Vol 2 Chapter 1 (1/2)
Night 1: A Series of Misfortune
From ★ Usarin
To ★ Sensei
Subject ★ Edict
Body ★ hello —— this is Usarin Did you think I’d say that? You weirdo, go die! So where are you strolling around now? With your
personality, you should’ve already left school to come see Rinne, so we didn’t contact you Then — we ended up waiting until noon! I
didn’t think you were this half-hearted with your love You keep proclai you say?
Whatever Rinne has me, Guriko, to comfort her You can die somewhere in the street
From ★ Sensei
To ★ Milady Usarin
Subject ★ Re: Edict
Body ★ Hey — what makes you think you can just use milady's cell phone like that No matter how you look at it, it’s best if you
just died Your harass her cell phone Cell phones record phone numbers, so
caller ID identifies that phone as “Usarin” This crap you’re pulling will ed On another note,
since when did you kno to use a cell phone?
From ★ Usarin
To ★ Sensei
Subject ★ Frouriko
Body ★ So much talk Look, I wrote h it’s a bit too much talk, where
are you right now, Sakaki? Rinne’s friend died so she’s depressed How can you not be at her side at a time like this? There’s
er than you Our level of experience can’t be compared I can learn
so like cell phone operation in an instant Don’t underestimate me!
From ★ Sensei
To ★ Milady Usarin
Subject ★ Re: Frouriko
Body ★ Any grade-schooler can learn so a cell phone Ah —— my bad, wait a minute You should know that as soon
as I learned aboutover But even before I arrive, you take what little you know and form conjectures
about me You idiot
From ★ Usarin
To ★ Sensei
Subject ★ Re: Re: Frouriko
Body ★ …You're seriously infuriating Whatever Just get over here quickly If you’re slow, I’ll gouge out your eyeballs
“…”
The handsoolden hair and blue eyes —— Sakaki Guryū, closed his cell phone with a “snap” He sighed deeply This ence, financial resources, appearance and athletic ability, was Usagawa Rinne’s lover as well as her japanese History teacher at Kannonsakazaki High School
A year earlier, Sakaki had fallen in love with Rinne due to a certain incident, and abandoned the giant coanization He had forsaken his position as its heir, as well as all his higher education, and becaawa Rinne’s side He felt that she was the only hile existence in his life That was the man named Sakaki Guryū
Sakaki, unhappiness do all four sides People dressed in black were blatantly displaying illegal firearms
“You see, one ofShe can easily carry out her threat, so you guys can get lost! I’d like to reject that eyeball gouging —— if I don’t hurry to milady’s home, I’ll lose these blue eyes I inherited from my mother!”
Rinne had been absent from school that day As soon as Sakaki found out about this, he i to go see her, but he was aht o’clock when he rushed out of class, and thefor four hours He kicked aside soain Fighting the to frustrate him
Rinne, he thought of Usagawa Rinne
The one who gave Sakaki’s life , theYet these people in black suit were obstructing his path, which implied suicidal tendencies —— but who exactly were these enemies? If this continued, blood would probably be spilled
“Are you Mushi+?”
No response
Mushi+ were thefor the “Apples” —— also called “Apples of Eden”, the forbidden fruit which allowed humans who ate them to become immortal —— and they attacked huh sos siels or demons
When Sakaki fought against Snake the previous month, he happened to eat an Apple, and had sinceto kill him Thus, he assumed that this incident was the same, but ——
If they were Mushi+, they should have unhesitatingly tried to kill him as fast as possible But these black-suited people surrounding hin of the Mushi+, eyes that shone with red light, could not be verified due to conceallasses
“Even when there are guns pointed at you, that cell phone still takes priority, Guryū-onii-san?”
Suddenly, he heard a feance That was a familiar voice —— Sakaki’s patience ended as he turned to the source
Behind the still wall of black-suited irl stood
“People that I, the Black Dragon, can stand the least are people like you who act as though everything lacked difficulty”
Froruous with this street in a small rural town to the ribbon on her head, all of her clothes were black Aside from her skin, teeth and the whites of her eyes, it was as if her entire body was buried under black She was one of the backup adopted siblings prepared in case so happened to Sakaki
”Kuroki -- Tatsue?” Sakaki mumbled her name as he put his cell phone in his pocket and looked at the black-suited anization'sme is a waste of time Hey -- I've already uns at the heir to the Sakaki Organization and co to his destination, you'll all be thrown out into the street”
”Guryū-onii-san, you are still ignoring me?” Tatsue nervously raised her eyebrows as she spoke unhappily, holding onto a scarlet teddy bear that added an alien color to her monochrome look
Should we say she was still too cautious, or is it more accurate to say that she was simply too narrow-minded?
Sakaki shi+fted his sight away from the black-suited uns, and looked toward his step-sister ”You’re just a spare backup What did you come to find me, Sakaki Guryū, for? Back to thetime since the last tirown so'I didn't wet the bed! I didn't!' Ah, good times”
”D-d-do not speak of that!” Tatsue's face turned red She waved her ar black-suited e of tears, ”It's because you're so arrogant and ill-hearted that I cannot stand you”
”Oh, and there's that pretentious speech pattern you like to use Don't talk like that, you seem even more pathetic In fact --”
Sakaki silently watched Tatsue No, more accurately, he watched the scarlet teddy bear she held It was soht anywhere, yet i cute, it horrified people with a blood-stained appearance that made it useless for consolation --
”Father” Sakakihis ar with us like that again How distrusting of your own son”
”Eh?”
The surprised one was Tatsue She was frightened enough to almost drop the teddy bear, and quickly tried to steady herself As cold sweat ran down her face, her cute bluffing expression completely disappeared
”F-f-father?”
It was the current president of the organization with more power than a nation -- Sakaki Ganhō He likely feared assassination, as not even Sakaki had seen his face before This led to Sakaki wondering if his father was even alive
””
The scarlet teddy bear casually made a sound
”Hey, Gu-tan, it's dad”
A clear, disar synthetic voice caain, with this type of voice, the speaker generally wants to avoid allowing his actual voice to be recognized Sakaki nodded, and said casually, ”What do you mean 'It's dad', you idiot father What do you want? I need to visit , then leave!”
”B-b-brother! How could you speak like that to father!”
Sakaki paid no attention to Tatsue's noisy shouting Nowas just a stuffed animal that deserved no respect Besides, Sakaki never respected his father, who forcefullythat was practically infused into his blood, this person destroyed Sakaki's childhood
Without hed in a poorly synthesized voice
”Hahaha! You're still so frightening Dad's heartbroken! M too serious I just wanted to seetime”
”Good bye”
Sakaki ignored Tatsue and the teddy bear and walked toward his destination Running to Rinne's home from there would take about ten minutes So much time had been wasted!
”Wait up, wait up, wait up, Gu-tan! Tatsue, chase him!”
The teddy bear said so nonchalantly, and Tatsue desperately followed its orders with a pale face Too bad, it seems like this time she would only be used as a convenient transporter
As Sakaki thought this, the teddy bear issued a cruel order
”Ah, what a pain He's trying to escape Alright, you goons, shoot Gu-tan in the thigh! Then he'll stop, right? Don't worry, even if Gu-tan gets injured he'll quickly recover, so there's no need to hold back”
Those words
Sakaki suddenly turned around, and looked angrily at the teddy bear held by the pale-faced Tatsue
”Father, where did you find out about that?”
His injuries would recover In other words, he knew that Sakaki ate an Apple and became immortal, with the superhuman ability to resurrect
Speaking of that, a monster had wrecked the town a month earlier, and afterwards Sakaki had asked his father to arrange the media cover-up The incident was reported to be a result of an earthquake, and eyewitnesses were forced to keep silent Needless to say, the hidden truth should have gone straight to the man behind the cover-up ---- the father
However, only Sakaki, Rinne, and of course the Mushi+ and Snake as well as Guriko should have known about the Apples
”Who do you think I am?” The teddy bear continued matter-of-factly ”Of course I know more than you do! I just don't tell you because I don't want you to sink deeper into this business All in all, there's nothing hile there, and the knowledge would just be disgusting Do you understand?”
He used an unnerving, emotionless voice to talk to the silent Sakaki
”Last month,” the teddy bear's words still sounded e ht? Who do you think killed it? Or ratherhoas it killed? Did you really think a few boh?”
That voice mocked Sakaki rather than questioned him
”Whether with explosives or firebombs, did you think it was possible to soundlessly kill such a large monster? Not only that ---- to exterained from an Apple, that can easily cause so much destruction? Can a weapon that incredible really exist?”
That was a joyful and delighted voice
”If you just think about last s don'tYouovercome that conflict The Apple, the God, the Mushi+! You barely understand any of them! ---- But you don't need to understand them since you're my cute, adorable successor”
These words pierced Sakaki's ears and made his eyebrows curl
After overcoh a period of peace, he finally felt secure ---- but now, it all beca on? He felt horribly uneasy, his doubts suddenly layered up, and he began to feel disgusted by the Apple taking root in his soul
”You, what are you trying to get at?”
”Ah? I' like any normal father over his child's life Basically, I want you to inherit the Sakaki Organization like a good boy while I do er Watch out for the na,Catastrophe, The Weakest, Unpleasant Counter-Current, Single Room, God Insect Emperor, and Sterilization Disinfection It's just as their names imply If you involve yourself with them you die”
Mindlessly saying these unclear words, the head of the Sakaki Organization ---- Sakaki Ganhō laughed gloomily with his synthesized voice Tatsue felt very afraid and looked at the stuffed animal in alarm
Mushi+, eyeball, and a teddy bear
Not showing up in the previousin the darkness, the third person who stayed out of sight while putting actions in motion ---- he, Sakaki Ganhō, was there What did he knohat did he want? The horrifying teddy bear
”M to say Since I'ot dragged out so long Ah, that's right I alot”
The teddy bear suddenly moved and clapped its hands It probably carried this function ”Waah!” Tatsue e sound
”Usagawa Rinne is your girlfriend right? I sent people to thoroughly investigate her these few months Honestly, I don't knohy you like her so much, Gu-tan”
Its head tilted
Sakaki's expression turned cold as he glared at the teddy bear
”Father, since you insulted milady, you will pay with your life!”
”How frightening How frightening See, even Tatsue's scared”
Actually, Tatsue was afraid of her father in her arms
”Whatever, let's move on Me, I don't care who you take as your wife, Gu-tan Your mother actually caanization isn't run by wives But, as it is now, no one would stay quiet They'd say the lady's background is questionable and that she is not worthy to be the head's wife”
”Just eliminate those fools, father!”
”No way, that would be too troublesome Since most of those idiots are fa with the aftermath!”
Hearing these unpleasant words, Tatsue secretly sighed at another direction Sakaki acted as if he didn't notice and kicked at the ground restlessly, seeht
”Then what? You ---- would have me leave ht now If I have to choose between this company and milady, I'd pick milady without any hesitation”
”How stupid, to give up your inheritance for a wo on, and took Sakaki's rant as truth ”Th-then, onii-san's decision to not inherit the company is exactly what I've dreamed of!”
”Tatsue, stop acting tough Your knees are shaking” Sakaki quietly looked doard
”Oh”
Tatsue's back was stiff with fear, and she gritted her teeth reluctantly The Sakaki Organization held enorht would take far more ability and willpower than that possessed by a normal person Tatsue had only recently turned fifteen She was only in high school, and definitely did not hold such a level of wisdom or maturity ”Okay, in short” The teddy bear ---- Ganhō ---- nonchalantly gave his conclusion in the frightening monotonic synthetic voice
”You say you can only love Usagawa Rinne, and the people around h Then isn't it easy? Yup Just awa mature Turn her into a woanization I've prepared a lot for this And since you tant to raduates, have her use her time in school to improve in every aspect”
After hearing these words, Sakaki was forced to re, and frowned
The training that would cause Rinne to ly harsh, and the usted Sakaki
Her close friend just died She was in an unstable mood What would happen if she were to suffer even more?
”Father”
Sakaki showed a serious face He said calmly, ”If you subject milady to that sort of inhuman preparation, I would not hesitate to overthrow you Do not forget, that moment will be the moment when you and I part ways forever”
The teddy bear did not respond, possibly having said all that it wanted, and beckoned Tatsue to leave Thedown the road
Tatsue looked back at the end
For the first time, she showed a human expression filled orry ”Guryū-onii-san, be careful”
Sakaki did not respond as he turned toward Rinne's ho over the poorly paved road
”No problem, no problem, Guriko-chan worries toothe kitchen knife Ah mmmhmm, hahaha”
”Blood! Wait, Rinne, you're slicing your own finger! Blood, blood Calm down, don't force yourself to try to cook Sakaki and I don't need to eat anyway If you weren't iers!”
Guriko was truly at a loss for what to do
Near Kannonsakazaki Private High School, which Rinne and Guriko attended and where Sakaki worked, past the shopping district and a s where Rinne lived
With walls that seeht knock, this shabby building had an extraordinarily cheap rent She lived in a apart the bathroom – 75 square meters of space, and next to her lived a self-proclaih times
Ever since Katō Katsumi was murdered by an unknown killer, Rinne had holed up inside this roole step outside
As one would expect, the shadow of the ed her heart For immortal people, the er felt, they are uish
Yes Three days ago, as probably the first murder in Kannonsakazaki had occurred The victim's name was Katō Katsumi Like Rinne and Guriko, she was a student at Kannonsakazaki Private High School, who had formed an unbreakable bond with Rinne since middle school
Shortly after parting from Rinne in front of a coffee shop, she had been brutally murdered by someone Indeed, the ainst a stone wall and ground Guriko didn't care so much since she was already used to death and corpses The one who suffered was Rinne As the last person to have seen Katsuain, the fact that Katsumi died was shoved at her
What kind of feelings did she have?
Rinne, in this state, appeared no different frolance She sh her voice trembled a bit, she seemed far from insane But those were obviously only her atteish, her expression was also fixed at a barely , she tried to cook, but only created failure that caused problems for Guriko
People who had eaten an Apple would slowly lose their sense of taste Any sort of feelings of hunger, emptiness, or pain from an empty stomach would also disappear Therefore, Rinne's actions were coht this could at least help turn her mood around, and so wordlessly accepted the behavior
And so, Rinne stopped preparing a dish out of her fingers without losing that san to rest, the doorbell rang
”Sakaki?”
Gurikocautious as she walked over to open the door
”Guriko, is ht?”
As expected, there stood a handsome man with blue eyes and blond hair who seerabbed Guriko's shoulders and forcefully shook her, while she sighed with her eyes half closed
”What do you ht?', it's not like she'll die Stop panicking and cal up Really, as soon as anything involves Rinne, you immediately lose all common sense”
Guriko called at Rinne, but when she turned to look, she noticed that Rinne had suddenly collapsed
”Rinne?” Sakaki's eyes widened, with an expression appropriate for the apocalypse ”Ah, ah ---- milady! Milady died!”
”She didn't die, cale out your eyes, idiot!”
As Gankyū Eguriko endured the shaking, she prepared her spoons
”She's definitely extremely tired”
With a head of her distinguishi+ng wolf-like hair, eyes deep like the barrel of a gun, and with the brutal nairl had lived for over a thousand years Once, due to souriko, but, giving the practical reason that it was too hard to pronounce, she reinstated her original name
This uncute girl who lived with Rinne for certain reasons placed the collapsed girl on prepared bedding, and started talking, ”If you feel stressed, your body reacts accordingly You would get a stoet a headache However, people who have eaten an Apple won't feel those So, they push themselves to their limit, until they can't take it anyht to bawl your eyes out? No one would blame her”
Guriko looked at Sakaki, alked closer, and silently held the shoulders of the fast-asleep Rinne and gave her to Sakaki He wasn't sure what to do and just held her, feeling that her powerless form was exceptionally vulnerable
”Guriko?”
”I don't understand friendshi+p or love”
Guriko showed a sad expression, and she began to clean the blood-splattered siained the ability to clean and do laundry Yet a thousand years' emptiness had, in the end, erased from her any form of emotion or common sense
As if reciting text, Guriko nonchalantly said, ”I don't understand, I forgot So there's no way I can coAll I can do is annihilate Rinne's enemies I definitely can't cure the scars burnt into Rinne's heart”
She then turned toward Sakaki with those lonely eyes that, according to Rinne, seemed to be very similar to Sakaki ”So, I'm a bit jealous of you”
Was he really similar to her? Compared to Guriko, who admitted that she could only defeat Rinne's enemies but could not heal her pain, wasn't he only able to coainst Rinne's enemies? Sakaki pondered this
Helpless, Sakaki held Rinne tightly, and Guriko looked at them with concern Rinne's closed eyes brimmed with tears; was he unable to save her, even in her dreaertips were abnormally cold To warm her up, Sakaki held her even closer
Sakaki instinctively spat out insults
”How repulsive, just as it that killed Katō?!”
”Hoould I know?”
As she washed the cutting board with dishwashi+ng liquid, Guriko crooked her head and said, ”Although, just by looking at the facts, the culprit shouldn't be a nor man or an animal Or it's--”
She turned on the faucet
”A monster”
Monsters, those things that quietly lived outside the world of people like Sakaki, alien that overstepped the boundary of understanding During the events in the month before, Sakaki encountered quite a few h to flatten buildings with each step
Katsuic death truly didn't seem to be caused by humans
Sakaki's mood worsened, but he still said uneasily, ”Anyways, it's best to stay cautious After all, we haven't confirmed the culprit Hopefully it's some criminal that the police can handle Guriko?”
He carelessly looked over, and noticed Guriko's grie, as if she was shocked, staring at the door with stiff face
”What is it?”
”Someone's here”
Guriko replied curtly
Sakaki's eyebrows scrunched together ”Could it be the mailman? Or the murderer?”
Even though he felt it was unlikely, he couldn't deny the possibility Guriko firripped her three spoons Whether in the past or now, her weapon of choice had always been spoons
”I don't know Don't talk, soh, I don't think it's a monster”
Possibly listening for activity, Guriko's face turned beast-like, instinctively searching out eneer That was the first-rate caution developed over a millennium
”Humans, two of them”
Guriko was incredulous Humans - and since there were two, it probably wasn't that self-proclaimed musician woman who lived next door And it shouldn’t be Rinne’s friends since students had already been instructed to avoid going out without good reason And Guriko definitely did not have anything that could be considered even similar to a friend --
As Sakaki thought this, the doorbell rang After a glance from Guriko, he cautiously walked toward the entrance They planned so that even if Sakaki was knocked down by a surprise attack, Guriko could repel the intruders That is to say, Sakaki was bait -- ”living sacrifice” ht also be accurate He tried to put on a calm voice as he asked, ”who is this?”
”We're with the Sakaki Organization”
”Please leave,” Sakaki ied his shoulders and sighed to Guriko, ”No need to be so careful, they aren't people who matter”
”I see” Guriko obediently set down her spoons
At that h it wasn't locked to begin with
The pair standing on the other side of the door solemnly saluted
”Though it was quite rude, please forgive my rudeness”
”Hino, that sounded weird”
”I'm Itsuwara Hino”
”My name is Itsuwara Kio”
Standing there were -- an exceedingly norray suit and a milky white outfit respectively They were people who didn't stand out, people the likes of who in the city
”What do you want?”
Sakaki looked at theust Since they were anization, they must have been his father's men There was no way he could trust them
The two people smiled tenderly, so much that they seemed unnatural ”A pleasure to meet you, Guryū-san”
”You're in a good mood as always, it seems Anyway --”
Thehimself Kio smoothly pointed at Guriko
”Today we have business with that young lady”
Guriko was bewildered
””