Volume 3 - CH 1.7

10-13 minutes 18.09.2022

Translator: Kell

Makihara’s acquaintances believed that Misaki was murdered. Shunned by everyone, Makihara holed himself up. Then he started going crazy at the end of May.

As if frightened of the coming summer.

“Makihara-san, did you kill her?”

There was a loud snap, and a strand of hair fell out. At the tip was a large peeled-off piece of skin. Makihara’s fingers were embedded on his scalp, nails digging at the squelching flesh. Blood oozed out. Still, he didn’t stop laughing.

Twisting his stomach, he screamed.

“I didn’t like her following me. She smiled at everything I did, and I hated it. So I walked fast inside the cave.”

He removed his bloody fingers from his head and tapped his knee. He brought his left hand to his mouth. Blood gushed from between his teeth, trickling down. Higasa called out to Akari as he backed away from Makihara.

Crack.

Mayuzumi bit down on a piece of chocolate. She watched Makihara with cold eyes.

“She was telling me to stop and wait, but I walked faster. Faster and faster.”

The child stirred in my belly. Tiny fingers stroked my stomach from the inside. Silently, my belly began to rip apart. Feeling the intense pain, I narrowed my eyes.

“Then she tripped, hurt her leg, and drowned.”

His crazed laughter pierced my ears, joined occasionally by the sound of coughing. Flesh-covered nails dug into his bony cheeks. When Makihara moved his hand down, his face tore open with a sickening sound. He continued laughing as he hurt himself. Listening to his guffaws, I gritted my teeth hard.

The child spun around in my stomach. Twisting my body, I glared at Makihara. All the hair on my skin stood on end. Unable to suppress my disgust, I clenched my fists tightly.

Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you.

How could he laugh like that?

“When you kill someone, you incur a grudge,” Mayuzumi muttered in a husky voice. “If that’s true, then it must be quite the burden.” She licked the melting chocolate and chomped it. A sweet aroma wafted in the air, mingling with the smell of the sea and blood. “And you’ll never know when the curse will be lifted.” Makihara’s laughter grew louder. “At least, that’s what you think, right?”

Makihara did not answer her question. He could no longer hear anyone. The hot room reminded me of a woman’s womb.

He killed her. Left her to die. And then he alone escaped. Survived.

“Would you please help me?”

Words from the past rang in my head. My fingertips trembled violently. The child inside me let out a mocking cry. The baby kicked my belly, pleading for something.

Enduring the throbbing in my head, I walked up to Makihara. He didn’t notice me; he just kept on laughing. My eyes must have been cold as if I was looking at an insect. I was aware of it myself. But I couldn’t stop now.

I brought my fist down.

Pain jolted in my arm. Makihara’s eyes opened wide, and he looked at me. My fingers ached from punching the glass window. Makihara let out a chuckle.

I looked him straight in the eye and said, “Shut the fuck up.”

He closed his mouth. I grabbed the first aid kit, took out some gauze, antiseptic, and ointment, and quickly proceeded to treat his wounds. He screamed as the medicine soaked in. Ignoring his cries, I bandaged his fingers. The gauze on his head was already soaked with blood. Makihara was gaping at his bandaged fingers.

“If you’re hurt, I’ll treat you,” I said. “And if someone’s out to kill you, I’ll do my best to help. But don’t get it twisted. Those who kill must pay for what they’ve done. You will atone for your sins for the rest of your life.”

The shackles would be heavy.

By putting a man in a coffin, you might as well have dug your own grave beside them. Some people might not feel guilty. But most people were not that strong.

Humans can’t keep running away forever. I’ve learned that firsthand.

Only the naive think they can escape their fate.

“Don’t even think you can get away with this.”

Makihara regarded me with wide-open eyes. He was trembling, trying to tell me something. I ignored him and turned my back. Mayuzumi was already sitting in a chair, seemingly having lost interest. She tilted the chair back so that it was only balancing on two legs.

“Killing someone will earn you a grudge,” Mayuzumi said, looking up at the ceiling. The ribbons on her headdress hung down and the black roses gleamed. “It’s only natural for those who were killed to hold a grudge against those who killed them. It must be terrifying for those who believe that they’re resented.”

Killing someone as revenge for being killed.

That grudge can last for a long time until completely dispelled.

Just like how the skull of a human driven to death will continue to laugh until the culprit is dead.

“I’m sure the fear is more than enough punishment for him,” Mayuzumi added. “Imagine the sea creeping up on you.” She cocked her head. “I doubt leaving this house will change anything. The sea will come from anywhere.”

“What should we do, Mayu-san?” I asked. “Can you do something about Misaki?”

I sensed Higasa coming closer behind me.

Mayuzumi smiled a smile that could even be described as gentle. “Like I said earlier. Just eat it, no questions asked. Kill it again and that’s it. As luck would have it, it has a physical body. Any corpse that rises, just cut it to pieces. And then you close the coffin. All’s well that ends well.”

Mayuzumi put a shell-shaped chocolate between her fingers. She tossed it into her mouth and crushed it. Bored, she tilted the chair once more.

“Mayuko,” Higasa said in a deep voice. “You know that thing was once human, and you want the princess to eat it?”

“I don’t see the problem. It was human. It’s distinctly different from cannibalism.”

He wasn’t buying that, of course.

Higasa frowned. Akari was in the corner of the room, holding her knees. Her vacant eyes suggested she was still spent.

Mayuzumi offered a reasonable suggestion. It was the easiest solution to the problem as well.

Whether they could do it or not, however, was a different matter altogether.

But I couldn’t think of any other way. If the sea rose to swallow someone, it would not retreat until it fulfilled its goal.

“Mayu-san, if this is a grudge born from killing someone, is there a way to dispel it?”

“Your thought process is what’s complicating things. The problem is: whether to kill or not to kill that thing once more. Although, there is one thing I’d like to confirm. Unfortunately, I’m not obliged to go that far.”

Mayuzumi jumped to her feet. The chair wobbled before returning to its original position.

Her skirt flared. “We’re leaving, Odagiri-kun,” she declared. “This is Higasa’s and Akari’s case. We’re just spectators. And the play is over. If you can’t kill the thing, then just leave it. The water level will slowly rise and swallow him whole. Even if he leaves this house, the sea will likely follow. But it’s not worth the wait. I’m not interested in the resolution either. It’s a good time to pull out. Shall we take our leave?”

My eyes widened. Mayuzumi treated the clients of her acquaintances no differently. She was not interested in anything other than her own entertainment.

It was far too cruel.

“Please wait, Mayu-san! We can’t just abandon him after getting involved.”

“You make it sound like we did a lot, when in reality we barely did anything. We’re of no use here, and our absence won’t be a problem. Am I wrong?”

“So you say, but you can actually do something about it, can’t you?” I was practically yelling at her.

But Mayuzumi didn’t reply. She started down the stairs.

“Mayuko!” Higasa called.

Mayuzumi stopped without looking back.

“Akari can’t do anything more with her ability, but we can’t just leave him like this.” There was desperation in his voice. “We won’t be able to sleep at night if we leave someone to die. We’re not that coldhearted.”

“I see. Well in that case, hand the case over to some other esper. There’s no point in messing with a problem that you can’t solve yourself. If you pass it to others, then whatever happens after that won’t be your fault. And if possible, give it to someone who can judge from right or wrong. Someone like me won’t be of any help.” Mayuzumi’s tone was soft.

Higasa clenched his right fist. “You’re the only other esper we’re acquainted with. Please, Lady Mayuzumi. Would you help us? I beg you.” He gave a deep bow.

But Mayuzumi did not respond to his plea. She descended the stairs again, and I hurried after her.

“Please wait, Mayu-san. I…”

I couldn’t just abandon a case I was already involved in. I had to stop her no matter what.

Before I could catch up to her, Mayuzumi stopped. For some reason, she was staring at the front door with a steely gaze. She brandished the parasol in her hand, and it snapped open. A red flower bloomed in the dimness.

There was something pasted in front of her. Words were scribbled in red crayon on a torn piece of drawing paper. The blood-like paint made me feel uneasy. I read the almost illegible words, like they were written by a child.

Once upon a time, there was a ■.

The ■ chose a human graveyard for its dwelling place.

The place, wet with tears, was constantly filled with grief.

Grief—people’s despair and desire.

Listening to the melodious cries, a thought came to the ■.

If death begets grief, let’s undo it.

The ■ dug up a grave and smashed the coffin.

Inside were maggots and rotting bones.

The human body is made of bread and wine.

But people are not made of bread and wine alone.

The ■ severely lacked the necessary materials.

Mixing together what was in hand, ■ decided to create a person.

It is gods that create men.

But there is no god.

Therefore, creating a man is impossible.

So, the ■ made a monster.

The end.

Mayuzumi tore the paper off the door. Red letters passed in front of my eyes and moved into her hand. Under the shadow of her parasol, she gazed at the paper solemnly.

Then slowly, her mouth twisted.

A smile?

“I take back what I said. We’re taking the case, Odagiri-kun,” Mayuzumi suddenly declared.

I swallowed. What exactly was that paper? What on earth did it mean? But Mayuzumi said nothing. She folded the paper and put it in her handbag.

“Could you go to Higasa and tell him we’re taking the case?” she asked. “And I want you to fetch the black bag in my office. It has something we’ll need. Anyway, we’re leaving this place. There’s something I need to check.”

She had no intention of telling me anything. Nor was she willing to answer questions, it seemed. So there was no point in asking any. I gave up on the idea and headed upstairs. I gulped back the uneasiness rising in my chest.

Mayuzumi changed her mind and decided to accept the case.

That probably wouldn’t be good for me.

The moment I put my foot on the stairs, Mayuzumi called out to me.

“Ah, by the way, Odagiri-kun. I need you to tell Higasa something, and make sure Makihara-kun hears it as well.” She smiled as she rested her head against the red parasol. “We’re going to go see Misaki.”