Volume 1 - CH 5.13
Yes. She was more beautiful than anyone.
As I ripped open the woman’s belly, I remembered the happy days I spent with Azaka-sama. Since that day, Azaka-sama kept me by her side. She kicked me, burned my arms, threw me into the pond, and used me as a chair. Those were wonderful days, and it felt like paradise. The pig was not pleased, but she did not rebuke Azaka-sama, for even the First had an attendant like me. So I was allowed to be bullied and tormented by Azaka-sama as much as she wanted. I was permitted to serve her.
Those days were full of bliss, but there was one thing I could not stand. Azaka-sama’s pig of a mother. The pig frequently gave Azaka-sama a beating. Each time, I would scratch my own face to quell the urge to kill her. Azaka-sama never cried. No matter how many times she was hit, no matter how many times she was kicked. She never shed a tear. Not even once.
But her eyes were cold and clear.
And the day finally came.
That day, while the cherry blossoms were nearly in full bloom, Azaka-sama was staring at the pond. Countless bruises marred her slender, beautiful arms and perfectly-shaped legs. Even her neck. I stared at the bruises, staying behind her.
Azaka-sama twirled her parasol.
Every turn made me feel like I was dreaming.
Thwack.
The parasol closed.
“I’m an Azaka, aren’t I?” she asked.
“You absolutely are,” I replied.
“I was born an Azaka and raised an Azaka. Mother said that I was born into this world to be an Azaka. I am the one and only Azaka.”
She gave a soft smile as she rested the parasol on her shoulder. It was a beautiful sight, as if cut from a dream.
“Then isn’t it strange that my mother is an Azaka?”
Yes. I agree. You’re absolutely right.
That woman was so obsessed with the title of Azaka that she raised Azaka-sama strictly to prevent others from seizing the position after her death. She abused and tortured her. But it was a mistake. Azaka-sama had no need of education. That woman’s role had long since ended.
There was only one Azaka-sama. That was the absolute, universal truth of this world.
Azaka-sama bent down, then touched me as I lay there in my hideous form, and kissed my forehead. Tears streamed down my eyes. My soul left my body. It was heaven on earth.
“We only need one Azaka.”
Azaka-sama smiled. Azaka-sama smiled.
What a beautiful sight, with the cherry blossoms behind her.
That was all I needed.
“Will you kill my mother for me?”
In that instant, all my fears and doubts vanished. I took out a knife from my chest and bolted away. Azaka-sama stayed behind under the cherry trees. I flung the sliding door open. There was an ugly pig inside the room. A shameless pig that bore the name of Azaka. Brandishing my knife, I charged straight at the pig. It let out an unpleasant squeal. It was grating to the ears. I mounted the pig and, without hesitation, stabbed it in the belly. Over and over.
Over and over and over and over.
Crimson blood splattered, forming a pool. The smell of iron filled my nose. I ripped the arm that injured Azaka-sama, cut the leg that hurt her, gouged out its eyes and sliced off its bowels.
That soft sensation of hollowing the pig’s body.
It was comforting, like a dream.
I was staring at it blankly.
On the screen, a man was relentlessly ripping out a woman’s belly. Even after the girl disappeared, the dream was not cut off completely. The image of the young boy in the snow vanished immediately, but somehow the image of the man remained. Memories that the demon picked up and the images merged, flowing into me. But unlike when the girl was here, the images were much colorless and blurry. Were these images different from dreams at night? The word daydream suddenly came to mind. Apparently, the man was dreaming while awake.
He was replaying the scene over and over in his brain.
The woman’s belly ripped open, closed, and ripped open again. The grayness made the blood spurting out look like warm water. In the garden, a girl with a parasol was staring blankly at the sky.
Patterns spinning and spinning.
Watching her, I felt a stab of disappointment for some reason. I averted my gaze and turned to the other screen, to my past. The scened had changed again.
Cherry blossoms were almost in full bloom.
In the room of an apartment, I was sleeping as if I were dead. Shizuka was cooking up a meal in the kitchen. She placed the lid on the pot, kissed me on the cheek, and left. I didn’t move. I remained asleep. The season had completely changed, and spring was coming, while the quiet scene retained its peace. But it suddenly crumbled to pieces.
The door opened and a tall figure appeared. Even indoors, he was holding a dark-blue parasol. Taking off the fox mask, Asato peered at my bed.
The past me was unmoving, his eyes closed.
But suddenly it opened.
“‘Sup,” Asato greeted as casually as if we just ran into each other on the street.
I had a terrible headache. My vision was blurry, and I couldn’t see Asato clearly. Driven by rage, I fumbled for his hand and grabbed it.
Why? Why did you do this? What did you do to her?
There were so many things I wanted to ask, so many things I wanted to say. But I couldn’t put any of them into words.
“Long time no see,” Asato said. “I came to check on you.”
I didn’t speak. Instead, I dug my nails into Asato’s hand.
He giggled, like he was just pawed by a cat. “Oh, by the way, I said that you two eloped, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. Come on, now. Don’t be mad at me. I granted her wish. It’s not every day that you find such desire that’s so devoid of regard for others. It was very fascinating. But it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t grant your wish, too. That’s why I came to check on you.”
My nails gouged flesh, and blood dripped from Asato’s thin palms. But he still wore a smile.
“The drug in the syringe I gave her is supposed to wear off after only a day.”
My fingers slipped because of the blood. Asato’s hand escaped. His fingers freed, he twirled his parasol around.
“If you tell her today that you don’t love her, the effect will wear off completely.”
He sneered, as if to say that it was all up to me.
“Will you help me?”
“Will you love me?”
A voice echoed in my head. The smiling fox was telling me to say no. I glared at him, and his smile grew even broader.
“Why?” Finally, my lips parted. Amid the questions and hatred swirling in my head, that was the first thing that came from my mouth. “Why…?”
We had so much fun.
We were supposed to be friends.
Asato shook his head in response. “I don’t have any reason that would satisfy you. I just want to see hell. I’ve only got one use for this power now, and that’s to play around with it. Pretending to be a normal human was quite fun. It was nice getting to live with others, as inconvenient as it may be.”
Grinning, he continued, “And though I’m happy that you believed me, I’m actually two years younger than you. You didn’t even know that, did you? So how am I supposed to answer your question?”
He turned around, shrugging. I tried to get up, but I couldn’t move. Asato looked over his shoulder, as if to mock me.
“Oh, and one more thing. I’m the type of person who never throws away a fortune slip once I’ve drawn it. No matter how simple or ordinary it is. I drew it myself, so I want to treasure it. Luck is important. Once I’ve chosen something, I’ll play with it as long as I can.”
Asato tilted his head innocently. The fox mask made a soft thump.
“What I’m saying is, I took quite a liking to you.”
Bang.
The door slammed shut, and only silence remained.
As I ripped open the woman’s belly, I remembered the happy days I spent with Azaka-sama. Since that day, Azaka-sama kept me by her side. She kicked me, burned my arms, threw me into the pond, and used me as a chair. Those were wonderful days, and it felt like paradise. The pig was not pleased, but she did not rebuke Azaka-sama, for even the First had an attendant like me. So I was allowed to be bullied and tormented by Azaka-sama as much as she wanted. I was permitted to serve her.
Those days were full of bliss, but there was one thing I could not stand. Azaka-sama’s pig of a mother. The pig frequently gave Azaka-sama a beating. Each time, I would scratch my own face to quell the urge to kill her. Azaka-sama never cried. No matter how many times she was hit, no matter how many times she was kicked. She never shed a tear. Not even once.
But her eyes were cold and clear.
And the day finally came.
That day, while the cherry blossoms were nearly in full bloom, Azaka-sama was staring at the pond. Countless bruises marred her slender, beautiful arms and perfectly-shaped legs. Even her neck. I stared at the bruises, staying behind her.
Azaka-sama twirled her parasol.
Every turn made me feel like I was dreaming.
Thwack.
The parasol closed.
“I’m an Azaka, aren’t I?” she asked.
“You absolutely are,” I replied.
“I was born an Azaka and raised an Azaka. Mother said that I was born into this world to be an Azaka. I am the one and only Azaka.”
She gave a soft smile as she rested the parasol on her shoulder. It was a beautiful sight, as if cut from a dream.
“Then isn’t it strange that my mother is an Azaka?”
Yes. I agree. You’re absolutely right.
That woman was so obsessed with the title of Azaka that she raised Azaka-sama strictly to prevent others from seizing the position after her death. She abused and tortured her. But it was a mistake. Azaka-sama had no need of education. That woman’s role had long since ended.
There was only one Azaka-sama. That was the absolute, universal truth of this world.
Azaka-sama bent down, then touched me as I lay there in my hideous form, and kissed my forehead. Tears streamed down my eyes. My soul left my body. It was heaven on earth.
“We only need one Azaka.”
Azaka-sama smiled. Azaka-sama smiled.
What a beautiful sight, with the cherry blossoms behind her.
That was all I needed.
“Will you kill my mother for me?”
In that instant, all my fears and doubts vanished. I took out a knife from my chest and bolted away. Azaka-sama stayed behind under the cherry trees. I flung the sliding door open. There was an ugly pig inside the room. A shameless pig that bore the name of Azaka. Brandishing my knife, I charged straight at the pig. It let out an unpleasant squeal. It was grating to the ears. I mounted the pig and, without hesitation, stabbed it in the belly. Over and over.
Over and over and over and over.
Crimson blood splattered, forming a pool. The smell of iron filled my nose. I ripped the arm that injured Azaka-sama, cut the leg that hurt her, gouged out its eyes and sliced off its bowels.
That soft sensation of hollowing the pig’s body.
It was comforting, like a dream.
I was staring at it blankly.
On the screen, a man was relentlessly ripping out a woman’s belly. Even after the girl disappeared, the dream was not cut off completely. The image of the young boy in the snow vanished immediately, but somehow the image of the man remained. Memories that the demon picked up and the images merged, flowing into me. But unlike when the girl was here, the images were much colorless and blurry. Were these images different from dreams at night? The word daydream suddenly came to mind. Apparently, the man was dreaming while awake.
He was replaying the scene over and over in his brain.
The woman’s belly ripped open, closed, and ripped open again. The grayness made the blood spurting out look like warm water. In the garden, a girl with a parasol was staring blankly at the sky.
Patterns spinning and spinning.
Watching her, I felt a stab of disappointment for some reason. I averted my gaze and turned to the other screen, to my past. The scened had changed again.
Cherry blossoms were almost in full bloom.
In the room of an apartment, I was sleeping as if I were dead. Shizuka was cooking up a meal in the kitchen. She placed the lid on the pot, kissed me on the cheek, and left. I didn’t move. I remained asleep. The season had completely changed, and spring was coming, while the quiet scene retained its peace. But it suddenly crumbled to pieces.
The door opened and a tall figure appeared. Even indoors, he was holding a dark-blue parasol. Taking off the fox mask, Asato peered at my bed.
The past me was unmoving, his eyes closed.
But suddenly it opened.
“‘Sup,” Asato greeted as casually as if we just ran into each other on the street.
I had a terrible headache. My vision was blurry, and I couldn’t see Asato clearly. Driven by rage, I fumbled for his hand and grabbed it.
Why? Why did you do this? What did you do to her?
There were so many things I wanted to ask, so many things I wanted to say. But I couldn’t put any of them into words.
“Long time no see,” Asato said. “I came to check on you.”
I didn’t speak. Instead, I dug my nails into Asato’s hand.
He giggled, like he was just pawed by a cat. “Oh, by the way, I said that you two eloped, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. Come on, now. Don’t be mad at me. I granted her wish. It’s not every day that you find such desire that’s so devoid of regard for others. It was very fascinating. But it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t grant your wish, too. That’s why I came to check on you.”
My nails gouged flesh, and blood dripped from Asato’s thin palms. But he still wore a smile.
“The drug in the syringe I gave her is supposed to wear off after only a day.”
My fingers slipped because of the blood. Asato’s hand escaped. His fingers freed, he twirled his parasol around.
“If you tell her today that you don’t love her, the effect will wear off completely.”
He sneered, as if to say that it was all up to me.
“Will you help me?”
“Will you love me?”
A voice echoed in my head. The smiling fox was telling me to say no. I glared at him, and his smile grew even broader.
“Why?” Finally, my lips parted. Amid the questions and hatred swirling in my head, that was the first thing that came from my mouth. “Why…?”
We had so much fun.
We were supposed to be friends.
Asato shook his head in response. “I don’t have any reason that would satisfy you. I just want to see hell. I’ve only got one use for this power now, and that’s to play around with it. Pretending to be a normal human was quite fun. It was nice getting to live with others, as inconvenient as it may be.”
Grinning, he continued, “And though I’m happy that you believed me, I’m actually two years younger than you. You didn’t even know that, did you? So how am I supposed to answer your question?”
He turned around, shrugging. I tried to get up, but I couldn’t move. Asato looked over his shoulder, as if to mock me.
“Oh, and one more thing. I’m the type of person who never throws away a fortune slip once I’ve drawn it. No matter how simple or ordinary it is. I drew it myself, so I want to treasure it. Luck is important. Once I’ve chosen something, I’ll play with it as long as I can.”
Asato tilted his head innocently. The fox mask made a soft thump.
“What I’m saying is, I took quite a liking to you.”
Bang.
The door slammed shut, and only silence remained.
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