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V11 Story III – Part 08

It was an unexpected yet reasonable notion. I found myself in agreement. The Mayuzumi clan should have long abandoned their twisted faith. And logically speaking, what he said made perfect sense.

Mayuzumi, though a god, was only one person. The fewer the casualties, the better. The answer was clear. In the face of numerous lives, the loss of one individual was a worthwhile sacrifice.

Taking a deep breath, I voiced my thoughts. “So, what exactly are you proposing? Are you suggesting that I kill Mayuzumi?”

A surge of anger spilled from my lips. Sadashita’s eyes widened in shock.

“No!” he quickly denied. “You’ve done nothing wrong. If you leave now, you can put all this behind you. If you wish, I can ensure you receive appropriate compensation and psychological support. I have no intention of burdening anyone else with guilt.”

“Enough! Just stop talking! I’ve had it up to here with all of you!”

Anger erupted from the depths of my being. Asato remained silent, observing me quietly. My chest was astir. Holding Mayuzumi in my arms, I turned my chaotic emotions into words.

“Everyone keeps expecting me to make life or death decisions so easily. What you’re saying makes perfect sense. But do you think I can just cut her off like that? Mayuzumi Azaka is one person, sure. So what?! There’s only one of her!”

Tears streamed down my cheeks. Why was I so desperate? For so long, I had been tormented by this sinister girl. There was a time when her death would have brought me joy.

I would have laughed at the death of the girl who reveled in the misfortune of others. But now, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“I can’t find amusement in her death anymore! I don’t want to see her dead! You can take your empty words and shove them up your ass. I’m not a fucking saint!” I screamed through tears.

Carrying Mayuzumi, I strode forward. Sadashita hesitated. I seized his arm and pressed the gun’s barrel against my own forehead. He gasped.

“For the record, if she dies, so do I! Can you pull the trigger?! Can you kill a mere human? No, a human carrying a demon within him? I dare you.” I fixed Sadashita with a sharp stare.

His face contorted. I didn’t mind him killing me. If he fired at such close range, he would be drenched in blood and devoured by the emerging baby. If he could shoot Mayuzumi while he was being eaten alive, then so be it.

If you have the guts to do it, then kill me, crush me, and say it was the right thing to do.

I would give him the utmost commendation for that choice.

“So, what’s it gonna be? Kill me or no?”

Sadashita’s arm trembled, and he stepped back. Beads of sweat formed on his brow.

“I don’t know what choice you will make, but that is my employee. I would appreciate it if you didn’t kill him.”

A soft voice interrupted before Sadashita could say anything. Sadashita jumped back, his forehead beading with sweat. He stared at Mayuzumi with a pale face.

Nestled in my arms, Mayuzumi stretched and let out a yawn. Then, she glanced down at her attire. She frowned at the sight of the black kimono.

“Oh dear, this is rather tacky. I must change clothes immediately.”

“What… Azaka-sama… damn it, I…”

“You strike me as someone prepared to face severe consequences. I’m not going to hold this against you. I’m simply taken aback. Someone from the branch family has integrated into modern society and moved away from their obsession with gods?”

Mayuzumi’s tone shifted from casual to serious in an instant. She stared silently at Sadashita for a while.

“Keep that in mind,” she said, her words carrying an unusual weight and firmness. “Such thinking is what the next head needs. I commend you for holding onto the belief that rejects the need for gods, no matter who opposes it.”

Sadashita retreated. Unable to bear it any longer, he turned and scurried away, disappearing from the entrance.

Mayuzumi shrugged in exasperation. “He didn’t have to flee. Knowing him, he might not even board the cruiser, opting instead to wear a life jacket and swim back. He’ll either die or get picked up by a passing fishing boat. I’ll organize a search party later… Anyway.”

She hopped down from my arm and twirled on the spot. Her sleeves fluttered.

“You did well, Odagiri-kun.”

She grinned. Seeing her familiar smile, I let out a heavy sigh. All the tension seemed to drain from my body.

Overwhelmed by extreme fatigue, I said, “I’m very exhausted, Mayu-san. Please, no more fake deaths.”

“Don’t look at me. It wasn’t my doing this time.”

Mayuzumi opened her parasol and propped it on her shoulder. With light steps, she approached the old man buried next to the dragon’s head. He was barely alive.

Mayuzumi let out a deep sigh. “That was a stupid thing you did. Only a demon can pacify a demon. And I happen to be a rare breed of demon. Just as you’re unwilling to let me go, the scarlet woman won’t be content with a substitute either.”

Her words were met with silence. Golden light illuminated her features. Morning had arrived. Sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the wall and the gaps in the vines. I could see the blue sky outside the door.

Mayuzumi whirled around, bathed in the light of some sacred sanctuary. She looked at me with a smile.

“You’re so reckless, you know that, Odagiri-kun?”

Her tone was soft, almost unfamiliar. But her smile swiftly vanished as she surveyed the surroundings grimly. The red flowers rustled. Mayuzumi pressed her lips together.

“Now, then. I was asleep, so I’d appreciate an explanation. What exactly is this grisly scene?”

“Well…”

“You really have no qualms about killing me, huh, cutie?”

Kotori’s sharp words rang in my head. Clenching my fist, I tried to speak, but I stumbled. My throat whistled with each breath. Moistening my lips, I confessed the truth.

“I killed Kotori… I’m sorry, Mayuz-san. I… I took someone’s life.”

“You killed Kotori-kun… What are you saying? That’s impossible for you.” Mayuzumi replied in surprise.

My brows knitted. Regardless of whether I was capable of killing someone or not, she asserted it would be impossible for me. I had, in fact, killed Kotori. No living person could possibly spill that much blood. But then, I remembered something.

“Supernatural vines will disintegrate upon contact with me… Mayuzumi Azaka can’t be killed by vines. So then, why doesn’t Kotori do it instead? There’s probably a reason they can’t do that either.”

Why was that?

Mayuzumi’s thin lips parted. “Because…”

The vines suddenly writhed, lashing out in unison towards Mayuzumi as if to silence her. Red flowers opened wide, engulfing her like a serpent.

Mayuzumi countered the assault with a gentle twirl of her red parasol. In an instant, the flowers transformed into a crimson downpour, pelting the floor, forming a red pool. Mayuzumi stood in the middle, gazing into empty space. Golden light glinted in her eyes.

“Come out. You’re no longer human. I trust you watched all the theatrics unfold?”

“Yes. I’ve been watching from the beginning, young lady. It’s my duty, after all.”

Kotori descended onto the surface of the crimson pool, her black cloak billowing around her and her light brown hair swaying softly.

Standing on tiptoe, she smiled, her flawless figure reflecting on the floor like a mirror. I stared at her, dumbfounded.

Kotori glanced at me. “Why the long face, cutie? Didn’t you see this coming? I ceased being human long ago,” she grunted.

I now understood why the scarlet woman had orchestrated circumstances that would make it easy for the clan members to kill Mayuzumi. Her pawn was no longer human.

Products of the spirit world—Kotori—couldn’t kill Mayuzumi Azaka.

Mayuzumi and Kotori faced each other in silence. Kotori’s cloak billowed behind her, and Mayuzumi’s parasol spun gently on her back.

Kotori broke the silence. “Is this where the show ends? Since the main objective has been accomplished, I suppose it’s fine. The master wanted you to leave the town temporarily. My task was to torment you. It would’ve been ideal if someone had killed you, but I didn’t expect it to go so smoothly.”

“Just as I thought. Your goal lay elsewhere. Well within expectations. But staying stubbornly in town serves no purpose. I also had something I wanted. Hence, I accepted your invitation.”

Mayuzumi responded to Kotori’s admission with complete composure.

Kotori cocked her head. “Oh? Well, that is not within my expectations.” Her tone was bright and innocent. “As the master’s servant, I would like to know. What was it that you were willing to risk your life for?”

“It’s none of your concern. After all, I have yet to obtain it. Now, Kotori-kun.”

Mayuzumi approached Kotori, extending her hand.

Kotori inclined her head in confusion. “What’s this about?”

“It’s the final act. How about exchanging pleasantries? I will pay respect to your silly little performance.”

“That doesn’t sound like you at all. Are you telling me to go along with it?”

“You don’t have to. But the cat would have.”

Mayuzumi returned a sly smile, and Kotori grimaced visibly. I thought back to the cat. Indeed, if asked to shake hands, she would have, and perhaps even elegantly plant a kiss on it.

It was a clear bait. But at the same time, it was an unavoidable challenge for Kotori.

Kotori approached Mayuzumi. Gruffly, she took Mayuzumi’s hand. Silence fell between them.

Mayuzumi smiled gently at Kotori, and suddenly, the tension melted from Kotori’s face. She shrugged, attempting a smile herself, when Mayuzumi yanked her closer, causing her body to lurch forward.

Their lips met, and as they kissed, Mayuzumi swiftly twirled her parasol. Kotori’s body turned red, and bright red petals shaped into a person unraveled, scattering in the air. It smelled like blood. For a moment, I couldn’t see anything. Petals soared high, then melted instantly. Crimson rain fell on the pool.

Afterward, only Mayuzumi remained, holding a flower on her lips. It was beautiful. She took it in her hand, holding it under the light of the morning sun.

“Successfully obtained,” she said.

Then, she lifted the crimson flower and placed it on her hair.