Ch.76Chapter 11. Understanding (5)

After sending away the men dressed as yakuza who had gathered, I went inside the house.

“Hiss!?”

When we opened the door and entered, Kuro, who was right in front of the door, hissed in surprise.

…Why is this cat here again?

Kuro… well, he doesn’t dislike human speech, but he’s not the affectionate type like those cats often called “dog-cats.”

He’s more of the lazy type, I’d say. He’s like those typical cats portrayed in media who find everything bothersome and enjoy sprawling on the floor.

He definitely wasn’t the type to come to the entrance and wait for his owner when we go out and come back.

“…Ah.”

He had even scratched the wooden door terribly.

…Oh, I see?

Kuro was the one who had seen through Koko’s true identity before. Of course, he might have just heard something strange crawling above the ceiling, but if he could see “something” beyond the door.

Yuka had said so too.

“Kuro, let’s go inside.”

I said that as I gently picked up Kuro and put him down near the room door.

“Meow.”

As if he hadn’t just hissed, Kuro made that light meowing sound and settled on the blanket.

…I’m really glad my school uniform is black. Otherwise, I would have been in big trouble when school starts after the break.

“Kuro!”

As if she hadn’t noticed the hissing either, Koko placed a Kuro doll in front of Kuro. Of course, Kuro just glanced at it with his eyes and didn’t bother to respond.

I went to the window to try to do something about the sauna-like heat in the room and opened it.

The heat didn’t escape immediately, but a slight breeze came in, making it a bit easier to breathe.

I sat down silently.

I hadn’t set up a table, nor had I brought out anything to drink or eat. But Kagami didn’t complain.

I took a moment to organize my thoughts.

A lot of questions came to mind.

…Alright.

Let’s start with the first and most important question that came to mind.

“…I have something to ask.”

“Yes, please ask.”

Kagami replied without showing any particular emotion.

Was it because she had already accepted the situation?

“That person earlier looked like you.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

Hah, Kagami sighed.

“We’re sisters, but I wonder if we need to look that similar.”

“…”

I stared at Kagami for a moment before speaking.

“…Twins?”

“Did we look that similar?”

Kagami tilted her head and asked.

“We’re four years apart.”

Hmm.

I’m not sure if it’s because I saw her from a distance, or if she was dressed like Kagami, but to my eyes, they looked almost identical.

I even called out Kagami’s name when I first saw her.

It’s not that Kagami looks old, but rather that person looked younger than expected. Or maybe she was covering her face with makeup?

“You’ve met Yamashita once.”

“If you’re talking about Yuu Yamashita, I’ve already met her. At the police station last time.”

“Before that?”

“I’ve seen her face. But I’m not sure if she remembers me. She was very young when she saw me.”

Yamashita sighed deeply.

“My sister didn’t like me getting involved in her family matters.”

All the women around seem to be jealous.

“If you have a similar face, why didn’t Yamashita seem surprised then?”

“Hmm.”

Kagami fell into thought for a moment.

I felt a bit relieved seeing that.

The reason I felt relieved even before hearing the answer was simple. It was also evidence that Kagami hadn’t planned anything in front of Yamashita.

For example, trying to make Yamashita think of her mother and feel strange.

Thinking back, Kagami acted like she knew Mr. Yamashita but didn’t seem to pay much attention to Yamashita herself.

If I were really Kagami’s daughter, then Yamashita and I would be cousins. If there’s some reason for “me” to be outside the human boundary, and if it’s related to the “Kurosawa family,” then Yamashita might have the same reason.

I didn’t want that.

I was the kind of person who felt a bit sad whenever someone got caught up in incidents and died in light novels.

It’s not because I have great empathy or because I’m kind. It’s just that if I were in that novel, my role would obviously be one of those who get caught up and die.

A certain percentage of the world’s population died, or an unnamed passerby got stabbed and died.

For someone like me who had to carry and lift such people, it wasn’t a description I could just laugh at.

…My family also died helplessly like that.

“It’s probably because of the impression.”

“Impression?”

“Don’t you remember what clothes I was wearing then?”

No, I remember.

The problem is that I remember it too clearly.

Shoulders exposed, cleavage visible, and a skirt so short that the inside would be visible with just a slight movement. The clothes had flashy patterns, making it look anything but elegant.

Even with the most generous interpretation, she looked like a “party girl,” and at worst, like a “prostitute.”

That might have been the appeal point for Mr. Fukuda’s father, but to me, it was a bit of an inappropriate outfit.

“Plus, I had heavy makeup on.”

“…”

I silently stared at Kagami’s face.

It was a pretty face. Her eyes were a bit narrow, but they curved as if she was smiling, making it hard to think she had any malice at first glance.

But in works like this, characters with narrow eyes are often the masterminds.

…

Ah, right.

Now that I think about it, Kagami even had her eyes wide open at that time. That alone would make her impression quite different.

“If someone doesn’t know me, they probably wouldn’t recognize me from a first impression. Plus, I even greeted Mr. Yamashita as ‘Chairman.’ Could that Yamashita girl have thought of me as her mother?”

“…No.”

She could have thought of her as someone who resembled her. Though she didn’t show it in her expression.

Or maybe I was too distracted by Kagami to notice properly. Anyway, from what Kagami is saying, Yamashita might not be directly related to this incident right now. That’s a relief.

“And considering the image my sister showed when she was with the Yamashita family, it’s understandable that she wouldn’t associate me with her.”

“…What was she like?”

“Think of a very, very proper lady from a noble family.”

Kagami snorted.

It seems the Kurosawa family is quite far from being a “noble family.”

“At home, she wore a kimono every day, always sat in seiza when sitting down. Quiet and modest in front of any man.”

…

It’s strange to say this, but I could imagine that image quite easily.

If Kagami were to dress like that and sit quietly, she might look quite similar.

“Her hair was always tied up, and her voice was always gentle. That’s who my sister was in the Yamashita household. From what I heard, she always spoke politely and respectfully to her daughter.”

I see.

I understand why Yamashita couldn’t connect her with Kagami, and why she might still miss her mother.

…I think I understand, but…

“Then, why the divorce…?”

That’s right.

Even if she had a strange religion behind her, wouldn’t she be a good mother and wife with that behavior?

Well, from my non-Japanese perspective, it was a bit peculiar. If a woman in Korea lived in a huge mansion wearing hanbok, serving her husband, and speaking politely to her child, that would be… more like a horror story than a fantasy?

Well, characters like Kagami or her sister might only exist in this world because it’s a light novel world, so I shouldn’t take it too seriously. Even in Japan, such people probably only appear in historical dramas.

And if the other party was originally a crazy person, it becomes more convincing.

“There are people who have strong pride but low self-esteem. What kind of person would they be if they also had an inflated self-awareness?”

“…”

“A person who thinks they should always be at the top of a group. A person who thinks they can be. A person with the delusion that everyone around them looks up to them and expects things from them.”

That…

Wait, isn’t that assessment a bit harsh for your sister?

But then again, I don’t know how she was with Kagami, especially if she treated those below her poorly.

If they lived together for a long time, there might be a lot of accumulated issues.

“Objectively speaking, my sister is indeed an outstanding person. All the achievements in our generation came from her mind. But it wasn’t as much as she expected.”

I think I understand.

I nodded slowly.

“It’s understandable that Mr. Yamashita couldn’t endure it. In front of you or me, Mr. Yamashita might seem like a somber and serious person, but when he’s relaxed, he has a generous side.”

That’s how he was when greeting Fukuda at the police station.

“And… his profession is in that field, right? He often visits various places for work. Though he never cheated during that time.”

Kagami spoke with a slightly dazed expression, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.

“And because she tried to be the perfect wife and perfect mother, there was a lot of friction with the people around her. Just because someone speaks politely doesn’t mean they’re necessarily a respectful person, right?”

“…”

Once she started talking, Kagami poured out her story almost like a lament.

I just stayed quiet.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to hear it. I was more surprised.

Kagami had shown a strange familiarity with me until now. Of course, she always put up a bit of a wall and there were parts she deliberately didn’t talk about.

Maybe it’s because the topic of her sister came up. Or maybe it was content she couldn’t talk about to anyone else until now.

“The divorce was my sister’s first crack. And not just a small crack, but a huge one.”

“…”

“I don’t know how she heard that Mr. Yamashita might remarry, but do you know what she did to that person? Do you think that was the first time?”

Huh.

“I didn’t know at the time. There wasn’t even proper evidence left.”

“But there was evidence this time.”

“I guess she doesn’t even try to hide it anymore. She’s warning in that way.”

Is it like how the mafia kills someone and leaves the body in a visible place?

“That’s how my sister got divorced about 5 years ago. Even after the divorce, she continued to cooperate with us in various ways. Because we were in the same cult. But about a year ago, she suddenly disappeared.”

If she created my body 15 years ago, she might have been waiting for me to wake up during that long time. And Koko was completely sealed off as a failure.

But now, should I say all those predictions were wrong or right?

Wrong but right.

If the order had been reversed, Kagami’s sister might have found confidence and self-esteem, but the problem was that the “wrong one” came first, so all the credit went to Kagami, who is now at the top of the cult.

From that person’s perspective, it must be a maddening situation.

“My sister is probably quite cornered, I think.”

“…It seems so.”

Indeed, her voice and tone were leisurely, as if warning that she could slaughter everyone there right then.

But if that’s the case, there’s no need for her to come here.

Especially as the leader herself.

She even tried to crush me and Koko, who could have been created by her power.

…To be precise, she might not have known about Koko’s existence at that time.

“She probably wanted to see with her own eyes what the situation was and how things were going.”

And Kagami completely ignored her when she came.

…

Wait a minute.

“That person, her outfit was like yours.”

“…”

Kagami’s gaze went up again.

A slightly dazed expression.

“My sister… I’m not sure anymore, now.”

“…”

I thought for a moment, then moved on to another question.

“What do you think she’s doing out there?”

“Something like creating another sect where she’s the leader again, but one that people around her would be much more obsessed with. Seeing how quickly results are coming out.”

“The same god?”

“Probably not.”

“…She said she could risk her life for the god.”

“Is that sincere? I’m not sure anymore.”

An incomprehensible person.

Even Kagami, who shares the same blood, is reacting like this.

I’m not even sure if there was ever a time when she understood her.

“…”

“Do you have any more questions?”

Kagami asked politely.

It was always like this. She would answer if I asked, but she wouldn’t voluntarily tell me things.

People can lie anytime. I didn’t completely trust Kagami. I already knew her acting skills.

But, in this situation, it’s also true that this is the only information I can rely on.

The highest person in the “cult” that I know is Kagami.

To be more precise, Kagami is the only person I know within that cult. Well, if I consider Koko as a member, that’s a different story.

“…You said I was in a vegetative state.”

“…”

While Kagami was explaining, I often remained silent, but this time it was Kagami who was silent.

“How did I get into school?”

And one more thing.

“…How is the tuition being paid?”

“…”

Kagami remained silent.

However, it didn’t seem like she was trying to hide the story.

Rather—

She was looking at me strangely.

“That’s something I’d like to ask you. …Isn’t it related to that person?”

“…”

Ah.

Right, of course.

This body I’m using was said to be a vessel.

Nirlas even blatantly called it an avatar.

Which means.

“The tuition is being covered by our side. And since I’m technically your parent, we’re also receiving government subsidies. There’s no need to worry too much. …Ah, are you perhaps upset that we’ve strayed from the initial topic?”

Using money that people donated, or money that might have been extorted, for my living expenses.

…Well, even so, the initial funds I had must have come from there.

“It’s really strange.”

Kagami stared at me with a blank expression, which was a bit scary.

“That you’re a person with common sense, it’s strange. If that person had descended… you couldn’t possibly be like this.”

Kagami leaned slightly towards me.

Her face came close.

Right, of course.

Kagami speaks politely to me, answers when I ask, and appears when I need help, but I keep forgetting that Kagami is currently the person at the top of that cult.

A person in a position fundamentally similar to her sister, albeit to a lesser extent.

But Kagami couldn’t approach me completely.

Between the two of us, a few strands of black thread moved flutteringly.

At a glance, they seemed to be swaying in the wind. I hadn’t turned on the fan, but I had opened the window when entering the room, so wind might have come in.

…No.

The wind I felt was very weak. It wasn’t even strong enough to lift my hair.

So this is—

“Koko.”

I said, turning my gaze towards Koko.

“No.”

“No?”

The fluttering hair settled down.

…This hair is the same hair used to attack that flesh mass. It would easily pierce through human skin or bone. It would be perfect for cutting.

I still think the people of the Kurosawa family are not ordinary humans.

I think there’s a greater possibility that my misunderstanding about Kagami being Nyarlathotep was just my misunderstanding, but as long as I don’t fully trust Kagami, it’s wiser not to let my guard down.

This is a world where all sorts of absurd things happen. It wouldn’t be strange if there were beings who could distort people’s memories.

“I’m too scared to even ask questions.”

Maybe Koko is the one being cautious of you?

Whether it’s because Koko didn’t die then or for some other reason, at least Koko hasn’t shown any killing intent towards Kagami yet.

More than that, I’m not sure where Koko’s “killing intent” comes from. If she was a being capable of killing people, couldn’t she have killed me when I climbed on top of her and raised a kitchen knife?

Maybe the strength she can exert depends on her size?

They say ants can lift many times their body weight, but that doesn’t apply to humans.

…I’m not sure. Maybe it’s something learned later. I’ve watched TV or played games in front of Koko.

“Then, is that the end of your questions?”

“…Yes.”

When I spoke, Kagami stood up.

“From now on… things will get busy. I’ll try to help you somehow, but since I don’t know exactly what plans my sister is making, it would be good for you to prepare yourself mentally.”

“…I know.”

I said with a slightly deflated voice.

Couldn’t they just let me live in peace?

“Well then.”

Kagami bowed her head to me and stood up.

Only after seeing Kagami’s back as she turned to leave the room did I realize that I had forgotten the most important thing.

“Wait.”

Kagami stopped at my words.

Facing her back, I asked.

“What’s your sister’s name?”

“…Kosuzu. Kosuzu Kurosawa.”

Kagami said, turning towards me.

“Isn’t it a fitting name for my sister? It means ‘small bell.’ It’s a tool for rituals to call upon gods, right?”

After Kagami left, I pondered about that name.

I see. A tool to call upon gods.

…Was she raised for that purpose from childhood?

I’m not sure what kind of life that would be, but it probably wasn’t a smooth one.

I exhaled deeply, then got up.

Let’s wash up and go to bed.

…I’m completely exhausted.

Tonight, I think I’ll be able to sleep deeply without any dreams.