strange creature on my hand that made cute sounds, somewhere between creepy and adorable.

Then they quickly exchanged glances.

They seemed to have decided not to comment on this creature.

Well, even to me it looks like something a suspicious cult member might create by offering a living sacrifice.

In a way, that’s not entirely wrong.

Click.

Yuuki fastened her seatbelt.

“So, that… thing, how does it guide us?”

“Once we start driving, I’ll let you know.”

I took the bucket and placed it on my lap, holding it carefully.

After saying that while being careful not to let blood from Chi stain the seat, the grandfather silently started the car.

And so, our midnight drive began.