Chapter 7 - The Sound of the Saw Part One

“Don’t get involved with that girl anymore. She… she’s a woman cursed by the world itself, a traitor to the gods.”

“…Huh?”

What was he talking about? That girl? Who? Cursed by the world? For a moment, the scene I’d witnessed earlier flashed through my mind at those words, but I shook my head, trying to dispel the thought.

Seeing me like that, the man’s expression turned slightly sorrowful. He stepped forward, as if wanting to say something—

“Ugh—!”

Suddenly, he leapt back several meters in the blink of an eye, glaring not at me, but at something else.

There, floating in the air, was a single pure-white butterfly. Not an ordinary one. Its form was like a cutout from pale, flat light—pure, surreal whiteness. And just as I blinked, it vanished.

…What was that? Though I couldn’t quite place it, I had the feeling I’d seen it before, somewhere.

“――”

“…Huh?”

I thought I heard something faint. Turning toward the sound, I saw the man from before gazing at me from afar with sorrowful, deep blue eyes. And then, without a word, he turned and walked away.

In the end, I never even got the chance to thank him. But the words he left behind stuck in my heart.

“Camellia.” That’s what he had called me.

“That’s right. I need to find Hana-chan!”

Remembering what was important, I stood up and dashed back toward the main street of the shopping district.

The city was just as it always was. Men rushing past in suits, tourists crowding shop displays, women laughing and chatting as they walked along. Nothing had changed. And yet… there was something unsettling in the air.

Running as if to flee that eerie feeling, I kept searching for Hana-chan. And then—A glimpse of shimmering black hair in the distance caught my eye.

“Hana-chan!”

My voice, still unused to shouting, didn’t carry far.

Hana-chan turned a corner in a hurry. I sprinted after her, reaching the corner just in time to see her getting into a sleek, black luxury car.

***

From atop the pedestrian bridge, I waved both arms dramatically, trying to urge Tsubaki, who still seemed hesitant, to move.

But my exaggerated gestures weren’t just for her. Even after Tsubaki finally started to run, I stayed on the bridge, drawing as much attention to myself as possible.

Three college-aged guys had suddenly started chasing us. Even if they looked ordinary, I could tell the moment I saw them—

They were possessed.

Black bugs clung to their ears and collars.

Those black insects… they’re everywhere. But ordinary people can’t see them. Even if they do, they just think it’s a regular bug and lose interest. Try to search for them, and they disappear.

They’re shadows—dark writhing things hiding in corners. Fragments of feelings people have cast off. That’s why in cities brimming with human desire, you always find them.

Normally, they’re harmless. Even when they gather, the most they can do is stir emotions in a graveyard at night or fuel obsession at a gambling den. Just faint influences, like getting swept up in the mood of a place.

But those three were covered in them. Abnormally so.

I wanted to lure all three away, but only two took the bait. I hope Tsubaki’s okay. I hope she’s not crying.

I want to keep them from going after her as long as I can, but I’m still recovering my power. I can’t push myself too far. I’m basically just a regular kid right now.

“Still, I can move better than your average Japanese kid, at least!”

Midway down the bridge stairs, I vaulted the railing to shortcut the descent.

Thud.

“Huh!?”

Right as I leapt, something shoved my back. What!? I checked and no one was around! And below me, a jagged, broken branch pointing straight up!?

Mid-fall, I kicked off the railing and flipped over the shrubbery, landing atop a roadside fire hydrant.

“That was way too close.”

My heart pounded in my chest. I looked back and no one on the stairs. No one even glanced my way, despite my weird maneuver. People just kept walking, indifferent.

“…?”

Someone’s targeting me. Not just one person, either. How many enemies are hiding in plain sight? It felt like the whole city was staring at me with malice.

But the two I lured were catching up. I resumed running.

I pushed through the crowd, trying to calm my nerves. My power was slowly recovering. I could feel my body getting lighter.

“!”

Someone reached out toward me from the crowd. I ducked and dodged without looking.

No time to check. If this were a war zone, I wouldn’t expect allies anyway.

Honestly, I’d told Tsubaki we might grab a taxi, but… in this mess? No way. I’m not saying everyone here is crazy, but… it’s possible they can’t even see me.

“Ugh.”

That feeling again. The black bugs. They were swarming. In shadows by vending machines, at the base of street trees.

Something’s here. Or… something’s coming. Like…

What was ahead of me? Or was something approaching me? For example…

“…A corpse, maybe.”

I regretted the thought the moment it left my mouth.

That couldn’t happen in a place like this, I tried to tell myself. But I didn’t want to stick around to find out. I glanced at the ones chasing me, then turned a corner and sprinted full speed.

Whoosh.

“Wah!?”

A man in the crowd suddenly swung his bag down toward me as I passed.

It ripped out a few strands of my hair, but I sped through. Hands shot out from the crowd beside me.

I was startled, but didn’t freeze. I dodged each hand just barely, glancing to the side. Yep, those black bugs were crawling all over their collars, too.

This is bad…

Just then, I heard the faint squeal of tires. Turning toward the sound, I saw the door of another black luxury car swing open. A well-dressed man inside was frantically reaching out toward me.

“You there, get in, now!”

***

“That arrogant brat…”

Inside the silent, smooth-riding luxury car, Jin’ei stomped the floor in fury.

“….”

From the driver’s seat, Midou let out a quiet sigh.

Midou wasn’t just a chauffeur, he was originally one of Jin’ei’s secretaries. After being tasked with bodyguard duties, he ended up being used for just about everything.

He had always been exceptional. Raised in an ordinary family, he got into a good university and had the build and brains to stand above his peers. He’d once believed he could rise to the top of the business world.

But reality crushed that hope. In this world, your rank is determined from birth.

Now, he was stuck serving an imbecile of a man just because he was the second generation.

He tried to stay quiet, but the bitter resentment he held toward this “heir” finally made him speak.

“Be grateful he accepted the offering at all.”

“Shut your mouth, Midou! Speak when spoken to!”

“…My apologies.”

“This will be the last time I’m using this car! Have a different one ready next time!”

“Understood.”

There is a secret known only to a few among the political and financial elite of this country.

Beneath Tokyo lies a massive underground void. Something is enshrined there,something believed to bring prosperity to the nation.

The elders who control politics and finance believe that thing will one day bless them.

Jin’ei’s father, who died a few years ago, was one of those believers. He was even a senior member of their regular gatherings.

Just before his death, he told Jin’ei the truth. Jin’ei tried to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a leader in the meetings. But the elders dismissed him. He was still just a boy, unworthy to descend into the depths.

Years passed. Jin’ei continued the donations and offerings, just like his father. But nothing changed.

Midou didn’t know what this “blessing” was supposed to be. But Jin’ei, having heard it from his father, acted obsessed, offering tributes, risking danger, all to gain entry below.

Today, too, he tried to offer a “sacrifice” but was rebuffed by a single young man.

A young man with deep indigo eyes. Murasame.

He looked even younger than Midou but held great influence in the gatherings. He met with Jin’ei but accepted only the offering, nothing more.

“Midou! What’s the status of the next sacrifice!?”

“We’re expecting one in a few weeks. It will take time.”

“Too slow! Make it faster!”

“But if we act too soon, we’ll draw suspicion. We can’t risk—”

“It’s your job to fix that, Midou!”

Finding sacrifices in Kanto had become incredibly difficult. Even the police were increasing surveillance after a string of young women went missing.

Just earlier, one such “offering” had been in the trunk. They had caught her in the city at night and prepared her, but even Jin’ei hadn’t wanted to ride in the same car afterward.

Still, Mido knew his master wouldn’t listen, no matter what he said.

“In that case…”

He remembered a girl in a prestigious academy’s uniform earlier. Jin’ei’s own daughter went to that school. A girl from a good family might make a suitable offering—but abducting such a child would make future actions even harder.

Then, he saw her. A foreign-looking girl, running like she was being chased.

“Wouldn’t someone like that be just fine?”

***

“Hana-chan!”

The car carrying Hana-chan sped off, flowing away like a current.

You mustn’t get in that car! I saw it — I saw what was in that black car... From the gap in the trunk, that “black writhing thing” was spilling out as if it couldn’t be contained.

What I felt from it was a powerful "malice" and "despair"...

I don’t know why, but... I could sense the stench of "death" coming from that car.

“Eek!”

My hair was suddenly yanked, and when I turned around, one of the trio was there, gripping my hair with a vacant smile on their face.

"Gasp!"

From their ears and mouth, that “black writhing thing” was oozing out. The sight chilled me to the bone.

This person... they’re possessed. When I tried to tear my hair free from their grip, someone grabbed my arm from behind.

It was the remaining two of the trio. One of them twisted my arm behind my back, and the fat man, the one who had been taken down by that young man earlier, laughed as he pulled out a small knife.

“S-Someone, help—!”

Three men surrounding a middle school girl, one even pulling out a knife, yet the passersby walked by as if they didn’t see anything at all.

Schk!

“Eh…”

A faint pain at my neck. The fat man’s knife grazed my throat, slicing off a lock of hair that fell into his hand, cut near my chin.

“Take this!”

I broke free by headbutting the man holding me from behind, and then took off running.

I was still in shock from having my hair cut, and nearly slashed, but somehow, in that instant, I managed to move.

Touching my neck, I felt the slimy sensation of blood. Tears welled up from the reality that my hair had been cut.

But there was no time to cry. I had to chase after Hana-chan… I had to save her!

Thud!

“Aah!”

Suddenly, someone shoved me from the crowd, and I slammed into the wall of a building. I didn’t even know who had done it. Just as I paused for a split second, someone kicked me in the back.

My knees hit the ground hard, scraping and bleeding. But I couldn’t stop. I saw the trio chasing after me again, and I darted into a nearby alley.

The alley was lined with clothing shops. The path curved in an L-shape, and thinking that turning there would take me farther from Hana-chan, I jumped into one of the shops at the corner. I ran up to the second floor, planning to jump across to the building behind it through the second-floor window.

From the second-floor veranda, I reached out toward the handrail of the emergency stairs on the neighboring building. Just a little more… almost there...

Clang!

TA still-full can of coffee struck my forehead, making me lose balance and fall onto the other side.

“Ugh...”

Falling from the second floor, I landed on my back on the ground. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

“Hic...”

I held back the urge to cry and forced myself to stand. Something had gotten into my right eye, and when I rubbed it away roughly, I found blood flowing from my forehead too.

My head... it’s spinning. But I can’t crouch down. I can’t cry. If I stop, I won’t be able to save Hana-chan.

As I staggered down the empty back alley, covered in blood—

Thud!

“Ah!”

I was shoved again. As I fell, multiple hands grabbed my hair and arms, dragging me into what looked like a nearby garage.

That same trio of university students... No, there were about ten more people their age, surrounding me with twisted smiles as they loomed closer.

“Aaaaaaaah!

Pinned down by several of them, my uniform’s chest was torn open. As I screamed, multiple hands clamped down tightly on my neck.

—Am I going to die here? What did I do to deserve this?

I’m sorry… Hana-chan. I wanted to save you… Please… Don’t die…

This is just too much.

This is wrong. This world is broken! Hana-chan and I… we were just trying to live.

Someone… someone, please save Hana-chan!

Ah… I failed again. I couldn’t save her again.

I hate this world.

I can’t forgive it. I’ll never forgive anything that hurts "that person"!!

“Yes… that’s right.”

A voice echoed from somewhere… from deep within my heart.

"Unleash it."

"Take hold of it."

"Your blade of strength - lies within that rage."

The world before my eyes was bathed in silver, and somewhere nearby, I thought I heard the shrill screech of a saw blade.

***

“It’s coming, it’s coming!”

“Priestess!?”

Deep beneath Tokyo, in an old Western-style mansion, a young girl — a priestess — was crying and screaming in terror, as if "something" was coming for her.

What was coming? What was she so afraid of?

This wasn’t just a nightmare. Her frenzied panic was far beyond the level of a bad dream. The women attending her could do nothing but hold her tightly, helpless in the growing confusion and fear.

“It’s coming!!!”