CH 218

Chapter 218 – The Connection of Two People

“The third faction has the least people, and although they dislike men, they don’t hold a strong grudge against them.” (Aoyama)

“So you’re asking me to leave because you’re afraid of them defecting?” (Torimoto)

“That’s part of it. But what I fear most is Founder-sama’s change of heart.” (Aoyama)

“Sayuri-san’s?” (Torimoto)

“…I said earlier that Founder-sama’s will is aligned with that of the acceptance group, but it seems that it’s just on the surface level. I’m thinking that Founder-sama’s heart actually lies with the reformist faction.” (Aoyama)

“I don’t think that’s true though, you know? In the first place, it was Sayuri-san who founded this religion, and she also hates men.” (Torimoto)

“But you are different.” (Aoyama)

“….!” (Torimoto)

“Right now, Founder-sama’s heart is wavering. After experiencing the miracles you’ve brought about, she seems to be thinking that you are more suitable for the position of founder than she is.” (Aoyama)

“Are you sure you aren’t misunderstanding her?” (Torimoto)

“Founder-sama—Sayuri-neesan and I… are actually cousins.” (Aoyama)

That was certainly news to me. I never would have thought that Sayuri and Aoyama had such a relationship…

(TL: The ‘-neesan’ honorific suggests Sayuri is the older cousin here.)

“Our ages are a bit far apart, but when I was younger, she used to take care of me. After Sayuri-neesan got married, we lived far apart and weren’t able to spend as much time together. But when I had longer vacations, I went to see her. I care for her as if she’s my own sister, and Sayuri-san also loves me as if I were her real younger sister.” (Aoyama)

Aoyama was apparently an only child, and she really cherished her Sayuri-neesan, who always looked after her and doted on her.

“But when the world suddenly changed, my family and I were so busy with maintaining our lifestyle that it was difficult for me to visit Sayuri-san. But I managed to find time, and I finally went to the Tanaka house to see her. That… was where I witnessed hell for the first time.” (Aoyama)

“….No way.” (Torimoto)

“There, I saw my brother-in-law… Sayuri’s husband… and their children’s warped appearances.” (Aoyama)

I see. So she had also seen that ghastly scene.

“However, there were no signs of Sayuri-neesan’s remains. I immediately started to run around the area, looking for her. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t find her. I was tormented by despair, day in, day out. But I’d suddenly received good news. It turned out that Sayuri-neesan was under the protection of a certain community.” (Aoyama)

It was probably the Apostles of Peace. I’d heard that after being saved by them, she stayed with them for a period of time.

“I went to see her right away, and… I was able to reunite with her. Sayuri-neesan was also really happy that I was alive. But… that’s when I found out about what had happened to Sayuri-neesan and the people who hurt her so much.” (Aoyama)

The people who had known Sayuri in the past would realize in an instant how much she had changed.

“I hated… I resented… I felt the urge to kill the people who had made a mess of Sayuri-neesan’s life.” (Aoyama)

…I see. It seems that this person is hostile to me… no, she’s hostile towards men as a whole not because she herself had been a victim, but because someone she cared deeply about had been sullied by their existence.

In other words, she was in the same situation as Saniwa, but the anger that Aoyama felt was on an entirely different level from Saniwa’s.

“At that time, I thought about a way so that Sayuri-neesan wouldn’t be hurt anymore. And…” (Aoyama)

“Don’t tell me, this religious order was…” (Torimoto)

“Yes. I was the one who advised her to create this organization, to eliminate all men who might harm her, to create a following that would respect her, worship her, and treat her with loving care. I was the one who proposed the idea of this peaceful paradise to her.” (Aoyama)

I thought that Sayuri had thought of the idea herself and established the organization in accordance with her ideals. It was surprising to me that it was none other than this person before me who had made her do this.

“It’s meaningless unless she’s at the top. This organization was built for her sake… for her to be able to live a peaceful life.” (Aoyama)

“…Then it would have been better for you to have not gotten into a war with the yakuza. If you wanted to live in peace, you shouldn’t have made enemies.” (Torimoto)

“……Even without you telling me, I am duly aware of this. This religious order is far more extremist now than it was at the beginning.” (Aoyama)

“But as the number of members in the order increased, our ways gradually started to change. Sayuri-neesan is a kind person. All of the followers are viewed as family. We always respond to our family’s wishes as best we can.” (Aoyama)

Apparently, one of their followers once declared that they wanted to make not just this place, but the entire city into a paradise for women.

Normally, no one would agree with such a ridiculous ideology. But here, everyone had once been betrayed by men. One after the other, they agreed.

After that, the organization started to become more and more radical, and they eventually transformed into the organization they are now, which could be called atrocious in the eyes of men.

“I see. So this wasn’t originally Sayuri-san’s conviction.” (Torimoto)

She didn’t wish to give birth to this cult, nor did she wish to eliminate all men. This all happened only because she wanted to do her best to respond to her followers’ wishes.

I see… Then in the end, Sayuri-san is…